In a sudden turnaround, Italian reports suggest Milan have abandoned negotiations with Corinthians for midfielder André after a new offer was rejected.
However, Corinthians President Osmar Stabile rejected it outright, demanding considerably more.
Milan frustrated by André situation
BELO HORIZONTE, BRAZIL – NOVEMBER 23: Andre of Corinthians controls the ball against Gabriel Barbosa of Cruzeiro during a match between Cruzeiro and Corithians as part of Brasileirao 2025 at Mineirão Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. (Photo by Pedro Vilela/Getty Images)
According to ESPN Brasil, a new offer was made today worth €18m plus another €4m in performance-related bonuses, taking the total fee to €22m.
Within hours of that story breaking, MilanNews claimed that the response was so negative that the Rossoneri decided to scrap the whole move.
The directors have been frustrated with the chaotic way that Corinthians have been dealing with this, having believed they already had an agreement in place weeks ago.
The 19-year-old midfielder has been compared to current Atalanta star Ederson and was so eager to come to San Siro that he was prepared to forego the 30 per cent of the transfer he would’ve been owed.
Mattia Zaccagni showed significant progress in his injury and Lazio hope the captain will be available for the Coppa Italia semi-final against Atalanta.
The 30-year-old contributed four goals and one assist in 25 competitive games so far this season, but picked up a serious thigh strain a couple of weeks ago.
ROME, ITALY – JANUARY 19: Mattia Zaccagni of SS Lazio competes for the ball with Jean Butez of Como 1907 during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and Como 1907 at Stadio Olimpico on January 19, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)
Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso confirmed that Zaccagni was meant to travel with the group to Bosnia and Herzegovina as moral support, along with fellow injury cases Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Guglielmo Vicario.
However, he had to remain in Rome for a scheduled medical test with Lazio staff, and it provided some positive news.
According to Portuguese website A Bola, the midfielder has made up his mind and will not sign a new contract when the current deal expires on June 30.
He will then celebrate his 32nd birthday in August, so is still in good shape and able to play on for many more years.
Bernardo Silva has no shortage of options
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 08: Bernardo Silva of Manchester City celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield on February 08, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
After a career at Benfica, AS Monaco and since 2017 at Manchester City, Bernardo Silva is eager to experience a different league.
The Bianconeri are said to be proposing a salary worth up to €8m per season.
Although that is nothing compared to the wages on offer from the Saudi Pro League or Major League Soccer, it is reported that Bernardo Silva would much prefer to remain in Europe.
Benfica and Galatasaray are also contenders, but the battle would largely seem to be behind Barcelona and Juventus.
Liverpool may reportedly have been handed a major transfer boost with regards to keeping hold of Ibrahima Konate despite his contract being due to expire this summer.
The France international is close to becoming a free agent, but so too were Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk before they penned new deals late on last season.
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There’s still time for Konate to put pen to paper on a new contract with Liverpool, and it may in fact be increasingly likely due to the lack of other options out there for him.
And now it looks like there’s good cause for optimism about Konate’s situation despite no recent updates on him possibly agreeing a new contract at Anfield.
This increasingly means Konate is going to struggle to find suitors, as we also already know that Paris Saint-Germain don’t seem to be in the race, while it then becomes hard to know who else can afford the 26-year-old.
That doesn’t give Liverpool a lot of options to work with either, so it could well be ideal for both parties if they can finally come to an agreement over a new contract.
What do you think? Will Konate end up staying at Liverpool after all? Give us your predictions in the comments!
Leeds United defender Pascal Struijk has been linked with a move away from the club at the end of the season.
He has a contract with the Premier League club until 2027, and naturally, he’s being linked with a move away in the summer. He could be available for a reasonable amount of money, and Leeds would be prepared to cash in for an offer of around £30 million.
According to Sports Boom, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Aston Villa are interested in the 26-year-old defender.
Tottenham need more depth in the defence, especially with players like Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven linked with moves away. On the other hand, Aston Villa would be prepared to pay £20 million to sign the player.
Newcastle are looking to add more depth to the defensive unit as well, and they believe that the Leeds star could be the ideal option for them. The 26-year-old has shown his quality in the Premier League, and he could be attracted to the idea of taking on a new challenge.
All three clubs could be exciting destinations for him. Tottenham and Newcastle have exciting projects, and the Dutchman will be able to fight for trophies with them in future. On the other hand, Aston Villa is pushing for Champions League qualification for the upcoming campaign. It will be interesting to see where he ends up.
The £30 million asking price seems expensive for a player who will enter the final year of his contract in the summer. Any interested club will look to sign him for a more reasonable fee in the coming weeks.
Juventus midfielder Khephren Thuram has been linked with a move away from the Italian club at the end of the season.
According to a report from Calciomercato.It, Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle United are interested in the French midfielder. The player is also attracting interest from PSG and Inter Milan.
He would cost €60 million in the summer, and it will be interesting to see if the Premier League clubs are willing to pay up. The 25-year-old has proven himself in Italy, and he has previously impressed in France as well. He has the physicality and technical attributes for English football, and he could be a very useful acquisition for all three clubs.
Newcastle are looking at potential alternatives to Sandro Tonali, who has been linked with an exit.
On the other hand, Manchester United will need to replace Casemiro when he moves on. Although the 25-year-old French midfielder is not a direct replacement for the Brazilian, he will add physicality and defensive cover in the middle of the park.
It is no secret that Liverpool needs more depth in the midfield as well. The 25-year-old has the qualities to do well in English football, and it remains to be seen whether the three clubs are prepared to break the Bank for him.
Meanwhile, Juventus are looking to offer the player a contract renewal, and they will only sanction his departure if a substantial offer of around €60 million is presented.
The midfielder is entering the peak years of his career, and he could be attracted to the idea of playing in the Premier League. Clubs like Manchester United and Liverpool will be tempting destinations for him.
Ferrara where he spent the last four seasons at FSU on Brooke Wyckoff's staff. Ferrara is credited running the fast-paced offense in Wyckoff's system, and the Seminoles led the nation in scoring with 86.9 points per game in the 2024-25 season.
Ferrara is an excellent coaching addition for Caldwell's system. In each of his first three seasons, Florida State set program records for made 3-pointers. The Seminoles hit 232 in 2022-23, then 241 in 2023-24 and then 286 in 2024-25.
Ferrara has also made stops at Central Michigan, Hofstra, George Washington, Florida, New Mexico and St. John's. The Brooklyn, New York, native was an associate head coach at St. John's in 2021-22.
Ferrara brings a wealth of experience in addition to offense, coaching post players at New Mexico from 2017-21. He also coached in the SEC at Florida, his alma mater, from 2015-17 on Amanda Butler's staff, and he is credited with helping coach the Gators to lead the SEC in scoring in 2015-16.
Ferrara aided in recruiting and strength and conditioning, as well as post player development during his stint at George Washington from 2013-15. He coached 2021 WNBA MVP Jonquel Jones at George Washington.
No matter what your views are about this year’s incoming rookie class, the 2026 NFL Draft will be one of the more entertaining drafts we’ve ever witnessed due to the absolute unpredictability that will occur after the first overall pick.
Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza is expected to be the top selection by the Raiders, but there is very little consensus about how things will go beyond that.
The likelihood that we see several trades in Round 1 is extremely high, with teams valuing prospects very differently and five clubs holding multiple first-rounders.
So, before Roger Goodell gets to the podium in a few weeks, let’s look at some of the most interesting fantasy football questions you should be considering as draft season heats up.
How many WRs will be drafted in Round 1?
While this draft might not be as robust as some recent classes, the 2026 crop of receivers is filled with talented prospects, including six wideouts deserving of Round 1 draft capital.
Makai Lemon, Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson, KC Concepcion, Omar Cooper Jr. and Denzel Boston will all likely hear their names called in the opening round, especially with so many teams in the market for help at the position.
The Titans (fourth), Browns (sixth), Dolphins (11th and 30th) and Patriots (31st) are all in need of a No. 1 receiver. The Saints (eighth) and Chiefs (ninth and 29th) are in the perfect spot to scoop up Lemon or Tate in the top 10.
The Ravens (14th) could be in the Round 1 WR mix now that they have their first-round pick back after the Maxx Crosby trade fell through.
The Giants (fifth), Jets (second and 16th), Panthers (19th) and Bills (26th) could use another quality starter.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys (12th and 20th), Rams (13th) and Eagles (23rd — more on them shortly) could be luxury shopping for a cost-effective, high-end talent at a position that’s earning some very expensive contracts once they reach their prime.
We might also see some of those receiver-needy teams select a pass-catching tight end instead, with Kenyon Sadiq and Eli Stowers looking like future difference-makers worthy of going in the first round.
You can make a strong case for almost half the teams in Round 1 drafting a receiver, so don’t be surprised when at least six go off the board.
Will the Eagles draft a WR early to prepare for an eventual A.J. Brown trade?
There has been a lot of speculation about Brown being traded this offseason, with the Patriots being the most mentioned destination for the star receiver who turns 30 this summer.
If the Eagles do intend to move Brown, which might involve waiting until after June 1, when it makes more sense for them contract-wise, there will be a significant hole in their offense.
DeVonta Smith is more than capable of becoming the top target for Jalen Hurts and Dallas Goedert has been underutilized playing behind the two outstanding wideouts, but it would be a mistake to go into next season with the recently signed Hollywood Brown as the Eagles’ second-best receiver.
Even if Brown doesn’t get traded, the writing is on the wall that his time in Philadelphia is coming to an end sooner rather than later, and finding a replacement should be a priority.
The good news is that, in addition to having one of the best rosters in the league, general manager Howie Roseman also has four picks in the first three rounds (23rd, 54th, 68th, 98th) to work with this year.
Though Brown might still be on the roster during the draft, you should expect one of those picks on Day 1 or Day 2 to be used on a wideout.
Which backfield will Jeremiyah Love shake up?
Normally when it comes to fantasy, we’re most excited about the new group of running backs entering the league since it’s arguably the easiest position to make an immediate impact as a rookie.
Unfortunately, this year’s class of ball carriers has just one borderline elite talent in Love and then a massive drop-off before we get to the rest of the RB prospects. While I’m intrigued by some of the other backs like Jonah Coleman, Nick Singleton and Mike Washington Jr., they will have to prove themselves at the next level if they’re going to carve out a meaningful role in Year 1.
However, Love is more than ready to take over a backfield and is expected to get ideal draft capital going inside the top 10.
The Titans (fourth), Giants (fifth) and Commanders (eighth) are the favorites to secure his services. But don’t rule out the Cardinals (third) as a landing spot or possible trade scenario where another team could move up to get him.
I recently wrote about 10 players whose fantasy value is at risk heading into the draft, with Tony Pollard, Cam Skattebo and the combination of Rachaad White/Jacory Croskey-Merritt all making the list.
Regardless of Adam Schefter's comments on the matter, Tennessee has the best odds to be Love’s next home, which makes a lot of sense. Pollard will be 29 this season and playing in the final year of his contract. Not only would Love give the Titans a long-term three-down star in the backfield whom they could build the offense around, but he would also make life easier on last year’s top pick Cam Ward.
Wherever Love ends up, it will create a notable ripple effect — with one of the aforementioned starters seeing their fantasy value sink instantly, while the other two starters become immediate values.
I’m currently operating as if Love will be a Titan.
How many starting NFL QBs are in this draft class?
There’s been a lot of discourse lately about the quarterbacks in this year’s draft and I think we should make one thing clear — this is not a great year for QB prospects.
Mendoza is the best of the bunch, but he’s not a dominant passer who’s going to singlehandedly turn around an organization. He’s a good leader with a decent arm (especially on touch passes), who displays excellent awareness and the toughness to overcome adversity.
Though Mendoza can be a long-term NFL starter, any excitement about his fantasy potential is directly associated with his connection to new Raiders coach, Klint Kubiak. Mendoza will need quality coaching and a solid supporting cast if he’s going to emerge as a star in the pros. Most years, a player with his profile would not be the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft.
After Mendoza, we have a lot of household names who were difference-makers in college, but will have an uphill battle earning starting jobs at the next level.
Ty Simpson, Garrett Nussmeier, Carson Beck and Drew Allar will all need serious development before they get a chance to start an NFL game. While it’s possible Simpson could sneak into the first round, I expect to hear his and Nussmeier’s names called on Day 2 of the draft, with Beck and Allar falling to Day 3.
Bottom line, this isn’t the year to be a QB-needy team, which is likely why we’re still hearing trade rumors around current backups who have flashed, like Tyson Bagent and Tanner McKee.
Max Verstappen's long-term future in Formula 1 is looking questionable after candid comments made during the Japanese Grand Prix weekend, with the four-time world champion admitting he doesn't enjoy the current direction of the sport.
Speaking to BBC Sport at Suzuka, Verstappen made clear his frustration with the state of racing under the new-for-2026 regulations, saying he is "not enjoying the whole formula." When pressed by the publication on whether that dissatisfaction could lead to an early retirement-potentially as soon as the end of the 2026 season-he didn't dismiss the idea.
Image: Red Bull Content Pool
While it's been a difficult start to the season, Verstappen insists his dissatisfaction isn't tied to car performance, but rather to how it now feels behind the wheel to drive a Formula 1 car.
"I can easily accept to be in P7 or P8 where I am," Verstappen said. "Because I also know that you can't be dominating or be first or second or whatever, fighting for a podium every time. I'm very realistic in that and I've been there before. I've not only been winning in F1.
"But at the same time when you are in P7 or P8 and you are not enjoying the whole formula behind it, it doesn't feel natural to a racing driver.
"Of course, I try to adapt to it, but it's not nice the way you have to race. It's really anti-driving."
Image: Red Bull Content Pool
Verstappen's criticism is squarely with the new power unit introduced for 2026-the regulations place a heavy emphasis on energy recovery and deployment with a 50/50 split between battery power and internal combustion oomph-forcing drivers to carefully manage battery charge throughout each lap.
That has led to a style of racing where overtakes can be short-lived, with drivers often losing positions again on the following straight due to differing energy levels.
"You can pass around here, but then you have no battery for the next straight. So I tried once just to have a look, but then of course Pierre immediately got by me again on the main straight and I think that was basically the story of today. You can pass, but then you get re-passed. That was basically it."
Image: Red Bull Content Pool
Verstappen stopped short of confirming any immediate plans to leave the sport-he has a contract until 2028-but he is certainly weighing his options. The demanding schedule-that now basically stretches from February to December and includes more than 20 races per season-has also contributed to his thinking.
"Privately I'm very happy. You also wait for 24 races. This time it's 22. But normally 24. And then you just think about, is it worth it? Or do I enjoy being more at home with my family? Seeing my friends more when you're not enjoying your sport?"
Max also has a very full racing life outside of Formula 1, including GT racing and building his own team. Verstappen will compete in events like the Nürburgring 24 Hours, with an eye towards winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans eventually.
"I have a lot of other projects anyway that I have a lot of passion about," he said. "The GT3 racing. Not only racing it myself but also the team. It's really nice and fun to build that. And I really want to build that out further in the coming years.
"It's not like if I would stop here that I'm not going to do anything. I'm always going to have fun. And also I will have fun in a lot of other things in my life.
"But it's a bit sad to be honest that we're even talking about this. It is what it is. You don't need to feel sorry for me. I'll be fine."
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Max Verstappen is one of the most successful drivers in Formula 1 history, but the 2026 season has not been going well. After Formula 1 changed the regulations, Verstappen and Red Bull have struggled, and the driver of the No. 3 car is not happy. In fact, the four-time Formula 1 champion could call it quits soon.
Verstappen is "seriously" considering retirement from Formula 1 after the 2026 season, as said by the driver through BBC Sports. It has been a disappointing 2026 season for Verstappen, who continues to express his displeasure with Formula 1's new regulations.
It would be a shocking development for Formula 1, which has received criticism since its pre-season testing with the new cars. Verstappen is the sport's best driver and retiring at 28 years old would be a bad look for the sport. The Red Bull driver could be hanging it up soon, but it might depend on what Formula 1 decides to do moving forward.
Door now wide open for Darwin Nunez to return to Liverpool
The door is open for Darwin Nunez to return to Liverpool.
The Uruguayan's time at Anfield has been anything but ordinary.
Nunez was a chaotic mess. He was unprecitable but it’s that unpredictability that made him such a fan favourite. From the moment he arrived, supporters were drawn to his relentless energy, chaotic style, and unwavering enthusiasm on the pitch.
He never did things the easy way. His finishing could be frustratingly inconsistent, with missed chances often coming just moments after moments of brilliance.
But what kept fans firmly on his side was his attitude. He never hid, never stopped making runs, and constantly put defenders under pressure with his pace and directness. Even on difficult days, his effort was unquestionable.
There was a rawness to his game that embodied the emotional side of football. Whether chasing lost causes, pressing defenders into mistakes, or celebrating with unfiltered passion, Nunez played with a spirit that supporters deeply connected with.
In many ways, he brought unpredictability to Liverpool’s attack - a player capable of turning a game on its head in an instant. For the right or wrong reasons.
Despite the inconsistency in front of goal, Nunez still played an important role during his time at the club.
His movement created space for teammates, his runs stretched defensive lines, and his presence alone often disrupted opposition structures. He may not always have been clinical, but his overall contribution went far beyond goals.
Ultimately, Nunez will be remembered not just for the chances he scored or missed, but for the energy, chaos, and excitement he brought every time he stepped onto the pitch.
Having departed the club, there's no denying that Liverpool miss his energy and intensity.
Arne Slot's team this season have struggled to press effectively from the front and a part of that has been the departure of Nunez who hassled and harassed defenders and who worked his socks off.
There's also the fact that Nunez's replacement, Alexander Isak has been injured for most of the campaign, so Liverpool could have easily kept the Uruguayan around to alleviate the pressure on Hugo Ekitike, who has essentially been tasked with leading the line all on his own in almost every game due to the Reds not having rotation for him.
With Isak back soon, you'd think Liverpool will not be looking for strikers anymore.
However, that might not be the case.
According to a report from TEAMtalk, the Reds are planning two play Ekitike and Isak together, which means they are in the market for a third striker.
Zaccagni recovering faster than expected for Lazio
Mattia Zaccagni showed significant progress in his injury and Lazio hope the captain will be available for the Coppa Italia semi-final against Atalanta.
The 30-year-old contributed four goals and one assist in 25 competitive games so far this season, but picked up a serious thigh strain a couple of weeks ago.
ROME, ITALY – JANUARY 19: Mattia Zaccagni of SS Lazio competes for the ball with Jean Butez of Como 1907 during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and Como 1907 at Stadio Olimpico on January 19, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)
Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso confirmed that Zaccagni was meant to travel with the group to Bosnia and Herzegovina as moral support, along with fellow injury cases Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Guglielmo Vicario.
However, he had to remain in Rome for a scheduled medical test with Lazio staff, and it provided some positive news.
Maycee Barber spoke out after a brutal defeat to Alexa Grasso at UFC Seattle on Saturday night.
The fight quickly went viral after Barber was left unconscious in a worrying scene following the stoppage.
Grasso landed a heavy punch before securing a rear naked choke, sealing a dominant finish.
The result ended Barber’s seven-fight winning streak in a dramatic and unexpected fashion.
Maycee Barber reacts after stunning loss in Alexa Grasso rematch
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Barber addressed the defeat in an Instagram video on Sunday, offering an honest reflection on the outcome.
“Well, this is not the post or video that I wanted to be making today, but I wanted to come on here and say thank you to the UFC and thank you to Alexa for the opportunity. You know, I wanted to go out there and get my opportunity, to get my rematch and dominate, and get the win back. And unfortunately, it was not my night,” she began by saying.
“I got caught and Alexa did an amazing thing. She is a phenomenal fighter and I don’t really remember a whole lot. All I know is that every time I go on social media, I look like I’m dead. And that’s not a very fun thing to see. So I’ve been trying to stay off of social media, but I also wanted to come on here and at least tell you guys that I am okay and I will be back.”
The loss marked a second defeat to Grasso, with Barber unable to avenge their previous meeting.
It also came despite her strong momentum, while Grasso entered the fight following two losses and a draw.
Brijesh Sharma made his IPL debut on Monday after being named in the playing XI of the Rajasthan Royals for their match against the Chennai Super Kings.
Rajasthan Royals had picked the Jammu and Kashmir pacer at his base price of Rs 30 lakh in the IPL 2026 auction. At that time, he had not played senior cricket in any format, but his performances in the 2025 Bengal Pro T20 League had brought him into focus.
A right-arm medium pace bowler, Sharma finished joint-fifth on the wickets list in that tournament, taking 11 wickets in seven matches while playing for Smashers Malda.
From J&K to RR via Bengal
His journey to professional cricket has come through several challenges. He grew up in the Dandial area as the son of a labourer and faced financial issues while pursuing the sport. He started by representing Jammu and Kashmir at the Under-19 and Under-25 levels.
To improve his game, he later moved to Delhi, where he trained under Deepak Punia at the Unique Sports Club. The shift helped him develop better control and prepare for higher levels of competition.
His performance in the Bengal Pro T20 League in 2025 played a key role in his rise. Playing at Eden Gardens, he was among the leading wicket-takers and showed his ability in both the Powerplay and the final overs, finishing with 11 wickets in seven matches.
That run led to his selection by Rajasthan Royals for IPL 2026. The impact of Brijesh Sharma extends beyond his statistics; he has become a symbol of hope for aspiring cricketers from Jammu and Kashmir, following in the footsteps of regional icons like Umran Malik and Auqib Nabi these days.
In the match, Rajasthan Royals won the toss and elected to bowl against Chennai Super Kings in their Indian Premier League opener here on Monday.
Royals have beaten CSK four times in their last five matches. Both teams struggled in the 2025 season.
CSK are without charismatic MS Dhoni, who has been sidelined for at least two weeks due to a calf injury.
Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Sanju Samson (wk), Ayush Mhatre, Matt Short, Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Matt Henry, Anshul Kamboj, and Khaleel Ahmed.
Tight end Dalton Kincaid is set for at least two more seasons in Buffalo.
Bills General Manager Brandon Beane said on Monday that the team has exercised its option on Kincaid's contract for the 2027 season. Kincaid is now set to make $8.162 million for his fifth NFL season.
Kincaid was the 25th overall pick in 2023. He had 73 catches as a rookie and has added 83 catches over the last two seasons. He has 1,692 yards and nine touchdowns over all 41 regular season games he's played for the AFC East club.
The Bills also have Dawson Knox under contract at tight end through the 2028 season.
Lazo joined Caldwell's staff shortly after she was hired in April 2024 after spending two seasons at Mississippi State. Lazo had been promoted to associate head coach at MSU just before his hiring.
Lazo was making $370,000 annually on Caldwell's staff, according to UT's salary database. He was one of two assistants Caldwell hired from other SEC staffs when she got the Lady Vols job, along with Roman Tubner, who was hired from Alabama.
Lazo, a Miami native, was floated as a candidate for head coaching jobs this offseason at USF and Memphis. Mississippi State coach Sam Purcell, who Lazo worked for from 2022-24, also said last season that Lazo would be a head coach soon.
Lazo played a significant role in Tennessee's remarkable turnaround in high school recruiting. All five Lady Vols freshmen credited Lazo as their lead recruiter, along with their three-player transfer class ahead of the 2025-26 season.
The five players, including three five-stars who were McDonald's All-Americans, were Tennessee's highest-ranked high school signing class since 2017.
Mia Pauldo (No. 9), Deniya Prawl (No. 17) and Jaida Civil (No. 20) were all McDonald's All-Americans, and they were joined in the class by Lauren Hurst (No. 45) and Mya Pauldo (No. 57). The 2025 class was ranked No. 2 by ESPN. Prawl and Hurst are both entering the transfer portal after one season at Tennessee.
Five-star forward Oliviyah Edwards, who's ranked No. 2 in the 2026 class by ESPN, credited Lazo as her lead recruiter and a major reason why she chose Tennessee. Four-star guard Gabby Minus also said Lazo was her lead recruiter.
Before coaching at Mississippi State, Lazo had stints at George Washington (2021-22), Stony Brook (2019-21) and FIU (2017-19). He started his coaching career at the high school level in Florida – Lazo coached at John A. Ferguson Senior High School from 2012-17 and was a three-time Miami-Dade Coach of the Year. He also coached the Miami Suns AAU team in the Nike Girls Elite league from 2010-17.
Lazo is on the board of directors for the Latino Association of Basketball Coaches. He played collegiately at Barry (2006-08) and FIU (2004-06).
Lazo joined Caldwell's staff shortly after she was hired in April 2024 after spending two seasons at Mississippi State. Lazo had been promoted to associate head coach at MSU just before his hiring.
Lazo was making $370,000 annually on Caldwell's staff, according to UT's salary database. He was one of two assistants Caldwell hired from other SEC staffs when she got the Lady Vols job, along with Roman Tubner, who was hired from Alabama.
Lazo, a Miami native, was floated as a candidate for head coaching jobs this offseason at USF and Memphis. Mississippi State coach Sam Purcell, who Lazo worked for from 2022-24, also said last season that Lazo would be a head coach soon.
Lazo played a significant role in Tennessee's remarkable turnaround in high school recruiting. All five Lady Vols freshmen credited Lazo as their lead recruiter, along with their three-player transfer class ahead of the 2025-26 season.
The five players, including three five-stars who were McDonald's All-Americans, were Tennessee's highest-ranked high school signing class since 2017.
Mia Pauldo (No. 9), Deniya Prawl (No. 17) and Jaida Civil (No. 20) were all McDonald's All-Americans, and they were joined in the class by Lauren Hurst (No. 45) and Mya Pauldo (No. 57). The 2025 class was ranked No. 2 by ESPN. Prawl and Hurst are both entering the transfer portal after one season at Tennessee.
Five-star forward Oliviyah Edwards, who's ranked No. 2 in the 2026 class by ESPN, credited Lazo as her lead recruiter and a major reason why she chose Tennessee. Four-star guard Gabby Minus also said Lazo was her lead recruiter.
Before coaching at Mississippi State, Lazo had stints at George Washington (2021-22), Stony Brook (2019-21) and FIU (2017-19). He started his coaching career at the high school level in Florida – Lazo coached at John A. Ferguson Senior High School from 2012-17 and was a three-time Miami-Dade Coach of the Year. He also coached the Miami Suns AAU team in the Nike Girls Elite league from 2010-17.
Lazo is on the board of directors for the Latino Association of Basketball Coaches. He played collegiately at Barry (2006-08) and FIU (2004-06).
Denver Broncos general manager George Paton gave a much-anticipated update on quarterback Bo Nix at the NFL's annual league meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, on Monday.
After seeing glimpses of Nix's healing journey after a season-ending fractured ankle suffered in January and the subsequent surgery to repair the fracture, Nix is back to running and jumping.
"(Nix is) ahead of schedule," Paton said in an interview with KUSA-TV's Mike Klis. “He’s running, he’s jumping. Really proud of how he’s attacked rehab. He’s done a great job. He’ll be ready for OTAs.’’
Nix's projection for healing was 4-6 weeks, causing him to miss the AFC Championship game after he broke his ankle in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs.
At the NFL combine, Broncos head coach Sean Payton announced an adjustment to the offseason program, which will allow the team to ease into football activities, rather than jumping straight in. This may work to Nix's benefit, giving him extra time to heal his ankle.
NFL's annual league meetings are scheduled to be held from March 29 to April 1.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Providence basketball player Duncan Powell pleaded not guilty Monday to domestic assault and disorderly conduct charges stemming from a weekend altercation that started in Providence and continued in the suburb of Cranston.
Powell, who just finished his fifth college season and was a backup forward in his only year with the Friars, was arraigned in Providence County District Court after a woman alleged her knee was injured when Powell threw a water bottle at her during an argument at his apartment in Providence on Saturday.
He is scheduled to appear in court in Cranston on Thursday on charges of domestic violence and disorderly conduct for allegedly tracking down the woman to a residence there early Sunday and threatening to kill everyone in the house and then himself.
A judge in Providence released Powell on a personal recognizance bond and ordered him to have no contact with the woman.
The attorneys for Powell listed in court records, Elizabeth Payette and William J. Lynch, did not immediately respond to phone messages seeking comment.
The 24-year-old woman reported the Saturday morning assault after Powell's arrest in Cranston. According to Providence police, she told Powell she was ending their relationship. Powell became upset and threw the water bottle, causing bruising and swelling to her right knee.
The woman later went to visit friends in Cranston. Powell made multiple calls to the woman while she was at a Cranston residence and told her he knew where she was and that he was coming to the house to cause harm.
Frightened, she left, and people who stayed at the house turned out the lights and hid when Powell arrived and began knocking on the door. Police had been called by then, and they located Powell a short time later and took him into custody at gunpoint.
Duncan was suspended three games after his hard foul on St. John's Bryce Hopkins sparked a fight that resulted in seven players getting ejected from a game Feb. 14.
Hopkins was attempting a fast-break layup when he was raked across the head and face by Powell’s arm, taking him to the ground. Powell was ejected for a Flagrant 2 foul and issued a technical foul for fighting.
With NFL free agency slowing down, the pre-draft cycle has gone into full tilt over the course of the last few days. Many pro days are on the schedule for the next week or two, which gives NFL coaches the opportunity to scout out the best prospects in their opinion and even get an opportunity to work with them in a drill setting. For the New Orleans Saints, the focus likely turns to the defense, after they put a ton of money into offense already.
A name that has graced the draft radar recently is Stephen F. Austin cornerback Charles Demmings, a Senior Bowl standout who is rapidly rising among NFL circles.
Demmings ended up making an NFL Scouting Combine appearance due to his impressive play in college, and he absolutely torched every event he was in, proving he is worthy of looks from scouts. At 6-foot-1, 193 pounds, he ran a blazing 4.41-second 40-yard dash, 1.55-second 10-yard split, posted a 42-inch vertical jump, and an 11-foot broad jump.
Stephen F. Austin CB Charles Demmings is getting the 30 visit treatment by the Dallas Cowboys over the next two days, per source.
A Mesquite Horn HS product, he technically counts as a local prospect and not toward the 30 allocated outside visits.
Beyond just the athleticism, he was an absolute ballhawk as well in his senior year, posting 4 interceptions and 5 pass breakups along with 18 total tackles. In four years at Stephen F. Austin, he had 9 total picks and 35 pass deflections, along with 2 tackles for loss and 63 total tackles. He is absolutely a name to keep an eye out for in late Day 2 of the draft, as he continues to rise further each day, and with Grady Brown having a direct opportunity to work out with him, the Saints could be in the fold as a potential landing spot.
Florida State freshman point guard Cam Miles plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal after one season with the Seminoles, first reported by On3.
Miles appeared in 25 games for FSU, averaging 5.4 points, 1.0 rebound and 1.7 assists per game. He shot 36.1% from the field and 21.6% from 3-point range during his lone season in Tallahassee.
A Chicago native, Miles was a three-star prospect out of IMG Academy. Rivals ranked him No. 21 in Florida, the No. 24 point guard in the 2025 recruiting class and No. 191 overall. He originally committed to Temple before flipping to Florida State, citing a desire to be closer to his family in Orlando.
Miles is expected to become the first Seminoles player to enter the portal, which officially opens April 7. Florida State finished 18-15 overall and 10-8 in the ACC in Luke Loucks’ first season as head coach.
With Miles’ departure, FSU has now lost seven players from last season’s roster, six of whom were seniors. The Seminoles are set to add five incoming freshmen this summer.
MMA is a constantly evolving sport with a revolving door of athletes entering and exiting. As time goes on, the fighters from the era who helped make the sport so popular continue to trickle away from competition and hang up their gloves in order to move on to the next chapter in life.
If there’s one thing that’s well known about combat sports retirements, though, it’s that they often don’t last long. The urge to compete, and perhaps more importantly get a payday, will continue to drive fighters back even well beyond their expiration dates.
2026 already has seen a number of notable fighters announcing they are done with the sport, and we have a list of those who have opted to walk away this year
*This list will update as new retirements are announced*
COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 15: Arvell Reese #8 of the Ohio State Buckeyes lines up on defense during a college football game against the UCLA Bruins on November 15, 2025 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Our 2026 Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft rolls on. With the first pick, we didn’t see any surprises. The Las Vegas Raiders made the pick we all expected: Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
The 2026 NFL Draft really starts with the New York Jets. After a tough first season, Aaron Glenn nearly cleaned house with his coaching staff and even sent some foundational players away. With two first-round picks in this year’s draft, Glenn and company have a chance to turn things around in a hurry.
To help Glenn out in our POD Community Mock Draft, commenter JustWinginit has been selected to be the team’s general manager.
And with the second pick in the Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft, the New York Jets have selected Arvell Reese, edge defender out of Ohio State.
Here’s JustWinginit explaining the pick:
With the second pick in the 2026 NFL draft, I selected Arvell Reese. My strategy this draft is to predict each Jets pick based on what I believe they are likely to do, more so than what I would do if I was them. Reese is a monster, resembling Micah Parsons in a lot of ways through both athleticism and versatility. I believe Aaron Glenn is looking for a guy to build their defense around and Reese jumps off the page. His off-ball skills combined with his pass rushing instincts make him one of the more gifted front 7 players to come out of college the last few years.
While I don’t expect him to be a game-breaker from Week 1, I am predicting him to have a Trayvon Walker-esque ascension as he learns to play edge the way coach Glenn will need him.
Let’s hear what you think of the pick! Vote in the poll below, and share your broader thoughts in the comment section at the bottom of this page.
We continue our 2026 NFL Draft preview of draft prospects that could interest the Dallas Cowboys. Today we are looking at Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood.
In his first year of college in 2023 at Auburn, Hood was a developmental corner who preserved eligibility while getting his feet wet. He appeared in four games but ended up taking a redshirt while he adjusted to SEC speed and technique demands.
For his second year, Hood transferred to Colorado and this was the breakout year in terms of real defensive snaps and ball production. He featured in 13 games making 24 tackles, and two interceptions, and he also contributed on kick returns. He had two standout moments that season with a pick return against Kansas State, and a big performance in his first career start against Arizona where he snagged an interception and kept Tetairoa McMillan relatively quiet statistically.
In his third year he transferred to Tennessee and this is when he became a true SEC-level name and award winner. He played 12 games with 50 tackles, five tackles for loss, one interception for 23 yards and a touchdown. His signature moment came immediately in the opener versus Syracuse where he was credited with three pass breakups plus a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown. Midseason, he was among the SEC leaders in pass breakups, with a season line that included tackles for loss, an interception, and two defensive scores.
Overall– 83.9 Speed- 78 Acceleration- 79 Agility- 90 Strength- 80 Tackling- 81 Run Defense- 74 Man Coverage- 85 Zone Coverage- 85 Press- 89 Discipline- 88
THE GOOD
Lengthy, boundary-corner build that helps him crowd the catch point and play through receivers on vertical throws
Impressive ball production and playmaking record
Has a knack for turning tips and loose balls into points
Competitive, physical coverage demeanor
Willing to challenge releases and fight at the top of routes
Plays with good vision and reads the quarterback exceptionally well
Very good closing burst to the football
Run-support willingness and edge toughness
Versatility from a multi-stop résumé and has played in different coverage structures and adapted quickly at each
THE BAD
Recovery speed and suddenness versus true burners is questionable
If he loses a step at the break point, he can have trouble re-stacking
Locating the ball downfield can be inconsistent
Hand usage can get grabby in tight coverage
Tackling mechanics need work
Willing run supporter, but has inconsistent form stopping the ball carrier
High-variance play style where his aggressiveness can also lead to biting on route stems and double moves
THE FIT
Hood fits best as an outside cornerback in a scheme that blends press-bail and match-zone so he can play with vision, use his length and timing to disrupt at the catch point, and drive on throws. He’s maximized as a boundary corner who can bait quarterbacks, contest vertically, and generate turnovers. He profiles as a CB2 who can play like a CB1.
SUMMARY
Colton Hood is a long, competitive outside corner whose game is built around disruption and ball production. He likes to play tight, challenge the catch point, and turn targets into contested throws. When he can play with vision he’s at his best because his route awareness and timing let him drive on the ball for pass breakups and interceptions rather than just staying in phase on vertical routes. He also plays with more physicality than many corners, showing willingness in run support and as a tackler, which helps him fit as a boundary defender in the NFL. The common concerns are about pure recovery speed and separation from quicker, sudden route runners who can stress his transitions if he’s forced to mirror in space all day, and he’ll need to stay disciplined with hands to avoid penalties against NFL technicians.
Overall, he projects as a starting-caliber CB2 with turnover upside in a scheme that mixes coverages and lets him play aggressive.
PRO COMPARISON
Kristian Fulton
BTB OVERALL RANKING
36th
CONSENSUS OVERALL RANKING
36th (Consensus ranking based on the average ranking from 90 major scoring services, including BTB)
The Cubs wrapped up their first series against the Nationals at home over the weekend. It didn’t go as planned with the North iders dropping two of three games after both Matthew Boyd and Shōta Imanaga had some trouble with the long ball. But the big news last week wasn’t the opening series, it came in terms of contract extensions, with Jed Hoyer and company wrapping up one big deal on the eve of Opening Day extending centerfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong through the 2032 season and completing another with second baseman Nico Hoerner at the end of the week. Today, let’s take a closer look at the numbers behind PCA’s deal. You can see the basic structure of the deal by year per Jon Heyman below:
The deal does not include a team option which ESPN’s Senior MLB Insider, Jeff Passan noted is rare for an extension of a young player under team control:
The lack of a club option in Pete Crow-Armstrong’s deal with the Cubs is rare. This is by far the biggest guarantee for a player with five years of club control that doesn’t include an option. Cubs were still fine with it. They get a high-floor player with superstar ceiling.
Obviously the money matters a lot here. Buying out PCA’s arbitration years at $55 million, followed by $30 million a year guaranteed in free agency says that the Cubs believe PCA will be a star. The fact that this is a six year deal rather than a longer deal like the fully guaranteed 12-year contract Julio Rodríguez signed for a guaranteed $209 million or a pre-debut deal like eight year contract Jackson Chourio signed for a guaranteed $82 million tells you a little bit about where the Cubs see PCA relative to two other young, star outfielders. Unlike PCA’s deal, both of those deals have options. Like PCA’s deal, both of those deals have escalators that can push the value of the contract far higher than its guaranteed rate, in PCA’s case adding potentially $18 million to the deal.
Pete Crow-Armstrong gets the benefit of being assured he’ll hit free agency before his age-30 season. That’s an interesting nugget in this deal given that the biggest question mark in terms of PCA’s long-term value is his ability to control (or not) the the strike zone. A skill that he could continue to improve on marking last year’s gains or one that could fall apart entirely as he ages. From FanGraphs’ write-up of the extension:
That’s decent, but I don’t know if I’d call it plus power or anything; Crow-Armstrong’s EV90 in 2025 was 81st out of 145 qualified hitters. That’s where the other two changes come in. As a rookie, PCA had a 79.2% Z-Contact%. Anything below 80% in that mark is survivable, but it’s hard to thrive in that range without truly elite power. In 2025, he raised his in-zone contact rate to 83.8%.
Third: He is getting the absolute maximum out of what contact he makes. The most valuable batted balls, in general, are hit in the air and to the pull side. In 2024, Crow-Armstrong put 19.3% of his batted balls in that direction, which is above average, even good. In 2025, that number was 30.2%, which was the seventh-highest figure out of 251 players on Baseball Savant’s leaderboard.
Crow-Armstrong hit 31 home runs last year because he got the absolute maximum out of his plate discipline and quality-of-contact numbers. Add in the defense and the baserunning, and I think this might literally be the best all-around baseball player you could have with a 4.5% walk rate and a .247 batting average.
But he’s still a player with a .247 batting average and a 4.5% walk rate. Or, to use the more legible figure I mentioned above, a .287 OBP. Last year, Crow-Armstrong made more outs per plate appearance than Nick Castellanos, Lenyn Sosa, and Ke’Bryan Hayes. Is it possible to be a franchise player if that’s true? We’ll find out.
To put this slightly differently, there are question marks about whether PCA will age like Javy Báez or Castellanos — both players who had above average contact skills, right until time caught up to them and then they didn’t.
In that sense, this deal is timed perfectly for both the Cubs and PCA. The Cubs will get a chance to see how that contact tool develops (or doesn’t) over the next six years. If it looks like it will age poorly, they locked down the very best years of PCA in centerfield at Wrigley Field and he should still be a valuable enough player to command additional years of service with another team. If it looks like that tool has improved, they can attempt to negotiate another extension that would make PCA a Cub for life. You can get a sense of the variability in PCA’s hit tool from this 15-game rolling wOBA chart through the 2025 season:
Even with some concerns about a contact tool that may provide some high-highs and low-lows similar to last season, his defense should provide a floor that makes the deal well worth the guaranteed $115 million. PCA is already one of the best defenders in the league. According to Statcast, he saved 22 runs in centerfield during the 2025 season and was tied with Bobby Witt Jr. for the league lead in outs above average with 24. The value of his run-prevention in centerfield alone makes this a smart extension for a Cubs team that tends to sign pitchers who pitch to contact.
And then there’s the chance that PCA finds the level he hit in the first half of 2025 consistently and puts up multiple 30-30 seasons during the lifetime of his extension. If PCA can be a perennial 30-30 guy in addition to the value his glove provides, this deal could wind up being a steal for the Cubs.
Douglas Costa reveals most underrated Juventus teammate, gives Lewandowski advice
Douglas Costa still has fond memories of his time at Juventus, as he invites Robert Lewandowski to join the Bianconeri.
The well-travelled winger was on Juve’s books between 2016 and 2022, albeit his last appearance for the club dates back to 2020.
The Brazilian has recently made a surprising return to Italian football, signing for Serie D club Chievo Verona, as part of his agreement with Al-Ittifaq, who will join in the summer.
Costa reveals that he remains in contact with several of his former Juventus teammates, and he would cherish the opportunity to return to the Allianz Stadium and greet the fans.
“In recent months, I connected with Leonardo Bonucci and then Alex Sandro, who’s my neighbour in Brazil. I also saw Giorgio Chiellini. Talking about Juve is always nice for me,” said the 35-year-old in his interview with Tuttosport.
“I’ll be back at the Allianz Stadium soon; for now, I watch Juve on TV. I know how difficult it is to play for a club like that: there are complicated moments when you have to stay united.
“The pressure is huge. But Juve will always be Juve. I’m convinced they’ll soon be competing to win again.”
Douglas Costa praises ‘unique’ Cristiano Ronaldo
The former Brazil international played alongside some of the biggest footballers in his generation, but Cristiano Ronaldo was the one who left him in awe.
“Who inspired me the most? Cristiano Ronaldo. He’s a unique professional and also a great person, more than people might imagine.
“But I’ve also played with absolute top-level champions with a similar mentality: Neymar, Paulo Dybala and Franck Ribéry, for example. It was an honour to share a dressing room with players like that.”
The interviewer asked Costa if we would have stood a realistic chance at winning the Ballon d’Or if he hadn’t been impeded by injuries.
“It’s hard to say what career I could have had without injuries, I’ve never thought about it. I’m proud of the path I had.
“I just know I suffered a lot, too much. Sometimes talent isn’t enough if it’s not matched by perfect physical condition: I could have played in three World Cups. That’s my regret.
“At Juve. I won trophies and had my moments, but managing injuries, especially in the last months, was tough. I spent more time at J|Medical than on the pitch. It was hard.”
The tricky winger admitted he almost returned to Juventus for a second spell in 2023, and explained the stylistic differences between Max Allegri and Maurizio Sarri.
“Yes, in 2023. I even spoke with Bonucci, I put myself forward, hoping I could still help. But the club didn’t follow it up. I still feel like a Juventus player inside.
“Sarri was excellent. I really appreciated him: obsessed with possession, with an attacking mentality.
“But I liked Allegri too: that Juve’s counter-attacks, when I was fit, were devastating. We’d tear defences apart, we could hurt teams at any moment.”
Costa identified the two best matches of his career, and they both involved Juventus.
“I’ll mention two: when I was at Bayern Munich against Juve in 2016, the 4–2 in Munich, I had a great game.
“And then the comeback we nearly completed at the Bernabéu in 2018: winning 3–0 in Madrid after losing 3–0 in the first leg doesn’t happen to any team in the world. It was happening to us, before that cursed late penalty scored by Ronaldo.
“We were writing history. We could have won the Champions League; we lacked nothing. But in football, luck can change everything.”
Costa on underrated Khedira and Lewandowski to Juventus
The former Shakhtar Donetsk star identified former Juventus midfielder Sami Khedira as the most underrated teammate of his career.
“The most underrated? Sami Khedira. Extremely strong: a unique style, he was everywhere, with natural class.”
Finally, Costa encouraged his former Bayern Munich teammate Robert Lewandowski to join Juventus if he sees out his contract with Barcelona.
“Robert scores in every possible way. He’d be useful for Juve. I’d recommend he wear the black-and-white shirt without hesitation. He scores everywhere and will keep doing so for many years. He’d be perfect.
“But they already have a great striker in Vlahovic. Dušan can still develop, he’s at the right age: for the race for fourth place, his return to top form will be decisive. He has everything to take Juve back into the Champions League.”
The first time MLB offered fans a peek into the future was 2008, when instant replay debuted at ballparks. The technology was limited but fascinating. It was used for boundary calls on home runs, ground rule doubles and fan interference.
Step Two in the revolution occurred in 2014, when tag plays and force plays became reviewable. By 2022, those replays were broadcast in super slow motion.
And now, in 2026, MLB is on the verge of its biggest change yet. The Automated Balls-Strike System (ABS) has taken a leap towards replacing human umpires. It’s a brave new world – and like almost everyone else, the Yankees love it.
It wasn’t just a dramatic sweep of the Giants that made for a memorable weekend at Oracle Park. And it was more than the Yankees’ dominant pitching which allowed just one run in 27 innings. It was the ease in which Aaron Boone’s crew adapted to the ABS phenomenon.
The Yankees were correct on five of six challenges, which includes Aaron Judge’s spot-on questioning of a called strike in the sixth inning on Friday night. Umpire Chad Fairchild was overruled by the robo-ump.
Working with a more favorable count, Judge promptly blasted a two-run home run that led to the Yankees’ 3-1 victory.
Yankees -1.5 run line is listed at +158 on Caesars for Monday night’s game versus Seattle. Our complete list of the best NJ sportsbook promos will help you determine which sportsbook to use.
Clearly, the captain and his teammates did their homework in spring training. They honed challenges down to a science – identifying the right inning, the score, the count and even a player’s state of mind.
“Stripping the emotion out of (the challenge),” is what Boone said will be a critical factor. That’ll be easier for level-headed players like Judge. But not every Yankee takes a bad call in stride.
Jazz Chisholm, for one, will need a healthy dose of self-discipline not to appeal every call he disagrees with.
And there are many.
“I’ve never thought the umpiring was good, not at the plate at least,” Chisholm told me last season. “I’ve seen 3-4 calls a game that were missed, but now it’s like 8-12 a game on strikeouts. It’s supposed to be getting better, not worse.”
The Yankees’ second baseman isn’t alone in that sentiment. In an angry, divided world, there’s no greater unifier than major league umpires. Everyone hates them. Finally, AI is coming to take their jobs. The general public is in favor.
More than 70 percent of fans polled at Triple-A ballparks, where the system was tested in 2025, believe MLB will benefit from robo umps. It’s hard to say no to eradicating human error. Imagine never having to worry about a bad call ever again.
Even though Boone believes ABS “will prove how good (human) umps are today compared to 20 years ago,” it was still a rough weekend for the mortals. During the Reds-Red Sox game on Saturday, for example, C.B. Bucknor had six calls overturned out of eight challenges.
And the Yankees and Giants combined to make the umps look just as bad. On Saturday, all seven challenges against Chad Whitson resulted in overturned calls. Overall, in MLB’s first 12 games, the umpires got it wrong more than 60% of the time.
The eventual phasing out of human umps is inevitable. Gerrit Cole said, “It’s only a matter of time before every ball and strike will be called by a robo ump. The only question is how long that process is going to take. But that’s the future we’re looking at.”
In the short term, the Yankees will continue to strategize the challenges. Judge said, “I love what I’m seeing” in the Yankees’ new approach. Boone admitted he was frantic in developing a system in just six weeks during camp.
But there are still a few old-school holdouts within the industry.
“What problem are we really solving?” Max Scherzer asked during a conversation with The Athletic in 2025.
“Can we just play baseball?” he continued. “We’re humans. Can we just be judged by humans? Do we really need to disrupt the game? I think humans are defined by humans.”
Scherzer defended the umps by insisting “99%” of their calls are correct. But the data tells a different story. The top tier of human accuracy is believed to be somewhere between 92-95%. And as Cole said, “How many of today’s umps are actually at 92-95?”
Not even the best umpire can match a computer. ABS’ accuracy is believed to be 95% confident in locating a pitch within 0.39 inches. It’s 99% confident within 0.48 inches.
Everyone, of course, agrees about getting the calls right. The Yankees advocate for fair and honest outcomes. And eventually, substandard umps like Bucknor will be gone, just as the reviled Angel Hernandez was eventually forced out. That’s a win.
But time will tell if the players, the ticket buyers and viewers at home will make the final leap into that brave new world.
Think of the last pitch in Game 7 of the World Series. Ninth inning. One-run game. Bases loaded. Full count. Close pitch … and a challenge.
Jan 7, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver K.J. Osborn (17) poses for a picture with his mom, Val Osborn, prior to their game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings are never scared about re-signing old friends from the past — Adam Thielen, Anthony Barr, Everson Griffen, and others can attest over the years — so when wide receiver K.J. Osborn said last week that the vacant WR3 job intrigued him, folks perked up.
Minnesota still has not fully solved its WR3 question.
The Vikings let the WR3 from the last couple of seasons, Jalen Nailor, depart in free agency, leaving the job up for grabs. Osborn is interested.
Osborn Mentions Himself as Vikings WR Depth
He spent his rookie contract in Minnesota.
New England Patriots wide receiver K.J. Osborn (2) walks off the field after a preseason win over the Carolina Panthers at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on August 8, 2024, heading toward the locker room as teammates follow behind. Osborn closes out the night with a calm demeanor after contributing in early-game action. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports.
The Vikings Intrigue Osborn
Osborn hasn’t found any staying power in the NFL as of late, and he may want a return trip to the Twin Cities.
Speaking on the Caps Off podcast last week, Osborn told the show’s host, “You can’t help but look at Minnesota. With Kyler Murray going back. Jalen Nailor, I’m so happy for him. Speedy, congrats bro, my guy, he just got 3 years for $35 million from the Raiders. So that spot WR3 is back open. Just looking around. But home is where the heart is. So, we’ll see.”
That’s his outward campaign for a Vikings contract. Book it.
No Success Post-Vikings
After the Vikings declined to offer Osborn a new contract following the 2023 season, he joined the New England Patriots, a team in desperate need of wide receiver talent. He failed, however, to make a significant impact, recording only seven receptions for 57 yards.
His subsequent opportunities offered no improvement. A stint with Washington proved fruitless, and he was released during final roster cuts in the summer of 2025. Atlanta then signed him to their practice squad, where he remained for the season.
Osborn saw no regular-season action last year. Now, he’s back, hoping to regain his footing in the league.
Without the Vikings, he’s caught 7 passes in two years for 57 yards altogether.
With the Vikings, However …
Osborn spent his entire rookie contract in Minnesota, though his career began slowly. He saw little offensive action during the 2020 pandemic season, but that changed quickly in 2021. After an impressive training camp, he maintained his momentum and secured a consistent role as the team’s WR3 through March 2024.
This role proved significant. After struggling to find a reliable third receiver with players like Bisi Johnson and Chad Beebe, Minnesota found consistency with Osborn. In 2023, he recorded 48 receptions for 540 yards and three touchdowns, a stat line typical of his contributions to the offense. All told, Osborn posted 158 receptions, 1,845 receiving yards, and 15 touchdowns in Minnesota from 2020 to 2023.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver K.J. Osborn (17) reacts after a catch against the Indianapolis Colts during third-quarter action at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Dec. 17, 2022, celebrating as the offense continues to build momentum. Osborn shows emotion after securing the reception in a key moment for the Vikings. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.
The verdict is pretty simple: in Minnesota, Osborn performed as a mid-to-low-end tier WR3, especially with Kirk Cousins under center. Everywhere else, he can’t keep a roster spot.
Probably Need a Better WR3 Option
While Osborn might be fun for nostalgia in Minnesota, the Vikings need to shoot for the stars at WR3, and Osborn does nothing of the sort.
The Vikings drafted rookie wideout Tai Felton last April. He deserves a fair shake at WR3 before contemplating Osborn for the job. Why draft Felton in Round 3 if the goal was to sign someone like Osborn, who has 7 catches in two years?
Otherwise, these current free-agent WR options are on the table for the Vikings:
Or — instead of Osborn, if the Vikings don’t want Felton or a free agent at WR3, the draft will offer these options before the end of Round 3:
Makai Lemon (USC)
Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State)
Omar Cooper Jr. (Indiana)
Denzel Boston (Washington)
Kevin Concepcion (Texas A&M)
Chris Brazzell (Tennessee)
Chris Bell (Louisville)
Germie Bernard (Alabama)
Antonio Williams (Clemson)
Malachi Fields (Notre Dame)
Zachariah Branch (Georgia)
Elijah Sarratt (Indiana)
Skyler Bell (UConn)
Ted Hurst (Georgia State)
Bryce Lance (North Dakota State)
Deion Burks (Oklahoma)
Ja’Kobi Lane (USC)
If Osborn couldn’t cut it as a meaningful contributor with the Patriots, Commanders, and Falcons, there’s no reason to believe he’d surge in the Twin Cities with a WR3 reunion. He may be a practice squader from here on out.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver K.J. Osborn (17) fails to secure a pass during second-quarter action against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada on Dec. 10, 2023, as the ball slips past his hands. Osborn resets quickly as the offense prepares for the next play in a tightly contested game. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports.
Not everyone dislikes the idea, though. The Viking Age‘s Adam Carlson wrote last week, “Since the team brought in Kyler Murray to be the quarterback in 2026, bringing up the floor of the receiver room would be smart, especially since they wouldn’t have to force Tai Felton into a bigger role than he is prepared for.”
“Depending on the contract size, the Minnesota Vikings should consider looking into acquiring K.J. Osborn as a free agent this offseason.”
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Koa Peat has been a winner throughout his basketball career.
He won four state titles in high school in Arizona and became the first player to win four international gold medals at the junior level. So when Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd was trying to entice Peat to play for the Wildcats, he pitched him on helping the school end a 25-year Final Four drought.
“That was my recruiting pitch,” Lloyd said. “Four, four, and four. Let’s do it. The dude, he’s amazing. His ability to perform the way he did in these moments, you know, he’s been in a lot of them.”
Peat fulfilled the wish in his first season with Arizona, leading the Wildcats to their first Final Four since 2001 with a memorable performance in the West Region of the NCAA Tournament. Arizona will take on Michigan in the national semifinals on Saturday in Indianapolis.
Peat scored 21 points in a Sweet 16 victory over Arkansas and added 20 more in the Elite Eight against Purdue to win the Most Outstanding Player of the region and become just the sixth freshman ever to score at least 20 points in wins in those two rounds, according to Sportradar. Peat joined a list with Kon Knueppel, Derrick Rose, Joseph Forte, Jalen Rose and Kenny Anderson.
Now Peat will try to do what those precocious stars couldn't and win Arizona's second national title to go with the one from 1997 when Mike Bibby was the star freshman on coach Lute Olson's squad.
“I saw a lot of the past legends that played for Arizona, and Mike Bibby, he was a big mentor to me,” Peat said. “He went to the Final Four, won the championship. When you put on the Arizona jersey, you know you’re playing for people that played before you. So it’s bigger than yourself; it’s the program.”
Peat arrived at Arizona last fall as a five-star recruit and has delivered on all the high expectations that come with it.
“Just going out there, playing my game, trusting my teammates, them finding me in open spots, and staying the course,” he said. “Just keep playing. That’s really it.”
Peat hadn't followed the March struggles of Arizona's basketball program closely despite growing up in the state. He spent more time watching his four older brothers play football and two older sisters play basketball.
Peat could have followed the family path in football with his father, Todd, having played nine seasons in the NFL and his brother, Andrus, having just finished his 10th season in the NFL.
“I played a lot of sports growing up, baseball, football and basketball. So from a young age I was playing a lot of sports, around a lot of athletes in my family,” Koa said. “But honestly, I just truthfully fell in love with basketball. Especially during quarantine, all I was doing was training and just working out and really working on my body. I slimmed down a little bit, and I just thought basketball was like the best choice for me. Especially now you could play a long time playing basketball. Football’s a different story. I had great support from my family members in my choice in playing basketball, and I think I’ve made the right choice, for sure.”
The Wildcats sure think so, and now they wouldn't still be playing without him.
“They call him Mr. Arizona,” Lloyd said. “Koa is special.”
Michael O'Neill will manage Northern Ireland's friendly against Wales on Tuesday before taking charge of Blackburn's crunch games against Birmingham and West Bromwich Albion [Getty Images]
Wales away on Tuesday, Birmingham City away on Friday and West Brom at home on Monday.
Three very different fixtures in quick succession in a big week for Michael O'Neill in his dual role as Northern Ireland and Blackburn Rovers manager.
While NI's hopes of reaching a first World Cup since 1986 were ended by a 2-0 loss against Italy on Thursday, O'Neill will be tasked with picking his players up for a meaningless friendly against Wales in Cardiff on Tuesday.
As soon as the final whistle is blown on that dead rubber game, O'Neill will have to don his Blackburn cap.
The 56-year-old has seven games left to prevent Blackburn, who sit 19th in the Championship table and four points above the relegation zone, from dropping into League One for the first time since 2018.
That starts with a game against Birmingham at St Andrews on Friday, which comes roughly two days and 17 hours after the final whistle in Cardiff.
After that, attentions will turn quickly turn to a vital six-pointer 72 hours later at home against West Brom on Monday.
That game is arguably the most vital and most intriguing of the three given O'Neill will come up against NI forward Isaac Price, who is also trying to help his side beat the drop alongside a host of other internationals at various Championship clubs.
So, the big question is, how does O'Neill navigate this set of overlapping country and club games for the first and perhaps only time in his unique predicament?
Blackburn are currently four points above the drop zone along with Price's West Brom while Devlin's Portsmouth are a point clear with Brown, Donley, McDonnell and Spencer's Oxford in the relegation zone [BBC Sport]
O'Neill has always spoken of wanting his players to play at the highest level, but as mentioned, a significant number of players will be going up against his Rovers to avoid the drop and it's tight at the bottom.
They include Price at West Brom, who are also four points above the relegation zone, Ciaron Brown, Jamie McDonnell, Jamie Donley and Brodie Spencer at Oxford United, who are one point from safety and Terry Devlin at Portsmouth, who are one point above the drop, while he manages Tom Atcheson at Rovers.
Is it a cause for concern for Northern Ireland that the international boss could potentially relegate some of his regulars in the international squad?
O'Neill certainly didn't think so.
When asked in February he said he isn't "having that blood on my hands" and the fate of those clubs lay with their respective managers.
"At the end of the day, my job is to do the best I can for Blackburn Rovers," he said.
"The lads who manage those respective clubs, their job is to do the best for their clubs as well. I don't think that's an issue at all."
Cynics may question whether O'Neill, who will have reduced preparation time with Rovers for two big games by virtue of preparing NI to face Wales, will deliberately disadvantage Championship rivals while in charge of NI in terms of how he manages the aforementioned players' loads against Wales with a busy spell of domestic action to follow.
Coincidentally, three of the four players released from the NI squad in Norwich's Ruairi McConville (knee), Preston's Ali McCann (knock) and Hull City's Paddy McNair (thigh) will face three of O'Neill relegation rivals in Portsmouth, Leicester and Oxford on Friday.
O'Neill would refute any suggestion of meddling no doubt and when asked about the cramped schedule said he was "aware of the situation" but stressed he would still focus on helping Northern Ireland win the game in Cardiff.
"We're not in charge of the schedule of the games for either the international window or the EFL. I think 80% of my squad play in the EFL. We're mindful of the situation for the clubs, of course, but when the clubs signed these players, they knew they were international players and, we're not going to be reckless with the players or anything like that there, but, we have to obviously look after ourselves as a group of players," he explained.
"The most important thing is that the players just go out and play the game. They'll be fine. The lads who play in the EFL, they play a lot of football and they're used to playing regular football. So they've got resilience and I'm sure they'll get through the game fine."
O'Neill 'fed up' with talk of future
O'Neill has won three, drawn two and lost three of his eight games in charge of Blackburn [Getty Images]
Since he announced that he would take up this dual role until the end of the season, O'Neill has faced a barrage of questions about where his future lies beyond June.
After the Italy defeat, he said he will "revert back to the status quo" of attempting to help Northern Ireland qualify for Euro 2028, but will that depend on how the season finishes at Rovers?
If he keeps Blackburn up will he move on and manage them permanently in the Championship? If they are relegated, will he stay with NI where he has a contract until 2028, albeit one with room for negotiation?
On Monday, he repeated that no matter the outcome to Blackburn's season, he intends to return to Northern Ireland.
"When Blackburn season's finished, as I've constantly said, repeatedly said, my contract with the IFA will continue on a two-year contract," he said.
"That's repeatedly what I've said. I'm not really sure why you continue to ask me this every time you see me, but that is the status quo, as I said in the press conference.
"We'll deal with the game tomorrow night and I'll go back and manage the last seven games of the season for Blackburn Rovers and I'll manage Northern Ireland in the June games and I'll go on holiday after that.
"You're asking me questions that are of a hypothetical nature, to be honest and yeah, I'm probably a bit fed up with it."
On Monday's episode of The Pat McAfee Show, McCarthy addressed his talks with Rodgers, all of which appear to be trending in a positive direction.
"I've talked to Aaron [Rodgers] regularly and will continue to do so," McCarthy said. "We're just working through it. When it's time to fully address it, we will. It's a process he's going through, and I'm comfortable with it. But we've had very, very positive conversations on a weekly basis."
Rodgers, who joined Pittsburgh on a one-year deal in 2025, threw for 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns in his debut season with the Steelers.
McCarthy's comments allow some fans to breathe a collective sigh of relief, as his overall comfort with Rodgers and the "very positive conversations" they have strongly hint towards their reunion in Pittsburgh this upcoming season.
For up-to-date Steelers coverage, including any offseason moves, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
Kyle Busch has hit an unfortunate milestone in the NASCAR Cup Series. On Sunday, Busch and the No. 8 team for Richard Childress Racing finished in 21st place at Martinsville Speedway, continuing a rough start to the 2026 NASCAR season. In fact, Busch extended his winless streak in the Cup Series to 100 races.
Busch's last Cup Series victory was on June 4, 2023, at World Wide Technology Raceway. It was the driver of the No. 8 car's first season with Richard Childress Racing, and it has only gone downhill since that point. Through seven races in 2026, Busch has no top-10 finishes with a best effort of 12th place at Circuit of the Americas.
This is Busch's final year on his contract with Richard Childress Racing and if this winless streak continues, he may move onto a different NASCAR organization. The two-time Cup Series champion hopes that his winless streak ends soon, but Richard Childress Racing needs to find more speed.
ATLANTA — U.S. men's national team coach Mauricio Pochettino has denied having any conversations with Tottenham or Real Madrid, two clubs he's been linked with in recent months.
Pochettino has a contract with U.S. Soccer through the 2026 World Cup. The Argentine is widely expected to return to club management after the World Cup ends, with plenty of suitors likely to come calling.
According to multiple reports, Tottenham is hoping to bring Pochettino back to north London, where he enjoyed a successful tenure from 2014 to 2019.
Pochettino is also reportedly on the shortlist for Real Madrid, as the La Liga giant eyes a permanent replacement for Álvaro Arbeloa.
But speaking at a press conference Monday, March 30 ahead of Tuesday's game against Portugal, the USMNT coach said he hadn't been in touch with either team.
"We have our full focus here on the World Cup," the Argentine said. "I think everyone knows that I am committed with the national team. I think there's no a point to talk about the future. At the moment no [team] has approached."
Though he is widely expected to depart the USMNT after the summer, Pochettino did leave the door open to potentially return for the 2030 World Cup cycle.
"Who knows what is going to happen? Like I said, we are open," he said. "But why not if we are happy and the federation is happy?
"I think the most important (thing) now is to be focusing on tomorrow (against Portugal) and on the World Cup and trying to improve."
Pochettino has made no secret of his desire to return to the Premier League at some point.
"Yeah, I watch a lot," he said in a December interview with the BBC. "The Premier League is the best in the world. Of course I miss it.
"I am so happy in the USA, but I am always thinking about returning one day. It is the most competitive league, and of course I would love to come back again."
