INDIANAPOLIS – By day, Van Mathias is Indiana University's director of operations for swimming. On weekends like this one, he's one of the fastest breaststrokers in the United States.This week, the former Hoosier broke two American records at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Indianapolis. By Monday morning, he'll be back in the office catching up on the emails that piled up while he was racing."I'm sorry to everyone that I haven't responded to this week on my email," Mathias said. "I'll get back to you guys on Monday."He's a MACHINE. https://t.co/lQr16pXnaDpic.twitter.com/bzK73s1Hj2— USA Swimming (@USASwimming) June 20, 2026Mathias opened the meet Wednesday by lowering his American record in the 50-meter breaststroke to 26.53 seconds, shaving four-hundredths off the mark he set in January.He capped the meet Saturday by breaking the American record in the 100 breaststroke, touching the wall in 58.01 seconds. The swim made him the fourth-fastest performer in history and left him just one-hundredth of a second shy of becoming the first American to break the 58-second barrier."Both were good," Mathias said. "I didn't have any expectations. Just go for it."Instead of focusing on what he narrowly missed, Mathias is looking at what comes next."I think just missing it by a little bit is going to keep us hungry for more," Mathias said. "I wouldn't ask for it any other way. Gotta stay motivated, gotta stay hungry."Van Mathias collected his second win of the TYR Pro Swim Series- Indianapolis with a BLAZING 21.62 finish in the 50m free.🔥📺 Peacock | USA Swimming Network pic.twitter.com/ZiJ5kFkwdX— USA Swimming (@USASwimming) June 19, 2026Just three years ago, Mathias believed he had closed the chapter on his competitive career. A return to elite swimming — and American records in breaststroke — wasn't part of the plan.For most of his career, he specialized in middle-distance butterfly. During his fifth season at IU, he shifted his focus to sprint freestyle and breaststroke, earning NCAA All-America honors before stepping away from competition after the 2023 NCAA Championships to become the Hoosiers' director of operations.Two years later, Mathias and Indiana’s coaching staff watched the results of the 2025 U.S. Swimming Trials at the IU Natatorium and came to the same conclusion: He could compete with the nation’s best. Mathias returned to training. Just eight weeks later, he earned a spot on the U.S. national team by swimming 26.76 seconds in the 50-meter breaststroke at the U.S. National Championships in Irvine, California, qualifying for the Pan Pacific Championships.Now, Mathias is balancing international competition with the day-to-day responsibilities of helping run one of the country's premier college swimming programs."It's been unique," Mathias said. "I'm kind of riding a fine line between the two right now. Trying to figure that out still."The balancing act becomes a little easier during the summer, when Indiana's workload slows, giving him more time to train. But after a week that included two American records, his focus quickly shifts back to the office."Hit a hard reset this next week," Mathias said. "Get back in the office, push some paper and get ready for the rest of the summer."As for what's next in the pool, Mathias isn't overcomplicating it."Let's keep having fun," Mathias said. "Just keep racing."Jessica Garcete is an IndyStar sports reporter. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Van Mathias breaks two American records, balances Indiana swimming operations role

Jared McCain makes fun of his situation with Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.One of the best series of the 2026 Playoffs was the Western Conference Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs. It was quite competitive, as it went a full seven games, but there were some controversial moments throughout the series.This included when backup big men Mason Plumlee and Bismack Biyombo committed some gnarly fouls against Jared McCain. It was revealed that Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama told them to commit some hard fouls during garbage time of Game 5.Jared McCain makes fun of his controversy with Victor WembanyamaIn one of the most physical series in recent memory, the Thunder and Spurs kept getting into it. Isaiah Hartenstein, in particular, became infamous for his physical play in the paint against Wembanyama.This led to the Spurs' giant retaliating because he did not want the Thunder to keep taking advantage of their physicality. This led to constant moments throughout the series, including when Wembanyama was caught on camera instructing his teammates to commit hard fouls.MORE: Markieff Morris speaks about why he thinks the Thunder are still the favoritesIt seems McCain took it in stride because it is normal in high-pressure basketball. Sending messages through hard fouls often works, but it seems McCain did not have much of an issue with it, enough to make fun of it afterwards."I was gonna ask for Wemby's jersey, but now he sent a hit out on me, now I can't," McCain said in his latest vlog on YouTube.Despite McCain seemingly moving on from it, that moment would still be one of the biggest motivators for the Thunder in the 2026-27 season. They want to be a successful team again, which will require them to beat the team that ended their title defense prematurely.More NBA news:The Spurs have a huge problem with De'Aaron Fox and Dylan HarperWhy Victor Wembanyama does not need to follow in Jalen Brunson's footstepsJosh Hart on why he felt the Knicks had an advantage over the Spurs immediatelyLu Dort could get traded in the offseason after years of staying loyal to OKCSome trade rumors could see Kawhi Leonard making his way to OKC

MILWAUKEE - You get the feeling the Xavier girls soccer team would be cool without ever seeing an opponent's corner kick attempt again.The Hawks (22-2) fell victim to brilliant corner kick play from The Prairie School in a 5-0 loss in the WIAA Division 4 state title game June 20 at Uihlein Soccer Park. The loss spoiled Xavier's attempt at a D4 state championship repeat.Three of The Prairie School's goals came off corner kicks. Meghan Gavigan scored twice off headers off corner kicks in the first half for The Prairie School (20-1-1). Another goal off a corner kick came from Constanza Belaunzaran. Her Olimpico score came off a deflection from a Xavier defender in the box."They executed well. God bless them," Xavier coach John Meyer said of The Prairie School. "I wish we had kids that went after the balls like they did in the air. But we're getting better. I've done club for a number of years and we did headers all the time and it kind of went away. And people aren't really into headers anymore because they don't do them properly. And when you don't do them properly, you're going to have some injuries."Kiera Kimbrough scored on a header off a serve from Belaunzaran in the 56th minute to put The Prairie School up 4-0 and Belaunzaran capped the scoring with a penalty kick in the 60th minute."It's something we've worked on all season, avoiding corner kicks," Xavier senior defender Eva Stankewicz said. "It didn't work out for us this game, but I'm proud of our resilience. We didn't give up and did a great job."Xavier gave up just nine goals all season entering the championship game. "They're a super technical and super talented team and that's something that we haven't really gotten to see this year," Xavier senior midfielder Sydney Neilitz said. "We haven't given up much corner kicks, so for us to face those today was very difficult for us."It was the 13th WIAA state appearance for the Hawks and fifth trip to the title game. The Hawks won the D3 crown in 2004 and D2 titles in 2005 and 2008.It was the final game for seniors Stankewicz, Neilitz, Aubrey Reed, Braelee Kiepert, Kate Jannette, Allison McKinnon, Sophie Vajda, Elizabeth Munao, Ella Heyndrickx, Annika Heimann and Lexie Simon."This program has helped us a lot to become strong leaders and better players," Neilitz said of the senior group. "The underclassmen are great and I think they'll take this team just as far as we could of."Said Stankewicz: "I'm just so grateful for the opportunities that we all had. We all play for each other, keep that morale up. We did a great job carrying momentum throughout the years and building on each other with the coaching. It's just been amazing and I'm so grateful for the experience."Meyer said he told the team the morning of the title game how important the group of seniors were along with the rest of the roster in setting the bar at a championship level for the program."I told them that they helped put Xavier back on the map," he said. "I've been around Xavier for a lot and you know we kind of went away. We've had some good records and won some good games. But this group, along with help from other people, helped put Xavier back on the map."This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Xavier falls in WIAA high school girls soccer state title game

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Li Yueru made two free throws with 12.5 seconds left to give Dallas its first lead as the Wings scored a season high 36 fourth-quarter points to rally from a 14-point deficit to beat the Chicago Sky 93-92 on Saturday night.Jessica Shepard scored 17 of her 21 points in the second half, adding eight rebounds as Dallas (10-6) won its sixth straight home game.Paige Bueckers added 19 points, scoring 10 of 11 points for the Wings during one stretch of the rally. She added eight assists and seven rebounds. Rookie Azzi Fudd had 13 points and Arike Ogunbowale scored 12 to help the Wings match their win total from last season.Kamilla Cardoso had 26 points — one short of her career high — and nine rebounds for Chicago (4-11), which has lost five in a row. Rookie Sydney Taylor had 18 points before fouling out, Skylar Diggins scored 14 and Natasha Cloud added 10 points.Chicago outscored Dallas 20-0 in the paint to take a 28-16 lead after one quarter.Dallas chipped away and trailed 43-38 at halftime, but the Sky dominated the third quarter and led 71-57 before losing for the 10th time in 11 games.Up nextChicago: At Connecticut Sun on Monday.Dallas: At Seattle Storm on Monday.___AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

They broke off from the group near the third-base dugout and began making their way over; along the path around the curving row of sponsorship signs separating the grass from the warning track behind home plate and towards the first-base foul line.One in front, the other a few steps behind. The boss and the worker. The New Mexico United vice president and employee. More importantly, a father and his son.Clint and Paxton Gray arrived in front of the supporter section with time to spare and kept an eye on the clock. There were still a few more people to wait on to help make sure the field and its surrounding boundaries were pristine for United’s home match against Orange County last Saturday.But it gave the two Grays a few moments together to go over some of the who-what-when-and-where details of the setup, and for some opportunities to crack a joke or two at the other’s expense.“We understand each other,” Paxton said. “I like working with him. I mean, the only downside is if he gets mad, he can’t take it out on anyone else. … But I get it.”The last part came with a sly grin. Clint gave a short laugh. Each knows the best way to get the other worked up. That’s part of the benefit of being with family.It is the same with thinking ahead.Most of the required items — signs, benches, corner flags, goals and the like — had been brought down from the storage area United has behind the batter’s eye at Isotopes Park on the day before. It always makes things run smoother on match day. It makes them a little easier, too. The grass covering parts of the infield was already set.Saturday was about the finishing touches.Among the first of those touches was putting the goal on the first-base side in place. So, the father-son duo opted for a trusty tape measure and went about marking off the necessary spots with some makeshift token by Paxton — his wallet, cellphone, earbud case, chapstick or whatever else might be in his pocket. The actual goal itself proved to be a lift, even when the extra hands reported. Once that’s ready to go, the benches, signs and any other markers are next, all overseen by Clint, who directs all the movement. Each thing done in a specific way with a specific purpose.Although, all that work doesn’t come without a little inconvenience. It would have been too easy otherwise. A strong wind gust that came through later meant everything had to quickly be reset up again. Weather is what tends to draw the most ire from Clint or Paxton. Days the rain tarp has to come out? Less than ideal.It’s a process the Grays do in reverse when the match ends and long after fans vacate the stadium.All of it has become part of the family’s routine whenever United plays at home. Arriving sometimes as early as 9 a.m. and leaving anywhere between 11 p.m. and midnight.“I spent 25 years in banking,” Clint said, “where I was working all day long and doing everything, but here, I get to involve my family. My older kids have worked here. My wife (Jamie) has helped out. This is a place where I get to include them and not tell them, ‘I’ll be back.’“And then when the game starts, if they’re available, I can stop by and say it. For me, it’s awesome.”The thing is, it was never intended to become a family — and the Grays have a large one, a blended crew of seven kids and six grandchildren with the most recent grandson, Ezra, just a few weeks old — endeavor. At least not intentionally. It just more or less happened to work out that way.Clint joined the club in 2020 and it didn’t take long for some of his sons to start tagging along. (Plus, getting paid for any kind of work has its own merits.)Son Landon, now 21, who recently transferred to Division II Colorado Christian for soccer, was the first. Paxton, now 17 and will soon be entering his senior year at Eldorado High, followed as soon as he could get his working permit. Both have worked in the team store, too. Even Clint’s youngest son, 15-year-old Taylor Vigil, helped set up the pitch. (Taylor is still determining if he wants to partake on a more regular basis.)“It was awesome,” Landon said. “I started working there because I wanted to spend time with my dad. He’s a role model and just being able to look up to him of where we want to be. You know, we would always get compliments at work, like, ‘Oh, that’s something your dad would do.’ That meant a lot.”It’ll mean a lot when Clint, Jamie, Paxton and Taylor make the trip to Dallas for a week. A little family-bonding time and some World Cup action: Sweden against Japan on Thursday in Arlington.“That plan was on and off for a while, but I’m excited we’re going,” Taylor said. “Seeing those games live is going to be pretty fun.”But in the meantime, there was some work to be done. Some later, too.It meant some quality father-son time. And that makes it worth it.“Celebrating (United) wins is great,” Clint said. “Working together is the best part.”David Glovach covers New Mexico United and other sports for the Journal. Reach him at dglovach@abqjournal.com or via X @DavidGlovach.More New Mexico United reading*Match day: New Mexico United at Sacramento Republic FCNMU looks to finally have some good fortune in California capital*NM United's Daniel Bruce is embracing America's pastimeEnglishman learning to throw a baseball in preparation for 1st pitch at Isotopes game*NM United is getting in the July 4 spirit with new kitTeam unveils festive new uniform — the 4th so far this season — for America's 250th birthday*NM United's Hurst says he did his part in recent eating contestSoccer forward was part of trio that completed the Big Texan 72 oz. steak challenge*I survived the 72 oz. steak challenge (kind of)Journal and others compete in Big Texan steak challenge*NM United is getting scoring chances, but now it needs to start capitalizingNMU again goes without multiple goals in draw with Orange County SC*NM United academy players receive their honorary kitsNMU's first team holds ceremony for recent high school graduates*NMU's Keller debuts new cornrows and his teammates, coaches weigh inDespite mostly strong reviews, the United defender is still undecided if new look will be long-term hairdo*Match day: Orange County SC at New Mexico UnitedNMU looks to keep unbeaten streak against California club intact*Taren Wente opted to bet on himself and it paid off with an ACC programNMU developmental academy goalkeeper set to play his college soccer at Pitt

