Japan fans tidied up after themselves after their team's opening World Cup game against the Netherlands in Texas (Charlotte Wilson)Japan fans left the stands spotless after their World Cup opener against the Netherlands in Texas on Sunday, saying it was "Japanese culture" to tidy up after themselves.Spectators stayed behind after the 2-2 draw to make sure they left the stadium as they found it, meticulously picking up litter and stuffing it into blue plastic bags.It is a habit first learned at primary school and Japan fan Eita Tanaka told AFP that "we have to think about everyone"."Japanese people think that when we use a certain place, we were told that you have to make that place look tidier when you leave than it was when you arrived," said the 20-year-old, clasping a beer and a couple of cups, and wearing Japan's blue shirt."For example, at school in our classrooms we tidy it up after ourselves without our teacher telling us."Japan are appearing at their eighth straight World Cup and their fans' cleanliness has become their international calling card.NFL quarterback Jameis Winston could even be seen joining in the clean-up after Sunday's game, wearing a blue Japan shirt with his name on the back.Japan fan Futo Hagiwara said he was proud that the behaviour of his countrymen had been recognised in a positive light."This is our culture, that means everywhere we go we need to clean it after ourselves, it's our spiritual way, our attitude," he said.Sociologist and philosopher Masachi Ohsawa believes a mix of social responsibility and peer pressure is behind the fans' behaviour."While Japanese people tend not to take much interest in justice on a large scale -- issues like global inequality, conflict or climate change -- they are extremely sensitive to moral considerations on a smaller scale," he said."When it comes to people who they share the same space with or have direct personal contact with, they feel a strong desire not to cause them any trouble or make them feel uncomfortable."- School of life -Cleaning chores are a part of Japanese education from an early age, and children can be seen scrubbing floors and tables at schools every day.Public waste bins are scarce in the country, and people are expected to take their rubbish home with them.Getting rid of household waste can be a labyrinthine task that involves separating rubbish into different categories.Scott North, emeritus professor of sociology at the University of Osaka, said he and his neighbours get together twice a year to pull out weeds and rake up cuttings.He said such groups are organised into leaders and followers, and operate in a similar way to Japanese football supporters."Since everyone comes together, there's an expectation that they'll act as a group," said North, an American who has lived in Japan for about 40 years."And when the leaders break out the bags and say here you go, nobody is going to say no."Sociologist Ohsawa said such behaviour could be explained by what Japanese people refer to as "reading the air"."In Japan, even if one person starts picking up litter, those around them feel they simply cannot help but join in," he said."That's because if they don't, the people they are with will think they are a bad person."He said peer pressure was a powerful social force."In this case, the primary motivation isn't so much a desire to keep the stadium clean or to avoid causing trouble for the people who have to clean the stadium afterwards," he said."It's more a desire not to be seen as a nuisance in one's own group."Whatever the reasons, Japan's fans will keep tidying up for as long as they stay in the tournament.Their next game is against Tunisia in Mexico on Saturday, and fan Hagiwara is happy to keep leading by example."We usually don't tell children they should do it," he said."We just show our actions and behaviour, and other people follow."amk/dh

Pirates' Paul Skenes problem has returned originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Pittsburgh Pirates have been here before, but they likely hoped that they were leaving it in the past.Turns out, an old Paul Skenes problem has returned.To be clear, this isn't really Skenes' fault, but it's a reality he is facing again.The Pirates have lost each of Skenes' last six starts, including Sunday against the Miami Marlins.That seems impossible, because he's one of the best pitchers on the planet. But each of the last six times Skenes has taken the mound to start a game, the Pirates have lost by the end of the game.It's hard to figure out how that happens. Sometimes, pitchers seem to have bad luck in a given season, but it doesn't necessarily carry over year to year.MORE: Guardians' Jose Ramirez situation is one that could change everythingThe Pirates have a much-improved offense this season, which should remove the likelihood of this happening quite as often.Yet at least lately, Pittsburgh is seeing Skenes struggle to get them wins.He's still his dominant self in many ways. On Sunday, he led MLB in swings-and-misses caused by a pitcher, with an impressive 23.But when the Pirates' game came to an end against Miami, the offense hadn't given Skenes enough support to win.Whether it's a problem that can be solved or not is hard to know. But what's clear is that Pittsburgh needs to stop wasting Skenes' starts.More MLB news:White Sox are on an astounding stretch at homeA 'gentlemanly' baserunning move confused the umpires, and everyone elseOneil Cruz is Pirates' big trade deadline questionOutfielder retires from baseball to go play college footballDodgers have a very simple reason to trade for Tarik Skubal

Rekik pulls goal back for Tunisia before break but Sweden leadIsak scored Sweden's second after Ayari opener from outside boxPotter is one of two English managers at tournamentListen to BBC Radio 5 Live commentary at the top of the pageElsewhere in Group, Netherlands and Japan drew 2-2 on SundayHow to watch the World Cup on BBC | Catch up on World Cup without spoilers | Pundit predictions Tunisia pull goal back before break but Sweden still lead in World Cup

Apr 08, 2026; San Jose, CA, USA; during San Jose Sharks vs Edmonton Oilers at SAP Center. Photo: Sport Shots / Dean TaitHere’s how I voted for the 2025-26 NHL Awards.For the first time since Erik Karlsson and 2022-23, it was a truly interesting year for the San Jose Sharks and the year-end awards, with Macklin Celebrini putting together an MVP-caliber campaign.Here’s how I voted this year with some explanations — you can see how the rest of the PHWA voted here.I’m proud to say that I’ve voted for the last nine straight years, see all my past votes here.HART TROPHYWinner: Nikita KucherovMy Vote:1) Connor McDavid – Edmonton Oilers 2) Macklin Celebrini – San Jose Sharks 3) Nikita Kucherov – Tampa Bay Lightning 4) Nathan MacKinnon – Colorado Avalanche 5) Zach Werenski – Columbus Blue JacketsThe margins were thin between these deserving MVP winners, especially the top-four.When the margins are thin, you must have differentiators, or how else can you decide a winner?Three of McDavid’s differentiators over Celebrini for me?McDavid has an NHL-leading 138 points, 23 more than Celebrini. McDavid had a goal or an assist in 48.9 percent of the Oilers’ offense, which also led the league in offensive involvement, only ahead of Celebrini’s 46.2.And yes, McDavid dragged Edmonton into the playoffs, while Celebrini just missed doing so.In my mind, all this trumped Celebrini’s differentiators: Celebrini was on a far weaker team, for sure, but the Oilers had their share of major injuries and wouldn’t have made the post-season without McDavid.Final Vote:NORRIS TROPHYWinner: Zach WerenskiMy Vote:1) Zach Werenski – Columbus Blue Jackets 2) Evan Bouchard – Edmonton Oilers 3) Rasmus Dahlin – Buffalo Sabres 4) Miro Heiskanen – Dallas Stars 5) Cale Makar – Colorado AvalancheSpeaking of differentiators…When I selected Erik Karlsson for the Norris Trophy in 2022-23, it was on the strength of a major differentiator like Karlsson being the first defenseman since Brian Leetch in 1991-92 to eclipse 100 points.So just like Celebrini just missing the playoffs was a differentiator, the same could be said about Bouchard being five points short of 100. It’s just a few points, but…Werenski is a better all-around defender, and once again, if you have a handful of closely-qualified candidates, you do have to find small reasons to separate them. You have no choice but to do so.Final Vote:CALDER TROPHYWinner: Matthew SchaeferMy Vote:1) Matthew Schaefer – New York Islanders 2) Jakub Dobes – Montreal Canadiens 3) Ivan Demidov – Montreal Canadiens 4) Beckett Sennecke – Anaheim Ducks 5) Jimmy Snuggerud – St. Louis BluesFinal Vote:LADY BYNG TROPHYWinner: Cole CaulfieldMy Vote:1) Jake Sanderson – Ottawa Senators 2) Mark Stone – Vegas Golden Knights 3) Travis Sanheim – Philadelphia Flyers 4) Zach Werenski – Columbus Blue Jackets 5) Esa Lindell – Dallas StarsThe Lady Byng, in my opinion, should be an award given to a gentlemanly player who plays at a high level and has his sportsmanship tested by challenging minutes. It’s easier to avoid taking penalties when you don’t play hard defensive minutes, so I never vote for those offense-first types.Final Vote:SELKE TROPHYWinner: Nick SuzukiMy Vote:1) Shane Pinto – Ottawa Senators 2) Ryan O’Reilly – Nashville Predators 3) Jordan Staal – Carolina Hurricanes 4) Nico Hischier – New Jersey Devils 5) Alex Wennberg – San Jose SharksSuzuki is a terrific two-way center, but I think my top-five had a combination of harder defensive match-ups, more PK time, and/or more a greater percentage of 5-on-5 defensive zone faceoffs.For what it’s worth, I filtered my Selke and Norris votes, my most challenging votes every year, through multiple NHL scouts.Final Vote:Masterton TrophyWinner: Gabriel LandeskogMy Vote:1) Gabriel Landeskog – Colorado Avalanche 2) Rasmus Dahlin – Buffalo Sabres 3) Ozzy Wiesblatt – Nashville PredatorsAll-Star TeamWinners:My Vote:CENTER — Three selections.1) Connor McDavid – Edmonton Oilers 2) Macklin Celebrini – San Jose Sharks 3) Nathan MacKinnon – Colorado AvalancheRIGHT WING — Three selections.1) Nikita Kucherov – Tampa Bay Lightning 2) David Pastrnak – Boston Bruins 3) Matt Boldy – Minnesota WildLEFT WING — Three selections.1) Jason Robertson – Dallas Stars 2) Cole Caulfield – Montreal Canadiens 3) Kirill Kaprizov – Minnesota WildDEFENSE — SIX selections.1) Zach Werenski – Columbus Blue Jackets 2) Evan Bouchard – Edmonton Oilers 3) Rasmus Dahlin – Buffalo Sabres 4) Miro Heiskanen – Dallas Stars 5) Cale Makar – Colorado Avalanche 6) Moritz Seider – Detroit Red WingsGOALTENDER — Three selections.1) Andrei Vasilevskiy – Tampa Bay Lightning 2) Logan Thompson – Washington Capitals 3) Karel Vejmelka – Utah MammothFinal Vote:NHL All-Rookie TeamWinners:My Vote:FORWARD —Ivan Demidov – Montreal Canadiens Beckett Sennecke – Anaheim Ducks Jimmy Snuggerud – St. Louis BluesDEFENSE —Matthew Schaefer – New York Islanders Alexander Nikishin – Carolina HurricanesGOALTENDER —Jakub Dobes – Montreal CanadiensFinal Vote:The post My 2025-26 NHL Awards Ballot: Why I Chose McDavid Over Celebrini for MVP? Wennberg Selke Vote appeared first on San Jose Hockey Now.

Galo face challenge of winning back the Massa after the Cup breakOne of Atlético Mineiro’s missions after the World Cup break will be to fully win back the confidence of the Massa.A survey by ge indicates that the current average attendance at Arena MRV is the lowest since Galo began playing at its new home.The survey took into account the 17 home matches played this season, the first 17 in 2024 and 2025, and all nine played in 2023.The best mark came in 2024, a season that ended with Galo competing in the Libertadores and Copa do Brasil finals.Check the averages below:2023 - 32,937 - 9 matches played2024 - 33,817 - first 17 matches2025 - 37,355 - first 17 matches2026 - 23,669 - first 17 matches Galo will return to action precisely in front of the Massa. They will face Bahia in a match expected to be played on July 22, in round 19 of the Brasileirão. This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

Yan Diomande impressed on his World Cup debut as Ivory Coast beat Ecuador with a late Amad Diallo goal (CHARLY TRIBALLEAU)Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande said his team haven't come to the World Cup simply to make up the numbers after they struck late to beat Ecuador 1-0 in their opening match on Sunday.Diomande was a lively presence in attack for Ivory Coast in Philadelphia, where Manchester United's Amad Diallo scored a 90th-minute winner after coming off the bench."It's always great to start with a win to help with the confidence," said Diomande, who has attracted interest from a number of Europe's top clubs after an excellent season with RB Leipzig."We know Ecuador is a big team. We had to be patient and wait for our opportunity and we got the goal."The West Africans are appearing at their fourth World Cup but the first since 2014. They have never made it past the group stage but are well placed to do so with games still to come against Germany and Curacao."We haven't come here just to be part of it all. We want to make history," said Diomande.He will face some familiar faces when the Ivorians take on four-time World Cup winners Germany, packed with Bundesliga stars, in Toronto on June 20. Germany thrashed Curacao 7-1 to open their account on Sunday."We'll do everything we can to win the next match," said Diomande. "We know that playing against Germany is a tough game and they are one of the biggest teams in the world. We're waiting for them, but the most important thing is to stay calm and be humble."Ivory Coast coach Emerse Fae credited his side for the way in which they overcame their World Cup nerves as they rode their luck in the first half when Ecuador twice hit the bar."The players were a bit on edge. It was a first World Cup for everyone, so there was a bit of tension. They were afraid to take risks," said Fae, who guided the Elephants to an Africa Cup of Nations title on home soil two years ago."We managed to hold on and dig in," he added."In the second half we were a lot more focused... and we have attacking players who can make the difference at any moment."The loss snapped a 19-match unbeaten run for Ecuador dating back to September."It's difficult to start with a loss," admitted captain Enner Valencia."This squad has a history of coming through difficult situations. This will be just another one. I'm sure we'll pull through."mw/gj