Pochettino backs Tottenham to avoid relegation
If Pochettino were to return to Spurs, it would likely only happen if the club is in the Premier League next season. That is no sure thing at the moment, with Tottenham sitting just one point and one place above the relegation zone.
Tottenham fired head coach Thomas Frank in February and replaced him with Igor Tudor on an interim basis. But Tudor left Spurs on Sunday after losing five of his seven games in charge.
As Tottenham stares down the unthinkable, Pochettino backed his former side to avoid the drop.
"[Coaching Tottenham] was one of the best experiences of my life," Pochettino said.
"I am sure they are going to stay up — with or without a coach," he added. "Because they have unbelievable players, and it's a club with fans that are going to [do] everything to create that energy to win."
The Chicago Bears have already shown they’re willing to be aggressive when it comes to getting better over the last few years, making some very interesting moves. If the Bears want to show the NFL that they're willing to do whatever it takes to win, there are a few other players they could go after, and one of them is Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns.
Gary Davenport of BR linked Chicago to a potential move that, while unlikely on the surface, actually makes sense for Garrett.
“Given that the Chicago Bears were reportedly interested in dealing for Maxx Crosby before he was traded (and then un-traded) to the Baltimore Ravens, it makes sense that the team would kick the tires on a Garrett trade as well. After all, there's a reason why the Bears were interested in Crosby—as Richard Louis of Da Windy City wrote, as good as the Bears were a year ago, the pass-rush was a weakness,” he wrote.
The question, as always, will come down to cost. The Browns would likely be looking for at least two first-round picks, and that's probably putting it lightly. Garrett is a bit older now, but his impact is still just as big as anybody in NFL history, so the Bears will have to figure out if they're willing to pay that price. To me, that's something I would do.
You can throw a blanket over the Top 7 in the NASCAR Cup Series odds betting as the season heads into its Easter break.
Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin are in a dead-heat at the top, while Tyler Reddick, with his four wins from seven races, leads a host of very close pursuers.
Let's look at the latest NASCAR Cup Series odds.
NASCAR Cup Series odds
Driver Name
Kyle Larson
+550
Denny Hamlin
+550
William Byron
+600
Tyler Reddick
+600
Chase Elliott
+650
Ryan Blaney
+750
Christopher Bell
+800
Chase Briscoe
+1200
Joey Logano
+1400
Ross Chastain
+3000
Odds as of 3-30.
NASCAR Cup Series odds movement
Tyler Reddick continues to be a popular bet. He started the year at +1400 and keeps dropping by the week.
Chase Elliott dropped from +800 to +650 following his first win of the year at Martinsville
NASCAR Cup Series favorites
Kyle Larson (+550)
Kyle Larson hasn't had a bad 2026, per se, but one Top 5 through seven races does not a Cup Series champion make.
If he wasn't the defending NASCAR champion, he probably wouldn't be getting this kind of love in the market right now.
Denny Hamlin (+550)
Denny Hamlin picked up his first win of 2026 at Las Vegas, and he had the dominant car at Martinsville, but just couldn't hold off Chase Elliott late.
He's not had a truly bad day at the track since Daytona (31st), and that consistency will always have him as a popular bet in this market.
NASCAR Cup Series recent winners
Season
Driver
Race wins
2025
Kyle Larson (2)
3
2024
Joey Logano (3)
4
2023
Ryan Blaney
3
2022
Joey Logano (2)
4
2021
Kyle Larson
10
2020
Chase Elliott
5
2019
Kyle Busch (2)
5
2018
Joey Logano
3
2017
Martin Truex Jr.
8
2016
Jimmie Johnson (7)
5
NASCAR Cup Series betting trends
Team Penske has taken three of the last four championships.
Hendrick Motorsports has the most overall titles (15).
The last driver to go back-to-back was Jimmie Johnson in 2010, when he completed an unprecedented five-peat.
Shedeur Sanders is going with a new number in 2026 for the Cleveland Browns, but it's actually an old digit for the second-year QB.
He'll be wearing No. 2 instead of No. 12. And why is that significant? That's because he wore it while quarterbacking for his dad Deion at Colorado and at Jackson State as well.
And what number did his father wear at Florida State? That would be No. 2. See how that all worked out? Very cool. And maybe we got a new nickname out of it with "S2."
Here are the announcements from Sanders and the team on Monday:
Creating policy based on feelings, fear and bigotry is never wise.
Yet here we are with the International Olympic Committee and its transgender ban.
The IOC is going to ban transgender women from women’s events in the absence of science, using a flawed verification method that also is illegal in some countries, and in a way that sanctions discrimination against all women. And those are only some of the bad and unconsidered outcomes!
Designed to “protect” women, this ban does the opposite.
"The thing I think most people miss is they’re not actually engaging with the people affected by the policy decision," said Madeleine Pape, a researcher at the University of Lausanne who would know better than most.
A 2008 Olympian from Australia, Pape went on to work at the IOC from 2022 to 2025 as an inclusion specialist, educating the various sports federations on how transgender athletes could participate in a way that was fair to all.
“There’s just really a lack of curiosity of, 'Huh, where is this policy actually coming from? What will it actually mean?'" Pape said. "People are just really quick to accept a narrative that feels familiar to them."
Minuscule number of transgender athletes compete at highest levels
One of the biggest grifts of the last decade is how people with deep pockets and large platforms have managed to hoodwink the general public into believing that transgender women are a threat to women’s sports and the athletes who participate in them. That if something is not done, no cisgender woman will ever stand on a podium again or earn a scholarship.
It’s not true, of course. Instead of a marauding horde of transgender athletes, there’s been one openly transgender woman ever at the Olympics. Weightlifter Laurel Hubbard posted a DNF in her event, about as far from the podium as you can get. At the NCAA level, president Charlie Baker said there were "less than 10" transgender athletes out of the half-million young men and women competing.
Oh, the IOC will spout all kinds of statistics about the purported advantage transgender women have. But when asked for the source of this information, or to see the science behind the ban, the IOC refuses. Which tells you everything you need to know.
If you’re confident in your facts, you show them. If you’re not, you put up smokescreens.
The larger problem, though, is that these bans try to make black and white what is so many shades of grey.
IOC transgender athlete ban not a simple matter of X and Y
The IOC has decided to use the SRY gene to determine whether someone is male or female because it is located on the Y chromosome. But even the geneticist who discovered it says that’s too simplistic.
People with intersex conditions – variances in chromosomes, hormones, reproductive systems or genitalia – make up as much as 1.7% of the population. That includes women with XY chromosomes who have internal testes but female genitalia, as well as women who have XY chromosomes but female reproductive systems.
Under the IOC’s wisdom, those women will not be allowed to compete.
Many girls and women with these conditions, also called Differences in Sex Development, don’t even know it. The IOC is unbothered by this landmine, lobbing it off with the suggestion that someone else should consider offering mental health resources to women who test positive.
Imagine the psychological devastation of discovering you can’t compete, and then learning it’s because you have a condition that, in the eyes of the IOC, makes you not a “real” woman. Now imagine learning this as an 11- or 12-year-old, which is a very real possibility given there were preteen girls competing at the last two Olympics.
And then, on top of that, imagine learning this in a country where women are already marginalized and mere existence is an excuse for harassment, physical abuse and worse.
I’m sure it will go well, no harm coming to these women because the IOC has decided to play fast and loose with both science and ethics.
“This policy goes well beyond the boundaries of sporting governance,” Saad Kassis-Mohamed, chair of the Human Rights Association, said in a statement condemning the new IOC policy.
“Mandating compulsory genetic testing for every woman competing at Olympic level, and using that test to determine whether she is permitted to compete, is a profound human rights question,” he added. “It demands independent scrutiny, not a unilateral ruling.”
Requiring test only of women is discrimination
And about that compulsory testing …
The IOC loves to pat itself on the back for its gender equity efforts, touting the increased participation of women at the Games and the addition of mixed-gender events. But requiring that women take a genetic test to compete when the same is not demanded of men is the sports equivalent of a poll tax.
The IOC is also forcing athletes from countries where genetic testing is illegal for non-medical purposes to break their nation’s laws. Which seems the opposite of “protecting” women athletes, but what do I know?
“This conviction that you can be above the law, in part, because you have such a strong feeling about transgender athletes and athletes with intersex variations …” Pape said. “A process was retrofitted to this policy outcome. But the policy outcome was decided in advance.
“From a legal point of view, that’s a very risky strategy.”
For the better part of 20 years, transgender athletes were allowed to participate in the Olympics and NCAA sports without issue. Cisgender women are still winning medals and earning scholarships, and the world has not ended.
But because transgender men and women make some people uncomfortable, because most people don’t know someone who is transgender and so don’t realize they’re being fed a bunch of lies, we’ve decided it’s OK to throw out all decency and make rules up on the fly. People are going to be harmed as a result, including the very women the IOC claims to care so much about protecting.
Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.
Israel Adesanya has dropped four straight fights, but he’s not ready to hang up the gloves just yet.
Adesanya was knocked out by Joe Pyfer in round two of UFC Seattle, marking his fourth straight defeat inside the Octagon.
The former champion hasn’t won a fight since his split-decision victory over Robert Whittaker at UFC 271 back in February 2022.
Israel Adesanya says he understands the frustration from his fans, but has no plans to retire
Photo by Mat Hayward/Getty Images
After seeing Adesanya lose back-to-back fights by knockout, plenty of fans were quick to call for the 36-year-old to retire. But Adesanya wasted no time in addressing the speculation, shutting down any talk of retirement before even leaving the cage, and hasn’t wavered since.
In an Instagram post, the former champion acknowledged how hard it must be for his supporters to watch him struggle but pointed out that it’s even tougher for him.
He made it clear he plans to rebuild and come back stronger. “I know it’s hard on my people seeing me fall,” Adesanya wrote. “I promise you it’s harder on me.”
“Regardless, we respawn and go again.”
There are some worried that Adesanya might end up finishing his UFC career in a similar way to fellow middleweight legend Anderson Silva. ‘The Spider’ lost five of his last six fights before being released.
Joe Pyfer was ranked 14th in the division before their fight in Seattle, and following his win, is expected to move up when the rankings update on Tuesday.
The defeat also means Adesanya is likely going to drop further down in the pecking order. However, ahead of his loss this weekend, he admitted returning to title contention is not what motivates him anymore.
ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 27: Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves is introduced before the game against the Kansas City Royals at Truist Park on March 27, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Athletics will be starting Jacob Lopez in the series opener in Cobb County against our Atlanta Braves. Lopez is a left-handed starter. As such, Walt Weiss has decided to break out the left-hand counter lineup and as such, Ozzie Albies is batting right-handed and hitting third in this particular lineup once again.
Here’s the entire Braves lineup:
ATL Braves Lineup 03/30 1. Ronald Acuna Jr. RF 2. Drake Baldwin DH 3. Ozzie Albies 2B 4. Matt Olson 1B 5. Austin Riley 3B 6. Eli White LF 7. Mauricio Dubon SS 8. Jonah Heim C 9. Michael Harris II CF #BravesCountry
If the lineup looks really familiar, that’s because this is the exact same lineup that the Braves rolled out there on Opening Night. That was a 6-0 win for the Braves so maybe that’ll be a good sign for what’s coming tonight. For now, here’s hoping that Ozzie Albies continues to make the manager look good for placing him that high in the lineup against left-handers.
We’ll update this with the A’s lineup once they reveal their hand. For now, what do y’all think about this lineup from the Braves?
Brasileiro A3 – Juventude-SE boast the best record
After two rounds of the Brazilian Women’s A3 Championship, some teams still have a 100% record. Among them, Juventude-SE stands out, owning the best attack and the biggest goal difference in the competition so far. The team leads Group 8 with 6 points. On Saturday (28), they beat Atlético-BA 3-1 at home.
The other teams that have won both of their matches so far are: Planalto-GO, Realidade Jovem, Coritiba, Tiradentes-PA, and Liga São João.
Check out the round’s results:
Group 1 – Galvez 2-1 Itapuense, on Saturday; and Rolim de Moura 1-0 Penarol-AM, on Sunday.
Group 2 – Cresspom 1-4 Planalto-GO, on Saturday; and Várzea Grande 2-1 Pantanal, on Sunday.
Group 3 – Realidade Jovem 2-0 Araguari, on Saturday; and São José 0-1 Real Heips, on Sunday.
Group 4 – Coritiba 1-0 Criciúma, on Saturday; and Brasil de Farroupilha 1-0 Mauaense, on Sunday.
Group 5 – São Raimundo-RR 2-2 Portuguesa-AP, on Saturday; and Ypiranga-AP 0-2 Tiradentes-PA, on Sunday.
Group 6 – Remo 0-2 Liga São João; and Paraíso 0-0 Sampaio Corrêa, both on Saturday.
Group 7 – União-RN 1-0 Ipojuca, on Saturday; Mixto-PB and R4 face each other this Monday at 8 p.m. at Almeidão.
Group 8 – Juventude-SE 3-1 Atlético-BA; and Prosperidade 7-0 Guarani de Paripueira.
Vote now for The News Tribune’s Girls Athlete of the Week for contests played between March 23-28. Voting will remain open until noon Wednesday.
The poll is located below. You can read about all of the candidates and their accomplishments below.
Note: If you are not seeing the poll at the bottom of the story, try opening the story in a different browser, such as Chrome or Safari. Votes emailed will not be counted.
Want to nominate a South Sound high school athlete in the future? Email reporter Jon Manley (jon.manley@thenewstribune.com) or Tyler Wicke (twicke@thenewstribune.com) or send a direct message on Twitter/X (@manley_tnt or @WickeTyler) with the athlete’s first and last name, school, year, position and a stat line from game(s) during the past week. Nominations must be submitted by 5 p.m. Sunday.
Gigi Bell, Bonney Lake softball — Freshman pitcher threw five shutout innings in Wednesday’s 11-0 win over Olympia, allowing three hits with no walks and four strikeouts. Bell added two scoreless innings (1 H, 5 K) in Monday’s win over Spanaway Lake.
Payton Cantrell, Gig Harbor softball — Tides catcher went 5-for-5 with a home run, three doubles, and five RBI in Monday’s win over Lincoln.
Hope Cole, Fife softball — Trojans first baseman homered in Tuesday’s win over Clover Park, going 2-for-2 with five RBI. In Thursday’s win over Foss, Cole went 3-for-3 with a homer and threw four strong innings (1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K).
Sloan Cross, Auburn Riverside softball — Leadoff center fielder homered in Thursday’s win over Stadium, finishing 3-for-6 with a triple and three RBI.
Ashlyn Elder, Enumclaw softball — Hornets left fielder hit four doubles in Wednesday’s win over Kent-Meridian, going 5-for-5 with four runs and five RBI. Elder added two doubles and five RBI (3-for-4) in Friday’s win over Federal Way.
Norah Fenton, Orting softball — Cardinals catcher hit three home runs in Monday’s 18-12 win over Federal Way, going 3-for-3 with two walks and five RBI.
Stevie-Rae Garcia Zamora, Washington softball — Patriots pitcher struck out 17 batters across a complete game and homered at the plate (2-for-4, 2 BB, 4 RBI) in Thursday’s win over Franklin Pierce.
Jayda Guadron, Emerald Ridge softball — Jaguars catcher went 3-for-3 with a walk, two doubles, and four RBI in Friday’s 17-5 win over South Kitsap.
Nevaeh Haagen, Timberline softball — Blazers P/1B hit for the cycle (single, double, triple, home run) and struck all six batters faced (2 IP, 0 H) in Wednesday’s 20-0 win over Capital. In Monday’s win over River Ridge, Haagen struck out 11 batters across five frames and went 3-for-4 with three RBI at the plate.
Natalie Harris, White River softball — Hornets pitcher struck out eight across five innings (2 ER) and homered at the plate in Monday’s win over Thomas Jefferson. Harris added eight strikeouts and earned the save in Wednesday’s win over Federal Way.
Brooklyn Harrison, Gig Harbor softball — Tides third baseman hit two home runs (2-for-2, 5 RBI) in Wednesday’s win over Silas.
Abby Hoyt, Peninsula softball — Seahawks pitcher hit two home runs (6 RBI) and threw two scoreless innings with five strikeouts in Monday’s win over Capital.
Jaycee Kemp, Puyallup softball — Freshman pitcher struck out 16 across seven strong innings (3 R, 1 ER) in Monday’s win over South Kitsap. Kemp added four scoreless innings and earned the win over Lake Washington on Saturday.
Scarlett Mabe, Central Kitsap softball — First baseman homered with three hits and four RBI in Tuesday’s win over Klahowya.
Siene Martin, Tahoma softball — Shortstop went 5-for-5 with two doubles, five RBI, and a walk in Thursday’s win over Auburn.
Sierra Murray, Rogers softball — Sophomore pitcher shut down rival Puyallup with 18 strikeouts for a complete-game shutout (7 IP, 1 H, 0 BB) in Friday’s 3-0 win. Murray struck out 17 across seven frames (1 ER) in Wednesday’s win over Sumner and homered in Monday’s win over Curtis.
Natalie Otero, Enumclaw softball — Hornets left fielder went 5-for-5 with three doubles and five RBI in Monday’s 22-4 win over Decatur.
Brooklyn Pettit, Graham-Kapowsin — Eagles ace no-hit Bethel on Thursday, tossing five scoreless innings with one walk and 14 strikeouts. The gem marked Pettit’s second no-hitter this season (March 17 at Yelm).
Hannah Potter, Auburn Riverside softball — Ravens catcher went 3-for-6 with a double and triple in Thursday’s 15-9 win over Stadium.
Paityn Powell, Yelm softball — Sophomore third baseman homered and went 2-for-3 with four RBI in Tuesday’s 17-2 win over Spanaway Lake.
Alexa Ramirez, Tahoma softball — Bears junior threw five strong innings (1 ER) with no walks and 10 strikeouts in Tuesday’s 13-1 win over Stadium.
Leticea Romo, Yelm softball — Tornados pitcher tossed a five-inning shutout with one walk and 11 strikeouts (2 H) in Monday’s 11-0 win over Bethel.
Lila Schmidt, Enumclaw softball — Hornets first baseman recorded three triples in Monday’s 22-4 win over Decatur, going 3-for-4 with an RBI.
Kiley Sledge, Franklin Pierce softball — Shortstop belted two home runs and went 3-for-3 with a walk, four runs and three RBI in Thursday’s loss to Washington.
Lehua Siaki, Graham-Kapowsin softball — Junior pitcher struck out 10 across four scoreless innings (1 H, 0 BB) and homered at the plate, going 4-for-5 with four RBI in Friday’s 21-0 win over Spanaway Lake.
Josslyn Sorensen, Sumner softball — Spartans starter struck out 13 across seven strong innings (4 H, 2 ER) in Thursday’s 8-2 win over North Creek, going 3-for-5 at the plate with a home run, two singles, and two RBI.
Maddie Speir, Bonney Lake softball — Panthers first baseman delivered the walk-off double in the eighth inning of Friday’s 5-4 win over Yelm, finishing 2-for-4.
Tessa Trippy, Auburn Mountainview softball — Sophomore shortstop went 6-for-8 in two games last week, tallying a three-run home run, two doubles, four runs, and eight RBI.
Brielle Womach, Tumwater softball — T-Birds catcher went 2-for-2 with a double, triple, two walks, three RBI, and four runs in Monday’s win over Steilacoom.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - AUGUST 24: Luis Matos #29 of the San Francisco Giants takes off after the swing during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on August 24, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Milwaukee has acquired Venezuelan outfielder Luis Matos from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for cash considerations. To make room on the 40-man roster, LHP Sammy Peralta has been designated for assignment.
Matos, who was the Giants’ No. 7 prospect heading into the 2023 season, made his major league debut in May of that year and recorded at least 150 at-bats in each of the last three seasons. He’s mashed in the minors (.837 OPS in Triple-A last season, .828 career OPS)
He had his best season at the plate last year, posting a .690 OPS in 57 games with San Francisco.
. He had his best season at the plate last yearearned at least 150 at-bats each of the last three years, but his .690 OPS last year was by far his high
CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 22: "Who Dey" the Cincinnati Bengals mascot entertains the crowd during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Paul Brown Stadium on September 22, 2013 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by John Grieshop/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Bengals’ reported interest in former SEC team captain could be alluding to a larger plan beyond him “He fits the exact archetype that teams covet near the top of the draft. At 6-foot-5, 276 pounds, Faulk’s pass-rush production took a step back in 2025, but he’s only 21 and one of the best run defenders in the class. When speaking to scouts, Greg Rousseau and Mykel Williams are two NFL comparisons for him. The Chiefs at No. 9 and the Bengals at No. 10 overall are two teams to watch here.” — ESPN’s Jordan Reid on Keldric Faulk
Zac Taylor Adapts Into A Senior Coach As NFL Owners Meet Zachary William Taylor has been around longer than Dan Campbell in Detroit, the guy who taught a green-as-grass-graduate-assistant how to coach tight ends at College Station. Longer than Ben Johnson in Chicago, his disciple in the days Taylor coached the Miami quarterbacks. Just as long as Matt LaFleur in Green Bay, his office neighbor and waste basket ball partner with the Rams across the hall from McVay himself.
Bengals doing draft work on eyebrow-raising RB name Take, for instance, the Bengals doing due diligence on Indiana running back Kaelon Black, setting up a 30 visit with him, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2.
Jarring draft rumor hints Bengals may double down on their Shemar Stewart problem What if I told you that, in 2024, by PFF’s count, 22 of Faulk’s 45 QB pressures and three of his seven sacks came in four particular games? One was a 73-3 win over outmatched FCS foe Alabama A&M. Another was against the Fernando Mendoza-led California Golden Bears. Mendoza took the second-most sacks of anyone in the country that year with 40. Those matchups accounted for the three sacks.
Former Georgia Star Could Fix Bengals’ Major Weakness in 2026 NFL Draft Miller spent four seasons with the Georgia Bulldogs. He won a national title in his redshirt freshman year. He compiled 64 career tackles (11.5 for loss) and four sacks. The former four-star prospect notched a solid NFL Combine, and NFL Analyst Lance Zierlein graded Miller with a 6.34 overall grade, which hands him a “will eventually be plus starter” tag.
Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren is expecting to have a stadium solution in place for the club by late spring or early summer of this year, Warren said in an interview with PFT from the annual league meeting on Monday.
The Bears are currently focused on Arlington Heights, Ill., and Hammond, Ind., as potential stadium sites.
"We have the legislation passed in Indiana, and they’ve been a great partner to work with," Warren said. "We are going through legitimate due diligence because we have working through traffic, and construction items, and transportation and all those kinds of different things. It’s progressing right on pace.
"Illinois, they’re still working on legislation and we have a wonderful piece of land in Arlington Heights — 326 acres. So we don’t have a set deadline, but I am confident that sometime this spring/summer, we’ll know."
Warren continued that the goal for the Bears is to "build a world-class environment with a fixed roof that our fans can really enjoy to make sure we have the proper ingress and egress and tailgating, and parking, and all those different accoutrements that great stadiums have." The enclosed stadium will allow the Bears to host more events, like the Final Four and potentially a Super Bowl. Warren also called it "imperative" for the new venue to have a mixed-use development surrounding the stadium, which means the Bears need the space for it.
That's part of why downtown Chicago near Soldier Field is no longer a part of the discussion.
"We strongly believe the only site in the state of Illinois and Cook County is Arlington Heights," Warren said. "Because when you see that property, having 326 acres with the train station there, the things that we would be able to do — there are some great sites, we talked a couple of years ago about doing something at the Museum campus. There was not an appetite at that point in time there. And there are some other sites that just don’t fit."
So at this point, Warren anticipates having the situation settled in the next few months.
"It has to," Warren said. "Especially if you look, I’m always intrigued by the financial markets, the capital markets, those are something that we have to focus on because this is challenging work now from a legislation [standpoint], but the real work comes in the construction. That’s really where it comes in. For us to be able to finish the design and build the stadium, that’s the work. The longer we wait, our costs go up about $150 million a year."
And while Warren and the Bears may not know where the stadium will be or what it will look like quite yet, they do want the new building to have at least one characteristic.
"I think the biggest thing we kind of promised ourselves is to make sure that you know you’re in Chicago," Warren said.
Vote now for The News Tribune’s Boys Athlete of the Week for contests played between March 23-28. Voting will remain open until noon Wednesday.
The poll is located below. You can read about all of the candidates and their accomplishments below.
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Want to nominate a South Sound high school athlete in the future? Email reporter Jon Manley (jon.manley@thenewstribune.com) or Tyler Wicke (twicke@thenewstribune.com) or send a direct message on Twitter/X (@manley_tnt or @WickeTyler) with the athlete’s first and last name, school, year, position and a stat line from game(s) during the past week. Nominations must be submitted by 5 p.m. Sunday.
Brooks Barker, Capital baseball — The center fielder’s walk-off single in the eighth inning lifted Capital over North Thurston, 13-12, on Monday. Barker went 2-for-2 with three walks and two RBI.
Quentin Bockhorn, Gig Harbor baseball — Senior right-hander threw five scoreless innings (3 H, 0 BB, 9 K) in Wednesday’s 8-0 win over Bellarmine Prep.
Brayden Cheeka, Olympia baseball — Left fielder hit a grand slam and plated seven runs in Tuesday’s win over Spanaway Lake, finishing 3-for-3 with two runs. On Friday, Cheeka delivered the walk-off single in a 5-4 win over Curtis.
Jake Cuda, Gig Harbor baseball — Senior right-hander threw five strong frames in Thursday’s 3-1 win over Bellarmine Prep, allowing two hits and one run (none earned) with two walks and eight strikeouts. Cuda homered in Monday’s 16-3 win over River Ridge, going 2-for-4 with a run and five RBI.
Tucker Downing, Olympia track and field — The Bears junior’s 191-9 javelin throw set a new personal record by more than 16 feet. Downing’s PR ranks first in the state and 14th nationally.
Mattson Ducharme, Fife baseball — Trojans starter threw six strong innings in Friday’s 6-1 win over Central Kitsap, allowing two hits and one run (none earned) with two walks and five strikeouts. Ducharme singled at the plate, finishing 1-for-2.
Ethan Flavel, Decatur baseball — Gators starter threw four shutout innings (3 H, 1 BB, 6 K) and homered at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a walk in Tuesday’s 10-0 win over White River. Flavel homered again Friday, finishing 1-for-3 with a walk in Friday’s 7-3 win over Thomas Jefferson.
Greyson Garza, Steilacoom baseball — Freshman right-hander threw a five-inning perfect game with 12 strikeouts in Thursday’s 23-0 win over Washington, adding two hits and two RBI at the plate.
Gregory Johnson, Puyallup baseball — Clean-up hitter drove in four runs (2-for-4, 2B) in Tuesday’s 8-0 win over South Kitsap.
Brayden Landry, Puyallup baseball — Leadoff shortstop went 3-for-4 with a walk, two doubles, and four RBI in Wednesday’s 11-1 win over South Kitsap. Landry added two doubles and two RBI in Friday’s 11-0 win over Bethel.
Eli Lystra, Silas baseball — In a two-game sweep of Lincoln on Tuesday and Wednesday, the sophomore first baseman went a combined 6-for-7 with three triples and five RBI.
Alex Marvel, Fife baseball — In three wins last week, the junior right fielder tallied five hits (.556), four RBI, four runs, and a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.
Thomas Marzano, Peninsula baseball — Seahawks catcher plated four runs in back-to-back wins over Timberline and Bainbridge, batting a combined 6-for-10 with a double and eight RBI.
Christopher Moore, Kentlake baseball — Senior right-hander blanked Enumclaw (11 K) across five scoreless innings on Friday, allowing one hit and three walks in a 4-0 win. Moore homered at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBI.
Luke Overbay, Tumwater baseball — Junior right-hander tossed three shutout innings (2 BB, 3 K) in Friday’s 16-2 win over Woodland, adding three hits and a walk at the plate (3 RBI).
Madden Pike, Puyallup baseball — Sophomore right-hander threw a complete-game shutout in Thursday’s 8-0 win over South Kitsap, allowing two hits with no walks and 10 strikeouts.
Hunter Rudolph, Graham-Kapowsin baseball — Senior right-hander threw six strong innings in Tuesday’s 3-1 win over Yelm, allowing two hits and one run (none earned) with four walks and six strikeouts.
Joey Schilling, Silas baseball — Rams starter threw a five-inning shutout (1 H, 3 BB, 8 K) in Tuesday’s 15-0 win over Lincoln.
Offense had stood out all season for Illinois, only for the defense to step up in March Madness.
Arizona and Michigan have been part of college basketball's top tier all year with elite play at both ends of the court, and they've been even sharper at the offensive end in the NCAA Tournament.
Now that trio joins UConn for this week's Final Four in Indianapolis. The Huskies and Illini meet in Saturday’s first semifinal, followed by the Wolverines and Wildcats.
All four teams rank in the overall top 10 of data-driven college basketball rankings for KenPom, Evan Miyakawa and Bart Torvik going into the Final Four. That includes the Wolverines and Wildcats ranking 1-2 for all three currently, as well as posting some of KenPom's best net-efficiency rankings ever recorded.
Illini's defense
Illinois (28-8) entered the NCAA tourney ranked second in KenPom's adjusted offensive efficiency by averaging 131.2 points per 100 possessions while ranking just 28th in defense (99.1). Yet the South Region champion's defense has allowed .976 points per possession in the NCAA Tournament to lead the remaining four teams.
“We’ve been very good throughout the season at times,” coach Brad Underwood said before the regional final win against Iowa. “We just haven’t been that consistent.”
Illinois allowed Penn, VCU, Houston and Iowa to score on just 41.2% of their possessions. The Illini also dominated the glass (plus-16.3 per game) to grab the rebounds that completed those defensive stops.
They've done it all with the nation's tallest roster, with seven players from Saturday's eight-man rotation standing 6-foot-6 or taller. That has included an influx of European talent, including Croatian twins Tomislav (7-1) and Zvonimir Ivisic (7-2), as well as 6-9 forward David Mirkovic from Montenegro. The outlier among that big lineup, 6-2 senior guard Kylan Boswell, is a strong backcourt defender.
Terrence Oglesby, an analyst with ESPN and Field of 68, pointed to the Illini's ability to play in the gaps to disrupt offenses trying to move the ball and space the floor to create mismatches or lanes.
“Positionally, they're just elite on top of being massive,” said Oglesby, a former Clemson player. “You go to the Balkans to grab all these guys, and they're huge and they've also been well coached coming all the way up. ... The good part about being pretty gap-heavy is the fact that if you're huge, you can still get out to shooters."
Offensive flow
Michigan (35-3) has the most efficient offense of the Final Four teams, averaging 1.361 points per possession in tournament wins over Howard, Saint Louis, Alabama and Tennessee to edge Arizona's similar average (1.341).
The Midwest Region champion became the first team to score 90 points in every game through to the Elite Eight since UConn did it in 1995 before falling 102-96 to eventual champion UCLA. Dusty May's Wolverines are shooting 55.9% through four games, including 44.6% (45 of 101) from 3-point range, and have scored on 60.4% of their tournament possessions.
Before the Sweet 16 win against Alabama, guard Roddy Gayle Jr. said May's system allows the Wolverines to play “super free.”
“He does a lot of free-flow offense,” star Yaxel Lendeborg said. “He has certain sets, but the sets aren’t necessarily for shots. It’s just for movement, just to get the defense out of their shell, and then attack off those mistakes."
Net efficiency
The Wolverines' semifinal against fellow 1-seed Arizona (36-2) will pair teams with all-time great KenPom efficiency metrics.
KenPom bases efficiency on points scored or allowed over a standardized 100-possession pace to eliminate tempo as a factor. Overall rankings are determined by net efficiency in terms of how much a team’s offensive data outpaces its defensive numbers.
Michigan currently leads the country at plus-39.02 after the regionals, followed by Arizona at plus-38.76. By comparison, only two teams have finished a season with higher KenPom numbers going back to the 1996-97 season: Duke in 1998-99 (plus-43.01) and Duke last year (plus-39.29).
“These are these massive teams that also have enough shooting. but they’ve leaned into the everything else," Oglesby said. "They've leaned into the controllable aspects: rebounding, being big, being physical. ... I wouldn’t say that the championship game is Michigan and Arizona, but those two teams have just been a freight train going through.”
The season's final three games will pair strength-on-strength in the halfcourt.
The four teams have played man defense on 97.3% of their combined halfcourt possessions, according to Synergy. Arizona, Michigan and UConn all rated as “excellent” in the 91st percentile or better, while Illinois is rated “very good” in the 81st percentile.
Yet Synergy rates all of those teams as “excellent” in running halfcourt offense against man defense, with Illinois (97th percentile) and Michigan (96th) as the best.
The key for Saturday could be which teams can get out in transition to avoid tussling with set halfcourt defenses. That could favor Illinois (97th percentile) and Arizona (94th) as the top teams in transition offense with “excellent” ratings from Synergy.
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente – ‘We have 20-22 players in mind for World Cup squad’
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has suggested that there are maximum four to six spots in his World Cup squad up for grabs as things stand, albeit acknowledging that there will likely be injuries that impact his decisions. La Roja are on the eve of their final friendly before de la Fuente names his 26-man list for the plane to the United States.
“We’re going to refresh the team, but we’ll field a competitive squad because we want to keep winning. Those who need to play will play. We want to refresh the team so that it’s very competitive.”
La Roja are being cast as favourites for the tournament by many for this summer, alongside the likes of France, England and Argentina.
“I love it when people speak well of us. Denying the obvious… Just like I speak about others. I don’t know if you saw France. Anyone who doubts they’re the favorite… We have to play exceptionally well. We need a near-perfect performance to win the World Cup.”
Goalkeeper debate for Spain
One of the question marks over his squad that has raised the most eyebrows is the goalkeeping position. Unai Simon seems to be installed as number one, but it was a surprise when de la Fuente called up four goalkeepers for this international break, including Barcelona’s Joan Garcia for the first time. The decision on the starter against Egypt has been made.
“We’ve already made the decision, but we don’t know how the match will unfold. You’ll find out who the starting goalkeeper will be tomorrow; I’m not going to say anything more here. We’ll see how the match develops. We’re playing for first place in the world rankings. We need to field a very competitive team that gives us complete confidence. We’ll see what happens in goal: who starts and who finishes.”
After switching from crosstown rivals Espanyol, whose home stadium will host the game, Garcia is persona non grata in Cornella. De la Fuente was asked if some Pericos might be tempted to boo him.
“Let them leave that temptation at home, let them come and cheer. These players are from the Spanish national team. If anyone has that temptation, let them leave it at home.”
Majority of Spain squad decided
De la Fuente also explained that he had the majority of his squad settled in his mind for this summer.
“We have a solid group. A very strong foundation. There will certainly be setbacks and injuries. Some of the guaranteed starters will definitely be unavailable, but it’s true that there are 20 or 22 players we’d like to have.”
“We more or less have it figured out, but I made up the percentage… There’s a solid foundation and I hope many will be okay. I said 22, but I could have said another number.”
“He’s been with me in the youth ranks. He’s a player much loved by the Federation and by me. He was in great form and suffered a minor injury that perhaps prevented him from being here. Opportunities will open up for many. Hopefully, we’ll have a tough time making the squad.”
There is also concern in Spain that Nico Williams might not be fit for the tournament, after an injury-ravaged season. Mikel Merino is also racing against time to be back.
“Nico has already rejoined training, which is a good sign. And Mikel Merino has a long-term injury… We’ll see how it all develops. I have a lot of faith in him, and he’s very eager. He’s made of different stuff, and I think he’s going to recover.”
Williams and Merino both played key roles for de la Fuente at Euro 2024. La Roja do not have a like for like replacement for either, but Alex Baena and Victor Munoz were both tested on the left wing against Serbia. Merino’s most natural alternative is Fabian Ruiz, but the Paris Saint-Germain star is also battling injury currently.
“Difficult to refuse” – Another senior Chelsea player openly talks about a transfer in latest blow for Blues
Marc Cucurella has become the latest senior Chelsea player to flirt with the idea of a move away from Stamford Bridge.
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Chelsea’s players are scattered all over the world for their international break, and Marc Cucurella happens to have gone to his native Catalonia for a game with Spain, who will play at the Espanyol stadium.
Inevitably he’s been asked about a return to his boyhood club Barcelona, and in quotes picked up by Football Espana, he’s admitted it would be tempting.
Cucurella tempted by return to Barcelona in “a few years”
“It would be difficult to refuse. It’s not just about me. I’d have to think about my family. If it happens, it happens, and we’ll see what decision is made,” the full back said.
“You always think about going back. [But] I’m very happy there [in England], and so is my family. I’ll leave it for a few years from now.”
It’s not a flat out denial, but it’s a bit less of a direct flirtation than what Enzo Fernandez has been doing with Real Madrid. At least it sounds we’ll see a few more years of Cucurella at Chelsea before he’s tempted with a return.
Liverpool Have Stepped Up Their Efforts To Land This Talented Striker: Good Fit For The Reds?
In a recent report, Correio da Manha claimed that Liverpool have stepped up their efforts to land Sporting CP striker Luis Suarez. It is believed that the Reds would have to compete with Newcastle United in the race to land the Colombian talent this summer.
Suarez’s Impressive Form In Portuguese Football
Suarez is having a productive campaign in Portugal as he has put in a series of impressive displays for Sporting in the final third. The 28-year-old has banged in 33 goals and grabbed seven assists in 42 matches for the Portuguese outfit this season on all fronts.
The Colombian talent is currently among the most feared forwards in Liga Portugal. Hence, the Reds would do well to lure him to Anfield this off-season.
His current contract at Sporting will expire in the summer of 2030, which should make it tough for Liverpool to sign him on a cut-price deal later this year.
LISBON, PORTUGAL – MARCH 17: Luis Suarez of Sporting Clube de Portugal reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Sporting Clube de Portugal and FK Bodo/Glimt at Estadio Jose Alvalade on March 17, 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)
Will Suarez Be A Good Fit For Liverpool?
Suarez is proficient at finding a yard of space for himself to get some strikes in at goal. He has got the vision to engineer a few decent chances for his teammates in the final third and is a good dribbler with the ball at his feet. Suarez is usually quite clever with his movements in and around the opponent’s penalty area.
The Colombia international can contribute by scoring and creating his fair share of goals on the offensive end of the field. However, there are some concerns over whether he can maintain his good form in the Premier League if the Reds manage to snap him up in the upcoming transfer window.
We can expect Suarez to add more firepower to Liverpool‘s attack. He is good enough to compete for a regular first-team spot at the Merseyside club in the coming years.
At 28, Suarez is about to enter his prime, which makes him a decent fit for the Premier League outfit’s needs in the short-term. He might even help the Reds challenge for some major trophies in the future. With all things considered, Liverpool would be wise to go all out to lure him to England in the summer transfer period
Florida State basketball guard Cam Miles is entering the transfer portal, according to On3's Joe Tipton. He is the first FSU player to announce he will be transferring.
Miles played in 25 games as a freshman for the Seminoles, averaging 5.4 points, 1.7 assists, and 1.0 rebounds in 13.9 minutes per game. He shot 36.1% from the floor, 21.6% from 3-point range, and 67.6% from the free-throw line. He had 17 steals and 21 turnovers on the season.
He is originally from Chicago but signed with FSU out of IMG Academy. He was ranked as the No. 268 overall player and No. 31 combo guard by 247Sports in the 2025 recruiting cycle. Miles and forward Thomas Bassong made up Luke Louck's transition high school recruiting class.
Miles has not been ranked as a transfer and will have three seasons of eligibility at his next school. He scored 10 or more points four times for FSU, including a career-high 17 points against UT Martin. He shot 7-10 that game and 3-6 from deep to go with three assists and three steals.
The transfer portal is set to open on April 7 and will last until April 21. FSU signed seven transfers last offseason as Loucks worked to build his roster. With FSU signing a top 10 recruiting class with five four-star prospects coming, they are not expected to be as active ahead of his second season in charge.
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Bubba Wallace's race at Martinsville Speedway came crashing down in the Final Stage. Wallace ran into the back of Carson Hocevar, causing a massive pile-up coming off of Turn 4. It was a shocking moment, as the driver of the No. 23 car had too much damage to continue. It looked as if Wallace was retaliating for an incident with Hocevar earlier in the event.
Following the crash, Wallace addressed the wreck with Hocevar at Martinsville. The 23XI Racing driver claims that it was an accident as he misjudged the corner.
“I misjudged,” Wallace said. “I didn’t appreciate the three-wide into [Turn 1], fine, but I misjudged the center of the corner and didn’t mean to turn [Carson Hocevar]. What a frustrating day. With so much expectation coming here, favorite track, Hardee’s on the car. Just wasn’t the day we wanted. We really have to figure out what it is this place. We can win Saturday in practice, but we just don’t show up on Sunday. So, I hate it for our team. Just frustration. Take a week off and reset and go onto Bristol.”
Hocevar took Wallace three-wide into Turn 1, and it resulted with a big crash after the No. 23 car wiped out the No. 77 car and others. It is unclear if it was truly intentional or an accident, but Wallace said it wasn't on purpose. With NASCAR going into an off-weekend, Wallace hopes to put this behind him before Bristol Motor Speedway.
The Philadelphia Phillies are off to a disappointing start to the year, with a 1-2 record in the opening weekend homestand against the Texas Rangers.
They will begin their second series of the year against the Washington Nationals, and begin by facing left-handed pitcher Foster Griffin. While a lefty is on the mound, Justin Crawford, the Phillies' rookie outfielder, should still be in the lineup.
Phillies aren't starting Justin Crawford vs. Nationals for one reason
"From Rob Thomson pregame yesterday: Brandon Marsh might start in CF today," Lugardo shared. "He wants to give Justin Crawford a day off."
The Phillies are entering their fourth game of the season, and Crawford is already getting a day off. For someone meant to be an everyday starter, who has actually looked good thus far, this is a strange decision.
Brandon Marsh is starting in center field in his place against the lefty Nationals pitcher, and it has nothing to do with matchups. Rob Thomson want's to give the rookie center fielder an off-day.
It's a strange decision, as the Phillies get a day off on Thursday, and starting Crawford in the first six games of the year would hardly be a surprise. For someone meant to be a full-time starter, getting a rest day this early in the year is odd.
J.T. Realmuto is getting a day off as well, but it makes a lot of sense, as the Phillies don't want him catching five days in a row and want to ensure he will be catching for rookie Andrew Painter for his debut.
Crawford, on the other hand, isn't in the lineup tonight, not due to a matchup issue or an injury, but just as a day off, according to Thomson.
After hitting .333 through the first three games of the year, Crawford will sit for game four against the Nationals in Philadelphia, as the Phillies turn to Marsh, Otto Kemp, and Adolis Garcia in the outfield.
MARIETTA, Ga. (AP) — American defender Chris Richards has recovered from a knee injury and says he can play in the United States' friendly against Portugal on Tuesday but midfielder Johnny Cardoso is hurt and will leave camp ahead of the game.
Richards, the top American central defender, missed Saturday's 5-2 loss to Belgium.
“I’m fine,” he said Monday. “I had a bad tackle in my last game with Palace and so just a little bit of knee pain, knee soreness, but I’ve been training individually all week and I’m available for tomorrow.”
Cardoso started against Belgium and was replaced by Cristian Roldan for the start of the second half. Cardoso was to return Monday night to Atletico Madrid.
“Johnny arrived from Madrid with some small things, issues,” U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said. “The plan was to play 45 minutes, but when finished after 45 minutes he feel again this type of uncomfortable things in some part of his leg.
“I think he was good during 45 minutes.” Pochettino said. “I am happy with his performance, commitment and intention to play.”
Christian Pulisic goal drought
Pochettino said he may tinker with the positioning of Christian Pulisic, who usually is on a wing with the national team. Pulisic is scoreless in his last 12 games with AC Milan and his last seven for the U.S. dating to November 2024.
“Maybe we help a little bit to go a little bit more closer to the goal,” Pochettino said. “Maybe we can do some tests also to play with maybe more midfielder and less offensive player.”
Pochettino said he never felt comfortable during Saturday's loss to Belgium. Weston McKennie put the U.S. ahead in the 39th minute and the Americans allowed five straight goals.
On the 5-2 loss to Belgium
“You saw my face when we scored,” Pochettino said, drawing his lips and trying to show no emotion. “My gut feeling, it wasn’t good. You say why? Because when we scored, we should be the third goal, not the first goal.”
Comparing lack of aggression to dieting and then bingeing
Pochettino said maintaining aggressiveness is the same as dietary control following weight loss.
“After you need to have discipline, no? No big intention to eat the nice food and everything like this,” he said. “I won but then it’s nice, no, the chicken, the steak, the lasagna, the pasta?”
Chris, Christian, Cristian on one team can be confusing
Pochettino laughed about having to learn which name or nickname to use referring to each player.
“I have Christian Pulisic, Cristian Roldan, Chris is Richards and sometimes now they make me to change: Cristian Rolan is Roldy, Roldan, and Antonee Robinson is Jedi,” he said. “I am learning how to call after nearly after two years these guys.”
For now, the top choice for the Tar Heels appears to be Tommy Lloyd of Arizona. He has been highly successful, posting a 148-35 record, reaching the Sweet 16 in four of his five seasons and leading the Wildcats to their first Final Four since 2001 after a 95-62 win over Tennessee in the Elite Eight on Saturday.
Another name that has been circulating is Billy Donovan of the Chicago Bulls. Before he moved to the NBA as head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Donovan was one of college basketball’s top coaches. He led Florida to five Final Fours and three national title games, winning two championships.
On the "Tar Heel 247 Basketball" podcast, former North Carolina standout John Henson welcomed his former UNC teammate Justin Watts to discuss the latest on the coaching search.
Watts highlighted two key points about the leading candidates.
Tommy Lloyd wanted the UNC job in 2021
According to Watts, Lloyd, then an assistant at Gonzaga, was interested in the North Carolina job when it came open in 2021. Ultimately, UNC followed Roy Williams’ wishes, and the job went to Hubert Davis instead of going through a national search. Lloyd ended up at Arizona, and the results are clear.
Watts also drew a parallel to when Williams was the head coach at Kansas and had to decide whether to take the offer from his alma mater.
Tommy Lloyd wanted the job before he went to Arizona. If Arizona wins, I think it’s out of the question. If they lose, it’s kind of like how we got Roy. Kansas was in the Final Four, they were interviewing him about it, and it was lingering over his head. Then they lost, and he ended up coming to Carolina.
Roy had a lot more ties than Tommy Lloyd, other than Lloyd wanting the job before he went to Arizona. I would like to have Tommy Lloyd out of all the options we know about. I like how he has developed that Arizona program. They’ve been pretty consistent since he’s been there.
While this is an interesting development, nothing has been confirmed. The comparison between Williams leaving Kansas for UNC and Lloyd’s situation only goes so far. Williams is an Asheville native, a North Carolina alumnus and a longtime former assistant under Dean Smith. It should also be noted that he turned down the UNC job in 2000 before finally accepting it in 2003. Because of his ties to the school, his move back to Chapel Hill was more of a duty than a choice.
For Lloyd, it would be a choice. If it took a lot to bring Williams back to Chapel Hill, it will take even more to convince Lloyd to leave Arizona.
Billy Donovan is the most realistic choice
If Lloyd stays at Arizona, Donovan moves to the forefront. According to Watts, he may be the most realistic option, and even if the Tar Heels “settle” for him, it would still be a major victory.
I think Billy Donovan, on the other hand, is probably the more realistic option between the two. He doesn’t have a buyout, the Bulls aren’t that great, and it’s not like he’s winning championships at the NBA level. He has done that at the NCAA level. He may want to come back in a Bill Belichick-type move.
But I really think the hire will be somebody we’re not even talking about. That’s just my perspective. I don’t think we’re going to get either of them, but I think a ceiling of Tommy Lloyd and a floor of Billy Donovan is a good spot to be in.
If Lloyd stays at Arizona but UNC lands Donovan, it would still be a seismic move. Outside of Dan Hurley at UConn and Bill Self at Kansas, no other active head coach would have multiple national titles. Donovan is also an elite recruiter who has sent numerous players to the NBA, where many enjoyed long careers.
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has given one of his clearest explanations yet of what the CLARITY Act would actually mean for Ripple, XRP and the broader financial system, and his answer is more significant than most people realise.
It Is Not About Ripple. It Is About the Banks.
Speaking on Fox Business, Garlinghouse said the CLARITY Act would not fundamentally change Ripple’s existing business. The company has already won its lawsuit against the SEC, with courts confirming that XRP is not a security. That battle is largely over.
What the CLARITY Act does instead is unlock something far bigger. It opens the door for banks in the United States and around the world to fully participate in the crypto industry without fear of legal consequences. And that, Garlinghouse says, changes everything.
“It unlocks banks in the United States and around the world to lean into this industry,” he said. “If we get it codified into law, more financial institutions in the United States and globally will be leaning in.”
Right now, many major financial institutions are interested in digital assets but held back by legal uncertainty. The CLARITY Act removes that uncertainty and gives them the green light to engage at scale.
What XRP Actually Does
Garlinghouse took a moment to explain XRP’s real-world role for viewers unfamiliar with the technology. XRP is an open-source digital asset that runs on the XRP Ledger, a blockchain designed specifically for payments and settlement. It is fast, cheap and energy efficient, making it well suited for moving large amounts of money across borders quickly.
The use cases are already real. Guggenheim and money market organisations are exploring the technology. The Land Authority of Dubai is using the XRP Ledger for land registry. Developers and entrepreneurs are building on the ledger at an accelerating pace, and real-world asset tokenisation is becoming one of its most significant growth areas.
Prime Brokerage Revenue Has Already Tripled
Garlinghouse also shared a business update. Ripple Prime, the company’s prime brokerage business, has already tripled its revenue run rate. He attributed this to Ripple’s strong balance sheet and its growing credibility with the world’s largest financial institutions, many of which previously refused to work with smaller crypto players but are now comfortable with Ripple as a counterparty.
He described 2026 as a record year for corporate demand, with CEOs and boards of directors across the United States actively asking their finance teams whether they should be using stablecoins and how they could be doing so more efficiently.
Bitcoin is sitting below $70,000. But one analyst says that the next major money printing event is not a matter of if but when, and when it arrives, Bitcoin’s price could blow.
Analyst John laid out nine specific scenarios that could trigger the next big government spending wave, and every single one of them historically ends the same way: with more money printed, more dollars created, and hard assets like Bitcoin repriced significantly higher.
Why Another Big Print Is Coming
The argument starts with a simple observation. The COVID pandemic showed the world that governments will print trillions of dollars when they feel they have no choice. Most people have already half-forgotten how extraordinary that response was, slipping back into what John calls the frog in boiling water mentality. But the underlying conditions that make another print inevitable have not changed.
The Nine Catalysts to Watch
First, a large-scale geopolitical war or military escalation. Current conflicts could intensify and force emergency government spending at a scale that dwarfs anything seen in peacetime.
Second, AI-driven job displacement. If artificial intelligence eliminates enough jobs fast enough, governments will face enormous pressure to introduce universal basic income or massive public works programmes. That spending has to come from somewhere.
Third, the state budget collapses. California is already spending far beyond its means while losing its wealthiest residents. States cannot print money the way the federal government can, meaning a federal bailout becomes the only option when things get bad enough.
Fourth, pension system insolvency. Millions of Americans are depending on pension funds that have made promises they may not be able to keep.
Fifth, a regional banking crisis similar to what happened with Silicon Valley Bank in 2023, but potentially larger and more contagious.
Sixth, a collapse in private credit markets, which have grown enormously and remain largely unregulated.
Seventh, structural entitlement expansion including social security increases, Medicare expansion or student loan forgiveness programmes.
Eighth, a major natural disaster requiring emergency federal spending on a large scale.
Ninth, an AI public works programme, which John considers among the most likely near-term triggers as governments scramble to be seen doing something about technological unemployment.
What This Means for Bitcoin
John’s timeline for at least one of these catalysts materialising is somewhere between three and twenty-four months. When it happens, the money printing that follows would dwarf even COVID-era stimulus, and Bitcoin, with its fixed supply of 21 million coins, would be one of the few assets positioned to absorb that wave of new money.
Aave has officially launched Aave V4 on the Ethereum mainnet after more than two years of development. The latest upgrade introduces a redesigned structure aimed at improving liquidity use, expanding credit markets, and supporting more advanced lending models.
The rollout follows a cautious approach, with limited assets and conservative parameters during the early phase.
Aave V4 Launch on Ethereum
According to the official announcement, Aave V4 introduces a modular “Hub-and-Spoke” architecture that separates liquidity from risk-specific lending environments.
The hub acts as a central liquidity pool, while individual spokes operate as independent markets with their own risk settings.
This structure allows different lending markets to access shared liquidity without affecting the entire protocol. It also enables more precise risk pricing and supports flexible borrowing environments. The upgrade is designed to improve capital efficiency while maintaining strong risk controls during the early rollout phase.
Aave V4 Expands Into Structured and Real-World Credit Markets
With this flexibility, Aave aims to expand into broader credit markets. The architecture allows different financial products to operate independently while still drawing liquidity from the same core pools.
“The future of DeFi is that native assets and use cases will keep growing, and Aave is going to be a leader there,
Aave Labs CEO Stani Kulechov also said that the launch will follow a cautious approach. The team plans to gradually expand supported assets and features after monitoring performance and stability in the early stages.
“We’re aiming for sort of a controlled launch.” “That’s how we always deployed the Aave v3, Aave v2, and v1, in a very controlled training wheels manner.”
Aave Maintains Dominance in DeFi Lending Market
Aave continues to hold a strong position in the DeFi lending sector. The protocol’s total value locked stands around $23.8 billion as of late March 2026. This significantly surpasses competitors, including Compound, which holds roughly $2 billion in TVL.
The platform currently controls an estimated 60% to 67% share of the DeFi lending market. This dominance reflects consistent user activity, deep liquidity, and growing adoption of Aave’s lending infrastructure.
AAVE Price Remains Struggling
Despite the major upgrade, AAVE’s token price has remained relatively stable. The token is currently trading near $97.45, showing modest gains in the past 24 hours.
Price action suggests AAVE is closely tracking broader market movement, particularly Bitcoin. As long as the overall crypto market remains cautious, the token may continue trading within a narrow range.
Shiba Inu (SHIB) is showing early signs of recovery as the broader crypto market stabilizes, with the price rebounding from recent lows and reclaiming the $0.000006 level. The renewed momentum has sparked optimism among traders, but the rally remains incomplete as SHIB approaches a crucial resistance zone. With the price now testing key levels, the focus shifts to whether the bulls can sustain the momentum and push the SHIB price toward the psychological milestone of $0.00001.
Rising Activity, But Where’s the Price Reaction?
On-chain data adds another layer to the current outlook. Active addresses have been steadily rising throughout the month, indicating increased network activity and growing participation. However, this surge in activity has not translated into a meaningful price expansion, with SHIB continuing to trade within a narrow range.
This divergence suggests that while interest in the token is increasing, the underlying buying pressure remains relatively weak. In simple terms, participation is rising—but conviction is still lacking. Until stronger demand enters the market, the price may struggle to break above key resistance levels.
Shiba Inu (SHIB) Price Analysis
Shiba Inu is currently trading within a recovery phase after bouncing from the $0.0000053 support zone, which has acted as a strong base in recent sessions. The price structure suggests a gradual shift in momentum, with higher lows forming, indicating growing bullish interest. However, the upside remains capped by a key resistance zone near $0.00000625, which has consistently acted as a barrier, preventing further bullish continuation.
From a technical standpoint, momentum indicators are showing early signs of improvement. The RSI has climbed above the midline, signaling a shift toward bullish territory, while the CMF is stabilizing—suggesting that capital outflows are slowing and buying pressure may be gradually returning.
That said, the current setup remains a breakout attempt rather than confirmation. As long as SHIB trades below $0.00000625, the price is likely to remain range-bound with limited upside expansion. A confirmed breakout above this range could open the doors for a move toward $0.000007, followed by a broader attempt to reclaim $0.00001.
What’s Next for SHIB Price Rally?
The Shiba Inu price is approaching a key decision point, with improving momentum and rising on-chain activity hinting at a potential breakout. However, the lack of strong price reaction despite increasing participation raises concerns about the strength of underlying demand.
The current setup presents two possible scenarios for traders: If SHIB breaks and holds above $0.00000625, it could trigger a move toward $0.000007, with further upside potential building toward $0.00001 in the coming sessions. Failure to clear resistance could keep SHIB locked in a consolidation phase, with the price likely to hover between $0.0000053 and $0.00000625.
A sustained move above $0.00000625 will be crucial to confirm the bullish outlook. Until then, SHIB remains in a range-bound phase, with the next breakout dependent on whether rising interest can translate into real buying pressure.
Ahead of the November midterm elections, backers are lining up behind a new hybrid political action committee that allows contributions directly to candidates.
For the first time in 13 weeks, the biggest public Bitcoin treasury company skipped a weekly purchase of the cryptocurrency without any word from Michael Saylor.
The platform aims to help businesses issue stablecoin-funded cards is aimed at using digital dollar balances at the point of sale using existing card networks.
BitGo broadens its Canton Coin offering beyond custody, reflecting efforts to build end-to-end infrastructure as tokenized assets move closer to real-world use cases.
JetStor today announced the successful deployment of an 80 PB high-density archive for a government agency - one of its largest on-premises archive deployments of its kind in the public sector. Designed to meet rigorous security demands for long-term data retention, JetStor's POD-based architecture was paired with WD Ultrastar 26 TB enterprise-class hard drives to deliver a secure, high-density cost-efficient storage foundation built for long-term data retention at scale.
Public-sector IT teams face a distinct challenge at this scale: growing storage capacity economically without disrupting active production networks or retraining operations staff. JetStor addressed this by standardizing the entire deployment into repeatable POD building blocks—each anchored by WD Ultrastar DC HC590 26 TB SAS 7200RPM drives—across 132 JetStor XS3324D 4U 24-bay systems and 3,200 drives total. The result is a dual Fibre Channel fabric architecture that supports seamless expansion while keeping infrastructure management straightforward and predictable from day one.
The malware at the center of it, dubbed Omnistealer by investigators, uses public blockchains not just for payments, but as part of the delivery system itself. Once running, it digs through a victim's machine and pulls out almost everything of value.
Vine Coin (VINE) has surged 86% on renewed “AI Vine” speculation tied to Elon Musk, with volume spiking and the meme coin still trading in overbought territory. Vine Coin’s (VINE) price has roared back into focus after a fresh wave…
Ontology’s ONT jumps over 20% as traders bet its decentralized identity stack could benefit from the EU’s eIDAS 2.0 rollout of digital ID wallets to 450M citizens. Ontology’s (ONT) price has rallied more than 20% in the last 24 hours,…
C Dance 2.0 is an AI video generator powered by Seedance 2.0. It lets you create text-to-video, image-to-video, and video-to-video content with smooth, stable motion, precise creative control, and native audio-video sync. You can choose aspect ratios and durations, add sound effects, and iterate quickly with instant variations. Creators use it for cinematic scenes, ads, product demos, and short-form content, with flexible pay-as-you-go or annual credit plans.
pdfzus is a simple web app for merging, sorting, and compressing PDF files directly in the browser. It is designed for people who want to prepare clean PDF documents without complicated software, forced sign-ups, or cluttered workflows. Many users only need to combine a few files, arrange them in the right order, and send the final document. pdfzus focuses on doing that part well, working especially well for applications, office documents, email attachments, and other everyday PDF tasks while keeping files on the user’s device for a more privacy-friendly experience.
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has named Tim Klauda as senior vice president, customer experience, effective March 30, 2026. Working in a newly created role, he will lead the evolution of the guest experience across the fleet, reporting to Ernesto Fara, president and CEO. According to a press release, Klauda brings more than two decades of leadership positions at the intersection of product, design and guest experience. Most recently, he served as vice president of global products at McDonald’s, working at advancing crew experience...
Travel Turmoil Strikes Quaqtaq Airport as Air Inuit Cancels 4 Flights, Impacting Passengers in Quebec, Kangirsuk, and PuvirnituqQuaqtaq Airport sees...
YouTube is finally available on Android Auto, but it doesn’t work the way you might think. You can’t watch videos like on your phone, and there are some important limits to know about.
The main reason behind the limitation is safety. Watching videos while driving is dangerous, so Android Auto restricts apps that could distract drivers. Until now, many people have used third-party apps like CarStream or Fermata Auto to try to play YouTube videos in their car, but it was tricky to get it working.
With the official YouTube app on Android Auto, you can play, pause, and skip videos, but only the audio will play. It means that YouTube works more like a music or podcast app rather than a video app. This makes it useful if you want to listen to podcasts, news, or music from YouTube while driving.
Image via Reddit
There are other limits too. You can’t skip to a specific point in a video, but the skip button only moves to the next video. You also can’t browse YouTube on the car screen, which is expected because Android Auto focuses on keeping drivers safe.
Notably, YouTube on Android Auto needs background playback, which means you must have a YouTube Premium subscription. Free users won’t be able to use it. The cheapest plan, Premium Lite, costs $7.99 per month in the US, while the full Premium plan costs $13.99 per month.
YouTube on Android Auto is mainly for listening to audio content while driving. It’s not for watching videos, and it needs a paid subscription. If you mostly use YouTube for podcasts or music, this update could be helpful.
If you’re a fan of big dive watches, Citizen’s newest limited-edition Promaster might be exactly what you’ve been waiting for. At 44mm, it has a prominent wrist presence, and its iridescent dial reflects light in vivid aquatic shades. Following its release in Canada and China, the watch is now officially available in the US for $495 starting today.
Several users of a Google Pixel 10 Pro (XL) have reported that the flagship smartphone's LED flashlight can quickly lead to burns and even cause damage itself if the flashlight is not deactivated in time.
Lenovo has released a new Intel Panther Lake-based convertible laptop. Available in the US and a few other markets, the IdeaPad 5i 2-in-1 (15IPH11) can be configured with up to 32 GB of RAM and a 165 Hz OLED display that peaks at 1,100 nits in HDR mode.
Lenovo has started selling a new 15-inch laptop featuring an optional 165 Hz OLED display. Also powered by the AMD Gorgon Point platform, the IdeaPad 5a 2-in-1 (15AGP11) can be configured with up to 32 GB of RAM. The new 2-in-1 has reached North America and Australia so far.
The Taalas HC1 is a new chip – essentially a processor – specifically designed to accelerate a single AI model. The rise of such specialized chips isn’t an entirely new phenomenon and has already been seen in crypto mining.
The HMD Luma is the only smartphone from the brand to launch in 2026 so far, but we may soon see a new addition to the India-exclusive Crest lineup. X user @smashx_60 shared an official-looking render and key specs for the upcoming HMD Crest 2 Pro.
HMD Crest 2 Pro
The device reportedly features a 6.78-inch Super AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. We can spot a punch-hole cutout up top, which is said to house a 50MP front-facing camera. The device will reportedly feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 chipset and the largest battery ever fitted on an HMD...
Researchers propose a drone-based system that supports mobile networks by improving coverage, reducing delays, and maintaining fresher data during congestion or outages.
Amazon's Spring Sale features stunningly low prices on best-selling tech devices that you'd think it was Black Friday - these are my 55 favorite deals on TVs, smart home, Apple, and more.
Among the premium features on Instagram is the ability to view a Story without the poster seeing that you viewed it and the option to see how many people have rewatched your Story.
Google removed a Search Engine Land article (Report: Clickout Media turned news sites into AI gambling hubs, published March 26) from its search results after a copyright complaint (that appears, to us, to be entirely false). Meanwhile, a similar DMCA filing led to the takedown of the original Press Gazette investigation.
What happened. A DMCA notice filed March 27 claimed Search Engine Land copied content “word for word” and used proprietary images.
The complaint led Google to begin removing the article from search results globally.
The notice identified the complainant as “US Webspam,” with no clear public attribution.
The context. The removed article reported that Clickout Media allegedly used expired or acquired domains to publish AI-generated gambling content.
The claim details. Here’s the message we received via Google Search Console on March 27:
Description of claim: The infringing news website has blatantly and willfully violated copyright law by copying our entire content word for word, including all images, which are solely owned by our company. This includes the complete replication of our original written material, as published on our official website, along with the proprietary visuals accompanying it. Despite multiple good-faith efforts to resolve this matter amicably, the infringing party (hereinafter referred to as “Infringer”) continues to unlawfully publish and distribute our copyrighted content without permission. This is a direct and flagrant breach of our rights and a clear violation of Google’s copyright policies. We hereby demand the immediate removal of this infringing material from Google search results to protect our intellectual property.
What doesn’t add up. The Search Engine Land article contains no images, contradicting the complaint. Also:
A search of its text shows no evidence of copied content.