If all you saw from Charlie Condon this season was the past month, you'd be hard pressed trying to figure out exactly when the Colorado Rockies prized power-hitting prospect is still wearing an Albuquerque Isotopes jersey.Entering Saturday night's game against Sugar Land, Condon was riding a 10-game heater that included hitting .316 with a .422 slugging percentage and a monstrous .895 slugging percent with two triples, six home runs, 16 RBIs while also drawing six walks in the stretch.He's not just getting on base at a rate the Rockies like to see, but he's consistently getting the power numbers.Among Pacific Coast League leaders, Condon entered the weekend tied for third in homers (14) and runs scored (56), fifth in walks (45) and tied for sixth in extra-base hits (30).And yet, he's still in Albuquerque."For me, it's just about playing my best baseball wherever I'm at," Condon said. "Even if that were to happen for me (his first Major League call up), that scenario would never change. You can't really play this game looking to be in different places. You kind of just got to handle your business with wherever you're at. ... Sure, it's tougher as you get closer, but same approach all the way through."Entering the season as the organization's No. 2 rated prospect, per MLBPipeline.com, Condon played well enough is Spring Training, by all accounts, to make the Opening Day Rockies lineup, at least at the plate.But the plan was some more reps in the corner outfield spots (he's been a first baseman primarily in his career) would benefit his ability to not be a bouncer — going up and down from MLB to Triple-A once he final does make his debut with the Rockies."He knows, because we shared it with him in Spring Training, that when we bring him, it's going to be with the idea that he's really ready — his foundation is solid,” Rockies president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta said Friday, according to Thomas Harding of MLB.com. "It's that he's ready not to just survive at this level."Condon didn't exactly kill it at the plate over his first couple months of the season, at least not in terms of his power hitting, which quite frankly is what his primary MLB trait is. But that doesn't mean the first couple months weren't without progress."I know the home runs weren't there, the power numbers weren't there," said Isotopes manager Pedro Lopez. "But he had a real good approach early on, getting on base and taking his walks. Then he got into a little slump, but then lately he's worked his butt off with (hitting coach Matt) Snyder trying to get back to that to that form, and I think the power numbers are showing."Condon said his recent success has been as much technical as mental."It was a little bit of both," he said. "There were some things in the swing that were that were keeping me from being on time consistently and really being able to create the loft and ball flight trajectory that you need to slug successfully. ... (and) finding the pregame recipe and the feels that I need to feel that are best for me."Now, the only thing keeping Condon from the MLB roster seems to be that, despite their dismal record, the Rockies actually aren't in much need of rushing up a first baseman or corner outfielder only to sit the bench every other day when he could be getting regular at bats and time in the outfield for the Isotopes."Patience is the number one ingredient when you're a baseball player, and he's done that," Lopez said. "He's the one guy that you don't have to tell him, 'Hey, go out there and shag (balls during batting practice). Take your ground balls.' He does all that every day, and I think at times you've got to slow him down."So, for now, Albuquerque fans get to enjoy the hot bat of one of baseball's top prospects a little longer in an Isotopes uniform.We’re going streaking!The Isotopes entered the weekend with two active franchise-record streaks at the plate — at least one of which was extended on Saturday night.2B Chad Stevens' first inning single to left field on Saturday night extended his Triple-A on-base streak to 44 games with the Isotopes (that's every game he's played for the Isotopes this season, a franchise record) and 54-consecutive Triple-A games overall as the streak included the final 10 games he played last season in Salt Lake.The streak has been broken up several times, not by games without reaching base, but by call ups, both with the Los Angeles Angels last season and he's appeared in 16 games with the Colorado Rockies this season.The Isotopes' other active franchise record streak entering Saturday's game was SS Ryan Ritter's 31-game hit streak — a franchise record and tied with former Albuquerque Dukes star Pedro Guerrero in 1979 for the all-time Albuquerque professional baseball record.Ritter, who was 0-for-3 in his first three plate appearances on Saturday night, has been up and down with the Rockies twice and on his current trip back to Albuquerque, he was injured and spent two months on the Injured List.Meanwhile, OF Zac Veen, who worked a children's skills camp Saturday morning, had a regular day off, but has been on a tear lately as well.Including his 2-for-5 showing in Friday night's win that included a two-run first inning homer, Veen is riding a 21-game hit streak of his own that includes a slash line of .432/.446/.864 with seven homers over those 21 tames.Reach Geoff Grammer at ggrammer@abqjournal.com or follow him on Twitter (X) @GeoffGrammer.

Michelle Obama consistently ranks among the most-admired women in the United States and the world. She’s a former first lady and the mother of two daughters.She has no need to care about what some MMA fighter says about her, or to respond, no matter the stage from which said idiot said what he said.Yet, it seems a response is necessary.What Josh Hokit said after his fight on Sunday’s UFC Freedom 250 card at the White House was so offensive, so stupid, that it will not be repeated here. It suffices to say it was racist and sexist at its core.A few years back, a colleague of mine at the Journal wrote that oft-troubled UFC star Jon Jones had worn out his welcome in Albuquerque and should leave town. I disagreed at the time. But after Jones’ arrest on domestic violence charges in 2021 (he pleaded to a lesser charge), I came around in print to my colleague’s way of thinking.Jones is still here, still occasionally making news for the wrong reasons.It was Jones’ actions, of course, not mere words, that I found disturbing enough to write what I wrote almost five years ago. And we know, between actions and words, which speaks louder.Thus, I’m not opining here that Hokit, the aforementioned fighter who trains in Albuquerque at Jackson-Wink MMA, should leave town (though I’d be OK with that).I’m just inviting him to have some class, shut up and keep Michelle Obama’s name out of his mouth.Yes, ugly things have been said and posted about President Trump and the current first lady, and some of those have crossed the line into indecency.In fact, on X, Hokit justified his Obama slur this way: “No outrage when you say ‘Melania Trump is an escort’ no outrage when you say ‘Charlie Kirk brought his death upon himself’ or ‘Charlie Kirk deserved to die’ so KISS MY ASS, EVERYONE!!”And yet, I haven’t seen an MMA fighter, any MMA fighter, say this in the cage after a fight: “Melania Trump is an escort! Am I right, America?”The Obama slur was as gratuitous as it was disgusting.Hokit was born in Bakersfield, California, and grew up in nearby Wasco before moving to Clovis, near Fresno. He excelled as a wrestler and football player at Fresno State, then had cups of coffee with the 49ers and the Cardinals before turning to MMA and coming to Albuquerque and Jackson-Wink.Phone messages left by the Journal for J-W founders and coaches Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn, asking for comment, have not been returned.Hokit is 10-0 as an MMA fighter, nine of those coming by KO or submission. His second-round KO of Derrick Lewis on Sunday’s UFC Freedom 250 has set him up for a title shot, once heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall and interim champion Ciryl Gane settle their differences.So, he’s a terrific fighter.And a colossal jerk.I’m comfortable with above sentence despite not knowing Hokit personally, never having spoken with him, and despite having listened to an interview during which his foul “Incredible Hok” persona never emerged. During that extended conversation with Albuquerque combat-sports journalist Mike Frankl, he seemed as normal as the next guy who beats people up for a living.Before that, though, after his breakthrough victory on Dana White’s Tuesday Contender Series, he’d demeaned WNBA star Brittney Griner and lumped trans people in with sex traffickers.What’s real, and what’s an act? It doesn’t matter. We’re all responsible for what we say and write, whether or not we mean it. If we say it and don’t mean it, perhaps that makes it worse.Trash talk is part of the game, even encouraged, in the MMA ranks. Conor McGregor often is seen as the biggest name in the sport, not because he’s the best fighter — he’s not — but because he can talk trash like no one else.Hokit clearly has been influenced by McGregor and by the late Muhammad Ali, another gifted trash talker.But there’s trash, and there’s garbage. There really is a difference.

RIO RANCHO — Zack Stortini wasn’t naive. Certainly not to the business of professional hockey.Before the 2018-19 season came to an end, the right-winger, the one who made his livelihood as an enforcer protecting his team’s best player and punishing whoever was across the ice, knew his playing career was coming to an end.“More days behind you than ahead of you,” reminisced Stortini, the 40-year-old who was introduced Saturday as the first coach of the expansion New Mexico Goatheads, the East Coast Hockey League minor-league affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche at a fan event hosted by The Block in Rio Rancho.Experience — 14 professional seasons of it — taught him that. From the parts of the six he spent in the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers and the Nashville Predators to the hodgepodge of American Hockey League stops that had him crisscrossing North America.He spent time in Des Moines, Iowa; Milwaukee; Hamilton, Ontario; Springfield, Massachusetts; Oklahoma City; Norfolk, Virginia; Allentown, Pennsylvania; Birmingham, Alabama; San Jose; and Charlotte, North Carolina and countless other cities in between.But it was that last season — in Charlotte — that set Stortini on the path to his first head coaching job at any level of hockey. Mike Vellucci, head coach of the Charlotte Checkers, and top assistant Ryan Warsofsky were the ones who pointed him in the right direction. Storini just needed to follow up if he was interested.He was. A pointer or two here and there essentially became a job-shadowing situation when games and practice were not the top-two items on the agenda. Stortini absorbed as much as he could.“Mike and Ryan were guys that allowed me to see what is entailed to be a coach,” Stortini said. “The countless hours and hard work, and what’s exactly involved in that type of profession, so forever grateful to that.”The three celebrated with a Calder Cup, the AHL’s version of the Stanley Cup, and then went their separate ways.Vellucci stepped down to join the Pittsburgh Penguins organization. He spent one year with their AHL affiliate before joining the NHL team as an assistant. He served in the same role with the Chicago Blackhawks this past season.Warsofsky succeeded him in Charlotte and three seasons later was named the head coach for the NHL’s San Jose Sharks.And Stortini? Well, he followed his new passion.He retired after 257 NHL games and 603 more in the AHL and took a spot behind a bench. He spent 2019-22 with the Sudbury Wolves in the Ontario Hockey League before moving up to the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners, the AHL affiliate for the Utah Mammoth. He spent the last four years there.“I think there’s a lot of things that as a player translate into the coaching role, especially as a leader,” Stortini said. “I think that’s universal. Where it does matter, if you’re a player or a coach or whatever industry you’re in, is being willing to lead with that skillset and to be able to share that.”It’s why Stortini decided to move down from the AHL to become a head coach in the ECHL after the Avalanche suggested his name to Goatheads’ general manager Jared Johnson.The first thing the new coach said in his interview? It’s the job he wanted.After all, it is a chance to run his own program, — Stortini along with the Avalanche will determine which players are brought in when free agency opens Tuesday — to call the shots. The possibility of impacting young players the way he was (and winning some games, too).“It’s a tremendous amount of responsibility,” Stortini said. “And that’s what you want. … You want to be able to lead a team of young men, of professionals, to achieve their goals and dreams. There’s no better calling.”David Glovach covers New Mexico United and other sports for the Journal. Reach him at dglovach@abqjournal.com or via X @DavidGlovach.

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group D - United States v Australia - Seattle Stadium, Seattle, Washington, U.S. - June 19, 2026 Alex Freeman of the U.S. celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates REUTERS/Albert Gea TPX IMAGES OF THE DAYThe United States Men’s National Team is doing things at the 2026 FIFA World Cup that it hasn’t done in nearly a century.With Friday’s 2-0 win over Australia, the U.S. clinched Group D at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking the first time the team has won its group since the 2010 tournament. That run included a 4-1 demolition of Paraguay in the opener before the Americans closed out the group stage by beating Australia 2-0 in a match where they were without superstar Christian Pulisic, who sat out with a calf injury.With the win over Australia, the USMNT did something that it hadn’t done at the World Cup since 1930: win consecutive matches.Back in 1930, the format was very different, but the USMNT beat Belgium 3-0 and Paraguay 3-0 to secure a place in the knockout stage. In that tournament, the group had just three teams, and only four sides reached the next round, effectively reaching the semifinals. However, the run ended there in rather emphatic fashion, falling 6-1 to Argentina in the semifinal.With the two consecutive victories, the United States also clinched first place in the group for the first time since 2010 after Paraguay beat Türkiye 1-0The U.S. became just the second team to clinch its group at this World Cup, after Mexico sealed Group A a day earlier. With the group already secured, the United States can now set its sights on preparing for the next stage of the tournament instead of worrying about securing a result against Türkiye.The post USMNT did something it hadn’t done since 1930 appeared first on The Comeback: Today’s Top Sports Stories & Reactions.

