After 28 years of watching World Cups from football's wilderness, there was never much danger of the Tartan Army getting antsy about the gridlock on the road to Foxborough.On the contrary, in the hours leading up to what turned into a surreally stressful evening, the Scotland fans revelled in the traffic delays, inch by inch, yard by yard. Oblivious to the anxiety they were going to experience later on, a convoy of yellow school buses stuttered their way down the I-95 four hours before kick-off and Scots hung out the windows of every one of them, singing their songs, waving their flags, partying at a pace of a mile an hour.The sense of anticipation and joy was so palpable you could have reached out and touched it. These Scotland supporters are remarkable. Vast waves of them. Clusters on every street corner in Boston. An occupying army.Seven minutes before 9pm local time, Scotland entered the most extraordinary arena, the Boston Stadium. A riot of colour and noise, a football stadium, yes, but a theatre, too. A place for gladiators.If you have to miss out on World Cups for nearly 30 years then this was the way to mark your return. Giant screens behind both goals picking out every human emotion among the fans. Shivers up the spine, heart beating out the chest, Flower of Scotland belted out with gusto, its power almost greater on a foreign field than it is at home.The scene was an antidote to all that is wrong in world football; the rampant greed, the unrelenting bombast. This was raw, powerful and emotional.Scotland beat Haiti for first World Cup victory in 36 yearsMcGinn 'beaming with pride' - and hopes kids around Scotland are too'He's become Scots' chief creative force' - how the players rated'Scotland under cosh against 83rd best team in world'Scotland began well and then slowly faded. Haiti were no great shakes but they were getting on top. Wasteful, but better than their heavily-fancied opponents.Approaching the half-hour, a familiar cry went up in a small corner of the stadium, a song to stir their favourite son. The Tartan Army started calling on John McGinn to do something. Beseeching him, almost.Two minutes later, the Aston Villa man delivered. It was hardly the sweetest strike, but nobody cared. It wasn't particularly pretty, not that it mattered. It only found its way into the Haiti net by way of a double deflection but that was completely irrelevant. It was a Scottish goal in their first World Cup in a generation. By definition, it was a thing of absolute beauty. The winner. Scotland's total of victories at the finals rises from four to five. These things are rare.Everybody in the Scotland ranks would have imagined that they'd kick on after that, but they didn't. None of their totems turned up in the way we know they can. None had control of the game. None lorded it over an opponent that, in truth, looked a whole lot better than Scotland for large periods. Haiti didn't deserve to lose.A dozen minutes from the end, there was more singing from the Scottish crowd that we can only describe as gallows humour. Scotland were leading 1-0 but they were under the cosh against the 83rd best team in the world. They were hanging on; vulnerable, error-ridden. From that pocket of the Tartan Army came the 'No Scotland, No Party' tune, a piece of irony, surely, that made you smile. This was no party for them until the last whistle sound, this was a torture session.The minutes ticked by - nine, eight, seven. The screens behind both goals flashed up images of Scotland fans and their 1000-yard stares. Six minutes to play and Frantzdy Pierrot rises above Grant Hanley and nuts one just wide.Cue palpitations. Cue the appalling thought of a Haiti equaliser that would dynamite Scotland's hopes of doing what they came here to do - making history by making it out of a group in a World Cup. If you can't beat Haiti, you're not beating Morocco or Brazil in games two and three.More minutes drifted by. Pierrot had another chance - and missed. At one point the ball fell to Andy Roberton and instead of taking his time and clearing, he hoofed it away as if his life depended on it. His football life, for sure.'We won't be happy... but we've just won a World Cup game'Every Scotland fan would have hoped for - but would not have expected - a relatively stress-free return to the biggest stage, a handy 2-0 or 3-0 that wasn't an assault on the senses. What they got was a nerve-shredding night, a 90-minute rollercoaster ride, an evening to bring on a migraine.They survived. That's the bottom line. Three points are on the board. A nightmare was averted. They can be, and have to be, better. McGinn said that they have more gears to go up and he's right. Goalkeeper Angus Gunn spoke later and sounded glum. He tried to accentuate the positive but it was a battle. "When we look back, we won't be happy, but we've just won a game at the World Cup, so…"Those contrasting feelings summed it up. Three points, but… A first win at a World Cup in close to three decades, but…Billy Gilmour's composure was missed. So, too, the brilliance of McTominay and the authority of McGinn. Neither was a major presence, McTominay's shot off a post and McGinn's goal aside. Scotland's best player was Ben Gannon-Doak, who was a double handful. Later on Sunday, these players will return to base camp in Charlotte as tired men. But as winners, too. So much has to improve before they face Morocco back in Boston in a week's time. This was a win that sparked huge celebrations among the fans but those celebrations were as much about relief than joy. "Everybody told us that it was a must-win game and we've won it," said Clarke. That cut to the heart of it. Exhausting, laborious, oppressive, but three points and hope. The best of it was those lads hanging out the windows of the school bus, the sheer excitement, the undiluted happiness, the mighty buzz of just being here.Many of them will be back again for more against Morocco. Another night of pressure and angst is guaranteed, but there's nowhere else on earth these people would rather be.World Cup fixtures and group standingsHow to watch the World Cup on the BBCEverything you need to know about the World Cup

The Knicks made it interesting in Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Finals...again.After being down double digits in San Antonio on Saturday night, Jalen Brunson led the Knicks to a fourth-quarter comeback to end New York's 53-year drought. It came down to free throws in the waning seconds as Dylan Harper missed both free throws and OG Anunoby made one of two free throws to come up clutch and bleed the clock.Of course, with plenty of Knicks fans in attendance, the Knicks radio announcers did their thing to meet the moment."It's happening Knicks fans, it's happening," Tyler Murray said. "It's been 53 years! But for this moment, it was well worth the wait. The Knicks radio announcers reacting to the final moments of Game 5, as Dylan Harper misses both free throws, OG Anunoby splits the clutch free throws, and the New York Knicks win a championship for the first time in 53 years pic.twitter.com/IiGdlUNXKG— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) June 14, 2026On the other end, the Spurs' fourth-quarter lead was slowly but surely overtaken.Spurs radio play-by-play Dan Weiss and Spurs legend Sean Elliott were on the radio for San Antonio and could not believe the free throws being missed by Harper.And, despite the Spurs losing, they gave the Knicks their flowers."Gotta give them credit, Dan. They earned," Elliott said. "We had them down in every single game and they never gave up. They showed the heart of a champion."The Spurs radio announcers' reaction to the last moments of Game 5 - Dylan Harper two missed clutch free throws, OG Anunoby splits the clutch free throws, and the Knicks win their first championship in 53 years. pic.twitter.com/BG6iPDjHTQ— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) June 14, 2026

President Trump said it would be signed on Sunday, but Iran’s Foreign Ministry cautioned that the timeline could be slower.

Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty ImagesMedvedev’s shock Roland Garros exit puts spotlight on grass seasonDaniil Medvedev suffered a first-round defeat at the French Open, falling 2-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-1, 4-6 to Adam Walton.The loss was one of several early upsets in a tournament filled with surprising results. Despite his recent improvement on clay – he pushed Jannik Sinner close in Rome – Medvedev couldn’t carry that form into Roland Garros.He now heads into the grass season looking to regain momentum ahead of Wimbledon, a tournament where he’s yet to make it past the semi-finals.Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesSam Querrey tips Daniil Medvedev for grass-court success this seasonAppearing on the ‘Nothing Major’ podcast alongside John Isner and Steve Johnson, Sam Querrey picked Medvedev as his player to watch.Querrey said: “He’s been streaky; he’s been good at times. He hit like an all-time low at Roland Garros, losing to [Adam] Walton, who was ranked 900 in the world.“But he’s going to bounce back. Give me Meddy to win a warm-up tournament on grass and then pop like a semi at Wimbledon, that’s kind of what I’m expecting from him.”The Russian already has a title on grass – Mallorca 2021 – where he actually beat Querrey in the final. Since then, he has made three more finals but lost all of them. They came in Rosmalen (2022) against Tim van Rijthoven and twice in Halle (2022 and 2025) against Hubert Hurkacz and Alexander Bublik respectively.His Wimbledon record is mixed, although Medvedev has reached the semi-finals in two of the last three years. The former world number one made the last four in 2023 and 2024 before suffering a shock first-round defeat a year ago.If those recent runs mean anything at all, it would be that another deep run could be possible. He’ll want to bounce back this time around but has work to do before Wimbledon begins.Sam Querrey and Steve Johnson differ over Learner Tien’s grass court prospectsJohnson, meanwhile, went in a different direction, backing Medvedev’s rival to have a breakthrough on grass.“I’m going to take Learner Tien,” said Johnson. “Risky,” added Querrey. “I don’t like it.”Johnson wasn’t convinced by Querrey’s doubts.“Why not, dude?” said Johnson. “You’ve got to pick someone off the beaten path; I don’t want to pick [Ben] Shelton! He’s five in the world. Even though I think he’s going to have a great grass season. I think Learner is top 15 after the grass.”Querrey didn’t share the optimism, later choosing Tien as his ‘sell’ pick for the surface.He has one title on grass – Mallorca 2021 – when he beat none other than Sam Querrey in the final. Medvedev has also reached three more finals since then: Rosmalen 2022 (lost to Tim Van Rijthoven), Halle 2022 (lost to Hubert Hurkacz), and Halle 2025 (lost to Alexander Bublik).Tien had a decent run last year, making the quarter-finals in Mallorca before falling in the second round at Wimbledon. This year, his grass-court season will start at the Halle Open on June 15th.Read more:Alexander Zverev shares retirement plans after finally winning a Grand SlamHow Novak Djokovic reacted when asked if he was intimidated by Roger FedererShocking stats: How Alexander Zverev really performs on grass

The 2026 FIFA World Cup moves into its fourth day of group stage play, as Group E and Group F kick off their first games of the tournament. Here's what you need to know for Sunday’s slate of matches.Germany vs. CuraçaoSunday, June 14 | 1 p.m. ET | Houston, Texas | TV: FoxIt was only 12 years ago that Germany lifted its fourth World Cup trophy. But since then, the Germans have gotten grouped two tournaments in a row. Germany's quest to fight off that embarrassing run starts Sunday, as the European powerhouse faces off against Curaçao, the smallest country in the tournament.Everything is on the Germans' side in this group stage. For Germany, Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz enters the tournament with the most eyes on him, but any number of the team's veterans or up-and-comers could be the difference-maker in an overdue tournament run. Die Mannschaft is also a clear favorite to win this group: The team holds the highest FIFA ranking in the group (No. 10), ahead of its primary competition in the group, Ecuador.Curaçao, meanwhile, will just be happy to finally make it to this stage at all, as the small island nation is one of four debutantes to make it to the newly expanded tournament. The Blue Wave is being coached by legendary manager Dick Advocaat, and its midfield is anchored by a pair of brothers, veteran Leandro Bacuna and younger sibling Juninho Bacuna.Netherlands vs. JapanSunday, June 14 | 4 p.m. ET | Dallas, Tex. | TV: FoxThe Netherlands is another of the high-level teams (No. 8 in the FIFA rankings) that will start its World Cup journey on Sunday. The Oranje will be led by longtime captain Virgil van Dijk, who is the anchor of the Dutch back line and still one of the best players on the team.But unlike Germany, the Oranje starts the group stage with a much harder challenge: Japan, whose durability and depth make them a very difficult foe.Japan consistently stuns opponents at the World Cup: In 2022, the Samurai Blue beat both Germany and Spain to win their group, keeping Germany out of the knockout round altogether. They'll aim to do some more disrupting this year, starting with the Dutch.It'll also be a meeting of two of the game's best fanbases. Japanese fans are all-in on the team, and Netherlands supporters kick off every game with the Oranje Fanwalk, creating a sprawling mass of orange-clad fans that spans for blocks. Sunday's version of the Fanwalk in Arlington will be the first glimpse of it on American soil, and it's something to keep an eye out for.Ivory Coast vs. EcuadorSunday, June 14 | 7 p.m. ET | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | TV: FoxElsewhere in Group E, Ecuador and Ivory Coast will play each other to kick off the tournament. Ecuador enters this tournament as a dark horse, boosted by an incredible run of qualifying games against some heavy-duty CONMEBOL opponents.Similar to 2006, when Ecuador made its sole knockout appearance, the team’s defensive strengths will be key against high-scoring teams, including Germany. But Moisés Caicedo will be the team's most talked-about player: The 24-year-old midfielder has made a name for himself at Chelsea, and is someone to watch as Ecuador tries to make an even longer run.However, Ivory Coast will not be a walkover for Ecuador. Ivory Coast, one of two African teams to make it to the tournament without conceding a goal in qualifying, will be bringing a strong defense with some talented attackers, including star forward Nicolas Pépé. The Elephants will be guided by 29-year-old captain Franck Kessié, who has over 100 caps.Sweden vs. TunisiaSunday, June 14 | 10 p.m. ET | Monterrey, Mexico | TV: FoxSweden is in an odd position heading into this World Cup: The team managed to qualify despite not earning a win in a terrible qualifying campaign. A bit of luck and some complicated UEFA formatting landed the Swedes in the tournament anyway, but leaves the team with even more to prove in this group stage.As a result, Sweden's stock is significantly down this summer, especially compared to its European counterparts. Forward Alexander Isak will hope to provide a bit of spark, but it may be a tough road ahead for the Blågult. (However, the last time the World Cup was hosted in the U.S., Sweden finished in third place, so who knows.)Tunisia, meanwhile, enters this tournament on an incredibly defensive run, being the other African to not concede a single goal in qualifying. Midfielder Hannibal Mejbri leads a group of rising attacking stars, while veterans like captain Ellyes Shkiri will be the glue to hold Tunisia together as it aims to reach the knockout round for the first time.In general, Group F is going to be one of the hardest groups to get out of. Tunisia and Sweden both have plenty of chances to surprise the Netherlands and Japan, who enter as favorites to go one-two in group play. This first game offers Swede and Tunisia to each try and get a leg up before facing the other half of the group.

Barcelona threatens Florentino Perez with court filing over ‘slanderous’ commentsBarcelona have started taking legal action against Real Madrid president Florentino Perez over comments he made regarding the ‘Negreira case’.The Blaugranas confirmed that they have filed a request for conciliation against Perez.Under Spanish law, this process gives the accused person an opportunity to withdraw or correct their statements before a formal court case begins.The club stated that if Perez refuses to retract his comments, they will move forward with a criminal complaint.Barcelona have decided to take action against Perez for the comments he made during a press conference on May 12 and in a media interview the following day.The club argues that some of his statements were knowingly false and damaged Barcelona’s reputation.In an official statement, Barcelona said the purpose of the filing is to seek a retraction of remarks they consider slanderous and harmful to the club’s image.The case has been brought under Article 205 of Spain’s Penal Code, which deals with defamation.Perez made comments about the ongoing investigation into payments made by Barcelona to the former vice-president of Spain’s referees’ committee, Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira.The reported €8.4 million payment has been the centre of one of the most controversial issues in Spanish football history.During his press conference in May, Perez described the matter as “the biggest scandal in history” and an unprecedented case of corruption.He also pointed out that referees from the period under investigation are still officiating in competitions.Perez further revealed that Madrid are preparing an extensive dossier on the case, which he said would be submitted to UEFA after the season.According to Perez, the report would contain hundreds of pages of information related to the investigation.The comments came shortly before Perez won the Madrid presidential election, beating Enrique Riquelme to retain his seat after winning 65% of the vote.

