Cleveland Cavaliers (15-12, seventh in the Eastern Conference) vs. Chicago Bulls (10-15, 11th in the Eastern Conference)

Chicago; Wednesday, 8 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Cavaliers -4.5; over/under is 240.5

BOTTOM LINE: Chicago aims to break its four-game home slide with a win over Cleveland.

The Bulls have gone 7-10 against Eastern Conference teams. Chicago is seventh in the Eastern Conference scoring 117.2 points while shooting 46.8% from the field.

The Cavaliers have gone 12-9 against Eastern Conference opponents. Cleveland is fifth in the league averaging 15.0 made 3-pointers per game while shooting 33.9% from deep. Donovan Mitchell leads the team averaging 4.0 makes while shooting 38.1% from 3-point range.

The Bulls' 13.8 made 3-pointers per game this season are only 0.7 more made shots on average than the 13.1 per game the Cavaliers give up. The Cavaliers average 15.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.4 more made shots on average than the 13.6 per game the Bulls allow.

The teams square off for the second time this season. In the last matchup on Nov. 9 the Cavaliers won 128-122 led by 29 points from De'Andre Hunter, while Isaac Okoro scored 19 points for the Bulls.

TOP PERFORMERS: Josh Giddey is averaging 20.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 8.8 assists for the Bulls. Coby White is averaging 20.0 points over the last 10 games.

Mitchell is averaging 30.7 points and 5.5 assists for the Cavaliers. Darius Garland is averaging 26 points and nine assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Bulls: 2-8, averaging 112.0 points, 43.2 rebounds, 26.0 assists, 7.7 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 45.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 121.0 points per game.

Cavaliers: 4-6, averaging 116.7 points, 46.5 rebounds, 26.4 assists, 9.1 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 44.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.4 points.

INJURIES: Bulls: Ayo Dosunmu: day to day (thumb), Noa Essengue: out for season (shoulder).

Cavaliers: Sam Merrill: day to day (hand), Max Strus: out (foot), Evan Mobley: out (calf), Larry Nance Jr.: out (calf).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

As of now, the MLS season is over. All the teams now get a winter break before the season resumes in February. Included in that group are the Vancouver Whitecaps and their new star signing Thomas Müller. For the first time since he left Bayern Munich, Müller has time off. And he immediately used that time to visit his old club in the Allianz Arena.

Cameras captured the World Cup winner sitting in the stands next to Bayern’s supervisory board member Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and board member for sport, Max Eberl, during Bayern’s 2-2 draw with Mainz 05, with the duo laughing about something. Asked after the Bundesliga match about Müller’s visit, Eberl had this to say:

“We joked around a lot. Thomas is someone who talks a lot. During a game, I’m more of a quiet person, so I had to adapt a bit to the situation,” Eberl admitted, as captured by @iMiaSanMia. “But it was a lot of fun and very pleasant.”

Müller’s departure from Bayern was tinged with some controversy after Eberl publicly announced that the Bayern legend could decide if he wanted to stay at the club, only for the club to refuse Müller a new contract and show him the door. It seems, fortunately, as if there are no lasting grudges from the whole drama.

Brian Sorensen told his Everton Women side that they must lift their heads and realise that they are playing against quality opposition as the Toffees ended the year with defeat at home to Arsenal.

A goal-laden 240 seconds started when Katie McCabe fired the Gunners in front on 11 minutes only for the hosts to respond almost immediately through Honoka Hayashi.

But the Blues were not level for long as Alessia Russo restored her team’s advantage from close range before second half substitute Olivia Smith made the game safe for Renée Slegers’ side who move up to second place in the WSL with victory.

And a dignified Sorensen took a pragmatic approach to the game in his praise for the opposition.

“I don’t think the girls tried everything they could, but the way Arsenal started the game – that’s an extremely good team,” he said.

“They started so fast, we tried to do a bit of what we did against Chelsea and ride the storm but they got into some really good positions.

“But we also knew that if we could stay in the game, which we did with Hono’s equaliser then we are still in the game.

“Second half we tried to push on and in some moments, could we could have done a bit better? Yes. But as I have said to the girls, some days you just have to lift your heads as you are playing against a very good team.”

An unchanged starting XI from the side that upset champions Chelsea found themselves under the cosh early at Goodison, but Ruby Mace continued to defy her detractors with a display far beyond her years, first blocking Mariona Caldentey’s whipped cross before closing down Caitlin Foord as the Gunners piled on the pressure.

The former Leicester star could do little for Arsenal’s opener, though, as her clearance from a Russo delivery fell to McCabe, who broke the deadlock with a thunderous long-range effort just after ten minutes.

Everton reused to let their heads drop and were level almost immediately through Hayashi. Vignola found the Japan star and the edge of the area and the 27-year-old scored her second goal in as many games with a precise strike to beat Anneke Borbe at her far post.

And with the game level, the Blues’ vulnerability was punished in somewhat fortuitous fashion as Russo’s unwitting finish crossed the line despite Courtney Brosnan’s best efforts, as the visitors restored their lead.

The Toffees battled to the last, but had their keeper to thank for keeping them in the game with a string of strong saves, one in particular denying Russo from close range as frenetic first half ended with Arsenal just one goal in front.

Into the second 45 and, with the Gunners on top, Sorensen rang the changes just before the hour mark with Karen Holmgaard, Katja Snoeijs and Rosa van Gool replacing Kelly Gago, Clare Wheeler and Yuka Momiki.

But it did little to alter the game’s flow and Smith ensured that there would be no fightback on 87 minutes when she unleashed a clinical 25-yard volley to settle matters.

Toni Payne looked a threat in periods but this was not Everton’s day and while Sorensen was both fair and magnanimous in his praise of Slegers’ team, the fact his side have failed to take a single point at home in the league this season is both a cause for concern and an issue that needs addressing ASAP.

The Blues can enjoy a Christmas break now but 2026 won’t start easy for them with a trip to WSL leaders Manchester City on Sunday, 11 January.

Ruben Amorim impressed few fans yesterday with his comments during his pre-match press conference ahead of the AFC Bournemouth game.

What he said

Many supporters were outraged when the head coach threw numerous young players under the bus in a defence of the lack of minutes he has given Kobbie Mainoo.

Amorim claimed that Harry Amass was “struggling” in the Championship with Sheffield Wednesday.

He also stated that young striker Chido Obi was not always starting for the youth team and that Toby Collyer isn’t playing for West Bromwich Albion.

Recent reports also suggest the club is growing “uneasy” with Amorim’s lack of faith in the academy and his treatment of certain players.

Far from reality

Whilst it is true that Amass’ loan side Sheffield Wednesday are struggling at the bottom of the Championship, the left wing-back certainly isn’t.

Amass has been in electric form for the Owls in both attack and defence this season.

He has been in such good form that Manchester United are actually in talks with the player to secure a new deal for the exciting 18-year-old.

What’s more, Amass has impressed fans so much that he won the club’s Player of the Month award in November.

Amass reaction

The Daily Star reports that Amass responded to Amorim’s criticism with a story on his Instagram that has since been removed.

The outlet reports that, “the full-back shared a simple photo holding Wednesday’s Player of the Month award – before swiftly deleting the picture.”

Chido Obi also responded with an image of himself celebrating a goal for the academy before also taking down the photo from social media.

Perhaps Amorim’s criticism affected Amass last night, as he put in a poor performance by his standards in Sheffield Wednesday’s 0-3 home loss to Derby County.

He failed to win any tackles and also won only 33% of his ground duels. Amass also struggled in attack, failing to have any shots or complete any crosses.

Harry Amass stats versus Derby County

Source: Sofascore

Featured image Jess Hornby via Getty Images

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When Eduardo Camavinga left the field injured against Athletic Club earlier this month, there was optimism that the setback was not anything serious and the player would face just a few days out.

Indeed, Camavinga seemingly returned to training in a matter of days and even made it to the squad to take on Celta Vigo in Real Madrid’s first game back at the Santiago Bernabeu in over a month.

However, he did not make any appearance off the bench and was soon dropped from the squad for the team’s following games.

The signs pointed to a residual niggle that he had not yet completely recovered from.

Back in the mix

As relayed by COPE in a recent update, Camavinga is expected to return to Real Madrid’s squad for the team’s game against Sevilla and could even see some involvement on the night.

He will likely not travel with the team to face off against Talavera in the Copa del Rey game midweek, and understandably so, given how it is against a lower-division opponent.

Eduardo Camavinga is likely to return against Sevilla. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

The idea, needless to say, is to have the midfielder fit and raring back in time for the Sevilla clash. Xabi Alonso, after all, sees him as a handy defensive midfielder-cum-interior midfielder in his arsenal.

So far this season, the Frenchman has largely struggled with injuries and has just four starts and eleven appearances for Real Madrid in La Liga.

He has one goal in La Liga this season, which ironically came in the same game that he last got injured in.

Camavinga is expected to serve as Aurelien Tchouameni’s backup when he returns to the squad, but there is also a good chance he features in central midfield where the team need more solidity.

The full-back position is an outside option as well, especially given the team’s struggles in the department in recent weeks.

Gian Piero Gasperini’s Roma returned to winning ways after two consecutive Serie A defeats.

Against Como, a 1-0 win, courtesy of Wesley, was once again enough.

This excellent performance by the Giallorossi revived the league standings and the club’s spirits ahead of their next league match against Juventus.

Despite the win, the management is not changing its strategies ahead of the January transfer window.

At Trigoria, the search for a center forward remains a priority, given that the current squad’s strikers have so far failed to deliver the necessary performance and consistency.

In addition to Joshua Zirkzee, the main target, Tel, Fabio Silva, and Raspadori, sporting director Frederic Massara has added two new players to his roster.

According to Gianluca di Marzio of Sky Sport, the new names are Genoa’s youngster Ekhator and Portuguese forward Beto, currently playing for Everton, a name previously explored by the Giallorossi.

Roma is therefore intensifying its evaluations to find the ideal reinforcement to give Gasperini in attack.

Troy Williamson still remembers the hollow feeling in his stomach as he refreshed his phone again and again, trying to reach his father in Jamaica.

Hurricane Melissa had torn across the island where the British boxer's father, brothers and sisters lived.

"When nobody could get in touch we had no idea what had happened," recalls Williamson. "The worst case [was] that they weren't here any more."

For four days, the Darlington fighter - who faces Callum Simpson live on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer on Saturday - heard nothing.

He trained and waited, but feared the worst while images of the storm's destruction spread across social media.

"It felt like a very long time, especially when you saw how bad it was," the 34-year-old tells BBC Sport.

Eventually, a message flashed up on Facebook Messenger from his father, Gerald Atkinson, who somehow reached a wi-fi signal after the phone lines had failed.

There was a sigh of relief, before reality set in.

The hurricane had wiped out the house and family-run sports bar.

G's Cool Spot was well known among locals and British holidaymakers visiting the costal town of Black River in St Elizabeth. Now it's a ruin.

"It demolished their home and business. As it stands they have nowhere to live. They're trying to repair and rebuild," adds Williamson.

"The sports bar is gone, basically. It's washed away. It needs a full rebuild."

The hurricane struck Jamaica on 28 October as a category five storm, resulting in 28 confirmed deaths.

Approximately 1.5 million people - more than half of the nation's population - have been impacted.

Lenders have together put forward up to $6.7bn (£5bn) over three years to support Jamaica's recovery from Hurricane Melissa, alongside wider international aid efforts.

Williamson himself has launched a fundraising campaign and already received donations - including £1,000 from the auction of a signed glove - to help cover basics like food, clothing and temporary accommodation.

His brother will fly out in December, and Williamson hopes to follow.

Before he can board that plane, Williamson must face Barnsley's unbeaten Simpson - a tough assignment at a testing moment in his own career.

• Jamaica series about 'more than scoreline' after hurricane
• Listen: Asafa Powell on Hurricane Melissa's aftermath

'I've not been promoted properly'

A Mike Tyson-obsessed kid who did not lace the gloves properly until 17, Williamson racked up 68 amateur bouts, boxed for Team GB and won medals on the international circuit.

As a professional he claimed the prestigious British title at light-middleweight, but says his career has "stalled" after four defeats in his past six bouts.

Williamson puts his recent bad run down to the way his career has been managed.

"I don't believe I've been promoted properly. I've never had a solid promoter, even when I won the British title," he says.

"I put it all down to being in the North East, in a small town called Darlington. I just don't think they recognise the North East when we have some tremendous boxers."

He refers to Pat and Luke McCormack, Savannah Marshall and Josh Kelly - all top talents but spread across different promotional outfits - as evidence of why the region has struggled to build a unified platform.

"You could sell out a stadium in the North East with the talent we've got, but we're with different promoters which isn't ideal," he adds.

A victory over Simpson, 29, would revitalise his career but, more importantly, the purse from his fight will go a long way in helping rebuild a family home 4,600 miles aways.

"The full village and island is basically ruined, so it will take a while to rebuild," says Williamson.

"But I'd love to go out there after my fight."

• Boxing schedule and results 2025
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The ATP men's tennis tour will introduce an extreme heat policy from 2026 after criticism from players who sweltered through some tournaments this year.

The move brings the ATP into line with the women's WTA tour, which has a long-standing policy, and sports such as Formula One which has its own measures to protect drivers.

In October, Danish tennis star Holger Rune called temperatures of more than 30C and humidity soaring past 80 percent at the Shanghai Masters "brutal".

"Do you want a player to die on court?" Rune was heard to ask as he wilted in the fierce conditions.

The ATP has now acted, saying on Monday it was "strengthening protections for players competing in extreme conditions".

The new rules are based on the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), which measures air temperature, humidity, wind speed and other factors to estimate heat stress.

Under the measures, a player can request a 10-minute cooling break in best-of-three singles matches if the WBGT reaches 30.1 degrees or higher during the first two sets.

Play will be suspended when the WBGT exceeds 32.2 degrees.

"The new heat rule provides a structured, medically supported approach to managing extreme heat, with the objective of safeguarding player health," the ATP said.

It added it will "also improve conditions for spectators, officials, ball persons and tournament staff".

The rules do not apply to the four Grand Slams, which have their own policies.

Previously, decisions over weather conditions, including heat, were down to the on-site ATP supervisor in coordination with medical teams and local organisers.

The planet is on track to log its second hottest year on record in 2025, Europe's global warming monitor said last week.

pst/fox

Los Angeles, CALIFORNIA -- The Los Angeles Clippers lose to the Memphis Grizzlies, 121-103, at Intuit Dome on Monday December 15th, 2025. The Sporting Tribune's Nico Alba was there to capture the following TST images. 

Nico Alba - The Sporting Tribune

Los Angeles Clippers forward John Collins (20) finishes the fast break dunk during an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Monday December 15th, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

Nico Alba - The Sporting Tribune

Los Angeles Clippers guard Kobe Sanders (4) makes a fade away jumper during an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Monday December 15th, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

Nico Alba - The Sporting Tribune

Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) hits a hook shot an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Monday December 15th, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

Nico Alba - The Sporting Tribune

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (1) scores the floater during an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Monday December 15th, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

Nico Alba - The Sporting Tribune

Los Angeles Clippers guard Jordan Miller (22) drives past the defense during an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Monday December 15th, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

Nico Alba - The Sporting Tribune

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (1) takes a three during an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Monday December 15th, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

Nico Alba - The Sporting Tribune

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (1) with a behind the back pass during an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Monday December 15th, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

Nico Alba - The Sporting Tribune

Los Angeles Clippers guard Kobe Sanders (4) makes a three during an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Monday December 15th, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

Nico Alba

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) delivers a no-look pass during an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Monday December 15th, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

Nico Alba - The Sporting Tribune

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) makes a jumpshot during an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Monday December 15th, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

Nico Alba - The Sporting Tribune

Memphis Grizzlies guard Cedric Coward (23) finishes a monster dunk during an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Monday December 15th, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

Nico Alba - The Sporting Tribune

Memphis Grizzlies guard Cam Spencer (24) celebrates his three point basket during an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Monday December 15th, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

Every day, we bring you the best and worst performers from the previous night in the NBA.

Best players of the day

	PLAYER	RAT	STATS
1	Nikola Jokic	45.26	39 pts · 15 reb · 10 ast · 2 stl · 13-27 FG
2	Jaren Jackson Jr	40.29	31 pts · 4 reb · 4 ast · 5 blk · 13-18 FG
3	Lauri Markkanen	36.52	33 pts · 16 reb · 5 ast · 4 stl · 11-23 FG
4	Cam Spencer	34.42	27 pts · 6 ast · 3 reb · 1 stl · 9-13 FG
5	Jamal Murray	34.18	35 pts · 5 ast · 3 reb · 0 stl · 9-17 FG
6	Cade Cunningham	33.67	32 pts · 10 ast · 4 reb · 1 stl · 11-21 FG
7	Keyonte George	33.00	37 pts · 6 ast · 5 reb · 0 stl · 11-20 FG
8	Brandon Ingram	25.22	28 pts · 5 reb · 5 ast · 1 blk · 9-19 FG
9	Jaylen Brown	24.95	34 pts · 8 reb · 7 ast · 3 blk · 13-25 FG
10	Cooper Flagg	23.12	42 pts · 7 reb · 6 ast · 2 blk · 13-27 FG
11	Kyle Filipowski	23.09	25 pts · 9 reb · 1 ast · 1 blk · 9-13 FG
12	Scottie Barnes	20.72	17 pts · 10 reb · 6 ast · 3 blk · 8-16 FG
13	Alperen Sengun	20.31	33 pts · 10 reb · 10 ast · 2 stl · 14-27 FG
14	Jaylen Wells	19.22	16 pts · 5 reb · 3 ast · 1 stl · 5-10 FG
15	Derrick White	17.78	31 pts · 6 reb · 1 ast · 1 stl · 10-18 FG

* (RAT) Global Rating, which measures performance based on individual and team stats. You can check season rankings here.

Worst players of the day

	PLAYER	RAT	STATS
1	Kyle Anderson	-3.78	0 pts · 2 ast · 1 reb · 2 tov · 0-4 FG
2	Simone Fontecchio	-0.13	3 pts · 4 reb · 2 ast · 2 tov · 1-5 FG
3	Steven Adams	0.46	3 pts · 0 reb · 0 ast · 1 tov · 1-1 FG
4	Ace Bailey	2.01	7 pts · 3 ast · 2 reb · 1 tov · 3-9 FG
5	Hugo Gonzalez	2.24	5 pts · 5 reb · 0 ast · 1 tov · 2-3 FG
6	John Collins	2.48	10 pts · 2 reb · 1 ast · 2 tov · 5-10 FG
7	Anfernee Simons	2.79	9 pts · 1 ast · 0 reb · 0 tov · 3-9 FG
8	Ivica Zubac	3.31	6 pts · 13 reb · 2 ast · 4 tov · 3-6 FG
9	Kobe Brown	3.34	9 pts · 4 reb · 1 ast · 0 tov · 2-10 FG
10	Kel'el Ware	3.88	6 pts · 13 reb · 0 ast · 3 tov · 3-7 FG
11	Santiago Aldama	4.21	3 pts · 2 reb · 2 ast · 1 tov · 1-5 FG
12	Brice Sensabaugh	4.77	4 pts · 3 ast · 2 reb · 1 tov · 2-3 FG
13	Bogdan Bogdanovic	4.94	7 pts · 3 reb · 3 ast · 1 tov · 2-6 FG
14	Klay Thompson	5.22	12 pts · 2 reb · 0 ast · 0 tov · 4-10 FG
15	Jordan Walsh	5.38	8 pts · 6 reb · 0 ast · 2 tov · 2-3 FG

* Minimum 15 minutes played

Breakout players of the day

	PLAYER	DIFF	STATS
1	Jaren Jackson Jr	30.46	31 pts · 4 reb · 4 ast · 5 blk · 13-18 FG
2	Cam Spencer	24.56	27 pts · 6 ast · 3 reb · 1 stl · 9-13 FG
3	Lauri Markkanen	17.76	33 pts · 16 reb · 5 ast · 4 stl · 11-23 FG
4	Keyonte George	16.61	37 pts · 6 ast · 5 reb · 0 stl · 11-20 FG
5	Kyle Filipowski	15.48	25 pts · 9 reb · 1 ast · 1 blk · 9-13 FG
6	Jamal Murray	11.48	35 pts · 5 ast · 3 reb · 0 stl · 9-17 FG
7	Cade Cunningham	11.02	32 pts · 10 ast · 4 reb · 1 stl · 11-21 FG
8	Isaiah Collier	10.63	10 pts · 8 ast · 3 reb · 2 stl · 4-8 FG
9	Jaylen Wells	9.94	16 pts · 5 reb · 3 ast · 1 stl · 5-10 FG
10	Cooper Flagg	9.64	42 pts · 7 reb · 6 ast · 2 blk · 13-27 FG
11	Spencer Jones	9.32	11 pts · 3 reb · 0 ast · 3 blk · 4-8 FG
12	Brandon Ingram	9.14	28 pts · 5 reb · 5 ast · 1 blk · 9-19 FG
13	Cody Williams	8.74	11 pts · 2 ast · 1 reb · 0 stl · 5-9 FG
14	Tobias Harris	8.33	13 pts · 7 reb · 3 ast · 0 stl · 4-11 FG
15	Taylor Hendricks	8.29	11 pts · 4 reb · 1 ast · 0 stl · 4-5 FG

* (DIFF) Difference between last game and 2025-26 Global Rating (minimum five games played)

Bombs of the day

	PLAYER	DIFF	STATS
1	Jalen Duren	-13.04	6 pts · 3 reb · 0 ast · 1 tov · 3-6 FG
2	Ivica Zubac	-11.46	6 pts · 13 reb · 2 ast · 4 tov · 3-6 FG
3	Payton Pritchard	-10.18	12 pts · 5 ast · 4 reb · 1 tov · 5-14 FG
4	James Harden	-9.04	13 pts · 6 ast · 3 reb · 3 tov · 4-10 FG
5	Steven Adams	-8.90	3 pts · 0 reb · 0 ast · 1 tov · 1-1 FG
6	Amen Thompson	-8.58	14 pts · 12 reb · 6 ast · 1 tov · 5-13 FG
7	Kel'el Ware	-8.36	6 pts · 13 reb · 0 ast · 3 tov · 3-7 FG
8	Santiago Aldama	-8.04	3 pts · 2 reb · 2 ast · 1 tov · 1-5 FG
9	Anfernee Simons	-7.79	9 pts · 1 ast · 0 reb · 0 tov · 3-9 FG
10	Jaime Jaquez	-7.66	10 pts · 4 reb · 4 ast · 5 tov · 5-9 FG
11	Reed Sheppard	-7.50	14 pts · 3 reb · 1 ast · 0 tov · 5-17 FG
12	Simone Fontecchio	-6.89	3 pts · 4 reb · 2 ast · 2 tov · 1-5 FG
13	Kyle Anderson	-6.01	0 pts · 2 ast · 1 reb · 2 tov · 0-4 FG
14	John Collins	-5.48	10 pts · 2 reb · 1 ast · 2 tov · 5-10 FG
15	Andrew Wiggins	-5.46	10 pts · 2 reb · 2 ast · 1 tov · 4-12 FG

* (DIFF) Difference between last game and 2025-26 Global Rating (minimum five games played)

Best rookies of the day

	PLAYER	RAT	STATS
1	Cooper Flagg	23.12	42 pts · 7 reb · 6 ast · 2 blk · 13-27 FG
2	Ryan Nembhard	8.74	14 pts · 11 ast · 4 reb · 1 stl · 6-12 FG
3	Cedric Coward	6.80	12 pts · 2 reb · 2 ast · 0 stl · 5-9 FG
4	Collin Murray-Boyles	6.32	4 pts · 2 reb · 2 ast · 1 stl · 2-2 FG
5	Moussa Cisse	5.89	6 pts · 7 reb · 0 ast · 1 stl · 2-4 FG
6	Hugo Gonzalez	2.24	5 pts · 5 reb · 0 ast · 0 stl · 2-3 FG
7	Ace Bailey	2.01	7 pts · 3 ast · 2 reb · 0 stl · 3-9 FG
8	Kobe Sanders	1.63	5 pts · 2 reb · 0 ast · 0 stl · 2-3 FG
9	Walter Clayton	1.13	2 pts · 4 reb · 2 ast · 1 stl · 1-3 FG
10	Yanic Konan Niederhauser	1.01	2 pts · 1 reb · 0 ast · 0 stl · 0-0 FG
11	Jahmai Mashack	-2.16	0 pts · 0 reb · 0 ast · 0 stl · 0-1 FG

* You can can check season rankings here.

Most clutch players

	PLAYER	RAT	STATS
1	Nikola Jokic	12.38	10 pts · 4 reb · 2 ast · 0 stl · 3-5 FG
2	Lauri Markkanen	10.25	6 pts · 8 reb · 1 ast · 1 blk · 3-5 FG
3	Jamal Murray	8.88	8 pts · 1 ast · 0 reb · 0 stl · 2-4 FG
4	Spencer Jones	8.00	7 pts · 0 reb · 0 ast · 0 stl · 2-2 FG
5	Keyonte George	7.13	6 pts · 1 reb · 0 ast · 0 stl · 1-2 FG
6	Isaiah Collier	4.88	4 pts · 2 reb · 1 ast · 0 stl · 2-2 FG
7	Kyle Filipowski	4.38	5 pts · 1 reb · 0 ast · 1 blk · 2-4 FG
8	Jabari Smith	3.92	5 pts · 3 reb · 0 ast · 0 stl · 2-2 FG
9	Cade Cunningham	3.75	4 pts · 1 reb · 0 ast · 0 stl · 2-3 FG
10	Cooper Flagg	3.44	6 pts · 1 reb · 0 ast · 0 stl · 1-4 FG
11	Alperen Sengun	3.04	7 pts · 2 reb · 2 ast · 0 stl · 3-6 FG
12	Tobias Harris	2.50	2 pts · 0 reb · 0 ast · 0 stl · 0-0 FG
13	Reed Sheppard	2.16	4 pts · 0 reb · 0 ast · 0 stl · 1-3 FG
14	Jamal Shead	2.13	2 pts · 0 reb · 0 ast · 0 stl · 1-1 FG
15	Max Christie	2.08	2 pts · 2 reb · 0 ast · 0 stl · 0-0 FG

* (RAT) Clutch Rating, which measures performance in the last five minutes of 4Q or OT when the score is within five points

Best international players

	PLAYER	RAT	STATS
1	Nikola Jokic	45.26	39 pts · 15 reb · 10 ast · 2 stl · 13-27 FG
2	Lauri Markkanen	36.52	33 pts · 16 reb · 5 ast · 4 stl · 11-23 FG
3	Jamal Murray	34.18	35 pts · 5 ast · 3 reb · 0 stl · 9-17 FG
4	Alperen Sengun	20.31	33 pts · 10 reb · 10 ast · 2 stl · 14-27 FG
5	Jock Landale	15.47	8 pts · 4 reb · 3 ast · 1 stl · 3-5 FG
6	Javonte Green	13.51	8 pts · 1 reb · 1 ast · 3 stl · 3-4 FG
7	Sandro Mamukelashvili	12.66	11 pts · 7 reb · 0 ast · 2 stl · 4-9 FG
8	Josh Okogie	9.00	16 pts · 4 reb · 0 ast · 2 stl · 7-9 FG
9	Ryan Nembhard	8.74	14 pts · 11 ast · 4 reb · 1 stl · 6-12 FG
10	Jakob Poeltl	7.90	8 pts · 8 reb · 2 ast · 1 blk · 4-6 FG
11	Neemias Queta	6.98	6 pts · 7 reb · 1 ast · 2 stl · 3-5 FG
12	Moussa Cisse	5.89	6 pts · 7 reb · 0 ast · 1 stl · 2-4 FG
13	Dwight Powell	5.68	7 pts · 9 reb · 0 ast · 0 stl · 2-4 FG
14	Andrew Wiggins	5.62	10 pts · 2 reb · 2 ast · 3 blk · 4-12 FG
15	Bogdan Bogdanovic	4.94	7 pts · 3 reb · 3 ast · 0 stl · 2-6 FG

* Includes players who represent national teams other than Team USA

Best bench players

	PLAYER	RAT	STATS
1	Cam Spencer	34.42	27 pts · 6 ast · 3 reb · 1 stl · 9-13 FG
2	Jock Landale	15.47	8 pts · 4 reb · 3 ast · 1 stl · 3-5 FG
3	Isaiah Collier	15.29	10 pts · 8 ast · 3 reb · 2 stl · 4-8 FG
4	Tim Hardaway Jr	13.63	13 pts · 2 ast · 1 reb · 2 stl · 4-10 FG
5	Jamal Shead	13.52	8 pts · 10 ast · 3 reb · 1 blk · 3-9 FG
6	Javonte Green	13.51	8 pts · 1 reb · 1 ast · 3 stl · 3-4 FG
7	Kentavious Caldwell-Pope	13.48	4 pts · 7 reb · 6 ast · 2 stl · 2-5 FG
8	Sandro Mamukelashvili	12.66	11 pts · 7 reb · 0 ast · 2 stl · 4-9 FG
9	Isaiah Stewart	12.00	7 pts · 7 reb · 0 ast · 1 blk · 3-6 FG
10	Caris LeVert	11.69	13 pts · 2 ast · 1 reb · 1 stl · 5-10 FG
11	Taylor Hendricks	10.52	11 pts · 4 reb · 1 ast · 0 stl · 4-5 FG
12	Bruce Brown	10.07	2 pts · 9 reb · 4 ast · 3 stl · 1-3 FG
13	Vince Williams Jr	9.75	8 pts · 3 ast · 1 reb · 1 stl · 3-7 FG
14	Jaden Ivey	9.17	10 pts · 3 reb · 3 ast · 2 stl · 4-11 FG
15	Dru Smith	9.07	11 pts · 3 reb · 2 ast · 2 stl · 4-8 FG

Stats per country

	COUNTRY	STATS	PLAYERS
1	United States	897 points · 289 rebounds · 197 assists	74
	Rest of the World	272 points · 133 rebounds · 62 assists	27
2	Canada	66 points · 19 rebounds · 18 assists	5
3	Serbia	46 points · 18 rebounds · 13 assists	3
4	Turkey	33 points · 10 rebounds · 10 assists	1
5	Finland	33 points · 16 rebounds · 5 assists	1
6	Nigeria	16 points · 4 rebounds · 0 assists	1
7	Georgia	11 points · 7 rebounds · 0 assists	1
8	Spain	8 points · 7 rebounds · 2 assists	2
9	Austria	8 points · 8 rebounds · 2 assists	1
10	Montenegro	8 points · 1 rebound · 1 assist	1
11	Australia	8 points · 4 rebounds · 3 assists	1
12	Lithuania	8 points · 3 rebounds · 1 assist	1
13	Croatia	6 points · 13 rebounds · 2 assists	1
14	Guinea	6 points · 7 rebounds · 0 assists	1
15	Portugal	6 points · 7 rebounds · 1 assist	1
16	Switzerland	3 points · 3 rebounds · 0 assists	2
17	Italy	3 points · 4 rebounds · 2 assists	1
18	New Zealand	3 points · 0 rebounds · 0 assists	1
19	Jamaica	0 points · 1 rebound · 0 assists	1
20	China	0 points · 2 assists · 1 rebound ·	1

* Includes players who represent national teams other than Team USA

All-Time Ranking

	PLAYER	CATEGORY	RANK	PASSED
	Jakob Poeltl	Blocks	164	Duane Causwell
	Tobias Harris	Rebounds	191	Andre Iguodala

Sneakers

BRAND	STATS	PLAYERS
Nike	694 points · 252 rebounds · 166 assists	60
Adidas	72 points · 35 rebounds · 17 assists	10
Jordan Brand	61 points · 16 rebounds · 12 assists	6
New Balance	56 points · 8 assists · 7 rebounds ·	2
Andiem	11 points · 3 rebounds · 0 assists	1
Peak	10 points · 2 rebounds · 2 assists	1
Puma	7 points · 7 rebounds · 1 assist	2

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: HoopsHype Daily: MVP night for Nikola Jokic, Cooper Flagg goes for 42

The European Teams 🇪🇺 On Fire

Which teams from the five major European leagues are finishing 2025 absolutely en fuego?

Find out right here:

Bournemouth ❤️ Old Trafford

An absolutely crazy match this Monday night between Manchester United and Bournemouth!

The game ended with a 4-4 scoreline after several twists and turns. A match that will remain in the memories... and in the history books, too!

The reason? Bournemouth has become the first team in the history of English football to score three goals or more in three consecutive league matches at Old Trafford. It’s kind of their turf now...

Bournemouth making Old Trafford their stage 💥

They become the only side to hit 3+ goals in three straight top-flight games there 🏟️⚽ pic.twitter.com/CTJHlGzrZy

— OneFootball (@OneFootball) December 15, 2025

What’s Next for Mohamed Salah?

The Must-Sees of the Week 🍿

- The 10 viral images of the weekend

- Ligue 1: our 3 most beautiful goals from the first half of the season

TV Schedule 📺

9:00 pm: Cardiff - Chelsea (beIN Sport)

9:00 pm: CD Guadalajara - FC Barcelona (DAZN)

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

📸 David Ramos - 2025 Getty Images

Inter chase Konate

Inter reportedly want to sign Konate and they don't want to wait. They're chasing a January transfer.

L'Interista, of the TuttoMercatoWeb network, have doubled down on that claim, reporting that Inter are eager to push forward on this one. They're inspired by the success of Manuel Akanji, who joined on loan from Manchester City this season.

The idea of finding a new player in his prime who can slot into the team and succeed immediately is now their gameplan on the back of the Akanji deal. Now, those signings don't come cheap - unless their contract is expiring.

Late in the third quarter of their Sunday matchup against the Phoenix Suns, the Los Angeles Lakers started to play the type of winning defense that their fans have been practically begging for. During a stretch of roughly 10 minutes that extended into the fourth quarter, they scored 24 unanswered points and forced seven turnovers, allowing them to take a 95-77 lead.

