The drone attack that sent plumes of smoke rising over Moscow intensified Ukrainian hopes of bringing the war to Russia.

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Q. Do you see an agreement between the NBA and the Euroleague possible for the creation of a new unified tournament? George Aivazoglou: I would say I see it the same way I have seen it for a while. The NBA has been very consistent that it wants to get involved with the Euroleague, and with all the European players, and bring them together as part of this new effort. I would say that the last few months have been very encouraging, with my good friend Chus Bueno. We have been in contact very often. We were together a few days ago in Geneva, and there is a very positive and very healthy exchange. From there, I would say, and Adam Silver and Mark Tatum also mentioned this, the NBA's decision is to move forward with this tournament with or without the Euroleague. But right now, there is a lot of focus, a lot of intention and energy going into those discussions, which will hopefully lead to a very positive outcome. But we still have a lot of work to do, that's the honest answer.Marca.comThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: George Aivazoglou: NBA will move forward in Europe with or without the Euroleague

Q. What feedback have you received from Real Madrid? Is it the cornerstone of the project? George Aivazoglou: Look, I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate President Florentino Perez on his recent re-election. I can't comment on any specific club and the interactions we've had. However, I would say that Real Madrid is one of the biggest and one of the best, if not the biggest, when we talk about their fan base, of all the clubs in the world. Who wouldn't want to have Real Madrid in a European League, right? So, and like I said, we've interacted with teams that have football programs, we've interacted with teams that have football and basketball programs, and we're very, very positive about how those conversations continue.Marca.comThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Real Madrid is one of the biggest and one of the best, …

Sam Amick: Right now, the sense is that if the Bucks, since it's just me talking, like if the Bucks said all right, Jaylen Brown for Giannis straight up, I think the deal is done. I think the Celtics don't think they should be having to put much if anything else in there. But what tugs at me and I guess why Lou answered the question that way is that like something is driving the Celtics to be interested, right? And they were interested at the deadline. And two things can be true. They can have the utmost respect and love for Jaylen Brown and the player he has become. But I'm one of those kind of actions over words people, and it's like something is keeping the Celtics inspired to remain in this conversation instead of just heading back to their corner and rocking with their team. I feel like maybe they do enough at the last minute to get the deal done, but the safe answer is Miami.YouTubeThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Right now, the sense is that if the Bucks, since it's …

Lou Williams: I’m going to throw some names out there and you give me your guess on where they'll be next year. All right? Sam Amick: Yes, sir. Williams: Let's start with Ja Morant. Amick: Ja Morant, I mean, the only two teams I've heard and I'll pick one of them is New Orleans and Sacramento, so I'll probably push it to New Orleans way. Chandler Parsons: I'm going to throw Minnesota out there just for fun. Chandler Parsons: I'm going to throw Minnesota out there just for fun. Amick: Yeah, that one's in there, too. Good call, Chandler.YouTubeThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Morant. Amick: Ja Morant, I mean, the only two teams …

Sactown Sports 1140: “[Zach LaVine and his agency] are not leaving that money on the table. So, he's not opting out." @sam_amick joined @CarmichaelDave & @JasonRoss1140 to share his intel on Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine's pending $49 million player option:x.comThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “[Zach LaVine and his agency] are not leaving that …

Plus, the Friday news quiz.

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Politicians and officials in Mexico are using the country’s laws to intimidate critics and the media, forcing them into censorship and blunting scrutiny.

In a high-profile Democratic House primary, there’s a fair chance that would-be voters may have been sweet-talked by the proud mothers of leading candidates.

Greg Gard and the Wisconsin Badgers secured a nice commitment with seven-footer Jack Thelen out of Maple Grove, Minnesota. A move that may help shape the Badgers’ frontcourt for years to come. The idea is pretty simple: you can’t teach size. Landing a legit seven-footer is difficult in today’s transfer-driven college basketball landscape. Even Thelen’s listed weight (hovering around 235-240 pounds) could be a major advantage once developed within the program’s system.Wisconsin’s long-term approach is to get Thelen into the program and allow him to develop as many Badgers big men over the last several years. Thelen isn’t expected to crack the rotation immediately. He represents a lottery ticket that could become an answer to some of the larger frontcourts the Badgers routinely see in the Big Ten.What makes Thelen stand out? Start with his strong footwork, rare for a high schooler his size. He flashes the ability to combine a variety of post moves while staying balanced, using drop steps, pivots, and counters. On film, Thelen also shows he’s been well coached, keeping the ball high off passes and rebounds to finish quickly at the rim.Recruiting a player like Thelen isn’t just about on-court fit; it demonstrates the need to add size in today’s college game. In the modern portal era, landing and developing size internally is more cost-effective than chasing expensive transfers every offseason.Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball: Scouting seven-footer Jack Thelen

Bradley Locker of Pro Football Focus put together his list of six NFL coaches who will enter the 2026 season on the hot seat, and not surprisingly, the Indianapolis Colts' Shane Steichen was mentioned.The Colts are currently in the midst of a five-year playoff drought, and Steichen has been at the helm for three of those seasons. Presumably, this is a make-or-break year for both him and GM Chris Ballard."The Colts re-signed both Jones and receiver Alec Pierce to monster contracts in March and have other talent like Jonathan Taylor, Sauce Gardner, Quenton Nelson and Laiatu Latu on the roster, but real questions permeate a defense that finished 21st in success rate. It’s tough to envision Steichen making it to a fifth year in blue if Indianapolis either starts flat or doesn’t reach the postseason."As Locker mentions, the Colts are banking on Steichen and Daniel Jones getting the offense to operate at a high level once again this season, just as they did through the first 10 games of last year.The Colts' red-hot start to the year did showcase the full capabilities of what the Steichen offense can look like. In addition to that, while the Colts didn't win any games with Phillip Rivers, Steichen's ability to mold the offense to Rivers' game on the fly and make changes from week to week was impressive.That said, even before Jones' injury, defenses were beginning to slow this unit down. And there are real questions still surrounding this Colts team entering the 2026 season.Jones is coming off a major injury, and it remains to be seen if all the roster turnover at defensive end will lead to improved play. The linebacker unit features several new and young players, while a battle for the WR3 role is taking place.Another area that Steichen must resolve is his team's performance down the stretch. Steichen enters Year 4 with the Colts with a 25-26 record.This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Why one analyst put Colts' Shane Steichen on hot seat for 2026 NFL season

FIFA World CupCzech Republic 1 - 1 South Africa FTTeboho Mokoena scored an 83rd-minute penalty to earn South Africa a draw against the Czech Republic at the World Cup.South Africa trailed after five minutes and seven seconds when Michal Sadilek latched on to a clever lay-off and rifled home the earliest goal of the tournament so far.Bafana Bafana, who also conceded early against Mexico in their tournament opener, eventually settled into the game and slowed down play, but they struggled to create chances and only managed their first shot on target in the 74th minute.But their fortunes finally changed as Thapelo Maseko's shot thundered into Pavel Sulc's arm in the Czech box with less than 10 minutes of normal time remaining.Mokoena made no mistake with the finish, slotting into the left corner.A point does little to help either side and their chances of qualifying for the knockout stages remain in the balance, with Mexico and South Korea above them in the Group A table.However, with the eight best third-placed teams progressing to the last 32 and three points likely to be enough to secure a place in the knockout stages, South Africa and the Czech Republic still have it all to play for in their final group games.South Africa face South Korea on Thursday, 25 June at 02:00 BST, while the Czechs will take on co-hosts Mexico in the Azteca at the same time.World Cup fixtures and group standingsHow to watch the World Cup on the BBCEverything you need to know about the World Cup

Bayer Leverkusen re-sign youngster from Schalke 04Two years after he left Bayer Leverkusen to join FC Schalke 04, Clinton Wilson is returning to Die Werkself.On Thursday, Leverkusen announced the return of the 18-year-old winger, who will initially play for the U19s.“Clinton Wilson is a player who is very difficult to stop: he’s quick, agile and good at finding solutions in one-on-one situations,” said Bayer Leverkusen director of football Kim Falkenberg.“He will breathe new life into our U19 attack.”Wilson, who moved to Germany from Ghana in early 2023, scored six goals and provided two assists in 24 games in the U19 DFB Youth League for Schalke 04 last season.

