Jun 12, 2026; Summerlin, Nevada, USA; Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers (23) celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run during the fifth inning against the Colorado Rockies at the Las Vegas Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images | Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images Athletics 6, Rockies 4Graphic via FanGraphs.He’s back: Lawrence Butler, +0.38 WPAA wild colt, indeed: Cole Carrigg, +0.37 WPAGame thread comment of the dayJoin the conversation!Sign up for a user account and get:Fewer adsCreate community postsComment on articles, community postsRec comments, community postsNew, improved notifications system!Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Michael Busch hit a three-run homer into McCovey Cove beyond right field in the fifth inning to back Javier Assad's strong start on the mound, and the Chicago Cubs beat the San Francisco Giants 5-1 on Friday night.Busch's drive was the 176th splash hit at Oracle Park, 68th by an opponent and fourth by a Cubs player — first since Joc Pederson on June 3, 2021.Seiya Suzuki broke up a scoreless game with an RBI double in the fourth then scored moments later on Nico Hoerner's sacrifice fly. Assad (4-1) struck out five, walked one and allowed three hits over six innings to win his third straight decision spanning seven starts. His throwing error on a pickoff attempt of Bryce Eldridge in the fourth could have been costly but the right-hander stranded Eldridge on third.Hoby Milner pitched the seventh and Trent Thornton the final two innings, surrendering Eldridge's one-out homer in the ninth. Busch greeted reliever Erik Miller with his eighth home run after Chicago put runners aboard on Pete Crow-Armstrong's double and a leadoff walk by Carson Kelly against Giants starter Landen Roupp (5-7). Roupp was tagged for four runs on four hits over 4 2/3 innings.Chicago won for the third time in its last seven games.San Francisco had beaten the Cubs 18-3 last Friday then 2-1 in extra innings Sunday — but the Giants dropped to 7-3 overall in the matchups since the start of the 2025 season, outscoring the Cubs 63-35. San Francisco is 6-2 at Oracle Park in the series dating to the beginning of 2024.Jung Hoo Lee went 0 for 3 and had his career-best 18-game hitting streak snapped — longest by a Giants batter since Angel Pagan hit in 19 in a row from July 31-Aug. 23, 2016.Up nextRHP Ben Brown (2-2, 1.74 ERA) pitches the middle game for Chicago opposite Giants RHP Trevor McDonald (2-3, 4.15), making his second straight start against the Cubs. ___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

If there were any doubts that the USA were ready to live up to the pressure of being one of the hosts of the 2026 World Cup, those were dispelled in 45 brilliant minutes against Paraguay on Saturday.Following a glitzy build-up which featured a performance from Katy Perry, watched on by Hollywood A-listers like Tom Cruise in the stands and with thousands of fans decked out the stars and stripes, they would have been forgiven for wilting under the pressure.Instead they stepped up as three goals in a whirlwind first half before a sublime fourth by Gio Reyna in stoppage time secured a 4-1 win to ensure a perfect start in Group D.But even before this display there were some who had recognised the potential a USA side who have developed significantly under ex-Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino over the last 20 months.Former USA goalkeeper Tony Meola is one pundit who has suggested they are now on their way to being able to rub shoulders with football's elite."Now we are so much more established," said Meola, who was part of the US squad at the 1990, 1994 and 2002 World Cups."We have players playing all round the world, we have an incredible league and have facilities the world is using right now. Those were a pipe dream a few years ago now we are a football nation."This was the first time since 1930 that the USA has won a World Cup game by three goals and it is a result that may well make other teams at this tournament sit up and notice."USA were unbelievable," England great Ellen White said on BBC Match of the Day. "You talk about pressure but they grasped at it, they enjoyed it. They probably shocked the world with that performance."USA scored three goals in a dominant first half [AFP via Getty Images]World Cup kicks off in the US with performances from Katy Perry, Future and Tyla 'Clear red' for Bosnia or 'wins the ball'? BBC pundits disagreeStaying up for the football? Here's how to survive a World Cup all-nighterWin could help make a country believePochettino will be the first to point out that nothing has been won yet, but the Argentine manager will know that a start like this was absolutely pivotal for building both belief and momentum.Prior to their opener it felt like Americans were largely indifferent about their country hosting a World Cup - in Los Angeles, the city where the USA played their opener, it was easy to be unaware that a major tournament was about to take place.But that all changed on Friday as USA shirts dominated on the metro and in bars and coffee shops in the hours before kick-off.A failure to win this and that passion and enthusiasm could have quickly been sapped, but instead it will likely be enhanced before their remaining two group games against Turkey and Australia.Their dominance in the first half was highlighted by the fact they had 71% possession."They look a really dangerous team, they look fit, they look sharp, they look hungry," ex-Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy said on BBC Match of the Day following the USA's excellent first-half performance."When you are playing well the crowd get behind you. This is an intimidating stadium when the majority of the crowd are for you, that's for sure."Pochettino's impact is clearPochettino became USA boss in September 2024 [AFP via Getty Images]Pochettino was appointed USA coach 20 months ago, tasked with transforming a team that was often capable of getting out of the group stage but almost never any further than that.USA's tactical transformation under the Argentine was clear against Paraguay as they played a high-pressing, attacking style of football that their opponents could not live with.In addition, Pochettino has been able to call upon a squad that is packed with talent - 17 of the 26 in his camp play in Europe's top five leagues with seven of those playing in the Premier League.He has also changed the players' mentality, encouraging them to shed the idea that they are underdogs and instead believe in themselves as being able to be among the elite, capable of not just going far but actually winning the World Cup."Why not us?" he said earlier this year. "We need to really believe that we can be there. We need to dream."The USA will, of course, have to beat stronger teams than Paraguay to win the World Cup, but this performance will certainly help their fans to believe they can - at the very least - match their run to the quarter-finals in 2002."The United States brought in Pochettino with this tournament in mind after failing to deliver in past World Cups," ex-Wales defender Ashley Williams said on Match of the Day. "They have also got a set of players you expect to go far in this tournament, so the expectation will be massive."If things click with Pochettino and with a strong starting 11, I think United States can go far in this tournament on home soil. They will be looking at this group and thinking they should top it."Pulisic and Balogun key to USA hopesIf there is one area of concern for Pochettino and USA fans is perhaps how this game highlighted how crucial Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun are to their hopes.They were both instrumental in a first half where USA looked capable of scoring with every attack, with Balogun producing two goals and Pulisic providing an assist.But Pulisic was withdrawn at half time while Balogun went off with 18 minutes remaining and, while the USA still dominated, they were not the attacking threat they were in the first 45 minutes.After the game, Pochettino confirmed that Pulisic's withdrawal was precautionary after feeling something in his calf, where he had been kicked in an earlier training session."I hope it is not a big issue but when we finished the first half he could not work," Pochettino said."Hopefully not a big issue. Now I think is better and hopefully for the next game he will be available."As for the idea that the USA could be the surprise team of the tournament, Pochettino feels it is too soon to make that call."We know in the world of sports when you see good performances and good results everyone thinks of success and people try to flatter you but when you lose it is a catastrophe," he added."I think we've had a good match but I think to be the upset of the World Cup we need to get to the semi-finals or the quarter-finals, then yes."We have to see if throughout the tournament we can be that pleasant surprise that other teams have been at World Cups."VAR makes 'mistaken identity' history as strange booking confuses fansEngland have training equipment stolenUSA 94: The World Cup that changed everything

At 38 years and 250 days old, Tim Ream, centre, is the oldest player to appear for the USA in the World Cup [Getty Images]The United States opened their World Cup campaign with a fine win - but not before a sequence of events that left everyone inside SoFi Stadium scratching their heads as the video assistant referee (VAR) made history.The co-hosts were comfortably leading Paraguay 3-0 when confusion reigned in the Group D game.Veteran defender Tim Ream, 38, conceded a free-kick and was shown a yellow card for his 'challenge' on Miguel Almiron.After the free-kick was taken, Dutch referee Danny Makkelie was sent to the screen by the VAR and overturned his decision - something officials have not previously been allowed to do.After rescinding Ream's caution, Makkelie instead booked former Newcastle United forward Almiron, who had clearly dived.It is the first VAR intervention for mistaken identity at the World Cup, even if it perhaps was not used in the way most expected it to be.Fifa has introduced of a number of rule changes for the tournament, with Pierluigi Collina, the head of referees, requesting one specifically for mistaken identity.The rule states that if a player is booked or sent off - but the foul was actually committed by the opposition team - the decision can be changed.Another new law is second yellow cards leading to a red card can be reviewed, but not first yellow cards. The only reason referee Makkelie was able to rescind the decision was by using the mistaken identity law.The officials allowed the game to restart before stopping, which also confused fans as normally once the game resumes it cannot be pulled back.Former Everton and Wales defender Ashley Williams, speaking to BBC Sport, added: "They let them take the free-kick, which was bizarre but clearly the right decision. "It's the first time we have seen it but fair play."Former England midfielder Danny Murphy, who was co-commentating for BBC Sport, added: "Any adaptation of the rules which means diving gets more punishment is good."The United States, managed by former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino, won the match 4-1 to get their campaign off to a winning start in front of a jubilant home crowd.Following an own goal by Damian Bobadilla, the US led 3-0 at half-time after Folarin Balogun scored twice. In doing so he became just the second US player to score more than once in a World Cup match.Paraguay pulled one back through Brazilian-born Mauricio before the goal of the night from substitute Giovanni Reyna, who curled a 20-yard shot home with the outside of his right foot with the final kick of the game.VAR, timewasting and subs - World Cup law changes explainedUSA start World Cup in style - but can they finally join the elite?World Cup fixtures and group standingsHow to watch the World Cup on the BBCEverything you need to know about the World Cup

The United States Men’s National Team ran over Paraguay on Friday in their World Cup opener at SoFi Stadium, but concern struck when captain and team leader Christian Pulisic left the game early. Pulisic, after being the star man for Team USA and creating multiple scoring chances, was not on the field for the second half and came off instead. It was concerning, given how crucial he was to the team’s attacks, but since the score was 3-0, his absence was not a devastating blow. According to the Fox Broadcast, Pulisic signaled to his family that he “was okay,” quelling concerns during the game. But after the match, the head coach, Mauricio Pochettino, clarified what happened. June 12, 2026; Inglewood, California, U.S.; Christian Pulisic of the U.S. during the match. Mandatory Credit: Gary Vasquez-Imagn ImagesPochettino said that Pulisic took a hard kick to the calf and it started to feel tight, leading the manager to play it safe with the game comfortably in hand. “He got a kick in the calf and at the end of the first half he started to feel tight and we didn’t want to take any risks,” Pochettino said. “It was difficult for him to walk. But [we] hope that it’s not a big issue and he can be ready for the next one.”Christian Pulisic is not concerned about the calfFor his own account, Pulisic also did not put too much into his absence, making it sound like a preventive move rather than a necessary one. “I just got a bit of a kick first half, so I’m really hoping that it’s nothing,” Pulisic said. “Taking a little bit of precaution today, but I’m hoping I’ll be fine the next few days.“Just the back of my leg, my calf area. But I’ve had similar things before and I’m staying positive. I don’t think it’s anything at all.”June 12, 2026; Inglewood, California, U.S.; Christian Pulisic of the U.S. reacts. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn ImagesThe United States plays Australia next Friday, June 19th, which could be a tricky contest if the team is not ready. Pulisic will be monitored very closely in the lead-up to the game, and if the USA is up big early, he could make another early exit to keep him upright. The last Group D match will be on June 25th against Turkey back at SoFi Stadium. The post USMNT Head Coach Gives Update on Christian Pulisic’s Injury Status appeared first on LA Sports Report.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sonia Citron scored 17 points and made the winning jumper as time expired, rookie Lauren Betts scored a season-high 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting and the Washington Mystics beat the Toronto Tempo 86-85 on Friday night.Betts, the No. 4 overall pick in the draft, played a career-high 21 minutes in the absence of second-year forward Kiki Iriafen (ankle). Michaela Onyenwere also scored 17 points for the Mystics (5-6).Shakira Austin had 12 points and 11 rebounds for her fifth double-double this season. The fifth-year center also had a career-high nine turnovers, the most in a WNBA game this season. Washington had a season-high 22 turnovers and were 2 of 18 from 3-point range.Marina Mabrey scored 18 of her 27 points in the fourth quarter for the Tempo (7-6). Brittney Sykes added 20 points. VALKYRIES 76, STORM 72SEATTLE (AP) — Janelle Salaun had 22 points and five 3-pointers, Gabby Williams added 19 points against her former team, and Golden State held off Seattle.Salaun’s fifth 3-pointer gave Golden State a 69-57 lead with 4:23 remaining. But the Valkyries did not make another field goal, finishing the frame 1 of 16 to allow Seattle back in it.Seattle cut its deficit to 71-70 and had the ball, but Flau’jae Johnson’s layup attempt rolled off the rim. Golden State guard Tiffany Hayes was fouled with 21.3 seconds left and made two free throws for a three-point lead. After Seattle got within one point again with 13.4 left, Williams made two free throws for a 75-72 lead and Kiah Stokes blocked a 3-point attempt at the other end. Hayes finished with 17 points off the bench and Veronica Burton had 11 points and eight assists for Golden State (8-5). Williams, who played in Seattle for four seasons, made all five of her free throws to help the Valkyries go 20 of 23 from the line.Natisha Hiedeman had a career-high 26 points with five 3-pointers for Seattle (3-12), which has lost eight straight games.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Lawrence Butler scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning on a throwing error and had an RBI single in the eighth to lead the Athletics to a 6-4 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Friday night.Shea Langeliers and Nick Kurtz hit back-to-back solo home runs in the fifth for the A's. Langeliers' homer, his team-leading 18th, traveled 450 feet to center field. Kurtz, who has 16 homers, hit his 471 feet to right-center.Mason Barnett (1-0) worked 1 2/3 innings for the victory, and Hogan Harris got the final four outs for his sixth save.Zach Agnos (0-2) took the loss.Butler broke a 4-4 tie with two outs in the seventh when he got caught in a rundown. But Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman threw the ball away, allowing Butler to score. Goodman, who had slugged five home runs in his previous nine games, also went 0 for 4 and struck out three times. Zack Gelof singled in the sixth inning for the A's to extend his career-high hitting streak to 16 games. Tyler Soderstrom extended his on-base streak to 21 games with a seventh-inning walk.Colorado's Cole Carrigg hit a three-run 450-homer to right-center field in the sixth to put the Rockies ahead 4-2. Max Muncy answered with a two-run double in the bottom of the inning to tie it.The game began with an unusual pitcher's duel in this ballpark between rookie starters.Gage Jump tossed five shutout innings, allowing three hits while striking out six batters. He then loaded the bases in the sixth with no one outs on two singles and a walk to end his night.Left-hander Sean Sullivan pitched three shutout innings in his major league debut. He allowed two hits and struck out two. Sullivan was removed after throwing 49 pitches.Up nextRockies LHP Kyle Freeland (1-6, 7.81 ERA) was set to start Saturday night in the second of the three-game series. The A's hadn't announced a starter.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Trey Mancini hit a two-run triple to give Los Angeles an early lead, rookie Sam Aldegheri tossed five strong innings and Ryan Zeferjahn struck out Cedric Mullins with the bases loaded in the ninth to help the Angels beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 on Friday night.Zeferjahn walked Junior Caminero on four pitches after replacing Mitch Farris with two on and two outs. He struck out Mullins swinging on a 2-2 pitch for his second save, sealing the Angels' third straight win.Aldegheri (2-1) allowed two runs — one earned — and three hits with three walks in his second start this season and seventh of his career.Mike Trout and Jo Adell had back-to-back one-out singles off Shane McClanahan (6-4) in the first inning and Mancini followed with a two-out triple for a 2-0 lead.Oswald Peraza led off the third with a double and Nick Madrigal drove him in with a two-out single, before stealing second and scoring on Logan O'Hoppe's single for a 4-0 advantage.Aldegheri allowed a hit and walked two in the first inning, then retired 10 straight before walking Chandler Simpson to start the fifth. Nick Fortes reached on a fielding error by shortstop Zach Neto and Taylor Walls' bunt single loaded the bases with no outs.Aldegheri struck out Yandy Díaz looking, but Jonathan Aranda singled to left to cut it to 4-2. Caminero hit into a double play to end the rally.Simpson robbed Adell of a homer in the eighth to keep the Rays within two, and Aranda cut it to 4-3 with a two-out single off Mitch Farris before Zeferjahn finished.McClanahan gave up four runs and eight hits in four innings, but struck out seven. Mason Englert pitched four shutout innings and allowed four hits and two walks.U.S. Navy Captain and NASA Artemis II astronaut Victor Glover threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Trout.Up nextRays RHP Griffin Jax (1-4, 4.15) starts Saturday opposite Angels RHP José Soriano (7-4, 2.96).___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