INGLEWOOD, CA — Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei again blasted the treatment of his team at this World Cup, suggesting it's been unethical and saying he hopes it doesn't set a precedent.Team Melli has been under strict limitations from the U.S. government because of the political turmoil between the United States and Iran. It had to move its training camp from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico at the eleventh hour, and can only spend a certain amount of time in the United States before and after its games. Iran's team arrived in the United States less than 18 hours before its game against Belgium on Sunday, June 21, Ghalenoei said, a shorter time even than before the first game. As a result, the team had to cut its training in half."Even if we spent billions of dollars, it will not be able to bring justice to our people. It just shows we are an oppressed country," Ghalenoei said during a news conference on Saturday, June 20. Ghalenoei did say he's been told Iran can travel to its final group-stage game earlier. That game, against Egypt, is in Seattle, a further flight than the one to Los Angeles for Team Melli's first two games."I only wish they’d allowed us to come earlier for the first two games," Ghalenoei said. "They robbed us of all these opportunities."OPINION: Iranian team has become political pawn at this World CupWithout saying it specifically, it was clear Ghalenoei was blaming the U.S. government for his team's troubles. He praised FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who met with the team in its locker room after its first game, and said FIFA had done its "utmost" to help ease the restrictions on Iran. "I know FIFA is trying its best, so I thank them for that," Ghalenoei said. "I just wish they had succeeded."Iran is in a four-way tie in Group G, all of the teams having played to draws in their first games. While Ghalenoei and midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi acknowledged they made mistakes in the opener against New Zealand, especially on defense, both said the team's situation has been a factor."You cannot deny that our situation has (not) been the same as all the other teams," Ezatolahi said. "All the other teams have managed to focus on their planning, where we have had to spend so much time commuting."Other teams have had similar long commutes. Curaçao's training base is in Boca Raton, Florida, and its games are in Houston, Kansas City and Philadelphia. England is training in Kansas City, and plays its games in Dallas, Boston and New York/New Jersey. But those teams aren't on the clock like Iran is. They can come and go when it suits them, whereas Team Melli has its travel dictated to them. The team also is without much of its support staff, including the head of the federation, because they were denied visas. The Iranian players' families were not allowed to come, either. "It should be ethical," Ghalenoei said. "The way they behaved toward us has not been good."All they want, Ghalenoei said, echoing what captain Mehdi Tameri said after the opener, is to play soccer. They don't want to be dragged into political spats, but they haven't been given much choice."Whatever we say, it’s nothing to do with politics. It’s just the behavior shown to us," Ghalenoei said. "We're only voicing this because we don’t want this behavior shown to other teams in the future."The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Iran coach criticizes treatment, says he hopes it won't be precedent

Oscar De La Hoya says that Ryan Garcia does want to fight in September, and seems to acknowledge that Garcia does want to fight Conor Benn.But De La Hoya insists that Garcia has a promotional contract with Golden Boy, and that if the fight is going to happen, it has to be on DAZN.Garcia said fairly recently that he was going to fight Benn on September 12; soon after, it was rumored to be a Zuffa Boxing event that would air on Paramount+.Since then, Golden Boy have issued a cease-and-desist to Zuffa, and De La Hoya is standing his ground with longtime media rival Dana White and his new boxing venture.“The problem that I have with Zuffa is everything they touch, whenever they get involved, it’s a big fuckin’ problem all the time,” De La Hoya said tonight on DAZN.“Ryan Garcia has a promotional contract with Golden Boy, and Ryan is fighting on DAZN. Zuffa Boxing, all they do is get in the way and make things difficult. The bottom line is, yes, Ryan Garcia wants to fight on September 12th, but he’s gonna fight on DAZN.”De La Hoya added: “If the opponent is gonna be Conor Benn, then so be it, but we all have to work together to make the fight happen. There’s promoters for a reason, there’s contracts for a reason, but again, when Zuffa gets involved, there’s always a big problem.”The 27-year-old Garcia won the WBC welterweight title, his first world title, on February 21 by beating Mario Barrios. Benn (25-1, 14 KO) jumped to Zuffa and was allegedly paid $15 million to fight a washed-up Regis Prograis on Tyson Fury’s April 11 undercard at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.Garcia (25-2, 20 KO) and De La Hoya/Golden Boy seem to reach a new major dispute in their relationship every two or three years, and may be due for a new one, and this could be it. Each time in the past, Garcia has wound up staying with Golden Boy and extending his contract.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 20: Murtazali Magomedov of Kyrgyzstan reacts after a victory against Melsik Baghdasaryan of Armenia in a featherweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Meta APEX on June 20, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) Manel Kape captured his fourth-straight knockout finish inside of the Octagon last night (Sat., June 20, 2026) at UFC Vegas 119 LIVE on Paramount+ from inside UFC Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, getting a revenge stoppage over fellow flyweight contender Kyoji Horiguchi (highlights HERE).In addition to the flyweight main event, UFC’s return to “Sin City” offered up a memorable collection of fights. Check out some of the standout finishes and performances below and let us know which ones stood out the most!Levan Chokheli made good on his UFC debut with a nasty 23-second TKO finish over Edmen Shahbazyan’s brother, Leon ShahbazyanUndefeated women’s bantamweight Bia Mesquita earned herself a top 15 ranking after snatching up her third-straight submission finish (watch HERE)Christian Rodriguez looked better than ever with an impressive first-round ninja choke finish over brawler Hyder AmilHEADKICK STRAIGHT INTO THE SUBMISSION 🤯🤯Christian Rodriguez just put Hyder Amil out in R1![ #UFCVegas119 | LIVE ON @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/UIadAHHTnz— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) June 21, 2026Vinicius Oliveira delivered a comeback TKO performance against featherweight veteran Andre Fili, but not without some controversyUndefeated featherweight prospect Murtazali Magomedov needed just under 80 seconds to stop Melsik Baghdasaryan with a wild twister submission (highlights HERE)Navajo Stirling pushed his UFC record to 5-0 with a second-round TKO finish over light heavyweight veteran Ion CutelabaA FLURRY OF PUNCHES GETS THIS ONE DONE! ✅Navajo Stirling gets back-to-back finishes in the Octagon![ #UFCVegas119 | LIVE ON @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/riDFL1eIYo— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) June 21, 2026Now that the Octagon action has concluded, let’s take a closer look at the official UFC Vegas 119 post-fight bonus winners. Remember, each winner gets an extra $100,000, while every fighter leftover who earned a finish gets $25,000.Fight of the Night: Vinicius Oliveira vs Andre FiliPerformance of the Night: Murtazali MagomedovPerformance of the Night: Manel Kape$25K Winners: Stirling, Rodriguez, Mesquita, ChokheliFor more UFC Vegas 119 results, coverage, and highlights click HERE.

INDIANAPOLIS — Lake Central sophomore left-hander Owen Kopercinski reached to his right to snag a scorching liner.Kopercinski juggled a comebacker, remained composed and fired to first base to record the out.From any perspective, it was Kopercinski’s night. He spun a three-hitter to record his first varsity shutout in his first seven-inning varsity outing as the Indians topped No. 10 Bloomington South 4-0 in the Class 4A state championship game at Victory Field on Saturday.Lake Central (28-8), which added to the state title won by the school’s softball team a week earlier, secured its second state championship in three seasons and third overall.But by defeating Bloomington South (25-7) this time around, the Indians completed a remarkable resurgence, winning 14 straight games and 20 of 22 after starting the season with an 8-6 record.Kopercinski allowed a leadoff double and a two-out walk in the first but avoided any damage. He retired 12 straight batters from the first to the fifth innings, and he finished with six strikeouts and two walks. He also emerged unscathed with runners on the corners with two outs in the fifth.After a two-out walk in the sixth, Lake Central coach Mike Swartzentruber made a mound visit and elected to stick with Kopercinski, who responded with an inning-ending strikeout and a fist pump.Kopercinski then worked a perfect seventh.The Indians scored two runs in the first, getting an RBI single from junior shortstop Parker Robinson, an Oklahoma recruit who hit another RBI single in the sixth after junior designated hitter Isaac Ochoa tripled. Senior right fielder Andrew Brower also drove in two runs, one each in the first and fifth innings.

Iran's head coach Amir Ghalenoei said his team had arrived in the US less than 24 hours before kickoff against Belgium (Frederic J. Brown)Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei said Saturday he has been told US travel restrictions on his World Cup team will finally be eased for their third group game, but blasted the treatment they have received so far for damaging their on-field performance.The Iranian squad arrived at the World Cup with their country still at war with co-hosts the United States, and have been based in Mexico while playing all their games in the US.That has required frequent cross-border travel, and US authorities have only permitted the team to remain in the country for a few hours after each game, with restrictions frequently shifting last-minute.After playing Belgium in Los Angeles on Sunday, Iran's final group game will take place in Seattle next Friday against Egypt.Ghalenoei on Saturday said he had been told his team will have more flexibility for their final match, before quickly adding that it would have been "justice" for his team to have the same treatment for its first two games."They said in Seattle, you can do what you want, you can act the way you want to, and you can come earlier," he told a press conference, without specifying who exactly the information had come from."But what I want, my problem is, why didn't they let us come earlier for the first two games as well?"I just know for the last game, yes, they've allowed us to decide, to make our own decisions with regards to planning the travel."But unfortunately, for the first two games, others made these travel arrangements for us, and the timing for us."Last week Iran drew 2-2 with New Zealand, the tournament's lowest-ranked team, with sloppy defending twice allowing the All Whites to go ahead before Team Melli equalized."There were errors, individual ones, and also with regards to this defense we had, and I think we were playing... we were doing too many passes," said Ghalenoei."And I think, because we have been flying too much, commuting, as a result of this long commute, we've been tired."The manager said restrictions on his team had been even more onerous for Sunday's upcoming game against Belgium, Group G's highest-ranked team.Ghalenoei said his team had arrived in the US on Saturday less than 24 hours before kickoff, despite being briefly told by FIFA on Friday early afternoon that they may be able to travel that day."We waited till 7.00pm, nothing happened, and they said, 'Sorry, we weren't able to do that," said the coach."That's going to affect us mentally, especially me as a head coach, because I want to focus on technical stuff," he said.Iran had only been able to do half its usual pre-game training session, complained Ghalenoei.All four teams in Group G currently have one point, with only the top two guaranteed to reach the knockout stages. A majority of third-placed teams across all groups will also progress, depending on their performance.amz/rcw

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei says that although his team is still being treated unfairly by the host U.S. at the World Cup through travel restrictions and visa refusals, he is optimistic FIFA will persuade the Americans to lessen some of those strictures next week.“I am very glad that the Iranian nation is behind us,” Ghalenoei said through an interpreter. “Our martyrs in Iran, we play for them. But I know that this kind of behavior has hurt our people. Even if we spent billions of dollars, we would not be able to have justice for our people. It just shows we are an oppressed country. But nevertheless, I hope we achieve peace, and I hope this kind of behavior does not become institutionalized in the World Cup.”Iran returned to the Los Angeles area on Saturday for its second match against Belgium on Sunday, but Ghalenoei said he was forced to curtail his team’s training ahead of this difficult meeting with the No. 10 team in FIFA’s world rankings after his request to travel Friday was denied.“We needed to have 24 hours (in Los Angeles), but they gave us less than 16 hours, and that is why we had to leave our training halfway,” Ghalenoei said. “These constraints have made it very difficult for us.”Ghalenoei also appealed to the World Cup’s other teams and coaches to speak out against the treatment of the Iranian team.“I ask the other 47 coaches a question, and none of them have responded to me,” he said. “We are here for football, not politics, and we are saying that again. Our grievances are to the way they’ve behaved with us. I haven’t heard anything from other coaches (at the World Cup), and I’m sure they’re busy and preparing their own teams and we never expect them to have a reaction. But if I had seen another team being treated the way we are being treated, I would say something.”The Iranian team is operating under travel restrictions set by the U.S., which began a war against Iran on Feb. 28. Team Melli has been directed to fly to its matches in the U.S. on the day before the game and to return immediately afterward to its training base in Tijuana, Mexico.While that schedule is not considered onerous by other teams who voluntarily travel in the same window, it’s not what Ghalenoei wants. Iran worked out at the LA Galaxy’s home stadium in suburban Carson on Saturday afternoon after the short flight from Tijuana.“You cannot deny that our situation hasn’t been the same as all the other teams,” Iran midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi said. “All the other teams have managed to focus on our planning, whereas we have had to spend so much time just commuting.”Ghalenoei repeatedly praised FIFA President Gianni Infantino for his attempts to loosen the Americans’ restrictions, and he is optimistic that the U.S. will allow Team Melli to travel to Seattle next week two days in advance of its final group stage match against Egypt.“For the third game, they said, ‘In Seattle, you can do what you want,’” Ghalenoei said. “'You can act the way you want to, and you can come earlier.' But my problem is, why didn’t they let us come earlier for the first two games as well? I just know for the last game, they’ve allowed us to make our own decisions with planning the travel. But unfortunately for the first two games, others made these timing decisions for us.”The coach said FIFA spent much of Friday attempting to persuade the American government to allow Iran to fly to Los Angeles that day. Ghalenoei waited by the phone for the approval to head for the airport, but the negotiations were unsuccessful.“They said, ‘Sorry, we weren’t able to do that,’” Ghalenoei said. “And that’s going to affect us mentally, especially because as a head coach, I want to focus on technical things. I thank FIFA for that, but it doesn’t mean it’s succeeded. I just hope problems won’t occur in future World Cups.”Iran also played its opening match of the World Cup at SoFi Stadium on Monday, drawing 2-2 with underdog New Zealand one day after a five-hour commute that included customs delays.Ghaleneoi said after the game that he was surprised and upset to be ordered out of the country immediately instead of taking another day in the U.S. to optimize his team's recovery period, while U.S. officials claimed Iran already knew about its restrictions.Ghalenoei acknowledged Saturday that the Iranians cleared customs and reached their Los Angeles hotel much more quickly this time following their short flight from Tijuana, giving credit to U.S. officials for ironing out some of the bureaucratic wrinkles.But he also renewed his complaints about the members of the team’s traveling party who had been denied visas, including the head of Iran’s football federation, coaching support personnel and media relations staffers.“Such kind of behavior is not suitable for a World Cup,” Ghalenoei said. “You invite a team, but you don’t let in their support staff, their backroom staff?”Ghalenoei said Iran’s soccer federation hasn’t formally lodged a complaint with FIFA about its treatment, but is only airing its grievances publicly.Belgian right back Thomas Meunier expressed his team’s empathy with the Iranians’ situation, which reminded him of facing Ukraine after the Russian invasion.“We usually don’t mix football with politics, but it’s quite challenging to separate the two, admittedly,” Meunier said through an interpreter. “This period should push the Iranian team to do better, in my opinion. When we played Ukraine in Nations League, there was very high motivation, more energy. They want to make their people proud and defend their nation. For us, it’s an added challenge. I would imagine some Iranian players have a family that’s directly impacted by the war, and we obviously feel for these people.”___AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/FIFA-World-Cup

🚨Historic 1,000th match! How Japan and Tunisia line upAnother historic milestone at the World Cup! Tunisia and Japan face off at Estadio Monterrey on the second matchday of the group stage, a clash that also marks the 1,000th match in World Cup history. The matchup itself will be a spectacle, but on the football side, both teams need to win for different reasons. While the Japanese can fight for top spot in Group F, the Eagles need to move off the bottom of the table. Tunisia XIThis is Hervé Renard’s first lineup since taking charge of the national team following the dismissal of Sabri Lamouchi. Japan XIDon’t miss the match details with OneFootball.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

Both ITV and BBC Sport have star-studded line-ups for their commentary, presenter and pundit teams at the 2026 World Cup.With 104 matches in the United States, Canada and Mexico, fans will be able to watch 54 games on BBC television, while ITV Sport will take in 29 group stage matches from its Brooklyn studio.And fans can look forward to some new insight from ex-Premier League stars, alongside some household names to BBC Sport’s coverage. Mark Pougatch is on hosting duties for Scotland’s clash with Morocco on ITV tonight with Ally McCoist on commentary.Here are the punditry and commentary line-ups to look out for at this summer’s tournament: Pundits BBC SportAlan ShearerWayne RooneyMicah RichardsJoe HartPaul RobinsonSteph HoughtonEllen WhiteDanny Murphy. Scott BrownRachel CorsieJames McFaddenOlivier GiroudGael ClichyCesar AzpilicuetaBenni McCarthyAshley WilliamsThomas FrankHassan KachloulDarren CannITV SportRoy KeaneIan WrightGary NevillePatrick VieiraKaren CarneyAnge PostecoglouJuan MataEmma HayesDuncan FergusonJobi McAnuffBradley Wright-PhillipsChristina Unkel Gary Lineker - the former BBC presenter made an appearance as an analyst during ITV’s coverage on Saturday, 20 June.Commentators BBC SportGuy MowbraySteve WilsonSteve BowerJonathan PearceRobyn CowenSteven Wyeth Liam McLeodITV SportSam MatterfaceJon ChampionSeb HutchinsonJoe SpeightBBC Sport unveils its World Cup 2026 line-up (BBC)Co-commentatorsBBC SportAlan ShearerDanny MurphyStephen WarnockEfan EkokuMartin KeownSue SmithRachel CorsieJames McFaddenPaul RobinsonITV SportLee DixonAlly McCoistAndros TownsendLucy WardPresenters BBC SportKelly CatesMark ChapmanGabby LoganAlex ScottKelly SomersEilidh BarbourITV SportMark PougatchLaura WoodsSemra HunterDaniyal KhanReportersITV SportGabriel ClarkeConnie McLaughlin

Apr 3, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) warms up before the game against the Boston Celtics at Fiserv Forum. © Benny Sieu-Imagn ImagesThe Miami Heat and Boston Celtics have been heavily linked to Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo in recent weeks. However, a deal has yet to materialize, leading analysts to believe a dark-horse playoff contender could emerge as the two-time MVP’s next landing spot.How the Atlanta Hawks Could Trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo“Do the Hawks have enough to steal the two-time NBA MVP from competitors such as the Miami Heat or Boston Celtics?” national NBA writer Eric Pincus asked in a recent Bleacher Report article. He then laid out the details of the predicted deal:Atlanta Hawks receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Andre Jackson Jr., $3 million trade exceptionMilwaukee Bucks receive: Jonathan Kuminga, Zaccharie Risacher, Corey Kispert, Buddy Hield, Nos. 8 and 23, 2029 first-round pick, $2.4 million trade exception“It’s not complicated. The Hawks add one of the NBA’s best players to a talented, hungry, young roster already capable of competing at a high level,” Pincus continued to make his case. “With Antetokounmpo, the Hawks level up in the East with early playoff hero CJ McCollum back short-term at about $20 million.”As Pincus laid out in his trade proposal, the Hawks would have to include several rotational players to make the deal work contractually. Kuminga, Risacher, Kispert, and Hield are set to earn a combined $61.76 million next season.Meanwhile, Antetokounmpo, who had signed a 3-year, $175,369,698 contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, will carry a $58.5 million cap hit for the 2026-27 campaign.SEE ALSO:‘They Check the 3 Boxes’ — NBA Analyst Reveals Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Partner That Makes Most Sense for BucksIf they manage to acquire Antetokounmpo and retain McCollum, Atlanta would enter next season with one of the league’s most well-rounded and talented starting fives. McCollum and DPOY candidate Dyson Daniels are expected to handle the backcourt duties, while 2026 MIP Nickeil Alexander-Walker and All-NBA Third Team selection Jalen Johnson operate on the wings.Antetokounmpo, who averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists on 62.4% shooting from the field, would likely slide in at the center position. Although he has typically played forward for the Bucks, he is more than versatile and has shown a willingness to do so in the past.Additionally, the Hawks still have Onyeka Okongwu under contract, allowing them to roll with different lineups night in and night out.One of Antetokounmpo’s greatest strengths is the ability to dominate on both sides of the floor from any position. He is the exact type of star any playoff contender should target if they want to reach that next level.Lastly, regarding Milwaukee, they would receive two valuable selections in this year’s draft, along with a 2029 first-round pick that remains largely unknown. If they are unable to reach a deal with either Miami or Boston, Atlanta’s proposal could truly help jump-start their rebuild.

Mets' Freddy Peralta delivers triple double as Phillies' Kyle Schwarber sets unique home run record originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Too bad Freddy Peralta, who posted a triple-double Saturday against the Philadelphia Phillies, wasn't playing basketball Saturday.On the hardwood, the New York Mets pitcher would have been a hero, but at Citizens Bank Park, Peralta became the third starter to surrender at least 10 runs in a start this season. He yielded 10 earned runs on 10 hits.The Phillies, powered by Kyle Schwarber, crushed the Mets, 15-3, as Peralta (5-6) allowed the most runs during any start of his nine-year career.Schwarber established a unique MLB record with his two, third-inning homers. For the first time in the Statcast era, the Phillies slugger amassed over 900 feet of combined blasts in one inning. He finished with three home runs and six RBI. Mets' Freddy Peralta blasted by Phillies' Kyle SchwarberSchwarber led off the third inning with a 456-foot solo homer off Peralta, lifting the Phillies to a 4-0 advantage. The lead grew fast. By the time he connected on a three-run homer off reliever Cionel Perez later in the inning, the 457-foot blast closed his pitching book on Peralta and increased his earned-run average to 4.83.First baseman Bryce Harper hit for the cycle as the Phillies (41-35) took control with an eight-run third inning. The Phillies became the second team in MLB history to have teammates hit three home runs and a cycle during the same game. The Mets fell to 34-42.Before Peralta's trifecta Saturday, San Francisco Giants' Robbie Ray was the last MLB pitcher to yield at least 10 runs in an outing, according to Statmuse.com. He surrendered 10 runs on 11 hits in a loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 18. Washington Nationals' Miles Mikolas yielded 11 runs on 11 hits to the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 3.More MLB News:Marlins' Max Meyer discovers winning breaking-ball formula, remains unbeaten'Plunking king:' White Sox's Sam Antonacci taking beating at plateIntense Tarik Skubal jaws at White Sox as Tigers continue pressing health concernsLong, painful week: Phillies' Trea Turner HBP again, exits another game

The whistle blew as the ball flew through the air, the basket thumped when it passed through the net and theCollege Park Center crowd erupted as it floated back down to the court, where Paige Bueckers was celebrating with an emphatic fist pump. The Dallas Wings star had just drained a 3-pointer despite being fouled with 30.6 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter against the Chicago Sky on Saturday night in Arlington. She hit the subsequent free throw to complete a 4-point play that pulled her team within one point of the Sky.Soon after, Wings center Li Yueru — who set the screen that helped Bueckers get off the aforementioned 3 — knocked down the game-tying and go-ahead free throws.Jacy Sheldon's last-second shot was off the mark, and Azura Stevens couldn't put it back for the win. Instead, the Sky (4-11) lost their fifth game in a row and dropped to 1-10 in their last 11 after letting a 14-point fourth-quarter lead slip on the road.Bueckers hyped up Li in the aftermath of the 93-92 triumph, a come-from-behind victory that improved Dallas' record to 10-6. Already, the Wings have matched their win total from last season, which they finished 10-34.The Sky went into the fourth with a 71-57 advantage. They couldn't maintain it. Saturday's setback is the latest in a spree of agonizing losses Chicago has suffered. Head coach Tyler Marsh's squad fell victim to a Sabrina Ionescu game-winner on Wednesday, dropping a nail-biter to the New York Liberty. Last week, the Sky lost in overtime to the Indiana Fever.This time around, Chicago got a season-high 26 points from center Kamilla Cardoso. She shot 10 of 13 from the field and pulled down nine rebounds to go along with her three assists and two blocks. But Dallas featured a frontcourt standout as well. Forward Jessica Shepard continued her All-Star campaign with 21 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists. All but four of her points came in the second half. Bueckers wasn’t far behind in the box score, stuffing the stat sheet with 19 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds.Altogether, Dallas notched 36 points in the fourth quarter. Bueckers’ four-point play dazzled, and Li’s two at the charity stripe effectively sealed the deal.

A pair of former champions headline UFC Fight Nigh 281 in Oklahoma City on July 18. Former middleweight titleholder Dricus Du Plessis (23-3) faces former welterweight kingpin Kamaru Usman (21-4) at Paycom Center in a middleweight match. The fight promotion announced the news on Saturday.For Du Plessis, it will be his first fight since losing the belt to Khamzat Chimaev last August. "Stillknocks" will be looking to rebound and remain in the top tier of the division. Usman has been out of action for a year. He last fought in June 2025, defeating Joaquin Buckley via unanimous decision. "The Nigerian Nightmare" didn't compete at all in 2024. At 39, Usman wants to make one last run at a UFC championship. A win over the former champion could land him the opportunity. The event will mark the promotion's third visit to Oklahoma City and their first trip to Oklahoma's capital since 2017.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Egypt striker Hamza Abdelkarim is just 18 and one of the youngest players at the World Cup, but he's handling soccer's biggest stage as a seasoned professional. The 6-footer is one of 22 teenagers on squads at the World Cup and he's the youngest player ever to play for his nation in the tournament. Some are calling Abdelkarim Egypt's heir apparent to Mohamed Salah, now 34, who is arguably the team's biggest star. Abdelkarim subbed in for Salah in the 76th minute of Egypt's World Cup opener against Belgium.What sets Abdelkarim apart is his poise. Following the 1-1 draw with Belgium, he confidently spoke for the squad for the television cameras. “The whole team wanted the three points. We got one point at the end, but we gave it our all. And we need to thank the fans that came, the atmosphere was great and we focus on the next match,” he said.Egypt faces New Zealand on Sunday in Vancouver, with both teams seeking their first-ever World Cup win. New Zealand played to a 2-2 draw with Iran in its opener, making all of the teams in Group G even on points. Abdelkarim had never played for Egypt's senior team when he was named to the preliminary World Cup squad in May. He made his debut that month in a World Cup tune-up match against Russia as a substitute in the 86th minute.Abdelkarim became the youngest player for Egyptian Premier League club Al Ahly when he made his debut at 17.He was loaned from Al Ahly to Barcelona earlier this year and he made his debut with Barcelona Juvenil in March. Barcelona was expected to formally make the move permanent in the coming days. To top off his fast rise, he recently signed a sponsorship deal with Nike.Egypt will still lean on Salah, the four-time Premier League Golden Boot winner with Liverpool, who had nine goals and three assists in six World Cup qualifying matches. There's also 27-year-old Omar Marmoush, who plays for Manchester City. But coach Hossam Hassan is also looking to the future. “What matters to me is that the Egyptian fans who are watching us now — and what the whole world wants to see — is that the performance of the Egyptian national team earns great respect. They should see that besides all the stars such as Omar and Salah, there is collective football that does not depend on a single player, and that we work in an organized collective manner.”The youngest player at the World Cup is Mexico’s Gilberto Mora, who is 17 years old. Other high profile teens in the tournament include Spain’s Lamine Yamal and Senegal’s Ibrahim Mbaye, both 18, and Brazil's Endrick, 19. ___AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

