UFC Freedom 250 left the MMA world with plenty to talk about after a historic night at the White House on Sunday. For Alex Pereira, though, the former two-division champion is left wishing multiple aspects of his interim title tilt with Ciryl Gane had gone differently.It was an ambitious heavyweight debut for Pereira. Originally a middleweight before claiming the light heavyweight throne, he sought to become the first three-weight titleholder in UFC history. Gane had other plans, stopping him with strikes in Round 2, however Pereira has been vocal in the days since the fight about how many illegal strikes he absorbed to the back of the head throughout the finishing sequence.Appearing in-studio Wednesday on "The Ariel Helwani Show", Pereira explained his belief that he was on the verge of winning thanks to his opponent's fading gas tank."People say that I got tired. No, I did not," Pereira told Uncrowned through a translator. "I opened my mouth in the corner to do my own breathing exercise to recover [after Round 1]. Everything was fine, and Ciryl, the way that he was gassing after the fight was over, if I had the chance to survive … the end of the second round, Ciryl does not survive the fight because he does not have heart. You could see in his eyes. I got robbed in that moment."Ciryl was lying down [after the fight] because he was dead tired. That's why he really had to hit me with those [potentially illegal] shots so he could handle that."Pereira, 38, said he’s already asked the UFC for an instant rematch after suffering the third loss of his 17-fight MMA career. With all the festivities going on Sunday night, he said no answer was given. The entire premise of the bout was to determine a clear next challenger for recovering champion Tom Aspinall, leaving Pereira in a tricky position.Yet, more than anything, Pereira is frustrated with referee Herb Dean's percieved lack of enforcement of the rules and the illegal shots Pereira sustained against Gane. According to "Poatan," Dean even went against what they discussed prior to the fight."What upset me the most was me and him were in the rules meeting," Pereira said. "I told [my coach] Plinio [Cruz], 'Let's go talk to Herb Dean.' Herb Dean came in and I said, 'Listen, I understand sometimes in a fight, eye-pokes can happen, low blows can happen. But this guy has a history of shots to the back of the head, so please pay attention to those during the fight.' Ciryl Gane, for example, when he fights, he has a record — multiple times, he comes out [and cheats] like a strategy: OK, you take a shot, you drop, he follows up with those illegal shots. "It makes me more upset that after we spoke with him, he brought [referee] Mike Beltran over and said, 'Just so you understand, the back of the head is here.' So it seemed like he absorbed the information. Then, the next day, seeing everything that he did, knowing that we brought it to his attention, he did not do his job."Pereira is so displeased by the job Dean did that he assures this will be the last time the referee works one of his fights. Taking it one step further, Pereira believes Dean's long-tenured run as one of MMA's most notable referees should finally come to an end.Ciryl Gane attacks Alex Pereira during their UFC interim heavyweight title fight.Jeff Bottari via Getty Images"Something has to be done. I think his time is up," Pereira said. "I think he already did enough. It's just like a regular 9-to-5 [job], a regular business — he's been there for too long and now is starting to mess up. Maybe he shouldn't be there anymore."Something has to be done so people don't end up getting hurt because of him. At the end of the day, I'm not being unreasonable. For example, let's say [there] was a punishment [for Gane] — the guy goes over there, Herb stops that fight, takes a point, whatever. They guy's going to complain, but [Dean’s] going to say, 'You knew you're not supposed to do this, and you’ve still done it.' But now, when nothing is done, the guy's going to go, 'You know what? I'm just going to do what I gotta do because he's not going to stop this fight,’ so [Gane will] do whatever it takes to become a champion."[Dean will] never be around me or ref my fight anymore, that is for sure. We're talking about life, right? Until somebody gets permanently hurt or something really bad goes all over the media, he's going to take all the blame."It’s a familiar debate for Gane, who entered on the heels of his controversy with Aspinall. In the pair's October 2025 title tilt, the action ended prematurely when Aspinall suffered eye-pokes that rendered him unable to continue. Aspinall has been sidelined ever since and has undergone multiple procedures to fully recover from the severity of his injuries.Pereira believes this is just the nature of Gane as a fighter. He compared the situations to how he's reacted with past finishes."When I'm in a fight, and I drop somebody, I take a look at what's going on and find a way to find my best legal shots," Pereira said. "Ciryl, it looks like to me that he's just trying to win the fight [any way he can], maybe because, emotionally, he's scared and he wants to finish the fight in five rounds. Once he drops somebody, he just tries to find the finish no matter what and [leaves it in the referee's hands] to figure out. He sees that it works, so he's not going to stop."Change is what Pereira would like to see following the loss. Despite that, he's not going to appeal the result with the commission. He just wants a level playing field from every angle, particularly for a would-be rematch."It doesn't make sense to appeal. If he's the champ, let him be the champ. Things happen, and I always came back stronger from bad results,” Pereira said."All that I want is a rematch, to be able to fight fair, to fight square, to fight clean, to go out there and show people.”“I plan to stay at heavyweight,” Pereira added. “I felt really good. ... That's why I want a rematch."Pereira said he still wants a quick turnaround, just as he’d planned to do had he won. September is his ideal target month for a UFC return, assuming he clears his post-fight medicals with no issues.

Insider Proposes Celtics-Hawks Trade Idea That Ships Jaylen Brown To Atlanta originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Boston Celtics were eliminated in the first round of the NBA Playoffs and could be looking to make major changes to their roster.Celtics insider Brian Robb suggested that it would be understandable for the Celtics to want to see what Jaylen Brown's trade market looks like following the best season since signing a supermax. He is extension eligible again this summer, and could fetch a haul. Robb proposed this trade with the Atlanta Hawks that would net the Celtics three players and a top-ten pick:Celtics receive: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Onyeka Okongwu, Corey Kispert and No. 8 overall pickHawks receive: Jaylen BrownRobb noted that the Hawks have reportedly shown interest in Brown over the past few seasons. He is from just outside of Atlanta, going to high school in Marietta, GA, and would be a great fit for the Hawks. Robb noted that the Celtics could use some of these assets in a potential trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo"Subbing in Dyson Daniels would work here as well for one of these guys but that might be a bridge too far from the Hawks’ perspective," wrote Robb on Wednesday. "The Celtics would be getting cost-controlled starters here and a valuable trade chip. The Hawks get a No. 1 scoring option to pair with Johnson. Boston could try to turn around and flip some/all of these assets in a deal for Antetokounmpo."This trade would keep the Hawks competitive and get them a true No. 1 option. They need a guard who can score consistently after trading away Trae Young and Brown could be that guy.More NBA: Former Giannis Antetokounmpo Coach Outlines Risks Of Celtics Trading For Him

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani has two different problems that he is dealing with — a lingering pitching blister and knee inflammation. Ohtani missed a game last week with knee soreness, picking it up in the middle of a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday. The injury does not have a root cause traceable to a single play; rather, it is the culmination of wear and tear. He only missed Friday’s season opener against the Chicago White Sox before returning to the lineup and playing in all of the games up until Wednesday’s series finale against the Tampa Bay Rays. Jun 17, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) walk in the dugout following the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn ImagesOhtani was on the field as a pitcher, but he missed the game as a hitter, with Miguel Rojas taking his place as the DH. He came in for a pinch-hitting opportunity, but it would be his only plate appearance of the game. He went 0-for-1 in the game in the box as a hitter, while allowing seven hits, a season-high four runs, a walk, and only five strikeouts. His ERA “ballooned” to 1.47, allowing multiple runs for his second straight start, along with his ERA being firmly above the 1.00 mark. Additionally, as it has been for his last few starts, his blister re-emerged, though this time it was bleeding and looked quite visible. Naturally, with his two worst pitching starts now and these issues really coming into focus, the status of these two alignments has become clearer. What is the latest on Ohtani’s blister and knee?Jun 17, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) adjusts his cap as he meets with catcher Dalton Rushing (68), pitching coach Mark Prior (99) and translator Will Ireton on the mound in the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn ImagesOhtani’s knee issue is not “completely behind us,” according to manager Dave Roberts, with the team needing to manage it and ensure he stays upright throughout the season. Likely, this just means extra rest whenever possible. Roberts did not outright dismiss the notion of extra rest in between starts, but he was quite confident that Ohtani would be on his regular schedule. “So I feel good that, right now, I don’t see why he won’t make his start.”On the blister, Ohtani chalked it up to normal wear and something he could power through, bothering him a bit but nothing nearly enough to notably compromise him. “It’s just part of the game,” Ohtani said through his interpreter. “There aren’t a lot of situations where you feel 100 percent, so I just took it as that, and it’s big that we were able to win a game like this.“Actually, I just felt good overall. It’s just really that inning, that fifth inning, that I wasn’t really too pleased. But aside from that, the stuff was good and felt pretty good overall.”With regards to the bleeding, the Dodgers skipper put that down to a lack of pregame preparation.“Potentially, but I think that we do this Dermabond, and I think today, I don’t know if it came off or he didn’t use it today, and that’s what spurred the bleeding late,” Roberts said.Overall, all things considered, there should be nothing more expected than extra rest for the Dodgers’ superstar, who will play as much as possible. Shohei Ohtani was bloodied up, both metaphorically and physically, during the 5th. He has been dealing with a blister for a while now, though Dave Roberts has labeled it as a non-issue. However, it is persisting and something to keep an eye on.pic.twitter.com/eX4E6CtYoc— Nelson Espinal (@nelson__espinal) June 17, 2026Even more rest between starts could ruin his Cy Young odds, but considering how amazing the field is this year, it is already looking like a stretch. The Dodgers, while open to pushing for regular-season goals, are always driven by postseason success, and that starts and ends with Ohtani. Keeping him healthy is the top priority, and they will always manage him with caution.

Kalshi Promo Code TSNEWS: Get $10 Bonus for Uzbekistan-Colombia World Cup Predictions originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.There is nothing better than waking up to a jam-packed slate of World Cup soccer, and we've got a real chance to turn today's group-stage fixtures into a nice pay day. If you're ready to dive into the action and move beyond standard betting, the Kalshi promo code TSNEWS is your ticket to a sweet $10 bonus. Just sign up here and make your first $10 in trades to release the reward.Whether you are eyeing today's specific games or looking ahead to the rest of the week, this welcome offer is the perfect way to jump into the tournament with a sound strategy.Kalshi Promo Code TSNEWS for World Cup MatchesKalshi Promo CodeTSNEWSNew User Offer$10 BonusTerms and Conditions18+ and Present in the USDate Last VerifiedJune 17, 2026As handicappers, we always want to maximize our early bankroll, and new Kalshi customers can easily secure a $10 sign-up bonus to use on the full slate of first-round World Cup matchups. Whether you are looking to trade on Croatia battling England, Panama visiting Ghana, or Colombia taking on Uzbekistan, you can use the bonus on any of the day's games.To qualify for this welcome offer, eligible new users simply need to make a first-time deposit of at least $1. From there, your $10 bonus unlocks as soon as you've made $10 in cumulative trades on Kalshi's prediction markets. It is available in all 50 states, and as long as you are at least 18 years old, it is incredibly accessible for soccer fans nationwide to get in on the action.Win Probabilities for Wednesday's MatchesBefore I start placing my trades, I always like to break down the likelihood of each outcome. When we're looking at soccer prediction markets, we are dealing with three distinct possibilities—a home team victory, an away team victory, and a draw. This gives us plenty of unique angles to explore.Below is a breakdown of the win probabilities for the full slate of June 17 World Cup fixtures (including the late-night matchup between Colombia and Uzbekistan). Keep in mind, we are focusing strictly on win percentages here, which is a fantastic way to ground our strategy in pure data.Home TeamAway TeamHome Win %Draw %Away Win %PortugalCongo DR75.3%16.6%8.1%EnglandCroatia55.5%26.0%18.5%GhanaPanama40.3%30.0%29.7%UzbekistanColombia10.2%19.5%70.2%Whether you want to back a heavy favorite like Portugal against Congo DR, side with Colombia as they hit the road against Uzbekistan, or predict a tight, grind-it-out battle between Ghana and Panama, the choice is yours. As soon as your first $10 in trades settles, Kalshi will unlock your $10 sign-up bonus to use on these exact matches or any other upcoming prediction markets.Registering with the Kalshi Promo CodeUnlocking your sign-up bonus is a straightforward process—which is exactly how we like it. Once activated, your $10 bonus is completely flexible. I'll be using mine across any of today's World Cup matches, but you can also use it on any other World Cup match taking place this week. You aren't boxed into a single game.To claim the offer and start building your tournament bankroll, simply follow these steps:Create an Account: Register for a new account here by providing standard personal information and submitting a quick proof of identification.Enter the Promo Code: Be sure to enter the Kalshi promo code TSNEWS when registering your new account so you lock in the offer.Make a Deposit: Drop a first-time deposit of at least $1 into your new account.Start Trading: Make $10 worth of trades on the platform. You don't have to put it all on one massive $10 play; a cumulative sum of smaller trades totaling $10 will easily satisfy this requirement.The second your initial $10 in trades has been made, Kalshi will release your $10 sign-up bonus.

