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CINCINNATI, OHIO - DECEMBER 28: Ja'Marr Chase #1 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates with fans after a second quarter touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals at Paycor Stadium on December 28, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images) | Getty Images Week 1 of the preseason is finally here. NFL fans get a taste of actual football (kind of). The Cincinnati Bengals will continue their trend of giving their starters live reps in the preseason, which they started last year, to hopefully have a better start to the season.It will be fun to see a little bit of the big names get their sea legs under them, but the vast majority of the game will be spent watching the second-string players, as well as roster bubble players trying to earn their spots on a roster.Can training camp rookie phenoms wide receiver Colbie Young and edge rusher Cashius Howell translate what they’ve done on the practice field into a real game scenario? Can some crowded positional rooms sort themselves out? I am looking at the defensive tackle room.We also will get a look at Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter at linebacker in their second season after facing a ton of criticism the entire Offseason. Will the Bengals front office look like geniuses for betting on their improvement, or will it be a preview of a train wreck?Here is how to watch the Bengals host the Lions in Week 1 of the preseason:Cincinnati Bengals vs. Detroit LionsDate/Time: Aug. 13th, 2026 at 7:00 pm ETLocation: Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, OH.Series Leader: The Bengals lead the preseason series, 19-18. The Lions are the team the Bengals have played the most in the preseason.TV Channel: The Bengals Preseason TV Network is led by flagship WXIX-TV (FOX Channel 19) in Cincinnati. Also on the network are WKEF-TV (Ch. 22) in Dayton, Ohio; WSYX-TV (Ch. 6) in Columbus, Ohio; WLIO-TV (Ch. 8.2) in Lima, Ohio; WLEX-TV (Ch. 18) in Lexington, Ky.; and WDRB-TV (Ch. 41) in Louisville, Ky.Online Stream: Bengals.com or the Bengals app (in market) and NFL+ (out of market)Broadcasters: Mike Watts (play-by-play) and Anthony Munoz (analyst)Replay: NFL+ and NFL Network (check local listings)Radio Broadcast: The game will air on the Bengals Radio Network, led by Cincinnati flagship radio stations WLW-AM (700), WCKY-AM (1530) and WEBN-FM (102.7). Broadcasters are Dan Hoard (play-by-play) and Dave Lapham (analyst).SB Nation Lions’ site: Pride of DetroitRosters: CIN | DETStats to Know: CIN | DETWeather: According to NFL Weather, the game will be in the low-80s with cloudy skies and a chance of showers.What will you be watching for? Let us know in the comments section!

2026-08-11T01:07:20Z COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — USA Swimming placed its chief financial officer, Cory Hilliard, on leave Monday after learning of his arrest on charges of theft and embezzlement at his previous job as an administrator in the University of Colorado athletic department.The district attorney’s office in Boulder said Hilliard is accused of misappropriating funds from the school’s Nike Elite program for personal use. The DA said the school lost $9,510 due to Hilliard’s actions. Hilliard, 54, was hired last December as CFO of USA Swimming, which oversees the sport from the grassroots to the Olympic level in the U.S. The organization said it learned of his arrest Monday and “immediately placed Cory on leave and terminated all access to any company data and financial controls.”It said it was conducting its own investigation.As the administrator for Colorado’s Nike Elite program, Hilliard was “responsible for managing employee product benefit allocations,” the DA’s office said. Hilliard did not immediately return a message from The Associated Press sent to his USA Swimming email. He was one of the first big hires made by CEO Kevin Ring after Ring took over last September.“Cory brings extraordinary financial discipline, operational expertise, and a strong track record of transparent leadership,” Ring said at the time. Ring’s own hiring came six months after Delaware athletic director Chrissi Rawak quit less than 10 days after getting the CEO role when USA Swimming learned she was the subject of a complaint at the U.S. Center for SafeSport.___AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports

Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall speaks during a Senate Armed Services budget hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, May 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)2026-08-11T01:35:24Z Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall on Monday said he’ll sue to force the Trump administration to restore his security clearance, which it revoked Friday after claiming he had disclosed sensitive information about the Qatari-gifted jet now serving as Air Force One.Kendall, a West Point graduate who served as President Joe Biden’s head of the Air Force, said on CNN Monday that he’ll sue the administration, noting it has a history of retaliating against critics by stripping their clearances. “As my mother taught me years ago, you stand up to bullies,” said Kendall, who has denied disclosing classified information.Mark Zaid, a prominent national security attorney who sued the administration after his own clearance was revoked by the Trump administration, confirmed in a post on X that Kendall had hired him. “More to come,"" Zaid wrote. Zaid specializes in helping a variety of military and civilian clients maintain security clearances in the face of investigations. Last year he became a target of the Trump administration’s efforts to strip security clearances from people they perceived to be enemies when he was named among 14 other people in an executive order signed by Trump. In a March 2025 executive order, Trump named former President Joe Biden and members of his family, Biden-era Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, and New York state Attorney General Letitia James as being unsuitable to retain their clearances because it was “no longer in the national interest.”In August 2025, Trump revoked the security clearances of 37 more current and former national security officials, some of whom worked on matters that have long infuriated Trump, like the intelligence community assessment that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election on his behalf. Read More Trump has tried to squelch reports of problems with the jet that Qatar gifted him last year, which he intends to use as Air Force One for the remainder of his term. His Justice Department last month subpoenaed New York Times reporters who wrote about security concerns with the jet, which lacks the advanced anti-missile technology of its predecessor. After being criticized by a federal judge for sloppy legal work, the government grudgingly withdrew the subpoenas.

Aug. 10—Eugene starting pitcher Hunter Dryden had a lot of folks out to the game last week at Avista Stadium for his Spokane homecoming. They cheered so loudly when he struck out one of the hometown Indians batters that it drew looks from others in the crowd."I didn't get an official tally," the Deer Park High School and Whitworth University alum said. "But I think it ended up being just over 60 people, which is incredible that everybody came in and did that. That was , like , insane for them to all do that, and I'm very appreciative."After the game, in which Dryden tossed six innings of one-run ball in an eventual 13-1 win for the Emeralds, all his visitors came down onto the field to share the moment with the 24-year-old right-hander."I got to give them all hugs and talked to them for a while," he said. "My little cousins wanted autographs. And then there's a few people who had left before the game ended, so I got some texts from them and talked to them and, you know, thanked them for coming."Dryden is in the midst of his second season of professional baseball in the San Francisco Giants organization. The Giants drafted him in the 17th round of the 2024 MLB draft after his four-year career at Whitworth.He was happy and appreciative to see everyone last Tuesday but still had a job to do and tried not to put too much pressure on himself to have a good game."My wife asked me (about the pressure), and I mean, maybe there was a little, you know," Dryden said. "You obviously don't want to play bad in front of a bunch of people. But at the same time, I just had to treat it as if they weren't here, you know, as if everything was the same."Dryden apologized to some of his family who were trying to wave at him and get his attention during the game."I tried to treat it like a regular game, but it was hard to when they were cheering as hard as (they) were," he said.The self-proclaimed "Spokane kid" had Tuesday's date circled on his calendar since he was assigned to Eugene at the start of the season. He knew he'd get a chance to pitch professionally in a stadium where he spent so much time as a kid and high schooler."It's crazy that it got all the way to August before we came here. That's just how the scheduling worked out this year," he said. "But basically, since I found out I was coming (to Eugene), I was like, 'When are we going to Spokane?' I told my buddies, 'I can't wait for us all to go to Spokane.' So yeah, I tried to treat it like a normal one, but it definitely was a different one in that regard."Dryden recounted attending Indians games as a kid, usually sitting out in the bleachers — or running around in the "Kids Zone" or at the speed pitch. He even played here with Deer Park in a district playoff game his junior year."Walking out here, the