However, after that outstanding spurt, the Lakers fell back into their old bad habits on both ends of the floor. They started to walk the ball upcourt and milk the shot clock, as if they were merely looking to conservatively protect their lead rather than build on it and hold off Phoenix. That behavior played right into Phoenix's hands, and they ended up having to pull out a 116-114 victory by the skin of their teeth after the Suns made a couple of big mistakes in the final seconds.

It was another reminder that the Lakers still have a lot of work to do in order to seriously contend for the NBA championship.

Hall of Famer Paul Pierce went off on them during a recent episode of the "No Fouls Given" podcast for the way they gave up their lead in the last several minutes of Sunday's game. He said the Lakers — and the Suns — had very poor basketball IQ in the final minutes of that contest, and that neither team will be able to win a playoff series this spring as a result.

"This was one of the lowest IQ, last four minutes I've seen from both teams this season. And based on what I saw, neither one of these teams can win a playoff series."

Of course, the Lakers are likely not as reckless and undisciplined as they looked in the final minutes of Sunday's game, nor are they as good a defensive team as they looked during that 10-minute stretch late in the third quarter and early in the fourth quarter. They do have an 18-7 record, which gives them an elite winning percentage, and are in third place in the Western Conference.

But Los Angeles hasn't played the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets or New York Knicks yet, and when it faced the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder a month ago, it lost 121-92, albeit with LeBron James still out due to sciatica. Continuing to put forth the same ineptitude they displayed late in Sunday's game will almost certainly result in decisive losses against the Nuggets, Rockets, Knicks and especially the Thunder.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Paul Pierce on Lakers' basketball IQ in crunch time of Sunday's game

Most definitely, Lota Onwuameze is a force in the middle for Illinois Math & Science Academy.

The bespectacled Onwuameze, a solidly built 6-foot-4 junior forward, made all-conference in the Little Ten last season as a sophomore for the Titans. It was his first year at the Aurora school.

He’s once again proving to be double trouble for opponents and has been a major reason why this edition for IMSA could leave a legacy as one of the program’s best-ever teams.

“I’ve been playing basketball since I was a little boy,” Onwuameze said. “In my mind, I think I bring our team together in a way. I move the ball and everybody has their time.

“I have my own time and we all have fun together.”

IMSA made sure to have some fun Monday night during a nonconference game at St. Edward in Elgin, bolting to a 21-1 lead after one quarter before cruising to a 51-32 victory.

Onwuameze led the way with a game-high 17 points and 11 rebounds for IMSA (6-4), topping it off with a pair of blocked shots and two steals.

Omar Njikam, a 6-foot-5 senior forward, added his own double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds. Neil Sitapara, a 6-0 senior guard, chipped in with 12 points, all coming on 3-pointers.

Owen Searcy, a 6-6 junior forward, and Anit Puri, a 6-2 senior guard, scored eight points apiece for St. Edward (4-5).

Onwuameze, who’s from Springfield, is glad to be a part of what the Titans are building.

“I had a friend I’d known from preschool who actually got me started playing basketball,” Onwuameze said. “He’s the one who invited me to play with his AAU team, and I played in elementary and middle school.

“It’s when I started taking basketball seriously, but I stopped when I started high school. I’ve had to give up a lot of old friends I’ve made playing basketball, which was hard. But here I am now.”

After the school year, IMSA’s players go home and scatter around the state, meaning the Titans can’t run things like other programs in the summer.

Last season, Onwuameze averaged a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds in his first year with the Titans. Accordiing to IMSA coach Brad Snead, Onwuameze is averaging 18 points and 10 rebounds this winter.

“Lota is solid,” Snead said. “He uses his body very well. He’s very skilled at his post work.”

Sitapara opened Saturday’s game in Westmont by making four 3-pointers in the first quarter.

“It really helps us when he starts like that,” Snead said of Sitapara. “It opens up our inside and then Lota can go to work. When that happens, teams collapse on Lota and we can kick it out.”

Njikam can also be a force for the Titans. He began Monday’s game with three steals in the first quarter and scored 10 of his 12 points, with three baskets on fast-break layups.

“He’s an athlete,” Snead said of Nijkam. “At 6-5, he’s long and that’s why we stick him on the point because he gets deflections. He’s our leader there and we don’t preach steals. We preach deflections because they can turn into steals and easy baskets.

“And he’s a rebounder — a beast on the offensive glass. In our last game against Serena, he had 19 rebounds. With his size, I can stick him on the wing or inside. He’s versatile on offense.”

Njikam, a native of Chicago’s South Side, pointed out that he grew up playing in his neighborhood. He followed an older sister to IMSA, just like Onwuameze followed his older brother.

Muna Onwuameze is the Titans’ career scoring leader. His 1,100-plus points are almost certain to be topped by Lota.

“It’s within reach,” Lota said. “Muna comes to our games once in a while to make sure we’re doing good. I think this team has a ton of potential. We just need to bring it out.”

Jon Attenborough has been following Dundee United for almost two decades, but due to a visual impairment had never actually seen the team with his own eyes.

Now a special headset has made it happen - an "incredible experience" according to the 36-year-old from Perth.

Jon got his first-ever view of the stadium and players at Saturday's home match against Motherwell thanks to the vision-boosting technology.

He said watching the game at Tannadice Park had been "a wee bit emotional".

Jon has been going to matches at Tannadice for 17 years and usually tunes into the commentary for visually-impaired supporters.

He told BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast: "It was absolutely amazing.

"The one thing that really stands out to me is just being able to see my own team walk out of the tunnel for the first time and line up at the start of the game.

"I've seen it on television, but it's not the same as being in the ground and amongst the atmosphere, beside your friends you've been going to the games with for so long.

"Just that moment when the music hits and the teams walk out the tunnel, I'll never forget that."

Jon has no sight in his right eye and limited sight in his left.

He said: "I've got a tiny little bit of central vision in my left eye.

"The way I describe it is I can't really see anything further than maybe an arm's length in front of me."

The GiveVision headset has cameras on the front and lenses inside.

Jon can zoom in or out, thanks to a handheld controller, as well as changing the brightness or colour contrast.

He said: "I was sitting in the George Fox Stand in the back row of the lower tier and I could zoom right in and read the players' names on the back of the shirts for the first time.

"I could see what the manager was doing on the touchline at the other side of the pitch, which I've never ever experienced before, it was unbelievable."

After a trial run using the device at last week's match between Motherwell and Livingston at Fir Park, Jon was ready to see his team's stadium for the first time.

He said: "I've seen pictures and video clips when I've been able to hold the screen up close, so I had a sort of rough idea what Tannadice looked like.

"But I think anybody who's been to any football stadium would tell you that nothing actually compares to seeing it in person with your your own eyes.

"And it was just the most incredible experience."

Jon usually tunes in to Dundee United's audio-descriptive commentary when attending home matches.

He said: "It's an amazing service which lots of clubs provide, and I always assumed that within my lifetime, that was going to be the extent of my football experience.

"But having experienced that at Tannadice on Saturday and at Fir Park the week before, it's just made my mind race and wonder where could this technology go?

"It's opened up a whole new world to me."

Last year Jon and his previous guide dog Sam became the first pair to visit all 42 Scottish league grounds.

Jon and Sam started their challenge at a Dundee v Dundee United match at Dens Park in February 2022.

Jon said the new headset is on loan until the new year, allowing him to see his first-ever Dundee derby.

He said: "They send it out just for people to trial and give their feedback, so they can further develop the next models."

Sadly, Jon did not get to see his team score a goal as Saturday's game finished goalless.

He said: "We came close once or twice in the second half, so it did get a wee bit exciting but sadly we didn't get that goal.

"That would have just been the icing on the cake."

• Football fan and guide dog are first to visit all Scottish league grounds
• 'Now I'm part of the crowd' - the tech helping visually impaired football fans
• Festival trials headset to aid visually impaired

Manchester United were involved in an emotional rollercoaster of a game last night against AFC Bournemouth.

In an incredibly rare game, United had the lead three times but managed to only net a 4-4 draw with the Cherries.

It was a jaw-dropping attacking display, but they also demonstrated defensive frailties that would make a school team blush.

Naturally, when The Peoples Person asked its readers to vote for player of the match, attackers dominated.

Bruno Fernandes

37% of fans felt that Bruno Fernandes was the best player on the pitch, and his statistics once again backed this up.

The Portuguese midfielder has been in outstanding form this season, and he scored a world-class free kick to bring the scores to 3-3.

Fernandes also has the most assists in the league at seven and was on the money again yesterday as Casemiro headed in his corner.

Matheus Cunha

The Brazilian has only recently come back from injury, but was incredibly lively versus Wolverhampton Wanderers last week and now Bournemouth.

He led the line as a false nine and almost spectacularly set up Bryan Mbeumo for what would have been a goal of the season contender, but the Cameroonian fired over.

Cunha drove his side forward in the second half in search of goals and grabbed United’s fourth, and just his second in a red shirt.

With Amad and Bryan Mbeumo going to the Africa Cup of Nations, Cunha will become even more important for the Red Devils over the Christmas period.

Amad

In a close third, Amad scored 28% of the vote.

The Ivorian was a live wire all evening and gave the Cherries’ full-back nightmares.

He scored the opening goal and showed everyone at Old Trafford what a miss he will be over the Christmas break as he goes on international duty.

Mason Mount

Since Halloween, the Englishman has been one of the club’s most consistent performers, and he led the charge brilliantly last night in the front press.

He has also found his scoring boots recently, with excellent strikes versus both Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Three percent of fans voted for another player in the United side.

MOTM vs Bournemouth poll results

Featured image Carl Recine 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

Andoni Iraola wasn’t sure if he wanted Bournemouth’s exhilarating encounter with Man Utd to end after coming away with a point at Old Trafford on Monday night. 

The two sides traded the lead on five occasions in one of the entertaining contests of the season thus far, but the game ended four apiece to leave them with a share of the spoils.

The results means the Red Devils have jumped ahead of Liverpool into sixth place in the Premier League table, while the Cherries have moved up to 13th.

Iraola: Bournemouth and Man Utd eight-goal thriller ‘had everything’

“It had everything,” Iraola told Sky Sports after the full-time whistle. “Moments where you think it’s a loss. Moments where you think we have this one, we are comfortable.

“Even at the end, at the last minute two clear chances, and I was thinking maybe win this one. It’s just a point, it’s not a lot in the standings, but I think we can take good and bad things from today.

“We are two teams that play quite aggressively, quite open and probably today we attacked much better than we defended. I think the second goal is a cheap goal, it’s a cheap one for us to concede. The corner is not even a great header.

“I think we finished really well the first half. When we scored the 1-1, and we were feeling comfortable and we were finishing the half much better. That’s why the goal we conceded just from the corner has hurt me because we were in a good moment.

“You didn’t even know if we were happy finishing the game or give us one minute more.”

Read – Amorim laments Man Utd inability to close out ‘fun’ Bournemouth draw

Read More – Televised FA Cup third-round ties confirmed

See Also – 30 of the most iconic football photos ever taken

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Entering the 2026 MLB season, the Texas Rangers knew that they needed some help at the catcher's position. The club non-tendered Jonah Heim after the season ended, so Texas needed to do something.

Therefore, the Rangers have picked up Danny Jansen, who played last season for the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers. The ballclub also added left-handed pitcher Tyler Alexander to their pitching staff. Besides Alexander, there's been some reporting from MLB.com that Texas might be close to a deal with Alexis Díaz.

Jansen agreed to a two-year contract for a reported $14.5 million with an option for 2027. Alexander is joining Texas on a one-year deal.

Jansen's defense is something that the Rangers really must have liked a lot. Last season, Jansen had 14 blocks above average. Jansen, though, has spent time during his MLB career on the injured list. In 2025, though, he managed to appear in 98 games, hitting .215 with a .720 OPS.

He avoided going on the injured list last season, too. When hitting, Jansen is known for pulling the ball and putting it in the air. The Rangers hope that Jansen continues that trend next season, too.

We’ve signed C Danny Jansen to a two-year contract with a mutual option for 2028 and LHP Tyler Alexander to a one-year contract. pic.twitter.com/CjvnRpvioo

— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) December 16, 2025

Alexander will be a strong addition to the Rangers' bullpen. In seven MLB seasons, Alexander has a 4.63 ERA while playing for four MLB clubs. This also is a coming home of sorts for Alexander, who played high school ball at Southlake Carroll in Southlake, Texas, which is just miles away from Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. 

Alexander played his college ball at TCU in Fort Worth, so that put him in close proximity to go and see Rangers games while he was in college.

As for Díaz, he played for three teams last season and put together a not-so-impressive 8.15 ERA. That happened on the heels of a pretty outstanding 2023, when Díaz was an All-Star, and posted a 3.99 ERA in 2024.

Texas set a foundation for its bullpen last season. With Alexander and, hopefully, Díaz coming on board, that just adds some additional arms that Rangers manager Skip Schumaker can look at to bring in as needed.

While at the Winter Meetings last week in Orlando, Fla., Rangers general manager Ross Fenstermaker talked about what type of pitching philosophy the team is taking at this time.

"Last year, we wanted to get back to dominating the strike zone, so we targeted pitchers with a historical track record of throwing strikes and attacking the strike zone," Fenstermaker said. "I think it's going to be much of the same going forward. But that is kind of a fundamental truth and a through point for us in terms of our pitching philosophy."

Look for these additions to the Rangers' roster to come through for Schumaker, Fenstermaker, and Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young in 2026.

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MONDAY’S RESULTS 

BOYS

CITY SECTION

AMIT 43, Valley Oaks CES 25

Arleta 70, Monroe 59

Bell 52, South East 34

Bravo 83, View Park 82

CALS Early College 36, Magnolia Science Academy 20

Contreras 86, Belmont 15

Downtown Magnets 65, Lincoln 61

East College Prep 51, Brio College Prep 38

East Valley 46, Van Nuys 31

Fulton 63, Lakeview Charter 20

Garfield 48, South Gate 34

Granada Hills Kennedy 68, Reseda 23

LA Roosevelt 60, Legacy 47

Locke 59, Animo Watts 56

Orthopaedic 69, Annenberg 44

RFK Community 58, Mendez 49

Sun Valley Poly73, North Hollywood 58

Triumph Charter 69, LA Marshall 59

Vaughn 73, Panorama 58

SOUTHERN SECTION

ACE 82, PAL Academy 54

Alta Loma 48, Diamond Ranch 41

Anaheim 70, Magnolia 27

Arroyo 71, El Monte 28

Bell Gardens 68, Glenn 39

Bonita 60, San Dimas 56

Chaparral 76, California 71

Colton 83, Desert Hot Springs 67

Costa Mesa 75, Savanna 68

Crossroads Christian 39, Grove School 28

Desert Christian 67, Lancaster Baptist 54

Eastside 71, Quartz Hill 64

El Rancho 66, Duarte 30

Elsinore 58, Great Oak 55

Gabrielino 51, Rosemead 46

Highland 53, Antelope Valley 34

Hillcrest 68, Indian Springs 61

Knight 86, Lancaster 32

Lakeside 54, Patriot 42

Liberty 67, Beaumont 64

Magnolia Science Academy 55, Legacy College Prep 31

Malibu 69, Nordhoff 34

Mary Star of the Sea 64, Chadwick 60

Mesa Grande Academy 85, RSCSM 30

Mesrobian 47, New Covenant Academy 44

Montclair 84, Rim of the World 45

Moreno Valley 53, Vista del Lago 44

Ontario 68, La Sierra 27

Orange 59, Pasadena Marshall 37

Paloma Valley 56, San Jacinto 48

Pasadena 80, Burbank 53

Placentia Valencia 60, Santa Ana 32

Perris 81, Heritage 45

Redlands 46, Banning 41

Rialto 65, Norco 64

Riverside King 57, Riverside Poly 55

Santa Maria 86, Valley Christian Academy 69

Serrano 48, Arroyo Valley 37

Sherman Indian 59, California Lutheran 53

Summit 73, Yucaipa 56

Thousand Oaks 72, Simi Valley 40

Valley Torah 100, St. Monica Academy 68

Valley View 75, Jurupa Valley 45

Vasquez 98, PACS 40

Viewpoint 60, Hillcrest Christian 37

Westlake 51, Oak Park 37

Whitney 69, Godinez 63

Woodbridge 69, El Toro 48

INTERSECTIONAL 

Compton 74, Crenshaw 53

Gahr 76, Rancho Dominguez 52

Marquez 65, Whittier 30

New Roads 47, Animo Venice 28

San Gabriel 66, Sotomayor 39

GIRLS 

CITY SECTION 

Animo Robinson 37, Smidt Tech 33

Animo Watts 55, Locke 29

Brio College Prep 24, East College Prep 20

Contreras 42, Belmont 4

Crenshaw 41, Torres 16

Granada Hills Kennedy 67, Reseda 15

Grant 64, Chavez 3

Hollywood 44, Roybal 12

Northridge Academy 58, East Valley 9

Orthopaedic 25, Annenberg 14

RFK Community 27, Mendez 18

Sherman Oaks CES 75, Fulton 7

South East 35, Bell 27

Verdugo Hills 56, Eagle Rock 31

SOUTHERN SECTION

Aliso Niguel 60, Edison 23

Arroyo 34, El Monte 25

Arroyo Valley 42, San Gorgonio 29

Baldwin Park 60, La Puente 15

Bonita 48, San Dimas 39

Burbank 64, Pasadena 40

Carter 77, Adelanto 54

Chino 58, Ayala 38

Citrus Valley 54, Liberty 52

Coachella Valley 45, Palo Verde Valley 36

Covina 49, Sierra Vista 40

Desert Christian 46, Lancaster Baptist 27

Don Lugo 53, Bloomington 16

Eastside 56, Quartz Hill 24

El Modena 40, Irvine University 15

El Segundo 60, Montebello 18

Flintridge Sacred Heart 50, Muir 43

Fontana 50, Patriot 42

Foothill Tech 35, Santa Barbara 23

Gabrielino 40, Rosemead 27

Garden Grove 53, Garden Grove Pacifica 17

Glenn 36, Firebaugh 11

Heritage 56, Corona 38

Highland 60, Antelope Valley 26

Hillcrest 61, Valley View 37

Irvine 36, Tustin 34

Jurupa Valley 47, Norco 19

Laguna Beach 42, Savanna 39

Lancaster 55, Knight 22

Loma Linda Academy 42, Desert Chapel 13

Los Altos 60, Mayfair 23

Los Amigos 43, Artesia 25

Mesa Grande Academy 80, River Springs Charter 10

Monrovia 39, Ramona Convent 31

Newbury Park 55, Santa Paula 26

Nordhoff 54, Cate 31

Paramount 58, Lakewood 40

Redlands 35, Banning 19

Royal 47, Channel Islands 39

San Jacinto Valley Academy 34, Santa Rosa Academy 26

Santa Maria 61, Valley Christian Academy 37

Schurr 45, California 37

Segerstrom 49, Long Beach Wilson 46

Silver Valley 55, Sultana 30

Southlands Christian 49, Bassett 10

Temple City 35, San Gabriel 27

Twentynine Palms 55, Cathedral City 13

Vasquez 45, Palmdale Academy Charter 6

Vista Murrieta 40, Beaumont 37

Western Christian 64, Workman 14

West Torrance 74, Torrance 36

Whittier Christian 68, NOVA Academy 13

Wiseburn-Da Vinci 66, South Torrance 60

Woodbridge 66, Katella 37

Yucaipa 51, Summit 46

YULA 64, ISLA 26

INTERSECTIONAL

Compton Centennial 43, Rancho Dominguez 16

Dominguez 50, LA Jordan 8

LACES 62, Inglewood 35

Warner 40, Anza Hamilton 33

Westchester 53, Leuzinger 52

Sign up for the L.A. Times SoCal high school sports newsletter to get scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Australia have opted against recalling batter Usman Khawaja for the vital third Ashes Test – a match Ben Stokes has called the most important game in his time as England captain.

England, 2-0 down after defeats in the first two Tests, must win in Adelaide to keep their hopes of regaining the urn alive.

Defeat would mean a fourth successive series loss in Australia, extend England's run without winning the Ashes to at least 12 years and heap significant pressure on the tourists' management.

The positions of Stokes, head coach Brendon McCullum and managing director Rob Key would all come under significant scrutiny.

"Throughout my career I've been involved in quite a few big moments. This is another one and I'm really, really looking forward to it," Stokes told BBC Sport.

"I've enjoyed the build-up, I've enjoyed the pressure of what this game means. As it's come closer and closer, it's become a lot easier. That's how I deal with big things and big moments – look at it front on, take it on and deal with all the emotions that come with it.

"What else are you supposed to do? Don't let the moment overcome me or feel like it's going to control me. I'll go out, put all that stuff to one side and do what I need to do in every situation I get put in, and try my absolute best."

Pat Cummins will return to lead Australia after missing the first two Tests as he recovered from a back problem.

Pace bowler Cummins and off-spinner Nathan Lyon are added to the Australia team that won the second Test in Brisbane, replacing Michael Neser and Brendan Doggett.

It means no return for opener Khawaja, who missed the Test at the Gabba because of back spasms. Khawaja turns 39 on Thursday and may have played the last match of an 85-Test career.

Travis Head and Jake Weatherald will continue as the opening partnership

Australia were 2-0 ahead in the last Ashes in the UK in 2023, only for England to fight back to draw 2-2.

Cummins said his team have learned a "few lessons" from that experience and was also adamant he is fit enough to bowl without restrictions in Adelaide.

The 32-year-old has not played since the tour of West Indies in July after scans detected the back issue.

Match fitness could be crucial in the high temperatures that are forecast for when the match starts on Wednesday (23:30 GMT Tuesday).

"I had 16 weeks completely off bowling, made sure the bone heals well and from there it's ramping up," said Cummins.

"Normally you ramp up over maybe three or four months, but that would have meant missing the Ashes.

"We set on a pretty aggressive plan to get up in six or seven weeks. I haven't had any hiccups. I'm feeling great, probably better than I would have thought. The back has healed well, so, here we are."

Australia XI for third Ashes Test: Travis Head, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland.

England XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith, Will Jacks, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue.

• Listen to the Test Match Special preview podcast
• Barking out orders: Stokes wants England to 'show a bit of dog'

In the aftermath of the defeat in the second Test in Brisbane, Stokes said his dressing room is "no place for weak men".

England have spent part of the time since that loss on holiday in Noosa, then had three days of training in Adelaide.

The tourists have made one change to their side, with Josh Tongue coming in for fellow pace bowler Gus Atkinson. Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir has again been overlooked in favour of all-rounder Will Jacks.

All-rounder Stokes took over as captain in 2022 and his partnership with McCullum yielded 10 wins in their first 11 matches in charge.

After those first 11 games, England have won 16 and lost 15 of their next 33. They have not won any of their five-Test series against Australia or India.

Since pace bowler Mark Wood was ruled out of the series with a knee problem, Stokes remains as one of only four members of the England squad to have been part of a previous Ashes tour.

The 34-year-old has suggested that some of the newcomers to Australia had struggled with the atmosphere of the series.

"I've got an understanding that quite a few guys in the dressing room won't have that to fall back on," said Stokes. "What I feel like I've had to do is fall back on my own experiences, and voice that to the group."

Defeats in Ashes tours often bring sweeping changes to England teams. A loss in Adelaide would not only heap pressure onto Stokes, McCullum and Key, but also raise questions about the international futures of a number of players.

"I've probably used my voice more than I have at any time in the past three and a half years," said Stokes.

"We are in a situation where we know we need to win three games. There are a few things I felt the group needed to hear, but also a few things I felt like I needed to say to be able to go out there with a very clear head about this week.

"I've definitely left no stone unturned in terms of the mental side of the game, and what we're going into.

"Expectations around what we want to see this week – I've spoken a lot about fight, determination and grit over the last couple of days. I hope we're going to see a completely different thing, purely because of the situation we find ourselves in here."

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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Cooper Flagg scored the most points by an 18-year-old in NBA history, but he couldn't enjoy the accomplishment because it came in a loss.

Flagg had 42 points — topping the previous mark of 37 set by LeBron James on Dec. 13, 2003 — in a 140-133 loss to the Utah Jazz on Monday night.

“Obviously we didn’t win. So it's tough for me to want to be happy, or any of that, but obviously it’s a success,” said Flagg, who had a bag of ice on his ankle after rolling it at the end of regulation.

Flagg also became just the fifth rookie to record 40 points, five rebounds and five assists in the last 15 years as he finished with seven board and six assists.

“The more time he spends on the floor, the more he sees, the better he gets. He displayed it all tonight,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said.

Flagg has been playing his best basketball the past few weeks as the No. 1 overall draft pick has averaged 25.7 points in the last seven games. He's also playing aggressive enough to get to the line and went 15 for 20 against Utah.

“It’s come a long way from the start of the season, so I’m proud of that fourth quarter,” Flagg said. “It’s a new game ... but I am getting more and more comfortable ... and just settling in, honestly, just being myself and letting the game come to me.”

He scored 12 points in the fourth quarter and made a savvy play to get the game into overtime when he missed a free throw on purpose with such a big carom that teammate Max Christie got the rebound with 3.9 seconds remaining and was fouled.

With Anthony Davis out and Dallas missing several other teammates to injuries, this game may be a harbinger of things to come as Flagg becomes a centerpiece of the Mavericks' offense.

"We were going to Coop. He was killing them the whole game, so they finally tried to double him." P.J. Washington said. “It doesn’t surprise me at all. I know exactly what he’s capable of. He’s a special player so there will be a lot more to come.”

Flagg also tied Mark Aguirre for the most points by a rookie in Mavs history as he begins to make his mark on the franchise. But he couldn't stop thinking of what he could have done to get the win despite the throbbing ankle. The Jazz made a late 11-0 run and then dominated in overtime as Flagg didn't score a basket in the extra period.

“I gotta be better. I had a couple of dumb turnovers, missed a couple easy ones, but I gotta be better, executing down the stretch like that,” Flagg said.

Setting records might be nice but Flagg feels it just means he's consistently improving and that's been his goal all season.

“I’m not really focused on a lot of that stuff (the records). I’m more just focused on being present, day to day, and trying to get better and and getting our team as many wins as we can,” Flagg said.

___

AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBA

ST. LOUIS – Sometimes, there are greater things in life that a game.

Yes, the St. Louis Blues lost yet again, and they lost for the second time in five days to the Nashville Predators, 5-2, at Enterprise Center on Monday (and we’ll get into it in observations, of course), but on a night when the Blues honored Hockey Fights Cancer Night and if you missed Kelly Chase’s speech in the first period, you need to take a moment to see it, as it happened right after Blued captain Brayden Schenn and Nashville’s Nic Hague fought for that purpose alone:

We all stand with you, @Chasenpucks39.#HockeyFightsCancer | @SitemanCenterpic.twitter.com/XDeYfv0fsy

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) December 16, 2025

As for the game itself, the Blues (12-15-7) got goals from Dalibor Dvorsky, his first multi-goal and multi-point game in the NHL, but it was a tough night for Joel Hofer, who allowed four goals on 25 shots.

The Blues lost to the Predators (13-15-4) for the second time in five days and have been outscored 12-4.

Let’s look at Monday’s game observations:

* Kelly Chase is an inspiration – For those that want, or need, to be versed on what the former Blues enforcer has been dealing with, it’s acute myeloid leukemia, a form of blood and bone marrow cancer first diagnosed in 2023, and the amount of chemotherapy, stints in cancer treatment centers, hospitals, the whole gamut this man has had to go through, I can’t even imagine.

So when he spoke with his doctor, Dr. Ramzi Abboud, former Blues captains in Garth Butcher and Hall of Famer Bernie Federko, it was inspiring on this night:

Kelly Chase is an inspiration man. Guy just keeps fighting and fighting. With Bernie Federko and Garth Butcher. #stlbluespic.twitter.com/zKzwJ0O6zD

— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) December 16, 2025

Blues coach Jim Montgomery was a teammate of Chase’s with the Blues in 1993-94, and he had two positives from this game. One was Dvorsky, and the other?

“And then the other real positive was seeing my old teammate Kelly Chase,” Montgomery said. ‘When you think about Blues players and why this city and the fans love Blues players, is because of the fight inside of players like Kelly Chase. I was incredibly lucky to be and I’m very thankful for the season I had to play with him where I could learn from someone that competes like him night in, night out for his teammates and to see him up there and the message he delivered, I got a little emotional listening to him, and how can you not because you’ve got to love the man.”

Schenn, a fellow Saskatoon native like Chase, would obviously run through a brick wall if Chase asked him to.

“Kelly’s been amazing to me, to my family, to my brother, to guys around this room, to the organization,” Schenn said. “I really mean it when I say it: he’s a guy that will literally do anything for anyone, and I think we all see that. He’s a guy that’s going through a battle of his own and he’s still trying to raise money and help people out. He has a mentality and a personality that he would do absolutely anything for anyone. I’ve learned so much from him, even before when I was with the Flyers, I knew him way back being a Saskatchewan guy, he’s taken care of me tremendously from a young age. I owe a lot to what I’ve learned on and off the ice to Kelly Chase.

I’ve been to the Gozzer Ranch in the summertime in Idaho where he hangs out. He knows my parents well, he knows (Schenn’s brother) Luke well, he’s done fantasy hockey camps and different charity events in Saskatoon that we’ve attended. This guy, he’ll do absolutely anything for anyone. He raises a ton of money to help out people and I’ve heard him say it, it’s true when it comes to hockey players. He said, ‘Guys are an inch deep and a mile wide,’ with how they help out, which is true. You do anything you possibly can to help out everyone, but I think he’s a guy that really digs in and tries to help people as much as he can and he’s doing it nonstop.”

* Dvorsky’s glimpse of youth shining – It was another first for Dvorsky, whose multi-goal and multi-point game was his first.

But the great sign of maturity is instead of gloating of his accomplishments on this night in a loss, the No. 10 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft only offered, “Obviously it feels good to score, but first of all, I’m disappointed that we lost. That’s the most important is the team win and it’s always nice, but a win would be better.”

But Dvorsky’s goals, each was set up well.

The first tied the game 1-1 at 10:06 of the first period on a setup by Hugh McGing, who stripped Nashville defenseman Nick Blankenburg of the puck after a Justin Faulk flip-in, then fed Dvorsky for a high slot wrister that beat Juuse Saros:

Dvorsky's all like "this game is tied" pic.twitter.com/xQuK2gO1kE

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) December 16, 2025

“The positive is Dalibor Dvorsky, it was nice seeing him moving his feet, beat a goalie clean with his first goal,” Montgomery said.

And on the second, with the game out of hand at the time, Dvorsky finished off a Jake Neighbours pass at the left post to cut the Blues’ deficit to 4-2 at 8:29 of the first period:

Ding dong Dvorsky scores again pic.twitter.com/nt2Iu1EE9b

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) December 16, 2025

Dvorsky, who finished with 17:07 of ice time and three shots on goal, said it’s the kind of game that can fuel his confidence after coming in without a point in 11 straight.

“It’s a step forward for sure,” Dvorsky said. “It boosts my confidence. I feel like I always try and play with confidence, but the two goals are good.

“First of all we need to focus on winning the next game, but it’s always nice to score. I would never do it without the help of teammates. Great pass from ‘Ginger’ on the first one, then the whole PP unit did a great job on the second one, so it’s always about the teammates.”

* First shift set the tone – The Blues had their top players on the ice, the Predators had their top players on.

It’s essential to begin the game the proper way, and the Blues did not after Nashville won the opening draw with former Blue Ryan O’Reilly, getting the puck in deep and the Blues were scrambling.

O’Reilly collected a puck behind the net and fed Filip Forsberg in a tight area, and it was the first of three goals for Forsberg when he beat Hofer high on the short side from a sharp angle 27 seconds in for a 1-0 lead:

BING BING BONG pic.twitter.com/eL0O6pNB5d

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) December 16, 2025

“It’s a great example of not being prepared to start on time,” Montgomery said.

* Another poor second period – The Blues came in, no secret to anyone, porous in the middle 20 minutes, and it didn’t get any better.

They were outscored 3-0 and fell to a league-worst minus-20 (48-28).

From chasing pucks to turnovers to getting hemmed in, it was another case of generating little to nothing on one end to being bombarded at the other.

“Too many turnovers, especially at the offensive blue line,” Montgomery said. “The old saying, and it’s a Ken Hitchcock saying, ‘play to the goal line and work and go to work together as a five-man unit, stay connected.’ If you had that mentality, if you look at our Friday night’s win against the Hawks (3-2), our first shift in the second, we won the draw, D-to-D, we gain the red line and we put it in, and that Schenn line went to work and we gained momentum off it, and our second period last game was really good. And it’s starts. You’ve got to be ready to start that period on time, you’ve got to be ready to start games on time.”

The Blues weren’t for a second straight period when once again, Nashville got a puck in deep, behind the net, and Michael Bunting wrapped around a puck through Hofer, a shot he should stop at 1:23 to make it 2-1 and give the Predators the lead for good:

"I think I'll do a wraparound"
-Bunts (obviously) pic.twitter.com/fb5iQqUqW1

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) December 16, 2025

Dvorsky’s ill-advised flip of a puck into the crowd from his own zone was the result of playing the puck too slowly, and three Predators converged on him, causing a delay of game minor and one that Forsberg scored his second of the game on at 5:31 to make it 3-1, a wrister from the high slot:

FILthy on the power play 🤯 pic.twitter.com/rVJLvcPc6l

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) December 16, 2025

And to cap things off, Hofer gave up a really bad one to Reid Schaefer at 18:45 to make it 4-1, a shot from near the blue line where the forward just spun and whirled the puck to the net that Hofer just missed:

HIT 'EM WITH THE SPIN MOVE 🤩 pic.twitter.com/FDu38eIiTr

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) December 16, 2025

“Obviously it’s something we’ve got to focus on and make sure we dive into,” Blues defenseman Colton Parayko said of second periods. ‘We’ve got to be better and I’m confident we will. We’ve got a strong group in here. It’s something we can obviously learn from and moving forward try to get better in the second.”

* Getting beat to pucks, looking slow – The Predators were hungrier, faster to pucks throughout, and the result was much the same as other losses this season.