Jun 17, 2026; Omaha, NE, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels center fielder Owen Hull (8) scores as first baseman Erik Paulsen (44) and shortstop Jake Schaffner (2) at Charles Schwab Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images | Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images The Tar Heels beat the West Virginia Mountaineers 12-7 and will now await the winner of the SEC bottom bracket. North Carolina did what it needed to do, it got the win and will now play in the College World Series Finals for just the third time in program history and for the first time since back to back appearances in 2006 and 2007. Just to put that in perspective, the last time the Tar Heels were in the Finals, George W. Bush was still President, Taylor Swift was still considered a country singer, and Tom Brady only had three Super Bowl Rings.So what led to UNC getting the job done?The offense exploded behind Owen Hull and Gavin GallaherOwen Hull and Gavin Gallaher combined to go 8 for 10 in this game scoring five runs and knocking in six RBIS. Hull continued his dominant postseason play as the transfer junior is now hitting 16 for 26 with 8 RBIs, six doubles, a triple and a home run since the Chapel Hill Super Regional and came up a home run shy of hitting for the cycle today.Gallaher meanwhile got his first hit in a MWCS game on Friday and now has six in three games including seven RBIs. Additionally, the Tar Heels took advantage of RISP this game going 8 for 10 and bringing their MWCS total up to 12 for 22 putting that abysmal Chapel Hill Super Regional RISP in the rear view mirror.The pitching was solid, then imploded, and then Caden GlauberIn what basically amounted to a reliever game, the Tar Heels relievers out performed the Mountaineers. First Justin Rose pitched 4.1 innings of shut out ball after coming in for starter Folger Boaz and Matthew Matthais need just one pitch to get a double play to get UNC out of the sixth. Matthais then got the next two outs and everything seemed good until West Virginia’s Guzman reached on an infield single and by the time Caden Glauber had come in and gotten the third out, the Mountaineers had scored five runs and North Carolina had gone through three pitchers. Thankfully Glauber came in and despite giving up a couple of runs (one on a passed ball that was attributed to Cameron Padgett and another on a two out home run in the eighth) he finished the game and UNC remained undefeated in games Glauber has pitched in this season.North Carolina’s next game is Saturday against whoever advances between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Georgia Bulldogs (thankfully there are no Oregon State Beavers this time around).

Christian Pulisic #10 of the United States jumps for a ball during a FIFA World Cup 2026 match against Paraguay, Monday June 12, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif.IRVINE, Calif. – At United States men’s national team training on Monday, the message regarding any concern for star Christian Pulisic’s calf injury was “relax.”“C’mon, Christian will be ready, everyone,” midfielder Tyler Adams said before training on Monday. “Let’s relax.”Pulisic was subbed off at halftime in the World Cup opener last Friday, which he said was a precautionary move, but the Hershey, Pennsylvania native has yet to practice in full since the United States’ 4-1 win over Paraguay."I've had similar things before, and I'm staying positive," Pulisic said after the opener. "I don't think it's anything."Head coach Mauricio Pochettino even said Pulisic was “good” on Monday, as the 27-year-old forward went through a “modified training session” with individual work away from the main group. This consisted of a gym workout and on-field lunges and hops during the media’s 30-minute view.However, two days later at Great Park and roughly 48 hours ahead of Friday’s kickoff for the USMNT’s second group stage game against Australia in Seattle, Pulisic was still labelled day to day and continued on his modified program.This again began in the gym before he walked onto the field with a compression sleeve on his left calf to begin a light passing exercise as media left the field for the end its 15-minute viewing period on Wednesday.The latter was a small improvement for Pulisic, who had not been seen doing any actual soccer work prior to today. (Although, again, media is limited to watching the start of training sessions only, and it’s normally not very insightful aside from keep-away passing drills.)With the crucial clash with the Socceroos for the top of Group D looming ever closer, the question changes from how effective Pulisic will be on Friday to will Pulisic be available in Seattle at all? And if Pulisic can’t play, who will Pochettino pick in his place?"He's not been training fully with the group yet, but we still got a couple of days to see where he's at,” midfielder Antonee “Jedi” Robinson said. “Thankfully we've got a lot of boys on the bench who are eager.”Against Paraguay, it was Sebastian Berhalter that came in for Pulisic at halftime, but Berhalter is more midfielder than the dynamic forward Pulisic is. There’s no direct replacement for Pulisic, so any change will result in an adjustment in play.“Whatever role I need to play is the role I’m willing to play,” Berhalter said on Tuesday. “Whether its not starting, starting, coming in at halftime, I’ll be ready to play.”When Pulisic went down with an injury early in last October’s friendly against Australia, Tim Weah slotted over to that left side wing where Pulisic started against Paraguay. Weah came on in the 72nd minute last Friday.Weah plays more of a traditional wing role, though, as he stays outside to take advantage of space rather than challenging defenders like Pulisic.“I’m someone that’s able to start,” Weah said on Tuesday. “I’m someone that’s able to come off the bench and support my team. For me, when I think about being a professional and a football player, it’s being unselfish and being able to support your team just like they support you when you need them.”Gio Reyna, of course, showed off his high skill with his curling outside-boot strike late against Paraguay. Playing from the midfield, Reyna has the ability to execute almost anywhere on the field, but again, not the same up-front dynamism.Is Pulisic cleared, does he tough it out against the Socceroos or is he held out for the long term prospects of the tournament? The American public and Australia will find out together at kickoff in Seattle.

A'ja Wilson's simple pregame outfit had WNBA fans saying the same thing originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.When it comes to pregame fashion, some WNBA stars arrive in designer fits, luxury brands and head-turning accessories. Then there's A'ja Wilson. Ahead of a pivotal Commissioner’s Cup showdown against the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday night, the Las Vegas Aces superstar showed up in what appeared to be one of the simplest tunnel looks of the season: a plain white T-shirt and sweatpants.Yet somehow, it immediately became one of the most talked-about pregame moments of the night. The WNBA's official social media account shared a photo of Wilson's arrival with a caption that perfectly captured the mood surrounding the two-time defending Commissioner’s Cup champions."White tee + sweatpants = A'ja ACTIVATED 👀"For Aces fans, that message carried extra meaning.White tee + sweatpants = A’ja ACTIVATED 👀The @LVAces look to clinch another Commissioner’s Cup Championship berth with a win tonight vs. the Phoenix Mercury!📺 10pm/ET | 2026 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup | @coinbasepic.twitter.com/Huj6XZjMfw— WNBA (@WNBA) June 18, 2026A'ja Wilson has a habit of making statements after quiet entrancesWilson doesn't need flashy outfits to command attention. The four-time WNBA MVP has built a reputation as one of the most dominant players in league history, and many fans have learned that when she keeps things simple before a game, it often means she's fully locked in on the task ahead.The timing of the post only added to the intrigue. Las Vegas entered Wednesday's matchup against the Mercury with a chance to clinch another Commissioner’s Cup Championship berth, putting additional spotlight on the game and on Wilson herself.For a player who already owns three WNBA championships, multiple MVP trophies and a long list of league records, another Commissioner’s Cup appearance would add yet another accomplishment to an already historic resume.MORE: Lexie Hull summed up what everyone was thinking after Sophie Cunningham's shooting explosionWilson continues to lead the Aces' championship pushThe Aces have once again leaned heavily on Wilson this season. Entering Wednesday's contest, the superstar center was averaging 25.6 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game while continuing to anchor both ends of the floor.Her impact goes far beyond the box score. Wilson remains the emotional leader of the franchise and the player opposing defenses spend the most time trying to stop. Even with teams regularly sending extra attention her way, she continues to produce at an elite level.That consistency is one of the reasons Las Vegas remains firmly in the championship conversation every season.Sometimes less says morePregame tunnel walks have become a major part of WNBA culture, with players routinely showcasing their personalities through fashion. Wilson has delivered plenty of memorable looks over the years, but Wednesday's outfit proved that simplicity can be just as effective.A white T-shirt. Sweatpants. No elaborate styling necessary. For many fans, the outfit wasn't about making a fashion statement. It was a signal. The message seemed clear: business first.And if the WNBA's social media team is correct, that's exactly when A'ja Wilson becomes her most dangerous.More WNBA news:Paige Bueckers is threatening one of Caitlin Clark's biggest WNBA crownsLexie Hull summed up what everyone was thinking after Sophie Cunningham's shooting explosionThe biggest surprise in WNBA All-Star voting wasn't Caitlin Clark or A'ja WilsonCameron Brink turns heads with stylish arrival before Sparks-Valkyries matchupCaitlin Clark's latest post had Sophie Cunningham asking one question after Fever's record-setting win

The Federal Reserve’s new chairman held a press conference where he bantered with reporters and laid out a vision for change at the central bank.

Extended-range electric vehicles promise to reduce costs and appeal to America’s appetite for adventure. And they’re coming to showrooms soon.

The New York Times is examining the relationship between New York State officials and Native Americans.

Ghana 'look more threatening'England & Croatia also in Group LWhen will an African side win World Cup?World Cup team guides; Groups and schedules; New laws explained Panama and Ghana pushing for an opener in England's group

The Tennessee Titans set out to improve their roster in 2026, and one of the ways they did that was through the draft. Selecting Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate with the No. 4 overall pick was one of the ways they upped the talent on offense, and he's already showing that he can be an excellent professional player.After practice on Tuesday, Tate was made available for the media. Brian Daboll indicated that Tate is picking up the new scheme quickly, and Tate was asked how he's been able to do that.#Titans Carnell Tate said the key to being comfortable and learning the new scheme is the work he put in at Ohio State with former WR coach Brian Hartline. He had to learn all WR spots at Ohio St so doing so as a pro is more of what he's done before. pic.twitter.com/GKKnLONXir— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) June 16, 2026"It started with Coach (Brian) Hartline at Ohio State," Tate said. "He made it a priority for me to learn all of the different receiver groups because the more you understand what each position has, the more you understand the playbook, so there was nothing new just coming over here. The more positions you know, the more you can understand the playbook; that way, you can play different positions."Over his three seasons at Ohio State, Tate improved year-over-year under Brian Hartline, who is now the head coach at the University of South Florida. After graduating from Ohio State, Hartline played six seasons in the NFL as a wide receiver before joining the coaching ranks in 2017.Tate managed to make a name for himself at Ohio State despite sharing the field with future NFL star Jeremiah Smith. Sharing the field with Calvin Ridley and Wan'Dale Robinson will prove to be no different for the rookie, and from what we've seen out of camp, he's likely to make a splash in 2026.This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans: Carnell Tate credits Brian Hartline

Sophie Cunningham's latest move proves her influence extends far beyond the Indiana Fever originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Sophie Cunningham is having one of the best stretches of her season, and now she's adding another title to her growing resume. Just one day after delivering a career night for the Indiana Fever, Cunningham announced a new role that shows her influence extends well beyond the basketball court. The veteran guard made her broadcasting debut with USA Sports on Wednesday, giving fans another glimpse into what could be a promising future in sports media whenever her playing career eventually comes to an end.The announcement came at a perfect time for Cunningham, who is riding a wave of momentum after helping lead the Fever to one of their most impressive performances of the season.Sophie Cunningham is making her WNBA on @usasports broadcast debut tonight 📺🤩 pic.twitter.com/qwEH84KECD— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) June 17, 2026Sophie Cunningham is playing some of her best basketball of 2026The Fever veteran has become an increasingly important piece of Indiana's success. Through 13 games, Cunningham is averaging 10.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists while providing the toughness, energy and shooting that have made her a fan favorite in Indiana.On Tuesday against the Toronto Tempo, she delivered her best game of the season. Coming off the bench, Cunningham exploded for a career-high 24 points while shooting 8-for-11 from the field. She connected on six of her seven attempts from beyond the arc, tying her career-high for made three-pointers in a game.The performance helped Indiana cruise to a 113-91 victory, a game that also saw the Fever set a franchise record for points scored in a regulation contest. It was another reminder of why Cunningham has become such a valuable complement to stars Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston.MORE: A'ja Wilson's simple pregame outfit had WNBA fans saying the same thingThe broadcasting opportunity feels like a natural fitWhile the basketball world knows Cunningham for her competitive fire, Fever fans have also gotten to know her personality over the past year. That personality is a big reason why Wednesday's broadcasting announcement generated so much interest. USA Sports introduced Cunningham as part of its WNBA coverage team, highlighting her transition from player to analyst for the evening."When she's not ballin' for the Indiana Fever, she a contributor for USA Sports," the network posted on social media.For anyone who has followed Cunningham closely, the move shouldn't come as a surprise. She has never been shy about sharing her opinions, engaging with fans or showing her sense of humor. Those traits often translate well to television and studio work.Sophie Cunningham has been building her media profile for yearsThe broadcasting debut is simply the latest step in Cunningham's growing media presence. Last summer, she launched the "Show Me Something" podcast with longtime friend and reality television personality West Wilson. The show gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at her life in the WNBA while blending conversations about sports, entertainment and culture.The podcast quickly demonstrated something many Fever fans already knew: Cunningham is comfortable in front of a microphone. Whether she's discussing basketball, sharing stories from around the league or reacting to current events, she has shown an ability to connect with audiences in a way that feels authentic.That authenticity is becoming increasingly valuable as athletes continue expanding their brands beyond competition.A future star on and off the court?For now, Cunningham's focus remains helping Indiana continue its strong season. The Fever have won four straight games and are beginning to look like one of the WNBA's most dangerous teams as they climb the standings. But Wednesday's announcement offered a glimpse into what the future might hold.Many of the league's biggest personalities eventually transition into broadcasting after their playing careers. Based on her early success in podcasting and her first appearance with USA Sports, Cunningham appears to have all the tools necessary to follow that path whenever she chooses.Until then, Fever fans will gladly take more performances like the one she delivered against Toronto. If her recent shooting surge is any indication, Cunningham's influence on Indiana's season may be growing just as quickly as her profile away from the courtMore WNBA news:Paige Bueckers is threatening one of Caitlin Clark's biggest WNBA crownsLexie Hull summed up what everyone was thinking after Sophie Cunningham's shooting explosionThe biggest surprise in WNBA All-Star voting wasn't Caitlin Clark or A'ja WilsonCameron Brink turns heads with stylish arrival before Sparks-Valkyries matchupCaitlin Clark's latest post had Sophie Cunningham asking one question after Fever's record-setting win