The wait is almost over. Eighteen months after he was unveiled as England manager, Thomas Tuchel will lead the Three Lions into the 2026 World Cup on Wednesday, with the express goal of “putting a second star on the shirt”. For fans, the extreme psychological sport that is watching England in a major tournament begins.Qualification was perfect – no draws, no defeats, no goals conceded – but some of England’s friendly performances have been uninspiring and even at this late stage, there remain some questions over exactly who makes up England’s best XI as they prepare to face Croatia in Dallas.Jordan Pickford will, of course, start in goal and we have a fairly clear idea of the back four. Reece James and Nico O’Reilly will be the full-backs, and the centre-back pairing will be two of Marc Guehi, John Stones and Ezri Konsa. BBC Sport reported this week that Tuchel is leaning towards Stones and Konsa, which perhaps points to the manager’s preference for height and physicality in a tournament where he has stressed the importance of set-pieces. Konsa has played regularly for England under Tuchel, while Stones is England’s most experienced tournament defender. The full-backs will play an important role not just defensively but in the way England build up from the back. Both James and O’Reilly have played in midfield for Chelsea and Manchester City respectively this season and their ability and creativity on the ball – particularly James’s passing range – will add another element to the tenacity of Elliot Anderson and the drive of Declan Rice, England’s preferred pair in central midfield.How England could line up against Croatia in their opening group match (The Independent)Jude Bellingham is most likely to start in the No 10 position. Morgan Rogers played a key role throughout qualifying and Tuchel took a hard line on Bellingham’s inclusion in the squad last autumn. But the Real Madrid midfielder is a leader for England, someone who can take the burden off Harry Kane both in terms of his attacking output, with his runs beyond the striker and by assuming responsibility on the field. Bukayo Saka will start on the right side, although Tuchel has hinted that fitness issues may limit his minutes at the World Cup – Noni Madueke could turn out to be crucial. Madueke was excellent in England’s best game under Tuchel, the 5-0 thrashing of Serbia in qualifying, and it is possible that Madueke could even usurp Saka as England’s starting winger later in the tournament if he impresses from the bench and Saka struggles for sharpness.Tuchel’s biggest decision is on the left wing, and a choice between Anthony Gordon and Marcus Rashford. It is a strange dynamic, given Gordon has just signed for Barcelona days before travelling out to the US for this World Cup. He is effectively replacing Rashford, who spent the season on loan at the Nou Camp but will not have his temporary stay made permanent. Rashford is expected to find another place to play rather than return to Manchester United, where relations broke down last season. They are difficult to split. Rashford had an impressive season for Barcelona, scoring 14 goals and recording 14 assists in 49 appearances. Gordon’s numbers weren’t far behind, with 17 goals and five assists in 43 games for Newcastle. Marcus Rashford is battling with Anthony Gordon to start for England (Getty)Gordon played well against Costa Rica in a friendly last week to push his case, but Rashford might just have the edge, given his experience on this stage. He is the more natural striker, and ultimately England’s left winger will be required to make attacking runs in behind when Harry Kane drops deep to get involved in the play.It could also make sense for Gordon to be the finisher, rather than the starter, given his penalty prowess. Rashford’s career penalty record is actually very good, but he hasn’t taken many in recent seasons and England might rather finish extra time with Gordon on the pitch. Kane, of course, will lead the line. The England captain scored 61 goals for Bayern Munich this season, and provided seven assists, in an astonishing campaign.Who are the most likely players to be used from the bench? Madueke and either Gordon or Rashford will regularly appear in the second half of games to inject fresh energy on the wings. One or both of Rogers and Eberechi Eze will come on, particularly if England are searching for a goal. Kobbie Mainoo may get some minutes in central midfield, and Tino Livramento is the frontrunner among the reserve full-backs. Perhaps therein lies the logic of Tuchel’s squad selection. The omissions of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer raised eyebrows and felt like a waste of English talent, but the result a lack of star names left stewing on the bench. That might make Tuchel’s life a little easier over the coming weeks.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Pinch-hitter Tyler Soderstrom delivered a go-ahead double in the sixth inning and the Athletics beat the Colorado Rockies 7-5 on Saturday night for their fourth straight comeback victory.Zack Gelof had a two-run homer and Alika Williams went 3 for 3 with a walk for the A's (35-35), including a tying single in the sixth.Brett Sullivan homered and drove in two runs for the Rockies, who have dropped three in a row and seven of nine. Colorado has the worst record in the majors at 26-45.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

The head coach of the 2025-26 NBA champion New York Knicks, a team that will be remembered for mental toughness, is the same man who was told 18 months ago he was not fit to coach the Sacramento Kings.That man is Mike Brown and he has been on a journey, which ended with him boisterously leading a “Who let the dogs out?” chant with his players on the podium while holding a confused child.Brown just capped off a dream first season with the Knicks, leading them on a run in which they won 15 of 16 games in one of the most dominant stretches in NBA history. This was no superteam, but a team of well-defined role players and, of course, the unflappable Jalen Brunson. They fell behind in every game and they never blinked. The right buttons were pressed, such as the revamp of Karl-Anthony Towns’ offensive role.It was a great coaching job, and also exactly what one of the most moribund franchises in the NBA decided Brown was incapable of doing less than two years.The Kings’ firing of Mike Brown has looked worse with every monthRewind back to 2024 and Brown was the head coach of the Kings and seemed to be doing a pretty good job at it. He joined the franchise after winning three rings as an assistant with the Golden State Warriors and led a turnaround that saw Sacramento go from 31 wins or fewer in its previous three seasons to 48-34 in 2022-23.Under Brown, the Kings reached the NBA playoffs for the first time, ending a 17-year drought that was the longest in major North American sports.That earned him the first unanimous Coach of the Year honors in NBA history.The Kings went on to win 46 games in 2023-24, falling short in the play-in tournament, but they were still a competitive team. Then they began 2024-25 with a 13-18 record and, well, panic set in. Panic that they might be the same old Kings again. So they made the most Kings move possible.The Kings’ firing of Brown, after a practice and before a team flight, left the NBA stunned. Coaches around the league were publicly befuddled that a team could so quickly fire the coach who delivered their best season in two decades, most notably then-Denver Nuggets coach Mike Malone.Malone has his own history with the Kings, having been fired in 2014. His judgement on how Brown was handled: “No class, no balls.”The Knicks swooped in months later, hiring Brown as their replacement for the fired Tom Thibodeau. We can now safely say that decision has been vindicated, while the Kings have looked worse for their part with every passing month. They finished this season 22-60 and will be picking seventh in the NBA Draft after losing the lottery.The Kings didn't think Mike Brown could get them over the hump. So he did it for the Knicks instead.Gregory Shamus via Getty ImagesKnicks starter Josh Hart is certainly thankful for how it worked out, effusively praising Brown’s coaching after Game 5:“Mike was invaluable to this run. He understands what it is to be a champion. He undestandads how to build a team, how to build habits that will put you in this position. We’re so grateful, so thankful to have him at the top. He kept us even so many times. He’s brought the best out of us as people first. I’m so happy for him. He’s the reason why we’re here.”To be clear, it wasn’t the smoothest ride for Brown this season. It was a bumpy regular season for the Knicks en route to 53 wins, but they were a different team once the playoffs began. A major reason, via SNY, was a team meeting in which Brown encouraged his starting lineup to air their grievances with him and each other.Brown’s NBA journey is longer than just the Knicks, Kings and Warriors. He got his start as an assistant in 1997 with the Washington Wizards, Spurs and Indiana Pacers before becoming LeBron James’ second NBA coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He failed to break through with the ascending superstar, got fired and ended up coaching the Los Angeles Lakers for a season and a half before going back to Cleveland for one more season.All of that experience added up to the coach the Knicks needed. And maybe the coach the Kings needed too.

Subscribe to The Kevin O'Connor ShowApple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTubeKevin O’Connor and Tom Haberstroh recap the terrific Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs.The Knicks are champions after 53 years! What led to the Knicks’ seemingly improbable championship? What’s next for the San Antonio Spurs?(0:43) New York Knicks are NBA Champions(1:20) Jalen Brunson’s Finals performance(16:25) Spurs have a De’Aaron Fox problem(22:24) What went wrong with Wemby?(43:23) Controversial no flagrant called on Wembanyama(50:46) Karl-Anthony Towns’ Finals performance(1:00:30) Trade suitors for De’Aaron Fox(1:04:18) Final thoughts on 2026 FinalsNew York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson holds the MVP trophy after the Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)Ross D. Franklin🖥️ Watch this full episode on the Yahoo Sports NBA YouTube channelCheck out all episodes of The Kevin O'Connor Show and the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv

🤩 Sleep optional: brutal kick-off time can't stop these fansIn Australia, it’s currently the afternoon; things look very different here in Germany, where most people are probably not even awake yet this Sunday, and in many places the beer for this evening likely isn’t even chilling yet. In Turkey, people haven’t exactly been blessed with the classic kickoff time today either, because the Turkish team is already battling for the first three group-stage points of this World Cup — against Australia, no less. These videos on ‘X’ prove it: the very early kickoff time — and in Turkey too, it’s really still the middle of the night on a Sunday — can’t put off real football fans. Instead of still lying comfortably in bed, countless supporters made their way to public viewing events to follow the action live from Vancouver on Canada’s Pacific coast on the big screen. We’re taking bets: how many of these fans were exemplary enough to go to bed nice and early last night, and how many simply stayed up all night and used the earlier matches to get in the mood for kickoff? Kickoff time in Canada was 9:00 p.m., so the Turkey fans on site had it a bit more traditional — assuming they weren’t still dealing with jet lag. Judging by the pictures from the fan march, though, that was clearly not the case.Public viewing first thing in the morning — is that your kind of thing too? Or at that hour, do you prefer the somewhat smaller screen in front of your cozy couch at home? Write it in the comments!This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

WASHINGTON D.C. — This weekend is either the high-water mark of the UFC’s existence or an affront to the nation, but in any case it’s a reality check for those us who come from the MMA side of the ledger. When I mentioned as a matter of fact that Sunday night’s headliner Ilia Topuria was born in Georgia to my Uber driver on the ride over to The Ellipse for UFC Freedom 250’s Fan Fest, he said, “Oh yeah, same state as Jimmy Carter.” The thing is, he'd told me he was a UFC fan. After that I told him I thought Topuria came from just outside of Augusta, specifically.This whole thing has been a strange experience if I’m being honest. The UFC doesn’t fit squarely here in Washington, and neither do the facts. It’s either a celebration of America’s 250th birthday or President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday or Flag Day or all the above, and everyone is arguing about the role Trump played to the UFC’s ultimate success. That’s because everyone, it seems, is paying attention, yet nobody’s quite sure how to feel. Even The New Yorker ran a cover, by the artist Barry Blitt, of Trump sleeping through a battle between Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the Octagon. That drew a nice laugh from some of the folks at the media center at the JW Marriott, headquarters to the thousand or so media folks who made the trip yet didn’t gain access to the South Lawn. The many thousands of fans who gathered at the 52-acre Ellipse for the opening day of Saturday’s fan fest, however, didn’t seem to care one way or another, and if they noticed the clusters of armed military personnel on security detail — or the many police at the entrances, or the snipers on the White House rooftops — well, let’s just say they were plenty distracted.That’s because Daniel Cormier was taking off his shirt on the main stage in the heat of the long afternoon, obliging a request that came in from the crowd. No dollar bills were flung his way, but you should’ve heard the roar. Everybody loves a good sport, and “DC” is just that. He hosted a discussion panel with Chris Weidman, Kayla Harrison and Carlos Ulberg, along with WWE stars Charlotte Flair and The Miz to kick off Saturday’s festivities.Daniel Cormier is having a good old time ahead of UFC Freedom 250.Rey Del Rio via Getty ImagesIn some ways, the UFC Freedom 250 Fan Fest was arranged like the UFC’s version of Lalapalooza, with a main stage set up south of the White House, and the 92-foot “Claw” structure standing just beyond it like the Colosseum in Rome. There were people waiting in long lines to pose for pictures with fighters like Glover Teixeira and Michael Johnson and Stephen Thompson at designated meet-and-greet huts. The beer lines were shorter than the water lines, as water was free while the beer was $12 for a Bud Light ($14 for a Kona Big Wave). The queue corrals at the merch booths snaked onto the open grass, as swag sales were booming.It was a perfectly contained pandemonium, yet it was only a test run. On Sunday, as the UFC Freedom 250 card plays out across the street, they are anticipating as many as 85,000 people at The Ellipse to watch on a big screen. Or so the speculation goes, as these facts are also elusive. There were machines set up to gauge your punching power. There were mechanical rams, which were much like the mechanical bulls you might see in cowboy bars only these ones were sponsored by Dodge Ram. There were bleachers set up for those media members who didn’t make the South Lawn cut, yet don’t want to sit in a hotel either. Those bleachers are metal and open to the elements. When Heidi Androl asked if the crowd had any questions during a Zuffa Boxing press conference featuring Conor Benn, cruiserweight Jai Opetaia — who’d flown in from Australia for the occasion — and new Zuffa signee Nasheed “Sugar Sheed” Smith, one fan yelled out “Justin Gaethje.” Another wanted to know if Benn would fight Eddie Hearn, his former promoter. “No, it’s all love,” Benn said.“When a latter-day Liber de Spectaculis is written,” a piece in The Atlantic read, claiming that Trump’s UFC birthday bash lacked the ambition of the Colosseum days, “Sunday’s events will be described as falling well short of the one benchmark that seems to matter to the president: talis qualem mundus numquam vidit — ‘such as the world has never seen.’” Meanwhile, on the main stage Jeff Novitzky was honoring the clean athletes who had endured 50+ tests in the fight careers, yet never popped hot for anything. Namely, Drew Dober and UFC champion Mackenzie Dern. While they were being awarded jackets, a fan yelled out, “get off the stage, you bald bastard!” while his girlfriend filmed him.The attitudes about the UFC being in the nation’s capital all over the place.The New York Times wrote that come Sunday the UFC “will hold the octagonal cage for seven Ultimate Fighting Championship bouts, where half-naked men will punch, kick and choke each other into submission,” which read like an article from the year 2001. Maybe the sport hasn’t come as far as we thought.Later on, a bald eagle flew the length of The Ellipse and alighted on the gloved hand of a handler, and the ceremonial weigh-ins were among the best the UFC has ever done. Each fighter had their own video package, many talking about second chances and hardships and patriotism. Joe Rogan, who doesn’t love the idea of a UFC occurring outdoors, emceed the whole thing.Fireworks explode above the UFC Freedom 250 Fan Fest on The Ellipse ahead of Sunday's fights.Al Drago via Getty ImagesThe Washington Post called this Dana White’s magnum opus, and placed Rogan into the general air of confusions.“[White] is also arguably the most powerful man at the intersection of sports and American politics, a status he unlocked in 2016, when he became among the first public figures to endorse Trump’s candidacy,” the piece read. “Since then, White, who says he identifies as ‘an ’80s Democrat,’ has spoken at three Republican National Conventions and played a critical role in turning out young, male voters for Trump, including convincing podcaster and UFC broadcaster Joe Rogan to endorse him in 2024. If the ‘manosphere’ has a spiritual leader, it may be White.”After the ceremonial weigh-ins they blasted Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA,” as fireworks went off in the background. Then the Zac Brown Band played a concert to close the show.It was an American celebration, alright, unlike anything we’re likely to see the UFC ever do again. It’s either the high-water mark of the promotion’s existence or an affront to the nation, but it was definitely a celebration.