The notice claims “multiple good-faith efforts” to resolve the issue, but no outreach was received before filing.
The complaint was submitted one day after publication.
What Google says. Google’s standard policy is to remove content upon receiving a valid copyright complaint, with an option for publishers to file a counter notice. The company has not commented on this specific case.
Why we care. This shows how DMCA takedowns can be weaponized to suppress reporting, including coverage of search spam and site reputation abuse. Legitimate content can be temporarily removed from search results due to unverified claims, and the resolution can take weeks or longer.
What’s next. We’ll watch whether this article is DMCA’d and removed, along with the Press Gazette’s, and anyone else covering the story.
Reactions. Here’s some reaction from X:
theholycoins isn’t owned by clickout (it’s one of the sites that would actually do negative reporting into their scams, so they probably picked one of those posts and said they were them/the original author of your dmca’d piece)
the rabbit hole on clickout goes a lot deeper than…
I'm surprised this was approved by Google… I've seen them come back with rejected DMCA notices when it was clear the site was infringing copyright. This is a BS DMCA takedown that doesn't even make sense. Very interesting case… I have a feeling the article will surface again… https://t.co/Zi8hUV8g14
Last week @pressgazette published an investigative report about a media company that acquires online publishers and exploits their domain authority for SEO shenanigans.
Microsoft Advertising now allows e-commerce merchants to edit their Merchant Center store name and domain directly within the platform — no support ticket required.
Why we care. Store details like names and URLs change as businesses rebrand or restructure. Previously, updating these required manual intervention. Self-serve control reduces friction and keeps campaigns running more smoothly during transitions.
How it works — the details:
Store name changes go through editorial review before going live. During review, ads keep running under the existing approved name — so there’s no interruption to campaigns.
Domain/URL changes require merchants to verify ownership of the new domain before the switch takes effect. Ads continue serving on the old domain in the meantime. Once approved, product URLs must be updated to reflect the new domain.
Reusing names or domains is allowed — as long as the store name clears editorial checks and the domain is verified and confirmed as merchant-owned.
The bottom line. The update gives ecommerce advertisers more autonomy over their store settings while building in safeguards — editorial review and domain verification — to prevent abuse and maintain ad quality.
Reddit today opened its Pro publishing tools to all publishers, removing the waitlist and offering free access in a public beta to expand distribution and engagement.
Why we care. Reddit Pro gives you a centralized tool to track where your content spreads, streamline posting, and find the right communities. It transforms Reddit from a manual posting exercise into a structured distribution channel.
The details. You can now sign up for Reddit Pro, verify your domain (typically within three business days), and access the Links tab. With Reddit Pro, you can:
Track where your content is shared across Reddit.
Auto-import articles via RSS for quick posting.
Get AI-powered recommendations on relevant communities.
Reddit also added features based on early feedback:
Community snapshots show rules, stats, and top discussions.
Community notes let you track strategy and context.
By the numbers. Reddit reported more than 55 billion views of publisher-related conversations in 2025. Publishers testing since September saw:
Median post views up 46%.
Profile views nearly doubled.
Median comments up 48%.
What else. Reddit is expanding profile flairs to all Pro users, letting you organize posts on your profile so users can browse coverage and engage with stories.
After a disappointing performance against Mauritania, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed that Lionel Messi will be starting in the game against Zambia next Tuesday.
Lionel Messi came off the bench against Mauritania in a decision that raised questions about the star’s fitness management. Following a disappointing performance in the narrow 2-1 win last Friday, head coach Lionel Scaloni has confirmed that the Argentine icon will start the upcoming friendly against Zambia.
At Monday’s press conference, Scaloni addressed the media in the aftermath of the Mauritania friendly, with his focus already shifting to the clash against Zambia. When asked specifically about Messi, the Albiceleste head coach confirmed that the Inter Miami star will be in the starting lineup.
Scaloni was also asked about his thinking behind the second-half substitutions, offering some clarity on his reasoning: “Regarding the changes, I wanted to give Julian (Alvarez) a bit of a rest. Nico González was coming off an injury as well, so we felt it was best to rest him and give an opportunity to other boys.
“Our idea is always to play with two forwards. It wasn’t necessarily something we wanted to do (the substitutions), but that was the plan,” Scaloni added. Messi entered the game in the second half in place of Nico Paz, alongside Rodrigo De Paul, who replaced Nico Gonzalez, and Franco Mastantuono, who came on for Julian Alvarez. The No. 10 struggled to make an impact in a second half in which Argentina failed to register a single shot on target.
Lionel Messi of Argentina.
Argentina now turn their attention to Tuesday’s clash against Zambia, ranked 91st by FIFA, once again at the Bombonera on March 31. With the Mauritania result leaving a sour taste among fans, Scaloni is ready to go all-out against Zambia, with Messi leading the charge from the start.
Scaloni looks to raise the bar after Mauritania performance
Even without Messi in the starting lineup, Scaloni fielded a team close to his preferred XI against Mauritania, with Marcos Senesi stepping in for the injured Lisandro Martinez and Nico Paz taking on a creative role in the system. The first half was encouraging, with Argentina dominating possession and goals from Enzo Fernandez in the 17th minute and Paz in the 32nd giving the Albiceleste a comfortable cushion.
The second half, however, was a different story, with Argentina’s level dropping off sharply. Emiliano Martinez was called into action three times as Mauritania registered eight shots to Argentina’s one, which was Messi’s blocked attempt. A Lefort goal in the 90th-plus minute made it 2-1 and set up a nervy finish, with the performance drawing widespread criticism and prompting even Martinez himself to offer a self-assessment.
When asked how the players responded to the display, Scaloni said: “It’s a good sign that they believe the match wasn’t good. It’s a sign that the team always competes and that, whether they play well or poorly, they always give the impression of being a cohesive unit—and that was what we failed to do the other day. Besides playing well, these players are intelligent. When that doesn’t happen, they realize it.“
The Argentina boss made clear his hope that the Mauritania display was an isolated episode rather than a cause for deeper concern. “From there, you correct things and move on to a next match that we believe is a good opportunity to get back to where we belong and to evaluate, for the sake of the fans, if it was truly just one match or a symptom of the moment. We hope it was just that one game and that the team shows the face we all know,” he concluded.
Liverpool are pursuing the renewal of Ibrahima Konaté, but the Frenchman does not appear likely to reach an agreement, leaving his future in doubt. In response, the Reds have reportedly set their sights on Maxence Lacroix, competing with Chelsea for his signing.
Throughout the 2025-26 season, Liverpool have continued to pursue a contract extension for Ibrahima Konaté, whose current deal expires at the end of the season. Despite their efforts, the Frenchman has yet to sign the extension, prompting the Reds to look for a replacement. In light of this, Maxence Lacroix has emerged as the clear favorite to bolster the Reds’ defense, competing with Chelsea for his arrival.
According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool remain focused on renewing Ibrahima Konaté. Despite growing interest from Real Madrid and other teams, the Reds remain optimistic, making gradual progress in negotiations with the Frenchman. They have also submitted a lucrative renewal offer, aiming to secure his long-term future. However, they are already looking at Maxence Lacroix as a reliable alternative.
After establishing at Crystal Palace as an undisputed starter, Maxence has attracted attention not only from Liverpool, but also from Chelsea and Aston Villa. Moreover, the Reds will not find it easy to secure his signing, as the Eagles have also lost Marc Guéhi and could be very reluctant to let the Frenchman leave. Because of this, the 25-year-old defender could be involved in a high-value transfer.
Maxence Lacroix has managed to impress with his performances in the Premier League. With his pace and physicality, the Frenchman is already one of the most eye-catching defenders in Europe. With only 25 years old, Liverpool could look to prioritize his signing, as he would be an ideal complement to Virgil van Dijk and compatible with Micky van de Ven and his potential arrival.
Maxence Lacroix of Crystal Palace during the Premier League match.
Not only Lacroix: Liverpool reportedly chase Luka Vuskovic
Due to constant injuries, Liverpool have struggled to perform defensively, lacking depth in rotation. For this reason, they are looking to make several changes, casting doubt over the futures of Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konaté. While Maxence Lacroix emerges as a strong option to reinforce the backline, the Reds are also reportedly considering the arrival of Luka Vušković.
According to BILD, the Reds are closely monitoring Vušković’s development, as he has impressed during his loan spell at Hamburger SV. At just 19 years old, the Croatian is already one of the best young defenders in the world. For that reason, Tottenham Hotspur could demand a significant fee for his transfer as he holds a contract until 2030. However, if the player pushes for a move, Liverpool would be open to signing him, willing to make a significant financial outlay.
Ibrahima Konate of Liverpool and Maxence Lacroix of Crystal Palace.
has named the fight he would most like to see involved in. Before hanging up the gloves, Crawford was viewed as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport, thanks to memorable victories over the likes of Canelo Alvarez and Errol Spence. Following Crawford’s retirement in December, many onlookers are tipping Stevenson to follow […]
The future of currently remains up in the air but that hasn’t stopped an undefeated fighter from calling him out. It’s been over a year since ‘Tank’ was last in action, when he defended his WBA lightweight title in a controversial majority decision draw against Lamont Roach. A planned exhibition with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul was […]
Fenerbahçe'nin efsane ismi Aykut Kocaman, futbol gündemini sarsacak açıklamalarda bulundu. Teknik direktörlük kariyerine dair sessizliğini bozan Aykut Kocaman, dönmek için sadece iki adresi işaret etti: "Ya Fenerbahçe ya da Milli Takım!" Süper Lig'deki puan ortalamalarına da değinen Kocaman, Galatasaray'ın 2.46'lık ortalamasına rağmen "Bu Galatasaray iyi değil" diyerek çarpıcı bir analize imza attı.
Fenerbahçe'de hem futbolcu hem de teknik direktör olarak görev yapmış sarı-lacivertli ekibin efsane isimlerinden Aykut Kocaman, A Spor'da Gündem Özel programında açıklamalarda bulundu.
İŞTE AYKUT KOCAMAN'IN AÇIKLAMALARI
'YA FENERBAHÇE YA MİLLİ TAKIM'
"Yöneticiler, pandemi döneminde seyirci yokken daha hızlı karar vermeye başladılar. Ayrıca çalıştığımız insanlar, personellerin ve oyuncuların ödemesini yapamamaya başladı. Oyunculardan bir şey isterken, yükümlülüklerin yerine getirilmesi gerekiyor. Bunlar da antrenörlükle mesafemi açtı. Oyuncularla hep aram iyi oldu. Ufakça çatışmalar olabiliyor ama belli bir süre sonra hep olması gibi gitti. Başakşehir'de son dönemde oyuncularla ilişkilerde sıkıntılar oldu. Sonra bir karar verdim. Bundan sonra 'Ya Fenerbahçe ya da Milli Takım'da çalışacağım' dedim. Kararıma uygun devam ediyorum. Bunu olursa diye söyledim."
"İstanbulspor eğer TMSF'ye kalmasaydı, hala İstanbulspor'da devam edebilirdim."
"BU GALATASARAY İYİ DEĞİL!"
"Galatasaray'ın ortalaması şu an 2.46! Ki bu Galatasaray iyi değil! Şampiyonluk puanı önceden 75'lerdeydi. Bu rakamlar, artık başka bir ligin oynandığını gösteriyor. Son 4 yıldır böyle."
KOSOVA-TÜRKİYE MAÇI HAKKINDA
"Bu kadar yatırımın, verilen önemin karşılığında 24 sene Dünya Kupası'na gidememek, uzun bir süre. Avrupa şampiyonası, Dünya şampiyonası finallerinde Türkiye'nin tesadüfen olmaması lazım! Hep oralarda olmamız lazım. Olmadığımız zaman tesadüf olmalı. Perşembe gününden itibaren Kosova ve Türkiye bu maça kilitlendi. İki takımın da olumlu ve olumsuz özellikleri söylendi. Daha eklenecek bir şey yok. Daha etkileyici ne olabilir diye düşündüğümde, o gün duyguları yönetmek olacak. Antrenörlüğün de sırrı bu. Dünya Kupası da bir kaç ay sonra başlayacak, duygular öne çıkacak. Kosova'nın kendi evinde oynaması ve saha zeminindeki sıkıntılar... Zeminde problem yaşarsak, maçta bütün dengeler değişebilir. Bunun sonucunda Kosova'da duygusal patlama olabilir. Ciddi istekli bir grup."
MONTELLA HAKKINDA
"Milli Takım'ın şahane bir jenerasyonu var. Hakkını teslim etmek lazım. Vincenzo Montella çok iyi idare ediyor. Küçük zigzaklar içinde eğrisi yukarı doğru diye düşünüyorum. Çok iyi yönetiyor. Milli Takımı izlerken, canla başla oynayan oyuncular gördüğümde çok mutlu oluyorum. Şu an Milli Takımı izlerken bunu yakalıyorum. Bunu yapan teknik direktörün hakkını teslim etmek lazım. İyi yönetiyor bence."
BURAK YILMAZ MI AYKUT KOCAMAN MI?
"Burak Yılmaz mı, ben mi? Vincenzo Montella, beni tercih eder gibi. Aslında şaka yaptım burada (gülerek). Burak Yılmaz'a takılmak için söyledim. Burak Yılmaz'ın kariyeri benim çok çok üstümde. Bunu söylerken de vazgeçtim. Öndeki oyunculardan baskı istiyor Montella. Bu yüzden biraz önceki şakamı geri alıyorum. Maçlarda dolaşan, adam eksiltebilen, kenara gelebilen forvet arıyor."
Fenerbahçe Kulübü, Passolig anlaşmasına ilişkin kamuoyunda yer alan iddialar üzerine bir açıklama yayımladı.
Fenerbahçe Kulübü, son günlerde kamuoyunda yer alan Passolig anlaşmasına ilişkin iddialar üzerine resmi bir açıklama yaptı.
Sarı-lacivertli kulüpten yapılan açıklamada şu ifadeler yer aldı:
"Son günlerde, Kulübümüzün biletleme sistemi anlaşmasına ilişkin kamuoyunda dolaşıma sokulan eksik, çarpıtılmış ve gerçeği yansıtmayan değerlendirmeleri dikkatle takip etmekteyiz.
Kulübümüzün Passolig ile ilk anlaşması 2014 yılında, ikinci anlaşması ise 2019 yılında imzalanmıştır.
Bahsi geçen her iki dönemde de yapılan anlaşmalar kapsamında, Kulübümüz imza bedellerini peşin olarak tahsil etmiştir.
Mevcut sözleşmenin 2024 yılı itibarıyla sona ermesinin ardından Kulübümüz tarafından bu süreçte yeni bir sözleşme imzalanmamış; 2025 yılı içerisinde farklı biletleme sağlayıcılarıyla görüşmeler gerçekleştirilmiş ve yapılan değerlendirmeler sonucunda, Kulübümüzün menfaatlerini en üst düzeyde koruyan ve gelir açısından önemli bir seviyeye ulaşan yeni anlaşma, rekor bir tutarla imzalanmıştır.
Passolig ile yapılan bu anlaşma kapsamında elde edilen gelir, kulübümüzün biletleme süreçlerinin ilgili platform üzerinden yürütülmesine ilişkin iş birliğinin imza bedeli niteliğinde olup; gelecekteki sezonlara, maçlara veya hasılatlara ilişkin gelirlerin önden kullanılması gibi bir durum söz konusu değildir.
iddia edilenlerin tam aksine; yapılan bu yeni anlaşma, tüm şartlarıyla Kulübümüz lehine yeniden yapılandırılarak imzalanmıştır.
Kamuoyunda yer alan iddialarda, Fenerbahçe'nin Passolig anlaşması kapsamında 5 yılda elde edeceği 600.000.000 TL'lik geliri peşin aldığı öne sürülmüştü.
Kulüpten yapılan açıklamaya göre takım kaptanı Ceren Kestirengöz Kapucu, İlayda Uçak, Kayla Haneline, Emine Arıcı, Kara Bajema, Bihter Dumanoğlu Yarkın, Sherridan Atkinson, Nehir Kurtulan, Eda Kafkas, Amelie Rotar ve Lana Scuka ile yollar ayrıldı.
2026 FIFA Dünya Kupası Avrupa Elemeleri play-off finalinde yarın Kosova ile karşılaşacak A Milli Futbol Takımı, mücadelenin oynanacağı başkent Priştine'ye geldi.
Ay-yıldızlı takıma Gençlik ve Spor Bakanı Osman Aşkın Bak, Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu (TFF) Başkanı İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu, TFF Başkan Vekili Mecnun Otyakmaz ve yöneticiler eşlik etti.
Kafilenin kamp yapacağı otele girişi sırasında AA muhabirine açıklamalarda bulunan Mecnun Otyakmaz, çok kritik bir mücadeleye çıkacaklarının altını çizdi.
Kosova halkının A Milli Futbol Takımı'na olan ilgisiyle ilgili de konuşan Otyakmaz, "Ben Sivasspor başkanıyken Gaziantep'e gitmiştik, çok güzel izzet-i ikramda bulunmuşlardı ama maçı kaybetmiştik. Bunların hiçbirinin önemi yok. Kardeşlerimiz inşallah çok güzel bir oyunla gerekeni yapacaklar. Zor bir maç olacak. İşimizi ciddiye alıyoruz. Onlar ne yapacaklarının farkındalar. İnşallah gerekli mücadeleyi gösterip buradan mutlu şekilde ayrılacağız. Kosovalılara da misafirperverliklerinden dolayı teşekkür ediyoruz." ifadelerini kullandı.
Gençlik ve Spor Bakanı Osman Aşkın Bak'ın da kafileyle birlikte Priştine'ye gelmesine değinen Otyakmaz, "Sayın Bakanımız da burada, bu da ayrı bir güç veriyor. Yarın da katılımlar olacak. Burada hep beraber, birlik içinde inşallah arzu ettiğimiz sonucu alacağız." diye konuştu.
A Milli Takım Teknik Direktörü Vincenzo Montella ve kaptan Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Kosova maçı öncesi düzenlenen basın toplantısında dikkat çeken açıklamalarda bulundu.
Karşılaşmanın oynanacağı Fadil Vokrri Stadı'nda düzenlenen basın toplantısında açıklamalarda bulunan Hakan Çalhanoğlu, şu ifadeleri kullandı:
"Küçüklükten bu yana hayal ettiğimiz dünya kupası... 2002’de ağabeylerimiz başardı, bizi gururlandırdılar. Biz onlarla büyüdük, onlarla hayal kurduk ve şimdi ben yarın sahaya çıkacağım. Bizim sadece bir maçımız kaldı, çok yakınız, 90 dakikamız var. Önceliğimiz her zaman ülkemizi en iyi şekilde temsil etmek, milletimizi gururlandırmak. Hocamızla 2,5 yıldır beraber çalışıyoruz, önemli adımlar attık. Takımın havası çok iyi, motivasyonumuz yüksek. Ayrıca baskıyı da hissediyoruz, heyecanlıyız ama güzel bir heyecan. Tek hedefimiz dünya kupasına katılmak, bu başarıyı elde etmek. Aslında benim kaptan olarak tek isteğim şu, inşallah dünya kupasına katılırsak, 2002'de oynamış olan ağabeylerimizi de aramızda görmek istiyorum. Tugay, İlhan, Yıldıray, Alpay ağabey, Bülent Korkmaz... onlarla beraber ABD'ye gitmek istiyorum. Tarkan Ağabey'in güzel bir şarkısı var "Bir oluruz yolunda" diye, bir olursak daha güzel tablo ortaya çıkar. Bizim milli takımımızda gördüğüm eksik, eski başarılı futbolcular uzakta ama onları davet etmek, aramızda görmek istiyorum. Bizim onlara ihtiyacımız var, onların tecrübesi bizim için çok önemli. Güzel bir tablo olur diye düşünüyorum."
Türkiye'nin Kosova ile oynadığı ilk maçta da forma giydiğini belirten Hakan, "Kosova milli takımı artık güçlü, kaliteli oyunculara sahip, takdir etmek gerekiyor. Buralara gelmelerinin sebebi iyi bir organizasyon olduğunu gösteriyor. Hocaları da iyi, kaliteli oyuncuları var, tanıdığım Vedat var, Como'da oynayan oyuncuları var. Arnavutça kelimeler biliyorum ama sandığınız kelimeler değil. O yüzden söylemeyeyim. Kosovalı çok yakın çevrem var hepsini çok seviyorum. Güzel sohbetlerimiz oluyor. Birbirimize saygı ve sevgi çerçevesinde olan sohbetler oluyor. O yüzden en iyisi bir kelime söylemeyeyim. Sadece bir oyuncu değil, birçok tehlikeli oyuncuları var. Çok iyi geçiş yapan, kontraatağa çıkan bir takım. Fisnik Asllani tehlikeli, Vedat zaten kale önünde ve duran toplarda tehlikeli, Kenan ile birlikte Juventus'ta oynayan oyuncu kaliteli. Hepsi iyi oyuncu." değerlendirmesinde bulundu.
"Hiçbir zaman sorunumuz olmadı"
Hakan, iki gün önce antrenmanda takımdan ayrı koşu çalışması yaptığının hatırlatılması ve takımdaki havanın sorulması üzerine şöyle konuştu:
"Durumum gayet iyi, son maçta ayağıma kramp girdi, hiçbir sorun olmadı, hocanın değiştirmesini istedim. Şu an iyiyim, idman iyi geçti. Yarın için hazırım inşallah. Takımın motivasyonu, neşesi her şey güzel. Bazen kışkırtmaya çalışan kişiler var ama hiçbir zaman böyle bir şey olmadı. Siz de yakından takip ediyorsunuz. Tek amacımız dünya kupasına gitmek, başka bir hedefimiz, düşüncemiz yok. Birbirimize nasıl sevgi ve saygıyla yaklaştığımızı görüyorsunuz. Bazen dışarıdan gelen art niyetli şeyler hoş değil ama biz bunları da aştık. Geçen sene Avrupa Şampiyonası'nı da yaşadık hiç öyle olmadığını da gösterdik. Aramızda olan bu bağ, bizi birbirimizden koparmaya çalışanlar istediği kadar uğraşabilir hiçbir zaman başarılı olamayacaklar. Birbirimizi gerçekten çok seviyoruz. Buraya gelmek için can atıyoruz. Merih sakat geldi, gelmeyebilirdi ama burayı çok özlüyoruz. Yarın oynayan ya da oynamayan herkes hocanın kararlarına saygı duyuyor. Hiçbir zaman sorunumuz olmadı."
"Bu benim kesinlikle kariyer maçım"
Kaptan Hakan, "Yarınki maç kariyerinin en önemli maçı mı olacak?" sorusuna, "Bu benim kesinlikle kariyer maçım. Milli takımı seçtiğimde bu hayalleri kurmuştum. Çok yakınım, inşallah nasip olur. Bunun için çok çalıştık, çok uğraştık tırnaklarımızla kazıyarak geldik, kimse bunu hediye etmedi. Son bir maçımız kaldı, elimizden gelen her şeyi yapacağız, ülkemizi en iyi şekilde temsil etmek istiyoruz. İnşallah bunu başarırız. Bunu hak ettiğimizi düşünüyorum. Zor yollardan geldik, son 2,5 yıl iyi geçti, bu takımın hak ettiğini düşünüyorum. İnşallah yarın başaracağız." yanıtını verdi.
Hakan Çalhanoğlu, yurt dışında büyüyen Türk oyuncuların milli takım tercihleri hakkında ise, "Herkesin düşüncesine saygı duyarım, Almanya'da doğup büyüdüm. Tüm kulüplerime minnettarım, onların sayesinde Hakan Çalhanoğlu oldum. Her zaman şunu söylüyorum, kalbinizin sesini dinleyin, ne olursa olsun. Gelecekteki Türk gurbetçiler de inşallah ülkemizi seçerler. Benden sonra Orkun, Kenan, Can geldi. Bu güzel bir örnek. Çünkü biz 80 milyonluk ülkeyiz, yetenekli oyunculara sahibiz." ifadelerini kullandı.
Hakan son olarak, "TFF Başkanının "Romanya, Kosova, Slovakya'yı yenemezsek Dünya Kupası'na katılmayalım' açıklaması oldu. Bu sizde ekstra bir baskı oluşturuyor mu?" sorusunu, "Herkesin bakış açısı farklıdır. Futbolcu gözüyle bakıyorum, hiçbir rakibi hayatım boyunca küçümsemedim. En büyük örnek Şampiyonlar Ligi’nde Bodo Glimt’e elendik, o yüzden hiçbir rakibi küçümsemiyorum. Başkanın bakış açısı farklıdır. Hedefimiz Dünya Kupası'na katılmak, son bir maçımız kaldı, son bir 90 dakika. Gerekli analizleri yaptık, yarın sadece kalite değil, kalbini daha çok ortaya koyan kazanacak. Biz de bunun farkındayız, elimizden gelen her şeyi yapacağız, hazırız." şeklinde yanıtladı.
Bu gün Azərbaycan Basketbol Liqasında (ABL) müntəzəm mövsümün sonuncu – 20-ci turunun növbəti oyunu keçirilib.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, üçüncü oyun günündə də bir qarşılaşma baş tutub.
Günün yeganə matçında A qrupunda yer alan komandalar – “Neftçi” ilə NTD üz-üzə gəliblər. Bakı İdman Sarayında baş tutmuş qarşılaşma “ağ-qaralar”ın 93:83 hesablı qələbəsi ilə bitib.
A qrupunda 20-ci tura martın 31-də yekun vurulacaq.
A qrupu: Sabah – 37. Abşeron Lions – 36. Neftçi – 30. Gəncə – 29. NTD – 23. Şəki – 22.
Xatırladaq ki, ABL oyunları dörd dövrədən və 20 turdan ibarət olacaq. Müntəzəm mövsümün oyunları A və B qruplarına bölünməklə keçirilir. Müntəzəm mövsümdə A qrupunu ilk 3 sırada tamamlamış klublarla yanaşı, B qrupunu lider bitirmiş komanda pley-offun 1/4 final mərhələsinə vəsiqə qazanacaq. A və B qruplarında digər yerləri tutmuş komandalar isə pley-offun 1/8 final mərhələsində üz-üzə gələcəklər. Bu mərhələdə ən tez iki qələbə qazanacaq klublar 1/4 finala yüksələcəklər. Həm 1/4 final, həm də yarımfinal seriyaları 2 qələbəyə qədər davam edəcək.
Final seriyasında isə ən tez 3 qələbə qazanacaq klub Azərbaycan Basketbol Liqasının çempionu olacaq.
Futbol üzrə Azərbaycan millisi bu gün ölkəmizdə keçirilən “FIFA Series-2026” beynəlxalq turniri çərçivəsində son oyununa çıxıb.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, Ayxan Abbasovun rəhbərlik etdiyi millimiz turnirdəki ikinci matçında Syerra Leone yığması ilə qarşılaşıb.
Sumqayıtda keçirilmiş görüşü Özbəkistandan olan hakimlər briqadası idarə edib.
Xatırladaq ki, millimiz bu turnirdəki ilk oyununda Sent Lüsiya yığması ilə qarşılaşmışdı. Eyni məkanda baş tutmuş görüşdə komandamız 6:1 hesablı qələbəyə sevinmişdi.
Syerra Leone yığması isə bu turnirdə ilk görüşünü keçirib. Çünki Oman yığması Bakıya gəlməkdən imtina etdiyi üçün, Afrika təmsilçisinin martın 27-də keçirilməli olan ilk görüşü baş tutmamışdı.
Bu dəfəki görüşün əsas vaxtında qalib müəyyənləşməyib. Bu üzdən penaltilər seriyasına ehtiyac duyulub. 11 metrlik zərbələrini daha dəqiq yerinə yetirmiş Azərbaycan millisi beynəlxalq turnirin qalibi olub.
Oyundan sonra mükafatlandırma mərasimi təşkil edilib. Turnirdə 3-cü yeri tutan Sent Lüsiya bürünc, 2-ci pillənin sahibi Syerra Leone gümüş medallarla təltif olunub. “FIFA Series – 2026” beynəlxalq turnirinin qalibi Azərbaycan millisinə isə qızıl medallar və kubok təqdim edilib. Həmçinin millimizin müdafiəçisi Elvin Cəfərquliyev turnirin ən yaxşı futbolçusu mükafatına layiq görülüb.
Mükafatlandırma mərasimində AFFA-nın baş katibi Cahangir Fərəcullayev, icraçı vitse-prezidenti Sərxan Hacıyev, Syerra Leone Futbol Assosiasiyasının vitse-prezidenti Alie Badara Taravali və Sent Lüsiya Futbol Assosiasiyasının vitse-prezidenti Valdes Ceyms iştirak ediblər.
FİFA Series-2026
30 mart
Azərbaycan – Syerra Leone 1:1 (penaltilər 9:8) Qollar: Rahil Məmmədov, 72 – Daniel Kanu, 28. Baş hakim: Asker Nacafaliyev Baş hakimin köməkçiləri: İslom Azimov, Baxtiyorxuca Şavkatov Dördüncü hakim: Axrol Ruskullayev (Hakimlər briqadası Özbəkistandandır). Mehdi Hüseynzadə adına Sumqayıt şəhər stadionu.
Azərbaycan: 12. Aydın Bayramov, 3. Elvin Cəfərquliyev, 5. Anton Krivotsyuk, 8. Emin Mahmudov (k), 9. Renat Dadaşov, 10. Aleksey İsayev, 13. Emil Səfərov, 14. Elvin Bədəlov, 15. Bədavi Hüseynov, 21. Qismət Alıyev, 22. Musa Qurbanlı. Ehtiyat oyunçular: 1. Səlahət Ağayev, 23. Rza Cəfərov, 2. Rəhman Daşdəmirov, 4. Rahil Məmmədov, 6. Abdulla Xaybullayev, 7. Toral Bayramov, 11. Xəyal Əliyev, 16. Anatoli Nuriyev, 17. Vüsal İsgəndərli, 18. Cəlal Hüseynov, 19. Rüstəm Əhmədzadə, 20. Rəhim Sadıxov, 24. Rüfət Əhmədzadə, 25. Rzayev, 26. Ayxan Hüseynov. Baş məşqçi: Ayxan Abbasov.
Kişi voleybolçular arasında təşkil edilmiş Azərbaycan çempionatında (Yüksək Liqa) bu gün ilkin mərhələyə yekun vurulub.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, Fövqəladə Hallar Nazirliyinin idman zalında sonuncu – 20-ci tur çərçivəsində “Ordu” – “Gənclər”, “Neftçi” – “Azərreyl” və “Murov” – “Xilasedici” qarşılaşmaları baş tutub.
Gərgin və maraqlı keçən bu oyunlarda “Ordu” (3:2), “Azərreyl” (3:2) və “Xilasedici” (3:0) komandaları qələbə qazanıblar.
Beləliklə, 20 turun yekununda turnir cədvəlinin ilk dörd pilləsində qərarlaşmış “Xilasedici”, “Neftçi”, “Ordu” və “Murov” komandaları yarımfinala yüksəliblər.
Reqlamentə əsasən, yarımfinal iki oyundan (ev və səfər) ibarət olacaq. İki qarşılaşmadan sonra komandaların qələbələri bərabər olarsa, qalibi müəyyən etmək üçün qızıl set oynanılacaq. Bürünc və qızıl medal uğrunda isə bir oyun olacaq.
Qeyd edək ki, yarımfinal oyunları aprelin 7-də start götürəcək.
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Trabzonspor, Trendyol Süper Lig'in 28. haftasında 4 Nisan Cumartesi günü sahasında Galatasaray ile yapacağı maçın hazırlıklarını sürdürdü.Devamı için tıklayınız
2026 FIFA Dünya Kupası Avrupa Elemeleri play-off finalinde deplasmanda Kosova ile karşılaşacak A Milli Futbol Takımımız, Fadil Vokrri Stadı'nda yürüyüş yaptı.Devamı için tıklayınız
“FIFA Series-2026” turnirinin finalında keçirilən Azərbaycan – Syerra-Leone oyunundan (1:1, penaltilər 9:8) sonra millinin baş məşqçisi Ayxan Abbasov jurnalistlərin suallarını cavablandırdı.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, mütəxəssis əvvəlcə görüşlə bağlı fikirlərini bölüşdü:
– Azarkeşlərə təşəkkür edirəm. Bizə dəstək oldular. Oyunların fərqli olacağını bilirdik. İlk hissədə səhvlər etdik, hücumda aqressivlik çatmadı. Rəqib bizi əks-hücumda yaxaladı və fərqləndi. İkinci hissədə yaxşı müdafiə olunub, hücumların effektivliyini artırmalıydıq. Sonda hesabı bərabərləşdirdik. Penaltilər seriyası maraqlı alındı. Turnirdə qalib olduğumuz üçün sevincliyik. Bu oyun bizə siqnallar verdi. Rəqiblər güclü olduqca biz də artırmalıyıq. Gələcək oyunlara baxacağıq. Qarşıda iki yoxlama oyunu olacaq. Bununla Millətlər Liqasına hazır olmağa çalışacağıq.
– İlk dəfə çempion olduq, ilk dəfə penaltilərdə qələbə qazandıq. İlk penalti təcrübəniz haqda fikirlərinizi bilmək istəyirdim…
– İlk deyil. Kubokda “Sumqayıt”da işlədiyim vaxt “Qarabağ”ı penaltilər seriyasında keçmişdik. Futbolçular məşqlərdə penaltiləri yoxlayırdılar. Bugünkü seriya da bir təcrübədir. Bu oyun milli üçün faydalı olacaq.
– Bu turnir milliyə hansı təcrübəni qazandırdı?
– FIFA-nın turniridir. Rəqiblərimizdən Lixtenşteyn də burda mübarizə aparırdı. Onların qrupunda daha zəif komandalar var idi və elə zəif olan qalib oldu. Bu toplanışda millidə yeni adlar oldu, sınaqdan keçdi. Bəlli sistem üzərində çalışırıq. İnşallah, xeyrini görəcəyik.
– İki oyundan sonra Millətlər Liqası üçün optimal heyəti təxminən formalaşdımı?
– Müəyyən fikirlər yaranır. Turnirə hələ var. Zədələr həmin vaxt işimizi çətinə sala bilər.
– Litva və Lixtenşteyn yığmasını izləmisinizmi?
– İki komandanı da təhlil edirik. Litva möhkəm komandadır. Evlərində çox yaxşı çıxış edirlər. Məncə, onlarla şanslar bərabərdir. Çalışacağıq ki, maksimum nəticə əldə edək.
– Bu oyundan aldığınız siqnallar hansılardır?
– İki oyunda da sonradan meydana daxil olan futbolçu oyunu dəyişdi. Ruhdan düşmürlər, çox istəklidirlər. Millidə rəqabət olduğu hiss edildi. Bu, gələcək üçün təkan verəcək. Bir çox futbolçunu yaxından izlədik. İnanıram ki, bizi təəccübləndirən yeni oyunçular da olacaq.
– Sadiq Baqıyev var Rusiyada. “Torpedo”da ən yaxşı futbolçu seçildi bu yaxınlarda. Tək o deyil, digər oyunçulardan da izlədikləriniz varmı? Bəyəndiyiniz futbolçu olsa, dərhal pasport məsələsi həll oluna bilər?
– Bəyəndiyimiz olsa, problem olmaz. U-21 yığma komandamıza da namizəd futbolçular izlənilir. Sadiq Baqıyevi U-21 yığmasına çağırdıq. Lakin bəzi məsələlər oldu, legioner statusu ala bilərdi deyə, imtina etdi. Biz də istəyirik ki, burda oynamaq istəyənlərə kömək edək.
Azərbaycan yığması “FIFA Series-2026” turnirinin qalibi olub. Milli həlledici görüşdə Syerra Leoneni məğlub edib – 1:1, penaltilər 9:8.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, görüşdən sonra AFFA-nın baş katibi Cahangir Fərəcullayev “CBC Sport”a fikirlərini bölüşüb:
“Hər kəsi təbrik edirəm. Qələbəni kiçiltmək lazım deyil. Uşaqlar iki oyunda yaxşı mübarizə apardı, layiqli qələbə qazandı. Hesabda geri düşməyimizə baxmayaraq, sona qədər mübarizə apardıq, penaltilərdə qələbə qazandıq. Bu, bizim üçün vacibdir.
Rəqiblər haqda deyilə bilər ki, tanınmır. Amma bu, bizim üçün yolun başlanğıcıdır. Davamı gəlsin”.
Gennaro Gattuso assures Italy ‘see no difference between Wales and Bosnia’ with high praise for ‘good friend’ Edin Dzeko, as he sees some poker mind games for the World Cup play-off.
It kicks off at the Stadion Bilino Polje in Zenica on Tuesday at 19.45 UK time and a winner will be decided after 90 minutes, extra time or even a penalty shoot-out.
Their original plan had been to fly in earlier, but the state of the pitch amid rain and snow prompted them to have today’s training session in Italy instead, not arriving in Zenica until this evening.
Gattuso not underestimating Bosnia
UDINE, ITALY – OCTOBER 14: Gennaro Gattuso, Head Coach of Italy, looks on prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Israel at Stadio Friuli on October 14, 2025 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
“Personally, I feel the tingle of tension, there’s nothing better than that. If you don’t feel it, then you have to hang your boots up, or as a coach just go home. We know there is a lot at stake, we’re well aware that Italy have not participated in the last two World Cups, but we also must reserve all that energy for the pitch tomorrow and not waste it beforehand.”
Gattuso was already part of the 2006 squad that won the World Cup and had an entire nation celebrating, so now he can provide a different type of gift to the country by qualifying as a coach.
“I do feel great responsibility from the first day I took the Nazionale job, but I cannot think about what happens if there’s something positive or negative. I have to look into my players’ eyes and give them confidence. That’s not because I want to gift them something, but because I believe we can achieve this target.
“In the last seven months, the team has improved a great deal. We might not be particularly pretty, but that’s fine. Our history says that with mentality, hunger, and the ability to suffer through difficulty, so many of us were able to achieve amazing and entirely unexpected things wearing this shirt. So that is something we cannot do without.”
MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 16: Gennaro Gattuso, Head Coach of Italy, issues instructions during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Norway at San Siro Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
It is widely reported that Gattuso is not planning on making any changes to the starting XI that played against Northern Ireland, despite calls for Francesco Pio Esposito and Marco Palestra to step in for Mateo Retegui and Matteo Politano.
That was a slog until Sandro Tonali broke the deadlock, then he provided the assist for Moise Kean to make it 2-0.
“I was speaking to my staff and we knew there could be difficulties. I say thank goodness Northern Ireland tried to pass it around more, because if they had just done the usual and pumped balls into the box, we could’ve struggled more,” replied Gattuso.
“Tomorrow will be a different type of game, as Bosnia have two very fast wingers with quality, two strikers who move very well to reach balls pulled back from the by-line. We need to have courage on the ball, because Bosnia are a real team who know what they want to do.”
BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Coach Gennaro Gattuso of Italy gesture during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Estonia at Stadio di Bergamo on September 05, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)
“I know Sergej is a great poker player, so I don’t believe this is a team that wants to park the bus. They have a lot of quality and respect their opponents, so we need to do the same.
“Despite what happened the other day, we know the truth of the matter is there isn’t a difference between Wales and Bosnia. That controversy emerged, Federico did very well to comment, but it’s honestly not a cliché to admit this is a tough match and we respect them.”
This was in reference to the clip showing Federico Dimarco, Guglielmo Vicario and other Italy players celebrating when Bosnia beat Wales on penalties, suggesting they preferred not to go to Cardiff for the play-off final.
“I am glad you asked me this question,” replied Gattuso.
“I made many mistakes in life, but when it comes to football, I rarely get it wrong. I was talking to Dzeko for two months last year when I was at Hajduk Split and wanted to sign him from Fenerbahce, but the club didn’t have the resources to agree a deal.
“An incredible rapport still developed, he is light years ahead of so many as a professional, so it’s no fluke that he still gets the ball in the net at age 40 and says things that are not to be taken for granted.
“It’s proof that he is a great champion, a great man, and I am not surprised by any of that. We’ve formed a strong friendship, and I compliment him as a player and a person.”
Finally, does Gattuso have a message for the Italian fans back home?
“I saw that there were 10 million television viewers when we played Northern Ireland, and going around Italy the last few months, I know it’s up to us to give them that joy.”
Gianluigi Donnarumma admits ‘there’s no point saying we don’t feel the tension’ as Italy prepare for the World Cup play-off final with Bosnia. ‘We mustn’t repeat the mistakes against Northern Ireland.’
It kicks off at the Stadion Bilino Polje in Zenica on Tuesday at 19.45 UK time and a winner will be decided after 90 minutes, extra time or even a penalty shoot-out.
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – SEPTEMBER 08: Sandro Tonali of Italy looks on during a Italy training session at Bozsik Stadion on September 08, 2024 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
Bosnia also played that day, needing extra time and a penalty shoot-out to get the better of Wales in Cardiff following a 1-1 draw.
Donnarumma confession as Italy fired up
BERGAMO, ITALY – MARCH 26: Manuel Locatelli, Federico Gatti and Gianluigi Donnarumma of Italy interact after the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Italy and Northern Ireland at Stadio di Bergamo on March 26, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
“We are human beings, there’s no point saying we don’t feel the tension, we all want to do well and go to the World Cup, but it’s the right kind of tension,” assured Donnarumma on Sky Sport Italia.
“We’re ready, we need to do what we prepared in training, focus on what we are capable of, and the rest will come as a consequence.”
The pressure is palpable in the Azzurri camp, as they lost the World Cup play-offs for the tournaments in both 2018 and 2022.
They had been the favourites in both those ties, losing to Sweden and North Macedonia.
MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 16: Gianluigi Donnarumma of Italy warms up prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Norway at San Siro Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
“Everything adds up to valuable experience. We are a young squad, it’s only natural there is some anxiety and the adrenaline is racing, but that’s part of the sport,” added Manchester City goalkeeper Donnarumma.
“Tomorrow is a very important match we need to approach in the right way. We mustn’t repeat the mistakes we made in the first half against Northern Ireland.
“The team is ready and fired up to put in a great performance so we can achieve this target.”
Donnarumma is the captain of the Azzurri squad, as he is the player with by far the most senior caps, despite being still relatively young.
“I am truly proud of everything I’ve done so far with the Nazionale. There has been joy and pain, I missed out on two World Cups, and we want to bring Italy back where it deserves to be.
“Only we know how much we suffered at not getting to the World Cup, so we need to learn from that ugly experience and put it all onto the pitch tomorrow. We want to bring joy to all Italians, but also to ourselves, because I feel we deserve it for all that we’ve been doing.”
Giovanni Di Lorenzo is injured, but he has joined Guglielmo Vicario in flying to Zenica with their Italy teammates for the World Cup play-off against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
It kicks off at the Stadion Bilino Polje in Zenica on Tuesday at 19.45 UK time and a winner will be decided after 90 minutes, extra time or even a penalty shoot-out.
Italy players stick together in crucial play-off
Guglielmo Vicario’s Instagram story on March 23, 2026.
Vicario was spotted in the stands and stayed at the training camp with his teammates for the semi-final 2-0 victory over Northern Ireland last week, despite undergoing surgery only a few days ago.
The Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper wanted to be involved in the process of earning a spot at the 2026 World Cup, and he isn’t the only one.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Inter Miami have opened talks with Casemiro over the possibility of the veteran midfielder moving to Florida after the expiration of his contract with Manchester United this summer. Casemiro has already revealed he would be leaving Old Trafford at the end of the season, and despite some more recent speculation about […]
Kimi Antonelli's rapid rise in Formula 1 continued at Suzuka, where the Mercedes rookie claimed his second consecutive victory in the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix-and, in the process, took over the lead of the Drivers' Championship.
The 19-year-old Italian didn't have the cleanest start to the race, but a combination of strategy, pace, and a timely Safety Car helped swing the result in his favor on one of the calendar's most popular circuits.
Safety Car Turns the Race
The pivotal moment came on lap 22, when Haas driver Oliver Bearman suffered a heavy crash at the high-speed Spoon Curve. While battling with Alpine's Franco Colapinto, Bearman lost control on the grass after experiencing an extreme difference in speed due to Colapinto's car harvesting energy. Bearman's Haas hit the barriers at high speed, triggering a Safety Car.
Fortunately, the British driver was able to exit the car under his own power, although with a heavy limp; he was later taken to the medical center for precautionary checks after the 50g impact with the barriers.
Up front, the timing of the incident proved crucial. Antonelli had yet to make his pit stop, while rivals Oscar Piastri and George Russell had already pitted. The neutralization allowed the Mercedes driver to stop with minimal time loss and rejoin in the lead-a position he would not relinquish.
Image: Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1
Antonelli Capitalizes
Even without the Safety Car, Mercedes believed Antonelli had the pace to challenge for victory. Once in clean air, he had been lapping faster than the early stoppers and building a gap that could have kept him in contention.
After the restart, Antonelli wasted no time asserting control, pulling clear of Piastri and managing the race from the front to secure back-to-back wins.
"It feels pretty good," Antonelli said after the race. "It's too early to think about the championship, but we're on a good path. I had a bad start, but after that the pace was really strong."
The win makes Antonelli the youngest driver ever to lead the Formula 1 championship, opening up a nine-point advantage over teammate Russell.
Image: McLaren Mastercard F1
Piastri Shines as McLaren Recovers
While the result ultimately went Mercedes' way, McLaren showed a marked improvement after a difficult start to the season. Piastri led early and looked capable of controlling the race before the Safety Car shuffled the order.
The Australian held on for second place-his first podium of the year-and suggested that, without the interruption, victory may have been within reach.
"A bit of a shame we didn't get to see how it played out," Piastri said. "But to be disappointed with second is a good place to be."
Image: Scuderia Ferrari HP
Leclerc Takes Third After Fierce Battles
Behind the leading duo, Charles Leclerc completed the podium for Ferrari after a hard-fought race that featured multiple battles with both Russell and teammate Lewis Hamilton.
Russell, who had been in the fight for victory early on, faded to fourth after struggling with energy management issues following the restart. He also lost time during a brief system anomaly that allowed Leclerc to slip past.
The Mercedes driver mounted a late challenge but ultimately couldn't reclaim the podium, finishing just behind the Ferrari.
Midfield and Notable Moments
Further back, Lando Norris recovered from McLaren's earlier struggles to finish fifth, passing Hamilton in the closing laps. The Ferrari driver settled for sixth after a late-race duel between the pair.
Pierre Gasly led the midfield in seventh for Alpine, followed by Max Verstappen in eighth after another difficult outing for Red Bull. Liam Lawson and Esteban Ocon rounded out the top ten.
Image: Red Bull Content Pool
When Is Formula 1's Next Race?
The Japanese Grand Prix now marks the final race before an unexpected pause in the calendar. The next two scheduled rounds in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have been canceled due to America and Israel's war in Iran, leaving teams with a five-week break before the season resumes in Miami.
But after Suzuka, one thing is clear: Formula 1's newest star has arrived-and he's leading the championship.
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During the insanity following Braylon Mullins’ last-second three-pointer that gave UConn a one-point lead over Duke with 0.4 seconds left, something went unnoticed: Huskies’ coach Dan Hurley stepping up to a referee and lightly head-butting him.
Hurley has a reputation as being a wild-card, so this action isn’t exactly out of his wheelhouse, but considering everything going on, the question is this: Did this warrant a technical foul?
Duke broadcasters were already arguing that a technical foul should have been called on UConn player Malachi Smith, who ran to halfcourt to celebrate with Mullins and their teammates following the shot despite the game still being played. We’ve seen a technical foul called for just that, but amid the emotions, it is understandable that a player would do what Smith did.
What Hurley did was a grown adult making contact with an official for no reason whatsoever. The UConn coach is known to push referees to the limit, but this action should have resulted in a technical foul and possibly cost his team the game. Let’s see if there are any repercussions coming forward for Hurley as the Huskies head to the Final Four.
A breath of fresh air for Clemsonbasketball fans, Zac Foster is coming back for another year.
After a freshman season that was cut short by an ACL injury in December, the Clemson guard is set to return to the Tigers, giving Brad Brownell a key piece back in the backcourt heading into next season.
Before the injury, Foster had started to write himself out a real role on the team, appearing in 12 games and averaging 6.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. His ability to create off the dribble flashed early, and now Clemson gets that back with a full offseason to build.
Clemson freshman guard Zac Foster will return to the Tigers, he told @TheFieldof68.
The former top-65 recruit played in 12 games, averaging 6.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg and 2.5 apg before suffering a season-ending ACL tear vs. South Carolina in December. pic.twitter.com/xi2nmfYNwT
Foster is expected to be alongside Ace Buckner next season, giving Clemson a young guard duo with real upside. Two guards who can play on or off the ball with hustle? That makes anyone invested in the future of this program's opinion very validated.
Ace Buckner continues to impress.
His offensive capability is apparent, but what will earn him minutes is his hustle on the defensive side.
Brad Brownell said Buckner is the most competitive on the team, and it shows when he's on the floor.
Coming out of high school, Foster brought a strong résumé with him, and it’s easy to see why Clemson stayed invested in his development. According to 247Sports, Foster was “a multi-talented combo guard in the midst of a clear ascension,” adding that “with skill, feel, good instincts, and still untapped physical tools, his best basketball is very likely still a way in front of him.”
He was a perfect fit as a contemporary combo guard because of "his smooth and skilled" handle and "quick and clean shooting stroke," which allowed him to play both on and off the ball. His length and instincts were evident even on defense; according to 247, he's "a fluid lateral mover who utilizes his length well" and has already made an impression with a high steal rate in high school.
247 pointed out that “the biggest limitation in Foster’s game right now is physical strength,” noting his frame is still filling out, something that affects his ability to finish through contact. But that’s also where the upside comes from.
Foster, a 180-pound, 6'4" four-star guard, was ranked No. 70 total in the class of 2025 and the No. 11 combo guard, per 247Sports. As a senior, he led his team to a 24-4 record, averaged 17.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists, and was named First Team All-State and Region Player of the Year.
Clemson star Avieon Terrell suffers injury setback ahead of NFL draft
Now that the season is over, Foster is back not only as a depth player but also as someone who has the potential to make significant progress. And if he does, along with Buckner, Clemson's backcourt could subtly emerge as one of the ACC's more intriguing units next year.
Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
Denver Nuggets pull away from Warriors with third-quarter turnaround
Denver’s 116–93 win over the Golden State Warriors came off the back of a halftime shift that was easy to spot.
“You have to at least give the effort to the game plan,” head coach David Adelman said postgame.
The team responded. Denver allowed 53 points in the first half but clamped down in the second, giving up just 40 more. That included a decisive third quarter where Golden State went 0-for-13 from three-point range.
How Denver’s defence set the tone
Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images
It wasn’t a strong start for the Nuggets. They lost track of cutters, overcommitted on defence, and left shooters open, which kept Golden State in rhythm early. That changed after halftime.
“Second half was much better… intensity, energy,” Nikola Jokic said.
Denver increased their ball pressure, stayed closer to shooters, and forced 15 turnovers overall. They turned those mistakes into 22 points. The improved execution was noticeable right away in the third quarter, and it carried through the rest of the game.
Jokic’s control of the third quarter changed the game
Jokic’s stat line reflected his influence, finishing with 25 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists. But it was his play in the third quarter that helped swing the momentum.
“We just found a way to win,” he said.
Murray finished with 20 points, six boards, and seven assists. All four of his turnovers came before halftime.
Bench support added to the defensive change
The impact went beyond just the starting five.
“We were more physical, stopped turning the ball over, and didn’t give up backdoor cuts,” Bruce Brown said postgame.
Zeke Nnaji and Peyton Watson both helped Denver clean up its perimeter defence, allowing fewer clean looks from deep.
The Warriors managed only 19 points in the fourth quarter, struggling to find any of the flow they had earlier in the game.
Denver found the spark needed in the second half
“Take the challenge… look yourself in the mirror,” Tim Hardaway Jr said.
The numbers backed up that approach. The Nuggets finished at 50 per cent from the field and 47.5 per cent from three, combining defensive control with consistent shot-making.
Denver has reached this level before, but it’s often been in short bursts. This time, it stretched across two halves and gave them a full sample of what they’ve shown in flashes this season.
The test now is whether that play sticks around or fades back into inconsistency.
Sasha Rearick is rejoining the U.S. Alpine skiing team as the Borgen Family Alpine Director after previously serving with the organization in coaching roles from 2002 to 2021.
Rearick will "lead the vision for the Alpine program, guiding its strategy, culture and athlete development pathways from grassroots through the elite level. Rearick will oversee the structure, ensuring a sustainable model that supports excellence at every level," according to U.S. Ski and Snowboard.
“Coming home to lead this program is both an honor and a challenge I’m deeply motivated by,” Rearick said in a press release. “Across the United States, there is real enthusiasm for ski racing, and now it’s about channeling that into belief and action. From athletes just starting out to those competing for World Cup podiums, we will build a system grounded in process, clarity and daily habits."
Rearick was the U.S. men's Alpine head coach from 2008 to 2018, during which his skiers, including Olympic gold medalists Bode Miller and Ted Ligety, won 15 Olympic and World Championships medals.
Most recently, Rearick was Alpine performance director for Apex2100 International Ski Academy in Europe.
The Borgen Family committed funds supporting the Alpine Director position.
U.S. Ski and Snowboard also announced Paul Epstein as the new head coach of the men's team for the technical events of slalom and giant slalom.
The 2025-26 World Cup season ended last week with the U.S. women winning the Nations Cup as the top performing country for the first time since 1982.
The World Cup season traditionally starts in late October.
Charlotte Flair flies off the top rope and onto The Bella Twins in their tag team match - WWE
"The Queen" Charlotte Flair is holding court, and she's in favor of The Bella Twins' (Nikki and Brie) return to the ring. However, she will do what it takes to jump the line for her and Alexa Bliss to get their WWE Women's Tag Team Titles back.
"No, I think it's awesome the Bellas are back," the 14-time WWE women's champion complimented in her interview with "Complex Graps." "I think the competitiveness and the tag division just elevates everyone and makes us want it that much more. The fact that the Bellas wanted to come back and fight for them, obviously it's just another team that's in our way that, ultimately, I think, will make Lexi and I try that much harder."
This interview, which was held before her match with the Bellas on "WWE SmackDown" this past Friday, might change her favoredness of their comeback. Luckily for Flair, she was not on the receiving end of the pinfall loss that her partner Bliss had to eat from Brie. But during the match, Nikki was visibly hurt. Based on the newest reports surfacing on Monday, it appears the Hall of Famer is fine, and hopeful that her half of the "Twin Magic" will help her and her sister win the tag team titles that slipped past them years ago.
If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit "Complex Graps Wrestling Podcast," with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
GUWAHATI, India (AP) — Young sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashed a 15-ball half-century as Rajasthan Royals thrashed Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League on Monday.
On a pitch which was under covers for most of the last two days due to wet weather, Chennai was put in and crumbled to 127 all out in 19.4 overs. All six Rajasthan bowlers shared the wickets.
The 15-year-old Sooryavanshi was dropped on the first ball he faced from Matt Henry but powered the chase with 52 off 17 balls — raising the third fastest fifty in the IPL — as Rajasthan cruised to 128-2 in only 12.1 overs.
Sooryavanshi's miscued pull shot against Henry was dropped by debutant Kartik Sharma, a tough two-handed catch over his shoulders while running backward from midwicket. Sharma failed to chase the ball and dribbled over the boundary, the first of Sooryavanshi's four boundaries plus five sixes.
Sooryavanshi gave Rajasthan a blazing start of 74-0 in the powerplay. He clobbered wrist-spinner Noor Ahmad for successive sixes and raised his half-century off just 15 balls before he holed out to Sarfaraz Khan at sweeper cover in the seventh over.
Fellow opener Yashasvi Jaiswal had a front row seat to Sooryavanshi's artistry. He was dropped on 26 before finishing 38 not out off 36 balls.
New Rajasthan skipper Riyan Parag’s decision to bowl first in favorable conditions was vindicated when Chennai slumped to 38-4 against the express pace of Jofra Archer (2-19) and Nandre Burger (2-26).
Former Rajasthan skipper Sanju Samson (6) had a forgetful first game for his new franchise Chennai when Burger flattened his off stump with a 140 kph delivery.
Samson was hired to fix the top order batting issues for Chennai, which finished in last place last season, but captain Ruturaj Gaikwad also made only 6 when he exposed his stumps against Archer’s pace and was clean bowled.
Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja (2-18), playing for Rajasthan after 17 seasons with Chennai, struck twice in his first over to reduce Chennai further to 57-6.
With Mahendra Singh Dhoni not available for the first two weeks due to a calf injury, Chennai was in danger of opening its campaign with less than 100 runs. But Jamie Overton top-scored with 43 off 36 balls before he was run out in the last over.
Brazil and Croatia are set to face off in an international match on Tuesday, March 31, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. The game will start at 8 p.m.
The game is part of the “Road to 26” series, which features top-ranked teams preparing for the 2026 World Cup. The event is expected to attract large crowds to the Orlando area.
Expect heavy traffic near the stadium throughout the afternoon, with road closures beginning at 3:30 p.m. to accommodate the event.
Stadium officials have announced that parking at the venue will be limited for the match. Fans are urged to park downtown Orlando and take advantage of a free shuttle to get to the stadium.
The upcoming match is a rematch of the 2022 World Cup quarterfinals held in Qatar. On December 9, 2022, Croatia defeated Brazil following a 1-1 draw.
Croatia won the match 4-2 on penalties after Bruno Petković scored a late equalizer in extra time.
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Real Madrid consider €75 million-rated star ‘untouchable’ amid interest from major European clubs
Aurelien Tchouameni’s journey at Real Madrid has not been straightforward. There were periods of doubt and significant external criticism, with fans at the Santiago Bernabeu jeering and whistling at him.
Rather than falter, the French international remained focused, continued working and allowed his performances to speak for themselves. That process has now delivered results.
Untouchable
Indeed, according to MARCA, Tchouameni is now considered ‘untouchable’ at Real Madrid despite continued interest from major European clubs.
It was Zinedine Zidane who identified Tchouameni as a future prospect while the midfielder was still developing at Bordeaux. His progression at AS Monaco confirmed those expectations, before Real Madrid ended up investing in his signing.
Since arriving in Madrid, his progression has been consistent under successive managers. For Carlo Ancelotti, he provided essential balance in midfield. Xabi Alonso built his system around him as a central figure.
Now, under Alvaro Arbeloa, he has expanded his influence, contributing more to attacking play while maintaining defensive discipline
Untouchable at Real Madrid. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
As highlighted by the report, no player in the squad has completed more passes than him, either in La Liga or Champions League. He also maintains a passing accuracy above 90% in both.
In La Liga, he has completed 1,426 passes across 26 matches, achieving a 91.41% success rate. In the Champions League, across 12 matches, he has reached 600 completed passes with an accuracy of 92%.
These figures underline not only his reliability but also his role as the central organiser of Real Madrid’s play.
It goes without saying that Tchouameni has established himself as one of the most reliable figures at Real Madrid, and, has thus become an indispensable part of the club’s long-term project.
Report: Liverpool set to reignite interest in defender with £21m clause
Liverpool weigh Dumfries move as release clause emerges
Liverpool are exploring a move for Inter Milan’s Denzel Dumfries, with L’Interista reporting that the Netherlands international has a €25m release clause embedded in his contract. For a player previously described as “world-class”, the figure has inevitably caught attention at Anfield as the club prepares for a significant summer rebuild.
Photo IMAGO
This interest comes amid a broader reassessment of Liverpool’s squad. Despite heavy investment last summer, the campaign has been inconsistent, leaving the club battling for Champions League qualification. Reinforcement on the right side has become a priority, particularly with Mohamed Salah expected to depart.
Contract clause creates opportunity in market
Dumfries’ situation presents a rare opening. Under contract until 2028, he included a €25m clause when signing his current deal in 2024, providing a clear pathway for interested clubs. Inter are now attempting to renegotiate, offering an extension designed to remove that clause.
The timing is notable. Dumfries has found himself in a reduced role under Christian Chivu this season, a shift from his previous status as a key contributor to Inter’s run to the Champions League final. That change has introduced uncertainty, both for player and club.
Photo IMAGO
Liverpool are understood to be monitoring developments closely. Personal terms are not expected to be an obstacle, with the financial landscape of the Premier League offering a clear advantage.
Tactical fit raises key questions
From a football perspective, the potential move carries both logic and complexity. Liverpool’s current options at right-back, Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley, have struggled with injuries, prompting the need for additional depth.
Photo IMAGO
Dumfries brings physicality, direct running and experience at elite level. He is also capable of operating further forward, which offers tactical flexibility. Yet his profile overlaps with Frimpong, raising questions about squad balance.
Photo IMAGO
This is where recruitment decisions become more nuanced. Liverpool must determine whether Dumfries represents a complementary addition or a duplication of existing strengths. The answer will shape how serious their interest becomes.
Summer strategy reflects evolving priorities
The wider context is clear. Liverpool are entering a window that will define their next phase. Identifying value in the market, particularly through release clauses, forms part of that strategy.
Dumfries’ availability aligns with that approach. A proven performer, available at a relatively modest fee, represents an opportunity that is difficult to ignore. Whether Inter succeed in removing that clause may ultimately dictate the outcome.
Our View – EPL Index Analysis
This move raises as many questions as it answers. Dumfries is undoubtedly an accomplished player, but the fit within the current Liverpool squad is not entirely clear. With Frimpong already offering similar qualities, there is a risk of redundancy rather than reinforcement.
There is also the broader concern around recruitment direction. After significant spending last summer, fans will expect a more targeted approach. Identifying genuine weaknesses, rather than adding depth for its own sake, should be the priority.
The release clause makes the deal attractive financially, yet value is not solely defined by price. How Dumfries integrates into the system, and whether he addresses a specific need, will determine success.
Supporters may prefer investment in areas that feel more urgent. If Liverpool proceed, it must be with a clear plan for utilisation. Otherwise, this risks becoming another move that looks sensible on paper but lacks conviction in execution.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - NOVEMBER 23: Nick Cross #20 and Charvarius Ward #7 of the Indianapolis Colts run off the field following the second quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ward, 2023 second-team All-Pro, suffered three concussions last season and contemplated retiring, but he decided to come back for his ninth NFL campaign and second in Indy. pic.twitter.com/NO8FJxAvU5
While Ward hasn’t officially announced his return, he hasn’t elected for retirement either, and all signs point toward him lacing them up again for next season’s campaign.
Despite contemplating his football future earlier this offseason after suffering three documented concussions last year—and ultimately being placed on season-ending injured reserve, all indications are that Ward is intending to return for the 2026 season:
“ . . . I don’t want to say still deciding, but all indications are that he’s wanting to move forward and return,” said longtime Colts general manager Chris Ballard on Ward just a few weeks ago at his end-of-season press conference (via Colts.com).
Because of re-occurring concussions, the 29-year-old veteran didn’t have the debut season in Indianapolis both sides were ideally hoping for, recording 25 tackles (17 solo), 7 passes defensed, and a fumble recovery in a limited 7 starts.
That being said, when Ward was healthy and truly going right, he was as good as advertised for the Colts. Per PFF, Ward received a +77.1 overall grade, including a +77.4 coverage grade this past season. That was their 9th best overall grade at his position and just one spot ahead of teammate Sauce Gardner in their corner rankings.
Unfortunately, Colts fans only got to see the former NFL All-Pro starting outside cornerback tandem of Ward and recently acquired shutdown corner Sauce Gardner play together for just one game, during Week 12 on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs because of injuries to both players respectively.
To be fair, Ward was rightfully rusty too, having not played since Week 6, following a freak concussion after accidentally colliding with his teammate Drew Ogletree during pregame warmups—and now facing Chiefs All-Pro quarterback Patrick Mahomes fresh off his return.
If Ward can stay healthy and right, there’s no question he’s one of the league’s best cornerbacks opposite Gardner—as the Colts standout CB2. It’s just a matter of whether those concussions will continue to be re-occurring, and Ward continues to stay on the field.
At a certain point, he may have to make a decision regarding his life after football and continuing to play.
The 2025-26 NHL season has reached the point where narratives give way to numbers— and the numbers tell a story of parity.
With fewer than a dozen games remaining for most teams, the race for the Stanley Cup is tightening into a data-driven sprint. Goal differentials, special teams, and situational execution are no longer supporting details— they are defining indicators.
No team has separated. Several have built cases.
At the top, the Colorado Avalanche (48–14–10, 106 points) and Carolina Hurricanes (46–21–6, 98 points), each with a goal historically a strong predictor of postseason success. Close behind, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Edmonton Oilers rank among the league leaders in goals.
