We are diving into some IDP fantasy football content this offseason as we look to bring in all sorts of football fans to Bucs Wire. While offensive rookies tend to dominate fantasy football conversations, linebackers remain some of the most valuable assets in IDP leagues when they earn significant playing time.

Next up is New York Giants linebacker Arvell Reese.

Reese arrives in New York after a productive career at Ohio State, where he showcased the athleticism, range and versatility that NFL teams look for in modern linebackers. His final season with the Buckeyes demonstrated growth as a run defender and tackler, helping him earn a starting opportunity almost immediately after entering the league.

Depth Chart Situation

WLB

• Arvell Reese
• Micah McFadden
• Darius Muasau

MLB

• Tremaine Edmunds
• Jack Kelly
• Zaire Barnes

IDP Talent Around Him

• Brian Burns, EDGE
• Abdul Carter, EDGE
• Tremaine Edmunds, LB
• Jevon Holland, S
• Tyler Nubin, S
• Paulson Adebo, CB

2026 Stat Projections

• 82 Total Tackles
• 7 Tackles For Loss
• 2 Sacks
• 1 Forced Fumble
• 4 Pass Deflections
• 155 Fantasy Points

Reason to Believe in Arvell Reese in 2026: A clear path to tackles

The biggest reason to believe in Reese as an IDP asset is opportunity. The Giants currently list him atop the weakside linebacker depth chart, putting him in position to see meaningful snaps from the start of his rookie season. Unlike many first-year defenders who must carve out rotational roles, Reese enters training camp with a realistic chance to remain on the field in a starting capacity.

His skill set fits the role well. Reese is an explosive athlete who covers ground quickly and has the range to impact plays from sideline to sideline. He showed improvement throughout his time at Ohio State, becoming more patient when diagnosing plays and more consistent when going downhill against the run. His ability to stay active with his hands and work through traffic helped him become a more reliable defender as his experience grew.

The production supports the projection. Reese earned an 86.5 run-defense grade and an 85.6 tackling grade during his final college season while missing only four tackles. He recorded 34 defensive stops and demonstrated the ability to contribute in multiple ways, whether attacking downhill, dropping into coverage, or occasionally rushing the passer. That versatility is important because it creates more paths to fantasy production.

The environment around him should help as well. The Giants feature one of the league's more disruptive edge duos in Brian Burns and Abdul Carter, while veteran linebacker Tremaine Edmunds handles responsibilities in the middle of the defense. That combination could allow Reese to play fast and attack the football rather than constantly having to take on blockers.

2026 Outlook

Among the rookie defenders entering the league this season, Reese has one of the most attractive redraft profiles. Starting linebackers with strong tackling ability often outperform rookie edge rushers in fantasy football because tackles provide a more stable weekly floor.

Fantasy managers should view Reese as a late-round LB4 with upside to finish as an LB3 if he maintains a full-time role throughout the season. His combination of projected snaps, tackling efficiency, and athletic range gives him a legitimate chance to become one of the better rookie values in IDP formats during 2026.

This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Arvell Reese fantasy outlook for 2026: IDP rookie profile

Every NFL season has good and bad roads it can take. More often than not, there is one key factor that can take a season to new heights, or make it all come crashing down.

CBS Sports' Tyler Sullivan recently laid out the best and worst-case scenarios for every NFL team. When it came to the Vikings, it all centered around the play of Kyler Murray. He comes to Minnesota after being let go by the Arizona Cardinals this offseason, and he hopes for a fresh start.

Most importantly, they hope Murray can return to his old ways, showing he is worthy of being a top-paid player at his position. In terms of the best-case scenario for that, Sullivan writes that they can hope for a Sam Darnold-like run.

"The pressure of the quarterback battle produces a diamond. Either Kyler Murray is Sam Darnold 2.0, giving the Vikings a veteran capable of competing for an NFC North title, or J.J. McCarthy stabilizes and rises to the occasion to fend off Murray. Either way, the quarterback question is definitively answered, and Minnesota suddenly is back where it was in 2024, battling for the division crown and the No. 1 seed."

If they can get Darnold-ish play, then the sky could be the limit for this team. There is a small Super Bowl window for this team, but it will all center around the play out of the quarterback position.

This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: What is the best case scenario for the Vikings season in 2026?

There are several Serie A players involved in tonight’s World Cup games, as Group B will be decided with Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar and Switzerland vs. Canada.

They both kick off simultaneously at 20.00 UK time (21.00 CEST), but in two different countries.

This was set to be the group that Italy were going to be placed in, until losing the World Cup play-off on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – MARCH 31: Haris Tabakovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina celebrates with his teammates after scoring his team’s equalizing goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia & Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)

There are quite a few Serie A representatives in that squad, including Sead Kolasinac of Atalanta, Sassuolo’s Tarik Muharemovic, new Venezia signing Ivan Basic and ex-Roma, Inter and Fiorentina striker Edin Dzeko.

Bosnia are still looking for their first 2026 World Cup victory after a 1-1 draw with Canada and 4-1 defeat to Switzerland, where Muharemovic was sent off and is therefore suspended here along with Qatar’s Assim Madibo and Homam Al-Amin.

MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 17: Manuel Akanji of FC Internazionale Milano warms up prior to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Cagliari Calcio at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on April 17, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

In the other match, both Canada and Switzerland have four points, so go head-to-head for top spot.

Juventus striker Jonathan David bagged a hat-trick in the 6-0 victory over Qatar, and starts again for the CANMNT.

However, the tournament is over for Sassuolo midfielder Ismael Kone, who fractured his leg in that match.

Inter defender Manuel Akanji, Bologna midfielder Remo Freuler and Pisa’s Michel Aebischer are all familiar faces, but Milan’s Ardon Jashari is on the bench.

World Cup Group B

Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Vasilj; Radeljic, Katic, Malic, Kolasinac; Bakaktarevic, Sunjic, Basic, Alajbegovic; Demirovic, Dzeko

Qatar: Abunada; Pedro Miguel, Boualem Khoukhi, Laye, Sultan Albrake; Jassem Gaber, Fathy, Boudiaf; Hassan Alhaydos, Akram Afif, Edmilson Junior

Switzerland vs. Canada

Switzerland: Kobel; Jacquez, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez; Freuler, Xhaka; Manzambi, Sow, Vargas; Embolo

Canada: Crepeau; Johnston, De Fougerolles, Cornelius, Laryea; Buchanan, Choiniere, Saliba, Ahmed; Jonathan David, Larin

Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham has provided his take on the club’s decision to appoint José Mourinho as manager for the seasons to come.

And the Englishman’s comments suggest that he is fully aligned with Florentino Pérez and co. regarding the call.

Legendary tactician Mourinho was of course announced as the latest installation on the Real Madrid bench earlier this month, marking a return to Spain’s capital for the Portuguese.

‘Mou’ is understood to have been identified as the ideal profile to restore order and harmony in a fractured dressing room at Valdebebas, fresh off a 2nd successive trophyless campaign in 2025/26.

One Blancos star expected to play a leading role in Mourinho’s setup is the aforementioned Jude Bellingham, held in high regard by his new manager.

Speaking during an exchange with the media this week, the Englishman was therefore drawn on Mourinho’s Bernabéu comeback.

And Bellingham appears to be fully behind the appointment, having responded:

“José Mourinho at Real Madrid? Amazing, amazing. He’s a top, top manager. I’m very happy.”

Conor Laird – GSFN

Florida State got some good news this week when safety commit Jemari Foreman announced he was shutting down his recruitment and sticking with the Seminoles, despite a strong push from the Louisville Cardinals.

Foreman is coming off an excellent junior season at Plantation High School in Plantation, Florida, finishing the year with 70 tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss, 11 pass breakups, 10 interceptions, and two forced fumbles. He believes he can play at multiple safety spots in FSU's 3-3-5 defense, something he is planning to figure out with the coaching staff when he makes it to campus.

"As of right now, we're trying to figure it out because of my film, I can play everything. When I get there, we'll figure it out," Foreman told Chris Nee of Noles247.

"Probably like boundary, free," Foreman said. "Because of my ball skills. I can go and make plays on the ball up top at the boundary."

Foreman is ranked as the No. 629 overall player and No. 61 safety in the 247Sports composite. The 6-foot, 180-pounder is also the No. 51 player from Florida.

Follow us @FSUWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida State news, notes, and opinions.

This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: Florida State football working to figure out Jemari Foreman's position

Against Ghana, Harry Kane simply couldn’t find the net late on Tuesday night. Whether that was because a witch doctor had put a curse on him or because Ghana’s defense simply kept him well under control? 

If it’s up to Nana Kwaku Bonsam, the name of the witch doctor from Ghana, then of course it was the curse. And because he’s so kind, he has now lifted the curse from the English striker. 

"I am the most powerful spiritualist in the world. I will now free Harry Kane so that he can score in England’s next match," Bonsam announced in a video on 'X'. So nothing can go wrong now for Saturday’s match against bottom-of-the-group Panama (11 p.m.). 

By the way, you can watch the highlights of England’s draw against Ghana here once again. 

Despite the 0-0 against Ghana, England still has an excellent chance of securing first place in the group on the final matchday, since Ghana and Croatia face each other directly and could potentially take points off one another. 

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

Some of Germany's national team players would like to see Oliver Baumann start against Ecuador tomorrow, Sky Germany reports.

Should it happen Baumann would make his World Cup debut as a 'reward' and players feel it would be a show of appreciation for him. 

Amid an injury crisis, Baumann played all six games of Germany's World Cup qualifying campaign, keeping four clean sheets.

The pay-TV channel even suggests that the topic has been discussed in the German dressing room in recent hours. 

However, it remains to be seen whether coach Julian Nagelsmann and first choice goalkeeper Manuel Neuer will let it happen.

Neuer is typically known as a team player, but it's worth noting this will be the 40-year-old's last tournament playing international football.

Furthermore, Neuer could add to his record-breaking 21st-ever World Cup appearance which he claimed against Côte d'Ivoire. 

Two simultaneous matches: things are getting serious at the World Cup. The third matchday will kick off at 9 p.m. on two different pitches.

In Vancouver, Switzerland take on Canada in a clash that will determine both qualification for the round of 32 and top spot in the group. At the same time in Seattle, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Qatar will be fighting for survival in the competition, needing points to avoid an early elimination.

The official lineups for these two decisive matches have just been revealed.

CANADA

SWITZERLAND

QATAR

BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

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

Today is apparently Goalie Day if you cover Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. Fresh on the heels of the club signing Martin Dubravka, and the news that starting keeper Guglielmo Vicario will be sold this summer. Jack Pitt-Brooke at The Athletic is now writing that Spurs are opening talks with Antonin Kinsky on a new extended contract.

This would seemingly confirm the reports that Kinsky is set to take over the #1 jersey from Vicario, who has interest from Italian clubs including Juventus and Lazio. Kinsky is currently 18 months into a five year contract, but a new deal would probably tack on a year to what’s left and also give him a vastly improved salary, commensurate to his status as Spurs’ starting keeper.

This would leave Spurs with a keeper corps of Kinsky, Dubravka, and homegrown/club-trained academy graduate Brandon Austin.

It’s a remarkable turnaround for Kinsky, who was humiliated last spring after slipping twice on the pitch at the Wanda and conceding three early goals to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, before being humiliatingly subbed off by then-interim manager Igor Tudor. When Vicario was out injured after undergoing minor surgery, Kinsky took his redemption opportunity in both hands and put in a string of excellent performances at the end of last season under Roberto De Zerbi. The club clearly now thinks that Kinsky, 23, is ready to make the step up.

Playing a young keeper is always something of a gamble, but it’s a wonderful opportunity as well. Hugo Lloris was 25 when he joined Spurs in 2006 and he turned out to be one of Tottenham’s best keepers of all time. I’m not saying Antonin Kinsky will reach those heights, but considering his age he has the chance to establish himself now as Spurs’ long time #1. If he can do that, I don’t think anyone will be unhappy.

Georges St-Pierre has advised Conor McGregor on what he needs to do for a successful UFC comeback.

McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) returns from a five-year layoff to rematch Max Holloway (27-9 MMA, 23-9 UFC) in the UFC 329 main event on July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (Paramount+). Not only has 37-year-old McGregor been away from competition for years, he will fight for the first time since breaking his leg in a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021.

"I love both fighters. I love to watch them both. I'm a big fan of both," St-Pierre said of McGregor vs. Holloway on "The Break Talk." "I think if Conor can put himself back into the grind and be hungry, into that hell zone, he has to see it in a way that he's in the tunnel, but the light is after the fight. 'I have to go through that journey in order to see the light, but I'm not going to put myself in the light until I'm done with the fight.' If he puts himself in that zone, we're going to have a hell of a fight."

According to FanDuel, ex-UFC featherweight champion Holloway is a moderate -250 favorite over former UFC dual-champion McGregor, who is a +190 underdog. McGregor won their first outing at featherweight in 2013 by unanimous decision.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 329: Legend says McGregor must embrace 'hell zone' vs. Holloway

Greetings, Bengals fans!

With the offseason now in full swing with OTAs concluding, the Bengals can now focus on getting new deals done for cornerbacks DJ Turner and Dax Hill, as well as running back Chase Brown. All three are set to be unrestricted free agents in 2027, though Turner is likely the one they’ll prioritize since he’s already playing at a very high level, while there’s a premium put on boundary corners at his level.

However, it’s a little dicier for Hill and Brown, especially since the Bengals have limited cap space at the moment. I believe the team will focus on getting a deal done for Turner first, and assuming that’s a deal that makes him one of the higher-paid corners in football, there’s a chance that the team only has enough money to get a new deal done this year for just one of Hill/Brown.

If that’s the case, who should get a new deal? Hill has shown some real promise as a boundary corner, but he has yet to put a full season together.

Brown, meanwhile, is already one of the AFC’s better running backs, but he plays a position with far less value than a boundary corner. He also already has a lot of wear on his tires after logging 734 offensive touches across five college seasons, to go with 642 more in three NFL seasons.

So, if you had to choose, who are you giving a contract extension to?

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Bengals fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.Follow our Twitter and Facebook pages for more Cincinnati Bengals news. Who Dey!!

The White Sox have a chance to sweep their division rivals after reclaiming first place from the Guardians after Tuesday’s win. The pitching matchups are fairly even, with Erick Fedde (2-6, 4.48 ERA) facing a struggling Tanner Bibee (2-8, 4.03 ERA). White Sox batters will need to be cognizant of Bibee’s strikeouts, however. While his pitching stats don’t seem anything special on paper, Bibee has punched out 78 batters on the season so far.

Chris Murphy will be used as an opener for Fedde in this afternoon’s contest. Sam Antonacci gets to lead it off today, and Kyle Teel is back behind the plate and batting cleanup. His season debut didn’t go well on Monday night, so hopefully he can bounce back and produce a few hits like we saw in Charlotte.

As mentioned above, Bibee excels at striking out batters. Cleveland always manages to put on pitching clinics, but at this moment in time, that’s all they really have. Bibee also has 40 earned runs on his tab, and has not had a lot of luck in his last seven games.

First pitch is at 1:10 p.m. CT. You can watch the game on CHSN or listen on ESPN Chicago 1000.

BrewDog and Tilray Brands are prepared to pick up what they say could become the world’s biggest bar tab.

The beer companies announced Wednesday that they will give away up to £1 million (approximately $1.3 million) worth of free pints if England, Scotland or the United States reaches the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Under the promotion, fans wearing the jersey of one of the qualifying teams would be eligible to receive up to two free pints at participating BrewDog pubs and Tilray-owned brewpubs beginning July 20, the day after the World Cup final.

The offer would only be activated if one of the three national teams advances to the tournament’s championship match.

“Sport has an extraordinary ability to unite people across communities, cultures and nations through moments of pride and shared celebration — and great bars have always been places where fans come together to enjoy the match, share great conversations and raise a beer or two,” Tilray Brands Chairman and CEO Irwin Simon said in a news release.

The promotion spans participating BrewDog locations in Scotland, England, Ireland and Las Vegas, as well as several Tilray-owned brewery brands in the United States, including SweetWater Brewing, 10 Barrel Brewing, Blue Point Brewery, Breckenridge Brewery, Montauk Brewing and Terrapin.

Fans will be able to redeem the offer on a first-come, first-served basis while funds and beer supplies last. The companies said eligible customers must wear an England, Scotland or U.S. national team jersey and meet all local legal drinking age requirements.

The giveaway comes as soccer fever continues to sweep host cities across North America during the expanded 2026 World Cup. The tournament has already generated headlines for its impact on local bars and breweries, particularly in Boston, where thousands of Scottish supporters helped drive beer sales to record levels during Scotland’s opening matches.

BrewDog said the promotion is part of its broader effort to position its pubs as destinations for sports fans throughout the summer. Participating locations are also hosting watch parties and events tied to major sporting competitions, including international soccer, auto racing, golf and tennis.

“This promotion reflects the strength of Tilray Brands’ beverage platform and our commitment to creating meaningful experiences that positively impact the communities where we operate,” Simon said.

If none of the three teams reaches the World Cup final, the £1 million tab will never be opened. But if England, Scotland or the United States makes a championship run, fans could find themselves celebrating with free beer on the companies’ dime.

Founded by Dan Abrams, The Daily Pour is the ultimate drinking guide for the modern consumer, covering spirits, non-alcoholic and hemp beverages. With its unique combination of cross-category coverage and signature rating system that aggregates reviews from trusted critics across the internet, The Daily Pour sets the standard as the leading authority in helping consumers discover, compare and enjoy the best of today's evolving drinks landscape.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In many ways, college athletics is emblematic of American society, and in American society, no individual can escape the mouth-watering desire of promotion.

The salesperson dreams of being the CEO.

The store clerk works to become the manager.

The shift supervisor hopes to one day own the company.

In college athletics, universities exist in a state of perpetual ambition to leave their own neighborhood for the more luxurious, gated community down the street, where a pool of bigger brands increases their property value.

You know it as "conference realignment," but, really, it is the art of increasing one's value by closely associating with more premium properties. For instance, Texas moved into the same neighborhood as Alabama and Georgia; and USC is now sharing a street with Ohio State and Michigan.

Conference realignment is as consistent of a concept within college athletics as football coaching changes — so prevalent over the last decade or more a sort-of motto has emerged.

"Conference realignment never sleeps," those in the industry often say.

However, according to a congressional bill that's on the doorstep of a vote here in the U.S. Senate, conference realignment will get some deep rest.

In fact, the Protect College Sports Act kills realignment at the major conference level if it becomes law.

In Section 205 of the latest revised copy of the 116-page legislation, conferences earning at least $700 million in revenue are prohibited from merging with one another or acquiring new members. This means the SEC, Big Ten, ACC and Big 12 would no longer be able to add membership.

Not only does the concept freeze in place the current membership of the power leagues — most notably locking in restless ACC schools like Clemson, FSU, Miami and North Carolina — but it prevents schools in the Group of 6 conferences, such as the Sun Belt, Mountain West or American, from joining the big leagues.

"They've locked us in," says one G6 conference athletic director.

While some interpret Section 205 differently, those who helped develop the language on Capitol Hill confirmed with Yahoo Sports that the provision prevents the four conferences from acquiring any new member — even those in the G6.

In crystallizing current league membership, the bill has caught the attention of college administrators who have in turn conveyed their feelings to their own state lawmakers.

After all, conference realignment is a "natural" economic reality playing out broadly in American society, says Andy Schwarz, a California-based economist specializing in sport economics. The small local chains are "dying," he says, only to be replaced with big brands whose goal it is to consolidate their own value.

"In America, there are these two strains: You want to be an economic powerhouse but also want to be fair to the little guy," Schwarz said in a previous interview. "There's a point when the Amazons of the world say, 'I don't need to be fair to the little guy any longer.'"

Is the bill accelerating realignment discussions?

Realignment discussions never stop completely.

Intermediaries and third parties — perhaps even school executives themselves — remain embroiled in dialogue with conferences that they most wish to join.

And now, given the bill's anti-expansion provision, those discussions have accelerated, according to several officials with knowledge of the talks. Are they accelerating to a place of imminent action? No.

But the bill would apply immediately on the date in which President Donald Trump signs, freezing conference membership for an indeterminate amount of time (no sunset provision). It creates a quasi-deadline now on realignment.

"It has put a shot clock on it," said one power league athletic director.

If you don't move before it becomes law, "You're screwed," says another high-ranking administrator in a power conference.

The language, though, is not set in stone.

In fact, the expansion situation directly impacts both of the bill's authors, Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), who each have in their representative footprint multiple non-power league programs who aspire to gain power conference membership or, better yet, hope to regain such (ie: Washington State, the poster child for realignment).

Reached for comment about the provision's impact on schools like Washington State, a spokesperson for Cantwell sent to Yahoo Sports a statement suggesting possible changes: "There will be conversations with more members in both chambers as this bill progresses forward and there may be some modifications."

Over the last month, Cantwell herself has bemoaned the Pac-12's fate at the hands of the Big Ten. In a hearing earlier this month, Cantwell suggested that the SEC and Big Ten may soon "eat the best parts" of the ACC and Big 12 in a similar way in which the Big Ten raided the Pac-12.

Last week, she told reporters here that the expansion provision is intended to ensure that no other schools "break away" and she said she wants to "go back to regionalism."

"Look what happened with our Pac-12," Cantwell later added. "[Big Ten] got USC and UCLA to jump and then what was UW's choice? They had to jump."

It's no secret: Plenty of ACC programs are interested in a promotion to the SEC or Big Ten. After all, two ACC members (Clemson and FSU) filed lawsuits against the conference and only settled those cases upon the league agreeing to create an uneven revenue distribution structure as well as establish more formal exit fees.

The latter is a signal of their ultimate desire: They want to leave and they'd like to know how much it will cost.

If an ACC school intends to leave the conference, it must officially notify the league in writing on or before June 1 of the preceding year to be granted an exit on June 30 of the following year.

The exit fee for leaving next year is $129 million.

In an interesting wrinkle, seven ACC universities did not independently send a letter to lawmakers supportive of the legislation (Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Cal, Miami and Virginia), according to documents released by the Senate Commerce Committee.

Perhaps this was an intentional move as not to (1) anger the Big Ten and SEC, which are opposed to the bill; and (2) because they themselves are against a bill that may prevent them from promotion.

However, North Carolina's chancellor, Lee Roberts, was one of five presidents or chancellors from the state's FBS universities to sign a letter to lawmakers. While the letter was supportive of the legislation, some may interpret it as only expressing gratitude for the work.

Either way, the legislation's anti-expansion provision has caught the attention of a great many people. The section also seems to prohibit "an independent institution" (i.e. Notre Dame) from joining any league earning at least $700 million in revenue.

One thing is clear: Realignment conversations are accelerating because of provisions in the bill. As suggested by Miami president Joe Echevarria during a recent interview with the city's WQAM radio:

"We as a university are playing for the next contract, are not playing for the one we're in," he said. "So however the realignments occur, whatever may occur, we are going to be invited where the leading one is. They won't leave us out."

What other concepts are in the bill and will it pass?

The main portion of the legislation grants the NCAA and College Sports Commission a limited liability protection around several key areas:

- Transfers: restores the one-time limitation.

- Eligibility: implements a five-year standard and bans pro players.

- Revenue-share cap: more restrictive cap circumvention.

There are issues with the third prong, which Yahoo Sports detailed in a story last week. The restrictions around compensation — prohibiting pay from associated entities — may cost athletes millions of dollars if conference commissioners and the NCAA don't agree to raise the cap.

But there are plenty more concepts in the legislation that could impact the landscape of the industry or have flustered those within it.

The SEC and Big Ten's opposition to the bill mostly centers around the leagues believing that the antitrust provisions around transfers and eligibility are still subject to state laws and legal challenges from athletes through a private-right-of-action section that they believe is too broad.

But another issue for the Big Ten and SEC is the bill's option for FBS conferences to pool their media rights, which they are against. And they are skeptical of how optional it truly is. "I need to really see that it's voluntary," SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said three weeks ago during an interview with Paul Finebaum.

Sankey and Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti have been critical of the bill "singling out" their leagues with the pooling-of-rights concept and anti-expansion clause, so much so that lawmakers agreed to apply the anti-expansion provision to the other power leagues too in a recent change made to the section.

The Senate Commerce Committee released a statement last week to Yahoo Sports saying that more adjustments to the anti-expansion clause will be made, including prohibiting outside entities or firms from poaching the biggest brands to form a super league — a request made by both the Big Ten and SEC.

Why did the Big Ten and SEC make such a request? A window into that answer came during Sankey's interview with Finebaum, where he suggested that a private equity-backed firm, Smash Sports, is "pulling strings to accomplish their agenda." Members of Smash Sports, many of them former ESPN executives, have socialized with administrators for more than three years now a concept to reshape college football by pooling FBS media rights. Many leading figures within the Group of 6, ACC and Big 12 have supported Smash's endeavor, even gathering earlier this spring for a meeting in Dallas.

Despite changes to the anti-expansion provision, the SEC and Big Ten remain in opposition.

Can legislation to regulate an industry pass Congress without support from the two biggest stakeholders in that industry? Asked if he had confidence in the bill passing despite the SEC and Big Ten opposed, Cruz offered a quick reply during an interview on June 10: "I do."

The two behemoths cover a 26-state footprint. That's 52 senators. That's also a whopping 318 members of the 435-seat U.S. House of Representatives. Will their lobbying effort against the legislation lead to its demise?

The 19-9 vote last week in the 28-member Senate Commerce Committee — which put the bill a step closer to a full Senate vote — came not necessarily along party lines.

Five of the seven Democrats voting against the bill were from SEC or Big Ten states. The only two Republicans to vote against were as well: Roger Wicker (Miss.) and Todd Young (Ind.).

According to Cruz, Sen. Majority Leader John Thune "intends" to bring the bill to the floor in July. However, the Senate is bogged down with plenty of other matters, including the ongoing war in Iran and the SAVE America Act, a divisive federal election bill.

The clock is ticking and the days are disappearing.

Senators have a two-week Fourth of July recess starting this Friday before returning for 16 working days (four weeks). That stretch ends Aug. 7, at which point a month-long, annual summer recess begins. Legislative work traditionally slows to a crawl the closer it gets to November's mid-term elections.

The bill needs 60 votes in a Senate chamber with a three-person Republican advantage and then must pass the House of Representatives, whose leaders — both from the SEC footprint of Louisiana (Mike Johnson and Steve Scalise) — have expressed opposition to some of the legislation's concepts, as have the Congressional Black Caucus.

In the meantime, the shot clock on realignment ticks away.

The Philadelphia Eagles officially wrapped up their spring workout program earlier this month. Now we’ll take a look at the winners, losers, and I don’t knows (t0day’s focus) that stood out from four media-attended practices.

Disclaimer: These were non-contact drills (no pads) and four practices is a pretty small sample size. There’s still plenty of time for players to change their outlook — for better or for worse — over the course of training camp and preseason games.For historical context, here’s a look at the “IDKs” from this time last year.

I DON’T KNOWS

SEAN MANNION

There are reasons to be encouraged about the Eagles’ new offensive coordinator. Everyone he works with seems to think he’s a pretty smart guy; Jordan Mailata went as far to call him an “evil genius.” Mannion had some good things to say during his sole spring press conference.

There are signs that Mannion is going to help truly evolve the Eagles’ offense. We saw a lot of under-center looks, play-action, motion, etc. during spring practices.

Is Mannion definitely going to help the offense be significantly better in 2026? I do think it’s possible. But I don’t know that I feel confident about it at this point in time. I’m more in the camp of keeping an open mind.

Vic Fangio got the better of Mannion in these spring practices. Does that matter much? Maybe not. It’s probably unfair to expect an offense undergoing schematic changes to be firing on all cylinders in OTAs. Especially when it’s going up against a defense entering Year 3 under one of the best defensive coordinators in the NFL.

Based on what we saw, though, I do think it’s fair to suggest the offense is a work in progress and could take some time to click. Fortunately, there’s still an entire training camp to help work out the kinks.

JALEN HURTS

Let’s get the disclaimers out of the way:

• Hurts is adjusting to (yet another) new offensive coordinator/play-caller.
• Hurts is going up against a high-quality defense.
• Hurts didn’t have some of his top receivers in spring practices.
  • DeVonta Smith missed the last day of minicamp, Makai Lemon missed three of four spring practices due to a hamstring injury, and Dontayvion Wicks missed the first media-attended OTA practice.

All of this acknowledged, I don’t think Hurts had a sharp spring. I don’t think he looked terrible. He was somewhere between those two extremes, hence the “IDK” placement.

It’s good that Hurts seems to be embracing the changes, based on what he’s said and what’s been reported.

I’d also argue that it’s good that he’s in a spot where questions have been raised about his future in Philly. He tends to thrive when the pressure is on and his back is perceived to be against the wall.

I think Hurts could have a good year. But, as is the case with the offense as a whole, it might not be about instant success as much as there’s a build over the course of the season.

NICK SIRIANNI

I promise I’m not trying to make a mountain of a mole hill … but this Sirianni quote from his final spring press conference just does not sit well with me (bold emphasis mine):

Q. You’ve preached since you got him about the importance of winning the turnover battle and protecting the football. Do you have to loosen that at all given that QB Jalen Hurts’ is going to be learning a new offense and there may be some sloppiness and some growing pains early on. Do you have to kind of tolerate maybe the possibility of some more turnovers to get him to where he needs to be?

Nick Sirianni: You’re speaking of just interceptions, right? Because I think fumbles are a different story. Fumbles [have] a fundamental approach to it. I don’t look at fumbles the exact same way as interceptions. Interceptions are happening with decision-making as he goes through reads and stuff like that. So fumbles, never will I ever budge on that because that’s something that’s the backbone of what we do fundamentally. I say to the guys an awful lot that this program and everything we’re built on is built off fundamentals and the most important fundamental that we have is the ball, and it’ll be treated as so. With the way we drill, with the way we coach it, with the way they emphasize it as players, we’re going to continue to pound that and make sure that we’re diligent there.

As far as interceptions, I don’t look at it that way. Jalen knows how important it is for us to take care of the football and we’re going to continue to preach that. That doesn’t mean interceptions don’t happen. Of course they do. It’s a part of the game. But no, as long as I’m the head coach here, we’re going to be very diligent about winning that turnover battle and winning the explosive play battle. I know it’s like, ‘Okay, that sounds simple,’ but there’s an art to it because you’ve got to be able to create explosives in different ways and sometimes that puts the ball at risk, but at the end of the day, that ball is still the most important thing. We’ll know how to create explosives in that time, but taking care of the ball is the most important thing and we’ll talk about this all the time, can we come out of a game with every drive ending in a kick? Whether that’s an extra point, hopefully, whether that’s a field goal or whether that’s a punt.

That’s the mission of how we want to go about our fundamentals.

You can say I’m reading too much into coach-speak but we just witnessed a season where the Eagles led the NFL in three-and-out percentage. We’ve witnessed the offense merely give up on third-and-long with coward’s draws. We’ve seen Sirianni pass on scoring opportunities in end-of-half scenarios.

No one disagrees that turnovers are bad. But if Sirianni continues to emphasize avoidance to the extent that it neuters offensive upside, that would be really disappointing. Especially if Mannion turns out to be pretty good but he’s hampered by the head coach’s overly conservative approach.

DONTAYVION WICKS

I liked the Wicks trade for the Eagles but I was hoping to see more from him this spring. He missed the first media-attended practice (unclear why) and then it didn’t feel like he was active until the final day of minicamp, when neither Smitty nor Lemon were practicing.

Given the way Sirianni talked about him (the head coach said there’s some Keenan Allen to the receiver’s game) and the way the practice reps worked out, Wicks is clearly a top three wide receiver on this team. So, he’s a winner in terms of his standing on the team. But it would be good to see more on-field results.

JALEN CARTER

Carter wasn’t present for the Eagles’ media-attended OTA practices. He did attend two days of mandatory minicamp … but did not participate in team drills. I don’t know if this is a “hold in” for a new contract and/or an effort to preserve him for the regular season. It’ll be interesting to see if Carter fully participates in training camp without first signing a contract extension.

TANNER MCKEE

McKee belongs in the “loser” category in terms of his standing on the team. Entering the spring, no one expected him to be in a battle for QB2. Everyone thought Andy Dalton was QB3. Heck, even the team (through PR channels) suggested the Dalton acquisition had nothing to do with McKee. But that much clearly isn’t true after watching Dalton take the majority of backup quarterback reps during spring practices. Sirianni is insisting that they’re rotating reps … and we did see McKee as Hurts’ primary backup during the Eagles’ final spring practice. But that he’s not already the undisputed QB2 is weird and sort of a concern? McKee did look better than Dalton and I do expect him to prove he’s the top backup quarterback option on the team.

DREW KENDALL

Kendall was a limited participant during spring practices due to an undisclosed injury. The Eagles need him to stay healthy because 1) it remains to be seen if Landon Dickerson and/or Cam Jurgens can avoid injury issues and 2) he might be the top backup at all three interior offensive line positions, like Brett Toth was for the Eagles last year. Kendall has shown glimpses of promise in a small sample size but the second-year blocker clearly lacks experience. This summer will be a big one for him as it relates to earning the coaching staff’s trust.

JOE TRYON-SHOYINKA

JTS originally signed with the Eagles on March 30, didn’t attend their offseason workout program, and then retired. Not sure what happened here.

A.J. EPENESA

The Eagles signed Epenesa right after the conclusion of minicamp. I don’t know what to expect from him after his one-year, $5 million contract agreement with the Cleveland Browns was voided due to a failed physical. He’s joining the Eagles on a deal worth about $1.2 million with just $500,000 guaranteed. BGN’s Jonny Page notes that his film is good but the health is a real question mark.

ELIJAH MOORE

Moore had some good moments in the spring and the coaching staff seems to like him. The question is, how does he fit on the roster? He’s probably behind at least four players (DeVonta Smith, Makai Lemon, Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown). And he’s barely played on special teams in his career.

DARIUS COOPER

My guy DC had a very quiet spring, which is weird because there was opportunity for him to step up when the likes of Smitty/Lemon/Wicks missed time. Nick Sirianni lumped Cooper into the Johnny Wilson ‘dirty work role’ bucket and Wilson had the superior spring. Cooper really came alive in training camp and preseason games last year, so, I wouldn’t count him out just yet. But I wish we had seen more signs of a Year 2 leap to this point.

COLE PAYTON

The Eagles’ in-house entertainment published a video that includes Nick Sirianni and Jeffrey Lurie praising Payton. That itself seems like a good sign for him. The rookie quarterback had some struggles during very limited spring reps but he also showed some promise as well. He looked a little more advanced than I expected him to be as a one-year starter from North Dakota State. I don’t know how he fits on the team. Are the Eagles really going to keep four quarterbacks? Do they risk putting Payton on the practice squad? Does Payton flame out like Kyle McCord did last year? We’ll see.

By the way, to this point, there’s no evidence to believe the Eagles are going to use Payton like Taysom Hill, as has been speculated. (And that’s just because they’re hiding it from everybody!!! But probably not.)

MYLES HINTON

The Eagles were training a rookie Hinton as a tackle last year. Now they’re having him work at left guard. Is this development a good sign for his stock? Maybe it’s a sign that the team is trying to find him a spot to stick around. Or maybe it’s a last ditch desperation effort. I lean towards the former but it is worth noting that Jeff Stoutland seemed to be a big Hinton fan … and he’s no longer around.

WILLIE LAMPKIN

Spring marked the first time we got to see Lampkin participate in team drills with the Eagles since they acquired him after training camp last year. He sure is small! Just looking at him lined up next to his fellow offensive linemen, it’s difficult to envision him having success in the NFL. Maybe he’s the exception, though. Will be really interesting to see how he fares in the preseason games.

UAR BERNARD

I don’t know if Bernard will ever play a regular season snap for the Eagles. He clearly has a long way to go before he’s ready to do so. But I can also totally see why the Eagles took a chance on him. He seems like a good kid and his frame/athleticism is super intriguing.

I also don’t know how the Eagles are going to handle his roster situation this year. If they stash him on injured reserve, he can’t get much-needed practice reps. If they keep him on the 53, he can practice, but then it’s effectively a 52-man roster since he can’t be expected to play as a rookie. Would they risk losing him to waivers? If he clears them, they can keep him on the practice squad as an international exemption who doesn’t count towards that 16-player limit.

DAE’QUAN WRIGHT

By making a few nice catches and showing some YAC potential, this undrafted rookie tight end did just enough this spring to justify my irrational excitement for him. Wright’s going to be my camp crush this year, just like Darius Cooper was last season.

PUNT RETURNER

Who’s going to return punts for the Eagles this season?

Cooper DeJean, James Proche II (a minicamp tryout player who wasn’t signed to the roster), and Elijah Moore were the three guys returning punts (in that order) during the Eagles’ final spring practice. Neither Britain Covey nor Lemon were practicing, so, it’s possible they could be in the mix.

But Covey is hardly a lock to make the team. The Eagles could probably keep him on the practice squad and temporarily elevate him to the game day roster, as they’ve done in the past, if they want to go that route.

Lemon is probably too important on offense and he only returned six punts in college, albeit for a quality 11.6 average.

DeJean is too important on defense, especially now that he’s projected to play 100% of the defensive snaps by serving as the nickel cornerback and a safety in base defense. DeJean might be an option if it’s a desperate situation.

Moore is no lock to make the team and has returned just two punts in the NFL, both back in 2023. He did return 27 punts in college … but just for a 4.9 average, which is bad.

So, I don’t know who’s going to handle these duties. It’s obviously not the most pressing question for the Eagles but it is a situation they’ll have to figure out.

• West Indies win toss and bowl first
• Victory puts England into semi-final
• Women's T20 World Cup, Group 2, Lord's
• Ice packs & F1 cooling vests - England ready for heat

Women's T20 World Cup: England bat first against Windies with semi-final spot at stake

The Kansas City Chiefs have had a busy and productive offseason, but still found time to have some fun during the limited time that players have attended workouts, meetings, and practices at team facilities.

This week, the Chiefs' social media department released a video of a hilarious challenge undertaken by some of Kansas City's biggest stars, which involved imitating the sound of a brass squeeze horn — the kind of aerophone which might be found on a bike or used by a clown.

Take a look at the full video of various Chiefs players attempting the seemingly impossible feat, to comedic effect:

89.9% accuracy 😭 pic.twitter.com/934teMGu3H

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) June 24, 2026

While some stars fared better than others in this unique challenge, the gumption shown by all participants demonstrated the kind of stick-to-itiveness, spontaneity, and adaptability that Kansas City's fans should expect from the Chiefs' newly rebuilt roster, which will need to prove itself during the team's 2026 redemption campaign.

This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Chiefs offseason: KC's stars attempt hilarious social media challenge

Scotland boss Steve Clarke has not let Friday’s defeat to Morocco dampen his sides spirits and belief as they gear up to face Brazil in what could be a huge game should they want to qualify out of this group.

Following a stuttered by relatively assured performance against Haiti in their World Cup opener, Scotland then fell at their next hurdle, conceding within just 70 seconds against Morocco and failing to really lay a glove on their African opponents.

