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Detroit — When lefty Brant Hurter went down on May 23 (lumbar spine inflammation), it opened a gaping hole in the Tigers’ bullpen.At the time, it felt irreparable. It left the Tigers with two lefties, Tyler Holton and long-reliever Enmanuel De Jesus. Missing was Hurter’s ability to be both a multi-inning bridge and, whenever Holton was unavailable, a leverage situational lefty.And yet here we are, a full month later, and we aren’t talking about any kind of gaping hole in the bullpen.Credit that to the next man up, who in this case has been 6-3, 250-pound lefty Drew Sommers.In the Tigers’ 5-4, 10-inning, series-sweeping win against the White Sox Sunday, manager AJ Hinch, having used Holton for two innings on Saturday, would certainly have brought in Hurter for the top of the eighth inning.The Tigers were down 3-1 and the top of the White Sox order was due up, featuring three left-handed hitters. Without hesitation, he summoned Sommers and the lefty struck out Sam Antonacci, right-handed pinch-hitter Randal Grichuk and Colston Montgomery.“I think he’s nasty, really tough on lefties,” Hinch said recently. “If he can navigate the counter, the righties, the pinch-hitters, that’s the difference between him being a viable option or just somebody who is filling in.”He’s become viable. Hitters are 2-for-20 against him since his arrival, with 10 strikeouts. Lefties are 1-for-12. Righties are 1-for-8. He hasn’t allowed an extra-base hit.Not at all the same guy who showed up last season and seemed utterly overwhelmed by the level.“If we can learn patience in this world, it would probably help view people and players differently,” Hinch said. “He learned a lot and I think the game slows down a little bit. It’s not as new. The strike-throwing, has been excellent.”Sommers, 25, was acquired from the Rays before last season for right-hander Mason Englert. And his first taste of the big leagues was bitter. In three innings, he was tagged for six runs on seven hits and three walks.He’s not the same guy, on or off the field.“Just having the experience from last year,” he said. “Getting all the butterflies out and knowing the teammates more. I was very timid when I first walked in the door last year. "Lots of big names. I didn’t know how to act or conduct myself. But after having spring training in big-league camp and getting to know these guys better, it’s like, OK, they’re just like any other players.“It’s the same. So I’m not freaking out.”He’s pounding the strike zone, that is the primary difference. His strike percentage has increased from 57% to 67%.“The overall conviction comes with the experience,” Hinch said. “There have been some subtle adjustments. Player development has done a good job of centralizing the adjustment when he starts spraying the ball a little bit. But mostly, he’s a calmer version of himself now.”He showed some advanced pitch-ability on Sunday. He won a seven-pitch at-bat against Antonacci, showing him sinkers and sliders for six pitches and then busting a 2-2 four-seamer above the zone and getting the chase.Against the right-hander Grichuk, who is still in the league because of his ability to mash lefties, Sommers fell behind 2-1. Dangerous count, but Sommers surprised him with a well-disguised, well-located changeup. That’s Sommers’ third pitch, the one he’s developing to neutralize righties and he had Grichuk well out in front.He put him away with a four-seamer.Sommers didn’t mess around with Montgomery, beating him with three straight, 95-mph four-seamers.“Everybody, when they first come up, whether it be butterflies or just the adjustment to the league, it always happens,” catcher Dillon Dingler said of Sommers’ rough debut. “He’s been up here already so he’s made the adjustment. The biggest thing is just being in the zone.“Drew is awesome. He’s got great stuff. Talking to some of the (opposing hitters), they say he’s a tough at-bat.”The White Sox would concur.“Simple as that,” Sommers shrugged. “I got comfortable and I am able to just do what I do best.”Yankees at TigersFirst pitch: 6:40, Wednesday, Comerica Park, DetroitTV/radio: Detroit Sports Net/97.1, 107.9LHP Carlos Rodon (3-2, 3.50), Yankees: Coming off elbow surgery, this will be just his eighth start. But he allowed three runs or less in the first seven. In the short sample, he’s having trouble finding his slider lane against left-handed hitters. They are 5-for-12 with two doubles and a homer off it. The Tigers have a history of making Rodon work (5.44 ERA in 15 starts) and his 13% walk rate this year should play into that narrative.RHP Casey Mize (2-4, 2.58), Tigers: This will be his second start back off the IL (groin). His stuff was good in Houston last Wednesday but his command, especially with his slider, was a tick off. The bulk of the damage (three runs in 4.2 innings) came off mis-located sliders (doubles by Christian Walker and Yordan Alvarez, solo homer by Jeremy Pena). He will face more left-handed hitters against the Yankees, which will bring his splitter more into play.Chris.McCosky@detroitnews.com@cmccoskyThis article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Drew Sommers, Tigers' lefty reliever, fills gaping hole in bullpen

The Philadelphia Eagles enter training camp with plenty of attention on Jalen Hurts, the reshaped wide receiver room, and the offensive line, but one of the roster’s most important strengths may be on the other side of the ball.Philadelphia’s secondary depth could become one of the defining advantages of Vic Fangio’s defense. The Eagles have high-end talent at the top of the cornerback room, legitimate competition behind it, and enough versatility to create difficult roster decisions before final cuts. In a league built around spread formations, motion, matchup hunting, and explosive passing games, having multiple defensive backs capable of playing meaningful roles is more than a luxury.The star power starts with Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, and Riq Woolen. Mitchell gives Philadelphia a true outside cover corner with the athleticism and competitiveness to match top receivers. DeJean’s value comes from his ability to handle nickel responsibilities, tackle in space, and affect the game from multiple alignments. Woolen brings rare length, size, and speed to the perimeter, giving the Eagles another outside option with starting-caliber traits. If that trio continues to develop together, Philadelphia could have one of the league’s more intriguing cornerback foundations.The depth is what makes the group especially interesting. Michael Carter II gives the Eagles another defensive back with slot experience and coverage instincts, while Kelee Ringo remains a young corner with size, speed, and developmental upside. Jakorian Bennett adds more outside cornerback competition, and Jonathan Jones brings veteran experience, toughness, and the ability to help stabilize the room. Mac McWilliams gives Philadelphia another young defensive back to evaluate during camp, adding to a group that already has more credible candidates than available roster spots.That kind of depth should help Fangio disguise coverages, survive injuries, and match personnel against different offensive styles. It should also create a highly competitive camp, because several players with legitimate NFL ability will be fighting for roles, game-day jerseys, and roster security.The Eagles will still need clarity at safety and linebacker, and secondary depth only matters if communication holds up. Still, the cornerback room gives Philadelphia a hidden strength entering camp. Mitchell, DeJean, and Woolen provide the headline talent, but Carter, Ringo, Bennett, Jones, and McWilliams give the Eagles the kind of depth that can turn a good secondary into a major defensive advantage.This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles’ defensive back depth gives Vic Fangio major flexibility

When Lionel Messi swept home a trademark left-footed curler in Argentina's second World Cup match against Austria, he was not just getting his team off to a strong start.The 38-year-old was also making history, becoming the World Cup's all-time leading goalscorer, and demonstrating that he still lays claim to being the king of world football.Messi is enjoying a scintillating start to the tournament as Argentina defend their title.With a hat-trick in the opening game, the record broken in the second, and a third game against Jordan to come, he is a strong contender for the Golden Boot, awarded to the top goalscorer at the finals - one individual prize he has never won.Messi has now scored in six consecutive World Cup matches, a feat only achieved by two other players - France's Just Fontaine and Brazil's Jairzinho in 1958.No player has ever scored in seven straight matches.The Inter Miami forward has also created the most chances in World Cup history - he is one assist away from providing more than any other player since records began in 1966, according to Opta.He currently shares that record with his idol, Maradona.A new generation of superstars like Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Vinicius Jr may already be making their own marks on the tournament, but if they want to claim the crown, they are going to have to outperform Messi.So how exactly can Messi - who turns 39 on Wednesday and has been playing in Major League Soccer (MLS) for three years - still be delivering rampant, raucous performances on the biggest stage of all?'I didn't think Messi could still do it'Lionel Messi has now scored 17 goals in 28 World Cup matches, surpassing the record held by former Germany striker Miroslav Klose, who scored 16 [Getty Images]When Messi - then aged 31 - and Argentina were knocked out by France in a seven-goal classic in Russia in 2018, the days of him delivering tournament-defining performances in the World Cup could have been over.But four years later he captained his country to the trophy in Qatar, scoring seven goals, and after a further four he has become the first ever player to score in six consecutive World Cup matches.Olivier Giroud was part of the France side which went on to win that 2018 edition, and still playing in Ligue 1 himself at 39, can relate to Messi's situation and believes a player's competition with himself is more important than thinking about the younger generation."It's clear just how passionate Messi still is for football and you can tell it's in his DNA to always be a competitor, and to try and outdo himself more than anyone else," Giroud says."Playing at a high level at our age, you have to pay close attention to your life hygiene - how you sleep, your diet, and taking care of your body, because that's the thing you rely on for work."The key thing is still having the desire, the motivation, the passion, to keep going."Messi is not the only global sports superstar to have continued laying down gauntlets for younger rivals into their late 30s - tennis' Novak Djokovic being perhaps the most impressive example in recent years.But doing so requires a combination of relentless dedication to physical fitness and unerring self-belief."Players know themselves inside out by that age, so there's not a lot left to teach them about how to manage as they get older," says Michael Caulfield, a sports psychologist working in professional football for more than 20 years."From a physical point of view, they take advantage of every breakthrough in sports science. "But mentally, it's about whether they have the capacity in their minds to deal with the daily grind. They have to be willing to spend the whole year working hard on the same things, and if you've been doing that for 25 years, that takes huge self-discipline. "They have to maintain the sheer will to go through the rehab process after injuries when they know they've already won everything."All the top athletes I've ever known, they're all willing to try and go back one more time, because they love doing what they do."It's the same reason you still see Bruce Springsteen or Madonna touring - it is completely intrinsic to who these stars are."Messi was in tears after scoring the opener in Argentina's first match against Algeria, and in the days afterwards his family published a statement revealing that his father is "dealing with a health-related situation" [BBC Sport]Messi's incredible ability with the ball at his feet has helped compensate for any lost athleticism over the years."Coming into this World Cup, I pretty much wrote Argentina's chances off because I didn't think he could carry on [at that level] for another one," says Wayne Rooney, part of the Manchester United team which lost the 2009 and 2011 Champions League finals to Barcelona and Messi, who scored in both and was man of the match in the latter."The one thing age can never take away from players is their ability with the ball. You put him around the penalty box and he has the ability to do things others can't."It'll be interesting to see whether it can last the rest of the tournament. [If it does] then it wouldn't surprise me if we see him in the next World Cup for Argentina as well."'Messi loves football like a little boy'Generally considered a reserved and humble character, Messi has occasionally demonstrated a will to revel in his personal stardom, including when he hoisted aloft his own shirt in front of Real Madrid fans after scoring an injury-time winner in an El Clasico victory in 2017."When he crosses the white line, he is a very different person," says his former Barcelona team-mate Cesc Fabregas in the BBC iPlayer documentary Rivals: Messi vs Ronaldo. "He wants to win at any cost."That relentless desire to succeed can underpin a sports career long after a star like Messi has achieved everything their discipline has to offer, as can the sheer love of the game of itself."Athletes always think there's something left to achieve," says Caulfield. "They're wondering if there is something they haven't quite mastered yet."But more than anything they want to keep feeling that childlike joy of doing what they love. You see Messi still doing keepy-ups or a rondo, and he still loves football like a little boy."Messi's incredible display drew stark contrast with his perennial rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, who is playing in his sixth World Cup with Portugal.The 41-year-old made very little impact in his side's opening draw with DR Congo, and those who know him best believe Messi's display will have played on his mind."Ronaldo will have been fuming," Rooney says. "Even at 41 he will still be expecting to be top goalscorer. But that attitude is part of his own greatness. The two of them have spurred each other on. "They have this self-belief and arrogance, in a good way, where they know they what they have done, have nothing to prove, and it's up to the likes of Mbappe and Haaland to prove they can take over."

Rungrawee “Legatron” Sitsongpeenong has been carrying the bitter taste of defeat for over a year, and this Friday night, he finally gets an opportunity to do something about it.The Thai veteran returns to the global spotlight to face George “G-Unit” Jarvis in a high-stakes lightweight Muay Thai rematch that headlines ONE Fight Night 44 on Prime Video.The blockbuster event broadcasts live in U.S. primetime on Friday, June 26, from the fabled walls of Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium.View this post on InstagramThe backstory gives this headlining contest its razor-sharp edge. When Rungrawee and Jarvis first locked horns at ONE Friday Fights 85 in November 2024, the Thai star entered with a game plan he believed would deliver a flawless victory. What followed instead was a stark lesson in how quickly a fight can turn on the global stage.In the time since that encounter, both elite contenders challenged reigning ONE Lightweight Muay Thai World Champion Regian “The Immortal” Eersel for his coveted crown and came up short. Now, with the road back to gold running directly through each other, neither man can afford to slip up.Rungrawee has replayed their initial bout in his mind more times than he can count. The technical blueprint he carried into that night was sound, and for a significant stretch of the contest, he was executing it beautifully. Then, in the second stanza, disaster struck.Speaking to onefc.com, he said:“In that first fight, I had a really solid plan down, but the turning point came in round two when I hurt my ankle after throwing a kick. After that, I was just biting down on my mouthpiece and pushing through the pain, but then I slipped up and got dropped for a count, and he closed the show with an elbow.“It was a tough loss. Honestly, if I hadn’t gotten hurt at that moment, I think I would’ve taken the win.”View this post on InstagramA third-round stoppage via elbow is a painful way to drop a fight. Rather than letting the defeat fester, the Thai veteran chose to transform the setback into pure competitive fuel.He immediately went back to the footage, dissecting his errors with the kind of forensic detail that separates elite martial arts masters from the rest of the pack. Through that deep study, he arrived at a clear understanding of exactly what Jarvis brings to the table — and exactly how he plans to dismantle it.The Sitsongpeenong gym star shared:“I learned a ton from losing to George. I’ve gone back and rewatched the tape over and over to break down my mistakes and get ready for this rematch. George’s biggest strength is his power — his punches and knees are really dangerous. But I’m fully ready now to go back in there and prove myself against him again.”View this post on InstagramJarvis remains a genuine threat in every single exchange. The British standout possesses punishing boxing combinations and devastating knee strikes that have troubled every opponent he has faced inside the ring.However, Rungrawee’s technical analysis has revealed an opening beyond that raw power, and the Thai star is supremely confident he has found the perfect recipe to neutralize the Englishman’s offense.He explained:“George’s weakness is his inside game. When he gets hit with knees, he tends to show it. If we’re talking pure Muay Thai skills, I think I’ve got the edge, and I’m planning to use that to exploit his gaps.”View this post on InstagramRungrawee Eyes Immediate Redemption And A Date With EerselThe lone defeat to Jarvis did not break Rungrawee’s spirit. Instead, it lit a fire that has been burning white-hot ever since.From the moment the initial result was confirmed, the Thai star has been utterly fixated on getting back into the ring to set the record straight. When the headline rematch was officially signed, the motivation shifted into an even higher gear. This time, Rungrawee is not coming merely to compete — he is coming to collect a debt.“Legatron” stated:“Ever since that loss, it’s been eating at me, and I’ve been waiting for the chance to run it back. I was so stoked when I found out I got the rematch.“The key to my victory this time is going to be the clinch work, mixed with my kicks and elbows. I’m going to show him my deep Muay Thai experience and well-rounded game. If the opening is there, I’m going for the finish instantly. I won’t let the opportunity slip away — I’m getting my payback with interest.”View this post on InstagramBeyond the immediate satisfaction of revenge, the broader picture of what a victory on June 26 could bring has sharpened Rungrawee’s focus even further.The ONE Lightweight Muay Thai World Title remains his ultimate destination, and waiting at that peak is a very familiar foe. Eersel denied Rungrawee once before in the kickboxing ranks, and the Thai star is already calculating what a second shot at the king would look like — relishing the specific weapons that a Muay Thai rule set puts back in his hands.He concluded:“This win means everything to me. Not only will it get my confidence back, but it’ll put me right back in the mix for a shot at the ONE Muay Thai World Title, where my old rival Regian is waiting.“If I get another crack at Regian, I’ll need to train even harder. If my body is at 100%, I’m ready for war. Plus, playing by Muay Thai rules is going to be way more fun than kickboxing. I’ll finally get a chance to land some solid elbows on him!”View this post on InstagramSource

Nicolas Jackson set to stay and fight for his Chelsea futureNicolas Jackson has decided against pushing for a Chelsea exit this summer.According to Football Insider, the striker will instead return to Stamford Bridge and aim to impress new head coach Xabi Alonso. He is delaying any move until later in the window.The Senegal international is currently at the World Cup. He comes back to west London after a season-long loan at Bayern Munich, who chose not to make the deal permanent. A reported £70m option to buy went untriggered.His German spell was productive without being spectacular. Jackson scored 11 goals and added four assists across all competitions, helping Bayern win the Bundesliga. He largely operated as deputy to Harry Kane, which limited his minutes.Nicolas Jackson set to stay and fight for his Chelsea futureNow he wants a fresh chance under Alonso. The Spaniard intends to assess his full squad in pre-season before making decisions on futures.Jackson hopes a strong impression could earn him a role at the club.“It’s a clean slate for everybody at Chelsea,” Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke said. “I’m sure Alonso will cast an eye over everybody, including Jackson, to see if they are going to play a part in his plans.”His contract gives Chelsea a strong hand. Jackson is tied to the club until 2033, meaning any buyer would face a hefty fee. That longevity makes a cut-price sale unlikely.Suitors are circling regardless. Juventus and Napoli have emerged as contenders, hoping to lure him to Serie A.Jackson’s name also featured in talks over Andrea Cambiaso, with Juventus exploring him as a makeweight.Newcastle are another possibility. The Magpies have long admired Jackson and could revisit their interest if Chelsea open the door, as they search for a new striker.The challenge facing Jackson is a crowded frontline. Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Emmanuel Emegha are all competing for minutes, with no European football to ease the rotation.Read more – Manchester United tell Barcelona and Atletico: Sesko is not for saleSee Also- Arsenal step up Morgan Rogers pursuit as player eyes moveFollow the Football Faithful on Social Media:Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok

A pair of proposals from the Trump administration would lower costs and weaken requirements for fossil fuel companies that drill on federal property.

BEREA, OHIO - JUNE 10: Shedeur Sanders #2 of the Cleveland Browns reacts during the Cleveland Browns Mandatory Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 10, 2026 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Cleveland Browns know how to stay in the headlines, just not for their on-field production. From the QB Johnny Manziel saga to the trade for QB Deshaun Watson, the search for the elusive “Franchise Quarterback” has been an arduous one. Many Browns fans are now worried that the team might select QB Brendan Sorsby in the NFL’s Supplemental Draft, adding another risky (potentially bad) decision to the search for a quarterback. Cleveland’s quarterback room already includes Watson, Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, and Taylen Green. Adding Sorsby’s gambling issue, no matter how talented he might be, is too risky for most Browns fans.Also, which quarterback(s) would the team get rid of if Sorsby were added?According to Tony Rizzo, Sanders could be one of those with trade talks/rumors:"There are talks and ongoing calls about the availability of Shedeur Sanders," – Rizz's antenna is UP about the Browns QB situation right now 👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/T6XyD4jffl— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) June 22, 2026Later, Aaron Goldhammer noted that the team seemed to be trying to create interest in trading for Sanders, which is something we noted earlier in DBN’s Feed.Rizzo and Goldhammer are not the only ones who have heard noise about a Sanders trade on Monday. The real question is whether or not GM Andrew Berry and HC Todd Monken have any interest in trading him and, if so, what teams might be interested. I’ve heard both the San Francisco 49ers and the Green Bay Packers see Sanders as a player they could develop. Last year, before the start of the season, the Los Angeles Rams had interest in Sanders due to Matthew Stafford’s back injury, but they added Ty Simpson in this year’s draft.Not everyone wants to see Sanders traded:.@egoldie80 absolutely does NOT want the Browns to trade Shedeur Sanders and thinks he should be QB1… Do you agree? https://t.co/wv5Bqm0Hl5pic.twitter.com/Y8wcf4TEhD— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) June 22, 2026Browns Wire added the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions, along with the Packers, as possible destinations. For what it is worth, Sanders’ value is likely slightly higher than his draft slot last year (late 3rd, early 4th) based on what I’ve heard from a few folks around the league.For now, the noise seems to be filling the void, along with Sorsby draft scenarios, during a downtime in the NFL calendar. Does that mean calls are not being made? Anything is possible with teams resetting their roster expectations after mandatory minicamps come to a close.For now, some good summer radio fodder that could be true rumors or could just be fodder.What do you think about these Sanders rumors/murmurs/fooder/etc?Join the conversation!Sign up for a user account and get:Fewer adsCreate community postsComment on articles, community postsRec comments, community postsNew, improved notifications system!

Aug 24, 2020; Flushing Meadows, New York, USA; Serena Williams (USA) returns the ball against Arantxa Rus (NED) during the Western & Southern Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. © Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY SportsSerena Williams’ singles return at Wimbledon has become official. And while the tennis community rallies behind the returning legend, few from the sport’s inner circle have criticized Wimbledon for handing her a wildcard, with one prominent insider calling Williams’ move a “stunt.”Well-known tennis insider Craig Shapiro recently took a jab at Williams’ highly anticipated singles return on his X account. Shapiro argued that a player who has been out of competition for four years should not receive a direct entry into a Grand Slam without even playing a warm-up tournament.“Wild to accept a wc into a major after being long retired, over the hill- without playing one tournament in many years, imo.”He then linked Williams’ wildcard entry to celebrity boxing matches while also expressing shock at Wimbledon’s involvement in something he views as a publicity stunt:“Feels like a stunt- one of these “boxing” matches featuring Jake Paul, or Mike Tyson for that matter. Surprised Wimbledon involved themselves in this.”Shapiro did not stop there. He disagreed with the widespread excitement surrounding the 23-time Grand Slam winner’s return, arguing that it reflected poorly on the current scenario of women’s tennis:“journalists writing how exciting this is- I couldn’t disagree more. it seems like an indictment of women’s tennis, that the level is so bad a one time great player that last won a pro match 8 years ago would return at the most important tournament without even playing a warmup.”As the criticism continues, Wimbledon has already provided Williams with a singles and a doubles wildcard. After competing in two grass-court Opens this month, it remains to be seen if the returning legend has built the right kind of momentum needed to tackle Wimbledon.Serena Williams To Reunite With Sister Venus Williams for an Epic Wimbledon Doubles RunThe Williams sisters are reuniting for a doubles run at Wimbledon, a decade later. The duo has won the doubles title at this prestigious Grand Slam six times and established themselves as one of the strongest doubles teams in tennis history.While Venus continues to actively compete, for Serena, this is the first time in four years that she will step onto the English lawn. The sisters last played doubles together at the 2022 U.S. Open, where they lost the opening match.Serena Williams has managed to recondition her body for the grass through her recent endeavors in England, starting with her inaugural win alongside Victoria Mboko in the Queen’s Club tournaments’ doubles match.Read more:Coco Gauff, Ben Shelton & Other Americans Shower Frances Tiafoe With Love After Halle Title Win Vs Taylor Fritz“Serena Williams Is Not Hanging Out” – Ex-Pro Explains Exactly Why American Is The Perfect Player-Friendship ModelCollege Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in tennis, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!

The countdown to the 2026 NBA Draft is almost over, but what will Sam Presti and the OKC Thunder do with their three picks June 23-24?Presti & Co. have already made their first big move of the offseason, reportedly agreeing to trade guard Aaron Wiggins to the Atlanta Hawks for a pair on future second-round draft picks on Sunday.Here are the latest Thunder news and rumors and ahead of the NBA Draft (June 23-24) and free agency (June 30):MAILBAG: What will OKC Thunder do in 2026 NBA Draft? Answering your biggest questionsWhen is the 2026 NBA Draft?Round 1: 7 p.m. CT Tuesday, June 23Round 2: 7 p.m. CT Wednesday, June 24Where is the 2026 NBA Draft? The 2026 NBA Draft will be held June 23-24 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.What channel is the 2026 NBA Draft? Round 1: Tuesday, June 23 (ABC and ESPN)Round 2: Wednesday, June 24 (ESPN)More: Thunder NBA mock draft roundup: What will OKC do with three picks?OKC Thunder future NBA Draft picks2026 draft picksNo. 12 (via Los Angeles Clippers)No. 17 (via Philadelphia)No. 37 (via Dallas)2027 draft picksFirst-round pick (most favorable of OKC and Los Angeles Clippers)First-round pick (via Denver): Top-five protected from 2027-29First-round pick (via San Antonio): Top-16 protected2028 draft picksFirst-round pick (most favorable of OKC and Dallas)Second-round pick (via Utah)2029 draft picksOwn first-round pickOwn second-round pickSecond-round pick (least favorable of Atlanta and Miami)Second-round pick (via Boston)2030 draft picksOwn first-round pickOwn second-round pickSecond-round pick (via Atlanta)Second-round pick (via Denver)Second-round pick (via Houston)Second-round pick (via Miami)2031 draft picksOwn first-round pickOwn second-round pickSecond-round pick (least favorable of New Orleans and Orlando)2032 draft picksOwn first-round pickOwn second-round pickSecond-round pick (least favorable of Atlanta and Los Angeles Lakers)2033 draft picksOwn first-round pickOwn second-round pickJustin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at jmartinez@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Pistons rumors, trades ahead of NBA Draft, free agency

Myles Garrett is destined for the Pro Football Hall of Fame after he retires from the NFL, but that’s a long way out considering he’s still squarely in his prime. Another Hall of Fame is going to recognize Garrett fairly soon, though.On Monday, Texas A&M announced that Garrett is one of eight athletes who will be inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in the Class of 2026. Garrett is the only former Aggies football player who will be enshrined in the class.Garrett played at Texas A&M from 2014-2016 before being drafted first overall by the Browns in 2017. He had 32.5 career sacks, which is good for sixth in school history, and was a first-team All-American in 2016.Statistically, his best season came in 2015 when he had 12.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for a loss to go with 59 total tackles, one interception and five forced fumbles.The Rams acquired Garrett from the Browns this offseason, trading three draft picks and Jared Verse to Cleveland for the two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year. This will be his first chance to truly compete for a Super Bowl ring after making the playoffs only twice in his nine years with the Browns.This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams DE Myles Garrett to be inducted into Texas A&M Hall of Fame

Gildas Gimenez, #10 of Spain in action during the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup - Turkiye 2024 Quarter-final match between Spain and Turkey at Sinan Erdem Dome in Istanbul, Turkey on July 5, 2024. (Photo by Altan Gocher / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP) (Photo by ALTAN GOCHER/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images) | Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images Rick Pitino added the last piece of the puzzle to the Red Storm’s roster, and fittingly, that piece came from overseas.First reported by DraftExpress, Spanish wing Gildas Giménez has committed to St. John’s on Monday morning, becoming the 15th and final scholarship player for this upcoming season.As a dual citizen of Burkina Faso and Spain, Giménez becomes the seventh international signing of the offseason for the Red Storm, joining Quinn Ellis (England), Djordije Jovanović (Montenegro), Lazar Stojković (Serbia), Babacar Sane (Senegal), Theo Edema (Nigeria), and Tounde Yessoufou (Benin).Giménez experienced his best basketball representing his country on the youth circuit. He averaged 8.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.0 “stocks” (1.3 blocks and 0.7 steals per game) on 51.1% shooting to help Spain win the 2025 FIBA U18 EuroBasket. Two years prior, he was one of the leaders on Spain’s 2023 FIBA U16 EuroBasket-winning squad, ranking second in scoring with 14.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game on 50% shooting.The Spaniard progressed through Real Madrid’s youth system and eventually made his first and only appearance for Los Blancos’ senior team as a 17-year-old, briefly taking the floor in their 85-64 win over UCAM Murcia in November 2024. He logged more playing time for their B Team that season, averaging 8.1 points and 2.2 rebounds over 21 games, and was one of Real Madrid’s standouts on their U18 team in last season’s NextGen EuroLeague tournament, averaging 10.8 points per game in seven contests, including a 15-point outing against Overtime Elite.🇪🇸 Gildas Gimenez will join Bella Vista College Prep next season. One of the top prospects in our "Next Wave rankings, the 6'6 wing had good performances in this year's NextGen Euroleague:🪣 9.4pts✌️ 40.0% from two💪 3.1rebs♟️ 1.0asts🔒 1.4stls pic.twitter.com/u9J5o6Kzs3— Eurohoops Scouting (@EHoopsScouting) June 16, 2025Last season, Giménez moved stateside to play on the Nike EYBL Scholastic Circuit for Bella Vista Prep in Arizona, and played a minor role for their dominant championship team that went 18-3 in the regular season and playoffs.Giménez is an active, multi-positional defender who can disrupt passing lanes and frustrate ball-handlers. While he is an effective slasher, Giménez has a long way to go as an outside shooter. He only made four of his 21 three-point attempts in last year’s FIBA U18 EuroBasket tournament, and he only hit 2-of-14 from deep for Real Madrid’s U18 squad in the 2024-25 season.Although Giménez most likely won’t be a factor in year one, he adds to the Red Storm’s rotational depth on the wing and becomes an intriguing developmental prospect.