Further down the bracket, momentum belongs to teams like the Pittsburgh Penguins and Vegas Golden Knights, while younger rosters in the Buffalo Sabres and Anaheim Ducks are beginning to translate development into results.
All these teams have a real shot at making it to the Stanley Cup Final, which begs the question: What would some of the most likely Finals matchups look like?
Hurricanes vs. Avalanche: Elite by Every Measure
A Carolina–Colorado series wouldn’t just feature two contenders—it would feature two of the league’s most complete statistical profiles.
Colorado’s 48 wins are backed by top-tier puck possession metrics and a goals-against average hovering near 2.5 due to the amazing performance of Scott Wedgwood.
The Aves power play operates at 17.2%, which is not the percentage the Aves want. The offense of the Aves speaks volumes. A +85 goal differential has driven the Aves’ ability to outshoot opponents. This means the Aves are near perfect at outscoring their opponents.
Carolina matches that efficiency differently. Their penalty kill ranks at the top of the NHL at 166 penalties, and they allow 10.6 shots per game—one of the lowest marks in the league. The Canes have 46 wins and aren’t built on explosive scoring, but on control: structure, forechecking pressure, and depth scoring across all four lines.
Head-to-head, Colorado’s 5–3 win in January reflected the contrast—high-end scoring versus layered defense.
In a seven-game series, the edge may come down to special teams. Both teams are top-tier at even strength. The difference will be who capitalizes when the game tilts.
Penguins vs. Golden Knights: The Analytics of a Turnaround
Pittsburgh’s resurgence is backed by underlying improvement, not luck.
Since the Olympic break, the Penguins have posted a points percentage above .600 while reducing goals against to about 3.0 per game. That, in part, is because of Arturs Silovs’ stellar save percentage at .891.
Captain Sidney Crosby has fueled mainly the puck control in key moments at 709 face off wins.
Vegas, by contrast, has remained steady rather than surging. Their 32–26–16 record reflects inconsistency, but their advanced metrics suggest a team more dangerous than its record indicates. The franchise must think there’s more untapped potential on the roster, as they just fired Head Coach Bruce Cassidy with eight games left in the season.
Both the Golden Knights and Penguins win in similar ways: structured breakouts, disciplined neutral-zone play, and limiting high-danger chances.
This would not be a high-scoring series. It would be a territorial one—decided by inches, not chances.
Hear from Head Coach Bruce Cassidy, Brayden McNabb, and Ivan Barbashev following Sunday’s win against the Stars.
Few matchups present a clearer stylistic—and statistical—contrast.
Tampa Bay ranks among the league’s best in goals allowed per game at 2.75 while maintaining a power play efficiency near 22%. Their experience shows in situational metrics: the Bolts have one of the lowest turnover rates in defensive zones.
Edmonton, meanwhile, leads the league in offensive production, averaging close to 3.5 goals per game. Their power play hovers around 30% which is not just effective, it’s game-changing.
This series would hinge on pace. If Edmonton pushes games into track meets, the numbers favor them. If Tampa Bay slows it down, history—and efficiency—favor the Lightning.
The numbers behind Buffalo and Anaheim point to something larger than promise—they point to arrival.
Buffalo has increased its scoring output to 3.43 goals per game, a significant jump from recent seasons. More importantly, their goal differential has turned positive, signaling a shift from rebuilding to competing.
Anaheim’s improvement shows in shot generation and transition speed. They’ve on pace to reduce their shots against by nearly 300 this season, while increasing high-danger scoring chances.
Neither team is statistically dominant—but both are trending upward.
And in a league defined by timing, trajectory matters. Ducks-Sabres would be a heartwarming Stanley Cup Finals if the two teams were to make Cinderella-esque runs.
The numbers reinforce what the standings suggest: there is no runaway favorite Stanley Cup Finals matchup.
Multiple teams rank in the top five across key categories—goal differential, special teams, and scoring efficiency. Historically, that kind of distribution leads to unpredictable postseason outcomes.
The difference this year may not be who is best, but who is best at the right time.
As the Florida Panthers limp toward the end of the season, the inevitable news that likely derailed their chance at a Stanley Cup three-peat became official over the weekend.
Panthers coach Paul Maurice told reporters before the March 29 game at the New York Rangers that captain Aleksander Barkov will not see any action in the regular season, which ends April 15. With Florida unlikely to make the playoffs, Barkov, who underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL and torn MCL in his right knee following a non-contact injury during the first training camp practice on Sept. 25, will have missed the entire 2025-26 NHL season.
Barkov had been given a 7-to-9-month timeline to return to the ice after the reconstructive surgery - which would have been either right before the playoffs or during the playoffs.
"They give you a two-month window on these knee injuries. He’ll get inside that two-month window, but why would we?" Maurice said of Barkov, who had been cleared to skate in January and has been practicing with his teammates. "We’ll take the whole two months before he plays a hockey game again because we just wouldn’t want to … if it’s six-to-eight [weeks] and we put him in at seven and something happens, that doesn’t make much sense, so we’ll have him go through the entire rehab process.”
Barkov holds franchise records for games played (804), goals (286), assists (496) and points (782).
Only a month ago, general manager Bill Zito was hoping to have Barkov back.
“The sooner, the better, as far as I am concerned,’’ Zito said.
The Panthers currently are 35-35-3 (73 points), having lost seven of their last eight games. While not mathematically eliminated, their chances of making the postseason are extremely remote even if they won their remaining nine games.
So, it makes sense in the long run to shut down Barkov.
Barkov should be 100 percent when training camp opens in September.
“It has been tough,’’ Barkov said in February. “But when something tough or bad happens, you try and find the positives. I don’t know. Maybe taking a long time off here will help me in the future to come back fresher, with a fresh mind, a fresh body.
“Hopefully my career will last longer. I don’t know. But these are the kind of things you think about when you go through tough moments, face adversity.’’
As the Florida Panthers limp toward the end of the season, the inevitable news that likely derailed their chance at a Stanley Cup three-peat became official over the weekend.
Panthers coach Paul Maurice told reporters before the March 29 game at the New York Rangers that captain Aleksander Barkov will not see any action in the regular season, which ends April 15. With Florida unlikely to make the playoffs, Barkov, who underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL and torn MCL in his right knee following a non-contact injury during the first training camp practice on Sept. 25, will have missed the entire 2025-26 NHL season.
Barkov had been given a 7-to-9-month timeline to return to the ice after the reconstructive surgery - which would have been either right before the playoffs or during the playoffs.
"They give you a two-month window on these knee injuries. He’ll get inside that two-month window, but why would we?" Maurice said of Barkov, who had been cleared to skate in January and has been practicing with his teammates. "We’ll take the whole two months before he plays a hockey game again because we just wouldn’t want to … if it’s six-to-eight [weeks] and we put him in at seven and something happens, that doesn’t make much sense, so we’ll have him go through the entire rehab process.”
Barkov holds franchise records for games played (804), goals (286), assists (496) and points (782).
Only a month ago, general manager Bill Zito was hoping to have Barkov back.
“The sooner, the better, as far as I am concerned,’’ Zito said.
The Panthers currently are 35-35-3 (73 points), having lost seven of their last eight games. While not mathematically eliminated, their chances of making the postseason are extremely remote even if they won their remaining nine games.
So, it makes sense in the long run to shut down Barkov.
Barkov should be 100 percent when training camp opens in September.
“It has been tough,’’ Barkov said in February. “But when something tough or bad happens, you try and find the positives. I don’t know. Maybe taking a long time off here will help me in the future to come back fresher, with a fresh mind, a fresh body.
“Hopefully my career will last longer. I don’t know. But these are the kind of things you think about when you go through tough moments, face adversity.’’
Formula 1 competed in Japan for its final race until May, and it was a competitive event. Oscar Piastri took the lead after a strong start; however, a massive accident by Haas driver Ollie Bearman caused a safety car. At the end of the day, one of the Mercedes drivers took advantage of the timely incident.
Kimi Antonelli and the No. 12 team for Mercedes won the Japanese Grand Prix, earning their second victory of the 2026 Formula 1 season. Antonelli dropped to sixth at the start of the race and played the perfect strategy to regain the needed track position to win the event.
Heading into the month-long break, Antonelli holds a nine-point lead in the standings over Mercedes teammates George Russell. It has been an amazing start to the 2026 Formula 1 season for Antonelli, and he hopes to continue this momentum into Miami in May.
The 2026 Final Four doesn't have Duke. It doesn't have defending national champion Florida. Yet, it's still an event with sexy national semifinal games and a national championship game, which is likely to be fun and compelling. Let's give you 10 fascinating facts about this gathering in Indianapolis, with UConn, Illinois, Arizona and Michigan all vying for the trophy on Monday Night, April 6.
Streak broken
The last two Final Fours had a national championship game between No. 1 seeds. That streak was snapped this year with Duke losing to UConn. Arizona and Michigan will play in the national semifinals, but the winner will not face a 1 seed in the title game.
New coaches
Two of the coaches at the Final Four are first-timers: Brad Underwood of Illinois and Tommy Lloyd of Arizona. Three of the coaches are making their first Final Four appearance at their current employer. Dusty May reached the Final Four at Florida Atlantic, but this is his first Final Four as Michigan's coach.
UConn at the Final Four
UConn has reached the Final Four seven times before this one. The Huskies have won the Final Four six of those seven times, easily the most efficient track record in college basketball history other than John Wooden's UCLA teams of the 1960s and 1970s. UConn is easily the most ruthless lockdown closer at the Final Four since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985.
UConn's only Final Four loss in seven appearances: the 2009 national semifinals against Michigan State in Detroit, a virtual road game for the Huskies. Otherwise, they're perfect. They won both games in the 1999, 2004, 2011, 2014, 2023, and 2024 Final Fours. Their game record at the Final Four, all-time: 12-1.
Long waits
Arizona is in its first Final Four since 2001. Illinois is in its first Final Four since 2005. Irony: Arizona got to the 2001 Final Four by beating Illinois in the Elite Eight. Illinois got to the 2005 Final Four by beating Arizona.
Indianapolis intersection, part one
The last time the Big Ten won the national title was at an Indianapolis Final Four in 2000. Michigan State won. That Final Four had two Big Ten teams, with Wisconsin being the other.
Indianapolis intersection, part two
Arizona's last national title was won in Indianapolis at the 1997 Final Four. That Final Four, like this one, had a Big Ten No. 1 seed: Minnesota.
Trophy case
UConn has six national titles. The other three programs have no more than one championship. Michigan and Arizona have one each; Illinois has none.
Three of four
UConn is aiming for a third national title in four seasons at this Final Four. Has any school other than UCLA under John Wooden achieved that? Yes: Kentucky from 1948 through 1951.
1 on 1
From 2016 through 2024, the Final Four had a total of one national semifinal between No. 1 seeds: Kansas-Villanova 2018 in San Antonio. In 2025 and now 2026 with Michigan-Arizona, the Final Four will have had three national semifinals between No. 1 seeds.
Michigan men
Michigan is going for its third national championship game appearance in the past 13 NCAA Tournaments. The only schools with three in that span: UConn and North Carolina. UConn could gain a fourth title game berth in the past 13 NCAA Tournaments if it beats Illinois. UConn-Michigan, if it happens, would be a matchup of teams with a combined seven title game appearances out of a possible 26 slots in the past 13 NCAA Tournaments (2013-2026, with no tournament being held in 2020 due to the pandemic).
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Matheus Cunha does not see clash with Croatia as revenge
Forward Matheus Cunha did not echo the idea that this Tuesday’s (31) friendly in Orlando (USA) against Croatia can be seen as revenge for what happened in the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup. On that occasion, Brazil was leading 1-0 and conceded a goal due to a lapse in concentration right at the end. Then, in the penalty shootout, they lost 4-2.
“There’s no way to see it as revenge. We see it as an opportunity, and we want to go out there and come away with the win, because there is no other mindset when wearing this shirt than to win the match,” said the Manchester United forward during a press conference held this Monday (30) in Orlando.
Matheus Cunha waiting for a new opportunity with the national teamCredits: Rafael Ribeiro / CBF
He praised the opponent and also mentioned France, which beat Brazil 2-1 in a friendly played last week, also in the United States.
“Croatia and France are national teams on the highest shelves of world football. Normally, we don’t get many experiences like these matches. We play within South American football. It’s wonderful to be having this opportunity.”
He stressed that the loss to France did not shake the group’s confidence.
“Nothing has changed. You journalists and we players have the same idea of what to do. (We want) to be World Cup champions, like great idols. Regardless of the defeat, which leaves us disappointed, it also shows us a certain calmness, because we have a path. Nothing has changed in our confidence. It’s good to know that we have a lot of room for improvement.”
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MARCH 26: Josh Naylor #12 of the Seattle Mariners is introduced during opening day against the Cleveland Guardians at T-Mobile Park on March 26, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Fresh off the heels of a big Opening Day weekend, the Mariners and KING 5 made a significant announcement this morning. Friend of the blog Joe Veyera had speculated on this two days ago after coming across a peculiar TV scheduling on April 10:
And it all became official this morning:
This is a pretty excellent step by the Mariners in terms of both growing the local fanbase and making games more easily accessible for all fans. With the Torrent, Kraken, and Storm all regularly airing games on free over-the-air channels like KONG and FOX 13+, it’s high time the Mariners got in on that action. Seahawks game have obviously been free to watch locally for decades because football is king and there are only 16 games, not 162. Many things about football make its fandom a lower bar to clear, but MLB teams being squirreled away on regional sports networks has long been an unnecessarily high barrier for local fans. Comcast cable is ludicrously expensive. The new Mariners-only local streaming options for subscribers have been incredible the last few seasons, but not everyone has $100 to drop to access it, of the $20 monthly fee. While it’s only 10 games, being able to go home, press one or two buttons and have the Mariners game pop on? Phenonemal. The way it should be and the way….it used to be before streaming on myriad different platforms took over.
I digress. This is great news in general for Mariners fans. Can anyone tell me what season was the last time the Mariners had regular season home games on free over-the-air cable? I’m trying to figure it out and haven’t gotten a good answer yet. Sound off in the comments!
Sep 13, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob deGrom prior to the Mets Alumni Game at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Injuries will be a thing from start to finish throughout the fantasy baseball season. It is a reality that we must face, but we do not have to be dead in the water. We can identify these injuries and plan better than our competition may. It is all part of the abstract winning equation. These are key injuries ahead of the first full week of the MLB 2026 season.
Zack Wheeler
Wheeler is rehabbing and looking quite good, per reports. As for his return, it may yet be a couple of weeks away. There is no clear next-man-up in fantasy baseball; stash him until he gets the call.
Jacob deGrom
DeGrom is dealing with neck soreness, thus he is listed day-to-day. The team is optimistic that deGrom will pitch his scheduled start on Tuesday. However, be wary of below-peak performance.
Kyle Stowers
We listed Stowers as a breakout candidate, but he has stalled with this hamstring injury. Stowers is not going to be back on the field until late April, at the earliest. In turn, this actually slightly hurts the values of Jacob Marsee and Xavier Edwards in runs to be batted in.
Trey Yesavage
Yesavage is a Rookie of the Year candidate, so make sure to keep him stashed. Yesavage may be weeks away from his shoulder injury, but expectations remain high for his eventual return to play.
Jackson Chourio
A pitch hit Chourio in the World Baseball Classic, thus fracturing his left hand. Chourio is about another 2-4 weeks, but he will be among the better players at his position when he returns. Look to Christian Yelich to be a bit of a boost for the time being.
Carlos Rodon
Rodon is on the 15-day IL to start the season, but his return will be expected sometime in April. Immediately, Rodon will trend highly in fantasy baseball as an above-average starting pitcher on one of MLB's best teams.
JP Crawford
Crawford has endured shoulder inflammation since the beginning of spring training. This lands Crawford on the 10-day IL, and it may remain an issue for much of the short-term future. Leo Rivas is starting, but he has no current fantasy baseball value.
Tommy Edman
The return date for Edman remains much in the air. He is taking batting practice, but until his return is set in stone, he lacks much value that can land him in fantasy baseball free agency. The Dodgers' lineup is so stacked as it is, and Edman may be stuck at the back of the lineup.
Welcome to the bracket-busting madness of 2026 — where unpredictability reigns, and opportunity follows. For three weeks, casual logic fades, but for us, the chaos is where long-term value lives.
While others are locked into every first-round spread, we’re focused on the bigger picture. From uncovering Final Four sleepers to grabbing national title futures before the odds shift, this is your betting headquarters.
So grab your Gatorade, check your bankroll, and let’s secure some championship value.
2026 March Madness futures predictions
Bet
Date
Units
❌ National Title: Duke
+350
Mar. 1
0.5
💸 Make Final Four: UConn
+350
Mar. 1
0.5
💸To Make NCAA Tournament: Santa Clara
-150
Mar. 1
1.0
National Title: Arizona
+475
Mar. 13
0.5
💸 West Region: Arizona
-135
Mar. 18
1.0
💸 Elite Eight: Iowa State
-115
Mar. 18
1.0
National Title: Duke Blue Devils (+350)
The Michigan Wolverines have the best championship odds, even though the Duke Blue Devils are at the top of every rating system and beat them on a neutral site two weeks ago.
In addition, Michigan lost key reserve LJ Cason to a season-ending injury on Saturday, and I don't trust Elliot Cadeau as the primary ball-handler. I'd much rather back the Blue Devils, who do a much better job taking care of the ball and forcing turnovers.
Final Four: UConn Huskies (+350)
Michigan (-170), Duke (-160), Arizona (-115), and Florida (+145) have separated themselves atop the Final Four odds board, but nobody wants to face the UConn Huskies and Dan Hurley in March.
Hurley almost led the Huskies to an upset win against the eventual champion Gators in last year's tournament. He could go much further with a significantly upgraded roster this season.
The Huskies are loaded with experience and shoot significantly better from the perimeter than Arizona and Florida. Their biggest flaw is their sky-high opponent FT rate, but refs tend to swallow their whistles during the tourney.
To Make NCAA Tournament: Santa Clara Broncos (-150)
The biggest concern about the Santa Clara Broncos is whether the selection committee will choose to give the West Coast Conference three bids. After all, Gonzaga and Saint Mary's are locks, and the WCC hasn't had three bids since 2022.
However, despite losing decisively to Gonzaga and Saint Mary's down the stretch, the Broncos still have model chances in the 70% range and a Top-40 resume.
The Broncos have a 24-7 record and wins against McNeese State, Xavier, and Minnesota earlier in the season have puffed up their mid-major resume. As long as they don't get bounced too early from the WCC tournament, they'll sneak into March Madness.
National Title: Arizona Wildcats (+475)
Michigan (+340) looked vulnerable after falling to Duke, and sixth-man L.J. Cason tore his ACL. Now Duke (+320) lost starting point guard Caleb Foster to a season-ending injury, while starting center Patrick Ngongba II is dealing with a foot injury and might be less than 100%. Without Foster and Ngongba, the Blue Devils barely beat Florida State in the ACC tourney, proving just how volatile tournaments can be.
It's becoming clear that there isn't much separating the Arizona Wildcats from Duke and Michigan, so getting the Wildcats at +475 is tempting. Tommy Lloyd's team is 30-2 and claimed the regular-season title in the Big 12 gauntlet. The Wildcats are elite on both ends of the floor, and their 3-point shooting (their lone weakness) is starting to improve.
West Region: Arizona Wildcats (-135)
Arizona, Duke, and Michigan have separated themselves atop the futures board, but the Wildcats have the easier path to the Final Four with the Blue Devils and Wolverines placed into tougher regions. Duke also lost starting point guard Caleb Foster to a season-ending injury just before the conference tournament, while Michigan will be missing key reserve LJ Cason.
Meanwhile, Arizona is at full strength, and its freshmen starters seem to be hitting their stride. The Wildcats power through the West Region, where every other top team has major flaws.
Elite Eight: Iowa State Cyclones (-115)
The Iowa State Cyclones are led by Tamin Lipsey, Joshua Jefferson, and Milan Momcilovic, who might be the best trio in college hoops. This is a balanced team that plays extremely well on both ends of the floor and can get buckets from every level.
Unlike past versions of Iowa State, this squad rebounds at a high level and has the grit to win games when the shots aren't falling. The three toughest possible opponents on the road to the Elite Eight are Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia, and the Cyclones are rated significantly higher than all of them.
How to Bet March Madness futures: A 4-step guide
Betting on March Madness futures requires a shift in mindset from daily picks. While a daily bet is a sprint, futures are a marathon where you are essentially buying "stock" in a team’s path through the bracket.
1. Diversify
Unlike daily bets, futures tie up your money for weeks. You shouldn't put your entire bankroll on one team to win it all.
Instead of one large bet, consider splitting 2–3 units across four different teams in different regions of the bracket. This ensures you have a "horse in the race" as the field narrows.
2. Identify high-value markets
When betting futures, you aren't just picking winners; you're looking for paths to victory. Here are two to consider:
To Reach the Final Four: Often better value than the outright winner. You only need a team to win four games, not six. Look for teams with a "soft" region where the No. 1 or No. 2 seeds have poor efficiency metrics. Check out our Final Four odds now to see how teams stack up.
March Madness MVP (MOP): This award almost always goes to a player on the winning team. We track all the top players throughout the tournament on our March Madness MVP odds page.
3. Learn from history
Historical data shows that national champions almost always fit a specific statistical profile by Selection Sunday.
March Madness Handicapper’s Checklist
Use this table as a final "gut check" before locking in any 2026 tournament outright bet. If a team doesn't check at least three of these boxes, reconsider your position.
Metric
What to Look For
Why It Matters
Adj. efficiency margin
Top 20 nationally
Only rare outliers (like 2014 UConn) win without being elite on both ends.
Adj. offense
Top 25 nationally
You need a team that can score when the game slows down in the half-court.
Adj. Defense
Top 40 nationally
37 of the last 40 Final Four teams were ranked Top 40 in defense.
Experience
Top 100 in experience
Freshman-heavy teams often struggle with the physical "one-and-done" pressure.
Coach pedigree
Past Sweet 16 appearances
Since 1990, only a handful of first-time Final Four coaches have won the title.
4. Hedge
Futures betting is about the bracket. A great team with a "Group of Death" (tough No. 8/9 seeds followed by a dominant No. 4 seed) is a bad bet.
Look for "Quadrant 1" Wins. A team with 10+ Quad 1 wins is battle-tested, but a team with a high seed but only 3-4 Quad 1 wins is a potential "fraud" candidate.
If you bet a team at +2000 to win the title and they make the Final Four, you can bet against them in the semifinal to guarantee a profit regardless of the outcome.
TORONTO — The Magic made history in more ways than one during Sunday’s game against the Raptors inside Scotiabank Arena.
First, Orlando allowed Toronto to score 31 consecutive points between the end of the first quarter and the start of the second, marking the largest run in league history since play-by-play tracking began during the 1996-97 season.
Then, by the end of the night, the Raptors captured a 139-87 victory over the Magic — a 52-point difference that represents the largest loss in Orlando franchise history. The Magic’s worst previous loss was by 47 points against the Bulls in April 2017, a 122-75 defeat.
“Gotta find ways to stop runs like that. We didn’t,” Magic forward Paolo Banchero said in the locker room. “If you want to be a good team, you can’t give up runs like that.”
Good teams also don’t lose seven of their past eight games against opponents both in front of them (Atlanta and Toronto) and way behind them (Indiana) in the standings over the final month of the regular season.
That’s where Orlando finds itself with less than two weeks remaining in a regular season that’s been nothing but inconsistent for an organization that’s searching to return to the NBA playoffs for the third consecutive year.
Sunday’s game might as well have carried the implications of a playoff game, too, due to the impact it would have on the Eastern Conference standings. Although the Magic were still in eighth entering Monday’s slate of games, the gap between them and the teams in front of them has only grown as of late.
Last Monday, Orlando also sat in eighth, but only a half-game behind Philadelphia. After the Sunday night, the No. 7 Sixers (41-33) had a two-game lead on the Magic (39-35), who lead No. 9 Miami (39-36) and No. 10 Charlotte (39-36) by just a half-game.
“Emotions are kind of high,” Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. told the Orlando Sentinel after the loss. “Guys are frustrated. … We’ll have a real, together conversation about what to do moving forward.
“We didn’t treat this one like a playoff game, which we knew it was going to be coming into it,” he added. “We’ve just gotta find a way to figure this thing out.”
So, what happened?
According to Magic coach Jamahl Mosley, blame the historic loss on him.
“I can tell you exactly what it is,” he said. “I’ve got to make sure I do a better job for this group to get them and put them in the position to know exactly what they’re going to face on a night-to-night basis, especially with the last nine games, now eight games, coming down the stretch.
“And us as a group we’ll go look at it, we’ll talk about it, we’ll make sure we practice it and make sure we get the job done knowing you’re going to see similar games coming down the stretch,” he added.
The players in the locker room felt differently about the situation.
“Well, I wouldn’t blame him,” veteran guard Jevon Carter told the Sentinel. “The players got to take on that responsibility as well. I can’t just say it was his fault that that weren’t prepared. I mean, we know Toronto.
“We know Toronto comes out and plays hard and they try to junk the game up,” he added. “So, it was like, we knew, (but) it just didn’t go well.”
To Carter’s point, Sunday’s game was the third time the teams played this season. After splitting the first pair of contests, Toronto clinched the regular-season series 2-1 over Orlando.
Both sides were missing key players Sunday, too. The Magic were without Franz Wagner, Anthony Black and Jonathan Isaac while the Raptors didn’t have leading-scorer Brandon Ingram, starting guard Immanuel Quickley and reserves Collin Murray-Boyles and Jamison Battle.
Perhaps Banchero summed up who’s at fault for the loss best when he was asked about Mosley’s post-game comments.
“It’s all a collective,” the Magic forward said.
Regardless, all of it has left Orlando without an identity, little confidence and a short amount of time to recapture both before the postseason.
The Magic notched their fewest points of the season (87) and allowed their most (139) when they fell to 0-8 scoring less than 100 points and 1-7 when giving up 130-or-more points this year.
In addition, the Magic turned the ball over 28 times (which led to 37 Toronto points), the most turnovers they’ve committed since April 13, 2011 (28 against the Pacers).
“That’s the big thing,” Desmond Bane said. “You’ve gotta walk into games understanding the challenge, but always expecting to win. There’s like a certain swagger that you have to have about yourself over the course of an 82-game season, have that belief that whether or not you’re up 20, down 20, you wouldn’t be able to tell by the swag and the joy that we play with.
“We’ve had it in stretches but we definitely don’t have it right now,” he added.
Despite that, Mosley believes his messaging still resonates with the group.
He said he thinks his message is still getting through to the team. “You get hit in the mouth by (52) points, you understand exactly what you need to do,” he said. “You’re not as bad as you think you are in your losses, and you’re not as great as you think you are in your wins.
“So, we’re somewhere in between,” he added. “We’ve got to make sure we get on the right mentality coming down to these last eight games.”
Two of the final eight come quickly. Orlando hosts Phoenix on Tuesday night and Atlanta on Wednesday night.
The Magic lost a double-overtime game to the Suns on Feb. 21 and have dropped the first three meetings of the regular season to the Hawks by an average of 10.3 points.
“We’ve got to show up ready to play,” Banchero said.
ATLANTA — U.S. men's national team midfielder Johnny Cardoso will miss Tuesday's friendly against Portugal due to a leg injury, head coach Mauricio Pochettino said.
Cardoso played the first half of Saturday's 5-2 defeat against Belgium. After the game, Pochettino said Cardoso was withdrawn in a planned substitution after experiencing some discomfort in training during the week.
At his pre-game press conference on Monday, Pochettino said that discomfort continued after the game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
"He arrived from Madrid with some small issues but we care about him, and he arrived in a perfect condition to play Saturday," Pochettino said on Monday at his pre-game press conference.
"The plan was to play 45 minutes but when he finished after 45 minutes, he felt again this type of uncomfortable things in some part of his leg. Now we decide not to force [it] and send [him] back to Madrid."
Pochettino added that the injury didn't appear to be serious.
"He will be recovering as soon as possible because he's trained in the gym today," Pochettino said.
The 24-year-old will return to Spain, where he'll be suspended for Atlético's league match against Barcelona on Saturday, April 4.
Atlético will face Barcelona again just four days later in the first leg of a Champions League quarterfinal, a game in which Cardoso will aim to make his return.
Cardoso has earned 23 caps for the USMNT, but has only managed to make five international appearances since the start of 2025.
Despite continuing to fare well in La Liga with Real Betis and now Atlético, Cardoso has often failed to replicate that form with the USMNT.
The USMNT will face Portugal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Tuesday, March 31, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. ET.
England Under-21s boss Lee Carsley says Myles Lewis-Skelly has shown a "great attitude" with the Young Lions and has put himself in a "strong position" if called upon by Arsenal.
The 19-year-old, who has six caps for the senior team, made his debut for the under-21s in Friday's 1-1 draw in Andorra.
"He's shown such a great attitude and it's really benefited him this week playing minutes and training at a good level," Carsley said.
"I think that's one of the things that we always look for with the [senior] players and I'm thinking of Lewis Hall, Tino Livramento, Rico Lewis. A lot of players have done that, so Myles is not on his own.
"We look at attitude, we look at the desire to play and he was really enthusiastic about coming to the 21s. He sees that potentially as a route into getting minutes and then potentially going to play for Arsenal and then England.
"He had such a rise so quickly and this is football. This is what happens. There is lots of ups and downs, but he's responded well to it this camp."
On the impact Lewis-Skelly could make back at Arsenal, Carsley added: "I think you can train all you want, but there is nothing like match minutes where you are competing against someone and the intensity of it.
"The fact now that he's potentially going back having played a lot of minutes for England puts him a strong position where, if he is called upon or gets a chance, he is ready to go. He doesn't [now] need one or two games, which you don't get at that level, to bed in."
Cooks is at the point in his career where he can wait things out and seek out what ends up being the best opportunity as the season gets closer.
By the same token, if he and the Bills liked one another enough, there's no reason for the 32-year old to wait too long, if Buffalo is offering a contract that he feels is fair.
Cooks joined the Bills late in the 2025 season as a last-ditch WR option, and in five regular season games, he had five catches for 114 yards.
In the postseason, Cooks added five catches for 78 yards in two games.
Of course, his most notable moment was the one not called a catch in overtime against the Broncos, a play that was instead ruled an interception for Denver that set up the game-winning field goal.
Maybe it'd be tough vibes for Bills Mafia to have Cooks back -- or maybe it'd be a feeling of trying to get some redemption.
Either way, the Bills at this point aren't in position to turn away potentially helpful wideouts. Cooks could still be useful as a guy lower on the depth chart.
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - NOVEMBER 26: Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner and Mercedes GP Executive Director Toto Wolff pose for a photo in the Paddock after the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on November 26, 2023 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ever since his dismissal at Red Bull, rumors have persisted over a potential return to Formula 1 from former team principal Christian Horner.
Now one of his former rivals is pouring cold water on that idea, due to “repercussions” from his time on the grid.
In an interview with the Press Association, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff addressed the idea of a Horner return, stating that he is of “two minds” on the topic.
“I am in two minds about it,” outlined Wolff. “The sport is missing personalities. And his personality was clearly very controversial and that is good for the sport. I said to [Ferrari team principal] Fred Vasseur that it needs the good, the bad, and the ugly. And it is now only the good and the ugly left. The bad is gone.”
You, dear reader, can decide who Wolff believes is the “good” and the “ugly” between him and the Ferrari boss.
“He has broken quite a lot of glass, and these things have repercussions in our microcosm. When you say things… but that is what he has done all his life, and that is what he knows best,” continued Wolff.
Since his dismissal at Red Bull, Horner has been linked to other teams on the grid. In recent days reports surfaced that Lawrence Stroll approached Horner about a move to Aston Martin, although F1 journalist Andrew Benson at BBC Sportnoted that Aston Martin managing technical partner — and former colleague of Horner — Adrian Newey was opposed to the idea.
Another potential option for Horner comes at Alpine, as that team is rumored to be selling a minority stake in the operation. Horner’s name has been linked to that potential sale, as has Wolff’s current team, Mercedes.
Wolff dismissed the idea that his comments were related to that potential sale.
“Us looking at that stake [in Alpine] is in no connection with Christian,” Wolff said. “And the idea that there is a rivalry between Christian and me around who buys an Alpine stake is made up. It would be quite sad if that was a consideration of doing such an investment or not. We are looking at it from different angles, and we haven’t come to any conclusions. We want to know whether it makes sense.”
Horner also outlined how he might find it difficult to “share objectives” with his former rival.
And while pointing to their competitive rivalry, he also noted that Horner has accomplished a great deal in the sport.
“Would I consider that he could ever be an ally or someone that shares objectives? I don’t think so,” Wolff added. “But even when I had the biggest frustration and anger with him, you need to remind yourself that even your worst enemy has a best friend so there must be some goodness.
“If there wasn’t that competitive rivalry over so many years, and if there was more water down the river, I am sure I could have had hung [out] with him over dinner and a had a laugh. Over those years it was just too intense, too fierce, and things happened which even today I cannot comprehend why he has done them.
“I certainly don’t wish him bad. And we need to give each other credit. There are not many team principals who have done what he has done. I see a situation that whatever happens, whatever outcomes there may be, whether he comes back to Formula 1 or not, I am at ease with it.”
As the Florida State Seminoles look to add to their 2027 recruiting haul, they have taken their efforts to the state of California. The target is three-star edge Godschoice Eboigbodin, and he announced to offer from FSU on social media.
"So blessed to receive an offer from FSU football @FSUFootball . Thanks to the coaches and staff," Eboigbodin wrote.
Eboigbodin is a versatile player. In addition to taking snaps at edge, he's also lined up at linebacker and tight end. He's also a multi-sport athlete, as he also excels in basketball.
The 6-foot-5, 235-pounder had a very good junior campaign at JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano, California. Eboigbodin finished with 31 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 10 quarterback hurries, one forced fumble, one pass breakup, one blocked punt, and one blocked field goal.
The 247Sports composite rankings have Eboigbodin listed as the No. 472 overall recruit and the No. 38 edge. They have also listed him as the No. 41 prospect in the state of California.
Contact/Follow us @FSUWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida State news, notes and opinions. You can also follow Matthew on X @StarConscience
Head coach Steve Clarke has been addressing the media at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool before his Scotland side face Ivory Coast in Tuesday's friendly.
Here are the key lines:
"A big, difficult challenge" awaits against Ivory Coast, who are "strong, direct, quick, good in attack and defence and were very clinical against South Korea," said Clarke, who reiterated that his players don't like him for picking difficult opponents.
"No injuries is the ultimate priority," adds Clarke, "then performance, then result," insisting "we [players and staff] all think the same."
On the subject of building "momentum", Clarke thinks it is a "buzzword" that is growing in football: "I don't know if momentum is good, bad or indifferent... I'll tell you in the summer."
On perhaps taking "easier" friendlies to boost morale and Scotland's poor friendly record, he said: "I'm more interested in our record in competitive games and tournament record."
Clarke is "fine" with expectations of his squad growing - in response to the reaction and booing after Saturday's defeat to Japan - adding: "The more you do, the more people expect of you, but I'd rather that than people not be bothered. If that level of expectation rises, that's fine - we can handle it."
On his squad for the World Cup, Clarke confirmed it is a Fifa requirement to name 55 players for his provisional squad and he will "find them" before whittling them down to 26.
On returning to the city of Liverpool, he said he had "a great time in a great city where I loved working with Kenny [Dalglish]."
The Los Angeles Dodgers are the top team in all of Major League Baseball and have the best chances of winning the World Series this season.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the ace of the Dodgers' pitching staff, is also a leading candidate for the NL Cy Young award in 2026. It's not a surprise, especially after a solid 2026 season debut against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
However, as ESPN's David Schoenfield noted, following the initial series of the year across all MLB teams, Yamamoto's biggest competition for the NL Cy Young award isn't Paul Skenes, but instead a Philadelphia Phillies lefty.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto's top Cy Young competition is Phillies lefty
"The NL Cy Young race is wide open after the Pirates' collapse," Schoenfield writes. "Meanwhile, fellow National League Cy Young contenders Cristopher Sanchez and Yoshinobu Yamamoto found better success in their Opening Day starts."
While Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates Cy Young winner from a year ago, would easily be the top contender for the Cy Young award this season, his disastrous season debut has opened the door for a new winner.
It might only be one start, but Skenes now has a 67.50 ERA after allowing five runs in just 0.2 innings pitched against the New York Mets on Opening Day.
Yamamoto, on the other hand, went six innings against the Diamondbacks, allowing two runs on five hits with one home run allowed and six strikeouts. His ERA after one start sits at 3.00.
He's bound to get better as the year goes on, and he has a significant leg-up on Skenes to begin the year in the Cy Young race. Now, Yamamoto's biggest competition isn't Skenes, but the Phillies lefty Cristopher Sanchez.
Against the Texas Rangers, Sanchez went six innings, allowing only three hits, no walks, and no runs allowed while striking out 10 for an incredible season debut.
The Dodgers got a good look at Sanchez in the postseason last year, and know well how good a pitcher the Phillies' lefty can be.
If Sanchez can continue to pitch well all year while staying healthy, he will be Yamamoto's biggest competition for the NL Cy Young Award, not Skenes, this season.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - JANUARY 04: Myles Garrett #95 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates after breaking the NFL single-season sack record during the fourth quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There’s been a lot of consternation from Browns fans in the last week about the future of the best defensive player in the NFL, with the team making several curious moved with Myles Garrett’s contract which could hint to there being a trade. Now we can shut the door on that idea with this latest news:
Sources: The Browns withdrew their rules change proposal that would have allowed teams to trade draft picks up to five years in advance rather than the current three.
The Browns had put forward a prospective rule change that would have allowed teams to trade picks up to five years in advance, up from three. It was a shortsighted move that could have led to more tanking in the NFL, as well as fans having to suffer the horrible decisions GMs had made to save their jobs with poor trades.
Read between the lines a little here: The Browns put forward a motion to allow more picks to be traded, then structured Garrett’s contract to be trade-ready, now they Rams pull out of any discussion, so they remove their motion to trade multiple picks.
Donnarumma: ‘Italy feel the tension, but it’s the right kind’ for World Cup play-off
Gianluigi Donnarumma admits ‘there’s no point saying we don’t feel the tension’ as Italy prepare for the World Cup play-off final with Bosnia. ‘We mustn’t repeat the mistakes against Northern Ireland.’
It kicks off at the Stadion Bilino Polje in Zenica on Tuesday at 19.45 UK time and a winner will be decided after 90 minutes, extra time or even a penalty shoot-out.
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – SEPTEMBER 08: Sandro Tonali of Italy looks on during a Italy training session at Bozsik Stadion on September 08, 2024 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
Bosnia also played that day, needing extra time and a penalty shoot-out to get the better of Wales in Cardiff following a 1-1 draw.
Donnarumma confession as Italy fired up
BERGAMO, ITALY – MARCH 26: Manuel Locatelli, Federico Gatti and Gianluigi Donnarumma of Italy interact after the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Italy and Northern Ireland at Stadio di Bergamo on March 26, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
“We are human beings, there’s no point saying we don’t feel the tension, we all want to do well and go to the World Cup, but it’s the right kind of tension,” assured Donnarumma on Sky Sport Italia.
“We’re ready, we need to do what we prepared in training, focus on what we are capable of, and the rest will come as a consequence.”
The pressure is palpable in the Azzurri camp, as they lost the World Cup play-offs for the tournaments in both 2018 and 2022.
They had been the favourites in both those ties, losing to Sweden and North Macedonia.
MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 16: Gianluigi Donnarumma of Italy warms up prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Norway at San Siro Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
“Everything adds up to valuable experience. We are a young squad, it’s only natural there is some anxiety and the adrenaline is racing, but that’s part of the sport,” added Manchester City goalkeeper Donnarumma.
“Tomorrow is a very important match we need to approach in the right way. We mustn’t repeat the mistakes we made in the first half against Northern Ireland.
“The team is ready and fired up to put in a great performance so we can achieve this target.”
Donnarumma is the captain of the Azzurri squad, as he is the player with by far the most senior caps, despite being still relatively young.
“I am truly proud of everything I’ve done so far with the Nazionale. There has been joy and pain, I missed out on two World Cups, and we want to bring Italy back where it deserves to be.
“Only we know how much we suffered at not getting to the World Cup, so we need to learn from that ugly experience and put it all onto the pitch tomorrow. We want to bring joy to all Italians, but also to ourselves, because I feel we deserve it for all that we’ve been doing.”
After getting knocked around Saturday to the tune of a 10-2 loss, the 2026 Nats showed a level of resilience hardly ever shown by the 2025 club, taking command early thanks to a 3-run shot by Joey Wiemer to defeat the Cubs 6-3 and win their first opening series since 2018. The story of the weekend was the aforementioned Wiemer, who had yet to record an out and is tied for the major league lead in fWAR with 0.6, despite playing just 2 games compared to the other leaders, who have played 4.
The club now heads to Philadelphia, where they’ll take on the currently last-place Philadelphia Phillies (Have to take every opportunity you get to say that). The Phils won on opening day before dropping the final 2 games of their opening series, backed by a strong start by MacKenzie Gore in his Rangers debut yesterday, going 5 1/3 innings and allowing 2 runs. The trio of former Nats at the top of the Phillies lineup were all cold in the first series of the year, with Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber batting .154, and Bryce Harper batting .091.
Game One – Saturday 6:40 PM EST
WSH: LHP Foster Griffin
PHI: RHP Taijuan Walker
Griffin will make his Nationals debut tonight and his first big league appearance since 2022. He showed promise in his 2 Spring Training starts (3 including the exhibition against team Venezuela), posting a 2.53 FIP across 8 innings.
Walker had a solid bounce-back 2025 season for the Phillies after getting roughed up to an ERA over 7 in 2024, posting a 4.08 ERA in 123.2 innings pitched. He’ll make his season debut today against a Nats team he has a 3.56 career ERA against.
Game Two – Monday 6:40 PM EST
WSH: TBD
PHI: RHP Andrew Painter
Monday is Littell’s scheduled day in the rotation, but the Nationals have not announced a starter yet. If he is unable to go, the Nats could roll with a variety of options, from a Brad Lord spot start to a bullpen game, to a starter callup from Triple A with a corresponding roster move.
Painter was on the fast track to the big leagues for the Phillies before Tommy John Surgery knocked him out of the 2023 and 2024 season, but after 22 starts in Triple A in 2025 with middling results, the Phillies trust him to be their 5th starter in 2026, at least to begin the year. He will make his big league debut Monday night against the Nats.
Game Three – Tuesday 1:05 PM EST
WSH: RHP Cade Cavalli
PHI: LHP Cristopher Sanchez
Cavalli only went 3 2/3 innings in his start on Opening Day, being limited by some command issues, but the swing and miss stuff looked on point, striking out 5 Cubs batters. He’ll be tested again in his second career start against a strong Phillies lineup, but one he did throw 7 scoreless against last season for his first big league win.
Sanchez dominated against the Rangers on Opening Day, throwing 6 shutout innings with 10 strikeouts. He’ll now face a lefty-heavy Nats lineup that has had success in their 2 games against lefty starters so far in 2026, scoring 16 runs in both games combined.
A Chance To Make A Statement
Taking the opening series on the road against a playoff team from last season was a strong start for Butera and his ballclub, but if they can go into Philadelphia and take a series from their hated division rivals, a team filled with former Nats, it would send a message to the NL East and baseball this Nationals club isn’t a pumching bag for them anymore.
If you wanted Lloyd Cushenberry III to become the Minnesota Vikings’ new center after Ryan Kelly’s retirement, you’ll have to pivot to a Plan B. The Buffalo Bills grabbed Cushenberry III off the free-agent wire late last week.
Buffalo’s move narrowed the Vikings’ center options by one more name.
It’s down to Ethan Pocic in free agency for starting-caliber centers on the open market.
Minnesota’s Remaining Paths at Center Get Even Thinner
He probably wasn’t on the Vikings’ radar at all.
Tennessee Titans center Lloyd Cushenberry III (79) stands near the line of scrimmage during a timeout against the Green Bay Packers at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Sept. 22, 2024, scanning the field as both teams regroup. Cushenberry maintains a steady presence in the middle, directing protections and preparing for the next offensive sequence. Mandatory Credit: Denny Simmons-Imagn Images.
Cushenberry III to BUF
Buffalo squared away center depth, as ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg wrote Thursday, “The Bills added some veteran depth to the roster with a series of one-year deals announced by the team Thursday. The team signed two interior offensive linemen in guard/center Austin Corbett and center Lloyd Cushenberry III, in addition to bringing back wide receiver Trent Sherfield Sr.“
“Cushenberry had played in 23 games for Tennessee over the past two seasons. He was entering the third year of a four-year, $50 million deal he signed with the team in 2024 after spending the first four years of his career with the Denver Broncos. The deal made him one of the highest-paid centers in the NFL.”
Not long ago, the veteran center was the hottest center commodity on the free-agent market. His stock has fallen after a lousy stop in Tennessee.
The Bills’ Center Depth
Cushenberry III certainly won’t start in Buffalo at center; that’s Connor McGovern’s job. Here’s the Bills’ center depth chart as of late March:
Connor McGovern
Sedrick Van Pran-Granger
Lloyd Cushenberry III
Cushenberry III’s career is a tale of two acts: early struggles in Denver, followed by a breakout performance in his final season of his rookie contract. He parleyed his strong 2023 into a four-year, $50 million contract two offseasons ago. After two seasons, he hit the open market because the Titans had seen enough.
His strengths and weaknesses are clearly established. Cushenberry is a more effective pass protector than run blocker. While his pass-blocking grade of 65.2 last season is adequate for a starting center, his run-blocking grade of 51.2 detracts from his overall performance and limits his fit in run-oriented offenses.
Over a half dozen starting centers have joined new teams in free agency, leaving the Vikings out in the cold. Minnesota has three paths remaining at center:
Promote Blake Brandel or Michael Jurgens to the starting job in 2026. Brandel improved at center each week when he filled in for the aforementioned Kelly last season. For Jurgens, well, he’s a late-rounder from the 2024 NFL Draft. Perhaps the coaching staff values his upside.
Draft a center next month; there may be about five or six rookies with starting upside when it’s all said and done.
Sign free-agent Ethan Pocic, who has consistently started for the Cleveland Browns.
Pocic, a 30-year-old center with considerable experience, is projected to earn $6-8 million annually. However, the figure could continue to decline if his free-agent market remains quiet. His consistent play is reflected in his 2023 PFF grades: 62.2 in pass protection, 63.2 in run blocking, and an overall grade of 63.8, suggesting he is a dependable player rather than a game-changer.
Cleveland Browns guard Joel Bitonio (75) speaks with center Ethan Pocic (55) at the line of scrimmage during second-quarter action against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Dec. 8, 2024, as the offense sets protections. The two linemen coordinate blocking assignments before the snap in a divisional matchup. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images.
After being drafted in the 2nd Round in 2017, he finished his first contract with Seattle before moving to Cleveland in 2022, where he earned a starting position.
The main concern surrounding Pocic is his durability, as he typically misses 3–4 games each season. Fortunately, Minnesota appears well-equipped to handle this, with the aforementioned Brandel and Jurgens ready to step in as competent backups.
For veteran centers, Pocic is the last man standing if the Vikings want a starting center from the free-agent wire.
Our Janik Eckardt on Pocic as a free-agent option: “The Vikings lost center Kelly to retirement and the in-house replacements — versatile guard and tackle backup Blake Brandel and 2024 draftee Michael Jurgens — lack experience. Pocic has plenty of reps at center under his belt, having played over 5,000 of those for the Seahawks and Browns.”
“He’s not a great center by any means, but he can provide average play for the season if the Vikings strike out in the draft and aren’t happy with their current option, providing a reliable veteran presence in the middle of their offensive line.”
The Draft Options
If it’s the draft that Minnesota prefers for a Kelly replacement, the board looks like this, with the caveat that the rounds are approximate:
R3 — Connor Lew (Auburn)
R3 — Sam Hecht (Kansas State)
R3 — Jake Slaughter (Florida)
R3/4 — Logan Jones (Iowa)
R5 — Parker Brailsford (Alabama)
R6 — Pat Coogan (Indiana)
Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Logan Jones (65) celebrates after a touchdown during first-half action against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin on Oct. 11, 2025, reacting alongside teammates as the offense builds momentum. Jones shows energy and leadership following the scoring play in a Big Ten rivalry game. Mandatory Credit: Ross Harried-Imagn Images.
There is no single stud center in this draft, but it offers 6-7 possible starting options down the road. Minnesota also has nine draft picks, two more than usual.
The Vikings have just over $4 million in remaining cap space at the time of this article’s publication.
Salah and Tonali Improbable Targets for Serie A Teams
Mohamed Salah has been linked with a reunion with Roma after announcing his departure from Liverpool, while Juventus have been after Sandro Tonali for years. However, neither of the two Premier League stars is likely to return to Serie A for economic reasons.
According to Fabrizio Romano and Matteo Moretto (via SOSFanta), the forward has quickly received mammoth offers from a few foreign leagues, especially from the Saudi one. Inter Miami aren’t in the mix for now. He could head back to Italy only if he took a very steep pay cut. He hasn’t signaled he’s willing to do that at this stage.
Roma and other potential Italian suitors are trailing in the Salah race, while Juventus risk being overtaken by the English powerhouses for Tonali. He could indeed be on the move, but the two Manchester franchises and Arsenal have started eyeing him.
The Magpies value him at about €100M. His suitors are assessing the viability of the deal. The midfielder wouldn’t mind returning to the Peninsula at some point. However, he’s basically unreachable at that valuation.
Our Take on Salah and Tonali
Players who have spent time in Serie A, even foreigners, tend to find their way back eventually, but the financial state of the league doesn’t help. It’s more likely in the first case if the Liverpool star opted for one last hurrah in a top-five championship before riding into the sunset. Roma wouldn’t be the frontrunners despite the past ties. The Azzurri star has always looked like a pipe dream for Juventus, even though they are surely keen. He’d have to pick them directly, and they would need to concoct a multi-player trade, and not with some slouches, to get anywhere near those numbers.
Wisconsin defensive lineman Charles Perkins (30) is shown during spring football practice Wednesday, April 23, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin. Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Wisconsin Badgers have kicked off spring ball, with this week being off due to spring break. Reporters have gotten to see a couple of practices with the new-look team that has 45 new players and a number of projected starters.
With pads coming on soon, it’s still far too early to say how several position battles will play out, but there is a ton of competition at a lot of key positions. Running back, wide receiver, tight end, defensive line, cornerback, and safety all saw overhauls this offseason, with transfers being projected starters at every position.
The defensive line group is especially new, as Wisconsin had to replace all of its top production with players in the transfer portal. They do have some players coming back, such as Charles Perkins and Nolan Vils, who will look to have bigger roles in 2026, but it is a group that will have a lot of competition throughout the offseason.
Who has taken the biggest strides so far this offseason?
“Well, first of all, I got to say this, Perk (Charles Perkins) has, knock on wood, keep rolling, but he’s shown great strides,” Tressel. “That’s really exciting to see. Also say (Nolan) Vils has taken great strides. So before you even get to the new guys, but when you get to the new guys, Junior (Poyser) is like the old man of the group. Like, he’s going to give you everything the exact same every single time, and sort of keeps anybody in the group from having these types of things. And there’s been times where we’ve had some ups and downs in terms of just the mentality and the strain. And he’s one that keeps it. And he’s a big physical dude. So that’s really exciting and great leadership for us.
“DeNigel Cooper, he’s a little bit undersized. We’re putting the weight on right now, but he is a twitchy dude and doesn’t take blank from anybody, which is really fun to see. Jake Anderson, I know, is going to be a dude that’s absolutely Mr. Reliable in there. And every day you can see him get better. He got banged up in the last game of the year, and he’s just feeling more and more and more comfortable. And quite honestly, all of them, like, we’re going against a Big Ten line every day. So there’s a little adjustment, but I think we have depth like we had last year. I think we do. We still have time to work. I can give you a better answer to that after the spring, but I like the direction.”
The Badgers will need to have some pass rush in that group, and they’re hoping for a lot of that crew to take the next step playing up a level. But they should have the depth needed in the Big Ten, and the bigger bodies should help against the run.
Still, it’s a good sign that the returners are catching the eye of the coaching staff, with Nolan Vils being a player who has consistently flashed and risen up the depth chart.
UCF fired women’s basketball coach Sytia Messer following four consecutive losing seasons.
The school announced the move on Monday, less than a month after the Knights finished with an 11-19 record.
“This afternoon, we met with women’s basketball head coach Sytia Messer to inform her that we will be moving in a new direction with the leadership of our program. We are grateful to Sytia for her commitment to UCF and the care she has shown for our student-athletes over the past four years. We wish her the best moving forward,” UCF athletics director Terry Mohajir said in a statement.
“Our goal remains building a program that competes at a high level while providing exceptional educational services that prepare our student-athletes for success beyond graduation. In this next chapter for women’s basketball, we are continuing to align our strategy to ensure we are investing in the ways that most directly impact success in today’s landscape.
“We will conduct a national search for a head coach who embraces this vision and can lead us forward in this new era.”
Messer, 48, was hired on April 4, 2022, replacing Katie Abrahamson-Henderson, who had left UCF to become the women’s basketball head coach at the University of Georgia. Her deal was for five years and featured a base salary of $625,000 with an annual increase of $25,000.
According to a source familiar with the situation, Messer’s departure will have no financial impact on the program.
Di Lorenzo and Vicario join Italy teammates in 2026 World Cup camp
Giovanni Di Lorenzo is injured, but he has joined Guglielmo Vicario in flying to Zenica with their Italy teammates for the World Cup play-off against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
It kicks off at the Stadion Bilino Polje in Zenica on Tuesday at 19.45 UK time and a winner will be decided after 90 minutes, extra time or even a penalty shoot-out.
Italy players stick together in crucial play-off
Guglielmo Vicario’s Instagram story on March 23, 2026.
Vicario was spotted in the stands and stayed at the training camp with his teammates for the semi-final 2-0 victory over Northern Ireland last week, despite undergoing surgery only a few days ago.
The Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper wanted to be involved in the process of earning a spot at the 2026 World Cup, and he isn’t the only one.
Why did John Harbaugh want big-time draft busts Evan Neal and Josh Ezeudu back in East Rutherford for his first season?
He offered a lengthy answer Monday while speaking with reporters at the NFL’s Annual Meeting in Phoenix.
First, some context: Back when Joe Schoen called personnel shots, the Giants used premium draft picks on Neal (a right tackle) and Ezeudu (an offensive guard/tackle) in 2022.
Schoen picked Neal seventh overall and Ezeudu 60 spots later, in Round 3. Both spent the next four seasons mostly failing, while also dealing with durability issues.
So surely, Harbaugh would let both players walk in free agency this offseason, right? Nope.
The Harbaugh-led Giants re-signed Neal and Ezeudu to extremely cheap one-year contracts. (So these are low-risk moves that don’t guarantee a Week 1 roster spot for either player.) Ezeudu’s salary cap number is $1.25 million. Neal’s is just $1.075 million. Again, nothing to lose for the Giants.
Harbaugh on Monday claimed that he really liked Neal and Ezeudu during the 2022 pre-draft process, back when he coached the Ravens.
“We had them highly graded,” Harbaugh said. “They haven’t broken through yet. But why can’t they?”
Then Harbaugh got all professorial, as he sometimes does.
“George Bernard Shaw said: Some men see things as they are, and they ask, ‘Why?’ We see things as they aren’t and ask, ‘Why not?’" Harbaugh said. “That’s what I say with those two guys: Why not? Why not give them an opportunity?”
Of course, it’s easy to say “why not?” when a player is getting a bare-minimum contract and can easily be tossed aside before September if he struggles during training camp.
If you care, this is the actual expression from Shaw: “Some men see things as they are and say, ‘Why?’ I dream things that never were and say, ‘Why not?’”
Anyway, back to Harbaugh on these two struggling offensive linemen.
“They’re motivated,” Harbaugh said. “They came in the office, they sat down, and they laid out a plan and a vision for what they what to accomplish and the type of players they want to be. And they showed us what they’re doing to make that happen right now.
“So let’s give them a shot. They’re talented. They’re tough. They want to be great. They have big dreams. So if they’re going to dream big, I’d like them to do it right here in our building and try to realize those dreams with us. And we’ll give them a shot to do that.”
The Colorado Avalanche (48-14-10) complete a two-game homestand against the Calgary Flames (31-34-8). Puck drop is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. MT.
Key Stories to Watch
Nazem Kadri is set to play his former team for the first of three meetings between the two clubs over the next 16 days. Kadri spent more than three and a half seasons in Calgary and didn’t miss a single game in that time.
The Avalanche have lost their last four games at home (0-3-1), but have a six-point lead on the Dallas Stars with two games in hand. Still, you’d like to see Colorado get back on track at Ball Arena, especially against a team near the bottom of the standings.
Scott Wedgewood gets the nod after playing just one of the previous five games. He’ll go up against Dustin Wolf for the Flames.
Calgary has played well since selling off pieces at the trade deadline, which includes Mackenzie Weegar and Kadri. The Flames are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games.
Former Avs forward Victor Olofsson also returns to Denver. He has two goals and two assists in 11 games.
Nic Roy was on the ice before morning skate began. Head coach Jared Bednar said the forward will be back in the lineup well before the end of the regular season on April 16.
Season Series
March 30 vs Calgary Flames
April 9 vs Calgary Flames
April 14 at Calgary Flames
Avalanche Injuries
Nicolas Roy (upper body, will miss time)
Projected Avalanche Lines (Subject to Change)
Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Martin Necas Gabriel Landeskog — Brock Nelson — Valeri Nichushkin Ross Colton — Nazem Kadri — Logan O’Connor Parker Kelly — Jack Drury — Joel Kiviranta
Brett Kulak — Cale Makar Devon Toews— Sam Malinski Josh Manson — Brent Burns
Scott Wedgewood Mackenzie Blackwood
Projected Starters (Subject to Change)
Confirmed: Scott Wedgewood (COL)
Confirmed: Dustin Wolf (CGY)
Upcoming Milestones
Josh Manson — needs 1 points for 200, 2 games for 700
John Cena may have retired from WWE in December last year, but the 17-time champion has found a new way to stay involved with the company without having to get in the ring.
Cena announced via social media that he will play host of WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas this year.
Since retirement, my “road” has looked a little different… but now I can officially say I’m headed to WrestleMania!!!! See you in Las Vegas! pic.twitter.com/nyNypOhRpk
The announcement comes less than a month after Cena stirred the rumor mill after hinting that he'd found a way to contribute to WWE following his retirement. Now, the truth is clear. Cena's hosting role gives him an opportunity to remain involved with WWE even after his farewell tour with the company last year.
When did Cena retire from WWE?
John Cena's 23-year career with WWE ended following his loss to Gunther at "Saturday Night's Main Event" in December 2025. The event aired on Netflix and saw Cena tap out to "The Ring General."
The match capped off Cena's retirement tour, filled with incredible moments, including seeing Cena win his 17th world championship by defeating Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41.
When is WrestleMania 42?
WrestleMania 42 will take place on April 18 and 19 from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. This will be the second straight year that Allegiant Stadium has hosted WWE's premier event.
Already some heavy hitters are on the card for the event including CM Punk defending the World Heavyweight Championship against Roman Reigns, while Cody Rhodes looks to maintain his Undisputed WWE Championship against Randy Orton.
The Cowboys used the franchise tag on wide receiver George Pickens, which will pay him $27.298 million on a one-year deal in the absence of a long-term deal. Pickens wants a long-term deal, especially after seeing what the Seahawks recently gave wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Pickens' only real leverage is to stay away from the team, and until he signs the franchise tag, Pickens isn't under contract. Thus, he can't practice with the team.
There is no chance Pickens signs the tag (or a participation agreement) and reports to the Cowboys' offseason work next month.
Still, Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer was asked whether he has an assurance from Pickens to attend the offseason program.
"No, and I haven’t pushed that on him," Schottenhiemer said, via the team website. "We're all going through the process. It's almost April. We're still a couple weeks away. It's going to play out the way it plays out. Again, it's all voluntary, so we'll see where it goes."
Schottenheimer said he has been in contact with Pickens, who has taken some trips with CeeDee Lamb this offseason.
"He's training with Dak. GP loves it here. We love GP," Schottenheimer said. "We have plans for GP to be here for a long time, so we'll let the business side of this thing play out and see where it goes."
Triple H explaining "what we do" - Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images
As the Road to WrestleMania 42 rages on, WWE is set to return to familiar ground for tonight's "Raw," which will be hosted by New York City's Madison Square Garden. Past WWE events at MSG have always drawn intrigue, big matches, and big names, and this show appears to be no different, with Penta defending the WWE Intercontinental Championship against Kofi Kingston, Judgment Day's Roxanne Perez reportedly set to return, and top stars such as CM Punk, Roman Reigns, and Brock Lesnar all expected to appear.
And it appears WWE isn't stopping there. Fightful Select reports that Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes is in town for "Raw," despite currently wrestling on the "SmackDown" brand. He's not the only unexpected name backstage, as WWE EVOLVE star Nikkita Lyons is also at MSG for tonight's show. At this time, it's unclear if one, or both, will appear on the show, or if they will simply be hanging out backstage.
Of the two, Lyons' appearing on "RAW" would be the bigger shock. The 26 year old has yet to wrestle on the WWE main roster, despite being with the promotion for almost five years, instead splitting her time between "NXT" and "EVOLVE" when not dealing with injuries. As such, it seems Lyons may be more likely to wrestle on "WWE Main Event" than appear on "Raw." "Main Event" remains the closest Lyons has come to working on the main roster, having wrestled on the show against Ivy Nile back in December.
As for Rhodes, the WWE's top star comes into "Raw" fresh off returning to "SmackDown" to confront his WrestleMania 42 opponent Randy Orton, just weeks after Orton betrayed Rhodes in a brutal attack. Orton himself remains unadvertised for tonight's "Raw," and no word has emerged regarding whether he too will be making a surprising appearance.
With only eight games left on the regular-season schedule, the Detroit Pistons sit comfortably in first place in the Eastern Conference and will likely get a No. 1 seed in the playoffs. That should make them one of the scariest teams to face in the postseason, right?
According to two NBA experts, they don't even rank in the top 10.
In an episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast released on Monday, March 30, The Ringer's NBA analysts Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe each drafted their "scariest" NBA playoff teams from the 20 currently in a playoff or play-in position. Lowe made the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder his top choice, while Simmons chose the San Antonio Spurs.
As for the Pistons, they were drafted at No. 11.
"They have holes that I just worry about with some of the teams that they're gonna have to play," said Simmons. "Like when they play the [Boston] Celtics, the Celtics can throw those two big wings at them, [Jason] Tatum and [Jaylen] Brown, and their wings are Tobias Harris and [Duncan] Robinson and [Kevin] Huerter or Javonte Green."
Lowe then interrupted Simmons to mention Pistons forward Ausar Thompson, who many believe is one of the best young defenders in the league. Simmons waved off Thompson's potential impact, however, saying he would be used to guard Celtics guard Derrick White instead of Brown or Tatum.
"I just feel like there's a physicality with the two wings that [the Pistons] are going to have issues with," Simmons said.
It is worth noting that the Pistons are 3-1 against the Celtics this season, though all four have been relatively close games. Additionally, Brown has scored at least 32 points in all four games against the Pistons while Tatum did not appear in any of the four matchups.
Though this draft was held under the assumption of health (meaning the Pistons would have a fully healthy Cade Cunningham, currently out indefinitely while recovering from a collapsed lung), no mention was made of Cunningham or the team defense the Pistons have showed so far this season. The Pistons currently have the No. 2 defensive rating in the NBA (behind the Thunder) and the No. 3 net rating, best in the East and ahead of the Celtics at No. 4.
With the Pistons and Celtics firmly in the No. 1 and No. 2 spots, respectively, they likely wouldn't meet up in the playoffs until the conference finals. And if that does happen, only then will this debate be settled – assuming one of the other 10 "scarier" teams doesn't get to the Pistons, first.
The Pittsburgh Pirates had listed their starter for their series finale Wednesday, April 1, against the Cincinnati Reds as TBD, but updated probable pitchers list ace Paul Skenes scheduled to make the start against the Reds' Andrew Abbott.
In his first start of the 2026 season against the New York Mets, Skenes threw just 37 pitches, allowing five earned runs on four hits and walking two while recording just two outs in a loss.
Skenes has been dominant in five career starts against the Reds.
Skenes' ERA in 29 innings against Cincinnati is 0.31. His WHIP is 0.793.
Skenes has allowed 21 hits and two walks with one hit-by-pitch while striking out 40 against the Reds. He has not allowed a home run.
