Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson can earn another $15 million between the 2027 and 2030 seasons if he hits various incentives included in his four-year contract extension. Per Rob Demovsky of ESPN, Watson has a total of $15.05 million available in incentives based on catches, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns and Pro Bowl appearances. The following incentives can be earned as escalators of the following year base salary, up to $3.45 million per year:Receptions 75 receptions: $350,00085 receptions: $750,00095 receptions: $1,150,000Watson's career high in a season: 41 (2022)Receiving yards1,000 receiving yards: $350,0001,100 receiving yards: $750,0001,200 receiving yards: $1,150,000Watson's career high in a season: 620 (2024)Receiving touchdowns 9 receiving touchdowns: $350,00010 receiving touchdowns: $750,00012 receiving touchdowns: $1,150,000Watson's career high in a season: 7 (2022)Pro BowlPro Bowl: $250,000Watson has never made a Pro BowlWatson has previously never reached 75 receptions, 1,000 receiving yards, nine receiving touchdowns or a Pro Bowl appearance during a single season since entering the NFL in 2022. Maximizing his incentive payout will be unlikely, although the Packers will gladly pay the extra money if Watson is consistently hitting these lofty statistical goals. The base value of Watson's contract extension with the Packers is $92 million over four years, including a $31 million signing bonus. With incentives, the value can increase to $110 million.This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Christian Watson contract Packers incentives catches yards touchdowns pro bowl

NEW DELHI: Former India fast bowler S Sreesanth has reignited his infamous feud with Harbhajan Singh, throwing down an open challenge to the former spinner for an in-ring fight nearly two decades after the IPL's infamous 'Slapgate' controversy.In explosive remarks made during an appearance on Lallantop, Sreesanth accused Harbhajan of repeatedly profiting from the 2008 incident and challenged his former India teammate to settle their differences in a genuine combat contest.“This same scene, do you have the guts? Do you have the guts to come into the ring with me? Can you sign and come?” Sreesanth said while referring to an old promotional image of the pair wearing boxing gloves.“Wearing these same gloves? This is not acting. I am smiling. You are not even smiling, I don't know what you are doing. Let's see. This is an open challenge,” he added.‘If you have a problem with me, come into the ring’Sreesanth, who recently became involved with the Bear Knuckle Fight League, doubled down on his challenge and urged Harbhajan to settle the issue inside the ring instead of revisiting the controversy through advertisements.“I am currently in the Bear Knuckle Fight League. I am challenging you, Bhajji,” he said. “If you have this much of a problem with the slap thing and me, and you earn this much... let me earn too. Come into the ring. I am calling you from my heart.”“If we have some self-respect, let's not do ads and all that. In a genuine way, for all the Malayalis and all the Sardars, please come. I am waiting,” he said.Sreesanth says controversial ad reopened old woundsThe former pacer revealed that he had never publicly spoken about Harbhajan and the 2008 incident until recently, claiming that a new advertisement featuring the ex-spinner had reignited painful memories.“I have never spoken about Bhajji in any interview. This is going to be the first time,” Sreesanth had told Mathrubhumi when the new Harbhajan ad emerged. “Until recently there were no problems, but he made an ad about it once again. He made around Rs 80 lakh to Rs 1 crore off it.”Sreesanth said the ad prompted him to cut ties with Harbhajan once again.“If someone wrongs you, you should forgive them but never forget. If you forget, they will do the same thing again. He is the biggest example for that,” he said. “I have no relationship with that person. I used to call him a brother. But in that last one or two months he did that ad and now I have blocked him on Instagram.”The comments have revived memories of the 2008 IPL 'Slapgate' episode, when Harbhajan, then representing Mumbai Indians, slapped Sreesanth after a match against Kings XI Punjab. Harbhajan later apologised and was suspended for the remainder of the season, with both players appearing to have reconciled in the years that followed.However, Sreesanth's latest outburst suggests the wounds from one of Indian cricket's most controversial off-field incidents are far from healed.

Defending U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun is one of those with work to do on Friday to make the cut. (Warren Little/Getty Images)Warren Little via Getty ImagesSOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — After a 14-hour Thursday and a barely-after-dawn start to Friday, there's been little downtime at the 126th U.S. Open. But the end is coming rapidly for much of the 156-player field, as the cut line will send home both notables and little-knowns alike.The cut line at the U.S. Open is the top 60 and ties, meaning every player who's tied for 60th place or better gets to play the weekend (and, importantly, cash a check). Early in Round 2, the cut had a roughly 50-percent chance of falling at +4, per DataGolf, with the next-best odds for +5 (35 percent). It's highly unlikely to go any higher than +5, and there's only about a 10 percent chance it could end up at +3.Players with work to do: defending champion J.J. Spaun (+7 after his first round), Si Woo Kim (+7), Daniel Berger (+7) and Joaquin Niemann (+6). Conditions are expected to be more benign Friday than Thursday's late birdie-fest, but that likely means the course will be a tougher setup than Thursday, too. That could disadvantage the late-wave players, meaning several more could end up on the wrong side of the cut.

As a new, potentially record-breaking El Niño begins, researchers are vigorously debating whether climate change is driving the phenomenon’s intensity.

The 2025-26 NBA season is in the books, and the New York Knicks are your champions.It is time, then, for your way-too-early 2026-27 power rankings (contenders only edition).We granted the Knicks through their championship parade before informing them that they are not, in fact, No. 1 in our rankings. I'm sure they are just devastated by this news. Their fans will have to wipe their tears with all that championship gear they purchased.But, c'mon, man: The Knicks weren't supposed to win the title. That's what made it so fun.By my count, there are 11 teams, as currently constituted, that can win next year's crown, and that is being generous, because I have to be, because the 53-win Knicks just won the freaking championship. Here we attempt to put them in order from least to most likely to win the 2027 NBA championship, giving New York one more chance to prove us wrong.(Dillon Marshall/Yahoo Sports Illustration)11. Houston RocketsThe Rockets lost All-Star point guard Fred VanVleet to an ACL injury prior to last season, and then lost starting center Steven Adams to season-ending ankle surgery in January. They never replaced either and still managed to win 52 games during the regular season.In the playoffs, though, the absences showed. A 41-year-old LeBron James, performing entirely without Luka Dončić and mostly without Austin Reaves, grounded the Rockets, who could not match the Lakers' organization and physicality in the opening-round exit.Still, they have talent, starting with Kevin Durant, who made the All-NBA Second Team at age 37. Maybe the returns of VanVleet and Adams cure what ails them. Maybe collective improvement from the under-25 contingent — Alperen Şengün, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr. and Reed Sheppard among them — propels them into more serious contention.10. Indiana PacersThe 19-win Pacers are contenders? They are, so long as All-NBA point guard Tyrese Haliburton returns to form from an Achilles injury that kept him out all of last season. He is that special, capable of coalescing a roster into a whole greater than the sum of its parts.Indiana returns All-Star forward Pascal Siakam and much of a core that reached Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, as Haliburton suffered his injury. At February's trade deadline, the Pacers added 29-year-old center Ivica Zubac, who can make an All-Star team in the East. Of course, that deal with the Los Angeles Clippers ultimately cost them the No. 5 overall pick, a selection that might have helped propel the franchise forward into next decade.Still, with Haliburton at the helm, the Pacers can field the NBA's most free-flowing offense, and with Zubac now as a defensive anchor, they should be able to compete with anyone on both ends of the floor. If only they can rediscover the magic of that 2025 run.9. Detroit PistonsThe Pistons won 60 regular-season games and captured the East's No. 1 seed for the first time in two decades, sending 24-year-old point guard Cade Cunningham to the All-NBA First Team and 22-year-old center Jalen Duren to the Third Team. The positives end there.Detroit required a 3-1 comeback and an injury to Orlando Magic star Franz Wagner to escape the opening round against the East’s No. 8 seed. The Pistons then could not navigate their way through the next seven games against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round and left with questions about a struggling Duren's next contract in restricted free agency.After making the playoffs last season for the first time since 2019, and after winning a series this season for the first time since 2008, the next step on their path seems clear. Whether or not Tobias Harris is the starting power forward to get them into a conference finals or beyond remains to be seen, but the Pistons have the assets to make an upgrade.8. Cleveland CavaliersThe Cavaliers are climbing those playoff rungs, too. They made the playoffs for the first time of the post-LeBron James era in 2023 and lost in the first round. They reached the second round in 2024 and 2025, before breaking through this past season to the Eastern Conference finals, where they were swept by the eventual champion New York Knicks.Even as one of the final four teams standing, Cleveland has a ways to go toward closing the gap on a title. The roster is full of redundancies — between guards Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, between bigs Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, and at the wing position.There are also massive questions to answer this summer. Harden holds a $42.3 million option for next season. If he declines it, the Cavs will be in a Catch-22 — overpay him in free agency, tying Mitchell's future to a 37-year-old, or risk losing the only asset they got back for 26-year-old, two-time All-Star Darius Garland. Mitchell is due an extension, too, and if he declines that, well, Cleveland could risk completely cratering from this perch.7. Los Angeles LakersWho knows what the Lakers will look like next season, but they will boast Luka Dončić, who led the Dallas Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals, who just made a sixth All-NBA First Team, and who they acquired for cents on a dollar midway through the previous season.LeBron James is an unrestricted free agent, and unless he accepts a massive pay cut, the Lakers must decide whether it is worth tying more of Dončić's prime to a 41-year-old. Maybe James' salary is better spent elsewhere, especially since Austin Reaves is owed a new contract. Or maybe banking on James as the NBA's best third option is still the play.Whatever the answer, the Lakers — arguably the league's most coveted destination — have an entire offseason to better fit the roster around Dončić, which means upgrading from Deandre Ayton at the center position and improving their defense on the wings.6. Minnesota TimberwolvesAfter two consecutive trips to the Western Conference finals, the Timberwolves defeated the 2023 champion Denver Nuggets in the opening round of the playoffs and took the 62-win San Antonio Spurs to six games in the second round, despite Donte DiVincenzo's Achilles injury and lingering concerns over Anthony Edwards' left knee.Edwards, 24, is still flanked by All-Stars Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert, and Jaden McDaniels — a 25-year-old wing — emerged as a reliable playoff performer. There is no doubt that this group, when healthy, believes it can compete with any other opponent.And maybe they can, especially if they upgrade at the point guard position, where a 38-year-old Mike Conley is no longer an elite-level organizer and defender. They will have to bolster their bench, too, in the absence of DiVincenzo. Minnesota executive Tim Connelly is as creative as it gets, and we should expect this roster to look better at season's start.5. Denver NuggetsWe can't quit the Nuggets, even after a first-round exit, because they feature Nikola Jokić, the NBA's three-time MVP and (still) arguably the best player alive. Who, exactly, joins him in Denver next season is in some question, as every other Nugget is available.Even if Denver doesn't take a big swing, even if the Nuggets stand pat, they should be in a conversation among contenders again, especially if they stay healthy. Peyton Watson missed their entire first-round set, and Aaron Gordon was nursing a strained hamstring.Watson enters the summer as a restricted free agent, and re-signing him is the priority. So, too, is seeing what upgrades are available from Cameron Johnson, Christian Braun, or even Jamal Murray, as the Nuggets try to improve their defense around a generational offensive talent. Do nothing but run it back, though, and Denver still has reason to believe — including a +13.5 net rating for its starters — it can reach the NBA's mountaintop again.4. Boston CelticsLed by Jaylen Brown, playing largely without Jayson Tatum, who did not return from his Achilles injury until March, the Celtics won 56 games, captured the East's No. 2 seed and were the surprise of the regular season, as Joe Mazzulla was named Coach of the Year.They even took a 3-1 lead against the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the playoffs, looking like a challenger, only to lose three straight games to Joel Embiid and company. Boston lost an opening-round series for the first time with Brown and Tatum in uniform.That has led to questions about Brown's availability this summer, specifically in a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo. More likely, the Celtics will look to use a $27.7 million trade exception, or the $14.1 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception, or both, to address their issues pressuring the rim. They may even shop Derrick White. Whatever the plan, Boston is going to reload around a healthier Tatum, and that has proven to be a winning formula.3. New York KnicksYes, the reigning NBA champion Knicks are third on these rankings. Yes, that is somewhat disrespectful. And, yes, they should absolutely use this as motivation to defend their title. But what made the Knicks' quest so exciting was that they were not favored to win a ring.And it is fair to wonder if New York can replicate what we just witnessed — a remarkably efficient run through a watered-down Eastern Conference, followed by comeback after comeback against a Spurs team that led the NBA Finals for the vast majority of the time. Can we really expect Jalen Brunson to perform like Michael Jordan in the clutch again?Maybe that is just who he is, and who the Knicks are, and maybe they will be emboldened by their title, even harder to put away. But chances are they won't be as healthy, or even look the same next season, as team owner James Dolan has already indicated there will be cost-cutting measures. It is hard to repeat. Just ask the previous seven champions.2. Oklahoma City ThunderWeeks removed from the Thunder's Western Conference finals loss to the Spurs, we can apply some perspective. Had Jalen Williams or Ajay Mitchell remained healthy, the NBA's 2025 champions probably beat San Antonio and definitely give New York a better series. No sweeping changes are necessary in Oklahoma City, where Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is still the league's two-time defending MVP, and everyone else is under contract next year. The Thunder own the NBA's deepest roster and its most trade assets, including a pair of first-round picks in next week's draft, so if they did want to address the roster, they could.But they should trust in an infrastructure that over the past two seasons has yielded 132 regular-season wins, a title and a narrow conference finals loss at less than full strength. Even weeks later, it is still hard to believe any team beat this one four times in seven tries.1. San Antonio SpursIt is the Spurs who slayed the Thunder, and they deserve a ton of credit for making a run to the NBA Finals in their first playoffs together. Of course, they deserve equal amounts of blame for the way their postseason ended, squandering lead after lead to the Knicks. Turns out the Spurs, featuring 22-year-old phenom Victor Wembanyama, 21-year-old rising star Stephon Castle and 20-year-old sensation Dylan Harper, needed playoff scars, after all. The ones they got were wounds, and they could respond in one of two ways.Given everything we saw from Wemby, Castle and Harper on this run — all the incredibly high highs, and, yes, those very low lows — shouldn't we expect them to come back next season better, hungrier and more prepared to meet the rigors of another 100-game year? The Knicks, it seems, achieved their ceiling, but we don't yet know what San Antonio's is.

