It appeared as if there were multiple, clear missed calls throughout the San Antonio Spurs’ loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night. Now, the Spurs are sitting on the brink of elimination in the Western Conference finals.The Spurs’ attempt at a comeback fell short on Tuesday night in Game 5 of the series. The Thunder, after surging ahead by 20 points early in the third, held on late to grab a 127-114 win and take a 3-2 lead in the series. They are now just a single win away from securing a return trip to the NBA Finals, where the New York Knicks are waiting after their sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference. The Spurs are just 1-13 all time when trailing 3-2 in a best-of-seven series, too.But there were two very notable instances in the second half in which it appeared as if the officials either missed or made an erroneous call during the Spurs’ comeback attempt.Late in the third quarter, Luke Kornet went to drop in a put-back bucket at the rim. But Thunder guard Cason Wallace managed to get up and swipe the ball off the rim successfully to stop what looked like an easy two points for the Spurs. That sent play the other way, though Kornet immediately tried to call for a review — as it looked like Wallace made contact with the ball once it was already over the basket, which is a clear goaltend. But the goaltending call wasn’t granted, so his two points didn’t count.Not a goaltend???pic.twitter.com/F9CEBSinoq— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) May 27, 2026Then a few possessions later, Victor Wembanyama lost control of the ball as he was driving to the rim, and the ball ended up going out of bounds off the foot of Thunder big man Chet Holmgren. But the officials opted to award the Thunder the ball instead. Johnson tried to call for a review on the sidelines, and very clearly made the gesture to trigger the challenge call. But he was ignored by the officials, and then was hit with a technical foul for erupting on them over it. Even the NBC broadcasting crew was stunned that Johnson wasn’t given the challenge. Here is the play that the Spurs were trying to challenge. Clearly off of Chet's foot https://t.co/OH0XOo7fRqpic.twitter.com/lPyCJrEakP— Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs) May 27, 2026“They just said they didn’t see me,” Johnson said plainly after the game.There was also a moment early in the fourth quarter where officials weren’t able to determine who the ball went out of bounds on, too, and they simply just opted to call it a jump ball instead. Now to be clear, the two calls wouldn’t have given the Spurs the win here. San Antonio had fallen into a 20-point hole early in the third quarter, too, and it was struggling offensively. Wembanyama shot just 4-of-15 from the field and missed all five of his 3-point attempts, for example, and both De’Aaron Fox and Devin Vassell were held to single figures. But it was just a 10 point game when Johnson was hit with a technical, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander pushed it to 13 points after hitting three straight free throws once it was called. Had the Spurs been awarded the ball and scored on the inbounds play, it would have been a single-digit ballgame. Regardless, the Spurs will have to be perfect the rest of the way if they’re going to make their first NBA Finals since 2014. That starts with Game 6 on Thursday night at the Frost Bank Center.

Mitch Johnson will demand Victor Wembanyama to be more aggressive in Game 6 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.As the San Antonio Spurs' biggest star, Victor Wembanyama faces high expectations he has to meet every game. In Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Wemby was not aggressive enough.He only shot the ball 15 times, which is not what a superstar does. Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson agrees because he would prefer that Wembanyama score at least 20 points, which is what he is demanding for Game 6 in San Antonio.Mitch Johnson wants Victor Wembanyama to be as aggressive as possibleOf course, the Thunder's defense is quite strong because of their personnel and Mark Daigneault's system. They are one of the most difficult teams to score against, which is what Wembanyama has been dealing with.The Spurs need more from him, as he will need to force the issue. Playing within the system is good, but Wembanyama has to flex his superstar muscles because the Spurs will be ending their season in Game 6 if he does not step up.MORE: The Thunder fans will love this 85.7% postseason stat ahead of Game 6Wemby only made four shots out of his 15 attempts. He made a living from the free-throw line, making all 12 of his attempts. That shows aggression, but he has to take his chances better and be more efficient with his attacks."We’re gonna need to. He’s gotta take more than 15 shots, even with the free throws. He’s gonna need to score more than 20 points, for sure," Johnson said to reporters in OKC after the Game 5 loss.Moving forward, the Spurs will be up against the wall. They are quite dangerous when that happens, so they will want Wembanyama to come out with guns blazing in Game 6, as they want to win and force a do-or-die Game 7.More NBA news:Alex Caruso has become the x-factor who is fueling the Thunder's postseason run in 2026The reason why Mitch Johnson did not get the challenge he wanted in Game 5How the Spurs got robbed by a non-call on a clear goaltendWhy some Thunder fans dressed up as nuns in the arena for Game 5The full box score for Game 5 of the Thunder vs Spurs