The image of Rod Brind’Amour screaming triumphantly while raising the Stanley Cup as the Carolina Hurricanes’ captain had been the franchise’s defining image for the past two decades.Now there will be another: Brind'Amour raising the Cup again, this time as the Hurricanes’ coach who has made the sun-soaked Southern market his longtime home.The Hurricanes won their second championship by beating the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 on Sunday night to close out a six-game Stanley Cup Final, adding a remarkable chapter to Brind'Amour's enduring presence with the franchise. In a region generally best known for rabid college sports rivalries, he is the embodiment of Hurricanes hockey.He was the 35-year-old two-way center as the heart and soul of that 2006 title run, known for grinding on-ice work and weight-room training. The owner of the retired No. 17 jersey in the Lenovo Center rafters.The guy who proclaimed “I bleed Hurricane red” when becoming head coach of a franchise lost in a nine-year wilderness without a playoff bid.Now he’s the coach who built a perennial contender that has finally reached its zenith. He joins Toe Blake with Montreal, Hap Day with Toronto and Cooney Weiland with Boston as the only other people in NHL history to both captain and coach the same organization to a Stanley Cup. Doing it more than a quarter-century after arriving as a player shocked to be traded to Carolina makes it only sweeter.“I don’t just wear this (Hurricanes) hat, take it off and wear someone else’s the next day," Brind'Amour said in May during his eighth playoff appearance in as many seasons. "That’s just not what it is. It means a little more to me because I’ve been here for so long. We have the roots and the history, so I’m very lucky in that way.”Brind'Amour's arrival triggered a title climbBrind’Amour — born in the Canadian capital of Ottawa and raised in Campbell River, British Columbia — arrived in a January 2000 trade from Philadelphia. That jarring charge had an inauspicious start; he reached Raleigh amid a heavy snowstorm that had paralyzed the area.Just two years later, Brind’Amour helped Carolina make an unexpected run to the Stanley Cup Final. Then, in the NHL’s 2005 return from a season-cancelling lockout, Brind'Amour became captain as the Hurricanes beat Edmonton in seven games for his unforgettable Cup-hoisting moment.Brind’Amour was part of another East final run in 2009 before retiring in 2010. He held a front-office role before spending seven seasons as an assistant coach and then taking over the bench in 2018.The challenge was daunting. There was the on-ice frustration from the long playoff drought. There was also flagging fan interest. The Hurricanes had gone from averaging 16,573 fans for regular-season home games in the 2008-09 season to as low as 11,776 by the 2016-17 season. That stood at just 12,412 the year before Brind'Amour's promotion.How Brind'Amour revitalized the HurricanesBrind'Amour quickly went about building a team capable of sustained success, one with an approach in befitting his personality. Use an aggressive forecheck to win puck battles. Maintain possession and generate scoring chances to keep the pressure on in the offensive zone.The mantra was simple: keep working, it's the only way to give yourself a chance to win.“It’s just the eight years we’ve been doing this Roddy,” captain Jordan Staal said before Game 6 against Vegas. “It’s the game we’ve built and it doesn’t ever change.”Brind’Amour acknowledges the value of having been a player — “I have sat in their seat,” he said this month — in understanding the challenges they face and how to motivate them. He also talks about leading a team that fans can be proud of with its performance and effort.And Brind'Amour continued a set-the-example leadership style, even in his own workout habits as he pushed into his 50s. It left an impression on offseason trade acquisition K'Andre Miller; the defenseman recalled coming in early to work out and finding Brind'Amour deep into bench squats.“I'm like, ‘Who is this guy?’” Miller chuckled last month.“It doesn’t hurt that your coach is in shape like that,” forward Taylor Hall said before the final. “That’s just the kind of guy he is. He’s a role model for us, and we kind of follow his lead.”Building for sustained success led to a second Cup titleIt's all added up to the Hurricanes making the playoffs every year of Brind'Amour's tenure. They reached the East final in 2019, 2023 and 2025 before pushing past Montreal this year. Average regular-season home attendance is roughly 18,800 for the past two seasons combined. And in 2023, the team packed nearly 57,000 fans into Carter-Finley Stadium — home to N.C. State's football team across the street from the Lenovo Center — for a Stadium Series outdoor game.Overall, Brind’Amour has been a player or coach for 102 of the franchise’s 104 playoff victories since the former Hartford Whalers relocated to North Carolina in 1997.That now includes Brind’Amour having his name etched on the Stanley Cup for a second time.___AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

The coach is the same. The system is the same. The core is the same.That is nothing against Rod Brind'Amour, considered one of the best behind the bench in the NHL, or Jordan Staal, Jaccob Slavin, Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis, who have been the centerpiece of the Carolina Hurricanes making the playoffs year after year.But the difference this year came from all the new talent general manager Eric Tulsky added over the past 17 months to get over the hump. It added up to the franchise winning the Stanley Cup for the second time and first since 2006.Tulsky took a big swing by acquiring elite winger Mikko Rantanen from Colorado in January 2025 and also got veteran Taylor Hall from Chicago as part of the three-team blockbuster. When Rantanen didn't want to be part of Carolina's long-term future, Tulsky traded him to Dallas and received center Logan Stankoven and two first-round picks, one of which became part of getting defenseman K'Andre Miller on July 1.Two days later, the Hurricanes won the bidding competition to sign top free agent Nikolaj Ehlers, the speedy winger who gave them just what they needed after seven consecutive postseason appearances without a trip to the final. Falling one goal short so many times in key situations, Ehlers, Stankoven, Hall and Miller put an end to the rite of spring of wondering where that would come from. All of them fit in with Brind'Amour, who requires his players to commit to a demanding brand of hockey that isn't for everyone. “We’ve really focused on finding people who fit the way we want to play,” Tulsky said. “We ask players to play a very distinctive style, and our scouts have done a great job finding players who can come in and look their best playing the way Rod needs them to play.”The Hurricanes' run started with a missTrading for Rantanen was a huge risk. It involved sending talented forwards Martin Necas and Jack Drury to the Avalanche in a gamble that the big Finnish winger was the missing piece.Rantanen had six points in 13 games with Carolina, and it became clear it was not a good fit. Discussions with Toronto involving Mitch Marner did not lead to him waiving his no-trade clause, and he instead wound up in Las Vegas and was key to the Golden Knights' run to the final.Rather than letting the situation play out with the likelihood he would depart in free agency, Tulsky flipped Rantanen to Dallas for Stankoven and a pair of first-round picks. One went to the New York Rangers for Miller, whose presence shored up depth on the blue line.“We never want to get worried about the what ifs,” Tulsky said. “That being said, sometimes it doesn’t go the way you hoped, and you’ve got to be ready to figure out how you’re going to move forward from there.”Stankoven led the team with 11 goals during this dominant run of 16 victories in 19 games.Hurricanes make all the right moves afterIt was the same old story every time. The Hurricanes weren't just a great regular-season team that failed in the playoffs. They won at least one series in six of Brind'Amour's first seven years as coach, including three trips to the East final. Tulsky, a former scientist who got into the sport by blogging about it as a fan and was promoted to succeed Don Waddell two years ago, didn't blow it up. But he didn't stand pat, either.The changes — including claiming goaltender Brandon Bussi off waivers from back-to-back champion Florida just before opening night in October — worked out swimmingly. Playing in the NHL for the first time at 27, Bussi won 31 of 39 starts during the season, then stepped in during the final in place of Frederik Andersen and backstopped them the rest of the way, including a shutout in the Game 6 clincher Sunday night.“We have the confidence in Bus,” Brind'Amour said. “He makes a ton of big saves. Even when there’s breakdowns, we trust him back there, gives us tons of confidence to play our game and just be aggressive all night.”Aggressive is the Golden Knights' way, going after every big-name free agent or trade candidate, and it led to the Stanley Cup in 2023 and three runs to the final in their first nine years of existence. But Carolina has also become that team.“Fundamentally, we want to be aggressive,” Tulsky said. “Rod has the team playing very aggressive on the ice. We want to be aggressive off the ice, too. And when you have a chance to add a really high-end player, we never want to miss out on it.”Carolina did not miss on Ehlers, who turned out to be key and scored the empty-netter that sealed the title. Getting him, Stankoven, Hall, Miller and others also made longtime holdovers like Staal and grinding forward Jordan Martinook believe they could get the job done.“When your team is trying to get better all the time, it’s something that you can get behind,” Martinook said. "Obviously, we took a run of Mikko, it didn’t work out, but look what we got from it. Stanks and Key, those are two of the pieces that we got from it. Hallsy was part of that, too. Those are three incredibly important pieces to our team. It just shows that they’re ready to take chances all the time."___AP Sports Writer Aaron Beard in Raleigh, North Carolina, contributed to this report.___AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Intuitive + unpredictable = WBA interim flyweight champion.In Grand Rapids, Michigan, Albuquerque’s Abraham Perez, facing down the toughest opponent of his career on Sunday in front of an international audience on DAZN, defeated former world champion Jonathan Gonzalez by split decision.After 12 physical yet tactical rounds, one judge scored the bout for Gonzalez 115-113. Two judges, however, saw it 115-113 for Perez — awarding Perez, the challenger, the interim title belt.The Journal, scoring off the DAZN streaming, had it 116-112 for Perez.Perez improved his still-spotless record to 15-0 with seven knockouts. Gonzalez, of Caguas, Puerto Rico, is 29-5-1.A relatively subdued Perez was his harshest critic during a brief post-fight interview in the ring.Asked if he felt he’d done enough to win, Perez said, “Yes, but I still don’t feel like that was my best.”Asked what he felt he could do better, he said, “Just stay a little bit more on my feet, stay more sharp with my punches.“Shoot, I’m a flyweight (112 pounds). I should throw more (punches) than that.”During the fight, the DAZN crew praised Perez’s ability to adjust on the fly — “intuitive,” was the word used — and his unpredictability, giving Gonzalez different looks.“You never know what he’s going to do next,” one of the broadcasters said.Gonzalez, a 35-year-old veteran of 15 years in the pro ranks, won the WBO light flyweight (108-pound) title in 2021 and successfully defended three times before moving up in weight. The shorter fighter, he had his best moments Sunday when pressing the fight inside and imposing his physicality.It was Perez, though, who landed the cleaner shots throughout — using movement, maintaining distance and landing creative combinations, mostly to the head, while not ignoring the body.There were no knockdowns, and neither fighter appeared hurt or dazed at any point.In boxing, an interim title suggests the holder of that belt might be next in line for a shot at the “regular” champion. But Gonzalez, who defeated Yankiel Rivera for the WBA interim belt in January, was required to defend against Perez instead.Perez, asked if he’d like to challenge WBA flyweight champion Ricardo Sandoval, said, “If he’s willing, then yessir, I would like it.”Sandoval (27-2, 18 KOs) last fought in July 2025 and, according to boxrec.com, does not have a fight scheduled.More likely for Perez, perhaps, is a defense of the title he won on Sunday. As is customary, Salita Promotions, which staged Sunday’s card, has options it can exercise.“One of the great boxing towns in the United States is Albuquerque, New Mexico,” promoter Dmitriy Salita said in the ring. “Now we have a world (interim) champion, and maybe the first defense is there.”

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Hours before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, Rod Brind'Amour praised Brandon Bussi while also expressing some measure of relief that the Carolina Hurricanes did not need to turn to their backup goaltender during this playoff run.“Haven’t had to use him, (and) to be honest, I hope we don’t because something’s gone wrong,” Brind'Amour said.Turns out the late-blooming goaltender came out of the bullpen after all and backstopped the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup.After Frederik Andersen was in net for every minute of the first three rounds and the start of the final, Bussi came in during Game 3 and finished out the series. He stopped 81 of the 87 shots he faced against Vegas as Andersen’s status was shrouded in mystery; the veteran from Denmark did not dress from Game 4 on.Bussi, a 27-year-old from Long Island, was not an unknown quantity for the Hurricanes because he played in nearly half their games this season, winning 31 of his 39 starts to help Carolina earn the top seed in the Eastern Conference. He got a three-year extension at a bargain-basement $5.7 million price in February.Before the past several months, he was on track for the career of a journeyman.Going undrafted, he spend several years in the Boston Bruins' farm system with the Maine Mariners of the ECHL and Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League. Liking what they saw, the astute back-to-back champion Florida Panthers signed him last summer to be their third goalie behind Sergei Bobrovsky and Daniil Tarasov.Trying to get him to the AHL in Charlotte, the Panthers lost Bussi when Carolina claimed him off waivers. Injuries to Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov thrust him into an important role for a top contender.Bussi was even more needed in the final. He entered at the second intermission in Game 3 with the Hurricanes down 4-0. He stopped all 18 shots to allow a stirring comeback, and the only goal he allowed was the Golden Knights' winner in double overtime when the puck took a bad bounce off the end boards behind him and Bussi inadvertently kicked it in.In the Game 6 clincher, Bussi denied playoff-leading goal-scorer Brett Howden, who got in all alone in the first period. He stopped Tomas Hertl on a 2-on-1 rush in the second, much to the joy of family members watching from the stands. Then Bussi robbed Hertl and Mark Stone on quality scoring chances in the final few minutes of regulation.Hurricanes fans in Las Vegas chanted “Buss-i! Buss-i!” on the way to his third career shutout. A journeyman no more, Bussi is now a Stanley Cup champion.___Whyno contributed from New York.___AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

The Carolina Hurricanes are the 2026 Stanley Cup Champions, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in six games with a 3-0 victory on Sunday night. With the win, it marks the first time former Spartan Rod Brind'Amour's first Stanley Cup as an NHL head coach.Brind'Amour, a star at MSU in the 1988-89 season, before going on to have a 22 year NHL career as a player. As a player, he won a Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006. 20 years later, he is holding the Stanley Cup as the head coach of the team he led to hockey's greatest accomplishment as the captain. He becomes the 7th person in NHL history to win a Stanley Cup championship for the same organization as both a player and head coach.Taking over the Hurricanes as the head coach in 2018-19, his first NHL head coaching gig, he has made the Hurricanes into one of the NHL's best teams, but a trip to the Stanley Cup final eluded him until this year. In his first chance at the cup as a head coach, he took advantage, and is bringing the cup back to Carolina. This Stanley Cup victory marks the end of a remarkable run from Carolina, going 16-3 in the playoffs en route to the championship. Congratulations to the former Spartan on reaching hockey's mountaintop once again.Congratulations to Michigan State hockey alum Rod Brind’Amour and the Carolina Hurricanes on winning the 2026 Stanley Cup!Brind’Amour becomes the 7th person in NHL history to win a Stanley Cup championship for the same organization as both a player and head coach.He captained… pic.twitter.com/vhYLePHk9C— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) June 15, 2026Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on X @Rex_LinzyThis article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Former Spartan leads Carolina Hurricanes to Stanley Cup Championship

Nature, Published online: 15 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01833-wThe female individual’s brain was removed after her death, but her remains were carefully reassembled for her interment.

For 40 years, a museum in Norway has showcased art by children from around the world, even toddlers. Now it has lost the state support it depended on.

World Cup fans from across the region and around the world gathered at Lemon Hill in Fairmount Park on Sunday night to watch Ivory Coast defeat Ecuador, turning the FIFA Fan Festival into a lively, crowded celebration.The Ecuador fan base appeared larger, but it was Ivory Coast supporters who erupted after the final whistle. A moment of pure joy swept through the crowd as fans in orange cheered, danced and waved flags."I feel so excited to see Africa representing us on the bigger stage," said Peter Massaquoi of Hammonton.RELATED | World Cup updates: Ivory Coast defeats Ecuador in South Philly"I've been here 32 years in Philly, so far this is the best day of my life seeing my own team," said Mohamed Koita of Southwest Philadelphia.Fans traveled from different states and countries to watch the match on the festival's big screens."We came from Quito, Ecuador," said Sebastian Gamboa."I love it. I'm so happy they gave us this opportunity. We couldn't afford to get the tickets, but if we can support them from here, it's almost the same thing as the stadium," said Diane Cedeno of Allentown.Ivory Coast supporters, though outnumbered, made their presence known."It's Ivory Coast. It's elephants. We are the best country in the world," said Ahui Assi of Silver City, Maryland."Everything in our way gets destroyed - that's what it means to be an elephant. We crush everything in our way," said Herman Kouadio, also from Silver City.The festival offered more than just the match. Visitors played pickup games, sampled food and drinks, browsed the FIFA store and danced to music throughout the night."It's very, very nice. There is a lot going on. I like the FIFA official store, the food," said Blas Jaramillo of White Plains, New York.Many said the best part is the power of the sport."Soccer unites people all over the world. So, I'm glad to see everybody is here. Everybody is having fun," said Simon Musinguzi of Quakertown.The festival will reopen on Monday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. for three more matches. Entry is free, but attendees must register online before arriving.