SEATTLE (AP) — Janelle Salaun had 22 points and five 3-pointers, Gabby Williams added 19 points against her former team, and the Golden State Valkyries held off the Seattle Storm 76-72 on Friday night.Salaun’s fifth 3-pointer gave Golden State a 69-57 lead with 4:23 remaining. But the Valkyries did not make another field goal, finishing the frame 1 of 16 to allow Seattle back in it.Seattle cut its deficit to 71-70 and had the ball, but Flau’jae Johnson's layup attempt rolled off the rim. Golden State guard Tiffany Hayes was fouled with 21.3 seconds left and made two free throws for a three-point lead. After Seattle got within one point again with 13.4 left, Williams made two free throws for a 75-72 lead and Kiah Stokes blocked a 3-point attempt at the other end. Hayes finished with 17 points off the bench and Veronica Burton had 11 points and eight assists for Golden State (8-5). Williams, who played in Seattle for four seasons, made all five of her free throws to help the Valkyries go 20 of 23 from the line.Natisha Hiedeman had a career-high 26 points with five 3-pointers for Seattle (3-12), which has lost eight straight games. Salaun scored 13 points in the first half to help the Valkyries lead 40-38 at halftime. Golden State's largest lead was 59-44 after a 19-6 start to the third. Up nextGolden State: Begins a three-game homestand on Monday against Los Angeles. Seattle: Plays at Portland on Wednesday. ___AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

What time is the UFL championship game today? TV schedule, channel, live stream to watch Louisville vs. DC originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.One final matchup will decide it all in the UFL. The Louisville Kings and DC Defenders are set to battle it out for a championship on Saturday.Louisville faced the St. Louis Battlehawks in last weekend's semifinals, and despite being the lower-seeded team, the Kings snagged a 29-20 road win. Louisville will now head to the United Bowl in their first season as an expansion team, marking a truly impressive campaign.Meanwhile, DC is headed back to the United Bowl for the second year in a row, and as defending champions. Despite losing star quarterback Jordan Ta'amu to a season-ending knee injury in Week 8, the Defenders have persevered and kept their back-to-back title efforts alive so far.Who can become champions in the UFL's third season?Here's everything you need to know about the UFL championship game today, including TV channel and streaming options for Louisville vs. DC.What time is the UFL championship game today?Date: Saturday, June 13Time: 3 p.m. ETThe United Bowl matchup between Louisville and DC will take place on Saturday, June 13 at 3 p.m. ET from Audi Field in Washington.How to watch UFL championship 2026: TV channel, live streamTV channel: ABCLive stream: fuboThe title game will be broadcast nationally on ABC, with Joe Tessitore and Jordan Rodgers on the call, and Sam Acho and Tom Luginbill completing coverage from the sideline.Cord-cutters or fans without cable can also stream the action live on fubo.Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)UFL playoff schedule 2026Here's the full schedule for the 2026 UFL playoffs.Sunday, June 7 - SemifinalsTime (ET)MatchupWatch3 p.m.DC Defenders 28, Orlando Storm 22*—6 p.m.Louisville Kings 29, St. Louis Battlehawks 20—* Game at Columbus, OhioSaturday, June 13 - United BowlTime (ET)MatchupWatch3 p.m.Louisville Kings vs. DC DefendersABC, fubo

From the jump, the Rays just didn’t have it tonight.In the bottom of the first, Trey Mancini roped a triple to right field with two outs to plate two Halos. 2-0 Anaheim before you got a chance to sit down with your popcorn.Again with two outs, the Angels got off the hook with a seeing-eye single from Nick Madrigal plated another to tack on another run, and Logan O’Hoppe singles to plate Madrigal, and it’s 4-0 Angels.Shane McClanahan struck out seven, but allowed eight hits and walked one.In the top of the fifth, Jonathan Aranda struck again, providing Tampa bay with a crooked number of the single variety to cut the deficit in half.A huge hit from Jonathan Aranda to drive in two runs. He continues to use the middle of the field and shoot balls the other way since the beginning of May. Left on left, no problem. pic.twitter.com/NVZuAi3ISg— Running From The OPS (@OPS_BASEBALL) June 13, 2026In the eighth, Chandler Simpson defied gravity with a home run-robbing catch in his first start in center field this season. WHAT A GRAB! Chandler Simpson takes one away 🤯 pic.twitter.com/KVWR6fjzgT— MLB (@MLB) June 13, 2026In the ninth, the Rays threatened with another Aranda RBI single. Junior Caminero walks to load the bases,Cedric Mullins pinch hits for Ryan Vilade, and that was all she wrote. Mullins would strike out swinging, stranding the tying run at third base.We do it again from Angel Stadium on Saturday at 10:07 PM EST, with Griffin Jax and Rafael Soriano as the probable pitchers.

Christian Pulisic played only the first half of USA’s 4-1 win against Paraguay in the opening game of their World Cup 2026 campaign. During his post-match interview, he revealed he had suffered a knock, which is why he left the match earlier than expected.“I just got a bit of a kick in the first half, so I’m really hoping that it’s nothing. Taking a little bit of precaution today, but I’m hoping I’ll be fine the next few days,” Pulisic told reporters via FOX Sports’ Doug McIntyre.The American soccer star and skipper completed the joint-most dribbles in the first half (three) and created the joint-most chances (two) before getting subbed off, and was a big reason why the USA went ahead within the first seven minutes. Sebastian Berhalter replaced Pulisic after halftime.By the time Pulisic came off the pitch, the USA were already ahead by three goals, thanks to Folarin Balogun’s brace. Paraguay pulled one goal back in the 73rd minute, courtesy of substitute Mauricio. But Giovanni Reyna put the final nail in the coffin for the Stars and Stripes with a wonderful trivela finish during stoppage time.MORE:USMNT keys to winning opening 2026 World Cup match against ParaguayJune 12, 2026; Inglewood, California, U.S.; Christian Pulisic of the U.S. in action with Paraguay’s Diego Gomez. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn ImagesMauricio Pochettino downplays injury fears regarding Christian PulisicUSA head coach Mauricio Pochettino said that he subbed out Christian Pulisic during halftime as a precaution, but expects the AC Milan forward to be good to go against Australia next week.“Pulisic took a kick in his calf, and then he started to feel tight, and we didn’t want to take any risk,” Pochettino stated. “It was difficult for him to work, but we hope that it is not a big issue and he’s ready for the next one.”Fortunately for the USA, Pulisic will have at least six days to recover. If things don’t go according to plan, Weston McKennie will likely shoulder more playmaking duties, and Giovanni Reyna or Sebastian Berhalter could take Pulisic’s place in the starting lineup against the Socceroos.

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Oklahoma’s Ralford Mullings became the first man to win back-to-back discus titles in more than 20 years, and Arkansas won it's 11th men's title — but the Razorbacks' first since 2003 — on Friday night at the NCAA outdoor track and field championships. Mullings (215 feet, 11 inches) beat Southern California teammates Racquil Broderick (210-5) and Vincent Ugwoke (209-7), who finished second and third, respectively. Mullings — whose winning throw of 227 feet, four inches in 2025 set the meet record — became the first back-to-back champion since SMU’s Hannes Hopley in 2003 and ’04. Arkansas, which did not win an individual or relay event, finished with 56 points, one of five Southeastern Conference schools in the top six. Georgia (49 points) finished second, ahead of Tennessee (46), LSU (42), the Big Ten's Oregon (40) and Auburn (33). Alabama’s Samuel Ogazi won the 400 meters in a collegiate-record 43.38 seconds, the fourth-fastest time in history. Ja’Kobe Tharp of Auburn — who set the world record (12.75) in the semifinals on Wednesday — ran a 12.90 to win the 110-meter hurdles and beat Texas’ Kendrick Smallwood by 0.05 seconds. Going into the championships, Grant Holloway held the collegiate record at 12.98. Jaiden Reid of LSU set the NCAA record in the 200 meters, taking the title in 19.63 seconds and breaking the previous mark of 19.69 set by Florida State's Walter Dix in 2007. Tennessee won the 100-meter relay in a program-record 37.98 seconds. Auburn, which ran a collegiate-record 37.75 in the semifinals, Arkansas, Houston and Oregon did not finish. Oregon's Simeon Birnbaum exploded from the pack to begin the final turn and pulled away down the stretch to win the 1,500 meters in 3:36.05. Michigan's Trent McFarland (3:37.18) finished second. Louisville sophomore Geoffrey Kirwa, the 2025 runner-up, won 3000-meter steeplechase title in 8:17.46.Auburn's Kayinsola Ajayi won the 100 meters in a wind-aided 9.72 (+2.2), 0.10 seconds ahead of Reid. Northern Arizona's Colin Sahlman won the 800 meters in 1:44.22, the program's first national championship in the event. Arkansas teammates Tyrice Taylor (1:44.30) and Rivaldo Marshall (1:44.90) were second and third, respectively. Florida sophomore Vance Nilsson ran a 48.06, the fastest time in college this season, to win 400-meter hurdles. Texas' Kody Blackwood appeared to be overtaking Nilsson late in the race, but tripped over the 10th and final hurdle and finished ninth (53.52). New Mexico's Habtom Samuel, who set the collegiate record of 13:03.47 in April, finished in 13:38.93 to take home the title in the 5,000 meters. Georgia junior Kimani Jack cleared 7-5 3/4 and became the first British-born man or woman to win high jump at the NCAA championships. Scottie Vines of Arkansas (7-4 1/2) finished second. Selva Prabhu of Kansas State claimed the triple jump crown became the fourth athlete of Indian descent to win an event at the outdoor championships — joining Mohinder Singh Gill, Vikas Gowda, and Tejaswin Shankar — with a leap of 55-6 1/4. Evan Correll won the wheelchair 100 meters in 14.32 seconds, breaking his own meet record (14.46 in 2025) and beating second-place Jason Robinson (15.36) — his Illinois teammate — by more than a second.Washington sits atop the women's team standings with 18 points, ahead of Iowa State (15) and Nebraska (14), heading into Saturday, the final day of competition. ___AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

The United States Men’s National Team is one of the hosting teams for the 2026 World Cup, putting pressure on it to give American fans something to cheer about. With the pressure of an entire nation on their shoulders and fighting to put soccer on the map further in America, there was no shortage of massive expectations for a young group of players. Despite everything, they shone on the world’s biggest soccer stage and took a step forward in a tournament that could change the sport’s outlook in the country forever. The USMNT won 4-1 against Paraguay — a result that does not do justice to how wonderfully the team played. They were up 3-0 at halftime after coming out guns blazing — pressing up the field and playing a fearless brand of soccer. June 12, 2026; Inglewood, California, U.S.; Folarin Balogun of the U.S. celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates. Mandatory Credit: Gary Vasquez-Imagn ImagesAnytime that an American player lost the ball, they were right on the neck of a Paraguayan player. The American players were constantly scanning the field before even getting the ball when they were in possession, reading the field at all times and knowing what they were going to do before they did it. Who were the star players for Team USA?Folarin Balogun, whom the U.S. courted from England for its international squad, showed why he was so highly coveted, delivering two amazing goals and making multiple threatening runs. He has the potential to be among the greatest American strikers in soccer history, and every ounce of his potential was on display on Friday night. June 12, 2026; Inglewood, California, U.S.; Folarin Balogun of the U.S. celebrates scoring a goal that was later disallowed. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn ImagesAdditionally, Christian Pulisic was stellar and had the Paraguay defense in a blender all game long, including when creating the opening goal. He went past a defender with a great dribble move and made an amazing pass to Weston McKennie, who got off a pass that went off a defender and into the net for an own goal.In previous iterations of this American soccer team, they let off the gas, but instead they pressed and pushed even harder. It was a near-perfect modern soccer game, with intensity and purpose throughout and a mix of individuality and structure. There are tougher tests ahead, but belief in this group has taken a big leap. The post USMNT Raising Expectations After LA World Cup Opener appeared first on LA Sports Report.