“Who is Bubba, and why did Trump blow him?” That’s the question from one X user among thousands posed on social media Friday, after an email exchange between sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and his brother surfaced, which references Donald Trump and an unknown individual named “Bubba.” Related Epstein: Trump knew According to the exchange, Trump “blew” him. “What’s your boy Donald up to now?” wrote Epstein’s brother Mark in March of 2018. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today “All good. Bannon with me,” Jeffery Epstein responded, referencing Steve Bannon, Trump’s short-lived chief of staff in his first term. “Ask him if [Russian President Vladimir] Putin has the photos of Trump blowing Bubba?” Mark Epstein wrote back. “And I thought I had tsuris,” Jeffrey Epstein replied, using the Yiddish word for “troubles.” The unearthed email exchange, one among more than 20,000 released by the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday, has thrown more fuel on the fire of the so-called “Epstein Hoax” dogging President Trump and Republicans. The “Bubba” emails ignited a firestorm of speculation online Friday about the identity of the person purportedly caught on camera in flagrante delicto with Trump, with most zeroing in on former President Bill Clinton, well known in his Arkansas days as “Bubba.” They also inspired Trump, just hours after the “Bubba” emails hit the internet, to order Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate Democrats named in the tranche of emails released Wednesday. “Now that the Democrats are using the Epstein Hoax, involving Democrats, not Republicans, to try and deflect from their disastrous SHUTDOWN, and all of their other failures, I will be asking A.G. Pam Bondi, and the Department of Justice, together with our great patriots at the FBI, to investigate Jeffrey Epstein’s involvement and relationship with Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, Reid Hoffman, J.P. Morgan, Chase, and many other people and institutions, to determine what was going on with them, and him,” Trump wrote. The move was classic Trump “divert and deflect,” likely motivated by his social feeds awash in prurient posts mocking him and others asking, “Is Trump gay?” For the record, Mark Epstein denies that the “Bubba” nickname refers to the former president, though he wouldn’t elaborate on who “Bubba” really is. That didn’t matter to the internet. Socials were awash in lewd memes and observations about the purported presidential fellatio, a few more subtle than others. “This is a lot to digest” read one. https://twitter.com/Ramit88B/status/1989156093231321164 Big Beautiful Bill #Trump #bubba pic.twitter.com/O1wkOC8dqF— The Don of A Golden Age (@Lazare76) November 14, 2025 Oh Bubba…When Trump wants a big beautiful Bill pic.twitter.com/JgZlUnV9G0— Chainsaw 🎙️🚽🎥🇯🇵 (@ChainsawCCC) November 14, 2025 Did not have Bubba Trump on my 2025 bingo card! pic.twitter.com/Rvrhey4Y4S— Sean B (@Sean_Boon) November 14, 2025 Well this hits different #Trump #Clinton #Bubba #Epstein https://t.co/LaobtfpV8z pic.twitter.com/lTQ8fwvWSM— 🇨🇦🍁SillyRabbitFaFo🍁🇨🇦 (@sillyrabbitfafo) November 14, 2025 Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Argentina's Lionel Messi, center, scores the opening goal during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Austria in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Monday, June 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)2026-06-22T17:37:27Z ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Lionel Messi broke the World Cup scoring record with his 17th goal in defending champion Argentina’s match against Austria on Monday, coming about a half hour after dropping his head in frustration when he missed a penalty kick.The record goal for a 1-0 lead came in the 38th minute and two days before Messi’s 39th birthday, and amid the concern of an ailing father back at home. It was the sixth consecutive World Cup game in which Messi has scored — joining France striker Just Fontaine and Brazil great Jairzinho as only players to do so.Messi had equaled Germany striker Miroslav Klose for the most goals in the World Cup at 16 with his first hat trick at the tournament in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria in the Group J opener last Tuesday night in Kansas City.The record was Messi’s alone when he caught goalkeeper Alexander Schlager leaning the wrong way after Thiago Almada let Facuno Medina’s pass go by him and directly onto Messi’s left foot from about 20 yards. As the ball went into the net, Messi ran toward a corner and thrust his right arm into the air to celebrate the mark with the decidedly pro-Argentina crowd among the 70,649 fans in the sold-out home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. There had been a gasp from those same fans when Messi missed the penalty kick in the ninth minute with a chance to break the record earlier in the match. Read More His left-footed kick went just wide of the right post. He is now 4 of 7 on penalty kicks in regulation play at the World Cup with misses in three consecutive tournaments.In an interview published on June 12, Klose said he expected Messi to break the scoring record.“I expect my record to fall in this tournament,” Klose told German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung. “With the larger field of competing teams there are more games and so more chances to score goals. And I assume Argentina and France will go far. That’s perfectly OK, the record will be broken eventually anyhow and Messi is welcome to be the one who does it. I’m a big fan of Messi, always have been. Messi is a genius.” Klose played in 24 World Cup matches for Germany, which wrapped up his fourth tournament by winning the 2014 final 1-0 in extra time over Messi and Argentina.Messi’s hat trick in the previous game, in his 200th international appearance, came 20 years to the date of his World Cup debut in Germany, when he also scored. He is playing in sixth World Cup, and Monday was his FIFA-record 28th match in the tournament.The penalty kick came after Lautaro Martinez was running free in the box and was tackled from behind by Xaver Schlager and Stefan Posch, the defender playing with a broken jaw. Schalger got a foot on the ball, but Posch drew the penalty because he did not touch the ball as Martinez tumbled to the ground.Play continued for more than a minute with Martinez still on the ground near the goal. When the game was stopped for him, officials reviewed the play.Messi’s father has been undergoing medical treatment for an undisclosed illness, the family said in a statement last week while not providing any specifics. The 68-year-old Jorge Messi has played a key role in his third son’s soccer career, acting as his agent and managing his business affairs off the field. Lionel Messi was overcome with emotion after scoring his first goal against Algeria, and said after that match his tears came following some tough days not related to soccer.___AP Sports Writer James Ellingworth in Duesseldorf, Germany, contributed to this report.___AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

For women who are newly interested in traditional gender roles and lifestyles: What’s making you feel this way?

Post-pandemic, a new openness to accommodating family needs has made it possible for more mothers and fathers to balance work and parenting — particularly mothers of young children.

Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement are routinely asked about performing their musical satires again. They always said no, until this year. What changed?

Thanks to America's big birthday, it's trendier than ever. READ MORE...

The 2026 NBA Draft tips off Tuesday in Brooklyn and this class has been billed as one of the deepest in years. Below is a fantasy-first breakdown of where I'd like each prospect in the lottery to land, knowing very well there will be some surprises and shakeups along the way. Washington Wizards: Cameron Boozer — F, Duke Boozer to the Wizards is a safe, but ideal fantasy scenario. Washington's frontcourt is in flux. Anthony Davis may ask for a trade and Alex Sarr is recovering from offseason foot surgery. Boozer's tweener size offers versatility to play both forward spots and some center, which is key for his fantasy positional eligibility. He possesses 20 and 10 potential and is efficient. The defensive stats may be a knock, but he can produce from Day 1 if he lands in Washington. And the Wizards just locked up Trae Young on a four-year deal. That's a nice PG to have on your side. Utah Jazz: AJ Dybantsa — F, BYU Dybantsa joining the Jazz gives him a platform to showcase his scoring and athleticism on a team seeking a star wing. Pairing him with Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. is pretty dynamic. It seems like fate that he landed in Utah after playing there in High School and his lone season at BYU. He's got a deep bag offensively and is arguably one of the best athletes in his class. There are some mouths to feed, but the Jazz will make space for a talent like AJ.Memphis Grizzlies: Darryn Peterson — G, KansasJa Morant is going to be traded, so Peterson joining the Grizzlies gives him a fantastic fantasy setup since they'll need scoring and playmaking. Peterson should play a large role from the outset. His combo of athleticism and offensive skill will translate to early points, assists and 3s in fantasy formats. I'd probably draft him in the top-100 if he ends up in Memphis.Chicago Bulls: Caleb Wilson — F, North Carolina Wilson's rebounding, rim running and shot-blocking land in a Bulls frontcourt that's desperate for athleticism and defensive stats. With Chicago retooling, he'll log heavy minutes, translating to early fantasy value. He'd be another rookie that I would target near the first 100 picks for the upside alone. New coaching under Tiago Splitter with Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis leading the way — Wilson would fit perfectly over guys like Patrick Williams and Jalen Smith. If Wilson is on the board, Chicago shouldn't hesitate.Los Angeles Clippers: Mikel Brown Jr. — G, LouisvilleBrown heading to the Clippers gives him a runway to play alongside Darius Garland as the team likely pivots from Kawhi Leonard. Brown is one of only a few players since 2008 to post a 30%+ assist rate, 14+ 3-point attempts per 100 possessions, 84%+ free-throw shooting and an elite free-throw rate in the same season. Durability shouldn't be an issue and landing in L.A. would give him room to play free and get plenty of minutes.Brooklyn Nets: Darius Acuff Jr. — G, Arkansas Acuff is a pure fantasy engine: 23.5 points and 6.4 assists per game on 48/44/81 shooting, the best season-long efficiency-meets-volume guard profile in this class. Although Brooklyn drafted a ton of guards last season, none of them stack up to Acuff. If we're looking for fantasy production, there's a lot up for grabs, with Michael Porter Jr. as the only true threat offensively and Egor Dёmin a distant second.Sacramento Kings: Kingston Flemings — G, HoustonFlemings is a do-everything lead guard (16.1/4.1/5.2, 1.5 steals) who plays bigger and faster than his frame suggests, with real two-way value for category leagues. He's not an explosive scorer at this stage, so his fantasy floor leans more on assists and steals than points. The Kings have a lot of veterans to feed, but the backcourt, without Russell Westbrook, is compelling. They need a table setter and he'd be a strong option. Atlanta Hawks: Aday Mara — C, MichiganMara's elite shot-blocking and size are tailor-made for a Hawks team thin at center. Onyeka Okongwu will be the starter, but he can play PF or C, with Mara in there to battle against larger centers. Atlanta's need for rim protection and rebounding means Mara should rack up defensive stats quickly, making him a strong fantasy target for blocks and FG% leagues, even at 20 minutes per game. Think a better passing version of Donovan Clingan and Zach Edey types.Dallas Mavericks: Brayden Burries — G, ArizonaBurries is a 6'5", 215-pound three-level scorer (16.1/4.9/2.4 on 49/39/81 splits) with legit two-way tools. The playmaking is still developing, so don't expect big assist totals as a rookie. Dallas already has ball-handlers in Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg, so Burries' fantasy path likely runs through off-ball scoring and defense rather than usage. Burries adds scoring punch to a Mavericks squad that can let him develop off-ball while working on his future as the team's PG. Milwaukee Bucks: Nate Ament — G, TennesseeAment has the size (6'10") and shooting/passing flashes of a featured wing, but his freshman efficiency (39.9/33.3/79.0) badly lagged the preseason hype. When Milwaukee moves on from Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks could be looking at a full teardown, which would hand Ament exactly the runway and reps he needs to refine his game in real time. There will certainly be other players involved, so this draft pick will be very interesting by Tuesday night. The Bucks reportedly still want to be a playoff-caliber team after any Giannis deal, but I think they'll be closer to a developmental project where taking Ament would make sense for a long-term upside play.Golden State Warriors: Morez Johnson Jr. — F, MichiganThe Warriors are old AF and need to inject some youth into this squad. Enter Johnson, a high-motor rebounder and defensive force who brings instant energy to a Warriors squad transitioning to a new era. Golden State's veteran presence means he won't be forced into a huge role early, but he has the athleticism and win-now profile to crack the rotation now. This, of course, assumes the Warriors don't bring in any high-profile players like LeBron James or Leonard. Oklahoma City Thunder: Yaxel Lendeborg — F, MichiganA 23-year-old senior who transferred from UAB and won a title at Michigan, Lendeborg is as fantasy-ready as anyone in this class. A do-it-all forward who roams as a defensive disruptor while contributing as a scorer, rebounder, and low-key creator, as seen by his 15.1/6.9/3.2 production with 2.4 stocks per game. OKC just traded Aaron Wiggins and declined Kenrich Williams' team option, so there is space for Lendeborg to produce. Dynasty managers should dock him some spots because of his age. Miami Heat: Keaton Wagler — G, IllinoisA late riser who put up a well-rounded stat line of 18/5/4 while connecting on 40% on his 3s in his freshman season proves there's something there. The caveat here is that Miami will likely have to give up this pick in any deal involving Giannis. So while I think Miami makes sense given the Heat's been trying to move Tyler Herro for a long time, the Bucks may be taking a couple of options at guard. Charlotte Hornets: Hannes Steinbach — C, WashingtonSteinbach led the entire NCAA in rebounding as a freshman (11.8 boards per 40) and offers an immediate interior floor for a Hornets team that is pretty small on their back line. Ryan Kalkbrenner and Mousa Diabate weren't enough, so further reinforcements make sense. He has a nice touch around the rim and could be a reliable double-double threat as he gets more reps.