'Everything we need': Joe Burrow know Bengals have no excuses to not win Super Bowl originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Cincinnati Bengals are hungry. They got to the Super Bowl back in 2022 with the core of Ja'Marr Chase and Joe Burrow but have not come back since. 2027 might be the year where their unfortunate luck stops. Dexter Lawrence found himself in the revamped roster along with Boye Mafe and Bryan Cook to help with their chances of hoisting the Vince Lombardi trophy. It was all Burrow could ask for and he now knows they can finally focus on winning it all.Burrow posits Bengals have everything and have no excuses to not win Super BowlThe Bengals, for the longest time, have felt like they had missing pieces for a Super Bowl run. It also did not help that Trey Hendrickson left to join the Baltimore Ravens, Cam Taylor-Britt went to the Indianapolis Colts, and Logan Wilson opted to go into retirement. Joe Burrow was also often injured which meant that going on a title run became more difficult.Now, barring all possibilities of an injury, the Bengals finally have a realistic shot of making it to the Super Bowl. Burrow knows this and he outlined that they have no excuses in falling short, via Kevin Patra of NFL.com."This is a lot of urgency, a lot of urgency this year, certainly. We have everything we need. We're deep at just about every single position on the team. We've talked in the locker room this year about in years past, you wonder who's going to make the team, and it was top-heavy, and you wonder about the bottom guys. This year, it's guys that were once that top level, they're on the team for sure now, but there's a lot of competition at those spots on the 53, 54, 55, at the end of that list. This is the first year that that is really the case in my opinion. It's an exciting place to be when you have too many good players," Burrow said about this newly revamped Bengals roster.Burrow and the Bengals ended their 2025 season with only six wins which landed them third in the AFC North behind the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. At this point, making the postseason will be a given but their success will be measured upon how dominant the Super Bowl run is. Usually, stars tend to stay quiet when it comes to preseason predictions about their records but Burrow feels differently about their roster. He even made a bold declaration about how many wins the Bengals will churn out for the season."We're going in expecting to win every game that we step foot on the field. Obviously, you want to win a Super Bowl, and that's certainly the plan, but you've got to take it one day at a time, one week at a time. I'm excited for the journey," the Bengals quarterback added.There is a lot of pressure because of these declarations made by Burrow. Time will now start to tick for the Bengals. Will Lawrence, Chase, Mafe, and Cook prove to be needle-moving players once the season rolls around?More Bengals News:Why Joe Burrow claims that 2026 Bengals are very similar to 2019 LSU TigersInsider reads between the lines on Joe Burrow's Bengals Super Bowl commentBengals' 4-for-2 roster shuffle will significantly improve their Achilles' heel

ST. JOSEPH, Mo.— Big Brothers Big Sisters St. Joseph is scheduled to host its fourth annual Ignite 5k race on Saturday, June 20.Participants will start and finish at the Bode Ice Arena, running north along the St. Joseph Park System bike path, before turning around at Bartlett Park.The race is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m., with an event T-shirt, finish line photo and awards for participants. Cost for entry is $30, and registration ends June 20, at 11:59 p.m. according to the event website.Pre-registered participants may pick up their race-day packet on June 19 at River Bluff Brewery between 5:30 and 7 p.m., or starting at 7 a.m. on race-day.All proceeds from the event will go to BBBS St. Joseph.BBBS St. Joseph is a local, nonprofit organization aimed at youth empowerment. Children ages 7-14 are matched with adult mentors to foster growth and greater social connection.For information about the event, residents can contact cheyenne@bbbsstjoe.org to learn more.

The National Weather Service issued several of its highest-level tornado alerts on Wednesday night.

Lead Stories says: DHS: NopeWas Iran soccer player Mohammed Mohebi deported from the U.S. following the June 15, 2026, FIFA World Cup game against New Zealand? No, that's not true: When contacted by Lead Stories, the Department of Homeland Security denied the online speculation. Lead Stories found no credible media reports that Mohebi had been deported.The claim appeared in a post (archived here and here) published on X by @TheBallZoneX on June 16, 2026. It read:🚨 BREAKING: Iran player Mohammed Mohebi has been deported back to Iran after his gun celebration vs New Zealand,This is what the post looked like at the time of writing on X:(Image source: post by @TheBallZoneX on X.)During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Iran played against New Zealand on June 15 (archived here). Each team scored two goals.The game took place in Los Angeles, and some Iranian American fans whose families moved to the U.S. in the aftermath of the Islamic Revolution protested against the Iranian government by showing flags associated with the previous regime (archived here).During the match, Mohebi, who scored Iran's second goal, was photographed making a gun with his fingers. The same moment appeared in a video recording published by Fox Sports at the 00:11 mark.Some read the gesture as aimed at Iranian fans, but Mohebi was later quoted as saying he made the gesture to celebrate the goal-scoring shot.On June 17, 2026, a DHS spokesperson told Lead Stories via email:This is a hoax. No player from the Iranian soccer team has been deported.The account that boosted the rumor on X was not affiliated with a credible media organization. Its self-description (archived here) read:Home of football jokes - Satire.A search on Google News for the keywords seen here produced a single match. It was an article (archived here) that, in part, read:...it should be noted that as of now, there is no official confirmation regarding Mohebi's deportation.That piece cited a post (archived here) from X that appeared to be the earliest mention of the claim. It was published by the FUTA account (archived here) that predominantly posts about sports. However, its handle -- @futaspor -- was missing the last letter "t" needed to complete the word "sport".Dailysports.net was the website that published the article based on the post. It was registered in 2003 and presented itself (archived here) as a media organization while also promoting betting sites (archived here).

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 25: Aaron Civale #45 of the Athletics pitches in the top of the fourth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Sutter Health Park on May 25, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Justine Willard/Athletics/Getty Images) | Getty Images The A’s have split the first two games against the Pittsburgh Pirates. That’s set up tonight’s rubber match, with one team getting a series win in Sacramento. The Athletics dropped back below .500 with last night’s loss so a win this evening would get them back to even, and depending on how Seattle does tonight the A’s could be within a half-game of first place in the AL West. Can the A’s get back in the win column on Pride Night at Sutter Health Park?Before tonight’s contest, the A’s announced a minor roster move, activating tonight’s starting pitcher Aaron Civale while optioning righty Luis Morales:We have made the following roster moves. pic.twitter.com/7H11Wrr4YQ— Athletics (@Athletics) June 17, 2026The move doesn’t have major implications but does remove an option from the bullpen for Mark Kotsay. Morales didn’t make an appearance during his brief callup and now he’ll return to Las Vegas and continue trying to fix things down there.Back to the game at hand. As said above, Civale is the Athletics’ starting pitcher tonight. The veteran right-hander spent just over three weeks on the injured list with shoulder tendinitis in his pitching arm. Everyone held their breath when that was the diagnosis but it seems that the A’s are getting the best-case scenario with Civale’s shoulder. With that short of a layoff he didn’t need more than the one rehab start he made. In that appearance he looked awesome, firing 4 1/3 perfect innings with seven strikeouts against Triple-A hitters. Looks good to go. He got hit hard in his last two appearances before landing on the IL so the hope is that the shoulder was the cause of those rough outings and he can get back to the pitcher he’s been for the majority of the year.Here’s how the bats will line up behind their starting pitcher for the series finale:Civale on the mound 👊 pic.twitter.com/y025pJx0Fk— Athletics (@Athletics) June 17, 2026The typical top of the lineup, with Kurtz and Langeliers (DH’ing tonight) batting back-to-back to start things. They’re followed by Tyler Soderstrom and Jacob Wilson, repeating the same top four as last night’s batting order.With Langeliers DH’ing that means Jonah Heim will be catching Civale and he’s right in the middle of the order batting behind Wilson. Zack Gelof is back at third for the third consecutive night, leaving Max Muncy riding the bench. You can’t take Gelof out of the lineup when he’s riding a 20-game hit streak, and with a right-hander on the mound Kotsay is going with McNeil instead of Muncy tonight. Lawrence Butler is in right field versus the right-handed starter, and Henry Bolte will be patrolling center field this evening in Sacramento.That lineup will be going up against Pittsburgh starter Braxton Ashcraft. The 26-year-old sophomore has been fantastic for the Pirates this season, his first as a full-time starter at the big league level. In 14 games he has a great 3.30 ERA thanks to his strikeout stuff. He’s also been stingy with the walks, issuing just 19 in 84 innings of work. The A’s will need to take advantage of any and every opportunity they get against the ascending Ashcraft.And the Pirates’ starting nine tonight:75/162.📺 @SNPittsburgh📻 @937theFanpic.twitter.com/Dbzw6YcFmn— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) June 17, 2026Not much different from last night’s lineup, aside from two small changes. Former #1 overall pick Henry Davis is back behind the plate batting ninth, while veteran slugger Marcell Ozuna is in the DH role this evening.Gotta get this win tonight. Let’s go A’s!Follow the Game:Watch:Athletics – NBCSCAListen:Athletics – Talk 650 KSTE, KVMX 92.1/105.5, A’s Cast

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 12: Braxton Ashcraft #35 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches in the first inning during the game against the Miami Marlins at PNC Park on June 12, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Athletics, June 17, 2026, 9:40 p.m. ETThe Pittsburgh Pirates are playing in the series finale against the Athletics in the capital of California.The Pirates are handing the ball to Braxton Ashcraft, who is looking for his first win in June. Ashcraft has made two starts so far this month, but lost to the Atlanta Braves on June 6 by giving up six runs in five innings. He was given a no decision in his last start against the Miami Marlins, where he pitched five innings and gave up two runs, but the Pirates could not hold on late to pull out a win.Veteran right-hander Aaron Civale is pitching for the A’s. Civale has played for six teams in the last four years but has found a bit of a rhythm with the A’s this season. Civale is 5-2 with a 4.20 ERA, but has been on the injured list for the past couple of weeks due to shoulder tendinitis. Civale is back on the mound today for the first time since May 25 and is looking for his first win in over a month as he is brought back to the lineup to face the Pirates.Going into the off day, the Pirates want to make sure they finish the series out strong.Location: Sutter Health Park, Sacramento, CABroadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Sportsnet PittsburghPitching Matchup: Braxton Ashcraft (5-3, 3.30 ERA) vs. Aaron Civale (5-2, 4.20 ERA)BD community, chime off in the comments section below.

CHICAGO - UNDATED: Billy Williams of the Chicago Cubs poses for a portrait, circa 1954 - 1974. (Photo by Photo File/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images That’s for stopping in here at BCB After Dark: the grooviest get-together for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Come on in and sit with us for a while. There’s no cover charge. We still have a few tables available. The hostess can seat you now. Bring your own beverage.BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.Last night I asked you to give Javier Assad a progress report. Seventy-five percent of you gave him a strong “B.” Another 19 percent gave Assad an “A.” Here’s the part where we listen to music and talk movies. You’re free to skip that. Or you can skip the baseball stuff.Tonight we’re continuing to honor South African jazz pianist Abdullah Ibrahim, who died this week at the age of 91. Here is Ibrahim in Lugano, Switzerland in 1999 playing “Cape Town Flower.”Night Must Fall, a 1937 psychological crime melodrama directed by Richard Thorpe, is the kind of movie they just don’t make anymore. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, even though it’s not a bad film. Night Must Fall is based on the Emlyn Williams play of the same name and it suffers from that static and claustrophobic feel that a lot of films based on stage plays experience. The plot also relies on the characters being idiots. However, despite that, the film works because of the terrific performances of the stars.The film stars Robert Montgomery, Rosalind Russell and in her film debut at age 72, Dame May Whitty. Whitty plays Mrs. Bramson, an rich but miserable elderly widow who is supposedly an invalid. In reality, her late husband treated her badly and now she treats everyone else badly in turn. She pretends to be confined to a wheelchair so people have to wait on her. She uses her money as a weapon to keep everyone in line and serving her every need at her command. Whitty played Mrs. Bramson on stage in London and New York to rave reviews, so Thorpe and M-G-M just kept her on for the film version, despite her having never been in a movie before.Russell plays Mrs. Bramson’s poor niece Olivia, whom she doesn’t much care for and the feeling is mutual. But Olivia lives with her and takes all the abuse from her aunt because she doesn’t have any money of her own. (And honestly, Mrs. Bramson probably enjoys having her around to abuse.) Mrs. Bramson’s lawyer Justin (Alan Marshal) is willing to marry her and take her away from all that, but Olivia explains she just doesn’t feel about him that way.Danny (Montgomery) is a hustler who worms his way into this world by repeatedly offering to marry Mrs. Bramson’s maid Dora (Merle Tottenham) sometime. Not now, but sometime. In reality, he just wants to worm his way into Mrs. Bramson’s orbit to steal her money and probably kill her. Danny showers Mrs. Bramson with politeness and respect, gladly offering to wait on her hand and foot. The gullible Mrs. Bramson gets completely snookered by the charming psychopath Danny, who is not only a thief and a con man but he’s probably also a serial killer. Olivia isn’t fooled by him at all and she strongly suspects that Danny murdered one of their neighbors who had recently disappeared. But she also finds herself attracted to the rouge. Olivia also knows that her aunt will quickly dismiss any qualms she might express about Danny, so she mostly keeps them to themselves.The battle of wills and underlying sexual tension between Danny and Olivia is what makes the film work. Olivia has chances to run away from Danny and save herself (remember Justin would marry her in an instant), but she can’t fully pull herself away. The more Olivia spars with Danny, the more she transforms herself from a very modestly-dressed spinster to something looking like a young Rosalind Russell. Russell was the only one of the three leads to not get an Oscar nomination, but I think she had the toughest part and did the best job. She skillfully plays a character who is torn between her logic that knows Danny is dangerous and her repressed sexual desires.Montgomery got an Academy Award nomination for playing the charming psychopath Danny. He’s quite good at capturing the utter narcissism of a character like that. Whitty also got a Supporting Actress nomination for the mean and gullible Mrs. Bramson.The weakness of the film is the way that everyone has to be an idiot for it to work. Mrs. Bramson can’t see the con that Danny is running on her, despite ample clues. Danny’s arrogance becomes his downfall as he does stupid stuff because he thinks he’s too smart to get caught. And finally, Olivia consistently puts herself into unnecessarily dangerous situations even though she knows Danny is a killer. Still, it engrossed me enough that I stayed up late and watched the whole thing in one sitting. Despite some of their dumb choices, the three main characters were engrossing enough to draw me in. And Russell, Montgomery and Whitty mostly turn in some terrific performances. Here’s the trailer for Night Must Fall. It’s the most sensational drama since Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, apparently. Welcome back to everyone who skips the music and movies.Ever since Joe DiMaggio insisted that everyone call him the “Greatest Living Ballplayer,” it’s been a question who the greatest living ballplayer is. Willie Mays certainly had the title until he died in 2024. Since then, no one has claimed the title with any sort of consensus. The obvious answer to the question is that the greatest living ballplayer is Mays’ godson Barry Bonds, but there’s an understandable reason that no one is calling him that which I don’t need to go into here. You know why. I think everyone is just waiting to bestow the title until it’s clear that Shohei Ohtani can claim it.But who is the greatest living Cub? Until Ryne Sandberg died last year, I think the answer was clearly him. Since Ryno passed, there are seven living players on the list of Baseball Prospectus’ top 24 Cubs players. Some of them are obvious. Two of them are Hall of Famers. Only one of them has a World Series ring with the Cubs, however.So who is your choice for the greatest living Cub? Here are the seven living Cubs in the top 24 with their Baseball Reference career WAR. Billy Williams (61.7 bWAR)Sammy Sosa (58.8 bWAR)Fergie Jenkins (54.9 bWAR)Rick Reuschel (49.1 bWAR)Mark Grace (44.2 bWAR)Carlos Zambrano (43.2 bWAR)Anthony Rizzo (37.1 bWAR)Of course, WAR is not a perfect statistic. It’s a good guide, but I don’t think we can just say the greatest living player is the one with the highest career WAR. Rizzo has the advantage of a World Series ring. Sosa won an MVP. Surprisingly Williams doesn’t, but that’s mostly because his best seasons coincided with Johnny Bench’s best seasons. He does have a Rookie of the Year award. I don’t know how many of you will vote for Reuschel, but he is maybe the most underrated player in MLB history. I definitely think he’s the most underrated living Cub. Maybe the most underrated living ballplayer, period. No, he probably doesn’t belong in the Hall of Fame, but there are far worse pitchers in Cooperstown than Reuschel. He got two total votes for the Hall in his only year on the ballot. I don’t think I need to tell you much about these players. Which one do you think is the Greatest Living Cub?I have to leave the Big Z off the voting, because the crappy polling software they are making me use now only allows for six answers. (I am searching for other options) I also won’t be able to give you an “other” to vote for. But if you want to vote for Zambrano or someone else, please tell us about it in the comments.Thanks for stopping by tonight. We’ve enjoyed having you. Please don’t be a strangers. Recycle any cans and bottles tip your waitstaff. And join us again next week for more BCB After Dark.

MADRID, SPAIN - JANUARY 23: Hugo Alonso #7 of Real Madrid and Nikola Kusturica #46 of Barcelona Atletic in action during Liga U match between Real Madrid and Barcelona Atletic at Ciudad Real Madrid on January 23, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Borja B. Hojas/Getty Images) | Getty Images Kentucky Basketball appeared to have all the momentum needed to complete its roster for the 2026-27 season. With one scholarship spot remaining, many believed the Wildcats were closing in on 17-year-old Serbian standout Nikola Kusturica.That confidence grew on Tuesday when 247 Sports recruiting analyst Travis Branham logged a crystal ball prediction for Kentucky to land the 6-foot-8 small forward who currently plays for FC Barcelona.However, the recruiting picture changed quickly.On Wednesday, Branham removed his Crystal Ball prediction and reported that Kusturica is still deciding whether to remain with FC Barcelona for another season and enter college basketball for the 2027-28 campaign, or make the jump to college basketball this upcoming season. Branham added that he currently believes Kusturica will likely play college basketball this year.If that happens, Kentucky remains firmly in the mix, but the Wildcats are no longer viewed as the overwhelming favorite. Gonzaga, UCLA, and Michigan are also heavily involved in the recruitment.For now, Kentucky fans will have to wait a little longer. Mark Pope and the Wildcats remain a serious contender for Kusturica, but what once looked like an imminent addition has become a much more competitive recruiting battle.

While the Iranians suffered substantial losses in the war, they emerged from a confrontation with the world’s most powerful military having proved they can use economic chaos as a weapon.

Oklahoma vs. Georgia baseball box score: Live stats from College World Series originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Georgia Bulldogs baseball team meets the Oklahoma Sooners once again in the College World Series. Both SEC teams are fighting to face North Carolina in the national championship series.Georgia is coming off a 2-0 win that eliminated the Texas Longhorns. The Bulldogs pitching rotation has been outstanding, resulting in five runs in three games. As for Oklahoma, this is where the road gets tough. The Sooners have shown flaw but still have managed to win when it matters.First pitch from Omaha will be at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. 2026 NCAA Baseball Championship123456789RHEOklahoma (40-22)001301570Georgia (53-13)00001130Oklahoma vs. Georgia baseball box score: Live stats from College World Series NCAA ChampionshipOklahoma SoonersBatterPOSABRHRBIBBSOAVGOBP1Jason WalkCF211110.277.3829Camden Johnson3B300003.300.39948Deiten LaChanceC300000.328.3997Jaxon WillitsSS300003.298.39520Trey GambillDH323100.296.44110Brendan BrockLF312000.299.39117Dasan HarrisRF311301.357.41616Dayton Tockey1B200002.256.3956Kyle Branch2B200001.213.316Total24575110H: Walk 1 (5)Gambill 1 (11)Harris 1 (5)RBI: Walk 1 (23)Gambill 1 (38)Harris 3 (28)PitcherPOSIPHRERBBSOBFERA37Nick WesloskiP5.031114203.7Total5.03111420Wesloski 73 (45 strikes)Georgia BulldogsBatterPOSABRHRBIBBSOAVGOBP1Tre Phelps3B300000.351.4713Daniel JacksonC301001.378.4738Rylan LujoCF200000.362.43328Brennan Hudson1B000010.292.46614Kenny IshikawaLF200000.341.481Ryan Wynn2B200002.323.3727Jack ArcamoneDH200000.310.3889Kolby BranchSS211000.288.3902Ryan BlackRF201101.300.416Total18131142B: Branch 1 (19)RBI: Black 1 (33)PitcherPOSIPHRERBBSOBFERA35Paul FarleyP3.164406165.010Matt ScottP2.11111493.9Total5.275511025Scott 40 (25 strikes)Farley 61 (38 strikes)How to watch: Oklahoma vs. Georgia 2026 NCAA Baseball Championship Game Date: Wednesday, June 17Time: 7 p.m. ET TV: ESPNMore College World Series NewsNorth Carolina vs. West Virginia baseball box score: Final stats from CWSGeorgia vs. Texas baseball box score: Final stats from College World SeriesOle Miss vs. UNC box score: Final stats from CWS West Virginia vs. Troy baseball box score: Final stats from College World SeriesTexas vs. Texas Tech softball box score: Final Women's College World Series

The stars have been out at the 2026 World Cup. It's been less than a week of group-play competition, and there are already of host of multi-goal scorers.It isn't too early to start tracking the Golden Boot race. The award is given to the tournament's top goalscorer. Assists are used as a tiebreaker if two or more players finish with the same goal total.Kylian Mbappé earned the prestigious honor during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He mounted eight goals while leading France to the doorstep of another title. Mbappé opened the scoring gates in France's first match of this year's World Cup.As of Wednesday night, he's one of eight players with at least two goals in the tournament so far. And he's not the only former Golden Boot winner in the mix. So is England's Harry Kane, who claimed the honor with six goals during the 2018 World Cup in Russia.World Cup schedule | Group schedule, results | Standings2026 World Cup Golden Boot raceRANKNAMECOUNTRY GOALS1Lionel MessiArgentina3T-2Folarin BalogunUSA2T-2Kai HavertzGermany2T-2Yasin AyariSweden2T-2Eli JustNew Zealand2T-2Harry KaneEngland2T-2Erling HaalandNorway2T-2Kylian MbappéFrance2Argentina's Lionel Messi is out in front, thanks to his head-turning hat trick, his first in his illustrious World Cup career. As a result of his prolific outing versus Algeria, Messi, soon to be 39, is now tied with Germany's Miroslav Klose for the most goals in World Cup history.Kane bagged a record-tying brace against Croatia on Wednesday. In rematch of the teams’ 2018 World Cup semifinal, he scored on a penalty kick and a set-piece header to tie Gary Lineker as the Three Lions' all-time leading goal scorer at the World Cup.On Tuesday — the same day Messi sparkled and Mbappé scored a pair of goals in a win over Senegal — Norway’s Erling Haaland found the back of the net twice in his long-awaited World Cup debut, piloting his country to a convincing victory against Iraq.If you missed any of those performances, you can relive the nine combined goals scored by Messi, Kane, Mbappé and Haaland.Of course, last Friday, Folarin Balogun became a household name in the U.S. He accounted for half of the Americans’ scoring in a 4-1 statement-making win over Paraguay. The other three players with two goals in this year’s World Cup are Germany’s Kai Havertz, Sweden’s Yasin Ayari and New Zealand’s Eli Just.

Jun. 17—CINCINNATI — Joe Burrow said he has always been open about "doing whatever it takes to win," and that's why he was willing to restructure his contract with the Cincinnati Bengals.The Bengals were able to free up about $10 million in cap space this year by reworking the five-year, $275 million extension Burrow originally signed ahead of the 2023 season to keep him under contract through 2029.By converting a chunk of his 2026 base salary into an upfront bonus, the Bengals were able to spread the financial hit over the final years of his contract. Burrow's cap hit for this season originally was set to be nearly $48 million. Some of that money now moves into void years beyond the life of the contract."It opened up some cap space, which is good for us," Burrow said Wednesday, June 17, the final day of the team's offseason workout program, which originally was set to end Thursday. "I have been open about how I am willing to do whatever they need me to do so they can operate freely and will continue doing that as needed."Burrow said the Bengals filled just about every hole they had this offseason, and he was willing to do his part to ease the financial burden that especially increased with the blockbuster trade for Dexter Lawrence.The organization showed a championship mentality with its approach to free agency and the draft — giving up the No. 10 overall pick for Lawrence — and Burrow has spent a lot of time this offseason thinking about ways he can help lift the team to the next level, as well.That showed with his approach to the offseason workout program, where he stayed regularly after practices to get extra throwing in with receivers. He was so late getting in from the practice fields Tuesday, by almost an hour, that he missed his scheduled press conference and it had to be pushed to Wednesday.Bengals coach Zac Taylor then informed the team Wednesday morning they were done with practices for the spring. Mandatory minicamp was supposed to end Thursday, but Taylor said the staff felt like they had accomplished everything they wanted.Burrow felt like his extra practice time was productive, too. He said he was "just trying to get better.""Every way imaginable: Mind, body, soul, just trying to improve myself and be there for my teammates and build team camaraderie," Burrow said. "Obviously, I am going to improve my individual skills and strength and speed, but trying to build that culture and that vibe in the locker room you need to win a championship is just as important."Burrow said he uses that time after practice to experiment with things, seeing how different throws work through trial and error.When he was younger, there was more to improve in every area of his game, Burrow said, but now to improve, it takes getting "really nitty-gritty into the technical details of how your body moves, how you hold the ball, how the ball is coming out, your body position, when you are moving. Now is the time to think critically about that and see what progress can be made."The extra time with teammates was especially valuable this spring, even with the entire offense returning, because of what Burrow sees as a greater need for team chemistry to get where he and the Bengals want as an organization."I just think early in my career, it was a lot easier," Burrow said, of how he views team chemistry. "We had a really young team, a lot of us had come in together and been through it together. Now we have so many varying ages on the team from guys that we're counting on, and we've brought in some veterans too, that certainly has made it easier, but you know, building trust between a 21-year-old, first-year player and a 31-, 32-year-old, nine-,10-year vet, that's a difficult task and job as a quarterback to try to bridge those gaps where you can, and that's something I've focused on. I think if you want to be a championship-caliber team, then you have to build those relationships and build that trust, so you know you can have hard conversations about things that are going on on the field, as well as off."Burrow said he's become more vocal in the locker room "in a mean way" to make sure each individual player understands the level of urgency that is required of everyone who steps on the field.That has taken him out of his comfort zone a bit, but it's necessary because all he can think about is winning a Super Bowl. Burrow said teammates have responded well, and he gets the same feeling about this team as he did his 2019 college national championship team at LSU."I certainly feel this way about this team," Burrow said. "I think we have guys that have been there and done that and also guys who have had a lot of individual success and not necessarily the team success that we're looking for. Guys like Dexter (Lawrence) and guys like Jonathan (Allen), bringing guys like that in is so advantageous to a lot of different people. Players trying to improve makes it easier on coaches. We have guys with so much talent and I'm just excited to put it all together."

This weekend, NASCAR will race across an active U.S. military base for the first time ever when it conducts competitions for its top three national touring series at Naval Base Coronado off the coast of San Diego.It feels like a seemingly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for drivers, who will race 75 laps around the custom-designed 3.4-mile street course. The lure of the unique race is drawing back in former fan favorites from NASCAR, like seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson and former Daytona 500 winner Jamie McMurray, both of whom will drive in Friday’s Truck Series race.Racing at Naval Base Coronado also coincides with the United States celebrating 250 years of independence and deepens NASCAR’s longstanding relationship with the U.S. military.But it won’t be the only time this year that stockcar racing honors the stars-and-stripes and the men and women who have served the country in combat.The Ford Motor Company is partnering with NASCAR on a new race in November, the Proud To Honor Veterans Day Classic, an exhibition that aims to honor all six branches of the military. The race will happen on Veterans Day 2026 — Wednesday, Nov. 11 — and feature drivers racing in Mustang Dark Horse Rs, a car that was designed for International Motor Sports Association competitions.“It's an extension of Ford's commitment to the military community to our racing business, and we tried to think of a way to bridge those two worlds and got creative and figured out a way to collaborate with another amazing American brand in NASCAR to do this special race on Veterans Day,” Nick Ford, the director of corporate strategy for the Ford Motor Company, told USA TODAY Sports. “As America 250 approaches, there's a lot of companies out there that are going to talk about their American heritage, but Ford actually backs that up with action across all sorts of areas of our business.“Ford is the most iconic American company, and what better way to embody that than honoring the military?”Along with the race, the Zac Brown Band will put on an exclusive concert. Ford Racing drivers competing in NASCAR and other motorsports are expected to participate.Ford and NASCAR are still working out some of the details, such as where the race will happen and how fans can watch it from home, but the partners made the announcement on Wednesday, June 17 aboard the USS Midway in San Diego alongside Blue Star Families, former U.S. Marine turned actor Rob Riggle, the Zac Brown Band, the Travis Manion Foundation and other special guests.Tim Clark, NASCAR’s executive vice president and chief brand officer, told USA TODAY Sports that NASCAR will assist Ford with driver participation, providing a venue for the race and promoting the event.“As you look back on the almost 80-year history of a brand like NASCAR, it's hard to think of a partner that's more synonymous with that than Ford,” Clark said. “We're really excited to work with Ford on this. We've got a lot of work to do over the next couple of months to pull this off, but it is such an amazing idea and initiative. I think that's going to be the fun part.”With where Veterans Day falls on the calendar, this race will be held just three days after NASCAR’s Cup Series championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Clark conceded that timing might present a little bit of a challenge, but also said it’s an opportunity for the sport to “crest that wave” amidst a “great season.”Along with the new exhibition race on Veterans Day, Ford also unveiled its limited-edition Super Duty Proud to Honor package, which is available on F-250, F-350 and F-450 models. The all-purpose-built truck features red, white and blue styling, darkened exterior trim and black wheels. A portion of the proceeds from every package sold will go directly to Blue Star Families.Ford is also hosting its Ford Driving Skills for Life program this week in San Diego, tailored specifically for local military families.“This is in our company's DNA to show up for the military,” Nick Ford said. “We've been around for 123 years, and from day one we've tried to show up for the military, whether it's Arsenal of Democracy in both World Wars, hiring disabled veterans after the wars. This is just another way to show up for the community, and to do it in a really fun way.”More: Chris Buescher extends deal with RFK Racing as NASCAR silly season domino fallsClark grew up in a military family and is a veteran of the U.S. Army. As NASCAR has explored unique road course venues in recent years — racing on the streets of Chicago and Mexico City — when the opportunity arose to put their cars on Naval Base Coronado, Clark said NASCAR saw it as a “no-brainer.”He hopes that this weekend isn’t the last time that fans see stock cars reaching high speeds on military grounds.“That was my first thought when this came together,” Clark said. “Man, if we get this right, how awesome would it be to take this across the country to other installations and work with the various branches in the military? So, not to get too far ahead of myself, but I think I think there would be a lot of excited people if this could be the first of many.”For the folks at Ford, the icing on the cake for this weekend would be to see one of its drivers take the checkered flag at Naval Base Coronado.It’s been a bit of a bumpy season for Ford in NASCAR’s Cup Series so far, as its only win came at Phoenix in March when Ryan Blaney steered the No. 12 Team Penske car into victory lane. Blaney, Chris Buescher and Austin Cindric are the three Ford drivers currently positioned for NASCAR’s postseason Chase as they’re inside the top 16 in point standings.“It's in our DNA. Ford was really born on the racetrack,” Nick Ford said. “And you know, it's never been bigger than it is now. NASCAR has always been a huge focus for us.”This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ford, NASCAR to honor military with new race on Veterans Day for America 250

Jun 5, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; LA Sparks forward Cameron Brink (22) dribbles the ball against the Dallas Wings in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. © Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesThe Los Angeles Sparks (7-7) will be without Cameron Brink when they take on the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx (11-3) on Wednesday night in L.A.The injury comes at a frustrating time for Brink, who has been enjoying the best stretch of her young WNBA career after battling through major injury setbacks during her first two seasons in the league.With the Sparks fighting to stay in the playoff picture, here’s the latest on Brink’s injury and what happened during Los Angeles’ loss to the Golden State Valkyries on Monday.Why is Cameron Brink Not Playing in Sparx vs. Lynx Tonight?Brink’s latest injury scare happened during the Sparks’ 78-58 loss to the Valkyries on Monday.Late in the game, the 24-year-old was seen limping toward the bench before stopping and sitting down on the floor. Teammates and staff quickly came to her aid, then helped her off the court.Given Brink’s injury history, the latest setback is a worry. The former No. 2 overall pick suffered a torn ACL during her rookie season in 2024 and has had her minutes managed carefully since returning to action.ASparks head coach Lynne Roberts offered a brief update recently. Roberts said that we can’t expect Brink back anytime soon due to an ankle sprain.MORE: Lynx Phenom Olivia Miles Surpasses Caitlin Clark, Ties Paige Bueckers to Rewrite WNBA Record BooksThe following day, Los Angeles confirmed Brink had suffered a left ankle injury and ruled her out for Wednesday’s matchup against the Lynx. Fortunately for the Sparks, the injury does not appear to be related to her previous knee issues, but the team has yet to provide a timetable for her return.Brink’s Impact On Sparks in WNBA 2026 So FarBrink has been one of the Sparks’ most impactful players in 2026 despite primarily coming off the bench. Through 14 appearances, the former Stanford star is averaging 9.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting an impressive 53.8% from the field and 34.4% from beyond the arc.All of her production comes after she’s started just one game this season, while averaging just 17.5 minutes per game.Brink appeared to be trending in the right direction before her injury on Monday. She posted 15 points and six rebounds against the Seattle Storm on June 10, followed that with a season-high nine rebounds against the Phoenix Mercury three days later, and scored 10 points before exiting against the Valkyries.The 24-year-old has reached double figures in scoring eight times this season. Her ability to protect the rim, rebound, and stretch the floor has made her one of Los Angeles’ most valuable frontcourt players.In her absence, Dearica Hamby is expected to see an increased workload in the frontcourt, but the Sparks will be hoping her absence is only a short-term setback.

BALTIMORE, MD - JUNE 10: George Kirby #68 of the Seattle Mariners pitches in the first inning during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Orioles Park at Camden Yards on June 10, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images Tonight the Mariners will play their sixth game against the Orioles in the last ten days. I will be filing a complaint. Also filing a complaint: George Kirby, who has received six runs of support in his past eight outings against the O’s – not per game; combined.Lineups:News:Sadly, emergency call-up Curtis Washington Jr. wasn’t able to get in the game last night. He’s been optioned back to Everett, with INF/OF Connor Joe recalled to take his place.Tonight’s game information:Game time: 6:40 PTTV: Mariners TV, with Aaron Goldsmith and Angie Mentink, and Ryan Rowland-Smith as sideline reporterRadio: 710 Seattle Sports with Rick Rizzs and Shannon Drayer

USC baseball’s 2026 season recently came to an end. However, as the offseason begins, there is still plenty of news surrounding the Trojans.On Monday, the list of attendees was announced for next week’s MLB Draft Combine. Two USC players earned invitations: star pitchers Mason Edwards and Grant Govel.Edwards finished the season with a record of 8-0 and an impressive 2.07 ERA. He struck out 169 batters, the most by a USC pitcher since Mark Prior in 2001. He was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and earned first-team All-American honors.Govel wrapped up the year with a 10-3 record and a 2.87 ERA. He was named a second-team All-American. Although just a sophomore, Govel is eligible for the MLB Draft because he will be 21 by next month, when the draft will take place.Edwards has a legitimate chance to be USC’s first first round draft pick since 2009. Govel, meanwhile, is likely to be selected in the middle rounds of the draft.In addition, USC commit Dustin Dunwoody earned a combine invitation. Last week, the Trojans made headlines when they flipped Dunwoody, one of the top Southern California recruits in the class of 2026, from Arizona.If drafted, Edwards, Govel, and Dunwoody will have to decide whether to sign and turn professional or return to/enroll at USC. With this being the NIL era, the Trojans will likely find themselves needing to match what the team that drafts each player is offering in order to keep them.The 2026 MLB Draft Combine will take place from June 23-26 at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona.This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC baseball’s Mason Edwards, Grant Govel invited to MLB Combine

Man City World Cup 2026 Watch: Antoine Semenyo’s dream ending to Ghana vs PanamaAntoine Semenyo completed all 90 minutes in Ghana’s FIFA World Cup group stage opener against Panama on Wednesday night.Ghana kicked off their World Cup campaign with a dramatic, last-gasp 1-0 victory over Panama in a tense Group L encounter in Toronto, monopolising possession for vast stretches but repeatedly thwarted by a disciplined and meticulously organised rearguard.While Thomas Christiansen’s side defended resolutely and threatened on the counter-attack – forcing Ghanaian goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi into a couple of sharp saves – the match appeared overwhelmingly destined to conclude in a frustrating, goalless stalemate.However, the definitive breakthrough arrived five minutes into second-half stoppage time, shattering Panama’s stubborn resistance at the absolute death.Reeling from late pressure, the Central Americans failed to track a brilliant burst from Brandon Thomas-Asante down the left, who carved open the penalty box and slid a perfectly weighted ball across the face of the six-yard box.FC Nordsjælland’s rising 20-year-old midfield prodigy, Caleb Yirenkyi, timed his run flawlessly to bundle the ball home from close range, securing a vital three points for Carlos Queiroz’s men and sending the traveling Ghanaian support into raptures.Antoine Semenyo match statistics vs Panama90 Minutes37 Touches19 Accurate Passes86% Pass Accuracy4 Touches In Opposition Box2 Recoveries2 Aerial Duels Won2 Ground Duels Won2 Passes Into Final Third1 Tackle1 Was Fouled1 Accurate Long BallData courtesy of FotMob.

Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) throws a shirt into the crowd on fan appreciation night after an NBA game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 10, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News Over the past few days, there have been multiple reports from NBA reporters around the country indicating that contract negotiations between the Utah Jazz and restricted free agent center Walker Kessler are not going well, thus putting Kessler’s future with the Jazz in question.On Wednesday evening, Kessler himself took a somewhat uncommon step in this day and age, as he posted on Instagram essentially stating his desire to stay with the Jazz.“I’ve seen what’s being said, and I want it to be clear that I have always wanted to be here — I love this city, these fans, my teammates, my coaches — that’s real to me. You don’t grow roots where you don’t want to be," Kessler wrote.In the post, Kessler included seven photos of his time in Utah since being part of the trade that sent Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2022.View this post on InstagramThe 24-year-old Kessler (he’ll turn 25 next month) just finished the final season of his rookie contract and earned just shy of $5 million. However, he can now sign a contract that is expected to pay him somewhere in the neighborhood of $25 million to $30 million per season.This is where things have reached a standstill, according to multiple reports.On Monday, The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported that Kessler “is at odds” with the Jazz front office because the team did not extend his contract last summer when it had the chance to.Furthermore, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reported that Kessler has declined a contract offer of five years and $140 million ($28 million per year) from the Jazz.From the Jazz’s perspective, there are only a handful of centers in the NBA who are making that much money, and they are among the best in the league at the position. Kessler, while he has developed very well and is in line for a major pay raise, has career averages of 9.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 1.2 assists per game — not the numbers of the most elite big men in the NBA.Additionally, Utah will be in a salary crunch soon, as it already has big money committed to Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr., and should have another large salary committed in the coming years to Keyonte George if he continues on his upward trajectory.From Kessler’s perspective, it’s understandable that a player and his agent want as big of a contract as possible. Plus, as the NBA’s salary cap continues to rise, big contracts won’t be as impactful to a team’s bottom line. Additionally, Kessler has been known to be a hot commodity around the league, as teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers and Indiana Pacers have been reported to be particularly fond of him, along with some others.From a business perspective, if the Jazz and Kessler do not reach an agreement on a contract this summer, Kessler would have a few options. Given that he is a restricted free agent, he could sign a contract offer sheet with another team and then the Jazz would have the choice to match it or let him leave to the team that signs him.Kessler could also sign a qualifying offer (this would likely come close to the start of the season if it happens), which would be a one-year deal with the Jazz for next season, after which he would become an unrestricted free agent next summer, free to sign with any team and Utah would not have the right to match it.To be clear, Kessler could also re-sign with the Jazz as an unrestricted free agent next summer, although the acrimony around the qualifying offer scenario make this option seemingly quite unlikely.From a basketball perspective, Utah has seemed to be all-in on building a uniquely jumbo frontcourt with Markkanen, Jackson and Kessler, and losing Kessler would be a big blow to that idea.Kessler played in just five games last season after suffering a torn labrum in his left shoulder early in the campaign. In those five games, the big man averaged 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.8 blocks per contest.

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is done talking about last year. Can you blame him?One year after leading the Commanders to a 12-5 record and a surprising appearance in the NFC Championship Game, many already labeled Daniels a potential top-five quarterback. Unfortunately, injuries ruined his sophomore year, as he was limited to seven games with three separate injuries. Daniels only played in four games from start to finish. After the Commanders finished their second practice in this week's three-day minicamp on Wednesday, Daniels was asked if last year's challenges served as a motivation for 2026 and beyond. "I'm done talking about last year," Daniels responded matter-of-factly. "Last year is last year. Moving on to this season, and whatever happened last year is what happened last year. Can't do anything for me but just continue to get it better."LIVE: QB Jayden Daniels speaks to the media after today’s minicamp practice https://t.co/OTUxE4nQSN— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) June 17, 2026That's the correct answer. Of course, Daniels is motivated after last season. He saw classmates Drake Maye and Caleb Williams succeed, but neither played at the level he did in 2024. Maye led the New England Patriots to the Super Bowl, but was dreadful in the playoffs. Williams had some highlight-reel-worthy plays, but was inconsistent. Daniels carried the Commanders on his back in Washington's three playoff games two years ago. It's not that Daniels is jealous of their success. He's not. That's not his personality. But you better believe he's motivated to prove he's the best quarterback from the 2024 class. The Commanders are on a mission. The message is the same across the board. Who cares about 2024 or last season? Everyone is focused on 2026. This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels is done talking about last year

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Canada captain Alphonso Davies will be available to play on Thursday against Qatar after he missed his team's World Cup opener while recovering from a hamstring injury, coach Jesse Marsch said. The left back was injured last month while playing for Bayern Munich in the Champions League semifinals.In an open practice earlier this week, Davies was limited in training and was still in the return-to-play protocol.“He's been in training this week, and he'll be available tomorrow, and we'll see how the match goes and then make a decision on how we would choose to use him,” March said Wednesday evening.Davies has not played for Canada since March 2025, when he tore an ACL in the CONCACAF Nations League finals. He has 15 goals in 58 international appearances.“We've worked really well through this, and Alphonso is looking really good,” Marsch said. “So it's just a matter of, OK, what kind of game is it, what kind of moment is it, and how do we feel Alphonso can contribute right now? But he's ready, he'll be available.”Canada opened the World Cup with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday in Toronto. Late substitute Cyle Larin scored the equalizer in the 78th minute.Qatar pulled off a 1-1 draw with Switzerland on Saturday in Santa Clara, California. Boualem Khoukhi scored for Qatar in stoppage time for the nation’s first-ever World Cup point.All four teams in Group B had one point heading into their second matches.___AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

Jay Williams believes that we have yet to see the best of Victor Wembanyama, who is coming off a heartbreaking loss against the New York Knicks in this year’s NBA Finals.During a recent episode of ESPN’s Get Up, the former NCAA champion suggested that Wembanyama, who struggled against Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson despite averaging 26.0 points in the series, work on his post-up game this summer to maximize his potential. “(He needs) a signature move on the post. Look, he’s one of the most talented players the game of basketball has ever seen – 7’4″, can move on the perimeter like Kevin Durant. Not the same handle as Durant, but you know what I’m saying,” Williams stated.“But having a back-to-the-basket move will be imperative for his development. By the way, Tim Duncan’s in your backyard. Go get that job done this offseason,” he ended.MORE:Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama is unbothered by being the newest New York villainJun 8, 2026; New York, New York, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) looks on during game three of the 2026 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks in the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn ImagesJay Williams defends Victor Wembanyama’s actions after NBA Finals lossWhen the San Antonio Spurs lost the series in five games to the New York Knicks, Victor Wembanyama and his teammates immediately left for the locker room, drawing criticism from fans and the media. However, ESPN’s Jay Williams believes they didn’t do anything wrong.“Shaking hands is what you do when you’re in the little leagues. When you’re in JV. When you’re trying to teach about ‘Treat the game the right way’,” Williams explained. “I don’t believe that NBA players have to shake hands. Why do I have to do that? I don’t have to do it because everybody does it. Like nobody did make it a rule.”“I don’t need to like you. I don’t get paid to like you. I get paid to compete against you, to win championships, so there’s no prerequisite when the game’s over,” he added.If there’s anything we’ve learned from this year’s NBA Finals, it’s that Wembanyama will use the defeat as motivation to come back even better next season, which means bad news for the rest of the league.

A welterweight title bout headlines UFC 330 on Aug. 15 in Philadelphia. Champion Islam Makhachev (28-1) puts his 170-pound championship on the line against top contender Ian Machado Garry (17-1) at Xfinity Mobile Arena. The fight promotion announced the matchup on Wednesday. Makhachev captured the welterweight title at UFC 322 last November, defeating Jack Della Maddalena via unanimous decision in a one-sided fight. It was the Russian's welterweight debut after relinquishing the lightweight crown. With the win, Makhachev tied the record for the longest win streak in UFC history with 16. He's currently ranked as the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world.Garry will make the walk to the octagon on Aug. 15 riding a two-fight winning streak. He defeated former champion Belal Muhammad by unanimous decision in his last outing. The lone blemish on his record came to Shavkat Rakhmonov by unanimous decision in December 2024.The event will mark the promotion's fourth visit to Philadelphia.

Even though Brendan Sorsby’s college football saga has officially come to an end, the controversy surrounding it continues. Sorsby’s departure from Texas Tech left plenty of unanswered questions and sparked finger-pointing from multiple directions. While many have criticized Texas Tech’s handling of the situation, some are now turning their attention to Sorsby’s previous schools.Sorsby’s agent, Ron Slavin, recently joined a radio show and sharply criticized the quarterback’s former program, the Cincinnati Bearcats. According to Slavin, if any university deserves blame in this situation, it is Cincinnati. He alleged that the school knew about Sorsby’s gambling activity and failed to act.MORE: Projecting QB Brendan Sorsby Supplemental NFL Draft stock“[Texas Tech] didn’t do anything wrong here,” Slavin said. “If anybody should be questioned or to catch some heat, it should be Cincinnati because they knew for two years and never said anything and didn’t do anything about it. So that’s the part of the story that gets lost.”Former Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby (2) warms up before a game at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn ImagesSetting the record straightThe Bearcats’ athletic department did not take the accusation lightly. On Wednesday, the university issued a statement disputing Slavin’s claims.“We will reiterate what we have said before,” Cincinnati began in a statement.“All of our student-athletes receive extensive gambling education multiple times throughout the year, and we would never knowingly play an athlete who violated NCAA sports wagering regulations. If we ever became aware of impermissible wagering, we would report to the NCAA and comply with sanctions.”MORE: Protect College Sports Act progresses into U.S. CongressThe controversy extends beyond public accusations. Slavin also appears to be involved in the breach-of-contract lawsuit seeking $1 million related to Sorsby’s transfer. Given that involvement, it is unsurprising that he would attempt to defend his client and challenge the institutions involved.Oct 25, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby walks off the field after defeating the Baylor Bears at Nippert Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn ImagesThe reality is that Sorsby was ultimately caught violating NCAA rules, and his college football career came to an end as a result. The situation may not have unfolded the way many expected, but the outcome remained the same. Regardless of Texas Tech’s support for Sorsby’s eligibility efforts, much of this could have been avoided had he accepted the consequences from the beginning.Instead, Sorsby’s legal team drew multiple parties into a lengthy legal and public-relations battle that briefly gained traction in court. In the eyes of many critics, responsibility for the controversy rests primarily with Sorsby and those advising him. Their handling of the situation only intensified the scrutiny and prolonged the saga.Perhaps his agent should take a break from the media circuit for a while.

Hey Testudo Times community! This is your open space to discuss all things Maryland men’s and women’s lacrosse. Keep things respectful as always.Be sure to keep up with all of our coverage of lacrosse and other Olympic sports here.All open threads will be restarted periodically as needed. Please direct any questions/comments/concerns to managing editor Nolan Rogalski and the rest of the staff at testudotimes@gmail.com. Enjoy!

With the NBA Draft now under a week away, that means that information is starting to leak and teams are starting to hone in on who they want to select on June 23.One of the names that’s been garnering a lot of attention is one that’s near and dear to Illini fans’s hearts, Keaton Wagler. NBA insiders, journalists and media professionals alike have been putting out reports of all shapes and sizes about Wagler while trying to predict where he may end up.And it doesn’t seem like the kid from Shawnee, Kansas, is shying away from the spotlight either, as he even made a recent appearance on ESPN’s SportsCenter. Let’s take a look at all the buzz surrounding Keaton Wagler before the NBA Draft.Keaton Wagler on SportsCenterOn June 22, Wagler joined SportsCenter for an interview about his college basketball journey and what he’s bringing to the next level.And yes, later in the show he did dispel the rumors that he can’t dunk."Just different ways to use my body, use my length, offensively and defensively. … From the smallest stages to the biggest stages, I can compete with anyone."Keaton Wagler joins SportsCenter and talks about what he learned in college and will carry to the NBA 🏀 pic.twitter.com/lgyEn9KGQT— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 17, 2026Wagler connected to the Los Angeles ClippersTop-five Keaton?According to The Ringer’s NBA insider Zach Lowe, the Los Angeles Clippers have been connected with drafting Wagler with their No. 5 selection.Should this happen, he would be the highest selected Illinois player since Deron Williams went third overall to the Utah Jazz in 2003.There’s a ton of buzz connecting Keaton Wagler to the Clippers at No. 5 overall, per @ZachLowe_NBA.Los Angeles will have their pick of the best available prospect after the consensus top-four is taken. pic.twitter.com/nSrL0bQU8b— Evan Sidery (@esidery) May 14, 2026Wagler cancels workouts with team past No. 5Kevin O’Connor, NBA insider for Yahoo Sports, reported that both Keaton Wagler dropped out of a workout with the Brooklyn Nets, who currently hold the No. 6 pick.Whether this means that Wagler has high hopes of being selected by a team with a top-four pick, the Clippers have already promised to take him if he’s available or if it means absolutely nothing, it’s an interesting piece of information nonetheless. O’Connor mentioned both Wagler and guard Kingston Flemings, who according to reports across social media competed against one another in a workout in Los Angeles. To be clear: Wagler & Flemings didn't drop out of a Nets workout to attend a Bulls workout. They dropped out from the Nets workout after a Bulls workout had happened the week prior.— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnor) June 11, 2026Chicago Bulls tied to making a move for Wagler?According to ClutchPoints and their NBA insider Brett Siegel, the Chicago Bulls just might be interested in trading up for the former Illini.It wouldn’t be the first time in recent memory that they drafted a guard out of Illinois, as the Bulls drafted Ayo Dosunmu in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft.The Chicago Bulls hold interest in trading up from the No. 15 pick to draft Keaton Wagler, sources told ClutchPoints' @BrettSiegelNBA:"Rival teams and personnel continue to talk about the Bulls exploring possible avenues to move up from the No. 15 pick, potentially adding… pic.twitter.com/NoJDERIykp— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 10, 2026The suspense and buzz will almost certainly continue to build up around the former Illini as we get closer to drsft night.And when the time comes, Keaton Wagler will hear his name called in Brooklyn, New York, walk across the stage, shake commissioner Adam Silver’s hand and his NBA dreams will become a reality.