TRACK AND FIELDDivision 1Appleton North RegionalBOYSKIMBERLY 156, WEST DE PERE 147, APPLETON NORTH 107, APPLETON EAST 94, HORTONVILLE 75, KAUKAUNA 47, MENASHA 44, APPLETON WEST 29Kimberly captured the regional title on the strength of six first-place finishes.Kimberly’s Alejandro Pagan Vega took first in the 200-meter final with a time of :22.30. Adam Bleck won the 1,600 with a time of 4:36.13. Gavin Salzmann took first in the 3,200 with a time of 9:39.43. Elias Janssen won the discus with a throw of 189-1.The Kimberly quartet of Spencer Pendleton, Owen Handschke, Alex Lom and Pagan Vega won the 800 relay with a time of 1:30.07. Kimberly added a second first-place finish in the relay events when Turner Behm, Graham Piette, Bleck and Salzmann won the 3,200 relay with a time of 8:12.00.VOTE NOW: Choose from six nominees for Cellcom Post-Crescent athlete of the weekWest De Pere’s Maddox Black won the 100 with a time of :10.93. Jaxon Jashinsky took first in the 300 hurdles with a time of :41.32. Thomas Heraly won the pole vault at a height of 13-0.Menasha’s Zane Tank, Logan Bivens, Shamir Senyange and Keonte Thigpen took first in the 400 relay with a time of :42.64. Teammate Marquell Brown won the triple jump with a jump of 44-7.5.Appleton East’s Birk Kozlowicz, Preston Schefe, Abiatar Massingue and Allan Massingue won the 1,600 relay with a time of 3:27.27. Abiatar Massingue won the 110 hurdles with a time of :15.96.Appleton North got a first-place finish from Gryphon Armon in the high jump at a height of 6-2. Appleton North picked up another first-place finish with Aaden Gorenc winning the long jump with a jump of 20-11.Hortonville’s Eli Shattuck won the 400 with a time of :50.80. Teammate Cade Mansfield won the 800 with a time of 1:58.05.Kaukauna’s Hunter Meyers won the shot put with a toss of 50-10.75.GIRLSAPPLETON NORTH 163, KAUKAUNA 124, KIMBERLY 123, HORTONVILLE 113, WEST DE PERE 95, MENASHA 53, APPLETON EAST 15, APPLETON WEST 9Appleton North finished with nine first-place finishes and brought home the team title.Appleton North’s Eva Busch won both the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs with times of 5:16.00 and 10:59.90, respectively. Isabel Parrish grabbed first in the 100 hurdles with a time of :14.78 and in the 300 hurdles with a time of :45.45. Ashley Parrish won the 100 with a time of :12.24 and the long jump with a jump of 18-5.5. Ava Helmbrecht won the 800 with a time of 2:20.32.Appleton North won the 400 relay with a time of :49.76 with Jada Ellis, Ashley Parrish, Maddie Loken and Emily Thompson making up the team. The quartet of Ashley Parrish, Jada Ellis, Elise Brazzale and Sophia Busch won the 1,600 relay with a time of 4:08.26.Menasha’s Isabella Stephani took first in the 200 with a time of :26.15.Hannah Huza of Hortonville won the 400 with a time of 1:00.46.Hortonville’s Huza, Lexi Wloszczynski, Ellie Young and Hailey Falbo won the 3,200 relay with a time of 9:55.11.Kaukauna’s Kayla West, Jenna Kinas, Isabelle Maass and Addison Banaszynski won the 800 relay with a time of 1:44.73.Kaukauna’s Madison Koschnik won the high jump at a height of 5-4. Kinas won the triple jump with a jump of 35-6.5.Kimberly’s Audrey Myers won the shot put with a toss of 37-7.25, while teammate Theresa Behnke won the discus with a throw of 138-4.West De Pere’s Aubrey Kempen won the pole vault at a height of 11-9.Neenah RegionalBOYSNEENAH 128, FOND DU LAC 121.5, OSHKOSH WEST 121, PORT WASHINGTON 94, OSHKOSH NORTH 70, SHEBOYGAN NORTH 69, SHEBOYGAN SOUTH 65, MANITOWOC 25.5Neenah’s depth paid off as it had three first-place finishes in winning the regional title.Neenah’s top finisher was Owen Fox, who won the long jump with a jump of 21-7.75 and took second in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of :15.41 and second in the 300 hurdles with a time of :40.88.Neenah’s Nate Kramp won the shot put with a toss of 53-10.5.Neenah’s 3,200 relay team of Evan Mckenna, Gideon Benner, Isaac Rangel and Drew Sabatke finished first with a time of 9:05.34.GIRLSNEENAH 187.5, OSHKOSH WEST 152, FOND DU LAC 85.5, MANITOWOC 79, SHEBOYGAN SOUTH 69.5, PORT WASHINGTON 69, SHEBOYGAN NORTH 27, OSHKOSH NORTH 21.5Neenah won the regional title comfortably with nine first-place finishes.Neenah’s Emma Severson won the shot put and the discus with a shot put toss of 49-5 and a discus throw of 151-10.Izzy Malloy won the 800 for Neenah with a time of 2:22.78. Sam Zilm took first in the 3,200-meter run with a time of 11:17.73. Mirella Taschner won the high jump with a height of 5-3. Celia Gentile won the long jump with a jump of 19-0.75 and took second in the triple jump with a jump of 39-5.5.Neenah’s quartet of Brynn Fox, Molly Snider, Kobi Meyer and Gentile won the 400 relay with a time of :47.75. The same quartet won the 800 relay with a time of 1:43.62. Neenah’s Snider, Elsa Gruber, Anna Benthein and Payton Schaefer won the 1,600 relay with a time of 4:06.51. Malloy, Gruber, Zilm and Benthein won the 3,200 relay with a time of 10:20.46.Division 2Little Chute RegionalBOYSLITTLE CHUTE 139, NOTRE DAME 133, LUXEMBURG-CASCO 101, PESHTIGO 68, STURGEON BAY 66, WRIGHTSTOWN 65, DENMARK 62, MARINETTE 57Little Chute had five first-place finishes in winning the regional title.Cooper Effa took first in the 110-meter hurdles for Little Chute with a time of :15.12. Effa also won the 300 hurdles with a time of :38.61. Teammate Ben Toeppler won the, 1,600 with a time of 4:37.43. Toeppler also won the 800, finishing first with a time of 2:02.21.The Little Chute relay team of Elijah Driessen, Casey Perz, William Goffard and Andrew Davis won the 800 relay with a time of 1:32.91.Notre Dame’s Richie Flanigan won the discus with a throw of 177-0. He also won the shot put, doing so with a toss of 59-2.25.Notre Dame’s relay team of Marshall Pahl, Leo Muller, Colson Baudhuin and Nicholas Fogarty won the 3,200 relay with a time of 8:30.63.Luxemburg-Casco’s Brady Kinnard, Levi Kinnard, Mason Trimburger and Jonathan Salentine won the 1,600 relay with a time of 3:29.72. Ezra Treml won the 3,200 with a time of 10:01.20.Sturgeon Bay’s Oliver Carmody won the pole vault at a height of 13-9.Marinette’s Mason Hofherr won the 100 for the Marines with a time of :11.07. He also won the 200 with a time of :21.39.The Marinette quartet of Luke Adams, Hofherr, Derek Montalvo and Kaiden Brown won the 400 relay with a time of :43.07Wrightstown’s Sam Haven took the top spot in the triple jump with a jump of 44-2.5. Haven won the long jump with a jump of 21-0.5, while teammate Alex Van Helvoirt won the high jump at a height of 6-4.Denmark’s Lincoln Arneson won the 400 with a time of :49.63.GIRLSLITTLE CHUTE 133, LUXEMBURG-CASCO 116.5, DENMARK 102, NOTRE DAME 91, PESHTIGO 87.33, WRIGHTSTOWN 80.33, MARINETTE 37, STURGEON BAY 31.5Little Chute had four first-place finishes in capturing the regional crown.In the 100-meter hurdles, Little Chute’s Zuzanna Mosienska won with a time of :15.02. Mosienska also won the 300 hurdles, taking first with a time of :45.73. Brooklyn Jakubek won the 200 with a time of :25.55.Little Chute’s Cadence Hoffman, Campbell DeBoth, Lauren Vosters and Madisen Job won the 3,200 relay with a time of 10:30.51.Luxemburg-Casco’s Ana Wolfert won the long jump with a jump of 17-0.75. Claire DuChateau won the 3,200 with a time of 11:32.88.Denmark’s Elle Denor won the 100 with a time of :12.73.Denmark’s foursome of Anya Joyce, Ella Ovsak, Riley Guns and Denor won the 800 relay with a time of 1:43.64. Addison Kane, Guns, Joyce and Denor won the 400 relay with a time of :49.78. Hazel Fields, Ovsak, Kane and Emma Abel teamed to win the 1,600 relay with a time of 4:08.73.Peshtigo’s Athena Powers won the shot put with a toss of 37-8.5. Powers also won the discus with a throw of 122-2. Berkeley Chaltry won the 1,600 with a time of 5:13.78.Wrightstown’s Katerina Hruska took first in the high jump at a height of 5-2 and first in the triple jump with a jump of 34-7.5. Teammate London Dockum won the 400 with a time of 1:00.23 and the 800 with a time of 2:22.63.Sturgeon Bay’s Talia Schmidt won the pole vault at a height of 9-9.SOFTBALLDivision 1 regional semifinalsHortonville 16, Green Bay West/East 0HORTONVILLE - The third-seeded Polar Bears scored all 16 runs in the first inning en route to the regional semifinal win over the 14th-seeded Wild Devils in three innings.Ivy Schroeder was 2-for-2 with a double and three RBIs, while Grace Danoski was 2-for-2 with three RBIs. Also registering two hits was Eileen Gassner.Danoski struck out eight of the nine batters she faced and didn’t allow a hit to earn the win.Kaukauna 9, Manitowoc Lincoln 3KAUKAUNA - After trailing early, the sixth-seeded Ghosts rallied past the 11th-seeded Ships in regional semifinal play.Manitowoc scored one run in the first inning and two in the third, but Kaukauna answered with one run in the third, fourth and fifth innings. The Ghosts then used a six-run sixth to earn the win.The Ships were led by Taylor Peterson, who was 2-for-3 with a double, a home run and three RBIs.Menasha 9, Appleton East 1MENASHA - The eighth-seeded Bluejays grabbed the lead early and never relinquished it en route to the regional semifinal win over the ninth-seeded Patriots.Menasha scored two runs in the second inning, four in the third and three in the sixth. East scored its run in the top of the sixth.Bella Sonnenberg led the Bluejays with two hits, while Lydia Dahlman homered for the Patriots.Teagan Massey-Plamann earned the win in the circle, allowing one run on six hits and one walk while striking out five.Waupun 18, Appleton West 0WAUPUN - The Warriors scored 13 runs in the first inning in a three-inning victory over the Terrors in a regional semifinal game.Addison Braun had three hits, including a home run and a double, and drove in five runs for Waupun. Amelia Jones had three hits, including a double, and drove in two runs. Leah Buwalda added a double and drove in three runs.Braun pitched a three-inning no-hitter. She struck out eight batters.Division 2 regional semifinalsSeymour 4, Freedom 0SEYMOUR - The third-seeded Thunder were led by pitcher Kendra Rettler, who shut down the Irish on two hits. She struck out 12 en route to the regional semifinal win.Lyla Schueler and Aryah Krahn had two hits each, while Adde Smith doubled for Seymour.The Thunder took charge with three first-inning runs before adding on a run in the fourth.Winneconne 11, Plymouth 0PLYMOUTH - The sixth-seeded Wolves scored in all six innings played to beat the third-seeded Panthers in regional semifinal action.Winneconne scored one run in the first, four in the second, one in the third, one in the fourth, two in the fifth and two in the sixth.The Wolves outhit Plymouth 12-4.Emma Gumtow had two hits to pace the Panthers.Denmark 15, Little Chute 0DENMARK - The top-seeded Vikings wasted little time taking charge en route to the regional semifinal win over the Mustangs.Denmark plated five runs in the first inning, two in the second, seven in the third and one in the fourth to put a premature end to the game.Shaelyn Kraschnewski was 3-for-3 with a double, while Rebekah Dittmer was 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs to lead the Vikings. Vanny Umentum added a home run.Division 3 regional semifinalsBrillion 9, Kewaunee 3BRILLION - The fourth-seeded Lions scored seven times in the fifth inning to erase an early deficit en route to the win over the fifth-seeded Storm.Brillion led 2-1 after one inning, but Kewaunee took a 3-2 edge with two runs in the top of the third. The game stayed that way until the Lions’ offensive explosion.Amaya Brooks was 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while Addyson Feldkamp doubled and drove in three runs to power Brillion.London Karnopp had the hot bat for the Storm, going 3-for-4 with one double and two RBIs, while Breanna Riha and Ali Repitz added two hits each.Southern Door 11, Chilton 2BRUSSELS - The top-seeded Eagles scored in five of the six innings in which they batted as they cruised to the regional semifinal win.Southern Door scored one in the second, two in the third, fourth in the fourth, two in the fifth and two in the sixth as it outhit Chilton 16-4.The Tigers scored their two runs in the sixth.Alanah Kaye helped power the Eagles, going 4-for-4 with a double and one RBI, while Samantha Melville was 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs. Registering two hits each were Audrey Plzack, Reese Vogel and Madyson Counard.Mya Grenzer and Ellison Emmer each had a hit and an RBI to lead the Tigers.Peshtigo 10, Clintonville 0PESHTIGO - The third-seeded Bulldogs used three big innings to upend the sixth-seeded Truckers in their regional semifinal.Peshtigo scored three runs in the second inning, four in the fourth and three in the fifth.Morgan Retzlaff and Abby Tate had hits for Clintonville.Valders 8, Wrightstown 4WRIGTHSTOWN - The sixth-seeded Vikings beat the third-seeded Tigers in regional semifinal action.Valders led 3-1 after one inning and 5-2 after two. The Tigers closed to 5-3 after three, but both teams scored a run in the fourth before the Vikings closed out the scoring with two in the fifth.Charlie Bowker and Sophia Garcia had two hits each to lead Wrightstown, while Bryn Amundson added a triple.Wittenberg-Birnamwood 14, Xavier 0WITTENBERG - The top-seeded Chargers put the game out of reach with one run in the first, four in the second and nine in the fourth en route to the regional semifinal win over the Hawks.Elsa Dvoracek, Kalia Stammer and Quinn Hervey had one hit each for Xavier.Rory Salvesen was 3-for-3 with four RBIs, while Brieleigh Ladika was 3-for-4 with two RBIs to help lead Wittenberg-Birnamwood.Kendell Lex earned the win in the circle, pitching five innings and allowing three hits and one walk while striking out three.Division 4 regional semifinalsSt. Mary’s Springs 7, St. Mary Catholic 1FOX CROSSING - The sixth-seeded Ledgers beat the third-seeded Zephyrs to advance to the regional final against second-seeded Princeton/Green Lake.Addison Gantner led the Springs attack, going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Allie Schwarz had two hits, including a double, while Sophia Mathos had two hits, including a double, and scored three runs.The Ledgers led 2-0 after one inning, 3-0 after two and 5-0 after three. Both teams scored a run in the fourth, before Springs closed out the scoring with a run in the seventh.Ainslie Liddy was 2-for-3 with an RBI for St. Mary Catholic, which finishes the season with an 8-11 record.Schwarz pitched a complete game and allowed seven hits for Springs. She struck out three batters.Gabby Guerrero pitched five innings for SMC. She allowed eight hits, four runs and struck out four.Crivitz 3, Manawa 2CRIVITZ - After giving up the tying runs in the top of the seventh, the third-seeded Wolverines answered with a Marli Meyers walk-off hit in the bottom of the frame to earn the regional semifinal win over the sixth-seeded Wolves.Crivitz had taken a 2-0 lead after two innings and the game stayed that way until the final inning.Taryn Tracy was 3-for-3 with a homer, while Lillian Biundo was 3-for-3 and Meyers 2-for-2 with an RBI to power the Wolverines.Tracy earned the win in the circle, pitching seven innings and allowing five hits, two unearned runs while striking out nine.Ella Gehrke was 2-for-3 with an RBI to lead Manawa.Olivia Zielke took the loss, going 6⅔ innings, allowing nine hits, three runs (two earned) with two walks and seven strikeouts.Bonduel 11, Shiocton 0BONDUEL - The top-seeded Bears made short work of the eighth-seeded Chiefs in a regional semifinal.Bonduel scored two runs in the first inning, eight in the second and one in the third to earn the five-inning victory.Helping lead the Bears’ attack were Gracyn Wudtke and Juliana Jacobs, both of whom were 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs with one run scored.Emery Thompson earned the win in the circle, pitching five innings and allowing three hits and one walk while striking out nine.Division 5 regional semifinalsWisconsin Rapids Assumption 10, Hilbert 3WISCONSIN RAPIDS - The fourth-seeded Royals used two four-run innings to upend the fifth-seeded Wolves in regional semifinal action.Assumption led 1-0 after one and 5-1 after two. The Royals extended that margin to 5-1 after four and 10-1 after five. Hilbert closed out the scoring with two in the seventh.Ari Cavanaugh led Assumption, going 3-for-4 with a double, a triple and three RBIs.BASEBALLKimberly 5, Neenah 2KIMBERLY - The Papermakers scored two runs in the third inning and had two runs in the sixth inning to build a 5-0 lead in the Fox Valley Association win over the Rockets.Maddux Hermus pitched five scoreless innings to get the win. He allowed one hit and struck out eight. Hermus also had a hit and an RBI at the plate.Ryan Halfmann had two hits, including a double, and drove in three runs for Kimberly. Shaefer Peterson added two hits and Lex Knaebe had a double.Ethan Hellengreen had two hits, including a home run, and drove in two runs for Neenah.Gus Weinholzer took the loss for the Rockets. He allowed seven hits, three runs, walked one and struck out six.Kaukauna 11, Hortonville 1KAUKAUNA - The Ghosts scored three runs in the first inning, two in the second inning and six in the third in their Fox Valley Association win over the Polar Bears.Kaukauna finished with nine hits.Hortonville was limited to three hits – a double by Jack Tennie and singles by Isaac Behnke and Jaime Varela.Appleton West 14, Appleton East 4APPLETON - The Terrors trailed 4-3 after the first inning but took control of the game with a nine-run second inning in the Fox Valley Association win against the Patriots.Quinn Meyers had three hits for Appleton West. Zackary Madson had two hits and three RBIs for the Terrors. Isaac Ise had two hits, including a double, and drove in two runs. Charlie Blevins hit a solo home run.Kellin Gilbert, Reeder Luedtke and Sam Wachowiak combined to hold Appleton East to two hits.Fond du Lac 7, Appleton North 5APPLETON - The Lightning led 4-3 after four innings, but the Cardinals took the lead with four runs in the fifth inning en route to the Fox Valley Association victory.Colin Reddy had two hits for Appleton North. Nathan Ramus had a double.Ramus came on in relief of Cash Christianson to start the fifth inning and took the loss for Appleton North.Seymour 15, Campbellsport 2CAMPBELLSPORT - The Thunder scored three runs in the first inning and three runs in the second inning before breaking the game open with seven runs in the third in their win over the Cougars.Seymour’s offense was led by Cayden Staffeldt, who had a double, a home run and four RBIs. Brayden Banker had two hits and two RBIs. Nolan Beilfuss had two hits, while Romy Oskey drove in two runs.Xavier Salzman pitched three innings for Seymour, allowing a run on one hit and two walks to get the win.Caden Steffens pitched two innings and allowed a run on a hit and two walks for Seymour.Mishicot 4, Freedom 2MISHICOT - Mishicot took a 4-0 lead after two innings before the Irish responded with single runs in the sixth and seventh innings in the nonconference contest.Four Mishicot pitchers scattered eight hits by Freedom with Brogan Wasurick pitching three innings and getting the win for Mishicot.Little Chute 11, Mosinee 6MOSINEE - Trailing 2-1 after two innings, the Mustangs scored four runs in the third inning and five in the fifth in their nonconference win over Mosinee.Little Chute finished with 11 hits.Brillion 5, Marinette 4MARINETTE - The Lions built a 5-2 lead and then held off the Marines, who scored twice in the seventh inning, to get the nonconference win.Landon Mathes and Aiden Reinke both had two hits for Brillion, with both of them having a double.Chase MacGregor had three hits, including a double, for Marinette. Hunter Goldsmith had a pair of singles.Mathes pitched four innings, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out six to get the win.Chilton 5, Hilbert 4CHILTON - The Tigers snapped a 4-4 tie with the Wolves by scoring the winning run in the last half of the seventh inning.Nathan Mueller had two hits and two RBIs for Chilton.Drew Halbach drove in two runs with a double for Hilbert. Kendrix Grenzer had a pair of singles. Cashton Konen and Aaron Halbach hit doubles for Hilbert.Kale Wagner got the win for Chilton.Parker Anderson took the loss for Hilbert.Manawa 9, Port Edwards 7PORT EDWARDS - The Wolves scored four runs in the first inning and four runs in the fifth inning in their win over the Blackhawks.GIRLS SOCCEROshkosh West 3, Appleton East 0OSHKOSH - Ava Pamer, Rilyn Polakowski and Kaycee Williams scored goals for the Wildcats in the Fox Valley Association win over the Patriots.Kamryn Stauffacher added two assists for Oshkosh West.Wildcats goalie Sophie Kalka made three saves.Fond du Lac 1, Appleton West 0APPLETON - Sosa Hernandez scored a goal for the Cardinals in the Fox Valley Association win over the Terrors.Menasha 10, Green Bay West 0MENASHA - Josie Fonder and Sophia Sierra each scored two goals for the Bluejays in the victory over the Wildcats.Emma Hanagen, Keira Randall, Frida Ambriz Zermeno, Mya McAllister, Kasadee Vaubel and Aria Bilke also scored for Menasha. Fonder also had two assists.Bluejays goalie Madison Mulder made one save.BOYS GOLFDivision 1Appleton West RegionalKIMBERLY 299, NEENAH 314, APPLETON WEST 316, HORTONVILLE 316, KAUKAUNA 323, APPLETON NORTH 332, APPLETON EAST 335, FOX VALLEY LUTHERAN 353Top 4 teams advance to sectionalsAt Winagamie Golf CourseIndividual sectional qualifiers: Kaden Kusserow, Fox Valley Lutheran; Jonah Roehrig Kaukauna; Jonathan Huenink, Appleton North; Sam Hussin, Kaukauna.Top individuals: Tyler Steeno KIM 72, Wesley Barker HORT 73, Andrew Ostermann KIM 73, Cartyr Simonson NEE 74, Graham Goldschmidt AW 74, Mason Peitersen NEE 75, Kaden Kusserow FVL 75, Tyson West KIM 77, Drew Grant KIM 77, Carter Rohde HOR 77, Jonah Roehrig KAU 78, Jonathan Huenink AN 78, Austin Arizola AW 79, Sam Hussin KAU 80, Mason Peterson AW 80.Division 2Luxemburg-Casco RegionalSEYMOUR 306, WRIGHTSTOWN 341, OCONTO FALLS 344, DENMARK 346, LITTLE CHUTE 346, LUXEMBURG-CASCO 358, FREEDOM 359, PESHTIGO 375, MARINETTE 376, STURGEON BAY 397Top 4 teams advance to sectionals (Demark won tiebreaker with Little Chute).At Northbrook Golf and GrillIndividual sectional qualifiers: Owen Schmitz, Little Chute; Shaymus Smith, Little Chute; Connor Eastman, Marinette; Stanley Peot, Luxemburg-Casco.Top individuals: Vince Sigl SEY 69, Dylan Clark OF 76, Tristan Drath SEY 76, Owen Schmitz LITC 78, Nolan Watzka WRI 79, Owen Sigl SEY 80, William Hilbert DEN 80, Shaymus Smith LITC 81, Teage Cornell SEY 81, Steven Kielpikowski DEN 83, Connor Eastman MAR 83, Stanley Peot LUXC 84, Zach Wendlandt WRI 85, Ethan Boudreau WRI 85, Carson McDermid OF 86, Henry Laurent SEY 86.Sheboygan Falls RegionalKEWASKUM 313, OOSTBURG 322, CAMPBELLSPORT 325, BRILLION 327, TWO RIVERS 332, KIEL 332, NEW HOLSTEIN 341, CHILTON/HILBERT 346, SHEBOYGAN FALLS 350, RANDOM LAKE/OZAUKEE INCOMPLETE TEAMTop 4 teams advance to sectionalsAt Riverdale Country Club, SheboyganIndividual sectional qualifiers: Evan Grasse, Chilton/Hilbert; Alex Ballantine, Sheboygan Falls; Cameron Jaschob, Kiel; Gavin Kadow, Two Rivers.Top individuals: Colton Rabe KEW 72, Kyler Bowe CAM 73, Carson Miller OOS 76, Kade Lietzke CAM 78, Evan Grasse C/H 78, Alex Ballantine SF 79, Parker Spierings BRI 79, Cameron Jaschob KI 79, Mac Hasse KEW 79, Jaxson Voit KEW 80, Gavin Kadow TR 80, Quin Krueger BRI 80, Cade Jaeger OOS 80, Dominic Paulow BRI 81, Luke Ramminger KI 81, Austin Feucht CAM 81.Winneconne RegionalWINNECONNE 296, XAVIER 300, MENOMINEE NATION/GRESHAM 331, NEW LONDON 332, AMHERST 334, SHAWANO 345, WAUPACA 349, ANTIGO 349, WITTENBERG-BIRNAMWOOD 355, CLINTONVILLE 364Top 4 teams advance to sectionalsAt Lake Breeze Golf ClubIndividual sectional qualifiers: Ethan Haas, Amherst; Isaac Buchman ANT; Duane Gristeau-Blanche SHA; Jeremiah Devroy CLI.Top individuals: Austin Dobbie WIN 70, Derek Watry X 72, Parker Groff WIN 73, William Bauman X 74, Sawyer Krueger WIN 76, Ethan Haas AMH 77, Grant Neumann X 77, Sully Ramthun WIN 77, Phillip Schmidtke X 77, Isaac Buchman ANT 78, Allex Mahl MN/G 78, Cullen Corcoran NL 80, Duane Gristeau-Blanche SHA 80.Division 3Marion RegionalST. MARY CATHOLIC 330, MARION 331, COLEMAN 338, MANAWA 345, LENA 361, WEYAUWEGA-FREMONT 363, IOLA-SCANDINAVIA 363, BONDUEL 373, GILLETT 377, SHIOCTON 423Top 4 teams advance to sectionalsAt J&B Clover GreensIndividual sectional qualifiers: Owen Reese, Shiocton; Cole Haeuser, Weyauwega-Fremont; Brandon Sampe, Iola-Scandinavia; Cooper Demmith, Lena.Top individuals: Tate Drummond MAN 74, Bryce Stern MAN 75, Owen Reese SH 77, Cole Haeuser WF 78, Charlie Whaley SMC 79, Elijah Scheef MAR 80, Brandon Sampe IS 80, Javen Prickette MAR 80, Cooper Demmith LEN 81, Pearson Owens COL 81, Brady Deleeuw SMC 82, Carter Pendergast SMC 82, Collin Grogan MAR 83, Tanner Behnke LEN 83, Landon Seefeldt COL 83.BOYS TENNISDivision 1Neenah SubsectionalNEENAH 20, SHEBOYGAN NORTH 18, OSHKOSH WEST 14, APPLETON EAST 8, FOND DU LAC 8, MENASHA 6, MANITOWOC LINCOLN 0, OSHKOSH NORTH 0Sectional qualifiersSinglesNo. 1 – Hunter Brown, Neenah; Sawyer Brault, Sheboygan North; Kole Stauffacher, Oshkosh Westl; Leyton Batchelder, Fond du Lac. No. 2 – Henry Farrell, Neenah; Brandon Mendoza, Fond du Lac. No. 3 – Mercer Moss, Neenah; Reegan Cantrall, Sheboygan North. No. 4 – Nicholas Zenzick, Neenah; Ben Salvo, Appleton East.DoublesNo. 1 – Brady Lawatsch/Luke Grassl, Neenah; Gavin Steiner/Reid Potter, Oshkosh West; Elijah Lee/Colby Smith, Sheboygan North; Logan Winkel/Ethan Pagel, Fond du Lac. No. 2 – Griffin Pond/Frankie Quasius, Sheboygan North; Isaiah Wilson/Jacob Lemke, Oshkosh West. No. 3 – Charlie Perry/Eric Hein, Neenah; Jonah Brashaw/Brody Konrad, Sheboygan North.Division 2St. Mary Catholic SubsectionalXAVIER 18, OSHKOSH VALLEY CHRISTIAN/LOURDES CO-OP 18, ST. MARY CATHOLIC 16, ST. MARY’S SPRINGS ACADEMY 10, UNIVERSITY LAKE SCHOOL 4, RIPON 2, WAUPUN 0Sectional qualifiersSinglesNo. 1 – Danny Kunde, Oshkosh Valley Christian/Lourdes; Kojo Norman, Xavier; Wyatt Andrew, University Lake School; Jack McGuire, St. Mary’s Springs. No. 2 – Brady Day, Oshkosh Valley Christian/Lourdes; Zach Beyer, St. Mary Catholic. No. 3 – Hunter Thiel, Xavier; Jameson Tines, St. Mary Catholic. No. 4 – Graham Wall, Xavier; Nolan Pletcher, Oshkosh Valley Christian/Lourdes.DoublesNo. 1 – Sean Osland/Aiden Tines, St. Mary Catholic; Brock Polzin/Noah Broeckert, Xavier; William Barkow/Juan Ricardo Siegert, University Lake School; Dawson Miller/Hudson Lang, Oshkosh Valley Christian/Lourdes. No. 2 – Isaac Mettelmann/Owen McGreevey, Xavier; Colin Osland/Frederic Staner, St. Mary Catholic. No. 3 – Gavin Geurts/Ethan Baumler, Xavier; Antonio Krisenesky/Ethan Crego, St. Mary’s Springs.This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Appleton area high school sports results for Tuesday, May 26

LAFAYETTE — Ashley Caplinger walked off the Lafayette Jeff track at Scheumann Stadium Tuesday night, got to the 8-yard line of the football field and dropped straight onto her back, staring off into the clouds while completely exhausted.One week after breaking an 800-meter sectional record at Harrison, the junior upped her game when she had to most, dropping nearly another 2.5 seconds off her time to cross the finish line third in 2:12.48.Until Tuesday, a Faith Christian runner had never advanced to the IHSAA state track and field meet. After Caplinger's gutsy performance, passing two runners on the final lap to assure an automatic spot at the state meet June 5 at North Central High School, the Eagles had three, all sisters who made both a proud coach and father out of Bob Caplinger."I just want to give her credit for all the work and preparation and determination, not only the months leading up to the race, but as she executed the race," Bob Caplinger said of Ashley's 800. "She was seeded fourth with Carmel girls one, two and three. That's a big name there. They've got a legacy, a notoriety, so to execute a race with that top talent is special."Until now, the only Faith Christian state qualifiers came in field events: Alli Holder in the high jump in 2022 and Madi Schultz in discus in 2018.More: Cast your vote for the Ivy Tech Journal & Courier Athlete of the WeekCaplinger will be joined at the state meet by twin sister Allison Caplinger, whose time of 57.62 in the 400 meters was the state's fastest regional performance for a non-automatic (regional top three finisher) qualifier.Freshman Kimberly Caplinger also earned one of the slots dedicated to the best regional times for non-automatic qualifiers when she finished the 1,600-meter run sixth in 5:06.52."My three sisters (one in junior high) are my best friends in the whole world," Allison Caplinger said. "We push each other. We train together every single day."Until this season, Faith Christian didn't even have a track facility at its school. Athletes would travel across town to Central Catholic to practice. That changed in the fall with the completion of Rohrman Stadium.Tuesday was evidence of the importance of having a training facility to call their own. "It gets a lot more kids out from our school," Ashley Caplinger said. "We've got a bigger team, just a better atmosphere and more friends to make."For a school with an enrollment of less than 300, Faith Christian boasted the most area athletes to advance to the state meet behind only Harrison, which qualified Eva Stokes in both shot put and discus, regional champion Makayla Ketterer in high jump and Kaitlyn Manfra in the 1,600. West Lafayette's Audrey Alexander advanced in both shot put and discus, while Benton Central's Sophia Zarate (discus) and North White's Olivia Dahlenburg (high jump) also qualified.It was a proud moment for the Caplinger family, and, more importantly, for Faith Christian."I love our school. I love getting to highlight them, shine a light on them, that's awesome," Ashley Caplinger said. Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Sister trio for Faith Christian all qualify for state track finals

