America and Israel have snatched defeat from victory.

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Tennessee catcher Trent Grindlinger (30) hits a solo home run during a NCAA baseball game between Tennessee and Ole Miss at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on April 18, 2026. | Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Major League Baseball could be about to change the entire landscape of college baseball. A new proposal from the MLB on Thursday would remove high school players from the draft entirely, while allowing college players to declare after their sophomore seasons.MLB today proposed an overhauled domestic amateur-entry system that removes high school players from the draft, makes college players eligible after sophomore year, shortens the draft from 20 to 12 rounds, and cuts bonus pool from current $358.7M to $200M, sources tell ESPN.— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 18, 2026The new rules, if passed, would obviously change the entire look of college baseball. 96 high school prospects were selected and signed in the 2025 MLB Draft, for reference. That number has been on the decline in recent years, due to a number of different factors. This proposal would force top-level talent to participate at the college level, which would elevate the game to even new heights. This season, 140 high schoolers have been invited to participate in the MLB Combine. 334 players total will compete in the event. Imagine the difference in the game if all 140 of those elite level athletes hit the college baseball scene. “Over the last several years, college baseball has undergone a remarkable transformation,” MLB said in a statement. “Expanded scholarships, NIL opportunities, revenue sharing and significant investments in facilities and player development have made college baseball an increasingly important pathway that is producing major league-ready talent at an accelerated rate.”For a program like Tennessee, this is a potentially major development. The Volunteers hold the nation’s No. 3 ranked recruiting class in the 2026 cycle, according to Perfect Game. Tennessee has been a mainstay in the top five since Tony Vitello revitalized the program, although several of those top commitments never made it to campus. MLB’s current CBA expires on December 1st. This proposal is part of the negotiation to come to a new agreement. The outcome of that deal could end up bringing in an entirely new era to college baseball. This will definitely be something worth monitoring over the next few months.

May 13, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Matthew Liberatore (32) throws a pitch against the Athletics during the first inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images | Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images After taking two out of three against the San Diego Padres, the St. Louis Cardinals kick off a weekend I-70 series against the Kansas City Royals Thursday night. Matthew Liberatore gets the start for the Cardinals while the Kansas City Royals will send Noah Cameron to the mound. First pitch at Kauffman Stadium is set for 6:40pm central time. Broadcast being handled by Cardinals.tv. Join the conversation!Sign up for a user account and get:Fewer adsCreate community postsComment on articles, community postsRec comments, community postsNew, improved notifications system!

The Record Doesn’t Tell the Story of WSU’s 2026 Season“Coach said in one of our huddles, ‘I think this is the toughest team I’ve ever coached.’ I think that showed in a lot of games this year. The backbone of our team was our resiliency and toughness.” Senior righty Luke Meyers reflected on the special season him and his teammates shared this year, one in which he came up big down the stretch multiple times. As Mountain West Tournament MVP Gavin Roy later reflected: It was one of my favorite moments of my life. It was bigger than the sport itself, it showed us that when you face adversity, stick to the plan, and trust your teammates, you can accomplish anything. It’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.On Monday it was announced that Coach Nathan Choate had earned an extension through the 2031 season. At the end of May, Washington State appeared in its first NCAA Regional since 2010, after winning its first outright conference title since the 1970s.But how good was WSU baseball, really? People tuning in at the end of the season might have had this thought: Cute Mountain West Tournament. It will be fun to watch us in a Regional again, but 31-28 is nothing out of this world. If you were one of those people, you are missing the big picture.WSU started the season on a 19-game road trip that was filled with NCAA Tournament teams. Of course everyone knows they opened the season with an 8-4 win at Alabama, which hosted a Regional (and advanced to Omaha), but what about the other 16 games?After Tuscaloosa, the Cougs went to San Luis Obispo to face Cal Poly, who recently traveled to Morgantown to face West Virginia in a Super Regional (Cal Poly advanced out of No. 1 overall seed UCLA’s Regional without ever facing the Bruins). When WSU met them for a four-game set in February, the Cougs earned a split, including a 3-2 loss in 10 innings. So through two series, WSU was 3-4, but they had played two Super Regional participants on the road.After that, the Cougs headed to Long Beach to meet BYU and Long Beach State. WSU handled a weak Long Beach team handily in both matchups and took the lead going into the ninth inning twice against the Cougars from Provo.In the first contest, the Cougs received seven innings of one-run baseball from Luke Meyers and held a 4-1 lead going into the eighth. The bullpen surrendered two runs in the eighth and then allowed a three-run home run in the ninth, ultimately falling 6-4. In the second contest, WSU and BYU were tied entering the ninth with WSU as the designated road team, and a walk-off double nabbed the Cougs late for the second time in two days.BYU finished 77th in the final NCAA RPI rankings before postseason play began, but this series marked a key moment in WSU’s season. Nathan Choate talked in his final press conference about how this team needed to “learn how to win.” Again, WSU had not returned home at this point, but they were 5-6 on the road with all of their losses coming against top-100 teams.At 5-6, Washington State headed to San Marcos to face future Pac-12 rival Texas State. The Bobcats finished 43rd in RPI and, at 36-24, earned an at-large bid to the College Station Regional. Cougar pitching struggled in San Marcos, dropping three of four contests while scraping out a 9-7 victory. However, in the rubber match, WSU lost by just one run once again, with Trevor Smith just missing a go-ahead grand slam in the seventh inning as his RBI single hit halfway up the right-field fence. WSU moved to 6-9, with all nine losses coming to top-100 teams on the road. That is not even including the fact that they were 1-4 in one-run games. Obviously, the team lacked bullpen depth, but some of these losses came despite quality pitching performances. They were playing the game the “baseball gods” make you play and continuing to believe in themselves.Then, just when the schedule couldn’t get any harder, WSU got the luxury of starting conference play against what would turn out to be its primary challenger for the conference title, San Diego State. WSU lost two of three behind some shaky pitching (the arms were clearly worn down). Yet even at 7-11, WSU had not lost to an opponent outside the top 100, and all of those losses had come on the road.Then, after a midweek breakdown against Utah, where the Cougs outhit the Utes (103rd in RPI) before falling 8-5, WSU was mercifully allowed to return home.Washington State baseball will always have to start the season with a long stretch on the road. The Pullman weather simply does not cooperate with baseball at Bailey-Brayton in late February and early March. But this year was particularly excruciating and difficult. According to Warren Nolan’s RPI, WSU finished with the 22nd-hardest non-conference strength of schedule in the country, and that includes midweek contests against Seattle U, Gardner-Webb, and Utah Tech later in the season that drag that number down.Washington State came out of its 19-game road trip at 7-12, with four one-run losses to quality opponents. I wrote at the time that opponents needed to watch out for this team. Just a few bounces, just a few pitches, would have put them firmly in the top 40 early in the season.As Gavin said, “That first month was a gauntlet. We were on the road constantly playing tough teams, and it showed what we were made of. We didn’t get the start we wanted, but a lot of those losses were close, and we knew we had the pieces to figure it out. Once we got back home and got our feet under us, we were able to establish ourselves as a good team”. From that point on, WSU dominated its schedule. The Cougs finished 23-14 through the Mountain West Tournament, where they earned the No. 2 overall seed and won three games in four days, including two against first-place San Diego State to capture the Mountain West title. Washington State was 6-2 in its seven Mountain West series, with the only losses coming to the aforementioned Aztecs and a 1-2 series defeat against Nevada that included yet another one-run loss in which the Cougs stranded 13 baserunners.This team was stout offensively throughout Mountain West play. To anyone paying attention, the Cougs were clearly the cream of the crop in the conference all season long, as they led the conference in RPI since the beginning of conference play.Outside of the five early one-run losses, which WSU overcame as the season progressed, the team was essentially a midweek starter short of taking things to the next level. Gonzaga scored 19, 16, and 10 runs in three midweek matchups. Oregon State hung 18 on the Cougs in one meeting, although WSU bounced back to win the second game. Even Utah Tech put up 18 runs in a midweek victory.Yet this team always bounced back. Time after time, it pulled itself off the canvas, a hallmark of a resilient club. Not to mention, many of the players who struggled early in the season developed into reliable contributors both at the plate and out of the bullpen.In the end, this team built a résumé that came remarkably close to top-25 territory for a team competing out of the Mountain West. WSU played 16 Quad 1 games, finishing 6-10. An Opening Day win at Alabama and a 2-2 split with Oregon State were no flukes.Not to mention, WSU was right on the cusp of defeating Oregon in the second game of its Regional. The Cougs trailed by 1-0 entering the ninth inning, with a chance to move to 2-0 and sit one victory away from a Super Regional berth. In what was also a stacked Regional, Oregon (15th in RPI) and Oregon State (18th in RPI) both boasted two of the nation’s top pitching staffs, and the Cougars hung right with them.The margin between this team and the next level was razor thin, and there is little reason to believe Choate cannot build on this campaign next season.Despite the loss of key contributors Max Hartman, Gavin Roy, Luke Meyers, Ryan Skjonsby, Griffin Smith, and Noah Thein, WSU should return a significant amount of production.Potential key returners include:• Mountain West Pitcher of the Year Nick Lewis (2.97 ERA, 10-2 record)• Team batting-average leader Matt Priest (.362 AVG, .942 OPS, .540 SLG, .422 OBP, 4 HR, 38 RBI)• Leadoff hitter Trevor Smith (.303 AVG, .463 SLG, .407 OBP)• Slugger Dustin Robinson (.263/.362/.480 with 19 doubles, six home runs, and 40 RBI)Along with other contributors such as infielders Kyler Northrop and Ollie Obenour, bullpen stalwart August Ritchie, and late-season standout Scott Ringuette. That’s three of your top five hitters, your Ace, and arguably your two best bullpen arms. Losing the offensive production of Roy, Hartman, and Skonsby will leave big shoes to fill, in addition to the innings that Luke Meyers and Griffin Smith ate as the No. 2 and No. 3 starters. However, all of these underclassmen have an opportunity to build on strong seasons. Something I discussed with both Gavin and Luke was how invaluable that postseason experience will be as younger players attempt to take the next step next season:“I told them after we lost our last game in the team meeting, just use this, just remember this feeling of how we felt when we got here, and use it as fuel for next year. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You guys are more than capable of doing it again next year, so just remember this.” – Luke “I’m really excited for those guys. From what I know, a lot of the core group is returning, and I hope a year from now they’re still building. I want this program to continue to rise, and I think they have that in them. Going into the new conference next year will be a challenge, but I think those guys can handle it. I’m excited to watch them play and hopefully keep building this program up.” – GavinMelding experience with younger talent is when WSU thrives across all sports, and this program has a chance to bring back serious production. Obviously, the veteran leadership and talent of the outgoing seniors will be difficult to replace, but that has always been the reality of college athletics. The difference here is that WSU Baseball may be able to maintain more continuity than fans have grown accustomed to.For all these reasons, Nathan Choate earned his extension. This year, he taught WSU Baseball how to win again. He brought pride back to what was once a proud program, and that kind of culture carries over. Often, sports teams take on the personality of their communities, and that is certainly true of this Washington State club. Were they always the most talented team? Certainly not. But they played together, they played to their strengths, and they played their tails off. As Luke said, “Coach Choate recruits this way on purpose. He recruits guys who have a lot to prove and are hungry to prove what they can do and believe in themselves”.It should be fun to see what Choate can accomplish in Year 4. WSU has now set the expectation that they are a winner on the diamond. With a new conference on the horizon, and after a stellar 2026 campaign, they have all the momentum you could’ve asked for.

National and international competition awaits a group of current and former Indiana State Sycamore track and field standouts.The competitions include the 2026 USA Track and Field Under-20 Championships, which began Thursday and continue Friday at Eugene, Oregon, as well as this week's 2026 Canada Track and Field Championships in Ottawa.Sycamore weight throwers Ben Brown and Theo Thurmond are competing at the USATF U20 meet in Oregon, while hurdler Kieran Barnewall will compete in the Canada championship on Saturday.Also, Sycamore women's hurdler Rachel Mehringer — the seventh-place finisher at last week's NCAA Outdoor Championships, earning her First Team All-America status — will represent ISU at the USATF Outdoor Championships on July 23-26 in New York City. Mehringer will run the 100-meter hurdles.Former Sycamore and 2024 Olympian Erin Reese will also compete in the hammer throw at the USATF Outdoor Championships at New York next month, and at the prestigious Prefontaine Classic on July 3-4 at Eugene.Reese, a 2019 ISU graduate, was a three-time All-American for the Sycamores. In 2024, she competed at the Paris Olympics for Team USA and placed 14th in the 32-athlete field inside the huge Stade de France.In this week's USATF U20 Championships in Oregon, the discus competition includes Brown and Thurmond getting three attempts each to make the top nine athletes who will advance to Friday's finals. If they reach that round, they'll again receive three additional attempts.Brown will also compete in the shot put, which will divide the field into two flights on Friday. Brown is in the first flight, throwing third. All athletes will get three attempts, with the top nine athletes advancing to finals and receiving three additional attempts.Meanwhile at Canada championships, the 110-meter hurdles will feature qualifying, semifinals and finals. Barnewall's seed time advanced him past qualifying and into Saturday's semifinal round. Barnewall can advance to the finals by finishing as one of the two fastest times in his preliminary heat or as one of the three fastest times outside of the automatic qualifiers.The top two finishers in each event will qualify for the World Athletics U20 Championships, which take place August 5-9 in Eugene, Oregon, provided that they meet the qualification standard, according to an ISU sports information report. Athletes who finish third in their events will serve as alternates for their national team for the championships.Each of ISU's three U20 Championships qualifiers scored significant points at last month's Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Championships.Brown, the only athlete of the three to qualify for multiple events at the USATF U20 Championships, booked his place with a top-five finish in the discus at the MVC Championships and a strong shot put performance at the Sycamore Open.Brown's discus mark of 53.06 meters, or 174 feet, 1 inch at the MVC Championships was a personal best by 5 meters and gave Indiana State multiple scorers in the event. His shot put mark in the final home meet measured 17.65 meters, or 57 feet, 11 inches, and represented his best outdoor mark of the season by over a meter.Thurmond finished second at the MVC Championships in the discus and also earning a top-30 finish at the NCAA East First Round in the event. Thurmond already ranks in the top 10 in program history in the discus with his mark of 54.39 meters, or 178 feet, 5 inches, which earned him runner-up honors at the MVC Championships as a freshman. He was also over the 53-meter mark in the discus at the NCAA East First Round.Barnewall continued ISU's strong hurdles tradition Hurdle by placing second at the MVC Championships and 26th at the NCAA East First Round in the 110-meter hurdles. Barnewall, the top-ranked hurdles athlete at the Canada U20 Championships, already ranks in the top 10 in program history in the event for all-conditions times.

Christian Pulisic replacement: Three lineup options if USMNT star doesn't play vs. Australia due to injury originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The United States started their 2026 World Cup slate in blistering fashion, blitzing Paraguay 4-1 in their opening match of Group D play.However, the one negative from that match was the mysterious withdrawal of Christian Pulisic at halftime, as the USMNT superstar had been their best player through the first 45 minutes.With a spot in the knockout stage now there for the taking, the United States will now meet Australia, winners of their opening match against Turkey, and the absence of their star left winger is a real possibility.The Sporting News discusses what could be the Plan B if Pulisic is unable to pass fit for action in the USA's next World Cup match.2026 WORLD CUP HQ:Latest World Cup news | Full World Cup schedule | Buy World Cup ticketsChristian Pulisic injury updateChristian Pulisic exited the USMNT's 4-1 win at halftime, departing after taking "a bit of a kick" he told Fox Sports postgame. While Mauricio Pochettino at the time said it was a "precaution," he also noted that Pulisic "could not walk" after his calf seized up.As of June 18, it's unclear if Pulisic will take part in the USMNT's match against Australia. The American forward has yet to take part in full team training this week, missing each of the past three sessions with an apparent calf injury.Pulisic has taken to the pitch for individual training, spurning the wider team sessions for one-on-one work. Interestingly, Pulisic's left leg was cloaked in a sleeve when he was seen practicing. He did not return to full team training at any point before the match, still remaining in individual training for the team's final training session the day before the match, often a sign that he may not be fully fit for the game.In his pre-match press conference, Pochettino would not give a definitive update on Pulisic's status, saying only that the medical staff would meet that evening to make a determination on his status.Mauricio Pochettino says they will meet with the medical staff today and make a call on Christian Pulisic’s status tomorrow“He’s doing a massive effort to get ready” but will likely be available for Turkiye game if he can’t play against Australia#USMNTpic.twitter.com/1sUJIpm9GA— Pardeep Cattry (@pcattry) June 18, 2026MORE:Previewing Australia, the USMNT's next opponent at the World CupWho could replace Christian Pulisic for the USMNT vs. Australia?There are three viable options to replace Christian Pulisic should he not be fit to start against Australia.Mauricio Pochettino won't change his formation or approach to the game, but he could move personnel around the cover the absence.Option 1: Haji Wright — Like-for-likeUSA (4-4-2, right to left): 24. Freese (GK) — 16. Freeman, 3. Richards, 13. Ream, 5. A. Robinson — 4. Adams, 17. Tillman — 2. Dest, 8. McKennie, 19. Wright — 20. Balogun.The simplest change is the most like-for-like, where Mauricio Pochettino could keep everyone in their positions and bring Haji Wright in to play on the left wing.Many USMNT fans are familiar with Wright’s talent as a central striker — and Australia are too, as the Coventry City star bagged a brace as the No. 9 the last time these teams squared off — but fans may be surprised by the fact that Wright most regularly plays out wide left for his club, a position he’s thrived in in the Championship in helping Coventry earn promotion to the top flight.This would be an exciting option for Pochettino to take if Pulisic is out or only fit for a place on the bench.Option 2: Tim Weah — Flip sidesUSA (4-4-2, right to left): 24. Freese (GK) — 16. Freeman, 3. Richards, 13. Ream, 5. A. Robinson — 4. Adams, 17. Tillman — 2. Dest, 8. McKennie, 21. Weah — 20. Balogun.Similar to bringing on Haji Wright to replace Christian Pulisic would be slotting Tim Weah into that position.Weah is most commonly a right-sided player, but he does have some experience playing on the left for both club and country. He saw some action early in the season on the left with his French club Marseille, and did so for the USMNT against South Korea in a 2-0 defeat last September.The son of a former Ballon d’Or winner, Weah is a spark plug on the field for the U.S., but it’s hard to argue he’s the right addition in a non-natural position.Option 3: Sebastian Berhalter — The Paraguay optionUSA (4-4-2, right to left): 24. Freese (GK) — 16. Freeman, 3. Richards, 13. Ream, 5. A. Robinson — 4. Adams, 14. Berhalter — 2. Dest, 8. McKennie, 17. Tillman — 20. Balogun.The most likely option is probably the one which Mauricio Pochettino made at halftime of the opener against Paraguay when Christian Pulisic first came off injured.At that time, Pochettino brought Sebastian Berhalter into midfield and moved Malik Tillman out wide on the left.It was a move that made the U.S. noticeably worse, but it's hard to tell if that's simply because Pulisic was no longer on the field, or because the replacement was the wrong one. Tillman had been playing quite well in a deeper role next to Tyler Adams while Weston McKennie had freedom to roam in a No. 10 role, so the dismantling of that dynamic was a net negative in the second half.MORE:The latest news on Christian Pulisic's injury ahead of the USMNT match vs. Australia

The vice president said the United States had leverage to dictate the outcome of the next round of negotiations. But he claimed incorrectly that Iran got no new benefit from the lifting of oil sanctions.

After Caitlin Clark and Nike finally shared a look at her highly-anticipated Caitlin 1 shoes on Wednesday, the two-time WNBA All-Star is debuting her Nike signature shoes tonight as the Indiana Fever (9-5) host the Atlanta Dream (9-4) from Gainbridge Fieldhouse.When asked which of the many hidden details throughout the pair of shoes is her favorite, the former Hawkeye legend pointed to the "C" pattern on the left shoe and the "2" pattern on the right as a clever, yet subtle intricacy she enjoys."I think the fact that the outside part is C's and the inside part is 2's, but you can only tell it close up," Clark said.New kicks, same Caitlin 🤝Caitlin Clark debuts her Nike Caitlin 1s tonight after putting up 21 PTS and 14 AST in Indiana's last outing.📺 ATL-IND | 7:30pm/ET | Prime Video pic.twitter.com/80VjHDS5Ek— WNBA (@WNBA) June 18, 2026As she sports the kicks for the first time in action, Clark looks to propel Indiana to a fifth straight victory tonight against Atlanta as the two teams clash for the first of a back-to-back home-and-home series.Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNewsThis article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Caitlin Clark dons signature Nike shoes for first time

Photo by Dale MacMillan/Soccrates/Getty ImagesAfter a quiet World Cup opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jonathan David needed to make an impact.The Juventus striker played 61 minutes without a goal or assist, and completed just eight of his 14 passes in the 1-1 draw.On the other hand, Cyle Larin stepped up in that game, scoring Canada’s equaliser in the 78th minute.The match against Qatar was a chance for both players to shift the narrative, and they delivered. Both started, both found the net, and the shirts they wore in Canada’s first-ever World Cup win are now up for auction.How can you buy Jonathan David and Cyle Larin’s match-worn shirts?Photo by Ercin Erturk/Anadolu via Getty ImagesMatchWornShirt is hosting the auction, with bidding set to close on Thursday, June 25th.At the time of writing, David’s shirt is listed at US$944, while Larin’s is at US$562. Both are autographed, adding to their significance from a historic night in Canadian football.The context matters. Canada beat Qatar, with Larin opening the scoring before David added two more. It was the country’s first-ever men’s World Cup victory.For collectors, each shirt tells a story. Larin’s marks the opening goal, while David’s represents the brace that turned a slow start into a statement win.Prices may change before the auction ends, but the process is simple. Fans can visit MatchWornShirt, find the Canada vs Qatar auction and place their bids before the deadline.Read more:World Cup star Yan Diomande ‘doesn’t feel anything’ after death of sister at partyDepartment of Homeland Security TSA issues travel warning to World Cup fans over ranch dressingFurious World Cup fans slam ‘abhorrent’ price of sandwich and coke at Toronto Stadium

Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesDe’Aaron Fox is expected to remain the San Antonio Spurs’ starting point guard next season, which shouldn’t come as a huge shock. Even though they fell short against the New York Knicks in five games, Fox’s impact on their playoff run was clear. Reaching the NBA Finals isn’t a small achievement.The conversation around Fox hasn’t quietened down, though. The focus has shifted from questions about his fit with Victor Wembanyama to whether he can be the second star on a title-winning team.For much of the regular season, Fox fit seamlessly into what the Spurs were building. His pace lifted their transition game, his playmaking opened up space for Wembanyama, and his leadership helped accelerate a rebuild that seemed ahead of schedule. But when the Finals arrived, that version of Fox wasn’t there.Throughout the playoffs, Wembanyama was clearly carrying San Antonio’s title hopes, while Fox struggled to make a consistent impact offensively. The numbers told a difficult story.He shot around 34 per cent from the floor in that series and managed under 13 points per game. His struggles were most evident in Game 5, where he finished with just seven points as New York wrapped up the title. That performance raised questions about whether he can truly be Wembanyama’s top running mate when it matters most.Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesWembanyama’s presence shapes the conversationThis isn’t just a discussion about Fox; it’s equally tied to Wembanyama. There’s no question about who leads this team. Wembanyama has established himself as one of the NBA’s most dominant players and remains at the centre of everything San Antonio is building toward.The real question is who best complements him in that role. Right now, the Spurs seem to believe that Fox is still their guy, and over the next few years, we’ll see whether that confidence pays off.The other option was trading him for another playmaker who better complements Victor Wembanyama’s unique skill set, but those opportunities are rare. Few teams were offering star-calibre players back before last season’s deadline.San Antonio was right to stick with De’Aaron FoxFox may never be as complete an offensive player as Brunson or someone like Devin Booker, but there is value in consistency, too. He was steady throughout the regular season and postseason, leading up to the Finals.A long-term deal means he needs to get back into form quickly this year. There will always be some question about how high his ceiling actually goes as San Antonio tries to build around its superstar centre, but Fox did help them reach new heights last season, regardless of how it ended.Both Fox and the Spurs head into next season with questions to answer. The team needs to prove their Finals run wasn’t just a one-off, while Fox has to show that his play against the Knicks was more of an outlier than a sign of bigger issues.That is why reports of San Antonio’s continued commitment matter. The Spurs are making it clear they still believe in the partnership, and now Fox has to reward that faith. After the Finals, the debate is less about whether De’Aaron Fox can help the Spurs win and more about whether he can help them win the last four games that matter most.Read more:Utah Jazz’s choice remains clear despite Darryn Peterson’s preferenceTrae Young’s future is one of the biggest questions of the NBA offseasonThe Bulls’ Head Coaching hire matches the team’s current reality

Los Angeles Dodgers infield utility player Santiago Espinal lost to free agency after the veteran rejected his minor league assignment. Espinal hit .378/.415/.644 in 53 plate appearances during Spring Training after signing a minor league deal with the Dodgers. The Dodgers lost Santiago Espinal to free agency after he rejected his minor league assignment, per the team's transaction logHe chose free agency to see if another chance comes up instead of waiting in the Dodgers system. Espinal hit .268 over his 56 plate appearances. The… pic.twitter.com/11oEe5KcFu— Nelson Espinal (@nelson__espinal) June 18, 2026With injuries to Tommy Edman and Kike Hernandez, Espinal made the Opening Day roster, playing all over the infield as a platoon player. In fact, he survived for a long time in the majors, only being waived once Kike Hernandez got activated.Jun 12, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Santiago Espinal (21) hits a two RBI single against the Chicago White Sox during the second inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn ImagesHowever, Hernandez did not stay healthy for long, and the Dodgers quickly gave Espinal another minor league deal to make room. It was not until Tommy Edman got activated on Tuesday that Espinal was designated for assignment again. This time, Espinal elected free agency after the Dodgers outrighted him to the minor leagues. Considering he hit .268/.276/.375 in 60 plate appearances during the regular season, Espinal made the right decision, as he should be a top option for any team that needs infield help. Additionally, he could float around long enough to be signed by the Dodgers like he was in the past. Regardless, he played himself into the chance to get more MLB looks at some point. Who is on the Dodgers’ roster bubble next? May 23, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Santiago Espinal (21) prior to the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn ImagesThe Dodgers surely would have liked to keep Espinal and his great glove, though they have more than enough depth to deal with his loss. Soon enough, Kike Hernandez will be eligible for activation, along with Teoscar Hernandez, which will force even tougher decisions on the team to make room. Alex Freeland, Alex Call, and Ryan Ward are the three players who will have to make room for two. Most likely, Freeland and Ward will be sent down because they have option years left, but their potential could lead to them staying around. Meanwhile, Hyeseong Kim and hot shot James Tibbs III loom in the Triple-A as they knock on the door of a chance to impress in the big leagues.