first thing I did when we got here on Monday after traveling, I walked out on the field, and it was just surreal," he said. "Just to be in the dugout of the field that I've grown up coming to and watching games at all the time."It's kind of unexplainable. Like during the game, after the game, all of it. When I went out to stretch before the game, you know, I'm out there stretching, and I'm like, 'Am I really stretching at this field right now?' "Dryden's path to the pros hasn't always been a straight line. A member of the class of 2020, he missed his senior baseball season due to the pandemic. He spent that time playing games in Idaho where the rules were less restrictive, and was fortunate that Whitworth honored its offer to him based upon his junior season."Luckily, I was committed to Whitworth prior to everything shutting down. Who knows what would have happened if that weren't the case?" Dryden said. "I played on a Spokane travel team and ended up talking to some of my first colleges during that summer and had a couple opportunities but ended up going with Whitworth, and I was so happy that I did. I really, really enjoyed my time at Whitworth."He said it's "hard to say" how much the COVID year set back his development as a player, but relished being able to play both ways at Whitworth — and stay close to home for his college experience."I tried doing as much as I could throughout that time," he said. "I feel like it really affected everybody who couldn't play in games, and that's really what helps you out the most. Coming out of COVID, that first year at Whitworth, getting at-bats was incredibly important to kind of just get back in the flow of baseball games, like as crazy as that sounds."During his senior year, Dryden — who is listed at 5-foot-9, 183 pounds — switched to pitching full time in an effort to get drafted.There wasn't a big conversation about it, but he went from playing shortstop in the first two games of a series and pitching in the third, to pitching the series opener only."I think the coaching staff was looking out for me and thought, you know, maybe, 'Take him out of the lineup on the hitting side and make sure that he's ready to go on the pitching side every week,' " he said. "Being able to go to that Game 1 start really helped to improve my pitching and my readiness for the weekend."As a shorter pitcher, Dryden must take advantage of technique more than overpowering batters."Being smaller, if I wanted to throw hard I had to make everything work to its fullest of capability," he said. "I kind of had to figure out how to make my body do that. As I got taller a little bit, as I got stronger, then the velocity ended up coming along with it, and my mechanics were in a spot where I allowed that to happen."Dryden went 5-3 his senior year at Whitworth with a 2.10 ERA and 71 strikeouts over 12 starts and 682/3 innings. That led to a call from the Giants on draft day."I found out when everybody else did, just when my name came across the screen," he said. "I talked with the Giants after I saw that, and I was surrounded by family, and was just an unbelievable feeling. It's something you dream about — every little kid's dream."Dryden started 21 games for Low-A Fresno last year, going 5-3 with a 2.90 ERA, and so far this year he's pitched in 20 games with 16 starts for High-A Eugene with a 4.98 ERA."As you climb, you're gonna see better competition," he said. "So you have to figure out a way to not only beat talent but beat a better approach, and it's definitely a part of the game that takes time to learn. It's been really fun to experience that the last couple of years. There's a solid difference between Low-A baseball and High-A baseball and it takes some adjustments."Part of that adjustment is "learning to be a pro" and the day-to-day grind of professional baseball. But Dryden still doesn't see it as "a job.""I don't know if I could call it a job. It doesn't feel like a job still. So I mean, I guess that's a win. If you don't feel like you're working, then that's a perfect job, I guess. But no, I mean, having baseball as my job is the most fun I could ever have."Even if that means facing big leaguer Cal Raleigh while he was on a rehab assignment for the Everett AquaSox."That was kind of a crazy experience," Dryden said."Me growing up in Washington, being a Mariners fan all my life growing up, watching them all the time, and then him being all of my buddies' favorite player? You know, it was crazy to see that I was going to be facing him."Raleigh went 1-for-3 against Dryden, with an infield single and a strikeout."I kind of kept it level-headed (after the strikeout) — until I got in the dugout, of course. Then all my buddies were poking fun at me for it and everything like that. I mean, that's what buddies are and teammates are for. But then I had to crack a smile after that for sure."