ATHENS – The Fairfield Union baseball team isn’t going to part like it’s 1999, but they are certainly going to celebrate.Playing in a Southeast District Division IV district championship game against Gallia Academy on Tuesday, May 26, the Falcons were looking to do something they haven’t done since 1999, and that is to win a district title.Tied 1-1 in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Falcons loaded the bases with two outs, and Dylan Chilcote walked it off with a single to score the winning run in a thrilling 2-1 victory over the Blue Devils at Ohio University’s Bob Wren Stadium.For the first time in 27 years, Fairfield Union is headed to the Sweet 16. The Falcons will face a familiar Mid-State League-Buckeye Division foe when they take on Logan Elm at 3 p.m. on June 2 in a regional semifinal back at Ohio University.More: Lancaster baseball falls in heartbreaking finishThe last time the Falcons (21-6) won a district title, current head coach Scott Burke was an assistant.“It feels great,” Bruke said. “The community is used to the baseball doing well, and we want to put a good product out there that they are proud of, and our guys have done a tremendous job of battling and making everyone proud. Our kids did a great job of keeping their emotions in check, staying even, and staying in the fight the whole way.”It was only fitting that Chilcote had the game-winner. In two earlier at-bats, he hit two rockets that would have been home runs at Fairfield Union. However, fences were a lot longer at Ohio University, and the Gallia outfielder was able to track them down, especially the second one, where he caught it at the fence.Chilcote was to be the hero because Alex Burke drew a one-out walk, and after the next batter struck out, the next two batters, Brady Andrews and Cody Andrews, were both hit by pitches to load the bases.Chilcote didn’t waste any time as he hit the first pitch he saw and hit a looping base hit to right field.“The first two at-bats, I hit some of the hardest hit balls I’ve hit all year, and it wasn’t working out for me,” Chilcote said. “I got up there in the eighth, took a deep breath, and the first pitch he gave me was a curveball on the outside, and when I hit it, I knew it was going to land. I didn’t think I would get another chance, but once I did, I knew I had to adjust. It was my time to go win it for us.”The Falcons took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Garrett Dilcher hit a triple and scored on a wild pitch. It stayed that way until the Blue Devils tied it in the third when they hit a triple and scored on a groundout.Starting pitcher Joe Blankenship was outstanding. He pitched five strong innings, limiting Gallia to just one run before he was relieved by Cameron Silcott.“So many people contributed, and you start with Joe Blankenship on the mound because we had to use our top two guys on (May 24). We asked him to give us everything he had, and he did a great job. We made so many plays. We talk a lot about process over result and stay in the fight, and that’s what we did.”Tom Wilson is a sports reporter for the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. Contact him at 740-689-5150 or via email at twilson@gannett.com for comments or story tips. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @twil2323.This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Fairfield Union baseball secures first district championship in 27 years

Mark Stone and Cole Smith scored goals and Carter Hart made 20 saves as the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Colorado Avalanche 2-1 to complete a four-game sweep of the Western Conference finals on Tuesday in Las Vegas.Vegas, which won its sixth straight playoff game, advances to the Stanley Cup Final for the third time in nine seasons. The Golden Knights will face the winner of the Eastern Conference finals between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Montreal Canadiens.The Golden Knights lost the Stanley Cup Final to the Washington Capitals in five games in their inaugural season in 2018 before defeating the Florida Panthers in five games to win the 2023 title.Gabriel Landeskog scored a 6-on-5 goal with 2:03 left for Colorado's lone goal. The Avalanche, who finished the regular season with a league-best 121 points, became just the fifth Presidents' Trophy-winning team to get swept in a playoff series.No Presidents' Trophy recipient has reached the Stanley Cup Final since the 2013 Chicago Blackhawks won the championship.Colorado goalie Mackenzie Blackwood finished with 24 saves. Blackwood, making his series debut, entered the contest with a 0-4-1 career record and a 3.63 goals-against average against Vegas but kept the Avalanche in the game with a number of blue-chip saves.Nathan MacKinnon, who led the NHL with 53 regular-season goals and was questionable after taking a puck off his right knee in Game 3 on Sunday, led all Avalanche forwards with 22:10 time on ice and had two shots on goal.Vegas, which scored five unanswered goals over the final two periods to pull out a 5-3 victory in Game 3 on Sunday, made it six consecutive goals when Stone scored at the 4:42 mark of the first period.Brayden McNabb picked up the primary assist, lobbing a long stretch pass that Stone caught just before the blue line. Stone then went in on a breakaway, deking Blackwood and then wrapping a shot around his left leg for his fifth goal of the playoffs.Colorado had a good chance to tie it near the end of the period when Brock Nelson had a breakaway, but Hart made a glove save on his wrist shot.Vegas took charge in a scoreless second period, outshooting the Avalanche 11-6, including a couple grade-A chances by Pavel Dorofeyev on a power play near the end of the period that Blackwood turned away. Colorado didn't register a shot on goal over the final 14 minutes of the period.Smith made it 2-0 with 5:45 to go in the third period when he deflected Dylan Coghlan's shot through Blackwood's pads for his third playoff goal and the game-winner.Colorado pulled Blackwood for an extra attacker with 2:15 remaining, and Landeskog scored just 18 seconds later, deflecting a Martin Necas shot in the slot over Hart's shoulder.Colorado pulled Blackwood again shortly after the ensuing faceoff but managed just one shot the rest of the way, a slap shot by MacKinnon that Hart saved.Raymond tied for second in scoring at worldsDetroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond finished tied for second in tournament scoring during the round-robin portion of the world hockey championship in Switzerland.Raymond had an assist and was plus-2 in Sweden's 4-2 win over Slovakia on Tuesday.He had five goals and seven assists for 11 points in seven games. He was tied with Canada's Macklin Celebrini and Latvia's Sandis Vilmanis, one point behind Switzerland's Sven Andrighetto.Sweden will face Switzerland in the quarterfinals. The other matchups will be Canada-United States, Finland-Czechia and Norway-Latvia.Also Tuesday, Red Wings prospect Michael Brandsegg-Nygard scored in overtime and added an assist to give Norway a 4-3 victory over Denmark.In other action, Canton's Paul Cotter scored a goal in Team USA's 4-1 win over Austria and Grand Rapids forward Eduards Tralmaks had a goal and two assists in Latvia's 8-1 win over Austria.Canadiens eager to tie Eastern finalsThe Montreal Canadiens find themselves in unfamiliar territory.Sure, they will play their next game at home, but they will enter Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday night having lost two in a row for the first time since March 14-15.The Canadiens, who trail 2-1 in the best-of-seven series, also have lost three in a row at home and five of seven overall at the Bell Centre in the playoffs.Unfortunately for Montreal, Carolina is 5-0 on the road and 10-1 overall."I expect us to show up," Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis said on Tuesday. "We're behind, but we're not dead."… It's hard as you keep advancing. We knew it was going to be that. I think going through that, you really realize it's hard to keep advancing. You have to grind."Getting more shots on goal would be beneficial, too.Montreal followed up registering 12 shots on goal in a 3-2 overtime loss in Game 2 on Saturday with 13 in a setback by the same score in Game 3 on Monday. Even the Bell Centre faithful were imploring the home team to "shoot the puck" during overtime on Monday."I think we could have been better (Monday) night. I think our execution was a little bit off. We just couldn't find it throughout the whole game, it seemed like," defenseman Kaiden Guhle said, per the Montreal Gazette."(On Wednesday) we definitely have to be better. We have to be desperate. We don't want to be down 3-1 going back there (for Game 5 on Friday). Definitely, it's a huge one."Andrei Svechnikov scored 14:06 into the extra session on Monday as Carolina improved to 5-0 in overtime during this postseason. The Hurricanes are now two wins removed from reaching the Stanley Cup Final for the third time in franchise history."I think it's the mentality of the team," Svechnikov said of Carolina's penchant of winning in overtime, per the Raleigh News and Observer. "We love tight games. Every time, we love that."Carolina also loves scoring first, as it has done in each game of this series and nine times in 11 games during these playoffs. Defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere opened the scoring on Monday and Taylor Hall also tallied for his team-leading 13th point this postseason.Montreal defenseman Lane Hutson scored a goal on Monday to boost his postseason point total to 15 (three goals, 12 assists). However, the 5-foot-9, 162-pound Hutson also has picked up a number of other things – such as a swollen lip and a bruised nose – while being targeted with physical play by the Hurricanes.Carolina holds a decisive 127-65 advantage in hits thus far in the series."I would say it's a staple of our game," Gostisbehere said. "Our forwards do a great job of sending a heavy forecheck. It's to whoever has the puck, to be honest. Obviously, (Montreal's) skilled guys, you want to get a piece of them any chance you get, don't let them get up the ice. When you're doing that all game, it gets annoying. You're not going to want to get up the ice when you're getting hit all the time or mentally knowing that you're going to get hit."This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Vegas Golden Knights eliminate Colorado Avalanche in four games

Kiké Hernández might be headed back to the IL just two games into his 2026 season.Hernández, who hit his first home run of the year earlier in the Los Angeles Dodgers' May 26 game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium, looked to be laboring as he rounded first base on his fourth inning double. He later came around to score on an RBI double from Andy Pages, but would not return to the field as Hyeseong Kim came out to replace him in the field for the top of the fifth.Spectrum SportsNet LA broadcast cameras showed manager Dave Roberts consoling a distraught Hernández in the dugout between innings.Shortly after, the Dodgers announced that Hernández had been removed from the game with a left oblique strain.Not a good sign here as Kiké Hernández is OUT of the game, and it seems like Dave Roberts is consoling him in the dugout.pic.twitter.com/8K97WmCVo6— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) May 27, 2026It's a tough break for Hernández, as he was 4-for-4 with two doubles, a home run and two RBIs since making his season debut on May 25. The fan favorite utilityman underwent surgery last winter to repair a significant left elbow injury that according to him, Dr. Neal ElAttrache said was the worst of its kind he had ever seen.Hernández first suffered that injury while sliding home to score on a wild pitch on May 28, 2025 and spent two months on the IL with elbow inflammation. He later reaggravated it diving for a fly ball in Game 3 of the NLCS that October and told reporters he "would feel like I had a blowtorch on" every time he got into his batting stance.Shohei Ohtani was also pulled from the game when Dalton Rushing pinch hit for him in the bottom of the fifth. Ohtani was hit by a pitch right after Hernández's double in the fourth, but appeared to be fine after. There's yet to be any official announcement on Ohtani's status, so it's possible he was pulled as a precaution ahead of his scheduled start on the mound against the Rockies on Wednesday, May 27.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kiké Hernández injury update: Dodger leaves game with oblique injury

CARLSBAD, Calif. — The Eastern Michigan women's golf team has been the talk of the golf world the past 48 hours. Yeah, the mid-major program in Ypsilanti isn't like any other school in the MAC. It's unlike any mid-major in the country. The Eagles have an NIL budget that rivals the biggest schools in the country, thanks to alums who own GameAbove, a privately held global investment company focused on sports, entertainment and giving. But not even Big 10 programs Michigan or Michigan State have accomplished what EMU did this week at Omni La Costa.In its first NCAA postseason appearance, EMU not only made it to the national championship, advancing out of NCAA Regionals, then the Eagles made it into match play, earning the fifth seed. Tuesday morning, they took down Texas and individual national champion Farah O'Keefe. A little more than an hour later, with no time to celebrate one of the biggest accomplishments in school history, coach Josh Brewer and Co. had to turn around and play Stanford, the bonafide No. 1 team in the country that is in the midst of the best women's golf dynasty of all-time.Ultimately, Stanford topped EMU 5-0, ending the Eagles' chance at being Cinderella, but that shouldn't take away from celebrating what Eastern Michigan accomplished this season and the last two years.When Brewer took over EMU, the school was ranked 226th. At NCAAs, the Eagles were 27th and will go much higher when the rankings are final. Last year, the school had its first postseason appearance ever at the Women's National Golf Invitational, placing second. This year, it got into regionals and then to Omni La Costa. Then it topped Texas, and people started talking.Seas of fans clad in green roamed the fairways Tuesday trying to will the Eagles on to what would've been one of the biggest upsets in the history of college golf. Sure, the Eagles are the mid-major acting like a blue blood, but that doesn't guarantee anything. The players have to hit the shots and come through when it matters most, and they did.EMU entered the final round of stroke play outside the cut line and shot 4 under as a team, the best score by three shots on Monday. Then in match play, its star transfers, twins Jasmine and Janae Leovao, came through with quarterfinal wins while Savannah de Bock, who followed Brewer from Georgia, also took care of business to knock off the Longhorns.There was a good celebration, but on college golf's longest day, the biggest achievement in school history was quickly swept under the rug. The No. 1 team awaited, and David* was then tasked with taking down Goliath. Ultimately, Stanford proved too much, topping EMU and advancing to play No. 2 USC in Wednesday's championship match. The magical season had come to an end. But it should be celebrated.In a day and age when college golf programs are being cut left and right, a group of donors invested in golf at Eastern Michigan, and Tuesday was the result of college athletics in 2026. Want to win? Be prepared to invest in NIL. EMU did, thanks to its donors, and the result was history.No other women's team from Michigan has made NCAA match play, but the Eagles have. Eastern Michigan became the 19th team to win a match at the national championship, and they're the only mid-major on the list. The bar has been raised at EMU, and the blueprint has been laid for programs looking to have similar success. If donors and athletic programs invest in golf, this can be the result. The players still have to come through, and for EMU, they did.A women's golf team from Ypsilanti, Michigan, was the talk of the golf world for 48 hours. That couldn't have happened 5 years ago. Who knows what the sport will look like in 5 years, let alone 2. But that's all it took for Eastern Michigan to make history.This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Why Eastern Michigan's NCAA Golf semifinal run should be celebrated

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 26: Mitch Garver #18 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after hitting an RBI double during the second inning against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on May 26, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images It was a simple win.The Mariners got a lot of hits and scored four runs. The A’s got fewer few hits and scored fewer runs. The Mariners beat the A’s 4-1 on Tuesday. It was that simple.The Mariners wasted no time in jumping on Gage Jump, making first his first start as a big leaguer. Josh Naylor and Rob Refsnyder led off the second with a pair of singles. It seemed they’d both score after Mitch Garver doubled into the left field corner, but the ball lodged itself in the fence and the umpires sent Refsnyder back to third. No matter. Cole Young hit a sac fly to plate Refsnyder and make the game 2-0. Victor Robles came through with a single to make it 3-0.Robles led off the fourth with a double (his second of three hits on the day) and Julio Rodríguz would later make it 4-0 with a rocket single to left. The Mainers wouldn’t score again, but it was an overall great night for the lineup, especially facing the lefty in Gage. They picked up 11 hits and a walk, and every starter either reached base or plate a run.Emerson Hancock was perfect through four. He was efficient, needing just 37 pitches to get there. He wasn’t necessarily picking up lots of whiffs or punching out batters — save for a beautiful top-rail fastball that Nick Kurtz swung through in the first — but the A’s couldn’t square him up, or could only do so right at a Mariners fielder. Hancock got Darrell Hernaiz to hit the ball less than a foot in the third inning; he ticked it straight down to where Garver could simply pick it up and tag him out in the batter’s box. It was going that well. In the fourth, Hancock got the top of the order of Carlos Cortes, Kurtz, and Shea Langeliers to go down without much fight. For a moment, I wondered if this was it.Hancock has been a revelation this year. It’s one of the most impressive career turnarounds I’ve witnessed first hand. I wouldn’t quite say he’s the Mariners absolute best pitcher right now, but that it’s close is borderline unbelievable. Even just the idea that Hancock might throw a perfect game would have seemed impossible this time last year. Of course, that he might strike out 14 would have seemed impossible, too.I probably beat this drum too often. Every time I cover a Hancock start, I remind you that he was once bad and that now he’s good. One of these days, he’ll just be good.Your browser does not support the video tag. Download the video.Anyways, Hancock wasn’t perfect. I did not burry that lede. He got into a jam in the fifth, walking the lead off batter then giving up a single. But he set down the side in order from there to escape the inning unscathed. The command started to falter in the sixth with a walk and a hit by pitch. But he painted another perfect top rail fastball to strikeout Kurtz in between, and got Brent Rooker to groundout to again shimmy out unscathed. A fully rested bullpen, fresh off a complete game from last night’s starter, did its job from there. José Ferrer worked around a single in the seventh. Gabe Speier, in his first game back from the injured list, worked around a hit by pitch in the eighth. Speier also struck out Kurtz to snap his 48-game on base streak, leaving him forever (or maybe not forever) tied with Mark McGwire for the longest in A’s history. Andrés Muñoz pitched the ninth with a 4-0 lead. He gave up a homer to make it 4-1 but eventually got the job done.The Mariners took the series from the first place A’s with the win. Everyone in the division is now under .500. The Mariners could be in first place alone Wednesday — still under .500 — if they finish off the sweep.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Ketel Marte hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning, Adrian Del Castillo had a solo shot and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the San Francisco Giants 7-5 on Tuesday night for their ninth win in 10 games.However, the Diamondbacks lost Nolan Arenado to right groin tightness, with the third baseman exiting in the seventh inning.Eduardo Rodriguez (5-1) allowed two runs and six hits in six innings, lowering his ERA to 2.31.Tyler Mahle (1-7) allowed three earned runs and three hits in five innings. Casey Schmitt got the Giants started with a solo home run in the first inning, matching the career high he set last with his 12th. Schmitt finished with two hits and two RBIs.Arizona went ahead with a three-run second, highlighted by Del Castillo's homer.The Diamondbacks stayed ahead as Rafael Devers’ season-long offensive woes persisted. With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Devers struck out swinging, ending what would be San Francisco’s best opportunity.The Giants tried to rally as Eric Haase hit a solo home run in the seventh inning and Devers had an RBI double in the eighth. Willy Adames then had a solo homer in the ninth, but closer Paul Sewald eventually shut the door to give Arizona the win, his 14th save of the season.Giants prospect Victor Bericoto notched his first major league hit after getting his first career call-up after seven years in the minors.Up nextDiamondbacks RHP Michael Soroka (6-2, 3.27 ERA) opposes Giants RHP Trevor McDonald (2-1, 4.76 ERA) Wednesday night to close out the series.