New Delhi: For most young cricketers, the safest route is often the most obvious one. If you're a talented top-order batter, you keep batting. If you're a handy left-arm spinner, you keep bowling. Shivang Kumar chose otherwise.The Bundelkhand Bulls all-rounder in the Madhya Pradesh League (MPLT20) knew early on that merely being good in either might not be enough in modern cricket. To make a mark, he felt he needed something different—something that would force people to take notice."As a batter, I used to think that I was a very good top-order batter. Additionally, I always aimed to be an asset for the team and constantly considered what more I could contribute. You know by picking wickets, becoming an all-rounder for the side. The demands of the game are different now. Normal won't work; you need two or three variations as a bowler. So I became a chinaman while developing my carrom ball. Then I worked on my googly which created a very good combination," he told TimesofIndia.com in a virtual interaction.The transition was anything but straightforward. A naturally attacking batter turning himself into a left-arm wrist-spinner invited scepticism. There were moments when those around him questioned whether he was making the right choice."Yes, it (criticism) used to come a lot of times. People around me used to say that this is just destroying your own career. You should focus on your batting. You bowl good left-arm spin, but I knew that this was not enough. If I also become like others, who will give me a chance in the top also. So, I got the benefit of having a different mindset and thinking out of the box. And I was able to do well."View this post on InstagramA post shared by Madhya Pradesh League (@mpleaguet20)That desire to be different wasn't shaped only by cricket. It was reinforced at home, where his parents often viewed his future through different lenses.While his mother worried about studies and the uncertainty that comes with pursuing sport professionally, his father, a Chief Inspector of Ticket in the Indian Railways, backed the cricket dream."My mother is a teacher. She favoured academics. And my father was in sports. So there was a lot of clash between the two," he explained."So then my father used to say that now let him play. Now let him focus on cricket. He will study, he will manage it. This clash used to continue."The sacrifices made by his family remain central to Shivang's story. Hours spent travelling for matches and training sessions often came with concerns and anxieties at home.Sure, there was a cricket connection at home. Praveen Kumar, his father, played U-19 cricket for Bengal before taking up the job with the Indian Railways.The father ensured his son would continue to play cricket even as a job option with the Railways presented itself.It helped that he was making inroads in different competitions. He demonstrated explosive batting in MPLT20 2025 for Bhopal Leopards which earned him a blockbuster Rs 13 lakh prize tag from the Bundelkhand Bulls.Not just the batting, the bowling was doing its magic too. He picked 10 wickets, including a fifer against Karnataka, in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He took eight wickets in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.His work with the bat and ball saw Sunrisers Hyderabad splash Rs 30 lakh on him ahead of IPL 2026. In 13 matches, he took nine wickets, including a 3/33 against the Punjab Kings."When I used to travel, they would worry. And my mother used to ask a lot. So now hopefully I have been able to justify their struggle. I have been able to justify their sacrifices. I will continue to do more. That's all I hope," said 24-year-old Shivang.If his parents disagreed on the path, his father and brother played major roles in helping shape the cricketer he would eventually become."First of all, I would like to give a lot of credit to my brother. I was not so interested in the beginning that I should do this or carry forward. But there was a demand for the game because a left-arm spinner wouldn't often bowl against a left-hander. Because left-handers tend to dominate. So I developed a carrom ball for that situation. Then the carrom ball became a good asset for me. Then I continued developing from there."His father, meanwhile, saw the potential in combining high-quality batting with a rare bowling skill."My father still says that you are not justifying your own talent. That if you are such a good batsman, you should score runs. You are doing chinaman bowling, which is a rare community in this world of cricket. The combination that you have at this time. My father used to say 2-3 years ago that I had become such a unique combination. That there is no one else in the world like you. I carried forward my father's vision."The inspiration also came from watching players who could influence games in multiple ways. One name stood out -- Hardik Pandya."And I am also feeling good because I was also thinking that how can I be different. Because when I used to see Hardik Pandya during his early days, he was very different. When he came to bat, he looked like a batter. And when he was a bowler, he looked like a bowler. I also wanted to do something similar for my team. I wanted to become a valuable asset for the team. So that was the only vision in my mind. And hopefully in the next 5 years, I will be able to justify my own talent."His rise has since taken him from domestic cricket to the IPL, where he has found himself sharing dressing rooms with some of the biggest names in the game. The experience, he says, has been grounding rather than overwhelming."It is a humbling experience for that. No one gets chances so soon... people around me are good and they keep telling me to not have any attitude and just stick to my strengths and work. God has given you a chance, chosen you and you should respect it. Be thankful to god that you are getting a good platform and people around you believe in you."Back home, Shivang believes the MPL has played a significant role in creating opportunities for players across Madhya Pradesh, including himself.View this post on InstagramA post shared by Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (@mpcricket)Making it clear he was not a one-trick pony, he blitzed to a 17-ball 65 against the Malwa Stallions earlier this month during the MPL. His seven fours and five sixes, after picking two wickets in the first innings, ensured Bundelkhand Bulls scaled the 216-run target with 5 balls to spare."I mean, I would like to give a lot of credit to MPL too. The way this new talent is coming out. I didn't even know that there is such a good talent in MP. Until last year, I was also a talent. But when I come here from IPL, I see how good the talent is. And MPL, which I think is the topmost state league. A lot of talent comes out of here."As more players from the state find opportunities at the highest level, Shivang sees it as evidence that the system is working."And 10-12 players from MP were in different IPL teams this time. So it is a matter of great respect. 10-12 IPL players are coming out of MP. And they are playing. And they are also the main players in their teams. So something good is happening with MPL."For Shivang, though, the journey remains far from complete. The batter who turned himself into a chinaman bowler did so because he believed standing out was the only way forward. The challenge now is to ensure that uniqueness translates into sustained success.

The USGA determined Niemann's actions on the 6th hole constituted "serious misconduct," resulting in a two-stroke penalty during Round 1 at Shinnecock.Joaquin Niemann's opening round at the U.S. Open took an unexpected turn Thursday when he was assessed a two-stroke penalty for throwing a club on the 6th hole.The USGA announced that Niemann was assessed a two-stroke penalty after throwing a club on the 6th hole, an act that officials determined was "serious misconduct" under Rule 1.2b.“Joaquin Neimann was assessed two penalty strokes for throwing a club on the 6th hole during Round 1,” the statement from the USGA early Friday said. “This act was determined to be serious misconduct under Rule 1.2b.”According to reporting from The Athletic's Gabby Herzig, Niemann's frustration boiled over after hitting two balls out of bounds on the hole. A volunteer who witnessed the incident said Niemann kicked a flag used to mark his ball, kicked sand in the area and then launched an iron roughly 50 yards toward the edge of the course.The penalty adds another wrinkle to what has become one of golf's more persistent questions. Niemann stacked wins at LIV, but major championships remain the one line missing from an otherwise impressive résumé.At a U.S. Open where every shot matters, losing two of them before signing the card is about as costly as it gets.

It was a moment Max Arfsten will never forget.On June 12, Arfsten walked into Sofi Stadium (renamed Los Angeles Stadium for the World Cup), located just 219 miles from his hometown of Fresno, California, as one of the 26 men selected to represent the United States at the World Cup"I feel like when I'm there, in the moment, I don't really think about it," Arfsten said. "But then, after, you have a chance to reflect and you understand how awesome and amazing it is."This has been a big goal of mine for the past 18 months. And as much as I didn't want to say it was World Cup or nothing, it was on my mind. So, this was a big accomplishment."The United States opened the tournament on home soil with a 4-1 victory over Paraguay in Group D play, though Arfsten remained on the bench as an unused substitute.Arfsten received his first call-up to the USMNT in January 2025, despite never having competed internationally at the youth level. Since his first national team camp, the 25-year-old Crew defender has recorded 18 caps and six goal contributions.With his goal of earning a World Cup roster spot checked off, the final step for Arfsten in fulfilling this dream is making his tournament debut."Obviously, I want to play," Arfsten said. "I'm here, I'm training every day with these guys, and I believe I can play. So, there's definitely anticipation, of course, just because it's the biggest tournament in the world. ... But I'm ready to go, and I'm excited for whenever the opportunity comes."More: Get live updates on Columbus Crew's Steven Moreira, Max Arfsten at World CupAccording to Arfsten, from the day the U.S. began its official World Cup training at its base in Irvine, California, the intensity has been higher than he's ever experienced.The U.S. entered this tournament with "a massive point to prove," and the way the team dominated Paraguay boosted its confidence."But it's only one game, and there are two more games and we want to top the group," Arfsten said. "The mentality of this group, and the energy ever since I got here May 26 has been that everyone's hungry."Arfsten keeps his focus on the United States' larger goals, so he is willing to accept any role he ends up playing for the team."What we're doing as Team USA, it's much bigger than just me and my aspirations," Arfsten said. "So, I'm in a place now where I want to play. I'm going to do everything I can to play, but I'm also going to do whatever the team needs from me to contribute. And at the end of the day, if we keep winning, then I can't really complain."The United States continues in the World Cup with a matchup against Australia on June 19, before finishing the group stage against Turkey on June 25.bmackay@dispatch.com@brimackay15This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Max Arfsten ready for US World Cup team debut after Paraguay win

[BBC]Morocco reached the World Cup semi-finals four years ago [Getty Images]Scotland face the side ranked sixth in the world in their second World Cup group game, having beaten Haiti in their opening match. Morocco, though, are likely to provide a far sterner challenge having reached the semi-finals in Qatar four years ago, while they drew with Brazil in their opening match. BBC Sport takes a look at some key players Scotland may need to watch out for.Yassine BounouYassine Bounou was one of the stars of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar [Getty Images]Club: Al-Hilal Age: 35 Position: Goalkeeper Caps: 90 Clean sheets: 53Known as 'Bono', Morocco's number one played a key role at the World Cup four years ago, saving two penalties in the last-16 shootout win against Spain on the way to a first appearance in the semi-finals. He was awarded the Order of the Throne by King Mohammed VI for his heroics in Qatar. A two-time Europa League winner with Sevilla, the former Girona and Zaragoza keeper joined Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia in 2023-24. Fifa World Cup 2026: What you need to know about CroatiaGet football news sent straight to your phoneBrahim DiazBrahim Diaz initially represented Spain at junior level [Getty Images]Club: Real Madrid Age: 26 Position: Attacking midfield Caps: 26 Goals: 14The 26-year-old made headlines around the world when he missed a casually-taken 'Panenka' penalty in the Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal in January - although he had scored five goals in the first five games of the continental tournament. Diaz joined Manchester City as a 16-year-old in 2015 and made 16 appearances - earning a Premier League winner's medal in 2017-18 - before joining Real Madrid seven years ago. The £21m fee paid by Real was a record fee for a City academy graduate at that time. A Serie A winner on loan at AC Milan in 2021-22, Diaz developed his ability to receive the ball in tight spaces by playing futsal from the age of four. Noussair MazraouiNoussair Mazraoui joined Manchester United from Bayern Munich in 2024 [Getty Images]Club: Manchester United Age: 28 Position: Defence Caps: 45 Goals: 2The Manchester United full-back has played in six different positions for club and country over the past two years, including an attacking midfield role, although he is most likely to start at left-back for the Teranga Lions. Mazraoui was a key member of the Morocco side that reached the World Cup semi-finals in 2022.After he was substituted in the last-four defeat to France, it emerged he had been suffering from inflamed heart tissue after contracting Covid-19 during the tournament. Sofyan AmrabatSofyan Amrabat was a key part of Morocco's run to the World Cup semi-finals four years ago [Getty Images]Club: Real Betis (on loan from Fenerbahce) Age: 29 Position: Defensive midfield Caps: 75 Goals: 0The industrious midfielder played every minute of Morocco's journey to the semi-finals four years ago, running more than 50 miles during the tournament - the most of any player. Amrabat, who started six of eight qualifying matches, grew up emulating the likes of World Cup winners Zinedine Zidane and Andres Iniesta before studying more defensive players like former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure. World Cup fixtures and group standingsHow to watch the World Cup on the BBCEverything you need to know about the World Cup

During a hearing on blue-state sanctuary policies for immigrants, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) berated New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) for allegedly smiling while the Congresswoman spoke about Laken Riley, a young woman who was murdered by an undocumented immigrant and whose death the Republicans have used to justify their cruelty to all immigrants. Hochul responded that she wasn’t smiling as Greene paused her line of questioning to talk down to Hochul, “You look like you’ve got quite a smile on your face,” Greene said, as House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair Rep. James Comer (R-KY) banged his gavel and told her not to “attack the witness.” Related Out lawmakers grill Pete Hegseth over decision to remove Harvey Milk’s name from Navy ship This angered Greene, who said it was “my time” and that she was “reclaiming her time.” Comer continued to tell her to stop attacking the witness, but Greene kept going “Don’t you dare smile about the murder of Laken Riley,” Greene said. “I’m thinking about her parents,” Hochul replied. “Don’t question how I look. My heart is breaking for her parents.” “My time, Governor Hochul,” Greene retorted. Greene: Are you smiling at me? Hochul: No Greene: Don’t you dare smile Hochul: Don’t question how I look pic.twitter.com/RpXFok0HEW— Acyn (@Acyn) June 12, 2025 The hearing was wrought with tense exchanges between Republican representatives and the Democratic governors. Greene: You stated that you’re a proud registered Democrat?Hochul: Yes. Is that illegal now too in your country?Greene: *laughs* This is not a laughing matter. pic.twitter.com/PoFBGjMbRG— Acyn (@Acyn) June 12, 2025 Lawler: That’s why you’re here.Hochul: No, the reason I’m sitting here is because Republicans are trying to deflect from their bill that’s going to hurt people in your district pic.twitter.com/zZROTBV6kw— Acyn (@Acyn) June 12, 2025 Fischbach: When you hold a position like this, you should not be saying something like thatWalz: But you support the president’s language? pic.twitter.com/aREK9gCcDq— Acyn (@Acyn) June 12, 2025 Pritzker to Mary Miller: I am not going to be lectured to by somebody who extols the virtue of Hitler. pic.twitter.com/Ja0X6cYYgJ— Acyn (@Acyn) June 12, 2025 Boebert: What we’re seeing in LA is an insurrection Pritzker: You don’t know understand what insurrection is. It is outrageous that you are asking that when you are the one condoning the pardoning of people that attacked police. pic.twitter.com/iOrhvzK8JV— Acyn (@Acyn) June 12, 2025