Tyler Adams: United analysts say American is better than Rodri Manchester United’s new team of analysts may have found Michael Carrick his ideal replacement for Casemiro.INEOS have moved on from Elliot Anderson following Manchester City’s mega bid, with the co-owners not interested in becoming involved in a bidding war.The Red Devils have also cooled their interest in Sandro Tonali owing to the Italian’s asking price and his preference to return to his homeland.Following the Ederson deal, United’s focus is currently on completing a move for Mateus Fernandes, with confidence growing that a deal can be agreed as early as this month.Tyler Adams emerges as new targetEven if they sign the Portuguese ace, the 20-time English league champions will still need one more midfielder as the head coach targets a complete revamp of the engine room.Alex Scott and Carlos Baleba are among the other names in the fray, with Scott’s Bournemouth teammate emerging as another option.The Daily Mail have reported that the Old Trafford side are monitoring Tyler Adams, with club analysts claiming the American is better than Manchester City’s Rodri in some aspects.That is high praise indeed, and naturally, several other English teams are also keeping a close eye on the USA international, who is expected to play a major role for his home country in the World Cup.United analysts blown away by Tyler Adams“The hugely industrious Tyler Adams has plenty of admirers.“Manchester United have recognised his output as analysts point to stats that in some respects compare to, or better, those of Manchester City’s Rodri.“United have continued to monitor as they assess targets, Liverpool’s Andoni Iraola is an advocate while Chelsea retain interest.”The former RB Leipzig ace is not expected to cost as much as Scott, so it will be interesting to see if INEOS pivot to Tyler Adams if a deal for his English teammate becomes too expensive.Feature image Michael Steele via Getty Imagesonline pollsThe Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Subscribe to The CooligansApple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTubeChristian Polanco and Alexis Guerreros react live to the USMNT's stunning 4-1 victory over Paraguay in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The boys break down one of the most complete performances in modern U.S. Soccer history, discussing how Mauricio Pochettino's side overwhelmed a talented South American opponent with confidence, intensity and attacking quality. They also name Folarin Balogun their Player of the Match after his brilliant two-goal performance.Then, Christian and Alexis dive deeper into the individual performances that powered the victory. From Gio Reyna's spectacular goal to Christian Pulisic's dominant first-half display, the guys explain why the USMNT looked every bit like a team capable of making noise in the tournament. They also give Chris Richards his flowers after a commanding defensive performance that set the tone from the opening whistle.To wrap up the show, The Cooligans look ahead to the United States' next World Cup clash against Australia and debate just how far this team can realistically go in the tournament. The guys also recap Canada's impressive draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina, discussing what the result means for Canada's chances of advancing and the growing strength of North American soccer on the world stage.Timestamps:(0:00) — Reacting to the USMNT's dominant performance(10:30) — Balogun's Historic Night Breakdown(19:30) — Pulisic's Performance Report Card(23:30) - Chris Richards' near perfect performance(32:00) - Looking ahead to next game vs Australia(40:30) - Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina recapFolarin Balogun #20 of the United States celebrates scoring his team's third goal with Chris Richards #3 during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between USA and Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium on June 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John Dorton/USSF/Getty Images)🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTubeCheck out all episodes of The Cooligans the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv

The Los Angeles Angels Mike Trout #27 celebrates a run scored during an MLB game against The Tampa Bay Rays on June 12th, 2026 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California.ANAHEIM, Calif. - When you've had as long and as illustrious of a career as Mike Trout has, chances are that every game comes with a chance at making history or crossing a major career threshold. That was the case in the first inning of the Los Angeles Angels' 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday. Trout stepped up to the plate and ripped a single into right field, the 1,000th of his career, to set the stage for the Angels' first scoring rally of the game. Jo Adell followed Trout with a single of his own and soon after Trey Mancini, one of the new additions to the Angels' Major League lineup, ripped a triple off the right field wall to score both Trout and Adell and give the Angels an early 2-0 lead. The Los Angeles Angels Mike Trout #27 at bat during an MLB game against The Tampa Bay Rays on June 12th, 2026 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California.Jon Bryan - The Sporting TribuneThe Los Angeles Angels Mike Trout #27 at bat during an MLB game against The Tampa Bay Rays on June 12th, 2026 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California."He's [Mancini] a great guy and a great player and that's why he's here. And we need him, so it's nice to see him do that job," Angels starter Sam Aldegheri said. Sam Aldegheri gets his shotNo one appreciated Mancini's triple more than his fellow Italian Aldegheri, who was looking to earn a permanent place on the mound with Los Angeles. Aldegheri had been called up from and sent down to Triple-A a number of times this season already and he's seen use both as a starter and in the bullpen for the Angels when he was with the Major League squad. "I'm really glad that they gave me the opportunity to start tonight. Of course, I wanted to show that I'm able to handle these games," Aldegheri said. The Los Angeles Angels Sam Aldegheri #61 pitches during an MLB game against The Tampa Bay Rays on June 12th, 2026 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California.Jon Bryan - The Sporting TribuneThe Los Angeles Angels Sam Aldegheri #61 pitches during an MLB game against The Tampa Bay Rays on June 12th, 2026 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California.With the news that Jack Kochanowicz would require season-ending Tommy John surgery, a vacancy opened up in the rotation that Aldegheri was looking to fill and Friday was in a way his tryout. A tryout that went well. Aldegheri went five innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits while walking three and striking out four. It was a modest, yet successful outing and it certainly left an impression on manager Kurt Suzuki."He certainly made a case," Suzuki said of Aldegheri. "He pitched his butt off tonight and definitely put himself in the conversation."Mitch Farris, Ryan ZeferjahnChase Silseth took over in the sixth inning and kept things scoreless while striking out two and then ball was in Mitch Farris' hand for the seventh inning... and beyond.Farris made it through the seventh inning scoreless while allowing his one walk, then he was sent out for the eighth inning. That inning was similarly without incident other than a double by Austin Slater but still, no runs. The Los Angeles Angels Chase Silseth #63 does his mound ritual during an MLB game against The Tampa Bay Rays on June 12th, 2026 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California.Jon Bryan - The Sporting TribuneThe Los Angeles Angels Chase Silseth #63 does his mound ritual during an MLB game against The Tampa Bay Rays on June 12th, 2026 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California.Then Farris was sent back out for the ninth inning to attempt a nine-out save, a move that Suzuki was based on his confidence in Farris as well as having the benefit of saving the Angels' somewhat depleted bullpen. "[I was] a little surprised, but I was ready for the moment and wanted to close it out right there," Farris said of being sent out in the ninth. "Ended up not coming to fruition exactly how I would like it, but we got the win. That's all that matters."Farris got to two outs in the ninth, but was unable to close out the game after two singles and a walk that allowed the Rays to cut the lead down 4-3 and placed the tying run on third base. The Los Angeles Angels Mitch Farris #70 pitches during an MLB game against The Tampa Bay Rays on June 12th, 2026 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California.Jon Bryan - The Sporting TribuneThe Los Angeles Angels Mitch Farris #70 pitches during an MLB game against The Tampa Bay Rays on June 12th, 2026 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California.Ryan Zeferjahn was came in to relive Farris and even though he walked Junior Caminero to load the bases, he struck Cedric Mullins out swinging to close the game for the Angels' third-straight win. "It was awesome. Like we said from the beginning, right? We're gonna need everybody" Suzuki said of Zeferjahn. "Different guys are gonna step up at different times. And tonight it was Sily [Silseth], Farris and Zef and Zef coming in in a big situation right there and closing the door was huge."

Photo by John Dorton/USSF/Getty ImagesSkip Bayless turned the United States men’s national team’s fast World Cup start into a Dallas Cowboys joke as Paraguay collapsed under first-half pressure.The USA had already made their opener feel bigger than a cautious home-nation debut, with the scoreline moving quickly enough to pull in even casual World Cup viewers.For Bayless, the 3-0 lead did not just say something about the hosts. It also gave him a way to take a familiar shot at the NFL team he has spent years criticizing and defending in equal measure.Photo by Ian Maddox for The Washington Post via Getty ImagesSkip Bayless turns USMNT surge into Dallas Cowboys dig during Paraguay openerIn a post shared by Skip Bayless on X, Bayless reacted when the USA had moved 3-0 ahead of Paraguay in their World Cup opener.“I don’t closely follow World Cup buildup, but from what I just saw, either Team USA is better than I expected – a true contender – or Paraguay’s defense is no better than last year’s Cowboys,” he wrote.The line worked because it carried both surprise and sarcasm. Bayless admitted he had not followed the World Cup buildup closely, but the USA’s first-half performance was sharp enough for him to call Mauricio Pochettino’s team a possible contender.His Cowboys comparison was the punchline. Paraguay were being opened up repeatedly, and Bayless used that defensive collapse to jab at a Dallas unit that frustrated him throughout the previous NFL season.Skip Bayless watched USMNT finish Paraguay statement after 3-0 leadThe comment came at the point when the USA had taken full control of the game, with Paraguay struggling to handle the hosts’ pace and movement.The breakthrough came through a Damián Bobadilla own goal after early American pressure, before Folarin Balogun scored twice in the first half to make it 3-0. Paraguay pulled one back after the break, but Gio Reyna later added the final touch to complete a 4-1 win.Balogun’s double gave the scoreline its sharpest edge, while the early own goal showed how quickly the USA had forced Paraguay into uncomfortable defensive positions.The Cowboys joke gave the moment a familiar Bayless twist, but the larger point was about the USMNT. A 4-1 opening win at a home World Cup will raise expectations quickly, especially when the performance was convincing enough to make Bayless wonder if the hosts are more dangerous than he expected.Read more:The USMNT goal that broke 20-year World Cup record vs ParaguayHow the WC crowd reacted to Iran flag during USA vs. Paraguay opening ceremonyMeet the ‘Milwaukee Messi’ who turned down USMNT for World Cup rivals

🎥 World Cup day two highlights: USA celebrate, Canada shock BosniaThe World Cup has now officially kicked off in the USA as well. At a pretty difficult time for us — when most people were probably asleep — the USA, led by Pulisic and Co., stormed over Paraguay and gave them almost no chance at all. Folarin Balogun shone with a brace. Here are the best moments from the match: Earlier in the evening, Bosnia and Herzegovina led against Canada for a long time, but in the end Canada still had an answer. The two teams drew 1–1. The action continues tonight: at 9:00 p.m., Qatar take on Switzerland; at midnight, Brazil face Morocco; and then at 3:00 a.m., Haiti and Scotland battle for the three points. Are you really getting into the World Cup spirit yet? What have you enjoyed the most so far? Write it in the comments!This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

India are set to lock horns with Afghanistan in the first ODI of a three-match series at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala on Saturday afternoon. This is their first 50-over assignment since they hosted New Zealand in January earlier this year. CLICK HERE TO MAKE YOUR BET WITH DAFABETRohit Sharma is back in the squad, but star players like Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya are missing due to injuries. Shubman Gill will lead the side and will look to seal a series win over the Afghans, after they lost out against the Kiwis.Meanwhile, Afghanistan will hope to emerge as the giant killers against a side that they have never beaten before in ODIs. Rashid Khan is back in the picture after sitting out the one-off Test match that they lost by an innings. Add The Sporting News as a preferred news sourceLive ScorecardIndia vs Afghanistan 1st ODI: Win probability and toss result Toss: Toss to take place at 1 p.m.India vs Afghanistan 1st ODI: Predicted playing XIIndia predicted playing XI: Shubman Gill (capt), Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav/Gurnoor BrarAfghanistan predicted playing XI: Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Rashid Khan, Mohammad Saleem, AM Ghazanfar, Ziaur RahmanIndia vs Afghanistan 1st ODI: Win percentageTeamWin probabilityIND80%AFG20%India vs Afghanistan 1st ODI: Betting oddsIndia are the favourites to win this match at 1.13 on Dafa, while the odds for Afghanistan to win are 5.70.* Odds are correct at time of publish but subject to change.TeamOddsIND1.13AFG5.70DafabetBEST ODDS AND OFFERSCLICK TO BET

PSG “made contact” with English team over two players, “discussions taken place” for midfielder and wingerPSG are looking to poach some relegated talent from the Premier League, with two West Ham stars on their shortlist according to recent reports.If you enjoy PSG Talk coverage and want to see more of it, add us as a preferred source on Google to make us a favourite and see more of our content.A rather surprising transfer story from Footmercato today has linked PSG with interest in two West Ham stars.Santi Aouna claims that PSG have “made contact” with the relegated Hammers to find out how much they would want for midfielder Mateus Fernandes and winger Crysencio Summerville. Discussions have even been held the with the entourages of the players.Summerville has been valued at €50m and Fernandes at €80m.PSG sales could create space for West Ham pairRight now, there is no need for Summerville in this squad. There are not enough minutes to go around as it is. But if Bradley Barcola and Kang-in Lee both leave (which seems eminently possible), we could feasibly see Summerville come in and Ibrahim Mbaye take more minutes as replacements for the departures.As for Fernandes, PSG’s midfield is stacked at the moment, but there’s always space for a top player with room to grow, and we could yet see a midfielder leave if the Portugal international joins.We’d rate the chances of either deal as pretty slim as it stands – but if PSG start selling, keep an eye on these links.In other news…Bradley Barcola seems to be moving towards the exit at the Parc des Princes despite being liked and rated by the manager and the sporting director.Barcola was the team’s top league scorer last season, but that’s more a quirk of the team’s rotation policy than anything else.DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL PSG TALK APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON THE APP STORE

Photo by Serhat Cagdas/Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesUSA and Iran are not in the same group at the 2026 World Cup, but the expanded knockout format still leaves a clear route for them to meet.The matchup carries history after their World Cup meetings in 1998 and 2022, but this time it cannot happen during the group stage.For the game to return in 2026, both teams need to survive their groups first, then land on the right side of the knockout bracket.Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty ImagesUSA and Iran need matching World Cup finishes to create Dallas knockout clashThe United States are in Group D with Turkiye, Australia, and Paraguay, while Iran are in Group G with Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand.Because the two teams are in separate groups, the earliest possible meeting would come in the Round of 32. The cleanest route is for the USA to finish second in Group D and Iran to finish second in Group G.That scenario would send them into the same part of the expanded 32-team knockout bracket, with a potential meeting at Dallas Stadium in Arlington on July 3.The setup is possible because the 2026 World Cup has 48 teams, 12 groups, and a new Round of 32. The top two teams from each group qualify automatically, joined by the eight best third-place teams.USA vs Iran World Cup path depends on avoiding group-stage damageFor the USA, the job is to navigate Group D well enough to stay alive without slipping into a more uncertain third-place route.The hosts opened against Paraguay and still have group matches against Turkiye and Australia, which means their final position will determine whether a possible Iran clash remains on the cleanest bracket path.Iran’s route is shaped by a difficult Group G that includes Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand. Finishing second would be the key result for the most straightforward USA matchup, although first or third could push them into a different section of the bracket.The simplest answer is clear: USA vs Iran can happen at World Cup 2026 if both teams advance and, most directly, if both finish second in their groups. Any other route would require a deeper knockout run and a more complicated bracket crossing later in the tournament.Read more:Skip Bayless takes a Dallas Cowboys jab at Paraguay after ‘true contender’ USMNT took 3-0 leadFolarin Balogun has done something no other USMNT player has done since 1930Barack Obama’s message to USMNT as World Cup campaign gets off to dream start

(Photo credit: Fox Sports/X)Alexi Lalas shocked his fellow World Cup pundits with a vulgar jab at James Corden during their pre-opening ceremony coverage.The New England Revolution star blasted the former “Late Late Show” host as a “wanker” after fellow presenter Rebecca Lowe brought up Corden’s recent FIFA World Cup bit for Fox Sports.“Can we talk about James Corden for a second?” Lowe said, seemingly attempting to line up a plug for Corden’s appearance on “FIFA World Cup on FOX After Hours.”Before Lowe could even shout out the cross-promotion effort, Lalas chimed in with, “What do you guys call him? A full kit wanker, right?”Lowe, along with fellow presenters Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimović, were visibly stunned by the remark. Lalas attempted to clarify his meaning, noting, “When he’s all dressed up and ready to go?” However, his peers were forced to explain that a “wanker” in British slang is not a nice descriptor.“Lucky we’re on American television,” Lowe responded. “‘Cause the W-word on British TV …”A representative for Corden did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.For those wondering, a “full kit wanker” is a British insult about a person dressed in a soccer get-up in public, despite not playing the sport. Lalas’ swipe at Corden wasn’t entirely wrong, however, as the “Cats” star did don a soccer uniform for his new Fox Sports project. Though, we assume Corden still didn’t appreciate the comment.Nonetheless, World Cup fans had plenty to say about the moment, with one fan on X commenting alongside a photo of Henry’s shocked face, “The next meme of the World Cup.” Another chimed in with, “So much respect for Alexi Lalas after this.”Watch the exchange, as well as Corden’s soccer segment, above.The post Alexi Lalas Shocks Fellow World Cup Pundits With On-Air ‘Wanker’ Jab at James Corden | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