May 26, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Colorado Avalanche goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood (39) and right wing Logan O’Connor (25) defend against Vegas Golden Knights right wing Cole Smith (22) during the first period in game four of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn ImagesStephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn ImagesLAS VEGAS (AP) — Mark Stone and Cole Smith scored for Vegas and the Golden Knights suffocated Colorado’s high-powered offense to beat the Avalanche 2-1 on Tuesday night for an unthinkable sweep to make their third Stanley Cup Final in nine seasons.The Golden Knights will get a break while they watch to see whether Carolina or Montreal emerges from the Eastern Conference Final.This is a crushing end for an Avalanche team that won the Presidents’ Trophy and had blown through the playoffs with an 8-1 record. Chicago in 2013 was the last team to claim the Presidents’ Trophy and the Stanley Cup in the same season.Stone scored for the Golden Knights on a lob pass from Brayden McNabb deep in his zone. Stone caught the puck and had a direct path to the net and made the most of it. Smith later tipped in Dylan Coghlan’s shot from the point with 5:45 left for a critical two-goal margin.Carter Hart stopped 20 shots, coming within 2:03 of his first playoff shutout in six years.Gabriel Landeskog ended that shutout, one of the few highlights of the night for the Avalanche, who went the final 14:23 of the second period without a shot on goal and more than 22 minutes with just one shot.Mackenzie Blackwood, making his first start in the series, gave the Avalanche a chance to win with several dazzling saves en route to 24 saves overall. His best stop came late in the second period when he lunged to glove a power-play shot from Pavel Dorofeyev.The journey to the Cup Final isn’t quite the Cinderella story of the Golden Knights’ first team that made the Stanley Cup Final in 2018 before losing in five games to Washington, but Vegas’ journey to this point was far from expected.The Golden Knights faced the possibility of not making the playoffs for just the second time in franchise history when management fired coach Bruce Cassidy, who led the club to the 2023 title, with eight games left in the regular season.In came John Tortorella, who validated the controversial decision by leading Vegas to a 7-0-1 record to close the regular season and then series victories over Utah and Anaheim. Then the Golden Knights faced an Avalanche team on a roll and without any sign of slowing down.At least until facing Vegas.Colorado coach Jared Bednar searched for answers against the Golden Knights, even changing goalies on Tuesday. The Avalanche also dealt with injuries to their top two players this series — reigning Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar and Hart Trophy finalist Nathan MacKinnon.The Golden Knights had their own injury issues, winning the first two games of the series without Stone.

Colby Shelton made a grand statement with his four-run blast for the Barons. | (Rob Leiter/Getty Images) Charlotte Knights 4, Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 0The Knights (27-25) leaned on a stellar night from the pitching staff and just enough timely offense to blank Jacksonville. Charlotte struck first in the second inning when Dru Baker showed off some thump, yanking his sixth homer of the season to bring home two runs and give the Knights an early lead. From there, the arms took over. Joe Rock — acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays in the Oliver Dunn deal — fired three scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while striking out three. Chase Plymell, Adisyn Coffey, and Ben Peoples followed in lockstep, each tossing two scoreless frames to finish off the shutout.Charlotte tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the eighth to put things away. Mario Camilletti got things started with a leadoff single before promptly swiping second, and Jason Matthews cashed him in with an RBI single to center. A fielding error and a walk to Braden Montgomery later loaded the bases, and Jacob Gonzalez drew a bases-loaded walk to force home another tally to stretch the lead and secure the 4-0 victory.Who was the Knights MVP? Joe Rock: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 KChase Plymell: 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, KAdisyn Coffey: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, BB, 3 KBen Peoples: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 BBJacob Gonzalez: 0-for-3, RBI, BB, 2 KDustin Harris: 1-for-3, BB, CSMario Camilletti: 1-for-1, 2 R, 2 BB, SBDru Baker: 1-for-3, R, 2 RBI, HR, KJason Matthews: 1-for-3, R, RBI, K pollcode.com free pollsWho was the Knights Cold Cat?Junior Perez: 0-for-3, BB, 2 SBBraden Montgomery: 0-for-3, BB, 2 KKorey Lee: 0-for-4, 3 KRyan Galanie: 0-for-2 pollcode.com free pollsBirmingham Barons 8, Pensacola Blue Wahoos 4The Barons (17-28) plated a pair early with some two-out opportunism. Jacob Burke got things started in the second with a two-out single and a stolen base before Jeral Perez knocked him in with an RBI base hit. Next inning, Wilfred Veras singles, Colby Shelton reaches via error, and Alec Makarewicz lofts a sacrifice fly. Not exactly a fireworks show (we’ll get to those soon), but it was enough to get the scoreboard flickering, giving them a 2-0 lead.Pensacola made things interesting in the fourth, taking Lucas Gordon deep for a two-run shot, but the Barons responded in emphatic fashion. Perez walked, Veras and Jordan Sprinkle stacked the bases with back-to-back singles, and then Colby Shelton uncorked a grand slam. Suddenly, it’s 6-2, and the Barons are cruising. Makarewicz tacked on a two-run double for fun in the sixth. The pitching staff bent but held on from there, with Jackson Kelley and Luke Bell combining to absorb the damage and keep Birmingham comfortably ahead the rest of the way.Who was the Barons MVP?Jordan Sprinkle: 1-for-3, R, KColby Shelton: 1-for-4, R, 4 RBI, HR, KAlec Makarewicz: 1-for-3, 3 RBI, 2BJacob Burke: 1-for-3, R, BB, SB, K, POJeral Perez: 1-for-3, R, RBI, BBCalvin Harris: 1-for-4, RWilfred Veras: 2-for-4, 3 R, KLucas Gordon: 5 IP 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 4 K, W pollcode.com free pollsWho was the Barons Cold Cat? Anthony DePino: 0-for-3, BB, KSamuel Zavala: 0-for-2, 2 BB, 2 K, CSLuke Bell: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, KJackson Kelley: 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 K pollcode.com free pollsWinston-Salem Dash 5, Rome Emperors 1For a while, this one looked like it might end in a race to see which offense could accidentally stumble into a run first. Instead, the Dash (27-19) finally broke the stalemate in the bottom of the fifth behind a welcome sight: power. After George Wolkow and Grant Magill worked back-to-back one-out walks, Ely Brown unloaded on his first homer of the season to suddenly turn a deadlocked pitchers’ duel into a 3-0 Winston-Salem lead. That was more than enough support for Grant Umberger, who carved through Rome for five scoreless innings while allowing four hits, walking one, and striking out five.The Emperors scored their lone run in the sixth against Garrett Wright, piecing together a walk, a wild pitch, and a single to trim the lead to 3-1. Winston-Salem answered late when Boston Smith drew a one-out walk in the eighth before Ryan Burrowes launched a two-run shot to right-center to provide some breathing room at 5-1. Morris Austin and Pierce George handled the rest, combining for three scoreless innings to close out a strong all-around night for the Dash hurlers.Who was the Dash MVP?Grant Umberger: 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, BB, 5 K, WMorris Austin: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 K, HPierce George: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, KRyan Burrowes: 2-for-4, R, 2 RBI, HREly Brown: 1-for-2, R, 3 RBI, BB, HR, KArxy Hernández: 1-for-3, 2B pollcode.com free pollsWho was the Dash Cold Cat?Garrett Wright: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BBKyle Lodise: 0-for-4George Wolkow: 0-for-3, R, BB, 2 KGrant Magill: 0-for-3, R, BB, KT.J. McCants 0-for-2 pollcode.com free pollsKannapolis Cannon Ballers 3, Augusta GreenJackets 1Kannapolis (25-21) stitched together just enough hits and a dose of mound dominance to slip past Augusta, 3-1, in a game that was all grit. The Ballers got the party started in the second when Stiven Flores poked his way on with a base hit, Jaden Fauske legged out an infield hit (then got greedy and was cut down at second), and Rylan Galvan worked a free pass. Then, with runners on first and third and one out, Alexander Albertus plated Flores on a fielder’s choice.After the GreenJackets briefly tied things up in the fourth against Max Banks, Kannapolis answered right back with another small-ball push. Back-to-back singles from Abraham Núñez and Matthew Boughton set the table, Javier Mogollón advanced the pair on a grounder, and Flores again came through with an RBI ground out to restore the lead. Then, James Taussig launched a solo shot in the bottom of the fourth to make it 3-1. From there, the pitching did the rest. Banks was once again outstanding, improving to 4-0 in May with a 0.62 ERA and 0.83 WHIP, while Alexander Martinez tossed three scoreless out of the bullpen and Landen Payne shut the door in the ninth to secure the 3-1 win.Who was the Ballers MVP?Abraham Núñez: 1-for-4, RMatthew Boughton: 1-for-3Javier Mogollón: 1-for-4, 2 KStiven Flores: 1-for-4, R, RBIJaden Fauske: 2-for-2, 2 BBJames Taussig: 1-for-2, R, RBI, BB, HRMax Banks: 5 IP, 3 H, R, 4 KAlexander Martinez: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, BB, 3 KLanden Payne: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K pollcode.com free pollsWho was the Ballers Cold Cat?Rylan Galvan: 0-for-3, BB, 2 KAlexander Albertus: 0-for-3, RBIEfren Teran: 0-for-3, K pollcode.com free pollsACL Padres 10, ACL White Sox 1 (7 innings)This one was even uglier than the score suggests. Eight hits scattered, ten runners left to rot, and a ghastly 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Eleven strikeouts, too, just to really drive the point home. The only flicker of life was back-to-back doubles from Christian Gonzalez and Yordani Soto in the second, and that was it for the scoring. The rest? A parade of empty at-bats.On the hill, the Sox’s arms were a mess. They gave up nine hits, a buffet of free passes (10), and the Padres just kept piling on. Only Leandro Alsinois escaped the last frame unscathed, somehow wriggling through a scoreless inning despite letting two guys on.Who was the ACL Sox MVP? D’Angelo Tejada: 3-for-4, 2B, K, CSJose Mendoza: 1-for-3, BB, 2 KChristian Gonzalez: 1-for-4, R, 2B, KYordani Soto: 2-for-3, RBI, 2BLeandro Alsinois: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 R pollcode.com free pollsWho was the ACL Sox Cold Cat? Justin Fuson: 2 1/3 IP, 4 H, 5 R (3 ER), 4 BB, 2 K, LDiego Perez: 1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 4 R, 3 BB, K, HBPJeremy Gonzalez: 2 1/3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 KJordan Rich: 0-for-3, 1 BB, 2 KAlejandro Cruz: 0-for-4, 2 K, EAlan Escobar: 0-for-3, 2 K, Erasmi Rodriguez: 0-for-3, K, PB pollcode.com free pollsACL Mariners 12, ACL White Sox 3 (Monday, May 25)The ACL White Sox got steamrolled by the ACL Mariners in a game that quickly spiraled out of control. Orlando Suarez was tagged for four runs in 2 2/3 innings, while the pitching staff combined for 10 walks, three wild pitches, a balk, and a parade of self-inflicted chaos that made the Mariners’ job far too easy. The Sox offense did manage six hits, with Alejandro Cruz supplying the biggest punch via a two-run double in the bottom of the third and Jordan Rich knocking in the lone other run in the bottom of the sixth. Meanwhile, the lineup struck out 13 times, because apparently making contact was deemed optional under the Arizona sun.Who was the ACL Sox MVP? Alejandro Cruz: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, 2B, SBJose Mendoza: 2-for-4, E, PBJordan Rich: 1-for-4, RBI, 2B, 2 KAlan Escobar: 1-for-3, R, BBJurdrick Profar: 1-for-3, R, 2 KCarlton Perkins: 2 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 5 K pollcode.com free pollsWho was the ACL Sox Cold Cat? Nick McLain: 0-for-3, KYordani Soto: 0-for-4, 3 KLandon Hodge: 0-for-4, R, KEduardo Herrera: 0-for-4, 3 K, CSOrlando Suarez: 2 2/3 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 4 K, LReudis Diaz: 1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 2 KCesar Nunez: 1 IP, 1 H, 2 R (1 ER), 3 BB, K pollcode.com free polls

David Dermer-Imagn ImagesEvery MLB season, blockbuster trades are made throughout the year. But there’s no time quite like the Trade Deadline. Few days on the baseball calendar generate more intrigue than the Deadline. It’s a joyful holiday for teams who are buying and a grim one for selling clubs. But, every year, there are teams who enter sell mode far quicker than others. Those clubs have begun to separate themselves from the rest as potential sellers, though some could certainly turn things around. But, if they don’t, these are some star players who could be moved at the Trade Deadline — one for each division.American LeagueEast: Aroldis Chapman (BOS)Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn ImagesChapman has continued to prove himself to be one of the greatest relievers in history. Many wondered whether age would finally catch up to him, but he’s only gotten better. With an otherworldly 0.51 ERA in 17 2/3 innings, Chapman has proved himself to remain the elite pitcher he’s always been.Yet it hasn’t helped the Boston Red Sox, who despite looking like contenders before the season began have been anything but. The Sox are fifth in the AL East with a 22-31 record entering play on Wednesday. With reports that General Manager A.J. Preller of the San Diego Padres is eyeing Chapman, he could be on the move sooner rather than later.Central: Tarik Skubal (DET)IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectEven with his recent elbow surgery, Skubal remains the biggest name on this list (as well as the one with the most speculation). He’s had an unprecedented recovery from that surgery, pitching 2 2/3 simulated innings against hitters on Tuesday. Skubal threw 39 pitches, giving up a home run but striking out three.After winning back-to-back Cy Young awards in 2024 and 2025, Skubal was the favorite to win it again in 2026. While his injury may have derailed those aspirations, he will still likely receive the largest free agent contract in history for a starting pitcher this offseason. If the Detroit Tigers remain out of contention, they could move Skubal rather than risk losing him to free agency.West: Yordan Alvarez (HOU)IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectThough Alvarez’s incredibly hot start to the season has cooled off a bit, he remains one of the most elite hitters in all of baseball. He’s slashing .303/.414/.631 with 18 homers. That’s good for an absurd 1.045 OPS. Alvarez is the Houston Astros best hitter, so why would they trade him?Well, the Astros remain at a dismal fourth place in the middling AL West division. They’re eight games under .500 due in large part to their struggling pitching staff. They could certainly turn things around, but after missing the postseason in 2025 for the first time in eight years, they may want to trade the young slugger if they receive an offer they can’t refuse. National LeagueEast: Freddy Peralta (NYM)IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectDespite an uneven start with the New York Mets, Peralta has since pitched incredibly well for New York, posting a 3.52 ERA. The Mets have had a historically wretched start to 2026 and are 11 games under .500 entering Wednesday. It’s been an all-around effort (or lack thereof) in doing so.But Peralta was traded from the Milwaukee Brewers before the season began. He’s a rental who will become a free agent once the season ends but could be traded to contenders looking to bolster their rotation ahead of the playoffs.Central: Brandon Lowe (PIT)IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectAnother offseason trade, Lowe was sent over from the Tampa Bay Rays to the Pittsburgh Pirates in a three-team trade. He’s been a huge part of Pittsburgh’s fantastic start to the season, slashing .270/.356/.550 as one of the best Pirates hitters so far. Pittsburgh is the lone club on this list with a winning record. The team is three games over .500 in the surprisingly competitive NL Central division. Despite performing far above their expectations, there’s still time for the Pirates to do what they’ve always done in recent memory: let their fans down and sell at the Trade Deadline. West: Luis Arraez (SFG)IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectAfter a down year in 2025, Arraez is back to hitting above .300, with a .317 batting average entering play on Wednesday. He’s been the lone offensive spark in an otherwise quiet San Francisco Giants lineup. The club is 10 games under .500 and is largely expected to sell at the Deadline unless something changes soon. Arraez signed a one-year deal with San Francisco primarily for his bat. He expressed a desire to play second base and has flourished under the tutelage of infield coach Ron Washington. Arraez has been one of the best defenders in 2026 after being considered a defensive liability for most of his career. One possibility is a reunion with the Padres — a club in desperate need of quality bats.Related HeadlinesMLB Trade Rumors: San Diego padres Eyeing 2 Specific RelieversShould NY Yankees Consider Pursuing Juan Soto Trade & What Could NY Mets Get in Return?MLB Rumors: Insider Names 4 Likely Suitors for Tarik Skubal Trade

BARNESVILLE − A fast start, clutch insurance runs, and a high-wire escape by senior ace Dylan Blon added up to a successful tournament debut for top-seeded Barnesville. The Shamrocks opened their OHSAA Division V district semifinal run on Tuesday, May 26 at Barnesville Memorial Park with a crisp 4-1 victory over No. 8 seed Union Local by answering the Jets' biggest threat with championship level poise to advance.With the win, Barnesville improves to 20-7 on the season and punches its ticket to the Division V district championship game, while the Jets close out their season with a final mark of 12-11. "We were happy to get back on the field tonight, and get the win to advance," Barnesville head coach D.J. Butler offered. "But we need to execute better, it feels like we left some runs out on the field tonight. We didn't get our bunts down tonight, we have to be better. But that gives us something to work on tomorrow in practice...we will get it fixed."Fast start for the 'RocksThe Shamrocks wasted little time making themselves at home in their OHSSA postseason opener, jumping out to quick 2-0 lead in the early frames. In the bottom of the first, Blake Burkhart plated the game's first run with an deep RBI sacrifice fly ball. An inning later, Jack Anderson kept the momentum rolling by collecting an RBI base hit in the bottom of the second to double the early Barnesville cushion.The High-Wire actThe pesky Jets refused to go away quietly, finally breaking through against Blon in the top of the third. Union Local's Colby Carpenter stroked an RBI single to pull the Jets within 2-1. Momentum completely shifted as Union Local proceeded to load the bases with just one out, threatening to break the game wide open.But Barnesville's crafty lefty stepped up when the stakes were the highest. Blon dug deep, manufacturing a huge effort to slam the door shut on the UL rally, leaving the runners stranded and keeping the Shamrocks in front by that 2-1 margin."Dylan just bulled his neck and dug deep to get out of that tight spot," Coach Butler said of the game-defining escape. "Parker Sobutka made a great play at third to handle that tough hop and gun that runner out at the plate. That took some pressure off Dylan and he set down the last kid to get out of it...just a great job right there."Immediate InsuranceEnergized by Blon's effort, the Barnesville bats immediately went back to work in the home half of the third to provide some crucial breathing room. Sobutka shifted from defensive hero to offensive spak, slapping an RBI single, and Gunner Dudzik followed with an RBI sacrifice fly, pushing the Barnesville lead out to 4-1 after three full innings of play.Blon goes the distanceFrom there, Blon cruised the rest of the way. The senior ace collected the pitching victory with a stellar seven inning, complete game outing. Blon scattered just four hits and allowing just the single run with three strikeouts and walking two to seal the district semifinal victory.Familiar foe awaits with regional berth on the lineThe celebration will be short-lived for the Shamrocks, as a familiar rival stands between them and a trip to the OHSAA regionals.More: Cambridge girls edge John Glenn for district title, regional fields setMore: You make the call! Vote for The Daily Jeffersonian Athlete of the Week (May 18-May 23)Barnesville will face off against No. 4 seed Martins Ferry in the Division V district championship game on Thursday, May 27 at 5 p.m. at Buckeye Trail High School.The title matchup marks the fourth time this season these two squads will cross paths on the diamond. While Barnesville holds the upper hand after winning two of the first three meetings, everything resets on Thursday with a Division V district championship trophy and a regional berth on the line."It feels like in my 20 years here at Barnesville, it always comes down to Ferry and us every year at the end," Butler joked. "No secrets, we know each other well...should be a good one on Thursday night."KSutton1@gannett.com; X: @KSuttonDJSports; Instagram: kevinsutton_dailyjeffsportsThis article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Top-seeded Shamrocks advance to face Martins Ferry for D-V district title

In Lebanon, each new cease-fire is met with blind optimism — as if it hails the end of a conflict instead of what it actually is: an admission ticket to the next war.