Baltimore Ravens defensive back Marlon Humphrey didn't have a great NFL season in 2026, but he still finished ranked No. 8 in the NFL with four interceptions. Perhaps Humphrey will have his skill set edified this summer, getting reps against the talented wide receiving core currently on the team roster.Rookie wide receivers Ja'Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt are new men in the Ravens' offensive personnel, giving Humphrey practice reps alongside starters Zay Flowers and Rashid Bateman. Additionally, wide receiver Devontez Walker will be operative with the starters in many of offensive coordinator Declan Doyle's 11-personnel sets, meaning that both Humphrey and defensive back Nate Wiggins can expect to compete intensively at the team's upcoming training camp next month.The Ravens are scheduled to report to training camp on Jul. 29. There, Humphrey will be looking to prove the defensive mastermind of new head coach Jesse Minter and the attention to detail of defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver true. Yet, the Ravens defense will have its work cut out for them as they look to get things precise versus quarterback Lamar Jackson, Doyle, and a plethora of young, talented wide receivers on staff.This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Marlon Humphrey will enjoy NFL training camp vs. Ravens WR's

An 18-year-old was ejected after a carriage horse bolted on Wednesday as the driver took a photograph. It was unclear how long the voluntary shutdown might last.

The case, which resulted in a short jail sentence despite years of alleged abuse, has drawn outcry in Texas. So have the attempts to politicize it.

The story of one progressive activist arrested in Minnesota in January shows what critics say is the aggressive nature of the Trump administration’s response to those who have protested its immigration crackdown.

Crazy Knicks Fans Claim 26 Championship Team Better Than 24 Celtics originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.BetMGM made a now-viral tier list of the last 10 NBA Champions. The post with 4.3 million views ranked the 2026 New York Knicks, who were crowned the NBA Champions last Saturday, as the third-best championship team of the decade. The 2025 Oklahoma City Thunder were ranked fourth, and the 2024 Boston Celtics were ranked fifth. This Knicks team was ELITE 🔥 pic.twitter.com/MBArTdZY9C— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) June 14, 2026There are no safe-for-work words strong enough to describe how misguided this ranking is. Have NBA fans already forgotten the '24 Celtics going 64-18 in the regular season and then cruising through each round of the playoffs virtually unscathed?Boston's postseason record was 16-3. They did not play in a single series that went past five games. They played the same Indiana Pacers team in the Eastern Conference Finals that beat New York last year to advance to the Finals. As the No. 1 seed in the East, Boston dismantled Indiana, sweeping them and ending the series on their home court. The Celtics then took the first three games of the Finals against Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving's Dallas Mavericks, before losing in Game 4 and lifting the Larry O'Brien at TD Garden.The lineup of Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis is the single best lineup of the 2020s. The 24 Celtics hold the NBA record for the most 25-point wins, 30-point wins and 50-point wins. Boston wasn't beating teams; they were running them out of the gym. Their success from the three-point line led to discussions over whether or not the game of basketball was legitimately broken. The scrappy underdog Knicks team was an amazing run. But don't allow yourself to become a prisoner of the moment and pretend that this roster compares to one of the best ever created. More NBA: This Team Reportedly Has Spent 'Years' Exploring Jaylen Brown Trade

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA - APRIL 18: Thiago Moises of Brazil warms up prior to his fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Canada Life Centre on April 18, 2026 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC) Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) continues to trim its expansive roster of mixed martial arts (MMA) talent.Today (Thurs., June 18, 2026), it was revealed that three fighters have been removed from UFC’s active roster, meaning they have either been released from their respective contracts or the promotion decided not to re-sign them. Guilherme Cruz and the automated UFC roster tracker roster.watch reported the news.The three fighters who lost their jobs are Thiago Moises, Cameron Smotherman and Ariane Carnelossi.Moises (19-10) is by far the longest-tenured fighter of the group.The 31-year-old Brazilian fought 16 times inside the Octagon and found some success, but inconsistency ultimately defined his UFC run. Moises was originally signed off Contender Series in 2018 and ran into Beneil Dariush in his promotional debut.He started 1-2 in his first three UFC fights, but then rattled off three straight wins between 2020 and 2021, which earned him a main event against Islam Makhachev. Unfortunately for Moises, he lost that fight and never really got back into serious Lightweight contention.In his final eight fights with the promotion, Moises went 3-5 and exited on a two-fight losing streak, including a brutal knockout loss to Jared Gordon (watch highlights).Moises leaves UFC with an 8-8 promotional record and could absolutely return with a few wins on the regional scene.Smotherman (12-7) scored a massive win in his UFC debut, defeating Jake Hadley on short notice as a +380 underdog and handing Hadley his walking papers in the process.However, that ended up being Smotherman’s only win inside the Octagon. He lost his next three fights, with his final defeat coming against Kai Asakura via brutal knockout (watch highlights).Smotherman also had a frightening moment earlier this year before UFC 324, fainting during early-morning weigh-ins and face-planting on stage, which ultimately forced him off the card.“The Baby-Faced Killa” exits UFC with a 1-3 promotional record.Lastly, Carnelossi (15-5) was axed after getting brutally knocked out in her last fight earlier this month (watch highlights).The 33-year-old Brazilian powerhouse was part of the first fight back in front of fans after the COVID-19 pandemic at UFC 261, where she and Na Liangbeat the life out of each other for two rounds until Carnelossi eventually scored the finish.Since that wild fight, Carnelossi went 2-3 inside the Octagon and was finished in her final two appearances.Carnelossi exits UFC with a 3-4 promotional record.To checkout UFC’s upcoming schedule of events click here.

Thomas Müller believes Bayern "should take a close look" at Johan ManzambiAfter his classy brace for Switzerland against Bosnia & Herzegovina tonight, Thomas Müller has recommended Johan Manzambi as a candidate for Bayern Munich to explore.“Manzambi is a good player overall," the former Bayern star said on Magenta TV after the Swiss secured an important 4-1 win in Group B of the 2026 World Cup.“For me, he's someone – and now we can make a headline – For me, he's someone that FC Bayern should take a close look at,” he added, before underlining Manzambi's flexibility.“He's a player who can play as a number 6, he can play as a number 8, he can play as a number 10. He has the number 9 on his back, so maybe we can also sell him as a striker,” he said. The SC Freiburg talent has been heavily linked with a move away from the Breisgauers this summer. The player himself even admitted his future is up in the air since as far back as May.Whether Bayern would make a move for him is unknown given they are close to signing Ismael Saibari. Otherwise, Italian giants SSC Napoli are keen on the 20-year-old star.

With the 2026 season now wrapped up for Mizzou Baseball, Kerrick Jackson & Co. currently find themselves navigating a heavy wave of departures. To date, a dozen Tigers have officially entered the portal.Here's Your 2026 Mizzou Transfer Portal Directory:Missouri currently has 12 entries into the portal, with 5 pitchers and 7 position players. Non-graduate players have until June 30th to enter the portal, and can take as they long as they want to commit. #MizzouNOWpic.twitter.com/hWKgGWCM2K— Black & Gold Fan Zone (@BGFanZone) June 3, 2026The list of talent includes five pitchers and seven position players, featuring several notable names who saw extensive action this season. Names like Blaize Ward and Kaden Peer, alongside key players such as Chris Patterson and Sam Parker. For a detailed, player-by-player look at everyone who entered the portal, check out our complete offseason post here.New Talent ArisesWith that being said, the focus in Columbia is already shifting to the wave of exciting new talent coming in to play for the Tigers. June 3Leading the charge for the incoming transfers is Florida Gulf Coast University shortstop Wilfred Gonzalez, who officially became Mizzou’s first portal commitment on Wednesday, June 3. The Miami, Fla., Gonzalez brings an elite bat to the Tigers’ lineup after putting together a stellar season for the Eagles. He managed to bat an impressive .323 while racking up 74 hits, 11 doubles, 2 home runs and 30 RBIs. As an incoming senior, Gonzalez provides Mizzou with a a heavy approach that will hopefully translate well against elite SEC arms. The first commitment to Missouri in the 2026 transfer class is FGCU's Wilfred Gonzalez! Gonzalez played in all 58 games for the Eagles, primarily at shortstop, batting .323 with 74 hits, 11 doubles, 2 HRs, and 30 RBIs. #MizzouNOWhttps://t.co/PHbWObMzxJ— Black & Gold Fan Zone (@BGFanZone) June 3, 2026Securing a capable infielder will be the first vital step in rebuilding from what has been lost. This ultimately proves that the Tigers are moving in the right direction to reload just as fast as they lose talent.We’ll be using this landing page to provide all the additions to the Tigers’ roster.June 8The Tigers added to their pitching staff with the addition of the redshirt junior Carter DeGondea from Georgia Southern. He was heavily used last season by the Eagles this season, making 16 appearances and per team data, throwing the second-most innings on the team (58).Committed. AGTG! @MizzouBaseball@drudown1414@Im_That_Dad_KJ@jose_PR10@J_K_COOPER@BPC_Recruitspic.twitter.com/FZ5QluKFlz— Carter DeGondea (@CDegondea) June 9, 2026DeGondea finished his 2026 campaign with a 1-5 record and a 8.69 ERA over 14 starts. He struck out 57 batters including seven in his season-best performance against Troy on Mar. 28. DeGondea also allowed just one hit across five innings of work in that outing and conceded zero earned runs.Having lost a multitude of pitchers to the portal thus far, DeGondea provides an addition for Missouri to what has been a consistent subtraction of arms in the Tigers’ summer portal thus far. June 10The Tigers continue to thrive in the portal by locking down their third newest transfer commitment, New Mexico State junior first baseman and designated hitter Steve Solorzano.Bringing a lethal bat and extensive arm to Columbia, Solorzano joins the squad after a memorable year with the Aggies, highlighted by a CUSA First Team selection in 2025. With over 132 career starts, he has proven to be an absolute weapon against opposing pitching, highlighted by a dominant 2026 season where he led his team at .341 with 78 hits, nine home runs and 51 RBIs. Solorzano’s 2026 Campaign: https://nmstatesports.com/sports/baseball/statsAs an added bonus, Solorzano made three pitching appearances where he tossed five innings out of the bullpen. By adding another producer right after securing an infielder and pitcher, the Tigers are sending a roaring message to the rest of the conference. Massive pull for @MizzouBaseball nabbing number 14 on the Board in Solorzano. Closed some games for NMState, has hit 50+ XBH in his college career, and has been a three-year starter. Excited for the Tigers! https://t.co/3P6rDaJSL7— 64Analytics (@64Analytics) June 11, 2026June 11Arkansas High graduate Ty Waid is heading to Missouri to continue his baseball career, rejoining the SEC after a brief appearance at Arkansas and a couple years at the JUCO level.The Tiger officially picked up the right-handed pitcher and utility player from Weatherford College on May 30th in the transfer portal (we didn’t see it until 6/11, apologies), following a notable 2026 season where Waid batted .368 with 28 home runs and 88 RBIs. His lethal ability at the plate combined with his valuable defensive was precisely what Mizzou needed as they continue to shape their current roster.“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”Proverbs 3:5-6#committed@MizzouBaseballpic.twitter.com/MxWLE6S1fn— Ty Waid (@TyWaid) May 31, 2026June 12 The Tigers’ offense took another massive strive forward with the addition of Javier Gorostola, who officially is Missouri’s second incoming transfer from FGCU this summer. Rejoining his former teammate Wilfred Gonzalez, Gorostola brings an elite, proven bat to the SEC after a dominant 2026 season where the All-ASUN First Team selection weaponized a .370 batting average alongside 81 hits, 13 home runs and 54 RBIs. Javier Gorostola has announced he’s committed to @MizzouBaseball. The second FGCU player heading to Missouri this portal season. One of the top hitters in the portal. pic.twitter.com/lwtdDSxKa9— Andrew Riedell (@RiedellAndrew) June 12, 2026Beyond his offensive firepower, Gorostola is just as reliable with his glove, recording 48 assists and 21 putouts while splitting time as a catcher and infielder. His presence with Mizzou provides the Tigers with an immediate threat and a highly versatile defensive weapon. The second transfer addition for the Tigers was announced later in the afternoon and his former team sits approximately 2,455 miles from FGCU. Exited to announce that I will be committing to Mizzou this year! pic.twitter.com/Qe0LXboiv6— Ryan Marton (@ryanmarton2028) June 12, 2026Ryan Marton, who pitched with the UNLV Rebels last season is a 6-foot-4 right-handed pitcher who announced his commitment to the Tigers program. In his 13 appearances last season, Marton struck out 22 batters, six of which came in the Rebels’ season finale game against San Diego State. Marton in this same outing also pitched his season-high of innings (4.2) while marking the same achievement in the strikeout category. All in all, the right-hander pitched 19 innings in 2026 with a 6.16 ERA and walked nine total batters. June 15Mizzou Baseball has picked up Lipscomb transfer Cam Pruitt — who was named a Second Team All-ASUN member leading the team with a .357 batting average and 48 RBI. Cam Pruitt is the newest incoming transfer for the Missouri Tigers. The former Lipscomb Bison posted a team-leading .357 BA with 48 RBIs in 2026. The senior infielder is yet another solid addition to Mizzou’s rebuilding offense.#MizzouNOWhttps://t.co/e0Y51BJ1el— Black & Gold Fan Zone (@BGFanZone) June 15, 2026In the NCAA Starkville Regional, Pruitt went 3-6 at the plate with a double and a run scored in two games played. Anthony Diaz from New Mexico is Mizzou’s second addition of the day — who hit .307 with 3 HRs and 31 RBI for the Lobos this season. Super blessed and pumped for the next step in my journey!! Vamo arriba!🙏🏾🐯 @jose_PR10pic.twitter.com/cGxTcTPdbQ— Anthony Diaz (@Anthony_diaz05) June 12, 2026June 18Mizzou earned a commitment from Ethan Moore, who redshirted in the 2026 season for the Tennessee Volunteers. Moore was a highly rated prospect out of Illinois coming into his freshman year, the No. 5-ranked player and the No. 2-ranked shortstop in the state. Committed!! pic.twitter.com/z0edef77KQ— Ethan Moore (@Moore13Ethan) June 18, 2026Moore still has four years of eligibility as the top 100 prospect in 2025 joins the Tigers for their upcoming season. He was a top-100 prospect for good reason, as he earned 2025 Class 4A All-State honors at Oak Park & River Forest High School. As a top-100 prospect, he was the No. 35-ranked shortstop in the nation according to Perfect Game.