Gavi gives thoughts on Marc Cucurella move to Real Madrid – “Lamine Yamal has been teasing him”Earlier this week, Real Madrid announced the signing of Spain international defender Marc Cucurella from Chelsea. The 27-year-old will move to the Bernabeu later this summer, but first, he will be focused on achieving success with Spain at this summer’s World Cup.News of Cucurella’s move to Real Madrid dominated the Spanish camp in the 24 hours before La Roja’s goalless draw against Cape Verde on Monday. However, Barcelona’s Gavi has admitted that no one in the squad knew about the deal until mere hours before it was confirmed by the Bernabeu club, as he told RAC1.“We found out (Cucurella was joining Real Madrid) the day before, after training. We didn’t expect it and nobody knew, the b****** kept it very quiet. Lamine has been teasing him a bit, because now he will be the one to defend him in the Clasicos. But I like him as a rival. He’s tough and intense. He’s a good signing for Real Madrid, I’m happy for him.”Cucurella has shut down Lamine Yamal in the pastPhoto by Mike Hewitt/Getty ImagesThat battle between Cucurella and Lamine Yamal is one that many El Clasico viewers will have a vested interest in ahead of next season’s matches. The 18-year-old Barcelona winger was shut down by Alvaro Carreras in the first meeting between the sides during the 2025-26 campaign, and the new left-back has every chance of doing similar, given that he kept him quiet when Chelsea defeated in the Catalans in the Champions League last November.On the whole, Real Madrid will hope that Cucurella can help them improve their record against Barcelona. Over the last two seasons, Los Blancos have only won once against their arch rivals (2-1 in October 2025), and it will be up to Jose Mourinho to ensure that his side bucks this trend.

In “Regime Change,” two New York Times journalists offer a riveting chronicle of the weird fusion of reality and show business in the White House.

Achraf Hakimi made his Morocco debut in 2016 at the age of 17 [Getty Images]Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi will stand trial for rape, French prosecutors have confirmed. A woman accused the Paris St-Germain defender of raping her at his home in the French capital in 2023, when she was aged 24. The public prosecutor's office in Nanterre, a western suburb of Paris, began a preliminary investigation in March 2023.An investigating judge ordered a trial in February 2026 and French media report that Hakimi, 27, failed with a recent appeal to have the trial dismissed. Hakimi, who is set to lead his side out for their second World Cup fixture against Scotland on Friday (23:00 BST), has consistently denied the accusations."The justice system looked me in the eye and said, 'If you weren't famous, there would never have been a case,'" Hakimi wrote on social media on Friday."I chose to remain silent for years. I believed that maintaining my dignity, being patient, and trusting in the justice system would allow the right decisions to be made."Today, a story that isn't mine is being told at the expense of my family, my life, and above all, the truth. I sometimes feel like I've become an easy target. "I've been waiting for this trial since day one. And now I'm eagerly awaiting it. Finally, I'll be able to speak."Rachel-Flore Pardo, the plaintiff's lawyer said in a statement: "After more than three years of legal proceedings, and after my client was, in her view, defamed and dragged through the mud by Achraf Hakimi's defence, this decision brings her relief and hope."Relief that she has been heard by the justice system and will have the right to a trial."Hope that this trial will help other women and further weaken the wall of denial and impunity surrounding sexual violence, including in the world of men's football."A date has not yet been set for the start of the trial. All three of Morocco's group stage fixtures are being held in the United States, where the team are currently based.But should Morocco progress to the knockout stages, Hakimi could face difficulties in entering Canada or Mexico if their matches are scheduled outside the United States. Last week, Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey missed his country's opener against Panama after being denied entry to World Cup co-hosts Canada. Partey, 32, has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations by four different women between 2020 and 2022. He is due to stand trial next year.Canada's government website states that they can deny entry to any person that has "committed or been convicted of a crime". The World Cup is being held across all three co-host countries until the quarter-final stage, when it will be held exclusively in the US. Hakimi, who has won 97 caps for Morocco, made his international debut in 2016 at the age of 17.He was a key figure in the Morocco side that became the first African nation to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2022.The defender joined Paris St-Germain from Inter Milan in 2021, and has won 13 pieces of silverware during his time at the club - including back-to-back Champions League titles in the past two seasons. Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast

Bayern Munich plan lucrative contract extension for Michael Olise amid Real Madrid interestMichael Olise is coming off a sensational 2025/26 campaign with Bayern Munich, which saw him named Bundesliga Player of the Season after racking up 22 goals and 31 assists in 52 games in all competitions.The Frenchman’s performances have put him on the radar of Real Madrid, but Bayern have made clear on numerous occasions that they have no interest in letting him leave.Bild head of football Christian Falk now reports that, although Olise still has three years remaining on his current contract, Bayern are keen to extend it by a further two years until 2031 to secure his long-term future.As part of the proposed extension, Bayern are willing to increase Olise’s wages from around €15 million to the region of €25 million to make him one of the club’s absolute top earners.The 24-year-old is currently representing France at the World Cup and impressed with a Player of the Match-winning performance in his country’s 3-1 opening win over Senegal.

2026 FIFA World Cup | Jonathan David scores a hat-trick against QatarIt was a special day for Juventus Men's First Team star Jonathan David, who is proving to be a key player for co-hosts Canada at the 2026 Men's FIFA World Cup.The Canadian national team’s No. 10 capped off the 6-0 rout of Qatar in their second Group B match with a hat trick: the first came with a perfectly executed right-footed finish after a rebound; the second saw him tap in from close range after the ball was deflected by goalkeeper Mahmud Abunada; and finally, in the closing minutes, he struck from the heart of Qatar’s penalty area.It was the best way to celebrate Canada’s historic first victory in a World Cup finals match, making David the first Serie A player to score a hat trick in this competition since 1998 and the first from a host nation since 1966.A night to remember: congratulations, Jonathan!

Jose Alvarado: I always made my way. So, it was always like, "Yo, every time I got to come here, I got to prove to myself." And that's what my life is about, and that's fine with me, though. Q. So, even after being an NBA champion, now you still got that chip on your shoulder? Alvarado: Hell yeah, I got it. First of all, I got to go get paid. Q. Hopefully you’ll get the big contract, which you should. Alvarado: Yeah, hopefully, God willing. I want to be in this for a long time. I love this life, I love the NBA life. It feeds my family and it puts me in rooms where I can never be at. I'm here with y'all, you know what I'm saying? So, I got to work.YouTubeThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Jose Alvarado on free agency: I got to go get paid

Bobby Marks: Speaking of paying, we're going to probably have an eye on Karl-Anthony Towns. He is extension eligible. Jay, how about this number? Four years, $272 million. That is what Towns is extension eligible for. He's got two years left. He's got a player option for that second year. They can negotiate right now and he can sign that on July 6th. That's the number to certainly keep an eye on. Remember Jalen Brunson had given back some money. Mikal Bridges, will there be a compromise with Towns? Josh Hart is also extension eligible. Also, McBride, but Towns is going to be the player to focus on when we're looking at that next big contract here.YouTubeThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Four years, $272 million. That is what Towns is …

The Charlotte Hornets did well to land backup point guard Coby White at the February trade deadline, acquiring him for a package that included Collin Sexton, Ousmane Dieng and second-round draft capital. Following his arrival, White was a pivotal piece in Charlotte's offense, averaging 15.6 points, three rebounds and three assists in 19.3 minutes. White's impressive play also included NBA Play-In Tournament heroics against the Miami Heat, forcing overtime with a turnaround 3-pointer.While all signs pointed to Charlotte re-signing the former UNC guard this summer, the Hornets received bad news on that front earlier this week. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, league sources believe that Charlotte may have more competition to retain the guard than initially anticipated. "League sources say that, while the Hornets hope to retain Coby White, there is a perception in circulation that he could indeed be gettable this offseason. In that scenario, Charlotte could certainly try to execute a sign-and-trade deal to prevent losing him for nothing."If unable to reach an agreement with White, the Hornets could pivot to free agent guard Anfernee Simons or reunite with the aforementioned Sexton, who played well during his tenure.This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Hornets receive negative update on Coby White ahead of NBA free agency

Former England goalkeeper Mary Earps has joined London City Lionesses on a two-year deal after leaving Paris St-Germain. The 33-year-old left France after two seasons upon the expiry of her contract, having made 22 appearances in the Premiere Ligue this season.She kept 12 clean sheets as PSG finished third in the table, 13 points behind champions Lyon."I feel the club aligns with what I stand for. I can't wait to get started and to get down to business," said Earps"The club's values represent what I want to represent and they are passionate about what I want to achieve. All the conversations have been really positive and every time I spoke with the club I wanted to hear more."The vision and ambition, including the new training facility, is incredible and I'm looking forward to seeing that develop. It shows what our owner Michele [Kang] and everyone at the club want to do in terms of really going for it."It's about putting a marker down and saying we want to be competitive in a short space of time."Two-time Fifa Best Goalkeeper of the Year award-winner Earps played a crucial role in England's victory at Euro 2022 and their route to the 2023 World Cup final.She spent five years at Manchester United, making more than 100 appearances, and helped them win their first major trophy in 2024 as they lifted the Women's FA Cup.The goalkeeper earned many individual accolades during her successful international career before she announced her retirement in 2025.She became one of the country's most recognised and influential players, though her book - released in November - caused controversy and dominated headlines in the media for several weeks.However, on her return to Old Trafford earlier this season in the Women's Champions League, Earps was given a warm applause at full-time by home fans.There is a mural of Earps painted outside Old Trafford celebrating her spell at the club.London City Lionesses are demonstrating their summer ambition in the Women's Super League transfer window as they pursue several high-profile players.As well as Earps' return to England, they are set to sign Spain defender Mapi Leon and are in ongoing talks with two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas following her exit from Barcelona.London City Lionesses, who are backed by wealthy American businesswoman Michele Kang, finished sixth in their first season in the WSL in 2025-26."I feel I still have so much left to give to the game and that's exactly why I chose London City," said Earps."It won't be easy - the WSL is extremely competitive. The team had a brilliant 2025-26 season finishing mid-table in their first season, now it's about climbing the table and working towards finishing as high as possible."Analysis: Earps to challenge for number one shirtEarps' arrival will shake things up for London City Lionesses as they continue to prove their desire to sit among the WSL’s elite.She will provide stiff competition for current number one Elene Lete, as well as bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge of the league.Another bonus is the Earps brand, which will no doubt attract attention and publicity, in turn helping to grow London City’s name.That is a focus for the club - to capitalise on gaps in the commercial market and to grow their fanbase, as well as building an identity. To impact development on the pitch, their recruitment plans include attempts to bring in several big names as well as a healthy blend of youthful talent.This summer they are hoping to bring in up to seven players if they can persuade their key targets. After a solid debut campaign in the WSL, they will be hoping to challenge for a top-four spot this year but they are not the only ambitious club as Tottenham are also promising a strong transfer window.[BBC]New episodes of Women's Football Weekly podcast drop every Tuesday on BBC Sounds, plus find interviews and extra content from the Women's Super League and beyond on the Women's Football Weekly feedGet the latest WSL news on our dedicated page

Michail Antonio is a former West Ham striker who now plays in Qatar [PA Media]Footballer Michail Antonio will return to court next year over allegations he failed to tell police who was driving his Lamborghini when it was clocked speeding in Birmingham. The former Premier League striker was due to be sentenced at the city's magistrates' court on Friday, after being found guilty in his absence earlier this year. Judge Monroe agreed the case would be reheard in March, after he told the court his life had "spiralled" following a serious crash. "I wasn't around for the court [hearing] that just happened [because] I was in Qatar trying to sort my football career out," he said.Antonio spent three weeks in hospital after he crashed his Ferrari into a tree in Epping Forest in December 2024. He currently has six points on his licence, including for having no insurance at the time of the crash. His Lamborghini was caught speeding on Lee Bank Middleway and Belgrave Middleway in Birmingham city centre in March 2025, and he now faces a further six penalty points for failing to notify police of the identity of the driver the following month.If convicted, he will be disqualified from driving.But he told the told the judge on Friday he had given the vehicle to a car company for them to arrange a sale. "I almost died in a car crash on the 7th of December 2025," he told the court. "On the 1st of March I wasn't even physically driving at the time because I broke my femur [and] I wasn't allowed to drive."The judge decided to set aside the conviction and allow the case to be reheard. The 36-year-old Jamaica international, who now plays for a club in the Qatar Stars League, will next appear at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on 2 March. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. More on this story Michail Antonio faces ban for failing to name driver Related internet links HM Courts & Tribunals Service

The 2026 PGA Tour season continues on Friday, June 19, as the 126th edition of the U.S. Open continues at the grueling Shinnecock Hills Golf Course in Southampton, New York, as we wait to see who will win the third major tournament of the year. Round 1 was suspended due to darkness on Thursday night and resumes early Friday morning. As a result, the second-round tee times have been pushed back 15 minutes.MORE: Here’s why you should always root for the course at the U.S. OpenEntering Friday, Wyndham Clark sits atop the leaderboard at 6-under, while three players (Matt Fitzpatrick, Dustin Johnson, and Gary Woodland) sit at 3-under.Friday’s second round will air live from 6:30 a.m. ET to 5:00 p.m. ET on the USA Network, before the action shifts to NBC Sports Network from 5:00 p.m. ET to 8:00 p.m. ET. The entire opening round will air live on Peacock.When will your favorite golfer be hitting the course?A full look at the tee times and groupings for Round 2 on Friday, June 19, can be seen below (all times Eastern).— Watch the entire 2026 U.S. Open live stream on Peacock —U.S. Open Round 2 tee times & pairingsJun 18, 2026; Southampton, New York, USA; Wyndham Clark plays his tee shot on hole 1 during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn ImagesTee No. 16:50 a.m. – William Mouw, (a) Ryder Cowan, Hennie du Plessis7:01 a.m. – Adrien Saddier, Jackson Van Paris, Ugo Coussaud7:12 a.m. – Neal Shipley, Matti Schmid, Bud Cauley7:23 a.m. – Pierceson Coody, Zac Blair, Kevin Roy7:34 a.m. – Aaron Rai, Collin Morikawa7:45 a.m. – Bryson DeChambeau, Viktor Hovland, Matt Fitzpatrick7:56 a.m. – Dustin Johnson, Wyndham Clark, Gary Woodland8:07 a.m. – Joaquin Niemann, Alex Smalley, Shane Lowry8:18 a.m. – Akshay Bhatia, Carlos Ortiz, Min Woo Lee8:29 a.m. – Justin Rose, Jordan Spieth, Jon Rahm8:40 a.m. – Ben Kohles, Johnny Keefer, Matt McCarty8:51 a.m. – Angel Hidalgo, (a) Mateo Pulcini, Spencer Tibbits9:02 a.m. – (a) Matthew Robles, Jake Sollon, Manav Shah12:45 p.m. – Chandler Phillips, Harry Higgs, (a) Hamilton Coleman12:56 p.m. – Nathan Kimsey, (a) Jackson Herrington, Cooper Dossey1:07 p.m. – Peter Uihlein, (a) Eric Lee, Sam Stevens1:18 p.m. – Adrien Dumont de Chassart, Ben Silverman, Emiliano Grillo1:29 p.m. – Patrick Rodgers, Keith Mitchell, Graeme McDowell1:40 p.m. – Sungjae Im, Lucas Herbert, Kristoffer Reitan1:51 p.m. – Sam Burns, Tyrrell Hatton, Si Woo Kim2:02 p.m. – Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Åberg, Tommy Fleetwood2:13 p.m. – Alex Noren, Maverick McNealy, Sepp Straka2:24 p.m. – Max Greyserman, Brian Harman, Jacob Bridgeman2:35 p.m. – Alex Fitzpatrick, Tom Kim, Ben James2:46 p.m. – (a) Brandon Holtz, Ryuichi Oiwa, Dylan Wu2:57 p.m. – Greyson Leach, (a) Logan Reilly, Robbie HigginsTee No. 106:50 a.m. – Niklas Nørgaard, Rocco Repetto Taylor, Sudarshan Yellamaraju7:01 a.m. – Laurie Canter, John Parry, (a) Bryan Lee7:12 a.m. – Chris Kirk, Max McGreevy, Jake Knapp7:23 a.m. – Harry Hall, Michael Brennan, Andrew Putnam7:34 a.m. – Davis Thompson, (a) Preston Stout, David Puig7:45 a.m. – Ryo Hisatsune, Corey Conners, Ryan Fox7:56 a.m. – Ryan Gerard, Russell Henley, Ben Griffin8:07 a.m. – Justin Thomas, Hideki Matsuyama, Xander Schauffele8:18 a.m. – Nicolai Højgaard, Nico Echavarria, Robert MacIntyre8:29 a.m. – J.T. Poston, Patrick Cantlay, Billy Horschel8:40 a.m. – (a) Arni Sveinsson, Taihei Sato, Marcelo Rozo8:51 a.m. – Nick Hardy, Cole Hammer, Jack Schoenberger9:02 a.m. – (a) Marek Fleming, T.K. Kim, (a) Giuseppe Puebla12:45 p.m. – James Nicholas, Taylor Montgomery, Caleb Surratt12:56 p.m. – (a) Ethan Fang, Jayden Schaper, Jackson Suber1:07 p.m. – (a) Chase Kyes, Matthew Jordan, Alejandro Tosti1:18 p.m. – Carl Yuan, Brandon Wu, Jimmy Stanger1:29 p.m. – Padraig Harrington, (a) Miles Russell, Cameron Smith1:40 p.m. – Brooks Koepka, Cameron Young, Chris Gotterup1:51 p.m. – Daniel Berger, Keegan Bradley, Rickie Fowler2:02 p.m. – Patrick Reed, Andrew Novak, Kurt Kitayama2:13 p.m. – Harris English, Adam Scott, Nick Taylor2:24 p.m. – (a) Mason Howell, Scottie Scheffler, J.J. Spaun2:35 p.m. – Sahith Theegala, (a) Jackson Koivun, Michael Kim2:46 p.m. – J.B. Holmes, Filippo Celli, (a) Jackson Ormond2:57 p.m. – Jake Peacock, (a) Vaughn Harber, Kaito Onishi— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —

Were the Washington Commanders doing something weird or not weird in their mandatory minicamp?Grant Paulsen of "Grant & Danny" of 106.7 The Fan, inquired of former Washington tight end Logan Paulsen, "There was a weird way going about practice, where the starters were asked to do one thing but the backups were doing more? What can you tell us about that?"Logan Paulsen replied: "When I first got to Washington, I think it was 2012, we used to do split field practice," he said. "The No. 2 offense would go against the No. 1 defense, and the No. 1 offense would go against the No. 2 defense. So, this felt similar to that. They went through a one-on-one, kind of walk-through setting, where you can rep more specifically, like the communication combinations. It felt like it was a way to protect that big boy, varsity group, while letting the younger guys, the guys that need to prove themselves more, go with live bullets in that other section of practice. So, I think it serves as an opportunity to keep the big boys safe, the guys that you know are going to be part of the team. And it lets the young guys develop their craft and get some work."LP was on to something here. Why, at this stage, when you are not even in training camp yet, would you need to give the most active reps to the older, proven veterans? Why wouldn't you give those reps to those who need to develop, those who still need to prove themselves? Why not prep those guys more to see how they respond in training camp when the intensity and pads get turned on to a higher level?So, for example, LP continued to point out that receivers Jaylin Lane (Year 2) and Luke McCaffrey (Year 3) had some nice catches/reps this week. LP affirmed, "It gives that young group more opportunity, which I can attest to, having done this before, is really helpful in terms of development."Additionally, this makes all the sense in the world for both head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters. They are entering year three of the 2024 rookie class. Give those guys more work now, see if they develop this season. If they don't develop, you have done your part by providing them with an opportunity to grow and gain more intense reps. If they do develop and have a good 2026, that is great, and it helps Peters moving forward in his 2027 free agency and draft.This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: It was a unique and necessary minicamp

Strikes in Moscow

Premier League derby dates and fixtures for the 2026/27 seasonThe Premier League dates and fixtures for every derby in the 2026/27 season have been released. The new campaign will see Xabi Alonso begin his tenure as Chelsea manager with a West London Derby as the Blues make the short trip to Craven Cottage for a meeting with Fulham on the opening Monday night.Michael Carrick’s Manchester United will welcome Manchester City to Old Trafford just three weeks into the season when both sides will have new permanent head coaches in the dugout.Liverpool will play their two biggest local rivals on consecutive weekends as they travel to Everton on 21st November before welcoming Manchester United to Anfield on 28th November. The same will happen again in January.We have to wait until 5th December for the first North London Derby of the year when Spurs entertain Premier League champions Arsenal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.There will be two derbies on the final day of the season as Chelsea host Brentford while newly-promoted Coventry City entertain Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest on 30th May.Premier League derby dates and fixtures for 2026/27 in fullNorth London derbies:Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal — Saturday, 5th DecemberArsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur — Saturday, 1st MayManchester derbies:Manchester United vs Manchester City — Saturday, 12th SeptemberManchester City vs Manchester United — Saturday, 20th MarchMerseyside derbies:Everton vs Liverpool — Saturday, 28th NovemberLiverpool vs Everton — Saturday, 30th JanuaryTyne-Wear derbies:Newcastle United vs Sunderland — Saturday, 5th DecemberSunderland vs Newcastle United — Saturday, 1st MayNorth-west derbies:Liverpool vs Manchester United — Saturday, 21st NovemberManchester United vs Liverpool — Saturday, 23rd JanuaryMidlands derbies:Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest — Saturday, 12th SeptemberNottingham Forest vs Coventry City — Saturday, 19th SeptemberCoventry City vs Aston Villa — Saturday, 12th DecemberNottingham Forest vs Aston Villa — Saturday, 20th MarchAston Villa vs Coventry City — Saturday, 24th AprilCoventry City vs Nottingham Forest — Sunday, 30th MayWest London derbies:Fulham vs Chelsea — Monday, 24th AugustBrentford vs Chelsea — Sunday, 19th SeptemberFulham vs Brentford — Saturday, 12th DecemberChelsea vs Fulham — Saturday, 10th AprilBrentford vs Fulham — Saturday, 24th AprilChelsea vs Brentford — Sunday, 30th MayYorkshire derbies:Hull City vs Leeds United — Thursday, 30th DecemberLeeds United vs Hull City — Wednesday, 3rd MarchM23 derbies:Brighton & Hove Albion vs Crystal Palace — Saturday, October 17Crystal Palace vs Brighton & Hove Albion — Saturday, May 15Read – Five of the biggest shocks in World Cup historyRead – The five World Cup teams to score 7+ goals this centurySee Also – Ronaldo’s redemption at the 2002 World CupFollow The Football Faithful on Social Media:Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok

Barcelona goalkeeper on verge of surprise €3 million move to PanathinaikosBarcelona appear to be closing in on another departure as goalkeeper Inaki Pena edges closer to leaving the club ahead of the new season. After months of uncertainty regarding his future, the Spanish shot-stopper is now on the verge of joining Greek giants Panathinaikos in a deal that could be completed before pre-season preparations begin.According to Jijantes, negotiations between the two clubs have advanced significantly and there is growing confidence that an agreement will soon be reached. The transfer fee is expected to remain below €3 million, with Barcelona prioritising a quick resolution rather than holding out for a larger amount.Inaki Pena pushing to complete exit quicklyPena’s intention has been clear for some time. Having fallen outside Hansi Flick’s plans, Pena believes the best solution for his career is to seek a fresh challenge elsewhere.The report indicates that the player is actively pushing for the operation to be finalised before Barcelona’s pre-season gets underway. Inaki Pena is set to join Panathinaikos. (Photo by Mateo Villalba Sanchez/Getty Images)Rather than spending another summer facing uncertainty over his role, Pena wants clarity as quickly as possible and is working towards completing his move in the coming days.Although he remains under contract until 2029, both player and club reportedly agree that a separation is the most logical outcome at this stage.In fact, Barcelona have shown no desire to complicate negotiations and are willing to facilitate his departure if all parties can reach an acceptable agreement.Panathinaikos favourites despite La Liga interestPena’s situation has not gone unnoticed across Europe, as several clubs have monitored his availability, including teams from La Liga that viewed him as an attractive market opportunity.However, the goalkeeper has chosen a different path. Rather than remaining in Spain, he appears ready to continue his career abroad, with Panathinaikos now leading the race for his signature. The Greek side have moved decisively in negotiations and are currently best positioned to complete the transfer.Inaki Pena will leave Barcelona. (Photo by Rafa Babot/Getty Images)Notably, the chance to play regularly and establish himself as a first-choice goalkeeper seems to have outweighed other alternatives that may have allowed him to remain closer to home.Caveat for BarcelonaNotably, while the expected amount is relatively modest, the club would remove a significant salary from the wage bill, something that continues to play an important role in the club’s financial planning.Furthermore, there is also the possibility of Barcelona retaining a percentage of any future sale, ensuring they could still benefit if Pena enjoys a successful spell in Greece and attracts interest later in his career.More importantly, the move helps simplify Flick’s squad planning ahead of the new campaign. With the goalkeeping hierarchy already crowded, Pena’s departure would eliminate at least one uncertainty and allow both player and club to move forward.