When Forsberg added an empty-netter at 16:09 of the third period to make it 5-2, it marked the 12th time this season already – it only happened nine times all of last season – the Blues were beat by three goals or more.

Their goal differential is minus-37, which is far and beyond the worst in the NHL (Vancouver Canucks next at minus-23) and the 123 goals allowed is nine more than the next worst team, the Edmonton Oilers at 114.

“Yeah, they were the better team,” Montgomery said of the Predators. “They were more connected, they supported each other. We always talk about puck support and winning goal lines and net fronts and second quicks is a term we use as well. Unfortunately we didn’t meet the tasks tonight in those areas.”

* Injuries no excuse – The Blues won’t use the injury bug as an excuse. They are missing Dylan Holloway (high ankle sprain), Jordan Kyrou (lower-body injury), Jimmy Snuggerud (wrist), Nathan Walker (upper body) and Nick Bjugstad (upper body).

They’ve had to call up McGing, who has two points in three games, Matt Luff, who scored against the Chicago Blackhawks, and now they’re bringing up Otto Stenberg, the 25th pick in 2023.

“Obviously a lot of injuries and that’s the nature of the game,” Parayko said. “There’s probably every team with almost some injuries. For us, it’s a mindset. We’ve got to come together and whoever’s playing that night is ready. That’s the biggest thing. You’ve got to be prepared. It’s next-man-up. We have great players in our locker room. Every night no matter who’s injured, guys are stepping up and a lot of guys are playing extremely well. As a group collectively, we’ve just got to support each other, just get the job done.”

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The 2025 Associated Press All-American team was revealed Monday.

The AP is among the most prestigious All-American selectors. It is one of five selectors recognized by the NCAA to determine “consensus” and “unanimous” All-Americans. It is also the second oldest of the five major All-American selectors — first nominating a team in 1925.

Three players from the Mid-American Conference earned AP All-American honors for the 2025 season, marking the third time in the College Football Playoff era (2014-present) that the league warranted three selections. Buffalo inside linebacker Red Murdock qualified as a Second Team All-American, while Western Michigan defensive end Nadame Tucker and Toledo free safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren were Third Team All-American picks. All three selections were defensive players, with one from the defensive line, one from the linebacking corps, and one from the secondary.

Buffalo ILB Red Murdock etched himself into the record books this season as college football’s all-time forced fumble leader. With 17 career forced fumbles, he passed former Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack as the record holder for the category. Murdock ranks second in the FBS with six forced fumbles on the season, only trailing Texas Tech outside linebacker Jacob Rodriguez. As of the time of the All-American selections, he also ranks second nationally in tackles at 142 — and he finished second in the FBS in tackles in 2024 as well. Murdock generated 13.5 tackles for loss and a career-best 5.0 sacks as an omnipresent force on the defense, and the senior also added two fumble recoveries to a loaded résumé. Murdock is the first Buffalo AP All-American since his former linebacker teammate Shaun Dolac earned First Team honors in 2024.

Western Michigan DE Nadame Tucker transferred from Houston to Western Michigan over the offseason, immediately evolving from a seldom used defensive end to a nationally recognized force. Tucker won the Vern Smith Leadership Award (in other words, the MAC MVP) as well as MAC Defensive Player of the Year honors, leading Western Michigan to its first MAC championship since 2016. Tucker is the current FBS leader in sacks at 14.5 and in tackles for loss at 21.0, regularly dominating offensive lines all season. He forced four fumbles and produced 55 tackles in a breakout season. Tucker saved his best for the biggest stage, racking up 2.5 sacks in Western Michigan’s MAC title game win over Miami (OH) one week ago. Tucker is the first Western Michigan AP All-American since wide receiver Corey Davis earned First Team honors in 2016.

Toledo FS Emmanuel McNeil-Warren was one of many standouts on a Rocket defense which ranks third in fewest yards allowed per game and fourth in fewest points surrendered on a national basis. McNeil-Warren earned First Team All-MAC honors in a career season which featured 73 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups, two interceptions, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and one defensive touchdown. With McNeil-Warren leading the charge, Toledo’s pass defense ranked atop the FBS in opponent completion percentage, only allowing 48.9 percent of attempts through. McNeil-Warren’s unit let up just 158.4 yards per game to garner yet another top 10 FBS ranking. McNeil-Warren is the first Toledo AP All-American since his former defensive back teammate Quinyon Mitchell (a two-time selection) earned Second Team honors in 2023.

In Monday’s back-and-forth thriller at Denver, Alperen Sengun’s tough bucket put the Houston Rockets in front by a point with only 2.3 seconds left to play in the fourth quarter.

The Nuggets then tied it when Amen Thompson was called for an away-from-the-play foul on Tim Hardaway Jr. on the ensuing inbounds attempt, even though Hardaway appeared to trip over his own feet.

The cointroversial foul led to a Jamal Murray free throw, which sent the game to overtime.

From there, the Nuggets (19-6) eventually held on in a 128-125 victory (box score) at Ball Arena. In a potentially impactful result in the Western Conference standings, the Rockets (16-7) are now 0-2 against Denver this season.

Understandably, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka was displeased with the officiating. In postgame remarks, he elaborated on his frustrations, starting with the controversial call:

Ticky tack. Went along with the game tonight. Not surprised by the crew we had out there.

Just in general, I think it was as poorly officiated a game as I’ve seen in a long time. Two have no business being out there, and the crew chief (Zach Zarba) was acting starstruck. We were seeing all kinds of inconsistent calls.

Keep being who we are. We’re not going to adjust to poor officials. We’re going to do what we do, and hopefully they can adjust and call it the right way. It’s two physical teams and a high-level game.

Ime Udoka on officiating after Rockets loss in Denver.

“Most poorly officiated game I’ve seen in a long time. Two have no business being out there and the crew chief was acting star struck.” @SpaceCityHN@HoustonRocketspic.twitter.com/8NIJFlWSW6

— Vanessa Richardson (@SportsVanessa) December 16, 2025

Final statistics included:

• Nikola Jokic (Nuggets): 39 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists; 13-of-27 shooting (48.1%), 5-of-9 on 3-pointers (55.6%), 8-of-11 on free throws (72.7%)
• Jamal Murray (Nuggets): 35 points, 5 assists; 9-of-17 shooting (52.9%), 3-of-5 on 3-pointers (60.0%), 14-of-15 on free throws (93.3%)
• Alperen Sengun: 33 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists; 14-of-27 shooting (51.9%), 5-of-6 on free throws (83.3%)
• Kevin Durant: 25 points, 7 assists, 5 blocks, 5 rebounds; 8-of-14 shooting (57.1%), 2-of-3 on 3-pointers (66.7%), 7-of-8 on free throws (87.5%)
• Jabari Smith Jr.: 16 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists; 6-of-11 shooting (54.5%), 4-of-6 on 3-pointers (66.7%)
• Amen Thompson: 14 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists; 5-of-13 shooting (38.5%), 4-of-5 on free throws (80.0%)

“I thought he probably should’ve had seven or eight, but they called fouls on them,” an exasperated Udoka said of Durant’s block total. “Murray had 15 free throws.”

For the Rockets, Monday’s game opened up a six-game road trip, all versus West opponents. They will travel to New Orleans (5-22) for a game on Thursday before returning to Denver for a rematch against the Nuggets on Saturday afternoon.

More: With new contracts, Ime Udoka sees Rockets fully aligned

Ime Udoka’s reaction to Tim Hardaway Jr. tripping himself and drawing a foul on Amen Thompson:

Ime: “WTF??” pic.twitter.com/5oxpSe0m68

— Chancellor Johnson (@ChancellorTV) December 16, 2025

With 2.3 seconds remaining in regulation, Amen Thompson fouls Tim Hardaway Jr. with his left shin prior to inbound (with replays).

Upon coach's challenge the call stands, and Jamal Murray sinks the free throw that sent the game to OT pic.twitter.com/CYIQJ3T8As

— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) December 16, 2025

This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Rockets, Ime Udoka blast ‘poorly officiated’ overtime loss in Denver

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 21 of his 31 points in the first half and Cam Spencer added a career-high 27 points as the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Los Angeles Clippers 121-103 on Monday night.

Jaylen Wells scored 16 points and rookie Cedric Coward had 12 as the Grizzlies earned a victory over the Clippers for the third time in less than three weeks. Ja Morant also scored 12 points for Memphis in his second game since returning from a calf injury.

While Morant has returned, Grizzlies center Zach Edey missed his second game of an extended absence because of a left ankle injury. Santi Aldama started at center for the second consecutive game and was held to just three points with two rebounds.

Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points and Kris Dunn added 17 for the Clippers, who have lost 12 of their last 14 games.

James Harden was held to 13 points, while John Collins and Jordan Miller each had 10 for Los Angeles in its eighth straight home loss. The Clippers last won in their own building on Oct. 31.

The Clippers led 64-63 on Leonard's 3-pointer just before the midpoint of the third quarter. The Grizzlies took charge from there, going on a 9-0 run for a 72-64 lead, while taking a 90-76 advantage into the fourth quarter. Wells had four points in the run.

Spencer made four 3-pointers in less than six minutes of the fourth quarter and made a career high seven shots from long range on 10 attempts.

Jackson scored 20 points for the first time in six games, after he averaged 10.2 points over the previous five contests while shooting 42.6%. He was 13 of 18 (72.2%) from the floor.

Grizzlies: At Minnesota on Wednesday night

Clippers: At Oklahoma City on Thursday night.

___

AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBA

Ben Roethlisberger walks back controversial Mike Tomlin take originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger clarified comments he made earlier this month regarding Mike Tomlin’s future with the Steelers. On his podcast, Roethlisberger seemed to suggest that it might be time for the Steelers to move on from Tomlin at the end of the current campaign.

However, Roethlisberger claimed that he was simply saying that Tomlin has the right to move on if he wans to, not that the Steelers should move on from him.

"Just because I said there's a time for some new things, that's just saying that I think Coach Tomlin -- if he wants to move on, he has every right to move on, it's not they should," Roethlisberger said, via ESPN. "It's up to him, and he's earned that right. If he wants to do something else, he can and he should and we should honor him whenever that time comes. Maybe he wants to coach here for another 10 years, that's fine too."

Roethlisbereger’s initial comments came amid a wave of calls for the Steelers to part ways with Tomlin, who has been the head coach in Pittsburgh since 2007.

“It’s being talked about around here a lot. Maybe it’s time,” Roethlisberger said at the time. “Maybe it’s ‘clean house’ time. Maybe it is. … And I like Coach Tomlin. I have a lot of respect for Coach Tomlin, but maybe it’s best for him, too. Maybe a fresh start for him is what’s best, whether that’s in the pros (or not).”

The Steelers have won two straight games since those original remarks, so perhaps that contributed to Roethlisberger’s decision to couch his comments. The Steelers currently hold pole position in the AFC North, and they have a 61 percent of qualifying for postseason play for a third consecutive season.

But, the criticism when it comes to Tomlin is based around his lack of postseason success as of late. The Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since 2016 when they lost in the AFC Championship to the New England Patriots. So, simply securing a playoff spot likely won’t silence Tomlin’s detractors. Only a postseason win, or two, will do that.

Filip Forsberg scored his 12th career hat trick as the Nashville Predators routed the St. Louis Blues for the second time in less than a week, 5-2, on Monday in St. Louis. 

Forsberg and Stamkos have a combined seven goals in less than a week against the Blues, with Stamkos scoring four in the 7-2 win over St. Louis on Dec. 11 at Bridgestone Arena. 

The Predators and Forsberg got the scoring going early as he'd find the back of the net 27 seconds into the game off a feed from Ryan O'Reilly to the front of the net. Forsberg, from the low right side of the net, picked the corner on goalie Joel Hofer. 

Dalibor Dvorsk responded halfway through the first period to tie the game at one a piece. Nashville continued its hot streak in the opening minutes of the period as Michael Bunting netted his ninth of the year to give the Predators the lead back, 2-1. 

On a Dvorsky delay of game call, Forsberg took a wrist shot from the point and beat Hofer for his second goal of the night, on the power play, and to bump the lead to 3-1. Reid Schaefer scored his third career goal on a turnaround shot from the blue line to open up the game, 4-1.

In the third period, Dvorsky responded with his second goal of the game. An empty net goal in the final four minutes of the game sealed the hat trick for Forsberg, his first since April 12, 2024, in a 5-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. 

O'Reilly had two assists and now has seven points in six games. He leads the Predators in scoring with 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists) in 32 games. 

Roman Josi recorded two assists and now has four points in three games. In addition, he passed Borje Salming for the fifth-most multipoint games by a defenseman born outside North America in NHL history with 177. 

After a slow start, Brady Skjei has four points in five games, recording a secondary assist in the victory. 

Juuse Saros picked up his 11th win of the season and is now a game above .500. He made 20 saves on 22 shots in the victory. Saros' goals-against average is now below three at 2.99 and his save percentage is nearing .900, now at .897. 

Up next: Carolina Hurricanes (21-9-2, 1st in Metropolitan) at Nashville Predators (13-15-4, 8th in Central) on Wed. Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. CST at Bridgestone Arena 

While this golfing year will be remembered for historic and thrilling action, manoeuvres off the course in 2025 also provide a highly significant legacy.

A group of new bosses are laying groundwork for rapid evolution, if not revolution, in the professional game.

We know that the world's best players create captivating sport, as Rory McIlroy's dramatic Grand Slam completing Masters victory, Scottie Scheffler's ruthless domination that has led to him being named PGA Tour player of the year, and Europe's sensational Ryder Cup victory all proved in 2025.

Now it is up to the people who have stepped into the most significant administrative roles to make the most of a growing perception that golf is suddenly cool again.

• LIV hope for rankings 'solution' by 2026 season
• 2028 Open moved to August to avoid Olympics clash
• 'European golf in rude health but sponsor demands solutions to fractured game'

February-August PGA Tour season?

There has been unprecedented churn with new bosses installed at the PGA Tour, PGA of America and LPGA while Mark Darbon has just completed his first full year as head of the R&A.

Guy Kinnings has been in charge of the European Tour group for less than two years and on the breakaway LIV Golf League Scott O'Neil is only months into his role as Greg Norman's successor leading the Saudi-funded disruptors.

And the presence of Darbon, O'Neil and the PGA Tour's new chief executive Brian Rolapp at golf's top table is most fascinating. All three have come from outwith the traditional confines of the sport they now run.

Rarely, if ever, has golf had such an influx of fresh perspectives and they have hit the ground running. It means 2026 is a transitional year and by 2027 the pro game could be significantly altered.

By taking charge of the game's premier tour, Rolapp has become a key figure. He moved from the NFL, one of American sports' greatest success stories.

He insists that sport requires three crucial components; competitive parity, simplicity and scarcity. He feels golf currently only has one of those ingredients.

Competitive parity is a real strength, the number of potential winners at any tournament is greater than in most sports. But golf's structure is hard to follow and it is ubiquitous, with multiple tournaments across the globe every week.

"How do you make a competitive model simple to understand?" Rolapp said at a recent CEO Forum event in Florida. "And how do you make scarce events that actually fans want to follow?"

Already it is speculated that future PGA Tour seasons will start after the February date for the Super Bowl and finish before then NFL restarts in August. "Yeah, I could see that," Rolapp said.

"Competing with football (NFL) in this country for media dollars and attention is a very hard thing to do do," the American said.

He has an outsider's view of how professional golf is structured. "It has grown up as a series of events that happen to be on television," he told the forum.

"So how do you take those events, make them meaningful in their own right, but cobble them together in a competitive model?"

Fines and ban can running out of road

Rolapp has assembled a Future Competitions committee chaired by 15 times major winner Tiger Woods. Given "more questions than answers" they are expected to report back with a blueprint for 2027 onwards in a matter of months.

There appears little prospect of unification with O'Neil's LIV tour or a coming together with the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund.

But the existence of a breakaway tour that is still populated by some of the most recognisable figures, Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm included, does not help Rolapp's desire for a calendar that is simple to understand for general sports fans.

It also adversely affects the quest for scarcity of product to stimulate anticipation among fans.

O'Neil, though, has made a fast start to his LIV tenure. New backers such as HSBC, previously staunch supporters of establishment events, are eye-catching additions to their sponsorship portfolio.

His next priority is the same one that sits at the top of Kinnings' in-tray at the DP World Tour's Wentworth headquarters.

Between them they have to solve the so far intractable issue of punishing DPWT players for playing LIV events. Ryder Cup stars Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton are at the centre of this.

They are appealing against fines and bans. The hearing has not been scheduled, which enabled both players to represent Europe at last September's Ryder Cup.

But the can is running out of road, it cannot be kicked much further. Locker room talk is that this could be be settled by April.

But how is anyone's guess. And LIV players being able to compete in DPWT events as members without sanction would have huge implications for the global game.

How would Rolapp react if his strategic partners in Europe move closer to golfers from the rival LIV league?

O'Neil has already made a significant move to increase their shotgun start tournaments from 54 to 72 holes. This might help LIV's desire for official world ranking points.

Certainly the OWGR's Trevor Immelman, another new boss, seems more amenable than his predecessor Peter Dawson. But duration of tournaments is not the biggest sticking point.

O'Neil has to convince the official rankings body that there is sufficient promotion and relegation into and out of LIV to ensure it is not a closed shop exclusive to those who have been recruited on lucrative contracts.

The move to 72 holes was more about providing a format that more effectively prepares their players for the four major championships.

These events will remain the game's "tentpoles", to use the latest corporate vernacular. The competitions that matter most, but The Open, US Open, Masters and US PGA Championship cannot afford to stand still.

Open qualifying tweaked

At the R&A, Darbon has injected a new dimension to The Open by introducing a last chance qualifying competition for a dozen players to be staged on the Monday of championship week.

There will be one last berth available. The field will include the two highest ranked non exempt players, golfers who lost in final qualifying play-offs and the runner-up at the Amateur Championship.

Darbon came to the R&A from rugby union's Northampton Saints and this development for the 154th championship at Royal Birkdale next July is a sign that some old conventions are being kicked to touch.

More pressing now is announcing a venue for the 2028 championship. Time is pressing for what will be the 156th staging of golf's oldest major and one that will have an unfamiliar later date because of a clash with the LA Olympics.

It means Open week will start on 30 July. Diminishing daylight a fortnight later than usual suggests a Scottish venue would be best - Muirfield, Carnoustie or even Turnberry? Or a return to England's most northerly Open outpost at Royal Lytham and St Annes.

Turnberry would be the most interesting and controversial selection. There are conflicting pressures given its ownership (US President Donald Trump) and infrastructure issues (lack of transport and accommodation) remain, so the Ayrshire course is the outsider in every respect.

But as the newcomers running the sport now are showing, there is plenty of appetite for innovative thinking. For golf, looking outside the box is not as unusual as it used to be.

Jon Cooper’s ‘tired’ admission after crushing Panthers loss appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Tampa Bay Lightning took a step back in ClutchPoints’ most recent power rankings. But the Atlantic Division leaders are still in the thick of the playoff race. That made Monday night’s game against the Florida Panthers a rather important one before the calendar flips to 2026. Unfortunately, Jon Cooper could not coach his team to a victory.

Sam Reinhart scored twice on Monday night, while goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky made 26 saves. These performances helped propel the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers to a 5-2 victory over their intrastate rival on Monday night. This loss marked Tampa’s sixth defeat over its last eight games.

After the game, Cooper had a rather interesting view on this contest. He pointed out how both teams had played a lot of hockey heading into this matchup. Fatigue was evident on both sides, but only one was able to battle through it.

“You’ve got one team in Florida on their fourth game of a road trip in a couple of different time zones, so they’re tired,” Cooper said, via NHL.com. “You’ve got us, basically … this is our fifth game in five different cities. I thought they looked like two tired hockey teams. They got the lead and hung on to it. With tired hockey teams mistakes are made. They capitalized on theirs and we didn’t.”

Tampa dropped to 18-12-3 with this defeat to the Panthers. They remain first in the Atlantic Division. However, their lead is not secure in any way, shape, or form. In fact, they are only ahead of the second-place Detroit Red Wings by virtue of a tiebreaker. Furthermore, they are only three points clear of Florida, which is fifth in the Atlantic.

The Lightning need to get their act together, and quickly. If they don’t, they could lose their slim grip on the division lead. Tampa hits the ice once again on Thursday night when they take on the Los Angeles Kings.

Related: ClutchPoints’ NHL Power Rankings, Week 11: Are the Wild contenders with Quinn Hughes?

Eagles nightmare playoff scenario with 3 weeks left in regular season appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Sitting at 9-5, the Philadelphia Eagles are a virtual lock to make the playoffs.

After waxing the Las Vegas Raiders to a degree not seen since the 1960s, with the Birds putting up 31 points on Kenny Pickett and company while holding them to 75 total offensive yards, the Eagles have over a 99 percent chance of winning the NFC East, according to NFL.com. If they win in Week 16, they get in. If they win in Week 17, they get in. If they win in Week 18, they get in.

And if they lose out down the stretch? Well, the Eagles can still make the playoffs if the Cowboys don’t win out, as any loss or even another tie would result in Philadelphia becoming the first team since 2004 to win the division back-to-back.

On paper, that’s a pretty darn good place for a team that has been up-and-down in 2025 to be in, but even if the Eagles answered a number of questions against arguably the worst team in football in Week 15, that doesn’t mean they will hold up against the scrutiny of a more impressive foe. No, with three weeks left to play in the 2025 NFL season, there’s a chance things break really unfavorably for Philadelphia, especially if they start to skid down the stretch.

The Eagles lose to the Commanders in Week 16

After facing off in the NFC Championship game last season, the Eagles and Commanders find themselves in very different spots heading into Week 16 of the 2025 NFL season.

While the Eagles have struggled for drives, quarters, games, and even months so far this season, they are still sitting pretty at 9-5, whereas the Commanders have largely been without Jayden Daniels in his second professional season, going 4-10 with Marcus Mariota splitting time under center with the former No. 2 overall pick.

The Commanders rank 24th in points scored, 26th in points allowed, and have struggled pretty much across the board, with their passing offense, passing defense, and rushing defense all ranking 24th or worse league-wide.

Heading into Week 16, the Eagles are heavy favorites to win their first matchup of the season against the Commanders, but that doesn’t necessarily guarantee a win, as fans learned all too well in Week 6 against the New York Giants. Even if they are largely a bad team, one that just placed Daniels on season-ending IR no less, the Commanders are a very good rushing team, ranking fourth league-wide with 1,919 yards on the ground.

What happened on Black Friday when the Eagles faced off against another top-5 rushing offense? They got smoked on the ground to a degree very rarely seen during the Vic Fangio era, with Jordan Davis, Nakobe Dean, and company getting dominated for 281 yards on the ground.

Should the Eagles take down the Commanders? Yes, and if they play like they did against the Raiders, they likely will, but if the Commanders can control the clock and chains on the ground, they might just secure the win, which, if coupled with a Cowboys win, ratchets up the pressure for Week 17 against the Buffalo Bills.

The Eagles get waxed by the Bills in Week 17

Of the three games left in the regular season, the Eagles’ biggest challenge comes in Week 17 with a road trip to Buffalo to face off against the Bills.

Sitting at 10-4 with the second seed in the AFC East, the Bills are locked in a heated playoff positioning race with the division-leading New England Patriots, Los Angeles Chargers, and Houston Texans, with every single win or loss having  serious playoff seeding implications heading into January. They’ve won their last three games, including shootouts against the Cincinnati Bengals and Patriots, and have a point differential of 87, which is among the best marks in the NFL.

Like the Denver Broncos in Week 5, the Bills are a team built around a diverse offense and an elite passing defense, with Josh Allen able to attack defenses with his arm and legs. They rank 13th in passing offense, second in passing defense, and first overall in rushing attempts, yards, and touchdowns through Week 15.

Are the Bills unflappable? No, they’ve lost four games to teams ranging from great to meh and have allowed the third-most rushing yards of any team in the NFL. And yet, after having one of the best rushing offenses in NFL history last season, the Eagles’ offense has struggled to consistently move the ball on the ground, 19th in rushing yards on the 10th most attempts, ranking 25th league-wide with a rushing yards per attempt of 4.1

In Week 15, the Eagles had their second-best rushing game of the season, with Saquon Barkley and Tank Bigsby teaming up with Jalen Hurts for 183 total yards on the ground, but on the season, the Birds are averaging just 115.6 rushing yards per game, with seven contests falling below the 100-yard mark in 2025.

If the Eagles can commandingly defeat the Bills in Week 17, it might finally silence the doubters and prove that Philadelphia’s offense is finally fixed. But if they look like the Raiders in Week 15, it could spell disaster for the team’s Super Bowl chances.

The Eagles draw the Seahawks in the Wildcard Round

As things presently stand, if the Eagles make the playoffs, they will almost certainly be either the three or four seed, depending on how things shake out with the other divisions. If the season ended today, they would be facing off against the San Francisco 49ers in a 3-6 matchup, but theoretically they could face off against the 11-3 Seattle Seahawks, the 10-4 49ers, the 9-4-1 Green Bay Packers, or even the Detroit Lions, who are technically out of the picture right now as the eighth seed.

Of those four teams, the Eagles have wins over two of them, the Packers and Lions, and would most certainly be fine facing off against either team if they land them in the draw. The 49ers, too, are a team that shouldn’t leave fans with too much heartburn before a mid-January showdown, as they are among the most injured squads in the NFL and have struggled with consistency against teams with a pulse.

And as for the Seahawks? Well, they are a true Wildcard, and one the Eagles haven’t drawn in years.

The last time the Eagles played the Seahawks was in December of 2023. While that doesn’t seem like a long time ago, at the time, Seattle had Geno Smith under center, Shane Waldron calling the offense, and Pete Carroll overseeing the offense as a whole.

In 2025, the Seahawks are a very different team, with Sam Darnold picking up where he left off in 2024 as a Viking, Klint Kubiak calling the show, and Mike Macdonald bringing his highly respected Ravens defense over from Baltimore to the Emerald City. They rank eighth in passing offense on the 31st most attempts, 22nd in rushing yards on the fifth-most attempts, and have a top-7 defense in terms of passing and rushing through Week 15.

Could the Eagles beat the Seahawks? Sure, in the NFL, any team can beat any other in any given game. But because the Birds have never played the Seahawks as presently constructed, there’s a level of uncertainty that isn’t present with the 49ers, Lions, or Packers that could create trouble for a Philadelphia team that is anything but a juggernaut at this stage of the game.

Related: Jason Kelce shares what Chiefs’ Travis Kelce needs amid retirement rumors

Related: Raiders keeping company with just 1 team in 27 years after pitiful loss to Eagles

Coming into Monday evening’s game in McKale Center, Chicago State had gone 44-360 since its last winning season. That came in 2010-11 when the Cougars went 24-10. They had won one or fewer games in five of the 14 full seasons since. This year, they have averaged 57.5 points per game while being outscored by 23.3 over 10 contests.

That didn’t mean the Cougars were going to just lie down.

Arizona got out to a fast start, but the visitors didn’t give up. They just couldn’t maintain momentum when they needed to, eventually falling to the Wildcats by the score of 89-70. In the end, 30 turnovers (including six offensive fouls) did them in.

“I’m grateful for the win and thankful for how we closed out the fourth quarter,” said Arizona head coach Becky Burke. “I think we took [the lead] from two to 20 in a hurry, which was good. I’m just not excited by the fact that it was two at one point.”

Even with 30 turnovers by its opponents, Arizona needed some heroic efforts. Mickayla Perdue had 34 points on 10-for-18 shooting. She went 4 for 10 from 3-point distance and 10 for 12 from the line. She also had two rebounds, one assist, and drew three of the Cougars’ six offensive fouls.

“I just knew that they were a driving team,” Perdue said. “[Burke’s] always preaching midline, midline, midline, especially to me, because sometimes I’m not on the midline. And I really want to focus on my defensive game. And I knew they were getting downhill, like I said, so I kind of just stepped over at the right time.”

It’s one of the things Burke has harped on with Perdue, both in practice and games. The coach saw it pay dividends on Monday.

“Defensively, she had a much, much better presence and competitiveness and was making plays that had nothing to do with her scoring today, which I was proud of her for,” Burke said.

Tanyuel Welch continued the strong play she has displayed of late with a double-double. She had 18 points on 70 percent shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds. She added one assist and two steals.

The development of Welch has been one of the brightest spots in recent games. She has played over 30 minutes in the last three contests, including twice off the bench. In those two games when she was a reserve, she worked her way into starting the second half. This time, she got to start the first half, as well.

“It’s been really solid,” Burke said about Welch’s development. “I mean, obviously it started with her coming off the bench the last couple games and giving us really solid, good, meaningful minutes where she’s building my trust, and that’s what it’s all about. You know, coming in and doing your job and being steady and just making smart plays and being patient and poised. And she’s done that. So when she’s solid, doing what we asked her to do, just builds trust, game by game, practice by practice. And she had a great week of practice. Was excited to see what she did at the start today, and was really happy with her.”

Perdue’s 34 points eclipsed her career high of 33 set last season when she was a member of the Cleveland State Vikings. Welch’s 18 points were her most as a Wildcat. Her career high of 21 was set last year as a member of the Memphis Tigers.

Lani Cornfield was the third Wildcat in double figures. She had 15 points on 6-for-13 shooting. She added seven rebounds, seven assists, and five steals. Her lone weak spot came in the turnover column, where she had six.

While Arizona didn’t have as many problems with turnovers as Chicago State did, it was still an area of concern. The Wildcats turned the ball over 20 times. Three of those came on offensive fouls, making a total of nine offensive fouls between both teams.

Achol Magot picked up two of the three offensive fouls for UA. They were half of her fouls. The four whistles came in less than five minutes on the court.

The game was one of frustration for Chicago State. The Cougars would go on a run to cut the lead to single digits, then have a rash of turnovers or give up a critical offensive rebound to allow Arizona to push it back out to double figures. Sometimes they would do both in a series.

The Wildcats started the game on a 7-0 run, but Chicago State responded. The Cougars cut the lead to two about halfway through the first quarter, then promptly turned the ball over on back-to-back possessions. Arizona’s lead was back out to 10 after 10 minutes.

The pattern would repeat itself throughout the game. Chicago State once again cut it to two points with 7:09 left in the game. From that point, Arizona went on an 11-0 run to take control again.

Part of that run included a blocking foul called on Brianna Hill. The play was a legitimate foul with Hill reaching in. However, the officials went to the monitor and upgraded it to a flagrant foul when that did not appear warranted. It turned into five straight points for Arizona when Perdue hit both free throws and followed it with a 3-point basket on the ensuing possession. Those five points made up almost half of Arizona’s 11-0 run.

That was Chicago State’s last gasp. Arizona pushed the lead to a game-high 19 with 31 seconds left.

“I just am looking forward to this team just being a little bit more consistent, and coming in and just beating somebody from start to finish, and not making it as interesting as we love to make it,” Burke said. “And I feel like those days are ahead of us, but…we’re just not there quite yet.”

The Cougars tried to make the score more respectable. Natalia Williams was fouled on an offensive rebound and hit one of two from the line. Then Aiyana Culver hit a 3 with 16 seconds left.

Arizona responded each time. Williams’ first foul shot cut the lead to 18, but Welch grabbed the rebound on the second one and drove the length of the court. She was fouled and hit both free throws, then was subbed out.

Culver’s 3 cut Arizona’s lead to 16. Arizona just had to dribble it out to take the comfortable win, but Nora Francois passed to Molly Ladwig. The freshman opted to shoot the 3 with two seconds on the clock. The made shot accounted for the final margin.

Arizona improved to 8-2 on the season while Chicago State fell to 1-10. The Wildcats will finish nonconference play on Thursday, Dec. 18 at 6 p.m. MST when Bellarmine comes to town. Big 12 play starts next Monday at noon against Utah.

Fabrizio Romano confirms that Liverpool have a 'genuine interest' in pushing for a £65m deal. The Reds are putting plans in motion.

Liverpool's January plans are in motion with just a few weeks before the transfer window opens. It's one that they have to get right after struggling to put together a functional team over the summer.

The Reds spent an awful lot of money - record-breaking amounts - in an attempt to overhaul and improve a title-winning squad. However, they haven't really achieved that.

More work needs to happen, it seems, and they'll give that a go in the winter window. A centre-back almost certainly needs to arrive, for instance, after Giovanni Leoni's injury.

But that's not all. Liverpool also need to deal with the fact they never replaced Luis Diaz on the wing, while Mo Salah also doesn't have proper backup - a problem given he's off to the Africa Cup of Nations.

It sounds as though the club may have chosen the answer to that problem, however.

Liverpool want Antoine Semenyo

Fabrizio Romano confirms that Liverpool do have ‘genuine interest’ in signing Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth. The Ghanian is expected to leave the Cherries in 2026 thanks to a release clause in his contract.

That clause is worth £65m, per the BBC, but drops down a bit next summer. Semenyo is very much available, then - but Liverpool are far from the only team keeping an eye on that.

“[There’s] genuine interest but there are more clubs also keen,” says Romano to Give Me Sport. "It’s going to be a race also with more sides, depending on what the player wants to do.”

Steelers’ Aaron Rodgers celebrates unsung Dolphins defender after MNF appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers improved their chances of earning a ticket to the playoffs after they beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, 28-15, at Acrisure Stadium on Monday.

The Steelers, who eliminated the Dolphins from contention for the postseason, improved to 8-6 and tightened their grip on the top spot in the AFC North.

Rodgers was clinical against Miami, going 23-of-27 for 224 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions. The Steelers erected an early lead in the first half, which they did not relinquish for the rest of the game.

While Rodgers was being interviewed on the field after the contest, he was approached and hugged by Dolphins cornerback Rasul Douglas. They played together for three seasons on the Green Bay Packers, and Rodgers celebrated his former teammate.

“He’s one of my favorite teammates. He was huge for us going back to 2021. A great story of a guy who never gave up after he was counted out and cut and put on practice squads,” gushed Rodgers.

Douglas was picked up by the Packers in 2021 after spending time with the practice teams of the Las Vegas Raiders, the Houston Texans, and the Arizona Cardinals that year.

After his stints with the Packers and the Buffalo Bills, he signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins in the offseason.

The 42-year-old Rodgers added that some players of the Steelers also mirror Douglas’ journey.

“We got a lot of guys like that too. We have some guys who are castoffs, some guys who people don’t really want anymore, we have some hired guns as well,” noted the four-time MVP.

“Hopefully, the belief is starting to pick up.”

The Steelers will battle the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

Related: ‘Flabbergasted’ Troy Aikman did not hold back on Miami’s MNF tactics

Related: Steelers’ Aaron Rodgers drops truth bomb on playing ‘December football’

Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa pinpoints who let Miami down vs. Steelers appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Miami Dolphins faced a crushing setback in Week 15 of the NFL season, falling 28-15 to the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road, watching their playoff hopes officially vanish. In the aftermath, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa made it clear who he believed let the team down — himself. The comments from Tagovailoa not only reflected accountability, but also revealed deep frustration with how the team’s offense prepared during the week.

The 27-year-old signal-caller’s performance looked efficient on paper, as he completed 22-of-28 of his passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns, but much of that production came after the outcome was largely decided. The Dolphins fell behind early in the freezing Pittsburgh conditions and struggled to establish rhythm or generate explosive plays until the fourth quarter.

ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) that the Dolphins quarterback admitted he wasn’t satisfied with his preparation or leadership during the week, saying he took full responsibility for the team’s showing. Louis-Jacques shared this quote from Tagovailoa after the loss.

“I feel like I let my guys down.”

Rather than deflecting blame toward receivers or coaching, Tagovailoa focused on his own role in the offense’s miscommunication issues. He noted that operational details — from timing routes to pre-snap adjustments — were off, particularly during early drives when the Dolphins struggled to sustain momentum.

The defeat not only dropped Miami to 6-8 but also mathematically eliminated the team from playoff contention. For the second straight season, the Dolphins are left watching from the sidelines in January. With three games left, the focus now shifts to the quarterback’s response and whether he can help stabilize a Miami offense that has regressed late in the year.

Despite the loss, Tagovailoa’s willingness to shoulder blame may serve as a turning point, provided the lessons translate into tangible improvements on the field. With the season winding down and postseason hopes gone, how the quarterback responds over the final weeks could shape the Dolphins’ direction moving forward.

Related: ‘Flabbergasted’ Troy Aikman did not hold back on Miami’s MNF tactics

Related: Steelers’ Aaron Rodgers celebrates unsung Dolphins defender after MNF

Alperen Şengün vs. Nikola Jokic was exactly what it was supposed to be — and somehow still more than that. Two centers running offenses, bending defenses, and turning a regular-season game in December into something that felt personal by the fourth quarter.

Şengün set the tone early. Ten points and two assists halfway through the first quarter, controlling pace against a Nuggets team that’s one of the best first-quarter groups in the league. Denver came in hot, winners of four straight on the road, but Houston punched first. And a big reason they could was Şengün’s comfort operating as a hub, not just a scorer. That’s the shared DNA here— both Jokic and Şengün are part of a rare class of centers averaging seven-plus assists, and the game flowed through them every possession.

Jokic answered the way Jokic always does. Scoring, rebounding, passing— all of it effortless and relentless. By the end of the night, he had his twelfth triple-double of the season with 39 points, 15 rebounds, and ten assists, shooting efficiently from everywhere on the floor. Şengün matched him punch for punch, finishing with a 33-point triple-double of his own on just under 52-percent shooting.

And then it got physical. Fouls piled up. Trips to the line became inevitable. Things got personal under the rim. Both players picked up five fouls. Every possession mattered. Every touch felt loaded.

This wasn’t about flash. It was about control. About two centers dictating tempo, forcing decisions, and dragging entire defenses into uncomfortable places. The Nuggets survived it. The Rockets didn’t.

But if this matchup told us anything, it’s that Şengün belongs in these conversations

It is a sight that is becoming uncomfortably familiar for Arsenal’s supporters: Viktor Gyokeres sliding in vain towards a ball that has already skidded beyond him. In each of Arsenal’s last two Premier League matches, a low cross has been fizzed across the penalty area for Gyokeres to attack. On both occasions he was on his heels, only reacting when it was too late.

For a fanbase that craved a traditional centre-forward who would feast on such deliveries, it has been hugely frustrating. The expectation among Arsenal fans was that Gyokeres would be the player to convert these chances – their long-awaited predator in the penalty box. The reality is that such opportunities are consistently passing him by.

In 14 matches for Arsenal in the Premier League, Gyokeres has scored four goals. Three of those, though, were notched in his first four appearances in the competition. In 10 league appearances since mid-September, he has scored only once, away to Burnley in November. Rather than adapting to Arsenal’s methods over time, Gyokeres is instead appearing increasingly removed from the action around him.

Against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, he struggled to make any meaningful impact. A home game against the worst team in the league was, in theory, the perfect opportunity for Arsenal’s striker to plunder some goals, but he took only 15 touches and one shot in 81 minutes. Of all the Arsenal players who featured in the game, including substitutes, only Gabriel Jesus took fewer touches (eight, in nine minutes).

It was a similar story against Club Brugge in the Champions League last week. Gyokeres had only 12 touches in 62 minutes, compared to the 20 touches that Jesus had in 28 minutes off the bench. The Swede’s lack of goals is not because he is missing chances, but because he is so uninvolved in games that he is not getting many chances at all.

The worry for Arsenal is that Gyokeres is now becoming less effective with each passing week. If his performances in the league are broken down by month, then December has been his worst period. He is currently averaging fewer touches and shots in December than in any of his previous four months of Premier League action.

Is this a Gyokeres problem, or an issue created by the team not playing to his strengths? Mikel Arteta has diplomatically suggested in recent days that it is both. “The two things have to merge,” the Arsenal manager said when asked how much the club need to adapt to Gyokeres, and how much Gyokeres needs to adapt to them.

It remains too early to draw any definitive conclusions but supporters will worry that Arsenal have signed a player who is simply not suited to their system.

There were suggestions in the summer that Arteta was ready to implement a more direct, transitional style of play this season, in order to get the best out of Gyokeres (who scored many of his goals in Portugal by running into space on the counter-attack). Such plans have not materialised, however. On a per-game basis, Arsenal are producing the same number of “fast breaks” as they were last year (0.9). Last season, by contrast, Sporting averaged 1.6 “fast breaks” per game.

There is an element of misfortune to the situation, too. Gyokeres produced his best performance by far in an Arsenal shirt in the first half against Burnley last month, but then suffered an injury that forced him off at half-time. Just as he was beginning to build some momentum, he was ruled out of action for a few weeks.

His standing was not helped by the excellent performances of Mikel Merino in his absence. Merino, a midfielder by trade, led the line for Arsenal in their thrilling victories over Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Munich.

The return to fitness of Jesus has also put more pressure on Gyokeres. Jesus sparkled on his comeback appearance against Club Brugge, drifting all over the final third and combining with his team-mates, and was then heavily involved in the late winning goal against Wolves.

If Jesus continues at this rate, and if Arteta continues to consider Merino a genuine option at centre-forward, then Gyokeres could quickly find himself as the third-choice striker. And that is before one even considers the eventual return of Kai Havertz, an Arteta favourite.

Arteta admitted earlier this month that he was worried about signing a centre-forward in the summer, because in Jesus and Havertz he already had two strikers he loves. The time could soon come when Arteta has to rank Gyokeres, Havertz and Jesus in order of preference. That may not be good news for Gyokeres.

“The whole summer I was thinking, if we bring in a nine, what is going to happen with Gabi and Kai?” Arteta said. “I have a lot of nines. I like them so much. What are we going to do? How are we going to handle it? So far, we haven’t had a problem because they’ve been injured. So live the present, live the moment and deal with the situation when it comes.”

Behind the scenes, Gyokeres is described as a player with a positive mindset who quickly fit into the group, and Arsenal remain hopeful that it will eventually click into gear on the pitch. “The goals will come,” Arteta insisted last week.

There is, though, another important question: how much does it matter if Gyokeres thrives or not on an individual level? An inescapable fact is that Arsenal are top of the Premier League and Champions League tables, and that Gyokeres has played most of their games. He could argue that he is helping the team to perform well, even if he is not scoring the goals that were expected of him.

The ultimate test of such an argument will be whether Arteta agrees with it, and the answers to that will be found in his team selection. Is Gyokeres still the main man in Arsenal’s attack? Will he be the main man ahead of Jesus and Havertz in the coming weeks and months? It seems more in doubt than ever.

ST. LOUIS – On December 15 it was Hockey Fights Cancer night at Enterprise Center as the Blues played the Nashville Predators.

The arena filled with lavender colored Hockey Fights Cancer themed jerseys including one on the shoulders of Brody Sedlacek, an 11-year-old Edwardsville hockey player and more importantly cancer survivor.

Fox Two’s Jordan Williams spoke with Brody before Monday’s game to hear about his journey and his connection with the Edwardsville hockey team.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.

Who won The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025? Final results, list of prize winners originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Following its split from the Ballon d'Or in 2016, FIFA has held its own annual show known as The Best FIFA Football Awards.

Looking to recognise the most impactful superstars around the globe, The Best awards always create a buzz around the football world as stars gather for the ceremony.

Held this year on Tuesday, December 16 at 8 p.m. local time in Doha, Qatar, The Best awards will identify what players, coaches, and goals are most deserving of recognition in the eyes of the football governing body.

The Sporting News brings you a roundup of all the individuals nominated for the 2025 awards, with the list to be updated with the winners once the ceremony commences and the trophies are handed out.

MORE:Review all the 2024 nominees and winners from the 2024 The Best FIFA awards show

Who won The Best FIFA Football awards 2025? Final results

Best FIFA Men's Player

WINNER: TBD

Nominees: 

• Ousmane Dembele (PSG/France)
• Achraf Hakimi (PSG/Morocco)
• Harry Kane (Bayern Munich/England)
• Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid/France)
• Nuno Mendes (PSG/Portugal)
• Cole Palmer (Chelsea/England)
• Pedri (Barcelona/Spain)
• Raphinha (Barcelona/Brazil)
• Mohamed Salah (Liverpool/Egypt)
• Vitinha (PSG/Portugal)
• Lamine Yamal (Barcelona/Spain)

2024 winner: Vinicius Junior

Best FIFA Women's Player

WINNER: TBD

Nominees: 

• Sandy Baltimore (Chelsea/France)
• Nathalie Bjorn (Chelsea/Sweden)
• Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona/Spain)
• Lucy Bronze (Chelsea/England)
• Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal/Spain)
• Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City Current/Malawi)
• Kadidiatou Diani (Lyon/France)
• Melchie Dumornay (PSG/Haiti)
• Patri Guijarro (Barcelona/Spain)
• Lindsey Heaps (Lyon/USA)
• Lauren James (Chelsea/England)
• Chloe Kelly (Arsenal/England)
• Ewa Pajor (Barcelona/Poland)
• Claudia Pina (Barcelona/Spain)
• Alexia Putellas (Barcelona/Spain)
• Alessia Russo (Arsenal/England)
• Leah Williamson (Arsenal/England)

2024 winner: Aitana Bonmati

Best FIFA Men's Coach

WINNER: TBD

Nominees: 

• Javier Aguirre (Mexico)
• Mikel Arteta (Arsenal)
• Luis Enrique (PSG)
• Hansi Flick (Barcelona)
• Enzo Maresca (Chelsea)
• Roberto Martinez (Portugal)
• Arne Slot (Liverpool)

2024 winner: Carlo Ancelotti

Best FIFA Women's coach

WINNER: TBD

Nominees: 

• Sonia Bompastor (Chelsea)
• Jonatan Giraldez (Lyon)
• Seb Hines (Orlando Pride)
• Renee Slegers (Arsenal)
• Sarina Wiegman (England)

2024 winner: Emma Hayes

Best FIFA Men's goalkeeper

WINNER: TBD

Nominees: 

• Alisson (Liverpool/Brazil)
• Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid/Belgium)
• Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG;Man City/Italy)
• Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa/Argentina)
• Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich/Germany)
• David Raya (Arsenal/Spain)
• Yann Sommer (Inter/Switzerland)
• Wojciech Szczesny (Barcelona/Poland)

2024 winner: Emiliano Martinez

Best FIFA Women's goalkeeper

WINNER: TBD

Nominees: 

• Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham FC/Germany)
• Cata Coll (Barcelona/Spain)
• Christiane Endler (Lyon/Chile)
• Hannah Hampton (Chelsea/England)
• Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride/England)
• Chiamake Nnadozie (Paris FC;Brighton/Nigeria)
• Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Man United/USA)

2024 winner: Alyssa Naeher

FIFA Puskas Award

You can watch all 11 nominated goals for the 2025 Puskas Award here.

WINNER: TBD

Nominees: 

2024 winner: Alejandro Garnacho

FIFA Marta Award

You can watch all 11 nominated goals for the 2025 Marta Award here.

WINNER: TBD

Nominees: 

2024 winner: Marta

FIFA Men's and Women's Best 11

The second annual Best FIFA Men's and Women's 11 lineups will be announced at the ceremony. These are decided purely via a fan vote.

MEN'S BEST XI: TBD

WOMEN'S BEST XI: TBD

FIFA Fan Award

The FIFA Fan Award is meant for a football "story, a moment or a gesture by a fan or group of fans, irrespective of league, gender or nationality," according to the governing body.

WINNER: TBD

FIFA Fair Play Award

WINNER: TBD

List of Best FIFA Men's Player Award winners

The first Best FIFA Men's Player Award was given in 2016 to Cristiano Ronaldo.

He and Robert Lewandowski have each won the prize twice. The record for the most wins is held by Lionel Messi, with three.

List of Best FIFA Women's Player Award winners

Also beginning in 2016, the Best FIFA Women's Player prize has only been won more than once by a single player: Alexia Putellas.

The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025: List of nominees for soccer prizes as Dembele and Lamine Yamal go head to head again originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

FIFA holds its annual The Best awards ceremony in Doha on Tuesday

The awards are FIFA's rival to the prestigious Ballon d'Or gala, where Ousmane Dembele and three-time winner Aitana Bonmati scooped the big prizes in Paris in September

Paris Saint-Germain winger Dembele and Barcelona Femeni midfielder Bonmati are each in contention for the main awards, while FIFA will also recognised the leading goalkeeper and coach in men's and women's football.

The Puskas Award for the best goal of the year will also be presented at the gala dinner. The complete list of prizes up for grabs is below.

MORE: Complete list of prize winners at the 2024 Ballon d'Or gala

What are The Best FIFA awards?

The Best FIFA Football Awards have been handed out since 2017 as part of FIFA's plan to create an award solely within its organisation.

Briefly, FIFA partnered with France Football for the Ballon d'Or award, but that arrangement ended in 2016. Football's world governing body then embarked on its own set of awards for the top players and coaches in the sport.

The Ballon d'Or has been in circulation since 1956, and despite FIFA's global standing as a football entity, The Best awards still have some catching up to do to be considered of the same prestige as the Ballon d'Or.

The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025 nominees, final shortlists, prizes

Best FIFA Men's Player

Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele is in contention to do the double on the 11-man shortlist. The France winger is one of four PSG nominees following the French giants' treble season, while Lamine Yamal is among a Barcelona trio.

• Ousmane Dembele (PSG / France)
• Achraf Hakimi (PSG / Morocco)
• Harry Kane (Bayern Munich / England)
• Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid / France)
• Nuno Mendes (PSG / Portugal)
• Cole Palmer (Chelsea / England)
• Pedri (Barcelona / Spain)
• Raphina (Barcelona / Brazil)
• Mohamed Salah (Liverpool / Egypt)
• Vitinha (PSG / Portugal)
• Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)

Best FIFA Women's Player

Spain star Aitana Bonmati claimed her third successive Ballon d'Or Feminin in 2025 and is looking to make it a double-treble by retaining the FIFA prize.

• Sandy Baltimore (Chelsea / France)
• Nathalie Bjorn (Chelsea / Sweden)
• Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona / Spain)
• Lucy Bronze (Chelsea / England)
• Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal / Spain)
• Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City Current / Malawi)
• Kadidatou Diani (Lyon / France)
• Melchie Dumornay (Lyon / Haiti)
• Patri Guijarro (Barcelona / Spain)
• Lindsey Heaps (Lyon / USA)
• Lauren James (Chelsea / England)
• Chloe Kelly (Arsenal / England)
• Ewa Pajor (Barcelona / Poland)
• Claudia Pina (Barcelona / Spain)
• Alexia Putellas (Barcelona / Spain)
• Alessi Russo (Arsenal / England)
• Leah Williamson (Arsenal / England)

Best FIFA Men's Coach

Arne Slot has had a tough time at Liverpool so far this term, but the Dutchman's Premier League title win in his maiden season at Anfield has got him in the mix for the men's coach award.

• Javier Aguirre (Mexico)
• Mikel Arteta (Arsenal)
• Luis Enrique (PSG)
• Hansi Flick (Bayern Munich)
• Enzo Maresca (Chelsea)
• Roberto Martinez (Portugal)
• Arne Slot (Liverpool)

Best FIFA Women's coach

Sarina Wiegman, winner in 2022 and 2023, is back in the mix after leading England to a successful defence of their Euros title. 

• Sonia Bompastor (Chelsea)
• Jonatan Giraldez (Barcelona)
• Seb Hines (Orlando Pride)
• Renee Slegers (Arsenal)
• Sarina Wiegman (England)

Best FIFA Men's goalkeeper

Two-time winner Emiliano Martinez has the chance to retain his prize. Gianluigi Donnarumma, 2023 winner Ederson's replacement at Manchester City, is in contention having won the Ballon d'Or's Yashin Trophy for his exploits at PSG last season.

• Alisson (Liverpool / Brazil)
• Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid / Belgium)
• Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG / Man City / Italy)
• Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)
• David Raya (Arsenal / Spain)
• Yann Sommer (Inter Milan / Switzerland)
• Wojciech Szczesny (Barcelona)

Best FIFA Women's goalkeeper

England's Euro 2025 hero Hannah Hampton is among the nominees, having also enjoyed a superb season as Chelsea swept to a domestic treble in England.

• Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham / Germany)
• Cata Coll (Barcelona / Spain)
• Christiane Endler (Lyon / Chile)
• Hannah Hampton (Chelsea / England)
• Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride / England)
• Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC / Nigeria)
• Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Man United / USA)

FIFA Puskas Award

The FIFA Puskas Award is always highly sought-after as it honours the best goal scored that year. In 2024, this became a men-only award, as a separate women's category was launched.

• Alerrandro (Vitoria vs. Cruzeiro)
• Alessandro Deiola (Cagliari vs. Venezia)
• Pedro de la Vega (Cruz Azul vs. Seattle Sounders)
• Santiago Montiel (Independiente vs. Independiente Rivadavia)
• Amr Nasser (Costa Rica vs. Honduras)
• Carlos Orrantia (Queretaro vs. Atlas)
• Lucas Ribeiro (Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Borussia Dortmund)
• Declan Rice (Arsenal vs. Real Madrid)
• Rizky Ridho (Persija Jakarta vs. Arema)
• Kevin Rodrigues (Kasimpasa vs. Rizespor)
• Lamine Yamal (Espanyol vs. Barcelona)

FIFA Marta Award

The Marta Award is given to the most aesthetically pleasing goal in the women's game this year.

• Jordyn Bugg (North Carolina Courage vs. Seattle Reign)
• Mariona Caldentey (Lyon vs. Arsenal)
• Ashley Cheatley (Brentford vs. Ascot United)
• Kyra Cooney-Cross (Germany vs. Australia)
• Jon Ryong-jong (North Korea U-20 vs. Argentina U-20)
• Marta (Orlando Pride vs. Kansas City Current)
• Vivianne Miedema (Wales vs. Netherlands)
• Kishi Nunez (Argentina U-20 vs. Costa Rica U-20)
• Lizbeth Ovalle (Tigres vs. Guadalajara)
• Ally Sentnor (USA vs. Colombia
• Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw (Hammarby vs. Man City)

FIFA Men's and Women's 11

The Best FIFA Men's and Women's 11 lineups will be announced at the ceremony. These are decided purely via a fan vote.

FIFA Fan Award

The FIFA Fan Award is given to a fan or group of supporters who "help make the beautiful game exactly that".

• Alejandro Ciganotto (Racing Club de Avellaneda)
• Manuel Caceres (Spain)
• Zakho SC fans

FIFA The Best former winners

Below are full tables of former winners in the main awards since 2016.

The Best FIFA Men's Player Award

The Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper Award

The Best FIFA Men's Coach Award

The Best FIFA Women's Player Award

The Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper Award

The Best FIFA Women's Coach Award

FIFA Puskas Award — the prize for the best men's goal

FIFA Marta Award — the prize for the best women's goal

Manchester City were clinical in the final third in their 3-nil win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday. Erling Haaland’s brace and Phil Foden’s second-half strike saw Pep Guardiola’s side break open a tough fixture against a quality team. Crystal Palace had their chances at Selhurst Park but they failed to put any of them away. While at the other end of the pitch, City took their chances and left London with a valuable three points. Looking at Manchester City’s attack, they seemingly have a real point of difference to their rivals which could be crucial as this season unfolds.

Manchester City have weapons that no one else has up front.

It has emerged as this season has progressed which players form Manchester City’s best attack. Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki and Jeremy Doku have been Pep Guardiola’s preferred front three. Phil Foden can also be added to this equation given the fact that he has scored 10 goals this season and his best attributes are often on display in the final third. What City have that their rivals do not is a blend of pace, power, guile and trickery. Each of Manchester City’s attacking players complements the other. It gives them a consistent weapon that their rivals seemingly do not.

Manchester City’s attack is even more dangerous when you factor in the runs made by Matheus Nunes and Nico O’Reilly from the full-back positions. Pep Guardiola’s side is also now scoring from set-pieces which completes the picture. What we saw in Manchester City’s win over Crystal Palace is that City’s attack can decide games ruthlessly.

Crystal Palace had their chances at Selhurst Park. But they didn’t take them. Erling Haaland took his first chance against Crystal Palace. He headed home a superb Matheus Nunes cross to give City a first-half lead. Rayan Cherki drove at the Palace defence to set up Phil Foden’s second-half strike. Erling Haaland put away a penalty with ease in the 89th minute to wrap up three points for City. Although City didn’t create a host of chances at Selhurst Park, they ruthlessly put away those that came their way. It helped them pick up a crucial three points and showed that City have a quality that their rivals do not at this point of the season.

Manchester City’s attack could be a factor that tilts this season their way.

As of right now it does appear that Manchester City and Arsenal could be battling it out for the Premier League title. Aston Villa cannot be discounted at this stage. Whether or not they can sustain their impressive form remains to be seen.

Arsenal’s strengths are their defence and their prowess at set-pieces. Mikel Arteta’s side has them as the foundation of their play. They do have quality throughout their squad but it seems that those are their strongest attributes. Whether or not Arsenal’s set-piece prowess is sustainable across a full season remains to be seen. In contrast to the strength of Mikel Arteta’s side, you do sense that Manchester City’s attack can sustain their impressive form and efficiency. Erling Haaland’s goal-scoring prowess won’t fade. Jeremy Doku, as long as he isn’t injured, looks to have gone up a level. Phil Foden is an elite player and has returned to form this season. Rayan Cherki has adjusted to life at Manchester City quicker than expected. There is no reason why Manchester City’s attack cannot prove to be the difference across this season.

The Manchester City attack looks to be their point of difference this season. Pep Guardiola has a variety of weapons to unleash and it does seem that City’s attack could be key to them picking up extra points across this Premier League season. They did that against Crystal Palace and you do sense that it won’t be the last time that Manchester City’s attack helps them pick up points in tough matches this season.

Manchester United played out a hugely entertaining 4-4 draw against Bournemouth in their Premier League game at Old Trafford on Monday.

The hosts should have won, considering they had taken the lead on three separate occasions, but Ruben Amorim’s confusing tweak at the back did not help the team, nor his young defenders.

The draw means the Red Devils are currently sixth in the league standings, two points off the top four. However, things will get trickier from here on in.

The head coach will be without his key attacking duo, Amad and Bryan Mbeumo, as both will depart for the Africa Cup of Nations. Noussair Mazraoui has already left, and both Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire remain sidelined.

Casemiro suspended

And in further bad news, Casemiro has also been ruled out of the match against Aston Villa next Sunday as he saw his fifth individual yellow against the Cherries.

He saw yellow for a foul on Marcus Tavernier in the second-half, who subsequently scored from the resultant free-kick to hand the visitors a 3-2 lead.

Five yellow cards mean an automatic one-game suspension, and the Brazilian missing out against an in-form Villa means Amorim will have a mountain to climb at Villa Park.

The former Real Madrid superstar scored against the Cherries, and has generally looked much better as compared to last season, partly due to the team playing only once a week.

How will Amorim cope?

It will be interesting to see who the Portuguese tactician turns to in Casemiro’s absence. He does not seem to rate Kobbie Mainoo in a deeper role, and he has openly criticised Manuel Ugarte this season.

The Uruguayan has started three times in the league this season, and in all three occasions, the 20-time English league champions have come out on the losing side. He also has been linked with a January exit.

With Unai Emery’s side winning each of their last six games, Amorim will be hoping for an inspired showing from his available players.

After his encouraging cameo, fans will be hoping Mainoo gets the nod in place of Casemiro.

Feature image Stu Forster via Getty Images

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At 2-0 down in an Ashes series in Australia it is customary for England teams to fracture and players play for themselves. If England are to have any chance of fighting their way back in this series, Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum must guard against that kind of backside-covering at all costs.

Stokes has admitted it himself. “If people are trying to protect themselves over the greater good, which is the team, and look after their own back and start saying or doing things because it’s perceived to be the right thing to say at that time to come across... I don’t know, whatever it is... I’m certainly never going to do that.”

The 2013-14 team is the most spectacular example of a side falling apart. On that tour, Graeme Swann abruptly retired, Kevin Pietersen was sacked and Andy Flower left as coach at the end of an acrimonious trip. The casualties from Joe Root’s side in 2017-18 were opener Mark Stoneman and No 3 James Vince. The 4-0 Covid tour four years ago cost Chris Silverwood and Ashley Giles their management jobs whilst Dawid Malan and Haseeb Hameed have not played for England again.

Of the 50 players to have represented England in an Ashes Test in Australia this century, 26 have had their international careers ended there. On all those trips, selfishness crept in as players tried to save themselves and management made decisions that went against their natural instincts but were a good look as they tried to keep public opinion on their side.

Stokes and McCullum have resisted that so far. They were right to back the top seven to go again and dig the team out of the hole they created, because panicked changes rarely work halfway through a series and the squad they selected is thin on batting options.

But for a few in the England side, Adelaide is surely judgment time; once the series is no longer “live” then casualties are unavoidable. Can Ollie Pope survive another couple of wild drives to the cordon? Or Jamie Smith drop a clanger and then fail to contribute with the bat? Zak Crawley bought himself more chances by playing nicely in the first innings in Brisbane in making 76, but his career has been one of backward steps just when you think he has cracked the code. Ben Duckett is averaging 16 and had his technique exposed by the bouncy Australian pitches. His half-prod in the opening over of the second Test was timid for a player who has been full of life since he seized his second chance at a Test career. Adelaide should suit him with its shorter square boundaries than the first two venues, but he needs to rediscover that spark.

For all of Stokes’s grinding on day four at the Gabba, he is averaging 19 in this series and it is some time since he had the touch with the bat that made him one of the great all-rounders. Harry Brook admitted to some “shocking” shots in this series, a flick of self-doubt we have not seen before.

England do not have the techniques to stand and defend. Stokes and Will Jacks did not set the template for winning a Test in Australia when they blocked on day four at the Gabba. If we see that in the first innings at Adelaide, England will be easy pickings for an Australia side boosted by the returns of Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon.

Shot selection has not always been the problem on this tour. Execution has, though, along with pitiful planning that forced Stokes to admit some of the players have been shocked by the aggressiveness of cricket in Australia. But with the pressure unbearable at 2-0 down and the Ashes potentially lost with one collapse, can the Bazballers play their natural game? If they don’t, it will be all over.

This England set-up is different. Stokes and McCullum are men financially set for life and both with playing records that will stand the test of time, regardless of the result in this series. That should insulate them from some of the mistakes made by predecessors and ensure the “raw” chats they had in Noosa and before training in Adelaide on Monday were about getting the players to focus on what has made them successful in the past.

Stokes and McCullum have been so sure in their decision-making for three years but the pressure of being 2-0 down in the Ashes has made them wobble. For two years they built up Shoaib Bashir for this moment in Adelaide, ignoring the criticism of his selection by insisting his bounce and over-spin would be perfect for Australian pitches. Not playing in Perth and Brisbane was understandable given pace and seam bowling conditions. But a day game in Adelaide? Perfect for him you would think but at 2-0 down, Stokes and McCullum have blinked.

It may well be the right call, considering his performances on this tour in the excuse for a warm-up game at Lilac Hill and the more worrying nought for 115 for the Lions against Australia A. Bashir’s is a curious career, unique really. He cannot get a game in county cricket and yet was anointed England’s No 1 spinner on little evidence. He repaid that with some decent performances at times but must be so low on morale now that he is in the “unselectable” category we have seen in Australia before.

England have been limp in the field and lost the hunger for the fight they showed last summer against India, and in the 2023 Ashes when they belatedly found their edge. Then, at 2-0 down, Stokes had Mark Wood to put the fear of life into the Australian top order and Chris Woakes’s skills to interrogate their front pads.

But he also had chippy characters like James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Jonny Bairstow and Ollie Robinson. The evolution of the Bazball team has cost England the “bit of dog” that Stokes wants to see in Adelaide. But there is no point forcing it from players who are just not built that way. We also see the pressure of an Ashes series taking its toll. Duckett, Crawley and Brook all got stuck into India last summer, but it is harder to do that in Australia when you have not scored any runs and their former players are mocking you on every podcast and TV show.

Stokes has stuck by his friend Brydon Carse, who is very fortunate to keep his place after bowling so poorly in Brisbane. Gus Atkinson is dropped for Josh Tongue despite out-bowling Carse in both Tests without taking the wickets he should have done. Carse has a big heart and is more combative than Atkinson, which might have helped his cause, but England have picked a seam attack without a bowler who can guarantee control. Jofra Archer is probably the most capable of doing it, but England want him as the shock tactic, a continuation of the final session fire in Brisbane when he bowled quicker than any stage of the series because Stokes urged him to leave some marks with Adelaide in mind.

Stokes made his Test debut at Adelaide in 2013 and immediately stood up to Brad Haddin when he tried to sledge the new boy. England need something like that this time. Adelaide is when Stokes will learn who has the stomach for the fight and who is looking after themselves.

The 25 players whose careers ended Down Under

By Huzaifa Yousafzai

2002–03: Australia win 4-1

Alex Tudor
Fast bowler Tudor was called in as injury cover for the third Test at the Waca. A nasty bouncer from Brett Lee cut his left eyelid and he retired hurt, never to play for England again.

Chris Silverwood 
In similar circumstances to Tudor, Silverwood was called in as injury cover for the Perth Test. He went wicketless in the first innings and also suffered an ankle injury.

James Foster 
Foster was reserve wicketkeeper and took the gloves on Boxing Day as Alec Stewart was injured. Foster took three catches and scored 25 runs before Stewart returned for the final Test.

Craig White 
The all-rounder – brother-in-law of former Australian coach Darren Lehmann – ended the series as England’s second-highest wicket-taker, but a torn side muscle at the MCG finished his Test career at the age of 33.

Andy Caddick
Caddick was England’s top wicket-taker in the series with 20. His final act was 10 wickets in a consolation win at Sydney, as a recurring back injury meant he never played another Test.

Richard Dawson 
England’s back-up spinner was called into the side at Adelaide after an injury to Ashley Giles. Dawson took just five wickets in the four Tests he played, and was best known for being hit for four as Steve Waugh reached a century off the final ball of the day in Sydney.

John Crawley
In and out of the side and, although he managed to score a half-century, he was the final victim of a dreadful tour.

2006–07: Australia win 5-0

Ashley Giles 
Took only three wickets in the first two Tests then flew home to be with his sick wife. A persistent hip injury ended his career and he never played a professional game again.

Geraint Jones
Another Ashes hero in 2005, but the series Down Under yielded just 63 runs in six innings. That meant Chris Read took the gloves off Jones to end his England career.

Chris Read 
Took Geraint Jones’s spot behind the stumps at the MCG in 2006 but only managed one more match at Sydney, as Matt Prior became the new wicketkeeper in 2007.

Sajid Mahmood
Drafted into the series in the third Test in Perth, he took just five wickets in five innings, went for plenty of runs and never played for England again.

2010-11: England win 3-1

Paul Collingwood 
England’s only away Ashes victory since 1986-87 had just one retirement, although on Collingwood’s own terms. The all-rounder hit just 83 runs and took only two wickets in his final series.

2013-14: Australia win 5-0

Graeme Swann 
After fighting his way back from an elbow injury, his form fell off a cliff. Seven wickets in three Tests at an average of 80 led to Swann announcing his retirement before Boxing Day.

Tim Bresnan 
The burly all-rounder made his Ashes debut in the unforgettable win in 2010 at the MCG, the same ground where he played his final Test as an elbow injury killed his pace.

Monty Panesar
Only lasted one game more than his spin twin Swann. Three wickets in two games at an average of 85 meant Scott Borthwick replaced him for the final test in Sydney.

Scott Borthwick 
With two spinners already eliminated, Borthwick was thrown in at the end and took four for 82 in the match, but still got swept up in the post-series clean-up and was never picked again.

Michael Carberry 
A solid left-handed opener, Carberry did relatively well and was England’s second-highest run-scorer in the series. However, at the age of 33, England chose to start a new era without him.

Kevin Pietersen
Top scorer for England in the series, albeit in a dreadful whitewash, this was the last act of a controversial yet incredibly successful Test career for Pietersen. With personality clashes in the dressing room, this was the final straw for one of the most talented England batsmen in a generation.

Chris Tremlett 
Another winner from 2010–11, Tremlett only played a single match in the 2013–14 series, at the Gabba. He had respectable figures of four for 120 but England lost heavily. A back injury meant he played no further part in the series and retired from cricket in 2015. 

2017-18: Australia win 4-0

Jake Ball 
Thrust into the Ashes opener at Brisbane where he took one for 115 in 26 overs. Craig Overton replaced him for the second Test in Adelaide to end Ball’s brief and unsuccessful Test career.

Tom Curran 
The first of three Curran brothers to play Test cricket, Tom played on Boxing Day, with Steve Smith being his first wicket. Played his final Test in the next game at Sydney.

Mason Crane 
Just like Borthwick in 2014, Crane made his debut in the final Test at Sydney as a leg-spinner. But 193 overs and 649 Australian runs later, Crane had returned figures of one for 193 from 48 overs.

2021–22: Australia win 4-0

Jos Buttler
One of England’s greatest white-ball players, he managed only two hundreds from 57 Tests. Failed to pass 26 in six innings at the end of this tour and was dropped for Sam Billings at Hobart.

Haseeb Hameed
Averaged just 10 in the first four games and was replaced before the last game in Hobart. Has since moved to Nottinghamshire, captained a Championship-winning side and been a prolific run-scorer; so there may yet be a way back.

Rory Burns 
Famously bowled round his legs by Mitchell Starc in the first ball of the series, got another duck in the series-ender at Hobart. Has not played for England since.

Dawid Malan
The third top-order batter to be dropped at the end of this series, Malan scored two 80s in the first two games but did not pass 25 in the next three as England decided to move on.

Shrine Bowl practice is underway in Spartanburg as the North Carolina and South Carolina all-star squads got out on the practice field Monday afternoon after being confined to indoor work in the morning due to low temperatures.

Among the roughly dozen area players on the squad is Gaffney quarterback Banks Bouton, who’s signed with Furman and was added to the squad Friday due to injury and attrition.

The annual contest takes place Saturday at 1pm at Spartanburg High School’s Viking Stadium.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has given a blunt response to how his relationship is with the Chelsea board.

It all came out over the last few days and it has become the big story around Chelsea right now.

EXCL: The full inside story of what is going on between Enzo Maresca and the Chelsea hierarchy as tensions reach boiling point!

After the Everton win on Saturday, Maresca went on a rant in his post match presser where he said he had just had the “worst 48 hours” since joining Chelsea.

He said he had had a lack of support, but didn’t reveal any more when pressed. So of course everyone wanted to know more.

The Blues boss doubled down on his comments yesterday in the press conference ahead of the League Cup game tonight. Or at least that is what we thought.

It seems he was pressed more about his relationship with the sporting directors and the owners in the embargoed section of the interview that was released late last night, and he decided to actually answer that question.

Maresca on owners

Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart with Behdad Eghbali.

As cited by The Evening Standard, when sked how strong his relationship with the Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali and co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart is, he replied: “It’s ok, it’s good.”

Pushed on whether it is as good as it has always been, he added: “I think so, yes.”

Most important figure

Maresca was also asked whether he feels the head coach is the most important figure at Chelsea, or indeed at any football club.

“I think the ones that put the money in are, not the manager,” he said. “It is the owner. I think they are the most important people in a football club.

“The manager is an important part but is not the most important one.”

As Clemson continued its bowl practice Monday, quarterback Cade Klubnik literally went through the motion of throwing (without a ball in his hand at times) as wide receiver Tyler Brown later revealed that Klubnik is nursing a thumb injury but he’s ‘expected to play in the bowl game.’

Dabo Swinney, who did not acknowledge Klubnik’s issue prior to practice when speaking to the media, indicates 26 scholarship players will be unavailable for the game due to injury or attrition.

In Clinton, Presbyterian College celebrated head football coach Steve Englehart earning FCS National Coach Of The Year by the American Football Coaches Association.

Englehart led the non-scholarship program to a 10-2 record in his fourth season at the helm, which included upsets at eventual SoCon champ Mercer and Furman.

He becomes the first Pioneer Football League coach to earn the honor.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.

The Houston Rockets opened their road trip in Denver on Friday night with a loss, but if this was meant to be a tone-setter for the next stretch, it did exactly that. This was the first of six straight road games, and it came against a Nuggets team sitting at 18-6 and second in the Western Conference, desperate to snap a four-game home losing streak. Houston entered at 16–6, third in the West, 8-4 on the road, and still leading the league in second-chance shots. Both teams had three days of rest. The building was packed. The energy was loud. And the game felt like it mattered from the jump.

Denver may be a top-tier first-quarter team, but it was Houston that set the early tone. Alperen Şengün came out dominant, putting up 10 points and two assists by the halfway mark of the first quarter. The Rockets controlled pace, moved bodies, and forced Denver to work for everything. Despite Nikola Jokic and Şengün both being part of the rare group of centers averaging seven or more assists, it was Houston that finished the first quarter up six.

The second quarter is where momentum began to wobble. Denver rattled off an 8-0 run as Houston struggled to finish clean looks. Reed Sheppard started the night ice cold, going 0-for-6 before finally knocking down his first bucket- a three. The Rockets still controlled much of the half, but the final three minutes slipped away. At the break, Denver led 58-51, with both Kevin Durant and Şengün sitting at 14 points apiece. Ime Udoka picked up a technical arguing with officials, and the tone of the game was officially set: physical, emotional, and unforgiving.

Houston responded the right way in the third. The Rockets came out hot, reclaiming the lead and marking the tenth lead change of the night. At that point, Durant had missed just two shots all game, sitting at 5-for-7, while Josh Okogie was a perfect 5-for-5. Bruce Brown’s reckless finish resulted in a flagrant foul on Durant, sending him to the line. Durant continued doing what he does best- drawing contact, living at the stripe, and knocking down that familiar midrange fadeaway. Okogie added an insane dunk and nine points in the quarter, and an 8-0 Houston run capped by a steal and Sheppard dunk swung momentum back again.

The fourth quarter turned into a grind. Bodies flying under the rim. Jokic living at the free-throw line. Things got personal between Jokic and Şengün. Leads changed hands possession by possession. With 1:30 left, it was tied at 109. Then 112. Then 115 with 20 seconds remaining. Shot-making reached absurd levels. Every seat in the building was standing.

Şengün gave Houston a one-point lead with two seconds left after the Rockets went a perfect 5-for-5 on their final possessions. A controversial trip was called on Amen Thompson, Houston challenged, and lost. One free throw sent the game to overtime.

In OT, Jokic picked up his fifth foul on Şengün- both now at five- and Denver opened with a 3-0 run. Durant sent Jokic to the line again before Jokic fouled Reed Sheppard and was ejected after an unsuccessful Denver challenge. Houston called timeout down three with 6.8 seconds left. That was as close as it would get.

Denver closed it out.

Jokic finished with his twelfth triple-double of the season: 39 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists, shooting 48-percent from the field and 55.6-percent from deep. Jamal Murray added 35 points and five assists. For Houston, Şengün posted a monster triple-double of his own with 33 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, shooting just under 52-percent. Durant added 25 points, seven assists, and five blocks. Jabari Smith Jr. provided balance, knocking down four of six from three.

Houston didn’t leave Denver with a win, but they left with proof. This road trip just started, and if this game was the bar, the Rockets aren’t backing down from anyone.

Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic posts eye-popping stat line despite fouling out vs. Rockets appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

In a barnburner of a matchup between two of the best and most physically-imposing teams in the NBA in the Denver Nuggets and the Houston Rockets, it was the former that came out on top, 128-125, in overtime. It was a back-and-forth affair that saw incredible shot-making come from both teams, especially towards the end of regulation. But come overtime, the Rockets lost steam and the Nuggets did just enough to come away with the win.

Nikola Jokic was imposing his will all night long, finishing with yet another insane stat line (which is now getting pedestrian by his standards) of 39 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists. The Nuggets star fouled out in the end, but even foul trouble wasn’t enough to slow down the three-time MVP in his domination of the Rockets.

Jokic and Alperen Sengun were locked in a battle that seemed very personal. The Rockets star was looking to snatch Jokic’s crown, but the Nuggets star had every answer in the bag, as expected of a player as great as he is.

Sengun recorded a triple double of his own, putting up 33 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, and he’s closer to the caliber of player Jokic is than some would think. Nonetheless, the Nuggets star is arguably the best player in the league at the moment, and everyone saw why.

Nuggets need Nikola Jokic to carry the load amid team’s injury woes

The good news is that Jokic and Jamal Murray are both healthy, so Denver has the foundational pieces of the two-man game that has been the cornerstone of their offense for nearly a decade. But with Peyton Watson having to exit early with a right trunk contusion, the Nuggets now have three key cogs in Watson, Christian Braun, and Aaron Gordon currently on the mend.

The Nuggets will now look to improve their 19-6 record when they return to action on Thursday night in a tussle against the Orlando Magic.

Related: Nuggets starter leaves Rockets game with concerning injury

Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant injured his ankle late in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers and left the game.

Morant was driving to the basket when he stepped on the foot of a Clippers player and appeared to twist his ankle. The Grizzlies star hobbled off the court in pain and did not return.

The Grizzlies defeated the Clippers 121-103 on Dec. 15 at Intuit Dome. Memphis led 116-93 with 3:44 left when Morant injured his ankle.

Morant finished with 12 points and four assists in 21 minutes. He was in his second game back after missing 10 matchups due to a left calf injury.

Morant missed the entire preseason slate of games while dealing with a left ankle sprain. When he returned, he noticeably started wearing ankle braces.

Morant entered the Clippers matchup averaging 18.2 points and 7.8 assists.

Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Ja Morant injury update Memphis Grizzlies star leaves game with ankle injury

DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic had 39 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists for his NBA-leading 12th triple-double of the season as the Denver Nuggets outlasted the Houston Rockets 128-125 in overtime on Monday night in a matchup of two of the top three teams in the Western Conference standings.

Jamal Murray added 35 points for Denver, including six of his team’s 11 points in overtime. Murray made 14 of his 15 free-throw attempts.

The win was the Nuggets’ fifth in a row and was their first home victory since Nov. 8.

The final 1:40 of regulation had four ties and four lead changes, a stretch capped off by a free throw by Murray that tied the game with 2.3 seconds remaining after an away-from-play foul on Houston’s Amen Thompson. Denver retained possession after the free throw, but a 3-point attempt by Jokic from the top of the key was long.

The Nuggets took a 124-117 lead after a Spencer Jones 3 with 2:59 remaining in overtime, but the Rockets clawed back, getting within three with the ball and 13 seconds remaining. Alperen Sengun missed a contested 24-foot 3 with 4.9 seconds remaining, allowing Denver to hold on for the victory.

Sengun paced the Rockets with 33 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds for his first triple-double of the season. Kevin Durant added 25 points, seven assists, five rebounds and five blocks for Houston, which lost its third consecutive road game.

A Nuggets team that was already down two starters in Aaron Gordon (hamstring) and Christian Braun (ankle) played much of the game without starting guard Peyton Watson, who left six minutes into the first quarter after suffering a right trunk contusion.

Rockets: At the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday.

Nuggets: Host the Orlando Magic on Thursday.

___

AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBA

Steelers’ Mike Tomlin breaks down Kenneth Gainwell’s MNF breakout game appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

While the Pittsburgh Steelers had a number of heroes in their Monday Night Football win over the Miami Dolphins, from Aaron Rodgers, to Jonnu Smith, DK Metcalf, and their defensive line, one player who stepped up in a major way was one of the more unlikely members of Arthur Smith’s offense: Kenneth Gainwell.

That’s right, in a game where Jaylen Warren was active after being questionable right up to gametime, Gainwell exploded in a major way, amassing 126 yards between the ground and the passing game to lead the Steelers to their eighth win of the season.

Asked about Gainwell’s huge game against a team teetering on the edge of playoff elimination, Tomlin celebrated the 2025 free agent addition for seemingly always bringing something to the table when his team needs it most.

“When things are less than ideal, that’s what we’ve come to expect from him. Jalen missed Dublin, for example, and he played big out there,” Tomlin explained. “He brings that energy, man. He’s a football player, and we’re thankful to have him on our team.”

Originally drafted in the fifth round out of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Memphis, Gainwell was an instrumental part of multiple Philadelphia Eagles teams with Super Bowl aspirations, including the team that actually got it done earlier this year against the Kansas City Chiefs. Landing in Pittsburgh in free agency after the season, Gainwell has rapidly become a favorite of Rodgers, where his pass-catching abilities have allowed him to become a reliable outlet pass when his early reads are locked up.

Should opposing teams put a little more respect on Gainwell’s name after his huge showing? Probably, as with a playoff push rapidly approaching, it’s clear Gainwell will only become a bigger part of the Steelers’ offense down the stretch.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Keyonte George scored 37 points and Lauri Markkanen added 33 to lift the Utah Jazz to a 140-133 overtime win against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night, despite a career-high 42 points from Cooper Flagg.

George, who had 39 points on Friday in Memphis, scored the first five points of overtime. Kyle Filipowski scored 16 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Jazz won consecutive games for just the second time this season.

Flagg has been playing his best basketball the past few weeks as the No. 1 overall draft pick has averaged 25.7 points in the last seven games and became the first 18-year-old in league history to score 40 points. Flagg also tied Mark Aguirre for the most points by a rookie in Mavs history.

P.J. Washington scored 25 and Naji Marshall had 15 for the Mavericks, who had won five of six games.

The Mavericks led 124-116 before the Jazz reeled off 11 straight points, capped by Isaiah Collier's driving basket with 53.6 seconds remaining.

Flagg scored and was fouled on the next possession but missed the free throw that could have tied it.

Markkanen made a contested baseline jumper on the other end before Flagg made one of two free throws to make it 129-127 with 4.5 seconds to play. He missed the second free throw on purpose and Max Christie got the rebound while being fouled. Christie made both foul shots to send the game into overtime.

But the overtime belonged to the Jazz as the Mavericks shot 1 for 9.

Both teams were missing their starting centers as the Jazz rested Jusuf Nurkic and the Mavericks’ Anthony Davis sat out with a left calf bruise.

Rotation regulars Kevin Love and Svi Mykhailiuk were healthy scratches as the Jazz decided to play their youngsters.

Mavericks: Host the Pistons on Thursday night.

Jazz: Host the Lakers on Thursday night.

___

AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBA

Sunderland returned to the Stadium of Light for the small matter of a Wear-Tyne Derby on Sunday — our first league meeting since Sunderland’s 1-1 draw at St James Park back in 2016.

In a game devoid of many moments of quality, how did Régis Le Bris revert to type in order to nullify Newcastle and grab the bragging rights heading into 2026?

Sunderland Lineup

Following defeat to Manchester City, Le Bris was left with decisions to make but during his Friday press conference, he confirmed that with the exception of Habib Diarra — who remains a week away from action — he had a fully fit squad available for selection.

Despite having sustained success utilising a “five at the back” system this season, Le Bris made another bold move and opted to switch back to his traditional 4-3-3/4-4-2 system, which served us so well during the 2024/2025 campaign.

Having watched Newcastle struggle against a Bayer Leverkusen team who played with a back five during the week, as the teams were announced it took me by surprise — and showed Le Bris was willing to match Newcastle’s midfield man for man.

A change in shape saw two changes made as Trai Hume dropped out for the returning Reinildo. Up front, Brian Brobbey was given another chance to start after his impressive performance at Anfield one week prior.

Given the absence of Joelinton paired with the physicality of the Newcastle defenders, Brobbey was likely to come out on top in the duels and therefore Wilson Isidor was favoured against tiring legs.

Visitors’ Lineup

Following a midweek slog against Xhaka’s former employers, Eddie Howe was expected to at least make one change due to an injury sustained by Joelinton and therefore Lewis Miley came in to replace him.

Out wide, Anthony Elanga was named as a replacement for Harvey Barnes after his midweek struggles, with Aaron Ramsdale retaining his place in goal due to Nick Pope’s injury issues.

Eddie Howe set Newcastle up in very much the same way he’s been accustomed to for several years now, operating in a 4-3-3 both in and out of possession.

Howe relies on high pressing and overloading the wings to create high turnovers and chances in transition. Utilising his midfield trio, he aims to push his full backs into the final third, overload the wide areas and flash crosses along the face of goal for their central striker.

As Newcastle are a team that primarily look to exploit transitions — as do Sunderland — it remains important to the success of both teams that they trigger the opponent’s press to exploit their high lines and compact shape. Therefore, seeing Sunderland match up shape-wise must’ve made Howe rub his hands together prior to kick off.

A cagey affair early doors

As game got underway, Sunderland were handed possession and it was made fairly clear that the visitors were happy to invite pressure with the intention of hitting us in transition.

Clocking up a whopping 59% possession in the first half — over 15% higher than their average at 42.3% — it became a slow tempo game of cat and mouse, with both sides laying traps for the other to fall into.

For Newcastle, both wingers were ready to jump into the half space at the moment either Dan Ballard or Omar Alderete stepped into midfield — with the latter’s early nerves resulting in quick turnovers and half chances for Newcastle that thankfully didn’t lead to a shot.

From a Sunderland perspective, Noah Sadiki went man-for-man on Bruno Guimarães with Granit Xhaka laterally pressing onto Sandro Tonali whilst the ball was on the floor, before doubling up on second contacts with Nick Woltemade whenever the ball was airborne.

For context, in the first half, both sides combined for forty nine duels won — Sunderland winning twenty four at 49% success whilst Newcastle won twenty five at 51%, showing just how many individual battles were taking place in order to establish control.

Whilst Sunderland retained the ball, both sides defended overly cautiously to prevent the other from exploiting transitional spaces, and so chance creation from open-play build up was sparse.

With only four shots taken in the whole first half, both teams combined for a total of 0.26 xG, with Sunderland producing the only chance of note via a Ballard header.

Woltemade’s moment of goalscoring madness!

In a game where both sides looked set on not giving anything away through their defensive shape, the only way we were going to see a goal was through a set piece or moment of individual genius.

Given Sunderland’s dominance from attacking set pieces, Newcastle were looking to moments of individual quality to see them through this one and less than one hundred seconds into the second half, they got it.

Following a long throw from Nordi Mukiele, the ball was recycled by Xhaka and despite a reluctance to cross in the first half, Mukiele didn’t hesitate and whipped a teasing ball onto the head of Nick Woltemade — with towering German inadvertently powering a bullet header off the crossbar and sending the stadium into raptures.

Although unlucky for Newcastle, we’d been hesitant to cross during the first half despite being given numerous opportunities due to the positioning of the German forward in relation to the attacking runners. 

The second half saw Sunderland take the initiative and gamble by applying concerted pressure on the Newcastle players which caused the moment of madness, it was nonetheless a moment of sweet release to savour.

Newcastle fashioned a similar moment when a deflected Reinildo cross just evaded the boot of Yoanne Wissa, but in a game of fine margins, sometimes one moment tips the balance.

Sunderland harness the energy of the occasion

One reservation of many neutrals running into this game was whether Sunderland’s effectively new team of non-locals could channel the passion and understanding required to rise to the occasion, but it must be said that on the day, only one side looked up for the fight.

In defence, Reinildo was again outstanding, winning 6/8 duels, Ballard winning 4/7 aerial duels and Robin Roefs making some fantastic high claims — including a 17.9 yard claim in such nonchalant fashion.

In midfield, Enzo Le Fée had arguably his most industrious game, covering every blade of grass laterally in his press including a delicious Cruyff turn and nutmeg on Lewis Hall.

Xhaka and Sadiki combined for 9/10 duel wins — including a 100% success rate aerially against their midfield counterparts, with Brian Brobbey also causing havoc for the Newcastle backline.

Special note goes to Le Bris for his selection of Brobbey in this one, as without Joelinton there to protect his defenders, Brobbey was able to drop deeper and hold up the play magnificently against the weaker Newcastle players, displaying some great link up play and close control with balls being drilled into him from all angles whilst also drawing four fouls, the most of any player in the match.

Midfield matchups

By lining up in identical shapes, Sunderland were looking to fight fire with fire in their attempt to stifle Newcastle’s strongest assets in the centre of the pitch.

Both teams operate with a single pivot that looks to act as a deeper, orchestrating playmaker, while the other two act more industriously and combatively, fighting fires wherever they appear.

Sadiki was able to go man-for-man on Bruno Guimarães and jockey him at every possible turn, preventing the Newcastle captain from gaining a moment to breathe when in our final third. Likewise, Le Fée was able to track Lewis Miley wherever he roamed and utilised his smaller size to drop into pockets and link up the play with Brobbey and the two wingers.

Xhaka played a hybrid role and whilst he was zonally operating from a defensive standpoint, he would often press up high onto Tonali to make life uncomfortable for the midfielder, often finding himself as the midfielder furthest forward, leading the press when Newcastle retained possession during the second half.

Sunderland remain compact and connected

In all honesty, both teams could’ve played for another hour during that second half and neither would’ve scored again. Although Sunderland enjoyed a five-minute spell following the goal in which they flashed balls into the box, it wasn’t until the seventieth minute that Wilson Isidor managed to test Ramsdale again.

Le Bris instructed his side to drop into that compact 4-4-2 shape off the ball, encouraging Newcastle to launch crosses into the box with the safety of his central defenders and for Roefs to take the sting out of all danger.

Whilst they were happy to surrender possession, Newcastle rarely threatened and aside from the aforementioned deflected cross from Reinildo, they didn’t force Roefs into making any meaningful saves.

In true Le Bris fashion, Sunderland showed that once we establish a lead, we’re very industrious and difficult to break down. We also love defending and a perfectly executed reducer from Trai Hume in the closing stages showcased that beautifully — and it also helped that I got a fantastic view of it.

Looking ahead…

Although not the sexiest game in the world from a football purist’s point of view, it was gritty, scrappy and perfect throwback to what a derby game should be.

Sunderland’s AFCON-selected players will now head to Morocco with a weight off their shoulders and doubtless itching to rejoin the rest of the group in January, having left their teammates in a fantastic place to continue over the festive period.

With four points already taken from our “nightmarish” December, we turn to Brighton and Leeds as we look to end 2025 on a high.

Sunderland’s top scorer for the 1911/1912 season was George Holley, even though the local boy and fan favourite had endured an unfortunate drought in the build up to Christmas.

After five goals in the first four games quickly became ten in nine by October, the Seaham-born inside forward then went six weeks without scoring again — albeit injury worries meant he wasn’t at 100% during the run and so was having to come in and out of the side during that period.

Nevertheless, having made such a blistering start, Holley was pleased to then get back into the groove when he scored Sunderland’s first goal in a 3-2 win against West Bromwich Albion in early December, and with Preston North End next up on Wearside, he was keen to continue his recovery. It wasn’t the only reason he wanted to impress either, for in the absence of Charlie Thomson, he’d been named captain for the afternoon and sought to lead by example.

Thomson had taken a knee to the back against the Baggies and with an egg-sized lump forming where he’d been hit, he required treatment at both half time and full time. A cab was then arranged to take him home, and whilst the inflammation had settled down since then, it was still too early for him to make a return to action.

Winning the toss on a heavy pitch, the temporary skipper was happy for the visitors to take the kick-off at 14:11 and whilst Preston were bright in the first few minutes, it wasn’t long before Holley and his teammates began making inroads — only for their progress to be halted for a short while when a small dog found its way onto the pitch and play had to be suspended for a period.

Building momentum back up after the incident didn’t take long however, with John Young — a debutant seven days prior and whom often went by the name of “Jack” — soon feeding Holley for the opener.

A slip by goalkeeper Herbert Taylor as he rushed out to try and narrow the angle helped matters, yet Holley still needed to show composure to finish the chance whilst Taylor soon redeemed himself by hanging onto a vicious shot from Arthur Bridgett before blocking an equally powerful Franis Cuggy drive.

Next came an almighty goalmouth scramble as Preston eventually hacked clear, and with the pressure being steadily maintained, it took them over half an hour before they were able to break out and give Walter Scott anything to do in the home goal.

Even then though his workload was minimal, and at half time the Lilywhites were grateful to still just about be in the game given how hard they’d been pushed up to that point.

The pattern also continued once ends had been switched, with Preston unable to do much more than frustrate the Lads, and on the rare occasion they were able to get any meaningful possession higher up the pitch, Sunderland mirrored their firm defensive work.

John Thompson — a former Lads player who’d left Roker the year before — was one of the few attacking players able to test home full back Billy Troughear, whereas the hosts had a number of different threats and could sustain longer periods on the front foot.

There was little surprise, therefore, when Holley looked to have clinched things with his second goal twenty five minutes from time. Receiving the ball from Charlie Buchan this time, he placed a low shot beyond Taylor to make it 2-0, and with the game now well and truly up Preston began to show their frustration, with David Anderson having to be pulled away by the referee having found himself at loggerheads with Cuggy.

There was then further displeasure shown when from a rare corner against, Sunderland upfield with Young, with the ball being tucked away by Jackie Mordue from a tight angle.

Having forged a chance for himself, a rare misfire meant Holley missed out on a hat trick, but it mattered little; he’d by now rediscovered his knack and whilst his remaining strikes were to come in more fitful spells, he finished his Division One season with twenty five goals in just thirty two appearances.  

Saturday 16 December 1911

Football League Division One

Roker Park

Attendance: 10,000

Sunderland 3 (Holley 11’, 65’, Mordue 77’)

Preston North End 0

Sunderland: Scott, Troughear, Milton; Tait, Cuggy, Forster; Mordue, Buchan, Young; Holley, Bridgett

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I really dislike Twitter or X, or whatever you want to call it, most of the time. Mostly due to the dodgy algorithms that fill my timeline. Every now and again though, it’s a glorious place. Sunday night was one of those moments. It was rich with endorphin-laden content for any Sunderland fan. You could watch Woltemade over and over again if you wanted. You could witness the Mags melting down and calling for Eddie Howe to be sacked and chucking [insert name here] under the bus for their performances this season. You could even watch the Mags chucking tables and chairs at each other.

My favourite bit though was fans of other clubs who sat as interested spectators and heralded Sunderland fans as being the saviours of the modern game. Comments like “Football is back” and “Proper fans” coming from people with Liverpool and Man City in their bios. It’s true of course; the vast majority of that crowd were also in the crowd against Fleetwood Town, I would imagine, but it’s a consistent theme. When we played Palace away there were Palace fans on Twitter commenting on how loud our fans were, same at Chelsea. Now you could say Chelsea is hardly surprising because they never make much noise anyway, but they were comparing us to what they are used to, and that means every other club in the Premier League. The atmosphere at the derby was something else though.

There seems to be this symbiosis between pitch and terrace at the moment. A hive mind if you like. The players put their battle armour on before every game and we respond appropriately on the terraces. It’s a glorious connection and fans actually feel part of the experience rather than paying to be entertained. We need to be guarded though because it may not be like this forever. As time goes by we may, as a fanbase, be sucked into the vortex of complacency. A Forest fan commented that they too were fervent and passionate but as time has worn on that has been replaced with a bit of complacency and they aren’t as vocal as they used to be.

Premier League fanbases have become complacent and matches have become more like entertainment events. There’s a big problem with that. If you’re paying to be entertained you can complain; if you’re going to a football match as a supporter you’re rolling the dice. The match wasn’t pretty by any stretch. I would argue that with a bit of urgency around the box we could have been celebrating a much bigger win, but it wasn’t pretty by any means. Neutrals probably found it all a bit dull but we didn’t. We relished in it because of what it meant.

We watched that clock move into slow motion as it clicked and clicked and clicked for what seemed an eternity. The South Stand never paused for breath as song after song after song left many needing Strepsils today. My son stood alongside me at 15 years old and he witnessed his first-ever derby victory.

He won’t have been the only one, and I am so pleased that all of those who attended for their derby debut got to experience the fanbase at its most fervent. They get it now.

Which brings me on to the visitors. When we lost in the FA Cup there was something very odd and unfamiliar about them. It didn’t feel like a derby. No noise from the Saudi boys. For all their arrogance and posturing on Twitter they were like a mob out for a nice day at the park.

At 3-0 they should have been absolutely humiliating us from the terraces, but they weren’t.

They did on social media afterwards of course, but out there… the most they did was wave some scarves around. “That was different; this time you’ll see them properly,” I told my son. Except you didn’t. Now I get it – I’m South Stand-based and that was just a torrent of noise so it’s difficult to judge just how quiet they were, but I have asked people who were sitting in the Premier concourse and the North Stand and they concur.

Forgive me for giving any praise to them, but they really used to be better than that. I suspect the result has dislodged some of the arrogance and come the return leg the atmosphere will be very different because again there are many of them who have never felt this.

The main thrust of all of this is that there are passionate fanbases who have withered into complacency on the terraces. Possibly through an influx of football tourists.

Our unique attribute is that we are proper fans. We should never lose that.

This is Wearside – help to build the atmosphere and credit should be given to them for the part they have played in elevating our fanbase and presenting them to the world, but we as a fanbase need to keep roaring from the terraces. We need to be the saviours of modern football. Keep up the good work.

Well, that was the sweetest – by far the best – of what we can still call a series of wins that Sunderland AFC has had over the other lot in the last 15 years or so.

For the last nine of those years they have tried – fuelled by a compliant local media – to belittle, to mock, to look down on us. Today was karma for those times, those times when it was so hard to keep the faith.

Through all of those years we can always say that we didn’t crave a corrupt deal to secure state ownership. What will be left of this country if our football clubs are hawked to other countries? It is easy to forget that whilst we tumbled down the leagues 12 miles away there was shouting at shop fronts demonstrating against Premier League mid-table mediocrity. A few years on and £600m later it would seem that progress is slow.

Progress for our club over the last couple of years started slowly and make no mistake it has been a hard road not without its frustrations, but the progress in the last six months has been beyond our wildest dreams. Now that we have “played someone” and beaten them we enter Christmas as North-East top dogs on the day that we mourn a hero, the legend of Lord Gary Rowell, a footballer so cool he was way ahead of his time.

What a team this is; how we managed to sign some of these lads it is hard to fathom. But they have bought into the dream that was sold to them. They were persuaded to leave Leverkusen, PSG, Getafe, and Atlético Madrid to come and join us, Sunderland, a newly promoted team. We had a story to tell, a history to celebrate, and a dream of what might be. These lads have bought into that and are at one with us fans. This is a proper team, a team who manage to find a way – that’s what Sunderland do, that’s what we are. A lesson for others to learn from, maybe.

Granit Xhaka and Enzo Le Fée were head and shoulders above their opponents today. They dominated mind, body, and soul. Sadiki never stopped running – a constant ball of energy who couldn’t be coped with. The back four, this amazingly tough four but with great footballing ability, were never in trouble against a triumvirate costing north of £160m. Our front three plus the subs didn’t let Newcastle’s back line breathe and played with plenty of skill, plenty of ability to do enough hurt.

Every aspect of the club is working so well. Has there ever been a quicker turnaround in a football club? Who knows where we will finish this season, but the energy doesn’t look like it is leaving these lads’ legs, and the tactical supremacy that Le Bris has so far demonstrated over Emery, Maresca, Arteta, Slot, and now Howe has been masterful. All delivered without a hint of arrogance or entitlement which is so refreshing in this Premier League environment.

Every team in this league is full of good players; quality is everywhere you look, but we are now sixteen games deep into this season and that quality courses through our team too.

This is a day that will never be forgotten, the day when the ghosts of the last nine years were put to bed, the day when we stood up and went toe-to-toe and came out well-deserved winners against those who pretend they have new rivals to care about.

All on a day when we remembered Gary Rowell, a derby-day hat-trick hero from 1979, a hero, a legend, a man of supreme talent but whose humility stood so strong – a hero we are rightly immensely proud to remember.

Alex Slitz via Getty Images

The Longhorns will have Arch Manning for another season.

Manning’s father, Cooper Manning, texted ESPN’s Dave Wilson on Monday night to confirm that he would be “playing football at Texas next year.” That had been the expectation for the Longhorns, though Manning could have declared for the NFL Draft or hit the transfer portal if he wanted to.

Manning led the Longhorns on a 6-1 run to end the season, which nearly got them into the College Football Playoff after a disappointing start to the year. Instead, they’ll now take on Michigan in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl later this month.

Manning finished this season, his first as a starter, with 2,942 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions, all but two of which came in the first five games of the year. He had eight rushing touchdowns, and completed better than 61% of his passes, too.

"He's a young man who's gotten better as the season's gone on, and not only physically, but mentally, maturity-wise," Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said on Monday, via ESPN. "I would think he's going to want another year of that growth to put himself in position for hopefully a long career in the NFL. And he's got some unfinished business of what he came here to do and what he came here to accomplish.

"We had a really good football season. We left some meat on the bone with an opportunity to be SEC champs, national champs, and so ultimately for him, I think the competitor in him is going to say, 'Man, I sure would like another crack at trying to do those things.'"

This post will be updated with more information shortly.

Sssshhhhhh. Can you hear it? Something almost imperceptible? If you go outside your house and listen, there’s a noise quietly whispering to us through the breeze. It’s Sam Fender’s management asking Gateshead FC if he can have a free shirt as he wants to claim to support a team that he can actually be proud of.

He would be advised to head over Wearside for that, but I don’t think he’d be welcome here.

Anyway, this is part two of my piece from Saturday, but this time we have answers.

So what are we left with after a frenetic, febrile, and exhausting day of loosely choreographed chaos against an insipid, clueless Newcastle side? (Who will forever now be known henceforth as “the Visitors”.) Well, we have the three points which we craved, we have the bragging rights and – most importantly – we can say with ironclad certainty that Sunderland AFC have earned the right to spend the next 22 games asking what might be achieved as opposed to looking over their shoulders.

How that has come to pass should be a surprise to nobody. Consistently Régis Le Bris and his team have found different ways to win. Not only that, they have fought off negative narratives that have been thrown at them on a regular basis.

It started with the assumption the three promoted sides would come straight down based on an incomparable set of prior clubs and circumstances which had dropped before them. Then, once they had shown they had far more about them than simply being competition winners, it was asserted they were defying the underlying statistics. The conclusion was, therefore, that things would eventually even themselves out and Sunderland would finish lower-mid table at best.

Why was this? Well, for some in the media it was probably because they were unable to adopt anything but a 2D look at Sunderland. For others, such as friends, family, and acquaintances of a Visitors persuasion, it was because it made them feel a tiny bit better about the fact that this season there would be no “thanks for an easy six points”. Or, as it turns out, three points.

Does it come as a surprise to any of you, though? It certainly doesn’t to me, as this side has consistently passed the eye test throughout the season. And that is the most important metric of all.

The truth is, it was never in doubt against a Visitors side that didn’t just fail to land a glove on Sunderland but failed to even complete the ringwalk. Rumour has it they didn’t even want to be in the building. Or sign the deal.

I am a big believer in karma, and the Visitors had that coming in the post. All those years of peacocking, telling Sunderland that they would forever be in their shadow. Well, it turns out they were less peacocks and more bus-station pigeons.

I’m not, however, one to believe in omens, but on Friday I realised that I had lost one of my “’Til the End” socks recently purchased from the Sock Council. It is no exaggeration to say I spent a good six hours searching for the elusive garment before being forced to admit defeat shortly before leaving for the match on Sunday morning. It wasn’t for the lack of effort. Kids’ bath times were delayed, they could make their own tea, and if my wife expected the vacuuming to be done, she could think again. This sock had to be found. Could this mean a certain defeat, I wondered?

I shouldn’t have worried – because you just cannot help but trust these boys; something we should all bear in mind as the season unfolds. And as far as I’m concerned, that sock will forever be known as the lucky lost sock.

Hopefully it will never be found.

The Denver Broncos and Green Bay Packers were locked in a tight game in the waning moments of the third quarter. On a first down play, quarterback Bo Nix began to move the pocket, towards the near side of the field, before finding himself face-to-face with All-Pro Micah Parsons. Nix immediately stopped on a dime, causing Parsons to quickly change direction and land awkwardly. It was later revealed Parsons tore his ACL on the play, ending his season early.

Parsons was the second high-profile player of the day to injure the ligament, joining Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Leading up to Monday Night Football, ESPN talked about the injury to Parsons and the great game Nix had against a high-level Packers defense. Former Super Bowl champion and current analyst Ryan Clark said Nix's elusiveness was the cause of Parsons' injury.

"Micah Parsons is hurt because of Bo Nix," Clark said. "And I'm not saying that it's one of those things that's Bo Nix's fault, but the violence in which Micah Parsons had to chase Bo Nix the entire second half was extremely evident. Whether it was the touchdown to [Michael] Bandy, the throw to Troy Franklin. Getting outside the pocket and finding Lil'Jordan Humphrey. You could see that Micah Parsons was the one person in pursuit of Bo Nix the entire day.

"And on the injury and on the play he [Parsons] was hurt, Bo Nix attempted to get outside, he found [Marvin] Mims, and you could see Micah redirect in order to keep him in the pocket. That was part of what he'd seen the entire night, and the way Bo Nix was able to attack that defense -- Bo Nix was amazing last night. And it's sad you lose a great player like Micah Parsons, but it was because of the effort that he to give in order to get to Denver's quarterback."

You can view Clark's full comments on Nix and his elusiveness below.

Nix finished the night 23-of-34 for 302 yards and four passing touchdowns against the Packers, tying a career-high for passing scores. The Broncos are now set to face the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16.

Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.

This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL news: Ryan Clark says Micah Parsons hurt because of Bo Nix

Rookie Cooper Flagg scored a career-high 42 points, but it wasn't enough to help the Dallas Mavericks avoid a 140-133 overtime defeat against the Utah Jazz on Monday, Dec. 15.

Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, was the game's leading scorer, shooting 13-of-27 from the field and making 15 of 20 free-throw attempts. Keyonte George (37 points) and Lauri Markkanen (33) each helped the Jazz pull out the victory.

Flagg's 42-point total is the most in a single NBA game for an 18-year-old player. On Nov. 29, Flagg joined LeBron James as the only 18-year-olds in NBA history to post 30-plus point totals. Against the Jazz, Flagg surpassed the 37 points James scored for the Cleveland Cavaliers in a game on Dec. 13, 2003 against the Boston Celtics.

Cooper Flagg stats vs. Jazz

• Points: 42
• FG: 13-for-27 (1-for-4 from 3-point line)
• Free Throws: 15-for-20
• Rebounds: 7
• Assists: 6
• Steals: 1
• Blocks: 2
• Turnovers: 4
• Fouls: 3
• Minutes: 42

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cooper Flagg stats, points tonight, Mavericks vs. Jazz highlights

Alex Greenwood is leaning forward, the England and Manchester City defender scrolling excitedly through Spotify. “It’s this one, isn’t it?” she asks The Athletic as Mariah Carey tells the world in no uncertain terms precisely what she wants for Christmas.

“That’s a good one,” Greenwood declares. “My favourite’s Mistletoe, by Justin Bieber.”

“Driving home for Christmas,” team-mate Lily Murphy offers beside her, igniting an impromptu sing-along on the couch between the pair.

Greenwood and Murphy are taking a break from Jenga and spontaneous hallway kickabouts with families and patients from the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, part of the club’s City Onside programme and Christmas Together campaign, to speak to The Athletic.

“I’m injured, which is frustrating, but I come here, and I say this with the greatest respect, I feel like I’m really lucky,” says Greenwood, who sustained a minor knock during England’s November international break.

“Coming here reminds me that my injury is so small compared to what these kids are going through,” adds Murphy, who injured her shoulder in September. “It makes us really grateful that every day we get to enjoy the sport that we play.”

We should be talking about the football — specifically, the fact City are top of the Women’s Super League (WSL), six points clear of their nearest rivals and perennial champions Chelsea heading into the winter break courtesy of their 6-1 thrashing of Aston Villa on Sunday.

Yet, harping on about the football hasn’t really been the reason City are top.

“I’m going to be honest — and you’re going to hate me for this — but nothing has changed for us,” Greenwood says with an apologetic smile. “We’re aware of the table, but we’re in a really good place, playing really well, our conversations within the group, within the team are as normal as they were on matchday one.”

Greenwood’s calm is arresting. “Even on the weekend (against Leicester City), I’m sat at home watching the game, and it’s 0-0 at half-time, and I’m so relaxed,” she says of City’s eventual 3-0 win. “I’m so confident that we will find a way to win and score, and we did.”

If there has been one point of difference to City this season, it can be found in the players’ supreme confidence in their abilities.

The mentality shift has been the greatest distinction. City now play with a cool, fiery conviction, grinding out results even when performances are lacking. It is an attribute more readily associated with eight-time WSL winners Chelsea. City’s appointment of former Denmark national team manager Andree Jeglertz in the summer has marked a tangible shift.

How Jeglertz would fare in his first season in England’s top flight was a matter of debate, particularly after Denmark’s disappointing group-stage exit from Euro 2025. After City finished fourth in the WSL last season, failing to reach the heights expected of them, how much would their new manager change?

But the 53-year-old has taken a subtle approach, rather than a sledgehammer.

More responsibility has been handed to 22-year-old Laura Blindkilde Brown in midfield, who has started 10 of City’s 11 league matches this season. During international breaks when squad numbers are low, Jeglertz has incorporated training sessions with some of City’s academy boys’ sides to maintain high levels of physicality. Tactically, City are less rigid and orthodox, open to adapting styles to opponents.

Striker Khadija “Bunny” Shaw remains City’s top scorer — she scored her 100th goal from 120 City appearances against Villa, then proceeded to score three more — but the attacking threat is more varied. Twelve players have scored for City this season, the most of any WSL side.

“It’s no surprise,” Greenwood says. “As much as last season was really disappointing and hard to take, the talent in the squad speaks for itself.

“At the end of the season, we looked at each other in the eye and we knew it wasn’t good enough. So we started fresh this season, loads of new faces — staff and a few players — but the core was already there. The mindset was there. It was about how we’re going to get the most out of each other.

“Andree has brought in a sense of calmness and allowed players to express themselves in their own way. His door’s always open. He’s a very open guy, but on a human level as well. He wants to get to know you as a person. That’s been a massive reason for success. And you can see now that, slowly but surely, we are improving. We’ve never not believed we can achieve something with this club.”

The 3-2 victory against Arsenal in October provides a point of reflection for the mentality shift. City twice lost their lead, and previously, they would have been expected to eventually succumb to Arsenal’s momentum. Instead, summer signing Iman Beney scored an 88th-minute winner.

“That was the moment,” Murphy says. “Arsenal are title contenders, a massive rival.

“But each game we’ve always looked like we’re going to come out the better side, even if it’s not going our way. We’ve stuck together, we’ve competed really well. We’re always looking to get that result each game, and that’s showing up throughout the team.”

It is still a long way to go until May, and City have been here before, weeks away from the finish line in the 2023-24 season, firmly in front, only to suffer defeat at the hands of Chelsea on goal difference on the final day.

But this feels different, and City will be different in the new year. Brazil winger Kerolin’s recent recovery from a “lower body injury” is a huge boost, as will be the return of Greenwood. More signings are expected in January.

For now, Greenwood and Murphy are feeling calm, relishing the present, as they have for most of the season.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Manchester City, Women's Soccer

2025 The Athletic Media Company

Cooper Flagg stats vs. Jazz: How Mavericks rookie topped LeBron James in NBA's teenage scoring record books with scoring outburst originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The early-season concerns over Cooper Flagg's play appear to be ancient history.

While it hasn't been a pretty season for the 10-16 Dallas Mavericks, their star rookie has turned a corner to his expected stardom in recent weeks, and that led to a new career-best performance on Monday night.

Taking on the Utah Jazz, Flagg topped 40 points for the Mavericks, although Dallas fell 140-133. Still, Flagg's outing was historic; he set a new NBA record for points by an 18-year-old.

Here's a look at Flagg's breakout night against the Jazz. 

MORE: Which teams are in the NBA Cup championship?

Cooper Flagg stats vs. Jazz

• Points: 42
• Rebounds: 7
• Assists: 6
• Steals: 1
• Blocks: 2
• FG: 13-27
• 3P: 1-4
• FT: 15-20

Coming into Monday, Flagg's season-high in scoring was a 35-point effort against the Los Angeles Clippers on Nov. 29. He topped that mark with ease against Utah.

The Mavericks fell to the Jazz, but Flagg was scoring from all around the floor, displaying the all-around talents that made him the No. 1 overall pick last summer. Particularly, he got to the free-throw line with ease, making 15 of his 20 attempts.

Flagg had 24 points at halftime against the Jazz, with his top highlight being a left-handed scoop that softly fell into the basket as he was fouled.

Cooper Flagg in just one half vs. Utah 😮

🔹 24 PTS
🔹 4 REB
🔹 4 AST pic.twitter.com/hZAZCfym6Y

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 16, 2025

Later on, Flagg helped the Mavericks force overtime, floating one high off the glass with some light touch while trailing by three -- and he got the foul this time as well.

COOPER FLAGG IS HIM!!!! AND1 and he Has 39pts!! pic.twitter.com/lTrl6usJy0

— MavsHighlights (@MavsHighlights) December 16, 2025

Flagg added two points in overtime on top of his seven rebounds and six assists, but Dallas fell as Keyonte George dropped 37 points for Utah.

MORE: Where does the Thunder's start rank among best in NBA history?

Highest-scoring games by 18 years old in NBA history

Flagg had already been threatening to break the NBA record for most points in a game by an 18 year old, as his 35 points earlier this season were the third-most ever. On Monday, he officially took claim of the record, which was held by another phenom: LeBron James.

James' 37 points on Dec. 13, 2003, were the most by an 18-year-old in a game in league history, until Flagg's performance against the Jazz. With 42 points, Flagg rewrote the record books, also becoming the first 18-year-old to drop 40-plus points in a game.

Already, the leaderboard for single-game points by an 18-year-old is dominated by Flagg and James. According to StatMuse, those two players take up the top 14 spots on the all-time list, followed by Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant, who each dropped 24 points as an 18-year-old.

Here's are the 10 highest-scoring games by an 18-year-old in NBA history, per StatMuse.

Arch Manning announces return: Why QB is returning to Texas for fourth season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Arch Manning's first season as a college starter was not the quite Heisman-level performance that many expected to see from the jump. But, by the end of the season, the Texas Longhorns' quarterback emerged as one of the best players in college football. Now, right before the College Football Playoff, Manning's father Cooper announced that Arch will be returning to the Longhorns next season.

Manning, the preseason Heisman favorite, had a season of ups-and-downs but gradually improved. He led Texas to a 9-3 record as starter, capped off by three wins over AP Top-10 teams in Oklahoma, Vanderbilt and No. 3 Texas A&M in the season finale. Though Texas missed out on the College Football Playoff, Manning's improvement makes the Longhorns an immediate contender in 2026.

The generational hype that preceded his arrival in Austin created a massive shadow, and in the opening weeks of the season, the young quarterback struggled to find his footing. Performances were often characterized by errant throws, slow processing speed, and the anxiety of operating behind an inconsistent offensive line. Critics were loud, pointing to low completion percentages and the costly turnovers in early losses that saw the preseason No. 1 Longhorns fall out of the AP Top 25, prompting a national conversation about whether the pressure was simply too much for the celebrated recruit.

BREAKING: QB Arch Manning is returning to Texas for the 2026 season, his father Cooper told ESPN.

Manning led the Longhorns to a 9-3 record and 13th-ranked finish. pic.twitter.com/LXNUIkXoYc

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) December 16, 2025

Though, by the time the calendar flipped to November, Manning’s individual production had climbed into the air of the nation's elite quarterbacks. In the final month of the regular season, including critical games against Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, and Arkansas, he was consistently setting new career highs and rewriting the Texas record books. In a three-game span, Manning averaged a blistering 354 passing yards, throwing 10 touchdowns to just one interception while demonstrating a mastery of the deep ball that had been missing earlier in the year. He finished the season with a stat line -- nearly 3,000 yards and 24 touchdowns -- that rivaled the freshman years of former Heisman winners.

Now, as the Longhorns look ahead to the Citrus Bowl against Michigan, the narrative surrounding Manning has completely flipped. His decision to return for the next season is the ultimate declaration of faith in the program's championship trajectory, solidifying the idea that the Longhorns have not just a star, but a proven, rapidly improving signal-caller who is ready to become one of the best quarterbacks in college football.

Get ready for Year 2 of Arch Manning in Austin.

MORE: Who is Arch Manning's dad?

Why did Arch Manning forgo the draft?

While Manning was projected by many analysts to be the top quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft and a potential No. 1 overall pick, the ultimate reason for his return to Texas is that he and his family do not believe he is yet a "pro-ready" quarterback after just one season as a full-time starter.

His year was characterized by an erratic start, leading to questions about his consistency and polish, even though he finished the season exceptionally strong. By returning for his redshirt junior season, Manning is prioritizing maximizing his development under coach Steve Sarkisian to ensure he is fully prepared for the next level.

The Manning family history heavily influences this measured approach to the NFL. Both his uncle Peyton and uncle Eli played four full years of college football, with Peyton famously returning for his final year of eligibility despite being widely projected as the No. 1 pick in the 1997 draft. This long-standing family precedent emphasizes that patience and collegiate development are more valuable than an immediate jump to a professional paycheck.

Given that Manning is already one of the highest-compensated athletes in college sports through Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, the financial pressure to leave early is significantly reduced, allowing him to focus purely on the best route for his long-term success in the NFL.

Last, probably, is the "unfinished business" aspect. Texas started the season as the No. 1 team in America and missing the College Football Playoff is a disappointment. With Manning returning in 2026, Texas will once again start as one of the top teams in the nation with a legitimate championship window.

MORE: Arch Manning does something his uncles Peyton and Eli never did

Arch Manning 2025 stats

Manning finished the 2025 season with strong numbers.

Manning's season was marked by significant growth. While he struggled with consistency in the early part of the year, his performance in the latter half of the season was outstanding.

Half of his 24 passing touchdowns were thrown in the final five games of the season, along with three games with over 300 passing yards in his final five contests. Texas capped off the regular season with a victory over a highly-ranked Texas A&M team.

Manning also became the first quarterback in Texas history — and first SEC quarterback since 2014 — to have a passing, rushing and receiving touchdown in the same game. He did it when he had a career-high six touchdowns against Arkansas.

MORE: Why did Arch Manning go to Texas?

Texas QB Depth Chart

The 2026 Texas depth chart will be different behind Manning, with really talented recruits in the wings.

MORE: How Arch Manning became the NIL king in college football

On a frustrating Monday evening for the Kings at the American Airlines Center, the squad was outdone 4-1 by the Dallas Stars, losing goaltender Darcy Kuemper to injury in the process. Los Angeles took its third consecutive loss, falling to 14-9-9 on the season.

Andrei Kuzmenko had the only score of the game for the Kings over halfway into the second period, managing to strip Stars' goaltender Casey DeSmith of the puck and fire it into the net. It was his fifth score of the season and fourth coming via the power play.

Earning points for his 11th consecutive game, DeSmith tied a Dallas franchise record. He improved to 8-0-3, making 27 saves on the night.

Power plays have been an area of struggle for Los Angeles this season, with the squad's 14 power play goals ranking second-to-last in the NHL. Their 14.3% power play conversion rate is better than that of only the Calgary Flames.

Kuzmenko, playing in his second career stint for the Kings, has now found the net twice in his last three games. His four power play scores are the most on the team thus far.

That was the lone bright spot in an otherwise frustrating performance for Los Angeles. Before the conclusion of the second period, Matt Duchene's second score of the year helped Dallas equalize.

In the third, the Stars rattled off three unanswered goals to claim a commanding victory. Oskar Back and Mikko Rantanen both made highlight reel plays to get the puck past Anton Forsberg, while Wyatt Johnston delivered the empty-net dagger in the final seconds of the contest.

Forsberg, who entered the game with four minutes remaining in the opening period as Kuemper's replacement, saved 17 of 20 shots. He was credited with the loss, his second straight.

Kuemper was ultimately removed from the ice after a hard collision with Stars' forward Mikko Rantanen. He was later ruled out for the remainder of the contest with an upper-body injury, taking a lot of contact to the head on the hit. 

Wyatt Johnston had scored just seconds later, but the goal was wiped off the board due to goalie interference. 

Los Angeles will return to action on Wednesday, taking on the Florida Panthers in the first of back-to-back road games. Florida, the back-to-back defending champions, has been stymied by injuries so far and is just fifth in the Atlantic Division at 17-13-2.

Puck drop is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. PT.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is officially on the road to recovery after undergoing successful knee surgery on Monday night.

Mahomes' surgery was performed by Dr. Dan Cooper, the Dallas Cowboys' team physician. According to the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Dr. Cooper repaired the torn ACL and LCL in Mahomes' left knee.

"Patrick Mahomes also tore his LCL, along with his ACL, sources say," posted Rapoport on social media, "While that can complicate recovery, it doesn't necessarily extend his rehab longer than 9 months or so."

More context: Patrick Mahomes also tore his LCL, along with his ACL, sources say. While that can complicate recovery, it doesn’t necessary extend his rehab longer than 9 months or so. https://t.co/aap0zeHK5d

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 16, 2025

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid spoke to reporters via Zoom on Monday, addressing the team's plans heading into the offseason, which could change after Mahomes' injury.

"We'll cross that as we go. (General Manager) Brett (Veach) thinks of everything. He (Brett Veach) jumps in on it, and he's well ahead of all of it, so I'm not worried about that part of it," said Reid, "And then Pat (Mahomes), you never know on these rehabs how they go. I just know he's got good people that he'll be working with, and I know how aggressive he is on things. As long as the surgery goes well and as expected, then I would expect a fairly quick recovery for him just because of those factors."

Veteran backup quarterback Gardner Minshew will be the starter to finish the 2025 regular season as Mahomes looks to rehab and recover with hopes of playing next year.

This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes undergoes knee surgery to repair ACL, LCL

The Washington Men’s Soccer team took home the program’s first national championship on Tuesday night with a 3-2 OT win over #15 North Carolina State. It marked the culmination of a remarkable run for the Huskies who had to win 6 straight games away from home in order to take home the title. That included a near true road win tonight with the College Cup host site of Cary, North Carolina less than 20 miles away from the NC State campus.

Washington managed to get on the board just before halftime when the NC State keeper got caught a bit in no man’s land. A Washington player managed to just get to the ball before the keeper could corral it just outside the box and the resulting deflection went straight to Zach Ramsey who put it straight through on the first touch. That goal put the Huskies up with less than 90 seconds before halftime.

Washington added to their lead in the second half as Richie Aman looked at first like he had been driven to far to the side while trying to probe for an opening. But Aman managed to cross it in front of the goal just before being directed out of bounds and Joe Dale made a perfect cut it front of the net to get a foot on the ball in between two NC State defenders.

That goal put Washington out in front 2-0 with less than 30 minutes remaining in the match. It wasn’t a guarantee for the Huskies but things certainly appeared to be fairly well in hand. That feeling only lasted a matter of minutes before NC State got on the board to make it 2-1. The Wolfpack played aggressively searching for the equalizer and dominated possession down the stretch. That culminated in a well executed strike with just 3 minutes remaining to tie the game and send the hometown crowd into a frenzy.

The teams headed to overtime in a golden goal situation and it didn’t take long for Washington to take advantage. Harrison Bertos managed to just sneak one through on an assist from Egor Akulov to clinch the title for the Huskies less than 2 minutes into the extra period. The celebration had to be put on hold for a few minutes as the refs took a stressful look to see if there was any indication of offsides during the possession but finally the win was confirmed.

The victory for Washington marks the first official NCAA men’s title in school history. Men’s rowing is not an NCAA sanctioned sport and the football titles are recognized by the NCAA but were not during the playoff era and so the NCAA did not name an official champion in those years. The win also represents redemption for coach Jamie Clark who helped lead the Dawgs to the title game in 2021 where Washington ultimately fell to Clemson.

Washington started off the tournament with a 3-2 2OT win over Oregon State in Corvallis which avenged an earlier in the season loss to the Beavers. Then the Huskies pulled their first major upset by winning 1-0 at #5 SMU (that’s #5 overall seed, not a #5 seed like in the basketball tournament). Washington once again prevailed 1-0 in the Sweet 16 at #12 Stanford before besting #4 Maryland 3-1 in the Elite 8. That win also avenged an earlier loss at Maryland which decided the regular season Big Ten title. Finally, Washington clinched their spot in the title game with a 3-1 win over #16 Furman. That means the Huskies won 5 consecutive matches against top 16 teams with none of the wins coming down to penalty kicks.

Those who wish to greet the team upon their arrival back home tomorrow can meet at 3:30p PT at Husky Stadium.

During an appearance with the San Diego Padres Holiday Tour at Ronald McDonald House in San Diego, Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish gave an update on his recovery from the flexor tendon and UCL repair that threatens his illustrious career.

Speaking to the media during his time visiting kids and families at RMH, Darvish expressed his desire to get healthy and get his arm back to baseline. He is not worried about pitching at this point in his recovery and will wait until he is fully recovered to decide the future of his career.

“I’m not necessarily thinking about really pitching as I go through this rehab process right now,” Darvish said through interpreter Shingo Horie. “I don’t have that in my mind. I’m just trying to rehab my arm right now.

“And if I get the urge to come back, if I feel that I can stand on the mound and come back, then I will go for that. But I’ll just leave it there for now.”

Darvish revealed that he was told in March, during Spring Training, that the injury to his pitching elbow was serious enough to need surgery but he opted to try and rehab it and pitch through it. His goal was to give whatever he could to the team with the thought that this could be the end to his career.

After changing his arm angle and working on mechanics to put less strain on his elbow, Darvish came back in July but had the worst season of his career. His 5.38 ERA over 15 starts during the regular season highlighted the struggles he had with his pitches and the ability for hitters to have success against him.

He stated that it was the flexor tendon (muscle) that was the biggest issue but the surgeon also performed a UCL brace surgery to reinforce his formerly repaired Tommy John site. The previous two surgeries on Darvish’s elbow occurred in 2015 (Tommy John) and arthroscopic surgery done in 2018. This is the third straight season as a Padre that Darvish has had an elbow injury or issues.

At 39, Darvish still has three years and $46 million left on the contract he signed in 2023. Should he decide he no longer can or wants to pitch, then he and the organization can negotiate a settlement to end his contract.

For the 2026 season, Darvish can still be valuable as a leader and a mentor to the other pitchers on the staff. It has been noted by manager Craig Stammen that he has a particularly close bond with Randy Vasquez and has been part of his improvement as a starter.

Looking at the previous history with players that president of baseball operations A.J. Preller admires, it would not be a surprise to see Darvish adopt a role in the front office or as a special consultant if he is no longer able to pitch for the Padres.

Based on his previous willingness to forego his salary when unable to be with the team due to personal issues, it can be that a similar honorable approach could be expected during this process. That seemed evident with his willingness to admit to his current state of mind regarding his career and capabilities.

In the wake of speculation about the future of Texas Longhorns junior wide receiver Deandre Moore Jr., Inside Texas reported on Monday that the California product is not expected to return in 2026, setting up a departure through the NCAA transfer portal or a declaration for the 2026 NFL Draft.

A member of the 2023 recruiting class, Moore was a late addition to the class for Texas after decommitting from Louisville during the early signing period and inking with the Longhorns. Previously committed to Oklahoma, Moore also took an official visit to Georgi and held offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Miami, Ole Miss, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and USC, among others. Out of Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco, Moore was a two-way standout who finished the cycle as a consensus four-star prospect ranked as the No. 105 player nationally and the No. 20 wide receiver, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.

During the 2023 season, Moore played in nine games, primarily appearing on the punt return unit and returning a kickoff for 15 yards while failing to record a catch on two targets in 58 snaps over six games on offense.

As a sophomore, Moore had a breakout season for Texas, playing 95 snaps on special teams with regular roles on the kickoff return, punt return, and punt coverage units and a larger role on offense, catching 39 passes for 456 yards and seven touchdowns, including setting career highs with nine receptions and 114 yards while scoring a touchdown against Georgia in the SEC Championship game.

The anticipation was for Moore to continue building on that success as a junior. After spending a season learning from Jordan Whittington, Moore was well regarded as a hard worker and team leader, but wasn’t always able to translate those qualities into success on the field.

With 38 receptions for 532 yards and four touchdowns, the 6’0, 192-pounder wasn’t able to match his success from the 2024 season, disappointing as a blocker, struggling to create explosive plays, and making several critical mental mistakes like running out of bounds when Texas was trying to kill the clock late in the Kentucky game and fielding a bouncing punt near the goal line against Arkansas.

Given Moore’s lack of steady improvement and high-profile lapses in situational awareness in 2025, there’s a sense that things just didn’t work out as anticipated for Moore with the Longhorns, along with a concurrent belief that his unfulfilled potential doesn’t necessarily represent an indictment of either party even though he would become one of the biggest departures for Texas in the Steve Sarkisian era if he doesn’t return to the Forty Acres in 2026.

Enzo Maresca may have lost the plot a bit in his dealings with the media in the last couple press conferences, talking about how it was the worst 48 hours of his Chelsea life last week due to lack of “support”, then refusing to elaborate on any part of that cryptic messaging when asked about it again. Support from the board? The fans? The media? He only specifically denied speculation about the fans, even if that’s where most of the criticism has actually come for him.

But, all that is a bit of a sideshow anyway. What matters is what happens on the pitch, and there we need to start improving our results. Saturday’s win over Everton was a good start, ending the four-match winless slide. Now we have a great chance to make two in two, taking on League One-leaders Cardiff City in the quarterfinals of the League Cup. The Bluebirds are the only lower-league team left in the competition, so we should have no excuses not to advance.

Date / Time: Tuesday, December 16, 2025, 20.00 GMT; 3pm EST; 1:30am IST (next day)
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
Referee: Tony Harrington; no VAR
Forecast: Cold and calm

On TV: Sky Sports Main Event (UK); none (USA); none (India); SuperSport MaXimo 2 (NGA); elsewhere
Streaming: Sky Go (UK); Paramount+ (USA); FanCode (India); DStv Now (NGA)

Cardiff City team news: Cardiff finished rock bottom of the Championship last season, dropping back down to the third division for the first time in over two decades. But it looks like they won’t be staying down there for too long, currently holding a four-point lead at the top of the table, having won five in a row.

Among the players making an impact has been Chelsea loanee Omari Kellyman, a key player in their league-best attack now that he’s healthy. We have apparently rejected the request to let the 20-year-old play against us tonight (unlike in the Premier League, where that is not allowed by rule, in the Cups it’s up to the parent club).

An even bigger miss will be midfielder Rubin Colwill, who picked up a serious ankle injury recently. Defender Gabriel Osho is also out, while goalkeeper Jak Alnwick has been dealing with a long-term hamstring problem.

Head coach Brian Barry-Murphy, who succeeded Enzo Maresca as Manchester City U21 boss back in 2021, will face his former colleague for the first time.

Chelsea team news: Barry-Murphy had worked with Roméo Lavia and Liam Delap at City, and took Robert Sánchez on loan at Rochdale, but ironically, none of the three are likely to be involved in this one, with the first two injured and Sánchez likely making way for a rare Filip Jörgensen appearance in goal. Cole Palmer, another ex-City youth prospect, will likely be rested as well, having just come back from his own injury. (And no, we don’t even talk about Raheem Sterling.)

A Colwill of our own, Levi (no relation) is also out, as is Dário Essugo still, after suffering a setback in his rehab a couple weeks ago. Perhaps the new year will bring better luck for him.

Chelsea’s fixture list looks quite daunting over the extended holiday period, with massive games in both the Premier League and the Champions League. This game is certainly not on that level, but it is just as important to practice the winning habit, and get into the final four of the League Cup.

Previously: We’ve played Cardiff City only rarely in the last half century — five times, to be exact since 1961 — doing the double over them both times that they were in the Premier League, in 2013-14 and 2018-19, and beating them in the fifth round of the FA Cup in 2010 (before going on to win that trophy). Our last visit to this stadium featured orange socks, an angry Neil Warnock, and a last-minute winner from Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

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Welcome to our second edition of the 'Fantasy Playoffs Trust Meter' with Justin Boone and Scott Pianwoski. The dynamic duo asks the question for some of the most important players we've been relying on all season: Can we trust them in the fantasy playoffs? The two put them through the meter ahead of Week 16.

(2:00) - Fantasy fallout: Jayden Daniels out for season, Bhayshul Tuten out for fantasy postseason, Davante Adams week-to-week

(12:30) - Fantasy Playoffs Trust Meter intro

(13:00) - Trust meter: Kyle Pitts, JJ McCarthy + Justin Jefferson, Tyler Shough, DJ Moore, Terry McLaurin

(31:20) - Trust meter: Chiefs offense, Chargers offense, Colts offense, Trevor Lawrence + Brian Thomas Jr., Dalton Kincaid

(52:05)- Trust meter: Quinshon Judkins, Bucs RBs, Seahawks RBs, Jawhar Jordan, Michael Carter

(1:09:55) - Top Waiver Wire adds for Week 16

Jason Jung

🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTube

Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv

Miami Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks continued his stellar 2025 campaign with another impressive game in a losing effort against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Brooks led the way for the Dolphins defense with 13 tackles, two tackles for loss, a pass defended, and a sack on Steelers' quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

The sack on Rodgers came on a key third down play which took the Steelers out of field goal range.

Down he goes 😤

RT to #ProBowlVote Jordyn Brooks pic.twitter.com/jHkZ6F8aFv

— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) December 16, 2025

Unfortunately for the Dolphins, Brooks' efforts were not enough to keep the Steelers offense at bay for long. With a 28-15 loss, the 6-8 Dolphins were officially eliminated from playoff contention.

In his second season in Miami, Brooks has eight games with 10 or more tackles. He extended his league leading tackle total to 155 on the season, recapturing the title from the Raiders linebacker Devin White, who climbed to 149 tackles on the year Sunday.

With three games left in 2025, Brooks isn't far from his single-season career-high in tackles of 184, which he recorded with the Seattle Seahawks in 2021. Brooks' season total of 3.5 sacks is also just one shy of his single-season best of 4.5.

Brooks, 28, has established himself as a cornerstone of this Miami defense in year six of his NFL career. He has been consistent and reliable, starting in 31 of his games with the Dolphins. With the focus now shifting to the offseason after being eliminated from the playoff contention, the Dolphins have to view Brooks as a key contributor to the future of this franchise.

This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Dolphins player of the game, Week 15: LB Jordyn Brooks

MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: The Yankees are the only team in the AL East who hasn’t completed a big deal this offseason, and now it’s suggested that their first major piece of offseason business could be a departure rather than an arrival. Jazz Chisholm Jr. has attracted interest from several rival teams, and while Brian Cashman stopped short of saying that they were actively shopping their starting second baseman, they were nonetheless remaining “open-minded” toward opportunities to improve the pitching staff. Chisholm is coming off his second All-Star appearance having become just the third player to post a 30-30 season in Yankees franchise history. However, he is entering his final year of team control, and given that the Yankees generally do not sign walk year players to extensions, they may look to recoup some value in a trade rather than risk losing him in free agency for nothing but qualifying offer compensation.

SNY | Alex Smith: If the Yankees are indeed looking to cash Jazz in on the trade market, they’ll be dismayed to learn that one of the few players in the league who represents an upgrade over their incumbent could be unavailable. That’s because Ketel Marte included the Yankees as one of five teams on the no-trade list bargained into the six-year, $116.5 million extension he signed prior to last season. The Yankees are joined by the Athletics, Pirates, Giants, and Cardinals as teams Marte can veto a trade to. The 32-year-old second baseman has been the very best player at the keystone over the last three seasons and is coming off a stellar campaign where he slashed .283/.376/.517 with 28 home runs, 72 RBI, a 145 wRC+ and 4.6 fWAR.

MLB Trade Rumors | Mark Polishuk: The Yankees claim that they are focused on winning in 2026, but they are going to face competition to just roll it back with the same squad as last year. Cody Bellinger remains one of the top unsigned free agents, and another team has jumped into the sweepstakes with the Giants looking to make a splash in what has also been a quiet offseason to this point. Both the Yankees and Giants need another impact bat in their outfield and Bellinger is the market’s second-best option after Kyle Tucker after slugging 29 home runs and amassing a 125 wRC+ and 4.9 fWAR in 2025. As much as the Yankees would love a reunion with one of their best players from last season, they have set a firm valuation on Bellinger and are reportedly not going to get into a bidding war with other clubs should the terms exceed what they are comfortable paying.

Real to land Olise? (TEAMtalk)

Thigs went radio silent for a bit, but now — out of nowhere — we are starting to see Michael Olise rumors again. This time, it is Real Madrid, who could pull in the Frenchman:

TEAMtalk can reveal how a much-hyped Liverpool replacement for Mohamed Salah may not make an immediate return to the Premier League, with the attacker also having his eyes firmly set on Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise is the player in question, with sources revealing to us that the Frenchman is keeping his long-term options open, and that a move to Spain is not out of the question.

We understand that Arsenal have always kept tabs on him and if he shows a real willingness to move back to England then they could also yet be involved.

However, Olise’s camp think he has the potential to be the first English-born Ballon d’Or winner since Michael Owen in 2001.

And we understand one side that can’t be discounted is Real Madrid, and they could very well have room for him sooner than many expected.

We’ll say it again — there is no shot Bayern Munich is going to sell Olise. Would it change anything if Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain came calling with a 150 million-200 million offer? Maybe, but it still feels like a total longshot.

Ter Stegen takes another hit (Fabrizio Romano)

If Marc-André ter Stegen wants to play for the German national team this summer, the goalkeeper likely has to think about a move in January.

FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has made it clear — Ter Stegen is not the starter in Catalonia.

“Marc is an amazing goalkeeper, and we have 3 of them. My words were clear: Joan García is the number 1 goalkeeper, so then we’ll see what happens,” said Ter Stegen. “Don’t forget that Szczesny is a key player for us, on and off the pitch.”

Author’s Note: Do you get the idea that a lot of German footballers and coaches cannot stand Ter Stegen? It seems like Julian Nagelsmann is a fan, but quotes and stories over the years seem to paint a picture that not many Germans hold him in high regard. Food for thought…

Bayern stifled by Spurs on Vušković? (The Hard Tackle)

Bayern Munich was reportedly kicking the tires on Hamburger SV’s 18-year-old Croatian center-back Luka Vušković, but was shot down by his parent club, Tottenham Hotspur:

Bayern Munich are reportedly interested in signing 18-year-old Croatian defender Luka Vuskovic from Tottenham Hotspur. Vuskovic is currently on loan at Hamburger SV, and he has done quite well for the Bundesliga club. He is already a key player for them and one of the first names on the team sheet. His performances have been very impressive, and Bayern Munich want to secure his signature.

They have made an enquiry for the young Croat, but a report from TEAMtalk has claimed that Tottenham have already turned down the approach. They do not plan to sell the 18-year-old defender anytime soon.

Chelsea, City moving in on Upamecano? (TEAMtalk)

With more uncertainty growing around the Dayot Upamecano’s future with Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Manchester City could be lining up to make a blockbuster move for the Frenchman:

Chelsea and Manchester City have both joined the hunt for Dayot Upamecano and have had conversations about his possible arrival on a free transfer from Bayern Munich, although sources can reveal that a transfer twist awaits if that interest turns concrete.

Chelsea have also engaged with former defender Guehi, but we can confirm that they have now shown an interest in Upamecano. Likewise, City are looking at options and Upamecano is someone of potential interest to their new sporting chief Hugo Viana.

Upamecano also has interest from the likes of Liverpool, Real Madrid and Barcelona, but whilst confirming interest sources with knowledge of the situation have told us that a new deal at Bayern is by far the most likely scenario at this point.

Right now, Bayern Munich is publicly stating (and re-stating) its confidence with Upamecano, but it is hard to discern just where this situation stands. Upamecano and Bayern Munich seems to have some issues with a signing bonus and a release clause continuing to be an obstacle and it is very unclear on whether or not the two sides can work it out before others clubs start submitting real offers in January.

PSG targeting El Mala (Ekrem Konur)

Paris Saint-Germain could be read to make a move for rumored Bayern Munich transfer target Said El Mala:

🚨🆕 #PSG 🇫🇷
PSG are targeting Said El Mala!

👉 Summer fee discussed: €50–60m.

👉 Interest: Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Brighton and Man United.

👉 Winger seen as one of Germany’s brightest talents.

Report: Klopp won’t come back to coach Real (Diario AS via ESPN)

With Xabi Alonso rumored to be on thin ice at Real Madrid, some reports indicated that Jürgen Klopp could become a target for Los Blancos. However, Diario AS says that is not the case:

Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has no interest in returning to management despite reports linking him to Real Madrid.

If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…

The Chargers defeated the Chiefs by the score of 16-13. En route to victory, there were a handful of players who contributed to the win.

Here are seven standouts from Sunday afternoon.

LB Daiyan Henley

Henley intercepted quarterback Patrick Mahomes at the Chargers' 1-yard line early in the fourth quarter, preventing a potential Chiefs score. The former wide receiver ran stride for stride with running back Kareem Hunt and played the ball perfectly in the air to nab the pick.

S Derwin James

James, the team's leader in tackles, sealed the deal with a game-ending interception of QB Gardner Minshew in the final seconds of the game.

EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu

Tuipulotu was a mainstay of the Chiefs' backfield. He registered a 19.4% pass-rush win rate, nine quarterback pressures, five hurries and two sacks on the day. Tuipulotu is now ranked third in the NFL in tackles for loss (19) and tied for fifth in sacks (12).

EDGE Odafe Oweh

Oweh was also a key contributor to the Chargers' pass rush, also finishing with two sacks on Mahomes. He now has seven sacks in nine games with Los Angeles.

WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith

The Chargers only scored one touchdown and it was Lambert-Smith who found the end zone. It was a 16-yard reception for the former Auburn product's first NFL score just before halftime.

TE Oronde Gadsden II

The offense wasn't much of a factor in this game, but Gadsden capitalized on his opportunities. He led the team in receiving with 61 yards, including a 27-yard reception that set up a game-tying field goal in the third quarter.

K Cameron Dicker

Once again, Dicker was on point. He accounted for more than half of the Chargers' points. Dicker made all three of his field goals from 49, 23 and 49 yards out and an extra point.

This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Which Chargers players stood out the most in their Week 15 win?

The last week for the Pittsburgh Penguins has been one of the most brutal stretches for an NHL team in recent memory.

Against the Dallas Stars on Dec. 7, the Penguins surrendered a late 2-1 lead and ended up losing, 3-2, in the shootout. Against the Anaheim Ducks on Dec. 9, the Penguins had a 2-1 lead on the power play with 10 seconds left - and the puck in their offensive zone at the time - and gave up a goal with 0.1 second left en route to another shootout loss.

Typically, when the Penguins have had a tough loss this season, they've found a way to respond and bounce back. When the Penguins lost to Anaheim the first time on Oct. 14 - courtesy of a late gaffe by Parker Wotherspoon on a delay of game penalty - they came back two days later and put together a nice 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings. After an awful loss and 3-0 blown third-period lead against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Nov. 3, they defeated the Washington Capitals, 5-3. Even the Global Series split with the Nasvhille Predators went the same way. 

Even GM and POHO Kyle Dubas has lauded his team's ability to bounce back from bad losses this season. So, after that rough, literal last-second loss against the Ducks, the same kind of response should have been expected to some extent. 

But that's not what happened. Not even close. In fact, things got about as bad as they can possibly get. 

On Saturday, the Penguins held a 5-1 lead over the San Jose Sharks approaching the midway point of the third period, and the score was all of a sudden at 5-5 with a minute and a half still to play in regulation. They dropped the contest in overtime on a John Klingberg goal. 

Surely they'd respond Sunday against the Utah Mammoth. Right?

Well, they took a 3-0 into the third period, and within seven minutes and six seconds, they were trailing, 4-3. They did manage to tie the game with a Justin Brazeau goal, but they ultimately dropped the contest in overtime for the second straight game. 

Takeaways: Penguins Searching For Answers After Another Third-Period Collapse To Utah MammothThe Pittsburgh Penguins suffered yet another third-period collapse against the Utah Mammoth on Sunday - and they can't seem to stop the bleeding

Instead of responding like they normally would following that heartbreaker against the Ducks, the Penguins went on to surrender 15 goals in their next three games, including nine of those in the third period and two in overtime. This also means that they only surrendered four goals in the first 40 minutes across those three contests.

The Penguins' inability to hold, apparently, any lead in the third period right now is certainly concerning, to say the least. And it's not something that was an issue in the first month of the season, when they were routinely shutting down the opposition when they were ahead in a hockey game. Now, the polar opposite is happening. 

So, where do they begin? How is it possible to address something like this, especially since it's happening so dramatically and drastically that it hardly seems real? Who is to blame? How can they change it? Can they change it?

There is certainly a lot of blame to go around right now, and no one is blameless. First-year head coach Dan Muse has made a few questionable deployment choices, but none of those have much to do with the team giving up three or four goals in a span of 7-11 minutes twice in consecutive games. GM and POHO Kyle Dubas and the rest of the staff in charge of personnel decisions could be giving a few more young guys - such as Tristan Broz and Avery Hayes - some NHL runway instead of players like Danton Heinen and Kevin Hayes, especially given the team's injuries to centers Evgeni Malkin and Blake Lizotte. 

Every coach, every player, and every person involved with whatever happened the last week is accountable to some extent. And, let's remember that the Penguins are still just one point out of a playoff spot despite this disastrous five-game losing streak, so reacting to extremes is probably a bit much. 

But it is a serious problem, and the Penguins need to address it now. Before the bleeding spreads out of control. It's worth noting that the Penguins are playing very well for large stretches of these games, and they have shown capability this season of being able to close out games. 

At the end of the day, sure, the coach is partially responsible, as is the GM. But it all comes down to the players and execution. And - specifically - it comes down to their veterans. 

It feels like the elephant in the room that no one wants to address, but the Penguins' longest-tenured and most respected veterans have not been doing much to help matters during this stretch. In fact, they've hurt the team on several occasions. 

Sidney Crosby's and Bryan Rust's defensive play is a glaring problem at the moment that is becoming hard to ignore. Crosby was on the ice for five goals against in the Sharks game, including the overtime game-winner that saw John Klingberg just walk right around him. A similar thing happened on Beckett Sennecke's tying goal for Anaheim at the end of regulation, as he walked right past Crosby and Kris Letang en route to the net front. Crosby was also on the ice for Utah's overtime goal. 

Then, there's Rust, who - according to HockeyStatCards - owns a team-worst defensive rating of minus-2.4. He has looked lost in his own zone at several points this season, and as good as he is on the penalty kill, he isn't offering much in the way defensively five-on-five.

Letang's defensive play has been a nightmare all season long, and it's becoming a big problem for the Penguins. Erik Karlsson has been outstanding for most of the season but has turned the puck over with more frequency in recent games. 

These are four veteran players who make up a good portion of the leadership group in the locker room. And they've been four of the worst offenders for the Penguins in this stretch of games, looking disjointed in pressure situations, disinterested in the defensive zone, and outright slow on fundamental things like line changes and coverage. 

If there is a central place to point the finger, this is it. The Penguins' core and veteran leadership group has simply not been good enough in these last five games. Yes, they're helping the Penguins on the scoresheet, and yes, they're contributing to the team's ability to have leads in the first place. 

But none of that matters if these players can't come through in the biggest, most high-stakes moments, which aren't always on the offensive side of the puck. Some of the defensive efforts on these goals against have been questionable at best and unacceptable at worst. And when a team's leadership group is doing this, it trickles down to the rest of the team. 

Maybe that's harsh, but it's the truth. And the thing is that these guys know this. They'll be the first to tell you that they need to be better. That they need to set that example. These players have enough talent and winning pedigree to know what it takes to win hockey games, and for whatever reason, there is a disconnect on the execution right now. 

And, maybe, that's some cause for optimism. Muse said in his presser on Sunday that the Penguins can't play cautious and need to remain aggressive with leads. Karlsson spoke after the game as well and explained that the blown third-periods aren't because of a lack of talent or ability or that it comes down to systems and schemes.

Instead, he said it's all a mindset - and, because of that, it's fixable.

“With the history that we've had here in the past couple weeks, you start overthinking stuff and you start worrying about the 'what ifs' instead of just playing the situation," Karlsson said. "If they beat you, they beat you. It's going to happen. We're playing against the best players in the world, and we've got to remember that we're part of that group and we're more than capable to play with anyone.

"It’s more a mindset right now. The good thing about that is it’s controllable. I don’t think it has anything to do with systems or X’s and O’s. It’s within ourselves. We’ve got to find a way to regain that trust individually and as a team.”

And finding those ways comes down to Karlsson. And Crosby. And Letang. And Rust. And all the other leaders in the locker room who set the example and the tone for everyone else in the room. If the Penguins want things to change, it starts with those guys. They need to be the ones to raise the bar and set the example. 

The Penguins have five more games before the holiday break, and they're certainly not out of things. This next week and a half will show everyone exactly what this team truly is - and what their veterans and best players are willing to do to change the narrative.

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!    

Welcome to Midnight Mania!

Let’s start the night off by taking a look back over the three biggest stories of Monday, Dec. 15, 2025.

1. ‘Nasty’ UFC fighter warns ‘wife beater’ Ilia Topuria might ‘get killed,’ must ‘stop drinking’ and ‘return to Jesus Christ’: Of all the UFC fighters to cast the first stone … Bryce Mitchell? Book him versus Aleksandre Topuria, why not?
2. Ilia Topuria details ‘attempted extortion’ over ‘false allegations of domestic abuse’: This situation is reading exactly as messy as rumored.
3. When is the next UFC fight? Here’s a look at the upcoming MMA schedule, new streaming lineup: Between Jake Paul and RIZIN, we still have some interesting and high-profile fights in December.

Insomnia

Negotiations between Dana White, Alex Pereira, and possibly Jon Jones must be at an absolute standstill to garner this post. I wonder if “Poatan” will claim hacked again …

The biggest UFC upsets of 2025! Speaking for myself, my highest correct pick here was No. 10 Joseph Morales over Alibi Idris, but I had the benefit of bias.

A blast from the SPIKE TV past!

Now there’s a possibility that I’m wrong, but the obvious interpretation here is that Manel Kape is threatening to breastfeed Brandon Royval.

Nobody needs more evidence that Merab Dvalishvili is built different, but just in case …

Morgan Charriere reacts with class to the first knockout loss of his career:

Currently riding a five-fight win streak, Ailin Perez gets a step up opposite Macy Chiasson.

Slips, rips, and KO clips

Quite an efficient follow up to the double knockdown!

Just a perfect demonstration of throwing a powerful shot, feinted that shot, and immediately using the established threat to land something else.

A historic bit of “boxing.”

Random Land

An astute choice from Merriam-Webster.

Midnight Music: Stoner rock, 2018

Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.

For what almost felt inevitable for weeks, the Washington Commanders finally ended quarterback Jayden Daniels' 2025 season on Monday. Daniels, the 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, has suffered three separate injuries this season, costing him seven starts. Daniels' struggles mirror Washington's troubles, as the Commanders, who were 12-5 last season, sit at 4-10 with four games remaining this season.

Daniels first sprained his knee in a Week 2 loss at Green Bay, which cost him two games. After returning, Daniels started the next three games before straining his hamstring in a Week 7 loss at Dallas. That cost him one start. He returned in Week 9, and in the fourth quarter of a blowout loss to Seattle, Daniels was scrambling to his right when he was tackled, landing on his left elbow. Daniels dislocated his non-throwing elbow, missing the next three games.

He returned in Week 14, only to land on the left arm while chasing down an opposing player after an interception. Daniels didn't play in Week 15.

"We're going to sit him for the final three games," head coach Dan Quinn said on Monday. "And I know your first question likely is, ‘well, DQ what went into that?’ and the answer is it was a lot. And part medical and part team. As of today, he still wasn't all the way clear to play. So, like last week, wouldn't have all the results until the end of the week, and then a short week next week with the Christmas game. So, we believe this decision allows him to take advantage of the next few weeks in a different way. He wants to practice, and he will practice."

As you can imagine, there were plenty of reactions regarding Washington's decision. Opinions were split after his elbow injury on whether he should just shut it down for the season or return to play when healthy. Daniels wants to play, but the team is playing it safe over the last three games in what is a lost season.

Here are some of the reactions to Washington's decision.

Grant Paulsen

With the Commanders shutting down Jayden Daniels for the final three games, they should shut down other vital starters too.

Terry McLaurin is paramount to the cause next year (as we just saw in 2025). He shouldn't play again in the final three. Same with Javon Kinlaw and Daron…

— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) December 15, 2025

Al Galdi

Jayden Daniels over five seasons as a collegiate QB1 played in 55 of a possible 57 games.

He last season played in all 20 of Washington's regular-season and postseason games.

His overall track record is one of durability. Hopefully this season is just an outlier.

— Al Galdi (@AlGaldi) December 15, 2025

Jamual Forrest of 'Trap or Dive' podcast

Jayden ends his second season with having played just four full games. I would’ve never seen anything close to that coming before the season started.

— Jamual (@LetMualTellit) December 15, 2025

Danny Rouhier

Danny is under the belief that someone higher than Dan Quin made this decision to shut down Jayden Daniels for the rest of 2025. Who do you think made this moves? #NFL#Commanderspic.twitter.com/JNg4EjVZpV

— 106.7 The Fan (@1067theFan) December 15, 2025

JP Finlay

Jayden Daniels is a super tough player and I know he wants to play, but shutting him down makes sense for Washington. The season is lost and if he's not cleared for Wk 16 not worth the risk in Wks 17 & 18.

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) December 15, 2025

Barry Svrluga of The Washington Post

The Commanders squandered opportunities to re-establish their franchise QB?

Welcome to an offseason of “Can he stay healthy?” and “Will he rediscover the magic?” questions.

If he’s healthy, he should play. Thoughts below. https://t.co/1wzt2ml2Lb

— Barry Svrluga (@barrysvrluga) December 16, 2025

More reactions

Although I thought he should play if healthy, sitting Jayden for the rest of the season is the right call. Give him a chance to enter the offseason healthy and ready for all offseason activities.

My concern is with what happens moving forward. I'm afraid every play call,…

— Disco (@discoque90) December 15, 2025

He’s come back to play in a knee brace and an arm brace.

His toughness throughout the season never wavered, giving everything he had in each game he played.

God gives His toughest battles to His strongest soldiers @JayD__5 💛. We are lucky to have you.

Rest up, 5️⃣🙏🏾 https://t.co/jMvF8iLmh8pic.twitter.com/dv0crtxLBy

— Ye (@JaydenHeisman) December 15, 2025

The concern for Jayden Daniels' future should be omni-present.

If one person says they're not constantly concerned, that's the wrong side of reality.

U hope this was an anomaly.

There's no real reason to think that it is & was.

Appreciate that he wants to practice but..

— Chris Russell AKA the 🐓🐓! (@Russellmania621) December 16, 2025

Gonna be a looooong time until we watch Jayden Daniels play football again.

Sucks. But totally the right call.

— Damien Bartonek (@tvBartonek) December 15, 2025

The final chapter of this shit season. https://t.co/mxLipA4Jwh

— Marshall (@MarshW_7) December 15, 2025

Jayden Daniels no doubt in my mind will be back to his rookie of the year self next season! This whole year was off for everyone and I believe Adam Peters will give him way more help with better WRs and some speed at TE/RB. Don’t doubt JD5 he will put in the work believe that!

— Zac (@DCzWall) December 15, 2025

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: NFL world reacts to Jayden Daniels decision

Mavericks wing Cooper Flagg took one look at 32-year-old Kyle Anderson and knew he could blow by him.

So he did.

Flagg drove left, floated the ball in and absorbed contact for an and-one. He stared at his left hand as he walked to the free-throw line.

Flagg made so many left-handed finishes that Utah Jazz coach Will Hardy may have wondered if the scouting report was wrong.

Later, with a chance to bring Dallas within one, Flagg attacked the rim again and drew a foul. He missed the shot, but Max Christie made two free throws to tie the game.

Flagg had a career-high 42 points, but it wasn’t enough as the Jazz beat the Mavericks 140-133 in overtime on Monday.

He had 24 points, four rebounds and four assists before halftime, becoming the fifth Mavericks player to achieve that feat in a single half. Also, he became the first 18-year-old in NBA history to score over 40 points.

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect / Reuters

Cooper Flagg broke a decades-old LeBron James record on Monday night, just days before his 19th birthday.

It still wasn’t enough to lead the Dallas Mavericks past the Utah Jazz.

Flagg dropped a career-high 42 points in the teams’ 140-133 overtime loss to the Jazz on Monday at the Delta Center. That broke James’ record for the most points scored in a single game by an 18-year-old in NBA history.

James, who was the No. 1 overall pick back in 2003 right out of high school, set the record against the Boston Celtics in December during his rookie season when he put up 37 points as an 18-year-old. James and Flagg are actually the only two players in NBA history to both put up more than 24 points in a single game at that age, which they’ve done now a combined 14 times. Both Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant put up 24 points in a single game at that age early in their respective careers, too.

Though Flagg has come close, he put up 35 points against the Los Angeles Clippers last month, he finally recorded the first 40-point night of his career on Monday in Salt Lake City.

Flagg went 13-of-27 from the field and made 15 free throws for the Mavericks. He had 14 points in the first quarter after shooting 5-of-7 from the field, which helped Dallas to an early six point lead. He had 12 points in the fourth quarter alone, and he missed a free throw with less than five seconds to go on purpose to help set up a wild comeback that eventually forced overtime — thanks to a clutch rebound from Max Christie.

But despite Flagg’s outing, the Jazz pulled away and opened overtime on an 11-4 run to pick up the win. Keyonte George led the Jazz with 37 points, and Lauri Markkanen added 33 points and 16 rebounds. The win, Utah’s second straight, pushed it to 10-15 on the year.

P.J. Washington had 25 points and 13 rebounds to go with Flagg’s 42-point night. Naji Marshall had 15 points, and Ryan Nembhard finished with 14 points and 11 assists. The Mavericks fell to 10-17 with the loss.

Flagg also matched Mark Aguirre for the most points scored by a rookie in Mavericks history. He now trails only James and Bryant for the most points scored in the NBA before turning 19, though Flagg’s birthday is on Saturday.

While the Mavericks have not gotten out to the best start this season, Flagg has more than lived up to the hype that came with being the No. 1 overall draft pick in June. Monday’s historic outing was just another example of that.

The Denver Broncos are on a roll. Sean Payton's team has won 11 games in a row and holds a two-game lead in the AFC West. News out of that division is the Kansas City Chiefs' playoff run is done. Patrick Mahomes is out for the year, too, having torn an ACL. The Broncos are tracked by AFC East teams, the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots. They played a fascinating, thrilling game in Week 15.

16. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)

This is the definition of awful: The Raiders allowed the Eagles backups a 17-play, 79-yard drive in the fourth quarter. The Eagles' backups. Kenny Pickett threw for 64 yards in his return to the Delaware Valley.

15. New York Jets (3-11)

The Jets were broiled by the Jaguars. Forty-eight points by Jax against a coach who is supposed to be a defensive expert. Another sorry season.

14. Cleveland Browns (3-11)

There was no surprise that the Browns faltered. Yes, they are a cold-weather team but they were playing a team that shows what rebuilding on the fly can do. Another awful performance.

13. Tennessee Titans (2-12)

Don't get excited abut 24 points. Most came after the decision was no longer in doubt. At least, Tony Pollard has found his legs.

12. Cincinnati Bengals (4-10)

The Bengals are eliminated from a possible playoff spot. That actually happened when Joe Burrow was injured earlier in the year.

11. Indianapolis Colts (8-5)

The Philip Rivers story was a nice one. However, this is the NFL and nice doesn't get the job done. Tough way to lose the game against Seattle, which only managed field goals.

10. Kansas City Chiefs (6-8)

The Chiefs lost their third in a row, lost Patrick Mahomes to a knee injury and are out of the playoffs. Dynasty done.

9. Miami Dolphins (6-8)

Miami's late-season surge had a big chill put on it against the Steelers in Pittsburgh. The Dolphins have come to life and losing in the cold is no disgrace for a warm-weather team. However, if Miami is at some point going to grow into a deep playoff threat it has to learn how to win any many conditions.

8. Baltimore Ravens (7-7)

Baltimore got its act together and smothered the Bengals. Back to .500 for a team that is thought to be so much better. The next three games will tell all.

7. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6)

Pittsburgh continues to stay atop a diminished AFC North after taking out the Miami Dolphins in Week 15. While questions loom about this Steelers team, it's another year where Mike Tomlin has the them making a playoff push late in the year.

6. Los Angeles Chargers (10-4)

The Chargers went into Arrowhead and topped the Chiefs, completing the sweep of KC. It also knocked the Chiefs from playoff contention and has the Bolts in great shape as the final weeks of the season approach.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4)

The Jaguars put 48 points on the Jets and won their 10th game of the year. That's a great season accomplishment but they have eyes on the division title.

4. Houston Texans (9-5)

Houston started fast and had the decision over the Cardinals before the first quarter was done. Sets up an interesting stretch for the AFC South crown over the final three games.

3. New England Patriots (11-3)

There was great excitement at Gillette when the Patriots went up 21-0. Then the crowd was thrilled when Treveyon Henderson had a second long TD run against the Bills to regain the lead. In the end, though, New England was unable to bury Buffalo.

2. Buffalo Bills (10-4)

The Bills showed all sorts of mettle coming back from a huge deficit to take the lead, falling behind again 14 seconds later only to score against against New England and win a thriller.

1. Denver Broncos (11-2)

Denver rallied past the Packers as Bo Nix had a huge game. Eleven wins in a row for Sean Payton & Co. The real deal.

This article originally appeared on The List Wire: AFC Power Rankings entering Week 16

The Pittsburgh Steelers remain on top of the AFC North.

On a cold Monday night in Pittsburgh, the Steelers (8-6) defeated the Miami Dolphins (6-8), 28-15.

The Dolphins scored the game’s first points on a field goal in what was a defensive battle for most of the first half. The Steelers put together a 12-play, 60-yard touchdown drive at the end of the second period, which was part of 28 unanswered points between three quarters.

It’s Pittsburgh’s second straight win.

The Dolphins’ loss snapped their four-game winning streak and they are now mathematically eliminated from the playoff contention.

USA TODAY Sports examines the winners and losers from the Week 15 AFC matchup on "Monday Night Football":

WINNERS

Steelers defense without T.J. Watt

The Steelers defense was stout even without their best player, T.J. Watt, who underwent lung surgery last week. Watt suffered a partially collapsed lung during a dry needling treatment at the team facility on Dec. 10. The Steelers defense played well without the 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

Pittsburgh held Miami to just three points and had a takeaway in the first half.

The Steelers defense erased Miami’s offense in the third quarter; the Dolphins had minus-20 yards in the period.

The Steeles defense sacked Tua Tagovailoa four times and intercepted him once. They did give up two touchdowns during garbage time in the fourth quarter, which made the game appear more competitive than it was.

Dolphins running back De'Von Achane was held to 60 rushing yards.

Steelers offense

The Steelers were ranked in the bottom half of the NFL in total offense (284.5), pass offense (195.2) and run offense (89.2) entering Week 15. In the first half it showed. However, Pittsburgh turned it up in the second half.

The Steelers scored 21 points after halftime and gained 220 total yards.

Kenneth Gainwell tallied 126 yards from scrimmage.

DK Metcalf had a strong touchdown catch. He finished with three catches for 55 yards and a touchdown.

DK sent Fitzpatrick flyin' 💪 pic.twitter.com/u1nM92Zjvf

— NFL (@NFL) December 16, 2025

The Steelers gained 336 yards of total offense, passing for 201 and rushing for 135 yards. Those numbers represent improvements from their averages.

Aaron Rodgers

Rodgers was efficient in the win. He completed 23-of-27 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns. He now has multiple touchdown passes in 166 career games.

Most games with multiple passing TD in NFL history:

Tom Brady 204
Drew Brees 173
>Aaron Rodgers 166
Peyton Manning 165
Brett Favre 159 pic.twitter.com/xc0Knsrn82

— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) December 16, 2025

Mike Tomlin’s .500 record streak

Remember those “fire Mike Tomlin” chants? Those calls seem to be a thing of the past.

Tomlin’s closing in on a 19^th consecutive season with a .500-or-better record, the longest such streak to begin a head coaching tenure in NFL history.

LOSERS

Dolphins’ playoff hopes

The loss eliminated Miami from the AFC playoff race. The Dolphins had entered Week 15 riding a four-game winning streak.

Tua Tagovailoa in cold weather

Tagovailoa is 0-6 when the temperature is 40 degrees or colder.

Tagovailoa threw his league-leading 15^th interception. The interception happened on an underthrown deep pass to Jaylen Waddle in the first quarter. The underthrown pass won’t quiet critics about his arm strength.

Asante Samuel Jr. picks off Tua!

MIAvsPIT on ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN App pic.twitter.com/JQG3qDu9Kk

— NFL (@NFL) December 16, 2025

The Dolphins quarterback finished with 254 passing yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Most of his positive plays happened when the game was out of reach. He had a few passes that could've been intercepted.

Miami’s third quarter

The Dolphins didn’t show up after halftime.

The Dolphins defense gave up 14 points and 163 total yards in the third quarter. The offense was worse.

Miami’s offense had an abysmal minus-20 yards of total offense in the third quarter. The Dolphins ran six total plays in the period and nothing worked.

First half offense

Both defenses won the first half. The first two quarters resembled a Pirates vs. Marlins baseball game. The Steelers entered halftime with a 7-3 lead, but it was a struggle offensively for both squads.

The Dolphins went 1-4 on third downs and Tua Tagovailoa underthrew Jaylen Waddle on a deep pass that was picked off by Steelers CB Asante Samuel Jr.

Pittsburgh punted on its first three possessions. The Steelers put together a 60-yard touchdown drive on their final offensive series in the first half.

Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Steelers beat Dolphins: Winners and losers from Monday Night Football

BOSTON (AP) — Cade Cunningham had 32 points and 10 rebounds to help the Detroit Pistons beat the Boston Celtics 112-105 on Monday night.

Caris LeVert and Tobias Harris each added 13 points for the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons, who won their fourth straight. Detroit also got even for a frustrating loss in Boston late last month.

Jaylen Brown had 34 points, eight rebounds and seven assists to lead the Celtics. Derrick White scored 31 points as Boston lost its second straight after a five-game winning streak.

When the teams met three weeks ago, Boston ended Detroit’s franchise record-tying 13-game winning streak despite 42 points from Cunningham, who missed a tying free throw in the closing seconds.

Detroit opened the final quarter with a four-point edge and pushed it to 103-93 on Javonte Green’s steal and breakaway dunk with just under six minutes left.

Boston had cut it to 96-93 on White’s three-point play that sent Cunningham to the bench with his fifth foul, but Green had a corner 3 and followed that with his jam that pushed the Pistons up by 10.

The Celtics made one more charge, closing to 104-102 on White’s baseline jumper with 2:47 left, but Cunningham had a couple of key jumpers in the final two minutes.

RAPTORS 106, HEAT 96

MIAMI (AP) — Brandon Ingram scored 28 points and Toronto snapped a four-game skid with a victory over Miami, extending its losing streak to five.

Miami lost forward Nikola Jovic to an elbow injury in the first quarter. Jovic took a hard foul from Collin Murray-Boyles while driving to the basket and fell to the floor 12 seconds after he entered the game.

Scottie Barnes added 17 points and 10 rebounds and Immanuel Quickley finished with 15 points for the Raptors, who made 16 3-pointers. Ingram shot 5 of 7 from behind the arc.

Sandro Mamukelashvili scored 11 points and Gradey Dick added 10 for Toronto.

Norman Powell and Bam Adebayo scored 20 points each and Davion Mitchell added 12 points for the Heat, who played without Tyler Herro. He sat out because of a right toe contusion.

Old Dominion and USF are set to face off Wednesday in the Cure Bowl at Camping World Stadium in downtown Orlando.

Since the game’s inception in 2015, the Cure Bowl has raised over $6 million for cancer research.

Coaching in the Cure Bowl hits home for Old Dominion head coach Ricky Rahne. His mother Deb battled and beat breast cancer. She will be at the game on Wednesday cheering on her son and his Monarchs.

“The fact that this amount of money can be served to just get one more person, like me, to have 10 to 15 more years with their mom is a pretty special thing,” said Rahne during Monday’s Cure Bowl press conference. “I think that’s something that, when you think about a bowl, has a lot of impact, to say that we get to go play one more game, and we get to spend three more weeks with each other, and maybe somebody else gets to spend three more years with their mom or aunt or whoever, It’s pretty impactful.”

Tickets to the game start at $25 and can purchased by visiting CureBowl.com/tickets.

Wednesday’s Cure Bowl kickoff is set for 5:00 on ESPN.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

Barcelona are considering signing Borussia Dortmund right-back Julian Ryerson in January (h/t Sky Sport Germany).

The Catalan giants have added the Norwegian to the list of targets as a potential back-up for Jules Kounde.

They have also held talks with Ryerson’s representative to discuss a potential deal.

The 28-year-old is open to leaving the Signal Iduna Park, having lost his starter status under Niko Kovac this season. Yan Couto and Daniel Svensson have firmly established themselves as primary right-wing-back options.

Ryerson has started only 11 games in 18 appearances this season, racking up three assists.

The Norwegian international moved from Union Berlin to Dortmund in 2023 and has featured in 121 games, scoring seven goals and providing 11 assists.

Dortmund consider him expendable due to the stacked options in the right-back position. Even if he stays beyond January, an exit in the summer looks more feasible.

Barca are exploring the winter transfer market to bolster their backline.

Manager Hansi Flick believes a new right-back will reduce Kounde’s workload and add more quality to the position.

Given their financial woes, Barca are looking for cost-effective signings, and Ryerson fits the bill.

The Norwegian has proven his quality even when he is on the pitch. He is an effective player who can excel in both attacking and defensive phases, with more experience under his belt.

Kounde has experienced a significant drop-off this season, compared to the influential 2024/25 season when he played a crucial role in Barcelona’s treble achievement.

Eric Garcia has stepped up in the right-back position, showing his versatility, but Flick has been utilising him in the midfield in recent games.

Meanwhile, Kounde is also starting to gain momentum after a stellar double in the win against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League last week.

VERMILLION, S.D. (KELO) — USD reached the FCS quarterfinals for the third straight season this year, but the 11th-seeded Coyotes’ run came to an end with a 52-22 loss at No. 3 Montana Saturday.

South Dakota opened the season ranked No. 4 following the program’s first trip to the semifinals last season. The Coyotes dropped the first two games of the campaign, and then suffered a 51-13 loss at NDSU to open Missouri Valley play and drop to 2-3. The Yotes proceeded to win eight of their next nine games to reach the quarters once again.

“Nobody thought we’d get here the way we started the year out,” USD redshirt senior quarterback Aidan Bouman said. “That didn’t matter to us. We didn’t listen to the noise. I feel pretty confident that we did a good job. Us seniors have changed the culture that we have there in Vermilion. I feel really proud of that.”

The Coyotes were led by first-year head coach Travis Johansen, who was elevated from defensive coordinator in January. The career of three-year starting quarterback Aidan Bauman comes to a close as he leaves with the program record in passing yards and completions.

“I’m indebted to Aidan Bauman,” USD head coach Travis Johansen said. “As a first-year head coach, you think you’re going to end up maybe with the program that’s beat up a little bit. To have a kid like that step up in today’s day and age and decide to come back, I owe a lot to Aidan Bauman.”

USD finished this season with a 10-5 record, which marked a third straight 10-win campaign.

“Couldn’t be more proud to coach that group of guys,” Johansen said. “They’ve left this place right where it needs to be: with the opportunity to continue to build, to continue to chase national championships.”

The Coyotes compiled a cumulative 31-11 record over the last three years.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.

The Los Angeles Kings unraveled with a plethora of problems coming into this game, first with Quinton Byfield and Phillip Danault missing tonight's game, and then their best player, Darcy Kuemper, going down with a hard-hit injury, turning the momentum in the Stars' favor into a lopsided score. 

Dallas scored three goals in the final six minutes of the third period to break the tie and pull away with a 4-1 win, handing Los Angeles another frustrating loss against a Western Conference contender. 

Breaking News: Kings Travel To Dallas, Missing Key PlayersHours before puck drop in Dallas, illness forces a shakeup in the Kings' lineup today, leaving Los Angeles without two of their trusted options in the middle against a tough Western Conference team tonight.

Kuemper’s Injury Becomes a Concern

The turning point may have come before the scoreboard. 

Midway through the first period, when the game was still 0-0, both teams were playing very good defense, and the Kings were playing with fight. Kuemper went down in the crease after contact near the head and neck area from Mikko Rantanen during a traffic scramble around the net. 

Despite the hard contact, no penalty was called on Dallas, which was hard to understand given the amount of contact on the play, and the refs' inability to take their time and make the right call. 

The explanation was that Kuemper was outside the crease, but the replay clearly shows he's in the blue paint, head contact, and still no penalty was called. 

Kuemper remained down on the ice for a while and ultimately was helped off the floor and left the game, not returning for the remainder of the night. Anton Forsberg was Kuemper's replacement and did a solid job at the start, but the injury changed the tone for the Kings. 

Before Kuemper went down, he stopped all five shots that came at him, including multiple shots from Rantanen and Nils Lundkvist. 

Kings’ Kuemper Leaves Game After Collision With Stars’ RantanenLos Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper left the game against the Dallas Stars following a collision with right winger Mikko Rantanen.

Kings Strike First, But Can’t Hold On

Despite losing their goaltender, the Kings scored the first goal early in the second period. Andrei Kuzmenko capitalized on the Dallas giveaway to give Los Angeles a 1-0 lead.

The Kings maintained a steady pace and outshot Dallas at times, but failed to capitalize. The inability to extend the lead and make it competitive at least came back to haunt them. 

Dallas got back in the game when Matt Duchene scored the first goal for the Stars in the second period to tie it 1-1 heading into the third. 

Late Collapse Seals It

For much of the third period, Forsberg was doing a good job of preventing Dallas’ offense from breaking through, but the Stars' depth eventually made it tough for Forsberg to stop. 

Oskar Back gave the Stars their first lead, converting off the nice cycle play by Radek Faksa and Colin Blackwell. From then on, the floodgates opened. 

In the final three minutes, Dallas scored two straight goals to seal the deal with a 4-1 win. 

Big Picture

The Kings showed fight when Kuemper was on the ice before his injury, but the late injury led to the breakdown for Los Angeles. Right now, that’s the most concerning part for the Kings, not just their performance, but the uncertainty surrounding Kuemper’s health. 

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

PITTSBURGH — Playoff hopes were on the line Monday night when the Dolphins faced the Pittsburgh Steelers. A Dolphins loss, and their playoff hopes were dashed for the second consecutive season.

Guess what? 

The Dolphins’ playoff hopes are over after Monday’s 28-15 loss at Pittsburgh ended their winning streak at four games and dropped their season record to 6-8.

The Steelers entered Monday’s game riding an amazing 22-game Monday night winning streak — they hadn’t lost a Monday night home game since 1991. 

There was another cool thing on the line Monday. The Dolphins, who started the season 2-7, were trying to become the fifth team in NFL history to reach .500 after starting 2-7, joining the 2021 Dolphins, among others.

And, of course, there were personal and business stakes in this one considering the Dolphins and Steelers engaged in a blockbuster offseason trade.

Here’s what we learned Monday night:

Dolphins in ‘cold weather’

When I talk about the Dolphins in “cold weather” the line of delineation is 45 degrees. It was 17 degrees at kickoff Monday but cold weather didn’t cause this loss. For what it’s worth, in the coach Mike McDaniel era, the Dolphins are now 1-6 in “cold weather” games.

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is now 1-4 in “cold weather” games under McDaniel because he didn’t play in the Buffalo playoff game or last season’s finale at the New York Jets.

Under McDaniel, the Dolphins lost to Pittsburgh in cold weather (28-9), defeated the New York Jets in cold weather earlier this year (34-10), lost to the Jets in last season’s finale (32-20), lost to Green Bay on Thanksgiving 2024 (30-17), lost to Kansas City in the 2023 playoffs (26-7), lost to Buffalo in the 2022 playoffs (34-31), and lost to Buffalo in the 2022 regular season (32-29). — Chris Perkins

Mike McDaniel road record, and December road record

McDaniel is now 12-21 (.364) on the road, and 12-22 (.353) including playoffs on the road. Both are poor marks. Typically, teams want to go at least .500 on the road.

McDaniel is now 3-6 (.333) on the road in December. He was 0-3 in 2022, losing at San Francisco, the Los Angeles Chargers and Buffalo; he was 1-1 in 2023, winning at Washington and losing at Baltimore; he was 1-1 in 2024, losing at Houston and winning at Cleveland; he’s 1-1 this year winning at the New York Jets and losing at Pittsburgh.

McDaniel is 34-32 (.523) overall, 34-33 (.508) including playoffs.

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Tua record in “cold weather” under McDaniel

Tagovailoa is now 1-4 in cold weather games in the McDaniel era. Tagovailoa entered Sunday’s game with a 1-3 record in “cold weather” games in the McDaniel era. He was 87 of 136 for 891 yards, six touchdowns and one interception and a 94.3 passer rating.

In his cold weather games under McDaniel, Tagovailoa lost to Pittsburgh on Monday, defeated the Jets earlier this season and lost to Kansas City in the 2023 playoffs, lost to Green Bay on Thanksgiving last season and lost to Buffalo in the 2022 regular season.

Dolphins score first in seventh consecutive game

The Dolphins scored first Monday, taking a 3-0 lead on a 54-yard field goal by kicker Riley Patterson in the second quarter, and have now scored first in their last seven games. This was the first time in the stretch the Dolphins didn’t score in the first quarter. It should be noted this was yet another occassion in which the Dolphins won the pregame coin toss and opted to receive the ball instead of deferring until the third quarter.

De’Von Achane held in check

Running back De’Von Achane ended with 61 yards rushing on 12 carries, his worst showing since 10 carries for 16 yards in a 27-24 loss against Carolina on Oct. 5. Achane had six receptions for 68 yards Monday, marking the third time this season he’s had more receiving yards than rushing yards. He had seven receptions for 30 yards against Carolina, and in a 33-27 loss against New England on Sept. 14, Achane had 10 receptions for 92 yards and 11 carries for 30 yards.

Tua’s INTs reach career worst

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (22 of 28, 254 yards, two touchdowns, one interception) threw his career-worst 15th interception Monday, and it came in his 14th game. In 2023, Tagovailoa threw 14 interceptions in 17 games.

Tagovailoa’s interception on Monday came in the first quarter when he was targeting wide receiver Jaylen Waddle on a deep route. Cornerback Asante Samuel Jr., who attended St. Thomas Aquinas, drifted over to record the interception on a pass that was slightly underthrown.

Tagovailoa had a potential interception that was dropped by outside linebacker Alex Highsmith.

Scoring defense takes a hit

The Dolphins’ defense entered Monday’s game having allowed just 10 touchdowns in the last six games. But Pittsburgh solved that mystery by scoring four unanswered touchdowns from the second to fourth quarters.

The Dolphins ranked 15th in scoring defense (22.8 points per game) before Monday’s game and had only allowed one team in the last six games to score more than 17 points (Baltimore, which scored 28 points).

Sieler coming alive

Defensive tackle Zach Sieler, who sacked Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the second quarter, now has 4.5 sacks on the season, all of them coming in the last five games. Sieler is coming off back-to-back 10-sack seasons and signed a three-year, $64 million extension during the offseason. Sieler was shaken up briefly early in the fourth quarter when he was slammed to the ground on an extra point attempt but he returned to the game.

Special teams woes

Kicker Riley Patterson had a short kickoff, giving Pittsburgh the ball at the 4-yard line right after he made a 54-yard field goal. Special teams also had a delay of game on a punt as their woes continue to mount. So far this season special teams have run into the punter, roughed the punter, allowed kickoff and punt return touchdowns, failed to recover an onside kick and allowed a fake punt.

The Steelers scored a go-ahead touchdown to take a 7-3 lead after getting the short-field on the kickoff. They then scored another touchdown on their first possession of the second half and never looked back.

Jalen Ramsey, Jonnu Smith and Minkah Fitzpatrick

Pittsburgh free safety Jalen Ramsey (he’s no longer a cornerback) had a third-down sack on Tagovailoa in the third quarter, making it the first play among the principals in the June 30 blockbuster trade between these teams. The deal’s parts were Miami sending Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith to Pittsburgh in exchange for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. 

Ramsey ended the game with six tackles, Smith ended with two receptions for 12 yards and one carry for 14 yards, and Fitzpatrick ended with six tackles.

Sadly, it is now guaranteed . . .

That the Dolphins will pass the 25-year anniversary of their most recent playoff win (Dec. 30, 2000). And, who knows how long this embarrassing run will extend. — Steve Svekis

Another personal record for De’Von Achane

Again, De’Von Achane was the Dolphins’ lone bright spot among the skilled positions, with his 127 total yards. He also registered five first downs, giving him 72 in 2025 and setting a career high, which had been 67 last year.

Again . . . what is Mike McDaniel doing?

In what seems like a weekly installment, what on earth was McDaniel’s game-management thought in the fourth quarter? The Dolphins casually went through their huddles and line calls in a fourth quarter with their playoff lives on the line, when it should have been 15 minutes of nu-huddle. The apathy drew deserved sharp criticism from Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman. Then, in the waning seconds, Tua Tagovailos took a delay of game penalty by calling a timeout he didn’t have.

Jordyn Brooks sets a personal record, with a lot of football left

In the first quarter, Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks hauled down Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell for a loss of a yard and then, two snaps later, sacked Aaron Rodgers for a minus-9 yards. With that, Brooks sat at 12 tackles for loss in this season’s 14 games. It breaks a personal best he established last year. Additionally in the first half, Brooks also had two tackles for no gain. So, in 31 career games in Miami, Brooks has 23 TFLs. At his previous stop in Seattle, in 64 games, Brooks that same number of TFLs in 23.

Dolphins’ defensive backs were on a run-stop heater

In the first half, the Miami defense kept the Dolphins in the game. Spearheading that effort were the defensive backs, five of whom had at least one tackle each for a 1 yard gain or less. Ashtyn Davis made two such tackles, with Ifeatu Melifonwu, Jack Jones, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Rasul Douglas getting one each. The performance suffered, relatively, in the second half, but the first-half output could have been a difference-maker if the offense had shown up. Fitzpatrick also had a tackle for minus-2, Douglas a stop for no gain and Melifonwu a tackle for a 1-yard gain in the second half.

Some plaudits for Aaron Brewer

Former Philadelphia Eagles star center Jason Kelce showered credit upon Dolphins center Aaron Brewer in the pregame, though he also mentioned that Brewer has had to overcome to become an NFL stalwart. Kelce called Brewer “the shortest man in the NFL.” Not sure if he was referencing only centers, or being hyperbolic. But, the meat of his commentary was about how well Brewer has played throughout the season. Kelce said: “He’s been consistent all year. … If you are going to be undersized, you gotta dominate in the second level” while showing clips of Brewer doing that.

The bizarre Monday Night Football scheduling history between the Dolphins and Steelers

Monday Night Football began in 1970, and the Dolphins and Steelers had their first such matchup in the Orange Bowl in 1974. Then came three matchups at Hard Rock Stadium, the most recent one in 1996. The first Monday night Dolphins game in Pittsburgh came in 2007 in the infamous Mud Bowl game the Steelers won 3-0. In that game, a punt plugged into the grass without bouncing. And, since then, the Dolphins haven’t played that prime-time game to end an NFL week in South Florida. So, that means there were no Dolphins-Steelers games in Pennsylvania in the first 37 years of the MNF series, and heaven’t been any in Miami Gardens in the past 29 seasons entering 2027. Next year, the Dolphins won’t play the Steelers.

On deck: Cincinnati Bengals, Hard Rock Stadium, Sunday, 1 p.m.

Joe Burrow makes his first visit to South Florida with the Bengals in free fall at 4-10. … the previous matchup between the Bengals and Dolphins came in 2022 in Cincinnati, when Tua Tagovailoa sustained his first official concussion.

Laila Jones scored 17 points to lead Wilson to a 54-35 win over Gov. Mifflin in a matchup of teams atop the BCIAA Division 1 standings on Monday night.

Both teams entered 2-0 in the BCIAA, but the Bulldogs (6-1 overall) took a 15-7 lead after the first quarter as Jones scored 7 points and Violet Houck had 4 of her 8 total points.

In the second quarter, Ryan Leaman scored 8 of her 14 points as Wilson stretched the lead to 30-16 at halftime.

Jones scored 7 points and Kailani Hardy 4 of her 11 points as the Bulldogs upped the lead to a 43-24 with eight minutes left to play.

Hardy scored 5 points and Leaman 4 in the final quarter as the Bulldogs (3-0 Division 1) kept the Mustangs (4-23, 2-1 Division 1) at bay.

For Gov. Mifflin, Bella Super scored 11 points, and Bridget Martir and Saray Renninger each had 9 points.

Oley Valley 29, Kutztown 26

In another matchup of division unbeatens, Lily Hare scored 12 points to lead Oley Valley to a 29-26 Division 4 win over Kutztown.

Oley is 4-1 overall, 3-0 Division 4, and Kutztown drops to 3-1, 2-1.

Oley led by two points entering the fourth quarter, but outscored the Cougars 9-8 in the final eight minutes, as Hare hit a three-pointer and Julia Wanger scored 4 points.

Conrad Weiser 42, Daniel Boone 26

Geniva Paul scored 16 points to lead Conrad Weiser to a 42-26 BCIAA win over Daniel Boone.

Macy Snyder had 9 points for the Scouts.

Conrad Weiser is 4-3, 1-1 in Division 2; the Blazers are 0-5, 2-0 Division 2. Jessica Parrott scored a game-high 17 points for Daniel Boone.

Other scores

Cocalico 50, Exeter 47. Addison Harper 28 points. Exeter is 3-3 overall.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (SDSU) – Wyoming made nine of its first 10 shot attempts and never looked back in an 87-72 victory over South Dakota State on Monday, Dec. 15, inside the Sanford Pentagon. 

The Cowboys got out to a hot start from the field to jump out to a 20-8 advantage. The Jackrabbits used a seven-point scoring run to cut the deficit to 20-15 with 10 minutes, 37 seconds remaining in the opening half. 

Wyoming responded and had the lead back to double digits, 29-17, at the 6:28 mark. A 3-pointer by SDSU’s Kalen Garry briefly made it a nine-point margin with just over a minute left on the clock, however a layup by Wyoming’s Leland Walker at the buzzer made it 40-29 at the break.

The Cowboys extended the lead to 19 within the opening four minutes of the second half and led by as many as 23. A 14-3 run by the Jackrabbits trimmed the Wyoming lead to 64-52 with 9:06 to play, but the Pokes responded with six straight points to keep the Jacks at bay.

Wyoming finished the matchup with a 38-21 rebounding edge. The Cowboys also outshot the Jackrabbits by a 54-40% margin. 

The Pokes improved to 9-2 overall in the victory, while the Jackrabbits fell to 7-6.

NOTES

• Wyoming is now 6-1 all-time against SDSU. The Cowboys have won the last four meetings between the two squads.
• The Pokes had four players finish scoring in double digits paced by 25 points by Nasir Meyer. Khaden Bennett had a game-high nine rebounds and Walker dished five assists. 
• Four Jackrabbits scored double digits in Garry (15), Jaden Jackson (13), Joe Sayler (12) and Damon Wilkinson (12). Sayler also had team highs in rebounds (5) and assists (4). Bubz Alvarez scored a season-high eight points for South Dakota State.  

UP NEXT
South Dakota State travels to Milwaukee for the Milwaukee Hoops Showdown on Friday. The Jackrabbits will take on the Milwaukee Panthers in the Fiserv Forum with tipoff set for 4 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.

NEW YORK – There was a sea of blue No. 20 Rangers jerseys populating the visiting side during warmups at Madison Square Garden on Monday night – with good reason.

They wanted to see their favorite (now former) Ranger to take his first return laps wearing Anaheim Ducks orange and white. 

They cheered loudly when Chris Kreider finally burst out of the tunnel and went through the usual pre-game paces with teammates including former Rangers Jacob Trouba, Ryan Strome and Frank Vatrano – all of whom were then at center ice for the opening face-off. 

“That was a cool move by Coach Q,’’ Kreider said, referring to Ducks coach Joel Quenneville. 

When it came time for a nearly two-minute video tribute during the first period, Rangers faithful had their chance to applaud No. 20. Kreider soaked in the adulation, then took a short spin to center ice and back from the Anaheim bench, patting his chest several times in gratitude as players from both teams tapped their sticks on the ice in collective appreciation. 

“It was pretty cool. I don’t know how to put it into words,” Kreider said after the first period during an interview on the Ducks' Victory+ broadcast. “Certainly I had goosebumps. It was hard not to get emotional in the moment. I’m incredibly grateful for the warm welcome.”

The Ducks snapped a scoreless tie with a shorthanded rebound goal by defenseman Jackson LaCombe 7:18 into the second period, assisted on a flip out of the zone Trouba and a down-ice charge by Ryan Poehling.

New York’s power play continued to struggle without defenseman Adam Fox and Monday night’s scratched top scorer Mika Zibanejad, but the Rangers managed to finally score late in the second when defenseman Matthew Robertson’s long shot counted as officials ruled that Ducks goaltender Lukáš Dostál knocked the puck out of the air and into his net.   

Cutter Gauthier then put the visitors ahead to stay with a power-play goal 5:51 into the third period, rifling a shot past Igor Shesterkin off a feed by 19-year-old rookie Beckett Sennecke. The lead held, and the Ducks added two late goals for a 4-1 victory, their first win at the Garden since Nov. 4, 2013. 

“It was a little weird. It took me a couple of shifts to realize the guys in blue weren’t my teammates,’’ Kreider said of his initial moments not wearing the home colors to which he was so accustomed. 

The Ducks played hard, and again, their youth brigade came through – as the 21-year-old Gauthier took the team lead with his 18th goal into an empty net in the closing seconds and 22-year-old defenseman Pavel Mintyukov scored against Shesterkin with three seconds left. 

Ducks captain Radko Gudas said his team’s staunch effort against the Rangers was the least they could put forth to support Trouba and Kreider amid the emotional swirl of being the opposition for the first time in New York. 

“Guys were talking during the break. That was one of our best effort games this season,’’  the 35-year-old defenseman said. “We have some very talented young guys who are eager to make plays, get better and learn.” 

Kreider said he too is enjoying his elder statesman status with the earnest Ducks, who improved to 20-12-1 this season – tied with Vegas for the Pacific Division lead at 41 points.

“It’s been fun, a fun style of hockey. We get better by the day, by the week as a group as we continue to get more comfortable with systems.”

Kreider – as per his usual tendencies through hundreds of games at the Garden – was last off the ice after the win but this time at the visiting end of the ice where the Zamboni rolls out. 

He waited to congratulate Dostál who made 26 saves for his 12th win this season, then waved to a handful of fans above the tunnel heading to the Anaheim room.

After the game, Kreider noticed his buddy Zibanejad waiting a few steps beyond the Ducks room and the two embraced – a scene repeated countless times coming off the ice after Ranger wins. Nine seasons together doesn't evaporate the bonds of friendship.

Since his Rangers debut in the 2012 playoffs, Kreider played 883 regular-season games for the Rangers over the next 13 seasons, sixth-most in Rangers history. 

He is tied at 116 power play goals with Camille Henry – two ahead of Zibanejad – for most in Rangers history and Kreider’s 326 goals are third-best behind Rod Gilbert (406) and Jean Rattelle (336) in franchise lore.

Asked if there is one thing about being a New York mainstay that resonated on his momentous return night, Kreider kept it simple and focused on what is next.

“Columbus in 24 hours,’’ he said, adding a laugh. “Get the two, and get out of here.”

After changing and visiting with family and friends who attended what had to be one of the most unusual nights of his career, Kreider was on his way down the long ramp visiting players use to reach their team bus.

On this night at the Garden, his job as the opposition was complete.

Welcome to Wrestling Inc.'s weekly review of "WWE Raw," the show that starts with GUNTHER calling John Cena a little b**** and ends with a big Austin Theory shaved head reveal! You might say we have a lot to talk about, and the Wrestling Inc. staff is more than equal to the task. Not only do we have opinions about the aforementioned segments, but we also have thoughts on the Maxxine Dupri title defense, the Stephanie Vaquer title defense, and the CM Punk promo, as well as IYO SKY taking an InSane Elbow for her bestie Rhea Ripley.

As always, we can't touch on absolutely everything — sorry, Usos vs. New Day — but you can always check out our "Raw" results page if you just need to know about all the things that happened. If you want to know what the WINC crew thinks about the things that happened (or at least the things we cared about) here are three things we hated and three things we loved about the 12/15/25 episode of "WWE Raw!"

Read more: WWE Raw Stars: Meet Their Wives & Girlfriends

Loved: GUNTHER has perfect response to crowd's vitriol

Following John Cena tapping out in his final match, there was a visceral reaction in the arena and online. Some fans can not wrap their minds around the fact that Cena essentially gave up in his retirement match. They were so angry that they booed Paul Levesque and also chanted "A-E-W" at him. There's also video of GUNTHER needing extra security while leaving the arena on Saturday night as fans shouted at him.

Everyone has spent the last 48 hours wondering what the Austrian would say on "Raw" and he did not disappoint. Before he came out, footage of Saturday's match played. As soon as the first notes of "Prepare to Fight" played, the boos filled the arena. GUNTHER ate every single bit of the reaction up. A few fans tried to start a "You tapped out!" chant, but boos drowned it out. He grabbed a mic and told the crowd, "I did what I said I was going to do. I made John Cena give up! And when he gave up, he tapped out like a little b****!" before dropping the mic.

He began to leave, came back to stand on the announce desk, basked in the boos and told the crowd again that he made Cena tap before declaring, "it's my time now!" Backstage Adam Pearce asked him if he was proud of what he did tonight. When GUNTHER said he was, Pearce sent him home. As he walked to the car, AJ Styles was waiting. Perhaps this is a tease for Styles' own retirement match. Before he drove away, he did the "You Can't See Me" gesture at Styles.

This was the perfect response from GUNTHER. He has accepted the fans' vitriol and is using it to fuel him. He stated matter-of-factly what he did and soaked up their hatred. WWE really have to follow this up with something big for GUNTHER so his momentum doesn't stop, especially after retiring Goldberg and Cena in the same year. They have to follow through with GUNTHER's time being now.

Written by Samantha Schipman

Loved: An ambush done well

It's rare that I actually like the way that ambush attacks in WWE are done these days just because of how overdone they feel, but there was one exception to that on this edition of "Raw".

The Kabuki Warriors leaving IYO SKY laid out and Asuka spraying the green mist into the eyes of Rhea Ripley prove that the length of time that a segment like this doesn't matter as much of the quality of it and the storytelling it's working to do, especially when you compare an ambush like this to many of the ones that generally tend to close out "Raw" (such as The Vision's attack on LA Knight last week or the one between CM Punk and The Vision in the closing moments of this show). The idea that Asuka and Kairi Sane are trying to do everything in their power to weaken Ripley and taunt SKY ahead of their Women's Tag Team Match on January 5 still clearly got across here without feeling like things were dragged out too much or repetitive storybeats that we often see in the main event ambushes that typically close out "Raw".

SKY throwing herself on top of Ripley to take the In-Sane Elbow from Sane additionally showcased the growing trust between her and Ripley really well, and spotlighted their dynamic in a manner that was engaging to watch without needing any words. Everything about this segment was simple, but still well done and created hype for the January 5 match in a way that was different from the usual verbal confrontations and match combinations of different members of tag teams we've become accustomed to seeing in WWE.

Written by Olivia Quinlan

Loved: Love and fury, energy and passion

So, Maxxine Dupri is far from a Lita...in terms of in-ring work, anyway. If we're talking about passion for the business, I'd say Dupri is on her way.

Dupri defended her Women's Intercontinental Championship against Ivy Nile on Monday's episode of "WWE Raw," and I'll be the first to tell you that it was far from a clean match. Dupri's strikes are still really slow, Nile isn't the greatest in-ring, and the two wrestled a very rookie match. Nile's performance wasn't much to write home about. On paper, neither was Dupri's.

Dupri, on paper, isn't anything special. Dupri in life, however? That is a different story.

You can always tell when someone is passionate about what they do — like, really, genuinely passionate. Passion lends an unspoken quality to their work. And to be clear, I'm not saying Nile isn't passionate. If she didn't love this business, she wouldn't be here. What I am saying, however, is that Dupri's passion — her inner fire and love for wrestling — is her biggest strength. You can feel Dupri's love for the business and determination to succeed ooze from every slow kick, every clumsy misstep, and every shout of determination.

I think Dupri has really sharpened up since feuding and winning the Women's Intercontinental Championship. She's no Shawn Michaels, but the difference between her before and after the Women's Intercontinental Championship is night and day. That was on full display during tonight's match. Nile, one of the many women who berated Dupri for her less-than-skillful in-ring performance, tried to overwhelm the rookie Dupri, and Dupri managed to find her footing as the match went on, ultimately to win her inaugural title defense by way of an Ankle Lock transition into a traditional, supine leg joint lock (think armbar, but on the leg). Her match tonight was a reflection of her in-ring journey. Her victory over Nile by way of submission — technical mat work, similar to the tactics that technicians like Bret Hart are revered for — is a breathing testament to her in-ring journey, and a preview of what is to come.

She's no Hall of Famer, but her passion is what makes these improvements, however marginal, noticeable and commendable. You can see just how much Dupri has improved in the ring, just because of how passionate she is. Every scream, shout, willingness to look "stupid" as her body is forced to move in these very unnatural ways just makes her improved in-ring ability — no matter how small the improvements are — augments her whole performance. She's fun to watch because she's having fun.

Dupri has a long way to go. If she keeps this fire stoked within her, though, she'll have no problem fueling the journey.

Written by Angeline Phu

Hated: More yelling about Steiner math

I went on an entire journey with CM Punk's "WWE Raw" promo on Bron Breakker this week. I started out not loving it, kinda came around by the end, then watched it again and decided I didn't actually like it after all. I'm as susceptible as anyone else to a Steiner Math reference — not to mention a reference to the late Rob Reiner, who once had a character say he would "rip your eyes out of your head and p*** in your dead skull" — but I think what bothered me about the promo was that when you strip away all the Inside Baseball stuff, it was pretty bog-standard. "You can't beat me, you always get help from people, don't talk about my wife." That was basically all he said. I didn't really get much of a continued storyline out of that, especially considering Punk spent half of it bashing Rick and Scott Steiner, who I'm pretty sure won't be there on January 5.

I think wrestlers like Punk often find it pretty easy to pop an audience by referencing things like Steiner Math to dress up an otherwise blasé bit of promo work; it probably would have gone over like gangbusters in AEW, where the crowd lives and dies on Tony Khan acknowledging their smarkdom. Punk should probably stop trying this in front of WWE crowds who rarely get the joke, but he should also stop doing it because it's just kinda lazy and doesn't really inform the potential story of the match. Now, I could be wrong about that — maybe Punk pulls out a bunch of Steiner moves next week, or (in the darkest timeline) Scott and Rick actually do show up. But I thought the real meat of this promo should have been the stuff about how Breakker isn't ready for the bright lights, and about how Paul Heyman consistently gets behind people and pushes them before they're prepared. That was a little Inside Baseball, but it was stuff that could play into the action in the ring next Monday. Calling Bron a nepo-baby, not so much.

Also, if you're going to keep acknowledging that he's a Steiner, just change his name to Steiner already, what are we doing?

Written by Miles Schneiderman

Hated: Nikki Bella once again demands a title shot

I am not a Nikki Bella hater by any means, but why does this woman think she deserves yet another title shot? I really thought that the WWE Hall of Famer would take a little time off following her Survivor Series loss, as it is the holiday season after all, to Women's World Champion Stephanie Vaquer. Bella didn't exactly earn that first shot as it is. She didn't stack up any wins to challenge Vaquer, she just turned heel on her former friend and got the opportunity at the premium live event. I didn't even mind that too much, she is a Hall of Famer after all, and the match itself wasn't too bad, but now, it's just getting to be a little too much. 

There are plenty of other deserving women on the "Raw" roster, but they all might be too tied up in the tag team division, leading to yet another Vaquer vs. Bella bout. Sure, I think Bella is a better heel than a babyface, and outside of challenging Vaquer and making her life hell like she did tonight when she interfered in Vaquer's match against Raquel Rodriguez, I'm not exactly sure what else is left for her on the main roster as a villain. Maybe we're headed toward a triple threat match between Vaquer, Rodriguez, and Bella, but I can't say I'm too excited about that. I'm not sure how all three women's styles would mesh in a match-up, especially one that doesn't have many rules, like a triple threat.

I'm, like many people I'm sure at this point, really tired of DQ finishes in WWE. Rodriguez and Vaquer weren't having a bad match whatsoever, even if Rodriguez was getting quite a bit of offense in on the champion and not selling too much at certain points. I guess Rodriguez did come out of this looking pretty strong without actually technically losing her title opportunity, which is really why I'm thinking we might be headed toward that triple threat. 

However this ends, I'm not a fan of it, at least not at this moment, and I really hope Brie Bella makes a return alongside her twin sister, so they can go to the tag division, where they can win some tag team gold that they deserve to reign with for just a bit as Hall of Famers, and some other women step up to challenge Vaquer.

Written by Daisy Ruth

Hated: Theory of a boring man

At Survivor Series: WarGames, Bron Breakker pinned CM Punk to win the match for Team Vision in the eponymous match, with a little help of a run-climb-run-in from a masked man making use of Seth Rollins' move-set. Was it actually Rollins? Only if one was going to credibly believe WWE would try to work the same injury angle with the same guy within a couple of months – which, on second thought, might have been understandable. But the fact of the matter is that it was always Austin Theory beneath the mask, despite some internet detectives getting their magnifying glasses out and declaring anything from "It might actually be Rollins" to "Hey look, it's Chris Jericho." So, when time came this week to finally reveal the man beneath the mask, it was ... Austin Theory. 

It is hilariously accurate to say there was more interest in him when he was under the mask than when he finally had taken it off. No one in the crowd really cared; there was the initial pop with the mask being taken off, but even that was a "Oh, it's him" rather than an "Oh my god, it's him." Theory is a great wrestler between the bells, though admittedly it's hard to feel excited for a guy that was accused of talking to an underage girl and has the personality of a frat boy's cardboard cut-out. Somehow putting all that aside, there have been numerous efforts to position him as someone to watch – ironic all things considered – that have never really come off. 

It doesn't really feel like this latest role is going to be the one that convinces the world to suddenly care about him. If anything, now no one really cares about the dude who was wearing the mask. Bearing in mind I am talking about a faction that has Logan Paul, but there is quite literally nothing Theory – buzzcut or not – can bring to the group. His presence dilutes the star-power that the group undoubtedly has. It's like taking a bowl of dessert and mixing it with a bowl of excrement. The dessert is still there, but once you dish that up, rest assured the customer is going to complain you've handed them a bowl of s***. 

Aside from Theory, the actual execution of the main event was just the latest example of copy and paste, 'Wrestling 101' booking that we have come to expect from WWE TV in recent weeks. Seemingly endless interference, no sense of catharsis, and just an all-round kick below the belt for anyone expecting a true main event.

Written by Max Everett

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Read the original article on Wrestling Inc.