Skenes dueled with the Reds' Hunter Greene for the first time on Sept. 22, 2024, at GABP. Skenes tossed five shutout innings, allowing two hits while striking out nine with no walks in the Pirates' 2-0 win.
Skenes was the top overall pick in the 2023 MLB draft. The Reds' Rhett Lowder was the seventh overall pick in that draft.
“I don't see any pro,” Shanahan told reporters at the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix on Monday.
“It's cool for the league to play globally. I think that's awesome,” he added. “But as far as the team doing it, no, there's not much benefit to it. Sometimes it's nice to get a bye week after, but doesn't happen in Week 1."
#49ers coach Kyle Shanahan not exactly enthused about the long trip to Australia to open the season:
"I don't see any pro. It's cool for the league to play globally. I think that's awesome. But as far as the team doing it, no, there's not much benefit to it. Sometimes it's nice…
The 49ers-Rams matchup is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 11, in Melbourne, which is 15 hours ahead of the Eastern time zone in the United States. Thus, kickoff for the game will be at 10:35 a.m local time. But it’s ideally scheduled for prime time in the U.S., 8:35 p.m. ET on Thursday, Sept. 10.
Shanahan referenced the significant time difference in a sarcastic response to questions about playing in Australia.
“Oh, so fired up,” Shanahan said, via the San Francisco Chronicle. “So we’re going back in time or into the future? I think we gain a day or lose a day? Not sure which one yet, but it is what it is. We’ll deal with it.”
Though the game is scheduled for Thursday night, a network has not yet been announced for the broadcast, according to Pro Football Talk. Over 100,000 fans are expected to attend the matchup played at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
General manager John Lynch said the team is planning to travel to Australia a few days before the game to get accustomed to the setting and circumstances.
The 49ers will also play a game in Mexico City in December. The opponent for that matchup has not been determined and will be revealed with the release of the 2026 NFL schedule in May. With that, San Francisco will become the first team to play international games in different countries in non-consecutive weeks on the schedule.
“I think there’s eight international games [this season],” Shanahan said. “We got two of them. So we’re fired up about that.”
New Giants coach John Harbaugh feels certain that tight end Isaiah Likely is ready to take on a more prominent role.
Harbaugh on Monday raved about Likely — one of his old Baltimore pals — while speaking with reporters at the NFL’s Annual Meeting in Phoenix.
Likely just got what is essentially a two-year, $28 million contract from the Giants in free agency. They will lean heavily on him, especially with slot receiver Wan’Dale Robinson leaving for the Titans.
Likely, who is about to turn 26, spent his first four NFL seasons with Harbaugh in Baltimore as the Ravens’ second tight end option, behind Mark Andrews. Now, in East Rutherford, Harbaugh will ask more of Likely, who is expected to bump Theo Johnson down the depth chart.
Likely’s best season came in 2024 — 42 catches, 477 yards and six touchdowns. Can he put up bigger numbers? Harbaugh thinks so.
“He’s a playmaking football player,” Harbaugh said. “I think Jaxson is going to really like him running the routes and being in his line of vision. He’s got a big catch radius. He can make plays after he makes the catch.
“He can get upfield. He can make people miss. He can run people over. He’s a very good perimeter blocker. You’ll see that. That’ll be good for our run game. All those things he brings to the table.”
As for why Harbaugh thinks Likely is ready to be the Giants’ top tight end, he said, “I’ve seen him every day in practice [in Baltimore]. I’ve seen him make plays. I know how he plays the game. You try to create a vision for a player.
“When you see a player do it every day, you’ve got a pretty good idea of what he’s capable of. I’m certain he’s going to be able to put up the numbers. That wasn’t part of the thing in Baltimore, just because of the supporting cast [with Andrews]. He’s going to be big here.”
Golf legend Tiger Woods has no plans to hire a driver and thinks he is “fine to drive,” according to a People magazine source.
Woods, 50, faces charges of driving under the influence (DUI), property damage, and refusal to submit to a lawful test on Friday, March 27. That’s because the Land Rover he was driving tipped on its side after it clipped a pickup truck pulling a trailer in Jupiter Island, Florida. There were no injuries.
The 15-time major champion spent about eight hours in the Martin County jail before his release.
But even after other crashes in 2009 and 2021 and a DUI arrest in 2017, Woods has told friends he will continue to drive himself, according to the People story. TMZ posted the story on X.
The reason is simple. People’s source said Woods “doesn’t want anyone to watch over him or know what he is doing. … “He is not a social butterfly and prefers to hang around his home with his kids, or hitting balls, or playing video games. He despises public scrutiny.”
Woods is dating Vanessa Trump. Meanwhile, he and ex-wife Elin Nordegren share a daughter, 18-year-old Sam, and son, 17-year-old Charlie.
According to CNN, law enforcement said Woods had been driving erratically in the moments before the latest crash. Also, Woods crawled out of the passenger side of the SUV after it tipped.
On Nov. 27, 2009, Woods crashed into a fire hydrant in his neighbor’s yard. There were no charges.
Then, on May 29, 2017, Woods was found passed out in his car, which had damage on the driver’s side. Authorities arrested him, and he pled guilty to reckless driving.
On Feb. 23, 2021, Woods had a serious single-car accident in Southern California that authorities say was caused by excessive speed. Woods had leg surgery to fix serious leg injuries. Law enforcement ruled the crash an accident.
Woods returned to competitive golf on March 24 in the TGL with Jupiter Links GC, for the first time since undergoing back surgery. He hoped to play in the Masters Tournament, which begins April 9 at Augusta National.
Luis Castillo will take the mound in what were friendly confines for him last season as the New York Yankees open a series with the Seattle Mariners. On the other side, Ryan Weathers will make his debut for the Bronx Bombers after being acquired from the Marlins last season. We think this pitch pairing sets up both teams to keep the runs down.
My Yankees vs. Mariners predictions and MLB picks break down why we like a low-scoring affair on Monday, March 30.
Yankees vs Mariners predictions
Yankees vs Mariners best bet: Under 7.5 (-110)
Luis Castillo's home numbers last season were legitimate: a 2.60 ERA and 1.00 WHIP across 100+ innings, with his strikeout rate jumping to 25%. He's in a position to attack a New York Yankees lineup with plenty of swing and miss.
On the other hand, it is difficult to know what to make of Ryan Weathers, but a short outing is a near certainty. That will turn things over to a well-rested New York bullpen that has yet to allow a run this season.
Two quality pitching outings (one by committee) in one of baseball's most suppressive offensive environments.
COVERS INTEL: Luis Castillo's 2.11 ERA home-road differential last season was among the largest of any qualified starter. Quite frankly, he was literally a different pitcher at home than away..
Yankees vs Mariners same-game parlay (SGP)
While the sample is small, it’s pretty easy to say the Yankees haven’t fixed much of the strikeout issues that have plagued them for the (checks notes) at least the last five years.
They are averaging just under 10 over the first three games, but the whiff rate remains in the Top 5 of the league, much like it has over the past few seasons.
With that in mind and the context of Castillo at home, I paired his strikeout number with the best bet for today’s SGP.
Yankees vs Mariners SGP
Under 7.5
Luis Castillo Over 5.5 strikeouts
Yankees vs Mariners home run pick: Randy Arozarena (+475)
Randy Arozarena is in a good spot if he can avoid the whiff (and he’s done a good job of that so far this season). Few players on the Seattle Mariners roster hit the ball harder than him consistently, and his early-season barrel rate reeks of someone due for a bomb.
What’s particularly noteworthy about this matchup is how it lines up with the pitch mix of Weathers. He’s mostly a two-pitch thrower, and Arozarena was in the top three of Mariners players in hard-hit rate last season against the two pitches he’ll see.
2026 Transparency record
Best bets: 1-1, -0.2 units
SGPs: 1-1, +1.05 units
HR picks: -3, -3.0 units
Yankees vs Mariners odds
Moneyline: New York -110 | Seattle -110
Run line: New York +1.5 (-225) | Seattle -1.5 (+195)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 | Under 7.5
Yankees vs Mariners trend
The Yankees have cashed the first-five moneyline in 42 of their last 70 games for +16.15 units and a 14% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Yankees vs. Mariners.
How to watch Yankees vs Mariners and game info
Location
T-Mobile Field, Seattle, WA
Date
Monday, March 30, 2026
First pitch
9:40 p.m. ET
TV
YES, SEAM
Yankees starting pitcher
Ryan Weathers (2025: 2-2, 3.99 ERA)
Mariners starting pitcher
Luis Castillo (2025: 11-8, 3.54 ERA)
Yankees vs Mariners latest injuries
Yankees vs Mariners weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
None of this would have happened if Duke head coach Jon Scheyer called a timeout after UConn's Silas Demary Jr. made a free throw. This would have allowed everyone on the offense to get organized before the brutal season-ending blunder.
A timeout also would have given him an opportunity to make sure he told his players to follow his advice that he gave them earlier this season.
Earlier this month, Duke's social media team posted a clip of Scheyer studying game film of clock management by former Blue Devils guard Tre Jones.
In this video, Scheyer notes that the Bulls were up by two with four seconds to go. That's nearly identical to the scenario what Duke found itself in during the loss against UConn. The Duke coach quizzed his guys on what to do.
During the NBA situation, when Jones had the ball, he decided to throw it high and directly up in the air. Scheyer emphasized that it was a good idea because it would stretch out the clock without a possibility for a turnover like extra passes did during the game on Sunday evening.
After the Bulls won, Jones was complimented for his game awareness. Jones said that it was that "Duke education" that helped him with that one.
Microsoft prepares for “the return of Xbox” Asha Sharma, Microsoft’s recently installed CEO of Xbox, has unveiled this year’s Xbox Games Showcase. This year’s Xbox Games Showcase will be presented on Sunday, June 7th, followed by Gears of War: E-Day Direct. Gears of War: E-Day will be shown in detail after Microsoft’s main Xbox showcase. […]
Pepe launched at a fraction of a cent and reached $11 billion, turning early wallets into millionaires. BNB sold for $0.15 in its 2017 presale and trades above $600 today.
The best crypto presale to buy now follows that pattern. Pepeto raised more than $8 million during Fear 9, and if the regret from missing Pepe and BNB still sits with you, last cycle made millionaires out of the wallets that moved first, and this is that same moment with a confirmed Binance listing approaching.
Pepe Turned $0 Into $11B and BNB Turned $0.15 Into $600: Where the Best Crypto Presale to Buy Now Fits
Pepe coin went from zero to $11 billion on pure meme energy with zero products, turning early wallets into millionaires, according to CoinGecko.
BNB sold for $0.15 in its presale and now trades above $600 after building exchange tools behind the token, according to CoinDesk.
The best crypto presale to buy now is where the same math lives, because the distance between presale price and listing price is where life changing returns get made, and that window closes permanently when trading starts.
The Verified Entry That Survives Every Cycle Because the Tools Create the Demand
Pepeto
One problem has punished crypto investors for years: scams and trap tokens that drain wallets before anyone sees what happened. The simple answer is a smarter way to check before your money moves, and that answer is Pepeto.
The verified exchange monitors code for hidden risks and catches sudden capital changes in real time. If large wallets move significant funds or capital gets pulled, the system flags it instantly before the price drops.
The platform spots hype and finds real opportunities in one clean space. PepetoSwap removes every trading fee, and the cross chain bridge moves tokens at zero cost.
Real checking stays essential across every market condition, which is what positions the best crypto presale to buy now to deliver after listing and keep delivering through every cycle that follows. More than $8 million raised at $0.000000186 with 191% APY staking compounding positions while stages fill. SolidProof reviewed every line of code, and the same person who launched the original Pepe coin to $11 billion on 420 trillion tokens built the exchange alongside a former Binance expert.
Wallets are entering before the Binance listing at current pricing. Once the presale closes and trading opens, the entry is gone permanently. That is exactly why analysts project 300x, and the window at Pepeto is still open, but it will not stay open much longer.
Official Trump
TRUMP went from $0.18 to $73 after the election win, one of the fastest meme coin runs ever. But the token recently hit an all time low near $2.85, and a gala dinner for the top 297 holders cannot replace the utility it never had.
The best crypto presale to buy now with verified tools and a confirmed Binance listing at 300x is the stronger entry.
Solana
SOL holds $82,40 according to CoinMarketCap, with support intact and ETF inflows of $17 million over five days. A break above $89 opens $98, but rejection sends it toward $75.
SOL has institutional backing, but even reaching $120 is a 50% move, not the return the presale at 300x from one listing delivers to the wallets that entered during fear.
Best Crypto Presale to Buy Now Confirms This Is the Second Chance to Be Early
While TRUMP hits new lows and Solana grinds sideways, the verified exchange is well positioned as the best crypto presale to buy now because the tools create real demand that drives adoption from day one, potentially delivering the 300x that analysts project from the Binance listing.
If you still regret missing Pepe at zero or BNB at $0.15, no other project combines the same cofounder, verified tools, and a confirmed listing.
The Pepeto official website is where entering now before the listing is how you make sure this time you are the one who acted early and made the life changing returns instead of the one who recognized the same pattern for the third time and let it pass while the presale closed.
Why is Pepeto the best crypto presale to buy now compared to hype tokens?
The verified exchange tools create daily demand across every cycle, unlike tokens that crash when attention fades. The Binance listing is confirmed with 300x projections from analysts.
Why is the best crypto presale to buy now better than large cap entries?
Large caps need billions for small gains. The Pepeto official website is where presale pricing at 300x from one listing delivers what SOL and BTC cannot from their current market caps.
When is the right time to enter the best crypto presale to buy now?
The presale fills during Fear 9 and the listing approaches. Once it closes, the entry price is gone permanently, and the wallets inside make what everyone else chases at a higher price.
Windows 11 update KB5079391 adds official monitor refresh rate support beyond 1,000Hz. With 2,000Hz displays coming as soon as 2030, it's good to see that our favorite OS is ahead of the game.
Microsoft has officially announced its next Xbox Summer Games showcase, which will take place on June 7, 2026, showing off the latest of what Microsoft has in-store for gamers in 2026. While it's not yet been revealed what will be shown off at the game showcase, Microsoft did confirm that there will be a Gears of War: E-Day showcase immediately after the Xbox Games Showcase, in which we're likely to see at least a new trailer and maybe a release date for the upcoming Xbox shooter, which was revealed at the 2024 Summer Xbox Game Showcase and hasn't made much noise since, despite its 2026 release date.
The Xbox Game Showcase is slated to start at 10 AM PT on June 7, which is 14:00 UTC. It's already been all but confirmed via the game's Steam store page that Gears of War: E-Day will launch for both PC and Xbox, although not much else is known about the game other than that it will be a prequel set 14 years before the original Gears of War, and that it will be built on Unreal Engine 5.
PUBG: Blindspot launched at the beginning of February as a new 5v5 top-down shooter from the same studio and publisher as the original PUBG, but now, less than two months after the launch of the game, the developer, ARC Team, has announced that the new free-to-play tactical shooter will be shutting down on March 30, 2026. ARC Team says that, although the developers had tried to explore ways to improve the game based on player feedback, the studio is "no longer able to sustainably provide the level of experience we set out to deliver through Early Access."
PUBG: Blindspot has a fairly acceptable 72% positive rating on Steam, but player counts are rather low, with an all-time peak of just 3,251 concurrent players and a 24-hour peak of just 236 at the time of writing. PUBG: Blindspot is already delisted from Steam, and players will no longer be able to access the game. This is only one of a number of recent game closures, with other notable additions including Highguard and a number of other games that were in development, like those that recently got caught up in the Ubisoft reshuffle. Further, Riot recently laid off a number of staff from its 2XKO fighting game due to sustainability reasons, all of which seem to suggest that game studios are fighting for revenue more than ever and are unable to make it work long-term if their games aren't immediately successful.
core’s price collapsed 48% in a day as $96m in trading volume briefly topped its market cap, raising doubts over capitulation versus structural failure. Core’s CORE price, a Bitcoin‑aligned Layer‑2 asset, has suffered a brutal 48% price drop in the…
Nearly half of Pump.fun traders lost money in March as viral on-chain data exposes how few wallets meaningfully profited from Solana’s memecoin frenzy. Almost half of traders on Solana memecoin launchpad Pump.fun ended March 2026 with net losses, according to…
The ECB now accepts tokenized securities as collateral, lifting DLT into its toolkit while X erupts over Axiology’s XRP Ledger roots and “no XRP” disclaimer. The European Central Bank has started accepting tokenized securities issued on distributed ledger technology as…
According to Maximo, its Version 3.0 robots now enable crews to install solar panels at rates previously impossible by human teams alone. Workers using the robots have been able to place as many as 24 photovoltaic modules per hour per person, supported by machines that assemble panels at a rate...
TSMC's most advanced nodes are particularly bottlenecked, forcing the company to prioritize a small group of "loyal" clients. A recent report from DigiTimes mentions that everyone in the chip business is asking for a piece of the Taiwanese foundry, but demand far exceeds supply across the industry, with many companies...
The MSI MAG 242F is down to $85 from its usual ~$120 price, offering strong value for budget gamers. It packs a 24-inch FHD IPS panel with a 200Hz refresh rate, 0.5ms response time, and adaptive sync for smooth gameplay, along with HDMI and DisplayPort connectivity and an adjustable stand.
Ireland's High Court granted Sky a Norwich Pharmacal order compelling Revolut Bank UAB to hand over the names, addresses, and banking details of 304 subscribers
One of the three landmark cases involving the theft of trade secrets from TSMC has run through investigative and court proceedings, and a verdict is scheduled for April 27.
A new campaign has leveraged the ClickFix social engineering tactic as a way to distribute a previously undocumented malware loader referred to as DeepLoad.
"It likely uses AI-assisted obfuscation and process injection to evade static scanning, while credential theft starts immediately and captures passwords and sessions even if the primary loader is blocked," ReliaQuest researchers Thassanai
MSC Cruises announced today that it is cancelling its planned 2026-27 season in the Middle East onboard the MSC World Europa. According to a press release, the decision is part of a revised deployment for 2026-27 that will strengthen its presence in the Caribbean. Replacing the MSC Seaview, the MSC World Europa will make its...
Carnival Cruise Line has donated more than 1,000 towels to children learning to swim in Vanuatu, the company said in a statement. Since this island nation has the world’s fourth‑highest drowning rate, the cruise line is providing funding for swimming lessons through the guest-funded Pacific Partnerships program. “Carnival guests love visiting Vanuatu, and this towel donation is one way we can give back to...
Ambassador Cruise Line CEO Christian Verhounig has told trade partners the cruise line’s 2026 and 2027 programs are fully hedged and there are no plans to introduce fuel surcharges despite rising fuel costs. In a letter to trade partners dated March 30, Verhounig said the escalating crisis in the Middle East should end any illusion...
Samsung has announced that it is starting work on a new technology – silicon photonics. The company shared this news at the OFC 2026 event in Los Angeles.
Silicon photonics is a way to transmit data using light rather than electricity. Using light makes data travel faster and uses less power. This is very useful because AI data centers are growing and need to move a lot of data quickly.
Samsung reportedly announced it is ready to start making these new chips when customers send their designs. The company has already prepared everything needed for production.
First, Samsung will focus on making chips called photonic integrated circuits (PICs). These chips combine many small parts into one. These parts help turn electrical signals into light, send the light, and then turn it back into electrical signals.Earlier, these parts were made separately, but now they are placed on one chip.This makes the system faster and more efficient.
Samsung also said its technology can reach speeds of 224 Gbps per lane. This means future devices can be very fast, up to 1.6 Tbps. At the beginning, the company will sell these chips for optical modules, even though other companies are already in this market.
In the coming years, Samsung plans to improve its technology step by step. It aims to launch optical engines in 2027, better chip packaging in 2028, and full co-packaged optics (CPO) by 2029. This will help it compete strongly in the future. Stay tuned for more information.
Fans have been eagerly waiting for the sequel to The Last of Us Part II. Naughty Dog stays pretty tight lipped about its upcoming projects and there have been no updates on whether there will be a Part III or not, but the latest post from Druckmann seems to hint at its existence.
The Fallout 4 Anniversary Edition was released for the Nintendo Switch 2 on February 24. While there were concerns about the graphics and performance at launch, Bethesda is now improving the game by adding Nvidia DLSS through a free update.
Xgimi has officially launched the new Titan Noir series 4K projectors in the global market with a launch discount. The Titan Noir series consists of a total of three projectors, including the Titan Noir, the Titan Noir Pro, and the Titan Noir Max. The high-end Noir Max features up to 7,000 ISO lumens of brightness and a 240 Hz refresh rate.
The Google Pixel 11 has surfaced in an early leak. By the looks of things, Google will finally be modernising even its cheaper flagship this year, thanks to slimmer display bezels and an updated camera housing.
Deal | FRONT MISSION 1st: Remake is a remake of the 1995 strategy classic and throws players into a futuristic war fought with heavy combat mechs. The game is currently available on Steam at an 80% discount for $6.99, making it cheaper than ever before.
The voice actor for Kliff agrees with Crimson Desert reviews that call the open-world game’s story shallow. Alec Newman details how Pearl Abyss procrastinated about deciding on a plot. Despite his objections, the title shipped with a narrative that many players find nonsensical.
The OnePlus Nord CE 6 Lite is expected to be the company's upcoming budget smartphone offering. Ahead of any official announcement, a leak has revealed key specifications of the device.
A long-haul truck driver shows on Reddit just how far gaming in a truck can go: instead of a simple console in his cab, he has installed a complete SimRacing station. The setup, which costs around $6,000, may seem a little over the top, but it could be entirely justified in the monotonous day-to-day life of a trucker.
Google wants to make it much easier to switch from ChatGPT, Grok and other AI apps to Gemini. New import tools can transfer memories, preferences and complete chat histories so users no longer have to start from scratch.
vivo just announced the X300s alongside the X300 Ultra, and Oppo is unveiling its competitor to the latter next month in the form of the Find X9 Ultra. But the company is also eager to let us know that it has an X300s competitor of sorts in the pipeline as well, namely the Find X9s Pro.
The company has just published the teaser video you can see below on its official Weibo account. The Find X9s Pro will have a 200MP main camera and a 200MP periscope telephoto camera, which is a setup that has also been rumored in the past for the non-Pro Find X9s. There's also a 50MP ultrawide, and...
The Wolfbox MF50 Electric Air Duster has been an excellent buy to keep dust from clogging my gaming PC, and this cheap gadget is now on sale once again.
Mantis takes disparate sources of data to make synthetic datasets that can be used to build so-called "digital twins" of the human body, representing anatomy, physiology and behavior.
Tufts index projects 9M U.S. jobs at risk from AI. Writers and Authors, Computer Programmers, and Web and Digital Interface Designers top the risk list.
A bug in Google Ads Editor is causing structured snippet extensions copied between accounts to remain unintentionally linked. When advertisers change the language in one account, it can automatically update the same extension in another.
Why we care. This bug creates hidden inconsistencies for advertisers managing multi-market campaigns, especially when different languages are required across accounts.
What advertisers are seeing. The issue surfaced while managing Czech and Slovak e-commerce accounts by digital marketer Marcin Wsół. Changing the snippet language in one account triggered the same change in the other.
The extensions appear separate but behave as if synced.
Zoom in. Using the Google Ads web interface can temporarily correct the issue, however, further edits in Editor may cause the language settings to toggle again.
Also. The bug isn’t limited to cross-account use. PPC News Feed founder, Hana Kobzová, founder that copying structured snippets within the same account can also lead to incorrect language settings after edits.
Between the lines. Advertisers relying on bulk edits in Editor may unknowingly overwrite localization settings, leading to mismatched messaging across markets.
Bottom line. Until fixed, advertisers should double-check structured snippet languages after copying or editing in Google Ads Editor—especially when working across accounts or regions.
First seen. This error was first picked up by Wsół, which was picked up by PPC News Feed.
Google says a new compression algorithm, called TurboQuant, can compress and search massive AI data sets with near-zero indexing time, potentially removing one of the biggest speed limits in modern search systems.
What it is. TurboQuant is a way to shrink and organize the data that powers AI and search without losing accuracy. It reduces memory use while keeping results precise and cuts the time to build searchable AI indexes to “virtually zero,” according to the research paper.
How it works. Modern search converts content into vectors (lists of numbers that represent meaning). Similar ideas sit close together in this numeric space, and search finds the closest matches.
However, these vectors are large and expensive to store and search. TurboQuant addresses this by using much smaller data that behaves almost exactly like the original, through:
Smart compression. It rotates the data mathematically to compress it cleanly, like organizing messy items into neat boxes.
Error correction. It adds a 1-bit signal to fix small compression errors and preserve accuracy.
What it means. Vector search — the system behind semantic search and AI answers — has been slow and expensive at scale. TurboQuant makes it faster and cheaper. Google says it enables faster similarity search, lower memory costs, and real-time processing of massive datasets.
Why we care. Google can evaluate far more documents per query, not just a small subset. If/when Google adopts this in Search, AI Overviews could pull from a broader, more precise set of sources, making it easier to generate instant summaries from large data pools.
Having established as one of the top players in Serie A, Nico Paz has caught the attention of several European clubs. As a result, the Argentine is reportedly at the top of a list of three players that Real Madrid are looking to sign for the 2026–27 season.
After establishing as one of the best players in Serie A, Nico Paz has attracted the attention of numerous clubs such as Inter Milan. Given his strong performances, the Argentine has reportedly caught the eye of Real Madrid, who are seeking a return. Alongside him, two other players have joined the list of potential returns that Los Blancos are targeting ahead of the 2026–27 season.
According to Francisco José Delgado via Cadena SER, Real Madrid have decided they will count on Nico Paz, Endrick, and Víctor Muñoz ahead of the 2026–27 preseason. While the Brazilian is on loan and would not require a fee, they would need to trigger the buy-back clauses for the Argentine, valued at €9 million, and the Spaniard, valued at €8 million. Despite this, their continuity in the squad would not be guaranteed.
Although Endrick, Paz, and Víctor have been shining with their respective teams this season, they will have to prove themselves at Real Madrid, where a final decision will be made on their futures. However, the Argentine arrives established as one of the best players in Serie A, meaning he could directly compete with Thiago Pitarch for a starting spot. Alongside him, the Brazilian could remain in the squad, serving as rotation for Kylian Mbappé or Vinícius Jr.
Víctor Muñoz may find it harder to stay at Real Madrid. He could be a natural replacement for Vinicius Jr. However, coach Álvaro Arbeloa has decided to adjust his lineup, leaving room for only two forwards. Furthermore, the presence of Franco Mastantuono, Rodrygo Goes, and Brahim Díaz could close the door on him. Given this, the Spaniard could leave again, but on loan to control his future.
Nico Paz of Como 1907, Endrick of Olympique De Lyon, and Victor Munoz of Spain.
Real Madrid could make significant changes to their offense
Throughout the 2025–26 season, Real Madrid have struggled to maximize the level of several of their players. Because of this, the potential returns of Víctor Muñoz and Endrick open the door to possible departures. Neither Rodrygo Goes nor Franco Mastantuono have managed to establish themselves as regular starters. In addition, Brahim Díaz and Gonzalo García could also be affected, so the upcoming preseason may open the door to exits.
As young players, Gonzalo García and Franco Mastantuono could be the most likely to leave Los Blancos, as they still need to prove their potential. With this, Víctor Muñoz and Endrick would gain more space in the rotation. Despite this, the continuity of Álvaro Arbeloa or the arrival of a new coach could reshape all plans. Therefore, the only certainty is that several players will define their future during the next preseason.
Tottenham TV schedule and streaming links Following Tottenham Hotspur from the United States has never been more vital for supporters as the club navigates a season of significant transition. Now competing in the UEFA Champions League following their continental success last spring, Spurs are a fixture of mid-week and weekend television. World Soccer Talk's Tottenham […]
Tottenham TV schedule and streaming links
Following Tottenham Hotspur from the United States has never been more vital for supporters as the club navigates a season of significant transition. Now competing in the UEFA Champions League following their continental success last spring, Spurs are a fixture of mid-week and weekend television. World Soccer Talk’s Tottenham TV Schedule provides the current broadcasting landscape to ensure you never miss a minute of the action from North London.
Tottenham Hotspur: At a Glance
Stadium: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Major Honors: 2 League Titles, 8 FA Cups, 2024/25 UEFA Europa League Champions
Current Pillars: Cristian Romero, Mohammed Kudus, Xavi Simons
How to Watch Tottenham in the United States
To see every Spurs match in the 2025/26 season, fans must navigate a combination of traditional networks and primary streaming platforms.
Premier League: NBC Sports & Peacock
The Premier League remains the core of the Spurs schedule, with NBC Universal holding the exclusive US rights.
National TV: Marquee matchups for Tottenham are typically broadcast on USA Network or the main NBC channel. These can be streamed through live services like Sling Blue, Hulu + Live TV, and DirecTV Stream.
Peacock Exclusive: Many of Tottenham’s league fixtures—particularly early Saturday kickoffs—are found only on Peacock Premium.
Spanish Language: Look to Telemundo or Universo for high-quality Spanish broadcasts.
UEFA Champions League: Paramount+
Following their 2025 Europa League title win, Spurs have returned to the Champions League.
Paramount+: This is the exclusive English-language home for every UCL fixture.
ViX: Provides the corresponding Spanish-language streaming coverage for European nights.
Domestic Cup Ties: FA Cup & Carabao Cup
The FA Cup: All rounds of the FA Cup are broadcast exclusively on ESPN+.
The Carabao Cup: These fixtures generally air on Paramount+, which serves as the US home for the English Football League’s cup competition.
The Identity of the Modern Spurs
Tottenham Hotspur has entered a new chapter defined by a blend of proven international stars and a commitment to elite young talent. Under the lights of their world-class stadium, the club continues to chase the “Glory, Glory” tradition that has defined its history. Having re-established themselves as a force in Europe, the focus now remains on finding domestic consistency during a transitional season.
The current identity of the squad is anchored by the leadership of captain Cristian Romero. With the summer 2025 arrivals of Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons, the Spurs attack has taken on a new, explosive dimension. The club is building toward a future that honors its heritage of attacking, entertaining football while competing against the elite of the global game.
Looking ahead to next season, Manchester United appeared to be targeting Roberto De Zerbi as a strong candidate for the head coach position. However, they seem to be on the verge of losing him, as the Italian is reportedly close to joining Tottenham Hotspur.
Despite Michael Carrick’s impressive performance, Manchester United are reportedly still searching for candidates to become the new head coach. In light of this, Roberto De Zerbi emerged as a strong contender. However, the Red Devils appears to be on the verge of losing him, as the Italian is reportedly close to joining Tottenham Hotspur on a lucrative contract to take over this season.
According to reports by Ben Jacobs and Alex Crook on X (formerly Twitter), Tottenham Hotspur have decided to prioritize the imminent arrival of Roberto De Zerbi. After leaving Olympique Marseille as a free agent, the Italian is reportedly on the verge of joining the English club, as he has been offered a five-year contract with a high salary. As a result, the Red Devils have lost their supposed top choice for the new head coach position.
Amid Spurs crisis, the decision to back Roberto De Zerbi is generating more concern than relief. Throughout his professional career, the Italian has not faced a challenge like pulling a team away from relegation, something Tottenham are experiencing this season. In addition, he has not managed to last more than two seasons at his last three clubs, which makes the long-term contract a source of concern.
While Roberto De Zerbi was a highly regarded option at Manchester United, they weren’t looking to get into a bidding war to secure his signing either. The Italian coach has yet to win titles in Europe’s top leagues, so his arrival reportedly didn’t generate widespread support. Consequently, his move to Spurs appears to be a smart move for his career, but a risky one for the team’s survival in the Premier League.
Roberto De Zerbi acknowledges the fans following the Premier League match.
Carrick continued tenure at Manchester United could be real
Michael Carrick has had a positive impact at Manchester United. Since his arrival, the team has put in solid performances and secured a spot in the UEFA Champions League. In addition, he has helped improve the performance of several players, including Kobbie Mainoo, Benjamin Sesko, and others. Given the difficulty in securing a highly experienced head coach, Carrick’s continued tenure as head coach could become a reality.
According to ESPN, the Red Devils are considering Julian Nagelsmann, Andoni Iraola, Unai Emery, and Oliver Glasner as leading candidates for the head coaching position. Despite this, Carrick stands out as the top candidate, as he has had a positive impact not only on results but also on the team’s play and the development of the roster.
While Carrick does not have solid experience as head coach, he has reshaped the Red Devils roster into a highly competitive one. Coming from several wrong bets in the coaching spot, Manchester United may look to build on their current success, as several of the team’s stars seem quite comfortable and the results are promising.
Roberto De Zerbi looks on prior to the Premier League match.
could be set to challenge for a world title in his next fight. Itauma proved yet again on Saturday why he is one of the most exciting stars in boxing after he recorded a destructive fifth round knockout win over Jermaine Franklin at Co-Op Live in Manchester. Franklin had never been stopped before heading into […]
A Milli Takım Teknik Direktörü Vincenzo Montella, Kosova maçı öncesi düzenlenen basın toplantısında açıklamalarda bulundu.
A Milli Futbol Takımımız, 31 Mart Salı günü 2026 Dünya Kupası play-off final maçında Kosova ile deplasmanda karşılaşacak. 'Bizim Çocuklar' mücadeleyi kazanarak 24 yıllık Dünya Kupası hasretine son vermek istiyor. Mücadele öncesi milli takımımızın teknik direktörü Vincenzo Montella ve futbolculardan basın toplantısında açıklamalarda bulundu.
MONTELLA'NIN AÇIKLAMALARI
"İLK GÜNDEN BUGÜNE KADAR TFF'NİN DESTEĞİNİ HİSSETTİM"
"Öncelikle 2,5 senenin özetini yapmak istiyorum. Öncelikli olan futbolcularımız, onlar gerçek adamlar! Büyük futbolcu olmadan önce, büyük adamlar olarak ellerinden gelenin en iyisini yaptılar. Çok kritik bir dönemde geldim. Kendi tarihi boyunca kendi evinde kaybetmemiş Hırvatistan'ı yendik. O günden itibaren oyuncular, bana her zaman, her şeylerini verdiler. Oynayan, oynamayan herkes savaşan bir grup oldu. Formalarının arkalarında kendi isimlerinin değil, büyük milletin isminin yazdığını fark ettiler. Bu ülkenin, bana kendinden biri gibi davrandığını da kalbimde taşıyorum. İlk günden bugüne kadar TFF'nin desteğini hissettim. Resmi maçlarda en yüksek puan ortalamasını sahipsem, bu bana verilen destek ile oldu. Dünyada saygı duyulan bir milli takım haline geldik. Uluslar Ligi'nde yükseldik, FIFA sıramalasında yükseldik. Herkese teşekkür ederim. Oyuncularımı kendi evlatlarım, ailem gibi hissediyorum. Sayın Hacıosmanoğlu'na teşekkür ederim. Uzun süredir hayalini kurduğumuz Dünya Kupası hayalimiz için elimizden geleni yapacağız."
"SONUÇ NE OLURSA OLSUN..."
"Kosova maçında sonuç ne olursa olsun, oyuncularıma karşı düşüncelerim asla değişmeyecek. Onları hiçbir şeye değişmem."
"FİNAL MAÇINA ÇIKACAĞIZ"
"Kosova hak ederek buralara geldi. Taktiksel olarak kurguları görüldü, çok net bir oyun ve fikir var. Bunu maç içinde görebiliyorsunuz. Final maçına çıkacağız. Biz de en iyi şekilde hazırlanarak, ne yapmak istediğimizi biliyorum."
"24 YILIN SORUMLUSU BU ÇOCUKLAR DEĞİL"
"Baskıyı herkes hisseder. Bu bir final. 24 yıldır gitmedik ama oyuncularımızın çoğu doğmamıştı. 24 senedir gidemediysek, sorumlusu onlar değil. Bu kez gitmek istiyoruz, ülkemiz için en iyisini yapacağız."
"FARKLI BİR MAÇ OLACAK"
"Kosova'nın güçlü yönlerini törpülemek gerekiyor. Buna çalıştık. Kendi özelliklerimizi de ön plana çıkaracağız. Farklı bir maç olacak."
"BİRLİKTE HAREKET EDERSEK HER ŞEYİ BAŞARABİLİRİZ"
"Oyuncularımız yürekleriyle oynarken, bayrağımız altında herkesi birleştirdi. Neleri başarabileceğimize şahit olduk. Birlikte harekete edersek, her şeyi başarabiliriz."
"SADECE KOSOVA MAÇINI DÜŞÜNÜYORUZ"
"Dünya Kupası'ndaki rakiplerimize bakmadım bile. Avustralya, ABD, Paraguay ile ne yaparız diye düşünmedim. Sadece Kosova maçını düşünüyoruz. Paraguay'ın Yunanistan ile maçı vardı ama ekibimizden kimseyi göndermedik. Bizim tek hedefimiz şu an bu maç"
"TÜRK GİBİ HİSSEDİYORUM"
"Zorlayarak konuşmuyorum, gerçekten Türkiye'de çok iyi hissediyorum. Başkanımızla dostluğumuz çok iyi. Yarın farklı kararlar alırken de zorlanmayız. Kültürlerimiz çok yakın, ben de benzer şekilde büyüdüm. Türk gibi hissediyorum."
ZEKİ ÇELİK HAKKINDA
"Zeki Çelik konusunda ilk maç riske girmek istemedik. Kosova maçı için de duruma bakacağız."
Fenerbahçe Beko Erkek Basketbol Takımı'nda 32 yaşındaki oyun kurucu Scottie Wilbekin ile yolların ayrıldığı duyuruldu.
Sarı-lacivertli kulüpten yapılan açıklamada, "Her şey için teşekkürler Scottie Wilbekin! Fenerbahçe Beko Erkek Basketbol Takımı'mız, 2022-23 sezonunda kadromuza katılan ve çubuklu formamızla mücadele ettiği dört sezonda elde edilen birçok başarıda pay sahibi olan oyuncumuz Scottie Wilbekin ile karşılıklı anlaşarak yollarını ayırmıştır. Scottie Wilbekin'e takımımıza yapmış olduğu katkılar için teşekkür ediyor, kariyerinin bundan sonraki döneminde kendisine başarılar diliyoruz." denildi.
ABD doğumlu olan Wilbekin, daha önce Türk Milli Basketbol Takımı'nda forma giymişti.
Wilbekin, Fenerbahçe Beko'nun yanı sıra Türkiye'de Darüşşafaka'da görev aldı.
Trabzonspor, Trendyol Süper Lig'in 28. haftasında 4 Nisan Cumartesi günü sahasında Galatasaray ile yapacağı maçın hazırlıklarını sürdürdü.
Mehmet Ali Yılmaz Tesisleri'nde teknik direktör Fatih Tekke yönetimindeki antrenmanın ilk bölümünde oyuncular, dinamik ısınma çalışması gerçekleştirdi.
5'e 2 ile devam eden antrenman, dar alan oyunuyla sona erdi.
Bordo-mavili takım, hazırlıklarına yarın yapacağı antrenmanla devam edecek.
Galatasaray'ın 1 numaralı transfer hedefi Bernardo Silva... Portekizli 10 numara, Manchester City Yönetimi'yle görüşerek son kararını onlara iletti.
Bernardo Silva, sözleşmesi 30 Haziran'da bittiğinde takımdan ayrılacağını Manchester City Yönetimi'ne bildirdi. Aslında bu gelişme bekleniyordu. Zaten Premier Lig ekibiyle Portekizli yıldız arasındaki yeni mukavele görüşmeleri çok uzun bir süre önce durmuştu.
4 İHTİMALİ BULUNUYOR
Galatasaray'ın 10 numara listesinde Bernardo Silva zirvede bulunuyor. 31 yaşındaki futbolcunun adı aynı zamanda Juventus, Inter Miami ve Barcelona'yla da anılıyor. Sarı-Kırmızılılar bir süredir oyuncu cephesiyle görüşüyor. Portekizli yıldız, son kararını City ile kontratı tamamlandıktan sonra verecek.
MERTENS SONRASINDA
Galatasaray Mertens'in ayrılığı sonrasında 10 numara bölgesinde sorun yaşıyordu. Birçok farklı oyuncu bu görevi üstlendi. Ancak asıl bölgesi 10 numara olan kimse yoktu. Sarı-Kırmızılılar benzer problemlerle karşılaşmak istemiyor. Silva ve çeşitli alternatifler konusunda çalışmalar sürüyor.
“Mbappe ilə canlı görüşməmişəm. Onun oyunlarını ancaq televizorda izləmişəm. Onu ancaq futbolçu olaraq qiymətləndirə bilərəm. Kilian meydanda inanılmaz şeylər edir”, deyə Platini vurğulayıb.
Kilian Mbappe futbola Fransanın “Bondi” klubunda qədəm qoyub. Ardınca “Klerfonten”ə keçib, oradan isə “Monako”ya yol tapıb və böyük futbolda məhz “Monako” ilə debüt edib. 2015-2018-ci illərdə Knyazlıq klubunun əsas komandasında çıxış etmiş Mbappe, 2018-ci ilin iyul ayında 180 milyon avro məbləğ müqabilində PSJ-yə keçib. Kilian 2018-2024-cü illər aralığında Paris klubunun heyətində 307 oyuna çıxıb, 256 qol, 108 məhsuldar ötürmə ilə fərqlənib. Vurduğu 256 qolla Kilian PSJ tarixinin ən sərrast futbolçusudur.
Kilian Mbappe 2024-cü ilin iyul ayında PSJ-dən azad agent qismində ayrılaraq “Real”a keçib. “Kral klubu” fransalı hücumçu ilə müddəti 2029-cu ilin iyun ayının sonuna qədər qüvvədə olacaq müqavilə imzalayıb.
Mbappe cari mövsümdə “Real”ın heyətində 35 oyuna çıxıb, 38 qol vurub, 4 məhsuldar ötürmə verib. Fransalı futbolçunun Madrid klubunun heyətində ümumi statistikası isə belədir: 94 oyun, 82 qol, 11 məhsuldar ötürmə.
Kilian Mbappe hazırda kapitanı olduğu, 2017-ci ilin mart ayında debüt etdiyi Fransa yığmasının heyətində 96 oyun keçirib, 56 qol vurub və 40 məhsuldar ötürmə verib. Kilian “xoruzlar”la 2018-ci ildə Rusiyada keçirilmiş dünya çempionatının (DÇ-2018) və UEFA Millətlər Liqasının (2021) qalibi olub.
“Transfermarkt” internet-portalı 27 yaşlı fransalı hücumçunun transfer dəyərini 200 milyon avro məbləğində qiymətləndirir.
“Atalanta”nın hücumameyilli yarımmüdafiəçisi Daniel Maldini icarədə oynadığı “Latsio”dakı durumunu dəyərləndirib.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, Maldini “Latsio”da məmnun olduğunu bildirib:
“Məşqçimiz (italyan mütəxəssis Mauritsio Sarri) mənə inanır. Mən bunu duyuram. Bu, yaxşı çıxış etməyim üçün çox vacibdir”, deyə Maldini vurğulayıb.
“Milan”ın məzunu olan Maldini bundan mövsümün sonunadək “Latsio”da çıxış edəcək. Sözügedən klub 25 yaşlı italyan futbolçunu satınalma şərti ilə icarəyə götürüb. “Latsio” Danielin yarım mövsümlük icarəsi üçün Berqamo təmsilçisinə 1 milyon avro ödəyib. Yarımmüdafiəçi paytaxt təmsilçisinin heyətində 9 oyuna çıxıb, 1 qol vurub, 2 məhsuldar ötürmə müəllifi olub.
Xatırladaq ki, Daniel Maldini “Milan”ın yetirməsidir. Hücumameyilli yarımmüdafiəçi “Montsa”, “Spetsiya” və “Empoli”də də çıxış edib. “Atalanta” Maldinini 2025-ci ilin əvvəlindən “Montsa”dan 13 milyon avro müqabilində heyətinə qatmışdı. Onun bu klubla müqaviləsi 2029-cu ilin iyun ayının sonuna qədər qüvədədir.
Maldini “Atalanta” üçün 22 oyun keçirib, 3 qol və 1 məhsuldar ötürmə ilə fərqlənib.
Daniel Maldini İtaliyanın U-18, U-19 və U-20 yığmalarında oynayıb, əsas yığmada isə 2024-cü il oktyabrın 14-də debüt edib. Maldini millidə 6 oyun keçirib, fərqlənə bilməyib.
Daniel Maldininin qənimətlər muzeyində “Milan”la İtaliya A Seriyası çempionluğu (2021/2022) var.
“Transfermarkt” internet-portalı 24 yaşlı italyan yarımmüdafiəçinin transfer dəyərini 10 milyon avro məbləğində qiymətləndirir.
Xatırladaq ki, Daniel “Milan”ın əfsanəvi futbolçusu Paulo Maldininin oğludur.
PSJ-nin gürcü hücumçusu Xviça Kvaratsxeliya 2025-ci ilin yanvar ayında “Napoli”dən Paris klubuna keçidini əsaslandırıb.
Arena.az gürcü futbolçunun müvaviq açıqlamasını təqdim edir:
“Həmin vaxt digər seçimlərim də vardı. Amma Luis Enrike və Luis Kamposun, PSJ layihəsini mənə necə təqdim etmələri, məndə böyük təəssürat oyatdı”, deyə Kvara vurğulayıb.
Xatırladaq ki, PSJ Kvaratsxeliyanı 2025-ci il yanvarın 17-də heyətinə qatıb. Tərəflər arasında müqavilənin müddəti 2029-cu ilin 30 iyununa qədərdir. Gürcü futbolçu Paris klubuna 2022-ci ildən çıxış etdiyi “Napoli”dən 70 milyon avro məbləğ müqabilində keçib.
Xviça indiyə qədər PSJ-nin heyətində 69 oyuna çıxıb, 20 qol vurub, 15 məhsuldar ötürmə müəllifi olub.
Gürcü futbolçu klub karyerası ərzində “Dinamo” (Batumi), “Rubin” (Kazan), “Lokomotiv” (Moskva), “Rustavi”, “Dinamo” (Tiflis) və “Napoli” komandalarında oynayıb. O, Neapol klubu ilə İtaliya çempionu olub.
Xviça Kvaratsxeliya 2019-cu ilin iyununda debüt etdiyi Gürcüstan yığmasının heyətində 49 oyuna 22 qol vurub, 10 məhsuldar ötürmə verib.
“Transfermarkt” internet-portalı 25 yaşlı gürcü sol cinah hücumçusunun transfer dəyərini 90 milyon avro məbləğində qiymətləndirir.
Xatırladaq ki, Xviçanın atası Badri Kvaratsxeliya vaxtilə Azərbaycanın “Kəpəz” və “Şəmkir” komandalarında çıxış edib. Badri Kvaratsxeliya həm də Azərbaycan milli komandasının uğurları üçün çalışıb.
“Bayern”in müdafiəçisi Rafael Qerreyru mövsümün sonunda komandanı tərk edəcək. Msport.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə Münhen klubunun rəsmi saytı məlumat […]
The 19-year-old is considered one of the most promising young talents in Brazilian football and is eager to join the Rossoneri.
He hopes to help the move go through by giving up his 30 per cent stake in the deal, but even then, President Osmar Stabile blocked the transfer when a €17m move had been seemingly agreed.
André a firm target for Milan
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – SEPTEMBER 13: Andre of Corinthians competes for the ball with Julio Fidelis of Fluminense during the match between Fluminense and Corinthians as part of Brasileirao 2025 at Maracana Stadium on September 13, 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
That was a few weeks ago, and according to ESPN Brasil, Milan came back with a new and improved bid now worth €22m including add-ons.
That is represented by €18m plus another €4m in bonuses.
It remains to be seen if that will be sufficient, but the player is under contract with Corinthians until December 2029.
Since he was promoted to the senior squad, he has contributed four goals in 28 competitive games.
There is competition from other clubs for André, including Atletico Madrid, who see him as an alternative to Atalanta’s Ederson.
The Italian media is warning Gennaro Gattuso and his Italy players that while Bosnia do have strengths, the biggest thing they have to fear in the World Cup play-off is fear itself.
Having struggled to see off Northern Ireland 2-0 in the semi-final, the Azzurri go head-to-head with Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday evening for a place in the 2026 World Cup.
The tension is palpable, as is perhaps inevitable for a nation that missed out on the World Cup in both 2018 and 2022 by losing these play-offs.
Anxiety is Italy’s worst enemy
BERGAMO, ITALY – MARCH 26: Gennaro Gattuso of Italy looks on prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Italy and Northern Ireland at Stadio di Bergamo on March 26, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
This double-edged sword is something the Gazzetta dello Sport warns about in its opinion page, where Sebastiano Vernazza notes “the primary enemy is anxiety.”
In this situation, and having been spotted celebrating the Bosnian victory over Wales in a penalty shoot-out, the biggest risk is that the Nazionale are under-estimating their rivals.
On the other hand, that can go too far the other way and create a sense of panic within the group that hinders their performance.
BERGAMO, ITALY – MARCH 26: Manuel Locatelli, Federico Gatti and Gianluigi Donnarumma of Italy interact after the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Italy and Northern Ireland at Stadio di Bergamo on March 26, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
To quote Franklin D Roosevelt, the only thing Italy “have to fear is fear itself. Nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyses needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.” The Nazionale are scared of their own shadow, which takes the form of two consecutive World Cup play-off failures.
When taking on Bosnia, the Gazzetta warns “it’d be a mistake to underestimate them and a mistake to overestimate them, to believe they are the most difficult of obstacles.” The risk is that too much focus on the pressure will just add more of it to a team already struggling with the weight of a nation’s expectations.
There is going to be a fiery atmosphere in Zenica, but no less than they would’ve faced in Cardiff. Wales are 35th in the FIFA world ranking, compared to Bosnia in 71st place, remarkably two places lower than Northern Ireland.
The pitch is going to be a mess and there are reports of more snow, which could make losing the ball cheaply to spark a counter-attack very likely indeed. “But the rest is the terror of not making it for a third time in a row, so anxiety will be the most insidious opponent.”
Brazil national team head coach Carlo Ancelotti has sent his best wishes to the Italy side ahead of their World Cup play-off final against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday evening and has given even more praise to his former Real Madrid midfielder, Luka Modric, now at Milan: ‘There’s nobody like him on the world market’.
Ancelotti: ‘I hope Italy qualify, but I won’t be able to watch’
epa12137461 Italian Carlo Ancelotti attends a press conference where he was presented as new head coach of men’s Brazilian national soccer team in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 26 May 2025. Ancelotti announced his first squad list for Brazil’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay. EPA-EFE/Andre Coelho
Italy will be in World Cup play-off final action away against Bosnia and Herzegovina at 19.45 BST on Tuesday evening, while Brazil, who have already qualified for the 2026 tournament, will take on Croatia in a friendly in Florida, USA, later on in the same night, kicking off at 1.00 BST in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Monday, Ancelotti told reporters: “I hope Italy qualify for the World Cup, but I won’t be able to watch the national team tomorrow. We have to prepare for our match against Croatia.” (via ANSA).
Among the opposition for Ancelotti’s Brazil in their upcoming friendly will be former Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric, who has excelled in Serie A at the age of 40 this season.
MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 08: Luka Modric of AC Milan celebrates the victory at the end of the Serie A match between AC Milan and Inter at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on March 08, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
“Modric can play in every position in the midfield, because he is a complete and modern player, one of the best players I have ever coached and a spectacular professional with an extraordinary passion for football,” Ancelotti said ahead of his reunion with the Rossoneri veteran.
He concluded: “There is nobody like Modric on the world market.”
The Brazilian was forced to leave the training session early on Saturday after feeling pain in his right thigh, and there were fears of a strain.
Dodo still a doubt for this weekend
FLORENCE, ITALY – DECEMBER 11: Domilson Cordeiro dos Santos known as Dodo of ACF Fiorentina in action during the UEFA Conference League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between ACF Fiorentina and FC Dynamo Kyiv at Stadio Artemio Franchi on December 11, 2025 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Juventus had already been linked with Raphael Guerreiro for January, and it’s now confirmed he will be a free agent when his Bayern Munich contract expires on June 30.
The Portugal international left-back joined Bayern Munich for free from Borussia Dortmund in 2023 and his current deal only runs to the end of the season.
This afternoon there was a formal announcement on the Bayern Munich website confirming that the club and player have mutually agreed not to extend his contract.
Juventus target Guerreiro will leave Bayern Munich
WIESBADEN, GERMANY – AUGUST 27: Raphael Guerreiro of Bayern Munich during the DFB Cup match between SV Wehen Wiesbaden and FC Bayern München at BRITA-Arena on August 27, 2025 in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
“We could always rely on Rapha on the pitch, and he is one of those characters who enriches any dressing room. Our discussions with him were constructive and based on trust and mutual understanding.
“We are now focusing, alongside him, on our goals for the rest of the season – there’s still a lot we want to achieve together.”
Guerreiro has so far made 89 competitive appearances for Bayern Munich, scoring 12 goals and providing eight assists.
Although primarily a full-back, he can also play in central midfield.
Juventus had already been linked with a possible swoop for the 32-year-old in January, where he would effectively replace Filip Kostic, another player who will be a free agent in July.
The highly sought-after Nicolo Tresoldi still has three senior national team options available to him, but reports in Germany claim that Argentina are making attempts to pin down the talented 21-year-old, who was born in and is eligible to represent Italy.
Tresoldi, who has 13 goals from 30 appearances to his name in the Belgian Pro League with Club Brugge this season, is eligible to represent Italy, Germany and Argentina at senior international level.
The 21-year-old centre-forward was born in Italy to an Italian father, Emmanuele, who played for Atalanta, and an Argentine mother, but moved to Hanover with his family at the age of 11 and has since gone on to represent Germany at U19 and U21 level. He has 12 goals from 23 Germany U21 caps.
BRAUNSCHWEIG, GERMANY – MARCH 27: Nicolo Tresoldi of Germany in action during the UEFA Under21 EURO Qualifier between Germany U21 and Northern Ireland U21 at Eintracht Stadion on March 27, 2026 in Braunschweig, Germany. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
According to BILD, who describe Tresoldi as Germany’s ‘greatest striking talent’, Argentina are in contact with the player’s entourage and are hoping to secure his services for their senior national team.
There have, however, also been calls in Germany for Julian Nagelsmann to give the youngster an opportunity in their senior national side, calls that resurfaced after the 21-year-old netted a brace in a 3-1 victory over Northern Ireland’s U21s on Friday.
BRAUNSCHWEIG, GERMANY – MARCH 27: Nicolo Tresoldi of Germany celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Under21 EURO Qualifier between Germany U21 and Northern Ireland U21 at Eintracht Stadion on March 27, 2026 in Braunschweig, Germany. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Speaking in an interview in October, Tresoldi confirmed that he had not received any calls from the Italy set-up: “I’m not surprised Italy didn’t call me. Italy already has many great strikers, so there is a lot of competition for places there,” Tresoldi said in an interview with Il Messaggero.
“Seeing as my mother is from Argentina, I even have the possibility of playing for them, but I have not made a decision yet.”
Former Milan, Roma and Juventus coach Fabio Capello saw the ‘usual flows’ of Italian football in the Azzurri’s 2-0 win over Northern Ireland, but enjoyed the ‘reaction’ and the contribution of Francesco Pio Esposito.
Italy are off to Zenica today, on the eve of the World Cup play-off Final against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Azzurri trained at Coverciano on Monday morning, before taking a private flight to Bosnia. Later today, coach Gennaro Gattuso and captain Gigio Donnarumma will preview the Final during a pre-match press conference.
The Azzurri beat Northern Ireland 2-0 in Bergamo last week with goals from Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean in the second half.
“Having overcome that obstacle with a shy first half and a second half in which we found ourselves again was psychologically very important,” Capello told Gazzetta.
“It certainly helped the players understand our real value, and I believe that Gattuso, ahead of the match with Bosnia, will also work on this.”
The Azzurri were not let down by a mediocre first-half performance in Bergamo last week and, after the break, created several goal-scoring opportunities, securing a deserved victory.
Capello examined the positives and negatives of the latest Azzurri performance.
“Starting with the negatives, I’d say the usual flaws we often see in Italian football. Sideway passing, slowness, little vertical play and a lack of personality when in possession,” he said.
“As for the positives, the reaction was important, and I also liked the introduction of Pio Esposito, who brought a certain balance. All three attacking options are good, but Retegui and Kean are a bit too similar. Pio, on the other hand, especially in key moments, has that strength and aerial ability that can become fundamental, along with excellent vision.”
Capello: ‘Italy have good defenders, but…’
The Azzurri will likely face a hostile environment, but Capello is more worried about what might happen on the pitch.
“I’m concerned about corner kicks and free kicks, particularly how we’ll defend inside the penalty area,” he said.
epa10494184 Former Italian soccer coach Fabio Capello arrives for the The Best FIFA Football Awards 2022 ceremony in Paris, France, 27 February 2023. EPA-EFE/YOAN VALAT
“We have very good defenders with the ball at their feet, but they are less suited to marking. Bosnia relies heavily on this, and just on Thursday night, Dzeko managed to get the better of players strong in the air, like those from Wales. We’ll be facing a national team with quality and personality, starting with that 18-year-old who took the last penalty, Alajbegovic.”
Surely, the ex-Italian tactician will follow the match with the same passion he had as a coach: “I suffer for the national team. I suffer too much…I scream,” he said. Just as an ordinary fan.
Italy Under-21 coach Silvio Baldini took the unusual step of announcing his starting XI ahead of tomorrow’s European qualifier in Sweden. ‘We are making just one change.’
CREMONA – OCTOBER 14: Coach Silvio Baldini of Italy reacts during the UEFA Euro U21 Qualification match between Italy and Armenia at Stadio Giovanni Zini on October 14, 2025 in Cremona. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)
“The only change we’ll make is bringing in Seydou Fini, because Luigi Cherubini has a slight back ache, but will be available off the bench,” said the coach in his press conference.
“We can’t kid around with Sweden, who are physically strong, and we’ve got to make sure that we press them back, not the other way around.
“To achieve that, we need a high tempo, intensity, and be sure to win it back quickly when we lose the ball. I think Sweden will be set out in a 4-4-2 in possession, and a 4-3-1-2 off the ball, alternating with the 3-4-3 option.”
The Italy Under-21 side won all its games in the European Championship qualifiers, except for the 2-1 in Poland when down to 10 men.
As Poland have a 100 per cent record, that is the difference between the two teams so far going for top spot in the group.
EMPOLI – MARCH 26: Luca Lipani of Italy U21 celebrates after scoring the team’s second goal during the UEFA Under 21 EURO Qualifier match between Italy U21 and North Macedonia U21 at Stadio Carlo Castellani on March 26, 2026 in Empoli. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
“The lads understood they need to be a team, to have a clear idea of the approach and how to develop it. They’ve improved so much since I first saw them in September, also thanks to more playing time for their respective clubs.
“They must improve every day with what they do in training, remembering it is only thanks to good performances that you can achieve victories. Everyone tracks back to help, starting with the strikers.
“This also helps create the spaces for attacks from midfield, which is why so many of them have been on target.”
When Italy beat North Macedonia 4-0 last week, the goals came from Cher Ndour, Luca Lipani, Jeff Ekhator and Fini.
Leon Goretzka has been heavily linked with a move away from Bayern Munich at the end of the season.
His contract with the German champions expires in June, and Manchester United are interested in securing his signature. They will compete with Arsenal for the 31-year-old German International, according to reports from SportWitness.
Goretzka has been a reliable performer for club and country in recent seasons, and there is no doubt he has the quality to succeed in the Premier League. He will add defensive cover, physicality and drive in the middle of the park. Manchester United need someone of his quality and experience, especially with Casemiro leaving the club in the summer.
Signing a player of his quality on a free transfer could be a masterstroke from Manchester United. It remains to be seen whether they can beat Arsenal to his signature. Goretzka has six league titles and one Champions League trophy to his name.
The midfielder will demand wages of around €7 million per season, and Manchester United certainly have the financial muscle to afford him. Meanwhile, Arsenal could use more depth in the middle of the park, and the German International would be an upgrade on Christian Norgaard.
Arsenal are favourites to win the Premier League title, and they will be an attractive destination for top players in the summer.
On the other hand, Manchester United is still in the midst of a rebuilding period. It will be interesting to see if the Bayern Munich star is prepared to join them instead of Arsenal.
Manchester United need to improve the engine room if they want to fight for major trophies next season. Apart from the 31-year-old German, they should look to invest in a midfield controller as well, who will help them dominate contests in the middle of the park.
Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold has revealed that Spurs are closing in on a deal to appoint Roberto De Zerbi as their new head coach.
The North London club, currently embroiled in a dire relegation scrap, are moving swiftly following the departure of Igor Tudor, who left the club by mutual consent after just 44 days and zero Premier League wins.
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Alasdair Gold gives update on Roberto De Zerbi
Writing on X, Gold shared that the “feeling within Spurs” is one of growing confidence that they have found their man in the former Brighton and Marseille boss.
The Italian’s expansive, possession-based philosophy is seen as a perfect stylistic match for the club’s identity, a “high risk, high reward” approach that Spurs missed under Thomas Frank.
Gold noted internal “question marks” regarding how quickly De Zerbi can implement his complex tactical demands with only seven games remaining to save the club’s top-flight status.
Furthermore, the reporter highlighted potential friction with the fanbase following De Zerbi’s controversial comments regarding Mason Greenwood when he signed him for Marseille.
While Spurs are reportedly offering a lucrative five-year deal to lure the 46-year-old, Gold pointed out that the Italian’s track record doesn’t scream long term.
Gold stated: “Feeling within Spurs is they’re closing in on their man in Roberto De Zerbi. His football matches how club want to play. Question marks over how quickly he can implement it & reaction to his Greenwood comments. Track record doesn’t scream long term but Spurs rarely do long term.”
Feeling within Spurs is they're closing in on their man in Roberto De Zerbi. His football matches how club want to play. Question marks over how quickly he can implement it & reaction to his Greenwood comments. Track record doesn't scream long term but Spurs rarely do long term.
De Zerbi appointment would shut door on dream Pochettino return
For a large section of the Spurs faithful, the news brings a bittersweet realisation: the door on a romantic return for Mauricio Pochettino appears firmly shut for now.
The other issue of course is that Spurs were originally looking to get to the summer and a wider managerial market. The perilous situation has changed that. Rules out managers like Andoni Iraola and Mauricio Pochettino, who was keen on a summer reunion with Spurs.
By moving in for De Zerbi on a permanent basis rather than opting for a short-term “firefighter” like Sean Dyche, the Tottenham hierarchy could be opting against a dream Pochettino return.
If the deal is finalised, De Zerbi will be tasked with the immediate mission of securing Premier League safety, starting with a daunting trip to Sunderland on April 12.
Belgian midfielder Mandela Keita has been linked with a move away from Parma at the end of the season and Tottenham Hotspur are keen on him.
The North London club have scouted him extensively and they are prepared to make a move in the summer. It remains to be seen whether the Italian club is prepared to sell the 23 year-old at the end of the season. The defensive midfielder has been a key player for them, and his departure would be a blow.
However, the opportunity to join a Premier league club will be hard to turn down for the Belgian. It would be a massive opportunity for him, and he will look to take the next step in his career. Tottenham need a quality defensive midfielder like him who can help them protect the back four and control games.
As per reports via SportWitness, Aston Villa are interested in the player as well. They need more quality and depth in the team if they want to build a side capable of competing in Europe regularly.
The midfielder has a contract with Parma until 2029, and they are under no pressure to sell him in the summer. Tottenham and Aston Villa will have to come forward with an outrageous offer in order to convince them.
The 23 year-old has the physical and technical attributes for Premier League football and he could establish himself as a key player for either club. Even though they might have to pay a premium right now, the Belgian might be able to justify the investment in future.
Aston Villa are currently pushing for Champions League qualification. On the other hand, Tottenham are fighting for survival in the Premier League. It will be interesting to see where the 23 year-old ends up.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Inter Miami have opened talks with Casemiro over the possibility of the veteran midfielder moving to Florida after the expiration of his contract with Manchester United this summer. Casemiro has already revealed he would be leaving Old Trafford at the end of the season, and despite some more recent speculation about […]
DR Congo competed as Zaire at the 1974 World Cup, losing all three matches including a 3-0 defeat to holders Brazil [VI-Images / Getty Images]
Football fans in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been waiting a long time to right the wrongs of their solitary World Cup campaign in 1974.
That was the year US President Richard Nixon resigned over the Watergate scandal, the Rubix Cube was invented and Muhammad Ali beat George Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle in the Congolese capital Kinshasa.
Victory for the Leopards in Tuesday's intercontinental play-off final against Jamaica will end that 52-year wait and guarantee Africa a 10th representative at this year's tournament in Canada, Mexico and the USA.
"I'd definitely consider it as the biggest game in my football career," Burnley defender Axel Tuanzebe told Sportsworld on BBC World Service, while former captain Gabriel Zakuani labelled it "the biggest game in our history".
Should DR Congo win, over 110 million people back home, as well as a huge global diaspora, will pray things go better this time than they did in West Germany, when their country competed as Zaire.
That campaign kicked off poorly with a 2-0 defeat against Scotland, careened off the tracks in a 9-0 humiliation against Yugoslavia and descended into farce during a 3-0 loss to Brazil which produced one of the World Cup's most memorable moments.
Not in a good way.
"What on Earth did he do that for?" was the question posed by BBC commentator John Motson when right-back Mwepu Ilunga charged out of the defensive wall and booted the ball downfield as Brazil lined up a free-kick on the edge of the Zaire penalty area.
Ilunga received a yellow card, but the damage done to African football's reputation was more severe, creating an impression that players from the continent did not even know the rules.
"We were not a bad team," Mohamed Kalambay, one of the goalkeepers in the 1974 squad, told BBC Sporting Witness in 2022.
"When you look at the teams in Africa, there are just a few that have been to the World Cup, but we were there and we deserved it."
Darker reasons have been suggested for Ilunga's moment of madness and the team's underperformance, ranging from unpaid bonuses to threats of violence.
Now a new generation hope to create their own iconic moments to banish those ghosts.
Victory against Jamaica will see them join a group containing Portugal, Uzbekistan and Colombia.
"The aim is to also compete and put on a good show," said Zakuani, an assistant coach with DR Congo's Under-20s, "not just be participants, not just be happy to be part of the party, but also to create history".
President Mobutu ran DR Congo as a flamboyant but ruthless dictator for 26 years while M23 rebels now hold sway in large parts of the east of the country [Reuters]
When they qualified in 1974, Zaire were only the third African side to reach the World Cup after Egypt (1934) and Morocco (1970).
Since then this huge, resource-rich nation – Africa's second largest by area and fourth by population – has been forced to watch enviously as smaller rivals such as Ghana, Senegal and Tunisia have made multiple appearances at global football's showpiece.
The explanation comes in the form of corruption, political instability and war – constants since the end of Belgium's extractive colonial rule in 1960.
The 1974 side, who were also reigning Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) champions, were backed by President Mobutu Sese Seko, the iron-fisted dictator who ran the country from 1971 to 1997, using his power to amass a huge personal fortune, some of which he invested into football.
"We were at the presidency. We went to see him because he wanted to encourage us," is how Kalambay remembered the man who gave each member of the Afcon-winning side a house and a car.
Congo have not been back to the Afcon final since.
"The impact over the last 50 years has been profound," said sports journalist Jean-Jacques Akengelaka, who points to facilities which have been "destroyed" and "corruption and poor governance within sport".
"Unlike other African countries, DR Congo has long lacked structured training centres, pitches, quality facilities and technical coaching."
Mobutu's reign was ended by conflict as the two Congo wars, which ran from 1996-2003, pulled in nine different African nations and claimed up to six million lives.
Fighting continues in the east of the country, where the M23 rebel group controls key cities including Goma and Bukavu, something which inspired DR Congo's squad to use their semi-final appearance at the 2023 Afcon to call for peace.
Yoane Wissa was part of the team which staged a protest ahead of their 2023 Afcon semi-final, calling for greater coverage of the conflict in eastern DR Congo [Getty Images]
During the national anthem players covered their mouth with one hand while using the other to point like a gun at their temple.
Newcastle forward Yoane Wissa said at the time that he hoped the run to the last four had allowed those affected to "smile a bit", while Tuanzebe describes football as "giving a breath of fresh air to the country".
Freddy, a fan in Bukavu, told BBC Sport Africa that while not everyone views it that way, the majority "live out of football" and its power to "unite".
"It will really have much impact on my life and that of my neighbours," he said ahead of the clash with Jamaica, which is being played in Mexico.
But while Bukavu has plenty of social venues, the time difference, which means kick-off will be in the middle of the Congolese night, will see most fans watching at home.
"It is really very dangerous and deadly to move out in clubs, in bars to watch the match," Freddy explained.
"Whenever someone moves out late in the night, automatically he must be killed. Our area here in Bukavu is really dangerous due to the rebel occupation."
The Leopards reached Fifa's intercontinental play-offs after finishing second behind Senegal in their qualifying group.
They then had to negotiate a four-team African play-off, beating Cameroon before overcoming Nigeria on penalties in the final.
Recruiting players from the diaspora has been key to the team's success, both at Afcon and now in World Cup qualifying – a tactic deployed to good effect by other African nations including Cape Verde, who have already qualified for their maiden World Cup.
For example, both Tuanzebe and fellow defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka are former England youth internationals.
"I didn't have any doubts. As soon as I joined, they welcomed me, accepted me, I was happy and everything's been smooth ever since," West Ham's Wan-Bissaka told BBC Sport Africa at the recent Afcon in Morocco, where DR Congo exited in the last 16.
"It's where my parents are from. I grew up in a Congolese household, and I was just proud to represent them."
Of the current 26-man squad, 10 were born in head coach Sebastien Desabre's home nation France, five in Belgium, two in Switzerland and one in England.
Eight were born in Congo, yet many spent their childhoods in Europe.
Only two, midfielder Meschak Elia and forward Fiston Mayele, have played senior football for a Congolese club side.
"Many talented players have to go abroad at a very early age," explainedAkengelaka.
"There is unstable organisation, insufficient funding and little media coverage of competitions at national level."
Barcelona stars like Lamine Yamal and Marcus Rashford now warm up in training tops which advertise DR Congo as "the heart of Africa" [Getty Images]
It seems unlikely the league system will produce international-quality players any time soon.
The 2022-23 Linafoot season went unfinished after the government withdrew subsidies to help clubs pay air fares - the only way to get around this vast country - while individual teams have recently failed to find the funds to finish their campaigns.
The national federation, Fecofa, has been unable to improve things, having been without an elected leader since former president Constant Omari was suspended from all football-related activity for a year in June 2021.
The BBC has also heard from civil servants, whose salaries have gone unpaid, who are unhappy with the money spent supporting the Leopards' bid for World Cup glory.
"We're very privileged to have everything that we need. We're not longing for anything andit enables us to go and perform the best we can," admitted Tuanzebe, who hopes the team can now hold up their end of the bargain.
"This is one of those moments where this is bigger than just football, this is leaving a legacy behind, a moment in our history that we'll always remember and always cherish."
Woods was pictured being driven away from Martin County Jail following his arrest last week [Getty Images]
Tiger Woods' latest fall from grace poses questions for the future running of men's professional golf as well as the personal life of the 15-time major champion.
Such has been Woods' standing in the game, his influence has grown with seniority despite a history of wayward driving stretching back almost two decades.
Never mind the multiple infidelities revealed after hitting a hydrant and tree (2009), a reckless driving conviction (2017) and a high speed crash that miraculously involved no other vehicle (2021), Woods has been golf's go-to guy.
Last Friday, he flipped his Range Rover on a quiet residential street on Florida's Jupiter Island and the world was treated to another disheveled mugshot of one of sport's most famous faces.
Charges of driving under the influence (despite passing a breathalyser test for alcohol), refusing a urine test and property damage will follow due process.
Meanwhile, we wait for a response from Woods and wonder if he will show up at Augusta for next week's Masters. The odds are against.
And already observers are wondering whether this is the incident that should finally shake golf from its Tiger Woods dependency, because the sport has repeatedly seemed duty bound to turn to the 50 year-old to shape its future.
Augusta wanted a new public nine-hole golf course - "The Loop". Let's get Tiger to design it.
The PGA Tour sets ups a committee to decide its future shape. Let's get Tiger to chair it.
The US needs to win back the Ryder Cup. Let's get Tiger to be Captain America.
The list goes on.
Woods has been a player director on the PGA Tour Policy Board since August 2023 and vice chairman of the PGA Tour Enterprises board for the past two years.
The tour also brought in a special rule to make Woods eligible for all of their big money Signature Events, even though the current world number 3,736 has completed all four rounds in only four tournaments since 2020.
His TMRW Sports company, in conjunction with Rory McIlroy, set up the TGL Indoor league, supported by the PGA Tour. Its second season concluded last Tuesday with a perspiring Woods making a TV ratings-boosting appearance in the finals.
"His on-course presence is matched by his voice or his off-course presence," PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan told ESPN four years ago, when his circuit was desperately trying to fight off the threat of the breakaway LIV Golf league.
"I think his peers look at him as a leader; the leader on the golf course, but also a leader off of it."
But for how much longer?
Will Woods be present for the scheduled opening of "The Loop" next week?
Or will he be lying low, as he has done when previous car crashes have revealed a troubled side to his life?
And if he does disappear from the fray, how can he continue to chair the US tour's future competitions committee? Bosses want the time ahead mapped out by the end of June - for them the timing could not be worse.
This might be a dawning moment, when the golfing world realises that someone capable of winning a record-equalling 82 PGA Tour titles might not be the best qualified to shape its future.
Holing pressure putt after pressure putt to dominate golf tournaments does not equip one to understand a balance sheet, cashflow projection or forecast rights revenues.
Such talent and sporting temperament did put him in a spotlight that no other golfer has ever endured and it would seem such scrutiny for a fundamentally shy man may have been too much to bear.
And so even on golfing matters, Woods credentials are being questioned. Is he the best man to lead a Ryder Cup team? He only appeared on one winning side in eight attempts and often gave an impression that would rather be elsewhere.
Furthermore he was too busy to captain the 2025 team and has not exactly jumped at the chance of doing the job next year.
American officials want their captain appointed quickly and Woods is hardly in the right place to be able to accept their job offer. They are likely to be actively trawling an alternative list, set to be headed by former Open champion Stewart Cink.
Another alternative might have emerged in Gary Woodland, a vice captain at Bethpage last year. Woodland's stirring Houston Open win last Sunday, his first since brain surgery 30 months ago, came three weeks after revealing a PTSD diagnosis and is the stuff of sporting legend.
Woods has often been lauded for his comebacks from injury which have fed his remarkable reputation, but Woodland has achieved his with a grace that has always seemed beyond his near namesake.
Of course, Woodland has never led the harshly spot-lit life of Woods, but his openness regarding his struggles is an interesting counterpoint to Tiger's ultra private existence.
Dangerously, it takes car smashes for the problematic side of the former world number one's life to be revealed.
And this latest fender bender might be the one that finally illuminates dashboard warning lights for those bosses who have always so hastily turned to Woods in the past.
Euro 2028 will be held across nine stadiums in the UK and the Republic of Ireland [Getty Images]
Uefa will broadly freeze ticket prices for Euro 2028 - meaning supporters will be able to buy five for the price of a single parking space at a World Cup stadium in the United States this summer.
The Euros in England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland will see 40% of tickets allocated to the two most affordable "Fans First" categories.
For Euro 2024 in Germany, the cheapest group stage tickets cost 30 euros (£26) and 60 euros (£52). Uefa aims to keep these below £30 and £60 respectively for 2028.
There will be four categories in total, plus a small number of VIP+ tickets which will provide the funding to freeze prices for general fans.
Group stage tickets in the more expensive categories at Euro 2024 were 150 euros (£130) and 200 euros (£174). No detail on pricing at this level has yet been confirmed.
It is a stark contrast to Fifa's controversial pricing policy at this summer's World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The cheapest group-stage games for England were originally priced at $220 (£167), with the most expensive $700 (£523).
Fans at Euro 2028 could potentially see all three group games at the Euros for the price of one category three World Cup ticket.
But that is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of prices at the World Cup.
The Athletic has reported that the average charge for a parking space at a World Cup match in the United States is now $175 (£133). Spaces for group-stage games at MetLife Stadium near New York cost $225 (£171).
Uefa has promised to reserve 10,000 tickets for each country for all group matches.
Fifa allocated under 4,000 tickets to each national association at the World Cup, despite most stadiums being bigger.
Controversially, Fifa has applied dynamic pricing throughout its sales periods, leading to prices being further inflated.
The final tranche of World Cup tickets will be released by Fifa on Wednesday.
Euro 2028 will not have dynamic pricing and Uefa has promised that roughly half will be affordable.
Fifa, meanwhile, has offered no detail on how many tickets are available in each category.
There has been controversy over the pricing for disabled fans, too. At the World Cup they must pay full price and there is no free ticket for a companion.
At Euro 2028, disabled supporters can access the cheapest categories and request a complimentary ticket for a helper.
Uefa's resale value will be face value, while World Cup tickets are resold on a secondary market at inflated prices, with Fifa taking a 30% cut on top - 15% each off the buyer and seller.
A full list of ticket prices and sales dates for Euro 2028 will be announced in autumn 2027, with the first window opening after the draw in December.
Like the World Cup, ticket prices for the Euro 2028 will rise through the knockout rounds.
But tickets for the semi-finals and final of the Euros will be nothing like at the World Cup.
Supporter value tickets for the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will be £3,119. At Euro 2024, the same band of tickets cost 95 euros (£82.50).
Euro 2028 host venues
England: Everton Stadium, Manchester City Stadium, St James' Park, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Villa Park, Wembley Stadium
Batter up! The 2026 Philadelphia Phillies season is here, which means there is plenty of fun planned at the ballpark this spring and summer.
The Phils celebrated Opening Day on March 26, where they faced off against the Texas Rangers with a 5-3 win.
Want to catch your favorite team in person? Here's a look at the Phillies April schedule, including what perks you can get at Citizens Bank Park.
Phillies 2026 Schedule. When do the Phillies play at home this April?
April 1 vs. Washington Nationals; 1:05 p.m.
April 10 vs. Arizona Diamondbacks; 6:40 p.m.
April 11 vs. Arizona Diamondbacks; 1:05 p.m.
April 12 vs. Arizona Diamondbacks; 1:35 p.m.
April 13 vs. Chicago Cubs; 6:40 p.m.
April 14 vs. Chicago Cubs; 6:40 p.m.
April 15 vs. Chicago Cubs; 6:40 p.m.
April 17 vs. Atlanta Braves; 6:40 p.m.
April 18 vs. Atlanta Braves; 7:15 p.m.
April 19 vs. Atlanta Braves; 7:20 p.m.
April 28 vs. San Francisco Giants; 6:40 p.m.
April 29 vs. San Francisco Giants; 6:40 p.m.
April 30 vs. San Francisco Giants; 1:05 p.m.
When is BOGO hot dog night at Citizens Bank Park? BOGO hot dogs Phillies
The first Hatfield Phillies Franks BOGO Night is scheduled for the Phils' Tuesday, March 31 game against the Washington Nationals.
Next month, BOGO hotdog nights will be:
Monday, April 13 against the Chicago Cubs
Tuesday, April 28 against the San Francisco Giants
When can I get free stuff at the Phillies game? Phillies Citizen Bank Park freebies
Here's the April 2026 schedule for giveaway and promotional gifts at Philadelphia Phillies home games:
Saturday, April 11 against the Arizona Diamondbacks - children 14 and under receive a hooded sweatshirt
Sunday, April 12 against the Arizona Diamondbacks - children 14 and under receive a Colonial Phanatic Bobble Head
Saturday April 18 against the Atlanta Braves - children 14 and under receive an Independence Blue Cross Trea Turner Replica Jersey
Kaitlyn McCormick is a Philadelphia-based reporter writing all things trending, breaking and city-related for USA TODAY's Philadelphia Metro Connect Team.
The Bears thought they had found a long-term left tackle in Ozzy Trapilo last season, but the rookie's run came to an end when he tore his patellar tendon in the team's first playoff game.
Trapilo's recovery from the injury is expected to stretch into the 2026 season and he may not be able to return at all, so the team's plans at the position came up when head coach Ben Johnson spoke to reporters from the league meeting in Arizona on Monday.
Johnson said, via Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times, that the team will consider all options when it comes to filling Trapilo's spot in the lineup. Those options will include both short- and long-term ones and Johnson said that the process makes it hard to predict how the position will look in the coming years.
Theo Benedet, Kiran Amegadjie and Braxton Jones all return from last season and the Bears have also signed Jedrick Willis as a free agent. The draft will offer more chances to add to those options, so it will likely be a while before the plans are clear in Chicago.
Florida State is fresh off the Legacy Weekend event, and they're right back to the regularly scheduled spring practices. Of course, these sessions come with visits from potential prospects.
On Monday, FSU will have a high school freshman on campus as 2029 cornerback James Allen announced his visit via social media on Sunday.
"I will be at FSU for practice tomorrow!!! 🍢," Allen wrote.
Florida State extended an offer to Allen last May when he was in the eighth grade. He would take two unofficial visits during the 2025 season for FSU's games against Alabama and Miami.
Allen already has a loaded list of around 30 offers on the table. It includes some heavy hitters like Alabama, Miami, Auburn, Florida, Colorado, LSU, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and others.
The 6-foot-2, 165-pounder is coming off a spectacular freshman season at Carrollwood Day High School in Tampa, Florida. He racked up 30 tackles, seven interceptions, nine pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. Allen also contributed on offense with nine receptions for 187 yards and a touchdown, as well as on special teams with one punt return score.
Allen doesn't have a ranking by any major recruiting sites at the moment.
Contact/Follow us @FSUWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida State news, notes and opinions. You can also follow Matthew on X @StarConscience
After that fateful Mullins shot, Hurley celebrated with his team before mean-mugging a referee right in his face, seemingly to say "How about them apples?"
If this ref had called a technical foul on Hurley for taunting him, it would have sent a Duke player to the free-throw line for a chance to alter the result with just a fraction of a second left.
Hurley's enigmatic personality is so much fun, but he's got to be careful in a moment like that not to let his emotions rob him and his team of ultimate glory. Maybe save the ref jabs for the postgame press conference?
Inter Milan & Dutch Wingback Makes Honest Admission After Returning From Injury: “I’m Not The Player I Used To Be”
Inter Milan star Denzel Dumfries has delivered an honest assessment of his current form after returning from a lengthy layoff.
During today’s press conference, the 29-year-old addressed his current condition, as reported by FCInterNews.
Currently away on international duty, Denzel Dumfries has just returned from a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Indeed, he suffered a severe ankle injury during Inter’s 20- home win over Lazio at the start of November.
After undergoing surgery in December, he had to wait until March to rejoin the Nerazzurri squad.
Meanwhile, Cristian Chivu has handed the former PSV Eindhoven defenders back-to-back starts in Serie A.
However, Dumfries was a shadow of his former self against both Atalanta and Fiorentina.
In his defense, he is still trying to find his rhythm following a five-month layoff.
Despite being inactive for the majority of the season, Dumfries has received Ronald Koeman’s call-up for the March friendlies.
Furthermore, he registered an assist in the Netherlands’ 2-1 win over Norway last week.
Inter Milan Star Denzel Dumfries Makes Honest Admission After Recovering from Long-Term Injury
“It hasn’t been a pleasant period,” Dumfries said. “If you’re a footballer, you want to play. Now my preparation in training is different compared to before. It takes more time and involves a very specific program.
“I’m still happy to be back. The key thing now is to keep going on this path, also because I’m not yet the player I used to be. It will take a bit more time,” he commented on his starting berth in the national team.
“When things didn’t go well defensively in the previous match, it was up to me to say something, and that’s exactly what I did. The other experienced players and I are not afraid to voice our opinion.”
Asked whether he feels indispensable, Dumfries replied: “No, I don’t feel like an undisputed starter. There’s strong competition. You have to prove your worth in every national team match.”
Nov 22, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Louisville Cardinals quarterback Deuce Adams (13) throws the ball during the second half against the SMU Mustangs at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The Wisconsin Badgers revamped their quarterback room this offseason, adding Colton Joseph and Deuce Adams from the transfer portal, while landing four-star high school recruit Ryan Hopkins as well. Those three are the early leaders in the quarterback room, with 2025 four-star Carter Smith competing to be in the mix as well, as Wisconsin looks to have a better year offensively after a frustrating campaign last season.
Under offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes, the Badgers are prioritizing dual-threat quarterbacks who can elevate an offense in multiple ways, and that’s what they saw in all three of their newcomers.
But, with a brand-new room and a lot of new skill position players as well, there has been a learning curve in getting up to speed on the playbook and the install. That’s why the Badgers went at a slower pace this offseason in comparison to previous years.
“As coaches, we’re all experiencing a new era of college football,” Grimes said last week. “And I think there’s a balance there between recognizing what your players can handle, but at the same time trying to get them ready for spring ball and then ultimately the season.
“And we did go slower and, you know, bringing in new coaches, that is one way that bringing in new coaches sort of impacted us because you got to catch them up to speed with the system as well. And so I would say we just went a little bit slower this offseason. And so I don’t know that I would say we’ve simplified the playbook. I would just say we didn’t install as much as early as than we had before.”
With quarterbacks, the early part of the learning curve often comes with mistakes. But the coaching staff encourages some of those in spring ball to help speed up the learning process.
“Every day is an evaluation, but, you know, I think part of that growth is making those mistakes,” Grimes continued. “And, as a coaching staff, we have to walk the line between not being willing to accept certain things, but also recognizing that along the way, they have to make some of those mistakes in order for them to really learn.
“And so if a quarterback is going to throw a ball from the boundary hash all the way to the field flat, and he doesn’t know whether he can do that versus a certain coverage or whether someone from defense is going to actually buzz the flat fast enough to take away that throw. He’s got to try that before he recognizes where his limitations are. And quite honestly, we as coaches have to see that too. So yes, there are mistakes from the quarterbacks in all the positions. And, you know, to some extent, that’s not bad as long as they’re making new mistakes and they’re not making the same ones.”
Early in spring ball, we’ve seen Deuce Adams get a ton of opportunities behind Colton Joseph as the Badgers evaluate their quarterback room. What has Grimes seen from Adams so far?
“Deuce, like all of our quarterbacks, there’s a learning curve going on,” Grimes acknowledged on Tuesday. “Just new offense, new things being asked of him. A player that’s played a little bit, but not a ton. I like his poise. I think he’s a guy that doesn’t get too high, doesn’t get too low, and he’s a good all-around player. He’s got a really nice touch on the ball. Has made some really good plays. Did it again today as well.”
Wisconsin is hoping to have far better injury luck at the position than they’ve had the last few years, but they also want to see more success regardless of whose on the field. That process starts now in the spring, and we’ll continue to track how the growth is for the entire quarterback room throughout spring ball.
The Cleveland Browns have made headlines with their upcoming proposal at the NFL’s Annual League Meeting. The proposal would center around allowing NFL teams to trade first round picks up to five years in the future, compared to the current three-year restriction. It’s ironic, of course, considering one of the last groundbreaking NFL trades was the Browns trading three years' worth of first round picks for Deshaun Watson, and it failed in miserable fashion.
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay expressed his opinion on a new episode of FanDuel Network’s “The Up & Adams Show”, hosted by Kay Adams. He discussed this rule change with Kay and explained how there was a “zero percent chance” that it would get approved at the NFL’s Annual League Meeting. He also gave some further comments on Browns GM Andrew Berry:
“I respect the courage of Andrew to have very sound reasoning about what’s behind it (the proposition), but if there’s one thing you can bet Vegas odds on, it’s that proposal not getting through.”
Why the Browns want the rule change
The reason behind the Browns' request for this rule change has yet to be revealed. Fans and reporters have speculated that the franchise would have a higher price than three first round picks for star defensive end Myles Garrett. Others predict that the Browns are tired of taking chances at the quarterback position, and could be willing to risk it all for the right prospect.
Either way, the approval of this rule change would make things very interesting for the future of the Cleveland Browns.
Triple H attends Netflix's Debut of WWE Monday Night Raw - Roger Kisby/Getty Images
Tonight, "WWE Raw" will be held from "The World's Most Famous Arena," Madison Square Garden, and in addition to several title matches taking place on the show, there has been an update on some of the stars who will be appearing on the red brand.
According to PWInsider Elite, The Judgement Day's Roxanne Perez is expected to return to WWE programming this week, and with her being assigned to the "Raw" roster, the current plan is for her to be at MSG tonight. For the last two months, Perez has been out of action in order to have a benign cyst removed from her back. As of Sunday morning, PWInsider Elite reports that Perez is still scheduled to return to "Raw" tonight.
Elsewhere in the women's division, "WWE SmackDown's" Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss are also expected to appear on Monday's episode of "Raw." Over the past few weeks, Flair and Bliss have been involved in WWE Women's Tag Team Championship picture, and have started to feud with teams from both "Raw" and "SmackDown." On tonight's episode, Nia Jax and Lash Legend will defend the Women's Tag Team Championships against Bayley and Lyra Valkyria, a match that Flair and Bliss could definitely be present for.
Other matches that have been announced for tonight include The Usos defending the WWE World Tag Team Championships against The Vision in a Street Fight, Penta versus Kofi Kingston for the Intercontinental Championship, and IYO SKY versus Raquel Rodriguez. Additionally, Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar will both be in attendance for tonight's show to build to their respective WrestleMania 42 matches.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins appeared in 10 games last season for the Atlanta Falcons. File Photo by Mike Zarrilli/UPI
March 30 (UPI) -- Jimmy Garoppolo and Kirk Cousins are among the backup quarterbacks the Los Angeles Rams will consider signing, coach Sean McVay told reporters Monday.
Garoppolo, who spent last season as the primary backup to Rams starter Matthew Stafford, is a free agent this off-season. Stetson Bennett and Stafford are the only quarterbacks under contract with the Rams in 2026.
The Atlanta Falcons, who signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract in 2024, released the veteran quarterback this off-season.
McVay said at the NFL annual meetings Monday in Phoenix that he spoke to Cousins and his agent about potentially backing up Stafford, according to ESPN and the Rams website. The Rams also hope Garoppolo decides to return.
Stafford, 38, signed a two-year, $84 million restructured contract with the Rams last off-season. The 17-year veteran led the NFL with 4,707 passing yards and a career-high 46 passing touchdowns en route to MVP honors last season. Stafford completed 65% of his throws and threw just eight interceptions over 17 starts.
Veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (L) spent the last two seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. File Photo by Jon SooHoo/UPI
Cousins, 37, completed 61.7% of his throws for 1,721 yards, 10 scores and five interceptions over 10 appearances last season for the Falcons.
Garoppolo, 34, did not attempt a pass over three appearances last season for the Rams. He completed 27 of 41 passes for 334 yards, two scores and an interception over one start for the Rams in 2024.
The Atlanta Falcons released veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins earlier this month. File Photo by Mike Zarrilli/UPI
McVay worked with Cousins from 2014 to 2016, when he was the offensive coordinator of the Washington Redskins. A fourth-round pick by Washington in 2012, Cousins appeared in 38 games and made a Pro Bowl during that span.
"I think Jimmy is working through his process right now," McVay told NBC. "We would love to be able to have him. There are some other guys that are out there. We do need to be able to add another guy into that room.
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said he has spoke with free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins and his agent this off-season. File Photo by Gary Caskey/UPI
"That's something we are looking at. Obviously, people make some of the connections with Kirk. ... I know he has some other options and some other suitors, but Jimmy and Kirk are guys that I would love to be able to have back with us."
The team put together a “Recovery Day” which it called a celebration of people fighting mental health and substance abuse disorders.
“There’s someone in our family, in our friend circle that it affects,” an attendee said. “It’s normal and there are people in Charlotte that are here to help reduce the stigma and help make that change.”
VIDEO: Channel 9 sits down with Hornets center Moussa Diabaté
Pato O’Ward came into Barber Motorsports Park riding a wave of three consecutive top five finishes, but that momentum came to an abrupt halt after finishing 17th on Sunday.
It was an uncharacteristic weekend considering the Mexican’s success around the 2.3-mile, 17-turn natural terrain road course, which is highlighted by one win (2022), two additional top fives and a sixth-place result in six previous starts.
The outing for O’Ward relegated him from third to sixth in the championship standings after four races, 50 points behind overall leader Kyle Kirkwood (156-106).
“It was a really difficult day for us here at Barber,” said O’Ward, 26. “I don't have an answer right now as to why we struggled. I'm happy to see the 7 with Christian get a podium; I know they were fighting there for the win. There are things we need to work on as a team, but I'm glad one of the cars from the team was strong.”
A significant reason why O’Ward is puzzled by the performance is the similarities in setup between his car and the one Lundgaard drove to a runner-up finish.
“We need to see where we went wrong, but we weren't all that different than their car, so it was a very confusing day and one of those weekends where I felt helpless inside of the race car,” O’Ward said.
And O’Ward went further, expressing this lowly result provided motivation moving forward.
"The good thing about getting beat like this is you kick it into a different gear,” he said. “We'll be pushing hard to make sure we don't let something like this happen again."
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur offered strong praise for new Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, calling him one of the hardest workers with a brilliant football mind during his media session at the NFL owners' meetings. Mannion, who previously coached under LaFleur in Green Bay, has quickly built a reputation as a rising offensive coach in the NFL. The former NFL quarterback has earned glowing remarks from two of his most important players in the first two months on the Eagles' coaching staff. Star right tackle Lane Johnson joined Jalen Hurts in praising Mannion's offensive approach, highlighting the Shanahan/McVay factors in the offense.
Hurts praised Mannion, calling him "amazing" and saying he's excited for what's ahead, adding the two have already been in communication. During a sit-down with Ryan Fitzpatrick and Andrew Whitworth, Johnson echoed those sentiments while hinting at playing less one-on-one on the outside at offensive tackle.
A former NFL quarterback and 2015 third-round pick, Mannion, 33, played four seasons with the Rams, three seasons with the Vikings, and one season in Seattle with the Seahawks as a backup quarterback. Mannion is widely credited with playing an instrumental role in Malik Willis's development, who went from a bust in Tennessee to a $67.5 million contract with the Dolphins. During his NFL combine media session, GM Howie Roseman spoke on Mannion's arrival and what it could mean for Jalen Hurts.
Hurts threw for 3,224 yards, 25 touchdowns, six interceptions, with 421 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns in 16 regular-season games.
Mannion will coordinate and build the Eagles' new offense and should thrive, having been a career backup quarterback who'll fully understand what Jalen Hurts is experiencing under center. Mannion has seen everything in the NFL, every system, every offense, and every defense that works to counter explosive offensive units. The 33-year-old was a 2015 third-round pick by the Rams and played quarterback under several of today's top coaches during his journeyman career, including Sean McVay, Kevin Stefanski, Kevin O'Connell, and Klint Kubiak.
At the NFL league meetings, LA Rams' head coach Sean McVay was asked about Jacksonville Jaguars' head coach Liam Coen and his team's performance during the 2025 season.
Coen spent time with the Rams under McVay on two separate occasions, the first time from 2018 to 2020 and then again in 2022 as the offensive coordinator.
“A great coach," McVay said of Coen. "You could see that team took on his personality. I watched Jacksonville and a lot of the things they had on display are what I would hope you see when the Rams play and that’s a testament to Liam.”
Rams coach Sean McVay about #Jaguars coach Liam Coen:
“A great coach. You could see that team took on his personality. I watched Jacksonville and a lot of the things they had on display are what I would hope you see when the Rams play and that’s a testament to Liam.”
Coen was among the finalists for the NFL's Coach of the Year award after last season.
In Year 1 as the Jaguars' head coach, Jacksonville went from winning just four games in 2024 to tallying 13 victories this year, along with being the AFC South champs.
With Coen in charge of the offense, we saw a resurgence from quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who was a finalist for the MVP and Comeback Player of the Year awards.
During the Jaguars' eight-game winning streak to end the regular season, the Jacksonville offense averaged almost 33 points per game during that span. The Jaguars would set a new franchise record in 2025 for most points scored in a season. Overall, in 2025, the Jaguars ranked seventh in points per game scored.
Coen became the only first-time head coach in NFL history to win 12 or more games in his initial season after taking over a team that had four or fewer wins during the previous season.
However, perhaps what stands out the most about this Coen-led Jaguars team is their resiliency. Whatever buttons needed to be pushed in a given week, Coen always seemingly new which ones to press.
It’s fantasy basketball championship week and if you’ve made it this far, congratulations. All your hard work over the season comes down to one matchup, a matchup that may be difficult to navigate given how wild silly season has gotten. Games are either very, very tight or way too loose given teams are either fighting for actual playoff positioning or are tanking/eliminated from contention. It has created some of the perfect fantasy basketball environments for players down the stretch.
It’s been a fun ride in the first season of Yahoo High Score fantasy basketball, so let’s go over the perfect lineup from Week 22.
Week 22 High Score Perfect Lineup.
Dillon Minshall
More on the top performers
Scottie Barnes, guard: The Raptors swingman is tracking toward being a top-10 asset in High Score fantasy this season with excellent category coverage. Two stats that are of the most importance in High Score are steals and blocks. If you’re consistently racking up either of those catties then you’ve got a good chance of reaching a ceiling. Barnes has gone 12 straight games with at least one steal, and the last time he didn’t register a steal or block in a game was Feb. 22. Toronto isn’t clear of the play-in in the East yet, so expect Barnes to continue to play big minutes and help out in the championship round.
Luka Dončić, guard: It was a down week for Luka by his standards. He’s also going to start Week 23 with a one-game suspension, so he’ll only have three contests for High Score managers. But even one of Dončić’s worst weeks is still better than most players’ best weeks. He’ll enter this week coming off back-to-back 40+ point games, but he didn’t hit his ceiling like the previous two weeks — 88 points and 91 points.
Nikola Jokić, frontcourt: Joker was restored to his place atop the High Score leaderboard thanks to 85 fantasy points against the Mavericks last week. It was the rare combination of a team tanking but playing competitive basketball, enough to elicit a game with nearly 280 total points. Bad news for Jokić managers is a two-game week looms — one of those contests is against the Spurs. The other, fortunately, is against the Jazz. But it also puts pressure on managers to find points elsewhere if Joker can’t top out against Utah or San Antonio.
Alperen Şengün, frontcourt: As a player you likely got in the second or even third round of your draft, Şengün is the definition of a league-winner. His 81 fantasy points in Week 22 were second behind the Nuggets big and likely played a big factor in deciding your semifinals. With eight games left, Houston is still fighting to stay out of the play-in tournament. That bodes well for Şengün, who has some great matchups to wrap Week 23 — the Bucks, Jazz and Warriors.
Victor Wembanyama, frontcourt: The Big 3 in fantasy in terms of frontcourt contributors feels like Jokić, Şengün and Wemby, who didn’t quite reach a ceiling in Week 22, though he would have if the scoring were there. Wembanyama had 7 blocks against the Grizz, but only scored 19 with 15 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. The Spurs big does have at least five blocks in three of the past four games. He also has a four-game week with some winnable matchups for fantasy.
Jamal Murray, utility: Of course Murray also made it onto this list after that track meet between the Nuggets and Mavericks. The shooting guard came two points shy of matching his career high of 55 set back in February of last season. It was Murray’s fourth career game of 50+ points as the guard is also pacing toward being a top-25 fantasy asset this season. As Denver fights for playoff positioning, the Nuggets feel like literal fantasy gold down the stretch.
Texas Children's Houston Open winner Gary Woodland and four other golfers clinched spots at this year's Masters on Sunday.
Woodland earned the spot by winning the event, his first PGA Tour win since the 2019 U.S. Open. The victory came 2 1/2 years removed from undergoing brain surgery to remove a lesion in September of 2023, which he admitted earlier this month has led to him battling PTSD.
Denmark's Nicolai Hojgaard and Americans Daniel Berger, Jake Knapp and Matt McCarty earned their spots at Augusta National Golf Club by finishing in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking after the Houston Open, which served as the cutoff date ahead of the April 9-12 major in Augusta, Ga.
This will be Woodland's 13th career Masters, returning after he didn't qualify in 2025. He has one career top-20 finish (T-14 in 2023).
"Obviously your goal out here is to play in major championships," Woodland said. "My exemption ran out a year ago. I haven't been in the other three majors from an exempt standpoint outside the U.S. Open from my win. Playing my way back in, I know this gets me in the Masters, I know it gets me in the PGA. I'm looking forward to that, I can tell you that."
Knapp and McCarty will each be making their second Masters appearances, with McCarty standing out last year in his debut when he landed in a tie for 14th. Berger will be playing in his seventh Masters, and Hojgaard will make his third, repeating last year's historic appearance when he and his brother Rasmus became the first twins to compete in the Masters.
One final Masters spot will be available at this week's Valero Texas Open, should the winner not already be in the field.
Every moment of pretty much any major sporting event can be dissected in high-definition these days, and officials and umpires are spending more and more time staring at a TV screen to review close calls.
It’s also led to a type of sign language unique to the sports world.
There’s the twirling motion with a finger that’s ubiquitous during NBA games when anyone believes their team has been wronged. In the NFL, it’s a red challenge flag thrown by coaches that’s often mimicked by fans.
It’s not just a U.S. phenomenon, either: There’s the rectangular box drawn in the air that’s everywhere in international soccer for VAR (Video assistant referee). In cricket, certain players can make a “T” sign with their hands, signaling they would like a replay from the DRS (Decision review system). Then the umpire draws a rectangular box in the air, similar to soccer.
Now Major League Baseball has a new entry to the lexicon: A couple pats on the head.
The Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System officially now is part of MLB games, with cameras that track each pitch and judge whether it crossed home plate within the strike zone. Human umps still call every pitch, but each team has the ability to challenge two calls per game.
When a batter, pitcher or catcher believes a ball-strike call has been missed, they can pat their head a few times and also verbally confirm they want a challenge. It hasn’t taken long for fans to get in on the lingo, patting their heads when they think there’s a bad call.
“Everybody now knows what touching the top of their hat means,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said, laughing. “It’s definitely caught on fast. I think it’s a great thing — everyone wants to get the calls right.”
Sometimes, the hand signals can be seen as a sign of disrespect.
Tampa Bay Rays infielder Taylor Walls was ejected from a regular season game last season after disagreeing with a call, patting his helmet a few times while arguing with the umpire. ABS was used in spring training in 2025 on an experimental basis, but wasn’t allowed during regular season games.
Walls maintained it was an innocent gesture. Plate umpire Nic Lentz disagreed and sent Walls to the clubhouse early.
Lovullo said he doesn’t expect many misunderstandings in the future.
“There’s the verbal command, too, so that should help,” he said.
In many sports, the expanding video review procedures have created new strategies to get challenges right. Many times it’s quick non-verbal cues that make the process work.
Many NBA teams have an assistant coach or staff member on the bench who has a tablet and can view the broadcast, reviewing plays quickly. Players sometimes make emotional decisions in the heat of the game — twirling their finger in the air when they believe their team should challenge. (Spoiler alert: Players always think they’re right.)
But the final say comes from the bench.
For the New York Knicks, assistant coach Jordan Brink is the man who advises head coach Mike Brown.
“If he does this (nodding his head up and down), then you do this (twirls his finger). If he does this (shaking his head side to side), then you just go ‘Hmm...’ and got to tell your players sorry,” Brown said.
Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said “you really got to control yourself” because replay reviews are usually emotional situations. Los Angeles Clippers coach Ty Lue had no clue how the finger twirl became the NBA’s go-to symbol for a review, but in his typical deadpan manner, said its prevalence could occasionally be annoying.
“I’m sick of looking at it. Let’s take a look at that,” Lue said, drawing laughs from reporters. “Now they’re doing it in college, too, everybody’s doing it.”
MLB now has a pair of replay review signals. Managers can call for reviews of out-safe calls and some other rulings by tapping their hands over their ears, mimicking umpires putting on headsets to discuss plays with MLB’s replay center. That and the ABS head-pat have taken over at a time when some of the longtime hand signals of baseball are disappearing. For more than a century, catchers called pitches with their fingers, sometimes relying on an elaborate sequence of signs to keep the opposing team from figuring out the next pitch.
That all started to change following the 2017 Houston Astros cheating scandal, which was uncovered in 2020. Now there’s a system called PitchCom that can relay pitch calls and infield positioning decisions without hand signals.
“You used to have signals from the dugout to watch for a bunt, or watch for a delayed steal, but now all you have to do is hit a few buttons,” Lovullo said.
But the low-tech system of hand signals in sports is still very much a thing. In a strange juxtaposition, the high-tech world of video replay is one of the main reasons.
Winning in MLB on a daily basis is one of the toughest challenges in sports. With 162 games, constant lineup changes, pitching matchups, and the unpredictable nature of baseball, picking winners isn’t about guessing—it’s about analyzing matchups and picking up on patterns. Every day presents a new slate, new opportunities, and new value. From analyzing starting pitchers and bullpen usage to identifying hot lineups and favorable matchups, success comes from staying consistent and trusting the process over the long haul. Here are today’s MLB predictions for final scores and the winners around the league.
Jul 26, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Kris Bubic (50) delivers a pitch against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Pitching Matchup: Woods Richardson vs. Bubic
Score Prediction: 5-3
Winner: Royals
Rangers at Orioles
Pitching Matchup: Leiter vs. Bassitt
Score Prediction: 8-6
Winner: Rangers
White Sox at Marlins
Pitching Matchup: Martin vs. Paddack
Score Prediction: 6-4
Winner: Marlins
Nationals at Phillies
Mar 15, 2026; Clearwater, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Taijuan Walker (99) throws a pitch against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning during spring training at BayCare Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Pitching Matchup: Griffin vs. Walker
Score Prediction: 9-3
Winner: Phillies
Pirates at Reds
Pitching Matchup: Ashcraft vs. Burns
Score Prediction: 6-2
Winner: Reds
Rockies at Blue Jays
Pitching Matchup: Sugano vs. Ponce
Score Prediction: 8-3
Winner: Blue Jays
Athletics at Braves
Pitching Matchup: Lopez vs. Elder
Score Prediction: 6-5
Winner: Athletics
Rays at Brewers
Pitching Matchup: Martinez vs. Harrison
Score Prediction: 7-4
Winner: Brewers
Angels at Cubs
Mar 18, 2026; Salt River Pima-Maricopa, Arizona, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Edward Cabrera (30) throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Pitching Matchup: Johnson vs. Cabrera
Score Prediction: 5-2
Winner: Cubs
Mets at Cardinals
Pitching Matchup: Holmes vs. Leahy
Score Prediction: 4-2
Winner: Mets
Yankees at Mariners
Pitching Matchup: Weathers vs. Castillo
Score Prediction: 5-4
Winner: Yankees
Red Sox at Astros
Pitching Matchup: Suarez vs. McCullers
Score Prediction: 9-7
Winner: Red Sox
Giants at Padres
Mar 10, 2026; Tempe, Arizona, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Walker Buehler (10) in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
The Philadelphia Wings, Philly's professional lacrosse team, shit down at the end of the 2025-26 season, according to a statement from the team.
"This was not an easy conclusion to reach, and it is one we considered with great care," the organization said in a statement posted to their website and social media on Monday.
"We recognize that this news may come as a disappointment , and we want to express how grateful we are for your steadfast dedication to the team," the team said.
The team has one final home game scheduled for Saturday, April 11 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena against the Las Vegas Devil Dogs. Their season concludes on the road with an April 18 matchup against the Vancouver Warriors.
The Wings were re-established in 2017 and returned to competition in the National Lacrosse League in 2018, reviving a franchise that stretches back to 1987. The team relocated to Connecticut in 2014 where they became the New England Black Wolves before the franchise returned to Broad Street.
"The team has proudly carried on Philadelphia's rich lacrosse tradition at the highest level," the statement read.
The Wings current players will likely try to find roster spots on other teams throughout the league following the conclusion of this season and the team encouraged fans to continue to support them as they continue their careers elsewhere.
The organization did not provide any additional information about the reasons behind the decision.
Lacey Latch is the development reporter for the Bucks County Courier Times and The Intelligencer. She can be reached at LLatch@usatodayco.com.
The Texas Longhorns face the Michigan Wolverines in tonight's Elite Eight March Madness game on ESPN. Here's how to watch. (Elsa/Getty Images)
Elsa via Getty Images
The Michigan Wolverines will play the Texas Longhorns tonight in the Elite Eight round of March Madness, and if the Wolverines win, it will mark the first time in the team's history that they've made it to the tournament's Final Four. By contrast, Texas has made it to the Final Four four times in team history, most recently in 2025. The two teams will meet tonight in Fort Worth, TX at 7 p.m. ET and the game will air on ESPN and streams on ESPN Unlimited.
For a complete breakdown of key dates and how to watch the last remaining games of the women's NCAA tournament, we've got you covered.
The Texas vs. Michigan game is on Monday, March 30. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. ET.
Where to watch the Texas vs. Michigan game:
The Texas vs. Michigan March Madness game will air on ESPN.
Where to stream March Madness games without cable:
Every game of the 2026 women's March Madness Tournament will stream on ESPN Unlimited, including those on ABC. You'll also be able to access every game on live TV services like DirecTV.
2026 NCAA women's basketball tournament game schedule
The following is tonight's Elite Eight schedule for all teams participating in this year's March Madness tournament.
All times Eastern.
Monday, March 30
7 p.m.: No. 1 Texas vs. No. 2 Michigan (ESPN)
9 p.m.: No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 3 TCU (ESPN)
2026 NCAA women's basketball tournament schedule:
The schedule and locations for the women's tournament:
Selection Sunday: 8 p.m. ET Sunday, March 15 on ESPN
First Four: March 18-19
First round: March 20-21
Second round: March 22-23
Sweet 16: March 27-28 in Fort Worth, TX and Sacramento, CA
Elite Eight: March 29-30 in Fort Worth, TX and Sacramento, CA
Final Four: Friday, April 3, Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, AZ
NCAA championship game: Sunday, April 5, Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, AZ
There may not have been a stranger play in the NFL last season than the Seattle Seahawks’ two-point conversion against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 16. It spurred their dramatic comeback win over the Rams after trailing by 16 points in the fourth quarter, putting two points on the board to tie the game in the most bizarre way.
Sean McVay still hasn’t forgotten about that play, particularly after the Rams proposed two rule changes in response to that controversial play. They also would’ve liked to see a time limit for replay review to be initiated, but both proposals were withdrawn by Los Angeles.
During the annual league meeting on Monday, McVay joked with Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald about that very play, hilariously interrupting Macdonald’s presser to make a comment about the two-point conversion.
“What do you think about the two-point play?” McVay yelled.
Macdonald responded by asking if that’s “still on the table,” joking about the Rams’ rule proposal.
Funny moment near the end of Mike Macdonald’s media session: Sean McVay popped in and jokingly asked, “What do you think of the two-point play?”
Macdonald smiled and said, “Is that still on the table?”
Just some friendly banter between two rival coaches who have a lot of respect for each other. But rest assured: McVay won't soon forget about how pivotal that controversial play was in the Rams' season.
Had they won that game, they might've gone on to secure the No. 1 seed, giving them a chance to host the Seahawks in the NFC title game instead of playing on the road. It'll be water under the bridge eventually (we think).
As the Cleveland Browns continue to navigate their way through the 2026 NFL offseason, the quarterback position remains the top question surrounding the struggling franchise heading into next season.
General manager Andrew Berry did not make any moves throughout the 2026 NFL Free Agency period to improve the quarterback room, leaving veteran Deshaun Watson and rising second-year playmaker Shedeur Sanders as the top two candidates for the starting position. However, Berry did offer some clarity to the situation last week during his latest press conference.
When asked about the quarterback competition between Watson and Sanders, Berry told reporters on Sunday that he believes “everyone in that room deserves an opportunity.”
"Nobody has touched the grass, nobody has really worked with our coaching staff,” Berry stated. “I wouldn't handicap it for anyone. I think everyone in that room deserves [an] opportunity."
After sustaining a season-ending Achilles' tear during the 2024 NFL season, Watson spent all of last season rehabbing his injury to prepare for a potential comeback in 2026. The 30-year-old veteran has plenty of unfinished business, as he threw for 1,148 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions in his last six starts with the Browns.
However, with the emergance of Sanders towards the end of the 2025 regular season, the former 2025 fifth-round pick will look to take a huge step heading into his second season with the franchise. Sanders managed to show some flashes last season, but it’s clear that the young playmaker must continue to grow as a quarterback in order to win the starting job.
Berry would also go on to discuss the possibility of adding another quarterback into the room, stating that if the Browns were to add another quarterback, it would most likely be a younger player.
"Our lean would be if we do add someone to the quarterback room, it would be someone who's a younger player, most likely," Berry said.
In addition to claiming that it would most likely be a younger player if the front office adds another quarterback to the room, Berry also stated that it is “wholly realistic” that a young quarterback could compete for the starting job.
While Cleveland is out of range to take Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza in the 2026 NFL Draft, there are still plenty of quarterbacks in the later rounds of the upcoming draft that Berry could take a gamble on this offseason. Two names that would make sense for the Browns are Penn State’s Drew Allar and Clemson’s Cade Klubnik, as both players will likely be available on Day Two or Day Three of the draft.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - MARCH 28: Sal Stewart of the Cincinnati Reds celebrates after hitting a home run in the third inning against the Boston Red Sox at Great American Ball Park on March 28, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sal Stewart hit 5 homers for the Cincinnati Reds once called upon for the stretch run of the 2025 season, and he backed it up with a pair of hits (and 4 RBI) in Cincinnati’s brief postseason play against the Los Angeles Dodgers. People saw him. People became aware of him. The brash rookie in Cincinnati looked ‘ready’ to be a big leaguer, but none of it shot him up to the elite echelon of Top 100 prospect lists, or anything.
After how last season ended, people thought he was a big leaguer.
After the first weekend of the 2026 season, people are beginning to think he may alter the entire franchise’s direction.
Sal eyed up a Boston Red Sox pitching staff that had been revamped with elite arms all winter and mowed right through them with nary an overlooked PA. He went 7 for 10 with 3 doubles, a homer, 3 walks, and not a single strikeout as Cincinnati won 2 of 3 in Great American Ball Park, even putting his stamp on the ball on pitches that should have otherwise tied him up completely.
You see a swing like this from Sal Stewart and you understand why he's just an animal in the box.
A pitch he muscles out of the yard that nearly jams him inside, and he still hits it 108.6 MPH to center. You then remember he’s 22 until December 7th lol.pic.twitter.com/meiP4Uc08s
He mastered lefty ace Garrett Crochet. That clip above is him manhandling precisely the pitch that Sonny Gray – who Reds fans know quite well – wanted him to swing at. Sal, as of this morning, sits atop MLB leaderboards in wOBA, wRC+, rOBA, OPS+, and OBP, among many others.
It’s an impossibly small sample size, yes. If he’d not made his big league debut last fall and this was all we’d ever had to see of him at the big league level, this outbreak would merely be filed next to Jason Vosler and Austin Wynns in the annals of Great Starts to Seasons. But, if we stretch our world view back to when Sal first hit the scene on September 1st of 2025, it’s beginning to look like ‘atop the leaderboards’ is precisely where we should expect to find him.
Among the 297 players who have logged at least 50 PA since 9/1/25, Sal’s .443 wOBA ranks 8th best, right ahead of Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez, ahead of New York Mets star Juan Soto (.419), and just a hair behind a guy in 6th place on that list named Shohei Ohtani (.458). His 1.042 OPS ranks 9th, his .338 ISO 6th.
These aren’t fluky numbers, either, as he’s been hitting the absolute snot out of the ball. His 96.2 EV in that time ranks 3rd (behind only Washington’s James Wood and New York Mets slugger Aaron Judge), while his 56.0% hard-hit % ranks 15th out of that 297 player group. His expected batting average and expected slugging percentage both also track with his actual numbers – meaning it’s not as if he’s lucking into this productions – and the end result is an expected wOBA (xwOBA) of .442 in that time.
That’s 4th best in all of baseball, right ahead of Mike Trout (.426), Ronald Acuña, Jr. (.425), and Juan Soto (.423), while trailing only Judge, Seattle’s Dominic Canzone, and Ohtani. That’s as elite as it gets, isn’t it?
As with any player, there will be ebbs and flows to this kind of production. Believe it or not, Sal did go 0 for 4 with a strikeout in his penultimate start in 2025 against the Pirates, for example. Still, as the sample size begins to grow, it’s looking more and more like that polished, impressive hitter we’ve seen all the way through the minors might actually be that good as a big leaguer, too, or perhaps – he’s still just 22 years old – even better.
He’s certainly making the case right now that he’s not the bat who’s job it should be to ‘protect’ Elly De La Cruz in the lineup. He’s the bat who’s about to need some protecting, since I don’t think we’re going to go too much longer with pitching staffs simply trying to rear back and chuck it by the rookie to see what he’s made of.
Maybe I’m just dating myself, or simply putting the cart impossibly far in front of the horse, but it’s enough to make the brain recall a similar start to a pair of careers in Cincinnati – one featuring a consensus top prospect in the game who had all the tools and a swing that may have ended up being the slightest bit too free and another, slightly overlooked 1B whose mastery of the strike zone ended up propelling him up offensive leaderboards from the moment he stepped to the plate.
Not to shoehorn one, both, or either into those archtypes, but it certainly has made my brain do some comparisons over the last few days. We did get a pair of NL Central titles out of that run, too.
Danielle Collins is in unfamiliar territory after suffering a drop in the rankings following her continued absence.
Collins had originally planned to retire from tennis at the end of the 2024 season, after revealing that her fertility plan would take longer than she originally thought.
The American had the best season of her career in 2024, which included winning the Miami Open title, but Collins failed to show this same form last year.
Collins has not played a match since her first-round defeat at the US Open last year, and as a result, she has now fallen to her lowest ranking since 2018.
Danielle Collins slips out of the top 100 for first time since 2018
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images
While away from the tour, Collins has kept herself in the mix as a Tennis Channel pundit, regularly offering her thoughts on players like Iga Swiatek.
She continued in that role at the Miami Open, but time away from competition has taken its toll on her ranking. In the latest WTA update, Collins lost 120 points from last year’s fourth-round appearance in Miami, dropping her 21 places.
She’s now ranked world number 120, marking her lowest position since January 2018.
This ranking is significant as it no longer guarantees direct entry into Grand Slam tournaments. At present, only the top 104 players receive a direct entry spot into each event.
Questions rise over Danielle Collins’ future in tennis
With Collins now taking many media opportunities in tennis, there has been some speculation over whether the 32-year-old has actually retired from tennis.
However, earlier this year, Collins confirmed that this was always in her plan, as she looked to recover from a back injury, as well as undergoing more fertility procedures at the time, and she would be missing ‘the first part’ of the 2026 season.
“Wanted to come on here and give everyone a little update since everyone has been asking!” Collins wrote on Instagram at the time. “I’ve been taking the last few months off to recover from the back injury I had at the end of the season.
“I’ve also been undergoing a few egg freezing procedures. It’s been one of the coolest things I’ve honestly ever done! But at the same time these hormones I have had to be on are a real b****. I am so fortunate for the friends that have been helping take care of me during this time. I have one more procedure to go.
“With all of this, I will not be competing during the first part of the year. But you will be seeing me in a different capacity with @tennischannel. This is all I will be sharing for now. More updates to come.”
It is unclear as to how long ‘the first part’ of the season exactly is, but Collins is not currently on any entry lists for the clay court season.
Nov 28, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Kylan Boswell (4) drives past UConn Huskies guard Solo Ball (1) in the second half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
UConn men’s basketball is back in the Final Four for the third time in four years thanks to an all-time shot from freshman Braylon Mullins. After Silas Demary Jr. forced a deflection on Duke’s attempted press break, Mullins received a pass from Alex Karaban and drilled a 40-footer with 0.3 seconds remaining to send the Huskies to their eighth Final Four.
The shot from Mullins, an Indiana kid, sealed UConn’s trip to the Final Four in Indianapolis, where the Huskies will take on 2-seed Illinois on Saturday at 5:05 p.m. UConn and Illini already faced off this season at Madison Square Garden on Black Friday, where the Huskies cruised to a 74-61 win over Brad Underwood’s squad.
Despite that data point and UConn’s recent March momentum, the Huskies head to Indianapolis as underdogs. FanDuel has the Illini as a 2.5-point favorite over UConn, with the Huskies’ moneyline odds set at +112. The over/under for the game is set at 139.5.
Of course, a lot has changed since then for both teams. Tarris Reed played sparingly in that game after suffering an ankle injury in the win over BYU. Mullins made his collegiate debut in that game off the bench and played just 10 minutes. Malachi Smith hit what was up until Sunday UConn’s most improbable three of the season.
For Illinois, star freshman Keaton Wagler was a non-factor against UConn, scoring three points in 14 minutes. Kylan Boswell was the go-to guy for the Illini, dicing the Huskies’ defense for 25 points.
While UConn is a slight underdog early in the week, the Huskies cut their title odds dramatically after taking down No. 1 overall seed Duke. UConn’s title odds are down to +650 at FanDuel now that the Huskies are Indianapolis bound, down from +1100 prior to tip against the Blue Devils.
Van Dijk and Gravenberch receive special Netherlands honours
It’s not often we see our players recognised in such a personal way on international duty, but both Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch have now received special honours from the Netherlands setup.
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With the focus often on performances, these moments offer a reminder of just how important our players are beyond Liverpool, particularly for a national side that continues to rely heavily on their leadership and quality.
Van Dijk honoured as Netherlands captain
According to OnsOranje on X, our captain was presented with a unique gift to mark his standing within the Dutch national team, underlining his status as one of the country’s most important figures in recent history.
The post read: “A special gift for our all-time most-capped captain 👏”
That recognition reflects more than just appearances, it highlights the authority and consistency the 34-year-old has brought to both club and country over a sustained period, even amid recent criticism following the defeat to Brighton where Alan Shearer claimed he and Ibou Konate were given a ‘torrid time’.
Gravenberch reaches milestone moment
Alongside the Dutch skipper, the 23-year-old midfielder also marked a significant personal achievement, with Gravenberch receiving a silver plate to commemorate his 25th international appearance.
For the former Ajax and Bayern Munich man, it’s another step in what continues to be a developing international career, especially after Ronald Koeman recently called him out for one defensive moment against Norway, even if his overall performance remained solid.
From our perspective, these honours matter because they reinforce something we already know, both players remain central figures for the Netherlands, just as they are for us.
Despite a difficult run domestically, where injuries and inconsistency have disrupted our rhythm, seeing Van Dijk recognised as the nation’s most-capped captain and Gravenberch hitting milestones at such a young age shows the level we still have within the squad.
And as we push towards the final stretch of the season, those qualities will be crucial if we’re going to recover from setbacks like Brighton and finish strongly.
Montgomery recently showed off a new tattoo, and Lions fans immediately knew what it meant.
The artwork features Knuckles, the perfect nod to his former backfield partnership with Gibbs, famously known as “Sonic and Knuckles.”
Gibbs = Sonic Montgomery = Knuckles
It was one of the most electric nicknames in the NFL, and now it’s literally part of Montgomery forever.
More Than Football
This wasn’t just a nickname.
It was a connection.
During their time together in Detroit, Montgomery and Gibbs formed one of the league’s most dangerous backfields, blending power and speed in a way that made defenses miserable.
But beyond that, they built a real friendship.
Montgomery has referred to Gibbs as his best friend, and this tattoo makes that crystal clear.
Lions Fans Feel This One
If you’re a Lions fan, this hits.
The “Sonic and Knuckles” era may be over, but moments like this remind everyone just how special it was.
This wasn’t just production.
It was chemistry. It was energy. It was fun.
Final Thoughts
The NFL is a business.
Players move on. Rosters change.
But relationships like this don’t disappear.
David Montgomery didn’t just leave Detroit with stats, he left with a bond strong enough to ink on his skin forever.
The South Carolina Gamecocks are facing off against TCU in tonight's Elite Eight March Madness game, here's how to watch. (Supriya Limaye/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
Supriya Limaye/ISI Photos via Getty Images
No. 1 seed South Carolina, coached by Dawn Staley, is eyeing their fourth NCAA title this year at March Madness, and they're just two games away the 2026 championship final. The team steamrolled the Oklahoma Sooners 94-68 during their Sweet 16 game and will now face No. 3 TCU tonight in the Elite Eight. The South Carolina vs. TCU game will air at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN and will stream on ESPN Unlimited.
For a complete breakdown of key dates and how to watch the last remaining games of the women's NCAA tournament, we've got you covered.
The South Carolina vs. TCU game is on Monday, March 30. Tipoff is at 9 p.m. ET.
Where to watch the South Carolina vs. TCU game:
The South Carolina vs. TCU March Madness game will air on ESPN.
Where to stream March Madness games without cable:
Every game of the 2026 women's March Madness Tournament will stream on ESPN Unlimited, including those on ABC. You'll also be able to access every game on live TV services like DirecTV.
2026 NCAA women's basketball tournament game schedule
The following is tonight's Elite Eight schedule for all teams participating in this year's March Madness tournament.
All times Eastern.
Monday, March 30
7 p.m.: No. 1 Texas vs. No. 2 Michigan (ESPN)
9 p.m.: No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 3 TCU (ESPN)
2026 NCAA women's basketball tournament schedule:
The schedule and locations for the women's tournament:
Selection Sunday: 8 p.m. ET Sunday, March 15 on ESPN
First Four: March 18-19
First round: March 20-21
Second round: March 22-23
Sweet 16: March 27-28 in Fort Worth, TX and Sacramento, CA
Elite Eight: March 29-30 in Fort Worth, TX and Sacramento, CA
Final Four: Friday, April 3, Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, AZ
NCAA championship game: Sunday, April 5, Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, AZ
Fantasy expert consensus rankings (“ECR”) are starting to pop up across the Internet, giving managers an early glimpse into how the market might value hundreds of players this summer. As we look ahead to the 2026 season, here are the biggest Giants bargains based on ECR.
The past two summers, Wan’Dale Robinson has proven to be one of the Giants’ best fantasy bargains. Now that he’s in Tennessee, perhaps someone else will take up the cause. Isaiah Likely has a shot to break through. His TE16 ECR suggests bye-week startability. But after being a frequent offensive afterthought in Baltimore, Likely could push for 80+ targets in a more streamlined receiving corps. He appears to be at least slightly undervalued.
Experts also are overlooking Tyrone Tracy (RB46 ECR). Last year’s Week 1 starter was already losing ground to rookie Cam Skattebo before getting hurt. But when he returned, and Skattebo was injured, Tracy strung together some of the best performances of his career, including two 24+ point outings. I think this will remain a somewhat balanced backfield, giving Tracy a boost as a 150+ touch RB.
The third big bargain isn’t journeyman Darnell Mooney, despite a favorable WR74 ECR. It’s actually Darius Slayton (WR88 ECR), who’s built a career around spot-starting fantasy relevance. Starter gets hurt? No problem: Slayton will step in -- not as a weekly starter, but as a decent flier. Although Mooney is higher on the pecking order, Slayton has just as good a shot at finishing inside the top 55 if the Giants don’t add a starter-ready WR.
Plenty of NBA analysts these days consider the Boston Celtics the favorites to ultimately represent the Eastern Conference in the 2026 NBA Finals.
With their 50th win on Sunday night over an impressive Charlotte Hornets squad, the Celts all but locked up the No. 2 seed. Jayson Tatum is improving on a game-to-game basis, and Boston has good health right now outside of Nikola Vucevic. There’s no reason Boston shouldn’t be considered the favorite to win the East, especially with the postseason experience that Tatum and Jaylen Brown bring to the table.
Don’t forget about guys like Joe Mazzulla, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, and Sam Hauser, either — all of them were an integral part of the 2024 championship team, and they’re all still here, each being a better version of themselves than two years ago.
This is a point that Tim Bontemps made on a new episode of the Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective podcast. Basically, Bontemps said he’s rolling with the Celtics in the East because their “top four” guys all have title experience.
“They’ve all been there and they’ve all done it,” Bontemps said. “None of these other teams in the East have, and I’m picking them right now to win the East, but they’re certainly not an unassailable favorite.”
The Celts have eight regular season games remaining. They'll continue things on Monday against the Atlanta Hawks in the second game of a back-to-back.
All the right moves ended with the Wright timing in the Hawaii baseball team’s 6-5 victory over Cal State Fullerton at Les Murakami Stadium.
An announced sold-out crowd — there were 2,258 through the turnstiles — saw Gabe Wright deliver the bases-loaded, walk-off single as the Rainbow Warriors took two of three to win this Big West series.
Ben Zeigler-Namoa smacked a two-run homer, Mana Lau Kong came off the bench to deliver a clutch run-scoring double, and the ’Bows solved CSUF closer Andrew Wright.
In the 10th, UH head coach Rich Hill had to decide between switch-hitter Taylor Tanaka, who had scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning or utility player Noah Rodriguez. Figuring that Andrew Wright was left-handed and Tanaka had not batted right-handed this season, Hill summoned Rodriguez as a pinch-hitter to open the 10th.
“Noah takes a really tough at bat,” Hill said. “He’s a high-contact guy. And (assistant) Coach (Dave) Nakama talked me into it.”
Rodriguez delivered a single to right field.
“The energy was huge in the dugout,” Rodriguez said. “Once I got my name called, the boys were behind me, and I felt good. That’s our culture. When you get called, you have to be ready to go. … I believe it was a fastball out. It could have been a changeup. That pitcher was good.”
After failing to put down a bunt, Jake Redding then hit a chopper to short. Cameron Kim, whose natural position is third, fielded the ball but threw wildly to second. Rodriguez raced to third while Redding remained at first on the fielder’s choice. Tate Shimao, who had reached base in three of his previous four plate appearances, was walked intentionally to load the bases.
That set up a Wright versus Wright matchup. Gabe Wright drove Andrew Wright’s first pitch to deep right. Outfielder Paul Contreras did not bother to retreat or turn around as the drive sailed to the wall while Rodriguez sprinted home with the winning run.
Wright, who transferred from Quinnipiac the past August, entered hitting .222 with 12 strikeouts in 45 at bats.
“He’s been struggling,” Hill said. “They’ve been spinning him into the ground a little bit. A less-experienced player would have let it get to him. He didn’t. He stayed with it. He had a great conversation with Dave (Nakama) about seeing that breaking ball up, because that was what he was going to get, and he got it.”
Wright said: “I knew they were going to throw me a slider, I was seeing a lot of sliders, and I had to make sure I didn’t chase one in the dirt. … I’m sticking with my approach, sticking with my identity. My identity is not rooted in this game. It’s rooted in Jesus Christ. Knowing that, I really can’t fail. No matter what it looks like, I’m always going to be confident, always going to have a smile on my face, and be joyful.”
Hill made several moves that proved to be successful. Freshman Brody Martin-Grudzielanek, who replaced Liam O’Brien in the starting rotation, allowed one run in four innings. Later, O’Brien entered in the seventh and pitched two scoreless innings.
Down 4-2, the ’Bows scored three runs in the eighth to take the lead. With runners at first and second, Lau Kong was summoned as a pinch hitter. Lau Kong was penciled as the starting designated hitter but was scratched before the lineup was announced. Lau Kong drilled a double to left to bring home Ben Zeigler-Namoa to close UH to 4-3.
“I was looking for a fastball, something I could drive,” Lau Kong said. “He threw one in. I was looking for something middle-in. He threw it back in there, and I got my hands out on that one.”
Lau Kong said he worked on using a more compact swing to “be more consistent and on time.”
Redding’s RBI ground out tied it at 4. Tanaka, who pinch ran for Lau Kong, scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball.
In the fifth inning, Zeigler-Namoa hit a two-run homer to stake the ’Bows to a 2-1 lead. In the ninth, he pulled a drive that had home run distance. But the cross winds pushed the ball foul. That set up the dramatic 10th inning.
“It all came together,” Hill said. “That’s no errors, stellar defense. You can see Ben (Zeigler-Namoa) starting to be a different guy right now. Same thing with Elijah (Ickes). … When you win an extra-inning game like this, it’s just toughness. Our guys showed some amazing grit. You get punched in the face, and (then) were super resilient and didn’t flinch.”
BIG WEST BASEBALL STANDINGS
Team
Conference
Overall
W
L
Pct.
GB
W
L
UC San Diego
8
1
.889
½
12
13
Cal Poly
10
2
.833
—
16
10
UCSB
5
4
.556
3
16
9
CS Northridge
6
6
.500
3 ½
15
11
CS Fullerton
6
6
.500
3 ½
12
15
Hawaii
5
7
.417
4 ½
15
11
UC Davis
5
7
.417
4 ½
11
14
CS Bakersfield
5
7
.417
4 ½
11
16
Long Beach St.
4
8
.333
5 ½
9
18
UC Irvine
3
6
.333
5
10
16
UC Riverside
3
6
.333
5
8
19
SCHEDULE & RESULTS
Sunday
Hawaii 6, Cal State Fullerton 5, 10 inn.
UC San Diego 9, UC Davis 5
Cal Poly 12, UC Riverside 8
CS Northridge 9, Cal State Bakersfield 5
UC Irvine 7, Long Beach State 1
x-No. 20 Oregon 2, UC Santa Barbara 0
Today
x-Cal State Bakersfield at UNLV
Tuesday
x-CS Northridge at Pepperdine
x-Cal Poly at Fresno State
x-San Francisco at UC Davis
x-UCLA at UC Irvine
x-UC Santa Barbara at USC
Thursday
Hawaii at UC San Diego
Long Beach State at CS Northridge
UC Santa Barbara at Cal Poly
UC Davis at UC Irvine
x-non-conference game
HAWAII 6, CS FULLERTON 5, 10 INN.
TITANS
PLAYER
AB
R
H
BI
BB
SO
LOB
Kim, ss
5
0
2
2
0
1
0
Kirchner, 1b
5
1
1
0
0
0
3
Contreras, rf
4
1
1
0
1
0
0
Miller, lf
3
1
0
0
0
0
0
Thomas, 3b
5
0
2
2
0
0
0
Ortega, c
4
0
1
1
1
1
0
Meyer, cf
3
0
0
0
0
0
2
Burdick, cf
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Wilkinson, ph
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
Hart, pf/cf
1
1
0
0
0
1
2
Lopez, 2b
3
1
2
0
1
0
1
Dobson, dh
3
0
0
0
1
2
0
Totals
36
5
9
5
5
5
8
RAINBOW WARRIORS
PLAYER
AB
R
H
BI
BB
SO
LOB
Nahaku, cf
5
1
1
0
0
1
0
Z.-Namoa, 1b/rf
4
2
2
2
1
1
0
Ickes, ss
5
1
1
0
0
0
2
Hoffman, dh
2
0
0
0
0
1
0
Greco, ph
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
Martin, ph
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Lau Kong, ph
1
0
1
1
0
0
0
Takata, pr
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
Rodriguez, ph
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
Redding, c
5
0
1
1
0
1
0
Shimao, 3b
3
0
2
0
1
0
0
Wright, rf/lf
4
0
1
1
1
0
1
Watanabe, 2b
4
0
0
0
0
1
4
Nushida, lf
3
0
0
0
0
2
0
Bethncrt, ph/1b
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
Totals
39
6
11
5
3
8
7
Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
R
H
E
CS Fullerton
0
0
1
0
0
3
0
0
1
0
5
9
1
Hawaii
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
3
0
1
6
11
0
PITCHING & GAME NOTES
CAL STATE FULLERTON
PITCHER
IP
H
R
ER
BB
SO
Harper
5
5
2
2
2
4
Smith
2 1/3
2
2
2
0
3
Wright (L 2-2)
1 2/3
4
2
0
1
1
HAWAII
PITCHER
IP
H
R
ER
BB
SO
Martin-Grudzielanek
4
2
1
1
1
1
Garman
1
3
2
2
0
2
Inouye
0
0
1
1
0
0
Tomii
1
2
0
0
0
0
O’Brien
2
0
0
0
1
0
Alkire
1/3
1
1
1
1
0
Shipley
2/3
1
0
0
0
1
Soto (W 2-0)
1
0
0
0
2
1
Records: Hawaii (15-11, 5-7 Big West); Cal State Fullerton (12-15, 6-6 Big West)
None out, 3 runners LOB when winning run score.
E—Kim. DP—Hawaii 1. LOB—CS Fullerton 8, Hawaii 10.
Yan Diomande on his "big move" to Leipzig and a World Cup clash with Germany
It took €20million to bring Yan Diomande to RB Leipzig last summer, and it goes without saying that it was probably one of the best investments the club ever made. For the Ivory Coast winger, the Lower Saxony club was familiar to him even before he joined.
"It was a big move from Leganes to here [Leipzig]. I knew Leipzig a long time, in the Champions League because of Amadou Haidara. I told him directly 'I want to go there," Diomande said in an in-house interview with Leipzig.
"He told me ‘RB Leipzig want to buy you’ and I told him "I want to go there, I don't have to think" directly. I knew the team, it was a good team and a good decision. I can only say that I'm blessed. There's not a lot of people who get this opportunity. I wanted to say thank you to God because I'm blessed," he added.
The 19-year-old gave insights into his first experiences in Leipzig, a burning desire to score his first goal for the club and how he has managed to lay claim to his permanent place in Ole Werner's squad.
"I was waiting for my first goal and then I scored my first goal. Then I scored and scored and scored. But I'm not finished, I'm trying to improve and score again, more goals. I'm working and believing in myself. I'm blessed as well, God is blessing me. I listen to my teammates and coach, this is the secret.
"The first thing is to work hard and I think I can improve. The connection [in the team] is not 100% yet and I'm trying to fix the connection and see what will happen. My brother told me to take everything, I won the [Bundesliga] Rookie of the Month. My dream is to win everything, and I'm going to do it," he said.
Looking ahead to summer, the small matter of the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico lays on the horizon. Diomande's native Ivory Coast will be competing in Group E against Curacao, Ecuador and a few familiar faces in Germany.
"Every player dreams of playing for his country, but that [playing at the World Cup] was my biggest dream and I'm so happy to be there and proud. He [Bazoumana Touré of TSG Hoffenheim] plays for my country.
"We talk every day, but on the pitch we are not friends because he is a winner as well and me too. Me too, I don't want to lose and him as well. But thank you to my country for letting me play.
"It [the World Cup] is a big tournament. They [Germany, a group opponent of Ivory Coast] are a strong team. I will also be playing against David [Raum], he is our captain and a good guy. It's going to be good to see him again so I'm waiting for the day.
"It's always good to have your family close to you, people don't see what happens off the pitch. As a young guy, taking care of your family is a blessing. I can do this, and not everyone gets this chance to play this role in their family.
"I'm so happy and proud because that was my dream and become a mentor for my family as a young guy. This life is amazing, I have it because of RB Leipzig. I'm so happy to be here and to continue with the team," he said, keeping himself humbly rooted to the ground.
Baseball season is here, with hopes of a World Series alive in the hearts of 30 fanbases (and in the minds of maybe 20). We won’t know who the true contenders are for a couple of months, and one of my favorite parts of the early season is seeing which Hawaii-connected players make the major league cut and where the ones who are sent down land.
Of this year’s three locks — Isiah Kiner Falefa, Kirby Yates and Cade Smith — two are on new teams. IKF, a Mid-Pacific graduate, signed with the Boston Red Sox in February and started at second base in the season-opening win over the Cincinnati Reds. Yates, a relief pitcher out of Kauai, joined the Los Angeles Angels but has opened the season on the injured list (knee).
First-year Angels manager Kurt Suzuki seems to expect Yates back soon, telling reporters last week, “Nothing too concerning. We’re just playing it cautious, make sure that he’s right. We don’t want to rush him into the season and lose him for two months instead of taking care of it now for a little IL stint.”
Which brings us to another exciting thing to watch early this season — the Maui-born Suzuki’s arrival as an MLB manager. The Angels turned to Suzuki after finishing in the AL West cellar the past two seasons and out of the playoffs the past 11. Suzuki played the last two of his 16 big league seasons with the team and subsequently served as a special assistant to the GM but has never been a manager at any level.
The Baldwin graduate is the first MLB manager born and raised in Hawaii and he notched his first win quickly, as the Angels beat the Houston Astros 3-0 Thursday on Opening Day.
Back to the current players, along with the three locks, two of the three Hawaii players on the bubble to make major league rosters also got good news:
>> Kailua’s Joey Cantillo earned a spot in the Cleveland Guardians’ rotation and will try to build on an up-and-down rookie season. The 26-year-old had some impressive moments last season and averaged 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings in 34 appearances (the last 13 as the starter), but like many young pitchers, consistency will determine whether he keeps his rotation spot or winds up in the bullpen. His two quality starts came in the last month of 2025, but in his first start of 2026 on Saturday in Seattle, Cantillo lasted only 3-2/3 innings. He gave up only two runs, but allowed four hits and walked three while striking out five. University of Hawaii alum Smith — now the closer — wound up with the win after blowing the save.
>> Saint Louis and Hawaii Pacific alumnus Rico Garcia had a strong shot at a spot in the Baltimore Orioles’ bullpen after his strong finish with the team in 2025, but after bouncing around seven organizations in a 10-year career, the right-hander surely entered camp taking nothing for granted. He made the big league squad and seems to have the trust of new skipper Craig Albernaz, who called on Garcia with the bases loaded and two out in the top of the seventh inning of Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Twins with the score tied at 5. Garcia battled Twins cleanup hitter Matt Wallner for eight pitches before striking him out on a full count. The O’s scored three runs in the bottom half and Garcia wound up with his first major league win since 2020.
>> Former University of Hawaii standout Josh Rojas just missed making the Kansas City Royals roster out of camp after hitting two homers in 41 spring at-bats. The team sent him down to the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers and Rojas is off to a hot start (4-for-12 with a homer, a double, three runs scored and four RBIs) with hits in all three games. Rojas is starting at third base and has major league experience at every position except catcher and center field, so he seems likely to get a shot to see action in a seventh MLB season, something that seemed 50/50 at best when the Chicago White Sox released him last August when he could not get going after starting the season with a toe injury.
The only other Hawaii player to land in Triple-A to start 2026 is UH alum Aaron Davenport, who is likely out for the season after having Tommy John surgery. Health has not been a major issue for Davenport through his first five pro campaigns and he had a shot at providing bullpen depth for the Guardians at some point this season.
Minor league assignments are still being sorted out below Triple-A, but among the other moves of note:
>> ‘Iolani grad Shane Sasaki chose to become a free agent last November and the speedy 25-year-old outfielder (140 career stolen bases) went on to sign with the Cincinnati Reds. He seems destined to start the year in Double-A with their Chattanooga Lookouts after going 3-for-5 (all doubles!) in spring ball.
>> St. Joseph alumnus Edgar Barclay also chose free agency but has yet to latch on with a team as he tries to come back from Tommy John surgery last May.
>> Carter Loewen (UH) reached the San Diego Padres Triple-A team in El Paso last season. An insurance issue kept him from pitching for Canada in the WBC and then he abruptly retired two weeks ago at age 27.
>> Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa is back with the Texas Rangers after a mysteriously lost 2025 with the White Sox organization. Texas dealt the Baldwin graduate to Chicago for major league outfielder Robbie Grossman in 2024. He pitched well in Double-A and ascended to Triple-A, but he never appeared in a game in 2025 and no reason was given. His time with the White Sox ended when he was released last July. The Rangers signed the righty in November and he was assigned Sunday to the High-A Hub City Spartanburgers in South Carolina.
>> Waiakea grad Kalai Rosario has not been assigned to Triple-A yet, but I’m hopeful he winds up there as the 23-year-old outfielder seems to have little to prove in Double-A after a strong 2025 with the Twins’ Wichita Wind Surge (25 HRs, 83 RBIs, 32 SBs).
>> After two strong years in the partner Pioneer League, UH outfielder Adam Fogel got the call from the Chicago White Sox in February. I’m excited to see what the 27-year-old can do in a major league organization. He smashed 69 home runs in 668 at-bats the past two seasons with the Missoula PaddleHeads, but who knows how that will translate in the MLB system?
>> Orioles shortstop Wehiwa Aloy was assigned to the High-A Frederick Keys on Sunday, and it will be interesting to see where some of last year’s other draft picks land. Shortstop Aiva Arquette (ranked the 45th best prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline) was taken seventh by the Miami Marlins out of Oregon State but is starting the year recovering from a core muscle injury reportedly suffered during offseason workouts here in Hawaii. Two-way player Itsuki Takemoto has yet to appear in a pro game after the Athletics drafted him in the 19th round last year.
Steve Parkin says he is relishing Wrexham's "fantastic" Easter schedule as the Red Dragons bid to remain in the hunt to secure a place in the Championship play-offs.
Wrexham went into the international break on the back of a 2-1 comeback win over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane to remain level on points with sixth-placed Southampton.
Phil Parkinson's men face the Saints on Tuesday, 7 April, four days after travelling to West Bromwich Albion.
"I'm really looking forward to it. The Easter period has been altered a little bit," said assistant boss Parkin.
"We've got Southampton coming to our place on the Tuesday night on the seventh and West Brom away, so we've got two fantastic games coming up."
Three of Wrexham's final seven games of the regular season are against teams currently in the top six.
But having already earned positive results against the likes of Coventry City and Middlesbrough this season, Parkin feels facing the division's big guns can be "important".
"We want to be part of the party at the end of the year, don't we?" he said after the win at Sheffield United.
"We want to be one of the teams that's pushing to get in the play-offs.
"We've got great games coming up. We've got games against the big teams as well, which is important."
Tony Godden was a team-mate of the likes of Bryan Robson, Cyrille Regis and Laurie Cunningham at West Brom [Getty Images]
Former West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Tony Godden has died at the age of 70.
A hugely popular figure at The Hawthorns, Godden made 228 consecutive appearances for Albion - still a club record - and played 329 times in total for them.
Godden was with the Baggies for nine years between 1977 and 1986, and his career later included spells at Chelsea and Birmingham City.
West Brom said the club was "desperately saddened" by Godden's passing and that "the thoughts of everyone at the Albion are with Tony's friends, family and loved ones at this tragic time."
A tribute to Godden is planned for Friday's home match against Wrexham.
Chelsea, meanwhile, said they were "greatly saddened" by the death of Godden, who made 38 appearances for the west London club from 1986-87.
He saved two penalties in a 1-0 win for the Blues against Manchester United at Old Trafford in September 1986.
Heard has suffered a foot injury, though, that will sideline her for the entirety of the Six Nations campaign and leaves the Red Roses relatively short of proven options in midfield.
Uncapped Loughborough Lightning midfielder Carmella Morrall has joined the squad and could vie with fellow potential debutant Sarah Parry for a place alongside captain Meg Jones.
Fly halves Helena Rowland and Holly Aitchison are also capable in either the No 12 or No 13 shirts, while Mitchell has floated the possibility of experimenting with full-back Emma Sing in the centres.
“We’d like to see how Emma Sing goes in the midfield over the next few years,” the England head coach explained. “I think it is important for her to develop another position because she is a very strong carrier of the ball.
“Whether we look at that in this tournament is another thing, but it’s certainly in our minds. Emma could play 12 or 13. It’s something that Emma is also pretty keen on developing, and it allows her to contribute to the group and add another string to her bow.”
Emma Sing could be looked at in the centres (PA Wire)
England open their campaign against Ireland at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium on Saturday 11 April. More than 70,000 tickets have been sold for the game.
The New England Patriots have already made moves at the wide receiver position this offseason, but rumors continue to swirl around them when it comes to swinging a trade for another pass catcher. A.J. Brown of the Philadelphia Eagles remains the top option, but there are other names available, with one example being Brandon Aiyuk of the San Francisco 49ers.
Aiyuk didn't suit up at all in 2025 for the Niners, and as a result, the team is expected to part ways with him this offseason. While he is largely expected to get released, head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed on Monday that San Fran would ideally trade him, and that it is not in a rush to move on from him just for the sake of doing so.
"49ers HC Kyle Shanahan said the team hopes the team can get something in return for WR Brandon Aiyuk," Dianna Russini of The Athletic shared in a post on X. "He said he's not sure when that might take place, 'I know we're in no rush to do that.'"
Aiyuk enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2023 when he caught 75 passes for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns, but a torn ACL in 2024 and his aforementioned drama with the 49ers have led to him playing in just seven total games over the past two years. As a result, bringing Aiyuk to town for any sort of substantial price would have to be viewed as a risk.
And yet, the Patriots are a team that has the ability to take a flier on Aiyuk. The front office is also known to be a fan of his, as they were interested in pursuing a trade for him before the 2024 campaign. Could his recent controversies with San Fran change things, though? That is unknown, and while all eyes will be on Brown, Aiyuk will continue to lurk as a potential backup option.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have scratched and clawed their way through a grueling month of March, a good portion of which without Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. They currently sit in third place in the Metropolitan division with nine games left to play. Throughout this stretch, there has been one constant in the midst of a lot of injury uncertainty: Erik Karlsson.
Karlsson seems to have rediscovered his game under new head coach, Dan Muse. After three points against the Ottawa Senators on March 26, he set his highest point total (57) as a Penguin in 15 fewer games than his previous mark (56 in 2023-24). In a completely new system, Karlsson is flourishing again in the black and gold.
The Return of Erik Norris-son?
For over a decade now, Karlsson has been one of the best offensive defenseman in the game. The Swedish superstar is a three-time winner of the Norris Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s best defenseman. His most recent win came in the 2022-23 season, where he notched 101 points, becoming the first blueliner to cross the century mark since Brian Leetch 30 years prior.
In 15 games since February 28, Karlsson has netted eight goals and tallied 14 assists, totaling 22 points, the second-highest mark in the NHL in that span. Expanded over a full 82-game season, that rounds out to a 44-77-121 pace. The level that Karlsson is playing at right now is better than his historic 101-point season from three years ago, and it’s been exactly what the Penguins have needed.
We're seeing vintage Erik Karlsson, folks
• Six goals over his last six games • Three-straight three-point games on the road • Seven multi-point games over his last 10 outings • Ranks second in the NHL with 22 points since February 28 pic.twitter.com/XEBB9nYCla
It’s easy to point to Karlsson’s base stats and see that he is playing at an otherworldly level, but digging a little deeper shows us that the Penguins are straight up a far better team whenever EK65 is on the ice.
Over the last 20 games, Karlsson has the highest on-ice goals percentage (62.9%) of any Pittsburgh defenseman, meaning, when Karlsson is on the ice, the Penguins are responsible for 62.9% of goals scored. This vastly outperforms the expected numbers, but those are still dominant as well. When he’s on the ice, 56.4% of the total xGoals generated are in favor of the Pens. That number drops to 44% when he’s off the ice.
That 12.4% difference is the highest mark on the team. Expand the list to feature every defenseman that’s played at least 400 minutes in that stretch, and all those numbers listed are top-20 in the entire NHL.
To take this even further, Karlsson has played almost 235 minutes at 5v5 this month. In those minutes, Karlsson has been on the ice for: – 54.4% of the shot attempts – 55.1% of the expected goals – 54.6% of the scoring chances – 57% of the high-danger chances.
With Malkin missing more time, and Crosby suffering another injury against the Senators, Erik Karlsson is back in the saddle leading the charge. If he can continue playing at, or even close to, this all-time level, the Penguins, with help from their depth, can make a strong push for one last run with the core.
The Penguins surviving one of the hardest single-month schedules the team has seen in their history was thanks in large part to No. 65. Seven of his eight goals since February 28 have either tied the game, or given Pittsburgh the lead. When the team needs a big goal, the Swedish Bobby Orr continues to bail them out.
Obviously, in a perfect world, Crosby, Malkin, and Karlsson all share the ice and put up the superstar numbers we know. However, this team, behind Karlsson, has shown they can step up when needed.
Kamehameha junior Paliku Chang pulled off quite a double in the Northwest Regional Wrestling Championships at Centralia, Wash., on Sunday.
Chang, who won his first state title with a 7-5 victory over Pearl City’s Jaden Thai last month, swept the freestyle and greco divisions at the elite event. He won each of his five matches by stoppage in freestyle, stopping his finals opponent in 2 minutes, 15 seconds. He did the same in the greco competition, winning the first-place match in 1:28.
Officials at USA wrestling say that he is the second Hawaii athlete to win both disciplines on the same day. Travis Lee of Saint Louis did it in a national tournament.
Pearl City’s Nevaeh Lavarias took second in freestyle and third in greco at 120 pounds. They move on to the national championships in July in Fargo, N.D.
Over on the East coast of the continent, two-time HHSAA champion Analu Woode of Nanakuli won at 113 pounds in the sophomore division of the NHCSA High School Nationals in Virginia Beach, Va., topping his finals opponent 2-1 on a reversal with 1:35 left in the match. Woode won his previous matches by scores of 22-7, 5-0, 13-2, 3-0, 22-4 and 16-1.
Mixed duo is first to claim four-ball title
Braydn Sato and Kady Matsumoto fired a 7-under par 64 to win by two strokes over Carson Kage/Leo Saito to become the first “co-ed” team to capture the championship flight in the history of the HSGA Four-Ball Stroke Play.
The event concluded Sunday at Ted Makalena Golf Course under sunny and breezy conditions.
Sato is a freshman golfer at Hawaii Pacific University while Matsumoto is a Mililani High School senior.
Rainbow Sailors dominant at fleet invite
The University of Hawaii sailing team delivered an outstanding performance on home waters, placing all five fielded squads in the top five to sweep the inaugural Hawai’i Fleet Race Invite, held at Keehi Lagoon on Saturday and Sunday.
The Rainbow Sailors displayed their depth to beat a visiting field that included teams from Arizona State, UC San Diego, and UNC Wilmington. Sixteen racing sets were completed throughout the weekend, with A and B divisions racing for each team.
Leading the charge was the Rainbow Green team, which claimed the overall crown with a regatta-low 148 points.
Fresno Pacific tops Chaminade in baseball
Fresno State’s baseball team defeated Chaminade 11-0 in seven innings on Sunday at Hans L’Orange Park.
Cade Fujii had two hits for the Silverswords (7-26, 5-23 in the PacWest). The Sunbirds are 19-15, 14-8.
Given his retirement status, WWE fans probably weren’t expecting Cena to be involved at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas.
Feb 1, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Jey Uso hugs John Cena after winning the Men’s Royal Rumble match during the WWE Royal Rumble at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
However, the 48 year old superstar has recently shared a post on social media where he confirmed that he will indeed be heading to WrestleMania and seeing fans at the huge wrestling event in April.
John Cena shares hosting gig for WrestleMania 42
Cena plugged the movie he was shooting titled “One Attempt Remaining,” where he will star alongside Jennifer Garner, before going on to speak about the Road to WrestleMania.
Since retirement, my “road” has looked a little different… but now I can officially say I’m headed to WrestleMania!!!! See you in Las Vegas! pic.twitter.com/nyNypOhRpk
“I’m also on the road which is ironic because there is a Road to WrestleMania going on and Hollywood is really close to Vegas,” Cena said in his social media post.
“Rumor around this town is WrestleMania needs a host. Well, I’m already on that road so I will see you at WrestleMania.”
Based on his words, Cena is set for a prominent role as the host of this year’s WrestleMania.
Feb 1, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; John Cena and Jey Uso and Logan Paul during the WWE Men’s Royal Rumble Match during WWE Royal Rumble at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
In the video, the WWE legend also waved his hand in front of his face and pulled off his iconic ‘You Can’t See Me’ gesture when he said that he’ll “see you at WrestleMania.”
A number of the WWE’s premier wrestlers will feature and compete at WrestleMania 42 and now, John Cena can be added to the list of stars who will appear on wrestling’s biggest stage.
PHILADELPHIA , PA - OCTOBER 13: Center Trevor Zegras #46 of the Philadelphia Flyers is shown in pre-game team introductions before during the game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Florida Panthers on October 13th, 2025 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire)
While it should come as no surprise, it sounds as if the Philadelphia Flyers have begun having contract talks with forward Trevor Zegras.
Zegras, 25, was acquired by the Flyers over the summer. He is a pending RFA and is one of five RFAs on the team’s current NHL roster.
It should be no surprise that the team is interested in signing Zegras. They did not acquire him for just one season. In 73 games this season, the forward has tied a career high of 23 goals. He is six points shy of matching his career high of 65 points.
After battling injury, Zegras is having a great bounce-back season in his fresh start in Philadelphia.
Now, it sounds like the Flyers have begun contract talks with their young forward.
On the latest episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Elliotte Friedman said, “I’m watching Trevor Zegras score in overtime, I’m looking at this, and I think the Flyers and Zegras have started talking.”
Friedman went on to say, “I don’t know how close they are, but I think they have definitely been talking. I watched Zegras score, and I’m like, this price isn’t going to go down.”
The Sportsnet NHL insider mentioned how the summer acquisition has been a good fit for the Flyers. He also said the team has been good for the player. “I don’t think there is a question that it’s going to get done,” said Friedman on the contract talks.
Flyers’ GM Danny Briere had said in the past that they’re in no rush. With his RFA status, Philadelphia could easily let this go into the summer. Now, it sounds like the Zegras and the Flyers have begun talking.
All 18 Big Ten schools and all 16 SEC institutions will match up beginning Tuesday, September 1, culminating with a doubleheader at Wrigley Field on Sept. 6. The other match at Wrigley Field will see Penn State play Kentucky.
Nebraska will also play a match at DePaul on Friday, Sept. 4, at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago. This event will mark the first time that Wirgley has hosted a volleyball event. It has previously hosted Big Ten football games.
Cubs President of Business Operations Crane Kenney called the event a historic moment for the famed venue.
“This is a historic moment for the Chicago Cubs, Big Ten and the SEC that has been months in the making. We’re thrilled to welcome these incredible schools and student-athletes to the first-ever collegiate volleyball game at Wrigley Field.”
Both matches can be seen on FOX, with the first at 6 p.m. CT, followed by the second at 8 p.m. CT.
MATCH DATE
HOME
AWAY
LOCATION
Tuesday, Sept. 1
Tennessee
Illinois
Food City Center (Knoxville, TN)
Tuesday, Sept. 1
Missouri
Oregon
Hearnes Center (Columbia, MO)
Tuesday, Sept. 1
Minnesota
Florida
UW Fieldhouse (Madison, WI)
Tuesday, Sept. 1
Purdue
Texas A&M
Holloway Gymnasium (West Lafayette, IN)
Tuesday, Sept. 1
Indiana
Georgia
Holloway Gymnasium (West Lafayette, IN)
Tuesday, Sept. 1
Vanderbilt
Maryland
Historic Memorial Gymnasium (Nashville, TN)
Tuesday, Sept. 1
Arkansas
Rutgers
Historic Memorial Gymnasium (Nashville, TN)
Tuesday, Sept. 1
Michigan
South Carolina
Crisler Center (Ann Arbor, MI)
Tuesday, Sept. 1
Michigan State
LSU
Crisler Center (Ann Arbor, MI)
Wednesday, Sept. 2
Texas
USC
Gregory Gymnasium (Austin, TX)
Wednesday, Sept. 2
Kentucky
UCLA
Historic Memorial Coliseum (Lexington, KY)
Wednesday, Sept. 2
Wisconsin
Florida
UW Fieldhouse (Madison, WI)
Wednesday, Sept. 2
Minnesota
Auburn
UW Fieldhouse (Madison, WI)
Wednesday, Sept. 2
Purdue
Georgia
Holloway Gymnasium (West Lafayette, IN)
Wednesday, Sept. 2
Indiana
Texas A&M
Holloway Gymnasium (West Lafayette, IN)
Wednesday, Sept. 2
Vanderbilt
Rutgers
Historic Memorial Gymnasium (Nashville, TN)
Wednesday, Sept. 2
Arkansas
Maryland
Historic Memorial Gymnasium (Nashville, TN)
Wednesday, Sept. 2
Michigan
LSU
Crisler Center (Ann Arbor, MI)
Wednesday, Sept. 2
Michigan State
South Carolina
Crisler Center (Ann Arbor, MI)
Wednesday, Sept. 2
Ole Miss
Ohio State
McCasland Field House (Norman, OK)
Thursday, Sept. 3
Wisconsin
Auburn
UW Fieldhouse (Madison, WI)
Thursday, Sept. 3
Mississippi State
Iowa
Newell-Grissom Building (Starkville, MS)
Thursday, Sept. 3
Alabama
Northwestern
Newell-Grissom Building (Starkville, MS)
Thursday, Sept. 3
Ole Miss
Washington
McCasland Field House (Norman, OK)
Thursday, Sept. 3
Oklahoma
Ohio State
McCasland Field House (Norman, OK)
Friday, Sept. 4
Mississippi State
Northwestern
Newell-Grissom Building (Starkville, MS)
Friday, Sept. 4
Alabama
Iowa
Newell-Grissom Building (Starkville, MS)
Friday, Sept. 4
Oklahoma
Washington
McCasland Field House (Norman, OK)
Sunday, Sept. 6
Nebraska
Missouri
Wrigley Field (Chicago, IL)
Sunday, Sept. 6
Penn State
Kentucky
Wrigley Field (Chicago, IL)
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Former Manchester City defender issues “100 per cent” verdict on Phil Foden’s England World Cup place
Thomas Tuchel will soon decide on his England squad for the 2026 World Cup
Phil Foden’s Manchester City struggles place him at serious risk of missing out
One former England international has offered his verdict on Foden
Wayne Bridge – the former Manchester City and England international – has insisted he would consider Phil Foden for a place in the Three Lions’ squad this summer, despite his performance struggles this season.
Foden’s 2025/26 season to date has been one seen as a struggle for consistency and playing time at Manchester City, finding himself increasingly peripheral despite an encouraging run of performances prior to the turn of the year.
An early-season burst of form and notable goals against the likes of Manchester United and Leeds was then followed up by Foden starting just one of Manchester City’s last eight games, leading to some extremely tenuous paper talk of a potential move to seek minutes.
Phil Foden receives public Ronald Araujo apology for disgraceful ankle challenge
As for the national team, Thomas Tuchel handed him a rare start in the 1-1 friendly draw against Uruguay, although Foden’s performance was criticised as hesitant before his night ended following a horror tackle by Ronald Araújo.
With an ankle issue now clouding his immediate fitness and other names pushing to emerge ahead in the pecking order, Phil Foden faces a race against time to prove he can secure his spot in the 2026 World Cup squad.
What has Wayne Bridge said about Foden’s England place?
Speaking as part of a new conversation with 10bet, former Manchester City and England defender Wayne Bridge piled on the praise for Foden, explaining why the Etihad Stadium’s No.47 should be part of Thomas Tuchel’s squad this summer.
“Foden hasn’t been playing much, and when you look at the squad and players like Savinho coming in and hitting the ground running, it is a little bit worrying. It would be stupid to say it isn’t. But he’s such a fantastic player. He’s one of those players where, when you watch him live, you just think ‘wow’. There’s something different about him,” said Bridge.
“He reminds me a little bit of David Silva. When you watched Silva live you just knew how good he was — the way he moved the ball, the way he manipulated it, the touches he’d take away from players,” he continued.
Do England really need Foden this summer?
Referring directly to Foden and his international future, Wayne Bridge said, “England need him back playing because he’s such a dangerous, quality player. Would I take Foden and Palmer to the World Cup? I would – 100 per cent.
“When I look at Cole Palmer and Phil Foden, they’re two players who, creativity-wise, can do so much for England. I’m like the fans. You’re in the pub watching it and saying things like, ‘Oh, we should do this,’ or ‘The manager should do that.’ But Foden is one of those players who can do something special. It’s just about getting the team and the balance right.
“Look at Cole Palmer – he wasn’t starting but he was coming on for the last 20 minutes, changing games and winning games for England. You start to think maybe he should just start.
“But it’s about getting the team right because when I look back to when I was playing, you had Stevie G [Steven Gerrard], Scholesy [Paul Scholes], [Frank] Lampard, Becks [David Beckham] — they were all starting but maybe not always in the positions they should have been playing.
“It’s about getting the balance of the team right, and that’s down to the manager. But if you can get Phil Foden playing well and Cole Palmer playing well, I think they’re two massively important players for England.”
Where can Foden aim to impress for Man City ahead of the World Cup?
With Manchester City set to face a gauntlet of season-defining fixtures in April – including a Premier League clash against the current leaders Arsenal on April 19 and an FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool on April 4 – Foden must capitalise on every minute to reclaim his starting spot from the surging Nico O’Reilly and Antoine Semenyo.
As Thomas Tuchel finalises his squad ahead of the World Cup submission deadline, Phil Foden’s ability to rediscover his goal-scoring form during this congested stretch, which also includes tough trips to Chelsea and Burnley, will be the ultimate factor in whether he travels as a cornerstone of the England attack.
Fabrizio Romano confirms Richard Hughes is making transfer blunder
Much has been made of Liverpool’s plans for the upcoming summer transfer window, with the club looking to strengthen after a disappointing campaign.
The reigning Premier League champions currently find themselves in a battle to qualify for European competition this season, with a finish outside the top seven now looking surprisingly possible.
For many supporters, the transfer window represents the perfect opportunity for the club to take action and ensure they return to the very top of English football next season.
Several positions need to be addressed, with a move for Jeremy Jacquet already agreed, but it looks as though Richard Hughes could already be making a massive mistake.
Liverpool at serious risk of losing star to rivals
One of the key areas supporters are keen for the Reds’ recruitment team to address is the midfield, with the future of almost every Liverpool midfielder currently uncertain.
A whole host of potential targets have been linked with Merseyside moves but the latest update from Fabrizio Romano will have left some Reds worried that Liverpool are going to miss out.
The reliable transfer insider shared on Monday that Manchester United have Sandro Tonali ‘very high’ on their list for the summer, with the Italian open to a move away from Newcastle.
Romano also mentioned Arsenal and Manchester City as interested parties, but there was no mention of Liverpool.
A move to bring Tonali to Anfield has been rumoured before, but it is looking unlikely for the summer at the moment.
The 25-year-old has become a key part of Newcastle’s squad and him moving to one of Liverpool’s biggest rivals would be a huge blow for the Reds.
It would be a massive blow if the Reds were to miss out on both Anderson and Tonali to the clubs they will be directly competing with for the Premier League title next season.
Norway manager Stale Solbakken has admitted he doesn’t know exactly when Martin Odegaard will be back in action, but he believes the Arsenal midfielder is making good progress.
Photo by FREDRIK VARFJELL/NTB/AFP via Getty Images
Norway boss Stale Solbakken would ideally have called upon Martin Odegaard for the March international break, but the midfielder’s recent injury made that an ill-advised decision at best.
There have been suggestions over the last week that Odegaard hopes to return to action with Arsenal after the international break, but though Solbakken has confirmed the player is making good progress, he’s admitted he doesn’t know his exact planned return date.
“I haven’t talked to him. But we have texted a bit,” Solbakken said. “The most important thing is that he is making progress. When he will be ready, I don’t know. But it is good progress.”
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Solbakken didn’t deny that he would have preferred to have Odegaard involved in the national team camp this month, but added that it’s more important the player is ready for the World Cup this summer.
“Of course, we should have had him here. Like everyone else, he knows his own body best,” Solbakken said. “There has been a lot going on around his injury situation.
“We need him ready for the World Cup. He is probably using the time well to be ready for it.”
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
All parties want the same thing in this case. They want Odegaard to get fit as soon as possible, for him to play well over the next couple of months, and for him to remain fit and in form ahead of the World Cup this summer.
If missing a couple of March friendlies makes that possible, it will be worth his absence from the games this week.
Ancelotti sends his best to Italy from Brazil and praises Serie A star: ‘Nobody like him’
Brazil national team head coach Carlo Ancelotti has sent his best wishes to the Italy side ahead of their World Cup play-off final against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday evening and has given even more praise to his former Real Madrid midfielder, Luka Modric, now at Milan: ‘There’s nobody like him on the world market’.
Ancelotti: ‘I hope Italy qualify, but I won’t be able to watch’
epa12137461 Italian Carlo Ancelotti attends a press conference where he was presented as new head coach of men’s Brazilian national soccer team in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 26 May 2025. Ancelotti announced his first squad list for Brazil’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay. EPA-EFE/Andre Coelho
Italy will be in World Cup play-off final action away against Bosnia and Herzegovina at 19.45 BST on Tuesday evening, while Brazil, who have already qualified for the 2026 tournament, will take on Croatia in a friendly in Florida, USA, later on in the same night, kicking off at 1.00 BST in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Monday, Ancelotti told reporters: “I hope Italy qualify for the World Cup, but I won’t be able to watch the national team tomorrow. We have to prepare for our match against Croatia.” (via ANSA).
Among the opposition for Ancelotti’s Brazil in their upcoming friendly will be former Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric, who has excelled in Serie A at the age of 40 this season.
MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 08: Luka Modric of AC Milan celebrates the victory at the end of the Serie A match between AC Milan and Inter at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on March 08, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
“Modric can play in every position in the midfield, because he is a complete and modern player, one of the best players I have ever coached and a spectacular professional with an extraordinary passion for football,” Ancelotti said ahead of his reunion with the Rossoneri veteran.
He concluded: “There is nobody like Modric on the world market.”
WWE world heavyweight champion CM Punk and WWE undisputed champion Cody Rhodes are both underdog in theirWrestleMania main events against Roman Reigns and Randy Orton, respectively.
Oba Femi is currently one of the biggest favorites on the board in his WrestleMania debut against Brock Lesnar.
Rhea Ripley is currently favored to dethrone Jade Cargill in the WWE Women’s Championship match.
Trick Williams is heavily favored to win his first championship on the WWE main roster.
WWE WrestleMania 42 is just over two weeks away, and early odds suggest a changing of the guard in multiple matches. Trick Williams is currently tied for the second-biggest favorite on the board as he is comfortably favored to dethrone Sami Zayn for the United States Championship. Zayn recently won the US Title after a controversial open challenge win over Carmelo Hayes. There remains an outside chance that WWE could book a Triple Threat match including Melo due to fan backlash.
Williams recently admitted he feels Carmelo deserves a WrestleMania moment.
“Me and Melo, we go way back, of course. And I would love to see him get his moment, and he deserves that. And you never know, he probably still will,” Williams said. “You know what I mean, he carried that US title great. So he deserves his moment and I’m sure he’s going to get his moment.”
Oba Femi, who seems to be a No. 1 overall top star in the making, is a -350 favorite over Brock Lesnar (+215) after back-to-back weeks of Femi making light work out of the former multiple-time WrestleMania main eventer.
Rhea Ripley and Jade Cargill have been embroiled in an awkward feud that seems to have real-life tensions. Rhea is currently favored to regain the WWE Women’s Championship over Jade, who recently aligned with B-Fab and Michin.
In the men’s world title matches, both world champions CM Punk and Cody Rhodes are underdogs.
WWE WrestleMania 42 Betting Odds
Roman Reigns (-300) vs. CM Punk (+200) | WWE World Heavyweight Title
Randy Orton (-180) vs. Cody Rhodes (+140) | Undisputed WWE Title
Rhea Ripley (-325) vs. Jade Cargill (+215) | WWE Women’s Title
Liv Morgan (-550) vs. Stephanie Vaquer (+325) | WWE Women’s World Title
Oba Femi (-325) vs. Brock Lesnar (+215)
Jacob Fatu (-500) vs. Drew McIntyre (+300) | Unsanctioned Match
Trick Williams (-500) vs. Sami Zayn (+300) | WWE US Title
Becky Lynch (-350) vs. AJ Lee (+225) | WWE Women’s IC Title
Death Stranding 2’s PC launch has been a huge success After almost a year of PlayStation 5 exclusivity, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has arrived on PC, and it’s selling well. To date, Death Stranding 2 has generated over 2 million sales across PC and PlayStation 5. According to Alinea Analytics, Death Stranding 2 […]
Micron plans to stack GDDR memory to create higher bandwidth/capacity modules Micron has reportedly begun developing a new form of GDDR memory, hoping to gain an edge over rivals. With its new stacked GDDR modules, Micron hopes to create a product that sits between HBM and GDDR memory, offering users more bandwidth and capacity per […]
Chainlink (LINK) and Uniswap (UNI) are showing strikingly similar price structures, with both tokens attempting to recover within ascending channels after prolonged downtrends. As the broader market stabilises, these altcoins are beginning to build momentum near key resistance zones.
With both tokens holding above crucial support levels and forming higher lows, traders are now watching for a potential breakout. The key question remains: can the prices of LINK and UNI sustain this structure and push toward the $10 milestone in Q2?
Chainlink (LINK) Price Analysis
The Chainlink price is currently trading within a rising channel after a sharp decline earlier this year, indicating a gradual recovery phase. The price is holding near the $8.5–$8.8 zone, which now acts as immediate support, while the structure continues to print higher lows.
The next major resistance lies around $10, followed by a stronger supply zone near $12. A breakout above the channel resistance could accelerate momentum toward these levels. On the indicator side, the DMI is heading for a bullish crossover, while CMF is attempting to recover from negative territory, hinting at improving capital inflows. However, the momentum remains moderate, suggesting that a confirmed breakout is still needed for trend continuation.
Key Levels:
Support: $8.5
Resistance: $10 → $12
Uniswap (UNI) Price Analysis
The Uniswap price is mirroring a similar structure, trading within a rising channel while attempting to recover from its recent lows. The price is currently hovering near the $3.5 range, holding above the lower boundary of the channel and forming a base.
The immediate resistance lies near $4, with a stronger barrier around $5.6. A breakout above these levels could open the path toward higher targets in the coming weeks. From an indicator perspective, DMI, similar to LINK is heading for a bullish crossover, while CMF remains slightly negative but is heading towards the threshold. This keeps UNI slightly weaker compared to LINK in terms of momentum, but the buying pressure is building.
Key Levels:
Support: $3.2–$3.4
Resistance: $4 → $5.6
Conclusion — Can LINK & UNI Reach $10 in Q2?
Both Chainlink and Uniswap are showing early signs of recovery, with similar ascending channel structures suggesting a potential continuation of the uptrend. In the short term, the setups remain constructive as long as key support levels hold.
However, the path to $10 differs significantly for both tokens. The LINK price appears closer to the target and may achieve it if it breaks above immediate resistance. In contrast, UNI price still requires multiple breakout confirmations before approaching the same level.
Pi Network is making rounds again on crypto Twitter, and this time, it’s not about mining, controversy, or adoption; it’s about price. Amid weak liquidity and fading altcoin demand, concerns are rising over whether Pi can sustain growth without a meaningful rise in value.
Dr. Pi went deep into the analysis, arguing that price is not just a side factor but the foundation of the entire network. In his view, ignoring price while focusing only on ecosystem growth is unrealistic in today’s market environment.
Price vs Ecosystem Debate
He started his analysis with a simple question: Can Pi grow without strong price action? The analyst believes the answer is no. He points out that most users joined the space with expectations of future value, not just participation. He even admits Pi’s Kraken listing impact was overestimated, with low trading volume showing weak traction in the U.S. and Europe.
He adds Pi’s strength lies mainly in Asian markets, suggesting its global influence, and even leadership recognition, may be overstated.
Hence, if the token remains low or declines further, engagement could weaken. Fewer active users, declining node activity, and reduced community interest could follow. In his words, without financial incentives, the network risks losing its core energy.
“If the price stays low—or worse, goes to zero—enthusiasm disappears overnight. Who’s going to invest time and energy into a “$0.01 ghost coin,” he said
This concern comes at a time when Pi is showing mixed signals in the market. The token has managed to hold key support levels around $0.17, even gaining slightly despite broader macro pressure. However, ongoing mainnet migration and steady exchange inflows are testing its stability.
He further outlines a more detailed cycle. Rising prices attract attention, which brings in capital. If Pi moves toward levels like $3.14 or even $10, it could trigger institutional interest and renewed investor confidence.
As per him, that influx would likely fuel developer activity, leading to more applications and stronger utility. On the other side, rising prices create urgency among users, pushing adoption forward. Without this push, growth may remain slow with limited real-world use.
Where’s the Loophole
Beyond price, concerns are also building around the development pace. The network is still not fully operational at scale, with delays in mainnet rollout and token migration affecting user confidence. Moreover, the capital is moving toward more established assets.
Traditional instruments like stocks and commodities are increasingly being tokenized, drawing liquidity away from altcoins.
What stands out is that price and network growth move together, not separately. This trend has already played out with assets like Bitcoin and Solana, where strong rallies helped drive adoption.
“Only with a strong price can Pi step into the mainstream—as a real medium of exchange, a cross-border asset, a Web3 gateway. Otherwise, it’s just another niche “mobile mining app,” he added.
Never Miss a Beat in the Crypto World!
Stay ahead with breaking news, expert analysis, and real-time updates on the latest trends in Bitcoin, altcoins, DeFi, NFTs, and more.
FAQs
What challenges is Pi Network currently facing?
Pi faces slow mainnet rollout, low trading volume, and weak global traction. These issues affect confidence and limit its short-term growth potential.
Why are users losing interest in Pi Network?
Low price and slow progress reduce excitement. Without financial incentives or strong utility, users may lose motivation to stay active long term.
Can Pi Network reach $10 in the future?
It’s possible but depends on adoption, utility, and demand. Strong price growth could attract capital, but current conditions show limited momentum.
The JUP price just got a shot of adrenaline and no, it’s not just another random pump. This time, there’s an actual product behind it. Jupiter Lend’s latest announcement around its JUICED token has injected fresh energy into a chart that’s been dragging itself through most of Q1.
An 8% intraday move pushed JUP to around $0.1518, with market cap hovering near $539.27 million. Not explosive, but definitely noticeable. Especially for a token that’s been stuck in a slow grind downward until recently.
JUICED Token Utility Introduces Yield Driven Demand For JUP
So, what’s the hype about? JUICED. It’s the token users receive when depositing JupUSD into Jupiter Lend. Sounds simple but the mechanics are where it gets interesting. The token earns yield from three sources: lending interest, incentives, and T-bill yield. And just like a liquid staking token, it appreciates automatically over time.
JUICED is the token you receive from depositing JupUSD into Jupiter Lend.
It earns yield from 3 sources: lending interest, incentives, and T-bill yield.
Similar to an LST, it grows in value automatically.
But here’s the clever part per its x post you don’t even need to interact with the lending platform directly. JUICED is integrated into Jupiter’s routing, meaning users can swap into it seamlessly.
Oh, and the yield? Around 4.5% APY passively. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, JUICED loops can push that into the 12–15% range. Yeah, that’ll get attention.
JUP Price Rebounds From Key Support With Catalyst Backing
But let’s zoom out for a second. The JUP price hasn’t exactly been a top performer this year. Q1 was mostly a downtrend, with the token finding support around $0.14 in late February.
Now, in late March, it’s bouncing again from that same level this time with a narrative to back it. That matters.
If momentum sticks, the next hurdles are pretty clear: $0.16 and $0.17. Flip those, and suddenly the path opens toward $0.19, which was the early March high. Beyond that? January’s peak near $0.23 becomes the next logical target. Of course, that’s assuming buyers don’t lose interest halfway through.
Rising Open Interest And Long Bias Support Breakout Potential
Now here’s where things start to align technically. Open interest is up 72%, with an additional 11% increase recently. That’s not just noise that’s participation returning. More importantly, Binance data shows a long/short ratio of 1.27 among top traders, indicating a clear long bias.
But it’s not extreme. And that’s actually a good thing. This kind of setup rising open interest with a balanced long tilt usually signals healthy trend development rather than overheated speculation. It creates room for continuation instead of immediate liquidation risk.
So, what’s next? If resistance levels crack, the JUP price could shift from recovery mode into a proper breakout phase. If not, well… it’s back to consolidation.
Either way, for now, JUICED has done what most announcements fail to do as it actually moved the JUP market.
The XRP price is caught in a strange tug-of-war right now and honestly, it’s the kind of setup that rarely ends quietly.
Funding rates tell the first part of the story. They’ve been negative for a while now, and not just mildly. We’re talking deep dips to -0.01 and even -0.02. Shorts are firmly in control, and long traders are getting paid to stay in the game. Structurally, it screams bearish positioning.
Negative Funding Rates Signal Strong Bearish Market Positioning Structure
But, the XRP price is sitting around $1.32, continuing its pattern of lower highs and lower lows. Normally, that aligns neatly with bearish sentiment. Except this time, the decline isn’t being driven by organic spot selling but it’s majorly being fueled by leveraged short positions.
That’s a subtle but important difference. The analyst PelinayPA’s post suggests fragility. Because when shorts dominate too much, the market becomes vulnerable to sharp reversals.
ETF Inflows Rise While Price Continues Weak Downtrend
Also, during March 23–27, XRP ETFs saw a +2.66 million inflow. Institutional money is stepping in. Quietly, but clearly. So, what gives? Why is price still dropping?
Simple. Divergence. While institutions accumulate, the broader market continues to lean short.
That disconnect creates a scenario where a sudden upward move could trigger a cascade of short liquidations. But don’t get too comfortable. If that squeeze happens, it could be met with aggressive spot selling from those same institutional players locking in gains. In other words, volatility isn’t just possible but it’s likely.
Liquidity Collapse Across XRPL Signals Potential Market Breakdown Ahead
And then there’s the liquidity problem. AMM pool liquidity on the XRP Ledger has shrunk to $1.9 million, hovering near levels last seen before a previous major rally. But the context now feels different. Instead of building momentum, liquidity is stuck in a 30-day flatline.
DEX liquidity tells an even harsher story. From a peak of $280 billion post-ETF hype, it has collapsed to $104.2 billion. That’s not a cooldown it’s a retreat.
Add to that rising whale-to-exchange transactions through February and March, and it starts to look less like accumulation and more like distribution. Big players appear to be positioning for exits, not entries.
So, what’s next? The XRP price could be heading toward a deeper flush, with potential downside targets in the $0.90–$0.75 range. Not pretty but consistent with the current setup.
And yet, if price starts climbing while funding stays negative, that’s when things flip fast. Until then, every bounce might just be another trap in disguise for the XRP price.
Whale wallets are stacking ETH at a pace that took the market by surprise, with buying addresses going parabolic during the deepest correction since 2023.
That bodes well for the ETH forecast long term, but months could pass before the buying pressure shows in the chart. Pepeto raised more than $8 million during that same correction, with the Binance listing confirmed.
Pepe exploded from its presale price to $11 billion, and the people who acted early made the biggest returns of their life. The same pattern is forming right now because more than $8 million flowing in during Fear 9 does not happen without a reason.
ETH Whale Buying Goes Parabolic While the Ethereum Price Prediction Waits for Pectra
ETH whale buying addresses turned parabolic with consistent inflows and minimal selling, removing supply from exchanges during the correction, according to CoinDesk. The Pectra upgrade in April could shift the ETH outlook if the market stabilizes, according to The Block.
The real question is whether waiting months for that catalyst is the best use of capital when one listing event delivers the return the Ethereum price prediction needs a full year to approach.
The Exchange That Lets You Move on Your Own Terms Without Waiting for Permission
Pepeto
There is no guarantee ETH makes a major move anytime soon, and that is exactly why the verified exchange presents such a valuable opportunity right now. Pepeto is where analysts project 100x to 300x, which, at current pricing, could be life changing for every wallet that enters before the Binance listing.
More than $8 million raised while the correction punished every chart proves the conviction. The key driver is the exchange: a complete platform in one clean space that already runs. The tools find entries others overlook, check contracts before your capital moves, handle the research that takes hours in minutes, and track how direction shifts in real time so you are never caught guessing.
Because the ETH outlook depends on macro factors that keep it range bound, the exchange gives you a way to move now instead of waiting. More than $8 million raised at $0.000000186 with 191% APY staking compounding positions while stages fill. SolidProof checked every contract before the presale opened, and the founder who took the original Pepe coin to $11 billion on 420 trillion tokens engineered the exchange alongside a former Binance expert.
The initial listing move could be enormous, but the exchange and the demand it creates will stay active for years because Pepeto solves a daily problem that outlasts any single cycle.
Ethereum Price Prediction 2026 to 2030
ETH trades at $2,000 according to CoinMarketCap, hovering above the $2,000 support that held through the entire correction. The ETH outlook turns bullish if the price clears the $2,100 resistance and the 50 day SMA near $2,200, which opens a run to $2,600 and then the $3,000 target.
Citigroup puts ETH at $3,175 over 12 months with a bull case of $4,488. The ETH/BTC ratio at 0.030 near multi year lows signals a wide gap between value and price. By 2027, models project $4,000 to $5,500 if Pectra drives renewed activity.
The most bullish ETH forecast for 2030 targets $8,000 to $12,000 if institutional flows mirror the BTC ETF path. The setup breaks if ETH loses $2,000 and slides to $1,900.
Ethereum Price Prediction Confirms the Right Investment at the Right Time Changes Everything
The Ethereum price prediction may not deliver much movement in the short term despite the high probability that a future run is building underneath the whale data. Waiting for external factors to move the ETH chart means waiting for the Fed, for Pectra, for legislation that may not pass this year.
In sharp contrast, the verified exchange already has everything needed to deliver from the Binance listing, allowing the wallets inside to be bullish on their own terms without needing macro permission.
The Pepeto official website is where to enter now, while the Ethereum price prediction stalls means you are the one who made the right investment at the right time, and Pepe’s explosion from presale to $11 billion proved that the wallets that acted early changed their whole life while everyone who waited spent the cycle wishing they had moved when the entry was still open.
What does the parabolic ETH whale buying mean for the Ethereum price prediction?
Whales removing ETH from circulation during a correction reduces sell pressure over time, but the Ethereum price prediction still depends on clearing $2,100 and the Pectra upgrade driving renewed activity.
How does the Pepeto listing compare to the Ethereum price prediction timeline?
The ETH forecast depends on macro conditions clearing gradually. The Pepeto official website is where the Binance listing and 100x to 300x projections offer a defined return from one event.
What levels does ETH need to break for the Ethereum price prediction to turn bullish?
ETH needs to close above $2,100 and hold the 50 day SMA near $2,200 to target $2,600 and $3,000. Losing $2,000 opens $1,900 and is a frustrating range for holders.
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Turn up the volume
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For this, Samsung has created the Hearapy app, which works with the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro. The idea is very easy to follow.Before starting your journey, you just need to listen to a special low sound for 60 seconds. This sound is called a 100 Hz tone and is designed to help your body adjust to movement.
This process is based on research from Nagoya University in Japan. Scientists found that this special low sound can activate the balance system in the inner ear. When this system works properly, it reduces the chances of feeling motion sickness. In tests, people felt less stress and fewer symptoms while traveling.
The Hearapy app makes everything simple for users. It automatically sets the correct time and sound level, so there is no need to adjust anything. You just play the sound and get ready for your trip.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro are designed to deliver this sound clearly. They also block outside noise, so the tone is not disturbed.This helps the sound work better and improves the results.
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As of April 1, the UK government will introduce a raft of new grants and incentives, as well as the relaxing of planning permissions, to increase EV uptake
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Xiaomi is now selling the new Mijia Smart Air Purifier Max in some European countries. This “enhanced” model has a dual filter system, with an integrated display and remote app-based controls.
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Vivo has finally released the X300 Ultra. At the same time, the company has also revealed its global launch plans. The company's pricing in its home market suggests that its new flagship will be on the expensive side when it reaches other markets, though.
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Ayaneo just announced that the Konkr Pocket FIT 8Elite is now shipping, after a delay of several months. Unfortunately, the Indiegogo post announcing this ends on a somber note:
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In addition to the X300 Ultra camera flagship, vivo is also introducing the X300s today – this one fills a gap between the small 6.3” X300 (CNY 4,600 for a 12/256GB model) and the large-but-pricey 6.78” X300 Pro (CNY 5,600 for a 12/256GB phone).
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In long sales cycles, a lot of what happens after lead submission involves people. When you optimize campaigns to final sales, you’re teaching the ad platform to respond to how well the sales team performed that month rather than lead quality, and that’s a problem no amount of campaign changes will fix.
The common advice is to “optimize the full funnel” (i.e., track media spend to revenue, optimize campaigns to sales, etc.). But beyond lead capture, most of what drives sales has little to do with your paid media. It’s about who’s on the sales team, how busy they are, and dozens of other factors you can’t influence through targeting or creative.
When your sales team becomes the signal
I’ve spent over 15 years in financial services marketing, but this isn’t unique to mortgages or insurance. If your sales process relies heavily on people, you’ll recognize this immediately.
In most businesses, there’s someone like Dave. In my case, he’s a mortgage adviser, but in yours, he might be your top enterprise sales rep, your star business development manager, or your best project estimator.
He closes deals at twice the rate of his colleagues, not because he gets better leads, but because he’s naturally gifted at building rapport, asking the right questions, and guiding anxious customers through difficult decisions.
However, Dave isn’t always there. Sometimes he’s on vacation, sometimes he might leave the company for a better opportunity, or sometimes your business hires three more Daves.
The makeup of your sales team likely changes constantly. You might have more experienced closers one month, fewer the next, a recruitment drive that brought in several new starters, or Dave and two of his colleagues leaving within a month of each other. Sales rates can swing dramatically based purely on who’s in the office, regardless of lead quality.
This can lead to targeting problems. For example, when the conversion rate drops because Dave’s away and a junior team member is covering his accounts, the algorithm sees it as a targeting problem rather than a staffing issue.
If you’ve set your campaigns to optimize for sales, it thinks, “Our targeting stopped working. These clicks are lower-quality for this conversion action now. We should shift spend away from these audiences.”
Eventually, this could result in keywords that were previously working well being turned off, audiences that were driving sales volume no longer being bid for, and, eventually, a decline in the entire account’s performance. But the leads haven’t changed, only the team has.
Operational factors that distort your conversion data
It’s not just the sales team makeup either. Let’s say:
The team gets slammed in Q4 as everyone tries to close before year-end, response times stretch from two days to over a week, and customers get impatient and look elsewhere.
Perhaps market conditions shift, and your most competitive product gets pulled. Or summer vacations mean the team is running short-handed, and some leads go cold before anyone contacts them. Then September comes and everything bounces back to normal.
It goes beyond the day-to-day. Budget approvals get delayed, product ranges change, and planning delays push projects back. The specific reason varies by business, but the effect on your conversion data is always the same.
The algorithm ends up thinking targeting got worse when, in fact, the team was just busy with leads from other sources.
When Dave becomes a superhuman: The Santa Claus Rally
The Santa Claus Rally, also known as the December Effect, is the best example I’ve seen of how human behavior can throw off algorithmic targeting.
Every December in financial services, something strange happens. In the third week of December, conversion rates from lead to sale spike dramatically. We’ve seen increases of up to 150% compared to normal weeks.
If campaigns are optimized for sales, the algorithm thinks, “Whatever we’re doing this week is working incredibly well!” Then the holiday week arrives, and everything crashes, with conversion rates plummeting to a fraction of normal levels.
None of it has anything to do with paid media. In week three, Dave and his colleagues are in target-hitting panic mode. End-of-year bonuses are on the line, and there’s one final push before the holiday break, so they’re calling leads faster, following up more aggressively, and closing deals they might typically have let simmer. Dave is working like a machine.
Then the holiday week arrives, and everyone’s mentally checked out, customers aren’t answering phones, and Dave has finally taken time off. The team that’s still at work is thinking more about family get-togethers and less about targets.
The lead quality, targeting, and ads haven’t changed. The team is just working at different levels of intensity due to seasonality. The algorithm overpays for normal performance and underbids for identical audiences, purely based on when Dave and his team take their vacations.
So if optimizing for sales is being distorted by things outside your control, how should you draw the line? How can you balance this lead distortion and still drive the right type of leads?
The answer is your last point of control, which, for these kinds of sales, means at lead submission. But not just simply counting leads. Instead, value them based on both likelihood to convert and the commercial value of the end sale.
The other issue is that most high-value businesses only generate a handful of sales per month, which isn’t enough data for automated bidding to learn anything useful. Lead valuation also solves this issue by providing the platform with hundreds of conversion events rather than a few sales.
This means automated bidding can actually function properly, campaign and audience testing can become meaningful, and the data stays reliable. You’re optimizing to lead quality before Dave and the sales team get involved.
To be clear, importing downstream conversion stages or revenue into ad platforms can be extremely powerful. But optimization to those signals only works when volume is sufficient, conversion lag is manageable, and the sales process is stable.
The starting point is your historical data, ideally 12 months of it, though you can work with six. You need to understand which leads actually closed, what they were worth, and what they had in common at the point of inquiry.
For financial services, it’s things like loan amount and term. For B2B, it might be company size or sector. For construction, it’s usually project size and urgency.
From there, it’s about grouping leads by their likelihood to close to a sale and by what a typical deal size looks like, and then assigning each group an expected revenue value.
The check to make sure it’s working as expected is simple. The total estimated value you assign to your leads over a period should roughly match the revenue they actually generated. If not, the model needs work. Ideally, you should revisit it at least quarterly as your campaigns and operational factors change.
As an example, you might end up with a high-likelihood lead worth $850, a mid-range lead at $420, and a lower-likelihood lead at $120.
Once you have that, set up your conversion tracking to pass the expected value back to the platform on your conversion action and use value-based bidding (target return on ad spend in Google Ads) to point the algorithm toward the leads that are actually worth chasing.
“Optimize the full funnel” sounds sensible until you realize how much of that funnel you don’t actually control.
You can influence the targeting, the creative, the landing page, and the experience that gets someone to submit a form. After that, it’s over to Dave and the sales team, and dozens of other factors that have nothing to do with your campaigns.
When you expect an algorithm to optimize for things it can’t see, it will start drawing the wrong conclusions, chasing the wrong audiences, and getting worse over time.
The answer isn’t to stop measuring what happens after lead submission. You absolutely should continue measuring, as those numbers can tell you a lot about what’s going well and what might need to be corrected for. Remember:
When lead quality stays steady, but sales drop, that’s an operations issue, not a paid media one.
When both drop at the same time, look at your campaigns.
When sales spike, but lead quality is flat, that’s Dave having a great month, not your targeting.
That visibility is genuinely helpful, but it just shouldn’t be what you’re optimizing to.
Build lead valuation, feed expected values back to your platform, and let the algorithm do what it’s actually good at: finding people who look like your best leads. Leave the rest to Dave.
Know where your control ends, as that’s where optimization should stop.
Most business GPTs fail because they’re built like novelties rather than tools. They’re too broad, under-tested, and launched without a strategy, so they never become part of a team’s workflow.
I’ve built and audited 12+ custom GPTs across marketing, SEO, and sales teams. The pattern is consistent: a small number get used daily, while most collect dust.
Here’s how to build GPTs that do — from validating the right use case to structuring, testing, and launching in a way that drives real adoption.
At a glance: The 15-minute version
If you’re ready to jump in, you can start with these steps:
Pick one task your team does 3x+ per week that takes 15+ minutes.
Complete this sentence: “This GPT helps [role] do [task] by [method].”
Write instructions in the Configure tab, not the Create tab.
Upload a curated one- to two-page .md knowledge file, not a raw document dump.
Add four specific conversation starters. Users who see specific options are significantly more likely to engage than those facing a blank input field. If they can’t immediately see what to do, they leave.
Test with five questions before anyone else sees it.
Share with three teammates. Watch them use it. Iterate within 48 hours.
Want to see what a well-built business GPT looks like before building your own? Try Marketing Research & Competitive Analysis or MARKETING, both ranked in the GPT Store’s Research & Analysis category. I helped build these at Semrush and will reference them throughout, and they demonstrate the build patterns covered below.
What a business GPT actually is (and what it isn’t)
A business GPT is a custom version of ChatGPT configured to do one specific, recurring job for a defined role on your team. Not “an AI assistant.” Not “a helpful tool.” One job.
Think of it like hiring. A generalist can help with anything. A specialist who does one thing incredibly well is worth 10 times more for that specific task, because they’ve already internalized the context, the standards, and the constraints you’d otherwise have to explain every single time.
That’s what a well-built business GPT does. It already knows your brand voice, output format, and when to stop and escalate instead of guessing.
I’ve built and audited 12+ custom GPTs across marketing, SEO, and sales teams, and the pattern is consistent: the ones that get used daily are tightly scoped and predictable. The ones that aren’t collect dust.
The one-sentence test: If your GPT needs more than one sentence to explain what it does, the use case is still too broad. Narrow it until the answer is obvious.
“A GPT that drafts on-brand responses to negative customer reviews using our escalation framework” passes.
“A general customer support assistant” doesn’t.
That specificity is what makes it useful at the planning stage, where most marketing GPTs fall short.
The same pattern shows up across the best GPTs in the store. Most are novelties. These aren’t. Each demonstrates a build pattern you can apply.
Ranked No. 2 in Research & Analysis. Drop in a competitor, an industry, or a business challenge, and you’ll get structured frameworks, SWOT analyses, positioning gaps, and audience breakdowns backed by cited sources.
The build pattern worth noting: breadth within a defined domain. Most research GPTs do one thing. This one covers the full strategic stack, from competitive analysis to market research to strategic planning, without losing focus because the scope is bounded by “research and analysis” rather than “marketing” broadly.
Ranked No. 4 in Research & Analysis. Covers 14+ disciplines, including paid search, programmatic, out-of-home, influencer, and retail media.
The build spans the full media mix rather than specializing in one channel. It’s useful at the planning stage, where most marketing GPTs fall short. It also shows how conversation starters can guide users to high-value use cases immediately, rather than leaving them staring at a blank input field.
Consistently top five globally across all GPT Store categories. This is strongest for blog posts, articles, and long-form content.
The build uses front-loaded conversation starters to narrow scope at the session level rather than baking rigid constraints into the instructions. That makes it flexible enough to serve thousands of different users without losing focus.
Upload a CSV and receive charts, summaries, and insights without writing a single line of code. This is the clearest live demonstration of Code Interpreter used well.
This build demonstrates what the capabilities toggle actually unlocks in practice. Open it first if you want to convince a skeptical stakeholder.
Describe a workflow problem in plain English and receive specific Zapier automation recommendations.
The business model pattern here is as instructive as the build pattern: a tool-native GPT that generates qualified leads by solving the exact problem its parent product addresses. This is worth studying if you’re thinking about GPTs as a distribution channel, not just a productivity tool.
Create and edit designs, presentations, and social graphics through conversation.
Beyond the practical utility, Canva’s GPT is worth studying as a forward-looking example of where the category is heading. It has evolved from a simple GPT integration to a full native ChatGPT app integration, showing what a mature tool-native deployment looks like when a brand commits to the channel properly.
Validate before you build
The biggest waste in GPT development is building something nobody needed badly enough to actually use. Before writing a single line of instructions, score your idea across four dimensions.
Criteria
Low (1 point)
Medium (3 points)
High (5 points)
Frequency
Monthly or less
A few times/week
Multiple times daily
Time cost
Under 15 minutes
15-45 minutes
1+ hours each time
Consistency
Not critical
Moderate
Mission-critical
Context required
Generic info works
Some internal data
Deep internal knowledge
Score interpretation:
16-20 points: Build it this week.
10-15 points: Worth a prototype.
Below 10: Skip it. The ROI math won’t justify adoption.
The math is simple. A 45-minute task done five times per week is 16 hours per month. Anthropic’s November 2025 productivity research found that the median AI-assisted task delivered an estimated 84% time savings, with most tasks falling somewhere in the 50-95% range.
Even at the conservative end of that range, a well-scoped GPT returns eight to 12 hours per person per month on that one task alone. The St. Louis Fed’s October 2025 survey research backs this up: One-third of workers who use AI tools daily report saving at least four hours every single week. Multiply either number across a team, and the ROI case writes itself.
Tip: Audit your team’s weekly standup notes or Slack threads from the last 30 days. Tasks mentioned repeatedly (especially ones people complain about) are your best GPT candidates. They’re already annoying enough to surface unprompted, which means adoption motivation already exists.
Build it right with the 6-layer framework
Every effective business GPT is built on six layers. Skip one, and the output feels half-baked. Add unnecessary complexity to one, and adoption drops.
Layer 1: Use case (one job. Full stop.)
This is the filter every other decision runs through.
❌ A general coding assistant.
✅ A code reviewer that checks React components against our team's style guide.
❌ A marketing helper.
✅ A campaign brief generator that outputs our standard five-section brief format from a single one-line input.
If you find yourself adding “and also it should…” more than twice during the build, you need two GPTs, not one bigger one.
This is why Marketing Research & Competitive Analysis works. It could easily have tried to write copy, plan campaigns, and do SEO analysis. Instead, it stays in its lane: research and competitive intelligence. That constraint is what makes the output reliable enough to use in real strategy meetings.
Layer 2: Instructions (your most important investment)
Most people underinvest here by an order of magnitude. Your system prompt isn’t a description of what the GPT does. It’s the operating system that controls how it thinks, behaves, and responds.
A weak system prompt produces generic, unreliable output. A strong one turns a blank ChatGPT into a domain expert.
Go straight to the Configure tab. ChatGPT’s conversational builder (the “Create” tab) is fine for quick setup but gives you almost no control over formatting, behavior rules, or conditional logic. The Configure tab is where you actually build the thing.
If you’re already using ChatGPT for SEO workflows, you know how much the quality of your prompts determines the quality of the output. The same principle applies tenfold with system instructions. For a deeper dive on prompt construction for SEO specifically, check out our guide to ChatGPT for SEO.
Structure your instructions in this order:
Role definition: Who is this GPT? What’s its point of view? What does it know deeply?
Behavioral guidelines: What should it always do? What should it never do?
Output format: How should responses be structured? What’s the ideal length? Tables, bullets, prose?
Brand voice: What language does your brand use? What language is off-limits?
Escalation paths: When should it recommend a resource, a tool, or a human instead of answering?
One formatting trick that actually works: For rules that are truly non-negotiable, write them in ALL CAPS. It sounds aggressive in isolation, but it works. The model reads formatting signals. “NEVER recommend a competitor product” lands harder than “try not to mention competitors.” Use it for your three to five most critical behavioral guardrails.
Examples:
❌ Write professional emails to clients.
✅ You are a B2B sales rep at a SaaS company. Tone: confident, concise, no buzzwords. NEVER use the word "synergy." Format: Subject line, three short paragraphs, clear single CTA. ALWAYS end with a specific next step, not a vague "let me know."
Budget 10-15 hours of system prompt iteration before you call a GPT production-ready. That’s not a typo. Test against normal cases, edge cases, and adversarial inputs — the kinds of things a skeptical user or an off-script question will throw at it.
Layer 3: Knowledge files (what makes it yours)
Without knowledge files, you’ve built a custom-named version of standard ChatGPT. The knowledge layer is what gives your GPT institutional memory: the brand voice, the internal frameworks, the context that doesn’t exist anywhere on the public internet.
What to upload:
Brand voice guides and style examples.
Internal process docs and frameworks.
Competitor positioning notes.
Product one-pagers and FAQs.
Past high-performing examples of the output you want.
File format matters. Plain text (.txt) and Markdown (.md) outperform PDFs for retrieval accuracy. Never dump a raw 500-page document. The model can’t efficiently parse messy formatting or irrelevant context.
The cheat sheet rule: If a source document is longer than 20 pages, use AI to distill it into a focused, five-to-10-page summary specifically for the GPT to reference. Shorter, curated context outperforms raw data dumps every time.
The transcript trick most teams miss: If your company has recorded webinars, training videos, or internal demos, those transcripts are ready-made knowledge files. Open the video on YouTube, click “Show transcript,” toggle off timestamps, copy the full text, paste into a Google Doc, and download as .txt. A 45-minute video becomes a high-quality knowledge source in about 10 minutes.
Layer 4: Capabilities (enable what you need. Nothing else.)
There are three built-in toggles: Web Browsing, Code Interpreter, and DALL-E. Don’t enable them all “just in case.” Each one adds surface area for the model to go off-script.
Capability
Enable when
Skip when
Web Browsing
GPT needs live data: prices, news, current URLs
GPT should only draw from your uploaded knowledge files
Code Interpreter
Users will upload CSVs, run analysis, generate charts
GPT is purely text-based
DALL-E
GPT creates visual assets as part of the workflow
GPT is analytical or copy-focused
Code Interpreter is the most underrated of the three. A GPT with it enabled can accept CSV uploads, run analysis, generate charts, and return downloadable files, replacing hours of manual reporting. If any part of your workflow involves structured data, this is worth experimenting with.
A note on web browsing: Web-enabled GPTs will confidently pull and present outdated or wrong information. If accuracy is important, disable web browsing entirely and rely only on your curated knowledge files. You control what’s in them. You can’t control what the web returns.
Layer 5: Actions (one integration for V1)
API connections to external systems — CRMs, project management tools, databases, calendars — are where GPTs start to feel like real automation infrastructure rather than fancy chat interfaces.
For V1, connect exactly one integration. Not five. Scope creep at the actions layer is where GPT projects stall before launch. Pick the single integration that would deliver the most immediate value, typically where the GPT’s output currently has to be manually copied somewhere else.
Layer 6: Evaluation (test before anyone else sees it)
Write five to 10 test questions before you share the link with anyone. Include normal cases, edge cases, and at least two adversarial inputs, the kinds of questions a frustrated user or an off-topic request would generate.
❌ Hello, what can you do?
✅ Here is a furious customer email accusing us of fraud. Draft a response using our de-escalation framework without admitting liability.
Test cases should reflect the hardest version of the job, not the easiest. If the GPT can handle the edge cases, the normal cases will be fine.
The department playbook: Highest-ROI opportunities by team
Start with the department that complains most about repetitive work. Their pain is your adoption fuel. A GPT that eliminates a universally-hated task markets itself through word-of-mouth faster than anything you could announce in a Slack channel.
Marketing
Campaign copy assistant: Input one brief. Receive ad copy, email subjects, and social captions formatted by channel. Upload your brand guidelines as the knowledge file. This replaces 30-45 minutes of copy concepting per campaign.
Semrush integration opportunity: Feed in keyword data from Keyword Magic Tool to ensure copy is aligned with how your audience searches.
Competitor messaging analyzer: Paste competitor copy or a landing page URL. Get a structured summary of their positioning, the gaps they’re ignoring, and angles your brand can own.
Semrush integration opportunity: Pair with Traffic Analytics data to qualify which competitors are worth analyzing by actual share of voice.
If you want to skip the build and get competitive intelligence right now, Marketing Research & Competitive Analysis handles exactly this workflow out of the box. Drop in a competitor and get a structured SWOT, positioning gaps, and audience breakdown in a single conversation.
SEO
Content brief generator: This turns a keyword into a structured brief covering audience, search intent, recommended outline, and competitor content gaps. It replaces 30-45 minutes of manual brief writing per piece. At 20 briefs per month, that’s 10 to 15 hours returned to your team.
Semrush integration opportunity: Build the brief template around Semrush’s SEO Content Template output. The GPT populates the strategic rationale, Semrush provides the keyword and competitive data.
Technical SEO audit assistant: Paste a page’s content and meta information. Receive a prioritized fix list with title tag rewrites, internal link suggestions, and schema recommendations formatted exactly the way your team tracks them.
Semrush integration opportunity: Pull the audit inputs directly from Semrush’s Site Audit exports.
If you’re already using ChatGPT for SEO work, our collection of SEO prompts for ChatGPT is a good starting point for building the system instructions for either of these GPTs.
Sales
Prospect research brief: Input a company name. Receive a pre-call brief with recent company news, likely buying signals based on firmographic patterns, and tailored talk tracks for the likely objections.
A sales rep I worked with spent 20 minutes per prospect doing this manually before every cold call. The GPT produces the equivalent brief in 90 seconds. That means he spends his actual working hours on the only part that earns commission: the call itself.
Win/loss analyzer: Upload anonymized CRM deal notes. Surface patterns in why deals close or fall apart: which objection categories are fatal, which talk tracks correlate with wins, where in the funnel deals die.
Customer support
Ticket response drafter: Paste a customer ticket. Receive an on-brand draft response using your de-escalation framework. Rep reviews and sends in three minutes instead of 12. At 30 tickets per day, that’s 2.5 hours returned to a support rep’s day.
Policy Q&A bot: Upload your HR handbook or policy documentation. This will answer common employee questions instantly, reducing the repetitive Slack messages that eat 30-60 minutes from HR and ops leads per week.
Operations
OKR reviewer: Paste a team’s OKRs and get scores and rewrites. Are the objectives inspiring? Are key results actually measurable? Enforces rigor at scale without requiring a senior leader to manually review every team’s draft.
Meeting structurer: Input a topic and attendee list. Output a tight agenda with pre-reads, decision points, and follow-up templates. For organizations where meeting bloat is a recognized problem, this one tends to spread fast.
How to prevent your GPT from making things up
Hallucination (the model generating confident-sounding incorrect information) is the single most-cited concern from teams considering custom GPTs. It’s a manageable risk if you build correctly.
Add an explicit guardrail sentence in your instructions. Something like: “If you do not know the answer from the provided knowledge files, say so directly. Do not invent information. Direct the user to [specific resource] instead.” Simple. Effective. Dramatically reduces the instinct to fill gaps with plausible-sounding fabrication.
Disable Web Browsing when accuracy matters. A web-enabled GPT will pull and confidently present outdated, incorrect, or hallucinated source material. If your GPT’s value depends on accuracy, including policy Q&A, compliance guidance, and product specs, turn off Web Browsing entirely and rely only on the knowledge files you’ve curated and can verify.
Test for it systematically before launch. Ask your GPT questions you already know the answers to. Ask it something outside its defined scope. Ask an edge-case question that isn’t covered by your knowledge files. If it confidently fabricates rather than saying “I don’t know,” fix the instructions before anyone else encounters it.
The tighter the scope, the lower the hallucination risk. This is another reason the one-job rule isn’t just about UX. It’s about accuracy. A GPT that knows it’s only supposed to answer questions about your return policy has far less surface area to go off-script than one configured as a general business assistant.
How to launch so your team actually adopts it
Building the GPT is half the job. The failure mode most teams hit isn’t a bad build. It’s a bad launch. A GPT nobody can find is a GPT nobody uses.
Phase 1: Build
Define your one-sentence purpose. Write layered instructions with examples. Upload focused knowledge files. Configure one API action maximum for V1. Resist the urge to expand scope.
Phase 2: Test
Create five to 10 golden test questions. Run a pilot with three to five real users. Don’t send them a link and walk away. Watch them use it, note where they stall, and iterate two to three rounds before wider release. The feedback from watching someone use your GPT for the first time is worth more than any amount of solo testing.
Phase 3: Launch
Write your GPT store or sharing copy around the outcome, not the technology. “Save 45 minutes on every content brief” outperforms “an AI-powered SEO assistant.” Add four conversation starters that showcase different use cases immediately. Users who see specific options to click engage at a significantly higher rate than those staring at a blank input field with no idea where to start.
Phase 4: Promote
Record a two-minute Loom showing a before/after on the specific task the GPT replaces. Share through your team Slack with that before/after story, not a feature list. Create a one-page “prompt pack” with the 10 highest-value starting prompts for your GPT.
The discoverability principle: Pin your GPT in the team Slack channel. Add it to onboarding docs. Demo it at the next all-hands. If someone can’t find it and understand what it does in five seconds, they won’t come back after the first session.
Measuring what actually matters
Tracking total conversations is the floor, not the ceiling. Here’s what actually tells you whether your GPT is working:
Metric
What it tells you
Target
Return rate
Once is curiosity. Twice is value. Weekly is a habit.
50%+ returning after first use
Conversation depth
Turns per session; longer = higher utility
4+ turns average for complex tasks
Time saved per use
Survey users or compare task completion times
30-70% reduction vs. manual
Team adoption rate
% of target users engaging weekly
60%+ within 30 days for internal GPTs
Downstream action rate
Are users taking the next step you wanted?
Defined per use case
The ROI one-pager: Hours saved per use × frequency per week × team size × average hourly cost = monthly dollar value. Build this at the 30-day mark. It’s the most powerful artifact you have for justifying continued investment, or making the case for the next GPT.
Where most B2B teams are right now
Organizations fall into one of five stages:
Exploring: Team members use ChatGPT ad hoc. No shared GPTs exist.
Experimenting: One or two people have built a custom GPT. Usage is informal and person-dependent.
Standardizing: Three to five GPTs are deployed with proper instructions, knowledge files, and evaluation criteria. This is where shared value starts to compound.
Scaling: GPTs are integrated into defined workflows across departments. Usage is tracked. Iteration is systematic.
GPT-Native: GPTs are the default starting point for designing new workflows, not an afterthought.
Most B2B teams are at Level 1 or 2. The biggest ROI jump happens between Level 2 and Level 3. That’s the moment GPTs stop being personal productivity experiments and start becoming team infrastructure.
Custom GPTs are a workflow infrastructure decision. It compounds over time when scoped correctly, and quietly disappears when it isn’t.
The teams getting real ROI from them aren’t building the most technically sophisticated versions. They’re building focused ones: scoped to one job, launched with enough intentionality that their team can actually find and use them, and iterated based on real usage data, not assumptions.
Start with the task your team complains about most. Score it against the framework. If it hits 12 or above, you have your answer.
Build it this week. Run it for 30 days. That’s when it gets interesting.
Ready to build your GPT? Start with a blueprint
The GPT Blueprint Generator on Thinklet walks you through the validation framework above, generates a custom system prompt for your specific use case, and outputs a ready-to-paste knowledge file, all in one session. It’s built specifically as the hands-on companion to this guide.
Or, if you want to see what a well-built GPT feels like before you commit to building one, start here:
Since his knee injury, Christian Pulisic has been unable to regain his impressive scoring form at AC Milan, going nearly three months without scoring a goal. Despite this, the USMNT star remains positive, sharing details about his physical condition.
At the start of the 2025-26 season, Christian Pulisic established as AC Milan’s undisputed leader, topping the team in both goals and assists. However, he has yet to regain his offensive impact after his knee injury, going three months without scoring. Far from feeling the pressure, Pulisic remained quite positive about this difficult period, revealing key details about his current physical condition.
“I need to be more clinical in those moments. It’s a difficult period, but I feel physically fit and I’m creating chances. I just need to stay positive. I know that at some point the ball will hit my knee and go in, and then everything will change. I’m not panicking. Better now than in the summer. Things will change,” Pulisic said, via The Athletic.
Despite his goal drought, Pulisic has already regained his offensive impact with the Rossoneri. Not only has he remained an undisputed starter for coach Massimiliano Allegri, but he also provided an assist in the previous match against Torino. Furthermore, he has remained a key part of the team’s play, distributing the ball and contributing defensively.
Christian Pulisic has regained his top physical form, playing more than 75 minutes in AC Milan’s last three games. As a result, Coach Allegri has regained more versatility on offense, though Rafael Leão, Niclas Füllkrug, and Christopher Nkunku have failed to convert those opportunities into goals. For this reason, the USMNT star should regain his scoring touch heading into the end of the season.
Christian Pulisic of AC Milan celebrates after scoring against Hellas Verona.
Pulisic shouldn’t have to shoulder all the scoring burden at AC Milan
Massimiliano Allegri has restored competitiveness to AC Milan, consistently keeping them among the top sides in Serie A. However, Christian Pulisic’s drop in form exposed their main issue: A lack of scoring prowess. While the USMNT star’s scoring output has declined, the Rossoneri should not place all their focus and efforts solely on him, and instead need to adjust certain aspects.
The Rossoneri may be open to selling several stars such as Nkunku, Santiago Gimenez, and even Leão. With this, they are reportedly looking to chase a Serie A-experienced striker, such as Santiago Castro of Bologna, Mateo Retegui of Al-Qadsiah, or Moise Kean of ACF Fiorentina. Far from removing Pulisic’s importance, AC Milan could be looking to redistribute the scoring burden and hold more options.
Christian Pulisic of AC Milan celebrates the victory at the end of the Serie A match.
Germany play against Ghana in a 2026 international friendly. Here’s all the key information you need, including kickoff time and how to watch the match on TV or through streaming platforms in the United States.
Here are all of the details of where you can watch Germany vs Ghana on US television and via legal streaming:
With preparations for the next global tournament ramping up, Ghanasteps into a high-profile international friendly aiming to rediscover the energy that fueled its iconic 2010 World Cup campaign. The Black Stars will be tested against a European heavyweight, using this matchup as a measuring stick to gauge progress and build confidence against elite competition.
On the other side, Germanyenters this clash determined to reestablish its traditional dominance after consecutive World Cup appearances in 2018 and 2022 fell short of expectations. As both teams continue fine-tuning their squads, this showdown offers a glimpse into their evolving identities—making it a must-watch battle you won’t want to miss.
More details on how to watch
With Fubo, you can watch Germany vs Ghana and tons more games. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your computer, smartphone, tablet, Roku, Apple TV or hook it up to your TV with Google Chromecast.
Now with Fubo, you can stream USA Network, ESPN, ESPN2, CBS, CBS Sports Network, FS1, FS2, beIN SPORTS, beIN SPORTS en Español, beIN SPORTS Connect, beIN SPORTS XTRA, NBC, CNBC, USA, FOX, FOX Soccer Plus, FOX Deportes, Telemundo, Universo and Galavision.
Plus Fubo, the legal streaming service, also streams Liga MX, World Cup, Women’s World Cup, MLS, UEFA Champions League (in Spanish), Europa League (in Spanish), Primeira Liga, Ligue Un, World Cup qualifiers, NWSL, select USMNT games, select USWNT games, select Mexico games, select England games and more.
The Fubo app is available for Windows PC, Mac, Apple iPhones, Android phones, Amazon Fire TV, Android Mobile, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Hisense TVs, iOS devices, LG TVs, Samsung Smart TVs, Vizio Smartcast TVs and Xbox One.
If you’re planning to follow more games on this platform, you can check out the full Fubo soccer schedule to stay up to date with upcoming matches available via the service.
How to watch anywhere with VPN
If you’re abroad, you may need to use a virtual private network (VPN) in order to watch games using your usual streaming service. A VPN, such as NordVPN, allows you to establish a secure connection online when streaming. If you are not sure which VPN to use, check out World Soccer Talk’s guide to the best VPNs for streaming soccer.
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has finally had his long-awaited return to the ring confirmed. The 35-year-old was last in action over 12 months ago when he went up against countryman Artur Beterbiev in their undisputed light heavyweight showdown back in February 2025. It was a rematch of their clash the past October which Beterbiev had won by majority decision, […]
Juventus bu sezon başında Monza'dan transfer ettiği Michele Di Gregorio'yu gönderilecekler listesine koydu. Kiralama seçeneklerine de açıklar. Beşiktaş'ın bu konuda bir hamle yapabileceği öğrenildi.
Beşiktaş, 2026 yazında kesin olarak kaleci takviyesi yapacak. Listede farklı isimler bulunuyor. Fakat son iddia; oldukça konuşulacak cinsten... Juventus, bu sezon başında Monza Kulübü'ne 14.3 milyon euro ödeyerek Michele Di Gregorio'yu kadrosuna katmıştı. İtalyan eldivenden beklentiler çok büyüktü. Fakat taraflar arasında kan uyuşmazlığı yaşandı.
GALATASARAY'A KARŞI KÖTÜ PERFORMANS
28 yaşındaki kaleci, özellikle Şampiyonlar Ligi'ndeki 5-2'lik Galatasaray yenilgisinin ardından iyice gözden düştü. Juventus, önümüzdeki sezon onunla devam etmeyecek. Her türlü bonservis ve kiralama önerisine açıklar. Beşiktaş'ın da bir hamle yapabileceği iddia edildi.
KİRALAMA YOLU AÇIK
1.87 boyundaki file bekçisinin Juventus'la 30 Haziran 2029 tarihine kadar mukavelesi var. Bu sebeple kiralama yolu açık. Beşiktaş'ın da oyuncuyu listesine eklediği öğrenildi. Eğer şartlar uygun olursa, Michele Di Gregorio, Siyah-Beyazlı formayı giyecek. Ancak Kartal öncelikle diğer alternatifler için harekete geçecek. Aksilik yaşanması halinde ibre İtalyan eldivene dönebilir.
Fenerbahçe'nin başarılı kalecisi Ederson, milli takım kampında Türkiye'deki futbola dair açıklamalarda bulundu.
Fenerbahçe'nin Brezilyalı kalecisi Ederson, milli takım kampında Flashscore'a dikkat çeken açıklamalarda bulundu.
Ederson'un açıklamaları şöyle:
Dünya Kupası'na bu kadar az bir süre kala aklınızdan neler geçiyor?
-Sakinlik. Sadece iki ay kaldı ve sürecimiz nedeniyle hala yapmamız gereken çok şey var. Ama antrenmanlarda bunu uyguluyoruz, mümkün olduğunca çabuk uyum sağlamaya, teknik direktörün bizden istediklerini özümsemeye çalışıyoruz.
"Brezilya'nın dünya şampiyonu olabileceğine inanmanı sağlayan nedir?"
-Her şey! Kalitemiz var. Potansiyelimiz var. Elbette, antrenörün istediği tüm fikirleri hayata geçirmek, iyi oynamak ve güzel futbol sergilemek için hala biraz çalışmamız gerekiyor. Ama ilk olarak oyuncular inanmalı çünkü oyuncular inanmazsa, unutun gitsin!
"ARTIK ÇOK DENEYİMLİYİM"
"Bu senin için 3. Dünya Kupası olacak. O zamandan beri çok değiştin mi?"
-Evet, çok şey değişti. Artık daha deneyimliyim, daha olgunum. Bu yüzden olayları farklı bir gözle görmeye başlıyorsunuz. Elbette bu dönem geldiğinde oyuncular arasında biraz daha fazla endişe oluşuyor. Oyuncular ellerinden geleni yapıyorlar ama her zaman ciddi bir sakatlık geçirme ve bunun sonucunda Dünya Kupası'nı kaçırma korkusu yaşıyorlar. Bu yüzden antrenmanlarda ve maçlarda kendinizi olabildiğince adamanız, tedavilere, kamp dışı çalışmalara ve ekstra aktivilere katılmanız çok önemli.
"HER ŞEYİ YAPIYORUZ"
"Dünya Kupası kampında neredeyse 50 gün birlikte olacaksınız. Her oyuncunun karakterini bilmek ne kadar önemli?"
-Bu çok kolay. Bugün burada olan oyuncuların yüzde 99'unu tanıyorum. Bazıları ilk kez geliyor ancak yeni gelenleri bize yaklaştırıyoruz, böylece daha rahat hissetsinler, çok gergin olmasınlar diye. Sonunda onlarla maçlar oynuyoruz, her şeyi yapıyoruz, onları bize yakınlaştırmaya çalışıyoruz, sanki ilk kez gelmemişlermiş gibi hissetmelerini, daha rahat hissetmelerini sağlıyoruz... Bu şekilde antrenmanda ve dolayısıyla maçta daha iyi performans gösteriyorlar.
"TÜRKİYE'DE FUTBOL ÇILGINCA"
-Türkiye'de oynamak nasıl bir şey? Taffarel ile yerel futbol ve rekabet hakkında konuşma fırsatın oldu mu?
"İNGİLTERE'DEN FARKLI YAŞIYORLAR"
-Ama asıl benzerlik Corinthians ve Vasco taraftarlarında; oradaki insanlar fanatik, takımla birlikte oynuyorlar. Takımla birlikte acı çekiyorlar. İngiltere'de alıştığımdan çok farklı. Orada insanlar maçı İngiltere'den daha fazla yaşıyorlar.
"TÜRKİYE'DE DE DURUM AYNI"
"Brezilya'da futbol söz konusu olduğunda tutkuyu mantıkla bağdaştırmak zor, sence de öyle değil mi?"
-Evet, Türkiye'de de durum aynı. Bazen onlar da duygusal olarak çok konuşurlar; duygusal olarak yorum yazarlar, mesaj gönderirler ama bu normal, taraftarların işi bu. Taraftarlar her zaman kazanmak ister, değil mi?
"TARAFTARLAR BUNU BİLMİYOR"
-Taraftarlar, elinden gelenin en iyisini yapan ama bazen maçı berabere bitiren ya da kaybeden bir oyuncunun zihniyetine sahip değiller, bu kavramlar arasında ayrım yapmayı bilmiyorlar.
-Evet, Türkiye'de futbol çılgınca. Türkiye çok iyi bir ülke, halkı sadece futbolda değil, spora genel olarak fanatik. Yani orası biraz Brezilya'yı, biraz da Corinthians, Vasco, Flamengo taraftarlarını hatırlatıyor; 90 dakika boyunca tezahürat yapan en fanatik taraftarlar.
"Türkiye'de sezonun son bölümü nasıl geçiyor?"
-Türkiye'de işler iyi gidiyor. Ligde ikinci sıradayız ve her şey açık. Bunun mümkün olduğuna inanarak son güne kadar mücadele edeceğiz.
Cardiff City'nin Emiliano Sala için 104 milyon sterlinlik tazminat talebi reddedildi
İngiliz ekibi Cardiff City'nin, Arjantinli futbolcu Emiliano Sala'nın uçak kazasında hayatını kaybetmesinin ardından talep ettiği 104 milyon sterlinlik tazminat davası, Fransa Mahkemesi tarafından reddedildi.
Nantes Ticaret Mahkemesi, 3. Lig'de mücadele eden İngiliz temsilcisi tarafından Mayıs 2023'te başlatılan ve Cardiff City ile Nantes'ı karşı karşıya getiren hukuki ve mali ihtilafta kararını açıkladı.
Mahkeme, Cardiff City'nin Arjantinli futbolcu Sala'nın kulübü Premier Lig'de tutabileceği iddiasıyla, gelir kaybı ve diğer zararlar için talep ettiği 104 milyon sterlinlik tazminat davasını reddetti.
Mahkeme ayrıca Nantes'ın uğradığı manevi zararlar ile yasal masraflar için Cardiff City'nin yaklaşık 400.000 sterlin ödemesine karar verdi.
Nantes'tan Cardiff City'ye transfer olan 28 yaşındaki Sala ve pilot David Ibbotson, 21 Ocak 2019 gecesi uçaklarının Manş Denizi'ne düşmesi sonucu hayatını kaybetmişti.
“FIFA Series-2026” beynəlxalq turniri çərçivəsində bu gün keçiriləcək Azərbaycan – Syerra Leone matçının heyətləri bəlli olub.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, Mehdi Hüseynzadə adına Sumqayıt şəhər stadionunda keçiriləcək bu görüşə saat 19:00-da start veriləcək.
Qarşılaşmanı Özbəkistandan olan hakimlər briqadasının idarə edəcək. Oyunun baş hakimi Asker Nacafaliyev olacaq. Ona yan xətt hakimləri İslom Azimov və Baxtiyorxuca Şavkatov kömək edəcəklər. Dördüncü hakim funksiyasını Axrol Ruskullayev yerinə yetirəcək.
FİFA Series-2026 30 mart
19:00. Azərbaycan – Syerra Leone Baş hakim: Asker Nacafaliyev Baş hakimin köməkçiləri: İslom Azimov, Baxtiyorxuca Şavkatov Dördüncü hakim: Axrol Ruskullayev (Hakimlər briqadası Özbəkistandandır). Mehdi Hüseynzadə adına Sumqayıt şəhər stadionu.
Azərbaycan: 12. Aydın Bayramov, 3. Elvin Cəfərquliyev, 5. Anton Krivotsyuk, 8. Emin Mahmudov (k), 9. Renat Dadaşov, 10. Aleksey İsayev, 13. Emil Səfərov, 14. Elvin Bədəlov, 15. Bədavi Hüseynov, 21. Qismət Alıyev, 22. Musa Qurbanlı. Ehtiyat oyunçular: 1. Səlahət Ağayev, 23. Rza Cəfərov, 2. Rəhman Daşdəmirov, 4. Rahil Məmmədov, 6. Abdulla Xaybullayev, 7. Toral Bayramov, 11. Xəyal Əliyev, 16. Anatoli Nuriyev, 17. Vüsal İsgəndərli, 18. Cəlal Hüseynov, 19. Rüstəm Əhmədzadə, 20. Rəhim Sadıxov, 24. Rüfət Əhmədzadə, 25. Rzayev, 26. Ayxan Hüseynov. Baş məşqçi: Ayxan Abbasov. Syerra Leone: 25. Jallo, 4. Kabia, 5. Turay, 9. Bakayoko, 11. Kaikai (k), 13. Kabia, 14. Kanu, 15. Kanu, 16. Kallon, 21. Bah, 22. Konte. Ehtiyat oyunçular: 1. Sesay, 23. Koroma, 2. Fornah, 7. Que, 8. Koroma, 12. Jallo, 17. Qandi, 18. Taravelli, 19. Samadia, 24. Kamara. Baş məşqçi: Məhəmməd Kallon.
Fransa ile Kolombiya'nın 2026 Dünya Kupası'na hazırlık için karşılaştığı maçta Galatasaray forması giyen Davinson Sanchez'in ile Marcus Thuram arasında sürtüşme yaşandı.
Süper Lig devlerinden Galatasaray'ın transfer gündeminde yer alan Teun Koopmeiners ile ilgili sıcak gelişmeler yaşanıyor. Son olarak yurt dışından gelen o haber gündeme oturdu. Bu transferdeki Manuel Ugarte...Devamı için tıklayınız
Son dakika Galatasaray haberleri: Galatasaray'ın Şampiyonlar Ligi son 16 turunda oynadığı Liverpool maçında yaşadığı sakatlık sonrası parmağında ciddi bir kesik oluşan Noa Lang, İngiltere'de ameliyat edilmişti....Devamı için tıklayınız
2026 FIFA Dünya Kupası Avrupa Elemeleri play-off finalinde deplasmanda Kosova ile karşılaşacak A Milli Futbol Takımımız, başkent Priştine'ye hareket etti.Devamı için tıklayınız
İngiliz ekibi Cardiff City'nin, Emiliano Sala'nın uçak kazasında hayatını kaybetmesi sonrası talep ettiği 104 milyon sterlinlik tazminat davası reddedildi. İşte detaylar...Devamı için tıklayınız
İtaliyalı mütəxəssis Roberto De Zerbi “Tottenhem”i çalışdıra bilər.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə insayder Fabrizio Romano məlumat yayıb. London klubu son iş yeri “Marsel” olan mütəxəssislə bir müddətdir, danışıqlar aparır. Tərəflərin anlaşmağa yaxın olduğu bildirilib.
De Zerbi hazırda işsizdir. O, daha əvvəl İngiltərədə “Brayton”u çalışdırıb.
Zaniolo’s ten-goal contributions for Udinese (five goals and five assists) in 26 Serie A games this season have not been enough to earn a spot in the Azzurri squad for the World Cup play-off.
“We’ve always been convinced that Udine would be an ideal place to help him revive his career,” his agent Vigorelli told Gazzettino del Friuli via TMW.
“The context has granted the utmost stability and tranquillity, and that has been the result of collaboration between director Nanni and President Pozzo on a matter that was not simple. It’s no coincidence that we reached an agreement on the very final day. Nicolò strongly wanted this move, and he was right.”
TURIN, ITALY – OCTOBER 29: Nicolo Zaniolo of Udinese Calcio celebrates a goal during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and Udinese Calcio at on October 29, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
“It’s useless to deny that he hoped for it [a call-up]; the national team is an objective for all footballers,” concluded Vigorelli.
“We’ve accepted it, but it doesn’t mean he won’t get a call-up sooner or later. We appreciate the transparency and the words of Gattuso; in the future, we’ll see.”
A bizarre row has erupted around Milan’s deal to sign Andrej Kostic for up to €8m including add-ons, as Partizan Belgrade directors publicly argue over the agreement.
“I wish to tell the Partizan fans, and the whole sporting world, that I am clearly and completely distancing myself from this decision.
“I confirm that I have not been consulted in any way regarding the Andrej Kostic transfer to Milan, and have never even seen the Milan offer.
“I underline that if I had been involved in the decision-making process, I would’ve made very clear to all the members of the Board that I am totally against accepting such an insultingly low offer.
“Is this how the club intends to operate in future, selling its most promising players practically for free? You made this decision despite the rest of the Board knowing that in recent months I had intense talks with representatives of various clubs in Europe’s top five leagues, that I told them all our players have big release clauses.
“I believe this sale has set a dangerous precedent, which will have an extremely negative impact on the perceived value of our players on the transfer market.”
Partizan Belgrade’s other directors released their own statement in a newsletter, insisting that on Wednesday night they will give a clear and detailed response to all the accusations.
Italy boast, by far, the more valuable set of players compared to Bosnia and Herzegovina ahead of Tuesday night’s World Cup play-off final, and studies show that Gennaro Gattuso’s squad is worth 6.5x as much as the players available to Sergej Barbarez.
Italy will travel to Zenica this evening ahead of Tuesday’s World Cup play-off decider against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Azzurri are ranked 12th in the world and are the highest-rated nation not to have a spot at the World Cup wrapped up. They beat Northern Ireland 2-0 in Bergamo thanks to goals from Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean in order to qualify for Tuesday’s play-off final, while Bosnia took Wales to penalties and came through victorious after the shoot-out in Cardiff on Thursday evening.
As was the case against Northern Ireland, Italy have the most valuable squad of the two sides competing in this play-off tie. The 28-man Azzurri squad is worth a combined €833.5m according to the latest information from transfermarkt.com, while Bosnia’s roster of 24 players comes out to €127.1m.
The average market value of the Italy players in Gattuso’s squad is just shy of €30m, €29.77m to be precise, while Bosnia’s average equals €5.3m.
Tonali is currently the most valuable player in the Italy camp, valued at €80m, followed by Alessandro Bastoni at €70m and then Riccardo Calafiori, Nicolo Barella and Federico Dimarco all at €50m.
BERGAMO, ITALY – MARCH 26: Sandro Tonali of Italy celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Italy and Northern Ireland at Stadio di Bergamo on March 26, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
According to transfermarkt, VfB Stuttgart centre-forward Ermedin Demirovic is the most valuable player in the Bosnia side with a market value of €22m, closely followed by Sassuolo’s Tariq Muharemovic at €20m, and then teenage talent Kerim Alajbegovic and Benfica full-back Amar Dedic, both at €15m.
Top 10 most valuable Italy squad members
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – SEPTEMBER 08: Sandro Tonali of Italy looks on during a Italy training session at Bozsik Stadion on September 08, 2024 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
1. Sandro Tonali (Newcastle United) – €80m
2. Alessandro Bastoni (Inter) – €70m
3. Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal) – €50m
3. Nicolo Barella (Inter) – €50m
3. Federico Dimarco (Inter) – €50m
6. Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter) – €45m
6. Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City) – €45m
8. Moise Kean (Fiorentina) – €40m
9. Mateo Retegui (Al-Qadsiah) – €35m
9. Alessandro Buongiorno (Napoli) – €35m
Top 10 most valuable Bosnia squad members
CARDIFF, WALES – MARCH 26: Edin Dzeko of Bosnia and Herzegovina celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammate Kerim Alajbegovic during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-off match between Wales and Bosnia and Herzegovina at Cardiff City Stadium on March 26, 2026 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
The Azzurri are ready to fly to Bosnia for the World Cup play-off Final, while the two line-ups that Gennaro Gattuso tested during a morning training session have been revealed.
Italy trained at Coverciano on Monday morning before leaving for Bosnia and Herzegovina, where tomorrow, Tuesday, March 31, they’ll play in the World Cup play-off Final.
The opening 15 minutes of today’s training session were open to the media, and, as reported by TMW, the Azzurri warmed up with a rondo before a test match.
Italy line-ups before World Cup play-off
Gattuso rotated the goalkeepers, and the line-ups at Coverciano were the following:
The white team, with Mateo Retegui and Moise Kean in attack, seems the most likely to start, although there should be a few tweaks: Gianluca Mancini in place of Giorgio Scalvini, Matteo Politano for Andrea Cambiaso, Manuel Locatelli for Bryan Cristante, and Nicolò Barella for Davide Frattesi.
BERGAMO, ITALY – MARCH 26: Moise Kean of Italy is challenged by Ruairi McConville of Northern Ireland during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Italy and Northern Ireland at Stadio di Bergamo on March 26, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
According to several sources, in fact, Gattuso seems unwilling to change the XI that beat Northern Ireland in the semis last week.
All the players trained on the pitch today, so Gattuso will have a full squad available for the game against Bosnia on Tuesday.
First part of Italy’s training session at Coverciano on Monday, March 23, 2026.
Yet, the Azzurri boss will name five players who will go to the stands on the morning of the game.
For last week’s semis against Northern Ireland, the likes of Elia Caprile, Diego Coppola, Andrea Cambiaso, Gianluca Scamacca and Nicolò Cambiaghi were not part of the squad list and didn’t even go to the bench.
Tottenham fans are urging their club to boycott Roberto De Zerbi over comments he made about Mason Greenwood at Olympique Marseille, but the translation and context are worth looking at.
Not only is he resistant to accepting a role so close to the end of the season and with Premier League relegation a very real possibility, but he is also facing pushback from a group of Spurs supporters.
The Proud Lilywhites group released a statement condemning his possible hiring, noting “when someone in that position publicly defends a player like Mason Greenwood, and frames it in a way that downplays the seriousness of what happened, it matters, not just in isolation, but in what it signals.”
De Zerbi criticised by some Tottenham fans
MADRID, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 16: Robert De Zerbi, Head Coach of Olympique de Marseille, looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid C.F. and Olympique de Marseille at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 16, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
The comments that De Zerbi made were in November 2025 during a press conference ahead of the Champions League match between Marseille and Newcastle United.
Many of the versions published were translated from Italian to French and then to English, so it is important to go back and see precisely what De Zerbi said.
The question from the British media was: “This is the first time Mason Greenwood has played against an English team since he moved away from England and we don’t see much of him in the UK. Can you give us an idea how his life is developing, how are things for him off the pitch since he moved?”
His response therefore needs to take that question into account.
BRADFORD, ENGLAND – AUGUST 3: Roberto De Zerbi manager of Olympique Marseille during the pre-season friendly match between Sunderland and Olympique Marseille at University of Bradford Stadium on August 3, 2024 in Bradford, England. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)
“I don’t want to get involved in anyone’s private life, I don’t even get into the private lives of my children, because I want to give everyone their freedom,” De Zerbi said in the press conference.
“All I can see is that Mason seems a good lad, he paid in a strong way for what happened, and he has probably here found the right environment for him, which gave him affection, and held out its hand to him.
“He has behaved well since being here. He has an introverted, rather closed character, but I met his family and they are good people.
“When I look at him as a person, I don’t see… I feel sad for what happened in his life, without getting into the details. Because the person I know here is very different to the one that has been described, especially in England.”
Greenwood was arrested in January 2022 on suspicion of rape, assault, sexual assault and threats to kill.
The charges were dropped in April 2022 when the accuser requested police drop the investigation.
He got back together with the same partner and they had a child in July 2023.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Tottenham have issued an ultimatum to Roberto De Zerbi, giving the Italian tactician two days to respond to their offer.
Tottenham are in a hurry to reach an agreement with De Zerbi, who is available on the market after his contract with Marseille was terminated by mutual agreement in February.
Tottenham in a hurry for agreement with De Zerbi
De Zerbi is Tottenham’s leading target to replace Igor Tudor, who won just one of his seven games in charge, before leaving by mutual consent on Sunday.
Sky Sport’s Gianluca Di Marzio claimed the “next few hours” would be decisive in determining whether De Zerbi accepts Tottenham’s offer, while Gazzetta offers a more precise time frame.
According to the report, Tottenham have given De Zerbi 24-48 hours of time to respond to their offer.
MADRID, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 16: Robert De Zerbi, Head Coach of Olympique de Marseille, looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid C.F. and Olympique de Marseille at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 16, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Just a few days ago, the Italian tactician seemed willing to wait until the start of the new season for a new club, but Tottenham’s persistence has made the ex-Sassuolo boss reconsider their offer.
Mateo Retegui is the Italy outfield player with the most minutes under Gennaro Gattuso, which helps explain why the coach is not expected to change the Azzurri’s attack in the World Cup play-off Final against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Italy will visit Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup play-off Final on Tuesday, March 31.
Retegui a regular Italy starter under Gattuso
Multiple sources in Italy claim that Gattuso won’t change the XI that beat Northern Ireland 2-0 in the semis last week. This means Moise Kean and Mateo Retegui will get the nod up front.
The latter has been criticised for missing a big chance in the second half of the Northern Ireland match, just minutes before Sandro Tonali’s opener.
Francesco Pio Esposito, on the other hand, had a big impact as a substitute, so the Inter talent was expected to challenge Retegui for a starting spot.
As TWM highlights, Gattuso’s trust in Retegui is well-explained by the striker’s stats under the new Italy coach.
Retegui, in fact, is the outfield player with the most minutes played since September, when Gattuso made his debut as La Nazionale’s boss.
BERGAMO, ITALY – MARCH 26: Mateo Retegui of Italy reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Italy and Northern Ireland at Stadio di Bergamo on March 26, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Since then, Retegui has played 525 minutes with the Azzurri, twice as many as Kean.
Retegui, a former Atalanta and Genoa star, has scored five goals and provided four assists in seven appearances under Gattuso.
MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 16: Pio Esposito of Italy celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Norway at San Siro Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Pio Esposito made his senior Italy debut under Gattuso this past September and has collected six appearances, two as a starter, and scored three goals.
Manchester United need more quality in the final third, and they are interested in signing the Barcelona attacker Ferran Torres.
The 26-year-old Spanish International has been a useful player for Barcelona, and he has attracted the attention of the English club. They would be prepared to pay €60 million in order to get the deal done, according to reports from Spain.
Barcelona would be prepared to sell the player for the right price, and it remains to be seen whether the two clubs can finalise an agreement. Barcelona are facing financial difficulties and need to improve multiple areas of the squad. Selling the 26-year-old could fund multiple moves for them.
Meanwhile, Manchester United have already done well to improve the attacking unit this season with the signings of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko. However, they need more depth and experience in the final third.
Torres is capable of operating as a centre forward as well as on the flanks. He could be the dynamic attacker. They are looking for. He will add goals and creativity to the team. He has played in England before with Manchester City, and he should be able to adapt quickly and make an immediate impact. The 26-year-old has 16 goals to his name this season.
The opportunity to return to the Premier League could be an exciting one for him. Manchester United have shown significant improvement in recent months and are likely to compete in the UEFA Champions League next season. They could be an attractive destination for players.
Torres is at the peak of his career, and he could be handed a key role at Manchester United if he joins the club. The move could be ideal for all parties.
The idea has been building quietly inside the XRP community for years. Ripple and its native digital asset XRP, the argument goes, are not just another crypto project. They are positioning to replace the US dollar as the world’s reserve currency settlement mechanism, allowing governments and financial institutions to settle transactions with full sovereignty while still coexisting with the dollar in other countries.
It is a big claim. So an expert put it directly to Martin Armstrong, an economic forecaster, and asked him what he thought.
His answer was not what XRP supporters were hoping for.
“There Will Be No Backing”
Armstrong’s first and most fundamental point was simple. Any asset that tries to replace or rival the dollar as a global reserve currency would need to be backed by something. And the moment you back something, you limit the ability to create more of it. That limitation, he argued, is precisely what destroyed Bretton Woods.
“You fixed gold to $35 but you did not limit the amount of dollars you were printing,” he said. “A three-year-old with a pocket calculator could figure out sooner or later it was going to go bust.”
His view is that no government on earth will voluntarily surrender its ability to create money, because that ability is the foundation of political power. Governments do not give that up for a private digital asset, no matter how well-designed.
The Real Problem Is Political, Not Technical
Armstrong’s deeper argument is that the global debt crisis everyone is worried about is not primarily a mathematical problem. It is a political one. Debt can keep rolling forward indefinitely as long as there are enough buyers willing to purchase new debt to pay off the old. It is, in his words, a Ponzi scheme that works perfectly fine until confidence disappears.
What is accelerating that loss of confidence right now, according to Armstrong, is geopolitics. China dumped $53 billion in US treasuries in the first quarter alone. The more the US government threatens and alienates foreign nations, the smaller the pool of willing buyers for American debt becomes. And when there are no buyers left for new debt, the default arrives.
“You have divided the world economy,” he said. “You have BRICS versus the SWIFT system. And these people are not willing to surrender their sovereignty and their power.”
What This Means for XRP
Armstrong did not attack XRP or Ripple directly. His skepticism is not about technology. It is about human nature and the history of power. Governments across centuries, from ancient Greek city states borrowing from the Temple of Apollo in the 4th century BC to modern sovereign nations, have consistently chosen to protect their ability to control money above almost everything else.
Whether Armstrong is right or whether the XRP community’s vision ultimately prevails may depend less on technology and more on how willing the world’s governments are to reimagine what money and sovereignty actually mean in a digital age.
The next crypto crash may not start in crypto at all.
That is the argument crypto strategist Ted put forward in an interesting post today, pointing to a silent liquidity crisis unfolding in Japan’s bond market as a potential trigger for the next major sell-off in digital assets.
The timing is not hypothetical. Japan’s 30-year government bond yield has climbed to 3.79% as of March 30, up 1.27 points from a year ago. The 40-year yield has risen to 4.03%, up 1.23 points over the same period. The 10-year yield is hovering close to its highest levels since 1999 at around 2.36%, with the yen having breached the critical 160 per dollar level – a threshold that historically triggers intervention pressure on the Bank of Japan.
These are alarming live readings from the world’s fourth-largest economy actively dismantling decades of near-zero interest rate policy.
How Cheap Yen Became Crypto’s Hidden Fuel
The connection runs through what markets call the yen carry trade. For years, investors borrowed cheaply in Japanese yen and deployed those funds into higher-returning assets globally – US equities, emerging market bonds, and increasingly, crypto.
“Crypto depends heavily on this global flow of easy money,” Ted wrote. “When liquidity tightens, people reduce risk and sell volatile assets like crypto.”
When Japanese yields rise, borrowing in yen becomes more expensive. The trade reverses. Investors pull capital back, global liquidity tightens, and crypto – as the most volatile and liquid risk asset – is typically sold first. Altcoins fall harder than Bitcoin for the same reason.
BIS data points to hundreds of billions of dollars in yen-denominated loans to non-banks outside Japan. Morgan Stanley estimated outstanding yen carry positions at roughly $500 billion as of December 2025.
It Has Already Happened Twice
In case you’re thinking this is just a theoretical risk, there’s some bad news.
In August 2024, a BOJ rate hike triggered a carry trade unwind that sent Bitcoin and Ethereum down up to 20%. In December 2025, another hike to 0.75% moved Bitcoin from $91,000 to $88,500 within hours of the announcement.
The Bank of Japan is widely expected to raise rates to 1% at its April 28 meeting, which would mark the highest level since the mid-1990s.
The Counter Case
Ted also acknowledges the other side. If yields spike hard enough to destabilize markets, the BOJ historically intervenes – buying bonds and injecting liquidity. When that happens, risk assets including crypto tend to recover sharply.
“More liquidity pushes crypto up, less liquidity pushes it down,” he wrote. “Rising Japanese yields equal tightening liquidity equal short-term pressure on crypto. But if central banks react, it can later become fuel for the next bull run.”
The April BOJ meeting is now one of the most important macro events on the crypto calendar.
Strategy, the company formerly known as MicroStrategy, appears to have paused its weekly Bitcoin purchases after stacking BTC for 13 straight weeks. During that run, it accumulated about 90,831 BTC. Holdings now stand at 762,099 Bitcoin, roughly 3.6% of total supply. Executive chair Michael Saylor skipped his usual weekly buy signal on social media and instead promoted the company’s preferred stock offering. The pause has sparked debate among traders about future buying plans.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is scheduled to speak at Harvard University this morning in what is officially a moderated discussion with an undergraduate economics class. Markets are not treating it that way.
The discussion begins at 10:30 AM Eastern and can be watched live on the Federal Reserve’s official YouTube channel. There are no prepared remarks, but with Brent crude at $114, the US-Israel-Iran war entering its fifth week since the February 28 strikes, and Bitcoin down 46% from its all-time high, traders will be parsing every answer Powell gives for signals on where interest rates go next.
The Market Backdrop Is Complicated
Just twelve days ago, the Fed held rates steady at 3.5%-3.75% for the second consecutive meeting. At his March 18 press conference, Powell acknowledged that inflation progress had been “not as much as we had hoped.”
The dot plot still projects one cut in 2026. CME FedWatch currently prices a 95.3% probability of no change at the April 29 meeting, with zero odds of a cut and a 4.7% chance of a rate hike.
Oil prices are going up drastically after President Trump threatened to seize Iran’s Kharg Island, adding fresh inflation pressure on top of an already slowing economy.
Powell is navigating the classic stagflation dilemma, a shock that simultaneously drives inflation higher and growth lower, and today’s classroom setting will offer reporters and traders an unscripted window into how he is thinking about it.
What This Means for Bitcoin
The relationship between Powell’s tone and crypto markets is well established at this point. Dovish signals push Bitcoin higher. Hawkish ones compress it. After the March 18 FOMC meeting, Bitcoin fell as rate cut expectations were pushed back further.
Bitcoin is currently trading around $67,833, up over 1% in the past 24 hours. The near-term technical picture, however, remains under pressure.
On-chain analyst Willy Woo posted today that his models point to a Bitcoin bottom forming between $46,000 and $54,000, anchored by the CVDD Floor Model currently sitting at $45,500.
Old school onchain models suggest a BTC bottom between 46k-54k. Also hints at how much time we have to wait.
Orange line correlates to the capital stored in BTC and it has been leaving since November.
Powell’s term as Fed Chair ends on May 15, leaving him with one more scheduled FOMC meeting before he hands over to his successor. That makes today’s Harvard appearance, informal as it is, one of the final few windows into how he is reading the economy before the transition, and markets are not wasting it.
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FAQs
What time is Jerome Powell speaking at Harvard today?
Jerome Powell is scheduled to speak at 10:30 AM Eastern Time in a live Harvard discussion, streamed on the Federal Reserve’s official YouTube channel.
Why are markets closely watching Powell’s Harvard speech?
Markets expect unscripted clues on interest rates, inflation, and economic outlook, especially amid rising oil prices and global geopolitical tensions.
How does Powell’s stance affect Bitcoin prices?
Hawkish signals often push Bitcoin lower, while dovish comments can support price gains by improving liquidity and risk sentiment.
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Framework founder Nirav Patel tears down the MacBook Neo and his company's Laptop 12 to see how they compare in terms of upgradeability. He admits there's a lot to love from both approaches, but the underlying product philosophies are quite different.
Gameplay Group International and PM Studios, in collaboration with Paramount, Skydance and Avatar Studios, Today announced a global publishing partnership for AVATAR LEGENDS: The Fighting Game. Developed together with Nickelodeon Animation Studios, the fast-paced 1v1 fighter is set to launch July 2 for $29.99 USD SRP on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam, with full cross-play support available at launch. The game's release date was unveiled live at the EVO Awards, marking a major milestone for the fighting game community. Players can pre-order now on Steam and wishlist the game on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S Today.
Set within the iconic worlds of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra, AVATAR LEGENDS: The Fighting Game delivers fluid combat, expressive bending abilities, and competitive gameplay designed to engage both seasoned fighting game players and newcomers alike. Players are challenged to master the elements across a roster of fan-favorite characters, combining strategic depth with fast-paced, accessible action.
ASUS today announced the appointment of Shawn Chang as the General Manager of its North America System Business Group. Chang, a veteran ASUS executive with more than two decades of experience across global markets, will now lead the business development and strategic growth initiatives across the United States and Canada.
Under Chang's leadership, ASUS North America will continue to accelerate its momentum across consumer, gaming, and commercial segments. The company remains committed to delivering the award-winning hardware and innovation that has made it a leader in consumer and gaming electronics and delivering the level of advanced security, durability and processing power needed for its commercial line of electronics.
Spanish tech company Slimbook has refreshed its Creative laptop series, pairing an AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 with an NVIDIA RTX 5070 in a noticeably smaller chassis that weighs just 1.9 kg. The display is a 15.3-inch IPS panel at 2560 x 1600, 16:10 aspect ratio, 180 Hz refresh rate, 100% sRGB, and 400 nits brightness. The Ryzen AI 9 365 brings a dedicated NPU, while the RTX 5070 runs at up to 115 W TDP with an additional 45 W headroom via Dynamic Boost. A MUX switch lets you toggle between the discrete GPU, integrated Radeon 880M, or hybrid mode depending on what you need. Memory goes up to 128 GB of DDR5-5600 across two user-accessible SO-DIMM slots, and storage tops out at 8 TB via two PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots.
Connectivity is generous, Thunderbolt 4, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 on the right, one more on the left alongside a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, dual HDMI 2.1 outputs, a Mini DisplayPort 2.1a, gigabit Ethernet, and an SD card reader. Wi-Fi is 6E on Windows or 6 on Linux, with Bluetooth 5.2. The 99.9 Wh battery supports fast charging to 40% in 30 minutes. Slimbook offers the Creative with a choice of Linux, Windows, or both. The base configuration starts at €1,799 with 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) of DDR5 RAM and a 500 GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, with options to scale up memory, storage, and OS from there.
XGIMI has announced that its flagship TITAN Noir series 4K projectors—first unveiled at CES 2026—are now officially available for pre-order, with early supporters eligible to save up to $3,200 off the retail price. As XGIMI's most advanced and powerful flagship home theater lineup to date, the TITAN Noir series is engineered with cutting-edge RGB triple-laser technology and a precision Dual Iris system, redefining "absolute black" in home cinema and setting a new benchmark for professional-grade at-home projection.
Crafted for home cinema enthusiasts and power users who refuse to compromise on visual excellence, the TITAN Noir series is purpose-built for dedicated home theaters and high-end living spaces—where deep blacks, high brightness, and superior contrast are the cornerstones of an exceptional viewing experience.
Aurzen today introduced the EAZZE D1 air smart projector, a portable cinema designed for people who want the experience of a smart TV without being tied to a single room. Built for effortless viewing, D1 air runs popular streaming apps like Netflix and YouTube out of the box, fully licensed and ready to play—no extra sticks, no workarounds, and no complicated setup. Power it on, and your favorite content starts immediately, just like turning on a TV.
A recessed USB-C port with 65 W PD support allows D1 air to run from common laptop chargers or portable power banks, making it easy to move from room to room or take entertainment outdoors. The integrated 180-degree gimbal stand keeps cables neatly out of sight while allowing smooth transitions from wall to ceiling projection with a simple adjustment.
The latest research from Omdia shows that US PC shipments (excluding tablets) grew 3% year-on-year in Q4 2025 to 18.2 million units, reversing two consecutive quarters of annual decline. The return to growth was driven by a combination of the peak of Windows 11 commercial refreshes, holiday-season demand, and vendor efforts to secure inventory ahead of anticipated memory and storage supply constraints in 2026. Full-year 2025 shipments reached 71.5 million units, up 3% from 2024, but 2026 shipments are now forecast to decline 13% year-on-year due to highly constrained supply of memory and storage products.
"Q4 marked a meaningful inflection point for the US PC market," said Kieren Jessop, Research Manager at Omdia. "After two quarters of year-on-year decline, the market returned to growth driven by solid performances across both the consumer and commercial segments. Consumer shipments rose 6% to 8.2 million units - the fourth consecutive quarter of annual growth - underpinned by holiday spending and a product mix shift to more affordable price ranges. The commercial segment grew 4% as enterprises continued their Windows 11 migration, particularly in the final stretch before the Windows 10 end-of-support deadline in October."
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Asus' new ROG Strix Morph 96 Wireless keyboard is a well-built wireless mechanical gaming keyboard with great battery life and a compact 96-percent layout. It feels and sounds great and it doesn't rely on Asus' Armoury Crate, and it retails for just $140. But you can get its pricier older sibling for less, right now.
Neosmith trains a custom Small Language Model from your LLM interaction logs. The SLM handles 80–90% of agent tasks at 40–55% of the cost, and because it's trained on your workload, accuracy improves. One endpoint swap, no MLOps needed, with a free pilot until live in production.
Neosmith captures traces and outcomes to train runtime models that improve with use. Use the dashboard to deploy, version, monitor models, optimize cost and latency, and view end-to-end traces. An intelligent router, evaluation gates with policy enforcement, and auto-fallback keep quality high, while auto-reward tuning balances speed, cost, and accuracy.
CAMAudit audits commercial tenants' Common Area Maintenance reconciliation statements to uncover billing errors and help you recover overcharges. Upload your lease and CAM statement, and it uses OCR and clause analysis to pull key terms and map them, then runs 13 rule-based checks to verify math, pro rata shares, exclusions, caps, and fees. In minutes, you get findings plus a dispute letter draft. Scans are free, and you can unlock the full report for a $199 flat fee with no contingency.
Some weeks are loud. This one was quieter but not in a good way. Long-running operations are finally hitting courtrooms, old attack methods are showing up in new places, and research that stopped being theoretical right around the time defenders stopped paying attention.
There's a bit of everything this week. Persistence plays, legal wins, influence ops, and at least one thing that looks boring
What is really slowing Tier 1 down: the threat itself or the process around it? In many SOCs, the biggest delays do not come from the threat alone. They come from fragmented workflows, manual triage steps, and limited visibility early in the investigation. Fixing those process gaps can help Tier 1 move faster, reduce unnecessary escalations, and improve how the entire SOC responds under pressure
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Samsung has been ranked as the number one TV brand for 2026. This recognition comes from Consumer Reports, a trusted organization known for testing products and giving honest reviews. The ranking shows that Samsung is doing very well in the TV market and is ahead of many strong competitors.
According to the report released by Consumer Reports, Samsung scored 74 points overall. This score is based on several important factors like product reliability, customer satisfaction, performance, and price. Other major brands followed closely behind. LG Electronics scored 72 points, Roku got 71 points, and Sony scored 70 points.
The rankings have been created using a mix of lab tests and real customer feedback. The survey included people who bought TVs between 2015 and 2025. Experts also tested TVs for picture quality, sound, motion clarity, and HDR performance. Data privacy and security have also been considered in the final scores.
Image via Samsung
The main reason for Samsung’s top ranking is its strong TV performance. Its 65-inch OLED TV model (QN65S90F) received an excellent score of 91 points in performance tests. The TV is highly praised for its clear picture, wide viewing angles, smooth motion, and good sound quality.
Consumer Reports described it as a well-balanced TV that performs well in almost every area. This achievement shows that Samsung continues to focus on quality and innovation.
VPN searches have skyrocketed in Indonesia following the enforcement of a strict under-16 social media ban, as users seek ways to protect their privacy amidst new age-verification mandates.
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