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz had his 48-game on-base streak stopped when he went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts in a 4-1 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night. Kurtz, the AL Rookie of the Year last season, tied Mark McGwire for the longest such streak in team history. McGwire reached in 48 straight games in 1996.Kurtz's 48-game run was the longest in the majors since Texas’ Shin-Soo Choo got on base in 52 consecutive games in 2018.Kurtz had a final chance to extend the streak when he came up in the eighth inning, but the slugger struck out against Gabe Speier.The 23-year-old first baseman still leads the majors with a .437 on-base percentage and 52 walks. Kurtz also has eight home runs and 37 RBIs and is batting .270. The big league record for the most consecutive games reaching base safely is 84 games, set by Hall of Famer Ted Williams with the Boston Red Sox in 1949.—AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

CARMEL – Joe Carey worked over the field in the most unassuming way possible. The junior from Yorktown went back-to-back at the Section 1 Boys Golf Championship, closing with a 3-under 69 at Centennial Golf Club on Tuesday and winning by an eye-popping 10 shots. Carey posted a 4-under total of 140 and will be heading to states for a fourth straight year with plenty of momentum.“I just kept my game strong,” he said. “I’m hitting it good so it’s pretty easy.”Nobody made up ground on Carey on Tuesday, he was the lone player under par in the final round and was four shots better than anyone else in the field. Greeley junior Ken Fernandes was tied for the lead after the opening round at Tamarack last week but withdrew during the final round.“I don’t really get stressed,” Carey added. “I just keep going shot to shot. I’m more consistent than I was last year and I’m making a lot more putts. This is exciting but I have bigger goals. It starts with states.”He tied for second at last year’s NYSPHSAA championship.For the second year in a row, Carey’s twin brother Kurt was the Section 1 runner-up. He was 3-over Tuesday and finished with a 6-over total of 150.“I just go out there and play, I don’t think about my score or moving on until the last putt drops,” Kurt said.The brothers have played countless rounds together over the years, mostly at Mohansic, so Kurt saw this kind of dominance coming.“It’s fun to watch really,” he added. “He practices a lot, stays consistent, puts in long days, comes home from practice, eats and works out, so he deserves it.”Graham Erickson of Rye, Stephen Hartenfels of North Rockland, Ryker Kevorkian of Rye, Derek Bisceglia of Rye, Sam Gao of Scarsdale, Finn Kahl of Mamaroneck and James Nemeth of North Salem will be joining the Careys at Mill Creek Golf Club in Churchville for the NYSPHSAA championship June 7-8.Nemeth won a three-for-one playoff with an eagle on the second extra hole.The top 20 finishers earned all-section status. 2026 Section 1 Boys Golf ChampionshipFinal roundAt Centennial Golf Club1. Joe Carey (Yorktown) 71-69-1402. Kurt Carey (Yorktown) 75-75-1503. Graham Erickson (Rye)73-78-1514. Stephen Hartenfels (North Rockland) 77-75-1525. Ryker Kevorkian (Rye) 80-73-1536. Derek Bisceglia (Rye) 81-73-1547. Sam Gao (Scarsdale) 79-76-1557. Finn Kahl (Mamaroneck) 82-73-1559. James Nemeth (North Salem) 73-84-1579. Liam Kilduff (John Jay-East Fishkill) 82-75-1579. Jack Lerner (Mamaroneck) 76-81-15712. James Strauss (John Jay-Cross River) 79-79-15813. Tim Kenny (Bronxville) 81-78-15913. Nolan Patel (John Jay-East Fishkill) 80-79-15913. Thomas Ruhahan (Bronxville) 77-82-15916. Charlie Molloy (Rye) 77-83-16017. Mikey Lelli (Mamaroneck) 76-85-16117. Luke Dhingra (Scarsdale) 77-84-16117. Beau Woody (Briarcliff) 80-81-16120. Niklas Schaper (Greeley) 83-80-16320. Mannix Verderosa (Clarkstown South) 80-83-16322. Noah Leder (Blind Brook) 83-84-16722. Ryan Mascali (Rye) 83-84-16724. Ryan Pollitzer (Blind Brook) 83-85-16824. Jaxon DiStasio (Yorktown) 83-85-16824. Jackson Weller (Putnam Valley) 82-86-16827. Wally Ryder (John Jay-Cross River) 81-88-16928. Pierce Lawler (Nyack) 83-88-17129. Sean Newman (Byram Hills) 79-94-17330. Lucas Kaplan (Ardsley) 80-97-177Edward Chen (Scarsdale) 80-WDKen Fernandes (Greeley) 71-WD Max Pollitzer (Blind Brook) 78-WDDaniel Porpora (Harrison) 81-WDThis article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Joe and Kurt Carey go 1-2 at Section 1 boys golf championship again

NEW DELHI: Win and survive, or pack your bags and head home. The equation is simple for Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad as they prepare to face off in the IPL 2026 Eliminator at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on Wednesday.The winner will move into Qualifier 2, while the losing side will see their campaign come to an end.Sunrisers Hyderabad head into the knockout clash with confidence firmly on their side after defeating Rajasthan Royals twice during the league stage this season.SRH finished third on the points table with 18 points from 14 matches, level with the top two sides — Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans — but dropped to the Eliminator because of an inferior net run rate.Rajasthan Royals, meanwhile, secured the final playoff berth with a crucial victory over Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium. RR ended the league stage in fourth place with 16 points from eight wins.With the high-stakes Eliminator just hours away, here’s a look at the key players who could shape the contest.ABHISHEK SHARMAAbhishek Sharma can single-handedly destroy bowling attacks when he gets going. Known for his fearless strokeplay and towering sixes, the left-hander will once again be expected to provide SRH with a blazing start.The 25-year-old has scored 563 runs in 14 matches at an average of 43.31 and a stunning strike rate of 206.23 this season. He has already smashed 43 sixes in the tournament and Mullanpur could witness another special innings from him.ISHAN KISHANIshan Kishan will carry huge responsibility for SRH in the Eliminator. Known for thriving under pressure, Kishan has repeatedly delivered in crucial matches and SRH will hope for another impactful knock on Wednesday.In the absence of Pat Cummins, Kishan also impressed with his leadership while continuing to contribute heavily with the bat. He has scored 569 runs in 14 matches at an average of 40.64 and a strike rate of 178.37 this season.HEINRICH KLAASENHeinrich Klaasen has been one of the biggest reasons behind SRH’s dominance this season. The destructive middle-order batter has consistently changed games with his aggressive strokeplay and ability to finish matches under pressure.Klaasen is currently SRH’s leading run-scorer, with more than 600 runs in 14 matches at an average of 50.50 and a strike rate of 159.47.VAIBHAV SOORYAVANSHIAt just 15 years old, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has emerged as one of the most dangerous batters of IPL 2026. The young batter from Bihar has terrorised bowling attacks with his fearless intent and extraordinary power-hitting.Opposition teams now plan specifically around stopping Sooryavanshi early. Although he managed only four runs in the crucial win against Mumbai Indians, RR will hope for a trademark attacking innings from him in the Eliminator.Sooryavanshi is RR’s highest run-scorer this season with 583 runs in 14 matches at an average of 41.64 and a phenomenal strike rate of 232.27. He has also smashed 53 sixes in the tournament so far.JOFRA ARCHERJofra Archer remains RR’s biggest weapon with the ball. With raw pace, aggression and the ability to strike early, Archer can dismantle batting line-ups in the Powerplay on his day.Against Mumbai Indians, after RR posted 205, Archer ripped through the top order by dismissing Rohit Sharma, Naman Dhir and Hardik Pandya cheaply.If Sooryavanshi has been RR’s game-changer with the bat, Archer has been their leader with the ball. The England pacer has taken 21 wickets in 14 matches this season and RR will once again look towards him for a fiery spell in the Eliminator.

NEW DELHI: Former India head coach Ravi Shastri once again found himself at the centre of social media chatter after a confusing moment during the toss presentation ahead of IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans in Dharamsala on Tuesday.Shastri was hosting the toss interaction with captains Shubman Gill and Rajat Patidar when a brief mix-up during the proceedings quickly grabbed attention online.After winning the toss, Gill clearly stated that Gujarat Titans would bowl first in the high-pressure knockout clash. However, seconds later, Shastri asked the GT skipper what the team had decided to do after winning the toss, despite the decision already being announced.The moment instantly went viral, with fans flooding social media with memes and jokes aimed at the former India all-rounder.Some fans also mocked Shastri for mistakenly mentioning during the toss segment that RCB had finished the league stage with 20 points. In reality, Royal Challengers Bengaluru topped the table with 18 points after becoming the first side to qualify for the playoffs.During the toss, Gill confirmed one change in Gujarat Titans’ playing XI, with left-arm pacer Kulwant Khejroliya replacing Arshad Khan.— IPL (@IPL) RCB too made one change, bringing in New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy in place of West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd.— BadtameezDog (@BadtameezDog) — aaarrryyyam1882 (@aaarrryyyam1882) — sd_hannan (@sd_hannan) — DeepKumar_Hulk (@DeepKumar_Hulk) — Nixachar (@Nixachar) — TukTuk_Academy (@TukTuk_Academy) Later in the match, RCB produced a batting masterclass as skipper Patidar smashed an unbeaten 93, while Virat Kohli and Krunal Pandya chipped in with explosive 43-run knocks to power Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a record-breaking 254/5 in 20 overs.For Gujarat Titans, Jason Holder and Kagiso Rabada claimed two wickets each, but the bowling attack struggled badly against RCB’s relentless batting onslaught.In reply, Gujarat Titans wereb bowled out for 162. With this big win, RCB stormed into the IPL 2026 final. GT will face the winner of Eliminator in Qualifier 2.

Braves' Matt Olson shuts down injury concerns after breaking out of slump in win over Red Sox originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Atlanta Braves are coming off just their second series loss of the season after dropping a series to the Washington Nationals over the weekend. The offense went ice cold and struggled to generate runs throughout the series.Matt Olson, who had been red hot to begin the season, entered his first real slump of the year. Some fans believed he may have been injured after he was visibly in pain during a game last week. However, manager Walt Weiss made it clear he did not think it was a major concern.“He says it happens from time to time on a swinging miss or a check swing, where hyper extends that elbow,” Weiss said. “But like I said, it’s happened to him before. It’s never been a long-term issue.”Finally, on Tuesday night at Fenway Park, Olson got back on track with a two-run home run that tied the game. The blast appeared to spark the offense and get Atlanta rolling again.“Among the good, Matt Olson hit a two-run homer in the 5th inning. It was his first homer since May 10th, an unusual power drought for the slugger, and that plus his recent slump had some worried about a potential injury,” Braves Today’s Lindsay Crosby wrote.With Olson finally breaking out of his slump, it also seemed to pull the Braves out of their offensive struggles. Atlanta can now breathe a sigh of relief after rediscovering some momentum in Boston. Following the game, Olson was asked whether his slump was connected to the elbow issue, and he quickly shut down the speculation.“It was just coincidental,” Olson said. “I was just off-balance with some swings and reaching for balls. If I’d have been on time for the pitch, it wouldn’t have happened.”Over the course of a long season, slumps are inevitable. Still, because of the timing of the elbow scare, it was easy for people to speculate about a possible injury. Olson taking accountability and admitting he was simply struggling says a lot about his mindset as a player.Getting Olson back to being the extra-base-hit machine he normally is would be massive for Atlanta as it looks to win another series on Wednesday. The Braves struggled offensively over the weekend, but it appears the bats may finally be waking back up. Olson has already shown just how streaky he can be when he catches fire.More MLB news:Blue Jays reportedly attempting to outbid Dodgers, Padres for $32M Cy Young winner at deadlineMets' Carlos Mendoza officially presses the panic button after blowout loss to the RedsDodgers-Orioles trade pitch sends $28M former Reliever of the Year to LA to pair with Edwin DiazBraves-Giants trade pitch sends $115M Cy Young arm to Atlanta to join Chris Sale, Spencer Strider

Luckhurst: ‘High possibility’ Man Utd complete shock U-turn and retain player Ratcliffe personally vowed to offloadThere is reportedly a ‘high possibility’ that Manuel Ugarte stays at Manchester United beyond the summer window.That’s according to Samuel Luckhurst, who claims that United ‘do not want to hawk Ugarte around’ and have conceded he ‘is a hard sell’.DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL STRETTY NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES & BREAKING NEWS – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAYManuel Ugarte: The state of playThe midfielder is tied to Old Trafford until at least June 2029, with his contract then containing a 12-month option.United shelled out £42 million for Ugarte when bringing him in from Paris Saint-Germain in August 2024, pledging a further £8.7m in add-ons.Want more Stretty News coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Googleto your favourites list for news you can trustTo say he has failed to impress since making the move, however, is an understatement, and it’s not as if he hasn’t been given the chances.Throughout his maiden campaign in M16, Ugarte was granted 22 Premier League starts and a further seven appearances off the bench. He was an unused substitute only three times.Following the culmination of 2025/2026 on Sunday, the Uruguayan had just eight league starts to his name across the entirety of the season. Ugarte featured as a substitute in 14 matches, but was left on the sidelines for a whopping 15 fixtures.How has Ugarte fared under Michael Carrick?To make matters worse for him, it was pretty clear from the get-go of Michael Carrick’s reign that he wasn’t a fan.The 25-year-old was called upon sparingly when the Englishman first took the reins, until he was given the nod for the first time in the 12th game of Carrick’s tenure – but only because Kobbie Mainoo had been ruled out through injury.Ugarte played the full 90 minutes of the Reds’ shock defeat to rivals Leeds United at home, overseeing a calamitous display in the middle of the park. He did not play again, not even for a single minute, in the remaining six matches of the term.Ugarte’s record since Carrick took charge in January (Transfermarkt)It was later reported by the reputable Laurie Whitwell that Sir Jim Ratcliffe had personally green-lit Ugarte’s sale when visiting Carrington in the subsequent days.That being said, United can only work with what’s on offer to them, and if no suitors come in looking to take the out-of-favour player off their hands, they’ll have no choice but to keep him in the ranks.More Stories / Latest NewsLuckhurst: ‘High possibility’ Man Utd complete shock U-turn and retain player Ratcliffe personally vowed to offload May 27 2026, 6:15“What’s the point?” – NT coach hits out at Carrick for playing injured Man Utd star May 26 2026, 15:06‘Hard to post something like this…’: Man Utd target sends cryptic social media message that has fans spiralling May 26 2026, 13:43

Dolphins’ De’Von Achane says what no Miami fan will want to hear, but he’s being honest originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Miami Dolphins gave De'Von Achane a new contract just a few weeks ago, a very smart decision for the new front office and coaching staff. While the Dolphins aren't expected to be a very good team this year, and there are even some questions about what their long-term future looks like, there's no debate that Achane is one of the better running backs and offensive players in general in the entire NFL.I'm interested to see what Achane looks like in this current offense, though there's a lot of reason to believe that he can still be an elite player, as it wasn't like the Dolphins offense over the past two years was exactly great, as they dealt with multiple injuries and never really had stars around Achane.With all of the moves the Dolphins made this year, including moving on from Tua Tagovailoa, Jaylen Waddle, and Tyreek Hill, Achane has unfortunately found out what it's like to play in the NFL.He even went so far as to say that he could be the next one to end up like that, which is the last thing any Dolphins fan wants to hear right now.“Just like when somebody gets hurt and it’s just next man up,” Achane said on the May 25 edition of “The Set,” H/T Heavy. “That goes for me too. You already know I don’t need to want to talk and do all that, but now I kind of got to.“Even if I don’t want to, that’s the position I’m in now. That’s just stuff I have to do now. Like you said, everybody goes, we still got Zach Sieler, but on the offensive side of the ball, it’s only me and [Aaron Brewer].”If there's one guy the Dolphins don't want traded, it's definitely Achane. Fans made that relatively known during the offseason prior to him being extended, so hopefully this is him just talking in literal terms rather than possibly hearing something behind his back.More NFL news:Deebo Samuel prediction should lead to ex-49ers star ending up with NFC contenderSeahawks reportedly looking to move Michigan star with ties to RavensNFL insider sends harsh suggestion to 49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk on how to fix relationship in San FranciscoTyreek Hill could be stuck without team if Patriots star signs with Chiefs in free agencyColin Cowherd accuses NFL of trying to push a Bears agendaBears trade proposal moves on from quarterback in deal with Browns to end Shedeur Sanders times in Cleveland

😂 Wrong contract length given: Bundesliga star corrects own clubWe haven’t seen this happen very often either: when VfB Stuttgart announced the good news on Monday that Bilal El Khanouss had been signed permanently, the Swabians made a small slip-up.In the graphic, Stuttgart’s social media team stated that the Moroccan playmaker had been tied down until 2028.In fact, El Khanouss will stay significantly longer. The 22-year-old himself pointed this out understandingly under the post by his new and old employer and dryly commented, complete with a winking emoji: "2030".So VfB fans should be able to enjoy El Khanouss’ footballing qualities for at least four years. Stuttgart’s press release, meanwhile, says that he is tied to the club "long-term". The midfielder had been on loan from Leicester City during the season just ended and met the necessary conditions to trigger the purchase obligation. According to information from Bild, the DFB Cup finalist will pay Leicester 18 million euros including possible bonuses.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