We're about a month and change away from NFL teams reporting for training camp as we approach the 2026 season. We've entered the dead zone of the offseason, a time where we're prepping and building our convictions for fantasy football drafts come August. There isn't much dust that needs to be settled, but we're still getting NFL news coming out of OTAs and minicamps in June. Here's another roundup of news and notes with fantasy football impact. George Pickens reports to Cowboys practiceDallas Cowboys WR George Pickens will enter the 2026 NFL season playing on a franchise tag after the two sides failed to reach an agreement on a long-term contract. Pickens was advised by his agent to sit out of OTAs but reported to practice during the Cowboys' minicamp this week. Pickens doesn't have plans to hold out this season and will play on the franchise tag, which is a good sign for fantasy managers. Pickens is coming off a breakout season in which he had 93 catches for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns, finishing as the WR4 in total fantasy points in 2025. Yahoo analyst Justin Boone has Pickens ranked as the WR9 in his latest June update for 2026. Pickens will be playing for a big payday and figures to be a big part of Dallas' passing attack again, making him a prime target in all formats. Homecoming for Stefon Diggs? We're still waiting to see where the veteran wideout will land this offseason. Diggs is currently a free agent and remains unsigned after being cleared of battery charges this offseason. One team the Maryland-native wide receiver is being linked to is the Washington Commanders, who could use another option alongside Terry McLaurin. Diggs, a Maryland native, could give QB Jayden Daniels another weapon in the passing game. Washington's other options behind McLaurin include rookie Antonio Williams, Luke McCaffrey and Treylon Burks, among other less-than-appealing receivers. Diggs was solid for the AFC Champion New England Patriots in 2025, catching 85 passes for 1,013 yards and four TDs. Diggs appeared fully healthy coming off major injury going into last season. Wherever he lands, he'll hold sleeper value as a WR3/FLEX option in PPR formats. Cam Skattebo doesn't plan to hold backDespite coming off a few gruesome injuries, New York Giants RB Cam Skattebo plans to go back to "running people over" in 2026. The second-year back missed most of his rookie season after suffering a bad dislocated ankle. Prior to the injury, Skattebo rushed for 410 yards with five TDs, plus 24 catches for 207 yards and two additional scores. Skattebo finished as a top-10 fantasy back in points per game (14.5) and only really played significant snaps in six games. At 24 years old, Skattebo should bounce back fine after his injury and Boone has him ranked as an RB2 coming in at 15th at the position as of June. The Giants didn't add any significant piece to the backfield this offseason, so if Skattebo can stay healthy, he has plenty of upside, being drafted on average as the RB20 in the late-third, early-fourth round in Yahoo drafts so far. Where will QB Brendan Sorsby land? Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby will enter the NFL supplemental draft and tiers of teams can blind-bid future picks to land him. Sorsby, 22, was embroiled in a gambling scandal and decided to skip out on the 2026 college season and get right into the NFL. Sorsby likely won't make a fantasy football impact in 2026 (if ever, to be honest). But he's another QB prospect to keep an eye on for dynasty formats, and depending on where he lands and develops, could become an OK NFL starter. But that seems like a bit of a long shot at the moment. Sorsby put up decent numbers at Cincinnati in 2025, throwing for 2,800 yards with 27 TDs and five INTs. Again, Sorsby won't be a target in redraft but could hold some dynasty value if he lands in a situation like Cleveland or Pittsburgh — teams that don't have a long-term answer at QB. Bo Nix recovery updateDenver Broncos QB Bo Nix is making his way back from an ankle injury suffered in the 2025 NFL playoffs last season. The Broncos QB told the Denver Post at practice this week that he "could be a full go right now" if the staff wanted him to. That's a good sign for fantasy managers with Nix in dynasty formats, plus those who could target him in redraft. Early ADP on Yahoo has Nix as the QB13, going around the 100th pick. Boone has Nix aligned with his ADP as the QB13 in his June rankings. The QB has finished in the top-10 at his position in fantasy in each of the past two seasons. Nix is looking like a solid late-round QB pickup so long as he doesn't hit any snags in his recovery.

Credit: Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Edit: Qwame Skinner - Comeback MediaThe Indiana Fever entered Thursday night’s game against the Atlanta Dream on the heels of a four-game win streak. Unfortunately for Caitlin Clark and company, Clark’s biggest rival dating back to her collegiate career, Dream forward Angel Reese, not only turned in a flawless performance but also left Gainbridge Fieldhouse victorious.Reese finished the game with a team-high 21 points, which included clutch buckets down the stretch to seal the game for Atlanta. Clark didn’t play poorly necessarily, finishing with 26 points and seven assists herself, but the box score doesn’t tell the entire story.The Fever fell behind by double digits with Clark on the floor and only clawed back into the game when she was forced to the bench with foul trouble. Late in the game, when Clark returned with five fouls, Reese and the Dream were able to pull away again. Clark ended the night with a game-worst -13 +/-.After the game, the Amazon Prime studio analysts talked about the contributing factors to Indiana’s struggles, and Clark’s heliocentric playstyle was mentioned.“When the ball stays in her hands a little bit longer, there’s stretches where other players aren’t getting any touches”@SwinCash blames Caitlin Clark, who put up 26/7, for Indiana’s struggles.It’s obvious these former @WNBA players just don’t like her, right?? pic.twitter.com/78dPPEmyTF— HeroOfTheDay (@Hero_OfThe_Day) June 19, 2026“Having other scorers get hot will make it easier on her.”Fans on social media had their own thoughts on Clark’s performance and the post-game analysis.“I’m a big Caitlin fan but we needed to have Kelsey more involved in the offense. Having other scorers get hot will make it easier on her,” one fan posted on X.“Caitlin is the ball hog you claim (Kelsey Mitchell) is,” one fan added.“Who had the worst +/- on the team that game guys lol. I love CC but we gotta be real here,” someone else added.The Fever and Clark have plenty of time left in the season to iron out the wrinkles, but Clark may have to embrace a change in her play style if she wants to win at the highest level.The post Criticism mounts for ‘ball hog’ Caitlin Clark after Angel Reese dominates her on the court appeared first on The Comeback: Today’s Top Sports Stories & Reactions.

Internally, the Spurs remain committed to Fox as their franchise starting point guard. Sources called De’Aaron Fox a calming presence and the team's closer for most of the season, adding that one rough series essentially playing on one leg doesn't change that. The four-year, $229 million contract extension Fox signed last summer kicks in next season, raising his salary from $37.1 million to $49.8 million. He's scheduled to make $61.7 million in the final year of the deal in 2029-30, when he'll be 32 years old. It's expected that calls from Harper's camp for a spot in the starting lineup will grow louder going into next season. But it's not an issue San Antonio needs to address right away. Fox's contract won't become a potential eyesore until after Wembanyama's upcoming rookie extension kicks in, and when the Spurs are looking next summer to extend Castle to what should be a max deal.ESPNThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Spurs remain committed to De'Aaron Fox as their franchise starting point guard

San Antonio could use a backup stretch big as it reloads for next season, and a combo stretch big man who can start and possibly play alongside Wembanyama in bigger lineups such as Rui Hachimura. The opportunity to play alongside Wembanyama, the franchise's success, its culture and collective youth make San Antonio a preferred destination, sources said, adding that multiple big men are already trying to get to south Texas.ESPNThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: San Antonio could use a backup stretch big as it …

Moments after Kimi Antonelli passed his Mercedes teammate George Russell for P2 in Catalunya, a battery failure brought his race to a halt on Lap 62.The 19-year-old remains the youngest championship leader in F1 history and still heads the standings, but his gap over Lewis Hamilton has been cut to 41 points after Hamilton’s maiden Ferrari victory made the whole thing considerably more dramatic than it needed to be.Antonelli said he never saw it coming: “All of a sudden I was at the apex of Turn 5 and the car just gave up,” he said at the time.After diagnostics after the race, Mercedes technical director James Allison confirmed in a podcast by the Mercedes team, that they had pinpointed the issue to its power unit’s battery, and a permanent fix is being worked on.“I think anyone who’s a keen watcher of the sport will have seen that this has laid a few Mercedes-engined cars low over the season so far,” Allison said. “They’re not all identical, but they they do originate in the same broad part of the battery.”Barcelona was the third race in a row in which one of Mercedes’ drivers failed to finish due to power unit problems.Customer squad McLaren has also dealt with its share of electrical trouble. Lando Norris needed a battery swap at Monaco and retired from the race, while both Norris and Oscar Piastri failed to start the Chinese GP with separate electrical faults.New Battery Modules Are the Plan, and They Can’t Arrive Soon EnoughAllison’s message was clear enough: the team understands the vulnerability, and the solution is on its way.“I think that most of the areas of risk have been understood, and with a bit of luck when we start to phase in the new modules into the racing season – we call the battery ‘the module’ – then our fortunes as a fleet should pick up.” The word “luck” in a technical briefing is usually a sign that nobody wants to over-promise. “These DNFs are very, very painful,” he added.His explanation of the short-term response is fair, if not exactly reassuring: when a failure like this happens, part of the team dials back the demands on the affected hardware while another group hunts the root cause. In Allison’s words, “you do a first intervention that is just to try to give the vulnerable thing an easier life while then working on a proper cure that lets you really cane it.”The uncomfortable part is doing it mid-championship fight, with Ferrari now clearly capable of winning and the gap to Hamilton at less than half a race’s worth of points.Mercedes has won six of seven grands prix under the new 2026 regulations, which softens the immediate damage but doesn’t eliminate the risk. A car quick enough to lead from the front only matters if it survives to the checkered flag. Getting the replacement modules into cars before the summer break is the real deadline – and Allison knows it.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., leaves the chamber, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)2026-06-19T13:11:20Z WASHINGTON (AP) — The relationship between President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans neared a breaking point this week as he upended their efforts to speedily confirm one of his own nominees and said he would not sign the renewal of a key surveillance law unless they agree to new terms.Trump’s overnight social media post Wednesday that he was delaying Jay Clayton’s nomination to become national intelligence director, just hours before the U.S. attorney’s confirmation hearing, further strained relations between the Senate and White House that have been worsening for weeks. Later that day, some Republican senators who have been hesitant to challenge the president directly on the Iran war were blunt in their criticism of his deal to end it. “This is the worst foreign policy blunder in decades,” Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said in a post on X. The open tensions are an almost complete reversal from a year ago when Senate Republicans worked closely with Trump on a complicated effort to push through his massive package of spending and tax cuts. At the time, criticism of the president was almost nonexistent among Republicans on Capitol Hill, and they planned to highlight passage of that bill in the midterms. But as the November election draws closer and Republicans are trying to defend their majorities, Trump is instead needling Congress with his demands and reversals, driving several Republican senators to disparage his actions publicly for the first time. “I think somebody’s not dialing the president into the complexities of what he’s done here,” Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said Wednesday after Clayton’s confirmation was postponed. “I mean, my God.” Read More The slow unraveling of what once seemed like an airtight alliance between the executive and legislative branches in a Republican-led Washington extends to their policy priorities. Trump appears to have lost interest in most of the GOP agenda and has become almost singularly focused on his voting legislation to require proof of citizenship, which has almost no chance of passing. At the same time, he has asked members of Congress to fund parts of his White House ballroom project, allow a temporary intelligence director that none of them like and cede their powers on the Iran war. The growing rift has brought much of the Senate’s business to a halt and put Republicans who are up for reelection this year on the defensive. It has also put pressure on Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who has been up-front with Trump about what he can and cannot do in the Senate. Trump pressures Thune on voting billTrump has pressured Thune relentlessly to scrap the filibuster and pass the strict proof-of-citizenship legislation, called the SAVE America Act. Thune, R-S.D., has told Trump publicly and privately that the votes are not there for either step. Still, Trump has kept up the push. In a social media post Thursday, Trump said he would be “the last Republican president” if the voting bill does not pass. “Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and the Republican Senate, must not let this ‘carnage’ happen,” Trump said. “They will go down on the wrong side of History, as will all Republicans who just stood by and watched.” Nonetheless, Trump has yet to go after the well-liked Republican leader on a personal basis, as he often did with Thune’s predecessor, Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.. Trump once called McConnell a “ dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack.” Trump and Thune talk frequently, even as Thune is sometimes giving the president news he does not want to hear. As Trump pushed for the voting bill, Thune scheduled weeks of floor time to consider it, an effort to make clear that the Senate was supportive, even if the votes are lacking.Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt, one of the president’s closest allies in the Senate, said he has never heard Trump say anything negative about Thune. “It’s a difficult position,” Schmitt said of Thune’s role in the Senate. “I think they have a good working relationship.” One of Thune’s closest allies, Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota, said the even-keeled leader is the “right person at the right time.” “In the Capitol today, he is the stable force,” Rounds said. “In Washington, D.C., today, he is the stable force.” No signs of revolt among Senate GOP There were no signs of a revolt within the GOP conference, for now, despite Trump’s pressure.Thune “has managed it better than anyone else could manage it,” said Cassidy, who has become a more frequent Trump critic since a primary loss to a Trump-backed challenger. Criticism of Trump has at times surfaced even among his closest Senate allies, especially with his proposed $1.776 billion settlement fund for his political allies and his pick for acting intelligence director, Bill Pulte, who has no known intelligence experience. But the rift with Trump has also stoked some new internal tensions. Several Republican senators criticized Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, who has waged an online campaign to eliminate the filibuster and pass the SAVE America Act, in a private conference lunch this week for stoking dissension within the party in an election year. Trump’s dwindling number of allies Some Senate Republicans have made clear they have no plans to separate themselves from Trump. As several of his colleagues criticized Trump’s agreement with Iran this week, first-term Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, aggressively defended it on social media. “Let’s get the Nobel Peace Prize ready!” Moreno posted on X. But Trump has far fewer of those Senate allies than he did when they narrowly passed the tax and spending cuts legislation a year ago. That is in part because he has picked off some of the most loyal Republican votes himself.Both Cassidy and Texas Sen. John Cornyn lost in primaries last month after Trump endorsed their opponents. Tillis announced he was not running for reelection last year after Trump repeatedly criticized him on social media. Now all three have become frequent critics. Shortly after his election loss, Cornyn posted on social media a fable about a frog and a scorpion. The scorpion asks the frog to carry it across a river, according to the fable, and then stings the frog in the middle of the river, “dooming them both.” “The dying frog asks the scorpion why it stung despite knowing the consequence,” Cornyn’s post read. “To which the scorpion replies: ‘I am sorry, but I couldn’t help myself. It’s my character.’”