Is Cooper Ingle the next Cleveland Guardians prospect who will get the call up to the majors?Ingle's hitting is getting to be too good to keep him at Class AAA with the Columbus Clippers. How good? He smashed three home runs in a game on June 18. COOPER INGLE THREE-HOMER GAME!@GuardsInsider | @CleGuardians | @CLBClipperspic.twitter.com/3MN7wddmOD— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) June 18, 2026He's also in the top seven in the International League in slugging and on-base percentage this season. For the offensively challenged and banged up Guardians, he could be summoned to Cleveland before long.Here's what to know about Ingle: Cooper Ingle MiLB statsThrough June 21, Ingle played in 49 games for Columbus. In that span, he hit 12 home runs to go with 40 RBI and 33 runs while hitting .292 with a .987 OPS. Perhaps most impressively he has nearly as many walks (39) as strikeouts (48). "I feel like I control the [strike] zone pretty well," Ingle told the Beacon Journal while with the Akron RubberDucks last season. "If things aren't going great, I have a pretty good eye at the plate and can draw some walks. I am able to use the whole field and then occasionally tap into some pull-side slug."What position does Cooper Ingle play?Drafted as a catcher, Ingle has primarily played there throughout his minor league career. But for Columbus this season he's also seen time in the outfield. That's good news for Ingle considering the Guardians have defensive stalwarts Patrick Bailey and Austin Hedges at catcher, and David Fry can play there too.How old is Cooper Ingle?Ingle is 24. He was born on Feb. 23, 2002.Where Cooper Ingle is at in updated MLB top prospect rankingsIn rankings updated earlier in June, ESPN's Kiley McDaniel put Ingle at No. 5 on his list of Guardians top prospects.MLB.com updated its rankings in May, placing Ingle as No. 3 on the Guardians and No. 69 in all of baseball. A midseason update from Keith Law of The Athletic didn't include Ingle.How did the Guardians get Cooper Ingle?Ingle was Cleveland’s fifth selection in the 2023 MLB Draft. It’s one that looks fruitful for the Guardians. In the first round the team picked catcher and first baseman Ralphy Velasquez, who is considered by some as the team’s best prospect. Pitchers Alex Clemmey (used in the Lane Thomas trade) and Andrew Walters were next. C.J. Kayfus, who was taken in the third round, has already spent time with the Guardians. Then with the 125th overall pick, Ingle was selected out of Clemson University.The Akron Beacon Journal sports department can be contacted via email at bjsports@thebeaconjournal.com. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cooper Ingle is the Guardians' next hot-hitting MLB prospect

BYU’s A.J. Dybantsa continues to be the betting favorite to go No. 1 to the Washington Wizards in Tuesday’s 2026 NBA Draft. Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor also has him mocked first to the Wizards. “At 6-9, he has a special blend of athletic tools with the way he bends, shifts, and explodes with the ball in his hands,” O’Connor wrote. “He gets to the rim at will, cooks in the midrange, draws fouls at a high rate, and displays point-forward potential. “In Washington, the pressure will be alleviated on him early in his career, now that he's teammates with Trae Young and Anthony Davis. In the longer term, Dybantsa fits: Alex Sarr already looks like an effective two-way big, while guards and wings like Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson, Will Riley, and Bilal Coulibaly have all shown flashes. But none of them project to be a superstar like Dybantsa, whose upside will be determined by whether he can become a knockdown 3-point shooter, as well as a more impactful defender to take full advantage of his physical tools. But even with those areas for improvement, Dybantsa has an MVP ceiling.”And yet there are some who think Kansas’ Darryn Peterson is the best overall prospect in this year’s draft and should go first overall. Yahoo Sports’ Tom Haberstroh even makes a case for Duke’s Cameron Boozer to go No. 1.So what happens if Peterson or Boozer move up to the first pick? Using the “Ask Kevin O’Connor” feature of our 2026 NBA Draft Guide, you can project any number of different outcomes based on changing scenarios. Here’s a look at how the draft could shake out based on the different No. 1 picks. Change the pick parameters yourself for additional outcomes. If A.J. Dybantsa goes No. 11. Washington Wizards: A.J. Dybantsa, 6-9, BYU freshman forward2. Utah Jazz: Cameron Boozer, 6-8, Duke freshman forward3. Memphis Grizzlies: Darryn Peterson, 6-5, Kansas freshman guard 4. Chicago Bulls: Caleb Wilson, 6-9, North Carolina freshman big5. Los Angeles Clippers: Brayden Burries, 6-4, Arizona freshman guard6. Brooklyn Nets: Mikel Brown Jr., 6-4, Louisville freshman guard7. Sacramento Kings: Darius Acuff, 6-2, Arkansas freshman guard8. Atlanta Hawks: Keaton Wagler, 6-5, Illinois freshman guard9. Dallas Mavericks: Kingston Flemings, 6-3, Houston freshman guard10. Milwaukee Bucks: Nate Ament, 6-10, Tennessee freshman forwardIf Darryn Peterson goes No. 11. Washington Wizards: Peterson2. Utah Jazz: Dybantsa3. Memphis Grizzlies: Boozer4. Chicago Bulls: Wilson5. Los Angeles Clippers: Burries6. Brooklyn Nets: Brown Jr.7. Sacramento Kings: Acuff8. Atlanta Hawks: Wagler9. Dallas Mavericks: Flemings10. Milwaukee Bucks: AmentIf Cameron Boozer goes No. 11. Washington Wizards: Boozer2. Utah Jazz: Dybantsa3. Memphis Grizzlies: Peterson4. Chicago Bulls: Wilson5. Los Angeles Clippers: Burries6. Brooklyn Nets: Brown Jr.7. Sacramento Kings: Acuff8. Atlanta Hawks: Wagler9. Dallas Mavericks: Flemings10. Milwaukee Bucks: Ament

There's a firmly set mentality in the NBA regarding the draft: You choose the guy whom you think has the most potential and/or is the best player.Rarely is the draft for need or fit — that element is usually reserved for free agency.It makes sense when you think about it.Why use the 17th pick to select a backup point guard if you can get one in free agency?Instead, swing for upside, regardless of position, and hope said player turns into a star.In this exercise, however, let's see if we can pair three teams with three players, where there is mutual benefit.Note: This won't be exclusively tied to positional need, but rather overall fit and roster impact.The Oklahoma City Thunder and … Aday Mara2026 draft picks: Nos. 12, 17 & 37If 7-foot-5 Victor Wembanyama is standing in front of you, and potentially blocking you from a championship, you need to fight fire with fire.Mara, who played at Michigan this season, is 7-3 without shoes and checks in at roughly 260 pounds. The Spaniard is an enormously large human being, and he's an excellent shot-blocker (2.6 per game) who can provide much-needed assistance at keeping Wembanyama at bay.Usually, I don't recommend teams making transactions based on one single opponent, but ... this feels different.Plus, Isaiah Hartenstein is not fully guaranteed to return, and with Chet Holmgren disappearing into the mirror dimension during the West finals, perhaps it's time to be open to a change at the center position.The Thunder might need to consolidate picks and swing a deal to grab Mara, whom Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor does have going to OKC at No. 12 in his latest mock.But apparently big problems need big solutions.The Chicago Bulls and … Morez Johnson Jr.2026 draft picks: Nos. 4, 15, 38 & 56The Bulls will take Caleb Wilson at No. 4, so why do they need another power forward?!Well, angry reader, let me tell you why. The Bulls are starting over, and when you start over, establishing a culture is crucial. Johnson is a ridiculously hard worker, he's physical as all hell, and he doesn't really have a noted weakness.The 20-year-old plays like a seasoned veteran, converting shots (62.3 FG%), takes open 3-pointers, hits free throws (78.2%), rebounds at a good level (7.3 in 25 minutes), plays the passing lanes, blocks shots and uses his 6-10, 250-pound frame about as well as you can imagine.He’s a culture setter who takes responsibility seriously. For a team with new leadership and a new coaching staff, adding a player like Johnson at No. 15 is crucial.The Philadelphia 76ers … Dailyn Swain2026 draft picks: No. 22This fit just screams chef's kiss. The Sixers need real size and skill at the wing, and Swain offers just that.The 6-8 small forward just does so many different things. He rebounds well (7.5 per game this season for Texas), moves the ball (3.6 assists), sports high efficiency (63.6% TS) and would add a highly necessary component to the Sixers, who are guard-heavy and in need of roster balance.The Sixers do need big-man insurance, but with Joel Embiid's cap hit being as stark as it is, it might simply be better to find a cheap backup in free agency.Swain, who'll be 21 by the start of the season, should be a heavy rotation player from Day 1 and help offer symmetry to Philadelphia's squad.

June 16, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.; Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their third goal to complete a hat-trick. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images Monday’s slate of matches could determine a winner of Group J at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.Entering the second match day in the group, Argentina and Austria are atop the table with three points each. As luck would have it, Lionel Messi and company are set to take on Austria on Monday, and if there is a winner, that side will clinch a spot in the Round of 32.And depending on the result from the match between Jordan and Algeria, that hypothetical winner could also clinch the group.Here are the current scenarios for Group J.Update (Monday afternoon): With Argentina’s win over Austria, Lionel Messi and company are guaranteed a spot in the knockout round. Read on to see how they can clinch Group J later tonight. What are the Group J standings?Here are the current standings in Group J, ahead of matches set for Monday, June 22.TeamWDLGFGAGDPointsArgentina20050+56Austria1103303Jordan00113-20Iraq00103-30What are the next Group J matches? Here are the standings in Group J, ahead of the two matches set for Monday, June 22. All times listed are Eastern.Monday, June 22Argentina 2, Austria 0Jordan vs. Algeria, 11:00 p.m.Saturday, June 27Algeria vs. Austria, 10:00 p.m.Jordan vs. Argentina, 10:00 p.m.What are the scenarios in Group J?Here are the scenarios in Group J, ahead of the matches set for Monday, June 22.ArgentinaAn Argentina win would clinch a spot for Lionel Messi and company in the Round of 32. In addition, Argentina will clinch Group J — and book a spot with the second-place team in Group H — if Jordan loses or draws against Algeria. More on this in a moment. AustriaIf Austria upsets Argentina, that win would book a spot for Austria in the Round of 32. In addition, an upset win over Argentina coupled with an Algeria draw or loss against Jordan, would clinch Group J for Austria. AlgeriaAlgeria will be eliminated with a loss to Jordan, plus an Austria win or draw against Argentina.JordanJordan will be eliminated with a loss to Algeria, and an Argentina win or draw against Algeria. What about tiebreakers in Group J?Now we get to the tiebreaker scenarios that come into play with Group J, starting with the matches set for Monday, June 22.Here is how tiebreakers work at the World Cup this year. If two or more teams in the same group are equal on points following the group stage, a three-step process will be followed to determine tiebreakers.In the first step, the greatest number of points in the group matches between the tied teams will be applied. Then, the superior goal difference from the group matches between the tied teams will be applied, and finally, the greatest number of goals scored in all group matches between the tied teams will be applied.If that cannot determine a tiebreaker, then the teams that are still equal will advance to step two. In this stage, the first step is the goal difference in all group matches, then the greatest number of goals in all group matches, and finally the highest team conduct score (relating to yellow and red cards) will be applied.If that does not break the tie, then the teams still equal on points will be ranked according to the most recent FIFA World Rankings.That first step, which reads “greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned” according to FIFA, effectively turns into a head-to-head tiebreaker in the case of ties between two teams.Now we can look at how these may impact the scenarios, using Argentina as an example. As noted above, Argentina can win Group J with a win over Algeria, provided Jordan does not beat Algeria. That qualifier is due to the tiebreaker. Say Argentina wins against Algeria, but Jordan beats Algeria. Argentina would have six points, and Jordan would have three.With Jordan and Argentina playing in the final set of matches, a Jordan win over Argentina would give them the first tie breaker, the “greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned”. That would mean Jordan wins the group.The same line of analysis applies to Austria, as they face Algeria in the final set of matches.

Delaware Governor Matt Meyer (D) has signed a bill updating parentage laws around in vitro fertilization (IVF) and surrogacy to enhance protections for the family-building methods, which are key to many LGBTQ+ families. SB 250 comes at a time when both IVF access and LGBTQ+ rights are being threatened across the country. “Today, we celebrate a victory for all children and families in Delaware,” said Jordan Wilson, executive director of COLAGE, an organization designed to help support families with queer parents or guardians. “By modernizing its laws to better reflect and protect today’s families, Delaware has set an example for states across the country.” Related “Trojan horse”: Trump admin calls embryos “children who already exist” in possible threat to IVF While many may take parental rights for granted, there are many complications that arise around gamete donation and assisted reproductive methods like IVF. How and when legal parentage is granted can vary widely from state to state, and obtaining these rights, even for those who were part of a child’s conception from the beginning, can be a legal battle. “Parentage is the legal relationship between a parent and their child,” COLAGE’s chief legal and policy officer, Meg York explained to The Advocate. “Sometimes people don’t realize that they may be parenting, but they may not have parentage.” Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Recognized parentage is necessary for issues related to custody, insurance coverage, benefits, inheritance, and more. When parentage hasn’t been established, it can leave the child unprotected if the parents split up or one of them dies. Until now, Delaware’s parentage law was based on a 2000 version of the Uniform Parentage Act, a model law drafted by the Uniform Law Commission (ULC), which drafts legislation proposals that states can adopt without having to start from scratch. Under SB 250, Delaware’s laws will be aligned with ULC’s more recent version of the Uniform Parentage Act, adopted in 2017. The updated law recognizes cultural and scientific shifts that have occurred in the intervening years and aims to ensure a legal framework for all kinds of parent-child relationships. The law streamlines the parentage process for those who use assisted reproduction to build their families. In addition to simplifying the process, the law also creates room for parentage to be established in some cases through a voluntary acknowledgment form, which allows parents to establish legal rights over their child immediately without going to court. In an additional win for the LGBTQ+ community, SB 250 updates Delaware’s parentage law to use gender-neutral language, allowing for a more trans-affirming piece of legislation. Rather than focusing on mothers who produce eggs and fathers who produce sperm, the language now talks about parents who provide gametes. This type of legislative update is critical in a world where IVF and surrogacy are the best family-building options for so many queer people, as well as heterosexual families struggling with infertility. “Every child should have equal access to the security and stability that a legally recognized parent-child relationship provides,” COLAGE said in a statement celebrating the signing of the bill into law. “We are grateful to the many people, families and advocates who worked tirelessly to advance this legislation.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by COLAGE (@colagenational) In addition to rollbacks in LGBTQ+ protections across the country, IVF access has been under threat. While Trump has claimed to support the process, his success in orchestrating Roe v. Wade has led to pressure from far-right members of his party who support embryonic personhood, which would make the destruction of embryos legal murder. In Alabama, for example, a 2024 state Supreme Court decision ruled that embryos have the same legal rights as children, creating widespread fear that IVF providers could face criminal charges if they mishandle or destroy an embryo. Discarding unused or abandoned embryos is a routine part of the IVF process, and the court even acknowledged that its ruling would effectively end IVF treatment in Alabama. Several major providers in the state halted IVF treatment in the ensuing weeks, leaving LGBTQ+ couples, single people, and those who struggle with fertility issues with dwindling access to the most common method of assisted reproduction. And last week, the Trump administration updated a federal grant program to describe embryos as “children who already exist,” in what experts are calling a “Trojan horse” that could target both IVF and abortion. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Shedeur Sanders has been in a battle with Deshaun Watson for the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback job, but that competition may end sooner rather than later.That’s because, according to ESPN Cleveland’s Tony Rizzo, the Browns are getting trade calls on Sanders.The radio host also said he believes the Browns will not enter training camp with their quarterbacks room as is.“There are talks, ongoing calls about the availability of Shedeur Sanders,” Rizzo said, before adding, “I’m going to say right now, for the record, I don’t think the four quarterbacks are going to camp on July 28.”“Nothing is imminent, but the calls are being made,” Rizzo added.Why Browns shouldn’t trade ShedeurTrading Sanders would be a colossal screw-up by the Browns.After all, he is the only semblance of hope for a long-term answer under center in Cleveland, yet the Browns seem intent on giving the abysmal Watson another look as the starter.At the very least, Cleveland should hang on to Shedeur and let him take over once if Watson struggles, which is inevitable at this point.We’ll see if anything actually comes to fruition in terms of a trade, but if Sanders does get dealt, we could see any one of these five teams acquiring him.New York Jets New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn looks on before the game against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium. Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn ImagesNew York signed Geno Smith to be the bridge quarterback, but he was one of the worst signal-callers in the NFL in 2025 and he’s not a long-term solution at 35 years old.The rest of the current depth chart includes Bailey Zappe, Brady Cook and 2026 fourth-round pick Cade Klubnik, who the jury is still out on.With how awful the Jets have been at finding a franchise quarterback, they should be hedging their bet any chance they get, which is why they should go after Sanders.Miami DolphinsThere is no telling how Malik Willis is going to pan out in his first year as the starter, and the only insurance policy Miami has is Quinn Ewers, who was OK but not great in Year 1.That leaves Miami without a locked-in long-term starter, and that should have general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan exploring every option possible.MORE: Miami Dolphins early results with Malik Willis not looking goodThe Dolphins should bring Sanders in and have him compete with Ewers for the right to take over the starting job if Willis falters.Arizona CardinalsThe Cardinals figured to go into the 2026 season with Jacoby Brissett as their starter, but the veteran is holding out and now his future is uncertain.General manager Monti Ossenfort is on the hot seat and cannot afford to turn the ball over to Gardner Minshew, and there’s no telling when Carson Beck will be ready.Sanders is no sure thing, but he at least offers the upside Minshew doesn’t, and the starting experience Beck doesn’t have.Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones warms up before a game against the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn ImagesThe Colts are set atop the depth chart for now with Daniel Jones, but we also know Jones has a checkered past with injuries and is hardly reliable.If Jones goes down to an injury once again, the Colts will be depending on one of Anthony Richardson, who probably won’t even be with the team come Week 1, Riley Leonard, who only has one career start, or Easton Stick, who has four career starts.MORE: Adonai Mitchell starting to make Colts look foolishSanders actually has more starts than Stick and Leonard combined. Safe to say, Shedeur could very well be an upgrade for Indy’s QB2 situation.Tampa Bay BuccaneersThe Bucs and Baker Mayfield are in a contract standoff, and while the veteran is not going to hold out, he will be a free agent in 2027 if nothing changes.If Mayfield isn’t re-signed, the Bucs would be in the market for a new starting quarterback without any semblance of a potential long-term solution on the roster behind Mayfield.MORE: Bucs playing foolish game with Baker MayfieldTrading for Sanders would change that for Tampa Bay.

KANSAS CITY, MO - MAY 26: Aaron Judge #99 and Cody Bellinger #35 of the New York Yankees stand on second base between innings of an MLB game between the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals on May 26, 2026 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Earlier this afternoon, MLB released its second All-Star balloting update. The Yankees are well-represented, with Aaron Judge, Ben Rice, and Cody Bellinger all in position to advance in the voting.As a refresher, MLB uses a (semi-convoluted) multi-phase system for its All-Star ballots. We’re currently in Phase 1, which will end on Thursday. At the conclusion of Phase 1, the top vote-getter in each league will automatically earn a starting spot in the All-Star Game. Then, the top two (top six for outfielders) finishers at every other position advance to a run-off stage in Phase 2.Judge leads all Yankees and all outfielders with 1,788,499 votes, pulling ahead of Mike Trout by just about 50,000 votes. Despite the right rib fracture that’s kept him out the last three weeks, Judge looks likely to make the team. However, he isn’t the top overall vote-getter in the American League at the moment, thanks to a surprise surge from Ernie Clement of all people. The Toronto second baseman paces the Junior Circuit with 2,054,130 votes.Rice is second in voting at first base, a bit of a travesty given the middling year that the leader, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., has put together so far. The Yankee first baseman’s 174 OPS+ dwarfs Guerrero’s 101 figure, but Guerrero now leads by about half a million votes. No matter, Rice should advance comfortably to the runoff stage with a chance to make his first All-Star team.Also polling well is Bellinger, who clocks in with 1,067,622 votes, fourth among outfielders behind Judge, Trout, and Byron Buxton. Remarkably, the 2019 NL MVP has not made an All-Star team since securing that MVP award, but he has a great shot at breaking the streak this year. Bellinger has been excellent in every phase of the game for the Yankees, and his 3.8 rWAR is actually tops among AL outfielders.In the running at second base is Jazz Chisholm Jr., though he is far back of the leader Clement. Chisholm stands in fourth with 419,777 votes, about 100,000 votes behind the second-place second baseman, Ezequiel Duran, so he has his work cut out for him if he wants to advance to Phase 2. Outside of Judge, Rice, Bellinger, and Chisholm, no other Yankee hitter is really within striking distance in the voting. The team will surely also send a pitcher or two to the All-Star Game, but the pitchers that make the roster are not chosen by fan vote. You can find full details on the voting thus far, as well as results for the National League, here.

For most of the 2026 season, the Atlanta Braves have been at the top of Major League Baseball.However, their recent stretch of play has left some concern. The Braves had lost six of seven games in the middle of June — their worst stretch of the season — before a bounce-back series win over the Brewers.Every team goes through rough patches during a 162-game season, but beyond the recent losing streak, other factors could be cause for concern.Health Is the Braves’ Biggest Cause for ConcernRonald Acuña Jr. is undoubtedly one of the most talented players in the MLB. Unfortunately, staying on the field has been a constant issue for him. Since his historic MVP campaign in 2023, Acuña has only played in 197 games. Only twice in his career has he played over 150 games.This season, Acuña has sustained two separate hamstring injuries that have landed him on the IL. His first hamstring injury caused him to miss over two weeks, but Braves manager Walt Weiss is expecting his star outfielder to be out for a longer period this time around.Weiss said Acuña is a “long way” from returning. Because the hamstring strain is in the same spot, the Braves will be more cautious than they were when Acuña missed nearly three weeks with the previous strain— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) June 17, 2026Michael Harris II has dealt with his fair share of injuries this season as well. While he hasn’t been on the IL this season, Harris has been limited throughout the season with calf and back injuries.During Atlanta’s 7-5 loss versus the San Francisco Giants on June 16, Harris was removed from the game for back tightness. The good news is that he was listed as day-to-day rather than needing to go on the IL.Drake Baldwin, who has been one of the best catchers in the game this season, missed over one month with an oblique injury. His absence was felt more by the loss of Sean Murphy as Atlanta juggled catcher duties with both of them down.Chadwick Tromp and Sandy León were the catchers for the time being and they weren’t great. Together they combined for just 11 hits in 66 at bats.Braves’ Pitching Depth Being TestedBefore the season started, Spencer Strider was placed on the IL and didn’t make his season debut until May 3. Strider had a rough outing on June 12 against the New York Mets where he allowed seven runs in just three innings. Weiss didn’t pull him from the game due to poor performance, but rather an arm injury.After giving up a leadoff walk in the fourth inning, Weiss removed Strider from the game after just 68 pitches. His fastball velocity dipped to under 90 MPH, which was a huge concern. On June 15, Strider would be shut down from throwing for four weeks, but surgery wasn’t required.Following a consultation with Dr. Keith Meister today, RHP Spencer Strider will be shut down from throwing for four weeks and then undergo a follow-up MRI. Provided that scan is clear, he will then begin a throwing progression.— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 15, 2026With Strider back on the shelf, Atlanta will turn to young arms like rookie starter JR Ritchie. He replaced Strider against the Mets and proceeded to throw five innings of shutout baseball out of the bullpen. However, he allowed five runs against the Giants in his most recent start and now has a 4.54 ERA on the season.The Braves are also missing other key arms such as Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep. The good news is Waldrep is close to returning as Atlanta recently optioned him to Triple-A following a rehab stint. As for Schwellenbach, he just started throwing recently and is still a ways from returning.Additionally, it'll be a multi-step process once Spencer Schwellenbach gets to mound work in order to build up his strength, then go out on a rehab assignment that will likely be a full month as well. Walt Weiss said the #Braves haven't put a timetable on a potential return. https://t.co/WXpCsLlyZ6— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) May 23, 2026Another starter who is making progress is AJ Smith-Shawver. He had Tommy John surgery last season and is close to beginning a rehab assignment. While Atlanta may be banged up, they are close to getting some much-needed arms back in the rotation.Was June Just a Bump in the Road?The silver lining is the Braves are still first in the NL East and have the second-best record in the baseball as a whole. The pace Atlanta was playing at to start the season was difficult to maintain over a 162 game season.As long as the Braves are in a great position by the trade deadline, they should be in position to make moves. The reality is, Atlanta is still one of the favorites to win the World Series and a slump like this was going to happen eventually. The Braves have overcome injuries throughout this season, but this has been a tough stretch of baseball.The post What Reasons Do the Atlanta Braves Have to Be Concerned? appeared first on The Lead.

Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images Reigning world champions Argentina have guaranteed safe passage through to the knockout rounds of World Cup 2026 thanks to a hard-fought 2-0 win against Austrlia in Dallas on Monday. The Albiceleste kept another clean sheet and looked solid all game, and Lionel Messi made history again as he scored his 17th and 18th goals to take sole possession of first place on the list of all-time World Cup goalscorers.Reactions & ObservationsMessi was once again, two days before his 39th birthday, the best player on the pitch by far, and despite missing an early penalty and wasting two other good chances there was never any doubt about his ability to break Klose’s record. The goal that did it was a classic Messi finish from his favorite spot just inside the box on the left side, and the second was outrageous as he outworked the entire Austrian defense to find the back of the net in added time.The rest of the team has a very clear goal of working their socks off to make sure Messi can get to the best possible positions to be decisive, and the midfield trio of Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernández gave their all with and without the ball.Thiago Almada and Lautaro Martínez also deserve honorable mentions for their workrate out of possession and big contributions in attack, including an outstanding dummy by Almada in the build-up to Messi’s record-breaking first goal.Cristian Romero’s possible knee injury might be a reason for concern and should be monitored in the next few days, but Argentina will now be able to rest many of their key starters in the group finale against Jordan, the weakest team in the group, and Romero will likely be back for the knockout rounds.But the story can only be about Messi, who is clearly enjoying the first World Cup of his career where he has absolutely no pressure to win and can just go out and play. He has scored all five of Argentina’s goals and could have scored seven or eight already, and his control of the game at his age is simply astounding. How lucky are we to have been alive to witness the Lionel Messi Era.

Liverpool Are Showing Interest In This La Liga Full-Back: Should Iraola Get Him On Board?In a recent report, Fichajes claimed that Liverpool are showing interest in Rayo Vallecano full-back Andrei Rațiu this summer. It has been mentioned that the Reds are eyeing a move to acquire the services of the Romanian talent this off-season.Rațiu’s Decent Form In La LigaRațiu enjoyed a good run of form at the Spanish club after he produced a string of impressive displays for them on the right flank. The 28-year-old found the back of the net once and earned four assists in 50 matches for the Spanish outfit last season across all fronts.The Romanian talent is currently one of the most talented full-backs in La Liga. Thus, the Reds would do well to lure him to Anfield in this transfer window.His current contract at Selhurst Park will run out in the summer of 2029, which could make it difficult for Liverpool to land him on the cheap this off-season.MADRID, SPAIN – APRIL 23: Carlos Romero of RCD Espanyol heads the ball while under pressure from Andrei Ratiu of Rayo Vallecano during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Rayo Vallecano de Madrid and RCD Espanyol de Barcelona at Estadio de Vallecas on April 23, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)Should Liverpool Boss Andoni Iraola Get Rațiu On Board?Rațiu is a good tackler of the ball and can scan the danger well to secure possession back for his team inside his half. He doesn’t mind clearing his lines when the opposition are on the offensive and is proficient at playing his way out from the back.The Romanian sensation can chip in by scoring and creating the odd goal for his team. Rațiu is primarily a right-back but can also serve as a right-sided wide player if asked to do so. However, it remains to be seen whether he can cope with the physical side and high intensity of the Premier League if the Reds manage to snap him up this summer.We can expect Rațiu to bring more quality to Liverpool head coach Arne Slot’s defence. He has what it takes to fight for a regular starting spot at the Merseyside club in the coming seasons.At 28, Rațiu is playing in his prime, which makes him a worthy target for the Reds to pursue in this transfer period. He will also help Liverpool challenge across all competitions over the next few years. Thus, Iraola should focus on getting him on board this off-season.

National Guard members look at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)2026-06-22T19:02:28Z WASHINGTON (AP) — National Guard service members and U.S. Park Police were patrolling the deck around the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Monday, as Donald Trump’s administration faces a self-imposed deadline to fix a botched renovation and cleaning efforts ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration. The patrols come two days after Trump said authorities had made “multiple arrests” of people he insisted were responsible for damage to the peeling coating after an algae bloom occurred. The liner was installed as part of his $14 million-plus project. The president has confirmed the problems likely require draining the pool again for liner repairs, and he promised a quick fix. But the timeline was not clear Monday, and the administration did not immediately respond to questions about a new round of work. Contractors and federal workers in recent days have been using chemicals and ozone nanobubbles to combat the algae. Trump pitched the original improvements as intended to clean, beautify and reinforce an iconic site that he said had become dilapidated and dirty because of previous presidents’ neglect. Algae has plagued the pool for a century, and Trump insisted that a newly installed ‘American flag blue’ coating, which he selected himself, would turn the pool into a gleaming expanse along the National Mall. Yet within weeks of Trump declaring the rehabilitation completed in time for Independence Day, the water was plagued by a vivid green algae bloom that clouded the pool’s coating. An approximately 4 foot-square piece of the liner was observed last Friday to be partially floating in the pool. The Associated Press observed additional pieces in the water Monday. Read More Via social media, the president has blamed the problems on “SICK, DERANGED PEOPLE!” He asserted Monday on Truth Social that intentional damages include a “300 foot long gash” and that “chemicals have been illegally placed in the water.” A day earlier, Trump posted, “Work will begin immediately on fixing the seriously vandalized Reflecting Pool.” He has not substantiated those claims, and even if anyone has deliberately peeled the lining, that would not explain the algae bloom that appeared more intensely than what typically occurred before the renovation. Images showing that Trump’s project apparently backfired boomeranged across social media last week, drawing crowds of onlookers eager to see the effects themselves. An unknown number ended up being detained by federal authorities. One man arrested was David Hearn, 67, of Bethesda, Maryland. A former Olympic canoe racer, Hearn told The Associated Press that he reached into the pool because he wanted to examine the peeling new coating. He said he briefly touched a chunk that was still attached to the side of the pool, then let go shortly after a park worker told him to. Hearn said he was then detained by National Guard troops and Park Police for five hours before being released Friday night.“I’m a curious citizen,” Hearn said in a telephone interview. “I reached down to see what it felt like. It was very rubbery.” The Park Police did not immediately respond Monday to AP’s questions about how many arrests were made and whether any charges had been filed. Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department said Monday that the agency is not involved. It was not immediately apparent what criminal or civil violation someone might commit reaching into the pool. Trump, in one of his Truth Social posts on the matter, threatened prison time for his unnamed assailants, referencing laws against defacing federal monuments. ___Barrow reported from Atlanta. Katie Vogel contributed reporting from Washington, D.C. NATHAN ELLGREN Ellgren is an Associated Press video journalist based in Washington, D.C. mailto BILL BARROW Barrow covers U.S. politics for The Associated Press. He is based in Atlanta. twitter mailto

Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) celebrates scoring his side's first goal against Austria with teammates during the World Cup Group J soccer match in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Monday, June 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)2026-06-22T19:09:08Z ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Lionel Messi set a World Cup record with his 17th and 18th goals, and defending champion Argentina advanced to the knockout stage with a 2-0 victory over Austria on Monday.Messi had a golden opportunity to break the record in the ninth minute, but went wide to the right on a penalty kick. Almost 30 minutes later, Messi caught Alexander Schlager leaning the wrong way after Thiago Almada let Facuno Medina’s pass go by him directly onto Messi’s left foot.In the waning seconds of injury time, Messi extended his record by sending a shot through several defenders after Schlager turned away his first attempt. He entered the game even with Germany striker Miroslav Klose, who scored 16 goals over four World Cups from 2002-14. Two days before his 39th birthday and with an ailing father back home, Messi celebrated twice with teammates to the delight of the decidedly pro-Argentine crowd at the sold-out home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. Most of those fans were wearing Messi’s familiar No. 10 jersey with white and blue stripes, dwarfing the small pockets of red-clad Austrian supporters under the retractable roof that offered air-conditioned comfort on the second day of what is sure to be another hot Texas summer. The scoring record came 40 years to the day since Maradona’s “goal of the century” — another No. 10 who made a solo run from the other side of midfield to give Argentina a two-goal lead in a 2-1 victory over England in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals in Mexico City. Argentina went on to win the title. Read More Messi joined Just Fontaine and Jairzinho as the only players to score in six straight World Cup games. Argentina extended its winning streak in the tournament to eight since a shocking loss to Saudi Arabia in its 2022 opener in Qatar.Messi has scored all five of Argentina goals in the tournament and has 12 World Cup goals since turning 35. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner as soccer’s best player in Europe had his first World Cup hat trick in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria in its Group J opener last week in Kansas City.Austria, which opened with a 3-1 victory over Jordan, can advance with a win over Algeria on Saturday in Kansas City.Argentina returns to AT&T Stadium to face Jordan in a group finale Saturday night.___AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup

The streaming giant bought a spinoff of a popular online interview series that features celebrities eating fiery chicken wings, the latest salvo in its rivalry with YouTube.

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I’ve been unknowingly following it for a long time. READ MORE...

49ers tight end George Kittle has targeted a Week 1 return since tearing his right Achilles in a Jan. 11 playoff game against the Eagles.Less than three months from the season opener, Kittle is on track to do just that."I got a run today, hit over 16 miles an hour," Kittle said on the Pardon My Take podcast over the weekend, via David Bonilla of 49erswebzone.com. "That was pretty sick."Kittle said the workout was held in cleats on a field, another positive sign in his return."I'm 21 weeks out, and I'm running over 16 miles an hour, so I'm having a great time," Kittle said. "Single-leg box jumps. We're cutting again. We're having some fun."Kittle made a seventh career Pro Bowl last season despite playing only 11 regular-season games due to hamstring and ankle injuries.

📋 France named to try to maintain their 100% record in the CupFrance takes the field this Monday (22) at 6 p.m. (Brasília time) in Philadelphia (USA), when they face Iraq in the second round of the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.The current world runners-up are in second place in Group I with three points, with Norway leading on goal difference (+3 to +2).Haaland, Ødegaard & Co. play later, at 9 p.m. (Brasília time), in New Jersey (USA), when they face Senegal (still pointless).In the final round, scheduled for next Friday (26) at 4 p.m. (Brasília time), Norway and France face each other in Boston (USA), while Senegal vs. Iraq takes place in Toronto (Canada).Compared to the last match (3-1 over Senegal), coach Didier Deschamps opted to bring in Lucas Digne, Manu Koné and Bradley Barcola in place of Theo Hernández, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Désiré Doué, respectively, for France.📋 Check out the lineups for France and IraqThis article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

NEW YORK — On the eve of the 2026 NBA Draft, a bombshell hit the basketball world.Michigan coach Dusty May, who led the Wolverines to a national title in 2026, is leaving the program to become the next head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, according to multiple reports.May, who took Florida Atlantic to a Final Four in 2023, quickly built Michigan into a contender. The Wolverines reached the Sweet 16 in his first season and then captured a national championship in his second.But May’s tenure at Michigan has come to a halt after just two seasons.“Man, I almost cried,” said Yaxel Lendeborg, the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year and member of the Michigan national championship team. “I know I’m not playing there next year, but I felt heartbroken, honestly. I’m happy for him. He deserves it. He’s a really, really good coach, really great guy. So I’m really happy for what he has going on. One little thing: I feel like Michigan State’s probably happy that he’s gone now. So, we’ll see how that goes. But I’m going to be a big Dusty fan no matter where he is.”More: The importance of Bennett Stirtz's NBA Draft story for Iowa basketballThree former Wolverines have been invited to attend the 2026 NBA Draft. Now that May is joining the Mavericks, there is a chance that he could end up coaching one of his former players again. Dallas holds the 9th pick in the draft, and Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr., or Aday Mara could still be on the board.“The news caught me off guard,” Johnson said. “Extremely shocked. Of course, when I saw it, I was like, ‘Dang.’ Like, ‘Oh that would be crazy to play for my coach (again).’ But nothing’s guaranteed. It’s not a promise that I'll go there. We haven’t even talked about it. I just texted him congratulations, and that’s it.”Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz had visited the Mavericks organization during the pre-NBA Draft process.“I visited Dallas and I knew they were interviewing him (Dusty May), so it’s not really much of a surprise,” Stirtz said. “But I’m more interested to see what Michigan’s going to do with what they’ve got because they already started practice. It’s crazy.”The news could shift the dynamic in the Big Ten. Michigan had been a powerhouse under May, but now the program's future is in much more uncertain waters. Michigan is reportedly expected to promote Mike Boynton Jr. to interim head coach. Boynton, who has been on Michigan's staff the last two seasons, has head coaching experience at Oklahoma State.The development had those around the basketball world flabbergasted.“Shocked,” college basketball analyst John Fanta said. “Shocked and stunned. The timing of it is absolutely stunning, because you have Elliot Cadeau, you have Brandon McCoy Jr., you’ve got talent. They were going to be a top-five, top-10 team, and they still will be a top-tier team. But for him to leave in June. I thought he’d be an NBA coach in four to six years. But look, the allure of coaching Cooper Flagg. Do I blame Dusty? I don’t blame him one bit. Was I shocked by this news? 100 percent.”Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at TTachman@usatodayco.comThis article originally appeared on Hawk Central: Dusty May departure stuns former Michigan stars ahead of NBA Draft

Grand Canyon University has not had a player taken in the NBA draft since 1988.According to some 2026 NBA Draft projections, that drought could end on Wednesday, June 24.Those projections have Grand Canyon's Jaden Henley going in the second round of the draft that day.Henley, a guard, averaged 17.7 points per game and 5.7 rebounds per game with the Antelopes in his lone season with the team.Check out what recent NBA mock drafts are saying about his draft stock.Read more: Grand Canyon guard works with Warriors, other NBA teams before draftYahoo Sports: Jaden Henley picked by Golden State Warriors at No. 54 overallKevin O'Connor writes: "Henley is an explosive wing who can dunk over opponents while also switching across positions on defense. But he severely struggles as a shooter, and since he isn't a primary creator it's vital he figures out how to make shots fall with greater regularity."Sports Illustrated: Jaden Henley selected by Toronto Raptors at No. 50 overallKevin Sweeney writes: "One of the most well-traveled players in this draft, Henley played at four different schools in four seasons but finally put it all together as a senior at Grand Canyon. He’s highly effective going downhill, shooting nearly 65% at the rim this past season for the Antelopes. The key swing skill going forward will be his three-point shooting. He made just 27% from deep this past season and shot 31% for his college career."More: What is the 2026 NBA Draft order? Picks for first round, second roundBleacher Report: Jaden Henley taken by Houston Rockets at No. 53 overallJonathan Wasserman writes: "Jaden Henley had a breakout year with his fourth school in four years. He's a big wing and tough downhill scorer with shotmaking ability, though three-point shooting remains an obvious swing skill."The Athletic: Jaden Henley goes to Atlanta Hawks at No. 57 overallThe site has the Grand Canyon wing going between Kentucky's Otega Oweh and Houston's Milos Uzan.What channel is 2026 NBA Draft on? How to watch picks on TV, streamingReach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today. Sign up for azcentral Preps Now. And be sure to subscribe to our daily sports newsletters so you don't miss a thing.This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Jaden Henley NBA mock draft picks see end to Grand Canyon's drought