Their opponents made up for a poor first game against Morocco by comfortably beating Haiti in their second, and in truth represent a formidable opponent regardless of the form they find themselves in.

The Scots know they will most likely have to get a result against the five-time winners if they are to have a chance at progressing to the round of 32 for the first time in their history.

But manager Clarke is defiant that his side can still get a result against the giants and has not let Friday’s result get to him or his side.

The 62-year-old said: “We had a fantastic debrief on the Morocco game where I could show them what they can improve on and hopefully we take that into this game.

“I was actually pleased how we responded to a really poor start. I think people forget how games change on a goal.”

Clarke’s side did do a good job at containing what is a brilliant Moroccan side and they will need every ounce of their defensive capabilities if they are to contain a Brazil side with the likes of Vinícius Júnior and Matehus Cunha.

But heading into a match eyeing up a 0-0 usually doesn’t work and Scotland will certainly need to improve the offensive side of their game.

Clarke made it clear that is under scrutiny in the Scotland camp after failing to improve their goal difference against Haiti.

“We were good from back to middle and from middle to final third. But we were not so good after that because we didn’t really create any clear chances,” he said.

“That’s been something we’ve been working on. Especially for games against the top ten teams. It’s an area, if I’m honest, where I’ve been looking for solutions for quite a long time.”

Scotland’s cautious approach has garnered its criticisms however, especially Clarke’s decision to bench winger Ben Gannon-Doak against Morocco – Doak impressed against Haiti and was probably Scotland’s most dangerous player.

But Clarke is paying no mind to outside voices as his squad vigorously prepare for their crunch match at their base in Charlottesville, NC.

He said: “Social media? What’s that? I don’t look at that, I really don’t look at it. If I look at that then I could be affected a little bit – and I value my mental health! It’s important I stay reasonably sane.

“What I would say, though, is that since coming to this camp we’ve concentrated more on attacking play then defensive play.

“We’ve tried to work on that and I think you could see the fruits of it when we played Bolivia before the tournament began.”

Clarkes belief and defiance in his tactics and play-style is what has gotten him so much success with the national team and he looks to make further in-roads by qualifying for the knockout rounds for the first time in Scotland’s history and finally getting over their group stage hoodoo.

Scotland’s pivotal meeting with Brazil kicks off at 23:00 (BST) in Miami, with both history and Clarke’s blushes on the line.

For more detailed reports, reaction, and analysis of the World Cup as it happens, head to our website and favourite our page on OneFootball.

One of manager Mark Kotsay’s flaws has reared its ugly head more than usual of late, and that is a lack of understanding of who his relievers are, what they do well, and just as importantly what they do not do well. Sometimes you get away with “wrong move, right result” and often you do not.

A Costly Blunder

A devastating loss Sunday came when the A’s, poised to take the 3 of 4 they should against the last place Angels, served up 3 in the 7th and 2 in the 9th in a 9-7 gut-puncher.

The blunder came in the 7th inning when Kotsay had to select a reliever to start the inning with a 7-4 lead. He went with Hogan Harris, why? Kotsay has said Harris is “the reliever I trust the most” and also 2 of the 3 batters due up to start the inning batted LH.

Here’s the problem. While valuable and useful for his durability and competitiveness, Harris shouldn’t be the A’s most trusted reliever because he isn’t actually worthy of that moniker. No matter how you slice it, in 36 IP Harris has not only allowed 34 hits he has also walked 24 and hit 3 more.

It’s also foolish to bring in Harris, as Kotsay has repeatedly done, to try to neutralize LH batters because LH batters have a whopping .403 OBP against Harris. And even if you mistakenly believed Harris was a good choice to retire LH batters, that was rendered moot when Vaughn Grissom came up to pinch hit leading off the inning.

It should have come as no surprise that Harris, who issues a freebie of some kind 3 times every 4 innings, hit Grissom with a pitch to lead off the inning. Nolan Schanuel’s seeing eye single was bad luck, but again no shock that a LH batter got a hit off Harris considering they are batting .292 for the season against him. Then came the crippling 3-run HR by Denzer Guzman.

But it goes beyond choosing Harris because of unwarranted “trust”. Mason Barnett was available and while his long term prognosis is still blurred by small sample, you can’t argue with what he has done so far out of the bullpen: 13.2 IP, 7 hits, 1 ER, 7 BB, 18 K. And the lone run came on a solo HR when Barnett was pitching with a 10 run lead; in high leverage he has been nails.

Another Puzzler That Didn’t Cost

Last night once again Kotsay ignored the skill sets of his relievers in a close game. With the A’s trailing just 2-1 he asked Matt Krook to pitch the 5th, then sent him out to begin the 6th. This made sense with the LH batting Jung Hoo Lee leading off. Lee walked, however, and that brought up the RH batting Willy Adames.

By this time Mason Barnett was well warmed up in the bullpen, but for some reason Kotsay decided to stay with Krook. The problem? Check out Krook’s career body of work against RH batters over the 36 batters he has faced: .400/.472/.667.

Kotsay went to Barnett one batter later, and got lucky that it wasn’t “one batter too late” as Adames made solid contact but grounded out. One can imagine maybe Barnett was having trouble getting loose, wasn’t ready, etc., only that would also be on the manager if he didn’t use the top of the 6th to give his reliever ample warning he was going to be summoned in the bottom half.

The pattern you’re seeing is a manager who seems to think that Harris is a good choice against LH batters and a great choice for high leverage in general, that Krook can handle RH batters too, that Barnett is nothing special and can be burned for 2 IP in a blowout then not used in high leverage — none of which is true based on the actual stats, performances, available data and information.

If you don’t understand your own players, it’s hard to use them correctly. You wind up acting like Lawrence Butler is a capable CFer and that the AL’s RBI leader should bat lead off. The A’s just don’t have a strong enough bullpen to also be used improperly, and yet there you have it. And it’s costing the team actual wins they don’t have to give.

Luckily, Gage Jump is the type of pitcher who tends to make a manager look smart no matter what he does. Jump goes tonight in as close to a must-win as you’ll find in June as the A’s try to avoid losing contact with the .500 mark in a weak AL that still won’t send a sub-.500 team to the post-season. Here’s hoping Kotsay doesn’t yank him in the 3rd inning of a 0-0 game to play the platoon match ups.

Seahawks contract extension talks with Devon Witherspoon are not going 'smoothly' originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Seattle Seahawks spent a fortune on Jaxon Smith-Njigba this offseason, and he's not the only 2023 draft pick that the Seahawks are planning to sign to a long-term deal.

Cornerback Devon Witherspoon is someone the Seahawks are trying to sign to an extension, which would likely pay him over $120 million over four years, depending on how much of a record-breaker his new deal is.

But, according to ESPN's Brady Henderson, the Seahawks and Witherspoon's contract talks are not going "smoothly." This is some bad news, even if only temporary, until the two sides agree to the huge new deal that both sides want.

Seahawks contract talks with Devon Witherspoon aren't going 'smoothly'

"Those negotiations haven't gone as smoothly, with no deal yet despite the fact that Seattle made its initial offer three months ago," Henderson writes.

Seattle hasn't been able to come to terms with Witherspoon, as the two sides aren't in smooth contract talks like how things went for JSN earlier this offseason.

While Henderson is reporting that the Seahawks are likely to make Witherspoon the "league's highest paid corner" when this extension is signed, no such deal is close.

The three-time Pro Bowl cornerback is someone the Seahawks should be willing to spend a fortune on. With the Los Angeles Rams spending $124 million over four years on Trent McDuffie, Witherspoon has a target to reach.

MORE: Seahawks’ Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s 2025 breakout called for real: ‘He’s perfect’

If Seattle want's to keep Witherspoon around for a long time, signing an extension worth over $31 million per-year is likely what they'll have to do.

The sooner, the better for the Seahawks. With New England Patriots' Christian Gonzalez also looking for a huge extension, the Seahawks might have to spend even more on Witherspoon if Gonzalez sets a new benchmark.

If both teams wait until next year's offseason to sign new deals, the Philadelphia Eagles, with Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, could throw a wrench in their extension plans.

It's clear the Seahawks should try to get a deal done sooner rather than later, but with these contract talks not going as smoothly as those with Smith-Njigba, this extension might not be that easy to agree to for Seattle.

More NFL news:

• Dolphins’ Greg Dulcich is a rising offensive star and a fantasy football sleeper
• 49ers urged to finally end Brandon Aiyuk saga with two possible solutions
• Rams urged to extend an offensive lineman before an extension of Puka Nacua
• Bears urged to sign ex-Bills, Chargers edge rusher Joey Bosa
• Bengals urged to sign ex-Giants, Colts LB Bobby Okereke

Aston Villa could be banned from selling tickets for a European away game next season following an incident at the Europa League final.

Villa beat Freiburg 3-0 in Istanbul on 20 May with goals from Youri Tielemens, Morgan Rogers and Emi Buendia.

But the Villans were subsequently charged by Uefa over racist and/or discriminatory behaviour of their supporters during the game.

BBC Sport understands a banner was displayed which was of an offensive and derogatory nature.

On Wednesday, Uefa announced that Villa had been fined €10,000 (£8,600) and their fans given a suspended ban from attending a game.

A Uefa statement said the "ban from selling tickets to its away supporters is suspended for a probationary period of two years, starting from the date of the present decision".

If there is a repeat of the behaviour Uefa can trigger the ban.

Villa earned a return to the Champions League next season by finishing fourth in the Premier League, though they also earned the right by lifting the Europa League trophy.

• Latest Aston Villa news, analysis and fan views
• Ask about Aston Villa - what do you want to know?

After three seasons together with the Baltimore Ravens, Todd Monken and Lamar Jackson will be on different sidelines in 2026.

Not only did Monken land a head-coaching gig, he joined Baltimore’s AFC North rival, the Cleveland Browns.

Now, Monken will be squaring off against his former quarterback twice a year for the foreseeable future.

Despite now being foes, Jackson reached out to Monken to congratulate him for landing the new job when it happened back in January.

Monken jokingly responded with a hilarious text that included an F-bomb, according to Brian Wacker of The Baltimore Sun.

“Then I said, ‘Go f–k yourself. We are going to blitz you every third down,'” Monken revealed.

MORE: Marvin Mims gets brutally honest over Broncos offseason moves

Monken’s three-year tenure in Baltimore was going to end no matter what.

That’s because Baltimore decided to part ways with long-time head coach John Harbaugh, who also landed on his feet as the head coach of the New York Giants.

Monken was slated to follow Harbaugh to New York before he was hired by Cleveland.

“It tells you how fickle, just in general, life is,” Monken said. “From the year before, if you’d have told me that we’d have been fired after the year we had offensively… I’ll give it this, coaches, for the most part the players, never quit.”

A tough road ahead for Todd Monken

Todd Monken takes over a Browns team that is in the midst of what figures to be a lengthy rebuild.

Monken’s tenure has already been eventful after the Browns traded Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams in a blockbuster deal earler this month.

Cleveland has work to do all over its roster, including at quarterback, where the Browns don’t have a locked-in long-term solution under center for Monken’s offense.

MORE: Brendan Sorsby could have one longshot option left

The Browns have a competition going between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, but only Sanders offers a possible long-term answer for Cleveland.

If he proves not to be, the Browns will have an opportunity to get their guy in 2027, when the NFL Draft is expected to be loaded at the position.

Lamar Jackson’s murky future

The Baltimore Ravens were hoping to get a long-term contract extension done with Jackson this offseason in order to lower his 2026 cap hit.

The two sides did not get it done and instead opted for a restructure that kicks the can down the road to 2027, when Jackson’s cap hit will be nearly $85 million in what is the final year of his current contract.

Jackson will also be in the final year of his contract next year, so that only adds to the suspense.

As expected, Alessio Romagnoli will complete his medical tests with Al-Sadd after contracts were signed, but Lazio defender Mario Gila is torn between Napoli and Atalanta.

The Aquile are once again busy largely with exits on the transfer market in the early part of the summer, though some deals had been months in the making.

Lazio exits for Romagnoli and perhaps Gila

BERGAMO, ITALY – APRIL 22: Alessio Romagnoli of SS Lazio celebrates a opening goal during the Coppa Italia semi-final match between Atalanta BC and SS Lazio at New Balance Arena on April 22, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

Romagnoli had already said goodbye to the fans in January when he assumed that a move to Al-Sadd would be completed, but his club blocked the exit.

He returned to work with the promise that he would be allowed to go to Qatar in the summer, and that is now happening, with multiple sources including Sky Sport Italia and Fabrizio Romano all saying the paperwork has been signed.

All he needs to do now is undergo the medical tests and be presented as their new player at a cost of circa €3m.

ROME, ITALY – MARCH 15: Mario Gila celebrates a victory after the Serie A match between SS Lazio and AC Milan at Stadio Olimpico on March 15, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Sportitalia transfer expert Alfredo Pedullà warns that the situation is getting complicated for another Lazio defender, Mario Gila.

His contract is due to expire in June 2027 and there seems to be no sign of a renewal, yet the Aquile are also hesitant to accept a bid from Napoli, believed to be worth €15m plus add-ons.

This is also because as part of his original transfer, they owe Real Madrid 50 per cent of the sale, so are tempted to simply keep him on until his contract runs down.

However, Pedullà claims that Atalanta have now made a new approach for Gila and are prepared to pay over €20m, including various performance-related bonuses.

It would enable the Spaniard to reunite with his old Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri, now in Bergamo.

Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes has made a huge decision on his future that will send fans into a frenzy. The Portuguese stalwart is coming off an exceptional season with the Red Devils, in which he played a key role in their third-placed finish in the Premier League.

Fernandes created history by registering 21 league assists, the most in a single season in the Premier League era. His efforts saw him win the FWA Footballer of the Year and the Premier League Player of the Season awards, while also picking up a record fifth Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year trophy.

Bruno Fernandes Stats: 2025/26 Season

Source: Transfermarkt.

Fernandes is now only the third player after Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs to register 100 goals and 100 assists for the English giants in their history. The 31 year old has registered 107 goals and 108 assists in 327 appearances for United to date.

However, the player will enter the final year of his contract this summer, although the Red Devils have an option for an additional year. This has added to speculation over his future, especially given how important he has been for the club since his arrival.

Fernandes remains linked with an exit

Fernandes was heavily linked with an exit from Old Trafford last summer amid interest from the Middle East, but ended up staying. It was later reported that former head coach Ruben Amorim played a key part in convincing the United skipper to turn down lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia.

While Amorim left in the middle of the season, Fernandes hit a higher gear under his successor Michael Carrick, whose decision to reinstate the player in the No. 10 role turned out to be a brainwave. However, with the Portuguese Magnifico yet to sign a new deal at the Theatre of Dreams, fans will be shifting nervously in their seats.

With United looking to invest heavily in the squad over the summer, there is optimism in the air ahead of the new season. The English giants have reportedly secured the signature of Atalanta midfielder Ederson, and more additions are expected to follow.

However, Fernandes’ future remains a talking point at the moment, although a previous report states that United are keen to tie him down to a new deal. An update on the Portuguese’s future has now emerged that will delight fans.

Fernandes wants United stay

According to talkSPORT, Fernandes has already told his teammates that he intends to continue with United. The report states: “Bruno Fernandes is set to stay at Manchester United, talkSPORT understands.”

“Although Fernandes didn’t hold any formal talks with the club over his future before the World Cup, he has already told teammates and those close to his circle that he intends to remain.”

The report goes on to state that clubs in the Middle East were hoping to convince the Portuguese to move after the World Cup, but they are in for disappointment. It continues: “Saudi dealmakers had hoped Fernandes might be open to leaving Manchester United after the World Cup, but talkSPORT understands the Portugal international plans to stay for at least one more year.”

Fernandes has carried his good form into the 2026 FIFA World Cup and picked up an assist in the 5-0 win over Uzbekistan on Tuesday, 23 June.

Final Thoughts

United are hoping to compete with the best in Europe next season, and it is already clear that they need Fernandes running the show for that to happen. With the Portuguese open to a stay, INEOS must wrap up his future at the earliest to avoid any complications.

Featured image Steve Bardens via Getty Images

online polls

The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

The college football season is just around the corner, which means it is almost time for conference media days.

The Oregon Ducks will send a contingent to Chicago next month for the 2026 Big Ten Football Media Days to discuss the upcoming season, different issues around college athletics, and more. The three-day event will be hosted at the Hilton Chicago, beginning on July 28.

Alongside coach Dan Lanning, Oregon will send three star players to the annual media conference. Quarterback Dante Moore, tight end Jamari Johnson and edge rusher Teitum Tuioti will all make the trip to the windy city as well.

Oregon’s attendees will participate in media days on July 29, the second day of the event. They will be joined by groups from Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Purdue and UCLA.

Lanning, Moore and Johnson are currently in Tokyo for the first Tokyo Oregon Football Showcase. The three will fire up the jet again this summer to make their way to Chicago. As coach of the Ducks, Lanning is the only representative from Oregon making the trip to conference media days for the second year in a row.

Last summer, Oregon sent linebacker Bryce Boettcher, edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei and tight end Kenyon Sadiq to media days. Moore is the biggest addition, now having a season in Eugene as the starter under his belt and becoming a preseason frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy and the top pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.

Tuioti earned third-team All-Big Ten honors last season after leading the Ducks with 9.5 sacks as a junior. Johnson will step in as the new starting tight end after a fantastic first season in Eugene, when he made 32 catches for 510 yards and three touchdowns.

When the Ducks arrive on the stage in Chicago, Lanning will likely face tough questions about the state of the sport, ranging from his support of a 24-team playoff model, the change to a “five-for-five” age-based eligibility model, and the impacts of NIL on the program and the rest of the sport.

Big Ten Football Media Days will be televised live on Big Ten Network. Individual start times for each program will be announced at a later date.

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: Big Ten announces who will represent Oregon Ducks at media days

On Wednesday morning, in temperatures hot enough to make a statue sweat, England were training at Trent Bridge.

A speaker was placed near the square and American rock band Fallout Boy formed part of the soundtrack.

"Sugar, we're goin' down swinging'" might not have been an ideal choice given recent events in a London nightclub.

Perhaps those lyrics reflect the mood in the camp after a fortnight that will live in English cricketing infamy.

After all the talk of curfews, investigations and who is friends with who, England are once again in must-win territory. Level at 1-1 with New Zealand, without a series win in 18 months and owning only two victories in their past nine Tests.

With the added context of everything that has been going on off the field, returning captain Ben Stokes said this is the "highest pressure" of his four years in charge.

How many times can England drink in the Last Chance Saloon?

At 2-0 down in the home Ashes of 2023, this regime may have crumbled had England not won the third Test at Headingley.

Surely someone would have carried the can if the away Ashes had been lost 5-0, a clean sweep avoided when England scraped a win in Melbourne. What if Sam Curran had not defended 10 runs in the final over against Nepal to avoid an all-timer of a shock at the T20 World Cup?

Here we are again.

It is not certain a loss in Nottingham will result with a head on a spike, though the noise that was deafening in the aftermath of the Ashes will be amplified again. How many defeats are too many? How much chaos is too much? When can a reset not be reset?

Stokes was honest and almost emotional when he spoke on Wednesday, describing what he had been through in the past two weeks. If he looked flustered, he had just come from more than an hour batting in the nets.

Some noticed the skipper only referred to his time as captain in the short term, with lots of mentions of "this week". He also said he loves being an England player and loves being captain, so it feels unlikely that a departure is imminent.

Once again, Stokes was adamant there is no issue between him and head coach Brendon McCullum, echoing what McCullum said on Tuesday. Perhaps we must take that at face value. Both have said they are "good mates".

But Stokes was not forthcoming when asked about the support he has or hasn't had from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

"It was a process that needed to be played out. The process has been played out," he said.

At this point, it's important to stress the ECB have denied he was asked to resign the captaincy. When it was put to a senior source that someone wanted him out, the word used to rebuff the suggestion is unprintable.

Neither ECB chief executive Richard Gould nor chairman Richard Thompson have spoken publicly, so have not answered questions on their stance.

Besides, if Stokes leaves nightclubs before the curfew, his interaction with the board will be limited, so long as England start winning Test matches.

And, if there was mitigation for the defeat in the second Test, there is no hiding place this week.

England have their first-choice XI at Trent Bridge, and Stokes needs some of his big names to step up.

At times, Jofra Archer looked electric at The Oval, and at others he looked short of match fitness. He needs to repay the slack that allowed him a full Indian Premier League stint.

The same goes for Jacob Bethell, who has batted only 14 times in red-ball cricket in the past 18 months. Almost a third of Bethell's runs from his eight-Test career came in his breakthrough hundred in Sydney, a knock he cannot dine out on forever.

Stokes went in to bat for Ben Duckett in the aftermath of the Noosa social media video, and now Stokes needs Duckett to bat for him – literally. The opener has not made a half-century in his past 14 Test innings.

In terms of doing all they can to get the right results, England are certainly looking much more focused than they did in Australia.

There has been an acceptance they were understaffed in the coaching department and the beefed-up backroom has improved training.

Jamie Smith barely did a wicketkeeping drill in Australia, yet has been worked hard by Sarah Taylor, who on Tuesday was also teaching a throwing technique to Josh Tongue to help with his troublesome shoulder.

Jeetan Patel has been able to give more attention to Shoaib Bashir and more coaches has meant more attention for batters in the nets.

Trent Bridge has been kind to some of this England team. It is home for Duckett and Tongue, while Joe Root averages nearly 70 here. Almost a quarter of Bashir's 68 Test wickets have come in two matches in Nottingham.

As for Stokes, this is where he sealed his only Ashes series triumph – the one-handed wonder catch off a stunned Stuart Broad in 2015. Trent Bridge is the spiritual home of Bazball, the win over New Zealand four years ago, with Stokes as the non-striker as Jonny Bairstow hit the ball further and further into the stands.

This is also the ground where Stokes played his first Test after being cleared of affray in 2018. On that occasion, there were some boos. That feels unlikely this week.

"The atmosphere is always mint," said Stokes. "I don't think it will be any different this week.

"After everything has gone on in the past two weeks, yes, I appreciate the support, but also the team appreciates it.

"Don't feel like you've only got to cheer bigger for me, make sure you cheer as big as you can for the other 10 players that are going out to play for the country as well because we'll all be busting a gut to get that series win."

Going down swinging? We'll see.

• Stokes reveals 'highest pressure' of England captaincy
• McCullum confused by stories of rift as Stokes returns
• Get cricket news sent straight to your phone

Josh Hart pokes fun at Jalen Brunson's 'King' treatment in New York feature originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Former Villanova teammates Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson landed the New York Knicks their first NBA championship in 53 years. This marks their second team triumph together since winning the national championship with Villanova a decade ago.

Brunson, the Finals MVP, is being celebrated all over in the Big Apple. The Knicks superstar recently appeared on the cover of New York magazine in a feature headlined:

"It's Good to be King."

The cover line identified Brunson as a player who "takes it all in."

Cover of New York Magazine: pic.twitter.com/vMHzM2gRNd

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 24, 2026

The post drew a lot of reactions on X, but the best part came from Hart. The Villanova teammate pulled Brunson's leg with the following response:

"I beg your pardon….HE DOES WHAT??"

I beg your pardon….HE DOES WHAT?? https://t.co/ytINJ3Gdqs

— Josh Hart (@joshhart) June 24, 2026

Hart perfectly ridiculed his teammate in a way only he can. However, don't let their sense of humor run your imaginations wild. Just a few weeks back, Brunson roasted Hart by reminding him that he and Mikal Bridges have won one more national championship than him.

MORE: Knicks signing 6-foot-9 NBA champion forward to help Jalen Brunson

Jalen Brunson reveals emotional text message he received from Josh Hart

Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart have a habit of pulling each other's legs. But in their heart, they really embrace each other and like each other's presence.

After winning the NBA title, Brunson appeared on the “TODAY” show with Jenna Bush Hager, where he revealed the emotional text message he received from the Knicks veteran.

"He was like, ‘I don’t know if I can say this in person because I may be emotional, but I really love you guys, and it really means the most to me to know you guys are here doing this with me.’ So we have a special bond,” Brunson said.

Brunson, Bridges and Hart won the 2016 national championship with Villanova. Hart declared for the NBA draft and was picked in the first round (30th overall) of the 2017 NBA draft. Meanwhile, the other two stayed back for the 2017-18 season and won the 2018 NCAA national championship.

More NBA news:

• LeBron James to Cavaliers trade talk gets major Jarrett Allen twist
• Lakers shower Austin Reaves with biggest payday for undrafted player
• Thunder's latest chess move could be all about Victor Wembanyama
• Grading the Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster trade
• NBA Draft grades 2026: Live results and analysis for every pick in Round 1, from AJ Dybantsa to Bennett Stirtz

Following yet another depressing loss in Petco Park for the Atlanta Braves, some changes have been made and there’s some good news as far as the bullpen is concerned. Tyler Kinley is back healthy after dealing with “right elbow inflammation” and has been reinstated from the 15-day IL as a result.

This is very big news and not just because of the fact that Kinley had been turning things around before his IL stint after a rough first on the mound. Ever since May 13, Kinley had produced a 2.45 ERA (59 ERA-) and a 3.56 FIP (87 FIP-) across the 12 appearances he made leading up to his IL stint. Getting Kinley back will be huge since the bullpen was starting to show some signs of wear. Due to Robert Suarez’s forearm issues, Carlos Carrasco ended up pitching two high-leverage innings and to be quite honest, that’s just not an ideal situation for the Braves in this particular moment in time. So yeah, getting Kinley back will be massive for a bullpen that has largely kept it pushing despite dealing with whatever woes may come their way.

Speaking of Carrasco, he’s going back on the DFA cycle following last night’s performance and he’s been subsequently replaced by Ian Hamilton. So far, Hamilton has pitched one inning for the Braves and it was back on April 21 when he gave up three runs on two hits and two walks, so I’d imagine that you can guess that the Braves are doing this simply to have another arm available until Cookie does his latest circuit on the DFA cycle and they can bring him back again.

Meanwhile, the corresponding move for Tyler Kinley was that JR Ritchie was sent back down to Triple-A Gwinnett following his efforts on Tuesday in San Diego. As admirably as Ritchie performed in getting through five innings in each of his past three starts, giving up five runs each to the Giants and Padres is certainly not conducive to success — especially in a situation where the Braves are badly in need of consistent and stable starting pitching. Ritchie did end up with seven strikeouts on the night but he also walked four and gave up five hits on his way to giving up those five runs (four earned) and it also came as a bit of a gut punch since it happened all in the frame immediately after Atlanta had score four runs, themselves.

So while Ritchie has shown some promise during his time with the Braves so far this season, it’s clear that he’s going to need a bit more work in the minors before this the big leagues becomes his permanent home station. For now, the Braves do get one of their more effective relievers back from the injury list so that’s one less thing to worry about for the time being. It’s one thing but it’s a big thing.

Chelsea are demanding £75 million for defender Malo Gusto, with Manchester City among the clubs showing interest in the France international.

While the Blues do not actively want to offload the player, whom they consider a valued member of their squad, they would be prepared to entertain offers should their valuation be met.

Gusto, who arrived at Stamford Bridge from Lyon for approximately £30 million in 2023, is understood to be open to departing west London. Several other clubs, in addition to City, are also believed to be monitoring the situation of the 23-year-old who impressed during his debut season in England under Mauricio Pochettino before his progress stalled under Enzo Maresca.

A potential move to the Etihad Stadium could see Gusto reunited with Maresca, who is widely expected to be confirmed as City's new manager in the coming days, replacing Pep Guardiola. Gusto recently featured in France’s 3-0 World Cup victory over Iraq on Monday.

The west London club faces pressure to sell players this summer to comply with financial regulations, particularly after failing to qualify for European competition for the second time in four seasons. The defence is an area where the squad is currently overstocked, making it a likely source of departures.

Beyond Gusto, Chelsea's defensive options include Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, Tosin Adarabioyo, Mamadou Sarr, Aaron Anselmino, Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile, and Josh Acheampong, all of whom will be available to the club's incoming manager Xabi Alonso.

Meanwhile, a deal is understood to have been agreed for Atalanta right-back Marco Palestra, a 21-year-old with two Italy caps who played 37 times in Serie A last season on loan at Cagliari.

This comes after Chelsea missed out on signing Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet in January, who opted to join Liverpool instead.

Gusto has made 134 appearances for Chelsea during his three seasons at the club, but has not always been a consistent starter due to the presence of club captain Reece James.

If he were to join City, he would likely be in a battle with Matheus Nunes to nail down the right-back spot at the Etihad.

The Boston Celtics elected to go with a project big man in the 2026 NBA Draft, Houston's Chris Cenac Jr. Fans of the team were mixed on the selection, with some pointing to his high upside while others critiqued the fact that it might take years before he will be ready to truly help Boston compete for titles.

Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens spoke on the pick in his post-first round draft press conference, and had plenty of praise for the 6-foot-11 big man. "He's just a good young player, energetic, plays hard, excellent athlete, long, fits a position of need," said Stevens. "Some things that we were a little short on this year from an athletic perspective, I think, with his size and his length."

"And he is, when you play in the program he's played for, (what) he's been through, he's been taught well, and been held to a high standard," added the Celtics president.

"And so I like that," said Stevens of the 19-year-old forward. "And he will undoubtedly come here and be eager to jump into it. He's a good worker."

"He's a good person. And he's got a lot to learn, but we're excited about starting that process with him."

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: Brad Stevens on Celtics first round pick Chris Cenac Jr.

I have been ruminating over the past few days over the United States 2-0 Australia match, pouring over what the internet has had to say about the match, and watching other World Cup matches. And I really can’t stop thinking about how the US played and how impressive it really was. Here are three things lingering in my mind.

1) The USMNT is a Pretty Complete Team

It’s kinda interesting to think about the United States Mens National Team’s 2-0 victory over Australia from the Aussie’s perspective. Australia beat Türkiye by setting up an organized low block, leveraging their physicality, and attacking on the corner. They tried to do much the same against the US (albiet with some rather baffling lineup changes), but it didn’t work. Instead, the US broke through and scrambled their backline into conceding an own goal. Australia was also supposed to be contesting and physically imposing themselves on the opposition, but the second goal came from the US winning a freekick and then reacting faster on the second ball to put it in. Which is to say, when they fell behind, Australia neither had the flexibility to change their gameplan fast enough to get back into the game, nor were able to maintain their physical dominance for the full 90 minutes for a second game. It wasn’t until the last 20 minutes or so, after making a slew of major changes at the half, that Australia began to actually impose themselves and began to dictate the game. However, even then, they barely made anything out of all that time. You can actually see that in this Expected Goals (xG) timeline, with Australia making nearly nothing from the 70th minute on.

Which brings us back to the United States. Because the US used to be quite a lot like this current Australia team. They were all about attacking on the counter and having a physical and organized defense. The US definitely did a bit of that organized deep defending, what has apparently been coined by Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta as “suffering”, in their history. I normally love the Adam Cleary Football Channel on Youtube, but there was something that he said in his review of the US v. Australia game that caught my ire. Cleary mentioned that this was the first time that he saw the US “suffer” and suffer so well, by which he meant defensively manage the game even without control of possession by essentialy parking the bus. And what annoys me about that is that the US actually has a very long history of this “suffering”. You go and look back at some of the biggest moments in the team’s history, the 3-2 victory over Portugal in the 2002 World Cup, the 2-0 against Mexico in the same tournament, the 2-0 against Spain (then the best team in the world) at the 2009 Confederations Cup, the 2-1 victory over Ghana… There’s a lot of time spent sitting back and defending a lead. What is true, however, is that the US has not been nearly as good at this in a while. Under Berhalter, the team didn’t want to defend in a low block and strangle opportunities. They wanted to control possession to slow the game down, limit opportunities for the opponent to attack on the break and then, after taking a lead, continuing to hold possession to starve the opponent of time and chances at goal. In that regard, this is a bit different.

This is all to say, this USMNT team is suddenly both able to be strong in attack and, as shown against Australia, be able to sit back and absorb. We aren’t the kind of sit deep, be organized, and counter team anymore. We can break down a deep defense. We can by physically imposing. We can keep possession to starve a team of chances AND we can sit deep and defend. That’s a lot of really positive attributes that are suddenly on display, and there’s not a lot of weak phases of play to point at.

2) The US is a Top Team

I mean this rather literally in the sense that the US is officially finising at the top of Group D through just two games. But I also mean this to say that the quality of the US’s play has consistently been among the best of showings out of this tournament. When the fixtures were being scheduled, the US was assigned a Pot 1 spot, the pot with both the hosts and the top teams, simply because the US were hosting (along with Canada and Mexico), and not out of quality. But the US has 6 points through two matches, more than highly regarded teams like England, Spain, and Belgium. And the US has consistently looked like the better team against both Paraguay and Australia, through the whole of the match, the team clearly in control, unlike France’s first half performance against Senegal or Germany through much of their game against Ivory Coast.

Of course, the retort for this is that this is merely against Paraguay and Australia. But that frankly isn’t very convincing for me. Paraguay and Australia in isolation aren’t peak rated teams, but they are comparable to the sides that other teams are facing. Actually, the US is far exceeding expectations. There were fears (including from me) that the US could be elimited entirely in the first round, and those such fears have been thoroughly exorcised. Indeed, the apparent consensus on the internet going in was that Türkiye was most likely to top the group, a prediction that looks all together ridiculous now that Türkiye has been eliminated after just two games with 0 points after scoring 0 goals. The reality is that the US’s group was largely considered among the tightest with all of the teams having the potential to advance. And it’s really been the US that has elevated themselves to stand above the rest.

This isn’t to say that the US is necessarily going to be able to beat all the other top teams. Rather, it is to say that the US is playing up to that higher level and the praise is well deserved. I don’t really know what the expectations for this USMNT team really should be at the moment because they are essentialy operating at the level of “Pleasantly very surprised”. How far can this team go? Well, signs suggest we should be very optimistic.

3) This Team Can Function Without Pulisic

And another reason to be optimistic is because this US team has largely done this without their star player, Christian Pulisic. Pulisic was of course central to the team’s attacking performance in the first half of the Paraguay game, but he was pulled out at halftime and has not played a minute since apparently out of an abundance of precaution following a calf injury. The team hasn’t exactly been at the same level without him, but that hasn’t stopped them from scoring three goals and winning two matches.

Against Australia, the switch was to tweak the formation and bring in striker Ricardo Pepi. Both Pepi and striker Folarin Balogun were willing and able to peel into that left side, secure with the knowledge that there was another striker there to operate in the middle. And Australia simply could not hang with it. That’s how the first goal happened, with Balogun drifting onto the left and torching his man.

The message for the rest of the world is that the US has dangerous players besides Pulisic, particularly Balogun and Weston McKennie. And that is very interesting given that Pulisic is coming back. He’s been reported to be fit and back in training, so there’s a lot of potential for this US team to be dangerous come the knockout rounds.

That’s it from me. Tell me, what is lingering in your mind? In the meantime, the US will return on Thursday, June 25th, for their final match against Türkiye before the knockout stages start.

Bradford Bulls vice-captain Ryan Sutton has agreed a new two-year deal to stay at Odsal.

The 30-year-old forward arrived at the club in November 2025 after his contract with NRL side Gold Coast Titans expired.

He has made 10 Super League appearances this season for 11th-placed Bradford, scoring one try, which came in his most recent game against Catalans Dragons.

Sutton, who plays primarily as a prop, told the club website: "I knew coming here it was going to be a challenge in the first year but I also knew there were good things to come in the future.

"Bradford Bulls is a big club who've had a rollercoaster of a time before coming back into Super League so I just want to help people, that's all I've done my whole life."

He added: "I want to help get this club to a good place, I want to help get performances and wins and I want the club to take the next step.

"My dream is to win things with this club. I don't just want to compete, I want to win Grand Finals, World Club Challenges, Challenge Cups and I can see us doing that over the next few years."

Bradford head coach Kurt Haggerty said: "Ryan has fully immersed himself into the club and the DNA of how we want to play. He is a leader within our team and is desperate to bring success to the Bulls.

"This re-signing is another statement of intent and shows the ambition we have as a club to keep hold of our best players."

Bradford are next in action on Saturday evening when they will be at home to St Helens.

Wales head coach Sean Lynn says beating the Barbarians on Saturday would mean everything to his side.

Wales head to Allianz Stadium on a nine Test losing streak and will be without some of their Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR) stars for the double-header involving the Wales and Baa-baas men's teams.

It means Lynn will look to Wales' next generation of talent as they prepare to come up against some megastars of the women's game.

"You look at 10, 12, 13, they're very exciting for the Barbarians and then you've got Ruby Tui who's going to be explosive," said Lynn.

"But what a challenge for us, what a challenge for some of our girls to be going out there.

"For us to go to Twickenham on Saturday and beat the Barbarians is everything, but within that, we need to be making sure we are sticking to our processes.

"We can't get sucked into the 'jouer', of them throwing the ball around about, it's about us."

• Wales captain Callender excited by Baa-Baas bonus
• Wales' next generation getting a taste of Test life

Praise for past and present captains

Lynn has been boosted by the return of Alex Callender who will captain the side.

"Before she was a leader with her actions, but now with her voice, she's been brilliant," said Lynn of the back-row forward.

"It's amazing to have her back into the squad and being around all the youngsters as well."

Lynn was also full of praise for former captain Carys Phillips, who lines up against Wales for the Barbarians.

"It's absolutely going to be an amazing occasion for her," he said.

"Everything she has done for the women's game in Wales, in England, all around the world, and for her then to be playing for the Barbarians against her national team it's pretty special for her and a huge thank you."

The never-ending season

The uncapped Barbarians game will bring the curtain down on a long season for Lynn and his squad, with Lynn yet to have a break since taking on the head coach role in March 2025.

That year's Six Nations was swiftly followed by the two-Test tour of Australia, the Rugby World Cup, the Celtic Challenge and this year's Six Nations.

"Individuals from PWR who have played a lot of game time are not going to be involved [this weekend], they needed an extra week off," said Lynn.

"It has been a long season, but as a group of staff and players, we are benefiting from this because there is a goal at the end of it and that's the Barbarians on Saturday."

Windhorst: "If you say to me Giannis is now been traded, who would be the next NBA star that you would watch? The answer would be Anthony Edwards. Already, Anthony Edwards has watched Karl-Anthony Towns, a player he totally fit with on the court, be traded to the Knicks and win a championship. Last summer, they let Nickeill Alexander-Walker go, he goes and wins most improved player down in Atlanta."

YouTube

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Anthony Edwards the next star to watch potentially hit the trade block?

Jake Fischer: If Memphis doesn’t trade tonight’s No. 32 pick, I’ve heard they hold some interest in Aaron Nkrumah. But the Grizzlies are indeed seeking more future second-round draft capital. Memphis already netted five second-round picks by maneuvering down the board last night. The Grizzlies, sources say, also received a 2029 most favorable second of Detroit/New York/Milwaukee, a 2031 Dallas second, and a 2032 Detroit second, for sliding from No. 16 to No. 21.