With NBA free agency set to officially start in a couple of weeks, the biggest domino to fall for the Los Angeles Lakers will be what LeBron James decides to do. It seems as if the Lakers are the team he's most likely to play for next season, but the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors continue to be discussed as potential destinations for him.But if James really feels like he needs to win another championship, could he possibly join a team that is already on the cusp of winning it all? That is what CBS Sports writer Sam Quinn suggested in a recent article.In that article, Quinn went over what the San Antonio Spurs could do this offseason after losing in the NBA Finals to the New York Knicks in gut-wrenching fashion. He mentioned how they need a power forward to help out Victor Wembanyama and how they need a true ball-handler and facilitator. The Spurs are also a very young team that could use some veteran leadership.Therefore, Quinn proposed that James should perhaps head to San Antonio, especially if San Antonio trades guard De'Aaron Fox, who played poorly versus New York and has a bloated contract."If he's as serious about wanting to win as he says, there's no better suitor out there," Quinn wrote. "The Spurs can make the money work. The mid-level probably tops every suitor but the Lakers, and if the Spurs need to move [Keldon] Johnson to create cap space, they could get James into the low-20-million-dollar range. The basketball fit works because it always works with LeBron. He can do anything. He's power forward-sized, a need we've covered. He's no sharpshooter, but come on, nobody is ignoring LeBron James off the ball. He might be ball-handling overkill, but if they move Fox, James could step in as the veteran stabilizing creator. Maybe officially passing the 'face of the league' baton to Wembanyama would appeal to him. It's not likely, but it's worth an internal discussion on San Antonio's part."The one problem with this suggestion is that if James were to actually do this, it could hurt his legacy. Many of his critics have already gotten on him for joining stacked, ready-made teams, and heading to a squad that just lost the world title would only strengthen that criticism and narrative. Wembanyama is already one of the two or three best players in the world, and guards Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper are in the process of becoming legitimate stars.It also remains to be seen if the Spurs will even want to make a major move like bringing in James. It could be argued that they simply need a couple of minor or even moderate moves, and many are already picking them to win next season's championship.This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Writer suggests surprise LeBron James destination

Taylor Hall was a No. 1 pick in the draft in 2010. He was the NHL's MVP in 2018.Now, he is a Stanley Cup champion.No longer in the prime of his career, Hall was one of the biggest reasons the Carolina Hurricanes won 16 of 19 games during this playoff run. “He’s fast, he’s physical (and) he makes great plays with the puck,” defenseman Jaccob Slavin said. “He’s selling out to block shots. And so you need that. He’s really just been a complete player this whole playoffs.”Hall at 34 took on a workmanlike role on a line alongside 23-year-old Logan Stankoven and 22-year-old Jackson Blake. That trio led the way through the first three rounds of the playoffs and in the final against Vegas. Hall was a force in every way — generating offense, hammering opponents and sacrificing himself on defense.“Every line on our team has a physical aspect, and I think it falls on me to play like that,” Hall said. “Florida last year, there wasn’t a guy on their team that didn’t hit and didn’t make it really, really hard to be on the ice against them and you watch and learn.”Hall fit in quickly with CarolinaWith Chicago, Hall played Carolina on Jan. 20, 2025, and liked what he saw in a hard-fought overtime loss.“I got a first-hand glimpse of the intensity in which we play,” Hall said.His agent had approached him about the Hurricanes' interest in him and a few days later he joined them as part of the same three-team trade that got them Mikko Rantanen. Initially, Hall was not in shape to play coach Rod Brind'Amour's brand of hockey.But general manager Eric Tulsky liked what he saw in Hall.“He brings a blend of speed, skill and heaviness that really fits for us,” Tulsy said. “He has the ability to get pucks into the zone, win pucks along the way and he has the vision and creativity and skill to get pucks to the middle and create scoring chances off it. We spend a lot of time in the offensive zone, and we need players like him who can not just win the battle along the wall but get it to premium ice and create those top-tier chances and he’s been able to do that for us.”Hall settled in the Raleigh area, and before the end of April signed a three-year extension worth just over $3 million annually. A lot went into it, including a bad experience as a free agent during the pandemic and being able to drive his dog to his offseason home.“I was happy here, and I love the way we play and ultimately I saw this as a place that I think we could be here,” Hall said. “That’s what I envisioned, and everything else seemed like it made a lot of sense.”No MVP egoBrind'Amour as a player was a grinder, a defense-first center who made a living out of stopping players like Hall. As a coach, he knew all about Hall's skill as a winger, his 93-point season in 2017-18 with New Jersey that got him the Hart Trophy and the kind of offensive talent the Hurricanes were getting.The player who arrived was nothing like that.“He didn’t bring any of that, ‘I’m an MVP’ and I’m going to do it this way.' It was, ‘What do I have to do?’” Brind'Amour said. “When he first got with us, he was playing like 12 minutes a night. It didn’t matter. It was whatever he has to do to win. That’s refreshing, and that’s good on him.”Hall helped Carolina reach the 2025 Eastern Conference Final, then he and the team faltered against the defending-champion Panthers. That turned out to be an important lesson for a guy in his 30s thirsty for a title.“I didn’t play well in that conference final at all, and I think just the way that Florida played and the way that I played, it was a learning experience for me even at 33,” Hall said. “It was just different way to play in the playoffs. There’s a way to play, and there’s a way that the really good teams do it. I took it over the summer and tried to just get better and better.”Putting that into practice allowed Hall to set a record. His 18 seasons between getting drafted by Edmonton are the most before hoisting the Stanley Cup in league history for a No. 1 pick. All because Hall made a conscious decision to fit exactly what the Hurricanes needed.“It’s great for the role that we need him to play,” Slavin said. “I think he still has all the talent in the world, and you witness it night in and night out. He’s been great. And, yeah, has he adapted a little bit to how we play here? I think so. But that just speaks to the player that he is.”___AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Rod Brind'Amour knows a thing or two about how Jordan Staal is feeling. Now the Carolina Hurricanes' coach, Brind'Amour was their captain when they won the Stanley Cup two decades ago, and now Staal wears the “C.”Before the final against Vegas started, Brind'Amour was clear about one thing.“We’re not here today without Jordan Staal,” he said. “I can promise you that. We’re very lucky. And as a coach, you’re super fortunate to have a guy like that be your leader.”Staal led the Hurricanes to the second championship in franchise history by being the two-way shutdown center and faceoff ace he has been his entire NHL career. By elevating his game and leading them in goals with six in the final against the Golden Knights in addition to all those things, he won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.At 37, Staal is the oldest player to win the honor.“He’s always really good, but yeah, he’s stepped it up at such a pivotal time,” teammate Seth Jarvis said. “It’s incredible to watch, and it’s so much fun playing with him and being around him.”Staal is the longest-tenured player in the organization. He joined in 2012 in a trade from Pittsburgh on his wedding day, and after winning the Cup with the Penguins in '09, his first half-dozen years with the Hurricanes passed without a postseason appearance.“I don’t want to say that the losing that he had to do for four, five years when he got here might have fueled him even more, but I think it did,” fellow veteran Jordan Martinook said. “The fact that he’s seen some pretty dark days here and then to be on the other side of it ... he stuck through it the whole time.”The past seven seasons, Staal and the Hurricanes made the playoffs but failed to reach the final. He became captain in the middle of that stretch in 2020, taking on a role once filled by Brind'Amour from 2005-10 and older brother Eric from 2010-16.Staal took on the weight of those premature exits.“Each scar, each moment just drives a hunger even deeper into you,” Staal said. “Being a part of this core and all the scars that we’ve gone through just brings that care factor for each other that we want it for each other that much more.”Staal has never gotten the Selke Trophy as the league's best defensive forward, but he has been a finalist and this run shows why. He won more than 56% of his faceoffs and is so valuable on draws that he begins power plays just to get the Hurricanes the puck.Told of Brind'Amour's comment that the team would not have gotten this far without him, Staal praised his coach and downplayed changing anything in his game. The two shared a long hug on the ice in the moments after the Game 6 win.“I’m just being me,” Staal said. “I’m not really anyone different. But just my day-to-day presence is showing up and working. That’s all I’ve done since I got here in Carolina, and being consistent with that must have been enough.”The offensive outburst against Vegas put Staal over the top for the Conn Smythe after it looked like Logan Stankoven and Taylor Hall were Carolina's front-runners. He never scored 30 goals in a season, but his six in the final put him in the record books with the likes of Hall of Famers Mario Lemieux and Mike Bossy.“I’m not really surprised,” Brind'Amour said. “You take the goals away, it’d be the same impact. It’s just added that extra element.”___AP Sports Writer Aaron Beard in Raleigh, North Carolina, contributed to this report.___AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Who won the Conn Smythe? Hurricanes' Jordan Staal wins NHL's playoff MVP originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Carolina Hurricanes are Stanley Cup champions for the first time in 20 years, when goalie Cam Ward earned Conn Smythe honors and Rod Brind'Amour captained the team to immortality.With Brind'Amour on the bench as head coach and another inexperienced goalie in net, the Hurricanes closed out the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 6 to put the franchise's past playoff disappointments out of mind.Brandon Bussi perhaps saved the Hurricanes' season after replacing Frederik Andersen, but he wasn't the one who skated away with the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the playoffs.Here's a look at which player earned the honor after Game 6.MORE:How Rod Brind'Amour is responsible for nearly every playoff win in Hurricanes historyWho won the 2026 Conn Smythe?Jordan Staal has been with the Hurricanes for 14 years, so it's only fitting he was the player celebrated with the Conn Smythe Trophy after the Hurricanes finished off their title run.CAPTAIN CLUTCH‼️JORDAN STAAL IS THE WINNER OF THE CONN SMYTHE TROPHY AS THE MVP OF THE #STANLEYCUP PLAYOFFS! pic.twitter.com/qBs1qrMtFB— NHL (@NHL) June 15, 2026Jordan Staal accepts the Conn Smythe Trophy as the OLDEST player to ever win it 🤯🔥 pic.twitter.com/KuVACoGzyA— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) June 15, 2026The award was earned regardless of Staal's experience level, as the 37-year-old put together a magnificent playoff run with 12 points on eight goals and four assists in 17 games. Staal averaged 0.71 points per game after averaging 0.48 points per game in the regular season, and he was unstoppable in the Stanley Cup Final with six goals in six games.Staal scored in each of the first five games of the Stanley Cup Final for Carolina, and that performance on the NHL's biggest stage earned him an award that will etch his name among some hockey greats.He was chosen over other Carolina forwards such as Long Stankoven and Taylor Hall. Full list of Conn Smythe winnersCam Ward won the Conn Smythe Trophy the last time the Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup Final.Here's a full list of all the Conn Smythe winners in NHL history.YearPlayerTeamPosition2026Jordan StaalCarolina HurricanesC2025Sam BennettFlorida PanthersC2024Connor McDavidEdmonton OilersC2023Jonathan MarchessaultVegas Golden KnightsRW2022Cale MakarColorado AvalancheD2021Andrei VasilevskiyTampa Bay LightningG2020Victor HedmanTampa Bay LightningD2019Ryan O'ReillySt. Louis BluesC2018Alex OvechkinWashington CapitalsLW2017Sidney CrosbyPittsburgh PenguinsC2016Sidney CrosbyPittsburgh PenguinsC2015Duncan KeithChicago BlackhawksD2014Justin WilliamsLos Angeles KingsRW2013Patrick KaneChicago BlackhawksRW2012Jonathan QuickLos Angeles KingsG2011Tim ThomasBoston BruinsG2010Jonathan ToewsChicago BlackhawksC2009Evgeni MalkinPittsburgh PenguinsC2008Henrik ZetterbergDetroit Red WingsC2007Scott NiedermayerAnaheim DucksD2006Cam WardCarolina HurricanesG2005N/A*N/A*N/A2004Brad RichardsTampa Bay LightningC2003Jean-Sebastien GiguereMighty Ducks of AnaheimG2002Nicklas LidstromDetroit Red WingsD2001Patrick RoyColorado AvalancheG2000Scott StevensNew Jersey DevilsD1999Joe NieuwendykDallas StarsC1998Steve YzermanDetroit Red WingsC1997Mike VernonDetroit Red WingsG1996Joe SakicColorado AvalancheC1995Claude LemieuxNew Jersey DevilsRW1994Brian LeetchNew York RangersD1993Patrick RoyMontreal CanadiensG1992Mario LemieuxPittsburgh PenguinsC1991Mario LemieuxPittsburgh PenguinsC1990Bill RanfordEdmonton OilersG1989Al MacInnisCalgary FlamesD1988Wayne GretzkyEdmonton OilersC1987Ron HextallPhiladelphia FlyersG1986Patrick RoyMontreal CanadiensG1985Wayne GretzkyEdmonton OilersC1984Mark MessierEdmonton OilersC1983Billy SmithNew York IslandersG1982Mike BossyNew York IslandersRW1981Butch GoringNew York IslandersC1980Bryan TrottierNew York IslandersC1979Bob GaineyMontreal CanadiensLW1978Larry RobinsonMontreal CanadiensD1977Guy LafleurMontreal CanadiensRW1976Reggie LeachPhiladelphia FlyersRW1975Bernie ParentPhiladelphia FlyersG1974Bernie ParentPhiladelphia FlyersG1973Yvan CournoyerMontreal CanadiensRW1972Bobby OrrBoston BruinsD1971Ken DrydenMontreal CanadiensG1970Bobby OrrBoston BruinsD1969Serge SavardMontreal CanadiensD1968Glenn HallSt. Louis BluesG1967Dave KeonToronto Maple LeafsC1966Roger CrozierDetroit Red WingsG1965Jean BeliveauMontreal CanadiensC

Josh Hokit makes strange Michelle Obama callout during post-win interview at UFC White House card originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The UFC Freedom 250 event is undoubtedly one of the most highly anticipated cards ever put together by Dana White — with the White House spectacle and a huge budget to build an outdoor cage on the lawn, a ton of eyes were on some notable fighters on Sunday night.One of those fighters, Josh Hokit, took advantage of the stage he found himself on, first by taking down Derrick Lewis. But it was the moments after his win that Hokit drew more attention online.In his post-fight interview, Hokit didn't just give a chain directly to President Donald Trump — he then walked off the octagon after calling Michelle Obama "a man."Here's a look at Hokit's callout of Michelle Obama and strange post-fight interview on Sunday.MORE: Full results, highlights from UFC Freedom 250Josh Hokit post-fight interviewHokit won via TKO against Lewis, then joined Joe Rogan for his post-fight interview with some interesting quotes expected, knowing his personality.He first called out Alex Pereira, asking for a fight against the new heavyweight contender:He wants to what?@Josh_HokitUFC outlines what is next for him following his win at #UFCWhiteHouse!LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus![ UFC Freedom 250 Presented by @Cryptocom & @RamTrucks ] pic.twitter.com/5mA23LF6jH— UFC (@ufc) June 15, 2026Hokit was also seen gifting a chain to Trump prior to his interview:🚨 Josh Hokit gifts President Trump his chain 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/8pH9rubERq— Polymarket Sports (@PolymarketSport) June 15, 2026However, it was what Hokit said before leaving the stage that drew the most attention.What did Josh Hokit say about Michelle Obama?As his final statement before walking away from the interview, Hokit, out of the blue, said: "Michelle Obama is a man. Am I right America?"Josh Hokit just called Michelle Obama a man in front of Donald Trump at the White House pic.twitter.com/NiOqsxp2Fm— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) June 15, 2026MORE:Fact-checking the Daniel Cormier-Eric Trump viral exchangeJosh Hokit controversy Sunday was certainly not the first time Hokit drew attention for his unique personality and interviews.With the nickname "The Incredible Hoke," Hoki — who spent two seasons on the 49ers' practice squad in the NFL as a fullback after playing football at Fresno State — has built a character in the MMA world. Recently, his weigh-in for the Freedom 250 card went viral, as he appeared to throw up on himself and said "So what, maybe I was drinking last night."Josh Hokit showed up to the weigh-ins "drunk" and threw up on himself 😭"So what, maybe I was drinking last night. Who wouldn't be. I have a giant black man that wants to knock me out." pic.twitter.com/YP02EnjmSS— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) June 13, 2026Hokit has continually had some interesting press conferences, especially surrounding UFC Freedom 250.Here's what Josh Hokit said to Derrick Lewis during their face off:🗣️ "Don't f*cking give up. Don't take my glory away from me. Or I'll find you in the parking lot after." 😳 #UFCWhiteHousehttps://t.co/U8072WYp2Mpic.twitter.com/b6cOw3ShKf— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) June 14, 2026Josh Hokit tried to grab the mic from Joe Rogan againJoe refused to let it happen this time 😭 #UFCWhiteHousepic.twitter.com/eTFeLllkLp— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) June 14, 2026