'Grabbed my throat, beat me': Bangladesh cricketer accuses local police of assault originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.KEY TAKEAWAYS:Bangladesh Test spinner Nayeem Hasan claims local police grabbed and beat him at night.Nayeem says officers initially ignored his identity as a national cricketer.Chattogram police confirm investigation is underway and promise full accountability.Bangladesh Test cricketer Nayeem Hasan allegedly assaulted by police in ChattogramBangladesh Test off-spinner Nayeem Hasan has alleged that he was physically assaulted and verbally abused by members of a law enforcement agency in his home city of Chattogram late on Saturday night.Nayeem had just returned to Chattogram after wrapping up his final match for Prime Bank Cricket Club in the Dhaka Premier League, which is Bangladesh's flagship List A tournament, at BKSP in Dhaka on June 12.His flight back was delayed, and he was travelling home from the airport by a CNG-powered auto-rickshaw when the incident unfolded. At around 11:25 PM, police stopped his vehicle beneath the Lankan Bazar flyover and asked the driver for his documents.MORE: 'Can't question Bangladesh's ODI series win over Australia on good wickets' - Has Taskin Ahmed taken a dig at Pakistani pitches?Nayeem described what followed in distressing detail after he was eventually released from the police station to which he had been taken. The Bangladesh off-spinner then offered to let the officers check his bag if needed, but instead of cooperating, they grabbed him by the throat and threw him into their vehicle."My Premier League game was going on, and my flight was delayed. I was coming from the airport through my CNG and at around 11:25 PM, they (Police) stopped my CNG under the Lankan Bazar flyover and took the documents from the driver," Nayeem told reporters."I told the police, 'If necessary, you can check my bag' but they grabbed me by the throat and said 'Get in the car' and took me into their car."I said 'Why are you grabbing me by the throat' but they pushed me out. Then they grabbed me, beat me and abused me."The spinner added that he identified himself as a national cricketer who represents Bangladesh in Test matches, but that his words made no difference to the officers at the scene."I even told them that I am a national cricketer and represent the country in Test matches, but they hardly bothered to listen and only when they got phone calls and were informed about me, did they change their attitude," he added.MORE: Have Bangladesh ever beaten Australia in ODI cricket? Full AUS vs BAN ODI head-to-head record listedPolice respond with an investigation pledgeChattogram Metropolitan Police's Deputy Commissioner for the North zone, Amirul Islam, addressed reporters and confirmed that an investigation has been launched into the incident. "We can assure you that he (Nayeem) will get justice," said Amirul. "We are investigating the matter and whoever did it will be punished because we have zero tolerance in this regard considering police have a protocol and they must maintain that because our image is involved with it."Nayeem had recently been named in Bangladesh's Test squad for the upcoming series against Zimbabwe.View this post on InstagramA post shared by Nayeem Hasan (@nh33official)The Bigger Picture: This cannot be brushed aside as an isolated incidentThe fact that a well-known national cricketer was allegedly assaulted and only released after officials were contacted through backdoor channels raises a question that goes well beyond one incident.But what happens to ordinary citizens who find themselves in the same situation without a famous name to fall back on? Nayeem's case will likely be resolved quickly now that it has attracted public attention.But justice for those in positions of vulnerability, with no phone calls to make and no media waiting outside the station, is far less certain.To keep up to date with all the latest cricket news and share your opinion on the biggest topics, visit our Facebook, Instagram and X(Twitter) pages.

The Inner Circle 18 delivered another memorable night of martial arts action inside Bangkok’s historic Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, June 12, and the show featured dramatic comebacks, razor-close battles, and breakout performances across multiple disciplines.In the main event, Tomyamkoong Bhumjaithai authored one of the most remarkable victories of his career, as he overcame a pair of first-round knockdowns to defeat Anar “Atilla” Mammadov via unanimous decision in their flyweight Muay Thai clash.The Azerbaijani striker appeared on the verge of a statement finish after dropping Tomyamkoong twice with crushing liver shots in the opening stanza.However, the resilient Thai rallied back in spectacular fashion. He scored a knockdown of his own and then took control over the final two frames to earn his fourth straight victory in ONE Championship.View this post on InstagramIn the co-main event of The Inner Circle 18, Rambong Sor Therapat edged out Sornsueknoi FA Group in a closely contested flyweight Muay Thai showdown. The split-decision victory marked the Thai veteran’s 84th career win and extended his run on the weekly series.Earlier in the evening, New Zealand’s Titus Proctor dropped Myanmar’s “The Phenom” Tun Min Aung with a stunning head kick and cruised to a unanimous decision in their lightweight Muay Thai clash. That win improved his flawless record to 22-0.Plus, Japan’s Sora Tanazawa edged out Uzbekistan’s Adham Ruziev via split decision in their strawweight kickboxing clash, and Proctor’s compatriot Ethan Brockett defeated Japanese standout Sora Enmei via unanimous decision in their featherweight MMA tilt.Before we move on to next week’s action-packed installment, take a look at the best pictures from The Inner Circle 18, courtesy of ONE Championship’s ringside photographers.Photo courtesy of ONE ChampionshipPhoto courtesy of ONE ChampionshipPhoto courtesy of ONE ChampionshipPhoto Courtesy of ONE ChampionshipPhoto Courtesy of ONE ChampionshipPhoto Courtesy of ONE ChampionshipPhoto Courtesy of ONE ChampionshipPhoto Courtesy of ONE ChampionshipPhoto Courtesy of ONE ChampionshipPhoto Courtesy of ONE ChampionshipPhoto Courtesy of ONE ChampionshipPhoto Courtesy of ONE ChampionshipPhoto Courtesy of ONE ChampionshipPhoto Courtesy of ONE ChampionshipPhoto Courtesy of ONE ChampionshipSource

Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty ImagesThe San Antonio Spurs have a frontcourt concern before Game 5 of the NBA Finals, with one rotation big listed as questionable due to illness.The timing is difficult because San Antonio are already facing elimination against the New York Knicks after a brutal Game 4 collapse.The player involved has not carried a major scoring role in the series, but his availability still matters because of the minutes and matchups behind Victor Wembanyama.Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty ImagesLuke Kornet’s illness gives San Antonio Spurs another Game 5 concernIn a post shared by NBA on ESPN, the Spurs’ injury concern was confirmed before their must-win matchup with the Knicks.“Spurs backup C Luke Kornet is questionable for Game 5 due to an illness,” ESPN reported.Kornet has played a limited role in the Finals, but he remains part of San Antonio’s center depth at a time when every frontcourt minute matters.The Spurs trail the series 3-1 after losing Game 4, 107-106, despite holding a 29-point lead before the Knicks completed a historic comeback at Madison Square Garden.Luke Kornet’s absence could push Victor Wembanyama workload even higherThe main issue for San Antonio is not replacing Kornet’s scoring, but managing the minutes around Wembanyama.Kornet has mostly been used in short backup-center stretches during the series, giving the Spurs a bigger body when Wembanyama rests or when matchups call for another traditional center.If he cannot play, San Antonio may have to turn to Mason Plumlee or another reserve big, while asking Wembanyama to carry even more responsibility in the paint.That is not ideal after the Spurs star played 44 minutes in Game 4 and remains central to everything San Antonio does defensively.The Knicks have already tested the Spurs with size, pressure and offensive rebounding, and Game 5 now comes with no margin for error.Kornet’s status may not decide the series on its own, but it could affect how long San Antonio can protect Wembanyama from fatigue while trying to keep their season alive.Read more:Taylor Swift leaves broadcaster eating her words after ‘get out of here, girl’ commentHollywood royalty floods USA vs Paraguay as Tom Cruise, David Beckham join to overpower Knicks’ red carpet powerVictor Wembanyama shrugs off egg-throwing incident, insists Spurs aren’t finished yet

Jun 12, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Landen Roupp (65) throws against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-Imagn Images | John Hefti-Imagn Images It took less than one pitch for the San Francisco Giants to ruin their Friday night game. The stands had yet to fill in. The clock had yet to strike 7:10. The umpire had yet to say “play ball.” And yet the Giants, in a season full of embarrassment, had already delivered their most disgraceful moment of the season.Landen Roupp took the mound for the team’s annual Pride Night, and scribbled across the rainbow SF insignia on his hat were the words “Gen 9:11-16.” pic.twitter.com/VANLmdDJ2d— Ant (@MrAnthony555) June 13, 2026The bible verses Roupp wrote referenced God’s creation of the rainbow. It’s become a common verse for homophobes to quote, in their never ending quest to reclaim that colorful arc in the sky from the Big Gay Agenda. And it gets worse! After Roupp got rocked by the Chicago Cubs — and I refused to be upset by it — J.T. Brubaker entered the game (after a brief interlude from the ever-lovable Erik Miller). As though upset that Roupp had been so subtle with his writing, Brubaker one-upped his teammate, scrawling “Genesis 9:13-15” in lettering so large one would assume a toddler wrote it, except toddlers are more mature and understanding than that. JT Brubaker, SF Giants reliever, sharing biblical faith on Pride Night. Landon Roupp, Giants starter, did the same. Genesis 9:13 NIVI have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. pic.twitter.com/jL9wsOOelE— Mark Higuera (@mark_the_fig) June 13, 2026When Brubaker’s night ended, the Giants took a break from the biblical proclamations, as Sam Hentges filed his protest against The Gays by refusing to wear the Pride Night hat at all, opting instead for the basic orange and black Giants hat. Finishing off the night was the recently-returned Ryan Walker, who opted for a less in-your-face version of Roupp and Brubaker’s message, putting his Genesis reference on the side of his Pride Night cap, rather than on the front of it (he also had easily the best penmanship of the group, which of course is a skill dripping in masculinity). In all, the Giants sent five pitchers to the mound, and four of them turned to the crowd in attendance and proverbially tossed up a pair of middle fingers. It was equal parts bigoted and embarrassing, and blame deserves to shine through the organization. I don’t recall this ever happening with the Giants at prior Pride Nights, making it a reasonable assumption to make that Tony Vitello was okay with this “expression” where other managers shut it down. It speaks poorly to the leaders in the organization, like Logan Webb, Willy Adames, and Matt Chapman, who prioritized the desires of a few players over the comfort of their fans (and, you know … humanity). On a night meant to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community — which, it goes without saying, is a fairly significant demographic anywhere, but especially San Francisco — the Giants instead sent a message loudly and clearly: not all are welcome. Their “explanations,” predictably, were lacking.Why was it important to write that verse tonight?ROUPP: "The rainbow is a symbol of God's covenant to us, and us as believers stand firm in that… There's no hate at all."What would say if somebody considered that derogatory toward them as a community?ROUPP: "As a… https://t.co/jaEs3ikn4Upic.twitter.com/yYOaJ0UvE7— KNBR (@KNBR) June 13, 2026Sure, no hate at all, Landen. Just so much insecurity that he couldn’t wear a hat with a few colors on it without having to deface it. Big strong man scared of a little rainbow. Anyway, the Giants lost and I don’t care. Tonight I’m thinking about Kyle Harrison, who plastered every Pride Night ad a year ago, grinning like a kid in a candy store while showing off his Pride Night bucket hat. Tonight I’m thinking about Matt Cain, good ol’ country boy that he was, popping up on a Giants PSA to tell fans that baseball is for everyone. Tonight I’m thinking about Solomon Bates, the Giants pitching prospect who came out as gay shortly after his Minor League career came to an end. I hope they’re all having good nights. More importantly, I’m thinking of the thousands of queer Giants fans in attendance on Friday, and the tens or hundreds of thousands more watching at home, who not only had to watch their favorite team prove for the umpteenth time that they’re bad at baseball, but also had had to be reminded that even their favorite athletes don’t accept them. That the organization, from top to bottom, would rather drown with freedom of bigoted speech than commit itself to genuine acceptance. The Giants just keep finding ways to embarrass themselves and let us down. Hopefully next time they keep it confined to baseball.

Photo by David Ramirez/Soccrates/Getty ImagesCarlos Alcaraz’s absence isn’t just being felt by fans – it’s having an impact across the sport, from tournaments to fellow players.Despite some draws looking a bit less daunting without him, even top names like Jannik Sinner have said they miss seeing him around on tour.The wrist injury he picked up in Barcelona back in early April has kept him out ever since. It’s been nearly two months now, and there’s still no clear sign of when he might return.With the severity of the injury, he pulled out of Roland Garros early and later made the same call for Wimbledon.As Alcaraz works through his rehab away from the spotlight, David Ferrer has offered a brief update on how things are progressing.Photo by Chris Arjoon/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesDavid Ferrer shares the latest on Carlos Alcaraz’s recoveryFerrer spoke to AS about how the 23-year-old is doing and shared his thoughts.“Well, calm. Reassurance that everything is going well,” Ferrer said.“The important thing is that Carlos recovers one hundred per cent day by day. You don’t have to think much more. It is an injury that must be taken care of, and the good thing is that Carlos is mentally very good and is in good hands.”This update comes after Rafael Nadal recently weighed in on what to expect when Alcaraz eventually makes his return to the tour.More players pull out of Wimbledon following Alcaraz’s injuryAlcaraz’s withdrawal from Wimbledon is, unsurprisingly, the biggest blow that the event could have possibly received.However, it is far from the only setback that the Championships have been forced to deal with, as a handful of elite players have now been forced out as well.The latest is Victoria Mboko, who picked up an injury at Queen’s, which looked worrying. She joins Hailey Baptiste and Sonay Kartal as two other WTA stars unable to compete.Meanwhile, on the men’s side, Valentin Vacherot is another of the biggest stars who has withdrawn. There is still fear over the fitness of players like Jack Draper, Lorenzo Musetti and Arthur Fils as well.Read more:Brad Gilbert names the fatal flaw threatening Ben Shelton’s Wimbledon hopesJack Draper takes a big ranking hit with Queen’s withdrawalDominic Thiem sends a direct warning to Alexander Zverev following his Flavio Cobolli victory