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: If Memphis doesn’t trade tonight’s No. 32 pick, I’ve …

Bobby Marks: "(Miami Heat) are going to lose Norm Powell in free agency because of the trade and because they took a lot of more money back and some of the restrictions that come with it. So you basically have five roster spots to give to players on the veteran minimum exception. You need some shooting, you need a little bit more depth in your front court here. It is a matter of what players are willing to take a little bit of a discount to go down to South Florida."

YouTube

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "(Miami Heat) are going to lose Norm Powell in free …

Paul Pierce: "I like the pick for OKC getting Mara from the 7-footer from Spain, the other three. Yeah, because he's a mature, he's a winner, and he gives them big man depth. You know, like I feel like OKC never misses. And I thought this was a pick, it shocked me that they they picked him, but I was just like, oh wow, he fits perfectly as a backup big. He's 7'3, he's going to play 14, 15 minutes a night, and he can give them something, uh, you know, this year coming up.

YouTube

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "I like the pick for OKC getting Mara from the …

Marc Stein: I’m told that the many moving parts that landed Cam Carr with the Lakers at No. 24, Sergio De Larrea with the Mavericks at No. 25, Koa Peat with the Suns at No. 30 and netted the Knicks five second-round picks is tracking to take the form of a four-team TRADE once made official.

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: I’m told that the many moving parts that landed Cam …

Michael Scotto: FULL TRADE: The Detroit Pistons traded the No. 21 pick (Karim Lopez) and three-second round picks (a 2029 second that’s the second-best of Pistons, Bucks, Knicks, a 2031 Mavericks second, and a 2032 Pistons second) to the Memphis Grizzlies for pick 17 (Ebuka Okorie), per sources.

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: The Detroit Pistons traded the No. 21 pick (Karim …

Noting that they have made significant progress on the NBA Europe project, George Aivazoglou said, “We are making significant progress ahead of the launch, which we aim to hold in October 2027. We are aware that this is an ambitious goal, but my colleagues in London, Madrid, and New York, together with our partners at FIBA, are making progress on various fronts to turn this timeline into a reality. Furthermore, the interest we’ve seen from potential clubs, investor groups, and business partners looking to join our league is truly very high,” he said. “We’ve encountered extremely high interest from Turkey, and especially from Istanbul”Speaking about the interest shown in the NBA Europe project from Turkey, Aivazoglou said:

fanatik.com.tr

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “We’ve encountered extremely high interest from …

“We’ve seen an extremely high level of interest from Turkey, and especially from Istanbul. We believe Istanbul could be one of the cornerstones of this new league. Istanbul is a world-class city. It is a place with an incredible passion for sports, a very strong cultural influence, and home to one of the largest and most dedicated fan bases in Europe. If European basketball is to undergo a transformation, we believe Turkey must be one of the countries shaping that future.”

fanatik.com.tr

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “We’ve seen an extremely high level of interest from …

"We are looking for partners to build the league of the next 100 years"Emphasizing that they have been in talks with stakeholders ready to invest billions of dollars in European basketball, George Aivazoglou shared the following views: “We are seeing unprecedented interest from numerous potential clubs and investors ready to invest billions of dollars in European basketball alongside the NBA and FIBA. This includes Turkey. However, the financial aspect is just one element of the proposals we are evaluating. At the same time, we are looking for partners who share our vision, have proven themselves in managing world-class clubs or companies in their respective markets, and will help us build the league for the next 100 years.”

fanatik.com.tr

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "We are looking for partners to build the league of …

The German national team will have to do without Nathaniel Brown in their final World Cup Group E match against Ecuador.

Sky Germany and others have reported that Brown was unable to participate in the final training session on Wednesday morning.

Nagelsmann held the final session before departing for New York/New Jersey for the clash with the South American country.

Instead, Brown completed a light running session with the four-time World Cup champions' athletic coach Krunoslav Banovcic. 

Fears over the left-back's fitness are not on a similar scale to Nico Schlotterbeck who had his tournament ended through injury.

Germany also have a reliable backup in the defensive position, with RB Leipzig's David Raum iready to step in for Brown. 

According to Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton, defensive back Chamarri Conner is among the players whom the Kansas City Chiefs should consider extending as he approaches the final season of his rookie contract.

“The Chiefs don't have an obvious extension candidate, though Conner's 2027 free-agent market value could skyrocket if he puts together another productive year in a starting role,” Moton wrote in his assessment of Conner’s worth to the team. “The Chiefs can reward him with an extension, with the hope he stabilizes a revamped unit.”

Conner followed up his strong showing in 2024 with another notable season in 2025, where he started in all 17 games for Kansas City and recorded an interception, two sacks, and four tackles for loss.

Despite his experience in Steve Spagnuolo's defense, Conner will have to fight for playing time in Kansas City's newly revamped secondary with safeties Alohi Gilman, Jaden Hicks, and Jadon Canady.

This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Has Chiefs DB Chamarri Conner done enough to earn extension?

Oxford United have announced the official appointment of former Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey as their new head coach.

Photo by Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images

Oxford United officially announced on Tuesday that they’ve hired Aaron Ramsey as their new head coach.

“It’s an honour and privilege to be appointed Head Coach of Oxford United,” the former Arsenal player told his new club’s website.

“From my discussions with the Club, I can sense the ambition and desire for success, which gives me great excitement about this opportunity.”

Photo by Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images

“This is a moment I have been preparing for over many years,” Ramsey continued. “I’ve played under some of the best managers in the game and experienced high-pressure environments throughout my career.

“I want to use what I’ve learnt to bring a culture of high standards, professionalism and work ethic to this talented group of players.

“My teams will play with a clear identity, be built on elite habits, with a commitment to improving every day. I want a squad that fights for the badge until the end, and one that makes our supporters proud.

“I understand the responsibility that comes with this role, and can’t wait to get started, meet the players, and connect with our supporters as we strive to bring success.”

Photo by Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images

Oxford United are yet to confirm Ramsey’s coaching team, writing that an announcement on that subject will be made in due course.

This is Ramsey’s first full-time head coach role, but he did temporarily take the Cardiff head coach job on an interim basis while he was also still a player for the team.

Ramsey recently announced his retirement from playing, allowing him to focus fully on coaching, and he told the media his ultimate dream would be to manage Arsenal or the Welsh national team.

Photo credit: IAN KINGTON/AFP via Getty Images

With little senior coaching experience at this stage, Ramsey will first try to get going with Oxford United in League One (following Oxford’s relegation from the Championship last season).

That does mean Ramsey is set to face off against Jack Wilshere’s Luton Town next season, which will certainly be one to watch.

Photo by James Fearn/Getty Images

The Rainbow Warriors are treating the state’s ultimate individual event like a team thing.

University of Hawaii men’s golfers Joshua Hayashida and Dane Watanabe made quick work of their opponents in the first round of the 117th Manoa Cup at Oahu Country Club on Tuesday, rushing to get off the course only to be in an equal hurry to get to the tee box to cheer on a friend.

They are the only two current Rainbow Warriors in the tournament, but the brackets are littered with former ’Bows like Zachary Sagayaga, who reached the final four in the event the past two years while still competing for the school.

“We are all rooting each other on,” Watanabe said. “It’s good because we are all in different brackets and won’t have to play each other (until the semifinals) if we keep winning. It makes it more fun. They are all my teammates and friends.”

Hayashida, a two-time champion and one of only two past winners in the field, played Alan Wong in the round of 64 for the second straight year and beat his friendly foe 6-up with a par on the 14th hole after topping him 5&3 last year. Hayashida had a 14-match winning streak in the event end to Peter Jung in the round of 16 last year, and with Jung, defending champion Remington Hirano and others not in the field he is probably in the uncomfortable position of being the favorite.

“Just being a local kid and growing up watching it and playing since I was 14, it’s so special,” Hayashida said. “I went through some ups and downs as a teenager playing against the older guys and now I am one of those guys. It’s just a great event you can share with friends.”

The early finish allowed him to rest his legs over the final four holes and Watanabe got an even longer break by dispatching Ryce Maddox Aoki in 11 holes after winning each of the first nine. The time off the links could come in handy on Friday or Saturday after a full week of walking the ancient course’s rolling hills.

“It’s obviously really nice if it ends early,” Watanabe said while clutching his water bottle and trying to remember to sip with all of the excitement around him. “You get to rest some more and recover and stay hydrated because if you keep winning it can become a really long week. The rest and recovery is really important.”

Volleyball Olympian and OCC member Kawika Shoji was all smiles in his return to tournament golf, grinning and kissing babies while falling to Kaho‘okele Helm 4&3. Four-time champion Brandon Kop made it through his 121st round in the event, beating Jordan Nakamura 5&4 to improve to 84-37 all-time in the event dating back to 1978. Kop will play No. 7 seed Coel Berardy in the second round.

Isaac Jaffurs, who reached the final in 2014, fell to Ryan Takeshita and 2018 semifinalist Hunter Hughes lost a battle 3&1 to Dylan Sakasegawa.

Hayashida will play Chance Wilson in the second round and Watanabe gets Maximus Waki, who upset Dean Pagliarini. Top seed Spencer Shishido gets Tensuke Sakurai after a rare bye and fellow medalist Drew Tom faces Caleb Ito after beating Paul Loui 7&5.

The second bracket of the women’s tournament fell into shambles with Samantha Monroe upsetting 2024 champion Jasmine Wong 4&2 and Paige Sur taking out No. 7 seed Lynea Kelsey 2&1.

Another upset on the women’s side came from Kady Matsumoto, who beat fellow Mililani resident Mia Nakaoka 2&1 with a bogey on 16 to the No. 4 seed’s double.

Play resumes today with top seed Shishido against Sakurai at 7 a.m. and favorite Ava Cepeda against Brooke Asao at 9:24 in the women’s quarterfinals.

First-year Rainbow Wahine women’s volleyball head coach Joshua Walker added a middle from New Zealand to his first recruiting class Tuesday in UNC Wilmington transfer Marnie Ursem.

The 6-foot-3 middle blocker will be a junior this season after playing the past two seasons at UNCW. If the NCAA finalizes its move to five seasons of eligibility, it would appear she would have three seasons of eligibility remaining.

Ursem played in 40 matches for the Seahawks and averaged 1.53 kills and 1.01 blocks per set. She started all 26 matches this past season and her average of 1.08 blocks per set ranked second in the Coastal Athletic Association. She led UNCW with 30 service aces.

A projected starting pitcher might be leaving the University of Hawaii baseball team.

Right-hander Brody Martin-Grudzielanek, who recently completed his freshman season with the Rainbow Warriors, confirmed he has entered the NCAA transfer portal.

“I’m just exploring my options as of now,” Martin-Grudzielanek told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. “There is a chance I come back (to UH).”

Martin-Grudzielanek was projected to be in the starting rotation, possibly as the series-opening pitcher, if he pitched for the ’Bows in 2027.

This past season, Martin-Grudzielanek was 0-5, but he pitched to a 4.02 ERA and 1.31 WHIP while averaging 8.8 strikeouts per nine innings. Left-handed batters hit .182 against Martin-Grudzielanek. His fastball topped at 97 mph.

Instead of playing summer ball, Martin-Grudzielanek opted to train this summer.

“Just lifting, as of now, and trying to gain some weight,” he said.

Of his year in Hawaii, he said, “I loved it. I feel I made a big jump in my career. I’m grateful for the opportunity Hawaii gave me. I won’t ever take that for granted. That was the best place I could have been at.”

While expressing gratitude for Martin-Grudzielanek’s contributions this past season, UH coach Rich Hill said the focus is on the “windshield and not the rear-view mirror, exclamation point.”

Right-handed pitcher Hekili Robello, who was named to the 2026 All-Big West second team, and left-hander Grant Garman have indicated they will remain with the ’Bows if they are not selected in next month’s Major League Baseball draft. Hill said the ’Bows will seek players through the portal.

“The transfer portal provides awesome opportunities for us at the University of Hawaii,” Hill said. “We have thrived in this environment in years past, and see no reason we shouldn’t do so this year. All will be revealed.”

Hill also is seeking replacements for Keith Zuniga, the associate head coach/pitching coach who accepted a position with USC, and hitting coach Dave Nakama, who is pursuing other endeavors. Connor Harrison, who was the director of pitching development, was promoted to associate position coach. Harrison, who is a candidate for pitching coach, will remain with the ’Bows no matter the outcome of the nationwide search.

“It’s an exciting time for Rainbow Warrior baseball,” Hill said. “I’m not at liberty to make any staff announcements at this time, but the fans of Hawaii are going to be pleasantly surprised. We’re reorganizing the entire staff, looking at more of a pro model that utilizes coaches’ strengths and really focuses on a lot more of the analytics side. I’m very excited about it.”

After two seasons and a national championship at Hawaii, Finn Kearney is ready for a bigger on-court role.

The now former UH outside hitter announced last week on social media he will transfer to rival Long Beach State for the upcoming 2027 season.

Kearney, who is 6 feet 5, was a fan favorite during his time at UH. Injuries to other players allowed him to play a key role late during his freshman season, when he had double figures in kills in seven straight starts to help Hawaii win a Big West championship and advance to the NCAA semifinals.

He played in all but one match as a sophomore but was mostly used as a serving substitute, playing behind Adrien Roure and Louis Sakanoko, who both return next season, on the left side.

“First and foremost, it was a super cool opportunity to play at UH. Two years of my life that I have no regret in coming there at all,” Kearney said in a phone interview Tuesday. “It was a really good decision. Two years well spent, I got a lot better, and I think now it was time to find a bigger role somewhere else and (Long Beach State) was my clearest path to the court.”

A 2024 graduate of Sandra Day O’Connor High School in Phoenix, Kearney was a member of the United States U19 National Team and a highly prized recruit. He was the starting opposite hitter for the U.S. in the U19 Pan American Cup in both 2022 and ’23 and in ’22 was selected the tournament’s best opposite and best server.

He came to UH as part of a recruiting class that included opposite hitters Kainoa Wade, a captain on the current USA U21 National Team, and Kristian Titriyski, who will not return next season after turning pro in his home country of Bulgaria.

Roure, who was named a second-team All-American this year, was also in that recruiting class, and UH already had returning sophomore Sakanoko, who was named a first-team All-American this season.

With so much talent in front of him, Kearney struggled to get on the court. He knew it would be just as tough coming back for his sophomore year, but he didn’t want to make a quick decision to leave after his freshman season.

“At that point it was a little bit early,” Kearney said. “I didn’t want to make an emotional decision after my first year, and then the plan was kind of if that didn’t go well, then to get out. My full intention up until this last year was always to stay at UH, because it’s definitely a special place. The only thing that was kind of holding me back was a chance to get a bigger role, which I am able to get somewhere else.”

Kearney said he knew he would get some blowback when it was announced he would head to UH’s biggest rival school in the Big West.

He’s already begun to think about what it will be like to play in the Stan Sheriff Center next season wearing a Long Beach State uniform. The Beach are scheduled to play twice in Hawaii during the regular season.

“I can’t wait to put that game on the calendar when the schedule comes out,” Kearney said. “I’ve seen some comments on some (social media) posts and you know I heard it from everyone I broke the news to. I really hope (the Hawaii fans) are forgiving, but we will see. They have always been good to me ever since I first got there.”

In talking with the coaching staff at Long Beach State, Kearney said he expects to primarily play opposite next season.

“Professionally, I would want to end up on the left,” he said.

As for telling his former teammates, one of the harder conversations was with UH floor captain Tread Rosenthal. The two played together coming up in the USA Volleyball system before they were teammates at UH.

“I mean more importantly he’s a great teammate, but most importantly he’s a great friend and just to keep that relationship good was priority No. 1 for me,” Kearney said. “He wants the best for me and obviously it would have been cool for him if I stayed, but he handled it well. It was just great to experience what we did with a super special group that I spent two years with, and it felt like 10 years with those boys. Special group and really special fans.”

Mitchell Croft, a 6-foot-9 pin hitter/middle blocker who spent one season at UH, announced Tuesday he will transfer to Purdue Fort Wayne. Outside hitter Thatcher Fahlbusch, who also spent one year with the ‘Bows, has already announced he is transferring to UCLA.

Unreal bloodline: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's Instagram story goes viral after brother, Ashirvad, smashes century originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Vaibhav Sooryavanshi celebrates younger brother Ashirvad's 168-run knock on Instagram.
• Father Sanjeev hopes to groom Ashirvad into a top cricketer like Vaibhav.
• Vaibhav currently in Ireland and could make his international debut vs. Ireland

Sooryavanshi family's cricket magic continues with brother's big knock

Indian batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi had reason to celebrate away from his own exploits, after his younger brother Ashirvad delivered another standout batting performance. 

Currently with the Indian squad ahead of the upcoming series against Ireland, Vaibhav took to Instagram to share his pride over Ashirvad's latest century, and the fans couldn't stop praising the cricketing talent clearly running through the family.

The scorecard shared by Vaibhav revealed that Ashirvad smashed 168 runs off just 119 balls. During the innings, he hit 19 boundaries and six maximums.

MORE: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi safeguarding rules explained: Why Indian teenager gets separate changing room for England series

This wasn't a one-off either. Just weeks earlier, the 10-year-old had made headlines for registering another century in a local practice fixture held in Samastipur. Playing for Cricket Academy Tajpur at the time, Ashirvad compiled 103 runs off 87 deliveries, an innings featuring 20 fours and a six, before eventually being dismissed by Prashant Raj.

WATCH: Sooryavanshi celebrate his brother on Instagram & X

Proud of you, my little brother. Keep shining and making us proud every day ❤️ pic.twitter.com/VuKWZ7rroG

— Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (@Vaibhavsooryava) June 24, 2026

Vaibhav's Instagram story: 

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s brother Ashirvad is smashing hundreds. 😄🔥 pic.twitter.com/b1PANkMGNB

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 24, 2026

Three Sooryavanshi brothers, one shared cricketing fire

Vaibhav sits as the middle child among three brothers, with Ujjwal Sooryavanshi being the eldest and Ashirvad the youngest of the trio.

While Vaibhav built his reputation as a left-handed prodigy who lit up IPL 2026 on his way to winning the Orange Cap, Ashirvad operates quite differently, batting right-handed at the top of the order while also bowling right-arm medium pace.

MORE: Shattering history: Where Sooryavanshi ranks among India’s youngest international debutants

Despite using opposite hands, the brothers share an almost identical fearless, attacking mindset, something both credit to growing up practising on the very same backyard pitches back home in Bihar. 

His father, Sanjeev Sooryavanshi, took to Facebook after the earlier century to express his happiness.

Sanjeev wrote, “My younger son Ashirvad Suryavanshi has scored his first century in a practice match today. I request everyone to continue showering him with love and blessings."

Ashirvad appears to be following closely in his elder brother's footsteps, with his father firmly backing him to reach the top of the sport in the future. 

For all the latest cricket news, opinion, and commentary and to share your voice, head to our Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter) pages.

Going into the trade deadline this August, the Boston Red Sox’s front office has big decisions to make: buy, sell, or balance. The deadline comes at a pivotal point in the 2026 season. Red Sox Chief of Baseball Operations Craig Breslow approaches the job analytically, focusing on front office restructuring and a pitching-centric roster.

Some teams tend to rely on their playoff odds to determine what to do at the deadline. If their odds are below 20%, they should sell; if above 60%, they should be buyers at the deadline. Anywhere in between indicates they should balance. According to Bleacher Report, Boston’s playoff odds currently sit at 12.5%. Their playoff odds, roster construction, and long‑term goals all point toward a deadline defined by rebalancing rather than buying or selling outright.

Solving Boston’s WAR Problem

Boston currently sits at 5.5 games behind the final Wild Card Spot in the American League. They need a +2 to +3 WAR between now and the deadline. But the lineup needs a right‑handed bat who can lengthen the order. That’s where Jeremy Peña becomes one of the most logical fits on the market. Peña is exactly the type of player Boston lacks: a right‑handed hitter with postseason pedigree and defensive stability.

Peña has been “one of the Astros’ most consistent performers” and highlights how his profile remains valuable even in a down year because he “plays premium defense and doesn’t strike out much.” Yahoo Sports noted. Those traits matter for a Red Sox team that has struggled with swing‑and‑miss and infield inconsistency.

Peña also fits Boston’s timeline. He’s still under team control and offers upside without requiring the kind of prospect haul a superstar would command. Peña gives Boston a right‑handed bat, elite shortstop defense, postseason experience, and multiple years of control; all qualities the Red Sox front office has prioritized. If they want to upgrade the lineup without sacrificing the future, he’s one of the cleanest fits on the market.

Aroldis Chapman’s Deadline Value

Another name who could factor into Boston’s deadline calculus is Aroldis Chapman. Multiple outlets, including MLB.com and SI.com, have identified Chapman as one of the Red Sox’s most movable veterans. Given the team’s need for a more stable rotation, flipping Chapman for a controllable starter is a realistic path.

A mid‑rotation starter like Freddy Peralta would stabilize the rotation, and Craig Breslow could revisit his interest in Minnesota Twins ace Joe Ryan after reportedly checking in on him last season. Boston could use Chapman as part of a package to acquire a mid‑rotation arm, especially from clubs looking to bolster their bullpen for a postseason push.

Most Likely Trade Chips

The Red Sox have a surplus of outfielders with Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, Masataka Yoshida, and Roman Anthony. Boston is a team that could quietly become one of the more influential sellers at the deadline because of this exact imbalance, as Bleacher Report stated.

They have multiple outfielders who are either established big‑league contributors or close to it, and several of them overlap in role, handedness, or defensive profile. So, the Red Sox can move an outfielder without weakening the lineup while simultaneously addressing needs elsewhere.

Jarren Duran

Duran’s athleticism, speed, and remaining control make him one of Boston’s most valuable movable pieces. SI.com and Yahoo Sports have noted that he has drawn interest in previous trade cycles and remains a name rival executives monitor.

Masataka Yoshida

Yoshida’s contract complicates his market, but his bat‑to‑ball skills and DH versatility could appeal to teams needing left‑handed offense. Bleacher Report identifies him as a player Boston would consider moving if the financial structure aligns, especially for clubs seeking contact‑oriented hitters.

Wilyer Abreu / Ceddanne Rafaela / Roman Anthony

These three are viewed internally as long‑term core pieces, per Yahoo Sports and The Athletic. Their defensive versatility, age, and remaining control make them foundational to Boston’s future. They are unlikely to move unless the Red Sox receive a substantial return.

Moving Forward

The Red Sox don’t need a teardown, but they also can’t stand still. Breslow has made it clear in his comments to ESPN, The Athletic, and Yahoo Sports that the organization is focused on sustainable improvement rather than short‑term splashes or emotional decisions.

That philosophy shapes everything about this deadline. Boston’s outfield surplus gives them the flexibility to pursue upgrades without touching their top prospects. Their bullpen depth, including the possibility of moving Chapman, provides another avenue to add rotation help. And their need for a right‑handed bat or long‑term infield stability makes players like Peña natural fits.

The post Boston Red Sox Deadline Math: Buy, Sell, or Balance appeared first on The Lead.

Richard Rivera will get a chance to knock off heavily-hyped light heavyweight Ben Whittaker this Saturday night, as the two will meet in an undercard bout on the Zayas vs Boots card in Brooklyn.

The fight is the first on American soil for the 29-year-old Whittaker (11-0-1, 8 KO), who just fought on April 18 and scored a first round knockout win over Braian Suarez.

Whittaker, an Olympic silver medalist, has become just as well-known for his joke-y sort of personality and his aggressive displays of “charisma” as his fighting, and the veteran Rivera (27-2, 20 KO) sees that as a “mask” that hides Whittaker’s “real fear.”

“I’m not too thrown off by his antics. I don’t think that those moves, those antics, come from bravery,” Rivera says in a video posted to social media.

“I think it’s a mask to hide his real fear. I’m just not impressed. A guy that disguises his flaws with these jokes. When it comes down to fight night, we’re gonna see how far them antics take him. The world is going to say, ‘Oh my gosh, I couldn’t believe it! The biggest upset!’ When I knew all along.”

It’s probably worth mentioning that yes, Rivera does an entire “Popeye the Sailor Man” get-up, so a question of “antics” may reasonably go both ways here.

That doesn’t mean he’s not tough, though, nor does a resume that looks thin on paper. The 35-year-old Rivera has been around for years but really hasn’t had the chance to break out as a serious player at 175 or cruiserweight, which can happen if you are actually tough and just don’t have the right career backing.

His biggest fight came in 2022 when he faced Badou Jack, and Rivera did give Jack a real fight that night, losing a 10-round split decision. He has long held the belief that he’s simply been avoided by the biggest names around him, including Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev.

“Everybody knows Bivol is scared, everybody knows Beterbiev is scared,” he says. “They love calling me for sparring but they wouldn’t call me for a real fight. When it comes down to it, I think David Benavidez is the only worthy adversary.”

Rivera’s other loss was on the road in the Dominican Republic in 2024, against Luis Antonio Tejeda. Rivera lost an eight-round majority decision in a fight that was scored by three Dominican judges, which is not an accusation but, like, you know; boxing is the way it is. He’s won two in a row coming into Saturday’s fight with Whittaker.

Will Rivera give Whittaker any problems on Saturday, or will “Popeye” just be another quick step toward Whittaker’s eventual world title shot(s)?

FSU linebacker coach Ernie Sims has landed three commitments from 2027 prospects in June, but the work is far from done. He is also working on several 2028 targets, and he recently expanded the board.

Ryquan Butler attended FSU's Seminole Showcase last weekend and left Tallahassee with a scholarship offer. The Seminoles are the 12th school to offer the Loachapoka, Alabama native. While he is currently unranked, that does not look like it will be the case for long.

In addition to FSU, the Tennessee Volunteers, Ole Miss Rebels, Alabama Crimson Tide, and Auburn Tigers have offered him. While it could be tough to beat the in-state programs, he expects that the Seminoles will be a factor moving forward.

"Florida State is definitely going to be in my recruitment," Butler told Brendan Sonnone of Noles247.

FSU is still building its linebacker board for the 2028 recruiting cycle, but Butler is just the 15th linebacker they have offered at this point. Now that the 6-foot-3, 205-pounder has a scholarship offer, they will need to get him back on campus for another visit.

Butler had a breakout sophomore season at Loachapoka High School, helping them go 8-4 and playing all over the field. On defense, he recorded 54 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, one interception, and two fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a touchdown. He also caught seven passes for 126 yards and four touchdowns and returned a punt for a touchdown.

Follow us @FSUWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida State news, notes, and opinions.

This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: Florida State football to be a factor for Ryquan Butler

The Pittsburgh Steelers overhauled their roster with a strong 2026 NFL Draft class, but one prominent insider believes one of the team's promising rookies may not survive the initial roster cuts.

In Mark Kaboly's 53-player roster prediction for the Steelers, seventh-round safety Robert Spears-Jennings didn't make the cut, joining fellow seventh-round rookie Eli Heidenreich as the odd man out in his projection.

Kaboly opted to keep just three safeties based on cornerback Jalen Ramsey's versatility, with DeShon Elliott, Jaquan Brisker, and Castro headlining the unit. Although Ramsey can play safety, one could argue that Darnell Savage's experience and Spears-Jennings' upside make them more valuable than Castro.

https://t.co/k1wYRq3yXw

— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) June 23, 2026

Spears-Jennings, selected by the Steelers with the 224th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, recorded one of the fastest 40-yard dash times among safeties with a blazing 4.32-second mark.

In our Steelers Wire roster prediction, we projected that Elliott, Brisker, Savage, and Spears-Jennings would complete a four-player safety unit. But our biggest difference from Kaboly's exciting projection wasn't at safety, it was at quarterback.

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' Robert Spears-Jennings misses 53-man roster in new prediction

When Dave Flemming called Monday’s Braves-Padres game alongside Eduardo Perez and Jessica Mendoza, it was presented as the end of his run calling MLB for ESPN. Awful Announcing has learned it was the end of his run at ESPN altogether.

Flemming is no longer with the Worldwide Leader, with Monday’s game marking the official conclusion of his 16-year tenure at the network, as the longtime play-by-play voice steps back from his various roles at ESPN to spend more time with his family.

He originally joined ESPN as a college basketball play-by-play voice in 2010 and built one of the more quietly impressive broadcasting portfolios at the network over the following 16 years. He called Saturday college football on ABC and ESPN alongside analyst Brock Osweiler and reporter Stormy Buonantony, covered golf majors, and handled MLB games across the network’s various platforms.

In our 2025 college football announcer rankings, the Flemming/Osweiler booth ranked 8th out of 25 teams with a 2.61 grade — the highest percentage of A/B/C votes of any team outside the top five — as readers called him “massively underrated,” “outstanding,” and someone who “always well-prepared and flows with the game.”

Outside of ESPN, Flemming is also part of the illustrious group of San Francisco Giants announcers, predominantly on the radio with Jon Miller, but also calling games on television. He’s also served as a substitute announcer on Golden State Warriors radio broadcasts and called Stanford football play-by-play for six seasons.

Flemming had also already begun making inroads elsewhere. He was added to NBC’s Sunday Leadoff rotation in May, joining Matt Vasgersian as a second play-by-play voice for the package on NBC and Peacock, and has since called several games for the network, including this Sunday’s Athletics-Angels game alongside Dallas Braden, Mark Gubicza, and John Fanta.

2025 AL Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz and Breakout Shortstop Zach Neto Headline Athletics-Angels Divisional Matchup on MLB Sunday Leadoff This Sunday, June 28, at 3 p.m. ET on Peacock and NBCSN!

Dave Flemming to Call Athletics-Angels Alongside Former Athletics Pitcher Dallas… pic.twitter.com/WHwCIDo3gJ

— NBC Sports PR (@NBCSportsPR) June 23, 2026

Whether Flemming becomes a more regular part of NBC’s broadcaster stable going forward remains unclear. NBC holds rights to college football, college basketball, and golf — all properties Flemming has called extensively — alongside its baseball packages headlined by Jason Benetti, who told the Sports Media Watch Podcast earlier this month that his own role beyond Sunday Night Baseball at the network is still being sorted out. Right now, it remains to be seen if Flemming’s NBC work is a one-off or the beginning of something more permanent

The post Dave Flemming no longer with ESPN appeared first on Awful Announcing.

The Washington Huskies dipped back into the Grand Canyon State to extend another offer into the 2028 class, with the latest going to Brophy College Preparatory sophomore cornerback Xavier Sandhu.

At 6-foot-2 and 170 pounds, Sandhu is the 12th prospect from Arizona to receive an offer from UW in 2028, marking the fourth cornerback from the state in next year's class to add the Big Ten school to a quickly growing list of choices.

Sandhu, ranked as a three-star recruit by Rivals, is a traditional outside cornerback with the ability to play free safety. As he continues to add weight to his frame, the determination between being a potential nickel or safety may end up being a net-benefit for Sandhu, and something that could also be intriguing for UW defensive coordinator Ryan Walters and secondary coach John Richardson, who made the formal offer to the rising prospect

Washington has offered 2028 Phoenix (Ariz.) Brophy College Prep cornerback Xavier Sandhu

Six offer out to the rising Grand Canyon State product https://t.co/YX4Sp2wf32

— Lars Hanson (@LarsHanson) June 16, 2026

With multiple players expected to graduate or be on track to graduate by the time Sandhu arrives on campus at whichever school he ends up signing with, as Arizona, Colorado, and UCLA have also extended offers to him, the schools getting in the race early should have an added advantaged by the time next summer comes around when the three-star athlete is expected to be finalizing his list of schools he's considering.

Given the heavy emphasis on recruiting the Grand Canyon State as Fisch has over the past two classes, aside from the freshmen early enrollees who transferred to UW from Arizona when he made the move north in January 2024, to be one of the first half dozen schools in offering the versatile sophomore defender speaks to how highly the staff is viewing Sandhu despite having two full years of high school football left in front of him.

UW does not have a verbal commitment in the 2028 class and holds a pair of defensive back commits in the 2027 class: three-star St. John Bosco safety and three-star Graham-Kapowsin athlete Maurice Williams, with two more spots available to fill by the time the December early signing day comes around.

This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington Huskies extend offer to rising 2028 Arizona CB

High school football season is fast approaching in the Pacific Northwest.

Everyone has moved forward, putting a bow on the 2025-26 academic year, and is looking forward to the 2026-27 season. Preparations for the 2026 football season are fully underway across the Beaver State.

Parity is on the rise in Oregon, as no teams repeated in winning a state title last year, leaving the field wide open.

When do teams return to action for the 2026 season? Here are all the dates to know:

Oregon high school football season start dates: OSAA

First practice date: Aug. 17, 2026

Date of first games: Aug. 27, 2026

High school football practices for teams competing within the OSAA get underway on Aug. 17, 2026, with the date of the first games set for Aug. 27.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Oregon high school football 2026 season start dates

How good the New York Giants will be in 2027 will come down to a few things. Most important will be coaching and quarterback play, but the play of the roster as a whole will support both.

The top end of the Giants’ roster boasts players who can be among the very best at their positions in the NFL. Andrew Thomas is among the NFL’s best left tackles, Malik Nabers has the potential to join the ranks of the elite receivers, and Brian Burns was in the DPOY conversation before Myles Garrett ascended to a higher plane of sack existence.

But as the Brows tell us, a good team needs more than a handful of great players. A good team needs the unsung players to be great as well.

So for this week, we want to know who you think will be the Giants’ best hidden gem? Who will be the player that when other fans of other teams ask us who they should know about, we say, “You gotta watch this guy”?

• Center John Michael Schmitz – A section of the fanbase was almost eager to cast Schmitz aside this offseason and hand Tyler Linderbaum a historic contract. The Giants, however, opted to give Schmitz his fourth year to prove that he can continue to elevate his game. He’s steadily improved each of his first three years, suggesting this year could be his best yet. The addition of right guard Sisi Mauigoa could allow Schmitz to make use of his athleticism to out-leverage and out-position defenders in a similar way to Linderbaum.
• Running back Tyrone Tracy – Generally, when people talk about the Giants’ roster, Tracy is the forgotten man on the offense. The best folks at the national level can seem to muster is that “he’s a nice player”. However, of the 35 receivers, 20 running backs, and 12 tight ends drafted last year, Tracy was the only one to eclipse 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons. He seems to have cleaned up the fumbling issue that plagued his rookie year and has become a remarkably consistent and versatile producer as both a runner and receiver.
• Defensive tackle Darius Alexander – Alexander was considered a fringe first-round talent last year, but a remarkable defensive tackle class pushed him down to the Giants in the third round. He missed his entire spring due to an undisclosed medical issue, and it took a while for Alexander to get up to speed and flash the upside we saw on tape in college. However, he improved in the second half of the season and was a consistent presence in opponents’ backfields by the end of the year. The Giants have added a legion of experienced defensive tackles this year, but there’s still a massive void in their interior pass rush without Dexter Lawrence. Can Alexander take advantage of the opportunity?
• Nickel Ar’Darius Washington – The phrase “out of sight, out of mind” seems to come to mind with Washington. The undersized defensive back broke out for the Baltimore Ravens in 2024 and was an important part of one of the best defenses in the NFL that year. He was an absolute terror that year, and his versatility to execute both safety and slot corner responsibilities was very important to their scheme. Washington tore his Achilles tendon last offseason, but managed to return for the end of the year. Now Washington followed John Harbaugh to New York, and the Giants are returning to the style of defense in which he thrived two years ago.

There will, of course, be other players who emerge as important pieces, particularly if the Giants’ roster exceeds the national media’s expectations. But of those players who might play important parts without the national buzz, who do you think will be the hidden gem?

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Giants fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Landon Knack suffered a right chest injury, an intercostal strain, that has set him back from fighting for a spot on the major league roster.

Knack made four appearances for the Dodgers in Spring Training before picking up his injury and getting shut down.

He started the season on the injured list following his injury, eventually being moved to the 60-day IL back in late April to open up a roster spot.

After months of working down in the Dodgers’ complex in Arizona and rehabbing, Knack has joined Triple-A Oklahoma City for a rehabilitation assignment to see where he is at.

Knack split time in Triple-A and the majors in 2025, putting up a 4.89 ERA in 10 games for the Dodgers with seven starts under his belt as well.

Down in Triple-A, he had less success, with a 6.66 ERA in 102.2 innings of work.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dodgers Nation (@dodgersnation)

His best work came back in 2024, when he posted 1.0 bWAR as a rookie with a 3.65 ERA over 15 games.

As a righty who will turn 29 soon, Knack still has a role to play for the Dodgers as an organizational depth piece if he can get healthy again.

Despite his lackluster 2025, the Dodgers still believe in him enough to keep him on the 40-man roster.

Where is Landan Knack at now?

Knack threw 6.2 innings and had a 10.80 ERA, allowing eight hits, eight runs, two home runs, three walks, and five strikeouts.

It was a small sample size during the spring, but Knack did not look great, all things considered.

Still, with a spot on the 40-man roster, Knack will get a chance to impress down in Triple-A, and the Dodgers have a need for pitching depth at the moment with so many injuries to the staff in the rotation and bullpen.

Josh Hokit apologizes to absolutely nobody.

Coming out of UFC White House, Hokit was one of the most-talked about fighters on the card, but not for his win over Derrick Lewis. Instead, Hokit drew attention for his tasteless and bigoted comment calling former United States First Lady Michelle Obama a man. The comment drew criticism from nearly everyone, including UFC CEO Dana White, but Hokit has no regrets.

“That’s one thing about my career, I’m never going to—I think I was watching a Cejudo video, and he was like, ‘That’s one thing I regret, all the stuff I did.’ Or you hear people backtrack,” Hokit told Yahoo! Sports. “Even the [Sean] Strickland post fight speech, where he was like, ‘I’m trying to sell the fight. I don’t mean the things I say.’ You’ll never hear me backtrack from what I say.”

In Hokit’s defense, this policy has worked out for him thus far. Signing with the UFC off of Contender Series last year, Hokit has already competed four times in the promotion, and surged up the rankings, making a name for himself with his absurd antics. And Hokit says he doesn’t intend to change anytime soon, unless he runs afoul of White or other top UFC executives.

“At the end of the day, I don’t care,” Hokit said. “Now, I’m not trying to piss off the Dana Whites and Hunter Campbells, but they would also message me if they really felt a certain way. They could comment, and stuff like that. But if they really felt a type of way, they would message me. But at the end of the day, all the other people, it’s like, they weren’t there when I was down. They weren’t there when I was broken.

“So I could care less what anybody thinks. I’m here to make a splash, and I’m here to back up my words as well. So, if anybody feels some type of way, they know where to find me.”

The games are going to start coming thick and fast now as we get into the final round of group stage action of the World Cup with all teams in the group playing simultaneously. Here is what the Round of 32 matchups currently look like.

Along with the 12 group winners and 12 runners-up, a further 8 third-placed teams will make the Round of 32 knockout round.