Dallas Stars looking to move $3.25m D-Man to make room for Jason Robertson originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Dallas Stars have a franchise winger to re-sign and a cap sheet that does not have room to do it cleanly. Jason Robertson, the team’s leading goal scorer and a pending restricted free agent, needs a contract extension this summer. His new deal is expected to cost over $12 million per year, matching recent market-setting extensions like Mikko Rantanen's. But according to PuckPedia, Dallas has $10.14 million in salary cap space for the 2026-27 season. To fit this salary under the cap, General Manager Jim Nill must clear money and trading defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin seems like the easiest move. Earlier this offseason, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period mentioned on the Hello Hockey podcast that Dallas tried to clear salary near the trade deadline and would likely look to move Lyubushkin. Frank Seravalli of Frankly Hockey now reports that the Stars are actively shopping the defenseman.Trading him actually makes sense for Dallas. His regular-season appearances dropped from 80 games in his first year with the Stars to just 53 games last season. Paying $3.25 million for a limited, depth role is no longer justifiable.Lyubushkin is entering the final season of the three-year contract he signed in 2024. The Stars can afford to lose him because they still have Miro Heiskanen, Nils Lundkvist, and Thomas Harley on defense. If Dallas needs extra depth, they can re-sign Alexander Petrovic for a much lower price."The simplest and most impactful move would be trading Lyubushkin," analyst Nick Assimakopoulos wrote for Yahoo Sports. "Simply put, the Stars aren't using him enough to make his $3.25M contract worth it."The 2026 NHL Draft takes place on June 26–27. Stars GM's Jim Nill's window to clear salary cap space is open right now.More NHL NewsDoes Hurricanes' Taylor Hall have a case for the Hockey Hall of Fame?Jets pass on Caleb Malhotra meeting at NHL Combine, sparks questions on potential fall in draftMitch Marner reverted to his Maple Leafs form when the Golden Knights needed him most2026 NHL mock draft: Maple Leafs, Blackhawks add wingers for Auston Matthews, Connor Bedard; Sharks take No. 1 defenseman4 NHL teams who can trade for Red Wings' Dylan Larkin following his trade request

Jerry Jones’ third-round pick’s bold future prediction is exactly the attitude Cowboys love originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.When the Cowboys selected East Carolina Pirates’ Shavon Revel Jr.with the 76th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Jerry Jones knew he was gambling on. Before a torn ACL ended his 2024 college season just three games in, Revel was a projected first-round pick. CBS Sports draft had him going 24th overall. But the injury dropped him 50-plus spots, and Dallas scooped him up as what many immediately called a massive steal at the third round. Cowboys' own team physician Dr. Dan Cooper, performed the knee surgery. So, they had more medical information on Revel than any other franchise in the league.His rookie year, however, did not go as planned after a July training camp setback delayed Revel's return. He finally made his NFL debut on Monday Night Football against the Las Vegas Raiders, ending 429 days without playing football. While on a strict pitch count, Revel appeared in seven games total, finishing his rookie season with 23 tackles and three pass deflections.Now, Revel is entirely healthy. Having a full offseason program as a pro under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, he regained his confidence and found his footing after that injury setback.Revel told Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram exactly where he sees his career going, saying, "I am going to be, someday, the best cornerback in the league. That's just how I look at it, and I have the confidence to say it. At the end of the day, I got to work."Talking like that with only seven career games is bold. But context matters here. Revel has confirmed his knee is 100 percent and is competing for a starting role under Parker's new Vic Fangio-based scheme. He is also locked into a training camp battle with veteran Cobie Durant for a starting spot, per ESPN, which means the reps will come and the evaluation will be real.The Cowboys do not need Revel to be the best corner in the NFL in 2026. They need him to be healthy, assignable and competitive on a defense that has already added safety Caleb Downs at No. 11 overall and edge rusher Malachi Lawre in the 2026 draft. The attitude he is bringing into year two is a good starting point.More NFL news: Jerry Jones faces unwelcome advice as 6× Pro Bowler urges George Pickens to take different routeCowboys ended minicamp early, but several questions remain unansweredDallas Goedert explains decision to remain with Philadelphia Eagles in free agencyJerry Jones will absolutely love the offense vs. defense rivalry brewing in Cowboys practiceTwo Philadelphia Eagles stars among NFL's top merchandise sellers

Protests in Albania against plans for a luxury tourist site have become a cause célèbre for opponents of President Trump and his family. But the politics are local.

🎥 FIFA celebrates the 1,000th match in World Cup historyEstadio Monterrey is experiencing a very special night in football history, as Tunisia vs. Japan will mark the 1,000th match in World Cup history, and FIFA celebrated it with an emotional video on the screens at the Gigante de Acero before kickoff. Among the surprises were Sergio Ramos, world champion in 2010 and a former Rayados player (the stadium’s owner), and Leo Messi, who was booed by those in attendance. This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

This article originally appeared on PGHBaseballNOW.com.The Pirates’ offense finally showed some life in the ninth, but a potential game-tying infield hit was changed to game-ending runner’s interference, giving the Rockies a 2-1 win at Coors Field on Saturday night. Scoring PlaysTop 1st, 1-0 PIT: Spencer Horwitz took advantage of an extended at-bat by hitting a 434-foot leadoff home run off Tomoyuki Sugano (8-4). The blast to right field was Horwitz’s 10th of the season.Bottom 1st, 1-1: The Rockies (30-47) immediately tied the game on a Jake McCarthy inside-the-park home run to center against Paul Skenes (6-7). Center fielder Jake Mangum couldn’t make a diving catch and right fielder Tyler Callihan had trouble retrieving the ball.Bottom 3rd, 2-1 COL:TJ Rumfield delivered a two-out RBI single to left two batters after McCarthy legged out a hustle-double to give the Rockies the lead.Click here to read more from PGHBaseballNOW.com.Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 20: Angel Reese #5 of the Atlanta Dream reacts during the first quarter against the Indiana Fever at State Farm Arena on June 20, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Colin Hubbard/Getty Images)Getty ImagesForget about being green. With apologies to Kermit the Frog, it’s not easy being Barbie, or ATL Peach Barbie, or better yet, ATL Barbie, which is the nickname Angel Reese prefers these days since transferring her prominent face and game in April from the Chicago Sky to the Atlanta Dream.If Reese isn’t the most famous 24-year-old woman on the planet, she is deep in the mix with the likes of Caitlin Clark, her archenemy in sneakers since their college days, and Billie Eilish, who can sing more than a little, but who doesn’t have the combination of Reese’s other stuff that includes picking and rolling.About Reese’s other stuff . . .She strutted across the runway at Victoria’s Secret fashion show when she wasn’t promoting the wares of the women’s retailer in general. She made Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue. She hosts a podcast. According to Forbes, she has deals with 2K Sports, Amazon, Beats by Dre, Coty, General Mills, LVMH, McDonald’s, Panini, Reebok and The Hershey Company.Consider, too, she spent last year ranked 15th on Forbes’ list for world’s highest-paid female athletes at $9.4 million.It also helps Reese’s notoriety that she is a splendidly athletic 6-foot-3 and can use that with her 165 pounds to rebound like crazy during WNBA games while doing more feats, ranging from swatting shots of opponents toward the stratosphere or performing efficiently in the post.She took LSU to the women’s Final Four national championship over Clark and Iowa in April of 2023, and a month later, she celebrated her 21st birthday by buying a black Mercedes-Benz.She could afford it.She was the queen of NIL (name, image and likeness) deals. According to Yahoo Sports, she tied with UCLA quarterback Chase Griffin for the second-most among male and female college athletes with 26.That’s a lifetime of visibility for Reese, and we’ve yet to mention the youth leagues around her native Baltimore area, where she competed against older players and even boys who rubbed their eyes over the hoop skills of a girl.Which made me wonder . . .With Reese sitting across the way Saturday afternoon in Atlanta at State Farm Arena after she did much to help the Dream stay among the WNBA elite at 11-4 following a 113-96 victory over the Indiana Fever, I wanted to know: What’s it like being Angel Camille Reese on an average day?What is the response you get when you’re walking around town here in Atlanta compared to what you got in Chicago?Reese formed that (ahem) Barbie smile before wasting zero time answering in the only way she knows.Charismatically.“Well, one,” said Reese, with that smile becoming an infectious laugh, causing nearly everybody else in the room to follow suit. Then she added, “I think everybody knows I’ve never walked around town anywhere. I can’t walk around town. I wish. One of my teammates was just asking me, when is the last time I was able to stroll just down the street. Unfortunately, I have not been able to do that, but I do appreciate the support here in Atlanta, even though I haven’t been able to talk to them.“But I do enjoy the fan base here. It’s amazing. It’s healthy. Everybody comes out and really supports us. Just to be able to see Atlanta show up.”It sort of did BB (Before Barbie), and why not? The Dream were loaded with backcourt All-Stars Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray, and point guard Jordin Canada was among the league’s best. The bench eventually became long and gifted with Te-Hina Paopao, Madina Okot and others, and then the Dream caused nightmares for their opponents with one of the grandest deals ever during WNBA free agency. On April 6, the Dream snatched Reese away from her frustrations with a dysfunctional Chicago franchise by giving the Sky first-round draft picks in 2027 and 2028. The Dream also received the right to swap second-round picks with Chicago in 2028. With no hope of challenging anytime soon for a world title, and with the WNBA’s seventh-high payroll, Chicago just wanted to unload a disgruntled Reese and her contract, which sat on the verge of rising toward the far side of the moon.Atlanta couldn’t care less.See the list of talented Dream players.Nevertheless, Reese is a pricy addition. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MAY 22: Angel Reese #5 of the Chicago Sky argues a foul call against the New York Liberty during the second half at Wintrust Arena on May 22, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)Getty ImagesSince she was the seventh overall pick by Chicago in the 2024 WNBA draft, she is in the third year of a four-year rookie contract. It initially was worth $324,383 overall, but she and 37 other players on existing deals had their salaries adjusted to match the updated rookie scale in the new collective bargaining agreement signed last month. Spotrac.com noted that her base salary for 2026 jumped from $75,000 to $350,692.According to Yahoo.com, “Reese’s contract has a team option for the 2027 season. If exercised, she’d earn $396,282 – unless she receives All-WNBA honors this season, in which case she’d be eligible next season for a maximum contract worth up to $1.4 million. That’s not a far-fetched scenario for Reese, a two-time WNBA All-Star who led the league in rebounding average in each of her first two seasons and was named to the All-Rookie team in 2024.”Those are future Dream worries.As for now, here’s all you need to know: The Dream just had their 51st consecutive home sellout, the longest streak in the WNBA. Granted, they normally play in the smallest facility in the league (Gateway Center Arena, with a capacity of 3,500), but a sellout is a sellout. Not only that, but the Dream’s growing popularity -- featuring energetic crowds and nationally known local performers during games -- forced the franchise to schedule five games this season at State Farm Arena (basketball capacity of around 17,000). The Dream announced last week they’re adding a sixth home game this season at State Farm Arena when defending world champion Las Vegas Aces come to town on August 3. Indiana is without the Las Vegas distinction of two WNBA titles in the last three years, but Indiana does have Clark.She contributed the most to the league’s record TV and attendance numbers in 2024 with her ability to nail shots from everywhere on the court, deliver impossible passes to teammates and become a massive draw at home and on the road courtesy of her ability in a flash to get under the skin of opponents, referees and also teammates and coaches.ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 20: Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever fights for a loose ball against Angel Reese #5 and Jordin Canada #3 of the Atlanta Dream during the second quarter at State Farm Arena on June 20, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Colin Hubbard/Getty Images)Getty ImagesClark and Reese began feuding when their college teams made consecutive trips to the women’s Final Four national championship game. Reese won the first one with LSU while delivering a taunting gesture toward Clark along the way, but Clark and Iowa took the rematch in 2024. Their battles in the WNBA have featured physical play and trash talk, so this was just more of the same Saturday. It ended back-to-back games between Atlanta and Indiana, and the Dream also took the other one Thursday (108-101), but that was on the road.For Saturday’s home game, everybody came to hug the Dream.Well, mostly Barbie.Latto was there, along with Hawks legend Dominique Wilkins, Dawn Staley of South Carolina coaching fame, prolific boxer Claressa Shields, local rapper Fabo and Atlanta mayor Andre Dickens.Jaleel White also was there.You know, Steve Urkel.“They show up. Atlanta’s big. Everybody loves being in the ‘A.’ The celebrities and everybody else,” said Reese, whose eight rebounds against Indiana gave her 1,000 in 79 games to become the fastest WNBA player to reach that milestone. “It’s like the mecca here, and this is during the summertime, when everybody is rolling through the city, and everybody wants to be here, which makes it really cool.“And when you win, it makes it even better.By the way, Dream officials said in their press release last week regarding the switch of the Las Vegas game from tiny Gateway Arena to larger State Farm Arena on August 3: “The game will also serve as the Dream’s Barbie Game Day, celebrating the iconic brand’s legacy of inspiring women and girls to imagine their limitless potential.”Yeah, well.To translate: That August 3 game is all about the Dream’s living Barbie, the one who doesn’t get out much.This article was originally published on Forbes.com

Tunisia and Japan both bidding for first wins at this year's World CupKamada puts Japan in front inside opening four minutesBBC Radio 5 Live commentary also available via 'watch & listen' tabTunisia will be eliminated from tournament with defeatJapan will move step closer to last 32 with win after draw against Netherlands in first gameSee full groups and schedule here - plus who could play who in knockout stage Watch live as Japan go in front inside four minutes against Tunisia at World Cup

Jun 20, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (1) gets dunked by center fielder Michael Harris II (23) after he hit a two run walk off home run against the Milwaukee Brewers during the ninth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images With the Braves having secured a series win over the formidable Brewers, the good vibes are back (for now) after a tough little stretch of games. They’ve won the first two games of the series against a really tough Milwaukee team throwing two really good starters. The teams still has holes to fill at the deadline and performance issues to turn around, but it feels nice to play a series with a playoff-vibe and win the first two. Now lets go for the sweep today. Braves NewsMichael Harris has returned to the lineup after a few days out hurt, but Ozzie Albies defined a walk-off win to clinch the series over Milwaukee. MLB NewsOrioles’ star Adley Rutschman will miss at least a week on the concussion IL after a freakish play resulted in him being hit in the head with an errant throw. The Diamondbacks placed Michael Soroka and Jordan Lawler on the IL, in a tough combination for Arizona. The Blue Jays are set to activate Shane Beiber off the 60-day IL to make his season debut on Monday.