Nathan Patterson and Vitaliy Mykolenko. (Getty Images) | PA Images via Getty Images With the 2025-26 season coming to a close, we are into our season review series with a look at the full backs and how they did this season.Moving into the new season there is a desperate need to address the right back position and some coverage for Vitaliy Mykolenko on the left. I have written this in my season review for the past three years so my hope is great but my worry is even bigger! Let us all hope that it is part of the early summer business that the club gets done so that I can relax about this and worry about how England and Canada are doing at the World Cup!Vitalii MykolenkoG – 36 Min – 3165 Gls – 0 Ast – 1 YC – 6 RC – 0Once again this year, the Ukrainian was a solid and alert defender, ranking in the 76th percentile for interceptions and 97th for clearances and 92nd for aerial duels won respectively in the Premier League. His work keeping high flying wingers under wraps this season showed his quality against the most potent attackers in the Premier League.The issue comes when we look at his contribution going forward, which to be blunt was non-existent. If our team is to progress, his attacking numbers need to improve especially in progressive carries, successful take ons and shot creating actions which were all in the bottom 10th percentile of all players in the top five leagues. For this I have little belief in it happening. An overlapping full back should create chances, Mykolenko had only one big chance created all season and only 22 chances created which ranks him at the 66th percentile. Not good enough.Mykolenko officially signed a long-term contract extension after the conclusion of this season, securing his place at the club until June 2029. This newly updated agreement, finalized just as his previous deal was nearing its conclusion, also features a club option to extend for one additional season. Financially, the renewal maintains his established salary structure, locking in base earnings of £58,000 per week to yield a guaranteed annual payout of £3,016,000.He is with us for the long term so what do we do with him? If Moyes is here then it will probably be status quo. If there was a change in the manager there is a chance that he would be used as a backup to someone who has a better offensive/defensive balance or he could be used on the left side of a three man backline. He currently is playing this position for Ukraine and has been very successful there. This would allow wing backs to be introduced which would give the team a more potent attack. Grade: C+ (Consistent defensively, crap going forward)Seamus ColemanG – 7 Min – 188 Gls – 0 Ast – 0 YC – 0 RC – 1Three years ago I wrote:“It is hard not to wax sentimental about our club captain but there aren’t many players held in as high a regard in the game as the 34-year-old. Though his best playing years are behind him, his absolute commitment to the cause and to his position as skipper remains as strong today as when he was bestowed with the honour.”The only thing that has changed is that he is now 37! Last season he featured in 5 league matches and this season it was down to 3. He played a total of 196 minutes for Everton across all competitions this season and 100 of those minutes were in preseason. Only 18 minutes were in Premier League matches. Interestingly, in the same time period, he played 588 minutes for Ireland and was in the squad for every one of the international breaks. When he announced his departure from the club with the end of his current contract I had hoped that his next step was going to be following Leighton Baines into coaching. He is currently away with Ireland and has not announced the end of his career. There appears to be a desire to continue playing for Ireland and it has been reported that Heimir Hallgrimsson would like him to find a new club so that he can keep Coleman in the squad. The list of possible options include Coventry, Wrexham, Celtic, Brentford and even a fairy tale return to Sligo Rovers.What can be said is that Seamus gave his all for the Everton shirt at every turn and he will be considered as a club legend. My one regret was when the fans departed the stadium in the last match at Hill Dickinson when Coleman was brought out to say farewell. Our respect for him was, and always will be far greater than that moment. Grade: A (Always 100%)Nathan PattersonG – 8 Min – 356 Gls – 0 Ast – 0 YC – 0 RC – 0Nathan Patterson arrived in January 2022 and most people forget that he is only 23 years old. In the three and a half years since then, the Scot has yet to realize the potential that he showed earlier in his career. What can be said is that Everton conceded only 1 goal while Patterson was actively on the pitch. Patterson’s season was heavily restricted by groin and hernia injuries, resulting in just eight total appearances, four starts, and 356 minutes of playing time. Moyes routinely favored playing O’Brien or Garner out of position at right-back, leaving Patterson in the wilderness. Despite his peripheral club role, Patterson was still named to Scotland’s 26-man squad for the upcoming summer World Cup and, in a similar fashion to Coleman, The big question has to be what to do with Patterson this summer as the team rebuild continues. With Coleman’s retirement, a starting left back is the number one priority for the team in my estimation. Patterson is being given a fair shake with Scotland by Steve Clarke. Perhaps a good tournament will force the hand of Moyes and he will see that the young right back has something to offer the team next season. However, Patterson has exactly one year left on his current deal heading into the 2026 summer transfer window so there is a pretty good chance that he will be with another team before too long. I would argue that this was another missed opportunity for the club because of the manager’s stubborn desire to play a limited number of players.Grade: D (Didn’t get a chance)Jake O’BrienG – 40 Min – 3,337 Gls – 1 Ast – 1 YC – 6 RC – 0O’Brien continued to be our square peg in a round hole this season. Last season, the use of O’Brien solidified the back line and the team’s goals conceded was very low. This was not the case this year and as Tarkowski’s legs faded as the season progressed, Moyes only gave O’Brien one opportunity to play in his favoured role at centre half. If we put the positional shift aside, his immense physical frame served him well, with O’Brien ranking near the top of the league in clearances and aerial duels won. He also successfully tackled the vast majority of dribblers he faced, utilizing his size and recovery speed effectively.O’Brien is the future of the team at CB. His recent games with Ireland show this as did the few chances he did get to play. In January, when Keane was suspended, Everton were undefeated with O’Brien playing with Tarkowski in the middle. Moyes has to let O’Brien do his job and forget this right back codswallop! Grade: B (Better in the middle)Click here for the full 2025-26 Everton Season Review series where we recap every aspect of the campaign that just ended.

CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 09: Braden Montgomery #24 of the Chicago White Sox celebrates after hitting a two run talk off home run during his Major League Debut during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Kyle Sheridan/MLB Photos via Getty Images)MLB Photos via Getty ImagesOn Sunday, June 21, the Chicago White Sox promoted switch-hitting outfielder, Braden Montgomery from Triple-A Charlotte.Montgomery, 23, spent time at both Double-A Birmingham, and Charlotte this season.Combined, Montgomery hit .314/.422/.548/.970, with 13 doubles, three triples, 10 home runs, and 41 RBIs in 258 plate appearances. He also stole five bases.Montgomery joins shortstop Colson Montgomery to form a dual-threat Montgomery tandem in the surging White Sox lineup.Colson hit cleanup in the White Sox lineup, while Braden hit right behind him in their June 12 victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers.CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JUNE 09: Braden Montgomery #24 of the Chicago White Sox celebrates his walk-off, two-run home run in the 10th inning against the Atlanta Braves in his MLB debut at Rate Field on June 09, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jayden Mack/Getty Images)Getty Images Chicago White Sox Braden Montgomery:In his first two games, Montgomery got four hits in his first nine plate appearances with the White Sox. He had a single, two doubles, and a home run. In his third game, June 12, Montgomery walked, scored a run, and drove in a run in the White Sox 8-2 victory over the Dodgers. He is hitting .333.In his first MLB game June 9, Montgomery hit a 10th inning, walk off home run to defeat the Atlanta Braves.Here is how si.com reported what Montgomery told reporters: “I still don’t know what to say. I hit it, (and) I thought it would at least get over his head.”sporting news.com had this headline: “Braden Montgomery’s MLB debut is a dream come true for the White Sox phenom.”Montgomery is 6-2, 220 pounds, with a solid, imposing frame. His physicality screams strength.MLB.com lists Montgomery as the White Sox 2nd ranked prospect, behind only 20-year-old infielder, Caleb Bonemer.Hitting for power, and his strong arm from right field are Montgomery’s two most refined tools. But, he also has a good overall hit tool, and is an average, to above average runner.FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JULY 14: Braden Montgomery speaks to the media after his selection by the Boston Red Sox in the first round at the 2024 MLB Draft at Cowtown Coliseum on July 14, 2024 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)Getty ImagesIn 2024, the Boston Red Sox drafted Montgomery in the 1st round of the 2024 Major League Baseball draft, out of Texas A&M University.Montgomery played two seasons at Stanford University as both a right fielder, and a pitcher, before he transferred to Texas A&M.Montgomery fractured his right ankle while sliding in a super regional NCAA tournament game against Oregon.Montgomery was the 12th player taken in the draft. He was given a $5 Million signing bonus by Boston.The White Sox had the 5th selection in that year’s draft, and they chose left-handed pitcher Hagen Smith. Smith was given an $8 Million signing bonus by Chicago.Smith may well be graduating to the parent White Sox sooner than later.Montgomery never played for Boston, as he was traded to Chicago, along with pitcher Wikelman Gonzalez, infielder Chase Meidroth, and catcher Kyle Teel, for left-handed starter, Garrett Crochet.It is a trade that has benefited both teams.While Crochet is injured now, he remains an outstanding, top flight MLB starter.Meidroth, Teel, and now Montgomery are each having an impressive impact on a White Sox club that looks to remain in the first place hunt in the American League Central Division.MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JUNE 01: Colson Montgomery #12 of the Chicago White Sox looks on against the Minnesota Twins on June 1, 2026 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images)Getty ImagesChicago White Sox Colson Montgomery Is A Team Leader:In 2025, left-handed hitting Colson Montgomery was ranked the 4th best White Sox prospect. He fell behind only pitcher Noah Schultz (currently injured), catcher Kyle Teel, and pitcher Hagen Smith. Now, fast forward to 2026, the 24-year old Montgomery is a consequential, game-changing player on a team that never quits in a game.A former 1st round, 2021 draft pick himself, Montgomery adds a spark and jolt to the lineup with an outstanding hit tool, impactful power, and strong defense from shortstop or even third base.While strikeouts remain in his hitting profile, Montgomery has the discipline to accept a walk.Last year, Montgomery hit 21 homers as a rookie. He drove in 55 runs.His White Sox teammates have mirrored the leadership, dedication, and hustle that Montgomery projects from his strong presence on the field.The White Sox are already a very dangerous team. One can only imagine what they’ll be like when Munetaka Murakami, and Kyle Teel return from their injuries.The White Sox are percentage points ahead of the Cleveland Guardians in the Central. It appears those two teams will scratch and claw to gain the advantage all season. They play each other for the first time this season, when they get together for three games at Rate Field in Chicago, June 22-24.And now, there are two guys named Montgomery that opposing pitchers have to deal with in the White Sox lineup. Braden and Colson. Colson and Braden. Perhaps one day the hero will be Braden. Perhaps it will be Colson.And consider that both are just beginning their big league careers.Without a doubt in this old scout’s mind, both of the Chicago White Sox Montgomerys will be a handful for opposing teams.This article was originally published on Forbes.com

Nicknamed 'The Judge', Smith won 62 Test caps for England between 1988 and 1996 [BBC]Cricket fans and current and former players have joined friends and family at a memorial service for former England and Hampshire cricketer Robin Smith.The event at Winchester Cathedral saw hundreds pay their respects to Smith who died in December aged 62, at his home in Perth, Australia.Nicknamed 'The Judge', Smith won 62 Test caps for England between 1988 and 1996 and scored 4,236 runs at an average 43.67, including nine centuries.Smith spent his entire domestic career at Hampshire. Rod Bransgrove, honorary life president at Hampshire Cricket, called him "a true son of the county".He described Smith as "possibly the best match-winning cricketer" that ever played for Hampshire."Obviously, I reflect upon his brilliance as a player for both England and for Hampshire but my true reflections are of him as a very, very close friend."I miss him dreadfully, personally, but I think the Hampshire faithful miss him just as much," he added.Smith won two Benson & Hedges Cups and a NatWest Trophy in his time with the team, captaining them between 1998 and 2002."To have this many people at Winchester Cathedral is extraordinary and I know the family are very proud that this has been arranged for Robin," said his brother Chris Smith, who played alongside his sibling at Hampshire."As a brother he was just a fantastic guy, lovely to be around and as a teammate he was a terrific bloke," he added.Hundreds of people attended Winchester Cathedral for the memorial service [BBC]Smith finished his 22-year career in 2003, with 26,155 first-class runs at 41.51, and averaging 39.01 runs in 71 one-day internationals for England.Following his retirement, Smith, who had relocated to Australia, struggled with mental health issues and alcoholism and spent several months in hospital in 2024."He had an extraordinary 24-year career at Hampshire, but just really struggled with life," Chris Smith said."I just think about all of the amazing times we had playing cricket together at Hampshire for a long time, rather than all the difficulties he had later in life."Former England international Allan Lamb was among those paying tribute to Robin Smith [BBC]Smith's signature shot, an immensely powerful square cut, made him a feared opponent and earned him admirers around the world.Former England international Allan Lamb recalled batting alongside Smith in a test match as he bravely took on the terrifying West Indies fast bowlers."Robin would stand up on the other end and I said, 'hey, we're not getting off this sinking ship, you're staying with me'. And he stayed on - he had a broken wrist, he got hit in the jaw - and he still carried on batting."He was a fine player and he was just a fantastic human being really,"You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. More on this story 'A fearless hero for hapless England' - Robin Smith obituaryFormer England batter Robin Smith dies aged 62

Atletico Madrid step up pursuit of Barcelona target with talks imminentBarcelona have spent the last few seasons with Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde as their first-choice full-backs, but both players had a poor 2025/26 season.Joao Cancelo came in on loan in January and took the starting berth from Balde, whereas Eric Garcia often looked much more comfortable than the Frenchman on the right flank.Thus, this looks like one area to which Barcelona remain attentive in the transfer market, and one name on the club’s shortlist is Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella.Barcelona’s hopes of bringing the former La Masia graduate back to Camp Nou are set to become more complicated, with Atletico intensifying their efforts.According to journalist Ben Jacobs, Atletico Madrid are set to open formal talks with Chelsea over a potential deal for the Spanish left-back.Atletico Madrid are ready to open talks with Cucurella. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)Considered one of Diego Simeone’s priority transfer targets ahead of the 2026/27 season, the Madrid club hope to negotiate a fee below €50 million.Chelsea, meanwhile, are not actively pushing the player out but are open to listening to offers despite Cucurella having three years remaining on his contract.Barcelona’s interest remains conditionalFor Barcelona, Cucurella continues to be an attractive option, and Hansi Flick is said to value the profile that he brings to the table.The 27-year-old knows the club, understands the positional demands of Barca’s system and has matured into one of the Premier League’s most complete full-backs.However, Barcelona’s interest is conditional on the future of Alejandro Balde. The Spaniard remains part of Flick’s plans but should he decide to leave, that would open the door for Cucurella’s return.When Barca themselves are this uncertain, it is highly unlikely that the player will be willing to wait, especially when a club like Atletico are also interested in his services.Cucurella is also on Barcelona’s radar. (Photo by Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images)Atletico ready to take advantageCucurella was asked about his future and to choose between Atletico and Barca, but he cleverly side-stepped that question and revealed that his complete focus was on the World Cup.Atletico, meanwhile, seem to have used this window to start club-to-club negotiations with Chelsea. Unlike Barcelona, the Madrid side are actively searching for a left-back and can move decisively.If negotiations progress quickly, Atletico may be able to establish themselves as the leading candidates before Barcelona are in a position to act.Cucurella has remained open to a return to Camp Nou and has been willing to be patient. However, the transfer market works on a clock.Unfortunately for Barca, the ball is not in their court, and if Atletico leapfrog them and secure Cucurella’s signing, there is nothing they can do but watch one of their academy graduates play against them for one of their rivals next season.

Neymar plays his club football for Brazilian side Santos [Getty Images]Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed Neymar will miss Brazil's opening game of the World Cup against Morocco on Saturday.The 34-year-old has been struggling with a calf injury and is yet to return to full training.Manager Ancelotti says the former Barcelona and Paris St-Germain forward will start training with the squad next week, making his availability doubtful for Brazil's second match - against Haiti on 20 June.Brazil conclude their group campaign against Scotland on 24 June.Ancelotti said: "Neymar is working very hard to recover as quickly as possible."The expectation is that he will recover and rejoin the group next week. When we call up Neymar, we call him not only for his technical quality, which is indisputable, but also for his experience and the example he can set for the young players in this group."Neymar has not played for the Selecao since 2023 amid his struggles with injuries but was selected for the World Cup ahead of Chelsea striker Joao Pedro and Tottenham forward Richarlison.He has scored 79 goals in 128 caps and is Brazil's record goalscorer, surpassing Pele's total of 77.The Santos forward could play at a fourth World Cup, having also represented Brazil at the 2014, 2018 and 2022 tournaments.Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor gameWorld Cup fixtures and group standingsHow to watch the World Cup on the BBCEverything you need to know about the World Cup

Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesIt looks like Dana White’s concerns are becoming reality ahead of UFC Freedom 250.The UFC boss has never liked the idea of outdoor events, mainly because you can’t control what the weather’s going to do.Still, he set those worries aside for a chance to stage a fight card at the White House, which was too unique to turn down.The UFC Freedom 250 pre-fight press conference was originally set for Friday at 8:15 pm (ET).Photo by Scott Taetsch/Zuffa LLCWeather Causes Delay for UFC Freedom 250 Press ConferenceEarlier in the day, the promotion had already hinted at a possible delay due to weather concerns.“Update regarding this evening’s #UFCWhiteHouse Press Conference at the Lincoln Memorial,” the UFC posted on X. “Due to anticipated inclement weather in the area, we advise all attendees to arrive no earlier than 7:30 p.m.”About two hours later, it was confirmed that the event was pushed back by 45 minutes.“Due to inclement weather, #UFCWhiteHouse Press Conference has moved to 9:00pm ET,” a follow-up post read. “We advise all attendees to arrive no earlier than 8:30pm ET. Please check weather conditions before traveling.”Fans take to social media to voice concernsAfter the biggest card of the year faced a delay, there was a strong reaction from fans online.The comment section quickly filled with worries that the event itself might not go ahead due to worsening weather conditions.One fan posted, “PLEASE DON’T POSTPONE THE FIGHTS,” while another added, “Do it in the rain.”A third predicted, “Event finna get canceled,” as others echoed similar doubts about whether the fight would happen as planned.Someone else chimed in with: “This event is gonna be a disaster lmao.”A sixth person pointed out: “Saturday is the only day it’s expected to be bright and sunny here this weekend, and you put the event on Sunday when it’s likely gonna storm.”Read more:Josh Hokit exposes contract terms and isn’t holding back on Alex Pereira’s remarksDana White relieved after judge gives green light to UFC Freedom 250 at the White HouseUFC Freedom 250 tipped to break one billion viewers as Marco Rubio backs Dana White’s prediction

Transfer rumour roundup: Maresca readies Man City revolution; Mourinho’s Madrid shake-upToday's transfer rumours involve Enzo Maresca's desire for a reunion, and Manchester United's move to a new midfield target.Enzo Maresca has not officially been appointed as Manchester City manager, but only formalities are delaying his inevitable announcement.As such, the Italian's already working on incomings, with the Cityzens weighing up a record offer forElliot Anderson. According to L'Equipe, Maresca is also keen on a reunion Chelsea defender Malo Gusto. The French full-back's being targeted to compete with Matheus Nunes at the Etihad.Another name almost certain for the Chelsea exit door isAxel Disasi. The centre-back could not halt West Ham's relegation despite his best efforts on loan, but has at least earned admiration from elsewhere. Two unnamed Premier League clubs and sides in Serie A are keen to snap him up on a permanent deal.Remember the days when Manchester United just threw cash at it? Well, those days are no more. Having walked away from theElliot Anderson bidding war, the Red Devils are instead targeting sensible signings. FootMercato claim Mali midfielder Mamadou Sangare is on the club's radar, with the €40m-rated midfielder impressing as Lens secured Champions League qualification.The Special One is back atReal Madrid, and unsurprisingly is ready to shake things up. Cadena SER report that Gonzalo García, Franco Mastantuono, Brahim Díaz, Eduardo Camavinga and Fran García are all free to leave the Spanish side as Mourinho makes his presence felt.Finally,Galatasaray are looking to land another statement signing from Serie A. Having surprised all by landing Victor Osimhen from Napoli, the Turkish titans now want Rafael Leao.Arsenal and Manchester United have been linked with the AC Milan winger, whose set to leave the San Siro. However, Nicolo Shira has said that Gala are preparing a lucrative four-year deal for the Portuguese winger.

The sun sets on a refugee camp set up people fleeing war in Sudan, Oct. 3, 2024, in Adre, Chad. (AP Photo/Sam Mednick)2026-06-13T05:11:19Z The international aid group Doctors Without Borders found a pattern of abuse and sexual exploitation by some local and foreign staff working in Chad along the Sudanese border, in some cases targeting underage girls or trading food or jobs for sex with refugees, according to a confidential internal memo obtained by The Associated Press. The Doctors Without Borders report — completed in July and first reported Saturday by The Associated Press — found 59 allegations of abuse and said 18 staff members were dismissed and barred from future employment. In some cases, the group told AP, the allegations couldn’t be verified or the perpetrators identified. The report also said some of the repeated exploitation suggested potentially organized “sexual trafficking.”The organization said it launched the monthslong investigation in response to AP reporting that women had accused staff of sexually exploiting them in displacement sites in Chad, where hundreds of thousands fled from Sudan’s devastating civil war, now in its fourth year. The report credited AP as playing “a fundamental role as an external whistleblower.” The findings by Doctors Without Borders — one of the largest employers and biggest aid organizations in the refugee camps in eastern Chad — indicate the abuse was more widespread than previously reported. Sexual exploitation has repeatedly surfaced during humanitarian crises despite years of efforts by aid organizations to prevent abuse. Read More In the cases AP found in Chad in 2024, women said people meant to protect them — humanitarians, local security forces — offered money, easier access to assistance and jobs in exchange for sex. Such sexual exploitation in Chad is a crime.And in its report, Doctors Without Borders noted that the cases found in Chad stand out because it had allocated extra resources to combat and prevent abuse. The memo also said the findings likely only scratch the surface, as many women were hesitant to speak openly. In response to questions about the memo, Doctors Without Borders — also known under its French acronym, MSF — called it “a candid internal analysis” that laid out where systems failed. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. The 59 allegations of misconduct ranged from sexual harassment to exploitation and abuse and “represent a serious breach of MSF’s values and responsibilities, and we deeply regret the harm caused,” MSF said in its written response.MSF operates in contexts where people are vulnerable and dependent on humanitarian assistance, which creates power imbalances and risks of abuse that must be addressed, MSF’s statement noted. It said the investigations were meant to proactively confront the abuse. In some of the cases investigated, tracing the people involved wasn’t possible because of the scale of the emergency and movement of people, it said. Since issuing the report, MSF has strengthened recruitment efforts, reference checks and complaint systems, it told AP. Still, the group said in its statement that it recognized that significant work remains to ensure lasting change. The report detailed several types of abuse and exploitation within Doctors Without BordersMSF launched its investigation in fall 2024 and found allegations of exploitation and abuse of Chadians, Sudanese refugees, and MSF staff and contractors.The report says the group was investigating several cases of sexual exploitation of female refugees in exchange for food, water and milk. It also found cases of sex in exchange for jobs, and the prostitution of female refugees, including underage girls. It cites a block in a refugee camp where staff were seen searching for girls, and said community leaders implemented a curfew to prevent young girls from “‘visiting’ MSF staff.” Have a news tip?Contact AP’s global investigative team at [email protected]. For secure and confidential communications, use the free Signal app +1 (202) 281-8604. In one incident cited in the report, seven refugee girls, allegedly hired as daily workers, were put into an MSF vehicle and told they were going to water distribution and construction sites. The girls, however, were taken to a different location and “exposed to” sexual abuse and requests for sex, according to the report. In addition, some female Chadian staff were threatened with losing their jobs if they refused to have sex with supervisors or colleagues, the investigation found. In focus groups conducted by investigators, women said they often chose to remain silent, worried it would jeopardize access to care. Some said they didn’t know they had the right to speak up or share feedback, according to the report. MSF staff and community leaders told investigators they were afraid to report abuse for fear of losing jobs or assistance. The report noted that half a dozen community leaders said even though their daughters or sisters had been victims of abuse, they chose not to report to MSF.The report also said that some who spoke up didn’t get help, with several alerts receiving no follow-up. The memo said some feedback mechanisms, such as boxes where people could place complaints, were largely ineffective. MSF employs tens of thousands of people across dozens of countries, with jobs ranging from doctors, nurses, midwives and epidemiologists to human resources, logistics, construction and sanitation specialists. The report did not specify which jobs those accused of abuse held. In its email to AP, MSF said it would not provide details such as employment category because of privacy and safety concerns. MSF’s email emphasized that it has implemented improved reporting methods and integrated prevention and detection responses in its operation — for example, including confidential reporting channels in its current response to Congo’s Ebola outbreak. Doctors Without Borders was unaware of most cases of abuse before AP’s reporting Prior to AP’s reporting, MSF was unaware of most of the cases of abuse, according to the report. In 2023, the report said, MSF had conducted weeks of training with staff and community leaders about prevention. But efforts didn’t have a lasting impact and were undermined by high staff turnover, it said. The memo said the urgent need for personnel and the absence of reference checks had resulted in the hiring of people with a history of misconduct or abuse. As a result of the investigation, the report said, 18 staff — including international, local and contractors — were or were about to be classified as “Do Not Hire.” But the report said there was no system in place to share names of people flagged as such, specifically for local staff, meaning they could get jobs in another MSF location. The report made several recommendations: clearly communicating expected behavior to staff, employing “serious reference checks,” and creating one effective database for “Do Not Hire” staff. Still, MSF acknowledged in the report that it had previously experienced similar allegations — the 2021 Ebola outbreak in Congo and reports of widespread exploitation and abuse by aid workers and peacekeepers in several West African countries in 2002 — but little had shifted overall. “As a reminder, a rather similar diagnosis and recommendations were made in 2021,” said the memo. “Yet this led to no significant change.” SAM MEDNICK Mednick is an AP correspondent for Israel and the Palestinian Territories. She focuses on conflict, humanitarian crises and human rights abuses. Mednick formerly covered West & Central Africa and South Sudan. twitter 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Protestors wave a U.S. and signs as workers prepare to remove President Donald Trump's name from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)2026-06-13T06:08:11Z WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s name remained on the facade of the Kennedy Center early Saturday despite a court-ordered Friday deadline to remove references to Trump from the building and other aspects of the iconic performing arts venue’s operations.Scaffolding was erected Friday around a section of the building that includes Trump’s name, but shortly after midnight, the Kennedy Center asked a judge to extend the deadline until noon Eastern Time on Saturday because of thunderstorms that had swept through the Washington area, causing a delay. In the filing, the Kennedy Center offered assurance that the “removal work is presently ongoing” and would “conclude in the early hours of the morning.” A few hours later, workers begin covering the scaffolding with tarps.Dozens of people spent hours Friday on the plaza in front of the Kennedy Center taking pictures and cheering occasionally as they broke into chants of “take it down.” Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, an ex-officio board member who sued to have Trump’s name removed from the building, was spotted at one point on the plaza. Earlier Friday afternoon, a judge rejected a request to pause the court-ordered deadline. The institution appealed that ruling, an effort that was also rebuffed Friday evening. After ignoring the Kennedy Center for much of his first term, Trump has wielded tremendous influence over the venue during his return to office. Just a month into his second term, he ousted the center’s previous leadership and replaced it with a board of trustees that named him chairman. Trump’s name was quickly added to the building. Read More In his ruling that only Congress could make changes to the Kennedy Center’s name, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper also blocked the administration from closing the cultural and arts venue for major renovations that had been planned to start in July and last for two years. The Kennedy Center’s leadership argued in its appeal Friday that the renovation was badly needed and accused the lower court, in terms that seemed similar to Trump’s speech patterns, of interfering in the effort. “The District Court is not allowing us to close in order to properly fix up and repair the Building, including potentially life threatening structural damage like beams and parking garage ceilings that are rusted, and in serious danger of falling onto people below,” according to the appeal. “Indeed, total collapse!”Even as the Kennedy Center has fought efforts to remove Trump’s name from the building, it has taken steps to comply with Cooper’s initial ruling. A June 4 memo to staff from the Kennedy Center’s Office of General Counsel said email signatures, letterhead and other documents must reflect the name as “The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts” or “Kennedy Center.” The Kennedy Center’s website has dropped Trump’s name. And an earlier email sent to members offering ticket packages for the June 28 Mark Twain Award for American Humor ceremony came from the Kennedy Center without including Trump’s name. ___Associated Press journalists Anna Johnson, Mark Sherman and Emily Wang in Washington and Bill Barrow in Atlanta contributed to this report. STEVEN SLOAN Sloan is the Washington correspondent at The Associated Press. He managed the AP’s coverage of the 2020 and 2024 presidential campaigns. twitter

Australia vs Turkiye – Match preview and team newsAustralia and Turkiye kick off their World Cup campaigns on Sunday morning with an intriguing Group D clash in Vancouver.BC Place provides the spectacular setting as both nations look to secure an immediate advantage in a competitive section that also features the USA and Paraguay. The Socceroos arrive in Canada aiming to build on their impressive run to the round of 16 four years ago.Standing in their way is a highly talented Turkish side returning to the global stage after a 24-year absence. Vincenzo Montella has engineered a formidable run of form, meaning his team enter the contest with high expectations. Both managers understand that avoiding defeat in this opening fixture could prove vital for their knockout ambitions.Australia vs Turkey – Match preview and team newsDate: Sunday, 14 June 2026Kick-off: 05:00 BSTVenue: BC Place, VancouverReferee: Jesus Valenzuela (VEN)VAR: Michael Orue (PER)Last Meeting: Australia 0–1 Turkiye (24 May 2004, International Friendly)Team newsAustraliaTony Popovic has a major late fitness worry surrounding his intended focal point in attack. Promising forward Mohamed Touré missed a crucial training session on Wednesday and remains a serious doubt to lead the line. Aside from that setback, the Socceroos boast a healthy squad filled with familiar international mainstays.Veteran goalkeeper Mathew Ryan will captain the side from between the posts. Jackson Irvine will anchor the midfield, while the experienced Mathew Leckie provides invaluable tournament know-how. Central defender Harry Souttar will look to use his immense height to dominate both penalty boxes during set pieces.TurkiyeVincenzo Montella faces a significant blow as Juventus starlet Kenan Yildiz has developed a calf injury. The dynamic young attacker is a major doubt for the opening fixture and is highly unlikely to feature. However, playmaker Arda Guler has fully recovered from an injury sustained during the final stretch of Real Madrid’s domestic campaign.Left-back Ferdi Kadioglu has also returned to full training after sitting out their recent warm-up match against Venezuela. Midfield responsibilities will lie with Inter Milan star Hakan Calhanoglu, while Baris Alper Yilmaz and Orkun Kokcu provide technical quality in support of striker Deniz Gul.FormAustraliaAustralia enter the tournament on the back of mixed results in their recent international fixtures. Popovic’s side recorded consecutive victories in March, defeating Cameroon 1-0 and thrashing Curacao 5-1 during their FIFA Series matches. That said, those wins followed three straight friendly defeats at the end of last year against Colombia, Venezuela, and the United States.Their final pre-tournament warm-ups yielded a 1-0 loss to Mexico and a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Switzerland. The Socceroos have traditionally relied on an aggressive physical game and a compact defensive block to frustrate superior technical opposition.TurkiyeTurkey arrive in Vancouver riding an exceptional eight-match unbeaten run across all competitions. Montella’s men won seven of those fixtures, including a 4-0 victory over North Macedonia and a 2-1 defeat of Venezuela. They secured their ticket to the finals with gritty, back-to-back 1-0 playoff wins over Romania and Kosovo.Their qualifying campaign also included an impressive 2-2 draw away to Spain, demonstrating their capacity to compete at the highest European level. The Crescent-Stars possess a highly creative attacking midfield unit capable of unlocking deep defensive structures through rapid combination play.Predicted lineupsAustralia Predicted XI: Ryan; Italiano, Circati, Souttar, Herrington, Bos; Metcalfe, Irvine, O’Neill, Leckie; ToureTurkiye Predicted XI: Cakir; Celik, Demiral, Bardakci, Elmali; Calhanoglu, Yuksek; Guler, Kokcu, Yilmaz; GulHow to watch Australia vs Turkiye?Television viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on ITV1, with streaming available via ITVX. Football fans in the United States can follow the entire broadcast live on Fox Sports.Read more –Turkiye: 2026 World Cup Squad, Fixtures and ScheduleSee Also- USA: 2026 World Cup Squad, Fixtures and ScheduleFollow the Football Faithful on Social Media:Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok

Niko Kovač reportedly dissuaded Bayern from signing Jamie Gittens last summerSport BILD has revealed that Borussia Dortmund's Niko Kovač advised Bayern Munich against signing one of his players last summer. Ahead of the recently concluded 2025-26 season, the Bavarians were in hot pursuit of talented Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams. Despite a deal almost being reached by both parties, the Spanish international ultimately decided to stay with the Basque club and pen a new deal. According to the report, Bayern Munich's attention swiftly turned to their Bundesliga rivals from Westphalia and the talented Jamie Gittens. However, Bayern's supervisory board, including both Uli Hoeneß and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, was skeptical about the player. A club employee was tasked with contacting Niko Kovač to get an honest opinion from him about the sought after English youngster. The BVB head coach is said to have made it more than clear that he considers the Englishman "not professional enough" to succeed at Bayern. As a result, the Bavarians then abandoned the pursuit of Gittens and went all in on Luis Díaz, while Gittens ultimately ended up joining Chelsea.

Australia vs Turkiye – Predicted lineup and team newsAustralia launch their seventh World Cup campaign on Sunday morning with a challenging fixture against Turkiye at BC Place.Head coach Tony Popovic has successfully improved the team’s defensive stability and physical intensity since taking charge. The Socceroos want to emulate their 2022 achievements by progressing from a balanced group containing the USA and Paraguay.Popovic’s tactical blueprint relies heavily on rapid wide transitions and an aerial threat from set-pieces. However, containing a technically gifted Turkish midfield will test their defensive discipline to the absolute limit.Australia team newsPopovic must manage an unexpected selection dilemma in the final third before Sunday’s kickoff. Norwich City striker Mohamed Touré missed a vital training session on Wednesday and remains a significant fitness doubt. In his absence, the manager will have to alter his attacking spearhead to find the necessary goalscoring efficiency.Mathew Ryan will captain the team from goal, protected by a physically imposing backline featuring Harry Souttar and Alessandro Circati. Lucas Herrington is also expected to feature in defence to help absorb sustained opposition pressure.Jackson Irvine will bring work rate and energy to the midfield battle alongside a structured central unit. Meanwhile, 35-year-old veteran Mathew Leckie will use his vast tournament experience to guide a younger generation of attacking talents on the big stage.Australia predicted lineupAustralia predicted XI: Ryan; Italiano, Circati, Souttar, Herrington, Bos; Metcalfe, Irvine, O’Neill, Leckie; ToureWhen will the match kick off?The FIFA World Cup group match at BC Place kicks off at 05:00 BST on Sunday, 14 June 2026.How to watch Australia vs Turkiye?Television viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on ITV1, with streaming available via ITVX. Football fans in the United States can follow the entire broadcast live on Fox Sports.Read more – Turkiye: 2026 World Cup Squad, Fixtures and ScheduleSee Also- USA: 2026 World Cup Squad, Fixtures and ScheduleFollow the Football Faithful on Social Media:Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok

Turkiye XI vs Australia – Predicted lineup and team newsTurkiye return to the World Cup stage after a 22-year absence when they face Australia in Vancouver.Head coach Vincenzo Montella has built a fluid 4-2-3-1 system that emphasises ball retention and creative spark. The Crescent-Stars enter Group D as firm favourites to progress alongside the host nation.They carry substantial momentum into the tournament, having compiled an excellent eight-match unbeaten run. Montella will demand that his technically gifted squad dictate the tempo early to unlock a stubborn Australian defensive block.Turkiye team newsMontella faces mixed fortunes on the medical front ahead of Sunday’s highly anticipated tournament opener. Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz is a major doubt to feature after sustaining a painful calf injury.That said, Real Madrid sensation Arda Guler has fully recovered from a late-season knock and is ready to star. Bright full-back Ferdi Kadioglu has also returned to full training after sitting out their final warm-up fixture.Ugurcan Cakir will start between the posts behind a settled central defensive pairing featuring Merih Demiral and Abdulkerim Bardakci. Zeki Celik and Eren Elmali will operate on the defensive flanks.Captain Hakan Calhanoglu will dictate play from a deep-lying midfield pivot alongside the industrious Ismail Yuksek. Orkun Kokcu and Baris Alper Yilmaz will look to exploit spaces in wide areas and support Guler. Up front, young striker Deniz Gul is expected to lead the line as the central focal point.Turkiye predicted lineupTurkiye predicted XI: Cakir; Celik, Demiral, Bardakci, Elmali; Calhanoglu, Yuksek; Guler, Kokcu, Yilmaz; Gul.When will the match kick off?The FIFA World Cup group match at BC Place kicks off at 05:00 BST on Sunday, 14 June 2026.How to watch Australia vs Turkiye?Television viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on ITV1, with streaming available via ITVX. Football fans in the United States can follow the entire broadcast live on Fox Sports.Read more – Turkiye: 2026 World Cup Squad, Fixtures and ScheduleSee Also- USA: 2026 World Cup Squad, Fixtures and ScheduleFollow the Football Faithful on Social Media:Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok

Lesley Sleight was chosen to design the Manx baton at the 2026 Commonwealth Games [Lesley Sleight]A decorated archer chosen to design the Isle of Man Commonwealth baton, said turning to art was a great comfort whilst caring for her ill mother. Lesley Sleight's design was chosen to feature on the Manx baton for the King's Baton Relay, ahead of the games in July. The artwork brings together a range of Manx landmarks, wildlife, heritage sites and sporting symbols, including Peel Castle, Tynwald Hill, the Laxey Wheel and the TT races.Sleight, who learnt to paint online during the Covid-19 pandemic, said she wanted the baton to showcase the island's history, culture and community while highlighting the athletes who will compete for the Isle of Man at the Games.'An incredible honour' "It was really about trying to get as many things that make the Isle of Man special into the design as possible."Lesley, who is an internationally decorated archer, is pleased to have found a new way to represent the island. "It's nice to be part of the island in a different way," she said."I had to look after my mum during covid because she had a stroke and painting was a great way to de-stress""It was a very difficult time, but art was a great help and comfort." The brief for the design was 'culture and heritage,' which Lesley fulfilled by painting the island's great landmarks, nature, and Victorian infrastructure. "I don't feel like I'm an artist, I wasn't even going to submit my design."When I found out I had won the design, I was at the European Indoor Archery Championships, waiting for a medal ceremony, and I was absolutely thrilled. "It's just fantastic to be part of the games in a very tiny way".Each side of the baton contains different drawings of Manx cultural landmarks [Lesley Sleight]What is the relay?The King's Baton Relay will visit sporting venues, heritage sites and community events across the Isle of Man during its six-day tour.The Relay is a long-standing Commonwealth Games tradition which connects all 74 nations and territories of the Commonwealth ahead of the Games. For Glasgow 2026, each nation and territory has created and decorated its own baton, showcasing its culture, heritage and identity.Where will the relay visit?Saturday: The relay begins at the Curraghs Wildlife Park with a celebration of the Isle of Man's UNESCO Biosphere status before travelling to Castletown (13:00-14:00), Onchan Park (15:00-16:00) and the National Sports Centre (16:16-17:30) on its first day.Sunday:The baton will feature at the Manx Middle Distance Triathlon in Ramsey (07:30-09:45) before travelling by RNLI lifeboat to Peel, where it will take part in a Beach Buddies clean-up event linked to the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Campaign (12:00-14:00)Monday:The baton then sees a visit to University College Isle of Man (12:30-13:30) and then onto Centre 21 in Douglas, which supports individuals with learning disabilities (18:00-20:00)Tuesday:At (17:30-18:15), the baton makes its way to the Sir Mark Cavendish Raceway and then Government House (18:30-20:00), where former Commonwealth athletes will be recognised.Wednesday:The baton will be at the Douglas Horse Tram (10:00-10:30) to take part in celebrations marking 150 years of the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway. It will then travel on the Manx Electric Railway to Laxey (10:30-11:15) to visit the Laxey Wheel (11:30-12:30). The day will conclude with weightlifting and athletics events at the National Sports Centre (16:00-19:00).Thursday:The relay's Isle of Man visit will end on Thursday with a heritage event at Rushen Abbey (11:00-12:00) involving primary school pupils from across the south of the Island.Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.Games selection is 'full circle moment' for swimmer bouncing back from injuryhttps://cga.im

DHARAMSHALA: It’s not often Rohit Sharma cuts a quiet figure in a team setting. On Friday evening, he ambled around the centre square, casually joining fielding drills while others went through a far more intense routine before nets. Rohit has never been the most agile, but his presence has always carried weight. This time, even the familiar banter was missing.The ODI World Cup in South Africa is still 15 months away, but the three-match series against Afghanistan, starting Saturday, feels like the start of an audition. Rohit, now 39, sits on 282 ODIs, 33 centuries and 11,577 runs. Yet, he is having to justify his place again and, more importantly, convince the management he can physically endure the demands of elite cricket.Head coach Gautam Gambhir, meanwhile, spent a long time in captain Shubman Gill’s ear after the latter’s batting stint. Rohit quietly slipped into the nets for a second session. Even after the rest wrapped up, he stayed back, practising slip catches with fielding coach T Dilip before Ishan Kishan joined in for wicketkeeping drills.For Gill, this is hardly straightforward either. Ahead of the last World Cup, Rohit had backed Gill’s youthful promise over the experience of Shikhar Dhawan. Now, Gill must decide whether to persist with Rohit or look ahead, potentially pairing himself with Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top.On Friday, Gill did walk across for a brief chat with Rohit after inspecting the pitch before leaving for the team hotel.Team to rotate optionsWith Virat Kohli ruled out due to a hamstring injury, the series offers an opportunity to test combinations. The management is keen to rotate between KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan and Yashasvi Jaiswal.Harshit likely to join team before 3rd ODIThe Indian team management and selectors have asked Harshit Rana to join the team ahead of the third ODI against Afghanistan in Chennai. “The team management wanted Harshit to join the team earlier in the series but it was decided that he needed more practice at CoE. He has been bowling 9-10 overs every day and he has been able to hold his intensity. He is also working very hard on his batting. He will most likely be officially cleared by CoE on June 17 and he will travel to Chennai immediately,” BCCI sources told TOI.

While the men’s World Cup is undoubtedly commanding the attention of football fans around the world, there is the small matter of the summer transfer window rumbling in the background.It is the busiest time of the year for incomings and outgoings, and follows in the footsteps of last year’s record-breaking window. That saw £3.11billion ($4.17bn) spent by Premier League clubs and the British record broken by Liverpool’s £125m acquisition of Alexander Isak from Newcastle United.This year’s window could well be even more chaotic, with the world’s elite players negotiating the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico with their national teams, as well as potentially their club futures.So, The Athletic has compiled all you need to know about this summer’s transfer window across Europe and beyond.When do the major European windows open?This year sees the return of a more conventional transfer period, after last year’s Club World Cup incited the introduction of a new window, which lasted from June 1-10, allowing clubs to facilitate moves prior to the tournament.Some Premier League clubs have already got underway in their summer business, negotiating and even announcing deals — Tottenham have signed Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson on free transfers, while Brighton have welcomed in Zadok Yohanna. But the English summer transfer window officially opens on Monday, June 15.This is in alignment with France’s Ligue 1, but not the other major European leagues.Germany and Spain see their transfer windows open on July 1, while in Italy, the business period opens on June 29.The Women’s Super League (WSL) transfer window commences one day after the Premier League’s, on Tuesday, June 16. In all other major European leagues, the transfer window for women’s clubs opens on July 1.When do they close?While there is no real alignment between the big five European leagues over the opening of their transfer windows, they will all shut on the same day. That will be Tuesday, September 1.But, in a change from recent transfer windows, it will close at different times for each country on the day.For the major leagues, barring La Liga, the last two transfer windows have shut at 7pm BST (2pm ET, 11am PT). This year, English clubs will return to an 11pm deadline, bracing club social media admins up and down the country for the infamous “don’t go to bed just yet” tweets.France, Germany and Italy remain with the 7pm BST deadline, while La Liga’s remains at 10.59pm BST. The WSL window shuts at 11pm on September 3.In a continuation of recent years, players can complete moves to Turkey or Saudi Arabia following the closing of the European markets. Turkey’s window shuts on September 4, while in Saudi Arabia, deals can still be done until October 12.Why has the transfer deadline changed again?Bringing the transfer deadline forward four hours was a measure implemented for two windows, and was actioned in an attempt to provide club staff working across transfer departments with a more normal working pattern. But they will be afforded no such luxuries this year.The ‘deal sheet’ element will remain in place. If a transfer is not completed by the deadline, clubs can submit the sheet two hours before the deadline, and be given an extra two hours to finalise the deal. This could well see transfer departments working in the early hours of the morning.The 7pm BST deadline did appear to pose some issues for clubs attempting to wrap up their business before the window slammed shut.Marc Guehi’s proposed move to Liverpool on last year’s summer deadline day broke down at the 11th hour as Crystal Palace failed to bring in a replacement before the deadline — and Guehi later joined Manchester City in January. Dwight McNeil, meanwhile, saw his move to Palace fall through due to the relevant paperwork not being completed on time. Both players had completed medicals. Jean-Philippe Mateta’s proposed exit from Palace to Milan also collapsed in January.Leeds United’s proposed deal for Harry Wilson was another that fell through, with a deal sheet not fully submitted before the 7pm deadline. Leeds sources indicated Fulham did not submit their side of the document, while Fulham sources said they had made clear Wilson was not for sale before the deadline.What impact does the World Cup have?The World Cup can often act as a stage for players to put themselves in the shop window. Real Madrid’s move for James Rodriguez in 2014 — the same summer he impressed for Colombia in at the Brazil World Cup — is perhaps the most fitting example.The reality is that many players representing their nation in the U.S., Canada and Mexico this summer will be on the move. And there is nothing stopping that from happening.In the England squad, John Stones is out of contract and left Manchester City, Elliot Anderson has been the subject of a verbal offer worth more than £100m from City, Morgan Rogers is widely admired among top Premier League clubs, and Marcus Rashford faces an uncertain future at Manchester United following his season-long loan at Barcelona. There are many similar cases across the other 47 squads at the tournament.The summer is the busiest period of the year for transfer business, and England head coach Thomas Tuchel admitted that transfers could prove to be a distraction for players during the World Cup, which spans over five weeks.Tuchel said he wants his players to apply “common sense” when it comes to their transfer dealings, and that it is “policy” to avoid such conversations on the day before or day of their matches.“If it is quietly done, privately done, done efficiently, we are always happy to help to have clarity around the player,” Tuchel said, via ESPN.“I think the best we can have is clarity. If anyone has the chance to complete a change of club and a transfer, we will not stand in the way but it has to align of course with our schedule and our goals which is to be focused and prepare for matches.“The last day before the match for sure and the second day before a match, not. Let’s see. We take it case by case. Until now, no player approached me. The doctor is ready to take any medical if needed.”How are transfer window timings set?FIFA specifies that each of its member associations must have two transfer windows within a year. This typically takes the form of the summer and winter transfer windows.World football’s governing body, though, does not determine the timings of the windows. Through FIFA’s online system, ‘Transfer Matching System’, each member association submits its transfer season dates.So in the case of the transfer deadline being brought forward, the Football Association (FA), the Premier League and the English Football League (EFL) determined that change.What deals could be done this summer?Manchester City’s interest in Anderson is one of the biggest talking points of the window so far. The Athletic reported City’s bid was worth £106m (€122m, $142m) up front with potential add-ons taking it in excess of £120m (€139m, $160m). To consider a sale, Forest want the fixed fee to eclipse the £125m Liverpool paid Newcastle for Isak last summer.Meanwhile, The Athletic reported Portugal midfielder and free agent Bernardo Silva is advancing in talks with Real Madrid following his exit from City.Tottenham Hotspur defender Luka Vuskovic, 19, is the subject of a £30m bid from Brighton & Hove Albion. He is in Croatia’s 26-man World Cup squad.Julian Alvarez is wanted by Barcelona and Real Madrid, with the latter club making public their €150m offer which was rejected by Atletico Madrid. The forward is part of Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina team and considered among the best in world football.RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande is also in demand this summer. The Athletic reported Liverpool had made contact with the German club as they stepped up their pursuit, while Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain are among his admirers. He will feature for Ivory Coast at the World Cup.This article originally appeared in The Athletic.La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1, Women's Soccer, FIFA Men's World Cup, Premier League, Transfer News2026 The Athletic Media Company

Danni Wyatt-Hodge's wife's 4-word reaction after century powers England to record Women's T20 World Cup total originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.KEY TAKEAWAYS:Wyatt-Hodge smashes 105 not out off 62 balls in England's tournament opener vs Sri Lanka.The knock is her third Women's T20 hundred, out of only five scored by England.England post 219-1, their highest-ever total in the Women's T20 World Cup, and win by 87 runs.Danni Wyatt-Hodge dedicates stunning World Cup century to newborn daughter DaisyEngland batter Danni Wyatt-Hodge struck an unbeaten 105 off 62 balls against Sri Lanka in England's opening match of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 at Edgbaston, and dedicated every run of it to her three-week-old daughter, Daisy.Back from her maternity leave, Wyatt-Hodge attacked from the start, clearing the boundary and finding the gap with a freedom that belied the pressure of a tournament opener. Thanks to her brilliant knock, England finished on 219 for 1, their highest-ever score in the Women's T20 World Cup, surpassing the 213 for 5 they posted against Pakistan in 2023.When Wyatt-Hodge reached three figures, she marked the moment with a cradle-rocking gesture directed at the camera. It was a tribute to the baby she had not seen in six days. "I was on about 90 and I thought I have to get a hundred for Daisy," Wyatt-Hodge said."I did it for my three-week-old daughter. I've not seen her for six days and it feels like six months. It is all I think about, even in the night."Georgie, watching from home, also posted a photo on Instagram cradling Daisy with the words: "Well, that was special."This picture is whomesome, Danny Wyatt's wife & new born child watching Danny scoring a 100 in T20I WC opener with baby celebration♥️ pic.twitter.com/ScIzF5EOln— Rajiv (@Rajiv1841) June 13, 2026Sri Lanka swept aside as England bowlers finished the jobIn response, Sri Lanka never found a foothold and were dismissed for 132. Freya Kemp was the standout performer with the ball, finishing with four wickets for 21 runs, while Charlie Dean and Sophie Ecclestone each claimed two wickets.What next for England in 2026 Women's T20 World Cup?England head to Southampton next to face Ireland on Tuesday. More importantly, Wyatt-Hodge will pay a visit to Daisy at her Southampton home before taking the pitch against their neighbours. To keep up to date with all the latest cricket news and share your opinion on the biggest topics, visit our Facebook, Instagram and X(Twitter) pages.

Kobbie Mainoo: Man United sensation reveals secret behind incredible skillsManchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has experienced a rollercoaster of a season.Out in the coldMainoo began the season by requesting a loan move away from the club due to Ruben Amorim’s refusal to start him.The Portuguese head coach clearly had little faith in Mainoo, as he rarely gave him opportunities to shine. Consequently, Napoli became extremely interested in securing a deal for the young midfielder.Michael Carrick factorAt the start of January, Ruben Amorim was sacked by the club and interim manager Darren Fletcher immediately reinstated Mainoo to the starting eleven.Michael Carrick also kept Mainoo in the team, and the Englishman repaid his faith with a series of outstanding performances, capped by a winning goal against Liverpool at Old Trafford.Mainoo’s form has also seen him welcomed back into England’s World Cup squad, and he is currently in the United States ahead of the Three Lions’ first match against Croatia.SkillsSpeaking to the club’s official website, Mainoo discussed how he worked on his skills as a young boy.Commenting on his love of emulating skills, he said, “obviously watching United, I’d say Rooney [caught my attention early on], and then I used to watch YouTube a lot, skills and stuff, it was always Ronaldinho, [Cristiano] Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar, people like that.”Mainoo added, “that’s always what I found myself doing in my spare time, searching skills videos, waiting for new ones to come out and just follow all the players from there.”The young midfielder then explained that he would try to put the new skills he saw into practice.He went on, “I’d watch these things on YouTube and then there was a field right next to my house, so then say if I watched them the night before… I’d get my boots and my kit ready, lay it out at the foot of my bed. Then, as soon as I woke up, jump out of bed and go to the field and practice. Try and drag someone with me, anyone – [as] a mannequin, my dad, my sister, anyone!”Mainoo also asserted that this routine “definitely helped me a lot” in his development as a young player before turning professional.Featured image by Molly Darlington/Getty Imagesonline pollsThe Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Exit-bound Barcelona midfielder attracting serious interest from Atletico MadridNot long ago, Marc Casado looked destined to become one of Barcelona’s next great success stories from La Masia. The midfielder earned the trust of Hansi Flick during parts of the season and showed he could compete at the highest level when given the opportunity.Fast forward a few months, however, and his situation has become far less certain.With Barcelona’s midfield packed with established stars and emerging talents, the academy graduate finds himself facing a crucial summer. At 22, Casado is no longer at the stage where he can afford another season spent largely watching from the sidelines, and interest from elsewhere is beginning to grow.Atletico Madrid are interested in Casado. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)In fact, according to a report from Mundo Deportivo, one of Spain’s biggest clubs is already keeping a close eye on his situation.Atletico see Casado as a natural fitWhile several clubs have expressed interest in the Barcelona midfielder, Atletico Madrid are among those paying particularly close attention.The report claims that the club’s sporting department holds Casado in high regard and believes his profile could suit Diego Simeone’s side perfectly.For now, however, the outlet assures that any potential move would depend on Diego Simeone’s approval.The Argentine coach remains heavily involved in important transfer decisions, and Atletico are unlikely to push forward unless he is fully convinced Casado can become part of his long-term plans.Casado has multiple options on the table. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)While the admiration from the sporting directors is evident, it is Simeone who will have the final say on the matter.Casado has more than one option on the tableAs reported before, Atletico are not the only club monitoring developments, with Saudi Arabian giants Al Hilal also interested in the midfielder.Financially, the proposal from Saudi Arabia would be difficult to ignore, as Casado could secure a significantly improved contract and become part of one of the most ambitious projects outside European football.Notably, the presence of Jorge Mendes could fast-track the Saudi operation thanks to his strong relationships in the Middle East market.Right now, multiple suitors are ready to offer Casado a lucrative sporting project, and the decision rests with the player and Barcelona.

The Washington Commanders just wrapped up OTAs this week. Next week, the team holds its mandatory minicamp, before getting about five weeks off before training camp next month. It seems like the most-talked-about player in relation to the Commanders doesn't even play for them. We've known for a while that San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk wanted to play for Washington, but he's made that perfectly clear over the past week. Last weekend, he posted two separate images on Instagram with Commanders-related gear. Then, Aiyuk went on two different rants aimed at his current employer this week. As for the Commanders, they're not saying a word. Before Washington opened OTAs, there were plenty of rumors surrounding Stefon Diggs and the Commanders. It's something Diggs would reportedly like, especially considering he's from Maryland and played at the University of Maryland. However, we haven't heard Diggs connected to Washington lately. That doesn't mean the Commanders couldn't sign Diggs ahead of training camp next month. In fact, Jordan Dajani of CBS Sports recently named Washington as one of the five best landing spots for Diggs. The Washington Commanders could use another wide receiver. Adam Peters drafted Clemson slot weapon Antonio Williams, but it's fair to wonder if Jayden Daniels has enough talent at wideout to support another NFC Championship run. Deebo Samuel, who is no longer with the team, led the Commanders in receiving last year with 727 yards. That ranked No. 42 in the NFL. Terry McLaurin put together the worst season of his career with 582 yards receiving in 10 games played, as he struggled to stay healthy. If Washington's WR1 has another season like that, this Commanders passing attack is doomed. Diggs is also a DMV man and played his high school ball 13 miles north of Washington D.C. before starring at the University of Maryland. The move makes sense for Washington on multiple levels. One, Diggs can still play at a high level, as he was the leading receiver for the AFC champions in 2025, surpassing 1,000 receiving yards. Secondly, Diggs isn't going to cost a lot and would not require more than a one-year commitment. What's holding the Commanders back? It's clear they want Aiyuk and are content to wait for things to finally end there. When will it end? It doesn't appear to be anytime soon. This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders named top destination for 4-time Pro Bowl WR

Pearl River and Dobbs Ferry are representing Section 1 at the New York State championships presented by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association at Grand Slam Park in Binghamton.Pearl River is seeking a Class A title, while Dobbs Ferry is seeking a Class B titleNYSPHSAA ChampionshipsChampionshipsAt Green Light Networks Grand Slam Park, BinghamtonClass A: Pearl River vs Averill Park, 10 a.m.Class B: Dobbs Ferry vs. Chatham, 1 p.m.Class A state softball championship, Pearl River vs. Averill Park, 10 a.m.Twitter: @LoHud_Debbie; @LoHudSoftballThis article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Pearl River, Dobbs Ferry play for state softball titles Saturday

The smallest player at Buffalo Bills mandatory minicamp made the most of his big opportunity.Deven Thompkins was invited to One Bills Drive on a tryout basis on Wednesday. He left with a contract the nexst day. The Bills signed the 5-foot-8, 155-pound wide receiver Thursday after he impressed during mandatory minicamp, adding one of the NFL’s smallest players and one of its fastest.The move was part of a roster shuffle after minicamp as the Bills also signed wide receiver Max Tomczak, waived cornerback Dorian Strong with a non-football injury designation, and waived running back Desmond Reid and wide receiver Gabriel Benyard.Thompkins is now the lightest player on Buffalo’s roster by 25 pounds. For perspective, Thompkins gives up 14 inches and 176 pounds to Bills defensive tackle Deone Walker. They technically play the same sport. They just look very different doing it.But Thompkins’ path to the NFL has never been about size.The 26-year-old has relied on speed, toughness and perseverance to carve out a professional career.Thompkins ran a 4.35-second 40-yard dash at his Utah State pro day before entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022. He has played in 36 career games with the Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons, totaling 29 receptions for 162 yards and a touchdown.His biggest impact has come on special teams.Thompkins has returned 42 punts for 368 yards and 45 kickoffs for 1,005 yards during his NFL career, giving Buffalo another option in the return game heading into training camp.Thompkins’ toughness was tested long before football.When he was 6 years old, Thompkins survived a severe dog attack that left his tibia exposed, detached part of his calf muscle and required more than 100 stitches.He developed into a three-sport athlete before becoming one of the most productive wide receivers in college football.Thompkins finished his career at Utah State with a breakout senior season in 2021, catching 102 passes for 1,704 yards and 10 touchdowns. He earned first-team All-Mountain West honors and was named a third-team All-American.The top of the Bills’ receiver depth chart appears set after the team traded for D.J. Moore this offseaso to pair with Khalil Shakir. Joshua Palmer, Keon Coleman and rookie Skyler Bell are expected to have roles, while Trent Sherfield, Mecole Hardman Jr., Valen Virgil and will compete for a roster spot and Tyrell Shavers recovers from a torn ACL. Making Buffalo’s 53-man roster will still be a numbers game for Thompkins.But the smallest player on the Bills’ roster has spent years proving the numbers next to his height and weight don’t determine whether he belongs in the game.This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Buffalo Bills sign Deven Thompkins, one of NFL’s smallest players