A Black admiral fixed one of the Navy’s worst messes. Mr. Hegseth blocked his promotion anyway.

The country has long faced some of the world’s heaviest sanctions. The lifting of restrictions could open new vistas on trade and financial access.

Shipping companies had hoped to get their stranded vessels out, but faced uncertainty as violence flared again in the region.

Writer error (yeah, Brett’s wearing this one) prevented the issuance of our customary White Sox question this week (it concerned the area on the roster to strengthen at the trade deadline), so we’ll table it for a week from now. But that doesn’t mean you didn’t get your national surveys this week, with some fun questions to weigh in on!The first national question … was a bummer. But timely, given Rob Manfred’s announcement on Thursday that MLB owners would seek to slash the MLB draft to 12 rounds (and along with it the bonus pool) and instituting an international draft as well. Just as the White Sox are getting back to winning, ominous labor issues loom over the game. A majority — but frankly, not a big enough majority — anticipated pinning the blame on ownership, which is (always) the correct answer. Presumably, a South Side fan base voted anti-owner at a clip much bigger than 58%:The second national question was much more fun, albeit predictable. It’s not looking good — nor should it — for the American League this year:Bless you crazies who tabbed the White Sox to go all the way. You gotta figure that Every Single One of the White Sox support votes came from this very site. STUFF THE BALLOT BOX BABY!Did you miss out on this round of questions? No worry, sign up here to participate in our weekly emailed surveys, and have your White Sox voice be heard!This week’s Reacts is brought to you by FanDuel.

ASHWAUBENON, WISCONSIN - JUNE 09: Christian Watson #9 of the Green Bay Packers participates in drills during the Green Bay Packers mandatory minicamp at Don Hutson Center on June 09, 2026 in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images The contract that Christian Watson signed recently dropped down in apparent value by about $15 million once the deal’s structure was revealed, and this Friday morning the details of those incentives have been released. The Green bay Packers will surely hope that Watson hits many of these incentives, which would pay out based on receiving yards, touchdowns, and Pro Bowl honors.Let’s go to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky for the details:Finally got the escalators and incentives for Christian Watson’s four-year, $92.5 million contract extension. There’s the possibility of another $15.05 million based on the following: pic.twitter.com/NR2idEKrja— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) June 19, 2026To be clear, these aren’t bonuses — they’re escalators to Watson’s base salary. This means that if he hits some of these numbers in 2026, his 2027 base salary increases by the appropriate amount, but they should not count as likely to be earned bonuses for the following season for salary cap purposes. It’s a clever approach, and the Packers gain a modicum of extra financial flexibility as a result.Go Russ Ball.In any case, let’s wrap up the week with a bit of news about this summer’s upcoming Packers Hall of Fame induction ceremony and a look at the Packers’ pass rushers.Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame Inc. set to honor special award winners at July banquet | Packers.comTramon Williams and Earl Dotson will be honored with Packers Hall of Fame induction, while two other individuals get major honors from the organization.Collin Oliver Gained All-Pro Mentor During Rookie Season Ruined by Injury | SI.comOliver and Barryn Sorrell worked out with Micah Parsons for much of the offseason, and Parsons has said that he “gained little brothers” during their time together.Cardinals rookie QB Carson Beck hard at work in prep for potential starting competition | NFL.comHave fun with that, Mike LaFleur.Row over $1,000 condo rent: Man drives SUV into Thai university pool to spite mum | Strait TimesThat must have been some argument.

Brewers-Red Sox Trade Reportedly Didn't Include These Three Players Initially originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.MLB Network insider Joel Sherman said in May that the Milwaukee Brewers made the best trade of the offseason when they acquired infielder David Hamilton, starting pitcher Kyle Harrison and left-handed hurler Shane Drohan and sent infielders Andruw Monasterio and Caleb Durbin, as well as former first-round pick Anthony Seigler to the Boston Red Sox.MLB insider Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported Friday that the six-player blockbuster was initially going to include just three names."The Brewers originally targeted only Drohan and left-hander Kyle Harrison for Durbin, according to a person briefed on the discussions," Rosenthal wrote. "After deciding they also wanted infielder David Hamilton, they expanded the package, sending the Red Sox infielder Andruw Monasterio, outfielder Anthony Seigler and their competitive balance pick, 67th overall, as well."Thus far, the trade hasn't worked out for the Red Sox.Harrison has had a full breakout in the first half of the campaign and is an NL Cy Young candidate. He enters Friday with an 8-1 record, 2.47 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 80 strikeouts across 65 2/3 innings pitched (13 starts).Drohan and Hamilton have been solid as well and helped the Brewers get off to an NL Central-leading 45-27 start.Durbin has heated up lately, but still has just four home runs, 27 RBIs and a .192/.251/.322 slash line across 229 plate appearances covering 65 games.Monasterio has played in 40 of Boston's first 72 contests and contributed two home runs, 11 RBIs and a .234/.280/.378 slash line.Seigler has spent most of the year with Triple-A Worcester but was called up for a two-game stint in early June.More MLB: Playoff Odds Offer Glimmer Of Hope For Red Sox After Blue Jays Sweep

The 80th edition of the NBA draft will take place this week at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, with the first round on June 23 and the second round on June 24. During the NBA draft lottery, held back in May, the Washington Wizards secured the No. 1 draft pick (a complete list of the entire draft order is below). While there's no draft prospect that's a clear choice for No. 1, we would expect to see college stars like BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, Duke forward Cameron Boozer, and North Carolina's Caleb Wilson among those selected early. (Here's a more detailed look at the top 60 prospects.)The first night of the draft will air on ABC and ESPN at 8 p.m. ET, and the second night will air on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET. You can stream the entire draft on the ESPN App with the Unlimited tier. Here's everything you need to know about how to watch the 2026 NBA draft.Where to watch the 2026 NBA draft:Date: June 23-24, 2026Time: 8p.m. ETTV channel: ABC, ESPN, ESPN DeportesStreaming: ESPN Unlimited, DirecTV, Fubo, Sling and moreWhen is the 2026 NBA draft?The 2026 NBA draft is on June 23 and 24, starting at 8 p.m. ET both nights.Where to watch the NBA draft:The NBA draft will air on ABC, ESPN and ESPN Deportes on June 23, and on ESPN and ESPN Deportes on June 24.Where to stream the NBA draft without cable:This year's NBA draft will stream on ESPN Unlimited. You'll also be able to access the live TV broadcast on services like DirecTV, Fubo, Sling and YouTube TV.2026 NBA Draft OrderFirst roundWashington WizardsUtah JazzMemphis GrizzliesChicago BullsLos Angeles Clippers (from Pacers)Brooklyn NetsSacramento KingsAtlanta Hawks (from Pelicans)Dallas MavericksMilwaukee BucksGolden State WarriorsOklahoma City Thunder (from Clippers)Miami HeatCharlotte HornetsChicago Bulls (from Trail Blazers)Memphis Grizzlies (from Suns)Oklahoma City Thunder (from Sixers)Charlotte Hornets (from Magic)Toronto RaptorsSan Antonio Spurs (from Hawks)Detroit Pistons (from Timberwolves)Philadelphia 76ers (from Rockets)Atlanta Hawks (from Cavaliers)New York KnicksLos Angeles LakersDenver NuggetsBoston CelticsMinnesota Timberwolves (from Pistons)Cleveland Cavaliers (from Spurs)Dallas Mavericks (from Thunder)Second roundNew York Knicks (from Wizards)Memphis Grizzlies (from Pacers)Brooklyn NetsSacramento KingsSan Antonio Spurs (from Jazz)Los Angeles Clippers (from Grizzlies)Oklahoma City Thunder (from Mavericks)Chicago Bulls (from Pelicans)Houston Rockets (from Bulls)Boston Celtics (from Bucks)Miami Heat (from Warriors)San Antonio Spurs (from Trail Blazers)Brooklyn Nets (from Clippers)San Antonio Spurs (from Heat)Sacramento Kings (from Hornets)Orlando MagicPhoenix Suns (from Sixers)Dallas Mavericks (from Suns)Denver Nuggets (from Hawks)Toronto RaptorsWashington Wizards (from Timberwolves)Los Angeles Clippers (from Cavaliers)Houston RocketsGolden State Warriors (from Lakers)New York KnicksChicago Bulls (from Nuggets)Atlanta Hawks (from Celtics)New Orleans Pelicans (from Pistons)Minnesota Timberwolves (from Spurs)Washington Wizards (from Thunder)

We continue the countdown to the start of the Arizona Cardinals' regular season. Today, Friday, June 19, is 86 days away from the Arizona Cardinals' regular-season opener on Sept. 13 on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers.With 86 days until Week 1, let's look back at the 1986 season for the Cardinals.A look back at the 1986 season for the CardinalsThe 1986 season wasn't good. They went 4-11-1. They lost their first five games and never won consecutive games. They had the worst offense in the league, averaging only 13.6 points per game. They allowed 21.9 points per game, 21st in the league. They did have three Pro Bowlers, though. Fullback Ron Wolfley, returner Vai Sikahema and safety Leonard Smith. 1986 offensive leadersNeil Lomax started 14 of 16 games at quarterback. He completed 57% of his passes for 2,583 yards, 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Stump Mitchell averaged 4.6 yards per attempt, leading the team with 800 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Earl Ferrell rushed for 548 and no scores, averaging 4.4. J.T. Smith led the Cardinals with 80 receptions for 1,014 yards and six touchdowns. Roy Green scored six touchdowns on 42 catches for 517 yards. Sikahema led the NFL with 522 punt return yards and two punt return touchdowns. 1986 defensive leadersAl Baker led the Cardinals with 10.5 sacks, and Freddie Joe Nunn was next with 7.5. Cornerback Cedric Mack led with four interceptions. Smith, at safety, had five sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: 86 days till Arizona Cardinals' opener: Remembering the 1986 season

The U.S. men's national team is set to play its second match in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.The United States will play Australia at Lumen Field in Seattle on Friday, June 19 for the second round of Group D.The United States won its tournament opener, 4-1 against Paraguay on Friday, June 12. Folarin Balogun struck twice in the win. All eyes will be on the status of Christian Pulisic after he was removed from that opening win at halftime after being kicked in the calf. The expectation is for him to play, but how will he respond to the knock?Australia earned a 2-0 win over Turkey in their first match, putting in a very impressive performanceThese two sides met in a friendly back in October of 2025, with the United States winning 2-1.USA soccer game today timeWhen: Friday, June 19Where: Lumen Field (Seattle, WA)Time: 1 p.m. MT/2 p.m. CTChannel/streaming: FOX (Watch on Fubo TV), Peacock (WATCH HERE), TelemundoWhat time does USA soccer play today?The match vs. Australia will be played at 1 p.m. MT/ 2 p.m CT. More: USA Today World Cup coverageUSA soccer game today live: How to watchThe United States vs. Australia 2026 FIFA World Cup match is on FOX (Watch on Fubo TV), Peacock (WATCH HERE), Telemundo.More: USMNT soccer news El Paso native Ricardo Pepi debuts at 2026 World Cup vs. ParaguayUSMNT predicted starting XIGoalkeeper: 24 Matt FreeseDefense: 13 Tim Ream, 4 Tyler Adams, 16 Alex FreemanMidfield: 5 Antonee Robinson, 17 Malik Tillman, 4 Tyler Adams, 8 Weston McKennie, 2 Sergiño DestAttack: 10 Christian Pulisic, 20 Folarin BalogunUSMNT vs. Australia oddsFrom BetMGM.comUS -165. Tie +330. Paraguay +450. USA soccer vs. Australia predictionUSA Today: After a performance like that against Paraguay and playing in front of what is sure to be a fantastic crowd in Seattle, it's hard not to pick the U.S. to get off to a 2-0 start. Prediction: USMNT 3, Australia 1Yahoo Sports: The USMNT will score twice in this game, but will concede a goal in the process. They get the win and clinch Group D, while Australia will need another point in their final game to secure moving on.NBC Sports: This feels like it could be a draw, but given the confidence the U.S. gained from that opening win, they will get it done to take control of Group D. USA 2, Australia 1.Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on XThis article originally appeared on El Paso Times: US soccer game today vs. Australia in World Cup 2026: Starting lineup

Jun. 19—Keaton Wagler won't be in the Barclays Center green room long Tuesday night in Brooklyn, N.Y. The one-and-done Illinois guard has maintained high enough draft stock that he shouldn't last past the 10th pick. Odds are he goes even earlier, with these three teams with picks Nos. 5, 6 and 7 his likeliest destinations:Los Angeles ClippersDarius Garland was the Clippers' return for dealing James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the 26-year-old point guard averaged 19.9 points and 6.4 assists in 19 games in Los Angeles. Wagler could be the missing piece in the Clippers' lineup as a bigger guard to play next to Garland with the shooting ability to play off the ball and skill to be a secondary playmaker. The unknown factor rests with Los Angeles' intent. If the Clippers are in "win now" mode with Kawhi Leonard entering the final year of his contract, they could use the fifth pick as trade bait to try and land another star.Brooklyn NetsShould Brooklyn spend more first-round capital on a point guard? It's a legitimate question given how last year's draft played out with the Nets using three of their four first-round picks on Egor Demin, Nolan Traore and Ben Saraf. Going with the best player available basically assures another guard winds up in Brooklyn whether it's Wagler or not, as using the No. 6 to draft for need is a riskier investment. But maybe it's a need. None of the Nets' rookie guards had bad debut seasons, but none of them established themselves as the top option either. There's an opportunity for Wagler to make that claim.Sacramento KingsSacramento has basically punted at point guard the last two seasons, trading De'Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs last February and Dennis Schroder to Cleveland this January. The only for sure rostered option is Devin Carter, who started the final 10 games of the season, and Killian Hayes could return if the Kings pick up his 2026-27 option. Neither feels like a long-term answer. Spending the No. 7 pick on Wagler would mean making that kind of investment in the Illinois guard. Wagler would clearly fill a position of real need in a lineup with Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis.