Vice President JD Vance was expected to meet with Iranian negotiators on Sunday. Pakistan, an intermediary in the talks, said it was sending a delegation.

What channel is NASCAR on today? TV schedule, start time, live stream for 2026 Coronado road race originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.After another thrilling Cup Series race in Pennsylvania last weekend, NASCAR drivers will take on a different challenge in the upcoming Anduril 250.Newly introduced for the 2026 season, the Anduril 250 is a street course race taking place at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego on Sunday. While drivers will still be competing for Cup Series points, they will be navigating a tougher track in Southern California, with 16 turns around 3.4 miles. Veteran Denny Hamlin extended his win streak to three after taking the checkered flag in Long Pond last weekend, but he still trails Tyler Reddick in the standings. Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott and Ty Gibbs all follow close behind. With no previous data on this race, it could truly be anyone's to win, but keep an eye on Shane van Gisbergen, who excels on road courses.Here's everything you need to know about the Anduril 250, including TV channel and streaming options for the NASCAR Cup Series race.What channel is NASCAR on today?TV channel: N/ALive stream: Prime VideoThe 2026 Anduril 250 will not be broadcast nationally on cable channels. Instead, fans can only tune in by streaming the race on Prime Video. Adam Alexander will have the race call with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Steve Letarte providing analysis. Anduril 250 start timeDate: Sunday, June 21Time: 4 p.m. ET | 1 p.m. PTThe 2026 Anduril 250 will get started at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday. The race will take place at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego, California.Great American Getaway 400 starting lineup gridPos.DriverCar No.Make1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11.12.13.14.15.16.17.18.19.20.21.22.23.24.25.26.27.28.29.30.31.32.33.34.35.36.37.38.Related LinksLatest NASCAR news and updatesPrintable 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule2026 O'Reilly Auto Parts Series schedule2026 Craftsman Truck Series schedule

🚨Official: Mexico climb the FIFA rankingsThe Mexico national team is enjoying a strong moment at the World Cup on home soil, as in addition to being close to earning nine points in the group stage for the first time, it would also set a new international mark. Thanks to the win over South Korea at Estadio Guadalajara, Javier Aguirre’s side reached a new position in the FIFA rankings. El Tri climbed three spots in the list and now sits in 11th place, becoming the highest-ranked team in Concacaf. This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

PHOENIX (AP) — Byron Buxton hit a grand slam for his 24th home run of the season in the Minnesota Twins' 10-run fifth inning against Arizona on Saturday night.Buxton tied Houston’s Yordan Alvarez for the American League homer lead and made the score 12-0 Twins. It was the center fielder’s third career grand slam.The Twins already led 6-0 after batting around and scoring four runs in the fourth. They topped that in the fifth, sending 14 men to the plate. Brooks Lee, Victor Caratini, Luke Keaschall and Ryan Kriedler each had two hits in the inning, with Kriedler’s triple driving in the final two runs to make it 16-0. Lee started the fifth with a triple, added a double later, has four hits for the game and is a home run short of a cycle.Zac Gallen started for Arizona but left after giving up the first three hits of the inning. He was charged with nine runs and 12 hits in four-plus innings.Yilber Díaz relieved and gave up seven hits, including Buxton’s home run, and seven runs. He threw 44 pitches and recorded two outs. Philip Abner relieved and got the final out of the inning.___MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

We are several days into the World Cup and Gareth Bale, now retired and aged 36, has stopped by The Athletic’s office in Manhattan. Afterwards, he will head across the Hudson River to MetLife Stadium, where he will see Kylian Mbappe’s France open their campaign with a 3-1 victory over Senegal.As the stars come out to play across North America, does any part of Bale, one of the greats of his generation, miss playing the game? “No, not really,” he says. “I always knew there was going to be a beginning and an end, and I’ve always prepared for the end. I didn’t want to just keep playing for the sake of playing.”Bale retired aged 33, having emerged at Southampton, dazzled at Tottenham Hotspur, won five Champions League trophies at Real Madrid and lifted the MLS Cup during a brief stint at Los Angeles FC. He also carried Wales to the semi-final of Euro 2016 and his final act as a player was to appear for his country at the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.After retirement, he says he stepped back from the sport for a couple of years, barely watching football at all after dedicating his life to it for decades. He occasionally has a kickabout with friends, but says tournaments at local golf clubs keep the competitive spirit burning. But he still has his views, whether on Jose Mourinho’s return to Madrid, or football’s evolution from a “basketball game” to a “chess game”.“I had my time,” he says. “And to get to that point, you go through a lot to get there.“It had been from the age of nine, in terms of a professional approach, and that can really take its toll, especially with the pressures. It was nice to take a step back and reset. Now I am coming back into watching it a bit more, my son (Axel) is a Real Madrid and Tottenham fan. It’s nice to enjoy it with him and not have a little bit of resentment towards it, which you can have towards the end of your career when you’re feeling a bit run down.”Now, Bale is entering a new phase of life. He is accompanied by John Shulman, founder of Juggernaut Capital Partners, a Washington, D.C.-based private equity firm stated to have more than $1billion (£750m) in capital commitments. Juggernaut is now creating a dedicated sports investment vehicle, in partnership with Bale, which it says will seek to invest over $500million across “high-growth” opportunities in football teams, youth development, golf and experiential sports assets. Juggernaut already has investments in golf and women’s volleyball, as well as women’s lacrosse. Both mixed golf and lacrosse will be at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.The pair say an announcement about a first investment will come in the next months, expected to be in the U.S. and in a women’s team.Bale has a first-hand view of the opportunities currently available to girls. He has two daughters, aged 10 and 13, who participate in netball, athletics, cricket, hockey, football and horse riding.He says: “If you look at how I went through in an academy, that’s probably not the same in (all) women’s sport, so it is hopefully where we can fill in the blanks and try and build it out. We want to try and make it more accessible from a younger age. We want to give opportunities to girls just as much as boys. It should be an equal playing field and equal opportunity.”Shulman says that men’s sports teams are at a “valuation range that is uninteresting to us”, saying that the lower valuations of women’s teams are “unjustified over the long haul”.“This is fundamental logic,” he argues. “We’re going to move into the golden era of investing into women’s sports. It’s about time.”While the fund will seek controlling stakes, Bale concedes he would be “very naive” to presume he could immediately operate a sports team. “I’m not that silly,” he says. “But I have come through a youth academy in the UK all the way up to where I got to, I can advise from an athlete’s side. I’ll start by trying to help from that side, learning and growing. I have my expertise in football, but it can translate into other sports, women’s sports, and youth setups.”He says there were times when his clubs may have benefited from the advice of a former high-level athlete, particularly with the physical expectations placed on players. Having suffered a serious back injury at the age of 18, he endured physical challenges throughout his career, at one point brushing his teeth standing on his heels to minimise the injury risk to his calves.He says: “You go through times in your career where you’re really pushed, even though you’re injured, to keep going. Sometimes you need someone to look after your well-being and then you can come out the other side stronger.”While in Manhattan, Bale and his son Axel were in tourist mode, stopping for photos at the New York Stock Exchange and scaling the Empire State Building. Bale has played in the U.S. on the west coast for LAFC, an experience he said he enjoyed, but he found the lack of competitive tension during the regular season required adjustment.“There’s no relegation, there’s no consequence to losing,” he says. “At Real Madrid, you lose a game, it is like the end of the world.“I remember the first game we lost at LAFC, I was expecting this bombardment of pressure, maybe abuse and articles to be written. But losing is kind of accepted… because maybe there’s not such a big consequence but also it’s a different environment. They bounce back straight away and it’s go again. I enjoyed it. It’s a bit more family-friendly.”On the field, Bale has also perceived a change in the sport, sensing the individual freedom that defined his game to be increasingly rare in modern players.“Especially in the last five years, the manager has become a bit more dominant and it’s a bit more of a tactical approach. Football is not so much an end-to-end game now. It’s more of a chess game than a basketball game, which isn’t as exciting… you don’t see as much (dribbling) and the players don’t do it.“Maybe that’s because the managers are telling them but there are still a handful of those players that can get you off your seat, like Mbappe, Lamine Yamal and Vinicius Jr. But maybe there’s just not as many because they’re not allowed to be.”Madrid, Bale says, has a dressing room that “seems a bit all over the place”, having ended last season with internal turmoil and physical altercations between players. Mourinho, who coached Bale in the Welshman’s second spell at Tottenham, has now returned to the Spanish capital to take up the reins.“By having that experienced head coach, like Carlo Ancelotti was, Jose will hopefully settle the group down and get them all on the same path,” says Bale. “Carlo was just a great man manager. He understands the psychology and the pressures that come with it. But he creates that relationship with you where you feel like he really cares about you. Sometimes players aren’t playing, but he knows how to keep them with him and keeps them motivated.“At a big club like Madrid, you don’t need to really coach. You need to manage egos. That’s why he’s been so successful at the biggest clubs.”Mourinho, from the outside, appears more of a provocateur than the current Brazil coach Ancelotti.“He also has that experience,” Bale says of Mourinho. “He only prods to get the best out of you. He’ll try and figure each player out and find whatever it takes to make them tick. Sometimes it might be (prodding) someone in the media, sometimes it might be just putting an arm around them.“Jose has been at Madrid, he understands the dynamic and he knows how things work. He’ll be putting a plan together to make that work.”As for Spurs, he was watching with shredded nerves in the final weeks of the season. “I am glad the season is over,” he says. “Hopefully now it is a fresh start with Roberto De Zerbi, a good transfer window in the summer and not a third 17th-placed finish in a row. With a few more additions, especially attacking, it could be a very good team very quickly.“Winning the Europa League papered over a few cracks (for the owners). They’ll probably now be looking at this transfer window as an opportunity to reinvest and get the squad back to where it belongs.”This article originally appeared in The Athletic.Los Angeles FC, Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid, Wales, MLS, Premier League, Soccer, La Liga, Sports Business, Women's Soccer2026 The Athletic Media Company

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 20: Manel Kape of Angola reacts after a knockout victory against Kyoji Horiguchi of Japan in a flyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Meta APEX on June 20, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) Manel Kape has done more than enough to earn a title shot, especially after knocking out Kyoji Horiguchi in the main event of UFC Vegas 119 on Saturday night at the Meta APEX. While Kape’s next bout is likely for gold, it’s now a matter of when as fans await the highly-anticipated rematch between Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja. Will Kape get his shot in 2026?Following the UFC’s latest Fight Night event, MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck and Jed Meshew react to the card, Kape’s big win over Horiguchi in a comeback, and how matchups with Van and Pantoja could go. Additionally, they recap Navajo Stirling’s co-main event win over Ion Cutelaba and Stirling’s ceiling in the division, other standout moments on the card, and much more.Watch the UFC Vegas 119 post-fight show above, or an audio-only version of the show can also be streamed below and on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you get your pods.

As Ecuador forward Enner Valencia raced through on Curacao's goal inside the opening three minutes, the outcome seemed inevitable.About 10 yards out and with just the keeper to beat, he looked certain to score. It would give Curacao a mountain to climb - and, as it did in the 7-1 defeat by Germany in their World Cup opener, could well set the tone for what was to come.But goalkeeper Eloy Room anticipated where Valencia's shot was headed, stooped low to his left and clawed the ball around the post. It was an improbable, barely believable save. And the tone was, indeed, set.By full-time, BBC Sport pundit and former Arsenal defender Martin Keown was joking a calculator might be needed to tot up the number of times Room had bailed his team out.Yet it was Ecuador who were left counting the cost of their missed chances as World Cup debutants Curacao celebrated their first-ever point in the tournament.Room, the 37-year-old Miami FC keeper, produced a remarkable and record-equalling performance, making 15 saves to keep his country level and eventually secure a goalless draw which will live long in the memory of the island nation.Since records began in 1966, no goalkeeper has made more stops in 90 minutes of World Cup action, according to Opta.Only Tim Howard has made as many in a single game but, unlike Room, he failed to keep a clean sheet after conceding twice in extra-time for the USA against Belgium in 2014."Take a bow, Room," said Keown on BBC One after the 0-0 draw."Absolutely magnificent. The number of saves, you were almost getting a calculator out at the end of the game to count them up."It just became a shopping list of saves. His reactions were first class. He seemed destined to keep a clean sheet all night."It was a performance that inspired Room's country to their biggest-ever result.Padel-loving keeper becomes Curacao heroThe fact Curacao are even in the competition has a lot to do with the Dutch-born goalkeeper – and the oldest member of their squad - as he made a crucial save in a 0-0 draw with Jamaica which secured their qualification in November.Patrick Kluivert was manager of the Blue Wave in 2015 and it was the former striker who called former Netherlands Under-21 international Room to convince him to play for the country where his father is from.Hailing from Nijmegen in the Netherlands, Room played the early part of his career in the Eredivisie. He made over 200 appearances across 10 years in the Dutch league including a title success with PSV and cup glory with Vitesse before moving to the USA and Columbus Crew in 2019.After winning the MLS Cup with Columbus Crew in 2020 and the save-of-the-season honour, Room briefly returned to Europe but ended up back in the US with Miami FC, who compete in the second tier.The goalkeeper, who loves to play padel and believes it helps improve his reflexes, may have made 15 saves in one World Cup match - but he did not make more than five in any one of his nine league games this season for Miami FC.The five-save match came in a 4-3 win over Louisville City at Miami FC's Pitbull Stadium, a 20,000-capacity venue which had just 713 fans in attendance that evening.But in front of 68,598 supporters at Kansas City Stadium, he wrote his name into World Cup history on football's biggest stage with a series of superb saves (from a total of 27 shots) and stopped Ecuador scoring despite an xG of 3.05."I still have to process myself," Room said. "The match is full of emotions. I knew it was going to be a tough match. "The first save, the tone was put in place, also for the team. It gave me confidence and I grew, we all grew, this was a team effort. "We've been fighting, fighting up to the last minute. Earning a point this way for Curacao is absolutely great."Eloy Room and Dick Advocaat celebrate a historic result for Curacao [Getty Images]'It will feel like a victory for them'Room's display also helped create history for the island nation in their first ever World Cup.There was delirium when they took an early lead against Germany in their opening game, but it would end in humiliation as the European giants eventually stuck seven past them.Curacao next had to face Ecuador, a country ranked more than 50 places higher than them in the world who were looking to respond following defeat by Ivory Coast.With a population of just 156,000 and a land mass smaller than the Isle of Man, Curacao is the smallest nation to ever compete in the World Cup.The Caribbean island exists as a self-governing entity within the Kingdom of Netherlands and Dutch royalty King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima were in the stands to watch Dick Advocaat's side pull off this unexpected draw."This evening is all about Curacao and what they've done, what they've achieved and that will feel like a victory for them," said Keown."It's a foothold in world football. They didn't come here to just make up the numbers - that is an outstanding result for them."Curacao now face Ivory Coast in their final Group E game and, with this point secured, if they were to pull off a huge shock and beat the African nation then they would be heading into the last 32.But whatever happens, this night will be forever remembered by the tiny island nation punching above its weight.World Cup fixtures and group standingsHow to watch the World Cup on the BBCEverything you need to know about the World Cup