Last season, the USC Trojans had two of the best receivers in the country, one of whom won the Biletnikoff Award, Makai Lemon. Both receivers got drafted in the first three rounds, and USC will have to get guys to step up in their place. The Big Ten is full of elite receivers in 2026. USC's rival, the Oregon Ducks, will field a top receiver room in the country once again.In a recent article, Zachary Neel discusses how talented the Oregon Ducks' receiver room is this season. Here is what he had to say: "On Thursday, ESPN put out its wide receiver rankings for the upcoming season, and it should come as no surprise that the Ducks have one of the best in the game. Sophomore pass-catcher Dakorien Moore lands in the top 10, ranking as the No. 7 WR in the nation.It's also worth noting that Evan Stewart got an honorable mention nod in the article.With the Ducks' top three receivers — Moore, Stewart, and McClellan — they are going to be a lot to handle in the passing game, especially with one of the best quarterbacks in the nation throwing to them. At the 4-7 spot, it will be very interesting to see who steps up and has an impact in Eugene, though.Look for guys like Iverson Hooks, Jalen Lott, Messiah Hampton, and Gatlin Bair to potentially have major impacts.."The Ducks have a highly ranked receiver in college football and a couple of other receivers that are not that far off from Dakorien Moore. The Ducks will give the Trojans' young corners quite the test in their game in Week 5. It will be up to the young developing receivers and corners on the Trojans to match what the Ducks have. No better test to see what the Trojans are made of than this heated rivalry. This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Oregon football has one of best receiver rooms in FBS - USC knows it

ONE Championship is heating up the month with a blazing-hot pair of must-see events in Asia primetime.The world’s largest martial arts organization will broadcast The Inner Circle 19 and ONE Friday Fights 159 live from the historic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 19.Fans can look forward to World Title matches and nearly two dozen athletes competing for a life-changing US$100,000 contract and global roster spot.View this post on InstagramIn the main event of The Inner Circle 19, ONE Women’s Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Allycia Hellen Rodrigues will defend her crown against the division’s kickboxing queen, Phetjeeja Lukjaoporongtom.Plus, in the co-main event, undefeated ONE Heavyweight Kickboxing World Champion Samet Agdeve will make his first World Title defense against two-sport, two-division king Roman Kryklia in a highly anticipated rematch.View this post on InstagramIn addition, in the headline attraction of ONE Friday Fights 159, Xavier Gonzalez returns with the intention of producing his second knockout performance in a two-week span. But after two and a half years away, Chatanan Sor Jor Joyprajin comes back to ONE and looks to make a statement.For up-to-the-minute results and video highlights from every MMA, Muay Thai, and kickboxing match at The Inner Circle 19 and ONE Friday Fights 159, check below.Source

For Northampton Saints and Exeter Chiefs, this Gallagher Prem season will end as it began. It feels a long while ago that the pair embarked on their domestic campaigns in the shadow of the Women’s World Cup final but, as they prepare to dance again on a grander stage, the opening round meeting between the pair at Franklin’s Gardens is worth reflecting upon. It feels, in a way, a fixture of a different time, occurring too early in the season for Northampton’s British and Irish Lions to play a part and before Exeter’s impactful Australian additions had even arrived in the country.And yet, within the details, were clues and cues for the season that has followed. Northampton’s establishing of a 33-7 half-time lead came courtesy of a try from Tom Litchfield, launching his breakthrough campaign as the latest back off the production line; Exeter’s superb counter-offensive was inspired by Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, so influential when fitness has permitted a place on the park. There was a certain symmetry to how the Chiefs roared back to snatch a draw on the opening weekend and the second-half surge in the semi-final at the Rec that has set up their Twickenham trip. They, as in September and last week, begin as underdogs; Northampton will recognise from experience that this Chiefs team doesn’t know when it is beaten. Exeter roared back to pip Bath in their semi-final (Getty)"Knowing some of these lads, they've got the confidence and belief to think they can do anything and that's how I want them to feel," Exeter boss Rob Baxter said this week. ”My job is to just get them ready enough and I say more than anything else, emotionally ready enough to put another 80 minutes together, because if they can roll up like that again, it's going to be a hell of a day."12 months ago, when they had finished eighth and ninth in the table, the idea of a final between these two felt unlikely. It was easy to project a positive regression for Northampton after an abnormal, anomalous season in which they had prioritised a proper go in the Champions Cup over another title tilt in the Prem but it is to be commended how impressively they have restored domestic order nonetheless. The emergence of Litchfield, Edoardo Todaro, Archie McParland, Ed Prowse and others is testament to a coaching staff that marries off-pitch culture and on-field capers so superbly. Tom Litchfield has been a breakthrough star of Northampton's season (Getty)Such a swift turnaround for Exeter was rather harder to foresee. They were, in truth, a club that looked lost this time a year ago, mired in uncertainty and upheaval from top to bottom. Now, with new American owners on the way, a playing group of renewed purpose and the steadying hand of Baxter back firmly on the tiller, English rugby union’s modern success story appear upwardly mobile again. Having had their remarkable rise through the ranks translated to the stage earlier this season, with the excellent book Exe Men converted for a limited run in the autumn, another Prem title might just make a compelling third act to the Exeter story.It would be a title hard earned as they attempt to become the first team to win the Prem from third place – a statistical oddity overdue a correction. Exeter have timed their run well, with those aforementioned Aussies Tom Hooper and Len Ikitau providing a sprinkle of international class in just the right places, complementing those around them. But a lesson of this Prem season has been that real value can be found beyond the big names: take Billy Searle at Leicester, perhaps the league’s most consistent fly half more than a decade in to a nomadic career. Exeter’s recruitment of Stephen Varney and Andrea Zambonin has proved just as shrewd.Rob Baxter has again proved his coaching credentials in steering Exeter into his seventh final with the club (Getty)Northampton prefer, generally, to grow their own. To reach a third final in three seasons shows that strategy is working even with Saints not spending up to the Prem salary cap, and being prepared to part with their captain, George Furbank, at the end of the season. Harlequins-bound Furbank will bid farewell with his boyhood club unwilling and unable to offer his desired contractual terms – with the highly-rated James Pater rapidly coming through to join George Henry and Todaro as alternative full-back options, there is confidence that he can be compensated for.George Furbank (centre) will bid farewell to his boyhood club after the final (Getty)Not that it makes it any easier to part with a senior head in a tight-knit group. To see the Saints swaying on social media to the strains of Olivia Dean in the changing room after their semi-final was a revealing insight into a band of brothers. “It's a special group," Furbank explained to the BBC. "A lot of us will call each other best mates, and we spend probably too much time together, to be honest, off the pitch, but I think that is what's so special about this group."We do spend a ridiculous amount of time together, and so when it comes on to the pitch, it does feel natural. There's something about playing with a group of mates that makes you want to go that little bit further and run that little bit more and hit that little bit harder. I've loved my time here genuinely from minute one to my last game on Saturday. It'd be a pretty fairytale ending to my 10 years lifting a trophy.”George Furbank is looking to sign off with another Prem title (Getty)The return of Alex Mitchell, back on the bench ahead of schedule, further strengthens that English core; Exeter can answer with Feyi-Waboso, passed fit to feature despite a facial fracture. Soaring temperatures, which tend to accompany a great rugby day upon which the sun so often shines, will suit two sides built to play running rugby – but that each coach has loaded up with six forwards on the bench reflects where the final may be won. There is one thing, of course, that is certain to be different than on the opening day: there will be a winner.

Paulo Dybala linked with sensational return to JuventusPaulo Dybala’s contract extension with Roma seems imminent, but the final agreeement hasn’t arrived yet. Until then, numerous clubs will be trying to convince the Giallorossi’s number 21 to leave Trigoria after four years. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Luciano Spalletti’s Juventus is reportedly among the teams making moves for the Argentine star. The Bianconeri, who will compete in the Europa League next year, are dreaming of a return for “La Joya” to Turin.The Old Lady is looking for a quality and experienced player to add to its attacking roster, and the left-footed player from Laguna Larga would be welcomed by coach Luciano Spalletti. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, however, the former Palermo player will sign a contract extension with Roma for at least another year: an agreement between the player’s entourage and the Roman club is very close and could be reached in the coming days.

American Wyndham Clark held the lead after completing his darkness-halted opening round of the 126th US Open on Friday morning at Shinnecock (Warren Little)Wyndham Clark finished his darkness-halted first round of the 126th US Open with two pars on Friday morning, completing a six-under par 64 to hold a two-stroke lead at windy Shinnecock.The 32-year-old American, who won the 2023 US Open at Los Angeles Country Club, was among 50 players who did not conclude their first rounds Thursday due to a two-hour morning fog delay, but Friday skies were clear at the restart.Clark set the lowest first-round score in a US Open at Shinnecock, breaking the old mark off 66 by Angel Cabrera, Shigeki Maruyama and Jay Haas in 2004 and Nick Price in 1995.Clark owned a four-stroke overnight lead through 16 holes but compatriot Dustin Johnson, a two-time major winner, birdied the par-three seventh and par-four ninth to trim his playing partner's edge in half.Johnson sank a three-foot birdie putt at the seventh and a 10-footer for birdie at the ninth to complete a 66 and grab second.Sharing third were past US Open winners Matt Fitzpatrick of England and American Gary Woodland on 67.Fitzpatrick opened Friday with an 11-foot birdie putt at the eighth and parred the ninth while Woodland birdied the eighth from just inside 15 feet and parred the ninth.A pack four adrift that completed two-under 68s on Thursday included amateur Ryder Cowan and fellow Americans Max McGreevy and Sam Stevens.Two-time major winner Jon Rahm of Spain was two-under with three holes remaining.Six-time major winner Rory McIlroy was in a pack on 69 that included American Brian Harman and Sweden's Ludvig Aberg among others.- 'Clicking' -Clark's round was one off the lowest round shot in a US Open at Shinnecock, the 63 by England's Tommy Fleetwood in 2018.He was set to begin his second round off the first tee at 7:56 a.m. (1156 GMT) alongside Woodland and Johnson.Clark, a back-nine starter, shared the lead with Johnson on Thursday but birdied the third and fourth holes, the latter from 22 feet, and dropped his second shot three feet from the hole at the par-five fifth then sank his eagle putt to seize command.He parred the sixth after chipping 61 feet to within inches of the hole and parred the seventh just before play was suspended."Got into a nice rhythm," Clark said. "Everything was kind of clicking."Clark said the US Open brings a chance at redemption after he smashed a locker in the clubhouse at Oakmont last year after missing the US Open cut.He was banned from Oakmont until undergoing anger management therapy or counseling and paying for repairs."That was a really challenging time and something I've deeply regretted and feel awful that I did that," Clark said Monday."But there were so many good lessons in that that really taught me a bunch. I've really come a long way and I'm excited for this year's Open for some redemption and to move forward."js/ea