Jun. 19—CHAMPAIGN — Gretchen Dolan wasn't wearing any kind of protective sleeve on her surgically-repaired right knee as the Illinois women's basketball team guard answered questions from the assembled media in the lobby of Ubben Basketball Complex late Thursday morning.No outward evidence was there to show what the 5-foot-11 redshirt junior has been dealing with the last four months since the Buffalo, N.Y., native had surgery to address a torn meniscus in her right knee on Feb. 23.But make no mistake: Dolan's rehab process is ongoing."I'm feeling good," Dolan said minutes after her and her Illini teammates wrapped up Thursday morning's practice. Illinois is currently in week one of eight of summer workouts."I think every day I am just progressing more and more and starting to get more confident and everything feeling better," the Illinois guard continued. "So, I think this time since I've had my surgery has been good, and I have been progressing."Dolan has now missed part of back-to-back seasons because of knee injuries. Dolan had a medical hardship waiver for the 2024-25 season approved by the NCAA after playing in only eight games before her season ended with a left-knee injury.Her torn meniscus from this past season had more of a stop-start nature to it. Dolan missed her first game with the injury on Jan. 15 in an 85-69 loss at Michigan. A brief return on Feb. 1 during a 75-66 victory at Washington — where Dolan played just four minutes and sat out the entire second half — was the last game Dolan played for the Illini this past season. Dolan ended up suiting up for Illinois in 18 games and averaged 12.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals.Recovering from a second successive knee injury has been "tedious.""As soon as you do get a taste of on-court stuff, you immediately want to play 5-on-5 but you know that's not really the case," Dolan said. "You have to be diligent. What I do every day, pre, post practice, my recovery and then making sure I am getting what I need on the court. Being smart with my ramp-up."I think just reminding myself to take it one day at a time is all I can do and just focus on that day and what I have. It's something that I have learned. Things can be taken from you in an instant. So, I think that's happened by just realizing I have this day, and I am going to pour everything into it and go about that process the right way."Dolan admitted it's the mental side of coming back from an injury that takes the most time. Dolan said "your brain is what comes second."Even if Illinois has been meticulous in how it's approached Dolan's path back to the court.Recently, Dolan has worked on "change of direction stuff" and has found physical therapy helpful in getting the mental and physical aspects of her injury recovery to be more in sync."It's definitely a work in progress," Dolan said. "It's taking a little bit of time for me to restructure some kinds of things and how I am moving. Like I said earlier, just taking it day-by-day and make sure my body is really in line and I am feeling confident in whatever I'm doing on the court. I don't want to step on the court and do something that I haven't done. We have been doing a really good job of that in my (physical therapy). I feel good in everything and everything feels good from left to right. It's something that gets better from day-to-day."Illini fifth-year coach Shauna Green was asked to come up with words to describe Dolan.Specifically what Green has learned about Dolan given the adversity that has struck the redshirt junior the last two seasons.Resiliency.Toughness.Loyalty.That's what sprung to mind for Green in referring to Dolan.The first two are clearly in reference to the multiple knee injuries Dolan has suffered through. The loyalty word wasn't misplaced, though. Dolan wanted to run it back for another season with Illinois despite what she had gone through. Retention was a key effort by the Illini this offseason, and Illinois retained its core with the top-nine players in the rotation all coming back from a 22-win team that reached the second round of the NCAA tournament.Dolan didn't go into specifics but did say "all of us have had to make sacrifices to stay at Illinois.""She's been through a lot," Green said of Dolan. "It's so unfortunate. You just feel bad, really for her. But she gets knocked down and she gets back up and she keeps fighting. That's the main thing. ... We're trying to progress her back as slowly but as surely as we possibly can for her to be able to play this year. That's what she wants. That's what we want. That's what we're working towards."Gretch is not out there full. ... We're being very intentional with the plan and her progression. We don't want to do too much too early, and then have a setback. We're going to probably take it very, very slow, so we know when she gets back out there she's confident, and she's strong and physically able to sustain everything that she needs to. Yes, trying to take it as slow as we can but still continue to progress and take those steps."Dolan knows what's she's coming back to: A team and a program with perhaps the highest level of expectations it's had in the Green era. That comes with the territory after what was the youngest roster in the 68-team NCAA tournament field got a taste of what postseason success looks like in March.And Dolan is itching to play a role in Illinois repeating that — and accomplishing even more as a team during the upcoming 2026-27 season."Even watching the team on the sidelines last year, we have a lot of talent on this group," Dolan said. "Doing whatever they need me to do. Whether that's game-to-game. If they need me scoring, defending, being a playmaker, whatever it may be, it's an exciting group that we have and a lot of talent and a lot of pieces. I am excited to see how we will gel together."

Former Indian pacer S. Sreesanth has shared a sharp critique of Team India's head coach Gautam Gambhir, questioning his coaching philosophy and describing it as overly traditional. The veteran fast bowler also drew comparisons with former India captain MS Dhoni, suggesting that the national team would benefit more from having a mentor-like figure rather than a conventional coach.Speaking on The Lallantop Show, Sreesanth was asked about India's recent struggles in Test cricket. The discussion centred around the team's series defeats against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa in 2025, both of which came during Gambhir's tenure as head coach. In response, Sreesanth expressed his dissatisfaction with Gambhir's approach to coaching."Change the coach, friend. India needs a mentor, not a coach," Sreesanth said in an interview with Lallantop."You have to be a brother first. You can't just laugh when you win and get angry when you lose. You've done well for the country, that's great. That doesn't mean others aren't trying. Have a mentor over a coach," he added.India's struggles under Gambhir were not limited to those two Test series defeats. The team also suffered a 3-1 loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a result that ended India's hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship final. It marked the first time India failed to secure a place in the tournament's summit clash.Sreesanth also downplayed Gambhir's role in India's most recent T20 World Cup triumph, arguing that the players on the field deserved the bulk of the credit for the achievement.“When the team won the World Cup, all the credit went to Gambhir. But if Sanju Samson hadn't been there, Suryakumar Yadav hadn't captained, and the bowling changes hadn't been made at the right time, would we have won the match? Was the coach making decisions on the field? It's fine if we have a coach like Ashish Nehra, who remains involved." 131857783Interestingly, Sreesanth and Gambhir share a successful history as teammates. The duo were part of two of India's most iconic triumphs, the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup, with both players playing important roles in the team's memorable title-winning campaigns.

Jun. 19—***During the final two weeks of June, I am using this space to count down the top Heisman Trophy candidates for 2026.Let's go a school that knows all about winning the Heisman. It has seven, including four quarterbacks. John Huarte is the most recent quarterback winner from the school in 1964.Why is he on the list?The Californian's accuracy makes him elite. He didn't force the ball too often, though it would be nice to see his eight interceptions drop a couple. His 32 touchdowns go in large part to an elite receiving group.Fortunately, the best of that bunch, Jeremiah Smith, is back for one more run. You will see the superstar's name higher on this list.We seem to forget that Sayin started his college career at Alabama before making a quick pivot to Columbus. He sat most of the 2024 season while Will Howard led Ohio State to the national title.Watching and learning was good for Sayin, who had a monster 2025 season with 3,610 yards.He knows his strengths and understands to get the ball to the playmakers, which Ohio State has more of than any other team,This might be his last season at Ohio State. But with a crazy deep NFL quarterback class coming out, he would be better served waiting until 2028.Sayin will get tested immediately with a Week 2 game at Texas. Indiana, Southern California, Oregon and Michigan are also on the schedule.If the Buckeyes run the table, Sayin will be going back to New York for the Heisman ceremony. Perhaps as the favorite.Speaking of the Heisman ...Burrow is a little bit bigger, but they both had to jump from one Power Four school to another before finding success. Their crazy-good accuracy is where they are the most alike.5. Trinidad Chambliss Mississippi quarterback6. CJ Carr, Notre Dame quarterback7. Dante Moore, Oregon quarterback8. Demond Williams Jr., Washington quarterback9. Josh Hoover, Indiana quarterback10. Darian Mensah, Miami quarterback

The Boston Red Sox, fifth in the AL East with a 29-43 record, face the Seattle Mariners, who are first in the AL West at 39-37. Seattle is favored with a -132 moneyline compared to Boston's +111. Scheduled starting pitchers are Ranger Suarez for Boston, with a 3.21 ERA, and Bryce Miller for Seattle, with a 1.54 ERA.How to watch Boston Red Sox vs. Seattle MarinersDate: Friday, June 19Time: 10:10 p.m. ET / 7:10 p.m. PTWhere: T-Mobile Park, Seattle, WATV Channels: Mariners.TV, KING 5, NESNLive Stream:ESPN+, MLB.TV | Follow on Yahoo SportsTeam recordsBoston Red Sox: 29-43 (No. 5 in AL East)Seattle Mariners: 39-37 (No. 1 in AL West)OddsSpread: Seattle Mariners -1.5Moneyline: Seattle Mariners -132 (54.6%) / Boston Red Sox +111 (45.4%)Over/Under: 6.5Starting pitchersBoston Red Sox: Ranger Suarez (2-3, ERA: 3.21, K: 70, WHIP: 1.17)Seattle Mariners: Bryce Miller (3-0, ERA: 1.54, K: 36, WHIP: 0.71)Weather: 80°F at first pitchBallpark: Capacity: 47,929 | Roof: Retractable | Surface: Grass

If you looked at Joaquin Niemann's score on No. 6 on Thursday at the U.S. Open, you would notice a number that is absolutely NOT a typo: He carded an 11 on the par-4, and it's partially because the LIV Golf star reportedly threw a huge tantrum that included a two-stroke penalty.Per reporting from The Athletic's Gabby Herzig, a volunteer saw Niemann throw a club on the hole, which is what triggered the two-shot penalty. But he also "Got visibly angry and kicked the white flag that another volunteer used to mark his ball" and "almost did not walk back for the club until a police officer delivered it to him."Just talked to a volunteer, Tristan Chang, who witnessed Joaquin Niemann’s club throw that cost him a two-shot penalty:-After hitting two balls OB, Niemann tried to get free relief from fire ants (to no avail) from where his third drive ended up in the fescue -Got visibly…— Gabby Herzig (@GabbyHerzig) June 19, 2026Come on, man. That's ridiculous. What was the rules violation that caused Joaquin Niemann to be penalized?Per Golfweek, this is a new rule that's been implemented:According to the rule, "if a player’s (or their caddie’s) behavior is so far removed from what is expected in the spirit of the game of golf, in accordance with Rule 1.2b, the Chief Referee, in consultation with the Championship Director, may apply a penalty of two strokes or disqualification, taking account of the frequency, impact, intent and severity of the misconduct."This article originally appeared on For The Win: Joaquin Niemann U.S. Open penalty details came from temper tantrum

New Delhi: India spinner Kuldeep Yadav is all set to turn out for Lucknow Super Giants in the 2027 edition of the Indian Premier League, TimesofIndia. com has learnt. LSG skipper Rishabh Pant could make a return to Delhi Capitals as well.With momentum gathering on both those deals, how the technicalities unfold remains to be seen but Pant is very likely to return 'home'.TimesofIndia. com reached out to LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka for a comment and the story will be updated when he responds.Pant, who became the league's most expensive player when LSG acquired him for Rs 27 crore ahead of IPL 2025, had forgettable outings for the franchise in the last two campaigns and stepped down as skipper after the 2026 edition. He scored 269 runs in 2025 and could only slightly improve the tally to 312 this season. The team finished seventh last year and a disappointing tenth this season.“Rishabh approached the franchise with his request and we have respectfully accepted it. These decisions are never easy. We are grateful for everything Rishabh has brought to this dressing room as captain. Our focus now is on the collective - rebuilding and restructuring to reach the best standards," LSG Director of Cricket Tom Moody had said regarding Pant stepping down as captain.Will he return as DC captain? It is still early days and the franchise will likely have more discussions on this front in the coming days. KL Rahul is emerging as a strong choice for management, but no decision has been made regarding this.As far as Kuldeep is concerned, DC retained him for Rs 13.25 crore ahead of IPL 2025. He had been with the franchise since 2022 and revived his international career with successful outings in the cash-rich league. 131857910His first season was the best for the franchise to date, as he returned with 21 wickets from 14 games and followed it up with 10, 16, 15 and 10 wickets each in the subsequent editions.

NEW DELHI: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) CEO Rajesh Menon has said that star batter Virat Kohli will remain with the franchise for “at least the next three-four years”, and added that the team has never imagined a future in which he is not associated with RCB, even after his playing career ends.Kohli delivered another strong IPL season, finishing as RCB’s top run-scorer in IPL 2026 with 675 runs at a strike rate of 165.84 - his highest-ever in a single edition.In the final, he played a key unbeaten 75-run knock that helped RCB become only the third team after Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians to successfully defend their title.“RCB and Virat are different sides of the same coin,” Menon told CNBC TV18.“He has been the constant factor for RCB throughout. We have not seen him not being part of RCB even if he moves out of his cricketing career. We have to figure out. That said, next three-four years, I am sure he'll be playing ... for at least four years. He is fit, the hunger never dies. You saw him this IPL season bring on the energy, runs, attitude….everything was there. Three-four years, absolutely no problem,” he said.Kohli, who has been with the RCB setup since the inception of the IPL in 2008, has often spoken about his motivation and love for the game.“I just give my heart and soul out there on the field, whether I'm fielding or batting, because it's going to finish one day,” Kohli had said last month. “And I want to make the most of every day that I'm on the field and just enjoy myself and have a lot of fun and look forward to a pressure situation, look forward to scenarios where I'm feeling a bit of heat. And then I challenge myself to say, you know what, just go for it. And when you cross the line, it makes you a better player.“And sport, as you know, teaches you a lot as a person as well. So you build your character slowly and surely when you keep performing under pressure. And for me, even after all these years and numbers and whatever you said, it's still the love for the game. I just love hitting the ball in the middle of the bat. And that joy is still there.”Though retired from Tests and T20Is, Kohli has said he wants to continue playing ODI cricket at least until the 2027 World Cup.Kohli missed the recent Afghanistan ODIs due to a hamstring injury, but chief selector Ajit Agarkar expects him to be fit for the upcoming ODI series against England in July.“We're in mid-2026. I have been asked many times, 'Do you want to play in 2027?' Why would I leave home, get my stuff over and be like 'I don't know what I want'?” Kohli had said on the RCB podcast. “Of course, if I'm playing, I want to play cricket, I want to carry on. Playing a World Cup for India is amazing.”He also made it clear that he does not want to constantly prove his worth in the team.“My perspective is very clear,” Kohli said. “If I can add value to the environment that I'm a part of and the environment feels like I can add value, I'll be seen.“If I'm made to feel like I need to prove my worth and my value, I'm not in that space. And because I'm being honest about my preparation, I'm being honest about how I approach the game. I put my head down, I work hard. I'm very thankful to God for giving me everything that I've been given in my cricketing career. And I feel very blessed and grateful for the opportunity.“And when I arrive to play, I put my head down, I work as hard if not harder than anyone else. And I play the game in the right way. You want me to run boundary to boundary for 40 overs in an ODI game, I will do that without complaint. Because I prepare accordingly. I prepare for the fact that I will field 50 overs, every ball like it's the last ball I'm going to play in my career. And I will bat that way. And I will run between the wickets that way. And I will do everything possible for the team. 131855477“After operating like this, if I have to be in a place where I have to prove my worth and value, that place is not meant for me. And I am very clear in my head from that perspective. That's why when I went back to play, I was very clear in my head that I'm not going out there to prove anything to anyone. I'm going to play because I love playing the game.”

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 21: An aerial view of Craven Cottage and the Riverside Stand ahead of the Premier League match between Fulham and Burnley at Craven Cottage on March 21, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) | Getty Images Amid a serious case of World Cup fever (and following yet another disappointing Chelsea season), I completely forgot that the fixtures for the new Premier League season would get announced this morning. But if there’s ever a time to be hopeful, it’s the summer, so let’s see what awaits Xabi Alonso (and how far down this list he can make it, he added cynically).And there’s a bit of an historic occasion to start things off, as we begin the season with a West London Derby, away at friendly neighbors Fulham, on Monday, August 24. As far as I can tell, this is the first time we’ve started a season with a West London Derby (of any flavor) — though in fairness, we’ve often been in a different division than either Fulham, Brentford, or QPR and it’s only recently that these derbies have started happening more regularly.After Fulham away, we have games against Brighton (H), Arsenal (A), newly promoted Hull City (H), and Brentford (A) before the first international break. Not the easiest start, but there are no easy games in the Premier League anyway.Since we have no European games at all this season, we may find a few more games than usual moved to Monday nights for broadcast in addition to this opening round. Those exact dates and times will be announced in due course. For now, he’s the order of fixtures for the 2026-27 season.Revealing our 2026/27 Premier League fixtures! 🔵🗓️ pic.twitter.com/gCEZWapiJy— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) June 19, 2026AUGUSTFulham (A)Brighton & Hove Albion (H)SEPTEMBERArsenal (A)Hull City (H)Brentford (A)——OCTOBERBournemouth (H)Everton (A)Spurs (H)Manchester United (H)NOVEMBERSunderland (A)——Leeds United (H)Nottingham Forest (A)DECEMBERCrystal Palace (H)Liverpool (H)Manchester City (A)Aston Villa (H)Coventry City (A) — Boxing DayIpswich Town (A)JANUARYNewcastle United (H)Crystal Palace (A)Sunderland (H)Leeds United (A)Nottingham Forest (H)FEBRUARYManchester United (A)Newcastle (A)Ipswich Town (H)Aston Villa (A)MARCHCoventry City (H)Arsenal (H)Hull City (A)——APRILFulham (H)Brighton & Hove Albion (A)Manchester City (H)MAYLiverpool (A)Spurs (A)Everton (H)Bournemouth (A)Brentford (H)

Two Ontario teens have been charged with mischief after allegedly tearing down a secondary school flag and setting it on fire. The act, which is being investigated as a hate crime, took place in the city of Markham around 11 pm on June 8. York Regional Police have identified Sepehr Abadar and Mahan Mohammad Radmard, both 18, as the alleged perpetrators. “Two suspects attended the school, removed the Pride flag from its holder, ripped it and attempted to set it on fire,” a police press release states, adding that “Investigators believe the incident was hate-motivated.” Related Trump sparked fury like no other when he removed Stonewall’s Pride flag. Here’s why it hit so hard. “York Regional Police takes all hate-motivated incidents seriously and will not tolerate any form of hate crime. All reports of hate crime or hate/bias incidents are investigated thoroughly. Anyone who witnesses or has been the victim of a hate crime or hate/bias incident is encouraged to report it to police immediately.” A statement from a local PFLAG chapter slammed the incident as an “attack on one of our community’s most sacred symbols.” Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today “Hate-motivated campaigns of discrimination have been emboldened over the last decade,” the group told Global News. “They are well-organized, well-funded and unfortunately, successful in their mandate to not only encourage bigoted thoughts, but encourage and promote hate-motivated incidents and hate crimes.” The publication also cited statistics showing that hate crimes more than doubled in Ontario between 2020 and 2024, with 14% of them being motivated by sexual orientation. The incident happened around the same time as two other acts of Pride-related vandalism at another Ontario school. On June 7, two suspects cut down the metal flagpole from which the Pride flag flew at Norwich’s Emily Stowe Public School and proceeded to steal the emblem of acceptance. A week earlier, on June 1, perpetrators removed the Pride flag and set it on fire. “It’s every year, and it escalates every year, it gets worse,” Jeff, a Norwich resident, told CTV News. “Everybody’s entitled to their own beliefs and their own philosophies, but respect for one another and respect for other people’s property and public community property is important.” Last year, Norwich endured four incidents of Pride flag theft or destruction, according to the Simcoe Reformer. Two of the incidents also took place at Emily Stowe Public School. There were also several Pride flag thefts reported in both 2022 and 2023. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

The Buccaneers may appear set at quarterback going into 2026, but general manager Jason Licht has to know his roster is in a precarious position. Baker Mayfield may only be around one more season, leaving Tampa Bay with a vacuum at their most important position. A solution may have presented itself as Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby intends to enter the 2026 NFL Supplemental Draft.Baker Mayfield's current contract expires after the 2026 season, and he said the Bucs' position on an extension "isn't anywhere close" to what he had in mind. He also set the start of training camp as his deadline for contract negotiations. While the actual date of the supplemental draft has not yet been announced, it is likely to take place in early to mid-July, per The Athletic's Jayna Bardahl.If negotiations between the Bucs and Mayfield do not make progress, there could be a situation where the Bucs find themselves looking for a 2026 insurance policy with Sorsby. The former Cincinnati quarterback has many of the physical traits of an NFL quarterback: size, athleticism, and arm strength. He also pushed the ball down the field last season with a solid 10.6 ADOT while keeping the ball safe, throwing just five interceptions and seven turnover-worthy plays per PFF.The big problem with Sorsby is the reason why he is in the Supplemental Draft to begin with. He was caught making tens of thousands of bets, including on his own team when he played for Indiana in 2022. While he entered treatment for a gambling addiction, the subsequent legal drama saw Sorsby and Texas Tech fight to keep Sorsby eligible for the 2026 college football season, a fight they ultimately surrendered.For as much as the NCAA found Sorsby's gambling issues to be problematic, the NFL is not going to look on them any more favorably. Any chance Sorsby would garner first-round consideration ended when his gambling history came to light.However, Sorsby's talent may still garner mid-round offers. His athletic upside compares favorably to Penn State's Drew Allar, who was taken in the third round of this year's draft. Sorsby arguably showed more potential as a passer than Allar last season, but there is no escaping the risk posed by Sorsby's gambling history.Licht historically shies away from drafting players with off-field issues, but he may be in a position where the risk is justified for the right price. With no real contingency for a possible Baker Mayfield departure, the Bucs could put in a low bid, such as a sixth-round pick, to at least give themselves a shot at acquiring Sorsby's services. Unfortunately, there are teams like the Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins that have a higher draft position and far more need to upgrade the quarterback position long-term. The odds of the Bucs going into training camp with Sorsby on the roster remain very long.This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Brendan Sorsby could be an option for the Bucs at quarterback

GENEVA (AP) — Almost every World Cup matchup has a storyline of a player who could have represented another country.Take Folarin Balogun who scored twice in the United States’ opening win over Paraguay. He chose to play for the U.S. where he was born instead of England where he grew up or Nigeria where his parents came from.Or Yasin Ayari, who picked Sweden over his father’s native Tunisia, a decision that came into focus as Sweden defeated the North African team 5-1 with two goals from Ayari.And there’s Ayyoub Bouaddi, an 18-year-old standout who switched national teams from France to Morocco just weeks before the tournament kicked off.The World Cup in the U.S., Mexico and Canada is the biggest melting pot in the tournament’s history. Decades of migration are reflected in the rosters of major European teams like France, England and Germany. Meanwhile, many teams in Africa and the Caribbean rely heavily on their diaspora, made easier by a relaxation of FIFA’s eligibility rules.Dozens, if not hundreds, of players at this World Cup are playing for a country other than the one in which they were born. Many with mixed backgrounds switched allegiances when turning senior, following their heart – or their ambition.Players from France are everywhereNearly 100 players at this World Cup were born in France, but only 23 of them play for the French national team. The others – France-born players with family ties worldwide – make up significant parts of the squads of Algeria, Cape Verde, Congo, Ghana, Haiti, Ivory Coast, Morocco and Tunisia.Bouaddi, one of the top performers in Morocco’s 1-1 draw with Brazil, was born in France and nurtured at top-tier club Lille. He played for France at the youth level and was captain of France’s under-21 team as recently as March, but switched to Morocco, where his family came from, just in time for the World Cup."I’m very proud of my decision and very happy to represent my country, Morocco,” he said before the tournament. “My family is happy and I hope great things will come in the upcoming competitions.”Moroccan soccer federation president Faouzi Lekjaa personally visited Bouaddi at his home and met with the president of Lille to outline the North African kingdom’s soccer ambitions and the professional environment it offers, according to Moroccan state television.Morocco, which in 2022 became the first African country to reach the World Cup semifinals, relies heavily on players from its diaspora in Spain, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. It has 19 foreign-born players in its 26-man squad.Defender Achraf Hakimi was born in Madrid and Real Madrid forward Brahim Diaz played one game for Spain before his FIFA switch to Morocco was processed in 2024.A complex choice for the children of immigrantsSome of the biggest profiles of soccer had to make a choice. Kylian Mbappé was eligible to play for Cameroon or Algeria because of his family background but chose France where he was born and raised. Spain’s Lamine Yamal could have played for Morocco, his father’s homeland.Brothers Désiré and Guéla Doué took separate paths. Both were born in France but Désiré plays for France while Guéla chose to represent Ivory Coast, where their father is from.They’re not the only brothers who have ended up on separate World Cup teams. John Souttar represents Scotland while his brother Harry plays for Australia. Nico and Iñaki Williams were born in Spain to Ghanaian parents and while Nico chose to play for Spain, Iñaki picked Ghana.Tunisia tried to recruit Ayari, the Sweden midfielder who plays for Brighton in the Premier League, for its national team based on his father’s Tunisian background. However, his father, Azzouz Ayari, pushed back. He told Swedish media that he felt his son should represent the country in which he was born and raised.“I am an immigrant, but my children, no. Yasin is a Swede, with Tunisian background,” Azzouz Ayari told newspaper Aftonbladet. “I want him to play for Sweden because I want him to feel that he is giving back to the country that really took care of him.”Sweden fans won’t argue with that decision. Ayari scored twice in the team’s opener against Tunisia but muted his celebrations out of respect for his father’s home country.Birthright citizen Balogun chose the US over EnglandBalogun’s two goals in the 4-1 win against Paraguay made him – and his background – more widely known to the American public. He played for England at youth level, except for a brief stint with the U.S. under-18 team, but switched to represent the United States in 2023.That was possible because of birthright citizenship rules in the U.S. – Balogun was born in New York, while his Nigerian parents were visiting.Balogun has cited the passion of U.S. soccer fans that he experienced while visiting a training camp in Florida in March 2023 as part of the reason why he decided to represent the United States. When they found out he was in Florida, many fans urged him to play for the U.S. national team. He also met with U.S. team officials.“I’ve always said the fans gave me so much motivation and showed me so much support. The most important thing has always been to be able to repay that,” Balogun said after the Paraguay game last week. “I just want to continue to show the fans I made the right decision."Whether he could have gotten a place in the highly competitive England squad is unclear. At the time, then-England coach Gareth Southgate said they were monitoring his progress but couldn't promise anything.FIFA sets the rulesSwitching nationalities is nothing new in soccer. Some of the sport’s biggest stars represented multiple countries, including Ferenc Puskás, who was the leader of Hungary’s “Mighty Magyars” in the 1950s but played for Spain at the 1962 World Cup.That Spain squad also included Puskás’s Real Madrid teammate Alfredo Di Stéfano, whose international career started with his native Argentina.In modern soccer, FIFA intervened in 2004 amid concern Brazilian players were being naturalized with a passport too easily by other countries, including Qatar. A “clear connection” with the country was insisted on, which could be two years of residence or a grandparent born there.FIFA’s then-president Sepp Blatter later aimed to “stop this farce” warning that at a 32-team World Cup “you will have 16 full of Brazilian players.” The residence demand on players aged 18 or over became five years in 2008, and a proposal at the 2011 FIFA Congress by the United Arab Emirates to cut it to three was rejected.Dual- or multiple-national players have been “cap-tied” by FIFA to any team they represented in a senior competitive game. Those who played only in friendlies or at youth level could apply to switch.FIFA eased its rules in 2020 to allow more eligibility changes, but players are locked to a nation if they play at a finals tournament of the World Cup or continental championship. __AP reporter Akram Oubachir in Casablanca, Morocco, contributed to this report.___AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup

Ipswich Town chairman Mark Ashton has lifted the lid on Kieran McKenna's replacement [BBC]Ipswich Town chairman Mark Ashton has told the BBC that the appointment of a new manager is "imminent" and he predicted a "big change" of players.Speaking after the Premier League fixtures were released for the 2026-2027 season, Ashton acknowledged it would be "tough" for anyone coming in, following the departure of Kieran McKenna on 11 June."When you appoint the manager in mid-table, you have time to bed them in. This time they're going to be straight in," said Ashton, who is also the club's chief executive.However, he added: "I think it's more about how prepared the whole club is. And as a club, we are better prepared this time around."Kieran McKenna announced he would be leaving Ipswich Town earlier this month [Getty Images]Ashton said he was still doing "due diligence" over the new manager's appointment, but was grateful the board had encouraged him to take his time. "I'm as comfortable as I can be, so I think that appointment is now imminent," he said.He also predicted a "busy" transfer window."This time you've got a new manager who's obviously going to want maybe a different type or a different individual than last time [when Ipswich were promoted in 2024]," said Ashton. "He's got to get to know the players that have been here and done so well for us. But imminently we will have to bring in new players that are probably Premier League-ready. "I can see a big change of players, maybe not as big as last time, but there will be a volume of players coming in."'It's going to be tough'Reflecting on the fixture list, he said was pleased to start the season with a home game against Sunderland, and said that following that with a trip to Manchester United and a home game against Liverpool demonstrated they were back in "the biggest and best league in the world".However, he felt confident that the club was better prepared for the Premier League than it was last time, which resulted in an immediate return to the Championship in 2025."There's still a lot to do. It's going to be tough, but we are definitely more robust as a club this time around. We'll be ready," he said."We're one of 20 clubs and we want to do everything we can to stay in the division."Do you have a story suggestion for Suffolk? Contact us below.Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. More on this story The five key fixtures for Ipswich Town this seasonSolskjaer in the running for Ipswich jobLegend of the club - but McKenna leaves promoted IpswichIpswich Town bus parade celebrates promotion Related internet links Ipswich Town FC

The Baltimore Orioles (35-41) open a three-game series against the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers, who are first in the NL West with a 48-27 record. The Los Angeles Dodgers are favored with a -199 moneyline compared to the Baltimore Orioles' +165. Starting pitchers are Trey Gibson for Baltimore, with a 5.91 ERA, and Roki Sasaki for Los Angeles, with a 4.76 ERA.How to watch Baltimore Orioles vs. Los Angeles DodgersDate: Friday, June 19Time: 10:10 p.m. ET / 7:10 p.m. PTWhere: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CATV Channels: SportsNet LA, MASNLive Stream:ESPN+, MLB.TV | Follow on Yahoo SportsTeam recordsBaltimore Orioles: 35-41 (No. 4 in AL East)Los Angeles Dodgers: 48-27 (No. 1 in NL West)OddsSpread: Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5Moneyline: Los Angeles Dodgers -199 (63.8%) / Baltimore Orioles +165 (36.2%)Over/Under: 9.5Starting pitchersBaltimore Orioles: Trey Gibson (1-2, ERA: 5.91, K: 12, WHIP: 1.59)Los Angeles Dodgers: Roki Sasaki (3-4, ERA: 4.76, K: 64, WHIP: 1.33)Weather: 68°F at first pitchBallpark: Capacity: 56,000 | Roof: Open | Surface: Grass

Caitlin Clark's defense remains a topic of conversation after Fever's win streak ends originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Atlanta Dream walked out of Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Thursday night with a 108-101 victory over the Indiana Fever in a game that was close but ultimately saw the better team win.Indiana's four-game winning streak came to an end despite Caitlin Clark's team-high 26 points. Only A'ja Wilson has more 20-plus point games this season than Clark, who is having a career-best season with the ball in her hands.But that's only one part of the story.MORE: Angel Reese mocks Caitlin Clark after foul call in latest installment of duo's longstanding rivalryOn the night where she debuted her new Nike signature shoe, Clark was torched defensively by another smart opponent that identified her as the Fever's weak link and targeted her repeatedly in the half-court.The Dream scored 30 points with Clark as the primary defender, which negated the 26 points and seven assists she recorded on the other end. The Fever were outscored by 13 points when Clark was on the floor.Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream picked up their 10th win of the season, and part of that success came from attacking matchups involving Caitlin Clark defensively.Atlanta scored 30 points with Clark as the direct defender, the most points surrendered by any defender in a game… pic.twitter.com/zrUPGvvU84— I talk hoops 🏀 (@trendyhoopstars) June 19, 2026Clark's defense remains a hotly-debated topic on social media, with some saying that her individual defensive ability is not as bad as it appears while others contend that her defense is among the worst they've ever seen.Clark's 107 defensive rating -- a measure of how many points a team allows per 100 possessions when a certain player is on the floor -- is the fourth-worst on the Fever, among Indiana's players with at least 300 minutes played.That would be easier to stomach if Clark was operating as one of the most efficient offensive players in the league. But despite her 20.8 point-per-game average, Clark only is shooting around 40 percent from the floor and under 33 percent from 3-point land.Debates over Clark's defense will continue into the foreseeable future, and there is a legitimate concern that she will never be better than below-average on that end.She will have to create an extraordinary amount of offense to overcome that deficiency, assuming it lingers.More WNBA news:Fever tie brutal WNBA record in nightmare loss to DreamCaitlin Clark's fit ahead of Angel Reese duel showed Fever fans exactly what they wanted to seeDream's Angel Reese finally took the right approach against Caitlin ClarkOlivia Miles ranks 1st among 1,203 all-time WNBA players with impressive rookie start

The central bank leader Elvira S. Nabiullina reappeared for a news conference after a gap that highlighted deep tensions in the country’s political and economic elite.

Outcry over plans to build a large data center next to the zoo has energized support for new restrictions in Nashville.

Viewership for President Donald Trump’s birthday “UFC Freedom 250” event at the White House was 117 million short of the seismic prediction made by Dana White.White, UFC’s president, had bullishly predicted “Super Bowl-type numbers” for the fight, streamed live on Paramount+, but figures showed the spectacle averaged 8.2 million viewers—way off the 124.9 million average who tuned in for February’s Super Bowl LX on NBC.Florida State Sen. Joe Gruters, chair of the Republican National Committee, also falsely claimed that more people tuned in to watch the Trump event than the Super Bowl.“Joe Gruters was only off by 117.4 million,” quipped NBC Sports’ Mike Florio.Still, the event was the largest exclusive live event ever for Paramount+, according to the company. The show reached a total of 17 million viewers, which represents the number of people who watched for at least a minute during any point in the broadcast, per Variety.Viewership for President Donald Trump’s birthday UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House was 117 million short of the seismic prediction made by Dana White (AFP via Getty Images)At the unprecedented event on the South Lawn, seven UFC fights played out to celebrate 250 years of the United States, in addition to marking Trump’s 80th birthday.Trump sat cageside with 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.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.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.White, UFC’s president, had bullishly predicted ‘Super Bowl-type numbers’ for the fight, streamed live on Paramount+, but figures showed the spectacle averaged 8.2 million viewers (Reuters)“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. “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.”

Allison Robbert – Pool via CNP / MEGAJoe Rogan overshot his estimates for the viewership numbers for the UFC Freedom 250 event that took place on the White House lawn over the weekend — by more than 100 million.During the Thursday, June 17 episode of his popular podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, the host and UFC commentator offered an estimate on the total viewership of the event, which required a subscription to Paramount+ to watch live, that put it well over even the Super Bowl.ANNABELLE GORDON/UPI/Newscom/The Mega Agency“It is one of the most-watched sporting events in the history of the world,” Rogan alleged. “I don’t know what the total overall views are as of now, but I know that it was like well over, I think, it was 150 million by just by Monday.”Rogan went on to state that they can expect another “50 or 60 million” as people stream the broadcast later.However, the numbers were significantly less than what Rogan boasted. On average, there were 8.2 million viewers across the U.S. and Latin America, according to Variety. At its peak, the event reached 17 million total viewers, referring to people who tuned in for at least a minute at any point in the broadcast.ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGAWhile those numbers are a far cry from Rogan’s estimated 150 million, the event was indeed a definitive success, with Paramount+ noting it marks the biggest live exclusive event for the platform ever.Still, Rogan’s claims that it was “one of the most-watched sporting events in history” at more than 150 million viewers is false. To put it in perspective, the 2025 Super Bowl LIX made TV viewership history, and it only had an estimated 127.7 million viewers, per Nielsen. In addition, getting 150 million Paramount+ subscribers watching would have been difficult, as The Wrap reported in February 2026 that it only had 79 million total subscribers.Read More From National EnquirerRosie O’Donnell Reflects on Her Heated 1999 Debate With Tom Selleck: ‘He Wasn’t Prepared’Joe Rogan Claims Multiple US Presidents Tried to Get His Podcast Taken Off the AirSerena Williams’ Husband Alexis Ohanian Defends Decision to Attend President Trump’s UFC Freedom 250 EventThis story Joe Rogan Overshoots UFC Freedom 250 Viewership Estimates by More Than 100 Million first appeared on National Enquirer. Follow National Enquirer on Yahoo so you don’t miss what’s coming next.

Project B has secured another commitment from a big name in women’s basketball.The global women’s basketball league, which is set to begin play this November, will feature Azzi Fudd. The No. 1 overall pick in this year’s WNBA Draft out of UConn announced the news with a video on Instagram on Friday morning.While many believed that Fudd would spend a portion of the WNBA offseason playing in Unrivaled, a person with direct knowledge of Fudd’s plans confirmed to USA TODAY Sports that she will not play in the U.S. based 3x3 league. At UConn, Fudd had an NIL deal with Unrivaled and was seen sitting courtside at games this past season.So far in her rookie season with the Dallas Wings, Fudd is averaging 12.7 points, 1.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 50.7% from the floor. She was an All-American in her senior season at UConn, and as a junior was named Most Outstanding Player at the 2025 Final Four while helping the Huskies win a national championship.The concept for Project B is to have two separate leagues – men and women – with six teams, each with 11 players. Those teams will compete in a global circuit from November 2026 through April 2027. Each city will host a 10-day event, crowning a city champion, and those victories will count towards a season-long championship. So far, Project B has announced it will play in Tokyo, Japan and Valencia, Spain.Like Unrivaled, every athlete playing in Project B will have equity in the league. Project B hasn’t disclosed any salaries but a league spokesperson previously told USA TODAY Sports they are “higher than anything you’ve ever seen in women’s sports."Other WNBA players who have signed with Project B include Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury, Awa Fam of the Seattle Storm, Allana Smith of the Dallas Wings, Jewell Loyd of the Las Vegas Aces, Jonquel Jones of the New York Liberty, Kamilla Cardoso of the Chicago Sky, Nneka Ogwumike of the LA Sparks, and Kelsey Mitchell and Sophie Cunningham of the Indiana Fever.Alana Beard – a Hall of Famer, WNBA Champion and three-time ACC Player of the Year at Duke – is the league’s Chief Basketball Officer. Co-founder and COO Grady Burnett is a former Facebook and Google Global Sales Executive. CFO Aaron Fischer is MGM Resorts international’s former Chief Strategy Officer. Also heavily involved in Project B are NBA agents Maverick Carter and Miško Ražnatović.Among the investors in the league are women’s basketball legends Cheryl Miller, Candace Parker and Lauren Jackson, and NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young.Project B has secured Host Broadcast Services (HBS) to be the official broadcaster for the league’s inaugural circuit. HBS has broadcast the FIFA World Cup since 2002. The games will stream live on YouTube.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Azzi Fudd to join Project B, global women’s basketball league

MONTREAL, QC - APRIL 24: Kyoji Horiguchi of Japan weighs in during the UFC 186 weigh-in at Metropolis on April 24, 2015 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) | Zuffa LLC via Getty Images Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is just over 24 hours away from its upcoming UFC Vegas 119 mixed martial arts (MMA) event, headlined by a 125-pound showdown between flyweight contenders Manel Kape and Kyoji Horiguchi. The action gets underway this Sat. night (June 20, 2026) on Paramount+ from inside the promotion’s Meta Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, and also features a 205-pound co-headliner between light heavyweight bruisers Ion Cutelaba and Navajo Stirling.Before the Paramount+ live stream gets underway this weekend in “Sin City,” which includes the featherweight tilt pitting Vinicius Oliveira against Andre Fili, all 24 fighters must hit the scale to prove themselves worthy. Note: Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) affords a one-pound allowance in non-title fights.The UFC Vegas 119 weigh ins will begin promptly at 12 p.m. ET (9 a.m. PT) and we’ll have real-time text updates for the “Kape vs. Horiguchi 2” weigh ins listed below, updated as they happen. Remember too that staredowns will commence at the conclusion of today’s weigh ins (roughly 2 p.m. ET).Complete UFC Vegas 119 weigh ins text results below:UFC Vegas 119 Main Card on Paramount+:125 lbs.: Manel Kape () vs. Kyoji Horiguchi ()205 lbs.: Ion Cutelaba () vs. Navajo Stirling ()145 lbs.: Hyder Amil () vs. Christian Rodriguez ()125 lbs.: Kevin Borjas () vs. Andre Lima ()145 lbs.: Melsik Baghdasaryan () vs. Murtazali Magomedov ()145 lbs.: Vinicius Oliveira () vs. Andre Fili ()UFC Vegas 119 Prelims Card on Paramount+:135 lbs.: Bia Mesquita () vs. Melissa Mullins ()125 lbs.: Mitch Raposo () vs. Allan Nascimento ()145 lbs.: Michael Aswell Jr. () vs. Gaston Bolanos ()135 lbs.: Karol Rosa () vs. Luana Santos ()170 lbs.: Leon Shahbazyan () vs. Levan Chokheli ()145 lbs.: Shane Collins () vs. Otari Tanzilovi ()For more UFC Vegas 119 news and notes click here.

Canada huddle after their 6-0 victory over Qatar on Thursday. Photograph: Sarah Stier/FIFA/Getty ImagesSome corners of the internet were determined that Canada’s totemic and traumatic 6-0 World Cup victory on Thursday would be remembered mostly through Jesse Marsch memes.The American’s handsy sideline shuffle after Jonathan David rifled the first goal of a hat-trick past Qatar duly racked up social media views by the million. Shots of Marsch holding up six fingers to Canada fans at the end of the match were chopped and put side by side with Michael Jordan in identical pose after winning his sixth NBA title with the Chicago Bulls.The man himself was adamant it would be remembered for what it was: a moment in time and a moment for all times, including the dark ones after Ismaël Koné’s World Cup was ended with a broken leg. Koné’s horrifying injury came almost halfway through an afternoon that saw records fall like confetti through the Vancouver air.Related: Canada’s emotions run high after gruesome Ismaël Koné injury: ‘We have a job to finish for him’“To create an identity for what Canadian soccer could be, you can say and do all the right things, but you need moments like today, where everybody remembers what happened,” Marsch said after the victory, the Canada men’s first in this tournament, the biggest ever by a Concacaf nation and the joint-largest by any World Cup host.“No Canadian will forget this day. There’ll be 40 million people that said they were here. It’s an incredibly seminal moment for everyone to understand that there’s talent in this country, that there’s mentality, desire, a lot of things that make this country special, even though it’s a hockey country. I’m very proud that we’ve accomplished a moment everybody can remember.”The truth of the matter is there was too much to remember. Six goals, two reds, a broken limb, the Canadian hearts that shattered with it, touchline confrontations after the Koné incident and at full-time which came awfully close to boiling over, another atmosphere to redefine what this sport looks like in a hockey country and the prime minister, Mark Carney, in the dressing room saluting Canadian character. As a script, it would have been sent back for trimming. Koné’s social handle is Hollywood.IK and when something like Nathan Saliba coming on to replace him, rapidly scoring a free-kick and holding up Koné’s jersey happens, the username feels a little too on the nose.An emotional overload of an afternoon left Canadian players filing through the mixed zone, processing the last few hours in real time. On Friday they can properly kick back and reflect at a team barbecue in Vancouver.Where does it all leave them? The simplest answer is atop Group B with destiny very much in their hands. But there’s more to it. Thursday left Les Rouges with a huge hole in the heart of their lineup and some intriguing options to fill the void. It also left them with so many positives that the crushing nature of the negative may fade faster than one would expect.It’s important to recall they faced an awful Qatar side, who were limited with 11 men and lamentable when they were reduced to nine. Nonetheless, Canada’s attack finally clicked and turned clinical in a hurry – Cyle Larin and David savouring their greatest day together. Moïse Bombito, mere weeks after reports ruled him out of this World Cup, instead made his tournament debut with 45 minutes off the bench.When Canadian players broke out of their post-match huddle – Bombito led that outpouring – they embarked on their lap of celebration. Alphonso Davies, however, did not. The captain instead went for pitch-length runs. He’d been declared available for Thursday but wasn’t needed. He will be eventually though and his sprints suggested he’s not far away. Canada are growing into the tournament and, even with the loss of Koné, getting stronger.Saliba, who has flourished in his first season in Europe at Anderlecht, will take Koné’s spot in the middle, alongside Stephen Eustáquio. But he doesn’t have the invention and dynamism of his close friend. “I don’t think we have another player like Ismaël. He’s a bit of an X factor for us,” Marsch admitted after the game. “We’re going to miss him. We can use different guys in different ways.”That’s where Davies comes in. While he clearly won’t occupy a central role when he returns, his creativity off the left – even from full-back – can pick up some of what Koné left behind.After rest and well-cooked meats by the Pacific Ocean, Canada will get back to it next Wednesday against Switzerland, coming off their own fine win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. That could be a crucial match. The winner of the group play their last-32 match a whopping four days after the runner-up and stay in Vancouver to do so. An enormous advantage.In brief moments around BC Place on Thursday it felt as if 40 million people were in the stadium; the Canada fan march to the ground was bigger and louder than it was in Toronto. This country simply loves a sporting bandwagon. Baseball’s Blue Jays and basketball’s Raptors will testify to that. This is Canada’s national team rising up on a global stage with cinematic twists.In putting himself out front and centre Marsch has, arguably, given his players the room to feel their way into the roles, before meeting the moment. Out there in the rest of the world, some may already be tiring of Marsch’s excesses but Canada is revelling in his leadership. Thursday was both catharsis and crisis and Marsch led the country through both and left windmilling his arms for more.The memes aren’t done. In spite of Koné’s loss, Canada are far from it too.

Bo Nix 1 of 5 quarterbacks seen as longshot NFL MVP candidates originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix has spent the majority of the team's offseason activities discussing the health of the ankle he broke in the divisional round of the playoffs last season and there are doubters lining up behind the Broncos this season because of that ankle. The Broncos are seen by many as one of the most complete teams in the NFL heading into the 2026 season, but they also have plenty of critics and most of those critics don't seem to believe that Nix is a good quarterback despite the success he's found since being drafted in the first round in 2024. But Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report can envision a scenario in which he wins this year's Most Valuable Player Award. Trevor Lawrence, Sam Darnold, Kyler Murray and Jaxson Dart also make that list, but here was Gagnon's analysis on why Nix could walk away with it. "Like (Trevor) Lawrence, Nix will be competing with the likes of Allen, Jackson and Mahomes in the AFC. In fact, the top six MVP odds belong to AFC quarterbacks.The 2024 No. 12 overall pick is also looking to bounce back from a minor sophomore slump statistically, with his efficiency slipping into the middle of the pack among qualified passers in 2025.Plus, he's working his way back from a second ankle surgery this offseason, a follow-up procedure to address bone spurs.Why It Could HappenWord is he'll be a full go at training camp, and Year 3 is often a big leap season for an NFL quarterback.The 26-year-old should benefit from even more time in Sean Payton's system, with some potential new energy from Davis Webb at OC.And with a jacked offensive line, a world-class defense and the arrival of veteran wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, Nix has optimal support."It's not as crazy to suggest this as some would think. The MVP generally comes from one of the best teams and more often than not, it goes to the quarterback. If the Broncos have another strong season and push for the Super Bowl, Nix could easily be on a short list of candidates to win it. He will have to have the statistics, of course, but winning games in the NFL often translates to winning that award. However, Gagnon may have left out one key factor as to why it could happen... hunger. Nix is going to be incredibly hungry to make up for the fact that he had to sit on the sidelines and watch his team fall to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game last year. The Patriots won that game, played in blizzard conditions, by a field goal, due to the Broncos having no offensive push without their starting quarterback. It's widely believed that the team would have played in the Super Bowl had Nix not gotten hurt, and he is going to want to give every ounce of himself this season to get back to that spot. HOT READ:Broncos' recent signing labeled 'one to watch', has chance to make 53-man rosterMore Broncos ContentBroncos sign two players after minicamp tryout, move on from undrafted cornerbackCould the Broncos release linebacker Jonathon Cooper amid legal troubles?Broncos should be closely monitoring two veteran free agents who played for same team in 2025Broncos move on from two recently-signed players in favor of UFL acquisitions

Former England and Wales rugby league coach John Kear died on 1 June [Paul Ogden/BBC]The funeral of former England and Wales rugby league coach and renowned broadcaster John Kear has taken place.Friends, relatives and former players gathered in Penistone, South Yorkshire, earlier for the service at St John's Church.Castleford-born Kear, who died on 1 June, earned widespread recognition during his career, including masterminding Sheffield Eagles' shock 1998 Challenge Cup final victory over Wigan.Former Eagles player Mark Aston, who was part of the title-winning side, said: "Everything about John was just perfect, his smile, his knowledge of rugby league, you can see that by the tributes put out there for John."He described Kear as a father figure to his players."We talk about what he did on the field, but there were things off the field that he did, and how close everybody was to him," he said."When times were tough he was still positive, that's how he was as a coach... he made people believe in the game, he made people believe in what they were doing."He described him as a "top man" who would be "well and truly missed".Tim Adams, former chairman of Sheffield Eagles, said Kear was an "inspiration for us all"."We were good friends. He was an extraordinary bloke, very meticulous, his planning was unbelievable."He was a wonderful motivator of people, he didn't only motivate the players... but he also motivated the people in the club, the staff, the board of directors."John Kear was one of the most respected figures in the sport [PA]Adams said he thought Kear was "bonkers" when he told him he would win them the cup, "but he did it".He said Kear was a "really genuinely nice guy" who was a "great advocate for rugby league"."He'll be remembered forever," he added.Paul Broadbent, former captain of the club, said: "John were the one that had faith in me, he made me the guy who was going to lead the guys out, it was an outstanding day for us." He said the cup win had been a "real moment of triumph" for the coach.The Eagles said in a statement earlier this month that Kear would "always be remembered as the coach who delivered out finest hour".During his playing career, Kear made 133 appearances for hometown club Castleford between 1978 and 1988 before he subsequently moved into coaching.Aston was part of the Challenge Cup-winning squad in 1998 [Paul Ogden/BBC]He was one of the sport's most respected figures, with a coaching career lasting more than 700 matches with clubs including Bradford Bulls, Hull FC and Wakefield Trinity.He led Hull FC to their own surprise Challenge Cup win in 2005, beating Leeds Rhinos in the final at Cardiff.Kear went on to take England to the semi-finals in the 2000 World Cup, and had 11 years in charge of Wales, leading them at the 2017 and 2021 World Cups.In a statement earlier this month, the Rugby Football League said he "was loved and admired throughout the sport and well beyond".Kear had been part of the BBC Sport commentary team for the match between Wigan and Hull KR at Wembley Stadium the day before his death.Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North More on this story Rugby league legend and broadcaster Kear dies aged 71 Related internet links Sheffield Eagles

Rival Michigan State recently announced that it will be adding sponsorship patches to its football jerseys, earning derision from Michigan football fans in the process. However, it appears that the Wolverines may actually follow suit.Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel sent out an email to fans, per The Athletic's Austin Meek, where he noted that the program is strongly considering adding jersey patches, logos to the field, and in-stadium sponsorships, flying in the face of more than a century-plus of tradition.For generations, the bowl of Michigan Stadium has been a sacred space. We have intentionally protected the Big House from the commercialization seen elsewhere, limiting on-field and in-stadium visuals to the Big Ten Conference logo, the Allstate field goal nets, and our partnerships with Nike/Jordan and Gatorade. Given my history as a football player, I have great respect for Michigan Stadium's long, storied, and distinguished history. We will work to ensure that any advertising is implemented strategically, tastefully, and in a manner consistent with the values of the University of Michigan.However, to support our student-athletes in this new era without compromising their competitive edge, we must carefully expand our corporate sponsorships into venues where we have previously held back. To that end, our partners at Michigan Sports Properties and Learfield are currently in discussions with potential sponsors about our new Leaders and Best Champion Partner Program.We are approaching these discussions with the utmost respect for the tradition of the Big House. We are exploring new revenue assets that are highly visible but thoughtfully integrated, including:In a letter to fans, Michigan AD Warde Manuel says the school is looking at new ways to raise revenue, including jersey patches and advertising inside Michigan Stadium. pic.twitter.com/T9M3gU3zg1— Austin Meek (@byAustinMeek) June 18, 2026Multiple things here, none of them good. And certainly, the initial fan reaction is utter disgust, at least the vocal proponent. It is understandable in this new era of college football to modernize with the times and to stay as financially relevant as possible. However, are in-stadium ads and on-field logos really that necessary? After all, plenty of other teams (most actually) have those already. So this isn't a case where something new is legal, and if you don't acclimate, you're getting left behind. So if Michigan has already eschewed such tactics, it's not exactly a necessity to follow what other programs have done for some time, breaking longstanding traditions in the process. Additionally, given the sacred nature, as acknowledged by Manuel, of both the stadium bowl and the jerseys, then these should be last resorts, if anything at all. And fans will not go along with them unless it was something essentially mandated by the conference or NCAA -- much like how the team wore 150-year anniversary patches in 2019. Fans have clamored over less. During his tenure as athletic director, Dave Brandon put a Kraft macaroni and cheese noodle outside of The Big House in the offseason, and it was met with a collective uproar. Fans have rebelled against alternate jerseys with only a few exceptions. Even the uniforms worn by the maize team in the spring game would not be welcome by a large swath, if not the majority, of the fanbase if it were for a regular season game.And then comes the Learfield and Michigan Sports Properties element. If those entities are the ones pushing, Michigan has to say no. There are already controlling parties in the media sphere, such as the TV networks, and the program cannot further lose autonomy if it's to acquiesce to outside parties. That opens up several cans of worms and toothpaste that cannot be put back into the tube.Testing the viability of revenue streams is prudent, so if this is merely a tactic to judge how the fans would take such moves, then this is a decent move, because then Manuel can simply point to the rejection of these measures by the constituency and then pivot to something more palatable. However, if this were to move forward, and jersey patches and in-stadium ads come to The Big House, that's not something that the program or the athletic director will ever live down. After all, the noodle was a big part of the negative perception (amongst many other things) of Dave Brandon. Actually breaking with 'sacred traditions' would be all the worse.This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan football considering ads on uniforms, in-stadium