Aug. 10—PULLMAN — Jeremiah Bernard left his feet and dove like he was Superman about to snuff out a local crime. The ball had just left the hands of Owen Eshelman, one of three Washington State quarterbacks vying for starting duties, and it was headed for a receiver toward the sideline of Rogers Practice Field.It never made it there. Bernard made sure of that, roving over from the safety position and laying out to break up the pass, a feat of athleticism and football savvy. He leapt to his feet in a second, in a heartbeat, the moment's adrenaline propping him back up as quickly as he had soared through the air."The guys that we brought in, we're hoping they're gonna be what they are," WSU safeties coach Greg Burns said, "and they're working their butts off."A transfer from FCS Cal Poly, Bernard certainly fits that bill, a junior safety who is well on his way to earning a starting role in the Cougs' secondary this fall. Bernard, 6-foot and 196 pounds, doesn't just look the part. He plays like it too, making plays like that seem routine, like they're just in his bag.How does Bernard fit into WSU's defense? For one, he's a face in a crowded WSU safety room, which also includes San Jose State transfer Jaylen Thomas, Arizona transfer Jshawn Frausto-Ramos and Arizona State transfer Jack Bal. That's without mention ing returners like Kyle Peterson and Kayo Patu, both of whom could also secure roles on this year's defense.In that sense, Bernard can get lost in the shuffle, just like the others in the department. In others, he stands out like a skyscraper in a Palouse wheat field, gliding through the air to make a head-turning play during Monday's fall camp practice, the Cougars' fourth of the slate. From the opposite sidelines, his fellow defenders made a ruckus, making sure Bernard knew his pass breakup hardly went unnoticed.That sequence fit in nicely with the theme of Monday's WSU practice, which in large part belonged to the team's defenders. In one 7-on-7 play, cornerback Kai Rapolla broke up a pass from quarterback Julian Dugger. In another full team period, returner Ben Beatty used his athleticism to break up a pass from the defensive end position.And in so many other plays, WSU's defensive line crushed the opposing offensive line, no matter which unit happened to be in. Dugger took a simulated sack on one play, as he has on a couple other occasions earlier in fall camp. He didn't have much time to make a read on that play, and neither did Eshelman or Caden Pinnick, the latter of whom used his speed to scramble from the pocket and pick up nice gains on a couple plays.The Cougars' offense mostly lagged a bit behind its counterparts. Some of that is to be expected — that unit is still installing its playbook, and after one practice last week, running back Kirby Vorhees said he's still learning the new system head coach Kirby Moore and offensive coordinator Matt Miller are setting up — and it's possible some is not. After all, it's been something of a theme across these four practices, with an exception in the third.Keep this in mind, too: Coaches are still rotating players with different groups, so much so that clear first- and second-teams have yet to materialize. Still, we should note that right tackle Jaylin Caldwell played with Pinnick's group, the first to take the field for team periods on Monday. That offensive line featured Kyle Martin at left guard and Noah Dunham at center, position changes for each of those players, plus Jonny Lester at right guard, a shift from his usual spot at left guard.It's starting to become clear that Martin and Dunham will be asked to make those position changes a permanent fixture. Throughout their first few years at WSU, Martin played center and Dunham played right guard, but they've been at left guard and center respectively during fall camp. In the spring, Dunham played a bit of center, indicating that's likely a longer-term move for the fourth-year Cougar."That's just something we've seen and evaluated," WSU offensive line coach Jack Abercrombie said at last week's media day, "and that'll be his first spot."Even so, the individual highlight of Monday's practice went to Bernard, who could well end up starring on defense with coordinator Trent Bray this fall. Bernard has fashioned himself as the kind of playmaker that draws eyeballs by making stunning plays seem ordinary. In that sense, he may not be Superman, but he still might have superpowers.Other notes from Monday's practice:—Right tackle Max McCree, who missed the previous two practices, was available and practicing.—Tight end Beau Baker and offensive lineman Sone Falealo missed their first practices, while linebacker Lance McGee missed his second.—Wide receiver Branden Ganashamoorthy hauled in a long touchdown pass, backing up his practice on Saturday, perhaps the best individual showing of WSU fall camp.—Running back Leo Pulalasi hauled in a play-action touchdown pass from Eshelman in one 11-on-11 sequence.

Aug 10 (Reuters) - Charl Schwartzel found an unusual hazard in ‌the final round at ‌LIV Golf Bedminster on Sunday when a ​fish appeared to swallow his ball after it rolled into the water beside the seventh ‌green. The South African's ⁠tee shot at the 134-yard, par-three hole rolled ⁠off the putting surface and settled in the pond, where ​TV footage ​showed the ​ball being snatched ‌from beneath the water. "Have you ever seen anything like this?" LIV Golf wrote in a social media post accompanying video ‌of the incident. The former ​Masters champion had ​to ​take a one-stroke penalty ‌and settled for a ​bogey on ​the hole. He finished two-over par at the tournament, ​which was ‌won by Chilean Joaquin Niemann. (Reporting ​by Rory Carroll; Editing ​by Peter Rutherford)

The Arizona Diamondbacks don’t know who their closer will be for the stretch run of an air-tight NL wild-card race. But it won’t be Paul Sewald.The Cardinals designated Sewald for assignment Monday, ending the veteran closer’s second stint with the franchise at a critical juncture of the playoff race.The transaction removes Sewald from the 40-man roster. Arizona now has seven days to either trade Sewald, release him, send him to the minors or place him on waivers. His time with the big-league club is done.‘Brutal decision’Manager Torey Lovullo spoke about the decision with reporters Monday evening.“It was a brutal decision, Lovullo said. “He’s meant so much to this organization. He’s closed out 24 games. He solidified things for our ‘23 run. He had a number of saves in ‘24, where he got banged up.“You learn to appreciate the human being at a certain point. He’s just such a great competitor who was having so much success. On top of that, he’s a friend of all of us.”“To say goodbye to him was not easy. It was agonizing. … I just feel like the role he was in, we need a little bit more length.”Torey Lovullo on the DFA of Paul Sewald: pic.twitter.com/ObAlIA650f— Diamondbacks On SI (@DbacksOnSI) August 10, 2026Sewald, 36, re-joined the Diamondbacks in the offseason on a one-year, $1.5 million contract. He previously joined the franchise via a trade-deadline deal with the Seattle Mariners in 2023 and remained Arizona’s closer when healthy through the 2024 season. He recorded six postseason saves during Arizona’s run to the 2023 World Series.This season has been the worst of Sewald’s career. He’s recorded 24 saves. But he has a career-worst 6.23 ERA alongside a 1.103 WHIP in 39 innings. He’s surrendered a career-high 2.8 home runs per nine innings and is on the hook for five Diamondbacks losses.Diamondbacks scramble at closer amid tight NL raceThe decision leaves the Diamondbacks in a tough spot during a competitive playoff race. Arizona entered Monday’s game against the Rockies at 63-56, tied with the Philadelphia Phillies for the final two NL wild-card spots. The Padres stood a game behind them in the standings, and the Marlins, Cardinals and Nationals were all within 4.5 games. With margins so thin, the Diamondbacks decided that Sewald’s performance wasn’t good enough to remain with the club. Relievers Brandyn Garcia, Juan Morillo, Jonathan Loáisiga and Kevin Ginkel could handle the closer’s role as a committee moving forward.The move made room on the roster for newly signed veteran pitcher Zack Littell. Littell cleared waivers after being DFA’d by the Washington Nationals last week. A nine-season veteran, Littell has worked as a starter and reliever. He posted a 4.97 ERA as as a starter in Washington this season, but expects to start his time in Arizona as a low-leverage reliever.

Jun 11, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears offensive lineman Logan Jones (54) runs on the field during Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Bears fans and fans across the country.The Chicago Bears play a game this Saturday against the Cleveland Browns, and while we’re still waiting to hear exactly who the Bears will play in the game, I think it’s safe to assume most of their healthy younger players will get some playing time.So, who are you most excited to see play this Saturday?While I only put rookies in the poll, this isn’t just for the draft class. Of the rookies below, I can’t wait to see center Logan Jones, with my number two most excited for being defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg. I also can’t wait to see how the left tackle situation is shaping up. Braxton Jones might not go due to the injury, but there’s no reason we shouldn’t get some Jedrick Wills Jr. and Kiran Amegadjie. I also want to see how Theo Benedet has improved over 2025, and Luke Newman is another offensive lineman I’m excited to watch. UDFA Caden Bennett, aka the Vanilla Gorilla, should be running with the threes and will likely close out the gameBesides the offensive linemen, can Daniel Hardy provide anything off the edge? Right now, he’s DE4, so he’d better show something. UDFA defensive tackle Jayden Loving is nearly as athletic as van den Berg, so I’ll have my eye on him too.Vote in the poll and share a few thoughts in the comment section!Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys:

HONG KONG, CHINA - AUGUST 6: Luis Diaz of FC Bayern Munich reacts during the Bayern Munchen Training Session in the Kai Tak Stadium on August 6, 2026 in Hong Kong, China. (Photo by Joseph Dinesh Daniel/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images) | Getty Images Despite a potential financial windfall, there is a very strong argument to be made that Bayern Munich needs to keep Luis Díaz — and should not even consider a sale of the Colombian.While there have been some rumors reporting Al-Hilal to have interest in the winger, Bayern Munich absolutely needs to keep Díaz for the next two seasons and capitalize on the insane chemistry that the attacker has with Harry Kane and Michael Olise.The Colombian winger has already shown why he can be such an important piece of Vincent Kompany’s team. Bayern Munich needs players who can create something out of nothing, stretch defenses, attack space and provide another source of goals and assists. Díaz brings all of those qualities.In addition, Díaz brings insane production to the table as well. The 29-year-old had 26 goals and 23 assists in 51 games across all competitions last season. His value goes beyond the numbers, too. Bayern Munich have several talented attacking players, but Díaz offers a different profile. His directness and willingness to take defenders on can change the dynamic of a match. When Bayern Munich are facing a compact defense and struggling to create space through the middle, having a player capable of driving into the box from the wing becomes extremely important.There is also the matter of squad depth. Bayern Munich are competing on multiple fronts, and relying on the same small group of attackers throughout a long season is not realistic. Injuries, rotation and fatigue will inevitably play a role. Keeping Díaz gives Kompany another proven option who can start important matches or change a game from the bench.Perhaps most importantly, Bayern Munich should be thinking about continuity. Díaz is already familiar with the club, his teammates and Kompany’s expectations. Moving him on would create another hole that would eventually have to be filled.Bayern Munich should always listen to reasonable offers for its players, but Díaz is not someone the club should be eager to lose. If the goal is to remain competitive at the highest level in Germany and Europe, keeping Díaz should be a priority.Join the conversation!Sign up for a user account and get:New, improved notifications system!Fewer adsCreate community postsComment on articles, community postsRec comments, community posts

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- This year, the Northland Catholic Warriors are sporting new gear at games and here at practice.The Guardian Cap is a soft-shell helmet cover designed to reduce the impact of hits. Eric Bieniemy returns to Chiefs training camp two weeks after wife shot “Anything you can do to reduce the risk of injury is a benefit,” Jason Maki said. “I do know they reduce the risk so much so the NFL mandates them for certain positions. A lot of positions it's not an option, it's a requirement.”The fifth grade football coach said adding Guardian Caps to the uniform is a no brainer.Maki heard concerns from parents about moving from flag football to tackle. So, he thought getting Guardian Caps in the game was a good idea.There are about 120 athletes in the youth program. See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri Maki said each guardian cap cost $75.They raised more than $7,800. He said that's enough to purchase a Guardian Cap for each 5th – 8th grade player who wanted one.“I think it's great. It gives the parents confidence in keeping them safe, and I think it gives the kids confidence, especially as they transition from flag to tackle football,” Dad David Barth said. “Keeping their heads safe and hoping to prevent concussions is what we're after.”Barth believes this equipment gives parents confidence in kids' safety. It's also a hit with the athletes.“I felt safer,” 10-year-old Harrison Barth, “So I wouldn't get concussions.”“I feel it’s great for the team,” 10-year-old Finnegan Maki said, “and number one for the players, but great for the team.”Maki said these the Guardian Caps also lower the temperature of the helmet by 20 degrees.Barth encourages other teams to jump at securing this equipment for their athletes. Download WDAF+ for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV “It's a small cost to protect your child for the long term,” Barth said, “and if they're going to continue to play, giving them a safe environment is what we're after.”Maki said they exceeded their fundraising goal. So, the program will use the remaining funds to refresh other safety equipment for the program.Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.

Rookie Enes Kanter as the Utah Jazz defeats the Portland Trailblazers 92-89 in pre-season NBA basketball Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Tom Smart, Deseret News | Tom Smart, Deseret News Enes Kanter Freedom is a man who says he should be eligible to play in the WNBA.WNBA rules state simply that “only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA.” They do not clarify if transgender women are eligible, but the league’s commissioner stated in a memo that leaders will discuss the topic this week.Freedom, a retired NBA player, declared his intent to enter the 2027 WNBA draft in two social media videos posted on Friday. Another former NBA player, Royce White, followed Freedom’s lead.White is on Tuesday’s Republican primary ballot for one of Minnesota’s seats in the U.S. Senate. He failed to win a nomination in 2022 for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2024, he earned the Republican nomination for a U.S. Senate seat, but lost to Amy Klobuchar in the general election, 56.2% to 40.5%.“I’m transgender,” White told Fox News. “I identify, sometimes, as a woman, for purposes of basketball. I think I’d be unstoppable.Freedom is a multifaceted human rights advocate who believes his NBA career ended early because of his activism.What is Enes Kanter Freedom’s background?Freedom was born Enes Kanter in Zürich, Switzerland, on May 20, 1992. His parents were Kurdish immigrants from Türkiye, and they returned to that country when he was small.He moved to the United States in high school. The NCAA ruled him ineligible for college basketball because a Turkish professional team gave him about $33,000 in benefits when he played nine games for it as a teenager. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Freedom’s NBA careerThe Utah Jazz selected him with the third pick in the first round of the 2011 NBA draft. He played three seasons for the team before Utah traded him to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the middle of his fourth year.He played parts of seven more seasons with Oklahoma City, New York, Portland and Boston. He was known as an outstanding rebounder.He was exiled from his home country for much of his playing career for his political opposition.Freedom was 29 when Boston traded him to Houston, which waived him, ending his NBA career. He has characterized what he believes is a premature end to his playing years as a personal sacrifice.He believes his positions cost him $50 million in future NBA salary.Player-activistFreedom condemned human rights abuses in Turkey while a player. The country’s leaders responded by canceling his passport and issued warrants for his arrest. When Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, arrested Freedom’s father for alleged terrorism, Freedom called Erdogan the “Hitler of our century.” Freedom hasn’t been back to Turkey since 2015.Freedom claimed the NBA eventually blackballed him for speaking out against alleged abuses of the Uyghurs in China, according to a New York Times profile.He also wore what came to be known as Freedom shoes during games. He wrote activist messages on the shoes.He also criticized Michael Jordan and LeBron James for doing business with Nike, which has deep ties to China, the New York Times reported.Freedom was nominated for the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize by a member of Norway’s parliament. The nomination recognized his global humanitarian work and outspoken activism against human rights abuses in Turkey and China.Freedom became a U.S. citizen in 2021. Former NBA star Enes Kanter speaks at IRF Summit 2026 at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. | Matt Ryb Pictures Religious freedom championFreedom has been honored many times for his activism.He has received the:Geneva Summit Courage Award (2022) from a coalition of 25 nongovernmental organizations for risking his career to protest global oppression.Lantos Human Rights Prize (2022) from the Lantos Foundation for defending “fundamental human rights” regardless of personal cost.Václav Havel International Prize for Creative Dissent (2022) from the Oslo Freedom Forum for utilizing unique and creative peaceful protest methods.Magnitsky Outstanding Human Rights Activist Award (2022) for exposing systemic corruption and corporate complicity in human rights violations.SAR Gold Good Citizenship Medal (2024) from the Sons of the American Revolution for speaking out on behalf of oppressed minorities.The International Religious Freedom Summit honored him in 2022 with its Civil Society Advocacy Leader Impact Award, also know as the IRF Impact Award. Summit leaders said he was honored for confronting tyranny and advocating for religious freedom and human rights globally.Freedom and the transgender issueHe spoke out about women’s sports in 2023.“Men don’t belong in women’s spaces, restrooms, locker rooms, or sports,” Freedom said in an X post then, according to Sports Illustrated. “Since I’m blackballed from the NBA should I put on a wig, identify as a woman and start dominating the WNBA? Is that when the outrage will begin? Is that fair to all the women who spent their whole life chasing their goals? Where are all the Women Rights Activists and Feminists?!”Freedom deleted that post, but he returned to the issue on Friday.Talk about transgender women in women’s sports exploded in late July after WNBA player Sophie Cunningham said, “I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”Her comments sparked rallies and protests.Kanter’s new posts are callbacks to the one he deleted in 2023.Officially official, @WNBAI have officially declared for the 2027 #WNBA Draft.Rules are rules!#LetFreedomPlaypic.twitter.com/d1iXjPxqSY— Enes Kanter FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) August 10, 2026

A little more than a week after Kelsey Plum was traded from the Los Angeles Sparks to the Phoenix Mercury, the five-time WNBA All-Star guard was set to return to Los Angeles to face-off against her former team on Tuesday, Aug 11.However, Plum won't be in the lineup. Plum has been ruled out of the Mercury's matchup against the Sparks on Tuesday with left lower leg tightness that limited her to 14 minutes in the Mercury's 95-75 loss to the Washington Mystics on Sunday, Aug. 9.With 9:19 remaining in the second quarter, Plum went down near half court after Mystics guard Georgia Amoore pushed Mercury guard Sami Whitcomb into Plum, resulting in a foul on Amoore. Plum got up under her own power and returned to the game before being shut down in the second half with left calf tightness."We wanted to be safe," Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts said. "We'll just see the next couple days how it looks."EXCLUSIVE: Kelsey Plum’s ‘open book’ begins with a bang in PhoenixThe veteran guard finished with five points against the Mystics, shooting 2-of-7 from the field and 1-of-5 from the 3-point line in 14 minutes of action. She rounded out her night with three rebounds and two assists.Plum got off to a blistering start this season, but a string of injuries had limited her to 12 games in her second season with the Sparks. She missed three games with an ankle sprain suffered on May 26, and eight games after her return, she sustained a left leg injury on June 21 that sidelined her six weeks.Her next game played was in a purple and orange jersey. Plum was traded to the Mercury on Aug. 1, and her debut came days later on Aug. 3, marking her first game since late June. Plum scored 20 points in 21 minutes in her first game with the Mercury, shooting 60% from the floor and adding four assists in the 106-101 win against the Chicago Sky.Plum is averaging 17.3 points on 53.5% shooting from the field in her first four games for the Mercury. Phoenix (12-22) is currently out of playoff contention in 12th place in the WNBA standings, one year removed from the team's 2025 WNBA Finals run. The Mercury are 7.5 games out of eighth place – the final postseason berth – with only 10 games remaining in the regular season.It remains to be seen if Plum's injury will affect her participation in the upcoming 2026 FIBA World Cup. Plum was named to the U.S. women's national basketball team for the tournament in Berlin next month.Team USA begins group stage play at the World Cup on Sept. 4, opening with a game against China. The Americans will then play Italy on Sept. 6 and Czechia on Sept. 7 before the knockout round begins. Team USA is 8-0 all-time against China, 1-1 against Italy and 2-0 against Czechia.The WNBA season will take a pause while the World Cup is played. The gold medal game is set for Sept. 13, and WNBA games will resume on Sept. 17.Contributing: Mitchell Northam Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@gannett.com and follow her on X at@CydHenderson.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kelsey Plum injury update: Mercury star out vs. Sparks, won't face former team

Sean Payton said the Broncos will play some starters against the Falcons on Friday night. He has not decided whether Bo Nix will be one of those to see action in the team's preseason opener."We haven’t gone through the role yet,” Payton said, via Chris Tomasson of The Denver Gazette. “I’ll let you know when we go through the roles."The game is on the artificial turf at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which could keep Nix out until the second week of the preseason. Nix is ready, though.He has not played since the Broncos' divisional-round playoff victory over the Bills when he fractured his right ankle. The AFC Championship Game was the first game Nix has missed for injury in his career.“I’m excited,” Nix said of playing in the preseason. “I think preseason’s always a great time to get back out there and get your feet wet a little bit and see defenses in a live situation before the first [regular-season] game.”Nix said he has "no idea" whether he will play Friday.Regardless, the Broncos are expected to use both Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger against the Falcons as they compete for the backup job.