This is Part 2 of my exploration of some of the underlying details of Cardinal pitching prospects. The question I am trying to answer is… Of the minor leagues prospects we’ve been watching, who has the most interesting pitch shape metrics (ie. the under the hood stuff)? We seem to be far enough into the season to have built up some stats that can stand up to Small Sample Size (SSS) scrutiny. Since I do the daily down on the Farm Reports, I see the various pitcher usage and line score results every day. That has made me curious about some things that might be going on beyond the line score.Last week folks got a look at the pitchers in Palm Beach. What I neglected to mention then is that the set of top 10th percentile pitch metrics was 225 pitch types deep, and the Cardinals had 25 entries in the group or just a little below league average of 28. This becomes a little less mundane when we start looking at AAA numbers.First, I raised the bar for AAA pitchers to 150 pitches minimum instead of 50 pitches as for Low-A pitchers. This to keep the set manageable. If I used the same 50 pitch minimum, the AAA set would include 1267 pitcher/pitch type combinations. I’m looking for the outliers and that is a large outlier group. That the AAA group is five times bigger tells me that a significant difference between AAA and Low-A pitching is volume. Same methodology as last week. I am looking for pitchers have top 10th percentile metrics. This is a “who has a tool that sticks out” kind of question. Even with a 150 pitch minimum, I still get 382 pitcher/pitch combinations in the top tenth percentile (almost double the Low-A group). In an ugly turn of events, only 17 Cardinal entries are found in this table and as you will see, too many of them are outlier in a bad way (as in last decile, not top). AAA Metric Leader BoardLike last week, the first table shows just the pitch profile, not the results (which follow in the next section). What do we see?NamePitchesTypePitch PctSpin RateVelocityVert Break (in)Horiz Break (in)Sprin Rate P10Velo P10Vertical Break P10Horiz Break P10Bedell, Ian432FF60.4229990.312.715.651091Blewett, Scott598SL30.3216385.1-2-310694Dobbins, Hunter710FF32231694.915.32.344510Gastelum, Luis518CH40157182.7-4.212.974107Gastelum, Luis518FF32.6244694.515111462Hales, Skylar433FF56.1213594.411.70.6851010Hansen, Pete687FF39.3239190.512.3-2210910Hansen, Pete687SL24.5259481.3-3.1-9.32101010Mautz, Brycen860FF38.8219192.312.712.38891Mautz, Brycen860SL23.6227783.51.90.18851Rajcic, Max645FF43.3220494.914.910.77462Rincon, Hancel547SL30215585.2-2.2-1.410592Roycroft, Chris397SI42.3211396.9316.75193Zimmermann, Bruce969SL25.1254582.6-3.30.639101Zimmermann, Bruce969FF20.3245289.515.47.711055Zimmermann, Bruce969FS20.31715832.111.427105People ask “what happened to Ian Bedell”. Well, he has an outlier bad FF velocity rate and gets no whiffs with it. And he uses this pitch 60.4% of the time. Pete Hansen and Bruce Zimmerman are in the same bottom decile in FB velocity across the International League, with the same whiff results. At least they don’t use this pitch nearly as often.Gastelum is in the top decile for spin rate on his Four Seam Fastball (FF), resulting in a top 20th percentile arm-side run. I bet that pitch really bores in on RH hitters.Skylar Hales has about the straightest FF in the league.Brycen Mautz is top floor on his arm-side run on his fastball, which probably allows the fairly pedestrian velo to play up. I bet he’d be super effective coming in to face LH hitters in relief, if that sorta thing was needed in StL. Mautz’ slider is odd. Almost no movement. This is one of those counter-intuitive ones. You’d rather be in the lowest tenth percentile, since glove side run is shown as a negative number in the data set. Rajcic’s horizontal movement on his fastball is near-elite, and you will see later gets elite results.Roycroft’s sinker profiles as elite, both in velo and drop (IVB). If only he had poise.Zimmermann makes the list in a bad way on his FF, FS and SL. He limits damage by limiting walks. Overall, this is not a good profile for the AAA group and we see this with the shortage of depth for the MLB staff. We will keep this handy and see how it changes as some of the AA studs matriculate to Memphis later this year.Performance MattersStuff (and the underlying metrics which show it) are one thing. Performance is another. Which AAA pitchers are getting the most out of their stuff? Let’s look more at performance outcomes as see how they rate.PlayerPitchesTypePctK%K% P10BB%BB% P10xwobaxwOBA P10VelocityVelo P10Whiff RateWhiff Rate P10Bedell, Ian432FF60.416.2826.5100.396890.271016%9Blewett, Scott598SL30.323.9615.290.361985.13644%2Dobbins, Hunter710FF3213.5813.540.364694.91422%6Gastelum, Luis518CH4027.369.170.193182.68440%3Gastelum, Luis518FF32.627.8313.950.334494.53423%5Hales, Skylar433FF56.134.5116.460.284294.42527%3Hansen, Pete687FF39.315.988.720.317390.541011%10Hansen, Pete687SL24.531.348.350.234381.271037%4Mautz, Brycen860FF38.817.2716.160.381792.26824%5Mautz, Brycen860SL23.639.6313.280.199183.45840%3Rajcic, Max645FF43.333.9216.160.302394.87427%4Rincon, Hancel547SL302755.420.284685.15532%6Roycroft, Chris397SI42.312.956.510.263196.92112%7Zimmermann, Bruce969SL25.142.524.120.271582.57940%3Zimmermann, Bruce969FF20.3148610.384789.521018%8Zimmermann, Bruce969FS20.329.3103.440.2881082.96736%7In the above table, you will see many of the same names and pitches, this time with how those pitches are performing in real games. There are few new names, as some guys without top 10th percentile stuff are still getting top tenth percentile results, such as Nelfy Ynfante, who really limits hard contact without any top tier stuff.Some notes:Gastelum (CH), Mautz (SL) and Roycroft (SI) each have a go-to pitch that is effective at limiting damage.Zimmermann avoids damage by limiting walks across all his pitches.Skylar Hales has an elite K rate. I’m not sure how. You know what else I notice in these lists? Quinn Mathews doesn’t appear once. I wonder why? Let’s look specifically at his Prospect Savant page. You see that his whiff rate falls just below elite at 89th percentile. Lots of stuff between average (~50th) and really good (80th), but nothing elite. Gives me a picture he does many things well, but nothing great. Even his walk rate isn’t anywhere near bottom 10th percentile for AAA.The other thing I see in his data: His FF is probably his worst pitch in terms of K and BB rates. He throws it almost 50% of the time. He actually has a higher walk rate (25%) on his FF than K rate (23%). An adjustment to his pitch mix is coming. SummaryThere really isn’t anyone at AAA with standout tools. That is not to say there aren’t good pitchers. My screen was for top 10th percentile stuff…elite. Apparently, that is to be found at AA and High-A. We shall see.Links

The Atlanta Braves made a trade on Thursday night to help out the team’s catching depth. The Braves acquired former Buford High School and Georgia Tech star Joey Bart from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Atlanta sent relief pitcher Hunter Stratton back to Pittsburgh, the team that drafted him. Atlanta also optioned catcher Jair Camargo to Gwinnett and designated catcher Sandy Leon for assignment. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]Bart grew up in Buford High School, where he was first drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays. He opted to stay home and play college baseball at Georgia Tech instead. He won the ACC Baseball Player of the Year and Johnny Bench Award during his junior season in 2018. The San Francisco Giants drafted Bart with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft. He made his debut two years later during the shortened 2020 season. Since then, Bart has played in 356 major league games with the Giants and Pirates. Bart had been on the injured list for the Pirates since May. He played in 21 games so far this season and was batting .259 before his injury.[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

May 11, 2026; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Chargers receiver Brenen Thompson (89 during offseason workouts at The Bolt. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images On Thursday, the Chargers announced that they have put pen to paper with wide receiver Brenen Thompson. Thompson was one of the Bolts’ fourth-round picks this year and his finalized contract officially completes the 2026 rookie class.made it official ✍️ pic.twitter.com/pOLNGzsv9k— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) June 18, 2026Thompson, an explosive pass-catcher with blazing speed, was the Chargers’ first of two selections in this year’s fourth round out of Mississippi State. He was a draft crush of offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, signified by the latter’s mic’d up moment where he was caught telling general manager Joe Hortiz that he would take his shirt off and celebrate if they were able to land Thompson.Just before his signing was announced, Thompson made some of the best plays early on in the Chargers’ minicamp this week, hauling in a lengthy touchdown of over 50 yards and adding another contested catch that got the coaching staff’s attention during Tuesday’s first minicamp practice. However, he would be seen walking off the field with a trainer soon after before missing both Wednesday and Thursday’s sessions.With the team now excused for their short summer break ahead of training camp starting next month, we can only hope Thompson missing both practices was out of an abundance 0f caution and just getting a jump on some much-needed TLC.