Ex-Maple Leafs star Mitch Marner draws hate for Golden Knights ending originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The narrative throughout almost all of the NHL postseason was that Mitch Marner was rewriting the script.He may have been underwhelming in his Toronto Maple Leafs playoff career, but with the Vegas Golden Knights this season, Marner was leading the entire league in points in the playoffs.The Golden Knights lost the Stanley Cup Final to the Carolina Hurricanes in six games, though, and some hockey fans have pounced to criticize Marner.Why? Because he didn't do anything in the final two losses.After leading the playoffs in points, he was point-less in Games 5 or 6, the two losses that gave Carolina the Cup.Marner points in games five and six: 0Guess we’ll have to wait to hear about the dark times— JD Bunkis (@JDBunkis) June 15, 2026MORE: Dylan Larkin's trade request points out a major NHL flawIt's a small sample size, and Marner's overall playoff output will remain highly encouraging for Vegas.He can't be expected to be the only player who leads the way for Vegas, but it was unfortunate timing for the Golden Knights and for Marner that he went quiet in these final two games of the season.Vegas brought Marner aboard in the big offseason sign-and-trade from the Maple Leafs because they knew his superstar all-around game could make a difference. The last month-plus, that's exactly what happened.Marner just managed to disappear with everything on the line. That doesn't have to tell any kind of story, but some fans will certainly take it to suggest Marner doesn't have the clutch gene.And at least on this occasion, that appears somewhat true.Marner will have to wait nearly a year to get the chance to rewrite his story again.More NHL news:Canadiens had a trade agreed to, but they missed by 1 minuteHenrik Sedin's son is excelling in a different sportElias Petersson trade plans may be missing a key pointWould the Maple Leafs trade Easton Cowan?Alex Ovechkin's mom is playing a role in his retirement decision

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 14: Sean O'Malley reacts to his win over Aiemann Zahabi of Canada in a bantamweight fight during the UFC Freedom 250 event on the South Lawn at the White House on June 14, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) Sean O’Malley promised he would finish Aiemann Zahabi and he came through with a picture perfect walkoff knockout at UFC White House on Sunday.It was a vintage performance from O’Malley as he chipped away at the Canadian throughout the opening round before he came forward with a straight right hand that dropped Zahabi momentarily. Back on his feet, Zahabi then ate a crushing right hand from O’Malley that sent him back to the canvas again and that was enough for referee Jason Herzog to stop the fight at 4:02 in the second round.SUGA SEAN GETS A MASSIVE TKO IN ROUND 2! [ #UFCWhiteHouse | LIVE NOW ON @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/HfPZEJVP8q— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) June 15, 2026As soon as he landed the right hand, O’Malley turned to the troops in the stand and gave a salute to celebrate his highlight reel knockout.“It’s hard to put into words,” O’Malley said about his performance. “Manifestation is a real thing. I’ve seen this before. That was the plan. I said it, it’s out there. That was sexy. Petr Yan! It should have been here tonight. That’s what I want next. I want Petr next.”O’Malley was aggressive from the start, marching forward and keeping Zahabi on his back foot. Using his reach advantage, O’Malley was throwing a long jab but then attacking with a big right hand to keep Zahabi guessing.Zahabi did a good job circling away and trying to chop away at O’Malley with a slick inside leg kick. When Zahabi did try moving forward, O’Malley was playing counter fighter and he was repeatedly connecting with stiff punches.At the start of the second round, O’Malley clipped Zahabi with a good double jab and then a hard right hand that also landed clean. Zahabi could only answer back with more inside leg kicks but he wasn’t doing much else to produce any offense.Late in the round, O’Malley finally found the opening he wanted after he blasted Zahabi with a straight left hand that rattled him and put him down on the canvas. O’Malley followed that with a right hand that sent Zahabi crashing down again and that was the end of the fight.With a win over current UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan in the past, O’Malley remains a top contender in the division and he might just find himself in another title fight if the Russian can beat Merab Dvalishvili again with that rematch expected to happen later this year.

June 14 (UPI) -- Jaccob Slavin and the Carolina Hurricanes vaporized Vegas Golden Knights offensive threats in a Game 6 shutout Sunday to seal the franchise's first Stanley Cup in 20 years.Slavin provided an assist, but made most of his impact as a spoiler of the Golden Knights' hopes of extending the series, foiling countless chances in Carolina's 3-0 triumph in Las Vegas."What a feeling," Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal, the Stanley Cup playoffs MVP, said on the ABC broadcast. "What a battle. The boys were grinding today. So many individual efforts to keep the puck out of the net. It was an amazing ride."Hurricanes goalie Brandon Bussi, who took over for benched starter Frederik Andersen in Game 3, made 22 saves in Game 6 to become the first rookie to record a shutout in a Stanley Cup clincher since 1936. The Hurricanes are the first team since the 1984 Edmonton Oilers to win a Stanley Cup while using two starting goalies."It's special," Bussi said. "It's been a special year. It's been an honor to do it with this group. Everybody deserves it so much."Staal, who totaled 12 points in the playoffs, became the oldest player (37) to win the Conn Smythe Trophy. Jackson Blake led the Hurricanes with 20 points in the playoffs. He logged his seventh goal and 13th assist in Game 6. Taylor Hall totaled 19 postseason points, including a Game 6 goal.Fellow forward Nikolaj Ehlers, who scored the final goal of Game 6, totaled 18 postseason points.With the victory, the Hurricanes captured their first Stanley Cup since 2005-06, when they earned their first title in franchise history. The 2025-26 Hurricanes finished the postseason with a 16-3 record, including their 4-2 mark in the title series.The Golden Knights, who scored at least three goals in each of the first four games of the series, totaled two in Game 5 before their season-ending shutout loss. Sunday's struggle included a stretch of nearly 19 minutes -- spanning from the second period and into the third -- without a single shot on net.Meanwhile, the Hurricanes jumped ahead early on and spent the remainder of the night protecting a two-goal edge. They leaned on superior speed and puck movement to overwhelm the Golden Knights, who played without star forward William Karlsson, who was injured in Game 5.Slavin and Blake assisted Hall for first blood 3:47 into Game 6. Blake corralled the puck from a Golden Knights turnover during that sequence. Slavin spotted Hall beyond the opposite blue line and rocketed a pass along the left boards. Hall hauled in the feed and finished the play with a wrist shot between goalie Carter Hart's leg pad and glove.Blake doubled the lead with 6:29 remaining in the second period when he scored off an assist from fellow forward Logan Stankoven. That score was triggered by a frenzy in front of the Vegas net. Several Golden Knights players failed to clear the puck, which ended up with Stankoven. The defenseman slid through the right circle and spotted Blake for a pass into the crease.Carolina's No. 53 finished the play with a one-timer, which deflected off Golden Knights forward Mitch Marner's stick and beating Hart on his glove side for a second time. Ehlers slid in an empty netter with 68 seconds remaining for the final goal of the series, sealing Carolina's Stanley Cup.The Hurricanes held a 23-22 shooting advantage. They allowed 11 chances over the final two periods, including just three in the second period. They also totaled 10 takeaways against 16 giveaways, compared to the Golden Knights' two takeaways and 19 giveaways.

The Oklahoma Sooners picked up a pair of commitments on Sunday in the 2027 recruiting class. First, it was wide receiver Malahn Green out of St. Louis. The Sooners then added offensive lineman Jaxon Lawler out of Amarillo, Texas. Lawler is a three-star offensive lineman in the class, choosing the Sooners over offers from Oklahoma State, Wake Forest, North Texas, Air Force, and UTEP, among others. He'd also been in contact with SMU, Texas Tech, TCU, and Columbia. The Sooners added a physical offensive lineman who looks to punish opponents. He moves well and will be a force in the running game. Lawler plays both ways, starring along the defensive line for his high school team. He's got a good first step and is physical at the point of attack. He drives his feet and plays with a relentless motor. Lawler is the sixth offensive lineman the Sooners added to the class, joining Cooper Hackett, Kaeden Penny, Luke Wilson, Tyson Ross, and Isaac Coughran. Oklahoma 2027 Recruiting ClassNamePositionGabriel Osborne Jr.CBKaeden PennyOTSeneca DriverTECooper WittenLBCooper HackettOTTaven EppsATHMikhail McCrearyCBKeldrid BenRBJaylen ScottSKrew JonesEDGEElija HarmonDLJamison RobertsQBDeven RobertsonDLIsaac CoughranIOLMikyal DavisCBSione FelilaDLSamuel NelsonEDGEGreydon HowellWRLuke WilsonOTTyson RossIOLJakoby DixonRBMalahn GreenWRJaxon LawlerIOLNoah SmithQBContact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.You can also follow John on X @john9williams.This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma Sooners earn commitment from 3-star OL Jaxon Lawler.

The Cincinnati Bengalsshared video of defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence throwing out the first pitch at Great American Ball Park before the Cincinnati Reds' series finale June 14 against the Arizona Diamondbacks."Big man, big league," was the caption that accompanied the video in the Bengals' tweet.The video shows Lawrence warming up by tossing a baseball to fellow Bengals defensive tackle BJ Hill, his former New York Giants teammate.Lawrence threw a strike to Reds pitcher Tejay Antone. He didn't celebrate with the "Sexy Dexy," which he did at the Bengals' draft party.But Reds mascot Mr. Redlegs celebrated meeting Lawrence with his rendition of Lawrence's sack dance."You must watch a lot of tape," Lawrence told the mascot after the dance.Lawrence's one-year, $28-million extension with the Bengals freed up nearly $5M of 2026 cap space, per Spotrac.This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Dexter Lawrence throws Reds' first pitch; Mr. Redlegs does 'Sexy Dexy'

Sean O’Malley dropped Aimann Zahabi twice in as many seconds as he shrugged off the Canadian’s low kicks to secure a stunning, walk-off second-round knockout at UFC Freedom 250 — all while saluting in the nation’s capital.It all went down Sunday on the South Lawn of The White House in Washington, D.C., with O’Malley hastily exiting the cage to fist-bump the commentary booth, before wishing U.S. President Donald Trump a happy 80th birthday for good measure.“That was the plan,” the American former UFC bantamweight champion said after his win. “I said it, it’s out there.”O’Malley, a product of Dana White's Contender Series, showed elite striking, range-finding, and finishing ability on the most spectacular of stages at the UFC Freedom 250 show.He absorbed Zahabi’s inside low kicks but switched stances when the Canadian fighter kept landing those shots on the same leg. While Zahabi spammed that one move, O’Malley had more to offer as he threw two-to-three shot combinations and came alive in the final 30 seconds of the opening round, having seemingly found his range.It was not long after the one-minute break that Zahabi went back to the inside low kicks, his primary weapon, in stark contrast to O’Malley’s double jabs and striking flurries.After baiting Zahabi into throwing the strike with his feinting, O’Malley found his best sequences — a three-shot combination, a huge right hand, and finally the finishing shots.O’Malley hit Zahabi with a thudding straight left to drop his opponent. And while Aimann scrambled to his feet, O’Malley hit him again with a right before he could even stand, dropping him once more.Before the referee could even withdraw Zahabi from the bout, O’Malley stood still and saluted — a walk-off fitting for the environment in which he’d won.“He was running around throwing those little leg kicks,” O’Malley said, dismissing Zahabi’s tactics. “They didn’t do a whole lot. We had the best game plan.”Describing his finishing strikes as “sexy,” O’Malley quickly turned to what’s next.“Petr Yan,” he said of the reigning UFC bantamweight champion, who he previously defeated in 2022. “That’s who I want.”For more on UFC Freedom 250, check out Uncrowned's fight night hub here.

The incident happened during a match between South Korea and the Czech Republic [Getty Images]A Mexican man caught on video pulling the corners of his eyes during the World Cup match between South Korea and the Czech Republic has apologised after the clip sparked a backlash.A South Korean content creator had posted a video of herself at the match last Friday, where Ulises Fernando Bernal Miramontes, seated behind her, was seen making the slanted-eyes pose then laughing it off. The pose is seen as disrespectful to East Asians.The incident generated much outrage online, with many Mexicans expressing disgust at his actions. Bernal later apologised and reports say he has been removed from his position as president of a Mexican engineering guild.Yoon Su-jin shared a clip on Instagram with this caption: "You traveled across the world for the World Cup… and experienced racism..."The match, which was held in the Mexican city of Guadalajara on Thursday night, saw South Korea come from behind to defeat the Czech Republic 2-1.Yoon's clip drew outrage among fellow users, drawing 65,000 comments. It has also been shared or reposted at least 120,000 times."Ugh so terrible. And then he laughs like he cracked the best joke," read one of the comments.Many comments from people who claimed to be Mexican also apologised for Bernal's actions, adding that he "doesn't represent all Mexicans".Yoon Su-jin, who has millions of followers online, posted a video of the incident [Instagram]Yoon, also known online as Ino Cat, has 6.6 million followers on YouTube and more than 2 million on TikTok.Bernal was later removed from his position as president of the College of Geomatics and Topographic Surveying Engineers of Jalisco following the uproar (CITGEJ), according to the New York Post, who spoke to a CITGEJ spokesperson. In a public apology posted on Sunday, Bernal acknowledged that the video had circulated widely and "generated a wide range of reactions". "For that reason, I believe it is important to offer a public apology," he wrote."I sincerely regret everything this situation has caused. I have taken time to reflect on what happened and I understand the responsibility I have in this moment," he wrote, adding that he did not wish to "justify [himself nor debate different interpretations]."Throughout my personal and professional life, I have always tried to treat others with respect, and I will continue working to ensure that my actions consistently reflect those values," he wrote.Mexico to Korea in 20 minutes - World Cup opening night in LondonThe costs and challenges facing the 2026 World Cup

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 14: Sean O'Malley of the Untied States lands a punch on Aiemann Zahabi of Canada in their bantamweight bout during UFC Freedom 250 at the White House on June 14, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Bantamweight champion, Sean O’Malley, showed up in superstar fashion, knocking out Canada’s Aiemann Zahabi in the second round tonight (Sun., June 14, 2026) at UFC Freedom 250 live on Paramount+ on the South Lawn in Washington, D.C., as UFC celebrated America’s 250th anniversary.The first round consisted mostly of Zahabi circling away from O’Malley and throwing leg kicks, while “Suga” patiently picked him apart and used the Canadian as a punching bag.Then, just like O’Malley predicted during UFC Freedom 250 fight week, the knockout came.Four minutes into the second round, O’Malley cracked Zahabi with a straight left hand that sat him down. Zahabi quickly got back to his feet, only for O’Malley to land a picture-perfect right hand that slumped him for good.Then, O’Malley saluted the crowd.Check out the finish below:SUGA SEAN GETS A MASSIVE TKO IN ROUND 2! [ #UFCWhiteHouse | LIVE NOW ON @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/HfPZEJVP8q— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) June 15, 2026Saluting the crowd with that TKO 🫡[ #UFCWhiteHouse | LIVE ON @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/o5pZjNprfJ— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) June 15, 2026After the win, O’Malley called for a title fight with Petr Yan, whom he owns a controversial win over that initially earned him his first title shot.Unfortunately for O’Malley, he will probably have to wait for Yan and Merab Dvalishvili to run it back for a third time before getting another crack at UFC gold.O’Malley (20-3) is now riding a two-fight win streak since his rough two-fight skid, in which he lost to Dvalishvili twice. And tonight, he looked better than ever.As for Zahabi (14-3), his impressive seven-fight win streak was snapped after picking up huge wins over Marlon Vera and Jose Aldo.Worst of all, his title hopes may have flown away with that right hand.For complete UFC Freedom 250 results, coverage and highlights click HERE.

Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty ImagesDe’Aaron Fox reached the NBA Finals with the San Antonio Spurs, but the conversation around his future has already moved from fit to flexibility.San Antonio lost the 2026 Finals to the New York Knicks in five games, and Fox’s finish to the series left the Spurs with an uncomfortable question about a max-contract guard beside Victor Wembanyama.The answer may be more complicated than simply deciding whether the Spurs want a change, because the market for Fox could be thin.Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesKevin O’Connor says the San Antonio Spurs may be stuck with De’Aaron Fox’s contractIn a post shared by Kevin O’Connor on X, the NBA analyst questioned whether there would be enough demand if San Antonio explored a Fox trade.“The problem with a De’Aaron Fox trade is: Who wants Fox? Most teams that need a PG are gonna draft one. This class is loaded with guards,” O’Connor said.He added, “Teams that would trade for one will prefer the younger and cheaper Ja Morant. There’s a chance San Antonio is just stuck with Fox.”The Spurs committed major money to him through the end of the decade, and any team trading for him would need to believe he is still worth building a backcourt around at a huge salary.O’Connor’s point was not that Fox has no talent. It was that teams needing a point guard may have cheaper routes through the draft, while trade suitors could look at younger options before taking on such an expensive deal.De’Aaron Fox’s NBA Finals struggles gave San Antonio Spurs trade debate a sharper edgeFox’s underwhelming end to the Knicks series gave the contract discussion a basketball reason, not just a salary-cap one.In Game 5, he scored seven points on 3-of-15 shooting as San Antonio lost 94-90 and watched New York close the series 4-1. For a guard on a deal worth more than $221 million, that final image was always going to invite criticism.The Spurs also had younger guard questions around the roster, with Dylan Harper’s rise adding another layer to the Fox debate. San Antonio has to decide which ball-handlers best fit Wembanyama’s title window.Fox can still attack the paint, pressure defenses, and create pace, but the Finals showed why doubts have grown.If the Spurs decide his role is no longer worth the price, O’Connor’s concern is that finding a buyer may be just as difficult as making the decision.Read more:Mitch Johnson left haunted by major pre-game promise after Spurs’ Game 5 collapseSpurs’ Devin Vassell reveals rookie Dylan Harper was ‘upset with playing time’ after Finals lossSpurs’ reluctance to start Dylan Harper over De’Aaron Fox compared to MLB ‘scandal’ by Dave Portnoy

A dealer walks past a screen showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) at a dealing room of Hana Bank in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)2026-06-15T01:00:29Z BANGKOK (AP) — Share prices soared Monday in Asia after a tentative deal was announced on ending the Iran war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Benchmarks in Tokyo and Seoul initially gained more than 5% early Monday. Oil prices fell more than $4 a barrel. The future for the S&P 500 was up 1% and that for the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.9%, auguring likely early gains for Wall Street.U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the initial agreement and authorized an end to the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports. Iran confirmed it but signaled that implementation would not start until a signing that Pakistan said would be held Friday in Switzerland. Broader negotiations on issues like Iran’s nuclear program are expected to continue over the next 60 days.In early trading Monday, the price of Brent crude oil, the international standard, fell $3.61 to $83.64 per barrel. U.S. benchmark crude lost $4.27 to $80.61 per barrel. But it may take months for oil prices to stabilize after the disruptions from the war caused them to surge, pushing costs up gasoline and many other products. Energy experts said shipping and insurance companies will want to be confident the pact will hold, ensuring that oil and gas supplies will flow freely enough for the world’s needs to be met. “The reopening of Hormuz is a relief valve, not a full peace dividend. The market can remove some crude panic, but it still has to price the gap between a headline, a signature, and a regime that actually complies,” Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said in a report. Read More Still, the news was a huge relief for markets that have been roiled since the conflict began in late February. The deal on ending the war offers relief to the global economy more than three months since fighting began. Stocks rallied in Asia, where Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 gained 5.4% to 69,603.91 as the benchmark logged another record high. Buying was heaviest for technology shares, especially those related to artificial intelligence. The boom in AI has been driving gains in Japan, where the benchmark has gained more than 80% in the last year. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. “This is great news,” said Takashi Hiroki, chief strategist at Monex. “Buying by foreign investors is leading the market with expectations of easing tensions around the situation in the Middle East. Then the decline in New York crude oil futures is supporting this positive market.”The Kospi in Seoul surged 4.9% to 8,517.93. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng gained 0.6% to 24,867.94, while the Shanghai Composite index was up 1.1% to 4,073.08. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 advanced 1.4% to 8,922.90. Taiwan’s Taiex was up 2.5%.On Friday, U.S. stocks as Musk’s SpaceX soared in its highly anticipated debut on Wall Street. The strong debut suggested plenty of demand still exists among investors for AI after its stock leaped 19.2% in its first day of trading. That gave Elon Musk’s rocket company a total value of $2.1 trillion, making it bigger than Exxon Mobil, Bank of America and Coca-Cola combined. In addition to building rockets, SpaceX also owns the artificial intelligence company xAI. The S&P 500 added 0.5% to close out its 10th winning week in the last 11. The Dow industrials climbed 353 points, or 0.7%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.3%.This week will bring interest rate decisions from the Federal Reserve and Bank of England, on Thursday. On Tuesday, the Bank of Japan is due to announce its monetary policy updates. It is widely expected to raise its benchmark interest rate to 1% from the current 0.75%. That would be the highest rate in more than 30 years. In other dealings early Monday, the dollar rose to 160.20 Japanese yen from 160.12 yen late Friday. The euro climbed to $1.1595 from $1.1578. ___Senior producer Mayuko Ono in Tokyo contributed to this report. ELAINE KURTENBACH Based in Bangkok, Kurtenbach is the AP’s business editor for Asia, helping to improve and expand our coverage of regional economies, climate change and the transition toward carbon-free energy. She has been covering economic, social, environmental and political trends in China, Japan and Southeast Asia throughout her career. twitter mailto

The roof of the Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra burns, Monday, June 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Danylo Antoniuk)2026-06-15T01:56:04Z KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A large-scale Russian attack on Ukraine killed five rescuers in Kharkiv and wounded at least 20 people in the capital Kyiv on Monday as strikes set apartment buildings ablaze and sparked a fire at one of the country’s most significant religious landmarks.The rescuers were killed in Kharkiv by a second Russian strike as they fought a blaze caused by an earlier attack, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said. At least five other emergency workers were wounded.A series of powerful explosions echoed across Kyiv, with a wave of ballistic missiles followed by Shahed drones as many people sought shelter underground and officials urged residents to take cover.“Kyiv is under the main strike. There is significant destruction of civilian infrastructure,” Klymenko said.Twenty people, including a child, sought medical help in the capital, said Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration. Five strikes hit civilian sites in the city’s Shevchenkivskyi district in less than 30 minutes, he said, including a 25-story apartment building, while a market and a grocery store caught fire. In the Obolonskyi district, a nine-story residential building took a direct hit. Tkachenko accused Russia of striking apartment blocks on purpose. “This is their deliberate decision,” he said.Damage at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, a monastic complex, was substantial and a serious fire had broken out, said Tkachenko, who accused Russia of deliberately striking “the heart of one of the largest Christian shrines.” Read More The roof of the Dormition Cathedral caught fire during the overnight attack, said Metropolitan Epiphanius, head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. He condemned the strike as another Russian crime “against humanity, against history, against Christianity” and appealed for prayers to save the site.The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, also known as the Monastery of the Caves, is a sprawling complex of monasteries and churches, including some underground, built from the 11th to the 19th century. Some of the churches at the UNESCO-listed World Heritage site are connected by a labyrinthine complex of caves spanning more than 600 meters (2,000 feet).The cathedral, churches and other buildings overlook the right bank of the Dnipro River and have been a pilgrimage site for centuries. HANNA ARHIROVA Arhirova is an Associated Press reporter covering Ukraine. She is based in Kyiv. twitter instagram mailto

Oxfam's satirical 'big heads' of the G7 leaders pose, in Evian-les-Bains, France, Sunday, June 14, 2026, ahead of the G7 summit scheduled to take place in France June 15-17. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)2026-06-15T01:07:05Z EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France (AP) — Right after his 80th birthday party celebrations, U.S. President Donald Trump is heading to a summit in France of the G7 club of powerful democracies to dive into issues — Iran, Ukraine, trade and more — that have been sources of friction with allies he will be meeting.Hours before leaving Washington, Trump announced an agreement to end the war — a development that could change the dynamic for the G7 leaders during the talks from late Monday to Wednesday. Just days ago, when the Iran-U.S. ceasefire was hanging by a thread, with resumed strikes, the gathering on the shores of Europe’s largest Alpine lake appeared headed for stormy waters. Analysts speculated that tempers could flare and that Trump might not stick around for long in Evian-les-Bains, the Alpine spa town that’s been enveloped in a security bubble for the G7 leaders and guests also invited by French President Emmanuel Macron, the host. Aside from France and the U.S., the other G7 nations are Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom. Here’s what to know about their latest annual summit: Summit outcomes could depend on Trump’s mood Shared values and interests, leaders’ personal chemistry and the informality of G7 gatherings — the club first came together in 1975 to brainstorm fixes for the ailing global economy — have facilitated discussion at previous meetings. “Many of the great G7 summit initiatives have come from leaders’ spontaneous combustion, created by them on the spot, based on free, unrestricted dialogue about the values, memories and even the sports, like baseball, that they share,” said John Kirton, a G7 specialist at the University of Toronto.But Trump’s relationships with European allies have been fraught even before he launched the Iran war with Israel in February without consulting them. The Evian gathering is their first get-together since then.Allies that Trump berated for refusing to join the war are likely to greet any Iran deal with relief if it reopens the Strait of Hormuz and enables Persian Gulf energy exports to flow freely again. Read More Ukraine wants to make its case to TrumpAs host, Macron has packed the meatiest and potentially most contentious topics into the summit’s first 24 hours, including the Iran war and its impact on energy supplies and the Ukraine war that’s largely slipped down the White House’s list of top priorities.Tuesday’s morning session on Ukraine will afford invited guest President Volodymyr Zelenskyy an opportunity to showcase progress that Ukrainian forces are making against the Russian invasion. If Zelenskyy is able to convince Trump that Russian President Vladimir Putin cannot achieve his aims in the war militarily, he might perhaps also be able to persuade him that Putin should be pushed to the negotiating table. After his Oval Office thrashing by Trump and Vice President JD Vance last year, Zelenskyy now has “a significantly stronger hand,” said Maria Snegovaya, a Russia expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington, D.C., think tank.The Trump administration “does tend to look more favorably at those states that have certain positions of power tilting in their favor,” she said. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. Outlook uncertain for talks on Iran A lunch meeting Tuesday on the Middle East could go any number of ways. The U.S.-Iran deal is expected to be signed on Friday, followed by technical talks on details over the next 60 days. Trump will be pressed for more information about the terms of the agreement.If it reopens the Strait of Hormuz, France and Britain are expected to make the case that they could help rid the narrow waterway of any mines and escort tankers through it. They have been working on such plans with other nations but have been waiting for a stable ceasefire to launch the mission.G7 leaders are also expected to talk about developing other energy supply routes out of the Gulf, including via Egypt. The Egyptian president, Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, as well as Qatar’s ruling emir and the United Arab Emirates’ president will join those talks. Trump is also meeting with each of those regional leaders privately during the summit. A dense agenda of other issuesChina, not a G7 member, is expected to be a focus of economic talks on Wednesday. G7 nations are concerned that China is flooding export markets with subsidized products, unfairly out-competing their own industries and destroying jobs. China’s economy dwarfs those of all G7 nations except the United States.Discussions are also scheduled on artificial intelligence, including how to protect young people online, and how to economically aid developing countries. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva are attending some of the summit. So, too, are the leaders of South Korea and Kenya. The G7 has been a force for more than 50 yearsThe G7 countries take turns hosting and organizing activities. France inherited the G7 presidency from Canada, last year’s summit host, and will pass it to the U.S. in 2027. The club’s first summit, in Rambouillet, France, in 1975, brought together the leaders of six nations — France, West Germany, Italy, Japan, the U.K. and the U.S. — for brainstorming on how to speed their recovery from the sharpest economic slump since World War II. Canada joined the following year, making the G7. No G7 leader has ever skipped an annual summit, a perfect attendance record for more than 50 years, said Kirton, the University of Toronto specialist.Membership has always been limited to democracies, enabling Russia to join as a fledgling democracy in 1998 but ruling out Communist Party-ruled China. The club has broken off with Russia since 2014, when Putin seized Crimea from Ukraine, foreshadowing the full-scale war now raging since 2022. ___Associated Press writers Jamey Keaten in Geneva and Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed.

