Anthony Joshua’s two-fight 2026 deal has been announced, with once again not part of the Briton’s plans, despite a resurgence. Wilder’s team have now reacted to the news that Joshua will instead face Kristian Prenga before a fight with at the end of the year. ‘AJ’ was called out by Fury following the latter’s triumph […]
Eddie Hearn believes he has a ‘giant’ on his books who can bring a heavyweight world title back to Matchroom Boxing. The announcement of Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury later this year looks set to close out a generation and welcome the new school, with the likes of Moses Itauma and Fabio Wardley poised to […]
Hall of Fame inductee Tim Bradley sees only one man emerging triumphant in a potential showdown between and . It was reported on Monday that preliminary talks had begun for an all-American clash later this year, though Stevenson later denied any negotiations had taken place. If the two American stars do meet, several details would […]
Şampiyonluğunu ilan etmeye bir adım kala Galatasaray'da transfer çalışmalarına start verildi. Sarı-kırmızılılar Türk oyuncular Bertuğ Yıldırım ve Deniz Gül'ü gündemine aldı.
Fenerbahçe’yi 3-0 mağlup ederek zirvedeki yerini sağlamlaştıran Galatasaray, şampiyonluk kutlamaları için gün sayarken bir yandan da gelecek sezonun çalışmalarına start verdi. Sezon sonunda yollarını ayıracak olan futbolcuların alternatifleri için harekete geçen sarı-kırmızılılar Türk futbolculara yöneldi.
Galatasaray gelecek sezonun kadro planlamasında Bertuğ Yıldırım ve Deniz Gül'ü gündemine aldı. Hucüm hattına Türk oyuncularla destek vermek isteyen sarı-kırmızılılar Porto’da sergilediği performansla dikkatleri üzerine çeken milli futbolcu Deniz Gül ve Başakşehir forması giyen Bertuğ Yıldırım'ı transfer listesine ekledi.
Şampiyonluk umutlarını bu senede tüketen Fenerbahçe'de Dorgeles Nene'ye talip çıktı.
Son olarak Galatasaray'a 3-0 mağlup olmasının ardından şampiyonluk umutlarını yitiren Fenerbahçe'de takımdan gidecek ve kalacak oyuncular da belli olacak. Sezonun bitmesine kısa bir süre kala da teklifler gelmeye başladı.
NENE'YE TALİP VAR
Almanya'dan Borussia Dortmund'un 23 yaşındaki Nene'ye talip olduğu öğrenildi. Borussia Dortmund, Dorgeles Nene transferi için Fenerbahçe'ye ilgi mektubu gönderdi. Fenerbahçe'de bu sezon 39 maçta süre bulan Malili futbolcu, 11 gol attı ve 10 asist yaptı.
Galatasaray'da Lucas Torreira'nın geleceği belirsizliğini korurken sürpriz bir iddia gündeme geldi. Başarılı futbolcunun aşk acısı çektiği için takımdan ayrılmak istediği öğrenildi.
Galatasaray'ın başarılı futbolcusu Lucas Torreira ile yolun sonuna geldi gibi duruyor...Türk oyuncu Devrim Özkan ile bir dargın bir barışık aşk yaşayan başarılı futbolcunun ayrılığın ardından sıkıntılı günler geçirdiği öğrenildi.
TAKIMDAN AYRILMAK İSTİYOR
Torreira'nın takımdan ayrılmak istediği öğrenildi. Başarılı futbolcunun Devrim Özkan'dan ayrılmasının ardından aşk acısını atlatamadığı bu nedenle ülkesine geri dönmek istediği öğrenildi. Torreira, ayrıldıktan sonra katıldığı bir programda Devrim Özkan'a aşık olduğunu itiraf etmişti.
Galatasaray'ın ara transfer döneminde kadrosuna kattığı Noa Lang'ın geleceği netleşti. Başarılı futbolcu sezon sonunda Napoli'ye geri dönecek.
Şampiyonluk için geri sayıma geçen Galatasaray bir yandan da yeni sezon için kadro çalışmalarına start verdi. Teknik direktör Okan Buruk takımda kalacak ve gidecek oyuncuları belirlemeye başladı. Ara transfer döneminde Napoli'den kiralık olarak Galatasaray'ın kadrosuna dahil olan Lang'ın geleceği de netlik kazandı.
GERİ DÖNECEK
İtalyan basınından La Gazzetta dello Sport'ta yer alan haber göre; Ara transfer döneminde sarı-kırmızılı ekibe kiralık olarak transfer olan Noa Lang, sezon sonu Napoli'ye geri dönebilir. Haberde Galatasaray'ın Noa Lang'ın satın alma opsiyonunu kullanmama kararı aldığı vurgulandı.
BEŞİKTAŞ İSTİYORDU
Öte yandan son günlerde Noa Lang için Beşiktaş iddiasıda gündeme gelmişti. Beşiktaş Başkanı Serdal Adalı'nın transfer için bizzat harekete geçtiği ve Napoli kulübüyle iletişim halinde olduğu öğrenilmişti. Lang'ın nasıl bir karar vereceği ise henüz bilinmiyor.
Galatasaray Çağdaş Faktoring gelecek sezon hazırlıklarına başladı. Sarı-kırmızılılar geçen sezonu Fenerbahçe'de tamamlayan milli oyuncu Sevgi Uzun'la anlaşma sağladı.
Fenerbahçe Kadın Basketbol Takımı sezonu büyük başarılarla bitirmiş ve kazanılmadık kupa bırakmamıştı. Yeni sezon öncesi Fenerbahçe'de sürpriz bir ayrılık yaşanacak.
Fenerbahçe Kadın Basketbol Takımı'nın milli oyuncusu Sevgi Uzun'un ezeli rakip Galatasaray ile iki yıllık anlaşma sağladığı iddia edildi. İddialara göre, Galatasaray, geçen sezonu Fenerbahçe'de tamamlayan milli oyuncu Sevgi Uzun'la 2 yıllık anlaşma sağladı.
KISA SÜREDE İMZA ATACAK
A Milli Takım havuzunda da yer alan 27 yaşındaki oyuncunun kısa süre içinde resmi sözleşmeye imza atması bekleniyor. Kariyerinde Beşiktaş altyapısından yetiştikten sonra Çukurova Basketbol, Ormanspor, BOTAŞ ve Fenerbahçe gibi önemli kulüplerde forma giyen Sevgi Uzun, özellikle oyun kurma becerisi, saha görüşü ve skorer kimliğiyle öne çıkıyor.
Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray'a 3-0 mağlup olmasının ardından teknik direktör Domenico Tedesco ve ekibi ile yollarını ayırmıştı. Tedesco, bugün Samandıra'ya gelerek futbolcularla vedalaştı. Fenerbahçe'den konuya dair açıklama geldi.
Fenerbahçe'de yönetim radikal bir karar alarak teknik direktör Domenico Tedesco ve ekibiyle yollarını ayırdı. Tedesco, bugün Samandıra'ya geldi. Taraftarların yoğun ilgisiyle karşılaşan tecrübeli teknik adam futbolcularla da vedalaştı.
FENERBAHÇE'DEN AÇIKLAMA GELDİ
Öte yandan Fenerbahçe'den de açıklama geldi:
-Sezon başında futbol takımımızın teknik direktörlük görevine getirilen, geçtiğimiz günlerde ise kulübümüzle yolları ayrılan Teknik Direktör Domenico Tedesco, bugün Fenerbahçe Can Bartu Tesislerimize gelerek futbolcularımızla vedalaştı. Duygularını paylaşan teknik adam, ardından oyuncularımıza başarı dileklerini iletti. Domenico Tedesco ve ekibine kulübümüze yaptıkları katkılardan dolayı teşekkür eder; bundan sonraki kariyerlerinde başarılar dileriz.
Galatasaray, bu akşam RAMS Park'ta taraftara açık antrenman gerçekleştirecek.
Galatasaray, 29 Nisan Çarşamba günü RAMS Park'ta taraftara açık antrenman düzenleneceğini açıklamıştı. Antrenman bu akşam gerçekleştirilecek.
Öte yandan Galatasaray; Elmander, Hasan Kabze, Hakan Ünsal, Suat Kaya, Emre Aşık, Necati Ateş, Hasan Şaş gibi eski oyuncuları taraftara açık antrenmana davet etti.
Sarı - kırmızılılar, bu akşam saat 20.00’de RAMS Park’ta taraftara açık antrenman gerçekleştirecek.
Bu gün AFFA İntizam Komitəsinin növbəti iclası keçirilib, İkinci Liqanın 24-cü turunun oyunları ilə bağlı aşağıdakı bəzi qəbul edilib.
Arena.az AFFA-nın rəsmi saytına istinadən həmin qərarların siyahısını təqdim edir:
“Araz Saatlı” – “Göygöl” oyununda “Göygöl”ün 4 futbolçusu sarı vərəqə aldığı üçün sözügedən komanda 70 manat cərimə edilib.
“Xankəndi” – “Qaradağ Lökbatan” oyununda “Xankəndi”nin 4 futbolçusu sarı vərəqə aldığı üçün sözügedən komanda 70 manat cərimə edilib. Oyunun 90+4-cü dəqiqəsində “Xankəndi”nin futbolçusu Elvin Nəsibov ikinci sarıdan qırmızı vərəqə aldığı üçün 1 oyunluq cəza alıb. “Xankəndi” buna görə 50 manat cərimə ödəyəcək. Oyunun 90+10-cu dəqiqəsində “Xankəndi”nin futbolçusu Müşfiq Teymurov hakimin qərarına etiraza görə ikinci sarıdan qırmızı vərəqə aldığı üçün 1 oyunluq cəza alıb. “Xankəndi” buna görə 250 manat cərimə edilib. Meydançaya kənar əşya atıldığına görə “Xankəndi” 200 manat cərimə edilib. Oyunun 90+8-ci dəqiqəsində “Qaradağ Lökbatan”ın futbolçusu Ülvi Sarıyev qeyri-etik ifadə və ya hərəkətə görə birbaşa qırmızı vərəqə aldığı üçün 3 oyunluq cəza alıb. “Qaradağ Lökbatan” buna görə 800 manat cərimə edilib. Oyun bitdikdən sonra “Qaradağ Lökbatan”ın futbolçusu Hakan Həsənov ikinci sarıdan qırmızı vərəqə aldığı üçün 1 oyunluq cəza alıb. Lökbatan komandası buna görə 50 manat cərimə edilib.
Bu gün AFFA İntizam Komitəsinin növbəti iclası keçirilib, Premyer Liqanın 29-cu turunun oyunları ilə bağlı bəzi qərarlar qəbul edilib.
Arena.az AFFA-nın rəsmi saytına istinadən həmin qərarların siyahısını təqdim edir:
Premyer Liqa, 29-cu tur
“İmişli” – “Sumqayıt” oyununda “İmişli”də 5 nəfər sarı vərəqə aldığı üçün sözügedən komanda 700 manat cərimə edilib. Oyun “Sumqayıt”ın formasında qüsurlar olması səbəbindən gec başladığına görə sözügedən klub 1500 manat cərimə edilib. “Sumqayıtın azarkeşləri tərəfindən futbolçularının ünvanına kütləvi şəkildə təhqiramiz ifadələr səsləndirildiyinə və bu hal cari mövsümdə 4-cü dəfə təkrarlandığına görə sözügedən klub 8000 manat cərimə ödəyəcək. Oyun bitdikdən sonra “Sumqayıt”ın azarkeşləri tərəfindən pirotexniki vasitədən istifadə edildiyinə görə bu komanda daha 3000 manat cərimə edilib.
“Şamaxı” – “Kəpəz” oyununda “Kəpəz”də 5 nəfər sarı vərəqə aldığı üçün sözügedən komanda 700 manat cərimə edilib.
“Neftçi” – “Qarabağ” oyununun 90+3-cü dəqiqəsində “Neftçi”nin azarkeşləri tərəfindən meydanaçaya kənar əşyalar atıldığına və bu hal cari mövsümdə 6-cı dəfə təkrarlandığına görə paytaxt komandası 5000 manat cərimə edilib. “Neftçi” azarkeşləri tərəfindən kütləvi şəkildə təhqiramiz ifadələr səsləndirildiyinə və bu hal cari mövsümdə 8-ci dəfə təkrarlandığına görə paytaxt klubu 8000 manat cərimə edilib. “Neftçi” – “Qarabağ” oyununda “Qarabağ”ın azarkeşləri tərəfindən pirotexniki vasitədən istifadə edildiyinə və bu hal cari mövsümdə 4-cü dəfə təkrarlandığına görə Ağdam komandası 7000 manat cərimə edilib.
“Sabah” – “Karvan” oyununun 64-cü dəqiqəsində “Sabah”ın futbolçusu Aleksey İsayev ciddi qayda pozuntusuna görə birbaşa qırmızı vərəqə aldığı üçün 2 oyunluq cəza alıb. “Sabah” buna görə 1000 manat cərimə edilib. Oyun bitdikdən sonra meydançaya kənar şəxs daxil olduğuna və bu hal cari mövsümdə 3-cü dəfə təkrarlandığına görə paytaxt komandası 6500 manat cərimə edilib. Oyunun 36-cı dəqiqəsində “Karvan”ın futbolçusu Qavi Tompson ikinci sarıdan qırmızı vərəqə aldığı üçün 1 oyunluq cəza alıb. Yevlax komandası buna görə 500 manat cərimə edilib.
16 yaşadək qızlardan ibarət Azərbaycan milli komandası (U-16) aprelin 30-da Bakıda təlim-məşq toplanışına başlayacaq.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, Milli Komandaların Təlim-Məşq Mərkəzində hazırlıq keçəcək U-16 ardından Bakıda təşkil olunacaq UEFA İnkişaf Turnirinə qatılacaq.
Komandamız Litva, Rumıniya və Gürcüstan yığmaları ilə mübarizə aparacaq. Oyunlar Binə stadionunda keçiriləcək.
Azərbaycan yığmasına dəvət edilmiş futbolçuların adlarını və keçirəcəyi oyunların təqvimini nəzərinizə çatdırırıq:
South Korea's Hana Financial, POSCO International and Upbit operator Dunamu have moved their blockchain remittance system into live trade transactions.
Polymarket is reportedly in talks with the CFTC to restore US access after its 2022 settlement, following a limited US rollout in December 2025 focused on sports contracts.
Our vision for Gemini is to build an assistant that truly understands you—one that evolves with your needs rather than providing one-size-fits-all responses. Today, we’r…
ASKİ Spor Kulübü, Rıza Kayaalp ve Taha Akgül Spor Kompleksi'nde Avrupa Güreş ve Halter Şampiyonası'nda derece alan milli sporcularla basın toplantısı düzenledi.
Fenerbahçe Kulübü, Süper Lig'in 32'nci haftasında RAMS Başakşehir FK ile oynanacak karşılaşma öncesinde genç taraftarlarına ücretsiz bilet tanımlayacağını açıkladı.
Yıldız oyuncu Joel Embiid önderliğindeki Philadelphia 76ers, Doğu Konferansı ilk tur serisinin 5. maçında Boston Celtics karşısında kritik bir galibiyet elde ederken, Kamerunlu ismin maç sonrası açıklamaları dikkat çekti.
Koç Steve Kerr ile Golden State Warriors yönetiminin, deneyimli başantrenörün geleceğini değerlendirmek üzere yakın zamanda bir araya gelmesi bekleniyor.
3. Lig 4. Grup'ta zor bir sezon geçiren Altay, son maçta kümede kalmayı başardı. Teknik direktör Mehmet Can Karagöz, takımın ayakta kalmasında teknoloji ve bilimden faydalandıklarını söyledi.
Fenerbahçe'de Dorgeles Nene ile ilgili dikkat çeken bir gelişme yaşandı. Alman devi Borussia Dortmund'un yıldız oyuncu için ilgi mektubu gönderdiği ortaya çıktı. Sarı-lacivertlilerin bonservis beklentisi...Devamı için tıklayınız
Galatasaray'a karşı alınan 3-0'lık mağlubiyetin ertesi günü Teknik Direktör Domenico Tedesco ile yollarını ayıran Fenerbahçe, Haziran'ın ilk haftası seçime gitmeye hazırlanıyor. Sarı-lacivertlilerde derbi...Devamı için tıklayınız
Galatasaray'da sezon sonunda sözleşmesi sona erecek olan Mario Lemina ile ilgili dikkat çeken gerçek ortaya çıktı. Gabonlu oyuncunun kalan 3 haftada 1 maça daha ilk 11'de başlaması durumunda opsiyonu devreye...Devamı için tıklayınız
Trabzonspor'un Brezilyalı forveti Felipe Augusto, sezonun ilk yarısında attığı 15 resmi golün 12'sini deplasmanda kaydetmesiyle dikkat çekiyor. 22 yaşındaki futbolcu, özellikle dış sahalarda rakip fileleri...Devamı için tıklayınız
XRP price has formed a decisive symmetrical triangle pattern on charts as bulls and bears battle for dominance. Will it stage a bullish breakout from its current range as it continues to grow into a leading RWA powerhouse? After hitting…
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Every security team has a version of the same story. The quarter ends with hundreds of vulnerabilities closed. The dashboards are bursting with green. Then someone in a leadership meeting asks: "So, are we actually safer now?"
Crickets.
The room goes quiet because an honest answer requires context – which is something that patch counts and CVSS scores were never designed to provide. Exposure
cPanel has released security updates to address a security issue impacting various authentication paths that could allow an attacker to obtain access to the control panel software.
The problem affects all currently supported versions, according to an alert released by cPanel on Tuesday. The issue has been addressed in the following versions -
11.110.0.97
11.118.0.63
11.126.0.54
11.132.0.29
The mark II version of Nikon's 70-200mm f/2.8 for Z-mount features a lighter build, new optical design and various design tweaks, and the result is a virtually flawless telephoto zoom.
The March 2026 core update brought what Google describes as a design “to better surface relevant, satisfying content for searchers from all types of sites.” This confirms the simplest truth in search: people use Google to get answers.
Whether it’s solving a problem, learning something new, or making a decision, searchers want content that is genuinely helpful in their busy, on-the-go lives. If your content does that, it succeeds. If it doesn’t, no amount of SEO tricks, hacks, or magic bullets will get your content to show up on page one, let alone in AI Overviews.
How modern search systems surface helpful content
AI Overviews went from appearing for just 6.49% of queries in January 2025 to 15.69% in November 2025 according to a Semrush study. Depending on the source today, AI Overviews appear for 25-50% of queries.
It’s clear that search engines and LLMs are working together more efficiently today than just a year ago. Fast forward another year, and we can only imagine.
For any SEO focused on creating helpful content and understanding user intent, it’s a truly exciting time to be in the industry. Your genuinely useful content can be surfaced in AI Overviews using retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and query fan-out.
RAG: Instead of just relying on what it “knows,” AI looks for relevant information across multiple sources before answering a query
Query fan-out: One search query can be broken down into multiple related queries behind the scenes, helping AI and search engines build a more complete, useful response
Entire papers have been written on these two concepts alone. The TL;DR is that SEO today is about more than just keywords or counting backlinks. Modern search is designed to connect searchers with content that actually answers their questions and satisfies user intent.
Why this raises the bar for SEO in 2026 and beyond
These systems, and those still being implemented (see Google’s blog on TurboQuant), are getting better at recognizing and dismissing thin, duplicate, or superficial content. Pieces that simply restate what someone else has already said online, lack originality, and fail to demonstrate legitimate real-life experience will continue to struggle to rank.
Depth, clarity, and expertise have always mattered, but SEOs who want to continue to succeed in 2026 and beyond are going to have to double down on these factors:
Depth: This doesn’t mean write as much as you can on the topic. Gone are the days of fluffy, keyword-stuffed articles. Depth in 2026 means SEOs and content creators should address the searcher’s main question and related follow-ups.
Clarity: Searchers are busy. They want quick answers. Make your content easy to scan and understand.
Expertise: Demonstrate real-world knowledge and experience your audience can trust.
For many SEOs, this is a welcome shift. It’s not about just checking off boxes anymore.
Sure, we still have to do those things. But the bar for what constitutes good SEO is being raised far beyond the basics. When search engines evaluate content today, they’re looking for signals that SEOs and content creators are providing real value to searchers.
Why visibility matters more than clicks for local SEO
Small, local, or service-based businesses that rely on SEO-driven leads for revenue can use these same strategies, too. While success isn’t measured using the same metrics as it was just a couple of years ago, the result of good SEO remains: Get the business recommended before the competition for as many searches as possible.
Two years ago, this meant clicks. Today, it means visibility. AI platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, and AI Overviews often recommend businesses without linking to websites directly, if at all.
A few tools have been developed to measure AI metrics, but these can get pricey, and as Elizabeth Rule said, “Measuring visibility is like trying to measure a wave with a ruler.”
This is why maintaining strong communication between stakeholders and the SEO team is so important. When success can’t be measured simply, a simple question of “how’s business going?” matters now more than ever. Beyond user intent, SEOs need to understand user behavior, mood, and temperament.
What ‘helpful content’ looks like in practice
Here are five tips to get you started on creating content that is genuinely helpful:
1. Answer follow-up questions
Think beyond the initial query. What will readers ask next?
One of my favorite places to do research for this is the People Also Ask (PAA) section on SERP. For example, you’re writing about herniated disc treatment. Just Google “herniated disk treatment” and use the PAA feature to help you brainstorm more questions your audience may ask about the topic you’re writing. The more questions you click, the more ideas it’ll generate.
2. Show expertise and experience
E-E-A-T is an SEO hill I will die on because it works. Share your knowledge, case studies, testimonials, or firsthand insights. This builds trust when done right and when you’re creating for people, not search engines.
We’d all love to believe that everything we write is being read word-for-word. It’s not. People skim. They’re looking for an answer while they’re doing other things.
This is why clearly structured web pages are so important on both mobile and desktop. Use headings, bullet points, and concise paragraphs to help readers quickly find answers.
4. Be authentic
Authenticity sounds like a buzzword (and maybe it is), but people can tell when you’ve used AI to write something or when you’re just publishing content for SEO.
Much as it pains me (an English major who loves to read long novels and write dissertations) to say, no one cares about your personal anecdotes or how many adjectives you can think of for your “superior” service. They just need an answer to the question they searched.
Avoid fluff or filler. Real-world, practical content resonates better than generic advice.
If someone called and asked you, “How long does it take to change the water heater in my 1950s home?” You wouldn’t need 1,500 words to answer them. The content you create on the internet should be the same.
5. Ask ‘who, what, and how?’ about your content
If you’ve been paying attention to GEO/AEO/SEO for AI, this might sound familiar to you as a little something called semantic triples. This sounds intimidating at first, but it’s really just sixth-grade English.
A semantic triple answers who, does what, for whom (or how). Remember diagramming sentences? It’s the relationship between the subject, predicate, and object. It can be any subject, predicate, and object:
The plumber installs water heaters in Dallas
The bakery bakes wedding cakes for couples
I first heard about semantic triples from Mike King during SEO Week 2025 when he broke down his concept of relevance engineering. If you haven’t watched his video on this topic, I highly recommend it.
The basic idea is that SEO is about your audience:
Who are you talking to?
What do they need?
How do you reach them?
A semantic triple answers these questions. It provides structure and clarity. It’s the “Who, What, and How” that Google told us about with the HCU documentation. It’s also genuinely valuable information for searchers.
Knowledge is your superpower. You’re the only person who can tell your story, explain your process, and show readers why your business or brand matters.
The most reliable SEO strategy remains the same with each new core update from Google: Create content that genuinely helps searchers.
Focus on the problems your audience is trying to solve, answer their questions fully, and share your expertise. Thin or derivative content won’t cut it in a world of AI-driven search and retrieval systems.
Google and AI platforms are trying to do the same thing searchers are doing: find the most helpful content. If you respond to that need, your content will rise to the top, no tricks, hacks, or shortcuts necessary.
More than 40% of agentic AI projects will be canceled by the end of 2027. That is a prediction from Gartner published in June 2025, based on a poll of more than 3,400 organizations actively investing in the technology.
The reason cited is not that the agents do not work. It is that the humans deploying them are making the wrong decisions. “Most agentic AI projects right now are early-stage experiments or proof of concepts that are mostly driven by hype and are often misapplied,” according to Anushree Verma, senior director analyst at Gartner.
Organizations are deploying agents without a clear strategy, without understanding the complexity, and without the governance to manage what happens when something goes wrong.
In other words, the agent is only as good as the human behind it.
This matters enormously for marketing. AI agents in marketing are real, accelerating and in many cases, necessary. Agents that select audiences. Agents that generate content. Agents that optimize send times, choose offers and orchestrate entire customer journeys autonomously, continuously and at a scale no human team could match. The capabilities are here today and growing rapidly.
But Gartner’s data reveals a warning and marketing leaders who miss it will find themselves on the wrong side of that 40%.
FOMO causes agent failure
The failure rate Gartner describes is not random. It starts with fear.
Fear of being left behind. Fear of watching competitors move faster. Fear of being the CMO who did not act when everyone else did. That fear is driving organizations to deploy agentic AI, not because they have a strategy, but because they cannot afford to be last.
The result is agents built on broken workflows. Agents fed with poor data. Agents operating without the governance structures that keep them aligned with business goals. The agents execute… the wrong things, in the wrong ways, at the wrong times.
FOMO is not a strategy. And in the agentic era, it is an expensive mistake.
Agent washing
Gartner identified a widespread trend it calls “agent washing”… vendors rebranding existing chatbots and automation tools as agentic AI without delivering genuine autonomous capabilities. Of the thousands of vendors claiming agentic solutions, Gartner estimates only around 130 offer real agentic features. Marketing teams investing in the rest are not getting agents. They are getting dressed-up automation with an agentic price tag. automation with an agentic price tag.
The consequences go beyond wasted budget. Gartner predicts that in 2026, one-third of companies will harm customer experiences by deploying AI prematurely, eroding brand trust and damaging both acquisition and retention.
A personalization agent that misreads a customer. A content agent that violates compliance. A journey agent that floods a churning customer with offers at exactly the wrong moment. These are the predictable outcomes of deploying autonomous systems without the human judgment to direct them.
Half of all organizations are watching their people get dumber because AI is always available to think for them. Quietly. Gradually. Until the day the algorithm is wrong and nobody in the room can tell.
In marketing, that is a crisis. Marketing requires judgment — the ability to ask not just what the data says, but what it means. Not just whether a campaign worked, but why. Not just whether to accept an AI recommendation, but whether it reflects the brand, the moment and the relationship the company is trying to build.
Those questions cannot be delegated to an agent. They require a human being scrutinizing what a machine thinks is right.
The most dangerous marketer in the agentic era is not the one who rejects AI. It is the one who accepts everything it produces without question.
Agents cannot be trusted to ask the right questions
An agent can optimize what it has been given. It cannot question whether it has been given the right thing.
It can personalize a message based on behavioral signals. It cannot decide that the right move is to say nothing at all… to give a customer space, to protect a relationship rather than extract from it.
It can generate a thousand content variations and test them. It cannot feel the difference between a message that converts and a message that connects. It cannot sense when a campaign that performs well in the data is quietly damaging the brand.
It can execute a journey flawlessly. It cannot design one that reflects what customers actually want from this brand, at this point in their lives.
These are not limitations that will be solved by the next model release. They are structural. AI is trained on the past. The irreducible human job in marketing is to bring judgment about what should happen next, even when the data does not yet exist to support it.
The marketer as manager of agents
The right mental model for the agentic era is not human versus machine. It is a human plus machine, with the human in charge.
That is the foundation of Positionless Marketing. For decades, marketing teams operated as an assembly line with handoffs. Positionless Marketing breaks that model by giving marketers three transformative powers: Data Power to immediately discover customer insights for precise targeting and hyper-personalization, without waiting for engineers; Creative Power to create channel-ready assets like copy and visuals, without waiting for creatives; and Optimization Power to run campaigns that optimize themselves through automated journeys and testing, without waiting for analysts. Handoffs are eliminated.
The Positionless Marketer is a multidisciplinary thinker who deploys AI agents to go beyond traditional positions. Agents handle what used to require waiting for three different teams, eliminating the assembly line. The marketer is no longer waiting on anyone. They are thinking bigger, moving across disciplines while keeping human judgment at the center of every decision the agents make.
This is a promotion, not a replacement. But it comes with real demands. Marketers who can think strategically, not just operationally. Who can evaluate AI output critically, not just accept it. Who can take accountability for what the agents do in their name.
Gartner’s Daryl Plummer stated it directly: organizations should prioritize behavioral changes alongside technological changes as first-order priorities. The technology is ready. The question is whether the humans in the marketing organization are.
The window is narrowing
The organizations that will win the next decade of marketing are not the ones that deploy the most agents. They are the ones that build the human capability to direct them well.Gartner’s 40% prediction is not a warning to slow down. It is a warning to be deliberate. The difference between an agentic marketing operation that compounds value over time and one that wastes budget, violates policy, and erodes customer trust is not the technology. It is the human judgment sitting above it.
Marketing teams need to face facts in the agentic AI era: the agent is only as good as the indispensable human behind it.
Azərbaycan təmsilçiləri Ümummilli Lider Heydər Əliyevin anadan olmasının 103-cü ildönümünə həsr edilən avarçəkmə və kanoe üzrə “Prezident Kuboku 2026” beynəlxalq reqatasında ilk medalı qazanıb.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, Əlimurad Hacızadə tək nəfərlik kayakda gümüş mükafata sahib çıxıb. Hacızadə 2008-2009 təvəllüdlü idmançıların mübarizəsində 200 metr məsafəni ikinci keçib.
Turnirdə Azərbaycanla yanaşı, Çexiya, Gürcüstan, Almaniya, Yunanıstan, Qazaxıstan, Qırğızıstan, Litva, Moldova, Rumıniya, Serbiya, İsveç, Tacikistan, Türkiyə, Ukrayna və Özbəkistandan 100-dən artıq idmançı iştirak edir. Reqata mayın 1-də başa çatacaq.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, toplantıda II Liqanın XXIV turunun oyunları ilə bağlı aşağıdakı qərarlar qəbul edilib:
27 aprel 2026-cı il tarixində II Liqada XXIV turun “Araz Saatlı” – “Göygöl” oyununda “Göygöl” komandasının 4 futbolçusu sarı vərəqə aldığı üçün “Göygöl” komandası 70 manat cərimə edilsin (maddə 43.1);
28 aprel 2026-cı il tarixində II Liqada XXIV turun “Xankəndi” – “Qaradağ Lökbatan” oyununda “Xankəndi” komandasının 4 futbolçusu sarı vərəqə aldığı üçün “Xankəndi” komandası 70 manat cərimə edilsin (maddə 43.1);
28 aprel 2026-cı il tarixində II Liqada XXIV turun “Xankəndi” – “Qaradağ Lökbatan” oyununun 90+4-cü dəqiqəsində “Xankəndi” komandasının 9 nömrəli futbolçusu Elvin Nəsibov ikinci sarıdan qırmızı vərəqə aldığı üçün 1 oyun oyuna buraxılmasın, “Xankəndi” komandası 50 manat cərimə edilsin (maddə 17.5, 17.7);
28 aprel 2026-cı il tarixində II Liqada XXIV turun “Xankəndi” – “Qaradağ Lökbatan” oyununun 90+10-cu dəqiqəsində “Xankəndi” komandasının 88 nömrəli futbolçusu Müşfiq Teymurov hakimin qərarına etiraza görə ikinci sarıdan qırmızı vərəqə aldığı üçün 1 oyun oyuna buraxılmasın, “Xankəndi” komandası 250 manat cərimə edilsin (maddə 51.2);
28 aprel 2026-cı il tarixində II Liqada XXIV turun “Xankəndi” – “Qaradağ Lökbatan” oyununda meydançaya kənar əşya atıldığına görə “Xankəndi” komandası 200 manat cərimə edilsin (maddə 86.3);
28 aprel 2026-cı il tarixində II Liqada XXIV turun “Xankəndi” – “Qaradağ Lökbatan” oyununun 90+8-ci dəqiqəsində “Qaradağ Lökbatan” komandasının 44 nömrəli futbolçusu Ülvi Sarıyev qeyri-etik ifadə və ya hərəkətə görə birbaşa qırmızı vərəqə aldığı üçün 3 oyun oyuna buraxılmasın, “Qaradağ Lökbatan” komandası 800 manat cərimə edilsin (maddə 52.3);
28 aprel 2026-cı il tarixində II Liqada XXIV turun “Xankəndi” – “Qaradağ Lökbatan” oyunu bitdikdən sonra “Qaradağ Lökbatan” komandasının 77 nömrəli futbolçusu Hakan Həsənov ikinci sarıdan qırmızı vərəqə aldığı üçün 1 oyun oyuna buraxılmasın, “Qaradağ Lökbatan” komandası 50 manat cərimə edilsin (maddə 17.5, 17.7).
“Sabah”ın futbolçusu Aleksey İsayevin cəzası məlum olub.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, “Karvan-Yevlax”la çempionat matçında (2:0) qırmızı vərəqə alan yarımmüdafiəçi iki oyunluq diskvalifikasiya edilib. Bu barədə AFFA İntizam Komitəsinin iclasında qərar qəbul edilib.
Klub futbolçunun “qırmızı” almasına görə 1000 manat cərimə ödəyəcək.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, toplantıda Misli Premyer Liqasının XXIX oyunları ilə bağlı aşağıdakı qərarlar qəbul edilib:
25 aprel 2026-cı il tarixində Misli Premyer Liqasında XXIX turun “İmişli” – “Sumqayıt” oyununda “İmişli” komandasında 5 nəfər sarı vərəqə aldığı üçün “İmişli” komandası 700 manat cərimə edilsin (maddə 43.1);
25 aprel 2026-cı il tarixində Misli Premyer Liqasında XXIX turun “İmişli” – “Sumqayıt” oyunu “Sumqayıt” komandasının formasında qüsurlar olması səbəbindən gec başladığına görə “Sumqayıt” komandası 1500 manat cərimə edilsin (maddə 83.5);
25 aprel 2026-cı il tarixində Misli Premyer Liqasında XXIX turun “İmişli” – “Sumqayıt” oyununda “Sumqayıt” komandasının azarkeşləri tərəfindən futbolçularının ünvanına kütləvi şəkildə təhqiramiz ifadələr səsləndirildiyinə və bu hal cari mövsümdə 4-cü dəfə təkrarlandığına görə “Sumqayıt” komandası 8000 manat cərimə edilsin (maddə 52.5);
25 aprel 2026-cı il tarixində Misli Premyer Liqasında XXIX turun “İmişli” – “Sumqayıt” oyunu bitdikdən sonra “Sumqayıt” komandasının azarkeşləri tərəfindən pirotexniki vasitədən istifadə edildiyinə görə “Sumqayıt” komandası 3000 manat cərimə edilsin (maddə 86.3);
26 aprel 2026-cı il tarixində Misli Premyer Liqasında XXIX turun “Şamaxı” – “Kəpəz” oyununda “Kəpəz” komandasında 5 nəfər sarı vərəqə aldığı üçün “Kəpəz” komandası 700 manat cərimə edilsin (maddə 43.1);
26 aprel 2026-cı il tarixində Misli Premyer Liqasında XXIX turun “Neftçi” – “Qarabağ” oyununun 90+3-cü dəqiqəsində “Neftçi” komandasının azarkeşləri tərəfindən meydanaçaya kənar əşyalar atıldığına və bu hal cari mövsümdə 6-cı dəfə təkrarlandığına görə “Neftçi” komandası 5000 manat cərimə edilsin (maddə 86.3);
26 aprel 2026-cı il tarixində Misli Premyer Liqasında XXIX turun “Neftçi” – “Qarabağ” oyununda “Neftçi” komandasının azarkeşləri tərəfindən kütləvi şəkildə təhqiramiz ifadələr səsləndirildiyinə və bu hal cari mövsümdə 8-ci dəfə təkrarlandığına görə “Neftçi” komandası 8000 manat cərimə edilsin (maddə 52.5);
26 aprel 2026-cı il tarixində Misli Premyer Liqasında XXIX turun “Neftçi” – “Qarabağ” oyununda “Qarabağ” komandasının azarkeşləri tərəfindən pirotexniki vasitədən istifadə edildiyinə və bu hal cari mövsümdə 4-cü dəfə təkrarlandığına görə “Qarabağ” komandası 7000 manat cərimə edilsin (maddə 86.3);
27 aprel 2026-cı il tarixində Misli Premyer Liqasında XXIX turun “Sabah” – “Karvan-Yevlax” oyununun 64-cü dəqiqəsində “Sabah” komandasının 10 nömrəli futbolçusu Aleksey İsayev ciddi qayda pozuntusuna görə birbaşa qırmızı vərəqə aldığı üçün 2 oyun oyuna buraxılmasın, “Sabah” komandası 1000 manat cərimə edilsin (maddə 44.1);
27 aprel 2026-cı il tarixində Misli Premyer Liqasında XXIX turun “Sabah” – “Karvan-Yevlax” oyunu bitdikdən sonra meydançaya kənar şəxs daxil olduğuna və bu hal cari mövsümdə 3-cü dəfə təkrarlandığına görə “Sabah” komandası 6500 manat cərimə edilsin (maddə 86.3);
27 aprel 2026-cı il tarixində Misli Premyer Liqasında XXIX turun “Sabah” – “Karvan-Yevlax” oyununun 36-cı dəqiqəsində “Karvan-Yevlax” komandasının 19 nömrəli futbolçusu Qavi Tompson ikinci sarıdan qırmızı vərəqə aldığı üçün 1 oyun oyuna buraxılmasın, “Karvan-Yevlax” komandası 500 manat cərimə edilsin (maddə 17.5, 17.7);
AFFA-nın vitse-prezidenti və İcraiyyə Komitəsinin üzvü Könül Mehdiyeva UEFA-dan növbəti təyinat alıb.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, o, qadınlar arasında UEFA Çempionlar Liqasının yarımfinal mərhələsində keçiriləcək “Barselona” (İspaniya) – “Bavariya” (Almaniya) oyununun UEFA nümayəndəsi olacaq.
Görüş mayın 3-də Barselona şəhərində yerləşən “Nou Kamp” stadionunda keçiriləcək.
Misli Premyer Liqasına namizədlərdən hesab edilən “Baku Sportinq” I Liqada 41 xalla dördüncü sıradadır və ikinci pillədəki “Səbail”dən 2 xal geri qalır. Çempionatda gümüş medalları qazanan komanda elitaya vəsiqə yolunda pley-off oynayacaq.
“Ötən turda “Şimal”la matçda gözlənilməz məğlubiyyət aldıq. Hesabımızda olmayan nəticə idi. Oyuna yaxşı hazırlaşmışdıq. Bizim kimi onların da xallara ehtiyacı vardı. Çempionatın bitməsinə az qalıb və hər görüş xüsusi əhəmiyyət kəsb edir. “Şimal”a məğlub olmasaydıq, indi ikinci sırada idik.
İtirilmiş heç nə yoxdur. Qarşıda 4 final oyunu var. Rəqibin kimliyindən asılı olmayaraq, matçlar çətin keçəcək. Hər komanda digərindən xal ala bilər. Çalışacağıq ki, maksimum nəticə qazanaq və mövsümü ikinci sırada bitirək. Demək olar, hər həftə turnir cədvəlində vəziyyət dəyişir. Üç komanda arasında ciddi pley-off mübarizəsi gedir. Sona qədər mübarizə aparacağıq”.
I Liqada ikinci yeri tutan komanda Premyer Liqanı 11-ci bitirənlə bir matçdan ibarət pley-off oynayacaq. Nəcəfov elita yolundakı mümkün şanslarına toxundu:
“Pley-offda kimin olmasının fərqi yoxdur. Rəqib istənilən halda, elita klubudur. Favorit də Premyer Liqa təmsilçisi olacaq. Çünki səviyyə, keyfiyyət fərqi var. Bunlar pley-offda digər tərəfi favorit edir. Amma bir oyundan ibarət matçdır və hər şey mümkündür”.
AFFA İntizam Komitəsi “İmişli” və “Sumqayıt”la bağlı cərimə məbləğini açıqlayıb. Msport.az xəbər verir ki, 29-cu çərçivəsində bu iki komanda arasında […]
“Liverpul” “Napoli”nin müdafiəçisini hədəfə alıb. Msport.az xəbər verir ki, Mersisayd təmsilçisi Neapol klubunun mərkəz müdafiəçisi Sem Byokemanı yaxından izləyir. “Liverpul”un […]
AFFA İntizam Komitəsi Misli Premyer Liqasının 29-cu turunda keçirilən “Neftçi” – “Qarabağ” oyunu ilə bağlı qərarlarını açıqlayıb. Msport.az xəbər verir […]
Norveç Futbol Assosiasiyasının prezidenti Lize Klaveness FIFA-ya çağırış edib. Msport.az xəbər verir ki, o, qurumu sülh mükafatını ləğv etməyə səsləyib […]
“Real”ın qapıçısı Tibo Kurtuanın “El Klasiko”da iştirak edib-etməyəcəyi məlum olub. Msport.az xəbər verir ki, belçikalı qolkiper tezliklə komanda ilə məşqlərə […]
Marko Kukureliya karyerasını “Barselona”da davam etdirmək variantına müsbət yanaşır. Msport.az xəbər verir ki, ispan futbolçunun mümkün qayıdışı ilə bağlı xəbərlər […]
Rafael Leao commented on the epic Champions League semifinal between PSG and Bayern Munich with a two-word message on X, but also reduced his social media presence by deactivating his Instagram account.
Milan star Leao deactivated his Instagram account, which was followed by over seven million users, after the weekend, when he was once again booed by Rossoneri fans at San Siro.
The Portuguese’s relationship with part of the Rossoneri fanbase has fallen apart in recent weeks as fans at San Siro booed him in the last two home matches against Udinese and Juventus.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 18: Rafael Leao of AC Milan reacts during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Como 1907 at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 18, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
The Rossoneri star remains active on X, where he commented on PSG’s 5-4 win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League semifinal on Tuesday.
Leao used two Portuguese words to congratulate PSG and Bayern, in a message that translates into “real football”, to which he added clapping emojis.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: Adrien Rabiot, Rafael Leao and Davide Bartesaghi of AC Milan show their dejection during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Parma Calcio 1913 at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Leao has scored ten goals and provided three assists in 28 appearances across all competitions this season, and according to Italian sources, the Rossoneri will listen to offers for him in the summer.
Manchester United midfielder Ugarte has been offered to Serie A giants Juventus and Milan by his agent Jorge Mendes, according to Gazzetta.
Ugarte, 25, has been struggling for playing time at Old Trafford this season, collecting barely 1,000 minutes on the pitch in 2025-26.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 25: Anass Salah-Eddine of FC Twente is challenged by Manuel Ugarte of Manchester United during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 match between Manchester United and FC Twente at Old Trafford on September 25, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
His agent is seeking an exit route for his client from Manchester United, and both Juventus and Milan have been informed of the midfielder’s availability to join them this summer.
According to Gazzetta, Ugarte is among the Manchester United players Milan can pick in a potential player-plus-cash swap deal for Rafael Leao.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – MARCH 15: Manuel Ugarte of Manchester United warms up prior to the Premier League match between Manchester United and Aston Villa at Old Trafford on March 15, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images)
Juventus, on the other hand, have prioritised another Jorge Mendes client, Bernardo Silva, who is available on a free transfer as his contract with Manchester City runs out this coming June.
Reports in Italy claim that Robert Lewandowski’s agent has held talks with Serie A clubs, including Juventus, in recent days, while the Bianconeri continue talks to sign Bernardo Silva on a free transfer from Manchester City.
Latest Juventus transfer updates: Lewandowski, Bernardo Silva and more
Juventus are preparing for a big 2026 summer transfer window, during which they are expected to sign a new central midfielder and a centre-forward.
Gazzetta and La Stampa report that Lewandowski’s agent, Pini Zahavi, has been spotted in Italy, where he’s held talks with some Serie A clubs, including Juventus, in recent days.
According to the report, the Bianconeri’s priority is to extend Dusan Vlahovic’s contract before discussing with other transfer targets, especially Randal Kolo Muani, who will return to PSG after his loan spell at Tottenham.
Lewandowski is available on a free transfer as his contract expires at the end of the season, and the same is true of Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – MARCH 04: Bernardo Silva of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Nottingham Forest at Etihad Stadium on March 04, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
The Portugal international has already confirmed that he’ll leave Etihad Stadium when his contract expires in June, and the Bianconeri director, Damien Comolli, has continued negotiations with the midfielder’s agent, Jorge Mendes.
Juventus have reportedly offered Bernardo Silva a three-year contract worth €7m per season.
The experienced midfielder is open to moving to the Allianz Stadium but is also awaiting offers from other clubs, especially Barcelona, before making a final decision.
Juventus are still fighting for a Champions League placement and sit fourth in the Serie A table, and, naturally, their qualification for Europe’s elite competition will be vital to have the financial resources for any big signing over the summer.
Canada star Jonathan David has had ups and downs in his first season at Juventus, but this doesn’t mean the Bianconeri will try to sell him in the summer.
David joined Juventus on a free transfer from Lille last summer and was the very first purchase completed by Damien Comolli.
David had made a name for himself in France, scoring 109 in 232 matches with Lille and becoming arguably the most popular football player in Canada. His transfer to Juventus only boosted his reputation back home, and even if he’s been unable to fully replicate his goal-scoring form in his first season in Italy, there have also been positive signs that Juventus and their coach Luciano Spalletti won’t ignore as they prepare for the 2026-27 season.
Some stats suggest that the 26-year-old is finally finding his footing, a reminder that in football, as anywhere else, nothing is ever guaranteed. This unpredictable nature of the game is exactly what draws fans to the thrill of chance. For those who love that rush, luckyhills-ca.com offers an incredible variety of casino games where luck can turn in an instant. The platform also ensures a safe experience by offering responsible gambling tools accessible through both the mobile app and browser.
BERGAMO, ITALY – FEBRUARY 05: Jonathan David of Juventus reacts during the Coppa Italia Quarter-Final match between Atalanta BC and Juventus FC at the New Balance Arena on February 05, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
David has scored eight goals and provided five assists in 42 matches with the Old Lady this term. Quite far from the 20-goal mark he was accustomed to in France, yet over ten goal contributions in his first season in Serie A, probably the toughest league in Europe from a defensive standpoint, means Juventus might continue to rely on the Canadian in the future.
“For me, I think it’s been up and down. I came to a new club with high hopes, high expectations, and obviously, I wasn’t scoring as regularly as I wanted to,” David told TSN earlier this month.
“Maybe sometimes people don’t understand you, people don’t really know you so they tend to judge you but that doesn’t really matter because you have people that are close to you, who care for you, who understand the way you are so I’m not really worried about that.”
TURIN, ITALY – JANUARY 25: Jonathan David of Juventus celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammates Weston McKennie and Kenan Yildiz during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and SSC Napoli at Juventus Stadium on January 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
David also played down rumours that he does not have a good relationship with part of the dressing room.
“I don’t know how or why that rumour came out, but obviously I know it wasn’t true because I’m in the dressing room with these guys, we get along very well,” he insisted.
This was particularly evident in January when David scored and assisted in Juventus’ 3-0 win over Bergamo. Only a few days earlier, David had awkwardly missed a penalty kick in a home draw against Lecce, but when he found the net against Sassuolo, all Juventus players ran towards him to hug him.
Manchester United may reportedly be heading towards an uncomfortable situation regarding Bruno Fernandes in the upcoming summer transfer window.
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The Portugal international has been a star performer for Man Utd since joining from Sporting Lisbon back in 2020, and he’s approaching the final year of his contract at Old Trafford.
The report adds that Fernandes has a release clause in his contract that would leave United powerless to prevent him leaving if that fee were to be triggered.
Can Bruno Fernandes achieve his ambitions at Manchester United?
Fernandes is one of the best attacking midfielders in world football on his day, with the Telegraph reporting that he’s unsurprisingly keen to win the biggest trophies.
This could become an issue for MUFC, who have not been as competitive as they’d have liked in recent years, and indeed for much of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
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The 31-year-old does, however, still boast great numbers even in this flawed United side, as the table below from the Telegraph’s article shows…
Bruno Fernandes assist stats (Telegraph)
Fernandes is not far away from breaking the record for assists in a single Premier League season, so it would certainly make sense for United to keep him.
There has been real improvement made since Michael Carrick took over as interim manager, and perhaps that can give the player hope of being part of a more successful United side in the near future.
Arsenal director Andrea Berta was reportedly the key driving force behind the signing of Viktor Gyokeres last summer.
The new sporting director joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid and immediately became an influential figure, as he seemingly talked Mikel Arteta round on bringing in Gyokeres instead of Benjamin Sesko.
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That’s according to a report from the Athletic, which states that Berta did not view Sesko as good value for money, though he would have been willing to compromise if Arteta really insisted on him over Gyokeres.
In the end, it seems Arsenal managed to come to an internal agreement, with Berta winning this particular power battle and getting the striker he favoured.
Was Viktor Gyokeres signing a mistake by Arsenal chief Andrea Berta?
Gyokeres has not had the most convincing debut season at the Emirates Stadium, while Sesko ended up joining rivals Manchester United.
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All in all, it’s not that easy to see who got the better deal, with neither player hitting the ground running in English football so far, though Sesko is younger and perhaps looks the more well-rounded player overall.
See below for a graphic comparing various aspects of the two players’ games, with a pretty mixed picture emerging…
Viktor Gyokeres vs Benjamin Sesko stats comparison (DataMB)
Still, with strikers it’s arguably goals that matter most, and Gyokeres has the slightly better scoring record this season, albeit from playing more games and with the benefit of better teammates and a more settled squad in general…
Striker comparison (all comps)
Games
Goals
Viktor Gyokeres (Arsenal)
48
18
Benjamin Sesko (Man Utd)
31
11
Gyokeres was hugely prolific at Sporting Lisbon, but was perhaps never likely to be able to repeat those crazy numbers in the Premier League.
Sesko, meanwhile, was already performing in a more competitive league overall, even if it’s still a step up from the Bundesliga to the English top flight.
Arsenal fans may be frustrated, however, at Berta’s decision-making here, as Gyokeres has so often looked out of his depth at this level, with some good finishing but not much else to offer to the team.
Arsenal prepare to lock horns with Atletico Madrid in a blockbuster Champions League semi-final clash.
The Gunners are hoping to qualify for the Champions League final for the first time since 2006.
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While the Gunners’ recent domestic form has been a bit of a bumpy ride, club legend Thierry Henry has publicly stepped up to defend his former team’s gritty, defensive tactical shift, insisting that grinding out results completely trumps beautiful football at this high-stakes stage of the competition.
If you look closely at Arsenal’s season, they haven’t exactly been playing the free-flowing, expansive style that football purists want to see, something they got in abundance in the Paris Saint-Germain vs Bayern Munich semifinal.
Arsenal have made it a habit of defensive approach
A highly nervy, chaotic 1-0 victory over Newcastle United at the weekend perfectly highlighted their current blueprint, suffering through matches and doing just enough to secure the win.
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However, when it comes to facing Diego Simeone’s notoriously stubborn Atletico Madrid, the Gunners actually boast a surprisingly devastating track record this year.
Back during the league phase of the competition in November, Arsenal completely dismantled the Spanish giants 4-0 at the Emirates.
Speaking to his colleagues on CBS Sports, as reported by The Standard, Henry delivered a refreshingly honest take on Arteta’s approach.
“Atletico lost at The Emirates, I think it was 4-0 in the league phase, which doesn’t tell you a lot but it tells you it’s a game where we created, actually.
“But it will be different. The win, Arsenal against Newcastle, in terms of how we played wasn’t outstanding but it’s way better to go into that game with a win against Newcastle.
“So let’s see what’s going to happen tomorrow. It’s not so much what I want to see, people are expecting or wanting Arsenal to play a certain way now, they didn’t the whole year. Why do you want them now to just go forward and start to create?
“They play a certain way, Mikel Arteta plays a certain way, we’re strong on set-pieces, solid, we don’t create a lot.”
Martin Odegaard of Arsenal looks on (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Henry is essentially telling the fanbase to stop demanding champagne football and embrace the grueling, tactical grind.
At the end of the day, elite knockout football isn’t about earning style points, it’s about pure survival.
Henry, a man who knows exactly what it takes to reach the absolute pinnacle of European football, is fully on board with Arteta’s stubborn, defense-first mentality.
If soaking up pressure and relying on a towering header from a corner is what it takes to finally punch a ticket to another Champions League final, the Arsenal faithful will undoubtedly take it in a heartbeat.