Darren Raddysh went from a defenseman known for good blueline work and around 30 points for two seasons... to a blueliner who scored 22 times and totaled 70 points in a breakout fifth year.That all came with unrestricted free agency looming. And now per reports, he's going to be a member of the rebuilding Toronto Maple Leafs in a sign-and-trade that will make him one of the highest-paid defensemen in the NHL.Will it be worth it after one giant year with the Lightning? Will he continue all that production? And what's the return for Tampa Bay? Let's dive in with trade grades.Maple Leafs and Lightning trade detailsLightning get: A "late-round pick"Maple Leafs get: D Darren Raddysh, who signs an eight-year deal worth over $8 million AAVMaple Leafs trade gradeEhhh, I don't know about this one. They obviously don't give up much to acquire Raddysh trade-wise, but contract-wise? It feels extremely risky to hand a defenseman THAT kind of money after he had THAT kind of year before hitting free agency. And, hey, maybe what we saw from Raddysh means he's a 70-point-a-season defenseman, and John Chayka will look extremely smart locking him up for eight years at that level of money.Me? I worry about a one-year breakthrough earning over $8 million AAV. GRADE: CLightning trade gradeIt felt like they weren't going to keep Raddysh anyway -- they've locked up their blue line for a fair amount of money between Victor Hedman, J.J. Moser, Erik Cernak and Ryan McDonagh -- so to get something back and perhaps avoid overspending on Raddysh feels like a win of sorts. GRADE: B+This article originally appeared on For The Win: Darren Raddysh trade grades for Lighting and Maple Leafs sign-and-trade

BEREA, OHIO - JUNE 10: KC Concepcion #1 of the Cleveland Browns runs a drill during the Cleveland Browns Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2026 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Cleveland Browns gave fans what they wanted in the 2026 NFL draft with two wide receivers selected in the first two rounds. WR KC Concepcion was drafted first for his electric ability with the ball in his hands, with WR Denzel Boston’s size and ball skills bringing a nice complement in the second round.The fit between the two receivers is ‘as dangerous as it gets,’ and adding the pure speed of WR Isaiah Bond gives the Browns three young, developing players at a vital position and a depth chart that has the four key typologies for wide receivers.Despite Concepcion being the first-round pick, Cleveland fans believe that Boston will have the better stats in 2026. Where Concepcion might add value for the Browns is as a punt returner, a position that (along with kick returner) hasn’t borne much fruit in a while. Zak Jackson of The Athletic believes that the Texas A&M prospect seems to be line for the extra role on special teams:I think rookie KC Concepcion will be the primary punt returner. I think the competition for the kickoff return and core special teams coverage jobs will be among players already slotted to make the roster as backups. Given Concepcion’s shiftiness, the returner role fits him well. He’s also someone, unlike Bond (despite his speed), with experience in the role. Last year, Concepcion led the SEC with 25 punt returns, including two touchdowns and an impressive 18.2-yard per return average.The obvious concern is the health risk of having a first-round pick awaiting a punt while players are charging down the field looking to take him down. Injuries are a part of the game and cannot be prevented, but the Browns putting a player they’ve invested a high pick in precarious situations could be an unforced error.Then again, there were 15 punt returns for touchdowns last year, and multiple players had multiple returns of 40 yards or more. Cleveland did not have a return for a touchdown, and WR Gage Larvadain, who returned 24 of the team’s 32 punt returns, averaged just 7 yards on those attempts. One or two big returns, and one being for a touchdown, could make the risk worth it.Is the risk worth the reward with Concepción as the primary returner for the Browns this season?Share your thoughts in the comment section belowJoin the conversation!Sign up for a user account and get:Fewer adsCreate community postsComment on articles, community postsRec comments, community postsNew, improved notifications system!

UFC’s fight card at the White House delivered a record-breaking viewership to Paramount+, according to the streaming platform, with 17 million viewers tuning in. However, this was 117m short of Dana White’s prediction of “Super Bowl-type numbers”.On Sunday, an unprecedented event took place on the South Lawn, as seven UFC fights played out to celebrate 250 years of the United States, as well as the 80th birthday of President Donald Trump.Trump sat cageside with UFC chief White, a good friend of his, as the night ended with Justin Gaethje securing an upset stoppage win over Ilia Topuria to become lightweight champion. In the co-main event, Ciryl Gane stopped Alex Pereira to win the interim heavyweight title, although the finish was controversial due to Gane’s allegedly illegal strikes. (Reuters)In fact, all seven bouts ended with stoppages, as American star Sean O’Malley joined compatriots Josh Hokit and Bo Nickal in picking up victories – although Hokit and Nickal’s wins came at the expense of other US fighters.Regardless, the event was a success for Paramount+, which was the exclusive broadcaster of the fights in the US and Latin America. While the platform is yet to announce its viewership figures for other territories, 17m viewers watched in the US and Latin America, making it Paramount+’s most-watched exclusive live event ever. The number does not include any delayed viewership, or any viewership where more than one person watched on an account. However, White had bullishly predicted Super Bowl-level viewing figures. And with this goal in mind, the White House fights drastically underperformed, coming in with 117m viewers less than the 124.9m US average for February’s Super Bowl LX, which aired on NBC.In January, Paramount+ took over as the UFC’s main broadcast partner, as the mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion moved from a pay-per-view model to a subscriber-based one.“Since the beginning of the year, 16m subscriber households have watched more than 180m hours of UFC programming on Paramount+,” read a press release on Thursday, “delivering viewership more than 20x the average pay-per-view event over the past two years. Justin Gaethje recovered from a knockdown to stop Ilia Topuria between rounds four and five (Reuters)“The inaugural numbered event, UFC 324 on 24 January, broke the record at the time for the largest exclusive live event on Paramount+ with 5m average viewers and 7m households in the US and Latin America, according to Adobe Analytics.” Nielsen was also used to verify figures.“UFC Freedom 250 [at the White House] was the 6th marquee event in a seven-year deal between UFC and Paramount+ that includes 13 Numbered Events and 30 Fight Nights in the US and Latin America for 2026, with select offerings in Australia. UFC and Paramount+ also recently announced the expansion of UFC Numbered Event Main Card rights to Canada beginning in 2027.”

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 13: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills warms up prior to the game between the Buffalo Bills and the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 13, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images The 2025 Buffalo Bills season has been written, but the book is incomplete. Before we cast our full attention toward the 2026 season, let’s take one last glance back over our shoulder for our annual look at the Plays That Defined the prior campaign. For any newcomers, first and foremost; Welcome! When it comes to the “rules” of this exercise, we’re not voting for our favorite highlight necessarily, but the one that best captures the essence of the game. Put differently, if you had to choose just one play to show someone to explain as much of the contest as possible, which would you choose?Week 6; Buffalo Bills at Atlanta FalconsThe Buffalo Bills had just come off an embarrassing loss to the New England Patriots where sloppiness cost them dearly. How did they respond against an Atlanta Falcons squad that at best could be characterized as “volatile?” With an even SLOPPIER game of course. The Bills’ offense achieved something we’re no longer used to seeing with prime Josh Allen on the team; ineptitude. Making it worse, the defensive side of the team had not one, not two, not three; but FIVE insanely costly penalties. How bad was it? The Falcons entered the half up 21 – 7. The struggling defense came on strong in the second half and kept Atlanta to a lone field goal, late in the fourth quarter. The offense put the Bills within seven points with 9:53 left in the third quarter and then… completely failed to do anything else. The game was well within reach, but Buffalo failed to reach out and take it. And oh yeah! Just like the New England embarrassment, this one was in prime time too. Greg Rousseau offside (Q1; 14:55)Plays That Defined 2025 – Week 6 – Greg Rousseau offside pic.twitter.com/4aZYONQfC2— Kuebiko (@Kuebiko_Kami) June 10, 2026If there was any difficulty in selecting a defensive penalty to highlight it was the choice to only go with one. From there though, it’s an easy choice. The Bills defense extended two drives on third down stops, and wiped out a sack that may have changed the play call on the next down and therefore eliminated one big play from the Falcons (hint: See two plays down). Negating a touchdown is the greatest sin per my Penalty Harm ratings, but the second worst thing you can do is negate a turnover (negated punts treated as turnovers in case you’re wondering). Greg Rousseau is juuuust over where he should be when the play starts and Atlanta has a free play. Which worked out great for them as the play resulted in a lost fumble. Could this have changed the outcome of the game? Asbolutely. This was the first snap after kickoff and the Falcons went on to score a touchdown. Buffalo recovering this ball nearly guarantees at least a field goal. Josh Allen sacked (Q2; 12:42)Plays That Defined 2025 – Week 6 – Josh Allen sacked pic.twitter.com/WuPCWB2biq— Kuebiko (@Kuebiko_Kami) June 10, 2026There were two turnovers in this game, but both were at the end of halves and neither really diminished the Bills’ chances all that much. The four sacks though were kind of a big deal, especially this drive ender. Even a small gain here could have led to a field goal try. The loss of 15 killed any shot at that. More broadly though, it’s emblematic of how Buffalo was pushed around by what should have been a weaker opponent. Whether it’s this play, Khalil Shakir being forced enough to the sideline to make a critical conversion catch out of bounds, or any other number of plays; Buffalo was out-executed by Atlanta. Bijan Robinson touchdown (Q2; 11:22)Plays That Defined 2025 – Week 6 – Bijan Robinson touchdown pic.twitter.com/584AcA2cjU— Kuebiko (@Kuebiko_Kami) June 10, 2026Atlanta had quite the day on the ground, with 210 yards rushing. While a huge chunk of them obviously stem from this play, the Falcons had success all day. The defense had no answer in the first half, allowing 21 points. They locked down in the second half as noted above, but the team never found a way to bounce back. Greg Rousseau blocked FG (Q4; 12:31)Plays That Defined 2025 – Week 6 – Greg Rousseau blocked field goal pic.twitter.com/AWEGIGNH5r— Kuebiko (@Kuebiko_Kami) June 10, 2026The Bills were down one score with plenty of time on the clock. About to go down two scores and make their comeback even harder, Greg Rousseau found the sweet spot to jump into and blocked this field goal attempt. This play highlights how the Bills had plenty of chances to get back into the game and win it, but each time their chances were squandered. Buffalo would get the ball near midfield after this. What did they do with this golden opportunity from one of the rarest plays? A three-and-out “highlighted” with our next play.Botcheroo (Q4; 11:13)Plays That Defined 2025 – Week 6 – Botcheroo pic.twitter.com/WfJy9cdUrt— Kuebiko (@Kuebiko_Kami) June 10, 2026Seriously? What the heck was even going on this game? Which play best defines the Bills’ loss?

OTAs and minicamp have given the New York Jets an early opportunity to assess their sophomore draft class. If the rebuilding Jets are to display positive progress in 2026, they'll need more from their 2025 draftees. Tight end Mason Taylor is a big part of that conversation.Taylor dropped a would-be touchdown from starting quarterback Geno Smith at Wednesday's minicamp practice. On SI's Mike Faria described it as a "bad" drop. Additional indications are Taylor let one sail through his hands in the middle of the backline end zone.Taylor produced 44 receptions for 369 yards and a touchdown as a rookie. It was a respectable showing on a terribly lackluster Jets passing attack. The former LSU standout notched four games with five-plus catches before landing on season-ending IR in December.Taylor is now preparing to enter his sophomore season with competition for reps. The Jets drafted Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq with the No. 16 overall selection in the 2026 NFL draft. Even if that means more 12 personnel (two tight ends) for the Jets in 2026, Taylor could also be competing for reps with veteran Jeremy Ruckert, who is a superior in-line blocker.Dropping would-be touchdowns at practice isn't going to help Taylor earn more playing time.Jets Wire will continue to provide updates throughout the 2026 offseason. This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: New York Jets need more from Mason Taylor in sophomore season

Antonio Rudiger touts Germany teammate for Real Madrid moveReal Madrid are continuing plans to strengthen Jose Mourinho’s squad for the start of the 2026-27 season, which starts in August. They have already signed Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries, Marc Cucurella and Bernardo Silva, but there are still more additions to be made – including another central defender.Konate is not enough for Real Madrid and Mourinho, who want another big name added before the end of the summer. They have been linked with the likes of Ruben Dias and Tomas Araujo in recent weeks, while another player on their radar is Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck.Schlotterbeck, who is reported to have a €50m release clause in the Dortmund contract he signed earlier this year, is well-liked within Real Madrid. One person that would be keen to see him move to the Bernabeu this summer is Germany teammate Antonio Rudiger, who spoke highly of his compatriot during a media appearance this week (via MD).“Nico has always been a threat, especially from set pieces. He is aggressive, he is always present in duels and his build-up game is exceptional. His left foot is wonderful. Good players are always welcome (at Real Madrid). But I don’t want to say much more about it. I would be delighted (if he joined).”Is Nico Schlotterbeck the right signing for Real Madrid?Schlotterbeck has been one of the most underrated centre-backs in Europe over the last few seasons, and there is no doubt that he would be a top signing for Real Madrid. €50m would be a very good price for a player that is still yet to reach his prime, given that he is only 26 years of age.It remains to be seen whether Schlotterbeck is the player that Real Madrid go for, but his signing would make a lot of sense. The first team lacks a natural left-sided option following David Alaba’s exit, and they would get that with the Dortmund man.

SEATTLE (AP) — Cristian Roldan is familiar with how loud Lumen Field can get.The U.S. midfielder has played for the Seattle Sounders since 2015, getting plenty of love from fans in this soccer-crazed Pacific Northwest city.With the Americans coming off a 4-1 victory over Paraguay in their 2026 FIFA World Cup opener in Southern California, Roldan is expecting a charged atmosphere on Friday when the Americans face Australia at the home of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks.Watch USA vs. Australia on Boston 25 News/FOX at 3 p.m.“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.“Just seeing the Belgium game against Egypt and how the atmosphere was there, I fully expect the city of Seattle to come out and show out, and I think the guys are going to feel that type of energy.”The Americans want to reward their supporters and justify the wave of momentum that is building around the team.“What excites me is that the entire world, the entire nation is behind us,” Roldan said. “I think that they enjoyed watching us play, and at the end of the day what we want to do is inspire and motivate the next generation. ... We have to build off it, and that’s the truth. We can’t just talk about it: We have to show out against Australia.”The Americans’ excitement is somewhat tempered by concerns about their biggest star. Christian Pulisic trained apart from his teammates on Thursday for the fourth straight day because of his left calf injury, and coach Mauricio Pochettino said his availability was still up in the air as of Thursday night.The Socceroos also pose a significant challenge. In October, the U.S. earned a hard-fought 2-1 victory against a physical Australia side in a friendly that Pochettino said was anything but.Pochettino wants his team to match Australia’s intensity.“I think we need to play on the edge of the line,” Pochettino said, “with not crossing the lines of the rules.”Australia center back Harry Souttar anticipates the U.S. will try to start fast, much as it did against Paraguay. Coach Tony Popovic’s scrappy squad opened with a 2-0 victory over Turkey on Saturday.“We want to earn our respect,” Popovic said. “We know that by our performances, we can put Australian football on the world map. And, that’s what we aim to do. We started off well against Turkey. Now, we want to back it up.”Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW

[BBC][Getty Images]We asked for your views on Arsenal's 2026-27 fixtures and what sort of start you can expect Mikel Arteta's men to have. Here are some of your comments:Gilbert: Brilliant first fixture for the Arsenal. I look forward to playing promoted Coventry, will be a cracking game!Martin: I reckon 26 points should be achievable in the first 10 games. Aston Villa and Liverpool away are the difficult ones in that run, with Chelsea the toughest team at home.Croix: Great. If we successfully retain the Premier League trophy then we would lift it at the Emirates stadium, not at an away ground, yippee! Good luck to the team. COYG.Vince: It's a favourable list for the second-straight season. Games against non-big teams at the start and end mean we have the chance to set an early pace and finish strongly. That's a massive advantage that we need to take. The slippery period starts 31 October against Liverpool and continues across November and December with games against Manchester City and Manchester United, among other bigger boys. But if we start strong in the prior months, we'd have hopefully built up a good buffer for those danger months.Fikre: I expect Arsenal to accumulate 26 points from their first 10 games - drawing to Aston Villa and Liverpool, and winning the other eight games. Hence, this will give them the biggest advantage towards defending the Premier League title.