Photo by Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty ImagesZohran Mamdani gave New York Knicks fans the three words they had waited 53 years to hear after the franchise finally won the NBA championship.The Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, closing the series in San Antonio and winning their first title since 1973.Once the trophy was secured, attention in New York immediately shifted from the final buzzer to the parade.Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty ImagesZohran Mamdani confirms New York Knicks parade for Thursday in ManhattanIn a post shared by NYC Mayor on X, Mamdani confirmed the basic plan for the Knicks’ championship celebration.“Parade. Thursday. Manhattan,” he tweeted.The message was short, but it gave fans the answer they wanted. After more than five decades without a Knicks title parade, the city now has a target date and borough for the public celebration.Thursday points to June 18, giving New York several days to move from road-title celebration to full city staging. Manhattan was the expected center of gravity for a championship moment this big.New York Knicks parade planning now turns toward Manhattan crowd controlNew York championship parades are normally built around Lower Manhattan, with the Canyon of Heroes route along Broadway and a City Hall finish often used for major title celebrations. The final route, start time, transit guidance, and street closures still need formal city details.The scale could be massive. The Knicks did not just win another championship, they ended a drought that stretched back to 1973 and did it behind Jalen Brunson’s 45-point Game 5 performance.That history will shape the turnout. Multiple generations of Knicks fans have never seen this team celebrate an NBA title, and Thursday now becomes the city’s first real chance to turn the win into a shared public moment.Mamdani’s post did not need much detail to land. “Parade. Thursday. Manhattan” was enough to tell New York that the championship is no longer only something that happened in San Antonio, it is coming home.Read more:Jimmy Butler’s 2018 ‘soft’ insult on Karl-Anthony Towns looks awful after Knicks star won NBA ChampionshipHow Karl-Anthony Towns ended his father’s painful 40-year New York Knicks waitTimothee Chalamet says ‘way more this than the Oscars’ at New York Knicks title celebration

Legion Hoops: Devin Vassell says Dylan Harper was frustrated with his role and playing time with the Spurs the season. “But when we needed him most he stepped up.” (h/t @big_business_)x.comThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Devin Vassell says Dylan Harper was frustrated with his role with Spurs

‪Tom Orsborn‬: Dylan Harper, after embracing each of his teammates in the locker room: "We all learned a lot in this playoff run. A lot of people counted us out and we proved people wrong. It didn't go how we wanted to go, but we definitely learned a lot."bsky.appThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Harper, after embracing each of his teammates in the …

Tom Orsborn: Stephon Castle on how the Knicks defense made it tough on him and his teammates: “They crowded the pick and rolls a lot, made us stagnant on the ball. When we tried get to isolation, they took away passing lanes too, made us play one-on-one a lot.”x.comThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Stephon Castle on how the Knicks defense made it tough …

Oh No He Didn't: Landry Shamet: "It's emotional just considering everything: Training camp deal 2 years in a row on the verge being out of the league and injuries, ups and downs man. It's crazy. I'm just really, really grateful and proud of myself for not giving up"x.comThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Landry Shamet: "It's emotional just considering …

Jace frederick: Fun fact: Spurs somehow won the clutch time minutes in this series 39-38 Shot 38% in the clutch to New York’s 32%x.comThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Spurs somehow won the clutch time minutes in this …

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson motions to teammates during the second half of Game 5 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the San Antonio Spurs, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)2026-06-13T15:22:22Z SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Jalen Brunson and the Comeback Knicks did it again. And now they’re the Champion Knicks.For the first time in 53 years, New York rules the NBA. Brunson scored 45 points, including 13 straight for New York in the fourth quarter, and the Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Saturday night.The Knicks won the series 4-1, rallying from double-digit deficits in all four of those victories. The deficit was 16 on Saturday night. Brunson and the Knicks were never fazed.“I have no words,” Brunson, the NBA Finals MVP, said during the on-court celebration. “It’s everything I ever dreamed of.”Brunson, fittingly, closed with a flourish. He set a Knicks record for points in a finals game; it had been 38 by Willis Reed against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of the 1970 series. It now belongs to the left-handed point guard who changed the franchise’s fortunes when he arrived four years ago. “It’s surreal,” Knicks coach Mike Brown, who was hired a year ago — making him the franchise’s 24th coach since the franchise’s last championship in 1973. “I still can’t believe it’s happened.” Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart — the other two parts of the “Nova Knicks” trio that also includes Brunson, three players who were NCAA champions at Villanova and teamed up in New York to try to do the same — combined to score 27 points. Bridges had 14, Hart 13. Read More “I don’t know what I’m feeling,” Brunson said. “I’m in awe. Whenever someone counted us out, we found a way to come back and do something about it.”Dylan Harper scored 25 for the Spurs, who got 19 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots from Victor Wembanyama.“This is the biggest lesson of my life, the biggest learning moment,” Wembanyama said. “I can’t tell exactly what the lesson is, but we’re learning.”The Knicks improved to 4-0 in closeout opportunities this season, winning them all on the road. It didn’t feel like the road, though — not with thousands of New York faithful having made the trip to Texas to see a moment 53 years in the making. And back home, on the streets of the Big Apple, celebrations broke out everywhere. Fireworks lit up the night sky, people honked horns on jampacked streets and firefighters — from their trucks — slapped high-fives with delirious fans.“HISTORY,” New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani wrote on social media, then added that the Knicks’ championship parade will be Thursday.New York got to the brink of this title by rallying from 29 points down in Game 4 to win 107-106 on OG Anunoby’s tip-in with 1.2 seconds left on Wednesday night. It was the largest comeback in NBA Finals history and the biggest comeback in any game this season, regular season or playoffs.By comparison, then, a 16-point rally in this one seemed easy. And San Antonio had to shuffle off into the offseason, listening to Knicks fans celebrating in their building.“We weren’t ready to win an NBA championship,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “The better team won. We did a lot of good things, and we didn’t finish the job. That’s what it is.” The game followed the same script in the opening minutes as all the others in the series, with the Spurs taking a double-digit lead in the first quarter and then frittering most of it away in the second quarter.The Spurs became the first team in the play-by-play era, which started in the 1996-97 season, to lead five finals games by 10 points or more in first quarters.The Knicks simply could not make a shot, missing on 16 of their first 18 tries and each of their first 11 two-point attempts. There even was a point in the second quarter when Wembanyama had more blocked shots (five) than the Knicks had made shots (four). San Antonio’s lead was as many as 10 in the first quarter, as many as 16 in the second.Of course, none of it mattered much. As always, the Knicks came back.A 22-9 run in the second quarter got New York within three, before Devin Vassell scored just before the halftime buzzer to give San Antonio a 42-37 edge at the break. And that capped an opening 24 minutes of either offensive ineptitude or defensive prowess, depending on perspective. The 79 combined points in the first half were the lowest in a finals game since Game 7 of Lakers-Celtics in 2010, and the combined 31.8% field goals shooting by the Knicks and Spurs was the lowest in the first half of a finals game in the play-by-play era.Brunson won NCAA crowns twice with Villanova — both in Texas, the 2016 one in Houston and the 2018 one in San Antonio, just a few miles away from the arena that the Spurs call home.A Texas three-step of titles, and this one was surely the sweetest of all.“It’s why I came to New York,” Brunson said.___AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA TIM REYNOLDS Reynolds is an Associated Press sports writer, based in South Florida. twitter mailto

The arena for the UFC Freedom 250 fights on the South Lawn of the White House is photographed Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)2026-06-14T04:02:07Z WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump celebrates turning 80 on Sunday with a showstopping birthday spectacle that once would have seemed unfathomable: a cage-fighting show on the storied South Lawn of the White House.This week, the hard realities of the office have threatened to overshadow the ostentatious UFC mixed martial arts extravaganza, where combatants sealed inside a wire-mesh octagon try to punch, kick, chop and pummel each other into submission.Trump has found himself boxed into an unpopular and costly war he helped start in Iran. An agreement to end the conflict could be close, but the crucial details are still to be negotiated. Meanwhile, about a mile from Trump’s birthday bash, crews pried the president’s name off the Kennedy Center after a judge ruled naming it after Trump had gone too far.Regardless, the president will walk out of the White House and be surrounded by Cabinet leaders, top administration officials, Republican lawmakers and 4,000-plus spectators screaming themselves hoarse in a temporary arena under “ The Claw,” a spaceship-like metal arch fitted with lighting, sound equipment and large screens. Thousands more will be watching on big screens from the nearby Ellipse. “This event is a one of one event, incredible event. I love it,” said UFC chief Dana White, a close friend of the president, during a Friday night hype session at the Lincoln Memorial where pairs of fighters shoved and scuffled for the cameras under the stoic gaze of Honest Abe’s marble likeness. The president has sought to tie Sunday’s event — which features seven fights running past midnight — to larger, months-long celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Read More But it is much more geared toward feting himself, so much so that the G7 summit for leaders of industrialized nations pushed back their get-together so that the president could attend his cage-match party and then fly straight to France for the meetings. The weather, though, could put a major damper on things. Strong thunderstorms and heavy lightning disrupted Friday’s Lincoln Memorial event, and the forecast for Sunday evening also looks threatening.“I’m sick and tired of hearing about the weather,” White declared on Friday, before conceding that he’ll prefer to hold future UFC events inside arenas only.A dramatic departure from how the last president marked his 80thWhen Trump’s predecessor, President Joe Biden, turned 80 in November 2022, he celebrated with a private family brunch at the White House, laying bare just how much and how quickly things have changed.Asked about the contrast, White House spokesperson Allison Schuster said that the fight “will be one of the most entertaining nights in American history” and said that the timing was appropriate. “Having this spectacle take place at the people’s house on Flag Day during our nations’ semiquincentennial anniversary is a fitting tribute,” Schuster said in a statement. When he turned 80, Biden was the oldest president in U.S. history, and was months away from launching a reelection bid that he would ultimately abandon after a disastrous debate against Trump and mutiny among Democrats concerned he was too old to handle a second term. Trump has now supplanted Biden as the oldest person to be elected U.S. president. He’s constitutionally barred from running again, yet constantly toys with the notion publicly. That’s despite polls showing rising public skepticism about Trump’s mental and physical health — recalling concerns Biden faced as he turned 80.A Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll conducted in April found that less than half of U.S. adults think Trump has the mental sharpness or physical health to serve effectively as president.The White House countered with a lengthy statement from Trump’s former White House physician, Texas Republican Rep. Ronny Jackson, saying Trump’s “stamina, focus, and strength are exceptional and on display every day. Claims to the contrary are pure fiction.” Jackson added that polling concerns were “being propagated by the same biased, liberal, Trump-hating press that completely ignored the absolute cognitive and physical disaster that was President Biden.”Trump has nonetheless undergone four publicly announced physical examinations this term alone, with White House physician Dr. Sean Barbabella recently declaring him in “excellent health.” ‘Bread and circuses’ — Trump-styleThe UFC event is an apt metaphor for Trump’s pugilistic political style. He is as big a fan of cage-match-style politics as he is of cage-fighting itself.But Trump has also long been a master of political misdirection, purposely presenting people with something other than his presidency to focus on when things aren’t going well. With the war in Iran grinding on despite weeks of assurances from Trump that its end is nigh, gas prices staying high, renewed concerns about inflation and plummeting job approval ratings for Trump — a White House birthday party unlike anything America has ever seen is definitely a diversion. “This is all distraction,” said Mike Fontaine, a classics professor at Cornell University, who likened it to the gladiatorial games of Imperial Rome, when combatants brutalized each other for public entertainment meant to bolster rulers’ popularity and quell potential unrest.“This is a classic strategy,” Fontaine said. “In ancient Rome, the phrase would be, ‘bread and circuses.’” Trump says the UFC is paying for the event and while its full costs haven’t been divulged, the National Park Service said in a court filing that $60-plus million and tens of thousands of hours of labor have gone into it, while seven government agencies have “allocated significant resources and manpower.”UFC also announced on Friday that it was adding as an official partner for the event World Liberty Financial to create a special $250,000 athlete bonus pool for Sunday night’s winners. The cryptocurrency company is co-owned by the Trump family, founded with the president’s special diplomatic envoy Steve Witkoff and run by his son, Zach. The arrangement further blurs lines between the Trump family’s financial interests and the events and construction projects the president has prioritized and used government resources to pull off. Still, Fontaine said that when it comes to a personal flair for pageantry, the president’s second-term tendency to lean into “hardcore masculinity and brute fighting” is marrying the UFC’s blood sport with Trump’s trademark humor and enduring sense of showmanship. “President Trump has a once-in-a-generation talent for this stuff,” he said. WILL WEISSERT Weissert covers the White House for The Associated Press. He is based in Washington. twitter mailto 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Richard Hughes is rubbing his eyes: £60m forward deal is too good to be trueLiverpool have drawn up plans to make big alterations on the wing this summer. Mohamed Salah is leaving the club following an agreement to rip up his £400k per week contract one year early. And Federico Chiesa is for sale at around €20m with several Italian teams interested in signing the 28-year-old.The top contenders to arrive have been listed as Yan Diomande, Bradley Barcola and Francisco Trincao.Diomande, 19, could be available for around €100m if RB Leipzig decide to cash in. It’s looking ever more likely that Barcola will be sold by Paris Saint-Germain although his price could end up being higher than Ivorian winger Diomande.Trincao is a cheaper option with Sporting CP thought to be willing to cash in at around €50m for the former Wolves and Barcelona player.And Liverpool’s plans to sign a new superstar winger could be given a huge boost. Because Caught Offside is reporting that Cody Gakpo is the subject of.Spurs open £60m file on Cody GakpoThe £250k per week Reds’ forward has emerged as a potential transfer target in the wake of Arne Slot’s sacking at Anfield.Gakpo, 27, was the Dutchman’s star pupil but stood in the way of Rio Ngumoha on the left wing - much to the consternation of Reds’ fans.If Gakpo goes it will have two benefits; firstly, there will be one fewer player in the way of 17-year-old Ngumoha in his pursuit of more game time.With Bayern Munich lurking - and Ngumoha only under contract for two more seasons - it will be crucial for the outgoing Premier League champions to demonstrate his future lies on Merseyside.And €70m is a not-so-insignificant sum which would go some way towards helping sporting director Richard Hughes pay for a replacement or an upgrade on Gakpo.Path clears for NgumohaLiverpool tend to operate on strict financial controls with new signings being offset by sales. Having spent £450m last summer it’s unlikely that Liverpool will get near that figure this time around.So a large fee for Gakpo - who signed a new long-term contract last year - would be a very welcome development.“Tottenham are understood to be preparing a big bid for Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo,” the report reads.“Spurs are leading the race for Gakpo’s signature, and have internally put plans in place to offer a package worth around €70m for the 27-year-old.”Liverpool may well get a bidding war going for the Netherlands’ international - who has been with the club since 2023. “Newcastle and Bayern Munich [are] monitoring the player’s situation,” the report continues.But it also adds that Spurs are at the front of the queue - with developments expected in the near future.“Tottenham are expected to make a formal approach soon,” the report reads.So instead of being stuck with an underperforming Gakpo - on massive wages - for the duration of his contract Liverpool could end up cashing in on the former PSV captain.

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — The Georgia Bulldogs women and Arkansas Razorbacks men successfully defended their titles at the NCAA outdoor track and field championships on Saturday night.Georgia became the fifth school to win back-to-back outdoor championships. The Bulldogs also won the indoor championship this season. Georgia finished with 50 points. Florida (43) was second and Arkansas (38) took third.Georgia’s Adaejah Hodge won the 200-meter race with a NCAA-record time of 21.68 seconds, and was runner-up in the 100 behind Florida State's Shenese Walker — who clocked 10.88. The Bulldogs' Dejanea Oakley set a collegiate record in winning the 400 in 48.79.It was Georgia's fourth championship and second under head coach Caryl Smith Gilbert, who also won two titles at Southern California.Arkansas' Sanu Jallow-Lockhart won the women's 800 in a collegiate-record time of 1:56.85. She also anchored the second fastest 4x400 relay in history, winning in 3:18.88.Alabama's Doris Lemngole won the women's 5,000 in 15:11.71 to claim her sixth national championship.Sofia Cosculluela finished with 6,182 points in the heptathlon to win Washington's first championship in the event.Oregon's Aaliyah McCormick won the 100 hurdles in 12.47 to become the first repeat champion in 18 years. Clemson's Shantae Foreman leaped 46 feet, 7 inches on her sixth and final try to win the triple jump.Arkansas cruised to the men's indoor and outdoor championships a year after Southern California pulled off the feat. Razorbacks coach Doug Case captured the school's 11th title and first since 2003 in his first season. Arkansas had 2004 and 2005 championships vacated.The Razorbacks totaled 56 points despite having no individual champions. Georgia (49) was second and Tennessee (46) placed third.New Mexico's Habtom Samuel won the men's 5,000 in 13:38.93 after winning the 10,000 earlier.Georgia's Kimani Jack cleared 7-5 3/4 to win the high jump and the Bulldogs won the 4x400 relay by 0.03 seconds over LSU.Alabama's Samuel Ogazi set a collegiate record in the 400 with a winning time of 43.38.Northern Arizona's Colin Sahlman won the 800 in 1:44.22, while Auburn's Kanyinsola Ajayi clocked a wind-aided 9.72 to win the 100.It was the first time the men's and women's champions defended their titles since LSU's women and Arkansas' men did it in 2003. ___AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

Champagne (usually Moët & Chandon), goggles and cigars – all things that you can usually spot in a typical locker-room celebration following the crowning of a new NBA champion.We even went as far back as the early 1960s for Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers celebrations after winning championships.Check it out below.2026: New York KnicksJOB FINISHED 🥳🍾THE 2026 NBA FINALS MVP CELEBRATES NEW YORK'S FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP In 53 YEARS. pic.twitter.com/BBrTXlZ0qf— NBA (@NBA) June 14, 2026CHAMPAGNE SHOWERS with @nbafinalstrophy 🍾Congrats, @nyknicks! pic.twitter.com/AqCZt69P0J— NBA (@NBA) June 14, 20262025: Oklahoma City ThunderThe Thunder's locker room 🔥🍾 pic.twitter.com/m3VtFz3lAQ— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 23, 2025The Thunder definitely popped bottles after winning the title - but it was quick, and there wasn’t a lot of craziness in the locker room afterward. “They’re not old enough to drink,” Sam Presti just told me 😂 pic.twitter.com/TyRDZrxjqA— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) June 23, 20252024: Boston CelticsChampagne showers in the locker room 🍾 🍾 🍾 pic.twitter.com/FuSu2kJRer— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) June 18, 2024NBC Sports Boston has the Celtics locker room celebration, this is so much better than the ABC coverage. I love seeing everyone chugging champagne pic.twitter.com/RZvJPt1Zm6— Danielle Hobeika (@DanielleHobeika) June 18, 20242023: Denver NuggetsJokic couldn't pop the champagne 😂😂pic.twitter.com/73CDAddFL7— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) June 13, 2023Run from him, hide from him - Nikola Jokic will get you and throw you in the pool 😂pic.twitter.com/QDY7FwrqdL— BasketNews (@BasketNews_com) June 13, 2023The Nuggets are going WILD with the champagne inside the locker room 🤣pic.twitter.com/0FMLekRMgC— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 13, 20232022: Golden State Warriors"What are they gon say now" -Stephen CurryCelebration Time #NBA75 🏆🍾 pic.twitter.com/Tg5Adi73tz— NBA (@NBA) June 17, 2022YEAAAAAA @SteveKerrpic.twitter.com/lvhJnXisJU— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 17, 20222021: Milwaukee Bucks🍾🏆The @Bucks celebrate! #ThatsGamepic.twitter.com/e7fC7XWmRl— NBA (@NBA) July 21, 20212020: Los Angeles LakersLakers champagne everywhere pic.twitter.com/uk8fVLf97S— SVs (@SolentosVids) October 16, 20202019: Toronto RaptorsChampagne showers for the champs 🍾😆(via @Raptors) pic.twitter.com/wpcJ82Elhb— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 14, 20192018: Golden State Warriors2017: Golden State Warriors2016: Cleveland CavaliersChampagne shower pour les Cavaliers ! #NBAFinalspic.twitter.com/V328jbUDP4— Pronosoft (@Pronosoft) June 20, 20162015: Golden State Warriors2014: San Antonio Spurs2013: Miami HeatMiami Heat 2013 NBA Championship champagne celebration pic.twitter.com/f69pFu6bLZ— SVs (@SolentosVids) March 14, 20202012: Miami Heat2011: Dallas Mavericks2010: Los Angeles Lakers2009: Los Angeles Lakers2008: Boston Celtics2007: San Antonio Spurs2006: Miami Heat2005: San Antonio Spurs2004: Detroit Pistons2003: San Antonio Spurs2002: Los Angeles Lakers2001: Los Angeles Lakers2000: Los Angeles LakersKobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal and Magic Johnson celebrate the @Lakers NBA championship in 2000!#20HoopClass Enshrinement: Saturday, May 15 pic.twitter.com/FQP9eMBGsv— NBA History (@NBAHistory) May 11, 20211999: San Antonio Spurs1998: Chicago Bulls1995: Houston Rockets1989: Detroit Pistons1987: Los Angeles Lakers1981: Boston Celtics1980: Los Angeles Lakers1967: Philadelphia 76ers1962: Boston CelticsThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: NBA Finals: Locker room celebrations through the years

Journalist claims both Liverpool linked stars could be targetsLiverpool Transfer Latest: Diomande Remains Priority as Barcola Interest GrowsLiverpool’s summer rebuild continues to take shape, even if the transfer market has yet to fully ignite. Speaking on his YouTube channel, David Lynch provided a detailed update on several developing stories, with particular focus on Liverpool’s pursuit of Diomande, ongoing admiration for Barcola, and the uncertainty surrounding parts of the current squad.With Andoni Iraola now preparing for his first season in charge, Lynch believes this is a defining transfer window for the club.“As much as, you know, there’s a lot to put at Slot’s door for last season, I also think the squad wasn’t really fit for purpose,” Lynch explained. “I think this is an important summer for Liverpool. They really do have to get this squad right.”Barcola Interest Creates New PossibilitiesOne of the most intriguing updates concerned PSG forward Barcola, a player Liverpool have admired for some time.Lynch revealed that reporting from elsewhere suggested Barcola “would be very open to leaving” Paris Saint Germain this summer, a development that could significantly impact Liverpool’s plans.Speaking about Liverpool’s long standing interest, Lynch said:“He is on Liverpool’s radar as a player they would like.”However, he was equally clear that Liverpool’s priority remains elsewhere.“Yan Diomande would be higher up the wingers list this summer. He is very much the first choice.”Yet the possibility of signing both players appears to be gaining traction, particularly if Liverpool sanction a major sale.Lynch suggested that if Cody Gakpo departs, Liverpool could reinvest those funds and potentially create room for multiple additions across the frontline.“Maybe more than I would have thought a few weeks ago feels like there’s a little bit of a possibility of both signings being made.”Diomande Still Tops Liverpool’s ListWhile Barcola’s availability has generated excitement, Lynch repeatedly stressed that Diomande remains Liverpool’s primary winger target.According to Lynch:“As I understand it, still top of Liverpool’s winger list.”He also highlighted the challenge posed by PSG’s interest.“PSG being there in the background makes you a little bit nervous.”Liverpool’s recruitment team are continuing their efforts, though several hurdles remain before any agreement can be completed.Lynch explained:“Liverpool have a lot to offer, great financial package, spot on the right hand side there is available with Mohamed Salah leaving.”However, he added that Liverpool still need the player to commit fully to the move.“They have to convince the player, they have to get him to tell Leipzig he won’t renew and that has yet to happen as I understand it.”Despite those complications, Lynch made his feelings on the player abundantly clear.“I think by the way he would be a fantastic signing.”Gakpo Situation Could Impact Liverpool PlansAnother significant talking point from Lynch’s update centred on Cody Gakpo.While dismissing reports that the Dutch international is actively pushing to leave, Lynch revealed an important detail from conversations he has had.“Gakpo was described as not untouchable in this window.”That assessment surprised Lynch, particularly given Liverpool’s need for attacking reinforcements following injuries elsewhere in the squad.Still, he believes Liverpool would listen to suitable offers.“If the offers are big enough, Liverpool are happy to kind of make a decision on that one.”Such a departure could directly influence Liverpool’s ability to pursue both Diomande and Barcola.Busy Summer Ahead at AnfieldThroughout the discussion, Lynch repeatedly emphasised the scale of Liverpool’s summer task. Whether addressing attackers, midfielders or defensive reinforcements, his overall message was clear.Liverpool remain active across multiple fronts, but Diomande is the standout target.As Lynch concluded:“Liverpool very, very much pushing hard to get the player and he is their top winger target for this summer.”For now, Liverpool supporters may have to remain patient. The market is relatively quiet, but if Lynch’s assessment proves accurate, the pursuit of Diomande and the growing possibility of a move for Barcola could soon become two of the defining stories of Liverpool’s summer.

[BBC]Scotland fans are no strangers to pondering permutations. But the stakes are much, much higher at a World Cup finals.What would a point here mean? What if we lose that one? Might our rivals drop points elsewhere?The conversations will already have started, in that most Scottish of ways. Win your first World Cup game in 36 years, immediately think you'll probably lose the next two, and wonder if you're out or not already.That's the spirit.After the opening round of matches, Scotland sit top of Group C, Brazil and Morocco trailing in their wake. But what chance of a first ever progression out of a major tournament group stage?Would three points be enough for last 32?Everyone had this down as a must-win. Purely based on the belief Scotland were likely aiming to be one of the best eight third-placed teams from the 12 groups.Sitting top of the section was not something many would have imagined, though.But first let's start of with the doomsday scenario. Scotland lose to both Morocco and Brazil and manage to finish third. Then it comes down to goal difference.With the win in Boston by just a single goal, Steve Clarke's side now arithmetically can't finish on three points with anything other than a negative goal difference. According to Football Meets Data, a goal difference of -1 offers an 87.5% chance of progression, which would be a reality if the Scots lost by a single goal in their final two games.That drops to 69.4% with a -2 difference, and 47.3% at -3. You get the picture.Scotland earn nervy win over Haiti for first World Cup victory in 36 yearsWhy Haiti v Scotland was antidote to the ills of world footballMcGinn 'beaming with pride' - and hopes kids around Scotland are tooThis is where Scotland's ineffective attack could prove costly. They had an xG (expected goals) at the Boston Stadium of 1.05. Aside from John McGinn's goal and Scott McTominay hitting the post, that was about it.Often the set-piece deliveries were poor - which results in a set play xG of 0 - with the saving grace being Scotland's defence stood up well to some fraught pressure to keep a clean sheet.Another goal against Haiti could have meant finishing on a goal difference of zero was possible, which would have brought a 96% of progression."Winning games at major tournaments isn't something Scotland do regularly," said former Scotland talisman James McFadden on BBC Scotland."The resilience shown - that's what has been forged in this group. It wasn't enjoyable but I would have taken an ugly 1-0 win beforehand."The next two games are going to be tough, but they have dealt with the pressure of this game."What if Scotland get more points?Now a bit of positivity...Earn another point and Scotland would almost certainly make it out of the groups for the first time, with Morocco back here on Friday offering a chance of just that.Putting it simply, Clarke's team are a clean sheet away from the last 32. The thing on the minds of many Scotland fans filling beer gardens across Boston over the next week will be which is the harder game: Morocco or Brazil?Carlo Ancelotti's team turned in an underwhelming showing in New Jersey, after all, and had to come from behind to snatch a draw. There will be no fear from Scotland going to face either of these teams. However, they will need to be a lot better in possession if they are to avoid defeat.The Scots' pass completion rate against the 83rd best team in the world was only 82%, with more backward passes and fewer going forward. However, this team has shown their ability to rouse themselves, and ultimately they got the job done here."I don't think anybody is going to be quaking in their boots to play Scotland," said former Scotland winger Pat Nevin. "But what they don't know is we can do a lot better than that, and that's maybe our secret weapon."What does history tell us?This section was compiled by our Ask Me Anything teamIn the seven previous tournaments, going back to 1998, each time the fifth-best third-placed team finished with at least three points: Colombia (1998), Portugal (2002), Poland (2006), Ivory Coast (2010 and 2014), Nigeria (2018), Tunisia (2022).So goal difference could play a major factor in determining matters this year.In 1998, three points and a -2 goal difference was enough for Colombia to be one of the five best third-placed teams. In 2006, Poland finished the tournament as the fifth-best third-place side with three points and a -2 goal difference.Ivory Coast finished as the fifth-best third-place finishers in 2010 with three points and a +1 goal difference. Whereas in 2002, Portugal finished with a +2 goal difference on three points as the fifth-best third-placed team.In 2022, there was a three-way tie for the fifth-best third-placed team: Tunisia, Cameroon and Uruguay all finished on four points and a level goal difference, with one win, one draw and one defeat each from their three group stage matches.With 12 groups instead of eight at this tournament, there is room for a broader range of results but if recent history suggests anything, it is that teams should not rely on three points being enough to progress - and that goal difference will be key.In 1998, 2002, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022, there were 13 third-placed teams who finished on three points but were not among the top five third-place finishers.World Cup fixtures and group standingsHow to watch the World Cup on the BBCEverything you need to know about the World Cup

TimesofIndia.com in Dharamsala: It is fitting that Gurnoor Brar's first international wicket has Shubman Gill's name on it: Ibrahim Zadran caught by Shubman Gill, bowled by Gurnoor Brar. If not for Gill, the 26-year-old could have been just another Indian pacer who vanished into thin air after impressing everyone with his speed.By his own admission, Brar was quick and erratic, and he learnt the lesson the hard way after an unforgettable Indian Premier League (IPL) debut for the Punjab Kings in 2023. He could have had a dream start, but KL Rahul's regulation chance was dropped at backward point. He was then taken for the cleaners, and returned with a lesson."Tez ball se paaji ab koi darta nahi chahe aap 155 hi kyu na daal rahe ho (No one is afraid of sheer pace now). I learnt the lesson the hard way," he told TimesofIndia.com after getting picked for the Indian team.The lesson was followed by injuries and going unsold in the IPL auction. Before the start of IPL 2024, the career took a different turn when he got a helping hand from Gill, who asked him to join the Gujarat Titans (GT) as a net bowler. But Gill had one condition: that he would let go of his stubbornness of hitting the back of a length five times in an over and start bowling full."Shubman pushes you a lot. He never gets satisfied and does not let his teammates stay content," Brar had said.For the past two years, Gurnoor has been part of the GT squad, but is yet to get a single game. The reason was simple: the six-foot-five-inch-tall bowler was still a work in progress. Even during the IPL, Brar was told to bowl with the red ball to improve his length and exercise more control. He did as his captain and childhood friend demanded.Slowly, he got his rewards. He was picked for the India A squad, where he caught the selectors' eye when he bowled his heart out on the placid Lucknow track in the unofficial Test matches against Australia A. His ability to bowl long spells, extract bounce from the surface and, most importantly, strengthen his back-of-a-length deliveries, along with a significant improvement in bowling fuller lengths, stood out.On Saturday at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Dharamsala, Brar picked up three wickets in his 29-ball spell, and he not only impressed everyone with his pace but with his lengths as well."Very impressive, how Gurnoor bowled, brilliant pace and the way he was swinging the ball, the kind of length he bowled consistently," captain Shubman Gill told broadcasters after India's six-wicket win over Afghanistan.Brar, sharing the new ball with his fellow Punjab teammate Arshdeep Singh, bowled full in his first spell and got his first wicket with his fifth ball. It was a length delivery that moved away late. Zadran went for the drive, got a leading edge in the air, and Gill, running backwards at mid-off, completed the catch. The next ball, he had Sediqullah Atal trapped, although India lost the review.Having bowled fuller lengths in his first spell, Brar switched to the short ball in his second. Although he leaked a couple of boundaries, he outfoxed his GT teammate Rashid Khan with a full, straight delivery. Anticipating another bouncer, Rashid was already on the back foot, but Brar changed his length. The former Afghanistan captain swung hard, missed, and watched the ball crash into his leg stump. Brar finished with three wickets on debut and got his third of the day with a back-of-a-length delivery.It is still early days, but Brar has given a glimpse that he has it in him to take the flight to the 2027 ODI World Cup. At the press conference after selecting the team for the Afghanistan series, India's chief selector Ajit Agarkar spoke of how Gurnoor has shown promise over the past year and a half playing domestic and India A cricket, and why the selectors were keen to see his development with an eye on the 2027 ODI World Cup.With Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj set to return to the ODI set-up closer to the World Cup, Brar will add freshness to the Indian pace attack as a first-change bowler. Brar is tall, hits the deck hard and swings and seams at high pace. Add to this the ability to nail yorkers and get the old ball to reverse.Brar didn't have a rapid rise. He realised that speed only thrills. The friendly advice from ODI and Test captain Gill allowed him to learn the tricks of the trade at Gujarat Titans, and he is now reaping rewards for the hours of grind. Father Sukhbir Singh Brar had his hands folded when Zadran miscued the hit. The moment Gill completed the catch, Brar Sr. celebrated his son's debut wicket with a lot of enthusiasm and received multiple pats on the back from Lakhwinder Singh Gill, Shubman's father, who was seated right next to him."Tu aa ja, kaafi seekhega (You will learn a lot)," Gill had told Brar while extending an invitation to join GT as a net bowler. Little Brar would have known back then that the advice would change his, and his family's life in a few years.

Bayern unlikely to pursue Marcus Rashford despite holding talksWell-known transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano is reporting that Bayern Munich's focus is not centred around Marcus Rashford.Despite this, there were some calls from Bayern in the past 2 to 3 weeks to understand the situation of the Englishman. The Bavarian giants asked in general if Rashford would be an available option for the record champions this summer. However, as things stand, Bayern are more oriented to a different kind of player, like that of PSV Eindhoven's Ismael Saibari.Not only does the Moroccan boast a completely different playstyle, his salary is also far lower than that of what Rashford would demand.There's appreciation from some people at Bayern for Rashford, but at the moment there are no negotiations and no bid.The 28-year-old just completed an impressive season on loan at Barcelona, winning La Liga while boasting a return of 8 goals and 7 assists.

Australia provided the surprise result so far of the 2026 World Cup as they began their Group D campaign with a 2-0 win over Turkey in Vancouver.It was a highly organised and clinical display from Tony Popovic’s side, who withstood their opponent’s dominance of the ball and struck with a goal in each half from Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe.The match turned on a moment in the 27th minute. Arda Guler’s header was saved low by goalkeeper Patrick Beach – making his competitive international debut having been handed a start ahead of captain Mathew Ryan – and in a flash Irankunda was released to race away from the defence and slot into the corner at the other end.Nestory Irankunda put Australia ahead (AP)It was an experience the Australia keeper will not forget in a hurry. He was instrumental in keeping Turkey out as their pressure grew, saving spectacularly from Abdulkerim Bardakci who shot from range, Beach turning his effort against the post with his fingertips.The game was settled 15 minutes from time. Australia broke and the ball was worked to Metcalfe on the edge of the box, who aimed his shot expertly outside the reach of Ugurcan Cakir.Turkey toiled in vain for a way back but were unable to beat the impressive Beach. It meant Popovic was vindicated with vice-captain Jackson Irvine only utilised late on from the bench.PA

Pau Cubarsi reveals dream World Cup scenario and facing Lionel Messi: ‘If it can be done…’Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi has already established himself as one of the brightest young centre-backs in world football, but the teenager is showing no signs of slowing down.As Spain prepare for their FIFA World Cup opener, the 19-year-old spoke to Mundo Deportivo about his growing responsibilities for both club and country, his admiration for Lionel Messi, and his ambitions to make a major impact on football’s biggest stage.Having enjoyed a rapid rise over the past two seasons, Cubarsi heads into the tournament as one of Spain’s most important defensive figures despite his young age. While many players might feel the pressure of such expectations, the Barcelona star appears ready to embrace them.Embracing greater responsibility for Barcelona and SpainSpeaking about his development, the defender made it clear that age is not something he focuses on when stepping onto the pitch.When discussing the leadership qualities he continues to work on, Cubarsi explained,“At the end of the day, age is just a number. When you’re on the pitch, nobody looks at your age but rather at what you can do well. Cubarsi will be the one to watch. (Photo by Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images)“And I am working on it and improving to be a great leader, because it helps me to stay more focused and also helps the team by giving good instructions.”Spain’s squad includes a strong Barcelona contingent, something Cubarsi believes is helping the national team build chemistry ahead of the tournament.“Yes, there are a lot of us Spaniards and we’re very happy to be able to help the national team. “Some teammates have been left out and I feel really bad for them, but others have come in with incredible enthusiasm and we want to do well to bring some joy to those who couldn’t be here.”Puyol comparision and admiration for MessiOne of the adjustments Cubarsi has had to make is adapting between Barcelona’s style of play and Spain’s approach under Luis de la Fuente.When asked about the defensive differences between the two teams, the young defender admitted,“No, it’s two different styles at Barça and in the national team.”The defender also reflected on legendary former Barcelona captain Carles Puyol and his famous World Cup semi-final goal. Cubarsi is embracing the opportunities. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)Asked whether he would like to produce a similar moment for Spain, Cubarsi responded,“If it can be done, it would be magnificent. Firstly, because we’d already be in the semi-finals and that would be fantastic. “And if, on top of that, I could help the team in that way, it would be spectacular.”One of the most interesting parts of the interview came when Cubarsi was asked about the possibility of facing Lionel Messi.The Barcelona academy graduate revealed that the Argentine icon remains one of his biggest football idols.“Yes, I have. He’s been my idol since I was a child. I’ve never seen him in person, not even on the pitch. “I’d have preferred to play alongside him on my team, but if I’m up against him, I’ll give it my all and try to defend against him as best I can,” he concluded.

Pepe talks Mourinho, Konate, Bernardo Silva, potential return: ‘Real Madrid will win titles again’Former Real Madrid defender Pepe was in action for Real Madrid Legends against Inter Milan Legends last night, and he scored one goal in the team’s 2-1 win.Speaking to the media after the game, the former defender was asked about a plethora of topics, primarily the chances of him returning to join Jose Mourinho’s coaching staff at Madrid.Beyond that serious discussion, however, he did also give his two cents on Real Madrid’s dressing room, weaknesses and what he made of the new signings via MARCA.Pepe speaks on Real MadridThe Portuguese legend first gave his thoughts on Jose Mourinho returning as Real Madrid’s manager and highlighted the importance of bringing back unity behind the scenes.“The most important thing is that the club is united. It was a crucial moment to foster that unity between the club, the fans and players.”“Mourinho is a key figure in ensuring everyone is on the same page and to help Madrid return to glory,” he added.Pepe feels Real Madrid can win trophies next season under Mourinho. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)He did, however, deny any awareness of the links between him and the post of Mourinho’s assistant manager.“It’s all speculation. I woke up one morning and wondered what was going on, I hadn’t heard a thing.”Pepe then backed Real Madrid to get past this difficult moment and win titles again in the near future.“I am sure Real Madrid will win titles again.”The former player also gave his thoughts on the club’s latest centre-back signing, Ibrahima Konate, and sincerely hoped that the player would come good.“I like Ibrahima Konate. I hope he’s better than me. It would be a sign that things are going well in Madrid and that we’re winning trophies. That’s what I want.”Pepe has approved Konate’s signing. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)He also spoke on Real Madrid’s rumoured signing of Bernardo Silva and whether or not the player would be a good addition.“Bernardo Silva has a lot of quality. He’s indeed a free agent. I don’t know if it’s a possibility but the President knows what’s best for the squad.”Will Pepe return?Mourinho is said to be pushing for an assistant coach with a history at the club, one who can command the respect of the dressing room and bring unity.Pepe has been linked as one of the two top candidates on that front, and even highlighted that he is available for the club in a recent interview.“When we talk about Madrid, I am always very grateful. You never know. If someone needs me, like today, to play and help people, I am always available for Madrid.”As it stands, however, Ricardo Carvalho is the better-placed candidate to land that role and is a frontrunner over Mourinho.

With a championship run for the ages, the Knicks awakened joy in a city desperate for a winner.

MADISON – Aubrie Peterson had herself a night to remember. So did the Hamilton softball team.The Chargers' junior left-handed catcher had three hits, including two doubles, and drove in six runs to lead the Chargers to an 8-3 victory over Muskego in the WIAA Division 1 state title game June 13 at Goodman Diamond."My plan in the box was to go balls to the wall," Peterson said. "We had nothing to lose."With Muskego ahead 2-1 in the third inning, Hamilton scored four runs on four hits, with a sacrifice fly from Bitsy Palicka, a two-run double from Peterson and an RBI double from Hope Lehnen accounting for the runs.Hamilton would strike for three more runs in the bottom of the sixth. The Chargers loaded the bases with two outs and Peterson cleared them with another double."This group of girls is everything," Peterson said. "They're all super nice, we hang out together and we go to team dinners almost every single week. It's just a very fun team."Palicka, a sophomore, got the win. She struck out six over seven innings and allowed two earned runs.Muskego threatened one last time in the top of the seventh, scoring a run on Lily George's RBI single with one out. Palicka closed the door, getting a pair of lineouts to cap the win.Ava Serembiczky also had a pair of hits for Hamilton (30-1).Chargers coach Kaylee Gendrich said the team reached its potential with a mix of player talent along with hard work and coaching."There's a lot of pride and joy," she said. "I didn't do this alone. It's a credit to my entire coaching staff. Me and my staff spent a lot of time with these girls." It is Hamilton's first state title for the softball program, which had overall and recent success with 13 state appearances, including five of the last six seasons."It's just crazy," Palicka said. "We've made history and we worked so hard for this moment. So I know all our hard work paid off."Hamilton reached the state tournament with a 9-0 rout of Cedarburg in the sectional final. The Chargers outscored their playoff opponents 36-2 entering the championship game. They beat West Allis Hale/Central 10-0 in the quarterfinals before outlasting Sun Prairie East 3-2 in the semifinals.Muskego (28-3) reached the final after a 14-8 win over Marshfield in the state quarterfinal and a 6-2 win over Appleton North in the semifinal. The Warriors advanced to the state tournament with a 6-3 victory over Waukesha West in the sectional final."I'm just so grateful to be here and kudos to Sussex Hamilton," Muskego coach Brooke Balk said. "I couldn't have been more proud of our kids, the competitiveness they've shown all year. Coming into this game we couldn't have felt more prepared. ... Unfortunately things didn't go our way today. Our big hits didn't fall."This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Hamilton wins WIAA high school softball state championship

MADISON – Aubrie Peterson had herself a night to remember. So did the Hamilton softball team.The Chargers' junior left-handed catcher had three hits, including two doubles, and drove in six runs to lead the Chargers to an 8-3 victory over Muskego in the WIAA Division 1 state title game June 13 at Goodman Diamond."My plan in the box was to go balls to the wall," Peterson said. "We had nothing to lose."With Muskego ahead 2-1 in the third inning, Hamilton scored four runs on four hits, with a sacrifice fly from Bitsy Palicka, a two-run double from Peterson and an RBI double from Hope Lehnen accounting for the runs.Hamilton would strike for three more runs in the bottom of the sixth. The Chargers loaded the bases with two outs and Peterson cleared them with another double."This group of girls is everything," Peterson said. "They're all super nice, we hang out together and we go to team dinners almost every single week. It's just a very fun team."Palicka, a sophomore, got the win. She struck out six over seven innings and allowed two earned runs.Muskego threatened one last time in the top of the seventh, scoring a run on Lily George's RBI single with one out. Palicka closed the door, getting a pair of lineouts to cap the win.Ava Serembiczky also had a pair of hits for Hamilton (30-1).Chargers coach Kaylee Gendrich said the team reached its potential with a mix of player talent along with hard work and coaching."There's a lot of pride and joy," she said. "I didn't do this alone. It's a credit to my entire coaching staff. Me and my staff spent a lot of time with these girls." It is Hamilton's first state title for the softball program, which had overall and recent success with 13 state appearances, including five of the last six seasons."It's just crazy," Palicka said. "We've made history and we worked so hard for this moment. So I know all our hard work paid off."Hamilton reached the state tournament with a 9-0 rout of Cedarburg in the sectional final. The Chargers outscored their playoff opponents 36-2 entering the championship game. They beat West Allis Hale/Central 10-0 in the quarterfinals before outlasting Sun Prairie East 3-2 in the semifinals.Muskego (28-3) reached the final after a 14-8 win over Marshfield in the state quarterfinal and a 6-2 win over Appleton North in the semifinal. The Warriors advanced to the state tournament with a 6-3 victory over Waukesha West in the sectional final."I'm just so grateful to be here and kudos to Sussex Hamilton," Muskego coach Brooke Balk said. "I couldn't have been more proud of our kids, the competitiveness they've shown all year. Coming into this game we couldn't have felt more prepared. ... Unfortunately things didn't go our way today. Our big hits didn't fall."This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Hamilton wins WIAA high school softball state championship

Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks accepted the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award trophy with his father at his side (Gregory Shamus)Jalen Brunson's 45-point masterpiece propelled the New York Knicks to their first NBA title in 53 years, but his biggest contribution to ending the drought may have come two years ago."It's everything we ever dreamed of," an emotional Brunson said as he accepted the Bill Russell Trophy as Finals Most Valuable Player with his father -- former Knicks player and current Knicks assistant coach Rick -- at his side.On a night when his teammates struggled offensively, Brunson willed the Knicks to the series clinching victory, another gritty come-from-behind victory for a team that has made them a trademark.The long awaited title sparked scenes of celebration among long-suffering fans in New York, whose team had mustered just four winning seasons in a 21-year span before Brunson arrived from Dallas as a free agent in July 2022.Since then, the Knicks have had four straight winning seasons, reaching the Eastern Conference finals last year before at last going all the way for the third time in franchise history.Brunson, 29, made a big bet on himself and the Knicks in 2024, when he signed a contract extension worth $156.5 million dollars.- 'Hasn't sunk in' -Had he waited one year, he would have been eligible for a five-year maximum contract worth more than $269 million, but his shorter and cheaper deal gave the Knicks the financial flexibility to finish building what is now a championship roster.Brunson said he knew at the time that a title was "very possible."With a lot of hard work and effort, I knew it was achievable."But (the contract) was only a small portion of it. I think everyone bonding, coming together, having the mindset of just believing in each other, never giving up, no matter what the situation was, made this all possible," he said."It may look like (the contract) had something to do with it, but it's a credit to my teammates."Brunson, who won two national collegiate titles with Villanova but was a second-round pick by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2018 NBA draft, said he still hadn't grasped the enormity of the Knicks' achievement or his own."It hasn't sunk in," he said. "I honestly don't know right now."I'm just thankful for the opportunity and just thankful this opportunity presented itself, and we were able to get it done."But Knicks coach Mike Brown said Brunson's performance should cement his status among the league's elite."I've said it, and I hope you guys will listen to me but he's a Top 3 MVP candidate," Brown said.bb/cms

Journalist hints at Liverpool stance on Cody Gakpo amid ‘recent interest’ from European suitorsLiverpool aren’t ‘actively looking to sell’ Cody Gakpo this summer, amid reported interest from multiple clubs around Europe.There were reports from Netherlands earlier this month that the 27-year-old had handed in a transfer request at Anfieldas he ‘does not see a future’ at the club following the dismissal of his compatriot Arne Slot at the end of May.DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL EMPIRE OF THE KOP APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAYSeveral clubs across England and Europe are said to have been ‘made aware’ of his situation amid his apparent discontent at potentially losing his starting berth to Rio Ngumoha with Andoni Iraola now in charge.Liverpool ‘not actively looking to sell’ GakpoOn Saturday night, Ben Jacobs took to X with an update on Gakpo’s situation at Liverpool, whose valuation of the forward is set to be guided by the transfer fee that Barcelona recently paid to Newcastle for Anthony Gordon.The journalist posted: ‘Cody Gakpo hasn’t told Liverpool directly he wants to leave. However, there has been recent interest in Gakpo from Italy, and Bayern from last summer. ‘Liverpool not actively looking to sell and have noted the fee on Anthony Gordon’s £70m Barcelona move, which would inform their valuation. Gakpo is well contracted until 2030.’Want more Empire of the Kop coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trustLiverpool mustn’t jettison Gakpo too readilyWhile it’s fair to say that the 27-year-old endured a rather underwhelming 2025/26 season by his standards (just nine goals in 52 games), it’s also true that he remains an important presence in the Reds’ squad and shouldn’t be jettisoned too readily.Jacobs’ update would suggest that the Dutchman isn’t banging down the door to leave Anfield (and conradicts any notion of a transfer request being submitted), but might privately be assessing his options, especially if Iraola begins to lean towards Ngumoha as a regular starter on the left.At present, Liverpool are worryingly light on senior forwards following the exit of Mo Salah and the ongoing injury absence of Hugo Ekitike, while valid concerns may persist over the fitness of Alexander Isak after his stop-start debut campaign for the Reds.The Merseysiders might be doing well to fetch £70m for Gakpo, who’s a couple of years older than Gordon and has seen his stock fall over the past 12 months, but he should still be able to yield a sizeable transfer fee if he were to be sold this summer.Unless the Dutchman is desperate to leave, or FSG receive a truly irresistible offer for him, we’d be firmly in favour of keeping hold of him in the hope that Iraola might be able to get the best out of a forward who’s capable of being a major asset for the team.

With persistent heavy rain and strong westerly winds prompting a weather warning, many people would have chosen to stay indoors on a Saturday morning.But gathering at the southernmost point of the UK from about 05:00 BST were hundreds of endurance runners preparing for the start of the Classic Quarter at 06:30.The 44-mile (70.8km) race is an non-stop ultra-marathon along the South West Coast Path, starting at Lizard Point and finishing at Land's End in Cornwall.The BBC caught up with some of the runners who braved gale-force winds and driving rain to compete in the 20th edition of the race earlier this month.Betty Lynes and Amy Greef were in good spirits on the start line [BBC]The event can be run individually, or in teams of two or four, with each leg divided equally between the runners. Amy Greef and Betty Lynes did not find out they would be running the opening leg until a few days before. Greef, who is a member of Hayle Runners, stepped in for a teammate at the last minute.She described the winds at the start as "a bit scary... as long as I can stay grounded, I'm excited."It's a good event to do, it's a carnival isn't it? Just a bit of fun."Lynes, who was expecting to run the flatter leg of the race between Perranuthnoe and Lamorna, agreed to do the hillier opening section when her teammate became unwell. Despite never having run a coastal course like this, she said she was planning to "just keep plodding"."I really haven't trained for the hilliness or the windiness so we're just going to go with the flow," she smiled.Andy Jukes (in the black jacket) was running the final leg of a four-person relay team [BBC]The event was especially poignant for experienced endurance runner Andy JukesHe has completed the race multiple times but this year was his last.Jukes was diagnosed with non-curable metastatic prostate cancer four years ago after a friend convinced him to get tested.He was running in the quad relay to raise awareness for the disease.'A massive challenge'Jukes said: "I didn't need to be here, if I had been tested earlier I could have been cured and be living a normal life. "But I'm not because I didn't know."Today is not about me, today is about raising awareness of prostate cancer and hopefully saving some lives along the way."Despite having previously run up to 60 miles in a day, Jukes admitted that his 12-mile effort was going to be difficult."It's a massive challenge and I'm so glad I'm doing it for a reason and raising awareness for prostate cancer."Three-time winner Pete Roper was coaching first-timer Ginny Mills from Dorset [BBC]Pete Roper knows what it takes to win this race, having previously held the course record for 10 years. This year he was attending as a coach, with first-timer Ginny Mills.Mills, who is based in Dorset, has been working with Roper for the past year and said he encouraged her tackle the Classic Quarter as her first endurance event. "I can't wait to get going," she said. "My aims are to get round and feel strong at the finish."'It's a demanding course'Roper won the first edition of the Classic Quarter 20 years ago and went on to take two more victories after that. He said: "The race is demanding, it's fairly technical and a lot different to where we train on the Jurassic Coast."The course includes a six-mile stretch of road around Marazion and a big climb out of Mousehole but is largely off-road, along the South West Coast Path. Roper said: "There's a lot of narrow stuff, a lot of ups and down, a lot of single tracks. If a walker is coming towards you, you have to pause."It's demanding, especially the last 11 miles from Lamorna, there's a bit of hands-on work as you come out of Lamorna Cove."He said the last five miles from the Minack Theatre are out in the open, and "then the finish is amazing when you come into Land's End".More than 10,000 people have taken on the challenge since it started in 2007.Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. More on this story Runner completes 400-mile lap of CornwallRunners tackle 100 mile coast path race'He's phenomenal, I'm proud to call him a friend'

England start their World Cup campaign on Wednesday [Getty Images]England had $18,000 (£13,500) of property stolen in a theft from a vehicle that was carrying equipment, according to Jackson County's prosecution office.Two men, Mustafa Salik and Erfan Kamal, have been charged in connection with the incident, which happened as the vehicle was taking equipment from England's pre-tournament camp in Florida to Kansas City.Despite the incident the Football Association have been clear that nothing was taken that would impact their preparations for Wednesday's opener against Croatia (21:00 BST).Of the property taken, listed in court documents seen by BBC Sport, four pairs of football boots, one football, a pair of goalkeeper gloves and training kit were stolen.Three signed jerseys - valued at a total of $15,000 - were also listed as items taken.It is understood the majority of what was stolen has now been recovered.England's first World Cup training session: What did we learn?Bellingham, but no Guehi - England's expected teamThe full list of the stolen items is:Four pairs of boots valued at $1,340.60 in totalFive pairs of shoes valued at $1,139.50 in totalA signed red jersey valued at $5,000Two white signed jerseys valued at $5,000 eachA World Cup ball valued at $214.50A pair of goalkeeper gloves valued at $160.87Four navy shirts (no value given)Four pairs of navy shorts (no value given)Four light blue long sleeve shirts (no value given)Four light blue short sleeve shirts (no value given)Two stuffed lions (no value given)Multifunctional power strips valued at $40A JBL speaker valued at $149.95A Lego set of a Nike Air shoe valued at $99.99Salik and Kamal each face one count of receiving stolen property, a class D felony under Missouri law, which carries between one and seven years in prison upon conviction.England defender Dan Burn said: "I've not lost anything personally, we found out from you guys [the media]."It's with the police now so not sure how much I can comment. It's not really been spoken about, so that just shows for us that they aren't too worried about it - it's not really disrupted our preparations."Jackson County prosecutor Melesa Johnson said: "Jackson County will not tolerate any criminal activity that targets World Cup visitors, including the international teams that have travelled here to compete. "We thank the Kansas City Police Department and our on-call attorneys for their quick work investigating this incident and filing charges immediately. Our office is committed to holding these individuals accountable."Kansas City mayor Quinton Lucas added: "I am grateful for the quick work of the Kansas City Police Department and the Prosecutor's Office in resolving an investigation across several states, helping crime victims recover goods stolen in transit, and ensuring the accused will face prosecution."Kansas City's public safety leadership will continue to ensure all are safe and offenders will be held accountable swiftly for any misconduct."World Cup fixtures and group standingsHow to watch the World Cup on the BBCEverything you need to know about the World Cup

There’s no city like New York City. And to New York City, there’s no team quite like the Knicks. So when a city that’s been on the verge of and over the edge of eruption in anticipation of the franchise’s first NBA championship in 53 years, New York produced scenes like nowhere else can when the Knicks got the job done Saturday night.New Yorkers packed watch parties across the five boroughs as the Knicks played the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. They watched in the streets as strangers handed out pizzas. They packed Radio City Music Hall that was glowing orange and blue. And when the final horn sounded, Manhattan let out a collective, cathartic roar.A closer look shows a different flavor of the same celebration across the city.A zoom back out showed just how massive the party in New York grew.And it showed no signs of stopping as of early Sunday morning. Be safe out there, New York. And enjoy.

NEW YORK (AP) — It was bedlam on Broadway as the New York Knicks won their first NBA championship in 53 years on Saturday night, with exuberant celebrations marred by mayhem and violence.Outside Madison Square Garden, a crowd watching on a big screen roared as the Knicks rallied from a 16-point deficit to beat the Spurs in San Antonio in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.Soon after, rowdy fans were clashing with police, smashing windows on a police car, climbing scaffolding, light poles and a statue, standing atop school buses in Times Square and trying to hitch a ride on a moving fire truck.The NYPD said there were multiple arrests but wouldn’t have a total until later on Sunday.Knicks owner James Dolan, speaking in San Antonio after the game, urged fans to stay calm.“We need to tell everybody in New York that we know that they’re celebrating, we want them to have a great time," said Dolan, interrupting guard Josh Hart’s press conference. “Please be safe. Don’t get hurt, don’t hurt anybody.”The city will officially celebrate the Knicks on Thursday with a parade and City Hall ceremony.As the clock ticked to the final buzzer on Saturday night, anxiety that had dominated the game's first three quarters gave way to euphoria. An orange-and-blue-tinted fever dream that started with the Knicks' first playoff game two months ago ended in the third title in their 80-year history.Fireworks boomed over Brooklyn and Central Park. Fans flocked to Times Square and ran through the streets. Outside the Garden, they sang the team's anthem: “Go New York, Go New York, Go!”Police officers and ambulance workers shouted “Let’s go Knicks” over loudspeakers in Brooklyn. Strangers shook hands and hugged. In the Lincoln Tunnel, where people were riding buses back from the World Cup at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, drivers honked their horns in celebration.“I’m so overwhelmed. I’m so happy,” said Mathieu Ogno, of Long Island, who fought back tears as he soaked in the victory at a team-sanctioned watch party at Wollman Rink in Central Park.Ogno wore the jersey of Knicks captain Jalen Brunson, whose 45 points propelled the Knicks to victory and him to the NBA Finals MVP. Brunson’s gritty determination and chip-on-his-shoulder style have made him a fan favorite, embodying New York's working-class ethos.The Knicks' championship — 19,392 days since their last — capped an extraordinary postseason for a franchise that hadn't been to the NBA Finals since losing to the Spurs in 1999. Since April 23, the team has won 15 of 16 games, with its lone loss coming Monday in Game 3.Their last title, in 1973, was also won on the road in a Game 5. Their first, in 1970, was won at home in a Game 7 thriller. Neither of those championships was celebrated with a parade.“I’m happy to see my Knicks finally make it over the hump,” said Shawn Muoneke, 26. “I’ve seen them knock on the door. They were knocking on the door the past few years. But they finally made it over the hump, and I’m so happy to see it and I’m so happy I’m in the city to experience it.”Muoneke, born a year after the Knicks’ last trip to the NBA Finals, started rooting for them when he was 10. He drove from Maryland to be in the city for Game 5 at the team's Central Park watch party.“I saw the ups, the downs and I watched the team come back up, and I was so happy to see them finally reach the highest echelon of stardom as a team,” Muoneke said.After the Knicks' win, he said, the vibes in the city "are the highest they’ve ever been.”President Donald Trump, a longtime Knicks fan who attended Game 3 at the Garden with Dolan, congratulated the team in a post on his Truth Social platform.“What a year it has been but, even more so, what incredible playoff wins we have all witnessed, especially the last four - Maybe the greatest in the history of basketball,” Trump wrote.With Brunson's clutch performance, he added, “a superstar was born.”After several dozen arrests throughout the playoffs and violence after Games 3 and 4 in New York that left officers injured and a teen in a coma, police girded for unrest as Saturday bled into Sunday.“As we celebrate, be responsible, look out for one another, stay safe, be smart, and make this a night that reflects the very best of our city,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on social media. “Let’s go Knicks.”__Emily Wang Fujiyama contributed reporting.

[Getty Images]Swansea City's Cameron Burgess helped Australia begin their World Cup campaign with a 2-0 victory over Turkey in Vancouver.The 30-year-old defender was one of three centre-backs as the Socceroos remained resolute to post a clean sheet despite Turkey dominating the game with 71.7% possession and 30 shots on goal, eight on target.Watford's Nestory Irankunda scored in the first half before Connor Metcalfe added a second after the break.Scotland-born Burgess, who played the full 90 minutes, was winning his 28th Australia cap after a season in which he played 51 all-competition games for Swansea.The Socceroos' next game in Group D is against co-hosts America in Seattle on Friday, 19 June (20:00 BST).Burgess is the second Swansea player to appear at this summer's tournament after winger Eom Jisung made his World Cup debut as a substitute in South Korea's 2-1 Group A victory over Czech Republic in Guadalajara on Friday.Swans midfielder Marko Stamenic is in line to play for New Zealand when they face Iran in Group G on Tuesday, 16 June (02:00 BST), having started the warm-up friendly defeat against England.

The New York Knicks won the National Basketball Association championship for the first time in over 50 years, sending the city and fans into a frenzy after the long-awaited victory.The Knicks clinched the title on Saturday night against the San Antonio Spurs, 94-90, in the fifth game of the best-of-seven series.While the game was in Texas, New Yorkers took to their hometown streets in droves to watch and celebrate the milestone moment for the team, its fans and the entire city.Some fans also made their way to Texas where the two teams faced off at the Frost Center, the Spurs' home arena. Elizabeth Madigan flew to San Antonio from New York Friday night ahead of Saturday's game."I've been waiting for this, honestly most of my life. The last time the Knicks won, I was 6 months old, and so I can't begin to describe how excited I am. It's been unbelievable," she said."I definitely had my doubts. But we did pull it off. Knicks forever."This season has represented a stunning reversal of fortune for the Knicks after decades as one of the worst teams in the league. The last time they made it all the way to the finals was in 1999, also against the Spurs, who ultimately beat them. Their last finals win was even earlier, in 1973.They held a 3-1 lead in the series heading into Saturday's game."I grew up watching the Knicks. They were so bad for so long," said Jake Minicucci while waiting with friends at a Manhattan sports bar for the game to start. "This might be the first time I cry in a very long time, tonight."Fans' anticipation before the game was like a champagne bottle about to pop its cork."This city is electric," said Minicucci said. "I've never gotten so many head nods, everybody knowing we are in it for the Knicks together."The 50-plus year drought was very much on the minds of some Knicks fans including Daniel Brown who said the evening had the potential "to be one of the best nights in the history of this city.""I've lived here all my life, I've never experienced anything like this," said the 24-year-old.Ahead of the game, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said in a social media post that the city was working with the Knicks to host watch parties outside Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and Wollman Rink."As we celebrate, be responsible, look out for one another, stay safe, be smart, and make this a night that reflects the very best of our city," the mayor said.His call for safety came after a few instances of violence in New York City against Spurs fans, including one assault that landed a fan in the hospital and another in which a fast food worker wearing a Spurs jersey was attacked, according to local reports.Madigan said that in San Antonio, even as a Knicks fan, she felt welcome. "Honestly the San Antonians have been so loving and welcoming despite the obvious competition," she said.Both Knicks and Spurs players have condemned the violence and harassment.Ahead of Saturday's Game 5, fan travelling to San Antonio from New York to attend the game were in a frenzy about possibly getting locked out of the arena. In a note on its website for the game, Ticketmaster said purchases by those living farther than 150mi (241km) from the San Antonio arena would be cancelled and refunded without notice. New York Governor Kathy Hochul posted on social media: "Knicks fans finally get within one game of a championship and their reward is having their tickets canceled?"But Ticketmaster assured fans that no tickets purchased on its platform "have or will be canceled".Ticketmaster says Knicks fans won't be locked out of game after last-minute panicNew Yorkers celebrate a thrilling possibility: The Knicks could soon be champions

Tottenham schedule behind-closed-doors friendly to assess players in transfer windowTottenham Hotspur are set to play a behind-closed-doors friendly against MK Dons next month, giving new manager Roberto De Zerbi another opportunity to assess his squad ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.Football.London reports that Spurs have confirmed the match will take place at Hotspur Way on July 22 as part of their pre-season schedule.With the Premier League season starting later than usual on August 22 because of the World Cup calendar, Tottenham’s first-team players are expected to return to training in stages during July.They’ll start with medical and fitness tests before full training sessions start the following week.The fixture against MK Dons would give De Zerbi another chance to assess his squad, with the North Londoners set to be active during the transfer window.The squad will be dominated by players who aren’t involved in the World Cup, as well as those returning from long-term injuries like James Maddison.The club will also be monitoring the progress of Mohammed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski. The game is also important for Tottenham’s academy talents and those returning from loan spells.Prospects such as Mikey Moore, Will Lankshear, and Jamie Donley could get valuable minutes, while the likes of Manor Solomon and Ashley Phillips will be hoping to impress the new manager.MK Dons arrive in north London in positive spirits after earning automatic promotion back to League One under head coach Paul Warne.Tottenham have previous pre-season experience against the Buckinghamshire club, winning 3-1 at Stadium MK five years ago with goals from Son Heung-min, Dele Alli and Lucas Moura.Shortly after taking on MK Dons, Spurs will travel to New Zealand for a fixture against Auckland at Eden Park on July 26 before heading to Australia to face Sydney at Allianz Stadium on July 29.Tottenham will then take part in the 2026 Sydney Super Cup, where they’ll face Chelsea in a friendly London derby contest at the 83,500-capacity Accor Stadium on August 1.

Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty ImagesZohran Mamdani’s Game 5 message to Knicks fans turned into the roadmap for New York’s championship celebrations after the franchise finally ended its 53-year title wait.The Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5, closing the NBA Finals 4-1 and winning their first championship since 1973.Before the game, the mayor had already pointed supporters toward the official watch-party hubs across Manhattan.Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty ImagesZohran Mamdani names Knicks watch party celebration locationsAs Mayor Zohran Mamdani told fans before tip-off: “Tonight, Knicks fans across our city will come together at Plaza 33 outside MSG, Radio City Music Hall, and Wollman Rink to watch Game 5 of the NBA Finals. My administration is proud to work with the Knicks to support these watch parties.”He also added a safety message for what always had the potential to become a historic night: “As we celebrate, be responsible, look out for one another, stay safe, be smart, and make this a night that reflects the very best of our city.”The locations mattered because Game 5 was being played in San Antonio, not New York. Plaza 33 outside Madison Square Garden gave fans a direct connection to the franchise’s home, while Radio City Music Hall and Wollman Rink offered additional gathering points for a city ready to erupt.Once the Knicks finished the job, those watch parties became celebration sites.Knicks title win sends New York into celebration modeThe game itself gave fans a stressful but unforgettable finish.San Antonio led by 16 in the first half and still held a 42-37 halftime lead, but Jalen Brunson turned the night into his masterpiece.Brunson scored 45 points, including huge fourth-quarter baskets, as New York fought back for a 94-90 win at Frost Bank Center.The celebrity reaction matched the city’s emotion. Timothée Chalamet celebrated wildly after the title, while Spike Lee, Ben Stiller, and Tracy Morgan were among the famous Knicks supporters tied to the Finals run.Mamdani’s message was simple, but it fit the night. New York had waited more than half a century for this party, and the city finally knew where to gather.Read more:Donald Trump hails New York Knicks NBA Finals win as the ‘greatest in the history of basketball’Barack Obama name-drops two New York Knicks stars in congratulatory post after NBA Finals triumphZohran Mamdani confirms when New York Knicks trophy parade will be

The Washington Commanders wrapped up OTAs last week. Next week, the Commanders will be back in Ashburn for the mandatory minicamp, before getting an extended break ahead of training camp, which opens next month. But before the Commanders open minicamp, quarterback Jayden Daniels returned home to the Los Angeles area on Friday to take in some World Cup action. The U.S. Men’s National Team began World Cup play on Friday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, taking on Paraguay. Daniels was on hand, watching from the press box, when popular streamer iShowSpeed approached Daniels: "Long time no see," he said, before the two shook hands. Also, Daniels wasn't the only starting NFL quarterback in the box. Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff, along with New York Giants QB Jaxson Dart, were beside Daniels.🚨| WATCH: Speed just met NFL star Jayden Daniels at the USA World Cup opener and asked for his World Cup prediction 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/1QwCp6e6v8— Speedy HQ (@IShowSpeedHQ) June 13, 2026The USMNT got off to a great start, taking a 3-0 lead in the first half, before eventually winning 4-1. Next up for the USMNT team is a matchup against Australia on Friday at Lumen Field in Seattle. This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: World Cup: Jayden Daniels attends USMNT with 2 other NFL starting QBs

Vinícius Júnior and Bruno Guimaraes celebrate Brazil’s goal against Morocco. Photograph: Jess Stiles/ZUMA Press Wire/ShutterstockVinícius Júnior is not wearing the famous Brazil No 10 at this World Cup. For now, the hallowed shirt of Pelé, Zico, Rivellino, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and all the rest belongs to Neymar.Or at least it belongs to a man faintly resembling Neymar. Now 34, he showed just enough at Santos to make Carlo Ancelotti’s squad after two lucrative but mostly wasted years in Saudi Arabia. Ancelotti could have chosen João Pedro or Richarlison or Savinho or Gabriel Jesus or Igor Jesus or, hell, even Antony, but he took Neymar. Who is injured again – a calf problem this time – and whose fitness will loom over the Brazilian campaign, just as it has at some point during every one of his four World Cups.Neymar, who will loom over Vinícius Júnior, too.Related: Vinícius Júnior rescues lacklustre Brazil as Morocco earn deserved World Cup drawIf Vinícius is now Brazil’s undisputed star, the 25-year-old has also yet to really make the team his own. He has turned in frustrating and often fruitless performances at major international tournaments, while scoring a mere nine goals in 49 appearances entering this, his second World Cup.He has yet to wrest top billing from Neymar, whose jersey was worn by huge swaths of the Brazilian fans in their draw with Morocco on Saturday.Neymar, visibly hobbled, ambled by the adoring Brazilian crowds before the match, confirming that he is still here, that he still matters. He sported a backwards hat, like the teenager who once dazzled us before injuries sapped his powers over the last decade. He got what he wanted: loud cheers, even though he wasn’t even in the matchday squad. Neymar, and the No 10, were there but they also were not. He attempted a bit of coaching from the sidelines during the game, trying to exert influence over a team he can help in no other way.So if ever there was a time for Vinícius to announce, or indeed confirm, that he was taking charge, this was it: the only group-stage match of this World Cup featuring two of Fifa’s top-10 teams.He did just that, under the watchful eye of Brazil legends Ronaldo, Kaká and Roberto Carlos. And he did it for his coach, Ancelotti, who oversaw Vinícius’s maturation at Real Madrid, who coaxed him from prodigy to superstar.Vinícius was man of the match – admittedly a tad generously, given the performance of Morocco’s marvelously efficient 18-year-old playmaker Ayyoub Bouaddi. And it was Vinícius’s 32nd-minute equalizer that roused Brazil from their early slumber.Several times in the first half, Brazil’s players felt compelled to wave their arms upwards at their own fans, who far outnumbered their Moroccan counterparts, demanding more support. They may as well have asked the same of themselves, stunned as they seemed that the semi-finalists at the last World Cup – a stage the Brazilians have not reached on foreign soil in nearly a quarter-century – played right through them.“The team was a bit anxious and at the beginning nerves were all over the place,” Ancelotti confessed after the match. “In the second half we did a lot better.”Yet out wide for a side still finding itself, Vinícius was a relentless danger. In the 14th minute, he hurtled up the last strip of grass in direct sunlight, beat his club – and now international – rival Achraf Hakimi, and shuffled into the shadows, unleashing a cross that Igor Thiago couldn’t quite get his head on.Later, Vinícius found a pocket of space in the Moroccan box, where Bruno Guimarães gave him a clever ball. He cut inside to improve an acute angle, turning Neil El Aynaoui inside out, and blasted his finish past Yassine Bounou. The goal canceled out Ismael Saibari’s delightful 21st-minute dink.It was the last goal of the game, from a chance that carried no more than 0.1 expected goals.“I believe I can improve a lot, I managed to score a goal, but I didn’t have 100% of my best technical part,” Vinícius said after the match.From there, Brazil settled down and Morocco set up in a deep block. Most of whatever threat Brazil still posed emanated from Vinícius’s left flank. He danced his way into space but nobody had joined him in the attack to connect with his cross – something which may well become a theme in Ancelotti’s striker-less system. Then Vinícius loped into the space behind Hakimi after being sprung again, finding Raphinha, whose finish was feckless.“When you’re up against Vinícius, it’s hard to defend,” Morocco manager Mohamed Ouahbi lamented.He was hardly perfect. Vinícius gave the ball away a lot, tried a fair few things that didn’t come off. But on the night, he was there for his nation. When Brazil needed a spark, not to mention a goal, they got it from the Real Madrid star.For now, that will suit the five-time champions just fine. And there was something fitting about a man called Viní doing the business in North Jersey.

Jalen Brunson lifts the NBA finals MVP trophy after the Knicks defeated the Spurs on Saturday to clinch their first title in 53 years.Photograph: Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesThe New York Knicks spent decades searching for the player who could carry them back to the top of the NBA. On Saturday night, Jalen Brunson removed any remaining doubt that they had found him.With Karl-Anthony Towns limited to two points and New York struggling offensively for much of the evening, the Knicks’ 6ft 2in floor general erupted for 45 points in a 94-90 victory over the Spurs that delivered the team’s first championship in 53 years and earned him Most Valuable Player honors.Related: Knicks beat Spurs to win their first NBA title since 1973 as brilliant Brunson shines againThe performance lifted Brunson into rare company. He became only the third player 6ft 3in or shorter to lead a championship team in scoring and win NBA finals MVP, joining Isiah Thomas and Stephen Curry. For years, conventional wisdom held that smaller guards needed a larger superstar beside them for a team to win basketball’s biggest prize. Brunson spent this postseason dismantling that notion one game at a time, never more than in Saturday’s pièce de résistance.“That was unreal, just literally unreal,” Knicks center Mitchell Robinson said afterward. “I’m speechless. I’ve seen it a couple times here and there, but to do it in a closeout game against a good team like that, it’s different.”Brunson averaged 32.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists in five games against San Antonio, but his teammates seemed almost as impressed by the manner in which he delivered the championship as the numbers themselves.“We owe him,” guard Landry Shamet said. “We weren’t great offensively tonight, but he is generationally great offensively.“There’s really not a whole lot to say. We all saw it. He carried us in a lot of different ways. What he does, it’s not really a surprise to us anymore, being his teammate. But nights like tonight, you’ve got to look at it and really appreciate it.”Knicks coach Mike Brown used the occasion to make a larger point about Brunson’s place among the league’s elite.“I’ve said it, and I hope you guys will listen to me, but he’s a top-three MVP candidate,” Brown said. “Everybody kind of mentions his name in passing. They don’t do it seriously enough.“People say he’s too small. People say he’s a 1B or a 2B or whatever. He is a freaking 1A. He is an MVP candidate.”Brown then offered the simplest possible assessment.“He is him.”Related: NBA finals: Knicks beat Spurs in Game 5 to win first title in 53 years – as it happenedBrunson has never seemed particularly interested in debates about where he ranks among the league’s stars. Asked after the game about the pressure that came with becoming the face of the Knicks franchise, he offered a different definition.“No pressure whatsoever,” Brunson said. “My dad being on eight or nine unguaranteed contracts throughout his career and not knowing when you’re going to get cut, while your family is on the east coast and you are wherever you are in the country, that’s pressure.”Brunson said watching his father fight for roster spots throughout his NBA career shaped his perspective.“I’m just never afraid to fail,” he said.For Brunson’s oldest brothers-in-arms, the performance felt like the culmination of years of work.Mikal Bridges first met Brunson as a teenager at Villanova, the small Catholic school on Philadelphia’s Main Line that’s always punched above its weight. A decade after winning national titles together with the Wildcats in 2016 and 2018, the pair are champions again on an even bigger stage.“I’ve known him for so long,” Bridges said. “I know how much he works, how good of a person he is, how good of a basketball player he is. I’m just grateful to be on his side again.”Related: Villanova’s second title is even more unfathomable than 1985’s giant-killersBridges said Brunson’s influence extends far beyond the box score.“We follow him,” Bridges said. “It makes it easy for us. Very grateful to have Jalen be that guy, and we just follow his lead.”For Josh Hart, one of Brunson’s closest friends and a member of the 2016 title team at Villanova before graduating to the NBA, none of it came as a surprise.“Nah,” Hart said when asked if he was still shocked by Brunson’s brilliance. “We’ve been built for this moment. We’ve been forged in fire. We’ve had a lot of long moments and times and days at ‘Nova and we just continued to build and build and build.”Hart described Brunson and Bridges as “brothers for life” and said winning an NBA title alongside each other surpassed even their college championship.“This one takes the cake,” Hart said.Robinson, the longest-tenured Knicks player, credited Brunson with changing the culture of the organization after arriving as a free agent in 2022.“His mindset, his work ethic, his energy that he just brings,” Robinson said. “When stuff gets rough, we have a little sit-down talk and he gets us back on track, like a leader, like a captain.”Brown argued that impact was visible long before Brunson ever stepped onto the court.“I’ve got to give his mom credit, and I hate to say this but I’m going to give his dad credit, too. He understands what winning is about,” Brown said. “He set the bar before he even stepped on the floor.”For Brunson, the emotions finally bubbled over after the final buzzer as he spent most of the post-game celebrations fighting back tears.“I walked right to half-court, shook [Spurs coach] Mitch Johnson’s hand, and then turned around and my dad was there,” Brunson said. “Then I just remember Josh talking into my ear and him just saying, ‘We did it. We did it.’”Asked what it took to score 45 points and carry the Knicks to a championship, Brunson gave a one-word answer.“Everything.”On the biggest night in franchise history, it was just enough.

HSV gifted sliver of hope as Tottenham reject Brighton's €35m bid for VuškovićAccording to Sky Germany, Tottenham Hotspur have immediately rejected Brighton’s €35million offer for Luka Vušković.It's positive news for Hamburger SV, whom had the Croatian on loan last season, but a new offer from Brighton is very likely to follow.As previously announced, a verbal agreement between the Premier League side from the south and Vušković is already in place. Brighton are currently the most concrete club in the race, which ultimately places more pressure on HSV who's chances seem to be waining. The 19-year-old was a crucial pillar of the Hanseatic club's Bundesliga survival last season, with 6 goals in 28 appearances.

SAN ANTONIO — A few hours after the biggest collapse in NBA Finals history, Felix Wembanyama, accompanied by a pair of associates, rolled his jet black suitcase through the glass sliding doors at LaGuardia airport in New York. He approached an airline desk and spoke briefly with the attendant, then retreated to a nearby seat to collect himself.As he stood up to continue his journey, an attempt was made to chat with the father of the most compelling figures to enter the NBA in decades. Felix stopped in his tracks. His face told the tale of a man in the midst of a roller coaster of emotions. A long night. An early morning. The highest of highs and lowest of lows at the same time. A flight to catch. Instead, he chose at that moment to smile, politely declining the request. “No time for dialogue,” Felix said cheerfully, motioning toward the security gates. He ultimately reached his final destination. His son, Victor, and the Spurs did not. On Saturday night, San Antonio fell to New York 94-90, ending its audacious Finals run in just five games. “It's over,” head coach Mitch Johnson said. “So there will be plenty of time for reflection…We weren't ready to win an NBA championship. The better team won. We did a lot of good things, and we didn't finish the job. That's what it is.”As a distraught Johnson repeatedly had to lean forward from his podium seat, unable to hear postgame inquiries clearly due to the booming “Who let the dogs out?” Knicks chants erupting from the Frost Bank floor, the locker room told a depressing, somber tale. A space that served as a home for euphoria and jubilation for months had been reduced to a quiet murmur. Keldon Johnson and Julian Champagnie, two of the loudest, most exuberant voices all year, sat in their respective seats, hands resting against their heads while staring into their phones. Others shuffled around, some discussing plans to get back in the gym, some gathering their belongings in silence. De’Aaron Fox, sitting by himself with a towel draped over his shoulders, was greeted by Lindy Waters III, who placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. Then, another staff member did the same. Champagnie, who had been in the process of removing his uniform, rose from his stall to offer words of encouragement to the veteran guard. The sharpshooter’s uplifting spirit was called on a few moments later as Stephon Castle, with one locker separating them, stood motionless. Champagnie locked eyes with his teammate. “I just wanna see you smile, man,” Champagnie said. “That’s it.”The postmortem on a Finals requires an examination of what truly represented this matchup at its core, which was a social experiment at its apex. This wasn’t simply a matchup between the two most deserving representatives of the Western and Eastern Conferences. What originated as a basketball bout evolved into a socio-economic, political and cultural conversation — an emotional conjoining of two distinct ecosystems forced to share the same spaces for nearly two weeks. For the Spurs, Game 5 unfortunately told the tale of how they ultimately fell short in this series. San Antonio surrendered leads of 14, 12, 29 and 16 in Games 1, 2, 4 and 5, respectively, a jarring and glaring sign of a young team — and coaching staff — failing to adjust and account for playoff experience. The Spurs’ inability to hold onto the rope became their undoing, a lesson in leverage. The other aspects of Game 5 — stellar rim protection, less-than-stellar halfcourt execution, starting backcourt offensive struggles and a muted Wembanyama in the second half — offer insight into pressure points that must be addressed moving forward. But the closing argument, as it pertains to a flurry of furious Knicks comebacks, remains the Spurs’ lack of control in the games’ tightest moments, exposed on basketball’s biggest stage under bright lights. Throughout the playoffs, San Antonio registered a minus-10.8 net rating in the clutch, an efficiency on par with the 29th-ranked Brooklyn Nets. “Yeah, there's a lot that goes into it,” Johnson said. “The simple consistencies, we didn't deserve to win the games. There's a lot of level of execution. There can be rebounding. There can be end-of-game details. There can be starting the game where you get the lead and then you don't sustain that. NBA games are long, it happens during the regular season, too. Everything is much more on stage during the Finals when everybody's watching.”More importantly, the Finals offered a window into the ever-evolving Wembanyama equation, what was learned about the Frenchman and how the supporting cast relates to him. The juxtaposition of Brunson’s 45-point offensive avalanche at the season’s most critical juncture with Wembanyama’s pedestrian showing highlights the gap that still remains to be shortened. At various points in this series, the Knicks were able to construct halfcourt schemes to either drain Wembanyama’s energy with numerous pick-and-rolls, or draw him out away from the restricted area. The rapid difference in Wembanyama’s ability to erase Thunder big Chet Holmgren and the cat-and-mouse game with Karl-Anthony Towns — wrapped in New York’s overall scheme — proved to be the tipping point. From a defensive standpoint, Wembanyama remains the most menacing act in sports, evident by his five blocks Saturday night, each denial coming with a dissertation. By nature, San Antonio’s rim protection had become a religion over the course of the year, something the Spurs devoutly believed in. By Game 5, Wembanyama’s looming presence became the oxygen attempting to give life to a team struggling to catch its breath. New York was limited to just 37.5% shooting at the rim, its worst efficiency over any regular-season or playoff game this season. But there still remains a series of levels at the other end the 22-year-old has yet to reach. “I think that compared to anything before, this is the biggest lesson of my life,” Wembanyama said. “The biggest learning moment. I can't tell you exactly what the lesson is, but we're learning from that, for sure. I'm learning more than any other time in my life before. … What I'm pissed about is that there's probably a hundred games before we can be back in Finals. I don't know how to say it in English, but I'm going to have to hold that inside of me and slow down and wait and execute for a hundred games.”Two months ago, moments before the Spurs took the floor for this particular squad’s first playoff game, against the Portland Trail Blazers, Johnson, the emotional thermostat of this tight-knit group, urged his teammates to come even closer before marching through the tunnel. Johnson, this team’s longest-tenured component, had seen just about every possible facet of the organization — from a rebuilding unit to an exciting bunch and a lethal, viable contender. But before the team could storm the court to a sea of adoring, cheering fans, Johnson needed to remind everyone of their central theme. “Whatever we do, we gonna do this s*** together,” he said, putting his fist in the air while others followed suit. As Fox, Castle and Champagnie addressed a gathering of reporters in the locker room Saturday night, still visibly working through emotions, it was evident that there was an understanding, an expectation, even, of a return to the top. The lessons learned, the accolades achieved and the pain suffered were all collective. Such is the rising and falling action of NBA franchises that dare to buck the trend, that dare to dream big. If recent history serves as a guide, nothing is promised. The last four editions of the Finals have featured eight different teams, a celebration of competition but a reminder that the path to contention can be thwarted by any number of unforeseen circumstances. There’s a certain level of maturity, emotional intelligence and processing power necessary to navigate those waters. “I think you have to look at it for the season it’s been,” veteran forward Harrison Barnes told Yahoo Sports. “The pain of losing in the Finals, and ultimately you have to accept that. There’s no guarantee that this group will ever have the opportunity to achieve that. Some players in this room may be able to get back to the Finals, some players in this room may be able to win a championship. I think accepting what this moment has been, where we come to as a team, and hopefully as guys continue on in their careers — whether it’s five, 10, 15 years — they’ll use this as a reference point.”The inflection point Barnes speaks of is an interesting one, simply because of the trickle-down effects one game — of the umpteenth magnitude — can have on the future of a franchise. There will be questions posed internally and externally about roster makeup, flexibility and holes and roles that may need addressing. Fox, who finished 3-of-15 from the field and 1-of-8 from 3 heaped a ton of praise on rookie Dylan Harper, but what does the future hold? Harper, who led the team in scoring with 25 points and added 5 rebounds and 4 assists, looked anything like an inexperienced 20-year-old. His entire playoff run, putting together one of the most impressive stretches in league history for a downhill-driving guard, certainly puts him in the driver’s seat for some tough conversations moving forward, especially hearing how Harper was apparently frustrated with his usage in his first year in San Antonio. “It meant a lot,” Harper said of his rookie stint. “Whole lot to grow on, whole lot to learn. At the end of the day, it’s my first year — can’t keep moving forward without a positive attitude. Obviously we lost, and I wanted to win that but gotta believe we’ll bounce back.”There’s also the need for Castle, who shot just 23.3% from distance in the conference finals and 30% in the Finals, to improve his floor spacing against more prominent opponents — as well as some of his decision-making under pressure. The second-year guard struggled mightily in Game 5, missing nine of his 10 shots, all of his 3-point attempts and turning the ball over three times. Over the coming months, the Spurs’ brass, armed with cap space, draft capital and a hoard of youth, will determine whether roster additions or adjustments are necessary. San Antonio is nearly $50 million below the luxury tax and well clear of any aprons — thanks to a number of its players still being on rookie contracts — which gives them wiggle room in the offseason. Wembanyama is eligible for a $251 million extension, and the Spurs will also have their mid-level exceptions available. Other key members of their core, including Devin Vassell, Johnson and Champagnie are extension-eligible as well. From a roster-building standpoint, however, San Antonio is anything but a finished product. It’s clear that while reserve big Luke Kornet filled the role best to his abilities, the team could benefit from a Wembanyama understudy who is more skilled than Kornet and can stretch the floor similarly to Wembanyama, avoiding the need to drastically change tactics when the former is off the floor. It’s also apparent that a secondary scorer — who can mask as a primary option when Wembanyama endures off nights or stiff opposing defenses — should be on the table as well. Make no mistake, this team should be here for a long, long time. There’s a built-to-last mentality that’s tangible from top to bottom, a variety of skill sets that mesh accordingly, and a new hunger and passion to succeed at all costs. The pain from losing a Finals, especially on your home floor, is one that will burn for months and years to come. But it starts with sitting with disappointment, understanding regret and anticipating improvement. “I learned one of many things,” Wembanyama said. “The margin of error is very thin. We absolutely dominated for most of the series. But our errors, our mistakes, are punished so hard that we can't have ups and downs like this. … It's painful. It's painful. But I'm not running away from that. I'm using it to fuel me. I'm sure all these guys you named, they're not satisfied with being eliminated in earlier rounds or not making the playoffs. I'm not satisfied with not winning. But as I said, this is the biggest lesson of my life. As a team, there's no better experience than what we just lived.”

Former defender’s World Cup heroics could trigger unexpected windfall for BarcelonaBarcelona’s transfer activity this summer may not only depend on incoming and outgoing deals involving current players. The club could also benefit financially from the performances of a former player who is attracting attention on the international stage.As the FIFA World Cup gathers momentum across the United States, Mexico and Canada, former Barcelona defender Sergino Dest is already making headlines after an impressive display for the United States national team. His strong start to the tournament, where the USA beat Paraguay 4-1, could have direct financial implications for the Catalan giants in the coming months.As reported before, Barcelona still retain a percentage of any future transfer involving the American international, meaning a successful World Cup campaign could indirectly boost the club’s finances.Dest attracting strong attentionDest played a prominent role in the United States’ victory over Paraguay and was among the standout performers on the pitch.Dest was fantastic against Paraguay. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)Interestingly, the 25-year-old was not deployed in his traditional full-back role. Instead, he operated further forward as a right winger, a position that United States manager Mauricio Pochettino has used him in on several occasions.At club level, though, the situation has been slightly different. During PSV Eindhoven’s title-winning campaign, Dest spent most of the season alternating between right-back and left-back depending on the team’s needs.His performances played an important role in PSV’s successful Eredivisie campaign and helped re-establish his reputation after a difficult spell following his departure from Barcelona.Barcelona have financial interest in Dest’s futureAlthough Dest has left Barcelona permanently, the club still has a 20% sell-on clause from any future transfer involving the defender.Bayern Munich are interested in Sergino Dest. (Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images)That clause has become increasingly relevant as interest in Dest continues to grow. According to SPORT, several clubs are monitoring his situation following another impressive season in the Netherlands.Among the clubs linked with the American defender is German powerhouse Bayern Munich, while additional interest is believed to exist from teams in both the Bundesliga and the Premier League.PSV, however, are understood to be determined to keep hold of one of their most important players and are unlikely to make negotiations easy.However, in case of a transfer, reports suggest that Dest’s current valuation could fall somewhere between €20 million and €25 million. Should a transfer materialise within that range, Barcelona would stand to receive a respectable payment thanks to their sell-on agreement.