Following the disastrous, short-lived tenure of Liam Rosenior, the BlueCo ownership is working overtime behind the scenes to secure a proven, top-flight manager.
A lot of managers are on their shortlist right now, with Andoni Iraola, Marco Silva and Xabi Alonso being the top three managers the Blues are targeting.
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On one hand, you are walking into an intensely pressurised, incredibly volatile environment where patience from the boardroom is famously non-existent.
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On the other hand, it is still Chelsea Football Club. For a manager like Iraola, who has spent the last few years performing absolute tactical miracles down on the South Coast, the sheer scale of the Stamford Bridge project is attractive.
The 43-year-old views the Chelsea hot seat as a massive, career-defining opportunity.
Gaining access to BlueCo’s deep transfer war chest and inheriting a squad packed with elite, albeit disjointed, young global talent is a dream scenario for an ambitious coach.
Iraola ticks every single box. His high-octane, heavy-pressing system completely transformed Bournemouth into a fearless top-flight outfit.
Imagine injecting that exact same ruthless, front-foot tactical blueprint into a highly expensive squad that desperately lacks a clear identity.
Iraola knows exactly how to navigate the relentless, punishing English schedule, meaning there would be zero adjustment period, something Chelsea desperately needs as they look to immediately bounce back into Champions League contention.
With Iraola already confirming he is leaving the Vitality Stadium at the end of the current season, he is a highly coveted free agent who won’t cost the club a single penny in compensation fees.
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See below for a post on X from Vazquez, who states that Ugarte is attracting interest ahead of this summer, with Man Utd making him available for a relatively low asking price of €28m…
? ATENCIÓN | Manuel Ugarte con las horas contadas en Manchester United.
?? Jorge Chijane se reunirá en los próximos días con Jorge Méndes para tratar de avanzar en la salida del volante uruguayo.
??????? El equipo inglés pretende una negociación por una venta definitiva cercana a… pic.twitter.com/zu6nM01oYk
The Uruguayan midfielder looked like a hopeful signing for the Red Devils when he first joined in 2024, but has failed to make waves in the Premier League.
Now, United are looking to sell Ugarte for close to €28m, with Atletico Madrid and Napoli currently the teams reported as expressing the most interest.
A disappointing signing
After being signed from Paris Saint-Germain for £50.5m, Ugarte has failed to live up to expectations at Man Utd. According to The Athletic, the club’s co-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, was particularly unimpressed by the 24-year-old’s performance against Leeds United on April 13. Man Utd lost the League game 2-1.
While interim manager Michael Carrick has reinvigorated the club, improving the performance of a number of struggling players, Ugarte has been unable to establish himself in the starting line-up. As things stand, the Red Devils are likely to sell Ugarte at a significant loss.
TeamTalk claim that the midfielder is also ready to leave, and that Turkish Super Lig club Galatasaray are very interested in the player.
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Ugarte exit one of many from United
Man United are gearing up for a major summer rebuild. They have all-but wrapped up qualification for the Champions League, and now have an ambitious eye on the next season.
They will be looking to sign two new central midfielders, a centre-back, left-back and left winger – but, first, they need to shift some of the dead weight that has built up. The Sun reports that Andre Onana, Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee will also be free to find new clubs.
I’ve made my feelings clear on PSG’s 5-4 win over Bayern Munich already, but it really is worth emphasising just how much some people are overreacting to the crazy numbers being produced by the front three of Bayern in particular.
Much has been made of the supposed declining quality of the Premier League this season, but isn’t Bayern’s dominance, if anything, the clearest example you can have that the English top flight is more competitive than ever?
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Bayern’s entire front three is, after all, made up entirely of former Premier League players. Their most recent arrival is Luis Diaz, who joined from Liverpool last summer, linking up with former Tottenham striker Harry Kane and former Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise, all of whom are now somehow playing the best football of their careers under former Burnley manager Vincent Kompany.
It might not surprise you to learn that all three of these players have boasted the best numbers in their careers at Bayern, even if they were already clearly very good players during their time in England.
Yes Luis Diaz is great but he wouldn’t be producing numbers like this at Liverpool
Liverpool fans must be regretting the decision to let Diaz go, but here’s just one example of a move to the Bundesliga massively over-stating how good he actually is…
Luis Diaz in 148 games for Liverpool – 57GA
Luis Diaz in 45 games for Bayern – 43GA
It’s much easier for a Premier League player to adapt and excel in the Bundesliga than a seasoned Bundesliga player can do in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Kane already has half his entire Tottenham goal tally in under three full seasons at Bayern, while Olise has 40 goals in two seasons at the Allianz Arena, following on from a total of 16 in his entire Palace career.
It’s not rocket science, people – playing against weaker opponents domestically means it’s easier to boast crazy numbers, and to have reserves of energy to play expansive, attack-minded football in Europe as well.
Stick slightly less glamorous names like Jeremy Doku and Gabriel Martinelli into the Bayern XI and you’d likely see largely the same transformation.
Verdict: Goal to be scored in both halves Best Odds: 2/3 Bookmaker: Luckster Looking to take another giant leap towards officially defending their La Liga crown, Barcelona will travel to Navarre on Saturday night when they meet Osasuna. Osasuna Starting with the hosts, claiming an immediate boost last time out as they mounted a dramatic […]
Verdict: Draw Best Odds: 13/5 Bookmaker: Dachbet Looking to find a route back into the top-half of the Premier League table this weekend, Sunderland will travel to Molineux when they meet an already-relegated Wolves. Wolves Starting with the hosts, already relinquishing their Premier League status with plenty of time to spare, Wolves have broken plenty […]
The Los Angeles Dodgers have a unique ‘problem’, in employing the greatest player of this generation, Shohei Ohtani. Tuesday night’s game against the Miami Marlins highlighted this particular issue, as Ohtani pitched six innings, holding the Marlins to two runs. The Dodgers offense sans Ohtani mustered just one run, and the Marlins went on to win the game.
When asked about his decision to have Ohtani out of the lineup on days he pitches, Manager Dave Roberts had this to say –
“I don’t think that is going to play in my math. I think the main thing is to do right by Shohei,” Roberts said. “Even without him tonight in the lineup, we should’ve won the game. I feel good about it. I’d do the same thing again.”
The beauty of having someone like Ohtani is that even when he is ‘out of sync’ with his pitching, he still gives your team more than a chance to win. And the beauty of having a lineup like the Dodgers is that they should be able to be able to score three or more runs without Ohtani in the lineup. It just so happened that on Tuesday night, the offense didn’t do their job.
The MO of the Dodgers front office has always been to look at the long-term picture for both players and the team. And if the Dodgers want to three-peat as World Champs, Ohtani obviously plays a big role in getting them there.
MLB’s Sonja Chen covers more details of Ohtani’s outing here.
Bill Plunkett of the OC Register covers more of the minutiae of handling a two-way player through the bulk of the season to have him healthy when you need him more, in the playoffs.
“I’m always going to respect the decision, regardless whether I’m pitching or doing both,” Ohtani said. “I also understand the importance of getting to the end of the season with everybody healthy. So talking with the training staff, talking with the team, I think it’s really important that the team makes the decision on what’s good for the team.”
We are about a month away from Blake Snell returning to the starting rotation and that would give the Dodgers seven starting pitchers. Could the Dodgers do something crazy like go to a seven-man rotation? That would definitely give each starter plenty of time to recover between outings.
No, I am not seriously thinking the Dodgers front office would do this. But the beauty of having a team like the Dodgers is you have the flexibility to do things other teams can only dream of.
COLUMBUS, OHIO - APRIL 18: Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day enters Ohio Stadium prior to the Ohio State Spring Football Game on April 18, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Financing isn’t just an issue for G6 (few of which will keep pace), the power conferences are facing rapidly increasing costs.
Program reserves were wiped out during Covid as most had to look to the University for assistance, and pay back the University the following years.
Coaching staff cost has skyrocketed. It isn’t just the salaries of the top coaches on the staff – after the NCAA lifted the limit to the number of on-field coaches, programs added staff specialists for each position. Now a coach can miss a practice to hit the recruiting trail or watch tape and prep a game plan for the next opponent, and still have his assistants coaching players. Between the competitive salaries and comparable workload, programs can now attract quality offensive and defensive coordinators from the NFL. OSU assistant coaching staff is now approaching $15 Million.
The B1G as a whole is starting in the red. In 2024, ½ of the 16 public universities reported a deficit, 4 reported $15+ million deficits. Collectively they reported 2.84 billion in revenue, but expenditures near $3 billion,
The House settlement awarded $2.8 billion in back compensation to athletes. This is being paid by the NCAA and conferences, ultimately coming out of program’s budgets, disproportionately from the power conferences.
Boosters are finding it more satisfying to move their contributions from the program to NIL funds, where they can tie their donations to specific athletes.
Overnight, power conferences needed to fund $20+ million in shared revenue with athletes if they want to keep pace. This is substantial, representing 7.8% to over 15% of reported 2024 B1G Athletic Department revenue.
Fortunately this should only be a short term issue for the B1G. The next B1G contract is expected to nearly double the 2025 payout – this should be more than enough to balance the books (and why programs are willing to run large deficits in the short term).
Athletic Departments will struggle in the short term. ADs will have to make cuts, increase revenue, or borrow from the university to cover 10% to 20% of their current budget until the new broadcast contract is signed.
Cost Cutting
P4 ADs seem reluctant to eliminate non-revenue sports. Eliminating many varsity sports won’t notably help the AD’s bottom line (eliminating the golf or co-ed pistol team offers little savings), they would need to cut sports with larger rosters and higher expenses, which also tend to be more popular.
OSU President Cater:
“We’ll still have scholarships, we’ll still have programs. Some of those sports may start to look and act a little bit more like a club sport, but yet compete at the Division I level and still travel and still compete.”
Hard to nail down what he means here, I interpret it as deep cuts in non-revenue sports budgets other than scholarships (coaching, equipment, facilities, etc.).
“Carter’s argument here lines up with what I’ve heard… from the P4 to the low-majors. It’s time to figure out how to tier your sports, and figure out where you want to go all in, and where you want to offer what is essentially a D-III experience with D-I brands and facilities.”
By “club sport” and “D-III experience” I believe they are referring to minor sports having decreased coaching, lesser facilities, fewer travel perks, etc.
Across the board, all sports can expect some budget cuts, even blue blood football – OSU HC Day was upset his recruiting budget was cut.
New Revenue
The most obvious new revenue source will be selling venue naming rights. For football stadiums, Washington sold their naming rights for 10 years for $41M, PSU 15 years for $50M, Indiana 20 years for $50M. I expect $2M to $5M a year to be a realistic target.
It isn’t limited to venue naming rights, programs have been selling sponsorship of playing surfaces, scoreboards, practice facilities, athlete weight rooms and lounges, and even restaurants in the stadium.
The NCAA will allow programs to place 2 logo patches on uniforms starting in 2026, and an additional logo on equipment (such as a batting helmet).
Notably expanding seating capacity seems to be out. PSU is undertaking a massive stadium makeover to expand use and improve the fan experience without notably changing the capacity. NW is building a new stadium with less capacity.
Programs are instead focusing on maximizing revenue from the current attendees. For decades OSU has increased and decreased capacity by tinkered with the mix of club seats, box seats, and loges to maximize revenue and demand. They just recently added a membership club/restaurant in the stadium which can be reserved on non-game days. Currently in the end zone they’re adding field level suites with premium seating above (if you can call lower end zone seating “premium”). Expect more programs to look at these types of smaller low cost modifications with high return potential.
“Improved fan experience” has been the buzzword among athletic directors. Concerned ticket demand could drop now that all games are broadcasted, programs have been upgrading lighting, sound systems, concessions, restrooms, concourses, and trying to expand traditions to improve the fan experience. This should also increase season ticket demand, which often requires a donation to the athletic department.
Coming in the series:
NCAAF Roster Management – Part 4. Conference Revenue
Note: this is the third in a four-part series from longtime OTE reader and commenter ProveIt on roster management, revenue sharing, and NIL distribution in our new era of college football. One of these will run every couple days for the next week or two. I’m very grateful to ProveIt for helping us out in the doldrums.
If YOU’D like to have articles like this published, feel free to email them to minnesotawildcat at gmail dot com — I may have a little back-and-forth if needed, but I’ll get them polished up and published here. And, if you’re interested in writing more full-time for OTE, please feel free to contact me at that same email. —MNW
Rafael Leao: Man United’s pursuit of AC Milan star takes sharp twist
Manchester United’s pursuit of AC Milan superstar Rafael Leao is ramping up as intermediaries continue to work behind the scenes to sound out a deal, according to the latest report from Italy.
Cut-Price Deal
Despite a contract at the San Siro which contains a €175 million release clause, I Rossoneri are ready to slash their asking price for Leao this summer. With only two years remaining on his deal and growing concerns over clashes with the coaching staff, Milan want to cut ties with the 26-year-old forward as the relationship between both parties is on the “verge of breaking down.”
A report relayed by The Peoples Person claims an agreement could now be struck at the €70m mark, while a separate update revealed it may drop as low as €50m (£43m) to force an exit.
The Portugal international is one of the most gifted footballers in world football, possessing a potent pairing of physical and technical gifts that few of his competitors can even dream of. But he is yet to find the formula to apply his talents consistently, with question marks over attitude and application having plagued him throughout his career.
Luka Modric, his teammate in Milan and a player who knows what a world-class forward looks like, showered the 6’2 speedster with praise earlier in the season.
“Rafa is really amazing,” the 40-year-old Croatian midfielder said in October. “He’s an amazing talent, from outside when I used to watch him and now when I train with him, I see he is one of the best players in the world. The incredible thing is that he can still improve, it just depends on him.”
While there are valid concerns over Leao, a price tag of £43m for a forward with the profile and skillset to single-handedly devastate defences is one that will pique the curiosity of every top club in Europe – including the Red Devils.
United on the hunt
United are understood to be joined in the hunt by Premier League rivals Liverpool and Manchester City, while Spanish heavyweights FC Barcelona and Real Madrid are also admirers. Industry sources describe Milan’s demand as being considered “excellent value by many elite clubs for a 26-year-old of Leao’s calibre in the current market.”
Gazzetta dello Sport confirms interest from Old Trafford, revealing an unnamed agent is working as an intermediary between the executive branch and the player’s camp. Club-to-club negotiations are yet to commence, but talks are expected to ramp up at the end of the season.
The Italian newspaper claims a swap deal is also in the works to further lower the price, with Milan retaining a long-standing interest in Joshua Zirkzee. The Dutch forward has failed to settle in England and a return to Serie A is expected this summer.
Two other candidates on the chopping block are Manuel Ugarte and Marcus Rashford, as the Italian giant has been linked with both in recent windows.
The report states Zirkzee is the much more likely option, however, with fellow Italian outlet Calciomercatoconfirming United have held initial talks over the possibility of an exchange of forwards.
Final Thoughts
Stylistically, Leao is a perfect option on the left wing of a 4-2-3-1 system, which is expected to remain in place regardless of who is United’s head coach next season. If the club can strike a deal by including an unwanted player to lower the fee, it would help further mitigate the risks he poses from a behavioural and mentality perspective.
The Saudi Pro League has also been suggested as a possible destination for the Almada native, but he is said to only be interested in a switch to one of Europe’s elite. This offers further hope that the penny is dropping for a player whose value on the pitch is as high as he chooses it to be.
Apr 22, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Didier Fuentes (72) pitches against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images | Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images
The Atlanta Braves announced Tuesday that right-hander Didier Fuentes has been recalled to Atlanta as a result of moving lefty Dylan Lee to the paternity list. The move continues the rollercoaster of options for Fuentes, who was recalled last week before being optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett again.
The #Braves today recalled RHP Didier Fuentes to Atlanta and placed LHP Dylan Lee on the paternity list. Additionally, INF Ha-Seong Kim tonight begins a rehabilitation assignment with Double-A Columbus.
In three appearances so far this season, Fuentes has not proven to be spectacular. He’s got a 5.00 ERA through nine innings of work. However, his return gives Atlanta a fresh arm in the bullpen while Dylan Lee is away, and another shot to show he can provide value at the major league level.
The Braves will certainly miss Lee, who has already appeared in 14 games and allowed just two runs on six hits. Fortunately, his absence is expected to be short-term, and Atlanta’s bullpen will regain one of its most reliable arms soon.
More Braves News:
Walt Weiss provided a few pre-game updates on Spencer Strider, Sean Murphy, and a some other injured Braves.
The Braves kicked off the series with the Detroit Tigers with a 5-2 win.
Tate Southisene, Eric Hartman, and Rolddy Muñoz each appeared in MLB Pipeline’s Team of the Week.
MLB News:
The Philadelphia Phillies have fired skipper Rob Thomson and named Don Mattingly as interim manager.
The A’s have placed infielder Max Muncy on the 10-day injured list with a fractured finger. He suffered the injury on April 13 and made an effort to play through it.
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The LIV Golf event scheduled to be played in Louisiana in June has been postponed, state officials said on Tuesday.
News of the postponement comes less than two weeks after LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil said the breakaway circuit's 2026 season would proceed as planned amid reports that the series was at risk of losing its funding.
The announcement comes a day after sources with knowledge of LIV Golf operations told Reuters the event may be postponed due to concerns the soccer World Cup could impact attendances and viewership, while issues such as high temperatures and course condition were also factors.
Governor Jeff Landry and Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois said in a joint statement that the state had already paid $3.2 million under its contract with LIV Golf, of which $2 million has already been invested in upgrades for the Bayou Oaks at City Park course that was scheduled to host the event from June 25-28.
They also said the Saudi-funded circuit was expected to return the remaining $1.2 million in state incentive funds.
"We appreciate LIV’s good-faith efforts and look forward to maintaining our partnership as we continue conversations around an event later this year," Landry and Bourgeois said.
According to the statement, Bourgeois spoke with O’Neil last Friday and was informed the organisation was looking to postpone the New Orleans tournament to explore a potential event this fall.
In a separate statement, LIV Golf said it was a "strategic" decision to explore moving the event to later in the year.
"This shift allows us to avoid the peak summer heat and the crowded global sports calendar while ensuring the course is in the championship condition our fans and players expect," said LIV Golf.
"We are grateful for the continued partnership and flexibility of the state of Louisiana as we work together to deliver a world-class debut this fall.
"Our team is focused on maintaining the strong momentum of the 2026 season and we look forward to sharing finalized dates in the near future."
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Bloomington South's softball team worked from the bottom up against rival North.
The Panthers got at least one hit from every starter while piling up 18 in an 11-2 Conference Indiana victory Tuesday, April 28, but the lower part of the order did more than its share of damage thanks to 7-8 hitters Perry Murphy and Aminah Saahir.
Murphy, a sophomore right fielder, went 4-for-4 with two RBIs and scored three times. Saahir, a junior third baseman, clubbed three doubles and drove in three. Even in the 9 spot, pitcher Rachel Johnson, who had been struggling at the plate, had a pair of singles and two RBIs to help her own cause.
Both Murphy and Saahir are first-year starters and look like they're starting to figure things out. Murphy is batting a robust .600.
"They're coming on strong right now, hitting-wise," South coach Meg Montgomery said. "I know Perry is seeing the ball extremely well. Just very consistent and great at where they're pitching it, taking it down the right field line if its outside.
"She's just very patient at the plate and relaxed. She's having fun. As a hitter, to stay focused in the North-South game and go 4-for-4 is huge."
Saahir has now lifted her average to .344 with seven extra-base hits out of her 10 on the season.
"Aminah, her power, she's put a lot of time in the weight room getting stronger," Montgomery said. "She's finding her way with the bat right now.
"What I like about Aminah, she's a spark for our team. You see her out there having fun, but she elevates our team to the next level."
Hot start carries Panthers
South (7-3, 2-2) had 13 hits in the first three innings, seven alone in a six-run third that broke it open.
Everything started with a one-out single by Larkyn Ivey. The floodgates were opened from there as hits by Abby Purtlebaugh, Taylor Crohn, Murphy and a Saahir double followed. Johnson brought in another run on a ground out before a wild pitch and singles by Carly Reed and Lindsay Blanton built the lead to 9-1.
"I think we had contributors all up and down the lineup," Montgomery said. "It was great to see everybody do that. I thought we were patient and made some good pitch selections and drove the ball hard."
But it wasn't just the bats that did that damage. Blanton and Murphy each beat out infield singles despite solid plays by North's defense, grabbed an extra base or two when it could and had a runner score from second on an infield single.
"One of the things we worked hard on in the off-season was our base running," Montgomery said. "We want to be aggressive base runners, but we want to be smart base runners.
"We worked on running everything out. If you see a ball hit the ground and you immediately, instinctually take off, that just puts more pressure on the other team. Every time Lindsay puts the ball on the ground, I know she's going to be halfway to first base before they field it."
Johnson, the winning pitcher in last year's North game as a freshman, gave up a run and three hits in the top of the first but allowed just one more base runner until the sixth.
"One thing with Rachel, she's a gamer," Montgomery said. "It's the North-South game and she's got a lot of experience. She settled down and took control. She didn't let (that first inning) get to her.
"She knows she has a quality defense behind her and so she does her part."
North rolling with the punches
The Cougars (2-8, 0-3) are still going through some growing pains, but hanging in there as three seniors help guide a young team. Their enthusiasm hasn't waned. The focus is on the process and not the outcomes of games.
"They never showed lack of energy," North coach Kat Edmonds said. "They were up in the dugout all seven innings. That's all I can ask."
Senior Kaydence Silvers was 2-for-3 with two doubles and scored both runs off RBI singles by the other two seniors, Kenton Gallagher and Jocelyn Parrish. North had five hits but also several stingers that ended up in the gloves of South's outfielders.
Lack of scoring punch has been a problem all year with the Cougars held to three runs or fewer in seven of their losses.
"Today, we hit the ball, just right at people," Edmonds said. "And (South) really didn't have a ton of solid hits, and it was a lot of bloopers. It'll go that way and when the defense makes some bumbles, it'll lead to that.
"What I like about this team is seeing the improvement and picking out those types of encouraging pieces in a game. They hit a really good pitcher well."
As for pitching, sophomore Baylee Moore is taking some lumps. But she showed some resilience, coming back from that tough third inning but setting South down on three pitches in the fourth and working out of a bases loaded jam in the fifth.
"She's carrying a lot of the load, so it's tough," Edmonds said. "She's not been in that role before, so I think she's grown a ton. I feel like the last two outings for her, she's pitched full games."
Match Officials: Michael Oliver to referee Everton vs Manchester City
Michael Oliver will referee the Premier League meeting between Everton and Manchester City.
City require all three points to retain control of the Premier League title race.
Arsenal will be a minimum of three points clear come kick-off at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The Premier League have confirmed the team of match officials to oversee Manchester City’s meeting away at Everton on Monday night.
Pep Guardiola’s side simply have to keep on winning in the top-flight to keep the direction of this season’s Premier League title firmly in their own hands, but face a run of hugely challenging affairs between now and the final weekend of the campaign.
Off the back of two crucial wins against Arsenal and Burnley to put them top of the division on goals scored, Manchester City could find themselves six points behind the Gunners by the time kick-off arrives on Merseyside.
However, Mikel Arteta’s players will have played two games extra by that stage, perhaps adding additional pressure onto the minds of the Etihad Stadium’s players with far from favourable fixtures on the horizon.
Beyond the meeting with European football-chasing Everton on Monday night, City still have to face Brentford, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, and Aston Villa, with the meeting against the Cherries coming immediately after the FA Cup final against Chelsea and away from home.
Inside Manchester City’s Premier League battle over Crystal Palace and Bournemouth fixture scheduling
Ahead of the meeting between Everton and Manchester City, the Premier League have now announced the list of match officials to oversee proceedings at the Hill Dickinson Stadium!
Match Referee
The Premier League have confirmed that the highly-regarded and experienced Michael Oliver will be the man tasked with officiating from the middle of the pitch on Monday night as match referee.
Oliver will be overseeing his 40th match of the campaign across competitions at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, having worked on the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, World Cup qualification, and the FA Cup.
In his 39 matches to date this season, Oliver has issued 142 yellow cards, one leading to a second yellow card dismissal, one direct red card, and awarding four penalty kicks in the process.
Manchester City are Michael Oliver’s third-most frequent team to officiate, overseeing the Sky Blues on 65 previous occasions, with 46 of those resulting in a win for the club, eight ending in a draw, and 11 resulting in defeat.
City have received a total of 100 yellow cards from Oliver, one second yellow card dismissal, no straight red cards, and 12 penalty kicks awarded in their favour across those 65 matches.
Manchester City and Michael Oliver have come across one another on four occasions already this season, three of which have come in the Premier League; a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa, a 1-1 draw against Chelsea, and a 1-1 draw against West Ham.
The most recent outing involving Manchester City and Oliver came in the FA Cup quarter-finals and the impressive 4-0 win over Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium.
Assistant Referees
Accompanying Michael Oliver from the field of play at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday night will be a duo of Stuart Burt and Nick Greenhalgh, appointed into the roles of assistant referees for the contest.
Video Assistant Referees
Overseeing matters between Everton and Manchester City from Stockley Park’s VAR Hub will be referee Paul Howard in the role of Video Assistant Referee, supported by Blake Antrobus as Assistant Video Assistant Referee.
Fourth Official
Standing between the two dugouts and managing affairs involving David Moyes and Pep Guardiola will be referee Andy Madley, appointed as the fourth official for this contest.
Former NFL defensive lineman Josh Mauro has died, according to social media posts from his family and his former team.
Mauro, who spent the majority of his eight NFL seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, was 35. No cause of death was immediately available.
“With many tears and broken hearts, yet anchored in the unshakable certainty that our precious Josh Mauro is now healed and made new — living in the presence of the Lord — we humbly covet your prayers as our family walks through the devastating loss of our amazing son, brother, uncle, grandson and friend,” the statement posted by his father, Greg Mauro, on Facebook read.
“Josh breathed his last breath on this earth and his first breath in heaven," the statement continued. "The Lord has been our strength in this unimaginable moment. Your prayers for continued strength and comfort mean more to us than words could ever express."
Josh Mauro spent the first four seasons of his career (2014-17) with the Cardinals and was part of the team that reached the 2015 NFC championship game. The Stanford product who went undrafted also spent time with the New York Giants and Oakland Raiders.
"The Raiders mourn the loss of Josh Mauro. ... The deepest condolences of the Raiders Family are with Josh's family and friends at this time," the team said in a statement.
Mauro returned to Arizona and appeared in eight games across the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
Born in England, Mauro grew up in Texas. He played in 80 career games and recorded 130 tackles, 5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles.
Former Cardinals teammate Adrian Wilson remembered Mauro in a written message via social media.
"Prayers go out to Josh Mauro and his family," Wilson wrote. "Had the opportunity to be around Josh for several years with (former Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians). Always in shape, always was ready to go wherever he got that call. One of the things I respected most about him. You could depend on him."
JJ Watt, who overlapped with Mauro in Arizona in 2021, wrote on X:
“We’re losing way too many, way too young … Rest in Peace Josh.”
Rondale Moore, who died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in February at the age of 25, was also a member of the 2021 Cardinals.
This article discusses suicide and suicidal ideation. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
The landscape of NFL free agency after the 2026 Draft is defined by a rare mix of proven veterans, declining superstars, and still-productive role players who can immediately reshape a contender. Unlike typical offseasons where youth and potential dominate the conversation, this group is anchored by accomplished players who have already established identities across multiple seasons and systems. That makes evaluation less about projection and more about fit, health, and situational value.
At the top of this class, Stefon Diggs represents the most complete wide receiver available—still capable of separating at all three levels and functioning as a true WR1 in a timing-based offense. Behind him, players like Tyreek Hill and Deebo Samuel offer explosive versatility, even if their long-term durability and consistency are no longer guaranteed. Meanwhile, tight end David Njoku stands out as one of the few difference-makers at his position, giving offenses a mismatch weapon who can alter defensive structures on every snap.
The defensive side is headlined by Joey Bosa, whose pass-rushing pedigree still carries significant weight despite recent injury concerns, while veterans like Cam Jordan and Rasul Douglas provide scheme-specific stability for teams needing rotational or situational help. Even quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers continue to shape the market—not because of long-term upside, but because of the immediate gravity they bring to win-now rosters.
What makes this free agent class particularly intriguing is the balance between declining elite talent and reliable complementary starters. Teams are not simply chasing stars—they are trying to find the final missing pieces for playoff pushes. As a result, fit matters just as much as name recognition, and the most successful signings will likely come from organizations that understand how to maximize short-term impact over long-term projection.
1. Stefon Diggs (WR)
New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs (8) against the Seattle Seahawks during Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Stefon Diggs remains the most polished and dependable wide receiver still available on the market. Even as he moves deeper into his veteran years, his route running, separation ability, and reliability in high-leverage situations continue to make him a legitimate impact starter for a contender. Diggs has consistently produced at a WR1 level throughout his career, and his experience in multiple offensive systems makes him one of the safest short-term additions for a playoff-caliber team. For franchises needing immediate production and veteran leadership in the receiver room, he is still the strongest option available.
2. David Njoku (TE)
Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku warms up before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Huntington Bank Field. Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images
David Njoku stands out because true difference-making tight ends rarely remain available this late into the offseason. He offers a rare combination of size, athleticism, red-zone value, and the ability to create mismatches against both linebackers and safeties. Njoku is also valuable because he can contribute as both a receiving threat and an in-line blocker, which gives offensive coordinators far more flexibility than most veteran free agents provide. For teams looking to support a young quarterback or strengthen the middle of the field, he represents premium value.
3. Joey Bosa (EDGE/DE)
Buffalo Bills defensive end Joey Bosa (97) on the field against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Joey Bosa may no longer be in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation, but proven pass rushers with his résumé are still extremely difficult to find. When healthy, he remains a disruptive edge defender with elite hand usage, strong football instincts, and the ability to change games on obvious passing downs. His injury history creates understandable hesitation, but contenders often prioritize proven postseason-caliber pass rush over long-term durability concerns. In the right rotational role, Bosa can still be a highly impactful defensive addition.
Tyreek Hill still possesses game-breaking speed and the kind of explosiveness that can alter defensive game plans before the ball is even snapped. Even with age and durability concerns becoming more relevant, few players in football can replicate the vertical stress he places on opposing secondaries. His value depends heavily on situation, as he fits best with aggressive offensive systems that can maximize his speed and space-creation ability. If healthy and fully engaged, Hill still carries one of the highest ceilings of any player left in free agency.
5. Jauan Jennings (WR)
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) warms up before the game against the Chicago Bears at Levi’s Stadium. Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images
Jauan Jennings is one of the most underrated receivers still available because his value goes far beyond traditional box-score production. He brings physicality, toughness, contested-catch reliability, and the kind of blocking effort that winning teams consistently prioritize. Jennings has proven he can thrive in meaningful moments and handle the dirty work that often separates role players from true winning contributors. For playoff teams looking for a dependable, high-effort receiver rather than pure star power, he is an extremely attractive option.
6. Deebo Samuel (WR)
Washington Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel (1) against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Deebo Samuel remains a uniquely versatile offensive weapon whose value extends well beyond standard wide receiver usage. His ability to function as a receiver, runner, and after-catch creator gives offensive coordinators creative flexibility that few veterans can offer. While his peak years may be behind him and durability remains a legitimate concern, his physical playing style still creates matchup problems when he is healthy. For the right offensive system, Samuel can still be a major difference-maker rather than just a complementary piece.
7. Aaron Rodgers (QB)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) throws during the first half of an AFC Wild Card Round game against the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium. Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Aaron Rodgers’ free agency is less about talent evaluation and more about leverage, timing, and whether Pittsburgh is truly prepared to move forward without him. The Steelers recently placed the rare unrestricted free-agent tender—essentially a right-of-first-refusal mechanism—on Rodgers, allowing him to either accept a one-year deal worth roughly $15 million with a 10% raise from last season’s salary or negotiate with other teams while Pittsburgh retains the ability to match. If he remains unsigned by the start of training camp, the Steelers gain exclusive negotiating rights, making it clear the organization still views him as its preferred short-term starter despite drafting Drew Allar and keeping Mason Rudolph in the room. At 42, Rodgers is no longer a long-term solution, but this move shows that for a win-now team seeking veteran stability, his experience, football intelligence, and late-career value still carry real weight.
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) reacts after the victory over the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
Najee Harris brings durability, consistency, and dependable early-down production in a market that often undervalues veteran running backs. He may not be the most explosive back available, but his pass protection, physical running style, and ability to handle a heavy workload make him a trusted option for coaching staffs. Harris is especially valuable for teams that want stability rather than specialization at the position. In the right offense, he can still be a productive starter rather than simply a rotational back.
Conclusion
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) takes the field before the game at Levi’s Stadium. Credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images
This free agent class after the 2026 Draft is less about future upside and more about immediate impact. Veterans like Stefon Diggs, Joey Bosa, and David Njoku headline a group capable of changing playoff trajectories if placed in the right systems. Ultimately, success in this market will come down to which teams can best extract value from experienced players still capable of elevating winning rosters.
Texas A&M's 2026 NFL Draft success reached historic levels after 10 players were drafted, including star wide receiver KC Concepcion being selected 24th overall by the Cleveland Browns, while senior tight end Nate Boerkircher, who was a likely fifth or sixth round pick, was selected 56th overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Overall, seven of the 10 Aggies selected were in the first three rounds, further proving that third-year head coach Mike Elko has rebuilt the program in his image after just two full seasons, and has continued to dominate the recruiting trail this offseason, landing his 12th commitment in the 2027 class with five-star IOL Kennedy Brown now in the fold.
Nationally, some may be shocked by how fast the Aggies have grown from a respectable program to a College Football Playoff contender after six seasons of disappointment under former head coach Jimbo Fisher, who failed to lead Texas A&M to ten or more wins even once, despite recruiting at a high level.
Under Fisher, development was a consistent issue, resulting in less interest from NFL scouts, but as soon as Mike Elko made his way back to College Station before the 2024 season, the Aggies quickly became one of the top destinations for recruits, and, especially, transfer portal players to learn, develop, and eventually, hear their names called in the NFL Draft, which came to fruition for 10 yound men last weekend.
On Tuesday, TexAgs' interview with the respected host of "The Hardline" on 96.7 The Ticket, Bob Sturm, who has followed the Texas A&M transformation closely, responded to David Nuño's statement that KC Concepcion and unanimous All-American edge Cashius Howell, both transfers, likely would not have been selected that high if they had never been developed under Elko and his staff.
Even though second-round pick and former starting left guard Chase Bisontis was a blue-chip prospect, Elko and offensive line coach Adam Cushing's decision to move him from tackle to guard paid off in a big way. Sturm went on to say that while ten players drafted is "impressive," this should be the norm moving forward.
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 Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach saved some of his best work of the offseason for the days after the 2026 NFL Draft.
After assembling an elite crop of talent during the Annual Player Selection Meeting last week, Veach worked the phones to negotiate contracts with valuable prospects who didn't hear their names called during the draft.
Chiefs Wire's resident draftnik, Sam Teets, was bullish on Kansas City's class of undrafted free agents, listing the Chiefs' latest class of UDFA pickups to his list of favorites in the days after the draft ended.
Take a look at which other teams stood out to Teets in this Tweet, which was posted to his official Twitter account:
While it is too soon to tell if any of Kansas City's undrafted free agent signings will ultimately crack the Chiefs' 53-man roster after training camp, if Teets' evaluation holds true, fans in Western Missouri should have plenty to cheer about next season.
Then, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday that Nix underwent an "anticipated" follow-up procedure last week. Rapoport indicated that Nix is now on track for training camp, but the QB's status for OTAs is in doubt.
With Nix potentially unavailable this spring, the Broncos might consider adding a fourth quarterback to serve as a "camp arm" of sorts this spring. Such a signing would serve as a temporary QB3 behind Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger.
No, they're not going to sign Aaron Rodgers. Other high-profile backups like Tyrod Taylor and Jimmy Garoppolo probably aren't interested in competing with Jarrett Stidham (and the Broncos probably already would have added one of those QBs if they preferred them over Stidham). They're also not bringing back Russell Wilson (who has drawn interest from the New York Jets).
The most logical choice might be Ben DiNucci, who has had two stints in coach Sean Payton's offense, and he's the QB the team called when Nix went down with an ankle injury during the NFL playoffs in January. With Nix now potentially unavailable again, it would make sense to bring back DiNucci for the spring.
The list of other veteran QBs available also includes Taylor Heinicke, Josh Dobbs, Brett Rypien, Cooper Rush, Jeff Driskel, Skylar Thompson, John Wolford, Easton Stick and Ian Book. They're listed below, ranked by career starts.
Free agent NFL QBs for Broncos
Taylor Heinicke (29 starts)
Cooper Rush (16 starts)
Josh Dobbs (15 starts)
Jeff Driskel (12 starts)
Brett Rypien (4 starts)
John Wolford (4 starts)
Easton Stick (4 starts)
Skylar Thompson (3 starts)
Ben DiNucci (1 start)
Ian Book (1 start)
Denver will hold a rookie minicamp next week, and they will likely bring in a veteran QB on a tryout basis. Whoever gets the nod for rookie minicamp might also be a candidate to return for OTAs in June.
Former Irish running back Julius Jones had not only an illustrious career in South Bend, but also ran for over 5,000-yards in the NFL. If things fall in favor of the Irish, his son may be able to extend the legacy in the family. His son Julius Jones Jr. comes with plenty of intrigue not just because of the name on the back of the jersey, but also because of the skills he brings as a wide receiver.
Jones has quickly become a national recruit. The 2027 St. Thomas Aquinas standout is a four-star receiver and a ranked in the 247Sports composite as the No. 72 prospect in his class as well as the No. 12 when it comes to wide receivers. Notre Dame has plenty of challengers also interested in recruiting Jones, including Florida, Michigan, Oregon and others, but according to a recent interview with On3's Steve Wiltfong, the vibes in South Bend seem favorable that the son may want to follow in the steps of his father.
"Julius Jones Jr. remains one of Notre Dame's most coveted targets"@SWiltfong_ has intel on Notre Dame recruiting ☘️
The legacy angle matters, but it is not the only reason (subscription required) Notre Dame is in a strong position. Jones has said the Irish appeal to him beyond family ties, and Notre Dame’s staff has continued to push hard, including through longstanding connections with his father, who starred for the Irish from 1999-2003 before becoming a second-round NFL draft pick. The elder Jones finished his Notre Dame career with 3,018 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns, giving the younger Jones a built-in connection to the program’s history.
For Notre Dame, Julius Jones Jr symbolizes the rare combination of pedigree, production and upside that makes him almost a must-get for head coach Marcus Freeman and the Irish staff.
Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.
Following the 2026 NFL draft, Miami Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan drafted a half dozen defensive players, much to head coach Jeff Hafley’s liking for sure.
A defensive-minded coach with emphasis on the secondary, Hafley has several players who could be perfect pieces for his scheme, immediately and in the future.
Scheme-versatile cornerback Chris Johnson was picked No. 27 overall and could be an absolute lockdown cornerback, as he's outstanding in zone coverage. Last season at San Diego State, while in zone, he held quarterbacks to a 20.6 quarterback rating.
While being scheme versatile, which is something Hafley values, Johnson could be a perfect top cornerback for the secondary who could even play the slot in a pinch.
Second-round pick linebacker Jacob Rodriguez could end up being this class' most productive and most valuable player based on his potential and ability. With veteran All-Pro Jordyn Brooks currently manning the inside of the linebacker unit, Rodriguez can play the weak side and eventually take over the middle of the defense as well as earn a “C” on his uniform, as he had at Texas Tech.
Rodriguez is a sound tackler, plays with heart and desire and is a turnover creator, evidenced by his seven forced fumbles and four interceptions last season with the Red Raiders.
If Hafley was looking for a Swiss-Army Knife chess piece, Sullivan provided one in a steal of a fourth-round pick in hybrid linebacker wrapped in safety traits, Kyle Louis of Pittsburgh.
First athletic, when someone who can stop the run and drop back in coverage, Louis can handle a “star” safety role for Hafley, and by that box linebacker in sub-sets that could be perfect for when Hafley mixes things up in his scheme and packages. Another captain in college, leadership and versatility, as well as athleticism, were major attributes Sullivan wanted in his selection, and Louis fits the bill perfectly. He is a chess piece that can be used in a few different ways for a coach who loves flexibility in his defenders.
Speaking of versatility, linebacker Trey Moore from Texas can be a solid rotational pass rusher as an off-ball linebacker or even an edge. Very productive in his years at the University of Texas-San Antonio before transferring in 2024, Moore has a solid bag of pass-rushing moves, including a lethal spin move to help get past blockers and get home to the quarterback.
Moore is a tad undersized but has adequate speed and athletic ability to be a fine sub-package pass rushers who is highly intelligent. He was a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which is commonly known as the Academic Heisman.
Moving back to the secondary, cerebral safety Michael Taaffe is an underrated pick and a potential starter right away at free safety.
Although a tad undersized at 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds, Taaffe makes up for it with his play recognition, intelligence, instincts and work ethic. A player who can be a coach on the field, Taaffe has outstanding processing ability and can read a quarterback and jump routes.
As for his tackling, he cut his missed-tackle rate in half from 2024 to 2025, showing that he can be coached up and can be a great cover man for Hafley, who prides his defensive backs on not getting beat deep. If there were a green dot on the back of a helmet given to defensive backs, he’d have one. With limited competition currently in the Dolphins’ safety room, Taaffe is a major candidate to be an extension of Hafley in the field.
Lastly, Sullivan addressed a pure edge rusher with savvy seventh-round pick Llewellyn from Iowa. At 6-foot-6, he has a very solid repertoire of moves as a pass rusher, and that outweighs some speed and strength limitations.
As the Dolphins' last selection, he could still make a fast impact as a situational pass rusher, and a bit more mass and refining could make him a very solid final pick in Sullivan first ever class. In a very sparse room, Miami needed to add a player who could rush off the edge.
Hafley will have six pupils to mold, with three, at the very least, being captain material for the Dolphins within a few years.
He comes to Lincoln from Boston College. The center spent one season with the Eagles, and averaged 10.6 points and 5.7 rebounds per game in 31 games. He had a career high of 25 points against Virginia Tech in March.
Nebraska is Kapke's third program, as he spent his first two collegiate seasons with the Butler Bulldogs. The big man is another transfer during a busy period for the program over the past couple of weeks. Now, he is officially in the fold as the Huskers continue to build their roster. Coach Fred Hoiberg is excited about the addition to the roster.
“He’s played three seasons at the power conference level and that experience will help his transition to the Big Ten. Boden uses his size and physicality around the basket to create space and is comfortable stepping out to 3-point range and knocking down shots. He became more of an offensive focal point at Boston College during the second half of ACC play and played some of his best basketball down the stretch. He has been steady in his development, and we are looking forward to Boden joining our program.”
Kapke should fit in well with the Huskers' offensive system, and his 6-foot-11, 255-pound frame should prove to be an asset inside. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.
After failing to secure a playoff berth last year, the Bruins are back in the postseason. By clinching the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, Boston has shown that it is not just a playoff participant, but a dangerous contender.
The Bruins are ready for a first-round clash with the Sabres, who finished atop the Atlantic Division standings with 109 points. History favors Boston, as the Bruins have survived and advanced in six of the eight previous playoff meetings with the Sabres.
The regular season series suggests a razor-thin margin. Boston won three of the four matchups, but two of those victories could have gone the other way in overtime.
Here is the complete series schedule for Sabres vs. Bruins, including TV and streaming options for playoff games.
Games in the Sabres vs. Bruins series will air on multiple channels.
Fans can stream every playoff game live on DIRECTV, which offers a free trial to new users. Games on ABC and ESPN networks can also be streamed on the ESPN app or fubo, which also has a free trial.
NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs schedule, key dates for 2026
Here are the key dates to know for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs and offseason. Some series start dates could move up depending on when previous series end.
The Dallas Cowboys' draft has been seen by many as a successful one, thanks in part to taking Caleb Downs in the first round and focusing on defense. But that isn't going to fix three of the bigger questions still plaguing them heading into the 2026 season. And yes, it would be easy to say George Pickens is at the top of the list, but looking past the low-hanging fruit that is Pickens, one will find three more concerns.
They have other issues on the offensive side of the football, questions stemming from having a fourth defensive coordinator in four years, and an overarching concern that has submarined quite a few playoff hopefuls over the years.
These three questions matter in the immediate future and beyond for the Cowboys going forward.
1. Can Tyler Guyton stay healthy?
Number one concern on this list is Tyler Guyton's ability to stay healthy through an entire season. The 2024 first-round pick has yet to give the Cowboys a full season of work. So far in his young career, Guyton has missed seven regular-season games to injuries, plus parts of others. A knee/shoulder injury in 2024 caused him to miss two games, and in 2025, Guyton missed five games due to an ankle injury.
The Cowboys are going to be heavily relying on their offense to keep them in games while the defense continues to learn Christian Parker's schemes. Guyton is the best left tackle option for Dallas with this current roster, and they need him to protect quarterback Dak Prescott's blindside. If he isn't on the field, the best result for the Cowboys' offense would be increased pressure off the edge that disrupts Prescott's timing and comfort in the pocket. The worst would be another serious Prescott injury.
2. Can Christian Parker staff get this defense clicking early?
If it seems as though every season, the Cowboys are installing a new defensive scheme after firing their previous defensive coordinator, it's because they are. Each time this happens, fans are subjected to watching a unit that still hasn't been able to grasp the scheme. Parker's main goal prior to the start of the season will be to get his players up to speed as quickly as possible.
Parker came to Dallas with a reputation of being a great communicator, someone who figures out how to relate to his guys and use that to get the best out of them. It's worked for him in the past, bringing out the best in players, players like the Broncos Pat Surtain, and the Eagles' Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean.
This time around, Parker's the defensive coordinator and not a positional coach. He'll have more responsibilities and won't be able to devote the majority of his time to the secondary.
He's going to have to rely on his hand-picked staff to get the job done for him. It will be interesting to see if they'll have that same ability to tap into their player's potential and grow it.
3. Can this Cowboys defense stay healthy?
It feels as though this is a recurring issue for Dallas on defense, and this season is no different. Last season, the Cowboys' defense saw 12 players go down with injuries. Heading into the 2026 season, Dallas heads into OTAs with two big defensive contributors on the mend. Cornerback DaRon Bland (foot) and Donovan Ezeiruaku (hip) may be ready for offseason workouts at the earliest, or not until training camp.
They also have players who they believe will contribute heavily on defense this season, who have their own injury concerns based on their history. Cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. (knee), linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (knee), and safety Malik Hooker (foot) all missed games last season, either coming back from an injury or getting injured during the season. If the Cowboys' defense wants to take a step forward in 2026, they'll need to pick up Parker's scheme, but more importantly, stay healthy.
In case you haven't heard, quite a few folks really like what the Carolina Panthers did in the 2026 NFL Draft. This past weekend's work from the NFC South champions received rave reviews, and may help set them up for a successful title defense.
But how does Pro Football Focus like the class?
Here are the overall PFF grades from the college careers of each draftee . . .
First round (No. 19): Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
2025: 71.4 (81st out of 632)
2024: 74.7 (91st of 639)
2023: 70.1 (Did not qualify)
Second round (No. 49): Lee Hunter, DL, Texas Tech
2025: 80.5 (37th out of 887)
2024: 72.1 (223rd out of 880)
2023: 75.0 (135th out of 906)
2022: 63.2 (553rd out of 902)
2021: Not enough snaps
Third round (No. 83): Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee
2025: 79.4 (65th out of 679)
2024: 56.6 (556th out of 583)
2023: 79.9 (59th out of 667)
2022: Not enough snaps
Fourth round (No. 129): Will Lee III, CB, Texas A&M
2025: 66.5 (515th out of 897)
2024: 68.1 (452nd out of 841)
2023: 76.2 (170th out of 869)
Fifth round (No. 144): Sam Hecht, C, Kansas State
2025: 80.3 (Fourth out of 307)
2024: 68.0 (99th out of 301)
2023: 78.1 (Did not qualify)
2022: 32.4 (Did not qualify)
Fifth round (No. 151): Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State
2025: 85.9 (26th out of 914)
2024: 72.3 (266th out of 912)
2023: 65.5 (516th out of 876)
2022: 66.5 (421st out of 815)
2021: 73.8 (Did not qualify)
Seventh round (No. 227): Jackson Kuwatch, LB, Miami (Ohio)
Badgers legend Chris Chelios leads the way with 266 all-time games played while Joe Pavelski sits just ahead of McDonagh with his 201 playoff appearances.
24 people have skated in 200 career NHL playoff games, now including Ryan McDonagh.
All-time Badgers in the rankings 1. Chris Chelios - 266 GP ... 21. Joe Pavelski - 201 22t. Ryan McDonagh - 200 pic.twitter.com/nD8YGHkKYW
McDonagh, who was Minnesota's Mr. Hockey in 2007, played on the Badgers from 2007-10. Back in 2020, the Badgers touted his success as he became the 14th Wisconsin men's hockey alumnus to win the Stanley Cup.
The former No. 12 overall pick won it all with the Tampa Bay Lightning that year. After a brief stint in Nashville, McDonagh returned to the Lightning, where he's now vying to pass Pavelski in the all-time rankings. Seeing as the Lightning and Canadians are tied 2-2, McDonagh, as long as he stays healthy, will indeed make at least two more playoff appearances this season alone.
No. 8 Tennessee will face Missouri for its final SEC softball series in the regular season. Rankings reflect the NFCA/GoRout Division I Coaches Poll.
Game 1 between the Lady Vols and Tigers will take place Thursday at 7 p.m. EDT (SEC Network+). Game 2 on Friday is scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT (SEC Network+), while a series finale will be contested Saturday at 1 p.m. EDT (SEC Network).
The SEC Tournament will be held May 5-9 at John Cropp Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky.
Below are SEC softball standings ahead of the final week in league play.
NEW YORK — Marcus Semien’s grounder to third base when the Mets had the bases loaded in the fourth inning of Tuesday night’s blowout win over the Nationals could’ve been an inning-ending double play.
Had Jorbit Vivas fielded the ball cleanly, he had time to step on the bag to his right and fire across the diamond to get Washington out of the jam.
That outcome wouldn’t have been a surprise to Mets fans. They’ve grown accustomed this month to watching this lineup flop in run-scoring opportunities consistently.
But Vivas whiffed when he swiped at the short hop with his glove hand. A chopper with a 5 percent hit probability turned into a two-run error, the spark to a seven-run inning for the Mets.
In the Mets’ dugout, manager Carlos Mendoza had one thought ringing through his mind.
“We all felt it there,” Mendoza said. “This is the break we were looking for.”
The Mets turned Vivas’ mistake into five additional runs. Rookie Carson Benge lined the next pitch from Nationals starter Zack Littell into left-center field for a two-run single. Benge has been swinging a hot bat of late, getting his barrel to the ball far more often with an aggressive approach, using the entire field while timing up the fastball.
After a Bo Bichette sacrifice fly to deep right when the lineup turned over, near the spot where his leadoff home run in the bottom of the first left the yard, Juan Soto delivered the knockout punch. His two-run home run to the opposite field was on a very poorly-located two-strike fastball from Littell over the middle of the plate.
“Sometimes you just need a little lucky rock in the middle of the field to get you going,” Soto said of Semien’s grounder with a smile.
Factor in the Mets’ recent production (or lack thereof) on offense, and a seven-run inning feels like a tidal wave of run production.
This is the same offense that was held to only four runs over 27 innings at the plate against the Rockies this past weekend. That series, a sweep for Colorado at Citi Field, had a rock bottom feel to it, heating up Mendoza’s seat as Mets manager.
Seven runs is also more than the Mets had scored in any individual game in all but one of their last 19 games played.
And while a blowout win in April against Washington wouldn’t normally feel special, this one had a must-win vibe to it. To get the job done in dominant fashion was a chance for this team to exhale. They hadn’t cruised to an easy, lopsided win in more than three weeks — their last win of more than three runs was way back on April 4, a 9-0 romp in San Francisco against the Giants.
“Just gives a little confidence to the lineup,” Soto said. “Remember what we’re capable of.”
The question now for the Mets is can they turn that feel-good victory into a turning point, the type of win that helps this offense build serious momentum and to turn a disastrous start to the season into a memory.
As Tuesday’s starter Clay Holmes said postgame, trying to climb out of a hole in one day rarely ever works. It’s about stacking good days together and sticking to the same process, avoiding the instances where the Mets abandon their approach and try to do too much (which leads to pressing).
The Mets need to lean into the influx of confidence this lineup must feel after an overdue outburst without getting too cocky. There’s still plenty of work to be done. After all, Tuesday’s win featured a gift from Washington, a game that was started by a pitcher in Littell who entered play on Tuesday with a 7.56 ERA in 2026.
Fernando Mendoza may be the new face of the Las Vegas Raiders, but he is not walking into the locker room alone.
The No. 1 overall pick instantly brings expectations, pressure, and attention, especially at quarterback. But what often matters just as much is what happens behind the scenes once the spotlight fades.
And in Mendoza’s case, one of the Raiders’ biggest leaders has already made sure that transition is as smooth as possible.
Because long before the regular season begins, relationships inside the locker room are already taking shape, and this one could end up being crucial.
Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Maxx Crosby confirms early connection with Fernando Mendoza
Speaking via The Rush podcast, Crosby revealed that his connection with the rookie quarterback started even before draft night.
“I know everybody’s fired up that he’s part of our team now. I had the chance to have a great conversation with him when he came on his visit.
“I got to chop it up with him a little bit, and then on draft night, got on FaceTime and talked to him,” Crosby said.
That early interaction matters. It shows Mendoza was already building relationships within the organization before officially becoming the franchise’s centerpiece.
For a player stepping into such a high-pressure role, having that kind of welcome can make a real difference.
Maxx Crosby ready to mentor LA Raiders’ No. 1 pick
Crosby also made it clear that the connection did not stop there.
“We’ve been texting back and forth ever since. I’m really fired up for him, excited to take him under my wing and help him out, show him the way, and just encourage him to be himself and lead in his own way.
“So, fired up for him and his family. I know it was a big moment,” Crosby further stated.
That kind of support from a veteran leader is exactly what teams hope for when they bring in a young quarterback.
Crosby has established himself as one of the emotional and competitive anchors of the Raiders, and his willingness to guide Mendoza adds another layer to the rookie’s situation.
Instead of being left to figure things out alone, Mendoza is stepping into a locker room where leadership is already reaching out to him.
And if that dynamic continues, it could play a big role in how quickly he adjusts to life in the NFL.
PARIS, FRANCE - APRIL 27: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been digitally enhanced.) Vincent Kompany, head coach of FC Bayern Muenchen is on his way to the plane for UEFA Champions League 2025/26 travel one day ahead of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Semi Final First Leg match on April 27, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by F. Noever/FC Bayern via Getty Images) | FC Bayern via Getty Images
According to a report from Bild (as captured by @iMiaSanMia), Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany immediately hit the locker room to give his squad praise and other words of encouragement for the fight and heart that it showed as is came back from a 5-2 deficit to finish the game at 5-4.
Kompany gave the squad just the boost it needed per midfielder Aleksandar Pavlović:
After the final whistle, Vincent Kompany immediately went to the dressing room and addressed his players with words of praise and optimism with a view to the return leg next week
Aleksandar Pavlović: “He said he’s proud of us – and of the way we came back, the mentality we showed, the good energy we had in the game, and the good performance we delivered. And that he’s already looking forward to Munich.”
This is just the type of thing you would expect from Kompany, who has forged a strong bond with this his players. Now, the group will need to dig deep in an attempt to pull out a win for the tie at home next week.
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…
It's a result that kept the Tractor Boys in provisional second place going into the final day and ensured Southampton have a play-off spot guaranteed although they are no longer in the race for second place.
Battle for Second Place
Three teams all have a chance of finishing behind champions Coventry City this season and one of them will end up avoiding potential play-off heartbreak.
As we said, Ipswich Town are currently second on 81 points, one ahead of Millwall and two more than Middlesbrough.
Kieran McKenna's side will host Queens Park Rangers knowing that a win is enough against a team who are currently in the middle of the pack.
On paper, Millwall have the easiest opponent and should be in prime position to take advantage if Ipswich slip up. The Lions host already-relegated Oxford United as they hope to make history and reach the Premier League for the first team.
Meanwhile, Middlesbrough require both teams to make mistakes but they have a difficult fixture. Boro will be travelling to take on a Wrexham team who also have a big final day...
Play-Off Places
We already know which teams will finish in the top five which leaves us with one final play-off spot up for grabs.
It is Wrexham who currently occupy that final play-off place but they of course have that difficult game against Boro.
The Red Dragons are sixth solely because they have a superior goal difference to Hull City by just one goal. The Tigers know that Wrexham can beat Boro but as long as they get a good goal-margin over Norwich City (no easy task) then they could reach sixth.
Eager for both teams to drop points is Derby County who will host Sheffield United on Saturday. The Rams are just a point behind and in the unlikely event that both Wrexham and Hull lose and Derby draw then they also enjoy a healthy goal difference.
As always in the Championship the permutations are clear but on the day things will no doubt twist and turn as the afternoon goes on.
Kevin Kisner has revealed what he was telling his playing partner after getting the opportunity to play alongside Nelly Korda for the first time.
Korda has most definitely put her winless 2025 season behind her at the start of this year.
The 27-year-old is now world number one again after winning the Chevron Championship for the second time in her career this past week. It was Korda’s third major title.
What Kevin Kisner realised about Nelly Korda the first time he played alongside her
Korda took charge of the tournament from the opening day at Memorial Park. She boasted a six-shot lead at the halfway stage and went on to keep all of her rivals at arm’s length over the remainder of the tournament.
While Korda appears to not crave the limelight at all, she is undoubtedly the biggest superstar in the women’s game right now.
And speaking on the Fore Play Podcast, Kevin Kisner suggested that he has been a big admirer of Korda ever since playing in an event alongside her some years ago.
Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images
“She’s cool, too. I played with her in a team event, the Grant Thornton, it was before it was mixed though, so they gave her a sponsor exemption to play with the guys. She was the only female playing. And after six holes, I was playing with Max Homa and we were paired with her, and I looked at Max on the seventh tee and I said this is the greatest golfer I’ve ever played with,” he said.
“She was hitting lasers with three woods at the flag, and we’re standing there with seven irons not hitting it inside of her. I told Max this is getting embarrassing. She’s going to beat me straight up from the back tees and you’re going to tell everyone about it.
“But she’s incredible, and she’s cool as hell because I asked her on the first tee, I said, ‘Nelly, I don’t know you very well, it’s nice to meet you, I just need to know where are we in this? I say a lot of off-colour things while I’m playing golf’. She goes, ‘whatever you want Kis, bring it on’.”
The LPGA is the biggest winner as Nelly Korda returns to world number one
It is hard to imagine that we will see a season like the 2025 campaign on the LPGA ever again.
There were 30 different winners in 32 events. Jeeno Thitikul was the only player to win more than once.
What makes that run all the more incredible is the fact that Nelly Korda was not among those winners. That is despite Korda winning seven times back in 2024.
There is an amazing amount of talent in the women’s game right now. Thitikul has somehow still not won her first major title despite achieving so much already.
But it is arguably better for the LPGA to have a dominant figure like Korda emerge. That is much more likely to encourage casual fans to keep an eye on what is going on.
And Korda is certainly well on her way to becoming an all-time great with three majors and an Olympic gold medal under her belt already.
It would be no surprise to see her complete the Career Grand Slam in the near future.
FORT LAUDERDALE — Brad Marchand made headlines during the Florida Panthers end-of-season meeting with the media almost two weeks ago when he said he would “rather miss the playoffs than lose in the Final.’’
Either way, Marchand surmised, “you don’t win. There’s one winner, and everyone else is a loser.’’
Since joining the Panthers last March, he did not do a lot of losing.
Before the Panthers’ season started to unravel in January, it looked like Florida may be able to survive some early injuries and make a run at a three-peat as Stanley Cup champions.
Yet, things did unravel and the team fell out of contention by the time Marchand and a bunch of his teammates flew to Milan for the Winter Olympics in February.
And, he wishes things worked out a little different.
“It was disappointing the way the year played out,’’ Marchand said. “But you definitely learn something about your group every year, regardless of how it goes. I love the mindset of the guys every single day.
“We were fighting an uphill battle with everything the team had been going through. … It didn’t go our way, and there was a ton of adversity, but I loved how we stuck together as a group.’’
Despite how things ended, Marchand ended up having a pretty good year.
Although Marchand was injured at the time of the trade, he joined the team for the final 10 games of the regular season and, well, worked to figure things out.
By the time the playoffs started, it was on.
Paired with Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen, Marchand’s line was one of Florida’s best throughout the playoffs.
Marchand ended up being one of Florida’s most clutch players (10 goals, 20 points in 23 games) as he won the Stanley Cup for just the second time in what will certainly be a Hall of Fame career.
A few days later, he signed a new six-year contract with the Panthers worth almost $32 million to stay with his new team.
Marchand instantly became one of the most recognizable and, surprisingly even to him, popular athletes in South Florida.
He even had a Blizzard named after him a Dairy Queen — at least briefly.
Fast forward to the start of the new season and Marchand helped carry the Panthers offensively with Matthew Tkachuk and Sasha Barkov among Florida’s injured.
He impressed teammates and coaches alike with not only his work ethic, but his productivity as well.
In February, he got to play for Team Canada at the Olympics for the first time in his life.
Despite a nagging injury that he’s going to have to deal with, perhaps even with surgery, this offseason, it had been a pretty good year for one Brad Marchand.
”There are a lot of highlights, a lot of milestones that I am very proud of and excited out,’’ Marchand said. “Being on the 4-Nations, winning a Cup; we didn’t win gold at the Olympics, but we medaled and there’s a lot to be thankful and grateful for.
”You are not going to win everything all the time, and you learn that pretty quickly in this league. But just being on the ice and being part of this team, this organization, is an honor and a pleasure. And I think that’s what sometimes gets overlooked. …
”We’re very fortunate to play this game, do what we do. Play a game for a living, meet great people, travel to great places, live out a dream. Yeah, it’s unfortunate we didn’t win. But when you look back on the year, it was a hell of a year.’’
PSG and Bayern rewrite Champions League records in epic semi-final
Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich delivered an all-time UEFA Champions League classic as PSG claimed a dramatic 5-4 victory in the first leg of their semi-final at the Parc des Princes.
The nine-goal thriller became the highest-scoring Champions League semi-final in history, while the five goals scored in the first half were also the most ever in the opening 45 minutes of a semi-final or final.
It was just the second knockout-stage match in the competition’s history to see both sides score at least four goals, after Chelsea and Liverpool drew 4-4 in 2008.
PSG have now scored five or more goals in four different Champions League matches this season, matching Liverpool’s 2017-18 record for the most in a single campaign. They also joined Ajax and Liverpool as the only clubs to score five goals in a Champions League semi-final. Meanwhile, both PSG and Bayern have now passed 40 goals in this season’s competition - the first time two clubs have both reached that mark in the same campaign.
Bayern punished, but Kane sets new records
For Bayern, it was a damaging night defensively. The German side had not conceded five goals in a European fixture since their 5-2 defeat to Ajax in the 1994-95 semi-final, while the five they shipped in Paris equalled the most they have ever conceded in a Champions League match.
Despite the defeat, Harry Kane still made history. The England captain became only the third English player to score and assist in a Champions League semi-final, after Andy Cole in 1999 and Wayne Rooney in 2011.
Kane also extended his Champions League scoring run to six consecutive matches, setting a new record for an English player and moving clear of the previous mark he had shared with Steven Gerrard.
Olise hits elite numbers as tie remains alive
There was another personal landmark for Michael Olise, who became the only player across Europe’s top five leagues this season to register 20+ goals and 20+ assists in all competitions.
Although PSG take a one-goal lead into the second leg, Bayern’s four away goals ensure the tie remains finely balanced. After a night that rewrote several Champions League records, the return meeting in Munich now carries even greater intrigue.
ONE Championship lit up Tokyo’s Ariake Arena with a night full of statement-making performances across five high-stakes MMA contests at ONE SAMURAI 1 inside Tokyo’s Ariake Arena on Wednesday, April 29.
From rising contenders seizing their moment to established names reinforcing their status, the event showcased the depth of talent across the roster in the all-encompassing sport.
Before attention shifts to the four blockbuster World Title fights, here’s what went down from the MMA battles, which streamed live via pay-per-view at live.onefc.com.
In a high-stakes atomweight MMA contest, Chihiro Sawada‘s world-class grappling powered her to a sensational opening round submission win against Ayaka “Zombie” Miura.
It was far from straightforward for the Team Akatsuki and IDEA Asakusa affiliate, though. Miura attempted to take charge early with a fierce takedown, but Sawada stood her ground and stuffed the attempt.
The 28-year-old chipped away with grounded knees when they were locked in the clinch, but Miura was having none of that and attempted to break free to get control again. The Tokyo-based fighter defended intelligently and gradually worked her way into a dominant position through sharp positional awareness.
Sensing her moment, Sawada rolled into an armbar attempt against the flow of traffic, isolating Miura’s arm and making crucial adjustments before fully extending for the finish.
The tap came at the 4:33 mark of the fight and improved Sawada’s record to 12-1. At the same time, she earned a shot at ONE Women’s Atomweight MMA World Champion Denice “The Menace” Zamboanga.
Phogat imposed her wrestling from the opening bell, looking to control the tempo on the canvas. But the judoka stayed patient through the exchanges, eventually flipping the script during a scramble to wrap the first frame with ground-and-pound.
Hirata continued that momentum in the second frame. After absorbing a clean left hand, the 26-year-old brought Phogat to the mat and took her back, where she instantly hunted for a rear-naked choke. The latter, to her credit, did well under pressure to survive the round.
Sensing she needed something big, Phogat started the final frame aggressively. The 31-year-old scored a takedown and looked to establish dominance. “Android 18,” however, got the upper hand against Phogat once more – and this time, there was no escape.
Hirata transitioned to full mount and capitalized on a scramble to take Phogat’s back. She tightened her grip on another rear-naked choke, which eventually drew a tap from her opposite number at 2:42 of the stanza for an eighth career victory.
Wada stood out early in this flyweight MMA tilt, utilizing his reach advantage to land jabs and crosses while mixing in low kicks to disrupt Ito’s rhythm. In range, though, the promotional newcomer offered some glimpses of what he can do in the striking department.
Still, the 37-year-old controlled the tempo in the second round, landing clean straight punches and using his movement to stay elusive whenever Ito closed the distance with some punches.
Wada brought the same style into the final canto, opening with a sharp right hand and defending his opponent’s takedown attempt. As time ran out, Ito desperately threw combinations to close the gap, but the Swag Gym Kyoto athlete matched him in the exchanges.
Two of the three judges awarded Wada the win after 15 minutes of non-stop action, earning him his 27th career victory.
The 29-year-old quickly shot for a takedown and controlled most of the action throughout the first frame on the canvas. The Blackbelt Japan athlete did find a loophole around his foe’s grappling prowess, but “Pocket Monk” took him back to the mats to trouble him.
Yamakita was up against Kurosawa’s solid striking when round two resumed, but he responded with feints and dodged to score another takedown. He maintained control on the canvas and slowly plotted his way to a highlight-reel moment.
After a brief scramble with Kurosawa searching for an exit, Yamakita used his frame to pin his man down, isolated his left arm, and cranked in an armbar that drew a tap at 1:31 of the second canto.
Yamakita’s fourth consecutive triumph improves his record to 12-1 and keeps him firmly in the run for a shot at the ONE Strawweight MMA World Title.
In a back-and-forth curtain-raiser, unbeaten Kanata Nagai applied steady pressure to overcome fellow Japanese debutant Atsubo Kambe in bantamweight MMA action.
Both men opened aggressively, exchanging jabs and punches before the Shooto Bantamweight Champion shot for a takedown. Kambe defended well, though, before the two exchanged heavy knees in the clinch to end the frame.
The second round saw more exchanges on the feet. Nagai then switched levels, took his opponent down, and secured his back. The Tribe Tokyo MMA athlete locked in a deep rear-naked choke from there, but his dance partner stayed composed and escaped.
In the final stanza, Kambe again defended Nagai’s takedown and briefly threatened with a guillotine choke. In response, the 21-year-old pressed forward in the closing moments, throwing combinations from every angle to finish strong.
After three entertaining rounds, all three judges awarded the match to Nagai, who moved to 10-0 in his career.
After a two-year hiatus, the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild are back for a first-round matchup in the NHL Playoffs.
The Stars won the matchup 4-2 in 2023, and return as the favorites in this matchup. After three straight conference finals losses, Dallas is looking to finally surpass the feat. The first team standing in its way? The Minnesota Wild.
The Wild are no strangers to recent playoff appearances. However, they do have a streak of playoff struggles, losing their last seven first round series, dating back to 2016.
This creates a matchup between two teams that are only separated by four regular season wins, but could not be more different in terms of recent playoff results.
Here's what you need to know to watch Stars vs. Wild, including broadcast information and start times.
Games in the Stars vs. Wild series will air on multiple channels.
Fans can stream every playoff game live on DIRECTV, which offers a free trial to new users. Games on ABC and ESPN networks can also be streamed on the ESPN app or fubo, which also has a free trial.
NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs schedule, key dates for 2026
Here are the key dates to know for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs and offseason. Some series start dates could move up depending on when previous series end.
As the No. 6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves take on the No. 3 seed Denver Nuggets, this will be a true test of whether the game's young stars are ready to compete with the championship-winning veterans.
The Denver Nuggets cruised to their eighth consecutive playoff berth this season, finishing 54-28 on the back of Nikola Jokic winning both the rebounding and assist titles. While the Timberwolves had a slightly harder path to the playoffs, by the last week of the season, their playoff dreams were never in doubt, finishing seven games above the play-in spot.
These two teams have a recent playoff history as well, with this series marking their third playoff matchup in four seasons. The Nuggets bested the Timberwolves 4-1 in the opening round in 2023, en route to a championship in Denver. Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves got their revenge a season later, however, winning 4-3 in the conference semi-finals.
Now, in 2026, this is the tiebreaker series. With a few more seasons of experience for a young Timberwolves team, can they once again defeat the Nuggets? Or will the higher-seeded veterans come back after a tough loss last time out?
Here's what you need to know to watch Nuggets vs. Timberwolves, including broadcast information and start times.
The Nuggets vs. Timberwolves series will air across multiple platforms thanks to the NBA's expanded broadcast deal, which will see games split among the ESPN networks, NBC and Peacock, and Prime Video.
Games on ABC, ESPN networks and NBC can be streamed live on DIRECTV, which offers a free trial to new users.
Fans can also turn to the streaming homes for each broadcast partner — Prime Video, Peacock or the ESPN app — for games on those platforms.
Now, according to AS, Mourinho wants his future resolved no later than 24 May. The Portuguese coach is currently considering three possible scenarios.
One option is continuity, with the club offering a contract extension that would include a high release clause, tying both parties together long term.
He has already fulfilled his part with Benfica by submitting a dossier outlining his requirements to continue for the 2026/27 season, the final year of his current contract. The next move now rests with Rui Costa, Benfica’s president and the man responsible for appointing him.
The second scenario is one where Benfica decide to make an immediate change on the bench, a scenario not entirely ruled out in Portugal.
Will Jose return to Madrid? (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
The third option would come into play if a club of interest, whether Real Madrid or another, offers him a managerial position. In that case, Mourinho can activate a release clause set at a relatively low figure.
Notably, this amount matches the compensation Benfica would have to pay him if they chose to dismiss him this summer, effectively creating a two-way mechanism.
Real Madrid watching closely
Mourinho has informed Benfica that he will wait only until around a week after the Portuguese league season ends on 16 May, when Benfica face Estoril Praia.
This timeline is strategic, as both the Premier League and LaLiga conclude that same weekend, 23-24 May, which are his primary markets.
Real Madrid, for their part, are observing the situation calmly from a distance.
They are fully aware of the conditions that would allow Mourinho to leave Benfica, and it is no secret that strong ties remain between the club’s hierarchy and the coach despite his controversial previous spell in charge.
However, the Spanish capita club are proceeding with caution regarding their managerial future.
Jose Mourinho on Italy national team rumours: “You don’t need a foreign coach”
Former Roma manager Jose Mourinho has been in the spotlight in recent weeks due to links with Real Madrid. The Portuguese has now spoken to the Italian media about a host of issues and has specifically focused on the links with the Italian national team.
Mourinho spoke to both Sportmediaset and Il Giornale in a detailed chat. He was asked about whether he is interested in a move to the Azzurri and whether there has been contact.
He told Sportmediaset – via La Gazzetta dello Sport, pretty much shutting down any talk of a move.
“Someone asked me if I would coach Italy. You don’t need a foreign coach, you can’t have Ancelotti, okay. But you have Allegri, Conte, and I could name five or six others.”
He also suggested the Italian national team setup to organise more youth tournaments to get rid of their problems, instead of seeking temporary solutions.
“I’ll give you the example of Portugal: come and see how the youth tournaments are organized, what the conditions are. That’s enough to understand and maybe copy. I was with Rui Costa.”
Further, Mourinho indicated Max Allegri as his preferred candidate to take the role at the Italian national team, especially if Giovanni Malago gets appointed as the FIGC president.
He told Sportmediaset: “We didn’t believe our Italy team could be eliminated from the World Cup. Italy needs to rethink everything from the ground up. Mr. Malagò is a strong name, I’d love to, he can change things with his experience, Italy is very strong in many Olympic sports. I’d go with M&M: Malagò and Max.”
Get Italian Football News have already covered the conditions of Allegri’s possible move to the national team. Malago’s appointment at FIGC can dictate that, as he sees the Milan boss as the priority candidate.
Three Man City players who could be about to have a huge World Cup
Most of the City squad will be at the tournament in the US, Mexico & Canada
Plenty of stars will be gunning to win the competition
Some younger players are hoping to have a breakout tournament this summer
The club campaign is reaching its conclusion, and soon attention will turn to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
There are going to be plenty of Manchester City players at the World Cup, which is set to take place this summer in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Some of these players are going to participate in this highly anticipated competition for the first time in their careers, while other players will be expected to shine.
Some of the players who could become legends for their national teams are as follows.
Rayan Cherki
The France international could be about to finally have his standout moment for the national team., having long been considered one of the most promising young players on the planet, and stepping up to the top table with ease since joining Manchester City.
However, he has often struggled to make an impact for France, which is largely understandable when considering the amount of competition for places and starting time in the squad.
This competition could be his chance to really prove himself, and he will have no shortage of world class teammates to help him do so. If he can harness the best elements of his game, Cherki could prove to be the difference-maker for Les Bleus this summer.
Abdukodir Khusanov
Uzbekistan international Abdukodir Khusanov is not blessed with the most elite squad of teammates, but he and his countrymen could be about to pull a big surprise, having managed to qualify for the World Cup – a huge feat in itself.
Khusanov and his teammates are due to meet Portugal, the current UEFA Nations League holders – who boast teammates Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva and Matheus Nunes in their squad – as well as DR Congo and Colombia.
Khusanov has performed well in the Premier League and Champions League, however the World Cup presents a different challenge altogether as he will undoubtedly be the star player for his team, but possibly outmatched by the firepower of their group stage opponents.
If Uzbekistan are to do something special, Abdukodir Khusanov will surely have a big part to play.
Nico O’Reilly
Another Manchester City player fighting for a starting place for his national team is Nico O’Reilly, although Thomas Tuchel cannot perhaps guarantee a first-team berth for him with competition at left-back and in central midfield.
However, Nico O’Reilly himself can be quietly confident of being in the Starting XI, having consistently played at a very high level this season for Manchester City and coming on leaps and bounds under Pep Guardiola’s stewardship.
If O’Reilly does get on the pitch for England at the World Cup, he has shown time and again for Manchester City that he is capable of affecting games in a big way – something which the Three Lions will need if they hope to go all the way and finally win the competition.
And so, after 45 Championship games, it all comes down to the final day...
Tell us, Ipswich, Millwall and Middlesbrough fans, how are you feeling?
The Tractor Boys have the advantage going into Saturday's home game with QPR, knowing a win would seal automatic promotion.
But the Lions, one point behind in third place, will seek to keep the pressure on as they host Oxford United while fourth-placed Boro, two points back, head to Wrexham aiming for a win and hoping other results go their way to sneak back over the dotted line where they spent most of the season.
Do you think your side will reach the Premier League by 15:00 BST on Saturday? If not, how hard would it be for them to pick themselves up and go again in the play-offs?
Representatives from Iran’s football federation were not present at the largest formal meeting of Asia’s football leaders before the World Cup.
In the presence of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, there was no discussion at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Congress about Iran’s participation in the tournament or whether the team’s games should be moved out of the United States because of the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Concerns were raised that visa issues could affect the Iranian delegation’s ability to travel to both the confederation meeting in Vancouver and the overall FIFA Congress on Thursday, as well as the World Cup starting on June 11.
The 48-team tournament is being hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico.
It was not clear if visa issues prevented Iranian representatives from attending the AFC Congress. However, as the nine AFC teams that qualified for the World Cup were presented with commemorative gifts, it was announced that Iran would receive their token “once they arrive”.
An Iranian government spokesperson said last week that the national team was preparing for “proud and successful participation” in its World Cup games in the United States.
FIFA, football’s international governing body, has consistently said Iran will stick to the World Cup game schedule decided last December, before the US and Israel launched military attacks on Iran on February 28, and has refused to entertain suggestions that the team’s games be moved to Mexico.
“Now even more, now that the world is going through a very, very delicate, difficult, dangerous time with many conflicts, and many of you are directly affected and involved in these conflicts,” Infantino told the AFC leaders.
“Now even more, we need to find ways to build these famous bridges, or maybe to build football fields instead. And to build competitions where people can join and come together.”
Iran are placed in Group G with Belgium, New Zealand and Egypt.
Team Melli’s planned training camp would be in Tucson, Arizona, and they are scheduled to open their World Cup campaign on June 15 against New Zealand in Inglewood, California, near Los Angeles.
Iran will play Belgium in Inglewood on June 21 before facing Egypt in the final group match in Seattle on June 26.
A referee stands on the field holding red and yellow cards. The German Football Federation (DFB) will decide after the World Cup whether or not to adopt a new rule under which players can be sent off if they cover their mouth when confronting an opponent. Robert Michael/dpa
The German Football Federation (DFB) will decide after the World Cup whether or not to adopt a new rule under which players can be sent off if they cover their mouth when confronting an opponent.
The rule-making International Football Association Board (IFAB) decided on the regulation on Tuesday at a meeting in Vancouver ahead of Thursday's congress of the ruling body FIFA in the Canadian city.
It is to be used by governing body FIFA at the June 11-July 19 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
DFB referee body spokesman Alex Feuerherdt told dpa on Wednesday that "it will be decided at a later stage whether the rule will be implemented in Germany after the World Cup."
The IFAB said that implementing the rule is for now at the discretion of event organizers but it could become a mandatory regulation in the future.
FIFA proposed the new rule after a Champions League incident from February in which Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior claimed he was racially abused by Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni, who had covered his mouth while confronting the Brazilian.
Prestianni admitted to have used a homephobic slur and was recently banned for six matches, three of them suspended, by UEFA.
Aaron Judge continues to do remarkable things on baseball fields.
The latest feat by the New York Yankees' 6-foot-7 superstar has never been done by anyone in the storied franchise's history.
Judge officially achieved his feat by hitting a home run during the ninth inning on Tuesday night, giving him 12 for the season.
He now becomes the first player in Yankees history to hit 12 homers, walk 20 times and steal five bases in a player's first 30 games of the season, according to Katie Sharp of Baseball Reference.
If you had to speculate, you may have picked out Mickey Mantle in the Yankees past as the guy most likely to do this before, because of the steals, but he did not.
Babe Ruth ran here and there back in the day and could've had a shot at this, too, but nope.
It's just Judge, all by himself.
That happens more and more these days. Judge is finding ways to do things never done by any Yankees, which is about the most impressive franchise to do things for the first time as a hitter.
The record books are overloaded with all-time greats who wore the pinstripes, and yet Judge still finds ways to stand alone.
He'll go down as an all-time great -- that for a while has no longer been in doubt.
At this point, it's just worth marveling at what Judge can do. There's no one like him in the game.
Hailey Baptiste has pulled off one of the year’s biggest surprises, taking down world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the Madrid Open quarter-finals.
Sabalenka, who came into the match on a 15-match winning streak and having completed the Sunshine Double just last month, had already taken care of business against No. 11 seed Mirra Andreeva in straight sets to book her place in the last eight.
Baptiste also faced an uphill battle to get here. She had to come from behind after losing her first set 1-6 against Elina Svitolina before rallying back to win in three sets. Just two days earlier, she’d beaten Caroline Garcia in a tough three-set match that ended with a final set tie-break.
Baptiste dropped that first set 2-6, but turned things around with a quick 6-2 win in the second. The final set was close all the way through before she finally clinched it on her sixth match point after a dramatic tie-break.
The Americans are having quite the tournament, as Madison Keys and Coco Gauff have also made deep runs in this year’s event.
Hailey Baptiste follows in Serena Williams’ footsteps at the Madrid Open
Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images
According to statisticians OptaAce, Hailey Baptiste is only the second American to beat a world number one at the Madrid Open.
The first was none other than Serena Williams, who pulled off that feat back in 2012.
Williams was seeded ninth that year and defeated top-ranked Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 6-3 in the final.
Baptiste, appearing in her first semi-final, spoke with pride after the match when speaking to Tennis Channel
“Incredible. Super proud of myself,” she said. “It was super tight. 7-6 in the third. Had to fight off match points.
When asked what this win meant for her confidence, Baptiste added: “It just shows me where my game lies. I’ve always believed it. Now I’m starting to put it into action and the world is seeing it as well.”
Baptiste spoke about her strategy for taking on Sabalenka while speaking with Tennis Channel after the match.
“I think going in I definitely wanted to make her feel uncomfortable in any way that I could,” she said. “Trying to hit drop shots, short slices, heavier balls.”
Hailey Baptiste’s previous meeting with Mirra Andreeva
Mirra Andreeva has put together a strong run in the Spanish capital, highlighted by a win over Leylah Fernandez on her way to the semi-finals.
She’ll be up against Hailey Baptiste next, a familiar opponent she’s already beaten once before.
Their previous meeting came in the third round at Wimbledon 2025, where Andreeva won comfortably 6-1, 6-3.
“I felt like I was playing great,” she said. “I knew that the match is going to be tough because I felt like she was playing super free and she was going for her shots.
“My goal for the match was just to stay focused and also be aggressive. So I’m super happy with my level today.”
Andreeva went on to reach the quarter-finals before losing to Belinda Bencic.
Connor Ingram stood tall when it mattered most in the first round of the NHL playoff series against the Anaheim Ducks, and head coach Kris Knoblauch made it clear the decision to start him was never a gamble.
Facing elimination in Game 5, the Edmonton Oilers turned back to Ingram despite benching him in Game 4. The move paid off as he stopped 29 of 30 shots in a 4-1 win over the Ducks, keeping the series alive at 3-2.
Knoblauch backed his goaltender after the game, pointing to Ingram’s calm style.
“Yeah, I thought he made a lot of good saves,” Knoblauch said. “A lot of his talent is making hard saves look easy just because he’s compact, he doesn’t move very much. I thought there was a couple times where they’re perimeter shots, but they were dangerous because they had really good net front and you’re not sure if the goalie is going to pick it up. I thought he was on his game because he was picking those up.”
The decision raised questions before puck drop, given Ingram’s uneven playoff numbers. He had allowed 14 goals across his first three starts and lost the crease briefly. Still, Knoblauch stressed that Ingram had been the team’s starter late in the season and earned trust in key moments.
“He was our starter down the stretch,” Knoblauch said. “We had a lot of confidence and maybe a little bit different if we played game one or sorry the game that he played in game four if we would have lost one nothing that would have made it a little more difficult.
“But before the game we discussed about when we’re at our elimination game most likely you’re going to go with back with your starter the guy that’s been carrying the load for the last few weeks. So, yeah, I thought it was an easier decision.”
That belief shaped the call, and it delivered under pressure.
Edmonton gave its goalie support with a sharp start. Leon Draisaitl scored twice, while Evan Bouchard recorded three assists. Vasily Podkolzin and Zach Hyman also found the net as the Oilers built early control.
Connor McDavid on Connor Ingram’s late first-period save
Anaheim Ducks forward Mikael Granlund (64) looks for a loose puck in front of Edmonton Oilers goaltender Connor Ingram (39) in game five of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
Connor McDavid also highlighted Ingram’s impact, especially a crucial late save in the first period.
“Really big, really big,” McDavid said. “Ingram was timely, and he didn’t face many in the first. So, that was a huge save at a big big moment.
“You know, goaltending, as I’ve said before, is not about saving them all. It’s just about saving the right ones. And that was the right one.”
The Oilers had struggled to protect leads earlier in the series, but Ingram’s presence helped steady the group in the final two periods. Edmonton sat back at times, yet the goalie held firm against late pressure.
With momentum shifting, the Oilers now head into Game 6 with renewed belief.
The 2026 NFL Draft has come to a close, but the work isn't done. All 32 NFL general managers now turn their attention to trade opportunities and franchise tag deadlines. The Washington Commanders are in the same boat as the rest, with Adam Peters now focusing on filling the remaining holes in the roster.
One of the most glaring discussions in Washington is around San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Aiyuk is a close friend of Jayden Daniels and is familiar with Adam Peters from their time together in San Francisco, but no trade has happened yet. That is largely because no team will want to absorb Aiyuk's contract without seeing him on the field, but that hasn't happened, making their trade desire all but impossible.
There are already reports that the Niners will end up releasing Aiyuk, at which time the Commanders will swoop in and bring him to the East Coast. Now, one CBS Sports analyst says this is one of 10 deals that need to get done during the offseason.
Aiyuk has played his final down in San Francisco, and the 49ers will officially part ways with him this offseason. The questions continue to be how the breakup will materialize and where Aiyuk ends up next.
A few nuggets were unearthed during the final day of the draft. General manager John Lynch said that the team isn't planning to release him. They remain open to trading him. The Commanders reportedly have a significant interest in acquiring Aiyuk, who was one of the NFL's most productive wideouts during the 2022 and '23 seasons.
The Commanders know that the 49ers don't have much leverage and are likely waiting for San Francisco to release him. The 49ers surely know Washington wants Aiyuk to pair with his former college teammate Jayden Daniels.
Despite this report saying that John Lynch doesn't plan to release Aiyuk, NFL insider Ian Rapoport indicated otherwise on Day 3. Rapoport stated that the 49ers are expected to release Aiyuk; it's just a matter of time. And when he is released, the expectation is that he will sign with the Commanders.
So, yeah, this isn't a deal that needs to get done because it's essentially already done. Everyone is just on hold until the 49ers decide to release Aiyuk. They are obviously holding out hope that they can trade him away and receive some kind of compensation for the wide receiver, but it seems to be well past that point.
What we really need to take away from this is that San Francisco is almost assuredly going to release Brandon Aiyuk, and when they do, he will sign with the Commanders and suit up in burgundy and gold this fall.
One of the NBA's most notable playoff rivalries in recent history is back in action this year, with the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks locked in to face off in the first round of the playoffs.
Despite Trae Young's departure from Atlanta this season, Knicks fans still have a sour taste in their mouths from the 2021 Playoffs. Despite being the No. 4 seed, the Knicks were upset in five games by Young's Hawks. Chants against him from New York fans are bound to come up during the series.
Leaving the past in the past now, New York won 53 games this season. Despite this being the first time the Knicks have won 50+ games in three straight seasons since 1991-92 to 1993-94, the New York faithful wanted more out of this season. Many fans were seething for a top-2 seed in the East after the Boston Celtics were without star Jayson Tatum for a large portion of the season. However, Boston finished above the Knicks, and now Tatum is back.
Heading into the series, the Knicks won two of the three regular-season games against the Hawks this year, including a recent nailbiter in Atlanta. The Hawks' offense scores at a higher rate than the Knicks, averaging 118.5 points per game (6th in NBA) compared to New York's 116.7 (10th in NBA). Where New York gains the edge is in three-point shooting and their defense. This season, the Knicks shot a fourth-best 37.3% from beyond the arc, with Atlanta right behind them at 37.1%. On the defensive side, the Knicks give up a lot of three-pointers (36.2% opponent 3P%), but have the fourth-lowest points per game against them (110.1).
If Atlanta can shoot as well as they did with Young a few years ago, they could have enough in the tank to upset the Knicks once more. They have already proven to play them well during the season, losing by only three points in both defeats. If not, however, and New York's stars can score without many problems, maybe Knicks fans will feel a larger sense of satisfaction after finally downing the Hawks in the postseason.
Here's what you need to know to watch Knicks vs. Hawks, including broadcast information and start times.
The Knicks vs. Hawks series will air across multiple platforms thanks to the NBA's expanded broadcast deal, which will see games split among NBC, Peacock, and Prime Video.
Games on NBC can be streamed live on DIRECTV, which offers a free trial to new users.
Fans can also turn to the streaming homes for each broadcast partner — Prime Video or Peacock — for games on those platforms.
The Mike Vrabel situation has dominated much of the attention being paid to the Patriots over the last few weeks, but tight end Hunter Henry said in a Tuesday press conference that the players have been focused on football while in the building for the last two weeks.
While that might provide a respite for what's going on outside the walls, it also means a return to thoughts about the last time the team was on the field. That was a 29-13 loss to the Seahawks in a Super Bowl that felt like a bigger blowout than the score would indicate, which is likely part of the reason why Henry said that the loss is still a sore point for the team.
Henry also explained that he thinks that can be a positive because of the desire to avoid another ending like the one the team had in Santa Clara.
“I watched a little. It still stings, to be honest with you," Henry said. "Obviously, we didn’t play to the capability that we wanted to play at all on the biggest stage, and that was very disappointing and hard to process for a while. Definitely has taken a while. It still stings, but I think that is good. That’s good that it stings. It’s good. It makes you want to work a little harder. To get all the way to the end and then not achieve it was hard. There was a lot of positives when you really step back from it and able to really look at the full picture. I mean, making it all the way there is obviously a blessing. It’s really, really hard to do. Obviously getting there was big, but we didn't make it all the way."
The 2026 season will be the first chance for the Patriots to show that they've built a sustainable winner rather than a team that flashed while playing a fourth-place schedule and seeing some other AFC contender's chances deteriorate thanks to injuries and other reasons. History has examples in both directions and the answer in New England will help determine the way the conference stacks up beyond the coming season.
Further Ado, far left, with Irad Ortiz Jr. up, starts his big run to win the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky, on Saturday, April 4. (Ryan C. Hermens/Lexington Herald-Leader/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
TNS
This much is well-known: Astounding even the players backing the favorite and, to a slightly lesser extent, his connections, Further Ado, with the added threat of Irad Ortiz in the irons (a jock the horse will not have in the Derby), blazed out in the last furlongs of Keeneland’s April 4 Blue Grass to a Secretariat-like margin of eleven lengths on the peloton. The run clocked an eye-watering 106 Beyer speed figure, the highest this year among the Class of 2026.
His conditioner Brad Cox, who has another top Derby favorite in Commandment in his stable, has been reserved and within bounds, elated, about Further Ado’s development. Bluntly put, although top favorites Renegade and Commandment, respectively, won the Arkansas and Florida derbies (Grade 1 preps nominally valued higher than the Blue Grass in producing Derby placers), neither Commandment nor Renegade posted speed numbers like those of Further Ado.
That was then — but this is Derby week. Before we get into what Further Ado has to do to put away his looming May 2 competitors Renegade, Chief Wallabee, and Commandment, here, a refresher on the the field, its post positions, and the morning line.
17) Six Speed, Brian Hernandez Jr., Bhupat Seemar, 50-1
18) Further Ado, John Velasquez, Brad Cox, 6-1
19) Golden Tempo, Jose Ortiz, Cherie DeVaux, 30-1
20) Fulleffort, Tyler Gaffalione, Brad Cox, 20-1
As usual when it comes to money on the Kentucky Derby barrelhead, the handicapping value of Further Ado’s Blue Grass run as factored into his Derby chances remains fraught. Further Ado was second on the Derby points leaderboard only to Commandment. Obviously, this week’s handicapping is no longer about the points, but the points accrued by each horse do still lend us a kind of mathematical reduction of past performances, if we accept the broad premise that certain races and fields on the road to the Derby mean more than others.
That caveat noted, mounting a stretch run that opens up that gargantuan sort of lead in the last three furlongs argues for more than just the power of this one young athlete. It’s an argument for the health of the sport. Specifically, this always needs to be remembered: the Kentucky Derby is a tough go for three-year-old equine athletes, each of whom is maturing at vastly different rates. Their characters and racing preferences are notoriously patchy; their ability to focus on any one task under pressure is as wobbly as any two-legged teenager’s would be; and not least, their vulnerability to being spooked — laboring under Churchill’s infamously clamorous crowd, band and infield — is infinite.
The point is that Further Ado showed a tremendous ability and a single-minded focus on getting to the wire well out in front in the Blue Grass. This ability to focus is critical in a Kentucky Derby, which is why we often see late additions of blinders on some of the colts. The Derby is longer than any race they have run in their lives, the learning curve is steep and the pitfalls — both tactical and veterinary — are legion. The Derby fields are by orders of magnitude larger and more ferociously competitive than any that any contender has been in. In the heat of all that, those that do succeed must stave off more demons than they ever knew existed. Quiet, steady, clean-running achievers such as 2025’s champion, William Mott’s Sovereignty, are few and far between.
These are the reasons that, among the four strongest colts coming into the Derby, an ultra-dominant 11-length show such as that put on by Further Ado stands out. He wasn’t just holding on neck-and-neck in the last furlong or having to overtake other contenders. He was the master of an entirely different race, one taking place far away from the one in which his erstwhile competition was running.
Pre-post-position draw, all of the above is why Further Ado rose to second-favorite in TwinSpires’ “fair” odds, at 5-1, hard on the heels in the pre-draw estimation of Renegade, at 9-2 (or 4.5/1). Five-tenths of a point separated them. They’re in that same 1-2 arrangement now, but with Renegade coming down a half-point to 4-1 and Further Ado rising a full point to 6-1 in the morning line.
As ever, the money at the track often has other ideas than the morning line does, so the corollary to the annual 20-horse Derby melee is that it’s up for grabs whether Further Ado’s most recent run will sway the odds thinking as the handicapping gets honed down to a white-hot dagger point with post time looming. As if to prove this point — about Further Ado and about the Blue Grass generally — Churchill’s own Derby Future Wagers book closed before the Blue Grass was run, which had the oddly hilarious effect of parking Further Ado at 17-1, a dang good price given his copious talent, and that could well bring some fun pocket change to some of the passionate Futures players. By contrast, Arkansas Derby winner Renegade closed as the Future Wager pool’s Derby favorite at 4-1, spot on where he is now. In short, the money will have much more talking to do about Further Ado.
Odds wrinkles aside, what of the horse? Who is that very game Further Ado under Velasquez on Saturday? Let’s begin by noting the obvious: He’s a half-brother to 2024’s Breeders’ Cup Classic victor Sierra Leone. Their sire is the white-hot Kentucky Bluegrass go-to sire, Gun Runner. Last September in the bellwether Keeneland fall yearling sale, Gun Runner yearlings broke the historical record, kept since the sale began in 1944, by bringing the top price in each of the sale’s four sessions. Further Ado is right in line with that pedigree, solid runner, can take the distance, able to focus, strong desire to do everything he can to get there first. It’s difficult to say that any race run by any three-year old is “proof” of anything, but in Further Ado’s case the Blue Grass win was a sterling indication of his DNA.
Bottom line, we don’t know what kind of trip he’s going to get on Saturday, but breaking from the far outside in the Churchill gate won’t hurt him. He’ll have all he can do to deal with the traffic and get by his co-favorites, but if any one of them has a shot at beating the others, Further Ado is carrying the tool kit to do it.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
Glenn Hoddle says he offered to take interim charge of Tottenham in order to bring "love" to the club in the closing stages of the season.
Club-legend Hoddle inspired Spurs to successes between 1975 and 1987 before managing the club between 2001 and 2003.
The 68-year-old says he put his name forward along with ex-Tottenham player and manager Ossie Ardiles when Spurs lost to Nottingham Forest in March.
Spurs have since parted ways with then manager Igor Tudor to appoint Roberto de Zerbi.
Hoddle told The Jeff Stelling Show: "They never came to us. We did, Ossie (Ardiles) and myself, after the Forest game, we felt there was a real problem there.
"Ossie and I made it clear that we would go in there if they wanted us to go in there with probably a younger legend (as coach) as well.
"It felt at that time, at the end of the game, Tudor was in as the manager, but to lose 3-0 against a team down at the bottom – with you at home – was a bad sign.
"It looked to me as if it needed some love, like it needed some people to go in there and unite the fans, with the owners, with the team and that is why we said we would do it.
"They said they were looking elsewhere, so that was fine by me.
"I don't care who, I'm a Spurs man through and through since eight years of age, so as long as they've got the right man in.
"De Zerbi has gone in and everyone's got to unite and get together, but they've got a real task on their hands haven't they?
"I just want them to stay up, whether I was involved or I wasn't."
Ireland kicking coach Gareth Steenson says closing out the Women's Six Nations with two home wins would be "huge" for the squad after last weekend's deflating defeat by France.
Chasing a first win on French soil, Ireland had three tries disallowed during a dominant first-half display in Clermont on Saturday before the hosts seized control after the interval to win 26-7.
Ireland host Wales in Belfast on 9 May before welcoming Scotland to Aviva Stadium on 17 May having hammered Italy 57-20 in their first home game in Galway.
"We make no bones about it, three home wins was the goal at the start and go over and maybe put in a big performance and try to nick one away from home," Steenson told BBC Sport NI.
"It's got to be where the group's at. You've got to want to go and win. The capabilities are there.
"I think the way the fixtures have fallen. England first up, it was good to play that big game and get us into that competition to see where we're at. Then we go to Galway and put in that performance against a good Italian team, scoring seven tries in the first half. Conditions were difficult but we adapted really well to it.
"And then to put the fight up that we did [in France], it kind of lined up that you needed two good Test matches to go into what was effectively as tough a game as those girls have experienced.
"The week off has come as good timing for us. We can probably touch up on a few things leading into the Wales game in Belfast. We hope we get a good support out there because the girls are playing a really good brand of rugby and they've been feeding off the crowds."
Hoping to avenge last year's World Cup quarter-final defeat, Ireland made a quick start against France and took a 7-0 lead through Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald's try.
But as Ambre Mwayembe hit back for the hosts, Ireland had three tries disallowed before France assumed control in the second half to claim a bonus-point win to keep alive their hopes of wresting the title away from world champions England.
While Steenson admits there are "plenty of frustrations" with how the game in Clermont panned out, he insists the first-half display points to the strides Ireland have made under head coach Scott Bemand.
"When you look back on it, there is a lot we're getting right as a group," he added.
"We're creating opportunities which before we probably weren't.
"Look at the England game, we went over and didn't fire shots. We took a bit long to get into the game. We went over [to France] with a plan which was implemented for the best part of the first half, we just didn't get the scores."
Ireland host Wales at Belfast's Affidea Stadium before taking on Scotland at Aviva Stadium [Getty Images]
Former Exeter Chiefs fly-half Steenson, who also worked with Ireland at the World Cup, added: "When you're away in France or any away game, you want to understand the momentum shifts within games and there was definitely after half-time a momentum shift.
"It's about understanding how to curtail that at times and knowing that the opposition are going to have their moments in games. Even at half-time I felt we were in a good space. Now there were a few punched out because of the physical element that was put into the game, a lot of effort put into it.
"There's so many big learnings to be taken and I know that's the old classic, you hear all these things about cliches and learning, but that's where this group is, this group is not the finished article.
"The more they keep putting themselves in these scenarios and playing in those big cauldrons, they want to be playing in those types of games."
Ohtani was held out of the lineup for energy reasons.
This was the first time this season Ohtani was pitching on five days of rest, rather than six or more.
The Dodgers also have an early afternoon getaway game on Wednesday, so he wouldn't have long between his pitching outing and being right back in the lineup.
The reality is that Ohtani's routine is already unlike anything else in baseball. It's fair for the Dodgers to hold him back just a tad and rest him every once in a while.
It's just different, because it's not something he's generally needed in the past. And it does, ever so slightly, impact his ability to win games. He still has more influence on winning than anyone else in the sport, but on Tuesday night, as just a pitcher, the Dodgers weren't enough without his bat, too.
A PlayStation 5 Linux Loader had been released Last month, a modder called Andy Nguyen, also known as “theflow0” and “TheOfficialFloW”, showcased their Linux-powered PlayStation 5 (PS5) and its PC gaming capabilities. Now, the modder has officially released a PS5 Linux Loader on GitHub, allowing others to turn their PlayStation 5 consoles into Linux PCs. […]
The rumours are false, it’s “business as usual” over at Galax This morning, several reports have claimed that Galax is exiting the GPU market. These reports are false, and Palit has confirmed that its “business as usual” over at Galax and that the company will continue making GPUs. Galax has been part of the Palit […]
Double Fine has responded to fan demand for a Psychonauts remake, saying the idea is something the studio would love to pursue one day, though no plans are confirmed.
One of GitHub's most staple contributors announced they are abandoning ship due to constant outages. GitHub's COO responds, promising change, but is it all too little too late?
Amazon Gaming Week has a PC gamer's special discount for the Razer Viper V3 Pro gaming mouse. For just this week, you will be able to get your hands on this stellar accessory with 8K polling, 35,000 DPI, and comfy ergonomics at a 31% discount.
Today, we reported that GALAX is ending its operations as an independent company and integrating into its parent company, Palit. However, users were left wondering whether Palit would stop offering GALAX-branded products, which have significant recognition among gamers. The official company response is that the branding will continue to be active. This means that GALAX-branded Hall-of-Fame (HOF) GPUs for extreme overclocking, the KFA2 brand for Europe, and other GALAX-branded products will remain available on the market. In simple terms, this is just a corporate structure change, with Palit consolidating its ventures under one roof as the parent company. Ongoing customer commitments, including RMA, warranty claims, and general support, will now be handled by Palit, while the design and development of new GPUs under the GALAX brand will continue.
Below is a complete statement from Palit, followed by a statement from GALAX.
Milestone and MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group today announce the release of MotoGP 26, the latest instalment in the official MotoGP videogame franchise. Featuring the full official 2026 season, it combines reworked physics with Dynamic Rider ratings and deeper career management mechanics to deliver a more immersive and authentic gaming experience.
MotoGP 26 refines its physics through a rider-based handling system where control is more closely tied to how players move and position the rider on the bike. Body shifts and weight transfer now have a tangible impact on stability, cornering, and braking, resulting in a more natural and responsive riding experience. Supported by new rider animations, this model significantly changes the overall gameplay feel, offering finer control and a wider range of motion in both Pro and Arcade modes.
Nvidia revealed the new GPU in the patch notes for its latest 596.36 GeForce graphics driver. The company writes that while demand for its GeForce RTX GPUs remains strong, the memory crisis is causing issues.
From near collapse to CPU dominance, we revisit 10 years of AMD Ryzen, benchmarking every flagship generation to see how performance, value, and architecture evolved.
One shouldn't expect any significant improvements even with higher VRAM capacity, and this was obvious since there are no other upgrades. Leaked Benchmarks Show Laptop RTX 5070 12 GB is Equivalent to 8 GB Version In Multiple Synthetic Tests GeForce RTX 5070 and RTX 5070-powered systems are enjoying huge popularity. To tackle the GPU shortages, NVIDIA has announced that it will now be supplying the RTX 5070 with 12 GB VRAM for the mobile platforms, which will be equipped with 3 GB GDDR7 memory modules. The existing RTX 5070 laptop GPU brings just 8 GB of GDDR7 video memory, unlike […]
The Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy has been in the works for a very long time, and will finally conclude with the third and final game that has yet to be officially revealed. While no new information has been provided by Naoki Hamaguchi in a fresh interview with ComicBook focused on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series X|S versions of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the trilogy director revealed the guiding philosophy behind the development of all three games that will lead to its conclusion being the culmination of the entire series. "Across the entire remake project, the guiding […]
Over the last weekend, it was widely reported that Sony introduced changes to its PlayStation DRM policy, which now requires users to connect online every 30 days to continue playing every digital game purchased after March 2026. While the company has yet to provide an official clarification on the matter, detective work conducted by ResetERA forums member andshrew revealed how this new policy seems to be related to the 14-days refund window for digital purchases. Using a jailbroken PlayStation 4, the ResetERA user poked around behind the scenes, making some interesting findings, staring from how digital licenses work. "The PS4 will install a license file for all […]
As advanced LLMs do more and more for modern businesses, the outlays to cover all those tokens can cost more than worker salaries alone. But some companies don't see the added costs as a negative as they look toward a more automated future.
Save 20% on this Newegg combo kit with AMD's first dual-X3D chip in the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2, along with an Asus ROG Strix motherboard, 32GB (2x16GB) of Corsair Vengeance DDR5-6400 RAM, and a 2TB WD Black SN7100 SSD, all for $1,704.99.
Lisuan Tech has secured Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL) certification for its 6nm graphics cards, making it only the fourth company to ever do so.
A ransomware's major flaw meant that files cannot be decrypted because of a programming mistake. It also has several minor issues, showing that its creator may not be as sophisticated as suggested. Still, researchers point out that these can be rectified in future versions of the malware.
Meta has announced plans to help power its AI data centers using sunlight beamed from space through a partnership with Overview Energy, alongside a 100 GWh long-duration storage deal with Noon Energy, as the AI industry’s energy demands continue to surge.
IssueCapture is a JavaScript widget you add to any website with one script tag. When users find a bug, they click a button, describe it, and optionally annotate a screenshot. The widget automatically captures console errors and failed network requests, then creates a detailed Jira ticket with all that context.
It works with both Jira Software and Jira Service Management, including team-managed projects. Optional AI features handle triage, categorization, and duplicate detection so developers get organized tickets instead of vague reports. The free tier includes 10 issues per month with no credit card needed.
Only EU is a curated directory that helps you replace US software and products with European alternatives. Browse categories like cloud storage, email, password managers, VPN, and more, or select tools you use to get tailored, GDPR-compliant recommendations. The site highlights providers with stricter environmental standards, shorter supply chains, and European quality, with clear details and links to explore each option.
Carnival Cruise Line is adjusting two itineraries aboard the Carnival Venezia, which is offering cruises to the Caribbean departing from Port Canaveral. According to a statement sent to booked guests, the vessel’s present itinerary was changed to drop a planned visit to Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos. Instead of visiting the destination, the Venezia will...
Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. will report 2026 first quarter financial results before the market opens on Tuesday May 5, 2026. A conference call to discuss the results will follow at 9:00 am Eastern Time, the company said in a press release. The earnings release and a live audio webcast of the call will be available...
The World Odyssey is currently undergoing a drydock ahead of kicking off its farewell season for Phoenix Reisen. Following the completion of its spring world cruise for Semester at Sea, the 1998-built vessel arrived at a shipyard in Germany in mid-April. Preparations include a change of livery, as well as the renaming of the vessel,...
Samsung officially launched the Galaxy Book 6 Edge laptop in France. It brings meaningful upgrades over the Galaxy Book 5 Edge, which Samsung unveiled in the previous year.
The Galaxy Book 6 Edge is powered by the Snapdragon X2 Elite. Samsung is leaning hard into on-device AI, and the jump to 80 TOPS is the real headline. For reference, last year’s Galaxy Book 5 Edge topped out at around 45 TOPS.
Samsung Galaxy Book 6 Edge comes in at just 12.3mm, compared to the 15.5mm profile of its predecessor. The Book 5 Edge already felt portable, but this pushes it closer to ultrabook territory without compromising screen size or battery.
The company is getting more comfortable balancing ARM efficiency with premium hardware expectations. The finish remains clean and minimal, with a Glacier Gray color option that fits right into Samsung’s broader design language.
The 16-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display panel supports a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. The panel reaches up to 500 nits brightness, making it comfortable for content creation indoors and general use in bright environments.
There is also Gorilla Glass DX on top to cut reflections, along with blue light reduction for longer sessions. Add to that a quad-speaker setup with Dolby Atmos, and this device is clearly built for both work and media consumption.
Samsung claims up to 22 hours of video playback, which is exactly the kind of figure ARM laptops are expected to deliver. More importantly, it pairs that with 65W fast charging, capable of getting the battery to around 40 percent in just 30 minutes.
Here are some key AI features
Quick Search allows users to find settings or files using natural language
AI Selection lets you isolate elements from images for quick edits or presentations
Context-aware suggestions surface actions based on what you are doing
Samsung will offer the Galaxy Book 6 Edge in a 16-inch configuration with 512GB and 1TB storage options, all wrapped in the Glacier Gray finish and the launch is set for early May.
The Society for Information Display handed Samsung Display its most prestigious honor last week, naming the dual-folding Galaxy Z TriFold panel “Display of the Year” at the Display Industry Awards.
The announcement dropped April 28, while the ceremony itself follows at Display Week 2026, opening May 3 in Los Angeles. That’s eight total wins since Samsung first entered flexible OLED territory with a 5.68-inch panel back in 2014.
At 0.44mm total module thickness, the TriFold is the thinnest foldable panel Samsung has ever shipped. Yet it doesn’t sacrifice durability to get there, which is the trick everyone said couldn’t be pulled off.
Internal testing logged 500,000 folds at room temperature without display degradation. Samsung calls the underlying technology MONT FLEX, its latest foldable OLED platform, and mass production started September 2025.
When you fold a display, the layers inside don’t all move identically.
Micro-misalignments accumulate under repeated stress, and in a TriFold design with two separate folding axes on a single screen, that slip phenomenon is amplified by up to 1.6 times compared to a standard single-fold device.
Samsung’s engineers addressed this by developing new adhesive materials and reworking how stress distributes across the panel’s structure.
SID praised the 10-inch-class display for expanding what’s possible in productivity, creativity, and entertainment during what it called the mobile AI era.
Hojung Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Mobile Display Product Planning at Samsung Display, said the win “reaffirms Samsung Display’s leadership in the foldable market.”
Smartphones are making recreation increasingly difficult - from business calls to private Instagram notifications and group chats, smartphones make it a point to attract the attention of their owners. A new KitKat packaging aims to remedy this by disconnecting the smartphone from the network.
YouTube has taken down a video from Moore's Law Is Dead detailing AMD's future Zen 7 CPU architecture. Moore's Law Is Dead, known for leaking upcoming CPU, GPU, and gaming consoles, has claimed that the video takedown doesn't seem to be AMD's doing.
There are increasing indications that the Google Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL will have RGB LED lighting, which is called Pixel Glow. There are already hints of this feature hidden in the code of the Pixel Diagnostics app.
Last week, we came across a pair of listings for the upcoming Moto G87, and we now have our first look at the device thanks to official-looking renders shared by Evan Blass.
Moto G87 in Pantone Overture Gray
The device features a flat display with a punch hole cut out for its front-facing camera, just like its predecessor. While we don’t get exact specs for the display, we can assume it will once again be a 6.67-inch OLED.
Moto G87 in Pantone Blue Atoll
The back design is also similar to the outgoing Moto G86, but there’s some new hardware. The 50MP main cam is...
The Google Pixel 11 lineup is likely to be announced in August, if the company sticks to its usual launch timeline. CAD-based renders of all models in the series have already surfaced, and now key details about the lineup’s Tensor G6 chipset have also leaked.
A tipster has shared a screenshot revealing that the Tensor G6 will adopt a new set of ARM CPU cores compared to the Tensor G5 and feature a 7-core setup.
The screenshot shows that the chipset features an ARM C1 Ultra core clocked at 4.11GHz, four ARM C1 Pro cores at 3.38GHz, and two additional C1 Pro cores running at 2.65GHz,...
Oleksandr Usyk has some words of advice for Anthony Joshua ahead of the biggest fight of his career. Joshua and Fury are heading towards a Battle of Britain later this year, with the winner staking his claim as the second best heavyweight of a generation behind Usyk. The Ukrainian beat both men twice on his […]
believes is the most “exciting heavyweight” since Mike Tyson, but has named one man who would perhaps nullify his explosiveness. Despite having not fought any top-tier contenders, Itauma is widely regarded as a future world champion who could reign supreme for many years to come. The 21-year-old claimed his most significant victory thus far in […]
Following the collapse of Jared Anderson’s fight with Solomon Dacres, Frank Warren has acted fast to bolster next weekend’s Co-op Live Arena card headlined by Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois, with two additional bouts set to be added in order to further strengthen the bill. Touted by Tyson Fury to be the successor to his […]
Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe derbisi sonrası üst üste 4. şampiyonluğu içni geri sayıma geçerken kadro konusunda da çalışmalara başladı. Sözleşmesi sezon sonunda bitecek olan Lemina'nın durumu da netlik kazandı.
Galatasaray yeni sezonun ilk transferini yaptı...Sarı-kırmızılılar Fenerbahçe'yi evinde 3-0 mağlup etmesinin ardından şampiyonluk için geri sayıma geçerken bir yandan da gelecek sezon için kadro planlamasına başladı.
LEMINA KALACAK
Öte yandan Mario Lemina'nın geleceği de netlik kazandı. Gabonlu orta sahanın artı bir yıl opsiyonu, maçların yüzde 60'ına ilk 11 başlamasına bağlıydı. Son 3 haftada 1 kez 11'e girmesi, Lemina'nın Galatasaray'da devam etmesi için yeterli oldu.
SEZON PERFORMANSI
32 yaşındaki futbolcu, bu sezon 4 kulvarda 50 maça (Süper Lig-31, Şampiyonlar Ligi-12, Türkiye Kupası-5, Süper Kupa-2) çıktı. Deneyimli orta saha, bu maçların 31'inde ilk 11'e girerken şu ana kadar takıma 2 gol, 2 asistlik skor katkısı verdi.
A Milli Futbol Takımı teknik direktörü Vincenzo Montella 2026 Dünya Kupası hakkında açıklama yaptı.
Milli takım teknik direktörü Vincenzo Montella, İtalyan basınından La Gazzetta dello Sport'a konuştu. Tecrübeli teknik adam Dünya Kupası şansımıza dair açıklama yaptı.
Montella'nın açıklamaları şöyle:
Kosova’daki o kutlama-geceyle. Kariyerinin en büyük mutluluğu mu?
-Evet diyebilirim. Ve buna Avrupa Şampiyonası’ndaki çeyrek final ve Uluslar Ligi A Ligi’ne yükselme gibi diğer olağanüstü anlar da ekleniyor. Koca bir halk mutlu ve bu benim için en büyük ödül.
Dünya Kupası’nda nereye kadar gidersiniz?
-Bunu tahmin etmek kolay değil, birçok bilinmez var. Öncelikle coğrafya: Arizona’nın Phoenix şehrinde, FIFA’nın seçtiği bir bölgede antrenman yapacağız, orada 42 derece sıcaklık bekleniyor. Ama grupta Kanada’nın Vancouver şehrinde de maçımız olacak ve orada hava çok daha serin. Araştırmalara göre sıcaktan soğuğa geçmek takım için daha iyi olabilir. Ama asıl belirleyici, oyuncuların o dönemdeki fiziksel durumu olacak.
HAKAN ÇALHANOĞLU SAKATLIĞI
-Kendisiyle konuştum, İtalya Kupası finali öncesi sakin ve umutluydu. Umarım kısa sürede düzenli şekilde antrenmanlara döner. Hakan, artık az bulunan oyun kuruculardan biri. Sahada olmadığı zaman eksikliği hissedilen bir yıldız. Yanındaki oyuncu kendini daha güvende hisseder, çünkü zor anlarda topu ona verip adeta bankaya teslim ettiğini bilir.
Inter onu takımda tutmaya karar verdi ve sözleşmesini yenileyebilir.
-Kişisel tercihlere karışmam. Benim için önemli olan, nerede oynarsa oynasın mutlu olması.
ZEKİ ÇELİK'İN DURUMU
-Aynı şey onun için de geçerli. Benim için çok faydalı, istikrarlı ve çok yönlü bir oyuncu.
Roma demişken, Ranieri ile Gasperini arasındaki kopuşu nasıl değerlendiriyorsunuz?
-Dışarıdan yorum yapmak doğru değil. Üstelik benim için özel bir kulüp. İkisine de saygım var, bu beklenmedik sonuca neyin yol açtığını bilmiyorum. Ama herkes için üzücü. Taraftarlar bu yeni döneme çok inanmıştı.
KENAN YILDIZ
-Çok gelişti. Ama daha da ileri gidebilir, çünkü asla yetinmeyen bir yapısı var. Eğer Spalletti görevde kalırsa bu onun için avantaj olur. Luciano, yeteneklerden maksimum verimi almayı iyi bilir.
Spalletti ile sık görüşüyor musunuz?
-Elbette, arkadaşız. Bunu, futbolculuk döneminde onunla pek anlaşamayan biri olarak söylüyorum.
"BIRAKMAYI BİLE DÜŞÜNDÜM"
Montella’nın hikâyesi de az değil: yeniden motivasyon bulmak için yurt dışına gitmek zorunda kaldı.
-Keşke daha önce gitseydim. Farklı bir ülkede çalışmak hem mesleki hem insani açıdan çok şey katıyor. Belki bir gün İtalya’ya dönerim, çünkü her gün sahada olma atmosferini özlüyorum. Ama şu an Türkiye’de çok mutluyum. Burada tutkumu yeniden keşfettim. Bir ara bırakmayı bile düşünmüştüm.
Ne zaman?
-Covid döneminde. Ailemle mutluydum ama beni heyecanlandıran teklifler yoktu. Adana’ya gitmek, bambaşka bir dünya, beni yeniden ateşledi.
Dili öğrendiniz mi?
-Maalesef çok az. Benim için gerçekten zor. Ama diğer her şey var. Zaten sık sık eve gidiyorum.
Uluslar Ligi’nde İtalya ile karşılaşacaksınız. Sizce İtalyan futbolunun sorunu ne?
-Kendimi hoca gibi göstermek istemem. Ayrıca İtalya Milli Takımı anlatıldığı kadar kötü değil. İlk 4-5 takım seviyesinde değil ama hâlâ rekabetçi. Bence oyuncular Dünya Kupası psikolojisinden etkilendi, başaramama korkusu yaşadılar.
Montella, Cannavaro ve Ancelotti… Dünya Kupası’nda İtalya sizi destekleyecek.
-Bu benim için gurur verici. Her zaman yurt dışındaki İtalyanları destekledim. Ama milli takımın katılamaması da üzücü.
Fenerbahçe'nin yollarını ayırdığı teknik direktör Domenico Tedesco'ya talip çıktı. Tedesco, Fiorentina'nın teknik direktör adaylarından biri oldu.
Fenerbahçe'de Galatasaray derbisinde alınan 3-0'lık mağlubiyet sonrası radikal kararlar alınmıştı. teknik direktör Domenico Tedesco ve ekibi ile yollar ayrılmıştı. Tedesco, bugün Samandıra'ya gelerek futbolcular ve taraftarlar vedalaşırken taraftarların yoğun sevgi gösterisiyle de karşı karşıya kaldı.
Firenze Viola'nın haberine göre, Domenico Tedesco, Fiorentina'nın teknik direktör adaylarından biri. Serie A ekiplerinden Fiorentina, 38 yaşındaki teknik adamı gündemine alırken Tedesco'nun bu karara nasıl bir karşılık vereceği ise henüz bilinmiyor.
Fenerbahçe'de yaşanan sonuçlar sonrası eleştirilerin hedefi olan genç çalıştırıcının, kariyerine İtalya'da devam edip etmeyeceği önümüzdeki günlerde netlik kazanacak.
Fenerbahçe maçı öncesi motivasyon konuşmasıyla derbide 3 puanı hanesine koyan Galatasaray teknik direktörü Okan Buruk, Samsunspor maçı öncesi oyuncularına şart koştu.
Galatasaray'da hedef şampiyonluk...En büyük engellerden biri olan Fenerbahçe derbisini 3-0'lık galibiyetle aşan sarı-kırmızılılar tam anlamıyla şampiyonluk için geri sayıma geçti. Galatasaray bu hafta oynayacağı Samsunspor maçında 3 puanı alması halinde ise şampiyonluğunu ilan edecek.
OKAN BURUK'TAN UYARI VAR
Fenerbahçe maçı önce futbolcularına motivasyon konuşması yapan teknik direktör Okan Buruk, galibiyette büyük bir payın sahibi olmuştu. Tecrübeli teknik adamdan Samsunspor maçı öncesi oyuncularına uyarı geldi.
Okan Buruk, derbi sonrası oyuncuların 2 günlük izin talebine 'şampiyon olmadık, ayaklarımız yere basmalı, ciddiyeti korumak zorundayız, Samsunspor maçını kazanın 3 gün izin vereyim' şeklinde karşılık verdi. Galatasaraylı futbolcular Samsunspor'u da yenmesi halinde 3 gün izin yapacaklar.
Şampiyonluk için geri sayıma geçen Galatasaray bir yandan da gelecek sezonun kadro planlamasına başladı. Sarı-kırmızılılar ara transfer döneminde kadroya dahil olan Sacha Boey için kararını verdi.
Galatasaray, devre arası Bayern Münih'ten satın alma opsiyonuyla kiraladığı Sacha Boey'in biletini kesti...Fenerbahçe'yi evinde 3-0 mağlup etmesinin ardından tam anlamıyla şampiyonluk için geri sayıma başlayan sarı-kırmızılılr gelecek sezonun kadro planlamasında Sacha Boey'e yer vermek istemiyor.
TEK BİR ŞART VAR
Galatasaray, Sacha Boey ile devam etmeyi düşünmüyor. Daha doğrusu, bu rakamları ödemeyi düşünmüyor. Ancak bonservis rakamı 4-6 milyon euro'ya inerse, o zaman belki söz konusu olabilir devam etmek.
Galatasaray'a geri döndükten 15 maçta süre bulan Sacha Boey, 2 kez ağları havalandırdı.
“Bayern”in baş məşqçisi Vensan Kompani UEFA Çempionlar Liqasının yarımfinalında PSJ-yə qarşı keçirdikləri ilk oyunu şərh edib.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, sözügedən komandaların ilk oyunu ötən gecə Paris şəhərində keçirilib və Almaniya nəhənginin 4:5 hesablı məğlubiyyəti ilə yekunlaşıb.
Kompani bu oyunu tribunadan izləmək məcburiyyətində qalıb. Belçikalı mütəxəssis sarı vərəqə limitini doldurduğu üçün yarımfinalın ilk matçında diskvalifikasiya olunmuşdu. Bu üzdən də o, texniki zonada yer ala bilməyib.
Kompani oyundan sonra matçı tribunadan izləməyin xoşuna gəlmədiyini gizlətməyib və həmkarı Luis Enrikeyə də maraqlı mesaj ünvanlayıb. O, komandasının oyuna yüksək enerji ilə başladığını və hücumda təhlükəli anlar yaratdığını deyib:
“Meydanda əsl enerji var idi. Biz həm oyuna nəzarət edirdik, həm də təhlükə yaradırdıq. Beş qol buraxmaq yarımfinal səviyyəsində məğlubiyyət deməkdir, amma yaratdığımız imkanlara baxanda daha çox qol vura bilərdik”.
Vensan Kompani əlavə edib ki, nəticə xırda detallardan asılı olub:
“Bu cür matçlarda hər şey incə detallarla həll olunur. Növbəti oyunda da bu detallar həlledici olacaq. Evdə azarkeşlərimizlə birlikdə maksimum gücümüzü ortaya qoymalıyıq.
Oyuna tribunadan baxmaq xoşuma gəlmədi. Luis Enrikeyə dedim ki, bunu öz istəyi ilə niyə etdiyini anlamıram. Amma komandamın xarakter göstərməsi xoşuma gəldi. Bu, futbolsevərlər üçün əsl matç idi”.
Xatırladaq ki, bu komandalar arasında cavab qarşılaşması mayın 6-da, Münhendəki “Alyans Arena”da baş tutacaq.
PSJ-nin baş məşqçisi Luis Enrike UEFA Çempionlar Liqasının yarımfinalında “Bayern”ə qarşı keçirdikləri ilk oyunu şərh edib.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, sözügedən komandaların ötən gün Parisdə baş tutmuş ilk oyunu Fransa təmsilçisinin 5:4 hesablı qələbəsi ilə yekunlaşıb.
Luis Enrike matçdan sonra jurnalistlərə açıqlamasında bunları söyləyib:
“Bu, çox gərgin oyun idi. Şübhəsiz ki, məşqçi kimi mənim ən yaxşı matçım idi. Özüm çox yoruldum, halbuki bir kilometr belə qaçmamışam. Futbolçuların necə hiss etdiyini təsəvvür etmirəm”.
İspaniyalı mütəxəssis deyib ki, yaxşılaşdırmalı olduqları məqamlar var:
“Heyətində bu qədər yüksək səviyyəli futbolçu olan komandaya qarşı bu, çox da asan deyil. Dörd qol buraxdıq, üzərində işləməli olduğumuz məqamlar var. Bərpa olunacağıq, çempionat barədə düşünəcəyik, daha sonra isə diqqətimizi gələn həftəyə yönəldəcəyik. Fikrimcə, bizi oxşar oyun gözləyir”, deyə Luis Enrike vurğulayıb.
Qeyd edək ki, komandalar arasında cavab görüşü mayın 6-da Münhendə keçiriləcək.
NBA efsanesi Shaquille O'Neal, San Antonio Spurs'ün Portland Trail Blazers karşısında seriyi kapatmasının ardından genç yıldız Victor Wembanyama hakkında dikkat çekici açıklamalarda bulundu.
Los Angeles Lakers'ın süperstarı Luka Doncic, takımının Houston Rockets'ı eleyerek bir üst tura çıkması durumunda Oklahoma City Thunder ile oynanacak ikinci tur serisinde forma giymeye yakın görünmüyor.
Fenerbahçe Beko, EuroLeague play-off ilk maçında Zalgiris Kaunas'ı 89-78 mağlup ederek seride 1-0 öne geçti. Maçın ardından Talen Horton-Tucker açıklamalarda bulundu.
1. Lig'de Süper Lig'e direkt çıkacak ikinci takımın belli olacağı son haftada Amed Sportif Faaliyetler, deplasmanda Iğdır FK ile karşılaşacak. 73 puanlı Amed, kazanması halinde Esenler Erokspor'un sonucuna bakmadan Süper Lig'e yükselecek.
Sezonu büyük başarılarla bitiren ve kazanılmadık kupa bırakmayan Fenerbahçe Kadın Basketbol takımında şok bir ayrılık yaşanıyor. Sarı Lacivertliler'in yıldız ismi Sevgi Uzun'un Galatasaray ile anlaşma sağladığı ortaya çıktı.
Beşiktaş, Atalanta'tan satın alma opsiyonuyla kiraladığı El Bilal Toure konusunda son kararını vermedi. Başkan Serdal Adalı, İtalyan ekibiyle görüşecek.
UEFA Konferans Ligi yarı final ilk maçları 30 Nisan Perşembe günü oynanacak. Arda Turan'ın çalıştırdığı Shakhtar Donetsk, Crystal Palace'ı Polonya'nın Krakow kentinde TSİ 22.00'de ağırlayacak.
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İtaliyada iki medal qazanan avarçəkənlərimiz vətənə qayıdıb.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə Azərbaycan Su İdman Növləri Federasiyasının mətbuat xidməti məlumat yayıb.
Xatırladaq ki, akademik avarçəkmə üzrə təşkil olunan “Paolo d’Aloja” xatirə turnirində komandamız iki medal qazanıb. Nurlan Paşayev-Ziya Məmmədzadə cütü 2 nəfərlik qayıqda 2000 metr məsafəyə yürüşdə gümüş medala layiq görülüb. Azər İlyasov eyni məsafədə 1 nəfərlik qayıqda üçüncü yer tutub.
Ermənistan və Gürcüstan 2029-cu ildə keçiriləcək U-20 dünya çempionatına ev sahibliyi edəcək.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə ali futbol qurumunun mətbuat xidməti məlumat yayıb. FIFA-nın Vankuverdə keçirilən İcraiyyə Komitəsinin iclasında bununla bağlı qərar qəbul olunub.
U-20 milli komandaların 2027-ci ildə keçiriləcək dünya çempionatına isə Azərbaycan və Özbəkistan ev sahibliyi edəcək.
16 yaşadək qızlardan ibarət Azərbaycan milli komandası aprelin 30-da Bakıda təlim-məşq toplanışına başlayacaq.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, Milli Komandaların Təlim-Məşq Mərkəzində hazırlıq keçəcək U-16 ardından Bakıda təşkil olunacaq UEFA İnkişaf Turnirinə qatılacaq. Komandamız Litva, Rumıniya və Gürcüstan yığmaları ilə mübarizə aparacaq. Oyunlar Binə stadionunda keçiriləcək.
“Mançester Yunayted” futbolçusu Manuel Uqarte ilə bağlı qərarını verib.
Futbolpress.az“Football İnsider” portalına istinadən xəbər verir ki, “qırmızı şeytanlar” yay transfer dönəmində oyunçu üçün gələcək təklifləri dəyərləndirəcək. Bu
Uqarte klubun planlarına daxil deyil. O, bu mövsüm Premyer Liqada 22 oyuna çıxıb.
“Bavariya”nın fransalı futbolçusu Maykl Olise Fransa komandalarına qarşı UEFA Çempionlar Liqası və Çempionlar Kubokunun yarımfinallarında qol vuran üç həmyerlisinin sırasına […]
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PSJ-nin hücumçusu Xviça Kvaratsxeliya rekorda imza atıb. Msport.az xəbər verir ki, gürcüstanlı futbolçu Çempionlar Liqasında klub rekordunu yeniləyib. O, yarımfinal mərhələsinin […]
José Mourinho says Roma is the ‘best place’ where he’s been in his coaching career, admits he didn’t expect Cristian Chivu to become a coach and insists that preferring the playing style over results is ‘the biggest lie in football.’
Former Inter and Roma coach Mourinho was full of praise for the Giallorossi and his ex-player Chivu, now the Nerazzurri boss, in his latest interview with Il Giornale (via Gazzetta).
Mourinho’s latest interview on Roma, Inter and Real Madrid speculation
Mourinho spent two and a half seasons at the Stadio Olimpico, winning the Conference League in 2022 and losing the Europa League Final in 2023. Just a few months later, in January 2024, he was sacked with just six months left on his contract.
“For me, it’s been the best place in my career. I’ve never felt such an incredible environment around a football team. The Olimpico was always full,” Mourinho said.
Mourinho was asked whether the pressure around the team in the capital is what makes it so hard for the Giallorossi to win trophies.
ROME, ITALY – JANUARY 10: Jose Mourinho, Head Coach of AS Roma, looks on during the warm up prior to the Coppa Italia match between SS Lazio and AS Roma at Stadio Olimpico on January 10, 2024 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
“It’s not a drama because when we won the Conference League, the celebrations were amazing,” he replied.
“Not even when I won the Champions League did I see scenes like those.
“My Roma is finished. I don’t want to say anything else. Actually, just one thing. Nobody should blame the Roma fans for not winning. The Roma fans are the ones who support the team, and nobody should touch them.”
Chivu’s Inter will win the Serie A title if they beat Parma on Sunday night. Chivu played under Mourinho at Inter, winning a legendary treble in 2009-10.
“I’m happy for Chivu that Inter can win the Scudetto, even if, when I was his coach, I’d never thought he would become a coach,” Mourinho admitted.
TURIN, ITALY – APRIL 26: Cristian Chivu, Head Coach of FC Internazionale Milano, looks on prior to the Serie A match between Torino FC and FC Internazionale at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on April 26, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
“He didn’t seem predestined, but he was smart. He has studied and has built experience. Many go on the bench today because they sell themselves well. And let’s be honest: this idea that the style of play matters more than results is the biggest lie in football.
“I haven’t messaged Chivu yet because it’s not mathematically certain. Let’s let him earn the points he needs, and when it happens, I’ll reach out.”
The members of that Inter team are still in contact thanks to a WhatsApp chat: “I’m terrible with my phone, but Materazzi is the one in charge of that,” Mou admitted.
Lastly, Mou was asked about rumours of his return to Atletico Madrid, but he replied: “My next target is to bring Benfica back to the Champions League.”
Reports in Italy claim that Gian Piero Gasperini will soon meet with Roma owners to discuss the strategy for the summer transfer window and beyond, starting with the appointment of a new sporting director and the extension of Paulo Dybala’s contract.
Gasperini talks with Roma owners to determine 2026 strategies
Roma coach Gasperini will discuss the club’s future strategies with club owners in the coming days.
The Giallorossi coach has taken full control of the club’s operations after Claudio Ranieri’s exit last week, a move that Frederic Massara’s departure will follow in the coming weeks.
Gasperini will have input into many decisions, both on and off the pitch, starting with the appointment of a new sporting director to replace Massara.
Gazzetta and Corriere dello Sport report that Giovanni Manna (Napoli) and Tony D’Amico (Atalanta) are the frontrunners for the job, even if Sean Sogliano is also among the candidates.
Gasperini is expected to have a conference call with Dan Friedkin in the coming days, while Ryan will land in the capital shortly to hold face-to-face talks with the coach.
Gasperini and Roma owners will also discuss Francesco Totti’s potential return to the club, while the coach will receive updates on the new stadium project.
BOLOGNA, ITALY – APRIL 25: Gian Piero Gasperini, Head Coach of AS Roma looks on during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and AS Roma at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on April 25, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)
Gasperini and Roma owners will also discuss the club’s strategies for the summer transfer window, including the future of Dybala.
The Argentine’s contract expires at the end of the season, and Gasperini will gladly retain the 2022 Argentina World Cup winner.
According to Gazzetta, Dybala is tempted to return to Argentina to play for Boca Juniors, but believes that it is still too early to return to his native country. Therefore, he is open to considering Roma’s offer, aware that any proposal will involve a pay cut from his current €8m-a-year wages.
Bayern Munich are reportedly interested in signing Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic after deciding not to keep on-loan Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson.
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Vlahovic is nearing the end of his contract at Juve so could be a good bargain option on the market to give Bayern more cover for Harry Kane up front.
Jackson has filled that role this season since joining on loan from Chelsea last summer, but Florian Plettenberg has recently reported that the Bundesliga giants have decided not to extend his stay beyond the end of this campaign…
?? Juventus are monitoring Nicolas #Jackson and can imagine a loan move. AC Milan are monitoring the situation as well.
Jackson will return to Chelsea in the summer for now, as FC Bayern will not trigger the option to buy and a second loan is currently not planned. #CFC… pic.twitter.com/3W8i2OoAJh
According to Fichajes, Bayern are keen on the Serbia international to come in and add depth to their list of options up front next season, and it certainly seems like a deal with some potential.
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What next for Dusan Vlahovic?
A lot has been written about Vlahovic in recent weeks and months as it’s not quite clear what the future holds for the 26-year-old.
Dusan Vlahovic
Games
Goals
2021/22
21
9
2022/23
42
14
2023/24
38
18
2024/25
44
17
2025/26
19
6
Vlahovic looked like an exciting young talent at former club Fiorentina, but he hasn’t quite lived up to his potential at Juventus.
This has occasionally seen Vlahovic linked with big clubs like Chelsea, as per TEAMtalk, but it was also recently claimed that he could be close to signing a new Juventus contract, as per Gazzetta dello Sport.
Even if Vlahovic has his qualities, it currently seems unlikely that he’d be an automatic starter at a top club, so perhaps a bench role at Bayern or somewhere similar could be his best bet.
Manchester United’s summer rebuild under the INEOS is already rapidly taking shape, and the midfield is screaming out for a massive overhaul.
With the club officially confirming that veteran enforcer Casemiro will be packing his bags when his contract expires at the end of June, the hunt for a new, world-class defensive anchor is fully underway.
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According to Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand, Real Madrid powerhouse Aurelien Tchouameni is exactly the kind of “majestic” presence the Red Devils desperately need to finally bring stability back to Old Trafford.
Rio Ferdinand has an advice for Man United
Speaking recently on his popular YouTube channel, Ferdinand didn’t hold back his sheer admiration for the 26-year-old French international.
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Reflecting on Tchouameni’s commanding performances on the absolute biggest stages, especially highlighting that intense France vs England clash, Ferdinand painted the picture of a completely dominant, plug-and-play superstar who would instantly fix United’s porous midfield.
“Majestic, he was strong. He was so commanding,” Ferdinand raved to his viewers, making it abundantly clear that Man United should target a move for him.
But is a deal actually realistic? Surprisingly, the door to the Bernabeu might just be creaking open.
While Tchouameni has thoroughly justified his £68m price tag since arriving from Monaco in 2022, Real Madrid are reportedly plotting some massive midfield moves of their own this summer.
Florentino Perez is aggressively eyeing up Manchester City’s Rodri or even Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez.
And now it seems the Blues will also contact the agents of Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner and Borussia Dortmund boss Niko Kovac.
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Kovac has apparently been looked at before by Chelsea, according to Phillips, while the other names look like tempting options due to their availability.
Alonso has been out of work since leaving Real Madrid earlier this season, while Glasner is leaving Palace at the end of this season, and Iraola will also be on his way out of Bournemouth at the same time.
What does Chelsea’s next manager need?
Managing Chelsea almost looks like an impossible job at the moment as the club have had an air of chaos under this current ownership.
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The west London giants were a very different animal under Roman Abramovich, often simply hiring the best managers and signing the best players with the aim of delivering major trophies in the here and now.
This CFC project, however, is built around young players and a long-term project, but the frequent manager sackings and poor signings have complicated matters.
Whoever comes in next for Chelsea needs to be ready to work in this environment, with the expectation that they’ll be able to help young players improve and deal with a large squad.
On top of that, whoever comes in at Chelsea will need to cope with an increasingly frustrated and impatient fanbase, who don’t seem to be aligned with what the owners are trying to do.
While there are several top managers out there, it’s arguably a very different challenge to what they’ve had to deal with in their most recent jobs.
Newcastle United attacker Anthony Gordon is high in demand ahead of the summer transfer window.
Since his arrival from Everton, the electric winger has completely won over the Geordie faithful, transforming from a highly debated signing into an absolute talisman for the club.
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According to a major bombshell dropped by The Athletic, the 25-year-old England international is now “increasingly likely” to pack his bags and leave Tyneside this coming summer.
Despite their massive Saudi-backed war chest, Newcastle simply cannot spend freely without balancing their financial books.
Newcastle United are looking to rebuild squad
To fund a desperately needed squad overhaul and bring in fresh elite talent, the Magpies have to generate significant revenue through player sales.
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Because Gordon’s stock has skyrocketed, having established himself as a regular in the England national team set-up, he is currently one of the few highly liquid assets in the squad who could command a genuinely astronomical transfer fee.
Cashing in on him could essentially fund three or four high-quality signings across the pitch.
With the Anfield hierarchy constantly looking to refresh their frontline and prepare for life after their aging superstars, bringing in a direct, Premier League-proven attacker with Gordon’s relentless pressing metrics makes perfect sense.
You increasingly get the sense that Tottenham’s very existence is on the line as they bid to avoid relegation from the Premier League this season.
As Spurs remain in the bottom three with just four games remaining, there is unsurprisingly growing talk of huge numbers of their best players leaving if they end up dropping down to the Championship.
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According to the latest from Spanish outlet Fichajes, Barcelona director Deco has his eye on as many as five of Tottenham’s current players – Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Pedro Porro, Xavi Simons, and Lucas Bergvall.
Needless to say, getting relegated is bad enough for Spurs, but if they also lost all of those players in one go it would be extremely difficult for the north Londoners to rebuild their side and come back up as soon as possible.
Are Tottenham’s flops good enough for Barcelona?
Realistically, it seems highly unlikely that Barca would be able to sign all five of those players mentioned, not least because the Catalan giants have financial issues that will restrict what they can do without also selling players.
It makes sense, however, that Deco would be looking at Spurs’ current situation and eyeing up a few candidates for a summer raid.
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It’s still worth asking, however, if these players are actually good enough for an elite European side like Barcelona after struggling so badly with THFC.
After all, if these players have performed so poorly that a big club like Spurs might actually be relegated, then serious questions have to be asked about not only their ability, but their mentality.
Still, some of the names there, such as Simons and Bergvall in particular, are young enough that they could learn from this difficult experience and improve as they continue developing, perhaps also benefiting from working in a more settled environment and with better coaches and players around them.
Paris Saint-Germain edged out Bayern Munich 5-4 in a history-making Champions League semi-final first leg at the Parc des Princes. The reigning European champions and the Bundesliga’s top dogs served up an instant classic in the French capital, where two world-class attacks traded blow for blow and a new record was set for goals in […]
Mumbai Indians have built a reputation for slow starts followed by dramatic comebacks. They reached the playoffs in 2014 after losing their first five matches and won the title in 2015 despite just one win in their opening five. IPL 2026, however, has shown little sign of a similar revival.
At the halfway stage, MI are in trouble with five defeats in seven games. While a turnaround remains mathematically possible, their performances have lacked consistency and conviction. Their latest outing, a 103-run defeat to Chennai Super Kings, was their heaviest loss in IPL history and underlined their struggles.
There are issues across departments. Apart from Jasprit Bumrah, the bowling unit has been expensive, while the batting has failed to click collectively. Centuries from Quinton de Kock and Tilak Varma are the only major positives. Suryakumar Yadav has struggled for rhythm, and captain Hardik Pandya has yet to make a sustained impact with both bat and ball.
In contrast, Sunrisers Hyderabad arrive with momentum. After losing three of their first four matches, they have surged back with four straight wins and now look settled.
The return of Pat Cummins has strengthened their attack, while Eshan Malinga and Sakib Hussain have added depth. With form on their side, SRH will be confident of challenging MI’s record in this fixture.
Rohit Sharma remains a doubt after missing the last three matches with a hamstring injury. He has resumed training and is progressing well, but a final call will be taken on match day.
In team news, MI have signed South African spinner Keshav Maharaj as a replacement for Mitchell Santner and could consider Will Jacks as a match-up option against SRH’s left-handers.
The match will be played on Pitch No. 8 at the Wankhede Stadium, the same surface that produced 462 runs in a previous game where MI fell short chasing 240 against RCB. It remains a batting-friendly wicket, though that total was considered slightly above par. Interestingly, while teams in Mumbai usually prefer chasing, six of the last ten matches on this pitch have been won by sides batting first, which could influence the toss decision.
MI vs SRH: Weather Report
Conditions in Mumbai are expected to be warm and clear on match evening, with temperatures around 31°C. There is no forecast of rain, ensuring a full game. Humidity levels will be moderate, and dew is likely to play a role later in the evening, potentially giving an advantage to the team batting second.
The MI vs SRH clash will be held at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, starting at 7:30 PM IST. The match will be broadcast on Star Sports Network, while live streaming will be available on JioHotstar.
Arsenal official pictured as links with 27 year old striker grow
Arsenal Transfer Plans: Berta Tracks Osimhen and Galatasaray Talent
Istanbul visit highlights Arsenal ambition
Arsenal’s Italian sporting director, Andrea Berta, was in Istanbul for one of football’s fiercest spectacles, Galatasaray against Fenerbahçe, gathering intelligence with purpose, as reported by AS.
“Arsenal’s sporting director was in Istanbul for the Galatasaray – Fenerbahçe derby, scouting on behalf of his current club, Arsenal.” It is the kind of hands-on approach supporters admire, a senior figure present in the stands rather than relying solely on reports. The Ali Sami Yen Rams Park, alive with noise and rivalry, became a theatre of evaluation.
Photo IMAGO
Osimhen emerges as marquee target
“The Italian kept a close eye on three Galatasaray players from the stands,” with Victor Osimhen clearly the headline act. Arsenal’s pursuit of attacking excellence appears relentless. “But despite the Swede’s presence, Osimhen appears to be a strong target for the London club in this summer transfer window.”
There is an appetite for elite firepower, a recognition that competing at the summit of the Premier League demands depth and variety in attack. Berta’s decision to “obtain firsthand information, through Galatasaray’s management, about the Nigerian star’s potential departure” suggests a club preparing meticulously.
Photo IMAGO
Osimhen’s profile aligns with Arsenal’s ambitions, powerful, direct, decisive. He embodies the kind of striker who can tilt tight matches, turning 1-1 into 2-1 with a single moment of conviction.
Versatility and resilience in supporting targets
Berta’s interest extends beyond one name. “The other two players on Berta’s shortlist are Barıs Alper Yilmaz and Çakiry Ugurcan Çakir.” This reflects a layered recruitment plan, blending attacking flexibility with defensive security.
“Yilmaz is a versatile player. He can play on either wing or as a center forward,” and even contributed defensively. Such adaptability appeals to modern squads navigating congested calendars and tactical variation.
Photo IMAGO
In goal, Çakir stands out through performance and resilience. “Çakir has made 40 saves in 12 Champions League matches, making him one of the three goalkeepers with the most saves in Europe’s top competition.” These are numbers that command attention.
His heroics against Liverpool elevate his reputation further. “With 11 saves in a single match, he achieved the highest number of saves made by a goalkeeper in a Champions League game in the last ten seasons.” This is evidence of a goalkeeper capable of influencing outcomes at the highest level.
Photo IMAGO
Competition intensifies for key targets
Arsenal will not move unchallenged. “Bayern Munich also plans to submit a substantial offer to Galatasaray for Çakir to replace veteran Manuel Neuer.” Juventus and Inter Milan circle as well, signalling a competitive market.
For Arsenal, this is about decisiveness. Berta’s presence in Istanbul signals intent, yet intent must translate into action. The club stands at a point where ambition, planning and execution must align.
Our View – EPL Index Analysis
There is clear evidence of a recruitment strategy that looks both immediate and long-term. The idea of targeting a striker like Osimhen will excite fans who crave a decisive edge in tight matches.
Supporters will also appreciate the broader thinking. Identifying players such as Yilmaz and Çakir suggests the club is not solely chasing headlines but building depth and resilience. This aligns with the demands of competing across the Premier League and Europe.
There will be caution, though. Arsenal fans have seen interest before that does not always lead to signings. The presence of Bayern Munich and Italian giants introduces pressure, and supporters will expect the club to act with conviction.
If Berta’s work in Istanbul leads to tangible progress, it could mark an important step in Arsenal’s evolution. Fans will want to see ambition matched by delivery, ensuring that scouting trips become statements of intent fulfilled.
The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against FIFA’s decision not to sanction Israel over clubs based in occupied West Bank settlements, a senior PFA official said, as visa issues affecting several delegations added to tensions before the FIFA Congress.
The PFA has long argued that clubs based in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank – which are illegal under international law – should not compete in leagues run by the Israel Football Association (IFA).
FIFA said last month it would take no action against the IFA or Israeli clubs, citing the unresolved legal status of the occupied West Bank under public international law.
“Since we have exhausted every legal venue possible at FIFA, we’ll still go by the rules, go by the book, and we’ll appeal that decision because we think it’s very unjust,” PFA Vice President Susan Shalabi said after the Asian Football Confederation Congress in Vancouver on Tuesday, held two days before the FIFA Congress in the same city.
“The [FIFA] council decided after 15 years of deliberations on this issue not to decide. So the only course of action that we have is to go to CAS and to appeal that. We will go through the whole process until we are able to achieve justice.”
She later told the Reuters news agency that the appeal had been filed on April 20.
CAS has not yet announced the appeal and was not immediately available for comment outside business hours on Tuesday. FIFA was also not immediately available for comment. Reuters also contacted the IFA.
Shalabi said visa problems also prevented several PFA representatives from entering Canada for the FIFA Congress, which will take place on Thursday.
She said she received an electronic travel authorisation immediately because she applied on a foreign passport, but other members of the delegation, including the PFA president, general secretary and legal counsel Gonzalo Boye, initially did not receive visas.
She said the visas were issued only after pressure “on the political level, on the social level, on the media level”, as well as action from community members and activists, adding that the PFA president had not received a visa in time to travel with the rest of the delegation but was expected to arrive later.
She said Boye, however, had still not received a visa and would not attend.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada told Reuters it would look into the matter.
Shalabi said the visa problems were not limited to Palestine and that she understood Iran’s football association, whose representatives were not present at the AFC Congress, had also faced issues.
“As you can see, it’s a huge event that’s going to happen. We have a World Cup, and it’s good for Canada to have everyone from everywhere able to come and participate in this,” Shalabi said.
She added that the situation for Palestinian football remained dire, particularly in Gaza, where she said every football structure was either unusable or destroyed.
“We lost so many hundreds of footballers; we lost most of them children,” she said. “So football now in Gaza, there is no football at all.
“It’s very dangerous for our teams to compete,” she added, noting that professional leagues were suspended and that the PFA was trying to keep football alive through grassroots and youth competitions.
It is set to be an "absolutely brilliant" final day of the Championship promotion race on which "anything can happen", according to the BBC's 72+ EFL podcast team.
Tuesday's dramatic 2-2 draw between Southampton and Ipswich has left Town, Millwall and Middlesbrough to fight it out for the second automatic promotion place in the 46th and final round of games on Saturday (12:30 BST).
Ipswich are in pole position, a point ahead of Millwall, with a goal difference advantage of +17 on the Lions, but with Boro a point further back. Town know they must beat QPR at Portman Road to secure an immediate return to the Premier League.
Middlesbrough are at Wrexham, who need to secure a play-off spot, while Millwall host already-relegated Oxford United.
"It was a brilliant game," said EFL pundit Jobi McAnuff.
"We have spoken all season about how open the Championship has been. Coventry have been by far and away the best team, worthy winners, but for it to go into the last Saturday [is fantastic].
"Millwall, the team that just won't go away, they're still hanging in there, Middlesbrough, the team off the back of really poor form but with a couple of good results of late, anything can happen, it's going to be absolutely brilliant on Saturday."
Despite extending their unbeaten league run to 18 games, Saints bowed out of the race, sitting four points behind Ipswich, and will need to win the play-offs if they are to secure their own top-flight return.
"It's been a fantastic run. Everyone from afar was hoping they'd get in there, It's Roy of the Rovers stuff," said Bristol Rovers boss Steve Evans.
"In fairness, probably the teams that have been more consistent and better over the course of the season, they're the ones who are going to fight the final day shootout."
Even though he believes Ipswich have been "underwhelming" this season, McAnuff said he expects the Tractor Boys to prevail.
He said: "I expect them to go and finish the job now at home. They have got through what was a tricky run of away games ,which has really been their Achilles heel.
"Big win at Charlton, [point at] West Brom on Saturday and follow up by getting a point at the form team [Southampton].
"I think Kieran McKenna would have taken that before - make sure they're going into the last game of the season very much in control.
"We associate McKenna and Ipswich with that all-out attacking free-flowing football, they haven't found that rhythm this season, they have been a bit underwhelming, I have to say, with the quality they have in their squad.
"I believe they will get over the line but with this squad that's the bare minimum they should be doing this season."
Evans fears for McKenna's future if he is unable to guide Ipswich back to the Premier League.
"If Ipswich turn up and play as they can at Portman Road they'll be in the Premier League," he said.
"If they drop to the play-offs and lose and Kieran McKenna doesn't lead them to the Premier League then he might not lead them anywhere, that's how ruthless football is."
That was Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports on the Grant & Danny Show, Tuesday on 106.7 The Fan. Immediately, one might wonder whether Wilson was saying that Williams is using steroids. But he was actually lauding Williams' ability and route running. What brought about such high praise for a Clemson receiver not taken until the Washington Commanders selected Williams at 71 in the third round, Day 2 (Friday night)?
"I was looking back at my way too early mock draft notes from 12 months ago," Wilson said. "I had him in the first round (of the 2026 Draft). He was hurt at Clemson in Week 1 and wasn't quite himself for much of the season; neither was Clemson, for that matter. But he is electric and maybe the flavor of ice cream that the Commanders were looking for in the slot."
So Wilson, in the preseason, thought Williams would be drafted in the first round? A major question already being asked is whether Williams can play on the outside, as Commanders GM Adam Peters commented after selecting Williams. Wilson responded, "Can he play outside? Yes. The issue is when you are going up against ACC corners vs NFL corners. That's where you have to figure out if it is going to work."
Clemson WR Antonio Williams is headed to the Commanders 😤
Perhaps Wilson was not aware of the comments Peters made last weekend, because he said the following. "I would imagine he was drafted with the idea of primarily slot and some outside abilities. But he's physical. I know he is undersized and that he is not north of six feet. But he plays physically, he's fast. He can win off the line of scrimmage versus press coverage. So, all the things you want your outside receiver to do."
What does Wilson foresee for Williams in his first Washington season in the NFL? "I would imagine slot first, with some outside occasionally. But I wouldn't imagine he is going to be the guy you're going to line up outside, on day one." Williams did have a big junior season at Clemson, catching 75 passes for 11 receiving touchdowns. Being limited to ten games his senior season, Williams caught 55 passes, including four touchdown receptions.
So, what did Peters have in mind in drafting Williams at No. 71? Is he the plan for outside receiver to replace Terry McLaurin after the 2026 season? Or is he a plan for slot this season to replace Luke McCaffrey?
Westbrooke and Hurst have spent this season on loan at National League side Scunthorpe United while Sbarra has also spent time in the fifth tier this season with Solihull Moors.
Close has made 31 appearances this season for Doncaster and 124 in total since joining in 2021 with Gibson making 51 this term and 103 in total. Meanwhile, Maxwell leaves having made 117 appearances.
"I want to thank every player who will be leaving the club for what they have given during their time here. Each of them has played a part in our journey," manager Grant McCann said.
"They've given everything for the badge, day in and day out. Some leave us as League Two champions and others have shown real grit and professionalism to help us compete in League One this year, but all of them have contributed to what we are building.
"On behalf of Doncaster Rovers, we wish them the best of luck for the future and every success in the next chapter of their careers."
Doncaster travel to Peterborough United for their final game of the season (15:00 BST) on Saturday with McCann's side able to finish anywhere between 13th and 16th.
Exclusive Foot Africa: Paulo Duarte confident for Guinea
Exclusive
Paulo Duarte/@l'Equipe
Portuguese coach Paulo Duarte has expressed his determination to restore the reputation of the Guinean national team, just months ahead of the start of the qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
"The goal with Guinea is to rebuild a team that is in transition, both in terms of sporting performance and age. This is a squad with plenty of talent, but which still lacks stability and organization, especially when it comes to squad management," he revealed in an exclusive interview with Foot Africa.
"My objective is therefore to rejuvenate the team by betting on youth and quality, in order to give this squad a new lease of life. The idea is to integrate young players and, of course, to aim for qualification and at least reach the semi-finals of the AFCON," continued the former Burkina Faso coach.
As a reminder, Paulo Duarte was appointed head coach of Guinea on August 13. He has overseen 7 matches, recording two wins, four draws, and just one defeat.
The roadmap that Barcelona and Spain have agreed for Lamine Yamal’s recovery – report
The hamstring injury sustained by Lamine Yamal last week came as a bitter blow for FC Barcelona, with the young superstar getting ruled out for the rest of the season.
In the official statement, the Blaugrana confirmed that they expected the 18-year-old winger to be back in time to represent Spain at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
However, the club naturally have concerns about the academy graduate being rushed back into action from injury ahead of the summer’s tournament.
Now, according to SPORT, Barcelona are more at ease following the meeting held on Monday to coordinate the recovery plan for Lamine ahead of his involvement with the Spanish national football team.
The meeting included Raul Martinez, head of the club’s physiotherapy department, and Fernando Galan, who acts as the link between Barcelona and the RFEF.
The club’s priority is ensuring that the 18-year-old fully recovers without rushing, avoiding complications that could affect his long-term development.
At the same time, Yamal hopes to play in his first World Cup with a Spain side considered among the favourites, while head coach Luis de la Fuente is keen not to lose a key player.
Lamine Yamal’s recovery being managed carefully. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Barcelona’s objective has been to align all three interests, especially given that the recovery period, estimated at six to eight weeks, carries a high risk of relapse.
The Catalans have shown willingness from the outset, making it clear that the player will be available for the national team. The aim is for Spain to have access to the player, but with a carefully managed and conservative return.
Return plan
Yamal will not play for Barcelona again this season. He will be included in De la Fuente’s squad list on 30 May, after approximately five and a half weeks out, and will continue his recovery work.
However, he will not take part in Spain’s preparatory friendlies against Iraq on 4 June and Peru on 8 June. From that point, his return will be gradual and guided by medical assessments and the player’s own sensations.
Spain will open their World Cup campaign against Cape Verde on 15 June. Yamal could feature for limited minutes if his recovery progresses well, with a similar approach expected for the second group match against Saudi Arabia on 21 June.
A potential starting role could come in the third group match against Uruguay on 27 June, approximately nine and a half weeks after the injury, although he may not yet be ready to complete the full match.
Should everything proceed as per plan, Yamal is expected to be fully recovered and physically ready for full matches by the knockout stages.
Liverpool could lose another leader as Alisson situation develops
An uncertain update on Alisson Becker has emerged, raising fresh questions about whether the Brazilian will remain at Anfield beyond this summer.
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Despite recently extending his deal, the 33-year-old’s long-term future is no longer as clear-cut as many of us might have expected, particularly with interest building from elsewhere in Europe.
Slot refuses to guarantee Alisson stay
According to BBC Sport reporter Aadam Patel, there is now a genuine possibility that our No.1 could move on, even after committing his future to the club last month.
The update makes it clear just how open the situation remains heading into the transfer window.
“The future of Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson has been the subject of several questions…”
“When Arne Slot was asked last week about the possibility of Alisson leaving this summer, the Liverpool head coach did not guarantee he would stay. So there is certainly a chance he moves on.”
That uncertainty is significant, especially given the number of experienced figures already departing, with Mo Salah and Andy Robertson both confirmed to be leaving.
Slot himself addressed the situation in a measured way, making it clear that multiple factors will influence any final decision.
“The people who make these decisions take everything into account,” said Slot.
“They try to make the best decisions with the interest of the club. It [experience] is definitely one argument to keep him but there are other arguments.
“That is a decision the club has to make if that is needed. In the end, he still has one year [on his contract].”
Liverpool weighing experience vs future planning
This feels like a delicate balancing act between retaining world-class quality and planning for the future, especially with Giorgi Mamardashvili already lined up as a long-term option.
That would mark another major shift in leadership at the club, following the confirmed exits of key figures and ongoing changes within the squad.
Alisson’s injury record is also part of the conversation, with the experienced goalkeeper missing a growing number of matches across the few seasons, even though his level remains among the very best in the world.
The key question is whether this is the right moment to transition, or whether keeping a proven match-winner for at least another year is the smarter move as we aim to build again under Slot.
Exclusive Foot Africa: Paulo Duarte discusses the dual-nationality player issue
Exclusive
Paulo Duarte discusses the dual-nationality player issue
Paulo Duarte/@l'Equipe
In a statement to Foot Africa, Portuguese coach Paulo Duarte, head coach of Guinea, addressed the issue of dual-nationality players who could potentially strengthen the 'Syli National.'
“Yes, of course. There are dual-nationality players, but not as many as we would like. We have five or six top-level players who have already played at the highest level, but so far, they have not responded positively and have declined invitations to play for Guinea,” he revealed, before adding: “This is also a real problem for us, because if we managed to convince even seven players, Guinea would have a fantastic team. But you can't force a player to represent Guinea.”
“There are therefore other young players, perhaps less experienced in the short term, but who have quality and, above all, the desire to play for the country. And for me, that's the most important thing: having players who are ready to give everything for the flag,” Paulo Duarte concluded.
Having not taken part in the last Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025), Guinea will aim to secure a qualification ticket for the next edition of the competition, scheduled for 2027 in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
After falling at this hurdle last season, Arsenal aim to go one better and reach theChampions League final for only the second tie. Neither side has ever been crowned European champions before, but are now one two-legged win from next month's showpiece in Budapest.
Arsenal can take encouragement from the club's recent record against Spanish opposition. The Gunners beat Atletico Madrid 4-0 at the Emirates in this season's league phase, and have won each of their last seven Champions League games againstLa Liga teams.
It's the first time that any club has ever won seven straight Champions League or European Cup games against Spanish sides, while four of those victories for Mikel Arteta's team have been away from home.
Arsenal are also the only unbeaten team in this season's Champions League. The North Londoners have lost just two of their last 22 matches in the Champions League, with both defeats coming in last season's semi-final exit to Paris Saint-Germain.
Tonight's game will be only the fourth meeting between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal. In addition to their meeting on matchday three, the teams contested a 2017/18 Europa League semi-final. Atletico Madrid progressed 2-1 on aggregate from that tie.
Arsenal's record-breaking run against Spanish sides
Sevilla 1-2 Arsenal, 24/10/2023
Arsenal 2-0 Sevilla, 08/11/2023
Girona 1-2 Arsenal, 29/01/2025
Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid, 08/04/2025
Real Madrid 1-2 Arsenal, 16/04/2025
Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal, 16/09/2025
Arsenal 4-0 Atletico Madrid, 21/10/2025
Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal: Arteta wary of 'remarkable' Atletico
“They’re a team that has so much experience in the competition, that have every right to be here, because what they've done is remarkable," the Arsenal manager said at hispre-match press conference.
"We know the difficulty of the match, but I think we have shown in Europe, in any ground, what we are capable of.
“We've been very consistent, and tomorrow we have to play with that confidence, with that desire and that will, to come here to win the game.
“We have prepared the game to win it - there's no question about that. We have to be ourselves and do what we do constantly with our opponents. And then, let's see what the game throws, the level that we can show, the quality that we can show, and hopefully that's going to be the case.”
After a long wait, the Nittany Lion's men's lacrosse team finally know their semifinal opponent. They will be facing the Maryland Terrapins after the Terps won away at SHI Stadium against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. This will be a matchup against two teams that met in the regular season and finished with identical conference records at 7-5.
The last time these two teams met, it was a defensive minded game that saw Penn State dominate the middle quarters of the game, keeping the Terps at bay for over 35 minutes. One of the standout performers from that matchup was freshman goalkeeper Preston Hawkins, who made 14 saves, a career high in the game. The Terps cannot afford for that to happen again against a smothering Penn State defense.
Still, if there's one way the Terrapins can stick around is their possession based style of play. It is all predicated upon the dominance of faceoff specialist Henry Dodge, who is third in the nation across his career in faceoff winning percentage. If he can control the faceoff X, it can stop Penn State from going on scoring surges, much like they did late in the first matchup.
Key players for the Nittany Lions will be the upperclassmen in redshirt senior Luke Walstrum, who was the leading point scorer in the last game and Mac Hobbs, who scored two goals in the outing. On the defensive side of things, Jon King, Ryan O'Connor and Lucca DiBartolomeo will look to frustrate Eric Spanos yet again. Spanos is one of the big frontrunners for the prestigious Tewaaraton Award, college lacrosse's highest honor.
While the Nittany Lions have been dependent on a blend of elite under and upperclassmen, it will be up to experience to decide the game for the Nittany Lions on Thursday.
Faceoff for the game will be at 6:00 PM EST on Thursday, April 30. It will be played at SHI Stadium and will be available on the Big Ten Network.
Prior to Rangers' game against Motherwell on Sunday, Danny Rohl said he didn't want to focus on "negative" thoughts about the manner in which his side started the previous game against Falkirk.
A couple of hours later, he admitted they had paid the price for a similar first-half display against Motherwell and this time it proved hugely costly, dealing a massive blow to their title prospects.
Jens Berthel Askou's side were brilliant, particularly in that first period, but that should not have come as a surprise to Rohl and Rangers and does not excuse how flat they were and seemingly incapable of counteracting the visitors' slick, pacy play.
Now Rangers require favours from others and certainly cannot afford to lose again. They probably need to go to Tynecastle and win and then avoid defeat at Celtic Park, both of which will be extremely tough, but not impossible.
Celtic have to go to Easter Road before that and both Rangers and Hearts will hope Hibs can take something from that game, and Hearts and Celtic still have to go to Fir Park again, so all is not lost for Rangers.
But Rangers can't afford to start games the way they did against Falkirk and though they could ultimately have won against Motherwell as well, despite that dreadful first half, they can have no real complaints about the outcome having given themselves so much to do.
The half-time changes definitely made a difference, with Mohamed Diomande putting in his best performance since coming on at Celtic Park to turn that game in Rangers' favour.
But the key introduction was that of Mikey Moore, albeit he should have scored. That aside, he once again showed how important he is to the team.
He is clearly not 100% fit, as Rohl alluded to, but if Rangers can't get him ready to start the upcoming fixtures against Hearts and Celtic, their hopes of getting the results they need will be diminished.
Monday is massive for both sides. It's going to be another fascinating weekend in the title race.
WEST WARWICK – The offense is still there. The ace has accepted her role. The defense is vastly improved. The lessons from last year were learned.
And if there’s a time for the Portsmouth softball team to show its ready to win a title, this would be the week to do it.
The Patriots have gotten off to a terrific start this season and on Tuesday, April 28, they put all their skills on display for the world to see. Barbara Rainey opened scoring with a home run, Mia Ruggieri dealt for seven innings and dropped a bomb of her own as Portsmouth took down Kent County, 6-1, and took a step in showing it’s ready to win big.
“This is the first really competitive team that we’ve played and to come out on top feels great,” Rainey said. “I feel like it’s a statement.”
“We know we have a tough week, tough two weeks ahead of us,” Ruggieri said. “It’s good to see a tough team to start it off and get us ready.
“We just wanted to come in here and play as clean as we could and get a win.”
The victory certainly was tidy, a sign of growth for this group that only graduated one player from last year’s team that made it to Rhode Island College before falling in the losers’ bracket final.
Scoring and pitching weren’t a problem for the Patriots. The defense was and too many times, Portsmouth couldn’t make the most basic of plays. Errors piled on and put the team in a hole the bats couldn’t climb out of.
It looked like the woes would continue after three errors cost the Patriots in their season opener. They survived two in a win over Scituate in the second game of the season.
But since then the defense has been key. Portsmouth is making plays and not giving away outs.
“Defense has been the primary focus this year at practice,” Rainey said. “… We’ve just been grinding it out at practice and make sure those errors stay at the practice field.”
The Patriots clearly do some hitting at practice and bring the bats wherever they go.
Rainey was a beast in the middle of the order for Portsmouth last year and she’s on the short list of the top hitters in Division II this spring. Rainey wasted little time in putting on a show against Kent County, swinging at the first pitch she saw and carrying well over the fence in left field to put the Patriots up 2-0 after the first inning.
In the second inning, Portsmouth got it done with two outs. A seemingly harmless two-out single by Emily Bronson was followed by a single to no man’s land by Rainey and Ruggieri’s double to left scored them both to make it 4-0. Evelyn Schmidt followed with a single and the 5-0 lead was just another example of how good this Portsmouth offense has been this season.
“We just learned how to play as a team,” Rainey said. “It shows you it is a team sport and you can’t win alone. We learned how to work together.”
“We work hard with hitting, we work hard with fielding,” Ruggieri said. “Offense is our strength and when we do struggle it’s tough, but we have a tougher defense and I think we can pull it out.”
Having Ruggieri in the circle also helps.
Last year she split duties with since-graduated Mary Rainey, stepping into the role as the teams No. 1. The role comes with an extra workload – Ruggieri said splitting duties was helpful during the postseason on back-to-back games – and pressure, but Ruggieri is locked in knowing she’s getting the ball in every big game.
“I do put a lot of pressure on myself but do know I’ve worked hard this year, last year and the last couple of years,” Ruggieri said. “I trust myself and I trust my defense.”
Tuesday, it wasn’t hard to see why.
Ruggieri didn’t let a Kent County runner reach scoring position until the fourth, when Sophie Moreira and Abigail O’Connorhit back-to-back one-out singles. Ruggieri picked up the second out with a K, then got a groundout to end the threat.
In the sixth, an error and a hit-by-pitch had Kent County threatening again. Three straight ground ball outs ended that and Ruggieri followed with a home run of her own in the seventh to pad the lead.
While Kent County got on the board in the seventh, Ruggieri made sure one run was all it got. She finished the game giving up six hits, one walk and striking out five.
“She’s really stepped up,” said Rainey, Portsmouth’s catcher. “… This year’s she’s stepped to the plate and done what she has to do for the team."
And while Rainey may have underestimated some of the opponents Portsmouth has beaten this spring – Ponaganset, Barrington and East Greenwich are certainly darkhorse contenders in D-II – there’s no doubt about the talent of the teams its facing next.
Thursday (weather permitting) Portsmouth is set to travel to play Lincoln, which is undefeated and second in the Division II RPI. Saturday the Patriots will return home for a date with Johnston, which has one loss to a Division I team on its record and sits in first in the D-II RPI standings.
“I’m super excited,” Rainey said. “These are the fun games and that’s where we can see where we are as a team.”
The Patriots know where they want to see themselves at the end of the season and getting to RIC is a part of it.
“The past two years we’ve gotten to RIC in the losers’ bracket and came in third,” Ruggieri said. “We’d like to get past that.”
“We’re looking for a [Division II] championship,” Rainey said. “We want to go all the way. We’ve made it pretty close almost every year, so this year is hopefully our year.”
BOSTON -- The Philadelphia 76ers kept their season alive with an impressive performance as they knocked off the Boston Celtics on the road 113-97 to stave off elimination and force a Game 6 back in Philadelphia on Thursday. The Sixers used lockdown defense in the fourth quarter to hold off the Celtics and keep things moving in the right direction.
The Sixers received 33 points, eight assists, and four rebounds from Joel Embiid while Tyrese Maxey had 25 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists. Paul George had 16 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, Quentin Grimes had 18 points, and VJ Edgecombe had 10 points and seven rebounds.
Here are the three biggest takeaways from the win on the road:
Fourth quarter defense
The Sixers won this game due to their defensive pressure in the fourth. They held the No. 2 offensive team in the league to just 11 points and just 3-for-22 shooting. The Celtics missed their final 16 field goals of the night and that type of performance on the defensive end, coupled with a big Embiid night, allowed Philadelphia to keep its season alive. That is the type of effort it is going to take to win two more games in this series.
"Well, again, I think, we were able to really execute what we wanted to do defensively," said coach Nick Nurse. "Just weren't blowing assignments, and we were guarding the ball hard. I mean, they did take it in there deep a few times, but there wasn't a whole lot of straight line drives, or we got into lots of rotations, or any of those kind of things. So, I just think everybody did a really good job of kind of guarding their man and executing the schemes that we wanted executed."
Grimes gives a lift
Entering Tuesday’s elimination contest, Grimes had totaled only 27 points through the first four games of the series. In order for the Sixers to rally in this series, they will need Grimes to give them a big lift and just give some offense overall. The Celtics have held a big advantage in bench scoring in these series and will need to give Philadelphia this continued offensive ability to give a continued spark.
"The opportunity, you know what I mean?" Grimes said of his big night. "Nick has emphasized wanting to get up a lot of 3s. Teammates were finding me and I was able to knock down the shots."
George does it all
The Sixers received a big performance from George in this one. He knocked down four triples, was able to put the ball on the floor to make things happen for himself and his teammates, and was able to help on the glass while also being a factor on the defensive end of the floor. Philadelphia probably doesn’t win this game without his contributions on both ends and the Sixers need to lean on him much more as time goes on in this series. He is a guy who can still put up big numbers.
"Well, I just think he's a really good defender, and he's put tremendous effort in. I don't know. He’s just good, man. He's smart and he's quick and he's long and he's athletic and he's determined, and I think his offense still is growing, and confidence is still growing a little bit."
There’s an outside chance the Bengals have another steal on their hands, too, based on some of the praise coming from the national perspective right now.
ESPN’s Field Yates, for example, is a huge fan of the Bengals drafting tight end Jack Endries in the seventh round, naming it one of his few favorite picks of the draft’s final round.
“Fernando Mendoza's favorite target at Cal in 2024, Endries finished his college career with one season at Texas. He is Mr. Dependable as a receiver, with zero drops in 2025. Endries came on strong in the final two games of the season, recording nine catches for 128 yards and a touchdown.”
As we wrote in our deep dive analysis of the Bengals drafting Endries, the Bengals needed more talent on the depth chart behind Mike Gesicki, Drew Sample and Erick All. The first two have very specific roles, and the last name has injury questions clouding his future.
While the Endries pick by the Bengals hasn’t gotten that much hype compared to the team’s other selections, it sure feels like he has the traits to make some noise this summer in a roster push.
It was the first loss of Pimblett's UFC career and ended a nine-fight winning streak.
"I think it was a little bit of my ego got in the way," Pimblett said on his YouTube channel reflecting on the fight.
"I wanted to knock him out. I wanted to show everyone I can strike. I wanted a war.
"When you're trying to take him down in the fifth round after he bludgeoned you at the end of the second, it's quite hard.
"Back to fight IQ. Back to the gameplan and not just swinging recklessly."
Pimblett threw 170 strikes to Gaethje's 200, with a majority of the contest being contested on the feet.
Gaethje, 37, knocked Pimblett down twice on the way to securing the interim belt and a shot at Ilia Topuria at UFC White House on 14 June.
Pimblett is back in camp and aiming to return to action at UFC 329 in July.
The 31-year-old is waiting to be assigned an opponent but Frenchman Benoit Saint-Denis, currently on a four-fight winning streak, is rumoured to be the current frontrunner.
Pimblett says he is eager to have a rematch with Gaethje in future.
"I've got to show everyone why I deserved to get that title shot, show everyone that I'm going to be getting another one in the near future," Pimblett said.
"I hope [Justin] beats Ilia so I can fight him again.
"That's all I'm hoping for. He's got a big ask, beating Ilia Topuria."
Exequiel Palacios: United’s transfer plan for Leverkusen leader emerges
Casemiro delivered yet another energetic performance at Old Trafford, helping Manchester United secure a 2-1 win over Brentford.
The Brazilian veteran rose to head in United’s first goal in the 11th minute, and his thunderous tackles kept the Bees quiet for the majority of Monday night, leading to more chants of “One more year” from the home crowd.
That is not going to happen, however, with Casemiro set to depart at the end of the season. The club hierarchy’s focus is now on finding a player capable of offering a similar level of intensity and steel as the all-conquering South American.
Manchester United closely monitoring Exequiel Palacios
According to Fussballdaten, Manchester United are interested in Argentine midfield dynamo Exequiel Palacios.
Palacios, 27, has proven to be Bayer Leverkusen’s “unsung hero” over the last few seasons, playing an influential role in the side’s Bundesliga triumph under Xabi Alonso.
Palacios was directly involved in 11 goals during the 2023-24 campaign.
The World Cup winner remains a crucial player for Leverkusen, but his “tireless energy” is reportedly attracting the interest of European giants.
It is understood that United and Manchester City have recently “conducted a serious scouting and reporting process for Palacios, primarily due to his versatile playing abilities and defensive robustness.”
Manchester United to make a move for Exequiel Palacios
Palacios’ contract runs to 2030. As such, Leverkusen’s priority is to keep hold of their star.
It is believed that the Bundesliga giants would demand at least €50 million to even enter negotiations for the former River Plate sensation.
Regardless, United intend to make further progress in their pursuit. They are allegedly “preparing to sound out the player.”
At the moment, United’s preferred candidate to replace Casemiro appears to be Real Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni. However, Los Blancos are hoping to tie down the Frenchman to a new deal.
Predicted Teams Atletico Madrid-Arsenal: Ademola Lookman to make starting XI
Atletico Madrid will seek to make their fourth Champions League final in their history over the next week, starting with their semi-final first leg clash with Arsenal at the Metropolitano, which kicks off at 21:00 CEST. Both sides are missing key players after their weekend exertions which will impact their starting XI.
Los Colchoneros have lost Nicolas Gonzalez and Pablo Barrios to injury, both of whom could have started against the Gunners. They will join Jose Maria Gimenez in the stands. Meanwhile Mikel Arteta confirmed that Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber were not fit, and Mikel Merino is still recovering from his injury too. There are no suspensions for the first leg, and with the yellow cards being wiped after the quarter-finals, no-one is at risk of missing the second leg through a booking.
Lookman and Cardoso to start for Atletico Madrid
This week David Hancko and Ademola Lookman have returned to training for Atletico Madrid, after missing the last couple of games, and both are expected to return to the starting XI. At least for Diario AS, although Marca feel it will be Spain international Robin Le Normand in central defence with Marc Pubill, who missed the quarter-final second leg through suspension.
Another change is that Marcos Llorente will return to right-back to make way for Johnny Cardoso alongside Koke Resurreccion. Otherwise, with Lookman fit, the Atletico XI almost picks itself. It seems regular starter Jan Oblak will be preferred to in-form back-up Juan Musso in goal.
Few doubs over Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal line-up
With Havertz out, it seems there is consensus on the Arsenal XI. Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard will be either side of Viktor Gyokeres. Arteta will continue with Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie at the full-back positions too. Eberechi Eze and Riccardo Calafiori have both been passed fit, but will be on the bench.
Image via Marca. Predicted Teams Atletico Madrid-Arsenal.
On Saturday morning in Tokyo, 55,000 people will sit down in silence for the greatest Japanese fight in history.
The Tokyo Dome is sold out; the fight will stop a nation and the pay-per-view numbers might set a global record. The Japanese boxing renaissance is in full and beautiful flow: Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani are their two biggest stars.
It is the type of fight that can be compared to the long-overdue showdown between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali in their “Fight of the Century” over 50 years ago. It is also, arguably, the biggest fight to take place anywhere in the world between two boxers without direct USA or UK interest.
Naoya Inoue (centre) will face Junto Nakatani at the Tokyo Dome (left) in a generational fight (Getty Images)
Some of the giant fights on recent Saudi Arabian nights, and the long list of brawls involving the Klitschko brothers, had a similar feel, but Inoue vs Nakatani is different. It feels epic, the numbers are off the scale.
Inoue is defending his four super-bantamweight belts, and Nakatani is moving up four pounds from bantamweight and leaving behind two belts. They are both unbeaten in 32 fights; Inoue has stopped or knocked out 27 of his opponents, Nakatani has finished 24 quick.
Inoue is five years older at 33, and first won a world title when he was 21 – at light-flyweight in just his sixth fight; it was the start of the renaissance. Since then, Inoue has won world titles at super-flyweight, bantamweight and now all four belts at super-bantamweight. He has won 27 world title fights and 23 ended fast.
In the current top 15 at flyweight, super-flyweight, bantamweight and super-bantamweight, there are probably 25 Japanese boxers in total, including Takuma Inoue, the baby brother of Naoya, who defends his WBC bantamweight title against Kazuto Ioka on Saturday’s undercard. That is a lot of quality spread over just 10lb.
Nakatani has held world titles at three weights so far, and won 10 world title fights during his perfect career. It is hard to imagine a boxer at any weight being as dominant as Nakatani and still having to compete in the stunning shadow of Inoue’s brilliance. Nakatani without Inoue would be a solo, global star.
Nakatani survived considerable damage to edge past Sebastian Hernandez Reyes in December (Getty)
In many ways, an Inoue defeat would be refreshing, the rematch ridiculous, and – perhaps –Nakatani’s timing is just right.
Inoue has been taken the full 12-round distance in both of his last fights; he won about 10 of the 12 rounds against Murodjon Akhmadaliev and all 12 against David Picasso in Riyadh last December. However, both Akhmadaliev and Picasso are exceptional fighters.
Inoue has also been linked with a super-fight against Jesse Rodriguez, unbeaten now in 23 with 16 ending in short order, and a multiple-time world champion at lower weights; there is a long and distinguished list of great champions losing when they had their eyes firmly set on the riches and glory of another big fight.
The same night that Nakatani beat Reyes, Inoue dominated David Picasso (Getty)
Nakatani against Inoue in front of the silent, sold-out Tokyo crowd is one of modern boxing’s dream fights. The winner will be supreme ruler in a booming business that is thriving a long, long way from any of the Las Vegas grandeur of old and the great stadium nights of recent years in British rings.
In Japan they have called the fight “The Day”, and it is hard to back against Inoue and the inevitable bowing of 55,000 adoring fans at the end.
Paris Saint-Germain's Marquinhos (R) and Bayern Munich's Michael Olise battle for the ball during the UEFA Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich at Parc des Princes. Federico Gambarini/dpa
Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany readily admitted he didn't enjoy watching their memorable Champions League match at Paris Saint-Germain from the stands but he will be back on the touchline for the return leg where both teams aim to go all in again.
"No I didn't," Kompany, who was suspended for the game, said laughing when quizzed by PSG coach Luis Enrique in a brief exchange in the bowels of the Parc des Princes.
The stadium had earlier witnessed an extraordinary semi-final where Bayern led 1-0, then trailed 5-2 but clawed back to lose only 5-4 which means there is still all to play for next week Wednesday in Munich.
Kompany added in the news conference: "I didn't enjoy this experience. The emotions on the pitch are different. But I did enjoy a little bit in the upper tier how my team came back."
Match for the ages
Title holders PSG led 3-2 at the half, making it the first semi-final with five goals in a first half. The nine goals have only been matched once before in a semi-final match, in the distant past when Eintracht Frankfurt won 6-3 at Rangers in 1960.
“It was unbelievable, I have no words. I think that was the best match I’ve ever experienced as a coach. Both teams wanted to play, both have enormous quality. I think everyone enjoyed watching this match," Enrique said.
Playmaker Vitinha added: "It was a fantastic match of football. We loved playing it and I think all football fans were happy to watch it."
Kompany said: “When two teams go into a match like this with this idea, then that’s exactly what can happen. I already had a feeling that a match like that was possible."
Media reactions in Europe echoed this as Spanish sports paper AS named the match "an ode to football," England's Daily Mail said "wow, just wow," and Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport declared: "PSG and Bayern, you are incredible."
Top class attacks
The match fully lived up to its hype as it pitted the two arguably best and most attack-minded teams in Europe against each other. PSG improved their competition goal tally to 43 and Bayern now have 42, both close to Barcelona's record 45 from 1999-00.
That record could be under threat in Munich when the formidable front lines of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Debélé (who had a brace each) and Désiré Doué on PSG's side and the Bayern's trio of Harry Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Díaz (who all scored on the night) meet again.
"We won't change our philosophy," Dembélé vowed, although he also admitted that "maybe we could’ve controlled it better at 5-2."
Bayern midfielder Joshua Kimmich revealed he was wondering "what is going on here" at that stage of the match because "we were certainly not three goals worse."
Bayern's comebacks
Bayern's fightback could prove decisive on the road to the May 30 final in Budapest where they want to lift the trophy a seventh time and possible complete a third treble in club history.
Although they didn't win this time it was Bayern's fourth fightback in April alone, having won 3-2 in Freiburg from 2-0 down in the 81st minute and 4-3 in Mainz from 3-0 down at the half in the Bundesliga, and 4-3 after trailing 3-2 until the 88th minute in the quarter-finals against Real Madrid.
"We've handled setbacks well because we don't let things like that stop us – we just keep going," defender Jonathan Tah said.
"You saw that we can score a lot of goals. Of course, we conceded too many tonight, but in the end it’s only a one-goal margin. We’ll go into the return leg with full confidence, give it everything and then want to be in the final.”
Kompany said: "We have a week now to work on the things we need to improve. The belief is 100% there, as is the feeling. We need our fans and their support with the same passion we had against Madrid.”
PSG hand Bayern rare defeat
PSG could however also hold their heads up high because they ended a run of five straight Champions League defeats against Bayern.
They became only the third team to beat Bayern, who were playing their 50th official match this season, the others being Arsenal in the league stage in autumn and Augsburg in the Bundesliga in January.
"We’re obviously happy that we won, and we shouldn’t forget: Bayern have only lost three matches this season. That shows how well we did today,” Enrique said.
Added Vitinha: "We head to Munich with the same desire and, above all, the same aim: to play well and to win, like we always do."
Rhode Island and basketball seem to go hand-in-hand. There have been numerous high school basketball stars to come from the Ocean State, including the current head coach of the Boston Celtics.
Today, we're focusing on the 10 best high school boys basketball athletes to come out of Rhode Island high schools. Lists like this always have the inherent danger of excluding several deserving names, but it would be hard to exclude any of these choices for Top 10 high school boys basketball players to ever play in Rhode Island.
This is part of USA TODAY Sports' initiative to celebrate the 250 greatest American sports figures of all time — part of which is to spotlight the roots of the country’s sports culture — including the high school athletes.
Last week, we honored the heroes of the gridiron. This week, it's the hardwood. Here are our selections for the players who defined Rhode Island high school school boys basketball. The rankings here are less important than simply being included on the list. And be sure to take the poll at the end of the story to tell us who you think is No. 1!
1. Ernie DiGregorio, North Providence
No list would be complete without the North Providence and Providence College great. DiGregorio is the best passer on this list — his behind-the-back assist to Kevin Stacom in the 1973 Final Four game vs. Memphis State is immortal. DiGregorio was inducted to the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019 and was drafted third overall by the Buffalo Braves in the 1973 NBA Draft. He was Rookie of the Year and played for five seasons in the NBA. Before all of that, DiGregorio was an All-Stater at North Providence and led the Cougars to a 12-2 mark and the Class B title in 1967-68.
2. Ernie Calverley, Pawtucket/Pawtucket East
The first real superstar in the sport here, Calverley was a three-time All-State selection at Pawtucket (1939-40) and Pawtucket East (1940-41, 1941-42) before continuing at the University of Rhode Island. He was an All-American with the Rams and the guard who triggered the revolutionary fast-break offense patented by coach Frank Keaney. Calverley led URI to a runner-up finish against Kentucky in the 1946 NIT and played 165 games in the Basketball Association of America, which preceded the NBA, with the Providence Steamrollers.
3. Joe Hassett, La Salle Academy
You can imagine what sort of perimeter damage the man nicknamed “Sonar” would have done had the 3-point shot been in use during his day. Hassett was deadly from the perimeter as a two-time All-State selection and postseason runner-up with the Rams before continuing to Providence College. The shooting guard scored more than 500 points in three consecutive seasons after becoming eligible as a sophomore, was an All-American with the Friars in 1976-77 and captured an NBA championship with the Seattle Supersonics during a professional career that spanned from 1977-83.
3. Marvin Barnes, Central
There has never been another player like Barnes with the Knights or at his next stop with Providence College. He was a dominant big man with an uncanny knack for controlling to the glass at both ends, leading Central to championships as an All-State selection in 1968-69 and 1969-70 before graduating to a bigger stage. Barnes was a two-time All-American, an NCAA rebounding champion and the paint engine of a Final Four team with the Friars in 1972-73 before playing for multiple years in both the ABA and NBA.
4. Ray Johnson, South Kingstown
A gentle giant off the court at 6 feet 7 inches, Johnson and his Rebels teammates took no prisoners between the lines. They were unbeaten state champions out of Class C in both 1964-65 and 1965-66, with Johnson claiming All-State honors twice. The second title run featured victories over Bishop Hendricken, Central, Warwick Veterans and Sacred Heart by a combined 132 points, and Johnson continued at Providence College. He averaged a double-double for the Friars as a junior and played in 77 games over three seasons.
5. Tommy Garrick, West Warwick
A dynamic guard both with and without the ball in his hands, Garrick led the Wizards to Class B championships in 1982-83 and 1983-84 — an unbeaten season against league opponents — while earning All-State honors. Garrick continued to the University of Rhode Island and was the perfect fit in a fast-paced Tom Penders offense, leading the Rams to a Sweet 16 in the 1987-88 NCAA Tournament. Garrick was a second-round selection in the following NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers and played in 251 games with four teams through the 1991-92 campaign.
7. Tyler Kolek, Cumberland/St. George's
Kolek spread his standout high school career between Cumberland and St. George's School. He was Gatorade Player of the Year in 2019 while at St. George’s after averaging 18.6 points and 8.4 rebounds as a junior. Kolek was the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year at George Mason in 2020-21 and then transferred to Marquette, where he played for three seasons. Kolek earned Big East Player of the Year honors in 2022-23. He was drafted 34th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers but was traded to the New York Knicks on draft night. Kolek appeared in 62 games for the Knicks this past season.
8. Robert Griffin, St. Raphael Academy
Griffin was a three-time All-Stater (1997-1999) at St. Raphael and graduated as the state’s all-time scoring leader (2,471). His scoring mark was eventually broken but Griffin left with the Division I title in 1999 and was a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year winner. He scored 29 on La Salle in the 1999 championship with his patented quickness to the rim. He averaged close to 24 points, five assists, three steals and 5.4 rebounds during his senior year.
9. Joe Mazzulla, Bishop Hendricken
The Boston Celtics head coach starred at Bishop Hendricken in the early 2000s. He was a three-time All-Stater and was lauded by Gatorade during his junior and senior seasons (2006-07). He averaged a double-double his senior year with 24 points and 12 rebounds a game and then played for the University of West Virginia. Mazzulla captained the Mountaineers to the Final Four in 2010. West Virigina lost to Duke in that contest. He played 145 games over five seasons at West Virginia.
10. Jimmy Baron, Bishop Hendricken
Arguably the best shooter on this list, Baron knocked down 43% of his 3-point shots over 126 games at the University of Rhode Island. Baron finished sixth in all-time scoring with the Rams with 1,765 points between 2005 and 2009. He graduated with the Atlantic 10 record for most 3-point makes (361), which was broken in 2025. He had an extensive professional career internationally after graduating. Baron averaged 22 points in his senior season at Bishop Hendricken in 2004. He is an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs.
Honorable mentions
Bruce Blount, South Kingstown; Don Kaull, Rogers; Vic Soares, East Providence; Ernie DeWitt, Rogers; Curtis McCants, St. Raphael; Roland Hannah, Hope; Tony Robertson, St. Andrew’s; TJ Sorrentine, St. Raphael; Steve Mello, Mt. Hope; Jeff Xavier, St. Raphael; Billy Baron, Bishop Hendricken; Ricky Ledo, Bishop Hendricken; David Duke Jr., Classical; Cole Swider, St. Andrew's; Erickson Bans, Shea; Eliezer Delbrey, Classical.
He’s positioned on the short list of next-generation trainers prepared to usher in a new era of horse racing as the longtime stalwarts like Bob Baffert and Bill Mott enter the twilight of their careers.
He’s been there before in 2024 with Catching Freedom and Just a Touch as two of the top five morning-line favorites. And he’ll probably do it again in the years to come.
“I’m looking for the winner, not the favorite,” Cox said. “I’ve always said there are 19 Derby horses and there’s one Derby winner. I’m looking for the winner.”
Maybe this year, the winner he’s looking for could even be his third entrant into the 20-horse field, Fulleffort, who finished fifth among American horses in the Kentucky Derby points standings.
Cox isn’t waiting for greatness to happen. He’s a “super trainer” for a reason.
Check the earnings leaders from three of the past five years and it’s Cox atop the list, claiming more than $30 million in winnings each year in 2021, 2023 and 2025.
He’s already a two-time winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer — and that came in back-to-back years in 2020-21. Cox won the Belmont Stakes in 2021 with Essential Quality and claimed the Breeders’ Cup Classic that same year with Knicks Go.
But for some reason, sports discussions have deteriorated largely into arguments about championship rings without an appreciation of greatness. And in horse racing, especially for many of the casual fans who only discuss it this time of the year, it boils down to whether you won the Kentucky Derby.
Cox is the first to admit he doesn’t truly know what it feels like. He has yet to win the Kentucky Derby on the dirt track at Churchill Downs before 150,000-plus fans on the first Saturday in May.
Although he is recognized for winning it in 2021 with Mandaloun, his victory came in February 2022 before just a handful of people in a closed meeting of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. A three-member panel of the Board of Stewards disqualified the Baffert-trained Medina Spirit, who crossed the finish line first, for a failed drug test.
Cox’s win comes with an asterisk and keeps afloat the narrative that he might be more like Steve Asmussen — among the greatest trainers to never win the Run for the Roses. If that’s the path his career takes, then it’ll be a pretty big compliment. Asmussen is the winningest trainer in North American horse racing history.
Cox has a ways — or, more realistically, decades — to go before he could eclipse Asmussen’s win total. But what he has done so well is position himself to win, and that’s why his time is now.
Winning at the highest level often requires a lot of times coming up short in pursuit of the top spot.
Cox has never won the Preakness Stakes. But he’s finished third twice, as he also has a pair of third-place finishes in the Kentucky Derby. More than likely, he’ll break through and win them all at some point.
Short of that, he’s still composing the career résumé of a future Hall of Famer, even if he never knows what it feels like to set foot in the winner’s circle at the Kentucky Derby.
The Jacksonville Jaguars would make 10 selections in the 2026 NFL draft, and with a few of those picks came some new training camp battles for playing time that could be unfolding over the summer.
Here is an early look at four potential camp competitions that may now end up taking place.
Tight end: Quintin Morris and Nate Boerkircher
Boerkircher was often utilized as a blocker at the college level and performed quite well, ranking 22nd among all tight ends in PFF's run-blocking grade. That blocking-heavy presence is the role that Morris filled in the Jaguars' offense last season. Boerkircher could push him for those snaps, while also bringing more upside to the passing game.
Tight end: Tanner Koziol and Hunter Long
Both tight ends fit more of the pass-catching role at the position. The addition of Koziol not only put Long on the hot seat for any potential playing time, but his roster spot could be in jeopardy as well. Morris, Boerkircher, Koziol, and Brenton Strange already account for four spots on the depth chart.
Offensive line: Emmanuel Pregnon, Ezra Cleveland, and Patrick Mekari
Pregnon adds size to the Jaguars' interior offensive line, measuring in at 6-04 and weighing 314 pounds. It's not a secret that Liam Coen wants to be a more effective rushing offense this season, which could lead to more competition along the offensive line this summer, and Pregnon pushing one of Cleveland or Mekari for playing time.
Defensive end: Wesley Williams, Zach Durfee, BJ Green, Danny Striggow
We know that Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker will be leading the way at defensive end, but the rotational snaps behind them are up for grabs. Typically, four players at this position group see regular playing time. So these four players will be competing for two -- or maybe three at most -- roles on game day.
Hoddle, who is widely regarded as one of the club’s finest players, having inspired Spurs to multiple trophies between 1975 and 1987, made the offer alongside fellow former player Ossie Ardiles.
The approach came after a damaging 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest on 23 March, a result that underscored the crisis engulfing the north London side. At the time, Igor Tudor was at the helm, but the loss marked his fifth in a disastrous seven-match tenure, leading to his departure a week later.
Hoddle was keen to team up with Ossie Ardiles to try and keep Tottenham up (Getty)
Facing the prospect of a first relegation in 49 years, Tottenham ultimately turned to De Zerbi. While the Italian secured his maiden victory against Wolves last Saturday, the club remains precariously placed in 18th, two points from Premier League safety.
Speaking on The Jeff Stelling Show, Hoddle explained his motivation: "They never came to us. We did, Ossie (Ardiles) and myself, after the Forest game, we felt there was a real problem there."
He added: "Ossie and I made it clear that we would go in there if they wanted us to go in there with probably a younger legend (as coach) as well."
Hoddle felt the club "needed some love, like it needed some people to go in there and unite the fans, with the owners, with the team and that is why we said we would do it."
Despite his offer, Tottenham opted for De Zerbi.
De Zerbi got his first win as Tottenham boss on Saturday (Martin Rickett/PA) (PA Wire)
Hoddle, a lifelong fan, accepted the decision, stating: "They said they were looking elsewhere, so that was fine by me. I don’t care who, I’m a Spurs man through and through since eight years of age, so as long as they’ve got the right man in."
He acknowledged the challenge ahead for De Zerbi, concluding: "De Zerbi has gone in and everyone’s got to unite and get together, but they’ve got a real task on their hands haven’t they? I just want them to stay up, whether I was involved or I wasn’t."
Tottenham’s survival hopes have been dealt a further blow with Xavi Simons ruled out for the majority of 2026 due to a serious knee injury, and Dominic Solanke reportedly a doubt for the final four matches with a hamstring strain.
Rice and Odegaard send clear message ahead of Atletico v Arsenal
Rice and Odegaard want Arsenal to embrace the pressure in Madrid as they chase a place in the Champions League final and a first European crown.
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard have issued a clear message before Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final first leg at Atletico Madrid, telling Mikel Arteta’s side to embrace the pressure, use their recent disappointments and seize the chance to make history.
Arsenal travel to Madrid looking to move closer to only their second Champions League final, and their first since the 2006 defeat to Barcelona.
Rice wants Arsenal to confront that history rather than hide from it, with the midfielder urging his team-mates to treat the scale of the occasion as a privilege rather than a burden.
“We’ve played in tough games in the last three or four years at the highest level, so we know what to expect and what’s to come,” the midfielder said.
“That’s what it’s been all season, and that’s what we want it to be towards the end of the season. We’re Champions League semi-finalists; let’s embrace it, enjoy it and bring it on.”
Odegaard struck a similar note, accepting that Arsenal will continue to face questions until they turn their progress into silverware. The captain, who is still waiting for a major trophy after five years at the club, said the squad were in position to change the conversation.
“It’s always going to be there until we win and that’s something you have to live with,” Odegaard said. “We need to take all our experiences and the lessons and use them in a good way. It’s part of football and part of the journey.
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
“Against Atlético is another great opportunity for us to do something special. We know what’s there and we just have to enjoy it and be ready for it.
“We’re in a great position to make history and that’s what we want to do. I’ve been in this club for a while now and I’ve seen the progression since I first came and how much we’ve improved. It’s been amazing to be a part of that and I probably want to take that last step and do something really big.
“That’s the biggest dream and what we’re working towards every single day.”
A weather warning is in place for Madrid, with an electrical storm and heavy rain forecast, while the pitch at the Metropolitano Stadium has already attracted criticism this season. Barcelona complained that the grass was too long after their Champions League quarter-final exit there, and Tottenham players struggled to keep their feet during their last-16 first leg defeat, but that’s probably more a Spurs issue.
Arteta said his squad would “adapt to any context”, although he will have to do so without Kai Havertz, who is unavailable after limping out of Saturday’s 1-0 win over Newcastle.
Eberechi Eze is in the squad despite a fitness concern from the same match, while Riccardo Calafiori has also travelled after missing the last four matches.
Rice also made clear how important Eze could be after the England midfielder took his tally for the season to 10 with the winner against Newcastle.
“That’s what he’s been brought here to do. I said a few weeks ago, his ball-striking is unbelievable,” Rice said.
“What a player, what a guy. He’s going to be massive for us these next few weeks. We really need him.”
Southampton boss Eckert hopeful duo will be back for play-offs
Southampton boss Tonda Eckert says he is hopeful that Kuryu Matsuki and Jack Stephens will be fit for his side’s play-off campaign.
The Saints’ place in the Championship play-offs was confirmed with a 2-2 draw against Ipswich on Tuesday, ruling them out of the race for automatic promotion.
“We have clarity now and I think that’s sometimes a good thing,” Eckert reflected. “Obviously, if you had asked me if I preferred to win, I’d take the three points.
“But it is what it is. We have clarity now, we know what’s coming up so we make sure we finish strong on Saturday. We’ll do everything to win the game, then it’s on to the play-offs.”
Matsuki missed the game with a “minor” calf injury, Eckert said, while Stephens is still recovering from his own calf problem.
“We found out very late yesterday. We need to assess over the next days. A minor issue with the calf. I expect them back very soon,” Eckert said on Matsuki.
“I don’t know how soon, but it shouldn’t be anything major.”
On Stephens, he added: “Same thing. Also calf, also there. We need to assess over the next few days, and then we will see how we are looking for Saturday.”
A verbal agreement has been in place with the Italy international and the soon-to-be Serie A champions, but the latter are willing to consider other options due to a multitude of factors.
Vicario’s own predicament hinders his return to Italy. His recent performances between the sticks for a Spurs side looking at a sensational relegation have not helped his reputation, while his recent hernia surgery ensures he will only be able to return to action in May.
As for the Nerazzurri, all three of their current first-team goalkeepers are cases they need to assess. Yann Sommer’s contract runs out this summer, and recent reports suggest that the club no longer find him sufficiently reliable and will make a decision on his future in June. Their second-choice keeper, Josep Martínez, has made it clear he no longer wishes to play second fiddle and will leave in the summer if the situation does not change.
Inter are also looking at an immense overhaul of their backline. Contracts of veteran defenders Francesco Acerbi, Stefan de Vrij, and Matteo Darmian are also expiring, while star man Alessandro Bastoni is likely to be part of a big-money transfer saga, with Barça lurking for his signature. The situation at right-back will also need to be addressed, with Denzel Dumfries likely to leave and Marco Palestra being Inter’s first choice to replace him.
Therefore, Inter are considering the possibility of promoting Josep Martínez to the role of first-choice keeper, which would allow them to save money and look for fewer keepers — should they choose to retain neither Sommer nor Di Gennaro — while also save funds for defenders in front of him.
While this by no means hints at Inter shutting the door on a move for Vicario, recent developments certainly suggest it is less likely to materialise this summer.
Bayer Leverkusen officially confirm new contract for Edmond Tapsoba
After it was reported late on Tuesday that Edmond Tapsoba had agreed to extend his contract, Bayer Leverkusen have now officially confirmed that the Burkina Faso international has signed a new deal.
Tapsoba’s contract, which was due to expire in 2028, has been extended until 2031, Die Werkself confirmed.
“In the past six and a half years, Edmond Tapsoba has developed into an absolute key player for our Werkself, into one of the best defenders in the Bundesliga, performing at an international top level,” said Bayer 04 sporting managing director Simon Rolfes.
“He was a cornerstone of our double-winning team – with a major personal contribution to that success and an outstanding influence as a link between all areas of the team. As one of our most experienced players, ‘Eddy’ will continue to lead the way in building a squad capable of competing for titles again. This long-term contract extension underlines our major ambitions for the coming years.”
Tapsoba, who had been linked with a move to the Premier League, described the continued commitment between himself and Leverkusen as “something extraordinary and very emotional.”
“Staying so long at one club – that doesn’t happen very often in today’s professional football,” Tapsoba said.
“Bayer 04 Leverkusen has become something special for me, a second home where I have found many friends. I am proud of what we have achieved together. I have had great experiences here and been able to celebrate fantastic titles. That is exactly what we will aim for again in the future.”
Let’s face it: sports are always better when you have someone (or some horse) to root for.
There’s something special about an underrated two- or four-legged athlete going against the odds and reigning victorious. Rich Strike was one of the best examples of that in the 2022 Kentucky Derby, winning as an 80-1 longshot.
There are also those that draw on personal connections. Every reporter in America was likely rooting for Journalism to get a win during last year’s race. The 3-year-old colt finished second to Sovereignty, who had his own cool piece of history. He was the first Derby-winning colt for owners Godolphin in 13 attempts.
If you’re looking to pick a horse in the 152nd Run for the Roses for reasons unrelated to the morning-line odds, which were set on Saturday, here are five horses worth rooting for:
First, the 3-year-old colt’s color makes it unique. It’s one of only two roan horses in the field. Only eight gray/roan horses have won in the past, with Giacomo being the most recent in 2005. Outside of his color, Fulleffort has never finished worse than fourth in seven career starts. His Jeff Ruby Steaks victory also bodes well for him: Rich Strike also won the race before winning the Derby, and Two Phil’s won the Ruby before finishing second in the 2023 Derby.
Although Fulleffort has never raced on dirt and is a relative longshot at 20-1, genetics could play in his favor. His sire, Liam’s Map, was versatile in producing wins on different track surfaces.
Courier Journal horse racing writer Jason Frakes wrote a wonderful, heartwarming story about So Happy's trainer, Mark Glatt. It's his first Derby, and it comes on the heels of Glatt losing his wife, Dena, on Feb. 12. Norman Stables and Saints or Sinners are co-owners of So Happy with only one prior Derby appearance between them (Norman Stables finished 11th with Coal Battle last year).
So Happy was fourth on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 115 points after winning the Santa Anita Derby on April 4. The colt, who has a 3-0-1 record in four starts, will run out of the eighth post at 15-1 odds.
Like Rich Strike, the colt wasn’t originally supposed to be in the Derby. But he earned a spot after Ottinho dropped out. Chief Wallabee is still fairly young as a racehorse with only three races under his belt. He’s never finished worse than third place in the three starts, though all of them have been at Gulfstream Park in Florida.
At 8-1 odds, Chief Wallabee comes from good pedigree as the offspring of Constitution, who recorded more than $1 million in career earnings, and is being trained by Bill Mott, a Hall of Famer who tutored Sovereignty to last year’s Derby victory.
Incredibolt has had incredible success at Churchill Downs. Two of his three career wins have taken place on the Louisville-based track. He broke his maiden on Sept. 28 before pocketing a first-place finish in the Grade 3 Street Sense Stakes a month later. The colt’s other win came at the Virginia Derby on March 14.
Incredibolt’s Derby appearance will also be a first for trainer Riley Mott — which pits him against his dad, Bill — as well as jockey Jaime Torres and owner Dana Bernhard of Pin Oak Stud. He comes into the race at 20-1 odds.
The name alone is worth cheering for. Although it feels like a nod to the Beastie Boys, the colt has a lineage of party and music-inspired names. His dam is Havin’ a Party by Emcee. And although Right to Party has only one career win, he shares a sire with Chief Wallabee (Constitution) and was second to fellow Derby horse Albus in the Wood Memorial on April 4. A win in the Derby, at 30-1 odds, could be his coming-out party.
Reach Louisville football, women's basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit at acubit@gannett.com and follow her on X at @Alexis_Cubit.
Nashville SC prides itself on being a next-man-up team. If one player is unavailable, there's always someone ready to fill his shoes.
For some teams, it's cliché. But under coach B.J. Callaghan, Nashville has often proven it true. It's won with heavily rotated sides in MLS play this season, including a 1-0 victory over the Columbus Crew on March 14. When it became the first American club to ever win at the Estadio Azteca, it did so without forward Sam Surridge, who was out with a hamstring injury.
Nashville couldn't overcome another absence from Surridge in the first leg of its CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal series against Tigres UANL, losing 1-0 on April 28 at Geodis Park. The defeat puts NSC in a deep hole going into the second leg on May 5 in Mexico, where it will need to win to stave off elimination and advance to the final.
"We're not going to take anything away from Tigres," Callaghan said. "They were really well organized, had a good game plan, and they finished their chances. At the same time, we're probably a little bit frustrated that maybe we didn't play our best as a group."
How Sam Surridge's absence affected Nashville SC
Surridge, who is dealing with a back injury unrelated to his previous ailment, is week-to-week. In his place, Nashville started Warren Madrigal, who's had a solid first season in MLS with two goals and three assists.
But Madrigal was unable to make much of an impact in a game where Callaghan believed Nashville relied too heavily on passes from wide areas. Nashville attempted 27 crosses in the match, per FotMob, and only completed three (Tigres connected on 42% of their 12 crosses). Winger Cristian Espinoza tried 16 crosses by himself, none of which were successful.
"They defended the wide areas with numbers really well and had numbers inside the penalty box," Callaghan said. "We weren't sharp enough in the middle area to draw them out."
Surridge is more of a pure striker compared to Madrigal, whose best attribute might be his versatility. He's also listed as two inches taller than Madrigal, making him more of an aerial threat. The difference could be seen on a pair of crosses midway through the second half, where Madrigal was open but the ball arrived just a bit too high.
"I think the structure of our team is clear whether it's Sam, whether it's Warren, whether it's Woobens (Pacius)," said midfielder Matthew Corcoran. "We all know the roles and what the responsibilities are. Obviously, missing Sam is a big piece, because he always finds a way to put the ball in the back of the net. But that's what it is, and we've seen we can get results with Warren."
Eddi Tagseth leaves game with injury
Callaghan brought Corcoran into the game well before he would have liked to. Eddi Tagseth drew the start, as Callaghan hoped his presence would serve well in what he expected to be a fast-paced affair. But Tagseth sustained what appeared to be a knee injury during a tackle and had to come out of the game in the 18th minute.
Callaghan didn't have an update on Tagseth after the game.
"It was a really good game for somebody like Eddi and the partnership of him and Patrick (Yazbek)," Callaghan said. "A game that we knew probably early on was going to have a lot of direct balls, second balls, transition moments, and that's where he thrives."
While Callaghan was happy with Corcoran's performance, the 20-year-old took some blame for not closing down fast enough when Ángel Correa scored the game's lone goal in the 33rd minute.
"It was kind of a broken play," Corcoran said. "The ball kind of bounced out late. Maybe if I just was a step or two quicker."
If it comes down to it, Nashville believes it can win at El Volcán without its leading scorer and one of its most important midfielders. It would prefer not to have to try.
Jacob Shames can be reached by email at jshames@gannett.com and on X/Twitter @Jacob_Shames.
Cleveland Guardians prospect Travis Bazzana didn't get a hit in his major league debut on Tuesday, but his performance wasn't terrible. Bazzana went 0-for-2 (four plate appearances), two walks (one intentional), and a strikeout. Bazzana did put the ball in play, with a flyout to center field in the fifth inning.
Despite not having a notable debut, Bazzana is excited for the season ahead of him.
Travis Bazzana is excited to “build relationships” with the Cleveland Guardians as the season progresses
“I guess after the first at-bat, obviously, it didn't go how I wanted, but it was kind of an exhale moment, like now we go into the flow of this game,” Bazzana said postgame to Mason Horodyski of News 5 Cleveland. “I'm excited to get into the swing of a big league season. You know, it's every day, it's a grind. I'm excited to build relationships and get into this. It's April right now, and there's a lot of season, and I can't wait to go on big winning streaks and go through the ups and downs with this team. I'm excited for that.”
Bazzana, 23, is the Guardians top rated prospect and the 16th-best prospect in Major League Baseball. An Australian, Bazzana was drafted first overall in the 2024 MLB Draft out of Oregon State University.
The Guardians called up Bazzana to replace second baseman Juan Brito, who had struggled to put together a quality start. Brito, 24, hit .176 with a .505 OPS in 15 games.
Infielder Brayan Rocchio has also played second base this season (10 games), but shifted over to shortstop when infielder Gabriel Arias (left hamstring strain) landed on the injured list. Arias isn't expected to return until May or June, which gives Bazzana a lot of opportunities to prove he can remain in the big leagues.
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz is piecing together another All-Star-type season and possibly an MVP-type season. Through almost the first month of the season, De La Cruz is hitting .291 with a .951 OPS and is tied for fourth with James Wood of the Washington Nationals in the National League for home runs (10).
De La Cruz has also continued to showcase his speed, with eight steals (caught twice), which is good for an 80% steal percentage. According to the Red on X, the two-time All-Star is the first player since 1900 to have 10+ home runs and eight-plus stolen bases before May.
Elly De La Cruz is the first Major Leaguer since 1900 with 10+ homers and 8+ stolen bases before May ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/vdNwTyrh1A
Elly De La Cruz continues to make a case to earn himself more money that the Cincinnati Reds may not pay
Even though De La Cruz is four seasons away from becoming a free agent, it's not stopping him from continuing to make the case for why he'll get paid. De La Cruz was the main reason the Reds overcame the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday, driving in four of the Reds' seven runs — De La Cruz went 3-for-4 and hit a home run.
Over the offseason, The Athletic’s C. Trent Rosecrans reported the Reds offered De La Cruz a record-breaking extension, which would've eclipsed Joey Votto’s 10-year $225 million contract. An extension is unlikely, as De La Cruz’s agent is Scott Boras, who is not known for signing his clients to extensions.
Given how well De La Cruz is doing and already turning down an extension, it is unlikely talks will resume. If De La Cruz continues to produce, he could be making a pretty penny when he's a free agent in 2030 or unless the Reds decide to pay him what he and Boras want.
After the Philadelphia Phillies decided to let go of manager Rob Thomson on Tuesday, the Phillies blanked the San Francisco Giants (7-0) to give interim manager Don Mattingly his first win.
Mattingly, 65, was hired as the Phillies' bench coach in the offseason and told reporters a simple message, “It’s all coming back to what?” Mattingly said to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki. “Better baseball.”
The Phillies did just that, having a clean game with no errors or mistakes in the field. The Phillies also received a masterful pitching performance from left-hander Jesus Luzardo, who had struggled until facing the Giants.
Jesus Luzardo becomes the first Philadelphia Phillie to throw seven innings this season
Until Tuesday night, no Phillies starter had completed the seventh inning until Luzardo. The 28-year-old allowed two hits, no runs, walked none, and struck out eight across seven masterful innings. Luzardo lowered his season ERA from 6.92 to 5.50 after this start.
Luzardo had his first quality start since April 4 against the Colorado Rockies, where he struck out 11 in 6.2 innings. According to Luzardo, right-hander Zack Wheeler approached him about the stat and said “We [the pitching staff] gotta pick it up.”
Having played for Mattingly while with the Miami Marlins, Luzardo called him a great manager. Mattingly spent seven seasons in Miami (2016-2022) and went 443-587.
“Donny [Mattingly] is a great manager,” Luzardo said to NBC Sports Philadelphia. “I had a great time with him in Miami, he's been a player for a long time, and he knows the life and the struggles that we go through. So, he sees that aspect as well and is a great communicator.”
Firing the manager isn't a new thing for the Phillies, as Thomson took over for Joe Girardi in 2022 after a 22-29 start.
With Mattingly now at the helm and providing the “new voice” that president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski wanted, time will tell if the Phillies can turn things around. The Phillies and the New York Mets are tied for the worst teams in Major League Baseball (10-19), despite both teams winning on Tuesday. The Mets shut out the Washington Nationals 8-0.
Millie Bright has been Chelsea's captain since 2023 [Getty Images]
Chelsea captain Millie Bright has retired from football with immediate effect.
The 32-year-old made 294 appearances for the Blues after joining from Doncaster Belles in 2015 and also won 88 caps for England.
The defender won eight Women's Super League titles with the Blues - including six in a row between 2020 and 2025 - as well as six FA Cups and four League Cups.
But the former England defender has not featured for the Blues since February because of an ankle injury and has decided now is the time to end her career.
'Representing Chelsea over the last 12 years has been everything to me, but I'm now ready to say goodbye to playing football," said Bright.
"I've given all I can, and I never wanted to fight for any other badge.
'It is now time, and I'm ready to go into a new era. I'm always going to be Chelsea, but just in a different way."
[BBC]
Ben Haines, Ellen White and Jen Beattie are back for another season of the Women's Football Weekly podcast. New episodes drop every Tuesday on BBC Sounds, plus find interviews and extra content from the Women's Super League and beyond on the Women's Football Weekly feed
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Granada goalkeeper Luca Zidane has suffered fractures to his jaw and chin in a 4-2 LaLiga 2 defeat by Almeria, leaving his participation in the World Cup with Algeria in doubt.
The son of France great Zinedine Zidane left the pitch late on Sunday after suffering a concussion in a clash with an opponent.
Local media reports said the goalkeeper could miss playing for his country at the tournament, which will be held in North America from June 11 to July 19.
"Medical tests performed on Luca Zidane, following the concussion he suffered in the last match against UD Almeria, reveal that the goalkeeper also suffered a fracture in his jaw and chin," Granada said in a statement on Monday.
Luca Zidane, who was born in Marseille, switched allegiance to Algeria after playing for France at junior level. He helped his side reach the quarter-finals of the most recent Africa Cup of Nations.
The 27-year-old has played 26 matches in LaLiga 2, with Granada sitting 14th on 45 points.
Algeria will face defending champions Argentina on June 16 before taking on Jordan and Austria in Group J.
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It's time to vote for the Halifax Health Volusia-Flagler Girls Athlete of the Week for the week of April 20-25.
Last week, Atlantic flag football player Nadiyah Kwaku captured the honors, claiming 82% of the votes. The junior caught eight passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Pine Ridge. She also grabbed an interception on defense.
The Daytona Beach News-Journal gathers nominees for upcoming polls from across the area via email at cvinel@usatodayco.com. Please send a player's name, school and notable statistics for a given week. Submissions are due no later than 8 a.m. every Monday.
To round out the ballot, our staff also picks athletes from scores and stats posted online or submitted by local coaches. Athletes for all in-season sports are eligible.
Voting in the online poll below will close at 10 a.m. Saturday. Votes are restricted to once per device per hour. Emailed votes will not count.
Flag football
Terriana Ammons, Atlantic: The junior passed for 200 yards and three touchdowns and added 73 yards and a score on the ground against Space Coast in the District 9-1A finals.
Softball
Gracie Dambaugh, Taylor: The senior had three hits, including a triple and a homer, and drove in four runs in a win over Seabreeze. She also scored three times.
Emily Fantone, DeLand: The senior pitched seven innings of one-run ball in a 2-1 victory over Winter Park. Fantone allowed only three hits while striking out five.
Track and field
Natalie Francis, Father Lopez: The senior won the discus and javelin championships during the District 6-1A meet. She launched the discus 26.43 meters and the javelin 24.68 meters.
Aquila Rivers, Mainland: The senior won the 400-meter dash with a time of 59.14 seconds at the District 6-3A meet. She also helped the Bucs claim the 4x400-meter relay.
Editor's Note: We reserve the right to disqualify a candidate or declare a "no contest" if tampering such as bots or offering to pay for voting is evident. Please respect the integrity of the vote the way these athletes respect the integrity of the game.
Chelsea captain Millie Bright will retire at the end of the season after over a decade at the club.
The 32-year-old will end her career as the Women’s Super League side’s longest-serving player, having made 314 appearances since joining in 2014 from Doncaster Belles.
She has won 20 trophies with the reigning league champions and was a key part of their unbeaten campaign last season, captaining Chelsea across 36 games as they won a domestic treble of the league, League Cup and FA Cup.
The centre-back’s decision comes a month after The Athletic reported that she wanted to leave upon her contract’s end at the close of the season, having rejected an extension.
Bright will instead stay on at Chelsea as a trustee of their foundation, and as a club ambassador, the Stamford Bridge side announced on Wednesday.
“Representing Chelsea over the last 12 years has been everything to me, but I’m now ready to say goodbye to playing football,” Bright said in a release on the club’s website. “I’ve given all I can, and I never wanted to fight for any other badge. It is now time, and I’m ready to go into a new era.
“I’m always going to be Chelsea, but just in a different way.”
Bright announced her international retirement six months ago, calling an end to her England career in October after 88 caps. The centre-back had withdrawn from an England squad that May, saying she was “mentally and physically” at her limits and needed a break.
Bright has won nine WSL titles, six FA Cups, and four Women’s League Cups over her career at Chelsea, encompassing a domestic treble in 2021 to add to last season’s.
With England, she won the 2022 European Championship and received an MBE in 2024 for her services to the game.
Fabrizio Romano names ex-Man Utd case study Curtis Jones could try to copy if he leaves Liverpool
Fabrizio Romano has suggested that, if he were to leave Liverpool this summer, Curtis Jones could be tempted to emulate the example of one ex-Manchester United player.
The 25-year-old’s future has been the subject of increased speculation of late, with the Italian transfer reporter recently talking up the possibility of an exit from Anfield for the midfielder, with Serie A leaders Inter Milan cited among his suitors.
The Times‘Paul Joyce also wrote of how the Scouser now finds himself at a ‘crossroads’ in his career, with just 14 months remaining on his current contract and never quite managing to make himself a guaranteed starter for his boyhood club, despite racking up 224 appearances.
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Romano: Jones could try to emulate McTominay’s success
In an update on his eponymous YouTube channel on Tuesday, Romano again spoke of the ‘concrete’ possibility of Jones leaving Liverpool in the summer, and he believes the Reds’ number 17 might find the prospect of a move to Serie A ‘appealing’, given the success Scott McTominay has had at Napoli.
The transfer reporter said: “My information is, keep an eye on the situation of Curtis Jones at Liverpool. He is out of contract in the summer of 2027, and the possibility of Curtis Jones leaving Liverpool in the summer transfer window is absolutely concrete.
“There are possibilities. There is the chance to see Curtis Jones leaving. Inter in Italy wanted him in January and remain interested in the player, according to my sources.
“There are also clubs in England interested but Italy could be an appealing destination for Curtis Jones to be, just to give you a context and example, the new McTominay. Scott McTominay was in England a squad player at Man United. He became one of the best players in Serie A.
“Eventually, Curtis Jones could consider to try do the same with Inter, but at the moment still nothing advanced, nothing agreed, so still early stages.”
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Could Jones be tempted by a move to mainland Europe?
McTominay’s career has reached new heights since swapping Manchester for Naples, where he’s adored after his exploits in Napoli’s Serie A title triumph last season, which earned him a Ballon D’Or nomination.
One of Jones’ ex-Liverpool teammates has also found a new lease of life in mainland Europe, with Tyler Morton rediscovering his ‘love for football’ since his move to Lyon last year, and perhaps the 25-year-old could be tempted to follow suit across the Channel if he were to depart Anfield.
Having been unable to nail down a starting berth under Arne Slot, and coming into the final year of his contract in his mid-20s, it’s beginning to seem increasingly plausible that the Toxteth native could seek a fresh challenge elsewhere if his situation with the Reds remains as it is.
However, as Joyce outlined this week, the Scouser has quietly posted some of the best statistics of any midfielder in the Premier League this season and would be the subject of much ‘clamour’ from fans as a prospective signing if he were putting up those numbers at a different club.
The case studies of McTominay and Morton are two prime examples of how British players can go from being bit-part players at big-name Premier League sides to starring in major European leagues once given the chance to shine.
It’s far from unthinkable that Jones could seek to follow their lead, but from a Liverpool perspective, we’d obviously hate to lose him from the current squad.
Chelsea captain Millie Bright announces retirement
Chelsea captain Millie Bright has announced her immediate retirement from football.
The 32-year-old spent 12 years with Chelsea, making 314 appearances and winning 20 trophies, ending her career as the club’s longest-serving player.
She has not featured for Chelsea since February 8 after sustaining an ankle injury, with Erin Cuthbert deputising as captain in her absence.
The Blues have two games remaining in their Women’s Super League campaign and will face Manchester City in their FA Cup semi-final in May. They have already lifted the League Cup, beating Manchester United in March.
Bright will remain involved with the club in a new role as club ambassador and will continue as a trustee of the Chelsea Foundation.
Internationally, Bright made her England debut in 2016, earning 88 caps before retiring last summer. She was a part of the Euro 2022-winning squad and captained the Lionesses to the World Cup final in 2023. She was subsequently awarded an OBE in the 2024 New Year Honours.
On announcing her retirement, Bright said: “Representing Chelsea over the last 12 years has been everything to me, but I’m now ready to say goodbye to playing football. I’ve given all I can, and I never wanted to fight for any other badge.
“It is now time, and I’m ready to go into a new era. I’m always going to be Chelsea, but just in a different way.”
Chelsea will be celebrating Bright ahead of their final WSL match of the season against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on 16 May.
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CHICAGO — The date was June 15, 2015, when the Chicago Blackhawks put an exclamation point on their modern dynasty.
Hall of Famer Duncan Keith broke a scoreless tie when the rebound of his own shot got behind Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop late in the second period at the United Center. Patrick Kane’s slap shot in the third dashed any hopes for the Lightning as the Hawks hoisted the Stanley Cup for the third time in six seasons.
The Hawks haven’t made any notable postseason noise since that fabled summer day. A fall was bound to happen, as Kane — now with the Detroit Red Wings — put it back in November.
That fall ended up being harder than the franchise would’ve liked. More than a decade later, the Hawks find themselves still in recovery mode.
General manager Kyle Davidson, upon being handed the keys full time in March 2022, made the decision to leave the past behind and rebuild. Now headed toward his fifth full season in charge and first with a new contract extension, how far along are the Hawks?
Past the starting point, but they need to show more than that in the 2026-27 season.
This past season was a step forward — an 11-point increase from 2024-25. It deserves to be noted, and Davidson did just that during exit interviews.
“I was quite happy with how our season went,” he said. “I think we took some really nice steps forward. A lot of experience for young players, some nice steps forward in their style of play.
“It’s really exciting to see these young players get experience, understand what the league is, take that information into the offseason and use that as motivation to grow over the summer and come back hungry to start next year.”
A focus on building talent through the draft brings with it the trials and errors of youth. We saw a fair share of both from the 2025-26 Hawks.
Ryan Greene’s ice vision has validated his top-line status, while Oliver Moore’s speed can contend with any skater on the ice. There also are question marks. Artyom Levshunov didn’t have the best rookie season, and Kevin Korchinski has yet to prove he can be a consistent NHL defenseman.
The Hawks had some ugly showings. A 9-3 shellacking in Buffalo. A 4-0 loss in Columbus before the Olympic break. A 7-2 home loss to a Carolina Hurricanes team filled with call-ups from the Chicago Wolves.
The explanation was that the team is young — and still will be in 2026-27 — and the players have to grow from these experiences and be content with that learning wavelength. It’s reasonable for now, but the Hawks can’t keep recycling the same explanation after every bad loss.
Comparison is the enemy of progress, but it’s hard to overlook what the Montreal Canadiens have accomplished with a similarly youthful group. The Habs went 48-24-10 in 2025-26 and made the playoffs for the second year in a row, a stark improvement from their 22-49-11 record in 2021-22. Their roster that season was the 17th-oldest in the league; this season they had the second-youngest roster, led by rookie Ivan Demidov, 20, and 51-goal scorer Cole Caufield, 25.
The Hawks already had an experienced team in 2022-23, Davidson’ first full season in charge, but tried adding different veterans to make up for the departures of Kane and Jonathan Toews and to help season Connor Bedard, the No. 1 draft pick in 2023. Then they switched gears and became the league’s youngest team in 2025-26. They’ve finished in the bottom four of the NHL in each of the last four seasons.
That’s not the plan for next season.
“If we’re fully healthy and we’re picking top three again (next year) — without a lottery win to put us there — we’ll probably be disappointed with that.” Davidson said.
He added that he would have to see how the next season plays out to make a determination on the progress of the rebuild. What’s the plan if the Hawks do indeed finish with a top-three pick again while healthy? We don’t know, and that’s worrisome in itself.
If nothing else, Bedard’s play is enough to look forward to as he aims to play a full season in 2026-27. There’s not much extra to say about his skill outside of oohs and aahs — he finished with a career-high 75 points despite suffering a separated shoulder in December and missing 12 games. Not only is he expected to take another step forward in his game, but he might be doing it with a captain’s patch.
Bedard, 20, hasn’t shown any outward displeasure with the team’s progress and is optimistic a contract extension will get done this summer. He and the rest of the players are fully on board for the next steps in Davidson’s rebuilding plan.
Whether that’s youth talking or genuine determination is up in the air. One thing that’s certain is losing takes a toll — Quinn Hughes would tell you that — and the Hawks have “succeeded” in that department. In Davidson’s four full seasons as the full-time GM, the Hawks have gone 103-187-38, and they haven’t won 30 or more games since the 2019-20 season.
Will the players continue to share the patience that Davidson, coach Jeff Blashill and the rest of the Hawks higher-ups have? They believe so.
“I expect the players to want to win every night,” Hawks Chairman and CEO Danny Wirtz said. “They want to win the Stanley Cup (in) Game 1 of the season, (and) that’s what we love about them.
“So much of this is going to be predicated on these players finding those ways to win, in their own game and in the team game. They will take the positives and continue to build over summer. The players are the least of my concerns.”
In exit interviews, most players expressed determination to flip the script and make the playoffs in 2027. That would snap a six-year drought and bring playoff hockey back to the United Center for the first time since 2017 (the 2020 playoffs were played in “bubbles” in Toronto and Edmonton because of COVID-19).
Blashill and Davidson didn’t exactly jump at the idea. Blashill said, “We’ll see”, while Davidson said it would be a “major step”. Doesn’t sound like the players and management are exactly on the same page.
The Hawks don’t need to make the postseason to label 2026-27 as progress. They’ll likely have long odds against qualifying for the playoffs, so no one is expecting a massive jump to Stanley Cup contention. What fans need to see is a light down the tunnel — and how far away it is.
The Hawks’ loss to the Edmonton Oilers on April 2 eliminated them from playoff contention with six games to go. They left Rogers Place with a five-game losing streak that suggested they were further from postseason hockey than even their record said. At minimum, playing meaningful games in April — like the San Jose Sharks and New York Islanders did this year — would be something to look forward to.
Goaltender Spencer Knight was one player who vaguely echoed his coach’s and GM’s view. He wants to win again — he won a Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers in 2024 — but thinks the Hawks need to learn how to win first.
“It can be frustrating at times when we’re just losing games — everyone feels that — but I think it’s a good thing to feel that because it means we’re not complacent,” Knight said. “It’s a privilege to be in close games. You want to win every game, but you’ve just got to be in the game sometimes to get to that point.
“You can have that mindset (of) winning needs to happen next year, but it’s more or less like … let’s take steps. Let’s try to collectively buy into what it takes to win, not necessarily just focus on the outcome. That’s to me the most important thing, and wins are probably a byproduct of that.”
The Hawks youngsters will look to take that next step in their games in an attempt to put wins together. It’s OK to call this past season one of adaptation for Davidson, Blashill and the team, but now it’s time to see the players begin to apply those lessons on the ice.
Maybe the Hawks need a few more seasons to do that, but the NHL won’t be waiting around for them.
“What I can tell you” – Ben Jacobs shares what he’s heard about a Chelsea return for Mourinho
Benfica boss Jose Mourinho isn’t in the running for a sensational return to Stamford Bridge according to Ben Jacobs.
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After sacking Liam Rosenior after less than four months in charge last week, the Blues are once again looking for another head coach.
Calum McFarlane has been placed in interim charge for the remainder of the season whilst Chelsea’s sporting directors take their time over making an appointment.
Chelsea are said to have reached out to the agent of Xabi Alonso, whilst Cesc Fabregas is a name fans would like to see.
The Blues need to appoint a proven winner and someone who will command the respect of the dressing room, something Rosenior was unable to do.
There’s long been clamour from some fans over a return for Mourinho, and Jacobs has now provided an update on the situation.
“What I can tell you there is that Mourinho is the leading candidate for Real Madrid, at least as far as Florentino Perez is concerned. Chelsea sources have always downplayed the possibility of a return,” he told Give Me Sport.
“And if Mourinho’s not going to go to Real Madrid, then we should also keep an eye on the Portugal national team because Roberto Martinez is expected to depart once the season ends.”
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Juventus is targeting a move for former AC Milan man
Just one year after joining Manchester City from AC Milan, Tijjani Reijnders could be set for a return to Italian football, with Juventus reportedly interested in signing the midfielder. His future has become a growing subject of discussion after a difficult first season in England.
The Dutchman has endured a challenging campaign, and Manchester City are said to be prepared to cut their losses by allowing him to leave permanently. A swift departure would represent a surprising turn after the expectations that surrounded his arrival from Serie A.
Difficult Season at Manchester City
Reijnders was one of the first names on the team sheet when the season began and scored several important goals for City. He also made several useful contributions in midfield, suggesting he could establish himself as a regular option under Pep Guardiola.
However, over recent months, opportunities have become increasingly limited. Guardiola has instead focused on alternative midfield options, with Reijnders struggling to secure minutes and seemingly falling down the pecking order at the club.
Juventus And Arsenal Monitoring Situation
Juventus are expected to continue working to strengthen their squad as they look to improve results and add fresh quality to the dressing room. As reported by Tuttojuve, the Bianconeri are now considering bringing Reijnders back to the top flight, where he previously impressed with AC Milan.
A return to Serie A could appeal to the midfielder, particularly given his familiarity with the league and the style of football. Juventus may also believe he could quickly rediscover his best form in a more suitable environment.
However, they are likely to face serious competition from Arsenal, who are also said to be interested in signing him from Manchester City. The London club could see him as a valuable option capable of adding technical quality and experience to their midfield department.
Reijnders may also be tempted to remain in England and prove that he can succeed in the Premier League after a disappointing season. That possibility could hand Arsenal an important advantage if they choose to pursue a deal.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 14: Elmer Rodríguez #18 of Team Puerto Rico looks on before the game against Team Italy at Daikin Park on March 14, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees are riding high out in the Lone Star State, securing another series win with a dominant Cam Schlittler start and homers from Austin Wells and Aaron Judge. They’ll go for the sweep again after failing to secure it in Houston, but they’ve added an even more interesting detail to today’s finale: their No. 3 prospect in the organization, Elmer Rodríguez, will be starting making his MLB debut.
Rodríguez’s promotion comes on the heels of a red-hot start to his season down in the minor leagues, where he posted a 1.27 ERA in four starts pitching 21.1 innings and striking out 20 batters. There’s a leap of faith being made here, as Rodríguez has just a single game of experience at the Triple-A level before this season, but the 22-year-old turned heads as he charged through the organization. With reinforcements in the rotation on the horizon, this also likely isn’t a long-term promotion but rather a test to see how he’ll handle things in the majors. That’s a better usage of their fifth starter position than Luis Gil was giving them, and if Rodríguez manages to showcase his potential out of the gate then the front office will have some very interesting discussions about how to fit him into the fold on a more permanent basis sooner rather than later.
That’s not even the only significant promotion that the Yankees handed out on Tuesday. George Lombard Jr., the consensus No. 1 prospect in the org, has been tearing up Double-A Somerset — in 20 games played, he hit .312/.400/.571 with four homers, 10 RBI, and 18 runs scored. That’s almost the same sample size that they gave him in High-A Hudson Valley before bumping him up to Somerset, and now they’re repeating the reward for repeating the performance with a ticket to Scranton. That’s two of their top three prospects getting major elevations to their MLB ETA in the span of a day, with one of them literally arriving to The Show. This comes in the wake of Ben Rice and Schlittler turning into MLB stars after taking similarly short paths to the majors, but the pace ERC and Lombard are setting is even more break-neck than those.
The Yankee farm system might not get rave reviews as a whole, but this is a tremendous development for the organization after years of top prospects either languishing in the minors until they either fizzled out or got traded. Has the organization shifted its mentality with challenging their top prospects, or have they just identified that these specific prospects have the potential to be fast risers through the system? I’d lean towards the latter for now, especially with this second wave of prospects yet to be seasoned in the major leagues yet, but they’re allowing for the youth to help fuel their championship push en masse for the first time since the initial Baby Bombers made it. If we see the likes of Carlos Lagrange or Spencer Jones also make an impact on the 2026 team then there might be a bigger case, but the roster is pretty locked tight as it stands so that’ll be a tough sell.
Today on the site, we’ll lead off with Scott giving us a feature on Dylan Coleman and his path back to the pros after stepping away last year. Andrew will have our latest Rivalry Roundup update on how the rest of the field did keeping up with the Yanks, Jeff takes us through Sterling Hitchcock’s career as we wish him a happy birthday, and Andrés covers how Elmer Rodríguez can succeed in his first try-out as a Yankee. John has some fun looking into funky stats and highlights from the first month of play, and Nick delivers the Rotation Depth Inventory for April.
The Zurich Classic of New Orleans appeared to receive a much-needed boost with the Fitzpatrick brothers emerging victorious at TPC Louisiana.
Given its place in the schedule, the Zurich Classic was overlooked by the large majority of the PGA Tour’s best players this past week. However, those who tuned in got to see Matt Fitzpatrick and Alex Fitzpatrick secure an emotional victory.
It was particularly significant for the latter, with the 27-year-old earning a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour.
The PGA Tour have been urged to make a change after Alex Fitzpatrick’s win at the Zurich Classic
Fitzpatrick is certainly a superb talent who would have probably earned his PGA Tour card later in the year anyway. He has already won on the DP World Tour this season.
However, there has been a debate concerning just how many doors the Zurich Classic victory opens up. Fitzpatrick is not only exempt on the PGA Tour, but he is now able to feature in the signature events. He is playing this week in the Cadillac Championship.
Given that Zurich is a team event, it is a contentious move. And speaking on 5 Clubs, Brendon de Jonge admitted that he would make a change.
Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images
“It’s a lot. It really is a lot, and perhaps it is too much. They created this program for Brooks Koepka where you can play but you’re not going to be in the signature events. I would perhaps like to see something like that with Alex Fitzpatrick, or the winner of Zurich,” he said.
“You’re a non-member, fine, you’ll get into the events, but you’re not going to get into the signature events. I feel like it is a little bit too much.
“The two-year exemption, that’s fine, that’s great. But the caveat does need to be not the signature events. It feels like it’s a little bit too much.”
The Zurich Classic of New Orleans as we now know it is surely no more
It would be no surprise to see the PGA Tour rip everything up and start again when it comes to this part of the schedule.
There is one full-field, 72-hole strokeplay event between The Masters and the PGA Championship. That takes place at Myrtle Beach in the same week as the Truist Championship.
So it is not a shock that the Zurich Classic is now being skipped by the large majority of the top players on the PGA Tour.
It makes sense to change the Zurich Classic format, while also moving it to another place in the schedule.
A team event has a lot of potential on the calendar. However, it needs a lot more star power because it is not going to have a storyline to fall back on like the Fitzpatricks trying to earn Alex a PGA Tour card every year.
Moving it to either end of the schedule could be a smart move. And perhaps it could incorporate some matchplay to scratch that itch also.
Whatever comes next, it does appear that the format needs to change one way or another.
Leeds United want Sporting CP defensive midfielder Hidemasa Morita
Leeds United want to sign Sporting CP defensive midfielder Hidemasa Morita in the summer having attempted to lure him to Elland Road last year, according to the Daily Mail. Leeds have impressed on their return to the top-flight and Whites manager Daniel Farke is keen to bolster his squad ahead of next season. Morita opted to see out the final year of his Sporting contract when the Peacocks came calling last summer, but the 40-cap Japan international is now willing to commit to the move once Leeds secure their Premier League status.
The West Yorkshire club are currently 15th in the league table ahead of their final four games, six points clear the relegation places. One more victory could be enough to guarantee their safety, and they will fancy their chances of picking up all three points when they take on relegated Burnley on Friday at home. Leeds face Spurs, Brighton & Hove Albion and West Ham United afterwards and are expected to do enough to get the job done. Farke will look to challenge for a top-half-of-the-table finish next season, and adding Morita to his midfield could be huge.
The 30-year-old brings much-needed experience to the table having played over 100 Primeira Liga games for Sporting.
McKenna hails ‘outstanding’ Ipswich despite missing chance to secure promotion – and provides update on injured star
Kieran McKenna hailed his Ipswich side’s “outstanding” performance in their 2-2 draw with Southampton despite missing the chance to secure promotion back to the Premier League.
Victory would have seen Ipswich move three points ahead of third-placed Millwall and too far ahead on goal difference to be caught.
But McKenna says his side should be feeling confident that they can get the job done on the final day of the season.
“We would have loved to have finished it tonight and we were millimetres from doing it, but for me it was an outstanding performance with all the things that we want to be as a team,” he said.
“It shows huge growth over the course of the season to produce a performance like that in your third away game in six days and game 45 in the season and it shows the trajectory that we’re on.
“We didn’t manage to get the win that we really wanted but as much as we said a draw isn’t any different than a loss, a draw is in how we feel going into the weekend and how it came about.
“We look forward to the weekend now. We go into it with confidence and belief from the work across the season and how that was evidenced in the game tonight. We know it’s going to be tough, we know it’s going to take a big, big push from everyone, but we believe that we’ll find it.”
Ipswich take on QPR on the final day, with McKenna hoping to have Jack Taylor back after missing the draw with Southampton.
“He had some swelling on his knee, so he wasn’t available tonight,” McKenna said. “We’ll assess it over the next 24 hours and see where he’s at for the weekend.”
A heartfelt message from Jurgen Klopp has underlined just how much pride he still takes in seeing so many of his former Liverpool players preparing for the biggest stage in international football.
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The German, who built one of the most connected squads we’ve seen at Anfield, spoke warmly about watching familiar faces head into another World Cup, showing that those bonds haven’t faded since his departure.
Klopp reflects on Liverpool stars at World Cup
Speaking via BBC Sport, Klopp made it clear that he’ll be following a number of players closely over the coming weeks, many of whom played key roles during his time at Liverpool.
“I hope my players will have a great World Cup”.
Our former boss then named several figures who remain central to our identity, including Virgil van Dijk, Mo Salah and Sadio Mane.
“I wish Virgil [van Dijk] will have a great tournament. I really wish for Mo [Salah] that he will have a great tournament.
“I honestly wish that Sadio [Mane] will have a great tournament. Macca [Alexis Mac Allister], if he won, if they win it again.”
The 58-year-old even referenced how special it was seeing Argentina’s midfielder celebrate success previously, showing the emotional connection he still carries.
“It was so nice to see him with a medal around his neck and when he came back to Brighton.”
Klopp highlights lasting Liverpool connections
Klopp’s comments highlight just how many of our recent stars remain at the top of the game, even as the squad begins to evolve under new leadership.
“So many [of my] former players are part of the World Cup, which is really, really nice. And to see how time flies.”
The former Borussia Dortmund boss also reflected on how roles change over time, noting that some players are now transitioning into different parts of the football world.
“Another former player of mine will be a co-pundit of mine, Mats Hummels, Thomas Muller as well, but Mats Hummels was my former player. So, all of a sudden, things changed the perspective.”
It’s a reminder that the Klopp era wasn’t just about trophies, but about building a group of players who continue to represent Liverpool on the global stage.
Teams users worldwide are unhappy with a new “Unlock Premium” banner, accusing Microsoft of using misplaced upselling tactics and other poor design choices.
Blizzard seems to be getting the wrong message on the state of balance in World of Warcraft. The tank shortage in WoW seems worse than ever, and Blizzard seems to be hinting at nerfs to make things even more miserable?
Microsoft no longer builds devices like the Surface Studio, but the design still has value. Licensing the Studio’s display and hinge to another OEM could revive the hardware as a premium monitor without the outdated internals that held it back.
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GTA 6 is set for release this November, but as Rockstar Games is known for delaying its titles multiple times, the community remains wary of a potential last-minute slip into 2027. However, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick suggested in a recent talk held during the iicon conference, as reported by IGN, that another delay is not on the horizon. "I think a lot of people will be calling in sick on November 19," Zelnick joked during his talk, clearly aware of how many in the community are planning to skip school or work to play one of the most anticipated games […]
Yesterday was a big day for Rebel Wolves and their debut game, the open world action RPG The Blood of Dawnwalker. The Polish studio unveiled the game's release date (September 3) and the detailed PC system requirements. Moreover, in an aftershow Q&A, Creative Director Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz provided new information about the game. For example, he confirmed that full evil playthroughs will be possible, thanks to the ability to kill most NPCs without causing a game over. Evil run. Generally speaking, you can kill off the majority of NPCs. Maybe not every single one; there are specific cases where, for narrative […]
Researchers at Switzerland’s École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne have developed a nanoscale device that generates continuous electricity from evaporating water, with heat and sunlight boosting the process.
Revelion delivers autonomous AI-driven penetration testing designed for MSPs. Use a white-label client portal, full API, scheduled scans, and compliance framework mapping to send branded, enterprise-grade reports in hours. Control strategy, scope, and aggression, run fully autonomous or hybrid human-steered missions, and integrate with your RMM/PSA stack. UK-hosted and GDPR compliant, Revelion helps MSPs add recurring security revenue without extra headcount.
Happy Horse is an AI video creation platform that turns text prompts, images, and clips into cinematic videos. It preserves character identity across shots, offers director-level camera moves, and supports precise style control for photorealistic or stylized looks. You can generate native voice and singing with lip-sync or transform references with R2V workflows. Creators, marketers, educators, and filmmakers can quickly go from concept to export, with an API planned for embedding generation into other products.
On April 28, Bitcoin spot ETFs recorded net outflows of $89.68 million, signaling a pause after recent inflow momentum. BlackRock’s IBIT led the decline with $112 million withdrawn, highlighting institutional repositioning. Ethereum spot ETFs also faced selling pressure, posting $21.80 million in outflows, led by $13.17 million from BlackRock’s ETHA. The synchronized outflows across both assets suggest short-term cooling in investor sentiment, as markets react to volatility and shifting macro conditions.
Markets are focused on Wednesday’s FOMC meeting, which could be one of Jerome Powell’s final appearances before his term ends on May 15. The Fed is widely expected to hold rates steady at 3.50%–3.75%, marking a third straight pause. Investors are also watching potential successor Kevin Warsh, whose confirmation process is underway. The outcome matters because future Fed leadership and rate policy could heavily influence crypto, stocks, and global market sentiment.
The recent uptick in Pi Network price is gaining attention as the token rises over 6% today, extending its weekly gains to nearly 16%. After a prolonged consolidation near lower support levels, Pi Network is now seeing renewed participation, with the rally backed by catalysts such as the Protocol 22 upgrade and growing visibility ahead of major events.
At the same time, improving user metrics and tighter supply conditions are reinforcing the move, suggesting this is not a random spike but a narrative-driven shift. Here are the key developments explaining the current rally.
Protocol 22 Upgrade Shifts Focus Toward Utility
A key driver behind the current upside is the Protocol 22 upgrade, which is expected to improve network performance and move Pi Network closer to functional smart contract capability. This marks a transition in narrative, from a mining-focused ecosystem toward a utility-driven platform.
The Pi Mainnet is upgrading to Protocol 22 – Deadline: Apr 27.
All Mainnet nodes are required to complete this step before the deadline to remain connected to the network.
Markets typically begin pricing such structural changes ahead of execution, and the current move reflects early positioning rather than post-event reaction. As anticipation builds, demand is gradually strengthening, aligning price action with forward-looking expectations around ecosystem expansion.
Consensus 2026 Visibility Adds Momentum Layer
Another factor supporting Pi Network price is the growing attention around Consensus 2026 in Miami, where Pi Network’s founders are expected to appear. Events of this scale tend to amplify visibility and attract new participation, particularly for ecosystems still in their growth phase.
The impact is already visible in sentiment, with traders positioning ahead of increased exposure rather than reacting afterward. This layer of narrative is helping sustain momentum rather than create short-lived spikes.
User Growth and Supply Dynamics Support the Move
Beyond narrative, underlying data is reinforcing the rally. Pi Network has surpassed 18 million KYC-verified users, highlighting continued expansion of its active ecosystem. At the same time, exchange flow trends suggest outflows exceeding inflows, indicating reduced immediate sell pressure. When supply on exchanges tightens while demand increases, it creates a supportive environment for sustained upside. This combination of user growth and supply tightening adds structural strength to the ongoing move.
Pi Network Price Nears $0.20 Breakout as Bullish Structure Strengthens
A clear shift is now visible on the chart, with buyers steadily building control after weeks of muted price action. The recovery from lower levels has not been impulsive, it has been sustained, marked by seven consecutive green candles, reflecting consistent demand rather than short-term volatility.
The move is also gaining traction. Trading volume has increased alongside the rally, indicating that the upside is supported by active accumulation rather than thin liquidity.
Trend signals are turning favorable. The 20-day EMA has crossed above the 50-day EMA, forming a bullish crossover, while price continues to trade above both averages. This setup typically reflects strengthening momentum and early trend development.
Focus now shifts to the $0.20 resistance zone, which is being tested as the immediate barrier. A sustained move above this level would confirm a breakout structure and expose the next upside region near $0.27, where previous supply has been concentrated. Until then, the formation of higher lows and continued strength above moving averages keeps the near-term bias aligned with further upside.
What’s Next for Pi Network?
The current rally in Pi Network price reflects a shift from passive accumulation into early momentum. If participation continues and price holds strength above key levels, the move can extend toward higher resistance zones. If momentum fades, the market may return to consolidation, but for now, the structure favors continuation over reversal.
Not officially — but it could be one of Jerome Powell’s final major FOMC appearances before his current term is set to end on May 15. Speculation is rising as reports link Kevin Warsh to a possible replacement role. Markets are reacting because Warsh is considered more supportive of interest rate cuts, while ongoing inflation risks, high oil prices, and geopolitical tensions continue to divide policymakers. Investors are now closely watching Powell’s comments for signals on future rate policy and leadership transition expectations.
Syndicate confirmed that its Commons bridge was compromised, allowing an attacker to steal around 18.5 million SYND tokens and sell them for an estimated $330,000–$400,000 before bridging funds to Ethereum. Following the exploit, SYND plunged roughly 35% as panic selling hit the market. The incident matters because it highlights ongoing security risks surrounding cross-chain bridges and decentralized infrastructure. Syndicate says it is working with security firms to trace the attacker and has enough reserves to compensate affected users. Next, investors will watch for recovery measures, security upgrades, and whether confidence in the ecosystem can stabilize.
XRP Ledger is showing strong network activity, processing roughly 2.4 million transactions over the past 24 hours with ledgers closing every 3.9 seconds. Real-world asset adoption is also expanding, with projects like Ondo Finance contributing over $323 million on-chain alongside platforms such as Doppler and OpenEden. Stablecoin liquidity on the XRPL has climbed to around $446 million, led by RLUSD. The growth matters because it highlights increasing institutional utility, scalability, and efficiency across the network. Next, the community is watching upcoming lending amendments and broader DeFi expansion as XRPL continues evolving into a larger financial infrastructure ecosystem.
Solana spotlighted Pudgy Penguins in an official social media post, triggering a wave of community engagement featuring penguin-themed memes, videos, and Solana-branded artwork. Originally launched as an Ethereum NFT collection in 2021, Pudgy Penguins has expanded into toys, games, and the PENGU token on Solana, which currently holds a market cap near $630 million. The attention matters because it reinforces Solana’s growing meme and NFT culture while boosting visibility for the Pudgy Penguins ecosystem. Next, traders will watch whether increased social momentum can translate into stronger adoption and price action for $PENGU.
Most crypto projects launch a token and call it a business. CoinMafia.io is taking a fundamentally different approach, one that stands out in an increasingly crowded space.
What You Are Actually Looking At
CoinMafia (CoinMafia.io), founded by Rackham Rishel (www.rackham.com), is a cryptographic technology company. Its flagship product is a cryptocurrency launchpad designed to help communities launch branded, community-anchored tokens with real infrastructure and lasting support. The platform underlying technology is EVM-compliant and supports over 350 chains, delivering a level of interoperability that sets a new standard in the industry.
CoinMafia also operates validators on PulseChain. Validators are the backbone of any blockchain. They secure the network, validate transactions, and keep everything running smoothly and securely. Most projects rely on the default public validators. In a creative and highly strategic move that almost no other project has done, CoinMafia invested over $600,000 in validators, supporting equipment, and its own dedicated data center. All profits generated from validator fees go directly to open market buys of the $MAFIA coin 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. When the network returns even to the original sacrifice levels, expect brutal buy pressure. This is most assuredly not a normal company or coin.
$MAFIA is the CoinMafia native coin, launched on PulseChain. It operates through a bonding curve model, a transparent, mathematically determined pricing mechanism that ties coin price directly to supply rather than market sentiment. All trading activity and holder distribution are publicly verifiable on the chain.
Before You Connect A Wallet To Anything
Read this section twice. Unlike most of what you see online, this is not a sales pitch.
Never invest more than you can afford to lose. Cryptocurrency is volatile by design. Use a non-custodial wallet such as MetaMask or Rabby, so you always control your own keys. Verify liquidity pool locks directly on chain. Review the contract with a block explorer for any hidden risks. Size your position so a total loss would not affect your life, and take your time, especially if a chart moves sharply overnight. That movement is information, not an invitation.
Legitimate projects never ask for your seed phrase. Not once. Not ever. Anyone who does is not your friend.
What the Company Is Building
CoinMafia development plan spans five phases over ten years: foundation, liquidity network, distribution layer, institutional integration, and global scale. These timelines are forward-looking projections and may shift with market conditions or regulation, as is normal for any early-stage technology company.
Transparency drives everything we do. Liquidity pool additions, locks, and milestone completions are shared as on-chain proof of work for the entire community to see in real time. In a space where most roadmaps fade within months, that level of openness stands out.
Beyond the launchpad, the company is building staking, a private DEX, merchandise, media and animation content, and multiple revenue sources so the project does not depend only on the token price going up. Rackham is adamant about coins having extreme utility and multiple revenue streams.
How to Evaluate This, Or Any Launch
Verify the liquidity pool lock on the chain. Read the tokenomics. Understand who holds what, for how long, and under what conditions. A healthy project shows a distributed holder base, one wallet controlling a large percentage labelled “Definitely Not The Team” is worth noting. Ask whether the project creates value beyond the token price. Notice whether the community talks about fundamentals or only price targets.
Dollar cost average over time rather than investing a lump sum at once. Set your exit conditions before you enter, not during a late-night chart spike. Keep records, most jurisdictions treat cryptocurrency gains as taxable events.
The Bigger Picture
The future of Web3 will be shaped by infrastructure companies that make launching legitimate, community-grounded projects faster, easier, and more transparent than ever before. That is exactly the category CoinMafia is building into.
Early-stage technology companies carry early-stage risk. Do your own research. Then do it again.
Founded by Rackham Rishel (www.rackham.com), a builder focused on long term infrastructure, not short-term hype.
Forward Looking Statement and Disclaimer
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. CoinMafia makes no guarantees regarding future performance, token value, or project outcomes. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own independent research and consult with qualified financial, legal, and tax advisors before making any investment decisions.
Cryptocurrency investments can result in the complete loss of principal.
CoinMafia and $MAFIA have not been registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or any other regulatory authority. This document is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities.
Pump.Fun (PUMP) price is up today as it announced the burn of all previously bought-back PUMP tokens, removing nearly 36% of the circulating supply worth around $370 million. The project also confirmed that 50% of future revenue will continue funding token buybacks and scheduled burns, while the remaining revenue will support ecosystem development. The move matters because it improves transparency, reduces fears of future selloffs, and strengthens community confidence in the project’s long-term strategy. Next, investors will watch whether the aggressive burn model and clearer roadmap can sustain momentum and drive further adoption of the PumpFun ecosystem.
Bitcoin is bouncing higher as traders position ahead of major U.S. economic events, including today’s FOMC meeting and tomorrow’s GDP data release. Markets often turn volatile before high-impact announcements, but Bitcoin’s strong rebound and formation of higher lows and higher highs on lower timeframes suggest bullish momentum remains intact. The move matters because improving market structure could support renewed investor confidence and broader crypto strength. Next, traders are watching whether Bitcoin can maintain momentum and push toward the $85K–$88K target zone projected for May.
Oman to Promote Youth Dialogue and Cultural Tourism Through National Debate ChampionshipOman’s National Youth Debate Championship is fostering critical thinking...
Users are no longer just reporting Samsung One UI bugs. They are questioning the entire system behind how those bugs get fixed.
Samsung’s One UI software has rarely faced this kind of sustained public frustration. Scroll through the latest threads on Samsung Community, and a pattern quickly emerges. This is not the usual noise that follows a buggy rollout.
The claim is simple: issues found in One UI 7.0 are being deferred to One UI 8.0. Problems spotted in 8.5 are now expected to receive fixes in One UI 9.0. It is being repeated across threads, often with a tone that borders on resignation.
Some users have gone as far as joking that Samsung’s developers are “on strike.” Others are more direct, saying the company only reacts when a bug gains enough traction to become a PR issue.
This perceived “next version delay” approach is what’s driving the backlash. Not just the bugs themselves, but the idea that fixes are being systematically pushed forward instead of addressed within the same stable build cycle.
One UI Beta Program is supposed to act as a safety net, catching issues early and refining the UX before a wide rollout, but that promise is starting to feel hollow for some users.
If a bug survives the entire beta cycle only to be scheduled for the next major update, then what exactly is the Beta achieving?
Long testing windows lose credibility when the end result still carries known issues. It creates the impression that beta builds are less about refinement and more about ticking a procedural box.
It is easy to frame this as negligence, but the reality is more complicated. Samsung is not developing software for a handful of devices. It is maintaining a fragmented ecosystem that spans dozens of chipsets, regions, and form factors.
The next-gen Xbox Project Helix is set to use the AMD Magnus APU with Zen 6 CPU cores and an RDNA 5 GPU. This RDNA 5 GPU is rumored not to contain any custom implementations specific to the Xbox Helix. Digital Foundry thinks this alleged development is a sign of changing times and is, ultimatley, a good thing for game developers.
The MemoMind One is a new pair of AR glasses that features a built-in display, moving beyond purely acoustic interactions. The model stands out for its particularly discreet design and usability.
iQOO launched the iQOO Neo 10 in India last May in Inferno Red and Titanium Chrome colors, which will be joined by two new colorways on April 30. One is the Alpine White version we saw yesterday; today, we are getting our first official look at the second model, called Asphalt Black.
iQOO previously confirmed that both new color models will come with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 SoC, the Supercomputing Chip Q1, and a 6.78" 1.5K 144Hz AMOLED display having 5,500 nits peak brightness. Additionally, iQOO confirmed that the new versions will feature a 50MP primary camera, an 8MP ultrawide camera,...
Google Translate is now 20 years old, believe it or not. The service launched back in 2006 as a humble experiment, and today supports "about 250 languages", and more than 60,000 potential language pairs, supporting 95% of the world's population. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the most used language pair is English to Spanish. The most translated phrase is "thank you".
More than 1 billion people use Google Translate every month, and more than 1 trillion words are translated by the service each month. To celebrate its 20th birthday, Google is launching one of the most requested features:...
After years of waiting, it seems as though and will finally collide during the final quarter of 2026. Now, reigning WBO heavyweight world champion has shared his thoughts on the long-awaited contest. ‘AJ’ has been linked to a clash with ‘The Gypsy King’ for almost a decade but the timelines have rarely aligned and even […]
and collide in one of the most intriguing heavyweight scraps of the year, with the WBO heavyweight world title on the line. Ahead of the fight, British boxing icon ‘Prince’ Naseem Hamed has offered his prediction, where he anticipates a statement performance. Dubois held the IBF heavyweight world title for over a year, having been […]
Süper Lig'in 32. haftasında Başakşehir'i sahasında ağırlayacak olan Fenerbahçe'den bilet açıklaması geldi.
Fenerbahçe, Başakşehir maçı için 18 yaş altı taraftarlara ücretsiz bilet verileceğini açıkladı.
Kulüpten yapılan açıklamalarda şu ifadelere yer verildi;
Trendyol Süper Lig’in 32. haftasında RAMS Başakşehir FK ile oynayacağımız karşılaşma öncesinde, 18 yaş altı taraftarlarımıza yönelik ücretsiz bilet tanımlaması yapılacaktır.
Katılım Koşulları:
* Yaş Sınırı: 2 Mayıs 2008 ve sonrasında doğmuş (18 yaşını doldurmamış) taraftarlarımız yararlanabilecektir.
* E-Bilet: Geçerli e-bilet süresine sahip ve Fenerbahçe logolu Passo Taraftar Kartı bulunması zorunludur.
* Kimlik İbrazı: İşlem sırasında T.C. kimlik belgesinin gişe görevlisine ibraz edilmesi gerekmektedir. Başvurular yalnızca şahsen yapılacaktır.
Trabzonspor'un Fildişi Sahilli oyuncusu Christ Oulai, Trabzonspor Dergisi'ne kariyerine dair açıklamalarda bulundu.
Trabzonspor'un Fildişi Sahilli oyuncusu Christ Oulai, "Futboldaki en büyük hayalim hiç değişmedi, oynadığım kulüple Şampiyonlar Ligi'ni kazanmak ve ülkeme, Fildişi Sahili'ne bir Dünya Kupası getirmek." dedi.
Oulai, Trabzonspor Dergisi'nin bu ayki sayısında yer alan röportajda, futbola ülkesinde başladığını belirterek, "Yapabileceğim en iyi işin çok sevdiğim futbol olduğuna o yaşlarda inanmıştım ve o yüzden kararlıydım. Birçok anlamda zorluk yaşıyorduk ama mücadele etmekten hiç vazgeçmedim, hep umut doluydum. Hayalim üst düzey bir profesyonel futbolcu olmaktı ve bu yolda ilerlemek için çok çalışıyorum. Hala genç bir oyuncuyum, en iyisini başarmak için zamanım var." ifadelerini kullandı.
Trabzonspor'a transfer sürecini de anlatan 20 yaşındaki futbolcu, şunları kaydetti:
"Trabzonspor projesi, benim için değerli bir projeydi çünkü benim gibi birçok genç oyuncuya sahiptiler. Gençlere güveniyorlardı. Direkt olarak bu fikir hoşuma gitti. Teklifi öğrendiğimde ve bu projedeki kararlılıklarını gördüğümde, imza atmam zor olmadı. Buraya geldikten sonra ne kadar doğru bir tercih yaptığımı daha iyi anladım, mutluyum."
"Milli takımda olmak çok büyük gurur"
Fildişi Sahili Milli Takımı Teknik Direktörü Emerse Fa'nın kendisi için "Başkalarından önce olayları gören teknik bir orta saha oyuncusu." açıklamasına ilişkin Oulai, şu değerlendirmede bulundu:
"Milli takımda olmak çok büyük bir gurur. Üzerine milli takım hocasının da böylesine övgüleri beni çok motive etti, gurur duydum. Çok mutluyum çünkü o gerçekten iyi bir teknik direktör, aramızda baba-oğul, abi-kardeş gibi bir ilişki var. Böyle düşünmesi beni çok mutlu ediyor. Milli takımda oynamak büyük bir gururdu çünkü 2 yıl önce sadece bir taraftardım, mahallemde evimdeydim. Sonra kendimi Afrika Uluslar Kupası'nda oynarken buldum. Ardından maçın oyuncusu seçildim. Bu ödülü aldığımda gerçekten büyük bir gurur yaşadım. Onu doğrudan aileme, anneme ve bana inanan herkese adadım."
Oulai, taraftar desteğinin kendisini çok motive ettiğini aktararak, "Taraftar desteği çok etkili oluyor çünkü onları statta görme fikri bile beni motive ediyor. Çok mutluyum çünkü bize güç veriyorlar, tezahürat ediyorlar ve bunu seviyorum. Arkamızdaki o itici enerjiyi gerçekten çok seviyorum." şeklinde görüş belirtti.
"Şut alanında kendimi geliştirmek isterim"
Ligde temasın ve ikili mücadelelerin yoğun olmasının kendisini zorlamadığını anlatan genç oyuncu, şöyle devam etti:
"Hayır, aslında zor değil çünkü fiziksel teması seviyorum. Agresifliği gerçekten seviyorum. Bu lig bana uygun. İyi gidiyor, bunun üstesinden geliyorum. Kendimi şut alanında geliştirmek isterim. Çünkü böylece daha fazla gol atarım. Evet, vuruşlarımı daha da geliştirmek istiyorum ve bunun için çalışıyorum. Ben mücadele eden, korkusuz, teknik bir oyuncuyum. Temaslı oynamayı severim. Sahada zaman zaman biraz da şakacıyımdır."
Oulai, hedeflerine yönelik ise "Futboldaki en büyük hayalim hiç değişmedi, oynadığım kulüple Şampiyonlar Ligi'ni kazanmak ve ülkeme, Fildişi Sahili'ne bir Dünya Kupası getirmek." ifadesini kullandı.
Futbolda işler ters gittiğinde, mağlup olduklarında önce eve gittiğini anlatan Oulai, "Yemek yerim ve yemek yerken babamı ararım, o beni teselli eder. Sonra da her şey geçer gider. Hemen bir sonraki maça odaklanırım. Ben ağlayan biri değilim." şeklinde görüş belirtti.
"Matematikçi olmak isterdim"
Futbolcu olmasaydı matematikçi olmak istediğini aktaran Oulai, şunları kaydetti:
"Matematik hayatın her alanında yanımızdadır, problem çözmeden planlamalara, her türlü konuda doğru kararlar vermemizi sağlayan bilimdir ve ben bu bilimi çok seviyorum. Evet, bu ilgim sahada da bana yardımcı oluyor, sık sık hesap yapıyorum. Mesafeyi ayarlamaya, topu nasıl aldığımı ve nasıl vereceğimi hesaplamaya çalışıyorum. Tüm bunlarda matematik yardımcı oluyor. Olayın özü aslında şu, gençler okula gidin, eğitim çok önemli, faydası inanılmaz çok."
Fenerbahçe'de Galatasaray derbisinde alınan 3-0'lık mağlubiyetin faturası ağır olmuştu. Yönetim teknik direktör Domenico Tedesco ile yollarını ayırma kararı almıştı. Ancak taraftarın bu karara karşı çıktığı öğrenildi.
Fenerbahçe'de dengeler tam anlamıyla alt üst oldu...Galatasaray derbisinde alınan 3-0'lık mağlubiyetin ardından şampiyonluk hayallerini rafa kaldıran Fenerbahçe'de yönetim radikal bir karar almış ve Tedesco ile yollarını ayırmıştı.
Tedesco ise ayrılığın ardından yaptığı açıklamada alınan kararı duygusal bir karar olarak nitelendirmiş ve şu sözlerle eleştirmişti:
Bu kadar duygusal bir ortamda kalıcı başarıya ulaşmanın anahtarı, her yenilgiden sonra her şeyi sorgulamak değil; birlikte bir şeyler geliştirmektir.
TARAFTARLAR SAMANDIRA'DA
Sarı-lacivertli taraftarlar ise Tedesco'dan vazgeçmek istemiyor. Geldiği ilk günden itibaren duruşuyla taraftarların sempatisini kazanan teknik adam için Samandıra'ya gelen taraftarlar Tedesco'nun geri dönmesi için yönetime çağrıda bulundu.
SAMANDIRA'DAN AYRILDI
Fenerbahçe'nin yollarını ayırdığı Domenico Tedesco, Samandıra'da taraftarlarla vedalaştı. Taraftarların 'hocam bırakma bizi'' demesi duygusal anlara neden oldu.
Domenico Tedesco, duygusal anlar yaşayarak Samandıra'dan ayrıldı.
Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu, Trendyol Süper Lig'n 33. haftasının maç programını açıkladı.
Trendyol Süper Lig'de 2025/26 sezonunun son haftalarına girilirken Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu, 33. haftanın maç programını açıkladı. TFF'den yapılan açıklamaya göre tüm maçlar aynı gün ve aynı saatte başlayacak.
Türkiye Futbol Federasyonundan yapılan açıklamaya göre, tamamı 9 Mayıs Cumartesi günü saat 20.00'de başlayacak 33. hafta maçları şöyle:
Natura Dünyası Gençlerbirliği-Kasımpaşa (Eryaman)
Kocaelispor-Mısırlı.com.tr Fatih Karagümrük (Turka Araç Muayene Kocaeli)
Futbol üzrə UEFA Çempionlar Liqasının (ÇL) yarımfinal mərhələsinin PSJ – “Bayern” oyunu bu turnirin tarixinə düşüb.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, yarımfinal mərhələsinin ilk oyunu çərçivəsində keçirilən görüşdə Paris klubu 5:4 hesabı ilə qalib gəlib.
Yəni qapılara ümumilikdə 9 qol vurulub. Bu, turnirin tarixində yarımfinal mərhələsində bir oyunda qeydə alınmış ilk belə nəticədir.
1959/1960-cı illər mövsümündə Çempionlar Kubokunun yarımfinalında “Ayntraxt” “Reyncers”i 6:3 hesabı ilə məğlub edib. Lakin həmin vaxt turnir fərqli formatda keçirilirdi.
Xatırladaq ki, Almaniya və Fransa çempionları arasında cavab oyunu mayın 6-da Münhen şəhərində keçiriləcək. “Bayern” ilk oyunda uduzsa da, mərhələ adlamaq şansları hələ də yüksək qiymətləndirilir. PSJ isə ÇL-in sonuncu qalibidir və titulunu qorumaq üçün çalışır.
Bu matçın qalibi finalda “Atletiko” (Madrid, İspaniya) – “Arsenal” (İngiltərə) cütünün qalibi ilə üz-üzə gələcək. Sözügedən komandaların ilk oyunu bu gün Madrid şəhərində təşkil ediləcək. Cavab görüşü isə bir həftə sonra baş tutacaq.
Almaniya futbolunun ən nəhəng klubu hesab edilən “Bayern” 1995-ci ilin aprelindən bəri avrokuboklarda ilk dəfə 5 qol buraxıb.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, Münhen təmsilçisi son olaraq UEFA Çempionlar Liqasının yarımfinal mərhələsinin ilk oyununda PSJ-yə Parisdə 4:5 hesabı ilə məğlub olub.
Sözügedən komanda bundan öncə 1994/1995-ci illər mövsümündə UEFA Çempionlar Liqasının yarımfinalında “Ayaks”a (Niderland) 2:5 hesabı ilə uduzmuşdu.
Xatırladaq ki, Almaniya və Fransa çempionları arasında cavab oyunu mayın 6-da Münhen şəhərində keçiriləcək. “Bayern” ilk oyunda uduzsa da, mərhələ adlamaq şansları hələ də yüksək qiymətləndirilir. PSJ isə ÇL-in sonuncu qalibidir və titulunu qorumaq üçün çalışır.
Bu matçın qalibi finalda “Atletiko” (Madrid, İspaniya) – “Arsenal” (İngiltərə) cütünün qalibi ilə üz-üzə gələcək. Sözügedən komandaların ilk oyunu bu gün Madrid şəhərində təşkil ediləcək. Cavab görüşü isə bir həftə sonra baş tutacaq.
Amerikan Basketbol Ligi'nde (NBA) San Antonio Spurs, konuk ettiği Portland Trail Blazers'ı 114-95 yenerek Batı Konferansı play-off ilk turunu 4-1 kazandı ve yarı finale yükseldi.
T. Rowe Price has advanced its entry into the crypto ETF market with a further amendment to its actively managed digital asset fund filing, bringing a potential launch closer. According to a preliminary prospectus dated April 27, 2026, the Baltimore-based…
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A class action lawsuit has accused Believe founder Ben Pasternak of extracting $54 million in fees through token migrations tied to Launchcoin while leaving investors with losses. According to a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern…
The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) on Tuesday added two security flaws impacting ConnectWise ScreenConnect and Microsoft Windows to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, based on evidence of active exploitation.
The vulnerabilities are listed below -
CVE-2024-1708 (CVSS score: 8.4) - A path traversal vulnerability in ConnectWise ScreenConnect
With unprecedented access to those on the frontline, new documentary tells the definitive story. Here's how to watch Salisbury Poisonings: The Untold Story online from anywhere.
Aprelin 28-də Avropa Azərbaycan Məktəbində futbol üzrə Azərbaycan milli komandasının sabiq üzvü, uzun illər “Qarabağ”da çıxış etmiş Qara Qarayevin həyat və karyerasından bəhs edən “Qara Qarayev” kitabının təqdimat mərasimi və imza günü keçirilib.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, tədbirdə gənclər və idman naziri Fərid Qayıbov, Qarabağ Dirçəliş Fondunun İdarə Heyətinin sədri Rəhman Hacıyev, kitabın müəllifi, yazıçı Murad Aksoy, kitabın qəhrəmanı, tanınmış futbolçu Qara Qarayev və digər şəxslər iştirak ediblər.
Qara Qarayev hazırda U-21 yığmasında işləyir. O, peşəkar karyerası müddətində “Qarabağ”, “Neftçi” və “Araz-Naxçıvan”da çıxış edib.
Bu gün Azərbaycan Basketbol Liqasında final seriyasına start verilir.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, həlledici raundda “Sabah” və “Abşeron Lions” komandaları üz-üzə gələcək. Seriyanın ilk qarşılaşması Bakı İdman Sarayında, saat 19:00-da start götürəcək.
Seriyada üç qələbəyə tez çatan komanda Azərbaycan çempionu olacaq.
Beynəlxalq Cüdo Federasiyasının təqviminə əsasən, 1–3 may tarixlərində Tacikistanın paytaxtı Düşənbədə Böyük Dəbilqə turniri keçiriləcək.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, Azərbaycan mötəbər yarışda kişilərdən ibarət yığma komandanın böyük məşqçiləri – Elçin İsmayılov və Slavko Tekiçin rəhbərliyi altında 4 çəki dərəcəsində 6 cüdoçu ilə təmsil olunacaq.
Dünya Cüdo Turuna daxil olan turnirdə 34 ölkədən 248 idmançı qüvvəsini sınayacaq.
“Zirə” Azərbaycan Kubokunda finala yüksəlib. Rəşad Sadıqovun yetirmələri həlledici matçda “Sabah”la qarşılaşacaq. Final görüşü mayın 13-də olacaq.
“Zirə”nin sabiq futbolçusu Adrian Skarlatake “Futbolpress.az“a açıqlamasında keçmiş klubunun çıxışını dəyərləndirdi:
“Zirə”ni izləyirəm. “Turan Tovuz”u keçməyi bacardılar və indi Avropaya getmək şansları böyükdür. Final asan olmayacaq. “Sabah” bu mövsüm çox yaxşı oynayır və liqada çempion olacaqlarına şübhəm yoxdur.
Amma kubok “Zirə” üçün daha vacibdir. Çünki çempionat yolu ilə “üçlüy”ə daxil olmaqları çox çətindir – arada böyük xal fərqi var. Buna görə də kuboku qazanıb, Avropaya getmək daha real variantdır. Onlara uğurlar arzulayıram. Ümid edirəm ki, ilk titullarını qazanacaqlar. Final bir oyundan ibarətdir və hər şey mümkündür”.
Skarlatake 2018-2020-ci illərdə “Zirə”nin formasını geyinib.
PSJ-nin futbolçusu Osman Dembele Çempionlar Liqasında “Bavariya”ya qarşı keçirdikləri yarımfinal mərhələsinin ilk oyununu şərh edib.
Futbolpress.az UEFA-ya istinadən xəbər verir ki, matçda dubl edən fransalı hücumçu 5:4 hesablı qələbə haqqında bunları deyib:
“Özünə inanan və daim hücum futbolu oynayan iki komandanın möhtəşəm dueli oldu. Yarımfinala yaraşan matç idi. “Bavariya”nın yüksək səviyyəli komanda olduğunu bilirdik. Top fərqi bir olsa da, nəticədən razıyıq.
Oyunun sonlarına yaxın tempi aşağı saldıq. “Bavariya”nın sürətli futbolda necə oynadığını yaxşı başa düşürdük. Qarşıda cavab görüşü var və finala çıxmaq üçün Münhenə yollanacağıq”.
Komandalar arasındakı cavab oyunu mayın 6-da olacaq.
“Qalatasaray” baş məşqçisi Okan Burukla müqaviləni uzatmaq niyyətindədir.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə “Sabah” nəşri məlumat yayıb. Super Liqa təmsilçisinin rəhbərliyi mütəxəssisin işindən razıdır və ona yeni – iki illik sözləşmə təklif etməyə hazırlaşır.
“Qalatasaray” çempionatda 74 xalla liderdir və ən yaxın izləyicisi “Fənərbağça”nı 7 xal qabaqlayır.
Okan 2022-ci ildən “Qalatasaray”a rəhbərlik edir. O, bu dövrdə 3 dəfə Super Liqanın, 1 dəfə ölkə kubokunun qalibi olub.
Aptos said its new privacy coin could be used to enable businesses to transact onchain without competitors tracking treasury moves and trading strategies.
The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission has sued Wisconsin in the agency’s fifth lawsuit against a US state to assert jurisdiction over prediction markets.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Manuel Ugarte, Marcus Rashford, and Joshua Zirkzee are among the players Manchester United can offer Milan in a player-plus-cash swap deal for Rafael Leao.
Milan are open to offers for Portuguese winger Leao in the summer, and Gazzetta confirms that Manchester United are among the clubs interested in the Rossoneri star.
MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 26: Rafael Leao of AC Milan controls the ball whilst under pressure from Weston McKennie of Juventus during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on April 26, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Leao has a €175m release clause in his contract, but Gazzetta reports that Milan directors are open to starting negotiations at €50m.
The Rossoneri have planned to sell Leao just for a cash offer, yet Manchester United could try to further reduce the Serie A giants’ demands by including one of their players in the deal.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 25: Anass Salah-Eddine of FC Twente is challenged by Manuel Ugarte of Manchester United during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 match between Manchester United and FC Twente at Old Trafford on September 25, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
According to Gazzetta, Manchester United are open to including Ugarte, Rashford or Zirkzee in the negotiations. The report claims that Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers is United’s priority target for the left-wing position, yet the 23-year-old would cost twice as much as Leao in the summer, at circa €100m.
Rashford is currently on loan at Barcelona, but whether the Catalans will activate their €30m option to buy at the end of the season remains unclear.
Milan already held talks with Rashford in the 2025 January transfer window, while Zirkzee was among their targets the previous year, when the Dutchman eventually left Bologna for Old Trafford.
Milan are expected to reshape their attack in the summer transfer window, with Atletico Madrid forward Alexander Sorloth at the top of the Rossoneri’s shopping list, according to Gazzetta.
Nine goals in the first-leg semifinal: Bayern come back against PSG from 5-2.
Milan remake the attack
Leao leaves: everything changes. Zirkzee with Sorloth
United want Rafa. Nkunku, Fullkrug and Gimenez leave too. Pulisic can stay.
One referee talked with Rocchi at San Siro
Zappi out of AIA. FIGC, commissioner unlikely.
Dimarco, Inter unlock the renewal.
Juve, Bernardo Silva only with the top four.
Corriere dello Sport
AIA, clean house
Commissioner arriving: Zappi suspended for 13 months.
CONI reject the appeal: referees without a chief. FIGC wants to put the category under administration. Milan investigation: Rocchi won’t talk to the Prosecutor. Gervasoni awaited.
Inter, move for Paz
The big intrigue
The Argentine will leave Como, but his future remains uncertain
Nico wants to return to Real Madrid, and Ausilio is ready to make his move
Ten goals and seven assists in Serie A. Perez will bring him back to Madrid in July. The new Blancos coach’s verdict will be decisive. Marotta at the window, with a budget of 40-45m.
Alisson, Juventus risk the trick
The Reds are studying a possible extension for a further year: the alternative is De Gea
Milan, the striker with Nkunku’s money
The club’s request is at least 30m. Allegri will pick the striker on the market depending on the system.
Roma, meeting between Gasp and Friedkin
Market, new director and Totti’s return on the table. Dybala issue. One month to decide on Alajbegovic.
Kvaradona: Crazy PSG-Bayern
Tuttosport
Alisson-Juve: here are the figures
Further steps forward with the Brazilian goalkeeper who wants to leave Liverpool: principle of agreement.
The offer is worth €4.5m per season plus add-ons for three years. Agreement close. Sorrentino: ‘Unique and modern. Di Gregorio is a good keeper, but you need something more for the Scudetto.’ Stones says goodbye to City, Comolli looms. Lewa, new contact. Primavera: Coppa Italia Final at 17:00 CET against l’Atalanta.
Call it Arbitropoli for now
From the Prosecutor’s office: ‘Rocchi, possible combine at San Siro with other colleagues.’ The designator won’t appear before the prosecutor tomorrow. The lawyer: ‘Without documents…’ In the meantime, Zappi is no longer the AIA President: appeal rejected. Buonfiglio, CONI President: ‘FIGC commissioner? There are no conditions in place, I won’t let myself be influenced.’
‘The four penalties saved? I only remember errors from that night.’
The goalkeeper, protagonist of the Coppa Italia semifinal: ‘It’s stronger than me, I focus on mistakes. Buffon’s messages and Zoff’s words, so proud! Yildiz is an amazing talent.’
Sporting CP defender Gonçalo Inácio is rapidly becoming one of the most sought-after centre-backs ahead of the summer transfer window, with both Liverpool and Manchester United reportedly showing strong interest.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the 24-year-old Portuguese international sits near the top of several clubs’ defensive wish lists as teams prepare for major squad reshuffles.
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With a €60 million release clause in his contract, Sporting CP are understood to be preparing for the possibility of losing one of their most reliable performers.
Inácio has grown into a key figure for both club and country, and with the FIFA World Cup approaching this summer, his profile is only expected to rise further, potentially making him one of the headline defensive transfers of the window.
Inácio is one of Europe’s most wanted defenders
Inácio has quietly developed into one of the most consistent defenders in Portuguese football over the past few seasons.
A product of Sporting’s renowned academy, he has established himself as a dependable presence in the back line, combining strong defensive awareness with technical ability on the ball.
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This season alone, Inácio has featured in 42 matches across domestic and European competitions, underlining his durability and importance to Sporting’s system.
lubs across Europe are now prioritising defenders who are comfortable in possession, and Inácio fits that description perfectly.
The club has been exploring long-term solutions capable of maintaining their defensive standards. Inácio’s composure, left-footed balance, and experience in European competitions make him a natural candidate.
Beyond club football, Inácio’s international career continues to gain momentum. He is widely expected to feature prominently for Portugal at the upcoming World Cup, sharing defensive responsibilities with some of the nation’s most experienced players.
The 23-year-old striker looked like a fine prospect at former club Ipswich Town, but his Chelsea future is already in doubt after just one Premier League goal in 25 games in his first season at Stamford Bridge.
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According to Simon Phillips, the Blues have already been discussing the possibility of Delap going on loan to fellow BlueCo club Strasbourg, though it seems his preference is to snub the loan and stay where he is.
It will be interesting to see how this develops, but at this moment in time it would certainly be surprising if Delap were to still be involved in the Chelsea first-team next season after such a worrying lack of impact.
Liam Delap surely needs to leave Chelsea
Delap may still have it in him to have a good career, but for now he just doesn’t look like he’s at the right level for a club with Chelsea’s ambitions.
The England Under-21 international could benefit from going to Strasbourg for more playing time in a less competitive league, or else he could also probably find suitors elsewhere.
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We’ve previously been informed about Delap having interest from Manchester United, Newcastle United, Everton, Brighton, and Sunderland amid uncertainty over his Chelsea future.
All in all, this deal clearly hasn’t worked out for CFC, but it’s hard to know how much of that is Delap’s fault, or an issue with the club.
So many other recent Chelsea signings have also flopped, with other talented young players like Jamie Gittens, Alejandro Garnacho, Andrey Santos, and Jorrel Hato also looking slightly out of place with the west London giants.
Arsenal appear to be moving early in their search for defensive reinforcements, with Real Madrid left-back Álvaro Carreras emerging as one of their most intriguing targets ahead of the summer transfer window.
The Spanish youngster has attracted attention across Europe, but Arsenal’s interest is believed to be particularly strong as manager Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen squad depth and plan for the future.
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With a demanding fixture schedule expected next season, especially if Arsenal continue competing on multiple fronts, reinforcing the full-back positions has become a priority, sources close to the agents industry have informed CaughtOffside.
Arteta’s willingness to offer Carreras a meaningful role within the squad has made the move increasingly attractive from the player’s perspective.
Carreras fits the long term vision of Mikel Arteta
Carreras has quietly developed into one of the more promising young full-backs in Spanish football.
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Carreras is the modern day full-back. He offers rock-solid defensive stability, but he truly shines when he’s bombing forward, hugging the touchline, and adding explosive width to the attack.
In Arsenal’s fluid, possession-heavy system, having a dynamic left-back who can genuinely impact the final third is absolutely crucial.
Arteta is heavily selling him on a long-term project where he will be trusted with regular Premier League minutes to develop into a global star.
Carreras remains under contract with Real Madrid until 2031, that long-term deal doesn’t necessarily rule out a transfer.
Madrid are known for carefully managing young prospects, but they also tend to make calculated decisions if a player’s pathway to regular minutes becomes limited.
With strong competition already present in Madrid’s defensive ranks, Carreras may see a move as an opportunity to accelerate his development.
Arsenal are not alone in the race. Manchester United, Juventus, and Napoli have all been linked with monitoring the defender’s situation.
These clubs are also looking to strengthen their defensive units, making competition inevitable if Carreras becomes available.
Still, reports indicate Arsenal may hold an advantage thanks to their willingness to offer consistent playing opportunities alongside a strong financial package.
From Real Madrid’s perspective, Carreras is viewed as a long-term investment, meaning any transfer would likely require a convincing offer.
Arsenal, however, are known for targeting young players who fit their long-term vision, and this pursuit appears to follow that same blueprint.
Neville: Man Utd star now at risk of being dropped for the fourth time under Carrick amid ‘creative drought’
Gary Neville believes Amad Diallo will drop to the bench for Sunday’s clash with Liverpool so long as Matheus Cunha is available.
Cunha missed out entirely in the win over Brentford due to a minor groin injury, having been Manchester United’s only goalscorer in their 1-0 Stamford Bridge triumph a week prior.
It’s anticipated he will make his return for the upcoming encounter at home to arch-rivals Liverpool, meaning one Red will be sacrificed to make way for the in-form Brazilian.
If it were up to Neville, he’d withdraw Amad from the starting XI to make way for Cunha.
The 23-year-old is undergoing something of a ‘creative drought’ in recent months, to the point Michael Carrick hooked him from the action on Monday night after only 45 minutes.
In that time, Amad squandered two big chances, one of which would’ve seen Kobbie Mainoo record the Assist of the Season following a scintillating run.
“If Cunha is fit, I think he will go with Cunha and Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes and [Benjamin] Sesko. I think he’ll go with that four, and I’m not sure Amad will play,” said Neville when previewing matchweek 35 on Sky Sports.
“But I think you’ll see a more cautious, tighter, more compact, more defensively focused Manchester United than you saw in that first half tonight.”
The fixture will also likely see Patrick Dorgu feature in some form; he made the matchday squad this week for the first time since January 25 when he sustained his hamstring injury, but was an unused substitute on the night.
The Washington Commanders' defense has a whole new look in 2026. General manager Adam Peters made some moves in free agency to help bolster the defensive line and set the edge, but perhaps the best thing he did was draft Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Styles is an incredibly versatile player who has a nose for finding the ball. He is a solid tackler, can break up passes, and has the ability to sniff out a play with quickness. Originally a safety, once Ohio State realized his frame and athleticism were better suited closer to the box, they moved him into the linebacker position. Styles never faltered, despite still learning the ins and outs of being an elite linebacker.
Learning the position doesn't have any bearing on his knowledge of past players, though. Styles played Knockout with Daily Mail Sports this week to determine the greatest NFL linebacker of all time, and it's clear he knows his history.
#Commanders LB Sonny Styles playing knockout on the greatest NFL linebacker of all time 🍿
First up: Ray Lewis or Junior Seau? Styles chose Lewis. Next was Dick Butkus or Derrick Brooks: Butkus was the answer. Then Brian Urlacher or Bobby Wagner: Urlacher. Luke Kuechly or Mike Singletary? Styles struggled with this one, "I'm gonna say Luke Kuechly. Some people might be mad about that, but that's my generation."
Final four: Brian Urlacher or Luke Kuechly? Kuechly was the pick. Ray Lewis or Dick Butkus? "I gotta say Ray Lewis, I know more about Ray Lewis, I just don't know enough about Butkus." As the host goes to move on, Styles switches it up, "Actually, I gotta say, Butkus." (This would not have been an easy choice for most people!) So, now we're at Butkus and Kuechly.
Final round: Dick Butkus or Luke Kuechly? Butkus was the final answer as to who Styles believes is the greatest linebacker of all time.
Now, some of us are going to disagree with some of his choices. Butkus was a pioneer; he set the tone for what a linebacker should look like and how he should perform on the field. Ray Lewis took that foundation to a whole new level, one that very few have reached. Those of us who are older cringed at picking Kuechly over Urlacher, but landing on Butkus at the end was probably the least controversial thing he could have done.
Styles knows his football history, and he knows that the expectations around him are high. He's already shown through his career at Ohio State and how he's handled himself through this draft process that he is a professional through and through. We just have to wait and see where he's going to slide into the lineup as the offseason progresses.
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, USA TODAY Sports will celebrate the 250 greatest American sports figures of all time. Alongside that national recognition, the USA TODAY Network will spotlight the roots of the country’s sports culture: the high school athletes and sports figures who shaped communities and defined their states.
That's no easy task, which is why we need help from our readers. As we embark on a deep dive at the South Coast's best high school football players, we're asking for our readers to make their voices heard by voting for the best player from the area of all time. The coverage area includes The Taunton Daily Gazette, The Standard-Times and The Herald News.
We'll get started with football, but girls and boys basketball will be soon to follow in upcoming weeks. Votes must be cast online.
Megna, a graduate of 1994, was an all-star lineman at Durfee. He landed a scholarship to the University of Richmond where he became a two-time Division 1-AA all-American. Drafted in the sixth round of the 1999 draft by the New York Jets. Megna also played with the New England Patriots and Cincinnati Bengals. He enjoyed a four-year career as a rush end for the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League.
Joe Andrews, Durfee High School
During his junior and senior years, Andrews rushed for over 100 yards per game with some games of 200 yards or more. He hit paydirt 26 times and ran away with the state scoring championship (155) in 1948. Andrews had 97 points as a junior.
Jordan Todman, Dartmouth
Todman ended his high school career with a school-record 73 touchdowns and was the state’s second all-time leading rusher with a total of 5,830 yards. He had 250 all-purpose yards and 3 touchdowns in an overtime loss to Everett in the 2007 Division I Super Bowl. Todman set school records for career touchdowns, touchdowns in a single season and touchdowns in a single game in addition to rushing yards in a career, season and single game. After being named an All-American and Big East Player of the Year at UConn, Todman was a sixth-round pick of the Chargers before becoming an NFL journeyman, playing seven years with eight different teams.
JoJo Goodine, New Bedford
Goodine rushed for more than 1,000 yards in both his junior and senior years, and scored a school-record 27 touchdowns in back-to-back regular seasons to power the Whalers to a pair of state titles in 1993 and 1994. He finished his career as the Whalers’ all-time touchdown leader with 70. He also owns the single-game mark with six TDs. Goodine was named the 1994 Otto Graham Achievement Award winner and the Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year. He went on to play one year at both the University of New Hampshire and UMass Dartmouth before an injury ended his college career.
John Gordon, Taunton
Gordon was a force to be reckoned with at running back for the Tigers, setting the program's all-time records for touchdowns (49) and rushing yards (over 4,200). As a junior, he set the program's single season records for rushing yards (2,121 yards) and touchdowns (25) and was awarded the 2006 Otto Graham Award after his senior season.
Marc Colombo, Bridgewater-Raynham
A standout on both the gridiron and the court for the Trojans in the mid-90s, Colombo was an imposing physical presence at offensive tackle who helped lead B-R to the 1996 Division 1 Super Bowl. A multi-time Enterprise and Taunton Daily Gazette All-Scholastic, he went on to play at Boston College and was selected 29th overall by the Chicago Bears in the 2002 NFL Draft and spent nine seasons in the league between the Bears, Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins. After serving as an offensive line coach with the Cowboys and New York Giants, he currently serves as co-offensive coordinator for the Orlando Storm of the UFL.
Justin Marques, Fairhaven
Marques became the all-time career touchdown leader in Massachusetts with 110 TDs and powered Fairhaven to back-to-back Super Bowl appearances, including winning the 2023 Div. 6 state championship. He had 1,907 rushing yards and 42 touchdowns as a senior to finish his career with 5,514 rushing yards and 110 touchdowns. He owns Fairhaven’s single-game, single-season and career touchdown records.
Stephen Cooper, Wareham
Cooper led Wareham to a perfect 10-0 regular season and a victory over Bishop Feehan in the 1995 Super Bowl to cap the best record in school history with 6 rushing touchdowns and 7 passing in addition to being the area's top linebacker. In 1996, Cooper had 10 rushing TDs and 6 passing as Wareham went 9-2. After playing at the University of Maine, Copper went on to enjoy a successful career in the NFL as the starting linebacker for the San Diego Chargers. Cooper was also a standout in basketball as a two-time Standard-Times Boys Basketball Player of the Year and Wareham’s all-time leading scorer at the time.
Bobby Watkins, New Bedford
Watkins was an All-State fullback for the Whalers in the late 1940s and early 1950s. In 1949, he scored 19 touchdowns for 114 points to finish second among the leading scorers in Eastern Massachusetts. Watkins enjoyed a brilliant career at Ohio State as the Buckeyes’ all-time rushing leader with more than 1,800 yards. He helped Ohio State to a perfect 10-0 record and the National Championship in 1954. He played three years with the Chicago Bears and one with the Chicago Cardinals. He had 1,058 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns over his NFL career.
Several male athletes across Section 4 have dominated in their respective sports, creating headlines and outshining their competition this season. The question posed: What characteristics make a standout athlete?
These fan-picked athletes have shown up and shown out in their respective sports this year; some athletes breaking long-standing records, other athletes stepping up to lead a team, and a handful of newcomers that redefined what underclassmen could do.
Here are this year's Athlete(s) of the Season in Section 4 boys' basketball, swimming, wrestling, bowling and track:
Click below to see all nominees and their accomplishments.
This season's nominees: Nolyn Proudfoot (Corning), Allan Eagles (Seton Catholic Central), Marco Konrad (Maine-Endwell), Brady Carr (Oneonta)
The fan-picked 2026 "Athlete of the Season" in Section 4 boys' basketball is Corning's Nolyn Proudfoot.
Proudfoot's accomplishments this season: Proudfoot scored 50 points in early February, surpassing 1500 career points as a sophomore. The six-foot-two guard is considered one of the top prospects in the region and has been an integral part of Corning’s postseason victories, including claiming the Section 4 Class AAA title and its state final four appearance this year.
This season's nominees: Strati Anastos (Maine-Endwell), Joey Crisco (Corning), Carson Thaete (Watkins Glen/Odessa-Montour), Koen Anderson (Ithaca)
The fan-picked 2026 "Athlete of the Season" in Section 4 boys' swimming & diving is Corning's Joey Crisco.
Crisco's accomplishments this season: Crisco broke the STAQ record in the 100 breaststroke and achieved his second consecutive Section 4 Class A individual title. Crisco’s efforts in the pool helped Corning to its second straight Class A title and put him in the top 20 swimmers in the state in his sophomore season.
Boys Indoor Track & Field
This season's nominees: Gavin Heath (Owego), Keegan Waltz (Oxford-Greene), Milo Wilson (Binghamton), Darren Rose (Oneonta)
The fan-picked 2026 "Athlete of the Season" in Section 4 boys' indoor track and field is Owego's Gavin Heath.
Heath's accomplishments this season: Heath won the 300-meter dash at the Section 4 class championship with a 36.37 run–a new personal best–in early February and later secured a ticket to states with a first-place finish in the 600-meter run at qualifiers for another personal best, coming in at 1:22.89.
Boys Wrestling
This season's nominees: Gavin Lovell (Owego), Landyn Shaffer (Deposit-Hancock), Maverick Beckwith (Norwich), Anthony Valls (Chenango Valley)
The fan-picked 2026 "Athlete of the Season" in Section 4 boys' wrestling is Owego's Gavin Lovell.
Lovell's accomplishments this season: Lovell became one of the program’s youngest champs after securing the 2026 STAC champion at 103 pounds. Despite only being in seventh grade and heading into a new state tournament, Lovell stood his own as one of the youngest in Division 2 at the NYSPHSAA boys wrestling championships.
Boys Bowling
This season's nominees: Landon Butenko (Chenango Forks), Dominick Bernthon (Binghamton), Alex Gublo (Elmira), Cayden Bowman (Horseheads)
The fan-picked 2026 "Athlete of the Season" in Section 4 boys' bowling is Chenango Forks' Landon Butenko.
Butenko's accomplishments this season: Butenko topped the Division 2 series, games, and composite scores with a finish of 755, 279 and 2,186, respectively, at the Section 4 boys bowling championships, sending the Blue Devils to the state championships. Butenko ranked second in the Division 2 state championships.
Several female athletes across Section 4 have dominated in their respective sports, creating headlines and outshining their competition this season. The question posed: What characteristics make a standout athlete?
These fan-picked athletes have shown up and shown out in their respective sports this year; some athletes creating new legacies, other athletes stepping up to lead a team, and a handful of newcomers who changed the perception of the "underclassman" label.
Here are this year's "Athlete(s) of the Season" in Section 4 girls' basketball, wrestling, bowling and track:
Click below to see all nominees and their accomplishments.
The fan-picked 2026 "Athlete of the Season" in Section 4 girls' wrestling is Union-Endicott's Teagan McGuinness.
McGuinness' accomplishments this season: McGuinness captured the girls’ wrestling individual state championship title at 185 and ended her senior season with an unbeaten record of 36-0 to become the first women’s state champion in Union-Endicott history. The senior also captured another individual title at the Section 4 wrestling championships.
Girls Basketball
This season's nominees: Maggie Warpus (Chenango Forks), Harper Eagan (Maine-Endwell), Ava Kariam (Susquehanna Valley), Nayla Miley (Sidney)
The fan-picked 2026 "Athlete of the Season" in Section 4 girls' basketball is Susquehanna Valley's Ava Kariam.
Kariam's accomplishments this season: Kariam scored 15 points against state-ranked Chenango Forks to claim the STAC championship title this season, claiming a spot on BCANY’s all-state first team and the STAC’s Central/East all-conference team as a freshman.
Girls Indoor Track & Field
This season's nominees: Eva DiNunzio-Welch (Binghamton), Cella McLaughlin (Corning), Grace Walley (Walton), Tsadia Bercuvitz (Ithaca)
The fan-picked 2026 "Athlete of the Season" in Section 4 girls' indoor track and field is Binghamton's Eva DiNunzio-Welch.
DiNunzio-Welch's accomplishments this season: DiNunzio-Welch ranked among the top 10 female track athletes in Section 4. The senior took first place in the 800-meter event (2:23.39) at the Puma New York International Showcase, first in the 600-meter event (1:40.07) at the Section 4 Class Championships, and captured the state title in the 1000-meter event with a time of 3:03.64.
Girls Bowling
This season's nominees: Haley Peters (Binghamton), Madison Smith (Elmira), Aubriana Tyler (Windsor), Kylie Downing (Corning)
The fan-picked 2026 "Athlete of the Season" in Section 4 girls' bowling is Windsor's Aubriana Tyler.
Tyler's accomplishments this season: Tyler’s 1,236-pin finish captured the lead for Windsor in the Section 4 Division 2 team championships, resulting in the Black Knights’ second-place team score. A first-place finish from Tyler in the high series (596), high games (257), and overall finish (1,586) fortified Windsor’s number one overall score (6688) in Division 2 at the Section 4 state qualifier tournament.
Tottenham suffer massive injury blow as key star could miss rest of season
Tottenham Hotspur have suffered a massive blow to their Premier League survival hopes as they could be without Dominic Solanke for the remainder of the season.
Spurs claimed a much-needed 1-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, but the victory came at a significant cost for them.
West Ham United managed to retain their 17th spot with a 2-1 victory against Everton following an injury-time goal from Callum Wilson.
Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest extended their impressive run on Friday by putting five past Sunderland to seal an emphatic success.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side now face Aston Villa on the road. The West Midlands outfit are a formidable team this season, and Spurs need a special performance to beat them on their home turf.
Charles LeClaire-Imagn ImagesCharles LeClaire-Imagn Images
The Philadelphia Flyers have a 3-2 series lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins. They got out to a dominating 3-0 lead before dropping the last two games. That left the door wide open for the Penguins, who now hold the momentum of the series.
Part of it was the switch from Stuart Skinner to Arturs Silovs in goal, who the Flyers cannot quite solve. Other reasons include the Flyers’ lack of an answer to the Penguins’ increase of physicality, domination on the boards, and, well, lucky goals.
After winning Game 4 in Philadelphia, the Penguins did not force the series back home to let the Flyers win in Pittsburgh. They did it to keep their season alive. Now, the Penguins have the chance to force the series to 7 games.
Only 4 teams in NHL history have come back following a 0-3 series deficit. The Flyers do not want to end up on the wrong side of the 5th time in NHL history. If the series ends up back in Pittsburgh for Game 7, the Flyers would be the massive underdog.
That is why the Flyers have to treat Wednesday’s Game 6 like it’s a Game 7. This is their last chance to end the series at home in front of their own fans. If they let the series go even further, the Flyers are faced with the challenge of a Game 7 on the road against a team that has won 3 straight games.
It’s not impossible, but it certainly becomes a challenge. Just like the Penguins did not win Game 4 just to lose Game 5, they will not win Game 6 just to let the Flyers win Game 7 in Pittsburgh.
It’s now or never time for the Flyers, and they have to treat Game 6 like it is Game 7.
The future of Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson has been the subject of several questions sent in via our club Ask Me Anything form.
When Arne Slot was asked last week about the possibility of Alisson leaving this summer, the Liverpool head coach did not guarantee he would stay. So there is certainly a chance he moves on.
If the Brazilian, who has been linked with Juventus, was to leave, then it would mean Liverpool losing another experienced campaigner, with Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson already confirming their exits this summer.
"The people who make these decisions take everything into account," said Slot, when asked about the 33-year-old.
"They try to make the best decisions with the interest of the club. It [experience] is definitely one argument to keep him but there are other arguments. That is a decision the club has to make if that is needed. In the end, he still has one year [on his contract]."
Alisson signed a one-year contract extension in March that would see him through to the end of 2026-27 at Anfield and stop him leaving on a free this summer.
But he missed 16 games last season through injury and that tally is already at 17 this time around.
In Giorgi Mamardashvili, Liverpool have their back-up option ready to step up as a new permanent number one.
So if a reasonable offer was to come in this summer for Alisson, who has played 332 games for Liverpool since joining from Roma in 2018, then there is certainly a possibility that both parties could choose to move on.
What do you think about the situation with Alisson? Would this summer be the right time to sell? And is Mamardashvili good enough to step up to number one?
LINE: Reds -148, Rockies +124; over/under is 9 1/2 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Cincinnati Reds face the Colorado Rockies with a 1-0 series lead.
Cincinnati has a 9-7 record at home and a 19-10 record overall. The Reds have the fourth-ranked team ERA in the NL at 3.71.
Colorado has a 6-11 record in road games and a 13-17 record overall. The Rockies have the ninth-ranked team on-base percentage in the NL at .316.
Wednesday's game is the second time these teams match up this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Sal Stewart has six doubles, nine home runs and 28 RBIs for the Reds. Elly De La Cruz is 14 for 42 with two doubles, four home runs and 13 RBIs over the past 10 games.
Mickey Moniak leads the Rockies with 13 extra base hits (five doubles and eight home runs). Hunter Goodman is 10 for 41 with five doubles, three home runs and four RBIs over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Reds: 8-2, .247 batting average, 3.90 ERA, outscored opponents by 19 runs
Rockies: 6-4, .284 batting average, 4.25 ERA, outscored by two runs
INJURIES: Reds: Caleb Ferguson: 15-Day IL (oblique), Nick Lodolo: 15-Day IL (finger), Eugenio Suarez: 10-Day IL (oblique), Hunter Greene: 60-Day IL (elbow)
Rockies: McCade Brown: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Willi Castro: day-to-day (knee), Ryan Feltner: 15-Day IL (tricep), Kris Bryant: 60-Day IL (back), Pierson Ohl: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jeff Criswell: 60-Day IL (elbow), RJ Petit: 60-Day IL (elbow)
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
LINE: Dodgers -285, Marlins +230; over/under is 7 1/2 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins play on Wednesday with the three-game series tied 1-1.
Los Angeles is 20-10 overall and 12-5 in home games. Dodgers hitters have a collective .351 on-base percentage, the second-best percentage in the majors.
Miami is 4-10 in road games and 14-16 overall. The Marlins have the eighth-best team on-base percentage in MLB play at .331.
The teams square off Wednesday for the third time this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Shohei Ohtani has six doubles, six home runs and 13 RBIs while hitting .278 for the Dodgers. Max Muncy is 12 for 35 with two doubles and three home runs over the last 10 games.
Xavier Edwards leads the Marlins with a .339 batting average, and has six doubles, two triples, a home run, 19 walks and nine RBIs. Otto Lopez is 12 for 42 with two RBIs over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Dodgers: 5-5, .254 batting average, 3.31 ERA, outscored opponents by 16 runs
Marlins: 5-5, .242 batting average, 3.72 ERA, even run differential
INJURIES: Dodgers: Brock Stewart: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Mookie Betts: 10-Day IL (back), Landon Knack: 60-Day IL (undisclosed), Jake Cousins: 60-Day IL (elbow), Gavin Stone: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Kike Hernandez: 60-Day IL (elbow), Bobby Miller: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Brusdar Graterol: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Evan Phillips: 60-Day IL (elbow), Tommy Edman: 10-Day IL (ankle), Edwin Diaz: 15-Day IL (elbow), Blake Snell: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Ben Casparius: 15-Day IL (shoulder)
Marlins: Pete Fairbanks: 15-Day IL (thumb), Liam Hicks: day-to-day (illness), Ronny Henriquez: 60-Day IL (elbow), Adam Mazur: 60-Day IL (elbow), Griffin Conine: 10-Day IL (hamstring)
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
LINE: Pirates -150, Cardinals +126; over/under is 8 1/2 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Pittsburgh Pirates aim to stop their three-game slide when they take on the St. Louis Cardinals.
Pittsburgh is 16-14 overall and 8-7 at home. The Pirates have a 9-5 record in games when they did not allow a home run.
St. Louis has a 16-13 record overall and a 9-5 record on the road. The Cardinals have a 12-4 record in games when they scored at least five runs.
Wednesday's game is the third time these teams square off this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Oneil Cruz leads the Pirates with nine home runs while slugging .538. Ryan O'Hearn is 11 for 36 with two home runs and seven RBIs over the last 10 games.
Alec Burleson has eight doubles and three home runs for the Cardinals. Nathan Church is 11 for 37 with four home runs over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Pirates: 4-6, .226 batting average, 4.50 ERA, outscored by five runs
Cardinals: 5-5, .244 batting average, 4.65 ERA, outscored opponents by three runs
INJURIES: Pirates: Jared Triolo: 10-Day IL (knee), Jared Jones: 60-Day IL (elbow)
Cardinals: Matt Pushard: 15-Day IL (knee), Hunter Dobbins: 15-Day IL (knee), Lars Nootbaar: 60-Day IL (heels)
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
LINE: Angels -125, White Sox +105; over/under is 8 1/2 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Angels aim to stop a five-game losing streak with a victory against the Chicago White Sox.
Chicago is 13-17 overall and 6-8 at home. The White Sox are 8-13 in games when they have given up a home run.
Los Angeles is 7-12 in road games and 12-19 overall. The Angels have a 2-4 record in games decided by one run.
The teams meet Wednesday for the third time this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Munetaka Murakami leads the White Sox with 12 home runs while slugging .574. Colson Montgomery is 12 for 38 with a double, five home runs and nine RBIs over the last 10 games.
Mike Trout has five doubles and nine home runs for the Angels. Vaughn Grissom is 11 for 27 with four doubles and four RBIs over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: White Sox: 6-4, .261 batting average, 4.10 ERA, outscored opponents by eight runs
INJURIES: White Sox: Chris Murphy: 15-Day IL (elbow), Everson Pereira: day-to-day (shoulder), Tanner Murray: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Ky Bush: 60-Day IL (elbow), Kyle Teel: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Drew Thorpe: 15-Day IL (elbow), Brooks Baldwin: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jonathan Cannon: 15-Day IL (hip), Mike Vasil: 60-Day IL (elbow), Prelander Berroa: 60-Day IL (elbow)
Angels: Kirby Yates: 15-Day IL (knee), Ben Joyce: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Ryan Johnson: 15-Day IL (illness), Logan O'Hoppe: 10-Day IL (wrist), Robert Stephenson: 60-Day IL (elbow), Grayson Rodriguez: 15-Day IL (arm), Anthony Rendon: 60-Day IL (hip), Alek Manoah: 15-Day IL (finger)
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Aryna Sabalenka’s defence of her Madrid Open title ended in a stunning defeat by American Hailey Baptiste in the quarter-finals.
Baptiste saved six match points in the third set to come through 2-6 6-2 7-6(8-6) in just over two and a half hours, becoming just the second player this season - after Elena Rybakina in the Australian Open final - to down the world No 1.
It brought an end to a 15-match winning streak for the Belarusian, who had overcome Baptiste easily in their only previous meeting, 6-4 6-4 in the Miami Open quarter-finals last month.
Baptiste said: “I played her a few weeks ago and it was a close match. I had a better idea of how to play her and adjustments I needed to make.
“It was an uncomfortable situation for her, me serving and volleying, hitting a drop shot in one of the match points. It's not the easiest position to put her in, which is the plan.”
It was the biggest win of the 24-year-old’s career and her first over a top-five player, while it also marked the first time Sabalenka had been beaten from match points up since the thrilling 2024 final in Madrid, won by Iga Swiatek.
Baptiste will face another top 10 player, world No 8 Mirra Andreeva, in her first WTA 1000 semi-final. The Russian won their only previous meeting 6-1 6-3 at Wimbledon last season.
“Somebody else that I played before and lost to,” Baptiste said. “A little bit of a revenge tour, I guess. I’m looking to go out there and play my game again and get another win.”
Sabalenka's 15-match winning streak came to an end (Getty)
Sabalenka rolled through the first set easily but Baptiste fought back in the second, with back-to-back double faults from the Belarusian handing over a break in the opening game.
The American 30th seed was soon 4-0 up and although Sabalenka saved another break point and broke back, Baptiste was undaunted, firing down two forehand winners to break again and then take the match to a decider.
The third set was similarly topsy-turvy, with the top seed breaking for 5-4 - but Baptiste saved five match points in one service mammoth game, with an ace, serve and volley and drop shot lob all getting her out of trouble.
She ultimately broke the Belarusian for a third time in the set, only for Sabalenka to force a tie-break. She held a sixth match point at 6-5 in the tiebreak but Baptiste won three straight points to complete the biggest shock of the tournament so far and book a place in the Madrid last four for the first time.
Sabalenka said in her post-match press conference: “I feel like in Miami I didn't give her many opportunities. She couldn't break my serve. Here, the first game, second set, I just double-faulted twice out of nowhere. It felt like that gave her belief. After that, she just started playing more aggressively. She was playing brave tennis. What can I say? Well done.”
LINE: Orioles -120, Astros +100; over/under is 9 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Baltimore Orioles lead 1-0 in a three-game series with the Houston Astros.
Baltimore is 14-15 overall and 8-8 in home games. Orioles hitters are batting a collective .240, which ranks fifth in the AL.
Houston is 11-19 overall and 3-11 in road games. The Astros have a 6-17 record in games when they have given up a home run.
The teams match up Wednesday for the second time this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Taylor Ward has a .313 batting average to lead the Orioles, and has 13 doubles and a home run. Samuel Basallo is 13 for 33 with three home runs and six RBIs over the last 10 games.
Carlos Correa has seven doubles, two home runs and 14 RBIs for the Astros. Yordan Alvarez is 17 for 43 with three doubles and four home runs over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Orioles: 5-5, .239 batting average, 4.99 ERA, outscored by 10 runs
INJURIES: Orioles: Dietrich Enns: 15-Day IL (foot), Heston Kjerstad: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Dean Kremer: 15-Day IL (quadricep), Felix Bautista: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Colin Selby: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Zach Eflin: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jordan Westburg: 60-Day IL (ucl), Yaramil Hiraldo: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Jackson Holliday: 10-Day IL (finger), Ryan Mountcastle: 60-Day IL (foot)
Astros: Zach Dezenzo: 10-Day IL (elbow), Jeremy Pena: 10-Day IL (knee), Taylor Trammell: 10-Day IL (groin), Hunter Brown: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Cristian Javier: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Brandon Walter: 60-Day IL (elbow), Nate Pearson: 15-Day IL (elbow), Cody Bolton: 15-Day IL (back), Joey Loperfido: 10-Day IL (quadricep), Ronel Blanco: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jake Meyers: 10-Day IL (oblique), Nick Allen: 10-Day IL (back), Tatsuya Imai: 15-Day IL (arm), Josh Hader: 60-Day IL (biceps), Hayden Wesneski: 60-Day IL (elbow)
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
LINE: Phillies -145, Giants +122; over/under is 7 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Philadelphia Phillies play the San Francisco Giants after Trea Turner's four-hit game on Tuesday.
Philadelphia is 6-10 in home games and 10-19 overall. The Phillies are 7-1 in games when they have more hits than their opponents.
San Francisco has a 6-7 record in road games and a 13-16 record overall. The Giants are 12-4 in games when they have more hits than their opponents.
The teams meet Wednesday for the fifth time this season. The season series is tied 2-2.
TOP PERFORMERS: Brandon Marsh has a .298 batting average to lead the Phillies, and has four doubles and four home runs. Turner is 10 for 41 with a home run and three RBIs over the last 10 games.
Luis Arraez leads the Giants with a .315 batting average, and has three doubles, two triples, six walks and eight RBIs. Jung Hoo Lee is 15 for 38 with a home run and two RBIs over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Phillies: 2-8, .215 batting average, 4.60 ERA, outscored by 13 runs
Giants: 6-4, .253 batting average, 3.56 ERA, even run differential
INJURIES: Phillies: J.T. Realmuto: 10-Day IL (back), Max Lazar: 60-Day IL (oblique), Zach Pop: 15-Day IL (calf), Jhoan Duran: 15-Day IL (oblique)
Giants: Harrison Bader: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Joel Peguero: 15-Day IL (hamstring), Sam Hentges: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Jared Oliva: 10-Day IL (wrist), Daniel Susac: 10-Day IL (elbow), Jose Butto: 60-Day IL (arm), Reiver Sanmartin: 60-Day IL (hip), Hayden Birdsong: 60-Day IL (forearm), Jason Foley: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Randy Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (elbow), Rowan Wick: 60-Day IL (elbow)
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
LINE: Athletics -119, Royals -100; over/under is 10 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Kansas City Royals seek to prolong a four-game win streak with a victory against the Athletics.
The Athletics are 15-14 overall and 5-6 at home. The Athletics have the 10th-ranked team ERA in the AL at 4.37.
Kansas City has gone 3-10 in road games and 12-17 overall. Royals hitters have a collective .320 on-base percentage, the ninth-ranked percentage in the AL.
Wednesday's game is the second meeting between these teams this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Tyler Soderstrom has 10 doubles, a triple, three home runs and 18 RBIs for the Athletics. Nick Kurtz is 10 for 36 with four home runs over the last 10 games.
Carter Jensen leads the Royals with six home runs while slugging .506. Salvador Perez is 12 for 45 with three home runs and eight RBIs over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Athletics: 5-5, .251 batting average, 4.14 ERA, outscored by one run
Royals: 5-5, .264 batting average, 5.18 ERA, outscored by two runs
INJURIES: Athletics: Max Muncy: 10-Day IL (hand), Tyler Soderstrom: day-to-day (shoulder), Denzel Clarke: 10-Day IL (foot), Gunnar Hoglund: 60-Day IL (knee)
Royals: Bailey Falter: 15-Day IL (elbow), Vinnie Pasquantino: day-to-day (back), Jonathan India: 10-Day IL (shoulder), James McArthur: 60-Day IL (elbow), Stephen Kolek: 15-Day IL (oblique), Carlos Estevez: 15-Day IL (foot), Alec Marsh: 60-Day IL (shoulder)
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
LINE: Mets -165, Nationals +139; over/under is 7 1/2 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The New York Mets lead 1-0 in a three-game series against the Washington Nationals.
New York has a 10-19 record overall and a 6-10 record at home. The Mets have gone 6-1 in games when they scored at least five runs.
Washington is 13-17 overall and 10-7 in road games. The Nationals have a 3-5 record in games decided by one run.
The matchup Wednesday is the second time these teams square off this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Francisco Alvarez leads the Mets with four home runs while slugging .405. Francisco Lindor is 12 for 38 with two home runs and five RBIs over the past 10 games.
C.J. Abrams has three doubles, seven home runs and 21 RBIs while hitting .267 for the Nationals. Daylen Lile is 9 for 36 with two doubles and three home runs over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Mets: 3-7, .235 batting average, 3.98 ERA, outscored by eight runs
INJURIES: Mets: Jorge Polanco: 10-Day IL (wrist), Kodai Senga: 15-Day IL (spinal lumbar ), Jared Young: 10-Day IL (knee), Francisco Lindor: 10-Day IL (calf), Reed Garrett: 60-Day IL (elbow), Joey Gerber: 15-Day IL (finger), A.J. Minter: 15-Day IL (lat), Justin Hagenman: 60-Day IL (rib), Tylor Megill: 60-Day IL (elbow), Dedniel Nunez: 60-Day IL (elbow)
Nationals: Clayton Beeter: 15-Day IL (forearm), Trevor Williams: 60-Day IL (elbow), Ken Waldichuk: 60-Day IL (forearm), Josiah Gray: 60-Day IL (elbow), Cole Henry: 15-Day IL (shoulder), DJ Herz: 60-Day IL (elbow)
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
LINE: Mariners -131, Twins +110; over/under is 8 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Minnesota Twins and Seattle Mariners meet on Wednesday with the winner claiming the three-game series.
Minnesota is 8-7 at home and 13-17 overall. The Twins have the sixth-ranked team on-base percentage in the AL at .326.
Seattle has gone 5-9 on the road and 15-16 overall. Mariners pitchers have a collective 3.71 ERA, which ranks third in the AL.
The teams meet Wednesday for the third time this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Byron Buxton leads the Twins with 12 extra base hits (four doubles, a triple and seven home runs). Tristan Gray is 9 for 33 with two home runs and five RBIs over the past 10 games.
Cal Raleigh ranks second on the Mariners with 11 extra base hits (four doubles and seven home runs). Josh Naylor is 15 for 37 with two doubles, two home runs and eight RBIs over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Twins: 2-8, .231 batting average, 5.02 ERA, outscored by 15 runs
Mariners: 7-3, .287 batting average, 4.55 ERA, outscored opponents by six runs
INJURIES: Twins: Garrett Acton: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Cody Laweryson: 15-Day IL (forearm), Travis Adams: 15-Day IL (tricep), David Festa: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Mick Abel: 15-Day IL (elbow), Pablo Lopez: 60-Day IL (elbow)
Mariners: Victor Robles: 10-Day IL (pectoral), Bryce Miller: 15-Day IL (oblique), Patrick Wisdom: 10-Day IL (oblique), Brendan Donovan: 10-Day IL (groin), Logan Evans: 60-Day IL (arm), Carlos Vargas: 60-Day IL (lat), Miles Mastrobuoni: 60-Day IL (calf)
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
LINE: Yankees -121, Rangers +102; over/under is 7 1/2 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Texas Rangers host the New York Yankees looking to end their three-game home losing streak.
Texas is 14-16 overall and 6-8 at home. Rangers hitters are batting a collective .235, which ranks ninth in the AL.
New York has a 12-5 record in road games and a 20-10 record overall. The Yankees are first in MLB play with 48 total home runs, averaging 1.6 per game.
Wednesday's game is the third time these teams meet this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Corey Seager leads the Rangers with six home runs while slugging .426. Josh Jung is 13 for 35 with three home runs and nine RBIs over the last 10 games.
Cody Bellinger has four doubles, a triple, three home runs and 15 RBIs for the Yankees. Aaron Judge is 10 for 32 with two doubles and four home runs over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Rangers: 3-7, .226 batting average, 3.99 ERA, outscored by 12 runs
INJURIES: Rangers: Robert Garcia: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Wyatt Langford: 10-Day IL (forearm), Carter Baumler: 15-Day IL (ribs), Jordan Montgomery: 60-Day IL (elbow), Cody Freeman: 10-Day IL (back ), Chris Martin: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Cody Bradford: 60-Day IL (elbow), Luis Curvelo: 15-Day IL (biceps)
Yankees: Giancarlo Stanton: 10-Day IL (leg), Angel Chivilli: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Gerrit Cole: 15-Day IL (elbow), Carlos Rodon: 15-Day IL (elbow), Clarke Schmidt: 60-Day IL (elbow), Anthony Volpe: 10-Day IL (shoulder)
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
LINE: Cubs -120, Padres +101; over/under is 8 1/2 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs play on Wednesday with the winner claiming the three-game series.
San Diego has a 10-5 record at home and a 19-10 record overall. The Padres have a 13-1 record in games when they have more hits than their opponents.
Chicago is 18-12 overall and 7-7 on the road. Cubs hitters have a collective .353 on-base percentage, the best percentage in the NL.
The teams square off Wednesday for the third time this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Xander Bogaerts leads the Padres with a .286 batting average, and has two doubles, five home runs, 13 walks and 17 RBIs. Manny Machado is 12 for 41 with two home runs and seven RBIs over the last 10 games.
Nico Hoerner has eight doubles, four home runs and 26 RBIs for the Cubs. Seiya Suzuki is 14 for 37 with five home runs and seven RBIs over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Padres: 6-4, .236 batting average, 5.90 ERA, outscored by 12 runs
Cubs: 7-3, .278 batting average, 4.55 ERA, outscored opponents by five runs
INJURIES: Padres: Yuki Matsui: 15-Day IL (groin), Will Wagner: 10-Day IL (oblique), Jeremiah Estrada: 15-Day IL (elbow), Manny Machado: day-to-day (undisclosed), Bryan Hoeing: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jhony Brito: 60-Day IL (elbow), Nick Pivetta: 15-Day IL (elbow), Joe Musgrove: 15-Day IL (elbow), Griffin Canning: 15-Day IL (achilles)
Cubs: Hunter Harvey: 15-Day IL (tricep), Dansby Swanson: day-to-day (glute), Riley Martin: 15-Day IL (elbow), Porter Hodge: 60-Day IL (elbow), Caleb Thielbar: 15-Day IL (hamstring), Jordan Wicks: 15-Day IL (forearm), Shelby Miller: 60-Day IL (elbow), Ethan Roberts: 15-Day IL (finger), Justin Steele: 60-Day IL (elbow), Christopher Austin: 60-Day IL (knee), Daniel Palencia: 15-Day IL (oblique), Cade Horton: 60-Day IL (forearm)
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Boston Red Sox (12-18, fifth in the AL East) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (13-16, fourth in the AL East)
Toronto; Wednesday, 3:07 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: Red Sox: Brayan Bello (1-3, 9.00 ERA, 2.27 WHIP, 15 strikeouts); Blue Jays: Eric Lauer (1-3, 6.75 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 19 strikeouts)
LINE: Blue Jays -133, Red Sox +113; over/under is 8 1/2 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox meet on Wednesday with the winner claiming the three-game series.
Toronto has a 13-16 record overall and a 9-8 record at home. The Blue Jays are 8-2 in games when they scored at least five runs.
Boston has a 12-18 record overall and a 7-10 record in road games. The Red Sox are 10-1 in games when they have more hits than their opponents.
The matchup Wednesday is the third meeting between these teams this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has seven doubles and two home runs for the Blue Jays. Ernie Clement is 14 for 42 with seven doubles over the last 10 games.
Wilyer Abreu has six doubles, a triple, four home runs and 13 RBIs for the Red Sox. Willson Contreras is 8 for 39 with a double, three home runs and eight RBIs over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Blue Jays: 6-4, .261 batting average, 3.99 ERA, outscored opponents by three runs
Red Sox: 4-6, .231 batting average, 4.09 ERA, outscored opponents by two runs
INJURIES: Blue Jays: George Springer: 10-Day IL (toe), Jose Berrios: 15-Day IL (elbow), Addison Barger: 10-Day IL (ankle), Max Scherzer: 15-Day IL (forearm), Nathan Lukes: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Yimi Garcia: 60-Day IL (elbow), Cody Ponce: 60-Day IL (knee), Anthony Santander: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Alejandro Kirk: 10-Day IL (hand), Shane Bieber: 60-Day IL (elbow), Lazaro Estrada: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Bowden Francis: 60-Day IL (elbow)
Red Sox: Justin Slaten: 15-Day IL (oblique), Patrick Sandoval: 15-Day IL (elbow), Kutter Crawford: 15-Day IL (wrist), Triston Casas: 60-Day IL (knee), Sonny Gray: 15-Day IL (leg), Johan Oviedo: 60-Day IL (elbow), Romy Gonzalez: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Tanner Houck: 60-Day IL (elbow)
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
LINE: Brewers -120, Diamondbacks +100; over/under is 8 1/2 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Milwaukee Brewers take a 1-0 lead into the next game of the series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Milwaukee has a 9-7 record in home games and a 15-13 record overall. The Brewers have a 13-2 record in games when they scored five or more runs.
Arizona is 6-7 in road games and 15-13 overall. Diamondbacks hitters are batting a collective .250, the eighth-best team batting average in MLB play.
The matchup Wednesday is the second meeting between these teams this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Brice Turang has four home runs, 22 walks and 18 RBIs while hitting .271 for the Brewers. Jake Bauers is 12 for 39 with three doubles and four RBIs over the past 10 games.
Geraldo Perdomo has three doubles, three triples, a home run and six RBIs for the Diamondbacks. Ildemaro Vargas is 14 for 39 with two doubles, a triple and four home runs over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Brewers: 5-5, .237 batting average, 3.33 ERA, outscored opponents by 14 runs
Diamondbacks: 5-5, .280 batting average, 6.70 ERA, outscored by nine runs
INJURIES: Brewers: Jared Koenig: 15-Day IL (elbow), Craig Yoho: 15-Day IL (calf), Jackson Chourio: 10-Day IL (hand), Rob Zastryzny: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Akil Baddoo: 60-Day IL (quadricep), Quinn Priester: 15-Day IL (wrist), Andrew Vaughn: 10-Day IL (hand), Christian Yelich: 10-Day IL (groin)
Diamondbacks: Geraldo Perdomo: day-to-day (ankle), Carlos Santana: 10-Day IL (groin), Gabriel Moreno: 10-Day IL (back), Jordan Lawlar: 60-Day IL (wrist), Zac Gallen: day-to-day (shoulder), Tyler Locklear: 10-Day IL (elbow), A.J. Puk: 60-Day IL (elbow), Blake Walston: 60-Day IL (elbow), Andrew Saalfrank: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Cristian Mena: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Corbin Burnes: 60-Day IL (elbow), Pavin Smith: 60-Day IL (elbow), Justin Martinez: 60-Day IL (elbow)
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
LINE: Guardians -120, Rays +100; over/under is 7 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Cleveland Guardians aim to break a four-game skid when they take on the Tampa Bay Rays.
Cleveland has a 15-16 record overall and an 8-7 record in home games. The Guardians are 7-2 in games when they hit at least two home runs.
Tampa Bay has an 18-11 record overall and a 10-7 record on the road. The Rays have a 5-1 record in games when they did not allow a home run.
The teams square off Wednesday for the third time this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jose Ramirez has six doubles, six home runs and 12 RBIs for the Guardians. Daniel Schneemann is 12 for 33 with a double, three home runs and seven RBIs over the last 10 games.
Junior Caminero leads the Rays with eight home runs while slugging .496. Jonathan Aranda is 9 for 35 with four home runs and 10 RBIs over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Guardians: 4-6, .222 batting average, 3.68 ERA, outscored by four runs
Rays: 7-3, .240 batting average, 3.58 ERA, outscored opponents by five runs
INJURIES: Guardians: Shawn Armstrong: 15-Day IL (groin), Gabriel Arias: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Andrew Walters: 15-Day IL (lat)
Rays: Joe Boyle: 15-Day IL (elbow), Gavin Lux: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Garrett Cleavinger: 15-Day IL (calf), Junior Caminero: day-to-day (jaw), Edwin Uceta: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Ryan Pepiot: 60-Day IL (hip), Steven Wilson: 60-Day IL (back), Manuel Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (elbow), Mason Englert: 15-Day IL (forearm), Michael Grove: 60-Day IL (shoulder)
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
There is a certain inevitability to the way transfer stories circle back around elite clubs, and this one involving Liverpool FC and Lutsharel Geertruida feels unfinished rather than abandoned. When the winter window closed, Liverpool’s pursuit of the Dutch defender had stalled not through lack of intent, but circumstance.
As originally reported by Liverpool.com, the Merseyside club explored a late move for Geertruida, a player well known to head coach Arne Slot from their shared time at Feyenoord. The attraction was obvious. Tactical elasticity, positional intelligence and a temperament suited to high-level competition. He could operate at right-back or step into midfield, precisely the hybrid profile Liverpool have increasingly prioritised.
Yet timing proved decisive. With Geertruida on loan at Sunderland AFC, any deal hinged on the Championship side sourcing a replacement. That never materialised before the deadline. The move collapsed not because of valuation or reluctance, but because football’s logistical machinery could not turn quickly enough.
Fast forward to the approaching summer window and the landscape has shifted. RB Leipzig are now prepared to sanction a departure for a fee in the region of $23 million, roughly £17 million.
That price point alters the conversation. For a 25-year-old entering what should be his peak years, it represents a calculated risk rather than a speculative gamble. Leipzig’s willingness to negotiate suggests a strategic recalibration, prioritising squad balance over retention.
From Liverpool’s perspective, the economics align neatly with squad depth planning. This is not a headline signing but a structural one. A player capable of absorbing minutes across multiple roles while maintaining tactical coherence.
Versatility defines Geertruida profile
What separates Geertruida from conventional defensive targets is not just competence, but adaptability. In modern systems where full-backs invert and midfielders rotate, his profile fits the blueprint.
Sunderland head coach Régis Le Bris captured that complexity succinctly when discussing the player’s situation. “I think his main strength is versatility, and probably in this industry, the most usual pathway is to stay in one position,” he said.
He continued, offering a revealing glimpse into the player’s internal dilemma. “I think we have to value his versatility, because it’s his strength. And for him, it’s a complex situation, because he’s really useful for the squad.”
That usefulness, however, can become a paradox. A player trusted everywhere is not always guaranteed a fixed role anywhere. For a footballer with international ambitions, particularly with a World Cup on the horizon, clarity of position and minutes becomes critical.
Transfer decision shaped by opportunity and ambition
This is where the narrative sharpens. Liverpool can offer elite competition, but not necessarily immediate regular starts. Other suitors may promise prominence but lack the same competitive ceiling.
Le Bris hinted at that tension in further remarks. “Often the 11th for game time for 10 positions on the pitch, but still the 11th, which is really good in the Premier League. And the ambition to be a starter is normal for a footballer.”
He added a note of realism about the transfer process itself. “So many things are combined, and can add the complexity of the transfer window, with many rumours, many opportunities. But facts are facts, it’s just the end of the process, do you want to sign or not, and it wasn’t so clear finally.”
That ambiguity remains. Liverpool’s interest is established, Leipzig’s asking price is defined, and Geertruida’s career trajectory is at a crossroads.
From a purely analytical standpoint, this is the kind of deal that often proves quietly influential. Not the headline act, but the player who stabilises rotations, absorbs tactical shifts and sustains performance levels across a long season.
Liverpool’s recruitment in recent years has leaned towards precision rather than volume. If they return for Geertruida, it will not be out of convenience but design.
And this time, with fewer barriers and a clearer pathway, the move feels less like a long shot and more like unfinished business.
Pavan suffered severe shoulder damage and multiple fractures to his back vertebrae after the incident at his private accommodation ahead of the South African Open at Stellenbosch Golf Club.
The 37-year-old, a two-time winner on Tour, underwent surgery at a local hospital and has since been recuperating at his home in Texas after the three storey fall, and is hopeful he may yet play professionally again.
“It's hard to say a precise goal, there's more like steps," Pavan said to BBC Radio 5 Live.
"Around three months we'll see how well the bone has healed. Around six months it's about where complete bone healing happens and we'll see how the joint is moving by then.
"It depends on if there are other tissues that were damaged if I need a second surgery. And there's the possibility of necrosis when the blood flow is not sufficient for the bones. There is that risk, but so far it seem like things are positive enough.
"The shoulder is a very demanding joint. Hopefully it's a little less than a year that I can play with a full swing but it's just so new and such a big injury there just a lot of unknowns. But I'm hopeful and the only thing I can do is to try and improve and take it day by day."
Andrea Pavan is recovering from his fall and surgery (Getty)
Pavan had been returning to his room to retrieve a locker key when the incident occurred.
He explained: "I walked back towards the elevator, I opened the door - one of those doors that get into the apartment straight away - and by the time I realised the lift wasn't there I'd already taken a step.
"The next thing I know I'm just at the bottom of the elevator, luckily not unconscious but in a lot of pain and screaming for help.
"Somebody heard and I was somehow able to get my phone out and call my caddie, who was in the car. From then on it was just trying to survive the pain and waiting for the ambulance and all the firefighters who got me out."
Pavan’s last win came at the 2019 BMW International Open, where he beat Matt Fitzpatrick in a play-off.
The Late Challenge podcast's Mo Stewart discussed Liverpool's 3-1 over Crystal Palace at the weekend with BBC Radio Merseyside.
The victory made it three league wins on the bounce for the Reds and one of the biggest takeaways from the game was the performance of third-choice goalkeeper, Freddie Woodman.
He made five saves, his highest total in a single match in the Premier League.
"That Liverpool performance wasn't a million miles away from the ones earlier on in the season," said Stewart.
"On Saturday, those chances came for Crystal Palace but they didn't go in. Chances came for Liverpool and they did.
"The fact Woodman got his name sung on The Kop, not only did they say he should be the new England goalkeeper, but I believe there's merch being made with his name on.
"Liverpool love a cult hero, and I think he's become one over the past two games."
Today’s Papers – Milan rebuild the attack, Juventus push for Alisson
La Gazzetta dello Sport
Amazing 5-4 in Paris
Champions as Martians
Nine goals in the first-leg semifinal: Bayern come back against PSG from 5-2.
Milan remake the attack
Leao leaves: everything changes. Zirkzee with Sorloth
United want Rafa. Nkunku, Fullkrug and Gimenez leave too. Pulisic can stay.
One referee talked with Rocchi at San Siro
Zappi out of AIA. FIGC, commissioner unlikely.
Dimarco, Inter unlock the renewal.
Juve, Bernardo Silva only with the top four.
Corriere dello Sport
AIA, clean house
Commissioner arriving: Zappi suspended for 13 months.
CONI reject the appeal: referees without a chief. FIGC wants to put the category under administration. Milan investigation: Rocchi won’t talk to the Prosecutor. Gervasoni awaited.
Inter, move for Paz
The big intrigue
The Argentine will leave Como, but his future remains uncertain
Nico wants to return to Real Madrid, and Ausilio is ready to make his move
Ten goals and seven assists in Serie A. Perez will bring him back to Madrid in July. The new Blancos coach’s verdict will be decisive. Marotta at the window, with a budget of 40-45m.
Alisson, Juventus risk the trick
The Reds are studying a possible extension for a further year: the alternative is De Gea
Milan, the striker with Nkunku’s money
The club’s request is at least 30m. Allegri will pick the striker on the market depending on the system.
Roma, meeting between Gasp and Friedkin
Market, new director and Totti’s return on the table. Dybala issue. One month to decide on Alajbegovic.
Kvaradona: Crazy PSG-Bayern
Tuttosport
Alisson-Juve: here are the figures
Further steps forward with the Brazilian goalkeeper who wants to leave Liverpool: principle of agreement.
The offer is worth €4.5m per season plus add-ons for three years. Agreement close. Sorrentino: ‘Unique and modern. Di Gregorio is a good keeper, but you need something more for the Scudetto.’ Stones says goodbye to City, Comolli looms. Lewa, new contact. Primavera: Coppa Italia Final at 17:00 CET against l’Atalanta.
Call it Arbitropoli for now
From the Prosecutor’s office: ‘Rocchi, possible combine at San Siro with other colleagues.’ The designator won’t appear before the prosecutor tomorrow. The lawyer: ‘Without documents…’ In the meantime, Zappi is no longer the AIA President: appeal rejected. Buonfiglio, CONI President: ‘FIGC commissioner? There are no conditions in place, I won’t let myself be influenced.’
‘The four penalties saved? I only remember errors from that night.’
The goalkeeper, protagonist of the Coppa Italia semifinal: ‘It’s stronger than me, I focus on mistakes. Buffon’s messages and Zoff’s words, so proud! Yildiz is an amazing talent.’
Real Madrid put academy star’s sale on hold, could accelerate ex-youngster’s return after Militao blow
According to MARCA, Eder Militao’s latest long-term injury has significantly altered Real Madrid’s planning for their defence.
As soon as the severity of the setback became clear, much of the club’s strategy for the centre-back position was effectively discarded.
Transfer Plans, renewals and uncertainty
Before the injury, Real Madrid had a relatively defined structure for next season. Militao and Dean Huijsen were expected to be key pillars, Antonio Rudiger was set to be offered a contract renewal, and David Alaba was not expected to continue beyond his contract.
Meanwhile, Raul Asencio had been considered transferable, with his potential sale seen as a way to fund the signing of a top-level central defender.
Additional options such as Jacobo Ramon, currently performing well at Como and with a buy-back clause, as well as academy players like Joan Martínez, Diego Aguado and Victor Valdepenas, were also part of the broader strategy.
However, Militao’s injury has changed that outlook completely. The concern is no longer just the recovery timeline, but whether he will return to his previous level and maintain long-term competitiveness.
Asencio’s exit on hold for now. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
With one of the defensive cornerstones now uncertain, Real Madrid may need to consider more than just their planned marquee signing.
Renewing Rudiger has become a priority. At the same time, the potential sale of Asencio is expected to be put on hold, as will any departures involving academy players such as Joan Martínez, Aguado and Valdepenas.
All three have attracted interest, but the club is reluctant to weaken its depth until the defensive situation is stabilised.
Jacobo Ramon to return?
In addition, the report states that the possible return of Jacobo Ramon could also be accelerated as a short-term reinforcement ahead of the summer.
The former La Fabrica graduate has been excelling since joining Como last summer and much like with Nico Paz, Real Madrid have a buyback clause for him for the next three summers.
And, considering how things are going with Militao, with him unlikely to return until September or October, the possibility of bringing Ramon back as early as this summer, instead of waiting until 2027, which was the initial plan, is being studied at Valdebebas.
Manchester United's youngsters are chasing silverware on a couple of fronts.
At under-21 level, Adam Lawrence's side beat Sunderland on Sunday to secure a Premier League 2 play-off quarter-final trip to Crystal Palace.
Darren Fletcher's under-18 side may miss out on the Premier League North title to Manchester City, but they have a chance to avenge that in the FA Youth Cup final against their neighbours.
For United's players, these matches are huge and could have a significant impact on who gets an opportunity to play a meaningful role in the early part of pre-season and push their claims for more involvement at senior level.
So who will be knocking on the first-team door come July?
JJ Gabriel: The 15-year-old is a star of the under-18 team and also top scorer in the Premier League under-18 league. His speed and balance sets him apart from other talents at the same age. He is only lacking physical stature, which is another reason why his progress is being monitored so closely. He has trained regularly with the first team this season, and had rules around his age been different - he was 14 at the start of the season - he would almost certainly have been called up to the senior matchday squad before now.
Bendito Mantato: Despite being currently injured, he was one of the young players involved in what turned out to be Ruben Amorim's only pre-season tour as manager last summer. The 18-year-old was the only United player named in England's under-17 World Cup squad and he made his senior debut as a second-half substitute against Wolves at Old Trafford in December. A right-sided player, he has been used as a forward mainly but he is also capable of featuring at full-back.
Tyler Fletcher: The son of former United midfielder Darren Fletcher. He seems to have nudged slightly ahead of twin brother Jack in the Old Trafford pecking order. An effective holding midfield player with excellent awareness and ability to provide cover in deeper positions. Given his senior debut by Michael Carrick in February, he has been on the first-team bench a further 11 times and seems certain to push on next season.
Shammi Silva (L) at a press conference in 2023 (Ishara S. KODIKARA)
Sri Lanka's government took control of the island's cricket board on Wednesday, saying it was a temporary measure designed to pave the way for "structural reforms".
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is the country's wealthiest sporting body but has been plagued by allegations of corruption and mismanagement.
World governing body the International Cricket Council suspended Sri Lanka for two months in 2023-2024 citing political interference in the running of the national board.
"All administrative functions of Sri Lanka Cricket will be temporarily brought under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, effective today," the ministry said.
A committee will be appointed shortly "to address the current issues in cricket and implement structural reforms", it added.
Four-time SLC president Shammi Silva resigned on Tuesday, along with his entire committee, after the government intervened.
A government source said former investment banker and opposition politician Eran Wickramaratne will likely be named new head of the board.
AFP has contacted the ICC for comment.
Sri Lanka made an early exit from the T20 World Cup, which it co-hosted with India in February–March.
Stuttgart set to remove release clause from Angelo Stiller’s contract
As reported by Mirko Di Natale, Stuttgart are willing to pay a €2m to fee to remove the release clause from the contract of their star midfielder, Angelo Stiller.
The 25-year-old has been attracting interest from across the continent for a few seasons now, and it looks like he may finally be on the move this summer.
With 48 appearances across all competitions, the Germany international has again been dictating play from the base of Stuttgart’s midfield and has helped them reach the DFB-Pokal final and remain in the hunt for Champions League football.
The Swabians are fourth in the Bundesliga table with three games to go, level on points with fifth-placed Hoffenheim and two points off sixth-placed Bayer Leverkusen; they’re yet to face both.
Stiller has a €36.5m release clause in his €4.53m-per-year contract, which still has two years remaining. Stuttgart are willing to pay €2 million to eliminate this clause and are expected to hold out for a fee in the region of €50 million to let him go this summer.
Manchester United have been linked with a move for Stiller in recent days, while Juventus have made initial contact with his entourage.
Arsenal travel to face Atletico Madrid in the first leg of theirChampions League semi-final this evening.
The North Londoners will need to deal with the threat of Alvarez, who has scored nine goals in 13 European games this season.
Arsenal have been named as admirers of the Argentina international, as the Gunners seek to make a statement striker signing in the summer.
The 26-year-old has emerged as one of Europe's top centre-forwards since signing for Atletico from Manchester City, and the Spanish side value Alvarez in excess of £100m.
He is a player well known to Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta, who oversaw his move to Atletico from thePremier League in 2024.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Wednesday, Simeone said Arsenal are interested in a deal. However, the Atletico Madrid manager said the Gunners face competition from Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
"I'm not inside Julian Alvarez's head,"Simeone said when asked if transfer speculation would impact Alvarez.
"It's normal that an extraordinary player like Julian Alvarez is wanted by Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona. It's normal because he's very good."
MADRID (AP) — Atletico Madrid and Arsenal begin a Champions League semifinal series Wednesday, with both clubs trying to return to the final after a long absence and aiming to win the competition for the first time.
Atletico last played in the semifinals in 2016, when it reached the final before losing to city rival Real Madrid. Arsenal last appeared in the final in 2006, when it lost to Barcelona.
“It’s a huge objective, something the club has never achieved,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone said Tuesday. “But it’s a soccer match and, ultimately, it’s the players who decide these games.”
Simeone could be without striker Ademola Lookman, who missed the last two games because of a muscle issue.
Kai Havertz has been ruled out for Arsenal. The Germany international was substituted in the first half of Arsenal’s win over Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday because of a muscle injury. Jurrien Timber also won’t make it to Wednesday’s match.
Arsenal was eliminated by eventual champion Paris Saint-Germain in last year’s semifinals.
PSG edged Bayern Munich 5-4 at home Tuesday in the first leg of the other semifinal.
England pacer Myles Davis produced one of the rarest moments in cricket history after taking six wickets in six balls for Penkridge Cricket Club during a South Staffordshire County League Premier Division clash against Pelsall Cricket Club on Saturday.
The fast bowler achieved the extraordinary double hat-trick as Penkridge sealed a dominant 116-run victory. After Penkridge were bowled out for 168, Pelsall appeared steady at 49-2 before Davis unleashed a spell that stunned players and spectators alike.
Having already taken one wicket earlier in the innings, Davis began the ninth over with a wide before dramatically changing the course of the match.
He clean bowled two batters with the final two deliveries of the over, prompting teammates watching from the sidelines to pull out their phones in anticipation of a hat-trick ball.
In the next over, the first delivery brought another wicket, with a catch taken down the leg side by the wicketkeeper. Davis then continued the destruction by bowling the next three batters in succession, rattling stumps repeatedly to leave Pelsall reeling at 49-9.
“It’s still a bit surreal, but it’s an amazing achievement,” Davis told BBC Midlands Today.
“I didn’t know what to think, to be honest. When the fourth [wicket] happened I was just amazed and it just carried on. I couldn’t believe it.”
Watch:
— bbctms (@bbctms)
Davis finished with remarkable figures of 7-16 from six overs, joining an exclusive list of bowlers to have taken six wickets in six balls.
According to Penkridge chairman John Price, the feat has occurred only seven times worldwide, making Davis the first adult male in the UK to achieve it.
“So it’s a massive achievement and we’re super proud,” Price said.
The electrician almost missed the game altogether but was able to play after a colleague covered his shift.
“A shout-out to my work colleague who covered me so I could actually play,” Davis added. “I don’t think there’s any topping that.”
🏎️ F1 returns, new on track! Miami GP streaming only on NOW 🔥
The Formula 1®is ready to return! After the long break caused by the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GPs, the world championship is back, and it does so with one of the most anticipated Grands Prix of the year, the Miami GP.
Things resume with the Mercedes dominance seen in the first three rounds, with Russell’s win on debut followed by the double triumph of ‘our own’ Kimi Antonelli.
The standings see the Italian ahead of his teammate by 9 points. Leclerc is third, chasing with a 23-point gap, ahead of his teammate, Hamilton.
Ferrari wants to keep improving to confirm itself as the second force in the World Championship, while waiting for the power unit changes scheduled for June, which could also turn the situation upside down, opening up interesting scenarios, especially in the title fight!
🏎️ Technical updates!
There is a lot of anticipation for this GP, which brings updates that could shake up the balance.
The most important package of updates mainly concerns the single lap and therefore qualifying, during which battery recharge time will be reduced, giving drivers the chance to be more aggressive.
👀 Miami Grand Prix: time and when it takes place
So when does it start? It all begins with free practice on Friday from 6:00 PM Italian time. Then at 10:30 PM, it will be time for sprint race qualifying, with the sprint taking place on Saturday at 6:00 PM.
After the sprint, it will be time for race qualifying, starting at 10:00 PM. On Sunday, meanwhile, it’s lights out! The start is again at 10:00 PM.
🖥️ How to watch NOW and how much it costs
On NOW you can follow all the adrenaline of Formula 1®, exclusively via streaming. But that’s not all! Because with NOW, you won’t miss a single minute of MotoGP, top-level tennis with the ATP Tour and WTA Tour tournaments, including the Nitto ATP Finals, the WTA Finals, the US Open, and the prestigious exclusive rights to Wimbledon through 2030.
The offer continues with the best of basketball: the NBA Playoffs, the LBA Playoffs, and the EuroLeague and BKT EuroCup Playoffs. Then there’s volleyball, rugby, golf, athletics, and many other unmissable sports available with the Sport Pass.
And then there’s top football, with Serie A and three European cups, starting with the UEFA Champions League, with 185 of the 203 matches each season exclusively streaming, as well as all matches of the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League, also thanks to Diretta Gol. Plus the Serie BKT Playoff finals, one of the most exciting leagues in the world. A package made even more valuable by the recent renewal of UEFA rights through 2031, confirming and strengthening a portfolio of competitions like no other. The football offering continues with Serie C Sky WIFI, the Premier League, the best of the Bundesliga and Ligue 1: all available to stream, wherever and whenever you want.
Watching sport on NOW, in fact, is very simple: just download the app on a modern smart TV or on mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones. The cost is €19.99 for the annual plan.
Alternatively, you can take out a subscription for €29.99 per month with automatic monthly renewal, with the option to cancel at any time.
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - APRIL 12: Cristian Romero of Tottenham Hotspur is seen crying during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur at Stadium of Light on April 12, 2026 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Barcelona sporting director Deco is reportedly eyeing Tottenham star Cristian Romero as a potential alternative to Alessandro Bastoni this summer.
According to Diario Sport, Barca have been in touch with Romero’s camp to discuss the possibility of a summer move to Camp Nou.
Romero is seen as an experienced, aggressive, quick defender with strong leadership skills. He is a right footer but is described as a “born leader” and a player with the personality to play for Barca.
The Argentina international is set to leave Tottenham if they do go down and won’t be able to help them in their fight against relegation after being ruled out of their final matches due to a knee injury.
Barcelona to hold title parade immediately after securing La Liga crown
According to Mundo Deportivo, FC Barcelona have decided that their LaLiga title parade will take place immediately after being crowned champions.
Following internal discussions, in which some voices suggested waiting until after the Clasico on 10 May, the club has opted to celebrate as soon as possible.
If the team led by Hansi Flick secure the title this Sunday, the parade is expected to take place on Monday, 4 May.
This would allow supporters to greet the players and coaching staff as they travel through the main streets of Barcelona on an open-top bus.
Parade to take place immediately after La Liga title is secured. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
For Barcelona to be crowned this weekend, they must defeat CA Osasuna on Saturday, while Real Madrid would need to drop points against RCD Espanyol on Sunday.
If the title is instead secured on 10 May after the Clasico, the celebrations would take place the following day, Monday 11 May.
Only the men’s team will take part in the parade. The women’s team, already champions of the Liga F Moeve, are expected to wait in case they also win the UEFA Women’s Champions League final on 23 May in Oslo.
This would come one week after their Copa de la Reina final against Atletico Madrid in Las Palmas.
The exact route of the parade is still to be confirmed with the city council. However, in both 2023 and 2025, the celebrations began at the Spotify Camp Nou and concluded at the Arc de Triomf.
Fabrizio Romano confirms massive offer for star player
Fabrizio Romano has confirmed a massive offer has been made to a star player.
This summer is promising to be a bigger one than even last summer at Liverpool. So much change happened last year but this year the change could be far bigger.
It already is.
Mo Salah is leaving for pastures new. Andy Robertson is also expected to leave the club. On top of that Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones could both be sold. And there's uncertainty over the future of Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez.
Who knows whether Ibrahima Konate will sign a new contract, too. Although that at least appears to be close.
Amid so much upheaval Liverpool are going to have to invest heavily into the market again. Midfielders and wingers are going to be Liverpool's priority - in the centre-back department they've already secured the future of Jeremy Jacquet and Ifeanyi Ndukwe, who are both joining the club this summer.
But the departures may not end there. Liverpool could be losing yet another one of their stars for whom a European giant has made a massive offer.
Who has been Liverpool's best players during the Jurgen Klopp era?
You could argue Salah was up there. Van Dijk definitely is a massive contender.
Then there are other names like Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, without whom none of it would have been the same.
Firmino and Mane left Anfield sooner than those aforementioned players but they were all equally important to the success the club had under Klopp.
However, if we are to say who played the biggest role and who transformed Liverpool completely it would have to be Alisson Becker.
Let's be honest, before Alisson came along Liverpool were in a dire goalkeeper situation. Loris Karius and Simon Mignolet were simply not at the level where the Reds wanted to be.
Alisson was - he was the best goalkeeper on the planet and throughout his time at Liverpool he has been instrumental in maintaining that status and saving Liverpool from defeats time and time again.
However, his time could now be up at Anfield as well.
Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that he's been offered a massive deal at Juventus, who are prepared to give him a 2+1 year contract, longer than Liverpool's terms.
“On the other side, Juventus are prepared to offer two plus one or even three years at the club to the Brazilian goalkeeper," Romano said.
That is going to be an enticing proposal for the Brazilian who will be thinking about his long-term future.
For Liverpool, losing Alisson would be a massive set-back.
The Reds' goalkeeping department is well-stocked of talented young goalkeepers coming through. Giorgi Mamardashvili is among them. Vitezslav Jaros is also very highly rated.
Meanwhile, Armin Pecsi and Kornel Misciur have also both produced impressive performances at academy level.
But right now none of them are ready to replace Alisson, which would mean the Reds would have to dip into the market once again.
Duncan Scott reckons he was about 10 the first time he visited Tollcross Swimming Centre in the east end of Glasgow.
It was where he first qualified for a junior competition. Where, as a wide-eyed 17-year-old, he earned his debut Commonwealth Games medal in 2014. And where he won his first individual European title four years later.
This summer, that wee boy will return as the big man in Team Scotland for Glasgow 2026. A eight-time Olympic medalist and his country's most decorated Commonwealth Games athlete of all time. A big ticket.
"I love this place," Scott tells BBC Sport as he glances around the refurbished venue. "It holds a lot of good memories and a few vital moments in my career and I hope this summer continues that."
The 28-year-old was speaking to mark the reopening of Tollcross after a £3.75m glow up in time for this summer's reimagined event, with the cost shared between the local authority and Games organisers.
Saving pools from closure has long been a passion project for Scott, an erudite advocate for the importance of people learning to swim as well as the role such centres play as community hubs.
But while a refreshed Tollcross will contribute to that, it is the week or so when the pool will be unavailable for public use that are the key dates in Scott's summer.
The Alloa swimmer clanked back up the road from the Birmingham Games four years ago with six medals around his neck - 200m free and 200m medley gold adding to four bronzes.
It took his tally to 13 across three Games and propelled his past the record held by shooter Alister Allan. And few would bet against him butressing it further this year.
Scott has yet to decide which events to enter in Glasgow, but concedes he is likely to take on a slightly less frantic schedule than in 2022 given he has "four more years in the legs and arms".
"There's a few individual ones I'd like to swim and I'm always willing to put my hand up for the relays, because that's a big thing in Team Scotland," he adds.
"But the records are not something that I ever get too caught up in, and it's not something that really motivates me. Don't get me wrong, I'm incredibly grateful that I've won the medals I have but it's just about getting better all the time for me."
When Xavi Simons' knee gave way, many of us thought that was it. All season, when Spurs have come face to face with adversity, they have crumbled. It has left us questioning the players' desire and mental fortitude. But on Saturday they stood tall, and for the first time since relegation came calling, I felt a strange sense of hope. Survival no longer feels impossible, but we will have to graft for it.
There was very little to get excited about in this meat-and-potatoes 1-0 win, but right now, for a team that has lost the habit of winning, keeping pace while those around us picked up three points was crucial. We cannot allow the gap to safety to become a two-result swing.
Longer term, Xavi's ACL injury will force a rethink. He was our last creative passer and attacking midfielder left standing. With James Maddison seemingly reduced to a role on the bench as a cheerleader, we have no one left to knit together a makeshift front line and workmanlike midfield.
How Spurs line up against Villa may be one of the biggest tactical tests Roberto de Zerbi has faced. Since his arrival, our build-up play has improved, but our attacks continue to break down 18 yards from goal. The players receiving the ball look short of confidence in themselves and each other, or, more damningly, simply short of quality.
Against Wolves, we looked bright for the opening spell, but it did not take long for them to realise there was no real threat. It was like turning on the light in a child's bedroom and revealing that the monster in the corner was nothing more than a pile of clothes.
Despite that, there is something to cling to. The players are showing determination. They are throwing themselves into challenges, attacking loose balls, and we once again look a threat from set pieces.
There is nothing pretty about how we are playing, but when you are down in the mud, the only option is to embrace it. I would take four more scrappy 1-0 wins between now and the end of the season in a heartbeat. We are still in this fight, just.
The sight of empty seats in the Manchester City end at Wembley for Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against Southampton has inevitably triggered the usual cycle of lazy jibes from rival fans.
But for anyone living in the real world - and certainly outside of the vacuum of social media point-scoring - the lack of a sell-out is not an indictment of loyalty, but a symptom of staggering success and economic reality.
Under Pep Guardiola, a trip to England's showpiece venue has shifted from a once-in-a-generation opportunity to a routine commitment. Since 2011, City have visited the national stadium 33 times, and the weekend's clash against the Saints was Guardiola's 25th Wembley appearance alone, including the Premier League meetings with Tottenham in 2018.
For a fanbase largely based in the North West, the novelty of the M6 has long since worn off.
Factor in the real-life logistics - a return train from Manchester to London Euston can comfortably exceed £100, while match tickets, stadium food, and drinks push the cost of a single day trip toward the £300 mark. Now, imagine what it would take for a family of four - that's over £1,000 for a Saturday trip.
To expect the average fan to bankroll this every few weeks, or certainly multiple times across a season, in the FA Cup, League Cup, Community Shield, and semi-finals of the former is bordering on delusional.
With Manchester City now having reached a historic four consecutive FA Cup finals, supporters have been forced to prioritise.
When facing Southampton - a Championship side City were favourites to beat, irrespective of the Saints' brilliant form in recent months - it is perfectly logical for fans to save their hard-earned cash for what some would deem as an inevitable final appearance next month. And that is now what we have on the cards, once again, as Chelsea await.
Why pay a premium for a semi-final that many would agree should be played at a neutral northern or Midlands ground like Villa Park, when the showpiece final is just around the corner? Wembley is Wembley, the ultimate reward for conquering every round, not for reaching the last-four.
In an era of soaring living costs, City fans chose to back their team where it matters most. As Pep Guardiola himself noted after the 2-1 win, they will be there for the final. And to suggest otherwise is to ignore the physical and financial exhaustion that comes with unparalleled dominance.
Cruzeiro win over Boca Juniors ends in chaos at Mineirão 📹
After the final whistle confirmed Cruzeiro’s 1-0 win over Boca Juniors on Tuesday night (28), the Mineirão pitch became the scene of a major scuffle involving players from both teams.
The tension, which had already been building throughout the 90 minutes, exploded as soon as the match ended.
Players and members of the Argentine side’s coaching staff left the bench and went after the Cruzeiro players, setting off a heated shoving match.
The origin of the scuffle
The incident was sparked when Argentine player Leandro Paredes confronted midfielder Matheus Pereira right after the final whistle.
Tensions between the two had already been high from the opening minutes, when Paredes was shown a yellow card (before the 10-minute mark) for chesting up to Raposa’s No. 10.
That final confrontation caused a crowd to gather and inflamed tempers on both sides.
Despite the tense scenes and the widespread arguing, Cruzeiro’s players tried to calm things down and, fortunately, the episode did not escalate into physical violence. Little by little, tempers cooled and the players headed down to the locker rooms.
Gamesmanship and a heroic win
With the ball rolling, the Group Stage Matchday 3 clash was marked by high intensity, hard fouls, and the traditional Argentine gamesmanship.
The referee had plenty of work: he handed out nine yellow cards and sent off a Boca Juniors player in the first half.
Showing emotional intelligence, Artur Jorge’s team did not fall for the provocation and managed to finish the match without having any player sent off.
The team’s patience paid off late on. In the final minutes of the match, Neyser Villarreal scored the goal that sealed the 1-0 win and sent the Cruzeiro fans at the Mineirão into celebration.
There is a huge amount to be said for how desperation can affect teams in a positive way.
Spurs, Nottingham Forest and West Ham each won in the Premier League this weekend. You will search long and hard to find a weekend when that happened this season as they have all struggled to fight clear of relegation.
It is the main reason why predictions are almost impossible at this time of the season. Teams and players cannot be at 100% for every game, but when desperation kicks in, you will get every ounce of effort, even if you can lose some calmness and composure as a result.
Forest and West Ham have been in this mindset for a while now, but it is only now that Spurs have finally woken up and smelled the very bitter coffee.
It was however one of the best 10-minute spells in the league this season when Spurs scored in the 82nd minute to grab two extra points against Wolves. Back in London, West Ham conceded a goal to Everton in the 88th minute, seemingly dropping two of the three points they were holding.
A four-point swing in six minutes was huge at the bottom of the table. But just a few minutes later, West Ham struck through Callum Wilson to grab those two points back again.
In these days of updates live on your phone and all modern technology it was radio gold on BBC 5 Live.
I have listened back to Ian Dennis as he reported on it all happening live and it reminded me why football, even without pictures, can be the best entertainment imaginable. The good news is it is all very likely to happen again and again before the season ends.
Former UC quarterback Brendan Sorsby has taken an indefinite leave of absence, just after signing a deal with Texas Tech for his college season, according to the Associated Press.
The 22-year-old started his college career at Indiana University in 2022, then transferred to Cincinnati, where he played the last two seasons.
ESPN reports, citing unidentified sources, that Sorsby allegedly made “thousands of online bets on a variety of sports via a gambling app.”
He reportedly bet on Indiana games in 2022 and only to win. Sorsby did not place a wager on the only game he appeared in that season, ESPN reports.
Sorsby left Cincinnati for a reported $5 million from Texas Tech, the AP said.
Cincinnati declined to comment. They previously announced back in February that they would sue Sorsby for allegedly breaching his name, image, and likeness (NIL) contract.
Sorsby started 31 of 35 games and threw for over 7,200 yards and 60 touchdowns.
He has almost 1,300 rushing yards and 22 rushing touchdowns in his college career.
“There’s a major shakeup in Philadelphia. The Phillies fired manager Rob Thomson on Tuesday morning. Don Mattingly is the interim skipper, with the team’s press release saying he’ll hold that position for the remainder of the 2026 season,” MLB Trade Rumors’ Anthony Franco wrote.
The Phillies have moved forward with Don Mattingly as interim manager, but before that decision, the organization reportedly reached out to another high-profile candidate. Phillies president of baseball operations extended the opportunity to recently fired Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora.
“Alex Cora was offered the Philadelphia Phillies' managerial job before Don Mattingly, but declined. He has decided to spend time with his family,” USA Today’s Bob Nightengale posted.
At first glance, the move appeared to be a reach, but Cora’s ties to Dave Dombrowski trace back to their time together in Boston. Even though he declined the offer for now, there is no clear indication he would do so again after the season concludes.
“If you've got a World Series ring, you immediately jump to the top of any list like this. That Cora won that ring with the Red Sox in 2018, when current Phillies boss Dave Dombrowski was Boston's president of baseball operations, only adds more fuel to the fire here,” FanSided’s Chris Landers wrote. “It's clear that Dombrowski still thinks highly of Cora, and presumably the feeling is mutual. Cora had no reason to accept the offer in the middle of a dysfunctional season, but when the dust settles this winter — you know, assuming Dombrowski is still around by then — he figures to be No. 1 on the wish list.”
The Phillies are in need of a manager capable of maximizing a win-now core while it is still intact. Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, and others are entering the latter stages of their careers, making the urgency for a championship even greater.
Cora has the postseason experience and track record to lead a contender deep into October. It is hard to imagine Dombrowski making a long-term managerial hire without at least making another call to Cora.
The legendary maker of Hall of Fame (HOF) GeForce GPUs, known for their exceptional overclocking capabilities, GALAX, is officially closing its operations after 30 years in business. GALAX, along with its KFA2 brand for the European market, will now be closed, with existing product inquiries managed by Palit—one of the largest GPU add-in card (AIC) manufacturers and a significant NVIDIA partner. Founded in Hong Kong in 1994, GALAX distinguished itself by creating high-performance designs with NVIDIA GeForce GPUs, particularly known for its HOF series. These iconic white-themed designs feature massive VRM circuitry for overclocking and higher-binned dies suitable for LN2 extreme overclocking scenarios. Over the past few generations, multiple world overclocking GPU records were achieved with GALAX HOF cards, and the brand has maintained that design language throughout the years.
After more than 30 years in business, GALAX is closing its operations, and these will be transferred to Palit, which will take full responsibility for "all activities and commitments related to the brand." This includes RMA services, warranty claims, product launches, and more. Interestingly, the announcement does not mention that the GALAX branding will be phased out. Only the actual company operations will be integrated into Palit. It's possible that Palit will retain the GALAX branding and its HOF name, which is well-known for high-performance overclocking among enthusiasts. It's worth noting that GALAX and its sister brand KFA2 have been operating for years with Palit's support as the parent company, so it's uncertain if the brand will continue its market presence under different management. GALAX and KFA2 have been sub-companies of Palit, and management claims that now is the time to unite all of Palit's brands under one roof.
Update 11:05 UTC: Palit confirmed that the current GALAX branding will continue to be present on the market.
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French holiday bookings for May bank holidays have jumped 15.20% compared to the same period last year, according to a new study by vacation rental platform Particulier à Particulier (PAP). The rebound follows a slight […]
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Samsung doesn’t roll out two software updates in one month quite often. Meanwhile, April 2026 is marking a rare month for Galaxy S26 series, in which the company is releasing the second update, following the initial drop at the beginning.
Earlier this month, Galaxy S26 series received the April security patches. The firmware was then expanded to more countries, including the US. Beyond that, Verizon pushed the second OTA in the same month recently.
At first, I assumed the second April update would remain limited to Verizon-branded Galaxy phones in the US. Meanwhile, Samsung has started rolling out Galaxy S26 lineup’s second April update in more regions.
Camera fixes included?
Samsung has acknowledged plenty of Galaxy S26 Ultra camera issues. One of the biggest problems is linked to the close-up shots on the S26 Ultra. Moderators have been promising a fix in the next update, “releasing in the future.”
It seems Samsung is finally bringing fixes to the Galaxy S26’s camera problems. Since the update is rolling out in South Korea, users can evaluate the camera performance.
Samsung was under pressure over continuous camera reports. The team was swiftly working on the firmware to address the glitches. There’s a high possibility that this rare April release is aimed at refining the camera experience.
It’s worth noting that Galaxy S25 series has also received the second April update in the US.
How to update?
To update your Samsung phone’s software, open Settings and then Software update. From here, tap Download and install and finish the process by hitting Install/Restart now.
The refreshed Legion Y70 gaming phone is set to launch in China on May 19, 2026, and Lenovo has already shared a few key specs. Now, the company has disclosed that the smartphone will sport a large, endurance-focused 8,000mAh battery.
Vivo’s sub-brand, iQoo, has revealed the Neo 10 will be available in two new color shades alongside the Inferno Red and Titanium Chrome. Though, specs-wise, these new colors are likely to share similar specs with the previous models. iQoo will launch two new colors on April 30 in India.
The OnePlus SuperVOOC 120W power bank has been officially launched in China. This new portable charger features a 15,000mAh rated capacity and one USB-A and one USB-C port. The retail price in China is CNY 299, around $44.
A rare $5,100 MSI GeForce RTX 5090 Lightning Z became unbootable after its owner attempted a DIY resistor mod, tearing pads and PCB traces near the GPU die. California repair specialist NorthridgeFix rebuilt the damaged traces and replaced missing components without schematics or donor boards, restoring the card to a successful POST pending full reassembly and stress testing.
Xiaomi opened up its Android 17 Developer Preview program today, with the first three devices eligible to try it. The Xiaomi 17, 17 Ultra and the 15T Pro can receive the update, with broader device support coming in the future.
The Android Developer Program allows early access to the upcoming version of the OS, and as the name implies, developers are able to test their apps in the new software environment. However, this release signals a shift in Xiaomi's naming strategy for its HyperOS overlay.
It looks like Xiaomi won't jump to HyperOS 4, but will pair HyperOS 3.3 with Android 17....
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French holiday bookings for May bank holidays have jumped 15.20% compared to the same period last year, according to a new study by vacation rental platform Particulier à Particulier (PAP). The rebound follows a slight […] 
Travellers planning an Italian getaway in 2026 may face higher overnight costs as more municipalities raise or introduce tourist taxes across the country. A new report says 1,411 municipalities are expected to apply the charge […] 
Transavia, the low-cost subsidiary of the Air France-KLM group, is canceling a portion of its flights in May and June as soaring kerosene prices squeeze airline budgets across Europe. The carrier confirmed the schedule changes […] 