Match: Switzerland vs Canada
Venue: Vancouver, Canada
Time: 11am PST, 3pm EST, 8pm BST
How To Watch: USA – FOX Network, fuboTV, Telemundo, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, FOX One, SiriusXM FC, Futbol de Primera Radio; UK – ITV 1 UK, ITVX, STV Scotland, STV Player, TalkSport Radio UK, BBC Radio 5; bein Sports Max 1; SuperSport MaXimo 1

Match: Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Qatar
Venue: Seattle, USA
Time: 11am PST, 3pm EST, 8pm BST
How To Watch: USA – FOX Sports 1, fuboTV, Telemundo, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, FOX One, SiriusXM FC, Futbol de Primera Radio; UK – BBC Sport Web, BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Live; bein Sports Max 1; SuperSport MaXimo 1

Match: Scotland vs Brazil
Venue: Miami, USA
Time: 3pm PST, 6pm EST, 11am BST
How To Watch: USA – FOX Network, fuboTV, Telemundo, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, FOX One, SiriusXM FC, Futbol de Primera Radio; UK – BBC Sport Web, BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Live; bein Sports Max 1; SuperSport MaXimo 1

Match: Morocco vs Haiti
Venue: Atlanta, USA
Time: 3pm PST, 6pm EST, 11am BST
How To Watch: USA – FOX Sports 1, fuboTV, Telemundo, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, FOX One, SiriusXM FC, Futbol de Primera Radio; UK – ITV 1 UK, ITVX, STV Scotland, STV Player, TalkSport Radio UK, BBC Radio 5; bein Sports Max 1; SuperSport MaXimo 1

Match: Czechia vs Mexico
Venue: Mexico City, Mexico
Time: 6pm PST, 9pm EST, 2am BST
How To Watch: USA – FOX Network, fuboTV, Telemundo, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, FOX One, SiriusXM FC, Futbol de Primera Radio; UK – ITV 1 UK, ITVX, STV Scotland, STV Player, TalkSport Radio UK, BBC Radio 5; bein Sports Max 1; SuperSport MaXimo 1

Match: South Africa vs South Korea
Venue: Monterrey, Mexico
Time: 6pm PST, 9pm EST, 2am BST
How To Watch: USA – FOX Sports 1, fuboTV, Telemundo, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, FOX One, SiriusXM FC, Futbol de Primera Radio; UK – BBC Sport Web, BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Live; bein Sports Max 1; SuperSport MaXimo 1

Information from LiveSoccerTV

The Mountain West enters a new era in 2026

The Mountain West Conference will enter the 2026 football season with a significantly different landscape than the previous year.

Boise State, Fresno State, Colorado State, San Diego State, and Utah State have joined the Pac-12, prompting the Mountain West to seek its next leading program.

The addition of North Dakota State, Northern Illinois, and UTEP introduces new rivalries and dynamics, enhancing the Mountain West’s competitiveness.

The new 10-team Mountain West football lineup comprises Air Force, Hawaiʻi, Nevada, New Mexico, Northern Illinois, North Dakota State, San José State, UNLV, UTEP, and Wyoming.

For years, programs such as Boise State, Fresno State, and San Diego State have defined the Mountain West.

Boise State, in particular, dominated the conference by winning championships, earning national respect, and setting the standard for others to follow.

With these departures, the outlook for the conference is uncertain.

These changes create both a significant void and a unique opportunity. With the title open, both returning and new programs have the chance to become the conference’s next dominant force.

A wide-open conference race

The 2026 Mountain West season is expected to be among the most competitive in recent years.

Can New Mexico build on its turnaround under second-year head coach Jason Eck, following a 9-4 season, a 6-2 conference record, and its first bowl appearance since 2016?

UNLV will look to leverage its talent, momentum, and strong coaching to become the conference’s new standard-bearer.

Air Force aims to regain consistency, Wyoming seeks to reestablish itself as a title contender, Nevada looks to accelerate its rebuild under Jeff Choate, and San José State continues its progress under Ken Niumatalolo.

Attention also turns to the newcomers.

North Dakota State brings a championship culture from the FCS. Northern Illinois offers a strong football tradition from the MAC. UTEP, led by Scotty Walden, seeks to establish a new identity in the conference.

With no clear dominant program, the Mountain West title is genuinely open to competition.

Athlon Sports and Phil Steele highlight the depth of talent across the league.

Athlon Sports has released its 2026 Mountain West preseason projections, providing an early assessment of the programs and players expected to influence the conference race.

Phil Steele’s Preseason All-Mountain West team features New Mexico leading the league with 16 selections.

Phil Steele notes that this is the first time in program history New Mexico has led the conference in preseason selections, and it is also the most players UNM has ever placed on the squad.

Tight end Cade Keith, receiver Troy Omeire, and offensive lineman Malik Aliane were named to the first-team offense. Linebacker Jaxton Eck and defensive lineman Brian Booker earned first-team defense honors.

Aliane, Eck, Booker, and quarterback Jack Layne will represent New Mexico at Mountain West Media Days in Las Vegas.

New Mexico continues its rise.

New Mexico enters 2026 with heightened expectations following last year’s success.

After finishing 9-4 and tying for the regular-season Mountain West title, the Lobos are no longer considered a rebuilding program.

Jason Eck has quickly changed the program’s trajectory. The next challenge is to demonstrate that last season’s success can be sustained. Continued momentum would solidify New Mexico’s position among the league’s top teams.

If New Mexico has a standout season and wins the Mountain West Conference Championship, major Power Five programs may pursue Jason Eck.

Running back Scottre Humphrey gives the Lobos one of the league’s most dynamic offensive threats.

Jaxton Eck returns as a top defender after earning Mountain West Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2025. Jack Layne provides UNM with a reliable returning quarterback to lead the offense.

New Mexico opens the season at home against Central Michigan on September 5 at University Stadium. A victory would help the Lobos sustain the momentum from last year.

UNLV aims to become the new standard

UNLV remains a leading contender entering 2026. Despite recent coaching changes, the Rebels feature a talented roster, strong coaching staff, and significant resources in Las Vegas.

The Rebels possess talent, strong coaching, and the confidence of a program that expects to compete for championships. Under Dan Mullen, UNLV has built momentum through recruiting and the transfer portal.n, UNLV has built momentum through recruiting and the transfer portal.

UNLV is a strong candidate to become the new face of the Mountain West.

Hawaiʻi could play a significant role. ʻI is another program generating optimism and has shown it can compete with anyone in the conference.

The Rainbow Warriors have the talent to be a surprise team in the conference, and playing in Honolulu remains one of the league’s most challenging road trips.

If Hawaiʻi achieves consistency, it could contend for the championship.

North Dakota State brings a championship. North Dakota State is arguably the most intriguing new member of the Mountain West Conference.

The Bison arrive with one of the most impressive FCS records in college football, featuring multiple national championships and a culture of toughness, discipline, and success.

The move to the FBS is significant, but successful programs often adapt quickly. North Dakota State has consistently demonstrated confidence and physicality.

As the Bison transition to the league, their established identity may make them a formidable opponent from the outset.

San José State seeks to take another step forward.

San José State continues to develop under Ken Niumatalolo and has become one of the most respected teams in the conference through discipline, toughness, and consistent competitiveness.

Their next objective is to achieve greater balance and translate consistency into a title run. If successful, the Spartans could be a challenging opponent for any Mountain West team.

Air Force, Wyoming, and Nevada aim to rebound.

Air Force remains one of the most distinctive teams in college football for its option offense, disciplined defense, and physical style.

The Falcons are always difficult to prepare for, and if they regain consistency, they could quickly return to contention. Establish itself as a tough, physical program capable of competing near the top of the league. The Cowboys’ tradition and resilience position them to succeed if they achieve stability.

Nevada continues its rebuild under Jeff Choate. While the Wolf Pack has room for improvement, the evolving Mountain West presents opportunities for rapid progress.

UTEP and Northern Illinois add depth to the conference

UTEP begins its Mountain West era under Scotty Walden, with an opportunity to establish a new identity. The Miners face a challenging transition but enter a league with immediate opportunities.

Northern Illinois also brings intrigue. The Huskies have a proud football history, have won significant games, and now have a fresh start in a new conference.

Both programs will face challenges, but each has an immediate opportunity to prove it belongs.

The championship is open for the taking. The 2026 Mountain West lacks a clear frontrunner.

There is no Boise State at the top of the league, no established dynasty, and no clear favorite to claim the title this year.

However, considering past and present factors, New Mexico, UNLV, and North Dakota State appear to be leading contenders.All ten programs have questions to answer and opportunities to seize.

New Mexico aims to prove last season was only the beginning, while UNLV seeks to set a new benchmark for the league.

Hawaiʻi looks to rise. Air Force, Wyoming, Nevada, and San José State aim to reestablish themselves. UTEP and Northern Illinois seek to prove they belong. North Dakota State aims to demonstrate that its championship culture can succeed at the FBS level.

These factors make the upcoming season especially compelling. For the first time in years, the Mountain West enters a season without a clear favorite, a dominant dynasty, or an established king.

What remains is opportunity: ten programs, numerous storylines, and a championship race that is truly wide open.

The previous leaders have moved on, leaving a conference eager to define its next chapter. By December, one program will emerge to claim the title.

The key question is which program will seize the opportunity to become the Mountain West’s most dominant team and retain its coaches for the following season, reflecting the realities mid-major FBS teams face.

Earlier this month, Michigan Football landed a commitment from 2027 four-star cornerback Blake Jenkins. The 6-foot-0.5, 190-pounder comes from Tompkins High School in Katy, Texas, where new cornerbacks coach and primary recruiter Jernaro Gilford had to fend off the likes of SMU, Houston and Texas.

Rivals Industry Rankings has Jenkins at a 90.33 rating, the No. 262 overall player, the No. 28 cornerback and the No. 39 player in Texas in his class.

Let’s take a look at his film to see what we can expect from him at Michigan.

Pros

There is a lot to like about Jenkins. Before the ball is snapped, he lines up in an athletic position with a clear intent on where he wants to drive his receiver, whether that be inside or outside. He accomplishes that mission with excellent quicks, sharp footwork and loose hips that can recover to latch onto the intended target’s back hip even when he gets turned around. Jenkins was particularly impressive on slants/in-breaking routes where he can sit down on his man before reapplying the glue.

On deep balls, Jenkins eliminates space near the boundary and does not get anxious if his man has a step. He always looks confident in his positioning, something that should reflect his preparation.

Jenkins’ timing might be his best trait right now. He does such a good job of scanning the quarterback before making a decision. Quick screens are mitigated because 1) he recognizes they’re coming and 2) he is not afraid to blow up a blocker and make a play on the ball carrier.

You see that physicality in the run game, too. No, Jenkins is not going to be some hybrid linebacker, in-the-box mauler. But he takes pride in preventing running backs from gaining additional yards, does well to wrap up receivers on short receptions, and should fit in well with defensive coordinator Jay Hill’s philosophy.

Cons

If there was one issue that stood out on Jenkins’ film, it was biting on a double move. Since he is not exactly an elite ballhawk or premier turnover forcer, he may feel inclined to overcompensate at times.

Perhaps patience is something he needs to learn, or naturally will learn, as he still has another year of high school ball before heading to Ann Arbor. But even during the one instance he fell for the initial move, he was able to recover nicely.

Jenkins mostly showed man-to-man tape, and for good reason. He is sticky, matches hips and feet well and stays square to his receiver. He certainly looks like the type of corner and athlete you would feel comfortable leaving alone on the perimeter — at least one day.

Six years, four managers, and more set-pieces than any of us can count – and now Gavin Strachan is gone.

Gavin Strachan has left Celtic after six years as a first-team coach, joining West Bromwich Albion as part of James Morrison’s new backroom staff – a departure that strips Martin O’Neill of the club’s longest-serving coaching specialist at the worst possible moment.

The news lands at a time of genuine uncertainty around the coaching structure at Celtic Park, with O’Neill still bedding in after his appointment as manager and the full shape of his permanent staff yet to be confirmed. Strachan’s exit, reported widely across Celtic-focused media, is not officially denied and is treated as confirmed by those closest to the club.

Strachan, 47 and son of former Celtic and Scotland manager Gordon Strachan, joined the club in June 2020 under Neil Lennon, taking over from Damien Duff as first-team coach. He was retained by Ange Postecoglou in 2021 and again carried over when Brendan Rodgers returned for his second spell – a rare constant through an era that has been anything but settled.

His specialism was set-pieces and opposition analysis, and internally he was regarded as the club’s lead set-piece coach. That is not a role you replace with a phone call and a handshake the week before pre-season. It is detailed, cumulative work, and whoever fills that gap will be starting from scratch.

Reports indicate that family ties in the Midlands played a part in the decision, and BBC Sport frames the move as part of the reshaping of Morrison’s backroom at West Brom, with Morrison said to have welcomed Strachan’s “new perspectives” for their Championship campaign. Fine for them. Less fine for us.

Here’s the thing – this does not happen in isolation. Celtic are still working through coaching staff restructuring at the assistant manager level, with Efrain Juarez among those in discussions, while Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham have reportedly been in tense contract talks after initially being offered reduced terms despite delivering the league and cup double. Lose Strachan, stall on Maloney and Fotheringham, and the backroom begins to look precarious.

O’Neill’s early challenges are already significant, with Champions League qualifying on the horizon and a pre-season that includes a high-profile friendly against AC Milan at Celtic Park. He needs a settled, experienced coaching group around him – not a jigsaw with pieces still missing.

Attention now turns firmly to who comes in. A set-piece and analysis specialist needs to be identified and appointed before the squad reports back for pre-season work in Ireland and Portugal. The clock is not standing still.

Mon The Hoops.

Nadame Tucker isn’t like many undrafted free agents coming into the NFL.

The Los Angeles Chargers signed Tucker to a deal after the draft knowing that he would be 26 years old by the time he walks into training camp.

Some teams could view that as a liability, but the Chargers are taking a different approach with it. Tucker started out in community college for two years at Independence in Kansas and Hutchinson before transferring to Houston ahead of the 2022 season. After three seasons with the Cougars, he had only 13 appearances, with 10 tackles. He got one last chance at Western Michigan, where he finally moved onto NFL radars.

“Tucker, who went undrafted out of Western Michigan, played for first-year defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary last season. Tucker was one of the most disruptive rushers in college; he was a third-team All-American, the MAC Defensive Player of the Year, led the FBS with 21 tackles for loss and tied for the lead with 14.5 sacks. Tucker could compete for the final edge rusher spot, a battle that could come down to him and 33-year-old veteran Bud Dupree,“ ESPN insider Kris Rhim wrote.

Tucker is a rookie, but he won’t have the mentality of one. He’s been playing football at a high level for six years and his ascent this past season proves that he is on an upward trajectory. If Tucker can use that momentum to go into training camp, he could carve out a spot on the roster with the Chargers.

BFTB community, what do you think of Tucker’s career path? Will he truly have a chance to make the Chargers roster? Let us know in the comments section below.

After a dominating 7-1 win over Curaçao to open the 2026 World Cup, Germany needed some second half heroics from Deniz Undav and the rest of the substitutes to overtake Ivory Coast with a 2-1 victory. Instead of fighting for a spot in the knockout round during the third and final group stage match, Germany has the luxury of resting the starters against Ecuador because Germany has already clinched first place in Group E. This is the first time Germany has advanced to the knockout rounds since winning the World Cup in 2014.

Ecuador will desperately need points to stay alive. They have been scoreless in both matches thus far, losing 1-0 to Ivory Coast and gutting out a 0-0 draw with Curaçao. While it’s mathematically possible (for now) that Ecuador can still reach the Round of 32 with a single point, they would be in a much stronger position with an upset win over Germany.

Match Info

Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA

Date: Thursday, June 25th, 2026

Time: 4:00pm local time (EST)

TV/streaming: Fox, Telemundo, Find Your Country

Odds: Germany (-110), Draw (+310), Ecuador (+260)

Team Info

Here is the predicted lineup, courtesy of BFW:

Lineup changes

• IN: Oliver Baumann, David Raum, Antonio Rüdiger, Waldemar Anton, Leon Goretzka, Angelo Stiller, Deniz Undav, Nick Woltemade
• OUT: Manuel Neuer, Nathaniel Brown, Nico Schlotterbeck, Jonathan Tah, Aleksandar Pavlović, Felix Nmecha, Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz

Player status updates

• Nico Schlotterbeck, ankle (out)

Three things to knowabout Germany

• Deniz Undav has three goals in 58 minutes, by far the highest scoring rate at the 2026 World Cup (AND he has two assists)
• Germany has not won all three group stage matches at the World Cup since 2006 where they also defeated Ecuador in the third match
• While some other teams in this tournament have featured a majority of players who weren’t born in the country they play for, only two Germany players hold that distinction: Felix Nmecha (England) and Waldemar Anton (Uzbekistan)

Three things to know about Ecuador

• Ecuador’s All-Time Leading Scorer: Enner Valencia, 49 goals in 106 caps
• Player to watch: John Yeboaahh, midfielder (born in Hamburg, Germany)
• Form: DWWLD

Prediction

Germany wins 3-1. Ecuador’s struggles in the attacking third will continue against Germany. Germany’s normal reserves will receive some well deserved playing time and leave a lasting impression with a dominating 2-0 lead at halftime. Ecuador will score their first and last goal of the 2026 World Cup before conceding a breakaway goal in the dying minutes as they throw numbers forward while hoping to secure a draw.

Join the conversation!

Sign up for a user account and get:

• New, improved notifications system!
• Fewer ads
• Create community posts
• Comment on articles, community posts
• Rec comments, community posts

It’s time to start preparing for the 2026 Syracuse Orange football season. We’re going through the roster to take a look at each Syracuse player as we get to know a lot of new faces for Year 3 of the Fran Brown Era.

Up next is…

Name: Tripp Woody

Position: Kicker

Year: Redshirt Sophomore

Height: 5’9”

Weight: 190 lbs

Hometown: Waxhaw, NC

High School/Previous College: Charlotte Christian/Iowa

2025 stats: Woody made 12 out of 14 field goals last year, with a long of 49 yards

2026 projections: Woody was in a starting kicking battle last year. That will not be the case this season. For the first time in a bit, Syracuse will have some reliability and comfortability in the kicking game with Woody at the helm for the next couple of years. 

How’d he get here?: Woody transferred from Iowa to Syracuse in December of 2024. 

What’d recruiting sites say?: Only a two-star rating from 247Sports. 

Social Media: @tripp.woody

Interesting nugget o’interest: Unsurprisingly, Woody also played soccer in high school. He also served as his football team’s punter. 

Let’s get a look at ya: A look at Woody’s form from last year’s training camp.

Las Vegas Raiders star tight end Brock Bowers will be one of the most desired players in fantasy football next season. Bowers is among the best tight ends in the NFL, but is coming off of injury dating back to last season, which makes his outlook for the upcoming fantasy football season one of much importance for team owners.

Bowers went for 680 receiving yards and seven touchdowns across 12 games played in 2025, and earned 176.2 fantasy points in ESPN PPR leagues. The year prior, he went for 1,194 receiving yards and five TD's as a rookie. The expectation is that Bowers will return to producing up to his reputation as perhaps the best tight end in the league in 2026 with another prolific season, which makes him deserving of being one of the first TEs taken in fantasy football drafts.

According to ESPN Fantasy Football's projections for the 2026 season, Bowers will record 995 receiving yards and seven TD's, good for 240.14 fantasy points in the ESPN PPR format.

The biggest factors that will impact Bowers’ season in 2026 will be the presence of new Raiders coach Klint Kubiak, as well as the quarterback play of either Kirk Cousins or Fernando Mendoza (or both).

Coach Kubiak brings championship experience to Las Vegas, having served as the offensive coordinator for the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks in 2025. His schematics figure to help the Raiders produce a much better offense in 2026, which, as a result, will create better opportunities for Bowers to thrive in the passing game.

As for the quarterback play in Las Vegas, either Cousins or Mendoza appear to be poised to make sound reads under center throughout the year and keep Bowers active as their favored target in 2026.

This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Will Raiders TE Brock Bowers have big fantasy football season in 2026?

The design team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw has signed on to build a new golf course at Kingsley Club near Traverse City, Michigan. Clearing for the club’s second 18-hole layout began this year, and the course is expected to open for limited preview play in late 2028 with a full opening in 2029.

The second course is part of a $40-million investment in the club by Escalante Golf, the Texas-based company that acquired Kingsley club in 2022. Escalante also is building an expansive new clubhouse slated to open at the club in 2027 to replace the converted construction trailer that served as a minimalist home since the club was founded in 2001. A larger practice green also will be built near the clubhouse. Kingsley is the owner-operator of 26 properties in 17 states. 

The private Kingsley Club already is home to a well-loved Mike DeVries course that features frequently heaving terrain and is ranked by Golfweek’s Best as the No. 39 modern course in the U.S. and the No. 3 private course in Michigan. 

Coore and Crenshaw’s course is being carved into a recently acquired 520 acres southeast of the original property. Planned as a walkable course, the new layout will feature fescue playing surfaces intended to promote the same kind of fast and firm conditions found on DeVries’ original course. The new course also will feature a “bye hole” that returns to the clubhouse after the opening six holes. The layout is roughly planned to extend to 7,200 yards with a par of 72, but plenty can change during the build as Coore and Crenshaw tie the course into the landscape.

“The Escalante team has again given us an opportunity to work with a wonderfully intriguing, gifted site for golf, this time in the state of Michigan, home to some of America’s most acclaimed golf courses,” Coore, who worked with Escalante on the recently renovated Pines Course at The International outside of Boston, said in a media release that announced the new course. “We are excited about the potential of this highly individualistic site, the Kingsley Club in general and being able to create a course in a state with such a rich golfing history.”

Jason Lusk is Golfweek's travel and golf course architecture editor, as well as the print magazine's creative director. He has written for and designed Golfweek for more than two decades.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Kingsley Club to add second course by Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw

The Oklahoma Sooners spent much of the last decade searching for a quality defense.

Enter Brent Venables.

Venables returned to Norman before the 2022 season, this time as head coach after serving as defensive coordinator from 1999 to 2011. His biggest task was to build a defense that was good enough to win a national championship.

Under Lincoln Riley, the Sooners were routinely held back by their defense; now, they are a defensive-minded team. The biggest question is whether they can maintain last season's top 10 level of play on that side of the ball.

All-SEC EDGE Taylor Wein appeared on "The Oklahoma Breakdown with Ikard and Lehman," where he discussed why the mentality Venables instilled in the defense is why the Sooners believe they will not dip in 2026.

"I think the biggest thing, if we look up at the scoreboard and you see zero, you're doing a really good job," Wein said. "And they can't win if they have zero points. And so that's our mentality. That's our mindset... Coach V(enables) instilled his mindset and this edge in the defense."

The mindset has become one of the defining traits of Venables' defense at Oklahoma. It is not just about scheme or play calling. It is about building a unit that expects to control games, limit points, and play with an edge every week.

It's why he's won three national championships as a defensive coordinator and why, when he leaves, those teams take a dip on that side of the ball.

If the Sooners are going to remain one of the SEC's top defenses in 2026, that standard and consistency will be a big reason why.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.You can also follow Jaron on X @jaronspor.

This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma Sooners defense plays with an edge because of Brent Venables

Teams around the league looked to improve their rosters and long-term outlooks in the 2026 edition of the NBA Draft. This year’s class was one of the most talent-rich in quite some time, and there is reason to believe several bottom dwellers from 2025-26 should be significantly better next season. Furthermore, a few contenders also improved on Tuesday night. However, the Miami Heat made the biggest move of the week by trading for Milwaukee Bucks icon Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Following a busy couple of days, our all-new NBA power rankings reveal the updated pecking order in the league following Round 1 of the NBA Draft.

30. New Orleans Pelicans

To the surprise of no one, the New Orleans Pelicans were again a laughing stock in the Western Conference. Although Zion Williamson did suit up in 62 games — the second most of his career — it did not stop the Pels from being a bottom-10 team defensively and mediocre on offense. The roster could get a shakeup with rumors swirling about a potential Trey Murphy III trade.

It would behoove them to move fast on a deal so they can get a first-round pick in this week’s draft. Something they do not currently have.

29. Sacramento Kings

On paper, the Sacramento Kings should have been a good team this past season. Yet, quite a few NBA analysts prophesied a messy situation, and they were right. Despite the talent on the roster, the Kings were one of the worst teams in the NBA all year. It didn’t take long for them to realize that and go into tank mode in the second half. Unfortunately, their bad luck continued, and they ended up with the seventh pick in the draft.

Despite the tough luck, they landed Arkansas star Darius Acuff Jr., a player who can be a franchise changer. Now, all signs point to the Kings trying to offload either Zach LaVine or Domantas Sabonis‘ expensive contracts.

28. Brooklyn Nets

In last year’s draft, the Brooklyn Nets had four first-round picks and chose to use them all instead of packaging some or all of them in trades for veteran players. That proved to be a mistake because none of those players has given reason to believe they can be a core member of a future contender. In the end, the only bright spot this past season was a career year from trade addition Michael Porter.

At No. 6 in the NBA Draft, Brooklyn took Louisville star Mikel Brown Jr., a player many believe has the most upside of the point guards in a deep class. Hopefully, the projections are right because the Nets badly need a game changer out of the backcourt to go with Porter and newly acquired three-time All-Star Julius Randle.

27. Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks made some big changes last summer when they moved on from future Hall of Famer Damian Lillard and signed Myles Turner to keep top star Giannis Antetokounmpo happy. The moves didn’t work, and the team legend battling injury woes again didn’t help en route to a sad 32-win season. However, it landed them the 10th pick in this week’s draft.

As had been predicted for months, they finally pulled the trigger on an Antetokounmpo trade that got them several impact players from the Heat — including Tyler Herro — and another first-rounder. In the draft, they took Brayden Burries and Nate Ament. Two youngsters who will serve as the reimagined core of the new look and younger Bucks.

26. Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks got off to a rough start this season as Anthony Davis struggled to stay on the court, and the absence of Kyrie Irving became blatantly obvious. It was a major reason why GM Nico Harrison was fired in November. However, while they were among the early teams to start tanking after they traded Davis to the Wizards, No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg offered hope during a Rookie of the Year-winning season.

Dallas is fully in a rebuild and now has former Raptors president Masai Ujiri leading the way. In the NBA Draft, the Mavericks picked twice and bolstered the front court. However, while Morez Johnson and Koa Peat are winning players, neither will be a legit No. 2 scorer next to Flagg in the years ahead.

25. Chicago Bulls

Chicago Bulls fans had hope entering this past season after the addition of Josh Giddey energized the team late in the 2024-25 season. However, despite a solid start to the year, one of the worst defenses in the NBA (121.6 opponents’ PPG) pulled them to the back of the standings as the season played out. Chicago enters the offseason with a ton of cap space.

While they didn’t make a trade in the NBA Draft, they landed gifted North Carolina two-way star Caleb Wilson at No. 4, then added Texas’ Dailyn Swain at 15. Many draft pundits are high on what the Bulls did on June 23.

24. Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies were always going to be different after firing Taylor Jenkins late last season and replacing him with assistant Tuomas Iisalo. However, few expected the season to be overshadowed by the will-they-or-won’t-they trade talk about Ja Morant. In the end, they didn’t and instead shockingly moved Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Jazz.

The 2025-26 season was a mess for the Grizzlies as Morant only suited up in 20 games, and they pivoted in the second half to a tanking strategy. It worked, and they selected Duke star Cam Boozer with the No. 3 pick. They then added Mexican prospect Karim Lopez at 21 in a trade with the Pistons. While they didn’t get way better in June, the Grizzlies still got better.

23. Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers saw a dark cloud placed over their season from day one, when former head coach Chauncey Billups was implicated in a wild poker game rigging scheme. However, they overcame the drama and finished with a winning record for the first time since 2020-21.

A big reason why was a career year from former Wizards lottery pick Deni Avdija. The 25-year-old led the team in scoring (23.9 PPG) and got a taste of postseason play in the spring. Also, Billups’ replacement, Tiago Splitter, did a great job. Yet, management seems intent on replacing him as well this offseason. Whoever is coaching the team in 2026-27, Portland has a nice young core and the chips to make a big trade if they wanted to.

22. Los Angeles Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers were a mess over the first couple of months of the season. However, despite off-court drama, they rallied the troops and caught fire midway through the campaign. Yet, that did not stop management from moving two of their best players — James Harden and Ivica Zubac — before the trade deadline.

Despite the weakened roster, Kawhi Leonard being healthy and being in vintage form allowed the Clippers to stay competitive and reach the play-in tournament. The big question is, will he be in LA next season after they took Keaton Wagler in the draft, and rumors persist that he will be moved if he doesn’t sign a team-friendly extension soon?

21. Washington Wizards

This was another disappointing season for the Washington Wizards as they ended the campaign with the East’s worst record. Yet, there is reason for hope in 2026-27 because former first-round picks Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George showed further growth this season. And they added multi-time All-Stars Trae Young and Anthony Davis before the trade deadline.

In the lottery, they lucked into getting the No. 1 pick and used it on BYU’s AJ Dybantsa. On paper, the prospect may be the final piece to an outstanding frontline for the Wizards next season if Davis can stay healthy (YUGE if) and Sarr continues to develop.

20. Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors punted on a playoff push a year ago in the hopes that year two for head coach Darko Rajakovic and a full season with Brandon Ingram could lead to a big turnaround in 2025-26. The plan worked, and while they were a solid scoring team, a top-10 defense is why they avoided the play-in tournament in the spring. Smaller impact moves are probably the goal for Toronto this summer, as well as trying to find a meaningful prospect with the 19th overall pick.

19. Utah Jazz

While the Utah Jazz seemed to have the potential to reach the play-in early on, they became a lightning rod in the second half by being the most blatant tankers after the deadline. It was especially egregious since they tanked after trading for Jaren Jackson Jr. While the approach was ugly, it worked, and they landed Darryn Peterson with the No. 2 pick in the draft.

The Kansas star may have the best chance of being a superstar from this year’s class. He, combined with veterans like Jackson, Lauri Markkanen, and Keyonte George, could help push a big turnaround for Utah in 2026-27.

18. Phoenix Suns

After a seriously disappointing result a year ago, the Phoenix Suns made some major changes last summer, and the moves delivered positive results. The biggest difference from the previous season is that this group played pretty good defense under the new coach, Jordan Ott. They gave up the seventh fewest points in the NBA (111.3 PPG) this past season.

Devin Booker returned to being a premier star in the game, and they got a far better season from Dillon Brooks than anyone expected. The top priority this offseason will be seeing if they can land another high-impact scorer to help their top star in 2026-27.

17. Orlando Magic

There were very high hopes for the Orlando Magic this past season after they gave up a boatload of assets to land Grizzlies veteran Desmond Bane. However, he didn’t make quite the impact on offense that they hoped for, and Franz Wagner suiting up in just 31 games only exacerbated their issues on O.

But one of the biggest surprises was the Magic going from giving up 105.5 PPG (No. 1 in the NBA) in 2024-25 to 115.3 this past season. Yet, they had the Pistons on the brink of elimination in the opening round of the playoffs, but blew a 3-1 series lead. Despite rumors that they might consider trading Paolo Banchero, they will likely return with the same group next season and hope new head coach Sean Sweeney can take the roster to new heights.

16. Atlanta Hawks

For the Atlanta Hawks, this season was about building for the long-term. The best proof was Jalen Johnson’s emergence as the new face of the organization after they moved his predecessor, Trae Young, to Washington.

With Johnson now entrenched as the leader of their young core, Atlanta has a lot of potential. Even after being thrashed by the Knicks in the quarterfinals. In the draft, they bolstered their depth with two nice selections in Arizona’s Kingston Flemmings and Big East POTY Zuby Ejiofor.

15. Charlotte Hornets

While LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges posted good numbers, and prospect Kon Knueppel emerged as a serious ROTY candidate, the Charlotte Hornets struggled mightily in the first half of the season. However, when the calendar switched to January, this mostly young group finally gelled and emerged as one of the better teams in the East over the final months of the season.

They are a solid group on offense, but their defense gave up just 111.3 points a night (sixth best in the NBA). It is why they can be a top-six team in the conference next season. That became more likely in the draft when they improved their front court with Washington’s Hannes Steinback and bench scoring with Christian Anderson Jr.

14. Golden State Warriors

Last spring, the Golden State Warriors looked like a serious dark horse to reach the Finals. However, Stephen Curry’s hamstring injury threw ice water on those aspirations. Another stunning injury derailed their championship plans again this season when Jimmy Butler suffered a season-ending ACL tear in January.

Despite their best efforts to make an Antetokounmpo trade in February, they could not, and Golden State missed the postseason for the second time in three years. They will look to make a move for the Bucks star again this summer, but that is unlikely. The question is, which star do they pivot to? LeBron James perhaps?

13. Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers bounced back from a disastrous 2024-25 campaign because Tyrese Maxey has become a top 10 player, and rookie VJ Edgecombe looks like he can be a perennial All-Star. The guards were why they had a top-six record in conference this past season despite Joel Embiid and Paul George missing more than half of the year.

Although they came from behind and stunned the Celtics in the opening round, they were swept and embarrassed by the Knicks in the semis. They are unlikely to make any major roster moves this summer and will aim to get one more year out of Embiid and George before looking into ways to move their contracts next summer.

12. Miami Heat

The Miami Heat underwhelmed this season despite Norman Powell having an even better year than his All-Star performance for the Clippers in 2024-25. While they were second best in the NBA in scoring (120.8 PPG), their patented Erik Spoelstra-led defense was nowhere to be found in 2025-26. Nevertheless, they still had a chance for a seventh straight trip to the postseason via the play-in.

Unfortunately, they could not get through the mini tournament and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2019. That disappointing finish was expected to motivate Pat Riley to swing a big trade for 10-time All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo, and he did that the day before the 2026 NBA Draft. While they gave up a lock, Miami is once again a contender in the East with the future Hall of Famer.

11. Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers were always expected to struggle mightily this season after top star Tyrese Haliburton suffered a torn Achilles in the Finals. Plus, they lost Myles Turner to the Bucks in free agency. With it clear they wouldn’t even be competitive, the Pacers chose to tank, but took a big risk by offering up their first-rounder for Clippers big man Ivica Zubac if it didn’t land in the top three of the lottery. Unfortunately, it did not.

However, Indiana is expected to jump right back into contention next season with a healthy Haliburton, Zubac, and Pascal Siakam.

10. Minnesota Timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves entered the season as one of the West’s elites after back-to-back trips to the Western Conference Finals. However, one of the best defensive units in the NBA regressed. In 2024-25, they were giving up 109.3 a night. This past season, they were up to 114.1 points against. It was a key difference in why they were sent packing in the semifinals by Wembanyama and the Spurs.

That sound defeat is expected to motivate the front office to make some bold moves this offseason. They have already re-signed Ayo Dosunmu, traded Julius Randle, and took his likely replacement — Joshua Jefferson — in the draft.

9. Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets were one of the best stories in the NBA two seasons ago, as they evolved into an elite team in the West with strong defense and the emergence of Alperen Sengun. Last summer, they assumed adding future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant would create a force that rivals the Thunder. To the chagrin of Rockets fans, they never completely gelled, and the absence of veteran guard Fred VanVleet was noticeable.

The fourth-best-scoring team in 2025-26 has been linked to various moves heading into the summer. However, they are likely to return with the same group and hope VanVleet is the missing piece to a title contender next season.

8. Denver Nuggets

When they have the best player on the planet, Nikola Kokic, the Denver Nuggets will always be a very competitive squad. Although they made a shocking coaching change last spring, Mike Malone’s replacement, David Adelman, guided the best offense in the NBA (121.4 PPG) during the regular season.

Unfortunately, despite a career year from Jamal Murray, the Nuggets were ousted in the opening round of the playoffs for just the second time in the Jokic era. While they would love to add a big-time star to pair with the future Hall of Famer, Denver heads into another offseason only capable of making smaller moves around the fringes of their veteran roster unless they can find a taker for Aaron Gordon or Murray and their large contracts.

7. Detroit Pistons

The Detroit Pistons went from a feel-good story last season to one of the NBA elites this past season. Led by Cade Cunningham and their young core, the Pistons had a real chance to reach the NBA Finals due to a defense that was giving up just 109.6 PPG — third best in the NBA during the regular season.

However, when 2025-26 breakout star Jalen Duren badly struggled during the playoffs, the warts on the current Pistons roster showed. Nevertheless, they reached Game 7 in the semifinals and aren’t far off from being serious title contenders.

In the draft, they made a nice addition with Stanford’s Ebuka Okorie, a player who can be a nice bucket machine next to Cunningham.

6. Cleveland Cavaliers

For much of this past season, the Cleveland Cavaliers did not look like the group that was the East’s best in 2024-25. However, when they made a trade deadline deal for future Hall-of-Famer James Harden, Donovan Mitchell and the rest of the team hit a new gear. The strong play carried them through the playoffs, and they were able to upend the No. 1-seeded Pistons in a seven game semifinals war.

Unfortunately, they went against the buzzsaw that was the Knicks in the conference finals and were swept out of the postseason. Despite the embarrassing finish, the Cavs took another big step forward. They are likely to keep this group together for one more season and see if a full summer and training camp with Harden sets up a title run next spring.

5. Los Angeles Lakers

There were big expectations for the Los Angeles Lakers this past season. They got a full training camp with young superstar Luka Doncic, and head coach JJ Redick impressed during his rookie year. Plus, they still had one of the greatest players of all time, LeBron James, still playing at a high level. Yet, few expected such a major breakout year from Austin Reaves.

Once they found synergy, LA ended the regular season as one of the hottest teams in the NBA. Unfortunately, badly timed injuries completely undercut their potential in the postseason. If they can persuade James to return for one more season, the Lakers can be a threat to the Thunder and Spurs in 2026-27. Especially if they add nice pieces to the roster this summer.

4. Boston Celtics

Jayson Tatum’s season-ending injury last spring seemingly set the Boston Celtics up for a season well below their usual high standard in 2025-26. However, Jaylen Brown and the best defense in the NBA (107.1 PPG) had the Celtics looking like the team to beat in the East to begin the 2026 playoffs.

However, to the surprise of many, they somehow blew a 3-1 quarterfinals lead to the 76ers and were sent packing after just one round. In the draft, they addressed their frontcourt woes with a nice pick in Houston’s Chris Cenac Jr. He should be a great fit in Boston.

3. San Antonio Spurs

There was no better story in the NBA this season than the rise of Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. Despite being just a couple of years removed from a second straight 22-win season, they won 62 games and emerged as the defending champs’ biggest threat in the west. They proved that potential when they were able to outlast OKC in a dog fight Western Conference Finals.

Yet, while the French phenom and his team showed they were well ahead of schedule, they were outworked in the Finals by one of the most resilient playoff teams in NBA history, the 2026 Knicks. The loss may be why they surprisingly took not one, but two big men in the draft. So Wembanyama does not have to defend the opposing team’s best big man in the future.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder were the cream of the crop in the NBA over the last two seasons. Now, two-time NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his team again owned the best record in the NBA with a top-five offense and the No. 2 defense in the league (107.5 PPG) during the regular season.

While they steamrolled their way to the conference finals, they met their match in Wembanyama and the Spurs. However, they will spend all offseason wondering if they could have repeated as champions if they had a healthy Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell in that series.

In the draft, they bolstered their depth with two nice picks. At No. 12, they took Isaiah Hartenstein’s likely replacement in Michigan’s Aday Mara, and added a nice bench PG in Bennett Stirtz. The talent-rich just got richer.

1. New York Knicks

Heading into this year’s playoffs, the New York Knicks were viewed as one of the better teams in the East. However, there were still doubters around the NBA, including in their own fanbase. And they had good reason since the Knicks were an inconsistent group all season. However, after falling to a 2-1 hole against the Hawks in the quarterfinals, New York would embark on one of the greatest playoff runs in NBA history.

After Karl-Anthony Towns adjusted his role in the offense, they would go on to bludgeon teams throughout the playoffs, and their defensive versatility made life hell for opponents. Led by Finals MVP Jalen Brunson, New York ended a 53-year title drought with an all-around team-driven effort. The best part, as they celebrate their championship over the summer? Much of their title team, including all five starters, will be back in 2026-27.

Related Headlines

• 2026 NBA Draft: Ranking the 10 Best Players Available in Round 2, Including Isaiah Evans
• BIGGEST 2026 NBA Draft Winners & Losers, Including Odd Picks By Mavericks and Hornets
• 2 Contenders ‘At Front of Line’ For Jaylen Brown Trade After Celtics Fail to Deal Him for Giannis

Between now and training camp, we will be going through the Indianapolis Colts' full 90-man roster, previewing each player.

Up next is wide receiver Laquon Treadwell, who wears No. 13.

Profile

• Height: 6-2
• Weight: 215
• Age: 31
• NFL experience: Year 10
• College: Ole Miss

How long has Laquon Treadwell been with the Colts?

Treadwell is entering his third season with Indianapolis. He was signed during training camp prior to the 2024 season. Treadwell has appeared in 12 games, spending most of his time on the practice squad.

Recapping Laquon Treadwell's 2025 season

Treadwell played 36 offensive snaps, while appearing in seven games on offense. However, where he did make a substantial impact was on special teams, playing 141 snaps over 10 games, regularly contributing to three of the six different phases.

Looking ahead to 2026 season for Laquon Treadwell

Perhaps more so than during the previous two years, Treadwell has his best opportunity to make the 53-man roster. He is among those competing for snaps in the vacant WR3 role and has shown that even if not regularly on the field on offense, he can help out on special teams, which is valuable.

There are several wide-ranging outcomes for Treadwell this season. He could earn steady playing time, provide depth and be a special teams contributor, or he could be released during cutdowns and signed back to the practice squad.

This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts training camp preview: WR Laquon Treadwell

Washington Spirit owner Michele Kang has agreed to buy Olympique Lyonnais in a deal that would sever the French soccer club’s ties to John Textor’s Eagle Football Holdings.

Under the transaction, an entity controlled by Kang called Olympe Bidco SAS will pay $30 million for an 87.8% stake in the soccer club while pledging to inject up to $80.8 million (€71 million) of fresh capital into the organization over the next two seasons, according to statements from Lyon and Eagle Football Group (Eagle Football Group is a publicly traded entity that owns and operates Lyon, while Eagle Football Holdings is a private holding company formed by Textor to own his stakes in teams; following this transaction, it would still hold stakes in Brazil’s Botafogo and Belgium’s RWDM Brussels).

The agreement remains subject to certain conditions, including Lyon maintaining its spot in the top French soccer league, Ligue 1. It is expected to close by June 30.

Once the deal for 87.8% of Lyon is wrapped up, Kang will file a tender offer to acquire the remaining shares, giving minority shareholders the ability to exit. The expectation is that the tender offer will be made by October.

“It is with a great sense of responsibility and immense honor that I am joining this process of taking over Olympique Lyonnais today,” Kang said in Tuesday’s statement.

Kang’s takeover comes about three months after Ares Management, a private credit firm that lent millions to Eagle Football Holdings, appointed Cork Gully as administrator of Eagle Football Holdings—a process that gave Cork Gully control of the holding company but not the clubs themselves, with the aim of managing its debts and potentially selling assets so creditors could get repaid. Ares will continue to have a notesholder interest in Lyon but will not own any direct stake in the team or have any board representation. 

Almost exactly a year ago, Kang assumed operational control of Lyon when Textor stepped down from his leadership positions, including departing its board of directors. Then, Kang took over as chairwoman and CEO, while Textor at the time maintained a majority stake in the club through Eagle Football Holdings. 

Following Tuesday’s announcement, Textor seems set to lose his stake in Lyon to Kang, who also owns a majority stake in the Lyon women’s team. But he believes Kang hoodwinked him. In February, he told Front Office Sports that behind the scenes, Kang made “one hell of a power play” by entering into a “secret” side agreement with Ares that included the establishment of a “shadow board,” the existence of which Textor only discovered after he had stepped down and already entrusted her to manage the club. 

On Wednesday, he told FOS “Michele seems to have done it again. Smear, divide, and conquer. It worked with the Washington Spirit, so why not try again? Why buy a club when you can steal it?”

Textor has previously laid out the timeline from his perspective, and claimed the actions taken by Ares and Kang will get them in hot water with Autorité des marchés financiers, the markets regulator in France. “They took over the club without due process,” Textor told FOS in February. “They concealed it.”

In April, Textor filed a confidential criminal complaint against Kang with a French prosecutorial authority called Parquet National Financier. That month, he also demanded her resignation in a letter sent to the Eagle Football Group board that was viewed by FOS. The letter says the board “must accept responsibility for knowingly allowing” Kang to consolidate control “without any public disclosure,” and claims there have been “obvious signs of accounting irregularities and private corruption.”

The post Michele Kang to Buy Lyon in Deal That Would End John Textor’s Ownership appeared first on Front Office Sports.

Cubs select contract of former Phillies, Pirates righty starter amid Edward Cabrera injury originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Chicago Cubs' starting rotation has been significantly depleted from their initial group from the beginning of the year.

Cade Horton is done for the year, Justin Steele isn't going to start for the team this season, and Jameson Taillon and now even Edward Cabrera are all on the injured list.

As the Cubs place Cabrera on the IL after a freak injury covering first base, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports that former Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Vince Velasquez was selected by the Cubs to join the MLB rotation.

Cubs select contract of ex-Phillies righty pitcher Vince Velasquez

"Cubs roster moves: - RHP Tyler Ferguson is the 27th man for today's doubleheader. RHP Vince Velasquez' contract selected. RHP Edward Cabrera is placed on 15-day IL," McGregor reports.

The Cubs are bringing Ferguson up as the 27th man for the doubleheader against the New York Mets, but the more intriguing addition is Velasquez.

The 34-year-old right-hander made one appearance for the Cubs this season, going 2.1 innings of shutout ball with one strikeout and one hit allowed.

MORE: Phillies reportedly turn down Bryce Harper's outfield offer to help at trade deadline

Velasquez is a 10-year MLB veteran and played the majority of his career with the Phillies. He had a 4.93 ERA in 133 games and 116 starts for the Phillies in six seasons while posting 4.0 bWAR.

While he didn't make any MLB appearances in 2024 or 2025, he did have a decent stint with the Pittsburgh Pirates, posting a 3.86 ERA in eight starts during the 2023 season.

Now, the Cubs, in dire need of more pitching help, have selected the contract of Velasquez to join the MLB roster as Cabrera hits the IL for the second time this season.

More MLB news:

• Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani might not be able to pitch during MLB All-Star Game
• Giants are ‘hopeful ‘ they can trade Matt Chapman by MLB deadline
• Giants are 'pessimistic' they can trade Rafael Devers or Willy Adames
• Twins' Byron Buxton trade update is bad news for Phillies, Braves
• Red Sox looking likely to trade Aroldis Chapman, Sonny Gray, Jarren Duran, and Willson Contreras

West Bromwich Albion have paid an undisclosed fee to sign goalkeeper Matt Ingram from Oxford United on a two-year contract.

The 32-year-old made only one Championship appearance for the U's after joining them from Hull City in 2024, and also featured in three FA Cup and three League Cup ties.

Ingram signed a new two-year-deal with Oxford in the summer of 2025 but leaves after their relegation to League One at the end of the last campaign.

"It's a massive club with big ambition," Ingram told the Baggies website after completing his move.

"I know last year wasn't the season anyone expected, but for me growing up, this was a Premier League club and it's an offer too good to turn down."

West Brom finished 21st in the Championship last season, four points clear of the relegation zone after sacking head coaches Ryan Mason and Eric Ramsay before naming James Morrison as their new permanent boss in April.

Ingram will compete with goalkeepers Max O'Leary and Josh Griffiths for the number one spot next season.

• Latest West Bromwich Albion news, analysis and fan views

Olympic athletes will each be eligible for a $10,000 grant for competing in the Games under a new scheme announced by the International Olympic Committee on Wednesday.

The "Fit for the Future Olympian Grant" will even retroactively be dished out to those who took part in February's Winter Olympics in northern Italy.

"The grant has been set up to support the sporting career or the career transition of Olympians," an IOC statement said. "A fund of $140 million per Olympiad has been set aside."

The announcement came from former Spanish basketball player Pau Gasol during the 146th IOC Session in Lausanne, Switzerland. He is the chair of the IOC's Athletes’ Commission.

Payment at Olympics has always been a thorny issue given the original ideals of the movement were based on amateur sport.

But modern times have required a new approach, especially with athletes in some countries struggling for government-sponsored support and not every sports person being able to market themselves with lucrative sponsors.

"This grant will be available to every Olympian," Gasol said. "Not just medal winners. Not just athletes from certain countries. Every Olympian. Because, while every athlete's journey is different, every Olympian has made sacrifices to reach the Olympic stage."

The only Olympians not eligible are those that have committed an anti-doping rule violation, or violated the IOC code of ethics, the conditions of participation, or the Olympic Charter.

"It has been a topic of conversation for many years, and I am extremely proud that we are now able to do this," IOC president Kirsty Coventry said.

Short timeframe between 2036 Games and host selection

The IOC has also changed the procedure for awarding future Games.

The selection process will include an additional review phase and IOC members will once again have a greater say in the final decision on the host city.

Under the new rules, the 2036 Summer Games – for which India, Germany and Qatar could bid – will not be awarded until mid-2029. The first pre-selection is to be completed in March 2027.

In the past, there was repeated criticism of the IOC's procedure for awarding the Olympics via an open bidding war and corruption allegations were rife.

Under the leadership of former IOC chief Thomas Bach, two commissions were set up in 2019 that have since led negotiations with Olympic bidders and made the preliminary decision to award the Games to a candidate largely in private.

But critics have complained this system is also not transparent and that the decision is made by only a small group within the IOC.

Now the IOC at its special summit has annouced a tweak to those rules. The existing "continuous dialogue" phase will be followed by a "strategic dialogue" where detailed plans and financial guarantees are to be submitted.

Preferred hosts then enter "targeted dialogue" with the IOC leadership before finalists then present themselves to all IOC members for a vote at a session.

Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, IOC member and chair of the Future Host Commission said: "Choosing an Olympic host is a powerful and influential decision, which comes with great responsibility. It is therefore important that we make the right choice, through careful and thorough reflection."

The unanimous decision on the changes taken at the extraordinary session in Lausanne could inject fresh momentum into the selection of a German candidate.

It is possible that the shorter timeframe between the award and the opening of the 2036 Olympic Summer Games will favour candidates who, like Germany, rely on many existing venues and have experience of hosting major events.

If the IOC continues to consider continental rotation as a factor, the issue of whether Brisbane 2032 counts as a broadly Asia-Pacific host might influence if Asia gets the nod in 2036 or not. The last Summer Games were in Paris in 2024 and Los Angeles hosts in 2028.

The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) will decide on September 26 at its special general assembly in Baden-Baden whether Berlin, Munich or the Rhine-Ruhr region, centred on Cologne, will be nominated and for which Games.

The DOSB has already officially registered its interest with the IOC in hosting the 2036, 2040 or 2044 Summer Games.

Turkey and Hungary are keen on 2040, with Northern England and Madrid also possibly entering the race.

The final set of World Cup group stage games is here already, which means some teams have everything to play for, some have nothing to play for and many have something in between.

Team motivations aren’t always clear. How much do they actually care about a specific Round-of-32 matchup or path to the quarterfinals? How important is resting players? What about protecting them from a potential yellow-card suspension?

These questions are somewhat murky, so I tend to stick with games and teams that have clearer reasons to go for it (or not). I’m not touching games like Turkiye-United States, with Turkiye eliminated and the U.S. locked into the group’s top spot.

Remember that not only do the top two teams in each group advance, but also the best eight (of 12) third-place teams. Typically in tournaments like this, third-place teams with four points get through, as do teams with three points and a not-terrible goal differential. So teams with two points from two games may be content with another draw, for example.

There are a lot of moving parts in these scenarios, and things could always change before kickoff, particularly for those playing later in the week. If you want to wait until the picture is clearer, that’s understandable.

Here’s what I’m playing right now:

Wednesday

Switzerland win (+140) vs. Canada

I admit that Canada may have more motivation in this one, needing a win or draw to win the group, which would mean playing the Round of 32 (and a potential Round-of-16 game) in Vancouver. 

However, Canada also has serious injury questions. Alphonso Davies, the team’s best attacker, likely isn’t healthy yet. Moise Bombito, the team’s best defender, played 45 minutes versus Qatar but isn’t fully fit while recovering from a broken leg. One starting midfielder (Ismael Kone) is out with a broken leg, and the other (Stephen Eustaquio) is just getting back to training on Tuesday. 

That’s a lot of holes that a veteran team like Switzerland can exploit. It’s possible that Switzerland will settle for a draw that puts both teams through, but I think the Swiss want to win the group, so I’ll take them to win this game.

Brazil -1.5 (+105) vs. Scotland

As mentioned previously, I’m not convinced Brazil has the midfield to make a deep run in this tournament, but I do think they’re still far better than a Scotland team that is not as good as its traveling fans.

With Morocco playing already-eliminated Haiti, Brazil will probably need a win by multiple goals to maintain its two-goal advantage in goal difference over Morocco. Scotland would happily take a draw to get to four total points, and even a loss by one or even two goals might be sufficient to advance eventually, though Scotland would have to endure a sleepless night or two while waiting. 

I expect Scotland to take a conservative approach as in the Haiti and Morocco games, and I expect Brazil to take advantage of that with an attack that has plenty of quality in Vinicius Junior and Co. 

Thursday

Japan win (-105) vs. Sweden

Japan needs a win or draw to guarantee a spot in the knockout stage and could win the group if Netherlands drops points against Tunisia. Sweden needs a win to go through with certainty, but even a narrow loss is probably enough to grab a third-place spot.

The Group F winner plays the Group C runner-up in the Round of 32, while the Group F runner-up plays the Group C winner. Those two Group C opponents will be known before kickoff, most likely a combination of Brazil and Morocco. I’m not convinced there’s a big difference between those teams, and the Group F winner will likely have a better potential Round-of-16 matchup, so shooting for first place is worthwhile.

But really, I’m taking Samurai Blue because they’re much better than Sweden. Both teams routed Tunisia, but Japan was far more dominant, with 61% possession and 2.1 expected goals, compared to Sweden’s 49% possession and 1.3 expected goals. Japan also went toe-to-toe with the Dutch in a 2-2 draw, and Sweden was smoked 5-1 by Netherlands.

Sweden made the World Cup via a Nations League backdoor after a dreadful defensive showing in qualifying, and the defense hasn’t gotten better. I expect Japan to pick apart the Sweden midfield and backline and win this one fairly easily.

Friday

Cape Verde-Saudi Arabia draw (+240)

At its first World Cup, Cape Verde has already drawn 2010 champion Spain and two-time champion Uruguay, meaning a point in this match will probably get the Blue Sharks through at least as a top third-place team. If Spain beats Uruguay, a draw would grant Cape Verde a second-place Group H finish and automatic advancement.

Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia had similar underlying numbers against Spain and Uruguay, each posting about one expected goal while conceding four. Saudi Arabia was a bit more attacking-minded, and Cape Verde defended better. 

To me, the defensive strength matters more in this matchup. Cape Verde might have another offensive gear or might simply defend and dare Saudi Arabia to score. I don’t think the Green Falcons can do that effectively. I don’t mind playing Cape Verde to win (+145), but given that a draw will likely be enough, I’m taking that before it gets shorter.

Saturday

Algeria-Austria under 1.5 goals (+150)

If that price on under 1.5 goals looks unusual, it is! The draw price is even stranger at +120, and it will probably get shorter before Saturday.

The reason is that both these teams are on three points, and four points will almost certainly get a team into the knockout stage. Even three points might do it, and these teams will know exactly what is necessary, since they’re in the final group to kick off simultaneous games. 

Plus the Group J runner-up will probably face Spain in the Round of 32, while the third-place team is most likely to play the Group B runner-up (Canada/Switzerland) or the Group G winner (Egypt/Belgium/Iran).

So it’s possible we’ll see an echo of 1982’s famed Disgrace of Gijon, which also involved these countries. At that World Cup, West Germany lazily beat Austria 1-0 on the final group day, and both advanced ahead of Algeria. The incident prompted simultaneous group games as we know them.

I don’t expect performances that drastic in this game, but both teams could easily play it safe in both lineup and aggression. 

By Lori Ewing

KANSAS CITY, Missouri, June 24 (Reuters) - A Ghanaian witch doctor says he has "released" ‌England captain Harry Kane from his spell ‌after the striker failed to find the net in Tuesday's ​goalless draw at the World Cup.

Nana Kwaku Bonsam, a self-described spiritualist, had said before England's Group L clash with Ghana that he would cast a spell ‌to stop Kane ⁠from scoring.

"Now I am going to release Harry Kane so that, his next ⁠match, he can score. Harry, I will come and visit you. Don't be offended. We are friends," ​Bonsam said ​in a video posted ​on social media.

Kane scored ‌twice in England's 4-2 victory over Croatia in their World Cup opener, but against Ghana the Bayern Munich striker blazed his best chance over the bar from close range in stoppage time, denying ‌England a victory that would ​have secured their place in ​the knockout stage.

He ​said he was not dwelling on ‌Tuesday's late miss, however.

"I was ​waiting for ​an opportunity like that to fall my way," he said. "It did and I just couldn't quite ​get over ‌the ball. But I've been a striker long ​enough to know they don't always go ​in."

(Reporting by Lori Ewing)

The Mets recalled Jonathan Pintaro to be the 27th man on their roster ahead of Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Cubs at Citi Field.

The right-hander has now been promoted to the majors four times in the past five weeks, but he’s only appeared in four games this season, posting a 2.61 ERA in 10.1 innings pitched with nine strikeouts and one walk. His most recent outing came on June 15, when he ate 3.2 innings of the Mets’ 12-0 blowout loss in Cincinnati before being optioned the following day. Prior to that appearance, Pintaro had allowed just one hit in 6.2 innings of work.

According to the 27th-man doubleheader rule, Pintaro will be optioned following Wednesday night’s game. Typically, a pitcher can’t be recalled for 15 days after being optioned, but that 15-day window doesn’t apply in this case – so Pintaro could still be eligible to return to the major league roster at any point in the coming weeks.

Pintaro last pitched in Syracuse on Saturday, so he should be able to provide multiple innings for a Mets bullpen forced to cover 5.1 innings in Tuesday night’s loss. Nolan McLean will start Game 1 at 1:10 p.m. ET, while Sean Manaea will start Game 2 at 7:10 p.m. ET.

Stefon Diggs, who once provided the Vikings with the Minneapolis Miracle, remains unsigned with just over a month to go before training camp. Although he is 31, Diggs is coming off an 85-catch, 1,013-yard, four-TD season with the New England Patriots and can still provide good value to an offense.

ESPN's Aaron Schatz projects Diggs to head to the AFC West and sign with the Las Vegas Raiders, who may be starting Kirk Cousins to begin the 2026 season. Diggs and Cousins were teammates in Minnesota from 2018-19.

Diggs was the dependable No. 1 target who helped the Bills' Josh Allen significantly improve. Then he was the dependable No. 1 target who helped the Patriots' Drake Maye significantly improve. So why wait for Fernando Mendoza's second season to get him a dependable No. 1 target who can help him significantly improve? The Las Vegas receiver depth chart is severely lacking, and Diggs was still good enough to finish second among wideouts last season in ESPN Analytics' receiver score. This one seems like a no-brainer.

Schatz doesn't mention Cousins in his blurb, but it's very possible the 37-year-old begins the season under center. He is familiar with new head coach Klint Kubiak, who was the Vikings' quarterbacks coach in 2019, which overlapped with Diggs' time in Minnesota.

With his legal issues behind him, Diggs should be on a roster once training camp begins. Some familiarity out west could help him acclimate to his fourth team in four years.

This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Stefon Diggs recommended to reunite Kirk Cousins by analyst

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers made sure one of the most remarkable success stories in franchise history never reached the open market.

Austin Reaves intends to sign a four-year, $185 million maximum contract to remain with the Lakers, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The deal includes a player option for the 2029-30 season and comes after Reaves declined his $14.9 million player option for next season. The agreement makes Reaves the highest-paid undrafted player in NBA history. 

The contract represents the latest milestone in an unlikely journey that began when Reaves went undrafted out of Oklahoma in 2021. He initially joined the Lakers on a two-way contract, fought his way onto the roster and steadily developed into one of the franchise's most important players. Now, five years later, he has secured a deal worth $185 million and cemented his place as a cornerstone of the Lakers' future.

The Lakers and Reaves' representatives — Aaron Reilly and Reggie Berry of AMR Agency — reportedly spent the last 10 days working through negotiations after teams were permitted to begin discussions with their own free agents.

The agreement comes at a critical time for the Lakers, who faced the possibility of significant interest from rival teams once free agency opened. Multiple reports had linked teams with cap space, including the Detroit Pistons, to Reaves, who was widely viewed as one of the top available free agents this summer. Rather than risk losing one of their homegrown stars, the Lakers moved quickly to secure a long-term commitment. 

Reaves earned the payday after producing the best season of his career. The 27-year-old guard averaged career highs across the board, emerging as a primary offensive weapon alongside Luka Dončić and helping the Lakers post consecutive 50-win seasons for the first time since the Phil Jackson era. He averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds while continuing to establish himself as one of the league's most efficient guards. 

His rise has mirrored the Lakers' transition into a new era. After years of serving as a complementary player alongside LeBron James, Reaves developed into a legitimate star and became an essential member of a core that now includes Dončić. The Lakers' decision to offer a maximum contract underscores their belief that Reaves can remain a foundational piece as the franchise pursues its next championship. 

Just one year ago, Reaves turned down a four-year extension worth approximately $89 million, betting that his value would soar in unrestricted free agency. That gamble paid off spectacularly. Reaves was eligible for a significantly larger deal this summer and ultimately landed one of the richest contracts awarded during the 2026 free-agent period. 

For the Lakers, retaining Reaves was arguably the top priority of the offseason. For Reaves, it is the culmination of a journey few could have imagined when he entered the league as an undrafted rookie fighting for a roster spot.

Now, he enters the next chapter as a franchise centerpiece — and the richest undrafted player the NBA has ever seen.

Tottenham have agreed a deal to sign goalkeeper Martin Dubravka on a free transfer when his contract with Burnley expires on 1 July.

The 37-year-old, who had previous spells at Newcastle United and Manchester Untied, played 35 times for the Clarets in the Premier League last season.

The Slovakian is Roberto de Zerbi's fourth summer signing after defenders Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson joined on free transfers, with the Netherlands defender Jan Paul van Hecke arriving from Brighton for £52m.

Last week, Newcastle rejected an offer worth about £80m from Spurs for midfielder Sandro Tonali.

There are also doubts over the future of Italy keeper Guglielmo Vicario and uncertainty over whether he will stay at Spurs after attracting interest from Serie A clubs.

"It's an exciting time for me, a new journey and new experience for me and my family. I'm looking forward to it," Dubravka said.

"Everything moved pretty quickly and I'm really happy to be here. I've loved watching Roberto's teams over the years and know all about his style, vision and the fantastic fans here."

Tottenham continue to strengthen their defence after back-to-back 17th-placed finishes in the Premier League.

Dubravka is a reliable shot-stopper after playing 197 times in the Premier League, registering 51 clean sheets.

Vicario and Antonin Kinsky both spent time as Spurs' number one goalkeeper last season.

Kinsky, 23, finished the season as number one and produced a stunning save against Leeds United that proved vital in keeping De Zerbi's side in the Premier League.

His form was a swift turnaround from March, when he was replaced in the 17th minute of their Champions League last-16 tie at Atletico Madrid after conceding three goals.

"I am very happy because Martin is a goalkeeper with big experience and a strong mentality," De Zerbi added.

"He has very important qualities for me and will bring balance, leadership and competitiveness to our dressing room."

• Latest Tottenham news, analysis and fan views
• Ask about Tottenham - what do you want to know?

The New York Rangers now know what their path to opening night will look like.

As part of the NHL’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement extension, teams will play four preseason games instead of six this fall, and the regular season will expand to 84 games from 82. The Rangers will stay in the Tri-State area throughout the preseason, facing the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders twice each.

The Rangers will open their preseason schedule on Sept. 21 against the Devils at Prudential Center, with their first home preseason game coming the next day at Madison Square Garden against the Islanders. The Devils come to the Garden on Sept. 24, and the Blueshirts visit UBS Arena the next night.

In all, the Rangers will play four games in five days.

There is still plenty left on general manager Chris Drury’s offseason checklist before training camp opens. Next up for the Rangers is the NHL Draft in Buffalo this Friday and Saturday. They have the fifth and 26th picks in the opening round Friday night, and a total of 11 in the seven-round selection process.

Free agency opens on July 1, though there are no true impact players available. Drury has about $25.7 million in available salary-cap space, according to PuckPedia — if and how he opts to use it are still open questions.

Beyond that, the Rangers are expected to continue exploring a Vincent Trocheck trade. Meanwhile, defenseman Braden Schneider is still a player to watch as the front office looks for ways to improve the roster and prospect pool heading into the 2026-27 after finishing last in the Eastern Conference.

Rangers 2026-27 preseason schedule

Here’s the complete preseason schedule for the Rangers:

Monday, Sept. 21 at New Jersey Devils (7 p.m. ET)
Tuesday, Sept. 22 vs. New York Islanders (7 p.m. ET)
Thursday, Sept. 24 vs. New Jersey Devils (7 p.m. ET)
Friday, Sept. 25 at New York Islanders (7 p.m. ET)

Related Headlines

• Rangers Daily: Blueshirts yet to join NHL trade frenzy
• 1 key area ‘incredibly intelligent’ Rangers prospect Liam Greentree must fix
• Rangers land Carels, Mutryn in 1st round of 2026 NHL Mock Draft
• Could Laine, Mantha give Rangers scoring boost without breaking bank?

With first place in Group A secured after two wins in two matches, the Mexican national team heads into its final group stage match against Czechia on Wednesday at 6 p.m. on Fox and Telemundo without pressure and is preparing to play some of its reserves.

The situation is quite different for Czechia, which has just one point after losing 2-1 to South Korea and drawing 1-1 with South Africa. The European team needs a win against Mexico at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City to advance to the next round — either as the group runner-up or as one of the best third-place finishers.

“The Czechs are incredibly tough; they’re a very physically demanding team,” Mexico coach Javier Aguirre said. “We watched them in their two matches against their group opponents, and it’s not going to be easy.”

Aguirre will have to strategize with an eye toward what lies ahead in the next round, which is a single-elimination format. Mexican American midfielder Brian Gutiérrez enters this final group stage match with an accumulated yellow card, so Aguirre likely will not play him to avoid risking suspension for the round of 32 game. FIFA rules clear all cards after the group stage ends.

Read more:Memo Ochoa is driven to play his best for Mexico win during his sixth World Cup

The match could mark the return of César Montes, who was sent off against South Africa and missed the South Korea game.Goalkeeper Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa, in his sixth World Cup, could see some playing time as a sort of tribute to his career, but Raúl Rangel had an extraordinary performance against South Korea, so it remains to be seen whether Ochoa will get playing time.

“Obviously, it would be something extraordinary; it would be really cool for Memo. He’s a legend in Mexico and on the national team. He’s always been a player willing to give his all for the national team,” Mexico forward Alexis Vega said. “In the end, I think [Aguirre] will make the decision. I believe that all 26 of us here will give it our all if given the opportunity. Whoever gets the chance will do their best.”

Erik Lira, Johan Vásquez, Jesús Gallardo and Roberto Alvarado are the Mexican players who have covered the most ground for the national team in both matches, making them candidates for rest. Gallardo has a strong replacement available in young AZ Alkmaar player Mateo Chávez.

Edson Álvarez, who had a strong performance against South Korea, is likely to start again.

Another player who could see action is Santi Giménez, the AC Milan forward, who has been recovering from an injury and played only 10 minutes against South Korea. Gilberto Mora, Mexico’s youngest World Cup player at age 17, could start the game.

“We have to treat the game against [Czechia] like a final. We know [Czechia] needs this win, but we’re preparing ourselves. Getting used to winning goes a long way,” Giménez said in an interview on Wednesday with TV Azteca.

Mexico does not yet know its opponent in the next round, which will be one of the best third-place finishers. Its opponent will not be determined until the eight best third-place teams that advance to the round of 32 are identified.

Read more:Goalkeeper Raúl Rangel's elite play and South Korea's mistake help Mexico advance

On the Czech side, coach Miroslav Koubek favors a disciplined and physical approach, with Patrik Schick and Adam Hložek leading the counterattack that will seek to capitalize on any Mexico mistakes.

“We know that Mexico is one of the best teams in our group, and it will be tough for us on their home turf. But we believe we can get a good result and finish the group stage on a high note,” said Michal Sadilek, a midfielder for the Czech team.

Since Czechia needs a win to advance, that suggests the team will attack more aggressively, which will be dangerous for the Mexico defense but will also leave more space for the home team to exploit the counterattack. Czechia has shown this World Cup it is particularly dangerous on set pieces.

Fellow Group A teams South Korea and South Africa will face off at the same time as the Mexico-Czechia match — 6 p.m. Thursday — in Monterrey. The South Koreans, with three points, are looking to secure second place and a round-of-32 game at SoFi Stadium, while South Africa needs a win to compete for a spot as the second-place finisher or a berth among the best third-place teams. A South Korean loss combined with a Czech victory over Mexico would knock LAFC’s Son Heung-min and his South Korea teammates out of the tournament.

Read more:Can resilient captain Edson Álvarez lead Mexico to the elusive World Cup quarterfinals?

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Round one of the 2026 NBA Draft saw teams making moves that will shape the future of their franchises.  Some front offices walked away with clear direction and immediate talent, while others left fans confused with decisions that didn’t quite make sense. Whether it was passing on better fits, ignoring team needs, or making questionable trades, a few teams had rough nights.

MORE: 3 Biggest winners from round one of the 2026 NBA Draft

Dallas Mavericks

Dallas entered the draft holding picks No. 9 and No. 30, but their approach raised some questions. With the ninth pick, the Mavericks selected Morez Johnson out of Michigan. Johnson was a standout sophomore on a championship team and brings plenty to the table. He’s a great rebounder, finishes well around the rim, and plays with a lot of energy. The issue isn’t Johnson, it’s the fit.

Dallas needed help on the wind more than anything, and there were still quality options available on the board. Johnson also still has work to do offensively and isn’t a reliable shooter yet. The Mavericks drafted Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 pick last year, making another frontcourt selection feel questionable.

Dallas later selected Koa Peat at No. 30. Peat is a talented player who many believed fell lower than expected after injuries impacted his stock. But again, Dallas drafted another power forward. You would think the focus would be on surrounding Flagg with talent at other positions.

Charlotte Hornets

Charlotte also had multiple opportunities to improve its roster and left some talent on the board. The Hornets selected Hannes Steinbach at No. 14, a 6’11 power forward known for his rebounding and decent three-point shot. Steinbach played on a bad team and was the only bright spot. Though Steinbach has talent, players like Karim Lopez and Jayden Quaintance were still available and felt like stronger choices.

At pick No. 18, Charlotte drafted Christian Anderson Jr. out of Texas Tech. Anderson can shoot the ball well, but he’s undersized and isn’t a great finisher around the basket. That’s not a great fit. With players like Labaron Philon Jr. and Cameron Carr still available, the Hornets had safer options.

New York Knicks

The Knicks traded away all of their first-round picks. They selected Cameron Carr at No. 24, which initially looked like one of the steals of the draft, only to trade him away shortly after. That made a strong value pick feel pointless in the end.

— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —

Ideal Timing

Josh Hokit breaks down why he believes Alex Pereira is overrated:

"I don't think Pereira's career is what everyone says it is... I feel like all of his matchups have been favorable. He hasn't faced anybody with my skill set or anyone with a wrestling pedigree.

I want to prove… pic.twitter.com/nHigndjy82— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 23, 2026

At this World Cup, everyone becomes a fan – even if you're the boss of a Bundesliga club. Frankfurt CEO Axel Hellmann is currently in the USA and celebrated Norway’s win over Senegal on Monday evening. This photo was taken in the process. 

Wearing a Viking helmet and an Eintracht jacket, Hellmann was clearly having fun in the stadium and enthusiastically celebrated the 3-2 victory. “I love this photo,” wrote Norway legend Jan Åge Fjørtoft, who shared the snapshot on X. Apparently, it had been sent to him beforehand. 

As reported by Bild, the Frankfurt chief has been honorary consul of the Kingdom of Norway for the state of Hesse since 2023. That is also why he was invited to the match. The next game on Hellmann’s schedule is Germany’s match against Ecuador. 

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

Not a lot of Husky news besides the drafting of Hannes Steinbach since we are in between spring sports and the start of fall sports. But you deserve your Dots, so here are your Wednesday Dots.

Football Dots

• Counting down to the first game of the 2026 season-less than 75 days left (actually 74 now; this post came out yesterday).

• Dan Raley highlights kicker CJ Wallace and his bright orange shoes. The freshman will be competing with Tyler Robles for kicking duties this fall.
• Jonah Coleman reportedly turned down big money ($500K) to stay at UW so he could graduate in 4 years. He had promised his late grandmother that he would graduate from college-and did so with a 3.94 GPA. There’s a heart-warming story of how Jonah and his dad saved each other from the conditions where he grew up in Stockton, CA.

• Muggin with Mills is now on episode 4 (of 8). This time John goes for the A5 Miyazaki-and, of course, Mug Root Beer.

• UW comes out with an overall rating of 83, good for a tie for 21st, in EA Sports College Football 2027.

• CBS Sports named their most important transfer players on each preseason top-25 team. Their player for UW is WR Christian Moss. Can’t argue that UW needs to replace a lot of receiving targets.

UW Athletics Dots

• Hannes Steinbach is headed to Charlotte. Mark Schafer breaks down what Charlotte is getting from Hannes.

• Replacing the turf at Husky Stadium

• The incoming freshmen volleyball players have arrived on campus.

The Phoenix Mercury, ranked 12th in the WNBA with a 5-13 record, face the Indiana Fever, who are sixth in the league with a 10-7 record. The Fever are favored with a -350 moneyline to the Mercury’s +270. Indiana enters the game with a winning record at home against a Phoenix squad that has lost 13 of its 18 games.

How to watch Phoenix Mercury vs. Indiana Fever

• Date: Wednesday, June 24

• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

• Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana

• TV Channels: USA

• Live Stream:Check listings | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Team records

• Phoenix Mercury: 5-13 (12th in WNBA)

• Indiana Fever: 10-7 (sixth in WNBA)

Odds

• Spread: Indiana Fever -8.5

• Moneyline: Indiana Fever -350 / Phoenix Mercury +270

• Over/under: 175.5

The World Cup keeps delivering excitement, and yesterday finally saw a major — and highly anticipated — star get off the mark: CR7 got on the scoresheet in this World Cup with a brace that led his Portugal to victory.

💡 Want to stay up to date on everything happening in the USA, Mexico, and Canada? Don’t forget to bookmark the World Cup! To follow the tournament, search for "World Cup" on OneFootball and click the star next to it so you don’t miss a single story!

In the meantime, however, Serie A’s big clubs continue to make moves in the transfer market, hunting for opportunities and major signings. Let’s take a look at the most important news of the day.

Juve, David speaks about his future

From the Canada national team camp at the World Cup, Jonathan David clarified his future. Interviewed by RSI Sport, the Juventus forward confirmed that he will stay at Juventus next season as well. Fresh off a hat-trick in Canada’s emphatic 6-0 win over Qatar, David shut down any transfer rumors straight away: "I will stay at Juventus, I have five years left on my contract".

After a difficult season in front of goal, the Canadian striker is now aiming for redemption, with the goal of becoming a key figure again in the Juventus shirt next season.

Milan, keeping tabs on Evertton Araujo

Milan continue to monitor the market in search of young talents to add to Amorim’s project. According to Brazilian outlet Coluna do Fla, the Rossoneri have set their sights on Evertton Araujo, a midfielder born in 2003 who currently plays for Flamengo. The report, echoed by journalist Leo José, mentions a €15 million offer along with a five-year contract proposed to the player.

Flamengo are said to be considering the offer, given that they own 70% of the player’s economic rights, while the remaining 30% belongs to Volta Redonda, his former club. For now, there has been no official confirmation of the deal, so it remains a transfer rumor to keep an eye on in the coming days.

Inter, Atletico swoop for Solet

Oumar Solet continues to attract interest from several top European clubs after an excellent season with Udinese. Long on Inter’s radar, with the Nerazzurri seeing him as a priority to strengthen their defense, Solet could now find himself at the center of a real transfer battle. According to footmercato.net, Atletico Madrid have also added the center-back to their list of targets for next season.

The Spanish club are reportedly ready to speed things up and submit an initial official offer. Udinese, for their part, value the player at no less than €25 million. 

Napoli, Lang could help pave the way to Dodô

An interesting transfer axis could take shape between Napoli and Fiorentina. The Partenopei have been closely followingDodô for some time, with the Fiorentina Brazilian full-back seen as an ideal profile to strengthen the right flank. Meanwhile, according to TMW, Fiorentina have set their sights on Noa Lang. The Tuscan club’s interest in the winger could spark a chain of transfer moves between the two sides.

At the moment, there is no talk of a single deal involving both players, but developments in the respective negotiations could lead Dodô and Noa Lang down opposite paths during this transfer window.

Roma, Bergvall and O'Riley in their sights

Roma are looking ahead to the future of their midfield while Koné’s situation remains one to watch. According to Leggo, the French midfielder could leave Trigoria during this transfer window. Among the profiles Gasperini is considering to replace him is Lucas Bergvall, the highly rated Swedish talent born in 2006 and owned by Tottenham. The young midfielder, currently on international duty with his national team, is valued at around €35 million by Spurs. 

Another alternative is Matt O'Riley, the Danish Brighton midfielder who has already been linked with the Giallorossi in the past. Fresh from a loan spell at Marseille, the player remains a profile appreciated by the Roma management.

Lazio, Lotito continues to stand firm over Gila

Mario Gila is one of Napoli’s main targets to strengthen the defense. Despite Lazio’s firm stance, the Partenopei have reportedly not given up on the trail and have come back with a new proposal. According to the Messaggero, Napoli have put a €20 million offer on the table for the Spanish center-back. Lazio, however, continue to ask for between €25 million and €30 million to let the defender leave.

The Biancocelesti, moreover, do not seem willing to accept alternative formulas such as loans involving Rafa Marin and Lorenzo Lucca, two profiles appreciated by Gattuso. However, that solution does not convince Lazio, who are interested exclusively in a suitable cash offer.

Fiorentina, Thorstvedt in pole position, but also Ekkelenkamp and Bernabé

Fiorentina continue to work on strengthening their midfield ahead of next season. According to La Nazione, the name at the top of the Viola management’s list is Kristian Thorstvedt, the Sassuolo midfielder who has reportedly already given his approval for a move to Florence. The Tuscan club are said to be focusing their efforts on the Norwegian and are ready to move into the decisive phase of the negotiations.

At the same time, Fiorentina are also keeping other midfield options open. Among the profiles being monitored are Jürgen Ekkelenkamp of Udinese and Adrián Bernabé of Parma, a player already watched in the past and who now seems more willing to consider a new experience away from Emilia.

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

The Chicago Bears offense had immediate success under first-year head coach Ben Johnson, where quarterback Caleb Williams had a breakout year behind one of the best offensive lines in the league. While All-Pro Joe Thuney was the focal point of that revamped group, Darnell Wright continued to establish himself as one of the best right tackles in the league.

Wright, selected 10th overall by the Bears in 2023, had the best year of his young career earning second-team All-Pro honors while being part of an offensive line that paved the way for the league's third-best rushing attack and allowed the second-fewest sacks in the regular season.

Naturally, Chicago is expected to lock him down to a long-term contract extension, but it's all a matter of when as Wright heads into the final year of his rookie deal. ESPN's Courtney Cronin provided an update on an expected contract extension for Wright, and she believes a deal will get done before training camp kicks off July 28.

The Bears would like to get an extension done with the former first-rounder before training camp, which is typically when they've struck new deals in the past (Cole Kmet in 2023, DJ Moore in 2024). Despite playing most of last season with a torn UCL, Wright put together the best season of his career and earned second-team All-Pro honors.

Wright has been an anchor on the offensive line since his rookie season, and he's also earned respect from his head coach. Johnson had nothing but praise for Wright, who has directly impacted how the offense operates.

"He just continues to get better," Johnson said. "When you watch us on offense, we're certainly a little bit more righthanded than lefthanded, and that is with him in mind. I think he's one of those tackles that's a powerful player and can displace guys off the line of scrimmage."

Wright has been one of the most important players on the Bears offense since 2023, and he's in the long-term plans as Chicago looks to establish their offense as consistently one of the best in the NFL.

Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears RT Darnell Wright contract extension expected this summer

Boots Ennis appeared on The Breakfast Club this morning to promote this weekend’s title fight against Xander Zayas, and during the segment he would be asked about how his career is developing, his name having long been linked with Terence Crawford, and his thoughts on some potential matchups in the lower weight classes.

Boots on moving up to 154 from 147 and how he feels

“I feel way stronger at this weight class. I probably should’ve been moved up but I was staying down there trying to be undisputed down there. Those guys down there were playing around so I had to move up and I think that’s the best decision I made because I think I would’ve stayed at that weight for too long.”

On having his name associated with Crawford’s for a long time

“He retired, I ain’t worried about nothing he got going on. I’m locked in. I’m focused on the task at hand and that’s Xander Zayas. I’m locked in on that. He’s a retired fighter, if he comes back, he comes back.”

On who he considers to be the best fighters in the sport

“You can go Bam, you can go Usyk, you can go Shakur. There’s a lot of great fighters out here right now.”

TEAM TALK

• Patriots Unfiltered:Summer storylines, NFL news, FIFA World Cup. (2 hours)
• Photos: Best of Patriots 2026 full uniform shoot.
• Photos: Best of New England Patriots 2026 specialty shoot.

LOCAL LINKS

• Graham Wilker sees the Patriots having more defensive tackle talent than roster spots this summer: Here’s how the depth chart could shake out entering 2026.
• Ethan Hurwitz talks about two Patriots defenders – one rookie and one veteran – who share a unique perspective on learning the defense.
• Graham Wilker identifies 3 Patriots underdogs who could quickly become fan favorites during camp.
• Michael DeVito spotlights under-the-radar WR Efton Chism III who could break out if given a chance.
• Ethan Hurwitz explains why TreVeyon Henderson could be Patriots’ 2026 breakout star.
• Michael DeVito sees Romeo Doubs as an under-the-radar yet clear upgrade at the No. 2 receiver spot
• Phil Perry ranks the 25 most important Patriots for 2026: Nos. 25-21 – Nos. 20-16.
• Jerry Thornton thinks it’s a perfect idea that Mr. Kraft is lobbying the NFL to schedule the Patriots to play in Scotland.
• Ethan Hurwitz reports Christian Elliss coached up the Patriots Foundation Flag Football game.
• Patriots Daily podcast: Taylor Kyles and Mike Kadlick discuss the under-the-radar players who could make the roster; Plus, live calls. (50 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Evan Winter (AtoZSports) Drake Maye is taking control of the Patriots like Tom Brady once did and it shows just how special his career can be.
• Albert Breer (SI) NFL Notes: Why the Jaguars will be fascinating when training camp arrives; Plus, some young players stepping up for the Colts and Cardinals, a rookie to watch and more.
• Craig Ellenport (Athlon Sports) 2026 NFL Preview: Golden Age of wide receivers.
• Nate Tice (Yahoo! Sports) Breakout defensive players to watch in 2026. Craig Woodson included.
• NFL Nation (ESPN) 2026 NFL contract extension updates for all 32 teams. Christian Gonzalez included.
• Wendell Ferreira (AtoZSports) Best available free agents form intriguing roster as training camp approaches.
• Grant Gordon (NFL.com) Top 100 Players of 2026, Nos. 100-97. No Pats.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) One-year deal for Portland coach Micah Nori could give NFL teams ideas.

EXTRACURRICULAR

• Dan Wetzel (ESPN) NFL’s denial of Brendan Sorsby sends the right message.
• Albert Breer (SI) Why the NFL is insulating itself against Brendan Sorsby and its gambling partners.
• Conor Orr (SI) The NFL is smart to block the Brendan Sorsby spectacle from entering the league.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) NFL’s position on Brendan Sorsby seems to conflict with the CBA.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) NFLPA has not decided whether (or how) to challenge the NFL’s position on Brendan Sorsby

Liam Paro ended the IBF welterweight title reign of Lewis Crocker today in Australia, winning a competitive unanimous decision.

Judges officially scored the fight 115-113, 115-113, and 116-112 for Paro, who is now a two-division world champion.

Paro (28-1, 16 KO) got the decision mainly on his volume punching, it seemed, though of course you’d have to personally and specifically ask judges why they scored the way they did, and nobody ever really does that.

Crocker (22-1, 11 KO) did do real damage in the fight, which showed up plenty on Paro’s face and in the blood his heavier shots produced. Crocker looked the clearly bigger man both at the weigh-in and in the ring, and while he’s never really been known as some huge power puncher, he looked the much heavier hitter of the two.

Paro was able to grind, and being real, he was able to disrupt the proceedings with some strategic holding and “veteran tactics.” Crocker did make note that he felt the holding could have been better officiated, but also gave Paro his credit and called him “a fantastic fighter.”

Is Manny Pacquiao next for Paro?

Paro now looks forward, and he and his promoter are hoping for big names. They may specifically be casting an eye toward 47-year-old Manny Pacquiao, who fought Mario Barrios to a draw in a WBC title fight last year.

Pacquiao could be legitimately attracted to the fight for several reasons. Obviously, Paro has a world title now. Second, that rematch with Floyd Mayweather, tentatively set for September, is looking less likely by the week if not by the day. And third, Pacquiao has some history in Australia, going back to his hugely controversial 2017 loss to Jeff Horn.

On the Paro side, Pacquiao’s a legend, obviously, and worth a significant amount more money than anyone else who’s likely going to come to Australia for a fight. That’s not to say that Paro hasn’t proven willing to travel, either.

The octagon hits Azerbaijan for the second time in its history Saturday with UFC Fight Night 280 at Crystal Hall in Baku (Paramount+).

A lightweight main event featuring local hero Rafael Fiziev (13-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC) takes center stage. He takes on Manuel Torres (17-3 MMA, 5-1 UFC), who seeks a breakthrough win into the upper tier of the weight class now ruled by Justin Gaethje.

For more on the numbers, check below for MMA Junkie's UFC Fight Night 280 pre-event facts.

Rafael Fiziev vs. Manuel Torres

Fiziev is one of 15 fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a wheel kick. He accomplished the feat at UFC on ESPN 31. There's been 16 such finishes overall in company history.

Fiziev defends 90.4 percent of opponent takedown attempts in UFC lightweight competition, the best rate among active fighters in the weight class.

Torres has earned 16 of his 17 career victories by stoppage. That includes all five of his UFC victories.

Torres' average fight time of 2:33 in UFC lightweight competition is the second-shortest in divisional history behind Terrance McKinney (2:16).

Shara Magomedov vs. Michel Pereira

Shara Magomedov (16-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) is one of 12 fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a spinning backfist. He accomplished the feat at UFC 308.

Magomedov lands 63 percent of his significant strike attempts in UFC middleweight competition, the highest rate in divisional history.

Michel Pereira (31-14 MMA, 10-5 UFC) is 4-3 since he moved up to the middleweight division in October 2023.

Asu Almabayev vs. Charles Johnson

Asu Almabayev's (23-3 MMA, 6-1 UFC) six victories since 2023 in UFC flyweight competition are tied for second-most in the division behind Joshua Van (10) and Charles Johnson (seven.

Ikram Aliskerov vs. Brunno Ferreira

Ikram Aliskerov's (17-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) average fight time of 5:12 in UFC middleweight competition is the shortest among active fighters in the weight class.

Aliskerov lands 7.15 significant strikes per minute in UFC middleweight competition, the best rate in divisional history.

Brunno Ferreira (15-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) is one of 10 fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a spinning back elbow. He accomplished the feat at UFC on ESPN 57.

Abus Magomedov vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk

Michal Oleksiejczuk (22-9 MMA, 10-7 UFC) is 6-4 since he dropped to the UFC middleweight division in August 2022.

Oleksiejczuk's eight first-round knockout victories in UFC competition are third-most in company history behind Vitor Belfort (11) and Anthony Johnson (nine).

Oleksiejczuk lands 7.07 significant strikes per minute in UFC middleweight competition, the second-best rate in divisional history behind Aliskerov (7.15).

Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev vs. Julius Walker

Julius Walker (7-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) is 1-2 in his past three fights after starting his career 6-0.

Nursulton Ruziboev vs. Andrey Pulyaev

Nursulton Ruziboev's (36-9-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) four-fight UFC winning streak in middleweight competition is tied for the second-longest active streak in the division behind Nassourdine Imavov (five) and Ateba Gautier (five).

Daniil Donchenko vs. Theodor Berggren

Daniil Donchenko (12-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) is the Season 33 welterweight winner of "The Ultimate Fighter" reality series.

Bekzat Almakhan vs. Jean Matsumoto

Jean Matsumoto (17-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) is 1-2 in his past three fights after starting his career 16-0.

UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on X @MJCflipdascript.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Baku pre-event facts: Striking standouts fill card

It could be a red herring to mess with Switzerland’s preparation, but Canada head coach Jesse Marsch said that he is expecting Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies to hit the pitch for the first time in this tournament.

“The good news is he’s looking great, he’s in training, he looks great, he looks fit, he looks ready to go, excited. So, let’s see how things go, but I expect him to play,” Marsch said (as captured by @iMiaSanMia).

It is awesome to hear that Davies is making progress, as his injury status has been discussed in great detail, but this will likely be a game that Bayern Munich fans might be a little nervous about. Davies came back from his ACL injury, only to be felled by two muscular injuries.

While everyone wants Davies back on the field doing what he does best, it could be a tough — or at least nervous — watch for many folks. Let’s hope that it is a safe and successful return for the Canadian star.

Join the conversation!

Sign up for a user account and get:

• New, improved notifications system!
• Fewer ads
• Create community posts
• Comment on articles, community posts
• Rec comments, community posts

Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below.

AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (33-42) won 12-5 (BOX SCORE)

After El Paso got a run in the first, Sugar Land got on the board in the 2nd inning on a Spence sac fly. They got another run in the third inning on a Whitcomb solo home run. The offense added 5 runs in the 4th inning on a Biggio RBI double, Whitcomb 2 run single, Brooks RBI single and a run on a wild pitch. Biggio added a solo home run in the 5th and Brooks added an RBI double. Mancini got the start and went 4.2 innings allowing 5 runs, 4 earned. The Woodpeckers added some insurance in the 8th inning on a Whitcomb walk, a passed ball and a wild pitch. The pen was great tossing 4.1 scoreless innings as they closed out the 12-5 win.

Note: Biggio has a .839 OPS this season.

• Cavan Biggio, 2B: 2-for-4, 3 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB
• Shay Whitcomb, SS: 2-for-4, 3 R, HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 3 SB
• Collin Price, C: 1-for-4, 2B, 2 BB
• Trenton Brooks, 1B: 3-for-5, R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB
• Zach Dezenzo, LF: 2-for-3, R, 2B, BB
• Lucas Spence, CF: 1-for-4, R, 2B, RBI

• Joey Mancini, RHP: 4.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
• Trey McLoughlin, RHP: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K (WIN)
• Roddery Munoz, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
• Tom Cosgrove, LHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
• Sam Carlson, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (32-38) won 10-1 (BOX SCORE)

The Hooks got the scoring started in the 2nd inning on a Whitaker RBI double and Holy 2 run inside-the-park home run. They blew it open in the 3rd inning scoring 6 runs on a Schiavone solo home run, Sullivan 2 run double, Bush 2 run home run and Whitaker solo home run. They got another run in the 4th on a double play. Nezuh started for the Hooks and went 5 innings allowing 1 run with 9 strikeouts. Santos tossed 2 perfect innings in relief and Torres tossed 2 scoreless innings as they closed out the 10-1 win.

Note: Schiavone has a .863 OPS in Double-A.

• Jason Schiavone, C: 1-for-4, R, HR, RBI, BB
• Drew Brutcher, LF: 1-for-3, R, 2B, BB
• Trevor Austin, 3B: 2-for-5, 2 R
• Joseph Sullivan, CF: 2-for-4, 2 R, 2B, RBI, BB, SB
• Will Bush, 1B: 1-for-4, R, HR, 2 RBI
• Tyler Whitaker, RF: 2-for-5, 2 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI
• Max Holy, SS: 1-for-4, R, HR, 2 RBI, BB
• Yamal Encarnacion, 2B: 0-for-2, 3 BB, SB

• Jackson Nezuh, RHP: 5.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 9 K (WIN)
• Alex Santos, RHP: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
• Alejandro Torres, RHP: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

A+: Asheville Tourists (18-51) lost 2-0 (BOX SCORE)

Rodriguez started for Asheville and turned in a nice outing allowing 2 runs over 6 innings while striking out 3 batters. The offense struggled all game collecting just 4 hits as they were shutout in the 2-0 loss.

Note: Rodriguez has a 2.74 ERA in June

• Nehomar Ochoa, RF: 1-for-4, 2B
• Alejandro Nunez, 3B: 1-for-4, SB
• Jack Moss, 1B: 1-for-3, BB
• John Garcia, C: 1-for-3, 2B

• Luis Rodriguez, RHP: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
• Jackson Wells, RHP: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (34-35) won 9-1 (BOX SCORE)

The Woodpeckers got on the board in the first inning scoring 3 runs on an error and RBI singles from Flores and Cauro. They got another run in the 4th on a groundout. Beck started for the Woodpeckers and tossed 3 scoreless innings. He was relieved by Fraide who allowed 1 unearned run over 4 innings while striking out 6. The Woodpeckers blew it open in the 6th inning getting back to back to back home runs from Huezo, Neyens and Alvarez. Salas added a sac fly as well. Saunier tossed 2 scoreless innings to close out the 9-1 win.

Note: Huezo has a .909 OPS this season.

• Anthony Huezo, LF: 2-for-2, 3 R, 2B, HR, RBI, 2 BB
• Xavier Neyens, DH: 1-for-2, 2 R, HR, RBI, BB, SB
• Kevin Alvarez, CF: 2-for-4, R, HR, RBI, BB
• Arturo Flores, C: 2-for-4, 2 R, RBI
• Kenni Gomez, RF: 1-for-3, R, 2 BB, SB
• Waner Luciano, DH: 1-for-4, BB
• Carlos Cauro, 1B: 1-for-3, RBI, 2 BB
• Hector Salas, 2B: 1-for-4, RBI

• Jagger Beck, RHP: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 4 K
• Juan Fraide, RHP: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K (WIN)
• Grayson Saunier, RHP: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

Today’s minor league starters:

SL: Ethan Pecko – 11:05 CT

CC: Bryce Mayer – 7:00 CT

AV: Yeriel Santos – 5:45 CT

FV: TBD – 5:35 CT

Elijah Sarratt’s path to the NFL wasn’t built on early attention or five-star expectations. It was built on years of proving himself at every stop, often without much external validation. That experience has followed him into Baltimore and continues to shape how he approaches every rep on the practice field.

A recurring theme from his conversation tied to The Lounge Podcast was the idea that motivation has to come from within when the outside world isn’t giving you much recognition. Sarratt has leaned into that mindset throughout his journey. He said, “Who cares what anyone has to say about you just prove it to yourself day in and day out.”

That mindset wasn’t something he adopted once he reached the NFL — it was built over years of being overlooked in recruiting, writing emails, sending film, and waiting for responses that often never came. Instead of letting that discourage him, he used it as fuel. Sarratt also reinforced his belief in belonging at this level, saying, “I wouldn’t be here if I couldn’t compete on this level.”

That combination of confidence and persistence is what continues to define his approach in Baltimore. Every practice is another chance to validate the work that got him here, not to prove others wrong, but to prove to himself that the climb was worth it.

If that mentality holds, it’s the kind of foundation that keeps players steady long after the rookie year ends.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Elijah Sarratt’s self-belief is fueling a Ravens roster push

Morning, all!

Right handed pitcher AJ Russell, who the Rangers drafted in the second round last year, has been promoted to Hub City.

Jack Leiter has undergone surgery to remove the os trigonometry bone and the Rangers are confident he will return to the mound this year. The Rangers’ previous experiences with this surgery haven’t had such speedy recoveries, though.

The Rangers don’t really have a clear replacement to step into Leiter’s spot in the rotation.

Cody Bradford and Jordan Montgomery are still several weeks away from returning to the rotation.

The three starting pitching prospects on the 40 man roster have not had particularly good starts to the 2026 season.

Corey Seager’s return from the concussion protocol is unlikely before Thursday due to today’s early game against the Marlins.

Broncos have tricky free-agent problem with pair of fan favorite CBs originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Denver Broncos are looking like one of the top Super Bowl contenders for the 2026 NFL season, as their defense is still elite, and the addition of Jaylen Waddle to the offense should be a big boost as well.

But, when it comes to team-building, the Broncos look like they're going to run into a bit of a problem after the 2026 season in their cornerback room.

As ESPN's Jeff Legwold highlighted, the Broncos face a pair of tricky problems with fan favorite cornerbacks Riley Moss and Ja'Quan McMillan, with both hitting free agency at the same time, and Jahdae Barron waiting in the wings.

Broncos face a pair of tricky CB problems with free agency looming

"The Broncos have publicly expressed the importance of having both in their defense, but there hasn't been much movement for extensions," Legowld writes on Moss and McMillan.

Pat Surtain II is a fantastic No. 1 cornerback, but the Broncos have a problem, albeit a good one to have, with their other top cornerback options.

With only two open spots on the defense, the Broncos have three options in Moss, McMillan, and Barron.

Denver's preference appears to be keeping both McMillan and Moss around long-term, but that would make the Barron pick look a lot stranger.

MORE: Dolphins’ Greg Dulcich is a rising offensive star and a fantasy football sleeper

While Barron could slide into the starting CB room if one of Moss or McMillan leaves in free agency, the decision from the Broncos on which impending free agent to bring back will be very tricky.

Both have been good for the Broncos, which makes this decision of either-or very difficult. This is a problem for the Broncos' front office, though it's not a bad one to have.

Finding good corners isn't an easy task, and the Broncos have four good options. But, with the 2026 season being the last one under contract for McMillan and Moss, this decision will have to be made fairly soon.

More NFL news:

• Bears urged to sign ex-Bills, Chargers edge rusher Joey Bosa
• Seahawks’ Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s 2025 breakout called for real: ‘He’s perfect’
• Jets urged to sign ex-Browns, Bills DL Larry Ogunjobi
• 49ers urged to finally end Brandon Aiyuk saga with two possible solutions
• Rams urged to extend an offensive lineman before an extension of Puka Naca

Each season brings a few players who outperform expectations and impress fans with what they accomplish on the field. This season will be especially interesting with a new coaching staff; there may be some young players who mesh well with these coaches and take a big leap. For the Browns, there are a few players who stand out as having a great opportunity to do something special this season.

Isaiah Bond

Bond’s ability to play at a high level this season will likely be contingent on the level of quarterback play this team gets. Regardless, he is in a great position to take some major steps forward. His athleticism is undeniable, and if the offense can establish some consistency, it would not be surprising to see Bond emerge as the group’s most productive player.

Myles Harden

Harden is heading into his third NFL season after showing significant growth and development in 2025. He appeared in 16 games in 2025 and should continue to have a bigger, more consistent role in the secondary in 2026. While the defense will look different with Jim Schwartz’s departure, Harden is likely the favorite to start at nickel. 

Mike Hall Jr.

The highest drafted of the players listed, Hall has seen limited success due to time on the commissioner’s list and injury, but has the upside to make a big impact on the defensive line, along with Mason Graham and Maliek Collins.

Let me know what you think in the comments – Which Browns player will take the biggest jump in 2026?

Two of the biggest tennis icons, Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams, have generated immense anticipation for their upcoming campaigns at the 2026 Wimbledon Championships. While Djokovic will be chasing his record-extending 25th Grand Slam title, Williams is set to make her comeback to singles for the first time since her initial retirement at the 2022 US Open.

How Novak Djokovic Correctly Predicted Serena Williams’ Comeback

Williams returned to professional tennis during the grass-court season, first competing in doubles at the Queen’s Club Championships alongside Victoria Mboko. The American then teamed up with Karolína Muchová at the Berlin Tennis Open, while it was announced that she and Venus Williams had accepted a doubles wildcard for Wimbledon.

Subsequently, the 23-time Grand Slam champion was awarded the final singles wildcard for the grass-court Major, igniting a frenzy across the tennis community. She has since been preparing for both events at Aorangi Park, where she crossed paths with Djokovic and the pair shared a warm reunion.

Interestingly, Djokovic had been convinced that Williams was plotting a comeback to the tour, even though she had dismissed all speculation about a return. Speaking to the press at the Indian Wells Masters earlier this season, the Serb asserted that he would also keep any such plans under wraps in her position.

“She’s coming back. Is she coming back? Is that a question? I think she’s coming back. I don’t know. I haven’t spoken to her, but I guess the sentiment is that she’s coming back. Where and how, singles, doubles, we don’t know, and if I’m in her position, I would hide it too. Yeah, everybody is excited, and it’s definitely something that’s very highly anticipated,” he said.

Djokovic’s prediction proved remarkably accurate. He not only suggested that Williams would target Wimbledon for her singles return but also foresaw the 44-year-old reviving her doubles partnership with Venus Williams.

“So, you know, let’s see. I pick that one [Wimbledon] as well as her comeback, but yeah, I don’t know. I think she might maybe play a doubles tournament or two with Venus [Williams],” he added. “That would be nice to see, just from my point of view and tennis fans, for sure. Yeah, and she’s one of the greatest athletes, really. It would be great to have her back, too.”

MORE:Serena Williams Captivates Ben Shelton at Wimbledon, Enjoys Reconnecting With Stan Wawrinka

In addition to Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams captured the attention of Ben Shelton and Stan Wawrinka while gearing up for Wimbledon. All eyes are also on the upcoming draw reveal on Friday, June 26, as fans are eager to discover who Williams will face in her first singles match back at the All England Club.

With the break in the schedule for the World Cup, head coach Leonardo Jardim gained a valuable two-week period of training and three friendlies to fine-tune Flamengo.

The main objective of the medical and fitness staff right now is to recover three key squad players: Léo Ortiz, Saúl, and Jorginho.

Check below for the medical update on the trio, according to information from ge.

The club has taken a cautious approach, but the first few days of work at Ninho do Urubu brought encouraging news:

Jorginho (Defensive Midfielder): Recovered from a fracture in a toe on his right foot that kept him out of the last matches, the player has already rejoined the squad and is training normally with the group, without restrictions.

Léo Ortiz (Center Back): He suffered a minor muscle injury (grade 1) in his right thigh against Coritiba. He gave up part of his vacation to continue treatment at the training center and, although he is not yet training with the ball, his recovery is on schedule. He will travel with the squad to Portugal.

Saúl (Defensive Midfielder): The Spaniard, who underwent surgery on his left ankle and is trying to regain his ideal rhythm, also cut short his vacation to focus on physical preparation and is doing specific work to return to the expected level.

✈️ Off to Portugal: Friendly Match Schedule

Flamengo’s delegation departs for Europe on June 28, where the team will continue its preparation and play three high-level friendly matches.

Match schedule:

July 3: Flamengo vs. River Plate

July 8: Flamengo vs. Lausanne

July 11: Flamengo vs. Benfica

The squad is scheduled to return to Brazil on July 12.

🌎 Absences

The squad will travel with major changes. In total, nine players were called up for the World Cup and will be unavailable during the team’s midseason training period:

Alex Sandro, Léo Pereira, Lucas Paquetá, Carrascal, Plata, Arrascaeta, Varela, and De La Cruz.

Even if their respective national teams are eliminated early, the coaching staff plans to give these players a few days of rest before reintegrating them.

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

The Los Angeles Rams made a gigantic shift toward 13 personnel on offense last season, deploying an abundance of three-tight end packages in the second half of the year. They featured Colby Parkinson, Terrance Ferguson, Davis Allen and Tyler Higbee heavily, keeping defenses on their toes by mixing things up.

It worked to utter perfection, with the Rams averaging 6.2 yards per play and scoring 32 total touchdowns out of 13 personnel, both the highest in the NFL since Next Gen Stats began tracking statistics in 2016, per Wyatt Miller of TheRams.com.

Naturally, teams are going to try replicating the Rams’ success out of 13 personnel, and the trend appears to have already started based on this year’s draft. There were 22 tight ends drafted in April, the second-most in the common draft era. It’s a clear indication that teams could be gearing up to use more 13 personnel after watching the Rams dominate out of that grouping in 2025.

Matthew Stafford doesn’t think it’ll be an easy trend to follow, though. Not many teams have the tight end depth and talent that the Rams do, which will make it challenging to deploy three tight ends at a time and still have success.

“People are like, ‘Oh man, everybody’s going to be in 13 next year because that’s the way the league goes,’” Stafford said on the “Green Light” podcast with Chris Long. “And I'm like, ‘Well, they better have four guys that can all do everything.’ And that’s what we have. We’re so lucky in the room. People talk about it as just the X’s on the field, but it’s like, these guys are really talented players that can block at the point of attack, they can catch the ball intermediate, down the field, the whole thing. And they’re smart enough to go learn all these positions and do all these things and that takes a lot.”

The Rams didn’t go into the season planning to shift away from 11 personnel and toward 13. Amazingly, Stafford revealed that they didn’t have a single snap in 13 personnel during training camp last year.

It’s something that happened out of necessity in Week 7 against the Jaguars after Puka Nacua got hurt the week prior and Tutu Atwell went down early in the win over Jacksonville. With limited resources at wide receiver, Sean McVay pivoted to heavy packages with tight ends and the Rams cruised to a 35-7 win.

“So, yes, we did pivot because we probably had zero snaps of 13 personnel in training camp,” Stafford said. “Puka gets hurt and Tutu gets hurt on maybe the 10th play of the game. We’ve got like Davante, Konata and I don’t even know if J-Whitt was up but we just didn’t have that many receivers available at that point so it was like, ‘OK, let’s have a plan if something does happen here and sure enough, we just kind of went into it, we liked the way it dictated the terms a little bit as far as, ‘Hey, this is what we’re going to get from their defense.’ And sometimes it was, ‘We don’t know what we’re going to get. We might get nickel, we might get penny, we might get base, whatever you want to call it.’ But we had plans for all of that and how we wanted to go attack it. As we move forward, there’s always a chess match going on in the NFL and I'm lucky to be playing for a coach that’s ahead of the curve on a lot of that.”

McVay is a trend-setter as a head coach, whether it’s with his approach to the preseason, his 11 personnel usage or now his shift toward 13 personnel. As Stafford said, having a coach who’s ahead of the curve makes the Rams as successful as they are because it’s not easy to outsmart other coaches around the league.

With 13 personnel, that’s exactly what McVay did in 2025, and teams are bound to steal from his blueprint.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams' 13 personnel could be hard to copy, Matthew Stafford says

Saturday night is a monumental date with destiny for one Oba Femi.

By pinning Jey Uso, he'd become the 2026 King Of The Ring and be guaranteed a title shot vs. Roman Reigns or Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam. Not only that, but Oba could have 2 matches on the August PLE - that title showdown and another that retires the legendary Brock Lesnar seemingly for good.

Or, y'know, WWE boss Triple H might cool his jets on Femi and decide that another Uso main event push is what his audience really want to see instead. Hmm, it isn't. It really, really isn't. Look, this isn't supposed to be some brutal takedown of Jey, because he's class in his own way, but Oba must be the priority right now. Uso challenging Cody doesn't feel SummerSlam worthy anyway.

Other nightmares keeping 'The Game' and his fanbase awake all week include WWE fudging the Queen Of The Ring tourney's purpose, strong SmackDown heels looking like total tools opposite Cody, Danhausen turning the clock back to his borderline embarrassing debut at Elimination Chamber and old rivals reliving old problems in the women's midcard scene.

Real world events threatened to derail Night Of Champions over in Saudi Arabia completely, but WWE are on the way. They better hope it's a trip to remember rather than one everyone would much rather forget. We've already analysed everything that simply must happen in Riyadh this weekend, so now it's time to zoom in on all of the disasters that could afflict Hunter's latest PLE.

All Future PLC brands are supported by its audience. When you purchase through the links on this article, Future PLC may earn an affiliate commission.

Tottenham Hotspur are accelerating plans to hijack Manchester United’s pursuit of Mateus Fernandes, according to a new report.

Spurs on the hunt

Having come perilously close to suffering relegation last season, Tottenham are prepared to spend big this summer to back Roberto De Zerbi after he steered them to safety on the final day with a 1-0 win over Everton.

A £52 million deal has been struck to reunite the Italian manager with Brighton & Hove Albion centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke, while an £80 million offer for Sandro Tonali has been rejected by Newcastle United.

However, the Lilywhites have also stormed into the race for Fernandes, despite Manchester United having established themselves as frontrunners for the West Ham United starlet, who enjoyed a stellar campaign despite his side finishing eighteenth.

Mateus Fernandes Premier League stats: 2025/26 Season

Source: Sofascore

The aggression Spurs are demonstrating in the market is understood to have taken rivals, including the Red Devils, by surprise. Their “bullish” willingness to meet expensive valuations is hard to compete with, or can make it difficult for others to negotiate.

Manchester United’s pursuit of Fernandes is a perfect example, as West Ham have placed a prohibitive £80 million asking price on the 21-year-old’s head, despite only two seasons of experience in the Premier League.

Spearheaded by sporting director Jason Wilcox, Manchester United have sought to strike a cheaper deal, having already received the green light from Fernandes over his desire to complete a switch to Old Trafford.

There has been widespread interest in the one-cap Portugal international, with Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid all making enquiries. Nonetheless, United have maintained a firm grip on the race as the player is believed to be prioritising first-team opportunities, and there is confidence in M16 that a deal will be struck.

Ready to strike

This assurance is set to be firmly tested, however, as TEAMtalk reveals Tottenham are “preparing to launch a formal bid” for Fernandes after making “significant progress” in negotiations with his representatives.

“Sources have confirmed that discussions with both Fernandes‘ camp and West Ham have accelerated over the past few days, leaving Spurs increasingly confident that they can win the race for one of the Premier League’s most sought-after midfielders.

“As a result, we can reveal that Tottenham are now readying an offer worth around £75 million (€87m, $99m), a figure that would move them very close to West Ham’s initial £80 million valuation of the 21-year-old.”

The report does state United remain in a “strong position” as Wilcox has “longstanding ties to the player dating back to his time at Southampton”. West Ham signed Fernandes from the Saints for £38 million last year in a deal which included a 15% sell-on clause.

“Manchester United are not going away, however. Wilcox continues to work behind the scenes, and sources insist Old Trafford officials remain optimistic that their groundwork will ultimately pay off.”

Sky Sports corroborates the intent from Spurs to hijack a deal by outbidding United, who are said to value Fernandes in the £60m range, but “may be prepared to offer more” if needed.

However, in an interesting twist, The Sun claims well-placed sources have “doubted the seriousness” of Tottenham’s pursuit, suggesting Jorge Mendes, Fernandes’ agent, is the origin of this ‘interest’ as much as executives in North London.

The Sun concludes that one of the main competitors for the former Sporting CP star, Real Madrid, “expect [him] to join United”, further justifying the confidence in M16.

Final Thoughts

Should the decision fall down to a straight choice between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, there is little doubt which team Fernandes would pick. He considers his compatriot, Bruno Fernandes, an idol and the chance to play alongside him in the Champions League, in comparison to no European football at all with Tottenham, is a strong sales pitch.

But the question of price – and United’s willingness to match West Ham’s demands – is far less certain, and it is here where Spurs smell their advantage. If they strike a club record deal with the Hammers, while United only agree terms with the player, he looks unlikely to leave London this summer.

Featured image Julian Finney via Getty Images

online polls

The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Leeds Set to Secure Harry Wilson on Free Transfer

Leeds United appear to have pulled off one of the more astute pieces of business of the summer, with reports from the BBC indicating that Harry Wilson has agreed a four year contract at Elland Road. The deal, subject to a medical and final paperwork, would see the Wales international arrive on a free transfer after his contract with Fulham expires.

For a club returning to the Premier League, finding value is often as important as spending heavily. In Wilson, Leeds look set to acquire a player who combines top flight experience, creativity and a proven ability to contribute goals.

Competition for his signature was reportedly fierce, making this a significant statement of intent from Daniel Farke’s side.

Liverpool Academy Graduate Returns to Spotlight

For Liverpool supporters, Harry Wilson’s journey has long been a fascinating one. A product of the club’s academy, Wilson spent years building his reputation through successful loan spells before eventually leaving Anfield in 2021.

Fulham paid £12 million to secure his services, and over the past four years he has developed into a dependable Premier League performer. While he never quite found a route into Liverpool’s first team during an era packed with attacking talent, his career trajectory has been impressive.

Now 29, Wilson arrives at a stage where experience matters as much as potential. Leeds are not signing a prospect. They are signing a player who understands the demands of English football and who has consistently delivered in high pressure environments.

Numbers Highlight Attacking Impact

Wilson’s statistics from last season help explain why Leeds were so determined to complete the move. Across all competitions he produced 11 goals and eight assists in 38 appearances.

That equates to a goal involvement roughly every other game, excellent numbers for a wide attacker operating in a Fulham side that often relied on collective organisation rather than individual brilliance.

His ability from set pieces, willingness to shoot from distance and knack for producing decisive moments could prove invaluable for a newly promoted team expected to battle hard for Premier League survival.

Fulham clearly recognised his value too. Reports suggest they made several attempts to persuade him to remain at Craven Cottage, making his expected departure all the more significant.

Transfer Ambition Continues at Elland Road

Wilson may be only the beginning of Leeds’ summer business. The Yorkshire club continue to monitor former Borussia Dortmund midfielder Julian Brandt, while Southampton’s Shea Charles remains another target despite reports of an initial £20 million approach being rejected.

Those pursuits indicate a club looking to add quality throughout the squad rather than simply making up the numbers in the Premier League.

For Harry Wilson, this move offers another chapter in a career defined by resilience and steady progression. For Leeds, it could be one of the smartest free transfers of the summer. Premier League survival often depends on players who can turn tight matches with a moment of quality, and Wilson has shown throughout his career that he possesses exactly that ability.

Tottenham Hotspur have made contact with Eintracht Frankfurt to discuss a deal for Jean-Matteo Bahoya.

Bahoya has emerged as a top target to strengthen the wide areas with initial conversations held with Frankfurt over a summer deal.

The 21-year-old scored three goals and added four assists in 15 league starts for Frankfurt, in his first full campaign for theBundesliga side.

Bahoya's ball-carrying earned interest from Arsenal and Spurs in January, with the winger ranking second in the Bundesliga for dribble success rate and percentage of offensive duels won, and fifth for successful dribbles per 90.

According toThe Athletic, contact has been held with Frankfurt, though no formal approach has been made.

Bahoya is viewed as an alternative to Manchester City winger Savinho, who has been a long-term target. The Brazilian came close to moving to North London last summer but a deal fell through.

He is understood to be open to a move to Spurs in search of regular minutes, after starting only sevenPremier League games in 2025/26.

Spurs transfer news: Bahoya and Savingo targeted, Mateus Fernandes update

Tottenham have been one of the most active clubs in Europe so far this summer as the North Londoners look to rebuild from consecutive challenging campaigns.

Jan Paul van Hecke has arrived from Brighton for a fee of £52m, while Spurs have signed free agents Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi.

Spurs remain in pursuit of Newcastle United Sandro Tonali, who could cost a club-record £100m, and have a non-related interest in West Ham's Mateus Fernandes.

The latter isunderstood to be open to a transfer to Spurs, despite rival interest from Manchester United. West Ham want £85m for the Portugal international and will sell to the highest bidder despite their rivalry with Spurs, as the relegated Irons look to balance the books.

There are suggestions Bologna are in negotiations with Glasgow Rangers for Nico Raskin, who is valued at €20m, with Lewis Ferguson potentially as part of an exchange.

According to teamTALK, initial talks have started between the two clubs with regards to Raskin.

Bologna targeting Raskin

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 21: Nicolas Raskin #23 of Belgium plays the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G match between Belgium and IR Iran at Los Angeles Stadium on June 21, 2026 in Los Angeles, United States. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

The 25-year-old midfielder is currently participating in the 2026 World Cup as part of the Belgium squad, featuring in both their games so far.

He came to Rangers in January 2023 at a cost of just €1.5m from Standard Liege and then flourished, this term scoring seven goals with nine assists in 50 matches.

It is reported that the asking price now is around €20m, a significant investment for the Rossoblu and new coach Domenico Tedesco.

A potential solution to lower the cost would be to involve Scotland international Ferguson as part of an exchange, seeing as Rangers are reportedly eager on the midfielder.

However, Ferguson is captain of Bologna and not necessarily in a rush to leave the Stadio Dall’Ara, where he has been since leaving Aberdeen in 2022.

This would be more a proposal put forward by Rangers than the Italian club or Scottish player.

We already know the fixture list for Serie A 2026/27, now it’s time to find out the schedule for matchdays 1 to 5. Here are the details for our first five league fixtures: 

• Matchday 1, Torino v AC Milan, Sunday 23 August at 20.45 CEST (DAZN/Sky)
• Matchday 2, AC Milan v Venezia, Friday 28 August at 20.45 CEST (DAZN)
• Matchday 3, Juventus v AC Milan, Sunday 6 September at 20.45 CEST (DAZN)
• Matchday 4, Lazio v AC Milan, Saturday 12 September at 18.00 CEST/Sunday 13 September at 20.45 CEST (DAZN)*
• Matchday 5, AC Milan v Lecce, Sunday 20 September at 20.45 CEST (DAZN)

* If AC Milan play their Matchday 1 game of the UEFA Europa League on Wednesday 16 September 2026, Lazio v AC Milan will be played on Saturday 12 September at 18:00 CEST. If Juventus play their Matchday 1 game of the UEFA Europa League on Wednesday 16 September 2026, Lazio v AC Milan will be played on Sunday 13 September at 20:45 CEST. 

Subscribe to the AC Milan WhatsApp channel!

The Charlotte Hornets selected center Hannes Steinbach from the University of Washington as the 14th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The team also picked guard Christian Anderson Jr. from Texas Tech University as the 18th overall selection.

Steinbach is a native of Würzburg, Germany. Both players were chosen by the Charlotte Hornets to join their roster from the college ranks, the Hornets said.

Steinbach played one season as a Husky, starting all 30 appearances. He averaged 18.5 points, a Big Ten-leading 11.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks in 34.6 minutes per game.

Steinbach was named All-Big Ten and Big Ten All-Freshman. He led the conference in rebounds with 353 and ranked third in field goal percentage at 57.7%. Steinbach also posted 22 double-doubles during his season.

Christian Anderson Jr. competed in 33 games, starting all of them. He averaged 18.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 1.5 steals in 38.4 minutes per game. Anderson Jr. was named All-Big 12 First Team, a Third-Team All-American and the Big 12 Most Improved Player, the Hornets said.

He was also on the Wooden Award national ballot this past season. Anderson Jr. led the Big 12 in assists with 244 and in minutes per game with 38.4. He logged a pair of 30-point games in his sophomore season, the Hornets said.

ALSO READ: Charlotte Hornets team up with Food Lion to feed local kids

Hornets look to next season with invaluable experience

Forward Grant Williams has seen it all. He reached the finals as a Boston Celtic and knows first-hand how different playoff basketball is.

He’s pushing his teammates this offseason. The year may have ended in disappointment, but the experience they gained was invaluable.

“Each game taught you something valuable, whether it was about a teammate, whether it was about the group, whether it was about a single play,” said Williams. “Going back and watching that last 10-minute stretch of the season, where there were some games, we would have won. There were also other games we pulled out that possibly we shouldn’t have won, and how those things happened and how we executed were truly valuable.”

A look inside construction of new Hornets performance center

Watch the video above for a look at the progress.

The Hornets are also constructing a new 160,000-square-foot facility for player development, which will include two full-size practice courts, strength-and-conditioning resources, and areas for physical therapy and sports science.

Three-Team Trade Idea Involving Shedeur Sanders Would Bring Another Star Receiver To Patriots originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New England Patriots already made a trade for a star receiver this offseason, but a new trade idea from Bleacher Report would net them another one.

The Patriots moved on from Stefon Diggs to sign Romeo Doubs and acquire A.J. Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles. They have a crowded receiver room right now, and Kayshon Boutte's name is being tossed around in trade rumors. He has noted that he wants to be in New England, but it does not change the fact that he's in a contract year, and targets will be tougher to come by this season in New England.

Three-team trades in the NFL are rare, but not impossible. Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox proposed this three-team trade between the Patriots, Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals that would move Boutte, but surprisingly bring another wide receiver to New England:

• Patriots receive: wide receiver Michael Wilson
• Cardinals receive: quarterback Shedeur Sanders, wide receiver Kayshon Boutte and Browns' 2027 fourth-round pick
• Browns receive: quarterback Jacoby Brissett and Patriots 2027 third-round pick

It's unlikely the Patriots would look into adding another receiver if they got rid of Boutte, but Wilson is a star. He had a breakout campaign last season, with shaky quarterback play at best. He scored seven touchdowns and logged more than 1,000 yards. He took advantage of his opportunities when Marvin Harrison Jr. was out, and could be an elite player in New England.

As for the other two teams, the Cardinals need a quarterback, and Sanders would give them one who could end up being a franchise player. The Browns are in a tough spot with Sanders this year, with Deshaun Watson healthy and two first-round picks in the next draft. They will reportedly be targeting one of the quarterbacks in next year's class, so trading Sanders would make sense.

Ultimately, the Patriots would be unlikely to accept a deal like this. They will not want to part ways with draft capital after giving up a first-round pick for Brown. Additionally, they don't necessarily need Wilson after adding Doubs and Brown. Even though they could be an elite trio, the Patriots seem to like what they have in Kyle Williams and hope he develops into more than a role player.

More NFL: Perfect Patriots 2027 Free Agency Target Signs Extension With Current Team

Hailing from Brockton, AJ Dybantsa was selected number one overall by the Washington Wizards in Tuesday’s NBA Draft. He’s the first athlete born and raised in Massachusetts to be selected number one overall in any of the four major U.S. sports drafts (NBA, NHL, NFL, and MLB).

Dybantsa, 6’9, 217 pounds, averaged 25.5 points per game this past season with the BYU Cougars. In January, Dybantsa passed Celtics legend Danny Ainge for the most points posted by a BYU freshman in a game, recording 43 points in a 91–78 victory over Utah.

Dybantsa played high school basketball at St. Sebastian’s School in Needham. He was offered scholarships from all the top universities, including Boston College, but Dybantsa said he chose BYU to play ball and keep a low profile off the court.

The son of a Jamaican immigrant mother and a father from the Republic of Congo, Dybantsa is the latest athlete produced by the “City of Champions.” 80 years ago, heavyweight champion Rocky “the Brockton Blockbuster” Marciano trained at the old fire station on Pleasant Street - a building that had its electrical wiring installed by Thomas Edison. Fellow champion “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler also sculpted his legendary boxing career in Brockton. Both have statutes in the city.

Brockton also produced Ken MacAfee, a 3x All-American tight end who caught passes from Joe Montana at Notre Dame. He was third in voting for the Heisman Trophy in 1977 and won the National Title that same year. He played two seasons in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers.

There’s plenty more on the list who were either born or raised in Brockton: Patriots WR Greg McMurtry, pro golfer Megan Khang, Cubs catcher Mike Gordon, and Lou Montgomery - the first Black athlete at Boston College.

There’s a certain aura that comes with being the first overall selection in any major sports draft. The names of both successful players and those branded as “busts” are remembered almost equally. Notable number one picks in the NBA include newly crowned champion Karl Anthony-Towns, Allen Iverson, Dwight Howard, Tim Duncan, LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal, Patrick Ewing, Magic Johnson, and Bill Walton.

Then there’s the names remembered infamously: Ben Simmons - taken before Jayson Tatum, Markelle Fultz, Anthony Bennett, and Sam Bowie - “the man drafted before Michael Jordan.”

Dybantsa joins the Washington Wizards, a team that has lost nearly 200 games over the past three seasons. Their last series win in the playoffs came in 2017. Prior to Dybantsa, the franchise’s most recent number one selection was John Wall in 2010.

Regardless of expectations from the Wizards, fans, pundits, or anyone else, it’s a good day for Brockton and for the state that invented basketball.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW

As far as World Cup soccer games go, yesterday's 0-0 face-off between England and Ghana was pretty uneventful. But one on-pitch moment has still given people plenty to talk about.

Related: "Reporter Responds To Backlash Over Childbirth Comments Amid World Cup Debate"

Right before kick-off, after the national anthems have been sung, it's protocol for all the players to shake hands with everyone on the other team as a sign of respect. However, footage from yesterday's game in Boston showed that one England player, 25-year-old Djed Spence, appeared to refuse a handshake from Ghana's Thomas Partey.

For some vital context, Partey is currently facing seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault regarding allegations by four different women between 2020 and 2022. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges and is due to stand trial at Southwark Crown Court in London next year.

The apparent snub from Spence was not shown during the live TV coverage, but photos and video footage of the moment show that the Brit kept his hand by his side when Partey walked past him to receive a handshake. You can watch a close-up of the footage here.

In this picture, you can also see that Partey glances back at Spence as he moves on to shake hands with the next England player. As far as we can tell, Spence was the only England player to actively avoid shaking Partey's hand in the lineup.

The allegations against Partey have been a significant talking point at the World Cup. Just last week, the 33-year-old had to miss Ghana's match against Panama in Toronto due to the fact that he was denied entry into Canada for wrongly telling officials that he had never been arrested or charged with a crime. The Ghanaian government sought permission for him to enter Canada briefly so he could play for his country, but the appeal was rejected.

As we previously mentioned, Partey has denied the allegations. However, many feel it's "sickening" that someone facing such serious charges should still be allowed to play "on the world’s biggest stage." With this in mind, Spence is being praised for showing some "integrity" with his small act of (apparent) protest.

"Good for him," one Reddit user wrote in response to the footage, which is amassing millions of views across Reddit, Instagram, and X. "I know FIFA is an awful organization, but shame on them for even allowing him in the tournament." Echoing this, someone else wrote: "It is still unacceptable that players with these charges are being selected to represent their countries."

Over on X, the positive reactions were much the same, with many praising Spence for seemingly "being the only England player to show contempt to an accused multiple rapist." "think of it as performative, think of it as genuine. don’t gaf to be honest," another X user wrote. "the bar well and truly is in hell, but I’m just happy someone on that pitch cared enough to make a statement."

England manager Thomas Tuchel was prevented from answering a question about the viral moment during a post-match press conference, with a spokesperson for the team citing "legal reasons."

Meanwhile, the head coach for Ghana, Carlos Queiroz, did comment on the matter, saying: "We refuse to be part of people that try to bring dust and politics inside the game. We fight to keep the four lines sacred. It’s difficult sometimes, but it happens. So we have to congratulate everybody who leaves politics outside the four lines."

Morgan Rielly’s future with the Toronto Maple Leafs has become a major NHL offseason storyline. The speculations have intensified even more after reports suggested the veteran defenseman is open to a move out of Toronto.

TSN analyst Darren Dreger reported on X that Rielly’s agent, J.P. Barry, has submitted a list of four Western Conference teams that the defenseman would consider joining.

MORE: Maple Leafs face fresh Auston Matthews questions amid Brady Tkachuk trade

“Morgan Rielly’s agent J.P Barry has submitted a list of 4 Western based teams Rielly is willing to go to,” Dreger wrote. “This will be a team by team assessment and depending on the fit, there could be some flexibility to add teams to the list.”

While the full list remains undisclosed, insider Chris Johnston pointed directly toward two emerging Pacific Division clubs.

“I believe a move to San Jose or Anaheim, teams like that that are on the rise would have some appeal,” Johnston said on First Up on June 23.

The speculation arrives during a dramatic organizational reset in Toronto. After a disastrous 2025-26 campaign, the Maple Leafs finished last in the Atlantic Division with a 32-36-14 record. The club allowed 299 goals, ranked near the bottom of the NHL defensively, and underwent sweeping front-office changes.

Rielly, meanwhile, endured one of the toughest seasons of his career. He recorded 11 goals and 25 assists in 78 games while posting a career-worst minus-18 rating. The 32-year-old still has four years remaining on his contract, carrying a $7.5 million cap hit through 2029-30.

Why do San Jose and Anaheim make sense for Morgan Rielly?

It makes sense because both destinations offer logical fits.

San Jose Sharks enters the offseason with significant cap space (over $40 million for 2026-27) and a young core led by Macklin Celebrini. The Sharks improved to 86 points last season and could benefit from adding an experienced puck-moving defenseman to support their developing roster.

Anaheim Ducks appear even closer to contention. The Ducks reached the second round of the playoffs and feature rising stars such as Cutter Gauthier and Leo Carlsson. Their blue line still lacks a proven veteran capable of handling major minutes and driving offense from the back end.

Rielly has spent 13 seasons with Toronto since being selected fifth overall in 2012. He became one of the defining players of the franchise’s modern era through leadership, durability, skating, and offensive production.

MORE: Maple Leafs’ goalie plans include 2X Stanley Cup champ after Joseph Woll trade

If Toronto fully commits to a youth-focused retool after winning the first overall pick and preparing to draft Gavin McKenna, moving Rielly could accelerate that transition. For San Jose or Anaheim, acquiring him would represent more than a hockey move. It would add leadership and playoff experience to teams aiming to take the next step.

Stephen A. Smith says he'd 'contemplate retirement' if he were Tyler Herro after Bucks trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Tyler Herro is heading home. Whether that's a good thing depends on who you ask.

The former Miami Heat star was one of the centerpiece pieces in the blockbuster trade that sent Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami, ending months of speculation and completely reshaping the Eastern Conference.

For Herro, the move means leaving one of the NBA's most glamorous cities for his hometown team, the Milwaukee Bucks. According to Stephen A. Smith, that's not exactly a fair trade-off.

Stephen A. Smith delivers brutal Tyler Herro take

Shortly after details of the Giannis trade became public, Smith shared his thoughts on what Herro now faces. The ESPN personality didn't focus on basketball. Instead, he focused on geography.

"And your heart goes out to guys like Tyler Herro," Smith said on The Stephen A. Smith Show. "It's hard going from Miami to Milwaukee."

Smith then doubled down.

"That is not an easy transition to make when you're thinking about your quality of life from Miami to Milwaukee. Oh my God. I think if it were me, I'd cry."

Stephen A Smith says he’d consider retiring if he got traded from Miami, to Milwaukee 😳

“Your heart goes out to guys like Tyler Herro.. Kel’el Ware… it’s hard going from Miami to Milwaukee. That is not an easy transition to make, socially… When you think about your quality of… pic.twitter.com/uHRN4VcmbJ

— Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) June 23, 2026

Then came the line that immediately started circulating on social media.

"I'd contemplate retirement, to be quite honest with you."

While Smith was clearly speaking with his trademark blend of humor and exaggeration, the comments quickly generated reactions online as fans debated whether life in South Florida really compares to life in Wisconsin.

MORE: Giannis Antetokounmpo wastes no time sending message about Heat future with Bam Adebayo appearance

Herro's NBA future remains uncertain

The reality is that Herro may not be in Milwaukee for very long. The Bucks' decision to trade Antetokounmpo signals the start of a dramatically different era for the franchise. Milwaukee now has a collection of young talent, future draft assets and financial flexibility moving forward.

That has led to speculation that Herro could become one of the next dominoes to fall. Several reports have suggested the Bucks could explore additional moves as they begin building toward the future, potentially making Herro available to contenders looking for an elite scoring guard.

If that happens, Milwaukee could simply become a temporary stop.

Why Herro still makes sense for Milwaukee

Even if the Bucks ultimately keep him, Herro gives the organization a proven offensive weapon to build around. The 26-year-old is coming off an injury-shortened season after undergoing surgery to address posterior impingement syndrome in his left ankle. He appeared in only 33 games, but when healthy, he's shown he can be one of the league's most dangerous scorers.

The former Kentucky standout has already earned an All-Star selection and remains firmly in his prime. For now, though, Herro finds himself at the center of one of the biggest trades in recent NBA history. And while Milwaukee fans are excited to welcome a hometown star, Smith made it very clear he wouldn't be nearly as enthusiastic about making the same move.

At least not when it means swapping South Beach for Wisconsin winters.

More NBA news:

• Why Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards is suddenly in NBA trade rumors
• The same man who built Shaquille O'Neal's empire is helping shape AJ Dybantsa's future
• Who is Yaxel Lendeborg's girlfriend? Meet Tacarra Shyann and her relationship timeline with NBA Draft prospect
• Why nobody can agree if Heat or Bucks actually won blockbuster Giannis Antetokounmpo trade
• ESPN picks a clear winner in Giannis Antetokounmpo trade between Bucks, Heat

England fans have regularly been heard belting out Neil Diamond's 'Sweet Caroline' at major tournaments in recent years.

The affiliation with the song started during the 2020 European Championships, delayed to 2021 because of the Covid pandemic.

The popular anthem was played inside Wembley ahead of a game early in the tournament, and supporters united for a roaring rendition of the song. Since then, it has become a key part of the repertoire of England supporters at matches.

First released in 1969, Diamond's song was re-released in 2021 in the aftermath of England's run to the final at Wembley, which they lost to Italy on penalties.

At the time of its re-release, it peaked at number 20 in the UK charts and third in the UK download charts.

A year later, it became popular with both the players and supporters of England's Women's team during their road to victory in the European Championships.

Upon learning of the popularity of the song as a result of its adoption by Three Lions fans, Diamond said he was "thrilled".

Its popularity has also seen it being sung by fans of other sports such as boxing, cricket and rugby league.

Why have England fans started singing Wonderwall?

In more recent times, the Oasis hit 'Wonderwall' has also become part of England's catalogue of popular anthems.

England's players sang along to the 1995 tune along with their fans in Dallas following their 4-2 opening group stage victory over Croatia in a clip that has since gone viral.

Wonderwall is arguably one of the nation's most recognisable pop songs, and received another boost in popularity following Oasis' reunion last year, which sparked one of the most successful artist tours in British history.

Following the win over Croatia, Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher reacted to footage of players and fans singing together.

Upon the news that streams of the song had increased by more than 50%, Liam wrote on X: "And rightly so it's a classic and I sound BIBLICAL on it."

His brother and fellow Oasis bandmate Noel Gallagher has also backed calls to make the song England's World Cup anthem.

"'Wonderwall' belongs to the people, and it was a magical moment between the people and the players," Noel told The Sun.

"Best of luck to everyone who's made the trip out there."

Speaking to the Lions' Den podcast after the win over Croatia, captain Harry Kane said: "That was one of my favourite ever moments in an England shirt and especially at a major tournament."

England's official goal song at the tournament, played every time they score, is Chase the Sun by Planet Funk.

This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.

More questions answered...

• What is the World Cup prize money?
• Who has been eliminated from the World Cup?
• Who are the World Cup's record holders?
• Who is the DR Congo superfan?

King Charles has given a symbolic show of support for the Afghan women's cricket team - which is now in exile and, because of the Taliban regime's ban on women's sport, is not allowed to represent its country.

The women told him how they escaped the Taliban in Afghanistan to keep their dreams of playing cricket alive.

"I'm so glad that you can pursue what you want to do," the King told the cricketers, giving them an enthusiastic welcome in Clarence House on a scorching morning.

Cricketer Ekil Latifi, who has not seen her family in Afghanistan for five years, said the team was representing all the women not allowed to play sport, adding: "It's all about the Afghan women back in our country."

King Charles has met many touring sports teams - but this was unusual in being a team that is not officially allowed to exist.

The Taliban block on women's sport meant that Afghanistan's national cricket team for women was no longer allowed to take part in official competitions as representatives of the country.

Most of the team has now left Afghanistan, with the majority becoming refugees in Australia.

The King was showing his backing as the team arrived to play some exhibition matches, taking place while the women's T20 World Cup is hosted this summer in England.

"If you lose, you can blame me for interrupting your training," he told them.

Latifi, who left her own country in 2021 at the age of 17, during the evacuations from Afghanistan, wants the team to inspire women who are blocked from playing sport.

The cricket team's survival - and this royal meeting - was a chance to speak up for women in Afghanistan and to show "all the things that they can't do there", she said.

She said that cricket had become her life, as she now worked as a coach, but it was also a lesson in not giving up.

"In life, you get one chance. In cricket, if you're a batter, you might just bat once," she said.

Her ambition for the Afghan women's cricket team is to be able to play again, as the men's team currently does, as part of the official cricketing world and under their own national flag.

Team-mate Shabnam Snahsan said it was "so disappointing" that the team could not take part in this summer's World Cup.

But she was delighted that the Afghan women's team was meeting the King and welcomed the public show of solidarity.

"Back in Afghanistan, women don't have the right to play cricket, even to go out, to study or anything," she said.

"We're here to play cricket - but it's not just cricket, we're here to fight for them and this has meant a lot for us."

In the Clarence House gardens, the King was given a signed shirt by the team and posed for photographs, and he told them he had played cricket once - "but not very well".

The players pinned an Afghan Women's IX badge on his summer suit, with the King still sporting a tie and suit in the heatwave conditions.

He was interested in their stories about how they had left, the languages they spoke at home - and asked if they had faced protests as female cricketers in Afghanistan.

They said before the official clampdown on women's cricket, there had not been much opposition, but told the King about their "terrifying journeys" and how they had escaped past Taliban checkpoints.

But the King faced a difficult bit of bowling in questions from the cricketers.

"Can I ask you a question?" said Latifi. "Can you say a posh word for me?"

When the King looked rather like he was facing a very tricky spin attack, she suggested: "A posh word like 'lavatory'."

The King thought about venturing a reply, but then laughed and said: "I'd need advance warning of that..."

Speaking afterwards, the cricketer said she was learning English and wanted to find out some posh words to use, suggesting "marvellous" as another example.

She had met the King though, which is fairly posh - but along with her team-mates, their bigger ambition is to be allowed to play a sport they love, and to do it for their own country.

Sign up here to get the latest royal stories and analysis every week with our Royal Watch newsletter. Those outside the UK can sign up here.

Rays trade prediction lands Orioles' 'impact' .750 OPS outfielder originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Tampa Bay Rays have a clear need for the trade deadline. 

Adding power to the lineup should and will be a priority. The Rays rank dead last in the Majors with 63 home runs. 

Star third baseman Junior Caminero leads the way with 16. Jonathan Aranda and Yandy Diaz both have 12. 

Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer predicts that a nine-year veteran outfielder with five homers would be a good fit in Tampa Bay. 

"The fit here is simple. The Rays need any kind of impact hitter, and there's no better place for one than in an outfield that has a .653 OPS," Rymer wrote. "And since said outfield skews left-handed, [Taylor] Ward as a fit is too obvious." 

Ward was acquired by the Baltimore Orioles from the Los Angeles Angels this past offseason. 

He had one of the best seasons of his career in 2025, hitting a personal best 36 home runs with a .792 OPS.

Ward's slugging numbers are down, but he's managed to connect for 17 doubles and draw walks in 17.4% of his trips to the plate. 

MORE: Rafael Devers threw a massive fit for the dumbest reason

"The Orioles could look to extract an arm or two from a Rays system that has plenty of good ones," Rymer added. "Second-ranked prospect Brody Hopkins could perhaps be in play amid a rough year, with someone like T.J. Nichols (No. 10) perhaps representing a more likely play." 

Even if the Rays traded for Ward, they still might need more offensive additions. But it's a solid starting point. 

More MLB news:

• Cam Schlittler breaks an all-time Yankees record
• A 'gentlemanly' baserunning move confused the umpires, and everyone else
• Paul Skenes holds a really weird MLB record
• Outfielder retires from baseball to go play college football
• Dodgers have a very simple reason to trade for Tarik Skubal

In the wake of Eric Roy’s tragic passing, Stade Brestois have gone with an internal solution regarding their managerial vacancy. Ouest-France reports that the Ligue 1 side has opted to appoint Julien Lachuer – Roy’s assistant for the past three and a half years – as the club’s new head coach.

Brest head coach Eric Roy passsed away last week at 58. His family revealed that he had been battling pancreatic cancer for three-and-a-half years. His illness had been kept under wraps throughout his time at Brest

Lachuer was notably responsible for leading the team’s training sessions. A former Brest goalkeeper, Lachuer holds the necessary qualification to manage the first team of a professional club. The outlet understands that Christophe Pélissier – who has been relieved of his duties as Auxerre head coach earlier this month – had been circulating recently. Brest’s pre-season is set to start on July 2nd.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval

One of the leading NFL stories of the summer has nothing to do with anything on the field.

Instead, it's about the ever-evolving situation between former NFL Insider, Dianna Russini, and New England Patriots head coach, Mike Vrabel. The timeline began on April 7, when photos of the duo at an Arizona resort were published by the New York Post's Page Six.

Russini and Vrabel denied any wrongdoing when the report first surfaced, indicating they were together platonically.

"These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable," Vrabel told the Post at the time. "This doesn’t deserve any further response."

"The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day," Russini said. "Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues."

Just one week later, Russini resigned from The Athletic. By the end of the month, Vrabel elected to step away from the third day of the NFL draft to be with his family. An investigation remains ongoing and the book is far from closed.

Here's a look at the timeline of the drama involving Vrabel and Russini.

Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini controversy timeline

March 27

Vrabel attends Arizona State's pro day in Tempe, Arizona. He is one of many NFL officials at the Sun Devils' event, with Logan Stanley of the Arizona Republic reporting that 31 of 32 teams are represented.

March 28

Vrabel and Russini meet at the Ambiente, an adults-only resort in Sedona, Arizona.

A photographer captures Vrabel and Russini holding hands and embracing on the rooftop overlooking Sedona's Red Rocks. Other pictures show the head coach and the NFL insider lounging side by side by the resort's pool and in its hot tub. Page Six later reports that the two also have breakfast together the morning of March 28.

March 29

The NFL's annual league meeting begins at the Arizona Biltmore hotel in Phoenix.

Vrabel attends the conference as one of the Patriots' representatives. Russini is also present at the league meeting as a media member for The Athletic.

April 2

The Athletic publishes a list of takeaways from the league meeting, with Russini credited as one of two writers on the piece. Vrabel is referenced early in the story, noting that the Patriots' head coach participated in live drills against Arizona State prospects at their pro day less than one week earlier.

April 7

The New York Post publishes the photos of Vrabel and Russini taken at the Ambiente in Sedona on March 28.

Vrabel tells the outlet, "These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable. This doesn't deserve any further response."

Russini also speaks to the New York Post, saying she and Vrabel were just two members of a larger group present at the Ambiente.

She says, "The photos don't represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day. Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues."

Ginsberg, the executive editor of The Athletic, says in a statement to the New York Post, "These photos are misleading and lack essential context. These were public interactions in front of many people. Dianna is a premier journalist covering the NFL and we’re proud to have her at the Athletic."

Additionally, Russini's last byline at The Athletic appears on the outlet's website. The piece is one written off of a report by the NFL insider that Indiana quarterback and presumed No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza won't attend the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.

OPINION: Dianna Russini put credibility of all women in sports at risk

April 10

Front Office Sports (FOS) reports that The Athletic is reopening its investigation into Russini and her reporting. According to FOS, Russini's employer plans to sideline her from any further reporting until the investigation is over.

April 13

The Patriots hold their pre-draft press conference, which Vrabel was not scheduled to attend despite speaking at the even the previous year.

Patriots de facto general manager Eliot Wolf tells reporters that the team's head coach has been "very involved" with player evaluations ahead of the draft at the end of the month.

"Business as usual. He’s been in there with us a little more than he was last year," Wolf says.

No reporter asks any further pressing questions about Vrabel in relation to the controversy with Russini.

April 14

Russini resigns from The Athletic.

The NFL insider posts a screenshot of her letter of resignation – in which she references the recent controversy as "attacks against me" – on social media website X.

"I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published," she writes. "When the Page Six item first appeared, The Athletic supported me unequivocally, expressed confidence in my work and pride in my journalism. For that I am grateful.

"In the days that followed, unfortunately, commentators in various media have engaged in self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts. Moreover, this media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete. It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I have no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept.

"Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now – before my current contract expires on June 30. I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career."

According to The Guardian's Jeremy Barr, Ginsberg confirms in a Slack message that The Athletic's standards editor, Mike Semel, will continue to investigate Russini's reporting during her time at the New York Times-owned outlet. Ginsberg also addresses The Athletic's change in response from its initial defense of Russini.

"When this situation was brought to our attention last week, there were clear concerns," he writes in a leaked Slack message, "but we received a detailed explanation and it was our instinct to support and defend a colleague while we continued to review the matter. As additional information emerged, new questions were raised that became part of our investigation."

April 20

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy tells USA TODAY Sports that Vrabel is not under league investigation for violation of its personal conduct policy.

April 21

One week after Russini's resignation and two weeks after the New York Post published the photos, Vrabel speaks to members of the media for the first time.

In a press conference, the Patriots' head coach admits he has had "difficult conversations" in the weeks since the publication of photos of Vrabel and Russini at the Sedona resort.

"Those (conversations) have been positive and productive," Vrabel says at the press conference. "We believe in order to be successful on and off the field, you have to make good decisions. That includes me. That starts with me. We never want our actions to negatively affect the team. You never want to be the cause of a distraction.

"What I can promise you is that my family, this organization, the team, the staff, the coaches, everybody – our fans, most importantly − will get the best version of me going forward."

Vrabel tells reporters that he spoke to the Patriots' players on April 20 "very candidly," emphasizing he wanted to speak to them before their own media availability sessions as New England begins its offseason workout program.

When reporters ask Vrabel direct questions about Russini, he declines to provide further answers.

"I respect and I appreciate every single question," he says, "but I'm not going to be able to comment on anything as it relates to that. I appreciate your job and what you guys have got to do, but I have to make my comments and what I answer about our football team."

April 22

Vrabel tells ESPN that he "committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend," and would miss Day 3 of the draft to do so.

April 23

The New York Post publishes the 2020 photos of Vrabel with a woman in a New York City bar and reports that the woman is Russini.

The Patriots release a statement that they are supporting Vrabel through his decision to step away from the draft to seek counseling.

“The New England Patriots fully support Mike Vrabel’s decision to prioritize his family first, as well as his own well-being," the team writes. "Mike has been open with us about his commitment to being the best version of himself for his family, this team and our fans, and we respect the steps he is taking to follow through on that commitment."

TMZ publishes the photos of Vrabel and Russini sharing a moment in the Mississippi casino from 2024.

Vrabel speaks to members of the media at a pre-draft press conference, confirming his plans to step away from the draft during Day 3 while taking further accountability for his actions.

Russini deletes her X social media account.

May 6

TMZ published photos of a document appearing to show that Vrabel and Russini rented a boat together in Putnam County, Tennessee in June 2021.

Citing a source with direct knowledge of the situation, the outlet reported that Vrabel and Russini were the only people the boat for the 2-to-3 hour rental. Russini was pregnant with her first child at the time. TMZ also reported that Vrabel agreed to one picture with the staff, but asked that the picture not be shared publicly.

May 7

TMZ publishes a video of what appears to be Vrabel and Russini on the dock at the boat rental company.

June 18

It is revealed that The Athletic's investigation remains ongoing, according to Front Office Sports' Michael McCarthy. The report adds that, "the investigation is limited to the former Senior NFL Insider's journalism for The Athletic, not her conduct."

June 24

The New York Times publish a story about the Russini situation, written by reporters Katherine Rosman and Ken Belson, detailing all the events that led to this point.

The story details the blurring of lines and ethical standards, ranging from podcast clips about using a FaceTime with an NFL head coach to get out of a traffic ticket to hiding the New York Post's intention to publish the initial photos from her bosses for two days.

In the story, the Times says in a text message shared with reporters, Russini labels herself as a "former journalist," potentially signaling the end of her sports-writing career.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mike Vrabel, Dianna Russini controversy gets new chapter with New York Times report

Well, that was fast! Just a couple of hours after multiple outlets reported that a deal had been reached, Tottenham Hotspur has officially announced the signing of keeper Martin Dubrovka on a free transfer. Dubrovka is joining Spurs after a period as keeper at Burnley, and it is expected he will serve as a backup to 21-year-old Czech keeper Antonin Kinsky. The length of his contract was not disclosed in Tottenham’s official announcement, which suggests it might be a short term option.

Dubravka, 38, is a Slovakia international and a very experienced keeper. He is brought in not only to back up Kinsky in the event of injury or performance issues, but also to mentor the young keeper. I can’t think of many better options in that regard. Dubravka is a safe and experienced set of hands if the case arises that he’s needed to fill in for Kinsky.

Should Tottenham get back into Europe next season, it might be prudent to look at the backup keeper position to see if Spurs can get another English homegrown option in place, but for now Dubravka on a free transfer is a pretty ideal acquisition. Sure beats spending £40m on someone like James Trafford who would likely expect to be the starter. It shows a commitment to Kinsky as Spurs’ new #1, but also providing someone behind him to push, mentor, and encourage him as he settles into the job.

Dubravka is Tottenham’s third free agent signing of the summer, following the signings of Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi.

Welcome to Tottenham, Martin!

Britain's Dan Evans has played the last professional singles match of his career after losing to Tristan Schoolkate in the second round of Wimbledon qualifying.

The 36-year-old announced earlier this month that he would retire after the Championships, which starts on Monday.

Evans missed out on one of the eight singles wildcards, meaning he needed to win three matches in Roehampton this week to play one last singles tournament at SW19.

But his singles career came to a disappointing end as he suffered a 7-5 6-0 defeat in a match that was disrupted by an issue with the electronic line calling system.

Evans, however, will still play at Wimbledon after being given a wildcard into the men's doubles with Henry Searle.

Watched on by a packed-out home crowd at Roehampton, Evans seemed to be enjoying himself and playing with freedom during a tight first set against Australian Schoolkate.

At 5-4 down, he entertained the fans with a brilliant forehand winner - hitting it down the line after diving to the floor to reach a Schoolkate drop shot.

That earned him a standing ovation and he remained on the floor to celebrate, pretending to swim on the pristine green court.

However, it was Schoolkate who clinched the opener before the second set was delayed for more than an hour when the electronic line calling system stopped working.

"There was a temporary loss of power to part of our qualifying venue, which meant that the electronic line calling system could not function," a spokesperson for the All England Club said.

When play eventually resumed, Evans was unable to match Schoolkate's level. He failed to win a single game and walked off court looking downcast after the world number 147 wrapped up the second set in 22 minutes.

"It's not an easy match up. Dan is a phenomenal player and I wish him all the best for after his career," Schoolkate said.

"I've looked up to guys like him for a long time. So much of the tennis today is the same old, same old. Watching him, the way he jinks it around, his slices are amazing, he's a great competitor and so many young kids can learn a lot from Dan."

Evans won two ATP Tour-level singles tournaments, while he was part of the 2015 Davis Cup team that secured Great Britain's first title in 79 years.

In 2024, he sacrificed the 500 ranking points he had won at the Washington Open the previous year to partner Sir Andy Murray for his final tournament at the Paris Olympics.

With temperatures reaching 34C and a red weather warning in place in London on Wednesday, ball kids were stood down and replaced by members of the court services team, who are all adults.

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

Sunrise/ Sunset/ Since the beginning it hasn’t changed yet/ People fly high begin to lose sight/ You can’t see very clearly when you’re in flight — “On Your Way Down” Allen Toussaint

To be honest I didn’t pay much attention initially when Pat Kelsey was first asked Monday morning about not being invited to attend the NBA Draft.

He was diplomatic, commenting how Mikel Brown Jr. only had so many invites, etc, etc.

Then he said this, and my ears perked up.

“Although he was only here for one year, that young man is going to be celebrated and remembered and revered around here for a long, long time.”

I. Don’t. Think. So.

At least that’s my sense from feedback by the Commentariat, conversations along the way, and my own conversion on the issue.

I still didn’t pay a lot of attention. For me, the NBA Draft is a curiosity, far from an obsession.

However when Louisville’s Dean of Sportswriters Eric Crawford returned to the subject later in the interview, I rethought my dismissal that it wasn’t any big deal in these environs.

I’ve thought about it a lot between then and now, just having viewed the part time U of L mercenary take the stage in his bespoke white, pink and baby blue tux, the fitting of which was videoed by his team.

To which attire he added a Brooklyn Nets hat.

Let’s set aside for a moment the underlying dialog about the true extent of MB’s injury, considering how bad the kid’s back really was that “caused” him to sit out over a third of the Cardinals’ games, including the post season.

What I know is Pat Kelsey had Brown’s back during the step aways. Season long. As late at his presser.

“He’s got an ‘it’ about him. … I’m well aware of how special of a player I coached. I’m more proud of how special of a human being Mikel is.”

Unlike Bill Self who publicly wondered aloud how much his eventual No. 2 pick was truly injured last campaign, PK has never never had a discouraging word for Brown.

The very least Brown and his team — Read: Helicopter Father — could have done was bring Pat Kelsey along Tuesday night. To show some respect. Gratitude for PK’s indulgence.

They did not.

For shame.

I’m firmly of the opinion it was a disgrace.

It’s high time that you found/ The same people you misuse on your way up/ You might meet up/ On your way down — AT

 * * * * *

During the season, I was an apologist for Brown.

I was close by in the gym when his back when out during a game. Memphis State, right?

Having had a troublesome back through the decades, I observed the signs in the PG’s hobble during his down time.

A fellow Cardinal hoopaholic advised Brown told him, he’d had back issues previously.

Thus I was inclined to accept he simply wasn’t sandbagging after his breakout national TV performance against UK.

Of course, I was dazzled by his game in early February against a North Carolina State gang mailing it in, “coached” by Will Wade who was already packing to move to Baton Rouge.

I was still dismayed that he matched the individual game point record of four year icon Wes Unseld in ’67. Just didn’t feel right, worthy.*

*I’ve had a former Cardinal, member of the family, share that he’d heard Brown’s dad was upset because Kelsey pulled him before he could break the record. ????

In retrospect I now find it suspect that Brown shut it down once and for all as a Cardinal after hitting but 2/10 in a late February L at Clemson, following by five days his atrocious shooting night in a loss to the Tar Heels on February 23.

How conveeeeeniant!!!

Then came his remarkable full recovery when NBA tryout season and combine dawned.

The same no lumbar issues that didn’t seem to plague him in AAU and for the USA squad before he came here.

 * * * * *

So, I’d offer he dropped by for a cup of coffee. Shared a couple of almond croissants with us against UK and a jayvee Wolfpack contingent.

Then moved on. Without giving a legit thank you to his coach.

Sayonara, dude.

 * * * * *

I read a piece this morning about Steve Spurrier. In it, he lamented like many the current state of roster movement in college sports, how different it was in his heyday of the 90s.

How his recruiting pitch was, “You’ve got a home to come back to.”

Jordan Nwora comes back for visits.

Donovan Mitchell comes back for visits.

Chucky Hepburn, though a senior one and done is properly revered, and comes back for visits.

Mikel Brown Jr.?

If the over/ under on how many times he comes back was 1, I’d bet the under.

This was never home; to Mikel Brown Jr..

This was nothing but a way station.

— c d kaplan

On the first day of the 2026 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers made a move. They agreed to trade the rights to their No. 25 pick, which they used to select Sergio de Larrea, a wing from Spain, for the rights to the New York Knicks' No. 24 pick. That No. 24 pick was used on Cameron Carr, a guard who spent this past season at Baylor University.

The Lakers may have gotten a steal by snagging Carr. While people said the same thing two years ago when they drafted Dalton Knecht with the No. 17 pick, Carr has some special qualities that could allow him to blossom just about as much as he wants to in the pros.