May 26, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner (7) celebrates with first baseman Bryce Harper (3) base after hitting a one run home run during the third inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- The San Diego Padres (31-23) dropped their third straight game Tuesday night, falling 4-3 to the Philadelphia Phillies (28-27).Despite allowing three home runs, the Padres had multiple opportunities to rally late. Five total home runs were hit in the game, but Philadelphia hit three and came away with the victory.The Padres’ offense has been a hot topic all season, especially during a rough month of May. Despite those struggles, they keep finding ways to win games. Having 31 wins without consistent production at the plate is impressive, but it is also not sustainable. At some point, the Padres will need their offense to match the level of their pitching and defense if they want to keep pace in the standings now being 2.5 games back of the LA Dodgers."We're winning ball games, and we're not even playing good baseball," Machado said. "It's a positive sign, and I think everybody in here knows it. It's not going to sustain all year, and we're gonna have to step up, and we're gonna do it, and I think we're inching closer to that."San Diego had a prime chance in the bottom of the eighth inning after Ramón Laureano crushed a home run and the Padres put two more runners on base with Machado coming to the plate. Machado, who had already homered earlier in the game, grounded out to third base to end the threat.Padres starter Randy Vásquez struggled, allowing eight hits and four earned runs while striking out only two batters across 5.2 innings.Vásquez started the game strong in the top of the first inning, getting both Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner to fly out to right field for two quick outs. Bryce Harper then connected on a cutter from Vásquez and launched it to right field for an early 1-0 lead."It is really frustrating," Vásquez said. "You think you have the ability to get out of the inning at that time, and then that happens at the end of the inning. Yeah, that's very frustrating. You think you could have a good outing for your team when that happens."May 26, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) celebrates after hitting a one run home run during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.David Frerker-Imagn ImagesMay 26, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) celebrates after hitting a one run home run during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.The Phillies struck again in the second inning. Vásquez retired Alec Bohm and Bryson Stott on groundouts before catcher J.T. Realmuto demolished another cutter, this time to left field, extending the lead to 2-0.In the top of the third inning, Vásquez got Edmundo Sosa and Schwarber to fly out before Turner blasted a pitch 434 feet for Philadelphia’s third home run of the night. Harper then walked, and Brandon Marsh singled to put two runners on base. Bohm followed with a single to center field, and Harper raced home from second base to extend the lead to 4-0.In the top of the 4th inning, center fielder Jackson Merrill tracked a deep fly ball hit by Sosa and leaped at the warning track to rob yet another home run."He's had a great season, other than batting," Padres manager Craig Stammen said. "Felt really good with him playing center field, and we believe it's just a matter of time before he starts swinging with a hot bat. He's struggling right now, but we're behind him, and we got his back."The Padres responded in the bottom of the fourth inning when Gavin Sheets reached first base after Turner bobbled a ground ball hit directly at him. One pitch later, Machado hammered a sinker from Aaron Nola to left field for his ninth home run of the season, cutting the deficit to 4-2.A fun fact about Machado: his last three hits have all been home runs. In fact, five of his 10 hits during the month of May have left the yard.May 26, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (13) celebrates with center fielder Jackson Merrill (3) after hitting a two-run home run during the fourth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Petco Park. David Frerker-Imagn ImagesMay 26, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (13) celebrates with center fielder Jackson Merrill (3) after hitting a two-run home run during the fourth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Petco Park.Padres reliever Wandy Peralta ran into trouble in the top of the eighth inning after walking Harper and García and then hitting Realmuto with a pitch to load the bases. However, Justin Crawford grounded out to first base, keeping the Padres within striking distance.Laureano capitalized on that opportunity in the bottom of the eighth inning when he blasted a 409-foot home run. His seventh homer of the season brought the Padres within one run at 4-3."You're just trying to spark a rally for the team, to do something positive, and that's exactly what I was thinking," Laureano said in Spanish. "It felt really good, let's say, in quotation marks, that I needed it, but at the same time, I kept moving forward."Machado’s groundout came later in the same inning after Laureano’s homer. In the bottom of the ninth, Miguel Andújar, Jackson Merrill, and Ty France went down in order to end the game."Results are definitely frustrating," Machado said about the offense. "Obviously, no, we're not getting them, and you can see it. We all know it. But we're sticking to it, sticking to our plans, sticking to our approach, sticking to what we need to do, and eventually things, things will turn around."The Padres will try to salvage the series Wednesday afternoon when they host Philadelphia at 1:10 p.m. PT. Cristopher Sánchez (5-2) is scheduled to face Walker Buehler (3-2).

Deebo Samuel prediction should lead to ex-49ers star ending up with NFC contender originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel is in a much different part of his career than many would have expected him to be in just a few years ago. During certain parts of his time with the 49ers, Samuel was viewed as one of the better wide receivers in the NFL. He was also used as a running back, showing he had the opportunity to impact the game in multiple ways on offense. While Samuel is still a decent player in some regards, he definitely isn't what he once was, and showed that with the Washington Commanders.Now a free agent, despite him not being what he once was, there's still reason to believe that he can bring some value to a contending team, especially ones that don't have an elite wide receiver corps. That includes the Green Bay Packers, a team the former 49ers star was recently linked to.“Samuel can be utilized in a number of roles lining up all over the field and offering value as a potential backfield option. This will bring out the best of LaFleur’s offensive creativity and give Love a much-needed weapon in the 2026 season,” Nick Halden wrote.The Packers have a lot of decent wide receivers, but not any guy who stands out as a potential difference-maker. That's been the problem for them over the past few years, though I'm a bit skeptical that Samuel would be that guy. He's a fine player, but nothing more than that at this stage of his career.More NFL news:Seahawks reportedly looking to move Michigan star with ties to RavensNFL insider sends harsh suggestion to 49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk on how to fix relationship in San FranciscoTyreek Hill could be stuck without team if Patriots star signs with Chiefs in free agencyColin Cowherd accuses NFL of trying to push a Bears agendaBears trade proposal moves on from quarterback in deal with Browns to end Shedeur Sanders times in ClevelandBears must avoid ESPN’s prediction at all costs, despite obvious need

Stephon Castle believes the Spurs are not getting the same luxury to be physical as OKC originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Physicality has been a significant part of the Western Conference Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder. People have brought up Isaiah Hartenstein, Lu Dort, Alex Caruso, and Cason Wallace, who all play physical defense.While that is true, the Spurs have also played some physical defense in this series. Stephon Castle is the most prominent one because he has been quite physical in his defense against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.Stephon Castle thinks the Thunder are getting away with physicalityIt is an interesting dynamic between the Spurs and the Thunder. They are being given the leeway to be more physical against each other, but it seems it is getting into the players' heads.Both teams have gotten away with physicality, as seen with Hartenstein's Game 2 performance and how Castle keeps bumping into SGA in almost every possession. However, it seems the Spurs believe they are not getting enough calls in their favor.MORE: Mitch Johnson wants more from Victor Wembanyama in Game 6Thunder fans will hate what Castle is saying because he is the number one guy when it comes to physical defense on the Spurs' side. However, Castle does believe the Thunder gets away with it at times, not always."The way they guard, how physical they are, we don't get that same luxury to be able to play as physical on the other end at times, but offensively, I think we do great at screening and playing through it," Castle said in his press conference after Game 5.That might ruffle some feathers because of the discourse surrounding officiating. However, it will still mean the Spurs will be ready to perform in Game 6 as their backs are against the wall now.More NBA news:The Thunder fans have the 85.7% statistic that favors them to become the second NBA Finals teamAlex Caruso has become the x-factor for the Thunder's 2026 postseason runThe box score for Game 5 of the 2026 Western Conference FinalsMitch Johnson's technical foul in Game 5 of the WCF explained The viral Victor Wembanyama Nike ads have turned out to be fake

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - MAY 24: Carlos Rodríguez and Erik Lira of Cruz Azul lift the Champion's trophy after winning the Torneo Clausura 2026 Liga MX final second leg match between Pumas UNAM and Cruz Azul at Olimpico Universitario Stadium on May 24, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images) | Getty Images Cruz Azul bounced back to get a 2-1 victory over Pumas to win their 10th Liga MX title and become the Clausura 2026 champions. Cruz Azul was the better team but they went down to a somewhat early goal but came back in a 2nd half that was disastrous for the home team. Cruz Azul won their 2nd title in the Estadio Olimpico Universitario after winning the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup against Vancouver Whitecaps in that same stadium. The 1st half started with Pumas coming out from the start with Adalberto Carrasquilla while Cruz Azul came out with their typical liguilla 11. A mistake from Cruz Azul almost allowed a 1 vs 1 for Robert Morales but Willer Ditta was able to clear the ball. From outside the area, Carlos Rotondi got off a left footed shot that forced a great save from Pumas’ goalkeeper, Keylor Navas. Also from outsid the area, Agustin Palavecino got off a right footed shot that forced another great save from Navas. After a clash with Carrasquilla, Jose Paradela looked to have injurd himself but he remained in the game. A low cross into the area was volleyed wide by Carlos Rodriguez. From way outside the area, Rodrigo Lopez got off a great right footed shot that forced a good save from Cruz Azul’s goalkeeper, Kevin Mier. Off a counter, the ball would end up getting to Uriel Antuna but his shot was blocked into the path of Robert Morales, who got off a great right footed shot past Mier to score and give Pumas the 1-0 lead. After getting the ball in the area, Palavecino got off a right footed shot that would go just wide. Cruz Azul subbed out the injured Jose Paradela for Gabriel Fernandez. A cross into the area was headed from close range by Rotondi but Navas made a wonderful save. Off another counter, Juninho would find Morales in the area, who got off a low right footed shot that forced a good save from Mier. The halftime whistle blew and although Cruz Azul had been the better side, Pumas had the lead and were closer to the title win. The 2nd half started with neither team making a change during the break. A cross into the area would fall to Rodriguez but he failed to get off a shot and instead send a cross that went wide, in a bad miss. After winning the ball just outside the area, Juninho would get off a shot past Mier to score but the goal was disallowed for a clear handball from the Pumas attacker. Off a quick counter, Jordan Carrillo got off a shot that was deflected wide. A cross into the area by Rotondi would be cleared by Alvaro Angulo but right to Ruben Duarte, who deflected the ball into the net to score an own goal that tied the match at 1-1. It was a bad defensive mistake from Pumas and the team looked to have been hurt by that mistake. After hurting himself in a slide, Carrasquilla looked to have injured himself as he was crying on the field. Pumas had to sub out the injured Adalberto Carrasquilla for Santiago Trigos. From way outside the area, Gonzalo Piovi got off a great left footed shot that would force Navas to make another great save. Because of injury, Ruben Duarte had to be subbed out for Pablo Bennevendo. After making a foul, Amaury Garcia looked to have injured himself. He would be subbed out and Jorge Rodarte came in for him. Carrillo got off a right footed shot from outside the area that was deflected wide. Off the ensuing corner kick, Bennevendo got off a header that went just wide. Pumas subbed out Rodrigo Lopez for Angel Rico. After a harsh foul by Uriel Antuna on Jeremy Marquez, the referee would go to VAR and give him the red card, leaving Pumas with 10 players. A pass into the area would bounce around and fall to Carlos Rotondi, who got off a left footed shot past Navas to score and give Cruz Azul the 2-1 lead in injury time. Things looked more than bleak for the home side and incredibly positive for Cruz Azul. After a late tackle, Angel Rico got red carded. Rico, who added nothing to Pumas after going in, is a great example that while Pumas improved over Juarez, their youth level products continue to be incredibly poor. It would be the last play as Cruz Azul would hold on to get their victory and their tenth League title in Mexico. Cruz Azul were deserving champions after defeating Pumas by a 2-1 score. Although Pumas had finished at top of the standings, their Liguilla had not be great and they were the inferior team in the 180 minutes of the final. Cruz Azul had been clearly superior in the first leg, and although they weren’t that dominating in the 2nd leg,they were the slightly better team. Worse yet for Pumas’ fans, the win is the second title for Cruz Azul won in the Estadio Olimpico Universitario, after they played there during the Estadio Azteca remodeling, where they defeated Vancouver Whitecaps in the final. The better news for Cruz Azul was the shining match by Carlos Rotondi, who had been criticized in past liguillas for mistakes against America. Not only was he the scorer of the last minute goal but he was the best player for Cruz Azul. Cruz Azul spent years without a title (From 1997 until 2021) but have now won their second title and extended Pumas’ lack of Liga MX titles to 15 years. Coach Joel Huiqui also became champion after only taking the team in the final months, when Nicolas Larcamon was fired. Overall, it was an historic night for Cruz Azul, who will clearly fight for a place among the top teams in Mexico.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Alex Caruso sparked another big effort from the bench Tuesday night. And he's a big reason the Thunder are on the verge of returning to the NBA Finals.Caruso scored 22 points and was 4 of 8 on 3-pointers to help Oklahoma City — down two starters — to a 127-114 victory over San Antonio in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals.“We have good players on our bench. They’ve got good players on their bench,” Caruso said. “So, we know that’s an area of the game where you can try to find some positive plus-minus time for that group."The bench rotation wasn't the same for the Thunder in Game 5; Jared McCain moved into the starting lineup and scored 20 points. McCain scored 24 of Oklahoma City's 76 bench points in a 123-108 win in Game 3 at San Antonio.Instead, Oklahoma City got eight points off the bench from Kenrich Williams, who made both 3s he attempted, and seven points from Cason Wallace. The Thunder outscored the Spurs by 29 points in Wallace's 31 minutes.“I think we’ve just gone a good job, whoever it’s been — and it’s been a lot of different people during the series, a couple of guys that have been consistently there,” said Caruso, who added six assists. That group, I think ... has just done a great job of competing through those minutes.”After five games, the Thunder bench is outscoring San Antonio's reserves 257-127.___AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

Dolphins 28-year-old with 183 tackles viewed as option to fix Cowboys’ defense originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Miami Dolphins are currently viewed as one of the worst teams in the NFL entering next season, and in a way, it's a bit tough to disagree. The Dolphins haven't proven anything on either side of the football with this current roster, and with a new coaching staff in place, Miami will definitely have to hope it plays a lot better than it has in the past.Some of the decisions the Dolphins have made have been impressive, but they still have a few guys on the roster who are being viewed as trade candidates. That includes linebacker Jordyn Brooks, the 28-year-old from Dallas, Texas, who would make a lot of sense with the Dallas Cowboys.“Brooks was a monster in 2025, recording a league-leading 183 tackles with 13 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Adding him on an expiring contract would be the perfect move since it ensures Dallas has a strong defense this year and creates competition among Brooks, Overshown, and Winters. That's ideal since Winters and Overshown are also free agents in 2027.“The options would be plentiful for the Cowboys, who could retain the best of the bunch to hopefully pair with Barham assuming he's ready to start in year two. They could also move on from all three if they decide to go with a younger option in the 2027 NFL draft,” SI’s Randy Gurzi wrote.The Cowboys' defense has been a major reason they haven't played the type of football most fans expect from an organization that's one of the most storied in the world. Brooks wouldn't change everything for the Cowboys, but he's definitely a lot better than what they currently have, and after having a decent season for the Dolphins in 2025, posting 183 tackles, there's definitely a lot of reason to believe that he could be a guy the Cowboys look at for the short and long term.More NFL news:Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill gets unfortunate injury update amid Chiefs and other rumorsBengals and Cowboys could battle for 12.0-sack defender after latest NFL rumorLatest NFL trade rumor should lead to Bears making trade for 12.0-sack starDolphins’ De’Von Achane says what no Miami fan will want to hear, but he’s being honestDeebo Samuel prediction should lead to ex-49ers star ending up with NFC contenderSeahawks reportedly looking to move Michigan star with ties to Ravens

A Manchester City midfielder could leave this summer as the possibility that he is squeezed out looms largeOne player who endured a frustrating season for Manchester City was Spanish midfielder Nico Gonzalez. For the first half of the season, Nico was integral to Pep Guardiola’s side. As Rodri battled his way back to full fitness, Nico’s play kept City’s season ticking along. Once Rodri returned in the second half of the season, Nico’s opportunities to play dried up. Following Manchester City’s costly 3-3 draw with Everton, Nico barely featured at all, save for the final day of the season when City lost 2-1 to Aston Villa in what was essentially a dead rubber. Heading into the summer, as Manchester City begin a new era, Nico’s future is uncertain. The possibility that he could be squeezed out of City’s squad looms large, as it has been reported that Nico is considering his future at City.The possibility that Nico could leave Manchester City this summer seems very real.Paul Hirst has reported for The Times that Nico is considering his future at Manchester City due to a lack of game time throughout the 2025-26 season. Hirst further reports that clubs from Italy and Spain have an interest in signing the Spanish midfielder. Furthermore, Hirst reports that Manchester City’s interest in Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson and Chelsea’s combative midfielder Enzo Fernandez could push Nico further down the pecking order at City. It remains to be seen what Nico will do at this stage, but he does seemingly face a battle to establish himself in a prominent role for the FA and Carabao Cup holders.If City land two midfielders this summer and keep Rodri, Nico’s role at City isn’t immediately clear.This summer will be busy for Manchester City as they embark on a new era. Players will come in to strengthen City’s squad for next season and beyond. However, players will depart to begin the reshaping of the City squad, and players such as Nico do face uncertain futures at this time.Unfortunately for Nico, Rodri stands in his way to play in his preferred role at Manchester City. It stood out in the first half of this season that Nico can thrive at City when given the opportunity. What hampers his prospects is that when Rodri is fit, Nico won’t start ahead of him. Perhaps if Rodri were to depart City this summer, Paul Hirst also reports that Real Madrid remains interested in signing the Ballon d’Or winner this summer. That may change Nico’s circumstances. However, City’s interest in signing Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez may force Nico’s hand. It remains to be seen how that will all play out.Nico is reportedly considering his future at Manchester City. That is understandable given his lack of consistent football this season. City are entering a new era, but if Nico will be part of it remains to be seen. However, it is understandable that Nico is considering his options given how the 2025-26 season panned out for him.