Motorsport photoWhat an amazing day of racing at Naval Base Coronado. The iconic backdrop for a brand-new street course race delivered in every form, from both the spectacle and the on-track action.The place was sold out, and the racing was fierce from green flag to checkered flag. All three races ended with a dramatic pass for the win, while Sunday featured a first-time Cup winner and future superstar of the sport.So, let's take a look at the biggest winners and losers from the NASCAR Cup weekend in San Diego:WINNER: Heim, but also 23XI for giving him a fulltime ride in 2027Watch: Heim takes late lead, wins at CoronadoWhat a drive by Corey Heim. We already knew he was one of the top rising stars in NASCAR, but Sunday took it to another level. Driving a part-time unchartered entry for 23XI Racing, he battled head-to-head with championship leader Tyler Reddick, besting him for his first career win in just his 13th career start. The victory even stunned Denny Hamlin, who has often praised Heim for his natural ability, but said "he's going to be a problem" after his big Cup win. Read Also: Corey Heim earns shock first Cup win after slamming doors with Reddick in San Diego Naval Base Corando a historic win for Corey Heim and NASCAR LOSER: Shane van Gisbergen wrecks and falls out of ChaseHUGE crash at Turn 1 on the restart 😱 #NASCARonPrimepic.twitter.com/UMxRV9tWvq— Sports on Prime (@SportsonPrime) June 21, 2026San Diego was supposed to be a huge opportunity for SVG to gain points in the Chase battle, but it ended up being the worst case scenario. He scored just one point, failing to secure any stage points, and wrecking out of the race in a restart pileup at the front. SVG had nowhere to go in the incident, and dropped three spots in the standings, now 5pts outside of the Chase. The good news is that there's another road course just ahead, but it is the last one of the 2026 season. He now has to earn maximum points to keep his Chase hopes alive. Read Also: Shane van Gisbergen, Zilisch crash out in huge restart pileup at NASCAR San Diego WINNER: Bubba Wallace comes back from two laps downWheels fall off but still finish 2nd…"just another race for Bubba Wallace." Catch the full post race show from Coronado here: https://t.co/JezdF9EK1Kpic.twitter.com/EuB8f2L2fh— Kyle Petty (@kylepetty) June 22, 2026Where did the No. 23 come from? Wallace started the day strong, but it all came apart when a right-front wheel didn't get secured during an early pit stop. Wallace lost the wheel on track, and was handed a two-lap penalty. While furious, Wallace remained determined to claw back the lost ground, getting both laps back and ultimately finishing a wildly impressive second in a 1-2 finish for 23XI Racing.LOSER: Tyler Reddick loses out big time in the championshipWatch: Reddick after lead battle with Heim: 'I overdid it ... that wasn't right'In the final five laps of the NASCAR Cup race, Reddick lost 43 points in the regular season title fight -- 20 when he lost the lead, and another 23 when he cut a tire after contact with Heim. That means that Denny Hamlin, who expected to lose ground at the street course, actually gained on Reddick. His 129-point lead from one month ago is now down to just eight points, and Reddick blamed himself for making several mistakes throughout the weekend. It started with an incident in qualifying, but he also spun mid-race even before the late incident with Heim. Just a very sloppy weekend from the No. 45, and they can't afford that with the No. 11 JGR Toyota running them down. Read Also: Tyler Reddick explains what went wrong in teammate battle for the win WINNER: Ryan Preece huge points day, +3 biggest mover back into ChaseRyan Preece, RFK RacingRyan Preece, RFK RacingWhat a rally for the No. 60 RFK Racing Ford after a tough month. Preece (along with Allmendinger) scored more points than any other driver in the field on Sunday, even though he finished 11th. Preece also collected 19 of a possible 20 stage points, making it a huge day for him in the championship. Preece is now back inside the top 16, but just five points clear of the cut-line. Read Also: Complete NASCAR Cup points standings after San Diego 2026 LOSER: Bell/Crews swap doesn't work out due to engine issueChristopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaChristopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaChristopher Bell continues to lose ground in the weeks since suffering a 63G crash at Michigan, leaving him with a fractured wrist. Between Michigan's crash, a fuel gamble at Pocono that didn't work out, and an engine failure in San Diego, Bell has scored just 23 points across the last three weeks. He has dropped outside the top ten, and has another road course ahead of him where he may again need relief driver Brent Crews. Read Also: Christopher Bell gets out of car mid-race, replaced by Brent Crews in San Diego WINNER: AJ Allmendinger continues to do a lot with a littleAJ Allmendinger, Kaulig RacingAJ Allmendinger, Kaulig RacingNo shared data, no simulator, and no support from Chevrolet -- that doesn't seem to be a problem for the veteran Kaulig Racing driver. Allmendinger earned a top five finish in San Diego, and is now just 21 points outside of the Chase. With another road course next weekend, he could get even closer to that cut-line in what has been a surprisingly impressive season from the No. 16 team.LOSER: Austin Hill's big win overshadowed by Sunday errorAustin Hill, No. 21 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletAustin Hill, No. 21 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletHill was on top of the world on Saturday, passing Taylor Gray on the final lap and securing an emotional win for Richard Childress Racing, honoring Kyle Busch in his post-race celebrations. He was also impressive in the Cup car, qualifying tenth and running up front on Sunday. Unfortunately, discussions around his big win were replaced by criticism over a restart blunder, where he crashed from the leading, taking several cars with him after missing the apex of Turn 1. That wreck eliminated both Connor Zilisch and Shane van Gisbergen, as well as Hill himself. Read Also: Austin Hill wins dramatic NASCAR O'Reilly San Diego race in last-lap pass WINNER: Kevin Magnussen gets the full NASCAR experience“What’s your f*cking problem?” Kevin Magnussen and Noah Gragson had a talk after the race. ( 🎥: @PitLaneCPT@Frontstretch ) pic.twitter.com/1xopKW132f— Motorsport (@Motorsport) June 22, 2026K-Mag seemed to enjoy his NASCAR Cup debut in San Diego, battling throughout the field, and even pitting late for fresh tires to snag the fastest lap bonus. He also got the full NASCAR experience, as he had a multi-lap feud with Noah Gragson, and sent him into the wall after diving to the inside for a pass. After the race, Gragson confronted Magnussen, who didn't seem fazed by the encounter, repeatedly telling him to 'f*** off' in some form or another. After all that, Magnussen expressed a desire to come back and try NASCAR again, and after San Diego, he seems to fit right in. Read Also: Kevin Magnussen tells Noah Gragson to "f*** off" in tense NASCAR confrontation LOSER: The fan who got himself arrested Don’t try this at home… or a NASCAR track… or a Naval Base… or all of the above.A fan climbed the fence to talk to driver Sheldon Creed. pic.twitter.com/FJ44bfVgyv— Motorsport (@Motorsport) June 21, 2026This didn't happen in the Cup race, but we just had to mention it. An intoxicated fan decided to run onto the track during a red flag in Saturday's NASCAR O'Reilly race. He chatted with Sheldon Creed, and then fled over two fences, losing a flip-flop in the process. It's never a good idea to run out onto a race track, but it's an even worse idea to do that on an active military base. Federal agents from the NCIS quickly apprehended the individual, and we likely won't see him at a race anytime soon. Read Also: Fan arrested after scaling fences onto NASCAR track, fist-bumping driver during stoppage To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

Self-described “proud transphobe” and failed gubernatorial candidate Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) claimed on X on June 18 that American taxpayers are spending money on experiments to turn mice transgender. The network’s community notes and journalism disproved her claim. “Animals should not be used for radical transgender experiments. This is not science. This is ideological cruelty paid for by the American taxpayers,” she wrote in her X post mentioning her TRANS MICE Act, legislation to prohibit federal funds from being used “to conduct, support, or fund research aimed at altering an animal’s biological sex.” Related FBI director’s girlfriend blames transgender mice for his Olympic partying on taxpayer dime “No hormones. No surgeries. No taxpayer dollars spent mutilating animals in the name of transgender ideology,” she wrote. “This legislation brings accountability, ends taxpayer-funded cruelty, and ensures science serves the public, not ideology.” However, a community note added to her post said, “‘Trans mice’ refers to transgenic mice not transgender mice. Transgenic mice are defined as mice that have incorporated foreign DNA into their genome, allowing for the study of gene function and disease mechanisms, particularly in cancer research.” The community note also links to a 2010 study on transgenic mice and to a fact-check by the anti-misinformation group Americans for Medical Progress. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Animals should not be used for radical transgender experiments.This is not science. This is ideological cruelty paid for by the American taxpayers.Our TRANS MICE Act ends it. No federal funds may be used to conduct, support, or fund research aimed at altering an animal's… pic.twitter.com/ef3tSuhO78— Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) June 18, 2026 The trans mice claim somewhat originated from Trump’s March 5, 2025 congressional address, in which he claimed that the so-called Department of Government Efficiency — an unofficial government office overseen by transphobic billionaire Elon Musk — had found the federal government spending $8 million to “make mice transgender.” However, while some people think that the claim refers to transgenic mice, other journalists have said that the studies in question involve the effects of sex hormones in diseased lab mice. At the time Trump made his March 2025 claim, CNN reporter Deidre McPhillips called it false and noted that between 2021 and 2022, the National Institutes of Health awarded a total of $477,121 to three projects that administered feminizing hormone therapy to animals to research its effects on their immune systems. PBS also fact-checked his claim and found that the experiments studied the effects of gender-affirming hormones on asthma and breast cancer risk. Doctors also alter these hormones while treating various medical conditions that largely affect the wider U.S. population, not just transgender people. In a follow-up post, Mace said her original post was not “about transgenic mice,” adding, “It is about federally funded transgender-related experiments on animals.” However, she didn’t link to any specific studies or sources helping explain her claim. Numerous commenters on X mocked Mace for her claim. Nancy, have you really gone totally mental?This study was about TRANSGENIC mice in a study for Cancer & Asthma research. You fucking people are absoluetly nuts. pic.twitter.com/USOgl1AiGt— Markle Ω (@MarkleResists) June 18, 2026 pic.twitter.com/mxoA0hcw9x— Dismayed Idaho Agoraphobe (@IdahoSpud2025) June 19, 2026 pic.twitter.com/3uMJIGB81A— Angel (@Kismetangel1) June 18, 2026 Republicans once again proving they have mental problems and are more concerned about what people have between their legs than the poor and starving of their constituants.— Anonymous (@YourAnonNews) June 18, 2026 pic.twitter.com/2NKTsPxNlr— Justine “That Woman” Warren (@adancingferret) June 20, 2026 Its transgenic mice you insufferable peon of unimaginable stupidity.— jameswildexxx (@ewilde1988) June 18, 2026 Happy Pride Month, Trans Mice pic.twitter.com/M2Drm8LkeG— Oscar Luis Medina (@Ocalui) June 20, 2026 Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

The aftermath of New York Knicks’ Finals win, combined with the upcoming NBA draft and free agency, has become a discourse on the overall nature of roster building. Will more teams take the Knicks’ path? Are draft picks still valuable? It’s an interesting question and one that has infiltrated conversations with a number of front office executives. From an outsider’s perspective, the copycat nature of sports (in which the NBA is not exempt) dictates at least the pursuit of some shared elements of success, especially considering how the Knicks assembled their core. Outside of Finals MVP Jalen Brunson, who was acquired through free agency, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns all arrived via trades. “I think everyone’s curious to see how teams view picks now because there’s more teams in the lottery now,” said one executive. “The odds are even flatter. I’ll be shocked if more teams are open to moving picks.” In truth, the value of picks — and draft capital as a whole — is a complicated relationship that depends on where teams find themselves within the contention ecosystem, their financial health and roster crunches. Take Oklahoma City, for example. This time last year, Aaron Wiggins was coming off a productive postseason with 300 minutes under his belt, a key cog in their Finals run. The decision to reportedly move him now for a pair of second-round picks in 2030 and 2032 — which saves the Thunder around $60 million in tax savings for a player that had quietly fallen down the pecking order — is smart business. Taking additional steps and declining team options for Kenrich Williams and Lu Dort, slated to earn a combined $24 million in 2026-27, would offer even more financial flexibility. Somewhere between being eliminated in the Western Conference finals and now, the Thunder’s brass saw the looming tax bill, identified a fine player in a vacuum but an overflow in reality, and pulled the trigger. In this instance, the cost of business, a pair of second-round picks, becomes incredibly valuable. Wiggins’ new team, the Hawks, are able to get their hands on a premier floor spacer at a relatively low cost all while helping the Thunder save millions. That template, which could become more prevalent over the coming weeks for teams, including Cleveland, another conference finalist, also offers a reminder of the sliding scale between contending and not. And while Wiggins is used as a case study, it’s a larger scope than role players. Some executives believe that unprotected picks now have considerably more upside, even if they belong to middle-of-the-pack teams, which should yield more movement. Others think that future negotiations will have even tighter restrictions/protections on said picks, thus incentivizing teams to hoard as many as possible. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jaylen Brown waiting for resolutionAs the Milwaukee Bucks continue to attempt to extract as much possible value from a Giannis Antetokounmpo deal — with the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat having emerged as the two preferred destinations for the former MVP and champion — the directional dysfunction, one angle that has irked Antetokounmpo and is a catalyst for his impending exit, still remains. “They’ve run into the issue they probably anticipated in that now Giannis has one year left [on his current contract],” one executive said. “At the deadline, there were more teams interested because they would have had him for this year’s playoffs and next year. Now, teams are more reluctant to give up more if Giannis is unwilling to commit long term.”Given that the Celtics’ offer is contingent on Jaylen Brown’s inclusion — despite a denial which has amused rival executives — there’s an increasing sense that not only is Brown comfortable with the idea of leaving Boston and being traded to Milwaukee, but is hoping to find a resolution over the next 48 hours, league sources say. And, for much of how these last months have gone within Milwaukee’s front office, the buck (no pun intended) stops with them. Do they prefer the Heat’s package, with the likes of Tyler Herro, young talent and draft capital, or the Celtics’ package, which would land them an All-NBA two-way superstar in his prime? The clock is ticking. Rockets open for business?Another trickle-down effect from the Finals is further clarity from teams eliminated in earlier rounds. When the Houston Rockets traded for Kevin Durant last July, there was an internal belief that a team that had won 52 games, developed and added a Hall of Fame talent in Durant would take the next step. What wasn’t accounted for were season-ending injuries to Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams, two integral parts of a team predicated on manipulating possessions — or a roster that had an incomplete makeup. An in-depth analysis of both the Western Conference finals and the NBA Finals revealed that Houston is a ways away from the upper echelon of teams, both in their own conference and the league as a whole. Such a reflection has influenced how they approach the open market, taking more of a wholesale approach than simply the “run it back” mantra previously held. Rival teams that have contacted the Rockets recently have been informed that 23-year-old Amen Thompson is the only near untouchable on the roster, league sources tell Yahoo Sports. Houston isn’t actively shopping its All-Stars or other key members, sources say, but are merely expressing more of a willingness to listen than at previous junctures. Concerning Thompson, who will be entering his fourth season and is expected to command a lucrative extension, Houston’s brass has already communicated its intentions and plans to continue talks following the draft. The Rockets also wish to retain 3-and-D wing Tari Eason, team sources say — despite outside interest from Los Angeles, Brooklyn and a number of teams that have gauged Houston’s willingness in sign-and-trade scenarios.The Rockets’ deepened understanding of their current standing also lends itself to a potential trade of veteran forward Dorian Finney-Smith, who signed a four-year, $53 million deal last offseason. Finney-Smith averaged career lows in minutes, points, rebounds, field-goal percentage and 3-point percentage while dealing with lingering issues stemming from surgery on his left ankle a year ago. Houston, which has plans to reshape its bench, hopes to dive into the free agent market and would need to clear room — with Finney-Smith’s contract being the most team-friendly — to do so. Finney-Smith has registered reasonable interest around the league, sources say, with the understanding that he should return to full strength by next season. Teams looking to trade up in the draftCharlotte, armed with picks Nos. 14 and 18, is believed to be exploring avenues to move up, sources say, along with Chicago at No. 15 (which also own the 4th pick) and Memphis at No. 16 (which also owns the 3rd overall selection). Because of the gulf in talent between the likely lottery picks and the remainder of the draft, a number of teams in the back third of the first round have expressed an eagerness to escape that region, sources say, whether by making an attempt to move up or trading out of the round altogether. Previous chatter elsewhere in the lottery — that the Los Angeles Clippers, Brooklyn Nets and Sacramento Kings were open to moving (5th, 6th and 7th, respectively) — is being met with skepticism ahead of Tuesday’s draft.

The NCAA Division I Cabinet is set to meet Tuesday and Wednesday this week. Chief on the to-do list for the June meeting is an expected vote on the age-based eligibility model. The cabinet modified the age-based model earlier this month to start an athlete’s eligibility clock upon initial full-time enrollment in college or at the beginning of the academic year following their 19th birthday, whichever occurs earlier. This adjustment would apply to all sports if the model is adopted this week. Sources across college sports have told On3 that the model has momentum and backing and is widely expected to pass. But a handful of details still need to be worked out, including when the academic year begins for athletes who turn 19 in August, for example.The vote on the age-based eligibility model could come as soon as Tuesday afternoon, but nothing would be finalized until the two-day meetings conclude on Wednesday. “I’m pretty optimistic it’s going to happen,” NCAA president Charlie BakertoldESPN in April. “Mostly because the primary conversation hasn’t been about the idea of an age-based eligibility model being controversial. A lot of people are familiar with it because they’ve dealt with it in other settings, and they understand the simplicity of it.”The decision to tweak the age-based model came after recommendations from stakeholders in men’s ice hockey, men’s basketball and the service academies. Concerns had been raised in hockey because players typically are older when they enroll after spending time in juniors or prep school. Back in May, the cabinet outlined the implementation process for athletes with remaining eligibility who are already enrolled in college, along with recruits who turned 19 prior to 2026 and who have not yet enrolled. Athletes whose fourth season of collegiate eligibility was completed by spring 2026 will not receive additional eligibility.Currently enrolled athletes with eligibility remaining after the 2025-26 academic year will be allowed to apply the age-based model or continue with the previous eligibility rules, whichever is most beneficial to that individual.The cabinet previously reiterated that for current athletes, any waivers regarding eligibility under current rules must be submitted by schools and conferences no later than July 31. Currently, athletes are generally allowed four seasons of competition over five years with no age restrictions. The age-based model is similar to an idea included in an executive order issued by President Donald Trump on April 3.

Kim Ji-Woo is the latest in a long line of promising two-way prospects to emerge from the amateur ranks since Shohei Ohtani arrived from Japan.Kim, 18, reportedly received an offer north of $1 million from the Toronto Blue Jays, among other potential MLB suitors.Instead, he will stay at home and enter the KBO draft, according to a post on Kim’s Instagram account June 21.MORE: Nationals’ World Series champion announces immediate retirement from MLB at 31“I recently received generous offers from several MLB teams who believed in my potential, and I came close to signing. However, I have decided to respectfully decline the MLB offers and instead enter the KBO rookie draft,” Kim wrote, according to a translation provided by KBO in English on Twitter/X. “What I want most is to play in Korea’s passionate ballparks, and hearing the cheers from the fans. I felt that the right order is to prove myself as a good player on the KBO stage and earn recognition from KBO fans.”The same account reported that the Doosan Bears project to take Kim with the number-2 pick in the forthcoming KBO draft. The Kiwoom Heroes could change that by drafting Kim at number-1.MORE: Phillies sign former Dodgers prospect, 27, after monster monthIn the long run, Kim’s chances of making MLB as a two-way player — rather than a pitcher or hitter exclusively — might be helped by beginning his career in Asia.Ohtani’s Japanese team, the Nippon Ham Fighters, allowed him to thrive in both disciplines by carving out a unique routine for him. By the time the Fighters allowed Ohtani to sign with an MLB team during the 2017-18 offseason, he had already proved himself capable as both a hitter and a pitcher against a high level of competition.MORE: Trevor Bauer leaves Long Island Ducks after less than three monthsThe same opportunity hasn’t yet been given to North American teenagers who have the talent to excel as both a hitter and a pitcher. That might be because their MLB organization has convinced them to follow a pitching- or hitting-only track. Maybe their small-sample results in the minor leagues didn’t justify further development in one discipline or the other.Regardless, Kim’s track might be the most viable if he ultimately wants to reach MLB as both a hitter and a pitcher. For now, however, he’ll stay in Korea.

Trae Young intends to sign a four-year deal worth approximately $212 million to stay with the Washington Wizards, ESPN's Shams Charania reported Monday. The deal includes a player option on the fourth year.This comes after it was reported last week Young would decline the $49 million option on the 2026-27 season from his previous deal with the Wizards, who acquired Young from the Atlanta Hawks in January.Though Young could have received max interest on the open market, his return to Washington was expected after they took a swing on him while his value was lowest. He rewarded their interest and intention to build around him by accepting a deal for less than the max Washington could have offered.Did Washington overpay for Trae Young?Washington believed Young was going to command max-salary offers from other teams, according to The Athletic's Josh Robbins. So, they gave Young the same max salary other teams could have offered. That's a four-year deal with five percent year-over-year raises.Considering Washington holds Young's Bird rights, meaning they could have offered him a five-year deal with eight percent annual raises, they did save some money on this deal.At the same time, paying an average of $53 million annually for someone who might've been the worst defensive player in the league and whose value had never been lower when the Wizards traded CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert for him feels like a lot. It'll almost certainly be considered an overpay if Young can't find his All-NBA form of 2021-22.However, for a young Washington team with the No. 1 pick in Tuesday's draft, it's probably worth the risk of giving Young a chance. He'll only be 28 years old when the new season starts and he gives the Wizards a veteran point guard capable of creating his own offense and open shots for other players, as the league's assists leader in three of the last five seasons. At the very least, he raises Washington's floor from the relegation zone of the new draft lottery system as the team works to determine which young players will be part of their core going forward.GRADE: BThis article originally appeared on For The Win: Trae Young to re-sign with Wizards on 4-year, $212M deal: Grades

Subscribe to Baseball Bar-B-CastApple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTubeThe 2024 MLB Draft class is already having a major impact on the 2026 baseball season. With seven of the first nine picks in the draft already debuting and contributing to their clubs’ success, there’s a real possibility that the Class of ’24 could go down as one of the best ever. The question now is: If we re-drafted today, who would go No. 1?On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman examine the top 20 picks from the now-infamous 2024 draft and conduct a re-draft based on the recent performances of those players. Would the Cleveland Guardians still take Travis Bazzana No. 1 overall, or would they now prefer Sacramento A’s slugger Nick Kurtz or St. Louis Cardinals shortstop JJ Wetherholt?Later, Jake and Jordan discuss Rafael Devers not exactly being thrilled with San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello after being pinch-run for, and whether he has a legitimate gripe with the move. They then talk about Bryce Harper’s controversial triple that earned him the first cycle of his career for the Philadelphia Phillies, the Detroit Tigers’ make-or-break stretch in the postseason race and recap all the other series from the past weekend.1:31 – The Opener: 2024 MLB Draft Re-Draft 35:48 – How Sweep It Is: Devers Is Not Happy 53:03 – Tigers’ Make-or-Break Stretch 55:53 – We Need To Talk About: Harper’s Cycle 1:02:55 – Turbo Mode: Weekend RecapPhoto by Joe Puetz/Getty ImagesPhoto by Joe Puetz/Getty Images🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTubeCheck out all episodes of Baseball Bar-B-Cast and the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv

Fady Dagher, the city’s police chief, said that the “immediate threat to the public is no longer present” and that sheltering in place was no longer required.

Davis “treated me with the same respect and kindness as a 22-year-old nobody as he did after all my success,” Springsteen said after the music executive’s death on Monday.

Marcus Rashford: Why Tottenham are pursuing Man United starThe rivalry between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur has taken another twist as the North London club are now planning to move for Marcus Rashford, according to a new report.Red vs WhiteThe Red Devils are prioritising a major revamp in midfield this summer, with Casemiro having departed for America and Manuel Ugarte actively being pushed towards the exit door as well.Atalanta dynamo Ederson is set to become the first signing of the Michael Carrick era after a £39 million agreement was reached with the Italian side. The plan was to make Mateus Fernandes the second, with talks underway to sign the West Ham starlet amid confidence a deal would be struck.However, Tottenham have stormed into the race as they close in on an agreement on personal terms with the 21-year-old Portuguese.Furthermore, the Lilywhites are also advancing their pursuit of Sandro Tonali – another target at Old Trafford – after opening formal talks to sign the Newcastle United maestro. An £80m bid has already been rejected, with expectations of an improved bid to come.While it does not appear likely that Spurs would be able to trump United to both midfielders, given the figures involved, the desire to back new manager Roberto De Zerbi after almost suffering an unthinkable relegation last season is a powerful motivator.Premier League ProvenMuch like INEOS, Tottenham’s hierarchy are prioritising targets with Premier League pedigree to help De Zerbi overhaul the squad. Both Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson have been signed on free transfers, while a £52m deal for Jan Paul van Hecke was agreed with Brighton & Hove Albion last week.Tonali is understood to be the next priority as there is acceptance United are still frontrunners for Fernandes, though a pivot towards Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton is another possibility.But the i Paper reveals Spurs are also ready to launch a move for Rashford as De Zerbi is a “huge fan” of the 28-year-old forward. The Italian is keen to add more experience to his attacking unit, which still lacks a natural left-sided attacker following the departure of Heung-Min Son last summer.Having failed to agree terms with FC Barcelona at the end of Rashford’s loan, United are exploring alternative options for a permanent exit once the England international returns to Manchester after the World Cup.There is understood to be a gentleman’s agreement on a £40m release clause between player and club, though wages are a prohibitive factor for his suitors. This includes Arsenal, Aston Villa and Newcastle United, while Bayern Munich are keeping a watchful eye.Rashford’s preference is to return to Camp Nou – an option Barcelona are open to, but only on loan – or to move to another top club in Europe, such as Bayern, if forced to leave Old Trafford. If he was welcomed back by Carrick, he would prefer to “return to United and resurrect his boyhood dreams” over a switch to a Premier League rival, which is said to not be “currently on his radar.”Final ThoughtsINEOS remain intent on selling Rashford this summer as his exorbitant contract – worth as much as £325,000 a week once the Champions League bonus kicks in – is now the most expensive at the club, following Casemiro’s exit. Tottenham are understood to “not be willing to match” the £40m clause United are looking for, though the Red Devils’ desperation to be rid of Rashford would likely see them accept a cheaper bid if it was tabled.The main obstacle would be convincing the Wythenshawe native to swap Manchester for London at a club without European football of any description. However, the prospect of being the main man under a manager famed for getting the best out of his forwards could be enough of a sales pitch should an alternative offer not materialise.online pollsThe Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

The Phoenix Mercury, ranked 12th in the WNBA with a 5-12 record, face the Indiana Fever, who are seventh in the league with a 9-7 record. Moneyline odds for this matchup are not available. Indiana enters the game with the better record and home-court advantage.How to watch Phoenix Mercury vs. Indiana FeverDate: Monday, June 22Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PTWhere: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IndianaTV Channels: USALive Stream:Check listings | Follow on Yahoo SportsTeam recordsPhoenix Mercury: 5-12 (12th in WNBA)Indiana Fever: 9-7 (seventh in QNBA)OddsSpread: Indiana Fever -7.5Moneyline: Indiana Fever -285 / Phoenix Mercury +225Over/under: 177.5

Cubs receive welcome projection on lone strength amid disappointing season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Chicago Cubs are heading towards the 2026 MLB trade deadline with some absolutely dire needs at a few spots on the roster.While the offense really could use a boost, the pitching staff, but in the bullpen and especially the rotation, needs some help as well.However, as ESPN's David Schoenfield projected, the Cubs' elite defense, the lone thing this team is great at, is something that shouldn't go away anytime soon.Cubs elite defense receives welcome projection from ESPN analyst"Biggest strength: Defense. Will it continue? The defense? Yes. That has helped cover for what has been a shaky pitching staff at times," Schoenfield writes.While the Cubs might have some massive issues to address with their starting rotation and their bullpen amid the Daniel Palencia injury, their defense shouldn't take a hit.Pete Crow-Armstrong is one of the best, if not the best, defenders in all of MLB out in center field. Nico Hoerner, despite his offensive struggles, is still playing an elite second base.MORE: Angles can demand more in trade for Reid Detmers than Tigers can for Tarik SkubalDansby Swanson is also one of the best defenders in all of MLB, which has helped make up, somewhat, for his terrible offense this season.While the Cubs will need better pitching and hitting to make the postseason and advance in this year's playoffs, the team shouldn't have any question about the quality of their defense up the middle at shortstop, second base, and in center field.Schoenfield did point to issues with the offense and the pitching staff, which can be resolved at the MLB trade deadline on August 3. But the Cubs should be conscious about keeping their elite defense together, as that could be an x-factor come the postseason.More MLB news:Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani might not be able to pitch during MLB All-Star GamePhillies reportedly turn down Bryce Harper's outfield offer to help at trade deadlineGiants are ‘hopeful ‘ they can trade Matt Chapman by MLB deadlineGiants are 'pessimistic' they can trade Rafael Devers or Willy AdamesTwins' Byron Buxton trade update is bad news for Phillies, Braves