Despite a favorable result for Canada in Thursday's Group B match against Qatar, the team lost star Ismaël Koné to a brutal, unnecessary injury.Koné was carted off the pitch in the second half of Thursday's match after sustaining a leg injury in a collision with a Qatar player. The 24-year-old is one of Canada's rising young stars and an injury of this magnitude certainly will have him missing the rest of the 2026 World Cup in a really unfortunate way.After the game resumed nearly 10 minutes later, Nathan Saliba scored to make it 4-0 Canada and in his celebration, the Canadian grabbed Koné's jersey and held it up in tribute to his injured teammate.After scoring for Canada, Nathan Saliba held up Ismaël Koné's jerseyKoné was carted off earlier in the game due to an apparent injury pic.twitter.com/AabzBTvnA7— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 18, 2026This article originally appeared on For The Win: Canada celebrates goal with Ismaël Koné's jersey after star's injury

Before the Detroit Lions wrapped its offseason workout dates, head coach Dan Campbell updated his team's progress before training camp arrives at the end of next month.Slowed by injury last season, cornerback Terrion Arnold now doesn't appear locked in as a defensive starter for Detroit."It's just about competing. We've got a lot of good guys in that room. And he knows this. He's got to go earn it," Campbell said.Arnold played in just eight games and started seven last season as he dealt with a right shoulder injury that he suffered against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 5 and then re-aggravated in November. A 2024 first-round NFL draft pick, Arnold underwent multiple shoulder surgeries after his season ended following a Week 13 date against the Green Bay Packers.While Campbell indicated that Arnold will have to fight to retain his starting job, the Lions' head coach also said not to read too much into Arnold working with the two's in parts of Detroit's minicamp."He took some stuff on the first field earlier, the first week, the first couple of days. And then we mixed it up. So, the most important thing for him is just making sure that he's healthy. That's step one. The rehab, which he's done a good job with. He's getting better."We feel good about where he's at in that regard, but that's the most important thing because he's not full-speed right now. At least he's non-contact. He's moving pretty good, all that stuff. And so, just make sure that you stay on top of that, you're ready to go for training camp and then it's on," Campbell said.Arnold updated reporters this week on where he feels he's at in his injury recovery."Right now, I would say I'm at about 75-80%," Arnold said Wednesday. "I think the main thing for me is just knowing that I am healthy now. … Just being able to go out there and enter (training) camp knowing that I had the surgeries, got worked on, feeling better. I'm ready for that."Arnold said he welcomes the competition."I wouldn't say it's pressure," he said. "I feel like, when you go out here in the NFL, competition breeds excellence. … (The front office's) job is to go out there and find guys to come into the room to push the guys. When you go out there and you have environments like that, that's environments that I thrive in. … That's what the NFL is all about."If you don't have that or if you don't have coaches who are going out there trying to find guys to replace you, to push you, it's not going to get the best out of you."As Arnold has been navigating his rehab, his name also surfaced in court documents detailing an armed robbery and kidnapping incident that took place in Florida this past winter. Arnold has not been charged in the case and has denied involvement.Arnold has appeared in 24 regular-season games, totaling 91 tackles, 18 passes defended, one interception and one fumble recovery.For more Lions coverage, follow us on X, @TheLionsWire, and give our Facebook page a like. Follow Josh on X, @JoshOnLionsThis article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Detroit Lions CB Terrion Arnold battling for starting opportunity

Canada 6-0 Qatar: Historic first World Cup win puts co-hosts on brink of knockoutsStandings provided by SofascoreCanada thrashed nine-man Qatar 6-0 in Vancouver, picking up a first-ever World Cup win, all but securing their spot in the knockout stages in the process.Canada flew out of the traps with three first-half goals from Jonathan David and Cyle Larin as they blew Qatar away early on.Qatar received two red cards, one in the first half and one in the second as they failed to cope with the speed and the intensity that the Canadians played with.The co-hosts added three another goals in the second half as they broke the record for the most goals scored in a World Cup game by a CONCACAF nation, with Jonathan David grabbing a famous hat-trick.As it happenedQatar started at a rapid pace and created the game’s first big chance within the opening minute. Homam Al-Amin whipped in a delightful cross towards the back post, finding Edmilson Junior who couldn’t sort his feet out and sliced a volley wide.After the early scare, Canada quickly worked their way back into the game, and had a good opportunity of their own early on. From the second-phase of a corner, Ali Ahmed delivered a great cross of his own, finding Jonathan David free at the back post, and his volley was well saved by Mahmoud Abunada in the Qatar goal.Canada continued to press forward, and with 16 minutes on the clock, the BC Place stadium erupted as the co-hosts found an opening goal.Alistair Johnston did brilliantly to create space for the cross on the right, before clipping a lovely ball into the box. Again Jonathan David found himself free, firing straight at the goalkeeper who let the ball spill, and on hand was that man Cyle Larin again. With the Southampton striker scoring his second goal of the tournament, he becomes the highest scoring Canadian men’s player in World Cup history.The Canadians did not stop there though as they continued to put pressure on the Qataris. That pressure paid off just before the half-hour mark as they doubled their lead. Tajon Buchanan’s long-range effort was blocked, riccocheting into the air which David met perfectly, unleashing a volley past Abunada into the near post, with Canada’s strike partnership doing the goods.Just two minutes later they were at it again as Buchanan raced through on goal, before being brought down by Al-Amin. Initially, the referee pointed to the spot, but after review, the decision was changed to a free-kick with the incident happening outside the box, and Al-Amin being shown a straight red card for the offence. Within the space of a few minutes, Qatar had fallen apart and seen the game taken away from them completely.With Qatar down to ten, Canada very nearly quickly added a third on a couple of occasions, as Qatar cleared a couple of efforts off the line. The Canadian players and fans clearly smelt blood as they aimed to send out a strong message to the teams in their group and throughout the rest of the competition.They managed to find the third goal before the break and it was David again scoring his second of the game. It came from more brilliant work down the right by Buchanan and Johnston, whose cross found the head of Larin. His header was well kept out, but again a Canadian player was first to react as David was able to bundle the ball over the line.The second half started in devastating circumstances as Ismael Koné appeared to suffer a serious injury, with Assim Madibo being shown a straight red card for the challenge as Qatar went down to nine-men.Canada added a fourth just after the hour mark with a wonderful free-kick. Nathan-Dylan Saliba, who came on for the injured Koné, curled a brilliant strike around the wall in off the post.The goals kept coming for the co-hosts as Jacob Shaffelburg fired an effort towards goal, which Mohamed Almanai misjudged, diverting the ball into his own net as things went from bad to worse for Qatar.In the first of nine additional minutes, David scored his third goal of the game, completing a memorable hat-trick in front of a packed-out home crowd in Vancouver. Saliba’s effort was deflected straight into the path of the Juventus striker, who had the goal at his mercy and made no mistake.It ended 6-0 to Canada, a result which not even the most delusional of Canadian fans would have dreamt of today.Canada Analysis: An almost perfect night for Jesse MarschThe co-hosts started this game in the exact way you would expect a home nation to do. Especially a home nation managed by Jesse Marsch. After surviving an early scare, they began to pile pressure onto the Qataris, who just could not deal with the speed, nor the intensity of the Canadians.Once they got the opening goal, you could see the confidence growing within the players and the crowd, as they went on to blow the Middle-Eastern side away.The strike partnership of Cyle Larin and Jonathan David is widely regarded by Canadians as the greatest partnership in the nation’s history. And while the duo will get the headlines with the goals, the combination down the right between Tajon Buchanan and Alistair Johnston caused Qatar endless problems.Buchanan caused the Qatari left-back endless problems, before eventually causing Homam Al-Amin to be sent off. But after the red card the Villarreal winger did not stop taking on and beating his man, seemingly making something happen every time he received the ball.And Alistair Johnston behind him was picking the ball up in great areas, making great underlapping runs, and delivering excellent crosses into the box throughout the 90 minutes.Jesse Marsch will be delighted that his players were able to put on a five-star showing for the Canadian fans, who were outstanding both in the stadium and around the rest of the country. They now find themselves on four points, and all but guaranteed a place in the knockout stages of the World Cup.The only negative for Canada will be the injury to Ismael Koné, who suffered a serious injury which will likely keep him out for the remainder of the tournament and beyond.The incentives keep coming for the co-hosts though, as they will know that if they can top the group, they will have a home tie in the Round of 32. And if today’s game was anything to go by, that would prove to be an incredibly tough game for any team in the competition.

Canada has finally gotten a win at the 2026 World Cup — though it came at a price.In the second game of group stage play, Les Rouges crushed Qatar 6-0 to pick up its first victory in its history at the tournament. Qatar picked up two straight red cards throughout the game, ending with nine players and looking completely incapable of stopping the Canadian attack.It took little time for Canada to get on the board, with Cyle Larin finding the back of the next in the 16th minute off a rebound shot. Jonathan David then picked up a first-half brace, first scoring off a volley in the 29th minute before getting a rebound in first-half stoppage time.Qatar’s foul woes truly started in the 33rd minute, when Homam Ahmed was given a straight red card after denying Tajon Buchanan a goal just outside the box. (Ahmed was originally given a yellow and Canada awarded a penalty, but the placement of the foul also changed the card under official rules.)The game then took a turn less than 10 minutes into the second half, as Canadian midfielder Ismaël Koné was stretchered off with a potential leg injury after a collision with Assim Madibo. Several players were emotional as Koné was taken off, including Madibo, who was later assessed a red card for the tackle.Madibo’s red card brought Qatar down to nine players, making it even easier for Canada to continue to pressure them in the box. Nathan Saliba, who had replaced Koné in the 59th minute, scored five minutes later, and lifted Koné’s jersey in celebration.Still, the goal kept coming. In the 75th minute, Jacob Shaffelburg forced a pretty egregious own goal from Mohammed Manai to bring Canada up to 5-0. And two minutes into second-half stoppage time, Jonathan David hit the hat trick to secure a 6-0 win.Even with the feat, David’s reaction to hitting a hatty was pretty muted. David had been visibly upset as Koné was carted off; it’s possible that his teammate was more top of mind.This story will be updated.

AUSTIN, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 22: Texas Athletic Director Chris Del Conte looks toward the scoreboard in the fourth quarter of the Longhorns' game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 22, 2025. ) Texas Athletics has a lot to brag about at the moment. In a news update, Texas Athletics was able to boast about earning “three NCAA Championships, seven top-three and 13 top-10 NCAA finishes, while winning a league-best six Southeastern Conference titles” over the 2025-2026 academic year, including Texas baseball’s recent trip to the College World Series. More from Texas Athletics: “Texas produced 11 top-five and 13 top-10 team finishes at the NCAA Championships during the recent academic year. The 11 top-five performances marked the second-most in school history, trailing only the 12 recorded in 2021-22. The 13 top-10 efforts tied for the second-most in school history, just one shy of the record 14 in 2021-22. The Longhorns have registered a total of 60 top-five and 78 top-10 NCAA team finishes during the last six years.”WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT THE LONGHORNS Austin American-Statesman: What head coach is joining Texas softball as its top assistant?Austin American-Statesman: When will McCombs Field be expanded? Could be soon, Mike White saysDallas Morning News: Texas sees 2026 College World Series run end with another stumble vs. Georgia247Sports: 12 questions facing Texas football in 2026: Toughest opponentInside Texas: Defining the Position: Defensive TackleInside Texas: Deep Dive: Texas’ deadliest offensive threats heading into seasonICYMI IN BURNT ORANGE NATION Projecting Texas players in the 2026 MLB DraftFour-star OT Brian Swanson commits to Texas over OU, SMURECRUITING ROUNDUP 247Sports: The Insider: How Texas landed top softball player in the transfer portal, baseball’s needs, football’s leaders247Sports: Texas Baseball Offseason Guide: How the Longhorns’ roster could change in the next month247Sports: Longhorns looking to end June visit season with a bang247Sports: Latest intel on DL Tyler Alexander as Georgia, Texas, Notre Dame and Colorado battleInside Texas: Decision Preview: No. 1 CB John Meredith to announce on FridayInside Texas: Opportunity knocks for Steve Sarkisian and staff this weekendInside Texas: Inside Texas baseball’s transfer portal strategy and needsInside Texas: Where Texas recruiting targets are visiting this weekendSEC SHOWDOWN Inside Texas: The Protect College Sports Act makes it out of committee despite the SEC’s protestationsGood Bull Hunting: Nation’s top LB commits to Texas A&MRock M Nation: Missouri Baseball Season Wrap-Up: Latest news and portal notesAnd The Valley Shook: 2 for 1: Isaiah Whitehead commits to the LSU TigersRed Cup Rebellion: Ole Miss Baseball Transfer Portal Tracker: Who’s in, who’s outRocky Top Talk: Where things stand in Tennessee’s recruitment of RB David Gabriel GeorgesDawg Sports: Diamond Dawgs bounced from CWS by SoonersA Sea Of Blue: Why Milan Momcilovic is Mark Pope’s biggest recruiting win with Kentucky BasketballWHAT WE’RE READING SB Nation: Caleb Wilson is chasing greatness in the NBA Draft, and he’s ready to save your franchiseSB Nation: 2026 World Cup Standings: Full list of teamsSB Nation: Rory McIlroy in U.S. Open contention after first roundNEWS ACROSS LONGHORN NATION AND BEYOND But can Texas flip him? 🚨BREAKING🚨 5-star LB Kaden Henderson has committed to Texas A&M👍Henderson is the No. 1 LB in the 2027 class.Read: https://t.co/KnUZfUwVOIpic.twitter.com/mkN39Sx3Ff— Rivals (@Rivals) June 18, 2026

Sunday's UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House drew a streaming audience of 17 million viewers across the United States and Latin America, Paramount+ announced on Thursday. That audience set a record for a live event on Paramount+, according to numbers compiled by Nielsen (for the U.S.) and Adobe Analytics (for Latin America). The streaming telecast averaged 8.2M viewers across both markets. The viewership breakdown for the total viewership — that watched at least one minute of the event — was 15.26 million in the U.S. and 1.67 in Latin America. The average audience during the seven-bout UFC card was 7.0 million for the U.S. and 1.2 million for Latin America.Those figures do not include delayed viewing or viewers who watched on DVR within one day of the event, known as +1 viewership. UFC will announce viewership numbers for audiences outside the U.S. and Latin America next week. The seven-match card was headlined by Justin Gaethje defeating 6-to-1 favorite Ilia Topuria in the main event after Topuria’s corner stopped after the fourth round. And in an interim heavyweight title bout, Ciryl Gane defeated Alex Pereira in two rounds. UFC Freedom 250 was the first event in the promotion’s history that saw every fight end with a knockout or technical knockout. Held on President Donald Trump's 80th birthday and intended to celebrate the United States' 250th anniversary, UFC Freedom 250 drew controversy for being held on the South Lawn of the White House. That required the construction of a canopy built 87 feet above the Octagon to light the event for broadcast and ensure the White House was in the background. Additionally, temporary seats had to be installed and the U.S. Department of Defense reportedly recruited troops to fill out the audience. Tickets for the event were not made available to the general public. Altogether, the event cost $60 million to stage and UFC CEO Dana White claimed that the company would take a $30 million loss for the effort. However, that number has been disputed under scrutiny.

Between now and training camp, we will be going through the Jacksonville Jaguars' full 90-man roster, previewing each player.Up next is dual-threat cornerback and wide receiver Travis Hunter, who wears No. 12.ProfileHeight: 6-1Weight: 185Age: 23NFL experience: 2 yearsCollege: ColoradoHow long has Travis Hunter been with the Jaguars?The Jaguars traded up to No. 2 to get Hunter in the 2025 NFL Draft. Hunter was a two-way phenom who won the Heisman Trophy, the Chuck Bednarik Award, and the Fred Biletnikoff Award for the best defensive player and wide receiver, respectively. He is the only person in college football history to ever win all three.Recapping Travis Hunter's 2025 seasonHunter's rookie year was promising, and he continued taking snaps on both offense and defense. Most of his playing time came on the offensive side of the ball. In Week 8, he had a breakout performance, logging eight catches for 104 yards and a touchdown. In eight games, he finished the season with 28 receptions for 298 yards total and one touchdown, as well as 15 tackles and three pass break-ups on defense. His season was cut short with a knee injury, which required surgery.Looking ahead to 2026 for Travis HunterThere are two major questions surrounding Hunter going into 2026. The first is how he will rebound from injury, and if he will still be able to play at a high level. By all accounts, he seems to be recovering well, making expectations high for his return.The second question is what his role will be. Hunter, who is both a wide receiver and a cornerback, had more snaps on offense than defense last year. It has been rumored that the opposite will happen in 2026, with Hunter playing cornerback full-time, while still taking snaps on offense -- although how many remains to be seen. But for now, that is just speculation, and what his official role in 2026 will be is still to be determined.This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Jaguars training camp preview: WR/CB Travis Hunter

Ancelotti calls for patience with Endrick: we have to wait a bitEndrick was one of the topics in Carlo Ancelotti’s press conference this Thursday (18).And the Brazil head coach indicated that the Real Madrid forward is unlikely to start in this Friday’s (19) crucial clash against Haiti.At first, he avoided confirming what the lineup will be for the match against the Caribbean side."No, I’ll let the team know tomorrow (Friday). I don’t think this is the right time. That’s all. I have no problem announcing the lineup now. There are no secrets in football. But I prefer to tell the players first."The expectation is that Matheus Cunha and Danilo will start. And, according to ge, there is still a doubt between Paquetá and Danilo Santos. Ancelotti then went on to talk about the differences between the players he has available to lead the attack.With particular emphasis on his comments about Endrick."Matheus Cunha is more of a link-up player, with more quality as a second striker than as a central reference point, which is what Igor Thiago is. He is strong, very aggressive. Endrick is neither one nor the other. Endrick is an extraordinary talent. Brazil will make the most of his qualities in this World Cup and the next one. He is patient, not in a hurry, and very mature for his age. These are important aspects. Having his family close to him, and their patience as well, are also important aspects."Asked directly about Endrick, he again called for patience. "I’ll put Endrick in at the right moment. We have to wait a little, he will be important."Brazil opened with a draw and needs to beat Haiti to put itself in a good position to fight for qualification in first or second place.They will face the Caribbean side from 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time) at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. They will also already know the result of the match between Scotland (three points) and Morocco (one), who will face each other from 7 p.m. (Brasília time). This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

Rick Brunson explains what makes the 2026 NBA champion Knicks so special originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.It's been less than a week since the New York Knicks won the 2025-26 NBA championship, and the team, its fans, and the city of New York are still experiencing ultimate bliss.When you snap a championship drought of 53 years, the members of the roster will each go down in history in one way or another, but this Knicks team in particular has captured the hearts of the city in a way that we may not see for a long time.What was it about this year's iteration of the Knicks that made them so special? And how were they able to pull off what fans felt was impossible to do for so long?Rick Brunson says 2026 Knicks uplifted one anotherKnicks assistant coach Rick Brunson, father of Finals MVP Jalen Brunson, told SiriusXM's Frank Isola and Brian Scalabrine just what it was that made this Knicks team so incredible."All year, our team was able to lift each other. If it wasn’t Jalen’s night, it would be KAT’s night; if it wasn’t KAT’s night, it would be Jalen, or OG, or Mikal," Brunson told the hosts of The Starting Lineup.As easy as it is for the casual fan to point to Brunson's heroics in the fourth quarter of each game of the NBA Finals, it's impossible to underestimate the contributions of the Knicks, as Rick points out.Karl-Anthony Towns, despite taking fewer shots and scoring less, morphed into an offensive hub at center and took the Knicks' offense to another level.OG Anunoby morphed into Kawhi Leonard for New York's playoff run, combining lockdown defense with elite shotmaking.What made the Knicks so special was their complete team makeup and how each piece was able to complement the others throughout four playoff series.More Knicks news:Stephon Castle puts Jalen Brunson flopping narrative to restMike Brown compares Josh Hart to former Finals MVPDeuce McBride praises Knicks fans for traveling with teamJalen Brunson's recent heroics left an opposing center in disbeliefJalen Brunson clarifies 'do right by me' comments

Gabriel Magalhaes (R) and Brazil found the going tough in their first match at the World Cup against Morocco (CHARLY TRIBALLEAU)Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes urged Brazil to move on from a disappointing performance in their World Cup opener as they prepare to face Haiti in Philadelphia on Friday.The five-time world champions drew 1-1 with Morocco to start their Group C campaign but will be heavily fancied to beat a Haiti side making their first appearance at the tournament since 1974."We know what we have to do. We know that we didn't have a good first match, but what we can expect from us is that we'll be really committed tomorrow and we're going to do our best to win," Gabriel told a pre-match news conference on Thursday."It wasn't the match we wanted (against Morocco), but this is in the past and we've learned from it."Brazil have won all three previous meetings with Haiti, including a 7-1 victory at the 2016 Copa America Centenario in their only competitive clash."All matches are difficult regardless of who you're playing, there's no easy match," said Gabriel."We cannot make any mistakes. They're a physically strong team."Coach Carlo Ancelotti revealed he would make changes to the line-up and sought to put the team's sluggish start into context."We're going to have some changes, but not huge changes, maybe some players who are better rested than others," said the Italian."Getting off to a good start is important in a World Cup, but the most important thing is that the team, rather than being perfect, has to be resilient."He added: "You have to be resilient when things don't go well; you mustn't give up when things don't go well, and I think the team is resilient and will improve."Despite the slow beginning and the continued absence of Neymar, who is still not ready to return from a calf injury, Ancelotti backed his squad's quality to shine through."The players' self-criticism was constructive, and we've been working hard over the last few days to put things right, and I believe we'll sort it out – sooner or later we'll sort it out," he said."I still believe this team will be competitive at the World Cup."mw/gj

Seattleite Cristian Roldan Ready to Welcome the World to the Emerald CitySEATTLE – Seattle, Washington, is steeped in soccer culture. From the formative days of the original Seattle Sounders clashing with Cascadia Cup rivals Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps in the NASL heyday of yesteryear, to the modern rise of the top-flight Seattle Sounders FC and Seattle Reign FC, the sport has long been woven into the community’s ethos. Toss in just a few of the other organizations scattered throughout the city—the defending NCAA champion University of Washington men’s soccer team, recent USL League Two champions Ballard FC and the indoor Tacoma Stars, just to name a few—and it’s clear that soccer dominates the city’s identity.No one knows that better than Seattle Sounders legend Cristian Roldan, who returns to the Emerald City donning the Stars and Stripes of the U.S. Men’s National Team in preparation for a massive test against Australia. The USMNT will face Australia in its second FIFA World Cup 2026 contest at Seattle Stadium on Friday.“The soccer culture goes back a long time here in Seattle,” USMNT midfielder Cristian Roldan explained. “We had Pelé in the Tacoma Dome, Messi in the Leagues Cup Final. There's a long history here, as well as with Vancouver and Portland. The soccer landscape is amazing.“I haven't seen a city where kids play so much soccer. It's incredible how many kids are playing soccer here. When you look at our roster here at [Seattle Sounders], it's all homegrown kids who grew up here and watched Seattle throughout its history. It is ingrained in our culture, and it's a beautiful thing to see.”Raised in Pico Rivera, Calif., Roldan traded the sun-drenched scenes of Southern California for the rain-soaked backdrop of Seattle at the start of his playing career.A star at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, the 2012-13 Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year chose to play collegiately at the University of Washington in Seattle. Since committing to play collegiately for the Huskies, the now-31-year-old midfielder has spent the entirety of his career in Seattle, contributing to the city’s rich soccer history during his more than two decades in the city.After a pair of standout seasons at UW, Roldan was selected by Major League Soccer (MLS) side Seattle Sounders FC with the 16th overall pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. Playing alongside his brother, Alex, for most of his time with the Sounders, Cristian Roldan—Seattle’s all-time leader in appearances among outfield players—has helped maintain the club’s enduring relevance and dominance in both domestic and international competitions.Alongside the indispensable collection of head coach Brian Schmetzer, goalkeeper Stefan Frei, and former USMNT forward Jordan Morris, Roldan helped the Sounders lift MLS Cup in 2016 and 2019, Leagues Cup in 2025, and also assisted the club as it became the third American side to win the Concacaf Champions Cup in 2022.Now a member of the USMNT’s 26-player FIFA World Cup 2026 squad, Roldan is back in Seattle as the Stars and Stripes prepare to face Australia at Seattle Stadium. Roldan, who has been an unused substitute in the United States’ last five World Cup fixtures, would become the first USMNT player to take part in a World Cup match at his club’s home stadium should he see the pitch on Friday.But before his potential World Cup debut in front of what should be a raucous crowd at Seattle Stadium, Roldan returned to UW’s picturesque lakeside campus as the USMNT conducts one more training session at Husky Soccer Stadium.“I feel at home,” Roldan said before training on Thursday morning. “I feel like this is where my journey began here in Seattle. I scored plenty of goals here at the University of Washington, and I'm thankful to have this full-circle moment. I don't think people realize how special it is for me to be here and enjoying this experience with the U.S. Men’s National Team.“I think back to some of the memories I've had here, playing against my brother is one of them, my first goal here and some of the NCAA games. But for me, this is where I was grinding and wanting a chance to play at [Seattle Stadium]. The idea of having hope is one of my core memories here.”A crown jewel of the soccer-crazed Pacific Northwest, Seattle Stadium will become the fifth American venue to host the USMNT in a World Cup match—joining the Pontiac Silverdome, the Rose Bowl, Stanford Stadium and Los Angeles Stadium. Seattle Stadium—home of three trophy-winning teams: the National Football League (NFL)’s Seattle Seahawks, Major League Soccer (MLS)’s Seattle Sounders FC and the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)’s Seattle Reign FC—recently held a Guinness World Record for the loudest outdoor sports stadium, an element that will certainly play a role in Friday’s game.“I fully expect this crowd to be extremely loud, and they're going to energize our group,” Roldan said. “This is one of the loudest stadiums in the world. When you think about Seahawks games or Sounders games, and seeing the atmosphere for Belgium against Egypt, I fully expect the city of Seattle to come out and show out. I think the guys are going to feel that energy.”It’s been just over a decade since the USMNT last hit the pitch at Seattle Stadium: a 2-1 Quarterfinal victory against Ecuador in the Copa América Centenario on June 16, 2026, a match in which then-Sounders playmaker Clint Dempsey found the back of the net for the USMNT.“I see the city ready for big games,” Roldan said. “When I think back to MLS Cup, the [Concacaf Champions Cup] Final and the Leagues Cup Final, the tickets were sold out within a couple hours. When you think about this game, this is probably the biggest game Seattle will have in terms of soccer. I'm excited for the city to come out and show its energy. This is a sports town, and they treat every big moment like it's the World Cup Final.”No player on the USMNT’s current roster has played a National Team match at the cavernous venue. Of the current 26-man squad, only forward Christian Pulisic was on the roster for that Copa América Centenarioclash in Seattle 10 years ago, though the then-17-year-old who was just four caps into his USMNT tenure, remained on the bench.Roldan has taken the opportunity to enlighten his teammates as to what they can expect from a packed, predictably partial crowd come Friday, saying, “I've told them that the city is ready, that the city is energized. We haven't had a game here in a long time, and we've been desperate to host a World Cup game, a U.S. Men's National Team game. They're going to feel the crowd, feel the energy, and it's about feeding off it.”Capitalizing on the home-field advantage will be key for a USMNT side that will be eager to remain atop Group D as they face a confident Australia side. History favors the Stars and Stripes as the USMNT is an unblemished 6-0-0 at Seattle Stadium—its third-best winning percentage at any domestic stadium—and a near-perfect 9-1-1 all-time in Seattle.For Roldan, the steady contributor is eager to support his side in any role, but the 31-year-old Seattle soccer legend is also unabashed in his excitement pondering a potential World Cup debut in the stadium and city that shaped him.“I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about it, to be honest,” Roldan said of potentially making his World Cup debut on Friday. “It would mean the world to me. This is a place that I call home and have called home for a while. I think people see me as a Seattleite, and I've given my heart and soul to [the Sounders]. To be able to see the field would be a dream come true. I think it would be special not only for me, but for the city of Seattle as well.”

Mexico's World Cup-opening victory over South Africa saw goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez, but it was an unexpected feathered friend who truly stole the show. Merlin, a two-year-old duck, swiftly became an internet sensation and the tournament’s inaugural unofficial mascot.Dressed in the national team’s colours, complete with a miniature jersey and socks, Merlin paraded through Mexico City amidst thousands of jubilant fans. Images of the sartorially splendid duck quickly went viral, racking up millions of views across social media platforms. Overnight, and seemingly by the magic of the famous wizard who inspired his name, Merlin captivated the internet.“We want to see Merlin in the stadium,” one user wrote. “This duck is already a national treasure,” said another. “The best thing about the World Cup so far,” declared a third.In Mexico City, however, Merlin was already something of a local celebrity.Images of Merlin parading through Mexico City, wearing a Mexican national team jersey as thousands of fans celebrated, racked up millions of views across social media. (AP)A familiar sight at fairs and events in the historic city center, the duck regularly accompanies his owner, Carla Gómez, who sells water and soft drinks from a little cart each weekend. Along the way, the animal attracts plenty of delighted squeals, affectionate greetings and eager requests from passersby for a photo together.“We don’t like to leave him alone at home; we like him to be with us. He’s our baby,” Gómez said. “He’s the baby, the sole heir to all my possessions and now an idol.”Rain or shine, Merlin follows Gómez and her young son Cristian through some of the capital’s best-known landmarks, including Alameda Central, the Palace of Fine Arts and the Zócalo square. The duck shares a particularly close bond with Cristian, for whom he was originally a gift, becoming what Gómez describes as the boy's inseparable companion.“Merlin had already become famous for selling bottled water,” Gómez said, recalling her surprise at her pet’s sudden rise to fame. “He is always with us; we never imagined he’d become such a sensation,” she added. “We weren’t expecting it.”Now, the family hopes Mexico’s famous feathered supporter can continue bringing luck to the host nation, which is staging the World Cup for the third time after hosting the tournament in 1970 and 1986 — this time a co-host alongside Canada and the United States.“Mexico, we are with you,” Gómez said. “And Merlin is your No. 1 fan.”

Caitlin Clark garnered a lot of attention when she arrived at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Thursday. The WNBA superstar was all smiles in her all-white outfit and held her first signature shoes in her right hand.Clark wore a white, long-sleeved cropped hoodie. It had “Shoot more threes” in blue across the center of the chest. She paired it with matching oversized, high-waisted white sweatpants with a relaxed, baggy fit. The Indiana Fever superstar completed her look with white sneakers with tan accents on the outsoles.MORE: Caitlin Clark suffers major drop in WNBA All-Star votingThe Fever posted a photo and clip of her during her tunnel walk on X. It has since been viewed almost 80,000 times and received a lot of comments from fans.Clark and Indiana are looking to extend their winning streak to five games. However, it won’t be easy as Angel Reese and the Atlanta stand in their way.Jun 4, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) gestures after making a three-point basket in the second half against the Atlanta Dream at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn ImagesCaitlin Clark’s signature shoe release dateClark and Nike unveiled the first look at the Caitlin 1s on Wednesday. It generated a lot of buzz on social media, with many expressing excitement and praising its design. The first colorway is in an all-blue silhouette that features her new signature logo.The Nike Caitlin 1s will launch on Oct. 1. It will be available on the Nike SNKRS app and at select retailers for $140 in North America and $135 for the rest of the world. The shoes are expected to be a huge hit as Clark is one of the most popular WNBA players today.

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (AP) — Golf is filled with tales of players improving their score by 12 shots over two rounds. Most astounding about Keith Mitchell was doing it in just over two hours.Mitchell set a U.S. Open record Thursday at Shinnecock Hills when he became the only player to post a score in the 40s on nine holes, and follow that with a score in the 20s on the next nine.He went 41-29. It added to an even-par 70, and Mitchell still isn't sure what happened. He was coming off a bogey on the par-5 16th, and his first thought was whether he would finish.“I was thinking about trying to break 80,” he said. “I was just trying to keep in it in the fairway, on the green and maybe have a chance to make the cut. And then it all flipped.”His 29 tied the Shinnecock Hills record for nine holes set by Neal Lancaster in 1995 (Lancaster is the only player to twice shoot 29 on nine holes in the U.S. Open).How it started is something Mitchell would like to forget. He went over the par-4 10th green to start his round, took two chips and two putts and had a double bogey. He went over the green on the par-3 11th and made bogey. Going long is to be avoided on those holes.“All week I've been told not to do that,” Mitchell said. “It's the sum of all fears.”After a string of bogeys, he hit a good tee shot into the par-3 17th and two-putted for par. He hit another good iron on the 18th and two-putted for par, both of them in the 20-foot range.Those pars sparked the turnaround.“There's a lot less pressure when you're 6 over and you're just rocking and rolling,” he said.He was rolling, all right. The wind switched and was at his back on the first hole, so his caddie suggested he hit driver.“Best swing of the day,” Mitchell said. It led to birdie, and he was on his way.He hit wedge to 3 feet on the third, holed a 10-footer for birdie on the fourth, and then hit his second shot to 12 feet on the par-5 fifth and made eagle. He closed out his remarkable round with an approach to 8 feet on the rough nine for his 29.He might have taken a 70 at the start of the day. He certainly would have taken it after his opening seven holes.“If you hit the fairway, you have a chance — I didn't do that very often on the back nine — and then you have a chance to get on the green,” Mitchell said.He did that on the front nine, not missing a fairway and only missing the green on one of the long holes. And suddenly, the game felt easy.“Fortunately, I hit it really, really well,” he said. ___AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason is one of the more coveted restricted free agents this offseason, with many teams searching for defense on the perimeter. For that reason, Houston may have competition in re-signing the LSU product after he averaged 10.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals on 35.8% from 3-point range.Recently, NBA insider John Hollinger revealed a prediction for Eason's value this summer. Hollinger estimated that his next contract would be worth $75 million over three seasons. Hollinger also expressed belief that Houston would re-sign Eason, saying, "One presumes the Rockets would match reasonable offer sheets given their mostly manageable cap sheet."However, this does open the door for a non-contender with more cap space to put pressure on the Rockets by signing Eason to a much more lucrative offer sheet.This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Insider predicts value of Tari Eason's next contract with Rockets

Jun. 18—GRAND FORKS — UND has landed a recruit it has long coveted.Nolan Fitzhenry, a forward from Andover, Minn., and the Herald'sNo. 1-ranked U.S.-born college hockey recruitfor 2027-28, gave a verbal commitment to UND on Thursday, ending an 18-month recruiting process.Fitzhenry chose UND over Minnesota."The biggest thing is the culture and people they have there," Fitzhenry said. "Their staff is just great and they're super supportive of me. They have really great people. It's a great culture and environment to be in."The 5-foot-11, 182-pound forward led the U.S. Under-17 Team in goals (21) and finished second in points (45) in 51 games last season.Fitzhenry was called up to the U.S. Under-18 Team late in the season and was one of five 2009-born players to play for the Americans in the IIHF World Under-18 Championship in Slovakia.Fitzhenry's game is much more than offense, though.He's noted for his all-around details, his competitiveness and his off-the-ice character.One scout told the Herald he's a Zach Parise-style winger, who scores around the net and plays in all situations. Another said he has a release comparable to Brock Boeser or Will Zellers.TheAthletic's way-too-early 2027 NHL mock draftplaced Fitzhenry at No. 12 overall.Prior to joining the U.S. National Team Development Program, Fitzhenry spent two years at Shattuck-St. Mary's Prep School, playing for the 14U and 16U teams. He helped Shattuck win a national championship at the 16U level."The biggest way to describe him is that he's a gamer," Shattuck-St. Mary's 16U coach Rich Metro said. "I don't use that word lightly. He shows up when the chips are down and takes the bull by the horns and can make a difference."Fitzhenry had already earned a spot at the NTDP before playing in the 16U national championship in 2025."He showed a different maturity level," Metro said. "He wasn't worried about himself. He wanted to win for the team. He showed up for the team when we needed it. He was absolutely ripping it up."Fitzhenry became eligible to receive an offer and commit on Aug. 1, 2025, but was patient with his recruitment.UND stuck with it.All four Fighting Hawks coaching staff members — head coach Dane Jackson, associate head coach Matt Smaby, assistant coach Dillon Simpson and general manager Bryn Chyzyk — visited Fitzhenry a couple of weeks ago.Fitzhenry informed UND's staff of his decision this week."I told the coaches my main priority would be the year with the NTDP," Fitzhenry said. "We took a little break from the process throughout the year. Once I got back home from the summer, I really started to think and started to make my decision. It wasn't until pretty recently that I decided NoDak is the spot. I have no doubt in my mind it's going to be a perfect fit for me."Fitzhenry visited UND last August."I loved it," he said. "It's a super cool facility. Everything is top-notch. You get so many resources given to you. And the campus was great, too."With Fitzhenry's commitment, UND now has three National Team Development Program commitments of the same birth year for the first time ever.Defensemen Beck Thoreson and Carson Scott, also 2009-born players from Minnesota, previously committed to UND.UND has had two NTDP players of the same birth year several times — Danny Kristo and Mike Cichy (1990), Gage Ausmus and Keaton Thompson (1995), Chris Wilkie and Shane Gersich (1996), Grant Mismash and Adam Scheel (1999), Tyler Kleven and Jake Sanderson (2002), E.J. Emery and Sam Laurila (2006) — but it has never had three."I've been texting with those guys a lot since I made my decision," Fitzhenry said of Thoreson and Scott. "We're all super excited. It's honestly the perfect spot for all of us. We're going to be playing with each other quite a bit. We've talked about possibly being roommates. It will be fun to figure out together."Fitzhenry will return to play for the U.S. Under-18 Team in the fall. His season will culminate with the IIHF World Under-18 Tournament, which will be held in Duluth, Minn.He said there are things he will look to improve in his game this season, but his big goal is team-oriented."I'm super excited for this year," Fitzhenry said. "It's going to be the last year for us as a group. The end goal is going to be to win gold at U18 Worlds. I'm looking ahead to that. There will be areas to improve on — some of my puck play in the offensive zone, using cutbacks, using my body and speed to keep the play going, trying to find teammates, playing give-and-go hockey — but the biggest goal is to win at U18 Worlds."

The director of national intelligence’s office was created in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks. Now some lawmakers want to shrink it.

Thanks to a two-hour fog suspension on Thursday, Round 1 of the 126th U.S. Open will concluded Friday morning. Play will resume at 6:35 a.m. ET with Round 2 tee times pushed back 15 minutes.Coverage begins on Peacock at 6:30 a.m. ET before NBC starts up at 1:30 p.m. Golf Channel's "Live From the U.S. Open" wraps up the day from 7:30-9:30 p.m. (begins as soons as play concludes.)Also, download the Golf Channel mobile app for live scores.Here's a look at the adjusted second-round tee times and groupings in Southampton, New York:TimeTeePlayers6:50 AMEDT1William MouwRyder Cowan (a)Hennie Du Plessis6:50 AMEDT10Niklas NørgaardRocco Repetto TaylorSudarshan Yellamaraju7:01 AMEDT1Adrien SaddierJackson Van ParisUgo Coussaud7:01 AMEDT10Laurie CanterJohn ParryBryan Lee (a)7:12 AMEDT1Neal ShipleyMatti SchmidBud Cauley7:12 AMEDT10Chris KirkMax McGreevyJake Knapp7:23 AMEDT1Pierceson CoodyZac BlairKevin Roy7:23 AMEDT10Harry HallMichael BrennanAndrew Putnam7:34 AMEDT1Aaron RaiCollin MorikawaJason Day7:34 AMEDT10Davis ThompsonPreston Stout (a)David Puig7:45 AMEDT1Bryson DeChambeauViktor HovlandMatt Fitzpatrick7:45 AMEDT10Ryo HisatsuneCorey ConnersRyan Fox7:56 AMEDT1Dustin JohnsonWyndham ClarkGary Woodland7:56 AMEDT10Ryan GerardRussell HenleyBen Griffin8:07 AMEDT1Joaquin NiemannAlex SmalleyShane Lowry8:07 AMEDT10Justin ThomasHideki MatsuyamaXander Schauffele8:18 AMEDT1Akshay BhatiaCarlos OrtizMin Woo Lee8:18 AMEDT10Nicolai HøjgaardNico EchavarriaRobert MacIntyre8:29 AMEDT1Justin RoseJordan SpiethJon Rahm8:29 AMEDT10J.T. PostonPatrick CantlayBilly Horschel8:40 AMEDT1Ben KohlesJohnny KeeferMatt McCarty8:40 AMEDT10Arni Sveinsson (a)Taihei SatoMarcelo Rozo8:51 AMEDT1Angel HidalgoMateo Pulcini (a)Spencer Tibbits8:51 AMEDT10Nick HardyCole HammerJack Schoenberger9:02 AMEDT1Matthew Robles (a)Jake SollonManav Shah9:02 AMEDT10Marek Fleming (a)T.K. KimGiuseppe Puebla (a)12:45 PMEDT1Chandler PhillipsHarry HiggsHamilton Coleman (a)12:45 PMEDT10James NicholasTaylor MontgomeryCaleb Surratt12:56 PMEDT1Nathan KimseyJackson Herrington (a)Cooper Dossey12:56 PMEDT10Ethan Fang (a)Jayden SchaperJackson Suber1:07 PMEDT1Peter UihleinEric Lee (a)Sam Stevens1:07 PMEDT10Chase Kyes (a)Matthew JordanAlejandro Tosti1:18 PMEDT1Adrien Dumont de ChassartBen SilvermanEmiliano Grillo1:18 PMEDT10Carl YuanBrandon WuJimmy Stanger1:29 PMEDT1Patrick RodgersKeith MitchellGraeme McDowell1:29 PMEDT10Padraig HarringtonMiles Russell (a)Cameron Smith1:40 PMEDT1Sungjae ImLucas HerbertKristoffer Reitan1:40 PMEDT10Brooks KoepkaCameron YoungChris Gotterup1:51 PMEDT1Sam BurnsTyrrell HattonSi Woo Kim1:51 PMEDT10Daniel BergerKeegan BradleyRickie Fowler2:02 PMEDT1Rory McIlroyLudvig ÅbergTommy Fleetwood2:02 PMEDT10Patrick ReedAndrew NovakKurt Kitayama2:13 PMEDT1Alex NorenMaverick McNealySepp Straka2:13 PMEDT10Harris EnglishAdam ScottNick Taylor2:24 PMEDT1Max GreysermanBrian HarmanJacob Bridgeman2:24 PMEDT10Mason Howell (a)Scottie SchefflerJ.J. Spaun2:35 PMEDT1Alex FitzpatrickTom KimBen James2:35 PMEDT10Sahith TheegalaJackson Koivun (a)Michael Kim2:46 PMEDT1Brandon Holtz (a)Ryuichi OiwaDylan Wu2:46 PMEDT10J.B. HolmesFilippo CelliJackson Ormond (a)2:57 PMEDT1Greyson LeachLogan Reilly (a)Robbie Higgins2:57 PMEDT10Jake PeacockVaughn Harber (a)Kaito OnishiU.S. OPEN NEWSLETTERSign up for the Rex & Lav “Live From” newsletter. Enjoy on-site insight, news and commentary from the game’s biggest events. SIGN UP NOW!

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Shinnecock’s gonna be tough, they said. Winds are going to blow everybody off the course, they said. It’s going to be fraternity-house-on-a-Saturday-morning carnage, they said. Yes, well. Matters didn’t quite turn out like they said, and Wyndham Clark took advantage, finishing 16 holes at -6 before play was suspended due to darkness. The 2023 U.S. Open champion now leads the 2026 version by four strokes with two holes left to play on Friday morning. Clark, along with fellow leaderboard figures Dustin Johnson (-2, three holes to play), Jon Rahm (-2, five holes to play), Matt Fitzpatrick (-2, two holes to play) and many others, took advantage of perhaps the luckiest break in recent major history. The USGA, which runs the Open, decided to blunt the expected effect of high winds by softening up and slowing down the greens. But a fog bank delayed the tournament by two hours, the most gusty winds didn’t materialize, and by late afternoon only a gentle breeze ran through the course. That gave the lucky dozens in the afternoon wave the opportunity to fire away on a toothless, clawless course. Click here for the full leaderboardAnd man, did they take advantage. Clark led the charge, with his most notable shot of the day coming on the par-5 5th:It’s been one heck of a run lately for Clark, who struggled for years following his 2023 win at LA Country Club. But he’s found his form, and since the PGA Championship has a win at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, a solo third-place finish at the Memorial, and a T11 at the RBC Canadian Open. Clark was grouped with fellow former U.S. Open winners Johnson and Gary Woodland, and remarkably enough, all three played some fantastic golf. Johnson’s card included a run of four birdies in a row, though a late double-bogey dropped him four strokes off Clark’s lead. Woodland rode a similar run of late birdies to a similar, but still-incomplete -2 round. The horn sounded at Shinnecock Hills at 8:25, and the late-day sunlight cast long shadows over the greens. The players, understandably, wanted to play in these benign conditions as long as possible, but had to succumb to the sunset. Players were allowed to finish out the hole they had begun. Some chose to (Clark), some did not (Johnson, Woodland, Rahm) The late-day birdie-fest surely frustrated the players in the morning wave, who fought through gusting winds throughout their round. Friday’s rounds will only be delayed by 15 minutes, thanks to the more rapid play by the afternoon wave. The USGA will likely do everything short of laying down spike strips on the greens to toughen them up for Friday and the weekend, meaning Clark did a good job of staking himself a huge lead when he could.

The New York Jets have spent the offseason addressing several areas of concern. They upgraded the roster through the draft, added veteran leadership on defense, and continued building around a young offensive nucleus that includes Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, and several promising newcomers. Despite all the additions and improvements, one question continues to overshadow everything else. Recently, Fox Sports examined the biggest question facing every AFC team entering the summer.For the Jets, the answer was both predictable and unavoidable. Will Geno Smith give New York what it needs at quarterback?"Smith may be an upgrade over Justin Fields, but he struggled mightily last season as the Las Vegas Raiders' starter, throwing a league-high 17 interceptions. Returning to the Jets, where he started his NFL career as a second-round pick in 2013, Smith will have a promising cast of pass-catchers to throw to."That assessment is difficult to dismiss. Quarterback remains the most important position in professional sports, and the Jets have spent years searching for stability under center. Smith's arrival was intended to provide exactly that. While his career resurgence with the Seattle Seahawks demonstrated that he is capable of playing at a high level, his most recent campaign raised legitimate questions about whether he can consistently perform as a difference-maker.At the same time, the supporting cast around him appears stronger than many national observers realize. Arthur noted that Smith will have Garrett Wilson, Kenyon Sadiq and Omar Cooper Jr. at his playmaker disposal. That list doesn't even include several other young pieces the Jets hope will contribute to an improved offense.The reality is simple. If Smith performs well, the Jets could surprise people. The roster appears significantly stronger than the one that struggled through a disappointing 2025 season. Aaron Glenn's coaching staff has been reinforced with experienced voices such as offensive coordinator Frank Reich, and the front office has worked aggressively to improve depth across the roster.If Smith struggles, however, many of those improvements may become irrelevant. That is why Fox Sports arrived at the same conclusion so many Jets fans already have.Can Geno Smith still be the quarterback who revived his career and earned two Pro Bowl selections? If the answer is yes, the Jets may have a chance to exceed expectations. If not, the search for answers at quarterback could continue for another year.Jets Wire will continue to provide updates throughout the 2026 offseason. This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: What is the biggest question still remaining for the Jets in 2026?

Following an underwhelming draw to Bosnia in its World Cup opener, Canada made a statement on its home soil by blanking Qatar 6-0 on Thursday in Group B play. In the middle of the offensive onslaught, Canada lost midfielder Ismael Kone with an apparent leg injury in the second half after Qatar's Assim Madibo came in for the tackle, which led to him being sent off with a red card.The severe injury led to FOX's cameras catching a testy interaction postgame between Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui and Canada coach Jesse Marsch on the field, with Marsch walking off from the brief fireside chat and throwing his hands up in the air.Asked about the exchange in his postgame press conference, Marsch declined to comment further.“I’m not spending one second, it’s not worth any of our time to discuss," Marsch said.This interaction postgame between Qatar head coach Julen Lopetegui and Canada head coach Jesse Marsch pic.twitter.com/SHJUPPA74m— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 19, 2026Kone was stretchered off the field in Vancouver after being tended to by medical staff, who also put an air cast on him.“Ismael is such a great kid, he's imperfect but that is why we love him," Marsch told reporters after the game "He can do things that no other player can do. He embodies a lot of what this team is. He was our best player against Bosnia.“He is a huge loss for us. Our hearts are with him, but that kid has a huge future.”With its win, Canada now has four points in the Group B standings with a 1-1-0 record. The Canadians are tied with Switzerland for first place in the standings, though Canada holds the goal differential tiebreaker against Switzerland. The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Watch Jesse Marsch postgame exchange after Ismael Kone injury vs Qatar

The Los Angeles Dodgers could be headed down a familiar road, targeting superstar reliever Aroldis Chapman to push for the team’s three-peat. Chapman has been one of the most dominant closers in baseball for a very long time at this point, throwing harder than anyone else and avoiding bats with his fastball still in his late 30s. He is somewhat of a rental, possessing just one year left on his contract in 2026 and a vesting option for 2027. Additionally, Chapman is on one of MLB’s spiraling teams — the Boston Red Sox — making him clearly available for a trade if the right price comes in.Jun 16, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes (left) talks with Spectrum SportsNet LA play-by-play announcer Joe Davis before the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesInsider Jeff Passan has the odds of a Chapman trade happening at 90%, and among the best fits in the league for him was the Dodgers. “Relief pitchers often are some of the most impactful deadline acquisitions, and Boston’s closer is as effective as ever. Chapman doesn’t throw as hard as he once did, but he has four distinct pitches now,” Passan wrote in his story. “And he’s still chucking his fastball in the high 90s, which is plenty of velocity when hitters need to gear up for his slider and splitter. Here’s the greatest truism of the deadline: Everyone needs a good reliever. Teams will climb over each other for Chapman.”Why Chapman makes sense for the DodgersThe Dodgers’ bullpen has shown a sense of vulnerability over the past few weeks, dropping from one of the best in the league to a good, not great group.The team’s closer, Edwin Diaz, is in line for a 2026 return after the All-Star break, but it is still to be seen how he does upon his comeback.At the highest level, only Tanner Scott, Will Klein, and Alex Vesia stand out as the more reliable pitchers, with Kyle Hurt, Jack Dreyer, Blake Treinen, and Edhardo Henriquez remaining quite inconsistent. A trio of Scott, Diaz, and Chapman would be elite in the postseason and would put the Dodgers as one of the clearer favorites in recent memory.Champman’s history with the DodgersJun 18, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (44) pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays during the ninth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn ImagesThe Dodgers had a deal in place back in 2015 during the offseason, sending a massive package to the Cincinnati Reds to form an elite duo with Kenley Jansen.They agreed to send two prospects to the Dodgers in exchange for Chapman, but before the deal was finalized, a disturbing police report emerged about the pitcher. He was accused of choking his 22-year-old girlfriend, Cristina Barnea, and firing eight shots in the garage of his Florida home, per an ESPN report. The case was not prosecuted due to conflicting accounts and insufficient evidence, but an MLB investigation ultimately resulted in a 30-game suspension. Chapman admitted to picking up a gun and firing eight shots into the wall, but he has denied harming his girlfriend.However, upon learning of the allegations, the Dodgers pulled out of the trade, and he was later traded to the New York Yankees. A year after the canceled trade, the Dodgers reportedly made a run at Chapman in free agency in 2016, but he wanted to remain on the East Coast. Since then, Chapman has not been involved in any subsequent off-field incidents. All those years later, Chapman could end up with the Dodgers via a trade, with the team having the capital to get a deal and add him at a time when he is still throwing the baseball hard and fast.

Manav Shah of Bakersfield is playing in the U.S. Open golf championship tournament at Shinnecock Hills in Southampton N.Y. Scheduled to start at 11:42 a.m. Pacific time on Thursday, morning fog forced a two-hour delay in the opening round. As a result, Shah’s first-round tee time won’t be until at least 1:42 p.m. Pacific (4:42 p.m. Eastern). Shah is playing in the final group of the day and will start on the No. 10 tee.Shah’s second-round tee time Friday is scheduled for 8:47 a.m. Pacific, but that, too, could be altered if players are not able to finish their opening round Thursday. Shah and others would come back early in the morning Friday to complete the first round before second-round play could begin.

Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty ImagesRumours linking LeBron James to the Golden State Warriors aren’t hard to brush aside. The idea of the NBA’s all-time leading scorer leaving the Los Angeles Lakers for a $15 million deal feels like a reach. Most league insiders still expect James to stay in Los Angeles. The Lakers can offer significantly more money, his family is rooted in Southern California, and at 41, he has little reason to leave tens of millions of dollars on the table. But even if it’s just posturing, what’s interesting about this report is less about LeBron and more about what it says about where the Warriors are heading into 2026.Across more than ten years, the Warriors have left a massive mark on the NBA. They won four titles, reached the Finals six times, and built a dynasty around Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Steve Kerr. But dynasties don’t last forever. Golden State missed the playoffs in 2026 and were nowhere near contending, yet they still believe they can reload instead of starting over.Curry is still one of the league’s top talents, but time isn’t on his side. He’s only getting older, and each season that passes feels more important than ever. The links to another superstar make sense because Golden State knows there’s no time to waste.Photo by Michael Owens/Getty ImagesLeBron James’ golden opportunity is connected to Steph CurryThere’s a different angle to this story worth considering. Golden State isn’t targeting LeBron because they think there’s some hidden advantage. They’re doing it because Stephen Curry is still good enough to warrant big moves. Players like Curry don’t come around often, and the Warriors are well aware of that. The front office knows that every year left in his career is another chance they can’t afford to waste.Even if signing LeBron doesn’t happen, just looking into it shows a franchise that isn’t willing to let Curry’s final years slip by without effort. That approach makes sense, especially now that landing another star has become one of the front office’s biggest obstacles.It wasn’t all that long ago when these rumours seemed impossible. The idea of LeBron taking a pay cut felt unrealistic given what he could earn and where he was in his career at 39 years old. But things change quickly in the NBA.The Lakers’ recent struggles haven’t helped matters either, with three consecutive first-round playoff exits raising questions about their direction and commitment to remaining competitive. Even so, most around the league still expect him to stay put – not only because Los Angeles can offer more money but also because uprooting his family doesn’t make much sense at this stage.The $15 million rumour says more about Golden State than LeBron himself and shines a light on where the Warriors find themselves as they look ahead to 2026/27.TheGolden State need another elite creatorThe modern NBA is brutal on teams that lean too heavily on a single offensive engine. Even at this stage, Curry carries enormous responsibility. Defences still build entire game plans around him, trap him beyond the arc, and try to force the ball out of his hands whenever possible.James would ease many of those problems immediately. Even at 41, he remains one of basketball’s most gifted playmakers, and the image of Curry working off the ball while James orchestrates the offence is enough to make any coach dream. The fit is compelling not because it is realistic, but because it is easy to picture how devastating it could be.Reports suggest the Warriors could be looking at the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception, expected to be about $15 million. While that’s not an insignificant figure, it’s a far cry from the more than $50 million James earned last season.Los Angeles can offer several things Golden State simply cannot: Bird rights, a much larger contract, and the stability that comes with staying in one place. James has built his life and career in Southern California, and any move north would have to be made purely for basketball reasons.Read more:Spurs stand by De’Aaron Fox despite Finals performance questionsUtah Jazz’s choice remains clear despite Darryn Peterson’s preferenceTrae Young’s future is one of the biggest questions of the NBA offseason

PONTOTOC – Pontotoc is hoping to go on a deep playoff run this year, and the Warriors have plenty of familiar faces coming back.The Warriors are coming off a 19-11 season this past year where they were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by eventual state runner-up Holmes County Central.“Pretty much our whole starting five is back,” Pontotoc head coach Rolley Tipler said. “And now we’re really just working on developing more depth. We’ve been having to, on varsity, playing 10 and rotating a mixture. We haven’t had a starting five together, so a mixture of 10. And it’s been working well for us, and we’ve been having some good stuff out there.”Omaree Scott led Pontotoc with 15.9 points per game last year as a junior. Dalyn Powell (10.8 points per game last year) and Chayton Johnson (10.7) behind Scott will make it three returners for Pontotoc who had double-digit points per game last season. Having that kind of returning experience is a huge plus.“The last time we did that, we made a decent run, so hopefully that happens again,” Tipler said. “That’s where we’re at right now. Try to just bring guys that we’ve been having start since the ninth grade and hopefully see it manifesting into a deep run.”Pontotoc is also working on developing its depth this summer.“I’m loving the fact that we’ve got a lot of guys that are stepping up,” Tipler said. “We’ve been rotating 10 guys at a time, so everybody’s getting plenty of time to get ready for the season. Hopefully, in the season, it’s kind of helped expand on what we had last year and help with our rotation by adding two or three more players to take up from what we lost last year.”Kayden Carruthers averaged 8.7 points and 3.1 rebounds per game last year as a sophomore, and he likes where the team is at right now.“Games-wise, I feel great with the team,” Carruthers said. “The team looks way better than last year. We’re moving a lot better. We’re playing with each other, and I feel like we’re looking toward a state championship.”

BOONEVILLE — If Tupelo’s girls are to return to Jackson, the road will be paved largely by new faces.The Golden Wave are breaking in four new starters this summer. The team reached the state championship game three years in a row (winning it all in 2024 and 2025) before being knocked out in the quarterfinals last season.“We've got a lot of new faces down, as you can tell,” coach Matt Justice said. We’ve got four or five (sic) new girls that are kind of stepping into different roles, so we’re just trying to figure them out this summer and see what they can do so that we know what we have to work on come August.”In a summer league game against New Hope at Northeast Mississippi Community College on Thursday morning, Tupelo was led in scoring by one of those new faces; eighth-grader Aubrey Thomas.Thomas, a transfer from Ridgeland, led the Golden Wave with 13 points in its 38-15 win. She is just 12 years old, but holds a Division I offer from UT Martin.“We're excited about her, and she's really young,” Justice said. “She’s got a lot to work on, but her ability right now, and raw ability at her age, is impressive.”Another new face is Bri Macon, a senior who transferred in from Itawamba AHS. She will be counted on as an inside-out piece on offense. She had four points in Thursday’s win.Everyone in the program, from those who are in their first year to those who have been in it for a while, are aware of the expectations. The time leading up to the regular season will be spent honing in on the desire to return to The Big House.“We got a lot of young ones, but the ones that have been here and have seen it, it's their time to step up and keep pushing each other and pushing our program to that level each year,” Justice said. “Getting them to understand that is a process, and taking ownership of the team, and that's what we're trying to get them to understand, is that they have to take ownership of it and want that for our program.”

GRAND CHUTE - For the first time in program history, Pewaukee Pirates baseball is the WIAA state champion."Feels incredible. We've been chasing a long time, special for this group of kids. They earned it. Did not have high expectations coming in. Young team, rebuild-type year, and they just went out and got it. Twenty-six games in a row is unbelievable," Pewaukee co-head coach Adam Dobberstein said. The Pirates defeated Kenosha St. Joseph Catholic Academy 5-4 at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium to hang on despite nearly seeing their three-run lead evaporate in the top of the seventh.A go-ahead two-RBI single by Pirates junior Jack Tabbert had given Pewaukee the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Coming off what he desribed as a rough day at the plate in the state semifinal, Tabbert said phone calls with his parents helped the UW-Madison football commit reset for the big moment in the title game. The junior faced his moment of retribution after drawing a full count with runners on first and second in a 2-2 game in the fifth."I just knew the game might be on the line here, so I gotta smoke one. One of my coaches was talking about just right-center approach, and just take it the other way. It was awesome. It was everything I've been working for for my whole life," Tabbert said.The potential extra-base hit liner to right was limited to a single as Tabbert was floating around first from his go-ahead hit, missed the bag and had to retreat."I didn't know the technical rule, so I didn't want to go to second and then have me call them out, and those runs don't score," Tabbert said.With a state gold medal around his neck after playing a pivotal role in Pewaukee's first WIAA baseball title, the future Badgers offensive lineman may have a new love after a spring fling on the diamond."Even though I'm a football guy, I mean, if you ask me right now, baseball is my favorite sport," Tabbert said. "It goes back and forth, but it was just amazing to be able to go out there and do that for my team."Pewaukee led 5-2 with three defensive outs remaining and junior Max Metz on the mound for his third inning of relief looking to close the door. Metz was promoted from JV at the end of the regular season, got one regular-season outing and was suddenly thrust into pivotal spots throughout the Pirates' playoff run. His contributions were emblematic of a program that relied on first-time varsity players throughout a 30-2 season."When I got pulled up for the last two games of the season, everyone was super welcoming. Everyone had my back from the first game. It was awesome. We all picked each other up, and everyone played a part and contributed," Metz said.After inducing a groundout to the leadoff hitter, KSJCA senior Dominic Santarelli reached on an infield single. Any hopes of a one-out game-tying rally were dealt a significant blow when Pewaukee catcher Hudson Bremberger gunned down Santarelli trying to steal second."Incredible leader, I mean, he's our glue. Hudson's dad Bryan was a captain on my first team at Pewaukee in 2001, and was a great athlete, so I'm at that phase where you get the second generation, but Hudson is just cerebral, tough and there were other things today. ... He was doing little things every inning to help the team win," Dobberstein said.The Lancers proved they were not ready to lay down, as Christopher Kenesie walked before Zach Rizzo launched a two-run home run to dead center to make it a one-run game. Still an out away from the title, Dobberstein took a mound visit to lighten the mood for his junior pitcher."I just asked him if he ever in a million years thought that he would be here this year, and he laughed. I was hoping to get him to smile, and he said, 'Never in a million years.' I said, you've just gotta relax and fill up the zone and get the last out," Dobberstein said."He just came out and smiled at me, and I cracked a smile, and I just started laughing. It was like, you just gotta laugh about something like that, and just get the last one," Metz said.He would do just that, inducing Patrick Davidson to fly out to center to send a band of happy Pirates flooding out of the dugout. Dobberstein, who had amassed over 500 career wins as a head coach with his brother Marc by his side, could finally raise a state title trophy with his brother on behalf of his baseball family."It's a family deal, so I'm so happy for him. I'm happy for my nephew Brooks, happy that they got to experience that together. Just a really special thing," Adam Dobberstein said.Dobberstein added that a victory parade awaited in Pewaukee, something the city has grown accustomed to in other sports, but never before in baseball."In the last 12 years, we've been to eight sectionals, six sectional finals and four state tournaments, so we've had some state-caliber teams, but it takes a bit of good luck, right? You don't throw that guy out on second base, that ball skips two inches the other way, and all of a sudden you're in a tie game, so it means a lot. We've had a lot of great athletes at Pewaukee, especially in this last eight- to 10-year window," Dobberstein said.Metz pitched the final three innings in relief, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk. Sophomore JonDavid Jacobs started the game and pitched four innings, allowing one earned run on three hits and four walks. Logan Peterson and Tabbert led the offense with two hits each, with Peterson scoring twice and Tabbert driving in two.This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Pewaukee Pirates baseball team wins first WIAA state championship

The author of books like “The Possible Human,” she held workshops that drew on mythology, psychology and the experiential ethos of Esalen. But she refused to be called a guru.

The spectacle seemed targeted to the young male voters drifting away from the president. Some were skeptical.

Wyndham Clark seized a four-stroke lead when darkness halted the first round of the 126th US Open at Shinnecock (Warren Little)Wyndham Clark made an eagle and two birdies in three holes to seize a four-stroke lead when darkness halted Thursday's first round of the 126th US Open at blustery Shinnecock.The 32-year-old American started on the back nine and answered a bogey at the par-three second hole with back-to-back birdies at three and four, the latter from 22 feet, and sank a three-foot eagle putt at the par-five fifth to reach six-under par.Clark, the 2023 US Open champion who says he's seeking redemption after smashing a locker at Oakmont after missing the cut at last year's championship, parred six after a 61-foot chip to within inches of the hole then parred the seventh before play was halted."It was a nice start for sure," Clark said. "It was a tough day. It was tough for everybody, I think. Biggest thing for me, I stayed patient. Didn't have my best stuff, but I made a lot of putts and saved myself to keep the momentum going."Happy with where I'm at for sure."Not since 1933 has a player led the US Open by four strokes after 18 holes, which Clark can achieve when he plays the eighth and ninth holes when the round resumes at 6:35 a.m. (1035 GMT) Friday.The lowest 18-hole score for a US Open at Shinnecock is four-under 66.Sharing second on two-under par 68 in the clubhouse were amateur Ryder Cowan and fellow Americans Sam Stevens and Max McGreevy.Four major winners were still on the course at two-under -- Spain's Jon Rahm after 13 holes, Americans Dustin Johnson and Gary Woodland after 15 holes and England's Matt Fitzpatrick after 16 holes.Johnson, a back-nine starter, had reeled off four consecutive birdies through the fourth hole but fell back with a three-putt double bogey at the sixth.Among those five strokes back sharing ninth in the clubhouse on 69 were six-time major winner Rory McIlroy and Sweden's Ludvig Aberg.Fog struck only 30 minutes after the round began and stopped play for two hours, a delay that saw 50 players stranded on the course at sunset.Gusting winds blew away the fog but combined with thick rough and greens slightly softened by watering to test the world's top golfers.Rahm made one of the day's best shots, a stunning 61-foot birdie putt at the par-three 17th, to reach two-under.McIlroy, another back-nine starter, shot 69 after closing with back-to-back bogeys after an 11-foot eagle putt on the fifth."Overall, a really good day," McIlroy said. "Obviously it stings a little bit to finish the way I did."A field of 156 chased a record top prize of $4.5 million from a record $22.5 million purse.Organizers kept green speeds below maximum and watered greens between waves to help balls stay on the putting surfaces amid the gusting winds.In the 2004 and 2018 US Opens at Shinnecock, brutal winds and high green speeds had groundskeepers watering greens between groups to keep the course playable."Greens were softer than I expected but thank goodness they were," American Keegan Bradley said. "They did what they had to do to play."- Scott's run hits 100 -Adam Scott, the 2013 Masters winner, made his 100th consecutive major start. The 45-year-old Australian fired a 73.Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler, seeking a victory to complete a career Grand Slam, shot 72."This course can change pretty rapidly from day to day," Scheffler said. "That's also part of the challenge of the tournament is adjusting to those conditions."Defending champion JJ Spaun opened with a 77 while fellow American Keith Mitchell shot 70 with a six-over 41 on the back nine then six-under 29 on the front -- just the seventh 29 for nine holes in US Open history."It's a lot less pressure when you're six-over," Mitchell said. "You're just kind of rocking and rolling."js/bb