OKLAHOMA CITY—For five painstaking minutes, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander technically close but logistically far away on the Thunder bench, each possession became a test of faith. Faith in head coach Mark Daigneault to map out a survival plan without their source of sustenance, especially with Victor Wembanyama roaming the floor at the other end. Faith in the trusted five on the floor, each with their own reason for motivation to succeed. Faith in a passionate fanbase known for its volume — both literally and figuratively — to support the second quarter stint. Faith in everything that mattered to a franchise desperate to retain leverage in a pivotal Game 5. So as San Antonio’s coaching staff rushed to the court 90 seconds in, stunned by a lightning-quick 7-0 run accentuated by Alex Caruso’s 3-point celebration for a shot that didn’t even belong to him, it was evident that the faith had been restored and rewarded. “I thought we were first to the fight tonight,” Daigneault said following the Thunder’s 127-114 win. “On both ends. And we weren’t the other night. That’s why that game went the way it did and why tonight went the way it did. Obviously there’s always some variance — they missed some good looks. But looking internally at us, I just loved the way we approached the game on both ends of the floor. We attacked the game and were rewarded for that.”Play 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world's biggest soccer tournamentThe audacity to entrust a group that had played a whopping two minutes together during the regular season and three in the playoffs to keep things afloat was bold in itself, but their individualism stuck out as well. And in a playoff campaign marked by mileage, the Thunder’s belief — and expectation — to maintain equilibrium even with Gilgeous-Alexander has kept them thus far. That lineup, as raw as it was, still had a job to do. Chet Holmgren, having strung together a number of subpar performances, needed an evening filled with confidence, snarl and fight. Jared McCain, who had gone from being discarded at the end of his tenure in Philadelphia to finding a home in Oklahoma City, had an opportunity to justify Daigneault’s lineup change halfway through a series. Cason Wallace, who had been demoted, still needed to maintain the level of professionalism Daigneault had raved about and impact the game at both ends. And Caruso, the veteran mainstay and emotional compass, had to step into his leadership role to an even higher degree. Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) celebrates his three-point basket against the San Antonio Spurs in the second half of Game 5 in the Western Conference finals NBA basketball playoffs series, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)AP Photo/Julio CortezThe results spoke for themselves; Caruso, with 22 points and four 3s made, led the team in scoring and chipped in 6 assists and 3 steals; Holmgren looked more like himself with an efficient 16 points and 11 rebounds; McCain’s 20 points required 19 shots but his aggression kept the machine running smoothly; Wallace recorded 2 steals, 2 blocks, 5 assists and finished with a game-best +29. “We’ve dealt with a lot of injuries this year,” Daigneault said. “Which puts us in positions where we’re just trying to use the guys that are available and find the right combinations to be a 48-minute team. You can frontload a lineup that’s really good but it may put you in a tough position when it’s time to get out that lineup with substitutions. The guys do a great job of playing together and to their strengths, regardless of who’s on the court. That group, to your point, played huge minutes for us on both ends of the floor.”The longer this matchup has dragged on — and it certainly looks like it has the legs to go seven games — the less it has become about Gilgeous-Alexander versus Wembanyama, ethical (or non-ethical) hoops and more about everyone else. The former finished with a game-high 32 points but missed 12 of his 19 shots, turned the ball over six times and needed 17 free throws to get there. The latter struggled to create any real offensive impact, ending with 20 points on 4-for-15 shooting. Both teams combined for 32 turnovers, 51 fouls and struggled at the rim. (It's also important to note that while the pairing of Isaiah Hartenstein and Holmgren played at a net neutral in about 15 minutes of game time, the tandem did well to control the offensive glass. The Thunder's 46.7 offensive rebounding rate with those two on the floor played a significant part in converting 14 second chances into 26 points. In addition, San Antonio made just 51.7 percent of shots at the rim, which ranks in just the seventh percentile of postseason performances this season.)But it was the Thunder’s strength in numbers, once again, that saved the day. Wallace and Caruso provided the length, irritation and defensive IQ to swarm Wembanyama and make things difficult at the point of attack. The trickle-down effects of Oklahoma City’s aggression, starting with those two, negatively affected the likes of De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper, ailing guards that rely on their speed and change-of-pace movements. At the other end, the reserves did enough offensively, spacing the floor effectively and sharing the ball at nearly an identical rate than their starters (12 assists to 14 from the starters). Since Daigneault stepped foot in Oklahoma City, this team has always been the sum of its parts. Gilgeous-Alexander commands the lion’s share of headlines — and rightfully so — but the Thunder don’t get this far, within one game of a return to the Finals, without the contributions of the crew. San Antonio has been a worthy opponent on basketball’s biggest stage, which beckons a competitive, emotional Game 6, but this team’s North Star has never wavered. No matter which five Daigneault throws out on the floor. “The team was huge tonight,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Like I always say, we’re a team out there. We don’t get this far, I don’t have this individual success, the team doesn’t have success without all 15 guys in the locker room and we proved it tonight. If it was five me’s out there, we would have been down 20 after the first quarter. But those guys held it down.”

Sky Sports presenter and massive Lads fan TOM WHITE joins Gav and Ant for a chinwag now that the dust has settled following Sunday’s dramatic events at the Stadium of Light! Coming up on today’s show…Well… has it sunk in yet that Sunderland will play in the Europa League next season?! It has for some, but not for all…We reflect on Luke O’Nien’s journey from League One to today, and how much that clearly meant to him on Sunday;Is Enzo Le Fee Sunderland’s best player?Are there any worries about losing some of our most talented people, like Régis Le Bris, Le Fee, et al?Today’s show is brought to you in association with Saily. For more details on today’s special offer, go to ⁠saily.com/haway⁠, and remember to add in the discount code of haway to get 15% off.All this and more! Get subscribed to Haway The Podcast so you never miss another episode of our free daily show.Want to get in touch with us? You can drop us an email at HawayThePodcastSAFC@Gmail.com, or you can contact us via social media – we’re @RokerReport on almost every platform. For your daily SAFC fan-written content, head over to⁠⁠RokerReport.SBNation.com ⁠⁠𝗛𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗢𝗗𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗧 🎙️🇪🇺 YEWWWWRUUUP! 🇪🇺Sky Sports presenter TOM WHITE joins us to chat more about Sunderland’s European qualification on Sunday!APPLE: https://t.co/XYKPS4uSKASPOTIFY: https://t.co/25UQ3S5YuChttps://t.co/MrScfojZL0 | #SAFC ❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/75nfBewjIK— Roker Report (@RokerReport) May 27, 2026

Zion Suzuki back on the menu as United prepare summer offer Manchester United have plans to revamp their goalkeeping department yet again, with two of their players set to depart in the summer.Andre Onana is widely regarded as one of the worst goalkeepers in the club’s history, and while INEOS would prefer a permanent exit, another loan move to Trabzonspor cannot be ruled out.His backup, Altay Bayindir, was comically bad at the start of the season, which led to INEOS bringing in Senne Lammens.What a masterstroke that proved to be, with the Turkiye international relegated permanently to the bench as a result.Goalkeeping revamp on the cardsThe former Fenerbahce ace is desperate to earn more minutes, and a return to his homeland appears likely. Third-choice keeper Tom Heaton is expected to stay, but he is unlikely to be promoted to the backup position.Many would prefer to see Radek Vitek, back from a stunning loan spell, get Bayindir’s position, but it would be a mistake to keep hold of the talented star and play him only in cup competitions.A ruthless sale to earn pure profit would do wonders for the club, handing INEOS more money to try and bring in a reliable deputy for Lammens.A familiar name has once again popped up in connection with a move to Old Trafford with Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness) claiming the 20-time English league champions have re-entered the picture for Zion Suzuki.Zion Suzuki back on United’s radarThe Japanese international was widely linked with a move to the Theatre of Dreams a couple of years ago, but the 23-year-old chose to join Belgian side Sint-Truiden VV instead, before eventually joining Parma.Without the added glare that comes with playing for United, the 6ft 2in shot-stopper has developed into a solid presence between the sticks.He recovered from a broken hand to help keep six clean sheets in all competitions, as Parma escaped relegation.The Japanese ace has been described as one of Parma’s most improved players, especially on the ball, helping the team launch quick attacks from deep.World Cup could help Parma earn hefty feeHis displays have meant plenty of teams have joined the race for his signature, including United who are ‘preparing to make a move’ in the summer.Galatasaray and Napoli are admirers, as are West Ham and Chelsea. More than rival admirers, the possibility of Zion Suzuki exploding at the World Cup is the main concern.Currently having a market value of €20 million (via Transfermarkt), it could double if the former Urawa Red Diamonds ace shines in the United States.As for Parma, they would prefer to sell to an English side, considering Giovanni Leoni’s recent move to Liverpool, which made him their fifth most profitable sale.It remains to be seen if United can cough up the money for Zion Suzuki this summer, considering they have to strengthen in midfield, in defence, out wide, and even up front.Feature image Alessandro Sabattini via Getty Imagesonline 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

'Firm fan favourite' midfielder comes back to Liverpool as club issues statementIt promises to be a summer of big change for Liverpool. On Sunday Anfield waved goodbye to two of their favourites. Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson will be departing after their glorious, trophy-laden spells.And there are reports that more players will join them. Alisson Becker is said to be in talks with Juventus while Ibrahima Konate is out of contract in just a few weeks.Factor in uncertainty around Joe Gomez, Federico Chiesa and Curtis Jones and you can see a clearout on the horizon for Arne Slot and Richard Hughes.By the time preseason kicks off Arne Slot could be working with a very reduced-looking group. But one player he should have at his disposal - if an injury heals in time - is Luca Stephenson.Luca Stephenson is coming backThe 22-year-old has spent the last two seasons out on loan with Dundee United. His second spell was curtailed due to a hamstring injury - ending his season early.Now Dundee United have put out a statement confirming the versatile defender/ midfielder will return to Anfield in the off-season.“Luca Stephenson returns to Liverpool F.C. following a second loan spell at Tannadice, having become a firm fan favourite across his two seasons with the club,” the statement reads.“The versatile midfielder made 67 appearances in all competitions during his time as a Terror, contributing eight goals and playing an important role both on and off the pitch.”

Enzo Maresca reportedly believes a Chelsea midfielder can add a different dimension to Manchester CityWith Pep Guardiola having now left Manchester City, it is widely accepted that Enzo Maresca will be City’s next manager. Barring a spectacular U-turn, the Italian manager will be tasked with leading a new era for the FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders. While Hugo Viana will have City’s summer transfer window mapped out, Maresca will have input on who City look to sign this summer. One player who continues to be named as a City transfer target is Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez. It has now been reported that Maresca is desperate to sign the World Cup winner. The Italian manager reportedly believes that Fernandez can add an element to the City midfield that they currently lack.Enzo Maresca is reportedly eager to bring Enzo Fernandez to the Etihad.A new report has emerged that continues to name Enzo Fernandez as a Manchester City transfer target. Firstly, Florian Plettenberg has reported that Enzo Maresca is desperate for City to sign the combative midfielder. Furthermore, Plettenberg reports that Maresca believes that Fernandez can add a different element to Manchester City’s squad. Lastly, Plettenberg reports that PSG and Real Madrid have Enzo Fernandez on their shortlists.Enzo Fernandez does have attributes that Manchester City need in midfield.The noise continues to grow louder that Manchester City could potentially move for Enzo Fernandez this summer. This summer does figure to be a busy one in terms of both incomings and outgoings for the FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders. Manchester City’s midfield does need to be improved. The loss of Bernardo Silva does need to be covered. City’s pursuit of Elliot Anderson does seem to cover the loss of Bernardo. However, Enzo Maresca’s reported assumption that Enzo Fernandez can add what City’s midfield lacks is certainly interesting.Enzo Fernandez brings goals and can create from midfield. City needs this element added to their play. Phil Foden, when at his best, provides this. Tijjani Reijnders also does this, but his debut season at Manchester City was a trying one. Enzo Fernandez is Premier League proven, and at Chelsea, his goals and ability to fashion opportunities for his teammates were vital. City could use another creative midfielder in this regard.Also, losing Bernardo Silva does take some of the mongrel out of City’s play. Bernardo Silva was a feisty midfielder who so often did the ‘dirty work’ for his team. While City will continue to play possession based, free flowing football when Maresca takes over, they do need a player who will add bite and fight in midfield. Enzo Fernandez does this. He’s a combative and feisty midfielder. City could do with adding a midfielder like Enzo Fernandez who will do whatever it takes for his team.Enzo Fernandez continues to be linked with a potential summer move to Manchester City. It also appears that Enzo Maresca is desperate to add a player to his City squad that he worked well with at Chelsea. Enzo Fernandez has attributes as a player that City need, so perhaps it is a move that they will make this summer to add goals and bite to their midfield.

“It was a small ceremony with about 40 guests, none of whom were his father,” the late-night host said of Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding in the Bahamas over the weekend.

Red Sox could luck out due to insane general manager habits if Aroldis Chapman rumors come true originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.It's never fair to consider a season wasted or done at the end of May, as we're not even close to the trade deadline at the beginning of August, but the Boston Red Sox have been just as bad as anybody could have imagined entering the year. At 22-30 and 4-6 over their last 10 games, the Red Sox have at least been the most disappointing team in baseball by a relatively wide margin. Nobody was expecting Boston to play at this level, and as a result, it's 12.5 games back in the American League East.There's an expectation that the Red Sox will have to move on from some guys, and one name that continues to pop up is Aroldis Chapman.Chapman, one of the best relievers baseball has ever seen, continues to be lights out. He currently owns a 0.51 ERA and has struck out 23 hitters in 17.2 innings. For the Red Sox, the hope is that they'd be able to get some really good prospects in return, and it sounds like that might be the case, with the San Diego Padres being a potential suitor.“The San Diego Padres are looking for more bullpen help and have their eyes on Aroldis Chapman of the Boston Red Sox and Antonio Senzatela of the Colorado Rockies,” Bob Nightengale of USA Today wrote.The Padres have made some very bad trades in recent years, but still have one of the better farm systems in the game in terms of that top-end talent. After trading Leo De Vries for closer Mason Miller last year, the Red Sox probably aren't going to get the same type of return, but trading with San Diego typically ends well for the other team, so this is something Boston should be interested in doing.More MLB news:Insider all but confirms Mets and Phillies have no chance to land future $500 million starYankees, Dodgers, and Blue Jays get perfect update on Tarik Skubal sweepstakesYankees’ Jazz Chisholm sends heartfelt message to Anthony Volpe amid questions of Volpe playing second baseDodgers would have no choice but to trade this prospect in any deal for Tarik SkubalBlue Jays young top prospect suddenly viewed as trade candidate for Tarik Skubal reasonYankees’ Carlos Lagrange now viewed as trade candidate in potential deal to help New York win World Series

The push is on from Manchester City to complete a big move ahead of the World CupIt is no secret that Manchester City are eager to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest this summer. Anderson had a superb 2025-26 season for Nottingham Forest, and he also looms as a key player for England at the upcoming World Cup. In an ideal world, City would be able to complete the signing of Anderson before this summer’s World Cup takes place. If they could achieve this goal, they’d have their primary transfer target signed so they could shift onto other deals in the summer transfer window.A new report has stated that City are pushing to sign Elliot Anderson ahead of the World Cup. It is also reported that there is a gap in the valuation of Elliot Anderson between City and Nottingham Forest. However, that may prove to only be a minor stumbling block for the FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders to overcome.Manchester City are hopeful of agreeing a deal with Nottingham Forest to sign Elliot Anderson.Ben Jacobs and Alex Crook have reported for TalkSport that Manchester City are hopeful of agreeing a deal with Nottingham Forest that will see Elliot Anderson sign for the FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders. Furthermore, it is reported that City remain intent on completing their move for Anderson before the World Cup. Jacobs and Crook add that talks between the two clubs have taken place. The TalkSport report indicates that there is a gap in both teams’ valuation of Elliot Anderson. Manchester City value Anderson at £80 million, while Nottingham Forest are hoping to sell Anderson for a transfer fee around £105 million.Despite the reported gap in both teams’ valuation of Elliot Anderson, middle ground does seem like it could be found.It isn’t a surprise to discover that Manchester City and Nottingham Forest have already held talks over a City move for Elliot Anderson. City’s interest in Anderson is well-known. The powerful midfielder seems like the ideal fit for Manchester City’s midfield. Also, the quicker that City can agree a deal to sign Anderson, the better it will be for them. That way, Hugo Viana can shift onto other priorities in the summer market. From a Nottingham Forest point of view, the quicker they agree a deal for Anderson, the more time it will allow them to find a suitable replacement.TalkSport’s report indicates that there is a £25 million gap in the valuation of Elliot Anderson between the two parties. However, given how Hugo Viana operates it wouldn’t be a surprise to see middle ground found. Whether that is by City increasing what they are willing to pay, or using add-ons to fill the gap. Also, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Forest meet City with a compromise given the good relationship that exists between the two clubs.Manchester City are pushing to agree a deal to sign Elliot Anderson ahead of this summer’s World Cup. That has seemingly always been City’s plan. Although a gap in the valuation of Anderson exists between the two clubs, it would be a surprise if City didn’t land their man within their ideal timeline.

Romano: Man Utd ‘calling and calling’ to get to the front of the queue for ‘elite’ Premier League talismanAccording to Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United are ‘calling and calling’ to put themselves at the front of the queue for Elliot Anderson this summer.It comes amid growing reports that arch-rivals Manchester City are leading the race, but that hasn’t deterred INEOS from pushing hard for the Nottingham Forest star.DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL STRETTY NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES & BREAKING NEWS – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAYCity hoping to come out on top for Elliot AndersonYet, while United are carrying out their own respective pursuit, City are doing the same.Want more Stretty News coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trustThe departure of Pep Guardiola and impending arrival of his successor, Enzo Maresca, haven’t changed things for the Blues; they still see Anderson as their first-choice midfielder to bring in when the window opens.Nottingham Forest have also seemingly conceded behind the scenes that the England star, hailed as ‘elite’ by Thomas Tuchel, is as good as gone, as a report from The Telegraph this week claimed that the Midlands outfit plan to use Moises Caicedo’s £115 million transfer fee as the benchmark for Anderson.If not Anderson, who else?Such a price could, realistically, see United bring in two proven midfielders to bolster the position, rather than shelling out such an exorbitant fee on one.For example, Carlos Baleba’s drop-off in form throughout 2025/2026 has presumably led to him being a more affordable acquisition.Similarly, Mateus Fernandes suffering relegation with West Ham means he’s likely to be on the move for the second successive summer, and he’ll be well aware that United are waiting in the wings, ready to offer him a direct route back to the Premier League – not to mention the Champions League, too.The likes of Alex Scott, Adam Wharton, Ederson and Aurelien Tchouameni are all highly regarded amongst club chiefs, albeit the latter is less feasible than the rest on the list.More Stories / Latest NewsRomano: Man Utd ‘calling and calling’ to get to the front of the queue for ‘elite’ Premier League talisman May 27 2026, 7:00Luckhurst: ‘High possibility’ Man Utd complete shock U-turn and retain player Ratcliffe personally vowed to offload May 27 2026, 6:15“What’s the point?” – NT coach hits out at Carrick for playing injured Man Utd star May 26 2026, 15:06

🥐 From a historic final to a legend's farewell, 5️⃣ Wednesday storiesThe football world is experiencing one of its most intense days of the year, combining epic action on the pitch with the hottest developments behind the scenes.While a modest Spanish club brushes against continental glory, the two giants of our country are stealing the spotlight for radically different reasons: the farewell of a legend, the presidential race, and the transfer market.Below, we review the main news stories completely shaping this Wednesday’s agenda, offering the keys to the stories that will define the coming weeks in the beautiful game.Rayo face the match of their lives in the Conference LeagueRayo Vallecano take on the biggest challenge in their hundred-year history tonight in Leipzig. The red-sashed side face England’s Crystal Palace in the grand final of the Conference League. The streets of Vallecas are daring to dream of lifting their first European trophy in a showdown where Madrid’s hope takes on the might of the Premier League.Historic farewell: Alexia Putellas brings her Barça era to an endA golden and unforgettable era comes to a close. Alexia Putellas, two-time Ballon d’Or winner, will not continue at FC Barcelona. The Catalan club has prepared an emotional institutional tribute for today, bidding farewell to the player who changed the course of women’s football. Everything points to her next exotic destination being England’s London City Lionesses.Florentino Pérez formally launches his presidential bidThe race for the Bernabéu throne is officially underway. Florentino Pérez will formally present his candidacy for the Real Madrid presidency at 7:00 p.m. in a central Madrid hotel. The current president is responding to the step forward taken by businessman Enrique Riquelme, ensuring there will be a contest at the ballot box.Real Madrid elections: Riquelme stirs things up on COPE with his signingsOpposition candidate Enrique Riquelme has wasted no time and lit up the microphones at Cadena COPE. The businessman revealed that he already has two top-level reinforcements lined up if he wins the election: a Spain international who will play at the next World Cup and a proven coach who is currently managing a team.Lightning move: Barça step up their push for Anthony GordonOn the transfer front, newspaper Mundo Deportivo reveals a strategic move by Deco in London. Barcelona are making strong progress to complete the signing of Anthony Gordon. The Newcastle winger is highly rated by the board, and the player himself is prioritizing a move to Barça over joining Bayern or Liverpool.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm sends heartfelt message to Anthony Volpe amid questions of Volpe playing second base originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.There have been some questions about whether the New York Yankees could bench Jazz Chisholm in favor of Anthony Volpe when a left-hander is on the mound. Doing so would be one of the more questionable things the Yankees have done in quite some time, but I don't really think we can put anything past them at the moment. Unfortunately, the Yankees have continued to prove they believe in the analytical side of things, and a favorable matchup is something they're always looking for.With the media talking about it, there's no doubt players are at least hearing about it, or perhaps it's even been considered and discussed with Volpe and Chisholm. Regardless of whether that's the case or not, Chisholm still has a lot of love for the 25-year-old Yankees shortstop who hasn't done what anybody expected him to do.Volpe had his best game of the season on Monday in the win against the Kansas City Royals, collecting two RBIs and a run with a massive hit late in the game.“You know the love I got for Volpe… I’m super happy and excited for him. Especially in that moment where we needed it the most… He’s a pretty confident kid and he handles things with a lot of professionalism… He’s just an all-around great player. He can take you deep, he can go get the hit like today, he can play great defense… He’s going out there and grinding, he doesn’t let anything stop him… You’ve seen him last year, he played through a whole injury for a whole season… That’s tough,” Chisholm said, per YES Network.While Volpe hasn't been the guy the Yankees have been looking for, it's also important to recognize how difficult his job is. Being the Yankees' shortstop, at any age, but especially at 25 years old, is no easy task.He wants to be playing better, too, so I think some fans need to realize that and try not to get on him as much as they do.More MLB news:Dodgers would have no choice but to trade this prospect in any deal for Tarik SkubalBlue Jays young top prospect suddenly viewed as trade candidate for Tarik Skubal reasonYankees’ Carlos Lagrange now viewed as trade candidate in potential deal to help New York win World SeriesAstros’ Alimber Santa did something we haven’t seen since 1892 with his help in no-hitterYankees urged to move on from struggling $70 million veteran for Astros star, but Houston won’t trade him to NYJazz Chisholm Jr. sends warning message to Blue Jays after disappointing series for New York

Barcelona not considering a move for Polish defender despite recent linksReports on Tuesday had revealed that Jakub Kiwior is one of the names on Barcelona’s shortlist as they look to shore up their options at the back this summer.The Polish centre-back is coming off the back of a promising season at FC Porto, after joining the club on a loan deal from Arsenal.Barcelona not interested in KiwiorHowever, according to Mundo Deportivo, Kiwior is not among the options on Barcelona’s sporting management’s shortlist to bolster their central defence.Barcelona not considering a move for Kiwior. (Photo by Mateusz Slodkowski/Getty Images)Despite the reports emerging from Poland suggesting Deco had contacted Porto president Andre Villas-Boas to enquire about the player, the Catalan club have no active interest in pursuing a deal.The reports from Poland had cited the website Meczyki as their source, claiming Deco had reached out to explore the possibility of negotiating a transfer for Kiwior.Porto are expected to exercise their €17 million purchase option on July 1st, with the Portuguese club’s well-known tendency to sell players making him a potentially accessible target for European clubs.Is Kiwior a good option for Barcelona?FC Porto are expected to sign Kiwior on a permanent deal. (Photo by Rafal Oleksiewicz/Getty Images)Kiwior’s profile is not without merit. The 26-year-old stands at 1.89 metres, is left-footed and is versatile enough to play as a centre-back, left-back or even defensive midfielder, having featured in 39 matches for Porto this season as a key defensive figure.However, after his struggles to establish himself at Arsenal, Barcelona appear unconvinced that he represents the calibre of addition they are targeting.The club continue to look elsewhere for the left-footed centre-back they want, with Bastoni’s situation having cooled due to Inter Milan’s financial demands.

Insider looking at Phillies as team that would overspend to land this player at Major League Baseball’s trade deadline originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Detroit Tigers might find themselves in a very strange position at Major League Baseball's trade deadline, as there are obviously a lot of questions now about what the organization is going to do with Tarik Skubal. Unless the Tigers still believe they have a chance to extend him during the offseason, or perhaps he takes a deal before the deadline to stay in Detroit long term, there really is no reason to keep him around. However, because of this surgery, there's a very good chance teams aren't going to want to give the Tigers what they would've gotten just a few months ago. In fact, one MLB executive believes only Dave Dombrowski or AJ Preller, the San Diego Padres and Philadelphia Phillies top decision-makers, would be the only two who might overpay.“It would have to be a [Dave] Dombrowski or [AJ] Preller to get a top prospect. Everyone else treats it like Wall Street and asset value so my guess is a couple of top 10 prospects for a couple months of him. Or [Andrew] Friedman could go out and get him. He ups a team's chances to win the World Series by a pretty big margin. You get two starts in that five-game series. Friedman gets him, that’s my prediction,” the exec said of a Skubal trade, per Robert Murray.I'd still find it very hard to believe that Skubal isn't going to go for a crazy amount of prospects. Unless teams really don't believe that he's healthy for the long term, this is still one of the best starters that Major League Baseball has seen in quite some time. It wouldn't make any sense not to get a huge return for him if he's relatively healthy.More MLB news:This non-home run Fernando Tatis stat shows he might be worse than we all even think right nowBraves legend Craig Kimbrel gets worst possible future outlook after being let go by MetsDodgers almost lost Shohei Ohtani to Angels, but Anaheim did what it always hasTwo incredible cities now viewed as heavy favorites to get MLB expansion teamsRed Sox could luck out due to insane general manager habits if Aroldis Chapman rumors come trueInsider all but confirms Mets and Phillies have no chance to land future $500 million star

Braves legend Craig Kimbrel gets worst possible future outlook after being let go by Mets originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Counting stats in Major League Baseball are just as important as anything else when it comes to making the Hall of Fame. While some guys get in for other reasons, there aren't really many Hall of Famers out there who are in because they don't have elite numbers. That's the tough part of being a really good player in Major League Baseball, as a lot of those guys do things for a very long time.Sadly, one of those guys who many were hoping would make the Hall of Fame one day, especially most Atlanta Braves fans, was Craig Kimbrel. Kimbrel, who was undoubtedly one of the top relievers in Major League Baseball during his time with the Braves from 2010 to 2014, has had success in other parts throughout his career. However, since the 2019 campaign, he's been relatively below average, posting a 3.94 ERA and just 107 saves. Kimbrel was on a trajectory to be a Hall of Fame reliever, but according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, it seems like that ship has sailed after his failed attempt at playing with the New York Mets.“Veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel’s bid for the Hall of Fame likely ended when he was dumped by the New York Mets, his 10th different team, after yielding a 6.00 ERA and 1.467 WHIP. Unless another team picks him up, his career saves total stalls at 440 with a 22.5 WAR, short of Cooperstown standards,” Bob Nightengale of USA Today wrote.At this point in his career, at 37 years old, it's very unlikely that he even has a close chance of getting close to the numbers he needs because of these poor seasons.It's always possible that a team will give him a look because of what he's done throughout his career, but the nine-time All-Star is probably going to end up not being a Hall of Famer.More MLB news:Dodgers almost lost Shohei Ohtani to Angels, but Anaheim did what it always hasTwo incredible cities now viewed as heavy favorites to get MLB expansion teamsRed Sox could luck out due to insane general manager habits if Aroldis Chapman rumors come trueInsider all but confirms Mets and Phillies have no chance to land future $500 million starYankees, Dodgers, and Blue Jays get perfect update on Tarik Skubal sweepstakesYankees’ Jazz Chisholm sends heartfelt message to Anthony Volpe amid questions of Volpe playing second base

Man United learn place in welcome return to Champions LeagueManchester United have made a welcome return to Champions League football.Lack of involvementThe last time the Red Devils reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League was in 2019, when they were soundly defeated 4-0 by FC Barcelona over two legs.United have reached the final of the Europa League twice in that period, in 2021 and 2025, but lost the respective finals to Villarreal and Tottenham Hotspur.However, their involvement in the Champions League has been irregular, as they were knocked out in the last 16 in 2022 by Atletico Madrid and at the group stage in 2023.Thankfully, they will have the chance to put an end to years of irrelevance in the Champions League next season after finishing third in the Premier League behind Arsenal and Manchester City.Pot 2This will be the first time the Red Devils compete in the new league phase and extended format, where each team plays eight games against two teams from each of the four pots.United do have experience of this format in the 2024-2025 Europa League, but not in the Champions League.The Daily Mail reports that, “clubs will be required to play two matches – one home and one away – against teams from each of the four pots.”Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool will all be in pot one, with other English sides Aston Villa and United joining in pot two.United have also fallen behind Villa in recent years in the European ranking, owing to Villa’s Europa League win this year and their run to the quarter-finals of the Champions League in 2025.The Red Devils are “set to be joined in pot 2 by Borussia Dortmund, Roma, Sporting Clube de Portugal, Porto, Club Brugge, Real Betis and PSV Eindhoven.”Twenty-nine of the teams have been confirmed for next season’s format, with seven still needing to qualify during the summer’s qualification process.Featured image Mike Hewitt via Getty Imagesonline 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

Liverpool to send midfielder to RB Leipzig as part of €100m Yan Diomande dealIt’s been confirmed by several top sources that Yan Diomande is now Liverpool’s top target to arrive in this summer’s transfer window. Richard Hughes and Arne Slot are prioritising pace and one-v-one quality out wide - characteristics that the 19-year-old possesses in abundance.With Mo Salah’s departure confirmed - and Federico Chiesa expected to join the Egyptian King on the exit ramp - a space has opened up for a starting forward on the right side of the Reds’ attack.Although Diomande can play either side he has been far more effective for RB Leipzig when lining up from the right.His form in his rookie Bundesliga season - since joining from Leganes for £18m - has catapulted the Ivorian to the top of recruitment shortlists at Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain.And it’s now been claimed in a report by Paul Joyce in the Times that Liverpool have got a secret weapon in the chase for Diomande.RB Leipzig want €100m for DiomandeWith the forward’s price tag standing at €100m Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes will be doing all he can to bring the fee down.And adding Harvey Elliott - coveted by Leipzig in last summer’s transfer window before he joined Aston Villa - could emerge as one potential route towards reducing the price.“It stands to reason that Liverpool’s sporting director, Richard Hughes, would try to chip away at that fee and the use of Harvey Elliott as part of a swap deal has been mooted,” the report reads.“Elliott was a target for Leipzig last summer, but the German club could not match his valuation and the attacking midfielder instead headed to Aston Villa for what turned out to be an ill-fated loan move.“More than ever, the 23-year-old needs regular game time and Leipzig can also offer Champions League football.”

No rush, there's time: Vinicius on his Real Madrid renewalReal Madrid forward Vinicius Junior has broken his silence regarding the extension of his contract with the club.In a relaxed interview with popular Brazilian streamer CazeTV, the player discussed his contractual situation and sent a message of complete calm to all Madrid fans.The winger recalled that his current deal runs until the summer of 2027. That gives both parties plenty of room to maneuver, stating clearly: “I’m in no rush to renew my contract. Until 2027, we have a lot to discuss with Madrid.”Vinicius highlighted the mutual trust that exists with the club’s board, insisting that the priority right now is simply to keep enjoying the day-to-day life at the Madrid side. “Madrid are calm, I’m calm. The president trusts me, and I trust him,” said the attacker.Pride in being captain and a MadridistaDespite his youth, the player has established himself as one of the leaders in Real Madrid’s dressing room, an achievement he values deeply. “Now I’m one of the team captains. Despite being so young, it’s something important that happens very rarely,” he admitted.The Brazilian concluded by dismissing any rumors about his future and pledging eternal loyalty to the club: “I’ve never imagined myself outside Real Madrid. I want to stay here my whole life.”This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 26: Joao Pedro of Chelsea during the Emirates FA Cup Semi Final match between Chelsea and Leeds United at Wembley Stadium on April 26, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images) | Getty Images We first heard of Barcelona’s interest in João Pedro some weeks ago, and at the time, it seemed pretty clear that Chelsea had no intention in letting our leading goalscorer leave, nor was JP himself interested in doing so. And according to most reports, that remains the case as things stand.UPDATE: In fact, Ben Jacobs reports that not even a “world record bid” would change Chelsea’s minds. That’s €222m-plus, to be specific.Joao Pedro isn’t for sale at any price this summer, not even a world-record bid. Chelsea's position is clear and not expected to change.Also understand links between Chelsea and Newcastle pair Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimarães are wide of the mark.❌ https://t.co/yIqX2DmQOK— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) May 26, 2026But Barcelona are not giving up. Their sporting director, Deco has made another highly publicized trip to London in recent days, apparently to chat up the striker’s camp and try to convince them that the grass is greener in Catalonia.Upon touchdown on his return home, Deco gave a brief update on his “mission”, seemingly keeping hope alive that Barca will extricate João Pedro from the chaos and misery and non-Champions League-ness of his Chelsea situation. “We’re working, we’re going to bring in some players. For now we can’t say anything about Joao Pedro, we’re interested in several players. We haven’t spoken to the clubs yet.”-Deco; source: El Chiringuito via Barca BlaugranesSo, basically, this saga is just beginning.This remains the situation with Joao Pedro. 👇Chelsea not interested in a sale and multiple sources close to the player indicate he is happy at Stamford Bridge and not looking to move. https://t.co/DyxOVD4AUE— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) May 26, 2026

🗞️ Front pages, Rayo chase Leipzig heaven, Alexia leaves her throneFrom the epic story of a working-class neighborhood reaching its first European final with 11,000 faithful supporters in the stands, to the overwhelming nostalgia in Barcelona over the farewell of the most decorated player in its history; Spanish football is experiencing a day of pure mixed emotions this May 27.Rayo Vallecano facing its eternal nightHumble, neighborhood football is just ninety minutes away from conquering Europe. The front pages pour all their passion and visual ingenuity into the momentous clash that will see Rayo Vallecano face Crystal Palace tonight (9:00 p.m.) in the UEFA Conference League final in Leipzig.MARCA surprises with a front page of enormous visual impact and purely local symbolism. Under the big headline "From the neighborhood to glory," the newspaper photomechanically blends the streets of Vallecas, with its legendary exposed-brick apartment blocks, crowned in the middle of the road by the imposing Conference League trophy, rising toward a blue sky as if it were an architectural tower from the neighborhood itself. AS goes for human warmth and the fervor of the fans with a bold headline in red and white letters: "Come on, Rayito!" The main image shows the red-sashed crowd that has traveled to the match carrying club scarves and flags, highlighting a spectacular figure: "11,000 Vallecanos will cheer from the stands." "Goodbye Alexia." Farewell to the Queen of Camp NouThe other major story shaking the foundations of national sport is both institutional and emotional. Alexia Putellas, captain, icon, and two-time Ballon d'Or winner, has officially announced her departure from FC Barcelona after an unmatched fourteen-season career with the first team, an announcement that dominates the Catalan front pages with the honors of a legend.SPORT gives her full monographic coverage, handing over its entire front page under the emotional headline: "See you soon." With a stunning close-up photo of the footballer smiling and making a heart with her hands toward the stands while wearing the captain's armband, the paper captures the full magnitude of her stature.Mundo Deportivo uses the bilingual headline "Goodbye Alexia" in giant yellow typography against a completely green background. It highlights her overall achievements ("14 years, more than 500 matches and 38 titles") and previews the occasion on which the fans will be able to pay tribute to her in person.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

The Premier League clubs with the highest average attendances in 2025/26The Premier League once again filled out stadia all over the country for an action packed campaign that concluded with Arsenal lifting the trophy. England plays host to numerous top-class football grounds, but it can difficult to get your hands on tickets at the best of times, especially at the biggest clubs.But which ones welcomed the most fans through the turnstiles this past year?The Premier League clubs with the highest average attendances in 2025/26:10. Aston Villa (Villa Park) – 41,977Aston Villa drew almost 42,000 spectators to their home games this season, but that number will be reduced next season when work begins on the North Stand. The redevelopment will expand Villa Park’s capacity to over 50,000 when complete, with the ground set to host matches at Euro 2028.9. Sunderland AFC (Stadium of Light) – 46,417Sunderland shoot right into the top ten following their promotion to the Premier League in 2025, pushing Chelsea down to 11th. The Stadium of Light will play host to European football next season after Regis Le Bris led the Black Cats to qualification for the UEFA Europa League.Read – Every Premier League team to have qualified for Europe8. Newcastle United (St. James’ Park) – 52,095Newcastle easily beat their north east rivals after attracting nearly 53,000 fans every other week. The Magpies are looking to either either expand St. James’ Park or build a huge new ground on Leazes Park, but it would be a real shame to lose such an iconic stadium.7. Everton (Hill Dickinson Stadium) – 52,132Everton are back amongst the big dogs when it comes to attendance after moving into their new home. The Hill Dickinson Stadium fills 13,000 more people than Goodison Park, which now plays host to the Toffees women’s team.Read – Our non-Big Six Premier League Team of the Season for 2025/266. Man City (Etihad Stadium) – 52,640Manchester City have expanded their stadium after completing work on the North Stand. Renamed after Pep Guardiola, the renovated stand opened on the final day of the season, allowing over 60,000 fans to witness Pep Guardiola’s last game as manager. With almost 8,000 extra seats added, the Etihad is now the fourth largest ground in the Premier League.5. Arsenal (Emirates Stadium) – 60,217It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years since the Emirates Stadium opened its doors. Barely a seat was left empty this season as the club marched towards their first title in 22 years. In October the club revealed plans to expand the capacity to over 70,000.Read – Six Premier League records Arsenal set during the 2025/26 season4. Liverpool (Anfield) – 60,389Anfield has undergone major development over the past decade and a half, taking the ground’s capacity from around 47,000 to 61,000. Even though it’s been a frustrating season for the Reds, the famous ground has been almost full every other week.3. Spurs (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium) – 61,003The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is a world-class structure, but it has played host to anything but world-class football over the past two years.Read – Our writers’ end-of-season Premier League awards for 2025/262. West Ham United (The London Stadium) – 62,347West Ham’s adoption of the former 2012 Olympic Games stadium has allowed them to sell a boatload of tickets, but it hasn’t helped them on the pitch this season as they fell through the trap door to the Championship.1. Man Utd (Old Trafford) – 73,975Manchester United continue to boast the highest average attendances in English football, as they have done for many years, although they do have plans to build a new stadium to replace the once great but now declining Old Trafford.Read – Our non-Big Six Premier League Awards for 2025/26See Also – Our Premier League Team of the Season for 2025/26Follow the Football Faithful on Social Media:Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok