CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Business is business and the Carolina Panthers needed additional cap space for free-agent expenditures. The offseason result was the release of defensive lineman A'Shawn Robinson.
Morgan didn't enjoy calling Robinson to inform the 10-year veteran of the cost-cutting, but necessary, maneuver. With the 2026 NFL Draft approaching April 23-25 in Pittsburgh, the Panthers could find Robinson's replacement with a mid-to-late-round selection.
"A'Shawn, great dude, great leader," Morgan said during Tuesday's pre-draft press conference at Bank of America Stadium. "We'll definitely miss him around here. It's definitely just part of the business."
Panthers GM Dan Morgan seeks DL depth
Seeking to replace Robinson's 145 combined tackles and eight sacks in 2024 and '25, Morgan likely will look to add to the team's defensive line depth with a mid-to-late round draft pick and possibly an undrafted free agent or two.
"In terms of the defensive tackle class, I feel pretty good about it," Morgan said. "I think it's a little top-heavy, but I do think there are guys we like that we pinpointed, so I think if the opportunity arises, we would definitely have competition and depth there."
While edge and offensive line prospects likely will receive a higher pre-draft grade, Morgan identified Clemson's Peter Woods as a potential first- or second-round prospect.
The Panthers have never drafted a player from Clemson.
Nerves got the best of Noah Schultz in the first but he recovered to end his outing on a high note. | Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
It might not have been the perfect performance he hoped for, but Noah Schultz pushed through a rough first frame of his major league debut to finish his 4 1/3-inning outing strongly, despite the White Sox (6 -11) dropping the first game of the series to the Rays (9-7), 8-5.
Schultz needed 33 pitches to get through the first, which could have led to a quick exit. The lanky southpaw was able to work around Yandy Díaz with no problem to start the game, but walked the next two batters for quick trouble. The first MLB hit surrendered by Schultz was a double to left field by Ryan Vilade to drive in the first run for Tampa Bay. A safety squeeze bunt from Ben Williamson caused a whole bunch of chaos, as Noah rushed his throw home rather than getting the second out at first and letting the run score, and the Rays added a third run to the board due to Schultz’s error.
First-game jitters were clearly coming into play, but Schultz was able to settle himself down and strike out Jonny DeLuca to get out of the inning. The rest of his night went more smoothly, though he allowed one more run in the top of the third; Williamson struck again, drilling an RBI double out to left for Tampa’s fourth run of the game. Schultz did facilitate a 1-2-3 inning in the second, and worked through the fourth just fine before striking out the last batter he faced.
Noah tallied four strikeouts alongside four walks, and he averaged a 32% called strike plus whiff rate (CSW%). His fastball (37% CSW%) was most effective, averaging 96 mph with three strikeouts and batters whiffing five of nine times. The throwing error on the bunt was definitely a learning experience, but overall Schultz’s fastball velocity and pitch movement along with the way he was able to power through his nerves after the first inning was definitely encouraging.
It took a few stanzas for the bats to wake up, but the White Sox offense did cut the deficit to one in the bottom of the third. Miguel Vargas was robbed on a diving play from Chandler Simpson to start the inning, but Munetaka Murakami walked for his second time of the night, and Chase Meidroth ended up on first after catcher’s interference (his back foot essentially stepped on the catcher Nick Fortes’ foot in the batter’s box).
Just when you think you’ve seen it all, baseball is the gift that keeps on giving:
Just a few minutes after I got through complaining about the fact that manager Will Venable decided to bat Everson Pereira in the cleanup spot, Pereira came up with two runners on and ripped a three-run homer out to left to make it 4-3, Tampa Bay. I believe the exact phrase I used was “automatic out,” and I will happily eat my words for a home run any day of the week:
Spoiler alert: The White Sox did not come remotely close to scoring again until they were down to their last out in the bottom of the ninth, but they once again fell short in their rally. In fact, they only mustered five hits all night and went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position while leaving nine runners on base. Does it really matter that your offense stinks while your bullpen isn’t doing anything to help itself, either? I mean, yes, it does, but with the White Sox you can’t really have your cake and eat it too; precisely why their pitching has been phenomenal lately while their offense is incapable of scoring runs.
Lucas Sims was first out of the pen for the Good Guys (1 1/3 innings), and he was unable to prevent additional runs from scoring as two more were tacked on, thanks to three hits with one walk and one strikeout. Lefthander Brandon Eisert was next in line, and his stat line was unfortunately a carbon copy of Sims’, so the Rays expanded their lead to five, 8-3.
Finally the pitching calmed down a bit with Jordan Hicks in the eighth — something I probably never thought I’d write — and he was able to get out of the inning without anyone scoring despite giving up two hits, the first of the South Side pitching staff accomplish the feat. Bryan Hudson, the power forward (6´8´´) to Schultz’s center (6´10´´) was solid for the top of the ninth (one hit and one strikeout), also preventing any further runs from scoring.
Things did briefly get a little interesting for the South Siders in the bottom of the ninth, with two outs. Vargas had walked with one out, and Mune was the last hope for the Sox after Meidroth popped out. Murakami blasted his fifth homer of the season to cut the Tampa lead to three, 8-5.
Attempting to re-ignite a rally, Tanner Murray singled to extend the inning at least one more batter. Working to a full count, it was starting to feel like Edgar might get on so that Colson Montgomery would come up to bat as the tying run, but that fleeting hope and excitement was extinguished when Quero flew out to center to end the game.
Apr 14, 2026; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Mikael Granlund (64) shoots against the Minnesota Wild in the third period at Grand Casino Arena.
A day after clinching their first playoff berth in eight years, the Ducks’ next objective is fighting for home ice advantage for round one of the playoffs, and that task just got increasingly taller.
The Ducks traveled to St. Paul, Minnesota, to an arena that’s haunted them in recent memory on Tuesday night in hopes of leapfrogging the Edmonton Oilers in the Pacific Division standings. Despite playing a strong game, things didn’t go their way.
The Ducks continued their losing way at Grand Casino Arena, losing 3-2 against the Wild despite outshooting them 37-20.
The Ducks are now 1-14-5 in their last 20 games against the Wild and have lost eight of their last nine games overall.
It appeared their fortunes were going to change Tuesday night, as the Ducks dominated possession in the first period and opened the scoring when Mason McTavish ripped a wrist shot past Jesper Wallstedt on the power play.
A late goal in the period by Danila Yurov tied it up, and the Ducks lost their way from there.
The Wild progressively played better as the second period went along, and they finally broke through when Nick Foligno took a puck below the goal line and fed a pass to Hunter Haight, who streaked into the slot, and no Duck defender picked him up. Haight went bardown for his first NHL goal.
The Ducks turned it on in the third, outshooting the Wild 15-3 in the final frame. But Wallstedt stood tall the whole game, making 35 saves with some big-time stops mixed in to take away high-danger scoring chances.
Former Duck Robby Fabbri notched the game winner when a floating puck was knocked down in front of the net, and Fabbri got just enough of a piece of the puck to have it slowly trickle through the goal crease and over the goal line, just past the outstretched pad of Lukáš Dostál.
From there, it was desperation mode for the Ducks, as they picked up the urgency and flooded Wallstedt with shots.
McTavish tallied his second goal of the night with 44 seconds left by tipping a shot from the top of the right faceoff circle by Mikael Granlund, but it was too little, too late.
It’s been a tough season for McTavish. The 23-year-old former third overall pick has only produced 40 points and has been a healthy scratch at times.
Tuesday night was the first multi-goal game of McTavish’s season. He now has six points in his last six games, which would be a massive boost for the Ducks if McTavish can stay hot heading into the playoffs.
As for what this loss means for the Ducks moving forward, they currently sit at 90 points and in third place of the Pacific Division. They’re one point behind the Oilers and one point ahead of the Los Angeles Kings.
The last game of the season for the Ducks on Thursday in Nashville to face the Predators will be a big one, as it will likely decide who the Ducks will play in the first round and whether or not they will have home ice advantage.
The best scenario: the Ducks win and the Oilers lose in regulation, which puts the Ducks as the second seed in the Pacific Division and will have home ice advantage. The worst: the Ducks lose and the Kings win one of their last two games to jump the Ducks in the standings and force the Ducks into the last wild card spot to face the President Trophy winning Colorado Avalanche.
Brewers closer Trevor Megill (29) had another forgettable outing on Tuesday, April 14 as he blew a save by allowing three runs on three hits with a walk in the ninth inning against the Blue Jays at American Family Field. | Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Milwaukee Brewers were in dire need of a win on Tuesday night to end a five game losing streak. The reincarnated Home Run Race of 1998 has hit the Brewers with Jake Bauers and Gary Sanchez continuing to go tit-for-tat in their bid to be the Crew’s home run leader.
It started with Jake Bauers in the 4th inning. After a single from Brice Turang and a walk from Sanchez, Jake Bauers crushed his 5th home run of the season into the Brewers bullpen, 418 feet away from home plate. That gave the Brewers a 3-0 lead.
The Blue Jays then answered in the 5th with a solo home run from Andres Gimenez and then again in the 6th with a solo shot from Marshfield, WI native Daulton Varsho.
The Brewers had two on and nobody out in the 5th and 6th innings but failed to capitalize in either end.
Then Gary Sanchez happened. He crushed a hanging curveball 409 feet out to left field to provide the Brewers a huge insurance run. That run became all the more important when Abner Uribe allowed a run in the 8th on an RBI groundout by Vlad Guerrero Jr. That left a 4-3 ballgame for closer Trevor Megill.
Megill, coming off a horrendous outing last time out on Friday, had to face the 5-6-7 hitters in the Blue Jays lineup. He allowed a leadoff walk (never a good thing), then a ground rule double, then a single and quickly the Blue Jays tied the game. A soft groundout by Andres Gimenez brought in another run, then a single from Ernie Clement brought home the insurance to make it a 6-4 Blue Jays lead.
Then the Brewers miraculously come back in the bottom of the 9th. Sal Frelick walked, stole second, then Brice Turang brought him home with a single. Turang then stole second, Jake Bauers was intentionally walked, then Brandon Lockridge delivered a game tying double. A walk to Garrett Mitchell loaded the bases for Joey Ortiz, because of course it did. Ortiz promptly struck out on three pitches.
Then in the 10th, Vlad Guerrero Jr doubled, Eloy Jimenez added insurance and the Jays put up another three run inning and the Brewers couldn’t fully come back again in the bottom half.
Jacob Misiorowski threw the ball well, despite feeling sick.
“I felt like I was gonna throw up the whole game” Misiorowski said.
That’s exactly how most of the 25,143 in attendance felt watching the 9th inning as well. Pat Murphy told reporters postgame that he is considering a change in the 9th inning role but wouldn’t commit to that change in the moment.
The Brewers will be back at it on Wednesday with Chad Patrick on the mound.
LaMelo Ball came out aggressively with a chance to win two games and reach the playoffs for the first time in his career, but his aggressiveness nearly got him in trouble on Tuesday night.
After a shot attempt near the rim was blocked early in the second quarter, Ball appeared to get tangled up under the basket with Heat star Bam Adebayo. Adebayo got up gingerly after a hard landing and had to go back to the locker room with what Miami described as a back injury.
Ball wasn't called for a foul, but some fans were quick to ask why the play wasn't at least reviewed.
Here's a closer look at the collision between Ball and Adebayo.
Ball hit the floor and appeared to take a clear swipe at Adebayo's ankle, knocking the Heat star to the floor with a hard landing. Adebayo was frustrated and had to go back to the locker room, but Ball wasn't called for a foul on the play.
Adebayo complained to the officials after the play, and Ball appeared to have a gripe as well despite not being called for a foul. Whether or not the Hornets advance, a fine could be in play if the NBA deems Ball's actions serious enough for punishment.
Ball apologized to Adebayo after the game. "I apologize on that one," he told reporters. "I got hit in the head, didn't really know where I was, but I'm gonna check on him."
After the game, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Ball should have been ejected.
"I don't think it's cute. I don't think it's funny. I think it's a stupid play. It's a dangerous play," Spoelstra said. "He should be penalized for that. I don't think that belongs in the game, tripping guys. Somebody has got to see that. He should have been thrown out of the game for that"
Erik Spoelstra on LaMelo Ball's dirty play on Bam:
"I don't think it's cute. I don't think it's funny. I think it's a stupid play. It's a dangerous play. He should be penalized for that. I don't think that belongs in the game, tripping guys. Somebody has got to see that. He… pic.twitter.com/7pbCWPnUv8
The Hornets went on to win 127-126 in overtime, eliminating the Heat. After the game, official crew chief Zach Zarba explained why they couldn't review the play.
"The play wasn't whistled in real time. Play continued with a fast break. And because play wasn’t stopped immediately, and there was no whistle on the play, the window to review the play was closed," he said. "Play was stopped, after a change of possession, and then a time out. So, by rule, our window to review that play then is closed. "
Zarba added that they later reviewed the play at halftime, as they did with all calls from the first half. The league will now decide whether it should've been a flagrant foul.
NBA pool report on LaMelo Ball play on Bam Adebayo:
QUESTION: Why was the play not reviewed in real time?
ZARBA: The play wasn’t whistled in real time. Play continued with a fast break. And because play wasn’t stopped immediately, and there was no whistle on the play, the…
Adebayo left the game with a back injury and was labeled as questionable to return. He did not return, and the Heat were eliminated in overtime with a one-point loss.
The Heat have found success in the Play-In Tournament and the playoffs as a low seed before, but they came up just short with Adebayo off the floor in Charlotte. The loss ensured a season that saw Adebayo score 83 points in a game ends without a playoff appearance for the Miami big man.
Neymar in more controversy! Best of the day in the Sudamericana
A night of great intensity in the Copa Sudamericana, with Neymar and Santos taking center stage after a major achievement and an incredible draw!
This was the best of Tuesday’s cup action:
Neymar shines
The Brazilian star returned to football with Santos and, besides scoring a goal four minutes into the match, found the net again in a Conmebol competition after 14 years.
Santos bottled it
Although Ney had them temporarily ahead, Santos could not hold on to all three points, and Deportivo Recoleta secured a historic 1-1 draw with a goal from Richard Ortiz, leaving the Pixie at the bottom of Group D.
Sao Paulo and Grêmio get the job done
Amid Santos’ crisis, Sao Paulo and Grêmio were the Brazilian sides that held their heads high, with wins that have them in first and second place respectively.
Houston snatched a 2-0 lead in the first, but it was short-lived. Texas A&M freshman Jorian Wilson and Nico Partida mashed two-run homers in the second and third innings to take the lead. From there, the Aggie bullpen shut out the Cougars with eight scoreless innings to secure the eight-run win.
After being named to the Baseball America Week 9 National Team of the Week, Gavin Grahovac also continued his dominance at the plate by solidifying his spot at No. 9 in program history for career home runs.
Next up, Texas A&M will travel to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for a conference series against the LSU Tigers. Game 1 is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on Friday, and Game 2 is set for 7 p.m. CT on Saturday. The series finale between the Aggies and Tigers is on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT. The series opener and finale will be broadcast on ESPN, with Game 2 on the SEC Network.
Here are some of the best social media reactions from Texas A&M's dominant 10-2 midweek win over Houston at Blue Bell Park:
No. 8 Texas A&M gets NINE shutout innings from the bullpen, Gavin Grahovac and Nico Partida both homer and the Aggies wallop Houston 10-2 at Olsen Tonight. A&M is now 28-7 on the season.
Gavin Grahovac’s homer tonight gives him 10 on the season and 35 in his career which gives him sole possession of 9th place on the all-time Texas A&M HR leaderboard!
I imagine he’ll only continue to climb the leaderboard👍
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Dylan on X: @dylanmflippo.
Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball came through in the clutch during overtime to extend his team’s season with a win over the Miami Heat, 127-126, in the NBA Play-In Tournament with a game-winning shot.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the only noteworthy moment of the game for Ball.
In the first half, Ball and Heat star Bam Adebayo were tangled up, with video replay showing Ball reached out and tripped Adebayo by grabbing his foot.
Adebayo suffered a lower-back injury on the play and was unable to return to the game. After the game, Ball spoke to the media and apologized for the play, saying the trip was unintentional.
"I apologize on that one. I got hit in the head, didn't really know where I was, but I'mma check on him and see if he's okay and everything."
“I apologize on that one,” Ball told reporters. “I got hit in the head, didn’t really know where I was, but I’mma check on him and see if he’s okay and everything.”
After the play, Ball was widely criticized on social media for the “dirty play.” Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra also sounded off on the incident, saying, “I don’t think it’s cute. I don’t think it’s funny. I think it’s a stupid play. It’s a dangerous play. He should be penalized for that. I don’t think that belongs in the game, tripping guys.”
Ball was not penalized for the play, but it will be interesting to see whether the NBA will hand down punishment amid the fallout.
Adebayo finished the game with 6 points while recording three rebounds, one assist, and one steal. He played just 11 minutes in the first half.
Apr 12, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) warms-up before a game against the Atlanta Hawks at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
Charlotte, meanwhile, keeps its season alive thanks to Ball’s heroics and will play in another do-or-die game on Friday, April 17, against the loser of Wednesday night’s game between the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic.
The winner will earn the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - APRIL 14: Dillon Dingler #13 and Kenley Jansen #74 of the Detroit Tigers celebrate their win against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park on April 14, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Kenley Jansen needed little introduction when the Detroit Tigers signed the 38-year-old closer to a free agent deal back in December. He’s one of the truly great relievers in the game’s long history. The one year, $9 million deal was a pretty reasonably price for an all-time great even on the downside of his career. The Tigers also have a $12 million option on Jansen for 2027 to exercise should they choose. As a result, the Tigers’ faithful in Comerica Park on Tuesday night got to see a little history as Jansen closed out the Royals for his 479th save, seizing third place on the all-time saves list behind Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman.
Jansen’s career is a pretty incredible story. The Curacao native was originally signed as a catcher. He didn’t hit enough as a minor leaguer to make it as a position player, but he was gifted with a strong throwing arm. At a certain point, a Dodgers coach suggested he try pitching, and Jansen discovered that the over-the-top motion favored by catchers to deliver a straight ball to the bases on stolen base attempts had given him a gift. Much like Mariano Rivera, who discovered his magic cutter by accident, Jansen too was quickly throwing a true unicorn of a cutter. There are plenty of high velocity cutters around the game, but none of them combine the late cutting action of Jansen’s pitch with extremely good riding action. It’s a true cut fastball, the likes of which have rarely been seen in the game, and Jansen has ridden that pitch to a Hall of Fame caliber career.
Of course, this is all well and good, but after two postseason appearances, and with the expectation of losing Tarik Skubal in free agency, the fanbase wants present results, not individual player history. The Tigers fanbase has a rough relationship with the idea of signing a great closer in the later years of their career. We don’t even speak of Joe Nathan in my household. Jose Valverde got the job done for a while, and even Francisco Rodriguez had a pretty good season in Detroit before things finally fell apart for him. But the Tigers haven’t had an elite closer in their prime arguably since Joel Zumaya.
There were understandably some fears about Jansen, in particular the notion of making him the dedicated closer rather than mixing and matching between him, Will Vest, and Kyle Finnegan the way AJ Hinch has had to use his fairly makeshift bullpens over the past few years. Jansen still has the outrageous cut fastball, but it’s not the same quality of pitch at 92.8 mph, his 2025 average, as it was when he was sitting 95+ for all those years with the Dodgers. On the other hand, Jansen still has a lot of extra tools to get hitters out, from his size, distinct high arm slot, ability to hide the ball until late in his delivery, and his ability to post up on his right leg and wait different beats before delivering the ball, and still doing all that with good command. He’s also developed a sinker into an occasional change of pace weapon to jam right-handers, and a pretty good slider with a lot of depth to play off the eyeline of the cut fastball.
Still, with his strikeout rate in decline over the last two years, it’s reasonable to expect that Jansen is just a good reliever these days, and certainly no one special. The fact that he averaged about 92 mph in his first few outings for the Tigers wasn’t real encouraging. However, there was a very good sign on Tuesday night, as Jansen dialed the cut fastball up to 96 mph and topped out at 96.8 mph. He only threw 10 pitches 96 mph or better last season. On Monday night, he topped 96 five different times and that 96.8 mph cutter in the ninth was his fastest recorded pitch since 2024. Jansen doesn’t need to throw that hard to be really good, but he’s a much more imposing pitcher when he’s 94 mph or better.
Way back on July 25, 2010, Kenley Jansen collected the very first save of his career, closing out a victory for the Dodgers over the New York Mets. He took over after an eight inning scoreless performance by young Dodgers’ ace, Clayton Kershaw. His catcher that day was Russell Martin. Almost 16 years later, he racked up save number 479 throwing to Dillon Dingler. That save lifted him above Lee Smith (478) to rank third all-time.
It’s been a truly remarkable career, and Jansen’s work ethic and drive have sustained him far longer than anyone could have imagined. Detroit Tigers’ fans will hope he’s got plenty more in the tank, not to reach the 500 saves plateau, or somehow catch Trevor Hoffman at 601, but to help the Tigers put together a special season.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Amazon Prime Video's stream of the Miami-Charlotte play-in game went offline for nearly two minutes during the overtime period, causing fans to miss a Hornets possession.
Stan Van Gundy, working the game as an analyst for Prime Video, was mid-sentence when the audio feed was lost coming out of a timeout with 48.1 seconds remaining. A message about “technical difficulties” began displaying on screens a few seconds later.
When the video and audio feeds resumed, Charlotte's LaMelo Ball had scored for a 125-120 lead. Fans missed 22.1 seconds of playing time.
“Tell me the game didn’t just cut off?!!? Am I trippin?? WTH,” Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James posted on X, as the words “technical difficulties” began trending nationally across social media.
Charlotte went on to win 127-126. There was no immediate explanation from Prime Video about what caused the issue with the stream, and it was not clear if all viewers were affected by the lost feeds.
Prime Video has exclusive rights to all six games in this year's play-in tournament. The streaming service began showing NBA games this season as part of the league's new 11-year, $76 billion media rights deal.
The Philadelphia Eagles were hoping to repeat as Super Bowl champions in 2025. Instead, the team didn't get past the Wild Card round.
Now, the team is hoping to reload enough this offseason to get back to contention in 2026. In free agency, the Eagles haven't been super busy, but they've added a couple of nice pieces. Riq Woolen should help out the secondary, while wide receivers Dontayvion Wicks Hollywood Brown should improve the pass-catcher room.
In the 2026 draft, the team will likely want players who can contribute immediately. However, one analyst thinks the team will actually use one of its top 100 picks on a luxury- an intriguing quarterback.
Eagles predicted to draft potential QB2 in 2026
Mike Renner of CBS Sports recently published a three-round mock, and in it, Renner has the Eagles drafting Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green with the No. 98 pick.
Green is an intriguing prospect, especially for a team like the Eagles. Green has plenty of college experience, having played 28 games for Boise State and 25 for Arkansas. The quarterback shined even on some bad Arkansas teams, and could have a future in the right system.
In 2025, Green threw for 2,714 yards with 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while completing 60.7% of his passes. The quarterback also made plenty of plays with his legs, rushing for 777 yards and eight more scores.
Green has prototypical quarterback size, standing at a massive six-foot-six, but he has the legs to be a true dual-threat as well. The quarterback doesn't have pinpoint accuracy, but he also didn't have the best supporting cast at Arkansas.
On paper, it doesn't really seem like using a top 100 pick on a quarterback makes much sense for the Eagles. The team has Jalen Hurts locked in as the starter while Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee are on the roster behind him.
McKee was once looked at as a potential player, but his results when forced into action in 2025 weren't that promising. It's possible that a dual-threat, big-armed quarterback like Green could outshine McKee and take over the QB2 role eventually.
A quarterback like Green also makes sense just as insurance for Hurts. Hurts and Green are both mobile quarterbacks from the SEC, while the veteran Dalton, and McKee, are more standard pocket passers. If anything were to happen to Hurts, there's a real possibility Green could run the offense better than the other options.
Apr 14, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Colorado Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela (49) delivers a pitch during the third inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
The Colorado Rockies rolled into Daikin Park hoping to end a four-game losing streak by winning their fourth consecutive game against the Houston Astros in two weeks.
While they chipped away at an Astros lead amassed in the third inning, the Rockies could never quite get there, losing the series opener 7-6.
Innings 1-3: The Rockies start climbing — and then fall back
The Rockies offense got off to a quick start with a Hunter Goodman home run in the first inning off the lefty starter Colton Gordon.
Things took a turn for the worse in the bottom of the third, which started with a Christian Vázquez double followed by a Willi Castro error that put Jose Altuve on base. After that, Michael Lorenzen was called for a balk, and then Yordan Álvarez entered the chat with a two-run double, tying the game at three.
Things only went downhill from there. With two outs in the third, after a seemingly endless series of Astros hits and Rockies defensive adventures (Castro had another error), the score was 7-3. At that point, Lorenzen was knocked out of the game with Antonio Senzatela entering in relief.
When the inning (finally) ended, the score was 7-3 with the Astros sending 11 batters to the plate.
Lorenzen’s final line was 2.2 IP on 71 pitches with seven runs, two earned, on six hits. He walked one and struck out three. His ERA is 9.18.
It seemed like yet another game in which the Rockies were too far behind to catch up.
“It just seemed like we were unable to stop the bleeding,” manager Warren Schaeffer said.
Innings 4-7: A slow (but steady) climb
As it turns out, the Rockies were not done yet.
Jordan Beck went yard in the top of the fourth making the score 7-4.
Kyle Karros and Jake McCarthy followed that with their own singles before Tyler Freeman was HBP. (It looked painful.) That knocked Gordon out of the game.
Mickey Moniak came in to hit for Brenton Doyle but popped out to short, leaving the bases loaded.
As for Gordon, he finished the evening with 3.2 IP on 68 pitches. He allowed four runs (all earned) on eight hits while also striking out five.
Goodman led off the fifth inning with another home run, and the score was 7-5.
The Rockies mounted another comeback in the eighth as Ezequiel Tovar and Karros managed walks. Troy Johnston came in for McCarthy and promptly hit an RBI single, making the score 7-6 Astros.
There were two on and two out when Moniak came up, but he popped out, ending the inning.
The Rockies kept pushing in the ninth. After two quick outs, T.J. Rumfield hit a single followed by a Tovar single. Brett Sullivan came in to pinch run for Rumfield and stopped at third, leaving questions as to whether he should have continued home.
Beck stepped to the plate after going 2-for-4 with a home run and a single. However, he struck out looking, ending the game, giving the Rockies yet another one-run loss.
The Rockies finished the evening with 6 runs on 12 hits. They went 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left 10 runners on base with four walks and 12 Ks.
The Astros never scored again after the third inning, but the Rockies couldn’t overcome the deficit.
“These guys are getting better every day,” Schaeffer said. “We just need to turn these one-run losses into some wins.”
Then he added, “We’re going to turn the page.”
Antonio Senzatela and the bullpen finished strong
The reinvented Antonio Senzatela entered the game in the third to get the elusive final out, which he did, striking out Altuve and then settling in to pitch a gorgeous 3.1 innings. He gave two only two hits on 43 pitches and is now scoreless in his last five appearances.
It is not an exaggeration to say that Senzatela changed the tenor of the game. He stopped what seemed to be an endless Astros rally and gave the Rockies an opportunity to get back into the game.
Schaeffer described Senzatela as “incredibly important” to the Rockies. “You know he’s going to keep you right in the game.”
Juan Mejia pitched the seventh and gave up two hits before getting three outs.
The eighth went to Zach Agnos who made quick work of the Astros, striking out two and getting a ground out to end the inning.
Up Next
Join us tomorrow night for Game 2 at 6:10 pm. Neither team has announced their starting pitcher.
PITTSBURGH — Not many hitters in baseball are performing as well as Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe currently is.
In the two games leading up to Tuesday night’s game against the Washington Nationals, Lowe combined for three home runs and 10 RBI. He became the first Pirate to have five RBI in back-to-back games since the stat was first became official in 1920.
On Tuesday night, Lowe picked up right where he left off. In his first at-bat of the game, Lowe belted a solo home run off left-hander PJ Poulin, who was announced late as an opener for veteran right-hander Miles Mikolas.
Despite a big swing early, Lowe’s night ended prematurely after manager Don Kelly opted to pinch hit Nick Yorke in the seventh inning with the bases loaded and one out with left-hander Mitchell Parker on the mound and fellow lefty Cionel Pérez warming in the bullpen. The Pirates were trailing by only one run when the decision was made.
The decision didn’t pay off. Yorke worked himself into a favorable 3-1 count against Pérez but smashed a 101.7 mph grounder right at second baseman Nasim Nuñez, who turned an inning-ending double play.
Kelly explained his reasoning following the Pirates’ 5-4 loss on Tuesday night.
“It was strategic, liked Yorke right there as far as contact ability,” he said.
Despite a home run against Poulin in the first inning, Lowe has struggled against left-handers this season. Entering play, he had only one hit in 19 hits against southpaws and struck out against Parker in his second at-bat against a Nationals left-hander on Tuesday.
But at the same time, Lowe has been one of the best players for the Pirates so far this season.
“It’s a tough decision,” Kelly explained. “I always like to make it about the guy. We’ve talked about as a team, it’s going to take 26 guys. I know Lowe had the home run earlier in the game against lefties. Just liked the matchup with Yorke there as far as putting the ball in play and making contact, and he did. He smoked it, unfortunately right at the second baseman.”
Yorke had a chance for redemption in the bottom of the ninth but was unable to come through against right-hander Gus Varland. With the tying run on second base and a second runner standing on first, Yorke popped out to first baseman Curtis Mead in foul territory for the final out of the game.
The at-bat would have belonged to Lowe had he not not been substituted for earlier, but the Pirates second baseman believes Kelly made the correct call.
“I thought it was the right move to be truly honest,” he said. “Take the personal opinion out of it and look at it with a baseball mind. It was bases loaded, one out, lefty on the mound, lefty in the ‘pen and you go to a guy who sees lefties really well, doesn’t strike out against them, tying run on third base. I had no problem with it.”
Earlier in his career, Lowe admittedly would have been upset by a similar decision. As he’s gained experience, now nine years of it in the big leagues, the 31-year-old sees the game differently.
“Going through the process there and getting games under my belt, you truly kind of get to take a step back and use your baseball mind a little bit and understand the process of moves and the situations that are at hand,” he explained. “You start to realize it was a good move. It was a good call. Just happened to not work out that one time.”
The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the New York Islanders 2-1 at UBS Arena Tuesday night to cap off their 2025-26 regular season.
Nikolaj Ehlers and Mark Jankowski scored for Carolina, while Brandon Bussi made 28 saves in his second straight start.
After the game, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour along with Ronan Seeley, Jankowski and Bussi spoke with the media in New York. Here's what they had to say:
Carolina to face Ottawa in first round of 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Rod Brind'Amour
On the game: It was kind of how these last few have gone. Just kind of hung around, battled and had some good individual efforts on key plays for goals or maybe a blocked shot here or there. Just found a way to get it done.
On Brandon Bussi: He was great tonight. One of his better games. He was solid, made some huge saves at obviously critical times in the game. He was probably the difference maker.
On Felix Unger Sorum and Ronan Seeley's NHL debuts: Everyone that we've brought in here has contributed and it's been nice to see. Felix got his first point tonight and that's special and Ronan was great. Like I said, I can't say enough about all the guys that we brought up. It says a lot about the coaches down there in Chicago getting them ready. That's a big deal so they can step in and we don't have to miss a beat, especially when you put that many guys in. It's one thing to be one guy here or there, but every night we've had five or six and still we were finding ways to win. It's good on those guys.
On flipping the switch for Game 1: I think we've been eager for this for a long time once we knew it was official. I mean, we were in a pretty good spot all year, but you just have to turn the page and now it goes to being a sprint. All season it's a marathon and now you have to be ready right from the get go and put your best foot forward.
On if he was surprised by Bussi's season: We knew about him and we were obviously looking to get him into the organization a long time ago, but it just fell in our hands. We got lucky with that and how it worked out and certainly been really pleased with how he's played.
On facing the Ottawa Senators: That's a tough matchup. They all are at this time of year moving forward here, but that's one of the better teams, in my opinion, in the NHL. They had a tough start to their season and some interesting things go on, but they've got it covered top to bottom. It's gonna be a huge challenge.
On the key to getting over the hump: Well, you have to stay healthy and have everybody going. That's been really the Achilles heel for us. We've never been able to stay healthy. Key players popping off at the wrong time. When you get down, especially near the end, that's the difference. You have to stay healthy and you have to have some fortunate things go your way a little bit. That's probably it.
Ronan Seeley
On his NHL debut: It's what I've been dreaming about since I was a little kid. I mean, it's kind of everything you dream of even in Game 82. I just tried to take in everything and take in every second. I'm so happy that my family is here and the guys were so welcoming. It was just an awesome experience.
On his initial emotions taking the ice for the first time: In warmups, I couldn't see the puck, so I was struggling a little bit there, but I was nervous. Super nervous, but I was just trying to embrace it all. I was just so thankful to be out there.
On when he found out he was going to be called up: I was in my apartment last night and my dad and brother had just flown into town and my mother in law and my wife's best friend were there. So we were cooking dinner and stuff and then Spiros Anastas, our coach down in Chicago, he called me and we got it on video and stuff too. I don't even know who I called. There was a flurry of phone calls and emotions and it was just hours of planning trying to get everyone here. It was a whirlwind and I can't believe it's over already.
On playing alongside a bunch of Chicago Wolves teammates: It really quelled the nerves, for sure, getting to see [Bradly Nadeau] and getting to play with [Joel Nystrom] too. Like, I'm comfortable with those guys so that helped a lot and they were so good and so easy to play with too. I was so thankful for that.
On what he thinks he did well in Chicago to earn the opportunity: Well, I don't know. Everyone says I deserve it, but I don't know what I deserve. I mean, I just go out and work my bag off every day. That's it. I just try to give it my all, give all glory to God. I'm just thankful to be able to be here. I don't want to change who I am any. If I'm here, if I'm down, wherever I am. I just try to be positive, bring energy to everybody and be a leader down there and up here and play a role. I'm just going to keep working hard.
On the Wolves' season: It's been fun to be a part of that group. It's been fun to take on a bigger role too. We have a really good group, a young group and we're meshing well. We've had our ups and downs this year, which is good for us. We're growing and we're going through growing pains and just like the Canes, we're looking forward to the second part of the season. It's gonna be a blast.
Mark Jankowski
On the game: Overall, I thought it was a good game. It was tight, everyone who came up played great. Awesome for Seels and Felix there to get their first ones. But yeah, overall, it was just a great win and now onto the playoffs.
On his goal: It was just a great shift by everyone out there. All five guys. We were hounding pucks and got them tired and scrambling a little bit and then Nysy made a good play to me down low and the other two forwards there, Robby and Marty, kind of gave me some space, took their guys to the net and so I had some space and just was able to get it over his shoulder there.
On moving into the postseason: We have to keep our foot on the gas. Obviously playoff hockey is like nothing else. You can't really explain it. Just like the intensity, every play matters, every single little puck battle, every little hit, like everything is amplified so much more, the crowd is into it right from the get go. So we're just really excited to get going.
On the Ottawa Senators: They're a good team. They play hard. They earned their spot in the playoffs so it's gonna be a great series for us. We know what we're up against and I'm sure in the next few days, we'll look at them more in depth. Definitely a good matchup, for sure.
On Brandon Bussi: He was awesome. Anytime you have to go get into a game like that when you're not really expecting to and not really prepared for, it's gotta be tough, but he stood on his head and played a great game for us. Kept us in it all game and we were able to get a win for him in front of us family, who I'm sure was here. It's really special being able to play in your hometown. I know, for me, Toronto and even Buffalo is close for me. I have a ton of family and friends there, so I'm sure it was the same for him. It was great for him to win and play so well.
On the regular season: I think, overall, it was a great season. First in the conference, I mean, our goal is to get into the playoffs here and give ourselves a good chance. We did that and right from the get go, I felt like we had a good start and then we finished strong as well. We had a lot of guys come up and play big roles for us throughout the season and in the last couple of games here. It was great overall to end on a high note like that going into the playoffs.
Brandon Bussi
On the game: I think we just competed really hard. I think we're a team that goes into every game wanting to win no matter the circumstance and I think it just shows our depth. A lot of the guys have been working hard in Chicago this year and they deserved the opportunity and made the most of it. Really happy with our game tonight.
On his first NHL season: It was awesome, a lot of fun. Highs and lows, for sure, but overall, I think it's a lot of fun to play with this team. Obviously there were a lot of wins, but that's because the team plays so well. Happy with it, but now we're back to zero. I'm excited for the playoffs and I'm excited to see what our team does.
On what he's looking forward to most: Just going to battle with them every day. I think we have a lot of fun in the locker room, but we also know when to dial it in and when to play hockey, play our game and be serious. But it's a lot of fun to be around this group and I'd like that to be as long as possible.
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WATERTOWN — Watertown High School's boys tennis team continued a solid start to the 2026 season by posting two more wins in its home debut on Tuesday, April 14.
The Arrows, technically only six days into the season, improved to 5-1 by recording 8-1 dual wins over Class AA Sioux Falls Jefferson and Class A Milbank at the Highland Park courts.
Watertown went 5-1 in singles and 3-0 in doubles against both the Cavaliers and the Bulldogs.
"It was nice to finally get to play at home today and we got two wins," Watertown coach Ryan Zink said. "We're 5-1 to start the season so I'm definitely happy with that."
With the mix of cold and warm weather so far this spring, the Arrows haven't had a ton of practice time outdoors but that something that should get better in the coming weeks.
The Arrows are off until hosting Sioux Falls Roosevelt and Aberdeen Roncalli in another triangular on Monday, April 20. Watertown will play Roosevelt at 10 a.m., followed by Roosevelt vs. Roncalli and then Watertown-Roncalli at about 3 p.m.
"I have been pleased with the effort from all the guys and I know they will continue to work hard and get better as the season goes on," Zink said.
Watertown 8, SF Jefferson 1
Singles — No. 1: Carter Kemmis, SFR, over Joey Meester, 10-2. No. 2: Xane Fligge, W, over Cooper Nielsen, 10-1. No. 3: Matthew Bertsch, W, over Asher Vandewater, 10-1. No. 4: Dawson Hartman, W, over Austin Josephsen, 10-6. No. 5: Tyson Lawrence, W, over Brodie McCarty, 10-6. No. 6: Boston Butler, W, over Kaden McCaulley, 10-0.
Doubles — No. 1: Fligge-Hartman, W, over Kemmis-Nielsen, 10-4. No. 2: Meester-Bertsch, W, over Josephson-Vandewater, 10-0. No. 3: Lawrence-Butler, W, over McCarty-McCaulley, 10-3.
Watertown 8, Milbank 1
Singles — No. 1: Will Muellenbach, M, over Meester, 10-5. No. 2: Fligge, W, over Alex Baugh, 10-1. No. 3: Bertsch, W, over Devon Mueller, 10-2. No. 4: Dawson Hartman, W, over Franklin Pederson, 10-0. No. 5: Lawrence, W, over Nolan Grabow, 10-0. No. 6: Butler, W, over Parker Grabow, 10-0.
Doubles — No. 1: Fligge-Hartman, W, over Mullenbach-Baugh, 10-7. No. 2: Meester-Bertsch, W, over Mueller-Pederson, 10-1. No. 3: Lawrence-Butler, W, over Grabow-Grabow, 10-0.
Last Week's Results
Watertown opened its season on Thursday, April 9, with a triangular at Sioux Falls Lincoln. The Arrows defeated Aberdeen Central 7-2 before falling to Class AA power Sioux Falls Lincoln 9-0.
Fligge, Bertsch, Hartman and Lawrence each recorded singles wins against Central with Fligge-Hartman, Meester-Bertsch and Lawrence-Butler each winning in doubles.
Dawson Pederson at No. 1 singles and Grayson Rehder at No. 6 each posted wins over Aberdeen Central.
On Saturday, April 11, the Arrows defeated Huron 9-1 and Pierre 7-2.
Meester, Fligge, Bertsch, Hartman, Lawrence and Butler each won in singles against Huron and Fligge-Hartman and Lawrence-Butler also won in doubles.
Against Pierre, Watertown received singles wins from Fligge, Hartman, Lawrence and Butler and also swept the doubles with wins from Fligge-hartman, Meester-Bertsch and Lawrence-Butler.
Aberdeen Central & Roncalli
Class AA Aberdeen Central fell to 2-5 on the season by falling to Class AA foes Brandon Valley 8-1 and O'Gorman 9-0 on Tuesday, April 14, in Aberdeen. Class A Aberdeen Roncalli also fell to 2-5 with 9-0 losses to Brandon Valley and O'Gorman.
Brandon Valley 8, Aberdeen Central 1
Singles — No. 1: Eli Woidyla, BV, over Dawson Pederson, 10-5. No. 2: William Jensen, BV, over Aric Tennant, 10-3. No. 3: Ryley McKeown, BV, over Gannon Pederson, 10-6. No. 4: Titan Gross, BV, over Wyatt Kiesz, 10-0. No. 5: Sanders Anshutz, BV, over Alex Tarver, 10-3. No. 6: Travis Rowberry, BV, over Grayson Rehder, 10-3.
Doubles — No. 1: Woidyla-Jensen, BV, over Pederson-Pederson, 10-0. No. 2: Gross-Rowberry, BV, over Tennant-Kiesz, 10-2. No. 3: Rehder-Josiah Grandpre, AC, over Max Vincelli-Sanders Anshutz, 10-8.
O'Gorman 9, Aberdeen Central 0
Singles — No. 1: Will Koziara, OG, over D. Pederson, 10-0. No. 2: John McDowell, OG, over Tennant, 10-0. No. 3: August Jackson, OG, over G. Pederson, 10-2. No. 4: Benjamin Pekas, OG, over Kiesz, 10-0. No. 5: Finn Canfield, OG, over Tarver, 10-2. No. 6: Reid Oakland, OG, over Rehder, 10-0.
Doubles — No. 1: Koziara-McDowell, OG, over Pederson-Pederson, 10-0. No. 2: Jackson-Canfield, OG, over Tennant-Kiesz, 10-1. No. 3: Pekas-Noah Dobbs, OG, over Rehder-Josiah Grandpre, 1-0.
Manchester City are linked with a midfielder that fits Hugo Viana’s profile of signings
Ever since Hugo Viana replaced Txiki Begiristain as the director of football at Manchester City, Viana has been a shrewd operator in the transfer market. City have signed players like Marc Guehi, Antoine Semenyo, Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders, and Gianluigi Donnarumma, who have immediately come in and played a role in Pep Guardiola’s squad. Outside of those signings, City have also signed young players like Vitor Reis, Abdukodir Khusanov, James Trafford, and Sverre Nypan. That group of players is young, with room to develop, and has their best football ahead of them.
There is a clear pattern emerging in Hugo Viana’s work. Manchester City will sign players who can immediately play a role in Pep Guardiola’s squad. First-team signings will be made this summer. City’s continued links to Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson speak to this. On top of that, City will also look to sign young players who can play a role in Pep Guardiola’s squad, while also learning and developing. A new report indicates that City are monitoring young Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Ibrahim Maza. Maza fits the profile of a young player who can play for City now, with an eye for a more prominent role in the City squad in the future.
Manchester City are reportedly closely monitoring Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Ibrahim Maza.
Florian Plettenberg of Sky Sports in Germany has reported that Manchester City are keeping a close eye on Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Ibrahim Maza. Furthermore, Plettenberg reports that Ibrahim Maza has scored five goals and contributed six assists this season and his impressive form has caught Manchester City’s eye. Plettenberg adds that Bayer Leverkusen are determined to keep Maza at the club. It is also reported by Plettenberg that as of yet, there have been no contacts between City and Bayer Leverkusen over a potential summer move for Ibrahim Maza. Lastly, Plettenberg reports that Ibrahim Maza’s future is a story to watch for this summer.
Ibrahim Maza is a player who could fit into Manchester City’s squad and also has plenty of scope to further develop as a player.
On closer inspection, it is easy to see why Manchester City would be closely monitoring Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Ibrahim Maza. Everything about Maza screams “potential City player.” Ibrahim Maza can play as a number ten or as an advanced playmaker, as a number eight in midfield. Maza is a versatile midfielder, so he ticks that particular box immediately. Ibrahim Maza played exceptionally well in midfield as Bayer Leverkusen beat Manchester City 2-0 in the UEFA Champions League league phase earlier this season. He showed on that night what he is capable of as a player.
This season, Ibrahim Maza has made 38 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen in all competitions. He has scored five goals and added six assists. Ibrahim Maza has played as an attacking midfielder, a number eight and on both wings.
Ibrahim Maza stands at 180 centimetres tall, and he is a similar build to Bernardo Silva. Maza’s size does allow him to shine in tight spaces. Maza is a quick and nimble midfielder, blessed with quick feet, which allows him to play exceedingly well when the game becomes congested in midfield.
In possession, Ibrahim Maza shines. His close control is exceptional, which complements his physical attributes. Also, Ibrahim Maza has excellent technical ability, and his ability to progress the ball with his passing and dribbling catches the eye immediately. Everything Maza does in possession is done at speed and with class. He can create chances with dribbling or passing, and that skill does looks to be ideally made for a Pep Guardiola side. Maza can also get his shots off well, and as he matures, he should become a more pronounced goal threat. The chart below provides a glimpse of the strengths and weaknesses of Ibrahim Maza’s game when playing as a midfielder.
Ibrahim Maza has areas to improve as a player which is to be expected.
Of course, as Ibrahim Maza is only 20 years of age, he has massive scope for improvement. His decision-making in possession, while a standout feature of his play, should become more refined as he matures as a player. Physically, Ibrahim Maza still has room to mature, which is understandable given his age. While his positioning in midfield also catches the eye, that aspect of his play will improve as he further develops. All told, it is easy to see why Manchester City are keeping a close eye on Ibrahim Maza as a player.
Final thoughts.
As mentioned above, it is expected that Manchester City will target a ready-made midfielder like Elliot Anderson this summer. If, as expected, City move for two midfielders this summer, a move for a player like Ibrahim Maza does make sense. Maza is a player who can slot into the City squad now, as Abdukodir Khusanov did when he arrived at City from Lens. He can also follow in Khusanov’s footsteps and quickly become an important player for City if they do pursue a move for him this summer. Manchester City moving for Ibrahim Maza is a move that makes sense, and it does fit the model that Hugo Viana uses extremely well in the transfer market.
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Cardinals rookie JJ Wetherholt homered twice, second baseman Juan Brito allowed Masyn Winn’s potential game-ending grounder to bounce into right field and St. Louis stopped a three-game losing streak when it rallied to beat the Cleveland Guardians 6-5 in 10 innings on Tuesday night.
Wetherholt had his first multi-homer game, going deep for the first time since homering in his debut on opening day. His solo homer off Joey Cantillo tied the score 2-2 in the third and his two-run drive against Erik Sabrowski cut the Cardinals' deficit to 5-4 in the eighth.
With two outs in the ninth, Winn reached when his two-hopper hit off Winn’s left wrist for just the sixth error by Cleveland this season. Winn advanced on Cade Smith’s wild pitch and scored on Yohel Pozo’s opposite-field double that bounced to the right-center field wall.
Riley O’Brien (2-0) pitched a perfect 10th, stranding automatic runner Chase DeLauter at third when Brito grounded out.
Automatic runner Thomas Saggese advanced to third in the bottom half on a wild pitch by Tim Herrin (0-1) and scored with a headfirst slide, just beating the throw from right fielder Angel Martínez on Nathan Church’s sacrifice fly.
Iván Herrera hit his first home run this season for St. Louis, which improved to 4-0 in extra innings with its seventh comeback win.
José Ramírez hit a first-inning homer off Michael McGreevy and with 288 moved past Bernie Williams and Bobby Bonilla into sole possession of 11th place among switch-hitters.
Cleveland opened a 5-2 lead in the eighth on George Valera's tiebreaking double and Martínez's two-run double.
Up next
Cleveland RHP Slade Cecconi (0-2, 5.74 ERA) goes against St. Louis RHP Dustin May (1-2, 9.45) on Wednesday.
It was yet another outstanding outing for Shane Murphy tonight. | (Photo by Ethan Lowe/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 3, Charlotte Knights 0 ’Twas the series opener against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, not a run was scored — hardly any hits! Charlotte’s lackadaisical stat line tells the whole story. Three hits, three RBIs, and a whopping 13 strikeouts sprinkled throughout the lineup. Somehow, Jarred Kelenic, who’s barely hanging onto his professional career, was the only batter to avoid striking out. Yeesh.
At least starter Doug Nikhazy, who was claimed off Cleveland’s waivers recently, had a strong outing. He tossed four scoreless innings, giving up three hits and two walks while striking out four. As the guy who is presumably Noah Schultz’s backfill in the Knights rotation, Nikhazy provided a reminder that hitting consistency remains a major issue in the White Sox’s talent pool.
Birmingham Barons 5, Chattanooga Lookouts 4 In what has been a slow start to the season, the Barons snapped their four-game losing streak with a walk-off win over the Lookouts.
The top of the order kicked things off with a three-run surge in the first and another run in the second to give the Barons an early advantage. RBI machine Ryan Galanie scored and drove in two of Bham’s first four runs, ending the night as a key contributor. Sadly, the runs paused shortly after.
Bham was cruising behind Shane Murphy’s six-inning shutout start until Nick Altermatt relieved him. The righty reliever gave up three runs between the seventh and eighth on pitches and calls that didn’t go his way, and Jairo Iriarte allowed Chattanooga to tie it up. Luckily, the top of the order delivered timely hits. Galanie led off the ninth with a single, Jeral Pérez followed suit, moving what turned into pinch-runner Andy Weber to third. Leave it to Samuel Zavala to take the Barons home!
Winston-Salem Dash 16, Asheville Tourists 6 It was raining runs in Winston-Salem! The lineup cycled through nearly four times to shower Asheville with an onslaught of runs in the first half of the game. Starting with a three-spot in the first, Ely Brown got the game going with a walk and a stolen base, then a rare triple from Colby Shelton, and a wild pitch from Tourists starter Luis Rodriguez. Everything went downhill for Asheville from then on, and to make matters worse, the Dash added five runs just for fun in the eighth to tire out the Tourists’ pen further. Thanks, Caleb Bonemer, for another brilliant performance! Winston-Salem did a number on Asheville, deriving seven of 16 runs from home runs and getting a free trot to first nine times.
The lineup’s excessive runs compensated for an unimpressive bullpen. Without Gabe Davis’ three-inning scoreless start, the Dash would’ve been hanging onto its lead tighter. Jake Curtis provided another strong relief outing, not allowing a run in almost three innings while striking out three to drop his ERA to 1.30 and WHIP to 0.67.
Myrtle Beach Pelicans 4, Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 0 Like Charlotte, Kanny put up no effort against Myrtle Beach. The CBs were hopeless against Pelicans pitchers, who got plenty of calls in their favor and served plenty of hittable pitches on a silver platter. But the bats were dead for another night.
Riley Eikhoff put in a full day’s work for the Ballers, taking full responsibility for three of the Pelicans’ four runs. Eikhoff pitched soundly, giving up a home run off a precisely placed strike that Cole Mathis somehow got a huge piece of to pull the ball left-center out of the park. You really can’t blame Eikhoff for that one. Chicago’s ninth round pick in the 2025 draft is having a turbulent start to his minor league career after giving up four runs in his first start and none in his second. It’s too early to say if this is rookie jitters or if this spells trouble for his big league career.
There’s nothing quite like this feeling in sports. You can end your season by getting blown out and everything’s clear. You can end your season on the final play and just shrug.
Sure, it was a play-in game, and so you can dismiss it outright as a night to nowhere. Maybe so. It’s not like the Heat were going to challenge for anything important this season. All Tuesday’s game would’ve earned them was another play-in game Friday.
But if you watched the game, if you followed the change of leads, if you appreciate great competition in any arena, this felt like Game 7 of a playoff series.
That’s the wonder of sports. Everyone entered dismissing the Heat and the Hornets and, no doubt, will do so again today. It won’t factor at all in this offseason’s decisions to upgrade this Heat team.
But in the moment of this flawed, unsteady Heat team played its hard out. And a young Charlotte team answering right back. It was give and take like that, all the way to the finish when Tyler Herro hit six straight points to give the Heat the lead, Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball drove hard to get the lead back and Davion Mitchell’s frantic shot at the end was blocked.
So, that’s it for the Heat this season. There’s plenty of time to wonder what they do now to upgrade a team that desperately needs upgrading. But Tuesday’s loss brought other wonders in its aftermath.
You wonder, for instance, why the Heat didn’t look more like this in going 5-10 down the finish of the regular season. Where was this team? Where was Andrew Wiggins scoring 27 points?
Or Kel’el Ware have 12 points, 19 rebounds and five blocks?
Mitchell had 28 points, hitting shot after shot in the fourth quarter to bring the Heat back.
But what you wonder before any of that is how Bam Adebayo’s absence changed this night. He’s the centerpiece of this Heat team, the guy who worked out four times a day and has transformed himself into a solid, two-way player.
So early in the second quarter, when he went for a loose ball and ended up falling hard on his backside, everything changed for the Heat when he didn’t return. Charlotte’s Ball wasn’t even called for a foul on the play, too.
A foul? Ball lay on the floor and pulled Adebayo’s foot out from under him, causing the Heat center to land hard on his backside. That should’ve been a flagrant foul. Maybe Ball would’ve been ejected from the game if the referees reviewed it. But because there was a change of possession evidently the play wasn’t reviewable.
Oh, right, I know: This doesn’t matter, because the Heat weren’t going anywhere, anyhow. They were in their fourth-straight season of play-in game and, even if they’d won there was no roadmap to a good finish to the season. So, big deal, right?
You could even say the Heat came out better with a loss if you prefer the cold, hard numbers to the emotion of the game. The Heat will now be in the 13th draft spot, with a 4.8 percent chance of the top pick, or the 12th with a 7.1 percent chance of the top pick.
Or maybe you left Tuesday night with this thought: Herro and Ware, the principal players in a trade for Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, played well in a playoff atmosphere. That has to help now, right?
But this was a game the Heat played up to everything they hoped to be and they left with a loss. Maybe that’s the best explanation for why change is needed.
Or maybe it just says any team losing its best player isn’t going anywhere. Not that the Heat were going anywhere with Adebayo. But on a fun night with a wild finish this limited Heat team needed him to move on to, perhaps, nowhere.
As it was, this team moves into an offseason full of uncomfortable questions.
The Miami Heat had to play without Bam Adebayo from the start of the second quarter in their Play-In Tournament game against the Charlotte Hornets. It was an unfortunate injury, but some people are blaming LaMelo Ball for the injury.
Ball grabbed Adebayo's leg, tripping the Heat center up. He then had a hard fall onto his tailbone, which ruled him out for the rest of the game. Ball got away scot-free, which irked a lot of people in the Heat community.
Udonis Haslem is unhappy with the referees after LaMelo Ball's grab
It became even worse for the Heat fans because LaMelo ended up scoring the winning layup for the win. That ended the Heat's season because this was a do-or-die game between the ninth and 10th seeds.
As a Heat legend and now an NBA analyst, Udonis Haslem was in a unique position to give his take on the matter during the Prime Video NBA broadcast. He does not call Ball a dirty player, but he was unhappy with how the refs handled it.
"Obviously, emotions are flying, everybody's competing at a high level... LaMelo grabs Bam's leg, definitely a little WWE there. I will say Lamelo isn't a dirty player. I don't think he meant to do that intentionally to hurt Bam," Haslem said about the incident that led to Adebayo's exit.
"Unfortunately, the ref is sitting right there. That's got to be a call. Something has to be called. I don't know if it's a flagrant or a regular foul, but something has to be called, and that's a huge thing to miss."
Now, the Hornets can enjoy their opportunity to reach the Playoffs with another Play-In game. They will be playing against the loser of the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic, which should be another blockbuster game.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The play-in magic is gone. And so are the Miami Heat.
After navigating the treacherous play-in round the past three years to make it to the playoffs, and even the NBA Finals in 2023, the Heat’s run of six consecutive seasons in the playoffs is over.
Next stop? The May 10 NBA draft lottery, where the Heat will face even longer odds than they had to make the playoffs.
In the end, it was a crushing finish to what often had been a painful season, losing a late six-point lead in regulation and then giving up the winning basket to LaMelo Ball with 4.6 seconds to play in overtime in a 127-126 loss to the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center.
It was a night that delivered one final, crushing blow, with center and emotional leader Bam Adebayo lost for the night early in the second period with a back injury, after a hard fall.
Ultimately, fighting the good fight was not enough, with the Heat failing to make the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons.
In a gritty, testy, physical game offering shades of the Heat’s Pat Riley era, the Heat got 27 points from Andrew Wiggins, 28 from Davion Mitchell, 23 from Tyler Herro and a 12-point, 19-rebound double-double from center Kel’el Ware.
With a win, the Heat would have advanced to a Friday winner-take-all game against the loser of Wednesday night’s Nos. 7-8 play-in game between the Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers.
Instead, off to the great unknown of an offseason that seemingly will beg for change after a second consecutive 10th-place finish in the Eastern Conference.
Five degrees of Heat from Tuesday night’s play-in game:
— Game flow: The Hornets went up eight early and led 26-24 after the first period.
Then, playing on without Adebayo for all but 1:02 of the second period, the Heat moved to a 54-52 halftime lead, with the Hornets’ Brandon Miller along the way forced to the bench with his third foul.
From there, the Heat moved to a five-point lead midway through the third quarter, their largest to that stage, only to see a 10-0 Hornets surge turn it into a five-point lead of their own. The third ended with the Hornets’ Coby White beating the buzzer for an 89-83 Charlotte lead entering the fourth.
But back came the Heat, pushing their lead to seven midway through the fourth quarter behind the scoring of Mitchell.
Ultimately, it was tied 102-102 with 4:27 to play in the fourth on a dunk by the Hornets’ Miles Bridges, only to see Wiggins respond for the Heat with a 3-pointer. Another Wiggins 3-pointer then had the Heat up 108-102 with 3:30 left in regulation.
Not done, the Hornets made it 111-108 with 1:17 to play in regulation on a Brandon Miller 3-pointer and later moved within 112-111 with 18.6 seconds to play on another Miller 3-pointer.
From there, Herro went to the line with 12.9 seconds to play in regulation, making both free throws for a 114-111 Heat lead, only to see White tie it on a 3-pointer with 10.8 seconds to play in regulation.
Herro was off on a 3-point attempt to end regulation.
— Overtime: A Bridges 3-pointer put the Hornets up three early in overtime, with Charlotte later moving to another three-point lead with 2:17 to play on a Miller inside basket.
Off a Herro miss, the Hornets got a driving reverse layup from Miles Bridges for a 123-118 lead with 1:33 to play.
The Heat trimmed the deficit to 123-120 to play on a driving basket by Mitchell, only to see LaMelo Ball score on the other end to make it 125-120 with 26 seconds to play.
But back came Herro with a 3-pointer with 23.5 seconds to play to make it a two-point game.
A steal by the Heat’s Pelle Larsson followed, as did a three-shot Hornets foul against Herro, who made all three free throws for a 126-125 Heat lead with 8.7 seconds to play.
From there, the Hornets called their final timeout, with Ball driving from the winning basket.
— The big lineup: The big lineup with Ware starting the final two regular-season games proved to be more than a tease, with Spoelstra again going with the alignment of Ware, Adebayo, Wiggins, Mitchell and Tyler Herro.
The only previous game those five started, was Sunday night’s season finale against the Atlanta Hawks, as the Heat’s 27th and final lineup of the regular season.
Then, with Adebayo out, Jaime Jaquez Jr. opened the third period with the other starters.
— Hard fall: Adebayo took his hard fall when tripped by the hand of Ball while saving the ball from going out of bounds beneath the Heat basket with the Heat down 28-26.
Ball then scored 5-on-4 in transition, before the Heat called time with 10:58 left in the second period.
The entire Heat bench went out to check on their center, who then was helped off the court and into the locker room alongside Heat physician Harlan Selesnick.
Adebayo at that stage was 3 of 3 from the field with three rebounds in his 11 minutes.
The Heat minutes later termed it a lower-back injury, with Adebayo questionable to return,
— So more Ware: To his credit, Ware played big as needed, securing his double-double with his 10th rebound with 7:03 to play in the third period.
That rebound came three seconds after Ware caught a Miller attempt for a blocked shot, and seconds before another Ware blocked shot.
If the Heat wanted a postseason showcase for the second-year big man, they at least got that.
In addition, Ware continued to display a feathery 3-point stroke, with a pair in the first half.
On Tuesday night, 5,000 fans were a part of history when the Wilson Warbirds beat the Hill City Howlers 7-5 in their inaugural game at Wilson Ballpark.
"I just could not foresee them putting a stadium this nice in such a small space," said lifelong Wilson resident Allan Overton.
The Wilson Warbirds, formerly known as the Carolina Mudcats, were located in Zebulon. The team rebranded and relocated to a brand new, $64 million stadium in Wilson.
Six-time MLB All-Star Prince Fielder throws out the first pitch at Wilson Ballpark to his son, Jadyn, who is an infielder on the Warbirds. pic.twitter.com/TUwoCBEGIH
Dianna and Gene Mallozzi own Geno's Gelato, a small business in Wilson. They say it's been amazing to watch the commitment from the city to help transform downtown.
"We moved here when this was basically just empty land," said Dianna Mallozzi. "We were kind of thinking about what would go well here. Maybe a park? Maybe something like that, but this is better."
There's something for everyone at a Warbirds game.
Hellllllooooo Wilson Stadium! Pro baseball is back in Wilson for the first time in 53 years. The Warbirds begins a six-game series vs. the Hill City Howlers tonight.@ABC11_WTVDpic.twitter.com/1PTAIajC5F
The concept of supply and demand is one of the most basic and undeniable realities of market forces. A situation that has a great supply and limited demand favors the buyer, while a situation that has more demand than supply favors the seller.
In the 2026 NFL draft, the supply is draft picks, which reportedly, many teams are looking to unload in an effort to move back. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, “the 2026 draft will be one of the more trade-heavy drafts in recent memory.” Schultz states teams want to move back and collect extra second and third round picks rather than stick and pick early. Given the recent headlines about the Dallas Cowboys, supply and demand could favor them as they navigate the upcoming draft.
The Cowboys, recently linked to some trade-up reports, might find themselves in a buyers’ market. If more teams want to back out than want to move up, prices should drop. While the various trade charts provide an outline for what compensation should be for trades, it’s by no means a hard and fast rule. Supply and demand are always in play, and in this case, the buyer looking to move up has the advantage.
The expectation among many NFL teams is that the 2026 draft will be one of the more trade-heavy drafts in recent memory, according to multiple league sources.
Specifically, on the defensive side of the ball — EDGE, CB and LB are all strong/deep — while WR is typically… pic.twitter.com/NhNQJiM91T
Looking at the Fitzgerald-Spielberger trade chart, Pick 12 has a 1741-point value while picks 3-6 range in value between 2443 – 2092. With a delta between 300-700 points, the Cowboys would probably have to cash in a portion of their No. 20 pick valued at 1482 to get a deal done. In a sellers’ market it may take the whole 1482-point asset. But here in a predicted buyers’ market it may just require a small portion.
In this buyers’ market the Cowboys would theoretically get back second or third round picks in either the 2026 draft or the highly anticipated 2027 draft. If other teams really do desire second and third round picks this year, the Cowboys don’t have much ammo to work with. With nothing in the second and just a late third at their disposal, they have less than 700-points in Day 2 purchasing power. Then again, that might be all they need in a buyers’ market.
It will all come down to who’s willing to move up and who wants to move back. In a true buyers’ market, the Cowboys should be able to move up rather inexpensively. Given all the needs across the Cowboys' roster, one could easily question the wisdom of moving up in 2026, but that debate will come down to the details.
It’s usually the Cowboys who want to move back and the Cowboys who can’t find a partner willing to pay the price. In 2026 the roles may be reversed with Dallas finally ready to play the opportunist.
A local high school wrestling phenom just won a national championship and is heading to college on a scholarship, but that's a far cry from how his life started off thousands of miles away, where he endured a life-changing attack that's hard to fathom.
Dunia Sibomana-Rodriguez has always had guts and grit, so it's no surprise how well he took to wrestling.
He's been grappling with life since he was 6 years old, but he would not let life's challenges pin him down.
"I don't think I would have ever thought I'd be here, coming from my country and ending up being a good wrestler," Sibomana-Rodriguez said.
He was just a little boy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, when a swarm of chimpanzees attacked, killing Sibomana-Rodriguez's cousin, injuring his brother and leaving him with no easy life, trying to fit in. But then Sibomana-Rodriguez found wrestling.
"Once I started getting better at it, people started accepting me and I accepted them," he said.
Sibomana-Rodriguez came to the United States for reconstructive surgeries.
He had never wrestled a day in his life. Five Nassau County titles, three state championships and a national title later; the 18-year-old has committed to the University of North Carolina. As for how he got his start, he was taken in by a wrestling coach at Long Beach who would adopt him when he was in middle school.
"It meant everything because without him pushing me so hard I wouldn't be where I am today," Sibomana-Rodriguez said.
For teammate Ethan Andreuli, a sophomore, Sibomana-Rodriguez is more than a mentor. He's an inspiration.
"He always kept like a smile on his face, kept ignoring like the bad stuff, and he always kept working hard and doing the right thing," Andreuli said.
The high school wrestler needed more than a dozen surgeries. He lost a finger, part of an ear, and part of his face, but he never lost his indomitable spirit.
"His dedication, his hard work made other boys work," XX said.
Sibomana-Rodriguez made others realize their own potential.
"Don't let people determine who you are, and you should make your own story," Sibomana-Rodriguez said.
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HOUSTON (AP) — Christian Walker had three hits, including a home run, and the Houston Astros used a six-run third inning to snap an eight-game losing streak with a 7-6 win over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night.
The losing streak was the Astros’ longest since ending the 2013 season with a 15-game skid.
Houston trailed 3-0 before Walker hit a solo homer in the second inning. The Astros then took advantage of two errors by Rockies second baseman Willi Castro to score six times in the third.
After Jose Altuve reached on Castro's first error, Yordan Alvarez tied the game with a two-run double down the right-field line. Walker later drove in Alvarez with a fielder’s choice to give Houston a 4-3 lead. Cam Smith and Christian Vazquez added RBI singles, and Joey Loperfido reached on Castro’s second error.
Houston sent 11 men to the plate in the inning, and five of the runs were unearned.
Colorado scored runs in the fourth, fifth and eighth innings to cut the deficit to 7-6, but Mickey Moniak popped out against Bryan King with the go-ahead run on base to end the eighth inning.
Enyel De Los Santos struck out Jordan Beck with runners at the corners in the ninth inning to lock down his first save of the season.
Hunter Goodman hit two home runs for the Rockies for the sixth multihomer game of his career.
Beck went 2 for 5 and hit his first home run of the season for the Rockies, who have lost five straight.
Up next
Astros RHP Spencer Arrighetti opposes Rockies LHP José Quintana (0-0, 4.15 ERA) when the series continues on Wednesday.
VCU Rams baseball scored six unanswered runs to defeat the No. 9 Virginia Cavaliers baseball 6-2 on Tuesday at The Diamond.
Virginia (26-12) outhit VCU (22-14) 12-9 but stranded a season-high 16 runners on base.
AJ Gracia gave the Cavaliers an early lead, hitting a leadoff home run in the first inning — his 11th of the season — to make it 1-0.
VCU answered in the second with a two-out RBI single to tie the game, then took control in the third. The Rams scored twice on a bases-loaded passed ball and an RBI groundout to build a 3-1 lead.
Michael Petite extended the advantage to 4-1 with a solo home run in the fifth. VCU added two more runs in the sixth on RBI singles to push the lead to 6-1.
Virginia threatened in the fourth by loading the bases but failed to score.
The Cavaliers added their final run in the eighth when Gracia singled home RJ Holmes, who opened the inning with a double.
Harrison Didawick led Virginia offensively, going 3 for 4 with a double. Gracia, Holmes and Sam Harris each had multiple hits.
Virginia starter Christian Lucarelli allowed one run over 1 2/3 innings and did not factor in the decision. Michael Yeager took the loss after giving up two runs in 2 1/3 innings of relief.
Relievers Thomas Stewart, Jayden Stroman and Dean Kampschror combined to hold VCU scoreless over the final 2 2/3 innings.
Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra was fired up after his team was eliminated from the NBA Playoffs by the Charlotte Hornets in Tuesday night’s Play-In Tournament game.
The Heat lost in overtime, 127-126, after a game-winning shot by Hornets star LaMelo Ball. But that wasn’t the only big moment involving Ball in the game.
In the first half, Ball and Heat big man Bam Adebayo collided under the basket, which knocked Adebayo off balance. Ball then swiped at Adebayo’s foot and tripped him to the ground.
After the game, Spoelstra sounded off on the incident during his post-game press conference and ripped Ball for the play and the referees for not calling a foul and kicking the Hornets star out of the game.
“I don’t think it’s cute. I don’t think it’s funny. I think it’s a stupid play. It’s a dangerous play,” Spoelstra told reporters. “He should be penalized for that. I don’t think that belongs in the game, tripping guys.
“Somebody has got to see that. He should have been thrown out of the game for that.”
Erik Spoelstra on LaMelo Ball's dirty play on Bam:
"I don't think it's cute. I don't think it's funny. I think it's a stupid play. It's a dangerous play. He should be penalized for that. I don't think that belongs in the game, tripping guys. Somebody has got to see that. He… pic.twitter.com/7pbCWPnUv8
It will be interesting to see if the NBA reviews the incident and hands down any punishment to Ball.
Unfortunately, the injury proved to be costly for the Heat, and their season is now over.
Ball, meanwhile, finished the game with 30 points, 10 assists, and five rebounds, and the Hornets will advance to the final play-in game on Friday, April 17. Charlotte will now face the loser of Wednesday night’s game between the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic.
After a shaky first two performances this season, Mick Abel was fantastic in his previous start. He was somehow even better on Tuesday, throwing seven scoreless innings against the Red Sox and setting a new career high with 10 strikeouts.
At one point early in the game, Abel struck out five straight batters as part of an effort in which he completely dominated the Boston lineup. The Red Sox had four scattered hits off Abel and he hit a batter, but at no point did they come close to mounting a true rally against him. The starter pointed to his changeup and said it has been an “equalizer,” for him lately.
Abel needed just 90 pitches to get through his seven innings of work and while he said he would have been “elated” to go out there for the eighth inning, he did more than enough to help a bullpen that is nearing the end of a 15-game stretch with no off days.
Player of the Game
It’s a toss-up between Abel (see above) and Byron Buxton, both of whom starred on Tuesday.
Buxton finished the night 4 for 5. A day after setting the record for most runs in Target Field history, he padded his lead with two more blasts.
Buxton started his night by singling in the first inning, advancing on a Sonny Gray balk and racing in to score on Luke Keaschall’s single. Though he was initially ruled out, Buxton seemed confident he was safe, motioning to the dugout, seemingly, to ask for a challenge. Upon review, he was safe.
Buxton scored four of the team’s six runs in the game. He homered in his second at-bat, singled and scored in his third and hit his second long ball of the night in his fourth at-bat.
Key moment
There’s any number of big moments to chose from, from Abel’s five straight strikeouts to Buxton’s race around the bases, which gave the Twins a first-inning lead that they would carry for the entirety of the game.
But Trevor Larnach’s single off his former teammate, Gray, was part of a fourth inning in which the Twins truly broke open the game. Larnach was thrown out at second trying to stretch the single into a double, but both Tristan Gray and Buxton scored on the hit to give the Twins a five-run advantage. It came after Brooks Lee had homered earlier in the inning, his third of the year.
Quotable
“I ain’t going to say it makes it easy to hit, but you’re like ‘All right, let’s go put up some runs and get him back out there,'” Buxton said of Abel. “You know he’s locked in, he’s in a groove, and it’s exciting. We saw little glimpses of it last year. He went in the offseason and did some work. Coming back, he’s been phenomenal.”
Up next
Simeon Woods Richardson (0-2, 4.60 ERA) will take the ball for the final game of the three-game series against the Red Sox. Woods Richardson will be opposed by left-handed pitcher Connelly Early (0-0, 2.63). The game is set for 12:40 p.m. CDT.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are back in the playoffs, and general manager Kyle Dubas has opened up about the bold coaching decision that helped spark the turnaround. Hiring Dan Muse, a first-time NHL head coach, was seen as a gamble, but it has paid off.
Speaking on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast, Dubas explained the thinking behind the move. He said the organization wanted a coach with a strong background in player development and the ability to connect with both young talent and experienced players.
Muse’s work at Yale, the Chicago Steel, and USA Hockey stood out during the process. “Those are all purely developmental jobs and [he’s] done a great job there,” Dubas said.
Dubas also pointed to Muse’s reputation from his assistant roles with the Nashville Predators and New York Rangers. Feedback from players was consistently positive, which helped separate him from other candidates.
“Then it was digging into the feedback on him, running the penalty kill for Nashville and the Rangers,” Dubas said. “So we knew the developmental piece was really strong, and then it was trying to get feedback from veteran players that had had him in Nashville and Rangers, and that all came back extremely positive, more positive than almost anybody else that we were talking to about the position.”
Despite not being a widely expected choice, Dubas said management was unanimous in believing Muse was the right fit.
“Just for us, it felt like the best fit to accomplish what we wanted to accomplish last off-season,” Dubas said. “And we were unanimous as a group in management that he was gonna be the best person for the Pittsburgh Penguins.”
The results have backed that belief. Muse guided Pittsburgh to a 41-24-16 record and ended a three-year playoff drought. The Penguins secured second place in the Metropolitan Division and will face the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round.
Dubas praised how Dan Muse handled the Penguins’ Injuries
Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Dan Muse instructs players at Canada Life Centre. Mandatory Credit: James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images
Dubas highlighted Muse’s work ethic and leadership during challenging moments in the season. He noted that even during a difficult stretch in December, Muse avoided excuses and focused on improving the group. That approach helped build trust within the locker room.
“For me, the best part of working with him in my role is that no matter what’s happened during the year, injuries, illness, suspensions,” Dubas said. “In December, we had a bad stretch. We started to falter a little bit, and no excuses, no blaming of the players, what we don’t have or where we lack.
“And just trying to get the most out of every single person that we have as a member of our group. And get really connected with the players. And you know, they played their [expletive] off for him all year, and it’s been fun to see it all kinda come together.”
While the Pittsburgh Pirates have been one of the better teams in Major League Baseball to start the season, and it's tough to be upset about anything that they've done, it's also fair to mention that Pittsburgh still needs to improve on the offensive side of the baseball.
Pitching-wise, the Pirates are just as good as any team in the league. If anything were to happen over the next few years regarding winning a World Series or something of that nature, it'll be because of what they do on the mound. I'm not worried in the slightest about how this staff looks in the short and long term.
However, there are questions about what the Pirates are going to do at the trade deadline regarding the third base position. When recently examining that, some believe that upgrading the position will be the biggest need for this roster and a primary target.
“It’s a good question, Dean, and the answer is the Pirates are just going to play the hot hand. Right now, that’s Nick Yorke, who even after an 0-for-6 performance on Monday night is still hitting .289 with a .773 OPS. Nick Gonzales will get some chances and could take over if Yorke starts to slump.
“Jared Triolo will get time at the hot corner once he returns from a knee injury, though that still could be a little ways away. As for the possibility of a trade, I think that third base will be one of the primary targets for the Pirates if they are in position to buy at the deadline. Yorke, Gonzales and Triolo are all probably best served as utility guys instead of everyday players. Adding someone with more upside could go a long way, and I think they’ll explore that possibility when the time comes,” Danny Demilio wrote.
As Demilio touched on, much of this will come down to whether the Pirates are still in position to be searching for a playoff spot. The Pirates have obviously played very well at the start of the campaign, but it's only April 14, so there's still a lot that has to happen.
The Richmond Spiders hit six home runs Tuesday night to defeat the James Madison Dukes 10-2 in a nonconference game at Veterans Memorial Park.
The Dukes fell to 16-19 overall, while the Spiders improved to 20-16.
Freshman Keegan Haesler led James Madison at the plate, going 1 for 3 with a walk and two RBIs. He was one of five Dukes to record a hit.
Richmond took an early lead in the first inning, scoring three runs on two home runs.
James Madison answered in the bottom half of the inning. Sophomore Reece Moody and junior Ike Schmidly advanced into scoring position before Haesler delivered a two-run single to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra was not happy with Charlotte Hornets star guard LaMelo Ball postgame after his dirty play on Bam Adebayo in the first half.
Spoelstra spoke to reporters after the loss and didn't mince any words on the play.
"I don't think it's cute. I don't think it's funny," Spoelstra said. "I think it's a stupid play. It's a dangerous play. He should be penalized for that. I don't think that belongs in the game, tripping guys. Somebody has got to see that. He should have been thrown out of the game for that."
Erik Spoelstra on LaMelo Ball's dirty play on Bam:
"I don't think it's cute. I don't think it's funny. I think it's a stupid play. It's a dangerous play. He should be penalized for that. I don't think that belongs in the game, tripping guys. Somebody has got to see that. He… pic.twitter.com/7pbCWPnUv8
Adebayo did not play in the second half of the contest after he suffered a hard fall in the second quarter of the contest. He was ruled out with a back injury. Here is how he suffered the injury.
Ball missed a fadeaway shot, and as Adebayo went for the rebound while trying to stay inbounds, Ball, who fell to the floor near Adebayo, swiped at one of the Heat center's feet with his left arm.
Adebayo fell to the floor and remained down for the next play before there was a stoppage. The 28-year-old was initially deemed questionable to return after the fall, but he was ultimately ruled out.
The Heat suffered a tough overtime loss to the Hornets, 128-127. Miami is now eliminated from playoff contention. As for Charlotte, they will face the loser of the No. 7 seed Philadelphia 76ers and No. 8 seed Orlando Magic matchup on Friday.
As announced by ESPN, the recent Wisconsin versus Denver Men's Hockey National Championship game was the most watched title game since 2009, bringing in 901,000 viewers — up 52% from the year previously.
578,000 tuned in to watch the Michigan Wolverines take on the Pioneers in the semifinals, in addition to 324,000 viewers for the Frozen Four game between Wisconsin and North Dakota. In total, the semifinals — which aired on ESPN2 and averaged 476,000 viewers — were up 77% year-over-year. Full tournament coverage was up 50%, marking the best since 2010. All these viewers watched as Denver claimed their second title in three seasons.
The 2-1 win for the Pioneers over Wisconsin also marked Denver's third title within the last five years.
April 11's 2026 Frozen Four final and all of the Frozen Four games were held at the NHL's Las Vegas Golden Knight's T-Mobile Arena. Goaltender Johnny Hicks the Badgers their first championship since 2006. The goalie was named Most Outstanding Player after posting 29 saves following his 49-save performance in the 4-3 double overtime win against Michigan in the Frozen Four semifinals.
Denver delivers most-watched college hockey national championship since 2009
Pioneers' Head Coach David Carle said his team found a way to win when it mattered most.
"Unbelievable game. Certainly we bent but didn't break," Carle previously said to the media following the title game. "Johnny kept us within striking range ... We found a way again. Johnny kept us within range, as we have found a way in other games. These guys, we saved our best period for last."
Last weekend's Wisconsin-Denver matchup delivered the most-watched Men's @NCAAIceHockey Championship on ESPN networks since 2009!
🏆 '26 Champ on ESPN | 901K avg. viewers 🏒 #MFrozenFour on ESPN2 | 476K avg. viewers, up 77% YoY
This now marks the Pioneers fourth title in the past 10 years (2017, 2022, 2024 and 2026)— securing them as not only one of the greatest hockey dynasties in NCAA history, but now the most watched.
The entire 2026 Frozen Four was also reportedly the most-watched since 2002.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — View scores from around the area on this Tuesday.
NHL Minnesota 3, Anaheim 2
MLB Minnesota 6, Boston 0
COLLEGE BASEBALL SDSU 13, Midland 3
HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL Brookings 19, Aberdeen Central 2 Dakota Valley 15, Dell Rapids 0 Hanson 11, Mt. Vernon/Plankinton 1 Harrisburg 11, Brandon Valley 0 Lennox 14, Ethan-Parkston 5 Pierre 7, Watertown 3 Redfield 27, Milbank 3 Roosevelt 4, Yankton 0 Sioux Falls Christian 6, West Central 4 Sioux Valley 16, Parker 6 Washington 7, Mitchell 1
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL Brandon Valley 12, Washington 1 Jefferson 14, Tea 0 Jefferson 16, Tea 0 Lincoln 11, Brookings 5 Lincoln 8, Brookings 4 O’Gorman 4, Mitchell 0 Yankton 10, Roosevelt 0 Yankton 9, Roosevelt 4
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS TENNIS Harrisburg 8, Sergeant Bluff-Luton (IA) 1 Lincoln 9, Roosevelt 0 Watertown 8, Milbank 1
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Meeting the fans for the jersey off their backs finale deal. | NHLI via Getty Images
Come on, man.
The greedy, points-munching, perennially-falling-just-short Carolina Hurricanes couldn’t even concede us a little fun in a meaningless season finale. And the April walking ghost New York Islanders couldn’t even give us something frivolous to celebrate in the same.
Sound Beach native (and feel-good story, to be honest) Brandon Bussi was stingy in making 28 saves to frustrate the Isles on the way to a 2-1 Carolina win in Elmont. Victor Eklund did get his first NHL point — on Bo Horvat’s 300th goal, so maybe they can split the memento puck — but Matthew Schaefer never got his record-breaking goal, despite many shot attempts (10 total, four reaching goal) and encouragement from the home crowd.
As time wound down with it still 1-1, you started to think maybe it was setting the stage for another insta-classic Schaefer OT winner, something to soften the sting in the wounds of this past month. But then the Hurricanes used a sustained shift in the Isles zone and not a few brushes with David Rittich in his crease to set the table for the go-ahead goal with a little over five minutes to go.
The Isles pushed for an equalizer, including with Rittich pulled for a sixth attacker, but the Hurricanes defense was in playoff-ready form, diving to block passes and fighting in board battles to win clears.
As I rooted for one last highlight, it made me realize something: most of the 59 points in Schaefer’s rookie season meant something. He did not pile on a lot of garbage-time goals or young-punk showboat plays; his goals this season were usually huge moments — OT winners, equalizers, comebacks. His assists came from drawing attention to him and freeing up a teammate. Maybe it’s just as well that he didn’t get a stat-padding record breaker when nothing was on the line.
While Pete DeBoer dressed some futures in Eklund and perhaps Isaiah George — and Liam Foudy with a random callup, too — he also started Anders Lee in possibly his final Islanders game and gave Ondrej Palat one more shot in what certainly should be.
#Isles Pete DeBoer asked about Isaiah George: "He's an NHL defenseman."
The lone Isles goal came on a delayed penalty with a sixth attacker, Eklund, Schaefer, Mat Barzal and Bo Horvat exchanging the puck and places in display of talent and mobility that just might hint at a brighter future. Add Cal Ritchie to that mix and you have something to build on, especially if they progress faster and with more support than Nelsons, Baileys and Okposos of the Snow era.
✅ Un 300e but en carrière pour Bo Horvat ✅ Un 1er point en carrière pour Victor Eklund
This franchise won’t be tearing it down, so they need to add real support to the pieces that are here. Mathieu Darche can’t waste assets and time on Brian Rolstons and Palats.
That means some hard decisions, too, but also smart asset management. If Anders Lee wants to stay, he can still be useful at a lower rate; and they need to get assets back for signed players, not let UFAs who still hold some value walk out the door. But if he or his agent are pushing for what the market will pay mid-30s guys like Brayden Schenn, well, we’ve already got one of those.
But that’s for us to discuss and debate again and again in the coming days. Tonight we saw the end of some kind of era, we’re just not sure of the details or what to call the era yet. Adam Pelech had a bounce-back year and the first 82-game season of his career…you wonder whether he or someone else from the blueline is cut in the transition.
On the MSG post-game where they thank each other and the crew and reflect on the year, Thomas Hickey talked about how after the disappointment from this post-Olympic fades, we’ll remember it as a magical season: watching Schaefer drop into our laps and become an instant superstar made it so. The crazy and uncharacteristic (and ultimately, unsustainable) wins made it one hell of a ride. Maybe those will make us one day forget how they wasted a season-ending schedule that featured 10 of 12 at home.
Darche’s first season is in the books, with mixed results, some highs and some lows, and an adventurous route to where (I think?) most of us initially expected they would ultimately land by Game 82. How they got there was the surprising part, but it’s what made October through March more than just a nightly Did You F-ing See This Schaefer Kid Last Night? show.
#Isles Matthew Schaefer on relationship with team's fans at UBS Arena: "It's the most fun I've ever had in front of fans. The most fun I've ever had playing hockey. When you come out and the fans are chanting your name and cheering behind us, it's the coolest feeling ever."
Ironically, Schaefer may be the biggest selling point to attract new talent. But while the cap is going up, the 2026 UFA market is depressingly thin. Darche has his work cut out for him to make meaningful trades while also carrying nagging weights like Mayfield, Engvall and Duclair.
Season’s done, but Darche’s job is just getting started.
LHH readers and commenters: Thanks for riding with us this season. Come back tomorrow, throughout the summer, and whenever a banner is warranted.
It's very tough to get an exact feel for why some teams around Major League Baseball are more aggressive with their young players than others. Whether that be calling them up, signing them to pre-arbitration extensions, or anything else, the Philadelphia Phillies typically sit on the cautious side of things.
I almost feel wrong saying that because we've seen multiple players this year alone come up, as well as some other youngsters in the past, but I think we can all agree that somebody like Andrew Painter probably could have debuted last year, and nobody would have batted an eye at it.
Regardless, the Phillies have done what's needed with that, and should eventually look to take the next steps in this situation. With a possible lockout looming, some think it's a good time to sign guys like Painter and Justin Crawford to pre-arbitration deals. When examining why, it makes a lot of sense.
“The Phillies have a pair of talented youngsters in center fielder Justin Crawford and right-hander Andrew Painter. They’ve been among the few bright spots on the club outside of the established mainstays. It’s a star-studded class, but what's the point? The rookie wave around the sport has made one thing clear: plenty of teams already feel confident in their young players and the direction of their future.
"Baseball is in good hands with this much young talent spread throughout the game. But the future of the sport itself feels less certain beyond this season. The collective bargaining agreement expires after 2026, and the next round of negotiations — likely centered around a salary cap, salary floor, and new payroll rules — could very well lead to a work stoppage in 2027. That creates a reason for teams to act now. If clubs believe the financial rules of the sport will look different a year from now, there is logic in locking up their young players early, buying out arbitration years and securing cost certainty ahead of the system changes,” Cole Weintraub of NBC Sports Philly wrote.
If there are any salary caps or floors, the hope for teams like the Phillies is that their contracts would be grandfathered in.
There's no guarantee that's going to be the case, and there's no guarantee that there's going to be a salary cap, but it would seem likely that something of that nature would have to happen. In that case, having Painter and Crawford locked in would be a wise decision.
The Eagles will play their first international match at Banorte Stadium, and what better stage to chase a spot in the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal, where they are level with Nashville at 0-0 on the scoreboard.
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel during the Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, April 11, 2026. Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Tennessee Vols are working to take a big step forward in 2026 after a rough ending to their 2025 campaign.
Tennessee’s spring football work has come and gone, and there certainly was plenty to glean from it, including some new faces on the roster getting their first public looks as Volunteers.
The Vols might have a future standout in Tulane transfer RB Javin Gordon, who turned a handoff into a 62-yard touchdown in the Orange and White game. Auburn CB Kayin Lee was sticky in coverage last Saturday. Louisville kicker Cooper Ranvier was steady in his opportunities inside Neyland Stadium.
But before that, ESPN’s Mark Schlabach put out an updated spring football way-too-early Top 25 ranking, and Tennessee checked in at No. 25.
Tennessee Vols No. 25 in ESPN’s way-too-early Top 25 ranking
“After a disappointing 2025 season, Volunteers coach Josh Heupel made a big move on defense by firing coordinator Tim Banks and replacing him with former Penn State coordinator Jim Knowles, who helped Ohio State win the 2024 national title,” Schlabach wrote. “The Vols ranked 14th in the SEC in scoring defense (28.8 points) and total defense (397.2 yards) last season. Campbell, Coleman, Gilliam and Lane followed Knowles to UT and should be impact players. A Tennessee judge denied Aguilar’s injunction for another year of eligibility. Heupel didn’t land a big-time quarterback in the transfer portal after pursuing Ty Simpson and Sam Leavitt. Redshirt freshman George MacIntyre and true freshman Faizon Brandon will battle for the job in the spring.”
Tennessee at 25 feels pretty fair. The Vols were a top 25 team last year heading into the final regular season game of the year against Vanderbilt. Of course, they fell on their faces terribly, losing 45-24 to the Commodores to end the regular season 8-4.
However, Heupel has made some major moves to improve the defensive side of the ball, with Knowles and a host of experienced transfer portal additions looking to improve what was a very disappointing unit from last year.
Much, as usual, will depend on how well either MacIntyre or Brandon takes the quarterback position and leads Heupel’s offense this fall. Right now, it’s still not clear who that will be - or whether either player will be able to match the high level that Joey Aguilar played at last year.
We’ll see in fall camp if either man can step up, take the job by the reins, and lead the Vols to a better season in 2026.
Apr 14, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; Carolina Hurricanes left wing Nikolaj Ehlers (27) attempts a shot against the New York Islanders during the third period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images | Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images
The Carolina Hurricanes closed out their season with a 2-1 win over the New York Islanders on Tuesday night at USB Arena.
After clinching the Eastern Conference title by earning a point in Philadelphia last night for the first time in franchise history, they finished with 113 points which is good enough for second place in the league, behind only Colorado. This means the Hurricanes will have home ice against any team in the playoffs except the Avs.
After Boston won their game, it was determined that Carolina will face the Ottawa Senators in round one of the playoffs. Canes Country will have more about that this week.
Felix Unger Sorum earned his first NHL point in his first game when he knocked a puck up to Nikolaj Ehlers, who was streaking up the ice. Ehlers made no mistake and he gave his team a 1-0 lead just three minutes into the game.
Bo Horvat tied the game in the second, but Mark Jankowski found an open spot and put in the game-winner with five minutes and change left.
Brandon Bussi had an excellent game and made 28 saves on 29 shots to earn his 31st win of the season. Bussi had to play in back-to-back games somewhat unexpectedly as Pyotr Kochetkov was not allowed to play for “technical” reasons after being listed as the starting goalie for the game. The team removed him from the injured reserved list at about this same time.
In the meantime, Fred Andersen was not “available” for whatever reasons. This was an odd occurrence.
It was a pretty mild game with little hitting on either side and it looked like the Canes escaped injury free. They will take Wednesday off and then return to practice on Thursday to prepare for the Sens.
Now that we have reached the playoffs it is time to examine some questions, first of which is what goalie should start this series?
AUDIO/VIDEO: Ronan Seeley, Mark Jankowski and Rod Brind'Amour addressed the media after Carolina's 2-1 victory against the Islanders:https://t.co/XOSEEJw6Pr
Aaron Boone of the New York Yankees continues to just make some odd decisions.
I never want to say Boone is making the wrong decisions because he knows his guys better than anyone, but at some point, we have to stop the platoon stuff. Ben Rice, Cody Bellinger, and a lot of the left-handed hitters in this lineup are more than good enough to play against left-handed pitching.
Ultimately, guys need to hit against left-handed pitching to get better at it anyway, so sitting somebody like Rice just does not make sense.
Rice was yet again out of the lineup on Tuesday, and it prompted a lot of questions from Yankees fans around social media. Instead of agreeing with Boone, many disagree with his decisions and are growing frustrated with him. Speaking to reporters before the game, he gave the latest on why Rice isn't playing against left-handers.
“My plan going into this series was to Ben play (Tuesday), but I’ve just been able to so aggressively use Benny (off the bench),” Boone said. “Even though he’s not in the starting lineup, I view him playing a major (factor).
“In the last two games that he sat against a lefty, he’s gotten five at-bats … a homer, walk, single. I’ve been able to kind of fire him at the most important part, and it might be early in the game... (Rice) is going to play against lefties,” he said. “We’re in a unique spot to where Goldie, his superpower at this point in his career is he’s really great against left-handed pitching and he’s has been outstanding so far to start the year.”
The Rice one doesn't make any sense because of how well he's played throughout the year. At least we can justify guys like Jazz Chisholm not playing on days like today, as he's been in a bit of a rut.
“I just feel like Jazz is one of those guys that’s been grinding and scuffling a little bit to start the season,” Boone said. “More than anything, just here early in the season I feel like this is a good day to get Jazz (off) as he’s trying to get on track a little bit.”
Boone later added that he felt like Bellinger just needed a day off due to playing a lot over the past month or so.
The Yankees, very early in the start of the season, really shouldn't be using that as an excuse. I understand that guys need a day here and there, but ultimately, we need guys on the field if New York wants to be the team it's looking to be.
Feb 21, 2026; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange forward Donnie Freeman (1) shoots during the second half against the North Carolina Tar Heels at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images | Rich Barnes-Imagn Images
Big Blue Nation is on the edge of their seats waiting to hear announcements from Tyran Stokes and Robert Wright III. Banners are being hung up on campus, websites, including ours, are being refreshed, and notifications are turned on in hopes of a big announcement… or two.
Or three? Maybe, because Donnie Freeman is another name that Cats fans are hoping ends up going to Kentucky, and he’s now officially in town for a visit, according to Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman.
A 6-9 forward from Syracuse, where he played for two seasons, Freeman averaged 16.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while shooting 47.4% from the field and 30.2% from deep last season.
The big boulder in the way is UConn, who Freeman is expected to visit on Friday. Goodman gives the Huskies the edge to land Freeman.
"Donnie Freeman will be visiting Kentucky tomorrow, per source. And then potentially UConn on Friday" – @GoodmanHoops 👀
Freeman had a unique prep experience. He played at St. John’s College in Washington, D.C., before transferring to IMG Academy in Florida. It was there that he became the No. 6 recruit in the country and a McDonald’s All-American.
In addition, Freeman played for the Bahamas National Team in the 2024 Olympics Qualifying Tournament. On a roster that included Kentucky assistant Mikhail McLean, DeAndre Ayton, Eric Gordon, and Buddy Hield, Freeman and Bahamas made it all the way to the championship game before falling to Spain 86-78.
This feels like a recruitment Kentucky needs to win now, because if he makes it to that UConn visit, then Freeman may slip through Mark Pope’s fingers, a phrase we’ve said far too often with big-time recruits.
There have been many reports coming out about Jalen Hurts over the past month or so, with most stating that he seems to be part of the issue with the Philadelphia Eagles.
It's been rather evident that Hurts isn't exactly a star quarterback by any means, but he is still one of the better 15 quarterbacks in this league. We also have to factor in that the guy has done nothing but win during his time with the organization, and there's a lot to be said about that.
Regardless, if some of the stuff that has come out is true about Hurts, the Eagles obviously need to take care of that in-house. The last thing this organization wants to deal with is something not going as well as it should due to attitudes or anything else.
However, according to general manager Howie Roseman, there doesn't seem to be much of a problem internally with Hurts. He stated that if he has any problems with his players, as well as other higher-ups in the organization, he'll go and talk with them directly to figure it out.
“So for us, if we have any issue with any of our players, we talk to them directly,” Roseman said, per ESPN. “From my perspective, from Nick's perspective, from Jeffrey’s [Lurie] perspective, we're not hiding behind anything. We will talk to our players directly. I think that it's unfair. It's unfair to have these articles written, but I understand it's also what sells at this point. So yeah, I think it's unfortunate.”
This is somewhat similar to what owner Jeffrey Lurie said about a month ago now. After some of these reports had come out, Lurie backed his Super Bowl-winning quarterback, noting how important Hurts has been to him in this league.
“There’s no bigger fan of Jalen than me,” Lurie said on Tuesday after the NFL’s annual league meetings. “The guy was MVP of the Super Bowl 13 months ago. Should have been MVP of the Super Bowl (in February 2023).
“Exceptional and so dedicated. I mean, I think you probably know, I spend a lot of time with Jalen, as I do with most quarterbacks. Incredibly dedicated to the game, to winning and being a huge winner. I love everything about him.”
The Pittsburgh Steelers are obviously still waiting on an answer from Aaron Rodgers, a situation that doesn't seem to have any end in sight. Rodgers, despite getting up there in age, is probably the best option for Pittsburgh right now. It might be a bit questionable that they can win a Super Bowl with him, but the Steelers don't really have a better option to pursue.
There are a lot of tough realities when it comes to keeping somebody of his age on the roster, but the Steelers simply just have to hope Rodgers returns and he does what everybody knows he can still do, which is be a smart football player and make the right plays.
Speaking about it, many players on the Steelers have been very open about wanting Rodgers back. This doesn't seem like a guy who nobody wants to be involved with, and it seems like he's been a great teammate to others.
The latest to do so was Patrick Queen, who said that he's a good dude and teammate, and while he doesn't know if he's going to return, he would certainly take him back.
"He's a great dude, he's a great teammate. I like him personally," he said, per NFL.com. "Is he gonna be back? I don't know. That's kind of a thing for Aaron and the team to figure out.
"But hell, I'll take him. Dude is a great teammate, he's a great quarterback."
It's tough to say that Rodgers should return at this stage of his career for a few different reasons as well. On the surface, he's done anything that any player in NFL history would beg to do. Rodgers is already an all-time great, and him lining up for another staff doesn't change that. He could have retired 10 years ago and he would still be looked at as one of the best players of all time.
However, there's something to be said about competing, and Queen believes that will lead him back to the field.
"I can and can't (imagine it), like it's 50-50," Queen said. "He's older, he's experienced a lot, he did a lot. He doesn't really owe the game anything. But at the same time, I think the competitor in him definitely wants to get back out on the field. Especially how last year ended, I know he just wants to get back from that. I couldn't imagine what's going through his mind. At the end of the day, it's his decision. I respect whatever he does. But definitely would love to have him back."
"We all know him, we all love him. He knows how to win. We just gotta be better for him, get the ball back to him more times so we can have more chances to go down there and score," Queen said.
This is exactly why Charlotte has become everybody's second favorite team — who doesn't love chaos?
The Hornets have thrived in end-to-end chaos all season, and it paid off Tuesday night in a back-and-forth, win-or-go-home play-in game — one filled with controversy after the Heat's Bam Adebayo had to leave the game in the second quarter.
When it mattered most, the Hornets made the big plays. With 4.7 seconds remaining in overtime, LaMelo Ball made up for a bad previous couple of plays with a game-winning driving layup, then Miles Bridges sealed the win with a block, and Charlotte picked up a wild 127-126 overtime victory in the first play-in game in the East.
With the win, Charlotte will travel to another win-or-go-home game on Friday night, this one against the loser of Wednesday night's showdown between Orlando and Philadelphia.
Miami's season comes to a disappointing early end despite late-game heroics from Tyler Herro and 28 points from Donovan Mitchell.
Ball finished the game with 30 points and 10 assists, while Bridges finished with 28 points and the defensive play of the night.
The controversy in this game came in the second quarter, when Ball — on the ground after going for a loose ball — took a swipe and knocked the leg out from under Miami's Bam Adebayo, who fell hard on his back. Adebayo went straight to the locker room and did not return to the game, playing just 11 minutes.
The play where Bam Adebayo got taken out. LaMelo Ball was complaining to the referees afterward. pic.twitter.com/xbKAhslFHB
Ball was not called for a foul on the play and it could not be reviewed because there was no foul called. Ball is likely to face a fine from the league for the action.
This was a tight game all night, with the largest lead by either team being eight.
Miami had a game plan, and in the clutch it was a lot of it was to isolate and attack Ball, who is not a great defender and, the Heat hoped, could be worn down. In the end, that didn't work as Ball had enough to make the biggest play of the night.
Charlotte got big games from Brandon Miller with 23 points, and from Coby White off the bench, who had 19 points and some huge shots.
Hornets Rookie of the Year candidate Kon Knueppel struggled on the big stage, shooting 2-of-12 overall and missing all six of his 3-pointers.
Miami got 23 from Tyler Herro — including six straight in overtime that put the Heat in front with 8.7 seconds left — as well as 27 points from Andrew Wiggins. Sixth Man of the Year candidate Jamie Jaquez finished with 13 points on 5-of-14 shooting.
The Golden State Warriors will suit up for a win-or-go-home game on Wednesday night against the familiar foe, the Los Angeles Clippers. The Warriors and Clippers share the same division, conference and coast. However, that's not the only thing they share. The Warriors and Clippers have shared some similar storylines from the 2025-25 season. They've each had their ups and downs, along with major trades and injuries to their core players.
Despite playing four times during the regular season, each game tells a bit of a different story. Before the Warriors meet the Clippers in Wednesday's play-in game, Warriors Wire went back through the season, looking at every matchup between the No. 9 and No. 10 seed in the west, breaking down the leading scorers and different notes from each contest.
The Clippers are 9-1 against the Warriors in their last 10 meetings.
The Warriors struggle from beyond the arc, shooting 11-of-39 from deep. (28%).
Steph Curry's fourth game back from injury. Missed 27 games with a knee injury.
Curry (29), Kristaps Porzingis (24) and Al Horford (19) all played significant minutes together for the first time in 2025-26 season. The trio of core players have all been dealing with injuries.
The Portland Trail Blazers' win over the Sacramento Kings on the final day of the NBA season finalized the Western Conference standings, locking in the Clippers vs. Warriors in the play-in tournament.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran directed an obscene gesture toward a fan at Target Field as he returned to the dugout after a fifth-inning groundout in Boston’s 6-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night.
Duran, who has spoken about his past struggles with mental health, said a fan made a personal comment that crossed the line.
“Somebody just told me to kill myself,” Duran said. “I’m used to it at this point, you know? I mean, (expletive) happens. I mean, I’m gonna flip somebody off if they say something to me, but it is what it is. I shouldn’t react like that, but that kind of stuff is still kind of triggering.”
“Honestly, it’s my fault for talking about my mental health because I kind of brought in the haters. So I’ve just got to get used to it,” Duran said. “I was just trying to hold it in and not really bring that up to the team. I mean, we’re trying to win a game. I shouldn’t even bring that up to anybody. ... It just happens.”
Boston manager Alex Cora said he didn’t witness the incident and hadn’t reviewed video of it.
LaMelo Ball drives to the basket in Charlotte's play-in tournament win over Miami (Jacob Kupferman)
LaMelo Ball was hero and villain as the Charlotte Hornets lifted their curse to send the Miami Heat tumbling out of the NBA play-in tournament with a thrilling 127-126 overtime victory on Tuesday.
Charlotte had never won a win-or-go-home postseason game in 12 previous attempts and looked in danger of extending that record after blowing a 125-120 lead with 26 seconds remaining to allow Miami to edge ahead 126-125.
After Miami star Tyler Herro had sunk a superb corner three-pointer to make it 125-123, Ball carelessly turned over possession and then gave away three free-throws with a rash lunge on Herro.
Herro drained all three shots to give Miami the lead with just nine seconds left.
Ball though made amends with a determined driving layup to make it 127-126 before an athletic block from Miles Bridges snuffed out Miami's last-gasp attempt to win it.
"We stuck with it and ground it out," Ball said. "We wasn't hitting our threes, all the shots weren't hitting, but we stuck with it."
Ball was at the centre of controversy over an incident in the second quarter which led to Miami star Bam Adebayo hobbling out of the game.
After being blocked during a drive to the basket, Ball reached out and tripped Adebayo with a tug on his standing leg, sending the Miami star crashing to the hardwood. He played no further part in the game.
Miami coach Erik Spoelstra was furious that Ball escaped an ejection.
"The referees are there for what? How did they not see that? I don't want this to be an excuse, Charlotte was incredible at the end," Spoelstra fumed.
"I don't think that's cute. I don't think it's funny. I think it's a stupid play. It's a dangerous play. Our best player is out.
"(LaMelo) should be penalized for that. I don't think that belongs in the game, tripping guys, shenanigans. Someone has got to see that. And he should have been thrown out of the game for that."
The victory means Charlotte, beaten in their two previous appearances in the play-in tournament in 2021 and 2022, remain alive in the postseason while Miami are eliminated.
Charlotte will face the loser of Wednesday's Eastern Conference play-in game between the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic and seventh-seeded Philadelphia 76ers.
The reward for the winner of that game on Friday is a first-round playoff series against top seeds Detroit.
Ball finished with 30 points, 10 assists and five rebounds, while Bridges added 28 points and nine rebounds. Coby White had a crucial 19-point contribution from the bench, making five-of-eight three-pointers.
Davion Mitchell led Miami's scorers with 28 points while Andrew Wiggins added 27 and Herro 23.
The Wildcats took down No. 20 Florida 13-7 in Gainesville on April 14 to pick up their second ranked win over an SEC team in seven days. Bethune-Cookman defeated defending national champion and then-No. 24 LSU 10-7 on April 7.
The last and only instance the Wildcats beat the Gators was a 6-2 win on June 4, 2017, which was their last ranked win prior to last week’s LSU game.
B-CU was able to earn its second-ever triumph against the Gators, who are fourth in the NCAA’s RPI, with a seven-run seventh inning that broke a 5-5 tie. The two major scoring plays were an Andrey Martinez double and a Jorge Rodriguez single that each plated two runs.
Darryl Lee and Michael Rodriguez singled to pick up two additional RBIs, and Erick Almonte reached base on a throwing error that allowed Maikol Lucena, who walked at the beginning of the inning, to score.
Kyle Jones hit a sacrifice fly and Brendan Lawson doubled to drive two Gator runs to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, but Bethune-Cookman’s lead proved to be insurmountable.
Lee put a stamp on the Wildcats’ victory with a solo shot to right field in the top of the ninth inning, and Justin Morales shut the door in the bottom of the ninth.
Martinez and Lee were Bethune-Cookman’s primary catalysts in its consecutive win over a ranked SEC power. Both players finished 3 for 6 from the plate with a dinger to combine for seven RBIs — four from Martinez and three from Lee.
However, all nine players in the Wildcats’ batting order finished with at least one hit, and Jose Fernandez added a third homer to Bethune-Cookman’s night in the fourth inning.
The win further legitimizes the Wildcats’ record of 26-11, which now includes four wins over top-100 teams in the RPI — Florida, LSU and a pair against South Florida. They’ll have an opportunity to add to that with a home series against Alabama A&M from April 17-19.
Jordan Spieth gets a Participation Jacket — and not just because he jumped over this creek.Getty Images
Here are the other winners from the 2026 Masters. The Participation Jackets, if you will. Let’s get to ’em.
Honorable mention: All of us
After a week at Augusta with gloriously limited screen time I buzzed back through social media on post-Masters Monday to catch up on what I’d missed. This proved a spectacularly stupid way to process the golf tournament; somehow the conversation had shifted to burning topics like whether Rory McIlroy should be keeping score or what Florida’s governor thought of his scouting trips to Augusta.
Look, petty gripes are encouraged. I’m more than happy to hear nit-picking about golf course setup or TV production or bird selection on Jason Day’s vest or anything your heart desires — as long as we’re keeping in mind that, as far as golf tournaments go, this one was pretty damn good. So this is a reminder to myself, and I suppose to you, dear reader, that we’re all winners for how this all went down. Augusta National showed out, the weather cooperated and we got a legitimate back-and-forth, plot-twisting Masters Sunday between a handful of the very best golfers in the world.
10. Michael Brennan
Brennan announced his arrival in an improbable win at last year’s Bank of Utah Championship, where he got into the field via sponsor exemption and — in his first PGA Tour start as a pro — won the whole thing. It’s been uneven since then, but Brennan held his own in his first major as a pro; his T24 at Augusta National is his best finish anywhere in 2026.
8. Maverick McNealy
He’s not a flashy personality, doesn’t play a flashy game and doesn’t have a flashy resume in major championships. But Mav McNealy logged his first career top 20 thanks to a typically hot putter and a Sunday 67; it was a particularly impressive result given he shot 77 on Thursday.
9. Russell Henley
When Henley birdied four of the first eight holes on Sunday to get to 10 under par he suddenly had a legitimate chance to win his first major championship. Instead he couldn’t make a birdie putt and played the final 10 holes even par. The good news: that was his fifth top-10 finish in his last seven major starts and the first top-three of his career. Trending up at age 37.
“I hit it amazing today. I gave myself a bunch of looks. Unfortunately, I didn’t capitalize on those looks on the back like I would have liked to,” he said. “I felt like I handled the pressure well, handled the conditions well. It was tricky out there.”
7. Tyrrell Hatton
LIV Golf had a largely disappointing week; just one of its players finished under par or inside the top 30. But even though that golfer, Tyrrell Hatton, saw his chances to win all but vanish in a Saturday 72, his splendid Sunday 66 left him T3 and immensely satisfied with the way he finished. By finishing top 12 he also guarantees a return visit next year, which he said was on his mind with a baby on the way.
“To be honest most of the back nine I just wanted to make birdies because my wife is due in six weeks and I was thinking about it would be cool to come back next year, and our little girl will be pretty much 11 months, so it would be amazing to see her in a boiler suit,” Hatton said, referring to the caddie uniforms families wear at Wednesday’s Par-3 Contest. “Obviously you see all the other dads and their families and the little ones in boiler suits is so cute.”
6. Scottie Scheffler
There’s no chance the World No. 1 is interested in a Participation Jacket (the times more I type that phrase the more I’m planning to trademark it) but Scheffler entered the week as a new father, was coming off his “worst” two starts in over a year and sat 12 shots back at the halfway mark; if he was anybody else he’d be No. 1 on this list. (Instead we’ll slot him semi-randomly at No. 6.)
A bogey-free weekend left Scheffler solo second, just one shot off McIlroy’s winning number, and will more than silence the doubters. McIlroy won the tournament; Scheffler’s still the best golfer in the world. Between the two of them they’ve won four of the last five majors as well as four of the last five Masters, and McIlroy now has six majors to Scheffler’s four. Game on.
“I think the major championships bring out the best in me sometimes, and I had some good starts last year and I obviously had a good week this week,” Scheffler said. “There’s a few shots I’d like to have back, but overall put up a good fight.”
5. Jordan Spieth
Speaking of trending iron play: Jordan Spieth is flagging it right now. His T12 is his best result at a major in three years and came largely thanks to his approach game, which DataGolf had as fifth best in the field. Spieth remains remarkably dependable at Augusta National, where he has nine top-15 finishes in 13 career starts. He’s trending towards dependability everywhere else, too, if he can get his putter to cooperate.
“I hit it better [this year] than the year I won and I hit it way better than any of the second places or fourths,” he said. “Probably the best I ever hit it here and I typically putt these greens very well. That part is a bit frustrating. Again, putting can be streaky so just get on the right streak and go try to win next week.”
Knapp has played eight tournaments in 2026. He has now finished T11 or better in seven of those eight after a relatively quiet seven-under-par showing. It felt like a particularly significant finish because Knapp had played just four prior majors as a pro (three MCs and a T55), making this by far his best result.
3. Cameron Young
If you take Young at his word, he left the Masters disappointed in the result but pleased with his play.
“There is no negative to take away other than obviously I would’ve loved a different result,” he said. “But in terms of the golf, I played plenty well enough to win today and plenty well enough to win by a couple I think. So, just one of those days. If you go through the back nine I pretty much had a birdie chance on every hole and didn’t make any. That’s how it goes sometimes.”
The tournament felt like Young’s to win when McIlroy, his playing partner, three-putted from five feet at No. 4 and gave Young a two-shot edge. But there was still so much golf to be played; Young went bogey-bogey-birdie-bogey at 6-7-8-9 and then strung out nine consecutive pars on the back as McIlroy slipped past him.
So why does he get a Participation Jacket? Because he just clutched up to win the Players, because he’s just gone T3-win-T3, because he’s No. 3 in the world — and because this time last year he missed the cut at the Masters and fell outside the top 60 in the OWGR. That’s a hell of a few weeks and a hell of a year.
2. Max Homa
Max Homa didn’t win the 2024 Masters but he did finish T3, which meant he got an automatic invite to the 2025 Masters, where he finished T12, which meant he got an automatic invite to the 2026 Masters, where he finished T9 thanks to a bogey-free Sunday 67 — and secured an invite to the 2027 Masters. Things could be looking up for Homa, whose iron play and putting have both been trending up since the start of the season. Now it’s just a matter of pretending that every other course is Augusta National…
“Yeah, it feels high,” Homa said of his result, with a smile. “I would like next time to be in contention earlier, not need a miracle on Sunday. “But for not having it all and feeling like I left some out there, I’m really proud of just the golf, [and] my brain was so good. Yeah, it was fun.”
1. Collin Morikawa
It takes a very specific set of circumstances to feel shocked by the No. 7-ranked golfer in the world finishing seventh place at a pro golf tournament, but given Collin Morikawa’s pre-tournament form (scratched on his second hole at the Players with a back injury, then sat out the next three weeks) plus his tournament-week form (was clearly in pain, wasn’t moving well, had to mess with his swing just to make it through a simple shot) this was probably the most impressive non-win of his impressing young career.
“Trust me, it’s going to be one of the best tournaments forever,” Morikawa said. “I’m going to remember this one for many reasons, but just more how strong the mind is, to be able to go out and convince yourself that everything is going to be okay.”
You can watch more analysis of the 2026 Masters at the video below.
Mike Trout’s sustained excellence has often been hidden behind the mediocrity of the team he’s starred for over the past decade and a half. But there are times when he’s afforded the spotlight his talent deserves. A trip to New York to play the Yankees this week paved the way for more of those opportunities, and Trout has made the most of them, reminding the world of his Hall of Fame trajectory.
In the top of the first inning Tuesday, the three-time AL MVP and 11-time All-Star hit his third home run in two days, and his fifth of the young season. The 34-year-old took a 94-mph four-seam fastball from Ryan Weathers on a 432-foot ride well over the center-field wall in Yankee Stadium.
He accounted for the first of three straight Angels homers that jumpstarted their 7-1 victory.
Trout has now taken part in a back-to-back-to-back home-run sequence six times in his 16-season career, according to MLB.com’s Sarah Langs, who cited Elias Sports and noted that Trout is tied with Adrián Beltré and J.D. Drew for the most such instances by a player during at least the expansion era (1961).
Tonight was the sixth time Mike Trout was involved in a back-to-back-to-back HR sequence
That ties Adrian Beltre and JD Drew for the most such instances by a player during at least the Expansion Era (1961)
Trout’s power transferred to outfielder Jo Adell, who launched a 445-foot blast on Weathers’ next pitch, and then to designated hitter Jorge Soler, who lifted a 399-foot long ball in the subsequent at-bat.
All three taters tattooed Weathers’ four-seam fastball.
Weathers remained in the game and actually went five innings, piling up 10 strikeouts along the way. That didn’t necessarily soften the blow of the five total runs he allowed, though. Oswald Peraza also homered off him in the top of the fourth.
While Tuesday’s contest was lopsided, the Angels (9-9) and Yankees (9-8) started the week off with a bang. Monday’s series opener doubled as the second game since 1900 to feature MLB’s top-four active home-run leaders. The other arrived in 1956, when Gil Hodges and Duke Snider of the then-Brooklyn Dodgers faced off against Stan Musial and Hank Sauer of the St. Louis Cardinals on June 12 of that year.
The Dodgers won that game in St. Louis 6-4, with Snider fittingly hit a two-run dinger in the top of the first inning.
Meanwhile, on Monday, the game’s current leaders in that department — Trout, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Paul Goldschmidt — shared the diamond.
Trout and Judge put on a show, each homering twice. Yankees outfield Trent Grisham deposited a pair of big flies as well, including one that tied the game in the bottom of the ninth, setting the stage for a walk-off, 11-10 win soon after.
On Tuesday, Trout headlined the power-charged series.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 14: Michael Eyssimont #81 of the Boston Bruins celebrates his third-period goal against the New Jersey Devils at the TD Garden on April 14, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Bruins ended the regular season with the all-important VIBES in a much better place, thanks to a 4-0 win over the New Jersey Devils.
The B’s jumped out to a 1-0 lead less than a minute into the game and never looked back, with Mark Kastelic leading the way with two goals and Jeremy Swayman making 21 saves in the win.
Morgan Geekie and Viktor Arvidsson scored the other Bruin goals, while David Pastrnak recorded an assist to reach the 100-point mark for the season.
Geekie got the scoring started 53 seconds into the game, collecting a Pastrnak pass and making it 1-0 Bruins.
That was it for scoring, all in the first twenty minutes.
Bruins win, 4-0.
Game notes
There were a handful of milestones for the B’s tonight. Pastrnak’s assist gave him 100 points, making it four consecutive 100+ point seasons. Arvidsson’s goal was his 25th of the season. Then there was the team itself reaching 100 points with the win, no small feat given how last season went.
James Hagens didn’t end up on the scoresheet tonight, but played well enough in his first pro game at TD Garden. He landed one shot on net in 15:58 of ice time.
Pavel Zacha left the game after the first period, with the team saying it was for a family matter. Per Ty Anderson, Zacha left for “good reasons” and will be ready for the playoffs.
The B’s finished the regular season with an impressive 29-11-1 record at TD Garden. Those 29 wins were tied for the most home wins in the NHL this season, with Carolina also recording 29 wins at home.
We’ll set up another thread for the official playoff match-up, but as you likely now, tonight’s win clinched WC1 for the B’s, setting up a first-round series against the Buffalo Sabres.
The win also ensures that Ottawa’s last game, against the Toronto Maple Leafs, will mean nothing for the Sens, potentially impacting the Leafs’ lottery odds.
Two points secured, no one got hurt…I’d say that was a decent night.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired right-hander Griff McGarry from the Philadelphia Phillies for international pool money on Tuesday.
McGarry was selected by the Washington Nationals in the Rule 5 draft in 2024, but was returned to the Phillies at the end of spring training after going 0-0 with a 3.18 ERA in six games for the Nationals.
The 26-year-old made five appearances for Triple-A Lehigh Valley this season. McGarry allowed four runs in four innings. In six minor league seasons, he's 10-17 with a 4.21 ERA and 424 strikeouts to go with 209 walks.
He was taken in the fifth round of the 2021 first-year player draft out of the University of Virginia.
Apr 14, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Chicago Cubs infielder Alex Bregman (3) hits an RBI single against the Philadelphia Phillies in the fifth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
A night after the Phillies’ hitters had their way with the Cubs’ pitching staff, the Cubs returned the favor on Tuesday. Phillies pitchers couldn’t keep the Cubs off the bases, giving up 15 hits, six walks, and one hit batter. And once those runners got on board, the Phillies didn’t do much to stop them from scoring. The end result was an ugly 10-4 loss.
Early on, it looked like the Phillies might be due for another big offensive night. Edmundo Sosa crushed a home run in the second to stake the team to a 3-0 lead.
The Cubs answered immediately. Aaron Nola got the start for the Phillies, and he had an uneven night. He held the Cubs scoreless in the first two innings, but the Cubs used five hits to score two runs in the top of the third. The damage would have been worse if not for a tremendous throw by right fielder Adolis Garcia to get a runner out at third base.
One team continued to score with regularity, but it wasn’t the Phillies. After Sosa’s home run, they managed only one runner over the next five innings. Meanwhile, the Cubs took advantage of two Nola walks in the fifth, as Alex Bregman tied it up with an RBI single.
Tim Mayza entered the game in the sixth. He’s been a pleasant surprise thus far this season, but this was a bad night. He walked two batters, hit another, and gave up a single in one-third of an inning as the Cubs took the lead. Brad Keller came in to clean up the mess, but he gave up a two-run single to the heretofore slumping Bregman before getting out of the inning.
The Phillies had a chance to make a game of it in the eighth. Sosa led off with a double and scored on a Trea Turner single. A Kyle Schwarber single and walk to Garcia loaded the bases with two outs. With lefthander Caleb Thielbar in the game for the Cubs, Alec Bohm was sent to pinch hit for Brandon Marsh. Like Bregman, Bohm was slumping heading into this game. Unlike Bregman, that slump didn’t end, as he struck out to end the threat.
Tanner Banks gave up a three-run home run to Carson Kelly in the final inning to remove any sense of drama.
Now that both teams have traded ugly wins, they’ll have the rubber match on Wednesday. Jesus Luzardo and Shoto Imanaga will try to provide their teams with less ugly pitching than we’ve seen the past two nights.
Two events, UFC 327 and PFL Chicago, took place last week, causing movement in pound-for-pound and divisional rankings.
In the main event of UFC 327, an injured Carlos Ulberg managed to pull off an incredible knockout of Jiri Prochazka to claim the vacant light heavyweight title. "King Carlos" has arrived, and with his gold comes the No. 1 ranking in the 205-pound division. Prochazka falls one spot to No. 4.
While there were multiple moves following the numbered event in Miami, Josh Hokit stole the show by going toe-to-toe with Curtis Blaydes in one of the best fights in recent memory. Some have labeled it the best heavyweight fight ever. Coming into the week, Hokit was unranked, but after pulling off a win over the previous No. 6, Hokit lands at No. 13. Blaydes falls a couple of spots to No. 8.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Carson Kelly hit a three-run homer, Colin Rea pitched six strong innings and the Chicago Cubs rallied to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 10-4 on Tuesday night.
Nico Hoerner and Alex Bregman each had three RBIs for the Cubs.
Edmundo Sosa homered for the Phillies.
Chicago broke a 3-all tie with four runs in the sixth inning off Tim Mayza (0-1). Hoerner and Bregman each had two-run singles in the inning and the Cubs were aided by a Phillies miscue.
After Mayza put runners on first and second with one out with a walk and hit batter, Dansby Swanson hit a hard grounder back to the pitcher that was a potential double play. Mayza threw slightly off target to second base, and Bryson Stott could not make the catch. Stott was charged with a fielding error on the play. Instead of runners on first and second with two outs, or an inning-ending double play, Chicago had the bases loaded with one out.
Hoerner made Philadelphia pay with a liner to center. After Brad Keller replaced Mayza, Bregman knocked in two more runs.
Rea (2-0) followed opener Riley Martin, who worked a 1-2-3 first. He surrendered Sosa’s three-run homer to left-center that gave the Phillies a 3-0 lead before retiring 16 of the next 17 batters, including 10 in a row to close his outing. Rea struck out five and walked none.
Philadelphia got a run back in the eighth and threatened for more with the bases loaded and two outs, but Caleb Thielbar struck out pinch-hitter Alec Bohm to end the inning. Kyle Schwarber extended his on-base streak to 15 games with a one-out single in the inning.
Kelly made it a six-run advantage with his first homer of the season in the ninth off Tanner Banks.
Phillies starter Aaron Nola lasted five innings, allowing three runs on eight hits.
Up next
Cubs LHP Shota Imanaga (0-1, 2.81) opposes Phillies LHP Jesús Luzardo (1-2, 6.23) on Wednesday night in the rubber game of the three-game series.
The Houston Rockets have had players donning a total of 52 different jersey numbers (and have one not part of any numerical series for Houston assistant coach and general manager Carroll Dawson) since their founding at the start of the 1967-68 season, worn by just under 500 players in the course of Rockets history.
To honor all of the players who wore those numbers over the decades, Rockets Wire is covering the entire history of jersey numbers and the players who wore them since the founding of the team all those years ago right up to the present day.
With seven of those jerseys now retired to honor some of the greatest Rockets of all time to wear those jerseys, there is a lot of history to cover.
And for today's article, we will continue with the second of 16 who wore the No. 12, Hall of Fame guard alum Rick Adelman. After ending his college career at Loyola Marymount, Adelman was picked up with the 79th overall selection (there were many more rounds in that era of the draft) of the 1968 NBA Draft by the (then) San Diego (now, Houston) Rockets.
The Lynwood, California native played the first two seasons of his pro career with San Diego before he was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1970 NBA expansion draft.
During his time suiting up for the Rockets, Adelman wore only jersey No. 12 and put up 6.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game.
All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.
The Las Vegas Raiders understand good and well that they need to address the safety position in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Las Vegas currently has Isaiah Pola-Mao and Jeremy Chinn as well as Terrell Edmunds and Tristin McCollum at safety. However, the Raiders’ front office is intent on adding more players at the position in the draft.
At his pre-draft press conference on Tuesday, Raiders general manager John Spytek stated that Las Vegas is keen on adding to their depth chart at safety later on in the draft.
"Yeah, I think we have three safeties in the roster right now," Spytek said. "We need a few more. I think it's a good safety class. And from top to bottom, I mean there's some guys that you would expect probably to go in one and all the way through to day three, there's some quality players there. . . overall, obviously it's something we've got to attack, and I'm glad the class looks the way it does."
Safeties that the Raiders are likely to see available on Days 2 and 3 of the draft include Treydan Stukes (Arizona), A.J. Haulcy (LSU), Kamari Ramsey (USC), as well as Zakee Wheatley (Penn State).
The Raiders recorded the fourth-fewest interceptions in the NFL last season with eight. Las Vegas also allowed the fourth-most receptions of 40 or more yards in 2025 with nine.
Spytek will lead the Raiders’ front office through their final days of preparation in lead up to the draft, with safety being one of the positions that Las Vegas will potentially select out for after Day 1 concludes.
BALTIMORE — The Orioles seemed like a freight train that couldn’t be stopped.
They came back from down six runs on Monday to beat the Diamondbacks, their sixth victory in seven games. Their manager inspired the ballclub by showing up to work with a broken jaw and a black eye from taking a line drive to the face the night before. And the offense got off to a quick start with a 2-0 lead.
But, as can often happen in baseball, the script flipped after one bad inning from Orioles starting pitcher Trevor Rogers and one big swing from the Diamondbacks.
Rogers gave up four runs in the fifth inning — three of which scored on an Earl Weaver special from Ildemaro Vargas — and the offense couldn’t complete another comeback as the Orioles lost, 4-3, to end the club’s three-game winning streak.
The Orioles’ best chance to create more magic like they did Monday was in the eighth inning. After Leody Taveras’ RBI single that brought Baltimore within one, Colton Cowser walked to load the bases and bring up Jeremiah Jackson, Monday’s hero after he atoned for hitting a foul liner off Craig Albernaz’s face by blasting two homers, including a grand slam.
But Jackson grounded out softly on the first pitch to end the threat, and the Orioles went down in order in the ninth against Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald.
After the emotion of Monday’s win, Samuel Basallo kept it going with a mammoth blast to center field in the second inning. The 21-year-old slugging sensation crushed a fastball from Merrill Kelly for a 431-foot solo shot to put Baltimore up 1-0. Basallo has struggled to begin his big league career, but lasers like the one he hit Monday serve as evidence of his talent.
Kelly then lost his command in the third inning, walking three batters, including a bases-loaded walk to Taveras to bring home a run, to double the Orioles’ lead.
Rogers, the Orioles’ No. 1 starter, was cruising through four innings and appeared on track for his fourth straight quality start to begin the season. But the Diamondbacks (10-8) cracked Rogers’ code in the fifth to tag the southpaw for four runs on four hits. The rally was kicked off by old friend James McCann, who earned a standing ovation from Baltimore fans before his first at-bat. Rogers then walked Jorge Barrosa and gave up the long ball to Vargas that barely left the yard over the left field wall and past Taylor Ward’s outstretched glove.
Geraldo Perdomo singled with two outs, stole second and scored on a double from Jose Fernandez that put Arizona up 4-2. Rogers was then pulled at 97 pitches before finishing five innings.
Tuesday marked only the third time in 22 starts by Rogers since 2025 that the lefty didn’t complete five innings. It was only the second time he’s given up more than three runs in a start during that span. Despite starting only 18 games last season, Rogers earned an American League Cy Young Award vote by posting a 1.81 ERA and 0.90 WHIP. This year, Rogers has a 3.04 ERA and 1.27 WHIP.
Baltimore’s bats went quiet in the middle innings, but they came alive in the eighth to put the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position. Pete Alonso kicked off the rally with a walk thanks to a successful ABS challenge. Alonso moved to second on a single by Basallo and scored on a single from Taveras, who continued his surprising hot start to the season.
Cowser then walked to load the bases and bring up Jackson, whom Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo showed enough respect for to bring in Ryan Thompson, a sidearmer who got Jackson out on one pitch.
Baltimore is 9-8 and will likely remain tied with the Yankees atop the American League East standings, as New York entered the eighth inning Tuesday down 7-0 to the Angels.
Mark Kasetlic scored twice in the first period, Jeremy Swayman earned his second shutout of the season and the Boston Bruins clinched the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with a 4-0 win over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night.
Boston needed a win to lock up the top wild-card position. The Bruins will face the Atlantic Division champion Buffalo Sabres in the first round of the NHL playoffs.
Ten Boston players recorded points in the game. Sean Kuraly had a pair of assists and David Pastrnak reached 100 points for the fourth straight season with an assist on one of the Bruins’ four goals in the first.
Morgan Geekie and Viktor Arvidsson also scored for Boston, which finished the regular season under first-year coach Marco Sturm at 45-27-10 and returned to the playoffs one year after tying for the worst record in the Eastern Conference at 33-39-10.
After congratulating Swayman, the Bruins gathered at center ice and raised their sticks to salute their fans.
New Jersey goalie Nico Daws allowed four goals on 12 shots in the opening period before getting some stronger defensive support the rest of the way. Daws finished with 23 saves.
Swayman stopped 21 shots for his first shutout since a 3-0 win over Detroit on Jan. 13 and the 18th of his career.
Boston got goals in the opening and closing minutes of the first and took firm command with a 4-0 lead after one period.
Geekie scored 53 seconds in and Arvidsson scored his 25th of the season with just 6.4 seconds left in the period. In between, Kastelic scored twice and the Bruins cruised the rest of the way against the lottery-bound Devils, who finished 42-37-3.
Pastrnak needed one more goal to reach 30 for the ninth time, which would have been a first in franchise history.
The Detroit Tigers had to grind through a low-scoring battle, fall behind early, and wait for their moment. When it finally came, they made it count.
Detroit pulled out a 2-1 win over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday night, stretching its winning streak to four games behind a strong outing from Framber Valdez, another clutch swing from Dillon Dingler, and a historic finish from Kenley Jansen.
Framber Valdez Settles In After Early Trouble
This game had the feel of a true pitching matchup from the start.
With two talented left-handers on the mound, runs were hard to come by and nearly every inning felt important. Kansas City scratched out an early run, but Valdez quickly locked in and gave the Tigers exactly what they needed.
After working through a few deeper counts early, Valdez settled into a groove and kept the Royals from making much hard contact the rest of the night. He pitched efficiently, got quick outs, and used his sinker the way it is meant to be used by shortening innings and keeping his pitch count under control.
Even without piling up strikeouts, Valdez controlled the game. As the outing wore on, his curveball became a real weapon, and Kansas City never found much rhythm against him.
Royals Starter Keeps Tigers Quiet Early
The Tigers did not get much going through the first six innings, but that was not because of a lack of effort.
Kansas City starter Cole Ragans was sharp and deserved plenty of credit for the way he commanded the ball. Detroit had a chance to break through in the fourth inning, but the rally came up empty. Even so, that inning may have played a bigger role than it seemed at the time.
By forcing Ragans to work, the Tigers helped push Kansas City toward its bullpen, which has been a problem area for the Royals early this season. That mattered later.
Tigers Break Through with Fundamental Baseball
Detroit finally broke the game open in the bottom of the eighth, and it came together with the kind of clean, simple baseball that has looked so good when this team is at its best.
Zach McKinstry led off with a double. Gleyber Torres followed with a ground ball to the right side that moved McKinstry to third. From there, the Tigers took advantage of the opportunity in front of them.
McKinstry scored from third on a wild pitch to tie the game, and after Kevin McGonigle worked a walk, Dillon Dingler stepped up and ripped the go-ahead double.
Dillon Dingler Comes Through Again
Dingler keeps showing up in the biggest moments.
After his big swing earlier in the series, he delivered again with the game-winning hit on Thursday. His at-bats look mature, the contact is loud, and he is becoming one of the most dependable hitters in key spots.
For a catcher to give you that kind of production, especially in pressure moments, changes the feel of an entire lineup. Right now, Dingler is becoming one of the most important players on this team.
Kenley Jansen Makes History
The ninth inning brought a little drama, but it also brought history.
Kenley Jansen worked through some traffic before closing out the win and moving into third place on Major League Baseball’s all-time saves list.
That is elite company.
Mariano Rivera. Trevor Hoffman. Kenley Jansen.
And what made it even more impressive was the way he finished it. Jansen reached back and hit 97 mph with his cutter, a reminder that even at this stage of his career, that pitch can still overpower hitters when he commands it.
That cutter has long been his calling card, and on this night it helped seal both a win and a major milestone.
Final Thoughts
The Tigers only scored two runs, so this was never going to be remembered as an offensive explosion.
But it was a strong win. A comeback win. A divisional win. And the kind of game that shows what this team can look like when the pitching holds, the fundamentals are sharp, and somebody comes through in the biggest moment.
That is four straight wins for Detroit.
And on a night when Framber Valdez was excellent, Dillon Dingler was clutch, and Kenley Jansen made history, the Tigers gave their fans plenty to cheer about.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 13: Andy Pages #44 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after hitting a home run during the game between the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Monday, April 13, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Nicole Vasquez/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Dodgers and Mets in the middle game of three in Los Angeles.
GOODYEAR, ARIZONA - MARCH 16, 2026: Kevin Alcántara #13 of the Chicago Cubs runs out an RBI double during the fifth inning of a spring training game against the Cleveland Guardians at Goodyear Ballpark on March 16, 2026 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
South Bend right-hander Brooks Caple was named Midwest League Pitcher of the Week.
The Cubs signed left-hander Ty Blach and right-hander Paul Campbell assigned both to Triple-A Iowa.
Connor Noland gave up a run in the first base on a disengagement violation. Other than that, he was pretty strong. Noland gave up just one run on five hits over five innings. He struck out six and walked no one.
Corbin Martin tossed one scoreless inning, Yacksel Ríos threw two and Zac Leigh tossed a scoreless ninth to close out the game.
Center fielder Kevin Alcántara hit two home runs tonight. The first one came in the third inning with the bases empty. The second one was a three-run blast in the fifth. It was The Jaguar’s sixth and seventh home runs on the season. He went 2 for 5.
Third baseman Pedro Ramirez was 2 for 5 with a double and a two-run single in the fifth. He scored on Alcántara’s second home run.
Tyler Schlaffer started and took the loss. Schlaffer gave up four runs on two hits over just two innings. Both hits were home runs—a three-run blast in the first and a solo shot in the second. Schlaffer walked three and struck out two.
Left fielder Jordan Nwogu went 2 for 3 with an RBI single. He also stole two bases.
Knoxville had just four hits, all singles, in this game.
Brooks Caple picked up right where he left off as Midwest League Pitcher of the Week. Tonight he surrendered just one run on two hits over 5.2 innings. He struck out nine and walked no one.
Alfredo Romero did not allow a run or a hit over the final three innings to pick up the save. Romero did walk two while striking out three.
Catcher Owen Ayers continues to rip the cover off the ball on this young season. Tonight Ayers was 2 for 4 with a double and a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning. Ayers scored twice.
Right fielder Kade Snell was 2 for 3 and was hit by a pitch. He scored once.
Center fielder Kane Kepley went o for 1 with two walks and was hit by a pitch.
Starter Hayden Frank threw four innings and surrendered two hits. He struck out three and walked one.
Mason McGwire threw the middle three innings and got the win because Frank didn’t go five. McGwire had a terrific outing, giving up just one hit. McGwire struck out five and walked no one.
Jordan Henriquez pitched the final two innings in a non-save situation. He allowed three hits. Henriquez struck out three and walked no one.
First baseman Cole Mathis connected on a three-run home run in the third inning. It was his fourth of the season already. Mathis went 1 for 4.
Shortstop Ty Southisene was 2 for 4 with one run scored.
History could be made this week by Phoenix Rising as the club seeks its first-ever win over Major League Soccer opposition in the U.S. Open Cup.
Rising travels to face the San Jose Earthquakes in the final match of this year’s third round at PayPal Park. It’s the first time the two sides have ever met in competitive play.
“I know a lot of people will look at it and say we are underdogs,” Rising coach Pa-Modou Kah said. “I never look at our team or myself as an underdog. We are equal once we step on the pitch.”
The Open Cup, organized by the U.S. Soccer Federation since 1914, allows clubs at all levels of the game to compete in a single tournament. Based on a revised format due to the World Cup, 16 MLS teams are competing in this year’s edition of the cup. They joined the 16 second round winners, made up of nine teams from USL Championship, six from USL League One and one from MLS NEXT Pro.
“Everybody was excited [at the draw] because it’s an opportunity for some of us,” Rising forward Ihsan Sacko said. “We have some young players in the team, so it’s a big chance for us. We’re excited because we definitely want to win this game. That’s why we go there for this: for the win.”
This isn’t the first time that Rising has faced a top-flight opponent under head coach Pa-Modou Kah. Last year, the side fell 4-1 at home to the Houston Dynamo after extra time.
“What I want, this game, for the boys, is to enjoy it,” Rising coach Pa-Modou Kah said. “Listen, some of them have aspiration to be in MLS. Some of them beyond. There’s no better test.
“You go in and enjoy the game, and we showed last year over 90 minutes, obviously we were there, but you know that the budget, the different players they can bring [on], that is the difference. That is the difference from when I watched the game back against Houston [Dynamo] last year. Even at 2-1, Tico [Damian Rivera] had an opportunity, maybe he passed it to [Dariusz Formella], that’s the what if. But yeah, they bring in guys that cost 8, 10, 20 million. There’s nothing you can do. But the way that we fought as a team, the way that we showcase ourselves is the same thing I want to see this game.”
Last season’s clash wasn’t the only time that Phoenix Rising has faced MLS opposition in Open Cup play. In 2024, Rising travelled to Tukwila to face the Seattle Sounders, taking the lead in first half stoppage time through a Rémi Cabral penalty. Alex Roldan drew the sides level in the second half, before Kalani Kossa-Rienzi found the winner for the hosts with just two minutes to play.
Prior to that, the team faced LA Galaxy in the 2014 Open Cup under the name Arizona United. Matt Kassel put Arizona up in front of a home crowd in Peoria. Again, two second half goals sank the side’s hopes, with Gyasi Zardes netting a brace.
Last season’s clash with Houston was the first time Rising took MLS opposition beyond the regulation 90 minutes, though, and Sacko described being “mad to lose at the end like that.” That’s something, according to both Sacko and Kah, that can give the team confidence going into the match.
“That’s the reason also in preseason you want to go play these teams as well, because you get to measure yourselves,” the coach said. “You get to showcase yourself. You get to see where am I now to where I want to be. For us, there’s no better opportunity. As a coach and especially as a player, these are the games that you want to be in.”
Rising can also bring confidence from a resounding 3-0 win over rivals New Mexico United last weekend. That match marked the first league win of the season, with Sacko recording a brace alongside a JP Scearce goal.
“You keep doing the things that you’ve been doing prior,” Kah said on carrying the momentum from the weekend. “You don’t need to change anything. It’s just making sure that again you stay consistent in the work that you do.”
At the same time, Rising’s Open Cup run has already caused some early season fixture congestion. The team is now in the middle of a stretch of three games in eight days, which is only made tougher by the team’s continued injury woes. Both Damian Rivera and Kelvin Arase are yet to feature in 2026, while Rafael Czichos has been sidelined recently due to illness. Both Daniel Flores and Pape Mar Boye have recently begun easing back in to game time.
“It’s always a balance, but sometimes when you have momentum, you want to keep that momentum going by also trusting the guys that fought and helped, and we know that we also have some game changers on the bench,” Kah said.
While Rising’s rotation choices may be more limited, it’s not clear how seriously San Jose will take this cup tie.
“We approach the game with the same amount of detail that we want to provide for our players and game plan, and who we are,” Kah said. “For me, it’s about respecting the game so I will never take it lightly whoever I’m facing. The planning, the detailing will always be there. What we can control is our preparation, our mental state and what we’re going to do.
“What the oppositions is going to do, I’ll be honest to you, I don’t know until the whistle or you see the lineup. When you see the lineup, you know, but we’re prepared for whatever they’re going to bring.”
Regardless of the lineup that San Jose puts out, Phoenix is looking to make club history in the Open Cup.
“Why not?” Kah said. “Why should we not aim for it? That is our ambition. And can we do it? I believe 100% that we can do it, because at the end of the day, it’s football. Once you step in the white lines, it’s not who you are. It’s what you’re going to do at that moment. And when our moment comes, we’re going to take our moment.”
Top image: Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 18: Brandon Rechsteiner #2 of the Colorado State Rams looks on in the second half of a game against the UNLV Rebels at the Thomas & Mack Center on February 18, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Rams defeated the Rebels 91-86. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Casey Alexander and Kansas State have been on a transfer portal heater over the last week. Former Virginia Tech and Colorado State guard Brandon Rechsteiner struck the match when he pledged his services to the Wildcats.
Bio
Position: Point Guard
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 190
Hometown: Acworth, Georgia
Recruiting Class: 2023
Eligibility: Senior (1 Season remaining)
Former Team(s): Virginia Tech / Colorado State
Transfer Portal Rankings: 4*(93) – National Rank: 84 – Point Guard Rank: 17
Casey Alexander and Kansas State have been on a transfer portal heater over the last week. Former Virginia Tech and Colorado State guard Brandon Rechsteiner struck the match when he pledged his services to the Wildcats.
Rechsteiner is coming off the best season of his career at Colorado State and should be a day 1 starter at point guard for Coach Alexander’s newly constituted roster.
High School Career
Rechsteiner was a four-year letter-winner at Etowah High School in Acworth, Georgia. He was named to the Georgia All-State team in his junior and senior years. He averaged 18 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals per game as a senior. He was rated a 3*(88) recruit in the Rivals Industry Ranking. He was considered the 158th best player in the nation and the 28th overall point guard in the 2023 class.
He signed with Virginia Tech over listed offers from Georgia Tech, Tennessee, and Kansas State.
High School Highlights
2023-24 Season – Virginia Tech
Games Played: 26
Games Started: 2
Minutes: 9
Points: 2
Rebounds: 1
Assists: 1
2-Point %: 70
3-Point %: 27
2024-25 Season – Virginia Tech
Games Played: 32
Games Started: 15
Minutes: 22
Points: 7
Rebounds: 1
Assists: 3
2-Point %: 47
3-Point %: 30
Virginia Tech Highlights
2024-25 Season – Virginia Tech
Games Played: 32
Games Started: 15
Minutes: 22
Points: 7
Rebounds: 1
Assists: 3
2-Point %: 47
3-Point %: 30
2025-26 Season – Colorado State
Games Played: 34
Games Started: 34
Minutes: 28
Points: 12
Rebounds: 2
Assists: 3
2-Point %: 56
3-Point %: 40
Miscellaneous 2025-26 Stats
Highest Scoring Game: 21 vs Wichita State
Games with 20+ Points: 2
Games with 10+ Points: 24
Most Assists in a Game: 6 vs Incarnate Word and South Florida
Best 3-Point Shooting Game: 7/12 vs Wichita State
2025-26 Analytics
* () – National Rank per KenPom
Effective Field Goal%: 58.4 (164)
Assist Rate: 19.1 (483)
True Shooting Percentage: 60.3 (236)
3-Point Percentage: .396 – 82/207 (245)
Percentage of Team Shots: 25.7 (387)
Fouls Committed / 40 minutes: 2.1 (214)
2026-27 Season Outlook
Starter: Point Guard
Thoughts
Rechsteiner is more of a combo guard than a pure point guard, but that’s fine for Coach Alexander’s system. Don’t get it twisted, though; he is an experienced point guard, and that’s what I expect him to play at Kansas State. He was the lead guard at both Virginia Tech and Colorado State, and based on the current Wildcat roster, I expect him to initiate the offense.
He came into college with the reputation as a knockdown three-point shooter, but struggled to find the range consistently during his time at Virginia Tech. He dialed in the range at Colorado State and was one of the best shooters available in the portal. Don’t pigeonhole him as strictly an outside shooter, though, because he’s strong off the bounce and is deadly when he gets to his spot in the midrange off the dribble. His size somewhat limits his ability to finish around the rim, but he will take the ball to the basket if the opportunity arises.
He is a good, but not great, athlete who works hard on defense, but is by no means a defensive stopper. He’ll be matched up with opposing point guards on most nights and will need to use his strength to keep them out of the lane.
Rechsteiner has played a bunch of college basketball and won’t be overwhelmed by the Big 12. He’s coming from Colorado State, but his two years at Virginia Tech have prepared him for high-major basketball. I don’t expect him to be a star for the Wildcats, but there will be a couple of games this season where he gets hot and takes over a game from outside the arc. When his outside shots fall, they tend to fall in bunches.
I’ll take a steady, experienced performer at point guard with occasional bouts of incendiary shooting all day, every day. He’s a great pick-up for the new staff and will play a key role in Coach Alexander’s debut season in Manhattan.
And yes, I’m sure you’ve all heard the news…he’s Scott Rechsteiner’s (FKA Scott Steiner, FKA The Big Bad Booty Daddy, FKA Big Poppa Pump) youngest son, Robert Rechsteiner’s (FKA Rick Steiner, FKA The Dog Faced Gremlin) nephew, and Bronson Rechsteiner’s (Bron Breaker’s cousin). His older brother, Brock, played wide receiver for Jacksonville State. In addition to his father and uncle being legends in the world of professional wrestling, they both wrestled in college for Michigan, with Scott earning All-American honors.
So, without further ado…
Coach Alexander, Brandon Rechsteiner, and the Wildcats have the hookup, holla if you hear me.
On Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Steelers brought in another trio of prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft. The headliner was Penn State guard Vega Ioane but the team also brought in Ohio State tight end Will Kacmarek and Iowa guard Beau Stephens.
Ioane has set himself apart among the other guards in this draft but Stephens is an interesting mid-round option for the Steelers. Coming from Iowa, his resume is strong and started 25 games over his final two seasons. Stephens was an anchor on the best offensive line in college football last season.
Stephens game is all about working in zone schemes where uses his patience, works on angles and is very well coordinated between his upper and lower body. I could see him struggle in a man-heavy system where he has to latch and lock on defenders and work for an extended period of time.
In terms of draft value, Stephens grades out somewhere in the fourth or fifth round range. He's a developmental player but could be pressed into duty sooner than later and his maturity and experience will help him with that transition.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Matvei Michkov had a goal and two assists and Porter Martone had one goal to lead the playoff-bound Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night.
The Flyers rested most of their key veterans a night after they secured their first playoff berth since 2020 and first home playoff series since 2018.
Flyers fans dressed in orange waved “Let's Go Flyers” rally towels and were in a joyous mood for most of the festive night.
There are more good times ahead. The Flyers are set to travel to Pittsburgh for the first two games of an Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.
Michkov and Martone helped spoil Montreal's shot at hosting the East first-round series against Tampa Bay.
The 19-year-old Martone, who starred for Michigan State only weeks ago, scored his fourth goal of the season when he deflected in Michkov's point shot early in the first period for the 1-0 lead.
Oliver Bonk scored his first career NHL goal later in the period for a 2-0 lead. Michkov assisted.
Brendan Gallagher scored for Montreal to make it 2-1 in the second.
Michkov scored unassisted (his 20th overall) for a 3-1 lead in the second period as one fan raised a “We Want More!” sign.
Jake Evans cut it to 3-2 in the final seconds of the second period.
Alex Bump sealed the win in the third with his fifth goal of the season that made it 4-2. Samuel Ersson made 27 saves foe the Flyers and Jakub Dobes had 21 for Montreal.
The Flyers ended the season on an 18-6-1 tear that propelled them into third place in the Metropolitan Division.
Up next
The Flyers and Montreal hit the road to open the NHL playoffs.
Apr 14, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo (2) steals second base during the fifth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images | Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images
Well, it was bound to happen. Trevor Rogers was bound to have a bad night. Unfortunately, it happened in a game where the Orioles’ offense was unable to make the most of its opportunities. It was really only one bad inning of pitching. But it was too much for the Orioles to overcome, leading to a 4-3 loss.
The Orioles took an early lead off of starter Merrill Kelly. Kelly was making his season debut and was far from perfect. He walked four, for one thing. The Orioles left runs on the table against him, which is frustrating to watch on any night. But on this night, when Rogers could have used a pick-me-up from his offense, it was especially glaring.
The prettiest hit of the day came off the bat of Samuel Basallo to lead off the second inning. He absolutely crushed a fastball. It left his bat at 109.2 mph and landed 431 feet away in the Eutaw Street seats. It felt like a good omen at the time. It was not.
In the third, the Orioles had the chance at a big inning but could not make it happen. After Taylor Ward singled with one out, Pete Alonso and Basallo walked to load the bases. Kelly was struggling with control. All Dylan Beavers had to do was keep the bat on his shoulder and he would have walked with the bases loaded. Instead, he chased three pitches in the dirt for a strikeout.
Leody Taveras was watching, however, and learned what to do. He took a four-pitch walk. Ward scored the second run. Colton Cowser got a fastball down Broadway for his first pitch, and he let it rip. He smoked it at 105 mph, but it was caught in centerfield for the last out. It was a good pitch to hit and Cowser got a good swing on it, but it was also frustrating when Kelly was having such a hard time finding the plate.
Kelly was in trouble again in the fourth inning, but again the O’s offense bailed him out. Jeremiah Jackson led off with a double and Blaze Alexander…bunted? Why? Jackson was already in scoring position. It was the fourth inning. But that’s what he did. Jackson got to third base with Gunnar Henderson coming up and then Jackson GOT HIMSELF PICKED OFF for the second out. Just terrible decisions all around. Henderson struck out to end the inning.
Though Rogers got through the first four innings without allowing a run, he did run into some trouble in each frame. It wasn’t all his fault. The defense left something to be desired, even if no errors were called. In the fifth inning, he was unable to escape again.
James McCann singled to start the inning and Jorge Barrosa walked. Ildemaro Vargas, who replaced Ketel Marte in the lineup not long before the first pitch, got his chance. He made the most of it. His three-run homer put the Diamondbacks up, 3-2. But that wasn’t the last of it. Geraldo Perdomo singled and stole second base, then came in to score on a double by Jose Fernandez. That was it for Rogers. His final pitching line: 4.2 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 HR. He threw two wild pitches.
One thing that went right on this night was the bullpen. Craig Albernaz turned to Rico Garcia after Rogers, which I really liked. There was a runner on second and the need to keep the game from getting out of hand, so Alby went to the high-leverage guy who normally comes in late.
Garcia got that last out of the fifth, then pitched a perfect sixth. Grant Wolfram followed with a perfect 1.1 innings. Yennier Cano replaced Wolfram and retired all three batters he faced. Together, the three pitches struck out seven batters in 3.2 innings. Is this bullpen actually good?
The offense made some noise in the bottom of the inning but once again were unable to capitalize. Pete Alonso started a one-out rally by challenging a called strike three. He was correct; it was ball four. Basallo followed with a single. Beavers had another chance, but grounded out. Taveras came through again, this time with an RBI single to cut the deficit to one.
Colton Cowser walked to load the bases for Jackson, but he did not have another grand slam in him. He grounded out to end the rally.
With one out in the top of the ninth, Albernaz made the puzzling choice to go to Nick Raquet. Raquet allowed two baserunners but was bailed out on a sliding catch by Cowser to end the inning. It could have been a lot worse. I would like to request that this guy not pitch in high-leverage situations for awhile.
Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald came in for the ninth and made short work of Alexander, Henderson, and Ward. Thus the Orioles lost what felt like a winnable game, even with Trevor Rogers having an off night.
No. 8 Florida State baseball snapped its four-game losing streak on Tuesday, taking down Stetson 9-2 to secure the season series against the Hatters.
Hunter Carns had a major night, going 3-for-5 with a home run, a double and five RBIs as the Seminoles improved to 25-11 on the season with the midweek win.
Cooper Whited (2-2) earned the victory on the mound, allowing one run on one hit over three innings, striking out three without issuing a walk. Jake Echols bridged one scoreless inning before Chris Knier allowed four hits and one earned run across two frames. Brodie Purcell then followed with two scoreless innings and five strikeouts before Ben Barrett closed it out with a scoreless ninth, inducing a double-play groundout to end it.
Florida State put the first run on the board without a hit as John Stuetzer drew a walk, stole second and scored on a fielding error by Stetson shortstop Landon Russell when Kelvyn Paulino Jr. reached to make it 1-0 in the first.
Stetson tied things up in the top of the third, but FSU responded immediately after Cal Fisher reached on a catcher’s error, Brayden Dowd singled through the right side and Carns launched a three-run homer to left off Stetson starter Ethan Phillips to push the lead to 4-1.
The Hatters pulled within two in the sixth and had a chance to further threaten, loading the bases with two outs, but a Knier strikeout stranded all three runners.
The Seminoles then broke the game open in the seventh. Fisher reached on an error, Dowd walked and Stuetzer dropped a bunt single to load the bases. Carns then ripped a two-run double to left to score Fisher and Dowd. Nathan Cmeyla followed with a two-run double to right to plate Stuetzer and Carns. Cmeyla then advanced to third on a wild pitch before Brody DeLamielleure singled to shallow center to cap the five-run frame.
Purcell came in at the top of the seventh, giving up a single and hitting the next batter, but stranded both after three strikeouts to close out the frame — the last time Stetson would threaten as the Hatters went three up, three down over the next two innings.
Up next for Florida State is a home series against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (17-15, 7-11 ACC).
With Lamar Jackson now without a star center, the Ravens will have to find one, whether in free agency or the NFL Draft.
Holding the 14th overall selection, the Ravens could get a good offensive lineman, but there aren't too many star centers in the draft.
For Fox Sports' Rob Rang, the Ravens' ideal draft pick is Auburn's Connor Lew.
"The loss of three-time Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum to the Raiders in free agency leaves a gaping hole in the middle for a franchise that has always prioritized the line of scrimmage," Rang wrote. "GM Eric DeCosta spent a first-round pick on Linderbaum back in 2022, and he may be willing to do the same with Lew, this year’s consensus top center."
One thing is for sure, new head coach Jesse Minter isn't going to have an easy transition into the NFL; he's expected to win and win now.
The Ravens at least need to get at least to the playoffs, and one would think win a game or two in Minter's first year, and that might not be enough. This team needs a Super Bowl appearance at the very least.
And that is hard to do when you don't have a star center, but the Ravens might be able to get a head start on that by drafting Lew.
Michigan coach Dusty May and his staff didn’t have much time to celebrate the basketball program’s first national championship in 37 years.
That’s because by the time the Wolverines made it back to the locker room after hoisting the trophy and cutting down the nets following their win over UConn in the NCAA Tournament final, it was past midnight and the transfer portal had opened.
Even before all the confetti was swept up off the court inside Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, several assistant coaches were on their laptops in the locker room combing through the portal database.
“You have to get to the next thing,” May said on CBS Sports’ “Inside College Basketball” podcast this week. “We talk a lot about that. If we have a chance to compete in Detroit next year in the Final Four, then these next couple weeks are pivotal. There's no time to waste.”
And there’s not much time to soak in what the Wolverines accomplished in bringing home the program’s second national title. That’s just the nature of the beast. With the way the college basketball calendar is laid out, May noted it’s “almost impossible” to enjoy what his team did because once the season finished, the work for next season started.
There were some brief moments in the postgame locker room and on the walk back to the team hotel where May was able to reflect on what happened. But the following morning, he and his staff quickly turned the page, hit the ground running in recruiting and were busy making calls and setting up zooms with portal targets.
“If you don't capitalize on something like this, then you're sitting here wondering what happened when you take a step back,” May said on the 247Sports’ “The Assist” podcast this week.
“History is littered with organizations that won something big and then immediately let off the gas. We have a saying that all glory is fleeting. This could be gone tomorrow. We've got to make sure that we continue to put ourselves in position to compete like this every year.”
It didn’t take long for the roster-building process to get underway and for portal movement to take place. Just days after the Wolverines won the national title, they had a pair of freshmen — wing Winters Grady and center Malick Kordel — enter the transfer portal and they landed a commitment from Tennessee transfer J.P. Estrella, a 6-foot-11 big man.
Guards Elliot Cadeau, the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player, and Trey McKenney, who was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman team, made their returns official. Cadeau will be back for his senior season and McKenney for his sophomore year, forming a strong starting backcourt.
Center Aday Mara, the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year, and forward Morez Johnson Jr. both have NBA decisions to make. The two have until April 24 to declare for the draft and then have until the NCAA’s early entry withdrawal deadline on May 27 to decide whether to stay in the draft or return to school.
That adds a layer of uncertainty when it comes to building a roster for next season, especially with portal decisions being made so quickly. May noted that Mara and Johnson have been “very transparent” with their thought process, but there’s always the potential for plans to change during the pre-draft process.
“I lay out the information without any emotion,” May said on CBS Sports’ “Inside College Basketball” podcast. “I want it to be their decision. As parents, we want to develop our children as independent thinkers and problem solvers and decision-makers, so it's the same thing.
“Obviously, I want them both to come back. We can make it work. But I'm more concerned with what they want to do with their future and their careers. If they're both gone, I'm going to be rooting like heck. If they're here, I feel a lot better about our squad and our continuity. … We're going to support them with whatever they decide.”
Regardless, May said his priority is to assemble a roster like he had this season – one that has talented players who are committed to winning, who want to get better and who want to do it together.
May and his staff are trying to find guys who are “extremely undervalued or underutilized” and could flourish in a different situation or style of play that Michigan could provide, like Cadeau, Johnson and Mara did.
May added it’s imperative that “we can't get away from who we are and the way we do things.” The types of players the Wolverines prioritize and pursue will determine how they fare next season.
“We want to make sure that we're attacking this the same way we have the last couple years,” May said. “If we get away from the character traits that got us here, then I think we'll be making a mistake. … We have to bring in guys that love ball, they love to compete, and it's not about them.”
As May explained, habits and behaviors are contagious. If the team has a foundation built on players who are willing to sacrifice and support their teammates, that rubs off on everyone. If the team has players who are self-centered and about themselves, that’ll rub off on others, too.
It all makes for a hectic whirlwind at an important time of the year, even more so with no break and downtime after winning it all.
“It's exhilarating and horrible wrapped up into one. There's a lot of highs and lows every single minute. Things change drastically. Every decision you make could cause a chain reaction for three other decisions,” May said. “It's a juggling act. It’s terrible now, but once we have a team, once we have a roster, then it becomes awesome overnight.”
And once that’s done, May might finally be able to take some time to revel in Michigan’s banner success.
March 17, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy puts Lauren Johnson in as a pinch hitter at Rhoads Stadium as the Crimson Tide hosted the University of Louisiana at Monroe. | Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Bama returned home from a sweep of Auburn for a three game set versus Kentucky. But not before face-planting in Birmingham.
TUESDAY: SAMFORD 3, ALABAMA 2
Patrick Murphy started Abby Duchscherer at first base and Larissa Preuitt in left field. Alexis Pupillo was the catcher in place of Marlie Giles. Kristen White and Lauren Johnson began the game on the bench. Other than that, it was the regular starters for the Tide.
Alabama took the early 2-0 lead on solo shots by Audrey Vandagriff and Ana Roman.
And then the Tide figured that was good enough. Time to start thinking about Kentucky.
Kaitlyn Pallozzi started the game and had a no-hitter through the first three innings. A single and a hit by pitch put two on base with one out for the Bulldogs in the 5th as Vic Moten (15-3) entered to pitch in relief. The newly crowned SEC Freshman of the Week walked the bases loaded and then a wild pitch scored the first Sammy run. A two-run double scored two more.
From that point, the Tide could not get anything much going offensively and there was no life in the dugout. The leadoff batter of the 6th, Ambrey Taylor, singled for the Tide and was left stranding there. In the 7th, Salen Hawkins doubled to lead off and never left that station. Murphy replaced Roman with Kristen White who made the final out of the game. [Why would you not bring in Giles to hit in that spot?]
The Tide managed only six hits. Alabama struck out NINE times including twice by Jena Young, Vandagriff, and Roman, and once each by Alexis Pupillo, Brooke Wells, and Taylor. Duke was 0 for 3. Preuitt was 1 for 3.
Samford had only three hits and whiffed 13 times.
RAT POISON
Earlier in the day, the weekly rankings were announced. Is it too late for a re-count?
The Gamecocks (24-20) were on a four-game losing streak and had lost eight of their last 10. But South Carolina regained its mojo in its 3-1 win against Clemson on April 14 at McWhorter Stadium.
"We leave feeling with a little bit more belief in who we are that we can beat really good teams," South Carolina second-year coach Ashley Chastain Woodard said. "It was a really great program win for us, and obviously, feels good to be here in Clemson to win."
Ace pitcher Jori Heard (7-8) found her groove again to hold Clemson (27-17) to one run after the Tigers were coming off a four home-run performance in their last game against Pitt on April 12.
She benefited the most from this win after facing immense trouble during South Carolina's losing streak, including giving up four runs in back-to-back games against Florida.
Heard pitched all seven innings vs. Clemson, allowing just three hits, including a seventh-inning home run. It was her third homer allowed in her last three games, but she still earned her first win since April 3.
"She's just nails. She's not rattled by anything," Chastain Woodard said. "She has so much belief in herself, and she really is just like, 'Give me the ball, and we can win.'"
South Carolina also matched its run total against Clemson with what the Gamecocks did against Florida in their three-game home series. Tori Ensley hit a two-run single with the bases loaded in the first inning, and Jamie Mackay crushed a solo home run in the seventh.
South Carolina has played the second-toughest schedule in the college softball and has the 13th toughest schedule remaining, based on opponent winning percentage. But the Gamecocks are ranked in the top 30 in RPI, which should help their chances of making the NCAA Tournament for a fourth straight year.
Still, Woodard knows her team needs to play better to secure the postseason bid. The Gamecocks' next challenge is against Missouri on the road in a three-game series on April 17-19.
South Carolina is just 5-4 on the road this season, including 2-4 against conference opponents, but is banking on this nonconference road win to carry over for the team to win its first SEC series.
"It gives us a lot of confidence to go out there and know that we can win on the road at any point," Heard said.
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at DCarter@usatodayco.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
Apr 14, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ildemaro Vargas (6) greeted by catcher James McCann (8) after hitting a three-run home run during the fifth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images | Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images
The Diamondbacks evened the series at a game apiece with a win over the Baltimore Orioles tonight. The victory was powered by a strong 2026 debut from Merrill Kelly and timely offensive contributions from the team’s hottest hitters, Ildemaro Vargas and Jose Fernandez.
Merrill Kelly’s return was a welcome sight after the D-backs brought him back this offseason. His season debut was delayed a couple of turns through the rotation due to a nerve issue that surfaced early in spring training, so it was great to see him back on the mound. Kelly delivered a solid outing, tossing 5.1 innings while allowing just two earned runs. He did struggle with control at times, issuing four walks—including a bases-loaded free pass—which was uncharacteristic for the veteran right-hander. Still, he threw 86 pitches, kept the D-backs in the game, and picked up the win in what was overall a very encouraging performance.
Ildemaro Vargas continued his torrid start to the season, delivering a big three-run homer in the fifth inning. According to the D-backs TV broadcast, Vargas set a franchise record by recording hits in his first 11 games to open the season. It’s worth noting that he was a late addition to the leadoff spot and second base after Ketel Marte was scratched pregame with back tightness. Jose Fernandez kept up his own impressive start, collecting two hits—including a rocket of an RBI double to dead center that missed a home run by just two feet. The ball came off the bat at 102.8 mph and traveled 399 feet. What a dynamic duo these two have been early on!
Geraldo Perdomo showed signs of life at the plate with three hits, but he committed a costly error in the bottom of the eighth. He dropped the ball on the transfer, which would have been an inning-ending double play. That miscue allowed the Orioles to push across a run a couple of batters later and forced Juan Morillo to throw more pitches than ideal. It was the kind of fundamental mistake that runs counter to the brand of baseball manager Torey Lovullo has been emphasizing this season. The error nearly cost the D-backs the game, but Ryan Thompson came in and calmly escaped a bases-loaded jam on just one pitch.
Paul Sewald then closed it out for the save. At this point in the season, it’s remarkable to note that Sewald is a perfect 6-for-6 in save opportunities and leads all of Major League Baseball in saves. With how many one-run games the D-backs have played early on, it’s hard to imagine where the team would be without him.
Tonight was a good one for D-backs fans—especially with Kelly’s return and bouncing back from yesterday’s heartbreaker to even the series. Arizona will look to clinch its third straight series victory tomorrow afternoon, with Eduardo Rodriguez toeing the rubber. Giddy up!
BOSTON (AP) — Mark Kasetlic scored twice in the first period, Jeremy Swayman earned his second shutout of the season and the Boston Bruins clinched the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with a 4-0 win over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night.
Boston needed a win to lock up the top wild-card position. The Bruins will face the Atlantic Division champion Buffalo Sabres in the first round of the NHL playoffs.
Ten Boston players recorded points in the game. Sean Kuraly had a pair of assists and David Pastrnak reached 100 points for the fourth straight season with an assist on one of the Bruins’ four goals in the first.
Morgan Geekie and Viktor Arvidsson also scored for Boston, which finished the regular season under first-year coach Marco Sturm at 45-27-10 and returned to the playoffs one year after tying for the worst record in the Eastern Conference at 33-39-10.
After congratulating Swayman, the Bruins gathered at center ice and raised their sticks to salute their fans.
New Jersey goalie Nico Daws allowed four goals on 12 shots in the opening period before getting some stronger defensive support the rest of the way. Daws finished with 23 saves.
Swayman stopped 21 shots for his first shutout since a 3-0 win over Detroit on Jan. 13 and the 18th of his career.
Boston got goals in the opening and closing minutes of the first and took firm command with a 4-0 lead after one period.
Geekie scored 53 seconds in and Arvidsson scored his 25th of the season with just 6.4 seconds left in the period. In between, Kastelic scored twice and the Bruins cruised the rest of the way against the lottery-bound Devils, who finished 42-37-3.
Pastrnak needed one more goal to reach 30 for the ninth time, which would have been a first in franchise history.
Up next
Devils: Done for the season.
Bruins: Visit Buffalo in the first round of the playoffs.
The Indianapolis Colts made another free agent addition at safety, signing Nasir Adderley. He is now the third free agent signing at the safety position made by the Colts this offseason.
Adderley hasn't played since the 2022 season, after retiring during the 2023 offseason. He was a second-round pick out of Delaware by the LA Chargers in the 2019 NFL draft. In Years 2 through 4, Adderley appeared in 46 games, making 44 starts.
For his career, he allowed a completion rate of 69% when targeted, surrendering 11.7 yards per catch with three interceptions and nine pass breakups, according to PFF. He made 226 of his 265 tackle attempts.
So with Addrely in the mix now, where does he fit, and what does the Colts' safety depth chart look like?
Addreley adds to the depth and hopefully increases competition, but he likely isn't going to be a roster lock either after being away from the game for several seasons. Most of his career snaps have come at free safety, making him a potential backup to Cam Bynum -- if he makes the roster.
Competing for the starting strong safety role next to Bynum will likely be Jonathan Owens, Juanyeh Thomas, and Hunter Wohler. Whether any one of those players can secure the starting role and provide a consistent presence is unknown, but with a few players competing for those snaps, the Colts are at least giving themselves options.
Given that uncertainty still exists, adding to the safety position in the NFL draft should still be in play for the Colts -- although doing so may no longer be a must either, considering that the depth chart is full right now.
Colts updated safety depth chart after Nasir Adderley signing
Through its social media accounts, River Plate announced its squad list for the match against Carabobo on Matchday 2 of the Copa Sudamericana group stage.
One of the question marks is Giuliano Galoppo, who has already been medically cleared after recovering from an ankle sprain, but is still not among those selected by Coudet
imageSPACE / MEGA (left) ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA (right)
Dianna Russini has resigned from The Athletic following a wave of controversy tied to photos of her with Mike Vrabel. The veteran NFL reporter, who joined the outlet in 2023 as a Senior NFL Insider, stepped down as scrutiny intensified online and internally, with the publication’s parent company launching a review into the situation. Dianna Russini’s resignation comes after days of viral speculation surrounding the images, which were first published by Page Six and quickly sparked widespread discussion across sports media and social platforms.
Dianna Russini Breaks Silence On Resignation Decision
JPA/AFF-USA.com / MEGA
The veteran journalist confirmed her resignation in a letter to executive editor Steven Ginsberg, explaining her decision comes amid mounting speculation surrounding the situation. “I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published,” the letter reads.
Russini acknowledged that her outlet initially supported her following the publication of the images. “When the Page Six item first appeared, The Athletic supported me unequivocally, expressed confidence in my work and pride in my journalism,” the letter continued. “For that I am grateful.”
However, she made it clear that the narrative quickly spiraled. “In the days that followed, unfortunately, commentators in various media have engaged in self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts,” she continued.
Dianna Russini Steps Down To Protect Her Career
imageSPACE / MEGA
According to Russini, her decision to step down is about protecting her career and stepping away from what she described as an escalating situation.
“Moreover, this media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete. It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I have no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept,” she wrote.
“Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now, before my current contract expires on June 30,” she added. “I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career.”
Russini joined The Athletic in 2023 as a Senior NFL Insider, building a reputation as one of the league’s most recognizable reporters.
Luxury Resort Photos Of Russini, Vrabel Raise Eyebrows
JPA/AFF-USA.com / MEGA
The controversy began after photos surfaced showing Russini and Vrabel together at a luxury resort in Sedona, Arizona.
According to reports, the pair, both married to other people, were seen spending time together throughout the day, including breakfast, poolside lounging, and sitting side-by-side in a hot tub. They were later spotted on a private rooftop, where photos captured them hugging, holding hands, and even briefly dancing together.
Russini, Vrabel Push Back As Probe Moves Forward
It looks like Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel is caught up in a "Coldplay kiss cam" scandal!
Both Russini and Vrabel have addressed the situation, pushing back against any implications. “These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable. This doesn’t deserve any further response,” Vrabel said.
Russini echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that the images lacked full context. “The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day,” Russini said. “Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues.”
Despite their responses, the situation escalated behind the scenes. The New York Times, which owns The Athletic, reportedly sidelined Russini as an investigation into the matter began. Sources indicated that while initial findings suggested the images lacked context, additional details raised further concerns that are still under review.
Russini, Vrabel’s Personal Lives Come Into Focus
Dianna Russini was daring Mike Vrabel to say, “making love to you in your hotel room this morning.” pic.twitter.com/K7FNiYA347
The situation has also drawn attention to both individuals’ personal lives. Russini has been married to Shake Shack executive Kevin Goldschmidt since 2020, and the couple shares two children.
Vrabel, meanwhile, has been married to his wife, Jen, for 26 years. The pair met as student athletes at Ohio State University and share two sons. He is a three-time Super Bowl champion during his playing days with New England, and is now gearing up for his second season as the Patriots’ head coach.
He earned AP NFL Coach of the Year honors after leading the team to a 14-3 record last season, though their run ultimately ended with a Super Bowl loss to Seattle. Prior to that, he also took home the same award in 2021 while coaching in Tennessee.
The Steelers face a significant decision at the NFL draft if they aim to take a quarterback in the first round.
Even if Aaron Rodgers returns for one more season, the Steelers could still consider drafting a quarterback to sit behind him for a year. NFL draft analyst Mike Renner believes that Pittsburgh should take a look at Ty Simpson from Alabama.
"Just take Ty Simpson," Renner said Tuesday on "The Athletic Football Show". "You give Mike McCarthy a guy to develop. I think there is a real development potential here. I think he's a good athlete, and he has a good enough arm."
The Steelers hold the No. 21 pick, and there's a possibility that Simpson could still be available. Since Pittsburgh is typically a strong team and rarely has a chance to select a quarterback in the top 10 of the draft, taking Simpson and letting him sit for a season might be the best move.
Although Simpson played at Alabama for four seasons, he started in just one. He will need time to sit back and learn the league.
The Steelers would be the best spot for Simpson to land if he can sit behind Rodgers for a year.
NEW YORK (AP) — Mark Jankowski scored the go-ahead goal in the third period, and the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the New York Islanders 2-1 on Tuesday night.
Nikolaj Ehlers also scored for Carolina, and Brandon Bussi made 28 saves. The Hurricanes closed the regular season with four wins in their final five games and finished atop the Eastern Conference.
Bo Horvat scored for New York, David Rittich stopped 19 shots and the Islanders lost for the seventh time in eight games.
Ehlers opened the scoring at 3:05 of the first period and finished his first season in Carolina with a career-high 71 points (26 goals, 45 assists). Felix Unger Sorum assisted on the goal in his NHL debut.
Horvat tied it 1-all late in the second period, finishing a feed from Mathew Barzal with less than seven minutes remaining. Victor Eklund, also making his NHL debut, had an assist.
Pyotr Kochetkov was slated to start and took warmups but was unavailable due to a roster technicality. He has been activated from injured reserve and will be eligible for the playoffs, according to the team. Emergency backup goaltender Thomas Sullivan served as Carolina’s backup.
Up next
Hurricanes: Host Ottawa Senators in first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
A tornado watch turned into a Cyclone warning Tuesday afternoon as Iowa State (25-17, 5-10 Big 12) mashed two home runs in their 8-0 defeat of South Dakota (10-29-1, 2-7 Summit). Under cloudy skies and 17-mph winds at the Cyclone Sports Complex, the Iowa State offense provided all the electricity needed to short-circuit the Coyotes in a five-inning, run-rule victory.
The Cyclones established dominance early in the bottom of the first inning, but they had to wait out the weather to finish the job. Two pitches into Victoria Prado’s at-bat in the bottom of the first, the game was delayed for 53 minutes, beginning at 4:21 p.m.
Once play resumed, Prado grounded out, but the early cushion was more than enough for starter Jaiden Ralston, who turned in a masterful performance in the circle. Ralston dismantled the South Dakota lineup, surrendering just a pair of hits – both to Kiya Johnson – while striking out four batters on only 57 pitches.
The afternoon was headlined by two massive home runs. Karlee Ford provided a steady spark, finishing the game with two walks and three RBIs, including a home run and a stolen base.
The definitive blow came in the bottom of the fifth inning with two outs.
Isabelle Nosan stepped to the plate and delivered a clutch grand slam, her second hit of the season, which brought the score to 8-0 which triggered the walk-off victory.
Dubuque native and Hempstead alumna Peyton Paulsen took the loss for the Coyotes, she issued five walks over 4.2 innings.
NEW YORK (AP) — Mark Jankowski scored the go-ahead goal in the third period, and the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the New York Islanders 2-1 on Tuesday night.
Nikolaj Ehlers also scored for Carolina, and Brandon Bussi made 28 saves. The Hurricanes closed the regular season with four wins in their final five games and finished atop the Eastern Conference.
Bo Horvat scored for New York, David Rittich stopped 19 shots and the Islanders lost for the seventh time in eight games.
Ehlers opened the scoring at 3:05 of the first period and finished his first season in Carolina with a career-high 71 points (26 goals, 45 assists). Felix Unger Sorum assisted on the goal in his NHL debut.
Horvat tied it 1-all late in the second period, finishing a feed from Mathew Barzal with less than seven minutes remaining. Victor Eklund, also making his NHL debut, had an assist.
Pyotr Kochetkov was slated to start and took warmups but was unavailable due to a roster technicality. He has been activated from injured reserve and will be eligible for the playoffs, according to the team. Emergency backup goaltender Thomas Sullivan served as Carolina’s backup.
Up next
Hurricanes: Host Ottawa Senators in first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Alex Ovechkin had an assist on the go-ahead goal in what perhaps will be the final game of his record-breaking career and the Washington Capitals defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1 on Tuesday night in the season finale for both teams.
Ovechkin had the second assist on Jakob Chychrun's power-play goal with 4:07 remaining in the third period. He finished the season leading the Capitals with 32 goals and 64 points
Anthony Beauvillier also scored for Washington and Clay Stevenson stopped 27 shots.
Boone Jenner scored for Columbus and Jet Greaves made 19 saves.
Ovechkin — the league’s all-time leading goal scorer with 929 — is in the final season of his contract and said he is waiting until after the season before deciding on his future.
The Capitals have failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for just the fifth time since Ovechkin was drafted in 2004.
The 40-year-old Russian became the fifth player age 40 or older in NHL history to play in all 82 regular-season games. The last one to do it was Jaromir Jagr with the Florida Panthers in 2016-17.
It is the fifth time in 21 seasons Ovechkin has not missed a regular-season game.
The Blue Jackets were in last place in the Eastern Conference when Rick Bowness replaced Dean Evason as coach on Jan. 12.
Columbus went 18-2-4 in Bowness’ first 24 games and moved into a playoff spot after collecting a point in 12 straight games. The Blue Jackets went 3-9-1 down the stretch though and have missed the postseason for the sixth straight season.
Jenner snapped a shot from the slot that beat Stevenson on his blocker side 27 seconds into the second period.
Beauvillier evened it 10 minutes later when he got behind the Blue Jackets' defense, took a long pass from Trevor Van Riemsdyk and beat Greaves with a wrist shot on the breakaway.
Tennessee (25-12, 7-8 SEC) defeated UNC Asheville (16-21, 4-8 Big South), 11-1, in eight innings Tuesday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The Vols led, 2-0, in the third inning after Garrett Wright hit a RBI double. He scored on a single by Reese Chapman.
Tennessee scored two runs in the sixth inning after Manny Marin hit a two-run double.
The Bulldogs pulled to within, 4-1, as they scored in the seventh inning.
The Vols scored five runs in the seventh inning after Blake Grimmer hit a RBI single and Marin hit a grand slam, making the score, 9-1.
Tennessee scored two more runs in the eighth inning after pinch hitter Finley Bates walked with the bases loaded before Trent Grindlinger ended the game with a two-out RBI single.
Marin went 2-for-4. He hit one grand slam and one double. He recorded six RBIs and scored one run, while Wright went 2-for-4. He had two doubles and scored two runs. Wright also recorded one RBI.
Grindlinger went 2-for-5. He scored one run and recorded one RBI, while Henry Ford went 1-for-3. He hit one double and scored two runs.
Taylor Tracey (1-0) earned his first win for the Vols. He pitched two innings and allowed one walk. Tracey totaled 37 pitches, including 19 strikes.
Blaine Brown started for Tennessee. He pitched one inning and totaled 10 pitches, including five strikes. Will Haas, Ethan Biotto, Brady Frederick and Brayden Krenzel also appeared in relief for the Vols.
Tennessee also defeated UNC Asheville, 10-3, on Feb. 17 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The Montreal Canadiens faced the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night, marking the final game of the regular season for both clubs.
The Habs opted to rest several players, with Phillip Danault, Josh Anderson, and Mike Matheson watching the game from the press box. Consequently, Zachary Bolduc, Joe Veleno, and rookie David Reinbacher were slotted into the lineup, with the latter paired alongside phenom Lane Hutson.
The Canadiens outshot the Flyers, but failed to offer a 60-minute effort, dropping a 4-2 decision in a low-energy matchup.
Let’s dive into the highlights!
Slow Start
The game lacked intensity from the very get-go, with both teams attempting to avoid injuries before the playoffs start. A logical, if not somewhat underwhelming style of play at this point in the season.
The Flyers, however, showed a little more life than the Habs, with Matvei Michkov leading the charge. The 21-year-old winger scored two goals and added an assist, reaching the 20-goal mark in the process.
Veteran Brendan Gallagher eventually responded for the Habs, finding the back of the net for the seventh time this season, and cutting the Flyers lead to just one goal.
Both Kaiden Guhle and Alexandre Texier provided great assists, with the latter delivering a perfect pass despite the high-difficulty involved.
Say what you will about Gallagher’s endurance at this stage in his career, but you are guaranteed to get an honest effort from him regardless of the situation, which is always a good lesson for the younger players in the lineup.
Brendan Gallagher's 7th goal of the year, with assists to Guhle and Texier.
The Flyers quickly reestablished a two-goal lead, despite the fact that the Habs held a 6-3 advantage in high-danger chances during the second period.
The pressure eventually paid off, when Jake Evans pounced on a loose puck to score his 12th goal of the year in the dying seconds of the frame. You’ll note Gallagher once again played a crucial role in the play, not only with his well-timed forecheck, but also by creating chaos in front of Samuel Ersson.
It’s also worth pointing out Arber Xhekaj has a hell of a shot from the point, though he rarely gets the opportunity to use it.
It’s the epitome of a heavy shot. If the goaltender does manage to stop it, it almost always leads to a rebound.
David Reinbacher wasn’t particularly noticeable, which is a compliment when discussing a rookie playing in his first few NHL games, especially since most of his teammates and opponents had a full season under their belts.
He did show a decent amount of sandpaper in the third period, when he decided to take a swing at fellow first-year player Porter Martone. Reinbacher was lucky to avoid a penalty, but it was a good sign for a player who isn’t always eager to show his aggressive side.
BALTIMORE (AP) — Ildemaro Vargas hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning to lift the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 4-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night.
A night after the Orioles rallied from a 7-1 deficit, Arizona turned the tables with a smaller comeback. The Diamondbacks were down 2-0 when Vargas connected off Trevor Rogers (2-1) for his second homer of the year.
Merrill Kelly (1-0) allowed two runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings in his first start of the season. He walked four and struck out three.
Ryan Thompson retired Jeremiah Jackson on a grounder with the bases loaded in the eighth to preserve Arizona's one-run lead, and Paul Sewald worked a perfect ninth for his sixth save.
Geraldo Perdomo had three hits for Arizona.
Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte was scratched shortly before the game because of back tightness.
Vargas now has a hit in all 12 games he's played in 2026, matching a franchise record for longest hitting streak at the start of a season.
Kelly (left intercostal nerve irritation) started the season on the injured list, and Samuel Basallo hit a solo homer off him in the second inning. In the third, Kelly walked three hitters, including Leody Taveras with the bases loaded to make it 2-0.
After Vargas' one-out homer in the fifth, Jose Fernandez doubled home a run to chase Rogers.
Taveras singled home a run in the eighth, and Thompson came on with two outs and the bases full to face Jackson, who homered twice in Baltimore's win Monday. Jackson hit the first pitch into the ground, and Thompson came off the mound quickly to field the ball and throw him out.
Orioles manager Craig Albernaz was back in the dugout after being hit in the face by a foul ball Monday.
Up next
Kyle Bradish (1-2) starts for the Orioles on Wednesday against Eduardo Rodriguez (1-0).
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 14: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on from the dugout prior to the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Denis Kennedy/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Philadelphia Phillies entered the season with the same core of clubhouse leaders after Kyle Schwarber and JT Realmuto both signed new contracts to return.
But following two straight disappointments in the playoffs, the pressure on the team to make a deeper run has grown. And the pressure on one player in particular is getting stronger as well, with franchise slugger Bryce Harper looking to prove he can retain his elite status after being publicly questioned by executive Dave Dombrowski.
So far, Harper appears within reach of his best form. Going into Monday’s game against the Chicago Cubs, he was slashing .276/.382/.517 and ranked within the top-three on the Phillies for hits, runs, home runs and walks.
Philadelphia Phillies Slugger Bryce Harper’s Mistake Raises Discipline Question For Rob Thomson
But there are also some signs that the pressure might be getting to Harper. During a loss last week to the Arizona Diamondbacks, Harper attempted to stretch a single into a double, though it was clear that he had virtually no chance of making it safely to second base. When he was thrown out, home fans booed him on his walk back to the dugout.
After the game, manager Rob Thomson was asked about the play and he seemed to cover for the superstar player.
“Yeah, I mean, he’s aggressive," Thomson said of the play, according to On Pattison’s Tim Kelly. "He does that a lot, and most of the time he’s safe.”
The next day, Thomson was challenged by a reporter who informed him that his benign reaction to Harper’s mistake might suggest that he does not hold players accountable.
“I don’t think anything needs to be said, to tell you the truth,” Thomson responded, according to a video of the exchange posted on X. “But to say that I’m not holding people accountable, that’s not right.”
Philadelphia Phillies Superstar Bryce Harper Offers ‘Accountability’ Response After Rob Thomson Exchange
Apparently, that exchange caught Harper’s attention. In a thinly veiled reference to the idea that Thomson should be holding him more accountable, Harper dedicated his latest TikTok video to the manager’s style by uploading a video of himself brewing a blueberry jam latte with the caption “accountability coffee.”
At the time of this writing, the post had 5,000 likes and numerous supportive comments noting the reference in the caption. Some users on X, however, were a little more negative in their comments about Harper's caption.
But even as Harper polarizes fans with his reaction to Thomson’s management, as well as his baserunning decisions, one thing is clear: If the Phillies suffer an early playoff exit once again, someone will have to be held truly accountable.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Flyers (43-27-12) ended the regular season on a high note on Tuesday, beating the Montreal Canadiens (48-24-10) 4-2 at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Porter Martone, Oliver Bonk, Matvei Michkov, and Oliver Bonk scored for the Flyers. Brenden Gallagher and Jake Evans scored for the Canadiens.
The Canadiens were not at full strength, but had 8 of their 10 top scorers. Philadelphia played just 2 of its top 10 scores.
Montreal may have come out of the gate with a little more jump than Philly, but the Flyers controlled most of the game, starting just 8 minutes into the game. The Flyers scored twice in the first before extending their lead in the second and adding on an insurance tally in the third period, holding on to the win.
The Flyers’ youth was taking over on Tuesday as a good portion of the team had the night off with nothing to play for. Montreal may have had a better start in the opening minutes, but the Flyers struck first.
Matvei Michkov (30) ripped a shot from the top of the offensive zone, and Porter Martone (4) was sitting in front of the net, there to redirect it past Jakub Dobes for the 1-0 lead. Oliver Bonk (1) was the one who got Michkov the puck, earning him his first NHL point.
Oliver Bonk was playing like he did not want to return to the Lehigh Valley. Bonk (1) ripped a shot past Dobes from the high slot, extending the Flyers’ lead to 2-0. Michkov (31) picked up his second primary assist of the period, and Hunter McDonald (1) earned his first NHL point with the secondary assist.
The Flyers cruised through the first period with a 2-0 lead.
Montreal had a strong start to the second period. Zach Bolduc may have had the best chance of the game with Sam Ersson well out of the net. His shot skated the goal line, but never crossed before Emil Andrae got in to break up the chance. The Flyers got a big clear and ended the scare.
However, the Canadiens would get on the board in the second period, ending the Flyers’ bid for their first shutout of the season. Alex Texier (13) carried the puck into the zone and dropped it off for Kaiden Guhle (9), who set up Brendan Gallagher (7) for the back-door goal, making it a 2-1 game.
Philly got one back just over 11 minutes later after Matvei Michkov (20) finished off the loose change in front, extending the Flyers’ lead to 3-1. He had 3 primary points after the first three goals.
Hunter McDonald sent a cross-crease seed to Cates, who could not get the shot off.
Tyson Foerster was called for holding, but the Flyers killed off the penalty. However, Montreal made it 3-2 before the intermission. Arber Xhekaj (3) sent a rocket from the high slot that trickled through Ersson, but looked to be slowing down, but a diving Jake Evans (12) was able to push it over the goal line with just 10 seconds left in the period.
The Flyers entered the third period up 3-2. All they needed was to close out the final 20 minutes and hold on for the win.
Philadelphia was playing with some good spark, but could not get one past Dobes early in the period.
The Canadiens were given their third power play of the game after Hunter McDonald was called for interference, but the Flyers killed it off.
Matching roughing penalties on Kirby Dach and Hunter McDonald sent the game to 4-on-4. With the extra space on the ice, the Flyers took advantage.
With 8 minutes remaining in the game, Porter Martone (6) was close to the net, but dropped it off to Alex Bump (5), who ripped home the shot from the slot, giving the Flyers the 4-2 lead.
6 minutes after the initial start of 4-on-4, the game was back to it after Alex Texier and David Jiricek got matching roughing penalties. Nothing came from that.
Eventually, the Canadiens pulled Dobes to try to overcome the two-goal deficit, but it came to no avail. The Flyers held on for the 4-2 win to close out the regular season.
What’s next
Next stop: the playoffs. The official schedule has yet to be released, so stay tuned for an update on the official 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
With the Boston Bruins regulation win over the New Jersey Devils in Tuesday night’s regular season finale, they have locked up the No. 1 wild-card seed in the Eastern Conference for the NHL Playoffs.
The difference between playing the No. 1 overall seeded Carolina Hurricanes and the No. 2 seeded Buffalo Sabres cannot be overstated.
Coming into the season, the Sabres held the record in North America for the longest playoff drought among any professional team on the continent. The Hurricanes, on the other hand, are riding the longest streak of consecutive playoff appearances in franchise history, at eight seasons.
With their win, the Bruins will be taking a trip to Buffalo to play a young, inexperienced team playing in their first playoff game in more than 14 years.
However, it will not be a walk in the park. The Sabres won the Atlantic Division, becoming just the fifth team in NHL history to trail by more than eight points in the division standings and come back to win it.
The Sabres are led by Olympic Gold Medalist Tage Thompson, whose 40 goals and 41 assists both lead the team.
Starting goal tender Alex Lyon will miss the start of the postseason for the Sabres, leaving 27-year-old Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen between the pipes for Buffalo.
The Bruins will ride a two-game winning streak into the playoffs that will begin on Saturday, April 18.
Children playing football in a mini-stadium in the Jalousie neighborhood of Port-au-Prince (Clarens SIFFROY)
On a street in a suburb of Port-au-Prince, a dozen teenagers using stones for goalposts are immersed in a Sunday game of football as traffic winds around them.
Haiti has many problems, including political instability, poverty and crime. But through it all, the heart of the nation beats for football.
Haiti's qualification for this summer's World Cup has come like a breath of fresh air for the poorest nation in the Americas, whose nearly 12 million people have long grappled with gang violence that has caused a humanitarian crisis.
"Football is hope and love. It inspires pride and passion," said Salome Sandler Tally, founder and coach of the women's section of Aigle Noir AC, a professional club based in the Haitian capital.
"Qualifying for the World Cup is something special for a country that loves football so deeply."
The Grenadiers, as Haiti's team is known, made their only previous appearance in West Germany in 1974.
"It is incredible to have achieved this 52 years later," Tally told AFP.
- 'Pagan ceremonies' -
In early April, the cash-strapped government allocated 264 million gourdes ($2 million) for the national football team as a qualification bonus and to help pay for World Cup preparations.
Haiti will face Brazil, Morocco, and Scotland in Group C. Their games will be played in the United States, which is co-hosting the tournament with Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.
In their World Cup qualifying campaign, Haiti did not play a single match on home soil.
The nation's main venue -- the Sylvio Cator Stadium -- has been closed since February 2024 as it is located in a Port-au-Prince neighborhood controlled by gangs, as is about 90 percent of the capital.
But the "beautiful game" is played everywhere by people who are barefoot, in flip-flops or in sneakers. They have matches on asphalt, dirt or worn-out artificial turf -- in neighborhood leagues, inter-school competitions, and tournaments involving both professional and amateur clubs.
Patrice Dumont, a former senator and sports columnist, said that in Haiti, a deeply religious nation, summer holiday leagues "are sites of pagan ceremonies that would make even the most devout fanatics blanche" -- an apparent reference to the charged atmosphere at the matches.
"You see them in every community -- provided there is space -- ranging from three-a-side matches to full 11-a-side games, always drawing massive crowds of spectators," he said.
Evens Lezin, a 49-year-old amateur player, said qualification for the World Cup will give "hope" to Haiti's youth.
"We can move forward, but it requires discipline," he said.
"Nowadays, many young people are delinquent. They struggle with alcohol, they smoke and they lack healthy recreational pursuits. But football can offer an escape."
- In every conversation -
The topic of football finds its way into every conversation. It bridges generational and social divides, and is talked about in restaurants, supermarkets, in living rooms and over the airwaves.
"Football is probably one of the few spaces for socialization still accessible to a large segment of the youth. It is the quintessential conversation starter," said football fan Marc Donald Orphee, 35.
Even though the majority of the men's and women's national team players play abroad, that has not diminished the public devotion's to the home side.
Pierreline Nazon, 18, a star of the women's under-20 team, compares herself to Melchie Dumornay, a Haitian midfielder for OL Lyonnes, a top French team.
Nazon spoke to AFP as she took time out from a training session in the hills above Petion-Ville, a suburb of the capital spared from violence.
"My dream has always been to play football -- to be like Melchie, and even to surpass her," she said.
"I know I will achieve this. That is why I keep training, seizing every opportunity to play, even though the situation in Haiti is difficult."
One team on Tuesday night looked like they were already thinking about Cancun, while the other looks ready for their postseason run. And we know the New Jersey Devils aren’t making the playoffs.
Visiting TD Garden to take on the Boston Bruins, the Devils sleepwalked through the first period which resulted in a brutal 4-0 loss in New Jersey’s season finale.
It took just 53 seconds for the Bruins to score after puck drop, a goal by Connor Geekie who deposited his 39th goal of the season. After New Jersey failed to clear the puck from their defensive zone, David Pastrnak found Geekie streaking to the New Jersey net with three defenders looking south.
With a perfect feed from Pastrnak, Geekie received the puck in stride and beat Nico Daws blocker side early to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead.
Just under five minutes later, Mark Kastelic snuck behind a sleeping Devils defense, received a pass from Tanner Jeannot in the slot, and snuck a shot between Daws’ pads to double the Bruins lead to 2-0.
Kastelic wasn’t done in the first period, however. Inside the 17-minute mark of the first, Mason Lohrei kept the puck onside for the Bruins with the Devils in transition to offense. That left Sean Kuraly open by the Devils’ goal line, who then fed Kastelic in a high-danger area in the New Jersey slot, and he scored his second of the night to triple the Boston lead to 3-0.
The Devils couldn’t escape the first period before Viktor Arvidsson gave the Bruins a 4-0 lead.
Marc McLoughlin lost a faceoff to Hampus Lindholm who quickly put a shot on goal. Daws made the initial save, but Zacha found the rebound, and fed Arvidsson backdoor for an easy tap-in to quadruple the Boston lead.
The second period brought little action.
There was not one single penalty through 20 minutes. In fact, neither side was whistled for an infraction through the first 40.
A low-event middle frame saw the Bruins take a 9-5 shot advantage and 8-7 scoring chance differential, yet the game remained 4-0 going into he third period.
Michael Eyssimont seemingly deposited the Bruins’ fifth goal of the game inside the eight minute mark of the third period. Yet, Sheldon Keefe issued a coaches challenge, and the play was determined offside, keeping the score at 4-0 in favor of Boston.
The final buzzer blared, and the Devils’ season is over. New Jersey finishes the season with a 42-37-3 record which ranks them seventh in the Metropolitan Division.
Amid the Devils’ loss, Nico Hischier registered his 1,000th face-off win of the season. The Devils captain is the only player to reach the mark this season, with the next leading face-off winner (Jordan Staal) registering 839.
Daws made 22 saves on 26 shots, suffering his first and only loss of the season in three starts.
The sports media world took a sharp turn Tuesday afternoon. Following extensive backlash, Dianna Russini resigned from The Athletic after the hotel photo scandal involving Mike Vrabel.
Photographers spotted the New England Patriots head coach and the now-former NFL reporter outside a luxury hotel in Phoenix. The images quickly surfaced and ignited a social media firestorm across multiple platforms.
Although Russini and Vrabel both vehemently denied any wrongdoing, many media figures poked holes in their story. As criticism mounted, Russini chose to resign while on administrative leave.
The New York Times, which owns The Athletic, had been conducting an internal investigation into the matter. Since then, multiple key figures have publicly criticized Russini.
Feb 10, 2022; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Dianna Russini appears on the red carpet prior to the NFL Honors awards presentation at YouTube Theater. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Many of those critics were women in the sports industry who expressed strong and direct opinions. However, not everyone has joined in condemning Russini.
San Antonio Spurs broadcaster Michelle Beadle used her podcast Beadle and Decker to push back against Russini’s critics.
“I love Dianna, and I consider her a friend,” Beadle said on her podcast. “I’m not 100% sure I understand what two adults’ personal lives, other than with her husband and his wife, those are the two affected, and families.”
Beadle dismissed the critics’ “journalistic integrity” arguments. She argued that although Russini may have made a poor decision, everyone has made similar mistakes.
Then Beadle became more specific about who she was calling out.
Apr 19, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Tyson Fury stands alongside Michelle Beadle on the set of the NBC Sports television show The Crossover. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images
“What I find interesting is the number of female sportspeople who have felt very comfortable in getting out there and blasting her. Ladies, at some point, I will write a book. And the more I see you yapping out there about all this high and mighty self-righteous, I know a lot about a lot of you,” Beadle said directly to female sports figures who have criticized Russini.
“Let’s be careful on throwing stones.” Beadle warned.
Beadle also noted that the situation has largely left Vrabel unaffected, while Russini lost her job. While poor choices may have been made, is Beadle correct about throwing stones in glass houses?
Everyone has something to hide. Beadle acknowledged that she, too, made poor choices in her career, particularly in the pre-social media era.
Is Beadle right to defend Russini, or was it unjustified for her to call out Russini’s critics?
That night, the Bruins took 1-0 and 2–1 leads, only for Buffalo tie it up both times. The second equalizing goal came in the third period, and just 33 seconds later, Buffalo took the lead.
The consecutive goals from Buffalo could've been a real knockout punch in that game, and maybe the season.
Casey Mittelstadt, who spent the first seven years of his career with the Sabres, tied the game.
Pavel Zacha walked it off in overtime. The Bruins then rattled off three consecutive wins afterward against the Dallas Stars, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Minnesota Wild.
In the span of a week, Boston's odds went from 50% to 95%, all thanks to a massive win over Buffalo.
If that back-and-forth, chippy, physical game gets played in every game, it'll be a phenomenal series.
Boston will have a legitimate chance to win the series, too. Buffalo has virtually zero playoff experience of any kind. Boston's still got plenty, even despite last year's miss.
Jeremy Swayman should be the best goalie in the series, but Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen could prove to be just as sharp.
The series is set to get underway this upcoming weekend in Buffalo, with the Sabres hosting Games 1 and 2.
The last time Buffalo and Boston squared off in the playoffs was the first round of the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Bruins knocked off the Sabres in six games, despite entering as the lower seed and underdog.
They'll look to follow that exact road map against the Sabres this time around, too.
It's finally the best time of year, Bruins fans. Settle in and enjoy.
LAS VEGAS, NV - APRIL 02: Emmanuel Ogbole #21 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights dribbles by Isaac Traudt #41 of the Creighton Bluejays during the 2026 College Basketball Crown - Quarterfinal game at Grand Garden Arena at the MGM Grand Resort on April 02, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Rutgers center Emmanuel Ogbole is planning to enter the transfer portal, while seeking a waiver for another year of eligibility, according to Joe Tipton of On3. Ogbole has played four years of college basketball, but he played his first season at JUCO Monroe College, before joining the Scarlet Knights for three years.
The 6-foot-10, 260-pound Ogbole appeared in 67 games over the past three years for Rutgers, starting 45 of them. Last season, Ogbole appeared in 34 games for Rutgers while making 30 starts. Over that span, he averaged 4.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 59.8 percent from the field and 54.3 percent from the free-throw line.
His best performance of the season came in the Players Era Tournament against UNLV, where he posted 21 points and 13 rebounds. He also recorded a double-double against Lehigh.
He will have one year of eligibility to play elsewhere if he is granted the waiver for his JUCO year.
With the 2026 NFL Draft just days away, the San Francisco 49ers find themselves in a precarious position. Their championship window remains open, but the roster is weathering a storm of medical recoveries and high profile departures.
If general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan stick to their current slots and prioritize immediate reinforcements for Brock Purdy and the defensive front, here is how a "No-Trade" 49ers mock draft could look.
Round 1, Pick 27: Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF
The 49ers' pass rush was decimated by a "perfect storm" this offseason. There was the sudden retirement of Bryce Huff and a trio of surgeries for Nick Bosa, Mykel Williams, and Keion White. San Francisco needs "juice" on the edge immediately.
Lawrence is an exceptional athlete who recorded 12.5 sacks in a breakout 2025 campaign for the Knights. While some scouts worry about his "lanky" 260 pound frame his first step explosiveness is elite. He is a "pro-ready" player who would benefit immensely from the 49ers' wide-9 alignment.
Other realistic option: Omar Cooper Jr. (WR, Indiana) — A YAC specialist who could help solve the 49ers' recent drop off in yardage after the catch.
Round 2, Pick 58: Gennings Dunker, OG, Iowa
Drafting an Iowa offensive lineman is a safe bet for any team, but for the 49ers, it’s a necessity. Dunker is a 319-pounder who spent his collegiate career at right tackle but projects as a dominant NFL guard. He made waves at the Combine with a bright red mullet and a 5.18 second 40 yard dash, proving he has the requisite movement skills for Shanahan’s zone-run scheme.
Other realistic option: Romello Height (EDGE, Texas Tech)
Round 4, Pick 127: Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma
Burks is a dynamic "vertical" threat who brings 4.4 speed to the slot. In 2025, he proved he could handle high volume targets, and his ability to separate at the line of scrimmage makes him a natural fit for Purdy’s quick timing throws.
Other realistic option: Kevin Coleman Jr. (WR, Missouri)
Round 4, Pick 133: Treydan Stukes, S, Arizona
A former cornerback who transitioned to safety, Stukes is a "Quarters" defense specialist. At 6'1", 190 lbs, he has the length to play the deep half and the ball skills (4 interceptions in 2025) to act as a secondary "eraser." He provides vital insurance for a safety room that lost Jason Pinnock in free agency.
Other realistic option: Hezekiah Masses (CB, Cal)
Round 4, Pick 138: Jack Endries, TE, Texas
The 49ers have spent years looking for a consistent "TE2" to alleviate the pressure on George Kittle. Endries, a Monte Vista High (CA) product, is a reliable safety blanket with good hands. While he’s a work in progress as a blocker, his zone awareness makes him a perfect target for the 49ers’ intermediate passing game.
Round 4, Pick 139: Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke
Rivers is a versatile "nickel/dime" defender who earned All-ACC honors for his ball tracking ability and instincts. Standing just under 5 '10", he may lack "outside" size, but his 29 career passes defended suggest he can thrive in the slot which is a position where the 49ers value high-IQ defenders who can also contribute on special teams.
Alex Ovechkin didn't linger on Tuesday at Nationwide Arena.
After his Washington Capitals secured a 2-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets, with him setting up the game-winner on the power play, Ovechkin celebrated with his teammates as fans from both teams made it to their feet, offering one final ovation with the regular season said and done.
He then made his way to the bench quickly, clapping and saluting the crowd one last time, before heading down the tunnel, not giving any time for goodbyes or handshakes or sendoffs.
In what could be the last game he plays in a Capitals sweater, he got the win, coming full circle against the same team he made his memorable NHL debut against 21 years ago.
Here are the takeaways.
Ovechkin Gets Sendoff In Columbus Amid Questions About NHL Future
Alex Ovechkin still remains undecided on his NHL future, but playing in what could be his final NHL game in Columbus, he got quite the sendoff.
Several Capitals fans made the lengthy trip to Ohio to catch one final glimpse of greatness this season, which could be the last as he ponders retirement in the summer. As time ticked down, fans again, as they did Sunday, asked for "one more year" while belting out "Ovi" chants from the stands.
The 40-year-old gave them a fun final showing, though, putting up a team-leading four shots, 12 attempts, two hits and an assist through 18:24 minutes.
Chychrun Extends Scoring Lead Among Defensemen With Game-Winner, Ovechkin Fittingly Factors Into PPG
The Capitals were tied going into the final four minutes of regulation, and going to a late power play, needed something to get two points. Enter Alex Ovechkin.
Ovechkin, using his presence alone to pull away Columbus' defense, allowed for Jakob Chychrun to open up at point position. From there, Chychrun wired a shot home past Jet Greaves for his 26th goal of the season, the most among NHL defensemen this season.
With the secondary assist on the power play, Ovechkin finished the season with 32 goals and 32 assists for 66 points in 82 games, marking the first time since 2017-18 he appeared in all 82 games.
With Tuesday's game no longer a must-win, several players got a chance to play in the finale, and one was call-up Clay Stevenson, with Charlie Lindgren ending the season day-to-day.
Stevenson was solid in his return to the NHL, putting up 27 saves on 28 shots for the win.
Washington relied on Stevenson early in the game, as the Blue Jackets dominated in shots early and went up 1-0 in the first on a goal from Boone Jenner. Ultimatly, though, Anthony Beauvillier sparked the offense.
Trevor van Riemsdyk found Beauvillier for a breakaway, and No. 72 made no mistake, deking to put home the game-tying goal.
For most, who the Kansas City Chiefs take in the first round of the NFL Draft is going to tell us a lot about where they see themselves going in 2026.
With the need to add another receiver and to fill the hole at corner, plus adding to a pass rush that struggled to get after the quarterback last season, the Chiefs can go in several directions.
Of course, having two first-round picks certainly helps plug holes with starting-caliber players.
But who is the Chiefs' ideal draft pick?
For Fox Sports' Rob Rang, he's rightly named LSU corner Mansoor Delane.
“Given the quarterback talent in the AFC West, the Chiefs cannot afford to get too cute at cornerback with last year’s starters Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson now playing for the Los Angeles Rams,” Rang wrote. “Delane is the top prospect at the position this year, combining smooth athleticism and terrific route anticipation.”
We've seen several mock drafts where the Chiefs add a weapon for Patrick Mahomes, so it is definitely on the board.
Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq has been one player mocked to Kansas City regularly over the past week as Travis Kelce's replacement.
So, I don't think it is a foregone conclusion that the Chiefs will take a defensive player at No. 9, although it feels likely.
Getting Delane first up would be a great selection to fortify the secondary, then add an offensive weapon later in the first round. That feels like the plan here.
Of course, the Chiefs might have a different thought entirely.
CHENNAI: Late on Monday, by the time the wider audience found out who Praful Hinge was, he had already scalped three wickets in his first IPL over. Since then, “Who is Praful Hinge?” has been trending.
An uncapped seamer, Praful finished with astonishing figures of 4-34 for Sunrisers Hyderabad on his IPL debut. Right after the match, the Sunrisers Hyderabad player acknowledged the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai for helping him recover from a back stress injury. “I want to thank MRF for taking really good care of me,” Praful said.
At the foundation, the 24-year-old from Nagpur got the opportunity to pick the mind of former Australia fast bowler Glenn McGrath, who is the director of coaching. McGrath built a magnificent career on relentless accuracy, and it is one of the many tricks that Praful seems to have taken from him, evident in the way he swings the new ball at pace while holding a tight line and length.
Talking to TOI, Pace Foundation chief coach M Senthilnathan said Praful’s progress began by addressing both his fitness and a technical flaw.
“What we and Glenn saw in him is that he’s got a pretty solid length with the new ball. He gets some deviation and he allows the balls to move. We selected him in 2023 and when he came to us, he had some back issues. We concentrated on his fitness and improved it through rehabs. We also analysed and found the reason behind his back issue. It was because he had a technical flaw, so we fine-tuned it,” said Senthilnathan.
“And then, he did well in that Under-23 season that year, and in 2024 when he was much better and was selected for the Ranji Trophy (for Vidarbha). He is now a frontline bowler for them,” the former Tamil Nadu cricketer said, “He also travelled with us to Australia in 2024 during the exchange programme with Cricket Australia and the Foundation.”
Senthilnathan noted that McGrath was instrumental in helping Praful understand the importance of bowling in the right areas and handling pressure.
“With McGrath at the centre of it, and his vast experience, there are definitely certain things that has gone into Praful’s mind while training with us. Like how to bowl during different phases of the game, how to come back from a bad ball, how not to overdo things. Mentally, these things can only come from someone who has played at that level. That’s what Glenn does,” said Senthilnathan.
If there are any guarantees this offseason, North Carolina has to rebuild its backcourt.
The Tar Heels have lost most of their production from last season, either due to graduation (Seth Trimble) or the transfer portal (Luka Bogavac, Derek Dixon and Jonathan Powell). Because of this, UNC has reached out to multiple players, including Terrence Brown and Juke Harris. Now we can add another to the list.
Curtis Givens III of Memphis has been in contact with the Tar Heels as well, according to Sam Kayser of League Ready. He has also received interest from Boston College, Georgetown, Georgia Tech, McNeese State, NC State, Ohio State, Ole Miss and USC.
Memphis transfer Curtis Givens III is receiving interest from the following programs, source told @LeagueRDY:
North Carolina Ohio State NC State Georgetown Georgia Tech Boston College Ole Miss USC McNeese
He averaged 9.4 points, 2.3 assists and 2.1 rebounds per game last season. He also shot 43.1% from the field, 36.5% from beyond the arc and 60.1% from the free-throw line. He also had a 16.5% assist rate.He spent his freshman season at LSU in 2024-25, when he averaged 4.8 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists.
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
The full communication from The Athletic executive editor Steven Ginsberg to staff regarding the resignation of NFL insider Dianna Russini has emerged. Dylan Byers of Puck has posted the full message.
"I'm writing to let you know that Dianna Russini has submitted her resignation from The Athletic, effective immediately. While I can't share the details of our investigation into Dianna's conduct, I want to emphasize that the leadership of The Athletic has taken this matter seriously from the moment that we learned about it.
"Our coverage at The Athletic is deeply rooted in our integrity and our commitment to earning the trust of our audience. Our newsroom has thrived because of our core journalistic values, and we will always ensure they are protected.
"When this situation was brought to our attention last week, there were clear concerns, but we received a detailed explanation and it was our instinct to support and defend a colleague while we continued to review the matter. As additional information emerged, new questions were raised that became part of our investigation.
"While our investigation into Dianna's conduct was ongoing, she chose to resign. We will continue a standards review of Dianna's work that Mike Semel is leading.
"Amid all of this, I want to sincerely thank everyone for continuing to produce the best sports report in the business. I'm looking forward to focusing on our journalism and continuing our momentum."
It was Ginsberg who provided the initial statement in response to the New York Post securing photos of Russini with Patriots coach Mike Vrabel. “These photos are misleading and lack essential context,” Ginsberg told the Post at the time. “These were public interactions in front of many people. Dianna is a premier journalist covering the NFL and we’re proud to have her at The Athletic.”
That initial comment from Ginsberg has become a problem for the publication. Russini's resignation letter reminded Ginsberg that he supported her "unequivocally"; staffers reportedly have taken issue with his handling of the situation, calling it "unnecessarily messy," “reckless,” “premature,” and “intentionally sneaky.”
The Miami Heat are playing for survival against the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA Play-In Tournament, but they may have to continue without their biggest star.
Center Bam Adebayo took a fall in the first half that seemed to cause him to injure his tailbone, as he was moving gingerly after the play. Therefore, the Heat medical staff took Adebayo out of the game for further review.
The Heat already don't have a ton of firepower, and losing Adebayo for any amount of time would to tough to overcome. Miami needs to beat Charlotte on Tuesday night to advance in the Play-In Tournament.
In the second quarter of the Play-In Tournament vs. the Hornets, Adebayo took a hard fall that forced him to leave the game. Adebayo went for a rebound but landed on his tailbone and was clearly in some discomfort.
Trainers attended to Adebayo, who was able to get up but walked off the court slowly and back to the locker room. Miami later declared him questionable to return.
The Heat say Bam Adebayo left tonight’s game in Charlotte with a lower back injury and his return is questionable.
Without Adebayo, the Heat lost a heartbreaker in overtime by just a point. After the game, head coach Erik Spoelstra criticized Ball for seemingly tripping Adebayo, saying he should've been ejected from the game.
Erik Spoelstra on LaMelo Ball's dirty play on Bam:
"I don't think it's cute. I don't think it's funny. I think it's a stupid play. It's a dangerous play. He should be penalized for that. I don't think that belongs in the game, tripping guys. Somebody has got to see that. He… pic.twitter.com/7pbCWPnUv8
Adebayo declined to speak with the media postgame, but he may have something to say in the team's closing media session. He played just 11 minutes in the Heat's final game of the year.
USC senior guard Kara Dunn has reportedly signing a training camp contract with the Phoenix Mercury. Dunn went undrafted in the 2026 WNBA Draft on Monday night.
Dunn is the only USC player entering the WNBA this year.
In addition to Dunn, the Mercury signed former Indiana players Shay Ciezki and Yardon Garzon to training camp contracts on Tuesday. Phoenix drafted French forward Ines Pitarch-Granel with the No. 27 overall pick and Hungarian guard Eszter Ratkai with the No. 42 pick on Monday.
The five rookies will report to Phoenix’s training camp to battle for a roster spot. The Mercury’s first preseason game will be against the Chicago Sky on April 25.
Dunn Played One Season With the Trojans
Dunn transferred to USC as a senior ahead of the 2025-26 season. She played the first three seasons of her career with Georgia Tech where she was a two-time All-ACC selection, including an All-ACC First Team selection as a junior in the 2024-25 season.
Mar 21, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; USC Trojans guard Kara Dunn (25) grabs a rebound in front of Clemson Tigers forward Raven Thompson (32) in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
The 5-foot-11 guard was a part of the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Watch List this season. The award honors the nation’s top college shooting guard and was given to USC superstar JuJu Watkins in 2024 and 2025.
Dunn averaged 15.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists while starting in all 32 games for USC. She was USC’s second-leading scorer and rebounder behind National Freshman of the Year Jazzy Davidson this season.
Dunn was named an All-Big Ten Second Team selection at the end of the season.
The NFL Draft is upon us once again. The Draft, despite common sentiment, is a complicated equation of factors. While many fans think it to be a complete gamble, the draft is almost equal parts art and science.
The draft is layered and nuanced. The Draft is not a race to get the top guy on the board. It is a puzzle to acquire the best collection of talent based on how the board falls.
The 2026 NFL Draft has six "pairs" of players that could come off the board in the first two days (or three rounds) of the draft. In each of these pairs, one player is deemed to be significantly better than the other. However, the second of the two in the pair are still good enough to be real considerations early, even after their better counterpart is off the board.
In one case the second in the pair is the second-best player at that position in the entire draft. In other cases, the second will go a round or two later than the first but still be considered an impact player. Typically, the second in a pair is thought to be noticeably lower. For these six pairs, the drop off from the first to the second will not be that wide.
In each of the following examples, both players in the pair play the same position and play for the same team. Both players are expected to come off the board relatively early (Rounds 1-4).
2026 NFL Draft Pairs
Arvell Reese - Sonny Styles
The Ohio State pair is the most interesting as well as the two names that should come off the board closest to each other and higher than anyone else on this list. Both prospects have been discussed recently as potentially being top 5 picks. Arvell Reese is most commonly mocked to the Jets at No. 2 overall.
Sonny Styles is getting mocked as high as Tennessee at No. 4 overall but typically no later than the Bengals at No. 10. If draft analysts are anywhere near correct on this, Ohio State could have not only two players, but two linebackers selected in the top 10. If either falls beyond the top 10 it would be considered a substantial value pick.
Jeremiyah Love - Jadarian Price
Jeremiyah Love is the running back prize in this draft and it's not close. The gap between Love and Price could be an entire round or more. Love should go top 5 but is a consensus lock to go earlier than running backs are expected to go.
Jadarian Price on the other hand, is the RB2 in this draft according to a majority of draft analysts. His range today is somewhere between the mid 20s and the middle of the second round.
Both backs project to being significant contributors if not featured backs on their future NFL team. The dividing factor is that the things Price is not great at, Love is great at. Love is a once in five years evaluation while Price is a very good NFL prospect.
Rueben Bain Jr - Ahkeem Mesidor
The pair of Rueben Bain Jr and Ahkeem Mesidor is a case of overthinking small details. Neither of which is a perfect evaluation. Bain has short arms. It's a very simple concept. If Bain was longer and rangy, he would be considered to be in the Myles Garrett/Max Crosby mold. The short arms are going to likely prevent him from being in the top 5 conversation.
Mesidor is 25. Many NFL teams like to get guys when they are closer to 20-22. It allows them to believe there is a longer development ramp and more prime years for a prospect. Both of these knocks have almost nothing to do with the production they provide. However, teams worry about these types of things. Even with those concerns, there is a reality where Bain goes top 10 or close to it and Mesidor still goes in the first round.
Omar Cooper Jr - Elijah Surratt
Omar Cooper Jr and Elijah Surratt are simply two different flavors of the same type. Do you want a smaller, shiftier receiver who is dynamic with the ball in his hands? Or do you want a sure handed, bigger possession style receiver?
Whatever the answer is, Indiana has a receiving option to fit. Omar Cooper Jr will likely go ahead of Surratt for stylistic reasons. Both are outside the big three of Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson and Makai Lemon, but both could be selected in the first 60 picks. The Indiana receivers are a pick the flavor you want situation.
Francis Mauigoa - Markel Bell
Francis Mauigoa and Markel Bell might have the widest gap between their respective eventual draft position. Both of these are massive men that will be paid to push other men around. Mauigoa is an absolute refrigerator with legs. At 6'6, 315 he is ideal at right tackle. The problem is if Mauigoa was a left tackle, he could go as high as No. 2 overall. If he slides, it's because he plays right tackle, nothing more.
Bell on the other hand introduces an additional concern that should have him fall significantly further than Mauigao. Bell is 6'9, 345 pounds. While that might sound great, there is a size threshold where a tackle can be too big. There is an awful track record for offensive tackles over 6'6 and over 360 pounds. Thankfully Bell only has the height concern. At 6'9, there are almost no examples of a tackle being dominant at that height. Due the size concern, Bell currently projects somewhere between the late second round and the fourth round. The largest gap among these 'pairs'.
Cashius Howell - Romello Height
Cashius Howell and Romello Height might be the most interesting pair. Especially for teams not drafting in the top half of the rounds. For the first half of the 2025 season, it seemed there was a race for DE1 in this draft between Rueben Bain Jr and Cashius Howell. Eventually David Bailey took that spot by season's end. Howell, once thought to be a top 15 prospect, could be had in the 20s or slightly later in the first round.
Height played the opposite end from Howell at College Station. Despite being a little light in the pants for a hand in the dirt EDGE, Height managed to finish 2025 with 10 sacks and almost 12 tackles for loss. For a team with other priorities early, Romello Height could be a bit of a steal.
WrestleMania is the biggest show in wrestling, and it has become a Super Bowl-like event, bringing fans around the world to one location to soak in all of the experiences, from the show itself to other shows and events happening around the city before and after it takes place.
In 2026, it will be happening in a familiar place as it's being held in the same city for back-to-back years, an occurrence that hasn't happened since the early days of the event. Here is what to know about where WrestleMania 42 will take place.
WrestleMania 42 will take place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the second straight year it will take place in the stadium. Home of the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders, it will be the third WrestleMania to take place in the city, which first hosted WrestleMania 9 in 1993.
Allegiant Stadium capacity
Allegiant Stadium isn't a big stadium, with a capacity of 65,000 for football games that makes it one of the smallest in the NFL. The WrestleMania stage will reduce the capacity with sections of seats blocked off, but it will be made up with floor and ringside seats.
We know what the attendance could be. For WrestleMania 41, the announced attendance of night one was 58,538, and night two was 60,103, although those numbers are likely inflated. More than 40,00 tickets have been sold for each night.
When is WrestleMania 42?
WrestleMania 42 takes place April 18-19.
WrestleMania 42 schedule
Here are the full schedule for WrestleMania week and where it will take place:
Smackdown: Friday, April 17 at 8 p.m. ET (T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada)
WWE Hall of Fame ceremony: Saturday, April 18 at midnight ET (Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas, Nevada)
WrestleMania 42 night one: Saturday, April 18 at 6 p.m. ET (Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada)
KillTony WrestleMania Vegas: Sunday, April 19 at midnight ET (Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas, Nevada)
WrestleMania 42 night two: Sunday, April 19 at 6 p.m. ET (Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada)
Raw after WrestleMania: Monday, April 20 at 8 p.m. ET (T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada)
WrestleMania locations: Every city, venue to host WWE's iconic event
WrestleMania 1 (March 31, 1985): Madison Square Garden in New York
WrestleMania 2 (April 7, 1986): Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York; Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, Illinois; Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena in Los Angeles
WrestleMania 3 (March 29, 1987): Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan
WrestleMania 4 (March 27, 1988): Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, New Jersey
WrestleMania 5 (April 2, 1989): Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, New Jersey
WrestleMania 6 (April 1, 1990): SkyDome in Toronto, Canada (now called Rogers Centre)
WrestleMania 7 (March 24, 1991): Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena in Los Angeles
WrestleMania 8 (April 5, 1992): Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis
WrestleMania 9 (April 4, 1993): Caesars Palace in Las Vegas
WrestleMania 10 (March 20, 1994): Madison Square Garden in New York
WrestleMania 11 (April 2, 1995): Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, Connecticut (now called XL Center)
WrestleMania 12 (March 31, 1996): Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California (now called Honda Center)
WrestleMania 13 (March 23, 1997): Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, Illinois (now called Allstate Arena)
WrestleMania 14 (March 29, 1998): FleetCenter in Boston (now called TD Garden)
WrestleMania 15 (March 28, 1999): First Union Center in Philadelphia (now called Wells Fargo Center)
WrestleMania 2000 (April 2, 2000): Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California (now called Honda Center)
WrestleMania X-Seven (April 1, 2001): Reliant Astrodome in Houston
WrestleMania 18 (March 17, 2002): SkyDome in Toronto, Canada (now called Rogers Centre)
WrestleMania 19 (March 30, 2003): Safeco Field in Seattle (now called T-Mobile Park)
WrestleMania 20 (March 14, 2004): Madison Square Garden in New York
WrestleMania 21 (April 3, 2005): Staples Center in Los Angeles (now called Crypto.com Arena)
WrestleMania 22 (April 2, 2006): Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois
WrestleMania 23 (April 1, 2007): Ford Field in Detroit
WrestleMania 24 (March 30, 2008): Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida (now called Camping World Stadium)
WrestleMania 25 (April 5, 2009): Reliant Stadium in Houston (now called NRG Stadium)
WrestleMania 26 (March 28, 2010): University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (now called State Farm Stadium)
WrestleMania 27 (April 3, 2011): Georgia Dome in Atlanta
WrestleMania 28 (April 1, 2012): Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida (now called Hard Rock Stadium)
WrestleMania 29 (April 7, 2013): MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey
WrestleMania 30 (April 6, 2014): Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans (now called Caesars Superdome)
WrestleMania 31 (March 29, 2015): Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California
WrestleMania 32 (April 3, 2016): AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas
WrestleMania 33 (April 2, 2017): Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida (now called Camping World Stadium)
WrestleMania 34 (April 8, 2018): Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans (now called Caesars Superdome)
WrestleMania 35 (April 7, 2019): MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey
WrestleMania 36 (April 4-5, 2020): WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida
WrestleMania 37 (April 10-11, 2021): Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida
WrestleMania 38 (April 2-3, 2022): AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas
WrestleMania 39 (April 1-2, 2023): SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California
WrestleMania 40 (April 6-7, 2024): Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia
WrestleMania 41 (April 19-20, 2025): Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas
WrestleMania 42 (April 18-19, 2026): Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas
Apr. 14—GRAND FORKS — Brasen Boser called his grandfather recently to tell him he's going to enter the transfer portal when it opens.
"He was a little nervous," the Arizona State sophomore defenseman said.
The Minot native called back Monday night with an update: He's coming home to play for UND.
"He was pretty ecstatic," Boser said. "He was yelling on the phone. It was a pretty special phone call."
Boser, a Minot native, has committed to UND for next season. He has two years of college eligibility remaining.
"It's pretty special," Boser said. "I feel like anyone from North Dakota could say that's the spot you want to play college hockey. I enjoyed my time (at Arizona State), but I'm pumped to be a part of it."
The 5-foot-11, 178-pound defender is a reliable, steady presence on the back end. He led Arizona State in ice time this season, averaging 22:40 as a sophomore.
Boser posted identical stat lines as a freshman and sophomore at Arizona State — two goals and seven points. Two of his four career goals came against UND.
Boser finished second in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference in blocked shots (76) and first in the NCHC in blocked shots per game (2.53) by a wide margin.
"I think so far in college, I've built a good base of being a reliable, steady two-way defenseman," he said. "I like to try to create offense in the O-zone and gain possession. I like to play hard-nosed, throw the body, block shots and do whatever it takes to win."
He will slide into a defensive corps that is planning to bring back three players from the 2025-26 season — Keaton Verhoeff, E.J. Emery and Sam Laurila.
The Fighting Hawks are scheduled to bring in committed recruits Ethan MacKenzie of the Edmonton Oil Kings (Western Hockey League) and Garrett Lindberg of the Fargo Force (United States Hockey League).
With UND blue liners Andrew Strathmann, Jayden Jubenvill and Ian Engel
entering the transfer
portal Monday, the Fighting Hawks worked quickly to bring Boser aboard.
Arizona State didn't add its players to
the transfer portal
until late Monday. But once Boser went in, Jackson called him immediately.
"Dane reached out right away and said, 'We're interested, we want you to be a part of it,'" Boser said. "It was the first school that reached out and it got done right away."
Boser, who is set to become the first Minot player at UND since Quinn Fylling (2000-01, 2002-05), has several connections to the program.
He became close with former UND defenseman Jake Livanavage's family when Jake's brother, Johnny Walker, played junior hockey in Minot.
Boser explored playing Tier-I instead of prep hockey in North Dakota and called Livanavage for advice. Livanavage suggested playing in Arizona. Boser left Minot at age 15 to play for the Phoenix Jr. Coyotes. He lived with Jake's parents, Jim and Amy, for a year.
Boser texted Livanavage on Monday night to let him know he had committed to UND.
"He was excited for me," Boser said.
After living in Arizona for two years, Boser spent a year with the Wenatchee Wild in the British Columbia Hockey League and two with the Fargo Force.
Boser won a Clark Cup in his second season in Fargo. UND's Mac Swanson also was on that team.
"He's such a good kid and does everything the right way," Boser said of Swanson. "I'm excited to build with him again and see what we can do there."
Boser plans to visit UND soon and move to Grand Forks in the summer.
Boser suffered a fractured wrist last fall and missed Arizona State's first six games of the season. When he came back, he was instantly put into a major role on a young Sun Devils back end.
Arizona State struggled as a team, finishing ninth in the NCHC and missing the league's postseason tournament.
Six of Arizona State's defensemen entered the transfer portal Monday. Four have already found new homes.
Sam Court is headed to Minnesota State. Justin Kipkie will play for new NCHC member St. Thomas. Anthony Dowd is headed to UMass Lowell.
The Fighting Hawks now have six defensemen penciled in for 2026-27. They still need to add two.
It's a good bet they'll try to land one of the Big Four defensemen in the WHL. While Ryan Lin has committed to Denver, the other three — Carson Carels of Prince George, Daxon Rudolph of Prince Albert and Landon DuPont of Everett — are all uncommitted.
City Kickboxing head coach Eugene Bareman will stand by Israel Adesanya no matter what he decides to do.
Adesanya (24-6 MMA, 13-6 UFC) suffered his fourth straight loss when he was finished by Joe Pyfer (16-3 MMA, 6-1 UFC) in the UFC Fight Night 271 main event in Seattle this past February.
"It's a tough one because I would fully support him if he turned around and said that he didn't want to fight," Bareman told Submission Radio. "But I'm also in a position where I will fully support him if he turns around and says he is going to fight. We've been together since the start, and that's not going to change."
Bareman acknowledges that Adesanya still looked competitive in his recent losses. He won Round 1 against Pyfer on all three judges' scorecards before he was ultimately stopped by TKO in Round 2.
Bareman thinks the rebound will be more of a mental battle than physical.
"I know where the changes have to be made for Israel, and I'm not going to talk about those publicly, but you see glimmers, right?" Bareman said. "You see glimmers of the old Israel. So, it's just about turning those glimmers into longer sustained bouts of effort. He just has to do some soul searching, mate, like you do after every fight.
"Every fighter after they lose has to tuck themselves away in the forest or in a dark room for 24 hours or whatever they do. They have to figure life out so that's just what Israel has to do. Then he'll figure out where he wants to go from here. He has to find it inside him. He has to search deep this time."
Sometimes these Chicago White Sox rebuilds seem to run together in your mind.
The best moments are the same, and only the names have changed.
It seemed like yesterday the Sox were calling up Michael Kopech to kickstart the rebuild that was supposed to see them owning the American League Central in the 2020s.
A hundred or so fans gathered in seats near the left-field bullpen to watch him warm up, taking selfies with the young phenom in the background. A large media contingent showed up at Guaranteed Rate Field to chronicle his every move, and Kopech felt like he was throwing inside a goldfish bowl.
“The pressure is from you guys,” Sox starter Carlos Rodón told me that night in 2018, chiding the local media. “Because you guys are the ones who are hyping it all up.”
I told Rodón that the Sox marketing department had hyped Kopech more than the media, hoping to boost attendance in the final weeks of another losing season. He was blaming the wrong guys for putting pressure on the kids.
“Yeah,” Rodón replied. “But isn’t that the organization’s job, right? They’re trying to build their brand.”
Fast-forward to Tuesday at what’s now called The Rate, where Sox left-hander Noah Schultz made his major-league debut in another rebuild with an all-new cast of characters. He drew the same kind of pregame media crowd and I wandered out to the bullpen later to watch him warm up.
The crowds were just as enthusiastic on a warm spring night, though one fan who watched Kopech’s debut said there was one big difference between the rebuilds.
“We’ve gone through a lot of hard times since that one,” he said.
Sox fans were desperately hoping Schultz would be the next Chris Sale or Garrett Crochet, though they’d prefer he enjoyed the bulk of his career success on the South Side instead of being dealt to Boston for prospects to start another rebuild, like Sale and Crochet.
Tuesday was being referred to as Noah Schultz Day, and general manager Chris Getz called it a “big, big day for the White Sox,” pointing out that the 6-foot-10-inch Oswego native “obviously is a big part of our future.” For Getz’s sake, he’d better hope so.
In Year Three of Getz’s rebuild, the Sox look no better than they were last year, when they lost 102 games and had only one player with more than 63 RBI. That player was infielder Lenyn Sosa, who led the Sox in home runs (22) and RBI (75) in 2025 but was deemed so dispensible that Getz dealt him to Toronto on Monday, getting in return 18-year-old outfielder Jordan Rich, who was a 17th-round draft pick in ’25 and has yet to play a professional game, plus a player to be named later or cash.
Some would call it addition by subtraction since the Sox felt Sosa’s lack of a position wasn’t worth the potential power he could bring, even as a designated hitter. Getz indicated it was going to happen sooner or later, so he chose sooner.
“I think it’s more prioritizing the style of play that we want for our major-league club moving forward,” Getz said. “When you have (a Sam) Antonacci and a (William) Bergolla, even a Tanner Murray, players that offer more defensive versatility, the baserunning. We kind of knew the time was going to come and there was a team that was in need because of injury.”
Of course, we’re still waiting for the call-up of Antonacci, who was rumored to be coming up with Schultz. That turned out to be fake news, but the Sox do need a spark on offense, and Antonacci deserves his own day in the sun, so it should happen soon.
Sox fans are still waiting on Munetaka Murakami, the Japanese star whose slugging was going to make the fireworks budget increase exponentially, to start hitting with some regularity. Murakami had eight strikeouts in 12 at-bats against left-handers going into Tuesday, which was a bit worrisome considering he doesn’t platoon.
But it’s too early to panic about the Sox, even for Sox fans. Still, if things don’t improve soon, it’s going to put a damper on Pope Hat Day on Aug. 11, the most anticipated event of the season. These are made to resemble Pope Leo XIV’s miter, except with a Pale Hose logo in the middle. It’s an idea so brilliant that marketing guru Brooks Boyer expanded the special giveaway to include the entire ballpark after so many fans bought tickets just for a souvenir hat of the No. 1 Sox fan.
“The fans have spoken, and unlike some of our more limited quantity promotions, the White Sox Pope Hat is one we believe all fans should have the opportunity to take home,” Boyer said in a statement.
And whenever Sox fans speak, the organization listens … except when they’re telling Jerry Reinsdorf to sell the team.
I tried to convince the Sox to have a “South Side Hit Man” T-shirt giveaway featuring a cartoon of Pope Leo bashing President Donald Trump, guaranteeing a sellout. Unfortunately, my idea fell on deaf ears, so I’ll have to wait for someone’s bootleg version to be sold outside Wrigley on Waveland Avenue.
But Tuesday was Schultz’s night, and a chance for us to remember how psyched up Sox fans were for Kopech’s debut. Earlier that summer, Kopech quoted Winston Churchill on his social media account, writing, “History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.”
Now it’s Schultz’s chance to write his own history. And despite a rocky start on Tuesday, when he committed an error during a 3-run first inning, Schultz has a bright future ahead of him.
Time goes on and Sox fans grow older and learn how to deal with the pain of the regularly scheduled rebuilds, knowing these hard times won’t last forever.
But if Getz could get this one going a little faster, they’d be ever so grateful.
The Mike McCarthy era for the Pittsburgh Steelers is going to be an interesting watch, particularly during the NFL Draft.
How will McCarthy approach it?
First of all, what Aaron Rodgers does will be key, and secondly, will McCarthy want to start his tenure fresh at quarterback?
ESPN's Mike Tannenbaum thinks that the Steelers shouldn't entertain Rodgers in 2026, instead stating McCarthy should get his own quarterback to kick off 2026 with.
"Mike McCarthy is a first-time head coach in Pittsburgh, go get your own quarterback, go get Ty Simpson, much better prospect than when they took Kenny Pickett at 20," Tannenbaum said on ESPN's GetUp.
Usually, where there's smoke, there's fire, and for the past week, the rumors and mock drafts of having the Steelers take Simpson are gathering steam.
So, it feels like Pittsburgh taking a quarterback could be a real possibility.
Some think taking Simpson in the first round is considered a reach; others think he is first-round worthy, so how the Steelers see Simpson on draft night will be interesting.
With Will Howard and Mason Rudolph on the roster as well, could McCarthy add another young quarterback to the competition?
Los Angeles, CA - April 12: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) walks back to the mound after a pitch during the third inning of an MLB game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Texas Rangers at Dodger Stadium on Sunday, April 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Ronaldo Bolaños/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The Dodgers close out their homestand on Wednesday night against the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium, on the 79th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s debut with Brooklyn in 1947. All uniformed personnel on Wednesday will wear number 42.
Shohei Ohtani, who has not allowed an earned run in 12 innings so far this season, starts on the mound on Wednesday night. Right-hander Clay Holmes starts for the Mets.
Early in the second quarter, Heat captain Bam Adebayo was shaken up when he took a hard fall on the court. He's questionable to return with a lower back injury, per the Heat.
During the play, Adebayo was trying to save a ball from going out of bounds when Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball took Adebayo's foot out from under him. Adebayo lost his balance and then fell on his backside, landing on his tailbone. Adebayo fell without the ability to brace himself. He remained down in discomfort for a minute or so, but eventually walked off.
He got up on his under his own power, though he walked gingerly into the locker room for observation.
Bam Adebayo falls hard and walks gingerly to the locker room after LaMelo Ball grabs his foot while in mid-air, swinging it (with replays) pic.twitter.com/bI3gC13xKk
With his ability to guard every position on the floor, Adebayo is Miami’s anchor on defense. A three-time All-Star and five-time All-Defense selection, Adebayo averaged 20.1 points, 10.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game in 73 appearances.
Things got heated early in Tuesday’s play-in game between the Heat and Charlotte Hornets after a hard fall to the court by Miami’s Bam Adebayo.
Adebayo grabbed a rebound after a LaMelo Ball layup was blocked. As Adebayo landed near the baseline, Ball, on the ground, grabbed the back of Adebayo’s left ankle while Adebayo’s right leg was in the air.
Adebayo fell hard to the court and was in immediate pain.
Replay of LaMelo Ball grabbing Bam Adebayo’s ankle before Bam Adebayo landed on his tailbone pic.twitter.com/KVv1rkjxm2
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) April 15, 2026
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, meanwhile, was heated on the Heat bench. Officials didn’t call a foul on Ball, and Spoelstra’s pleas to review the play for a potential flagrant foul went unheeded.
Referee Zach Zarba told the Amazon Prime broadcast that the play wasn’t eligible to be reviewed because it wasn’t immediately stopped, and there was a change of possession.
UCLA continues to assert its dominance in the baseball world while the rest of the USA TODAY Network Super 16 baseball rankings continue to be shaken drastically.
The headline over the weekend was Texas A&M winning its series over Texas, while Florida pulled up an upset against Georgia as the Gators shutdown the Bulldogs’ high-powered lineup. Georgia Tech surged to No. 2 after sweeping Florida State.
Another shocking upset featured Tennessee sweep of Mississippi State.
The must-watch series of this coming weekend will be Georgia Tech and North Carolina clashing in a top five matchup.
There will be a major bounce back series in the SEC between Alabama and Texas. Georgia will face the Razorbacks, while Florida hosts Auburn.
A couple of other notable matchups include USC facing Nebraska, while Southern Miss faces surging Texas State.
Receiving votes: Oklahoma (24-11), Oregon (26-10), Auburn (24-11), Ole Miss (26-11)
Dropped out: Oregon
Voters: Andrew Abadie, The Gainesville Sun; Cory Diaz, Daily Advertiser; Jackson Fuller, Southwest Times Record; Aria Gerson, The Tennessean; Liam Rooney, Tallahassee Democrat, Don Williams, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
East St. Louis (Ill.) four-star running back Myson Johnson-Cook is ready to announce his college commitment.
The blue-chip burner told Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett on Tuesday evening that he will commit in less than two weeks on April 25. He’ll choose between five schools: Auburn, Kentucky, LSU, Miami and Ole Miss.
Johnson-Cook is the No. 40 overall prospect and No. 3 RB in the 2027 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. He’s also the top-ranked recruit in Illinois.
The 6-foot-1.5, 220-pounder has continued to rise up the recruiting rankings between his junior and senior seasons. He’s been on the road this spring getting a look at some of his top contenders. He was at Auburn over the weekend.
According to the Rivals Recruiting Prediction Machine, Miami is trending for Johnson-Cook. Multiple picks have been logged in favor of the Hurricanes, who also recently had the running back on campus this month.
Last month, Johnson-Cook explained what he’s looking for in a school when speaking with Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong:
“I’m trying to fall in love with the university,” he said. “Coaches can leave whenever. As long as I fall in love with the university, it doesn’t matter what coach is there because I still love to play for that university. I’m also looking for development too because the end goal is not college. I’m trying to go to the NFL and produce my rookie year and also play my freshman year too so I’m looking for a place that plays freshmen.”
Johnson-Cook on top schools
The elite running back dished on some of his top schools when speaking with Wiltfong last month, too:
Auburn: “At first I wasn’t big on them. Then the running backs coach came to my school during the recruiting period. He seemed like a good guy so I gave the Tigers a chance because I didn’t know too much about Auburn. When I went there in January I found out Bo Jackson went there. And then I met the staff. It’s a new staff coming from USF. The head coach, Coach AG he’s a great guy. Down-to-earth guy. I really rock with him. I can tell he has real love for me.”
LSU: “It was an amazing atmosphere. It was homecoming. Great fans, great tailgate, also great players on the field. That’s what really intrigued me. That was on top of my list before the coaching change.”
Miami: “They got a big running back like me, Mark Fletcher, we’re like the same size I’m jut a little bit faster. I’ve been watching Miami the whole season. They made it to the Natty. Mark Fletcher producing the whole season for real, that’s what excites me.”
Ole Miss: “What fires me up about Ole Miss is Frank Wilson, he’s a great guy. Like I said, LSU was high on my list, No. 1 on my list, just based off Coach Wilson. With the coaching change he went to Ole Miss. He’s a great guy, he came to see me in January. He’s always been real to me and my mom. He’ll always help me if I need help. If I call him for anything he’ll be right here.”
Raiders general manager John Spytek (left) and assistant GM Brian Stark at Tuesday's pre-draft news conference at the team's headquarters in Henderson, Nev.
HENDERSON, Nev. — For someone who has a lot of pressure on his shoulders, John Spytek looked extremely relaxed Tuesday.
The Las Vegas Raiders’ general manager essentially controls the upcoming NFL Draft next week in Pittsburgh. The Raiders own the No. 1 overall pick and for them not to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, it’s going to take one hell of an offer for Spytek to trade the pick.
He was asked the question a couple of different times and different ways Tuesday as he and assistant GM Brian Stark discussed the unique situation the team finds itself in, a situation that Spytek said he hopes never to be in again after next Thursday. Would he trade the No. 1 pick?
"We've gotten a few calls, and those teams know where they stand right now,” Spytek said.
By controlling the Draft, the Raiders, who currently have 10 picks over the seven rounds, can zero in on what they want to do and be in a position to do it, unlike the other 31 NFL teams that might be trying to move up. For Spytek, it’s a different dynamic than normal. "Well, a lot less energy spent on hypotheticals,” he said. “And we were just talking before we came down here — there's only one team that can get the exact person that they want, and we have that option to us available this year if we so choose.
“So, outside of that, it's not much different. I mean, we used to spend, 'Would we do this if these guys were there? Would we trade down? Would we ask for the premium?' We only have to do that one time this year with the first-round pick, and then you get to the second round, and it's just like it was. Do you want to trade up, do you want to stay, or do you want to trade back? And what would it cost? What would we be willing to give up or acquire in order to do it?”
The Raiders were able to address some needs during free agency, specifically offensive line, on defense. Now, with the draft looming, their approach is different. They’re trying to judge players from big schools and small schools, winning programs and losing programs, players bouncing from system to system after going through the transfer portal and how has NIL changed a potential draftee?
"Yeah, I think there's a lot of prospects in this draft where, especially with the transfer portal, the NIL world that our evaluations, they start the moment these kids get to college,” Stark said. “So, all of these players, you have to be aware of them a little bit earlier, because you have to know the sources that you can talk to learn about these prospects. So, if any of these guys that have transferred, I mean, we're exhausting every resource at every school they've been — where they started, where they transferred to, and the evaluations are constantly evolving right up until the Draft. Like, we're still getting information on all these, we're still talking about the information we've had, that we've accumulated.
“So, it's taking all that information in and then forming our impression, our opinion, on these players. And we're still having conversations right now about a lot of these guys trying to home in on what our impression is. So, it's kind of a never-ending cycle once they start college, especially in today's world.”
The Raiders will be looking for football players. Spytek said what the team went through in free agency is a template he’d like to use in the team’s draft selections.
“We talk so much about it,” he said. “They've got to love football. They need to be great teammates. It's really something that is important to Klint (Kubiak) and to myself and to really all of us up here is being a great player, person, teammate to the guy next to you; disciplined, accountable. I mean a lot of the buzzwords, and a passion to play for the Raiders.
“I think one of the really cool things about free agency that we just saw is that we had a lot of people that wanted to come here, a lot of really good players that were playing in good programs, that sought us out and wanted to be a Raider and through the draft process, we certainly felt that this year too."
As for Kubiak, Spytek said he will have input.
"A lot in a short amount of time, but a lot,” he said. And we had a great set of draft meetings with Klint and his entire staff last week. I thought it was well laid-out by Starkey and the guys and we got a lot of valuable information, not only on the way we're trying to run things and how guys fit into the systems that we're trying to put into place, but really quality evaluations of them as well. And I think that's really important as we put a team together.
“It's not about what Starkey and I think, or the personnel department thinks, or what the coaching staff thinks. It's about, right now, the 10 best players for the Raiders, and last week was a productive week working towards that.”
Spytek said the Raiders’ draft will be a collaborative effort with input from a lot of people. But ultimately, it’s Spytek who makes the call, starting with the very first pick. That pick figures to be Mendoza, who the Raiders think very highly of and who they want to bring along at his own pace, thus the decision to sign veteran free agent Kirk Cousins to assist with helping Mendoza transition from the college game to the NFL.
“Only one team can get the person they want,” he said. “We’re in that position and hopefully this is the only time we do that.”
The Mets are dealing with another potential IL situation on their roster.
Before Tuesday's game against the Dodgers, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza was asked why he decided to go with Mark Vientos over Jared Young at first base, and the skipper revealed that Young is dealing with a knee injury.
"Jared is dealing with some left knee discomfort. Happened Sunday after the game," Mendoza said. "Didn't get better yesterday, so we have to see what we're dealing with here.
When asked if an IL stint is possible, Mendoza said it was but that they have to wait and see the results from imaging they had done on Tuesday.
"Yea we have to see what we're dealing with and see what we got," Mendoza said of a potential IL stint for Young. "Have to check in to see if he's available today. And then we'll go from there."
Young has appeared in 11 games so far this season, mostly off the bench, but has been effective in his handful of starts. This year, he's 7-for-20 with two doubles, two RBI with a .391 OBP.
In Young's last game, Sunday against the Athletics, he went 1-for-2.
The Mets are dealing with a few injuries on their roster. Of course, Juan Soto is on the IL and they just placed reliever Joey Gerber on the IL with a blister. Jorge Polanco is dealing with Achilles tendinitis and has been in and out of the lineup -- and unable to play first base.
The injuries are a part of the Mets' early-season struggles, along with their lack of offense. Mendoza has changed his lineup a bit in recent games to try and get a spark from his bats.
For Tuesday's game, Mendoza moved Vientos down in the lineup and explained that he just liked Francisco Alvarez's at-bats right now.
"Just continue to move guys around and continue to get guys going," Mendoza said.
One aspect of the lineup he won't change, for the time being, is moving Francisco Lindor out of the leadoff spot.
"Not at this point," Mendoza said of the proposition. "He's too good of a hitter. I haven't considered that."
After a hot stretch, Vientos is just 2-for-24 over his last seven games. Lindor's slump has been season long. The shortstop is slashing .176 with an OBP of .291 and has not recorded an RBI yet.
NEW DELHI: The dejection on Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane’s face was clearly evident as his side slumped to another defeat, going down by 32 runs to Chennai Super Kings in their IPL 2026 clash at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Tuesday. After the loss, Rahane shook hands with players, congratulated the CSK camp, and then headed straight to speak with broadcasters.
KKR have endured a tough season so far and are currently languishing at the bottom of the standings.
In five matches, they are yet to register a win, with four losses and one no result. With just one point and a net run rate of -1.383, KKR have significant ground to cover in the coming games.
"I think it's tough at the moment. Yes, we're not winning matches, it's tough. What is important for all of us as a group to stay positive, keep our head up, keep our chin up, just focus on the moment," Rahane said after the match.
"Yes, we'll have to sit in the dressing room, think about the combinations. We'll have to make any changes. Sometimes you back the players, the results are going your way, then it's okay. But if the results are not going your way, then you'll have to think about the combination. But apart from that, I thought it's all about being positive and keep our heads up," he added.
— KKRiders (@KKRiders)
After posting 192/5, CSK restricted KKR to 160/7, with Noor Ahmad returning impressive figures of 4-0-21-3.
Rovman Powell (31 not out) and Ramandeep Singh (35) showed resistance with a 63-run stand, but it wasn’t enough to prevent defeat.
"No real momentum with the bat. Absolutely. I thought with the ball, we retreated really good. 190 on this wicket was really good, especially the powerplay what they got, 70 odd runs. After that, pulling back to 190 was an amazing job from our bowling unit. I thought initially with our batting, we just got 36 or 37 runs in the powerplay. I thought that was really important. Middle phase, to hitting spinners was slightly challenging, but apart from that, wicket was really good. We needed one batter to bat until deep and then take it in the end," Rahane said.
For KKR, Kartik Tyagi picked up 2/35, while Sunil Narine returned figures of 4-0-21-1.
"(On Tyagi) I think all credit goes to him. I mean, he's working really hard in the nets. He's been bowling really good and a great talent. The pace which he's bowling at the moment has been amazing. So I'm really happy for him. Game by game, he's improving his skills. (on their spinners) Yeah, all three spinners. I mean, if you see from CSK spinners also, they bowled really well. It was not easy for batters to hit big sixes unless you bowled really full. It was easy. Otherwise, putting it back and then going across wasn't an easy option for the batters. So I thought from both the sides, spinners bowled really well. We just have to, as I said, keep that head up and just be positive and have that self-belief," he added.
KKR will next face Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium on April 17.
MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 14: Diego Pablo Simeone, head coach of Atletico de Madrid, reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg match between Atletico de Madrid and FC Barcelona at Riyadh Air Metropolitano on April 14, 2026, in Madrid, Spain. (Photo By Dennis Agyeman/Europa Press via Getty Images) | Europa Press via Getty Images
Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone was a man of many emotions after the final whistle gave his side a 3-2 aggregate win over Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal on Tuesday night at the Metropolitano.
“Phew, it’s been 14 years, and honestly, seeing the team still competing really moves me,” a jubilant Simeone reflected in his post-match comments.
He added, “the players have changed, we’ve had to start over countless times, and here we are again among the top four in Europe”, before explaining, “we faced a team that plays extraordinarily well, with incredible speed, they’re hard to contain, we put in a huge effort after going down 0-2, despite individual mistakes and we managed to get back into the game and stay calm. Then the 1-2 was a great goal. The second half was more balanced. Bringing on Nico, Baena, and Sørloth gave us energy, and they started to lose that speed, leaving the crosses for Araujo and Lewandowski”.
Diego Simeone on a bad start
“Yes, but it could happen. They’re very good. When you play against teams like that and make mistakes, they don’t forgive you. It could happen: we were thinking they might score one or two goals. We had to play, attack, and impose ourselves. The game wasn’t about defending, even if the opponent forces you into it whether you want to or not. Sometimes you don’t want to defend, but they force you into it because you can’t take the ball away from them.”
“We’d spoken before the match. He didn’t have to prove anything to us. I know him: he’s extraordinary, an incredible professional, a player with great qualities and room for improvement. That mistake happened, and it’s not easy to carry on, but he showed composure, grit, and leadership to play a difficult match. He went from strength to strength, finishing very well.”
Simeone on the result over two legs
“Every time we face them, we know there’s only one way to approach it: to attack them. They had more possession this time; in the previous match, it was more even. If you don’t attack them, you lose. They’re very good at attacking. We knew the chances we’d have. In the Copa del Rey, we had a fantastic first half here and then had to suffer there. In the first leg of the Champions League, we capitalized on the key moments that went our way, and that 0-2 lead gave us some breathing room for a tough match. The way Julián and Griezmann ran… the work of Llorente, Nahuel, and Koke, Matteo’s incredible performance… how the substitutes came in. It gave us tremendous strength.”
“It’s the fourth, yes. Playing a Champions League semifinal… wow, that’s great. We’ll go in with all our enthusiasm and faith. We know our strengths and our weaknesses. We have a lot of faith, we’re prepared, and we’ll go after what we’ve been chasing for many years.”
Simeone on Arsenal or Sporting
“I don’t care. We need to rest—we have a final coming up on Saturday.”
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The 2026 NBA Playoffs are almost here. As the top six teams on both the Eastern and Western conference gear up for the long road to the Finals, the No. 7 – 10 seeded squads will battle it out in the Play-In tournament for a last chance effort to make into the playoffs. Tipping off on April 14, the tournament will run through April 17 with the regular playoffs set to begin April 18.
To start off the play-in, Bam Adebayo and the Miami Heat will face LaMelo Ball and the Charlotte Hornets while the Phoenix Suns take on the Portland Trailblazers. Tomorrow, April 15, the Philadelphia 76ers will try to keep their postseason hopes alive against a hungry Orlando Magic team while Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors will go head-to-head against Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers.
To help you catch every single moment, we’ve compiled everything you need to know about streaming the 2026 NBA play-in tournament, including the complete schedule, key dates and where to stream.
Where to Watch the 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament Online
Every game for this year’s play-in tournament will exclusively broadcast live on Prime Video from April 14-17, so if you don’t want to miss any on-court action, you’ll need a Prime subscription. Luckily, the house of Bezos is offering a a 30-day free trial for new users who want to test out the service. When the trial is up, you can either cancel the streaming service altogether, or you can keep watching for $8.99/month for the base Prime Video plan. But, if you want all the perks that come with Amazon Prime, it goes for $14.99/month (or $139/year) — a nearly 25% savings.
No, it’s not a great picture of Kinley Asp (#2 in white) but it is in the Getty hopper so I won’t complain. | Photo by Andy Cross/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images
I had long wondered if Marquette women’s basketball was going to end up finding a freshman out in the open after a coaching change to add to the 2026-27 roster. Head coach Cara Consuegra went into the 2025-26 season with six expected roster spots open and just one freshman expected coming in, it seemed like a smart way to bolster the roster. Maybe that made even more sense after four projected returning players went into the transfer portal after the season ended.
In any case, my theory cashed in on Tuesday, as Kinley Asp, a 5’11” point guard from Colorado, announced her commitment to Marquette. She had previously committed and then signed with Boston College, but Joanna Bernabei-McNamee was let go after posting her worst season with the Eagles at 5-26 as well as her fourth straight losing campaign.
Asp hails from Colorado, where she attends Air Academy High School, which is, believe it or not, a public school in Colorado Springs, not a prep school for the Air Force Academy. It is located on AFA grounds, though. Asp won two Colorado state titles in her freshman and sophomore years at Colorado Springs Christian, and then followed that up with a runner-up performance and a spot in the Great Eight of the state tournament with the Kadets the past two seasons. That’s not a situation where she was carried to those titles by seniors, by the way. Asp put up 29 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, and two steals in the title game in her sophomore season, and that was after a 29 point performance as a freshman, too. This past year, Asp averaged 25.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 4.4 steals.
Hey, I’m not trying to tell you that Kinley Asp is poised to be a megastar or anything….. but I am telling you that she has more career Colorado playoff points than Lauren Betts, who just went #4 overall in the WNBA Draft on Monday night.
Marquette is now up to six players projected for the 2025-26 season. They still can’t run five player drills in workouts right now, as two of the projected players are Asp and fellow freshman Se’Crette Carter, who will not arrive on campus until this summer at the earliest. As of right now, it certainly looks like Marquette will start two freshmen in the backcourt. I would deeply suggest to Cara Consuegra and her staff that they do not let that come to pass, or at the very least, use the transfer portal to round up at least four more players and get themselves some experienced guard options. Nothing against the collection of Asp, Carter, and redshirt freshman JJ Barnes, but MU needs bodies at the very least right now, and options are crucial.
The Raiders have the No. 1 overall pick, and it seems a certainty they will draft Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza.
General Manager John Spytek acknowledged other teams have an interest in the top pick, but said the Raiders will use the pick without saying the Raiders will use the pick.
“We’ve gotten a few calls, and those teams know where they stand right now,” Spytek said Tuesday, via Adam Hill of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
The Raiders signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins as a bridge quarterback until Mendoza is ready to play. The team could fill out the card before the draft, unlike last year when they had to wait to take running back Ashton Jeanty sixth overall.
“A lot less energy spent on hypotheticals,” Spytek said. “There’s only one team that can get the exact person they want, and we have that option available to us if we so choose."
5 Takeaways From PSG’s 2-0 Win Over Liverpool in the Champions League
The 2-0 Score
Never change a winning team! Luis Enrique fielded the same starting XI that beat Liverpool last week at the Parc des Princes. PSG have kept two clean sheets against Liverpool and have qualified for the Champions League semi-finals for the sixth time in their history.
As in the first leg, though they struggled a little more, particularly in the first 15 minutes of the second half, Paris made the difference thanks to their Ballon d’Or winner. For the first goal, Bradley Barcola, who had just come on, broke down the left and reached the edge of the opposition’s box. He played the ball to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who found Ousmane Dembélé in the center. The Ballon d’Or winner curled a left-footed shot from 20 meters past Giorgi Mamardashvili (0-1, 72’). In stoppage time, PSG doubled their lead with a swift counter-attack. Vitinha played Kvaratskhelia in on the left, and the Georgian sent Barcola through on goal. The French international laid the ball off to Dembélé on the right, who slotted home with his right foot (0-2, 90+2).
Ousmane Dembélé in Ballon d’Or form
After a rather disappointing performance last week against the same Reds, Dembélé has returned to his best form; once again, he is the man for the big games. The French international has guided the defending champions into the semi-finals of the competition. He loves Anfield; he was the one who scored all three of Paris’s goals in the two matches against the Reds.
PSG has taken its mental game to the next level
Last year, at the same stage of the competition against Aston Villa, PSG also struggled at Villa Park and even lost (3-2). Against Liverpool, PSG were outplayed early in the second half, but this time, from the stands, you could sense that the Reds could have played for hours on end without managing to score. The reason, or rather the reasons, were Matvey Safonov, an impenetrable wall, a very solid defense, and players showing great solidarity. The perfect example was Marquinhos’s goal-line clearance and his sheer determination immediately afterward in the first half. The work Luis Enrique and his entire staff have done on the mental aspect is impressive.
Luis Enrique has guided PSG to the Champions League semi-finals for the third consecutive season
The Spaniard, who is expected to extend his contract with PSG until 2030, is the perfect manager for Paris. He has achieved the incredible feat of guiding the reigning European champions to the semi-finals for the third consecutive season. This is the first time a French club has achieved this feat. It speaks volumes about the immense influence Luis Enrique has established at Paris Saint-Germain.
Two players were forced off through injury, and Barcola’s return to action
The low point of the match was Nuno Mendes’ first-half injury; the Portuguese international is believed to have suffered a muscle strain. Another player to go off was Désiré Doué just before the hour mark; the French international appears to have taken a knock. Finally, in attack, the good news of the evening was Barcola’s return to the pitch; he played a major part in the victory by being involved in both of Ousmane Dembélé’s goals.
The 5-foot-11 guard from Barcelona, Spain, has spent the past three seasons as a Jayhawk.
Her best year came in 2024-25, when Conesa, as a sophomore, started 25 games and averaged 7.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game.
As a junior last season, Conesa primarily came off the bench — though she did start five games — and averaged 3.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, a career-high 2.1 assists and 1.0 steals per contest.
How does Laia Conesa fit into Utah’s 2026-27 plans?
Things are in flux for Utah right now, with six Utes entering the portal and four — LA Sneed, Reese Ross, Avery Hjelmstad and Brooke Walker — already announcing their next destinations.
All four are headed to other Big 12 schools — Sneed committed to Oklahoma State, Ross to Baylor, Hjelmstad to TCU and Walker to Colorado.
Combine that with three graduating players, including last year’s leading scorers in Lani White and Maty Wilke, and there are only four returning players at the current moment for Utah.
Conesa will have an opportunity to make an impact as a result of the high turnover.
The only guard expected to return for Utah is Ella Todd, who redshirted as a freshman in 2025-26 because of injury.
The Utes are also bringing in freshman guards Peyton Jones, a four-star talent rated the No. 67 talent in the 2026 class by ESPN, and Bountiful High’s Milika Satuala, as well as forward Emma Petrie and Kanab High center Rylee Little.
CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 28: Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Shemar Stewart (97) lines up for a play during the second half of the game against the Arizona Cardinals and the Cincinnati Bengals on December 28, 2025, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, OH. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
There’s no running from the fact that Shemar Stewart’s rookie season was a disappointment, even considering the fact that he was viewed as a project coming out of Texas A&M.
In addition to notching only one sack and 13 pressures, the edge rusher finished dead last at his position according to Pro Football Focus.
Plus, he only played in eight games on account of a knee injury that found him on injured reserve in the middle of the season.
Recently, Stewart’s position coach, David Montgomery, made the case on the Bengals Booth podcast (around the 24-minute mark) that last year’s first round pick will look a lot different with more time under his belt.
“Shemar missed six months of football,” Montgomery began. “He was injured. He missed most of the season. I would say there were times he wasn’t ready to be out there as a guy that just missed so much football.”
Montgomery then shifted to the future, saying, “I think with some development and a full offseason…he’s healthy, he’s doing a great job in his offseason training right now, I look for him to have a big year, and I’m excited about his future.”
In Montgomery’s defense, the argument is pretty solid; with more time, someone with Stewart’s tremendous athletic profile can grow tremendously. The question is if it’ll be enough for him to be the kind of impact player that the Bengals need on defense right now.
The 24-year-old forward was recalled earlier on Tuesday from the AHL’s Wranglers, where he has put together a strong season with 22 goals and 54 points in 55 games. After missing time with an injury, Kerins has quickly found his rhythm again lately. In the first week of April, he recorded three goals and four assists in just two games, earning AHL Player of the Week honours.
Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe made his first rehab start on Tuesday night, playing for Double-A Somerset and it was a bit of a mixed bag.
Volpe finished the game going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts, but he was going up against one of the best pitchers in the league, Zack Wheeler.
The Phillies ace was making a rehab start of his own, and the right-hander struck Volpe out swinging on three pitches. In Volpe's second at-bat, he put up more of a fight. Volpe worked the count full and fouled off a couple of pitches before Wheeler finally got the young infielder to strike out swinging on a nasty sweeper.
In the field, Volpe made every play hit to him at shortstop. Rehabbing from offseason shoulder surgery, Volpe is showing no effects of the injury that hampered his offensive and defensive performance in 2025. He was eventually pulled after five innings.
Volpe had his worst statistical season last year, batting .212 with 19 home runs and a career-low .272 OBP. He also had a career-high 19 errors in the field.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that Volpe will play about three to five innings in his first couple of starts before building him up. The Yankees skipper said that Volpe has had more than 50 live at-bats in the Yankees complex in Tampa and has put in a lot of work at shortstop, so he considers Volpe ahead of where players are at when spring training begins.
Anthony Volpe fields his first chance in his first rehab appearance for Somerset pic.twitter.com/mi70G9ozE7
Yankees top prospect George Lombard Jr. was also playing in Somerset on Tuesday and started at third base to pair with Volpe. Lombard was a victim of a Wheeler strikeout in the first inning, going down in six pitches. But the second at-bat, he launched a 3-1 pitch deep to right-center field, but the ball died at the wall and was caught for the first out of the fourth inning.
Lombard has had a hot start to his Double-A season. He entered Tuesday's game hitting .464 with five doubles, two home runs and four RBI in seven games.
The
Professional Fighters League on Thursday will get reacquainted
with Northern Ireland when
PFL Belfast touches down at the SSE Arena. A brief rundown for
those who want to watch the show:
Where to watch PFL Belfast in the United States
The broadcast of PFL Belfast will air live on ESPN2 and stream to
ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. You can find it here: PFL Belfast on ESPN2
Wilson, 28, climbs into the cage with an impressive 11-2 record.
The New Zealand native last fought at PFL Champions Series 3, where
he wound up on the wrong side of a unanimous decision against the
unbeaten Archie
Colgan on Oct. 3. Wilson has eight finishes to his credit,
including three of the sub-minute variety. On the other side of the
equation, Kelly steps in as a late-notice replacement for
compatriot Paul
Hughes. The
SBG Ireland export last competed on Sept. 26, when he disposed
of Bakhtiyar
Abdulloev in the first round of their PFL Europe 3
confrontation. Kelly has delivered seven of his nine career
victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission.
The event will be available to watch for United Kingdom viewers via
YouTube, with a start time 8 p.m. BST. You can watch it below:
PFL Belfast on
YouTube
A look at the complete PFL Belfast card as of April 15, 2026:
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow made headlines last season when it appeared he was rather fed up with losing.
It led some to think the star quarterback would seek a trade to an organization where he could win.
For Bengals fans, that's nightmare fuel. But we haven't really heard anything more since.
But for Bengals offensive lineman Orlando Brown, he was a guest on the Up & Adams Show with Kay Adams, and gave his thoughts on the rumors that Joe might look to be wanting out.
"At the end of the day, Joe gives his all for the city and he loves being a Bengal," Brown said. "He loves what he's doing for a living. Like I said, it all comes down to winning. We get in the playoffs, and we start putting ourselves in position to play in February, I think a lot of that kind of stuff will die down naturally."
With Burrow only playing a full season once in the last three years, staying healthy has been his biggest issue.
But with the Bengals not making the playoffs since 2022, that simply can't happen with a quarterback as good as Joe.
The Bengals have had a stellar offense, but the defense has let the team down badly. That has to change in 2026.
If Burrow and the offense keep putting up points, and the defense keeps giving them up, it could be another year of no playoff football for Burrow, and that won't be good for anyone.
ORLANDO, Fla. — This isn’t just another play-in game.
Not for the Orlando Magic. Not for coach Jamahl Mosley. Not for team president Jeff Weltman. Not for Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner or Jalen Suggs.
Wednesday night in Philadelphia isn’t about seeding or survival. It’s about something much bigger.
It’s about judgment.
It’s about direction.
It’s about whether everything the Magic have built over the past several years is actually working — or whether it just looked good on paper.
Because make no mistake: This moment — the next few days, the next couple of games and possibly the next couple of weeks — is a referendum on the Orlando Magic’s future.
Win Wednesday, and maybe this season still has a pulse. Maybe this young core validates the belief that it’s one of the most promising groups in the league. Maybe Mosley steadies his footing. Maybe Weltman’s patient, methodical rebuild continues uninterrupted.
Lose Wednesday, and it’s not over; at least not yet. The Magic would still get one more chance Friday night at home against the winner of the Miami-Charlotte matchup, a do-or-die game for the final playoff spot.
But let’s be honest: needing that second life would only amplify the questions, not silence them.
And if things go sideways for the Magic over the next two games — or even in the playoffs, should they get there — the questions that have been simmering all season will boil over.
About the coach.
About the roster.
About the toughness of this team.
About whether this pricey “homegrown core” is and actually good enough to matter.
And yes, even about everything from the strength and conditioning program to the direction of the franchise itself.
That may sound dramatic, but it’s not. This is the reality the Magic have created for themselves. Because here’s the truth: There are no more excuses. Not injuries. Not inconsistency. Not chemistry. Not timing.
All of that is gone now.
Franz Wagner is back. The core is intact. The roster is, for the most part, whole.
Would it have been nice to have a month or two to gel? Of course. But too bad. This is the NBA. Nobody waits for you to figure it out.
The Celtics didn’t need time. They locked up the No. 2 seed despite losing superstar Jayson Tatum for most of the season.
The Pistons didn’t need time. They held onto the No. 1 seed even with Cade Cunningham sidelined for weeks with a collapsed lung. Good teams adapt.
Good teams respond.
Good teams don’t spend April searching for urgency.
And yet, that’s exactly where the Magic are. Still searching. Still talking about it. Still trying to find something that should have been there all along.
“I think collectively, we just have to have more urgency. We can’t expect to win just because guys are out,” Banchero said after the Magic lost in the regular season finale to the Celtics.
Paolo’s comment wasn’t just about one game. It was about the entire season. Because Sunday’s 113-108 loss to a short-handed Celtics team — a team resting its top seven scorers — wasn’t an isolated failure.
It was a pattern — a familiar, frustrating, seasonlong pattern.
Lack of urgency.
Lack of focus.
Lack of consistency.
Time and time again, Mosley has pointed to it. After the 52-point embarrassment in Toronto. After the loss to a 16-win Indiana team. And again on Sunday with a chance to host the play-in game with Philly.
Quite frankly, it’s sad to keep hearing how other teams — less talented teams — are playing with more effort and energy than the Magic. This team has been propped up by its potential and its paychecks, living off of what it could be instead of what it is.
Remember the preseason?
Remember the buzz?
This was supposed to be one of the best young teams in the league. A rising force in a wide-open Eastern Conference. A group ready to take the next step.
“This is the first time since I got here where it feels serious in terms of expectations,” Banchero said before the season. “I love that because now it’s time to win.”
Well, here we are.
It’s time to win.
Not next year.
Not in theory.
Right now.
Because if this team can’t summon urgency for a win-or-go-home game — or two — then what exactly are we talking about here? If it folds under pressure again, then maybe the uncomfortable truth is this: Maybe this team just isn’t as good as we thought.
The stakes go far beyond one play-in game. They stretch across this entire play-in window and possibly into the playoffs. If the Magic win, they move on. They likely see Boston again. They get another chance to prove they belong.
If they stumble, they get one more shot to save their season. And if they survive all of that, they get the top-seeded Pistons in the first round of the playoffs. Then comes the ultimate test: proving this group can compete when it matters most.
We’ve already heard the chants from the not-so-cheap seats and the social media mob who want Mosley fired. We’ve already seen the frustration from fans. We’ve already questioned the team’s identity, toughness and manhood.
And, now, it all comes to head, and we will see who this team really is. Will this lost season continue to circle the drain or is this team willing to fight; not just for one game, but for its future?
You see, this isn’t just a play-in game.
It’s a mirror.
Except this time, there are no excuses; just the truth staring back at them.
Ademola Lookman (R) struck for Atletico to pull back Barcelona's lead and it proved vital as his team reached the Champions League semi-finals (Oscar DEL POZO)
Atletico Madrid sent 10-man Barcelona crashing out of the Champions League and reached the final four with a 3-2 aggregate victory despite Tuesday's 2-1 quarter-final second leg defeat.
Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres fired visitors Barca ahead inside 24 minutes but Ademola Lookman's strike gave Atletico the edge in the gripping all-Spanish tie once again after their 2-0 win in the first leg.
Diego Simeone's side returned to the semi-finals for the first time since 2017 by holding on against the La Liga champions in a compelling and bloody battle.
Barcelona defender Eric Garcia was sent off for bringing down Alexander Sorloth as he ran in on goal in the final stages, hampering their chances of finding a third goal to force extra-time.
Atletico, who have never won the competition and lost the 2014 and 2016 finals with Simeone at the helm, will face Arsenal or Sporting Lisbon in the semi-finals.
"(We're) very happy, knocking out a great Barca side. We had a great game away... it was really hard for us at the start (of this one), but the team knew how to get back on its feet," Atletico midfielder Koke told Movistar.
Barcelona last won the Champions League in 2015 and their wait for a sixth crown continues, but midfielder Frenkie de Jong said that the club was on the right path despite their elimination.
"I think we had a very good game, we gave our lives out there, we tried everything," said the Dutchman.
"I feel like luck was not on our side. We have to continue -- we're on a good path, we're growing every year."
Barca coach Hansi Flick benched forwards Marcus Rashford and Robert Lewandowski for workhorses Torres and Gavi, looking to press Atletico relentlessly in the sixth match between these sides this season.
Goalkeeper Juan Musso tipped a Yamal effort around his post after just 32 seconds, with Barca roaring out of the blocks in a fiery atmosphere at the Metropolitano stadium.
The teenage winger fired the visitors ahead after just four minutes when he harried Clement Lenglet into giving the ball away.
Torres nudged it back to Yamal who slipped a low shot through Musso's legs to hush the home fans and ignite Barca's attempted comeback bid.
Dani Olmo nearly grabbed a second but Musso was able to reach his attempted lob as Barca continued to dominate.
Antoine Griezmann had a shot deflected wide as Atletico showed occasional flashes, mostly through enterprising winger Lookman, who gave Jules Kounde a difficult night.
Barcelona doubled their lead in the 24th minute to level the tie on aggregate when Torres left Lenglet trailing, reached Olmo's pass and fired across Musso into the top corner.
Fermin Lopez could have notched Barca's third but Musso clawed out his header and left the midfielder bleeding after his boot caught the Spaniard in the face.
Atletico pulled their way back into the game in the 31st minute after Barca switched off defensively for the first time.
Marcos Llorente charged in down the right behind the Catalans' high defensive line and crossed for Lookman to convert.
- Another red card -
Barcelona were frustrated early in the second half when Torres volleyed home but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Flick sent on Rashford and Lewandowski with around 20 minutes remaining to find the goal that last season's semi-finalists needed.
Barca stopper Joan Garcia made a fine save with his leg to thwart Robin Le Normand from close range as Atletico almost pulled level on the night.
Matteo Ruggieri was left with blood streaming down his face after Gavi caught him with an elbow, with tensions rising.
The game spun away from Barca when Eric Garcia was sent off for clipping Sorloth's heels as he ran through on goal, similar to Pau Cubarsi's red card in the first leg.
Flick threw centre-back Ronald Araujo up front for the final stages but there was no way back and Atletico gritted their teeth through eight minutes of stoppage time before the celebrations could begin.
CHICAGO — The Chicago Sky were always waiting on Gabriela Jaquez.
Weeks before they selected the guard with the No. 5 pick in the 2026 WNBA draft on Monday, general manager Jeff Pagliocca and head coach Tyler Marsh had already landed on Jaquez as their preferred pick.
There are plenty of obvious reasons why the guard appealed to the Sky. Pagliocca wanted to add another wing to the backcourt, creating a crucial balance between on-ball playmaking guards like Skylar Diggins and off-ball creators like DiJonai Carrington.
Jaquez is a 6-foot guard who fits the prototype of length and shooting acumen preferred for Marsh’s system. She shot the ball at a blazing 39% in her senior season. And her defensive savvy stood out on a stacked UCLA roster that just won the NCAA championship.
“It’s hard for us to pass up on a 6-foot shooter that plays hard,” Pagliocca said Monday. “She can play on any team in this league. She’s going to be perfect for us here. … Tyler loves shooting. I love shooting. The fact that she’s a two-way player helps even more.”
But for the Sky, picking Jaquez reflected more than her value on the court. The guard will be a crucial piece of the effort to recalibrate the team’s culture.
Jaquez played all four years of her college career with the Bruins — averaging 9.9 points, five rebounds and 1.6 assists — and elevated her game to a new level during UCLA’s run to the championship. She averaged 13.5 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.1 steals as an anchor of the team that won the first NCAA title in program history, but her contributions as a stabilizing force went far beyond her stat line.
When the front office began to narrow in on Jaquez as their preferred pick, Marsh called UCLA coach Cori Close for her assessment of the senior. Close didn’t want to talk about the X’s and O’s of Jaquez’s style of play. Instead, she spoke to the character of one of the most beloved players in program history.
“All the things that you see on TV is what she exudes each day,” Marsh said. “That’s what you hope for in a player. Someone that can practice the same way that they play on a nightly basis, that’s paramount for a young player.”
In her WNBA rookie season, Jaquez will have a simple set of responsibilities on offense — space the floor, crash the boards and take as many 3-pointers as possible.
Marsh noted that he sees Jaquez as a similar player to Carrington, just in a different package. Both are capable of making a profound impact on the game without the ball in their hands through cutting, motion and secondary actions. Their defense can upend an opponent’s momentum. And with Carrington as a mentor, the Sky believe that Jaquez can grow into an elite two-way guard in Chicago.
“She doesn’t quit,” Pagliocca said. “She’ll dig out a loose ball or rebound up 30 or down 30. That’s who we’re trying to be now — tough all the time.”
Her UCLA teammate, center Lauren Betts, was selected No. 4 by the Washington Mystics, and Bruins point guard Kiki Rice went No. 6 to the expansion Toronto Tempo, making it three consecutive UCLA players.
The Mystics picked another ex-Bruin, forward and Maine West alumna Angela Dugalić, at No. 9. UCLA’s five first-round selections, and six players selected in one draft, are now WNBA records.
Jaquez comes from a family of athletes, and her brother Jaime Jaquez Jr. plays for the Miami Heat. In Chicago, she’ll have the opportunity to space the floor while learning behind veteran guards such as Diggins and Carrington.
Connecticut guard Azzi Fudd was the No. 1 pick by the Dallas Wings. The Minnesota Lynx then used the No. 2 pick — which they received from the Sky as part of a 2024 trade for the pick used to draft Angel Reese — to select former Notre Dame and TCU point guard Olivia Miles.
The Sky acquired the No. 5 pick from the Connecticut Sun in the July 2024 trade that sent Marina Mabrey to the Sun.
The Sky selected Latasha Lattimore at No. 21, the sixth pick in the second round. A 6-foot-4 forward, Lattimore played for four different teams throughout her five-year NCAA career — one season at Texas, two at Miami, one at Virginia and a final year at Mississippi. She averaged 10.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game as a senior with Mississippi.
“Latasha is an extremely athletic big who can do just about anything,” Pagliocca said in a statement. “She also brings a long history of playing at a high level. We’re excited to have her on the squad.”
The Sky made their final selection with the second pick in the third round, adding guard Tonie Morgan to their backcourt at No. 32. Morgan is a 5-foot-9 guard who transferred to Kentucky for her senior season after playing her first three years at Georgia Tech. She averaged 13.8 points and 7.9 assists for the Wildcats last season.
The Patriots might be pursuing a trade for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown, but it's unlikely that any deal will go through until after June 1.
If the Eagles decide to trade Brown before June 2, they would face a hefty dead cap hit of $43 million this season. However, if they make the trade after the first, that hit would drop to around $16 million.
The main concern with the Patriots trading for Brown after June 1 is that it would occur after the NFL draft. If New England doesn't believe it can secure Brown for sure, drafting a receiver in the first round could be a viable option.
Patriots reporter Greg Bedard believes that if New England selects a wide receiver in either the first or second round of the draft, it might affect its chances of acquiring Brown.
"If the Patriots draft a wide receiver at 31, arguably also in the second round, I think that takes them out of A.J. Brown," Bedard said Tuesday on Patriots on CLNS. "You're gonna invest a first-round pick or trade up to get a wide receiver, you signed Romeo Doubs, AND you're gonna get A.J. Brown? Sorry, I don't buy it!"
It will be interesting to see how the Patriots approach the draft, and if they decide to take a receiver early, there’s a good chance Brown won’t be heading to New England.
Arne Slot's future as Liverpool manager is in doubt (Paul ELLIS)
Mohamed Salah's glorious Liverpool career will have an anti-climactic end after Paris Saint-Germain swatted aside Arne Slot's men in a meek Champions League exit that will ensure a trophyless season for the Reds.
Ousmane Dembele struck twice as for the second consecutive season Liverpool were eliminated by the French champions on their own turf.
Last season there was at least pride in bowing out only on penalties to the side that would go on to win the Champions League.
Just over 12 months on, there was a chasm between the teams over two legs as PSG won 2-0 at Anfield on Tuesday to progress 4-0 on aggregate without even having to hit top gear.
Fresh from winning the Premier League in Slot's debut season, Liverpool embarked on a £450 million ($605 million) splurge in the transfer window that was supposed to build on the club's rise back to the top of the English and European game during Jurgen Klopp's tenure.
But the campaign began with tragedy when Diogo Jota died in a car accident on his way back for pre-season training.
How much the emotional toll of losing a treasured team-mate has played since cannot by quantified.
But a shambolic season on the field has left Slot's position in serious jeopardy and already had consequences for the squad.
Salah has brought the curtain down on his time on Merseyside a year early after signing a two-year deal just 12 months ago.
The Egyptian, who unleashed an explosive tirade towards Slot in December for being dropped, started on the bench for both legs against PSG.
Andy Robertson has also announced his exit come the end of the campaign, leaving Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker and Joe Gomez as the only survivors from the Liverpool side that last won the Champions League in 2019.
- Alonso available -
Anticipating a tough transition from the dying embers of the team that Klopp built, Liverpool broke their own transfer record twice last summer, spending over £100 million on Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz.
Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez also joined as Liverpool spent more than any club ever has in a single transfer window.
But to fund the rebuild there were more exits than incomings.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz have proved to be massive losses, while a lack of depth has been exacerbated by significant injuries.
For the first time all five new signings started the second leg against PSG.
But they lasted less than half an hour together before Ekitike suffered a suspected ruptured Achilles that could keep the French international sidelined for well into next season.
"It is part of our season," said Slot. "We had Alex, Hugo and Florian together for only 88 minutes before tonight. We added 28 minutes and I would be surprised if we can add a few more minutes to that (this season)."
Isak, signed for an English record £125 million from Newcastle, was making his first start since suffering a broken leg in December.
Frimpong's first season at Anfield has also been decimated by recurring muscle injuries and had to be replaced once more at half-time by Gomez.
Wirtz has stayed fit but been a pale imitation of the player that led Bayer Leverkusen to Bundesliga glory two years ago.
Sitting fifth in the Premier League, all that is left for Slot's side to fight for in the coming weeks is to make sure they are back in the Champions League next season.
With five places up for grabs for English sides and a four-point cushion over sixth-placed Chelsea, they should still make it.
But whether Slot will still be in charge come next season is in doubt.
Liverpool fans chanted the name of former midfield favourite Xabi Alonso during a 4-0 FA Cup defeat to Manchester City earlier this month.
Alonso, who departed Real Madrid in January, is the prime candidate to take over if Slot is shown no mercy just a year on from winning the Premier League.
A familiar face on the European mixed martial arts scene since he
was a teenager, Portugal’s Pedro
Carvalho remains best known to fans around the globe for his
11-fight stint in Bellator
MMA.
“The Game” takes another swing at his first
Professional Fighters League win when he meets Sergio
Cossio in a
PFL Belfast catchweight showcase on Thursday at the SSE Arena
in Northern Ireland. Their confrontation will be contested at 165
pounds.
“Retrospectively, I can only feel happy about my career up to this
point,” he told Sherdog.com. “I hope that things are even better
going forward.”
Even so, the setbacks against Loughnane and Kamaka were difficult
to swallow.
“I felt disillusioned with the sport,” Carvalho admitted. “Both
fights were very unfair. Against Loughnane, it was a bad stoppage.
Even the referee apologized after the fight. Against Kamaka, I feel
the judges’ decision in his favor was poorly issued. I disconnected
from the sport for a long time after that. I didn’t want to have
anything to do it. I wasn’t in a good space, psychologically.
“I eventually resolved to get back to training, which is something
I enjoy,” he added. “I love training. That’s how I learned to love
the sport again. I got back to a good place, a good mental space.
My hunger to fight came back.”
Season of renewal
Carvalho returned at a Warriors Night Championship show on Oct. 18,
when he captured the promotion’s vacant featherweight title with a
first-round rear-naked choke submission of Damien
Lapilus. It was over in 2:10.
“I didn’t necessarily have to make any corrections,” Carvalho said.
“I’ve come to make use of my natural talents in the best way
possible. It’s my priority now. I had spent so many years working
tirelessly, trying to become world champion, but I was never
employing the person I truly am. Beyond simply learning or
correcting past mistakes, the key is to know how to use what I
already have. I am the best version of myself now.”
Cossio presents plenty of challenges. The 31-fight veteran owns a
19-11 record, with 15 finishes among those 19 victories. He struck
gold previously in the LUX Fight League organization.
“I very much enjoy facing fighters like Cossio,” Carvalho said.
“He’s someone who shows up to fight. He doesn’t waste time. I think
some opponents underestimated him but were surprised after not
being able to submit him. Their gas ran out. He fights with a lot
of heart, but I know that I’m better than him in every area. I’ll
get ready for three rounds. I won’t make the mistake of wasting my
energy trying to submit him in vain, as happened to other guys who
fought him. I believe I can get a finish within the first two
rounds, but I will simply focus on winning and showcasing what I’m
capable of.”
Caravalho continues to train in and represent his native Portugal,
as well as Ireland.
“I have a great connection with Ireland,” he said. “This will feel
like a home game. I am very proud that people see me as—and call
me—Ireland’s adoptive son. I look at Ireland with a lot of love and
respect. They’ve always supported me as one of their own. I’m very
thankful for that, and I’ll represent them wherever I go. That’s
how it will be on fight night.”
Carvalho, who turns 31 in June, feels positive about the
future.
“I’m focused on accomplishing much more in my 30s than I did in my
20s,” he said. “I already captured a belt. I’ll continue my climb.
I’m excited to carve my path in the PFL.”
The shameless Toronto Maple Leafs have been the NHL’s second-worst hockey team since February 25, securing just five wins in the last 22 games. Yes, you read that right.
For reference, in that same time period, the Boston Bruins have won 13 games despite having an incredibly frustrating five-game losing streak to start April.
This matters to Bruins fans because the Maple Leafs owe the Bruins their first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
However, the pick is top-five protected. This means that the Maple Leafs will be able to keep their pick if they earn a top-five selection in the NHL’s draft lottery.
Exactly one month ago, I published an article saying that the Bruins were in great shape to get a very good selection out of Toronto. Unfortunately, since writing that article, the Maple Leafs have won just four games, including the egregious six-game skid they are currently on, in which they have (purposefully) allowed teams to outscore them 32-17.
As it stands now, the Maple Leafs have a 44% chance to get the sixth pick, and a 14.2% chance to get the seventh. Both of those picks would go to Boston.
They also have a 24.5% chance of getting the fifth pick, and an 8.6% and 8.5% chance of getting the second and first, respectively. Any of these would stay with Toronto.
When it’s all said and done, Boston will have a roughly 58.2%, or 5-in-8, chance of getting the pick -- much worse odds than they had one month ago.
In her resignation letter to The Athletic's executive editor, Steven Ginsberg, she struck an often defiant tone, writing in part: "(C)ommentators in various media have engaged in self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts. Moreover, this media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete. It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I have no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept.
"Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now − before my current contract expires on June 30. I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career.”
However in a letter to The Athletic's staff, Ginsberg not only acknowledged Russini's sudden departure but expressed that, during the course of the investigation into her conduct, "new questions were raised."
Here’s what The Athletic editor Steven Ginsberg sent to the company after Dianna Russini’s resignation: pic.twitter.com/LhdcjHDQDt
Ginsberg had originally expressed support for Russini after the Post's photos showed her and Vrabel in bathing suits poolside as well as hugging on a rooftop at the Ambiente in Sedona, Arizona, days before each of them attended the NFL's annual league meeting in Phoenix. Both Vrabel, 50, and Russini, 43, are married to other people with whom they have children.
"These photos are misleading and lack essential context," Ginsberg said in a statement on April 8. "These were public interactions in front of many people. Dianna is a premier journalist covering the NFL and we’re proud to have her at The Athletic."
In his letter to staffers Tuesday, Ginsberg wrote in part: "While I can't share the details of our investigation into Dianna's conduct, I want to emphasize that the leadership of The Athletic has taken this matter seriously from the moment that we learned about it. ... When this situation was brought to our attention last week, there were clear concerns, but we received a detailed explanation and it was our instinct to support and defend a colleague while we continued to review the matter. As additional information emerged, new questions were raised that became part of our investigation."
According to the Times' editorial standards handbook, "Relationships with sources require sound judgment and self discipline to prevent the fact or appearance of partiality."
"Clearly, romantic involvement with a news source would foster an appearance of partiality," the handbook also states. "Therefore staff members who develop close relationships with people who might figure in coverage they provide, edit, package or supervise must disclose those relationships to the standards editor."
The handbooks goes on to state that, "To avoid such conflicts, staff members may not write, edit or oversee coverage about people to whom they are related by blood or marriage or with whom they have close personal relationships."
Vrabel addressed the pictures the day after they were published.
"These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable," he told the Post in a statement last week.
He has not said anything since, and the Patriots haven't offered much more. Asked on April 13 about Vrabel's role as the team prepares for the upcoming NFL draft, New England vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf said the coach had been, "Very involved. Business as usual. He’s been in there with us a little more than he was last year."
Vrabel is expected to speak to reporters at some point during next week's draft, which runs from April 23-25.
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MADRID (AP) — Barcelona forward Raphinha criticized the refereeing after Barcelona's elimination against Atletico Madrid in the quarterfinals of the Champions League on Tuesday.
Raphinha, who didn't play because of a hamstring injury, also gestured toward Atletico fans after the game, apparently indicating that the team will be eliminated in the next round. He also made a “robbed” sign with his hands toward the crowd at the Metropolitano stadium.
Barcelona won 2-1 on Tuesday but it wasn't enough to overcome a 2-0 loss at home last week.
“To me, it was robbed,” he told reporters. “Not only this match, but the other one as well. The refereeing was very bad. Incredible the decisions that they made. Atletico made a lot of fouls and the referee didn't show a single yellow card.”
Barcelona had Pau Cubarsí sent off in the first half of the opening game, and Eric García was shown a red card on Tuesday in the 79th minute.
Barcelona also complained of other refereeing decisions during both matches. It made a complaint to UEFA about a possible penalty in its favor in the first leg, and players complained of another penalty on Tuesday.
“I wish I could understand the fear that they have to see Barcelona winning,” Raphinha said.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick complained after the first game but said after the return leg that he wouldn't talk about the referees. He said his team deserved better luck after how it played.
“When you see both matches ... we were much better than Atletico,” Flick said. “But at the end it's like that, and we have to accept it.”
Barcelona's next match is against Celta Vigo in the Spanish league. The Catalan club leads the league by nine points over second-place Real Madrid after 31 rounds.
SARASOTA, FLORIDA - MARCH 04: Colton Gordon #61 of the Houston Astros delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles during a Grapefruit League spring training game at Ed Smith Stadium on March 04, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Astros (6-11) return home tonight to begin a 3-game series vs. the Colorado Rockies (6-10) as they seek to end an 8-game slide.
LHP Colton Gordon will make his first start of the season as he takes on Rockies RHP Michael Lorenzen.
TONIGHT’S ASTROS STARTER: LHP Colton Gordon will make his first start of the season for the Astros tonight…Gordon began the 2026 season with Triple A Sugar Land, where he was 1-1 with a 1.76 ERA (3ER/15.1IP) in three starts while posting an 0.98 WHIP. His last start was on April 8 vs. Ta- coma (5.1 IP, 0 ER).
Gordon, who was the Astros 8th pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, made his ML debut last season, appearing in 20 games (14 GS) for the Astros (6-4, 5.34 ERA)as a result of a rash of injuries, Gordon finished T-3rd on the Astros staff in both starts (14) and innings pitched (86.0).
He recorded his 1st ML win on June 6 at CLE (5 IP, 5H, 0 R, 5 SO). He was a member of Team Israel in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
NEED A WIN: The Astros need a win to snap an 8-game losing streak, which is their longest since ending the 2013 season with a 15-game losing streak (Sept. 14-29).
VS. THE ROCKIES: The Astros were swept by the Rockies last week in a 3-game series at Coors Field (April 6-9). HOU was 4-2 vs. COL in 2025 and has a 110-90 record vs. the Rockies all-time.
ROCKING THE ROCKIES: Christian Walker has enjoyed facing the Rockies throughout his career, posting a .330 avg. (120×364) vs. them with 28 HR and 75 RBI with a 1.009 OPS. His career avg., RBI and OPS vs. COL are his best vs. any club (min. 10g) while his 28 HR are 2nd to his 29 HR vs. the Dodgers.
Walker was 5×13 (.385) with a HR in his three games at Coors Field last week.
HOME-COOKIN: Tonight is the first game of a 6-game homestand for the Astros. On the stand, HOU will host COL (Mon-Wed.) and STL (Fri.-Sun.), respectively. The Astros enter tonight’s game on a 5-game home winning streak. HOU is 5-2 overall at Daikin Park in 2026.
REMEMBERING PHIL: Prior to tonight’s game, the Astros will play a tribute video followed by a moment of silence for former player/manager Phil Garner. Sadly, Garner passed away over the weekend after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
As manager in 2005, Garner led the Astros to their first World Series appearance, famously rallying that club from a 15-30 start after 45 games.
ROSTER MOVE: The Astros have added RHP Spencer Arrighetti to the Taxi Squad.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Tuesday, April 14, 7:10 p.m. CST
Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
TV: Space City Home Network
Streaming: SCHN+
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
NEW DELHI: Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL campaign took another hit as Chennai Super Kings handed them a 32-run defeat on a tricky, two-paced pitch.
Chasing 193, KKR never really looked in control and eventually finished at 160/7. The loss exposed issues in their batting approach and overall planning, with the team now losing four of their first five matches.
KKR’s batting falters under pressure
KKR’s chase started poorly and kept slipping as wickets fell in clusters. Noor Ahmad turned the game with a brilliant spell, removing key batters including Ajinkya Rahane, Rinku Singh and Cameron Green, as KKR collapsed from 79/2 to 90/6. Akeal Hossain also kept things tight, adding to the pressure.
Rahane (28 off 22) and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (27 off 19) added a 50-run stand, but their slow approach hurt the chase, especially on a pitch where scoring wasn’t easy. Early blows from Anshul Kamboj and Khaleel Ahmed removed Finn Allen and Sunil Narine, further denting KKR’s hopes.
— KKRiders (@KKRiders)
Rovman Powell (31 off 22) and Ramandeep Singh (35* off 23) tried to fight back with a late partnership, but by then the required rate had climbed too high.
CSK build, then control the game
Earlier, CSK got off to a flying start, scoring 72/2 in the powerplay thanks to Sanju Samson (48 off 32) and Ayush Mhatre (38 off 17). Mhatre’s aggressive strokeplay, including two sixes and a “Kapil Dev-style Nataraja Shot” provided early momentum.
After the powerplay, KKR’s spinners, Sunil Narine, Anukul Roy and Varun Chakravarthy,slowed things down effectively, conceding just 68 runs in 10 overs. Kartik Tyagi also impressed with his pace and variations at the death.
Dewald Brevis (41 off 29) and Sarfaraz Khan (23 off 18) ensured CSK reached a competitive total of 192/5.
CSK’s balanced performance with both bat and ball proved too strong, while KKR’s outdated batting approach and poor execution cost them dearly.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 19: Brock Stewart #41 of the Los Angeles Dodgers poses for a photo during Los Angeles Dodgers Photo Day at Camelback Ranch on February 19, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — If the nine Dodgers pitchers on the injured list, Brock Stewart is the closest one to returning to the majors. But up first for the veteran right-hander is a minor league rehab assignment, which starts Tuesday night for the Class-A Ontario Tower Buzzers, about 42 miles east of Dodger Stadium.
Stewart resumed throwing late in spring training, and threw a simulated game at Dodger Stadium on March 27, during the first homestand of the season, before continuing to rehab at Camelback Ranch in Arizona. Pitchers are allowed up to 30 days on a minor league rehab assignment, and Stewart will probably need the majority of that time to build back up a number of games before getting activated.
“You’re sort of looking at a spring training, and how many outings a reliever takes,” manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday, “That’s probably what it’s going to take.”
A few veterans who got off to late starts in Cactus League play during spring training might have something close to the template Stewart might follow on his rehab assignment. Tanner Scott’s first game in camp was February 28, and he pitched 10 games in 24 days. Blake Treinen’s first game was February 26, and he pitched nine games in 25 days.
As for whom Stewart might replace in the Dodgers bullpen, there’s still plenty of time to work that out. Will Klein (1.17 ERA, 2.02 xERA in 7 2/3 innings) and Edgardo Henriquez (5.40 ERA, 3.71 xERA in five innings) have done pretty well but have also pitched in the lowest-leverage innings, on average, relative to the rest of the relief corps. Ben Casparius was pitching in nearly league-average leverage before getting placed on the injured list on Monday, with Kyle Hurt called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
“When he gets closer, certainly that will be a conversation. I hope we have that, it means everyone is healthy and then hopefully it’s a tough conversation,” Roberts said. “With [Stewart] being out, with other guys being out, it’s a good opportunity to see some guys. I’m happy Kyle Hurt is here, and obviously we get a longer look at Edgardo and guys like that.”
Newman grad Ellie Rude hits hole-in-one: Newman graduate and St. Ambrose University sophomore Ellie Rude aced the 147-yard 13th hole at Randall Oaks Country Club in West Dundee, Ill., on Tuesday, April 7.
She led the Bees with an 85, tying for 12th individually at the 18-team Judson Spring Invite. SAU tied for eighth as a team.
She shot a 42 on the front nine and 43 on the back nine. She birdied her first hole.
Sterling graduate and Augustana College senior Blake Nettleton was named Co-Pitcher of the Week by the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin.
Nettleton had 15 strikeouts in 8⅓ innings, allowing five hits and two walks in a 9-0 win over North Central on Saturday. He threw 124 pitches to improve to 6-1 on the season as the Vikings swept North Central and improved to 20-7 overall.
Nettleton leads the team with 52 innings pitched and six wins over nine starts. His 2.77 earned run average is second on the team.
Few players in NHL history have had as long a career as Anže Kopitar. The Los Angeles Kings captain made his debut during the 2006-07 season and has since skated in over 1,500 regular-season games. During that time, he has won multiple Stanley Cups and a few NHL Awards, while also being a significant pain for the Vancouver Canucks.
Of Kopitar's 1,519 regular-season games, 73 have come against the Canucks. In those games, he has recorded 62 points and picked up five game-winners. Kopitar was also part of the Kings team that upset Vancouver in the 2012 playoffs, which is the same year he would go on to capture his first Stanley Cup.
"He's gifted," said Adam Foote ahead of Kopitar's final game against the Canucks on Tuesday. "He's a true pro. A big, heavy player, consistent. That's what I've talked about, the process. He just comes to work every day, and you do it and grind, and things fall into place for you. That's what a pro does. He was able to win a cup leading that way, and he's been consistent, and that's why he's played the 1500. He takes care of his body. It's no fluke. He put the work in."
One player who has faced off against Kopitar plenty in his career is defenceman Marcus Pettersson. The two have battled 17 times in the regular season, with Kopitar holding a 10-2-5 record against Pettersson. At morning skate on Tuesday, Pettersson took some time to talk about what made Kopitar such a difficult player to match up against.
"Yeah, it's been a huge honour, said Pettersson. "He's one of those guys, where anybody you talk to throughout the league respects him and loves what he brings to the game. And he's got a reputation around him for being one of the best people in the league, too. I know some of the guys in their team, like (Adrian) Kempe, played a couple of worlds with him and stuff like that. And just to be able to talk to him, and every time you bring his name up, it's been spoken about in such a high regard. Whether it's as a person or as a player. I was actually fortunate enough to see him during, I think it was a 2013 lockout when he was in Sweden playing. Saw him one time there. And yeah, just the poise that he has. The heart that he brings on the ice, and the leadership that he exemplifies, is something I think everybody in this league can try and follow. Huge congrats to him, and would be happy to see him go for another long run."
Vancouver's final home game of the season is scheduled for Tuesday night. While the Canucks are locked into their standings position, Los Angeles is fighting for playoff positioning. Game time at Rogers Arena is scheduled for 7:00 pm PT.
Mar 26, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Zeev Buium (24) and defenseman Tom Willander (5) watch as Los Angeles Kings forward Anze Kopitar (11) redirects a puck on goalie Kevin Lankinen (32) in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard had high praise for the Golden State Warriors ahead of Wednesday's Play-In Tournament matchup.
Leonard knows the organization quite well, as the 14-year forward has spent plenty of time as their opponent. Leonard battled the Warriors in the playoffs as a member of the San Antonio Spurs and in the 2019 NBA Finals as a member of the Toronto Raptors.
"He's (Curry) one of the greatest players to play this game," Leonard said. "Even if it's just a pickup game, just being able to share the floor with a player like that, being coached by Steve Kerr, also playing with Draymond, that unit over there of championship pedigree. It's a great opportunity. You can't take it for granted."
Leonard and the Clippers enter the game as slight favorites, having taken the season series 3-1.
The 2026 PGA Tour season began with Tiger Woods holding firm in the top spot on the career money list with $120.99 million, but Rory McIlroy ($107.98 million) and Scottie Scheffler ($99.45 million) were closing in on him fast.
Now that the big paydays from the Masters have been accounted for, those two are inching closer to Tiger's long-held mark.
Here's a look at where the top pros stand on the career money list as of April 14, 2026.
The Cincinnati Bengals have everything in place — especially on the offensive side of the ball — to be an annual contender in the AFC.
With the current young offensive nucleus of QB Joe Burrow and wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, the Bengals finished the 2021 season with a (10-7) record and made a magical run through the playoffs to reach the Super Bowl, before ultimately falling to the Rams by three points in the big game.
The following season, it looked like the Bengals were ready to pick up where they left off. They cruised to a (12-4) regular season finish in 2022 and made it to the AFC Championship, before falling by just three points yet again, this time to the Chiefs.
Somehow, the Bengals front office has been able to keep their young core in tact by giving Burrow, Chase and Higgins massive paydays to stay in Cincinnati, but the results over the last few years have fallen off significantly.
Burrow’s 2023 season was cut short due to a wrist ligament tear and he missed significant time last year with a turf toe injury that required surgery. Perhaps the most frustrating year was in 2024, where Burrow put up a MVP-caliber season with 4,918 yards, 43 touchdowns, nine interceptions and a QB rating of 108.5.
But the Bengals couldn’t stop anyone on defense and the cracks on the roster from the money allotted to the big three offensive payers started to show.
The Bengals are coming off a (6-11) record and three straight seasons where they missed the playoffs, so naturally, Burrow’s name began popping up in trade rumors this offseason.
Bengals OT Orlando Brown gives blunt perspective on Joe Burrow trade rumors
"At the end of the day, no matter where you are, winning cures all," he told Kay Adams. "These last three years, we haven't been in the playoffs, so of course that kind of buzz is going to come. I think that's part of the business. That's part of PR. That's part of drawing money and attention. Whether it's real or not, I don't think it's real.
"At the end of the day, Joe gives his all for the city and he loves being a Bengal. He loves what he's doing for a living. Like I said, it all comes down to winning. We get in the playoffs, and we start putting ourselves in position to play in February, I think a lot of that kind of stuff will die down naturally."
Burrow is widely considered one of the top five quarterback talents in the NFL, so it’s hard to see the Bengals seriously considering a trade for him.
Danny Sprinkle and the Washington Huskies are looking for some high-end, reliable scorers in the transfer portal as the head coach looks to overhaul his roster again ahead of his third season on Montlake.
According to a report from The Athletic's Tobias Bass, the Huskies are among a group of Power Four programs in touch with Long Beach State transfer Gavin Sykes, one of the top scorers available in the portal. The 6-foot-4 freshman led the Dirtbags, averaging 19.4 points per game (No. 2 in the Big West) while adding 3 rebounds and 1.5 assists per contest across his 28 appearances, where he made 28 starts.
Those numbers earned him the conference's Freshman of the Year award as well as a spot on the All-Big West Second Team. On top of that, he's also generated interest from Gonzaga, Indiana, North Carolina State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Virginia Tech, alongside the Huskies.
Since entering the transfer portal, Gavin Sykes has heard from the following schools:
Oklahoma Washington Oklahoma St Gonzaga Indiana NC State Virginia Tech
Sprinkle is bracing to lose his top two scorers from the 2025-26 season, with forward Hannes Steinbach widely expected to declare for the NBA draft, while guard Zoom Diallo is in the transfer portal. That means the Huskies need to build a backcourt to help out rising junior guard Wesley Yates III.
Sykes, who shot 38.7 percent from three-point range last season, would also be a welcome addition in Washington's biggest area of need. The Huskies finished No. 17 in the Big Ten last season, shooting 31.4 percent from long range, and after adding Davidson transfer Parker Friedrichsen on Sunday night, Sprinkle still needs more sharpshooters to round out his rotation.
After losing freshman guards JJ Mandaquit and Courtland Muldrew to the portal, the Huskies are in the midst of yet another roster retooling, but Sykes would be a great way to jumpstart Sprinkle's rebuild. However, reeling in his commitment won't be easy.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 02: Isaiah Smith #1 of the Southern Methodist University Mustangs works against Matthew Lado #73 of the Arizona Wildcats during the first half of the Trust & Will Holiday Bowl game at Snapdragon Stadium on January 02, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Acquiring quality offensive linemen from the NCAA transfer portal in general is tough, getting good ones at tackle is even more difficult. Yet somehow Arizona hit two bullseyes last offseason with the addition of Ty Buchanan and Tristan Bounds, who went on to make a combined 21 starts at left and right tackle, respectively.
This time around, though, the Wildcats weren’t nearly as aggressive in seeking transfers for the outside of the offensive line. They added Nathan Hale from San Jose State and Jake Griffin from BYU, but neither is expected to be a starter this fall.
Those jobs are reserved for Bounds, who received a medical redshirt to play a sixth year, and Matthew Lado, a redshirt sophomore who stepped in for Bounds after he went down for the season in mid-November.
“I’m extremely impressed and excited with Matthew Lado,” Oglesby said. “For him, having the opportunity to be in those games and be in the mix and be part of meaningful games and meaningful wins has just caused his confidence to explode. He is super exciting to watch. I won’t call it a surprise, because it’s something that everyone in the building knew was there, and now we’re excited to see it kind of come to fruition.”
The 6-foot-6, 318-pound Lado, one of three players the UA signed out of Glendale Apollo High School in 2024 but the only one that didn’t follow Jedd Fisch to Washington, logged 346 snaps last fall. Early on it was late in blowouts, at left tackle, but in the bowl eligibility-clinching win over Kansas on Nov. 8 he had to come in for Buchanan in the second half and helped clear the path for Quincy Craig’s game-winning touchdown run.
A week later at Cincinnati, Bounds went down with a leg injury and Lado played the final 17 snaps before starting the final three games including the Holiday Bowl.
“When you’re a (backup) you always have to ready to play,” Lado said. “And that’s the expectation in the O-line room, to always be ready to perform if someone goes down, next man up.”
It wasn’t known that Bounds would get a sixth year until after the season, which Oglesby said did cause some stress with how Arizona would pursue replacements. Once they learned Bounds was back, though, a “big sigh of relief” went through the football offices.
Bounds is not participating in spring practices, but in his place redshirt freshman Louis Apka has gotten a lot of run. Hale, Griffin and Griffin’s younger brother, redshirt freshman Jaxon Griffin have also been rotated in, and that’s not even mentioning Rhino Tapa’toutai, who has made the switch to guard but can still play tackle if needed.
“It’s one of the deepest tackle situations I’ve been a part of in a long time,” Oglesby said. “We are very deep at tackle. It’s one of those things where you look up and are like, how did that happen?”
Tapa’atoutai started six games at left tackle as a redshirt freshman in 2024 before getting hurt, then started at right tackle against Weber State and Kansas State last September before Bounds took over that position. The decision to move him inside, where he’s likely to take over for Chubba Ma’ae at left guard, was done to enable Arizona to play its best five linemen at the same time.
“Him moving inside is beneficial to him but for us as a unit, as a team,” Oglesby said. “Let him use his violence and physicality more on the inside. I think the inside suits him a little bit better.”
Three-time Olympian Taylor Phinney is launching a cycling comeback — switching back to the track — in a bid to race at the LA28 Olympics, some 44 years after his parents won medals at the LA Games.
Phinney, a 35-year-old who retired in 2019, hopes to make the U.S. men's team pursuit squad for LA28.
NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS could I have predicted this…but here we are :) the old horse still has some kick.
“COMEBACK3000”
What started as a return to gravel racing has delicately snowballed into a full on Olympic dream. It’s been super fun and rewarding to find the love for training and ripping high speeds again over the past few months. Huge thank you to @usacycling and especially @allenskratch for planting this seed of an idea in my brain. I laughed it off at first, but with encouragement from wifey @kasianiewiadoma94 the seed started to grow and before I knew it all I could think of was closing this final loop in my cycling career.
The track was where I first found love and success in this sport, it was even the first discipline to break my heart when my specialty event, the individual pursuit, was removed from the Olympic program, which prompted me to swiftly abandon the track and go all in on the road. Recently the USA boys have been making huge strides in the Team Pursuit, and I couldn’t be more stoked to be joining them in the chase for the Olympic Dream.
I have a lot of work to do in the gym and refining the position, but after my first camp with them (and first time in a tt position in probably 7 years…) I must say, it’s awesome to be back in a team environment. I’m happy with how I slotted into the group considering I’ve only been “back” training since November, and I look forward to stepping up over the course of the next two years. The energy and vibe of the squad is top notch.
Regardless of whether I make the official team for LA28 or not, I’m honored to be in the running and will look forward to making some World Cup teams to elevate the team to its highest potential and Olympic qualifying position !
Phinney made his Olympic debut in 2008 at age 18, placing seventh in the individual pursuit on the track.
After that event was taken off the Olympic program, he made Olympic teams on the road in 2012 (fourth place in the road race and time trial) and 2016 (22nd in the time trial, did not finish the road race).
He won World Championships medals on the track -- including individual pursuit gold in 2009 and 2010 -- and the road -- time trial silver in 2012.
He also raced the Tour de France in 2017 and 2018, plus won the opening time trial of the 2012 Giro d'Italia to become the third American to lead that Grand Tour after Christian Vande Velde (2008) and Andy Hampsten (1988).
Phinney's mom is Connie Carpenter-Phinney, who in 1984 became the first woman to win Olympic cycling gold, taking the road race.
His dad is Davis Phinney, who took bronze in the team time trial (no longer an Olympic event) on the road in 1984.
Taylor Phinney is married to 2024 Tour de France Femmes champion Katarzyna Niewiadoma of Poland.
In his comeback event, the men's team pursuit, the U.S. has not qualified for the Olympics since placing 10th at the 2000 Sydney Games and will not receive an automatic host nation spot for LA28.
"Comeback 2028 slightly less than 3000 but just as exciting- what a gift to want to do this," Carpenter-Phinney commented on her son's post. "Wanting is the driver - speaks of love passion and resilience and that describes you @taylorphinney dream on ❤️."
Wiegman reveals simple way Lionesses bested World Cup holders Spain
In the age of set pieces, it was from a corner that Lauren Hemp volleyed home the Lionesses’ winner against world champions Spain in record time this evening – unlike some of her peers, Sarina Wiegman’s methodology was simple.
“Train”, she said.
England put themselves in strong contention to qualify automatically for the Women’s World Cup just over a year from now, with their quickest goal ever at Wembley earning a 1-0 win in a repeat of the finals at the previous tournament and Euro 2025.
It was a significant occasion that proved once again England’s ability to perform against the strongest opponents, and why they should be among the contenders to lift the ultimate prize at Brazil’s tournament in 2027.
Wiegman was quizzed over her preparations for the big game in terms of being effective from set pieces, where her team hasn’t had the best conversion rate compared to open play over the past three tournaments.
She said: “We review our set plays and we try to improve. We watch clips and we have conversations with players, sometimes in small groups [where] you get more feedback, sometimes with the whole team.
“Then we go out on the pitch again and we train, sometime they take some corners – things like that.”
But it wasn’t just the corner from Alex Greenwood that gave England a crucial victory, with Hannah Hampton making a “world class” save to deny substitute Edna Imade’s header – also from a set piece – in the final minute of normal time.
“She had a save against Iceland were we really dominated the game, but it was still 1-0”, Wiegman recalled. “Tonight she had that crucial save also, so that’s really nice to have in the team.
“Most of the games we’ve played recently, we’ve had a lot of the ball ourselves. This demanded something different from us than we’ve shown, and I think we did that.”
England could afford possession hungry Spain the majority of the ball throughout the encounter by keeping compact and providing plenty of threat on the counter, all the while Sonia Bermúdez made several changes to try and break them down.
Wiegman was pleased with how her game plan was executed, saying: ” It always helps when you score quick because it gives a boost, so that was really nice.
“I think the game plan worked [in] both halves, although we would really love to have the ball a little longer.
“They put different personnel in and went a little more direct, and tried to change the game with other personnel. Lucy [Bronze] had to make that header, [and] that challenge definitely.”
Although their victory over the world number ones is indeed quite the statement, the Lionesses manager already has her sights set on getting results out of Iceland – their 500th competitive fixture – as well as Ukraine and tonight’s reverse fixture.
Wiegman said: “It’s a very good result and we’re really happy, but we need to keep that significance by getting a result next Saturday, and then we have Ukraine and then we play Spain again.”
Now sidelined until at least late April, the right-hander spoke to reporters via interpreter on Tuesday and has some rather interesting things to say when discussing his arm fatigue. Per The Athletic’s Chandler Rome, Imai admitted having trouble adjusting to the American lifestyle in baseball and outside of baseball.
When asked for an example, Imai reportedly pointed to when and where the players eat compared to how teams in Japan operate.
Asked what has been difficult outside of baseball, Imai replied through an interpreter: "For example, the travel is different from Japan. The timing when the players eat. In Japan, when they get back to the hotel, they eat their dinner. Here, the players eat at the stadium.” https://t.co/K3YV83NMrF
It’s unclear how eating in the Astros clubhouse can cause excess arm fatigue. It’s also quite possible something is being lost in translation here as well.
Tatsuya Imai has had some issues since coming to MLB.
Jack Compton via Getty Images
That’s a long list of issues for a player to have two-and-a-half weeks into his MLB career. There are, of course, adjustments that every player needs to make while moving from Japan to the U.S., but this is also stuff they should be aware of while considering teams and preparing accordingly.
The biggest adjustment for Japanese pitchers is usually the schedule, where Nippon Professional Baseball starters usually pitch once a week while MLB arms are asked to go out every five days. The Astros have so prevented Imai from having to pitch on less than five days rest.
Imai is on a contract that guarantees him $54 million through the 2028 season, though he can also opt out after 2026 or 2027.
As much as he’s struggled, his injury was still bad news for a Houston organization that has already seen fellow starting pitchers Hunter Brown (shoulder strain) and Cristian Javier (shoulder strain) hit the IL this season. It’s unclear when any of these pitchers will return, which isn’t ideal considering the Astros have lost eight straight games and are in last place in the AL West with a 6-11 record.
Rico Verhoeven believes he's got what it takes to do what no fighter has been able to do before – knockout all-time great Oleksandr Usyk.
The two heavyweights clash in a crossover superfight, as this boxing championship bout pits Verhoeven, a former GLORY kickboxing champion, against Usyk, the unified heavyweight champion. Despite Verhoeven (1-0) not having much experience in boxing, all while going up against a generational talent, the Dutch fighter is confident he's got what it takes to put the lights out on Usyk (24-0).
“When I land my best punch on him, of course, he will go down," Verhoeven said at Tuesday's press conference promoting the event. "It’s, like, a 20 kilo weight difference,” Verhoeven says. “He’s like a built-up cruiserweight, and I’m like a naturally-born heavyweight. That’s a big difference. That's what's going to happen if I land my best shot clean.”
Verhoeven, who stands at 6'5 and weighs around 270 pounds, expects his size to be a big advantage. Usyk is one of today's smaller heavyweights. His natural weight class is cruiserweight, but he moved up to heavyweight in 2019 in pursuit of big fights with the major top heavyweight boxers.
The Usyk-Verhoeven championship bout, where Usyk's WBC heavyweight title will be on the line, is set to go down on May 23 in front of the ancient Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. Verhoeven is excited at the opportunity and has every intention of pulling off one of the biggest upsets in combat sports history.
"All smiles because what an opportunity we have to upset the world and write history," Verhoeven said. "Exactly what Eddie said, 'Are you crazy?' I think to be the very best at what you're going, you have to be a little bit crazy and I think that's just not me, but every vertical and every discipline, you have to be a little bit crazy and obsessed with what you're doing, and that's what I am. What I do, I do to the point perfect. I do to perfection. In my vision, I love it, I enjoy it, and I do it with so much passion. I'm crazy excited to be here and super thankful for the opportunity that Alexander Usyk has given me."
Paige Secor's walk-off RBI triple in the eighth inning secured the Londonderry High School softball team a 5-4 season-opening Division I win over Salem on Monday. Secor's deep fly ball scored Mady Normand.
The two-time defending D-I champion Lancers plated their previous four runs in the fifth frame.
Londonderry ace Elisabeth Kearney allowed two earned runs on five hits and one walk alongside 13 strikeouts.
Kearney and Shannon Crowley each went 1-for-4 with two RBIs at the plate for the Lancers.
Mikayla Morales hit a solo home run for Salem.
Kings win opener
Elin Hill fanned 16 batters and five players collected at least two hits as the Manchester Memorial/Central Kings beat Nashua North 11-6 on Monday in a Division I opener at Padden Field.
Hill allowed one earned run and four hits in 6 2/3 innings.
Offensive stars were: Kianaly Gallego (2-for-4 with two doubles with 4 RBIs); Cailin Maguire (2-for-3 with three RBIs); Avery Menswar (2-for-3 with a single and a triple); Madyson Butt (2-for-3 with a single and a double and two RBIs), and Lindsay Wilson (2-for-4 with a single and a double).
Harper Lafond made the defensive play of the game, ending the game by making the catch on a short fly ball to center and doubling off the runner at first base.
Pinkerton 8, Nashua South 1
Pinkerton: Mollie Wheale, homer, double, 2 RBIs; Cara Murray, Mia Marshall, triple each; Aislynn Hyde, double; Julia Caruso, 7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 17 Ks.
South: C. Marvin, 7 IP, 10 H, 8 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 3 Ks.
Boys lacrosse
Trinity 14, Pelham 13
Trinity (1-0): Ben Siscavich 4g/7a; Nick Lenti 5g/2a; Dylan Behnken 3g; Brycen Lubelczyk 2g; Jack DeFreitas 3a; Andrew Gianunzio, 3 caused turnovers; Andrew Evans, 2 caused turnovers; strong LSM play from Callum O’Connor; strong play from Easton Valliere.
Singles: Lyndia Goldrick, E, d. Dan McAleer, 8-1; Camryn Lachance, E, d. Layla Conway 9-7; Cate Phelps, E, d. Maddie Wyatt 8-3; Brooke Beaulieu, E, d. Anna Taylor 8-2; Lucy Bickford, E, d. Charlotte Feke 8-5; Ava Castonguay, E, d. Elena manning 8-3.
Doubles: Goldrick/Lachance, E, d. McAleer/Conway 8-1; Phelps/Beaulieu, E, d. Wyatt/Taylor 8-3; Bickford/Castonguay, E, d. Feke/Manning 8-5.
Baseball
Goffstown 10, Alvirne 4
Goffstown: Brent Baxter, 5 IP, 5 H, 5 Ks; Brady Swansburg, 2 IP; Brady Godette, 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs; Jaxson Marquis, Caleb Gilliland, 2 hits each.
Bedford 5, Memorial 0
Bedford: Jimmy Gilbert, 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 5 Ks and was 2-for-4 with an RBI; Carter Stuart, 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 Ks; Jason Topf, hitless 7th inning and was 3-for-3 with a walk, single, double and triple with 2 runs scored; Zack Papik, 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI; Ben Labonte, 1-for-3 (triple) and a run scored.
Before they prepare for the first round of the NHL Playoffs, the Bruins will face the Devils in their final game of the 2025-26 regular season.
While Boston has clinched a playoff berth, it hasn't locked up the top wild-card spot just yet. A win on Tuesday night would give the Bruins a three-point lead over the Senators, eliminating any uncertainty during the final week of the regular season.
The Devils, meanwhile, have already been eliminated from playoff contention. New Jersey is looking to end the season on a three-game winning streak after beating Detroit and Ottawa over the weekend.
Here is everything you need to know about Bruins vs. Devils, including TV and streaming options for the game.
How to watch Bruins vs. Devils tonight: TV channel, live stream
Bruins vs. Devils will air locally on NESN. The game will also be available to stream on NESN 360 and fubo.
Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100-plus top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
For those looking to follow the game on the radio, the local broadcast will air on 98.5 The Sports Hub.
Bruins vs. Devils start time
Date: Tuesday, April 14
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Bruins vs. Devils is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 14. The game will be played at TD Garden in Boston.
Full NHL schedule for Tuesday, April 14
Here is the full slate of games for Tuesday, April 14:
The Miami Heat find themselves in the NBA Play-In game for a fourth consecutive season after finishing the year 43-39 and ending the regular season on a 5-10 run. They now matchup against the Charlotte Hornets as the tenth seed with a chance to jump up to the eighth seed should they finish the Play-In strong.
However, there have been plenty of mixed emotions from the Heat fanbase on whether or not they want the team to make or miss the NBA Playoffs. That comes as the 2026 NBA Draft is loaded with talent all throughout the first round.
As statistics sit right now, Miami has a better chance at obtaining a top-4 NBA Draft pick at 4.8% or even the number one overall pick at 1% than they do of making it to, or winning the NBA Finals, which are both set at less than 1% on different prediction markets.
Nobody wants the Miami Heat to lose tonight more than Miami Heat fans.
They have a higher % chance of obtaining a top-4 pick (4.8%) or the number one pick (1%) per @tankathon than making and winning the NBA Finals (less than 1%) on prediction markets.
The 2026 NBA Draft class has been argued to be one of the best since the 2003 class that featured LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. Within the top-4 picks alone in the 2026 class, Aj Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and Caleb Wilson have all been eyed as franchise-shifting players for years to come.
Even if Miami misses out on a top-4 pick, they still have a shot at players such as Darius Acuff Jr., Keaton Wagler, Mikel Brown Jr., Kingston Flemings, and reigning National Champion, Yaxel Lendeborg. All of who scouts believe have high upside.
Will a nightmare situation repeat itself for Miami?
Heat fans are also more open to losing the Play-In game against Charlotte following what they believe is a “miss” on Cooper Flagg in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Last year, Miami finished as the 10-seed in the East and ended up becoming the first 10-seed in NBA history to win two straight road games and advance to the playoffs, where they were ultimately swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
If Miami had lost its first Play-In game, they would have ended up with the 11th-shortest lottery odds to obtain the number one pick in last year’s draft. After the lottery unveiled itself, the Dallas Mavericks, who ended up with the 11th shortest odds, did the unthinkable and were rewarded with the top pick, to which they eventually drafted Flagg.
Fast track to the present day, Flagg is making a strong case for the NBA’s Rookie of the Year, having averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists, and the Miami Heat find themselves in the same situation as last year.
The Heat and Hornets tip off on Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. EST on Prime Video, with the winner moving on to face the loser of the Orlando Magic/Philadelphia 76ers Play-In matchup.
Former Chelsea and England defender John Terry attended Colchester United's League Two fixture on Tuesday amid reports that he is part of a consortium looking to take over the club.
The Sun reported on Monday that the group had submitted a £14m offer for the club, which was put up for sale last year by chairman Robbie Cowling.
His nephew Frankie Terry, also a defender, played 90 minutes for the U's in what was a third straight win for the club as they moved up to 12th.
Cowling has confirmed that "detailed discussions" are ongoing but said he was "not in a position to comment on any specific individuals or companies involved".
Speaking after the game, manager Danny Cowley told BBC Essex: "It felt like a big night for the players, first and foremost, but also the club – I thought our supporters were incredible.
"I am really proud that in front of the eyes of many we are able to show a top version of what is a wonderful football club.
"We know this is a brilliant football club because we live it every day – there are some brilliant people at this club.
"We genuinely believe it has such high potential and we do need just a springboard to push on from and that is what we hope is on its way.
"I am so excited for our supporters. It is not easy supporting lower league clubs and Colchester United have not had it easy.
"Since Nicky [Cowley, brother] and I have been here we have been able to stabilise and find a good level of consistency but we all want more and I believe there are really exciting times ahead."
When asked if he had met John Terry, Cowley added: "I will talk about Frankie, because he was great tonight and he would have done his family proud, that is for sure."
A takeover deal with the US-based Lightwell Sports Group fell through in June last year and in January, Colchester were in talks with the Sports Alpha Capital consortium which included former AC Milan and Brazil forward Alexandre Pato.
They later withdrew their interest, saying: "SAC will continue to explore future opportunities within English football while maintaining a lasting respect and affection for Colchester United and its supporters."
Terry played almost 500 games, and won 78 international caps, during a playing career which ended in 2018 following a season at Aston Villa.
He won multiple trophies with Chelsea, including five Premier League titles and five FA Cups, plus the Champions League in 2012.
Speaking on Monday, Aaron Jay, who runs the Beyond the Barside podcast, told the BBC: "I think Colchester United fans have been really eager for this sort of takeover to be done for the past year or so.
"To be at a point where we're nearly there and there's nearly something happening is exciting for a lot of U's fans."
Colchester are competing in their 10th season in a row in the fourth tier of English football, having been as high as the Championship as recently in 2008.
The All-Big West Conference honorable mention selection out of UC-San Diego and, most notably this month, NCAA transfer portal entrant had lost track of days, let alone the “hundreds” of phone calls and texts from potential basketball suitors.
On Tuesday, Mayes made official the next step in his blossoming college basketball career — and spoke about the choice exclusively to USA TODAY Sports.
The 6-5, 200-pound rising sophomore guard has signed with Eric Olen’s New Mexico program. Olen guided the Lobos to 26 wins and an NIT semifinals appearance in his debut, 2025-26 season at the helm.
“It felt like absolutely forever. If you asked me how long ago, I would tell you two months ago not officially one week in the portal,” Mayes, the Tritons’ No. 2 scorer at 11.1 points per game, told USA TODAY Sports after he ended a recruitment that also included Baylor, Notre Dame and Syracuse among top contenders. “I tried not to let myself get too stressful with it. My agent (NBA certified agent KJ Smith of Range Sports) told me once you do enter, you’re going to get hundreds of texts and calls.
“I wasn’t thinking about the portal; I was trying to help us win the Big West (tournament). But there were too many opportunities that we heard about and knew from trusted sources that were real. My dream has always been to play the highest level of college basketball and get to the highest level of college basketball. I told coach Olen (Monday afternoon), and I slept great last night.”
The son of former Notre Dame All-America wideout and Green Bay Packers Super Bowl champion Derrick Mayes, grandson of Naismith Hall of Famer and former ABA star Roger Brown, Hudson Mayes started 12 of San Diego’s final 13 games, scored in double figures in the season’s last 10 games and helped the Tritons close with eight wins in their final 11 games.
Multiple Power conference programs “offered significant money” and “multiple six figures.” Olen’s New Mexico program offered an immediate chance to compete for a starting role — and the familiarity of having already been recruited by Olen and multiple members of the Lobos staff from their previous time at San Diego.
“Coming into the portal, I obviously had pretty much every Power Five Conference and every other conference trying to get me to commit there,” Mayes said. “They were throwing me different offers. I kept money out of my decision and made a basketball decision.
“We were prepared for that, for the money, but we knew this was going to be a decision that we would have to make based on relationships and what’s best basketball-wise and what’s the best path.”
Olen doubled down on the Lobos program's ability to stand toe-to-toe with the sport's more renowned program.
"New Mexico’s rich with tradition and we want to continue that here and that just starts with building really good basketball teams," Olen told USA TODAY Sports Tuesday afternoon by phone. "It’s a great place to play college basketball, up there with the best home environments anywhere in the country and we believe in what this place can be.
"We think New Mexico basketball is a national brand, we want to be relevant on that stage and Hudson helps us do that."
With three years’ eligibility remaining, Mayes hasn’t given his New Mexico decision a moment of doubt — even as teams pressed for a final opportunity to woo the versatile combo guard who led San Diego with 5.7 rebounds per game.
“I turned down several offers from teams, at-large (NCAA) tournament teams that I kind of just decided to go with my gut,” Mayes said. “I believe next year New Mexico can be an NCAA Tournament team.”
They fought to the end and maybe it would have been different had a penalty award, when the game was goalless, not been overturned. It looked ‘soft’ when it was given. But the debate will rage over whether it was enough for the VAR to intervene.
Maybe it would have been different had the original decision stood. Maybe with the momentum with Liverpool, surging at The Kop, it would have been the moment that led to another incredible comeback. Another famous European night.
And yet, once again, PSG proved to be far too good and it is going to take a formidable effort to stop the French giants from retaining this trophy in the final in Budapest next month.
Liverpool pushed and the “Anfield trap” that PSG coach Luis Enrique cautioned about threatened to catch them until Ousmane Dembélé’s accomplished goals.
"The goal that sends the holders through to the last four!" 4️⃣
— Prime Video Sport UK (@primevideosport) April 14, 2026
The importance was not lost on the Ballon d’Or winner who famously missed a golden chance for Barcelona in that semi-final in 2019, which would have made it 4-0 to them on aggregate. His celebrations appeared pointed.
This time there would be no glorious Liverpool recovery even if Arne Slot did his best to try and summon one.
What now for the Liverpool head coach? In the unrelenting rain he was animated throughout, as animated as he has been in the Anfield dug-out. At times it felt almost Jurgen Klopp-like especially when he went to play the ball as it appeared to be going out – but it did not – only for the referee to stop the game and warn him.
Slot receives a talking to from the referee after nearly getting involved in the play - Jon Super/AP
Indeed Slot tried to kick every ball. He cajoled and he hoped but in the cold light of day, Liverpool have lost home and away and without scoring.
In that unrelenting glare the fact is Liverpool have been beaten in 17 games in all competitions this season and in four of their last five, also exiting the FA Cup. In three ties against PSG and Manchester City the aggregate is a crushing 8-0.
That feels brutal. But it is there in black and white. At the very least Slot has to ensure Liverpool are in the Champions League again next season.
If they play like this in the Premier League it will not be a problem. But it is Everton away on Sunday and, conversely, if they fall below this intensity and intent in the Merseyside derby the pressure will spike.
Despite the performance there will also be scrutiny over Slot’s team selection as he handed Alexander Isak a first start since the striker broke his leg in December and after just two brief substitute appearances. Unfortunately it did not work with Isak not making it past the first-half and unable to cope with the pace and physicality of it all.
Alexander Isak (right) appeared off the pace as he made his first start of 2026 - Paul Ellis/Getty Images
But, with Slot starting with all six of Liverpool’s big signings last summer, it looked like he was going out, if that was to happen, with his team and his line-up and his approach.
It meant he also, once again, named Mohamed Salah among the substitutes, as he had done in Paris last week, although he did get on after just half an hour. This was therefore Salah’s last Champions League appearance for Liverpool.
Sadly he was only introduced after Hugo Ekitike suffered what appeared to be a horrible achilles injury, as he twisted in the turf off the ball, that may well end not just his season but jeopardise his place in France’s World Cup squad. “It looks really bad,” Slot later admitted.
— Prime Video Sport UK (@primevideosport) April 14, 2026
The fans did all they could – as everyone knew they would. The atmosphere built, the backing grew and Liverpool could not have asked for more as the conditions, the swirling wind added to the sense of jeopardy. As did the importance of scoring the first goal.
Liverpool will reflect on what happened soon after Salah arrived as he crossed with Ibrahima Konate meeting it and the ball eventually falling to Virgil Van Dijk who appeared certain to score – only for Marquinhos to slide in with a remarkable block. The PSG captain celebrated with a scream of satisfaction.
— Prime Video Sport UK (@primevideosport) April 14, 2026
They will also reflect on PSG goalkeeper Matvei Safonov making some fine saves – to deny substitutes Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha – and Milos Kerkez volleying wide when the goal beckoned from another Salah delivery.
And they will reflect most of all on the penalty incident as Alexis MacAllister went down as he was challenged by Willian Pacho. The Italian referee Maurizio Mariani pointed to the spot but was sent to the pitchside monitor by the VAR and changed his mind.
Was that the moment? Maybe it was or maybe it was the save soon after from the lively Ngumoha – who had come on to chants of “Rio, Rio” – before PSG capitalised and scored.
They broke at speed and Khvicha Kvaratskhalia teed up Dembélé, who had failed to take several opportunities, on the edge of the area. This time, he finished low and into the corner.
Anfield was deflated, the balloon was burst and PSG were through even before Dembélé struck again in injury-time, sidefooting home with Kvaratskhalia again involved. There was the same celebration from Dembélé as he pretended to hold a telephone and then slammed it down.
— Prime Video Sport UK (@primevideosport) April 14, 2026
By now the Liverpool noise had inevitably abated. But at the final whistle there was applause. No-one could fault the effort. But the focus will again fall on the application – from Slot and his players – if Liverpool are not on this stage next season.
10:49pm
And finally, here’s Arne Slot’s post-match interview with Prime
I think we got a lot more than we deserved last week by only losing 2-0 and that was the same as last season. And what was also the same as last season is that we got much less than we deserved at home. Today we should have won as well. But it is also the quality of them in that they don’t concede from all the chances we had and then the quality of Dembélé‘s finish tells you why he won the Ballon d’Or and why they won the Champions League last season and has a good opportunity to win it again this season.
[Hugo Ekitike] is not too good I’m afraid. We could all see it didn’t look good but let’s wait and see what it could be [rather than speculating what it could be]. He went home in the second half so I haven’t seen him yet.
Losing a game the way we lost it is very hard but again as it seems to be, losing a player has happened to us so many times this season and especially very hard for him because you never want to be injured in this part of the season.
[Surprised the penalty was overturned?] No. If you look at our season so many decisions have gone against us. For me it’s quite simple. If the referee doesn’t give a penalty, the VAR would never have overturned it but I have seen so many soft penalties given and VAR can’t interfere because the referee has seem contact. And there was contact. Unfortunately we couldn’t score a goal because that was a moment but we had multiple chances in the second half and one big one in the first. But last week there were two decisions that maybe went in our favour, a penalty overturned and a push in the back so, unfortunately we couldn’t score a goal. Anfield was already rocking at 0-0, let alone what would have happened if we’d scored the 1-0.
Last week was tough and very difficult. We have shown in a week’s time we can improve a lot and how they showed themselves after playing two days ago [sic] was incredible. They kept on going even at 1-0 down so that’s a big compliment to them. But it has happened all season if you look at xG. We should have scored two but we didn’t score one. Far too many times it’s happened this season.
Yes, of course, Champions League qualification is the minimum [requirement] and we have to play for that in the upcoming weeks..
I said before the game we had 88 minutes till now with Alex, Florian and Hugo on the pitch. How many more today, 35? The good thing is that Alex is able to make minutes.
Many people have said the club is in transition. We have sold 8-10 players to recoup money to sign five or six very talented players. Now we are losing Mo and Andy on free transfers as we lost Trent on a free transfer. This model means we have to sell usually to buy. It’s going to be a big challenge. This club has shown this model works. You can see we have signed good and talented players who will go into their second season [stronger]. The future looks really good if we could add some good signings to replace the very good players who are leaving.
10:28pm
Ibrahim Konaté speaks to Amazon Prime Sport
To be honest we can say yes and no [it was a fair result] because when er played there they had many chances and only scored two. We thought we could create something special at Anfield and we created many chances. I thought we were the better team. That’s why it’s a bit unfair. They had one or two clear chances and this is football.
I think it was a clear penalty. We have to deal with that [being overruled]. If we get that penalty and score, it’s all different.
We have to be happy [with our performance] because we had many players who came back from injury.
Very sad for Ekitike. I think it’s bad to be fair. With the World Cup coming it’s very, very hard for him and I send him my prayers.
The game of today meant a lot of things. The PSG of this season is a little bit better than last year. To make a performance like that against them, we have to build from that and realise how good we can be.
It’s minimum standard for Liverpool to play in the Champions League. We have six games left and we have to be all-in to be in it next season.
10:15pm
Just waiting for Arne Slot
In the other quarter-final, Atlético’s 2-1 defeat by Barcelona puts them into the semi-final agaisnt Sporting or Arsenal with an aggregate 3-2 victory.
10:02pm
Full time: Liverpool 0 PSG 2 (0-4)
Creditable performance by Liverpool, a team in transition. But PSG were too good for them. Too good for anyone I would wager. Luisi Enrique is on course to win a third European Cup, the same as Pep Guardiola.
This incarnation of PSG really are a delight to watch.
09:56pm
GOAL!
Liverpool 0 PSG 2 (Dembélé) Right-foot finish from the right of the area through Mamardashvili’s legs. Another slick move instigated by Kvaratskhelia;s pass down the left to Barcola. Liverpool, as noted before, have no right-back and Barcola floods into the space and passes past weary defenders to Dembélé to score.
Dembélé scores his and PSG’s second in stoppage time - FRANCK FIFE/AFP
09:55pm
90+1 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 1 (0-3)
Six minutes of added time are signalled. Six minutes that neither side wants. Liverpool’s fans reward their endeavours with another YNWA.
09:54pm
89 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 1 (0-3)
Fine sliding tackle by Konaté in the box stops Barcola from pulling the trigger on a shot from 12 yards after the sub had jinked his way in from the right-backless wing.
09:52pm
87 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 1 (0-3)
Salah tries to dribble through the box a couple of times but can’t beat the defender and coughs up the ball.
09:51pm
85 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 1 (0-3)
Gakpo hits the deck in the box but his claims are ignored by the referee and Konaté has seen enough and is booked for dissent.
09:50pm
83 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 1 (0-3)
Jones and Gakpo keep going, trying to find a way through but Marquinhos and Pacho plus the substitute Beraldo keep shutting the door.
09:49pm
81 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 1 (0-3)
Liverpool are growing frustrated. No rub of the green in the box as yet.
Peter Byrne/PA
09:47pm
79 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 1 (0-3)
Liverpool keep huffing and puffing, trying their best but Marquinhos is terrific and Safonov, who I thought was an obvious downgrade on Donnarumma, has done very well in both legs.
09:44pm
77 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 1 (0-3)
Dembélé almost pounces again when he chassés into the box, draws Mamardsahvili. Konaté snaps on to the loose ball and tries to hack it clera but the ball hits Mamardashvili and rebounds perilously close to goal.
Jones → Mac Allister
09:42pm
75 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 1 (0-3)
Talk about a vibe killer. All you can hear now is the PSG fans and their Bonnie Tyler song.
Ousmane Dembélé‘s left foot has been the equivalent of pin popping a balloon. There will be no trip to Budapest for Liverpool this year and, where there was optimism 10 minutes ago, there is now resignation. The better team is going through to the semi-finals but that shouldn’t mask that Liverpool have been infinitely better this evening. If they carry performances like this into the final six games, they should qualify for the tournament next season. It’s going to come down to attitude.
09:36pmVideo • Goals
GOAL!
Liverpool 0 PSG 1 (0-3) [Dembélé] He’s not consistently brilliant like most of his Ballon d’Or predecessors but when he’s good, he is magnificent. Liverpool have thrown everything but the kitchen sink at PSG and have left themselves vulnerable on the break, and although they got back in numbers, Barcola crept behind the centre-halves, fed it to Kvaratskhelia who found Dembélé in the centre 20 yards out. He took a touch to shift the defender, Mac Allister, then bent a left-foot shot into the bottom right.
"The goal that sends the holders through to the last four!" 4️⃣
— Prime Video Sport UK (@primevideosport) April 14, 2026
09:36pm
70 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Ngumoha goes again, dribbling in from the left, tacking across the 18-yard line before shooting with his right. On Saturday he found the corner. Tonight he is twio yards closer to the middle and gave the keeper more scope to save.
09:32pm
67 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
After 22 minutes, Gomez is hooked.
Ngumoha → Gomez.
And in his first sally he wins a corner by dribbling down the left.
Mac Allister heads the corner wide from a yard in front of the near post.
09:31pm
No penalty
The referee withdraws his decision. Odd given that he was caught from behind, however soft. Given that it was given was it a clear and obvious error? I don’t think so. But wouldn’t have quibbled had it not been given originally.
After VAR review, the referee says NO PENALTY for this challenge on Mac Allister from Pacho 😳❌ pic.twitter.com/YZP3Co8fVu
— Prime Video Sport UK (@primevideosport) April 14, 2026
It’s the right decision not to award a penalty. It was actually a surprise Maurizio Mariani, the Italian referee, gave it initially but the incident merely highlights what is within Liverpool’s grasp. It also makes you ask the question why Liverpool haven’t been able to ghet to these levels consistently this season. We have 20 minutes of this absorbing tie to play and Rio Ngumoha has been introduced for Joe Gomez, who left the pitch and immediately spoke to Liverpool club doctor Jonathon Power and indicated he may have an issue.
09:29pm
Liverpool penalty?
VAR check after Mac Allister is eased off his feet by Pacho. He spread his legs to shield the ball and there was contact from behind but not much.
Richard Sellers/Getty Images
The referee is called over to the screen.
09:28pm
62 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Allez, allez, allez rings out as the crowd plays its part. Gravenberch’s tame daisycutter of a shot from the left is easily stopped bY Safonov.
09:26pm
60 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
All Liverpool now and they’re using their flanks to good effect. But they send so many players forward in pursuit of the goal that they leave themselves open to a break by Kvaratskhelia and Dembélé that breaks down because the former runs offside. But not before Mamardsahvili had made a good, smothering save.
09:23pm
58 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Kerkez steals in from the left and has to meet Salah’s wafted cross/shot with a right-foot finish because of the angle, stabbing his effort with his winger across the six-yard box and out for a goal-kick.
This may prove to be famous last words but this task doesn’t feel like it is beyond Liverpool. They keep getting themselves into threatening positions and, for the first time, PSG are starting to look distracted by the pressure. It remains more unlikely than likely but if Liverpool get the final ball right, there will be opportunities. It was 10 years ago tonight they turned around an improbable situation against Borussia Dortmund and you wouldn’t say history cannot be repeated. It’s crying out for a player to grab things by the scruff of the neck and make themselves a hero. Florian Wirtz, anyone?
09:20pm
56 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Gravenberch surges down the inside-right channel. Alan Shearer wants him to lay it off to a striker but he keeps gobbling up the yards and decides to have a pop himself from 20 yards, thrashing a shot that wobbles and climbs and ends up in the Kop.
09:18pm
54 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Wirtz’s cute return pass sends Salah down the line of the penalty area and so often he would skitter in with the ball attached to his left foot but his first touch is too heavy and allows Pacho to close him down and knock it away.
09:16pm
52 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Doué comes back on for the corner but isn’t right. Gomez heads over after Safonov came out to punch and missed, colliding with the defender. Doué goes down again and will have to go off. Luis Enrique is vexed by Szoboszlai going unpunished but the Hungary captain goes over to apologise to Doué who shakes his hand before going off.
Barcola → Doué
09:14pm
50 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Gakpo waves at the Kop to get on their feet after he surprises Safonov by taking a right-foot shot on early and tries to guide it into the bottom right. The keeper pushes it round the post.
09:13pm
48 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Kerkez and Szoboszlai leave Doue hurt as the latter eases him off the pitch and he collides with a boom mike and stand. Liverpool play on against 10 men.
Carl Recine/Getty Images
09:11pm
46 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Slot aborts the Isak experiment at half-time as he said he would. Gomez is also coming on at right-back. Liverpool are attacking the Kop and Szoboszlai starts on the front-foot with a brute of a whipped, dipping cross. PSG get it away but the crowd wants more of that.
Gomez → Frimpong Gakpo → Isak
08:57pm
Half-time: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Liverpool have been OK. They have emerged unscathed from PSG’s swarming attacking moves. Sometimes they take over the final third like the weasels took over Toad Hall. But their best chance, from Salah’s cross, highlighted how good Marquinhos is. Still, 0-0 is a decent launching pad but with Isak likely to go off imminently, it will be interesting to see of Slot allows Ngumoha the chance to give Liverpool lift off. Or will he go with Gakpo?
08:54pm
45+4 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Salah is haring back to cover and as a sign of his intent it is encouraging. Two minutes before he had been running through the middle after a pass when Pacho leant across him and knocked him off his feet. Anfield bellowed for a penalty or at the least a free-kick but the replay shows it was probably fair.
08:51pm
45+2 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Four minutes of stoppage time begin with Mac Allister being booked for a late, sliding tackle on Joao Neves. That would rule him out of the first leg of the semi should Liverpool make it. He slipped but the ref had to bring out the card all the same.
08:50pm
45 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Liverpool keep giving the ball away, either by trying to push it instead of playing a safer pass or by slipping in the teeming rain. Dembélé lashes a shot into the side-netting on the right from Kvaratskhelia’s cross that Mamardsahvili could only tip on moments after Konaté had taken Hakimi’s low cross off Dembélé‘s foot only a few yards out.
08:47pm
43 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
PSG are as light-footed as cat burglars as they flood forward. Now Doué, Vitinha and Dembélé combine to play Vitinha in between the right of the D and the 18-yard line. He tries to chip Mamardashvili but dinks it into his arms. The keeper wasn’t far enough off his line for that to come off
08:44pm
41 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Liverpool corner on the right after Kvaratskhelia misjudges a tackle on Salah. Salah takes it but it’s far too flat. He’ll get a second chance, though and slips Gravenberch in down the line. He pulls a pass back towards the penalty spot from the byline but it’s PSG who read the danger best and hustle it away.
08:42pm
39 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Nuno Mendes has been unable to recover from a knock and is having to go off.
Lucas Hernández → Nuno Mendes
08:41pm
37 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
But, as George Graham famously observed, when you need to win by two goals at Anfield, 0-0 at half-time is fine. Get one halfway through the second half and then pounce at the death. Doesn’t matter when you score.
08:40pm
35 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Just as Liverpool were building up a head of steam, PSG puncture their belief with a spell of keep-ball. Liverpool twice win it back but then give it to a black shirt.
08:37pmVideo
33 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Salah’s first touch is a brilliant inswinging cross from the right. Konaté glances it on and it hits Hakimi who was marking Kerkez. The ball ricochets towards the bottom left corner and Safonov dives to claw it away. Superb save. But Van Dijk slides in to try to convert the rebound from three yards only for Marquinhos to telescope out a leg and prod it away. Fine save, fine tackle.
— Prime Video Sport UK (@primevideosport) April 14, 2026
08:34pm
30 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Oh dear. Here comes the stretcher. Anfield greets Mo Salah’s warm-up on the touchline with their song to to the tune of James’ biggest hit. Salah places a gentle hand of consolation on Ekitike’s head as he is carried past him.
Ekitike is consoled by his team-mates as he departs on a stretcher - FRANCK FIFE/AFP
That looks to be an awful moment for Hugo Ekitike, who went down clutching his right ankle with nobody around him and needed some of the PSG players to hold his leg while help came from the bench. It’s indicative of the way things have gone for Arne Slot this season that he hasn’t been able to get his first choice forward line operating in tandem together for a prolonged period. It’s a real shame because Liverpool are warming into this contest.
08:32pmVideo
27 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Big problem for Ekitike who rolls his right ankle when he slips. PSG players run straight over and one holds his hand. Has he done his ankle ligaments? No he’s holding his achilles. Nothing worse for a footballer than an achilles tear. Let’s hope it’s only a strain or he’ll be out for a very long time. Mohamed Salah is getting stripped.
— Prime Video Sport UK (@primevideosport) April 14, 2026
08:31pm
25 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Dembélé displays that Ballon d’Or class with a glorious inswinging cross with his left from the right, gift-wrapping the chance of a shot on the volley from Doué but he takes a touch and it’s a poor one.
08:28pm
23 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Better spell from Liverpool by virtue of Mac Allister playing it to Gravenberch who made a surging run through the heart of midfield to thread an angled pass through to Isak on the left of the 18-yard line. He takes it through one-on-one with Safonov who gets down smartly to block and then the flag goes up to indicate Isak had mistimed his run. Bah! Good save, mind.
08:26pm
20 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Kvaratskhelia is caught in the mouth by Van Dijk’s arm but unmaliciously and without any grievous intent.
If we are going to fail, Jurgen Klopp observed before that remarkable night against Barcelona in May 2019, let us fail brilliantly. That attitude lit a fire in the Anfield crowd seven years ago and there are flickers of the spirit returning here. It’s noisy, it’s frantic and the energy is high but there is a problem when considering the possibility of a comeback: Paris St Germain are a quite magnificent team and if Liverpool are going to put three unanswered goals past them it’s going to take something quite extraordinary - a level, arguably, that Arne Slot’s men haven’t reached since they were crowned champions of England 354 days ago.
08:24pm
17 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
PSG up to 60 per cent possession but it actually feels more than that.
08:23pmVideo
15 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Head tennis in the PSG box, but more vertical than horizontal distance from Ekitike, Iask and finally Konaté allows Safonov to come out and grab the ball. He distributes it quickly and Liverpool put it out for a throw-in from which PSG break like lightning.
Kvaratskhelia takes it down the left, gliding away from Frimpong, finds Joao Neves to the right of the penalty spot and he flicks it on to Dembélé who executes a three-quarter turn but hooks his volley over from about eight yards. Liverpool thought he was offside but he was half a yard on.
— Prime Video Sport UK (@primevideosport) April 14, 2026
08:20pm
13 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Twice Liverpool work the ball into good positions to cross. Ekitike sends Frimpong down the right but his cross flies over Isak’s mid-goal run. Kerkez races down the wing to collect but he then dumps his cross after beating Hakimi straight down Safonov’s throat.
Wirtz gets away from Doué - Phil Noble/Reuters
08:17pm
11 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Fine ball over the top of the inside-left channel by Nuno Mendes for Zaire-Emery to chase forces Mamardashvili to race off his line and thump it clear but only as far as who, with the keeper out of position, Dembélé is invited to chip him. Mamardashvili scrambles back and improvises a save, backpedalling before diving to his left to punch it away. Liverpool work it clear but with their hearts clamped in their mouths.
08:13pm
9 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
PSG are sweeping the ball around and also popping off shirt passes, dominating possession to such an extent that the crowd resorts to whistles, partly out of panic. partly as a weapon to try to get them to stop.
08:10pm
6 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
First signs of positive intent from Liverpool with Frimpong and Wirtz combining down the right after the crispest of tackles by Kerkez. Wirtz’s cross is blocked behind for a corner. Isak gets his head on Szobiszlai’s centre but can’t do a great deal with it other than glance it into Safonov’s hands.
08:08pm
4 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
From the corner Kvaratskhelialets fly from about 22 yards and the ball crashes into Mamardashvili’s chest and he grabs it after it bounces back off the floor.
08:06pm
3 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Kvaratskhelia bombs down the left and gets to the byline to work the ball back to the 18-yard line for Zaire-Emery whose shot is deflected over for a corner.
08:04pm
1 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
PSG kick off, attacking the Kop and, as is their wont, boot it straight out for a throw-in. Liverpool take it and work it beyond their strikers and Safonov launches it upfield.
Chants of “Liverpool” and whistles from the home fans are drowning out the Champions League anthem. Now there is another rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone. It is all set. Can Liverpool ride the emotioon with a fast start?
08:02pm
Anfield pays tribute to the victims of the Hillsborough Disaster
The 97 who died and the hundreds of others affected are commemorated on the 37th anniversary with an almost impeccably observed minute’s silence. The pakyers are wearing black armbands.
07:59pm
The teams come out
Liverpool are in red, PSG in black. They line up for the Champions League anthem, which is roundly booed. Uefa’s shambolic handling of the 2022 Champions League final at Stade de France was unforgivable and hence unforgiven.
07:53pm
Amazon Prime retreats to the sidelines and silence
To allow the full rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone.
— Prime Video Sport UK (@primevideosport) April 14, 2026
07:52pm
Players on yellow cards and one away from a one-match ban
Liverpool’s Van Dijk, Mac Allister, Jones and Gravenberch; PSG’s Nuno Mendes and Kvaratskhelia.
07:51pm
Anfield believes
We have seen it before with big European nights and big comebacks from Liverpool and, in fairness, the fans are doing their part by bringing the noise as the teams are read out and kick off approaches.
Andy Robertson believes too - Carl Recine/Getty Images
07:41pm
Attack! Attack! Attack, attack, attack!
It feels like both sides will go for goals. Liverpool need to score at least twice and there is a huge gamble by Arne Slot in starting Alexander Isak for the first time in four months after just two brief substitute appearances. It looks like, in a sign of the future, he is being paired with Hugo Ekitike, up front. For PSG there is definitely a sense that attack is the best form of defence for them and they are confident, as they were last season, that they will score at Anfield.
07:28pm
Here are Arne Slot’s pre-match thoughts
I already felt it when I came in [Anfield atmosphere] and will feel it even more when we go out for the game, which is needed because we need to be at our best and the fans to be at their best.
Ekitike, Wirtz and Isak have played only 88 minutes together [so far] and the thinking is as we all know we need to score goals. There are goals in these players. Two target men means two men we can play into and can score goals. As you might not know but I do know, Alex will not be able to play much more than 45 minutes. So if you have to bring him in with the possibility of extra-time, it makes sense to me to start him.
We need to do a few things really well but I don’t think it’s about tactical things. If you want to have the ball a lot against them it’s never going to be easy so you have to match their intensity off the ball. And if you match that you have to be top in that because last week every time we tried to press them high they were unfortunately able to play through us.
Hopefully the Anfield factor can play an part. We lost 4-0 and 3-0 at the Etihad but after 75 minutes we were 1-0 up at home against City, a deserved lead, though we did lose 2-1. But we showed against Real Madrid, Atlético, Arsenal, three quarter-finalists, that we could make it a game here at Anfield.
07:17pm
All six major summer signings start for Liverpool
£450m worth of talent featuring Mamardashvili, Frimpong, Kerkez, Wirtz, Ekitike and Isak.
07:09pm
Scenes outside Anfield
Liverpool’s team bus approaches the players’ entrance - Lee Smith/Action Images via ReutersPhil Thompson’s been elected Pope - Phil Noble/REUTERSThe laying on of hands - Carl Recine/Getty Images
07:00pm
Your teams in the trad style
Liverpool Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Konaté, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Wirtz; Isak, Ekitike. Substitutes Woodman, Misciur, Gomez, Jones, Chiesa, Salah, Robertson, Nyoni, Nallo, Ngumoha.
Paris Saint-Germain Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Joao Neves; Doué, Dembélé, Kvaratskhelia. SubstitutesChevalier, Marin, Lucas Beraldo, Zabarnyi, Goncalo Ramos, Lee, Lucas Hernández, Mayulu, Dro Fernández, Barcola, Mbaye.
Referee Maurizio Mariani (Italy).
06:55pm
Isak’s first start for four months
Mohamed Salah again starts on the bench for Liverpool which, given the scale of this game and the need for goals, shows how far his star has fallen. Alexander Isak makes his first start since December 9 after recovering from his leg break. Rio Ngumoha is also among the substitutes.
06:52pm
PSG team news
Luis Enrique sends out the same starting XI but Barcola returns on the bench
Tomorrow marks the 37th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster
PSG’s players commemorated the 97 and all affected earlier:
PSG's staff & players paid their respects to the Hillsborough victims & Diogo Jota ahead of tonight's clash at Anfield ❤️🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/MjQR3vclFZ
— Prime Video Sport UK (@primevideosport) April 14, 2026
06:41pm
From Arne Slot’s programme notes
As I said immediately after the first leg, PSG kept us alive so we have to use the lifeline that we have been given as well as we can. This means giving absolutely everything we can, coping with the pressure that we will inevitably have to deal with and being able to suffer in periods when necessary.
Most of all, it means performing in the Liverpool way – showing desire from first whistle to last, competing relentlessly and hopefully producing the kind of football that is required on occasions like this. We know the ingredients that are required, we just have to produce them and then see where it takes us.
06:14pm
Betting on tonight’s game?
Advertisement | GambleAware | 18+ Betting on the football tonight? Take a look at these tips and offers chosen by Telegraph Media Group
06:02pm
Preview: 2019 calling
Good evening and welcome to live coverage of Liverpool vs Paris Saint-Germain, the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final which starts with the defending champions 2-0 ahead after goals by Desiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia at Parc des Princes last Wednesday. Ligue 1, which has no problem prioritising national prestige and co-efficient above its club competition, gave PSG the weekend off but Liverpool enjoyed a spirit-raising 2-0 victory over Fulham on Saturday, a shot in the arm after defeats by Brighton in the league, Man City in the Cup and last week’s disheartening shadow-chasing exercise in the City of Lights.
If the manner of Liverpool’s defeat last week makes one think their chances of staging a comeback tonight are between slim and negligible, both clubs’ recent pasts offer signal results that make home seem more plausible if not exactly realistic. A certain Luis Enrique was in his last season in charge of Barcelona and on the brink of being sacked after a 4-0 defeat by PSG in the first leg of a round of 16 tie in 2017. They began well, going in 2-0 up at the break by virtue of a Luis Suárez goal and a Layvin Kurzawa og. Lionel Messi made it three from the spot but when Edinson Cavani pulled one back for the visitors, Barça needed three goals in 29 minutes plus stoppage time to go through. For 27 of them they were held 3-1, but then Neymar made it 4-1, equalised on aggregate from the spot in the first of five added-time minutes but were still on their way out on away goals. And then, with seconds left, Sergi Roberto, eviscerated on and off the field in Paris, latched on to a chip over the PSG defence and hooked in a volley to win 6-1.
Two years later Liverpool’s Divock Origi-fired comeback, completed by a certain Trent Alexander-Arnold’s astute and cute corner, turned a 3-0 defeat at Camp Nou to a 4-3 aggregate victory, eclipsing even the 3-1 victory over Saint-Etienne in the 1977 quarter-final or Steven Gerrard’s crucial 86th-minute third goal against Olympiacos in 2004-05 as Anfield’s greatest roof-raising European Cup escapades. If it has been done, it can be done.
SIMPLY GENIUS 🤯
Trent Alexander-Arnold spots Barcelona napping and Divock Origi makes no mistake!!!
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 7, 2019
Yet PSG, so formidably slick last week are extraordinarily difficult to contain and Liverpool who went for a defensive system to try to stifle them lost their character and ability to support their forwards. It has to be different tonight, hence the clamour for the selection of Rio Ngumoha, after his outstanding performance against Fulham on Saturday. Yes, he’s 17 but has the intrepid and fearless approach youth allows and could thrive in the small pockets behind PSG’s majestic midfield. It could also be Mohamed Salah’s final Champions League match as a Liverpool player after 93 appearances in Europe and 53 goals. If this is to be the end, he will want to ensure he goes out on his shield.
Michigan football got some good news on Tuesday with the announcement that 2027 Salt Lake City (Utah) West four-star quarterback Kamden Lopati was committing to the Wolverines. But that wasn't the only piece of positive recruiting on the day.=
With the spring game fast approaching, set to take place on Saturday, the maize and blue have been working hard behind the scenes to fill out the 2027 class. Though much of it will likely be done in the late spring and early summer weeks, when official visits commence, there's an unofficial visit set to take place this weekend that could set the Wolverines up for the future.
Michigan had long been trending for 2027 Chatsworth (Calif.) Sierra Canyon five-star defensive lineman Marcus Fakatou, but many schools have been working overtime to woo him to their program. Fakatou has already visited Ann Arbor and while he was set to come for the spring game, it had appeared that he was going to visit Texas instead. However, his plans have reversed course, according to The Wolverine's Ethan McDowell: (subscription required)
Fakatou will visit Michigan for Saturday’s spring game. Just a couple of days ago, he planned on traveling to Texas instead. The elite defensive lineman said he talked things over with his family and decided to spend this weekend in Ann Arbor as previously planned.
ESPN is highest on Fakatou, having him as the No. 21 prospect in the country, regardless of position. He's listed at 6-foot-7, 295 pounds, and is strongly considering other programs such as Notre Dame, Texas, USC, and Ohio State.
TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 31: Mark Gronowski #11 of the Iowa Hawkeyes holds the MVP trophy after the ReliaQuest Bowl against the Vanderbilt Commodores on December 31, 2025 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Thursday marks one week until the start of the 2026 NFL Draft. But, today is not Thursday and today the Miami Dolphins are hosting a pair of quarterbacks who could hear their names called at some point during this year’s selection process.
First, Kansas signal-caller Jalon Daniels has been summoned to Miami Gardens for a top-30 visit. Daniels — a popular name for pre-draft visits recently — stands at just 6’1” while weighing in at 219 lb. In his six (!) seasons as a member of the Jayhawks, Daniels has totaled 9,282 yards passing, while tossing 67 touchdowns and throwing 31 interceptions. He completed 61.5% of his passes in college. He added 1,445 yards rushing — scoring 23 touchdowns with his legs.
The second name on Miami’s quarterback visit list for Tuesday is Iowa’s Mark Gronowski. The 6’2”, 235 lb quarterback played four seasons with South Dakota State before becoming a Hawkeye for his final collegiate season. During his five year career, Gronowski threw for 12,071 yards, 103 touchdowns and 27 interceptions. He completed 63.5% of his passes. He added 2,312 yards with his legs — scoring 53 rushing touchdowns during his time with SDSU and Iowa.
Both quarterbacks are widely considered to be Day-3 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft — with some predicting that one or both could end up as undrafted free agent signings after the conclusion of the selection process.
We will continue to keep you updated on all things Miami Dolphins as we inch closer to the start of this year’s NFL Draft.
Reporter Dianna Russini, then with ESPN, works on the sideline before the start of a game between the Oakland Raiders and Denver Broncos on Sept. 9, 2019. (Ben Margot / Associated Press)
The photos appear to show Russini and Vrabel holding hands, hugging and sitting a hot tub and a swimming pool. In the April 7 article that accompanied the photos in the Post's Page Six, Russini and Vrabel — both of whom are married to other people — gave statements denying anything inappropriate was happening between them.
The article also included a statement from Steven Ginsberg, executive editor of The Athletic, who expressed full support of Russini and said the photos "are misleading and lack essential context." The New York Times, which owns The Athletic, reported days later that the digital sports outlet would conduct an investigation into the matter.
Russini submitted her letter of resignation to Ginsberg on Tuesday, then posted it on X. In it, Russini states she has "no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept."
“I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published," Russini wrote. "When the Page Six item first appeared, The Athletic supported me unequivocally, expressed confidence in my work and pride in my journalism. For that I am grateful. In the days that followed, unfortunately, commentators in various media have engaged in self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts.
“Moreover, this media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete. It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks. ... Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now — before my current contract expires on June 30. I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career.”
I submitted my letter of resignation to The Athletic. Everything I have to say about it is below. pic.twitter.com/401nrtbEsj
The New York Times confirmed Russini's resignation but declined to comment further for this article.
Page Six wrote Tuesday that it received a statement from Ginsberg following Russini's resignation.
“When this situation was brought to our attention last week, there were clear concerns," Ginsberg wrote, according to Page Six, "but we received a detailed explanation and it was our instinct to support and defend a colleague while we continued to review the matter.”
But as “additional information emerged,” Ginsberg wrote, according to Page Six, “new questions were raised that became part of our investigation.” Ginsberg's statement did not elaborate on the "new questions."
The investigation is ongoing, according to Page Six.
Russini joined The Athletic in 2023 after nearly a decade at ESPN, where her roles included "SportsCenter" anchor and NFL analyst and insider. Vrabel was a three-time Super Bowl champion as a Patriots linebacker and was head coach of the Tennessee Titans from 2018-2023 before returning to New England as head coach last season.
In Page Six's initial article last week, Russini said the photos of her and Vrabel “don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day.” Vrabel said in the same article: “Those photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable.”
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 9: Mick Abel #20 of the Minnesota Twins pitches against the Detroit Tigers on April 9, 2026 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
First Pitch: 6:40 PM CST
TV: Twins.TV
Radio: TIBN, WCCO 830, The Wolf 102.9 FM, Audacy App, LosTwins.com
Eli Junior Kroupi: Man United plot to exploit Bournemouth for French starlet
Manchester United are plotting to exploit uncertainty at the Vitality Stadium this summer by striking a deal for AFC Bournemouth starlet Eli Junior Kroupi, according to a new report.
Major Upheaval
Bournemouth are braced for major upheaval after it was announced that Andoni Iraola would leave the south coast at the end of the season. The Cherries have become accustomed to losing their best players to bigger clubs in recent years, safe in the knowledge that they had an outstanding tactician in the dugout to help navigate these changes.
However, Iraola has decided against extending his expiring contract, despite months of negotiations with the executive branch. While it is an amicable break between both parties, it will prove a significant hurdle for the club to traverse.
One of the major attractions for young players joining Bournemouth was the chance to work with Iraola. His track record in improving new signings, right across the pitch, is almost second to none in the Premier League.
One perfect example is Kroupi, who was signed from French side Lorient in February 2025, only to be loaned back to France for the remainder of the campaign. He scored an impressive 22 goals in 30 games in Ligue 2, despite only turning 19 last summer.
This red-hot form has continued after swapping France for England, with 10 strikes in 27 appearances for Bournemouth this season – a goal every 125 minutes. He is the first teenager in the Premier League to reach double figures in over two decades.
It has even led to comparisons to Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe, given their similarities in profile and origin in French football.
United plot a raid
It’s little wonder, therefore, that the “new Mbappe” has caught the eye of the country’s biggest clubs, with The Daily Mail revealing United are joined by Arsenal and Chelsea in their admiration of the France under-21 international.
“Kroupi is attracting interest from a number of Premier League clubs, notably Liverpool and Chelsea, as well as teams in Spain. The talented 19-year-old forward is well known to United after scoring the equaliser in Bournemouth’s 4-4 draw at Old Trafford and again in the 2-2 draw on the south coast last month.”
The report states Iraola is “unlikely to be the only departure” from the Vitality Stadium this summer, with United also strongly linked with a move for Marcos Senesi.
The 28-year-old Argentine centre-back will be available on a free transfer as his contract with the Cherries expires in May. He is understood to be prioritising remaining in England over offers from top clubs on the continent, including Atlético Madrid and Juventus.
Final Thoughts
If United were able to strike a double deal for both Kroupi and Senesi, it would provide a major boost at both ends of the pitch for the Red Devils ahead of an increased schedule next season.
The French starlet is undoubtedly one of the most exciting attacking talents in all of Europe, possessing a versatile skillset which would lend itself as a complement to Benjamin Sesko, rather than instead of. Similarly, Joshua Zirkzee’s future at Old Trafford looks set to end this summer, with a replacement, and upgrade, needed for the Dutchman to take United’s forward line to the next level.
Kroupi fits the bill, with the confidence and swagger of a Red Devil, despite his tender years – and he looks set to follow his manager through the exit door for Bournemouth this summer.
Kentucky Basketball swung for the fences over the last two days while looking to secure commitments from top-ranked high school recruit Tyran Stokes and BYU point guard Rob Wright.
Sadly, their visits have ended, and neither player has made a commitment. Stokes’ visit came to an end Tuesday morning, while Wright’s visit ended in the late afternoon.
Going into the visits, Kentucky was thought to be in a good spot with Wright while facing an uphill climb with Stokes.
Well, it sounds like things have gotten dicey with Wright as well.
“There’s been a lot of smoke and talk regarding the Kentucky Wildcats and Rob Wright. He’s currently on campus for a visit and go back about 24, 48 hours ago, the information I was receiving was positive for Kentucky, but throughout the past 24 hours that leading into today, throughout the course of today, my confidence in him landing at Kentucky is actually decreasing right now, and I’m getting to the point where I’m classifying this as a toss up,” said Branham. “I think there’s a very real chance he could end up back at BYU.”
And by now, you’ve likely heard how Kentucky was looking to potentially pair Wright with Washington transfer Zoom Diallo in the backcourt.
As for Stokes, Jones said he thinks Kentucky will continue to wait on his decision. That may sound good, but there’s a chance Stokes won’t make a decision for another week or two, and in that timeframe, more recruits will start coming off the board.
Stokes previously told recruiting reporter Krysten Peek that the plan was to wait to see how rosters fill out for schools he’s considering. Kentucky is obviously far from doing that with just two returning players who played significant minutes last season and zero transfer portal commits. Peek added that she thinks it’s a couple of more weeks before Stokes makes a decision.
So yeah, there’s a real chance Kentucky misses on Wright, waits on Stokes, doesn’t get him, and misses out on other big-name transfers before the final decision is announced. And that’s assuming he’s legitimately considering Kentucky and not just trying to get more money out of Kansas, just like Wright may be doing with BYU.
Mark Pope made his bed. For better or worse, he’s about to dive headfirst into it.
The Kansas City Chiefs are a fascinating watch over the offseason, as the franchise has undergone a soft reset.
After missing the playoffs last season, the Chiefs have had time to review the roster and identify weaknesses. Now, armed with two first-round draft picks, the Chiefs can quickly reload the roster in an attempt to get back into the playoffs in 2026.
But holding the No. 9 overall pick, where could the Chiefs go? Corner seems like a logical place to start.
However, for NFL.com's Adam Rank, in his latest mock draft, where he has what each team should do in the first-round, the Chiefs select Oregon tight end, Kenyon Sadiq.
"I don’t expect Kansas City to draft this high again any time soon," Rank wrote. "I know you could play it safe, Chiefs, but let’s get a little dumb and dangerous. Because you’re the Chiefs and you can do it. Tight end might seem weird to some at first blush because Travis Kelce just signed a new three-year contract, but let’s be serious: He’s not playing out that deal. Let’s get creative here. You can line up Sadiq in the slot. He blocks. He’s tough. And Patrick Mahomes could use another big-bodied target."
Ultimately, it will be how the Chiefs' draft board falls that will determine it. Given Kansas City's need for a corner, if LSU's Mansoor Delane is still available at No. 9, the franchise might be inclined to select him.
But if they feel good about their secondary, and Sadiq is there at No. 9, then there is your Travis Kelce replacement.
Having Sadiq, who is an athletic monster, as a vertical threat in the passing game for Patrick Mahomes will give the offense another weapon to stretch the field.
Getting Kelce's replacement through the door a year before he potentially moves on is good business for Kansas City.
Lewandowski is the third-highest goal-scorer in the competition, but there is little chance of him catching the top two unless his career spans well into his 40s.
The Sporting News brings you a look at the all-time top scorers in Champions League and European Cup history.
Cristiano Ronaldo leads the way, having scored 140 goals in the competition during his illustrious career, which saw him bag goals for Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus in the Champions League. His career rival Lionel Messi, meanwhile, is second with 129 goals for Barcelona and PSG.
Robert Lewandowski is third, having become just the third player to reach a century of goals in the competition on November 26, 2024. The Poland international is also the only player to score a hat-trick for three different teams in the competition (Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Barcelona). Depending on where he signs this coming summer, Lewandowski may have played his final UCL match with Barcelona eliminated from the 2025/26 competition.
Table and statistics updated as of Wednesday, April 8.
Rank
Name
Goals
Appearances
Years
Club (s)
1.
Cristiano Ronaldo*
140
183
2003-present
Man United, Real Madrid, Juventus
2.
Lionel Messi*
129
160
2005-present
Barcelona, PSG
3.
Robert Lewandowski*
109
143
2011-present
Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona
4.
Karim Benzema
90
152
2005-present
Real Madrid, Lyon
5.
Raul
71
142
1995-2011
Real Madrid, Schalke
6.
Kylian Mbappe*
69
97
2016-present
Monaco, PSG, Real Madrid
7.
Erling Haaland*
57
58
2019-
Salzburg, Borussia Dortmund, Man City
=
Thomas Muller*
57
163
2009-2025
Bayern Munich
=
Ruud van Nistelrooy
56
73
1998-2009
PSV, Man United, Real Madrid
10.
Harry Kane*
51
67
2016-present
Tottenham, Bayern Munich
=
Mohamed Salah*
50
98
2013-present
Basel, Chelsea, Roma, Liverpool
=
Thierry Henry
50
112
1997-2012
Monaco, Arsenal, Barcelona
13.
Alfredo Di Stefano
49
58
1955-1964
Real Madrid
14.
Andriy Shevchenko
48
100
1994-2012
Dynamo Kyiv, AC Milan, Chelsea
=
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
48
124
2001-present
Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, PSG
*Active players
Where do Mbappe and Haaland rank in all-time Champions League goal scorers?
Mbappe and Haaland have already impressed in the Champions League and are expected to continue to do so for some time to come.
Mbappe secured sole control of 6th place on the all-time Champions League/European Cup scoring charts, with his hat-trick against Kairat Almaty in September, 2025 moving him past Thomas Muller. The striker has scored 68 goals in 96 games in the competition, giving him more than greats like Alfredo Di Stefano, Thierry Henry and Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Kylian Mbappe Champions League goals
Season
Goals
Games
2016/17
6
9
2017/18
4
8
2018/19
4
8
2019/20
5
10
2020/21
8
10
2021/22
6
8
2022/23
7
8
2023/24
8
12
2024/25
7
14
2025/26
9
13
Total
68
96
Haaland is on 57 goals in just 58 career appearances in the Champions League. He has broken Van Nistelrooy's record for the fewest games to reach 50 goals in the competition.
Romelu Lukaku’s feud with Napoli could be detrimental to Belgium’s World Cup hopes
It looks like Romelu Lukaku’s days as a Napoli player are set to be over. Disagreements between the club and player appear to have reached a critical point, with the player now unlikely to appear again for the Serie A side this season. This could really be detrimental to any hopes that Belgium has of a successful World Cup campaign.
Lukaku is the nations record top goal scorer and the national team has always struggled to find anyone capable of replacing him. In some ways, not playing competitive football does give Lukaku more time to recover, while also avoiding any risk of another injury. However, Lukaku entered the Qatar World Cup off the back of an injury and looked off the pace, missing chances that he would usually take. It is no coincidence that the Belgian national team failed so spectacularly in Qatar, although others factors were also at play there.
If Lukaku is unable to go, the team will have to look at other options. Atalanta forward Charles De Ketelaere has recently said that he wants to step up and try and replace Lukaku’s goals. The side also have Leandro Trossard, who has played as a striker for the national team before, although without much success. Replacing Lukaku’s goals and physicality is something that Belgium will struggle to do.
Rudi Garcia was unable to use Lukaku in recent friendlies against the USA and Mexico, so certainly has an idea of what is possible without a fit version of the striker. Belgium did put five goals past the USA, before drawing 1-1 with Mexico. In any case, a future without Lukaku is fast approaching for the national team and finding the next striker who can lead the line will be important for the Red Devils going forward.
Slot insists ‘the future looks very bright’ for Liverpool despite Champions League elimination
Arne Slot insists the future looks “very bright” for his Liverpool team despite their Champions League exit at the hands of PSG.
Liverpool were beaten 4-0 on aggregate in the quarter finals after their 2-0 defeat at Anfield in the second leg but Slot says there were a lot of positives to take from the way his side played.
He also pointed to a serious looking injury to Hugo Ekitike and the referee overturning a penalty for his side after being sent to the monitor by VAR as two examples of where they did not get the luck.
“I think we made a lot of progression compared to last week,” he said.
“I have to give a lot of credit to the players, how hard they worked and a lot of credit to our fans, how they helped us tonight to execute our game plan.
“Unfortunately it’s one of the many examples of this season where we weren’t able to score from the many chances we had. Again, we were so far underperforming in terms of our expected goals, and that is just an ongoing thing with us throughout the whole season.
“Add to that what seems to be another bad injury (for Ekitike), we don’t know yet. And add to that another intervention of the VAR which went not in our favour and that’s also not for the first time this season, then of course we were very disappointed because I think there were parts in the second half where you could just feel that if we score now, this is going to become a special night.
“But the future looks very bright for this team, for this club, because we’ve shown we can compete with the champions of Europe in our stadium. To be the dominant team, not many teams can be dominant against PSG and generate so many chances like we did.
“But chances is one thing, scoring is the second.”
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Apr 9, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Ryan Weathers (40) pitches against the Athletics during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images | John Jones-Imagn Images
Last night was one of the more entertaining baseball games you’ll ever see, but I’d just as soon take a clean little 5-1 win in game two of this four-game set with the Angels. While the Yankees are looking to continue the momentum from yesterday, Ryan Weathers is looking to continue a little personal momentum, coming off a strong eight-inning, one-run start last week.
After two middling starts to open his season, Weathers dominated the Athletics on Thursday, showing the potential the Yankees saw in trading with the Marlins to get him this winter. The fastball is real but the major thing that pops when you watch Weathers is his breaking pitches, and you may see him start to pitch “backwards” with the focus on his slider and curve tonight. Weathers has struggled with injury and inconsistency — he’s made all his starts so far this year, so the key is going to be following up one good start with another.
Reid Detmers will go for the Angels, himself having a solid year once you look past the ERA. A 3.38 FIP through his first three starts will play in any rotation, and while his strikeouts have dipped from his three-year baseline, so has his walk rate. It may not last — his flyball rate is up to 50 percent and his HR/FB rate is a paltry 4.5 percent — but for April the ball’s stayed in the yard. Based on what we saw from the Yankees last night though, that may not be the case in start number four.
Facing Detmers means Paul Goldschmidt leads us off, with Amed Rosario and his .999 OPS batting third and giving Jazz Chisholm Jr. a break, taking over second base. Randal Grichuk is also in left field spelling Cody Bellinger.
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 13: Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves fields a fly ball in the first inning during the game against the Miami Marlins at Truist Park on April 13, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After allowing a season-high 10 runs in yesterday’s matchup against the Miami Marlins, the Atlanta Braves are looking to approach tonight with a redemption and a momentum boost to push them into the finale tomorrow.
Both pitchers are making their first start; a few of the Braves are familiar with Marlins’ Max Meyer’s game, but the same can’t be said for the Marlins’ offense against Reynaldo López.
It’s going to take a force to be reckoned with to get ahead early and produce what wasn’t displayed last night. We’ll let by-gones be by-gones and start afresh. A new mindset and approach with similar lineups for game two…this isn’t just a new game, it’s a continuation.
Tune in at 7:15 p.m., and we’ll discuss the outcome.
It means the Reds have lost four of their last five games in all competitions following the 4-0 demolition at the hands of Manchester City in the FA Cup and the loss to Brighton in the league before the international break.
And there is now even more jeopardy in each remaining match of the Premier League season, with the Reds sitting in fifth as they look to earn a top-five finish to return to the Champions League next season.
Liverpool have now lost four of their last five games in all competitions (Getty)
Slot’s men have six games left of the domestic season and the first one comes this weekend in a Merseyside derby, though Fowler and former Manchester United strikerWayne Rooney think that the champions could be “underdogs” heading into that game at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
“Obviously the form in the last month, I know the Galatasaray [win was] a great result but I don’t think Galatasaray are great, so they've been turned over by Brighton, beat by Man City. I think Liverpool go into this game as probably underdogs,” said Fowler on Amazon Prime Video after the full-time whistle at Anfield.
“It's the first time in a long time I've spoke to so of many friends who are Liverpool fans and they’re a little bit worried about the Merseyside derby,” explained Rooney.
“We've seen this Liverpool team all season not give as much as they can, I believe. And I think this derby game has come at the wrong time for Liverpool,” he added.
The Merseyside derby takes place on Sunday, 19 April at the Hill Dickinson Stadium (Getty)
Former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge disagreed, hitting back: “Let's not try and make out like now all of a sudden Everton are in a good moment, now Liverpool are underdogs.
“I know we're talking about pressure and stuff, but for games like that you don't need anything extra,” said the former England international.
Liverpool sit just four points ahead of sixth-placed Chelsea going into the final six games of the season, and a win for Everton would take the Toffees within two points of their fierce rivals.
And if that wasn’t enough, Liverpool still have to play each of their main rivals in the battle for top five. The Reds will face Manchester United away on 3 May before welcoming Chelsea to Anfield on 9 May and then facing Aston Villa away around a week later on the weekend of 17 May.
Miami (OH) RedHawks wing Brant Byers (22) shoots from three point range in the first half of the NCAA Tournament First Four game between the Miami Redhawks and Southern Methodist University Mustangs, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Oh. | Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
It’s been a rough offseason for the Nittany Lions so far. There’s been the departures of a number of players, most notably freshman guard Kayden Mingo. There’s been the departures on the coaching staff, with longtime Mike Rhoades assistant Jamal Brunt leaving for Syracuse. Finally though, there is some good news for Penn State basketball as it landed Miami-Ohio transfer wing Brant Byers.
A 6-foot-8 wing originally from Chambersburg, PA, Byers spent the last two seasons at Miami. He was the second-leading scoring for the RedHawks this past season, helping the school to a 32-2 record that included a win over SMU in the First Four games of the NCAA tournament.
I’ll be honest with you guys, I saw that Byers entered the portal and knew the PA connection, but I am quite stunned he’s making his way to Penn State. I would have thought he was someone who would go to a school like UVA or Clemson or Wisconsin or Vanderbilt — tried-and-true tournament teams. I mean, there just aren’t many kids with Byers size who shoot as well as he shoots. Across his two seasons at Miami, he averaged 4.5 three-point attempts per game, making 40.1% of them. That’s an *elite* rate. Toss in that he displayed some real off the dribble chops as a sophomore — getting to the free throw line 4.8 times per game in 2025-26 — and I have no doubt Byers is turning down much more successful programs.
My guess is that Byers sees a bigger opportunity here to be a hub of the offense like he was at Miami. Not to say he was the focal point — the RedHawks top seven scorers averaged between 14.8 PPG and 9.8 PPG — but he’ll undoubtedly see more of the ball at Penn State than he would at some of the Top 25 schools that were after him.
Apr. 14—WILLMAR — The Willmar Aquatic Racing Stingrays celebrated their 2025-26 season Saturday, handing out a large number of awards.
The youth swimming and diving club team handed out honors for the Outstanding Ambassador Award, The Sportsmanship Award, Senior Scholarship Awards and recognition for state qualifiers.
Also honored were athletes who recorded mile certificates for participation.
Noelle Becker received the Outstanding Ambassador Award. Soren Newberg and Samantha Arends received Senior Scholarship Awards.
Individual record-breakers also were honored, including: Lila Arcilla, Arends, Dominick Devine, Manny Heinen, Laila Marker, Chloe Miedema, Rachel Morkrid, Levi Nelson, Britta Newberg, Jorgen Newberg, Isaac Sheets, Samuel Sheets and Marin Wallestad.
Coaches awards also were awarded to Macy Anderson, Alec Lorenz, Eve Madsen, Morkrid, Miles Nelson, Jorgen Newberg, Leah Quale and Elias Saint.
High Point winner awards went to Arcilla, Logan Devine, Hailey Fernelius, Ryder Fernelius, Cici Groshen, Cora Martinka, Ben Miedema, Chloe Miedema, Levi Nelson and Griffin Steffensen.
"We're so proud of everything our swimmers accomplished this year," Stingrays assistant coach Jodi Fernelius said in a statement. "Their hard work really shows."
The team, which started training in September, competes in meets beginning in October and running through March.
The Stingrays are members of USA Swimming. Members attend schools in Willmar, New London-Spicer, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City, Litchfield, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg, Community Christian School and the area home school co-op.
For more information on the Stingrays, visit the website
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Christian Wiggins of Wayzata has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association McDonald Award.
Initially, there were 38 semifinalists announced in February and 15 finalists announced in March.
The award is named after legendary Chisholm basketball coach Bob McDonald, who retired with 1,012 victories.
Ms. Basketball went to Maddyn Greenway of Providence Academy. The five-time state Class AA champion is headed to the University of Kentucky.
Finalists were: Kate Amelotte of Wayzata, Kate Holmquist of Maple Grove, Mya Moore or Orono, Tori Oehrlein of Crosby-Ironton and Audrey Shindelar of Stewartville. The winner was announced Friday night in Northfield at the site of the All-Star Series banquet.
Former Minnewaska star Arivia DeBoer has been named the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Women's Golf Athlete of the Week. DeBoer, a first-year student at St. Catherine University, tied for third on the leaderboard with teammate Caylin Cantwell at the Upper Iowa Invitational on April 4. Both shot 7-over-par 79s to help St. Catherine finish second in the 10-team event.
Derek Fronckowiak won at first singles as Oneonta stayed undefeated by sweeping visiting Norwich in a Southern Tier Athletic Conference match Monday, April 13, at Wilber Park.
Fronckowiak beat Liam Hunter, 6-3, 6-4.
At second doubles, Ethan Temming beat Vinny Larson, 6-2, 6-2. At third singles, Anthony Iannelli beat Timmy Guzewich in three sets, 6-2, 6-7 (7-9), 10-4. At fourth singles, Evie Chen beat Troy Schack, 6-0, 6-1.
At first doubles, Miles Gelbsman and Nico Iannelli beat Fisher Rivenburg and Jacob Lobdell, 6-0, 6-1. At second doubles, Jordan Fronckowiak and Ibraheem Khan beat Nick Hall and Bobby Johnson, 6-0, 6-0.
Norwich forfeited at third doubles.
Oneonta (5-0, 3-0) plays an STAC match at Windsor on Wednesday, April 15.
Bailey Thayer had six RBI and struck out 11 in four innings to earn the win as CV-S/SS beat host Worcester in a Tri-Valley League game Monday.
Thayer gave up one hit and walked three, with one unearned run. She went 2-for-3 with a double and a triple and scored one run. Emily Fox struck out the side in top of the fifth inning to end the game.
Megan Bolton got the only hit for the Wolverines.
McKenzie McGovern had four RBI and scored twice, and Justeena Finch scored four runs for CV-S/SS, which had a 12-run second inning.
Cherry Valley-Springfield/Sharon Springs (2-0, 1-0) will play a TVL game at Edmeston/Morris on Tuesday, April 14.
Oriskany 9, Cooperstown 8
Carlotta Falso went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored but took the loss in the circle as the visiting Skyhawks rallied for solo runs in the seventh and eighth innings in a Center State Conference Division II game Monday.
Kaelyn Mayo got the game-winning hit, doubling home Bryana Manella in the top of the eighth inning.
Cooperstown led after two innings, 8-5, but the SkyHawks got solo runs in the third, fifth and seventh innings to force the extra frame.
Falso struck out ten batters in eight innings, but walked seven. Only three of her runs were earned.
Brylie VanVechten got the win for Oriskany by pitching three scoreless innings in relief, giving up one hit.
Sophia Johnson scored two runs for the Hawkeyes, which also got a hit and a run scored from Scarlett Bong, Allie Butts and Callie Paterno.
Peyton Buehler went 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored for Oriskany (1-1, 1-0).
Cooperstown (0-1, 0-1) will play at Poland for a division game Wednesday, April 16.
To report spring scores, please email box scores, statistics and/or recaps to gklein@thedailystar.com.
The expansion of European competitions has afforded some of the biggest leagues in the world even more entries into the continent's top club tournament.
Two associations each year earn an extra qualifier into the UEFA Champions League, and the Premier League has recently been a main beneficiary of this bonus.
Teams from the English top flight are enjoying a level of dominance across all three European competitions in the 2025/26 season, and that has set the league up well to remain the most represented next term.
The Sporting News explains how leagues earn the coveted fifth Champions League place, whether the Premier League is in contention, and how things look around the rest of the leagues.
Does 5th place in Premier League qualify for Champions League?
The Premier League will have a fifth Champions League place for a second consecutive season in 2026/27.
Arsenal's 1-0 win over Sporting CP in the first leg of their quarterfinal on April 7 mathematically confirmed a so-called European Performance Spot.
Even the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle United and Tottenham getting dumped out in the Round of 16 did not affect the Premier League's status as one of the two leading leagues in terms of coefficient score.
Spain is the only nation with a mathematical chance to surpass England's coefficient average, meaning England are guaranteed one of the two spots. La Roja are the favourite to take second spot ahead of Germany and Portugal after Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona all reached the quarterfinals.
How is the fifth Champions League place determined?
UEFA uses its club coefficient ranking to determine who to award the additional Champions League places to each season. The system is based off each country's performance in Europe the previous season, averaged by the number of clubs participating.
From the group stage on, a win is worth two coefficient points, while a draw earns one. If a match goes to extra time, the result at the end of the 120 minutes is logged, regardless of the penalty shootout winner.
There are also bonus points for reaching particular rounds of competition. In addition, as of the 2024/25 season, bonus points are awarded for those clubs playing in the Champions League as opposed to the other two. There is a more detailed breakdown of this below.
Points gained by all clubs in a given association are added together, and then divided by the number of clubs participating in Europe that season to give an average.
Once the qualifying positions are awarded, the clubs to take the positions are the highest in the league table not to have qualified via other means.
UEFA club coefficients rankings 2025/26
As it stands, England would earn one extra Champions League place while Spain would earn the other. However, that is subject to change.
Clubs with many qualifying clubs in European play suffer what looks like a penalty, as their average score is divided amongst more participants. As the season plays out though, those countries also have more opportunities to gain points, so the cream usually rises to the top in the end.
Projected table for UEFA Champions League extra qualifier
The table below ranks all European leagues based on UEFA coefficient score in 2025/26 competitions. The table is ranked by max possible score, showing the teams most likely to finish at the top of the rankings by the end of the season.
The current average column shows where the clubs would stand if the season ended today, but as explained above, this is not always the best identifier of the eventual finish.
Figures updated following matches on April 14, 2026, via UEFA. Max possible score via BBC.
Rank
Country
Participants (Active)
Average
Max score
1.
England
9 (4)
25.569
30.569
2.
Spain
8 (5)
21.343
26.843
3.
Germany
7 (3)
20.285
24.571
4.
Portugal
5 (3)
19.300
25.900
5.
Italy
7 (2)
18.714
22.000
6.
France
7 (2)
17.178
19.821
7.
Poland
4 (0)
15.750
15.750
8.
Greece
5 (1)
13.800
16.000
9.
Denmark
4 (0)
12.250
12.250
10.
Cyprus
4 (0)
12.156
12.156
How does the UEFA coefficient points system work?
UEFA coefficient rankings are worked out based on the performances of each association (league) in European club competitions in a particular season.
Each league is awarded points based on how well their teams do in Europe, which are all added into a final total.
Points are awarded as follows:
Achievement
UCL
UEL
UCoL
Win (League Phase and on)
2
2
2
Draw (League Phase and on)
1
1
1
League Phase min*
0
3
2.5
Knockout round bonus (per round reached)
1.5
1.0
0.5
* Every club is guaranteed to earn the minimum bonus points even if their results earn fewer. Champions League participants do not earn a minimum, as their bonus points below guarantee such award.
In addition, the following bonus points were added to the mix in the 2024/25 season based on a club's final position in each competition's league phase:
Rank
Champions League
Europa League
Conference League
1
12
6
4
2
11.75
5.75
3.75
3
11.5
5.5
3.5
4
11.25
5.25
3.25
5
11
5
3
6
10.75
4.75
2.75
7
10.5
4.5
2.5
8
10.25
4.25
2.25
9
10
4
2
10
9.75
3.75
1.875
11
9.5
3.5
1.75
12
9.25
3.25
1.625
13
9
3
1.5
14
8.75
2.75
1.375
15
8.5
2.5
1.25
16
8.25
2.25
1.125
17
8
2
1
18
7.75
1.75
0.875
19
7.5
1.5
0.75
20
7.25
1.25
0.625
21
7
1
0.5
22
6.75
0.75
0.375
23
6.5
0.5
0.25
24
6.25
0.25
0.125
25
6
—
—
26
6
—
—
27
6
—
—
28
6
—
—
29
6
—
—
30
6
—
—
31
6
—
—
32
6
—
—
33
6
—
—
34
6
—
—
35
6
—
—
36
6
—
—
Which Premier League teams will qualify for Champions League?
The top two teams chasing the Premier League title, Arsenal and Manchester City, are considered almost virtual locks at this point to qualify for the Champions League next season. Manchester United and Aston Villa are given a chance of greater than 50 per cent.
Table updated as of all matches on April 7. Percentage chance to reach Champions League via Opta.
Adam Peaty has broken 14 world records in his dominant career [Getty Images]
Three-time Olympic champion Adam Peaty made a first step towards a fourth Games in Los Angeles by winning the 100m breaststroke at the Aquatics GB Swimming Championships in London.
Peaty, 31, was challenged by two teenagers, Filip Nowacki and Max Morgan, but came through to win in 58.97 seconds.
Nowacki was second in 59.39, with Morgan third in a huge personal best of 59.56.
Peaty and Nowacki confirmed their places on the GB team heading to Paris for this summer's European Aquatics Championships with their results.
Peaty's time was the second best in the world this year, suggesting that his time at the top could continue yet as he targets the 2028 Olympics.
"We've got some talented youngsters coming through the pool," he said.
"I'm not talking about this year, it's about LA for me, and these boys are going to challenge me the whole way."
It is almost a year since Peaty, who got married while swimming took a back seat, confirmed he will go again.
He made the decision after it was confirmed the 50m breaststroke event would be added to the schedule in 2028. It gives Peaty a second shot at more individual golds - the chance to add the 50m title to the 100m medals he won in 2016 and 2021.
British titles will be awarded in 36 medal events across the meet in London this week.
Other winners on Tuesday night included James Guy in the 400m, Imogen Clark in the 50m breaststroke and Eva Okaro in the 100m free.
While Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown is likely tired of being involved in trade rumors this offseason, there’s not much he can do to silence the noise.
However, a Monday afternoon rumor featuring Brown doesn’t bode well for the four franchises in need of receiving assistance.
“What do you think the odds are that I'm answering this question (regarding Brown’s future in Philadelphia) any different than I answered it anywhere else,” Eagles GM Howie Roseman stated, according to NFL.com’s Nick Shook.
"Like really, do you think that's 50%? Do you think it's 75%? A.J. Brown's an Eagle.”
Roseman’s stance on a future trade centered on Brown is particularly bad news for the Patriots. All signs have pointed to Brown landing with New England this summer, with multiple reporters suggesting that an offseason deal is inevitable.
Of course, the Patriots would have to express a willingness to offer the Eagles a first-round pick for their No. 1 receiving offer, but there’s no question New England is the top landing spot for the six-time Super Bowl champions.
With Roseman indicating that the Eagles are fully committed to Brown, though, a trade with the Patriots doesn’t appear as likely as it once was.
Head coach Joe Kuehn returns five of his six golfers from last year's Section 8AAA team, which graduated one key senior in Anthony Cellini.
Willmar kicked off the spring with a fourth-place finish at the Monticello Invitational on Monday at Monticello Country Club.
"We are about seven deep," Kuehn said. "I want to surprise people."
Kuehn's experienced squad enters the 2026 season led by his trio of junior captains Aden Jacobson, Luke Larson and Liam Ims.
Jacobson, who capped off his sophomore season as a state entrant, and Larson are Willmar's pair of All-Central Lakes Conference selections.
"We should see some really good scores out of Aden and Luke throughout the year," Kuehn said. "They should lead our team and help our team score stay down. But they are two great kids who work at it and I hope this season is going to be great for them. They're super excited."
Ims also certainly will be a key contributor for the Cardinals.
"Liam had some peak moments last year where he pulled out a couple 70s, but he's looking for more consistency and has been working hard," Kuehn said. "We need to get him settled in because we need him."
Evan Michelson will also be back in the mix this spring.
Michelson is a sophomore who takes lessons with Aaron Jacobson, who has been the Director of Instruction at Rush Creek Golf Club in Maple Grove since 2009.
Aaron is a cousin to Andy Jacobson, who is Aden's father. He is a 1991 graduate of Willmar High School and won the state Class AA championship in 1990.
Aden also takes lessons with his first cousin once removed.
"Evan looks really good," Kuehn said of Michelson, who is hitting his driver more than 300 yards. "I think this is going to be his breakout year."
Cooper Lownsbury, one of the two seniors who is looking to be a stable contributor in varsity competition, has Kuehn excited.
"He seems more confident with himself and is making better decisions," Kuehn said. "The biggest thing for Cooper is getting around the course better. He's got the length. He's got the game. He's just got to put some complete rounds together."
Lownsbury's senior teammate Gibson Horyza and junior Sawyer Dahl, who led the Cardinals with a 75 on Monday, also look to make contributions this spring.
They are part of a Willmar squad that finished fifth in the CLC last year.
Detroit Lakes, the state Class AA defending champion, won the conference and edged Alexandria by one stroke. Brainerd is also a top team to watch in the CLC.
"I'm hoping to surprise some people this year, especially if Luke and Aden do what they need to do and we get a couple guys to trickle in each event," Kuehn said. "I think we're right there."
Blackburn boss Michael O'Neill immediately turned his attention to Friday's vital home match against Championship leaders Coventry following the 3-0 defeat at Southampton.
Rovers are four points above the relegation zone so have some breathing space, largely because of a five-match unbeaten run prior to their trip to play the in-form Saints.
They have been beset by injuries and O'Neill made five changes for the second of his side's three matches in the space of six days.
"Listen, the game's gone - we just move on to Friday," O'Neill told BBC Radio Lancashire.
"We're getting through the games and the squad is very challenged in terms of numbers, with a lot of players who aren't with us at this minute in time.
"We could do with them being back for us. But the players we are putting out there are doing everything. Their attitude is first class, their commitment is first class, and that's all we can ask.
"We met a very good side in the best form. We knew it would be a tough game and it proved to be the case.
"In the second half we played well but the second goal just before half-time was a real killer."
If the Spring Game is any indicator, then the Deion Sanders hype machine that once electrified Folsom Field appears to be running out of steam.
Colorado’s 2026 spring game drew a sharply lower turnout, with independent estimates placing actual attendance at around 17,000–18,000 fans despite the school claiming 27,772 “tickets claimed” for the free event.
That marks a steep decline from the 47,277 who packed the stands in Sanders’ first spring in 2023. And it also seems to indicate a consistent downward trend through 28,424 in 2024 and 20,430 in 2025.
From Packed Stands to Empty Seats: How Deion Sanders’ Colorado Hype Has Faded
The numbers reflect a broader shift in Boulder. After a promising 9-4 season in 2024 fueled by stars like Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, the Buffaloes collapsed to a disappointing 3-9 record in 2025.
The program responded with a massive roster overhaul via the transfer portal — bringing in more than 40 new transfers and nearly 60 newcomers overall — leaving only about 22 scholarship players from last year’s team.
Students have openly noted that the “honeymoon phase” is over, with one telling reporters the program is “not anything new and shiny anymore.”
We’re really going to see what Neon Deion is made of this season. A former Buffaloes player recently launched a brutal public critique of the head coach, accusing him of prioritizing style over substance. He may be right.
Christian Fauria, a former Colorado tight end from 1990–1994 and a two-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots, appeared on The Zach Gelb Show and did not hold back in his assessment of Sanders’ tenure leading the Buffaloes.
“I’m just not a fan of the coach. I’ll never be a fan of the coach,” Fauria said. “I love the school. This isn’t me picking on Deion Sanders — I pick on Joe Gibbs, too. I just don’t like the way he coaches football.”
“I don’t think he’s very bright. I don’t think he can manage a game. I think there’s a lot of flash, but I think there’s no substance.”
Heading into his pivotal fourth season, Coach Prime insists the program is turning the corner with a revamped coaching staff and a new offensive scheme under Brennan Marion. Sanders also has some renewed energy after dealing with blood clots earlier this spring.
Yet the empty seats and fading buzz pose a clear question: Has the Prime Time magic in Colorado finally peaked?
After the defection of four-star signal caller Peter Bourque in February, Michigan football finally has its quarterback of the future.
Kyle Whittingham treaded into his old stomping grounds, seeking fortune that lay in Salt Lake City (Utah) West, in four-star dual-threat Kamden Lopati -- the No. 50 player in the country, according to ESPN. The problem? Lopati had long been pledged to Big Ten foe, Illinois.
However, on Monday, that changed. Lopati backed off his commitment to the Illini, allowing him to seek other fortunes. Thus, on Tuesday, he opted to follow those who had originally set upon the land of Utah, ultimately pledging to the maize and blue.
BREAKING: Four-Star QB Kamden Lopati has Committed to Michigan, he tells me for @Rivals
The 6’3 228 QB from West Valley City, UT recently decommitted from Illinois
-Savvy dual-threat quarterback that excels as a vertical passer and a power runner in a spread attack.-Built almost like a linebacker and measured just under 6-foot-3, 225 pounds in advance of senior year.-Can get the ball out fast with a smooth 3/4 release.-Likes to use touch when looking deep.-Will hit his first read and keep an offense on schedule, but tends to make some of his best tosses when working off-script as he constantly extends plays with his short-area quickness and pocket awareness.-Dangerous on the scramble and is the type of number that defenses have to account for in the RPO game with his vision and creativity.-Projects as a potential Power Four starter that can thrive in a system that wants to capitalize on his mobility.
Lopati had been predicted by several at Rivals, even before his Illinois defection, to the maize and blue. He is now the sixth pledge of the 2027 class, joining four-stars Recarder Kitchen and Darrell Mattison, and three-stars Maxwell Miles, Sidney Rouleau, and Louis Esposito.
Michigan has landed its quarterback in the 2027 recruiting cycle.
After an aggressive pursuit, the Wolverines have completed the flip of West Valley City (Utah) West four-star QB Kamden Lopati. The Beehive State passer backed off a longtime commitment to Illinois on Monday and is now headed to Ann Arbor.
With the addition of Lopati, Michigan has jumped up four spots to No. 19 in the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. The Big Ten program moved past Clemson, Minnesota, Penn State and Wisconsin.
“I have great relationships with the entire Michigan staff and that was big for me,” Lopati told Rivals’ Greg Biggins. “All of those coaches were recruiting me when they were at Utah and picked things right back up when they got to Michigan.”
Lopati is the No. 122 overall prospect and No. 9 QB in the nation, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 2 recruit in Utah.
Michigan now has six commits early on in the cycle. Now that it has a QB in the fold, more dominoes could soon fall in favor of the Maize and Blue.
Wolverines starting to roll on the trail
Maneuvering from the Sherrone Moore era to the Whittingham era did not impact how Michigan finished in the 2026 team rankings as it still signed the No. 11 haul. The new coaching staff in Ann Arbor is making some big moves with top targets this spring. The addition of Lopati is a big one.
The blue-chip QB now flanks Muskegon (Mich.) four-star EDGE Recarder Kitchen atop the class. Kitchen, the No. 119 recruit and No. 15 EDGE in the cycle, pledged at the end of November and remains locked in with the in-state program.
“A couple of other schools came in to see where my commitment was, and I let them know that I was solid,” Kitchen told TheWolverine’s Ethan McDowell in February. “I’m still, of course, building relationships because you never know what happens, but I just let them know, as far as anything else, I can’t do none of that. My loyalty with Michigan is very strong.”
Brook Hill School (Texas) four-star interior offensive lineman Sidney Rouleau is the other blue-chipper in the class early on. He pledged at the end of March and is now the No. 18 IOL in the cycle.
Chicago Morgan Park three-star safety Darrell Mattison, Las Vegas Centennial three-star safety Maxwell Miles and Saline (Mich.) three-star IOL Louis Esposito round out the class to date.
Whatever success the Cleveland Guardians had during the 2026 season was always going to come down to the development of the team’s
By looking simply at Rocchio’s counting stats, it looks like he’s off to a rather slow start to the year. The switch-hitter owns a .200/.344/.340 slash line. What those numbers don’t account for is the quality of at-bats Rocchio is putting together.
One of Rocchio’s biggest criticisms throughout the first two years of big-league action was his swing and miss and decisions to swing at pitches out of the zone. He’s showing much improvement and patience in that category as well.
Through 62 plate appearances this year, Rocchio has been making much more contact, and he's improved at not chasing pitches outside of the zone. That newfound plate discipline has helped Rocchio strike out less and walk more.
is carrying a strikeout rate of 9.7 percent (96th percentile) and a walk rate of 14.5 percent (83rd percentile). If that holds throughout the year - Yes, it’s still early - then it would be a career high in each category for the 25-year-old.
Apr 13, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Cleveland Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio (4) reacts after hitting a two run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the sixth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Plus, Rocchio is seeing more pitches per plate appearances than he did a year ago, too.
Even though some of the advanced numbers may favor Rocchio’s patience and new plate approach, the overall stats and production are still waiting to turn in his favor.
However, we’re starting to see that play out. In Rocchio’s last seven games, he has a .811 OPS, including two home runs. One of those homers came in Cleveland
Manager Stephen Vogt is taking note of all the tweaks, improvements, and patience Rocchio has shown this season, and he’s encouraged about where it could lead from here.
“Rocchio’s had really good at-bats, and not much to show for it, and doing a good job taking walks,” said Cleveland’s skipper. “That's why we like him in the nine-hole. Get on base for the top of the order, and he's been doing a great job with that, and maybe not getting the results.
If Rocchio can maintain this patience throughout the season and force pitchers to pitch to him, the 25-year-old will only become more valuable to the Guardians.
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BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 28: Roman Anthony #19 of the Boston Red Sox runs back to the dugout out between innings during a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 28, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After last night’s abysmal start from Garrett Crochet in which he only went 1.2 innings, the Red Sox middle relief is taxed. As a result, they had to make the following roster move today, which lands Jack Anderson in a big league uniform for the first time:
Ideally, Boston won’t need the middle relief tonight and Sonny Gray will just continue the success of his last two outings. Given the importance of Crochet & Gray part of the rotation, this is a pretty big start for April 14th.
What’s also a pretty big start for April 14th is Roman Anthony retuning to left field as it’s just the third time he’s started a game out there this month. Given his recent struggles and inconsistent throws, there’s a good chance he’ll get a shot at an assist tonight as teams will be running on him until he gets over whatever’s going on there.
The other lineup note is that Ceddanne Rafaela is the odd man out tonight in the “five guys need to fit into four spots between DH and the outfield” puzzle Craig Breslow gave Alex Cora.
Today’s Lineups
RED SOX
TWINS
Roman Anthony – LF
Byron Buxton – CF
Caleb Durbin – 3B
Trevor Larnach – LF
Masataka Yoshida – DH
Luke Keaschall – 2B
Willson Contreras – 1B
Josh Bell – DH
Wilyer Abreu – RF
Matt Wallner – RF
Trevor Story – SS
Victor Caratini – C
Jarren Duran – CF
Kody Clemens – 1B
Carlos Narvaez – C
Brooks Lee – SS
Isiah Kiner-Falefa – 2B
Tristan Gray – 3B
Sonny Gray – RHP
Mick Abel – RHP
⚾️ First Pitch: 7:40 pm – Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Photo by David Paul Morris/Augusta National/Getty Images
The inquest into what caused both Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm to have such a terrible time at The Masters is continuing.
Heading into the first major of the year, there appeared to be a good chance of a LIV Golf star emerging victorious at Augusta National, with DeChambeau and Rahm winning three times between them this year.
Ultimately, neither player was any sort of factor on Sunday. In fact, DeChambeau was not even playing in the final round.
The problem Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm face at every major
DeChambeau missed the cut. He struggled with his irons once again, while his week will be remembered for the nightmares he endured in bunkers on the 11th and 18th holes.
Rahm, meanwhile, began the final day at five over par. Ultimately, he finished in a tie for 38th.
Just one LIV player managed to finish inside the top 30 at The Masters.
It is a very bleak situation for the breakaway league. And speaking on the Golf Channel Podcast, Rex Hoggard suggested that the LIV players appear to carry a burden into every major that they are struggling to deal with.
“I did want to point out that these are by far and away the best two players on LIV Golf and we’ve seen it, we’ve talked about the idea that going to 72 holes on LIV Golf was going to only benefit the best players. We’ve seen that, Bryson DeChambeau has won twice. Jon Rahm has won once. Jon Rahm hasn’t finished outside the top five. Both of those players have benefitted from this,” he said.
“I had made the argument that when I picked Jon Rahm to be my favourite that going to 72 holes was also going to allow him to prepare better for the major championships, because I think there is a narrative that maybe 54 holes wasn’t exactly the best way for him to prepare for major championship golf. There were a lot of reasons that I thought that Jon Rahm should have been the person to go to. I keep going back to the idea that neither one of those players showed up. Neither one of those players delivered.
Photo by David Paul Morris/Augusta National/Getty Images
“We can sit and have the debate, this isn’t LIV Golf versus the PGA Tour, because I don’t want to go down the rabbit hole, but the fact of the matter remains the PGA Tour’s top players, they did arrive. Cameron Young played really well, your Players champion. Scottie Scheffler, the world number one played really well. Rory McIlroy, the standard bearer for the PGA Tour, he ended up winning.
“We can keep going down the list. They delivered. Hatton from LIV Golf did really well as well, he finished in the top 10, I’m not taking anything away from that. But it seems like time and time again we’re having this conversation about these two players, when it comes to them getting on a stage that’s not LIV Golf, and I’ll go back to the Olympics in Paris, if you remember correctly, Jon Rahm had a pretty commanding lead, it seemed like he was destined for a gold medal, if not a medal. He was going to end up on the podium. It didn’t seem any doubt about that.
“But a colleague said, ‘this is going to be Jon Rahm’s most important round because this is the last round of the year that we’re going to remember’. Again, not getting into the LIV Golf debate, that’s not what this is about. It’s just about facts, what people remember. They remember major championships, they remember The Players Championship and they remember the Olympics in this particular. Jon Rahm played his way off the podium that way.
“I think there is an added pressure for these LIV players, Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, any of the players coming from LIV Golf when they show up at the majors, I feel like they need to make a statement and in the back of their mind, they’re adding pressure to what is already a pressure-packed situation. And this is just another episode of that.”
There is likely to be little sympathy for the LIV Golf players struggling to handle the pressure
If Scottie Scheffler or Rory McIlroy endure a difficult time at a major, no one is going to accuse the PGA Tour of being any sort of a problem.
In fact, neither Scheffler or McIlroy had played a competitive round for several weeks before The Masters. So some could say that they have found a way to prepare for Augusta National that is more beneficial than playing in a PGA Tour event.
But there is a perception that LIV is gradually hurting the likes of Rahm and DeChambeau. And it is harder to argue with that after what happened at The Masters.
The pair could not have been more impressive in the events leading into The Masters. So the concern is that it is irrelevant how they play on LIV because they cannot take that into the majors.
If they win all of the tournaments before the PGA Championship, they will still head to Aronimink with some doubts over where their games actually are.
Hoggard is right that representing LIV puts a certain number of players under the microscope. And that distraction is probably not at all helpful.
But those players made their bed when they decided to jump ship. They now have to be prepared to lie in it as long as they remain on LIV.
Texas is set to host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. The Longhorns are coming off a weekend in which they lost twice at Texas A&M and then had their Sunday showdown with the Aggies cancelled by inclement weather.
Following those two losses, Texas (27-7) dropped to No. 4 in the D1Baseball poll with a three-game series against No. 11 Alabama scheduled for this weekend. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is 16-19 this season.
Stay tuned for live updates.
Texas Longhorns infielder Ethan Mendoza (5) catches a ball during the Lone Star Showdown against Texas A&M at Blue Bell Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in College Station, Texas. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
Texas vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi: Live updates, highlights
This section will be updated as more information becomes available.
Texas baseball vs Texas A&M-Corpus Christi time, TV info
When:6:30 p.m. Tuesday
Where: UFCU Disch-Falk Field
TV/radio:SEC Network+, 1300 AM
Texas Longhorns lineup
This section will be updated as more information becomes available.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders lineup
This section will be updated as more information becomes available.
Texas Longhorns starting pitcher
RHP Michael Winter (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders starting pitcher
City are exploring the market for several midfield targets and have now been linked with Bayer Leverkusen’s Ibrahim Maza and Hertha Berlin’s Kennet Eichhorn.
Leverkusen are not prepared to sell him, but City are expected to test their resolve should they decide to intensify their interest.
The Algerian joined Leverkusen last summer from Hertha Berlin and has impressed, registering five goals and six assists across all competitions.
The 20-year-old is primarily an attacking midfielder, but can play in central midfield and as a centre-forward, highlighting his versatility.
Maza is a strong dribbler and playmaker, ranking first for successful dribbles per game and third for big chances created among Leverkusen players in the Bundesliga this term.
Meanwhile, Plettenberg also reports that City have registered their interest in Eichhorn, but face competition from Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Leverkusen and RB Leipzig.
The Daily Mail also claims that Manchester United are interested in the German defensive midfielder.
The 16-year-old has grabbed the attention of several clubs following his impressive displays for Hertha in the 2. Bundesliga this season.
He has featured in 17 games across all competitions, establishing himself as a regular for Stefan Leitl’s side.
Eichhorn is considered a calm midfielder, who has an excellent reading of the game and can dictate play from deep.
Bayern Munich's Colombian forward #14 Luis Diaz celebrates scoring the opening goal with Bayern Munich's Austrian midfielder #27 Konrad Laimer (R) during the UEFA Champions League quarter final first leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on April 7, 2026. (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
After dominating for the first 70 minutes of the first leg in the Champions League quarterfinals, Bayern Munich eventually escaped with a 2-1 advantage over Real Madrid. This also marked Bayern’s first win over Real Madrid in the last 10 meetings. Over the weekend, Bayern traveled back to Germany for a 5-0 beatdown of St. Pauli, breaking the Bundesliga’s single-season scoring record with five games to spare.
Real Madrid caught fire in March but have suffered two losses and a draw since Kylian Mbappé returned from injury. Real Madrid have a rich history of producing Champions League magic but will need to convert their chances in front of a raucous crowd at the Allianz.
In the last five years, Bayern has only lost once at home in the Champions League, a 2-1 quarterfinal defeat at the hands of Inter Milan in 2025
The only time the German record champions have been eliminated after an away win in the first leg was in the 2010/11 Champions League round of 16 against Inter, when the old away goals rule meant a 3-2 defeat in the second leg at the Allianz Arena was not enough following the 1-0 victory in Milan (via FCBayern.com)
In both losses this season, Bayern has been held to a single goal but Bayern has scored multiple goals in 14 of the last 15 matches
Three things to know about Real Madrid
Leading Scorer: Kylian Mbappé, 39 goals
Player to watch: Vinícius Júnior, attacker
Form: WWLLD; 2nd place (La Liga)
Prediction
Bayern draws 3-3 (advances on 5-4 aggregate). This is going to be one of the wildest games you’ll ever see. Bayern presses early against Real Madrid’s low block and Harry Kane scores a header from a set piece. Real Madrid will storm back with three straight goals from Kylian Mbappé to take the aggregate lead. The home crowd will rally behind the Rekordmeister, resulting in a Kane penalty kick in the 80th minute. With both teams physically and mentally exhausted, Luis Díaz will be the stoppage time hero with a 1v1 breakaway goal that starts from a Real Madrid corner kick.
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…
Made one sensational save in the second half, and was left unable to stop Ademola Lookman’s goal. Otherwise couldn’t really be faulted for his performance.
Jules Kounde – 4
A non-factor going forward, Kounde was exploited by Ademola Lookman time and again, and not only for the goal. The Frenchman struggled whenever tested, despite not having much responsibility.
Eric Garcia – 5
After an outstanding first half, Eric Garcia all but put a nail in Barcelona’s coffin with his second sending off against Atletico in the space of two months. Garcia was excellent on the ball, and played well for the most part, but there’s no removing the red card from his performance.
Gerard Martin – 7
A solid and competent performance from Gerard Martin, who didn’t put too much of a foot out of place. Martin could do little about Atletico’s goal, and wasn’t really got at by Julian Alvarez.
Joao Cancelo – 6
Cancelo didn’t really do too much wrong, but it is true that he didn’t manage to provide much offensively, his primary duty. He was part of the effort to keep Giuliano Simeone quiet.
Gavi – 8
An excellent first start in the Champions League this season. Gavi glued the Barcelona midfield together in the opening hour, with some crucial defensive interventions. Largely handed the ball to others going forward, but his aggression was key to keeping Barcelona on top.
Pedri – 5.5
Perhaps we’re judging by Pedri’s standards, but for a second time in a week, he looked a yard slower than the rest of the game. Did have a couple of nice moves, but mostly struggled to create for his side.
Lamine Yamal – 8.5
Faded in the second half, but was still a cut above the rest of Barcelona’s players. Took the opening goal with consummate ease, and created several chances, including one that was half a goal for Fermin Lopez, were it not for a fine save from Juan Musso. The 18-year-old will be back, but no doubt leaves the pitch frustrated, given all he did for the cause.
Dani Olmo – 8
Was excellent in the first half, finding ways to create space for the forwards. On several occasions, he found space in the middle of the pitch, one of which was an assist for Ferran Torres. One of the few players who was able to slice through the Atletico defence.
Fermin Lopez – 5.5
Denied by a brilliant save, Fermin had to score the header from close range. Generally he was a little lacking in the final third, struggling to create the danger he would have wanted.
Ferran Torres – 8
A largely very good performance from Ferran, who took his chance brilliantly, and was a constant threat for fcbarcelona.com/es. He managed to peel off the Atletico defenders on several occasions, and also provided the pass for Lamine Yamal’s goal.
Substitutes
Ronald Araujo – 4
Several good balls were swung into Barcelona’s makeshift striker, but he couldn’t get on the end of them. Should have scored the one he did get on the end of.
Frenkie de Jong – 6
Came on for the final stages, but couldn’t really make the impact he wanted. Often at centre-back.
Robert Lewandowski – 4
Did little to question Hansi Flick’s decision to bench him. Scarcely had a touch as Barcelona searched for the equaliser on aggregate.
Marcus Rashford – 5.5
A couple of nice crosses went unrewarded, but largely looked off the pace in a game where Atletico were hunting a 10-man Barcelona down.
Roony Bardghji – 6
Had one or two nice moves, and got a shot off on one occasion. Didn’t make too much of an impact.
Apr 11, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers left fielder Riley Greene (31) celebrates with teammates after scoring a run in the third inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images | Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images
Detroit Tigers (7-9) vs. Kansas City Royals (7-9)
Time/Place: 6:40 p.m., Comerica Park SB Nation Site: Royals Review Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: LHP Framber Valdez (1-1, 4.76 ERA) vs. LHP Cole Ragans (0-3, 5.91 ERA)
Mar 17, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Miami Heat guard Norman Powell (24) moves the ball against Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) during the second half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
The Miami Heat enter as the No. 10 seed at 43-39, coming off a dominant 143-117 win over the Hawks in their regular-season finale.
The Heat’s current core is built around Bam Adebayo, who leads the team with roughly 20 points and 10 rebounds per game, alongside Tyler Herro and Norman Powell, who have averaged over 20 points per game this season.
Miami also won the season series 3-1, giving them a confidence edge despite entering on the road. With multiple play-in appearances in recent years, the Heat bring experience and a proven ability to perform in high-pressure situations.
The Charlotte Hornets finished 44-38 to secure the No. 9 seed and home-court advantage, highlighted by a 110-96 win over the Knicks to lock in their position.
Charlotte is led by LaMelo Ball, who averages over 7 assists per game, along with rising star Brandon Miller, who leads the team in scoring at 20.2 points per game.
The Hornets have been one of the league’s best offensive teams this season and are playing with momentum, but their lack of postseason experience compared to Miami could be a factor in a high-stakes elimination game.
This is a great NBA matchup that you will not want to miss; make sure to tune in and catch all the action.
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The Seattle Seahawks running back room might not have Kenneth Walker III anymore, but they’re full of options already pre-draft.
While mock drafts all expect the Seahawks to take one with one of their four draft picks, John Schneider’s comments on the Seahawks ball carriers haven’t sounded like someone ready to invest heavy draft capital in the position.
Here’s what he said on Seattle Sports radio a few weeks ago:
NFL.com’s Kevin Patra laid out how Schneider’s history favors the opposite as well. In Green Bay, he went with the relatively-unknown Ryan Grant as a lead back ahead of the 2007 season before he broke out for three straight 900-yard seasons. He also led the Packers to eliminate the Seahawks in the 2008 playoffs, rushing 27 times for 201 yards and three touchdowns. This callback should make you think twice about overvaluing Walker’s playoff production, as it certainly did for Seattle’s general manager.
Maybe the way to “Run it back” doesn’t rely on a new face at RB. Maybe they already got that in Emanuel Wilson. Maybe they really do plan on George Holani leading the way until Zach Charbonnet’s back. Maybe that’s sooner than we think.
The NFL draft never goes as expected, let alone from the Seahawks’ perspective. More doors are open than closed with this position. They could bring in Coleman Bennett as a UDFA. They could draft Chip Trayanum on Day 3.
Or they could roll with what they already have. They weren’t afraid to buck the trend investing heavily in Walker and Charbonnet with 2nd round picks in consecutive years, and they might buck the trend again by zigging when they’re finally expected to zag.
The Winnipeg Jets looked like a legitimate Stanley Cup front-runner last year.
But what a difference a year makes for the 2024-25 Presidents' Trophy champions, who are now eliminated from playoff contention for the first time since 2021-22.
The Jets won nine of their first 12 games this season, but after that, they went 6-19-5 to hurt their playoff hopes.
The death knell for Winnipeg's year essentially came when the Jets went 1-10-4 from early December through early January, sinking to the bottom of the Central Division and Western Conference standings.
Although Winnipeg did stage a valiant attempt at a comeback in the second half of the season – going 20-11-7 in that span – it wasn't nearly good enough for them to squeeze into the final wild-card berth in the West.
The Los Angeles Kings' win on Monday eliminated the Jets from contention.
What Went Wrong For The Jets?
The Jets' puny offense has averaged 2.81 goals-for this season, which ranks tied for 24th in the NHL.
Last season, the Jets ranked tied for third with 3.35 goals per game. That's quite the difference.
Winnipeg's defense – which was the NHL's very best last season at 2.32 goals against per game – also suffered a precipitous drop, falling to 18th at 3.06.
Few teams that have that type of drop-off in play can be a playoff squad.
Finally – and perhaps, most importantly – Winnipeg's best player, star goalie Connor Hellebuyck, had a down season by his standard. Of course, we're not including his outstanding Olympic performance, winning gold with Team USA.
The 32-year-old's save percentage went from a stellar .925 SP last season to a career-worst .895 SP. His goals-against average went from 2.00 to 2.86.
An injury kept him out from mid-November to mid-December as well, and the squad struggled without the 2024-25 Hart Trophy winner.
It all adds up to the Jets' most disappointing season in many years.
What Comes Next For The Jets?
If you're a Winnipeg fan, the good news is that the Jets should have a bounce-back season in 2026-27.
Given that Winnipeg will only have a couple of notable players who will be UFAs this summer, Cheveldayoff should be a major player in trades and free agency.
The Jets could use high-end help at forward and on 'D,' and with Hellebuyck's backup, Eric Comrie, slated to be a UFA, they might use some of that cap space to give Hellebuyck more support.
In any case, Winnipeg has shown in the second half of this season that they're a better team than their record suggests.
But things won't get easier for them in the highly competitive Central Division.
The Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild are some of the best teams in the league this year. And with the up-and-coming Utah Mammoth only getting better, the Jets will find it extremely difficult to get back to the top of their division.
That said, it's not impossible for Winnipeg to be a playoff team next season. The Pacific Division is the weakest in the league, so it's very possible the Central sends five teams into the post-season next year. And the Jets have no valid excuse for not being one of those playoff teams.
The bad news about Winnipeg's late-season surge is that it turned them into a mushy middle team – too bad to make the playoffs, and too good to earn the best chance at winning a top draft pick.
But really, at this stage, the Jets should be trading some of their draft picks; they're clearly in win-now mode, and that's not going to change next season. Cheveldayoff has all three of his first-round picks in the next three drafts, so he could use one of those picks to improve his team immediately.
The Jets aren't going to embark on a rebuild based on one letdown season. But if they're at this same place in the standings this time next season, there could be a crossroads moment coming for the team.
For now, though, Winnipeg is going to have every opportunity to redeem themselves in 2026-27. With the right tweaks to the roster and a key signing and/or trade acquisition or two, the Jets could rebound in a major way.
If that's what happens, this season's woes will quickly be forgotten as a blip on the franchise's radar.
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An early season full of injury nightmares is getting ready to come to an end for the Toronto Blue Jays, based on Tuesday afternoon updates from manager John Schneider.
As noted by Mitch Bannon of The Athletic, starting pitcher Trey Yesavage is going to pitch for Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday. He's hoping for 65 pitches and four innings, and if he checks out well, he could rejoin the rotation afterwards.
He's made two rehab starts at Single-A Dunedin thus far. Hazel Mae of Sportsnet also says that right-hander Berrios will pitch on Thursday for Dunedin. He's hoping to get three innings and 50 pitches of work in.
Trey Yesavage is going to start for Buffalo tomorrow. 4 innings, 65 pitches is the aim.
if all goes well, could join the #BlueJays in Anaheim - team will see how he performs and comes out of the start
Yesavage has been out all season with a right shoulder impingement. He did not see any game action in spring training. Berrios pitched late into spring training before being diagnosed with a stress fracture in his right elbow.
While no timeline has been given on Berrios, it seems reasonable to assume he could be back by May 1 if all continues to go well. Getting back both pitchers will be a huge boon to a rotation that has lost those two plus Shane Bieber and Cody Ponce. Ponce is likely out for the entire season with an ACL tear.
About Yesavage
A first-round pick of the Blue Jays in 2024, Yesavage shot through the minors in 2025, appearing in the big leagues in September and October. The 22-year-old went 1-0 in three starts down the stretch and then won games in the American League Division Series, American League Championship Series and World Series. His performance in Game 6 of the ALCS saved Toronto's season and his 12-strikeout win in Game 5 of the World Series was lights out as well.
Because of his late debut in 2025, he is still ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the organization, but he'll quickly fall off once he gets back into action.
While the team certainly doesn't want to see him hurt, ever, having him start his season later and get a smaller workload is likely a good thing in the long run. It will keep him fresher later in the season, and though the Jays are out to a slow start at 6-9, they have aspirations of playing late into October again.
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Trey Yesavage (39) and catcher Alejandro Kirk (30) greet after the bullpen session for spring training practice at Blue Jays Player Development Complex. Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
About Berrios
Now 31 years old, Berrios is a 10-year veteran of the Twins and Blue Jays. A two-time All-Star, he's 108-82 lifetime with a 4.08 ERA.
After a solid season in 2024, he regressed in 2025, going 9-5 with a 4.17 ERA. His ERA was better than his FIP (4.65), suggesting that some regression to the mean is possible, which is bad news for him and the organization. He only struck out 138 batters in 166.0 innings. He was on the injured list at the end of the season with right elbow inflammation and missed the run to the World Series.
Though his numbers could be worrisome, his reliability has always been a plus for Toronto. He's made 30 starts or more in each of the last four seasons, providing the Jays with solid stability in the middle-to-back of the rotation. And that's certainly something they could use right now.
The Jays will take on the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night at 7:40 p.m. ET.
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 17: Gilbert Burns of Brazil prepares to face Michael Morales of Ecuador in a welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on May 17, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
What is “Durinho” fighting for?
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Welterweight title challenger Gilbert Burnsreturns to action this weekend, headlining UFC Winnipeg against surging Canadian Mike Malott inside Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Burns enters the bout on the worst losing streak of his professional career — four straight defeats, including two by finish. That said, the competition hasn’t been easy, with losses coming against elite names, including former champions and top contenders.
Still, the skid has raised questions about his future.
“Right now, honestly, I don’t need to win,” Burns said on UFC Journey: Malott vs. Burns. “I came from nothing. Now what I have is more than enough for me. I don’t need it — but I want it. That’s my motivation.”
That mindset may sound surprising for a fighter trying to snap a four-fight skid, but Burns insists his drive is still there.
“What I bring is experience and the will to win,” he added. “I’m going to take him down.”
Burns is coming off a first-round knockout loss to Michael Morales, who could be next in line for a Welterweight title shot (watch highlights). And while he admitted Morales’ power made the difference, Burns isn’t ready to concede his place among the division’s elite.
Instead, he’s fighting for something more personal.
“All of the experience I have — it’s time to use it,” Burns said. “I want to prove to myself, not anyone else, that I can still compete at the highest level.”
At 38, the clock is ticking.
“I still believe I can perform against these young guys,” he continued. “But I’ve got to work my butt off. I’m getting older, and I don’t want to keep losing.”
So no — Burns doesn’t need to win, but he wants to.
NEW YORK – For a second straight game, Ben Rice is on the Yankees’ bench against a lefty starter.
Yes, that Ben Rice – the one leading all MLB hitters in on-base percentage (.508) and OPS (1.253) entering Tuesday night against the Angels.
Though the plan was to originally start Rice vs. lefty starter Reid Detmers, manager Aaron Boone said he prefers to “cherry pick’’ when to fire Rice in a big spot.
Rice was not in the lineup during the Yanks’ previous two games against lefty starters (Rays’ Steven Matz, Angels’ Yusei Kikuchi) and still made an impact.
Last Friday, Rice pinch-hit a homer in his only at-bat, in a 5-3 loss at Tropicana Field.
On Tuesday, Rice entered in the fifth inning and contributed a walk and a single in three plate appearances during the Yanks’ 11-10 comeback win at Yankee Stadium.
With the lefty-hitting Rice on the bench, “I’ve been able to fire him at the most important part, and it might be early in the game,’’ said Boone, insisting too that Rice “is going to play against lefties.’’
Rice should eventually get a few starts behind the plate, but Boone isn’t comfortable yet with Rice catching five-plus innings.
They intend to build up Rice by catching simulated games (he caught Carlos Rodon’s latest), but the focus has mostly been on reps at first base, not his natural position.
Boone also wants Paul Goldschmidt’s presence against lefty starters; he’s batting .331 with a .984 OPS in 157 at-bats vs. lefties since the start of 2025.
“Also early in the season, (I’m) trying to keep our bench in play,’’ said Boone, with Goldschmidt back in the leadoff spot Tuesday and Amed Rosario batting third.
Rice joins three other lefty hitters – Cody Bellinger, Jazz Chisholm Jr., J.C. Escarra – on the bench to begin this warm Tuesday night at the Stadium.
After reports surfaced on Monday, April 13 that Los Angeles Lakers stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are inching closer to their returns from injuries, head coach JJ Redick made it clear on Tuesday, April 14 that there will be no further updates in the near future.
"Look, they're out indefinitely," Redick told reporters during his media availability at Tuesday's practice. "I'm not gonna have an update for you this week. They're out indefinitely."
NBA insider Marc Stein confirmed an earlier report that Doncic is scheduled to return to the Lakers on Friday and will be re-evaluated after undergoing multiple injection procedures in Spain in hopes of accelerating his recovery from a grade 2 left hamstring strain.
Reaves, meanwhile, has been rehabbing a grade 2 left oblique muscle strain in Los Angeles. Both Reaves and Doncic sustained their injuries during a blowout loss in Oklahoma City on April 2 and missed the rest of the regular season and will likely be out through at least the first round of the playoffs, where the No. 4-seeded Lakers will take on the No. 5 seed Houston Rockets.
While they're considered out indefinitely, both injuries usually carry a standard recovery window of about four-to-six weeks, which would sideline Doncic and Reaves through the first week of May. It's currently unclear how effective the treatment Doncic got in Spain actually was or if it impacted his timeline at all, and it most likely won't be known until after his re-evaluation at the end of the week.
What is a grade 2 hamstring strain?
A Grade 2 hamstring strain is a “moderate injury that is typically a partial tear in the muscle; patients are likely to limp when walking and will have occasional twinges of pain during activity,” according to Mercy Health.
The injury could take close to a month to heal, but “returning to sports before the injury is fully healed can cause more severe injuries.”
What is a grade 2 oblique strain?
A grade 2 oblique strain is another moderate strain in which "one of the abdominal muscles (internal or external oblique muscles) becomes frayed, torn or detached, often from the lower four ribs," according to Performance Place. The injury makes it painful for someone to breathe, cough and laugh and is common among baseball players and golfers.
At a time when the backcourt is going through a deep transition period with many seniors graduating, Clemsonwomen's basketball made a crucial decision for the future by picking up Virginia Tech transfer Mackenzie Nelson from the portal.
This was a much-needed pickup for the Tigers because with Rachel Rose and Mia Moore graduating, you're losing control, leadership, and, to be honest, the feel of the offense in addition to production. They require a guard who can do more than just fill in the minutes. Nelson immediately checks all those boxes.
This past season, she started all 32 games for Virginia Tech and averaged 8.0 points, 5.7 assists, and 1.4 steals. She doesn't turn the ball over, reads correctly, and plays under control. Her 12-assist performance against Florida State demonstrates her ceiling as a distributor. Earlier in her career, she ranked among the top 10 in the ACC in assist-to-turnover ratio. This skill is important when replacing players like Rose, who essentially maintained Clemson's stability.
NEWS: Virginia Tech transfer Mackenzie Nelson has committed to Clemson.
The 5-8 sophomore averaged 8 ppg, 5.7 apg and 1.4 spg this season.
She had 18 against Florida State and can pick her spots, but the bigger thing is she doesn’t need to force anything. Clemson doesn’t need her to be the leading scorer; they need her to keep everything organized, and she’s built for that. Defensively, she’s active and had a four-steal game against Georgia Tech.
Nelson's stats aren't the only thing that makes her certified as a baller; she is a Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year and a former top-65 ESPN HoopGurlz player.
Former Clemson forward Chauncey Wiggins is back in transfer portal
Russini, 43, and Vrabel, 50 — who are both married — shared statements denying any wrongdoing hours after the images were published by Page Six. The photos were reportedly taken March 28 at the Ambiente hotel in Sedona.
Moments after Russini published her resignation letter, The Athletic executive editor Steven Ginsberg shared a statement with Page Six saying the ongoing investigation sparked “new questions.”
“While I can’t share the details of our investigation into Dianna’s conduct, I want to emphasize that the leadership at The Athletic has taken this matter seriously from the moment that we learned about it,” Ginsberg’s statement read,
Mike Vrabel, pictured here March 31, became the head coach of the New England Patriots in January 2025 (Reuters)The Athletic reporter Dianna Russini has resigned from her role as NFL reporter (Getty)
“When this situation was brought to our attention last week, there were clear concerns, but we received a detailed explanation and it was our instinct to support and defend a colleague while we continued to review the matter,” he continued.
However, “additional information emerged” and “new questions were raised that became part of our investigation,” he wrote.
In her resignation letter, Russini maintained that she covered the NFL “with professionalism and dedication.”
“I stand behind every story I have ever published,” she continued.
Russini wrote that when the photos were first published, The Athletic “supported me unequivocally, expressed confidence in my work and pride in my journalism. For that I am grateful.”
“In the days that followed, unfortunately, commentators in various media have engaged in self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts,” she continued. “Moreover, this media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete.
I submitted my letter of resignation to The Athletic. Everything I have to say about it is below. pic.twitter.com/401nrtbEsj
“It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I have no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept.”
Russini concluded that she will now step down from her position at The Athletic — having joined the publication in 2023 as “senior NFL insider” and host of the Scoop City: Inside the NFL podcast — ahead of her contract’s expiration date of June 30.
“I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode,” she wrote, “but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career.”
Russini shares two children with her husband, Shake Shack executive Kevin Goldschmidt. A source close to the former ESPN anchor told Page Six she was staying at the Arizona hotel during a hiking trip with two female friends.
Dianna Russini has resigned from her position at 'The Athletic' over photos published showing her holding hands with Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel (Getty)
“The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day. Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues,” Russini said in a statement to Page Six in response to its report.
In a statement of his own, Vrabel, who celebrated his 26th anniversary with wife Jen Vrabel last year, said: “These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable. This doesn’t deserve any further response.”
Vrabel and his wife share two children: Tyler (offensive tackle for the Atlanta Falcons), 25, and Carter, 24.
Former Patriots linebacker Vrabel, who spent eight seasons with the team, was appointed head coach in January 2025 and made an immediate impact, guiding the franchise to a surprise Super Bowl appearance this year and earning NFL Coach of the Year honors.
Ousmane Dembele put PSG into the Champions League semi-finals (FRANCK FIFE)
Ousmane Dembele's double guided Paris Saint-Germain into the Champions League semi-finals as a 2-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday completed a 4-0 aggregate win for the holders.
To compound the English champions' woes, Hugo Ekitike suffered a serious-looking injury that could end his season and hinder Liverpool's chances of being back among Europe's elite next season.
Arne Slot's men sit fifth in the Premier League and will end the campaign trophyless after being kept at arm's reach by a PSG side that did not need to be at their brilliant best to reach a third consecutive semi-final.
Defeat means there will be no glorious goodbye for Mohamed Salah after nine memorable years on Merseyside.
Slot showed little sentiment as he dropped the Egyptian to the bench on his final Champions League appearance in red.
Alexander Isak was preferred up front as the most expensive player in Premier League history started for the first time since breaking his leg in December.
However, Salah was forced into action after just half an hour as Ekitike suffered a nasty-looking injury that could ruin his World Cup hopes with France.
The former PSG striker crumpled in a heap holding his lower right leg with a suspected ruptured Achilles.
Salah nearly made an immediate impact as from his cross Matvey Safonov made a fine save from Milos Kerkez before Marquinhos produced a remarkable block to deny Virgil van Dijk the opening goal.
PSG had plenty of chances to have put the tie to bed in the Parc des Princes last week and were profligate once more in the first half.
Giorgi Mamardashvili scrambled back towards his line to punch away Dembele's attempted chip before the Ballon d'Or winner blazed over from close range with just the Georgian to beat.
Slot admitted before kick-off that Isak could only last for 45 minutes due to a lack of match practice and the Swede made way for Cody Gakpo at half-time in a further blow to Liverpool's firepower up front.
- Dembele kills tie off -
Kerkez had the best chance to set up a grandstand finale when he sliced wide another inviting Salah delivery.
Liverpool thought they had been gifted a lifeline when Alexis Mac Allister was awarded a very generous penalty for minimal contact by Willian Pacho, but VAR intervened to instruct referee Maurizio Mariani to reverse his original decision.
But as Liverpool poured forward in desperation, they became a sitting duck for the rapid PSG counter-attack.
Dembele finally killed the tie off 18 minutes from time when he cut onto his left foot and curled into the bottom corner from outside the box.
The French international then inflicted the final blow with a cool finish from Bradley Barcola's cross in stoppage time.
PSG will face a tougher test against the in-form Bayern Munich or 15-time winners Real Madrid in the last four.
But after ending the Qatari-backed French champions' long wait to conquer Europe last season, Luis Enrique's men remain on course to become the only side other than Madrid to retain the competition in the Champions League era.
The Dallas Cowboys have two first-round picks, picks 12 and 20, in the 2026 NFL Draft, but it sounds like the team could be gearing up to make a major move, with both selections potentially on the move.
Schultz adds that Dallas wants to select a player that their division rivals, the New York Giants, are also eyeing. The Giants are at pick five, meaning the Cowboys could be looking to break into the top four.
"There’s a belief among teams at the top of the draft that the Cowboys, who have picks at #12 and #20, are a team to watch in trade-up scenarios, according to multiple league sources," Schultz said.
"Several teams have said they believe Dallas is targeting a player the Giants also covet, and getting ahead of them would be ideal if the price makes sense," Schultz added.
Cowboys could make draft day deal with Titans, Cardinals, or Jets
The Las Vegas Raiders are most likely going to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the top pick, so they aren't going to trade back.
However, the Tennessee Titans (pick 4), Arizona Cardinals (pick 3), and New York Jets (pick 2) could be possible trade partners for the Cowboys in their quest to move up and land their desired player.
Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reported on Monday that the Titans and Cardinals have explored trading down, and the Jets could also be willing to move back for the right package, though it is less likely that New York does so.
"Count the Cardinals, Titans, Giants, Browns and Commanders among those already looking at trying to drop down in the order to accumulate capital. The problem for those five is finding teams to move up," Breer said.
As for the player Dallas is targeting, it could be a defensive player, such as Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain, Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey, or Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese. There's also a chance the Cowboys could shock the world and leapfrog the Giants for Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.
Nevertheless, if Dallas moves up from 12, it must be for a player who will make an immediate impact in 2026 and be a long-term cornerstone.
Liverpool 0-2 PSG: Ousmane Dembele double seals Parisians’ Champions League semi-final spot
Liverpool fell to a 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg at Anfield on Tuesday evening, losing 4-0 on aggregate.
PSG created the game’s first chance when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s shot was saved by compatriot Giorgi Mamardashvili in the Liverpool goal.
Liverpool responded swiftly, threatening at the other end, with Alexander Isak heading straight at Matvey Safonov.
Ousmane Dembele came close to opening the scoring in the 10th minute, but Mamardashvili denied him.
Liverpool were forced to make a substitution on the half-hour mark, with Mohamed Salah replacing the injured Hugo Ekitike.
Moments later, Virgil van Dijk nearly put Liverpool ahead, only to be denied by Marquinhos’ last-ditch block.
PSG were also forced to make a substitution before half-time as Luca Hernandez replaced Nuno Mendes.
Liverpool started the second half the brighter side and almost broke the deadlock through substitute Cody Gakpo, whose effort was parried behind.
The Reds were given penalty in the 64th minute when Alexis McAllister was brought down in the area, but the VAR overturned it.
PSG opened the scoring in the 72nd minute against the run of play, with Dembele curling into the bottom-left corner.
The Ballon d’Or holder eventually sealed the victory in stoppage-time, guiding the ball home from Bradley Barcola’s cross.
The result sees PSG qualify for the Champions League semi-final for the second consecutive season, keeping their title defence hopes alive.
The Parisians will now face either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid.
📋 São Paulo named to face 🇨🇱 in the second Copa Sul-Americana round
São Paulo returns to the field this Tuesday (14), at 7 p.m. (Brasília time), when it hosts Chile’s O'Higgins at MorumBIS, in the second round of the 2026 Conmebol Sudamericana.
Like Tricolor Paulista, the Chilean club also won its opener.
That means the match is worth the top spot in Group C.
It is worth remembering that, unlike the Libertadores, only the first-place team in each group advances directly to the Sudamericana round of 16.
The team that finishes second must play a playoff against an opponent eliminated from the Libertadores group stage after finishing third in its group.
Compared with the last match (a 2-0 win for Vitória in the Brasileirão), coach Roger Machado opted to bring in Bobadilla, Luciano, Lucca and Calleri in place of Danielzinho, Cauly, Ferreirinha and André Silva, respectively, for São Paulo.
The New York Jets own the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and have a few different options they could go with at this spot.
However, with the draft date approaching, the Jets are seemingly down to two options with this top pick. Those two players have been widely discussed as Ohio State's Arvell Reese and Texas Tech's David Bailey.
Zack Rosenblatt for The Athletic revealed that one of those players had a 55% chance of being taken No. 2 overall, while the other was at just 40%. The edge with the higher chance of being the second overall pick is the 6.5 sack Ohio State edge in Reese.
Jets have 55% chance to take Arvell Reese No. 2 overall
"It is most likely down to two players if the Jets stick at No. 2," Rosenblatt writes. "Let's break it down by percentage: Who is going to be the Jets' pick if they stick at No. 2? 55 percent: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State. 40 percent: David Bailey, edge, Texas Tech."
Rosenblatt predicts that the Jets have a 55% chance of taking Reese with the No. 2 overall pick, while Bailey, the prototypical edge rusher, is at just 40%.
For Jets fans, seeing Reese and Bailey make up 95% of the possible scenarios with the No. 2 pick isn't a surprise. It would be a major surprise if someone else were taken.
Sonny Styles, Carnell Tate, or Caleb Downs all could, in theory, be the No. 2 pick. But, it would be a major surprise if any of them ended up as this No. 2 overall pick.
Jeremiyah Love isn't an option with Breece Hall, and this is far too early to even consider Ty Simpson out of Alabama.
Reese, the 6.5 sack linebacker who is trying to transition to an edge rusher in the NFL, is the most likely pick with this top selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.
What is interesting is that this isn't a 50% to 45% comparison; it's a difference of 15% in favor of Reese over Bailey. Rosenblatt believes Reese is the pick, despite recent buzz leaning towards the 14.5 sack Texas Tech edge rusher.
While Reese might be in the lead, there's still plenty of time left for things to change. Bailey might be the pick still, or Darren Mougey could pull a stunner and take someone else entirely.
But, Reese, ironically, has the edge over Bailey for the No. 2 pick and for good reason. The upside is sky-high with Reese, and Rosenblatt believes the Ohio State linebacker/edge rusher is the most likely player to be taken No. 2 overall.
So when Lauren Hemp swivelled in the box to fire the Lionesses ahead inside three minutes of their World Cup qualifier at Wembley, Sarina Wiegman’s side were faced with the complete opposite of what they managed to overcome in Switzerland last summer. Rather than chasing the game and requiring a comeback to get over the line, they would have to be more controlled and embrace facing elite opposition from ahead, while defending their lead for almost the entire match.
Turns out, the European champions got the same result in their rematch with the world champions, a crucial victory that leaves them in control of their qualifying group with three wins from three. Once again, when they needed her, Hampton stood up with another big moment against Spain as she denied Edna Imade’s late header. “A crucial save,” Wiegman said. The new centre-back pairing of Lotte Wubben-Moy and Esme Morgan, with captain Leah Williamson injured and Jess Carter on the bench, were outstanding too. “They were ready,” Wiegman noted. “They haven’t played that much together but they showed up today. They should be proud of themselves and I am too.”
Lotte Wubben-Moy stood up for England and put in an impressive performance at centre-back with Leah Williamson sidelined (Getty)
Spain were missing the ingenuity of the brilliant Aitana Bonmati, who has been absent since December with a broken leg. They tended to move sideways, but the world champions still possessed the technical quality and attacking talent to hurt an opposition like England from all angles. “Against Spain you need to defend as a team really well,” Wiegman said. “When it’s hard you have to fight and communicate and stick together - we did that. As a team we’ve really fought today.” The resilience of Euro 2025 from “proper England” was on display again.
But there was more to England’s performance than that. Wiegman had a plan to match Spain player-for-player when Cata Coll had the ball from goal-kicks. They signalled an intention to press Spain in their half but then drop deep once their opponents crossed the halfway line. It was a counter-attacking approach that meant England invited pressure and placed a lot of responsibility on Wubben-Moy and Morgan but it also allowed the Lionesses to enjoy one of their lesser-seen strengths and set up to hit Spain quickly on the break.
It made Spain “uncomfortable” in the moments Wiegman’s side got out, the manager said. In the in-form Alessia Russo, England have not just a threat leading the line but a forward whose all-round game has significantly improved and can play with her back to goal. They have pure speed and directness in Hemp and a flowing, confident dribbler in Lauren James who is able to carry for great distances on her own. Add in Lucy Bronze’s drive from right back and Hampton’s ability to chip diagonal passes out to the touchline and England had many options themselves in which they could suddenly play out from.
England had enough chances to avoid the nerves that would come and put Spain away they were unable to create a more convincing scoreline. Hemp hit the post in the first-half after a clever flick from Bronze, before Russo and James had chances to add a second on the counter-attack. The best opportunity of all fell to Lucia Kendall, the 21-year-old who was playing in her biggest game yet for England, but she fired over to leave Wiegman almost tearing her hair out on the touchline.
Wiegman praised the performances of Morgan and Wubben-Moy and hailed the ‘fight’ of her England team (Reuters)
Wiegman knew how important a second goal could be. There was always the danger that England would drop too deep, too soon after taking the lead so early in the game and they had to survive a difficult period at the start of the second half where Olga Carmona’s shot deflected off Bronze onto the bar and Vicky Lopez curled against the post.
Carmona had struck against England before, in the World Cup final in Sydney, but this time the fine margins were on England’s side. The full-back’s shot bounced down but stayed out but only by a few inches and goal-line technology was required, not for the first time, just to be sure it hadn’t crossed. Hampton was then needed to make stops but, with Mary Earps watching on from Wembley after being warmly greeted onto the pitch for her retirement celebration, the goalkeeper was able to deny Spain just as she did in Basel during the Euro 2025 final. The best came in the 90th minute from a corner as she sprung to her right to keep out Imade’s header from six yards.
Hannah Hampton made a crucial late save from Spain's Edna Imade (PA)
Wiegman had more tools at her disposal. In James, England could call up on her mercurial forward who was cruelly forced off, unfit, during the Euros final. James had been key to England’s previous win over Spain across 90 minutes in the Nations League last February, and she was deployed in the same position on the left wing that allowed her to control and decide England’s tempo. With such fluid and carefree movement on the ball, James toyed with Spain at times and led them on a merry dance. Behind her, Keira Walsh, captain on the night she won her 100th cap, and Georgia Stanway worked well with Kendall in hurrying Spain and bringing bite on the edge of their box.
By the end, Hemp’s goal felt like a distant memory. It came from a corner, a set-piece ultimately making the difference. Hemp was sharp in the box with an acrobatic finish after Russo’s flick from the ground kept the ball alive. The presence of goal-line technology ensured referee Tess Olofsson did not have a difficult decision to make while Spain’s protests fell on deaf ears when Alexia Putellas was unable to clear from the line. There was a scare, much later, when Alex Greenwood left Lopez open at the back post before Hampton was booked for time-wasting in stoppage time. As they did at Euros, England got it done.
The Miami Dolphins finished their 2025 campaign with a 7-10 record and in third place in the AFC East, leading to a regime change that landed Jon-Eric Sullivan as their general manager and Jeff Hafley as their head coach.
Their poor results in 2025 also gave the Dolphins pick No. 11 overall in the first round of the 2026 NFL, which should allow Miami to find a talented player to build around for years to come.
However, drafting isn't a perfect science, so let's take a look at who teams have picked No. 11 overall in the last 15 years.
2011 - DE J.J. Watt, HOU
Stats: 151 games in 12 seasons, 586 tackles, 317 quarterback hits, 114.5 sacks, 70 passes defensed, 27 forced fumbles, 17 fumble recoveries and two interceptions.
Accomplishments: 7-time All-Pro, 5-time Pro Bowler and 3-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
2012 - DL Dontari Poe, KC
Stats: 128 games in nine seasons, 285 tackles, 49 quarterback hits, 20.5 sacks, 14 passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
Accomplishments: 2-time Pro Bowler and 1-time All-Pro.
2013 - OT D.J. Fluker, LAC
Stats: 108 games and 96 starts in eight seasons.
2014 - OT Taylor Lewan, TEN
Stats: 105 games and 100 starts in nine seasons.
Accomplishments: 3-time Pro Bowler
2015 - CB Trae Waynes, MIN
Stats: 79 games and 57 starts in six seasons, 259 tackles, 43 passes defensed, seven interceptions, two forced fumbles, one sack and one fumble recovery.
2016 - CB Vernon Hargreaves, TB
Stats: 69 games and 58 starts in six seasons, 290 tackles, 31 passes defensed, four interceptions, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
2017 - CB Marshon Lattimore, NO
Stats: 108 games in nine seasons (still active), 436 tackles, 98 passes defensed, 16 interceptions, six fumble recoveries and five forced fumbles.
Accomplishments: 4-time Pro Bowler, NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
2018 - S Minkah Fitzpatrick, MIA
Stats: 120 games in eight seasons (still active), 690 tackles, 60 passes defensed, 21 interceptions, seven fumble recoveries, six forced fumbles and one sack.
Accomplishments: 5-time Pro Bowler and 3-time All-Pro
2019 - OT Jonah Williams, CIN
Stats: 74 games in seven seasons (still active).
2020 - OT Mekhi Becton, NYJ
Stats: 61 games in six seasons (still active).
Accomplishments: 1-time Super Bowl champion
2021 - QB Justin Fields, CHI
Stats: 59 games and 53 starts in five seasons (still active), 16-37 record, 61.4% completion percentage, 9,039 passing yards, 52 passing touchdowns, 32 interceptions, 2,892 rushing yards and 23 rushing touchdowns.
Accomplishments: NFL single-game record holder for rushing yards by a quarterback (178)
2022 - WR Chris Olave, NO
Stats: 55 games in four seasons (still active), 291 receptions, 3,728 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Accomplishments: 1-time All-Pro
2023 - OT Peter Skoronski, TEN
Stats: 42 games in three seasons (still active).
2024 - OT Olu Fashanu, NYJ
Stats: 32 games and 24 starts in two seasons (still active).
2025 - DE Mykel Williams, SF
Stats: 9 games in one season (still active), 20 tackles, three quarterback hits, one sack and one fumble recovery.
The Philadelphia Eagles must have liked what they saw from Nicholas Singleton during his time with the Penn State Nittany Lions. They interviewed him at the most recent NFL Combine, but they aren't done. It appears they'll be speaking with him again.
Singleton is a rarity in today's college football landscape, a star who spent all four seasons with the same program. In 2022, he was highly decorated. A 2022 Second-Team All-Big Ten honoree, he was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and a Freshman All-American. He played his way to Third-Team All-Big Ten honors in 2023. The Eagles seem set at the running back position for now. Saqupn Barkley is the unquestioned leader and top man of the group. Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley are the reserves. Dameon Pierce and Carson Steele are also on the roster and should provide some conversation this spring and summer.
It's always great to have insurance, though. The running back position is football's most punishing. An unexpected injury could change the complexion of the position group in a hurry. As most know, a visit won't give a prospect any guarantees, but Philadelphia tends to add players from the pool of players they spend time with before the draft. Meeting with Singleton at the combine and in before the draft certainly shows they have some interest.
Liverpool could not produce another famous European comeback at Anfield as they were knocked out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain - but had their second-half penalty not been controversially overturned, things could have been very different.
The hosts were trailing 2-0 on aggregate but still had the second leg finely poised at 0-0, knowing the pendulum could swing heavily in their favour if they made PSG’s net bulge.
It looked like they had secured the golden opportunity to do just that as Alexis Mac Allister went down under the challenge of Willian Pacho to earn Liverpool a penalty on 64 minutes.
Former referee Mark Clattenburg said on Prime Video’s coverage of the match that he expected the call against what he branded a “clumsy challenge” to stand, but to his and the commentators’ surprise, match official Maurizio Mariani was ordered to the pitchside monitor and promptly overturned his decision.
“We talk about clear and obvious every time we talk about interventions,” Clattenburg, bemoaning the decision. “When we see the contact on Mac Allister, people will say it’s soft but it’s not wrong. There is contact. Once the referee gives it, I expect the penalty to be upheld.”
Alan Shearer then added: “I’m surprised as well because Mac Allister does ever so well to protect that ball, inviting the challenge in from Pacho and once he tries to get the ball and doesn’t, and does make contact with him and the referee gives it, I’m really, really surprised he’s overturned it.”
It proved the beginning of the end for Liverpool’s hopes of a fightback, with PSG going up the other end and scoring through Ousmane Dembele eight minutes later, taking the aggregate score to 3-0.
Dembele then doubled his tally and PSG’s lead on the night in stoppage time to compound Liverpool’s woes.
Alexis Mac Allister goes down under the challenge of Willian Pacho in the box (Getty)
Speaking after the match, both Liverpool manager Arne Slot and defender Ibrahima Konate expressed their frustration at the penalty decision.
"If you look at our season I am completely not surprised because so many decisions have gone against us,” Slot said, bemoaning his side’s luck with penalty call this season.
“For me it is quite simple, if the referee did not give a penalty the VAR would never have intervened. As I said I don't think it is a surprise this season, not just the Champions League but also in the Premier League many decisions have gone against us.”
Konate added: "Last season we had a penalty like that. For me it was a clear penalty and was just behind the referee but he did not blow the whistle and we have to deal with that. If we got the penalty and score it would be completely different."
And echoing their annoyance, Wayne Rooney was the first to highlight how he felt the referee was wrong to reverse his call, even if the original decision was “soft”.
Liverpool’s second-half penalty was contentiously overturned (PA)
“I think after giving it, I don't think it should go to VAR,” he said. “It should have stood. It should be the penalty.
“Liverpool are really not to get that penalty at that 0-0 in tonight's game. If they get that and they score, I think that it's a different game, maybe a different outcome. You can see there’s clear contact on Mac Allister and I think that was the wrong decision.”
Robbie Fowler added that he felt “ VAR has probably not done its job there”, while Daniel Sturridge was resolute on the fact it was penalty offence.
“There’s clear contact. If it’s on VAR and you can see the contact then it's a penalty,” Sturridge said.
“You can say that the action is to get his body across, which as an attacker, that's what you do normally. So if the contact's there and the ball's coming to me, then it's a penalty. Simple as that.”
Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton said the defense has not met Baltimore's standard in recent seasons and noted that the new coaching staff, led by head coach Jesse Minter and defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, has been direct in addressing it during the early stages of the offseason program.
“Not yet. I don’t think we’re reinventing the wheel or anything, but we just kind of have to reestablish dominance, especially on defense. Offense, they have their own thing going on, and I’m sure they’ll be alright, but I think defensively, it’s been pretty disappointing just [with] some results that we’ve had. And we’ve had some good seasons, but we’ve also had some bad seasons, and those are inexcusable, especially here. So, I think confronting that, and him along with [defensive coordinator] Coach [Anthony] Weaver, they’ve both done a great job so far [of] just kind of laying out what’s been in the past and where we want to go in the future and how the standard has not been met and upheld, and we need to fix that.”
Hamilton said the staff has been upfront about where the defense needs to improve as Baltimore works through early offseason installs and installation of the new system. As Baltimore works through a critical transition, accountability appears to be setting the tone early. With a clear message from the coaching staff and buy-in from leaders like Hamilton, the Ravens are focused on restoring their defensive identity and returning to the level of consistency expected from one of the NFL’s most respected units.
Entering the NBA playoffs as the title favorite, the Oklahoma City Thunder are 16 wins away from history. They hope to be the first squad since the Golden State Warriors to win back-to-back championships. It's a tall task, but this group feels like the best shot since those Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant days.
It took a little longer than last year, but the Thunder clinched the NBA's best record with a few days to spare. That means, for the third straight time, they will have homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs. To understand the magnitude of that feat, reference back to last year's two Game 7 wins.
Awaiting to see who their Round 1 opponent is, the Thunder have a pretty clear path to the Western Conference Finals at a minimum. They should take care of business against the play-in tournament survivor. And then Round 2 will feature either the depleted Los Angeles Lakers or the depleted Houston Rockets.
But the Thunder aren't getting too ahead of themselves. Jalen Williams talked about their mindset as they enter the NBA playoffs playing their best basketball — which coincides with them being the healthiest they've been all year. He even revealed what OKC GM Sam Presti's message was to the group.
"It's something we talk about. Because I feel like when you try and avoid talking about things, it starts to creep into everybody's head. So we've talked about it," Williams said. "Sam made a really good point. You can play the Finals back last year six million times, and there's a lot of times we don't win it. Like, Memphis, somebody can get hurt. You just never know. I know Indiana feels the exact same way, too."
That's probably the right mindset to have. The Thunder have preached since Media Day that they're flipping the page from last year. You can't bring over last year's dominance or expect things to play out the same way. To win an NBA championship, you need as much luck as talent.
"That's our biggest motivators. We can't go back in time and replicate any of that. That's what makes this really special for us. It's like a zero and zero mindset kind of thing," Williams said. "Everybody hates me for saying it, but this playoff run is so unique and so different from the last one. We have to have the ability to understand that."
Let's see how Williams' wisdom ages in a couple of months. Unlike last year, the Thunder have experience to call back on at the highest stakes of professional basketball. It's now about applying that to the present. If they can do that, there's no real reason why they shouldn't go back-to-back and add another championship banner next October.
Jalen Williams on if they talked about going back-to-back: “We’ve talked about it. Sam made a really good point. You can play the Finals back last year 6 million times, and there's a lot of times we don't win it. Like, Memphis, somebody can get hurt. You just never know. I know… pic.twitter.com/b7zGUsTqqV
The Florida State Seminoles have turned up the heat in their efforts to land 2027 blue-chip linebacker Mikahi Allen over the last few months. After having him on campus in January for a Junior Day event, Allen returned last week for a spring practice.
Things have progressed in his recruitment to the point that Allen has narrowed his choices down to eight schools. He's now focused on Texas, Texas A&M, Tennessee, South Carolina, Syracuse, Illinois, Rutgers, and FSU.
With his standout schools identified, they'll certainly be factors that separate them in the end. Allen mentioned some of the aspects that will be key in helping him make his decision.
"Scheme, how the coach coaches," Allen told Brian Dohn of 247Sports. "Are the players understanding what the coach is teaching them? Are the coaches teaching them football? Do I see myself loving that school?"
The 6-foot-1, 220-pounder specifically broke down why teams use linebackers in multiple ways.
"I look at scheme a lot because a lot of places are playing with two linebackers, but they are also putting their linebackers in multiple positions and that is what I am really looking for," Allen said. "If you want to get to that next level from what I've been hearing, you want to go to a college that can show your versatility to the scouts. That's what I've really been looking into."
Tony White’s 3-3-5 scheme should certainly be appealing to Allen in that regard. There's a Jack linebacker role within the scheme that serves as a hybrid edge-linebacker that rushes the passer and also drops into coverage.
Allen had a very good junior campaign at Don Bosco Prep High School. He amassed 58 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, seven sacks, three interceptions, two pass breakups, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one blocked punt.
He's listed as the No. 213 player in the country and the No. 19 linebacker in the 247Sports composite rankings. He's also the No. 4 prospect in New Jersey.
Contact/Follow us @FSUWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida State news, notes and opinions. You can also follow Matthew on X @StarConscience
Manchester United watch Premier League pair, Bayern Munich want Harry Kane's England team-mate, plus who is next for the Bournemouth job.
Manchester United are monitoring Bournemouth's French forward Junior Kroupi, 19, and Argentine defender Marcos Senesi, 28. (Mail - subscription needed)
Bayern Munich are interested in signing Newcastle and England winger Anthony Gordon, 25. (Talksport)
Aston Villa are the latest Premier League club to show an interest in England goalkeeper James Trafford. The 23-year-old was signed by Manchester City last summer but was immediately replaced by Italian Gianluigi Donnarumma, 27, and should be available. (Mail)
Liverpool want Bazoumana Toure in the summer. The 20-year-old Ivory Coast winger has excelled for Hoffenheim this season and could spark the Anfield club's attack back into life. (Teamtalk)
Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate is close to agreeing a new contract to stay at Anfield. The 26-year-old France international was expected to leave this summer but could now sign a four-year extension. (RMC - in French)
Borussia Dortmund and Germany centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck, 26, has a release clause of about £43m-£52m which only applies to three clubs - including Liverpool and Real Madrid, but not Bayern Munich.(Bild - in German)
Napoli want to extend the contract of Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay before this summer's World Cup. The 29-year-old has become a huge favourite in Naples since joining from Manchester United in 2024. (Il Mattino - In Italian)
England winger Jadon Sancho, 26, will have to accept a significant drop in wages if he wants to rejoin Borussia Dortmund when his Manchester United contract expires this summer. (Mirror)
Bournemouth are considering Rayo Vallecano boss Inigo Perez, Coventry City manager Frank Lampard and Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna as they plan for life after Andoni Iraola, who has decided to leave at the end of the season. (i Sport)
Unattached German manager Marco Rose, whose last job was at RB Leipzig, is thought to be the leading contender to replace Iraola at Bournemouth. (Guardian)
Argentine defender Cristian Romero, 27, may have played his last game for Tottenham Hotspur, with the club planning a squad overhaul even if they stay up. (Talksport)
Coventry City are keen to bring Chelsea's 18-year-old forward Jesse Derry to the club next season. (Talksport)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 14: Hugo Ekitike of Liverpool holds his ankle as he appears to be injured during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg match between Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain FC at Anfield on April 14, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Liverpool o – 2 PSG
Reds: N/A Paris St-Germain:Somesportswashingprick 73’, 90’
Pre-Match
I just hope this doesn’t go 120 minutes.
So after rolling out a 5-3-2 for the first time all season last week (and getting stomped), we’re rolling out a 4-4-2 for the first time this season. COOL.
And some asshole PSG fans made a commotion during the moment of silence for the commemoration of the Hillsborough disaster. OK, now I’m ready to twat these pricks.
First Half
The first quarter of an hour goes by fairly uneventfully, though the game is being played at a frenetic pace. Liverpool, obviously, are trying to make a hash of things, and PSG are trying to kill the contest. While neither have created much in these early stages, PSG look far likelier to score (no surprise there).
Welp, Hugo Ekitike went down in a heap without any contact, grabbing his ankle. Looks bad. Probably his Achilles. And he’s being stretchered off. Salah comes on for him. Probably not how Salah wanted to come on for what will likely be his last European night at Anfield.
Salah nearly gets an assist as soon as he comes on, but it leads to a goal line scramble that is somehow not bundled over the line. COME ON FOOTBALL GODS, GIVE US SOMETHING. Pricks.
The half ends 0-0. Unlike the first match, Liverpool are not getting completely run over by PSG. That said, they’re doing little to actually overturn the deficit from the first match, but I guess baby steps or something.
Second Half
Gakpo and Gomez come on to start the second half for Isak and Frimpong. Might as well plant the white flag at the center circle while you’re at it. On the other hand:
Well, Liverpool have started this half on top, and nearly created a breakthrough from a Kerkez backpost run. Please make me eat my words for once this season, you pricks.
ALEXIS MAC ALLISTER WINS A PENALTY FOR LIVERPOOL FOR REAL FOR REAL.
Wait? What the actual fuck?! VAR overturned what appeared to be a stonewall penalty. Mac Allister just got barged over in the box, and then he decides not to give it?! And if you really want to send your conspiracy brain into overdrive, they didn’t show the VAR replay that the ref was watching.
Then Joe Gomez goes off for Rio. And. What? What is even happening?
Ah, after an incredible 30 or so minutes from The Reds, PSG score completely against the run of play. What a sucker punch.
Anfield starting to clear out as the minutes tick down. The Anfield leaving early during a European knockout. Sickening. Not blaming the fans, by the way.
And the fans who left early were rewarded by not seeing PSG score a second in stoppage time.
Final Thoughts
If you play 25 minutes of good football out of 180, this is what happens. Plus, you know, it would’ve been nice to have scored a goal or two during those 25 good minutes. At least Hugo is out for the rest of the season. Wait. That’s also bad. Hmm. Well, I guess this was just a shit night all around.
We are now a little over a week away from finding out the landing spots for Alabama football players in the 2026 NFL draft, and according to the latest mock from USA TODAY Sports' Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, it might be a fairly quiet night one for the Crimson Tide.
According to his latest mock, Middlehurst-Schwartz projects only one Alabama player to be selected in the opening round of the 2026 NFL draft, and that is offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor.
Middlehurst-Schwartz currently projects Proctor to come off the board at pick No. 17 overall, drafted by the Detroit Lions. Proctor's run-blocking ability is mentioned by Middlehurst-Schwartz as something that could intrigue Detroit and head coach Dan Campbell, while also pairing him with current standout tackle Penei Sewell.
"The 6-7, 352-pound blocker's penchant for displacing people in the run game should endear him to Campbell right away," Middlehurst-Schwartz said.
Elsewhere in the mock, Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson was not projected as a first round pick. Aside from Proctor and Simpson, wideout Germie Bernard is likely the lone other Alabama player in potential first round consideration.
The 2026 NFL draft is set to begin Thursday, April 23 from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
lA QUINTA, Calif. ― David McLay Kidd has designed and built famous courses on the coastline of Oregon, on an old potato field in St. Andrews in his native Scotland and in locations as diverse as Hawaii and South Africa.
Now Kidd says he’s excited about the chance to build a golf course in the flat, sandy soil of south La Quinta.
“Sandy material to a Scotsman, that’s the elixir of life,” said Kidd, whose design for the Coral Mountain Desert Club should be open by 2028 as the first new course in the desert since 2023 and just the second new course in the desert since 2008. “Every time I have worked in sand, the results have been pretty good. I’m like a stockbroker, I can guarantee the results of the future, but if you look at my track record, it is pretty good every time I am in the sand.”
A private residential and lifestyle community on 400 acres in La Quinta, construction at Coral Mountain Desert Club should begin in July, with the Kidd course being part of the first phase of construction. Graham Culp, a partner in development company Meriweather Companies, expects the golf course and other amenities to open in either late 2027 or early 2028.
“If we can bring that (lifestyle-centered) energy to this community and design the trail system and the clubhouse and the racquet sports, the golf course, where it is still exception golf but it is still not so much golf centric, then I believe we will be successful,” Culp said.
While Kidd brings a world-class resume to the project, including courses like popular Bandon Dunes in Oregon, the Castle Course at St Andrews in Scotland and the recently completed Streamsong Golf Resort in Florida, the chance to do his first course in the golf-rich Coachella Valley has him excited. Part of his excitement is the land in La Quinta, land that may look featureless but has great potential, he said.
“All of it is surrounded by amazing backdrops, Coral Mountain in particular,” Kidd said. “Instead of the backdrops being way back there at the coastal mountain range, you’ve got this Coral Mountain that’s right there. You are literally picking bits of coral out of the rock face that some of tihse holes are going to play up against.”
Kidd, now based in Bend, Ore., promises a different kind of golf courses from a design team he calls golf nerdy, enthusiastic creative guys. The course will be a link-style course that might not fit the widely accepted definition of links.
“Links to me and to most Scotsmen means you are playing the course on the ground. That’s the key element to what Americans, even sophisticated Americans, would consider links golf,” Kidd said. “Bounce and run and chase, do all sort of things after the ball lands, and that’s what I would hope to bring to Coral Mountain. I hope we can build a golf course that allows a golfer to read the ground and then play that shot in order to get the bounce and the roll that they desire.”
Coral Mountain will be the first course bult in the desert since the 2023 opening of exclusive Gil Hanse-designed Ladera Golf Club in Thermal, which itself was the first course in the desert since Eagle Falls at Fantasy Springs Resort in Indio opened in 2008. Course development slowed in the desert in the last 20 years with swings in the economy and demands for housing and a drop in golf participation. But golf has surged since the 2020 Covid pandemic, and that’s not all that has changed in that time, Culp said.
Meriweather acquired the land in 2019 but failed to get approval for a community based around a wave basin. The new project has moved the wave basin to Thermal while looking at a changing market for the La Quinta land.
“You had really a massive resurgence in buying homes and properties in the Coachella Valley (after COVID), so you really cleared out a bunch of the inventory,” Culp said. “We go back to work designing a community centered on the golf course that we felt would perform well in any market condition.”
Culp hopes to stay away from the traditional model of a private golf club, with the Meriweather Companies partners leading a new lifestyle-centered community, a community different than what previous generations have wanted.
“We (the partners) all want to live younger longer. And we want to do so in a casual environment surrounded by likeminded people who are passionate about more than golf,” said the 50-year-old Culp. “We are all passionate about golf, but we are also into surf. We are into padel sports, not just tennis but pickleball and padel (a kind of hybrid between tennis and squash) and we care about recovery and what we eat and we also like to have a ton of fun.”
“Based on what the developers are telling me, (the private club) is not going to be too stuffy,” Kidd said. “They are going to want the members to bring lots of guests and they are not going to get insanely difficult for guests to get out there. Their hope is they build a relaxed club that is more barefoot and long shorts.”
As for the course, Kidd admits designing a course in the Coachella Valley comes with the pitfalls of comparison to other desert courses.
“I feel a sense of pressure knowing that the best, most-creative, most-celebrated architects of my generation have already stepped into the canvas, and here I am doing the same,” Kidd said. “There is a necessity to raise my game into the same high bench mark that has already been set. You can’t mail it in, There is no mailing it in when you are in this location.”
The Washington Huskies have had no problem throwing their trio of four-star freshmen wide receivers into the deep end immediately during spring practice, and they've all responded well to the challenge.
When looking at Jordan Clay, a product of San Antonio Madison High School in Texas, who wide receivers coach Kevin Cummings flipped away from Baylor hours before signing day, he's had the most significant challenge thrown at him. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound pass catcher, who was ranked as the No. 135 overall prospect and No. 20 wide receiver in the 2026 class by 247Sports, has been competing with the first team offense throughout most of spring practice and has fit right in.
During Washington's first practice inside Husky Stadium, Clay showed off his physicality and strong hands during a team period where he held onto a pass from Demond Williams Jr. over the middle of the field while getting crunched between linebackers Jacob Manu and Donovan Robinson. Then, during an extended scrimmage period on Saturday, Clay created a clean release off the line of scrimmage while working against cornerback Dylan Robinson, and elevated over the 6-foot-3 sophomore to haul in a 1-yard touchdown from Williams.
As the Huskies look to fill the shoes of projected first-round pick Denzel Boston, his early play has shown why the Huskies made such a heavy push to earn his commitment, and why he's gotten so much run early on.
"I think Jordan Clay is going to be awesome," Cummings said. "I think he's going to be amazing. I think his size, his physicality, is all there right now. He's learning so much that you don't see all of that talent, but he'll get there."
If these are the early returns on Clay, who is continuing to refine his route running after the Navy All-American Bowl Offensive Player of the Year was able to dominate thanks to his superior size, speed, and athleticism at the high school level, then the Huskies have a pass catcher with some promising potential on their hands.
Clay and fellow freshman Trez Davis have both put together several highlight plays so far as the Huskies continue to sort through their receiver room. With transfers Christian Moss and Bodpegn Miller in the mix, as well as sophomores Chris Lawson and Justice Williams pushing for spots in the rotation alongside Dezmen Roebuck and Rashid Williams, Clay and Davis have shown that while Washington may be short on experience at wide receiver, there's plenty of talent at the position.
BLOOMINGTON — Darian DeVries stayed true to his word about strengthening his Indiana basketball frontcourt options for next season on Tuesday, when he landed Turkish center Samet Yigitoglu out of the transfer portal.
A fixture at SMU across the last two seasons, Yigitoglu started all 66 games in which he appeared for the Mustangs. At 7 foot 2, 270 pounds, the Istanbul native proved an effective two-way rebounder and rim protector for Andy Enfield’s teams. He averaged double figures in scoring across each of the last two seasons as well.
Yigitoglu immediately infuses badly needed size into Indiana’s rotation. DeVries spoke openly in the final weeks of last season about recognizing he had not reinforced his lineup with enough size to compete in the Big Ten. The SMU center’s addition speaks directly to that need, giving Indiana a true five — Yigitoglu attempted just six 3s in two years in Dallas — to plug into its first five right away.
There are a lot of positives when former players visit Texas Longhorns practice. The current players can see someone they hope to emulate and the former players can pass some knowledge down. Former Longhorns legends Brian Orakpo and Jamaal Charles visited Texas practice this morning and UT coach Steve Sarkisian says the team loves it.
"I think from our players perspective, they know the connection Orakpo has with Muschamp," Sarkisian said in Tuesday's post-spring practice press conference. "So when he can speak on Muschamp's behalf, that just instills more confidence in our players. ... Like, 'Hey, this guy's gonna get you right. Just keep trusting what he's doing. Whether it's Jamaal Charles talking to the running backs. Or whether it's just Mack (Brown) being out there and his presence. All our guys know who Mack Brown is. They walk by his picture every day."
Sarkisian also knows that former players are invested and want to see the current team compete hard in practice and in the games.
"There's been a lot of blood, sweat and tears from those guys on that grass up there," Sark continued. "I think they enjoy it. I think they've got a lot of pride Longhorn football, Longhorn Nation and to see this team and watch them compete, I think they enjoy that."
Sark believes the team is inspired by former players and coaches taking time to check in on them.
"The fact that they know people are invested in them and this team," Sark said. "That they're behind them I think just serves as motivation to keep pushing through some of these tough days. Practice was hard today. But when you look over there and Brian Orakpo is standing there with his arms folded, he wants to see you keep pushing through."
Sep 27, 2025; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Colton Hood (8) runs with the ball after an interception against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the first half at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Wesley Hale-Imagn Images | Wesley Hale-Imagn Images
The Miami Dolphins had the most controversial pick in the first round of our 2026 Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft, selecting Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the 11th overall pick. But POD commenter Xlgrev is back on the clock at 30, and hoping to build upon their 2026 class.
Before we get to the selection, head to our 2026 Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft tracker. There you’ll find the previous 29 picks, along with links to each article and a grade for each pick, as decided by you, the readers. Don’t forget to cast your vote for each pick with the poll at the bottom of the articles.
Now, onto this pick:
With the 30th pick in the 2026 Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft, the Miami Dolphins select Colton Hood, cornerback out of Tennessee.
Here’s Xlgrev explaining the pick:
Jon-Eric Sullivan had heard the local and national outcry about him selecting QB Ty Simpson with the 11th pick. And while he still felt good about that pick and the strategy behind it, what had transpired since did not sit well with him. He watched as every tackle and defensive edge he had a first round grade on went off the board. He was certain at least one of them would fall to him at 30. Such was not the case and as he looked at his board there was just one player remaining with a first round grade: Tennessee CB Colton Hood.
Hood has all the potential to be a day one starter with enough upside to eventually be an All-Pro. He plays with a tenacity to tackle violently and a nose to punch out balls after the catch. He can play run stop as well as cover in man to man schemes. He had an excellent interview and is the type of kid the Dolphins want to build around as they change the culture.
Sullivan would love for Hood to be a little taller and a little thicker through the shoulders. He saw on tape several times where he overplayed a route with his aggressiveness and got caught in a double move. It didn’t happen often with college athletes, but now he would be defending the best WRs in the world week in and week out who would exploit his aggressiveness if he didn’t learn to control it. Hood would also have to learn to anticipate what to do in zone coverages and not allow his eyes to get lost following specific receivers.
Sullivan really wanted a tackle or an edge with this pick, but he also knew the draft was loaded with second tier talent at those positions and he called in his highest rated remaining player, Hood, as the pick
Time to grade the pick. Vote in the poll below and share your expanded thoughts in the comment section:
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 13: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts as he rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Citizens Bank Park on April 13, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 11: Colton Hood #8 of the Tennessee Volunteers catches the ball during warm-up before the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Neyland Stadium on October 11, 2025 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Cory Knowlton/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) | ISI Photos via Getty Images
The NFL draft is fast approaching, and the Dallas Cowboys remain one of the most interesting teams ahead of night one with two first-round picks. There has been a ton of buzz among insiders and draft analysts alike, suggesting Dallas might be trying to make a splash and move up from the 12th overall pick.
It takes two to tango, and while the Cowboys might have all the ambition in the world to go up and get their guy, the asking price might be more than they are willing to pay. In the case where Dallas has to still stick and pick, there are a few names fans should familiarize themselves with before they’re on the clock.
Q: Who are some prospects we aren’t talking about enough? We’ve heard Dallas loves Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood, but anyone flying under the radar? —@BigPapaZimmer
A: This is a fun one. I think Miami defensive end Akheem Mesidor, San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson and Miami cornerback Keionte Scott are all defenders whom Cowboys fans should monitor. Of course, the top four of LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane, [Caleb] Downs, [Sonny] Styles and [Rueben] Bain are names to watch, too. And if the Cowboys get to No. 20 and still haven’t taken a defensive back, I would definitely pencil in Hood.
Outside of the usual suspects, the Cowboys have shown keen interest in cornerback prospects. Colton Hood, Chris Johnson, and Keionte Scott are three players who could go in the late first round to early second round. From Harris’ answer, it sounds like if all three were on the board at 20th overall, and Dallas didn’t trade out of the pick, then Hood would be the selection.
When Jermod McCoy missed the entirety of last season at Tennessee, Hood stepped up as CB1 for the Volunteers. According to Pro Football Focus, Hood had a defensive grade of 79.2, which ranks tied for 24th among cornerback prospects in this class. He finished the year with one interception and eight pass breakups. The two-time transfer had his highest graded season at Tennessee after spending time at Colorado and Auburn.
At just 21 years old, the redshirt sophomore certainly has room to grow as a player. If the Cowboys end up selecting Hood in the first round and we hear defensive coordinator Christian Parker talk about a player with untapped potential as an unfinished product, that should get fans very excited.
Parker is one of the best evaluators when it comes to secondary players, so his stamp of approval should speak volumes with whichever secondary player Dallas may take on draft weekend. Hood could become a plus starter with the right teacher, and Dallas certainly has one of the best, if not the best, teachers at the position in the league in their building.
The 2025–26 men’s college basketball season delivered one of the strongest TV runs in years. It built through the regular season, then reached its peak when the NCAA Tournament started on March 19 and carried through the Final Four and national championship. The tournament again showed why March Madness remains one of the biggest events in American sports. It brought together top programs, high-pressure games, and the kind of stage that helps shape future NBA players.
Michigan and UConn closed the season in the title game on April 6, and that matchup finished as the most-watched game of the year. Michigan’s win over UConn drew the biggest audience of the tournament and capped a postseason that also delivered strong numbers in the Final Four, Elite Eight, Sweet 16, and Round of 32. The year also had major regular-season draws, including high-profile nonconference games in November that pulled in millions of viewers.
This season was loaded with teams that carried national attention. Michigan, UConn, Duke, Kansas, Purdue, Arizona, Kentucky, St. John’s, Illinois, and Michigan State all helped drive ratings. The season had the kind of games that keep fans watching late, whether it was buzzer-beaters, comebacks, or win-or-go-home pressure. That is what makes men’s college basketball such a strong TV product every year, and 2025–26 was no different.
1. Michigan Wolverines vs. UConn Huskies [18.28 million]
Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) and guard L.J. Cason (2) wave to fans on Tuesday, April, 7, 2026, at Crisler Center after the team arrived home after winning the NCAA national championship, 69-63, against Connecticut.
This was the national championship game and the biggest audience of the college basketball season. Michigan beat UConn on April 6, 2026, in the title game that aired across TBS, TNT, and truTV. The game peaked at 20.4 million viewers and finished as the most-watched national championship since 2019. It was the final step in Michigan’s run to the program’s first national title since 1989.
2. Michigan Wolverines vs. Arizona Wildcats [14.29 million]
Mar 25, 2026; San Jose, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Bryce James (6) smiles during a practice session ahead of the west regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at SAP Center. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images
This was a Final Four game played on April 4, 2026. Michigan controlled the matchup and moved on to the championship game. The game drew a large audience because it featured a top seed in a high-stakes semifinal setting. It also included a “Fab Five” alt-cast on truTV that added to the night’s attention.
3. UConn Huskies vs. Illinois Fighting Illini [14.16 million]
Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler (23) talks with forward David Mirkovic (0) during the second half of a semifinal of the Final Four of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
This was the other Final Four game, also played on April 4, 2026. UConn held off Illinois to reach the national championship. The game had strong late-game tension, which helped keep the audience high throughout the night. It was one of the most watched men’s college basketball games of the season.
4. UConn Huskies vs. Duke Blue Devils [13.43 million]
UConn Huskies guard Braylon Mullins (24) has his shot tipped Saturday, April 4, 2026, by Illinois Fighting Illini forward Ben Humrichous (3) during a Final Four game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
This Elite Eight game was played on March 29, 2026. UConn came back from 19 points down to beat Duke in one of the most dramatic games of the tournament. The finish was tight, and the game-winning shot came with 0.4 seconds left. It was one of the biggest draws of the postseason.
5. St. John’s Red Storm vs. Kansas Jayhawks [10.58 million]
Mar 19, 2026; San Diego, CA, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Tre White (3) and guard Darryn Peterson (22) during a practice session ahead of the first round of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
This Round of 32 game was played on March 22, 2026. St. John’s won on a buzzer-beating shot by Dylan Darling and became the most-watched game of the opening weekend. The matchup drew national attention because both teams had strong brand names. The late finish helped push the audience above 10 million.
6. Purdue Boilermakers vs. Arizona Wildcats [10.14 million]
Purdue Boilermakers guard Braden Smith (3) celebrates as his team scores against the Arizona Wildcats during a NCAA Tournament game Saturday, March 28, 2026 at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. Purdue fell to Arizona 79-64.
This Elite Eight game took place on March 28, 2026. Purdue led at halftime, but Arizona took over in the second half and secured a Final Four spot. The game mattered because it decided a trip to the national semifinals. The back-and-forth nature of the contest helped its viewership.
7. Kentucky Wildcats vs. Iowa State Cyclones [9.79 million]
Jan 7, 2026; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Denzel Aberdeen (1) chest bumps forward Jayden Quaintance (21) before the game against the Missouri Tigers at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
This Round of 32 game was played on March 22, 2026. Kentucky started well, but Iowa State pulled away and advanced to the Sweet 16. The game brought strong interest because Kentucky always draws a large audience. It was one of the most-watched second-round games of the tournament.
8. TCU Horned Frogs vs. Duke Blue Devils [9.55 million]
Mar 21, 2026; Greenville, SC, USA; Texas Christian University Horned Frogs guard Brock Harding (2) drives to the basket during the second half against the Duke Blue Devils during a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
This Round of 32 game took place on March 21, 2026. Duke survived another upset scare and stayed alive in the bracket. The Blue Devils remained one of the biggest TV draws in the sport, even in a tense early-round game. The matchup delivered a strong audience in the afternoon window.
9. St. John’s Red Storm vs. Duke Blue Devils [9.37 million]
Mar 27, 2026; Washington, DC, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer (12) dribbles the ball past St. John’s Red Storm forward Zuby Ejiofor (24) in the first half during a Sweet Sixteen game of the East Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
This Sweet 16 game was played on March 27, 2026. Duke advanced again after a close game against St. John’s. The matchup kept the Blue Devils in the spotlight and helped lift the later rounds of the tournament. It was another game that benefited from two major national programs.
10. Louisville Cardinals vs. Michigan State Spartans [8.47 million]
Louisville Cardinals guard Mikel Brown Jr. (0) was unfazed after he scored 45 points with 10-for-16 3-point shooting as the Cards roll past NC State 118-77 at the KFC Yum! Center in downtown Louisville February 9, 2026.
This Round of 32 game was played on March 21, 2026. Michigan State won 77-69 and moved into the Sweet 16 for the second straight year. The game drew strong afternoon ratings because both schools have national followings. It rounded out the top 10 most-watched games of the season.
Michigan’s title-game win over UConn closed a college basketball season that delivered strong ratings, dramatic March Madness moments, and audiences for the Final Four, Elite Eight, and early-round games. The 2025–26 men’s college basketball year showed how top programs and close finishes still drive national interest. With the tournament setting new viewership marks, the sport now moves into the next cycle with attention on future stars, teams, and season’s matchups.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 6: Morgan Geekie #39 of the Boston Bruins celebrates his second-period goal against the New Jersey Devils at the TD Garden on December 6, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
It’s the regular season home finale, folks!
Believe it or not, this is not the most significant Bruins-Devils game of the past couple of weeks.
When searching for an image for a “Bruins Devils” image for this post, I got a bunch of results for the Duke Blue Devils vs. the UCLA Bruins in Elite Eight of the women’s NCAA Basketball Tournament, which was slightly more consequential than this game.
Still, there is something riding on this game, as a win guarantees the Bruins a date with Buffalo in the first round, while a loss leaves open the possibility of facing Carolina instead.
No knock on Buffalo, but I’d rather see them than Carolina, mostly because I’m sick of Carolina after the last few years.
Anyways, that’s getting ahead of things, as there’s still a game to play tonight.
Along with the game, we’ll get the results of the NESN 7th Player Award and the rest of the end-of-regular-season festivities tonight.
MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JANUARY 01: Dillon Thieneman #31 of the Oregon Ducks pursues a play on defense during the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on January 01, 2026 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The NFL Draft is almost here, and that means it’s time for an annual Bears Banter tradition! The phenomenal NFL Draft preview with EJ Snyder.
EJ, formerly of Windy City Gridiron, now part of Bootleg Football, joins the podcast every year to preview the draft from a Chicago Bears perspective. EJ watches film and has been studying these prospects for months, and he shares that knowledge with the viewers and listeners!
EJ discusses the draft in totality, discusses the options for the Bears at 25, some of the great players to target in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th round, and even gives us some interesting names to look at with those 7th round picks!
If you would like to watch the podcast, you can do so on the 2nd City Gridiron YouTube page below:
If you would like to listen to the podcast, you can do so on the 2nd City Gridiron podcast feed (please like and subscribe!) wherever you get your podcasts, or use the player below:
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 12: Coby White #3 of the Charlotte Hornets dribbles the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on April 12, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Later tonight, the NBA Playoffs are set to begin. Well, somewhat. Tonight starts the Play-In Tournament that decides the final teams to make the playoffs, but either way, the march towards the NBA Finals begins over the next couple days. While UNC’s lack of a former player being a leading player on a championship-contending team has been well covered (and will hopefully change with Caleb Wilson’s ascendance), there are still a number of former Tar Heels around the bracket. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the former North Carolina players who will try and bring home the Larry O’Brien Trophy this year.
We’ll start with a Tar Heel who will quickly be in action this postseason, but will be up against it as far making a long stay is concerned.
After a midseason trade sent him to the Charlotte Hornets, Coby White has helped them back to the playoffs…somewhat. Later tonight, the Hornets will host the Heat in the 9/10 game in the Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament. In order to get into the main bracket, White and Charlotte will have to knockoff Miami tonight and then beat the loser of the 7/8 game between the 76ers and Magic. Even if they make it through that, the Hornets would then be tasked with facing the #1 seed and 60-win Pistons squad.
The Tar Heel with probably the most intriguing title chances this year is Harrison Barnes with the San Antonio Spurs. While Victor Wenbanyama is the key cog in the Spurs’ machine, Barnes has been a solid veteran presence as they’ve returned to the postseason this year. He’s put up 9.9 points per game and is knocking down a little under 40% of his three-point attempts as San Antonio cracked the 60-win mark. Barnes and the Spurs will go in as the #2 seed in the West, and will take on the winner of the Suns/Blazers play-in game. However, as a #2 seed, it’ll be hard for them not to hope for a deep playoff run.
Harrison Ingram is also on the Spurs’ roster, although he averages less than four minutes per game in only seven appearances this season, so he likely won’t be a key part of their playoff run.
Another Carolina player on a team hoping to make it far will be Cameron Johnson on the Denver Nuggets. He’s one of my favorite recent Tar Heels, so by no means do I say this to disparage him; by all accounts, he hasn’t been quite as good as what Denver was hoping for when they added him in on offseason trade. However, he’s still put up over double digits points per game and makes threes at a good clip. Denver will probably need him to be even better than that if they want to make another run at a championship, though. Their run will start with a series against the Timberwolves, which begins Saturday.
As mentioned, the Blazers will compete for one of the last couple places out West in the play-in tournament. He spent time in the G-League, as he’s on a two-way deal, but Caleb Love plays for Portland. When he’s been up with the NBA team, he’s averaged over 20 minutes a game in 49 appearances, so he’ll probably get some amount of run should the Blazers make the full playoffs — how much remains to be seen.
Best of luck to all the Tar Heels who will be competing over the coming weeks and months. My personal rooting interest does not have a former Carolina player, so I can’t say as of now that I’m rooting for one of them to win it all, but I certainly hope they all play well.
There is officially less than 10 days until the NFL Draft which means it’s time for one last Mock Draft version of the #PostPulpit Mailbag. Instead of submitting your usual questions, send in your personal favorite New England Patriots mock draft.
You can submit a written version of the selections down in the comments below or a screenshot of your finished picks on Twitter using #PostPulpit.
Dexter Lawrence missed Wednesday’s practice with an illness. | Getty Images
New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen said during his annual pre-draft press conference on Tuesday that the team has had “good conversation” with star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence about his contract. Schoen did not put a deadline on when the situation with Lawrence, who is not attending the voluntary offseason program, needs to be resolved.
“We’ve had good conversations with his representatives throughout the last five or six days,” Schoen said. Coach [John Harbaugh], Dawn [Aponte], myself, we’ve all been in communication trying to find some resolution.
“I’ll echo what Coach said last week. We’d like for Dexter to be here and at some point we’ll come to a resolution here. Whatever that may be, we’ll see.”
Lawrence has two years remaining on the four-year, $90 million extension he signed in 2024. There is, however, no guaranteed salary left on that contract. The 28-year-old Lawrence has requested a trade.
“Conversations have been really good. They’ve been productive,” Schoen said. “Again, we’ll see what happens here down the road.”
Schoen said he would listen to calls about the two-time All-Pro.
“I’m always gonna pick up the phone if a team calls,” Schoen said. “Maybe not to the effect that Coach said last week that everybody is tradable. That is my job as a general manager.
“If teams call, you take into account. It’s case-by-case basis and what the compensation may be. That’s my job to take into consideration what that looks like, what the compensation looks like, who the player is, how that affects the roster and then try to make the best decision off of that.”
Schoen was asked if next week’s draft provided a deadline of sorts so that, should the Giants need to trade Lawrence, they could get compensation that would benefit the 2026 roster.
“I’m not gonna get into it on if there’s a deadline or not. He’s under contract for two more years,” Schoen said. “We’re not gonna put any deadlines on anything.”
Below, more takeaways from Schoen’s press conference.
‘We’ve gotten a couple of calls’
There is a belief in the draft community that the Giants are among a bevy of teams with early first-round picks that may be amenable to moving down in the draft order. There is also a belief that because of the lack of quarterbacks and premium edge defenders at the top of this class that there are few teams who want to move up.
“We’ve gotten a couple calls of teams sniffing around about potentially coming up,” Schoen said. “Again, we’ll just have to wait and see who’s there when we pick. I don’t really foresee us moving back before next Thursday night.”
The Giants have only seven picks, with three of those in Round 6, and do not possess a third-round pick after using that in the 2025 trade to draft quarterback Jaxson Dart.
“I would always like more picks but it’ll be situational,” Schoen said. “We’re not gonna walk away from an impact player or a good player that we’re convicted on that we like to pick up an extra pick or a couple extra picks. Case-by-case basis, if you move back three or four spots and there’s five guys you like and you need an extra pick, absolutely.
“If it’s a guy you’re convicted on and maybe there’s a big drop off from, let’s say it’s a corner and there’s a big drop off maybe two rounds to the next corner, you maybe don’t roll the dice in those situations. You just take the player so you don’t miss out. Certainly would like more picks, but don’t want to walk away from good players either.”
Best player available vs. positional value
Harbaugh has been clear that need and positional value won’t drive the pick at No. 5. The chance to get a player who might have Hall of Fame potential regardless of position will.
That doesn’t necessarily coincide with Schoen’s positional value philosophy.
“Ideally they [value and need] line up,” Schoen said. “The best available player is also a position of need, but I would say last year if you look at what we did with Abdul [Carter], we had Kayvon [Thibodeaux] and we had [Brian} Burns here and we still took Abdul. We were really strong at outside backer when we added Abdul to the roster.
“Similar, we’re going through, we’re gonna stack the board and the best player available is the direction we’ll go.”
Schoen did admit this draft is different in that the top of the draft is not loaded with quarterbacks or players who generally cost the most money to acquire.
“You would like to have, again, those positions outside the building that you’re gonna pay a lot of money to get that surplus value but it just may not be the case this year, which is fine,” Schoen said. “We’re gonna evaluate every position, every player and obviously do what’s best for us.”
The Jeremiyah Love question
Schoen laughed when asked if he would consider “a 20-year-old running back who combines speed, power, and vision at number five?”
Schoen, of course, was at the forefront of the failed negotations with former Giants running back Saquon Barkley and has always seemed against the idea of selecting a running back high in the draft.
“We like our running back room now,” Schoen said. “Skat [Cam Skattebo] had a really good rookie year. Tyrone Tracy’s been a thousand yard all purpose guy the last two years. Devin’s back, Turbo, Eric Gray coming off the injuries. We’ll see what happens on draft night. I like the room the way it’s constructed right now.”
Schoen was asked if drafting Love at No. 5 would be admitting to a mistake in letting Barkley leave in free agency. The GM would not go there.
“I would say we’re in a different place,” Schoen said. “We have a quarterback on a rookie deal. At that time our offensive line was different. We didn’t have Jermaine Eluemunor. We didn’t have Jhn Runyan. We didn’t have Brian Burns. We didn’t have Malik Nabers. The roster was different.
“There’s a time and a place in terms of the roster construction. I like where we are right now from the young nucleus. That was a little part of the thought process is we need to build this thing and start it up front. Last year we were fifth in the league in rushing. We were fifth in the league in rushing a year ago. I think mission accomplished.”
‘We’re going to be on the same page’
Questions continue to be asked about the relationship between Schoen and Harbaugh. It is clear that Harbaugh, an 18-year head coach with a Super Bowl title and 15 playoff appearances, is the man with the final say. That, of course, is a change from Schoen’s four years working with Brian Daboll.
“The best way for this to work regardless of the organization of all 32 is there’d be a collaborative effort and be on the same page. The early returns on that it’s been great. We’ve had a lot of fun,” Schoen said. “Coach Harbaugh’s passionate about the draft. I’m passionate about the draft. My staff’s passionate about it. Just the ongoing football conversation, sitting in a film room with him whether it’s walking through the board or watching the film. It’s been a lot of fun.
“It’s going to be a collaborative effort. We’re going to be on the same page. We’re working towards that. By next Thursday when we get to the first round we’ll all be on the same page.”
Schoen said he and Harbaugh are aligned in one belief:
“It’s pretty simple. We joke around. Good football players. That’s not over complicated. We joke about that all the time. Just take good football players,” Schoen said.
Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout is off to a blazing start to the season, and as is customary when he’s on a hot streak, the sports world is calling for him to be traded.
Following Trout’s two-homer game against the New York Yankees on Monday, First Take’s Stephen A. Smith became the latest pundit to advocate for the future Hall of Famer’s relocation.
“On behalf of myself and baseball lovers everywhere… Can we call Mike Trout out?” Smith said. “This is one of the greatest talents we have ever seen in the history of baseball. Yo, Mike Trout, we love you man. We can’t get enough of you when you’re healthy, which seems to be rare these days.
“Can you demand a trade? Can you get tired of giving the impression that you’re just chilling in Southern California? The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have not made the postseason since 2014. They haven’t had a winning record since 2015. …You’re gonna always get the money, you’re Mike Trout. Could you demand a trade, please?”
Trout has four homers to go with his 12 RBIs this season, and has a .883 OPS.
Since his debut for the Angels in 2011, Trout has become one of the most iconic players of the era and has set himself apart from the rest of MLB with a fantastic career. He has a career OPS of .975 and reached 400 home runs and 1,000 RBIs last season.
Apr 13, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; Los Angeles Angels right fielder Mike Trout (27) reacts after hitting a two run home run, his second of the game, during the eighth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
Trade rumors have surrounded Trout for several seasons, but the Angels seem to want to keep the face of their franchise going forward.
Trout and the Angels will look to bounce back after their ninth-inning loss to the Angels on Monday as they try to return to .500.
What would it take for the Angels to trade Mike Trout?
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee Brewers outfielder/designated hitter Christian Yelich is expected to miss at least a month with an adductor strain.
Yelich left in the fifth inning of the Brewers’ 8-6 loss to the Washington Nationals on Sunday with what the team described as tightness in his left hamstring. The Brewers placed him on the injured list Tuesday, retroactive to Monday, and said he had a second-degree adductor strain.
The Brewers estimated he would return in mid-to-late May.
Milwaukee also selected infielder/outfielder Greg Jones from Triple-A Nashville and transferred left-handed pitcher Rob Zastryzny to the 60-day injured list.
Yelich, the 2018 NL MVP and a three-time All-Star, is hitting .314 with one home run, 10 RBIs and three steals in 15 games.
Former Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore received 18 months' probation and a $1,000 fine for an incident with a staff member after the school fired him for an inappropriate relationship with her.
Moore, 40, pleaded no contest last month to trespassing and malicious use of a telecom device in exchange for dropping more serious charges, and he faced a sentence of up to six months in jail for the two misdemeanors.
"I don't believe, when I look at the entirety of this situation, that incarceration should be appropriate," District Court Judge Cedric Simpson said during Tuesday's sentencing in Washtenaw County Court, via Dan Wetzel of ESPN. "I warn you Mr. Moore, should there be a violation, all bets are off. I don't like sending people to jail, but I don't have a problem doing it."
The Wolverines fired Moore on Dec. 10 after two seasons. He was accused of confronting staff member Paige Shiver in her apartment later that day, blaming her for his firing and threatening to kill himself with butter knives.
Shiver, who was not in court Tuesday, released a statement, saying the sentence "does not reflect the harm done to me."
"He broke into my apartment, crying, yelling, enraged, and came at me with knives," Shiver said, via Wetzel. "I was threatened, and I feared for my life."
Moore is prohibited from using drugs or alcohol, possessing firearms or having contact with Shiver. He was also ordered to continue counseling.
One of the more notable high school football programs in California has its new head football coach.
After two seasons at El Segundo, Rory Schoonmaker has been hired as the new head coach at Los Alamitos, according to High School on SI’s Tarek Fattal. Schoonmaker will replace Ray Fenton, who left the Griffins after six seasons to become the new head coach at Orange Lutheran.
Schoonmaker will take over a program that went 12-3, won the CIF-SS D2 title and finished as the No. 12 team in the Golden State last season, according to the Rivals Composite Rankings. Fenton went 80-33 during his time with the Griffins.
It’s another quick move for Schoonmaker, who landed a head coaching gig at Santa Ana three years ago. After one year with the Saints, he made the move to El Segundo and won 14 games across the last two seasons. In 2025, the Eagles went 8-3.
He’s now set to take over a competitive roster that will feature the likes of senior three-star wide receiver Kamden Tillis and senior three-star defensive lineman Hunter Eligon.
More about Los Alamitos
“Los Alamitos High School, located in Los Alamitos, California, is known for its strong academic programs and a highly competitive athletics department. The school boasts state-of-the-art facilities, including a new athletic complex scheduled for completion in 2025. With a rich history of success in sports like football, basketball, and lacrosse, LAHS maintains a strong sense of community and school pride, symbolized by its Griffin mascot.”
How to Follow California High School Football
For California high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Golden State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across California.
They enter play on Tuesday with a 10-6 record, a plus-19 run differential and the second-best winning percentage in baseball. They've excelled both at the plate and on the mound, ranking seventh in runs per game and fifth in ERA.
While the Pirates were expected to be better this year after their impressive offseason, some didn't expect them to be this good, this quickly, including MLB Network analyst Mike Lowell.
On Tuesday, the former World Series champion third baseman explained why he picked Pittsburgh as his most surprising team of the season thus far.
"I think the pitching, we thought it was going to be good, but I didn't think the offense was gonna look that good," Lowell said on "MLB Central." "The Pirates brought in a lot of pieces. It seems like it's gelling, and we're in Week 2."
"Pittsburgh Pirates... the pitching, we thought it was going to be good, but I didn't think the offense was going to look THIS good."@mikelowell25 has been pleasantly surprised by the NL Central leaders so far this season! #MLBCentralpic.twitter.com/Rc996jojc2
The Pirates have been even better lately, winning nine of their last 12 games after a 1-3 start. After a brief road bump to begin the year, they've hit their stride.
"I like their lineup a lot. There's lefties, there's righties, there's talent, there's speed, there's youth, there's veterans, I like it," Lowell continued.
Bolstered by Oneil Cruz's hot start and the additions of Ryan O'Hearn and Brandon Lowe, Pittsburgh's lineup looks legit. It ranks seventh in runs per game, ninth in homers and seventh in OPS.
Fellow analyst Mark DeRosa agreed with Lowell, also picking the Pirates as this year's most surprising team.
"I hate to agree with him, but yeah. 100 percent, it's the Pittsburgh Pirates," DeRosa added. "And if Oneil Cruz is gonna play like an MVP candidate. They're gonna stick a guy on the mound with elite stuff every night. They really are."
Pittsburgh is firing on all cylinders, surging to the top of the NL Central. If the Pirates keep it up, they could be headed for their first division title in 34 years.
“Intensity”: Elu highlights Brazil tweaks for clash with the USA
The Brazil Women’s U-20 National Team returns to the field this Wednesday (15) at 4 p.m. Brasília time at Riverside Stadium in Kansas (USA) for its second friendly against the United States. For Elu, the friendlies against the Americans are an important opportunity to prepare for the U-20 World Cup.
“It’s really good for us to understand the level of football and our opponents’ strengths. We know the World Cup will be even tougher,” she says.
After the first meeting, goalkeeper Elu highlighted the main points the team has been working on in training and looked ahead to a matchup that will require even more commitment.
Goalkeeper Elu trains with the U-20 National Team for the second friendly against the USA in KansasCredits: Fabio Souza / CBF
According to the goalkeeper, the coaching staff led by Camilla Orlando has been emphasizing key aspects needed to face one of the strongest national teams in the world. In addition to intensity, Elu stressed the importance of being more strategic on the field.
“I think the main thing was intensity, because we know these friendlies will be very demanding, especially with the World Cup in mind. We also have to be a little more street-smart in the game. That will help a lot,” she says.
Another point highlighted by Elu was the analysis work on their opponents, with a focus on neutralizing the Americans’ main strengths. With the first match already played, expectations are for an even more balanced contest.
Goalkeeping coach Bruno Barbosa with players Morganti, Elu, and Josi during a Brazil Women’s U-20 National Team training sessionCredits: Fabio Souza / CBF
“We studied them a lot and worked on their biggest strengths so we can neutralize their game. Now that both teams already know each other, it’s going to be a more intense match. They may change their approach depending on our style, but we’re going in looking for the goal all the time,” she explains.
“I think the difference will be doing what we practice, staying committed, and always giving our all. That’s the secret,” she concludes.
Finally, the Tigers matched up against a left-handed starting pitcher Tuesday, April 14, for the first time in the 2026 season, facing Kansas City Royals left-hander Cole Ragans – only Jones wasn't in the starting lineup despite his role as a weapon against lefties.
"He came up sick," manager A.J. Hinch said before Tuesday's game.
The Tigers matched up with right-handed starters in each of their first 16 games – the longest streak to start the season since the Tigers faced 18 righties in a row in 2019.
It's a missed opportunity for Jones to start.
But it's not his fault.
"He's had a rough 24 hours," Hinch said. "I had him in the original lineup and then got notified this morning that he's not feeling well. We're not going to put him out there with where he's at right now."
Jones – a right-handed hitter – has appeared in seven of the 16 games for the Tigers, though he hasn't started any of them. The 28-year-old is hitting .000 (0-for-10) with zero walks and four strikeouts, receiving six plate appearances against left-handed relievers.
He remains in search of his first start – and his first hit.
The next chance?
The Tigers clash with Royals left-hander Kris Bubic in Thursday's series finale.
Per NFL rules, the Green Bay Packers are allowed to host up to 30 draft-eligible players (excluding “local” prospects, such as those in the UW system or nearby regional schools such as Northern Illinois) for in-person visits. The Journal Sentinel is tracking the visits and supplying profiles based on information from sources and published reports.
GREEN BAY – Anterio Thompson didn’t produce big defensive numbers in his four college seasons, but his special-teams play and overall athleticism for a big man are interesting NFL teams.
The 6-foot-3, 306-pound Thompson, who grew up in Madison before moving to Davenport, Iowa, his senior year in high school, is making a pre-draft visit with the Green Bay Packers, a source confirmed. Packer Report was first to report the news.
Thompson played one season at Iowa Community College, where he was named all-conference and all-region during the team’s national junior college championship season.
He transferred to Iowa in 2023 and played in seven games, playing mostly special teams and blocking two punts. After not seeing much action on defense, he transferred to Western Michigan, where he started 12 games at defensive tackle and had 34 tackles and a sack. He also blocked another kick.
Thompson transferred to Washington and had a solid season with 30 tackles, 1½ sacks and two pass breakups.
He did not get an invitation to the NFL scouting combine and didn’t look like a draft pick until he ran a blazing 4.73 seconds in the 40-yard dash and bench-pressed 225 pounds 30 times.
Thompson could have applied to the NCAA for another year at Washington, but he thought it was time to move on. He said he learned a lot on his college journey.
“I learned to trust the process,” Thompson told Huskies Wire. “Me being a guy that typically didn't trust the process and wanted to rush through things, I kind of got frustrated. I'd say that's big; it's just me taking coaching and being coachable.”
In the NFL, he projects to an inside pass-rushing position, but with his length and massive strength, he could be an end in a 3-4 defense. Given his NFL-ready body, he should be a late third-day pick.
Per NFL rules, the Green Bay Packers are allowed to host up to 30 draft-eligible players (excluding “local” prospects, such as those in the UW system or nearby regional schools such as Northern Illinois) for in-person visits. The Journal Sentinel is tracking the visits and supplying profiles based on information from sources and published reports.
GREEN BAY – Anterio Thompson didn’t produce big defensive numbers in his four college seasons, but his special-teams play and overall athleticism for a big man are interesting NFL teams.
The 6-foot-3, 306-pound Thompson, who grew up in Madison before moving to Davenport, Iowa, his senior year in high school, is making a pre-draft visit with the Green Bay Packers, a source confirmed. Packer Report was first to report the news.
Thompson played one season at Iowa Community College, where he was named all-conference and all-region during the team’s national junior college championship season.
He transferred to Iowa in 2023 and played in seven games, playing mostly special teams and blocking two punts. After not seeing much action on defense, he transferred to Western Michigan, where he started 12 games at defensive tackle and had 34 tackles and a sack. He also blocked another kick.
Thompson transferred to Washington and had a solid season with 30 tackles, 1½ sacks and two pass breakups.
He did not get an invitation to the NFL scouting combine and didn’t look like a draft pick until he ran a blazing 4.73 seconds in the 40-yard dash and bench-pressed 225 pounds 30 times.
Thompson could have applied to the NCAA for another year at Washington, but he thought it was time to move on. He said he learned a lot on his college journey.
“I learned to trust the process,” Thompson told Huskies Wire. “Me being a guy that typically didn't trust the process and wanted to rush through things, I kind of got frustrated. I'd say that's big; it's just me taking coaching and being coachable.”
In the NFL, he projects to an inside pass-rushing position, but with his length and massive strength, he could be an end in a 3-4 defense. Given his NFL-ready body, he should be a late third-day pick.
After weeks of speculation about whether or not she and New England Patriots head coach are indeed involved, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini has decided to resign Tuesday afternoon.
She released a statement.
“I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published. When the Page Six item first appeared, The Athletic supported me unequivocally, expressed confidence in my work and pride in my journalism. For that, I am grateful. In the days that followed, unfortunately, commentators in various media have engaged in self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts.
“Moreover, this media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete. It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I have no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept. Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now — before my current contract expires on June 30. I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career.”
Russini is right that, since this has come to light, it has been the talk of the sports world, and it has only gotten worse with the surfacing of old videos of her speaking about her marriage and of her interviewing Vrabel.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — General manager Joe Schoen said Tuesday the New York Giants have had productive talks with Dexter Lawrence’s camp since the veteran defensive tackle’s request for a trade came to light last week.
At his pre-draft news conference, Schoen said he, coach John Harbaugh and senior VP of football operations and strategy Dawn Aponte have been in communication about the situation. Harbaugh at the start of offseason workouts called the prospects high of Lawrence remaining with the team.
“We’d like for Dexter to be here, and at some point we’ll come to a resolution here, whatever that may be,” Schoen said. “We’ll see. But conversations have been really good, they’ve been productive and we’ll see what happens here down the road.”
Schoen would not say whether the first round on April 23 represented a deadline because of the chance to recoup a pick to receive immediate help if Lawrence gets traded.
“He’s under contract for two more years,” Schoen said. “We’re not going to put any deadlines on anything.”
Lawrence, 28, is coming off a season in which he had a career-low 31 tackles and a half-sack for a defense that ranked 30th out of 32 teams in the NFL. He's currently set to make $19.5 million this year and $20 million in 2027.
As for whether New York is entertaining offers for Lawrence, Schoen said he's “always going to pick up the phone.”
“If teams call, you take into account it’s a case-by-case basis and what the compensation may be,” Schoen said. “That’s my job to take into consideration what that looks like, what the compensation looks like, who the player is, how that affects the roster and then try to make the best decision off of that.”
Schoen said Lawrence's trade request has not affected preparations for the draft. The Giants have the fifth pick and a bevvy of options on what to do with it, potentially including Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles and Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs.
The uncertainty surrounding Lawrence may have an impact on free agency. The team hosted experienced defensive lineman D.J. Reader, who started all 17 games for Detroit last season on a visit Monday.
“There’s still players that are on the street that were free agents this year that are available,” Schoen said, adding guard is also a position that could still be addressed.
KC Concepcion might be the perfect wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills at the 2026 NFL draft, for both on and off the field reasons.
Concepcion had a standout college career, playing his first two seasons at North Carolina State before transferring to Texas A&M as a junior. Concepcion recorded 61 receptions for 919 yards and tied for an SEC-best nine touchdowns in 2025.
In terms of extracurriculars, Concepcion already has some Bills fandom built into him. Making the rounds on social media again this week is Concepcion discussing how his family has ties to being legitimate fans because he was born in the Rochester, NY, area.
"The Bills is actually my dad's favorite team," he admitted.
For more from Concepcion, see the attached clip below:
KC Concepcion was born in Rochester, NY and met with the #Bills here at the NFL Combine.
The Bills are his dad's favorite team and he's been watching them since he was a kid.
Although the Minnesota Twins have been red-hot at the plate, rookie pitcher Mick Abel has struggled.
That’s why my MLB picks are backing the “yes run first inning” market in tonight's matchup against the Boston Red Sox.
Check out what other bets I'm making in my free YRFI and NRFI bets for Tuesday, April 14.
Best NRFI/YRFI bets today
Pick
Odds
/ - NRFI
+100
/- YRFI
-115
/ - YRFI
+110
Giants at Reds: NRFI (+100)
Cincinnati Reds right-hander Brady Singer has been awful this season, pitching to a 7.71 ERA through three starts. That said, the veteran posted a 3.96 FIP across 64 starts over the last two years, so expect improvement.
Singer is set to face a San Francisco Giants lineup that ranks 29th in the majors in runs per game (3.19) and 28th in OBP (.288).
The Giants will counter with lefty Robbie Ray and his 2.08 ERA. The veteran has great swing-and-miss stuff, and Cincinnati sits 28th in runs per game (3.38) and 29th in OPS (.623).
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBC Sports BA | Reds.TV
Angels at Yankees: YRFI (-115)
The New York Yankees will give the ball to lefty Ryan Weathers, whose 5.12 xERA and .299 xBA suggest he’s been very lucky. The southpaw will take on a Los Angeles Angels lineup that enters tonight seventh in the majors in OPS against southpaws (.726).
Meanwhile, the Yankees have been a bit inconsistent at the dish this year, but the analytics suggest positive regression. They rank first in the majors in barrel rate, third in hard-hit rate, and second in xwOBAcon (.403).
Time: 7:05 p.m. ET
Where to watch: FanDuel SN West | YES
Red Sox at Twins: YRFI (+110)
Sonny Gray has looked sharp in two of three starts this year. That said, the Boston Red Sox hurler had a 4.28 ERA last season, including sporting a 4.50 ERA and .256 OBA in the first inning.
Gray's strikeout rate has plummeted to just 15.2%, and the Minnesota Twins are also red-hot at the dish, having posted an OPS of .839 over the last week.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox have plated 6+ runs in three straight games. They face 24-year-old Mick Abel, who has failed to play up to his vast potential. Abel finished with a 6.23 ERA last year, and his xERA is at 7.17 through 13 1/3 frames this year.
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NESN+ | Twins.TV
Rohit Ponnaiya's 2026 Transparency Record
NRFI/YRFI picks: 11-9, +1.66 units
What is a NRFI bet?
NRFI (No Run First Inning) and YRFI (Yes Run First Inning) bets add a thrilling twist to the start of an MLB game. A NRFI bet is a wager that no runs will be scored in the first inning. You're betting that the starting pitchers for both teams will get through the first inning without allowing any runs, whether by striking out batters, inducing ground balls, or through solid defensive play.
A YRFI bet is the exact opposite. You're betting that at least one run will be scored in the first inning. In this case, you’re hoping for an early offensive burst such as a leadoff walk, a timely hit, or even a home run.
NRFI and YRFI bets add excitement to the early part of a game and offer immediate gratification for bettors looking for a quick resolution.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
It was reported on Tuesday morning that the Boston Red Sox were promoting relief pitcher Jack Anderson from Triple-A Worcester ahead of what could be his MLB debut.
The team's corresponding moves were revealed on Tuesday afternoon, with Boston sending down left-handed reliever Tyler Samaniego to Triple-A and moving Johan Oviedo to the 60-day injured list, according to multiple reports.
The Red Sox called up Samaniego on April 8 and the southpaw made his MLB debut that day.
Samaniego shined in his three Boston outings prior to Tuesday's decision, pitching 3 2/3 scoreless innings while allowing no hits, three walks and four strikeouts.
Oviedo was placed on the 15-day injured list on April 3 with a right elbow strain after just one appearance with the Red Sox.
The Florida Gators are looking to get the sour taste of a second-round exit out of their mouths, and the transfer portal may give them just what they're looking for.
Todd Golden's squad is rumored to be a favorite for the No. 2 player in the transfer portal, Iowa State forward Milan Momcilovic. The Second Team All-Big 12 selection reportedly decided to enter the NBA draft as well as the transfer portal on Monday, and on Tuesday, he officially entered the portal with a do-not-contact tag.
That would indicate that Momcilovic has a pretty good idea where he's heading, should he choose to return to college for his senior season.
The Pewaukee, Wisconsin, native earned All-Big 12 Freshman honors in 2024, and he averaged 16.9 points and 3.1 rebounds this past season. He averaged in double figures offensively in each of his three seasons with the Cyclones.
The 6-foot-8 Momcilovic would be a natural replacement for Thomas Haugh, a Second Team All-American this past season who is widely projected as a first-round and potential lottery pick in the 2026 NBA draft. Adding Momcilovic to a frontcourt that could return two starters from last season in two-time All-SEC forward Alex Condon and Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Rueben Chinyelu would give the Gators a dominant group of bigs once again.
Momcilovic is currently projected to be a second-round pick in the draft, and if he opts to come back to college, Florida could be the perfect fit.
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Hunter began her collegiate career in the Pac-12, with the Oregon State Beavers. The Medford, Oregon native played just one season with the Beavers before joining Mark Campbell at TCU for the past two seasons.
For her college career, Hunter has put up 7.7 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists. Hunter put up a career-high 10.2 points per game this past season with TCU, helping the team reach the Elite Eight.
Even if Hunter’s scoring stats don’t jump off the page, she’s been entrusted as a starter since her freshman season, starting 93 of her 111 career games. At 6’0”, Hunter gives UCLA some size that they will be in need of after losing their lengthy senior class.
Hunter, along with fellow transfer additions Bonnie Deas and Elina Aarnisalo, will help fill out the Bruins backcourt after seeing Charlisse Leger-Walker, Kiki Rice, Gianna Kneepkens and Gabriela Jaquez all head to the WNBA.
There’s still much work to be done for the defending national champions, but UCLA has done a good job of finding experienced guards in the portal to help raise their floor in the 2026-2027 season.
NFL reporter Dianna Russini has resigned from The Athletic less than a week after published photos of her and New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel at an Arizona resort prompted an internal investigation at the New York Times-owned sports outlet.
The New York Post last week published the photos of Vrabel and Russini at the Sedona hotel and said they were taken before the NFL owners meetings that began in Phoenix on March 29.
“I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published. When the Page Six item first appeared, The Athletic supported me unequivocally, expressed confidence in my work and pride in my journalism. For that I am grateful. In the days that followed, unfortunately, commentators in various media have engaged in self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts,” Russini said in a letter sent Tuesday to Athletic Executive Editor Steven Ginsberg and obtained by The Associated Press.
“Moreover, this media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete. It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I have no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept. Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now — before my current contract expires on June 30. I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career.”
Russini joined The Athletic in 2023 after nearly a decade at ESPN, where she held various roles, including SportsCenter anchor, NFL analyst and insider. She hosted a podcast for The Athletic and made appearances on their video platform
Vrabel and Russini, who are both married, released statements to the Post after publication of the photos downplaying what the photos depict.
Russini said they “don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day.”
Vrabel told the newspaper: “Those photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable.”
The New York Times reported Saturday that the digital outlet was investigating Russini’s conduct.
That decision came after Ginsberg previously told the Post that the photos “lacked essential context” and lauded her work with The Athletic.
Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls as a player with New England, is preparing for his second season as coach of the Patriots. He was the AP NFL Coach of the Year after leading the team to a 14-3 finish last season, which ended with a Super Bowl loss to Seattle. Vrabel previously won the AP NFL Coach of the Year award with Tennessee in 2021.
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 12: Yerry de los Santos #73 celebrates with J.C. Escarra #25 of the New York Yankees after the game against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium on August 12, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The pitching wasn’t pretty, but the Yankees survived an 11-10 slugfest with the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night in the opener of their four-game set. They did, however, decide that they needed relief reinforcements before they played another game.
Immediately after the marathon on Monday, the Yanks demoted right-handed pitcher Jake Bird to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Initially acquired from the Colorado Rockies before the 2025 Trade Deadline with the hopes that his ERA wasn’t indicative of the stuff he could provide, Bird unfortunately has yet to take flight.
Bird was quickly demoted last year following three bad games, and though he made the Opening Day roster, 2026 hasn’t gone much better. Memories of a few solid outings in San Francisco and Seattle were quickly tarnished in a blown loss to the Marlins on April 5th where he failed to record an out and allowed three runs. He was then a bit shaky against the A’s and Rays before getting roughed up by the Angels—particularly Mike Trout. In seven innings on the season, he has a 7.71 ERA, and blowing multiple leads in last night’s game appeared to be the last straw.
In his place, the Yankees called up another bullpen contender from spring training: Yerry De los Santos. The righty pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2022-23 and has spent the last few seasons as a Yankees Triple-A depth option, primarily sticking in Scranton. Last season though, De los Santos did make it into 25 games for the Bombers and did yeoman’s work as a middle reliever, racking up 35.2 innings across 25 games and separate call-ups between April 27th through August 25th. De los Santos notched 28 strikeouts, a 3.38 ERA (81 ERA-), and a 3.44 FIP (coincidentally, an 81 FIP-).
The Yankees elected to go with Bird and Rule 5 pick Cade Winquest as the last men in their 2026 bullpen on Opening Day, but with Winquest returned to the Cardinals upon Luis Gil’s activation and Bird demoted, an opening was there for De los Santos. The 28-year-old did his part to make a case for it, as in 9.1 innings early on for the RailRiders, he’d allowed just two runs on six hits, fanning 13 with a 1.93 ERA and 0.964 WHIP. The Yankees preferred to select someone already on the larger 40-man roster, and De los Santos got the nod over Angel Chivilli and Kervin Castro. The offseason trade pickup Chivilli had actually pitched a little better, but he is seen as someone who is more of a post-Rockies project like Bird, so it’s understandable to take the safer pick in De los Santos.
The Yankees’ bullpen to this point has been a bit of a concern, and De los Santos—while only having pitched in limited innings for the club to this point—has been a decent option to turn to when things get tight for Aaron Boone and his staff. The best-case, of course, is that the Yankees get into a blowout victory situation and De los Santos can soak up some innings for his 2026 debut. Regardless, he’ll be ready and waiting.
Stan Moody is ranked 44th in the world and had to win two qualifying matches to qualify for the World Snooker Championship [Getty Images]
British teenager Stan Moody secured his place at the World Snooker Championship for the first time, a day after discharging himself from hospital.
Moody, 19, had been struggling with tonsillitis but managed to beat China's Jiang Jun 10-9 on Tuesday, with a break of 104 in the deciding frame to qualify for the Crucible.
"I was in hospital yesterday," said Moody. "They said 'we know you're going to say no, but we want you to stay in', but I said 'no, I have a match to play tomorrow', so it was never really in question.
"I've been given a load of antibiotics so I'm on the mend. I couldn't talk yesterday or eat or drink, so I've come a long way. They said if it gets worse, come back.
"I'm normally good under pressure but in that last frame I've never felt pressure so much in my life, I'm so happy."
Yorkshireman Moody, who hails from Halifax, will become the first British teenager to make his Crucible debut since a 17-year-old Judd Trump in 2007.
Moody will not be the only young player from Yorkshire making his debut in Sheffield as 20-year-old Liam Pullen from York also booked his place, beating Thailand's Noppon Saengkham 10-8.
Pullen had earlier been on course for a maximum 147, but after potting 14 reds he missed the 14th black, with the break ending on 105.
If he had made a 147 he would have earned £147,000 - for making two maximums across the major events in one season - something China's Chang Bingyu did on Monday after his 147 in his loss to former world champion Luca Brecel.
"It is a bit of a shame about the max," said Pullen, who had to win four matches to qualify.
"I'm very proud I'm still in the tournament and I'm going to go to the Crucible and try my best."
Stevens beats Bingham to earn place at Crucible
Matthew Stevens lost to Mark Williams in the 2000 World Snooker Championship final, then was defeated by Shaun Murphy five years later [Getty Images]
Former world champion Stuart Bingham failed to qualify as he lost 10-7 against two-time runner-up Matthew Stevens.
Bingham, 49, won the title in 2015 but is 17th in the world rankings, with only the top 16 qualifying automatically, meaning he had to go through two qualifying rounds.
But 48-year-old Welshman Stevens, who lost in the final in 2000 and 2005, claimed his place in the main tournament at the Crucible for the first time since 2022.
"I can still play a little bit, which I proved today and I'm really happy," said Stevens, who is 48th in the rankings. "It's nice to be back, I'm nearly 50 and I don't play as much as I used to.
"I was relaxed and Stuart didn't play at his our best, otherwise he would've beaten me."
England's David Gilbert, a semi-finalist in 2019 and 2024, was another British qualifier after winning 10-6 against Aaron Hill of the Republic of Ireland.
Iran's Vafaei among Crucible qualifiers
Iran's Hossein Vafaei qualified for a fifth successive year thanks to a 10-4 win over Gao Yang of China.
"This morning I was not well at all," said Vafaei. "It wasn't a great match, my opponent is hungry and young and he is my practice partner - every day I practise with him and he's such a great talent, but we didn't play that well.
"I'm fighting as well for my country, for my family and I'm trying my best and will give it my all. The Crucible is a fantastic place for snooker and we love to play in front of snooker lovers, especially at the Crucible."
Antoni Kowalski, 22, will be the first player from Poland to play at the finals after he beat Wales' Jamie Jones 10-8.
Kowalski, who would have lost his tour card with defeat, was in tears after the victory.
"I never cry, so that's the perfect explanation of what it means to me," he said. "I'm going to realise one of my biggest dreams and play at the 'Theatre of Dreams'.
"I'm not based in the UK so it is more special, and my girlfriend and my parents will come to the Crucible. At the end of the first session and beginning of the second I was absolutely gone, then I stopped thinking, turned off my brain and just played."
Elsewhere, Chinese duo Zhou Yuelong and Pang Junxu qualified, defeating England's Michael Holt 10-4 and Wales' Jackson Page 10-8 respectively.
The final eight places will be decided on Wednesday. Belgium's Brecel, the 2023 champion, plays 2024 runner-up Jak Jones of Wales in the pick of the matches.
Two-time Crucible finalist Ali Carter is also in action, as is Jack Lisowski, who won his first ranking tournament in October with victory at the Northern Ireland Open.
The first round begins on Saturday, with the final starting on Sunday, 3 May and concluding the next day - with full coverage of the tournament live on the BBC.
The draw will feature the top 16 and 16 qualifiers, and will be broadcast on BBC Radio 5 Live at 08:45 BST on Thursday.
Final qualifying round results and fixtures
Tuesday's results (first to 10)
Hossein Vafaei (Iran) 10-4 Gao Yang (China)
Stuart Bingham (England) 7-10 Matthew Stevens (Wales)
BENGALURU: It’s still early days in the IPL season, but after four matches, Lucknow Super Giants find themselves languishing in the lower half of the points table with two losses. Their power-packed batting line-up is yet to truly fire, and Tom Moody, global director of cricket, RPSG Group, believes the M Chinnaswamy Stadium could be the perfect ‘tonic’ for players like Nicholas Pooran to rediscover their touch.
On the eve of their clash against RCB, the Australian addressed concerns around the batting unit, backed the bowling group, and expressed confidence that the team is not far from clicking as a cohesive unit.
Excerpts:
On Pooran’s form: Nicky is fully aware of the slow start he's had. We've got absolutely 100% confidence in what he brings to the table. I'm sure that the opportunity at a venue where battling can be something that top order players can enjoy could well be the tonic that he needs. Anyone can have a little lean patch, but look out for the counter-punch. Wednesday night is a great opportunity for all our batters who haven't had the consistency of starts they'd like.
On the return of pacer Mayank Yadav: The likes of Mayank and Mohsin Khan have had long term injuries. Our medical teams worked exceptionally hard over the last few months to get them up and ready to play. Mohsin will probably do a final test on Wednesday to see whether he's available for selection. Mayank is also ready to go. He didn't jump into our thought processes early in the tournament purely because he was still a bit underdone. Not from a point of view of his fitness, but bowling and the loads that any bowler needs to feel comfortable at the crease. So he presents a headache for us with regards to selection.
The influence of Mohammed Shami: He's been bowling brilliantly of late and the kind of work he has put in. No surprise to see him do as well as he's done so far. He's come off a very good domestic season so he's got the work as well underneath him. He looks fit and strong. We know that he brings a unique skill set with the new ball. He can swing the ball both ways and be a real threat in the power play. He's been terrific for us because he's the head of our bowling attack.
The impact of the 200 plus scores norm on a team batting first: It depends on venues. We know Chinnaswamy Stadium does tend to go over 200 on a regular basis. We also know, there is certainly a stronger bias towards teams having success batting second. You don't want to end up in a situation chasing the top of the mountain right at the get-go. It's important you stick to the way that you tend to try to build a total and then recognise that moment to strive for those big totals.
John Blackwell, the top guard currently in the transfer portal, has finalized his final six schools, and Duke is among them, according to Jon Rothstein.
"John Blackwell announced last week that he was considering six schools: Duke, UCLA, Illinois, Arizona, Alabama, and Louisville," Rothstein saidvia Inside College Basketball.
"According to a lot of people close to the situation, Duke and Illinois were the two schools that had the best chance to secure the services of Blackwell."
As a junior for Wisconsin this past season, Blackwell finished second on the Badgers in scoring, putting up 19.1 points while coming down with 5.1 rebounds and dishing out 2.3 assists per game.
The only problem for Jon Scheyer and the Blue Devils is where Blackwell would fit in the rotation.
"Duke has Caleb Foster, Cayden Boozer and Deron Rippey," Rothstein said. "That's three guys who will want to play with the ball. I'm curious how Blackwell would fit into that equation if he explored a route to Duke."
Former Michigan Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore was sentenced to 18 months of probation and various court fines on Tuesday for his charges related to a confrontation with his assistant soon after the former coach was fired for having an inappropriate relationship with her.
Moore, who was fired for cause by the Wolverines in December 2025, was then arrested that same day after allegedly confronting the woman with whom he had been having a relationship with.
In March 2025, Moore entered a plea deal that led to his felony charge being dropped, but pleading no contest to a pair of misdemeanors.
Here's what to know about Moore's sentencing, charges and the known details from his arrest.
On Tuesday, Moore was sentenced to 18 months of probation and court fines totaling around $1,000, per Tony Garcia, for his misdemeanors related to his confrontation with a Michigan assistant following his firing from the team on Dec. 10, 2025.
The maximum possible penalty for his charges was six months in jail. His punishment came at the discretion of 14A Ann Arbor District Court Judge Cedric Simpson, who also said that Moore is to have no contact with the alleged victim, cannot use alcohol or recreational marijuana, must continue mental health treatment and may not have possession of any weapons.
During his court appearance for the sentencing, Moore made a brief statement, saying he has "taken this process very seriously."
Former Michigan HC Sherrone Moore address the court during his sentencing hearing pic.twitter.com/hAdPvxHLyR
Additionally, Simpson said that Moore's wife, Kelli, wrote a letter to the court that had the "biggest impact" on the punishment to hand down to the former coach, per Tony Garcia.
Judge Cedric Simpson spent time praising Kelli Moore for her handling of the situation Sherrone Moore put her and her family in. pic.twitter.com/nhqZt8wo8M
— Tony Garcia | Detroit Free Press (@RealTonyGarcia) April 14, 2026
Why was Sherrone Moore arrested?
Hours after being fired for cause by Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel on Dec. 10, 2025, Moore was detained by police and later booked into the Washtenaw County Jail.
Moore was fired by the Wolverines for having an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. That evening, he allegedly drove to the woman's home and confronted her, blamed her for his firing, and threatened to kill himself with butter knives in her apartment. Authorities also later said that the woman had ended the affair and spoken to Michigan officials about it. Moore did not harm himself, and he was arrested in a parking lot away from the woman's apartment.
Originally, Moore was charged with felony home invasion, misdemeanor breaking and entering and misdemeanor stalking. Those charges were able to lead to up to six years in prison if Moore was convicted on all of them.
However, the felony charge was later dropped as part of a plea agreement. On Tuesday, Moore was sentenced to 18 months of probation and court fines for his two misdemeanor charges.
Sherrone Moore plea deal
On March 6, Moore agreed to a deal that resulted in him pleading no contest to two new misdemeanor charges in exchange for the dropping of the previous felony count and two separate misdemeanors.
Moore's new misdemeanor charges are for malicious use of a telecommunication device in a domestic relationship and trespassing, per ESPN.
"All the [initial] charges against Mr. Moore were not supported by facts of law," Moore's attorney, Ellen Michaels, said after the March hearing, per ESPN. "The dismissal of those charges validates the concerns we raised about the investigation from the very beginning. Mr. Moore is pleased to put this behind him and move forward."
Moore was fired by Michigan after the university found "credible evidence" that he had an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. The woman who had allegedly been in a relationship with Moore was Paige Shiver, a former executive assistant under the coach.
Additionally, multiple reports have surfaced that Moore was investigated for "at least" two additional incidents during his time as head coach. The Athletic reported that Moore had contact with at least five women on social media while at Michigan. One woman showed the outlet that Moore had asked to fly her to come see him.
Moore has been married to Kelli Moore since 2015, with whom he has three daughters.
Who is Paige Shiver?
Shiver was the staff member who came forward as Moore's alleged victim.
Shiver, through an attorney, told the Detroit News in March that the coach "took advantage of a younger, female employee [Shiver]. Leadership knew and failed to act to protect her.”
The statement alleged that the conduct took place over a “long period of time.”
“It raises urgent and troubling questions about how a powerful figure within a major university athletic program was able to engage in years of inappropriate conduct toward a subordinate without meaningful intervention or oversight,” the statement said.
Additionally, per People, Shiver alleged that she faced years of “manipulation, harassment, and exploitation” from Moore, who "held enormous power over her professional life as the head football coach of one of the nation’s most prominent college football programs."
"The power imbalance between a powerful head coach and a subordinate employee created an environment where our client felt pressured, intimidated, and unable to escape conduct that should never occur in any workplace—let alone at a public university," Shiver's statement said in March, per People.
Shiver's statements did not provide any details about Moore's alleged conduct.
While Ferentz previously took ownership of the misstep, and Iowa agreed on the violations in the case — the program contacted McNamara and his father in 2022, while McNamara was at Michigan and before he entered the transfer portal — the tampering case was ultimately resolved through an infractions hearing because Iowa didn't agree with the vacation of records penalty.
In its release Tuesday, the NCAA outlined the full list of prescribed penalties as such:
One year of probation
A fine of $25,000 (self-imposed by the school)
A two-week ban on all football recruiting communication during the 2026 calendar year (self-imposed by the school)
A 24-day reduction in recruiting person days, including two weeks during which Ferentz was prohibited from off-campus recruiting activity in 2025, as well as four days during which Budmayr was prohibited from recruiting during the 2025 spring evaluation period (self-imposed by the school)
A vacation of all records in which the student-athlete competed while ineligible
A one-game suspension for Ferentz and Budmayr during the 2024 football season (self-imposed by the school)
Cade McNamara appeared in 13 games at Iowa over the 2023-24 seasons after spending the first three seasons of his collegiate career at Michigan. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
Budmayr, then an offensive analyst and now entering his third season as Iowa’s wide receivers coach, set up a phone call between McNamara and Ferentz, who, according to the NCAA’s findings, assured McNamara he’d have a home at Iowa.
When a student-athlete transfers to a school that tampered, that student-athlete becomes ineligible until they’re reinstated, per current NCAA rules. In this case, according to the NCAA’s findings, McNamara participated in the 2023 season before being reinstated.
Deacon Hill replaced McNamara as Iowa’s QB1, and defense and special teams carried the program to its eighth 10-plus-win season in Ferentz’s soon-to-be 28-season tenure.
But, due to Tuesday’s decision, Ferentz technically now has only seven of those campaigns to his name.
Ferentz was dismayed by the ruling.
"I am disappointed by the NCAA's decision today," Ferentz said in a statement, via ESPN. "Throughout the process, our program has been open and honest about my mistake — contacting a potential player in the hours before it was permissible by NCAA rules.
"I felt it was important to make amends for the issue, which is why I voluntarily served a one-game suspension to start the 2023 season. I believe today's decision by the NCAA vacating four wins in our 2023 season is overly harsh and inconsistent with the violation.
"As I tell our team and staff, it is how you respond and move forward that defines you. Our focus is on the 2026 season and that is how we are moving forward."
Ferentz has the support of his higher-ups, as both university president Barb Wilson and athletic director Beth Goetz communicated similar feelings in a joint statement.
"We are very disappointed in today's ruling by the Committee on Infractions," the statement said, per ESPN. "Throughout this nearly two-and-a-half-year process, the University has fully cooperated with the NCAA enforcement staff. More importantly, when the facts revealed that violations had taken place, the institution and the head coach publicly accepted full responsibility and self-imposed several significant sanctions, something few others have done.
“We believe the decision of adding the penalty of the forfeiture of wins is unwarranted. The matter is now closed, and we have moved forward."
Former Michigan coach Sherrone Moore avoided a jail sentence and was sentenced to probation after previously agreeing to a plea deal over his actions after his firing from Michigan.
As part of the deal, Moore pled no contest to misdemeanor malicious use of a telecommunications device involving a domestic relationship and misdemeanor trespassing. He was sentenced to 18 months of probation, is subject to random alcohol and drug testing and cannot have a weapon while also continuing mental health treatment.
Moore was fired with cause from Michigan in December after an investigation into his romantic relationship with a now-former staffer. Moore, who is married with three children, then went to the staffer’s house after he was fired, and allegedly threatened to take his own life after grabbing butter knives and kitchen scissors from her residence.
Moore was initially charged with third-degree home invasion, stalking and breaking and entering or entering without breaking. The home invasion charge was a felony. Moore had pled no contest to the misdemeanor charges as part of a plea deal he reached with prosecutors in March.
Judge Cedric Simpson said in his statements that Moore had previously been given the code to the door for the staffer’s apartment. He also said that Moore “had no right to spread your pain to her” for what he did that day.
Simpson also noted that what Moore’s wife Kelli had to deal with that day was “an incredible burden” and spoke glowingly of her. Moore and his wife hugged each other after Simpson read his sentence.
Moore’s attorney said ahead of his sentencing that he had “reset himself around his family” and had been in counseling before recommending probation and a deferred sentence for her client.
In his own brief statement, Moore said he had “taken this process very seriously.” He cannot have contact with the former staffer as part of his probation.
Michigan went 18-8 in Moore’s two-season tenure and had three seasons left on his five-year contract at the time of his firing. He had served a two-game suspension at the start of the 2025 season as part of punishments stemming from Michigan’s advance-scouting scandal.
The school first started investigating the relationship between Moore and the staffer in October. Shortly before his firing, the woman came forward to school officials and admitted that the two had been in a relationship.
NFL owners want to hear more about where things stand with the Bears getting a new stadium.
Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports that the NFL’s stadium committee will meet after the draft for an update from the Bears on the status of the ongoing effort to build a new stadium, either in Arlington Heights, Illinois, or Hammond, Indiana.
Vikings owner Mark Wilf chairs the committee. Bears owner George McCaskey is on the committee, as are Steelers owner Art Rooney II, 49ers owner Jed York, Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk, Cowboys COO Stephen Jones, Ravens President Sashi Brown and Rams President Kevin Demoff.
The Bears say they hope to know for sure where their next stadium will be by this summer.
Former Scotland midfielder Charlie Adam reckons the three-way title race is too close to call and will come down to who can "hold their nerve the most" in the sprint to the finishing line.
With long-time leaders Hearts a point ahead of Rangers and three above stuttering champions Celtic, there are now just five rounds of fixtures remaining as the Premiership season enters the split.
Adam, who began his career Rangers, could make a case for any of the three sides going on to clinch what would be a momentous achievement.
"If you'd asked six weeks ago, there was an obvious winner, but now I think it's a flip of a coin," said the 40-year-old.
"I think it's week by week, game by game, and I think there's a lot of swings still to go in the title race.
"I didn't see Hearts being there at the start of the season and then I said I thought Hearts could win it and then they dropped points.
"Then Celtic were coming with a run, probably not playing as well as they feel they can, but they were picking up wins.
"And Rangers have just motored since Danny Rohl's came in, so I don't think you can really call anything.
"What a good thing it is for Scottish football that there's a bit of drama from now to the end of the season, and it's about who can hold their nerve the most."
With Celtic in Scottish Cup semi-final action against St Mirren this Sunday, Hearts and Rangers have both opted to go to abroad this week for their warm-weather training camps.
"I think it's good, it's an opportunity," said Adam.
"Hearts were looking to do that a few weeks ago and go to Dubai, but obviously, there was a problem to go there (with hostilities in the Middle East).
"And now both clubs have managed to do it. What I would say is I think they'd rather be playing here at Hampden in a semi-final.
"They've now got a chance to get the lads together, letting them relax a little bit, maybe a game of golf, a bit of dinner, just keeping them together.
"Because when you're in the training ground you don't spend as much time and you're going home and you're coming back.
"But when you're in there for four or five days, you're with everybody 24 hours a day, and it's a great way to keep camaraderie, get good team spirit and focus on the split."
Colorado football is off to a slow start on the class of 2027 recruiting trail, but it added an elite prospect on Tuesday, April 14, which drastically changed its outlook.
After a 2026 recruiting class that lacked a truly elite top-200 player, Deion Sanders' program made a splash to bring in four-star quarterback Andre Adams, giving a shot of momentum to a class that hopefully sees several commitments over the next several weeks.
Adams joins just one other prospect, three-star defensive back Devon Dericho. The dual-threat quarterback headlines Colorado's two-person class ranking as the No. 165 overall player and the No. 15 quarterback per Rivals Industry rankings.
With spring camp finished and several visits concluded, Colorado's recruiting department will hope for commitments to stack up as we head into the summer months.
After an elite blue-chip recruit joining the fold, here is where Colorado's class of 2027 ranks nationally and in the Big 12.
Colorado football class of 2027 updated national ranking (April 14)
On Tuesday morning, Carolina Panthers president of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan held court for one last time before the 2026 NFL Draft. But did he leave us with any worthwhile hints before next week's selection process?
Here are our four biggest takeaways from Morgan's pre-draft presser:
"All positions" are on the table
The Panthers set out to set themselves up for the draft through free agency—signing the likes of ascending pass rusher Jaelan Phillips, Pro Bowl inside linebacker Devin Lloyd and presumptive starting left tackle Rasheed Walker. And Morgan believes that work, which also included the returns of 14 of their own free agents, will allow them to pick the best available player in the first round.
"If anything, I think it opens us up to a lot of possibilities at Pick 19," Morgan replied when asked if those additions will narrow down their focus. "I think all positions are on the table. And like I said before, you never know who's gonna fall down to us.
"So I think we're definitely in the best-player-available mindset. So, yeah, I think what we did in free agency set us up to do that."
. . . and that includes wide receiver
Even after selecting a receiver in both of his first two first rounds at the helm, Morgan didn't discount a third.
"I think, with anything, we're gonna take the best player," Morgan said when asked about the possibility of using a third straight first-rounder on a receiver. "So if the the best player we feel is at 19, I wouldn't hesitate to draft another wideout.
"I don't think there's a rule that says you can't draft a receiver three years in a row. I'm not gonna box us in and say we're not gonna draft one."
The Panthers drafted Xavier Legette with the 32nd overall pick in 2024 and Tetairoa McMillan with the eighth overall pick in 2025.
Depth is also on the table
Two weeks ago at the NFL Annual League Meeting, head coach Dave Canales had stated that he isn't looking to draft depth with the 19th pick. Morgan, however, may slightly disagree.
"I understand what Coach is saying in terms of—obviously, you want your first-round pick to be able to come in and contribute immediately. So, yeah, I'm kinda with him on that," Morgan stated when asked of Canales' comments.
"You want your first-round pick to play, but there's different scenarios to where maybe it takes a guy a little longer to develop, and he may not contribute right away. With some of the picks at different positions, it may take a little longer for those guys to develop, for sure."
Those positions could include either offensive tackle spot—where the 2027 outlooks for Walker, Ikem Ekwonu and Taylor Moton aren't exactly solidified. Cornerback may also be a spot to add to with starter Mike Jackson entering the final year of his contract.
Second-guessing the favorite?
Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq has felt like the odds-on favorite at that 19th overall selection for quite some time. But Morgan made some intriguing comments on the current state of the team's tight end room that may have us second-guessing this potential pairing.
"I think we have some guys on our roster that are big targets," Morgan said. "In general, we have guys in our tight end room that we feel are good players and guys that have the skill set to be able to do that.
"Whether it's opportunity or whether guys are still developing, I think we have the pieces in that room to be able to do that."
Tommy Tremble led all Panthers tight ends with 249 receiving yards in 2025.
Carolina has not had a tight end record at least 500 receiving yards since 2019.
Ray Longo is not buying Jiri Prochazka's excuse for his UFC 327 loss to Carlos Ulberg.
Prochazka (32-6-1 MMA, 6-3 UFC) was knocked out in the first round of his vacant light heavyweight title fight against Ulberg (14-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) in Saturday's main event at Kaseya Center in Miami.
Ulberg hurt his knee during the fight, which prompted Prochazka to stalk him. Prochazka initially threw numerous leg kicks before claiming to show "mercy" by pulling back. Just moments later, he was clipped by an Ulberg left hook that put him out.
"We have to discuss mental illness in MMA because some things – it's all funny when the guy is praying up on Mount Olympus and standing on his head, drinking his own piss, but this is what happens, man," Longo said on "The Anik & Florian Podcast."
"That poor guy was confused. 'Mercy.' Mercy, what the f*ck? You blew the f*cking fight. You blew it! You f*cking blew it! Holy sh*t, you've got to be kidding me. First of all, his first training is to go back and watch 'The Karate Kid' 1. You've got to be f*cking kidding me."
According to former W Series driver and Sky Sports Formula 1 analyst Naomi Schiff, the mental load placed on the current F1 drivers is "probably higher than it ever has been".
During an episode of the Up To Speed podcast, Schiff discussed the myriad of distractions and sheer volume of information that the drivers have to process from within the cockpit.
"Besides the fact that you've got so much going on, let alone braking points, turning in points, trying to be as quick as possible, trying to get closer to your competitor or get away from someone who's chasing you down, in F1 there's so many other things going on," she explained.
"Pitstop strategy, the list goes on and on of the mental load, and if anything, this year the mental load is probably higher than it ever has been.
"I always saw straights as a mental rest, not only mental, but also physical. You'd get to the straight and be like, 'Thank God.' OK, breathe, take it all in before you get to turn one and then go again."
The 2026 F1 season has introduced a new wave of regulations to the championship, which feature an almost 50:50 split between internal combustion and electric power, active aerodynamics, Overtake Mode and the use of a boost button. Multiple drivers have opened up about mental exhaustion following grands prix.
Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson revealed he was left "mentally drained" after the Japanese Grand Prix. After crossing the line in ninth place at the Suzuka circuit, the New Zealander told F1 TV: "Good, a little bit mentally drained. It's very intense this year. You have a lot more that you're thinking about when you're driving. So, it was actually quite a tough race."
Naomi Schiff, Sky F1
Naomi Schiff, Sky F1
He added: "Well, you're learning a lot through the race. And to be honest, at the start, like Gabi [Gabriel Bortoleto] passed me and I didn't even see it coming, before Turn 13, and I was like, 'Brilliant, I've lost a place'.
"But then he had no battery going into 16, so I just passed him back without even doing it on purpose. So, we're sort of all figuring out through the race, OK, if we use our deployment here, we don't have it the next straight.
"And that's what was happening to everybody. I was watching the guys in front. One would overtake before the last chicane, then get overtaken before Turn 1. And in the end, I had Esteban [Ocon] behind me, and I think he realised this as well, and we just both stayed quite sustainable in similar modes, and I was able to keep him behind."
Harrison: ‘Anyone would be happy to play at Fiorentina’ as permanent move from Leeds possible
Jack Harrison has dropped a strong hint about his desire to stay at Fiorentina beyond his current loan spell, telling reporters after the win over Lazio that any player would be happy to represent the club, while stopping short of confirming a permanent deal is imminent.
The Leeds winger has grown into an increasingly important figure under Paolo Vanoli, delivering his third Serie A assist of the season against Lazio, a left-footed cross that set up Robin Gosens in the first half.
His deployment on the right flank, not his natural side, has raised eyebrows at times, but Vanoli’s faith in the Englishman has been repaid with reliable, intelligent performances that have made him a key cog in the Viola system. The absence of other wide options through injury has contributed to his prominence, but Harrison has earned his minutes rather than simply inherited them.
“I am very happy in Florence, the city is incredible and so is the club,” Harrison told reporters, via FirenzeViola.
“As for the future, any player would obviously be happy to play here. We will see what happens.”
FLORENCE, ITALY – JANUARY 24: Jack Harrison of ACF Fiorentina in action during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and Cagliari Calcio at Artemio Franchi on January 24, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Fiorentina keen on Harrison stay but finances could complicate deal
The financial picture, however, is complex. Harrison is on loan from Leeds with a purchase option set at €7 million, a fee that is manageable in isolation but must be viewed alongside a series of other potential obligations Fiorentina are already navigating this summer.
Compulsory buyouts for Fabbian (€13 million) and Brescianini (€10 million) are already in the pipeline, with Rugani and Manor Solomon adding further potential expenditure.
Of all these deals, Harrison’s future is arguably the least certain, though one factor could change the calculation significantly. If Vanoli, who is a significant admirer of the player, continues as head coach, the chances of Harrison remaining in Florence increase considerably. The manager’s stance may ultimately prove the decisive variable in what is shaping up to be a fascinating summer for the club.
BYU safety Faletau Satuala (11) celebrates after a play against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the Big 12 championship game held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025.
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Isaac Hale, Deseret News
From the moment that three-year defensive coordinator Jay Hill decided to leave BYU and take the same position on Kyle Whittingham’s staff at Michigan, fears that one of the Cougars’ best defenders from the 2025 group that was one of the best in the Big 12 would follow Hill to Ann Arbor raged throughout Cougar Nation.
But safety Faletau Satuala, who emerged as one of BYU’s best players — on either side of the football — during his sophomore season says he never really thought long and hard about making the move. He also stressed, humbly, that because he never entered the transfer portal, he never heard from Hill or anyone else at Michigan and doesn’t know if the Big Ten’s Wolverines even wanted him.
“I just kind of got with my parents and talked to them about it, and tried to weigh out the pros and cons (of going into the portal),” Satuala told the Deseret News on April 3 after spring practices concluded in Provo. “… Knowing how good of a dude coach Hill is, there was a lure (to follow him). But yeah, I didn’t really get to talk to him at all once he left.”
On Jan. 2, the day the football transfer portal window opened, Satuala announced on X that he would “run it back” and return to BYU this season. And all of Provo breathed a huge sigh of relief, after the former three-star recruit in 2023 who had chosen BYU over Utah due to Hill’s recruiting and a coin flip — more on that later — said he was staying.
The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder was not a full-time starter in 2025 until the seventh game of the season — the 24-21 win over Utah — but still led BYU in tackles with 83 and recorded three interceptions. He also forced two fumbles, had one sack, and made a pick-six in the 41-27 win over Iowa State that went a long way in earning him second-team All-America honors from the Football Writers Association of America.
Satuala said Hill “was actually really good about it” and told BYU’s defenders before he left that he loved them, but was going to follow the rules and not tamper with any of them.
“He just wanted us to know that he was always going to be there for us, and left it at that,” Satuala said. “He’s still probably one of the greatest mentors I will ever have in my life.”
The only BYU player who followed Hill to Michigan was backup linebacker Max Alford, whose uncle, Tony Alford, is Michigan’s running backs coach.
So what kept Satuala — teammates and coaches call him “Fally” — out of the portal, where he probably could have commanded more revenue sharing money?
“The culture here, and coach Kalani (Sitake),” he said. “Then, obviously, all the defensive players coming back and having all my teammates still here was a really big thing. Coming back with all of them and knowing they were going to be here and we have a chance to be really good was a really big thing for me.”
Not that Satuala isn’t being well compensated via revenue sharing and NIL earnings at BYU. He recently purchased a Tesla, which he uses to zoom up and down Interstate 15 to visit his parents and family back in Bountiful.
“This year I definitely had a way bigger NIL check than I did the last couple of years,” he said. “As this year goes on, I will start to get a lot more of that money and understand how good it is. It is definitely a blessing to be able to be here in this time of college. Some dudes missed out by just one or two years, so I am just super grateful that the timing worked out exactly how it did.”
What about next year? Will Satuala be that rare star college athlete in this day and age of rampant transferring who stays at one school all four years?
The kid who told his father, Ului, that one day he would play in the NFL said he will try to have a good enough season to increase all of his options. Coincidentally, one of Satuala’s uncles, Jeff Holtry, played football at Michigan and BYU but sustained a career-ending knee injury in 2000 against Florida State and never got the chance to play in the NFL.
“Once you have a chance to reach your dreams, it is hard to say no to that,” Satuala said, while acknowledging that some guys can now make more money in college than they can in professional sports. “It is a decision I will make when it comes. The big thing now is to focus on this season and be the best I can be, so I have a chance of going to the NFL, if that ends up happening.”
Flip out: How Satuala picked BYU over Utah
When he picked BYU over Utah and UCLA in December 2023 and signed with the Cougars in February 2024, Satuala said Hill was a big reason why. Recently, however, he said there was more to the story of how he arrived at BYU.
He told Center Street Media’s Hinckley Ropati, the former BYU running back, that after a Bountiful High basketball game that year, his parents told him it was time to make a decision — BYU or Utah — after he had narrowed his choices to those two in-state schools.
Satuala said he went downstairs to his bedroom to pray about it, and was prompted to follow the admonition of his mother, Corin.
“It landed on BYU. I came upstairs and told my parents, BYU it is,” he said. “I felt at peace with it then.”
On April 3, he confirmed the coin flip story to several reporters in the press box at LaVell Edwards Stadium before the annual alumni game.
Bountiful’s Faletau Satuala (11) celebrates his touchdown with London Wood against Skyline in Millcreek on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022.
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Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
“It is 100% true, actually,” he said. “I don’t know if that is a good way to put my future, but I had no other option. … My mom jokingly told me to flip a coin on it. I was like, shoot, I don’t really got anything else to decide on. So it was true, yeah.”
When he was asked if it was the right decision, Satuala nodded his head.
“I mean, we are 2-0 against (Utah), so I am pretty happy with it, yeah.”
Still, the family remains split between blue and red. His older sister, Emrie Satuala Moea’i, played volleyball for Utah, while his younger sister, Milika, who was recently named Deseret News 2026 Ms. Basketball after leading Bountiful to another state championship, has signed to play basketball for the Utes.
BYU recently offered his younger brother, Lakepa, who will be a senior safety and receiver for the Redhawks this fall, a scholarship for the class of 2027. Lakepa was on campus in Provo two weeks ago.
“He loves it down here and he’s starting to get big and fast,” Satuala said. “I think he’s going to be really good.”
Satuala and the safeties should excel in 2026
After Hill departed, Kelly Poppinga was promoted to defensive coordinator and Demario Warren and Lewis Walker were brought in to coach the safeties (Warren) and cornerbacks (Walker). Satuala said he was originally “kind of nervous” about who Poppinga would hire to coach the safeties, but after working with Warren in the spring, he’s confident that the right choice was made.
“Coach (Warren) reached out to me first and I think I was a little skeptical at first, because I love coach Hill, and he was a great coach for BYU,” Satuala said. “But over the course of spring ball, coach D-Mo was there and showed a lot of love, and he’s also really smart. He’s going to help us a lot.”
Satuala said the new coaches have brought some added elements to the secondary, such as the playing of “Cover 4” in the red zone.
Satuala will be the starting strong safety, while senior Raider Damuni will be the starting free safety. Sophomores Tommy Prassas and Jarinn Kalama are in the mix to be the primary backups. Other safeties in the room include sophomores Payton VanSteenkiste and Joseph Douglas, redshirt freshman Crew Clark and true freshman Kennan Pula, a four-star athlete from Lone Peak High.
“There are a lot of high expectations,” Satuala said. “But you can’t let up and just get content with being a starter. We have some really good dudes, especially young guys coming in who are competing and pushing us for spot. I think that will push our whole room to be really good.”
Poppinga said he will rely on the veteran safeties to bring the entire secondary up to speed as the Cougars go about replacing starters Tanner Wall and Mory Bamba in the defensive backfield.
“We have a ton of returning starters on this defense,” Poppinga said. “We are not dealing with a bunch of freshmen coming in. We’re good there. I feel really good with three safeties right now, with Tommy Prassas and Faletau and Raider. I am excited about where we are at right now.”
Especially that Satuala is in Provo, and not Ann Arbor.
Brigham Young Cougars safety Faletau Satuala (11) steps in front of Stanford Cardinal tight end Sam Roush (86) for an interception as BYU and Stanford play in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. BYU won 27-3.
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Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
JUPITER, FL - MARCH 19: Devin Fitz-Gerald #3 of the Washington Nationals looks on prior to the game between the Washington Nationals and the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Thursday, March 19, 2026 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Jared Blais/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
When the Nats traded MacKenzie Gore, the piece people talked about the most was Gavin Fien. It makes sense, Fien was the 12th pick in the 2025 draft and has been a famous name for a while. However, I think there is a solid chance that Devin Fitz-Gerald ends up being the real prize of the return.
The early signs are sure pointing in that direction. Fien struggled in his first four games in Low-A, and then missed the last week for unknown reasons. Meanwhile, Fitz-Gerald has taken to High-A like a duck to water as a 20 year old with limited professional experience.
It is way too early to make any real declarations, and I am not giving up any of my Gavin Fien stock after just four rough games. For Fitz-Gerald though, he seems like he is on the road to being a top 100 prospect. After the graduation of Astros prospect Brice Matthews, Fitz-Gerald is now one of the top 10 second base prospects in all of baseball.
Devin Fitz-Gerald enters the Top 10 2B Prospects list upon the graduation of Brice Matthews.
I anticipate that his stock will continue to rise, and there is a chance he will become a top 100 prospect. It was a slight surprise to see Fitz-Gerald assigned to High-A Wilmington. He only played 41 games last year in his first pro season, which was cut short by injuries. Fitz-Gerald spent 31 of those games in rookie ball and just 10 in Low-A.
Despite only playing 10 Low-A games, the Nationals were comfortable assigning him to High-A Wilmington, which is not only a level higher, but also a ball park that is notoriously tough on hitters. The Nats stockpile of young infield talent forced their hand a bit, but the fact they were comfortable sending Fitz-Gerald to High-A shows their confidence level in him.
So far, their faith is being rewarded. Through his first 30 at bats, Fitz-Gerald is hitting .333 with a .944 OPS. He also has five walks to just five strikeouts. The switch hitting infielder is showing his advanced hitting chops despite being assigned to a tough level.
Fitz-Gerald has a nice combination of pure hitting ability and power. In high school, Fitz-Gerald was seen as a contact first player, but showed surprising pull side power in his pro debut. We saw that pull side power on display when he hit his first High-A home run last week against Yankees prospect and former Nats farm hand Sean Paul Linan.
— Nationals Player Development (@Nats_PlayerDev) April 12, 2026
That home run was a real thing of beauty. His left handed set up and toe tap kind of remind me of Tigers young phenom Kevin McGonigle. Fitz-Gerald has some similarities to McGonigle with his advanced hitting ability and surprising power. However, the 20 year old has a long way to go if he wants to reach McGonigle’s level.
When you watch Fitz-Gerald play, you can tell he is a gamer who has been around baseball his whole life. His dad Todd is one of the most prominent high school baseball coaches in Florida. He coaches at Stoneman Douglas High School, which has produced players such as Roman Anthony, Jesus Luzardo, Anthony Rizzo and Coby Mayo. Fitz-Gerald hopes to be the next great product of his dad’s program.
There was a podcast recently that had Todd Fitz-Gerald on, which I really enjoyed. They talked about Devin’s development among other things. Todd was not worried about his son’s aggressive assignment because of his confidence in his hitting ability.
— The Talk Nats Podcast (@TalkNatsPodcast) April 10, 2026
That is not just a father hyping up his son, it is just true. Wherever Devin Fitz-Gerald has been, he has hit. None of the concerns about him as a player come from his hitting ability. The questions about Fitz-Gerald come from his average athleticism and defensive home.
Fitz-Gerald played shortstop in high school and with the Rangers, but he is likely to settle in as a second baseman. He is not the twitchiest player, but he has great instincts and enough athleticism to be a good second baseman. In the past, Fitz-Gerald’s power upside was questioned, but those doubts have been answered for the most part. He now projects to be at least a 15 homer bat with the potential for more due to his ability to pull the ball in the air.
Of all the prospects in the Nats system, Devin Fitz-Gerald has one of the fewest question marks. He may not have the athletic upside of some other players in the system, but man can he hit. Fitz-Gerald also gets the most out of his tools due to his baseball IQ.
He has average speed, but already has 7 stolen bases thanks to his great instincts. There could be 15 SB upside here even without great speed due to his ability to make good reads. This is truly your prototypical coaches kid and I think he is the hidden gem of the MacKenzie Gore return. If he is the best player of the five guys the Nats got back from the Rangers, I would not be at all surprised.
After a winless week, including getting swept by Georgia Tech on the road, Florida State (24-11, 9-6) returns home to face off against Stetson (14-21, 5-9) to try to snap a four-game losing streak.
It has been a long 72 hours for FSU since they last played, and the bus ride back from Atlanta was certainly not a pleasant one for the Seminoles. On Saturday, the Noles were run ruled for the first time this season, en route to a largely uncompetitive three-game sweep at the hands of Georgia Tech. While there is little shame to losing to a GT team that is one of the best in the country, the lack of game management, both at the plate, on the mound, and on the bases, is cause for concern. Head coach Link Jarrett has tried to pull as many levers as he can to spark his group, but he still lacks the solutions for how to get the best out of them. The good news for the Seminoles is they are 4-1 in ACC weekend series, and their schedule is about to get a lot easier down the stretch. Hopefully, Jarrett can find the answers to the test against what should be weaker competition before the end of May.
Turning the attention to tonight, the Noles should be in good shape on the mound with the resurgence of LHP Cooper Whited. After LHP Payton Manca went down, there was a vacuum at the mid-week starter spot that Whited took over and ran with. Against Florida, Whited made his longest appearance of the season, 4.1 IP on 69 pitches, while allowing two runs and not walking a batter. Behind Whited, the Seminoles bullpen should be fresh with the extra off day on Sunday after playing Thursday-Friday-Saturday last week.
Florida State will also benefit from playing a reeling Stetson team. The Hatters lost their weekend series, though they won on Sunday, and are 1-4 in their first five ASUN series on the year. In the first matchup between FSU and Stetson, Jarrett’s club pulled away after being tied 2-2 through five with a two-run homer from Noah Sheffield in the sixth and two runs in the seventh to take the midweek matchup, 6-3.
Tuesday, April 14, 6 p.m. vs. Stetson
Pitching matchup: (Expected) FSU Jr. LHP Cooper Whited ( 1-2, 3.48) vs. TBA
R-Jr. 2B Juan De La Cruz: Slashing .327/.486/.400 in 33 games this season…Named All-ASUN Second Team in 2025…Went 1-3 with two walks in first matchup.
Sr. OF Landon Russell: Slashing .295/.372/.418 in 34 games this season…Leads Stetson in total bases with 51…Went 2-5 in first matchup.
So. OF Foster Apple: Slashing.288/.385/.415 in 34 games this season…Named All-ASUN Freshman Team in 2025…Went 1-4 with a double and RBI in first matchup.
Photo by Simon Bruty/Augusta National/Getty Images
Rory McIlroy has been told that he has still got work to do to catch up with Scottie Scheffler, despite winning The Masters for a second consecutive year this past week.
McIlroy was at least tied for the lead after each round at Augusta National. The Northern Irishman ended up winning by one shot over Scheffler to secure his sixth major title.
Scheffler remains well out in front at the top of the Official World Golf Rankings. But McIlroy has closed the gap with his second Masters title.
Rory McIlroy is still adrift of Scottie Scheffler despite Masters win
This year’s Masters was the first time since the 2002 US Open that the top two players in the world have finished first and second in a major.
McIlroy and Scheffler have also won four of the last five Masters, and four of the last five majors between them. With that, it is inevitable that fans will start dreaming of further battles between the pair on the biggest stages.
Interestingly, when asked about the rivalry between the two, Andrew Coltart told the Sky Sports Golf Podcast that McIlroy has needed to do a lot more.
Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images
“No, Scottie has separated himself from the rest. We’ve been waiting for Rory to step up and he’s a long way away from it,” he said.
“Scottie’s been world number one for 152 consecutive weeks now. There needs to be a jostling of positions for it to be called a rivalry. He’s separated himself from the pack in the last couple of years, and it’s been really disappointing from Rory’s point of view that he’s not been able to close the gap, get the gap close and really get in there. Hopefully that’s about to change.
“Hopefully that gap is going to decrease and they are going to start jostling for that number one position. I don’t believe Rory’s happy being number two.”
Where Rory McIlroy’s latest win ranks among his major victories
While McIlroy did wobble over the weekend at Augusta National, it was remarkable just how comfortable his victory this year was in comparison with 12 months ago.
It was particularly impressive because McIlroy seemed to be nowhere near his best. McIlroy became the first Masters champion to lose strokes to the field over the weekend.
But Coltart suggested that his performance makes this past week potentially his greatest major victory.
“I do think, and this was great, all his majors he’s won playing well. This to me was a much better performance because you can’t have your A game all the time, and he did with his B game, not being detrimental to anybody else in the field, this to me was one of his best ever major wins because he managed his game a hell of a lot better,” he said.
McIlroy needed some time to reset after his win at Augusta National this time last year. It knocked him off his stride for several months, it seemed.
This year saw McIlroy provide a glimpse of what could be to come now that he has removed the burden of trying to complete the Career Grand Slam and win a first major in more than a decade.
It is going to be fascinating to see what he can now go on to achieve.
In their last fixture, Strasbourg suffered a 2-0 reverse against Mainz (UEFA Conference League 2025/26). In their last game, Mainz lost 0-1 against SC Freiburg (1. Bundesliga 2025/26).
Rangers sat 13 points off league leaders Hearts when Danny Rohl was appointed in October. They're now one point back with five games to go and have the title in their own hands.
Rohl, whose side came back from two goals down to thrash Falkirk 6-3 on Sunday, says "months of development" is the key to their form.
The 36-year-old said: "I think you see now the group is growing and growing and this is not just the result from one week. I think this is a result of three or four months of development.
"We are still not at the end, and this is also good, but I like to see that we understand more and more. We can also switch the shapes now more quickly. This is what we have.
"The final five games are about tactics, but the most important thing is to have the right emotion."
Rangers host Motherwell in their first post-split fixture on 26 April, with the squad using their free weekend for a warm-weather training camp in Spain.
Rohl added: "It's good to have the group together, the players together. To have a little bit of time for recovery, but also to work on some small details and it's also good to refresh the mind.
"I see a lot of benefits. I will have time with the board to speak about topics for the future. This is also nice to have and I think it goes in a good direction. The players should do something together as well. This is crucial.
"Motherwell will come and they want to play football with a lot of passes. It's a demanding game.
"We are growing with the belief, and you see in some moments in the pressing, if you go with belief in the pressing you have the chance to win balls.
"If you stay half-and-half and you don't know really, then you come too late and then you are not connected. This is what we have to improve on and we will and we did so far, but let's do the next game and this is an important one."
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 23: Beau Stephens #70 of the Iowa Hawkeyes blocks against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium on November 23, 2024 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A top 30 visit is a formal in-person meeting the NFL teams get to have with draft prospects. Each NFL team gets 30 of these visits (which is where the name comes from) and consists of NFL teams bringing in these prospects to their facilities for interviews and physicals. These visits allow a team like the Seahawks to conduct further interviews and conduct physicals with the players. Local prospects like Washington running back Jonah Coleman do not count against a team’s limit of thirty visits.
Stephens is projected to get drafted on day two or three of the 2026 NFL Draft. Stephens was a first-team AP All-America selection in his last season at Iowa. Seattle could look to add to the guard position to compete with Anthony Bradford at the right guard spot. It is also worth noting that Bradford is entering his final year of his contract, while 2024 third-round pick Christian Haynes has struggled for playing time.
A three-year starter at Iowa, Stephens lined up at left guard in offensive coordinator Tim Lester’s zone-blocking scheme. After struggling and losing his starting job as an underclassman, he fought through that adversity, got healthy and developed into an All-Big Ten player as a senior. He didn’t allow a sack over the past three seasons and helped the Hawkeyes earn the 2025 Joe Moore Award as the nation’s top offensive line.
Stephens embraces the physicality of the position and delivers pop at contact in all phases. In the run game, he can generate movement blocking down and has a feel for how lanes develop. His stubborn hands help him sustain, but his edges leak and marginal body control makes it tough for him to get out of compromised positions.
The other prominent Iowa offensive lineman in this year’s class is Gennings Dunker, who is projected to be a second or third-round pick and is otherwise expected to slide from tackle to guard at an NFL level.
The NFL has named Brian Flinn the Senior Vice President, Global Flag Football, a newly created senior role.
The league announced Tuesday that Flinn will lead the NFL’s global flag football strategy and execution, driving international expansion, strengthening partnerships and overseeing the growth and development of the game from youth participation through the professional level. He will be based in New York.
“Flag football is experiencing extraordinary growth across the globe, from youth participation to elite international competition,” Troy Vincent Sr., NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations, said in a statement. “This is a pivotal moment for the game. Brian’s vision, leadership and proven ability to build and scale sports properties position him to accelerate our momentum, expand our reach, and elevate flag football on the global stage.”
Flinn has more than 30 years of leadership experience across sports, entertainment and media, with deep expertise in operations, strategic planning, revenue generation, brand building, and communications. Most recently, he served as Chief Operating Officer of the Pro Padel League, a hybrid of tennis and squash played in doubles on an enclosed court.
Flinn previously was Partner and Chief Operating Officer of Isos Capital Management, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at WWE and held senior leadership roles at the NBA and the New York Knicks.
“It is an honor to join the NFL at such a transformative time for flag football,” Flinn said. “The sport has a unique ability to engage new audiences, create global pathways and inspire the next generation of athletes. I am looking forward to working with the league’s leadership and partners around the world to continue to fuel the game’s rapid growth and build a sustainable, impactful future for flag football.”
The NFL recently announced that it is partnering with TMRW Sports to develop and operate a professional flag football league for women and men. Flag football will also make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
Nieminen, 20, just completed his second season playing for the Pelicans in Liiga, Finland's highest professional hockey league. He scored five goals and 12 assists in 47 games, giving him nine goals and 19 assists in 86 games over two seasons. He also played 20 international games for Finland, recording nine assists.
A 6-foot, 187-pound left-handed player, Nieminen is an excellent skater and uses that skill to his advantage on both defense and offense. The Predators have a good track record of drafting and developing mobile, two-way defenseman - Roman Josi, Spencer Stastney, and Ryan Ufko are all examples - so it's no wonder Nashville had their eye on him.
The Predators drafted Nieminen in the sixth round (No. 163 overall) of the 2025 NHL Draft. He's now the second player from their 2025 class to sign an entry-level contract, joining Brady Martin.
Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at jdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.
Azzi Fudd, Caitlin Clark Credit: Amy Sussman/Getty; Jason Mendez/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
Azzi Fudd will earn $500,000 in her WNBA rookie campaign
The former UConn standout's salary is $424,000 more than Caitlin Clark made in her 2024 rookie season
Fudd will join girlfriend and 2025 rookie of the year Paige Bueckers on the Dallas Wings this season
Azzi Fudd, the No. 1 pick of the 2026 WNBA Draft, is set to make big money in Big D.
When the former UConn standout joins girlfriend Paige Bueckers, 24, on the Dallas Wings for the upcoming season, Fudd, 23, will take home $500,000 thanks to the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) signed by players last month.
Fudd’s salary is roughly $424,000 more than the $76,832 that Caitlin Clark earned in 2024, her first year in the league.
Bueckers, last season’s rookie of the year, made $78,831 in 2025.
Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers in April 2025 Credit: The Hapa Blonde/GC Images
Still, as the third No. 1 WNBA/NBA draft pick to go to Dallas in the last two years, Fudd’s compensation pales in comparison to Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg’s paycheck.
Flagg, 19, earned nearly $14 million for his freshman campaign — in which he’s in the running for rookie of the year — with the Mavericks.
Before the new CBA went into effect, players across the league clamored for equal pay, given that the league’s popularity has soared since Clark’s arrival on the scene.
Previous to the new agreement, the average WNBA base salary was around $102,000, while the NBA average is about $13 million, according to Spotrac's data analyzed by SI and Basketball Reference.
In July 2025, WNBA players sent a message to the league ahead of playing in the WNBA All-Star Game by wearing warm-up shirts that read "Pay us what you owe us."
"That’s one of the things we're in the room fighting for," Clark, who was a team captain, told USA Today of the plea at the time. "We should be paid more and hopefully that’s the case moving forward as the league continues to grow."
As far as Fudd’s concerned, she’s excited to earn her keep.
"I can't wait. Obviously, Paige [Bueckers], Arike [Ogunbowale], getting to watch them and then seeing their new pieces,” she told reporters on Monday. “I'm so excited. I can't wait to get there. I can't wait to learn how to play with them, learn how they play, their style of play and how I can contribute.”
With the transfer portal window open for college basketball, there's always the question of who's available on the market and what a certain player is demanding. For example, the top portal talent this cycle was Kansas center Flory Bidunga, who came with a pretty heavy cost.
After one good season under coach Bill Self, the big man was reportedly asking around $5 million for his services, and apparently signed, sealed and delivered himself to Louisville. This is the rare exception or outlier for the current market, according to basketball analytics guru Evan Miyakawa. However, the five positions are one programs are overpaying for right now.
"To obtain a center or a point guard who are equivalent in talent level, it would cost $1.3 million for the center, while only $813,000 for the point guard," Miyakawa wrote. "That means, in this market, it costs 61% more NIL dollars to get a center of the same caliber as a point guard."
As for $1 million overall, some programs can't compete with the rising costs of trying to maintain a top-tier roster. Look at Kentucky's spending last year, which was reportedly over $20 million for 15 players. Yet, the blue-chips Mark Pope brought to Lexington might've been a bargain under Miyakawa's figures. A top-450 player in the nation will run programs roughly $1 million-plus right now.
What $1 million can net in college basketball?
"Let’s pretend that a team had $1,000,000 to spend on an extra player. For the sake of this example, let’s assume they already have rotation pieces figured out and are willing to either get a starter-level PG or C to add to the mix," Miyakawa added.
"Based on the high demand for centers, they could reasonably get a big with a projected Bayesian Performance Rating next season of 3.9. A player of that caliber would be a borderline top 450 player in college basketball next season. If they were to spend that same $1 million on a point guard instead, they could get a better player, with a projected BPR of about 5.1, due to lower demand in the guard market. A player of that caliber would be around a top 250 player next season."
This is a perfect March Madness poaching situation at play. A lower-division has a good year with solid talent, goes to the NCAA Tournament and finds themselves with an empty roster after Power Four schools with resources are right there with a golden ticket to offer.
With such a stark upswing in the NIL market, expect this to only get worse before the correction comes. You have to spend money to make money, but you have to have it first.
The Toronto Blue Jays entered this season with starting pitching depth looking like a strength.
The injury bug has changed that vibe.
Right now, the Blue Jays are missing Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber, Jose Berrios and Cody Ponce due to injury, and they're being forced to navigate things in a way they wouldn't have planned on when the season was approaching.
It could also lead to a new-age pitching strategy in a game soon.
MLB insider Jon Morosi reports that the Blue Jays are considering using an opener in the days ahead:
Pete Walker tells @FAN590 that the Jays will consider utilizing an opener to start a game during the next week or so, if circumstances of the rotation warrant. @MLBNetwork
Some teams have made openers quite popular, but not the Blue Jays.
An opener is a relief pitcher who starts a game with the intention of going one or, at the most, two innings.
They are then usually followed by a "bulk" pitcher who will chew up another 3-5 frames, depending on effectiveness.
The idea is to allow a solid relief pitcher with strong stuff to try to get through the tough top of an opponent's order once before the more stretched-out pitcher comes in -- and it prevents the bulk guy from having to face those best hitters too many times.
On some level, it just rearranges the order of pitchers in a game -- but that does create different rhythms for multiple arms, so some teams don't love doing it.
The Blue Jays might have to try it soon. It's not how they planned on their pitching working out this season.
PHOENIX (AP) — There was a time in the not-so-distant past that many Major League Baseball teams looked at their college baseball counterparts with a degree of skepticism. There were the metal bats, the shorter schedule and a sense that nothing could replace the seasoning that came with years of grinding through professional baseball's minor leagues.
Not anymore.
Thanks to a variety of factors — especially money and technology — the MLB and NCAA versions of baseball have never been more similar. There's also been more movement between the two versions of the sport in recent years.
It's part of the reason Tony Vitello is now the manager of the San Francisco Giants despite never working or playing for a professional organization before he was hired — a first in MLB history. It's also a factor in why Athletics slugger Nick Kurtz was the AL Rookie of the Year in 2025 barely one year after finishing a decorated college career at Wake Forest.
“The college game has definitely taken a bigger step toward the pro game — mainly because of the almighty dollar,” said Arizona State coach Willie Bloomquist, who played 14 big league seasons.
“Essentially what’s happened, the Power 4 Conferences are basically the minor leagues."
Athletics general manager David Forst — who selected Kurtz with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 draft — said the first baseman's quick rise through the minors made him realize how good college baseball had become. Kurtz needed just 210 plate appearances in the minors before dominating MLB pitching, batting .290 with 36 homers and 86 RBIs over 117 games in 2025.
“There’s no doubt that top-level college baseball is High-A or Double-A now. It’s really close,” Forst said. “I never would have imagined a player like Nick Kurtz coming to the big leagues for us 11 months after he was drafted.
“That was unthinkable when I first started doing this. The timeline is squashed because these guys are coming out of college so ready, so physically advanced. Some of them — frankly — don’t need the minor league at-bats they used to need.”
One reason the college game has improved so much is an influx of cash. Coaching salaries have exploded over the past few decades: LSU's Jay Johnson is at the top of the scale at more than $3 million per year while Mississippi State's Brian O'Connor is second at $2.9 million.
Those are outliers, but it's not uncommon for power conference coaches to make more than $1 million.
The highest paid MLB managers make around $8 million per season, but top assistants like pitching and hitting coaches usually make six figures.
The advent of NIL money has also made playing college baseball more lucrative, even if payouts lag well behind their football and basketball counterparts. There's also the fact that top-level NCAA programs are investing in technology.
“We have one of the better pitching labs on the West Coast,” Bloomquist said. “I think it would rival a lot of professional organizations. From a data standpoint, it’s all trickled down to the college level.”
After retiring as a player, Bloomquist worked in the Arizona Diamondbacks' front office before getting hired by the Sun Devils. His pitching coach — Jeremy Accardo — spent 18 years in professional baseball as a player and coach.
Bloomquist said that MLB teams have become more comfortable trusting NCAA programs to develop professional talent instead of taking the risk of drafting an unproven 18-year-old straight out of high school. He added that it's probably one of the reasons that MLB felt comfortable cutting 40 minor league affiliates back in 2020.
In the 2025 MLB draft, 56 college players were selected in the top 90 picks.
“These guys trust (college) programs,” Bloomquist said. “They say, ‘We’ll just watch them in college in three years at a Power 4 program, see how they development and then we'll go get them.’"
Georgia baseball coach Wes Johnson is another coach who has bounced between MLB and NCAA with success at both levels. He was hired as the pitching coach for the Minnesota Twins and had a strong 3 1/2-year run between 2019 and 2022 before going back to the college game. He helped develop 2025 NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes as LSU's pitching coach before landing the head job with the Bulldogs.
Johnson said there's little doubt that the college and pro games have never been more similar, but added that there are still real differences for players and coaches. The biggest is the schedule.
In college, the condensed schedule makes all 56 regular-season games feel huge. A three-game losing streak is the end of the world. In professional baseball, it's just a small bump in the road.
“With the Twins, we played 33 spring games, then played 162 in the season and then made the playoffs,” Johnson said. “It’s every day there. That's the hardest challenge you have when you go from college to the big leagues. We won 101 games in 2019 (in the regular season). That means we only lost 61 games.
"But that’s the most I’ve ever lost in my life in one year.”
Bloomquist agreed that the schedule is much different. He said age is a factor as well.
“There’s a different style in college than there is in professional baseball — to an extent that’s accurate," Bloomquist said. “There’s an intensity in college, motivating 18 to 20 year olds, as opposed to guys who are making $20 million. Can you relate to those guys in pro ball?”
San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman played in college at Cal State Fullerton before becoming a five-time Gold Glove winner the big leagues. Even though there are some differences — like many more native Spanish speakers in professional baseball — he wasn't worried about Vitello's transition.
“Winning baseball looks the same," Chapman said. "It’s pitching and defense, knowing how to run the bases and then managing personalities. He has a lot of experience with that.
“There will be a learning curve in some areas. You just can’t fully know how to run a Major League clubhouse unless you’ve been in one. But it’s not foreign to him. He’s a baseball guy.”
Ted Ginn Jr. was back at work as the head coach of the UFL's Columbus Aviators on Tuesday.
The team shared a video of Ginn addressing the team after practice. Ginn was arrested for driving while intoxicated in Tarrant County, Texas early on Saturday morning and he did not coach in the team's loss to the Dallas Renegades on Sunday.
Offensive coordinator Todd Haley served as the head coach in Ginn's place.
"I made a serious mistake and take full responsibility for my actions," Ginn wrote on X.com on Sunday. "I've always believed in accountability and now it's my turn to live that standard."
The Aviators have a rematch with the Renegades in Columbus on Friday and the team told ESPN that Ginn will be back on the sideline.
Preston Copeland, a 6-foot-9 forward who played his freshman season for the Ball State Cardinals, has committed to the Miami University RedHawks, according to a report via Twitter/X from Sam Kayser.
Copeland averaged 4.6 points and 4.4 rebounds in 18.7 minutes per game in the 30 games in which he played at the RedHawks' Mid-American Conference rival, making 24 starts.
Copeland played in high school at Combine Academy in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Earlier in the day, forward Brant Byers, the RedHawks' second-leading scorer during the 2025-26 season, reportedly committed to Penn State.
Detroit — It wasn't that long ago that Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores released a letter expressing his sadness over the team's lengthy, disappointing play, which had left the franchise in disarray amid a 28-game losing streak during the 2023-24 season.
On Tuesday morning, more than two years later, Gores released a letter to fans on the team's website, expressing his gratitude and excitement ahead of the Pistons' opening round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, which begins Sunday at Little Caesars Arena.
In a letter titled, "Thank You, Detroit — Let’s Keep Going," Gores writes:
What we’re building here is a story for the ages. One of the great comeback stories in sports, and not just because of where we are today but because of how we got here. The Pistons clinched the top spot in the Eastern Conference and are headed to the playoffs. I couldn’t be prouder or more thankful.
We won 60 games this season for only the third time in franchise history. But this season has been about more than winning. It’s been about building something real, something that reflects who we are and what we stand for. What makes this season special is that it’s not just happening on the court. It’s happening across our entire Pistons family.
Our players. Our coaches. Our front office and staff. Our community. And especially you, our fans.
Your energy, your belief, and your support have lifted this team and reminded everyone how powerful Detroit Basketball can be. Along the way, there were doubters. There always are. But this team never lived by other people’s expectations. They showed up every day, put in the work, and believed in each other.
They may be young, but they’ve been through a lot together. Nothing has been handed to them. They’ve earned this. They’ve been forged through difficulty and came out stronger because of it. And we did it the right way: No shortcuts. No quick fixes. Just belief, patience, and work.
There were moments when others might have lost faith and moved away from the core. We didn’t. We stayed with it. We believed in those young men and they believed in us. Today, they are the cornerstone of this franchise. And what stands out most isn’t just their talent, it’s who they are as people. That’s what makes this special.
As an organization, we’ve grown together. We’ve trusted each other. We’ve done things our way, refusing to let outside noise define us. Trajan and J.B. shared my belief in this team from the beginning. The progress has come quickly, but the mindset hasn’t changed.
I told the team recently that this isn’t a dream. This is real. And this story isn’t done. We have a lot more to do. The NBA Playoffs are the stage every team works for, and we’re excited for what’s in front of us. We know it won’t be easy. Nothing worth doing ever is. But we’re ready.Together. All of us.
Former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie has warned the club they have lost their fear factor and could be playing Conference League football next season.
Celtic have won 13 of the past 14 top-flight titles but are third in the league, three points behind leaders Hearts, with just five matches remaining.
Just over a year ago Celtic threatened a Champions League upset against Bayern Munich but have since suffered issues on and off the park, with three managers taking charge of the side this season.
Having lost their past two finals to Aberdeen and St Mirren, McAvennie wouldn't be surprised if Celtic are defeated by the Buddies again at Hampden in this weekend's Scottish Cup semi-final.
McAvennie, who played for both clubs, said: "Nobody's scared of Celtic any more, that's the biggest problem.
"Every team's having a go at them. The last 13, 14 years, it's been trophy after trophy after trophy. These young boys (among the support) have never seen Celtic where they are, and it's hurting them.
"People say to me, 'would you be surprised if St Mirren beat Celtic on Sunday?' No, I don't think anybody would. It wouldn't be a surprise the way it would be a couple of years ago.
"I don't get it, a year ago, we went and drew with Bayern Munich, great team - what's happened? Very quickly it's turned into the show it is at the moment, and it's not the best show in town."
A finish inside the top two would guarantee Celtic a chance at Champions League qualification, while Scottish Cup success would secure a Europa League third qualifying round spot.
"They could finish third this year, and if they finish third and don't win the cup, they'll be in the Conference League," McAvennie added.
"I don't think even boys like Callum McGregor and Kieran Tierney have been under pressure the way Celtic are at the moment.
"These boys know what it's like to win games, and to win leagues, but not coming from behind when, by all accounts, they're the third best team in Scotland at the moment."
Jennie Baranczyk and the Oklahoma Sooners have added their second transfer portal commitment in the last couple of days with the addition of Kansas State guard Jordan Speiser. Speiser announced her commitment on Instagram.
As a freshman with the Wildcats, Speiser averaged 10.2 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. She shot 38% from the field and 34.9% from three last season and averaged 22.9 minutes per game. She had 19 games with more than 10 points last season and finished the season with seven double-digit scoring efforts in Kansas State's final nine games. That included a pair of 20-point efforts in wins over Cincinnati and Oklahoma State in the Big 12 tournament. Speiser led Kansas State in scoring in their Big 12 tournament semifinal loss to TCU.
Speiser was a five-star prospect in the 2025 recruiting class, according to the 247Sports composite. She was the No. 17 player overall and the No. 3 shooting guard in the cycle.
Speiser joins another former five-star shooting guard, Keeley Parks, who signed with the Sooners on Monday.
Oklahoma Sooners earn a commitment from former 247Sports composite 5-star prospect Jordan Speiser out of the transfer portal.
She finished the 2025-2026 season on a tear, including a pair of 20-point efforts in the Big 12 tourney and led the Wildcats in scoring against TCU in… pic.twitter.com/zhj0g79yIw
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In their last encounter, AEK were beaten 3-0 by Rayo Vallecano (UEFA Conference League 2025/26). Last time out, Rayo Vallecano slipped to a 3-0 defeat against Mallorca (La Liga 2025/26).
The Athletics are one team that understands more than most the importance of good draft picks. They have a history of relying on their prospects, being a small-market team, and all.
Lately, it has paid off, as many of these first-round picks are key contributors on the roster right now. Nick Kurtz, Jacob Wilson, Max Muncy, and Tyler Soderstrom are all making an impact.
So, expect the front office to be more than ready when it's their turn to be on the clock, picking eighth overall.
Athletics could prioritize pure talent over health with their first-round pick
There will be plenty of talent still around by the time the A's get on the clock. They could go the pitcher route or take a position player. They could go with a high school player or pick a college player.
Over the last four years, the club has picked a college player, and according to Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter, that trend will continue as he projects them to take Coastal Carolina pitcher Cameron Flukey.
"Flukey is dealing with a stress fracture in his rib, and he has made just one start this spring as a result. The 6'6" right-hander logged a 3.19 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 118 strikeouts in 101.2 innings as a sophomore while helping Coastal Carolina reach the College World Series final. He has the talent to be the top arm in this class, though with some obvious risk now that he's not building off that strong 2025 campaign."
A stress fracture in his rib has caused him to slip a bit in the mock drafts, as he has made just one start so far this season, but the talent is undeniable. This could be an excellent pick that falls to the A's, or it could be quite a risky one that may not pay off.
📊 Lamine Yamal sets new record with opener in Atleti-Barça clash
It's taken Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal less than five minutes to open the scoring in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie against La Liga rivals Atleti.
Hansi Flick's side trailed Atleti by two goals after the first leg at the Nou Camp last week, but the comeback is already on inside the opening few minutes in Madrid.
The teenager found himself in space, received a through ball and then found the back of the net to cut the deficit in half.
In doing so, Yamal becomes the youngest-ever player to be directly involved in 10 or more goals in a single Champions League campaign.
La Remontada is well and truly on for Barcelona as Ferran Torres has now but Barcelona 2-0 up on the night and back level on aggregate with less than half an hour played.
Or so they thought before Ademola Lookman pulled one back and put Atleti back in front on aggregate.
Puka Nacua has once again been anti-semitic allegations, this time in an alleged incident that also included potential harassment.
The Los Angeles Rams wide receiver was at the center of a temporary restraining order filing that highlighted his behavior from a New Year's Eve incident in Los Angeles. The alleged victim claimed that Nacua used anti-semitic language at a group party that later led to him biting her in the left shoulder.
TMZ later reported that Nacua was also being sued for assault and battery for the incident, and in April, The California Post reported that Nacua checked into a rehab facility in Malibu.
Additionally, TMZ reported in April that the restraining order filing was initially denied, then officially dismissed at the accuser's request, while the lawsuit remains active.
Late in 2025, Nacua faced controversy for his actions on a livestream with internet personality Adin Ross, which has only put more of a spotlight on this case. Here's a breakdown of the report.
Puka Nacua allegations
According to TMZ, a woman filed a temporary restraining order against Puka Nacua over an incident that occurred on New Year's Eve. The report claimed that the two were part of a group party at which Nacua at one point screamed "f--- all the Jews" during dinner, after which Nacua inhabited "rude or vulgar, threatening, violent, and harassing conduct."
The woman then claimed that the group moved the party to a sprinter van, which is when Nacua became "touchy-feely," which included when he "dropped his head into [her] girlfriend's lap and crotch area and bit her thumb so forcefully that she screamed in acute pain." The woman argued that Nacua bit her left shoulder and left a bite mark.
TMZ also reported that the two sides met at a mediation conference in March that also included attorneys and a PR team. The woman said that Nacua's side threatened to distribute "false, inaccurate, and/or deliberately exaggerated public statements" to the media regarding the incident.
TMZ later reported that the attorney of the alleged victim had also filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles against Nacua, "citing gender violence, assault and battery, and negligence." The woman claimed she's "suffered actual damages, including physical injury, pain and suffering, medical expenses, and severe emotional distress" due to the incident with Nacua, per TMZ.
Nacua's side has denied the allegations and argued that the bite mark did not break skin and was only temporary. TMZ reports there is a hearing scheduled for April 14; the outlet also reported that Nacua's lawyer said they plan to file a defamation claim.
Puka Nacua temporary restraining order dismissed
On March 27, the alleged victim's attorney, Joseph Kar, told The California Post that he and his client were pulling their request for their restraining order so they could better “focus our efforts” on the lawsuit.
TMZ reported on Apr. 14 that the temporary restraining order had officially been dismissed at the accuser's request, while the lawsuit remained open.
The request for a temporary restraining order against Puka Nacua has officially been dismissed, at his accuser's request. Madison Atiabi accused Puka of making an antisemitic remark and later biting her on New Year's Eve. The TRO was denied (a hearing was set for this month)… pic.twitter.com/6QMFO6RorZ
Part of the allegations made against Nacua was that he bit the alleged victim's left shoulder, leaving a mark that "broke her skin," per TMZ. Nacua allegedly "dropped his head into [the alleged victim] girlfriend's lap and crotch area and bit her thumb so forcefully that she screamed in acute pain," before turning to the alleged victim and "biting her left shoulder and breaking skin, leaving a circular imprint of his teeth."
The woman included a photo of the alleged injury in her TRO application, per TMZ. Nacua's attorney, Levi McCathern, accused the woman of a "shakedown attempt," per TMZ, but did admit that there was "horseplay," with the bite leaving "nothing more than a temporary mark."
Puka Nacua rehab
On April 1, The California Post reported that Nacua recently checked into a rehab facility. His attorney told the outlet that the Rams receiver has been "at a luxury treatment center in Malibu," although the move was not directly in response to the biting allegations.
“He was in there a substantial period of time before any of these allegations broke with Madison,” attorney Levi McCathern told The California Post. “And he’s scheduled to be there for a while longer.”
McCathern also said Nacua's goal in rehab was to "improve his overall behavior in every aspect of his life that he can do it," adding that Nacua is "in great spirits" and "doing absolutely fabulous."
Nacua is expected to be out of the facility in "plenty of time" to make it to Rams OTAs in May, per TMZ.
Here is a statement from Nacua's attorney about the player checking into rehab.
A statement from attorney Levi McCathern, who represents #Rams star WR Puka Nacua — who is currently at a recovery center. pic.twitter.com/KomTpkIAWh
The NFL has acknowledged the Nacua situation and provided a brief comment. NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy told USA Today that "the matter is under review." McCarthy did not expand on whether the NFL was looking into the antisemitic comments or the biting allegations or both.
Puka Nacua antisemetic comments
As part of the allegations against Nacua, the alleged victim claimed that the wide receiver said "f*** all the Jews" during dinner before escalating his behavior later in the night. The woman alleges the incident came just weeks after Nacua was in hot water for doing an anti-semitic action on internet personality Adin Ross' live stream in December 2025.
Puka Nacua lawyer statement
Ahead of the accusation, Nacua's attorney, Levi McCathern, released a statement denying the receiver's actions at the New Year's Eve event. McCathern went as far as calling the accuser's actions "blackmail." Nacua and his legal team are currently working to file a defamation suit against the accuser in response. Here is the official statement released by Nacua's attorney.
Puka Nacua’s attorney goes scorched earth on the woman who claims he made an antisemitic comment, and bit her on NYE.
Nacua’s attorney tells me the accuser is attempting to blackmail Puka, and they’re vowing to file a defamation lawsuit.
Puka Nacua is entering the final year of his four-year rookie contract with the Rams and is set to earn just over $5 million next season. The wide receiver is due for an extension if Los Angeles wants to keep him around long term.
Will Puka Nacua get suspended?
The NFL will likely review the case to determine if Nacua's action warrant a suspension under the league's personal conduct policy. However, the NFL frequently takes its time with theses kinds of cases.
Opponents are running out of ways to try to guard Nikola Jokic.
Defenses have even begun experimenting with unconventional approaches, including using smaller and quicker defenders to disrupt his rhythm.
While this strategy may seem counterintuitive given Jokić’s size, it has become an increasingly common tactic across the league. At times, it has even created moments of frustration for the three-time MVP.
So, this newfound tactic raises an important question: Does it actually work?
Jokić’s Dominance This Season
Despite missing 17 games, the 31-year-old has averaged 27.7 points per game this season on 57/38/83 shooting splits. He is also leading the league in rebounds with 12.9 a game and assists with 10.7.
He has averaged a triple-double for the entirety of a season for the second time, joining only Russell Westbrook in doing so in back-to-back seasons.
Nikola Jokic is really out here doing something we’ve never seen before
With just 3 games left, he’s leading the entire league in BOTH rebounds and assists per game.
A center running the offense like this while also cleaning the glass every night just doesn’t make sense…… pic.twitter.com/2lwUNvggPf
His ability to dominate the game in nearly every imaginable way is what makes him so difficult to defend. His offensive versatility often forces opponents to abandon traditional matchups altogether.
Why Smaller Defenders?
More than ever, the eight-time All-Star has had to face smaller defenders this season. This approach has put Jokić in uncomfortable situations by applying constant pressure and limiting his space to operate.
The Jazz are having Elijah Harkless guard Nikola Jokic and it's kind of… working pic.twitter.com/02OnT6oi8a
When smaller defenders guard Jokić, they often apply physical pressure to his lower body. This prevents him from establishing positioning, making it more difficult to receive the ball. By denying him easy entry passes and forcing him further away from his preferred spots, defenders are able to disrupt the flow of Denver’s offense early in possessions.
Smaller defenders, such as Keyonte George, play with a higher level of physicality towards Jokić. In many cases, that physical style is not consistently called. This allows defenders to stay aggressive on Jokić without picking up fouls.
This technique has forced the 2023 Finals MVP to respond with more physicality of his own. However, by being physical, Jokic can lose his usual rhythm, which can lead to more contested shots. Additionally, he can become focused on trying to draw fouls and or complaining to referees when they do not get called.
I broke down the value of guarding Jokic with a guard and why he doesn't handle the physicality well from a psychological standpoint, including the piggy back ride on Keyonte George. Link to full video below pic.twitter.com/jqwBvJxuRn
Even with this strategy used against Jokić, he continues to produce at an elite, historic level. As such, the tactic does not fully limit his overall impact. While smaller defenders can occasionally force tougher possessions, Jokić’s overall skillset allows him to adjust and still control the game in many different ways.
However, it has been a worry for the Denver Nuggets’ organization due to potential injuries from smaller defenders playing into his legs.
Marc Spears on Jokic:
"I'm actually hearing that the Nuggets are a little concerned about how he's being defended of late. Teams are guarding him 18 feet from the basket, leaning on his legs, fronting him, putting their arms around him but he's still figuring out a way to ball… pic.twitter.com/UI3CKZjDXv
Jokić has had a slight dip in scoring from 29.6 points per game last season to 27.7 this season. This reflects that the smaller guard matchups may have some short-term effect, though it has not significantly reduced his dominance.
In fact, his career-high in assists proves his continued ability to adapt, as he can create for his teammates when the scoring opportunities do not present themselves.
Ultimately, while smaller defenders can disrupt possessions at times and cause frustration, teams have yet to provide a reliable solution to slowing down Jokić. And who knows if they ever will.
Quinn Ellis plays during the match between FC Barcelona and EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, corresponding to round 7 of the Euroleague, at the Palau Blaugrana, in Barcelona, Spain, on October 28, 2025. (Photo by Joan Valls/Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
The Red Storm made a huge splash with their first signing of the offseason, bringing in one of the top point guards from Europe.
Quinn Ellis is coming stateside and has committed to St. John’s on Tuesday afternoon. The news was first reported by The New York Post’s Zach Braziller. Other schools that showed interest in Ellis were Duke, Kentucky, Louisville, BYU, and Houston.
A combo guard from Sheffield, England, Ellis brings a wealth of professional experience to the Johnnies, having spent the last seven years competing in Italy. Ellis most recently played for top-flight club Olimpia Milano, helping them win the last two Italian Cups and earning Italian Cup MVP honors in 2025. The 23-year-old broke out in his debut EuroLeague season this year, averaging 8.4 points, 4.4 assists, and 2.8 rebounds in 35 games, while shooting 49.3% from the field and 37.7% from three against the best competition Europe has to offer.
Ellis played his best basketball for his home country, averaging 11.8 points, 4.6 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game in eight appearances representing Great Britain. During this year’s 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifiers, Ellis posted 17.5 points, 7.0 assists, and 2.5 rebounds on 50% shooting over two games.
Prior to joining Olimpia Milano, Ellis also played in three contests for the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2024 NBA Summer League.
The jumbo-sized floor general brings nimble ball-handling and great floor vision to a Red Storm team that struggled with playmaking at the guard position last season. Standing at 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds, Ellis has the frame to withstand contact and the athleticism that fits in well with Rick Pitino’s defensive identity. Adding Ellis allows Ian Jackson to move back to his natural position as a two-guard and moves Dylan Darling to the bench to become one of the best backup point guards in the country.
After Ellis’s commitment, St. John’s has eight scholarship players on their roster for the 2026-27 season. The Red Storm are hosting transfers Mouhamed Dioubate from Kentucky, Abdi Bashir from Kansas State, Leroy Blyden from Toledo, and DeSean Goode from Robert Morris on campus visits this week.
CAMDEN, N.J. -- It's important for a rookie to be around a number of helpful veterans who will help him and show him the ropes of what it's like to be in the NBA. That's what happened for Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe as he has soaked in all the wisdom of his vets on the team.
The No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 draft has been terrific all season long as he has passed every test with flying colors. He will have another one on Wednesday as he prepares to play in his first postseason game against the Orlando Magic in a play-in situation. Luckily for Edgecombe, he has some veterans around him who have been in both playoff and play-in situations to help him through it all.
One of those vets is 14-year man Andre Drummond. Their lockers are not too far away from each other and the big man has constantly been in Edgecombe's ear in terms of helping him prepare for each moment.
"Man, Drum, that’s my dawg," Edgecombe said on Friday. "To be honest. That’s my dawg. He helped me a lot. Especially, even when things aren’t flowing my way, he helps me keep me poised. He comes in, plays hard. He’s a professional. He’s really professional. He’s really good at what he do."
Drummond has stepped up and played well for Philadelphia in recent weeks with the Sixers missing Joel Embiid due to an appendectomy. He has given them a real presence in the paint with his ability to rebound the basketball and use his size and strength to help make a difference on either end of the floor. He's also added a 3-point shot to his game.
"He’s been knocking down corner 3s," smiled Edgecombe. "My first time ever seeing him shoot the ball, to be honest. I know Drum as a rebounder and a dunker, but good to see him out there, you know? Doing what he do best, but I’m very happy for him. He’s been very impactful for us. Especially, with big fella being out."
Drummond's ability to also step in and set a good screen before rolling to the basket is a big asset as well. It makes life easier for Edgecombe and the guards when it comes to making sure they get easy looks within the offense.
"It’s great, man," Edgecombe said of his chemistry with Drummond. "Drum is gonna roll right in the pocket and I’m able to either hit him or get a good shot out of it or just create an advantage for someone else. Credit to him. He sets really good screens. That’s something people don’t really talk about much, but he sets really good screens which allows us to get open and get really good shots."
As the Sixers begin the play-in on Wednesday, there will be a lot of pressure on Drummond to step in and give the Sixers a presence in the paint.
UCLA unveiled a new retro baseball uniform on Monday, April 13 that will be worn throughout a weeklong celebration in honor of Jackie Robinson.
The throwbacks were revealed to the media and the No. 1-ranked team in the nation in a presentation by Sonya Pankey, Robinson’s eldest granddaughter and executive vice president of brand development for The Jackie Robinson Estate.
The uniforms feature a navy blue hat with the UCLA script B logo and cream-colored jerseys and pants with navy piping and a "Bruins" block wordmark across the chest. While players will have their own last names across the back, each jersey will have Robinson's iconic No. 42.
"His legacy 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 today."
Jackie Robinson’s granddaughter, Sonya Pankey Robinson, stepped into unveil UCLA’s new Jackie Robinson‑inspired uniforms.#GoBruinspic.twitter.com/2QYWgRahko
“Jackie Robinson was a true visionary, an advocate for social justice, a progressive change agent and not just a number on a jersey,” Pankey told reporters. “He was a pioneer, he used his platform to challenge injustice, inspire change and open doors for generations to come.”
Robinson broke MLB's color barrier as its first Black player on April 15, 1947. The anniversary of that day is commemorated every year as Jackie Robinson Day, with No. 42 worn by players across the big leagues. Robinson, who grew up in Pasadena, California, lettered in baseball, basketball, football and track at UCLA from 1939-41.
The Bruins have honored one of their most important alumni in several ways over the years, including with a No. 42 monument in front of the John Wooden Recreation Center and christening their baseball stadium in his name.
Pankey will throw out the first pitch of Tuesday night's game against UC Santa Barbara following a pregame ceremony. UCLA is also rolling out promotions for each of its four home games this week, including raffles, prizes for fans wearing Jackie Robinson jerseys, legacy hat giveaways and $1 hot dogs for the first 142 fans in attendance.
“The story doesn’t end here,” Pankey told the UCLA players, many of whom wore navy blue "42" hoodies. “You guys are the future and I hope you use his story as a guide for your future mission. To the Bruins, wishing you guys continued success to the season, I hope you wear the jersey with pride and let it inspire you to build your own legacy that opens doors and creates opportunities for others to follow.”
The Cardinals are taking a closer look at a quarterback prospect for this year's draft.
Per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, former Penn State quarterback Drew Allar took a pre-draft visit with Arizona on Tuesday.
Before the start of the 2025 season, Allar was a co-favorite to go No. 1 overall with LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier. But the year did not go as planned for either QB, with Aller suffering a season-ending ankle injury midway through the year.
He said at the scouting combine in February that his ankle was on the mend and felt like he could play if he had to at that time.
A Northeast Ohio native, Allar started 35 games for Penn State with 45 total appearances over four seasons. In 2025, Allar completed 64.8 percent of his throws for 1,100 yards with eight touchdowns and three interceptions. In 2024, Allar completed 66.5 percent of his throws for 3,327 yards with 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 16 games.
The Cardinals currently have Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew, and Kedon Slovis on their roster at quarterback.
Outfielder Rob Refsnyder, who has no hits with five strikeouts and three walks in 19 trips to the plate in his first season with Seattle, was placed on the paternity list.
Taking Refsnyder's place on the roster is 34-year-old infielder Patrick Wisdom, the Mariners announced today. Wisdom last made a Major League appearance in 2024 with the Chicago Cubs, with whom he hit a career high of 28 home runs in 2021.
In 2025, Wisdom hit 35 homers and struck out in 29.2% of his plate appearances with the Korea Baseball Organization's Kia Tigers. He had already connected for nine roundtrippers in 15 games at Triple-A Tacoma after signing a minor league deal with the AL West club in January.
Hopefully, Wisdom's power brings a surge of offense to Seattle's lineup, even if it's just for a few days. Their .658 team OPS ranks 24th in MLB, and they've hit just 16 home runs thanks to slow starts from Josh Naylor, Julio Rodriguez, and last year's AL MVP runner-up, Cal Raleigh.
In a corresponding move for Wisdom's promotion, right-hander Blas Castano was designated for assignment.
Eze, Norgaard And Hincapie To Start | 4-2-3-1 Arsenal Predicted Lineup Vs Sporting CP
Arsenal will entertain Sporting CP at the Emirates Stadium this Wednesday night as they look to secure a good result at home in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal clash. The Gunners suffered a tough 2-1 loss at the hands of Bournemouth recently, so they would be eager to put in a much-improved showing in midweek.
Mikel Arteta will probably opt for the 4-2-3-1 formation and is expected to make some changes to his first team for this game. Eberechi Eze, Christian Norgaard and Piero Hincapie could all play from the start of this clash.
4-2-3-1 Arsenal Predicted Lineup To Face Sporting CP
Defence
David Raya will operate in between the sticks for the Gunners after conceding two goals in his last appearance. William Saliba will play alongside Gabriel at the centre of the Arsenal backline as they focus on keeping a solid shape on the defensive end of the field.
Piero Hincapie will try to prove his worth as the left-back, while Ben White looks to give a good account of himself on the other side as the right-back. Both of them will have to pick and choose their moments to join in on the attack.
Cristhian Mosquera will be named on the bench as he offers cover for the centre-back postions.
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 11: Declan Rice of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Bournemouth at Emirates Stadium on April 11, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Midfield
Declan Rice and Christian Norgaard will anchor the midfield for Arsenal as they try to dictate the tempo of the game at the centre of the park.
The gifted trio of Leandro Trossard, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke will play just ahead of them as part of Arteta’s attack. All three of them need to be at their best if the Gunners are to secure a positive result in midweek.
Martin Zubimendi and Max Dowman will have to be content with a place on the bench as they await their chance to make an impact in the second 45 minutes if required.
Attack
Viktor Gyokeres will spearhead Arsenal‘s attack up top. He has to find a way to be a constant menace in the final third.
Gabriel Jesus will be named on the bench and might come on to influence the game in the latter stages of the game if the Gunners are in need of a goal by then.
“I would love Martin to stay for another season,” Scott Brown
Former Celtic captain Scott Brown would love Martin O’Neill to remain at Celtic for another season even though he admits that the 74 year old is no spring chicken!…
Celtic Manager Martin O’Neill reacts during the Scottish Premiership between Celtic and St. Mirren at Celtic Park on April 11, 2026. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)
Martin O’Neill has answered Celtic’s distress call twice already this season after Brendan Rodgers was chased for daring to point out that the squad was in dire need of quality additions over the summer. And rather than replace Kyogo last summer, Michael Nicholson decided to sell Adam Idah instead.
The veteran Celtic boss is currently preparing for this Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final against St Mirren at Hampden before turning his attention to the final five post split fixtures in the Scottish Premiership. If all goes to plan he’s have consecutive weekends of silverware and glory before calling it a day or making Scott Brown’s by signing on for another season.
Speaking to Daily Record Broony said: “I would love Martin to stay for another season. Look, it’s obviously hard for Martin – he’s no spring chicken anymore! But he still has great enthusiasm for the club and, to be honest, that’s half the battle.”
He also reckons that Callum McGregor playing through injury is perfectly fine as Celtic would miss his presence if the calls to avoid playing an injured player were to be listened to by Martin O’Neill.
“I’m telling you now, never write Cal off because he’s the main man and he keeps that club ticking. He keeps the team together on the pitch and he’s the driving force off it,” Broony said.
“His mentality is next to none – he wants to play every game whether he’s injured or not. He’ll fight for the cause for the good of the football club rather than worrying about what’s best for himself.”
Post your own thoughts in the comments section below…
Quick Tip – Add thecelticstar.com as your ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News for quick access to the Celtic content you value the most. It takes just a few seconds and you’ll notice the difference straight away! – Click HERE….Hail Hail!
Spring practice churns on for the Ohio State football team as the Buckeyes prepare to make another title run in the fall. With 51 new players added to the roster this past winter, Ryan Day and the coaching staff have a great deal of work to do to get everyone acclimated to the culture and style of play. Earlier this week, two more players took another step towards helping this team reach its goals next season by shedding their black stripes.
First up, safety Terry Moore becomes the newest member of BIA. Moore made his way to Columbus from the transfer portal out of Duke. Although he missed the entire 2025 season with an ACL tear, the Blue Devil defensive back broke out in 2024, where he recorded 71 tackles, seven tackles for loss, four interceptions, six pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and a sack. The stats were good enough to earn him second-team All-ACC honors. Moore is a redshirt senior and is battling with Leroy Roker III for a starting spot in the secondary.
The next player welcomed to the Brotherhood was transfer tight end Hunter Welcing. Another seasoned veteran, Welcing brings a great deal of experience after spending six seasons with Northwestern. This was another move that doesn't look all that flashy on paper, but Welcing is the type of tight end Ryan Day loves in his offense. Essentially, an extra offensive lineman who can sneak out into the flats with a great set of hands as a check-down for the quarterback. In 2026, Welcing earned All-Big Ten honorable mention while hauling in 28 receptions for 296 yards and two touchdowns.
The duo makes twelve players to be officially welcomed to the Brotherhood by losing their black stripe. There will be more to come, and we'll fill you in as they happen.
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion.
Ryder Cup veteran Garcia joined LIV Golf in 2022 [Getty Images]
Former Masters champion Sergio Garcia has apologised after smashing his driver in anger during the final round at Augusta on Sunday.
Paired with fellow Spaniard Jon Rahm, Garcia slammed his club into the turf twice after hitting a shot that ended up in a bunker on the par-five second hole.
The 2017 champion then hit a nearby cooler, which snapped the head off his club.
"I respect and value everything that the Masters and Augusta National Golf Club is to golf.
"I regret the way I acted and it has no place in our game. It doesn't reflect the respect and appreciation I have for the Masters, the patrons, tournament officials and golf fans around the world."
Because the club was damaged out of anger, Garcia was unable to replace it, leaving him without a driver for the rest of the round.
Geoff Yang, chairman of the Masters competitions committee, issued a code-of-conduct warning to Garcia on the fourth tee.
The Spaniard went on to post a three-over-par 75 to finish the week at eight over, third from last among the 54 players who made the cut.
When asked after his round what the issue was, the 46-year-old said: "Bad golf."
🚨 No Salah, Dembélé and Kvara... Liverpool-PSG XIs are in
Anfield wants to feel the thrill today like on its greatest European nights, and for that Liverpool must overturn the 2-0 defeat suffered against PSG in Paris.
Today, a place in the Champions League semi-finals will be decided with these line-ups:
Liverpool: Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Konaté, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Isak, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Ekitiké.
MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 13: A general view of the stadium during the FC Barcelona Training Session ahead of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg match against Atletico de Madrid at Estadio Riyadh Air Metropolitano on April 13, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Alberto Gardin/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Atlético de Madrid are 90 minutes from returning to the UEFA Champions League semifinals for the first time in nine years.
After securing a 2-0 win at Camp Nou last Wednesday, Atlético are back at the Metropolitano, where Diego Simeone’s side never has lost a knockout game in the Champions League. In fact, Atleti have not lost at home in a Champions League knockout match since Ajax put the Rojiblancos out of the competition in 1997.
This marks the sixth and final meeting this season between Atlético and Barcelona. Barça have won three of the previous five, including both showdowns in LaLiga. But Atleti landed a knockout blow against Barça in a 4-0 victory to begin the Copa del Rey semifinals in February prior to last week’s victory in Catalonia — a result that marked the Blaugrana’s first home loss since they moved back in to their renovated home ground.
This game might get heated. Cholo Simeone may make a head-scratching change or two. Atleti and Barça are meeting for the third time in 11 days and the sixth time this season — we’re tired of them and they’re tired of us. But please don’t use offensive/derogatory language, and keep swearing to a minimum. Don’t abuse the coaches, the players or the match officials.
A continuation of the first guideline: excessive negativity weighs everyone down. It’s alright to express frustration, but please avoid peddling in pessimism.
Do not discuss or share streaming links. I am so serious about this. We will get in big trouble for hosting or even discussing them. I don’t want to ban anyone from the site, so please don’t do it.
Use common sense. Treat others in the thread how you would like to be treated.
The Cincinnati Reds' superstar shortstop has begun the season in a way no shortstop ever has dating back to 1900 (when most data like this first becomes available).
The feat: Elly has five home runs and five stolen bases through the Reds' first 16 games of the season.
Elly De La Cruz is the first MLB SS since 1900 with at least 5 HR & 5 SB through his team's first 16 games of a season. pic.twitter.com/yrbqcxqQST
Elly has begun the season hitting .281 with those five home runs along with three doubles. He's 5-for-6 stealing bases.
He has also scored 13 runs and driven in 10 runs. His OPS is .924, which would be by far a career-high (previous .809). He's been 50% better than a league average hitter, according to OPS+.
De La Cruz hasn't cut down on his strikeout rate, which is always a pretty high one, but he's making the most of his contact and of his time on base.
When you consider that 16 games is about one-tenth of the season, you can extrapolate and say that De La Cruz is on pace for a 50/50 season -- of which only Shohei Ohtani has ever had one.
Obviously, it would be quite the feat for De La Cruz to keep this up the whole season. But he's already off to a start never done before by a shortstop. Why stop now?
The Avalanche are likely still getting into the swing of the day after their SO victory in Edmonton last night. Still, the NHL schedule is relentless, even for game 81, as they will face the Flames tonight in Calgary on the second of a back-to-back.
That means MacKenzie Blackwood in the net, but will we see the Avalanche rest more key fixtures in the lineup, or are they going with the pedal-to-the-metal approach?
The @Avalanche won their 53rd game, the 2nd most victories in a single season in franchise history. Colorado's 117 points are now just 2 shy of tying the 2021-22 team (119) for the highest total in a single season in franchise history pic.twitter.com/vtpjJ2cIS2
The Flames didn’t realize the typical revenge victory last time and have lost to the Avalanche twice in the last 10 days.
Will they face defeat a third time and be swept altogether?
Colorado Avalanche: 53-16-11
The Opponent: Calgary Flames (33-38-9)
Time: 7:00 p.m. MT
Watch: Altitude, Altitude+, ESPN+
Listen: Altitude Sports Radio, 92.5 FM
Colorado Avalanche
Brock Nelson’s 1,000th game played out as a bit of a snoozer, that is, until the end.
A 2-1 SO victory is nothing to scoff at when you consider all that was on the line for the Oilers on home ice.
Sam Malinski is still on fire, having scored as many goals in the last 11 games (5) as he did in all of his 2024-25 campaign.
Jack Achan and Nick Blankenburg did just fine against McDavid and the Oilers and should stay in the lineup tonight as well to avoid rushing any of the key and injured guys (like Makar) back before there’s something to play for.
I’m hoping this game marks Martin Necas’ crossing of the 100-point mark, and would love it even more if he also reached 40 goals.
Wouldn’t it be nice to see Marty Necas get to both 100 points and 40 goals tonight? #GoAvsGo
Note: Still no update on Josh Manson. We did see Cale Makar skating yesterday morning, but he did not play. I’m not even certain Nazem Kadri is on the road trip.
MacKenzie Blackwood Scott Wedgewood
Calgary Flames
If the Flames were to topple the Avalanche this season, tonight’s game might be the night.
Colorado should be pretty worn out from the SO victory over Edmonton, and will go without Cale Makar, Nazem Kadri, or Josh Manson yet again.
When your season has been over for quite some time, as is the case in Calgary, it’s about the little things and moral victories/habits you can take into next season. Let’s see what shows up for the Flames.
Sergio Garcia issued an apology on Tuesday for his outburst during the final round of the Masters, which saw him damage the turf after a poor drive on the second hole and subsequently break his driver against a bench.
The incident prompted Geoff Yang, chairman of the Masters competitions committee, to issue a code-of-conduct warning to Garcia on the fourth tee. This conduct policy was a new addition to the Masters this year.
"I want to apologize for my actions Sunday at The Masters tournament," Garcia stated in a social media post. "I respect and value everything that The Masters and Augusta National Golf Club is to golf. I regret the way I acted and it has no place in our game. It doesn't reflect the respect and appreciation I have for The Masters, the patrons, tournament officials and golf fans around the world."
The 2017 champion began his round with a bogey before hitting a weak fade on the par-5 second hole, sending his ball towards a bunker.
In frustration, he recoiled his driver onto the tee, then turned and slammed the club into the turf. Without repairing the damage, Garcia then struck his driver against a wooden bench holding a water cooler, leaving the club's head dangling from its shaft.
(Getty)
Garcia had initially declined to discuss the official's warning, stating after his round, "I’m not going to tell you." When pressed further, he responded, "Next question." He also did not apologize for his behavior immediately after his closing 75, which placed him 52nd among the 54 players who made the cut. "Just obviously not super proud of it, but sometimes it happens," Garcia remarked.
Since his playoff victory over Justin Rose at Augusta National in 2017, Garcia has not secured a top-10 finish in the 29 majors he has played. He has missed the cut in six of his eight Masters appearances since his win. When asked about his performance record, Garcia simply said, "Bad golf," and when prompted for more specifics, he added, "Bad shots."
This is not Garcia’s first brush with controversy; he was disqualified in 2019 at the Saudi International for damaging greens in frustration. His past antics include angrily kicking off his shoe after slipping during a tee shot at the 2001 World Match Play, an incident that nearly saw the shoe strike an official. He also once spat into a cup during a World Golf Championship at Doral following a three-putt.
The PGA Tour has been developing its code-of-conduct policy over recent years, with the Masters being the first tournament to implement it. The PGA Championship is also set to use the policy next month at Aronimink Golf Club. Under the new rules, a second violation during a tournament incurs a two-shot penalty, while a third violation results in disqualification.
Official: Barcelona starting lineup against Atletico Madrid – Gavi in; No De Jong, Rashford
With the odds against them, FC Barcelona will be gunning for a remontada as they take on Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.
The Catalans suffered a 0-2 loss at home in the first leg of their quarter-final tie, leaving them with everything to do in the second leg tonight at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.
And, with kick-off a little over an hour away, manager Hansi Flick has announced the starting lineup that will take the field against Diego Simeone’s side.
Despite all the chat surrounding the possibility of Frenkie de Jong returning to the starting XI, Flick has decided not to rush the Dutchman.
Instead, it is Gavi who starts in midfield once again, pairing up with close friend Pedri.
Meanwhile, in attack, Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres both retain their places after top displays over the weekend against RCD Espanyol.
Marcus Rashford, who was expected to start on the left flank, has been left out as Flick has opted to go with both Dani Olmo and Fermin Lopez, meaning Barcelona will have four midfielders on the pitch.
Moving to the defensive line, Eric Garcia replaces the suspended Pau Cubarsi at centre-back, after featuring in midfield in the past few matches. Gerard Martin continues in the lineup after shaking off an injury scare from the weekend clash.
Joao Cancelo returns at left-back, replacing Alejandro Balde, while Jules Kounde starts on the right side. Joan Garcia continues in goal as usual.
Sky Sports: Liverpool title-winner wants to return to the Premier League
Wijnaldum Eyes Premier League Return as Next Chapter Beckons
There is something quietly compelling about a player who refuses to drift gently into the background. According to Sky Sports, Georginio Wijnaldum is preparing for precisely the opposite, a return, a reassertion, perhaps even a final statement in the Premier League.
The Dutch midfielder, now 35, has spent the past three seasons with Al Ettifaq, yet the numbers suggest a player still engaged with the game’s demands. Fourteen goals and six assists this season is not the output of someone winding down. It is the contribution of a footballer who still believes he belongs.
Photo: IMAGO
Career Legacy Still Resonates
Wijnaldum’s time at Liverpool remains his defining chapter. Across 237 appearances, he became emblematic of a side that conquered both England and Europe. His goals often arrived at moments of consequence, his influence stretching beyond statistics into rhythm and control.
His departure in 2021 to join Paris Saint-Germain felt abrupt, a move that promised glamour but ultimately lacked the coherence of his Anfield years. Since then, his career has taken a quieter path in Saudi Arabia, though not an unproductive one.
As Sky Sports reports, “Former Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum is keen to make a return to the Premier League next season when his contract in the Saudi Pro League expires this summer.”
Motivation Beyond Nostalgia
There is a temptation to frame this as nostalgia, a veteran chasing echoes of former glories. Yet Wijnaldum’s own stance suggests otherwise. “The 35-year-old has no plans to retire and still feels he has a lot to offer,” a line that speaks to ambition rather than sentimentality.
Modern football has grown more accepting of longevity, provided performance justifies presence. Wijnaldum’s recent output suggests he may still meet that threshold. His game has never relied on pace alone, instead built on intelligence, positioning, and an ability to arrive unnoticed before it matters most.
Premier League Landscape Awaits
A return to England would place him in a league that has evolved since his departure. The tempo is quicker, the tactical demands more intricate. Yet there remains space for players who understand structure and responsibility.
Sky Sports notes, “As things stand, his priority is a return to playing in England, although no decision has yet been made about his future.” That uncertainty leaves room for intrigue. Would a mid-table side benefit from his experience, or could he serve as a rotational figure within a squad chasing honours?
What seems clear is that Wijnaldum does not view this as an epilogue. It is, in his mind, another chapter waiting to be written.
Our View – EPL Index Analysis
From a Liverpool perspective, this development invites both curiosity and reflection.
A romantic return to Anfield feels unlikely, yet the idea cannot be dismissed entirely. Liverpool’s midfield rebuild has focused on youth and dynamism, but there have been moments where control has slipped, particularly in high tempo fixtures. A player like Wijnaldum, even in a reduced role, could offer tactical balance.
More realistically, his return to the Premier League would serve as a reminder of what Liverpool once had in abundance. Reliability, intelligence, and an understated excellence that rarely drew headlines but often dictated outcomes.
For supporters, there is also a sense of unfinished appreciation. Wijnaldum’s contributions during the title winning era were immense, yet often underplayed. His potential return to England provides an opportunity to re-evaluate that legacy in real time.
If nothing else, it underlines a broader truth. Elite mentality does not fade easily. Wijnaldum’s desire to compete again at the highest level reflects a mindset that Liverpool once thrived upon, and perhaps still seeks to rediscover.
BARCELONA, SPAIN - APRIL 08: Pedro Gonzalez 'Pedri' of FC Barcelona carries the ball whilst under pressure from Julian Alvarez of Atletico de Madrid during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final First Leg match between FC Barcelona and Club Atlético de Madrid at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on April 08, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images) | Getty Images
WELCOME TO THE ESTADIO METROPOLITANO!!! The impressive home of Atlético Madrid in the Spanish capital is the site of the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final tie between the hosts and Barcelona, with Barça looking to overturn a two-goal deficit from the first leg to book a spot in the semi-finals. This should be all kinds of fun, and you’re welcome to join us to follow and comment all the action. Vamos!
Competition/Round: 2025-26 UEFA Champions League, Quarter-Finals, 2nd Leg
First Leg Result: Barcelona 0-2 Atlético Madrid
Date/Time: Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 9pm CET (Barcelona), 8pm BST/WAT (UK & Nigeria), 3pm ET, 12pm PT (USA), 12.30am IST (India, Wednesday)
Venue: Estadio Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain
Referee: Clément Turpin (FRA)
VAR: Jérôme Brisard (FRA)
HOW TO WATCH
On TV: TUDN (USA), TNT Sports 1 (UK), SONY TEN 2 (India), SuperSport (Nigeria), Movistar (Spain), others
Online: Paramount+ (USA), HBO Max (UK), Sony LIV (India), Movistar+ (Spain), others
Matchday Thread Rules
We don’t have a lot of rules here, but there are a few things to keep in mind when joining our matchday threads:
Even if the referee sucks or we lose the game, watch the swearing. It’s just unnecessary. Also, don’t discuss illegal streaming links. Those who do it will be warned, and those who post links will be instantly banned. Finally, be nice to each other. This is a Barcelona community and we don’t need to offend one another.
Have fun with the game! Forever and ever, no matter the competition, VISCA EL BARÇA!
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 24: (L-R) Coby White #3, Ryan Kalkbrenner #11, Grant Williams #2 and LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets look on in the second half against the Sacramento Kings at Spectrum Center on March 24, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
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Since the city’s return to the NBA in 2004, Charlotte has experienced some difficulties..
The Bobcats had just two winning seasons from 2004-14, and were swept out of the playoffs both times.
In the years after re-assuming the Hornets identity for the 2014-15 campaign, the club notched just two winning seasons (2015-16, 2021-22), zero playoff series wins and couple play-in tournament losses.
And while 2025-26 saw Charlotte achieve its highest win total (44) in a decade, the club doesn’t appear ready to call the season a success just yet.
Winning Over Everyone
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons anointed the Hornets as an NBA League Pass team worth tuning into all the way back in October, and Charlotte picked up a slew of national fans en route to this year’s play-in appearance and near-miss on a division title.
That’s all well and good. But the real work started with the Hornets’ front office and players putting in the work to reengage with the Charlotte community and its fans, as it recommits to building a winner in the Queen City.
“Between the team temporarily leaving the city and a stretch without consistent success on the court, that connection (with fans) was strained,” Charlotte Hornets President of Business Operations Shelly Cayette-Weston recently told Forbes.
“Our primary mission now is to reconnect with that passionate base, while also engaging new fans across the Carolinas, because the fans are the lifeblood of our organization. We are building a winning culture – on and off the court – they can be proud of.”
The Hornets were No. 13 in total attendance this season, at over 767,000. That figure was Charlotte’s highest this century, and the team even drew more than the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
Cayette-Weston notes that the Hornets had 25 sellouts this year, including the final 15 home contests.
“That’s real progress, and something we haven’t experienced in recent years,” she said. “The fans have bought into our vision and joined us on this journey, and we’re now seeing the results: winning and fun basketball.”
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 24: Charlotte Hornets fans look on during their game against the Sacramento Kings at Spectrum Center on March 24, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
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Bigger Picture For The Buzz
It’s been a purposeful build for Charlotte since the new ownership group, led by Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin, took over in 2023.
The team has moved to hire talented and experienced people to execute on the new vision, including President of Basketball Operations Jeff Peterson (from the Brooklyn Nets), Head Coach Charles Lee (from the Boston Celtics) and Cayette-Weston (from the Cleveland Cavaliers).
Charlotte’s braintrust also oversaw a $245 million investment into Spectrum Center renovations, including new seats, concession improvements and more technological advancements to modernize and improve the in-arena experience.
“In five years, when people think of the Charlotte Hornets, I want the first thing that comes to mind to be that we are a premier NBA franchise where our organization is synonymous with a winning culture and a fan experience that is second to none,” said Cayette-Weston.
As the team invests in fan culture and facilities, the part that really brings it all together – and gets both new and old supporters excited – is the talent on the court.
Charlotte aims to build something unique to its city and the Carolinas as a whole, but also acknowledges taking notes from around the league. Franchises like Golden State and Cleveland have built winning cultures that excite fans thanks in part to business savvy. But crucially, these were also smart and methodical roster builds in the early going.
That exciting step is where the Hornets find themselves now, thanks in part to one rookie from Duke.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 12: Kon Knueppel #7 of the Charlotte Hornets gestures after a play during the first half against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on April 12, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jordan Bank/Getty Images)
Knueppel led the league with 273 three-pointers made (one more than Ball) and scored 18.5 points per game, while also averaging 5.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists. During one particularly hot month for Charlotte in February, Kon averaged 21.5 points and 4.5 made threes per game en route to the Hornets going 8-3; right on the back of stretch where the team won six straight to finish up January.
Impressively, he’s not even the only standout rookie on this team, either.
The Hornets saw significant contributions from Sion James and Kalkbrenner all season, and the three young standouts also helped open up things for Charlotte’s returning veterans to break out as well.
Third-year forward Brandon Miller led the team in points-per-game scoring, and set new career highs for total points, total rebounds and three-point percentage. LaMelo Ball made nearly 100 more threes than last year, and hit them at a higher percentage too, while also becoming a bigger factor as a facilitator and rebounder than in previous years.
These are all home-grown players for the Hornets who can be – and already are – foundational pieces for a longer run of success.
While the comparison to the Steph Curry-led Warriors are premature, it’s easy to forget that his early years with Golden State were plagued by injuries and losing.
During Curry’s first three seasons, the Warriors went 85-145. Over the next two years, the team finished sixth in the West both times, but won just one playoff series.
What happened after, once Steve Kerr came in, became one of the most impressive runs of success in league history. But it started with Golden State building the foundation around electric guard play, exciting basketball and acquiring young talent that fit the larger organizational idea.
Whether Tuesday night’s play-in game against the Miami Heat is a win or not, Charlotte could be in the early stages of writing a similar story for their franchise.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Carolina Panthers emerged as one of the NFL's free-agent winners.
On the first day of the legal tampering period, May 9, Panthers general manager Dan Morgan finalized deals with two of their top targets, top pass rusher Jaelan Phillips and Pro Bowl inside linebacker Devin Lloyd. The Panthers later added two potential starters along the offensive line, left tackle Rasheed Walker and center Luke Fortner.
Along with the signings of several depth players, Morgan's attention has turned completely to the 2026 NFL Draft.
Beginning the process several weeks ago with nearly 600 names on a chart of potential prospects, Morgan didn't want to reveal how many players remained on the list, adding, "we're in a good spot."
Panthers' Dan Morgan finalizing NFL draft list
By filling in so many roster holes during free agency, Morgan said his draft team is "ready for all scenarios."
The Panthers are scheduled to pick No. 19 when the three-day showcase event opens April 2325 in Pittsburgh. Don't be surprised if Morgan moves out of the position, likely moving down to add more draft capital.
When asked if the free-agent moves helped narrow his pre-draft focus, Morgan pivoted and said they created additional avenues to explore.
"If anything, I think it opens up a lot of possibilities," Morgan said. "I think all positions are on the table. And like I said before, you never know who's gonna fall down to us."
Among the Panthers' potential first-round picks, Morgan said he will target a pass-rush specialist, a playmaking target for quarterback Bryce Young or possibly a top offensive tackle prospect.
"So I think we're definitely in the best-player available mindset," Morgan said. "So, yeah, I think what we did in free agency set us up to do that."
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Former Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore faces a sentencing hearing Tuesday for misdemeanors related to a confrontation with his executive assistant soon after Moore’s firing for having an inappropriate relationship with her.
Moore pleaded no contest in March to trespassing and malicious use of a telecom device. The maximum possible penalty is six months in jail, though he has no previous criminal record and the judge will have much discretion to keep him out of custody.
Moore, 40, was fired on Dec. 10 after leading the Wolverines for two seasons, following Jim Harbaugh’s move to the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers. It was a stunning dismissal at one of college football’s most prestigious programs.
Moore was accused that same day of confronting the woman with whom he had been having an affair and blaming her for his firing, even threatening to kill himself with butter knives in her apartment. Authorities said the woman had ended the affair and spoken to school officials about it.
Moore was charged with felony home invasion and two additional charges. But Washtenaw County prosecutors agreed to a deal in which he pleaded no contest to two misdemeanors. The felony charge was dropped.
The agreement came after defense lawyer Ellen Michaels planned to aggressively challenge how police gathered information to get an arrest warrant.
Moore did not harm himself and was peacefully arrested in a parking lot away from the woman’s apartment.
CAMDEN, N.J. -- The Philadelphia 76ers will play host to the Orlando Magic on Wednesday in the 7 vs. 8 play-in tournament game. The Sixers will be looking to clinch their spot to the playoffs and advance as the No. 7 seed to then take on the Boston Celtics in Round 1 of the playoffs. If the Sixers lose, they will have to host the winner of the 9 vs. 10 matchup to decide their season.
The Sixers took two of the three matchups with the Magic on the regular season, and Orlando is coming into this one a bit off after an embarrassing loss in the season finale to Boston's third stringers, but the postseason is always a different beast. Therefore, Philadelphia will have to prepare for what Orlando brings to the table.
On a practice day on Tuesday, there were three aspects about the Magic that coach Nick Nurse addressed heading into this contest:
3-guard lineups
The Magic don't have a huge sample size with Jalen Suggs, Anthony Black, and Desmond Bane all on the floor together due to a variety of injuries, but those three represent Orlando's best units. Per Cleaning the Glass, with those three on the floor, the Magic outscore teams by 13.9 points in 667 possessions. For the Sixers, when they went to lineups with Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and Quentin Grimes, they outscore teams by 6.9 points in 1,115 possessions per Cleaning the Glass. Those 3-guard lineups by both teams are something the Sixers and the Magic will turn to in this matchup.
"All six of the guys, I think, are really good players," Nurse said after practice. "Black had a really great year going until his injury; he’s had a real step up in play. So I think all six of those guys are very good, which is probably why both teams end up with (those) lineups."
Keeping Paolo Banchero off the free-throw line
Banchero isn't the most efficient player in the world, but he can get to the foul line when he puts head down and attacks. He averages 8.2 free-throw attempts per game and will put pressure on the rim whenever he can. He shot 11 free throws in an Oct. 27 matchup between these teams and the Sixers will have to find a way to slow him down and force him into jumpers. He shoots 45.9% from the floor and overall and 30.5% from deep. If the Sixers can force Banchero into a jump shooter, the Sixers should win the game rather easily.
Nurse on slowing Banchero:
"He is physical. He gets a lot done with his strength and size, just carving space, attacking with his shoulder hits and things like that. You’ve got to stand in there and be able to use your own physicality. We’ve got to have multiple coverages ready for him. I think showing him multiple bodies, especially in certain matchups, will be important for us. And even going as far as having three or different schemes and three or four different guys that’ll guard him. I think trying to keep him off balance with some of that stuff is important, too. But a lot of it’s just going to come down to somebody standing in there and using their force against his."
The Magic center rotation
The Magic will turn to Wendell Carter Jr. at the center spot to give them some production in a number of areas. He averages 2.1 offensive rebounds per game so the Sixers will have to be aware of that and he can knock down a corner 3-pointer. Behind him is Goga Bitadze who is a physical, defensive-minded big man, and also a terrific passer, before Moe Wagner can step in and cause havoc. With the Sixers missing Joel Embiid, more responsibility is placed upon Adem Bona and Andre Drummond.
"I think both of those guys are good players," Nurse said of Orlando's centers. "Carter’s a roller, short-pocket guy. He’s athletic, a rebounder. They’ll also park him on the perimeter in the corners. Good shooter. They’ll play through Bitadze a little bit more in some of their trail actions, cutting and things like that. Very good passer. Also a very good offensive rebounder. I think there’s probably some of the matchups we like better, but I think it’s probably a read of how things are going. I’ll say it again: We’re going to play Drum, we’re going to play Bona and we’ve got to figure out what it looks like as the game is going on."
This Tuesday evening, PSG travel to Anfield to face Liverpool in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.
After winning the first leg 2-0, PSG now need to finish the job at Anfield.
For this second meeting, Luis Enrique is making no changes to his starting XI and continues to rely on his attacking trio of Kvaratskhelia, Dembélé, and Doué.
On the other side, Arne Slot is changing everything but leaving Mohamed Salah on the bench! The Reds will line up with an Ekitike-Isak strike partnership! Check out the team line-ups below.
Liverpool : Mamardashvili - Frimpong, Konaté, Van Dijk (capt), Kerkez - Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Wirtz - Isak, Ekitike.
PSG : Safonov - Hakimi, Marquinhos (capt), Pacho, N. Mendes - Vitinha, J. Neves, Zaïre-Emery - Kvaratskhelia, Dembélé, Doué.
A retrial into the death of the football legend Diego Maradona began on Tuesday, a year after the first case collapsed in a mistrial.
Seven members of his medical team are charged with negligent homicide after he died from a heart attack, aged 60.They have denied the allegations.If convicted, they face between eight and 25 years in prison.
The first trial collapsed last May when one of its three judges resigned after allegedly allowing unauthorised filming in court for a documentary.
Maradona died in 2020 at his home in Tigre, Buenos Aires province, while he was recuperating from surgery to remove a brain blood clot.
Investigators classified the case as culpable homicide - a crime similar to involuntary manslaughter - because they said the accused were aware of the seriousness of Maradona's health condition but did not take the necessary measures to save him.
The heart failure caused him to suffer acute pulmonary oedema, when fluid builds up in the lungs, the preliminary autopsy confirmed.
A panel of medical experts, asked by prosecutors to investigate Maradona's medical team, said the treatment he received at his home was "deficient and reckless".
It concluded that the footballer "would have had a better chance of survival" with adequate treatment in an appropriate medical facility.
The seven people on trial include his main medical adviser, Leopoldo Luque, and his psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov. His former nurse, Dahiana Gisela Madrid, will stand in a separate trial.
The Argentinian is remembered as one of the game's most gifted players [Getty Images]
Around 100 people are set to testify in front of a new set of judges at a court in San Isidro, including Maradona's daughters. The trial is expected to last until July.
When the footballer died on 25 November 2020, then President of Argentina Alberto Fernandez declared three days of national mourning.
"Thank you for having existed, Diego. We're going to miss you all our lives," he said.
Maradona started his career with Argentinos Juniors. He went on to represent Argentina in four World Cups, scoring 34 goals, including the infamous "Hand of God" goal against England in 1986.
During the second half of his career, he struggled with cocaine addiction. He was banned for 15 months after testing positive for the drug in 1991.
He retired from professional football in 1997, on his 37th birthday, during his second stint at Argentine giants Boca Juniors.
Maradona was appointed head coach of the national team in 2008 and left after the 2010 World Cup, where his side were beaten by Germany in the quarter-finals.
He subsequently managed teams in the United Arab Emirates and Mexico and was in charge of Argentinian club Gimnasia y Esgrima at the time of his death.
Westphal, a 7-foot center, redshirted this season. He was the only high school recruit on Xavier's roster after he committed to the Musketeers in April.
A native of Salida, Colorado, Westphal left his hometown to play for Fear of God Athletics, an affiliate of Overtime Elite located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 2025.
He played 11.6 minutes per game off the bench with Overtime Elite and averaged 3 points and 4.1 rebounds.
Before that, he averaged 15.1 points and 10.7 rebounds per game for Salida High School during the 2023-24 season.
Xavier's 2026-27 roster is now up to nine scholarship players. There are three returns with Westphal joining Jovan Milicevic and Gabriel Pozzato. As of now, Xavier has three incoming transfers in Rubén Dominguez, Tru Washington and Mike Nwoko. There's also the three-person Class of 2026 in Kalek House, Asher Elson and Gedeon Basson.
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Avdalas is the No. 3 shooting guard and the No. 20 overall player in 247Sports’ transfer portal rankings. He chose the Tar Heels after drawing interest from Arkansas, Florida State, Kentucky, Michigan, Oklahoma State, St. John’s and Texas.
The 6-foot-9 wing averaged 12.1 points, 4.6 assists and 3.1 rebounds while shooting 38.6% from the field and 31.4% from 3-point range for Virginia Tech last season.
Here’s a look at his skillset, the good and the bad.
Where He Excels
Avdalas is a matchup problem at 6-foot-9, moving with the fluidity and skill of a point guard. He handles the ball well, gets downhill to the rim and uses his height to see and pass over defenders.
He averaged 4.6 assists per game, which ranked eighth in the conference, and his 2.1 assist-to-turnover ratio was 12th. In conference play, he ranked 10th with a 26.7 percent assist rate. He recorded four conference games with seven or more assists.
Potential Issues
One of the biggest issues was his shooting issues as well as his inconsistent scoring outputs. Avdalas only shot 38.6% from the field and 31.4% from 3-point range on five attempts per game.
He opened the season strong, averaging 14.1 points on 44.4% shooting from the field and 37% from 3 in nonconference play. Two of his best games were a 33-point outing against Providence and a 30-point performance against Western Carolina.
However, his production dipped in ACC play. While his assist and rebounding numbers stayed steady, he struggled to score, averaging 10.8 points on 35.1% shooting from the field and 28.1% from beyond the arc. Avdalas had nine single-digit scoring games in ACC play, including nine points and 5 points in his last two.
Final Thoughts
From UNC’s perspective, Avdalas is a player you turn loose, not one you ease in. At 6-9 with an unconventional but impactful style, he fits the mold of the long, versatile playmakers coaches like Michael Malone have maximized with players such as Nikola Jokic and Michael Porter Jr. In the right structure at North Carolina, he has the tools to grow into his ceiling.
Avdalas can complement a score-first point guard or a dominant wing by handling secondary playmaking duties and initiating offense. If his development stays on track, he has the upside to anchor a perimeter core and perform at an all-ACC level.
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
MassLive’s Sean McAdam confirmed a report from 7News’ Ari Alexander Tuesday morning that Jack Anderson was called up to join the Red Sox. The corresponding move is lefty Tyler Samaniego being optioned to Triple-A, according to a source. Anderson is en route to Minnesota ahead of Tuesday’s 7:40 p.m. ET first pitch.
Anderson, who started Thursday’s game for Worcester and pitched six innings, will be able to give Alex Cora’s bullpen some length, if needed. The 26-year-old was drafted by the Tigers in 2021 and spent his time in the Detroit farm system as a reliever. Boston acquired Anderson during the minor league portion of the 2024 Rule 5 draft and he spent last season as both a reliever and starter.
During the 2025 season, Anderson had four starts and 19 relief appearances for Double-A Portland before making three starts with the WooSox.
Anderson has gone 1-0 in two starts with a 3.72 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP for the WooSox this spring. He struck out nine batters in 9.2 innings on the mound after not being an invite to major league spring training. He appeared in the World Baseball Classic as a member of Team Great Britain.
Two injured players (Triston Casas and Johan Oviedo) are candidates to be placed on the 60-day IL to clear a spot for Anderson, who is not on the 40-man roster.
The news comes after the NCAA deemed there was illegal contact by Kirk Ferentz and Jon Budmayr with a quarterback via the transfer portal, which is believed to have been Cade McNamara. Ferentz has released a statement regarding the ruling from the NCAA.
“I am disappointed by the NCAA’s decision today. Throughout the process, our program has been open and honest about my mistake – contacting a potential player in the hours before it was permissible by NCAA rules.
"I felt it was important to make amends for the issue, which is why I voluntarily served a one-game suspension to start the 2023 season. I believe today’s decision by the NCAA vacating four wins in our 2023 season is overly harsh and inconsistent with the violation.
Kirk Ferentz statement on the NCAA ruling:
“I am disappointed by the NCAA’s decision today. Throughout the process, our program has been open and honest about my mistake – contacting a potential player in the hours before it was permissible by NCAA rules.
"As I tell our team and staff, it is how you respond and move forward that defines you. Our focus is on the 2026 season and that is how we are moving forward.”
It is believed that the Hawkeyes will be forced to vacate wins from the games in which Cade McNamara appeared in during the 2023 season, which is four victories.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald7
Most MLB teams, including the Cubs, have gone to all-digital ticketing. You can get a paper Cubs ticket… sometimes… depending on the circumstances.
This began after the pandemic shut ballparks to fans in 2020. The last year the Cubs issued paper season tickets to fans was 2019, and Wrigley Field — plus most other MLB parks — went cashless in 2021 when parks re-opened to fans.
This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Cashless was better for teams, who didn’t have to handle cash (and anecdotally, I heard reports that some rogue employees were stealing cash), and for fans, as long as you have your phone, you can’t forget your ticket.
There have been some glitches. Last September, as I reported here, the MLB Ballpark app got hacked and quite a number of fans, including Cubs fans, lost tickets as a result. Most, though not all, of those tickets were recovered, but as I suggested in that September 2025 article, MLB revamped the Ballpark app and began 2-factor authentication. That’s a must when you have apps with payment information and potentially thousands of dollars worth of tickets stored (as a season ticket holder would).
But here’s the thing. A game ticket isn’t just something that admits you to a stadium. It’s a tangible souvenir of your visit to the ballpark. I have literally thousands of game ticket stubs (and beginning in 2005, when the Cubs put barcodes on the tickets, full tickets) which create memories. Many Cubs season tickets over the years had really nice artistic designs, such as these from the Wrigley Field centennial year in 2014. Those are art, and well worth keeping.
Instead, your digital ticket disappears from the app after the game, so all you have is a record within the Ballpark app that you attended the game. True, you can put photos in the app for each game, but to me at least, a digital record isn’t quite the same as having an actual piece of paper, issued by the team, that you can keep in a scrapbook (people still do those, right?) or elsewhere. I actually had someone suggest that I “print a screenshot” of my digital ticket and… well, no, that’s not the same thing at all.
I bring all this up because of this article on this topic in The Athletic today. The article cites Montreal Expos fan Josée Tellier, who has kept binders of tickets from Expos games she attended, many from decades ago. One of them is from her first game, signed by Andre Dawson:
“Today, when people go to shows or games or whatever, they use their phones to take pictures and to get a memory of that moment, but at the time, who is going to the stadium with that camera? It wasn’t something we were doing at the time,” Tellier said. “So the ticket was the proof that you were there, that you felt the moment, that you saw that magic play.”
That 1986 ticket is her most cherished — not because it was from a championship or record-breaking game, but because it was her first. In 2022, she met Dawson, who signed the card.
“At the time, we didn’t have any money, and this ticket was proof that we were there,” Tellier said. “This little booklet with the ticket inside and my mom’s picture is my most prized possession.”
That’s exactly what I am talking about. These aren’t just pieces of paper that get you into a game, they create memories that can last a lifetime.
The Cubs will sell you a commemorative paper “ticket” for any game you want for $9, which is not unreasonable. I bought one for the combined no-hitter thrown by Shōta Imanaga, Nate Pearson and Porter Hodge in 2024. Here’s what that looks like:
It’s a tangible souvenir, but not quite the same thing as if I had an actual paper ticket that I had used to get into the game.
I was also fortunate enough to get a printed ticket at the Tokyo Dome last year. This one is for the exhibition game the Cubs played against the Yomiuri Giants. (There are two times listed — one is for the gates opening, the other for the start of the game.) This is a great souvenir of my trip to Japan last year.
Teams are getting really stingy about printing souvenir tickets for games now. I did manage to get one in Milwaukee for Game 5 of the Division Series last year — the Brewers will do it for $10.
Errol Segal, who’s been a Dodger fan for 50 years, said he received a notice before the season began that he can no longer get printed tickets.
Segal, 81, owns a recycling center in South LA and said he’ll likely be spending more time there now that the Dodgers have gone fully digital.
“I enjoy working,” Segal said. “I don’t feel my age.”
He said he went to Dodger Stadium Thursday and was able to buy paper tickets, but the team won’t let him get them for the entire season.
“If I had the tickets one year, five years, 10 years, that’s another story,” Segal said. “50 years I’ve had these tickets. They threw me under the bus.”
Segal doesn’t use a smartphone, and I would think you wouldn’t have to buy a smartphone just to go to a sporting event. Apparently the Dodgers disagree.
I get why teams want to do this. Saves printing costs. Makes it easy to have tickets in one place. Oh, and by putting them in the Ballpark app, where you have to log in, teams now know exactly who is using every ticket to every game — data that is useful to them when (for example) setting dynamic pricing.
Incidentally, there is one way for you to create memories for yourself within the Ballpark app, if you don’t mind those memories being digital. The app has a database of games going back to 1901. To find this, click on “Profile” at the bottom of the app, it should show “My History,” all the games you have checked into via the app. Click on the arrow at the right, it will take you to a page showing all your games. Hit the + and you’ll see a screen where you can “Add Past Games.” It took me a while, but I got all my past games in there. Fun and interesting… but still not quite the same as having a paper ticket.
As for Josée Tellier?
In Montreal, with no Expos tickets, print or digital, Tellier goes to Montreal Canadiens games, QR code in hand.
“I really wish we would go back to paper tickets,” she said. Tellier recalled how once, she asked a stadium for the printed version.
They gave her an 8 x 11 printed sheet of paper of her digital ticket.
Like I said… that’s not quite the same. How do you feel about all-electronic ticketing?
Despite injury concerns to two starters, the Los Angeles Lakers have quickly become an incredibly popular bet to win the NBA championship.
Key Takeaways
The Lakers are the most-bet team to win the NBA title at FanDuel over the last 24 hours.
The online operator has shortened L.A.’s odds during that period.
The Lakers are currently without stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Heading into this week’s playoffs, FanDuel reported on Tuesday that the LeBron James-led Western Conference four seed has received the most wagers over the last 24 hours to capture the league title.
The most bet team to win the NBA Finals over the last 24 hours:
FanDuel has since shortened L.A.’s odds from +25000 to +15000. Still, the Lakers have the 12th-shortest odds on FanDuel’s NBA champion market, right behind the Atlanta Hawks at +10000.
Five teams in the West, including first-round opponent and five-seed Houston (+5500), are listed ahead of the Lakers. Oklahoma City is a +115 favorite at FanDuel to win back-to-back championships, followed by the San Antonio Spurs and Boston Celtics at +550 each.
The Lakers are +10000 to win the West and make the best-of-seven Finals.
Injury issues
Los Angeles heads into the series with an unknown status on star Luka Doncic and without guard Austin Reaves until May. Doncic left the team last week to receive treatment on a hamstring strain in Spain.
He’s set to return to the Lakers on Friday, but when he’ll return to the court is uncertain. The team has not announced Doncic’s timeline.
Reaves suffered an oblique strain that will sideline him for multiple weeks, but none of that is stopping bettors, who are backing James to keep the team afloat until everyone is healthy.
Big liability
BetMGM reported this week that, at +25000 to win it all, the Lakers have received 7.9% of the championship market’s tickets and 7.4% of the handle. That’s enough, combined with the massive odds, to make L.A. the operator’s biggest liability entering the NBA postseason.
BetMGM lists the Lakers at +500 to win the series against the Rockets, who are -700 to advance.
Meanwhile, the Spurs lead all teams in the NBA championship market with 11.9% of the bets and over 20% of the handle. The Thunder are second with 15.3% of the money, but with the shortest odds, that’s the team BetMGM is rooting for in the playoffs.
“Among the true contenders, OKC is the best result on the futures market,” BetMGM sports trader Anthony Parenti said.
“The sportsbook is in the enviable position of getting to cheer for the favorite to win it all.”
Florida football is expected to make a quick turnaround under its new head coach, at least according to one national outlet.
CBS Sports included the Gators in its bold SEC predictions for the 2026 season this week, forecasting that head coach Jon Sumrall will lead the Orange and Blue to a bowl game in his first year on the job.
Marcello pointed to Sumrall's history of winning as the primary reason for optimism in Gainesville. The first-year Florida head coach has won at least nine games every season as a head coach and carries a combined 21-7 record in debut seasons at his previous stops. He is rebuilding a program for the third time in five years and has consistently shown the ability to get the best out of his roster, regardless of circumstances.
The piece also acknowledged the uncertainty at quarterback, noting the position battle between Georgia Tech transfer Aaron Philo and redshirt freshman Tramell Jones Jr. as the most obvious talking point for skeptics heading into the season. But Marcello pushed back on that narrative, suggesting that Sumrall and offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner actually thrive in situations where they are forced to build from the ground up.
Sumrall talked about the starting quarterback situation after the spring game on Saturday, saying, "Nothing’s decided yet. I do think sometimes we can make too much about the quarterback deal. It's like, hey, we've got to figure out who our O-line is, which tight ends can do what, which backs are certain types of runners. But the quarterbacks have done some good things."
Here is everything CBS Sports said about Florida football and why it can make a bowl game this season.
CBS Sports' bold prediction for Florida
Gators go bowling
"Jon Sumrall will take Florida to a bowl game in his debut season. Honestly, this is the least-bold prediction on the list. Sumrall has won at least nine games every season, and he always gets the best out of his roster. He's rebuilding a third program in five years. He's a combined 21-7 in debut seasons.
"The critics will point to the underwhelming quarterback battle between Georgia Tech transfer Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones Jr. to justify their lowered expectations, but Sumrall and offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner thrive when forced to build from the ground up."
Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
While the assumption was that merging WWE and the UFC under one umbrella would lead to even more growth for the two companies, more bits of evidence continue to emerge about the negative effect their parent company is having on their products.
There is a surprising amount of crossover between WWE and the UFC. Many of the fans for both brands watch both products. Several wrestlers tried their hand at mixed martial arts, and quite a few former UFC stars have made the jump to pro wrestling.
That is why when the two global giants merged in 2023 under the umbrella of TKO Group Holdings and went public, it seemed like a perfect business match. However, while the companies are posting strong numbers again in 2026, there are also obvious signs that meddling from TKO and some of the strategies the parent company has tried to institute are hurting WWE and UFC’s potential.
Over the last couple of years, WWE fans have grown frustrated with TKO decision makers like CEO Ari Emanuel sticking their nose into the company’s creative process.
Emanuel has been supportive of board member Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s inconsistent and confusing appearances on WWE content in 2024 and 2025. He was reportedly behind Travis Scott being used in the lead-up to WrestleMania 41, then the rapper flaked out and never appeared again. And this year, he is allegedly the driving force for why Pat McAfee was thrust into the storyline for the Night 1 WrestleMania main event between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton.
WrestleMania 42 ticket sales are still way behind last year’s event
WrestleMania Saturday Sat • Apr 18, 2026 • 3:30 PM Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
Available Tickets: 3,850 Available Combo Tickets: 1,307 Current Setup: 45,767 Tickets Distributed: 40,610
📈 +1,265 since the last update (3 days ago) 📅 Days until show: 8 🔢 Total # of seats… pic.twitter.com/UvepGrZEUC
However, the biggest frustration since the merger for WWE is the price-gauging from the company for tickets and merchandise. That has very much been an initiative of TKO, and it is set to have a huge effect on the biggest event of the year.
There have been reports for weeks about the slow sales for this month’s WrestleMania 42 card. Well, with the event set to go down this weekend, it looks like it will significantly underperform last year’s show in the same building. According to X account Wrestle Tix, 40,610 tickets have been sold for Night 1 of the event in Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium, and 42,769 for Night 2. The arena is set up for 45,767 seats this year.
However, last year in the same building, 58,538 were sold for Night 1, and 60,103 for Night 2. It is a huge difference despite this year’s event having a better card. It seems that doing the event in Las Vegas for a second straight year was a terrible idea, and the cost makes it far less appealing for those in the region this time around.
UFC 327 made half as much as previous events in Miami?
Yet, WWE isn’t the only one affected by TKO’s negative influence. Fans of UFC have grown annoyed with how watered-down events have become as the promotion looks to have cards almost every weekend. Furthermore, the talent pool in the company has also diminished.
A major reason for the lack of star power in the UFC is the company’s shift away from pay-per-view to a $7.7 billion streaming deal with Paramount. Their business model for 20 years was built on PPVs and giving top fighters points off buys. With that no longer being an option, the company is unwilling to pay flat rates for elite stars.
It’s why Jon Jones isn’t going to return to the company. Conor McGregor still doesn’t have a fight set for 2026, and Ronda Rousey is making her MMA return on Netflix for Most Valuable Promotions instead of inside the Octagon.
UFC 327 was a complete disaster bc the product has been watered down.
Dana White only cares about saving money since they’re guaranteed 7.7 billion dollars from Paramount
Well, it looks like the UFC’s weakened product due to the changes from the TKO merger has made fans in Florida lose interest in shelling out big bucks to go to an event in person. According to X account MMA Joey, the gate for last weekend’s UFC 327 at Miami’s Kaseya Center was $6.5 million.
The promotion reportedly earned over $11 million for UFC 314, $12 million for UFC 287, and $14 million for UFC 299 at the same venue. So the drop in return for UFC 327 this year was massive.
This week brought two more big pieces of evidence that TKO continues to be bad for WWE and the UFC.
Feb 14, 2026; Providence, Rhode Island, USA; Providence College Friars forward Jamier Jones (5) dunks during the first half of the game against the St. John’s University Red Storm at Amica Mutual Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Natalie Reid-Imagn Images | Natalie Reid-Imagn Images
If it felt as though the transfer portal was off to a slow start, blame the stealth like approach Dennis Gates has taken each of the last two years. But the tremors of noise around Mizzou’s interest in Providence transfer wing Jamier Jones has been the one constant.
A report from On3 confirmed Jones will be a Tigers, and he became the second commitment the Tigers received out of the transfer portal, after scoring a pledge from Tennessee transfer forward Jaylen Carey last night.
Jones is a former 4-star recruit out of Sarasota, Florida, by way of high school in Orlando at Oak Ridge. In his lone season in college at Providence, he averaged 11.9 points per game, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists. Jones is on the market because Providence fired former Mizzou Tiger Kim English as its head coach following a 15-18 season.
Jones automatically becomes the most likely starter at either the wing or combo forward position, with Trent Pierce back. And his scoring consistency is something that should complement the scoring of Jason Crowe, Jr.
Jones is a powerful and rugged 6-foot-6 forward who can thrive with his overlap of physicality, athleticism, and basketball IQ when his motor is running at full throttle. He’s most efficient when he embraces that junkyard dog mentality. He plays with energy, runs the floor, and is a lob threat on offense Jones can elevate in traffic and is a physical driver who seeks out contact. He has an athletic live body on the glass. Jones shows some real signs of being a good cutter off the ball and flashes a passing instinct at times.
We will have a full scout on Jones in the coming days, there’s a bit of a tease Matt Harris worked up before leaving for vacation. But he has all the details, the good the bad and the in between. Jones is a forceful driver, and his three point volume is very low. Because of this the Tigers are likely still looking for a combo guard/wing type who can shoot it at volume.
Gloucestershire have appointed former Bangladesh coach Shane Jurgensen as a bowling consultant.
The 49-year-old Australian has had two stints as bowling coach of New Zealand and has also been in charge of the Fijian national team.
After a year as bowling coach of Bangladesh, Jurgensen stepped in as interim head coach following Stuart Law's departure - leading the side to a 3-2 One Day International (ODI) series victory against the West Indies in 2012.
Two months later, Jurgensen became Bangladesh head coach on a full-time basis, and under his leadership the Tigers completed a 3-0 ODI series whitewash of New Zealand as well as securing a Test win against Zimbabwe, their first in four years. He resigned in April 2014.
He has now signed a deal with the County Championship Division Two's bottom club until the end of June, after they went down to an innings and 225 run defeat at the hands of Durham inside three days at the weekend.
"We're really pleased to have Shane Jurgensen with us for the next three months," Gloucestershire's director of cricket Jon Lewis told the club website.
"Shane is an outstanding fast-bowling coach with real leadership experience and qualities. He has worked with some of the best players in the world, and we hope he can impart that knowledge onto our playing group."
Santos president speaks out on possible offers for Neymar
Santos president Marcelo Teixeira said he is unaware of any official offer for Neymar’s departure.
In an interview given this Tuesday (31), the executive stressed that the star still has a valid contract with the club and that the expectation is for the agreement to be fully honored, running through the end of 2026.
The statement comes amid speculation about the future of the No. 10, who is reportedly being targeted by FC Cincinnati of MLS.
Teixeira pointed out that, so far, no club or agent has presented formal offers to take the forward away from Vila Belmiro, reiterating confidence in the continuity of the project.
We have a project on the field and off the field, with the projects with NR. Naturally, Santos is currently doing work to help prepare Neymar to represent Brazil at the World Cup
Marcelo Teixeira, Santos president
In addition to denying the inquiries, the chairman explained details of the financial agreement with NR Sports, the player’s family company. Santos acknowledges a debt of R$ 90.5 million, a figure that has been discussed as part of a “successful partnership” between the parties.
To guarantee payment of that amount, the club offered the Meninos da Vila training center as legal collateral.
According to Teixeira, the measure is common practice in contracts of this magnitude and serves to provide mutual security for both the club and the player’s representatives.
The executive also pushed back against criticism of the agreement, calling it essential to Santos’ restructuring.
I bet the Orlando Magic wish the “Back to the Future” ride was still running at Universal Studios.
That would be their best chance to reverse time and erase the embarrassment of last Sunday, while avoiding this road matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA Play-In Tournament.
Orlando was the laughingstock of the league in the season finale. It botched a scheduling layup as 13-point favorites to a makeshift Boston squad and faceplanted to the No. 8 seed in the East.
Our Magic vs. 76ers predictions feel the pressure on Paolo Banchero to pick up the pieces in Philly and my NBA picks are taking Orlando's star to top his points prop.
Magic vs 76ers prediction
Magic vs 76ers best bet: Paolo Banchero Over 22.5 points (-120)
Paolo Banchero was one of the best scorers in the NBA for most of March but seemed to hit a wall in the home stretch.
After tallying 105 points in a span of three games, his usage went from season rate of 27.8% to 24.9% over the final nine contest. Banchero averaged less than 18 points per game in that period and attempted less than 16 field goals in seven of those outings.
That dip in production did coincide with Franz Wagner’s return to the lineup, taking touches away from Banchero. However, we saw an aggressive approach in Sunday’s finale, with Paolo taking 22 shots – tying his second highest FGA mark of the season.
Banchero made just 7 of those 22 attempts, including whiffing on all five 3-pointers, yet was able to go 9 for 11 from the foul line and salvaged a 23-point performance in the loss.
Banchero took the blame for the flop in the finale, despite finishing with a triple-double in the loss. The versatile 6-foot-10 forward has a great opportunity to exploit Embiid’s absence against a smaller Philadelphia 76ers lineup.
Banchero’s two meetings with Philadelphia tell the story: With Embiid in, he finished with 14 points on 6-of-18 shooting and scored only two FTMs. Without him, Banchero hung 32 points (10 for 18) with 11 of those coming from the stripe.
Player projections for Wednesday sit between 23.3 and 25 points from Banchero. I’m leaning toward the high end of those forecasts, as Philadelphia doesn’t have anyone who can handle his combo of speed and size.
Magic vs 76ers same-game parlay
The Sixers are a tough challenge at home and even with Embiid out, this defense can still pack the paint due to the Orlando Magic’s awful 3-point shooting. Philadelphia is 19-8 SU as home chalk this season.
While Banchero headlines the Magic attack, Tyrese Maxey takes center stage for the 76ers. The kinetic guard is an inside-out threat, with projections calling for 3+ makes from beyond the arc. Maxey made three or more triples in two of his three matchups with Orlando this year.
Magic vs 76ers SGP
76ers Moneyline
Paolo Banchero Over 22.5 points
Tyrese Maxey Over 2.5 3-pointers
Our "from downtown" SGP: Florida Man
Banchero stuffed the stat sheet Sunday and still fell short, taking responsibility for the Magic’s egg in the season finale. Projections are all very positive for the superstar, who should also do some damage on defense against a smaller 76ers lineup.
Magic vs 76ers SGP
Paolo Banchero Over 22.5 points
Paolo Banchero Over 8.5 rebounds
Paolo Banchero Over 5.5 assists
Paolo Banchero Over 0.5 blocks
Magic vs 76ers odds
Spread: Orlando +2 | Philadelphia -2
Moneyline: Orlando +110 | Philadelphia -130
Over/Under: Over 222 | Under 222
Magic vs 76ers betting trend to know
Play-In favorites of three points or less are 8-3 SU and ATS since the league introduced the current tournament format in 2021. Find more NBA betting trends for Magic vs. 76ers.
How to watch Magic vs 76ers
Location
Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Date
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
Magic vs 76ers latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Javier Mascherano has unexpectedly stepped down as head coach of Inter Miami, a mere four months after guiding Lionel Messi’s team to MLS Cup glory.
The team confirmed that Mascherano, who previously played alongside Messi at Barcelona and for the Argentine national team before their reunion in Miami, is departing due to personal reasons.
In a statement released by the club, Mascherano expressed his gratitude: "I would like to thank the club for the trust they placed in me, every employee who is part of the organization for the collective effort, but especially the players, who made it possible for us to experience unforgettable moments."
This surprising announcement comes less than two weeks after Inter Miami opened its new stadium near Miami International Airport.
The club has drawn both of its initial two fixtures played at the new venue.
Messi's Inter Miami won the MLS cup with Mascherano in charge in December (Getty)
Mascherano took charge of 67 Inter Miami matches in total after joining the club at the start of 2025.
He won 38 games, as well as coaching his team to 15 draws and 14 losses.
Inter Miami are now looking for a new head coach after a mixed start to the 2026 season.
They have collected 12 points from their opening seven matches to sit third in the Eastern Conference table, but they have been held to three draws already this season.
The team’s star player, Messi, has been in sparkling form, though, scoring six goals in eight matches across all competitions.
The 38-year-old is still yet to confirm whether he will play in this summer’s World Cup that is due to be hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada.
Argentina are the defending champions after winning a thrilling final in Qatar four years ago when they beat France in a penalty shootout.
The match had finished 3-3 after extra time, with Messi scoring twice for Argentina and Kylian Mbappe netting a hat-trick for France.
Photo credit should read JOHN GURZINSKI/AFP via Getty Images
Floyd Mayweather given 24-hour ultimatum to rescue boxing comeback
Floyd Mayweather has been given 24 hours to save his money-spinning return to boxing.
The 50-0 ring legend hasn’t fought professionally since stopping UFC superstar Conor McGregor in August 2017.
Since then, Floyd Mayweather has made money by facing the likes of Logan Paul in exhibition bouts.
Why the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao rematch might not happen
Photo credit should read JOHN GURZINSKI/AFP via Getty Images
Back in 2015, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao faced off in what became the highest-grossing fight in boxing history.
This past February, news broke that the two would meet again, this time under the Netflix banner.
The rematch is set for September 19 at the Las Vegas Sphere, but there’s already uncertainty surrounding the event after Mayweather described it as an exhibition rather than a professional bout.
Pacquiao has since given Mayweather a 24-hour deadline to clarify the situation.
Speaking to Inside the Ring, Pacquiao said: “That’s not what we signed.”
“We signed a real fight. He’s got his event, he’s announcing this exhibition, blah, blah, blah.
“I think he’s scared of losing because that’s his leverage to go around and have exhibitions. If that record was ruined, what else can he leverage?
The CEO of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, Jas Mathur added: “All I can say is we are making headway on it, there is a contract in place, and I think better sense will prevail here. I hope it will.”
With the NFL Draft kicking off next week, teams and players are hard at work getting their meetings and workouts in as they round out their due diligence for the draft. While Michigan State football doesn't have anyone expected to go in the first round this year, they do have a handful of players who will, at the very least, find a landing spot at the next level in some capacity.
One of those players is Malik Spencer, the veteran safety who started for three seasons at MSU and had 52 tackles, five pass breakups, and two sacks last season for the Spartans. According to Jordan Schultz, Spencer met with the New England Patriots this week for a 30-visit.
30-visits are a mechanism for NFL teams to invite 30 players to their facility as part of the pre-draft process to engage in workouts and interviews. They are usually reserved for late-draft or undrafted free agent targets for the teams.
Source: Michigan State S Malik Spencer concluded a 30-visit with the #Patriots.
A projected Day 3 pick, Spencer — a three-year starter — had 52 tackles, 5 PBUs and 2 sacks last season for the Spartans. pic.twitter.com/o09GafUxMd
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The NBA playoffs are finally here! Though the play-in tournament results will determine the final draft lottery odds, we’ve got a pretty good idea about how things will fall. Last mock, I played out the scenario in which Darryn Peterson tumbled out of the top three due to medical concerns. Today, we're doing the opposite now that the order is mostly set with a clean board and standard order. Let’s get to it with both the first and second rounds.
Congratulations to the Wizards for their hard work tanking their way to only 17 wins, ending the year on a high note with a 10-game losing streak! At worst, the Wizards can end up with the fifth pick. But we’ll save that nightmare scenario for a future mock. For now, the Wizards stick with the first pick and land Dybantsa, who led the nation in scoring as a freshman by averaging 25.5 points for a top-25 team. At 6-foot-9, players his size are not supposed to move with the herky-jerky elasticity that Dybantsa does. He can dunk over defenders. He can stop on a dime and fade away from midrange. And he can catch fire from behind the line too. BYU head coach Kevin Young said Dybantsa’s scoring talent is “in rare air with some of the greats.” Over the course of his freshman year, he began to make dramatic progress as a passer, too, as shown with his cross-court, bull’s-eye passes to find shooters.
If the Wizards land him with the top pick, they could be getting the face of the franchise they need to headline a young roster with some appealing talents, such as center Alex Sarr, wing Kyshawn George, and guard Tre Johnson. And perhaps Trae Young and Anthony Davis could return next season and help Dybantsa win as a rookie.
Tyrese Haliburton told Pacers fans not to get used to no games being played in April, May and June. Odds are, he’s right. Indiana has a lot of talent on the roster, and as long as Haliburton can return to his All-NBA level, whomever gets picked will be the cherry on top. With Dybantsa off the board, the Pacers could take a look at Cam Boozer with this pick — that’s who I had in my last mock — but would Indiana become too big with Ivica Zubac, Pascal Siakam and Boozer? Is there enough perimeter defense with that group? Maybe Boozer would be more of a successor to Siakam.
But if there's one thing the Pacers are definitely missing, it's some scoring juice. Andrew Nembhard is very talented, but he doesn't have star upside. Neither do young investments like Aaron Nesmith, Ben Sheppard, Kam Jones, Jarace Walker and Johnny Furphy. That’s why Peterson would make total sense. The shot-making is real. He can pull up from anywhere and get to his spots. Plus he is 6-6 and plays with a fluidity that just screams superstar. Not to mention he’s a defensive playmaker with the tools to guard multiple positions and the approach to impact the game even if he’s not scoring.
Between the cramping saga, the missed time, the lack of apparent athletic pop and the stretches where he played heavy minutes but struggled to produce offensively, there’s a lot to be concerned about. But the pre-draft period could answer many questions. And for the Pacers, he could be worth the swing anyway. Because if he’s a hit, Haliburton-Peterson would have the upside to be the NBA’s best backcourt for the next decade.
The Nets need a leader. Boozer fits the bill. He’s a do-it-all offensive talent who can post up, run pick-and-rolls, set screens, spot up and crash the boards. He doesn’t need to rely on bully ball to make an impact as a scorer or passer. Defensively, some of the questions about him popped up in Duke’s heartbreaking Elite 8 loss to UConn: He wasn’t big enough to defend Tarris Reed, and he got smoked by Alex Karaban on a key 3-pointer on the perimeter. But he plays hard and has improved at every weakness in his game so far. That approach is exactly the type of player Brooklyn needs.
Between Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Walker Kessler, the Jazz already have a lot of bigs. But adding arguably the most gifted athlete in the draft class in Wilson would add a player with star upside to the mix. He's 6-10 with springs for legs, and when he's flying above the rim, finishing through contact and chasing down everything in his area code, he looks like a future cornerstone.
But the case against Wilson is pretty clear too. Despite all his positives, he hasn’t shown consistency as a shooter at any level. Then a broken left hand in February and a fractured right thumb in March ended his season before he could prove himself on the biggest stage. There are plenty of guards who should intrigue the Jazz too — especially Illinois’ Keaton Wagler — that could fit alongside Keyonte George for years to come. But for this mock, let’s pretend Utah builds a jumbo team.
The Kings need an engine. Someone who can put butts in seats again. That player could be Acuff, who entered college with a scoring reputation, but has emerged as a skilled, low-turnover playmaker who also displayed leadership qualities. Still, getting buckets is what he does best. He is a wiry scorer who can get a bucket from anywhere on the floor with a quick trigger, slippery handle, and a feel for manipulating defenses. He can thrive off-ball, too, as a shooter and cutter, giving him the flexibility to play with and without the ball.
Even though he has his defensive shortcomings, he looks like a future All-Star who can toggle between a score-first or pass-first approach. There are “safer” picks on the board, but Acuff offers a sky-high ceiling that Sacramento needs.
After staying stagnant most of the year with the eighth-best odds, Dallas and New Orleans picked up some late wins to help the Grizzlies slip into the sixth spot, which comes with 3% better odds at the first pick and 11% better odds at the top four. This difference better positions the Grizzlies to find their replacement for Ja Morant. And the answer could be Wagler, who was never expected to be a one-and-done, and yet he led Illinois all the way to the Final Four. And in the loss to UConn, he ultimately felt like their only hope for any shot creation.
Wagler isn’t an elite vertical athlete, as evidenced by his zero dunks on the year. But he is 6-6 with a long wingspan, has elite footwork, can decelerate on drives and has an excellent feel for the game. He could be a perfect fit for head coach Tuomas Iisalo’s pick-and-roll offense. There’s a chance Wagler goes much higher than this, but if he lands with Memphis, he could grow alongside a center like Zach Edey, a wing like Cedric Coward and a long list of young talents still under 25 years old.
It really is quite sad that the Pelicans couldn’t dig their way out of the NBA's garbage can division. But good for the Hawks. They’ve been one of the best teams in basketball for months. And now they have a 9.8% chance of ending up with the top pick, thanks to the Pelicans/Bucks pick swap. If they stay put in this range, drafting a guard could make sense. CJ McCollum is 34, but his versatile style playing with and without the ball fits perfectly in the Atlanta backcourt. Someone who could grow into that role is Brown.
When Brown is in the zone, he has an unstoppable pull-up jumper, shows an ambidextrous finishing ability and makes quick reads to rifle passes before the defense has time to react. He had a 45-point breakout performance in February, but a back injury dogged him throughout his freshman year. If Brown had stayed healthy, he might be going much higher. And maybe he’ll play his way into that through pre-draft workouts. But for now, the absences muddy the evaluation and leave real questions about his consistency that may not get answered until he’s fully healthy.
Beating the Blazers, Lakers and Bulls over the last nine games of the season has to sting, at least if you’re a Mavericks fan who was rooting for better lottery odds. Maybe falling from sixth to eighth will work out though. It only took the 11th-best odds to grab Cooper Flagg one year ago. And even in this slot, the Mavericks could find their point guard of the future. And why not stay in Texas?
Flemings entered the season as the least-heralded of Houston's stacked freshman class, but he played his way into the top-10 conversation while his higher-ranked teammates played their way out of it. He’s a 6-4 ball-handler who can get to his spots, make advanced passes and limit turnovers in a way that resembles a veteran guard. If he lands with Dallas, it’s hard to imagine a better situation. Kyrie Irving could serve as a mentor, and Flemings could grow alongside a future MVP candidate in Flagg.
Artūras Karnišovas and Marc Eversley got fired. But what really changes? The team felt no different under them than it did with Gar Forman and John Paxson leading the front office. The common denominator: The Reinsdorf family is still in charge. But maybe they just need to hire the right guy. And maybe the right guy can fix this middling organization. And every good team in the NBA has a reliable center. The Bulls don’t. That’s why Mara could fit after he helped lead Michigan to a national championship, raising his draft stock in the process.
Mara reads the floor like a guard, finishes with both hands and swats shots with elite timing. The sequences that Mara could have with skilled passers like Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis could be breathtaking. The complication is he doesn't shoot well from outside, he makes below 60% of his free throws, and opponents are going to attack him on the perimeter. But size matters.
It would be on brand for Bucks general manager Jon Horst to take a raw prospect with theoretically high upside. Sometimes that player turns into Giannis Antetokounmpo. Other times he turns into Thon Maker. But the logic is the same with Ament, who severely struggled at finishing due to his undeveloped frame and didn’t shoot 3s as well as anticipated after entering the college year with the hopes if turning this draft class into a Big Four.
Players who can handle, shoot off the dribble and stand 6-10 don’t grow on trees. This physical foundation kept Ament in lottery consideration even after a dreadful start to his freshman season when he struggled to score efficiently and make an impact defensively. But over the second half of the year for Tennessee, he flipped a switch and shots began to fall. He averaged 23.8 points over a six-game stretch in January and February that reminded everyone why he was a top recruit in the country. Then he dealt with an ankle injury that ruined his momentum entering March. But the Bucks, no matter what happens with Giannis, may want to take a huge swing.
Lopez is a forward out of Mexico who spent two seasons in the NBL's Next Stars program, averaging nearly 12 points and six rebounds. He's a smart cutter who finds scoring lanes within the flow of the offense, a solid shooter, and a versatile defender. That two-way versatility would work well with the Warriors, who need to replenish the roster with some upside.
Draymond Green could actually be quite a good mentor for Lopez, given they’re both hard-nosed players who make a winning effort at all times on the court. But the Warriors may not even end up with a lottery pick if they win their way out of the play-in. I know what I’d rather have if I’m a Warriors fan though: Give me the lottery odds.
The Clippers face off against the Warriors in Wednesday night’s play-in game. I just can’t imagine the reaction if they actually lose, because whoever does will end up with the 11th-best odds. The same spot that Dallas had moving up to the top pick last year. Can you imagine?
Well, if this Clippers pick stays put here, there’s still plenty of talent available for the Thunder. Lendeborg comes to mind, and there’s a chance he goes even higher than this despite the fact he’ll be 24 as a rookie. The heart he showed playing through injury to help lead Michigan to a national championship cannot be understated. And despite his age, he offers do-it-all upside. He fills the stat sheet with points, boards and everything else, he can play multiple positions, and he has a 7-foot-4 wingspan at 240 pounds with a genuine handle.
Lendeborg got better every year as a shooter in college and ended up making 37.2% of his 3-pointers on 4.5 per game as a senior. The Thunder have actually fallen to the middle of the pack in 3-point shooting, so adding a knockdown guy who can play right away on a rookie-scale contract could add additional value.
Michigan Wolverines forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) celebrates after their win against the UConn Huskies in the national championship at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Erik Spoelstra just doesn’t have any trust in Kel’el Ware. Even if things work out, it wouldn’t hurt making another investment in the frontcourt with the type of player that has all the qualities that Spo admires. Steinbach played professionally in Germany before enrolling at Washington, and he’ll enter the NBA with some ready-made skills as an interior scorer and rebounder. He has massive hands that he uses to grab every possible rebound and finish effectively around the basket.
He also showed legitimate touch on 3-pointers in flashes, which would turn him into a very different player if it becomes real. Given how successful the Heat were at helping Bam Adebayo develop his 3-pointer, Steinbach could see the same trajectory in Miami. Additionally, Steinbach probably needs a Bam type next to him in the frontcourt since he’s a bit of a modern tweener himself. Steinbach is not a true 7-footer, and there are specific matchups where he gets targeted in space. He needs to be the right kind of center for the right team. That could be Miami.
Burries struggled in Arizona’s final NCAA tournament games against Purdue and Michigan, but he looked like a star against Arkansas. With Arizona up 13 with only 3:20 to go in the Elite 8, Burries dove head first for a loose ball, grabbed it, then flipped it to his teammate for an open layup. Some players would’ve relaxed with the big lead, but Burries stays pedal to the metal. Hustle plays like that, and the flashes of stardom as a shot creator, helped him earn his spot as a potential lottery pick.
He plays with physicality and can beat you from all three levels. He's a methodical creator rather than an explosive one, but that could work in Charlotte with LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel already absorbing so many touches. It would allow Burries to slide in as a Swiss Army Knife in the backcourt that fills different needs depending on what the matchup demands.
15. Chicago Bulls (via Portland)
Braylon Mullins, 6-6, UConn freshman wing
This pick will belong to the Blazers if they lose in the play-in. So all Bulls fans should be rooting hard for Portland to win on Tuesday (then Friday). After selecting a center in Mara with their first pick, let’s go with a shooter here. Mullins hit one of the greatest buzzer-beaters in college basketball history to send Connecticut to the Final Four, and he hit a ton of big-time shots off movement actions against stout defense by Illinois and Michigan, too.
Mullins shot only 33.5% on the season, but he’s a way better shooter than the number indicates. And though he needs others to generate looks at this stage of his career, he’s more than just a specialist with his nose for the ball and his defensive IQ, which led to so many little gritty moments that helped UConn stay competitive all the way to the final buzzer.
Swain would be another upside play for Memphis. He played two competent seasons at Xavier, transferred to Texas, and somehow became the most efficient isolation scorer in the entire country. He's relentless getting to the rim, creative as a finisher and active enough defensively to project as a switchable wing.
But the reason he lives at the rim is because his jump shot is genuinely ugly. He has stiff mechanics, bad percentages and a reluctance to even attempt it that goes all the way back to high school. Until his shooting becomes a credible threat, defenses are going to pack the paint and dare him to beat them from the outside. With Coward, Wagler and tons of other shooters on the roster, there’d be plenty of space for Swain to operate inside the arc, though, providing a balance with his downhill attacking.
17. Charlotte Hornets (via Phoenix)
Thomas Haugh, 6-9, Florida junior forward
Florida won the national title one year ago, and Haugh was the guy doing all the work by diving on the floor, taking charges, screening hard, cutting through traffic and running the break. Then this season he did all of that on top of becoming the team's offensive engine. But Florida wasn’t as dominant and flamed out in the Sweet 16 for a reason.
Haugh hasn’t proven he can drive left or shoot off the dribble at any meaningful clip, and even the spot-up jumper is still a work in progress. Haugh’s work ethic is elite, though, which is exactly what the Hornets would be betting on and would fit the spirit of so many of their picks from last year too.
18. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Philadelphia)
Labaron Philon, 6-4, Alabama sophomore guard
Philon is a shifty, score-first point guard who turned into one of the best guards in college basketball as a sophomore. He doubled his scoring output with buttery floaters, a deceptive handle and a feel for running an offense, while also beginning to shore up the shooting questions that once clouded his projection.
There probably wouldn’t be a better place for him to learn slowly than Oklahoma City, because he still needs time in the weight room after playing last season at only 180 pounds. With Cason Wallace's deal up after next season, and Ajay Mitchell, Jared McCain, Nikola Topić and Isaiah Joe the following year, some minutes could open soon.
Stirtz feels the game at a different frequency than everyone else on the floor, and yet still makes scouts squint because he doesn't look the part athletically. At age 24 for a rookie, he’s also on the older end. The question isn't whether he can play though.
After transferring from Drake to Iowa, he kept cooking with bull’s-eye passes, pump-fakes and shooting touch off the dribble from NBA range. The odds are that’ll carry over to the next level, especially if he lands on a team like the Raptors that can surround him with size, length and versatility. And Toronto needs another engine to the offense; if Stirtz adjusts to the physicality and speed of the NBA, he could thrive as both a floor general or off-ball connector.
The Spurs could go so many different directions with this pick. That’s the benefit of having Victor Wembanyama as the centerpiece. With plenty of downhill attacking, thanks to their point guard trio, adding another role player to help someday succeed Harrison Barnes could be a wise move.
Carr shot nearly 40% from 3 on high volume, and looked like a 3-and-D role player who also has tantalizing skills off the dribble. With NBA genes in his blood as the son of former player Chris Carr, Cameron has the skills to make it. But at 175 pounds with not a ton of games under his belt, he's going to get introduced to the NBA's physicality in a way that might limit his ability to get to his spots as a scorer. So he’ll need patience, and fortunately the Spurs are deep enough that they can provide it.
Evans is a legitimate sharpshooter with the off-ball chops to thrive without even running any offense for himself, which is a perfect fit in Detroit, where Cade Cunningham needs live targets in the corners. The Pistons were 29th in 3-point attempts and 17th in 3-point percentage this season, so more shooters like Evans are needed who can spot up and run around screens. As a sophomore, Evans made great progress on-ball as well, so in the long term he could have higher upside as a shot-creator.
Good grief. Could this season have ended any more horribly for the Sixers? Joel Embiid returns from injury, plays five games, dominates more than he has all season. And then he gets sidelined because of ... an appendectomy. The odds are he’ll be out for the play-in tournament, but if the Sixers escape and end up in the playoffs there's a chance he returns. Still, the Sixers would be wise to target a big who can back up Embiid.
Krivas is a 7-2 Lithuanian center who does the old-school things by rebounding, protecting the rim and scoring in the post. But he also brings a modern flair with his ability to make good reads as a passer and the flashes he shows as a shooter. Krivas could anchor bench units when Embiid is healthy, and potentially play a bigger role when he’s not. No matter what happens with Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe are both young pieces who need a big man to support them. Krivas has all the tools needed.
23. Atlanta Hawks (via Cleveland)
Chris Cenac, 6-11, Houston freshman big
If Cenac gets feedback that he’ll be a late first-round pick, he very well might just go back to Houston for his sophomore year. There’s a reason why he might end up in this range though. He checks every box on paper as a superb athlete who moves like a wing, has the length to alter shots and has a habit for shooting from the perimeter. But the Cougars fell short again, in part because Cenac struggled to stay out of foul trouble, couldn’t score efficiently and was overeager to play on the perimeter despite having the body of a bruiser. If the Hawks draft him, he’s more of a developmental project. But there’s no harm in taking a swing when the roster has roles already occupied, especially after grabbing a guard in Brown in the lottery.
The Lakers are finding out how good Deandre Ayton can look when he’s hustling. But there’s no guarantee it’ll be sustained, and they need a better long-term answer anyway. Ngongba does the dirty work without complaining about it: set screens, run the floor, make the right read, protect the rim, and do it all again the next play and the one after that. Ngongba did it as the backbone of one of the best teams in the country before a foot issue derailed the end of his season, which played a factor in Duke’s inability to reach the Final Four. He had two screws placed in his right foot during high school, then had lingering issues in his left foot as a freshman before his right foot became an issue again as a sophomore. Those injuries are why Ngongba could be available at the end of the first round.
Karaban sprinted off a curl, caught the ball while moving away from the basket, turned, and then fired a massive 3-pointer in the closing minute of UConn’s epic comeback over Duke in the Elite 8. The moment is emblematic of his shooting ability, which would be a positive addition to the Knicks. Karaban will be 24 as a rookie, but he’s just a winner. He cuts. He passes. He’s a high-IQ defender who’s always in the right position. He doesn’t create his own shots, but the Knicks have plenty of guys who can do that. What Karaban would add is winning intangibles to a team trying to take the next step.
Peat's bloodline is so loaded with offensive linemen that it's almost funny he ended up playing basketball. His father played nine NFL seasons. His uncle was a Pro Bowl tackle. Two brothers played college ball on the line. And you can absolutely see it in how he plays: powerful, physical, relentless, and it genuinely takes something special to stop him from getting to where he wants to go. But he also shoots like a football player, taking only 20 shots from 3 and making just 62.3% of his free throws.
Scouts question how well he’ll fit in the NBA. But the Nuggets have a way of making everyone fit with Nikola Jokić. And with Peyton Watson entering free agency this summer, the Nuggets may need to fortify the forward spot. The Nuggets can afford to be patient, deciding to bet on his development, with the hopes that he someday becomes a reliable shooter. Just like Watson.
Michigan is filled with so much star power that Johnson is the guy who often gets overlooked nationally. He’s a 250-pound wrecking ball with surprisingly soft hands and the defensive IQ to guard 1 through 5 in a switch-heavy scheme. And he makes constant plays beyond the box score with bone-crushing screens, full-court sprints and high-IQ rotations that blow up the opponent’s action. The Celtics have targeted team-first guys like Johnson in recent years, so he’d fit the profile here after proving himself as the connective tissue of the best team in the country. He isn’t quite big enough to be a true center and not yet proven enough as a shooter to guarantee he spaces the floor. But the Celtics can be patient and are proving to have a strong developmental program to help resolve any concerns.
Christian Anderson, 6-3, Texas Tech sophomore guard
Anderson showed up at Texas Tech as the 101st-ranked recruit and has played his way into the first round behind dynamic pick-and-roll creation and knockdown perimeter shooting. Mike Conley isn’t getting any younger in Minnesota, Rob Dillingham is gone, and Bones Hyland is no guarantee to stay next season. That’s where Anderson could help right away with his ability to thrive with and without the ball. At his small stature, he hasn’t shown a consistent ability to get to the rim with any regularity, though, and he struggled to create his own shot when Texas Tech lost in the tournament. Any small guard will always be a target on defense, too, so there’s a lot of pressure on his shot translating to the next level. But at least he’d have long-armed wings and bigs around him as support in Minnesota.
Quaintance is going to get drafted based almost entirely on what he looked like before his knee exploded. As a freshman at Arizona State, he was blocking everything in sight, showing defensive instincts and mobility that players with his 6-10 frame aren't supposed to have, and he was 17 years old doing it. Then came the ACL, the meniscus, the fractured knee, the transfer to Kentucky, persistent swelling, and a shutdown for the remainder of his sophomore season. Now teams have to make a decision after 28 games of great defense and eyesore offense. He might not fall this far. But if he does, it’d make perfect sense for the Cavaliers to scoop him up since he could operate as a backup to Jarrett Allen and as a small-ball center next to Evan Mobley.
30. Dallas Mavericks (via Oklahoma City)
Ebuka Okorie, 6-2, Stanford freshman guard
After landing Flemings in the lottery as their point guard of the future, the Mavericks can use this pick to double down on the backcourt with a different kind of bet. Okorie spent his freshman year at Stanford proving he belonged in the first-round conversation. He's a live-wire guard with a tight handle, the burst to turn the corner, and the pull-up range to keep defenders honest. Where Flemings is the steady, low-turnover table-setter, Okorie is the shot-maker who can come off the bench and generate offense when the starters need a breather.
He can fall in love with the step-back and settle for tough shots, but that was partially his role at Stanford and he flashed enough playmaking to suggest he could become a lead guard too. At 6-2 with an average wingspan, he's going to get hunted on defense, and that's the kind of thing that could scare teams off in the lottery. But at the end of the first round, it starts to look like a bargain. With Kyrie aging, pairing Flemings and Okorie gives Dallas two young guards to bet on, and hope that one or both of them end up as Flagg’s co-star for years to come.
SECOND ROUND
31. New York Knicks: Alex Condon, Florida junior big
Condon is a high-octane Aussie big with a relentless motor, versatile defense and the playmaking pizzazz for no-look dimes. With Mitchell Robinson entering free agency this summer, the Knicks may need another big.
32. Memphis Grizzlies: Juke Harris, Wake Forest sophomore wing
Harris reportedly has some lucrative NIL offers to stay in college, meaning he may not even end up in this draft class after averaging 21.4 points last season as a highly versatile shooter with a 6-foot-7 frame. But if he does stay, he’d make perfect sense as another investment in Memphis’ backcourt.
Tanner can probably make himself a lot more money if he stays in school. But as a high-flying, sweet-stroking small guard he finds himself still in the late first-round conversation, and the early second at worst.
As a 6-7 wing, Allen does a little bit of everything without needing touches, rebounds like a big and displays incredible defensive versatility. The concern is purely about his upside, since he hasn’t shown many star flashes.
35. San Antonio Spurs: Meleek Thomas, Arkansas freshman guard
It’s not like the Spurs need another guard. But how could you pass up Thomas at this point? He's a talented shotmaker who can provide microwave offense. And he’s an active defender too.
36. Los Angeles Clippers: Henri Veesaar, North Carolina junior big
Veesaar is an agile big with real shooting touch, connective playmaking, and baseline big skills with the ability to set screens and catch lobs. He also offers rim protection and is a locked-in help defender. Brook Lopez won’t start forever, so the Clippers need to make more investments in the future.
37. Oklahoma City Thunder: Dame Sarr, Duke freshman wing
Sarr is exactly the type of player who will probably return to school. But for now, we’ll keep him in the mock. The Thunder could stash him, only to see Sarr turn into the new Lu Dort three years from now.
38. Chicago Bulls: Sergio De Larrea, Valencia guard
De Larrea is a tall playmaking guard with a major feel and a knockdown jumper who thrives within team concepts. With size, smarts and defensive versatility, he could carve out a rotation role if his limited sample proves scalable.
39. Houston Rockets: Tarris Reed, UConn senior center
Reed is an interior bruiser, rebounder and shot-blocker. Steven Adams is getting old and injury prone. Reed is an investment in a future without him.
40. Boston Celtics: Tounde Yessoufou, Baylor freshman wing
Yessoufou entered Baylor as a projected lottery pick with freakish athleticism, a relentless motor and the kind of physicality that makes scouts dream. But Baylor missed the tournament, he’s still a shaky shooter, and he needs to improve his passing feel. There would be no better culture to learn in than the Celtics’.
41. Miami Heat: Allen Graves, Santa Clara freshman forward
The analytics love Graves. He came off the bench and scored only 11.8 points, but he filled the stat sheet, hit over 40% of his 3s, and could find himself in the first round if he decides not to stay in college.
42. San Antonio Spurs: Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State senior forward
Jefferson can pass out of the post, make connective reads and guard multiple positions. He just needs his shooting progress to prove to be real, and right now there's not enough of a sample to be sure it is. The Spurs can help him there.
43. Brooklyn Nets: Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s senior big
Ejiofor brings an edge to the floor that could help instill a winning culture in Brooklyn, especially as a partner next to Boozer for years to come.
44. San Antonio Spurs: Luigi Suigo, Mega center
It’s hard to imagine the Spurs would keep all of these picks. But if they do, there’d have to be at least one stash in there. Why not a 7-2 mammoth who displays mobility and hits some 3s? You never know what those guys can turn into.
Arenas would be better served returning to school to improve his draft stock. But staying in California to hone his scoring talents at the professional level could have appeal too.
Hall became a do-it-all weapon for Auburn, and in the NBA his 6-7 frame and reliable stroke from 3 give him 3-and-D potential. He’d fit like a glove in the Phoenix rotation.
47. Dallas Mavericks: Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State junior forward
At 6-8, Momcilovic made 48.7% of his 7.5 3-pointers per game. That's all you gotta know about what he's capable of as a shooter.
48. Orlando Magic: Joseph Tugler, Houston junior forward
Tugler is a defensive force with freaky length and an insatiable motor that lets him guard anyone. The Magic need a tone-setter like him.
49. Toronto Raptors: Ryan Conwell, Louisville senior guard
Conwell has shotmaking skill as a high-volume shooting guard, which could eventually earn him some minutes in Toronto’s rotation.
Uzan is a high-IQ combo guard who knits teams together with his playmaking skills and defensive hustle. The Nuggets tend to value guys in that mold.
51. Washington Wizards: Michael Ružić, Joventut forward
Ružić is a raw Croatian forward who was born in France and now plays in Spain. He projects as a quality shooter with passing feel, though he’s incredibly raw.
52. Houston Rockets: Braden Smith, Purdue senior point guard
Smith was one of the best point guards in college basketball, but he projects as a rotation guy in the NBA. The Rockets could potentially use his creation off the bench.
53. Los Angeles Clippers: Jaden Bradley, Arizona senior guard
Arizona looked hopeless any time Bradley wasn't on the floor. He's a stabilizing guard, he hits big shots, and he makes plays on defense. He might be a senior, but he has the tools to get drafted.
54. Golden State Warriors: Trevon Brazile, Arkansas senior forward
Brazile once had some believers that he could end up a first-round pick in the NBA before injuries set him back. But as a senior, he finally looked like the bouncy, versatile forward that put him back on draft boards.
55. New York Knicks: Mouhamed Faye, Paris center
Faye would be another big man for the Knicks, but he’d likely be a draft-and-stash to develop overseas.
56. Chicago Bulls: Baba Miller, Cincinnati senior forward
Miller has long been a fascination of scouts as a 6-11 guy who can handle the ball. But he never really put it together as a shooter. Maybe the Bulls could have better luck than any of the three schools he went to.
57. Atlanta Hawks: Dash Daniels, Melbourne guard
Hey, why not draft Dyson’s brother? Dash can’t really dribble right now but, much like his brother, he’s a fantastic defender. He could be worth the investment for Atlanta.
58. New Orleans Pelicans: Rueben Chinyelu, Florida junior big
Chinyelu is an elite rebounder and rim protector. It might be important to pair Derik Queen with a guy like that for the long term.
Saunders is a hard-nosed, two-way wing who plays with manic energy and a quick trigger jumper. But he tore his ACL and is already 25 years old.
60. Washington Wizards: JT Toppin, Texas Tech junior forward
Toppin is a defensive stalwart with elite athleticism, quick hands, and the motor of someone who genuinely cannot stop competing. The issue is he’s limited offensively and tore his ACL, which puts him in a tough spot of deciding whether to stay another year in school or go recover in the NBA.
Coleman was one of the top names in this year's NCAA Transfer Portal, and with good reason. Coleman has been the Tigers primary playmaker for two season with 93 receptions for 1,306 yards, 13 touchdowns and stellar 14 yards per catch. In 2025, Coleman had 56 grabs for 708 yards, five touchdowns and averaged 12.6 yards per catch.
Is Coleman too big already to be a breakout star? Ari Wasserman of One3 says his ranking is about becoming a household name. As he says, players "who have a chance to break out as stars recognized from coast to coast during the 2026 season."
NEW: College Football Players with Breakout Potential in 2026⭐️
While Coleman is good, he's not a household name yet. That should change now that he's a Longhorn.
"Last season at Auburn, Coleman had 56 receptions for 708 yards and five touchdowns. He’s a semi-established player, but was certainly hurt by inconsistent quarterback play while he was a Tiger. What most of the country doesn’t realize is that the former five-star prospect has the athletic profile of an NFL Draft first-round pick and has yet to reach his ceiling. Now he’s teaming up with Manning at Texas behind a wizard of an offensive play-caller in Steve Sarkisian. He has the potential to go to the moon in the fall." - Ari Wasserman of On3
Trevor Goosby also made the list. While the offensive line struggled in 2025, Goosby didn't. The lineman holds down a key position in protecting Texas quarterback Arch Manning.
"What stands out about Texas’ 2025 season? It’s the offensive line struggles. But guess who didn’t struggle? Goosby. The 6-foot-7, 312-pounder was a former three-star prospect from Melissa (Texas) High in the 2023 class, and his development is likely part of why the Longhorns weren’t as aggressive as they needed to be in the portal for offensive linemen last offseason. When it comes to Texas, it’s easy to fall in love with Manning, Coleman and Colin Simmons, but having a stud tackle will be make-or-break for the Longhorns in 2026. Goosby could be that guy." - Ari Wasserman of On3
Both Coleman and Goosby will be key if Texas is to go on an win that coveted national championship.
AUSTIN, TX - MARCH 31: Outfielder Aiden Robbins #43 of the Texas Longhorns smiles as he rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the college baseball game between Texas Longhorns and Texas State Bobcats on March 31, 2026, at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Texas. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Down to No. 4 in this week’s D1 Baseball poll after two losses to the rival Texas A&M Aggies, the Texas Longhorns (27-7) are back at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Tuesday looking to continue to team’s two-game midweek winning streak with a matchup against the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders (16-20).
Ranked No. 178 in the RPI, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is finishing up a six-game road trip. Longtime head coach Scott Malone and his team have faced some common opponents with Texas, suffering midweek losses to Texas A&M and UTSA, dropping a home conference series to Lamar, and winning a road conference series against UTRGV.
TAMU-CC only bats .260 as a team and doesn’t feature much power with second baseman Cade Sanchez leading the team with a .366 batting average. The team leader in home runs, right fielder Isaiah Afework, only has five on the season. The pitching staff for the Islanders does hold opponents to a .266 batting average, but has a 6.21 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP.
As of early Tuesday afternoon, Texas hasn’t officially announced the starter against TAMU-CC, but a social media post features freshman right-hander Michael Winter.
“I really want to get Michael Winter going,” Texas head coach Jim Schlossnagle said on Monday.
The 6’5, 240-pounder made his return to the mound during Saturday’s loss to Texas A&M after missing a month due to illness. The longest outing by Winter was his final appearance before getting sick, throwing 32 pitches and striking out three batters in 2.1 scoreless innings against USC Upstate. On the season, Winter is 1-0 in six appearances and has yet to allow a run in 7.2 innings, striking out nine.
Junior left-hander Kade Bing has also moved into the midweek pitching rotation over the last month, allowing one run over three innings in the win against Texas State and getting the start last week against Incarnate Word, allowing three runs, one earned, over 2.1 innings.
At the plate, junior center fielder Aiden Robbins enters the game swinging a hot bat with four home runs in eight plate appearances against the Aggies. With a team-leading 15 home runs this season, Robbins has exceeded his career production of 12 home runs over two seasons at Seton Hall. It’s a power surge that Schlossnagle and his staff anticipated when they signed Robbins out of the portal, as a focus on strength and nutrition combined with Troy Tulowitzki working with Robbins on pulling the ball without top spin has unlocked the tremendous power potential of the 6’2, 205-pounder.
First pitch is at 6:30 p.m. Central on SEC Network+. Texas leads the all-time series 26-6, but did suffer a disappointing 4-1 loss to TAMU-CC two years ago.
MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 14: Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid speaks to the media in a press conference prior their UEFA Champions League 2025/26 quarter-final second leg match at Football Arena Munich on April 14, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Real Madrid put forward midfielder Jude Bellingham to face the media ahead of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg against Bayern Munich as he said: “We’re aware of our situation and we’re ready. We’re mentally prepared. Tomorrow’s match is a final for us; ultimately, our season is on the line. And we’re going to try to give our very best.”
Bellingham on how he feels
“I feel fine. It’s been a frustrating season; I’ve had some bad luck and missed matches through injury, both at the start and over the last couple of months. The hardest part is coming back, mentally, and getting ready for those matches. The more you play, the better. I played against Mallorca, against Atleti, against Bayern… Your confidence grows and you keep improving.”
Bellingham on a loss meaning the season is a failure
“Any defeat in the Champions League is a disaster; given the situation we’re in, it’s a final. We’ve got a lot at stake and we must play well. It’s all or nothing; that’s our mindset. We’re not going to hide. We want to believe; we don’t have any more chances. We have to play and win.”
Bellingham on his ideal position on the pitch
“There’s been a change, from my first season to now. Before, I played further forward, in that central midfield in a diamond formation. Last year I played further to the left. And with Arbeloa, a bit deeper. I can play in various positions. It’s a mixed blessing; there’s no set position, but you have to adapt. When I score goals I want to score more, but we have to defend; we have to find that balance. And if I don’t score, I have to help the team. And I must do whatever the manager asks.”
Bellingham on the suggestion that he doesn’t gel well with Vinícius and Mbappé
“It’s difficult to answer; there have been matches where we’ve played very well. You have to look at each one individually. Perhaps we crowd the left too much; if I go down the other flank, we might have better balance. Perhaps people are seeing the glass as half empty. We play freely; I hope that’s evident tomorrow and we can play with fluidity.
Bellingham on his celebration where he pretended to be drinking
“I think I’ve already spoken about this; you can’t mix your private life with your life as a player. Things came out that weren’t true, that I liked to drink more than I should, that I went out a lot. But none of that is true. I’m very professional, every day. It was a joke.”
Bellingham on whether Kane has what it takes to win the Ballon d’Or
“Whether he can win the Ballon d’Or depends on what the team does. He’s a fantastic player; I think they’re going to win the Bundesliga, even though it pains me for my brother’s sake. I’m proud to have him in the national team; he’s shown just how good he is. It’s a pleasure to watch him play. Let’s see if he can carry this form into the World Cup. I hope he doesn’t turn up tomorrow, or that we manage to stop him.”
Bellingham on the team’s situation
“It’s complicated; it’s not the right time or place to discuss it. In the league, at least at home, we’ve dropped too many points. You can’t win the league by dropping so many points when you compete against Barcelona. And away from home too. It’s just not possible. I don’t think the fight is over. We’re behind, but we have to focus on tomorrow. It’s a big day.”
Bellingham on Musiala
“I want to see him play well; it’s been painful to see him sidelined. I’m very happy to see him playing again.”
Bellingham on if he’d take a penalty in a shoot-out
“Nobody wants a penalty shoot-out; if you can win in 90 minutes, all the better. We must put the first-leg result behind us. And if it comes down to penalties, we must be ready. But it’s better to get through before that.”
The Ohio State Buckeyes are set to play their 2026 spring game this Saturday, April 18, at noon ET inside Ohio Stadium in Columbus. It has been an eventful spring session for the Buckeyes as new players have been shedding their black stripes daily, new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith continues to get comfortable with the college game, and a wave of freshmen and newcomers are working to make a name for themselves.
With the spring showcase quickly approaching, we have identified five players to watch ahead of Ohio State’s spring game on Saturday afternoon.
TEs Mason Williams & Hunter Welcing
Both Williams and Welcing have made noise throughout spring camp and should factor into Arthur Smith’s offense this season, a scheme that has historically leaned on 12 and 13 personnel and features tight ends heavily. Williams transferred from Ohio, while Welcing came over from Northwestern. Both bring solid size at 6’3 and 6’5, around 250 pounds.
Their 2025 numbers may not jump off the page, but both have the tools to help fill the void left by Max Klare’s production. Head coach Ryan Day was asked last week about players who have stood out recently and mentioned both Williams and Welcing, which carries weight. It will be interesting to see how they are used on Saturday with Smith calling plays.
DB Earl Little Jr.
Little Jr. was the No. 3 overall safety in the transfer portal according to 247Sports, and Ohio State was thrilled to land him. The Florida State transfer totaled 76 tackles, two forced fumbles, and four interceptions in 2025. He projects as a versatile piece in Matt Patricia’s defense, capable of lining up at safety or sliding into a nickel role.
Both Ryan Day and safeties coach Matt Guerrieri have praised Little Jr. for his leadership, competitiveness, and physicality. Day had this to say on the FSU transfer: “How do you replace Caleb Downs? You can't. But Earl (Little Jr.) has been doing a great job of really communicating back there.”
It will be fun to watch how Patricia deploys Little Jr., especially given his reputation for delivering big hits on receivers and tight ends.
WR Chris Henry Jr.
Chris Henry Jr. is one of the most intriguing storylines this spring and a major focus heading into the spring game. The five-star freshman ranks as a top 25 player and the No. 2 wide receiver in the 2026 class according to 247Sports. He has the hype, the size, and the pedigree, with his father having played five years in the NFL. Whether he starts right away depends on how quickly he can seize the opportunity.
Late in March, Ryan Day spoke about what he has seen from the 6’5 receiver and set the bar high.
“He has all the traits. He has all the skills,” Day said. “Everything we thought he would be in recruiting, we've seen on the field, so that's exciting.”
On paper, pairing Henry Jr. with Jeremiah Smith and likely Brandon Innis in the slot creates a nightmare for opposing defenses, given the size and speed on the outside. Henry Jr. can be a Day 1 starter, but it will not come easily with heavy competition in the room. Freshman Brock Boyd has been turning heads, while transfers Devin McCuin from UTSA and Kyle Parker from LSU add even more depth.
EDGE/DL Zion Grady & Qua Russaw
Another key storyline this spring has been the edge and defensive line room, particularly who will line up alongside Kenyatta Jackson. Zion Grady, a rising sophomore, saw limited action last season and recorded 13 tackles and a sack. The former four-star recruit stands 6’4 and 258 pounds and already has familiarity with Matt Patricia’s system.
Russaw brings more uncertainty but also high upside. The Alabama transfer was a former five-star recruit whose time in Tuscaloosa was impacted by injuries. Ohio State brought him in through the portal, hoping to unlock his potential and help reload a pass rush unit that lost Arvell Reese and Caden Curry to the NFL.
Grady may have the early edge in the starting race, but Russaw will push him throughout the spring game and into the summer. The competition should bring out the best in both as they battle for a key role up front.
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe in action during the FIFA Club world soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid at the MetLife Stadium. Sven Hoppe/dpa
Kylian Mbappé is part of Real Madrid's squad for their Champions League quarter-final return leg at Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
The France striker suffered a head injury in Real's 1-1 LaLiga draw with Girona on Friday which required stitches to his eyebrow.
But he returned to training on Monday and was on Tuesday named in the 23-player squad for the trip to Germany.
Mbappé scored the lone goal as Madrid lost the home leg 2-1 against Bayern last week.
The record winners have won the last four knock-out ties against Bayern, winning three games in Munich and drawing the other.
Bayern have not beaten Real at home since the 2012 semi-finals when they went on to win on penalties in Spain.
Coach Alvaro Arbeloa told a news conference: "We don't need a miracle here. We've had some good games. Their goalkeeper was excellent in the first leg. But everyone who knows Real Madrid knows that we don't need a miracle.
"Real is a club steeped in history. We're ready to fight, to keep making history and produce a comeback. We're prepared for the atmosphere. We need to enjoy playing in a stadium like this."
Not part of the Real squad are suspended midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni and still injured goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Midfielder Jude Bellingham said: "It's almost like a final for us. We all know what tomorrow's about. Every defeat in the Champions League feels like a disaster. It's a final. We need to put everything into this game. It's all or nothing."
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe in action during a training session ahead of Tuesday's UEFA Champions League quarter-final first-leg soccer match against FC Bayern Munich. Alberto Gardin/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
Adams chose Colorado over Florida State, Virginia Tech, Kentucky and Oregon. The dual-threat quarterback played at Antioch High School in Nashville, Tennessee, where he had 71 passing touchdowns and 35 rushing touchdowns in 33 games. He visited the Boulder campus and met with Sanders on April 3.
"For my next three to four years, I will be committed to the University of Colorado," Adams said at a news conference in Tennessee, where he wore a Colorado T-shirt and hat as he streamed the announcement on social media.
The 6-2 Adams ranks as the No. 15 national quarterback prospect out of high school for 2027, according to 247Sports Composite, behind Baton Rouge high school quarterback recruit Elijah Haven at No. 1.
How does this fit into Deion Sanders' future plans?
Adams’ commitment to Colorado gives the Buffaloes some options for the future at the most important position on the field, especially considering how so many quarterbacks change schools through the transfer portal. Highly regarded redshirt freshman quarterback Julian “JuJu” Lewis is expected to be the starter at Colorado in 2026 but is one of only three quarterbacks on scholarship right now after the death of walk-on quarterback Dominiq Ponder on March 1.
Here is a look at who they are and how many years of eligibility they have left as the Buffs try to regroup after a 3-9 season in 2025:
∎ Lewis, 18, has four seasons of eligibility remaining after playing in four games in 2025, including two starts. He also was a four-star recruit out of high school in Georgia and chose Colorado over Southern California.
∎ Utah transfer quarterback Isaac Wilson has three years to play three more seasons. He started seven games for the Utes in 2024 as a freshman.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are the team that most often comes up when Connor McDavid speculation arises.
McDavid is under contract with the Edmonton Oilers for two seasons after this one, but that doesn't stop such musings.
The Athletic recently took a poll of hockey agents about the future of the sport, and a couple of topics point to what McDavid's future might look like.
The first was simple the question: Who will be the highest-paid player in hockey by 2028-29?
McDavid got 13 of the 21 votes, including a suggestion that he'll be making $20 million per year.
"McDavid will get whatever he wants," one agent said, adding that he doesn't think the Sharks will have given Macklin Celebrini that kind of money just yet.
And an agent threw out two possible destinations: the Maple Leafs or the New York Rangers.
This McDavid discussion was nearly one that had to happen a lot sooner. Heading into the 2025-26 season, he was in the final year of his contract.
Before the campaign, though, McDavid signed a two-year, $25 million contract to give the Oilers quite the discount and keep him in town through 2027-28.
So at this rate, McDavid's potential free agency is in the summer of 2028, and if he actually reaches that point, the bidding war will likely be immense.
Yep, he'll probably set a new NHL record. And whether it happens or not at the end of the process, it's safe to expect the Maple Leafs to be one of the most heavily discussed teams throughout the negotiations.
The 2026 NFL Draft will take place in Pittsburgh next week, a city where the Bucs could select the next star they add to their roster in hopes of righting the proverbial ship.
Before then, though, there will be plenty of speculation and buildup for the team and who they may add to the roster through the draft. While the team is selecting at 15, they will have to wait and see who falls to them.
But also, they will have to see if the player they are targeting will walk the stage in Pittsburgh in front of Acrisure Stadium. At the very least, we now know who will be in attendance for the event after the league announced the players who will attend.
The Masters hangover looms large—but our resident winner picker thinks these guys will parlay it into a big week.
Everything you used to handicap last week’s tournament, throw it out the window! The contrast is stark when looking at Augusta National and Harbour Town Golf Links. ANGC allowed for distance, power, and accuracy wasn’t much of a concern. Harbour Town, however, will be the opposite. With narrow fairways that are effectively more narrow thanks to overhanging trees, accuracy will be required off-the-tee.
Then, players will take aim at some of the smallest greens on the TOUR schedule which will reward great wedge players and those who can scramble when they do inevitably miss the putting surfaces. The Signature Event presents another stellar field with four guaranteed rounds for every player.
Winner: Jacob Bridgeman (+4500)
The PGA TOUR’s best putter lost strokes putting last week at Augusta – and I don’t care! As a debutant to the Masters, he lacked the requisite experience to succeed on those putting surfaces but that won’t be a problem this week at Harbour Town. Bridgeman was excellent from tee-to-green last week and will be able to lean into his strengths once again at the RBC Heritage.
Winner: Russell Henley (+2150)
When it comes to short golf courses that reward precision over power, Russell Henley’s name should be the first to pop into your mind. Since 2021, Henley has gained +1.43 strokes per round on “short courses” which is the fourth best mark in this field. During that stretch, Henley has earned four top-20 finishes here at Harbour Town with two of those being top-10 finishes. He’s still looking for that first win of 2026 and this seems like the best place for him to break through.
Top 5: Maverick McNealy (+570)
McNealy has his fair share of chances at the RBC Heritage, two top-4 finishes in his career – including a T3 last year. He’s been diabolical on these putting surfaces, gaining over 16 strokes putting in his 18 career rounds at Harbour Town. He’s the third best putter in this field at Harbour Town and he’s gained strokes from tee-to-green in seven of his eight TOUR starts this year. This is a really great convergence of trends to go along with course fit for McNealy.
Top 5: Ryo Hisatsune (+1175)
Hisastsune didn’t qualify for the Masters last week, which I could argue is a positive. He’ll be well-rested when he arrives in Hilton Head and still on an excellent run of golf. Over his last nine starts, he’s earned five top-15 finishes and is proving to be one of the better tee-to-green players on TOUR. He’s inside the top-25 in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee, despite being 85th in driving distance. That means he is hitting a significant number of fairways which will increase in value around Harbour Town. He played here last year, finishing T18, and he’s a much better player now.
Top 10: Gary Woodland (+800)
Woodland is one of the longest players on TOUR, which wouldn’t be super beneficial off-the-tee, but it’ll show itself on approach shots as he’s hitting shorter clubs in than many of his peers. Woodland has gained nearly ten strokes to the field on approach alone in his last eight rounds and has gained strokes putting in five of his last six starts. He’s brimming with confidence and is ready to contend again.
Top 20: Ricky Castillo (+265)
Castillo is quietly putting together an impressive season. He’s played eight times in 2026 and hasn’t missed a cut yet. He won in Puerto Rico and notched a 5th place finish at the Cognizant Classic. I do worry about his driving accuracy but he’s an accomplished putter who makes a ton of birdies. In a small field like this, Castillo is certainly capable of finishing inside the top-20.
Former Providence forward Jamier Jones has committed to Missouri out of the NCAA Transfer Portal.
The 6’6, 220-pound wing was a Big East All-Freshman Team selection this season after averaging 11.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game for the Friars. But Jones, a Florida native, opted to enter the portal after head coach Kim English was fired and replaced by USF’s Bryan Hodgson.
He was quickly connected to the Tigers, who hired former Providence assistant Tim Fuller as the team’s general manager last offseason. Missouri hosted him for an official visit over the weekend of April 12, and now has locked in one of the top available forwards in the portal.
Jones shot an impressive 57% from the field in his lone year with the Friars, also knocking down 39% of his 3-pointers — albeit only on 31 attempts. He’ll give the Tigers a big-bodied presence who can slash and score from the wing, and he is a menace in transition for opposing defenses. Jones finished in the top-20 in the Big East in free throw attempts and free throw makes, as well as offensive rebound percentage and player efficiency rating.
The former top-50 national recruit out of high school will now be a major centerpiece for the Tigers as they look for a fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in five seasons under Dennis Gates.
Missouri will be replacing a heavy portion of its production last season at the forward spot with All-SEC honoree Mark Mitchell graduating. But they do return fellow starter Trent Pierce, who averaged better than 11 points per game in SEC play.
Gates and Co. also landed Tennessee transfer big Jaylen Carey on Monday, adding some significant beef to their frontcourt. Along with Mitchell graduating, so is starting center Shawn Phillips Jr., a key physical force who was one of the league’s better rebounders.
The 6-foot-8, 265-pounder is one of the nation’s premier offensive rebounders and is coming off a season with the Vols where he averaged 7.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game in just over 18 minutes per contest. His offensive rebounding percentage of 14.8% ranks in the top-20 all-time in SEC play, something the Tigers very much need heading into next season.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 13: Garrett Crochet #35 of the Boston Red Sox looks on against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Target Field on April 13, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Boston Red Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet is the true definition of an ace: dependable, dominant, and downright terrifying to step into the box against.
So… what the hell is going on?
Crochet has been unusually shaky to kickstart the season, allowing nearly as many runs (18) as strikeouts recorded (22) — with those aggressively poor numbers being fueled by an all-time poor outing against the Minnesota Twins on Monday.
Crochet got absolutely rocked by one of the least intimidating yet surprisingly productive lineups in baseball, allowing 11 runs in only 1 2/3 innings pitched at Target Field. The Red Sox — who have been around for as long as crayons, airplanes, cellophane, and Australia — have never had someone give up as many runs in so few innings.
It’s not like he’s going to ever be this bad again, but check out his pitching summaries on the season:
March 26 @ CIN 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 R, 8 K April 1 @ HOU 5.0 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 5 R, 7 K April 7 vs. MIL 6.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 R, 7 K April 13 @ MIN 1.2 IP, 9 H, 10 ER, 11 R, 0 K
Good. Eh. Good. Nuked.
So… back to our original question. What the hell is going on?
I’ve decided to look at this start through two lenses, which will hopefully tell us whether or not we should be freaking out.
“It’s just a bad start, man. Paul Skenes biffed one a couple of weeks ago!”
Paul Skenes did, indeed, biff one a couple of weeks back, allowing five earned runs in 2/3 inning back on Opening Day against the New York Mets. Randy Johnson gave up 11 in 2 1/3 back in 1994. Greg Maddux allowed eight in the same amount of time in 1988. Roger Clemens allowed eight in 1 1/3 in 1995.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora came out after the game and shut down the idea that his ace was injured:
“He’s healthy, and that’s the most important thing,” he said, as seen on NESN.
Crochet backed that statement up:
“I don’t think there’s anything to fret over,” he said.
It’s just something that happens, even to the best of us.
“I don’t care what you say! I just bought a panic button and intend on using it in four days!”
If you take a closer look at the stuff, you would know that everything was down… across the board.
Crochet threw one of the slowest four-seam fastballs of his career (92.7 MPH) and gave up some of the hardest exit velocities of his career (108.9 MPH, 106.5 MPH, 106.0 MPH) — with those three hits coming in the form of two home runs and a terrifying single. Crochet couldn’t even pinpoint exactly why this particular start went so poorly, as he gave away more free passes (four) than whiffs induced (three).
“It’s tough to say,” Crochet said. “I mean, command as a whole has been spotty. I’d gotten away with it a little this early in the year, but tonight they made me pay. It was weak contact, hard contact, walks, hit by pitch, a little bit of everything.”
If he can’t see what went wrong, how is he going to fix it?
We have never seen him pitch this poorly, and with two of his last four starts being among the four worst he has ever had…
Conclusion:
It’s probably fine.
The Red Sox have seen something like this before, with one very important statistic coming from our pal Jake Roy: Crochet threw 102 pitches in his second start of 2025, leading to his average velocity dipping 1.5 mph in his third start. It’s the same thing here, as the velocity drop came after his 107 pitch performance against the Milwaukee Brewers.
If he can’t get the velocity back to normal on regular rest, there’s no reason to think the results won’t follow.
The 32nd annual St. Paul Area Athena Awards ceremony is set for Wednesday at the Saint Paul RiverCentre.
Wild in-arena host Kirsten Krull will serve as the event’s emcee, while sports reporter Cassidy Hettesheimer is the keynote speaker. The event will also feature a special tribute to the late Jessi Pierce and her family.
The Athena Awards “honor female athletes for their dedication and excellence in sports.”
Here are the honorees, with highlights of their athletic achievements.
Cassandra Gonzales
School: Apple Valley
Sport: Wrestling
Accolades: Four-time state champion, 98-0 career high school record, U17 world team member
Elena Hoecke
School: Centennial
Sport: Volleyball
Accolades: Miss Baden winner, All-State, All-State tournament team.
College: Minnesota
Vita Hochuli
School: Central
Sports: Soccer, track and field, gymnastics, basketball
Accolades: Soccer – two-time conference player of the year. Track and field – All-conference. Gymnastics – All-conference.
College: Virginia State
Amaya Harmening
School: Chatfield
Sports: Volleyball, basketball, trap
Accolades: Basketball – All-conference. Trap – Top female shooter of the year.
Kayla Larsen
School: Chisago Lakes
Sports: Volleyball, basketball, softball
Accolades: Volleyball – state entrant. Basketball – second in program history in steals. Softball – state entrant.
Accolades: Track and Field – All-State, state entrant.
Jayda Wilson
School: Roseville
Sports: Volleyball, track and field
Accolades: Volleyball: State participant. Track and Field: Two-time state champion, All-State.
College: Minnesota
Angela Proper
School: St. Agnes
Sports: Softball, weight lifting, soccer
Accolades: Softball – All-State, All-State tournament team.
College: Mary (North Dakota)
Maren Overgaard
School: St. Paul Academy
Sports: Cross country, nordic skiing, track and field
Accolades: Cross country: State entrant, All-conference, team section champion. Nordic Skiing – Team state champion, All-State. Track and Field – All-conference, state entrant.
Accolades: Soccer – All-State. Track and Field – All-State.
College: Wisconsin-La Crosse
Rylee Lawrence
School: Stillwater
Sports: Soccer
Accolades: Ms. Soccer finalist, All-American, All-State tournament team.
College: North Dakota
Anna Wilke
School: Tartan
Sports: Volleyball, track and field, flag football
Accolades: Volleyball – All-conference.
Rebekah Willard
School: Trinity School at River Ridge
Sports: Cross country, track and field
Accolades: Cross County – All-State. Track and Field – All-State.
College: St. Thomas
Charlotte Chandler
School: Two Rivers
Sports: Cross country, dance, track and field
Accolades: Cross Country: All-conference, state entrant. Dance – All-State, state entrant. Track and Field – All-conference, state entrant, school record holder.
College: Louisiana State
Abigail Hemauer
School: Visitation
Sports: Softball, hockey
Accolades: Softball – All-conference.
Charlotte Brown
School: Washington
Sports: Volleyball, basketball, track and field
Accolades: Volleyball – All-conference.
Josie Guidinger
School: White Bear Lake
Sports: Alpine skiing, tennis.
Accolades: Alpine Skiing – All-conference, state entrant. Tennis – All-conference.
Briella Huebsch
School: Woodbury
Sports: Soccer, hockey, track and field
Accolades: Hockey – conference champion. Track and Field – All-State, state entrant.
NEW DELHI: Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer Praful Hinge, after dismantling Rajasthan Royals, recreated a Mohammed Siraj-style video following SRH’s win. Making his debut for SRH on Monday, Hinge broke RR’s backbone with a three-wicket burst in the very first over of the innings and helped Sunrisers Hyderabad cruise to a 57-run victory in their IPL 2026 match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. He went on to finish with figures of 4/34 after rattling RR’s strong top order.
Nagpur-based Hinge became the first bowler in IPL history to take a three-wicket haul in the opening over.
After the win, Hinge’s teammate Nitish Reddy posted a video with the pacer, saying: "Bhai log, jo bhi bhai ka id hai wo sab fake hai. Ek jo niche ID jo tag hoga wo real hoga."
The context of the clip was linked to an old video Siraj had shared on Instagram. Years ago, Siraj had posted a video clarifying that his account was the original one, while many fake profiles also existed.
— rushiii_12 (@rushiii_12)
After Sunrisers Hyderabad posted a massive 216/6 in 20 overs, powered by Ishan Kishan’s 91 and Heinrich Klaasen’s 40, Hinge produced the unthinkable.
On the very first ball of his spell, Hinge dismissed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi cheaply. Sooryavanshi’s eyes lit up on seeing the short ball and he went for an expansive pull, but a top edge was taken by keeper Salil Arora, leaving Hinge and SRH jubilant.
It was the beginning of a sensational spell from Hinge - he had Dhruv Jurel chopping onto his stumps before trapping Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who flicked one straight to long leg. The dream start made Hinge the first-ever bowler to take three wickets in the opening over of an IPL innings.
Sunrisers Hyderabad will next face Chennai Super Kings on April 18 at the same venue.
Manager John McGlynn says leading Falkirk out at a Scottish Cup final would represent the "pinnacle" of his career as the club prepare for a crucial last-four tie against Dunfermline Athletic this weekend.
The Scottish Premiership side face Neil Lennon's men at Hampden on Saturday at 12:30 BST - live on the BBC - with a place in May's showpiece at stake.
McGlynn has already led Falkirk to a top-six finish in the Premiership this term after securing back-to-back promotions from the third tier of Scottish football.
However, the 64-year-old is determined to cap a stunning season with the first major silverware of his managerial career.
"It would be a great honour to take the team out in a Scottish Cup final," McGlynn told BBC Scotland. "For myself, [assistant coaches] Paul Smith and Steven McGinn, and all the backroom staff, it would reflect all the work that's been put in.
"To take the team into the Premiership, be in a strong position and reach a Scottish Cup final - that would be the pinnacle of our careers.
"We know we'll have to work extremely hard to get there and maybe need a bit of luck along the way, but walking out at Hampden for a final would be a very proud moment.
"We can't look beyond Dunfermline. If we get through, then anything can happen."
Falkirk go into the semi-final on the back of a heavy 6-3 home defeat by Rangers - a match in which they led 2-0.
McGlynn, whose side remain sixth in the Premiership following the loss, admitted the game was a harsh lesson for his players.
Meanwhile, Championship side Dunfermline, who have beaten Premiership pair Hibernian and Aberdeen to reach this stage, had an eight-game unbeaten run ended by title-chasing Partick Thistle at the weekend.
"It was going so smoothly for us," McGlynn said of Sunday's loss. "We were playing very well and everything was going to plan.
"But when you get yourselves 2-0 up, you've got to take that opportunity and we didn't. When teams like Rangers and Celtic get into that rhythm, they can be very difficult to stop.
"We struggled defensively as a team and were punished. It wasn't nice to look back on - it was painful. But we've dusted ourselves down and focused on what's ahead.
"We've got so much to play for, especially this week. This is a huge game, and we've got to learn from what happened."
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 10: Manager Tony Vitello #23 and Drew Gilbert #0 of the San Francisco Giants watches practice during Spring Training at Scottsdale Stadium on February 10, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Suzanna Mitchell/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Francisco Giants have, somewhat unconventionally, only used 27 players this year, which means they’ve only made one move involving the Major League roster. That move was forced on them, after reliever José Buttó was placed on the Injured List, and replaced by Blade Tidwell.
It’s the time of the year where teams start to tinker with their rosters. Like the Giants, the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers have also used just one additional player; but the Colorado Rockies have used three, and the Arizona Diamondbacks four.
The Giants will likely make another pitching move before long, as relievers Sam Hentges (a lefty) and Joel Peguero (a righty) have both started rehab assignments after beginning the year on the IL. But where they really could use a move is on the offensive front. The Giants are, somewhat surprisingly, ninth in the Majors in batting average, but that’s where the good times end. San Francisco is 28th in on-base percentage, 24th in slugging percentage, dead last in walk rate, dead last in home runs, dead last in stolen bases, 29th in runs, 27th in OPS, and 27th in wRC+.
But the issue, of course, is that the Giants don’t have any quick fixes. The obvious solution to boost the offense would be to promote their top prospect, Bryce Eldridge, but even if the Giants thought he were ready (which I doubt they do), it still doesn’t really help things. Their best hitter this year has been Casey Schmitt, who has primarily been used as the DH, which is where Eldridge would need to slot in. Schmitt’s not going to displace Matt Chapman or Rafael Devers for obvious reasons, and Luis Arráez has been one of the team’s only good hitters this year, so he’s not getting displaced, either. Which means there’s no place for Eldridge.
Jesús Rodríguez is the other bat who could help the team, but similar concerns arise. The contact-heavy utility player is not going to take starts from Patrick Bailey or Arráez, and replacing Daniel “greatest hitter of all time” Susac isn’t something that needs doing.
The outfield is where the Giants really need some help, but it probably needs to come from Heliot Ramos, Jung Hoo Lee, and Harrison Bader remembering how to hit. The reinforcements there don’t seem likely to do much better: AAA Sacramento’s outfield is Grant McCray (who is in an awful slump), Will Brennan (a veteran with a large track record of being a below-average hitter in the Majors), Drew Gilbert (who isn’t lighting up the box scores and has been a very bad hitter in the Majors) and Victor Bericoto (who is still adjusting to the level).
So while most people are likely hoping for a move to come soon, it’s probably still a ways away for the Giants. But that won’t stop me from asking for your prediction of when it will occur, and who it will be.
England Test captain Ben Stokes has sought to play down speculation regarding a potential rift with head coach Brendon McCullum, though he conceded their working relationship is set to “look a little bit different” this summer.
The comments come after reports of tension following England's humbling Ashes defeat in Australia over the winter.
The dynamic duo, who have spearheaded England's ‘Bazball’ revolution since taking charge in 2022, appeared to diverge in their tactical approaches during the recent Ashes series.
While Stokes adopted a more conservative and gritty stance as the tour progressed, delivering some stern words to his squad, McCullum maintained his unwavering commitment to ultra-attacking cricket.
Stokes saw his England side suffer a series defeat in Australia (PA)
Despite public displays of mutual support after the 4-1 loss, a post-Ashes review reportedly highlighted signs of underlying tension.
Rob Key, managing director of men’s cricket, previously dismissed talk of a ‘big bust-up’ between the influential pair last month.
Now, Stokes has offered his own perspective, telling the England and Wales Cricket Board in an in-house interview: “Saying we weren’t aligned, I think, is a massive overstatement.”
He elaborated on the nature of leadership: “When you’re in a position of leadership along with someone else, if anyone thinks that you’re always going to agree on everything, then it’s just impossible.”
Stokes emphasised the importance of constructive disagreement.
“To me, that isn’t a healthy environment for sport, in particular. You need debate. You need discussions. Then you end up getting to the place you both want to end up getting to," he explained.
He acknowledged their differences: “As similar as me and Brendon are, we’re also dissimilar in other areas as well. We agree 95 per cent of the time on things, but those five per cent things that we might have different views on, we talk about it between each other and then we end up getting to the place where we want to get to.”
Stokes believes he and McCullum are still the right people to take English cricket forward (PA)
With Test series against New Zealand and Pakistan on the horizon this summer, and the prospect of reclaiming the Ashes on home soil in 2027, Stokes expressed confidence in their continued collaboration.
He hinted at an evolution in their methods: “I’m very confident in mine and Brendon’s ability to be able to work together, because we’ve done it for such a long period of time now, but work together in a slightly different way.”
The England captain reiterated their shared objective.
“The main point of me and Brendon is our alignment towards winning things and making this team as good as they can be. That’s always been the thing since we started. It might just look a little bit different now to how that operates – on the back of four years working together,” he stated, adding, “hopefully we’ll still be together at the end of 2027, winning what we want to win.”
Stokes is currently recovering from a facial injury sustained during pre-season training with Durham and is expected to return to lead England for their first Test of the summer at Lord’s on 4 June.
The 2026 MLB season is through three weeks. Numerous players are off to hot starts, while others are still working on timing and rhythm. The biggest stories are the players that come out of nowhere and have tremendous starts to their season. Here are the top 10 third basemen rankings in MLB heading into week four.
Mar 26, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners third baseman Brendan Donovan (33) runs the bases after hitting a double against the Cleveland Guardians during the fifth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
Donovan is off to a fast start in his first season with Seattle. He finished 2025 with a high on-base percentage. He will be one of the top offensive producers for a Mariners team looking for a deep playoff run.
2. Max Muncy, Los Angeles Dodgers
Muncy is known to be a force against right-handed pitching. He’s staying healthy and doing damage early in 2026. It’s a long shot, but he can be among the NL home run leaders in 2026.
3. Maikel Garcia, Kansas City Royals
Underrated, Garcia made a name for himself last season. He finished with career highs across the board. He’s a safe bet to take another leap in 2026.
4. Brady House, Washington Nationals
House had modest success in his 2025 rookie season. He showed glimpses of potential but suffered growing pains. He’s off to a hot start in 2026.
5. Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays
Sep 26, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (13) hits a single against the Toronto Blue Jays during the eighth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Caminero is heating up. After last season’s breakout, it’s only a matter of time before Caminero goes on a tear. He will be among the league’s best third basemen for the foreseeable future.
6. Max Muncy, Athletics
The young third baseman has started strong this season. He’s making consistent contact for a young Athletics team. He can have many opportunities to drive in runs.
7. Alex Bregman, Chicago Cubs
Bregman is searching for a rhythm and is close. He’s poised to be a clubhouse leader in his first season with Chicago. It’s only a matter of time before he heats up.
8. Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Guardians
The game’s best third baseman is heating up. He does it with power and stolen bases. By season’s end, he will be the top-ranked third baseman.
9. Manny Machado, San Diego Padres
Oct 1, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; San Diego infielder Manny Machado (13) rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs during game two of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Machado is the epitome of consistency. Year after year, season after season, Machado is among the league leaders at his position. He will be a top-five third baseman by the end of the season.
10. Nolan Gorman, St. Louis Cardinals
Gorman has struggled to stay on the field following his breakout 2023 season. He’s failed to play in more than 111 games in back-to-back years. If he’s healthy, he can reach 30 home runs.
“The Tigers and superstar pitcher Tarik Skubal have a lot of work to do if they’re going to bridge quite possibly the biggest gap in MLB negotiating history: an estimated quarter of a billion dollars. Yep, that’s not a misprint. It’s close to $250 million,” New York Post’s Jon Heyman wrote.
During the offseason, it appeared Detroit was preparing for the possibility of Skubal’s departure by signing left-hander Framber Valdez.
“The Tigers on Tuesday announced that they have signed left-hander Framber Valdez to a three-year deal worth $115 million,” MLB.com’s Tim Stebbins wrote.
Now, with the Tigers off to a slow start, FanSided’s Christopher Kline believes Detroit should consider trading Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“If the Tigers can't climb the standings expeditiously, keeping Skubal beyond the trade deadline — when he's virtually guaranteed to walk as a free agent next winter — would be malpractice. As much as it would sting, Detroit cannot get left holding the bag. If the Tigers aren't going to meaningfully contend in the American League, trading Skubal and recouping value is a must. There's no way around it. As for where Skubal might end up, it's probably a team with a high financial threshold and a deep farm system. Unfortunately for the rest of MLB, no club meets those criteria better than the Dodgers,” Kline wrote.
Adding Skubal would give Los Angeles an overwhelming advantage and likely make them clear favorites. A rotation featuring Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani, and Skubal would be among the most dominant in baseball.
Skubal is earning $32 million this season, which is modest compared to some of the league’s largest contracts. The Dodgers could also explore extending him before the season ends, making it even easier to justify a blockbuster move.
RALEIGH, NC - APRIL 04: Right Wing Seth Jarvis (24) of the Carolina Hurricanes shoots the puck on Goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) of the New York Islanders (not pictured) while defended by Defenseman Ryan Pulock (6) of the New York Islanders during the NHL game between the New York Islanders and the Carolina Hurricanes on April 4, 2026 at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Katherine Gawlik/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Carolina Hurricanes visit the New York Islanders tonight to play in the “Mother of all Meaningless Games” at UBS Arena.
The Canes have already clinched the Eastern Conference while the Islanders have officially been eliminated from playoff contention.
Of course, the game does hold meaning for the players trying to impress their respective coaches, newbie Peter DeBoer for the New Yorkers and coach Brind’Amour of Carolina.
Look for a prospect laden lineup for Carolina as they will look to rest as many regulars as possible.
Felix Unger Sorum was recalled recently and should make his NHL debut tonight. The player that the Canes drafted 62nd overall in 2023 leads the Wolves this season with 63 points in 66 games.
He will join Chicago teammates Skyler Brind’Amour, Bradly Nadeau, and Charles Alexis Legault who were previously recalled. (Josiah Slavin was returned to Chicago.)
Ronan Seeley and Joel Nystrom were also just recalled and will draw in.
Goalie Pyotr Kochetkov has been returned to the Hurricanes after a successful rehab stint for Chicago. Will he play in this game? One of many questions to be answered tonight.
The Canes did not have a morning skate so lineup decisions will be released closer to puck drop.
There is no word on the status of Jalen Chatfield, who was banged up a bit last night.
Here is how to catch the action:
Time: 7 PM
TV: FanDuel Sports Network in the Carolinas. Mike Maniscalco will handle play-by-play alongside Tripp Tracy doing color. Hanna Yates and Shane Willis will provide off-ice reports.
Streaming:FanDuel Sports Network App for fans in the Carolinas. Outside the Carolinas, the game will be available on the ESPN app for any ESPN+/ESPN Unlimited subscribers.
Radio: The pregame on 99.9 The Fan starts at 6:30. At 5PM the Hurricanes Radio Network (consisting of 99.9, 730 The Game in Charlotte, ESPN New Bern 107.5/1490, and ESPN Greenville 107.5/1570) picks up the FDSN feed. You can also stream the call on the Hurricanes app.
The Philadelphia Eagles possess the No. 23 overall pick in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, but with needs to address, especially on offense, they’ve been urged to try to trade up in the draft by ESPN’s Bill Barnwell.
Barnwell thinks that in order to secure a solid prospect on the offensive line or at wide receiver, the Eagles would be wise to try to make a move.
“Roseman has to start thinking about what the future looks like on offense now. At No. 23, he's stuck behind teams that could be thinking offensive tackle, including the Panthers at 19, Cowboys at 20 and Steelers at 21. Moving up ahead of them might be necessary to get Johnson's long-term replacement on the right side,” Barnwell wrote.
“There isn't the same sort of hunger for a wide receiver immediately ahead of the Eagles, but the teams right behind Philly (the Browns, Bears, Bills and 49ers) could try to jump Roseman to get that wideout, which might necessitate the longtime general manager beating his rivals to the punch. “
After completing a visit in Evanston, Bellarmine forward Jack Karasinski announced that he’s committing to play for the ‘Cats and Chris Collins during the 2026-27 season.
The 6-foot-7-inch graduate transfer from just around the lake in Grand Rapids, Michigan started in all 30 games for the Atlantic Sun’s 7th place Bellarmine Knights last year while averaging 21.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. That points per game clip put him in the top five for forwards and top 12 in the country last season with numbers just behind former-Wildcat Nick Martinelli. His excellent senior season earned him first-team All-ASUN honors. He spent his first four years split between William & Mary and Bellarmine before choosing Northwestern for the fifth and final stop of his journey.
The Florida Gators have emerged as a college basketball blue blood since the turn of the millennium, winning three national championships, playing in the title game a fourth time, and making five total Final Four appearances. What was once considered a football school has become a dual threat in two of North America's biggest sports.
Now that the dust has settled from the Michigan Wolverines' second-ever NCAA Tournament triumph, ESPN's Myron Medcalf took on the task of ranking every champion of this century — bearing in mind that there was no champion crowned during the 2020 COVID campaign — beginning with the 1999-2000 season.
The author employed "a combination of real data and the eye test" in making his assessment, so these rankings are anything but scientific. Take a look at where the Orange and Blue's three trophy-winning teams landed on the list.
Non-tourney achievements: Finished second in the SEC; won SEC tournament championship
Best player: Walter Clayton Jr. (AP All-America first team, NCAA tournament Most Outstanding Player)
"The Gators ended the season as one of the hottest teams in the country after losing just one game after Feb. 1, finishing a game behind the NCAA tournament's No. 1 overall seed Auburn in the SEC standings while securing the conference tournament title. They also ranked second in adjusted offensive efficiency and sixth in adjusted defensive efficiency on KenPom," Medcalf begins.
"It was Clayton's rise — he scored 23 or more points in four NCAA tournament games — that helped lift the Gators through close calls in multiple games. They had to fight through sizable deficits in multiple games and managed to launch successful comebacks in each, but they were a great story more than an all-time great team."
2006 Florida Gators (No. 12)
Record: 33-6
How they won: def. UCLA 73-57
NCAA tournament margin of victory: 16.0 PPG
KenPom net rating: +28.28 (1st in the nation)
Non-tourney achievements: SEC tournament champion
Best player: Joakim Noah (AP All-America honorable mention, MOP)
"Billy Donovan's two-peat began with a Florida team that won its first 17-0 games and then struggled through a 5-6 stretch. There were mitigating circumstances, though. Lee Humphrey, the starting point guard, had to overcome a shoulder injury and Corey Brewer needed time to recover from mono," Medcalf notes.
"On March 1, 2006, however, Noah scored 37 points in a 77-66 win over Georgia that snapped a three-game losing streak. Florida never lost another game. Noah had 30 blocks in the NCAA tournament, as the Gators — whose roster also included Al Horford — ended 2-seed UCLA's 12-game winning streak. Plus, their NCAA tournament opponents averaged only 56.6 PPG."
2007 Florida Gators (No. 5)
Record:(35-5)
How they won: def. Ohio State 84-75
NCAA tournament margin of victory: 14.1 PPG
KenPom net rating: +30.81 (2nd in the nation)
Non-tourney achievements: SEC regular season champion; SEC tournament champion
Best player: Joakim Noah (Associated Press All-America second team)
"Between March 21, 2006, and Feb. 17, 2007, these Gators lost only two games. Their first national title run in 2006 established a new standard for a program that won its second title in a row a year later. How? They thrived on a concept that's almost impossible to achieve in today's game: continuity," Medcalf offers.
"The same starters from the 2006 title game — Lee Humphrey, Taurean Green, Al Horford, Corey Brewer and Noah — also started in the 2007 championship win over an Ohio State squad led by freshman Greg Oden (an AP first-team All-American) and Mike Conley Jr. (18 years in the NBA). These Gators didn't dominate the NCAA tournament, but they were more consistent than the 2006 team and one of the better squads we've witnessed over the past 25 years."
Ranking NCAA tournament champions of the 21st century
2001 Duke Blue Devils
2009 North Carolina Tar Heels
2012 Kentucky Wildcats
2024 UConn Huskies
2007 Florida Gators
2018 Villanova Wildcats
2004 UConn Huskies
2005 North Carolina Tar Heels
2008 Kansas Jayhawks
2026 Michigan Wolverines
2023 UConn Huskies
2006 Florida Gators
2016 Villanova Wildcats
2015 Duke Blue Devils
2000 Michigan State Spartans
2013 Louisville Cardinals
2002 Maryland Terrapins
2003 Syracuse Orange
2010 Duke Blue Devils
2022 Kansas Jayhawks
2021 Baylor Bears
2025 Florida Gators
2019 Virginia Cavaliers
2017 North Carolina Tar Heels
2011 UConn Huskies
Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
The email that PokerStars — ahem, PokerStars Exclusively on FanDuel — sent to players Monday afternoon started with the words, “The fuse is lit.”
As far as online poker tournament play in the U.S. goes, those four words do appear to apply. We’re still a very long way from the poker boom days of two decades ago, of course, but the tournament scene is suddenly experiencing a spark not seen since before 2011’s Black Friday.
PokerStars announced in that email to users a major 17-day tournament festival called the PokerStars Ignite Series. And that came less than a week after WSOP Online announced the schedule for its 2026 Online Bracelet series.
Both series are able to offer attractive prize guarantees thanks to interstate pooling among several of the U.S. jurisdictions that have legalized online poker. PokerStars Exclusively on FanDuel now combines players in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, and WSOP Online pools the same three states plus Nevada — the latter of which plays host to the in-person World Series of Poker that will run concurrently to the Online Bracelet series.
Spring and summer excitement
The WSOP is still the biggest brand in poker, and its online bracelets carry a prestige no other poker site can match.
The Online Bracelet series will run from May 30 to July 14, the same as the brick-and-mortar World Series (except for the delayed WSOP Main Event final table). The series features 30 bracelet events and $7 million in total guarantees.
Buy-ins range from $215 for a couple of non-bracelet “scramble” events that will award seats in the WSOP Main Event to $5,300 for the no-limit hold’em High Roller 6-Max Championship on June 27.
The WSOP is also establishing a points leaderboard and adding $50,000 in prizes to top finishers there.
The PokerStars Ignite Series can’t quite equal the WSOP’s $7 million in guarantees, but it’s coming close with a $5 million guarantee across the series.
This one starts this Saturday, April 18, and runs through May 4, with 90 events on the schedule.
The main event, beginning Sunday, May 3, costs $300 and features a $500,000 guaranteed prize pool. There is also a $1,500 high roller the same day with a $250K guarantee, plus there will be an assortment of tournaments with buy-ins as low as $20.
Get fired up for a new tournament series on PokerStars exclusively on @FanDuel starting this weekend.
🔥 The Ignite Series 🔥 April 18-May 4 🔥 $5m Guaranteed series, 90 events 🔥 $500,000 Main Event for $300 🔥 Championship events from $20 to $1000 running daily
The revamped PokerStars’ first major tournament effort arrived this past Sunday and concluded Monday, with the Sunday Million brand brought back to life — even if it took two tournaments to produce a combined $1 million in guaranteed prize money.
And the house was on the hook for some of that, as neither tournament quite hit its guarantee.
The $1,000 buy-in event fell well short, with 449 entries (112 of which were re-entries). That field played down to 23 competitors when Day 1 play concluded at 1:45 a.m. ET on Monday, and it took about another four hours Monday evening to crown a champion. In the end, the first-place payout of $71,180.50 went to “HailMaryJerry,” and the top 10 finishers each won five figures. The tournament paid out 63 places.
The $100 tournament fared better, but it still ended up with only the promised $500K prize pool — not to mention, hundreds of the seats were awarded in promotional freerolls.
In the end, there were 5,075 entries (including 1,469 re-entries), and the top 750 made the money. They played down to 254 on the first day, resumed Monday at 6 p.m., and wrapped up at 11:46 p.m., with the top six each winning five figures and “FoldItFrank” prevailing for $55,588.
Jack Kelly, Fulham reporter: European hopes on the line in west London derby
Fulham’s bid for European qualification continues this weekend, explains reporter Jack Kelly, with a west London derby against Brentford adding extra significance to the closing weeks of the season.
Both sides remain firmly in contention for a top-seven finish and, with only a handful of games remaining, Saturday’s meeting could have a major say in the race for European football after a season of mixed results for Marco Silva’s side.
Fulham are ninth in the Premier League table, with seven games to play at the time of writing. How would you summarise their season to date?
It has been a really interesting season where 13 wins, 13 defeats and five draws mean the fanbase is either very high after a win or very low after a defeat.
And when they have drawn games, they have usually come in batches of two, so they drew two at the beginning of the season and two at the beginning of 2026, and there was a 0-0 draw with Nottingham Forest recently.
Other than that, it has been very inconsistent with a win here, a defeat, a win, and a lot of those games have had late drama in them, with lots of late goals that have decided them, which has caused a dramatic swing in the fanbase in terms of positivity or negativity.
In terms of individual performances and stability, and what they want to do in terms of staying in the Premier League, it has been very successful.
To get to that next level and get into Europe, there is one final push to try and do it. It is just about whether they can get over the line now after a couple of failed attempts.
It has been a good season and people will look back on it that way, but everyone is focused on Europe now, and it feels like, in some people's eyes, the season might be a failure if Fulham do not qualify. I see it as another progressive season in the Premier League.
The Whites are one of a number of teams in a packed midtable with eyes on qualifying for European football of some kind next season. What has Marco Silva said on that topic, if anything?
He has said they are fighting very, very hard for it and that is the position they want to end up in at the end of the season.
At the end of last season, he put the aim out to the players about bettering the points tally from last season, which was a club record, and if that was to be the case, it meant Fulham would have a pretty successful season and a good shot at Europe. They are on a good path towards it.
There have been a couple of results that have been a little bit detrimental to their hopes, but when they beat Burnley before the international break, that put them right back on track. Silva has been pretty clear in what he wants, and the expectation from him to the players is that Fulham can do it and the players believe it as well.
It is all on these last six games now. They have to focus on themselves, not try to rely on other teams, and just do the business.
'It is all on these last six games now. They have to focus on themselves, not try to rely on other teams, and just do the business'
On top of that, 11 more points would set a new club record for the second season running. Qualifying for Europe is the aim, of course, but would that be seen as a decent consolation?
I think so. Fulham are a club who have had to come up and stabilise themselves in the Premier League in quite a difficult climate, so to beat the points record in back-to-back seasons, given the competitive nature of the division, would be a massive success.
Given there was not a massive change in the squad in the summer, bar a couple of signings, it means the continuity has kept going, and the manager is still there, too. Fulham are on the right track and delivering results and consistent performances across the season.
They can be very inconsistent with their league form, and there is definitely a feeling they could have had more points, which was said around the same stage last season as well, but when they have lost games, they have managed to bounce back pretty well.
It would be seen as a massive success if they were able to reach 55+ points this season because it is difficult in this league; there are loads of teams vying for European places, and then teams trying to beat their own individual records as well.
Having players like Harry Wilson, Alex Iwobi and Raúl Jiménez has really helped them this season.
Which player should Brentford be keeping an eye out for on Saturday?
Josh King came on against Brentford in the game at the Gtech last season and made a decoy run, which set up the space for Wilson to score. He also made the mistake of giving the ball away, from which Brentford scored, earlier in the season, too.
But his second-half performance against Burnley was the best I have seen from him in the first team.
Of course, Wilson is the dangerman and I would expect him to start. There are a lot of players that could hurt Brentford, but he is the main one.
What should Keith Andrews’ side expect in terms of shape and style?
It will be a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, however you want to see it. A goalkeeper, a back four, a holding midfielder, one more advanced, a no.10, maybe Wilson on the right-hand side, Samuel Chukwueze or Oscar Bobb on the left - given Kevin is likely still injured – then Jiménez or Rodrigo Muniz up top.
Out of possession, they like to press in a 4-4-2, with the no.10 pressing from the front with the striker, then trying to win the ball high up the pitch. They play with high intensity and are always trying to win games.
Maybe it is reflective of only five draws that Silva says they do not play for draws, which can be detrimental at times, because the desire to win can sometimes cause them to go on and lose.
Fulham are very expansive in the way they play and brave in the way they play, but given this is a derby, they will be giving it that extra 10 per cent.
What’s your score prediction?
Right now, I think this is going to be a game where both teams score.
I am very wary of Igor Thiago, whose form is incredible, and the fact that Brentford seem to create chances and score goals in nearly every game they play.
There will be goals, so I am going to go for a 2-2 draw.
Diego Simeone’s side secured a shock 2-0 win at the Nou Camp in the first leg, which was helped by a red card to Barcelona's Pau Cubarsi just before half time. Still, Atleti were clinical when their big chances arrived and even though they sit fourth in La Liga (22 points behind leaders Barcelona) they have really stepped things up in the Champions League this season and remain a proper cup team.
Barcelona look certain to win a second-straight La Liga title under Hansi Flick, but they have a mountain to climb in Madrid if they want to reach consecutive Champions League semifinals. Still, if any team in Europe can quickly erase a 2-0 deficit it's this Barca side. Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski and Co. can score in bunches but they know how tough Atleti will make this.
For live updates and highlights throughout Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona, check out PST's live blog coverage below.
How to watch Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona live, stream link and start time
Kick off time:3pm ET Tuesday (April 14) Venue:Riyadh Air Metropolitano — Madrid TV Channel/Streaming: Paramount+
Atletico Madrid team news, focus
Goalkeeper and legend Jan Oblak has returned to training ahead of this game, which is a huge boost, and USMNT midfielder Johnny Cardoso is also back in training after his injury. David Hancko, Jose Gimenez and Pablo Barrios are all doubts, while Marc Pubill is suspended. Atletico will make this very scrappy and press high in moments and they have the quality of Julian Alvarez, Antoine Griezmann, Ademola Lookman and Alexander Sorloth to hurt Barca on the break.
Barcelona team news, focus
Raphinha and Andreas Christensen remain out injured, with the former a massive loss in attack. Cubarsi is suspended after his red card in the first leg, while Marc Bernal and Gerard Martin are pushing to feature. Lewandowski will lead the line with Yamal on the right and then the likes of Marcus Rashford, Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres will all be pushing to start as Barca aim to score early and make this very uncomfortable for Atletico.
Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona prediction
This feels like it could be another memorable European night for Barcelona, but Atletico will dig in and just get over the line. Atletico Madrid 1-2 Barcelona (Atletico Madrid win 3-2 on aggregate).
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - AUGUST 16: A detail view of a New England Patriots helmet during the third quarter of the NFL Preseason 2025 game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on August 16, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Coming off a Super Bowl berth, the New England Patriots have a clear plan in mind for the 2026 offseason: it’s about remodeling, not rebuilding, as head coach Mike Vrabel said after the season.
The NFL Draft naturally is a major part of this process. Until the event in late April, the Patriots — led by Vrabel and EVP of player personnel Eliot Wolf — will be conducting interviews, working out prospects, inviting them for a finite number of pre-draft visits, and in general try to get as complete a picture as possible. It remains to be seen what this process eventually leads to, but there will be plenty of news to report.
In order to find out who the Patriots have already spoken to or worked out thus far, please make sure to bookmark this regularly-updated pre-draft tracker. We will have all contact listed to the best of our knowledge.
(Note: Please scroll down for a meeting-by-meeting breakdown)
Quarterback
Jalon Daniels (Kansas): 30 visit
Joe Fagnano (UConn): Local visit
Haynes King (Georgia Tech): Pro Day
Behren Morton (Texas Tech): 30 visit
Brady Olson (Central Connecticut State): Local Pro Day
Cole Payton (North Dakota State): Pro Day
Sawyer Robertson (Baylor): Virtual meeting
Running back
Kaelon Black (Indiana): 30 visit
Greg Desrosiers (Memphis): Local Pro Day
Cash Jones (Georgia): Pro Day
Jordan McDonald (Boston College): Local Pro Day
Kejon Owens (Florida International): Senior Bowl
Adam Randall (Clemson): 30 visit
Jordon Vaughn (Abilene Christian): College Gridiron Showcase
J. Michael Sturdivant (Florida): East-West Shrine Bowl
Tight end
Nate Boerkircher (Texas A&M): Combine
Jed Castles (Abilene Christian): Pro Day
Oscar Delp (Georgia): 30 visit
Enyi Falayi (Wake Forest): Local Pro Day
Ademola Faleye (Washington State): Local Pro Day
Jeremiah Franklin (Boston College): Local Pro Day
John Michael Gyllenborg (Wyoming): Senior Bowl
Louis Hansen (UConn): Local Pro Day
Eli Raridon (Notre Dame): Senior Bowl
D.J. Rogers (TCU): Senior Bowl
Dan Villari (Syracuse): Hula Bowl + Senior Bowl
Offensive tackle
Chris Adams (Memphis): Pro Day
Markel Bell (Miami): Virtual meeting
Jude Bowry (Boston College): Pro Day + Local visit
Travis Burke (Memphis): Pro Day + 30 visit
Kevin Cline (Boston College): Local Pro Day
Max Iheanachor (Arizona State): Combine + 30 visit
Kamar Missouri (UTSA): College Gridiron Showcase
Ryan Mosesso (UMass): Pro Day + Local Pro Day
Jake Pope (Illinois State): Pro Day
Jayden Williams (Mississippi): Pro Day
Interior offensive line
Kage Casey (Boise State): Senior Bowl
Greg Crippen (Michigan): Pro Day + Local Pro Day
Desmond Daniels (Alabama State): FCS Showcase
Nick Dawkins (Penn State): American Bowl
Jalen Farmer (Kentucky): Combine
Ashton Grable (Florida A&M): HBCU Legacy Bowl
Delby Lemieux (Dartmouth): Senior Bowl + Local Pro Day
Peter Nygra (Louisville): East-West Shrine Bowl
Brian Parker II (Duke): East-West Shrine Bowl
Walker Parks (Clemson): Pro Day
Emmanuel Pregnon (Oregon): 30 visit
Keylan Rutledge (Georgia Tech): Senior Bowl
Logan Taylor (Boston College): Pro Day + Local Pro Day
Connor Tollison (Missouri): American Bowl
Jeremiah Wright (Auburn): Pro Day + 30 visit
Interior defensive line
Nick Barrett (South Carolina): Combine
Rayshaun Benny (Michigan): Senior Bowl
Gracen Halton (Oklahoma): Pro Day
Kody Huisman (Virginia Tech): American Bowl
Kevin Jobity Jr. (Syracuse): Pro Day
Sedarius McConnell (Boston College): Local Pro Day
Kayden McDonald (Ohio State): 30 visit
Noah Miles (Howard): HBCU Legacy Bow
Tyler Onyedim (Texas A&M): Combine + Pro Day
Michael Otty (Bryant): Local Pro Day
Kaleb Proctor (Southeastern Louisiana): Combine
Landon Robinson (Navy): East-West Shrine Bowl + Pro Day
Jernias Tafia (Colorado State): Pro Day
Defensive edge
Noah Barrett (St. Olaf): Pro Day
Keyron Crawford (Auburn): Combine + 30 visit
Dani Dennis-Sutton (Penn State): Senior Bowl
George Gumbs Jr. (Florida): 30 visit
T.J. Guy (Michigan): Local Pro Day
Dayon Hayes (Texas A&M): American Bowl
Michael Heldman (Central Michigan): Hula Bowl
Romello Height (Texas A&M): 30 visit
Cashius Howell (Texas A&M): Combine
Quintayvious Hutchins (Boston College): Local Pro Day
Michael Lunz II (South Carolina State): HBCU Legacy Bowl
Akheem Mesidor (Miami): Combine
T.J. Parker (Clemson): Senior Bowl
Kaghen Roach (Abilene Christian): Pro Day
Tyreak Sapp (Florida): Pro Day
Bryan Thomas (South Carolina): Pro Day
R Mason Thomas (Oklahoma): 30 visit
Dion Wilson Jr. (Syracuse): Pro Day
Chris Wright (Abilene Christian): Pro Day
Zion Young (Missouri): Combine + 30 visit
Linebacker
Shad Banks Jr. (UTSA): Hula Bowl
Ernest Hausmann (Michigan): Pro Day
Khalil Jacobs (Missouri): Pro Day + Virtual meeting + 30 visit
Bryun Parham (UConn): Local Pro Day
Jimmy Rolder (Michigan): Pro Day
Steven Ward (Pittsburgh State): Pro Day
Wade Woodaz (Clemson): Pro Day
Javin Wright (Nebraska): American Bowl
Cornerback
Caleb Anderson (Michigan): College Gridiron Showcase
Elias Archie (Brown): Local Pro Day
Shahid Barros (Iowa): Local Pro Day
Rashad Battle (Pittsburgh): American Bowl
Nasir Bowers (Toledo): Pro Day
Jadon Canady (Oregon): East-West Shrine Bowl
Elijah Culp (James Madison): American Bowl
Michael Dansby (Arizona): American Bowl
Andre Fuller (Toledo): East-West Shrine Bowl + Pro Day
Malcolm Greene (UMass): Local Pro Day
Al’Zillion Hamilton (Fresno State): American Bowl
Devon Marshall (N.C. State): Virtual meeting + Local Pro Day
Karon Prunty (Wake Forest): Pro Day + 30 visit
Jaden Rios (Texas State): Hula Bowl
Keionte Scott (Miami): Combine
Avery Smith (Toledo): Combine + Pro Day
Safety
Dathan Hickey (Youngstown State): College Gridiron Showcase
Jalen Huskey (Maryland): Private meeting
Cam Smith (Marshall): Hula Bowl
Gavin Gibson (North Carolina): Hula Bowl
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (Toledo): 30 visit
Kamari Ramsey (USC): Combine
Robert Spears-Jennings (Oklahoma): Pro Day
Jalen Stroman (Notre Dame): Senior Bowl
Zakee Wheatley (Penn State): 30 visit
Sean Williams (Dartmouth): Pro Day
Malik Spencer (Michigan State): 30 visit
Specialists
Garrison Grimes (LS | BYU): East-West Shrine Bowl
Ben Mann (LS | Boston College): Local Pro Day
Laith Merjan (K | Kansas): Hula Bowl
Whereas the list above gives an overview over the prospects the Patriots have been in contact with before the draft, the following overview is a breakdown by meeting opportunity plus the source of each report.
Mar 27, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (50) throws Arizona Diamondbacks right fielder Corbin Carroll (7) out at first in the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
It is one thing to find an MLB hitter struggling. It is another thing to find them injured and not playing at all. The injury report will be important from start to finish throughout the entire 2026 season. As of now, these key players are battling injuries and are included in the Week 3 Injury Report.
Jackson Holliday (BAL)
The Orioles will have to wait on Holliday's return. He will not be back this week as previously hoped, and Holliday's return will now be expected by May 1st.
Adley Rutschman (BAL)
The Orioles were happy with Rutschman's MRI results. He remains on the IR, but with a return hopefully over the next 1-2 weeks (ankle).
Jeremy Pena (HOU)
The Astros continue their injury woes with Pena. He works through a knee injury and is held out of the lineup on the 10-day IL. Pena's time spent out should not be overly long.
Mookie Betts (LAD)
Fantasy baseball owners have gotten promising news on Betts: he feels symptom-free. Betts is on the 10-day IL and will not return until at least April 24th.
Kyle Stowers (MIA)
The Marlins' star outfielder is going through his rehab games in Triple-A. The Marlins expect his return as soon as next week, fueling a run that we view as having breakout potential.
Christian Yelich (MIL)
The Brewers removed Yelich from Sunday's game with hamstring tightness. He remains off the IL, thus hoping to return as soon as Tuesday night.
Jackson Chourio (MIL)
Chourio is still not cleared with his hand fracture. Luckily, once it heals, he will be full strength. The return is unknown, but likely over the next 1-2 weeks.
Luis Arraez (SFG)
Arraez has a wrist injury of low-concern, avoiding the IL and hoping for a Tuesday lineup return.
Wyatt Langford (TEX)
The Rangers' breakout candidate avoided anything major with a quadricep injury. He will be back in the Tuesday night lineup as a must-start.
Addison Barger (TOR)
Barger has left his walking boot, and the teams expect his return to be right after the 10-day IL window closes.
George Springer (TOR)
Springer deals with a toe injury, forcing a 10-day IL stint. Springer is expected to be out for the minimum time.
Dustin Poirier had high praise for Josh Hokit following his performance at UFC 327 in Miami on Saturday.
Hokit spent fight week taunting top-ranked heavyweight Curtis Blaydes and even went after headliners Carlos Ulberg and Jiri Prochazka, drawing mixed reactions from UFC fans.
When the time came to perform, however, Hokit delivered, outlasting Blaydes in an all-out war on the main card at Kaseya Center and walking away $200,000 richer with two performance bonuses.
The lightweight legend addressed the performance on About Last Fight, drawing a direct line between Hokit’s willingness to back up his words and the rise of some of the sport’s biggest stars.
“When stars start to align, you’ve seen it in Conor McGregor, when you talk the talk, and you walk the walk,” Poirier said. “You’ve seen it in ‘Suga’ Sean O’Malley. You’ve seen Chael Sonnen. We’ve seen it time and time again where guys talk the talk and walk the walk, and Hokit just did it this week.
“He talked a big game, and he went out there and put on one of the best heavyweight fights we’ve seen and got his hand raised. Good things happen, you become a star.”
Hokit, now 9-0 in MMA and 3-0 in the UFC, was immediately rewarded with a high-profile next assignment. He has been booked to face Derrick Lewis at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14 at the White House, a booking that reflects how seriously the promotion is taking his early momentum inside the octagon.
Liverpool's UEFA Champions League run came to an unceremonious end on Tuesday, as the Reds were again beaten 2-0 by reigning European champions PSG and star forward Hugo Ekitike suffered a potentially serious injury in the process.
Arne Slot's side trailed 2-0 heading into the second leg and Ekitike’s non-contact injury only made life more difficult — on the night and in the future. Alexander Isak made his first start since breaking his leg in December, but the Swede was only available for 45 minutes. Mohamed Salah replaced Ekitike just after the half-hour mark and Cody Gakpo did the same for Isak at halftime.
PSG played with Liverpool at arm's length for most of the night, protecting their 2-0 lead rather sensible before Ousmane Dembele bagged a brace in the final 20 minutes and put the exclamation point on a resounding quarterfinal victory. Dembele curled a beauty past Giorgi Mamardashvili in the 71st minute and slammed home Bradley Barcola's cross in the 91st.
Up next, PSG will face either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid in the semifinals, just 270 minutes from defending their crown and becoming the first side to win back-to-back Champions Leagues since Real Madrid won three in a row in 2016, 2017 and 2018. Bayern lead that tie 2-1 with the second leg at home on Wednesday.
Liverpool vs PSG live updates - by Andy Edwards
Liverpool vs PSG final score: 0-2 (0-4 agg.)
Goalscorers: Ousmane Dembele (73', 90'+1)
GOAL! Liverpool 0-2 (0-4 agg.) PSG: Dembele slams the door shut in stoppage time (90'+1)
GOAL! Liverpool 0-1 (0-3 agg.) PSG: Dembele curls one home from outside the box (73')
PSG LEAD AT ANFIELD
Ousmane Dembele beautifully curls in from the edge of the area to put the away side 3-0 up in the tie pic.twitter.com/p0WDCe3bEA
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 14, 2026
NO PENALTY! Liverpool’s lifeline taken away after Alexis Mac Allister goes down (66')
Liverpool think they have a penalty, but the referee Maurizio Mariani overturns it after reviewing the pitch side monitor ❌ pic.twitter.com/njo901ILRw
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 14, 2026
Hugo Ekitike stretchered off after going down with non-contact injury (31')
How to watch Liverpool vs PSG live, stream link and start time
Kick off time:3pm ET Tuesday (April 14) Venue:Anfield — Liverpool TV Channel/Streaming: Paramount+
Arne Slot's side need to overturn a 2-0 deficit from the first leg in Paris against the reigning European champions, which is no small feat, but the aura of Anfield will help them. Liverpool beat Fulham 2-0 at the weekend to showcase some improved defensive solidity and that was much-needed after a poor run. They have the upper-hand in an almighty scrap for a top five finish in the Premier League and are looking good for Champions League qualification for next season.
PSG are well rested for this game as their huge league encounter against Lens was postponed by Ligue 1. Luis Enrique will set his side up to counter clinically, as they always seem to do. PSG will aim to get to half time with the score level and they then know the likes of Doue, Dembele and Kvaratskhelia can pick Liverpool off on the break.
Liverpool team news, focus
Rio Ngumoha is pushing hard to start after his goal, and brilliant solo display, against Fulham at the weekend. Liverpool likely won't deploy a back three like they did against PSG in the first leg and Arne Slot will hope Hugo Ekitike and Co. can grab an early goal to really turn up the heat. Alisson, Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley and Wataru Endo all remain out injured.
PSG team news, focus
Fabian Ruiz and Quentin Ndjantou are PSG's only injury issues, while Bradley Barcola has returned to training which is a boost. PSG have struggled at times defensively this season but going forward they are pretty unstoppable once they pin teams back and set the tempo.
Liverpool vs PSG prediction
This feels like it is going to be a special night at Anfield and Liverpool will go ahead early, but PSG have enough quality to just get over the line. Liverpool 2-1 PSG (PSG win 3-2 on aggregate).
The Minnesota Vikings are doing their homework on rookie backs for next week, and they’ll probably leave the draft with one. That’s the good news. The bad news? Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price may not be available.
Price’s draft momentum may force Minnesota to pivot at running back.
Price is increasingly being discussed as a late 1st-Rounder, and if so, he’d work his way out of Minnesota’s draft range.
The Vikings’ RB Options Expand beyond Jadarian Price
It might be time to cross Price off the purple bingo board.
Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price breaks through the Pittsburgh defense and accelerates into open field during first-half action on November 15, 2025, at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The explosive run highlights his burst and vision as he capitalizes on a crease created by the offensive line in a physical road matchup. Mandatory Credit: Michael Longo-Imagn Images.
Price as a 1st-Rounder
Bleacher Report‘s Moe Moton sized up five players who could sneak into Round 1 this week, and Price was the one running back to get the nod.
He wrote, “NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport believes Jadarian Price will be the second tailback off the board and may sneak into the first round within a shallow class of ball-carriers.”
“Jeremiyah Love, a projected first-rounder, and Price played together through three terms with the Fighting Irish. The former took on the featured role after Audric Estime’s departure to the NFL, while the latter served in a complementary role.”
Until recently, Price has been considered a safe Round 2 or 3 pick.
“Although Price didn’t rack up more than 746 yards in a single collegiate term, he averaged at least six yards per carry and scored 18 touchdowns over the last two years. After a couple of seasons as Notre Dame’s No. 2 running back, Price may have more to offer a team that wants a decisive early-down ball-carrier who can also contribute on special teams,” Moton continued.
“He returned three kickoffs for touchdowns in college. Most of the league’s clubs featured multiple running backs, so don’t discount one of them taking Price on Day 1.”
Others, like Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers and Indiana cornerback D’Angelo Ponds, got shoutouts from Moton, too.
Then What for the Vikings?
Suppose Price indeed slips into the bottom of Round 1 or the top of Round 2, disqualifying him from the Vikings’ grasp. It’s not doomsday. The club would just have to pivot and explore an alternative rookie running back.
Per the current Consensus Big Board, the options would look like this:
All the Round 1 chatter for Price that has emerged might be code for the Seahawks. The Super Bowl champions have the luxury of a deep roster, and picking a running back like Price might be fair game after Kenneth Walker III left in free agency for the Chiefs.
Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price carries the ball and navigates traffic during the first half on Oct. 18, 2025, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. He presses forward through contact, working for extra yardage while helping the Fighting Irish offense find rhythm early against a packed defensive front. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images.
SI.com‘s Michael Hanich on Price to Seattle: “The Seahawks could find a way to trade back into the second round for more picks and still find a way to get Price. He might be one of the most undervalued players in this draft. In the last two seasons, Price has rushed for 1,420 yards and 18 touchdowns on 233 carries, averaging 6.1 yards per carry.”
“In the receiving game, he also caught 10 receptions for 97 yards for two touchdowns. Price is also a serious threat on special teams by taking two kickoff returns for a touchdown. Price would come in and immediately be the favorite for the starting running back. He has a much higher ceiling than George Holani and newly signed Emanuel Wilson. The Seahawks could have Price be a main contributor until Zach Charbonnet returns from his injury, but even then, he could be the main back.”
Time for a Rookie RB
While the Vikings’ ground game has improved gradually under Kevin O’Connell, it has yet to become a dominant strength. Here’s their rushing DVOA and NFL ranking during his tenure:
Vikings Rushing DVOA NFL Ranking in O’Connell Era:
2022: 27th
2023: 27th
2024: 20th
2025: 13th
The significant jump in 2025 is encouraging. However, the play-calling reveals another aspect of the story. Minnesota ran the ball on 43% of its plays, ranking 19th in the league. This indicates that while their rushing production improved to a Top 13 ranking, their commitment to the run still ranked in the bottom half of the league.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell reacts along the sideline after a rushing touchdown by Aaron Jones during the first quarter on Oct. 20, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The moment captures O’Connell’s energy as the offense converts a ground-game opportunity against the Detroit Lions in a key divisional matchup. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
Meanwhile, the Vikings have no running backs scheduled under contract next offseason. Aaron Jones will be a free agent; so will RB2 Jordan Mason. Jones will be 32 at that time, Mason 27.
Beyond the shadow of a doubt, it’s time for a young running back to enter the mix for Minnesota. While that may not be Price, Washington Jr., Johnson, and Coleman make sense.
The New York Jets have the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft, and the need is clear – a game-changing defender who can wreck a game plan. The problem is the Jets are acting like there’s a clean answer when the board is messy, and the fanbase is split. The latest Jets link roundup is blunt about where the rumors are drifting. There’s real chatter that the Jets will go defense at No. 2, specifically Texas Tech edge David Bailey. The debate is basically this – take a premium pass rusher and fix the most obvious hole, or get cute and start reaching for a non-blue-chip skill player and pretend it’s genius.
Dec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) gets into position during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The market noise is loud, too. The markets have pushed Ohio State LB Arvell Reese as the favorite at No. 2 – with Kalshi at 65% and Polymarket at 75%. That’s not the gospel, mind you, but it tells you where the rumor ecosystem is.
If you don’t pressure quarterbacks in the NFL, you have a hell of a hard time winning football games. Period. And the Jets have to realize the pass rush depth chart is thinner than people want to admit. The New York Post reporting has framed No. 2 as likely targeting the edge group, naming Reese and Bailey (noting Bailey’s production at 14.5 sacks last season) as top options.
Trade The Pick?
Gang Green Nation also flagged that the Jets have to be smart about the class itself. There isn’t a slam-dunk quarterback in this draft, which makes trading down a live topic, but also a painful one because teams may not want to pay market rate to move up in a perceived weak class. Therein lay the trap – stay at No. 2 and get criticized for the pick, trade down and get criticized for the return.
Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) reacts during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin.
Conclusion:
The Jets should draft defense unless they’re sure a specific offensive player is a true difference-maker. If they’re choosing between a good player and a premium position, the answer is premium position. And if they miss at No. 2, the excuses won’t matter. The tape will.
Leeds United's Ao Tanaka and Manchester United's Benjamin Sesko during the Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester. Picture date: Monday April 13, 2026. (Photo by Martin Rickett/PA Images via Getty Images) | PA Images via Getty Images
Pauly: Alarming lack of depth on display
There hasn’t been much change in United’s underlying numbers between Ruben Amorim and Michael Carrick this season. The magical secret to Carrick’s success has mostly been he’s put his best players out on the pitch and used them in their most effective roles.
Well, what happens if those players suddenly aren’t available? Monday night against Leeds happens.
Carrick named an unchanged XI in his first two games in charge. Seeing as pretty much everyone was available and those matches were against Manchester City and Arsenal we can deduce that this was his first choice XI. Five of the players from that starting XI were not in the team against Leeds, whether because of injury, suspension, illness, or carrying a knock. The gap between those five players and their replacements range from pretty substantial to catastrophic.
The result was a hodgepodge of players thrown together that didn’t complement each other and couldn’t cover each other’s weaknesses. The absence of Kobbie Mainoo brought in Manuel Ugarte, a player who has no on-ball qualities and isn’t great defensively because he rarely holds his position. Benjamin Sesko’s game is more suited to coming off the bench. He doesn’t offer you much outside of the box, making it more difficult to advance the ball to the final third. You need to accommodate that in your buildup play, but that’s made more difficult with Ugarte’s lack of ball-playing ability and that Noussair Mazraoui doesn’t do much to support his winger. At the back United were missing Harry Maguire, a key player not just in terms of winning headers in the box but for communication and keeping the defense organized.
The result was a front three that was always going to be isolated from each other and struggle to create chances from open play (half of United’s shots came from corners, only two open-play shots had an xG of 0.1 or higher). Deeper on the pitch they were starting a weak back line with an even weaker midfield tasked with protecting it.
United struggled from the start. Their midfield was carved open as Ugarte and Casemiro struggled to keep up or just stay in position. Leny Yoro, Lisandro Martinez, and Mazraoui all had their various (known) defensive weaknesses exposed. A team with no progressive passers struggled to move the ball up the pitch and create chances.
This wasn’t an injury crisis hitting Old Trafford. Five changes is a lot but these weren’t fifth choice players. Each of these players were second choice in their position. It’s alarming that outside of United’s first choice players the rest of the squad is not up to Premier League standard. Monday night really put into perspective just how big INEOS’ task is over the next few years because this issue is not going to be fixed in one summer.
Colin: United needs more from Sesko
Manchester United’s big money striker move from the summer took a minute to turn on, but became a big goalscorer for United as soon as a change in manager was made. It wasn’t by accident either, Sesko became the focus of the attack when on the pitch under both interims in Darren Fletcher and Michael Carrick. Even when he was used as a second half substitute, he kept his cool to find the net in some big spots for United.
That hasn’t necessarily been the case as a starter recently, and the weaknesses in his game were on further display against Leeds on Monday.
Sesko’s touch/heat map is staggered and his opportunities to get on the end of crosses or balls into the box were limited. He sent his best chance right at the keeper in the second half, but he should have had two even better opportunities earlier in the match.
He was wasteful with just one man to beat in the first half, controlling a through ball from Amad and failing to get a real effort off after slowing down play and doing very little to make his marker work.
It isn’t just getting him on the ball though. Sesko has to put himself in the game more and he has to be better at playing the ball with his feet, contributing to buildup, and engaging in interplay rather than just waiting for the play to come to him. He makes good runs, he is good in the air and he is certainly one of the few options to shake up the attack in a thin squad, but he has to do more if he wants to be more than a big lad goalscorer.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have seemingly found their groove, and they're 10-6 on the year and look to be a very serious postseason contender.
But there is still room to improve. One of the ways the Pirates could do so is at the MLB trade deadline, and specifically, finding a trade with a team for some more offensive upside at either designated hitter or first base.
Christopher Kline of Fansided.com proposed one trade idea for the Pirates that would resolve this issue with a very fun trade pickup of $34 million slugger from the Chicago White Sox, Munetaka Murakami.
Pirates linked to trade idea for Munetaka Murakami
"The Pirates shouldn't balk at the opportunity to add another young slugger if the opportunity arises, however," Kline writes. "Murakami fits their budget, and it's easy enough to plug him into the DH spot in place of a struggling Marcell Ozuna, if it comes to that."
With the Pirates not getting nearly enough production from their designated hitter spot, adding a new slugger to the offense would not be a surprise at all.
Murakami is hitting only .157 in 16 games and 51 at-bats this season, but he has four home runs, 13 walks, and a .715 OPS. His offensive numbers are a lot better than what Ozuna has put out this year.
Ozuna is hitting .070 across 43 at-bats with a terrible .237 OPS. The Pirates cannot rely on Ozuna this season, and with their team looking like a legitimate postseason contender, trading for someone to replace Ozuna in the DH spot would make sense.
That's why Murakami, a slugger for the White Sox, would be such a great trade option. Kline's idea would give the Pirates a new DH in Murakami, who would be exactly what the offense needs in place of Ozuna in the lineup.
And beyond the simple team fit, adding Murakami, a power hitter with plenty of upside, would simply be a fun addition for the Pirates' offense.
Things are looking up in Pittsburgh, and adding Murakami would be a fun way to add more firepower to the offense.
I have a friend named David who lives in Southern California. He’s a lifelong Dodgers fan, so it’s been a good run for him. He knows my New England roots, and how I pull for all the Boston-area teams (in addition to my adopted Michigan teams).
A few days ago, David dropped the text.
What’s wrong with the Red Sox?
Of course, I played it all down. It’s early. MLB is only a couple of weeks into the season, the equivalent of one week of NFL play. Nobody has separated in the American League yet. Most of the records look the same. A few guys aren’t hitting for Boston yet, but they’ll hit.
And then Monday happens. Red Sox at Twins. And Garrett Crochet, ace, first-round fantasy pick, has this line:
1.2 IP, 9 H, 11 R, 10 ER, 3 BB, 0 K, 2 HR
This wasn’t the 1927 Yankees (or the 2026 Yankees) doing it to Crochet. This is an ordinary Minnesota lineup. Victor Caratini and Ryan Kreidler hammered home runs off the Boston ace. These aren’t guys on the fantasy radar, although I guess you could consider Caratini in a deeper pool if two catchers are required. We should also note the quick start of Josh Bell (two RBI), who’s carrying a .900 OPS for the year. With three homers and 14 RBI, Bell has chased up to 37% rostered in Yahoo leagues.
Crochet’s velocity was down a tick, nothing alarming. Zero strikeouts is a concern, but it’s hard to know if this start means anything. Crochet admitted his command hasn’t been sharp this month. Both Crochet and Boston manager Alex Cora said there’s not an injury at play.
There’s no fantasy-actionable item here. I’d still start Crochet this weekend against the Tigers. He had a 3.27 ERA before Monday’s game, a little raised but nothing crazy. And everyone had the odd game where they don’t have it. Pittsburgh ace Paul Skenes didn’t make it out of the first inning for his opening day start. We shrug. We move along. (Skenes has won his last three starts, including Monday’s turn against Washington.)
Minnesota’s explosion was part of the best MLB offensive day of the year. Scoring has been down for a few weeks, but the runs were flowing Monday, the homers were flying. We saw 144 runs scored and 37 homers over 10 games, and as my friend Joe Sheehan pointed out in his Newsletter, the league OPS jumped from .693 to .701 in one day (that’s a lot, kids). Sometimes some warm weather goes a long way.
The Boston lineup could use some warm weather, and maybe a hanging slider or two. Helium pick Roman Anthony is still walking a bunch, but he’s only batting .211. Chad Durbin was moved up the lineup despite a .135 average. Jarren Duran is batting .196, Trevor Story .188 (one walk, 22 strikeouts). I’m not worried about Anthony and Duran, and I still think Durbin might be useful. The Story start does have me concerned (don’t tell my front-running L.A. friend).
Grisham lifts Yanks to end losing streak
New York’s thrilling comeback win over the Angels might have some fantasy signal. Trent Grisham was the late-game hero with two home runs, despite not starting. He’s been a screaming buy-low all season, a .167 average and .354 slugging that’s been comically unlucky (Statcast data suggests a .251 average and .482 slugging). Grisham’s roster tag is 43% in Yahoo leagues; maybe take up the case.
New York’s rally came against Los Angeles closer Jordan Romano, who entered the night with three saves and a spotless ERA. Five batters later, he had a blown save and a 5.40 ERA attached to his name. Romano had two walks and a wild pitch in this bumpy ride, in addition to the Grisham homer. Given that Romano is closing in part because other teammates are currently hurt — it’s a temp-to-perm situation — his next appearance takes on some fantasy intrigue.
Put Jeremiah Jackson on your radar after grand slam
Another temp-to-perm guy could be Baltimore’s Jeremiah Jackson. He clocked a couple of homers in Monday’s keg tapper against Arizona, giving him three homers in three games. He’s batting .318 and slugging .545 for the Orioles, good stuff over 44 at-bats.
Jackson Holliday (hand) isn’t ready to come back yet, so Jackson will get some extra time to prove his worth. The Orioles are using him at second base; Yahoo managers can plug Jackson at second, third or the outfield. The recent hot stretch has moved him up to 9% rostered in Yahoo.
Matz looking like a good streamer this week
Later this week, I’ll have a scouting screen on Tampa Bay veteran lefty Steven Matz. He has a 3.94 ERA through three turns, but he’s pitched better than that. His FIP settles in at 3.00, and his WHIP is under 1.00. We always like to say, when ERA and WHIP tell different stories, trust the WHIP.
Matz draws the White Sox on Thursday, which explains why he was liberally added the last day or so. He’s still ready to go in about 83% of Yahoo leagues, and he qualifies at both the SP and RP slots. Keep an open mind here.
Alabama dropped to No. 2 while Texas Tech, Texas, Nebraska, Arkansas, and Florida stayed in their spots from a week ago.
Continuing their rise are the Tennessee Volunteers, who are now up to No. 8 in the nation, having won six in a row, including a sweep of Kentucky.
Six of the top 10 teams in D1Softball's top 25 are from the SEC, along with 10 in the top 25.
The Sooners take on the Oklahoma State Cowgirls on Wednesday night at Devon Park in a top-25 nonconference showdown and then host Arkansas at Love's Field for three games this weekend.
After the series win over the Longhorns over the weekend, the Sooners have put themselves in a position for a strong finish to the season against quality competition. If OU can win series against Arkansas, Georgia, and Texas A&M to close the regular season, they should go into the NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 seed.
D1Softball Poll
Released 4/14/2026
Rank
Team
Ovr. Record
Last Week
1
Oklahoma
40-4
2
2
Alabama
39-3
1
3
Texas Tech
41-3
3
4
Texas
33-6
4
5
Nebraska
33-6
5
6
Arkansas
35-6
6
7
Florida
40-5
7
8
Tennessee
37-6
9
9
UCLA
37-5
10
10
Virginia Tech
36-6
11
11
Florida State
36-7
8
12
Georgia
31-11
13
13
Texas A&M
30-12
14
14
Mississippi State
34-11
15
15
Duke
31-12
16
16
Arizona
30-11
12
17
Oregon
32-9
17
18
LSU
28-14
20
19
Oklahoma State
27-11
18
20
Washington
34-9
22
21
UCF
32-11-1
21
22
Stanford
26-12
NR
23
Virginia
33-8
19
24
Grand Canyon
41-4
23
25
Marshall
32-10
NR
Also receiving votes: Boston, Kansas, Belmont, Louisville, Arizona State, Nevada, North Carolina, Omaha
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
The WNBA is an exclusive club. Only a select few people get a chance to play in it. Even fewer get an opportunity to attend the league’s draft and have their name called in the first round.
Naturally, to join a group with that type of exclusivity, a hazing ritual comes first: walk on this stage with all your nerves and emotions and do this awkward television interview in front of a silent auditorium of people listening closely to every word.
Welcome to the W!
Listen, the draft is a special moment for every player who gets dressed up to hear their name called. So players power through to make the best of it no matter what. With family and friends in attendance, it even presents as a cozy environment on TV.
But that same intimacy that gives the draft its charm also makes for some incredibly uncomfortable moments. And it was never more obvious how awkward the whole production can be than it was Monday night, from the very beginning of the 2026 draft.
With the The Shed in New York City piping in ESPN broadcast audio, Azzi Fudd and Awa Fam Thiam presumably could hear the announcers speculate over which would be the No. 1 pick while sitting at their tables. And after Fudd was the pick by the Dallas Wings, she fumbled through her interview with Holly Rowe upon hearing her own voice over the PA system.
No. 2 overall pick Olivia Miles tripped over her first few words too. “That is so weird,” she said to agreement from Rowe. Yup, welcome to the club! Hopefully it’s a warm welcome after Miles also told the room “I have the highest IQ as a guard” before realizing how that might’ve sounded. “Sorry, I didn’t mean that in a harmful way.”
Oh, then there was the Flau’jae Johnson trade that was apparently agreed to before she was picked No. 8 by the Golden State Valkyries but not announced until 40 minutes later, after she had already done post-draft interviews as a Valkyrie. Hey, maybe announce the trade at the time of the pick next time?
I haven’t attended a draft for any league, so maybe they’re all a bit awkward in person. Or maybe this one wasn't as awkward as it seemed. But I've watched plenty on TV, and from an in-home viewing experience, the WNBA took the cake with this one.
The Lynx were the only team to come out of the first round with less than a B grade:
"To be honest, we feel like the Lynx missed the boat here to replenish its frontcourt after losing Alanna Smith, Jessica Shepard and Bridget Carleton earlier this month. Cheryl Reeve is a great coach, so we're sure she's got a clear vision for what she wants out of Miles. However, the team's issue wasn't at guard, at least in the starting lineup."
Fair points. Miles' potential to have an immediate impact might've been too much for Minnesota to pass on.
Quick hits: Raven Johnson to Indiana ... Dylan Harper hurt ... and more
The 2026 Masters tournament was one for the ages. Rory McIlroy took home his second consecutive green jacket with Scottie Scheffler nipping at his heels. The leaderboard and drama surpassed most golf fans’ wildest dreams, but those who hoped for carnage were left a little disappointed. The burnt, oil-slick greens from the hot and dry forecast never materialized as we watched shot after shot stick hole high and the leaderboard surge to double digits under par.
The reality is, the Augusta National we sickos yearned for doesn’t exist in April. As this incredible summer flyover of August National reveals, however, the year’s hottest months are when Augusta National truly bears its teeth.
If you’re fan of fried-to-a-crisp links golf, this is like looking upon the face of God himself … and equally unattainable. Augusta National is closed annually between May and October, meaning that we like almost certainly never see the Masters played in conditions even closely resembling those shown in this 2015 video. It took a once-in-century global pandemic to see what fall foliage at ANGC looks like, so we don’t suggest holding your breath.
Still though, the brief clip provides a basically unprecedented look at the world’s best-kept, and most secretive, golf course. For the rest, you’ll simply have to use your imagination.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The top supervisor of college football officials and lead expert in rules interpretation and implementation will retire Sept. 1, the NCAA announced Tuesday.
Steve Shaw has been the NCAA's secretary-rules editor for football since 2017 and coordinator of officials since 2020.
“It has been an honor of a lifetime to serve and work in college football,” Shaw said. “The relationships and friendships with commissioners, coaches, players, media and most of all my fellow officials are the memories I will always cherish.
“There are many issues and challenges for college football today,” he added, "but on the field between the lines, we have a masterpiece of a game. I look forward to working hard through the summer supporting everyone as we get ready for a great 2026 season and then look ahead to starting my next chapter.”
Shaw previously was coordinator of officials in the Southeastern Conference and Sun Belt Conference. He worked 22 years as an on-field official, including 15 in the SEC and six at the Division II level. He officiated Bowl Championship Series title games in 2000 and 2005 and six other BCS bowl games.
Speaking on ESPN’s Get Up on Tuesday morning, Rhodes was asked to identify which bout on the card excites him most outside of his own, and he pointed to the Night 1 clash between the two without hesitation.
“There’s always a little bit of that split between the sports entertainment and the wrestling. The sports and the entertainment,” Rhodes said. “And the one that’s old-school sports style that I really like, just good, old-fashioned wrestling: Gunther vs. Seth Rollins. I’m all about that. That’s a wrestler’s wrestling match.”
Cody Rhodes does some word association with these WWE stars 🍿
Rollins has been out of action since suffering a shoulder injury during his match against Rhodes at WWE Crown Jewel in October 2025. WWE reportedly considered multiple opponents for his return before landing on Gunther, and the matchup has drawn considerable anticipation given both performers’ in-ring credentials. For Rhodes, the appeal is straightforward — it is a match built around wrestling rather than spectacle, which is the kind of bout he clearly has a deep appreciation for.
Rhodes also addressed the Pat McAfee situation during the ESPN appearance, describing the broadcaster as a “rat” who is surrounded by people who do not tell him “no” enough. McAfee has inserted himself into the build toward Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE Championship defense against Randy Orton and will be in Orton’s corner for the match on Night 1 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on April 18.
Just as they had hoped, the Carolina Panthers feel like they have allowed themselves to take the best available player next Thursday night.
On Tuesday morning, president of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan chatted with reporters for his annual pre-draft press conference. And after taking an aggressive and successful path through free agency, he was asked if the team's newest additions will narrow the focus of their first-round selection.
"No. If anything, I think it opens us up to a lot of possibilities at Pick 19," Morgan replied. "I think all positions are on the table. And like I said before, you never know who's gonna fall down to us.
"So I think we're definitely in the best-player-available mindset. So, yeah, I think what we did in free agency set us up to do that."
Morgan and company attacked the open market as soon as they could last month, reeling in pass rusher Jaelan Phillips and Pro Bowl inside linebacker Devin Lloyd on the first day of the legal tampering period. Carolina also added left tackle Rasheed Walker and center Luke Fortner, both of whom seem likely to start come Week 1, and brought back 14 of their own free agents.
The Panthers' biggest remaining needs—at least according the consensus from around the league—sit at wide receiver, tight end, linebacker, cornerback and safety.
Lewis Hall: Man United learn Newcastle’s price for heir to Shaw
Manchester United are reportedly braced for a battle with Europe’s elite to secure Lewis Hall’s signature this summer, as the Red Devils hunt for a long-term successor to Luke Shaw.
Fixing the fullbacks
Despite starting all 32 Premier League matches this season, Shaw‘s injury history means that the 30-year-old Englishman cannot be relied upon to play every week next year.
The reduced schedule, due to a lack of European football and dismal runs in the domestic cups, will be ramped up as United look likely to secure a return to the Champions League, even after yesterday’s shock defeat to Leeds at Old Trafford.
Patrick Dorgu, who was signed with the intention of being a wing-back last year, is yet to be consistently trialled as a traditional left-back in a red shirt. The 21-year-old Denmark international played there for his previous club, Lecce, but it remains a question mark whether he can provide competition to Shaw in this deeper role.
As such, United are understood to be exploring options on the left-hand side of defence – with Hall, Newcastle United and England’s first-choice left-back, emerging as a primary target.
Other options under consideration are Arsenal starlet Myles Lewis-Skelly and Eintracht Frankfurt’s touchline terror, Nathaniel Brown. However, it is Hall who is the most accomplished of the three, having established himself as one of the finest fullbacks in Europe this season at St James’ Park.
Newcastle dig in
Naturally, Newcastle United are reluctant to lose one of their prized assets, particularly as a host of their best players – Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon, among others – are being linked with exits this summer.
Eddie Howe’s side have endured a difficult campaign, currently languishing in 12th in the table and having already exited all cup competitions. The economic situation off the pitch is similarly strained, leading to the prospect of big-money departures at the end of the season.
Caught Offside reveals Newcastle United consider Hall a “vital part of their long-term vision” and have “no intention of letting him leave easily.” He arrived on Tyneside from Chelsea in 2023 on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy worth £35 million.
Consequently, an opening bid in the region of £50-55m would be required to kickstart negotiations, though the Magpies would “likely demand significantly more if multiple clubs entered a bidding contest.”
United are understood to be joined in this red-hot race by elite clubs both inside and outside of England, with Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City set to rival them. Further afield, Spanish giants FC Barcelona and Real Madrid are also “tracking” the defender’s progress – a testament to just how highly regarded the Cobham graduate is across the continent.
Final Thoughts
Hall is undoubtedly one of the finest defenders operating in the Premier League at present. His profile – a homegrown 21-year-old talent with experience of Champions League and international football – is the textbook definition of what INEOS want to add to the ranks at Old Trafford.
If an opening offer in the region of £50m quickly climbs to the £60-65m mark, it would still prove an astute signing in a position which has the potential to destabilise United next season. They must move quickly, however, as Hall is primed to play a key role for England at the World Cup, which could drive his price up even higher.
It would constitute an explosive raid to capture a defensive jewel from one of the club’s bitter rival, particularly given the recent bad blood between United and Newcastle. But football is a zero sum game and your enemies’ loss counts as your own win – and Hall arriving at Old Trafford this summer would be as big a boost for the Red Devils as it would a blow for the Magpies.
The New England Patriots released Stefon Diggs this offseason to create some cap space and attempted to replace him by signing Romeo Doubs.
Diggs remains unsigned, and he could be a great addition to plenty of contenders. He was the Patriots' leading receiver last season, posting over 1,000 yards. Coming off a torn ACL, he proved he is capable of still being a No. 1 receiver. However, he may have to settle for less money at this stage in his career.
The NFL Draft is coming up, and after that, teams could look at their wide receiver situation and make a move for Diggs, but which teams make the most sense? Well, the Buffalo Bills actually make a ton of sense for Diggs. Things between the Bills and Diggs did not end in the best way, but before last season's Super Bowl, he spoke highly of the organization, fans and Josh Allen.
“I love you guys. I know I’m far gone, but I do miss you all. I built a great relationship with you all," Diggs said to reporters of Buffalo. “Keep hanging your head on that quarterback. That quarterback is a Hall of Famer. Parts of me do wish things were different because I do have a lot of love and respect for that team.”
Well, the Bills desperately need help at receiver, and even if they draft one early, Diggs could be a great asset. The Bills added DJ Moore this offseason, but have not made any other big moves to help Allen in the passing game.
Diggs and Allen put up monster numbers together. All four of Diggs' Pro Bowl nods have come with Allen as his trigger man. Diggs was also a First-Team All-Pro with Allen, leading the league in receptions and receiving yards in 2020. Diggs may not be that player anymore, but on a cheaper deal, he could be an elite player to pair with Moore. Those two leading the receiving corps would be a massive upgrade from last season.
Things between Allen and Diggs were reportedly shaky toward the end of his time with the Bills, but Diggs seems to have great admiration for Allen. He even cleared the air on a viral picture of him side-eyeing Allen.
“They had that picture, right? Of me side-eyeing him,” Diggs said of Allen last season. “They just caught it at the wrong time and I’ve always wanted to speak on that photo because I was staring at him in the moment because it was like, ‘Damn, that was my brother.’ We won in Houston, but that’s my brother.”
Right now, Diggs needs a team, and Allen needs a No. 1 receiver. Diggs returning to Buffalo could be a great move for both sides.
The Montreal Canadiens enter the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs with renewed belief, and analyst Craig Button believes that mindset could make them a dangerous opponent.
Montreal currently holds the third place in the Atlantic Division with 106 points, and has one game remaining. They are going to face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the opening round.
Speaking during a segment of “Jay on SC,” Button said the Canadiens are no longer a team hoping to compete but one expecting to win. He pointed to their balanced play across all areas, including improved defense and reliable goaltending.
“It’s going to be a difficult matchup because the Montreal Canadiens are playing so well, and they’re not just playing well in one area of their game,” Button said. “Their defensive play has improved, their goaltending has been really good, obviously up front offensively, and you look at how their defense [has improved].
“And I really think Kaiden Guhle coming back healthy has really helped that blue line. It’s taken some of the … heavy minutes away from some other players and he’s filled that in, and he’s that type of player.”
Offensively, Montreal continues to deliver. Cole Caufield has crossed the 50-goal mark, while captain Nick Suzuki has passed 100 points. Button also praised contributions from players like Juraj Slafkovsky (73 points), who scored a recent game-winner, and Lane Hutson (78 points), who matched a franchise record for assists by a defenseman, earlier held by Larry Robinson.
The Canadiens’ depth has also improved. A strong second line featuring emerging players has added scoring support, while the return of key names like Kirby Dach could boost their lineup further.
“They have the grind down deeper in their lineup, and you start to see them getting healthy players coming back into the lineup,” Button said. “Kirby Dach and Alexander Carrier coming back, which would be good. Hopefully, Noah Dobson, the week’s rest, gets them ready for the playoffs.”
This depth allows Montreal to handle different game situations effectively.
Montreal’s wins against strong contenders, Tampa Bay and Carolina
Montreal Canadiens center Nick Suzuki (14) is congratulated by defenseman Lane Hutson (48) and right wing Cole Caufield (13) after his goal at the Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
Recent performances underline their confidence. The Canadiens have recorded big wins on the road, including victories against Tampa Bay (4-1) and Carolina (3-1). They have even defeated Tampa Bay at home with a 2-1 score. These results have reinforced their belief that they can compete with any team.
“This is a really good team, and more than that, about talking about them as a really good team, they’re a team that sees themselves as a really good team,” Buttons said. “They’re not going out on the ice saying, ‘Well, you know what, let’s hope we win, let’s try to survive the period, let’s weather the storm.’ One of the great cliches that I absolutely hate. They go out there with the idea that ‘We got a chance to win because we’re good enough and we’re good enough to beat anybody anywhere.’
“They have shown that. They’ve shown that in the last number of weeks, that five-game winning streak on the road, … that hey we need to be taken seriously and if anybody’s not taking them seriously, do it at your peril because they’re a team that should be reckoned with.”
Montreal’s season reflects clear progress. With a 48-23-10 record and one of the league’s top-scoring offenses, they have developed into a well-rounded side. Their ability to combine scoring with improved defensive structure has been the best thing about them.
As the playoffs approach, the Canadiens carry momentum and belief. And as Button said, that confidence could be the difference, making Montreal a serious threat in the postseason.
Marvin Ducksch joined Birmingham from German side Werder Bremen last summer [Getty Images]
Birmingham City striker Marvin Ducksch has been charged with drink driving following a three-vehicle collision on Easter Monday.
Warwickshire Police have confirmed the German was arrested after officers attended the scene on the A3400 near Henley-in-Arden, close to where the club's training ground is based, at around 22:30 BST.
He was charged with the offence on Monday, 13 April.
The striker, 32, is on bail and will appear before Warwickshire Magistrates' Court in Leamington Spa on Wednesday, 20 May.
"Marvin wishes to apologise to his team-mates, staff and supporters of the club and accepts full responsibility for his actions," the club said in a statement.
"The matter has been dealt with internally and no further comment will be made at this time."
Per NFL rules, the Green Bay Packers are allowed to host up to 30 draft-eligible players (excluding “local” prospects, such as those in the UW system or nearby regional schools such as Northern Illinois) for in-person visits. The Journal Sentinel is tracking the visits and supplying profiles based on information from sources and published reports.
GREEN BAY – Depending on your tastes, Louisiana-Monroe defensive back D’Arco Perkins-McAllister is big enough to play safety or fast enough to play cornerback.
Perkins played both in four college seasons, starting with two years at strong safety for TCU and one year each of cornerback at Tennessee-Chattanooga and Louisiana-Monroe.
The Green Bay Packers may see Perkins-McAllister as a safety who can play man coverage. They are bringing him in on a pre-draft visit, a source confirmed. KPRC 2-TV in Houston reported it first.
McAllister, who projects as an undrafted free agent, is getting notice because at 5-11½, 200 pounds, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds and had a 35½-inch vertical. He was a top Division 1 recruit coming out of high school, but didn’t shine until his senior year.
Last year, he started 10 games and totaled 33 tackles, four sacks, seven pass breakups and a blocked kick.
The former four-star prospect played in a total of 20 games at TCU in 2021 and 2022, with seven tackles and one pass breakup during that span. He transferred to New Mexico in 2023, then to Chattanooga for 2024, where he started 12 games for the FCS school and intercepted three passes.
The Packers have been paying attention to a lot of cornerbacks and versatile safeties, many of whom will be drafted late or wind up free agents.
Per NFL rules, the Green Bay Packers are allowed to host up to 30 draft-eligible players (excluding “local” prospects, such as those in the UW system or nearby regional schools such as Northern Illinois) for in-person visits. The Journal Sentinel is tracking the visits and supplying profiles based on information from sources and published reports.
GREEN BAY – Depending on your tastes, Louisiana-Monroe defensive back D’Arco Perkins-McAllister is big enough to play safety or fast enough to play cornerback.
Perkins played both in four college seasons, starting with two years at strong safety for TCU and one year each of cornerback at Tennessee-Chattanooga and Louisiana-Monroe.
The Green Bay Packers may see Perkins-McAllister as a safety who can play man coverage. They are bringing him in on a pre-draft visit, a source confirmed. KPRC 2-TV in Houston reported it first.
McAllister, who projects as an undrafted free agent, is getting notice because at 5-11½, 200 pounds, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds and had a 35½-inch vertical. He was a top Division 1 recruit coming out of high school, but didn’t shine until his senior year.
Last year, he started 10 games and totaled 33 tackles, four sacks, seven pass breakups and a blocked kick.
The former four-star prospect played in a total of 20 games at TCU in 2021 and 2022, with seven tackles and one pass breakup during that span. He transferred to New Mexico in 2023, then to Chattanooga for 2024, where he started 12 games for the FCS school and intercepted three passes.
The Packers have been paying attention to a lot of cornerbacks and versatile safeties, many of whom will be drafted late or wind up free agents.
The chase for the Larry O’Brien Trophy is officially on! Every night of the 2026 NBA Playoffs brings fresh drama, from superstar takeovers to bracket-busting upsets that can flip the postseason picture in a heartbeat.
Whether you're tracking every first-round matchup, checking the latest results, or looking ahead to what's next, our NBA bracket hub has you covered.
Follow along for live scores, updated schedules, and playoff format details to help guide your NBA picks.
2026 NBA playoffs bracket
2026 NBA Playoffs matchups and results
First Round - East
(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) TBD
Game 1: April 19
(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) TBD
Game 1: April 19
(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Atlanta Hawks
Game 1: April 18
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Toronto Raptors
Game 1: April 18
First Round - West
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) TBD
Game 1: April 19
(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) TBD
Game 1: April 19
(3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
Game 1: April 18
(4) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Houston Rockets
Game 1: April 18
2026 NBA Playoffs schedule
Event
Date
NBA Play-In Tournament
April 14-17
NBA Playoffs begin
April 18
NBA Conference Semifinals
TBD
NBA Conference Finals
TBD
NBA Finals Game 1
June 3
NBA Finals Game 2
June 5
NBA Finals Game 3
June 8
NBA Finals Game 4
June 10
NBA Finals Game 5 (if necessary)
June 13
NBA Finals Game 6 (if necessary)
June 16
NBA Finals Game 7 (if necessary)
June 19
NBA playoff format
The NBA playoffs adopt a format designed to favor successful teams while giving underdogs a shot at the championship. Here's a brief look at the structure:
The postseason begins with a Play-In Tournament featuring the 7th through 10th-ranked teams in each conference. This extends from April 14 to 17.
The NBA Playoffs kick off with the first round on April 18, where the top one to six teams in each conference join the winners of the Play-In.
The matchups are set as No. 1 vs. No. 8 seed, No. 2 vs. No. 7 seed, No. 3 vs. No. 6 seed, and No. 4 vs. No. 5 seed.
Each playoff round, including the Conference Semifinals, Conference Finals, and NBA Finals, features a seven-game series.
In these series, the higher-seeded team hosts Games 1, 2, 5 (if necessary), and 7 (if necessary) following a 2-2-1-1-1 format.
The NBA Finals start on June 3.
Looking for more intel? Our NBA Championship odds breaks down the clubs with the best odds of winning the NBA Finals. And be sure to check out our NBA Finals MVP odds page to see which player is most likely to hoist the Bill Russell Trophy when the dust settles.
Monday was a big day for the Kentucky Wildcats and coach Mark Pope. No. 1 2026 recruit Tyran Stokes was in town on a visit, as was Rob Wright III, the top point guard available in the transfer portal. Both would be huge wins for the program, but Tuesday's visitor is also a big one. Forward Donnie Freeman will be in Lexington to meet with the staff.
Freeman is a 6'9", 205 power forward who was a former five-star recruit in the 2024 class. He committed to Syracuse as the 15th ranked player in the group, and he immediately became a key player. Last season, he was an impact player, averaging 16.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. He's also a capable shooter, and knocked down 30% from three-point range, making him a valuable stretch forward who can help spread defenses out.
Injuries have been an issue, and it does make Freeman a bit riskier. He missed nearly 30 games across his two seasons with foot injuries. There was no word on whether or not the two injuries were related, which is something Pope will want to know.
Even with the injury questions, Freeman ranks as a top 20 player available in the portal. Fans may have some injury flashbacks, but if Pope is satisfied with his health, he could be an elite player, and a great fit in the offense. We will continue to update his recruitment.
According to
Kings MMA founder, Costa should stay in the light heavyweight
division following his third-round stoppage of the previously
undefeated Azamat
Murzakanov this past Saturday at the Kaseya Center in
Miami.
“‘Borrachinha’ is a guy that, love him or hate him, you will like
to see his fights. And give me three names of the division that
sell fights like him,” Cordeiro told Sherdog.com.
Based on his performance last Saturday, where he knocked out
Murzakanov with a head kick in the third round, the former Chute
Boxer believes that Costa would also beat Jiri
Prochazka if he was fighting for the interim title. Prochazka
suffered a first-round knockout loss to Carlos
Ulberg in clash for the vacant light heavyweight strap at UFC
327. However, Ulberg could be sidelined for quite some time after
suffering an apparent knee injury in the bout.
“I see him [being competitive] with any of those Top 5 of the
division. To tell you the truth, considering that Ulberg will be
out for a long time due to his knee, if UFC makes a interim title
between ‘Borrachinha ‘and Jiri, I believe Costa would knock him
out.”
The Brazilian coach also criticized Prochazka’s attitude against
Ulberg. “BJP” claimed he showed mercy to Ulberg after the City
Kickboxing star was injured early in their fight.
"I´ll never forget what Master Rudimar always told us. If you are
facing a weaker opponent, finish him as fast as possible so the
people dont see his level,” Cordeiro said. “And it fits perfectly
in this case when the oponent had a physical problem.”
Updates on Tyson, New Class Offering
Cordeiro also talked about the Mike Tyson exhibition fight with
Floyd
Mayweather initially scheduled for April 25.
“It should be an exhibition fight. But Mike had a home accident, He
tripped and fell and was in a cast lately. He was planning to make
his camp in Florida but because of that accident I think the fight
will be postponed,” Cordeiro said. “Unfortunately I couldn't do
this camp with him because of my gym. Last time I stayed seven
months with him in Vegas, but I could return. In Florida
unfortunately not, but I told him to count on me with anything he
needs.”
Cordeiro also shared details of a new mentoring class he has just
started.
“It´s been 40 years of martial arts and I'm [sharing that
experience of] all we passed through,” he said. “The good and bad.
All the process needed to make a champion, conquer a champion and
understand a champion. To build a fighter from the beginning and be
able to deal with anyone from a white belt to a black belt or a
world champion. We will make live classes in English showing what
will work and what will not work and not let them commit the same
mistakes we did in the past.”
The race to the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs is reaching its final, chaotic stretch. Entering the final week of the regular season, the playoff picture is taking shape, while teams fight out for the last spot in the Metro Division and the Wild Card in the Western Conference.
Here’s a look at the latest projected Stanley Cup Playoff bracket, plus updated division standings and Wild Card races across the NHL.
Updated April 14 – Standings and bracket reflect games played on April 13.
Flau'jae Johnson of LSU celebrates after being selected with the 8th pick in the first round of the 2026 WNBA Draft. Credit: Angelina Katsanis/Getty (2)
NEED TO KNOW
Flau'jae Johnson was joined by her younger brother, Aydin, at the WNBA Draft in New York City on Monday, April 13
Aydin went viral for his sweet reaction to his sister's big moment before being invited to join her in the spotlight during her post-selection interview with ESPN
Johnson was selected eighth overall by the Golden State Valkyries, and then traded to the Seattle Storm
Flau'jae Johnson has an all-star team both on and off the court.
The 22-year-old guard from Louisiana State University had her family by her side when she was selected eighth overall by the Golden State Valkyries in the 2026 WNBA Draft — and then immediately traded to the Seattle Storm — on Monday, April 13.
The monumental moment quickly went viral when her younger brother, Aydin, jumped into her post-selection interview after the cameras caught his adorable reaction to his big sister's achievement.
Flau'jae Johnson of LSU and her younger brother at the 2026 WNBA Draft. Credit: Angelina Katsanis/Getty
Johnson was being interviewed by ESPN's Holly Rowe, who asked her about shouting out her hometown in Savannah, Ga.
"Ah, man, I'm the first-ever WNBA Draft pick from Savannah, Georgia, so this means to much to me," the athlete said, prompting a roar from the crowd.
The cameras then pointed at Aydin, who wore a black suit that he had quickly topped off with a purple Valkyries hat after his big sister's selection. Beaming from ear to ear, he was seen clapping before then removing his cap to salute Johnson during her interview.
"Flex for me now, come on!" Rowe said to Johnson's little brother, as he made cute gestures from the crowd. "I really wanted to bring him up for the interview, but I didn't know if your mom would allow me," the reporter added.
Flau'jae Johnson (left) and Cathy Engelbert pose together at the 2026 WNBA Draft. Credit: David Dow/NBAE via Getty
"Come on over! Come on over!" Rowe then said, inviting the younger Johnson to join the broadcast, with the basketball player excitedly encouraging Aydin to come forward from the audience.
Aydin stood up from his seat and briskly walked toward his sister as the crowd cheered.
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"We are definitely having a 'woah' moment," Rowe said alongside Johnson and Aydin. "Congratulations," she added.
Johnson, who also has a Hannah Montana-style double life as a rapper under the wing of Lil Wayne, has been open about having her family by her side as she chases her dreams. Ahead of the WNBA Draft, the recording artist spoke with PEOPLE about her mom uplifting her confidence since the beginning.
Flau'jae Johnson #4 of the Louisiana State Tigers in March 2026. Credit: Harry How/Getty
"She told me everyday I was beautiful. That I was the most beautiful girl in the world," Johnson shared with PEOPLE exclusively. "So, I really started believing it, which was big for my confidence."
Johnson knows that having a mom who hypes her up and pushes her to chase her dreams is not something to take for granted.
"For the girls that can and do have that confidence, make sure you walk around with that, with that swag," Johnson said. "Because you're allowing somebody else to believe in themselves just by looking at you."
Looking ahead to making the transition from college to pro, she said: "I'm really excited to just go into this next chapter and this next part of my life."
“The Atlanta Braves hired Walt Weiss as manager Monday, turning to their longtime bench coach in hopes of a turnaround after they missed the playoffs for the first time in seven years. Weiss, 61, managed the Colorado Rockies from 2013 to 2016, going 283-365 and never finishing higher than third place. He inherits a talented Braves team that finished 76-86 and was ravaged by injuries,” ESPN’s Jeff Passan wrote.
Early on, it became clear that Weiss brings a different managerial philosophy than Snitker. One example is his willingness to give starters more frequent rest days.
“I'm going to pick spots to get these guys off their feet, and they're still going to play a lot. If they're healthy, 150+ games,” Weiss said on Foul Territory.
Weiss is off to a strong start as Braves manager, and it appears he maintains a no-nonsense approach. His style leans more old school, and he has benefited from strong organizational support during his first season.
“It’s just such a different scenario, here," Weiss said. “Here, the GM picked me, and has been nothing but supportive. Alex is a pleasure to work for. He just has an unbelievable feel, man. An unbelievable feel for situations. A great ability to read the room, to read people. It’s almost uncanny."
There is a strong sense of momentum building in Atlanta. The pitching staff has performed well to start the season, while the offense has been equally impressive.
Weiss landed one of the most sought-after managerial jobs in the offseason, and with the backing of his general manager, he is beginning to establish an old-school culture that could position the Braves for long-term success.
After finishing fourth in the AL MVP race in 2024, Gunnar Henderson took a step back in 2025.
However, the Baltimore Orioles shortstop is swinging the bat well again, which is why my MLB picks are hammering his total bases prop. Henderson ranks in the 97th percentile in overall offensive talent according to THE BAT X, and he is slugging .691 over the last two weeks.
Henderson will have the platoon advantage at home against Arizona Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly, with a stiff 13 mph breeze blowing out to the outfield at hitter-friendly Camden Yards.
Kelly is making his season debut after dealing with a back ailment, and he logged a 4.16 xERA across 32 starts last year. The D-backs also have one of the worst bullpens in the majors waiting in the wings.
Time: 6:35 p.m. ET
Where to watch: DBacks.TV | MASN
Drake Baldwin Over 0.5 RBI [+165]
Drake Baldwin won the NL Rookie of the Year Award last season and has been even better this year.
The Atlanta Braves catcher ranks in the 95th percentile in xSLG (.586) and the 88th percentile in barrel rate. Baldwin leads the Braves with 17 RBI, and he’s driven in a run in nine of his last 14 games.
Baldwin will have the platoon advantage against Miami Marlins right-hander Max Meyer tonight.
Meyer owns a 3.68 ERA through three starts, though his xERA sits significantly higher at 5.42. The right-hander posted a 4.73 ERA with a 1.42 WHIP in 12 starts last season, struggling particularly on the road.
Time: 7:15 p.m. ET
Where to watch: BravesVision | Marlins.TV
Yordan Alvarez Over 1.5 total bases [-105]
After an injury-plagued campaign in 2025, Yordan Alvarez is healthy and playing like an MVP candidate. The Houston Astros slugger is fourth in the majors in slugging percentage (.714), and his expected xSLG is even higher at an incredible .821.
He'll have the platoon advantage against struggling Colorado Rockies hurler Michael Lorenzen, who sports an ugly 6.09 xERA through three starts, ranking in the 11th percentile in hard-hit rate and the sixth percentile in xBA (.323).
Alvarez will also benefit from 15 mph winds blowing out to the outfield at Daikin Park.
Time: 8:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Rockies.TV | Space City Home Network
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
In a few years, NFL fans are going to watch cornerback Jadon Canady and just assume he was a high draft pick.
They would be wrong.
Canady has a big chance of being your typical "mid-round steal" that occurs every single NFL season. In just one season at Oregon, Canady made a huge impression and made himself an NFL prospect. He had 39 tackles and two interceptions for the Ducks, one coming against USC and one at Washington in the next week.
At the NFL level, Canady could play either corner, safety, or at a rover position. He would provide depth for a team, but don't be surprised if Canady moves up someone's depth chart fairly quickly, first as a third-down specialist and then receives more time on the field after that.
In most seasons, a talent such as Canady would be a mid-rounder, but this draft is deep in the secondary spot, so he is projected to be a late-rounder instead. Whoever picks him, expect Canady to make a splash and play sooner rather than later.
Here are some fits that we like best at the NFL level for Canady.
Cincinnati struggled in the secondary last season, so expect the Bengals to go heavy on the defense in the draft this year, including at corner, and this is where Canady would fit. They will also draft fairly early in each round, and they could go after a star such as Caleb Downs, if available, then go for depth with Canady later in the selection process.
The Dolphins are also a team that struggled in the secondary, but they already have young talent back there that just needs more experience. Drafting Canady would add to that depth, but it's a place where he could rise up on the depth chart if he has a good fall camp. The opportunity is there for Canady to seize.
Green Bay Packers
Draft Selection: Round 6, Pick 20
Green Bay could be another place where Canady could play quickly. Their two corners, Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine, aren't exactly going to keep opposing quarterbacks up at night or spend extra time in the film room. We already know Canady looks good in the green and yellow (gold), so going to the Packers with their last selection in the draft would be a nice landing place.
Green Bay might have a chance to select Canady if the Panthers don't take him first, however. Carolina is thin at several different spots on the defense, including corner. Starting right away might be a stretch, but Canady would definitely be on the field early on for the Panthers. They have Jaycee Horn at one corner and the other side of the field is up for grabs if Canady wants to take it.
One wouldn't think the Chiefs would have such a glaring hole, but they do need help in the secondary after losing such players as Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. Would it be a shocker to see Canady helping out the backend of the defense at Arrowhead? Probably not. Kansas City is a place where it is usually greater than the sum of its parts and Canady would be a nice piece to that puzzle. And he might meet Taylor Swift. Not a bad gig if he can get it.
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Matt Brown is not convinced by Nate Diaz‘s public explanation for turning down a UFC return in favor of fighting Mike Perry on the May 16 Netflix card headlined by Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano. Speaking on The Fighter vs. The Writer, Brown argued that the Netflix deal almost certainly paid more than whatever the UFC was offering and that Diaz’s framing of the decision as a matter of principle does not hold up under scrutiny.
The situation began when UFC CEO Dana White revealed that the promotion had been in talks to bring Diaz back, but believed Most Valuable Promotions had made him an offer he could not refuse. Diaz pushed back publicly, claiming the UFC had actually offered him more money for a trilogy fight against Conor McGregor and that he turned it down because he was not interested in facing McGregor on his “last dying f—ing leg” after five years out of action. Brown knows Diaz well enough to respect the framing but does not accept it at face value.
“Money talks,” Brown said. “He’s making more money with this Netflix fight than he would with the UFC. That’s why he’s not fighting Conor in the UFC. I lean towards believing Dana on this. He got an offer he couldn’t refuse. Now, how Nate’s spinning it with the way the contract is structured, maybe there’s something behind the scenes under some layers that we’re not privy to just yet. But there’s no way he’s not making more money.
“I don’t believe it for a second that he’s not making more money with this Netflix deal, however that plays out, his bank account ends up with more money from this fight than it does in the UFC, or he doesn’t take the fight. He’s going to pick the highest bidder. I don’t think that’s unique to Nate Diaz, but I think he understands this is prize fighting. He’s fighting for money. He’s going to take the highest pay.”
Nate Diaz’s MVP Deal
Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Brown’s broader theory is that Diaz’s deal with MVP may have come with fewer strings attached than a UFC return would have, and that contract structure could be as significant a factor as the upfront money itself.
“Either there’s something more to this, like potentially he didn’t want to sign another contract with the UFC or something along those lines,” Brown said. “When they say an offer he can’t refuse, maybe that wasn’t just money. Maybe there’s something else behind the scenes with that. When he says they offered him more money, up front, they offered him more money — is there some backdoor thing going on?
“It doesn’t make sense to me that he would just simply accept lesser pay for what is probably going to be a tougher fight for him. There’s something where the math is not adding up. Some things are going on behind the scenes, behind closed doors, that we don’t know about.”
Arteta expecting changes from Sporting for Arsenal 2nd leg
Mikel Arteta is expecting a tough match against Sporting CP on Wednesday, believing that they’ll approach the game in a different way after their first-leg defeat.
Photo by Harry Murphy/Getty Images
Arsenal hold a slender advantage going into Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Sporting CP, having won 1-0 away from home in Lisbon last Tuesday.
The hope is that the team will be able to get over the line in front of the home support at the Emirates Stadium, but Sporting have already come from 3-0 down to progress in the previous round. They’ll want to believe they can do the same again this midweek.
Speaking about the first leg and how Sporting might now approach the return fixture, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta suggested he’s expecting changes from last week’s performance.
Photo by James Fearn/Getty Images
“No surprises (last week), it’s obviously the understanding of the quality that they have and the different ways that they have to hurt you and they are a really, really good side,” Arteta said.
“We knew that, they proved that in the first leg, and that’s why we know that tomorrow it’s going to be a really tough match.
“I think they’re always trying to be a team that is very, very dominant, through the press, with the ball. The longer that the game goes in relation to the context of the game, they can approach and alter that like they’ve done in the league.
“Regarding the [first-leg] result, they will modify that [gameplan], and we are ready for that as well. We will apply what is necessary to win the game.”
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Arsenal obviously only need a draw in 90 minutes to progress to the semi-finals, but it would certainly help if the team could indeed “win the game” as well as the tie.
With a vital match against Manchester City on Sunday, the Gunners really don’t want to be going all out for 90 minutes, let alone for 120 if Sporting can send the game to extra time.
The ideal scenario is that the team kill the tie in the first half, cruise through the second with some substitutions and start thinking about that trip to the Etihad Stadium. Whether that’s realistic is another matter.
“Huge questions about the manager” – Maresca gave pundit more confidence in big games
Liam Rosenior’s credentials have been questioned since before he got the Chelsea job, and recent results have done nothing to solve that.
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Chelsea are suffering right now, and manager Liam Rosenior is under huge pressure. A couple of cup wins are the only thing stopping us from being on a five game losing streak.
“It’s a 52.4% win percentage for Chelsea right now [for Rosenior]. At Strasbourg he was 49.2%, at Hull City 34.6%. Lifetime is like 43.7% across all those clubs he’s managed at this point,” Dan Dormer pointed out.
“Some of those [Chelsea] wins are against League One, League Two opposition,” presenter Nick Verlaney pointed out.
“I have huge questions about the manager and the manager’s experience, and his strategies. I didn’t love the way we played football under Enzo Maresca either, but I certainly went into big games with a little more confidence about his strategy, and I don’t feel that with with Rosenior.”
You can see them speaking in the clip embedded here:
Rosenior not helped by Chelsea situation
This was always going to be the case – when you appointed an inexperienced manager, you need to give them a chance to prove themselves. Dropping them in in January with 20 games to play in 10 weeks is the opposite of that.
In other news…
Jan Paul van Hecke is the latest player to be linked with Chelsea ahead of a potential summer move, with the defender entering the final year of his contract.
Gary Neville hit out at Chelsea’s players who spoke out during the international break, calling them “selfish.”
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CHELSEA NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON THE APP STORE
Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:
For a ninth week in a row, Mililani is No. 1 in the Star-Advertiser Softball Top 10. The past eight weeks have been a unanimous selection by the panel of coaches and media. The Trojans collected all 11 first-place votes.
Mililani is 7-0 in OIA West play (17-2 overall) with three games on the slate this week. The Trojans play at Kapolei today, then at Leilehua on Thursday and Saturday. All are makeup games.
Previously scheduled intradivision matchups with Kalani, Castle and Kailua have been canceled. Intradivision games, a new twist to the league schedule, do not count in the league standings.
While rainouts continued to wreak havoc on schedules, ‘Iolani returned at No. 10 after posing a 17-0, five-inning win over Mid-Pacific, and a 13-3, TKO loss to Kamehameha.
The Raiders have four games in a five-day span this week. They are 4-6 in ILH play, battling to stay in the third-seed position with Punahou (2-9).
Warriors a near-unanimous No. 1
Kamehameha remains at the top of the Baseball Top 10 after a 7-5 win at Mid-Pacific last week. The Warriors had three more games rained out, but will meet fast-rising Punahou today at Ala Wai Community Park.
At 7-0 (16-2 overall), Kamehameha leads Pac-Five (5-1), Punahou (4-1-1), Mid-Pacific (3-2-2), Saint Louis (3-4) and ‘Iolani (1-6-1) in the ILH standings.
Pac-Five (9-4 overall) rose one spot to No. 3 this week. The Wolfpack play ‘Iolani today at Patsy T. Mink Central Oahu Regional Park, then battles No. 6 Punahou on Thursday at Ala Wai.
Kaiser returned to No. 4 after a 13-10 win over Tesoro (Calif.) and a 10-3 intradivisional victory at No. 10 Pearl City.
Hoops coach Kapeliela steps down at Kohala
After guiding the Cowboys to four Division II state championships, Kihei Kapeliela is calling it a wrap.
“We had a great run,” Kapeliela said on Monday. “Time to hand the reins off to the next generation.”
The former Kohala sharpshooter led the program to its first state crown in 2020. That state final was a raucous, physical, no-holds-barred scrum of a game that the tough-nosed Cowboys adjusted to in a 51-48 win over Roosevelt.
Kohala fell to a deeply talented Maui Prep squad in the ’22 semifinal round, but bounced back with a 40-38 win over University in the final of the ’23 state tourney.
A year later, in ’24, Kohala edged Seabury Hall, 49-45, in overtime for the koa trophy. The next season, standout guard Layden Kauka transferred to Utah Prep, then returned after a half-season. He suffered an ankle injury in the state tourney, and Seabury Hall went on to win the ’25 state crown.
This year, the Cowboys put it all together again, beating ILH title contender University and De La Salle of Chicago along the way. Kohala outlasted Seabury Hall, 49-35, in the state final.
For a third time in four seasons, Kohala went unbeaten in a regular-season slate that includes all D-I and D-II teams.
HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER SOFTBALL TOP 10
Sunday, April 12, 2026
Rank
School (1st)
Record
Pts
LW
1.
Mililani (11)
> bye (rainouts)
> next: at Kapolei, Tuesday, April 14, 3 p.m.
17-2
120
1
2.
Maryknoll
> def. Punahou, 13-0 (5 innings)
> next: at No. 4 Kamehameha, Monday, April 13, 4 p.m.
> next: vs. No. 4 Kamehameha, Wednesday, April 14, 4 p.m.
17-2
107
2
3.
Kapolei
> bye (rainouts)
> next: vs. No. 1 Mililani, Tuesday, April 14, 3 p.m.
15-5-1
92
3
4.
Kamehameha
> won at ‘Iolani, 13-3 (5 innings)
> next: at No. 2 Maryknoll, Wednesday, April 15, 4 p.m.
19-4-1
88
4
5.
Campbell
> def. Leilehua, 25-0 (3 innings)
> next: vs. No. 8 Pearl City, Monday, April 13
> next: at Kaiser, Tuesday, April 14, 3 p.m.
18-5
68
5
6.
Moanalua
> def. Kaiser, 13-5
> next: vs. Leilehua, Tuesday, April 14, 3 p.m.
16-5-1
48
6-t
7.
Kapaa
> bye (rainouts)
> next: vs. Waimea, Wednesday, April 15, 6 p.m.
14-7
47
6-t
8.
Pearl City
> def. Waianae, 13-0 (5 innings)
> next: at Moanalua, Wednesday, April 15, 3 p.m,.
13-7
43
8
9.
Kalani
> bye (rainouts)
> next: vs. Kailua, Wednesday, April 15, 3 p.m.
12-5-2
18
9
10.
‘Iolani Raiders
> lost to Kamehameha, 13-3 (5)
> next: vs. Pac-Five, Monday, April 13, 4 p.m.
> next: at Mid-Pacific, Tuesday, April 14, 4 p.m.
10-11-1
13
NR
No longer in Top 10: Punahou (No. 10).
Also receiving votes: Radford 5, Kaiser 4, Punahou 3, Baldwin 2, Mid-Pacific 1, Pac-Five 1.
STAR-ADVERTISER BASEBALL TOP 10
Sunday, April 12, 2026
Rank
School (1st)
Record
Pts
LW
1.
Kamehameha (7)
> won at Mid-Pacific, 7-5
> next: vs. No. 6 Punahou, Tuesday, April 14, 3:30 p.m., Ala Wai
16-2
79
1
2.
Waiakea (1)
> def. Kealakehe, 12-0 (5 innings)
> next: at Konawaena (2), Wednesday, April 15, 1 p.m.
12-1
71
2
3.
Pac-Five
> bye (four rainouts)
> next: vs. ‘Iolani, Tuesday, April 14, 3:30 p.m., CORP
9-4
52
4
4.
Kaiser
> won at Pearl City, 10-3
> next: vs. Aiea, Monday, April 13, 3 p.m.
> next: at Farrington, Wednesday, April 15, 3 p.m.
16-4
48
5
5.
Baldwin
> lost to KS-Maui, 5-2
> next: vs. Maui, Tuesday, April 14, 3:30 p.m., Iron Maehara
13-4-1
38
3
6.
Punahou
> bye (rainouts)
> next: vs. No. 1 Kamehameha, Tuesday, April 14, 3:30 p.m.
9-4-1
37
8
7.
Mid-Pacific
> lost to Kamehameha, 7-5
> next: vs. Maryknoll, Wednesday, April 15, 3:30 p.m.
11-5-2
35
7
8.
Mililani
> def. Kalani, 4-3
> next: at Leilehua, Monday, April 13, 3 p.m.
> next: vs. Moanalua, Wednesday, April 15, 3 p.m.
18-8
33
6
9.
Saint Louis
> def. ‘Iolani, 12-8
> next: vs. Damien, Tuesday, April 14, 2:30 p.m., CORP
Agent Of Turkey Megastar Dismisses Galatasaray Links: “He Is Very Happy At Inter Milan”
Gordon Stipic has dismissed persistent rumors linking Inter Milan midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu with a move to Galatasaray.
During his recent interview, Calhanoglu’s agent confirmed that his client is ‘very happy’ at San Siro, as reported by FCInterNews.
Hakan Calhanoglu first emerged as a concrete target for the reigning Turkish Super Lig champions last season.
Furthermore, the Rams Park giants had held talks with Stipic over the 32-year-old’s potential transfer to Istanbul.
However, Cristian Chivu has convinced the former AC Milan star to turn down Galatasaray’s approach.
Furthermore, Calhanoglu has patched things up with Lautaro Martinez, re-establishing himself as one of Inter’s key players this season.
With nine goals and four assists in 21 Serie A games, he is the club’s third-best goalscorer in the league.
Indeed, only Lautaro (16) and Marcus Thuram (10) have netted more league goals than the Turkish playmaker.
Therefore, it’s no wonder that Inter are looking to offer Calhanoglu a new contract at the end of the season.
Hakan Calhanoglu Agent Confirms His Client Feels Good at Inter Milan
“As a rule, I don’t comment on transfer rumours, but in this case I believe it is important to clarify the facts once and for all,” Stipic said.
“Hakan Calhanoglu has a contract with Inter until 2027 and is very happy both in Italy and at Inter. Speculation about a possible move to Galatasaray has surfaced several times in the past and is now being repeated again.
“The facts, however, are clear: there have been no negotiations with Galatasaray, neither last summer nor in January. At no point has there been any concrete request or enquiry.
“Hakan remains fully focused on what truly matters at this stage: Inter, the Scudetto race, and achieving success together with the team.
|Week after week, through his performances, his passion, and his sense of responsibility on the pitch, he continues to demonstrate his quality and importance to the team.
“He is also looking ahead with great pride and determination to the upcoming World Cup, where he will lead his national team as captain – a responsibility that is a special honour and means everything to him.”
Everton shows interest in Arsenal star who could leave
Cristhian Mosquera only joined Arsenal at the start of the current season from Valencia, yet he is already being linked with a possible departure from the Emirates Stadium. The young defender has provided valuable depth in Arsenal’s defensive unit, offering reliable cover for Gabriel and William Saliba, who remain the club’s first-choice centre-backs.
Arsenal continue to regard Gabriel and Saliba as their primary defensive partnership, and the club are determined to keep both players fit and available throughout the campaign. As a result, opportunities for Mosquera have been limited, although he is working to establish himself within the squad and challenge for more regular involvement.
Competition for Places at Arsenal
Mosquera is aiming to break into the established defensive pairing, but the competition for minutes in his position is extremely strong. Despite this, the Spanish defender remains focused on developing his game and proving his value whenever called upon.
However, reports from Football365 suggest that Everton are monitoring his situation closely ahead of a potential summer move. The report indicates that David Moyes is a strong admirer of the player and views him as a suitable addition to strengthen the club’s defensive options.
Potential Summer Interest from Everton
Everton are reportedly considering Mosquera as one of their priority targets for the next transfer window, with plans to approach the end of the season. Their interest is driven by a need to reinforce their squad with young and promising defensive talent.
Although Mosquera has only recently arrived at Arsenal, the report suggests that a lack of consistent playing time may leave the door open for a departure. Regular minutes at Everton could be appealing from a development perspective, potentially allowing him to gain experience and attract interest from even larger clubs in the future.
For now, Arsenal are expected to continue managing his integration carefully, while Everton’s reported interest adds an early layer of uncertainty to his long-term future in North London.
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Roma tension between Gasperini & Ranieri delays Totti return
Francesco Totti’s long-awaited return to Roma in an official capacity has been put on hold, with the friction between Claudio Ranieri and Gian Piero Gasperini emerging as an unexpected obstacle in what had appeared to be an imminent homecoming for the club’s greatest icon.
As recently as mid-February, a deal seemed close. Totti had publicly acknowledged that talks were underway, “It’s all true, we are talking and evaluating a few situations, we’ll see what can be done,” and Ranieri had given his blessing to the idea of the former captain taking on an ambassadorial role, particularly fitting given Roma are approaching their centenary celebrations.
The mood was cautiously optimistic and a formal announcement felt like a matter of weeks away.
GENOA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 28: Francesco Totti, former captain of Roma, reacts prior to kick-off in the Serie A TIM match between Genoa CFC and AS Roma at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on September 28, 2023 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)
Quiet between Roma & Totti amid talks of reunion
Approximately 40 days have passed since Totti had dinner with Gasperini and former Roma defender Vincent Candela at a well-known restaurant in central Rome, a meeting that Roma’s hierarchy were not informed about in advance.
Since that evening, no further calls have come from Trigoria and the process has effectively ground to a halt. Totti, who has been on holiday in the Bahamas in recent days, has been left waiting for a signal from the Friedkin family that has not yet arrived.
The broader instability at the club, with Gasperini and Ranieri’s relationship now under public scrutiny following last week’s press conference exchanges, has created an atmosphere in which major decisions are being deferred rather than made.
Any resumption of contact with Totti is now expected to wait until the end of the season, when Roma’s sporting and organisational structure becomes clearer. Whether the club’s centenary will ultimately be celebrated with their greatest son back inside the building remains, for now, an open question.
The Miami Heat face the Charlotte Hornets in an elimination game on Tuesday in the NBA’s play-in tournament. The winner will face the loser of Wednesday’s game between the Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers on Friday — with the winner of that game securing the Eastern Conference’s No. 8 seed and a first-round matchup with the Detroit Pistons. The loser of Tuesday’s Heat-Hornets game is eliminated and lands in the NBA Draft Lottery.
Brydon Carse was England's leading wicket-taker in the Ashes with 22 [Getty Images]
England fast bowler Brydon Carse has been ruled out of his Indian Premier League (IPL) stint with Sunrisers Hyderabad because of a hand injury.
The 30-year-old sustained the injury to his right hand - his bowling hand - in training and will return home to be assessed.
It is the second time in as many seasons Carse has had to pull out of the Sunrisers squad without playing a game. Last year he had a toe injury.
The impact on Carse's availability for England's first Test of the summer against New Zealand on 4 June will only be known with more information about the injury.
The IPL final is on 31 May, four days before the series opener against the Black Caps at Lord's.
It would be difficult for any pace bowler who remains at the IPL until the closing stages of the competition to switch to the workload of Test cricket at such short notice. Jofra Archer, currently playing for Rajasthan Royals, could be in this situation.
If Carse's injury is not too severe, he could be available for the first Test, though he too would have to boost his loads in order to be match fit.
It seems likely there will be pace-bowling spots up for grabs in the England squad, probably alongside Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson.
Matthew Fisher was called into the Ashes squad and would be one contender, alongside Surrey team-mate Tom Lawes. Sonny Baker has a central contract and has made a good start to the season with Hampshire.
Like Lawes, Hampshire's Eddie Jack and Lancashire's Mitchell Stanley have England development deals and were with the Lions in Australia during the winter.
Ollie Robinson was discarded by England more than two years ago, but has taken 10 wickets in captaining Sussex to two wins from two at the start of the season. The 32-year-old has 76 wickets from his 20 Tests at an average under 23.
Carse has not played any cricket since the fifth Test of England's 4-1 Ashes series defeat. He has been replaced in the Sunrisers squad by Sri Lankan Dilshan Madushanka.
PARIS, FRANCE - APRIL 08: Vitinha of Paris Saint-Germain runs with the ball while under pressure from Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final First Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain FC and Liverpool FC at Parc des Princes on April 08, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by Franco Arland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
LIVERPOOL VS. PSG
| Tuesday, April 14th | Champions League | Anfield 8PM BST/3PM EST
Liverpool lost to PSG in the Round of 16 last season, so I guess it’s already an improvement? Yay? Anyway, The Reds need to overturn a 2-goal deficeit. Not impossible, but also unlikely. Especially from these Reds, who haven’t exactly shown much fighting spirit this season.
Television & Streaming: TNT Sports 1 (UK); Paramount+ (USA); Stan Sport (Australia); DAZN (Canada); SONY TEN 2 (India); beIN Sports (Malaysia); SuperSport Maximo 1 (Nigeria); beIN Sports (Singapore); SuperSport Maximo 1 (South Africa); other listings at LiveSoccerTV
Teamsheets posted approximately one hour before kickoff.
PSG
Teamsheets posted approximately one hour before kickoff.
If you haven’t done so already, we’d love if you signed up for an SB Nation account and join the community at TLO. We’ll bring you and your fellow Liverpool fans from around the world full coverage of every match from the 2025-26 season in the Premier League, Champiopns League, and domestic cups along getting you breaking news, insight and opinion, tactical discussion, and post-match reactions as the new season plays out. Hopefully you’ll join us for it!
MINNEAPOLIS — Red Sox starter Garrett Crochet allowed 11 runs while recording just five outs against the Twins on Monday.
Ten of the 11 runs the left-handed ace allowed were earned. He gave up nine hits (two homers) and three walks while striking out nobody. He left the game with two outs in the second inning and Boston trailing 11-0.
It marked the second shortest start of Crochet’s career, behind only a rain-shortened start for the White Sox against Texas on Aug. 27, 2024, when he threw just four pitches without recording an out. There was a 1-hour, 29-minute delay in the first inning of that start and he did not return when the game resumed.
Monday marked the shortest start of his Red Sox career, entering the game having pitched at least five innings in 34 of his 35 starts with Boston. His previous shortest start with the club came Aug. 11, 2025, at Houston when he allowed five runs in four innings.
He had never given up more than seven runs in any of his previous 67 starts entering Monday.
BETTING: The over/under for Tuesday night’s AL matchup between the Red Sox and the Twins is currently set at 8 total runs on DraftKings. Our complete DraftKings Sportsbook will show you how to register and use their site.
Excluding the rain-shortened start, it marked Crochet’s first true appearance without a strikeout since a relief outing for the White Sox against the Diamondbacks on Sept. 27, 2023.
Crochet threw 55 pitches, including 31 pitches in the first inning, and recorded just three swings and misses.
His 13 four-seam fastballs averaged 94.9 mph, down from his 96.1 mph yearly average. The spin on all his pitches, especially his cutter, was down.
The 26-year-old entered with a 3.12 ERA, which ballooned to 7.58 after Monday’s outing.
The Red Sox lost, 13-6, and are 6-10 on the season.
Jordan Brand is adding a top-rated prospect to its roster. Missouri five-star commit Jason Crowe Jr. has signed an NIL deal with the company.
Crowe is another high-profile addition for Jordan Brand’s group of NIL athletes. Duke stars Cameron and Cayden Boozer became the first men’s basketball players to sign with the brand, which has been active in the women’s basketball space. UConn forward Sarah Strong signed as part of the Class of 2025, and now-former teammate Azzi Fudd joined her in March before going No. 1 overall in Monday’s WNBA Draft.
Crowe is also getting ready to participate in Friday’s Jordan Brand Classic, which features some of the top high school talent in the country. Now, ahead of the game, he is the newest Jordan Brand athlete.
“It’s incredible to be welcomed into the Jordan Family,” Crowe said in a statement to On3. “Jordan Brand represents an amazing legacy of excellence, and a standard of greatness that pushes you to earn everything, on and off the court. I’m excited to learn, work, and carry that tradition forward.”
Crowe is the crown jewel of Missouri’s 2026 recruiting class. The Inglewood (Calif.) product is a five-star prospect and the No. 10 overall player from the cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, an equally weighted average that utilizes all three major recruiting services. He is also the No. 3-ranked shooting guard.
Crowe also has NIL potential off the court. He has a $1 million On3 NIL Valuation, which puts him at No. 18 in the high school basketball NIL rankings. Repped by Excel Sports Management, Jordan Brand marks his highest-profile NIL deal to date.
This past season, Crowe averaged 43.6 points per game as a senior to go along with 5.9 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 3.6 steals on average. He finished his high school career as the all-time leading scorer in California high school boys basketball history. Those numbers helped him become a Rivals High School Boys Basketball All-American.
Jason Crowe Jr. is one of three players signed by Mizzou from the 2026 cycle. The Tigers currently have the No. 8-ranked recruiting class in the nation, according to the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Ranking.
We do this just about every single year with Notre Dame Football. The spring practice season gives us a chance to wipe away the last bits of the previous season, and we all start looking forward to the fall and a clean slate. We also do something that has long been known as the “Junior Jabbie Award,” although I actually despise that term. Still — we all add a little bit more hype to a player or two each spring than is ever realized during the season.
We do this to ourselves.
The program could be slightly blamed for the hype, but generally speaking, we identify the players and groups that WE want to talk more about and we focus on the good vibes. It makes sense — why ruin spring with. bad vibe. The program is just doing their thing. Spring football is for them and for the ENTIRE process. Taking too much of what is seen or said from spring by media and fans is the wrong way to go about it — but we do it anyways.
So with that in mind… what spring storyline will be null and void this fall? Need some help with which ones we have? Here are a few examples of this year’s big spring storylines:
The running back situation with Aneyas Williams and/or Nolan James.
Will Black as a dominant LT.
The OL as a group with faces in new places.
Christian Gray at the nickel.
The defensive line depth.
Cam Williams becoming a real factor at WR.
The TE position will be fine.
There are likely a lot more possibilities, but I think you get the idea. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Which storyline is blinking red lights for you?
We all know that former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback and legend Ben Roethlisberger is eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But meanwhile, another former Steelers from that era is eligible as well, and that is wide receiver, Antonio Brown. Where we think Roethlisberger goes in on the first ballot, the discussion of Brown is far more complicated.
Brown's numbers are a mixed tale. From 2013-2018, there was no better receiver in the league. Still to this day, that six-season stretch is one of the greatest of all time. But is a six-season stretch of elite play counter his final three seasons and all of the non-football drama he brought upon himself and the league?
Brown now joins Hines Ward as another former Steelers receiver who is on the HOF ballot. How long will it take voters to put aside all of Brown's antics and give him a fair shot and will he get in before Ward, who has been eligible since 2017?
Spring practice is nearing its end, with focus quickly shifting to summer workouts and the rapidly approaching fall camp, which will be here before fans and teams realize. The Iowa Hawkeyes are nearing the close of spring practice, which has been vital for a team full of new faces in starting positions.
A team routinely known for its veteran experience, Iowa is ushering in a bit of a different look this year, with many starters getting their first chance and a transfer portal haul that is hoping to provide an instant talent infusion.
Those additions and the consistent success Kirk Ferentz has had in Iowa City have this team earning the benefit of the doubt, coming in at No. 19 in ESPN's spring updated top 25 rankings.
2026 outlook: The Hawkeyes are going to have many new starters on both sides of the ball, but chances are 70-year-old Kirk Ferentz and his coaching staff are going to figure out a way to produce another winning team. Jeremy Hecklinski and Hank Brown will battle for the starting quarterback job. The Hawkeyes added Phillips, who ran for 1,920 yards with 19 touchdowns for the Coyotes. Three starters from the Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line are leaving, but guard Kade Pieper coming back for another season helps. There are many holes to fill on defense, but with Phil Parker still in charge, the Hawkeyes should again be stingy. - Mark Schlabach, ESPN
It's as standard as the sun coming up each day. Iowa and Phil Parker are going to have a strong defense that makes teams earn any yardage and points. Unfortunately, just as common is the question falling back on the offense.
Can this offense find traction with a new quarterback as they usher in a new signal caller for the third time in as many years? That is where Iowa's success lies, and if offensive coordinator Tim Lester can cook up another strong rushing attack as he has done the last two seasons for the Hawkeyes, this team is going to be right there.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald7
Barcelona expect to cash in on several academy players in the summer
FC Barcelona are already planning for next season, not only at the first-team level, but also across their youth and reserve team setups as the current campaign draws to a close.
In fact, according to SPORT, the coming months are expected to bring significant changes at La Masia, both in scouting and in the movement of players and coaches.
The Catalans believe certain age groups need strengthening to become more competitive and to ensure higher-level players can reach the reserve team.
Several reserve-team players expected to leave
Looking specifically at Barça Atletic, a major overhaul is expected – regardless of whether promotion to the RFEF Primera Division is achieved, the report claims.
According to the outlet, a number of players such as Alvaro Cortes, Brian Farinas, Jofre Torrents, Victor Barbera, David Oduro, Alexis Olmedo and Aziz Issah are very likely to leave the Barça reserve team. Their cycle has come to an end.
At the club offices at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, the club hopes to generate income from several players who have strong market interest.
Jofre Torrents could be sold in the summer. (Picture courtesy: Barcelona official website)
It is worth noting that money was already brought in during the winter window with Mamadou Mbacke’s exit, while Andres Cuenca is currently on loan at Sporting Gijon, with an agreement for a transfer in place with Como.
In some cases, there will be loan deals; in others, permanent transfers. A few players could even step up to the first team next season.
Overall, Barça expect to bring in a good amount of money to rebuild the reserve-team squad with new signings, along with the new generation of youngsters coming through at the club.
Players like Nil Vicens, Alex Gonzalez, Hamza Abdelkarim, Alex Campos, Guillem Victor and Iker Rodriguez, some of whom are already involved with the reserves, will take up a more permanent position in Juliano Belletti’s roster.
To carry out this overhaul, incoming funds are essential. Everyone involved, including the players themselves, understands that reaching the first team is something reserved for only a select few. As such, there could be a number of talents moving on come summer.
MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 07: Harry Kane of FC Bayern Munich celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final First Leg match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern München at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 07, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The UEFA Champions League (UCL) continues with the quarter-final second legs, and Matchday 14 gives UCL Fantasy managers another chance to improve their rank. At this stage, every decision matters, from captaincy choices to the players you trust to deliver.
In this Rate My Team (RMT) article, I will take a personal look at my team heading into the matchday, breaking down the squad position by position and assessing how well set I am for tonight’s fixtures.
UCL Matchday 14 Team
Heading into Matchday 14, I had three free transfers, and I used one of them to bring in PSG goalkeeper Matvey Safonov.
In goal, I am backing Safonov as PSG travel to Anfield. They come into this game with a 2-0 lead from the first leg, where Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Désiré Doué scored the goals.
However, a clean sheet at Anfield is never guaranteed. Liverpool are strong in Europe and can create many chances at home. Safonov may need to depend on save points if PSG are put under pressure. This means even if he concedes goals, he can still return fantasy points if he makes a lot of saves during the game.
My backline feels like a mix of London strength and Paris coverage in my team. Gabriel Magalhaes is still my most reliable pick, as Arsenal defend a narrow 1-0 lead against Sporting CP at the Emirates.
I’ve also doubled up on the PSG defence with Achraf Hakimi and William Pacho, which is a risky but high-reward move for the Tuesday fixtures. If PSG can keep things tight at Anfield, it could bring in big points. However, one Liverpool goal could really hurt my defensive returns and reduce my overall points from the backline.
This matchday setup is focused on attack, with several teams expected to go all out for goals. Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez are key Barcelona picks, with Barcelona trailing 2-0 after a shock home defeat to Atlético Madrid. They are expected to start aggressively as they try to turn the tie around.
I’m still not fully confident in Lopez, but he’s in my team for now. I’ll keep an eye on him before the deadline and decide if I keep or replace him.
Ademola Lookman is also in my team and offers a strong threat in transition. He could take advantage of the space Atlético Madrid leave as they push forward.
Kvaratskhelia completes the midfield and remains a big danger for PSG after his brilliant solo goal in the first leg. Even with PSG looking to control the tie, he should still get chances on the counter.
Up front, I’ve a strong trio of European players. Harry Kane returns to the Allianz Arena with a 2-1 lead and a first-leg goal, and I am backing him as a key option for a captaincy switch on Wednesday.
Alongside him is Kylian Mbappe, who remains my main hope for Real Madrid. Even though they are behind, he’s always the most likely player to change a game in a big moment.
To complete my attack, I’m sticking with Julian Alvarez, who I’ve given the armband tonight. He scored in the first leg and continues to be an important player for Atletico Madrid.
Bench
My bench gives me good cover with David Raya as backup for Safonov, while Michael Olise and Josip Stanisic provide Bayern options for Wednesday, but the main concern is D. Hancko, who is injured and still in the squad for now, with a possible use of one of my 3 free transfers before the deadline.
What do you think of my team for Matchday 14? Would you make any changes before the deadline? I’d like to hear your thoughts, so feel free to drop a comment and let’s discuss.
DENVER, COLORADO - JANUARY 25: DeMario Douglas #3 of the New England Patriots celebrates following the AFC Championship Playoff game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field At Mile High on January 25, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. The New England Patriots defeat the Denver Broncos 10-7. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Evan Lazar gives us five takeaways from Eliot Wolf‘s pre-draft press conference. 1. Wolf breaks down the strengths and weaknesses of the 2026 draft class.
Press Conference Transcript:Eliot Wolf (plus 17 min. video)
Patriots Draft Countdown: Evan Lazar breaks down film of his top five TE prospects for Pats. (5 min vid)
Mike Dussault and Evan Lazar’s Patriots 2026 NFL Draft Big Boards: Top draft picks, analyzing what prospects could potentially land in New England, and areas of need for the Pats in the Draft. (18 min. video)
Mark Daniels’ Patriots Draft Preview: Best guard fits after offseason moves.
Mark Daniels notes 35-year old starting tackle Morgan Moses will return this season, but that doesn’t mean the Patriots won’t address right tackle next week in the draft.
Alex Barth’s Patriots Draft Preview: Safeties. Prospects who stand out as potential Patriots fits.
Sophie Weller tells us where things stand with Christian Gonzalez-Patriots contract negotiations.
All 32 NFL podcast: Mike Giardi and Evan Lazar work through the edge class in this year’s draft: Good prospects but all have flaws; Separating the good from the bad; Who fits best in New England? (32 min.)
NATIONAL NEWS
Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Eliot Wolf on keeping the door open for A.J. Brown: I’ll keep the door open to anything.
Albert Breer (SI) NFL Takeaways: The prospect who makes sense for the Jets at No. 2; Plus, why teams with picks three through seven are looking to move down, and much more.
Bill Barnwell (ESPN) 2026 NFL draft: Which teams should trade up, down in Round 1? Pats not included.
Frank Schwab (Yahoo! Sports) NFL Draft’s most interesting teams: How do the Jets use their picks to push along their rebuild?
Zachary Pereles (CBS Sports) 2026 NFL mock draft: Jeremiyah Love goes top five, Cowboys trade up, Drake Maye gets a new weapon. Pats pick Clemson OT Blake Miller at 31.
Gennaro Filice (NFL.com) 2026 NFL mock draft 2.0. Pats pick Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr. at 31.
John Breech (CBS Sports) Roger Goodell responds to Australia game complaint by 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan, reveals future plans Down Under. /Blah…blah… player safety… blah…blah…
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge went 2 for 5 with two home runs and three RBIs in a win over the Los Angeles Angels on Monday in New York. File Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI
April 14 (UPI) -- Aaron Judge and Mike Trout provided powerful proof of why they deserve their combined six MVP awards in a battle between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels.
"Every time he comes to the Bronx, man, he puts on a show," Judge said after the Yankees beat the Angels 11-10 on Monday in New York. "I hate to see it, but it's fun competing against a guy like that."
Judge and Trout became just the second pair of three-time MVPs to homer twice in the same game, joining Roy Campanella and Stan Musial (1956). After the contest, Judge lauded the Angels star with the highest complement possible.
"He's the greatest," Judge said. "He's the greatest of all time. He's been fun to watch his whole career. Coming up at such a young age and instantly putting yourself at the top of the list, it's special.
"He's led those boys over there for quite a few years. Just to see him day in and day out show up, I know he has had some tough injuries over the years."
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout (L) and New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge became just the second pair of three-time MVPs to hit two home runs in the same game on Monday in New York. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
Judge and Trout each went 2 for 5. Yankees pinch hitter/outfielder Trent Grisham also homered twice, including a game-tying shot in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Judge started the scoring with a 456-foot, two-run homer in the first inning. He added a 398-foot solo shot in the sixth to help the Yankees snap a five-game losing streak.
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is hitting .233 with six home runs this season. File Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI
Trout, who hadn't homered since the Angels' second game of the season, walloped a 421-foot, three-run shot in the sixth. He added a 445-foot, two-run bomb in the eighth.
He also nearly homered in his second at-bat of the night with a 393-foot shot in the fourth, but that ball was caught on the warning track.
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout went 2 for 5 with five RBIs and three runs scored in a loss to the New York Yankees on Monday in New York. File Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI
"I was going to talk some smack to him after the one he hit all the way to the warning track, [telling him he needs to] hit the weight room," Judge said. "But he answered back with two big homers for them.
"You put that guy in a clutch situation, in a big moment, he's going to show up every time. It's fun going back and forth with a guy like that, especially in New York, in the Bronx. I'm looking forward to some more battles the next three days."
Los Angeles Angels slugger Mike Trout hit .224 with four home runs through his first 16 games this season. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
Trout grounded out in his first exchange of the night with Yankees starter Will Warren. First baseman Paul Goldschmidt hit a leadoff double in the Yankees' first at-bat of the night. Judge settled in against Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi for the next sequence.
He jumped on a 2-0 changeup over the middle, splintering the ball 116.2 mph to left center field for a 2-0 lead.
Shortstop Jose Caballero hit a 370-foot, two-run homer off Kikuchi in the second for a 4-0 Yankees lead. The Angels tied the score with a four-run fourth.
Designated hitter Jorge Soler started the rally with an RBI double in the third at-bat of the frame. Right fielder Jo Adell trimmed the deficit to two with an RBI single two at-bats later. Catcher Logan O'Hoppe singled in another run to make the score 4-3.
The Angels tied the game when relief pitcher Fernando Cruz walked shortstop Zach Neto with the bases loaded. Trout ended the half inning with his fly out to outfielder Cody Bellinger in the next exchange.
Grisham smacked a 355-foot, three-run blast off Angels relief pitcher Shaun Anderson in the bottom of the fifth, but Trout responded with a game-tying blast in the top of the sixth.
That three-run shot to left center came off a 3-2 sweeper from relief pitcher Jake Bird.
Judge gave the lead back to the Yankees with his second homer in the sixth. The Angels tied the score off a sacrifice fly from left fielder Josh Lowe in the seventh. Trout gave the Angels their first lead with his eighth-inning, two-run shot off relief pitcher Camilo Doval.
Grisham hit a game-tying 391-foot, two-run homer off relief pitcher Jordan Romano in the bottom of the ninth. The Yankees scored the winning run when Romano walked third baseman Ryan McMahon with the bases loaded three at-bats later.
"A fun one to be part of," Trout said, according to MLB.com. "The loss is disappointing, but we fought throughout the whole game and we battled back and had great at-bats all game from up and down the lineup.
"To go blow for blow like that back and forth with both teams, it's pretty cool," he said.
Trout has hit .224, with three doubles, four home runs 12 RBIs and a league-high 16 runs scored through 16 games this season. Judge has hit .233 with a double, American League-best six home runs and 12 RBIs through 16 games for the Yankees.
The Yankees (9-7) will host the Angels (8-9) in the second game of the series at 7:05 p.m. EDT Tuesday at Yankee Stadium.
The Phoenix Suns face the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA’s play-in tournament on Tuesday. The winner will get the Western Conference’s No. 7 playoff seed and face the No. 2-seeded San Antonio Spurs in the first round. The loser will play the winner of Wednesday’s play-in game between the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors on Friday — with the winner of that game landing the No. 8 seed and a first-round matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
How to watch Portland Trail Blazers vs. Phoenix Suns
Israel Adesanya’s return to the Octagon last month ended in his fourth straight defeat.
Adesanya was quick to let fans know he isn’t thinking about retiring, even though it’s been over a year since his last win.
Although he seems eager to stay active and keep challenging himself, some like Demetrious Johnson feel Adesanya has already done enough in the sport.
His long-time coach recently reflected on this latest setback and shared what he believes the next steps are for the former two-time middleweight champion.
Eugene Bareman: Adesanya needs more than glimpses of his old self
Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC
There’s a growing sense that Adesanya’s recent loss to Joe Pyfer was more about mindset than physical ability.
In the defeat, as with some of his others, Adesanya started strong but couldn’t hold on when the fight turned against him.
Eugene Bareman from City Kickboxing spoke about what needs to change for Adesanya in an interview with Submission Radio.
“I know where the changes have to be made for Israel and I’m not going to talk about those publicly but you see glimmers, right? You see glimmers of the old Israel,” he said. “So, it’s just about turning those glimmers into longer, sustained bouts of effort.
“He just has to do some soul searching, mate, like you do after every fight. Every fighter after they lose has to tuck themselves away in the forest or in a dark room for 24 hours or whatever they do. They have to figure life out so that’s just what Israel has to do.”
Bareman could be hinting at something deeper going on behind the scenes, perhaps related to how Adesanya is preparing. Although he didn’t say it outright, there are questions being raised.
Adesanya isn’t in the top five anymore but remains one of UFC’s biggest stars and still wants another title shot.
The 2026 MLB season is through three weeks. Numerous players are off to hot starts, while others are still working on timing and rhythm. The biggest stories are the players that come out of nowhere and have tremendous starts to their season. Here are the top 10 first basemen rankings in MLB heading into week four.
Oct 7, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice (11) hits an RBI single in the sixth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays during game three of the ALDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Rice continues his hot start to the season. He’s on pace to break last season’s total of 26 home runs. The young first baseman is aiming to represent the AL in this year’s All-Star Game.
2. Sal Stewart, Cincinnati Reds
Stewart is having the best start to the season of any National League rookie. He’s become one of the most relied upon bats in Cincinnati’s offense. Sal Stewart is making an early case for NL Rookie of the Year.
3. Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves
Olson is as hot as any first baseman early in the 2026 season. He’s single-handedly keeping Atlanta in games. His current pace is positioning him to have one of the best seasons of his career.
4. Willson Contreras, Boston Red Sox
Contreras is doing damage in his first season with Boston. He’s getting clutch hits and is leading Boston’s lineup. Through three weeks, he’s been one of the best offseason acquisitions in baseball.
5. Christian Walker, Houston Astros
Sep 27, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker (8) tosses his bat after hitting a solo home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the ninth inning at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images
Walker has rebounded after last season’s struggles. He’s on pace to reach 30 home runs for the first time as a member of the Astros. He will be one of the team’s offensive leaders throughout the season.
6. Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies are starting slower than they had hoped. However, Harper is starting to heat up, and this will help the team’s offense. Bryce Harper is due to have a monster season.
7. Jake Bauers, Milwaukee Brewers
Bauers keeps producing and is making it tough to keep him out of the lineup when the Brewers face a left-handed starter. He’s locked in and continues to be a bright spot in the order. If he produces, he will continue seeing his name on the lineup card.
8. Jonathan Aranda, Tampa Bay Rays
Mar 26, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda (8) celebrates with third base coach Brady Williams (4) after hitting a solo home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the fifth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Aranda was one of the most underrated hitters a season ago. He doesn’t produce high home run totals, but his contact skills are unmatched. He can be one of this season’s breakout stars.
9. TJ Rumfield, Colorado Rockies
Rumfield has run away with the starting first base job for Colorado. He’s consistently produced through three weeks. Playing home games in Denver will only help his production throughout the season.
10. Munetaka Murakami, Chicago White Sox
Murakami has cooled off since his monster opening week. However, he’s still a tough out while hitting in Chicago’s lineup. It’s only a matter of time before he heats up again.
When it comes to the NFL's nascent effort to get the broadcast networks to pay more money for the remaining years of their current deals, CBS and Fox have been the focus. NBC inevitably will be on the radar screen.
The league has started the process with CBS, activating a change-in-control term that allows the NFL to reopen the deal after the recent Skydance acquisition of Paramount. And it's widely believed CBS will inevitably cough up significantly more than the $2.1 billion per year it's due to pay over the remaining four years of its current contract.
Fox entered the chat when suspicions emerged that Rupert Murdoch is instigating the ongoing political pressure against the league. Those suspicions became confirmed when Murdoch's Wall Street Journal posted an editorial questioning the viability of the league's 65-year-old broadcast antitrust exemption.
As to NBC, the question eventually becomes this: Is the Sunday Night Football package in danger of moving to another provider?
Via John Ourand of Puck, Michael Nathanson of MoffettNathanson believes that, of the networks currently in business with the NFL, NBC has the greatest risk of losing its prime-time package.
"Look at what NBC is paying for the NBA," Nathanson said. "Now imagine what the NFL wants for Sunday Night Football, which is the best game. What’s stopping Netflix, which wants more events, to get Sunday night’s best game for 18 straight weeks? That would accelerate its ability to monetize ads. So, to me, the NBC Sunday night game is probably the most at risk."
Netflix, of course, would first have to want a weekly package. To date, its focus has been big events.
Amazon could be a better option, since it already has a weekly package. Amazon could pay the freight for Sunday, with NBC sliding to Thursday.
As the league tries to make, if not exacerbate, the pivot to streaming, there's a benefit to having the Sunday night game on an online platform. Folks who may be resisting Prime Video for Thursday games could be more inclined to make the move if that's the only way to cap the traditional NFL viewing day.
It was surely no accident that Amazon got the Packers-Bears wild-card game in January. The contest set a streaming record with 31.6 million viewers.
The counterpoint comes from the bipartisan push against requiring consumers to pay for high-profile NFL games. Shifting the Sunday night game from free TV to streaming won't do much to quiet the current scrutiny from the public, Congress, the FCC, and/or the DOJ.
And, yes, our content is exclusively licensed to NBC. But that won't keep us from covering potentially significant developments that may impact NBC. And it would be significant, to say the least, if the Sunday night game slides off the TV dial entirely and lands on Prime Video.
However it goes, the current deals last four more years. (ESPN's deal runs for five more seasons.) Some networks, like CBS, may extend. Others may dig in. At some point in the next three years, there will be clarity as to the weekly destination of the NFL games that millions will consume, wherever they may land.
Andoni Iraola says he will always have "fantastic memories" of his three seasons at Bournemouth but the end of the season is the "right moment to step away" from his role in charge of the Cherries.
"It has been an honour to manage AFC Bournemouth and I am proud of what we have achieved together," said Iraola in a statement on the club website confirming his summer exit.
"I'm thankful to the players and staff that I've worked with, as well as Bill [Foley, chairman], who have all made my time here so special.
"As for the fans, you have continued to show your fantastic support to myself and the team, and for that I will always be grateful.
"I feel this is the right moment for me to step away, but I will always carry fantastic memories of this club."
Foley added: "Andoni has been instrumental in shaping the direction of this football club over the past three seasons.
"He brought intensity, innovation and a clear philosophy that elevated AFC Bournemouth both on and off the pitch.
"We are incredibly thankful for his leadership and will always have great memories of our time working together, as well as the things we accomplished."
The best 48 boys and girls high school basketball players across all seven AHSAA classifications and the AISA, are in the running for the ASWA's Mr. and Ms. Basketball of the 2025-26 season. Three players in each AHSAA classification, and in the AISA on both the boys and girls side, will be in the running for Players of the Year.
Rounding out the accolades on Tuesday will be the ASWA's boys and girls Super All-State team led by both Mr. and Ms. Basketball.
Spring Garden's Ace Austin, and Hoover's DeWayne Brown, earned the prestigious honor of Mr. and Ms. Basketball in 2025. As the banquet gets underway, follow along as the Montgomery Advertiser will be at the Renaissance, tracking all the award winners.
2025-26 ASWA's boys and girls Players of The Year nominees
Jaeden Day covers high school sports, Alabama State football and Auburn recruiting for the Montgomery Advertiser/USA Today. You can find him on X at dayjaeden12, or reach him at JDay@montgome.gannett.com.
Matt Crocker looks on during Mauricio Pochettino's first press conference as head coach of the U.S. Mens National Team at Hudson Yards on September 13, 2024 in New York City. Photograph: Stephen Nadler/ISI Photos/Getty Images
US Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker will be leaving his post with less than two months to go until the 2026 World Cup, US Soccer announced on Tuesday. The Guardian can also confirm FOX Sports’ earlier reporting that Crocker is taking up a similar role with the Saudi Arabia football federation.
US soccer said Crocker’s duties going forward will be shared by chief operating officer Dan Helfrich, assistant sporting director Oguchi Onyewu, women’s youth national team head of development Tracy Kevins, and “the broader sporting leadership team.”
“Matt helped guide important steps across our sporting organization, and we’re grateful for his contributions,” US Soccer CEO JT Batson said in a statement released by the federation. “We will continue building the right structure for the future, and we’re well positioned to make the decisions needed in the short, medium, and long term.”
Crocker was hired in 2023 after previous sporting director Earnie Stewart left to take up a similar role at PSV Eindhoven. Crocker arrived after a lengthy period in English football, where he won praise for his work in player development in his roles as technical director at Southampton and then with England from 2013-2020, where he was tasked with modernizing the Three Lions’ playing style.
His position with US Soccer gave Crocker wide-ranging control over the operations of all US national teams, including the youth setups for the men’s and women’s programs. His most public-facing responsibility, through, was the hiring of managers for the men’s and women’s senior sides.
Crocker made two men’s hires over his tenure. Among his first decisions was to re-hire Gregg Berhalter as USMNT manager after the federation allowed his contract to lapse and then placed him under investigation due to a convoluted drama involving attacking midfielder Gio Reyna and his family and decades-old domestic violence allegations against Berhalter and his now-wife. US Soccer later said the incident was isolated, and Berhalter spoke openly about it in several settings.
The federaion said it conducted a worldwide search for Berhalter’s replacement and settled on re-hiring him using “advanced data analytics, sophisticated metrics, and cutting-edge hiring methods.” Berhalter’s second USMNT tenure ended in failure, as the team was eliminated at the group stage of the 2024 Copa América.
Crocker’s splashiest hire came in landing Berhalter’s replacement: Mauricio Pochettino joined the team at the end of 2024 with the aim of leading the US to its best-ever World Cup finish at the tournament the country is co-hosting later this year. In 16 games under Pochettino, the US has won 10, drawn once, and lost seven. The most recent of those came in March friendlies against Belgium and Portugal, both losses for the US.
On the women’s side, Crocker hired Emma Hayes away from Chelsea at the end of 2023, with Vlatko Andonovski having left after an unsuccessful showing at the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Hayes went on to lead the USWNT to Olympic gold in 2024 and has the team looking strong ahead of the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
“It has been a privilege to be part of US Soccer during such an important period for the sport in this country,” said Crocker. “I’m grateful for the people I’ve had the opportunity to work with across the federation, from our coaches and players to our technical and administrative staff.”
Saudi Arabia’s national soccer setup is in the midst of upheaval ahead of their appearance in this summer’s World Cup, with various report saying head coach Hervé Renard will no longer coach the team while technical director Nasser Larguet expected to step down as technical director, a role he’s held since 2022.
The NBA Play-In Tournament marks the start of the postseason with the Charlotte Hornets hosting the Miami Heat tonight.
Charlotte’s young guns are home favorites versus the Heat, and our same game parlay for the opening Play-In tilt leans into LaMelo Ball and Kon Knueppel to make a big splash in this big game.
Here are my best Heat vs. Hornets predictions and NBA picks for Tuesday, April 14.
Our best Heat vs Hornets SGP for April 14
The Charlotte Hornets have been one of the best two-way teams since the All-Star break, finishing the schedule with an 18-9 SU record. The Hornets also hold down home court when laying points, boasting a 15-6 SU mark on the season.
LaMelo Ball has dished out eight dimes in eight of his last 14 games, including 13 assists in a win over the Miami Heat on March 17. Ball’s player projections sit north of eight assists against a Heat defense that wrapped the year among the worst in the NBA.
Kon Knueppel is often on the scoring end of those Ball assists, thriving in their guard-on-guard high screens. The rookie flamethrower has torched the Heat in all four meetings, putting up 19, 22, 27, and 30 points while shooting 45% from beyond the arc in those games.
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Peterborough United U21s 1 Brentford U21s 1: Beau Redknapp on target but late equaliser delays Bees' PDL title celebrations
Brentford Under-21s have all but secured the Professional Development League title following a 1-1 draw against Peterborough United Under-21s on Tuesday afternoon at Weston Homes Stadium.
Beau Redknapp scored the first-half goal that looked to have clinched the title but Ejiro Abbey grabbed a late equaliser with the final kick of the game to push back title celebrations for the young Bees.
It was a confident start from the west Londoners and on 10 minutes the opener came through Redknapp who steered in an accurate side-footed shot into the bottom corner of the net after fine work on the wing from Domeiro Bobb-Semple and Theo Mawene.
It should have been two soon after as Joseph Wheeler-Henry put in a perfect cross which found the head of Caelan Avenell but the defender headed from close range straight at Bastian Smith in the Peterborough net.
Edward Fox had a massive opportunity to level the scoreline for the home side but just as he looked certain to score, Luca Picotto made an incredible tackle to deny the midfielder.
Just before the half-time whistle, the away side countered their opponents with a fast break as Michel Boni led the charge, whipping in a great cross but Redknapp's diving header flew wide.
It was a scrappy beginning to the second period as the Posh dominated the ball, whilst Brentford were content with remaining compact within their shape.
For all the posession, the home side struggled to create anything to threaten Reggie Rose's goal.
As the half progressed, the Bees grew in confidence and almost scored through a Conor McManus header from a corner.
Boni had an opportunity to seal the win in style as he was found in the area unmarked by Wheeler-Henry but his attempted shot flew over the bar.
Abbey in the final moments of the game grabbed a late equaliser for the away side with what was the last kick of the game.
That goal delays the celebrations for the Bees as they are now three points ahead of Sheffield United heading into the final day but a superior goal difference means that the team are all but winners of the PDL.
Saunders' side close out their league campaign on Sunday 19 April as they take on Swansea City at Gtech Community Stadium.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Former Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore faces a sentencing hearing Tuesday for misdemeanors related to a confrontation with his executive assistant soon after Moore's firing for having an inappropriate relationship with her.
Moore pleaded no contest in March to trespassing and malicious use of a telecom device. The maximum possible penalty is six months in jail, though he has no previous criminal record and the judge will have much discretion to keep him out of custody.
Moore, 40, was fired on Dec. 10 after leading the Wolverines for two seasons, following Jim Harbaugh's move to the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers. It was a stunning dismissal at one of college football's most prestigious programs.
Moore was accused that same day of confronting the woman with whom he had been having an affair and blaming her for his firing, even threatening to kill himself with butter knives in her apartment. Authorities said the woman had ended the affair and spoken to school officials about it.
Moore was charged with felony home invasion and two additional charges. But Washtenaw County prosecutors agreed to a deal in which he pleaded no contest to two misdemeanors. The felony charge was dropped.
The agreement came after defense lawyer Ellen Michaels planned to aggressively challenge how police gathered information to get an arrest warrant.
Moore did not harm himself and was peacefully arrested in a parking lot away from the woman's apartment.
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White reported from Detroit.
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EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org
The Arizona Diamondbacks are 9-8 and look to be an overall solid team this season. But there are some worries with the roster, including in the starting rotation.
But, looking on the surface, there doesn't seem to be any issue with Zac Gallen, and especially Eduardo Rodriguez. However, those two could be in store for some regression this season.
As @jayhaykid shared on Twitter/x, the Diamondbacks starters are both in the top four when it comes to the negative difference between their ERA and their xERA. They've gotten a bit lucky, and that luck could very easily run out this year.
Diamondbacks might have a Zac Gallen and Eduardo Rodriguez worry
"Largest gap between ERA and xERA (min. 50 BIP) -- negative direction: ... Eduardo Rodriguez: 0.50 ERA, 3.44 xERA (-2.94). Zac Gallen: 3.60 ERA, 6.29 xERA (-2.69)," @jayhaykid shared.
This is a concerning metric for the Diamondbacks starters, as their xERA's being so much worse than their actual ERA likely indicating some regression is on the horizon.
While it's not a surprise that Rodriguez won't continue to post his ridiculous 0.50 ERA that he's held through the first three starts of the season, it is noteworthy that a drop-off to his xERA would have him in the 3.44 ERA range.
Rodriguez won't instantly regress to such numbers, and even if he did, a 3.44 ERA season would still be a good year for the Diamondbacks lefty.
The more concerning mark is Gallen, whose 3.60 ERA could be a whole lot worse based on this advanced metric.
There was some concern with his game last year, and while his actual production of a 3.60 ERA has been solid, if his xERA is closer to the truth, the Diamondbacks might see some major regression from Gallen this season.
The xERA and ERA difference for both are among the top-four biggest gaps in baseball when it comes to a negative correlation.
They've been getting a bit lucky based on this advanced data, and their numbers are potentially headed towards a bit of regression.
This is something to keep a close eye on as the season progresses, as Gallen and Rodriguez might regress a bit for the D-Backs this season.
MINNEAPOLIS — Red Sox manager Alex Cora was not pleased that a comment he made recently about giving young players long-term extensions was twisted out of context by some people on social media.
On Saturday, the Red Sox and Cardinals played a nationally televised game on FOX. During the third inning, reporter Ken Rosenthal did a segment discussing how Cardinals 23-year-old shortstop JJ Wetherholt is a candidate to receive a long-term contract extension. Rosenthal said that agents and player representatives from the union say those types of contracts “do generally prove favorable to the clubs.”
Rosenthal then added, “But Alex Cora was talking to us about this today and he said the dynamic changes, though. It changes when you have a number of players under those kinds of deals. And that’s what the concern can be for some of these teams.”
Cora made it clear he was not upset with anything Rosenthal said on the broadcast. He was upset that his comment was portrayed as controversial by some people on social media.
“You know what? I think it’s (expletive expletive) to be honest with you,” a frustrated Cora said before Boston’s game against the Twins on Monday. “There’s conversations about the Red Sox, there’s conversations about the industry. I was an ex-player and it’s a lot different compared to what’s in the past. So I know the dynamics of the business right now and ... this is what we’re working for. It’s not that ... now it’s harder or not harder. It’s the dynamics of the business. It’s a great business model. It is. It is. Because you wanna keep your pieces as long as possible, as young as possible, and develop them. That doesn’t mean that it’s a bad product or it’s a bad roster or it’s a bad team.
BETTING: Red Sox -1.5 run line is listed at +155 over on BetMGM for Tuesday’s game against the Twins. Our comprehensive BetMGM Sportsbook review provides an in-depth guide on how to use their site.
“It’s interesting when you go to those interviews and you talk and I respect Ken. I don’t know what he said, whatever, but I know how I feel about the business side of it,” Cora added. “And I think he knows and people know, too. You guys know too. So it’s a different model than in the past. It is. And it’s a different structure than in the past. And you have to deal with other stuff. It doesn’t make it harder. It doesn’t make it harder or ‘Oh, it’s so uncomfortable now to manage in the big leagues.’ No, it’s just different because there’s a lot of young people here that you have to keep teaching the game.
“Back in the day, it was 1,500 at-bats in the minor leagues. You play A-ball, Double A, Triple A, and you go to the big leagues, come back to Triple A. There were veterans in Triple A teaching you the game. Now it’s different. So it’s not something that I said that goes against what we’re doing here or where the business is going.”
Cora reiterated that Rosenthal didn’t need to provide more context on the broadcast.
“People are going to take it however they want,” Cora said. “And I respect that. Like I’ve always said, when I’m here in front of the cameras, I’m very honest. It’s not gray with me. It’s black and white and people respect what I say, they like what I say or they disagree.
“I don’t watch the games but he (Rosenthal) doesn’t have time, man. I’ve been on TV,” Cora said. “I know how it works. And sometimes, the inning is five pitches and you don’t have time to elaborate and then you have to move on. So I’m not uncomfortable with what I said. I know what I said. I know Ken is doing a job, and I don’t think there was nothing controversial to what I said.”
UCLA women’s basketball made more history on Monday night when all six of its graduating players were drafted in the 2026 WNBA Draft.
Five of the six Bruins were first-round picks, while graduate student guard Charlisse Leger-Walker was the No. 18 pick in the second round. Center Lauren Betts, guard Gabriela Jaquez and guard Kiki Rice were consecutive first-round selections at No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6, respectively.
Graduate student forward Angela Dugalić was the No. 9 overall pick, and graduate student guard Gianna Kneepkens was the final pick of the first round at No. 15.
UCLA now holds the record for the most players selected from the same school in a single WNBA Draft. With five first-round picks, the Bruins also set a record for the most players drafted in the first round from the same school.
Which Teams Drafted the Bruins?
The Bruins will be split across four different teams: Washington Mystics, Chicago Sky, Toronto Tempo and Connecticut Sun.
The Mystics drafted both Betts and Dugalić. The pair of Bruins will also be reuniting with former UCLA assistant coach Michaela Onyenwere, who signed a multi-year deal with the Mystics in free agency on Sunday.
Apr 13, 2026; New York, NY, USA; WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (right) poses for photos with Lauren Betts who was selected fourth overall by the Washington Mystics during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Meanwhile, Kneepkens and Leger-Walker will head to Connecticut together. The Sun will play its final season in Connecticut before relocating to Texas as the Houston Comets in 2027.
Jaquez and Rice will not be joined by any of their national champion teammates in training camp. The Sky drafted Jaquez, and the Tempo drafted Rice with its first pick in franchise history. The Tempo is one of two expansion teams entering the WNBA this season.
Apr 13, 2026; New York, NY, USA; WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (right) poses for photos with Gabriela Jaquez who was selected fifth overall by the Chicago Sky during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
There will be some early matchups between the Bruins with their new teams. Kneepkens and Leger-Walker will go head-to-head with Rice in the first game of preseason on April 29 in Toronto.
In June, Jaquez will have three consecutive games against her former teammates. The Sky plays the Mystics on June 2, then the Sun on June 5 and finally the Tempo on June 7.
Until then, the Bruins will head to their respective teams for training camp to battle for a roster spot ahead of the new season.
Wide receiver Keon Coleman found himself in the spotlight early this offseason when Bills owner Terry Pegula pointed to the decision to draft him coming from the coaching staff rather than General Manager Brandon Beane during a press conference to discuss the firing of former head coach Sean McDermott.
The ensuing days saw Beane, new head coach Joe Brady, quarterback Josh Allen and others speak out in support of Coleman's future with the team despite the wideout getting benched at times for disciplinary reasons. Those comments showed clear support for the 2024 second-round pick, but they also sounded similar to many others that have come off as boilerplate once the player being discussed failed to develop.
In an interview with Joe Buscaglia of TheAthletic.com, Beane insists that "it’s not all talk" because the team knows it is "not an ability thing" with the wideout. Beane said Coleman has "to come in and earn every single thing he’s gonna get" while saying the team is committed to giving him that opportunity.
“Listen, he has to go do it, but I think we feel confident that the maturity level is heading where it needs to," Beane said. "Again, he’s got to go do it. We believe in the skill set, and that’s part of what your culture is. We all grow at different times; none of us were a made product at 21, 22. Do you wish you had to go through that with him? No, you don’t. But you hope for us, and for him, he looks back and says, ‘That was the best thing that happened to me.’ That’s what you hope. And we’re putting all our eggs in his basket to come back for year three and be a part of this group, however that is.”
Former Bills wideout Stevie Johnson recently told Kyle Odegard of Casino.org that he reached out to Coleman about honing his game ahead of his third season and anything Coleman can do to help reach his ceiling will be welcomed by the Bills. The team will get another chance to signal their commitment to the wideout in next week's draft as going other ways with their early picks will be a further sign of their belief in Coleman for 2026.
The Boston Red Sox were blown out by the Minnesota Twins in the first game of the series on Monday.
Boston gave the ball to ace left-hander Garrett Crochet, but he had a stunning outing, as he was pulled in the second inning. Crochet finished the game going just 1.2 innings, allowing 11 runs, 10 earned on nine hits while walking three. He set his career-high in earned runs allowed, and tied his career-high in hits allowed in the 11-6 loss to the Twins.
Following the outing, Red Sox catcher Carlos Narváez said he and Crochet need to figure out a solution quicker so he can stay in the game and limit the damage. But the catcher is confident Crochet will be better in his next start.
"Everything went so quick,” Narváez said postgame, via MLB.com. “Next time, if this happens, we have to figure it out quicker and do something better. He was executing and attacking, not afraid, and they were aggressive.
“It doesn’t feel good. We don’t want that. I know Beast doesn’t want that. He’s a Beast. I know the next outing is going to be different.”
Although Crochet’s velocity was down, manager Alex Cora confirmed the left-hander is healthy and will be ready to start in his next turn in the rotation.
Boston will look to get back into the win column on Tuesday against the Twins at 7:40 p.m. ET.
After clinching their postseason berth on Monday, the Philadelphia Flyers have made a flurry of recalls from Lehigh Valley.
On Tuesday morning, the team announced that they have recalled forwards Jacob Gaucher and Anthony Richard, as well as defensemen Oliver Bonk and Hunter McDonald, and goalie Aleksei Kolosov.
Both Gaucher and Richard had stints with the Flyers last season and have played for the Phantoms throughout this season.
Kolosov has appeared in 4 games with Philadelphia this season, and has started 2 of them. His last appearance in the NHL was on January 17th, 2026.
Hunter McDonald has been recalled for the second time this season, but he never played during his first stint in Philly. This is Oliver Bonk’s first recall. Both defensemen are expected to make their NHL debuts on Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens.
McDonald, 23, was a 6th-round pick by the Flyers in 2022. The LHD has turned himself into a solid defensive defenseman for the Phantoms.
Bonk was the 22nd overall pick by the Flyers in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft. The 22-year-old RHD is one of, if not the best, defensive prospects in the organization, and has been called up in his first professional year. This season, he has 6 goals and 13 assists in 44 games.
Bonk is a two-way defenseman who has a strong defensive game, but an offensive game to complement it.
I would not expect any time for either player in the postseason, but the Flyers now have plenty of depth for the postseason.
The Boston Red Sox have a logjam in the outfield and not enough playing time to go around.
It's a problem that they had to navigate last season, too. Right fielder Wilyer Abreu is hitting far too well for manager Alex Cora to consider taking at-bats away from him.
Elsewhere, Jarren Duran is off to a slow start at the plate. In 58 trips to the plate, the 2024 All-Star Game MVP owns a .196/.293/.314 slash line with one home run and a .607 OPS. The speedster is 2-for-2 on stolen base attempts.
FanSided's Christopher Kline points to Duran's two years of club control as a selling point for Boston to navigate a trade.
"Still, we know what the 29-year-old lefty is capable of. Duran's blend of power and speed is a rare commodity and should mean Boston can flip him for solid value, especially with two additional years of club control left on his contract," Kline wrote Tuesday.
One National League club that could use help in its lineup is the Cincinnati Reds. Even with Elly De La Cruz, Eugenio Suarez, and a breakout from Sal Stewart, they may be missing one more bat.
"In Cincinnati, meanwhile, the Reds are a half-game behind Pittsburgh in the NL Central. The rotation, even in its current compromised state, looks strong enough for another Wild Card push," Kline added. "If Cincinnati can add more firepower to its lineup, Terry Francona's squad will be cooking with gas."
As a fan favorite, it would be hard for Red Sox fans to see Duran go elsewhere. However, with Duran's two years of club control and potential, the organization could get a solid return.
Following yet another impressive weekend series, the Alabama Crimson Tide are again cemented among the top the SEC softball regular season standings.
This past weekend, Alabama traveled to Auburn for a three-game set with the in-state rival Tigers, a series in which the Crimson Tide swept all three games. Alabama won the games by final scores of 1-0, 4-0, and 9-1, respectively, and are now riding a six-game winning streak dating back to last weekend against Texas as a result.
The Crimson Tide's record this season now sits at 39-3 overall, while Alabama also improves to an impressive 12-3 in SEC play.
Following is a look at the updated SEC regular season standings following the action this past weekend across the conference, as well as where Alabama sits entering a three-game set with Kentucky starting Friday in Tuscaloosa.
Updated SEC softball regular season standings
1. Oklahoma (13-2)
2. Alabama (12-3)
3. Florida (14-4)
4. Texas A&M (11-4)
T-5. Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas (12-6, 10-5)
8. Georgia (9-6)
T-9. Mississippi State, LSU, Missouri (6-9)
12. South Carolina (3-12)
T-13. Ole Miss, Auburn (2-13)
15. Kentucky (1-17)
Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
Mark Robins is approaching the end of his first full season as Stoke boss [Getty Images]
Stoke City manager Mark Robins claims "people don't want to hear" about the club's progress because their Championship promotion push has faded.
The Potters, who only avoided relegation on the final day of last season, have won just three of their past 16 league matches.
Robins, who took over in January last year, insists his side have improved.
He told BBC Radio Stoke: "You know why we are where we are. We've come from being a game away from relegation last season to this.
"It seems like people don't want to hear that, but that is part of the timeline of trying to build success.
"You can't do that overnight. We've said that straight all the way through. We need to be together and we need to see it through.
"And if everybody takes stock and looks at actually what is happening, what's happened and what needs to happen moving forward, you can see that there's a progression there."
Stoke enjoyed an encouraging start to the season but are currently 16th in the table.
"The disappointment comes from the emotion of the fact that we started off so well," Robins admitted.
"We lost a load of players through a period. We haven't had them for a long time and it's impacted what we've been able to do.
"But like I said, I could come and sulk because I could see that this was a time where we could kick on and go and really achieve something.
"It hasn't happened. I'm disappointed, but what do I do? I roll my sleeves up and we go again."
€100m-rated Palmeiras gem Eduardo Conceição scouted by PSG and Europe’s top clubs
Palmeiras’ young star Eduardo Conceição (16) is reportedly on Paris Saint-Germain’s radar, with the club having already made contact with his entourage, according to ESPN Brazil.
Manchester City, who are said to be prepared to offer the Brazilian club a fee of around €40 million, Chelsea and FC Barcelona are also understood to be interested in securing the services of the young winger.
All this despite the fact that the forward, a product of Verdão’s academy – which value him at around €100 million – has yet to make his professional debut for the São Paulo-based club. However, this hasn’t stopped him from generating a lot of buzz, having particularly shone at the Copinha – a tournament featuring mainly the region’s best under-20 teams – where he scored four goals and provided three assists in seven appearances.
Currently on a trip to Paraguay with the Brazilian Under-17s squad to compete in the South American Championship for the category, Conceição has already distinguished himself as one of the best players in the competition.
Highly sought-after, an offer of nearly €25 million for him was reportedly turned down by Palmeiras a few weeks ago. Further proof, if any were needed, of the value placed on him.
Andoni Iraola: Bombshell update emerges on United managerial target
Manchester United have been left on high alert as the reliable David Ornstein has delivered a stunning update on the future of Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola.
On the radar
Despite the success that Michael Carrick has enjoyed in the Old Trafford dugout since he was named Ruben Amorim’s replacement at the start of the year, it’s still not a guarantee that he will be handed the job on a permanent basis.
Carrick has won seven, drawn two and lost two of the 11 games he has taken charge of. United’s most recent result, a 2-1 loss to Leeds United, has left the club in third place in the Premier League table, level on points with Aston Villa in fourth position.
While Carrick has received numerous backing from the players and his former teammates, United remain adamant that no knee-jerk reactions will be made. United’s stance is that a permanent appointment will only be made once all the available options have been considered.
He has turned Bournemouth into a consistent Premier League outfit defined by attractive, front-footed football. They have battled for European places under him, and that battle continues in the current campaign.
His contract at the Vitality Stadium is set to expire at the end of the season and a report covered by The Peoples Person relayed that Bournemouth were preparing a big play to try and keep the Spaniard. It was said that Bournemouth were confident of reaching an agreement.
However, Ornstein has now confirmed that Iraola and Bournemouth will part ways at the end of the season.
Iraola update
According to Ornstein, “Bournemouth sources say they tried everything possible to keep Iraola after 15 months of negotiations and, though they are disappointed to lose him, respect his decision and maintain a strong relationship.”
“The south coast club are already underway with the search for Iraola’s replacement. Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna features highly in their thinking but other candidates are under consideration.”
“Ipswich, who are challenging for Premier League promotion, want to keep McKenna but the Northern Irishman’s contract at Portman Road does contain a release clause.”
It’s understood that Crystal Palace are keen on appointing Iraola to replace Oliver Glasner. Athletic Club have also been strongly linked with Iraola but Ornstein says that such a move is currently “unlikely.”
Whether this stunning new development prompts United into action remains to be seen, but it will certainly be interesting to see how it plays out. There is no doubting that Iraola represents an intriguing alternative for the Red Devils.
Ex-Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore is scheduled to be sentenced this afternoon in connection to criminal charges stemming from a 2025 encounter at the home of a woman with whom he had a roughly two-year affair.
No additional jail time is expected, say experts and Moore's lawyer.
Moore, 40, reached a plea agreement in March with Washtenaw County prosecutors. He pleaded no contest to malicious use of a telecommunications device and one count of trespass. Both are misdemeanors and different from charges originally brought last year.
District 14A Judge J. Cedric Simpson will convey Moore's sentence during a 2 p.m. hearing Tuesday, April 14. While the law indicates jail time is an option, experts told the Free Press probation is far more likely.
In December, Moore, who is married with children, was fired after U-M determined he engaged in an inappropriate relationship. Earlier that week, Moore's then-assistant, 32-year-old Paige Shiver, told university officials about the relationship.
Moore went to Shiver's apartment after he was fired. Police and prosecutors say he barged in, picked up butter knives and backed her into a corner. He also threatened self harm before leaving.
He was arrested shortly thereafter. Police records say Moore did not dispute the affair, but denied ever threatening or harming Shiver.
After his arrest, prosecutors charged Moore with third-degree felony home invasion, a misdemeanor count of stalking related to a domestic relationship and a misdemeanor count of breaking and entering-illegal entry without owner's permission.
Moore's legal team immediately fought the charges, saying he was innocent. In the midst of legal wrangling over how police presented evidence to the magistrate who affirmed the original charges, prosecutors and Moore's legal team reached a deal.
After reaching the deal, Moore's lawyer Ellen Michaels said her client looked forward to putting the matter behind him.
That same day in March, lawyers representing Shiver issued a statement that publicly identified her as Moore's assistant for the first time. The statement indicated she wanted justice from the university, foreshadowing a lawsuit.
Michaels said the basis for Moore's no contest plea is civil liability; a guilty plea can be used against someone in a lawsuit.
Ex-Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore is scheduled to be sentenced this afternoon in connection to criminal charges stemming from a 2025 encounter at the home of a woman with whom he had a roughly two-year affair.
No additional jail time is expected, say experts and Moore's lawyer.
Moore, 40, reached a plea agreement in March with Washtenaw County prosecutors. He pleaded no contest to malicious use of a telecommunications device and one count of trespass. Both are misdemeanors and different from charges originally brought last year.
District 14A Judge J. Cedric Simpson will convey Moore's sentence during a 2 p.m. hearing Tuesday, April 14. While the law indicates jail time is an option, experts told the Free Press probation is far more likely.
In December, Moore, who is married with children, was fired after U-M determined he engaged in an inappropriate relationship. Earlier that week, Moore's then-assistant, 32-year-old Paige Shiver, told university officials about the relationship.
Moore went to Shiver's apartment after he was fired. Police and prosecutors say he barged in, picked up butter knives and backed her into a corner. He also threatened self harm before leaving.
He was arrested shortly thereafter. Police records say Moore did not dispute the affair, but denied ever threatening or harming Shiver.
After his arrest, prosecutors charged Moore with third-degree felony home invasion, a misdemeanor count of stalking related to a domestic relationship and a misdemeanor count of breaking and entering-illegal entry without owner's permission.
Moore's legal team immediately fought the charges, saying he was innocent. In the midst of legal wrangling over how police presented evidence to the magistrate who affirmed the original charges, prosecutors and Moore's legal team reached a deal.
After reaching the deal, Moore's lawyer Ellen Michaels said her client looked forward to putting the matter behind him.
That same day in March, lawyers representing Shiver issued a statement that publicly identified her as Moore's assistant for the first time. The statement indicated she wanted justice from the university, foreshadowing a lawsuit.
Michaels said the basis for Moore's no contest plea is civil liability; a guilty plea can be used against someone in a lawsuit.
Ex-Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore is scheduled to be sentenced this afternoon in connection to criminal charges stemming from a 2025 encounter at the home of a woman with whom he had a roughly two-year affair.
No additional jail time is expected, say experts and Moore's lawyer.
Moore, 40, reached a plea agreement in March with Washtenaw County prosecutors. He pleaded no contest to malicious use of a telecommunications device and one count of trespass. Both are misdemeanors and different from charges originally brought last year.
District 14A Judge J. Cedric Simpson will convey Moore's sentence during a 2 p.m. hearing Tuesday, April 14. While the law indicates jail time is an option, experts told the Free Press probation is far more likely.
In December, Moore, who is married with children, was fired after U-M determined he engaged in an inappropriate relationship. Earlier that week, Moore's then-assistant, 32-year-old Paige Shiver, told university officials about the relationship.
Moore went to Shiver's apartment after he was fired. Police and prosecutors say he barged in, picked up butter knives and backed her into a corner. He also threatened self harm before leaving.
He was arrested shortly thereafter. Police records say Moore did not dispute the affair, but denied ever threatening or harming Shiver.
After his arrest, prosecutors charged Moore with third-degree felony home invasion, a misdemeanor count of stalking related to a domestic relationship and a misdemeanor count of breaking and entering-illegal entry without owner's permission.
Moore's legal team immediately fought the charges, saying he was innocent. In the midst of legal wrangling over how police presented evidence to the magistrate who affirmed the original charges, prosecutors and Moore's legal team reached a deal.
After reaching the deal, Moore's lawyer Ellen Michaels said her client looked forward to putting the matter behind him.
That same day in March, lawyers representing Shiver issued a statement that publicly identified her as Moore's assistant for the first time. The statement indicated she wanted justice from the university, foreshadowing a lawsuit.
Michaels said the basis for Moore's no contest plea is civil liability; a guilty plea can be used against someone in a lawsuit.
Former Boston College head coach Joanna Bernabei-McNamee and former New Mexico head coach Mike Bradbury are set to replace assistant coaches Shay Robinson, who joined Florida's coaching staff, and Amanda Butler, who's now the head coach at College of Charleston. It will be a reunion of sorts for Bernabei-McNamee and UofL head coach Jeff Walz, who won a national championship together in 2006 as part of Maryland's coaching staff.
"Having shared that experience, I’ve seen firsthand the level of preparation, passion and basketball IQ she brings every single day," Walz said of Bernabei-McNamee in a statement. "There’s a trust and familiarity there that you can’t manufacture, and I know she’ll make an immediate impact on our program. Joanna has proven herself as a leader and a teacher of the game, and she brings a tremendous ability to connect with our players while continuing to push them to grow."
Walz left Maryland a year after winning the national title for his first head coaching job at Louisville; Bernabei-McNamee joined West Virginia's coaching staff.
Head coaching stints at Pikeville (2013-16) and Albany (2016-18) followed for Bernabei-McNamee before she took over the Boston College program. During her eight seasons with the Eagles, the West Virginia native led the program to 20 wins in 2019-20 — including a program-record 11 ACC wins, earning her ACC Coach of the Year honors. But a five-win 2025-26 season led to her firing on on March 1.
Bradbury had been a head coach for 19 years and spent the last 10 years leading the New Mexico women's basketball program where he compiled a 202-112 overall record. That included six 20-win seasons and a program-record-tying 26 wins during the 2021-22 season. In 2023-24, he was named the Mountain West Coach of the Year thanks to a 21-11 overall mark and 12-6 Mountain West Conference record. Bradbury ended his tenure with New Mexico with a 22-9 mark this past season.
Bradbury's resume includes head coaching roles at Wright State (2010-16) and Morehead State (2007-10) with assistant coaching stops at Xavier (2002-06), Cincinnati (1996-02), VCU (1995-96), East Tennessee State (1994-95) and Chattanooga (1991-94).
"Adding Mike Bradbury to our staff is about bringing in a coach with a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the game,” Walz said. “He’s been a head coach, he’s navigated the challenges of building programs, and he understands what it takes to compete at a high level. That perspective is invaluable for our players and for our staff as we continue to push forward."
Reach Louisville football, women's basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit at acubit@gannett.com and follow her on X at @Alexis_Cubit.
The Dallas Cowboys have two opportunities to get things spectacularly right in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, given their recent track record, they also have two chances to royally screw up. Dallas' reputation as a top-tier drafting organization took a major hit in the Mike McCarthy era, after flourishing in the 2010s.
There were misses here and there, but the club generally reaped Pro Bowl appearances and All-Pro nominations based on the work they did in the first round. The misses though? They are definitely warnings heading into next week's haul where Dallas has both the No. 12 and No. 20 pick. Here's a look at the worst first-round picks of the Jerry Jones era.
Warning Track: LT Tyler Guyton
We haven't reach this point just yet, but ears are certainly perked up to hear whether or not Guyton will start to realize his ceiling in 2026. Injuries have robbed him of important prep time AND game reps, which have many starting to question whether he's built for the rigors of the NFL. Guyton is getting another year to prove the improvements many saw last camp can stick and help him grow, because his max out potential is worthy of his draft status. But this is a results-oriented business, not one based on potential.
10. 1998: DE Greg Ellis
Ellis wasn't a bad pick by any stretch of the imagination. He wasn't an All-Pro, but 176 games played with 84 career sacks is an extremely solid career. The problem here is he isn't Randy Moss, whom the entire universe, including Moss himself, thought was destined for Dallas.
9. 2008: RB Felix Jones
Jones wasn't a bad draft pick, but he certainly didn't last long in the league. he ended his career with just 617 rushing attempts and 2,912 rush yards, while catching 136 passes for another 1,125 yards. He totaled 14 career touchdowns and was in Dallas for five of his six career seasons.
8. 2008: CB Mike Jenkins
Dallas actually had two first-round picks in 2008, thanks to trading out of the first in the Steven Jackson mishap. Neither flourished. Jenkins stuck around the league for a little bit and had 10 career interceptions in his 101 games played.
7. 1999: DE Ebenezer Ekuban
The Cowboys followed up the Ellis pick in 1999 with Ekuban the following year out of North Carolina. This one was on. theplayer, though, as he talled just 36.5 sacks over his nine-year career.
6. 2006: LB Bobby Carpenter
The Cowboys plucked Carpenter out of Ohio State in 2006 under Bill Parcells, but the vision was never rewarded. Carpenter lasted in the league for 93 games, but he started just 10 contests and only three in his four years in Dallas.
Click the link to go to Cowboys Wire for the full article.
In its fourth season under head coach Jon Scheyer, Duke basketball finished the 2025-26 college hoops season as the nation's second-most watched team, per an April 13 Nielsen release.
Only national champion Michigan ranked ahead of Duke in viewership, with the Wolverines garnering around 3.3 million viewers compared to the Blue Devils' 2.9. UConn (2.8 million), Purdue (2.5) and Illinois (2.3) rounded out the top-five.
The Blue Devils faced two teams in that top-five group, notching a 68-63 win over Michigan on Feb. 21 before seeing its season come to an end in a 73-72 loss to the Huskies in the NCAA Tournament Elite 8. Duke finished the year 35-3, its second-straight 35-win season.
Consistently a top-watched team, the Blue Devils finished the regular season tabbed as Nielsen's most popular men's college basketball team, measuring both viewership and social media data. They came in at No. 2 in viewership earlier in the year, trailing just Michigan State.
Nielsen most-watched 2025-26 men's basketball teams
Michigan: 3.353 million viewers
Duke: 2.965 million viewers
UConn: 2.842 million viewers
Purdue: 2.554 million viewers
Illinois: 2.377 million viewers
Anna Snyder covers Duke for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at asnyder@usatodayco.com or follow her @annaesnydr on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Former Duke guard Darren Harris has committed to join the Indiana Hoosiers after entering the transfer portal less than a week ago.
In two seasons with the Blue Devils, Harris never saw much of the floor, playing in 57 contests and averaging just 8.4 minutes per game during his tenure.
As a result, his numbers took a hit, averaging 2.8 points, 0.9 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 0.2 steals.
With two years of eligibility remaining, Harris will now join the Hoosiers in hopes of playing more frequently.
There, he'll join a team that finished 10th in the Big Ten last season and 18-14 overall.
The Minnesota Vikings are flying blind, to an extent, into the NFL Draft in a year that is more pivotal than most in the recent memory of the franchise.
The team fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah after the Senior Bowl and pivoted to Executive Vice President of Football Operations Rob Brzezinski as their new leader. However, reports suggest the coaching staff is having its hands all over the NFL Draft, but that doesn't mean they can do it alone. CBS Sports' Zachary Pereles discussed this, as April is a big month for the team ahead of a pivotal year, as we discussed.
Pereles discussed some of the big decisions that have been made, writing, "The Vikings made some of the biggest headlines in January when they fired GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and in March, when they signed Kyler Murray. Could they again produce a major storyline in April? First, they still haven't found a full-time replacement for Adofo-Mensah. Executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski is serving as interim GM, and he will continue to do so through the draft. Only then will a full search begin. But Brzezinski has made several big calls this offseason, including signing Murray and exercising Jordan Addison's fifth-year option."
Brzezinski has made those decisions, so is this the team's way of saying we trust you going forward? We have not heard anything, and shouldn't until after the NFL Draft, which is next week. So while April is a big month for the team, May is going to be even more monumental.
Florida high school football schedules for the 2026 season are coming out one-by-one out of every county around the state and one area that has become a breeding ground for college prospects is the North Suncoast, with a number of squads finalizing their fall slates.
Next up out of the Sunshine State to reveal who they will be playing for the 2026 season is the South Sumter Raiders, coached by Ty Lawrence. The Raiders have perennially been one of the top teams out of the North Suncoast region of the state, with South Sumter annually making the postseason and this upcoming 2026 season is shaping up to be another good one in Bushnell.
Quarterback Milo Patterson is slated to return behind center after throwing for 930 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2025. Wide receiver Kobe Bailey is expected to be the team’s top pass catcher after totaling 268 yards and a touchdown last fall.
The full South Sumter 2026 football schedule can be seen below, with all official game times included.
South Sumter High School is a public high school located in Bushnell, Florida. As part of the Sumter County School District, it offers a range of academic programs, extracurricular activities, and athletics. The school is known for its strong community involvement and focus on student achievement. The Raiders compete in various sports and are committed to fostering teamwork, sportsmanship, and personal development among their athletes.
How to Follow Florida High School Football
For Florida high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Sunshine State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across the state of Florida.
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — The trial of seven health care professionals accused of negligence in the death of soccer great Diego Maradona resumed on Tuesday, nearly a year after the original proceedings collapsed when a presiding judge stepped down after appearing in a documentary about the case.
The negligence case centers on seven medical professionals accused of failing to provide adequate care in the weeks leading up to Maradona’s death five years ago at a home outside Buenos Aires. Maradona, widely regarded as one of the greatest soccer players of all time, died at age 60 from cardiac arrest while recovering from a procedure to treat a blood clot on his brain.
The seven defendants are charged with culpable homicide, a crime similar to involuntary manslaughter that alleges that the accused were aware that their reckless conduct posed a risk and failed to prevent it. If convicted, they face prison sentences ranging from eight to 25 years.
Defense attorneys argue that the captain of Argentina’s 1986 World Cup-winning team suffered from multiple serious medical conditions and that no crime was committed.
Maradona had suffered a series of medical problems, some because of an excess of drug and alcohol consumption. He was reportedly near death in 2000 and 2004.
Among those on trial are physician Leopoldo Luque, Maradona’s personal doctor during the final years of his life, psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov and psychologist Carlos Díaz.
Hearings will take place twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Slightly less than 100 witnesses are expected to testify, including family members, people close to the former player, medical professionals and police officers.
Judges Alberto Gaig, Alberto Ortolani and Pablo Rolón are expected to deliver a verdict in early June.
Fernando Burlando, attorney for Maradona's two eldest daughters and plaintiffs in the case, Dalma and Giannina, told reporters before Tuesday’s hearing that he had confidence in the new panel.
“We place enormous trust in them," Burlando said. ”They are judges with extensive experience and backgrounds."
He said that Maradona’s daughters remain “very exhausted.”
“It is very difficult," Burlando said. “They are Maradona’s daughters, and that alone is not easy, and the fact that they cannot even have a moment of relief to know what happened to their father ... although we are convinced of what happened.”
The initial trial ended in a mistrial last May after Julieta Makintach, one of the three judges overseeing the proceedings, stepped down following criticism over her participation in a documentary about the case.
Makintach withdrew after prosecutors presented footage showing her featured prominently in the documentary “Divine Justice,” which covered events from the aftermath of Maradona’s death, when allegations and suspicions of foul play first emerged, through the start of the trial.
“I present my resignation with serenity, without renouncing the right to exercise my defense in the appropriate arenas,” Makintach wrote in a letter sent to judicial authorities in June.
Maradona died on Nov. 25, 2020, weeks after undergoing surgery for a subdural hematoma. He had been admitted earlier that month to a clinic in La Plata, suffering from anemia and dehydration, before being transferred to Clínica Olivos, where he underwent the procedure. After being discharged on Nov. 11, he moved to a home outside Buenos Aires, where he remained under medical supervision.
A 20-member medical panel appointed to investigate Maradona’s death released a report in 2021, where they accused Maradona’s medical team of acting in an “inappropriate, deficient and reckless manner,” leaving him in agony and without help for more than 12 hours before his death.
What started as a brief headline turned into something far more complicated for The Athletic. Dianna Russini, the outlet’s lead NFL insider since 2023, found herself at the center of attention after photos surfaced showing her with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel at an Arizona resort.
Page Six published images of the two holding hands poolside ahead of league meetings in Phoenix. Both denied any romantic involvement and insisted they were just friends.
The Athletic initially backed Russini, but the organization shifted course and launched an internal investigation. Russini won’t be reporting until that investigation wraps up, and the situation inside The Athletic appears to be getting messier.
John Ourand wrote in his latest Varsity newsletter that tensions are building within the company, which operates under The New York Times umbrella. He pointed to rising friction between The Athletic and Times leadership, describing the dynamic as fragmented.
Former ESPN reporter Dianna Russini. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Russini works for The Athletic, but the Times owns it, and that dual structure brings layered complications. Ourand described leadership as divided, with internal disputes already shaping the culture long before this controversy landed. The Russini matter only added fuel to existing problems.
Times staffers worry that Athletic reporters operate under looser editorial standards, and this case struck a nerve. Some fear it reflects poorly on the entire organization.
Neither Vrabel nor Russini commented further after their initial denials. The Times Guild is pushing to bring The Athletic under its umbrella, blocking the use of nonunion labor that could undercut existing roles.
That demand complicates things more than if Russini still worked at ESPN. An already delicate relationship between The Athletic and The New York Times just got another layer of difficulty stacked on top.
We heard it over and over again throughout draft season: 2026 was poised to be an all-time year for catcher production. Nearly every fantasy baseball analyst, yours included, wrote about how the catcher pool was overflowing with options for those in one-catcher leagues.
So far, the results are inconclusive. It’s still early in the season, but the overall .703 OPS achieved by catchers is just .006 higher than last season. In comparison to other seasons in the current century, this has been an average campaign for catchers. Perhaps as the weather warms up and pitcher injuries continue to mount, the backstops will put their skills on full display.
While the overall production has been moderate, there are still many enticing options at the position. Half of the top-12 catchers to this point in the season are still sitting on waivers in the majority of Yahoo leagues.
Here are some expected stats, via Statcast, that can help managers to decide if they want to pivot to someone else.
Cal Raleigh, Mariners: So far, drafting Raleigh in Rd. 2 has been an unmitigated disaster. The former 60-homer player has been one of baseball’s worst hitters so far, batting .154 with just two homers. His expected stats aren’t much better, including a .193 xBA and .391 SLG. Raleigh is striking out too often (32.4%) and otherwise making poor contact (83.9 mph average exit velocity).
The Yahoo Trade Market shows that in recent days, he has been frequently swapped for other top-five catchers, which feels like a fair return at this point. I would wait it out, but I wouldn’t fault anyone who prefers Shea Langeliers, William Contreras or Ben Rice.
Ivan Herrera, Cardinals: Herrera is off to a slow start, which overshadows an excellent Statcast page. The 25-year-old isn’t hitting the ball hard (89.0 mph average exit velocity), but the rest of his Statcast page is bright red (that’s a good thing). Herrera’s walk rate is elite, his strikeout rate is elite and his .293 xBA is 100 points higher than his actual mark. Fantasy managers should stick with him, or scoop him up in leagues where he has been dropped.
Agustín Ramírez, Marlins: This may be confirmation bias, as Ramírez was someone whom I faded during draft season. But my recommendation is to consider dropping him in 10-team leagues. He’s off to a mediocre start, and his expected stats are even worse than his actual marks. The poor recent performance comes on the heels of a 2025 second half in which he logged a lowly .637 OPS. His ability to steal bases is the only reason to consider keeping Ramírez around in standard Yahoo formats. And I’m not sure if that is enough.
Dillon Dingler, Tigers: Still rostered in just 30% of Yahoo leagues, Dingler is quickly becoming a viable option for those who want to drop an unproductive catcher. Not only is the 27-year-old doing well on the surface (.250/.353/.477 slash line) but his xBA, xSLG and xwOBA are all top five at the position. Dingler is also an exceptional defensive player at the most important position.
Francisco Alvarez, Mets: Alvarez is off to a solid start, which builds on a strong 2025 second half in which he logged a .921 OPS. His power skills are especially standing out, as his .722 xSLG ranks first at the position. Like Dingler, Alvarez is a prime pivot option for those who are disappointed in their current catcher.
Carter Jensen, Royals: There is a fun narrative that Jensen turned his season around after he was benched for sleeping through his alarm on April 2. Unfortunately, it may soon be proven to be untrue. Jensen is striking out too often (34.8%) to have sustained success. His expected stats (.227 xBA, .481 xSLG) are not special marks.
I’m not giving up on the youngster; not at all. But I’m also not racing out to add him in standard Yahoo formats.
Yainer Díaz, Astros: I’ll admit that I have never been a fan of Díaz, who rarely draws a walk and drives half of his batted balls into the ground. I continue to be unimpressed with the 27-year-old, who has the expected stats (.224 xBA, .277 xSLG) to back up a poor start (.549 OPS).
Díaz is typically a serviceable fantasy option for two reasons: he can post a helpful batting average and the Astros give him more playing time than most catchers. He can be retained for those reasons, but I wouldn’t argue with anyone who wanted to drop him for Dingler or Alvarez, which may be the start of a process of streaming the position until settling on someone who becomes a major upgrade.
Samuel Basallo, Orioles: One of baseball’s best prospects, Basallo showed signs that he wasn’t ready for the majors when he logged a .559 OPS in 109 at-bats last season. He has been even worse so far in 2026 (.513 OPS), and his expected stats show that he hasn’t deserved a significantly better fate (.174 xBA, .345 xSLG). Basallo may need more minor-league seasoning, and he shouldn’t continue to have a roster rate that is similar to that of Dingler.
Adley Rutschman, Orioles: It’s time to send Rutschman to waivers in one-catcher leagues.
The Baltimore backstop, who is currently on the IL, was bad in the second half of 2024 (.585 OPS), and not much better last season (.673 OPS). Sure, he looks like he’s playing well so far (.855 OPS), but his expected stats are terrible (.198 xBA, .322 xSLG). He hasn’t homered and has benefited from an unsustainable .357 BABIP. Rutschman has strong plate discipline, but his appeal ends there.
Alejandro Kirk, Blue Jays: Kirk is even less desirable to stash than Rutschman. He’s hurt, his ceiling is low and he was off to a slow start. His 34% roster rate is 34% too high.
Victor Caratini, Twins: For the deep-league crowd, I’ll mention Caratini, who leads all catchers with a .324 xBA. The veteran has minimal power skills, and anything more than 10 homers would be a good season. But the Twins’ willingness to give him DH opportunities should help Caratini’s counting stats, and he’s one of the few lower-end catchers who can help with batting average, making him a good option in two-catcher formats.
The dingers were finally flying yesterday, and I hit a monster +1040 homer to help my crawl out of the early-season basement.
The weather is turning, and the balls are flying. It's time to hit the MLB player props and back the bats on Dinger Tuesday.
I'm leaning on some familiar names today, but at prices I like in these settings and matchups. Very few people are hitting the ball on the screws with a harder swing than Oneil Cruz, and Pete Alonso has found his power and is the bat to back in Baltimore today.
These are my favorite home run props for Tuesday, April 14.
Best MLB home run props today
Player to hit a HR
Odds
Oneil Cruz
+330
Pete Alonso
+390
Oneil Cruz (+330)
When I go square, I want all the checkmarks, and I’m getting them in this Pittsburgh Pirates spot.
Oneil Cruz is a Top-5 hitter in baseball in swing speed and leads all batters in Blast Contact%, a stat that combines fast swings with barrels. Swing hard and square it up — simple.
Cruz gets a heavenly matchup vs. Miles Mikolas, who might be looking for a new job soon. Mikolas has been getting lit up, allowing 19 runs in just over 12 innings with five home runs surrendered.
He’s unlikely to go deep, and Pittsburgh should also get cracks at a taxed Nationals bullpen after hanging 16 runs on them last night. There might be four arms unavailable today from that Washington pen.
Elite form, double-digit winds blowing out, a great matchup, and a depleted bullpen all point to upside. I’m willing to go a bit shorter here at +330 and would still play it down to +300.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SportsNet Pittsburgh, Nationals.TV
Pete Alonso (+390)
There were seven homers hit at Camden Yards yesterday, with one coming off the bat of Pete Alonso, who is +EV for a dinger today at +390 with a fair price around +340, per THE BAT.
It’s another great setting with double-digit winds blowing out and Merrill Kelly making his first start of the season before handing it over to a bullpen that got tagged for seven runs over just nine outs yesterday.
Alonso is the bat to target in this lineup, boasting the best Blast Contact% numbers in the clubhouse — roughly double that of Gunnar Henderson.
The final piece is familiarity. Alonso has seen Kelly 19 times, which leans in the hitter’s favor, and the Polar Bear has gone deep three times in those matchups.
Time: 6:35 p.m. ET
Where to watch: MASN, Dbacks.TV
Jinglis' 2026 Transparency Record
HR picks: 3-24, -1.1 units
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Carlos Alcaraz opens his 2026 Barcelona Open campaign against Otto Virtanen, who comes into the match ranked 130th in the world.
Alcaraz recently handed over the world number one ranking to Jannik Sinner following a loss in the Monte Carlo Masters final.
But he has a chance to reclaim it quickly, with Barcelona offering him that opportunity.
Alcaraz will need to win the tournament – something he’s done twice before – if he wants to return to the top of the rankings.
This time around, though, Sinner won’t be standing in his way. Instead, it’s Virtanen who’ll provide the first test for Alcaraz as he starts his run in Barcelona.
Carlos Alcaraz says he won’t ‘miss’ Jannik Sinner at the 2026 Barcelona Open
Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP via Getty Images
Alcaraz, who is seeded number one in Barcelona, spoke about the motivation of potentially returning to the top of the rankings while addressing reporters in Spain.
“Being number one in Barcelona is an extra motivation,” Alcaraz said during his pre-tournament press conference. “I saw that I have to win here if I want to get it back.
“The battle I have with Jannik is a beautiful one, but I’m focused and with the goal in mind of continuing to improve.”
“It’s a relief not to face him in every tournament, but he’s one of the players who makes me a better player, who makes me realize my weaknesses and see where I need to focus in every training session and every match.
“But I definitely won’t miss him this week.”
Carlos Alcaraz’s performance at the 2025 Barcelona Open
Carlos Alcaraz started his 2025 Barcelona Open with a solid run, picking up straight-set wins over Ethan Quinn, Laslo Djere, Alex de Minaur and Arthur Fils.
Even though Alcaraz was expected to win the final, he fell short against Holger Rune, who took the match 6-7, 2-6.
Afterward, Rune spoke about how he had drawn on lessons from Novak Djokovic’s victory over Alcaraz in the 2024 Olympic final.
“I told myself OK, what did Novak do when he beat him?” Rune said after clinching victory.
“I kind of played it in my mind, the Olympic final, and I thought to myself let’s try to play that kind of style. Really make him play a lot of balls.
“I’m really happy about how I stayed composed when it really mattered. I was also very brave when it mattered.”
The Detroit Tigers enjoyed some home cooking this weekend, sweeping the Miami Marlins in three games to snap a five-game winning streak. Now, they open up the second half of the homestand with their American League Central rivals, the Kansas City Royals, coming into town.
The Royals are currently tied with the Tigers in the middle of the ALC pack, while the Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Guardians sit atop the division with 10-7 records. The Chicago White Sox take up the rear with a 6-10 mark heading into the series.
To kick things off, Detroit has lefty-hander Framber Valdez taking the mound on Tuesday night, while fellow southpaw Cole Ragans toes the rubber for the visitors. Here’s a quick look at how they match up.
Detroit Tigers (7-9) vs. Kansas City Royals (7-9)
Time (ET): 6:40 p.m. ET Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan SB Nation Site:Royals Review Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Game 17: LHP Framber Valdez (1-1, 4.76 ERA) vs. LHP Cole Ragans (0-3, 5.91 ERA)
One position group that needs addressing is surprisingly the tight end position. As that position group sits right now, all of the Cleveland Browns' eggs are in the Harold Fannin Jr. basket.
That's not a bad strategy, as Fannin was a superstar in his first year in the NFL. As the 67th pick, he overperformed to an amazing extent and was one of the few bright spots for the Cleveland Browns in 2025.
As the Browns evaluate their roster heading into 2026, the tight end position is an obvious place of need on Cleveland's roster. As it sits right now, the only people on it are Fannin Jr, Jack Stoll, Blake Whiteheart, Brendan Bates, Sal Cannella, and Caden Prieskorn. Outside of Fannin Jr, the other five players are guaranteed exactly zero dollars on their contracts. These are not reliable pieces of the Browns' roster.
Cleveland has two solutions to this issue. The first is to address this need during the draft, which they very well will do. They just hosted tight end Kenyon Sadiq, who has the potential to be one of the best players in the draft when it is all said and done.
A more likely outcome is a guy like Max Klare in the third or fourth round, very similar to where they selected Fannin Jr. last year.
The other option is to dip their toe into the free agency pool. The available players there are all wily veterans. The names are Jonu Smith, Zack Ertz, Darren Waller, and, of course, David Njoku. Out of those four, the obvious one that is the best fit is Njoku.
With the way that Todd Monken deploys tight ends and weapons, it is almost guaranteed that Cleveland is going to add another tight end at some point during the remainder of this offseason. The only question is when and where.
Njoku will likely want to go to a winner, and as a veteran, will probably want to wait until training camp is wrapping up before he signs. With that said, there is a legitimate connection between Njoku and the Cleveland fanbase, and bringing him back would be a great signal to the Dawg Pound.
LIBBY — Tyce Van Orden threw a five-inning three-hitter and drove in two runs to help his own cause as Eureka beat Libby 17-2 in high school baseball Monday at Lee Gehring Field.
The Lions (3-3) combined 10 hits with seven walks and one four batters issued by Libby pitching to put away the Loggers.
Two errors set up two-run singles by Logan Cuffe and Colter White in the first inning for Eureka; after Libby bounced back with two runs, the Lions added four more runs in the second inning, with Cuffe hitting an RBI single to make it 8-2.
Rogan Lytle hit a two-run single in the fifth as the game got out of hand. Lytle scored four times; Cuff had three hits; Tristan Libby scored three times for the Lions.
Van Orden went the distance; he walked none, hit one batter and struck out four.
Boe Miles and Hunter Rooney had the RBIs for the Loggers (2-2).
De Laurentiis insists ‘I don’t think Conte will ever abandon Napoli’ despite Italy links
Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis is aware that Antonio Conte is a potential candidate to replace Gennaro Gattuso as head coach of the Italy national team, but insists that last season’s Scudetto winner will not ‘abandon’ the team at the last minute: ‘It’s his creation, so he will kill his baby’.
De Laurentiis gave an in-depth interview to The Athletic on Easter Sunday, published on Tuesday, discussing the changes he would like to see brought into football, the current issues surrounding Serie A and the national team and the future of Napoli head coach Conte.
De Laurentiis on Conte and Italy links: ‘He’s a serious professional’
Conte is one of the two leading candidates, along with Milan’s Massimiliano Allegri, to step in as the head coach of the Italy national team following the recent resignation of Gennaro Gattuso.
Given that FIGC President Gabriele Gravina also stepped down following Italy’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup and the fact that his successor will not be elected until June 22, a decision on the next Italy CT will not arrive before the end of the 2025-26 season.
ROME, ITALY – JUNE 19: Gianluigi Buffon, Italy new head coach Gennaro Gattuso and FIGC president Gabriele Gravina pose during the press conference at Hotel Parco dei Principi on June 19, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Conte has previously hinted that he might be keen to return to the role of Italy national team head coach, a position he already held between 2014 and 2016, and De Laurentiis has confirmed that he will not stand in the coach’s way if he decides to leave.
In his interview with The Athletic, De Laurentiis explained that it would be easier for Napoli in terms of contingency if Conte makes a decision on his immediate future sooner rather than later, but says that he does not expect the coach to leave the club high and dry at the last minute.
“Number one, we don’t have, as of now, a head of the federation, so nobody can decide to ask him. So first, we must solve the problem of the federation,” De Laurentiis explained to The Athletic.
NAPLES, ITALY – JUNE 26: Antonio Conte new SSC Napoli head coach and Aurelio De Laurentiis SSC Napoli president during SSC Napoli new manager unveiling on June 26, 2024 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
“Antonio Conte is a very serious man. He has a contract with me. He will never abandon me at the last minute. Because it will create for Napoli a big problem. If he sacrifices himself after two years of creating a very strong Napoli, it is also his creation. So he will kill his baby, abandoning him just at the last minute.
“Or, he decides immediately and says ‘I would like to go’. Then I have the time during April and May to find somebody else to make the substitution. Otherwise, I don’t think Mr Conte will ever abandon Napoli.
“He’s a serious, professional man. If I was a coach, before to accept, I will think 100 times.”
After a 0-2 setback in the first leg at Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona must now produce something special at the Metropolitano Stadium.
To make matters worse, the absence of Pau Cubarsi, following his red card, further complicates an already difficult mission.
Barcelona turn to belief
With pressure mounting, Barcelona are looking for motivation wherever they can find it.
In the build-up to the game, the club took to social media to send a strong message, a rallying cry aimed at both players and fans.
“Now is the time,” read the caption of the video.
While the current situation is far from ideal, Barcelona can draw confidence from their recent record against Atletico.
Hansi Flick’s side have already beaten Diego Simeone’s team three times this season, including two victories in La Liga and another in the Copa del Rey.
Those results prove that Barcelona have the tools to hurt Atletico, even a side known for its defensive discipline and tactical structure.
However, there is also a warning hidden in recent history.
Despite recording an impressive 3-0 win in one of their previous meetings, Barcelona still ended up being eliminated after a heavy first-leg defeat.
Hostile atmosphere adds to the challenge
If the task itself was not difficult enough, the setting makes it even more intense.
The Metropolitano is one of the most intimidating venues in Europe, especially on nights like these.
Barcelona will not be alone, as over 3,000 travelling supporters are expected to back the team, but they will be heavily outnumbered by more than 60,000 Atletico fans, creating a relentless atmosphere.
Tactically, the equation is simple but demanding, as Barcelona need goals. But just as importantly, they need control.
As a result, keeping a clean sheet could be the decisive factor. Against a team like Atletico, conceding even once significantly raises the level of difficulty.
While a comeback would still be possible, the margin for error would shrink dramatically.
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 14: Jon Bernthal attends "Marvel's The Punisher" Seasons 2 Premiere at ArcLight Hollywood on January 14, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Rachel Murray/Getty Images for Netflix) | Getty Images for Netflix
Hi everyone, here’s your open thread for Tuesday.
MMA ADJACENT
Thai Fight League is a pretty fun org. Check out the exchanges at the 10:00 mark. Crazy finish around the 1:25:35 mark.
Olympic gold medalist Billy Mills, 87, has been named the 2026 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Dick Enberg Award winner. Mills will attend the CSC Unite convention to accept the honor during the June 8 CSC All-Star Night of Honors, presented by ESPN.
Named for the late sports broadcaster Dick Enberg, the award is presented annually to an individual who has distinguished themselves nationally through career achievement and meaningful contributions to society while promoting the values of education and academics.
“On behalf of CSC, we are proud to congratulate Billy Mills on being selected as the 2026 recipient of the Dick Enberg Award,” said CSC Executive Director Jason Yaman. “While his remarkable Olympic achievements are forever etched in American sports history, his impact extends far beyond the track. Through decades of leadership, advocacy, and service, he has inspired countless people by using sport as a platform for hope, perseverance, and opportunity. We are honored to recognize Billy Mills and celebrate all he has accomplished.”
Mills rose to international prominence during the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, where he won gold in the 10,000-meter race in what is widely considered one of the greatest upsets in Olympic history. He remains the only American to win the event.
Following his Olympic victory, Mills dedicated his life to serving others. He is the co-founder of Running Strong for American Indian Youth, a U.S. Olympic champion and Hall of Famer, and a three-time All-American cross-country runner at the University of Kansas.
A citizen of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Mills grew up on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. He attended Haskell Indian Nations University before enrolling at Kansas on an athletic scholarship, where he earned All-American honors in cross country three times.
Mills’ extensive list of honors reflects not only his historic Olympic victory but also a lifetime dedicated to advancing global unity. He has been inducted into five halls of fame, including the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame in 1984.
In 2012, Mills received the Presidential Citizens Medal from Barack Obama. The following year, he was honored with the NCAA’s Theodore Roosevelt Award, which recognizes a former varsity athlete who has gone on to become a distinguished citizen.
It's almost time for the 2026 NFL draft to kick off next week in Pittsburgh as teams finalize their big board ahead of the festivities. The Cleveland Browns aren't finding a franchise quarterback in this year's draft, which means they can give a young guy like Shedeur Sanders a chance to prove himself.
Trading back and adding assets for 2027, in case Sanders doesn't perform well, makes the most sense for the team in the long term. Let's dive into my final mock draft of 2026, as the draft is just around the corner.
Monroe Freeling might be one of the strongest pass protectors in the entire class. His length and athleticism allow him to neutralize speed rushers effectively, and he uses that same reach to control power rushers even without elite strength. Across 390 pass‑blocking snaps for Georgia this season, he surrendered just six pressures and two sacks.
Round 1, Pick 24: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
The best part of Dillon Thieneman's game is versatility. You can line him up in the slot, the box, or as a single high safety, and he plays at a high level in all three places. Not afraid to get physical in run defense, and his ability to trigger downhill quickly is impressive. Thieneman is a fantastic athlete and a true defensive weapon who could be the replacement for Delpit if he isn't brought back after 2026.
Round 2, Pick 39: Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
Chris Bell brings an impressive combination of size, physicality, and athleticism that consistently creates matchup problems for defenses. At 6‑foot‑2 and 220 pounds, he elevates with ease and shows no hesitation working through contact to finish catches in traffic. His hands are strong and dependable, and his body control allows him to adjust to off‑target throws. What really jumps off the tape, though, is his explosiveness. For a player with his build, he accelerates unusually well and becomes a dangerous threat after the catch, often outrunning defenders who appear to have the angle.
Round 3, Pick 70: Skyler Bell, WR, UCONN
Skyler Bell projects as an undersized slot receiver at the next level, but his route running and natural separation ability make him a real asset. His speed shows up both on film and in testing, highlighted by his 4.4-second 40-yard dash at the combine. Bell excels at varying his pace—throttling up and down to snap off routes and create space. In the open field, he’s slippery and efficient, consistently forcing missed tackles and generating extra yards.
Round 4, Pick 107: Sam Roush, TE, Stanford
Sam Roush brings prototypical tight end size at 6‑foot‑5 and 260 pounds, along with the versatility to line up in multiple spots. He offers solid pass‑protection ability when asked to stay in and assist the tackles, and he has the strength and frame to develop into a quality run blocker with improved technique. After the catch, he runs with physicality, and his speed is good enough to threaten defenses up the seam while working from a well‑rounded route tree.
Round 4, Pick 130: Matt Gulbin, C, Michigan State
Matt Gulbin brings versatility to the offensive line, having played both guard spots and center during his collegiate career. He has a good power profile, making him a plus-level run blocker, and a high football IQ to adjust protection at the line of scrimmage.
Round 5, Pick 149: Nadame Tucker, EDGE, Western Michigan
Nadame Tucker may be a one‑year breakout, but his production this season for Western Michigan was outstanding. He posted a 28.4% pass‑rush win rate and racked up 61 pressures, 14.5 sacks, and 21 tackles for loss. Tucker fires off the line with real explosiveness, pairing strong hands with smooth lateral agility to consistently stress offensive tackles.
Round 6, Pick 206: Devon Marshall, CB, NC State
Devon Marshall lacks great top speed, but he is at his best when he is in press-man coverage and can get physical with receivers. He does a good job diagnosing plays in front of him quickly and responds well with solid downhill speed. Marshall is a reliable tackler, and his physicality makes him worth a day-three selection.
Round 7, Pick 248: Jimmy Rolder, LB, Michigan
Jimmy Rolder would be a great special teams contributor and could earn some reps as a linebacker on defense. He's a fantastic tackler and is an above-average athlete. He navigates traffic well against the run, which would help him in the special teams area as well.
The New York Giants will be selecting fifth overall in the 2026 NFL draft, barring any blockbuster trade. With that pick, many experts believe they will concentrate on some of the top defensive difference-makers, such as Ohio State's two studs, linebacker Sonny Styles and safety Caleb Downs.
However, the experts at NFL Network don't think that would be the best use of the pick, citing need as well as best player available.
On Path to the Draft on Monday afternoon, Giants head coach John Harbaugh began the segment by providing an update on two players who are working their way back from serious injuries. Wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) and running back Cam Skattebo (ankle) are expected to return for the regular season, fully recovered, but at the moment, both have a ways to go.
"Skatt, probably, you know, is going to be ahead of Malik with that," said Harbaugh. "Just, I think you guys all know that. Skatt will probably get out there a little bit at some point in time. To some degree. I can't really -- it wouldn't be fair for me to give you days or dates or to what degree. I really haven't had that in-depth discussion with (head trainer Adam Bennett).
"I got a vague idea, but it's not that important today. And we try to focus on today. Malik is going to be more toward, you know, in the training camp and closer to the season. That's more Malik's timeline."
That brought them to predicting who the Giants might select with the No. 5 pick in the draft. Bucky Brooks favored Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, while Daniel Jeremiah opted for Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate.
"Based on John Harbaugh's history, I'm gonna go with Jeremiyah Love, and the reason why is the running back can settle down everything that is around (quarterback) Jaxson Dart by being able to have an effective running game," said Brooks.
"When I think about the Giants at their best is when they've been able to impose their will running the football, playing a physical brand of ball that allows them to dictate the terms to not only set up the offensive success but to protect that defense... And even though I like the thought of adding Carnell Tate to an offense that already features Malik Nabers, to me, you get more bang for your buck when you got a talented running back like Jeremiyah Love that can alleviate some of the pressure on Jaxson Dart."
Jeremiah chimed in with his case for Tate.
"Yeah, I don't know if your guys' ears perked up at all, but when he talked about Malik Nabers going into training camp and as we get closer to the season, I'm sitting here with like alarm bells going off, going, wait a second, Wan'Dale Robinson's gone, you brought in (tight end Isaiah) Likely, who I like, coming over. You know, Harbaugh's familiar with him, but they need some weapons on the perimeter for Jackson Dart. And that's why I think Carnell Tate's going to be in the discussion," Jeremiah said.
Jeremiah then admitted that Love was the better pick and has him rated higher.
"I have a higher grade on Love, so if you're going to push me into a decision there, I'm going to always lean towards best available player," he said. "But Carnell Tate's my 6th guy, and this is looking more and more like a real need and urgency here for the Giants at the wide receiver position. And to me, this is a complete receiver, somebody who can make plays down the field, big catch radius. And if Nabors is back, and when he's back healthy, that would be a fun one-two punch."
Decisions, decisions. The Giants' best bet is still to trade back a few slots, get themselves a Day 2 pick, and hope they can still land one of their top targets.
The Wisconsin Badgers men's hockey team may have made it to the national title game, but it just lost a key coach ahead of the 2026-27 season.
It's never too early to start looking ahead to next season, especially when assistant coach Nick Oliver is no longer with the program. On April 12, St. Cloud State announced that Mike Hastings' three-year assistant was named its next head coach.
"I'm humbled and honored for the opportunity to be the next head coach of St. Cloud State Men's Hockey," Oliver said. "I appreciate the support of President Tomso, Director of Athletics Holly Schreiner and the entire search committee for putting their trust in me."
"I'm excited to start the process of building relationships and connecting with our current and incoming players," he added. "We have tremendous alumni and supporters of the program that I look forward to speaking with. My family and I couldn't be more excited to call St. Cloud home again."
Oliver is the only coach or player to be part of both NCAA Frozen Fours in SCSU history. The former Huskies captain played in the 2013 Frozen Four and was an assistant on the 2021 team.
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.
After finishing the regular season with a 37-45 record, the Golden State Warriors face the grueling task of navigating two play-in games to try to qualify for the playoffs. Steve Kerr's team will begin their play-in tournament push against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, April 15, in what will be a rematch of their final game of the season, where they lost 115-110 on Sunday, April 12.
Facing off against Ty Lue's team is far from an easy task, especially with how Kawhi Leonard has been playing in recent months. The Clippers are 19-13 since the Feb. 5 trade deadline, where the front office rebuilt some of the roster. Two of those 19 wins have come against Golden State, as the Clippers won their season series against Kerr's team 3-1.
During a recent news conference, Kerr discussed the challenges of facing the Clippers in the opening game of the play-in tournament, providing an in-depth breakdown of how his team will look to guard and potentially contain Leonard.
“Well, he's always been a great player,” Steve Kerr said, via Tomer Azarly. “So I'm not sure how much he's changed now compared to when we saw him in the NBA Finals in 2019. He's just gotten better and better, but he's still doing the same things. He's just doing them at a high level. The gameplan doesn't change, but you have to recognize just how good he is, how much they depend on him, and we'll watch everything in terms of what they're running for him, his favorite spots to be in.”
Kerr then continued by detailing Kawhi's role within the Clippers offense and the challenges he can pose due to his ability to play into the ruleset.
“We'll have some rules for our guys that we've had in regular season games too in terms of not letting him do certain things,” Kerr said. “He's going to really try to get fouled. He's going to do the NBA thing which lots of guys are doing. [Brandin Podziemski] does it for us, he'll try to use the rules against the other team and get to the foul line so we have to be prepared for all of that, just like they do with [Brandin Podziemski].”
Wednesday will be a do-or-die game for Golden State. Curry and Draymond Green are highly experienced in those pressure-cooker moments and are likely to be unfazed by the situation. As such, the rest of the locker room will likely be looking to them for some leadership, both during the build-up and throughout the game itself.
Nevertheless, the Clippers are a tough opponent, especially when it comes to a win-or-go-home situation. Hopefully, the Warriors' experience in these moments will provide them with an edge; their season could come to an end on Wednesday.
The 2023-24 UNC basketball team, loaded with experienced veterans and young talent, provided a much-needed bounce back from one season before.
That North Carolina squad earned a 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament, quickly dispatching Wagner and Michigan State, before losing to Alabama in the Sweet 16.
One key player from that Tar Heels team, sharpshooter Cormac Ryan, recently capped off a historic rookie NBA season. Ryan is the first rookie, in NBA history, to average 50/40/90 shooting splits for a season.
Ryan ended his rookie campaign shooting 52 percent overall on field goals, 45.8% on 3-pointers and 92.3% at the free throw line, the last percentage of which UNC desperately needed during its own 2025-26 season.
The Bucks are heading in a bad direction, recently firing head coach Doc Rivers after missing postseason action for the first time since 2016. Milwaukee also dealt with an injury to superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo for most of the year, with no great backup plan to overshadow his injury.
Ryan averaged 14.3 points per game in 11 appearances (two starts), adding 2.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Ryan reached double figures in his final eight games, proving himself worthy of a full-time NBA roster spot in the 2026-27 campaign.
As the Bucks are likely to make sweeping changes, is Ryan a part of their future? Or will the former North Carolina sharpshooter find a new home?
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
With the NFL Draft just over a week away, teams are finalizing their boards of potential fits for next weekend. The Cowboys have themselves been finishing up their 30 official visits to The Star in Frisco, identifying prospects they are interested in learning more of up close and personal.
One name that stands out is Charles Demmings, a cornerback from Stephen F. Austin. Demmings’ path to this point is far from conventional. A native of DFW from Mesquite, Texas, he attended Mesquite Horn High School, where he participated in track and only played football during his senior year. Despite starting late, he demonstrated sufficient potential to receive offers from institutions such as West Texas A&M, Pittsburg State, and UT-Permian Basin, among others.
Ultimately, he opted for Stephen F. Austin, a decision that proved beneficial.
Early in his collegiate career, Demmings began to exhibit his potential. By his sophomore year, he was already making contributions, finishing with eight solo tackles, 11 total tackles, three pass breakups, and one interception over 11 games.
His 2025 season marked his breakout year. Demmings received First-Team All-Southland honors as well as First-Team AFCA FCS All-American recognition. He recorded four interceptions and six pass breakups, demonstrating his capacity to impact the game consistently. Throughout his career, Demmings accumulated 63 tackles, nine interceptions, and 35 passes defended across 42 games. This level of production was not merely solid; it was historic. He departed SFA as the program’s all-time leader in passes defended, highlighting both his consistency and ball skills. This impressive resume earned him an invitation to the NFL Combine, where he captured even more attention.
Charlie Demmings Combine Measurements
HT: 6-foot-1
WT: 193 pounds
Arm length: 32"
40-yard dash : 4.41 seconds
10-yard split: 1.55 seconds
Vertical Jump: 42"
Next Gen Stats backed up what the tape and testing showed, giving Demmings the ninth-best Production Score and the top Athletic Score among his group.
Simply put, he tested like one of the most athletic corners in the draft.
Charlie Demmings Scouting Overview
2025 stats: 18 tackles, 12 solo tackles, 4 interceptions, and 5 pass deflections
Round Grade: Early to mid-5th round
Strengths
Demmings is a versatile defensive back with experience in multiple coverages, but his strength is clearly in press-man coverage. At the line of scrimmage, he uses his length effectively to disrupt timing. His footwork and hip fluidity allow him to mirror receivers through their breaks, and he has the long speed to stay in phase downfield. When he’s in the press and able to dictate the rep early, you see his confidence and athleticism really take over.
Weaknesses
In off coverage, his instincts and reaction time are still developing. He can be a step late when driving on routes in front of him, which creates separation windows that NFL quarterbacks will exploit if not cleaned up. Physically, he also needs to get stronger. As a tackler, he tends to rely more on drag-down techniques rather than wrapping up and finishing through contact. That will be an adjustment at the next level, especially if he’s expected to contribute on special teams early in his career. Still, the tools are there, and they’re hard to teach.
Stephen F. Austin CB Charles Demmings has really solid tape. Early day 3 pick imo pic.twitter.com/5jOEZCtU8r
Early in his NFL career, his most likely role is as a CB4 while contributing heavily on special teams, particularly as a gunner. His combination of speed, length, and effort makes him a natural fit in that phase of the game. Long-term, if he continues to develop his instincts and adds play strength, he has the traits to grow into a reliable outside corner in a man-heavy defensive scheme. For a prospect who only played one year of high school football, Demmings’ rise has been impressive. And with his athletic profile and production, he’s exactly the type of small-school prospect that could turn into a draft-day steal.
Cowboys Fit
The Cowboys invested in their cornerback position this offseason by signing former Rams cornerback Cobie Durant. Last year, they selected Shavon Revel in the third round. DaRon Bland, Shavon Revel, Cobie Durant, and Reddy Steward are the four cornerbacks expected to play next year. There may be one or two openings for the CB 5/6 positions this year. Demmings offers value as a potential gunner on special teams and as an outside corner depth option early in his career. He has significant potential to develop into a CB4 with man coverage skills and above-average instincts.
With the combine and pro days in the books, NFL teams are doing their final visits, film reviews and phone calls before the 2026 NFL Draft begins on April 23.
Mock drafts and rumors are swirling across the league, and some involve safety Dillon Thieneman, who is widely expected to come off the board at some point in the first round. Thieneman put together an impressive campaign with the Oregon Ducks after transferring from Purdue and solidified himself as one of the top safeties in the draft with an impressive showing at the NFL scouting combine.
NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah turned up the heat on Thieneman's draft projections during a recent appearance on "The Joel Klatt Show," in which he named the Dallas Cowboys as a possible yet unsuspecting landing spot for the Oregon star. For Jeremiah, it all comes down to one coaching connection for former Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi.
"The Cowboys have a glaring need in the secondary and at the safety position," Jeremiah said. "Tosh Lupoi – who we just established loves Thieneman – he was at Alabama from 2014 all the way to 2018. He was a co-defensive coordinator in 2017. You know who was coaching in that secondary? It was Derrick Ansley. You know who coaches DBs for the Dallas Cowboys right now? Derrick Ansley. That's why I've been saying I think Thieneman could be the 12th pick in the draft."
The NFL can sometimes be all about who knows who, and that extends to the draft. Although Ansley might not have the ultimate sway in his first year as a position coach in Dallas, Thieneman is a top talent in the draft that he could convince the Cowboys to take. Jeremiah currently has Thieneman ranked as the No. 17 player in the draft class.
Lupoi and Ansley were together on Alabama's coaching staff in 2016 and 2017 before both eventually moved on to roles in the NFL. However, it's possible that the bond they built in those two seasons could benefit Thieneman with a higher draft selection. It might seem like a random connection, but Lupoi only became the defensive coordinator for the Ducks because of one season he spent in Tuscaloosa with Dan Lanning, who was a graduate assistant in 2015 for the Crimson Tide.
Jeremiah went a step further, adding the idea that new Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker could look to replicate some of the draft success he had in Philadelphia in 2024, when the Eagles selected Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean with their first two picks. Jeremiah believes Thieneman has similarities to DeJean as a deep safety with versatile abilities that could allow him to line up all over the defense.
The Cowboys have the No. 12 and No. 20 picks in the first round, but if they want Thieneman, they might have to take him with their top selection. Thieneman has been mocked by many draft experts to the Minnesota Vikings at No. 18 overall, and it's possible he won't make it past them on draft night.
Thieneman starred in his lone season in Eugene, totaling 96 tackles and two interceptions, both of which helped seal road wins for the Ducks against Penn State and Washington. Thieneman earned first-team All-Big Ten honors and was named a second-team All-American.
Jeremiah added that some teams have Thieneman as the top safety in the draft, ranked ahead of Ohio State's Caleb Downs, while others have him ranked third at the position behind Toledo's Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. The projections are split, but Thieneman is still considered to be a first-round pick, regardless of the order the safeties are taken in.
Time will tell if Thieneman's connection to the staff of "America's Team" through Lupoi matters enough to bring him to Dallas on draft night.
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
With the 2026 NFL draft now just over one week away, eight former Denver Broncos players remain free agents.
The club's in-house unrestricted free agents are fullback Michael Burton (who missed last year with a hamstring injury) and center Sam Mustipher (who stepped up late in the season and in the divisional round of the playoffs). Burton has had at least one free agent visit elsewhere, and he seems unlikely to return to the Broncos after the team re-signed fullback Adam Prentice. Mustipher also seems unlikely to return given that Alex Forsyth and Nick Gargiulo are both healthy and providing depth behind starter Luke Wattenberg.
In addition to Burton and Mustipher, there are six former practice squad players who became free agents when their contracts expired last month, and they also remain unsigned.
Denver currently has 73 players under contract, and the team holds seven picks in the 2026 NFL draft. Following the draft, the Broncos will fill out the 90-man offseason roster by signing college free agents.
Ryan Blaney's issues on pit road have been well documented during the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. Whether it is loose wheels or slow stops, Blaney's pit crew has ranked as one of the worst in NASCAR to start the new campaign. Despite the struggles on Sunday at Bristol Motor Speedway, the No. 12 crew did keep Blaney in the lead during the money stops.
Following the race, Blaney's crew chief Jonathan Hassler spoke to NASCAR.com about the performance of the No. 12 pit crew. After all of its struggles, Hassler kept his optimism, putting trust in his pit crew.
“I think they did a great job,” Hassler told NASCAR.com. “We had a couple mistakes again, but they stuck with it. All of those guys are capable and we’ve stuck with them, and when everything was on the line the most, they followed through. The guys have a lot of potential. They have the ability. We’ve had some bumps in the road, some of which isn’t necessarily those guys or any one person; just kind of getting the whole group and the car and the team kind of in sync.”
It has been a disastrous start to the 2026 NASCAR season for the No. 12 pit crew, and it is fair to wonder whether Blaney would have more than one win with better performances. However, Hassler believes they did a great job at Bristol, and maybe, there will be improvements moving forward.
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Arjen Robben on Olise comparisons: "I don't really like them"
Left-footed, operating from the right and with a tendency to cut inside and shoot, Bayern Munich star Michael Olise has been likened to club legend Arjen Robben.
The 42-year-old has now responded to those comparisons, saying he understands where they come from, but also making clear he is generally not a fan of players being compared.
“There are certainly some parallels. But you always have to be careful with comparisons. I don’t really like them, because every player has his own playing style,” Robben said in an interview posted on FC Bayern Munich’s website.
“Of course, there are certain things about us that are similar. But ultimately, he’s a different player to me. He just does it brilliantly. I’m really pleased about that and I can enjoy it too.”
Olise received glowing praise for his performance in Bayern Munich's 2-1 Champions League quarter-final first-leg win over Real Madrid last week, with Robben also impressed by the Frenchman.
“I thought he was very good. That’s obviously my position too. He was excellent. He played with energy and creativity and showed some great skill on the ball,” he said.
With 17 goals and 29 assists in 42 games so far this season, Olise will look to continue his excellent form when Bayern host Real Madrid in Wednesday’s second leg at the Allianz Arena.
Old Forge School District Superintendent Dr. Christopher Gatto has sent multiple letters to the Pennsylvania High School Athletic Association (PIAA) regarding the competitive imbalance between public and private schools.
Now brought to light is the response the PIAA had to Gatto’s first letter sent after the Old Forge Blue Devils (Penn.) boys basketball season ended back at the Pennsylvania high school boys basketball state championships last month when they lost to Sewickley Academy (Penn.) in the AA title game.
PIAA executive director Mark E. Byers on March 31st responded to Gatto’s letter, defending the association’s combined playoff structure.
“PIAA, the other 49 state high school athletic and activities associations, and the school district of the District of Columbia, are members of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), which has also addressed these issues. As has been found nationally, there are no easy solutions,” Byers said in the letter sent in response to Gatto. “Of the 46 NFHS Member Associations that are comprised of both public and private schools, 41 operate their championships similar to PIAA in a combined manner. Some due to legislative intervention like PIAA, others choose to operate in this fashion.”
I appreciate your interest in this complex and difficult issue. The primary obstacle to substantial reform is the language of the existing legislation. Should you desire to effectuate substantial change, you may want to consider contacting your legislator and seeking an amendment of Section 511(b.1). Absent such change, we will continue to regularly assess the situation and seek means to best ensure competitive equality within the scope of the law.”
PIAA’s complete response to Old Forge School District Superintendent’s letter over Private vs Public. PIAA closes by saying “The primary obstacle to substantial reform is the language of the existing legislation. Should you desire to effectuate substantial change, you may want… pic.twitter.com/BbyFpiQDRD
Byers added in the letter to Gatto that all member schools, public and private, are treated equally when it comes to the PIAA’s rules and regulations. The executive director notes that though all schools are handled on the same level by the association, getting the same outcomes isn’t possible based on the current structure that’s been decided by state law.
Four out of the six Pennsylvania high school boys basketball state championships were won by private schools this past 2025-26 season.
“All PlAA-member schools are treated equally, are subject to the same policies and procedures and rules and regulations, and have the same responsibilities,” Byers added. “They may participate in PIAA’s programs to whatever extent they like, and voluntarily determine the nature and scope of their own athletic programs. While PIAA-member schools are treated equally, achieving the same results of outcome is impossible, undesirable, and contrary to a structure based on competition.”
Public, private and Charter schools are similar in many ways, but also have various differences, the most important of which, from the standpoint of athletics, is that public schools draw from a legally defined geographic area (although they may admit tuition students from outside the school district), and private schools draw from any area selected by them. Of course, PIAA recognizes that there exist other distinctions between public and private schools which may impact upon athletic competition. Addressing these distinctions without violating the statutory and equal protection rights of all our members has long been a significant challenge.”
Gatto has decided to continue the dialogue with the PIAA with a response to Byers’ letter back regarding the imbalances and points to Pennsylvania House Bill 41 and Senate Bill 1253. The two bills take aim at reforming Pennsylvania high school sports by separating public (boundary) and private/charter (non-boundary) schools in PIAA state playoffs to create a more balanced overall system. The bill has already passed a committee vote and has moved to the House of Representatives for further review.
Sewickley Academy (26-1) proved themselves of being one of the top teams in the Keystone State, with the Panthers checking in at No. 24 according to the latest Pennsylvania 2025-26 High School Boys Basketball Massey Rankings. Old Forge finished as the state’s No. 151st ranked squad with a 21-7 record.
How to Follow Pennsylvania High School Basketball
For Pennsylvania high school basketball fans looking to keep up with scores around the Keystone State, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the state, ensuring you never miss a moment. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the Pennsylvania high school basketball excitement across the state.
SABADELL, Spain (AP) — Young Spanish rider Jaume Guardeño remains in a critical condition in hospital two weeks after a crash while training.
“Jaume continues his fight in the intensive care unit of Taulí Hospital in Sabadell, where he’s been since March 31, when he suffered an accident while training,” the Caja Rural-Seguros RGA team said in a statement on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old Guardeño sustained serious injuries when he collided with a vehicle, reportedly head injuries after his bicycle struck a rock, days after he finished 29th in the Volta a Catalunya race.
Guardeño finished 14th in the Spanish Vuelta last year, and Caja Rural-Seguros RGA is due to make its Tour de France debut this year.
“His condition remains critical, although stable within the seriousness of his condition. He is under constant monitoring and is scheduled to undergo further procedures in the coming days to aid his recovery,” the team added.
Cycling is enjoying a resurgence in popularity thanks to young riders Tadej Pogačar, Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert, Remco Evenepoel and Jonas Vingegaard, but dangers remain. Last month, Olympic champion Tom Pidcock pulled out of the Volta a Catalunya after crashing down a ravine, and Italian cyclist Debora Silvestri was hospitalized after crashing during the women’s Milan-San Remo one-day classic.
The Boston Celtics have built their teams in a number of ways over the decades, but few if any methods have born more fruit than through the NBA draft. The best players to suit up for the Celtics have, by and large, come to Boston either through being taken directly in the annual event, or via trades made that night.
And it is not just the top stars who have been picked up by the Celtics via the draft. Countless members of the storied ball club's alumni have been taken by the team, and some schools are better represented than others. We can see blue blood programs and some very small schools both delivering top talent to Boston's rosters over the years, so we decided to take a look at which players came from which schools overall.
So without further ado, let's take a look at every player who has been drafted by the Celtics out of DePaul.
Gene Stump - wing
Draft year and position: third round (second pick, 22nd overall), 1947 BAA Draft
Seasons at DePaul: one
Seasons played with Celtics: two
All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.
Mar 29, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle (6) fields the ball during the fifth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images | Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
Ryan Mountcastle has been struggling to get back to form over the past several seasons for the Baltimore Orioles. A variety of injuries had kept Mountcastle from staying healthy. He missed almost half the season (89 games played in 2025). Now, the diagnosis of a broken foot will keep him out a minimum of two months.
The Baltimore Orioles delivered the news late on Monday afternoon.
The Orioles placed 1B Ryan Mountcastle on the 60-day IL with a left foot fracture. pic.twitter.com/8rSRsXdksQ
Mountcastle broke in the Majors with a monster 33 home run campaign in 2021. Since then, injuries and struggles at the plate have limited the first baseman. He had been more of a designated hitter of late and was facing mostly right-handed pitches. However, losing a potentially bigger bat like this for an extended period of time is less than ideal.
Mountcastle Has Been The Subject Of Trade Rumors
It is no secret that Mountcastle has been the subject of trade chatter. He avoided an injury scare in March. The slugger had been rumored to still fetch a premium price err talent on any return. However, Baltimore had so far held firm in keeping Mountcastle.
Now, the slugger suffered a fracture of the fourth metacarpal on the left foot. Again, injuries have been more the norm with Mountcastle. The fourth metcarpal is the second bone from the outer edge of the foot. It is a particularly painful injury in the sense of pivoting and again load-bearing weight on the foot.
With limited at-bats due to being so far down on the depth chart, any chance Mountcastle had of impressing potential suitors has plummeted. The bigger problem is that recovery time here can range wildly. Yes, Mountcastle could get full range of movement back in 3-4 months. However, in some cases, that can become five or even six months.
The earliest he can come off the injured list is now mid-June. Unfortunately, the reality is the best scenario is a return just before the trade deadline. At the worst, Mountcastle misses most or all of the summer months.
Baltimore Is Already Hurting Plenty
Currently, the Orioles have 13 players on the injury list in some capacity. The good news is Baltimore remains tied for first place at 9-7 with the New York Yankees. Thankfully. no one is running away with the American League East.
Ryan Mountcastle replaced Adley Rutschman in the lineup Saturday night.
Stumble after stumble aside, having hopes that Mountcastle would make a bigger impact in 2026 again has fallen flat. At the least, the Orioles could have used a productive backup bat behind Pete Alonso. Now, they have to hope that their depth can shine through.
Perry Nelson-Imagn ImagesPerry Nelson-Imagn Images
Brock Nelson and Scott Wedgewood reached big milestones in Edmonton. The Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, and Philadelphia Flyers clinched the final three playoff spots. Also, the Flyers will be involved in a must-watch first-round series when the playoffs begin this weekend.
All that and more on this edition of Deen’s Daily — April 14.
Please consider donating to the Colorado Hockey Now Playoff Travel Fund via PAYPAL BY CLICKING HERE or VENMO BY CLICKING HERE to help our beat writer provide coverage from road games as the Avalanche pursue another Stanley Cup championship. Playoffs start this weekend!
Colorado Hockey Now
The Avalanche went into Edmonton without Cale Makar, Nazem Kadri, Artturi Lehkonen, Josh Manson, or even head coach Jared Bednar. They were triumphant in a shootout after going 3-for-3.
Martin Necas had one of the shootout goals but he couldn’t get to point No. 100. He’s stuck at 99 with two games remaining. However, Scott Wedgewood and Brock Nelson both reached personal milestones.
Around The NHL
Philly Hockey Now: The drought is over. The Flyers are back in the postseason for the first time since 2020.
San Jose Hockey Now: The Sharks kept their playoff hopes alive by defeating Nashville. But then the L.A. Kings won in Seattle to knock both the Sharks and Preds out. L.A. and Anaheim have secured the final two spots in the Western Conference.
NYI Hockey Now: The Islanders were one of the best stories in the league for the first few months. But after a sluggish stretch post-Olympics, the Isles couldn’t secure a playoff spot.
Here’s what we know so far about the postseason. Among the things that are yet to be determined is who the Avalanche will face when games begin on Saturday.
Here’s what we know: All 16 playoff berths are clinched.
East: Carolina No. 1 seed, vs Bos/Ott Buffalo No. 2, vs Bos/Ott Canadiens/Lightning, home ice TBA Penguins/Flyers, Pitt home ice
West: Colorado No. 1 seed throughout playoffs Stars/Wild, Dal home ice Vegas needs one point…
FC Internazionale Milano announces the opening of Inter Academy Montrer MX, the Club’s first Academy in Mexico, marking a further step in the international development of the Nerazzurri brand.
The project will be launched in the State of Michoacán, with its headquarters in the city of Morelia, and will be developed in collaboration with Universidad Montrer, an institution distinguished by an inclusive educational model focused on social responsibility. This partnership is fully aligned with the values of growth, respect, and education promoted by Inter through the Inter Academy program.
Activities are set to begin in Spring 2026 with an initial introduction to Inter methodology for high school students currently participating in Montrer’s football program. In the summer, Inter Academy Montrer MX will open its doors to boys and girls aged 5 to 17 with a series of Academy Camps featuring Inter Academy coaches from Italy.
With Inter Academy Montrer MX, the Nerazzurri Club reinforces its global mission: contributing to the development and education of young footballers around the world - not only from a sporting perspective but also on a human level - while further strengthening Inter’s presence in Latin America.
In Today’s Links: several mock drafts, prospect analysis, depth reviews, and more from the world of our beloved Seattle Seahawks. The draft is nigh-ish. Are you excited?
IOWA CITY, IA - NOVEMBER 08: Dillon Thieneman #31 of the Oregon Ducks lines up on defense during a college football game against the Iowa Hawkeyes on November 08, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
With the 2026 NFL Draft less than two weeks away from kicking off, the focus on the final big piece to the roster puzzle is about to come into full focus. While most fans are used to the Chicago Bears picking in the Top 10, this year will be a departure from the norm as the team is slated to pick at No. 25 in the opening round two Thursdays from now.
Due to the ever-changing college landscape, younger players are opting to stay in school longer, and thus each class continues to get older and has less talent from early entrants. Unfortunately for many teams, including the Bears, the talent gap from the middle of the first round to the late 50s and early 60s has narrowed. Because of that, the team’s board when they are on the clock at 25 might be cloudier than usual.
With that said, let’s dive into the five best fits for the Bears in the first round and how likely they are to be there when Chicago finds itself on the clock on opening night of the draft.
S Dillon Thieneman (Oregon)
Sometimes I wonder if I’m taking crazy pills when it comes to the top portion of this draft class. In a typical class, taking a safety in Round 1 would be at the bottom of my priority list. Still, considering all of the questions surrounding the talent after the Top 10, I’ve concluded that Thieneman is the Bears’ “best-case scenario” at No. 25. Not only is the Oregon product an athletic freak, he possesses exactly the type of athleticism and versatility that defensive coordinator Dennis Allen covets in his secondary. At just 21, he’ll be one of the younger options that could be on the board.
While some might take a look at this list and find themselves surprised that I didn’t include Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, I’m simply not convinced he has enough versatility to execute the interchangeable aspect that Allen typically prefers in his safeties.
Chance Of Being There At 25: 30%
DT Peter Woods (Clemson)
If there’s another prospect that has seen his draft stock drop as much as Woods, I’m not aware of one. Following an impressive 2024 campaign at Clemson, Woods came into the preseason as a projected Top 10 pick. 2025 was met with plenty of inconsistencies on the field and poor testing results at his pro day. This has caused him to drop like a rock, while many are projecting him to slide out of the first round. While I can see how an undersized defensive tackle without elite athletic testing would scare off most teams, I can’t help but feel like he’s still a great fit in the middle of Allen’s defense.
The gamble here is simply banking on the athleticism seen on tape, not on his Pro Day testing results. If the Bears feel comfortable with what they saw on the field and are OK with his shorter arms, this might still be their most “ideal” outcome for filling a need while acquiring a talent many viewed as a Top 10 lock coming into last season.
Chance Of Being There At 25: 80%
OT Max Iheanachor (Arizona State)
Count me out as someone who believes the Bears should take a left tackle early in the draft. That said, there’s been enough smoke around the possibility that it’s impossible to discount at this juncture of the draft process fully. Iheanachor is an interesting prospect because on tape, there’s a serious lack of polish. He struggled at Senior Bowl practices, and although his measurements were off-the-charts, there’s still quite a bit of risk involved with taking a developmental player like this so early in the draft.
Even so, the proper context needs to be added. He’s an athlete who didn’t start playing football until after high school. The former basketball player knew nothing about the sport but decided to try his hand and, all things considered, has excelled. His freaky athleticism and length should provide enough of a “safe” floor for teams to take a risk on him early in the draft, but it’s worth wondering if he’s refined enough to challenge for a starting role in 2026 seriously. That said, drafting players should rarely be about what they can do in Year 1 only.
Chance Of Being There At 25: 70%
WR Jordan Tyson (Arizona State)
Am I crazy for having a receiver on this list? Probably. Would the Bears lack a sense of awareness by spending a pick at a position where there’s not a starting-level need? Sure. Just hear me out, though. Tyson is a player who, if he makes it to 25, should at least be considered.
After all, we’re just one year removed from this same team spending their first two picks on players that were considered “luxury picks” in Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III. With an offensive-minded head coach calling the shots, could a player like Tyson truly be considered the “best player available” if he were to fall to 25? I believe so, which is why he’s on this list.
This receiver class is tricky. While there are some fun names, especially at the top, there’s not one player who stands out as being the unquestioned WR1. To a certain extent, this is a “pick your flavor” situation, but for Tyson, it’s much more health-related than anything else.
Again, Tyson would be far from my first choice with the top pick, but if he’s there and the rest of the board isn’t lining up to their needs, they could do a lot worse. Now, you can proceed with your outage.
Chance Of Being There At 25: 30%
DE T.J. Parker (Clemson)
In my latest mock draft, I had the Bears trading back a few spots and selecting Malachi Lawrence. Truth be told, I’m not a huge fan of any of the edge rushers projected to go in Round 1, but if we are looking at positions of need, edge rusher should probably be one of the five options.
Similar to the receiver, many of the potentially available pass rushers at 25 will be a flavor-of-the-day type of situation. Admittedly, I have a hard time “loving” the typical Allen prototype, which leads me away from players like Keldrick Faulk and Zion Young. Faulk might be a big ball of clay with ideal measurements, but nothing in his game at Auburn led me to believe he’s going to be a player worth taking in the Top two (maybe three) rounds. Similar could be said for Young, although, at least for me, there’s more to his game that I like.
Parker is yet another Clemson defender who has seemingly slid down the consensus board the further things have gone along. That said, when watching him, it’s easy to see a path to a successful NFL career that is more than being a good run defender and the occasional eight-to-10 sack season. Another potential name who could be there when the Bears pick is Akeem Mesidor, but the combination of his age and the lack of typical traits Allen prefers leads me to believe he won’t be a fit in this scheme.
AUBURN, ALABAMA - NOVEMBER 29: Deontae Lawson #0 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after recovering a fumble by the Auburn Tigers during the fourth quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Denver Broncos didn’t make a big splash in free agency at inside linebacker like many fans across Broncos Country had hoped for. They brought back both Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad, but parted ways with Dre Greenlaw after just one season. The Broncos have a handful of intriguing developmental options from the past several UDFA cycles, but should certainly have their eye on upgrading the room long-term in the 2026 NFL Draft.
A prospect who might pique their interest is fifth-year Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Deontae Lawson. A three-year starter, Lawson excels moving downhill and is a good fit as a ‘pressure player’ in Vance Joseph’s defensive scheme. He also sports pretty good coverage skills and offers special teams upside but has a few big issues that may cause him to slip down draft boards.
This year’s class at linebacker may be one of the best in recent memory, and Lawson has the potential to be a three-down player at the next level. Let’s do a deep dive regarding his strengths and weaknesses, and why and when the Broncos should consider selection him in this year’s draft.
Player Profile: Deontae Lawson — Linebacker — Alabama
Height: 6’3” | Weight: 226 pounds | Arm Length: 31-7/8” | Hand Size: 9-1/4” | Age: 23 Years Old
No athletic testing at NFL Combine or Alabama’s Pro Day.
Statistics: 52 games played with 38 starts. 283 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 16 passes defended, 3 fumble recoveries, 3 forced fumbles.
Film Room & Highlights
Hart’s Scouting Report
Positives:
Unique height and length for the position with the frame to add on more weight
Three-year starter from a top-tier program with over 2,400 collegiate defensive snaps
Two-time team captain known for his high energy on the field and being a vocal leader (green dot communicator) for the Crimson Tide’s defense
Good downhill defender who isn’t afraid to take on opposing blockers with force and generally does a good job shedding and moving through traffic
20-percent of all blitzes in college resulted in quarterback pressures and a lot of plays behind the line of scrimmage
Above-average in man coverage and does well in zone assignments—allowed just 52-percent of targets (34-of-66) to be completed in his five seasons of play
Boasts special teams’ capability playing over 350 snaps on multiple units
Negatives:
No athletic testing is a cause for concern, and he backed out of the Senior Bowl—I’m not sure exactly why he didn’t choose to compete, but that’s a bit of a red flag for me
Can be slow to diagnose and react, especially against run schemes that deploy pulling and movement with their lineman
Wouldn’t call him a sideline-to-sideline player, but makes up for average athleticism with good angles to the ball
14-percent career missed tackle rate and certainly needs to do a better job of wrapping up and finishing
Missed three games in 2023 with an ankle injury and had a late-season ACL tear in 2024
Hart’s Projection: Top 125 Selection — Fourth Round Value
Alabama LB Deontae Lawson two-play highlight from the SEC title.
1st play – Perfectly dissects the misdirection, reads the pullers, closes in lateral pursuit, breaks down to secure the tackle 2nd play – Reacts quickly, shocks and scrapes Delp away in the C-gap, surges to finish pic.twitter.com/mWYqyhjN7j
Why the Denver Broncos should consider drafting Lawson
Count me in as someone who still believes the Broncos should address the inside linebacker room somewhere in the draft. Head Coach Sean Payton stated Jonah Elliss would be seeing ‘some’ snaps at the position next season. However, if it ends up being a full-on position switch, I could see the draft need radar going down a notch or two for the franchise. Nevertheless, they could use some depth at the position a prospect that has starting upside.
Lawson is a good prospect, but I don’t think he is an early round player. Though there are some well-respected analysts who see him as a Top 75 prospect. His injury history, missed tackles, and other issues mentioned drop him about a round or so for me value wise. I don’t think he is a Day 1 starter, but he certainly has the traits and ability to eventually become one.
I’m a bit perplexed as to why he didn’t participate in the athletic testing during the pre-draft process and opted to back out of the Senior Bowl. That seems to go against his fiery and competitive nature on tape and how his teammates and coaches spoke of him. It’s an out-of-character moment, but in a stacked linebacker class, why not go out there and compete against your peers?
Even so, his positives—especially when it comes to calling a defense—and ample experience are things NFL teams will be high on. Alabama has produced a lot of standout linebackers throughout the years, and Lawson has a chance to be next if he can clean up on some of his deficiencies.
Pending on how the board falls, I’d be fine with Lawson as a fit for Denver in the fourth round. That timeframe would present good value for him. The Broncos’ coaching staff has a lot of connections to the Crimson Tide program, and I have doubt they’ve done a lot of background work on him.
Join "The Ariel Helwani Show" live on Uncrowned and YouTube at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT/6 p.m. UK time as Ariel and the Boys in the Back keep the week rolling with another loaded combat sports lineup.
Tuesday's rundown can be seen below.
1 p.m. ET: Ariel and the gang kick off the show.
1:15 p.m. ET: Alycia Baumgardner joins us in-studio ahead of her unified super featherweight title defense against Bo Mi Re Shin.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 07: Zach Ertz #86 of the Washington Commanders leaves the field with an injury during the second half of a game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 07, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Ellen Schmidt/Getty Images) | Getty Images
“I don’t want it to be the last play that I have,” Ertz told Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “Even talking to people now, and they do it out of the goodness of their heart, and [they say], ‘Man, that injury was tough.’ When people think of my career and that last play, I don’t want that to be the conversation starter. And so, for me, it’s just doing everything I can to get back to my best because I felt like I was playing really good football before I got hurt.”
Ertz spent the past two seasons in Washington, catching 50 passes for 504 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games in 2025.
“It hurts my soul,” Ertz said of the ACL tear. “I wasn’t in pain. It was more like shock. I didn’t feel pain when I got hit. I didn’t feel pain when I was laying down. I just knew something was wrong.”
The savvy veteran can still get open. In a league that is trending more toward two tight end sets, Ertz could play a sizable role when he’s finally healthy. The 35-year-old knows he’s going to have to prove he’s healthy enough to earn a roster spot.
Four months removed from the ACL tear, it’s unlikely any club will rush to ink Ertz yet, but as we get closer to training camp, he should receive some calls from teams looking to add a veteran to the depth chart.
Rich Eisen and Ian Rappaport talk seriously about a Commanders trade-down scenario
With now less than two weeks until the 2026 NFL Draft, the Washington Commanders were reportedly among the teams exploring a trade to move down in the first round. The rationale is clear given the front office has a pair of top-100 picks to work with, including a seventh overall pick that could have a lot of intrigue given. With that, we take a look at five teams who have either been reported as interested in moving up or are a logical trade partner for the Commanders.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The 15th overall pick could be the sweet spot for Washington to move back to while adding another top-100 pick. The Bucs have three top-100 picks – 15, 46, 77 – with needs at edge, linebacker and tight end. If someone like Sonny Styles is available, that might be an appealing option for the Bucs in light of Lavonte David retiring this offseason. Edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. could also be a candidate for the Bucs if they opt to trade up. It would mark an attractive chance for Washington not only add another top-100 pick, but stay within a range to snag an impact player at a position of need.
On video talking about why staying put at 7 is the way to go. But there is a scenario it def makes sense to seek a trade back. @espnrichmondhttps://t.co/129XrOXf57
Post-Signing 1-on-1: DE Charles Omenihu | Free Agency Friday x Next Man Up | Washington Commanders
Episode 1,302 – Guest: @MarkBullockNFL on Washington possibly drafting one of Ohio State's Big 4 at No. 7. In-depth analysis of Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs and Carnell Tate. Strengths and concerns, who's best?, how each would guy fit and more.https://t.co/ETfPzGx0Zu
Episode 1,301 – Guest: @MarkBullockNFL on Washington potentially taking Jeremiyah Love at No. 7. Comprehensive analysis of spending a top-10 pick on an RB, Love's excellence as both a ball carrier & pass catcher, how he compares with Bijan Robinson & more.https://t.co/VIEvfDDFrD
Overall: A decent route runner whose lack of size and length means he could end up functioning more as an H-back than a true inline tight end at the next level. He’s a scheme-dependent player who needs the right system to maximize his limited physical profile.
Eagles Thoughts: I wasn’t overly impressed with Royer, and I think it will take a creative offensive mind to get the best out of him. He’s a mid-Day 3 player for me. Fine as a late-round developmental piece, but not someone I’d be targeting with any urgency.
The #Eagles, with all their WR moves, have prepared for life with or without AJ Brown. It’s going to be a deep WR room either way.
The belief remains something could happen in June, and he will be elsewhere in 2026. pic.twitter.com/mgTPeFsbAX
Players attended meetings and panels and got time in front of the camera during the day, then stayed up until midnight learning rosters of old games they would be commenting on and studying. Producers and executives from all the major networks are on hand to answer questions about in-game TV analysis, studio work or radio broadcasting — and identify their next hires.
“The NFL has done a great job of creating a pipeline for players to go from one career into the next,” Davis said. “Over 70 percent of the athletes that you see on these sports shows came through this program.”
Players such as Davis, Cooks and tight end Zach Ertz are looking to follow in the footsteps of workshop alumni such as Maurice Jones-Drew, Jason McCourty and Jason Kelce — but not quite yet. Davis, 37, recently re-signed with the Jets as a free agent after the linebacker spent the last eight seasons with the Saints. Cooks is a free agent, but the receiver has been talking to the Buffalo Bills about returning for a second season there. Ertz is also a free agent after spending the past two seasons with the Washington Commanders.
During a recent interview with Colin Cowherd, Fighting Irish coach Marcus Freeman said that Love “might be as good as any player I’ve ever been around.”
“He is a unicorn,” Freeman said. “He is as talented and gifted an athlete as I’ve ever been around, and I think he could be an elite wide receiver, he could be an elite DB. He’s just gifted with a unique skill set, the balance, the ability to jump over you, the ability to run through you.”
The question is whether a team drafting in the top five is willing to spend a premier selection on a running back, regardless of how dynamic that player is. We’ll find out next week.
Denzel Boston is NFL READY 👀🔥
Washington’s Denzel Boston has held a firm spot at #4 on Steve Smith's Big Board for months, and now Steve and James take you inside the tape to show you exactly why. pic.twitter.com/uxDNT5xHon
From Path to the Draft: A look at the latest news on #Miami edge Rueben Bain Jr., including the details on a 2024 car crash and what team have known. pic.twitter.com/dH82Z6WlIa
I surveyed more than 30 college coaches to identify under-the-radar/sleeper players for the 2026 NFL draft. Carve out some time for this one. https://t.co/sHMVyM8aH0
Washington lacks blue-chip talent. This draft lacks blue-chip talent. Mendoza is not a blue-chip QB. He’ll go #1. None of the OTs are what I’d consider blue-chip talent. One, maybe two, will go in the top 6.
If we are sitting at 7 and a blue-chip talent is there, YOU TAKE HIM!
“I'll start with the guy that intrigues me the most because of his FREAKISH athletic traits…”
“I was just really struck by how EXPLOSIVE he was rushing the quarterback…”@GregCosell breaks down Ohio State edge/LB Arvell Reese: pic.twitter.com/wtlvjyrDza
— Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) April 9, 2026
years without a playoff win:
25 – MIA 24 23 – LV 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 15 – NYJ 14 13 12 11 10 – CAR, ARI 9 – PIT 8 – ATL 7 – LAC, IND 6 – TEN, MIN 5 – CLE, NO 4 3 – JAX, NYG, DAL, CIN 2 – GB, TB, DET 1 – PHI, KC, WAS, BAL 0 – SEA, NE, LAR, DEN, CHI, HOU,…
Former EMU DB Freddie McGee III arrived outside of the #Lions facility around 8:45 a.m. with this sign and is hopeful for an NFL shot. He doesn't have an agent, but says he's in the best shape of his life. "God put it on my heart. I’ve had this goal since I was 5," he told ESPN. pic.twitter.com/uVCm7y8TyG
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: This week’s @UFLDefenders Player Spotlight goes to RB Deon Jackson, who has started this #UFL season on FIRE by leading the league in rushing through three games with 224 rushing yards and five touchdowns.
— Monumental Sports Network (@MonSportsNet) April 12, 2026
The Caps didn't do enough to make the playoffs. You get 82 games to handle your business. They didn't. Too many points left on table, especially in OT and shootouts.
But the future is bright. This season was not the failure it'll be painted as.
Locals & tourists celebrating the Thai New Year festival (Songkran) with water guns at a major intersection in the middle of Bangkok. After 21 years here, this just makes me yell at clouds, but they seem to be having fun. https://t.co/pS5X1fetwF
DALLAS, TEXAS - AUGUST 05: Nate Diaz stands in the ring before his fight against Jake Paul at the American Airlines Center on August 05, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Nate Diaz had a chance to return to the UFC but instead took a fight against Mike Perry on the upcoming Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano card on May 16 with the event airing on Netflix.
After the fight was announced, UFC CEO Dana White revealed that the promotion had been in talks to bring Diaz back but he believed Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions just made him “an offer he couldn’t refuse.” When he addressed the situation publicly, Diaz later claimed the UFC actually offered him more money to make his return for a trilogy fight against Conor McGregor and he turned it down.
Diaz stated that he wasn’t interested in facing McGregor on his “last dying f*cking leg” after being out of action for the past five years. But retired UFC welterweight Matt Brown just isn’t buying it, especially knowing that Diaz has been one of the smartest fighters out there when it comes to maximizing his value to make the most money possible during his career.
“Money talks,” Brown said on The Fighter vs. The Writer. “He’s making more money with this Netflix fight than he would with the UFC. That’s why he’s not fighting Conor in the UFC. I lean towards believing Dana on this. He got an offer he couldn’t refuse. Now how Nate’s spinning it with the way the contract is structured, maybe there’s something behind the scenes under some layers that we’re not privy to just yet. But there’s no way he’s not making more money.
“I don’t believe it for a second that he’s not making more money with this Netflix deal, however that plays out, his bank account ends up with more money from this fight than it does in the UFC or he doesn’t take the fight. He’s going to pick the highest bidder. I don’t think that’s unique to [Nate Diaz], but I think he understands this is prize fighting. He’s fighting for money. He’s going to take the highest pay.”
During that same interview, Diaz said he was only interested in facing the best of the best and Perry qualified, especially after he’s gone on truly monumental run as the face of bare-knuckle fighting in BKFC.
On the MMA side, Perry left the UFC on a 1-4 skid before becoming a superstar in BKFC. In a strange twist, McGregor actually fought in MMA more recently than Perry but the “King of Violence” has obviously been very active over the past few years with his bare-knuckle career not to mention taking a boxing match against Jake Paul.
Maybe Diaz just genuinely wants to face the best possible competition at this stage of his career but Brown argues that every fighter should be seeking the biggest pay regardless of the opposition. In this particular case, Brown agrees that Perry is a tougher fight than facing McGregor but that logic also doesn’t convince him if the UFC really was making him a more lucrative offer.
“Nate’s a hittable guy. I don’t think that’s an insult to him. I think he knows that himself. But he gets hit in fights and Mike Perry hits very hard. He’s going to have to withstand those shots to be able to keep peppering him [late in the fight]. That’s Nate’s path to victory on paper. We know fights never play out the way that the paper says it will, but on paper, that’s the narrative I think we would see.
“Whereas Conor, dude you already beat him twice, you know what to do. I think he won the second fight, too, but it’s neither here nor there. It’s a way, way bigger fight. Whether the viewership numbers reflect that or not, the actual fight and the media, the attention, the fight fans that care, even mainstream, Diaz and Conor is probably the biggest fight the UFC could even make right now outside of maybe [Alex] Pereira-Jon Jones and honestly Conor-Diaz is probably bigger than that just because of the publicity.”
Obviously the door isn’t closed for Diaz to still return to the UFC one day, especially knowing that his deal with MVP is only for the upcoming fight against Perry.
That said, Brown truly believes Diaz probably wanted to control his own destiny moving forward and perhaps the UFC’s offer came along with conditions like signing a multi-fight deal to return to the octagon.
Whatever the reason, Brown just doesn’t see Diaz passing on a bigger payday because he preferred fighting Perry over McGregor.
“Either there’s something more to this like potentially he didn’t want to sign another contract with the UFC or something along those lines,” Brown said. “When they say an offer he can’t refuse, maybe that wasn’t just money. Maybe there’s something else behind the scenes with that. When he says they offered him more money, up front they offered him more money — is there some backdoor thing going on? It doesn’t make sense to me that he would just simply accept lesser pay for what is probably going to be a tougher fight for him.
“There’s something where the math is not adding up. There’s some things that are going behind the scenes, behind closed doors that we don’t know about. Consolidating the whole thing down to just one sentence, which is Nate’s style and part of why they’re so popular [the Diaz brothers] and why they’re such good at talking publicly and saying things. The way he put it was ‘I beat Conor’s ass easy, I don’t want to do that to him.’ There’s more to it than that. That’s all there is to it. I don’t know what it is. You don’t know what it is. But there’s more layers here that we’re just not able to uncover.”
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 08: CJ Daniels #7 of the Miami Hurricanes can't make the catch against Chris Graves Jr. #32 of the Ole Miss Rebels in the second half during the CFP Semifinal Vrbo Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on January 08, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by CFP/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If someone on the street walked up to you and said “name the biggest issue Missouri’s defense has faced over the past three years” and gave you five seconds to answer, you’d probably respond “allowing big plays”.
If you read anything I’ve written over the same time frame, you’d probably be able to dial down a little further and say “allowing explosive pass plays”.
But you know what? The 2025 defense actually ended up being excellent against the pass last year, thanks to a huge leap in defense capabilities against explosive plays.
Missouri opponents had a -0.07 EPA per drop back (Missouri ranked 24th in the nation in the stat. Excellent!), 6.7 Adjusted Net Yards per Attempt (28th), and only gave up a 20+ yard gain 13% of the time (25th).
Go back to ‘23 and ‘24 and those numbers were flipped, ranking in the bottom 25 for most of those categories.
But, of course, not only is Missouri’s defense getting nearly an entire makeover, but all three corners from last year’s three man rotation are gone.
So now what?
Today we’ll look at the corners and safeties currently on the roster and see how they stack up in pass defense.
First, some definitions:
Completions/Attempts: just like you would read it for a quarterback, except you want the reverse! The number of completions the defender allowed is listed first, followed by the number of times his receiver was targeted. The lower the completion percentage number, the better.
Passes Broken Up: you can probably figure this one out…the number of times the defender in question managed to physically break up a pass from being caught by the receiver.
Interceptions: the number of interceptions the defender logged. Don’t overthink this one.
Forced Incompletion Rate: this stat was created to account for bad throws from the quarterback. This is an incompletion that was caused by the defender getting in the way and affecting the receiver’s ability to catch the ball. Overthrows, underthrows, tipped balls at the line, or other such non-DB occurrences are removed for this stat.
20+ Yard Completions Allowed: another self-explanatory one. How many times the defender’s receiver caught the ball for 20+ yards.
Yards Per Attempt: number of yards the defender allowed divided by the number of times his receiver was targeted.
Opponent QBR: if you took every quarterback that Missouri played and mashed them into one guy, this is the QBR of that Megazord-QB when throwing at this particular defender.
Let’s look at the guys who have been with the team at least one year:
The biggest thing to take away here: it’s hard to take away anything from this. Missouri’s most experienced pass defender was only thrown on 21 times last year, so there isn’t a large enough sample size to get a good idea of what’s to come from this collection of Beans Banner and 2025’s backups. It’s a good thing the staff portalled in a bunch of dudes, then, huh?
(Jahlil Florence and JaDon Blair were not in active pass coverage last year)
At first glance this is…fine? Frankly the thing that stands out the most is that four of the guys that portalled in didn’t play much last year, and I thought that the idea was to bring in veteran guys to fill in the gaps left by Dre Norwood, Toriano Pride, and Stephen Hall. Instead, you get two fairly seasoned vets in Graves and KLF, plus two Oregon corners with 1 year of eligibility a piece with a combined 9 targets last year, and two young guys who were always meant to be depth/building block pieces.
Second, Graves isn’t nearly the impact corner that I thought he was coming in. 44% completion percentage is ok but a 54.9 QBR is hovering towards the bottom quartile in the nation, and allowing 7.4 yards per attempt while only breaking up 3 passes on a 11% FINC is not super impressive.
But! Don’t interpret that as me writing these guys off! If you remember this time last year I was unimpressed with what Stephen Hall was bringing to the corner rotation and thought he would be a liability. Why? Here is what he did in 2024 at Washington State:
Stephen Hall 2024: 38-66 (57.6 comp), 3 PBUs, 1 INT, 6.1% forced INC%, 6 Comp 20+, 7.2 YPA, 71.4 QBR
And here’s what he did last year:
Stephen Hall 2025: 11-23 (47.8% comp), 2 PBUs, 0 INTs, 8.7% forced INC%, 3 Comp 20+, 9.1 YPA, 91.8 QBR
A bit of a mixed bag, wouldn’t you say? But he cut down on the explosive plays allowed and improved a tick on his forced incompletions while bettering his completion percentage. Not bad for a one year rental, and – given my overwhelming thought that this is going to be a bridge year with a rebuilding defense – I don’t mind Mizzou’s transfer DBs improving in a few key areas only.
But if they want to improve across the board, I’ll take that, too.
As a reference point, here is what Toriano Pride (corner), Dre Norwood (also corner), and Daylan Carnell (slot corner/safety) did last year:
That’s what Missouri is losing, and that is what everyone listed above will try to replicate.
Conclusion
Corey Batoon has improved Missouri’s explosive pass plays defense every year since his arrival but is restarting with a bunch of small-sample warriors and some transfers without proven experience or an elite track record. This goes back to my argument about tackling accuracy: if the Batoon system makes people better than there’s stuff to like here. But one-year rentals are just that: a stop gap. And it would be great if last year’s backups and youngsters can acclimate/take over at starting spots, get their lumps in a rebuilding, year, then stick around to make the leap in ‘27.
In the meantime, it can be a bumpy ride for the ‘26 pass defense if Batoon can’t get the new guys to improve on what they’ve shown already.
PREVIEW: Arsenal host Sporting CP in Champions League high stakes showdown
Arsenal host Sporting CP in the second leg of the quarter-final tie at the Emirates Stadium, aiming for a spot in the Champions League semi-final after a crucial away win last week.
The Gunners look to go far in the European competition, and they were one step closer in the first leg where late substitutes Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz connected in the last minute.
It feels mandatory for the Arsenal boss to end the season with silverware, so the stakes for their Champions League fixture are very high, as the players will want to avoid a consecutive upset at home.
Between the sticks, David Raya received the player of the match award after crucial saves kept his side in the game in the first leg.
With Arsenal’s No. 1 having a stellar season and touted as one of the best goalkeepers in Europe this season, he’ll look to repeat his heroics against the Primeira Liga side, who must score at least one goal to have a chance of advancing.
There were no signs of Declan Rice, Riccardo Calafiori, Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber or Martin Ødegaard at Arsenal’s open training session on Tuesday, so their availability looks unclear ahead of the game and would be a huge blow if they were all out.
Sporting CP made a very good account of themselves in the first leg despite the loss, creating numerous opportunities against an Arsenal side highly rated for their defensive play.
Rui Borges’ team travels to North London on the back of an away league win against Estrela Amadora and are currently sitting second in the league, five points behind Porto.
However, they will need to be at their best, having not won away against an English team since March 2005.
Sporting captain Morten Hjulmand will return to the team after being suspended in the first leg for yellow card accumulation, while injuries remain for Fotis Ioannidis, Luis Guilherme and Nuno Santos.
The match will take place at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, April 15th, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm (UK Time) on TNT Sports.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 13: Victor Caratini #37 of the Minnesota Twins celebrates in the dugout after hitting a three-run home run against the Boston Red Sox during the second inning of the game at Target Field on April 13, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees nearly lost a prime candidate for dumbest game of the year on Monday, but they managed to flip the script and end up on the winning end thanks to a game-tying Trent Grisham two-run shot in the ninth (his second bomb of the night) and a wild pitch that brought José Caballero home to walk it off. Aaron Judge played his part, launching two home runs of his own, and Caballero completed their offensive surge with a homer to go with his timely baserunning. Their win snaps a five-game losing streak, and gives them their first chance in nearly a week to gain some ground on their rivals. Only a handful of other teams were playing on Monday, but they got some solid results nonetheless.
Minnesota Twins (10-7) 13, Boston Red Sox (6-10) 6
Garrett Crochet was on many people’s short lists for Cy Young winner entering this season, but he’s going to have an uphill battle to make it into those conversations after the slow start he’s gotten off to, and in particular after the night he had on Monday. He put up a uniquely-terrible line, giving up 11 runs (10 earned) in just 1.2 innings, getting battered around for nine hits and three walks without picking up a single strikeout.
Things got off to an immediately bad start for the Sox ace, as he recorded the first out on a flyout and then proceeded to give up back-to-back doubles and a single to go down 2-0. Crochet got the second out on another fly ball, but a walk and hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for Brooks Lee, who singled home two more runs and made it 4-0 after one.
If the first inning was bad, the second was an outright disaster. The first six batters all reached, culminating in Victor Caratini’s three-run blast to make it 10-0. Crochet miraculously recorded back-to-back outs to nearly escape the inning, but Ryan Kreidler ambushed him with another homer to push the score to 11-0 and chased him from the game at long last.
With a tremendous lead in hand, all the Twins needed was competent pitching to get them through the game, and they got that. Bailey Ober coasted through the first two innings, got into trouble in the third and allowed three runs on an RBI double and two-run homer, and then went back to coasting for a couple more innings. The sixth started off rocky, as the first three batters all singled to bring home a run, but a double-play ball and a strikeout got him to the end of his outing without further incident. Even with Eric Orze entering and coughing up two more runs in the seventh, the Twins were never in danger of blowing their massive advantage.
Seattle Mariners (8-9) 6, Houston Astros (6-11) 2
The Mariners may not have gotten off to the strongest start entering this series, but they did themselves a huge favor and got a leg up on their rivals by sweeping a four-game set. This time around they jumped on Mike Burrows from the get-go, as Josh Naylor launched his first home run of the year and made it a three-run shot for good measure. Naylor got to him again in the third inning, this time hitting a two-run homer to put the M’s up 5-0, and in the fifth Luke Raley poked an RBI single through to plate their sixth and final run against Burrows.
The Astros responded in the top half of the fifth, hitting three straight singles to get on the scoreboard. Nick Allen put a ball in play to score the second run of the inning, but it came via a double-play ball that halted the rally — sure enough, Jose Altuve grounded out to end it in the next at-bat. Houston wouldn’t get another batter past second base the rest of the way, stranding two in the eighth and one in the ninth as Seattle capped off the sweep. They’ve now won four in a row after having lost their previous five, something that New York would surely like to emulate. Meanwhile, Houston’s lost eight in a row as injuries have wrecked their pitching staff.
Other Games
Cleveland Guardians (10-7) 9, St. Louis Cardinals (8-8) 3: Both teams got on the board with a run in the first inning, but Cleveland broke out with a three-run fourth inning fueled by a pair of walks to lead off the frame. A pair of singles brought them both home, and a sacrifice fly wrapped up the inning and gave the Guardians their eventual winning run. They still tacked on plenty of insurance, getting a two-run blast from Brayan Rocchio in the sixth and a trio of runs in the eighth via singles from Rocchio and Steven Kwan. St. Louis scratched across a couple runs to shorten the gap, but they never got close to getting back in it.
The Saints Hall of Fame will host their 33rd annual Celebrity Golf Tournament on Monday, May 18, 2026, at 9 a.m. at Chateau Country Club in Kenner.
New Orleans Saints players, coaches and front office personnel as well as several former Saints players will be in attendance to participate in this premier annual event.
The event is a taste of New Orleans featuring a local restaurant or caterer on every hole with every participant receiving a Saints golf shirt and cap. Following the tournament, there will be an awards function in the clubhouse as well as a silent auction of various sports memorabilia. Prizes will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams.
The cost to register for the tournament is $250 for an individual, $1,250 for a group of four, plus a Saints celebrity golfer or $2000 for a group of four plus a Saints celebrity golfer.
Manchester City receive fresh update on Morten Hjulmand talks: “There was interest and there were conversations”
Man City have been linked with Sporting Lisbon’s Morten Hjulmand
Danish midfielder has €80M release clause, with his current contract valid till 2028.
CNN Portugal journalist Nuno Farinha contradict City’s reported interest in 26-year-old.
Manchester City have been heavily linked with Sporting CP midfielder Morten Hjulmand ahead of the summer.
The 26-year-old has established himself as a key player for Sporting since arriving in Lisbon from Lecce in Italy for €19.5 million in 2023, a move engineered by Manchester City sporting director Hugo Viana during his tenure in the same capacity at the Liga Portugal club.
Now, it appears that Viana is keen on bringing Hjulmand to the Etihad Stadium, with recent reports suggesting that Manchester City have taken concrete steps to sign the Danish midfielder and already made informal contact with Sporting.
Sporting could sell €80 million-rated midfielder this summer with Man City taking ‘concrete steps’
Hjulmand, who currently dons the captain’s armband for Sporting, has started in 39 out of the 40 appearances he has made in all competitions so far this season – registering two goals and six assists.
Who else is interested in signing the Man City target?
Hjulmand’s consistency and contributions on the pitch have attracted attention from several other top clubs across leagues, in addition to Manchester City.
Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Arsenal and Manchester United are also rumoured to be interested in signing the FC Copenhagen academy graduate, who is being considered as one of the most in-demand defensive midfielders on the market.
While he has an €80 million release clause at Sporting, reports have suggested that the Portuguese giants’ management are open to negotiating between €40 million and €50 million.
However, following reports of Manchester City being frontrunners in the race for the midfielder, CNN Portugal journalist Nuno Farinha has cast doubt on this potential transfer.
What did Nuno Farinha say?
Farinha has stirred uncertainty on what appeared to be a potentially successful deal for Manchester City based on recent reports, mentioning that the Premier League side ‘will not be the destination for Hjulmand’.
Manchester City Transfer Tracker: Live Updates on Signings, Contracts and Loans
While addressing their previous interest, the sports commentator and journalist claimed that the Blues are no longer pursuing the Sporting captain.
“The information I have is that (Manchester) City will not be the destination for Hjulmand,” Farinha said, as quoted by Sport Witness.
“It is true that in the last transfer window, in January, there was interest and there were conversations. But at this moment, City no longer have interest because they have defined other targets and are working on them.”
Farinha also eliminated Atletico Madrid from Hjulmand’s list of suitors for the upcoming transfer window but firmly maintained his stance on the midfielder making a move away from Lisbon this summer.
“I also believe Atletico Madrid will not move forward because they are very close to signing the Brazilian midfielder Ederson from Atalanta,” he added.
“I believe, 99%, that he (Hjulmand) will leave Sporting at the end of the season. But I can guarantee it will not be for (Manchester) City and apparently not for Atletico Madrid either.”
From Brazil: Manchester City close to signing €40M Palmeiras winger
Sporting boss Rui Borges ‘practical’ about Hjulmand’s situation
Speaking in the days leading to Sporting’s recent 1-0 league win away at Estrela Amadora, head coach Rui Borges addressed the speculation around Hjulmand’s future at the club.
“I think it’s inevitable that people talk about him,” Borges said, as quoted by O Jogo and relayed by Sport Witness. “He is a great player and he is having a good season. He already had a great season last year.
“He is an important player for Sporting, for everything the team is showing, also at European level. It is natural that people talk about Morten and other Sporting players. That makes us happy, because it is a sign of individual and collective recognition.”
Borges further delivered a clear stance on Hjulmand’s situation. “Now, whether he leaves or not, I am very practical and very calm about it,” the Sporting manager added.
“I have said it several times. I am happy if he stays. If he does not stay, someone with value will come. That is part of our job, to develop players and help them grow.”
During his two-year tenure at Sporting, Hjulmand has netted nine goals and provided 12 assists in 136 appearances across all competitions.
“No no, I’m not joking!” – Pep Guardiola explains key reason behind Manchester City’s improved form after Chelsea win
What’s next for Manchester City?
After lifting the Carabao Cup by defeating Arsenal in the final last month, Manchester City are now vying for a domestic treble as they chase down the Gunners in the Premier League and await an FA Cup semi-final tie with Southampton.
Pep Guardiola’s side currently rank second in the English top-flight, with 64 points in 31 matches and a six-point gap between table toppers Arsenal, who have played an extra game.
With the summer transfer window approaching, City have also been be active in attempts to strengthen the squad for the 2026-27 campaign.
Their interest in Hjulmand comes ahead of Bernardo Silva’s departure at the end of the season and the English club’s endeavours to bolster their midfield, having been linked with the likes of Hertha Berlin’s Kennet Eichhorn, Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson and West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes.
With two conflicting sides surfacing on City’s reported interest in Hjulmand, it remains to be seen what Viano and co determine about bringing the defensive midfielder to Manchester.
LOGAN UT - NOVEMBER 28: Members of the Utah State Aggies student section cheer during the first half their game against of the Boise State Broncos at Maverik Stadium on November 28, 2025 in Logan, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ryan Thorburn details the latest from Wyoming’s scrimmage in the Pokes Insider. Third-year head coach Jay Sawvel is bullish on his defense and that promise showed in the scrimmage. Could Wyoming be a dark horse in the Mountain West this season?
This is news that’s bound to upset some Aggies. Utah State is changing their seating arrangements at the Spectrum, and it involves fewer student seats along the courtside. Good for finances, but a slight let off for opponents playing at the arena.
The transfer portal news continues
New Mexico's first offseason portal addition is SF Imran Suljanovic from St. John's.
A four star prospect (6'8"/200 LBs) from Vienna, Austria missed his freshman season with a dislocated patella. Made a name for himself on Austria's national team & professionally in Italy. pic.twitter.com/mwOXZU85xz
— Jack Thompson AKA JackTalksCFB (@JackTalksCFB) April 14, 2026
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 13: Nathan Eovaldi #17 of the Texas Rangers pitches against the Athletics in the first inning at Sutter Health Park on April 13, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning.
Shawn McFarland writes that Brandon Nimmo’s hot April and Danny Jansen being unleashed to utilize ABS challenges are among the things we’ve recently learned about the Texas Rangers.
Evan Grant writes that this year’s anticipated updated hitting approach was on display for the Rangers in their win over the Athletics on Monday night.
Kennedi Landry writes that Nathan Eovaldi was back at his best in the victory that snapped a winning streak for the Not-Oaklands.
Grant ponders if Roki Sasaki was tipping his pitches in his start against the Rangers on Sunday and if an enhanced ability to read pitchers will be in Texas’ bag of tricks this season.
Grant has yet another update on Wyatt Langford, who could return to the lineup as early as tonight as the Rangers avoided putting him on the IL.
The NHL has officially locked in the 16 teams for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. While the playoff field is now set, seeding remains undecided over the final days of the regular season. In fact, almost all of the first round matchups haven’t been determined yet. Only one playoff series has been fully set heading into the final games.
Here’s a look at the confirmed NHL playoff teams and what’s still at stake before the bracket is finalized.
Eastern Conference Playoff Teams
Atlantic Division
Buffalo Sabres
Tampa Bay Lightning
Montreal Canadiens
Metropolitan Division
Carolina Hurricanes
Pittsburgh Penguins
Philadelphia Flyers
Wild Card Teams
Boston Bruins
Ottawa Senators
Western Conference Playoff Teams
Central Division
Colorado Avalanche
Dallas Stars
Minnesota Wild
Pacific Division
Vegas Golden Knights
Edmonton Oilers
Anaheim Ducks
Wild Card Teams
Utah Mammoth
Los Angeles Kings
What’s Still To Be Decided
Vegas, Edmonton, and Anaheim are still fighting to win the Pacific Division
Boston and Ottawa have one more game apiece to earn the top Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference
Utah and Los Angeles have two games to decide the order of the Wild Card spots in the Western Conference
Several NHL teams are fighting for home ice advantage in the Stanley Cup Playoffs
What’s Next in the NHL
The 16 NHL playoff teams might be set, but there is still plenty of intrigue to close out the 2025-26 regular season. The Pacific Division is still up for grabs while playoff positioning will be the most important factor over the next few days. After all, the Stanley Cup Playoffs rewards teams that can earn home ice advantage.
While the Wild Card drama won’t exist in the final days of the NHL regular season, there is so much that must be determined before the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
You kind of knew things weren’t going the Cubs’ way when Kyle Schwarber homered in the first inning. Another Phillies run crossed the plate in the second, and then Schwarber homered again in the third, this time with Trea Turner on base.
That was Swanson’s second homer in as many days and it does appear he’s coming out of his season-starting slump. Now it’s 4-2 and, well, teams have come back from two-run deficits in the fourth inning.
Not this time. The Phillies scored five times in the fifth off Assad, this time without a home run involved, before Craig Counsell had mercy and replaced him with Jacob Webb. Webb actually got out of the fifth with no further runs scoring.
Just in case you didn’t have enough bad news about Assad, here’s more from BCB’s JohnW53:
Javier Assad is the first Cubs pitcher to allow at least nine runs in a game since reliever Ryan Pressly’s nine-run, no-out meltdown at home against the Giants on May 6 of last year. The previous starter who did that was Hayden Wesneski, who gave up 11 runs in 4.0 innings at St. Louis on July 13, 2024. Shōta Imanaga had given up 10 in 3.0 at home against the Mets on June 21, 2024. Those were the only three before Monday’s game since June 3, 2022, when Marcus Stroman gave up 10 in 4.0 at home against the Cardinals.
Just-recalled Charlie Barnes entered the game in the sixth. I’ll spare you the details of the carnage, but when the inning was over the Phillies had three more runs and a 12-2 lead, and they plated another one off Barnes in the seventh.
The game was entering “position player pitcher” territory at that point, but the Cubs decided to get the bats out in the eighth. Ian Happ led off with a double and scored on this single by Moisés Ballesteros [VIDEO].
Well. Now it’s 13-7 and that forced the Phillies to call on one of their leverage relievers, Orion Kerkering. Ian Happ was the next batter. If, somehow, Happ could have gone deep, the game would actually have become close but… Happ looked at three pitches from Kerkering and struck out.
And that was basically it. Besides the pitching issues in this game, the Cubs once again had tons of baserunners who were stranded. They left 10 runners on base and went 4-for-16 with RISP. Not that this excuses the pitching, but now the Cubs have gone 7-for-51 (.137) with RISP over their last four games and left 47 runners on base, an average of 12 LOB per game. And that includes Kelly’s game-winning single on Sunday. Yikes.
So there are multiple issues that need to be addressed, and soon. Barnes wound up throwing the final three innings, so all the Cubs’ leverage relievers got the night off (save Webb, who threw only eight pitches). That’s about the only positive I can take out of this one.
The Cubs will look to even up the series Tuesday evening in Philadelphia. The original schedule had Colin Rea listed as Tuesday’s starter, but after Monday’s game the Cubs announced that Riley Martin would start, presumably as an opener, with Rea following. Aaron Nola will start for the Phillies. Game time is again 5:40 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.
CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 10: Virginia Tech Hokies guard Neoklis Avdalas (17) during the ACC Men's basketball tournament between the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and the Virginia Tech Hokies on March 10, 2026 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Michael Malone landed his first portal transfer yesterday when Neoklis Avdalas committed to the Tar Heels. The 6’9” sophomore is a big get for UNC. Depending on your ranking site of choice, Avdalas is one of the top 25 players in the transfer portal this season. Generally listed as a guard, he averaged 12.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game for Virginia Tech last season. His overall shooting numbers are modest, hitting 38.6% of his shots while making 31.4% of his shots from long distance.
Avdalas’s freshman season probably didn’t go as smoothly as he (or Hokie fans) hoped. He came into the 2025-2026 season as a potential one-and-done with some professional basketball experience in the EuroLeague under his belt. Some mock drafts at the beginning of the season had him as a first round pick. He started off strong in the non-conference portion of Virginia Tech’s schedule, scoring 33 points in just his second college game against Providence. He followed it up by dropping 30 on Western Carolina in December.
However, Avdalas seemed to struggle to adapt to conference play once the ACC season started. His shooting dropped significantly in conference play, and he seemed to struggle finding his shot. He shot 28.1% from three-point range in ACC games and ended the season with a five-point showing in Virginia Teach’s ACC tournament loss to Wake Forest.
If you’re looking for signs of optimism, there are a few. He’s clearly talented; the things that showed up on tape that had Virgina Tech coach Mike Young raving about his potential didn’t just disappear. It’s worth noting that Avdalas also played multiple positions in Tech’s offense; he played point guard, small forward and power forward just across his last five games with the Hokies. It’s possible he benefits from a different system and coaching staff, particularly one that is more oriented to the professional game.
Finally, KenPom has a feature that compares a player’s season to a former player’s season as a way of comparison. One of KenPom’s comps for Avdalas’s 2025-2026 season is Harrison Ingram’s final season at Stanford (2022-2023). We all know how Ingram’s next season (in Chapel Hill) turned out.
How do you think Avdalas will do in Carolina blue?
Apr 11, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Jose Alvarado (46) throws a pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the seventh inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
For the most part, the Phillies bullpen has been a strength so far this season. There’s been some bad luck involved, but overall, the unit looks strong. One major exception however is José Alvarado.
Following Sunday’s ineffective performance, Alvarado has now allowed 8 runs, 7 earned, in 5 innings pitched on 9 hits with 7 strikeouts to 3 walks. He too has run into some bad luck, as he’s sporting a whopping .563 BABIP, an impressive level of early batted ball misfortune. But, that doesn’t entirely erase the fact that Alvarado just hasn’t looked good so far.
Alvarado’s velocity has been good, clocking in right around his career average at an average of 98 MPH. But he’s struggled to throw strikes, as only 40% of his pitches have been inside the zone. That is a far drop off from his abbreviated 2025 (50.3%) or even his 2024 (47.6%). In fact, that 40% zone rate is well below Alvarado’s already low 47.5% rate for his career. Of course, he’s only made eight appearances on the young 2026 season, but it is something to monitor.
Curiously, despite the lack of pitches in the zone, Alvarado is actually getting a healthy dose of swings and misses. His 30.2% whiff rate is in line with his career average of 31.3% and is way up from 2025 where his swing and miss rate was a career low 24.3%.
It is only eight appliances, so the book is far from written on Alvarado’s 2026, but the poor performance is a trend that dates back to his return from suspension last season. In 16 total appearances since being reinstated on August 19th, Alvarado has a 9.82 ERA in 11 innings pitched with 14 strikeouts to 6 walks. Opponents are hitting .340 with a .968 OPS against him over that span. The numbers are even worse in the eight appearances after Alvarado returned from the injured list on September 29th, with a 12.60 ERA and an opposing hitters batting line of .391/.481/.391
It’s still early in 2026, so there’s plenty of time for Alvarado to turn it around. But this is a trend of subpar performance that dates back to last season. The Phillies have two other effective lefties in the bullpen with Tanner Banks and the surprising Tim Mayza, but neither of them posses the raw stuff and strikeout ability that Alvarado has. The team needs him to be able to be an effective setup man and to be the top lefty reliever behind righties Jhoan Duran and Brad Keller. So, do the Phillies have a José Alvarado problem?
Oct 23, 2025; Wayne, NJ, USA; Passaic football at Passaic County Tech. PCT #7 Ian McDuffie tries to avoid a tackle. | Michael Karas-NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Syracuse Orange might be done with the spring football season, but recruiting never stops…well besides the NCAA dead perionds, but we’re not in one and Fran Brown landed two 2027 commitments yesterday.
Ian McDuffie is a 6’2” athlete from Patterson, NJ who plays linebacker and wide receiver for Passaic Tech. He is unranked right now and chose the Orange over offers from UConn and Temple. It soumds like Syracuse is recruiting him as a linebacker.
BREAKING: 2027 LB Ian McDuffie (@ian_mcduffie11) has committed to Syracuse football. Details in the link below ⬇️
The second commit came from Bradyn Paulozzi, a 6’3” 230 lb edge rusher from St. Edward in Lakewood, Ohio. Paulozzi isn’t ranked but had offers from Army, Navy, Toledo, Air Force, and Kent State among others. He was offered by Vince Kehres at Toledo, and then again when Kehres came to Syracuse.
Stephen A. Smith has delivered a strong critique of NBA players after pointing to LeBron James’ longevity, questioning how a 41-year-old continues to outperform younger stars in terms of fitness and availability.
The Los Angeles Lakers have dealt with injuries to key players like Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, even as LeBron continues to perform at a high level deep into his 23rd NBA season.
That contrast has become a major talking point, especially given the physical demands of the modern game. For Smith, it raises a bigger question about standards across the league.
Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images
Stephen A. Smith questions LA Lakers stars after LeBron James fitness example
Smith addressed the issue in a segment shared on The Stephen A. Smith Show, where he compared LeBron’s durability with the struggles of younger players.
He said, “Let me tell you something people should be embarrassed about. I’m sick and tired of watching this man at age 41, now in his 23rd year.
“How the hell [is] he healthy and Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves ain’t healthy? I mean, when does the shame kick in?”
The remarks highlight the stark contrast between LeBron’s condition and the injury concerns affecting other players, particularly within the same team. At a stage where most players have long retired, LeBron continues to set the benchmark for preparation and durability.
Smith’s frustration stems from that comparison, questioning how younger athletes with fewer miles on their bodies are unable to maintain similar levels of availability.
Stephen A. Smith calls out NBA players over fitness and accountability
Smith continued by expanding his argument beyond the Lakers, pointing toward the financial and professional responsibilities that come with being an NBA player.
He added, “You’re making enough money if you’re the average NBA player. The league average salary is over 10 million a year. Quite a few of y’all are getting paid 40, 50 million a year.
“How come you can’t take care of your body the way LeBron James takes care of his body? I mean, damn. Where’s your pride? Where’s your dignity? I’m just wondering about that. That’s how I feel about it.”
The comments underline his belief that resources are not the issue, suggesting that discipline and commitment are what separate LeBron from many of his peers.
By framing it in those terms, Smith shifted the discussion from injuries alone to a question of accountability across the league.
HAMBURG, GERMANY - APRIL 11: Leon Goretzka of FC Bayern Munich celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammates during the Bundesliga match between FC St. Pauli and FC Bayern München at Millerntor Stadium on April 11, 2026 in Hamburg, Germany. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Bayern Munich leads Real Madrid 2-1 on aggregate as the two teams prepare for battle at the Allianz Arena.
Aside of this high intensity showdown, the Bavarians are close to clinching the Bundesliga and are also featured in the DFB-Pokal semifinals. There is still much to play for during this campaign. Real Madrid, though, has been eliminated from Copa del Rey and might be chasing ghosts in LaLiga as it trails FC Barcelona by nine points.
Aside of the Champions League, Los Blancos have nothing…and that is exactly what makes them so dangerous in this game.
This is not a call to fear Real Madrid by any means, but to acknowledge that a desperate team with a bruised ego can sometimes express itself in one, defined moment — a singular effort where they can forget the previous failures of this campaign and turn their focus toward the one goal they have left.
The tough part for Real Madrid, though, is that it is matched up against one of the most dominant (if not the most dominant) squad in the world this season. Bayern Munich’s attack is incredible, its midfield is vastly underrated, and its defense has been…stable this season.
This is truly a blockbuster matchup pitting a somewhat forlorn version of the most successful club in the history of football vs. a squad hungry to snatch the proverbial crown.
More than anything, though, the outcome of this match will define how each of these teams are remembered by their respective fanbases.
Buckle up…this is going to be one wild ride.
Song of the Midweek: “Walk” by Pantera
Sometimes…you just need a song that makes your blood start flowing. What better day to do that than with Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid coming up on Wednesday.
Released in 1992 on the “Vulgar Display of Power” album, “Walk” pretty much steals the show whenever its played.
Let’s do this:
Entertainment Rundown
I have started watching The Boys (so far, eh…the story is not great, but I still can’t recall a better villain than the one portrayed by Antony Starr — Homelander) and will hopefully start to juggle Invincible and Daredevil: Born Again soon as well.
Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair
At the rate I am going, I might never get to this— or at least not any time soon. Luckily for me, though, Muller_Era did watch it and pulled together this bullet-style review of the classic Fox show.
As someone who fell in love with the show and its eccentricities, I was excited for the reboot. I went in with a few expectations. I wanted them to lean fully into every comedic gag and be what the original show was — an exaggerated, satirical take on what it meant to be the oddball lower middle class family in 2000s America.
Comedy is perhaps one of the most important parts of my life and the way I communicate. Malcolm in the Middle, amongst several movies and shows, taught me a lot about what I call absurdist comedy. Take up a mundane premise and exaggerate it to an extent that something like that would never happen in real life.
The value I find in a piece of comedy is not just the absurdity, but the dedication of the script and the screenplay to the bit. Without the dedication, your writing falls flat and in fact can be frustrating to audiences.
Dedication is multifaceted. It includes consistency of tone and narrative, the efforts actors put in carrying out the script and most importantly, belief. A script that is unsure of itself, will fall apart on the screen.
Now, onto the reboot. From the very start, the plots were as extreme and absurd as one would imagine. However, it felt as if the show couldn’t fully immerse itself in that.
It felt like their plan was to simply rely on nostalgia by showing that no character had changed as a person and that the plots were just as absurd as we were used to. “Hey, remember seeing this guy on the show? Yeah, he’s still around! We hope you laugh!”
I’m sure the writers were not being insincere or half-hearted. It is just that cramming in a larger-than-life premise within four episodes was impractical. For a show whose comedy was the reason I’d fallen for it, the reboot had fallen flat in the same department.
What I did really enjoy was the character arc they gave to Hal. They gave him a well-deserved, extremely well-written bizarre plot line that somehow ended on a poetic note about identity, love and moving on.
Another facet was that the presence of a queer character did not feel forced at all. It did not feel like they were checking off the boxes to be an inclusive show; rather it felt like a natural part of the plot that worked well.
Had the reboot been given more episodes, it could’ve turned out better. But honestly? I liked it for what it was. A nostalgic experience with a few laughs, a few tears and lots of throwbacks.
P.S. They should’ve really brought back Cynthia. Best character on that show.
Rating: 7.50 / 10.00
Big thanks to Muller_Era for the review!
Podcast Appearance — Magazines and Monsters
If you are looking for some entertainment, I will be be appearing on an episode of the Magazines and Monsters Podcast where we break down the 80s classic, The Lost Boys. The links to the episode are here:
Hosted by one of our great BFW readers and BPW listeners Billy D., also known as “Doc Strange,” (@BiLLYd_licious on X) the podcast dives into material from the Silver, Bronze, and Copper Ages of comics, often highlighting older or overlooked issues, storylines, and creators. In addition to comics, the show frequently examines classic horror, science fiction, and fantasy films, particularly those from the mid-20th century through the 1980s, including cult favorites and productions from studios like Hammer. Episodes typically feature relaxed, long-form conversations between the host and guests, offering detailed analysis, personal reflections, and enthusiastic appreciation of the topics.
I had a blast doing this episode and taking a nice stroll back through the 80s classic.
Predictions
It’s going to be a grind and there will be periods of uneasiness, but this Bayern Munich squad has been built for this moment.
Of course, Real Madrid has two players in Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior, who can change a game in an instant. The one variable that sways into Bayern Munich’s favor is that Harry Kane, Michael Olise, and Luis Díaz have not really been shutdown or even slowed down this season when together.
Bayern Munich can ride that wave to a tough, but deserved victory and a spot in the Champions League semifinals.
Prediction: Bayern Munich 2-1 Real Madrid (Bayern Munich advances 4-2 on aggregate)
Other Champions League predictions, include:
Atlético Madrid 0-3 FC Barcelona (FC Barcelona advances 3-2 on aggregate)
Liverpool 1-3 Paris Saint-Germain (PSG advances 5-1 on aggregate)
Arsenal 2-0 Sporting CP (Arsenal advances 3-0 on aggregate)
Prediction Records
Total: 498-329
Perfect Picks: 54
Bundesliga Last Matchday: 6-3
Bundesliga Overall: 145-116
DFB-Pokal: 49-11
World Cup Qualifiers/Friendlies: 164-95
Champions League: 96-76
Club World Cup: 39-23
Club Friendlies: 4-0
Franz Beckenbauer Supercup: 1-0
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…
Mar 29, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles left fielder Taylor Ward (3) celebrates during the seventh inning against the Minnesota Twins at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images | Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
In many ways, the main goal of the Orioles’ 2026 season was not to repeat the 2025 season. Through the first 16 games of the season, the O’s have certainly been more competitive than they were to begin last season. However, one unfortunate aspect of 2025 that has followed the Orioles into 2026 is the mountain of injuries.
The Orioles currently have a major-league-leading 13 players on the IL. After a weekend that saw Adley Rutschman land on the 10-day IL with an ankle injury and Ryan Mountcastle head to the 60-day IL with a broken foot, the offense is now especially realing.
With the injuries piled on top of the early-season struggles of Pete Alonso and Samuel Basallo, the offense has been in desperate need of unexpected heroes. That’s where Taylor Ward and Leody Taveras come in.
The fact that Ward is a big-time contributor is not exactly a surprise. Behind Alonso, Ward was seen as the second biggest offseason addition for the Orioles’ offense. However, when the O’s acquired the 32-year-old outfielder from the Angels, he was expected to be a power-first bat in the mold of Alonso. Instead, he’s turned into an on-base machine who’s wearing out the power alleys.
After last night’s matchup with the Diamondbacks, Ward is 11th in the MLB with a .339 average, tied for 7th with 21 total hits and leads MLB with 10 doubles. After hitting a career-high 32 home runs last year, he’s yet to launch his first homer in black and orange. However, he’s more than made up for his lack of over the fence with a more disciplined approach at the plate and a willingness to spray the ball to all fields.
Unlike Alonso, Basallo and Gunnar Henderson, Ward is not blessed with elite bat speed and the ability to consistently generate high exit velocity. Even in hitting 32 long balls last year, his average exit velocity and hard-hit rate were right around league average, while his bat speed only ranked in the 15th percentile. What’s been elite throughout 2025 and 2026 is Ward’s ability to square up pitches and his unwillingness to chase pitches outside of the zone.
What’s helped transform Ward into a different offensive force is a focus on swinging for line drives instead of deep fly balls. The outfielder’s career line-drive percentage is around 26%; this year, that number has jumped up to 39.1%, the 5th-best mark in all of baseball. We’ve also seen his opposite-field hit percentage jump from 27.1% last year to a career-best 32.6% so far this year. Ward’s willingness to hit the ball to where he’s being pitched has led to a 47.8% Launch-Angle Sweet Spot rate, putting him in the 96th percentile this season.
Ward’s early-season breakout is reminiscent of the hot start we saw from former Oriole Ryan O’Hearn to begin last year. Through 16 games, Ward is currently slashing .333/.427/.492. Through 16 games last year, Turn and Burn was .296/.377/.519—which turned into a first-half OPS of .834 and an All-Star berth.
Coming into last season, most would’ve ranked O’Hearn behind the likes of Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman and Jordan Westburg in terms of expected offensive impact. Similarly, Ward was probably seen as the fourth most important Baltimore bat heading into this season, behind Henderson, Alonso and a healthy Rutschman. Instead, the newly acquired outfielder has catapulted himself to the top of the pecking order as the O’s most productive hitter so far.
However, the mountain of injuries has meant that Baltimore once again needed someone previously seen as a depth piece to rise to the occasion. Last year, that came in the form of Ramón Laureano; this year, we’re seeing that same level of contribution from Leody Taveras.
Taveras came to the Orioles this past offseason out of necessity. With Colton Cowser set to be the Opening Day CF, and no other natural CF on the roster, the front office brought in Taveras to provide a defensive insurance policy in the outfield. However, Cowser’s continued struggles against off-speed pitches and the recent injury to Tyler O’Neill have thrust the 27-year-old Dominican into more of an everyday role.
To say the former Texas Ranger has taken that opportunity and run with it would be an understatement. In 12 games this season, Taveras is 9-for-25 with three doubles, four runs scored and five walks. If he had enough at-bats to qualify, his .467 OBP would lead the Orioles and place fourth in all of baseball. In the last three games, we’ve seen manager Craig Albernaz stick Taveras in the sixth spot in the order, allowing him to serve as a secondary table setter for the bottom of the lineup.
Should Taveras continue to hit well, the uncertain nature of the Orioles outfield means he’ll have plenty of opportunities to lock down the CF role. Cowser’s inability to hit changeups may ultimately force him down the pecking order as the season goes on, and players get healthy (he was hitting .167 on off-speed pitches with a 46.4% whiff rate heading into Monday).
If Cowser can’t iron out the holes in his games (or if O’Neill continues to struggle to stay healthy), it would allow Taveras to make a Laureano-like jump from fourth outfielder to invaluable starter. And while Taveras and Laureano do not offer the same offensive profiles—with the former a switch-hitting line-drive machine and the latter a right-hander power bat—they both provide(d) a similar ability to outshine expectations and strengthen a shaky Orioles outfield.
Even with the injuries and slow starts, there’s still plenty of hope that this collection of Baltimore bats can produce an upper-echelon offense. And while Gunnar has been awesome so far, and the Polar Bear is getting back to his normal ways, the plus contributions from Ward and Taveras are a big part of why the O’s sit atop the AL East after the first 10% of the season.
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 12: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts after being awarded the Green Jacket during the Green Jacket Ceremony after winning the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Rory McIlroy won the Masters on Sunday. On some level it all is rather not surprising given the events of the last year and change. On another level it is completely shocking given that the golf world very recently wondered if he would ever secure a green jacket and he now has two.
Much has rightfully been made about how Rory is the first repeat winner at Augusta since Tiger Woods in 2001 and 2002. McIlroy is just the fourth ever to repeat at the tournament of all tournaments (Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo). It is a historic landmark to say the least.
Interestingly, this gives us another two-year run where a major champion is repeated across the landscape of men’s golf as Rory won a major in 2025 and now has taken home the first one in 2026. Obviously in this case they were the same tournament.
This unique run has happened a few times in recent history.
Scottie Scheffler from 2024 to 2025
To be perfectly clear we began 2026 with this particular happening taking place this past year.
Scottie Scheffler won the Masters for a second time himself in 2024 (2022), and in 2025 he famously won both the PGA Championship and Open Championship. I had a bit of a choice when it came to photos to use, didn’t I?
This marked the first time in a handful of years that a single player won a major in consecutive seasons.
Collin Morikawa from 2020 to 2021
Prior to Scottie last year the most recent instance of a player winning major titles in consecutive seasons was Collin Morikawa. It is impossible to forget how Morikawa stormed to victory during the PGA Championship at Harding Park in 2020, and a year later he himself took home the Claret Jug.
Brooks Koepka from 2017 through 2019
This is when things were particularly impressive.
Brooks Koepka not only won majors in consecutive seasons, but he won them in three straight. Koepka took home the U.S. Open in 2018, both the PGA Championship and U.S. Open in 2018, and then the PGA Championship once more in 2019 (he would go on to win the PGA again in 2023 obviously).
At the time of the 2019 PGA Championship win, Brooks was the defending champion twice over at both the PGA and U.S. Open. Obviously that would only last a little while before Gary Woodland won the U.S. Open in 2019 at Pebble Beach.
Rory McIlroy from 2011 to 2012
While there were a pair of years where players won multiple majors in the same year in the run-up to Brooks (Jordan Spieth in 2015 and Rory McIlroy in 2014), Brooks obviously did it himself in 2018 as noted, prior to the run just mentioned the two-year stretch where a player won a major in consecutive seasons was Rory once more. Quite the full circle here.
McIlroy’s first major championship came at the U.S. Open in 2011 and then he won the PGA Championship for the first time in 2012. He would win the event in again in 2014, after winning the Open Championship, and set up the drought that was broken last year which started this whole discussion and the Career Grand Slam opportunity that he finally met.
Who will be the next player to win majors in consecutive seasons? At the moment only Scottie Scheffler and J.J. Spaun (who won last year’s U.S. Open) are eligible to do it. Scottie can obviously win one for the third year in a row.
Rory will be again next year as well. Recent history shows it would be silly to bet against him.
It really felt like this year was his time but once again, he fell just short.
The 2013 U.S Open champion should be extremely proud of his efforts throughout the week at Augusta National, especially given his age.
Justin Rose makes difficult decision after The Masters
At the age of 45, it must be incredibly difficult for Rose to compete with the likes of Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Tommy Fleetwood week in, week out.
It is the first time he has decided not to play at Harbour Town Golf Links since 2022.
Rose loves the RBC Heritage and, of course, the golf course on which it is played.
Photo by Kieran Cleeves/Augusta National/Getty Images
So, withdrawing from the tournament would have been an extremely difficult decision for him to make, yet an essential one.
Moving forward, Rose will have to set up his schedule with energy conservation being the main aim.
Justin Rose playing fewer tournaments will be his ‘new normal’
He’ll be 46 in July and perhaps now he has come to the realization that he cannot play 20-plus tournaments every year anymore.
Maybe Rose will have to trim down his schedule to 15 or so tournaments every year so that he is better positioned to challenge for the majors.
In order to do this, he will need to cut some PGA Tour events that he likes to play from his schedule.
It will obviously be a very tough decision for Justin Rose to make, but it will be for the greater good, especially when it comes down to his hopes of adding another major championship title to his trophy haul.
Hilton Head is one of the most popular stops on the PGA Tour amongst the players.
So it cannot have been easy for Rose to make the decision to miss out on the RBC Heritage this week.
However, he clearly felt as though it was something he needed to do after yet another disappointing end to his week at The Masters.
Nov 11, 2025; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers forward Pryce Sandfort (21) shoots a three point basket against the Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks during the first half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images | Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
I got a great Nebraska Basketball Sweet 16 shirt in the mail today. It was exciting since I completely forgot that it was coming.
It made me smile thinking about what a great season it was, but news of both Frager and Sandfort’s return makes me hopeful for another great one next year.
I think there will be a lot to look forward to in Husker sports in the 2026-2027 seasons.
Nebraska Gears Up for NCAA Championships No. 4 Nebraska is set to compete at the NCAA Championships in Champaign, Ill., on April 17-18. The Huskers are in the first session on Friday at 1 p.m., which is the qualifying round.
Three Huskers Selected to U.S. U21 National Team USA Volleyball has selected 27 elite athletes for the 2026 U.S. Women’s U21 National Team which will train for a pair of major NORCECA age-group events this summer.
NORMAN, OKLAHOMA - SEPTEMBER 20: Defensive tackle Gracen Halton #56 and defensive lineman R Mason Thomas #32 of the Oklahoma Sooners celebrate after sacking quarterback Jackson Arnold #11 of the Auburn Tigers for a loss of four yards to the four yard line late in the fourth quarter at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 20, 2025 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma won 24-17. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There are many names to know for the 2026 NFL Draft, but the endless list of players can be narrowed down to those who have a fitting skillset for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Oklahoma defensive tackle Gracen Halton could be on that short list. Let’s take a closer look at the Halton:
Background
Halton was a big-time recruit who had offers from many major schools like Miami, Michigan, Penn State and Texas. Halton decided to attend the University of Oklahoma, playing under arguably the best defensive head coach in college football, Brent Venables.
Halton wasn’t a starter in his first two seasons, but he began flashing impressive play as a junior. He was a rotational player, but he did have five sacks and six tackles for loss. He put it all together in his senior year, becoming a second-team All-SEC defender. He had seven tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks with seven hurries as well.
Gracen Halton is a DT prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.70 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 63 out of 2046 DT from 1987 to 2026.
Halton’s size is a concern, as he is shorter than 6 feet 3 inches tall, under 300 pounds, with sub-32-inch arms. His athleticism attempts to overcome those disadvantages. He ran a 4.83-second 40-yard dash with a wild 1.7-second 10-yard split. He also jumped 36.5 inches in the vertical jump and 9 feet 6 inches in the broad jump.
Strengths
Halton is a slippery pass rusher who wins most with speed. His shorter frame makes it easier for him to get underneath the punch of guards. Halton also has impressive body control and bend in his lower half, maximizing his already-low pad level. Guards have a hard time latching onto Halton since he plays with a low center of gravity.
Halton’s explosiveness, combined with his body control, makes him an intriguing pass rusher. His first step is elite. He can quickly knife into the backfield and blow up plays. Halton will take chances to make big plays, and when it works, the payoff is valuable.
His lateral agility also shows up on twists. To play for defensive playcaller Brent Venables, you have to be laterally explosive. Venables loves designing exotic pressures. It puts a lot on his defensive linemen to have the speed and agility to quickly get across gaps before the ball gets out.
Halton was a great fit in that scheme. He can slide two or three gaps over and still get pressure because his lateral explosiveness is elite. When he gets over to those gaps, he can slip underneath blocks and turn upfield.
Oklahoma also uses stunts to mess with the eyes of offensive linemen when run blocking, and Halton was a great fit for that. He can be the “spear”, or the player clearing space for a defensive lineman to work behind him. He won’t move blockers out of their gap with his spear, but he can slip between blockers and get into the backfield. He is also quick enough to be the looper behind the spear. He can get back to the gap in time to make a tackle.
If Halton is on the field, the team will be sacrificing some run defense. Halton just doesn’t have the frame or mass to take on blocks consistently. When Halton faces double teams or downhill blocks, he can struggle to hold up.
Whoever drafts Halton will have to find ways to account for this. The NFL team will have to scheme stunts and slants to get him upfield. Halton will need to prove he can consistently beat NFL guards to the spot in run defense to justify having a team doing that. Slants and stunts can create impactful run stuffs, but they can also hurt a defense’s gap integrity and leave the unit vulnerable to big runs.
One thing that could help Halton is playing 4i or 5 technique on run downs. A 4i technique is the inside shoulder of a tackle, while a 5-technique is right off the outside shoulder. With this shade, his double teams would come from a tight end and a tackle. That would be easier for him to navigate. He would need to have some pass rush juice from that spot, and that appears to be there. He’s explosive and slippery enough to potentially make that work, but it’s a projection.
How he fits with the Chiefs
While I enjoy watching Halton, I will admit that his fit with defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott is questionable. Norman-Lott is more of a penetrating 1-technique than a three-technique, but you wouldn’t be able to play him and Halton on most downs. Combined, the two don’t have the size to defend the run. They could only play together in obvious passing situations.
In those scenarios, they should play well off each other. Both are explosive and slippery pass rushers who can get upfield and blow up plays. They could run stunts with each other since they can both spear and loop around each other.
The Bottom Line
Even though I like Halton, if Norman-Lott is healthy and the Chiefs believe in giving him a big role, then Halton doesn’t make as much sense for the team.
The question is whether Kansas City should be relying on Norman-Lott. Norman-Lott was a rotational pass rusher in college who played 15-20 snaps per game. In his limited time as a rookie, he didn’t flash too many positive moments. Then, he tore his ACL and is now coming off that injury.
Norman-Lott should come back healthy and contribute, but if he can’t, the Chiefs have to find more depth at defensive tackle. Starters Chris Jones and Khyris Tonga are a great start, but the depth behind them is bleak.
The Chiefs need a backup to Jones who can help rush the passer, and Halton’s one of the only three-techniques in the draft who can do that. He would be on my shortlist of options at pick No. 74.
Every week, we gather to discuss the latest news about the Dallas Cowboys and seek our writer’s perspective on each headline. Welcome back to the roundtable. This week we have Sean Martin, David Howman, and Jess Haynie.
What’s the most overlooked position group in this class for Dallas?
Mike: Running back. It’s easy to pencil in Javonte Williams as the guy and move on, but the room behind him is still a stack of question marks and what the ceiling is for each player. Cowboys do not have a proven RB2 who can handle 10–12 carries without the offense changing, they don’t have a consistent pass-protector that’s trusted on third down, and they certainly don’t have a true change-of-pace back who can manufacture explosive plays when blocking isn’t perfect. That’s why running back is the sneaky play in this class. The good news is they can add a Day 2/early Day 3 runner. It’s not the glamorous pick, but it’s one that keeps Dak Prescott out of 3rd-and-long and keeps the offense from being one-dimensional when Williams needs a breather.
Haynie: Based on what I hear people talking about, and not talking about, it might be quarterback. Our pipeline there is highly suspect, and Dak Prescott turns 33 this summer. Sam Howell and Joe Milton III may make an adequate QB2 competition, but do we really see either of them as a future starter? Granted, this is a rough QB draft class and maybe not the year to consider one. But if Schotty, Klayton Adams, and Steve Shimko really like a prospect in Day 3, why not add someone to the mix who could join that backup competition and maybe offer more developmental potential?
Howman: Offensive tackle. After this season, Terence Steele will be 30 years old and Tyler Guyton will have one year left on his rookie deal. Neither have been the model of consistency despite showing some flashes here and there. Unless the Cowboys feel absolutely confident in these two for the foreseeable future, they need to address the position somehow in the draft.
Sean: I’ve been banging this drum for a little while now, but it is still linebacker, even though it is not exactly “overlooked”. The draft is right upon us now, and talks of cornerback, safety, or pass rusher are still all the rave compared to finding a way for the Cowboys to address linebacker as early as possible. I understand how easy it is to want to just throw out the entire experience of witnessing the 2025 Cowboys defense, but if we actually try to remember what their strengths and weaknesses were on all three levels, linebacker was a horror show from nearly start to finish all season. The learning curve for players in a new scheme, which the Cowboys of course have under Christian Parker, can be steepest at linebacker, and someone from this position group may have to wear the green dot. Dallas needs to find answers right in the middle of their defense this draft.
Offensively, what is the bigger need heading into the draft, tackle depth or receiver depth?
Mike: Receiver has questions, especially with the uncertainty around George Pickens long-term. But the offense can survive a shaky WR2 week with scheme, it can’t survive leaky edges. With Terence Steele’s consistency still a week-to-week question on pass protection and Tyler Guyton not yet a lock to be a stable every-snap answer, Dallas is one injury or one bad matchup away from the entire playbook shrinking. When the tackles wobble, the offense loses its dropback menu, play-action gets rushed, the run game can’t set the edges, and Dak ends up living in 3rd-and-long. A swing tackle who can actually play isn’t a luxury, it’s insurance for the whole offense.
Haynie: I’d be more concerned about my starting tackles at this point than the backups, so that makes this a hard comparison. Talking strictly about backups, though, neither is in good shape. At WR, Turpin has proven to be more of a gadget player than a consistently reliable target. Mingo should probably be playing in the UFL at this point. Parris Campbell has barely played since 2023, and Traeshon Holden is an intriguing prospect but entirely unproven. At tackle, Nathan Thomas didn’t live up to the camp/preseason hype in the playing time he got last year. It was a redshirt rookie season for him, though, so you hope for some growth in 2026. Same for Ajani Cornelius, who was inactive for 16 games and only played seven special teams snaps the one time he dressed. But those are things to be hoped for, not relied on. Ideally, if Dallas is drafting an OT, it’s a guy who can provide an immediate depth boost and hopefully be a starter in the next few years. Even if Guyton works out, we’ll still need to replace Steele. So that’s the bigger need all around, even if WR depth ain’t pretty.
Howman: My answer to the first question probably makes this obvious, but I also think the wide receiver position is an underrated need. We know CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens are your top two guys, but after that? Ryan Flournoy emerged last year but can he be the full time WR3? And what if anyone gets injured? Count me as concerned about the depth of the receiver room.
Sean: If we want to continue down the road of believing this team is in “win now mode”, the answer here is wide receiver. There will be a lot of teams around the league that can do worse on the depth chart at tackle than Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele as starters with upside on Nate Thomas, T.J. Bass, or Ajani Cornelius as backups. Receiver has been a perpetual need for a while, but having George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb together last year was also the closest the Cowboys have come to having the position locked up in some time too. The right win now move would be to continue fostering good depth here.
What’s the ideal strategy for Dallas on Day 2 of the draft? Trade up from pick 92, or trade down to add volume?
Mike: Trade down to add volume is the answer unless a very specific target falls into Dallas’ lap at a reasonable cost. Pick 92 is the part of the draft where Dallas needs to find tackle depth insurance, a rotational pass rusher, a functional RB2, or maybe another defensive back. The draft is a lottery, so the more tickets you have, the more chance you have at sticking rich, especially at the positions mentioned. If there’s a consensus top-60 talent sliding then fine go get him and move on. Otherwise, let the board come to you and stack picks with a trade down.
Haynie: If 92 get traded, it’s more likely that it gets used to help Dallas move up on Thursday night, as they could potentially go from 12th to 9th or 20th to 16th with that in the package. But I can’t say what the “ideal” strategy is until I see who falls. It may be that the perfect guy is right there at 92, making all trade talk moot. I know that’s kind of a non-answer, but in-game adjustments are usually what separate winners and losers.
Howman: I’m always on Team Trade Down, but I’m also a fan of letting the draft come to you. See what’s available at 92 – specifically, see who falls to you – and if there’s a big name at a position you don’t need, pick up the phone and start dialing.
Sean: As we get closer and closer to these picks actually being made, the momentum seems to be in favor of quality players lasting on the board longer and longer. The Cowboys can use all of the capital they can get, but at the end of the day need those quality players more than anything, so sticking with this top 100 pick will hopefully remain the best option after night one.
Those problems have been added to by the news that Mohammed Kudus has suffered a setback in his recovery and looks set to miss the rest of the season, along with defender Cristian Romero who was forced off in tears with a knee injury in the loss to Sunderland.
We’ve had a look at the numbers which outline just how much injuries have impacted the club over the last two years…
2024/25
According to Premier Injuries, only Brighton & Hove Albion’s injured players were out for more total days than Tottenham’s last season.
Spurs players were injured for a combined 1,553 days last season and missed a total of 193 games.
They suffered 41 injuries in which players were forced to miss games – the third most in the league behind Brighton and Ipswich.
While they ended the season in 17th, there was little danger of relegation given the gap to the bottom three, and also won the Europa League. But there is no doubt injuries played a big part in their domestic struggles.
Many of those who contributed to that record were key players too. Micky van de Ven, Romero, Richarlison, Guglielmo Vicario and Dominic Solanke all missed prolonged periods.
Problems continued into this campaign
Former Spurs boss Thomas Frank, taking over from Ange Postecoglou last summer, identified the need to improve the availability of the players as a key area which would help the team to progress from the previous season’s disappointment.
Unfortunately for Frank, who was sacked in February, that proved not to be the case.
According to Transfermarkt, Spurs players have missed more than 200 league games this season combined, a number which will continue to rise given the already confirmed absences for the remainder of the campaign.
Two of Tottenham’s key creators, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, have missed the entirety of the campaign so far with serious knee injuries.
Dominic Solanke again missed considerable game time, being sidelined for half of the campaign, while others including Wilson Odobert, Destiny Udogie, Mohammed Kudus and Ben Davies have also been sidelined for prolonged periods.
There is also the element of players needing time to get up to speed again following their lengthy absences. Many, understandably, were not able to make an immediate impact on their returns.
There are clearly other issues at Spurs too, and even considering the injury crisis, there is a huge surprise at where they find themselves at this stage of the season. But it continues to be a major problem which is devastating the club.
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It was a big day for the Detroit Lions on Monday, but not because of anything on the field.
Instead, all eyes were on head coach Dan Campbell, who officially hit the big 5-0.
And if you know Lions fans, you already know, they love anything behind the scenes when it comes to “MCDC.”
Holly Delivers for the Fans
Thankfully, Campbell’s wife, Holly, came through in a big way.
To celebrate the milestone birthday, she posted a fun mashup video on Instagram filled with candid moments, photos, and clips that gave fans a rare glimpse into the lighter side of Detroit’s head coach.
And let’s just say… it did not disappoint.
From family moments to classic Dan Campbell energy, the video captured exactly why players—and fans—connect with him the way they do.
More Than Just a Football Coach
Campbell has built a reputation as one of the most intense, passionate coaches in the NFL.
But moments like this are a reminder there’s another side, too.
The family man. The guy who jokes around. The one who isn’t always delivering fiery press conferences or biting kneecaps.
It’s that balance that’s helped define the culture in Detroit.
Lions Fans Show the Love
As expected, the video quickly made the rounds, with fans flooding social media to wish Campbell a happy birthday.
And honestly, it’s easy to see why.
He’s not just the head coach, he’s become the face of the franchise and a huge reason why the energy around this team feels different.
The Bottom Line
Turning 50 is a milestone, and Holly made sure it was celebrated the right way.
A fun, behind-the-scenes look at Dan Campbell? Yeah… Lions fans will take that every time.
Former Ohio State and Pickerington Central forward Devin Royal will play his final season of college basketball at Villanova.
Royal, a three-year contributor and two-year starter for the Buckeyes, announced his commitment to the Wildcats with posts to social media on April 13. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
Ohio State's second-leading rebounder in each of the past two seasons, Royal averaged 10.6 points and 4.9 rebounds while playing in 96 games at Ohio State. In his last two years as a starter, Royal averaged 13.7 points both seasons while moving from power forward to small forward in 2025-26.
The transfer portal opened April 7. You can keep tabs on Ohio State's roster with our tracker by clicking here.
Ohio State men's basketball beat writer Adam Jardy can be reached at ajardy@dispatch.com, on Bluesky at @cdadamjardy.bsky.social or on Twitter at @AdamJardy.
Barcelona said the officials made "a major error" but Uefa has waved away their protest [Getty Images]
Barcelona's complaint over a "grave lack of VAR intervention" during last week's 2-0 Champions League defeat by Atletico Madrid has been dismissed by Uefa.
European football's governing body has declared the club's protest "inadmissible".
Hansi Flick's side were denied a penalty in the 54th minute of the quarter-final first leg when Atletico defender Marc Pubill handled the ball in the visitors' box.
Pubill, who had received a yellow card earlier in the game, stopped the ball with his hand after goalkeeper Juan Musso had appeared to restart play with a goal-kick.
Barcelona players appealed for a penalty but referee Istvan Kovacs allowed play to continue and Video Assistant Referee Christian Dingert did not intervene.
"The club considers that the refereeing did not adhere to the current law, directly influencing how the game progressed and the result," Barcelona said on Thursday.
They described it as "a major error" and asked for "an investigation be opened" into the matter.
But on Tuesday Uefa said: "The Uefa Control Ethics and Disciplinary Body declared the protest to be inadmissible."
The clubs meet in the second leg on Tuesday night at Atletico's Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium, with the hosts holding a 2-0 lead on aggregate after securing their first win at the Nou Camp since 2006 last week.
New Denver Broncos wide receiver Jaylen Waddle is embracing his new team in earnest.
Since the blockbuster trade for the star wide receiver, Waddle has been the center of attention in the Denver media. Waddle has been rubbing shoulders with all levels of Broncos brass, from a dinner with quarterback Bo Nix and front office staff to being a topic of discussion at the annual league meetings at the beginning of April. Now, he's starting to flash his skills as the beginning of offseason workouts draw near.
In a 16-second video posted on Instagram, the pass catcher flashed a lot of Broncos swag while practicing his craft. Waddle wore a white Broncos pullover and was shown flashing his speed in a throwback Broncos long-sleeve shirt. You can watch the clip below.
Waddle grinning ear to ear is a fantastic sign. He's in line to be a featured target in the Bo Nix-led offense under the direction of new offensive coordinator Davis Webb in 2026. After three 1,000+ yard seasons in five years, Waddle could have another big year for a Denver team with championship aspirations.
Tiger Woods plans to finally exorcise his demons with a no-holds-barred tell-all after beating his reported pill-popping habit in rehab following his DUI arrest in Florida, sources say.
“One of Tiger’s biggest issues is that he holds everything in,” an insider says. “He’s known for being intensely secretive.”
“His mother is the only person he’s ever really trusted, so her death [in 2025] hit him incredibly hard. It’s a big reason he slid off the rails after that.”
Martin County Sheriff’s Office
As the National Enquirer reported, the five-time Masters champ was cuffed after crawling from the wreckage of his flipped Land Rover on Jupiter Island on March 27, and a police report alleges that in the 50-year-old billionaire’s left pants pocket were two hydrocodone pills, opioids typically used for chronic pain.
Investigators suspect Woods, whose breath test registered zero signs of booze, may have been under the influence of a medication or drug as his eyes were “bloodshot and glassy.”
According to court documents, he pleaded not guilty to charges of misdemeanor DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test for allegedly not agreeing to a urinalysis screening.
He later released a statement that he would “seek treatment.”
Martin County Sheriff’s Office
Sources say galpal Vanessa Trump is a source of comfort and strength. But the insider adds, “Tiger is still an extremely fragile, paranoid character, and he carries a ton of PTSD and regret with him from those dark days when he was cheating on Elin Nordegren, [his ex-wife] and the chaos that’s engulfed his life ever since.”
As the Enquirer was the first to report, skirt-chasing Woods stepped out on his marriage with multiple women, causing his union with the Swedish stunner to implode in 2009.
“He needs a total reset, but above all else to face his demons head-on and with total honesty,” the insider explains. “Tiger is finally waking up to that, which is why he plans to set the record straight. But first things first, he needs to get sober and tuck himself away for a while. Thankfully, he has the money and a ton of loved ones rooting for him.”
The 2025 season for the Iowa Hawkeyes was largely defined by the usual suspects. This team played strong defense, ran the ball incredibly well behind a stout offensive line, and won games in the forgotten third of the game, special teams.
The latter two, the offensive line play and special teams, singlehandedly won games on multiple occasions this year. The offensive line took home the Joe Moore Award and is led by two future NFL talents, Gennings Dunker and Logan Jones, each of whom has earned a "best at" in ESPN's NFL Draft superlatives.
Jones is steady in pass protection and had experience in a multiple-run scheme at Iowa. He has the field awareness to identify pressure and late movement to anchor the offensive front.
Dunker could make a move to guard in the NFL, but that won't impact his play demeanor. He looks to bury defenders on combo blocks, and he will drive linebackers out of the screen when he gets his hands on them at the second level. It's a double-chinstrap game when you line up against Dunker. - Matt Bowen, ESPN
On the special teams side of things, Iowa flipped multiple games on its head this year with electrifying special teams plays when elite return man Kaden Wetjen got his hands on the ball. One of the most explosive players in all of college football, he has NFL special teams coaches salivating with his innate ability to find green and burst through it for game-changing plays.
Wetjen is fearless in the return game, with the vision and open-field burst to create explosive plays. He returned three punts and one kickoff for a touchdown in 2025, and he had 10 punt returns of 20 or more yards -- the most in the FBS. - Matt Bowen, ESPN
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald7
UEFA reject Barceona complaint over supposed Marc Pubill handball decision
UEFA have decided that they will not acknowledge Barcelona’s complain over a potential handball from Marc Pubill during their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Atletico Madrid.The decision, not given by referee Istvan Kovacs, incensed Barcelona manager Hansi Flick.
The German manager was furious after the incident, asking ‘what VAR was for?’ in his post-match press conference. Atletico goalkeeper Juan Musso appeared to take a goal-kick in the second half, playing the ball to Pubill, who then stopped the ball with his hand in the six-yard box, seemingly wanting to take the goal-kick himself.
However UEFA have not seen it the same way. Although they do not give a reason as to why, UEFA have considered Barcelona’s complaint ‘inadmissible’.
“Following the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final between FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, played on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, FC Barcelona lodged a protest concerning a refereeing decision. On April 13, 2026, the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body declared the protest inadmissible.”
At any rate, the process of filing a complaint was merely a formal form of protest, and had it been accepted, UEFA would not have taken any action off the back of it.
Flick and Simeone on officiating
Ahead of the second leg, Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone said that he was ‘not thinking about referees’ when asked about the impact of the officials on the game. Flick said that he was ‘calm now’, but did note that he would cross his fingers that ‘things went their way’ in the second leg, citing Pubill’s handball decision as something that went Atletico’s way last week.
Paulo Costa shared his reaction after meeting Donald Trump at UFC 327, following a dominant victory that further boosted his standing in the division.
The Brazilian fighter delivered a statement performance against Azamat Murzakanov, securing a third-round knockout in front of a high-profile crowd in Miami.
With the spotlight already on him after the win, his interaction with Trump quickly became another talking point. It added an unexpected layer to a night that was already significant for Costa.
Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC
Paulo Costa reacts to meeting Donald Trump after UFC 327 win
Costa took to social media following the event, sharing his thoughts via BorrachinhaMMA after the interaction.
He wrote, “Thank you very much, Mr. President, for the high praise words about me and the great conversation. [It] was a huge pleasure meeting and fight in front of your audience. GOD BLESS YOU.”
The message reflects how much the moment meant to Costa, who had just come off an emphatic win that showcased both his power and composure inside the octagon. Performing in front of a prominent audience only added to the occasion.
His victory over Murzakanov marked a key moment in his recent run, with the knockout finish reinforcing his credentials as a serious contender moving forward. The post-fight interaction simply extended the spotlight beyond the cage.
Donald Trump praises Paulo Costa after knockout victory
Trump also acknowledged Costa’s performance, offering strong praise following the fight and their brief exchange at the event.
He said, “Congratulations to Paulo Costao on a great UFC fight last night in Miami. He will absolutely be a future champion. It was great talking to him outside the ring after his big victory last night in Miami!”
The endorsement adds to the momentum surrounding Costa, particularly after a performance that already placed him back in the conversation among top fighters in his division.
Recognition of that level, especially immediately after a win, further highlights the impression he made on the night.
With confidence restored and attention firmly back on him, Costa’s next steps could prove crucial as he looks to build toward a potential title opportunity.
Match Officials: Anthony Taylor to referee Manchester City vs Arsenal
The Premier League have confirmed the list of match officials to oversee this weekend’s mammoth top-flight clash between Manchester City and Arsenal.
Pep Guardiola and his players cut the gap between themselves and Mikel Arteta’s league leaders to six points across the weekend, after the Gunners fell to a 1-2 home defeat against Bournemouth and City recorded an impressive 0-3 win at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge.
With only a handful of matches remaining in the ongoing Premier League campaign, there is little margin for error for City in particular, but their game in hand on Arsenal and the clash with the North London club on Sunday could prove monumental for their title hopes.
A win for Manchester City this weekend would make it a statement, unbeaten season against Arsenal, having managed a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium in the reverse fixture and a 0-2 Carabao Cup final victory at Wembley Stadium last month.
In a significant boost for Pep Guardiola, his club captain and heavily relied upon midfielder Bernardo Silva will be available for selection, having avoided a 10th yellow card of the season against Chelsea last time out.
And ahead of the meeting between Manchester City and Arsenal, the Premier League have now announced the list of match officials to oversee proceedings at the Etihad Stadium!
Match Referee
With a high-stakes fixture up for grabs this weekend, the Premier League have handed on-field match referee duties to the hugely experienced Anthony Taylor – who will also be headed to this summer’s FIFA World Cup in North America.
The 47-year-old Manchester-born official has overseen matches across the Premier League, UEFA Champions League and qualification, UEFA Europa League, FA Cup, UEFA Conference League, and World Cup Qualification Play-offs.
In those 36 outings prior to the Champions League quarter-final second-leg ties, Taylor has issued a total of 141 yellow cards, two second yellow card dismissals, two straight red cards, and seven penalties awarded.
Manchester City have seen themselves officiated by Anthony Taylor on 50 previous occasions, winning 27 of those matches, drawing 10, and losing the remaining 13 such contests.
This season alone, City have met with Taylor in three matches including both of the Manchester Derby clashes with bitter rivals United; winning 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium and losing 2-0 at Old Trafford. The other fixture was a 3-1 home win over Bournemouth.
Assistant Referees
Accompanying referee Anthony Taylor out on the pitch at the Etihad Stadium this weekend will be Gary Beswick and Ian Hussin, appointed as the contest’s assistant referees.
Video Assistant Referees
Monitoring proceedings between Manchester City and Arsenal from the VAR Hub at Stockley Park will be Video Assistant Referee John Brooks, supported by Stuart Burt in the role of Assistant Video Assistant Referee.
Fourth Official
Standing between the two dugouts in what is likely to be a very lively affair off the pitch as well as on it, will be referee Paul Tierney – appointed as the game’s fourth official to manage matters between Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta.
Rory McIlroy battled nerves, pressure and the rest of the field at Augusta National to claim a second title at The Masters.
It was far from easy for the Northern Irishman, who entered the major tournament with a target on his back after claiming the green jacket in 2025.
A stunning start to the competition eased that pressure, only for McIlroy to blow his record-breaking six-shot lead after 36 holes.
McIlroy was, however, able to recover to claim a one-stroke win over Scottie Scheffler, using all of his talent and knowledge of Augusta to eventually get over the line.
But such knowledge of the course has since been called into question, although his fellow PGA Tour player Michael Kim has shut down such suggestions.
Michael Kim shuts down claims Rory McIlroy had an unfair advantage at The Masters
Reacting to the verdict that McIlroy had an unfair advantage by getting to practice at Augusta so much in the lead-up to the event, Kim wrote on X: “Yes, there’s a number of rounds that ANGC will say no to for me to go by myself and play by myself.
“That number is prob a little lower for me than a guy like Rory.
“If you find a member to host you every time, there’s no limit.
“I had plenty of chances to go to ANGC myself if I wanted to but didn’t go.
“Better use of my time practicing at home or wherever I am to get my game in better shape for my next tournament.
“Course knowledge only gets you so far.
“Plenty of golfers have even more experience at Augusta than Rory like Justin Rose.”
Clarifying his comments after plenty of reaction to his post, Kim added: “It is not unfair or an advantage people.
“It’s irrelevant to the result is my point. I guess my writing needs to get better.”
The one-time PGA Tour winner also noted: “If I wanted to match the number of the rounds at Augusta that Rory got, I easily could have done that.”
Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Rory McIlroy’s expert approach at Augusta paid off
It’s certainly helpful insight from Kim, who also played at The Masters but failed to make the cut.
At the other end of the leaderboard was McIlroy, who will definitely have learned a lot about the iconic course through practicing on it so much in recent times.
But he was simply using every tool he had available to him to try and win The Masters, which is ultimately what unfolded.
Practicing at Augusta so much was arguably an advantage, but certainly not an unfair one, with his rivals having had the chance to do the same.
No rules were broken by the defending champion, who incidentally will be paying zero attention to the post-Masters discussion.
The newly-crowned six-time major winner will still be celebrating his latest victory, having clearly worked extremely hard to be in the best possible shape for The Masters.
He’s now taking a well-earned rest from the PGA Tour, which returns this week with the RBC Heritage, where Kim is in the field following his missed cut in Georgia.
Colin Calderwood has also managed Nottingham Forest, Hibernian and Cambridge United [Getty Images]
Interim boss Colin Calderwood insists there is a "really buoyant" mood in the Northampton Town squad despite being on the brink of relegation.
The Cobblers will go down to League Two if they fail to win at Luton Town on Wednesday - and even if they do, a point for AFC Wimbledon against Stockport would almost certainly seal their fate.
Northampton have won only one of their last 21 matches - and lost all five since technical director Calderwood was put in charge following the sacking of Kevin Nolan on 9 March.
The Scot told BBC Radio Northampton that the squad's attitude "doesn't bear any relation to our situation and the results we've had".
He said: "Resilience is an important factor when you're a sportsman - you've got to come back from defeat and disappointment and we are right in the midst of that at the minute.
"As much as we can, we look forward to a really exciting game away at Luton and we'll try and put some of the energy and good stuff that we've shown (in training) this week on the pitch in the match."
Northampton have not played since a 3-1 home defeat by Wigan on 6 April and will be up against a Luton side looking for a place in the play-offs, under Jack Wilshere, after lifting the Vertu Trophy at Wembley on Sunday.
Despite that, and Luton's four wins in their last five league games, Calderwood wants his side to play on the front foot as much as possible and try to create more goal opportunities.
They have only scored 34 goals in 41 League One matches this term, the second-lowest tally in the division.
"[We need] to have more efforts at goal, put the opposition under threat, make them defend the box, whether that be off crosses or dribbles, and make sure numbers keep arriving in there.
"We are going to try and upset the applecart a little bit and start to get a bit of happiness and success and joy on the football pitch," Calderwood said.
"The boys certainly haven't given up, they're really applying themselves, trying to get better - small individual improvement leading into team improvement, that's what we're striving for.
"It's quite interesting to watch and doesn't surprise me because if you take a backward step or switch off, it's a real assassination of your own personality and character - I don't see that at all."
Luton won 1-0 at Northampton in October and also beat them in the Trophy semi-finals at Kenilworth Road last month.
Calderwood added: "They stretched us in lots of moments and I expect more of the same. Is there a more awkward game to go into? Probably not after the weekend."
We asked for your views on whether Fulham have achieved enough in the Premier League, 25 years to the day on from first winning promotion to the top flight under Jean Tigana.
Here are some of your replies:
Billy: Honestly? No. Fulham should have at least won a trophy, either an FA Cup or League Cup, by now. There is something in the club mentality that stops us from reaching our potential. We are always nearly there, but not nearly enough. You have to think about why we cannot compete at a higher level.
Jim: There are probably more than 80 teams that would be more than happy to swap their last 25 years with ours. Any long-term Fulham supporter wouldn't swap the last 25 years for our previous 25 years.
Ali: For the money spent and the players let go, constant mid-table is a success. The bigger success will be the rebuild if Marco Silva, Raul Jimenez and Harry Wilson leave this season, and in a couple years players like Bernd Leno leave - the types who have been starters since we came up last time. Watching teams like West Ham and Wolves - who were in Europe recently - struggle made me realise you're one bad manager or a few signings away from that bottom three.
David: I saw my first Fulham game in 1947, aged six. I have followed them ever since and I am still seldom confident, especially when playing lower-ranked teams, but true love never dies.
Chris: Unfortunately we badly invested in that 2001 season, where a multi-millionaire owner would have made a difference (thinking of the likes of Jack Waller etc). Once Abramovich came in, billionaire owners were needed for instant success and we never truly kicked on. We then became a selling club and lost the few stars we had in those first two seasons, within half a decade. Since then, there have been some highlights but we have missed great opportunities to get a trophy. We will likely drop down in the next couple of seasons, especially with the PSR/FFP rules.
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Wardley enters the main-event showdown with an unbeaten record, having bailed himself out in his last two fights; against Justis Huni then Joseph Parker, the Ipswich boxer was down on the scorecards when he secured late knockouts.
The October win over Parker saw Wardley, 31, win the interim WBO title, which was later upgraded when Oleksandr Usyk vacated the regular belt. And Wardley may be able to edge closer to a fight with Usyk if he can overcome Dubois, 28.
Fabio Wardley (left) will defend the WBO title against Daniel Dubois (Getty)
Wardley vs Dubois will take place on Saturday 9 May at the Co-op Live in Manchester. Timings for the event have not yet been announced, but the main card will likely begin at 7pm BST (11am PT / 1pm CT / 2pm ET), with main-event ring walks following at around 10pm BST (2pm PT / 4pm CT / 5pm ET).
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Fight card in full
Subject to change; ‘C’ denotes champion
Wardley, down on the scorecards, stopped Joseph Parker last time out (Getty)
Fabio Wardley (C) vs Daniel Dubois (WBO heavyweight title)
Jared Anderson vs Solomon Dacres (heavyweight)
Jack Rafferty vs Ekow Essuman (super-lightweight)
Liam Cameron vs Bradley Rea (light-heavyweight)
Khaleel Majid vs Gavin Gwynne (super-lightweight)
We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
Lee Sharpe bewildered by Man United’s performance vs Leeds United
A three-week break in the middle of the season is “not an excuse” for the performance Michael Carrick’s Manchester United side produced against Leeds United last night, says club icon Lee Sharpe.
Speaking exclusively to The Peoples Person courtesy of football betting site BetWright, Sharpe said the Red Devils missed key players, but the real issue in the 2-1 defeat was the mental approach to the game.
“I think they missed Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo,” Sharpe said. “I was surprised he left Mbeumo out because I think he’s been doing pretty well and he’s an outlet with his pace up front and scoring goals.”
“I just don’t think they were at it. They didn’t pass it well enough. They didn’t play quick enough. I don’t think the long break between games is doing them any favours. No, but at Old Trafford, you’ve got to be prepared, you’ve got to be ready and you’ve got to start on the front foot. And they just didn’t get going at all until the sending off, really.”
We asked whether the extended break was reason enough to explain the lack of intensity.
“It’s not an excuse,” he insisted. “I’m just trying to think of reasons why you would come out at Old Trafford and be so flat and start so slowly and allow Leeds to take the impetus into the game.”
“Really there’s no reason for it at all, they should be excited after having a break, they should be full of energy, busting a gut, ready to explode out on the pitch and it didn’t seem to happen.”
Is the Carrick revolution starting to unravel?
“I don’t know about unravel,” the former England man mused. “We do have to realise that we need some players. I think that was the case under Amorim. I think the formation was a question mark over Amorim’s tenure. But there’s no doubt we need strength in depth and we need some better players.”
Who did Sharpe think were the weak links?
“I think Ugarte struggled,” he said. “Yoro was a bit of an issue. But then you’ve got Martinez that’s coming back after a long term injury that’s not probably up to speed and ready for a start, which can then put Yoro a little bit unsettled after having such a settled centre-half in Harry Maguire.”
“Next to an experienced player that’s playing really well, you’ve got someone that’s had a long time out and he’s not quite up to the pace of the game. I think that showed last night.”
“Plus I think Calvert-Lewin is an exceptional player on his day and I think he gave Yoro all sorts of problems. So let’s not take away from, from Calvert-Lewin. I think he’s top drawer on his day.”
“Decisions have to be made and Martinez had to come in. He needs minutes on the pitch. But, in these situations you usually get time to bring someone on for half an hour at the end of the game, then play them for an hour.”
Why did Carrick not trust Ayden Heaven?
“I’m just guessing that two young centre-halves he maybe thought [had] a lack of experience between the two of them. He put a bit of experience in there and it didn’t quite work out,” Sharpe explained.
Part two of our exclusive interview with Lee Sharpe will be published tomorrow on thepeoplesperson.com.
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