The Carolina Hurricanes celebrates after a win over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Candice Ward)2026-06-14T10:00:08Z LAS VEGAS (AP) — Carolina spent the first part of the Stanley Cup Final surviving, finding ways to overcome deficits and play a high-scoring game that didn’t fit the Hurricanes’ typical style.But when it came down to doing what it takes to win the Cup, the Hurricanes’ defense put its stamp on this series, shutting down the Vegas Golden Knights and not letting up.The Hurricanes held Vegas to five total goals in Games 4 and 5 and used a suffocating defense in a 3-0 shutout in Sunday night’s clinching Game 6 to win their first championship in 20 years.“That’s a lot of years,” said Carolina center Jordan Staal, who received the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. “It’s amazing. This is something I’ve been going after ever since we got the first one. You want to win it again and again and again. What a feeling, what a battle. The boys were grinding today, my goodness. So many individual efforts just to keep the puck out of our net. It was an amazing ride. I’m just so proud of these guys.” Brandon Bussi, who entrance late into Game 3 helped turn around the series for Carolina, recorded his first career playoff shutout in stopping 22 shots. Jackson Blake had a goal and assist, and Taylor Hall scored just 3:47 into the game to set the tone. Nikolaj Ehlers added an empty-net goal. “Your mind wanders the last couple of days and wonder what it may be like out here (on ice after winning) and it’s better than I could have expected,” Hall said. “My career has taken a lot of different turns, but to end up here with this group of guys and to do this is amazing.” Read More The Golden Knights, who made an unlikely run just to reach the final, struggled badly to muster any kind of offense in Game 6 and went 18:37 between shots on goal in the second and third periods. Playing in their third Cup final, this is the first time they have been shut out.This clinching game was what many observers expected the series to be like between the defensive-minded teams, but each side watched leads of two-plus goals disappear in the first three games. Now, the Cup belongs to the Hurricanes, led by coach Rod Brind’Amour, who also captained Carolina to its 2006 title.This was the first game of the series that Vegas goalie Carter Hart didn’t allow four goals in a game. He finished with 20 saves.The Hurricanes began to assume control of the series after falling behind by the score of 4-0 in Game 3. They came back force overtime, and though the Canes lost, they outplayed the Golden Knights from there on out.Reflecting the do-or-die situation for the Golden Knights, they made several lineup changes, with Brett Howden replacing the injured William Karlsson at second-line center. Mitch Marner could have moved there, but remained at right wing.Original Golden Knight Reilly Smith made his Cup final debut at third-line right wing, and Braeden Bowman made his playoff debut at fourth-line right wing. Kaedan Korczak replaced Dyland Coghlan on the third defensive pairing.This title is a testament to Carolina’s resilience as a franchise that kept coming close to winning the Eastern Conference, but couldn’t quite get through until now. Brind’Amour made sure the Hurricanes kept getting back up after losing in the conference final twice in the past three years and three times in their current eight-year playoff run. The talent was clearly there, but there was always a stumbling block.Not anymore.After dispatching Montreal in five games to make the final, the Brind’Amour-led Hurricanes then faced perennial power Vegas and took care of business there, too. Now, he will get his name on the Cup for the second time.So will 37-year-old Staal, who also won the title in 2009 with Pittsburgh. He planted himself in front of Hart and dared the Golden Knights to knock him out of the way. Staal scored in each of the first five Cup final games, the first time that has happened.The Hurricanes got off to a fast start with a goal just 25 seconds into Game 1, only to lose 5-4 on a late goal from Tomas Hertl. And the Golden Knights were on the verge of taking complete control as minutes ticked down in Game 2 while holding a 2-0 lead and appearing as if they would take a two-game advantage back home. Then, it all changed. Carolina showed a fight that not only brought the Hurricanes back into the series by rallying to win 4-3 in overtime on Seth Jarvis’ one-timer, but would serve as their signature throughout the series.That was especially true the following game when the Golden Knights took a 4-0 lead into the third period and the Canes seemed to have no answers. Brind’Amour even appeared to wave the white flag by removing goalie Frederik Andersen and replacing him with Bussi.But the Hurricanes weren’t simply trying to get to Game 4. They sent a message, going on a remarkable rally to force overtime. Though Carolina lost, it was inflection point, with Bussi backstopping a team that was only growing stronger. Carolina then went on to win the next two games and moved within a victory of the championship. The Hurricanes got it done against the Golden Knights team that was on a heater after John Tortorella replaced Bruce Cassidy with eight games left in the regular season. Vegas then went from third in the Pacific Division to first, knocked off Utah and Anaheim in six games apiece in the playoffs and shockingly swept Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado to win the West.Now, the Golden Knights have some notable questions to ask, including at the top of the list whether to make Tortorella a full-time coach. He didn’t have any guarantees of coaching in Vegas beyond this season, but getting to the Cup final is a good argument to run it back.Golden Knights management will make the final call on that, and they don’t always follow league norms.___AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Japan fans clean up trash in the stadium following the World Cup Group F soccer match between the Netherlands and Japan in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Jessica Tobias)2026-06-15T00:40:49Z ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Those blue bags Japan fans waved in a frenzy after their team got a late tying goal were then used after the final whistle to maintain what has become a cleansing World Cup tradition.The Samurai Blue fans cleaned up before they left the stadium Sunday, picking up trash from the stands after Japan’s 2-2 draw against the Netherlands in Group F. Only a few minutes earlier, those then-empty blue bags were prominent in the celebration when Daichi Kamada scored on a header off Koki Ogawa’s corner kick in the 88th minute. Along with the constant chants for their team, those bags the fans bring to the stadium are often raised in unison. The scene becomes frantic after goals, such as Keito Nakamura’s earlier in the second half to tie the game at 1-all and Kamada’s shot that ultimately secured a point for Japan.Scenes of Japanese soccer fans picking up and sweeping trash first drew public attention during the team’s first World Cup appearance in France in 1998. They have done it every four years since, including in Qatar in 2022.Now they have left their mark and no trash at AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, where workers usually have a lot more cleanup duty after games. ___AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

Across the city, Knicks fans celebrated joyfully after Game 5. But near Madison Square Garden, the scene turned ugly early Sunday as some revelers became violent.

Former two-division champion Alex Pereira entered Sunday's UFC Freedom 250 co-main event interim heavyweight title bout chasing history at the historic event. With a win, Pereira would become the first fighter in the promotion's history to win championships in three different weight classes. Standing in his way was former interim titleholder and multiple-time title challenger Ciryl Gane. Gane fought for the undisputed championship last October against champion Tom Aspinall. The fight was ruled a no contest after a double eye poke rendered Aspinall unable to continue. With Aspinall still recovering, the fight promotion opted to crown an interim champion.Despite weighing in heavier, Pereira was the smaller fighter inside the octagon. They touched gloves and Gane landed a jab. Pereira threw a head kick that was blocked in response. They traded leg kicks. Pereira again went high with a kick that was blocked again. Gane stepped forward with his jab. Pereira delivered a calf kick. Gane responded with an inside leg kick. Gane's jab began finding a regular home. Midway thought the frame, Gane casually looked for a takedown. Pereira shrugged it off. Gane connected with a right hand. He picked up the pace. His jab continued to land. Pereira pressed forward. Gane connected with a left hand. Pereira reacted with a leg kick. Gane looked for a takedown but didn't commit. Pereira connected with two right hands near the bell. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Gane. They touched gloves to start the second frame. Gane delivered a leg kick. He landed another and Pereira pressed forward. Gane looked for a takedown. Pereira shook it off. Gane landed a stiff jab that dropped pereira. Gane tried to finish with a series of landed shots. Pereira got to his feet and fired back. Gane connected with a combination while Pereira was badly hurt and on wobby legs. Referee Herb Dean stepped in to stop it. The official time of the TKO stoppage was 1:27 of the second round.

Roma ahead of Juve in race for Jhon LucumíThe race for Jhon Lucumí could take a different turn. According to Sky Sport, Juventus is reportedly encountering several difficulties in their bid to secure the Bologna defender, a scenario that could encourage the involvement of other Serie A clubs. Among these is Roma, who have long been seeking a centre-back to strengthen their defence for next season. The Giallorossi’s interest in Lucumí is nothing new, and the evolution of the Juventus situation could reopen the game. Much will depend on the strategies of the clubs involved and Bologna’s willingness to sign him, but the Colombian centre-back remains one of the hottest names in the summer transfer window.

PREVIEW | Austria vs Jordan: team news, lineups, predictions (World Cup 17/06)Austria and Jordan clash this Wednesday at the Levi´s Stadium of the World Cup. This will be Jordan's World Cup debut. As for Austria's national team, this will mark their 8th participation in the competition. The match will be broadcast live at 05:00 on BBC One.In their last fixture, Austria won 1-0 against Tunisia (National Team Friendlies 2026). In their last encounter, Jordan were beaten 2-0 by Colombia (National Team Friendlies 2026).UnavailableÁustriaJordâniaLast starting XIsAustria ( vs Tunisia 2026-06-01): Alexander Schlager, Stefan Posch, Philipp Lienhart, David Alaba, Konrad Laimer, Xaver Schlager, Nicolas Seiwald, Romano Schmid, Michael Gregoritsch, Marcel Sabitzer, Marko ArnautovicJordan ( vs Colombia 2026-06-08): Yazeed Abulaila, Ihsan Haddad, Saleem Obaid, Mohannad Abu, Abdallah Nasib, Yazan Al-Arab, Moussa Al-Tamari, Nizar Al-Rashdan, Noor Al-Rawabdeh, Odeh Al Fakhouri, Ali Al Olwan

How Brandon Bussi went from Hurricanes backup goalie to securing Stanley Cup-clinching shutout originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Carolina Hurricanes secured their second Stanley Cup championship behind an unlikely contributor in net.Brandon Bussi stepped in to save Carolina's season midway through the series against the Vegas Golden Knights to turn the Stanley Cup Final around. At this time last year, Bussi hadn't even made his NHL debut, and now he is one of the most important names in Hurricanes history.Once Carolina was able to settle down in goal, the team's defense picked up and slowly stifled the Golden Knights offense. In Game 6, Vegas had no space and nowhere to turn as the Hurricanes denied them every step of the way.Here's how Bussi saved the Hurricanes' season at the most important time.MORE: Jordan Staal wins the Conn Smythe TrophyHow Brandon Bussi went from Hurricanes backup to starterBrandon Bussi made his NHL debut in October of 2025 and spent the entire season as a Hurricanes backup behind Frederik Andersen. Bussi played in 39 games during the year, going an impressive 31-6-2 and securing his spot on the Carolina roster.As Andersen struggled in the Stanley Cup Final, and seemingly got banged up, Bussi stepped in to finish the job. The 27-year-old relieved Andersen in Game 3 and had a nice performance in a Hurricanes overtime loss before starting the next three games.With Bussi as the starter, the Hurricanes went 3-0 in the Stanley Cup Final. The team let up just five goals in the final three games compared to 14 in the first three games.MORE:How Rod Brind'Amour is responsible for nearly every playoff win in Hurricanes historyBrandon Bussi shutoutIn Game 6, Bussi held the Golden Knights off the scoreboard as he led a 3-0 shutout to clinch the Stanley Cup Final. Carolina's defense was strong, but Bussi made a few huge saves on Vegas to make sure the Golden Knights never got any momentum.BRANDON BUSSI ARE YOU KIDDING?!?!? pic.twitter.com/9tkFobW5sO— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 15, 2026BRANDON BUSSI CONTINUES TO SHINE IN GAME 6 pic.twitter.com/AC1KDTABfn— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 15, 2026Bussi ended up saving all 22 shots that he faced on Sunday night, but he also got a little help from the crossbar.JACK EICHEL COULDN'T BELIEVE HE MISSED THIS SHOT! #StanleyCupFinalpic.twitter.com/dtIwuhAKiP— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 15, 2026MORE: When is the Hurricanes championship parade?Brandon Bussi Stanley Cup Final statsBussi made his playoff debut in the Stanley Cup Final, and he led Carolina to three straight wins from Games 4-6. That culminated in his best performance coming in Game 6, when he produced a shutout against the Golden Knights in Vegas.Games: 4Saves: 6Goals allowed: 59Save percentage: .908What happened to Frederik Andersen?Frederik Andersen struggled to begin the Stanley Cup Final, allowing 13 goals in the first three games before he was benched midway through Game 3. When Rod Brind'Amour made Bussi the starter for Game 4, he demoted Andersen to third-string, a sign that the veteran wasn't in the right space to play.Frederik Andersen is Carolina’s EBUG tonight, in case you were curious.Don’t think he is necessarily fully “healthy” but team has not made an injury declaration.FWIW, #SoundTheSiren have had goalie get full rest (not dress) few times this season to prepare for a game ahead.— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) June 10, 2026Brind'Amour confirmed after Game 6 that Andersen wasn't 100 percent healthy, so the team needed to turn to Bussi to turn the series around.

Hurricanes' Jordan Staal writes Conn Smythe Trophy history originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Carolina Hurricanes have now won the Stanley Cup for the second time in franchise history and for the first time since 2006 — eliminating the Vegas Golden Knights in six games on the evening of June 14.Hurricanes' captain Jordan Staal was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy for the most valuable player in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the process. The Conn Smythe is determined via a vote by a panel of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. Staal had 12 points in 18 playoff games and is the fourth straight forward to win the coveted accolade. He previously won the Stanley Cup in 2009 with the Pittsburgh Penguins, who traded him to Carolina in 2012 before ultimately writing history against the Golden Knights. Though, what is extra significant about Staal winning the 2026 Conn Smythe is that the captain has now become the oldest player to be bestowed the award at age 37. In addition, Staal became the first player in NHL history to go 17 years from one Stanley Cup (the aforementioned one from 2009) to the next.Staal also ranks second in Carolina franchise history with 972 games played.Jordan Staal becomes oldest player to win Conn Smythe TrophyStaal scored six goals during a six-game series win over the Vegas Golden Knights in the Final and became just the fifth player in league history to score in five straight games to start a Stanley Cup Final.Jordan Staal becomes the oldest player (37) to win the Conn Smythe Trophy in NHL history 👏 pic.twitter.com/8SXJDNfSGZ— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) June 15, 2026In addition, he dominated his head-to-head matchups through all four rounds and practically won every key faceoff in the midst of serving a pivotal role on the league’s best penalty kill.Per NHL EDGE IQ, Staal also ranked third in goals scored on offensive zone plays this postseason leading into the Final.Prior to winning the 2026 Conn Smythe, Staal had not tallied a five-game goal streak since 2007 — when he was 18 years old and still playing for the Penguins. In his total career playoff games, the former No. 2 overall pick has scored 46 goals in addition to logging 39 assists. Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart gave up 22 goals in six games en route to losing the Stanley Cup Final and was seen on the ice in tears.Teammate Nikolaj Ehlers said that Staal is the kind of leader everybody should want on their roster.“He does all the small things that people don’t notice, and he brings it every single night,” said teammate Ehlers on Staal per The Athletic. “He’s a big leader, good leader in this room, and leads by example. So he’s been unbelievable.”MORE:Stanley Cup Final 2026 final score: Hurricanes defeat Golden Knights behind Brandon Bussi shutout to win second title

Don't hold your breath waiting for the 49ers to add an edge rusher this offseason.NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco threw cold water on two of the names most frequently connected to San Francisco: free agent edge rusher Joey Bosa and Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher Alex Highsmith."I still don't think that's going to happen anytime soon," Maiocco said. "In fact, I really don't think it's going to happen, period."The most obvious name in these conversations has always been Bosa, given his brother Nick plays for the 49ers. But Maiocco doesn't see that connection leading anywhere. He pointed to Nick Bosa's recent public comments about his brother as a signal that Joey may be closer to retirement than a comeback."Listening to Nick Bosa and hearing him and taking him at face value, it certainly didn't sound like there's any sense of urgency for Joey Bosa to get out there and continue his football career," Maiocco said. "If in late May, early June, his mind is more on golf than football, it leads me to believe that there's a really good chance that he ends up retiring."It's unclear what Bosa, who had five sacks for the Buffalo Bills in 15 games this past season, would command in a new deal. General manager John Lynch, though, noted earlier this offseason that the older Bosa would be too expensive for the 49ers.The other name that's picked up steam is Highsmith, who has drawn trade interest after a 9.5-sack season in 13 games for Pittsburgh in 2025. The 28-year-old still has productive years ahead of him, and Maiocco acknowledged the trade cost probably wouldn't be prohibitive, noting San Francisco acquired Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa for a third-round pick this offseason.But Maiocco outlined two bigger concerns. The first is availability: Highsmith has missed 10 games over the past two seasons, including stints with a high ankle sprain and a groin injury in both 2024 and 2025. The second, and more significant issue, is the cap math. Highsmith is scheduled to make $14.5 million in base salary this season with and $15.5 million in base salary in 2027."They could fit in a couple of huge contracts, but that would run counter to what they did in order to create that cap space and the goal behind creating that cap space — and that is to clear room for 2027," Maiocco said. "The $14.5 million of the base salary for Alex Highsmith would be something where that would be 14.5 million that they don't have for next year."The 49ers enter 2026 with roughly $71 million in cap space, but the front office has been deliberate about preserving that flexibility. Edge rusher is a legit need for the team, though, as the younger Bosa is coming off a torn ACL, 2025 fifth-rounder Mykell Williams is also recovering from an ACL injury and Keion White is recovering from a shooting. However, it seems as though the team is content with this group, as well as Sam Okuayinonu and 2026 third-rounder Romello Height.For now, though, the message from one of the team's most plugged-in reporters is pretty clear: the 49ers are going into training camp with what they have.This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers unlikely to add pass rusher before training camp, per insider