The 6-foot-5, 185-pound 21-year-old averaged 18.9 points on 49.4% overall shooting, 5.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists a game and earned All-Big 12 honors during the 2025-26 season. He will now join a Lakers team that could really use the talents and abilities he brings.

Here are five notable things to know about the newest member of the Purple and Gold.

He's an excellent 3-point shooter

One of the Lakers' big needs is 3-point shooting, and Carr can help in that department. During the 2025-26 campaign, he attempted 6.1 treys a game and made 37.4% of them, which means he can not only hit 3-pointers, but he's also a volume 3-point shooter.

He can create his own shot off the bounce a bit, but his handles are a work in progress. However, he is adept at hitting outside shots off the catch, which could help him fit nicely around Luka Doncic.

NBADraft.net's scouting report of Carr said he has "clean, repeatable shooting mechanics with confidence to fire off the catch or when given space." Sounds like exactly what Los Angeles needs to help take its offense to the next level.

He's very athletic

The Lakers need an infusion of speed and athleticism in order to become a championship-caliber team. In a league where being able to play fast-break basketball is seen as a virtue and probably a necessity, they were 22nd in pace and 16th in fast-break points during the regular season. This lack of athleticism also manifested itself on the defensive end, where L.A. was 20th in defensive rating.

Carr is the type of elite athlete the Lakers could use. He has an amazing 7-foot-1 wingspan, and he clocked in with a 42.5-inch vertical leap at the NBA draft combine. That leaping ability allows him to not only attack the rim but also finish strong, sometimes in spectacular fashion.

He has defensive potential

Carr's athleticism, length and speed allowed him to average 0.9 steals and 1.3 blocks a game this past season. It is uncommon for a guard, even one who is 6-foot-5 and bouncy, to be a productive shot-blocker, but that is what Carr was for the Bears.

He has room for improvement when it comes to his defensive awareness, focus and consistency, and he does need to gain some bulk. But if his work ethic and desire are there, he could become a plus defender in the NBA.

He previously played with a current member of the Lakers

Carr spent his first two seasons in the NCAA with the University of Tennessee before transferring to Baylor University a year ago. For what it's worth, he was teammates with Knecht when he was a freshman.

Thus far, in his two pro seasons, Knecht has been seen as something of a bust, despite many feeling like he had three-level scoring ability coming out of college. Perhaps having an old teammate by his side will ignite a little something within him.

His dad played in the NBA and competed against a Lakers legend

One major advantage Carr has is that he's the son of a former NBA player. His father, Chris, was a second-round draft pick by the Phoenix Suns in 1995 and lasted six seasons in the league.

In fact, the elder Carr once competed in the NBA Slam Dunk contest in 1997 against a certain late Lakers legend named Kobe Bryant. Needless to say, he lost to the Hall of Famer, but he did finish second.

Sons of former NBA players tend to do well in the league. Only time will tell if the younger Carr will turn into a stud for Los Angeles.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Five things to know about new Lakers guard Cameron Carr

Auburn football will officially be down a wide receiver when the 2026 season begins.

Reports from several outlets, including Bryan Matthews of Rivals, show that wide receiver Duke Smith is no longer with the team. According to Matthews' report, the reason for Smith's dismissal is not known at this time. However, his brother, Erick, remains on the team.

Smith appeared in two games last season for the Tigers, playing a total of seven snaps. He did not record a catch, but he posted a 78.4 run-blocking grade, according to Pro Football Focus.

However, he showed signs of possibly cracking the wide receiver rotation during A-Day, when he recorded three catches for 84 yards and a touchdown. Now that the former four-star signee is no longer a part of the unit, that leaves the door open for another player to step in and prove themselves.

The lone returner to the Auburn wide receiver corps is Bryce Cain, and the Tigers signed a quality wide receiver in DaShawn Spencer, who won offensive MVP honors during A-Day. Those two are prime candidates to step up and take over the production reserved for Smith, who was set up to pick up targets alongside USF transfers Keshaun Singleton, Chas Nimrod, and Christian Neptune.

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 Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Auburn football: WR Duke Smith no longer a part of team

Browns get good contract extension update on Pro Bowl CB after Myles Garrett trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Cleveland Browns had a very busy offseason, trading away Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams in one of the biggest blockbusters in NFL history.

But, after adding Todd Monken as head coach, revamping the entire offensive line, and adding two new wide receivers, the next big question for this team is the future of five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward.

According to ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi, while the Browns traded Garrett and could be seen as a team entering a roster teardown and rebuild, they plan to keep Ward on the team, with a contract extension possibly on the horizon.

Browns extending Denzel Ward might be on horizon for Pro Bowl CB

"Although the Browns traded Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, general manager Andrew Berry said he wants to keep Ward, and the five-time Pro Bowler also expressed his commitment to Cleveland," Oyefusi writes. "... but a new deal that offers additional guarantees could be on the horizon."

With Ward missing minicamp, it's reasonable to suspect that he is looking for more guaranteed money on his contract, considering there aren't any more guarantees on his current deal.

Both the Browns and Ward want this pairing to continue, and to do so, the Browns will likely have to extend Ward to a new deal with more guaranteed money.

MORE: Browns QB competition between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson might last into preseason

But the 29-year-old Pro Bowl cornerback is someone worth signing to another long-term deal. He's signed for the next two seasons, but if the Browns tack on two more years, and a lot more in guarantees, Ward should be back for the 2026 season and beyond.

While the Browns are clearly not planning to contend in 2026, signing Ward to a long-term deal is something this team has to do, unless they want to trade him, which doesn't look to be the case right now.

This is an interesting saga to keep an eye on, as the Browns might be extending Ward soon to ensure he suits up for the Browns during training camp and the regular season in 2026.

More NFL news:

• Dolphins’ Greg Dulcich is a rising offensive star and a fantasy football sleeper
• Seahawks’ Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s 2025 breakout called for real: ‘He’s perfect’
• Browns’ extended QB competition is a good omen for Shedeur Sanders to win QB job
• Jets urged to sign ex-Browns, Bills DL Larry Ogunjobi
• 49ers urged to finally end Brandon Aiyuk saga with two possible solutions

Xander Zayas and Jaron “Boots” Ennis are set to square off in a DAZN pay-per-view main event on Saturday, June 27, 2026, live from Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.

Zayas will be defending his WBA and WBO titles at 154 lbs, with former welterweight titlist Ennis aiming to become a two-division champ.

Who’s got the edge? How good is the matchup? And who’s gonna get their hand raised?

Recent Form for Zayas and Boots

by Scott Christ

It wasn’t too long ago that, at least to me, Zayas (23-0, 13 KO) seemed like a good but perhaps slightly over-hyped Top Rank prospect. We’ve seen the sort many times over the years, and several of them have wound up winning world titles, though any serious fan should be able to admit that “winning a world title” isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be. Circumstances, strength of division, the path you had to take to get there — it varies by the case.

Zayas can fight. I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. He won the then-vacant WBO title by beating Jorge Garcia in July 2025. Garcia had come off of a good win over Charles Conwell, but Conwell himself had been a question mark for a few years, a talented but stalled prospect who never seemed quite the same after the Patrick Day tragedy. The unification win over Abass Baraou in January was even better, as Baraou provided stiffer resistance and return fire; it was a good fight, a good win, and Zayas nabbed the WBA belt with it.

Prior to those world title wins, which were good, top 10-type matchups if not the super elite level, Zayas had done as you’d hope in every fight, dominating the likes of Slawa Spomer, Damian Sosa, Patrick Teixeira, and so on. A certain level of final steps before the real hop into the deep end. At 23, there hasn’t been much to criticize about Zayas’ results, honestly; he has done the jobs in front of him and done them well. The question becomes if those jobs have prepared him for a higher level of skill that he’s meant to face on Saturday.

But a lot of similar things can pretty much be said for Ennis’ career. The hype behind Boots has been there for a long time. He has an ability to overwhelm that Zayas maybe lacks, but that doesn’t necessarily inform how this weekend’s fight will play out. Ennis, at 28, still has questions, too.

However you want to slice it, Boots has not faced the level of competition you’d hope for at this stage. He won the interim IBF welterweight title in 2023 against Karen Chukhadzhian, was promoted to full status in 2024. But look at the opposition: Chukhadzhian, Roiman Villa, David Avanesyan, Chukhadzhian again, a unification win and WBA title grab against Eimantas Stanionis.

One guy there, Stanionis, was seen as as a real top welterweight, but even then we get back to “strength of division” and “circumstances” and all that. Not every world title is created equal. Stanionis, like Baraou or Garcia, is a good fighter. Chukhadzhian, who had his moments against Boots, and Avanesyan were solid guys but a clear notch below true world level.

Most recently, Ennis moved up to 154 and thrashed Uisma Lima in one minute, 58 seconds in October 2025. There wasn’t and isn’t much to say about it. It was a mismatch. It brought him up to a new weight class.

Zayas’ hype has been that of a youthful star on the rise. You can see why. He’s got charisma, he’s got a natural, passionate fan base as a Puerto Rican fighter, and he can fight. Boots has had a different deal. He’s been sold almost on mystique; despite lacking that really top-flight opposition, we’ve been told he’s got the elite skills, he’s a certain pound-for-pound candidate, etc.

And maybe he is. I also don’t really blame Ennis for the lack of great opponents, because 147 hasn’t been what it used to be in a while now, and also, I don’t think a lot of people were lining up to fight a guy who isn’t a huge ticket-seller or needle-mover; that’s a tale as old as time with boxing. Sometimes you’re too good for what else you really bring to the table. And hey, maybe Vergil Ortiz was really going to fight him, but it didn’t actually happen. And that’s why we’re here.

Zayas stepped up. Actually wanted the fight. That says a lot about Zayas. And Boots taking it, when it really is the absolute best fight he was going to get right now, says a good deal for him, too. Both guys deserve the respect for saying they wanted the best fights they could get, and then when offered, actually taking it.

To make a mildly long story short here: I think there’s a lot we still don’t know about the true quality of both Zayas and Ennis. I think they’re both legit. I think they’re both good, at the very worst. And I think we still don’t know how good — or, potentially, actually great — they might be.

Zayas vs Boots Style Matchup

by Patrick Stumberg

You’re bound to develop some bad habits when nobody can beat them out of you.

Jaron Ennis has spent his pro career brutalizing virtually everyone that crosses his path. He fights under the hypothesis, supported by a decade of evidence, that he can’t be hurt. This has led to a rather notable disparity in his offensive and defensive capabilities; top-notch speed, power, and shot selection coexist with tendencies to drop his off-hand, bring his punches back low, fail to move his head when punching, and overextend when chasing.

Zayas can absolutely work with that. Recent efforts against aggressive foes have shown a lot of what Karen Chukhadzhian leaned on in his more successful moments, namely the footwork to make Ennis square up and the wherewithal to land counters in between Ennis’ punches, when he’s most vulnerable. He can’t put a dent in Ennis, sure, but he doesn’t need to have lights-out power to disrupt Ennis and keep him from finding an offensive groove.

The insurmountable issue Zayas faces, though, is that he’s fighting Jaron Ennis instead of Jorge Garcia or Abass Baraou. Zayas’ rock-solid fundamentals aren’t sufficient to bridge the considerable gap in physical ability, especially not when paired with Ennis’ adaptability; Ennis figures to get a read on Zayas’ movement and start inflicting fight-changing damage long before Zayas banks the necessary seven rounds.

It’s honestly a bit of a shame. Zayas is so well-schooled at such a young age, but Ennis just has so much more horsepower in his engine.

Zayas vs Boots Predictions: Who will win?

Scott Christ: I have a lot of respect for Xander Zayas reportedly insisting on this fight. I love that, at 23, this dude could rest on his laurels for a while. He’s got two world title belts, he could have taken lesser tests for another year, maybe two, and done it as defending unified champion. He could have tried to get IBF titleholder Josh Kelly in and gone for a third belt; no offense to Josh Kelly, but I think most would agree that he’s a less daunting matchup on paper than Boots Ennis.

He wanted what the real boxing fans were going to see as the toughest challenge for him at 154, apart from maybe Vergil Ortiz, who has been promotionally/contractually sidelined. He wanted Boots. He has it. I keep having the itch that tells me Zayas and his team have to see something serious that tells them this is a very winnable fight. Could be as simple as Boots not always being the best defensive fighter, having developed some iffy habits as Patrick discussed. Iron sharpens iron; has Boots stayed properly sharp, or has he started to stagnate a little, dulled up a bit with too many fights that just have not been any sort of challenge for him? That can be more mental than physical, but just as important.

I’m picking Boots. But while I was pretty heavily leaning toward him when this was signed, I have started to consider Zayas to be more of a threat to win than I did weeks back. It’s a fight where we’re going to learn a fair bit more about both and where they are right now, which is good. Jaron “Boots” Ennis by Unanimous Decision

Patrick Stumberg: A long, long time ago, I wrote a decidedly mediocre article about offensively minded fighters whose unshakable belief in their own invincibility manifested that invincibility into reality. Once confronted with proof of their mortality, their reduced aggression counterintuitively left them more vulnerable than ever, resulting in rapid declines.

I’m fascinated to see what Ennis will do if placed in a similar crucible. The confidence that lets him lead with rear-hand body shots is so integral to his success that I desperately want to know what happens if someone strikes the fear of God in him.

Zayas just isn’t the guy to do it. He can frustrate Ennis, sure, draw out and punish his bad habits, but we saw Ennis fight through 24 rounds of frustration against Chukhadzhian without ever coming close to defeat. Once Ennis familiarizes himself with Zayas’ movement, cripples it with a steady body attack, and forces him to exchange in the pocket, it’s only a matter of time. Jaron “Boots” Ennis by TKO in Round 10

The starting pitcher market is more difficult to manage than that at any other position. The nature of the position — appearing on the mound once every five games — makes it difficult to separate fact from fiction when assessing a statistical profile. And the frequent long-term injuries add to the cloudy nature of our favorite mound men.

Here are a few hurlers who could be valued incorrectly on the Yahoo Trade Market.

Sell High

Chase Burns, Reds: Burns is a terrific young pitcher who will likely be drafted as an ace next year. But there are reasons to believe that his 2026 value is currently at its peak. The right-hander has benefited from a 93.4% strand rate that is 7.3% higher than that of any other qualified pitcher. Even with his skills, that rate will likely drop by 10%, which will push his 2.00 ERA closer to the 3.00-3.30 range of his ERA estimators. It's also fair to worry about a restriction of innings in the second half for someone who threw 109.1 frames between the minors and majors last year.

Eduardo Rodríguez, Diamondbacks: Rodríguez was mentioned in this space a few weeks ago and remains an obvious sell-high candidate. His 2.27 ERA ranks sixth in baseball, but all of the popular ERA estimators assign him a mark north of 4.00. The southpaw struggles to collect whiffs (18.0% strikeout rate) and has average control (9.8% walk rate). Rodríguez will soon experience regression on his .251 BABIP and 86.9% strand rate. Wise managers will trade him for anyone whom they see as a roster mainstay.

Nick Martinez, Rays: Martinez has plenty of similarities to Rodríguez as someone who should be traded for anything of value. The 35-year-old has logged a 2.73 ERA that doesn't resemble his 4.60 xERA, mainly thanks to an 83.2% strand rate. His swing-and-miss skills are far below average (15.1% strikeout rate), and in the long run they will be too low to be offset by strong control skills (4.7% walk rate). Regression has already started to set in, as Martinez has posted a 6.04 ERA in June.

Sell Low

Michael King, Padres: Although he recovered with a strong start on Monday, King has been a mess of late, posting a 5.08 ERA and 1.34 WHIP over his past six starts. His swing-and-miss skills have completely disappeared over that stretch (5.1 K/9 rate), and his control skills have been subpar all season. This is the second straight year that King has logged an ERA that is roughly a full run lower than his ERA estimators. Fantasy managers should get what they can for the right-hander before his numbers take another tumble.

Buy Low

Bryan Woo, Mariners: Woo has been inconsistent this season en route to posting a 3.94 ERA that is more than a full run higher than the mark he produced across the 2024 and 2025 campaigns. His strikeout skills were surprisingly concerning early in the season, but he has fixed that problem and has posted an 11.1 K/9 rate across his past eight starts. The added whiffs have helped Woo to log a 3.38 ERA and 0.94 WHIP over that stretch. The right-hander with a strong supporting cast and pitcher-friendly home park is back to being an ace and could be acquired for a slight discount right now.

Landen Roupp, Giants: Roupp has middling ratios (4.15 ERA, 1.29 WHIP), which should make him easy to acquire in every league. Those who take a deeper dive on the 27-year-old will see that he has been impacted by a .317 BABIP and has earned ERA estimators in the range of 3.00-3.40. Roupp has also been saddled with a 65.7% strand rate that is the sixth lowest among qualified pitchers, and once his luck turns around, he could be a reliable fantasy starter thanks to his heavy groundball lean (49.8%).

Buy High

Drew Rasmussen, Rays: Rasmussen is a fantasy ace who may not be valued at that level on the trade market. He has dominated the ratios categories for years, posting a 2.62 ERA and 0.88 WHIP since the 2021 season. His value was previously capped by a lack of innings, as the Rays limited him to short starts during a 2025 season in which he logged 150 frames over 31 outings. The reins have been loosened this year, as Rasmussen has logged at least six innings in nine of his 15 starts and has finished the seventh inning in four of his past six outings. Now able to work deep into games in front of a Rays team with a winning record, Rasmussen is the total package.

Reid Detmers, Angels: After years of giving hints that he might be good, only to burn fantasy managers as soon as they bought in, Detmers may have finally turned the corner. The southpaw with stellar swing-and-miss skills (27.2% strikeout rate) has been on fire over his past six starts (2.31 ERA, 0.72 WHIP). Although his value is rising, Detmers still may not be valued to the level that he deserves. After all, he was toiling on the waiver wire in Yahoo leagues with a 5.07 ERA one month ago.

INDIANAPOLIS — The WNBA did not rescind the technical foul Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark received in Monday’s win over the Phoenix Mercury, the league told The Athletic on Wednesday. Clark’s technical foul will stand, which keeps her at five technical fouls on the season. If a player reaches eight technical fouls, they are automatically suspended for one game, per league rules.

“We should all just go on the calendar now and pick a game that I’m gonna be suspended for if I’m gonna get technicals for clapping,” Clark said.

Clark was assessed a technical foul in the fourth quarter of Monday’s game after a dust-up with her former Fever teammate and Phoenix Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner. Clark fouled Bonner, and the two appeared to take exception to the contact, which led both of them to exchange words. While the officials tried to diffuse the situation, Clark began clapping toward Phoenix players, an act the officials deemed as “instigating,” according to Clark.

This story will be updated.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Indiana Fever, Phoenix Mercury, WNBA

2026 The Athletic Media Company

At long last, we come to Group L of World Cup 2026, where England reside and Thomas Tuchel will hope to steer them safely into the knockouts, preserving as much energy as possible for the challenges ahead.

An opening game against 2018 runners-up Croatia will set the tone for this group and in a rematch of that memorable World Cup semi-final eight years ago, the Three Lions will be eager for a different result. If they repeat the 6-1 victory over Panama from the group stage of that edition in Russia though, they’ll be more than satisfied.

This Panama team look like a tougher nut than their predecessors but, conversely, Ghana are not the same force they were when only the hand of Luis Suarez denied them a semi-final spot in 2010. There is value in winning Group L, given that the runners-up would likely be on a collision course with tournament favourites Spain in the last 16.

Group L fixtures

(all times BST)

17 June, 9pm: England 4-2 Croatia – AT&T Stadium, Arlington

18 June, 12am: Ghana 1-0 Panama – BMO Field, Toronto

23 June, 9pm: England 0-0 Ghana – Gillette Stadium, Foxborough

24 June, 12am: Panama 0-1 Croatia – BMO Field, Toronto

27 June, 10pm: Panama v England – MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford

27 June, 10pm: Croatia v Ghana – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

England

It’s now 60 years since England’s lone World Cup success – an accomplishment that is becoming increasingly irrelevant given that those who remember it are now all of retirement age and 1966 is closer to the sinking of the Titanic than to today.

More pertinent is England’s recent World Cup record, with semi-final and quarter-final defeats at the last two editions (plus runner-up finishes at each of the past two Euros) meaning Thomas Tuchel is the man tasked with completing the work that Gareth Southgate started. Can a German finally end English football’s six decades of hurt?

In Harry Kane, Tuchel has Europe’s most prolific striker over the past 12 months, plus plenty more quality woven throughout the team. Yet, despite an impeccable qualifying record that saw them win all eight games without conceding a single goal, there is a nagging feeling that the Three Lions are just a slight level below the very best sides in the world, such as Spain and France, and that they might wilt in the North American heat. Only time will tell.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), James Trafford (Manchester City)

Defenders: Reece James (Chelsea), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), John Stones (Manchester City), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Dan Burn (Newcastle), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)

Forwards: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Ivan Toney (Al Ahli)

Coach: Thomas Tuchel

Star player – Harry Kane, Bayern Munich: Appears to be in the form of his life at the age of 32 and is right in the Ballon d’Or hunt after scoring a staggering 61 goals for Bayern Munich in all competitions and helping them to a domestic double. His goalscoring and ability to drop deep to link up play make him the key to this England side.

Breakout talent – Nico O’Reilly, Manchester City: A breakout campaign at club level that saw Man City fans vote the 21-year-old as their player of the season, O’Reilly racked up a phenomenal nine goals and six assists while playing mostly at left-back. A classy ball-player, he looks set to start at full-back for Tuchel’s side but is also an option in midfield if required.

Fifa ranking: 4.

Odds to win the World Cup: 15/2, latest odds from online bookmakers.

Croatia

This is likely one last rodeo for a slew of Croatian warhorses such as Ivan Perisic, Mateo Kovacic, Andrej Kramaric, Dominik Livakovic and, of course, talismanic 40-year-old captain Luke Modric.

Runners-up in 2018 and semi-finalists in 2022 is a remarkable return for this golden generation, so do they have enough in the tank to go deep again or are they slightly over the hill? Common wisdom says potentially the latter but there are young talents such as Josko Gvardiol and Luka Vuskovic dotted among the veteran nous.

They cruised unbeaten through a friendly group in qualification with seven wins and one draw and coach Zlatko Dalic will be quietly confident his team can make some noise in North America.

A defeat in the opening game against England would pile a bit of pressure on however, as while Ghana are probably tougher on paper than in reality, a slightly underrated Panama are potentially trickier in real life than they may first appear. Croatia should still qualify for the knockouts relatively comfortably but how much further can they genuinely go?

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Dominik Kotarski (FC Copenhagen), Ivor Pandur (Hull)

Defenders: Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City), Duje Caleta-Car (Real Sociedad), Josip Sutalo (Ajax), Josip Stanisic (Bayern Munich), Marin Pongracic (Fiorentina), Martin Erlic (Midtjylland), Luka Vuskovic (Hamburg)

Midfielders: Luka Modric (AC Milan), Mateo Kovacic (Manchester City), Mario Pasalic (Atalanta), Nikola Vlasic (Torino), Luka Sucic (Real Sociedad), Martin Baturina (Como), Kristijan Jakic (Augsburg), Petar Sucic (Inter), Nikola Moro (Bologna), Toni Fruk (Rijeka)

Forwards: Ivan Perisic (PSV), Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim), Ante Budimir (Osasuna), Marco Pasalic (Orlando City), Petar Musa (Dallas), Igor Matanovic (Freiburg)

Coach: Zlatko Dalic

Star player – Luka Modric, AC Milan: The ageless wonder is still going strong into his 40s, now pulling the strings for AC Milan after iconic spells with Real Madrid and Tottenham. He enters his fifth World Cup having won the Golden Ball as Croatia lost in the final in 2018 and also led them to the semi-finals four years ago. Can he finally get an ageing side over the hump?

Breakout talent – Luka Vuskovic, Hamburg: Just 19 years old, the Tottenham centre-back has excelled on loan at Hamburg this season, being named in the Bundesliga Team of the Season after a stellar campaign and is attracting interest from the likes of Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Physically imposing, aerially dominant and a great reader of the game, Vuskovic is also a threat from set-pieces – scoring six goals for Hamburg and netting his first Croatia goal against Colombia in March.

Fifa ranking: 11.

Odds to win the World Cup: 80/1.

Ghana

The ghost of 2010 still hangs over Ghanaian football when they were agonisingly, heartbreakingly close to becoming the first African side to reach the World Cup semi-finals, only for Luis Suarez to save a surefire winning goal on the line illegally with his hand, right at the end of extra time. Asamoah Gyan clattered the crossbar with the penalty and Uruguay then won the shootout to send the Black Stars home.

It has been a fairly unremarkable World Cup record for Ghana since then – group-stage exits in 2014 and 2022, plus a failure to qualify in 2018 – but they breezed through qualifying this time round, with eight wins and a draw from 10 games.

However, this may be fool’s gold given they failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, having suffered group-stage exits in 2023 and 2021, and have endured five losses and a limp draw with Wales in their six friendlies since sealing a spot in North America this summer.

Veteran coach Carlos Queiroz does have some attacking quality to call upon, most notably Man City’s Antoine Semenyo, plus Inaki Williams, Kamaldeen Sulemana and captain Jordan Ayew, while the controversial Thomas Partey pulls the strings in midfield but they look weak at the back and lack real depth across the squad. Their World Cup chances rest almost entirely on the opening group game against Panama in Toronto.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Benjamin Asare (Accra Hearts of Oak), Lawrence Ati-Zigi (St. Gallen), Joseph Anang (St. Patrick’s Athletic)

Defenders: Baba Abdul Rahman (PAOK), Gideon Mensah (Auxerre), Marvin Senaya (Auxerre), Alidu Seidu (Rennes), Abdul Mumin (Rayo Vallecano), Jerome Opoku (Istanbul Basaksehir), Jonas Adjetey (Wolfsburg), Kojo Oppong Peprah (Nice), Derrick Luckassen (Pafos), Elisha Owusu (Auxerre)

Midfielders: Thomas Partey (Villarreal), Kwasi Sibo (Real Oviedo), Augustine Boakye (Saint-Etienne), Caleb Yirenkyi (FC Nordsjaelland), Abdul Fatawu (Leicester)

Forwards: Kamaldeen Sulemana (Atlanta), Christopher Bonsu Baah (Al Qadsiah), Ernest Nuamah (Lyon), Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City), Brandon Thomas-Asante (Coventry), Prince Kwabena Adu (Viktoria Plzen), Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Jordan Ayew (Leicester)

Coach: Carlos Queiroz

Star player – Antoine Semenyo, Manchester City: Brilliant for Bournemouth in the first half of the season and just as impressive after his January move to Man City, where he was the match-winner in the FA Cup final, Semenyo can provide the creative spark for this Ghana team. Strong, fast and with an eye for goal, how he links up with the likes of Inaki Williams and Jordan Ayew in attack will be crucial for Ghana’s chances

Breakout talent – Caleb Yirenkyi, Nordsjaelland: Box-to-box midfielder Yirenkyi is the youngest member of Ghana’s World Cup squad at just 20 but has already racked up 11 caps since his Black Stars debut 12 months ago and scored his first international goal in the World Cup warm-up against Wales. Has shone in the heart of midfield for Danish side Nordsjaelland after coming through the famous Right to Dream academy that produced the likes of Mohammed Kudus and Kamaldeen Sulemana and is now attracting the attention of Porto. Will hope to make things tick from the engine room.

Fifa ranking: 73.

Odds to win the World Cup: 500/1.

Panama

Panama head to a second World Cup in their history, determined to improve on a slightly disastrous 2018 campaign where they conceded 11 goals and scored just two in finishing rock-bottom of the group.

That tournament included a 6-1 battering at the hands of England and they’ll have the opportunity for redemption in a rematch with the Three Lions this time round.

An experienced squad have actually produced some impressive results in recent years, beating the USA en route to the 2023 Gold Cup final before narrowly losing to Mexico, finishing as runners-up in last year’s Concacaf Nations League and remaining unbeaten throughout World Cup qualifying.

Coach Thomas Christiansen has fashioned a side that are hard to break down and their world ranking of 33 shows they can’t be taken lightly. Beating Ghana and potentially sneaking through to the knockout stage is a realistic target.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Orlando Mosquera (Al-Fayha), Luis ⁠Mejia (Nacional), Cesar Samudio (Marathon)

Defenders: Cesar Blackman (Slovan Bratislava), Jorge Gutierrez (Deportivo La Guaira), Amir Murillo (Besiktas), Fidel Escobar (Saprissa), Andres Andrade (LASK), Edgardo Farina (Pari Nizhny Novgorod), Jose Cordoba (Norwich), Eric Davis (Plaza Amador), Jiovany Ramos (Puerto Cabello), Roderick Miller (Turan Tovuz)

Midfielders: Anibal ‌Godoy (San Diego), Adalberto Carrasquilla (UNAM), Carlos ​Harvey (Minnesota United), Cristian Martinez (Ironi Kiryat Shmona), Jose Luis ‌Rodriguez (Juarez), Cesar Yanis (Cobresal), Yoel Barcenas (Mazatlan), Alberto ​Quintero (Plaza Amador), Azarias Londono (Universidad Catolica)

Forwards: Ismael Diaz (Leon), Cecilio Waterman (Universidad de Concepcion), Jose Fajardo (Universidad Catolica), Tomas Rodriguez (Saprissa)

Coach: Thomas Christiansen

Star player – Anibal Godoy, San Diego FC: Godoy will captain Panama 16 years on from his international debut, having won nearly 160 caps, and he remains a key cog sitting in front of the defence at 36 years of age. His leadership will also be crucial if Los Canaleros are to improve on their 2018 performances.

Breakout talent – Jose Cordoba, Norwich City: Panama have opted for experience, with none of their players under the age of 24, but defender Cordoba – who had a very good end to the club season for Norwich in the Championship – only turned 25 a week before the World Cup and will be crucial to ensuring their defence holds as firm as possible. Comfortable on the ball and a physical presence, he is already starting to attract Premier League attention that would only intensify with a good World Cup.

Fifa ranking: 33.

Odds to win the World Cup: 1500/1.

Group L prediction

The England-Croatia opener looms large in deciding the destination of the group. That could easily be a draw and leave a chase for goal difference to top the pile but we’ll give a slight edge to England, with Croatia finishing second. Ghana versus Panama is equally important and almost too tough to call, so we’ll say that’s a draw that ultimately sees both sides miss out on qualifying as one of the best third-placed teams.

The Ravens have enough star power to enter 2026 with legitimate championship expectations, but their season may be defined by the players who still have another level to reach.

Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, Mark Andrews, Kyle Hamilton, Roquan Smith, Trey Hendrickson, and Marlon Humphrey give Baltimore a strong foundation on both sides of the ball. The difference between being a dangerous AFC contender and becoming a complete team could come from the next tier of players. The Ravens need young starters to settle in, former high draft picks to make jumps, veterans to stabilize new roles, and developing players to turn flashes into reliable production.

Here are seven key Ravens who need to elevate their game in 2026.

1. Rashod Bateman

Bateman remains one of the most important players in Baltimore’s offense because his ceiling still matters. Zay Flowers is the clear No. 1 wide receiver, and the Ravens added Ja’Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt to give Jackson more young targets. That makes Bateman’s 2026 season critical. He does not need to carry the passing game, but he does need to be available, efficient, and trustworthy enough to keep defenses from tilting coverage toward Flowers and Andrews.

The Ravens have waited for Bateman to put together a complete season defined by health, rhythm, and production. His route-running and vertical ability still give him a path to a meaningful role, but the receiver room is more competitive than it was a year ago. If Bateman elevates, Baltimore’s passing game becomes far more difficult to defend. If he does not, the Ravens may have to accelerate the development of the rookie receivers more than planned.

2. Trenton Simpson

Simpson enters a pivotal season at inside linebacker. Roquan Smith remains the communication hub and emotional center of the defense, but Baltimore needs more consistency next to him. Teddye Buchanan’s recovery from a torn ACL adds uncertainty to the second linebacker spot, giving Simpson a real opportunity to seize a larger role.

The Ravens need Simpson to be faster mentally, cleaner with his run fits, and more dependable in coverage. His athletic traits are not the question. The next step is turning those traits into down-to-down reliability in a defense that asks linebackers to handle traffic, match backs and tight ends, and communicate through motion and formation changes. If Simpson becomes a steady running mate for Smith, Baltimore’s second level becomes more athletic and more stable.

3. Devontez Walker

Walker’s role is not guaranteed, but his development remains important because the Ravens still need explosive depth at wide receiver. Lane and Sarratt arrive with defined paths to playing time, while Flowers and Bateman sit ahead of the young group. Walker has to make his case by doing more than flashing in the red zone or on vertical routes.

The Ravens need Walker to become a more complete receiver as he enters his third season. That means winning with better route detail, finishing contested throws, contributing on special teams, and earning Jackson’s trust in practice. His size and touchdown ability still stand out, but the window for being a developmental projection is narrowing. If Walker elevates, Baltimore’s wide receiver room becomes deeper and more versatile. If he stalls, the rookies could pass him quickly.

4. Mike Green

Green played a sizable defensive workload as a rookie and remains a key piece of Baltimore’s pass-rush plan, but the expectations are higher in 2026. The arrival of Hendrickson gives the Ravens a proven closer, and second-round pick Zion Young adds another young edge rusher with burst. That should help Green, but it also raises the standard.

The Ravens need Green to become more efficient with his opportunities. His 2026 season should be about converting pressures into sacks, improving against the run, and proving he can be trusted in more game situations. Baltimore does not need him to be the No. 1 rusher, but it does need him to become a consistent rotational threat who can punish offenses when protections slide toward Hendrickson. If Green takes that step, the Ravens’ edge group could become one of the deeper units on the roster.

5. Aeneas Peebles

Peebles is not one of the biggest names on the defensive line, but his role could become more important amid uncertainty in the interior rotation. Travis Jones is a major piece, and a healthy Nnamdi Madubuike would change the entire outlook of the front. Still, Baltimore needs young linemen who can earn snaps and reduce the burden on the veterans.

Peebles has a chance to become one of those players. The Ravens need him to show he can hold up physically, play with better consistency, and bring enough interior disruption to justify a regular rotational role. Defensive line depth matters in the AFC North, where games often turn on short-yardage stops, late-game run defense, and the ability to pressure quarterbacks without blitzing. If Peebles elevates, Baltimore’s front becomes more flexible and less dependent on a small group of veterans.

6. Jovaughn Gwyn

The Ravens’ center competition is one of the most important battles on the roster after Tyler Linderbaum’s departure. Danny Pinter’s experience gives him a legitimate chance to win the job, but Gwyn’s versatility and familiarity with the organization keep him in the conversation. For Gwyn, 2026 is about proving he can be more than depth.

Replacing Linderbaum is not just about snapping the football. The Ravens need communication, protection calls, run-game leverage, and chemistry with Jackson. Gwyn has to show he can handle the position's mental and physical demands once the pads come on. If he elevates enough to win or seriously push for the starting center job, the Ravens gain a younger interior option with real value. If not, he will be fighting to maintain a reserve role in a crowded offensive line room.

7. T.J. Tampa

Tampa has a chance to carve out a more meaningful role in one of Baltimore’s most competitive position groups. Nate Wiggins and Humphrey headline the cornerback room, while Chidobe Awuzie brings veteran experience, and rookie Chandler Rivers has a path to slot work. That leaves Tampa in a fight for defensive snaps, special teams value, and roster positioning.

The Ravens need Tampa to turn size and potential into trust. He has to be more consistent in coverage, more physical when the ball is in the air, and reliable enough on special teams to justify a game-day role. Baltimore’s secondary is talented, but depth can change quickly over a long season. If Tampa elevates, the Ravens gain a bigger corner who can help protect the defense against injuries and matchup issues.

Final analysis

The Ravens do not need all seven players to become stars. They need enough of them to become dependable answers. Bateman can change the ceiling of the passing game. Simpson can stabilize the linebacker room. Walker can add receiver depth. Green can strengthen the pass rush. Peebles can help the defensive line rotation. Gwyn can push the center competition. Tampa can give the secondary another trusted option.

That is how good teams become complete. The Ravens already have the elite names. Their 2026 season may depend on how many of the next-tier players elevate before the games start to matter.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: 7 Ravens with the most to prove entering the 2026 season

Liverpool and Newcastle could potentially be on a collision course over two more wingers this summer, following on from the transfer of Victor Munoz to Anfield.

As detailed by Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie, the Magpies had been on the verge of completing a deal to sign the Spain international, only for the Reds to make the most of an opportunity to swoop in and snap him up instead, with the move being officially confirmed last week.

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL EMPIRE OF THE KOP APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY

That dramatic plot twist followed on from the tempestuous transfer of Alexander Isak from St James’ Park to Anfield at the end of last summer, and the two Premier League sides could be set to do battle over a couple more players in the next few weeks.

Newcastle and Liverpool both eyeing the same two wingers

According to the Daily Mail, Newcastle are showing an interest in Said El Mala (Köln) and Matias Fernandez-Pardo (Lille), two wingers for whom Liverpool are also ‘waiting in the wings’ if they fail in their pursuits of Yan Diomande and Bradley Barcola.

Last week, Ben Jacobs named the first two of those players – along with Yankuba Minteh of Brighton – as ‘options’ being considered by FSG if they don’t manage to sign the RB Leipzig star, who’s currently their primary wide attacking target.

Want more Empire of the Kop coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust

Might one transfer influence the outcome of another?

The Newcastle-Liverpool ‘market rivalry’ of this summer feels reminiscent of 2023 when the Reds had heavily pursued Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo – even agreeing a £111m deal for the latter – only for Chelsea to sign both midfielders.

Between the nature of Isak’s exit from St James’ Park last year and the Merseysiders’ swoop for Munoz a few days ago, the Magpies’ hierarchy will surely be bristling at the thought of potentially missing out on LFC to El Mala and/or Fernandez-Pardo, both of whom can play on the left or through the middle.

The former (19) enjoyed a terrific first campaign in senior football in 2025/26, scoring 13 goals and setting up another five for Köln, while the latter (21) netted eight times and claimed seven assists for LIlle last term.

Having signed Munoz already and reportedly agreed personal terms with Diomande, Liverpool might be content with their wide attacking business for the summer if they both come off, thus potentially leaving Newcastle a free run at El Mala and Fernandez-Pardo.

The transfer window domino effect could well swing into play here, with the outcome of one deal quite likely to influence the turn of events with another. The arms race for wide attacking additions at St James’ Park and Anfield is set to be compelling.

Day 14 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup brings a busy slate, with several teams closing out the group stage and three matches on tap.

Coverage begins at 2 p.m. on Boston 25 News with FIFA World Live, leading into a tripleheader of games.

The action kicks off at 3 p.m. with Switzerland taking on Canada. At 6 p.m., Scotland faces a tough test against Brazil. The nightcap features Czechia battling Mexico at 9 p.m.

Mexico has already secured enough points to advance to the knockout round, but the final matches will determine their positioning and which teams join them in advancing.

The next match at Boston Stadium in Foxborough is on Friday, when powerhouses Norway and France square off with Group I on the line.

View this post on Instagram

With group play winding down, every match carries major implications as teams fight to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW