In honor of International Women’s Day, the company provided information on the topics women were most engaged in, which included an evolving interest in women’s sports.

Jay Graber will transition to a new role as chief innovation officer while former Automattic CEO Toni Schneider steps in as interim CEO.

The artificial intelligence chatbot is under new regulatory investigation in the U.K. after users prompted it to roast certain people and groups using "unhinged mode.”

In a new overview, the company provided details on how its Safe browsing feature operates within direct messaging via Advanced Browsing Protection.

The company said women including Brittany Wilson Isenhour, Gym Tan and Madison Humphrey were driving discussions in the app. 

The expanded suite of ad features includes a live sports API and official team content as the app looks to connect with its growing user base in the region.

Barcelona have been tasked by Hansi Flick to show they can deal with the spending power of “the best league in the world” when they face Newcastle United on Tuesday. The LaLiga leaders make the trip to St. James’ for the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie, with this the second meeting […]

The post Barcelona out to show they can handle ´best league in the world´, says Flick appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Barcelona out to show they can handle ´best league in the world´, says Flick appeared first on Soccer News.

Eddie Howe has challenged his Newcastle United players to seize the moment and follow in the footsteps of the side who defeated Barcelona in 1997. Newcastle are preparing to welcome Barcelona to St. James’ Park in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie on Tuesday. It is the second time the two […]

The post Howe urges Newcastle to create Champions League history against Barcelona appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Howe urges Newcastle to create Champions League history against Barcelona appeared first on Soccer News.

The pre-White House fighting has begun.

Dana White and Jon Jones have trading shots, albeit outside the Octagon.

It started Saturday after White announced the fight card for the White House event to be held on June 14. Jones, widely considered the greatest fighter in UFC history, was a notable omission from the card.

White addressed the matter later that night during a press conference after the conclusion of UFC 326.

 “Never ever, ever, which I told you guys 100,000 times, was Jon Jones even remotely in my mind to fight at the White House," the UFC's CEO said, adding that Jones is suffering from arthritis of the hips that will keep him from fighting again.

Jones, who is 38 and last fought in November 2024, responded via his X account Monday, March 9.

“My team and I were actually negotiating with the UFC for that fight,’’ Jones wrote. “Real negotiations. I even came down from my original number, and what was I offered in return? I was lowballed.’’

Jones did not cite a specific dollar figure, but he said his team was negotiating as late as Friday.

He also said he received stem cell treatment last week to get ready for the White House card and was scheduled to start training on Monday.

“Yes, I have arthritis in my hip and it’s painful, but that doesn’t mean I can’t fight,’’ Jones said. “So let me get this straight, if I had accepted the lowball offer, suddenly my hip would be fine and I’d be on the White House card? That doesn’t make sense.’’

Jones, a former UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight champion, has a career record of 28-1.

"I understand business deals fall through sometimes, but going out publicly and saying things that aren’t true isn’t right,'' Jones wrote. "After everything I’ve given to the UFC , the years, the title defenses, the fights, hearing that I’m 'done' is disappointing. Especially when as recently as Friday UFC was calling me trying to get me on that White House card for a much lower number.

"If the UFC truly feels like I’m done, then I respectfully ask to be released from my contract today. No more spins, no more games. Thank you to the real fans who know what’s up.''

Conor McGregor, who lobbied to fight on the White House card, was another notable ommission. White said the UFC is in talks with McGregor but has not selected a fight date.

McGregor, 37, has not fought since July 2021, when he suffered a broken leg in a loss Dustin Poirier.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jon Jones disputes Dana White's UFC White House event comments

The Carolina Panthers might be closer to adding their new No. 2 passer.

According to ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter, the Panthers have reached a deal with free-agent quarterback Kenny Pickett. The pact, per Schefter, is a one-year agreement worth up to $7.5 million and includes $4 million in guarantees.

Pickett was the first quarterback taken in the 2022 NFL Draft, when the Pittsburgh Steelers selected him with that year's 20th overall pick. The University of Pittsburgh standout, however, would last just two seasons in his first pro home—as he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in March of 2024.

Over his four NFL campaigns, Pickett—who also picked up stops with the Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders—has started in 27 of his 36 appearances while throwing for 4,953 yards, 16 touchdowns, 16 interceptions, a 62.4-percent completion rate and a 78.2 passer rating.

Depending on the future of 15th-year veteran Andy Dalton, the 27-year-old Pickett could assume the backup role behind starter Bryce Young going into the 2026 season.

Follow our free agency tracker for all the latest moves.

Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.

This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: NFL free agency: Panthers reportedly reach deal with QB Kenny Pickett

The Seattle Seahawks always had a need for Rashid Shaheed's speed.

Shaheed has agreed to terms to return to the Seahawks in free agency, according to reports. He will sign a three-year deal worth $51 million.

The 27-year-old was considered the 10th-best player in free agency this year, according to USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis. He checked in as the third-best receiver, ranking behind Alec Pierce. George Pickens ranked as the top free agent at the position, but he was franchise tagged by the Dallas Cowboys.

Shaheed hasn't been known to post flashy numbers at receiver, but his speed certainly opens up an offense. He totaled just 687 receiving yards in 2025 after splitting time with the New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks, but Shaheed can make an impact in many ways.

A special teams star, his skillset was on full display throughout the Seahawks' Super Bowl run. He might not profile as a WR1 in an offense, but that isn't the expectation.

Here's a look at the contract details for Shaheed and where he fits on the depth chart in Seattle:

Rashid Shaheed contract details

Shaheed inked a three-year, $51 million deal. Here's a look at the full terms, per multiple reports:

• Term: Three years
• Total contract value: $51 million
• Average annual value (AAV): $17 million
• Guaranteed money: $34.7 million

Seahawks WR depth chart

• Jaxon Smith-Njigba
• Rashid Shaheed
• Cooper Kupp

Shahid is now the highest-paid wide receiver on the Seahawks with Smith-Njigba still on a rookie contract. Shahid will remain in the mix as a second or third option on Seattle's wide receivers depth chart, joining a group that also includes Smith-Njigba and Kupp.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rashid Shaheed contract details: Free agent WR signs with Seahawks

Manchester United have entered the race for AS Monaco attacking talent Maghnes Akliouche, as per reports.

Akliouche made plenty of headlines in France with his “standout display” during his side’s 3-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes on Friday. 

Now, a report suggests that the French sensation’s performance might have raised a few eyebrows in Manchester and Liverpool as well.

Manchester United and Liverpool monitoring Maghnes Akliouche

According to Teamtalk, Manchester United and Liverpool have joined the “growing list of admirers” for Maghnes Akliouche.

Liverpool are thought to have added Akliouche to their shortlist as they assess potential attacking reinforcements to fill Mohamed Salah’s void next season.

Their scouts were allegedly present in Paris to watch Akliouche in action. Akliouche did not disappoint, scoring Monaco’s opening goal and assisting their third in a convincing win against the Ligue 1 leaders. 

Interestingly, it is believed that representatives from United were also in attendance, with the Old Trafford club “emerging as a fresh admirer of the Monaco playmaker.”

Manchester United looking to sign versatile attacker

United are reportedly “actively exploring the market for an attacking midfielder capable of operating across the front line”.

The 24-year-old “jaw-dropping” Frenchman, who has six goals and seven assists to his name for the Principality outfit this term, is highly rated for his versatility and creativity.

Last summer, Pep Guardiola reportedly tried to lure the €70m-rated Akliouche to Manchester City, but Monaco managed to keep hold of their star.

The technically gifted player thrives in tight spaces because of his dribbling ability and spatial awareness. However, his tendency to drift inside in the final third could prove to be a stumbling block for United.

The Red Devils’ attack is already congested with wide forwards who play their best football centrally, and they are instead crying out for a winger who hugs the touchline and stretches the backline.

Accordingly, United would be better off signing someone like RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande in the summer.

Featured image Gualter Fatia via Getty Images

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THE PLAYERS Championship returns to TPC Sawgrass this week, bringing with it tens of thousands of fans and a massive financial windfall for the local community. Beyond the world-class golf on the Stadium Course, the event serves as a primary engine for the local economy, with impacts felt far beyond the event itself.

According to the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce, the tournament is expected to generate roughly $150 million in economic impact for the Northeast Florida region. Scott Maynard, the Chamber’s Senior Vice President of Economic Development, notes that the influx of visitors creates a “big number” that local businesses have been counting on.

Officials expect over 200,000 unique visitors to pass through the gates this week. While the total regional impact is vast, Maynard highlights that approximately $40 million of that is direct economic impact.

“We see all of these visitors staying in our hotels and our short-term rental units, eating in our restaurants, visiting our bars,” Maynard said. He also noted a significant uptick in local spending on services like rideshares as fans navigate the area.

The Chamber emphasizes that the benefits of the tournament do not end when the final putt drops on Sunday. The global exposure often inspires fans to return to the area later in the year to play the iconic Stadium Course themselves or vacation in St. Johns County.

When factoring in these return visits and year-round tourism tied to the tournament’s prestige, the total annual economic impact of TPC is estimated at $234 million.

Local charities are also set to benefit from the week’s festivities. The tournament typically generates between $8 million and $9 million in annual charitable donations for the Northeast Florida community. This continues a long-standing tradition of philanthropy; since moving to Ponte Vedra Beach in 1977, THE PLAYERS has donated more than $100 million to local causes.

Practice rounds are scheduled to begin Tuesday, with official tournament play starting Thursday. In addition to the economic boost, fans attending this year can look forward to several new technology integrations and enhanced spectator experiences designed to modernize the tournament atmosphere. is

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WILLARD, Mo. — Carl Junction's boys basketball team fell short in a tightly contested Class 5 District 6 championship game Saturday. The Bulldogs lost 63-61 to the Hillcrest Hornets at Willard High School.

The Bulldogs (16-13) held an early 7-2 lead off a Bryant Hanks score in the paint, but Hillcrest put together a 7-0 run that was sparked by a Jayven Jones score and ended with a Kyrese Simpson trey that made it a 9-7 game and gave the Hornets their first lead at the 4:30 mark.

After Carl Junction’s Deacon Endicott tied the score at 9 with a drive to the rim, Simpson launched another 3-pointer about 6 feet beyond the top of the key to give the Hornets back the lead at 12-9 with 2:19 left in the opening quarter.

The Hornets (20-9) closed out the first period with a Jones steal and score that gave Hillcrest a 19-13 lead.

The Bulldogs battled back to within 2 points at 28-26 off an Endicott score with 3:10 left and stayed close the remainder of the quarter.

Carl Junction pulled within a point of the Hornets at 33-32 off a Kolby Martin three from the right side of the arc and took a 34-33 lead, courtesy of a pair of Hanks' free throws heading into the half.

Cooper Vediz increased the Bulldogs lead to 36-33 with a short jumper to open the second half. They increased their lead to 6 points off a Brody Pant score in the lane off a behind-the-back assist from Maddox Shorter that made it a 43-37 game with about 4 1/2 minutes left in the third.

Shorter increased the Bulldogs lead to 9 points at 46-37 with an and-1, and Carl Junction earned its biggest lead of the game off a pair of Hanks free throws that made it 48-37 with 3:55 left.

The Hornets put the brakes on the Bulldogs 9-0 run with a James Collins trey with 3:20 left and went on a 7-0 run that was capped off by a Collins score with 58 seconds left that made it 48-44.

Shorter closed out the quarter with a bucket to give Carl Junction a 50-44 lead heading into the final frame.

A Vediz score off a double team to open the fourth quarter gave the Bulldogs a 52-44 lead, and Carl Junction was able to maintain the lead until Kaivon Alexander hit a 3-pointer from the left corner and tied the game at 58 with 3:32 left.

Hillcrest earned its first lead of the second half at the 2:35 mark, courtesy of a Derrick Dailey score that made it a 60-58 game.

Carl Junction tied the game at 61-61 with 40 seconds left off an Endicott drive to the bucket, but a Simpson drive through the lane in the final seconds gave Hillcrest a 63-61 lead. and win.

“I thought our guys played hard,” Carl Junction head coach Cort Hardy said. “They got away from us and got some 3s a couple of times. They (Hillcrest) shoot the ball really well — that’s a credit to their kids. They hit some big shots. It’s hard to guard a team that can shoot the ball really well like that and are big and tall and athletic. I thought our guys really battled hard.”

The loss ended the high school careers for four Bulldog seniors: Endicott, Rashaad McDonald, Vediz and Pant.

“When those guys got into the program four years ago, Carl Junction basketball had like two wins,” Hardy said. “So for them to play for a district championship their senior year says a lot. Things didn’t go their way. it’s obviously hard for those guys, but I’m really proud of them, and it’s a testament for what they have done for this program.”

Pant led Carl Junction with 17 points. Hanks chipped in with 9, and Vediz finished with 8.

Hilcrest’s Simpson claimed game-high honors with 24 points, Jones had 14, Alexander netted 12, and Collins finished with 11.

PGA Pro Akshay Bhatia teams up with TravisMathew for new collection originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Akshay Bhatia is adding a fashion collaboration to an already headline-making golf season.

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Fresh off his playoff victory at the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational, the rising PGA Tour star has partnered with golf lifestyle brand TravisMathew to release a limited-edition apparel line titled “Our Favorite Time of Year.” The collection arrives as Bhatia continues to build momentum on the tour and expand his presence within the sport’s broader culture.

MORE: Wilson takes the tennis court to the desert with its latest collection

The new line was created in collaboration with Bhatia, who serves as a TravisMathew brand ambassador. Designed to capture the excitement surrounding one of golf’s most celebrated stretches of the season, the collection features a range of apparel and accessories, including polos, outerwear, tees, pants, headwear, footwear, and other items built with the company’s signature performance fabrics. The pieces incorporate seasonal green tones and azalea-inspired details that reference the atmosphere surrounding major tournament season.

Bhatia has quickly become one of golf’s most recognizable young talents. Born in Northridge, California, to parents who immigrated from India, he rose through the amateur ranks while representing the United States in events such as the Junior Presidents Cup, Junior Ryder Cup, and Walker Cup. He turned professional in 2019 after receiving early sponsor exemptions on the PGA Tour, and his rapid ascent has included multiple professional victories and increasing visibility on golf’s biggest stages.

The apparel collaboration reflects Bhatia’s personal input throughout the design process. “Playing in a major is something that never gets old for me. It means a lot every time I tee it up,” Bhatia said in a statement. “Working with the TravisMathew team has been awesome. They understand my style and how I want to look and feel while competing. We created pieces that not only look great but perform when it matters most.”

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MORE: Tom Brady and Alix Earle are partying together in Vegas again

TravisMathew executives say the partnership highlights the brand’s focus on modernizing golf style while connecting with younger players entering the sport. The company has built a reputation for blending performance-driven apparel with a relaxed, California-inspired design approach that works both on and off the course. According to TravisMathew Chief Marketing Officer Leif Sunderland, the annual collection aims to capture the excitement surrounding golf’s most anticipated moments while showcasing the individuality of today’s players.

The Eagles are starting to build their 2026 roster by first looking at internal free agents and who they want to bring back. One player who will NOT be returning, however, is linebacker Nakobe Dean, who reportedly agreed to a three-year, $36 million deal that includes $20 million guaranteed with the Las Vegas Raiders — leaving behind a plethora of Georgia teammates he’s played with since college.

Dean has struggled to stay healthy at times but he’s always locked in even if it’s from the sideline. Still, that history — including a Lisfranc injury, a torn patellar tendon, and a hamstring injury — impacted his free agency options.

Through four seasons, he’s played in 47 regular season games, has been a starter the past three years, when healthy, and has recorded 226 total tackles, 13 QB hits, 7.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and one interception. His 2024 season was so good, Dean received votes for Comeback Player of the Year, and the LB was a dominant force up until he got injured ahead of the team’s Super Bowl win.

He was able to get back on the field in Week 6 of the 2025 season, and while the plan was to slowly reintegrate him into the linebacker rotation, Dean was quickly back taking most, if not all, the reps he once shared with Jihaad Campbell. Unfortunately, he suffered a hamstring injury late in the season, and sat out Weeks 17 and 18, but was able to come back for the Eagles’ sole playoff game.

Now with the Raiders, Dean is notably reunited with former Eagles assistant linebackers coach Ronell Williams. Vegas also employs multiple former Eagles front office members.

It’s nice to know that he didn’t go to the Dallas Cowboys. There was speculation that could’ve been the case.

Dean signing with the Raiders puts the Eagles in position to potentially earn a fifth-round compensatory pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.

The Missouri Southern State University softball team improved to 21-3 with a pair of wins over Minnesota State University-Moorhead on Saturday at Joplin High School.

The No. 8 Lions opened with a 7-1 win over the Dragons (1-14) in the first game of the doubleheader.

Southern scored twice in the opening inning, scored single runs in the second and third innings and added three runs in the bottom of the third en route to the win.

Carsen Tinkler finished 3 for 3 with two runs and two RBIs. Maddie Rolfs logged a triple, and Tinkler, Avery Sue Davis and Emily Perry hit doubles in the game.

Kiki Pickens (8-2) earned the win after giving up one run on three hits in a complete game. She struck out seven and walked two.

Kayla Roidt led Minnesota-Moorhead at the plate, finishing 1 for 3 with an RBI.

Teagan Clemmons (1-13) was tagged with the loss after giving up two earned runs on 11 hits in 4 2/3 innings of work. She struck out five and walked two.

Southern claimed game two of the twin bill with a 9-1 win. The Lions jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, plated two more runs in the bottom of the fourth, added four runs in the fifth and a pair of runs in the sixth to claim the run-rule victory.

Micah Snider and Easton Walter both hit home runs in the game, and Taylor Nuckolls and Tinkler both logged doubles. Walter and Rolfs both logged multiple hits. Walter finished 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a run, and Rolfs went 2 for 2 with an RBI.

Kadence Janney (5-0) claimed the win after giving up one run on four hits, striking out six and walking one in five innings. Davis gave up no hits and struck out two while walking none in one inning of relief.

Riley McKeever finished 2 for 2 (a double and a triple) with a run for the Dragons.

Bella Hess (0-1) shouldered the loss after giving up five runs on four hits while striking out one and walking five in 4 2/3 innings.

The Lions host the Teri Mathis-Zenner MIAA/NSIC Crossover at Pat Lipira Field this weekend. They face St. Cloud State University (18-4) for a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. Friday and battle the University of Sioux Falls (12-9) in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Missouri Southern State University had both its men's and women's basketball teams playing in the MIAA conference tournament semifinals Saturday.

The women's team was last in this position in 2023 when it won the tournament. The men lost in the quarterfinals that year.

The men's team reached the semifinal round in 2020, but the women were eliminated in the first round that time.

This marked the first time in 24 years the two teams were both in the semifinal round. In 2002, the women lost to Missouri Western State University in the semifinal round. The men lost to Northwest Missouri State University in the semis the same year.

The men reached this point in 2026 as a No. 7 seed. They defeated No. 10 Northwest and No. 2 University Central Missouri before losing to No. 3 Rogers State University on Saturday.

The Southern women earned the No. 4 seed and defeated No. 5 Northwest on Friday but lost to Central Missouri 60-45 in the semifinals Saturday.

The men have reached the semifinal round a total of 14 times. They've been in the championship seven times, winning it all three of those years. Those championship years came in 2014, 2000 and 1993.

The women played in the final four round nine times as a program and the championship five times. They've also won three titles in 1994 and 1996 along with the most recent one in 2023.

There have been seven years in which the men's and women's champion came from the same school. Five schools have accomplished it. Northwest Missouri State University and Washburn have both done so twice.

Saturday’s MIAA semifinal match between No. 3 Rogers State University and No. 7 Missouri Southern State University saw the score tied four times. The last tie came in the final six seconds of the game.

MSSU’s Jaden Taylor went coast to coast with the basketball in his hands and converted a layup to tie the score at 70, but Rogers State passed the ball in around half-court and Andrew Mason took the ball down to the other end.

His contested layup went off the glass and sailed over the rim but straight into the hands of a leaping Damondre McKnight, who quickly shot the ball back up and into the basket to make it 72-70 with less than a second on the clock.

MSSU’s head coach Sam McMahon called a timeout to try to draw up a play.

The full-court pass was headed toward Gavyn Elkamil, but Rogers State deflected the pass before Elkamil could catch it. Elkamil did catch it and got an off-balance shot off before the buzzer sounded, but the shot came up short, hitting off the backboard and side of the rim.

“What a game. Credit to Rogers State. They’re so tough and just a back-and-forth battle. Such a physical and tough game and a defensive game, in my opinion. They made the winning plays down the stretch, a couple more winning plays than us,” McMahon said.

He added that his team was playing its best basketball down the stretch, and “that’s all you can ask of a team.”

MSSU graduates Taylor, Tyrone Wright Jr. and Prince Agbaeze.

“We’re sorry to see the seniors go, but they have built a foundation that will last, really, forever at the Missouri Southern men’s basketball program,” McMahon said. “Tyrone Wright, Jaden Taylor and Prince Agbaeze could have packed it in a while ago, and they didn’t. ... They stayed the course and improved, not only as players but as people.”

The Lions were led by Taylor’s 27 points. Elkamil added 19, and Isaiah Atwater added 14. Southern was getting outworked in the rebounding category at halftime as it trailed 23-18 and 8-4 in offensive rebounds. Rogers State had also earned more trips to the free-throw line and took advantage going 11 for 13 in comparison with MSSU’s 5-for-7 effort.

The Lions caught up in rebounds as they pulled down 36 and the Hillcats finished with 35. The offensive rebounds went to the Hillcats 12-10. But free throws remained a difference-maker as Rogers State made 18 of 22 and MSSU was 12 for 18.

“I think free throws down the stretch is toughness. It’s mental toughness. Those guys stepped to the line and made those,” Rogers State head coach Justin Barkley said.

Southern trailed 34-31 at halftime but took a 36-34 lead early in the second half on a 3-point basket by Elkamil at the 18:07 mark.

The Lions held that lead for most of the half. Their lead grew to as many as 7 points — the largest lead for either team the entire game. The Hillcats held a 6-point advantage during the first half.

With about four minutes left in the game, Rogers State's Caden Fry slipped wide open for a dunk and was fouled on the play by MSSU’s Taylor, allowing Fry to add a free throw and give his team a 61-59 lead with 4:14 to go.

The best chance for the Lions to even the score came 15 seconds later when Taylor drew a foul. But he made just 1 of the 2 free throws, and they still trailed 61-60.

“Obviously, you’d rather be up. It was going back and forth. Probably whoever had the ball last was going to win the game,” McMahon said.

It was back and forth. The Hillcats held the lead for the last 4:14 of the game but never led by more than 3 points. The Lions were within one possession the whole way.

A putback by Wright made things 69-68 with 26 seconds left on the clock. After going for a steal initially, the Lions were forced to eventually foul and that came from Colin Ruffin with 14 seconds left.

Rogers State made the first charity but missed the second. Elkamil rebounded, found Taylor and he raced downcourt to tie the score at 70.

“Everyone knows how good Jaden Taylor is. He can really get to his spots. He’s just a dynamic player,” Barkley said.

Rogers State’s inbound pass after the made basket saved time as it launched the ball up to half-court, beyond half the MSSU defense. Mason used that to race to the rim in less than four seconds and get a layup off the glass that bounced perfectly to his teammate, McKnight to win the game.

MSSU’s defense cranked things up a notch in its final two games of the MIAA Tournament holding No. 2 seed University of Central Missouri to just 39% shooting Thursday and No. 3 Rogers State to 41.7% shooting Saturday.

“I thought our defense was good. We couldn’t get some timely stops down the stretch, and that’s a testament to Rogers State,” McMahon said. “I wanted our guys to empty the tank, and they gave everything they had, and that’s all you can ask for.”

McMahon spoke about some of the emotions of not getting to coach his seniors again.

“I don’t get to coach Tyrone Wright, Jaden Taylor or Prince Agbaeze again, and that’s what’s hard. The process is over as far as college basketball goes, but it’s so much more than just basketball,” McMahon said. “I hope our program has been transformational so our guys improve, and I’ve seen it firsthand. I’ve seen those guys improve as individuals and not just basketball players, and that’s why I coach.”

Elkamil is listed as a senior on mssulions.com, but he’s only used two years of eligibility now between time at the University of Tulsa, Southeast Missouri State University and now MSSU. He was redshirted at TU, played one year at SEMO and then sat out an entire season with an injury and then did not play at all during the 2024-25 season before joining the Lions for the 2025-26 campaign.

“Man, I’m excited. I think we have a good group of guys returning, and this is over now, so we have to focus on what we can focus on this offseason and train and come back,” Elkamil said.

Rogers State was defeated 91-59 by No. 1 seed Washburn in Sunday's championship game.

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Japan has survived back-to-back scares following tight wins over Korea and Australia. But there’s a good chance the Samurai return to their dominant form when they take on Czechia in their final pool stage game.

In a game where Japan is such a heavy favorite, where is the value? My Czechia vs. Japan predictions and World Baseball Classic best bets picks break it all down for this Pool C clash.

Czechia vs Japan prediction

Czechia vs Japan best bet: Over 9.5 (80¢ at Kalshi)

Japan’s pitching staff wasn’t going to be as dominant as 2023, with Yoshinobu Yamomoto being the main holdover. We’ve seen that in close results against Australia and Korea.

Luckily, they still have Shohei Ohtani and a bevy of other major league talent leading a lineup that has plated 25 runs over three games in this tournament, with Ohtani going deep twice and owning a crazy 2.025 OPS.

Czechia is a good story, but this team full of part-time players already has a -25 run differential. The best bet here is to back Japan to power this game Over the total.

Czechia vs Japan players to watch

If Japan wants to defend its World Baseball Classic crown, it will likely have to outslug their opponents. Luckily, they have the lineup to do just that.

Shohei Ohtani is leading the way, going 5-for-9 with three extra-base hits and six RBI. But don’t overlook Masataka Yoshida, who has been nearly as good.

The Boston Red Sox outfielder is 5-for-10 with three extra-base hits and six RBI. 

Slowing down the Samurai will be tough for a Czechia pitching staff with a 10.88 ERA in this tournament.

Czechia vs Japan opening odds

• Moneyline: Czechia 3¢ | Japan 97¢
• Run line: Czechia +2.5 | Japan -2.5
• Over/Under: Over 9.5 | Under 9.5

How to watch Czechia vs Japan and game info

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey does not have any fractures in his sprained right pinky, according to medical tests, coach Nick Nurse said Monday ahead of the team's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The All-Star starter was injured in a collision with teammate Adem Bona with 16 seconds remaining in the 76ers’ 126-116 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. Maxey immediately grabbed his right hand, tucking it under his jersey as he walked directly to the locker room.

Maxey, who leads the NBA with 1,767 total points, underwent X-rays and an MRI that showed there were no broken bones in his hand. The sixth-year pro already had been ruled out through Tuesday, when Philadelphia hosts Memphis.

“No breaks,” Nurse said. “Now, he's got to see the hand specialists to figure out what's next.”

Maxey sprained the same pinky last season, which the coach admitted “adds to the concern factor.” He is averaging career highs of 29 points, 4.1 rebounds and 6.7 assists in 61 games for the 76ers, who have fallen out of a top-six playoff position into eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

“He seems OK and his spirits are good,” Nurse said. “He wants to be back, but he's got to see these people before we take the next step.”

—

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It was a defensive fight for the majority of three quarters on Saturday inside the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City for the women’s basketball semifinal matchup between No. 1 University of Central Missouri and No. 4 Missouri Southern State University.

UCM (25-5) fought through some poor shooting percentages to pull away from MSSU (20-10) and claim a 60-45 win, advancing to the MIAA championship at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Both teams struggled to shoot the ball. Southern shot 28% for the game (17 for 61), while Central was 40% (24 for 59). UCM had shot just 38% (17 for 45) entering the fourth quarter.

The Lions’ defense kept them in the game throughout the first half as they trailed just 27-24 at intermission. The shooting woes started to catch up late in the third period.

“We didn’t start the game well on defense, but we did a much better job defending them. … They’re a good offensive team,” MSSU head coach Ronnie Ressel said. “Defensively, I don’t think they (UCM) get enough credit as far as how good they are. They’re so long. … They took us out of a lot of things.”

UCM jumped out to an 8-0 lead, but MSSU battled back to be within 2 points at 12-10 before the Jennies hit a 3-pointer to end the first quarter.

The Lions got their first lead at 22-21 on a turnaround basket from about 8 feet away by Grace Frazier.

Frazier combined with Lilly Thomas to score all 14 points of the second stanza. Frazier scored 8 of them.

UCM took the lead back before the end of the frame. The Jennies’ length with long arms and height combined contested a lot of MSSU’s interior shot attempts. They blocked seven shots and forced more difficult attempts.

The neck-and-neck battle changed for good late in the third. MSSU’s Makenna Yokley hit a 3-point basket to tie the score at 31 with seven minutes to play. After that, UCM took control.

The top-seeded squad ended the frame on a 12-2 run. Then it opened the fourth with 10 straight points, extending the run to 22-2.

A Camryn Smith layup got Southern within 5 points with 2:59 still on the third-quarter clock but the Jennies buckled in for the remainder of the period.

By the time the Lions halted the run, it was too late, trailing 53-35 with 6:52 to go.

“I’m extremely proud of our kids. They competed the entire game, we just couldn’t get some shots to fall. When you shoot 28% it’s hard to win ballgames,” Ressel said.

Frazier scored 10 first half points and finished with 13. Thomas led the team with 16. UCM got 19 from Taylor Weishaar, 14 from Reese Schaaf and 11 from Makenzie Farmer. Schaaf also pulled down 10 rebounds for a double-double.

With the loss, the Lions’ season comes to a close. They had no seniors and will be able to return the entire team if no one chooses to leave in the transfer portal this offseason.

Ressel mentioned being excited to be able to have this group returning, calling it “one of the more enjoyable” seasons he’s had in his 30-plus years of coaching because of the way the team enjoyed being around one another.

“Really, just keep pushing each other like we did this season. Like coach Ressel said, this is a really special team. It makes it a lot easier to play hard for each other when you like each other,” Frazier said.

“I think we work hard, we’re excited and we’re young. That’s all you can ask for is a team that works hard and plays for each other,” MSSU’s Nariah Clay said.

Southern was picked to finish seventh in preseason coaches polls and ninth in media polls and finished fourth while having a shot at second and third in the final weekend of the regular season.

“It’s just speaks volumes about the effort these young ladies put in,” Ressel said.

John Stones wants to give Pep Guardiola a selection headache and is looking forward to an exciting end to the season for club and country as he said he hoped he had put the lonely times of an injury lay-off behind him.

The centre-back captained Manchester City to victory at Newcastle in the FA Cup on Saturday, but it was just his second start since November after struggling with a calf problem.

Stones, who has been an integral part of the England defence at the last four major tournaments, was watched by Thomas Tuchel at St James’ Park as he stepped up his comeback.

“Nights like these make those tough times and the hard work worthwhile and the lonely times when you're training by yourself and the guys behind the scenes are helping you,” he told TNT Sports Mexico. “It's difficult when you put everything in and be as professional as you can be and try and do all the right things and you don't have the answers but it is what it is and we have to look forward. I look forward now and look at this exciting time, important time.”

Stones is now trying to force his way into the City side to face Real Madrid on Tuesday but the competition for places at the back has increased with the January arrival of his England teammate Marc Guehi.

Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake and Abdukodir Khusanov are also competing for the centre-back spots in Guardiola’s side and Stones added: “I'm sure the manager is happy and has a headache that he has everyone back playing well and on the other hand he has everyone to choose from for these big important games that we all want to get through and keep progressing and keep winning and put the pressure on in every situation.”

Stones was crucial in helping City win the treble in 2023 and believes the experience of the senior group who have excelled in such situations before will aid newer and younger players in the run-in.

“It's a difficult one to explain that to someone that is coming into it,” he explained. “It's more a feeling that they get and a standard that is set by players that have been through those situations. It's down to us to keep setting those standards and those bars high and what is expected in these big moments. The odd word to the guys who haven't been in these experiences or moments before can be settling at times, I remember when I was going through them.

“Just knowing that people like me, Ruben, Bernardo [Silva], the boys around them, is a comforting thing and everyone that has come through this club the time I've been here has been a winner, it's something deep down within them and they know how to get over the line. Everyone has had a different upbringing and path to get to where they are right now and all those combinations that get put together are special. It's an exciting time and hopefully we can help the boys through that.”

Coming into the weekend, it had been a good amount of time since we could say that Juventus had won a game in Serie A. That was just what kind of month of February that Juventus had, and why the chase for the top four is as tenuous a situation as it is right now.

Coming out of the weekend, though, that thankfully is no longer a statement we can talk about.

For the first time in nearly 40 days, Juventus beat Serie A opposition. Finally. The run is over. The schedule letting up a little bit paid dividends as Juve claimed a 4-0 win over relegation-bound Pisa at the Allianz Stadium.

A win in Serie A. Ah, at long last, a win in Serie A.

With how the rest of the weekend’s fixtures played out — and shoutout to you, Daniele De Rossi! — it meant that Juve head into another favorable matchup against Udinese all of one point off the top four. They still need help, but they’re now within striking distance — especially with the two direct teams in front of them, Roma and Como, playing against one another this coming weekend.

Now, let’s see if they can win two games straight in Serie A because it’s been a bit since that’s happened, too.

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Luke Kornet was a vocal opponent of the Atlanta Hawks' planned game-night collaboration with local strip club Magic City celebrating the "iconic cultural institution."

The NBA is in agreement. The league announced on Monday that the Hawks, in fact, will not move forward with the "Magic City Monday" promotion scheduled for their March 16 home game against the Orlando Magic. 

The NBA announced the decision by the league to cancel the promotion in a news release from the league office Monday with a statement from commissioner Adam Silver.

"When we became aware of the Atlanta Hawks' scheduled promotion, we reached out to Hawks leadership to better understand their plans and rationale," Silver's statement reads. "While we appreciate the team's perspective and their desire to move forward, we have heard significant concern from a broad array of league stakeholders, including fans, partners and employees. 

"I believe canceling this promotion is the right decision for the broader NBA community."

Hawks 'disappointed' in NBA's decision

The Hawks released a statement expressing their "disappointment" in the decision.

"While we are very disappointed in the NBA's decision to cancel our Magic City Night promotion, we fully respect its decision.

"As a franchise, we remain committed to celebrating the best of Atlanta — with authenticity — in ways that continue to unite and bring us all together."

The team announcement promoting "Magic City Monday" that's hosted on NBA.com remained live as of the time of the NBA's statement canceling it. 

Magic City is, indeed, a cultural institution in Atlanta. Former Hawk Lou Williams was openly and proudly a frequent patron of the club, which is known as much for its wings as its entertainment offerings. Magic City's menu now features "LouWill' lemon pepper wings named after the former Hawks guard. 

Variations of those wings were also on the menu for the Hawks' planned "Magic City Monday" promotion. Also planned for the now-canceled promotion were a halftime performance from Atlanta rapper T.I. and a "a limited-edition Peachtree-themed hoodie" emblazoned with "‘MAGIC CITY’" available for purchase at the team store on game night.

Nude entertainment was not on the menu.

Wings, T.I. still on; podcast and hoodie are not

In a statement confirming the cancelation to fans who'd purchased tickets to the game, the Hawks announced a revised plan for Monday's promotion. T.I. will still perform, and wings will be available. 

The Peachtree-themed hoodie will no longer be for sale. And a pregame podcast that planned to feature a conversation about a documentary on Magic City "and the impact of the club on Atlanta music, sports, and culture" featuring feature Magic City founder Michael “Mr. Magic” Barney will no longer take place.

Legendary rapper and ‘King of the South’ T.I. will perform at halftime as scheduled.

The limited-edition Peachtree themed hoodie will no longer be available for purchase at the game on March 16th. All pre-ordered merchandise will be honored and delivered as previously scheduled.

The live recording of the Hawks AF Podcast including Hawks’ Principal Owner, filmmaker, and actor Jami Gertz, T.I. and Magic City founder Michael “Mr. Magic” Barney has been cancelled. Fans who purchased tickets to the recording will be contacted directly.

The full array of award-winning culinary options available at State Farm Arena for Hawks games will be available, including wings.

Backlash that preceded NBA's decision

The NBA did not identify the "stakeholders" who approached the league with concerns about the promotion. Kornet, a center for the San Antonio Spurs, was certainly one of them. 

Kornet felt strongly enough last week to voice his concerns about the promotion planned for a game between the Hawks and Orlando Magic 1,000 miles away from San Antonio. Kornet wrote a blog post on the subject he headlined "Concerning the Atlanta Hawks." In it, he requested that "the Atlanta Hawks cancel this promotional night with Magic City."

"Allowing this night to go forward without protest would reflect poorly on us as an NBA community, specifically in being complicit in the potential objectification and mistreatment of women in our society," Kornet wrote.

At the time, Kornet was the only public NBA voice raising concern about the promotion. Warriors forward Al Horford, who played nine seasons for the Hawks reposted Kornet's blog post on social media.

"Well said, Luke," Horford wrote.

This story will be updated.

The New England Revolution dropped their first two games of the Major League Soccer season.

The team’s home opener was delayed to this Sunday, March 15^th because of the blizzard a couple of weeks ago. The winter storm prevented new sod from being installed inside Gillette Stadium ahead of the World Cup this June.

But the team remains focused on improving and finding the future stars of soccer. Boston 25 News Reporter Michael Raimondi was given an exclusive behind the scenes look at how the Revolution are recruiting teenagers from around the United States to their club.

“I remember my first day my parents dropped me off after orientation. It was exciting for a 15-year-old boy. We were kind of the guinea pigs for how this goes now,” Colby Quinones said.

Quinones is a former Revolution Academy player. He was one of the first to enter the program in 2019. He’s from Bedford, New Hampshire, and he moved into a residency home that’s a short walk away from the stadium. From the back deck of the house, you can see the light tower and top rows of seats.

On Monday, Quinones was moving back into the house he called home as a former player. Now, he’s taking up the role of guardian as he lives and watches over the teenage players who moved from across the country to train here.

“I have very strong emotions when it comes to the residency house and when it comes to developing young players,” he said. “Looking at these kids when they go out to train every night, I see myself in them.”

Quinones says not every club in MLS has a program like this. It’s grown since he was a young player, as the club now has about 20 teenagers in the academy. The kids ages 14 to 17 years-old live among three different residency houses just a few minutes away from Gillette. The roommates become teammates. Before they take the field for training, they spend a few hours each morning virtual learning inside Gillette Stadium.

“At first, I was very nervous. This is a big opportunity. I needed to perform well to keep in this academy,” academy player Josh Macedo said. “The Revs specifically are known for building players up and focusing on each player’s ability in helping them.”

Macedo is in his third season with the Revolution. The teen from southern California impressed the scouts with the club during a tournament when he was 14. They had him tryout for the academy which eventually led them to offer him a spot where he can learn, train and live in Foxboro, for free.

“Life changing not only on the field but off the field. Learning to live by myself and having to learn to cook and take care of my laundry and all that stuff on my own has helped me,” Macedo said. “Living with different kids in different positions who have learned different things. They’ve taught me so much.”

Macedo said it was tough at first leaving his family behind but credits the academy for also helping him develop much faster than he would if he didn’t join the club.

This program has churned out first-team starters for the Revolution. The goal is to continue finding young talent to develop so the club can be competitive.

“With the MLS being more and more competitive, it’s more important we invest in our kids, invest in our infrastructure here to make this club one of the best in the country, Quinones said.”

The players could one day play for a national team, like current Revolution Goalkeeper Matt Turner, who has 27 clean sheets as a goalie for the United States Men’s National Team.

“I want to go pro the dream is to go to Europe but for right now I have to keep building to see if I can get a contract,” Macedo said.

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Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry are good friends away from the golf course.

Fleetwood would have known more than anyone how Lowry felt after the Irishman’s terrible finish at the Cognizant Classic earlier this month.

The Englishman endured his fair share of heartbreak over the past couple of years, before finally getting over the line on the PGA Tour at the Tour Championship in August last year.

Fleetwood is not only one of the best ball-strikers in the world, but he is one of the nicest players in the game as well.

Having someone like the Englishman to lean on would have been priceless for Lowry, after he dropped four shots in his final three holes to lose by two at the Cognizant Classic.

Now Fleetwood has opened up with some very sage advice for the 2019 Open champion.

Tommy Fleetwood’s Shane Lowry prediction after Cognizant Classic nightmare

Fleetwood addressed the media at TPC Sawgrass on Monday afternoon.

The Englishman was asked by reporters whether he empathized with Lowry after what he went through at PGA National recently.

“There’s no doubt Shane is going to win, like probably pretty soon and it could be something really, really big,“ Fleetwood insisted.

“And when he does, I think like, you know, or whatever experiences have come before will be a good thing.

“Because you learn from them all the time. But yeah winning can be difficult.

“But at the same time he could win a tournament and feel like maybe he shouldn’t win it because he didn’t hit the shots — I don’t know, Shane’s won a lot of tournaments, and, yeah, you look at the Ryder Cup.

“So I don’t necessarily think it’s like — I don’t think it’s like a pressure thing. I think it’s just the fact that, you know, winning a tournament maybe just needs to happen and then he’ll win a bunch maybe.“

Tommy Fleetwood’s advice for Shane Lowry

Fleetwood was asked what advice he would give Lowry about his failure to win the Cognizant Classic.

“Yeah, of course I would talk to Shane and I would say what I would say to myself,“ Fleetwood said.

“Like you’re much better at being there and that happening than not being there at all.

“You know, I guess you could easily look at Bay Hill last week. I would have rather been in contention on the last hole and hit it in the water and lost by one than, you know, finish 49th.

“Like I would have rather done that. Like so I had — you know, the close people to me like my friends out on TOUR would give me words of encouragement and a pat on the back or whatever it would be after the weeks where I didn’t get it done.

“Like I said, there will be times that I do that again and I’ll get the same thing from my friends, and I’ll do the same to guys where it doesn’t happen and then you celebrate the times that it does.

“That’s just how it goes.

“But like I say, I always believe you’re better at being there and it not quite happening than not being there at all.“

That is sound advice from Fleetwood and Lowry would do very well to take it on board.

It’s a North American showdown in the World Baseball Classic as the United States takes on Mexico, with Paul Skenes getting the start for Team USA on Monday.

MORE: Official USA World Baseball Classic 2026 gear: WBC jerseys, hats and more

How to Watch USA vs Mexico

• Date: Monday, March 9, 2026
• Time: 8:00 PM ET
• TV Channel: FOX
• Live Stream: Fubo (try for free)

Team USA and Mexico have both been dominant to start Pool B of the World Baseball Classic, entering their head‑to‑head matchup with 2–0 records.

The United States opened with a 15‑5 rout of Brazil, showcasing a powerful lineup and depth through nine innings, then followed that up with a 9‑1 win over Great Britain, combining timely hitting and strong pitching to take control early in pool play.

Meanwhile, Mexico has also been firing on all cylinders, cruising to an 8‑2 win over Great Britain and then crushing Brazil 16‑0 in six innings under the mercy rule, with contributions up and down the lineup.

– Watch USA vs Mexico on Fubo –

That sets up what might be the most anticipated game of Pool B at Daikin Park in Houston, where both teams remain unbeaten and are jockeying for top spot in the group. A win here for either side won’t immediately clinch advancement, with Italy also 2–0, but it would give the victor a huge edge heading into the final round of pool play and control of the pool.

With both squads carrying momentum from big opening wins, the USA‑Mexico showdown has huge implications for seeding and confidence as the World Baseball Classic moves toward the knockout stage.

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as changed his mind about his WBC plans

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The draw for the quarter-finals of the FA Cup has taken place, with Manchester City drawn at home to Liverpool in a blockbuster all-Premier League tie.

Quadruple contenders and 14-time winners Arsenal have yet to face a top-flight side in the competition and have been given a favourable draw away to Southampton, the only Championship side left.

Meanwhile giant-killers Port Vale - the lowest-ranked side left in the competition - have earned an away day to Stamford Bridge.

Vale are bottom of League One and last made the quarter-finals of the FA Cup in 1954, but after shocking top-flight Sunderland they will be dreaming of another cupset.

It will be the first time Port Vale have played Chelsea in nearly 100 years, with their last competitive fixture coming in 1929.

Liam Rosenior’s side escaped their own scare against Wrexham, twice coming from behind and needing extra time to see off 10 men at Stok Cae Ras.

The final last-eight encounter will see West Ham at home against fellow Premier League side Leeds United, who enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 win over Norwich.

The Hammers reached a first FA Cup quarter-final in 10 years with a nail-biting 5-3 victory on penalties over Brentford, after drawing 2-2 in normal time.

The quarter-final ties will be played over the weekend of 4 April.

Over the weekend the Gunners escaped a scare against Mansfield to keep their quadruple hopes alive, while City eased past Newcastle 3-1 to do the same and Liverpool avenged their loss to Wolves last week.

Saints saw off top-flight Fulham, who made nine changes, with a stoppage-time penalty from Ross Stewart.

CLEVELAND — Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson has a short rotation of hats and quarter zips he wears to his pregame press conferences. His well-worn Cleveland WNBA hat that’s starting to fade around the edges is one of them. He, appropriately, had that one on during Monday’s pregame availability on the day the Cavs are celebrating International Women’s Day.

“It’s so cool that Cleveland is going to have a [WNBA] team,” Atkinson said before his team’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers.

That team is going to be coming in a few seasons, but first, the WNBA will need to navigate its current labor dispute. The league and the players have exchanged collective bargaining agreement proposals ahead of the league-imposed March 10 deadline. One of the main sticking points is how much the players should be getting of the league’s revenue.

Atkinson clarified that he isn’t a union negotiator, but it’s safe to say he’s on the players’ side.

“Go get your money,” Atkinson said. “Go for it. That’s what it’s about.”

Right now, they aren’t getting that.

The players’ union proposed a deal that would see the players keep 26% of gross revenue before expenses. The league believes that would be unrealistic. Under the previous agreement, WNBA players have been estimated to keep less than 10% of revenue. For comparison, in 2022 NBA players reportedly kept half of basketball-related income and 39% of all revenue.

What isn’t up for debate is the fact that the WNBA is more popular now than ever. Derailing that momentum would be detrimental to the league’s long-term health.

Atkinson admitted that he wasn’t watching the league much three to five years ago. Now he watches for entertainment and also to learn. He’s impressed with the offensive sets that teams run and their level of execution.

“There’s an attention to detail, especially offensively with the sets they run,” Atkinson said. “[I try] to find a good ATO (after timeout play) or set that I haven’t seen. … You really can grab a lot of good stuff.”

Hopefully, the WNBA and its players’ association can come to a deal soon so that games aren’t missed. And more importantly, hopefully it’s one that rewards the players who have led to the explosion of the league’s popularity.

“I want the players to push for what they think is just and deserved,” Atkinson said.

Mike Evans jersey number, explained: Why 49ers WR can't wear typical No. 13 jersey originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

For the past decade, no wide receiver or player in the NFL has been more synchronized with the No. 13 than Mike Evans.

From his legendary eleven-year streak of 1,000-yard seasons to his Super Bowl 55 title in Tampa Bay, the digit has become synonymous with his physical brand of dominance on the boundary. The number has followed him from the collegiate stage at Texas A&M through a Hall of Fame-caliber tenure with the Buccaneers, where he set franchise records for receptions, yards, and touchdowns that likely won't be touched for a generation.

However, as he prepares for his first season away from the only professional home he has ever known, that iconic pairing is coming to an abrupt end. By signing a three-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers, Evans is joining a storied franchise where the No. 13 is already firmly occupied by Brock Purdy. 

As Evans chases a second ring alongside stars like Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle, he will have to forge a new identity under the lights of Levi’s Stadium. Whether he chooses a single digit or returns to a more traditional receiver number, seeing the 6-foot-5 frame of Evans in a different jersey—and a different number—will be one of the most jarring sights of the 2026 season.

Here's why Evans has to part with his storied number.

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What is Mike Evans' jersey number with the 49ers?

Evans has not yet officially selected a new jersey number for the San Francisco 49ers. Having just agreed to a three-year, $60.4 million deal during the legal tampering period, he cannot officially sign or finalize his equipment details until the new league year begins on Wednesday, March 13.

Though, he will have to pick a new number for the first time in his career, with Purdy holding the coveted No. 13. Evans could theoretically buy the number from Purdy, but that is unlikely with Purdy having a deep personal and family connection to No. 13 (honoring Dan Marino) along with him being the face of the organization.

If he decides to pivot, a single digit like No. 1 or No. 3 would be a popular modern choice for a receiver of his caliber, though No. 1 is currently occupied by Ricky Pearsall. Alternatively, he could opt for a traditional veteran look in the 80–89 range, which remains largely available on the 49ers' current roster and would offer a classic aesthetic for his debut in San Francisco.

One other possibility is No. 11, which is currently held by Brandon Aiyuk. However, with multiple reports indicating that the 49ers are set to part ways with Aiyuk via trade or release at the start of the new league year on Wednesday, his departure could leave the door open for Evans to claim the number.

MORE: How Mike Evans signing helps 49ers

Mike Evans contract

Evans has agreed to a three-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers worth up to $60.4 million.

The deal, which was reported, March 9, 2026, during the NFL's legal tampering period, marks the end of his historic 12-year tenure with the Buccaneers.

Early reports indicate the contract is front-loaded, allowing the 49ers to manage their cap space as they navigate other roster moves.

MORE: How Kenneth Walker fits into Chiefs backfield

Mike Evans stats

Evans’ 12-year career in Tampa Bay is defined by the most consistent start for any wide receiver in NFL history. While injuries finally snapped his record-setting streak of 1,000-yard seasons in 2025, his overall body of work remains a first-ballot Hall of Fame resume.

The biggest news of the Phoenix Raceway weekend might have been the fact that Tyler Reddick did not win a race.

After all, the NASCAR point leader, now in front by 60, was three-for-three to open the Cup season, and he appeared strong enough to threaten to win Sunday. Instead, he finished eighth. No shame in that, of course, but some might have thought he might run the table for the season.

The most promising result of the weekend in the desert, however, was the fact that the unusual IndyCar/NASCAR doubleheader went smashingly well. There was good racing on both Saturday and Sunday, the crowd totals were good, and officials and drivers from both motorsport disciplines left the track with positive vibes. The first crossover weekend on an oval track was seen as somewhat of a gamble, but the dice landed well.

NASCAR fans who were in town for the Sunday race but who also took in Saturday’s win by IndyCar’s Josef Newgarden got a taste of racing on the other side of the fence. Those who might have doubted the quality of the open-wheel show perhaps left impressed. The same could be said for IndyCar followers who doubled up for the NASCAR Cup race Sunday. Several IndyCar drivers were spotted along NASCAR pit row Sunday.

Team Penske fans should have been overwhelmed. Ryan Blaney sealed a big weekend for team owner Roger Penske by winning Sunday to make it a sweep for the captain.

The bigger winner could be motorsports in general.

There should be more IndyCar/NASCAR doubleheaders in future schedules. For too many years, the powers-that-be in Indianapolis and Daytona Beach saw themselves as enemies, and for any number of reasons. NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., once unceremoniously escorted from Indianapolis Motor Speedway, built his big new track in Daytona Beach severely banked, in part, to make it more imposing and faster than Indy. Even as NASCAR grew and open-wheel racing survived a damaging split into two series, there was little love shared between the racing bosses.

The Phoenix weekend provided the perfect proof that the two forces working in unison can produce several days of racing that can lift both.

The weekend benefitted from the fact that the Phoenix course is that rare track whose design seems ideal for both stock cars and open-wheelers. There was speed, there was passing, there was tight racing.

Of course, not every track is conducive to hosting both heavy stock cars and faster open-wheelers. But there are enough opportunities across the months to create more doubles and spread the fun around.

Schedulers from both organizations should be on the phone today working on 2027.

Falcons offense projection with Tua Tagovailoa: How new QB fits with Bijan Robinson, Drake London, more originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Atlanta Falcons have a new quarterback under center in Tua Tagovailoa, who signed a one-year deal with the team on Monday. The move follows a tumultuous end to Tagovailoa's six-year tenure in Miami, where he was benched late in the 2025 season for rookie Quinn Ewers. By releasing Tagovailoa, the Dolphins took an NFL-record $99.2 million dead cap hit, effectively clearing the way for Atlanta to sign him to a veteran minimum contract.

For Tagovailoa, the move is a homecoming to the very turf where he became a college football legend; it was in this same building that he came off the bench to throw the iconic "2nd-and-26" game-winning touchdown to clinch the 2018 National Championship for Alabama. Now, he returns to Mercedes-Benz Stadium with the task of revitalizing an Atlanta offense that has struggled to find consistent scoring despite a wealth of high-end talent.

This signing immediately elevates the Falcons’ elite trio of playmakers. Tagovailoa’s quick processing and accuracy are a perfect match for high-volume target Drake London, while his red-zone touch finally offers Kyle Pitts a point guard who can maximize his catch radius. Most importantly, Tua’s presence forces defenses to respect the pass, clearing the way for 2025 scrimmage yards leader Bijan Robinson as Michael Penix Jr. continues his recovery.

Here's the Falcons' projected lineup with Tagovailoa at QB1.

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Falcons depth chart projection

For the past few seasons, the Atlanta Falcons have quietly assembled one of the most explosive skill position foundations in professional football. This group is headlined by Bijan Robinson, who cemented his status as a generational talent in 2025 by leading the NFL with a franchise-record 2,255 scrimmage yards. Complementing him on the perimeter is Drake London, who followed up a breakout 2024 with another 1,000-yard campaign, and tight end Kyle Pitts, who recently earned the franchise tag after a 2025 season where he led the team with 928 receiving yards. Together, they form a "Big Three" of top-ten draft picks who have all proven they can be the focal point of a high-octane offense.

The missing piece has long been a point guard capable of distributing the ball with the timing and touch these playmakers require. By signing Tua Tagovailoa, the Falcons have acquired a quarterback who has already proven he can orchestrate a league-leading offense, having paced the NFL with 4,624 passing yards in 2023. Tagovailoa’s elite quick-game processing and anticipation are a hand-in-glove fit for the rhythm-based West Coast system being implemented by new head coach Kevin Stefanski and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees.

MORE: Falcons QB depth chart with Tua Tagovailoa

Why did the Falcons sign Tua Tagovailoa?

The Falcons brought in the veteran presence of Tagovailoa to stabilize the quarterback room following a significant knee injury to Penix Jr. This move provides the team with a proven starter who can lead the offense immediately, ensuring that the recovery process for their centerpiece is not rushed.

With Tagovailoa, a quarterback with established passing numbers, the Falcons are banking on a higher floor. Atlanta created a competitive environment that protects a roster featuring elite playmakers like Robinson, London, and Pitts; with Kirk Cousins at the helm, the Falcons won four straight games to end the 2025 season.

Schematically, the addition is a seamless fit for an offense built around these high-end skill positions. New head coach Kevin Stefanski, known for his ability to maximize efficient, rhythm-based passers, now has someone of executing his timing-sensitive West Coast system. The rare symmetry of having multiple left-handed passers allows the offensive line to maintain consistent protection schemes and lets the coaching staff call plays without altering the geometry of the field. This continuity is designed to maximize a group of athletes that has lacked consistent distribution despite their individual success.

Tagovailoa returns to the original scene of his collegiate success looking for professional redemption and a chance to revitalize his career. Surrounded by a talented supporting cast, the stage is set for a fresh start in a familiar and high-stakes environment.

MORE: Tua Tagovailoa contract, explained

Well, here we are: the end of the regular season. It’s conference tournaments and the NCAA Tournament from here on out, and at the end of the 31-game march, there’s a trio of 29-2 teams at the top. Duke, Arizona, and Michigan all ran through their conferences with relative ease.

The Blue Devils lost to Texas Tech and North Carolina, Arizona lost to Kansas and Texas Tech, and Michigan lost to Wisconsin and Duke (though it’s probably a good thing the Wolverines didn’t play Texas Tech).

Currently, Duke sits atop the pecking order, and if they win the ACC Tournament, they will likely stay there and head into the NCAA Tournament as the #1 overall seed.

Let’s run through the final AP poll of the regular season and break it down:

Notes:

• Miami-OH completed a perfect 31-0 regular season with their overtime victory over Ohio, 110-108. It’s the first unbeaten regular season since Gonzaga in 2020-2021 and Kentucky in 2014-2015 before that. Their reward? Getting dropped from 19th to 20th.
• UConn dropped two spots after falling on its face in its season finale at Marquette, which entered the game 11-19 and in last place in the Big East standings.
• Florida took full advantage of UConn’s loss, moving up to 4th and putting themselves in prime position to snag the 4th 1-seed come Selection Sunday. If they win the SEC Tournament, it’ll be really hard to give it to someone else.
• The top four seeds of the Big Ten Tournament are in the top 11 of the AP poll. It’ll be a stacked field in the United Center.
• Five ranked SEC teams made the final regular season poll and achieved the first five seeds of the SEC Tournament bracket: Florida, Alabama, Arkansas, Vanderbilt, and Tennessee. The Commodores leapfrogged the Vols in the rankings and the league standings in the regular season finale in Knoxville.
• Houston also has an opportunity to snag a 1-seed if they win the Big 12 Tournament, especially since Florida can’t play anybody as good as Arizona in the SEC Tournament.

Free agency has rung in a new era of the Arizona Cardinals‘ quarterback room — and it’s not one anyone had anticipated. Not only did the Cardinals lose out to the Miami Dolphins in the Malik Willis sweepstakes at the advent of free agency, they brought in veteran backup Gardner Minshew on a one-year, $5.75 million deal worth up to $8 million.

Minshew will enter a battle with Jacoby Brissett (who is the incumbent starter as it stands), to usher in one of the least exhilarating quarterback competitions in recent memory.

With two career backups on the roster and no further additions, the Cardinals will enter 2026 without a starting-caliber passer. Perhaps they have their eyes on a developmental player in the 2026 draft, or perhaps they’re hoping to strike gold in the 2027 NFL draft.

That may be the ultimate best decision for this franchise’s future, but remains a very tough pivot to witness after owner Michael Bidwill was adamant he expected to win games in the 2026 season. Fans who have endured losing season after losing season have little reason to believe more wins are on the horizon.

Arizona Cardinals Lose Out on Malik Willis

The Cardinals were reportedly interested in Willis. Though unproven, the former Packers backup was the gem of an otherwise-thin free agent class. Willis signed on a three-year, $67.5 million deal with Miami, including $45 million in guarantees.

It’s certainly a hefty number for Willis, who has thrown just 155 career passes. He threw for 422 yards on 30-for-25 passing with three touchdowns and no interceptions in four games (one start) for Green Bay. The talent was undoubtedly on display in a very small sample size, but it would have been a significant risk for Arizona.

It’s not so much about the fact that the Cardinals won’t have Willis suiting up for them this season. Rather, it’s the inability or unwillingness to commit to a risky deal that is a difficult look. If Willis was not Arizona’s top priority, the decision to pass on such a price tag is both reasonable and justifiable.

It’s possible that the Cardinals — or, more importantly, head coach Mike LaFleur — were not high enough on Willis to commit to that amount over that many years. But to balk at an average annual value of $22.5 million is extremely unrealistic thinking, if Willis was truly their top QB target.

There were many who felt Willis would not have been a safe investment for the Cardinals at this stage, and those voices may very well be proven right. Only time will tell. But where there was risk in signing Willis, so too there is risk that comes with passing on the 26-year-old for financial reasons — risk of becoming a decision that haunts this organization in the years to come.

Cardinals Pivot to Gardner Minshew

The Cardinals will be Minshew’s sixth stop in his NFL journey. The Washington State product was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019, and has spent time with the Eagles, Colts, Raiders and Chiefs along the way. He owns a career passer rating of 88, a starting record of 17-30 and 68 passing touchdowns to 35 interceptions.

Minshew was, at one time, one of the more exciting quarterbacks in the NFL. His personality and highlight-reel plays masked an overall below-average production level. In terms of eye-candy, there’s plenty from the 29-year-old.

But he reportedly wasn’t even Arizona’s backup option. According to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe, the Cardinals pivoted to Minshew after talks stalled with Rams backup Jimmy Garoppolo — who has familiarity and rapport with LaFleur.

There’s no sugarcoating it. Minshew was clearly not the plan from the outset this offseason. Whether or not GM Monti Ossenfort was sold on Willis, the Cardinals’ quarterback situation is now a baffling concoction of career backups with a combined record of 37-75.

Cardinals’ Future QB Plans REmain Unresolved

There is no long-term solution present at this stage. It remains to be seen if the looming draft will yield a future option to Arizona. Perhaps Alabama’s Ty Simpson, or a late-round flyer on an arm like Drew Allar or Garrett Nussmeier will turn into a future gem.

But Monday’s decisions certainly make it unlikely the Cardinals’ future franchise quarterback will be taking the field in the the 2026 season. There is plenty of time for free agency to unfold still, but Arizona appears poised to have another difficult product to sell in the coming season.

Fans who have already endured the most brutal of losing streaks will need an incentive to spend their money at State Farm Stadium. Going into the year without a starting-caliber quarterback will not provide that incentive.

Of course, winning games is always the cure. If LaFleur is capable of winning in a QB-purgatory season, that might say enough about both he and his staff to inspire hope for the future of this franchise. Perhaps Brissett or Minshew enter a late-career renaissance — it’s all still on the table.

But right now, it looks like the Cardinals have their eye more centered on 2027, despite Bidwill’s comments after the firing of Jonathan Gannon. The problem is, Arizona has been through this ugly process before with the very same GM who roster-constructed the team to a 15-37 record over the past three seasons. Asking fans to endure another agonizing season with more lofty, lottery-ticket hopes at a turnaround in the distant future requires more trust than this organization has earned.

Eakin Howard via Getty Images

Free agent wide receiver Rashid Shaheed is returning to the Seattle Seahawks. Shaheed agreed to terms on a three-year, $51 million deal to stay in Seattle, per multiple reports.

Shaheed's agents, Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey, negotiated the deal, which includes $34.7 million in guaranteed money.

After joining the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2022, Shaheed quickly found relevance in the league. He was named first-team All-Pro as a returner in his second season, ranking 10th in the league with 1,479 all-purpose yards and fourth in the league with 723 kick and punt return yards.

The Saints sent Shaheed to the Seattle Seahawks ahead of the NFL trade deadline last season to complement the duo of soon-to-be-named Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba and veteran Cooper Kupp.

This breaking news story will be updated.

Hitting the ball longer off the tee is something all golfers should strive for. As advanced analytics have illustrated, the more distance you have off the tee, the easier the game becomes.

That’s why we’ve seen such a distance boom in the pro-golf ranks in recent years. With the stats showing just how important distance is, pros have focused on doing everything in their power to optimize their swings so they can squeeze every last yard out of their drives.

Recreational golfers may not have the luxury of being able to optimize everything about their setup — but that doesn’t mean there aren’t distance gains to be had. In fact, with a majority of amateur players swinging in an inefficient manner, there are even more gains available to weekend warriors than there are to the pros.

I discovered this fact firsthand when I went through a speed training session with GOLF Top 100 Teacher Bernie Najar, during which I gained over 10 mph of clubhead speed from where I started.

So, how can you see similar gains? I’ve outlined three big keys below.

3 keys for maximizing your clubhead speed

1. Up your intensity

Golf is typically viewed as a “leisurely” sport. But if you want to hit the ball at your maximum potential, you need to dispel that notion.

Think about any other sport in which you are going for a personal record. In all of them, you will try to hype yourself up beforehand so you can give max effort. The same principle applies when speed training.

“I’m a big believer in getting your intensity up,” Najar says. “In your case, you need to get your heart rate up.”

For me, that meant doing a series of jumping jacks before hitting a set of balls. You can also opt for a quick set of sprints or even just some fast walking. All that matters is that you get your heart rate up.

It may seem silly at first, but once you start hitting balls, you should see your clubhead speed jump up by a couple of mph.

2. Generate speed early

Have you ever heard the old golf adage “low and slow” as it pertains to the takeaway? Well, if you want to maximize your clubhead speed, you have to ignore it.

Hitting the ball longer starts with moving the clubhead faster, and that means throughout the entire swing — backswing included.

“One of the ways to get [energy] into the club is to put some [energy] into it a little bit earlier,” Najar says. “We are going to start the club out in front [of the ball] and then rip it back.”

If you’ve ever watched pros who are big into speed training (think Bryson DeChambeau or Matt Fitzpatrick), you’ll see that they take the club to the top as fast as they can. That’s no coincidence. If you want to hit it like they do, it’s important you adopt the same tactic.

“Putting more into the golf club means you really have to rev it up a little,” Najar says.

3. Don’t worry about accuracy

One of the hardest things about speed training effectively is letting go of the result of the shot. We as golfers are hard-wired to try to make the ball sail down the fairway with supreme accuracy. But when you are speed training, you can’t worry about where the ball is going.

“One of the things Kyle Berkshire would tell you,” Najar says. “If you are in a speed session, if you don’t have a big miss, you’re not going fast enough.”

There were a few swings during my session in which I damn near missed the ball — but that’s ok. Speed training is not about trying to hit fairways. It’s about increasing your maximum clubhead speed.

One thing I’ve found useful for addressing this is heading indoors to a simulator and speed training without the shot tracer on. All I put on the screen is clubhead speed and ball speed, and then I swing as hard as I can.

When I do this, I have no idea where the ball is headed. The only feedback I have is my speed numbers. Each time I do this, I find that my speed creeps up just a little higher than when the tracer is on. If you are struggling to let go of your subconscious accuracy biases, I’d recommend giving it a shot.

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BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) — Western Kentucky coach Greg Collins is staying despite a second losing record in three seasons, and athletic director Todd Stewart made clear Monday it's because both the coach and donors opened their wallets to boost the Lady Toppers' name, image and likeness pool.

Stewart said donors made “significant” financial commitments along with Collins giving part of his salary to the program's NIL fund. Keeping Collins also is what major boosters of the program wanted.

“I am confident our new resources will result in significant and notable improvement immediately,” Stewart said in a statement. “This program has a history of 20-win seasons, competing for conference championships and reaching postseason tournaments and these goals are the expectation of our program.”

Stewart said the new investment means Western Kentucky will have “substantially more” resources to build a roster next season than the Lady Toppers had available this season, which they finished 8-21. Eight of the losses came by five points or less.

Collins is 132-111 since taking over as Western Kentucky's coach in 2018, and the Lady Toppers went 23-9 last season. The coach apologized for this season, saying the program didn't meet the new challenges as college athletics “changed dramatically.”

“We do have a detailed plan for significant improvement, and I appreciate the new NIL commitments by our donors that will immediately impact our program,” Collins said.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball

UConn men’s basketball heads into the Big East Tournament with a little bit of egg on its face. The Huskies were embarrassed on the road against a lackluster Marquette team in the regular season finale, getting upset 68-62 with head coach Dan Hurley ejected in the final seconds. The loss not only hurt UConn from an NCAA tournament perspective, but cost the Huskies some hardware, preventing UConn from capturing what would have been a record 12th Big East regular season title.

Despite the recent blunder, FanDuel still believes the Huskies are the best team in the Big East. As of Monday, UConn is the only team with minus odds to cut down the nets in Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. The Huskies are -115 to win the Big East per FanDuel, with St. John’s as the only other close competition at +190.

Even though UConn lost three conference games to St. John’s two, the Huskies have been the stronger and more consistent team all season. Plus, the Huskies recently a delivered a 30-plus point beatdown of Rick Pitino’s Red Storm when the two teams met in Hartford at the end of February.

A Huskies/St. John’s Big East Tournament Championship matchup would certainly bring a lot of eyeballs to the title game Saturday night, and ensure one of the conference’s two strongest teams gets the highest possible seed with the automatic bid. But first, UConn will need take down the winner of 7-seed Marquette and 10-seed Xavier. FanDuel currently has 3.5-point favorites against the Musketeers and -170 odds to win outright, setting up a potential revenge opportunity for UConn and a chance to end Shaka Smart and the Golden Eagles’ season.

For more conference and NCAA tournament odds, be sure to check out FanDuel for all of your sports betting information.

Eagles get bad news on potential free agency reunion with 35-year-old Super Bowl-winning TE originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

While NFL reunions are fun to envision, it’s vital to remember they may not always materialize. 

In the Philadelphia Eagles’ case, it recently became clear that bringing back a 35-year-old three-time Super Bowl-winning tight end in free agency isn’t a realistic possibility.

“As much as they love and respect him, the Eagles have no interest in bringing Zach Ertz back," NFL reporter Derrick Gunn wrote on X/Twitter.

Shortly after Gunn’s original tweet regarding a potential Ertz-Eagles reunion, the respectable NFL journalist explained why a reunion with Ertz probably isn’t in the cards. 

“Where Ertz is concerned, it's not about age or performance, but with him still recovering from an ACL tear, he would have to be healthy before the Eagles would even consider a reunion,” Gunn added. 

Gunn made a valid point about Ertz’s untimely ACL injury with the Washington Commanders last season. With the Orange, California native suffering the setback in December, it’s fair to suggest his status for the start of the 2026-27 season is in serious jeopardy. 

For that reason, it appears the Eagles are unwilling to strike a deal for the veteran tight end who helped Philadelphia secure a victory in Super Bowl 52 and was an integral part of the Eagles’ offense for nearly a decade.

With Dallas Goedert likely parting ways with Philadelphia this offseason, landing Ertz would have been a beneficial move for the organization at the tight end position. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be any momentum toward a free agency deal involving the Eagles and the three-time Pro Bowler.

More NFL: Chiefs QB ditching Kansas City for $8.25 million contract with Cardinals

The legal tampering window opens in just an hour. There’s no smoke yet, but we do expect the Panthers to start rubbing sticks together as soon as they can. That means agreeing to terms, restructuring contracts, and altogether shoring up roster holes ahead of next month’s NFL Draft. Keep your eyes here for all the news as it happens.

Carolina Panthers 2026 free agents

• LB Krys Barnes
• OL Brady Christensen
• OL Austin Corbett
• OL Jake Curhan
• RB Rico Dowdle
• CB Akayleb Evans
• OLB Trevis Gipson
• P Sam Martin
• CB Damarri Mathis
• OL Cade Mays
• WR David Moore
• OT Yosh Nijman
• CB Robert Rochell
• LB Christian Rozeboom
• S Nick Scott
• S Isaiah Simmons
• OLB DJ Wonnum

Carolina Panthers signings, re-signings, and extensions

• Wide Receiver Jalen Coker, tendered as an Exclusive Rights Free Agent (which is definitely an oxymoron)
• Wide Receiver Brycen Tremayne received the same offer
• JJ Jansen is returning for a record 18th season, breaking the record of 17 seasons held by JJ Jansen.
• CB Akayleb Evans is returning.
• CB/Special teamer Robert Rochell is returning

Carolina Panthers Free Agency Rumors

• Panthers expected to sign former Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles edge defender Jaelan Phillips
• Sweet, sweet quarterback competition (not really) is on the horizon now that Kenny Pickett is in the fold.

Former Panthers on the move

• Cade Mays to the Detroit Lions

Where does the Panthers 2026 cap space stand?

The Panthers have $7.3M in cap space available per Spotrac and about $9M per Over The Cap. The difference of about $1.5M there isn’t significant. Carolina is going to need to make some moves this week with their larger contracts if they want to be at all active in free agency.

He rules the top scorer standings in the Turkish league

طرابزون سبور: بول أونواتشو يسير على الماء

Nigerian striker Paul Onuachu continues to light up the Süper Lig, racking up the numbers. With another brace in Trabzonspor's victory over Kayserispor (3-1), the forward is proving his attacking dominance and further solidifies his position as the top scorer in the Turkish championship.

Unstoppable in recent weeks, Paul Onuachu has established himself as the driving force in Trabzonspor’s attack. On Monday, the Nigerian center-forward struck again, netting twice in his team’s win away at Kayserispor. This outstanding performance brings his season tally to 20 goals in 22 league appearances.

Thanks to this latest feat, Onuachu extends his lead at the top of the scorers’ chart. His lethal finishing makes him Trabzonspor’s main offensive weapon in their pursuit of season objectives.

Impressive output with Trabzonspor

Beyond this season, Paul Onuachu also boasts remarkable stats in the colors of the Turkish club. Since his arrival, the Nigerian international has now played 50 matches for Trabzonspor, notching 39 goals and providing 6 assists across all competitions.

This level of productivity highlights the massive impact the Nigerian giant has had on the Black Sea club’s attacking setup. With his physical presence, aerial prowess and clinical finishing, Onuachu has become one of the most feared strikers in the league.

A season that could make history

As the season progresses, Paul Onuachu looks set to hold onto his throne atop the Süper Lig goal charts. His consistency in front of goal and deadly efficiency put him in pole position to finish as the league’s top scorer.

At 31, the Nigerian continues to prove he’s a true goal machine, always capable of tipping the balance in any match.

West Ham United will host Leeds United in the quarter-final of the FA Cup after defeating Brentford on penalties.

Brentford are one of the teams who have been known for their set-pieces but that was how West Ham United took the lead at the London Stadium.

It was Jarrod Bowen who sent in the corner that was initially cleared before Mateus Fernandes put the ball back into the area which was headed down by Tomas Soucek before Bowen ended up getting the final touch to prod home from close range.

The Bees equalised just under 10 minutes later. Michael Kayode elected for a shorter throw-in to Dango Ouattara who put in a cross for Nathan Collins to head home. 

VAR took a long look at it for a potential offside by Igor Thiago in front of the goalkeeper. The Brazilian was onside which led to a check of whether the final touch was from his arm but the goal was given and awarded to Thiago as he deftly helped it past Alphonse Aréola.

After validating the equaliser, VAR had to interrupt to award a penalty that put the Irons back ahead. Kayode was guilty of tripping Adama Traoré, a call that wasn't given by the on-field referee Andy Madley who pointed to the spot after looking at the footage.

Bowen stepped up to take the penalty and calmly slotted into the bottom left corner as Caoimhin Kelleher dived to his right.

There were two big incidents just before the break. Kevin Schade wanted a penalty after he fought he was fouled by Fernandes but the review deemed that the midfielder got the ball before making contact with the Brentford forward.

Then just before the break Kelleher made a fine save to deny Soucek from close range, keeping his side within a goal going into half-time.

After an action-packed first first half the game slowed in the second half as Brentford searched for an equaliser, which eventually came 10 minutes from time.

Substitute Crys Summerville was penalised for pushing Kayode in the back as the Italian rose for a header. Igor Thiago ended up standing over the ball and stuttered in his run up, catching Aréola unbalanced before firing a powerful effort in to make it 2-2.

That goal forced the game into extra-time which saw the tempo of the game drop even more and while Romelle Donovan and Axel Disasi both had efforts fly just over the bar, penalties loomed.

West Ham boss Nuno Espírito Santo couldn't bear to watch the penalties but he missed out as his team dispatched all of their spot-kicks emphatically. Meanwhile, Ouattara's attempted paneka penalty that gave Aréola his easiest catch of the evening ultimately cost Brentford.

Incidents: The story of the match

1':

Missed opportunity! Kevin Schade from Brentford took a left-footed shot from a challenging position on the left side, but it sailed high and wide to the right. Nathan Collins provided the assist.

1':

The match begins

2':

Missed opportunity! Ollie Scarles from West Ham United took a left-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it sailed just over the bar. The chance was set up by Mateus Fernandes after a corner kick.

6':

Missed opportunity! Jordan Henderson from Brentford took a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it didn?t hit the target.

18':

Missed opportunity! Adama Traoré from West Ham United took a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it went wide.

West Ham United takes the lead with a score of 1-0 against Brentford. Jarrod Bowen scores with a left-footed shot from just a few yards out, placing the ball into the bottom right corner after a corner kick.

19':

GOAL West Ham: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham) scores!

Jarrod Bowen scores goal number 1 in the competition (2 matches)

25':

Missed opportunity! Yehor Yarmoliuk from Brentford takes a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it sails over the goal and to the right.

It's now West Ham United 1, Brentford 1. Igor Thiago scores for Brentford with a shot from just a few yards out, finding the bottom right corner of the net. The assist came from Nathan Collins.

28':

GOAL Brentford: Igor Thiago (Brentford) scores!

Igor Thiago scores goal number 1 in the competition (1 matches) Igor Thiago scores goal number 20 for his team (39 matches)

West Ham United takes the lead 2-1 against Brentford. Jarrod Bowen steps up and successfully scores the penalty, placing a left-footed shot into the bottom left corner of the net.

34':

GOALWest Ham: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham) scores penalty-kick!

Jarrod Bowen scores goal number 2 in the competition (2 matches)

The score is now 2-2 between West Ham United and Brentford. Igor Thiago from Brentford successfully converts the penalty, striking it with his right foot into the bottom left corner of the net.

81':

GOALBrentford: Igor Thiago (Brentford) scores penalty-kick!

Igor Thiago scores goal number 2 in the competition (1 matches) Igor Thiago scores goal number 20 for his team (39 matches)

105 +1':

Missed opportunity! Romelle Donovan from Brentford took a left-footed shot from the center of the box, but it sailed over the crossbar. The chance was set up by Kevin Schade after a quick counterattack.

114':

Missed opportunity! Kaye Furo from Brentford heads the ball from the center of the box but it goes wide to the left. The chance was set up by Dango Ouattara, who delivered a cross after a corner kick.

West Ham United takes the lead 2-1 against Brentford. Jarrod Bowen steps up and successfully converts the penalty with a shot using his left foot.West Ham United 2 - 1 Brentford! Igor Thiago from Brentford steps up and successfully converts the penalty, striking it with his right foot into the bottom right corner of the net.The score is now West Ham United 2, Brentford 2. Valentín Castellanos from West Ham United successfully scores from the penalty spot, striking the ball with his right foot into the top center of the net.West Ham United 2 - 3 Brentford. Callum Wilson from West Ham United steps up and scores the penalty, striking it with his right foot into the top right corner of the net.West Ham United 2 - 3 Brentford! Keane Lewis-Potter steps up for Brentford and successfully scores the penalty, placing a right-footed shot into the bottom left corner of the net.West Ham United 2 - 4 Brentford 2 - Tomás Soucek steps up and scores from the penalty spot, placing a right-footed shot into the top right corner of the net.

120 +1':

Missed opportunity! Axel Disasi from West Ham United takes a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it goes wide.

998':

The referee whistles for the end of the match

Maurizio Sarri confirms two new injuries for Lazio in their last-gasp victory over Sassuolo, but warns ‘the club has to take some initiative’ to end the fan boycott and reinforce the squad.

The Biancocelesti had just two points in their last four Serie A games and were coming off Wednesday’s dramatic 2-2 Coppa Italia semi-final draw with Atalanta.

They took just 80 seconds to break the deadlock here today with Daniel Maldini, cancelled out by an Armand Laurienté strike, but in stoppages Adam Marusic flicked in the Matteo Cancellieri cross to beat the rather wayward Arijanet Muric.

Sarri frustrated at Lazio difficulties

ROME, ITALY – MARCH 09: Daniel Maldini with his teammates of SS Lazio celebrates after scoring the opening goal during Serie A match between SS Lazio and US Sassuolo Calcio at Stadio Olimpico on March 09, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

“There were some ups and downs during the match, but even without some important players, then losing Romagnoli and Cataldi too, the lads had a great final half-hour with real heart. I think the win was fully deserved, even if we left it late,” Sarri told Sky Sport Italia.

Some of Sarri’s changes were forced, as Danilo Cataldi went off with a muscular issue in the first half, then Alessio Romagnoli was replaced at half-time over a fitness issue.

ROME, ITALY – MARCH 09: Daniel Maldini of SS Lazio scores the opening goal during Serie A match between SS Lazio and US Sassuolo Calcio at Stadio Olimpico on March 09, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Debutant goalkeeper Edoardo Motta made a double save at 1-1, giving some reassurance after Ivan Provedel’s season was ended by shoulder surgery.

“This is a team that can have the right attitude, every now and then we get it wrong, but not that often. We’ve had to deal with enormous difficulties and some of them are still going, as playing in an empty stadium is depressing, but the players have reacted well to that too.”

CAGLIARI, ITALY – FEBRUARY 21: Head coach Maurizio Sarri of SS Lazio looks on during the Serie A match between Cagliari Calcio and SS Lazio at Stadio Sant’Elia on February 21, 2026 in Cagliari, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

The atmosphere in the Stadio Olimpico remains a worrying situation, because the boycott continues from the ultras in protest at President Claudio Lotito, so there were only 5,000 people in the stands.

It is the fourth home game in a row with this boycott, so how can the supporters be convinced to come back?

“I think the club has to take some initiative to bring them back, because this is too much of a difficult situation for us,” replied Sarri.

“I am not a director, but this situation has been dragging on for a while, so they know more than me. They will know better than me how and where to intervene.”

The coach said many times he only stayed at Lazio because he made a promise to the fans, so how does he see his future at the club?

“I don’t know, as soon as the season ends and we’ll have a few meetings, then I’ll be able to tell you. A team that has to be up to the standards of the history of this club must be reinforced, that’s for sure,” concluded Sarri.

This result means that Lazio climb back ahead of Udinese into the top 10, and are within a point of Sassuolo in ninth.

Roma is preparing to officially announce its new Main Sponsor, but in the meantime, it’s considering its corporate structure.

Between irony and denials, a veil of mystery remains surrounding Francesco Totti’s return to Trigoria.

There have been some unmistakable signs, such as the former captain’s frequent visits to the stadium or his dinner with Gian Piero Gasperini, but so far there has been no news.

The player himself, spotted at Villa Stuart by some fans, quipped about the situation: “I don’t think he’ll return to Roma.”

And the Giallorossi coach spoke at a press conference about the phantom dinner: “Neither of us paid; we only talked about football. I wasn’t the first to talk about his return.”

According to Il Corriere dello Sport, however, talks between Roma and Francesco Totti regarding the former captain’s return to the club are continuing apace. The parties are reportedly getting closer to a definitive agreement.

The former Giallorossi number 10’s desire is clear: he wants a key role, and the Friedkins are ready to accommodate him. His conversation with Gasperini is a clear sign of this: the two discussed the club’s future and transfer plans.

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has revealed his take that another up-and-coming member of his squad is playing at a similar level to Lamine Yamal.

The player in question? Pau Cubarsí.

Stopper Cubarsí has of course long been considered one of the first names on the team sheet in Catalunya’s capital.

Despite being just 19 years of age, the Spaniard has already emerged as something of a leader at the heart of Barcelona’s backline.

Cubarsí has come in for frequent criticism on the part of the Blaugrana faithful across the campaign to date, with many having made clear their feelings that the youngster has become somewhat overrated.

As alluded to above, though, one individual who sees the situation altogether differently is Hansi Flick.

Speaking to the media on the eve of his side’s Champions League meeting with Newcastle United, Barca headmaster Flick revealed his take that:

“For me, Pau Cubarsí is on the same level as Lamine Yamal, but in defence. How Cubarsí defends, he took a throw-in like a corner kick. He is 19 years old and can play at the highest level he can imagine…”

Conor Laird – GSFN

Leeds United have made their position entirely clear: Ao Tanaka is going nowhere this summer, even if he’s playing less under Daniel Farke. According to Pete O’Rourke on the Transfer Insider podcast, the club have no plans to let the 27-year-old Japanese international leave, despite his Premier League minutes drying up since the turn of the year. Tanaka racked up five goals and two assists in 43 Championship games last season, and his engine in the middle of the park proved central to Leeds securing promotion back to the top flight.

However, Farke’s move to a 3-4-2-1 system has squeezed him out, with Stach, Ampadu, and Gruev now making up the go-to midfield trio. Since January, Tanaka has only seen 63 minutes of league action from the bench, and he hasn’t featured in any of Leeds’ last six Premier League matches at all.

Even so, O’Rourke pointed out that the club still see him as a useful squad player who has a future at Elland Road. With 22 games under his belt this season and three goals to show for it, Tanaka hasn’t been a total ghost, but internal talk continues to focus on the gap between what he’s doing and what he’s actually capable of.

“It’ll be an interesting one. I still think he’s got a role to play for Leeds. He’s obviously been on the bench for the last six Premier League games. Leeds have got this starting eleven that they’re sticking with right now, with Stach, Ampadu and Gruev in midfield.”

“He’s obviously struggled for appearances in recent weeks, but has still made 22 appearances in all competitions and popped up with three goals. I don’t think Leeds would be pushing him out the door right now. He’s still an important squad player for the club, and I’m sure he will remain that until the end of the season as well.”

Does Farke Genuinely Need Tanaka, Or Is This A Situation That Simply Cannot Continue?

LEEDS, ENGLAND – MARCH 08: Ao Tanaka of Leeds United arrives at the stadium prior to the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between Leeds United and Norwich City on March 08, 2026 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)

Here is the bottom line: Leeds are in a tough spot with Tanaka, and just keeping him on the bench until May doesn’t really help anyone. At 27, the Japan international is at the age where he needs to be playing every week for both his own growth and to maintain his market value. So, sitting largely unused through the final stretch of a Premier League season serves him poorly on both counts.

Farke’s 3-4-2-1 has given Leeds a much sturdier defence, and the trio of Stach, Ampadu, and Gruev brings a good mix of grit and skill. Tanaka offers something different; he’s quicker and looks to move the ball forward faster, but that specific profile currently fits nowhere neatly within the system.

Farke really needs to decide if a packed schedule or an injury in April is the right time to give Tanaka a real chance, rather than just throwing him a few minutes at the end of a game. Leeds United need real depth to stay in the top flight, so keeping him this summer is smart business, but just letting a player of his quality gather dust feels like a waste.

The Raiders continued their busy first day of free agency, addressing each of their major needs. One major need is linebacker and they landed a big name, reeling in former Eagles LB Nakobe Dean to a three-year deal.

Congrats @NakobeDean agreeing to a 3 year deal with @Raiders

— Mike McCartney (@MikeMcCartney7) March 9, 2026

Dean was the starting linebacker on the Eagles Super Bowl winning team following the 2024 season. The former third round pick had a career-high 128 tackles that season

He was widely considered among the top linebackers hitting free agency. He heads to a Raiders team that appears to be letting all of their 2025 starting linebackers hit free agency themselves and therefore has at least two starting linebacker spots to fill. Dean should fill one of those spots nicely.

His one big question is regarding his injury history. He has had two of his four seasons shortened by injuries, including last season. But when healthy, he's very productive and has plenty of speed to work in the Raiders' new 3-4 scheme plans.

This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Raiders signing starting LB for Eagles Super Bowl champion team

Buccaneers' free agency nightmare realized on Day 1 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The talk of the town for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the past week was what the future holds for receiver Mike Evans.

The fact that he wanted to test the market was already a big red flag in the Buccaneers' attempts to retain him, and as free agency edged closer, many got the sense that the franchise great would be walking out the door.

And thus, it has proven correct, with Evans landing with the San Francisco 49ers on a three-year deal, which is surprising to me.

The Buccaneers' nightmare has come to reality. A franchise great has moved on.

More:Raiders add two free agent stud five minutes apart

Buccaneers fine after Evans decision

Yes, having Evans as part of your offense is great, but for Tampa Bay, it might not be the end of the world.

One position the Buccaneers are deep at is receiver.

Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan, Emeka Egbuka, and Tez Johnson will now make up Baker Mayfield's receivers in 2026.

That isn't a bad quartet of players to go to battle with.

Yes, Evans is a different beast, but the Buccaneers aren't left hanging in the wind with Evans leaving.

More NFL news:

• Chiefs big winners of Day 1 free agency
• Ravens big losers of free agency as Pro Bowl stud walks
• Insider drops huge $15 million Chiefs update on Travis Kelce
• ESPN hints at Tom Brady's role in keeping Maxx Crosby away from Patriots
• Insider drops incredible $298 million fact on Ravens' 2022 draft class
• Analyst reveals incredible Commanders free agency plan
• Ravens dealt harsh $20 million reality for pending free agent
• Latest QB news nightmare fuel for Steelers fans

Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Content warning: This story contains descriptions of alleged domestic assault.

New England Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore will not face a domestic assault and battery charge after Massachusetts prosecutors decided to drop the case.

Barmore, 26, appeared in Attleboro District Court with his representation on Monday for an arraignment that was rescheduled from Feb. 3 because of the Patriots playing in Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8. At Monday’s proceeding, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn told the judge that prosecutors considered the case “not viable,” Boston’s WCVB reported.

Outside the courthouse, Quinn told reporters that the woman who made the complaint against Barmore did not want to travel out of state for the case, according to The Associated Press. Additionally, the fact that Barmore was not arrested when the complaint was initially filed played a significant factor in the prosecutors’ decision.

“Domestic violence is something that I've taken very seriously my whole career," Quinn said, via WCVB. "But we have an obligation as a DA to review all the evidence, and our review of the evidence was, this was not a case that we could prove."

Quinn added that the decision did not pass judgment on what may have occurred.

The criminal complaint stated that Barmore took his then-girlfriend’s phone after an argument over air conditioning and food temperature on Aug. 8. As the woman attempted to leave Barmore’s home and screamed for help, he allegedly threw her to the ground and grabbed her by the shirt.

According to court documents, the alleged victim called a car service provided to Patriots players to drive her and her daughter to Delaware.

The woman told local police that she reported the incident on Aug. 25, providing officers with a photo displaying bruises that she claimed were sustained when Barmore threw her to the floor.

Barmore’s attorney initially denied that any crime had occurred, saying “the evidence will demonstrate that no criminal conduct took place.”

In December, the woman emailed prosecutors saying that she did not want to move forward with charges, court documents stated.

College football analyst reveals absolute must-win game for Michigan, Bryce Underwood originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Michigan Wolverines have potential College Football Playoff goals this fall, but to get there, they may just have to exact revenge against the Oklahoma Sooners.

The Sooners defeated the Wolverines 24-13 in Week 2 last season, but college football analyst David Pollack sees the rematch going much differently come Sept. 12 in Ann Arbor when he previewed it on his "See Ball Get Ball" podcast.

“If you’re going to start comparing apples to apples and oranges to oranges, if you get that feather in your cap of an out-of-conference team, Oklahoma is going to be good," Pollack said. "They’re gonna be good. They were in the [College Football Playoff], and they’re going to be in contention again.

Pollack said even though the Sooners may be good, he expects the Wolverines to make the necessary adjustment.

“They’re gonna [be good]," Pollack added. "They’re not going anywhere. Getting them at home is even better. You get that one, when you start comparing to other teams that you’re going to be going against and you say you got that feather in the cap, that’s a really good thing for Go Blue.”

Quarterback Bryce Underwood told "Champ Media" how much he is looking forward to his sophomore season, especially being recently named captain.

MORE: Fans plead for 94-win Ohio State ex-HC to replace Ted Carter after shocking resignation

"It's a blessing overall," Underwood said. "These past few weeks have just been working hard, leading the guys. It wouldn't be any different with them being leaders as well. Just really appreciate them for everything they put me through."

With all eyes on Underwood taking the next step toward stardom in Ann Arbor, he has the backing of his new coach, Kyle Whittingham, too.

"You know, first of all, from what I understand, there was no dedicated quarterback coach working with him on a daily basis," Whittingham said. "Which has to happen when you get a young, young man, 17 years old, he didn't turn 18 till like mid-season."

Although Whittingham is surprised by Underwood's progression, his youthfulness is arguably his biggest advantage, he said.

"And so he's a guy that really could have been in high school last year as far as his age," Whittingham said. "But, there's some things in throwing mechanics and the -- just seems to smooth out in his fundamentals and technique. And we're already got a good start on that."

Whittingham concluded he feels comfortable with the staff Underwood already has around him, too, despite it still being a learning experience.

MORE: Composite college football top 25 rankings for 2026: Ohio State, Texas lead Way Too Early lists

"And Jason Beck and Koy Detmer, outstanding quarterback developers and coaches," Whittingham said. "So we're already going down that path, but you talk about a ton of upside and Bryce Underwood's got it all. He's 6-foot-4 and 225 plus and has a cannon arm."

Whittingham trusts Underwood as the quarterback with the "whole package," making this season a true test.

"I feel like it's just a fresh start overall," Underwood said. "Brings my guys — brings us more together because now we're more player led. We've been through a little bit of adversity.. something for us to be better at every single day,"

A potential win against the Sooners could go a long way, but only time will tell.

More Big Ten news

• Illinois 2026 football schedule

• Michigan 2026 football schedule

• Ohio State 2026 football schedule

• Indiana 2026 football schedule

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Espanyol and Real Oviedo drew 1-1 in a game that extended Espanyol’s winless La Liga run to 10 matches and left Oviedo rooted to the bottom of the table on Monday.

Oviedo came into the game without a win in five but took the lead after eight minutes through Alberto Reina.

However, Espanyol was on top and got a deserved equalizer nine minutes before halftime thanks to Kike Garcia.

Espanyol continued to control the play in the second half and finished with 26 shots to Oviedo’s six. But neither side could find the net again.

A point was a meagre outcome for both clubs and left Oviedo four points adrift at the bottom of La Liga.

Espanyol, meanwhile, has yet to win this year but remains in seventh thanks to a good start to its campaign.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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If you’re a cruise enthusiast who spends any time at all “doomscrolling” Instagram, you’ve no doubt come across the video. You know, the one showing a simulation of “what happens if you fall off a cruise ship.” But let’s talk about what that video gets wrong… and what it doesn’t tell you.

Fear Factor

Created and shared by an Instagram account called AxiomPixels, the video starts by showing a person standing at a ridiculously low railing and going overboard. “What happens if you fall from a cruise ship and no one sees you?” the voiceover and accompanying graphic ask.

The reel — which has been viewed over 5 million times and can be found here — goes on to describe this truly terrifying scenario and what would likely happen next. It talks about the force with which your body would hit the water and that “within 10 minutes, the glowing ship is just a speck of light on the horizon.” 

‘It’s A Terrifying Reality’ 

The short clip goes on to ask how long the viewer thinks they’d be able to tread water in the dark, especially as the freezing water “instantly saps your body heat.” While no potential survival tips are included, the video does end by dubbing the situation “a terrifying reality” adding, “In fact: Over 30 people go overboard on cruise ships every single year, and most are never found.” 

Perhaps they should preface that last number by “almost fact” given that the true number of annual man overboards is more in the 20-25 range. According to an industry report, there were 19 “man overboard” incidents.

READ MORE: All of 2024’s Man Overboard Incidents

According to a report from CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association), 218 passengers and crew were reported as having gone overboard. Of those, 48 percent were successfully recovered.

What That Cruise Ship Viral Video Omits

What’s important to note — and not mentioned in the fear-inspiring video — is that approximately 37 million people from all around the world cruised in 2025. It’s projected that in 2026, a record-breaking 21 million Americans will board ships.

If 30 people out of 37 million were to falloverboard, that words out to somewhere in the vicinity of 0.000086%. Call us crazy, but those are pretty good odds.

The other thing not mentioned in the viral video is that, simply put, people do not “fall off” cruise ships, at least not without a bit of effort. The fast majority of those who do are either taking a purposeful action or doing something that that goes against both the rules and common sense. Alcohol also plays a role in many incidents, with people who’ve had too much to drink making foolish decisions or taking deliberate actions.

Ultimately, like so many videos which go viral, there’s more to the story than meets the eye, let alone can be explained in so short a format.

Read Next: What happens when someone goes overboard?

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Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship is still a few weeks away from debuting but already the honeymoon is over where some passengers are concerned. Why? Because of a price tag being attached to one of the entertainment options offered on board Norwegian Luna.

How Much Will LunaTique Cost?

Described as a “bold, cheeky good time” available only for guests 21 years of age and older, LunaTique will require reservations and run guests $44.95 each. This covers not only the show but four cocktails and a souvenir glass.

As for the show, it is described as an “immersive evening” featuring “high energy vocals, outrageous antics and laughs.” The show is said to combine “vintage circus glamour” and “pop-decadence.” (It sounds similar to Up With a Twist, the show rolled out upon the launch of Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady. Perhaps the biggest difference is LunaTique’s cover charge includes cocktails but not the meal which accommodated Twist.)

‘Why Am I Paying Twice?’

In discussing the offering, many consumers took issue with Norwegian charging for the show. “They can’t really say it’s supposed to cover the cost of the drinks,” pointed out one member of a Facebook group devoted to the ship. “Most people get a drink package as part of their booking. That’s the whole point of their Free at Sea program.” 

Added another, “Why am I paying twice for drinks?” 

It’s worth noting this is not the first time Norwegian has charged for entertainment. When Norwegian Bliss launched in 2019, the entertainment lineup included Happy Hour: Prohibition Edition (reviewed here). Like LunaTique, it was a show specifically aimed at an adult audience. It, too, featured a selection of cocktails served during the show. And like LunaTique, it was a ticketed event, costing $19.95 per person.

Over the years, several ships within the Norwegian fleet have had similar for-fee shows, including some which included both meals and drinks. This is also not something which is restricted to new vessels. On the 2013-built Norwegian Breakaway, they recently introduced the Silver Screen Bistro where, for $50 per person, guests can enjoy a pre-set meal before viewing a relatively-recent movie.

Norwegian Cruise Line Entertainment Changes

Industry observers have seen Norwegian go through several changes in recent years where their entertainment offerings are concerned. For several years, the line focused on shortened versions of popular Broadway hits such as Kinky Boots and Six. More recently, however, these productions — and the high licensing fees associated with them — have been ditched in favor of jukebox musicals.

In talking to the executive editor of Travel Weekly at an event, then president of Norwegian Cruise Line Harry Sommer addressed the topic. “Guests on a Norwegian ship don’t want to spend two hours in a theater,” he explained. “They want to spend 30 to 40 minutes in a theater, then they want to enjoy… the other entertainment we have onboard.” 

Only time will tell if they also want to pay to enjoy Norwegian Luna‘s new show.

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Samsung is considering adding a feature from the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra camera to the Galaxy S25 devices, namely Virtual Aperture for the telephoto camera. This could be added as part of a software update, since it is entirely a software feature. [#InlinePriceWidget,14456,1#] [#InlinePriceWidget,14457,1#] [#InlinePriceWidget,14320,1#] People on the internet have apparently been asking the Korean company to bring it to last year's flagships, and an executive has confirmed that Samsung is looking into it. Virtual Aperture already works on the Galaxy...

Givanildo Vieira de Souza, better known as Hulk, has cemented himself as one of the most iconic figures in Brazilian soccer over recent years, recently reaching the milestone of 450 career goals. But the veteran forward found himself at the center of a very different kind of headline after the Atlético Mineiro-Cruzeiro clash descended into chaos, resulting in a staggering 23 red cards.

The two Minas Gerais rivals met on Sunday in the Campeonato Mineiro final at the Estádio Governador Magalhães Pinto. With the regional title on the line, Cruzeiro broke the deadlock in the 60th minute when Kaio Jorge connected with a header from a Gerson cross, scoring what would prove to be the only goal of the match.

With the game approaching its final moments, Matheus Pereira tried his luck from distance, forcing a save from goalkeeper Éverson that produced a slight rebound. Christian moved in to follow up, but the keeper got to the ball and collided with him in the process, and that contact was all it took to ignite a mass brawl that would result in 23 players being sent off.

When the dust had settled, Atlético Mineiro had 11 players dismissed: Éverson, G. Delfim, Á. Preciado, Lyanco, R. Tresoldi, Junior Alonso, R. Lodi, A. Franco, M. Cassierra, Hulk and A. Minda. Cruzeiro had 12 shown red cards: Kaio Jorge, Fagner, F. Bruno, J. Marcelo, L. Villalba, K. Prates, Christian, L. Romero, M. Henrique, Wallace, Gerson and C. Ramos.

Hulk’s message after the incident

With staff members from both clubs and security personnel forced to intervene, Cruzeiro ultimately celebrated the Campeonato Mineiro title for the first time since 2019, claiming the competition’s 39th crown and closing the gap on Atlético Mineiro’s record of 50 titles. In defeat, Hulk took to social media to address what had unfolded:

“What happened in yesterday’s match does not represent the values that football should convey. Rivalry is part of the sport, but respect must always come before any emotion. I apologize to everyone who was at the stadium, to those watching on television, and especially to the children who look to football for inspiration. What we saw on the pitch is not the example we want to set,” the Brazil icon wrote on an Instagram story.

“I take responsibility for my part in what happened and I regret that moment. I am certain that many of the athletes involved are men of character, fathers, and responsible people who never step onto the pitch with the intention of hurting anyone. We made a mistake, but we also need to recognize when we are wrong and learn from it. May this episode serve as a reflection for all of us. We move forward now, respecting the game of football and everyone who loves this sport,” he added.

What is the record for red cards in a single soccer game?

Under soccer’s rules, if a team receives enough red cards to reduce their number of players on the pitch below seven, the match is suspended and awarded to the opposing side. Given that the brawl erupted near the final whistle, the referee blew for full time before that threshold was reached, but Sunday’s match came alarmingly close to setting a historic mark.

The Guinness World Record for the most red cards in a single soccer game belongs to the match between Club Atlético Claypole and Victoriano Arenas, in which 36 players were sent off. The game took place at Estadio Rodolfo Capocasa on February 27, 2011, in an Argentine Primera D fixture, the fifth tier of the country’s soccer pyramid.

In what was later described as a “generalized brawl,” all 36 players involved in the match, 18 from each side, were dismissed. Argentina has held that unenviable record ever since, and given the circumstances required to produce it, it is a mark that is unlikely to be surpassed anytime soon.

Mauricio Pochettino has managed to silence the criticism, turning the USMNT into one of the most interesting projects in CONCACAF. After betting on young players, he has managed to lead a new era in the national team that looks promising ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Despite this, the Argentine could be tempted to leave after the tournament. Taking advantage of his contractual situation, a top LaLiga team is reportedly interested in his arrival.

According to Rodra on ESPN, Mauricio Pochettino has emerged as a strong candidate to become Real Madrid’s next head coach as Álvaro Arbeloa has never been considered as a permanent option. After his spell at Tottenham Hotspur, president Florentino Pérez continues to keep him among his top priorities, especially since he previously coached Kylian Mbappé during his time at PSG, which is seen as a key factor behind the interest.

Even though he is currently managing the United States Men’s National Team, his future there is not guaranteed after the 2026 World Cup, as his contract expires in June 2026. Because of this, the Argentine would not face many obstacles in joining Los Blancos after the anticipated tournament. However, he has also been linked with a possible return to Tottenham Hotspur, as they have struggled to find stability in their sporting project.

Far from any certainty regarding Pochettino’s arrival at Real Madrid or Tottenham, the Argentine coach has not yet received a formal offer, keeping these opportunities speculative. With this uncertainty, Mauricio could still have a chance to remain the head coach of the USMNT if he delivers a strong performance in the 2026 World Cup. Despite these rumors, he remains focused on the tournament, viewing it as a pivotal opportunity in his career.

Not only Pochettino: Real Madrid reportedly eye other coach options

Following the departure of Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid have remained in search of world-class coaches with significant experience. Because of this, they have been linked with several names, with Mauricio Pochettino being the most recent to emerge. However, the Argentine is not a priority for the front office. With this in mind, Los Blancos reportedly maintain other alternatives to become head coach for the 2026–27 season.

As per Rodra on ESPN, Los Blancos keep Jürgen Klopp, Unai Emery, and Massimiliano Allegri as their priorities due to their European success. Nonetheless, President Florentino Perez keeps chasing a comeback of Zinedine Zidane, but he leads the race to become France’s head coach. For that reason, Real Madrid do not seem to have a clear path to define their permanent manager, opening the door also for Pochettino.

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The post Oleksandr Usyk names the heavyweight fight he wants after Rico Verhoeven appeared first on Boxing News.

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The post Gervonta Davis close to securing comeback fight as opponent named appeared first on Boxing News.

Beşiktaş Kulübü, sosyal medya hesabından bir paylaşım yaparak VAR odası iddialarına ilişkin Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu'na (TFF) çağrıda bulundu.

Beşiktaş, Trendyol Süper Lig'de Galatasaray ile oynadığı derbinin ardından VAR tartışmalarını gündemde tutmaya devam ediyor.

Siyah-beyazlı kulüp, daha önce Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu'na yaptığı açık çağrının ardından sosyal medya hesaplarından yeni bir paylaşımda bulundu.

"KAYITLAR NEREDE TFF?"

Beşiktaş, dün yaptığı açıklamayı alıntılayarak "#KayıtlarNeredeTFF" etiketiyle yeni bir mesaj paylaştı. Siyah-beyazlılar bu paylaşımıyla, derbi sırasında Riva'daki VAR merkezinde yaşandığı iddia edilen olaylara ilişkin kamera kayıtlarının açıklanması yönündeki talebini yineledi.

Kulüp, bir önceki açıklamasında VAR merkezinde kimlerin bulunduğu, VAR odası ve koridorunun kamera ile kayıt altına alınıp alınmadığı ve Portekizli VAR eğitmenlerinin maç sırasında odada bulunup bulunmadığı gibi sorulara federasyonun yanıt vermesini istemişti.

Beşiktaş ayrıca, derbi sırasında VAR odası ve odanın bulunduğu koridora ait kamera kayıtlarının kendileriyle paylaşılmasını talep ettiğini kamuoyuna duyurmuştu.

Beşiktaş'ın bir önceki gün yaptığı paylaşım şu şekilde:

"Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu'na Açık Çağrımızdır

Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu'ndan Trendyol Süper Lig'de Galatasaray'la oynadığımız maç sırasında Riva'daki VAR merkezinde yaşananlarla ilgili aşağıdaki sorularımıza cevap vermesini ivedilikle talep ediyoruz.

VAR merkezinde ve çevresinde kimler bulunmaktadır, VAR odasını ve odanın bulunduğu koridoru sesli bir şekilde kayıt altına alan kamera veya kameralar bulunmakta mıdır?

Portekizli VAR eğitmenleri, maç esnasında VAR odasında yer almakta mıdır? Eğer VAR odasında yer alıyorlarsa karar verme süreçlerine dahil oluyorlar mıdır?

Eğitmen adı altında görev yaptıkları söylenen Portekizli eğitmenlerin maç esnasında orada olmalarını gerektiren federasyonda herhangi bir görevleri var mıdır?

VAR merkezinin içinde veya koridorunda, maç oynandığı sırada orada bulunmaması gereken kişi veya kişiler var mıdır?

Şeffaf ve adil bir yönetim sözüyle göreve gelen Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu yönetiminin sorularımıza hemen cevap vermesi elzemdir.

Beşiktaş JK olarak; Galatasaray'la oynadığımız müsabakanın VAR odası ve odanın bulunduğu koridorun kamera kayıtlarının tarafımızla paylaşmasını talep eder, bu talebimizi Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu başta olmak üzere kamuoyunun bilgisine sunarız.

Beşiktaş JK"

Al-Hilal'in 150 milyon euro'luk dev teklifini Galatasaray sevgisi için reddeden Victor Osimhen, bu akşam Liverpool karşısında gövde gösterisine çıkıyor. Bayern Münih ve Barcelona'nın istediği iddia edilen Nijeryalı yıldız için Avrupa devlerinin scoutlarının tribündeki yerlerini almak için çoktan rezervasyonlarını yaptırdığı haberleri geliyor.

Galatasaray’ın dünya yıldızı Victor Osimhen, bu akşam oynanacak Liverpool mücadelesinde sadece takımının en büyük kozu olmakla kalmayacak... Avrupa devlerinin de takibi altında girecek. Bayern ve Barcelona'nın transfer listesinde olduğu iddia edilen Nijeryalı golcü için tribünlerde Avrupa devlerinin gözlemcileri çoktan akreditasyonlarını yaptırdı. Gelen bilgilere göre, başta Osimhen ve sergilediği performansla dikkatleri üzerine çeken Barış Alper Yılmaz olmak üzere, pek çok sarı-kırmızılı oyuncu Liverpool karşısında mercek altında olacak.

Okan Buruk'tan 4 sürpriz: Liverpool'un beynini yakacak hamle

Başkan Dursun Özbek daha önce Osimhen’in camia için ne ifade ettiğini çarpıcı bir kıyaslamayla dile getirmişti:

- Santrforlar arasında, Galatasaray'a gelmiş geçmiş, Metin Oktay'dan sonra beni en çok heyecanlandıran oyuncu Victor Osimhen.

Yönetici Abdullah Kavukcu da AA'ya yaptığı son açıklamada Osimhen’in Galatasaray’a olan aidiyetini rakam vererek açıkladı. Yıldız oyuncunun Al-Hilal’den gelen toplamda 150 milyon euro'luk (yıllık 50 milyon euro) dev teklifi reddettiğini tekrarlayan Kavukcu şu ifadeleri kullandı:

- Böyle bir adam parasını alamıyor diye oynamamazlık yapar mı? Eğer Galatasaray taraftarının bu sevgisi olmasaydı, Osimhen bugün burada olmazdı. O, şimdiden Galatasaray tarihinde yerini aldı.

Beşiktaş derbisi sonrası yaptığı açıklamalarla taraftara olan bağını yineleyen Osimhen, Liverpool maçı öncesi de takım ruhunn öneminden bahsetti. Taraftarın desteğinin kendilerini iten en büyük güç olduğunu belirtti. Gösterilen birliktelik ve mücadele ruhunun Liverpool karşısında en büyük anahtar olduğunu savundu.

ultrAslan ''Galatasaray Cehennemi''ni hazırladı: Liverpool şok olacak

Derbi sonrası TFF'nin Riva'daki merkezinde hareketli saatler yaşanıyor. Beşiktaş, sadece müdahale edilen değil, VAR'ın devreye girmediği pozisyonların da kayıtlarını talep etti. Başkan Serdal Adalı'nın bu akşam açıklanacak kayıtların ardından TFF Başkanı İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu ile kritik bir görüşme yapmayı planladığı da gelen bilgiler arasında.

Beşiktaş camiası, Galatasaray derbisindeki tartışmalı pozisyonlar ve VAR kararları sonrası TFF'ye çıkarma yapmaya hazırlanıyor. Siyah-beyazlı yönetim hem hakem Ozan Ergün'ün yönetimindeki soru işaretleri hem de kritik pozisyonlardaki VAR sessizliği hakkında bir açıklama bekliyor.

Beşiktaş'ın içi soğumuyor! ''VAR'ı kaldırın''

Beşiktaş yönetimi, TFF’ye yaptığı başvuruda derbi sırasında VAR odasında "yabancı bir elin olup olmadığını" sordu. Yönetim, Portekizli hakem eğitmenlerinin maç esnasında VAR odasında bulunup bulunmadığının cevabını istedi. Hakemlere herhangi bir yönlendirme yapılıp yapılmadığının net bir şekilde açıklanmasını talep etti. Bu taleplerin arkasında bazı duyumların olduğunu düşünmemek de elde değil. Beşiktaş beklenti içine girerken, bunlara da cevap verebilir.

TFF, normal prosedür gereği bu akşam VAR kayıtlarını açıklayacak. Ancak Beşiktaş’ın talebi standart uygulamanın ötesinde. Siyah-beyazlılar, sadece VAR’ın devreye girdiği değil, VAR'ın neden devreye girmediği pozisyonların da kayıtlarını istiyor. Özellikle ilk yarıda Leroy Sane’nin ihraç edilmediği pozisyonda VAR’ın neden sessiz kaldığını merak ediyor. Orta hakemle ne tür bir diyalog kurulduğunun (veya kurulmadığının) açıklığa kavuşturulması konusunda şiddetli şekilde talepte bulunuyor.

Beşiktaş Başkanı Serdal Adalı, derbi öncesinde TFF Başkanı İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu’nu ziyaret etmişti. Galatasaray'dan da tepki gelmişti. Derbi sonrası yaşanan bu kriz ortamında Adalı’nın hafta içinde yeniden Riva’ya gitmeyi planladığı konuşuluyor. Görüşmenin kaderini bu akşam açıklanacak olan VAR kayıtları belirleyecek. Kayıtların içeriği ve tatmin edicilik düzeyi Başkan Adalı’nın TFF ile yapacağı görüşmede kullanacağı doneler olacak.

Beşiktaş'ta Galatasaray derbisinin ardından yer yerinden oynadı. Sergen Yalçın ile ipleri koparan Vaclav Cerny, tecrübeli teknik adamı silip sosyal medya hesabını dondurdu. Herkes bu ani çıkışın nedenini merak ederken, Çek oyuncunun saha dışındaki sessizliğinin altından dramatik bir gerçek olduğu iddiası konuyu bambaşka yerlere taşıdı.

Beşiktaş’ta Galatasaray derbisinin yankıları sürüyor. Siyah-beyazlı camia yenilginin yanında saha dışındaki bir krizle de çalkalanmaya başladı. Takımın Çek yıldızı Vaclav Cerny ile teknik direktör Sergen Yalçın arasındaki gerilim sosyal medyada adeta resmiyet kazandı.

Derbi sonrası tecrübeli teknik adamla arası açıldığı iddia edilen Cerny, radikal bir kararla Sergen Yalçın’ı sosyal medya hesaplarından takipten çıkardı. Gerilimin tırmanmasıyla birlikte Çek oyuncu kısa bir süre sonra profilini tamamen dondurdu. Takım içerisinde aslında daha büyük huzursuzlukların olduğu iddialarını artırdı.

Cerny gemileri yaktı! Radikal karar

Yaçın'la olan çekişmesinden mi bilinmez ama Cerny’nin form grafiğindeki düşüş istatistiklere net şekilde yansıdı. İstikrar yakalamakta zorlanan Çek oyuncuyla ilgili dikkat çeken veriler var. En son 9 hafta önce oynanan Rizespor maçında 90 dakika sahada kalabildi. Beşiktaş kariyeri boyunca çıktığı tüm karşılaşmaların sadece 4’ünde maçın tamamında görev alabildi. Son 9 haftalık periyotta performansıyla beklentilerin altında kalan Cerny yalnızca 1 gol ve 2 asistlik katkı sağlayabildi.

Saha içindeki verimsizliğinin yanı sıra, Cerny’nin özel hayatında da zorlu bir süreçten geçtiği iddia ediliyor. İddialara göre tecrübeli futbolcunun elinde olmayan sebeplerle üzgün olduğu ve bu durumun ailesindeki bir sağlık sorunuyla ilgili olduğu konşuluyor. Henüz resmi bir açıklama gelmese de, Cerny’nin hem mental hem de fiziksel olarak yaşadığı sıkıntıyla ilgili Beşiktaş yönetiminin ve teknik heyetin önümüzdeki günlerde nasıl bir yol haritası takip edeceği de merak uyandırıyor.

Futbol dünyası bir futbol maçında yaşanan korkunç saldırıyla bir kez daha sarsıldı! U-20 Ligi'nde RFC Toulon ile FC Avignon arasındaki maçın bitiş düdüğüyle soyunma odasına giren bir saldırgan rakip oyuncuyu kasığından bıçakladı. Bıçaklı manyağın Toulon takımından bir oyuncunun kardeşi olduğu belirlendi.

Futbol her geçen gün biraz daha çığırından çıkıyor. Hafta sonu yaşanan korkunç bir olay Fransız futbolunu son dönemde esir alan kaosun son halkası oldu. RFC Toulon ile FC Avignon arasındaki U20 maçında bir oyuncu bıçaklı saldırıya uğradı.

Toulon’un sahasında aldığı 3-0’lık galibiyetin ardından kanlı bir trajedi yaşandı. Maçın bitiş düdüğüyle birlikte saha içi ve tribünlerde olaylar çıktı. Le Matin gazetesinin haberine göre adı açıklanmayan bir Toulon oyuncusunun kardeşi olduğu belirlenen bir manyak, tribünden inerek soyunma odası koridorlarına girdi. Rakip Avignon'dan bir oyuncuya bıçakla saldırdı.

Görgü tanıkları ve yetkililer saldırganın bıçakla genç futbolcuyu kasık bölgesinden yaraladığını doğruladı. Olay yerinde ağır yaralanan ve kan kaybeden futbolcu acil olarak hastaneye kaldırıldı. Son gelen bilgilere göre genç sporcunun hayati tehlikesinin bulunmadığı bildiridi.

Olay sonrası açıklama yapan Polis Komiseri Patrice Buil, kavganın kesin nedeninin henüz belirlenemediğini ifade etti.

- Şu an için bildiğimiz tek şey, bir Toulon oyuncusunun kardeşinin, karşı takım oyuncusuna saldırdığıdır.

Saldırgan ve futbolcu kardeşi gözaltına alındı. Avignon yönetimi, durumun daha da kötüleşmemesi için polise yardımcı olunduğunu duyurdu. Olayla ilgili geniş çaplı bir soruşturma başlatıldı.

Almanya'da futbol tarihine geçecek bir olay yaşandı! Münster taraftarları hakem penaltı pozisyonunu VAR'da izlemeye giderken "zihni sinir" bir yönteme başvurdu. Hakem ekrana baktığında siyah bir görüntüyle karşılaşması için saha kenarında James Bond-vari bir operasyona imza attı.

Almanya II. Bundesliga’da eşine az rastlanır, bazılarına göre "destek" olunacak bazılarına göre "vandallık" olarak kabul edilebilecek bir "teknolojik sabotaj" yaşandı.

Münster ile Hertha Berlin arasındaki Bundesliga II'nin 25. hafta mücadelesine taraftar damga vurdu. Maçın hakemi Felix Bickel, ceza sahası içinde Michael Cuisance’a yapılan müdahalede penaltı şüphesiyle VAR'a gitmek istedi. Tribünlerden inen kapüşonlu iki Münster taraftarı saha kenarındaki VAR monitörünün fişini çekti. Hakemi VAR'da siyah ekranla baş başa bıraktı.

Taraftarların eylemi hayal ettikleri etkiyi yapmadı. Köln'deki VAR merkezi devreye girdi. Penaltı kararı onaylandı. Hertha penaltıyı gole çevirdi. Maçın uzatma dakikalarında gelen bu golle Münster sahadan 2-1 mağlup ayrıldı. Olayın hemen ardından tribünlerde açılan "VAR'ı Kapatın" pankartı, eylemin önceden planlandığını gözler önüne serdi.

Ligde 14. sırada bulunan Münster yönetimi, maçın ardından yaptığı resmi açıklamada taraftarlarının karıştığı olayı kınadı. Sorumluların tespit edilerek yargı önüne çıkarılacağını ve güvenlik önlemlerinin artırılacağını duyurdu.

Trendyol Süper Lig'in 25. haftasında Trabzonspor'a 3-1 yenilen Zecorner Kayserispor'un teknik direktörü Erling Moe, maçın başında gördükleri kırmızı kartın oyunlarını çok fazla etkilediğini söyledi.

RHG Enertürk Enerji Stadı'nda yapılan mücadelenin ardından düzenlenen basın toplantısında konuşan Moe, maçta eksik kalmalarına rağmen ayakta kalabildiklerini belirtti.

Öne geçecek çok fazla fırsatlar bulduklarını anlatan Moe, "İyi savunduk, iyi fırsatlar yakaladık. Özellikle direkt ve alanları doğru kullanacak şekilde oynadık. Sahada görmek istediğimiz birçok şeyi bugün gördük. Kırmızı kart görmemize rağmen sahada daha iyi olan taraf bizdik." dedi.

Hakem kararlarının maçın sonucuna etki ettiğini savunan Moe, şunları kaydetti:

"Sonuçtan dolayı hayal kırıklığı yaşıyoruz ama kısa sürede oyun anlamında göstermiş olduğumuz gelişimden dolayı çok memnunum. Bu şekilde devam etmek zorundayız. Yalnız penaltılar noktasında bize verilmeyen penaltının açık ve net şekilde penaltı olduğunu düşünüyorum. Aleyhimize verilen çok basit bir penaltı da var. Bu konuda bir standart olması gerektiğini düşünüyorum. Ancak biz bu şekilde oynayıp yolumuza bakmalıyız. Bugün sahadaki hakem kararları noktasında şanslı olan tarafta değildik."

Trendyol Süper Lig'in 25. haftasında deplasmanda Corendon Alanyaspor ile 0-0 berabere kalan Natura Dünyası Gençlerbirliği'nde teknik direktör Volkan Demirel, puan için mutlu olduğunu belirterek, "Yorgunluğun vermiş olduğu tercihlerle ya da kötü vuruşlarla atakları sonlandıramadık." dedi.

Demirel, maçın ardından düzenlenen basın toplantısında, puan için mutlu olduklarını, ancak oyunlarıyla alakalı sıkıntılarının olduğunu dile getirdi.

Bu sıkıntılarının başında takımın fiziksel yetersizlik yaşaması olduğunu söyleyen Demirel, "Topla çıkışlarda pozisyon ya da birkaç tane kenar organizasyonu yakaladık. Ama o yorgunluğun vermiş olduğu tercihlerle ya da kötü vuruşlarla atakları sonlandıramadık." diye konuştu.

Demirel, Alanyaspor'un büyük takımlara karşı iyi oynadığını ve iyi mücadele ettiğini dile getirerek, kendilerinin de maçın ilk 25 dakikasında çok etkisiz olduklarını kaydetti.

Ardından saha içinde oyuncularına oyunsal anlamda farklı formasyonları denemelerini söylediğini ifade eden Demirel, şunları söyledi:

"Beni mutlu eden şu ki, takıma ne söylediysem yapmaya çalıştılar. 4-4-2 karşılama ile başladık. Sonra 4-3-3'e döndük. İkinci yarıda ise 4-5-1'e dönmek zorunda kaldık. Çünkü baskı yediğimiz durumlar oldu. 4-5-1'e geçtikten sonra biraz daha oyunu dengeleyebildik ve pozisyonlar üretebildik."

Volkan Demirel, detayı çok olan ama kendileri için önemli 1 puan aldıklarını belirterek, oyuncularını ve takımı mücadelelerinden dolayı tebrik etti.

Hem fiziksel hem de ileriye gitme anlamında eksiklerinin olduğunu vurgulayan Demirel, bunu da önlerindeki maçlarda tamamlamak istediklerini sözlerine ekledi.

Trendyol Süper Lig'in 25. haftasında Zecorner Kayserispor'u deplasmanda 3-1 yenen Trabzonspor'un teknik direktörü Fatih Tekke, kazanmaları gereken bir maçı kazanarak döndükleri için mutlu olduklarını söyledi.

Trabzonspor, Trendyol Süper Lig'in 25. haftasında Zecorner Kayserispor'u deplasmanda 3-1 mağlup etti. Mücadelenin ardından bordo-mavili ekipte Teknik Direktör Fatih Tekke, dikkat çeken açıklamalara yer verdi.

İŞTE FATİH TEKKE'NİN AÇIKLAMALARI

"Rakibin 10 kişi kalmasıyla lehimize dönen bir oyun. 10 kişiyken 2 fırsat yakaladılar zora soktular. Eksikler devam ediyor ne yaptıysak çözüm bulamıyoruz. 10 kişi Trabzonspor'a oynamak kolay değil. Güzel anlarda goller bulduk. 3-0 olduktan sonra oyun kontrolü ve kontrolsüzlük arasında dengesizlik yaşadık. Çok basit kayıplarla rakibimiz canlandırdık. Oyunun son bölümünde 10 kişiye karşı orta sahayı geçemedik. Oyuncularıma da söyledim bunu içerde.rakip 10 kişi de olsa bu işlerin şakası yok. Penaltı, kırmızı nasıl onlara olduysa bize de olabilirdi. Galip gelmek çok değerli."

"Bizim de eksiklerimiz vardı, şimdi Rize maçı var. Yine çok zor son periyota girdik her maç zorlaşıyor. Daha iyi olmak zorundayız, daha istekli, sadece bireyselliğe iş düştüğünde hata yaparız. Bu maç zor geçti ama kırmızı kartla lehimize oldu. 3-0'dan sonra bıraktık gibi durum oldu bu iyi değil. Daha dikkatli olmamız lazım. Sadece topa sahip olmak değil, gittiğinizde atak hücum yapacaksınız. Galibiyet en değerlisiydi, yolumuza devam ediyoruz."

"Batagov'a yarın bakılacak, Benjamin için net diyemiyorum ama Tim yetişecek gibi duruyor. Kart görmeden oyunu bitirebildik, şimdi dönüp dinleneceğiz, zor bir maçımız var hazırlanacağız."

Bu gün futbol üzrə Türkiyə çempionatında (Super Liqa) 2025/2026-cı illər mövsümünün 25-ci turunun oyunlarına yekun vurulub.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, sonuncu oyun günündə üç qarşılaşma baş tutub.

“Alanyaspor” – “Gənclərbirliyi” matçında qapılara qol vurulmayıb. “Eyüpspor” doğma meydanda “Kocaelispor”a, “Kayserispor” isə “Trabzonspor”a məğlub olub.

Beləliklə, mövsümün geridə qalmış 25 turundan sonra 61 xala malik “Qalatasaray” vahid liderdir. “Fənərbağça” 57 xalla ikinci, “Trabzonspor” 54 xalla üçüncü pillədə qərarlaşıb. “Beşiktaş” 46, “Başakşəhər”lə “Göztəpə” 42 xal toplayıblar.

Türkiyə, Super Liqa
25-ci tur
7 mart

Başakşəhər – Göztəpə 2:1
Qollar: O.Şahiner, 13. Brniç, 69 – Antuneş, 39.

Beşiktaş – Qalatasaray 0:1
Qol: Osimhen, 39.

8 mart

Qaziantep – Karagümrük 1:1
Qollar: Maksim, 54 – Serjinyo, 63.

Konyaspor – Kasımpaşa 1:1
Qollar: Muleka, 17 – Benediçak, 31-pen.

Rizəspor – Antalyaspor 1:0
Qol: Laçi, 10-pen.

Fənərbağça – Samsunspor 3:2
Qollar: Genduzi, 15. Nene, 90. Şerif, 90+5 – Marius, 11; 23.

9 mart

Eyüpspor – Kocaelispor 0:1
Qol: S.Dursun, 6-pen.

Alanyaspor – Gənclərbirliyi 0:0

Kayserispor – Trabzonspor 1:3
Qollar: Onuqxa, 83 – Onuaçu, 45+2; 45+7-pen. B.Bayazit, 53-öz qapısına.

Lazio pounced on a goalkeeping error to punish on-form Sassuolo in stoppages with Adam Marusic, with a 2-1 victory that takes them into the top 10.

The Aquile were fresh off a 2-2 Coppa Italia semi-final draw with Atalanta on Wednesday, but lost goalkeeper Ivan Provedel for the season after shoulder surgery, joining Toma Basic, Nicolò Rovella and Samuel Gigot on the sidelines, so January signing Edoardo Motta made his Serie A debut. The Neroverdi won five of the last six games, losing only to Inter, and Andrea Pinamonti was suspended, with Nemanja Matic suffering from flu symptoms, plus Alieu Fadera, Daniel Boloca, Edoardo Pieragnolo and Fali Candé injured.

Lazio ultras continued to boycott the match in protest at President Claudio Lotito, so there were only 5,000 fans present.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

It took 80 seconds to break the deadlock, as Gustav Isaksen surged forward after a throw-in and forced the save from Arijanet Muric, but Daniel Maldini gathered the rebound, took a touch to send Woyo Coulibaly to ground, and walked it into the net from six yards.

Isaksen also robbed Ulisses Garcia to drill inches wide of the near post, then his glancing header flashed across the face of goal on a corner.

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru failed to make the most of a cheap giveaway, but Sassuolo grew into the game and M’Bala Nzola’s angled drive took a double deflection off Alessio Romagnoli’s shin and debutant Motta’s fingertips to graze the far stick.

The equaliser was in the air and arrived at the end of a well-worked move, as Armand Laurienté combined with Kristian Thorstvedt to cut inside from the left and bend a ferocious right-foot finish into the far top corner from 14 yards.

Moments later, Danilo Cataldi limped off with a muscular issue and was replaced by Gil Patric in a relatively new role in front of the defence.

Maldini had penalty appeals rejected when he went shoulder-to-shoulder with Luca Lipani, but the hosts lost another big player at half-time when Alessio Romagnoli was forced off through injury.

Oliver Provstgaard immediately had to intercept the dangerous Coulibaly assist before Nzola could tap in, while Kenneth Taylor scuffed from a promising position when set up by Dele-Bashiru.

Mattia Zaccagni’s curler was too close to Muric, but Lazio really should’ve scored on 78 minutes. Isaksen timed the run perfectly to spring the offside trap on the Patric through ball and dinked it over the on-rushing goalkeeper, only to land on the roof of an empty net.

Moments later, debutant goalkeeper Motta needed a tough double save, first parrying the Laurienté strike and then doing better on the Josh Doig follow-up.

Muric got down for a one-handed save on the powerful Mattia Cancellieri curler, then also got his gloves to a Cancellieri cross-shot at the near post, pushing it away from Boulaye Dia.

Provstgaard nodded over from six yards on a free kick, but Lazio snatched the winner in stoppages. Cancellieri floated in a cross from the right and Muric came flailing out aimlessly, allowing Adam Marusic to flick the header backwards into the empty net from 10 yards.

Lazio 2-1 Sassuolo

Maldini 2 (L), Laurienté 35 (S), Marusic 92 (L)

09-03-2026 19:45

MatchDay 28

Stadio Olimpico

Lazio

Sassuolo

2 - 1

Player statistic

1st half

Daniel Maldini		2'
		35'		Armand Lauriente (Assist: Kristian Thorstvedt)
		37'		Luca Lipani

2nd half

		58'		Ulisses Garcia
		86'		Armand Lauriente
		88'		Sebastian Walukiewicz
Adam Marusic (Assist: Matteo Cancellieri)		90+2'

Lazio

Sassuolo

Starting lineups

40

Edoardo Motta

Goalkeeper

77

Adam Marusic

Defender

13

Alessio Romagnoli

Defender

46'

34

Mario Gila

Defender

17

Nuno Tavares

Defender

27

Daniel Maldini

Midfielder

65'

32

Danilo Cataldi

Midfielder

38'

7

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru

Midfielder

24

Kenneth Taylor

Midfielder

18

Gustav Isaksen

Attacker

79'

10

Mattia Zaccagni

Attacker

79'

49

Arijanet Muric

Goalkeeper

21

Jay Idzes

Defender

80

Tarik Muharemovic

Defender

23

Ulisses Garcia

Defender

68'

25

Woyo Coulibaly

Defender

68'

90

Ismaël Koné

Midfielder

83'

42

Kristian Thorstvedt

Midfielder

35

Luca Lipani

Midfielder

46'

45

Armand Lauriente

Attacker

10

Domenico Berardi

Attacker

8

M’Bala Nzola

Attacker

68'

Substitutes

29

Manuel Lazzari

Defender

23

Elseid Hysaj

Defender

55

Alessio Furlanetto

Goalkeeper

3

Luca Pellegrini

Defender

21

Reda Belahyane

Midfielder

20

Petar Ratkov

Attacker

14

Tijjani Noslin

Attacker

28

Adrian Przyborek

Attacker

99

Giacomo Giacomone

4

Patric

Defender

38'

25

Oliver Provstgaard

Defender

46'

19

Boulaye Dia

Attacker

65'

9

Pedro

Attacker

79'

22

Matteo Cancellieri

Attacker

79'

7

Cristian Volpato

Midfielder

19

Filippo Romagna

Defender

12

Giacomo Satalino

Goalkeeper

16

Gioele Zacchi

Goalkeeper

13

Stefano Turati

Goalkeeper

44

Edoardo Iannoni

Midfielder

40

Aster Vranckx

Midfielder

18

Nemanja Matic

Midfielder

46'

6

Sebastian Walukiewicz

Defender

68'

24

Luca Moro

Attacker

68'

3

Josh Doig

Defender

68'

50

Darryl Bakola

Midfielder

83'

Fabio Capello assured Milan can claw back the seven-point gap in the Scudetto race with Inter. ‘At Real Madrid, I recovered a nine-point deficit from Barcelona.’

The advantage had been 10 points until last night, when Pervis Estupinan’s strike sealed a 1-0 Milan victory over their city rivals.

Now the title race is opened up again, even if seven points with 10 rounds to go is still a significant hurdle to overcome.

Capello has faith in Milan title

“Inter still have a big advantage, but I think more than anything else it’s a psychological issue now,” said Capello in his role as pundit on Sky Sport Italia.

“In every match recently, Inter have alternated moments of great football with others of just exasperating slowness. This is what allows their opponents to cause problems for them.”

How can Cristian Chivu solve that lack of consistency and intensity in the Inter performances?

“They have to play with more humility and help each other out, something that I have not seen recently enough in the Inter matches,” added Capello.

Milan are now flying high ahead of the pack fighting for the top four and therefore have nothing really to lose, which the former Rossoneri coach feels could be significant.

“They’ve got a pretty good fixture list, so why not try to recover lost ground on first place? I managed it with Real Madrid, I recovered a nine-point deficit with Barcelona, precisely because they were resting on their laurels with such a big advantage.

“Inter need to be very wary of making that same mistake. The danger now is the players won’t have that same belief and focus.”

What would Capello say to the Milan players if he was in Allegri’s shoes?

“I think he should tell them that they’ve almost achieved their objective, so now it’s time to have some fun and enjoy themselves.

“I saw Inter looking so tepid, lacking grit and determination. I don’t know why, but Inter didn’t play the derby with the right attitude.

“I was surprised at how slowly the Nerazzurri moved the ball around. Perhaps they were missing Hakan Calhanoglu in midfield.”

Lautaro Martinez was out injured, but asked to be named among the substitutes just so he could be close to his teammates and sit on the bench throughout.

“Lautaro is a real captain, one of those figures who can shake up a team, run everywhere and work hard rather than just score goals. That grit is what Inter are missing right now,” added Capello.

Inter defender Yann Bisseck is keeping his eyes on the real prize, insisting he’d happily ‘take’ losing both Milan Derbies if it means celebrating the Scudetto.

The Nerazzurri are now seven points clear at the top of the Serie A table, but the gap had been 10 until last night’s 1-0 defeat to their city rivals.

Milan had not won both editions of the Derby della Madonnina in a single Serie A campaign since 2010-11, which is when they ended up taking the title under Max Allegri.

Bisseck wants silverware for Inter

They won both meetings with Inter 1-0 this season, so that gives them bragging rights, but Bisseck is keeping his eyes on the prize.

“If there is a game that we want to win, then it’s the derby, and we haven’t managed it for two years,” confessed the defender at a charity event this evening.

“However, if at the start of the season you tell me that we’ll lose two derbies, but then win the Scudetto, then I’ll take that.”

The title is not quite locked down yet, as Inter have a seven-point advantage with 10 games still to play.

“This is a good advantage to have, but 10 rounds are a lot, and we still have work to do.”

Bisseck had been tipped to make a move to the Premier League last summer, so is he happy with the offers that are bound to come in again?

“When you do well, there are many clubs who want you, but I am concentrated on Inter.”

Tottenham look set to sell club captain Cristian Romero at the end of the season as part of a massive squad overhaul aimed at changing the club’s culture.

Despite the defender’s central role in the team, The Telegraph reports that Spurs are planning to move on from several high-profile stars this summer to fund a significant rebuild.

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The decision comes at a critical time for the club, which has endured a disastrous domestic campaign that has left them embroiled in an unlikely Premier League relegation battle.

Tottenham believe selling Cristian Romero is ‘best for all parties’

While Romero remains a vital asset on the pitch, the report claims that senior figures at the club increasingly believe that a parting of the ways is ‘best for all parties’.

The Argentine international has cut a frustrated figure this season and has publicly expressed his unhappiness with the hierarchy over the club’s direction.

The report adds that finances also play a significant role in the decision. Chief executive Vinai Venkatesham warned in January that Tottenham are “not immune” from Profit and Sustainability Rules, noting that any major summer arrivals must be balanced by significant sales.

By cashing in on Romero, who is valued at over £60 million, Spurs would generate the necessary capital to reshape a squad that has underperformed under multiple managers.

Romero is wanted by Atletico Madrid

Romero is set to return to the starting lineup for tonight’s Champions League last-16 clash against Atletico Madrid at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.

He has missed the last four Premier League matches due to suspension, but is eligible for European competition.

The fixture is being viewed as a potential ‘audition’ for the 27-year-old. Atletico manager Diego Simeone is a long-term admirer of his compatriot and is keen to bring him to the Spanish capital to lead his defense.

With Spurs currently sitting 16th in the Premier League, a move to a consistent Champions League contender like Atletico is expected to appeal to the World Cup winner, who is seeking a summer exit.

They could face strong competition from rivals Real Madrid, who too have been strongly linked with the World Cup winner.

Romero’s time at Tottenham

Romero joined Tottenham from Atalanta in 2021 and has since made 151 appearances, scoring 13 goals.

While his aggressive, front-foot defending made him a fan favorite, his disciplinary record has often left the team vulnerable.

As interim boss Igor Tudor fights to keep the club in the top flight, the looming summer exit of the club captain signals the end of an era and the beginning of a ruthless new chapter in North London.

The post ‘Best for all parties’: Tottenham ready to sell star player at the end of the season appeared first on CaughtOffside.

With the Champions League stealing all of the midweek headlines, the Round of 16 will get underway with a string of blockbuster battles from across the continent. As Newcastle welcome Barcelona to St. James’ Park for an iconic European showdown, Premier League strugglers Tottenham will once again come firmly under the microscope when they travel […]

The post March 10th: Tuesday’s Champions League Double – 6/1 Special, Betting Tips & Predictions appeared first on Soccer News.

The post March 10th: Tuesday’s Champions League Double – 6/1 Special, Betting Tips & Predictions appeared first on Soccer News.

Arne Slot believes there was no better place to take charge of his 100th match for Liverpool than in the Champions League against Galatasaray. Slot, who replaced Jurgen Klopp at Anfield back in 2024, celebrates a century of games for the Reds at RAMS Park in the first leg of their last 16 clash on […]

The post Slot: Galatasaray the perfect place for 100th game in charge of Liverpool appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Slot: Galatasaray the perfect place for 100th game in charge of Liverpool appeared first on Soccer News.

Manchester City will face Liverpool in the headline fixture of the FA Cup quarter-final draw, while giant-killing Port Vale make the trip to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea. City and Liverpool will meet for the first time in the competition since the 2021-22 semi-finals, a game Liverpool won at Wembley Stadium 3-2, thanks to […]

The post Man City to host Liverpool as Port Vale travel to Chelsea in FA Cup quarter-finals appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Man City to host Liverpool as Port Vale travel to Chelsea in FA Cup quarter-finals appeared first on Soccer News.

The partnership aims to reduce fragmentation in European capital markets by enabling blockchain-based settlement of tokenized securities.

The insurance broker is piloting stablecoin payments for premiums using USDC and PYUSD, testing blockchain settlement rails for faster payments in global insurance markets.

Cynthia Lummis continues to push pro-crypto policies in a market structure bill under consideration in the Senate, even as she prepares to leave Congress in January 2027.

Buyers were undeterred by surging oil prices, pushing Bitcoin near $69,500 and large-cap altcoins close to their overhead resistance levels.

Bitcoin managed to avoid losses suffered by global stock markets over oil supply uncertainty, with a 5% relief bounce from its weekly open level.

Nintendo hosted its fifth Nintendo Direct event of 2026, which was an event dedicated to the Super Mario Galaxy Movie ahead of its premiere this coming April 1, 2026. The event showed off the final trailer for the film, and revealed some of Nintendo's plans for Mario Day tomorrow, and the lead-up to the film's premiere. The trailer for the film showed off a couple of the characters the recent poster revealed, like the character Wart, who is being played by Luis Guzmán. We also learned that Honey Queen will be in the film, and voiced by Issa Rae. The […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/super-mario-galaxy-movie-nintendo-direct-donald-glover-yoshi/

Samsung has remained very conservative in its experimentation in the smartphone battery department ever since the Note 7 fiasco back in 2016. However, this reluctance is now costing the South Korean behemoth dearly as Chinese OEMs increasingly take the initiative with monster silicon-carbon (Si/C) batteries. Against this relatively challenging backdrop, we reported towards the end of 2025 that Samsung had commenced and then abandoned its testing of a mammoth 20,000mAh silicon-carbon battery. Well, now we know a lot more about those failed tests as well as Samsung's ongoing testing of a smaller 18,000mAh battery, courtesy of a few leaked documents. Samsung's […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/samsungs-mammoth-20000mah-silicon-carbon-si-c-smartphone-battery-fails-at-960-cycles/

Apple had originally intended to launch its new Smart Home Display as a part of last week's product launch marathon. However, in the face of the ongoing delays related to the rollout of the revamped Siri, Apple has been forced to substantially extend the launch timeline of the new device, as per the latest tidbit from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple was not able to launch the Smart Home Display last week as the revamped Siri is not ready yet to power AI features For the benefit of those who might not be aware yet, Apple intends to launch a revamped […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/apples-smart-home-display-reportedly-falls-victim-to-its-siri-woes/

Marathon has been out on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series for its first weekend, and just like the Server Slam, developer Bungie is doing its best to respond quickly to issues players are noting as they spend more and more time on Tau Ceti IV. The game's first major update with those fixes will arrive sometime this week, and Bungie is already looking to tackle three of the biggest issues players have spotted with the game. Firstly, and arguably most importantly for all players, you'll be able to know where your objective is for a contract from further away. Instead […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/marathon-key-updates-first-major-patch-this-week-adjustments-to-in-game-currency-in-future/

To combat slowing sales, BYD pivots to a partnership-heavy "Station-in-Station" charging model across China.

The post BYD’s Blade gamble: can 2nd-gen tech rescue a 30% slump? appeared first on CarNewsChina.com.

The post AI Agents Will Soon Outnumber Humans in Crypto Transaction Volume: KOLs Say appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

CEO and co-founder of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Changpeng Zhao (CZ), has predicted that AI (artificial intelligence) agents will outnumber humans in crypto payments by a “million times.”

CEO, co-founder, and Chairman of Coinbase, Brian Armstrong, made similar comments shortly afterwards. He added that the main reason is that AI agents can easily own crypto wallets as opposed to bank accounts.

AI agents dominating the crypto industry

CZ’s statement follows the Friday announcement that the U (United Stables) stablecoin had become the first of its kind on the BNB chain to integrate EIP-3009. 

U stablecoin is backed by both fiat and a set of stablecoins, while EIP-3009 enables fast, gasless, and signature-based transactions. The integration of the two ideally makes U stablecoin a go-to for AI agents making autonomous payments in cryptocurrencies on the blockchain.

Other examples of integration of the two include AI-focused tokens such as TAO and NEAR, and the decentralized blockchain Internet Computer (ICP). The latter is running AI models on-chain to promote independence and censorship resistance. More recently launched is DeepSnitch AI, which utilizes AI agents to provide real-time crypto trading insights.

Presently, it is estimated that 60-80% of the global crypto trading volume is AI-driven. Agents settled 98.6% of payments in USDC, with an average transaction value of just $0.31.

Source: Enterprise Onchain

Source: a16z crypto

Comments

On March 7, Alibaba’s experimental AI agent ROME went rogue – hijacking GPU power and using it to mine cryptocurrencies without human approval. Similar actions have drawn scrutiny over the “independent” nature of AI agents and the potential veering off from their initial purpose.

Meanwhile, the regulatory environment of crypto assets utilizing AI continues to evolve. The Genius Act and the European Union’s MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) are examples of legislation addressing the legal requirements of AI agents in the crypto space. These include source code transparency, risk management, compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) rules, and full disclosure of AI use where applicable.