KANSAS CITY, MO — Ecuador couldn’t find the key to unlock Eloy Room and Curaçao on Saturday, June 20. Curaçao and Ecuador played to a 0-0 tie in Group E action in Kansas City. Room, Curaçao's goalkeeper, was outstanding. He rose to the occasion leading the Blue Wave to its first point in World Cup history as the smallest nation to ever qualify for the tournament. “It’s unbelievable,” Room said. “I couldn’t do it alone. I did it with my team and with my defenders. I am happy that I did my job.”Room finished with 15 saves, the most saves in World Cup history for a game ending in regulation. U.S. men’s national team keeper Tim Howard still holds the record with 16 saves, which came against Belgium in 2014. Howard’s big outing finished in extra time. He ended with 12 saves in regulation during that game. “A little bit annoyed that I didn’t take the record from Tim Howard,” Room said. “I think he was sweating in front of the TV because I was close.”Room was called into action early and often against Ecuador, who were considered big favorites. In the third minute, Ecuador delivered a long ball over the top which settled to striker Enner Valencia. Valencia went one-on-one with Room. He drilled a shot on his right foot from 12 yards away and Room made the low diving save to thwart Ecuador, who have yet to score in the World Cup. It was Room’s favorite save of the night, simple because he can’t remember the other 14 saves. Enner Valencia's early shot is SAVED by Eloy Room! 🧤 pic.twitter.com/swpZ7PAunb— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 21, 2026“The most important save was the first one because that set the tone for the rest of the game,” Room said. “All of the other saves, I don’t even remember.”Curacao did not defend for their lives for the entire game. They enjoyed passages of play that had them dreaming for all three points. The Blue Wave’s best chance came in the 60th minute. Leandro Bacuna hit a shot from outside the box, which forced Ecuador keeper Hernán Galindez into a diving save. After the save, the ball was recycled to the top of the box. Livano Comenencia fired a low shot, which was also saved by Galindez. Curacao ended the game with 10 total shots with three of them on goal. Hernán Galíndez with an INCREDIBLE sequence of saves for Ecuador! 🇪🇨 pic.twitter.com/fN1nQ8PXWg— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 21, 2026It’s an unlikely performance from Curacao, which allowed seven goals against Germany in the opening match. Curacao coach Dick Advocaat explained that the first game might have come too early for the team.“We see once again that Germany was a great team. That day, they were out of our league,” Advocaat said. “The team was standing, the way they should’ve been standing. They were fighting like lions with high individual levels of play.”It’s another remarkable night of World Cup action inside Kansas City’s stadium. On Tuesday, June 16 fans were treated to a historic hat trick performance from Argentina’s Lionel Messi. In the team’s 3-0 win, Messi tied the record for most goals ever scored in World Cup history. In the Curaçao match, Room stood tall, making save after save and providing joy for all the fans from the island nation. “It’s nice to be thought of with Messi,” Room laughed. “I don’t know what it is. I’ve never played in this stadium, but it felt good to me. This is going to be my favorite stadium now.”Post match, Curacao’s team was treated to a warm welcome in the locker room. Netherlands King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima danced and celebrated with the Blue Wave. “To see how the king, wife and daughter fit into the group,” Advocaat said. “It evokes a lot of respect. They smiled and they danced. You can see them radiating with joy.”Room’s performance was legendary for Curacao. His 15 saves will go down in World Cup history. It was such an impressive game that it was fit enough for Queen Máxima to plant a kiss on the man of the match. “I hope my wife didn’t hear,” Room smiled. Liam Keating covers the World Cup in Kansas City for USA TODAY. He also covers high school sports and Washburn University for The Topeka Capital-Journal. Send stats or information to him at LKeating@gannett.comThis article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Elroy Room nearly breaks Tim Howard's World Cup saves record

Draymond Green admits why he did not want the OKC Thunder to win back-to-back titles originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.For the entire 2025-26 NBA season, it felt that the Oklahoma City Thunder were on their way to repeating as champions. They were the best team in the regular season, and it felt like no one could stop them early in the season.Of course, the San Antonio Spurs showed some signs early on as they became the first team to get multiple wins against this Thunder team. However, that also happened in the Playoffs, as the Spurs were the Western Conference's representative in the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks.Draymond Green felt threatened by an OKC Thunder back-to-backOver the past seven seasons, there has not been a team that has repeated as champions. Many dub it the era of parity because there is a new champion every year. It is a good sign for the league because it seems projects are becoming more and more successful every year.The Thunder were seen as the team that could end the era of parity. They were the heavy favorites to repeat as champions, becoming the first team to possibly do it since the 2017-18 Golden State Warriors.MORE: Markieff Morris sees the OKC Thunder as the favorites to win the championship in the 2026-27 seasonUnfortunately for the Thunder, they could not live up to the hype. Warriors mainstay Draymond Green felt threatened by the Thunder's potential repeat, but it ended up not happening for OKC."You’re going to put on an act and be like, you know, I don’t really care if OKC wins again or not. Deep down inside, you don’t want to see another team go back-to-back. Like, we did that. We were the last team to do that, right? Like you want to hold on to some of that," Green said about the Thunder potentially threatening the Warriors on his podcast.It seems the Warriors are still safe as the last team to have repeated as champions. This will most likely change in the future, but in the meantime, the Warriors can still show that they are still one of the most dominant teams in modern history.More NBA news:Max Kellerman gets honest about how Jalen Brunson is a better leader for the Thunder vs the SpursLu Dort is a possible trade candidate for the Thunder in the offseasonA potential trade could lead to Draymond Green parting ways with the WarriorsDallas Wings rookie Azzi Fudd reveals her connection with Stephen Curry led to her Project B decisionLeBron James to the Golden State Warriors could happen in the 2026 offseason

Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room celebrates after a draw following the FIFA World Cup Group E match between Ecuador and Curacao at Kansas City Stadium in Kansas City. Bradley Collyer/PA Wire/dpaGoalkeeper Eloy Room had a glistering performance as Curaçao held Ecuador to a goalless draw on Saturday to claim their first-ever World Cup point in a thrilling match.Room became a national hero for the smallest nation at the tournament as Curaçao celebrated as if they had won the trophy."I'm so proud. We have come from nothing and they fought like lions. It will be a big party on the island tonight and they deserve it," Curaçao coach Dick Advocaat said.The match crowned Germany Group E winners after they made it to the knock-out stage with a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast earlier.Curaçao, Ecuador and Ivory Coast can still reach the round of 32 with one game to spare in the group stage. Ecuador will face Germany on June 25 while Curaçao take on Ivory Coast.Room hinted at what he was about to do when he denied Enner Valencia in the second minute.But the match heated up around the hour mark and from then on both sides had plenty of chances to score, but the goalkeepers had stunning performances to keep the ball out.The second-half rush started with a wild sequence in the Curaçao box in the 59th minute. Gonzalo Plata headed a corner towards the goal but Room made a big save, that deflected of his defender's head but was eventually out of play.Immediately after, Ecuador keeper Hernan Galindez was forced into three big saves as Curaçao hit back. He managed to deny Leandro Bacuna, Livano Comenencia and Jürgen Locadia in a matter of a few seconds.Room made another excellent save to deny Enner Valencia in the 65th and then made a few other brilliant stops as the ball remained alive inside the box after a corner.Juninho Bacuna fired a shot towards the goal in the 75th and Galindez managed to block it with his arm.Valencia had a huge miss in the 84th as he found a window to shoot but somehow sent his effort wide of the near post.Valencia went down in the box after a challenge and Ecuador hoped they could snatch a last-gasp penalty but that was denied after video review."There are things you cannot explain in football. We had 27 shots on goal but we couldn't score. It's normal to feel this pain but we still have a chance to put things right," Ecuador coach Sebastián Beccacece said.With 15 saves, Room was one shy of equalling former US goalkeeper Tim Howard's record of most saves in one World Cup match."I still have to process it myself. I'm a bit annoyed that I didn't get the record in the end but I think Tim Howard was sweating on it a bit," Room said.

HOUSTON, TX - JUNE 20: Travis Bazzana #37 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates in the dugout after hitting a three-run home run in the fifth inning during the game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on Saturday, June 20, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Logan Riely/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images This was maybe my favorite performance from any Guardians player this season. Seeing Travis Bazzana blossom into a star in his rookie season brings me so much joy. After his 4-4 2 HR performance tonight, he now leads all 2B in the MLB in WRC+ and OPS. I don’t know if he’ll get the votes for it, but he absolutely deserves to be the starting 2B for the American League in the All-Star game. Bazzana deserves an immense amount of praise for his performance tonight, but I don’t want it to overshadow what Joey Cantillo did. This was easily his best start of the season all things considered. He had been struggling mightily as of late and to see him give you 8 efficient innings of one run ball with 9 strikeouts against THAT lineup is absolutely beautiful, and very very much needed. A performance like this is more than just a mark in the win column, this will do wonders for Joey’s confidence moving forward.Kyle Manzardo and Patrick Bailey also had big nights. Manzardo went 2-4 with a HR and 3 RBIs, while Bailey had his first 3 hit game as a Guardian. The Guardians will try to win the rubber match tomorrow at 2:10 pm ET. It will be Slade Cecconi vs Kai-Wei Teng.

Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Bob Woodruff FoundationJoe Haden knows exactly how a headline NFL contract number can mislead people, because he lived the gap between announcement money and real money.The former Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback is not asking for sympathy. He is explaining how young players can feel rich, spend like it, and then realize the math never matched the hype.His first major NFL deal became the example.Photo by jfizzy/Star Max/GC ImagesJoe Haden NFL contract warning explains why $50 million disappearsIn a KRL post, Haden broke down how quickly his rookie contract changed after taxes, family spending and lifestyle decisions.Haden said: “I signed a five-year, $50 million contract.” He added: “I had about $26.6 million guaranteed.”The first lesson came fast. Haden said: “My first year, I got a $12 million signing bonus.” He then explained: “After taxes, I only touched around $7 million.”That money moved quickly. Haden said: “The first thing I did was give my parents $3 million.” He added: “Then I bought them a $1 million house.”The spending did not stop there. Haden said: “I bought my brothers cars.” He also said: “I bought myself a penthouse.” Then came the luxury purchases: “I got a Range Rover Sport and a Bentley GT.”His point was blunt. “People hear $50 million and think you’ve got $50 million sitting in the bank.” Haden added: “That’s not how it works.”Joe Haden career earnings make his NFL money lesson sharperCleveland drafted Haden seventh overall in 2010, and his rookie deal carried a $50 million maximum value, around $26 million guaranteed and a $12 million signing bonus.He later signed a five-year, $68 million extension with the Browns and finished his career with reported earnings above $100 million.That is why the warning lands. Haden was not saying he ended up broke. He was showing how taxes, family support, pressure and lifestyle spending can shrink even elite money.Haden said: “You look up after all that and realize you might only have around $1 million left.” He added: “You start understanding real quick that a $50 million contract is not actually $50 million.”Then came the line that tied it together: “That’s why so many guys go broke.”Haden is now retired, focused on family, philanthropy, media and business. His story is the kind of lesson NFL rookies should hear before the first wire hits.Read more:$13.8 billion Robert Kraft left speechless after Jay-Z, Meek Mill and Michael Rubin’s surpriseMaxx Crosby trade rumours heat up as two NFC contenders show renewed interestSimone Biles posts swimsuit photo and Jonathan Owens has just three words for it