South Africa ‌coach Hugo Broos told critics of his tactics in last week’s World Cup opener ⁠to “shut up” and ⁠insisted he would continue to do things his way when planning for his team’s Group A clash against Czechia.There was an outcry in South Africa when ⁠Broos took a rare defensive approach in the tournament’s opening match against Mexico last Thursday, which his team lost 2-0 without creating any genuine chances of their own.Bafana Bafana, as South Africa’s team is known, also finished down to nine men, with ⁠two players sent off in the second half, and left little positive impression.“I’ve been a coach for 40 years, and I know it’s a part of the job that you will be criticised. So for the moment, I’m criticised, but people have to know… and for those who still don’t know it… ‌I do it my way,” Broos said at a news conference on Wednesday.“I never listen to the trash of the social media. I never listen to people who feel they are important enough to criticise the team. When I look back at what they achieved before, I think it should be better that they shut up,” he said in a reference to former player pundits.“I know what went wrong against Mexico. The players know it, and that’s ⁠the most important thing, and for the rest, I will do it ⁠my way,” Broos repeated.The veteran Belgian coach said it was imperative for South Africa to win on Thursday in Atlanta to stand any chance of advancing. The Czechs also lost their first Group A game to South Korea last week.“I think ⁠our situation is clear. If we don’t win tomorrow, we play our last game against South Korea for nothing.“This is something we must avoid. ⁠We know the mistakes we made in the first game, and ⁠some people said the coach is too soft on his players, but I don’t like to blame my players in front of a camera. So, sometimes you have to lie a little bit as a coach.”Broos had said after the Mexico ‌match that he felt his team could be confident after the performance, also prompting derision among some South African supporters.“We know what went wrong in the game against Mexico, and we will try ‌to ‌improve that tomorrow, but we can only improve that if we have the ball,” he added, giving some insight into the possibility of a different tactical approach on Thursday.

PEKIN — It may not have always been pretty, but the Pekin softball found a way on Tuesday to secure its first come-from-behind win of the season.Four errors by Hillcrest Academy, including two in the bottom of the sixth, helped the Panthers rally from four-run deficit in a Southeast Iowa Superconference north division battle that came down to the very last swing. Four straight hits to open the sixth inning sparked a five-run rally, lifting Pekin to an 8-7 win over the Ravens holding on in the top of the seventh when Addison Smith snared a line drive to left field off the bat of Annika Schrock with the tying run at second base."This is 100-percent the girls. I told them after the game this is why we don't give up when we're down. You just keep your nose down and keep digging away," Pekin head softball coach Aaron Ledger said. "It's not going to happen with one shot. We just had to chip away. It took one hit, then the next girl up. Our bats have been good all season, so that gives them confidence to step up to the plate and feel like they have a chance."Payten Coleman doubled and scored three runs for Pekin in the win. Ezra Parsons added two hits, including an RBI single during Pekin's four-run rally in the sixth before scoring along with Coleman on a fielding error by the Ravens that put the Panthers on top for good.Pekin (5-8, 5-2 SEISC north) is scheduled to host Fairfield, weather permitting, on Wednesday.Cardinal 4, Fort Madison 3ELDON — Alexis Bissell delivered a tiebreaking RBI single in the second inning after beginning a three-run rally for the Comets with a lead-off hit in the first, rallying Cardinal from an early 3-0 deficit.Sophia Brown matched Bissell with a team-leading three hits for the Comets, including a game-tying two-run double in her first trip to the plate. Maclain Hickenbottom earned the win in relief, pitching the final 6 2/3 innings allowing no runs on three hits while striking out eight batters.Cardinal (9-4) heads to Knoxville on Wednesday, weather permitting, for a South Central Conference contest.Moravia 13, Seymour 3MORAVIA — Coley Housh connected on a two-run single in the opening inning, giving the Mohawks the lead for good on the way to a Bluegrass Conference win.Breegan Ellison led Moravia with four hits, including a game-clinching RBI single to left in the bottom of the fourth. Natalie Main added a pair of hits, driving in a team-leading three runs in the contest.Moravia (8-11, 6-2 Bluegrass) heads to Twin Cedars on Thursday.Sigourney 10, HLV/Tri-County 5THORNBURG — Ella Bruns connected on four hits, driving in a run while scoring twice as the Savages rallied from a three-run deficit to earn a South Iowa Cedar League road victory.Abyl McCulley doubled and scored twice to aid the comeback for Sigourney. Nevaeh Beinhart also connected on a double, scored two runs and earned the win in the pitching circle allowing three hits and three walks over 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief.Sigourney (3-9, 3-6 SICL) hosts English Valleys, weather permitting, in league play on Wednesday.Van Buren County 9, West Burlington-Notre Dame 8KEOSAUQUA — Teagan Sickels connected on her second game-winning hit in five days, delivering a walk-off RBI triple to center in the bottom of the seventh to bring home Aida Troutman ending a Southeast Iowa Superconference south division thriller at the Ferguson Complex.Troutman sparked Van Buren County's comeback with a two-run homer in the bottom of the third, cutting a four-run Falcon lead down to 7-5. Lexie Wiley tied the game in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single to center, bringing Grace Richards home from second base.Van Buren County (9-8, 3-3 SEI south) hosts New London in conference play on Wednesday, weather permitting.Burlington 4-4, EBF 3-1BURLINGTON — Ava Fawcett walked and scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh of the opening game of a varsity doubleheader against the Rockets.Addilyn Brandenburg doubled, scored two runs and scored once while pitching a complete game in the nightcap for Burlington. Lillie Carlson connected on three hits in game one for EBF, driving in Kendra Krause with the game-tying run in the top of the sixth, while Lanie Batterson homered in the fourth inning of game two after pitching a complete game in the opening game for the Rockets.EBF (8-10) returns to South Central Conference action on Wednesday, weather permitting, at home against third-ranked (3A) Albia.PREP BASEBALLDavis County 8, Mount Pleasant 1BLOOMFIELD — Grant Husted went the distance on the mound, scattering seven hits over seven innings while striking out four batters as the Mustangs secured a non-conference win.Hayden Bankson connected on a pair of hits for Davis County, driving in two runs. Max Taylor went 2-4 at the plate, driving in Hudson Humphrey in the bottom of the sixth after coming home to score on an RBI single by Husted in third.Davis County (10-8) returns to South Central Conference play on Wednesday, weather permitting, at home against Centerville.No. 6 (1A) Sigourney 27, HLV/Tri-County 1THORNBURG — Hunter Sellers drove in five runs at the plate while striking five batters over two innings on the mound as the Savages bounced back from a 5-2 loss at Lynnville-Sully, scoring eight runs in each of the first three innings to secure a South Iowa Cedar League road win.Carson Davis connected on a pair of hits, including a double, while driving in four runs and scoring three times. Lincoln Power went 3-4 for Sigourney at the plate, driving in three runs while scoring three more in the contest.Sigourney (12-2, 7-1 SICL) hosts English Valleys, weather permitting, in league play on Wednesday.Moravia 15-19, Seymour 0-1MORAVIA — The Mohawks dominated a pair of Bluegrass Conference contests against the Warriors, scoring 25 runs in a four-inning stretch of the doubleheader.Chase Hanes connected on two hits, driving in four runs while scoring twice in the opening two innings of the second game. Asher Hudson doubled, driving in two runs while scoring once in the opener for Moravia. Zander Martin singled and scored three runs for the Mohawks while allowing just one hit in 1 2/3 innings on the mound in the opening game.Moravia (10-4, 7-1 Bluegrass) heads to Twin Cedars on Thursday.West Burlington 13, Van Buren County 3KEOSAUQUA — Prior Bowen connected on four hits, including three doubles, while driving in four runs and scoring four more times for the Falcons in a Southeast Iowa Superconference south division win over the Warriors at Manning Field.Eli McKinney drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the fifth while Cree Kite was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to extend the game. Jackson Meek singled and scored twice for Van Buren County, scoring after stealing third base in the bottom of the sixth, forcing the Falcons into the seventh and final inning.Van Buren County (5-8, 1-5 SEI south) hosts New London in conference play on Wednesday, weather permitting.

PEKIN — Last July, the Pekin baseball team needed one more hit against Hillcrest Academy to earn the program's second-ever state tournament trip.The Panthers spent most of Tuesday night taking out their frustrations out on the Ravens for that heartbreaking substate championship loss. Pekin dominated a five-inning opener, winning 11-1, and seemed poised to put away Hillcrest Academy in game two building a 12-3 lead after four innings.The Ravens, however, refused to go away. Hillcrest Academy scored eight runs in the fifth inning to begin an epic comeback, taking the lead for good in the top of the sixth before holding on in the bottom of the seventh snapping Pekin's nine-game winning streak with a wild 18-16 win in the nightcap of a Southeast Iowa Superconference north division doubleheader."That's the thing. Hillcrest always comes ready," Pekin head baseball coach Aaron Deutsch said. "(Hillcrest Academy head baseball coach) Danny (Hershberger) coaches a good program over there and he had those guys ready to play. We just need to keep playing our game, continue doing what we need to do and keep trying to push runs across. We can't let up. The moment you let up, something bad is bound to happen."Pekin (9-2, 5-1 SEI north) will look to bounce back with a conference road contest at Lone Tree on Thursday.

The Knicks have won an NBA championship for the first time in 53 years, and on Thursday, their accomplishment will be celebrated with a parade through the Canyon of Heroes. Despite this being the Knicks' third championship in franchise history, this will be the first ticker-tape parade to honor the team, so expect a massive turnout in lower Manhattan. The festivities are set to begin at 10 a.m., but parade-goers should try and arrive earlier. If you're not going to the parade, SNY will have all the coverage live from the event. What channel is SNY?Check your TV or streaming provider's website or channel finder to find your local listings.How can I stream the parade?The way to stream SNY programming is via the MLB App or MLB.tv.In order to stream in SNY’s regional territory, you will need to have SNY as part of your TV package (cable or streaming), or you can now purchase an in-market SNY subscription package via MLB or Amazon. Both ways will allow fans to watch the Knicks parade on their computer, tablet or mobile phone.You can also stream coverage of the Knicks parade on SNY's YouTube page. SNY will have live coverage of the Knicks' ticker-tape parade through NYC's Canyon of Heroes and City Hall Ceremony, and feature NBA Insider Ian Begley. Knicks parade routeThe Knicks' ticker-tape parade will start near Bowling Green and travel north along Broadway to City Hall. With so many attendees expected, the city will be screening everyone who is looking to go. Here are other facts attendees need to know about the Knicks championship parade, courtesy of the City of New York website:Pens will open at 6 a.m. No bags allowed. Other prohibited items: Glass or metal water bottles NOTE: plastic water bottles will be allowed Bats/batons Bicycles or scooters Chairs Coolers Drones Backpacks Pets Strollers Umbrellas Weapons Individuals who work in office buildings along routes will be allowed entry into those buildings with proper building identification. Individuals who live in the area will be able to access their residences with proper identification. As for the City Hall ceremony, this event is for ticket holders only and will be screened. No bags and the same listed items above will be prohibited. Everything you need to know for the Knicks Championship Parade is at https://t.co/kQYUmyatbS. pic.twitter.com/joE14rTpiX— City of New York (@nycgov) June 17, 2026

Donald Trump and James DolanCredit: Anna Moneymaker/Getty; Michael Loccisano/GettyNEED TO KNOWJames Dolan said the New York Knicks have accepted an invitation to the White House after winning their first NBA championship in 53 yearsThe Knicks owner called Donald Trump a friend and said he is “very proud” to bring the team to the White HouseDolan also reflected on Trump's attendance at the NBA Finals, which he said marked the first time a sitting president attended a Finals gameThe New York Knicks are headed to the White House.James Dolan, the executive chairman and CEO of Madison Square Garden Sports Corp., which owns the Knicks, revealed during an appearance on WFAN New York on Wednesday, June 17, that the team has accepted an invitation from the White House following its championship victory."Thank you for asking me that. We just did receive an invitation from [the] White House, which we accepted," Dolan said. Asked if he was looking forward to the White House celebration, he added, "We still have to figure out the details."The invitation comes days after the Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 13, earning the team's first championship in 53 years.James DolanCredit: Sarah Stier/GettyThe Knicks owner, 71, also spoke about his relationship with President Donald Trump, who attended the Knicks' NBA Finals game against the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden on June 8."I invited the President to come down for the game," Dolan said on Wednesday. "He is a friend. I've known him for 30 years, and I'm very proud to bring the team to the White House."Trump watched the game from a private box alongside his granddaughter, Kai Trump. Dolan noted that the appearance marked the "first time ever for any NBA finals" that a sitting president attended a game.Trump's presence generated headlines throughout the night. The president was booed by some fans inside Madison Square Garden during the pregame festivities, and he faced criticism from some lawmakers and basketball fans after appearing to fall asleep during portions of the game.Ahead of the matchup, players from both teams were asked about Trump's attendance.Spurs star De'Aaron Fox acknowledged the increased security surrounding the game."I think the president being here just makes it inconvenient for everybody else," Fox said. "We’re getting screened like it’s TSA. It’s a little inconvenient for the people that’s got to play, but it is what it is.”Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns declined to comment directly on Trump's appearance, instead focusing on the significance of bringing Finals basketball back to Madison Square Garden."Fans have earned the right and deserve the right to see Finals basketball played here, at Madison Square Garden," Towns said. "For it to be a long time to see Finals basketball, it's up to us to bring it, give 'em something to get loud about, give them something to cheer for, and also give them something to believe in."Follow your favorite athletes on and off the field with PEOPLE's free sports newsletter — sign up now!New York Knicks holds the MVP trophy during the awarding ceremony after the final gameCredit: Wu Xiaoling/Xinhua via GettyTeammate OG Anunoby similarly downplayed the visit."I think he’ll just be there watching the game," Anunoby said. "We’re going to go as usual, just play our game, try to win the game.”Trump later praised the Knicks' championship run."I think the Knicks have an amazing team, the way they played," Trump, 80, told reporters aboard Air Force One following the series' second game. "It started off slow and it just got stronger and stronger."Read the original article on People