For the second time of his career, Ciryl Gane is the UFC interim heavyweight champion. He did it by taking out one of the biggest stars in mixed martial arts.In the co-main event of UFC Freedom 250, the Frenchman rode an avalanche of violence to defeat former middleweight and light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira in the second round. The win gives him another shot at heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall, who escaped their last meeting via infamous eye poke.The result also prevents Pereira from becoming the UFC’s first three-division title-holder.Pereira had the star power going into the White House card, his heavyweight debut, but the odds were relatively even between the pair. Gane seemed to have the speed advantage, though it was a small edge in the face of Pereira’s power.The second half was similarly balanced, then turned quickly. Gane sent Pereira reeling with a quick right, then refused to stop hitting the Brazilian until referee Herb Dean stepped in.Gane’s reward is to return where he was last October: staring down Aspinall. Like on Sunday, that fight at UFC 321 saw Gane took on a much-hyped opponent and looked like the clearly better fighter, a rare combination of athleticism and skill at heavyweight. That was until he hit Aspinall with a now-infamous eye poke, which left the champ unable to continue, or fight at all since then. Gane called for a unification bout in Paris this September. It will be the second such fight of his career, as he previously defeated Derrick Lewis, who got bulldozed by Josh Hokit earlier on the card, in 2021 to set up a clash with Francis Ngannou. That fight didn’t work out for Gane, but he seems to be on a different level now. It’s rare that a fighter gets four different shots at a full bout, but no one watching what just went down at the White House will say he didn’t earn this one.For more on UFC Freedom 250, check out Uncrowned's fight night hub here.

Ciryl Gane spoiled Alex Pereira's bid at history Sunday when he claimed the interim heavyweight title in the UFC Freedom 250 co-main event.Gane (14-2 MMA, 10-3 UFC) did not allow Pereira (13-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) to become a three-division champion and set up a title unification rematch with Tom Aspinall courtesy of a second-round TKO triumph at the White House in Washington, D.C.Check below for the top X (formerly Twitter) reactions to Gane beating Pereira at UFC Freedom 250.WHO LEAVES WITH THE WIN? 🗣️@TopuriaIlia & @Justin_Gaethje have arrived for their main event!#UFCWhiteHouse LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus![ UFC Freedom 250 Presented by @Cryptocom & @RamTrucks ] pic.twitter.com/ICtgLNldeD— UFC (@ufc) June 15, 2026Gettin' ready to shine on the biggest stage ✨@AlexPereiraUFC vs @Ciryl_Gane#UFCWhiteHouse LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus![ Title fights presented by @Cryptocom ] pic.twitter.com/LPIaSZMI4Y— UFC (@ufc) June 15, 2026Alex Pereira is the definition of aura in MMA. #UFCWhiteHousepic.twitter.com/czXLda64Q9— Danny Segura (@dannyseguratv) June 15, 2026Alex Pereira with an iconic walkout at #UFCWhiteHouse! pic.twitter.com/zw23hRM0aj— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) June 15, 2026THIS STARE DOWN 🤩#UFCWhiteHouse | Stream TNT Sports on HBO Max pic.twitter.com/SIleU0ngAl— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) June 15, 2026THE ONE, THE ONLY @AlexPereiraUFC#UFCWhiteHouse LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus![ Title fights presented by @Cryptocom ] pic.twitter.com/iSEclr8Oo3— UFC (@ufc) June 15, 2026HISTORY ON THE LINE NOW! [ #UFCWhiteHouse | LIVE ON @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/cDDvIkrYbf— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) June 15, 202610-9 Gane in R1 #UFCWhiteHouse— Matthew Wells (@MrMWells) June 15, 2026Ciryl Gane with the second-round TKO of Alex Pereira to halt his bid at history. Very sharp performance. Looking forward to the Tom Aspinall rematch. #UFCWhiteHouse— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) June 15, 2026There’s only one true heavy weight goat, and his name is @JonnyBones— malki kawa (@malkikawa) June 15, 2026Poatan no biz at heavy - looked bad all week. Easy work for French Gane— Fight Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) June 15, 2026Ciryl Gane stops Pereira in the second. Herb Dean gave him every chance to survive, but Gane kept his foot on the gas and got the win, setting up a big rematch with Aspinall— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) June 15, 2026What I tell you guys!!!— Brian Ortega (@BrianTcity) June 15, 2026CIRYL GANE DOES ITHE KOS ALEX PEREIRA#UFCWhiteHousepic.twitter.com/Yhq3wk1ZYN— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) June 15, 2026Gane had a beautiful jab to catch Pereira and went in for the finish. Very impressive…— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) June 15, 2026#UFCWhiteHouse results: Ciryl Gane def. Alex Pereira via TKO – Round 2, 1:27 – to win interim heavyweight titleFull coverage ➡️ https://t.co/O5N8sUgauhpic.twitter.com/zK7ENcRipZ— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) June 15, 2026Gane vs aspinal will b fire— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) June 15, 2026Looked as good as ever on the feet tonight 😮‍💨@Ciryl_Gane is a PROBLEM for every heavyweight! 🏆[ #UFCWhiteHouse | LIVE on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/aJZSuHJOPc— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) June 15, 2026Jon Jones reacts to Ciryl Gane finishing Alex Pereira with the GOAT necklace 👀#UFCWhiteHousepic.twitter.com/x6YWdUPXra— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) June 15, 2026🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) June 15, 2026HE JUST DID THAT 😮‍💨@Ciryl_Gane creates an unforgettable moment as he earns the RD2 TKO victory!#UFCWhiteHouse LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus![ Title fights presented by @Cryptocom ] pic.twitter.com/3gzvdR4kqe— UFC (@ufc) June 15, 2026Congratulations to the new heavyweight champion Gane, you looked great out there tonight. ~🐐— Jonny Meat (@JonnyBones) June 15, 2026This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC White House: Fighters react to Alex Pereira's loss to Ciryl Gane

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 14: Ciryl Gane of France strikes Alex Pereira of Brazil in the UFC interim heavyweight championship fight during the UFC Freedom 250 event on the South Lawn at the White House on June 14, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) Watch Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane full fight video highlights from their UFC White House co-main event showdown Sunday night, courtesy of multiple outlets.Pereira vs. Gane took place June 14 at the UFC White House in Washington, D.C. Alex Pereira (13-4) and Ciryl Gane (14-2, 1 no-contest) squared off in the co-main event clash. The fight aired live on Paramount+.Official result: Ciryl Gane def. Alex Pereira via second-round TKO (1:27)Catch all the video highlights below.GOLD IS HIS ONCE AGAIN!!! 🏆CIRYL GANE EARNS THE TKO IN ROUND 2 IN IMPRESSIVE FASHION!![ #UFCWhiteHouse | LIVE ON @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/KM4KZk5RC5— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) June 15, 2026THERE'S ONLY ONE ALEX PEREIRA 🗿[ #UFCWhiteHouse | LIVE NOW ON @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/XASeTu271y— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) June 15, 2026GANE HITS POATAN EARLY IN ROUND 2!!! 🤯[ #UFCWhiteHouse | LIVE ON @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/UopdVKr3bg— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) June 15, 2026CIRYL GANE PUTS POATAN OUT ON THE FEET IN ROUND 2!!!!! 🏆[ #UFCWhiteHouse | LIVE ON @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/VtGog6weDP— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) June 15, 2026RIGHT AT THE END OF THE ROUND 👀[ #UFCWhiteHouse | LIVE ON @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/vvdLyA19Al— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) June 15, 2026Making the walk to the Octagon alongside @Ciryl_Gane is First Responder: Palm Beach Sheriff John Kazanjian & Medal of Honor Recipient: Lieutenant Colonel William Swenson#UFCWhiteHouse LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus![ Title fights presented by @Cryptocom ] pic.twitter.com/h4Bi4rrl2z— UFC (@ufc) June 15, 2026Alex Pereira is vibing 😂 pic.twitter.com/uQ1HhzyBmp— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) June 15, 2026For more on Pereira vs. Gane, check out the live blog below.Round 1Herb Dean is the third man in the cage for this title fight. Gane and Pereira meet in the center of the cage and touch gloves.Pereira with a head kick but that lands on Gane’s guard. Gane with a leg kick. Pereira lands a jab to the body, and again with the head kick. They trade leg kicks now and fans chant “Chama! Chama!” Gane connects with the jab. Pereira doubles up on the calf kicks, and Gane answers with another one. Gane with another solid jab. And again. Gane with a takedown attempt but gives up midway through. Gane with a front kick that lands, and more leg kicks. Gane is landing at will now. He’s too fast now. Pereira eating jabs over and over. Gane with an overhand right, and a jab. A minute left in the first, and Pereira misses another head kick. Gane with another takedown threat. They trade head kicks, and Pereira misses his second one. Round comes to an end. MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Gane.Glover Teixeira asks Pereira to watch for the jab, and Plinio Cruz asks him to circle more to the left. Teixeira asks him to stay active with the feints.Round 2Gane with an inside leg kick, and Pereira responds with a head kick. GANE HURTS PEREIRA WITH A RIGHT HAND! WOW! Pereira is back to his feet but he’s almost out! Gane rushes forward but Pereira is still dangerous with his heavy hands. Gane is all over Pereira now! HE`S DONE IT! GANE STOPPED POATAN!

Abraham Perez won a close decision over Jonathan Gonzalez to win the interim WBA flyweight title this evening in Grand Rapids, Mich., in a Salita Promotions main event.Perez (15-0, 7 KO) won on split decision scores, with two cards going his way, both at 115-113, and Gonzalez winning the third card, also 115-113.Both fighters, as you’d expect with those scores, felt they deserved the decision.“I stayed busy and had the better angles on my shots,” Perez said. “I took opportunities when I had them and stayed mobile, tried to stay unpredictable. I still don’t feel like that was my best. I need to stay sharp with my punches. It’s been a rough journey, but it didn’t end.”“I won the fight, I landed the better shots,” Gonzalez said. “He throws a lot of punches, but I thought I landed the better shots. I’m disappointed and surprised, but it’s part of the sport.”The 35-year-old “Bomba” Gonzalez drops to 29-5-1 (14 KO) and you’d think he’s getting to be on his last legs, but he was still competitive here and that’s been thought before, too, with the Puerto Rican southpaw coming back to stay in the mix. He’d just injected new life into his career with a January win over Yankiel Rivera, following a loss to Anthony Olascuaga in 2024.Perez says he would be ready to take a fight with full WBA titlist Ricardo Sandoval if it were offered next, and that he’s willing to wait for that shot, which he may have to do. Sandoval was meant to face Galal Yafai this month, but Yafai withdrew due to injury. No make-up date for that has been announced, nor if there will even be one.Sandoval (27-2, 18 KO) also holds the WBC title, winning both from Kenshiro Teraji in July 2025.On the undercard in Grand Rapids, lightweight hopeful Joshua Pagan went to 16-0 (5 KO) with a clear decision victory over Rodolfo Bustamante (23-2-1, 13 KO). Judges scored that one 98-92, 99-91, and 100-90 for Pagan.Middleweight Troy Isley also stayed unbeaten, going to 16-0 (6 KO) with a fifth round stoppage of Leonardo Di Stefano (17-8, 14 KO). The fight was Isley’s first since parting ways with Top Rank, and the ex-Olympian’s first pro fight not under the Top Rank banner, period.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Iranian Americans are torn over Iran's participation in the World Cup, as some community members plan to watch Monday's match and others plan to protest outside the stadium where the team will play.A rally is planned for outside the stadium near Los Angeles, home to the largest Iranian community outside Iran. Many of Southern California’s Iranian Americans arrived after the Islamic Revolution, and a hub of eateries, shops and markets about 10 miles (16 kilometers) from the stadium is known as “Tehrangeles.”Rally participants plan to wear lion-and-sun T-shirts and wave the country's flag from before the 1979 Islamic Revolution in protest of Tehran’s deadly January crackdown on dissent. Ali Javahery, a 59-year-old consultant who was born in Iran and lives in California's Orange County, said he will be outside protesting Iran's opening match against New Zealand, not inside watching it. He said soccer and politics are intertwined, and though he loves the sport, he says the national team's players are under pressure to adhere to the Iranian government's positions.“This is not ‘Team Melli,’” as the national team is known in Persian, Javahery said. “This is Team Islamic Republic.”Iran's participation in the tournament has been fraught with conflict because of the country's war with U.S. and Israeli forces. The team moved its training base to Mexico from Tucson, Arizona, and some of the country's key soccer officials had not been granted visas to enter the United States. Many in the diaspora have mixed feelings over how to show their support of the Iranian people, but not the government, through their love of soccer.“We play for every Iranian, be it in the diaspora or in Iran. People have different opinions, but we are here to unite people and we will try to bring joy to all Iranians wherever they live,” team captain Mehdi Taremi said at a press conference Sunday. “We are here to bring joy to Iranian people. We do not get involved in politics. We are here to play football.”Reza Garajedaghi, 57, said he will watch the game with his 96-year-old father in San Diego. He said he didn’t buy tickets for the game, partly because of the sky-high pricing. But he said he supports the team, politics aside, while respecting the wide range of views shared by Iranians in the diaspora.“I’m a football die-hard, and the boys, they’re representing all Persians, Iranians around the world,” said Garajedaghi, who left Iran when he was 10 years old. “To me, it has nothing to do with whatever government they have in Iran.”Watch parties are planned to cheer on the team in Southern California, and when Iran was assigned last year to play in LA, many bought tickets. But in recent months some said they have sold off their tickets in anger, following January's brutal repression.Some Iranian American soccer fans have also said the team is currently tied up in politics. In the past, Iranian athletes have faced serious consequences for speaking out. In 2022, a prominent former member of the national team was arrested for allegedly protesting against the country’s leadership, and star striker Sardar Azmoun wasn’t selected for the World Cup squad this year, reportedly because of a social media post that angered authorities.Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei called Azmoun an “excellent player” and said he wished he were with the team.“I am just happy that they are coming to watch us and I hope that they will pray for us and I hope that they will encourage us,” Ghalenoei said Sunday when asked about the sizable diaspora. He added that he hoped the team would pay back that loyalty by playing a good game.Some Iranian Americans are also upset about FIFA's rule barring political flags from being flown. They want to fly the pre-revolution lion-and-sun flag, which is not the official flag of Iran. The Iranian American Institute for Voices for Liberty said it filed a lawsuit last week in California to challenge FIFA’s flag rule.During Friday's opening ceremony in Los Angeles, members of the mostly American crowd booed when Iran's flag was brought onto the field. Late Sunday, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. had reached a deal with Iran to end the war and open the Strait of Hormuz. The war launched by the U.S. and Israel on Feb. 28 has rattled the region and virtually shut down oil and natural gas shipments from the Persian Gulf. Details of the deal, expected to be signed Friday, weren't available.___AP Sports Writer Greg Beacham contributed to this report.___AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