Former Cincinnati Bearcats player Lance Stephenson and former Xavier Musketeers player Jordan Crawford were involved in a brawl during Big3 league basketball game between LA Riot and Miami 305 that officials ended early after multiple ejections.Stephenson appeared to throw a punch at Crawford during the melee.Crawford, who played at XU during the 2009-10 season, is an LA Riot co-captain. Stephenson, who played at UC during the same season Crawford played for the Muskies, plays for Miami 305. Both players played in the Crosstown Shootout in December 2009. Stephenson led the Bearcats with 22 points. Crawford scored 16 off the bench for the Musketeers.In May, Stephenson needed just 64 seconds to choke out fellow former NBA player Michael Beasley at Brand Risk 14, an influencer mixed martial arts event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.Now, Stephenson and Beasley are Big3 teammates.This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Lance Stephenson throws punch at Jordan Crawford in Big3 game

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JUNE 20: Manager Dan Wilson of the Seattle Mariners looks on before the game against the Boston Red Sox at T-Mobile Park on June 20, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty Images Red Sox 5, Mariners 1Even Steven: Alex Hoppe, +0.0o WPAGame Thread Comment of the Day

The second Sunday of the 2026 World Cup is the sequel to a draw-filled day earlier in the tournament.All eight teams playing Sunday tied in their opening matches on June 15. It was the first time in 66 years that there had been four World Cup draws on the same day. Can the feat be repeated twice in a week? Here's what you need to know.Spain vs. Saudi ArabiaSunday, June 21 | 12 a.m. ET | Atlanta | TV: FoxOdds: Spain (-900), Saudi Arabia (+2000), Tie (+900)Sunday is the day that Spain scores its first goal of the 2026 World Cup and gets its first win, right? Or will Saudi Arabia pull an upset like it did to start the 2022 World Cup?Spain tied Cape Verde 0-0 to open this World Cup, while Saudi Arabia got a late goal to secure a draw against Uruguay. Another tie here would be an incredible surprise, and it would also raise big questions about Spain just two years after it won Euro 2024.Coach Luis de la Fuente hasn't given many hints about the status of Lamine Yamal. The 18-year-old didn't start against Cape Verde as he recovers from a hamstring injury suffered at Barcelona. Don't be surprised if Yamal sees more minutes than he did in the opener.Belgium vs. IranSunday, June 21 | 3 p.m. ET | Inglewood, Ca. | TV: FS1Odds: Belgium (-240), Iran (+650), Tie (+360)Belgium couldn't complete the comeback in its 1-1 tie against Egypt, while Iran tied New Zealand 2-2 to start the tournament.After Egypt went ahead in the 20th minute, the Belgians needed a 66th minute own goal for the tie just seconds after Romelu Lukaku entered the game. Will the 33-year-old striker get the start on Sunday, or is he going to be used as a super sub?Iran is again traveling to the United States from its base camp in Mexico hours before the game. Ramin Rezeaélan and Mohammed Mohebbi scored the team's goals against New Zealand as Iran produced just four shots on goal.Uruguay vs. Cabo VerdeSunday, June 21 | 6 p.m. ET | Miami Gardens, Fl. | TV: FS1Odds: Uruguay (-210), Cape Verde (+650), Tie (+310)What does Vozinha have for a sequel after his star turn in Cape Verde's draw against Spain? The 40-year-old goalkeeper has gained 14 million instagram followers after he shut Spain out.Given the status of Group G, Cape Verde has a real chance to make it to the Round of 32. Even if it doesn't, the tie against Spain wasn't a fluke. This is a team that didn't need the African playoffs to make the World Cup.Uruguay was better against Saudi Arabia when Real Madrid star Federico Valverde moved to the middle of the field from his starting spot on the outside. Valverde should start there against Cape Verde as Uruguay hopes to capitalize better on its goal chances. Uruguay had 1.72 expected goals against Saudi Arabia based on the chance quality that it created.New Zealand vs. EgyptSunday, June 21 | 9 p.m. ET | Vancouver | TV: FS1Odds: New Zealand (+470), Egypt (-165), Tie (+300)New Zealand's Elijah Just can continue to be one of the more unexpected contenders for the Golden Boot with a goal or two against Egypt. Just scored both of the Kiwis’ goals against Iran, while Nottingham Forest's Chris Wood was credited with two assists. A win would all but guarantee New Zealand its first knockout round appearance at the World Cup in its third-ever tournament.Egypt, meanwhile, has made it to the Round of 16 just once. And that came all the way back in 1934. That was the second World Cup. Outside of the own goal, Mohamed Salah and his teammates defended well against Belgium, though getting Salah more opportunities at goal is a priority. He assisted on Emam Ashour's 20th-minute goal but had just one shot himself.

AJ Dybantsa reveals he did not need to work out with any team ahead of the 2026 NBA Draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.With the 2026 NBA Draft less than a week away, the conversation about the first overall pick has been raging on. The two primary candidates are BYU's AJ Dybantsa and Kansas University's Darryn Peterson.The Washington Wizards hold the first overall pick with a chance of changing their franchise for the foreseeable future. However, it seems Dybantsa is confident he will be selected after not even working out with the Wizards.AJ Dybantsa did not work out with any team ahead of the 2026 NBA DraftDespite showing interest in the Utah Jazz, it seems Dybantsa is now dead set on joining up with the Wizards. As one of the top two prospects, he knows he will either go to Washington or Utah, so it seems he did not need to have a workout with either team.While he would welcome staying in Utah, it seems Dybansta is quite confident where he would end up. He has been quite vocal in the NBA Draft process, and it looks like it has been worth it because he will be a top pick.MORE: AJ Dybantsa seems ready to play against LeBron James despite feeling he would be starstruckIt is common practice for most top prospects not to work out if they know they are one of the biggest picks. Players like Victor Wembanyama were clear-cut picks, so he did not work out with the San Antonio Spurs. It seems Dybansta has experienced the same thing as the Spurs' giant."I didn’t work out for anyone; I just visited the cities. Take me to the facility, take me to dinner, talk. I don’t gotta work out. They know what I can do," Dybantsa said on Baseline Banter about the draft process.The Wizards are not the only team he has met, but it seems he is expecting them to pick him first overall. It would be a surprise if Peterson becomes the first overall pick after this, but he is also deserving of the top spot if it does happen.More NBA news:Why the Wizards are being secretive about how they will use the first overall pickDarryn Peterson has left people interested in what will happen to him in the 2026 NBA DraftThe update to Trae Young's contract situation with the WizardsAJ Dybantsa is receiving immense hype with the latest NBA comparisonThe mock drafts still have AJ Dybantsa as the clear-cut number one prospect

The philosopher made a radical proposal about wealth.

SEATTLE (AP) — Wilyer Abreu hit a two-run homer, Connelly Early gave up two hits and a run in six innings and the Boston Red Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 5-1 on Saturday night.Early (6-5) struggled in the first inning, giving up a run on two hits, but didn’t allow another hit through the rest of his six innings, although he did hit three Mariners with pitches. He had seven strikeouts and two walks.Tyron Guerrero pitched a scoreless seventh with two strikeouts, Garrett Whitlock went 1-2-3 in the eighth and Danny Coulombe worked a clean ninth.Abreu homered off Seattle starter Emerson Hancock (5-4) with two out in the fourth, a shot to center field for his ninth of the season.The Red Sox tacked on three runs in the sixth inning, with Abreu scoring on a wild pitch and Caleb Durbin and Marcelo Mayer hitting back-to-back RBI infield singles off reliever José A. Ferrer.The Red Sox stole three bases in the game, with Durbin swiping two.The AL West-leading Mariners dropped to 39-39, marking the first time they have been .500 since May 29.Up nextBoston LHP Payton Tolle (3-4, 2.93 ERA) was set to start against RHP Logan Gilbert (5-4, 3.43) on Sunday in the series finale.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

What time is Spain vs. Saudi Arabia? Live stream, TV channel, kickoff schedule for World Cup 2026 match originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The reigning European champions Spain are looking to win their second ever World Cup in 2026.A decade-and-a-half after Andres Iniesta's extra-time goal lifted Spain to their first ever World Cup title in 2010, the Spanish are as loaded as ever. Between the 18-year-old phenom Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Pedri and plenty of more talent, the Spanish enter as one of the favorites to be the final team standing.To get a place atop Group H, the Spanish know every point is needed. But, they face a difficult opponent in Saudi Arabia, who is no stranger to World Cup shockers; in the 2022 tournament, the Saudi Arabians defeated the eventual champions Lionel Messi and Argentina in the opening game.The Sporting News looks at the key details ahead of this game, including how to watch the match and kickoff times.What time does Spain vs. Saudi Arabia kick off?This World Cup clash kicks off Sunday, June 21, at 12 p.m. ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GeorgiaHere's how that time translates across the United States timezones:DateKickoff timeEastern TimeSun., June 2112 p.m.Central TimeSun., June 2111 a.m.Mountain TimeSun., June 2110 a.m.Pacific TimeSun., June 219 a.m.Spain vs. Saudi Arabia live stream, TV channelTV channel: FoxLive stream: fubo,Fox One, Fox Sports app/websiteThis match will be broadcast on Fox in the United States with streaming options available on its dedicated platforms.The best place to catch the match is on streaming service fubo, with new customers able to sign up a for a FREE trial.Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)World Cup fixtures today and tomorrowAll times Eastern.Sunday, June 21Tunisia vs. Japan (12 a.m.)Spain vs. Saudi Arabia (12 p.m.)Belgium vs. Iran (3 p.m.)Uruguay vs. Cape Verde (6 p.m.)New Zealand vs. Egypt (9 p.m.)Monday, June 22Argentina vs. Austria (1 p.m.)France vs. Iraq (5 p.m.)Norway vs. Senegal (8 p.m.)Jordan vs. Algeria (11 p.m.)MORE:Complete World Cup schedule and fixtures2026 FIFA World Cup FAQsWhen is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to run from June 11 through July 19, 2026. It will be the first World Cup hosted across three countries: the United States, Canada and Mexico.Where is the 2026 FIFA World Cup being played?The 2026 World Cup will be played across 16 host cities in North America, with matches taking place in the United States, Canada and Mexico. It will be the first men’s World Cup hosted by three countries.The 16 host cities are Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle in the United States; Toronto and Vancouver in Canada; and Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey in Mexico.How many teams are in the 2026 World Cup?The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 48 teams, expanding from the 32-team format used in previous tournaments. The larger field also means more matches, more knockout-round games and more countries involved than ever before.The 48 teams are Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Cape Verde, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Curaçao, Czechia, DR Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Senegal, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Türkiye, United States, Uruguay and Uzbekistan.How many games are in the 2026 World Cup?There will be 104 matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. That includes the group stage, knockout rounds and the final.Can I stream the 2026 World Cup?Yes. Streaming options will depend on the match, language and broadcast partner. In the U.S., Fox Sports lists FOX and FS1, which are available on fubo for English-language coverage, while Telemundo will stream every match live on Peacock and the Telemundo App for Spanish-language coverage.What channel is the 2026 World Cup on?In the U.S., English-language matches are expected across FOX and FS1, which are available on fubo for those without cable, while Spanish-language coverage will air on Telemundo and Universo, which you can stream on DIRECTV and Peacock. Check the schedule for the specific match you want to watch.When is the 2026 World Cup final?The 2026 FIFA World Cup final is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, 2026. The match will be played at New York-New Jersey Stadium, FIFA’s tournament name for MetLife Stadium.What time do World Cup games start?Kickoff times vary by date, host city and round. Because the tournament is being played across multiple time zones in the United States, Canada and Mexico, fans should check the official match schedule for start times in their local time zone.Is the United States playing in the 2026 World Cup?Yes. The United States automatically qualified for the 2026 World Cup as one of the three host nations, along with Canada and Mexico.

NEW DELHI: Shubman Gill celebrated his first ODI series win as India's captain after leading the team to a 3-0 clean sweep over Afghanistan. India completed the series whitewash with a dominant nine-wicket victory in the third ODI at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday.The series win is a significant milestone for Gill, whose previous ODI assignments as captain against Australia and New Zealand had ended in defeats.Gill has also enjoyed an excellent run with the bat. After leading India to an innings-and-300-run victory over Afghanistan in the one-off Test, he followed it up by guiding the team to a 3-0 ODI series triumph.The 26-year-old finished as the highest run-scorer of the series with 238 runs in three matches at an average of 238.00 and a strike rate of 135.23. His tally included one century and one half-century.His performances earned him the Player of the Series award — the sixth such award of his ODI career.Most Player of the Series awards for India in ODIsSachin Tendulkar – 15Virat Kohli – 11Sourav Ganguly – 7Yuvraj Singh – 7MS Dhoni – 7Rohit Sharma – 6Shubman Gill – 6Reflecting on the series, Gill was pleased with how India executed their plans.“A lot of the boxes are ticked. We spoke about keeping the intensity in the middle overs and some of the things that we also spoke about was how can we keep creating those opportunities in the middle overs as a bowling unit and as a batting unit, how can we keep pushing for the extra runs in the middle overs and I think a lot of those boxes were ticked.”India's victory in Chennai was set up by Prasidh Krishna, who claimed his maiden ODI five-wicket haul with figures of 5/23, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored an unbeaten 110.Gill praised Prasidh and fellow pacer Gurnoor Brar for their opening spell.“Definitely. I think the first spell bowled by Gurnoor (Brar) and Prasidh was outstanding. To see that kind of pace in those conditions was not easy. But I think they kept putting their effort and kept pushing. I mean, definitely you are tempted to give them that one extra over, but looking at the weather, I did ask them if they wanted to bowl that one extra over, but they were pretty exhausted.”India's next challenge is a three-match ODI series in England from July 14 to 19. Gill believes the conditions there will provide useful preparation for the 2027 ODI World Cup. “Going to England, the conditions would be a little bit more similar to what we get in South Africa, not quite similar, but still close to that. So the kind of combination that we would be looking to play there, hopefully we have all the players fit and ready, it is going to be another great series for us.”