Joe Rogan certainly had his share of concerns about UFC Freedom 250 leading up to it, but now he's got nothing but praise for the historic event held at the White House.Rogan, the UFC's longtime lead color commentator, was cageside on the South Lawn to call the fights this past Sunday. Prior to the event, Rogan said it was "crazy" to host a UFC event at the White House in the "middle of a f*cking war" with Iran. He was also worried about how fighters would deal with the heat and bugs on the South Lawn. Despite day-of-the-event weather forecasts predicting "severe thunderstorms" and possible showers, turns out it was all for naught following a delay to the start of UFC Freedom 250."It was perfect. The temperature was perfect," Rogan said on his "Joe Rogan Experience" podcast. "I was very concerned about that. I was really concerned that these guys were gonna have to fight in the heat, but it was not an issue at all. It seemed like it was in the 70s, and the storm just miraculously passed us. … Somehow or another, the storm went around the White House. I don't know what that is. I don't know if that's science or if that's consciousness. I don't know what steered the storm or if it was just random luck. It could've been all of the above. But all of my fears of the weather getting in the way, they were null."Rogan marveled at "the magnitude of the event," which wasn't simply about the fights on the South Lawn in front of roughly 4,500 spectators, mostly military members. There was also the Ellipse across the street from the White House, where tens of thousands of fans gathered to watch the fights on giant screens.Rogan described what it was like to sit cageside, hear fans at the White House react to the finishes, as well as the roar of the crowd in the distance at the Ellipse."The magnitude of the event – I know people saw it on television, and it looked insane. But the magnitude of the event being there live … it was insane," Rogan said. "Just the magnitude of it was insane."UFC Freedom 250 featured seven fights that all ended by knockout. Capping it off was Justin Gaethje's shocking upset of Ilia Topuria to claim the undisputed lightweight title.Rogan doesn't see anything topping UFC Freedom 250."I'm a hyperbolic individual," Rogan said. "I'm always like, 'this is the greatest, this is awesome,' (but) that was the wildest experience that I've ever had in my 20-whatever years of calling combat sports. There's nothing even close. It was the greatest night of fights of all time."This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Joe Rogan reflects on 'wildest experience' calling UFC Freedom 250

The Golden State Warriors have put together their teams through a variety of ways over the years, yet few approaches have proven as successful as the NBA draft. More than anything else, the most talented players to represent the Warriors have arrived in Golden State either by being selected directly in the annual draft or through trades executed on that same night.The Golden State Warriors have taken many of their top stars through the draft, but have also landed a number of notable players over the years as well. From tiny colleges to blue blood programs, these alumni have contributed significantly to the team's roster over the years. So, we chose to take a closer look at which Dubs came from which schools over the years.So without further ado, let's take a look at every player who has been drafted by the Warriors out of LSU.Anthony Randolph - forwardDraft year and position: 1st round (14th pick, 14th overall), 2008 NBA DraftSeasons at LSU: 1Seasons played with Warriors: 2All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Every LSU player drafted by the Warriors

Credit: ESPNESPN NBA reporter Vincent Goodwill has taken a lot of heat over his comments this week on Get Up in calling the Larry O’Brien Trophy a “participation trophy” given the recent parity the Association is seeing. And now that heat is even coming from his ESPN colleagues.Goodwill unleashed one of the most unusual takes we’ve ever seen on Tuesday when arguing that dynasties were better for the sport than an era of increased competition. The Knicks were the eighth consecutive different team to win a title in the last eight years in a sign that the competition in the NBA is better than ever.“I like to know that greatness is validated. How do we know that any of the last eight champions are actually validated because they have not done it again? Giannis is itching to get out, Boston is thinking about trading Jaylen Brown, they don’t believe in their one championship. LeBron’s one championship in LA was not enough. So why would it be enough for us,” Goodwill asked.After getting pushback from Alan Hahn, that’s when Goodwill called it a “participation trophy.”Not to be outdone, ESPN colleague Kendrick Perkins, never one to shy away from strong opinions or confrontation, chose to go one step farther on the latest Road Trippin’ podcast.Kendrick Perkins GOES OFF on Vincent Goodwill for calling the NBA championship a participation trophy “Here’s the sh*t that pisses me off. Is when sometimes you’re on television and you get in the moment and feeling the table you going to say some bullsh*t out your mouth.… pic.twitter.com/YCp2CqSZUF— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) June 17, 2026“Here’s the sh*t that pisses me off,” Perkins said. “Sometimes when you’re on television and you get in the moment and you feeling the table, you going to say some bullsh*t out your mouth. That was a bunch of bullsh*t. It was all the way disrespectful, and when I heard him say it, the first thing came to mind is that your ass never was an athlete then. You couldn’t have never participated or been a basketball player or played on anybody’s team talking that type of nonsense. That was the most asinine thing that I’ve ever heard.”Perkins continued by saying the comments were disrespectful to the teams that won those championships and reflected poorly on the media. Even though Perkins has been involved in his fair share of skirmishes over the years, he thought these comments were way out of bounds.“You disrespect the guys who are champions by saying it’s a participation trophy. Like what the f*ck are we talking about? Do you know that one in those eight teams that won over the last eight years, one of them was Steph Curry. And I guarantee you if you go ask Steph Curry which one of them was his greatest championship, nine times out of ten he’s going to say the fourth one, not just because he won Finals MVP but because he had to overcome the obstacle of being a defensive liability. And he did that,” Perkins added.“As the media, we have a f*cking responsibility, man, to make sure that we say and do the right things. We don’t go on the stage, on the platform, right after somebody just been crowned champions and call that sh*t a participation trophy. Even if you’re thinking that, you don’t say that.”For his part, Vincent Goodwill said on social media that it was meant to be hyperbole and a light moment during a conversation as he answered critics directly. However, it’s clear that the intent was lost on pretty much everyone who was watching, especially Kendrick Perkins.The post Kendrick Perkins blasts Vincent Goodwill over ‘participation trophy’ comment appeared first on Awful Announcing.

New Magic coach Sean Sweeney is beginning to piece together his first coaching staff in Orlando.Sweeney will be adding DJ Bakker, Mfon Udofia and Riley Crean as assistant coaches for the Magic, a league source confirmed to the Orlando Sentinel on Wednesday night.There are more additions to be made as Sweeney starts the process of filling out his staff that will help him as a first-time NBA head coach. Most coaching staffs around the league feature anywhere from 6-11 assistant coaches.HoopsHype’s Mike Scotto first reported the three initial assistant hires made by Sweeney.Bakker, 43, is an assistant coach for the Hornets and serves as the head coach of Charlotte’s G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm. He and Sweeney crossed paths when they both worked for the Pistons from 2018-21 under past coach Dwane Casey.Among other stops made throughout his NBA career that he began in 2009-10 as a video coordinator for the Bulls, Bakker was once an advance regional scout for the Magic for the 2013-14 season under past coach Jacque Vaughn.Similar to Bakker, Udofia is also a G League head coach for an Eastern Conference organization. Udofia, 35, has spent the last three years as head coach of the Long Island Nets, Brooklyn’s G League affiliate.He previously served as an assistant coach for G League clubs: the Ontario Clippers (2022-23), the Capital City Go-Go (2021-22), the College Park Skyhawks (2019-21) and the Erie BayHawks (2018-19). Udofia began his coaching career with the Delaware 87ers, spending one season (2016-17) as a player development/video associate before being promoted to an assistant coach for the 2017-18 season.He also brings some international coaching experience with him to Sweeney’s staff after serving as the head coach of the Nigerian National Team during FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers and an assistant coach for Nigeria at the 2019 FIBA World Cup.The youngest of the bunch is Crean, who’s the son of long-time college coach Tom Crean.Riley Crean, 27, served as the head video coordinator for the Mavericks this past season and spent three out of four years working in Dallas alongside Sweeney under former coach Jason Kidd (2022-25). Sweeney departed for San Antonio ahead of the 2025-26 campaign that saw the Spurs reach the NBA Finals.Crean attended the University of Georgia and worked as a student manager for his father who coached the men’s basketball team from 2018-22 in the SEC.Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com

The 2026 NBA free agent class will have its top point guard.Washington Wizards guard Trae Young plans to decline his $48.97 million option for the 2026-27 season and will become a free agent on Monday, according to Andscape’s Marc Spears. The Wizards reportedly the frontrunner to sign Young long-term, but he expects to get max contract interest from other teams.It was reported earlier this week that Young has been receiving trade interest as well.Young joined the Wizards via a midseason trade with the Atlanta Hawks, where he was once the face of the franchise. That luster has faded in recent years, and his known limitations as a player resulted in Atlanta moving on from him. He wound up playing only five games for Washington last season before getting shut down with lower back pain and a right quad contusion.The Wizards’ plan since that trade has been clear: Acquire two multi-time All-Stars in Young and Anthony Davis, shut them down as much as possible to tank the remaining season, claim a top pick in one of the most stacked draft classes in NBA history, retain Young long-term and enter next season with more reason for optimism than any season in recent memory.Trae Young could be part of something new for the Wizards.Jason Miller via Getty ImagesSo far, the plan has gone off without a hitch. The franchise is currently weighing whether to draft A.J. Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson or Cam Boozer after winning the lottery. Either way, it will be getting an impact talent to combine with a roster that already had a healthy mix of experience and youth.That plan depends on retaining Young, though. The 27-year-old has said he wanted to come to Washington originally, which would bode well for the Wizards’ chances. They just have to hope none of the other teams circling are that attractive for Young.

ATLANTA (AP) — San Francisco hit three homers in the second inning, including a two-run shot by Luis Arraez, Carson Whisenhunt won a matchup of rookie starting pitchers and the Giants held off the Atlanta Braves 7-5 on Wednesday night to sweep a split doubleheader.The Giants won the opening game of the doubleheader 7-2 as left-hander Robbie Ray threw 6 1/3 scoreless innings. It was the completion of Tuesday night's game, which was suspended due to rain.Whisenhunt (1-0) allowed two runs on six hits in five-plus innings in his season debut. Atlanta right-hander JR Ritchie (1-2) gave up five runs in five innings on five hits, including three homers. Willy Adames, Arraez and Bryce Eldridge homered in the four-run second inning. Arraez added a two-run single in the ninth.Giants left-hander Matt Gage (right knee inflammation) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list and gave up a two-run homer to Mauricio Dubón in the ninth. Gage gave up two more hits. Right-hander Tristan Beck overcame a run-scoring wild pitch to record the final two outs for his first save.The Braves recalled right-hander Carlos Carrasco, who allowed two runs in four innings. Right-hander Spencer Strider (inflammation in right elbow) was transferred to the 60-day injured list.Center fielder Michael Harris II, who left Tuesday night's game with lower back tightness, was held out of Wednesday's games. The Braves also are without right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr., who was placed on the 10-day injured list on June 11 with a strained left hamstring. As part of a flurry of defensive changes in the top of the ninth, Braves first baseman Matt Olson shifted to right field. Olson, who had three hits, made his first appearance in the outfield since playing in left field for Oakland in 2017.Up nextGiants RHP Landen Roupp (5-7, 4.24 ERA) is scheduled to face Braves LHP Martín Pérez (5-3, 2.90) in Thursday night's final game of the series.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Spurs named landing spot for $60 million Warriors NBA champion veteran originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The San Antonio Spurs don’t have the best options to turn to when star center Victor Wembanyama heads to the bench, which was evident in the NBA Finals vs. the New York Knicks. Luke Kornet may be a fan-favorite due to his high energy and fearless play style, but he doesn’t possess the skill necessary to pick up the slack in Wembanyama’s absence. Additionally, Kelly Olynyk and Bismack Biyombo aren’t regular rotational guys, making it pivotal to find a viable backup center this summer. CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn recently identified a Golden State Warriors NBA champion veteran frontcourt stud as a potential free agent target for the franchise.“Here's the luxury option I'm more excited about: Kristaps Porzingis,” Quinn wrote last Sunday. “Golden State has the advantage with Bird Rights, but if the Warriors are saving their money for James or another similarly splashy addition, Porzingis might be gettable at the mid-level.”“San Antonio is one of the few teams capable of managing his load to the degree he probably needs at this point. He'd never have to play another back-to-back. His minutes could be minimized with Kornet also in place as a backup center.”“But in higher-leverage games like the seven they know to expect against the Thunder next spring, he could both clean up the Wembanyama bench minutes and potentially play some stretches alongside him.”Obviously, Porzingis isn’t in the same stratosphere as Wembanyama at this stage of his career. However, there’s a reason why the former New York Knicks All-Star has also earned the unicorn label in the big leagues. Porzingis, who possesses video-game-like length, has a solid resume as a pick-and-pop threat, a simple yet effective off-the-dribble playmaker against guards and big men, and a skilled shot blocker regardless of the opponent. The 30-year-old averaged 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game with Golden State this year in 15 outings following his midseason trade from the Atlanta Hawks to the Warriors (he struggled with his perimeter shooting efficiency, though).While Porzingis is one of the most talented centers on the market, he’s been susceptible to devastating injuries lately, and according to The Athletic’s Nick Friedell, the Warriors want to re-sign the Liepaja, Latvia native to a new deal this summer. Those two factors make the idea of San Antonio bringing Porzingis on board a bit far-fetched.More NBA news:Spurs predicted to cut ties with $229 million point guard after all-time NBA Finals blunderSpurs predicted to outbid Warriors for $101 million Lakers star, four-time NBA championLuka Doncic sends clear message to Lakers on roster they can't afford to ignore