No one knows right now which NBA team LeBron James will play for next season, or if he will simply retire this offseason. But there will almost certainly be multiple teams vying for his services.Of course, the Los Angeles Lakers almost certainly want James to stay put on a new contract. The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors have been talked about endlessly as other possible destinations for the 41-year-old future Hall of Famer.Rich Paul, James' longtime friend and agent, said recently during an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" that he hasn't "had one conversation" with James about free agency. He also claimed that a number of teams have contacted him about the superstar.“I tell you guys this, there have been incoming calls from every team with the excitement of possibly him playing for them,” Paul said. “And so at 41 years of age going on 42, I think that's something to be extremely proud about, and it's one of those things where it's like, ‘Wow, even at 42, I'm still wanted,’ that's admirable.”Host Pat McAfee then asked Paul to put a number on how many teams have shown interest in James.“I would say without naming names, I would say about 10 to 12,” the agent responded.James is coming off his record 23rd season in the NBA, during which he put up 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists a game, and during the playoffs, with Luka Doncic out due to a hamstring strain, James averaged 23.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game. Without Doncic, the Lakers were swept in the second round of the playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder.He seems to have a good amount of game left in his tank, which should make him an attractive prospect for a healthy number of teams. But in all likelihood, James will have a very short list of teams he will consider playing for, and that list could ultimately include only one team.This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Rich Paul says as many as 12 teams have called him about LeBron James

In the shadow of Tennessee’s Signal and Lookout mountains, 8-year-old Beckham balanced on a fence for more than three hours, gripping a handwritten note and waiting for Spain’s national team to emerge.“I love you and I look up to you,” the note addressed to Pedri and Lamine Yamal read. “Thanks for coming to my city. I hope you win the World Cup.”As the players ran onto the field, his eyes grew wide.“Dad,” he whispered, “they’re real.”The scene was equally incredible to his father, Jaxon McClure, a Marine Corps veteran who grew up in Chattanooga playing soccer with trash cans for goalposts, now coaches hundreds of local children and named his first child after one of the sport’s greatest stars, David Beckham.This summer — 32 years since the United States first hosted the world's biggest sporting competition — Chattanooga is among several cities established as World Cup base camps, where visiting teams live and train between matches. Spain, which is among the favorites to win the tournament, has set up camp at a boarding school on the Tennessee River in Chattanooga; Iraq is in a mountain resort town in West Virginia with fewer than 3,000 residents; and Germany is in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where cobblestone streets and tobacco warehouses share space with German flags and television crews.Southern hospitality on displayA 144-foot (44-meter) underground waterfall beneath Lookout Mountain is lit up red and the Embassy Suites in downtown Chattanooga, where the Spanish team is staying, is adorned with Spain's red and yellow flag, known as la Rojigualda. Giant banners featuring Spanish players and declaring, “Bienvenidos a Chattanooga” greeted La Roja as the team arrived at Chattanooga Airport.Native Chattanoogan Skip Schwartz said so many people are wearing Spanish jerseys that “you don't know if they’re from Spain, hoping to get a glimpse, or they are locals who have bought into the La Roja bandwagon.”Around 25,000 people entered a lottery for 1,000 tickets to watch Spain practice at Baylor School, a 600-acre (240-hectare) private academy for students grade 6 through 12. Meanwhile, tickets to watch Germany practice at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem sold out in four minutes.“It’s just fun to see everyone start to care about something they didn’t care about before,” said Savannah Lahey, who manages soccer bar Small Batch Beer Co. in downtown Winston-Salem. The bar has extended its hours for watch parties and created a German-inspired menu featuring schnitzel sandwiches and sauerbraten for Germany’s opening match.“It’s getting to make people feel at home, even when they’re not at home,” Lahey said. At the Greenbrier in West Virginia, a historic resort that has hosted presidents and foreign leaders, Iraqi flags flew alongside the Stars and Stripes as the national team arrived for its World Cup training camp.Baylor provides outstanding soccer facilitiesTeams chose from FIFA-approved base camps across North America, with higher-ranked nations getting the earliest picks. Spain selected Chattanooga over larger cities, including Chicago and Los Angeles, then worked with Baylor to create an expansive headquarters around its training fields and media facilities.FIFA inspectors graded Baylor's facilities, including the condition of the grass and its drainage and irrigation systems, the school's operations and systems director Sam Green said. To preserve the pitches for Spain, Baylor’s players trained this spring on artificial turf, a sacrifice Green said seniors accepted without complaint.Hidden behind a tree line, two grass pitches form the center of Spain's daily training. The airport and their downtown hotel are minutes away and Atlanta, where Spain will play two group-stage matches, is within easy reach. After Spain’s first official practice, players headed straight to the campus pool, where they reportedly swam and laid out and had a good time before returning to training.For Schwartz, who now serves on Baylor's board of trustees, Spain's choice is meaningful because he and his teammates helped to lay Bermuda sod for their new soccer field when he played soccer at Baylor in the late 1980s and early 1990s. That field has since been replaced by an indoor tennis facility, which serves as Spain’s media center, but the school now has three soccer pitches and one of the region’s premier soccer programs.“If somebody had told me then that 40 years later Spain would be using this campus as the foundation for a World Cup, I wouldn’t even have tried to fathom it,” he said.‘Without a doubt, I’m cheering for Spain'Tina Ankar, a first generation Palestinian American, said she became a soccer fan because of the World Cup and her boyfriend, who grew up watching games with his Mexican family. At Spain’s open practice, hundreds of fans shouted ”Vamos, España!” after nearly every touch. Ankar found herself swept up in the energy.“I’ve got to watch these guys all the way to the end,” she said. “Now we really have someone to cheer on besides America.”Before Spain’s first public practice, Baylor students slipped into the locker room and snapped photos of stalls freshly labeled with the names of Spain’s stars, debating which player had inherited “their” locker.“I sat in that locker room almost every single day this spring,” 17-year-old midfielder and graduating senior Heath Techasiriwan said.Techasiriwan, a Filipino American and lifelong Lionel Messi fan who rooted for Argentina in 2022, said there was no question who he will support this summer.“Without a doubt, I’m cheering for Spain,” he said. “I can’t see players like Pedri, Gavi and Lamine Yamal literally right in front of me and not cheer for them.”Goalkeeper Mathew Ramirez commutes an hour each way to Baylor from Calhoun, Georgia. He grew up watching Barcelona with his father, who immigrated from Guatemala, and plans to watch Spain’s World Cup matches over carne asada with family and friends.After practice, Yamal, who is 18, signed the 16-year-old goalie's custom Barcelona jersey. Ramirez told the star in Spanish, “Watching you play gives me happiness.”A young fan takes selfies and dreams of superheroesBack in Chattanooga, Beckham collects signatures and takes selfies with players before heading home in the Spain jersey his father says he slept in the night before.His father says Beckham kept repeating, “Wait, Dad. They’re real. Lamine Yamal is a real person. I just thought they were like superheroes. They’re on TV.”Chattanooga has come a long way since the neighborhood games McClure remembers. He is now a soccer coach to about 850 children, and the city has professional men’s and women’s teams.“They could have gone anywhere in this country,” McClure said of Spain, “and they chose us.”___AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

Alex Pereira's bid for a historic achievement was denied Sunday.At UFC Freedom 250, Ciryl Gane played the spoiler. Gane (14-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC) brutalized Pereira (13-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) for a merciful TKO stoppage from referee Herb Dean at 1:27 of Round 5. The interim heavyweight title fight took place at the White House.The opening round was technical, and fairly even. Pereira stung Gane at the bell, but there was no significant damage absorbed by either man. But in the second, that changed. Gane dropped Pereira and brutally battered him. Pereira seemed to be walking the tight rope between consciousness and unconsciousness, but grabbed hold of a leg and eventually got up. Pereira was split open under his right eye and took a big breath. Gane continued to slice and dice him with big punches and short elbows in the clinch. Big shot after big shot landed on Pereira's head – and eventually referee Dean saw enough.CIRYL GANE PUTS POATAN OUT ON THE FEET IN ROUND 2!!!!! 🏆[ #UFCWhiteHouse | LIVE ON @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/VtGog6weDP— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) June 15, 2026HE JUST DID THAT 😮‍💨@Ciryl_Gane creates an unforgettable moment as he earns the RD2 TKO victory!#UFCWhiteHouse LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus![ Title fights presented by @Cryptocom ] pic.twitter.com/3gzvdR4kqe— UFC (@ufc) June 15, 2026With the win, Gane becomes interim champion for the second time and aligns himself for another showdown with Tom Aspinall. The two competed in October when their bout ended in a no contest due to an eye poke – one that has rendered Aspinall unable to compete since.Pereira's bout Sunday marked his heavyweight debut. Already having held the middleweight and light heavyweight titles, Pereira sought a third divisional title but came up short. He's lost two of his most recent three Up-to-the-minute UFC Freedom 250 results include:Ciryl Gane def. Alex Pereira via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:27 – for interim heavyweight titleSean O'Malley def. Aiemann Zahabi via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 4:02Josh Hokit def. Derrick Lewis via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 4:09Mauricio Ruffy def. Michael Chandler via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:29Bo Nickal def. Kyle Daukaus via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:34Diego Lopes def. Steve Garcia via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 2:42This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Freedom 250 results: Alex Pereira pummeled by Ciryl Gane

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 14: Ciryl Gane of France strikes Alex Pereira of Brazil in the UFC interim heavyweight championship fight during the UFC Freedom 250 event on the South Lawn at the White House on June 14, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) Ciryl Gane left no doubt that he is the No. 1 contender after running through Alex Pereira at UFC White House on Sunday.In the UFC White House co-main event, Gane defeated Pereira via knockout in Round 2 to not only become just the second fighter ever to capture two interim UFC titles, but he set himself up for a rematch with undisputed heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall.Gane appeared to be a step ahead for most of the bout, using his speed and agility advantage to foil the dangerous Pereira, who was attempting to become the UFC’s first-ever three-division titleholder after previously winning belts at light heavyweight and middleweight. He rocked Pereira in the second round and methodically pressed the advantage until the bout was waved off.Afterwards, Gane called for a fight with Aspinall at UFC Paris on Sept. 5. The two previously fought at UFC 321, but the matchup ended in disappointment for both men after Gane poked Aspinall in the eyes, rendering him unable to continue and leaving the bout a no-contest.Check out how pros reacted on social media to Gane’s impressive UFC White House win.Gane is looking like “him” right now . Aspinall just changed his phone number and moved to a location unknown ! 😂😂😂#UFCwhiteHouse— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) June 15, 2026Congratulations to the new heavyweight champion Gane, you looked great out there tonight. ~🐐— Jonny Meat (@JonnyBones) June 15, 2026Congratulations Bon Gamin for the wonderful performance. Sincerely,LHC #TrueHeavyweight— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) June 15, 2026What I tell you guys!!!— Brian Ortega (@BrianTcity) June 15, 2026Gane vs aspinal will b fire— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) June 15, 2026Gane had a beautiful jab to catch Pereira and went in for the finish. Very impressive…— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) June 15, 2026Nice finish by Gane #UFCWhiteHouse— Jillian DeCoursey (@lionheartjill) June 15, 2026Doesn’t matter what happened, @AlexPereiraUFC is still an idol and inspiration to the world…to go from where he is from to where he is right now, all the risks that he took, all that he did in his UFC career…is one of the GOATS from Brazil and all the UFC! We love you Alex 🙏🏼❤️— Caio Borralho (@BorralhoCaio) June 15, 2026How many elbows landed on the back of the head?!#UFCWhiteHouse— Herbert Burns (@HerbertBurnsMMA) June 15, 2026Damn…— Josh Thomson (@THEREALPUNK) June 15, 2026Let’s goGane had him cooked anyways butWho gives a shit if you land an unprotected elbow point to the back of the neck multiple timesBon Gamin 🇫🇷— “Filthy” Tom Lawlor (@FilthyTomLawlor) June 15, 20262x interm champ is insane lol— Johnny Eblen (@JohnnyEblen) June 15, 2026What an athlete 🔥🔥🔥— Sodiq Yusuff (@Super_Sodiq) June 15, 2026Sheesh I knew Gane could win but like that damnnnn 👏👏👏— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) June 15, 2026

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Sherfane Rutherford reached his half-century in the last over of a dramatic run chase as West Indies completed a series-clinching five-wicket win with two deliveries to spare Sunday in the third Twenty20 international against Sri Lanka.Rutherford was unbeaten on 54 from 40 deliveries and Jason Holder clobbered three sixes in the penultimate over, finishing 21 not out off five balls as West Indies reached 170-5 in reply to Sri Lanka's 169.Two costly missed catches during Rutherford's innings hurt Sri Lanka's chances of taking the series after the first two games were split.West Indies went into the deciding game with an attacking focus, deciding to bowl first after winning the toss.Shamar Joseph (5-33) backed up the decision by snaring five wickets to contain Sri Lanka's innings in a player-of-the-match performance.West Indies won the first T20 by seven wickets and Sri Lanka won the second by 37 runs on Saturday, leaving the series in the balance.Sri Lanka's inningsJoseph took two wickets in the sixth over and three in the last over of Sri Lanka's innings — twice missing hat-trick opportunities. Matthew Forde took a stunning one-handed catch off his own bowling to remove Kusal Mendis (5) on the ninth delivery of the match.Sri Lanka accelerated to be 49-1 after five overs, then Joseph struck with wickets on consecutive balls in the sixth.Pathum Nissanka hit 26 from 17 deliveries until he top-edged a catch to Roston Chase to end the 43-run second-wicket partnership. Joseph then trapped Pavan Rathnayake lbw on the next delivery.Dunith Wellalage anchored a lower-order rally for Sri Lanka that was undone when Wanindu Hasaranga (21 off 13 deliveries) was run out in the 19th over, ending a 49-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Wellalage was the first of three wickets to fall in the 20th, posting 43 from 28 deliveries in a run-a-minute innings.West Indies chaseAfter losing Shai Hope on the third delivery of the run chase, bowled by Wellalage, West Indies raced to 52 before losing three wickets for one run in a 12-ball span that swung momentum back in Sri Lanka's favor.Rovman Powell (33) combined with Rutherford to revive the run chase, putting on 81 for the fifth wicket until he was dismissed on the last ball of an eventful 17th over.The over from pace bowler Dushmantha Chameera contained nine deliveries —- including a no-ball and two wides — and netted 24 runs for West Indies and the wicket of Powell. It left West Indies needing 36 runs from three overs.The equation got down to 29 required from two overs. Holder clouted Chameera for three sixes in four deliveries to end the 19th and leave West Indies needing six runs for victory.Tour updateSri Lanka won the preceding — and soggy — three-match ODI series 1-0 after the final two matches were rained out. Sri Lanka won the first match by 41 runs.The teams will meet in a two-test series starting June 25 in Antigua.___AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket