May 28—Joel Maturi was a Gophers athletic director who felt an obligation to provide an opportunity for success to all athletes, male or female, those in major sports or at a lower level. If all his hires had worked out as well as Jessica Allister in softball, they would be naming whole buildings after Maturi, who retired in 2012, not just some cozy place behind a big wall. The Gophers had missed the NCAA tournament for seven consecutive years when Maturi hired Allister, a hitting coach and recruiting coordinator at Oregon, before the 2011 season. After a period of adjustment, Allister took the Gophers to five consecutive NCAA tournaments from 2013-17. I wouldn't suggest my round frame was a frequent presence at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium, the boutique ballpark hidden behind numerous buildings and next to railroad tracks, but Allister's Gophers were hard to ignore. And then came 2017: The Gophers won the Big Ten at 22-1, went 3-0 to win the Big Ten tournament and were 54-3 and ranked No. 2 in the country by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association ahead of the NCAA selection show. Those bozos sent the Gophers to Alabama. It was the greatest thievery performed against a University of Minnesota athletic team since a collection of referees — who might as well have been wearing Wisconsin jerseys — handed the Badgers a 14-9 victory in Madison on Nov. 24, 1962, costing Bobby Bell and the Gophers a third straight trip to the Rose Bowl. Allister's team went 2-2 in Alabama, losing 1-0 twice to be eliminated by the hosts. She was then lured back to Stanford, her alma mater, where she has been a successful coach for nearly a decade. Jamie Trachsel came in next, leaving Iowa State after one season. The Gophers received justice from the selection committee in her second year. They played a regional at home and went to the Women's College World Series in 2019 in Oklahoma City. The Gophers faced UCLA and the fabulous Rachel Garcia in the first round and lost 7-2, then were eliminated by Washington 5-3. Those are now two Big Ten teams. Trachsel left for Ole Miss in 2021 and is currently getting some heat in her sixth season with the Rebels. Her replacement as the coach here, Piper Ritter, was relieved of her duties after a dreary 2026 season. On Tuesday, Ritter's replacement — Gretta Melsted, an Albert Lea High School graduate, Carleton College athlete and head coach for two decades at Augustana in Sioux Falls, S.D. — was spending her first day on campus as the new Gophers softball boss. We were talking in the press box at The Jane late in the afternoon. To validate my credentials, I said proudly: "I was in Oklahoma City with the Gophers for the World Series in 2019." To which Melsted replied: "The Gophers were in Oklahoma City. And we were in Denver. That's where and when we won the DII national championship." Melsted's Vikings won it in plucky fashion: In the best-of-three for the two surviving teams, Augustana lost 7-2 to Texas A&M-Kingsville in Game 1, then won a pair of 6-4 games. Mark Coyle, who has been the Gophers' AD for 10 years, is now in the world where he spends large on football and fully on basketball and men's hockey. Sports such as baseball and softball have to settle for what they can get. Ty McDevitt is trying to compete in baseball with 11.7 scholarships, while many of the baseball powers are now at a full-roster 34. In softball, the former limit was 12 scholarships, and now it's a full-roster 25. Assuming what Coyle would have to offer a new coach, my immediate guess was he would go regional. I looked at the track records for coaches in the DII Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. There were several coaches with excellent records, with Melsted as the standout. The Vikings were in the national tournament 14 times in her 20 years with the program. They won the conference from 2021 to 2025 and were NSIC tournament champions this season. Her overall record at Augustana was 813-313 — 500 games over .500. And there were 61 wins in that national title season in 2019. One problem: This was Augustana. My view of that ambitious school is that its people are extra loyal. Was this view wrong, or was leaving Augie — even for the Big Ten — a grueling decision? "Absolutely; it's very difficult when you've been somewhere for 20 years," Melsted said Tuesday. "That program is my baby. And we are rooted in the community; my husband, our two boys — they're 13 and 9 ... their schools are fantastic. We love our church. We love Augustana. "To leave, this had to be the right fit for me, to look at it and to make the jump." Melsted looked down at the ballpark. "I'm seeing this for the first time," Melsted said. "This ballpark. The Big Ten. I'm excited to be here." And there's also this: "Both our boys are hockey players," Melsted said. "If you live in South Dakota, you have to travel all over the place to play a hockey game. It's not like here, where you can just go from town to town."

Josh Sciba, who helped lead the U.S. women’s hockey team to Olympic gold in Milan, has been named head coach of the PWHL’s expansion team in Detroit.The Michigan native has been an assistant coach for Team USA since 2022 and has spent the last two seasons in the PWHL as an assistant for the New York Sirens. Before joining the PWHL, Sciba spent eight years as the head coach of the Union College women’s hockey program.“Josh is a highly respected coach with a knowledge of the game and experience at all levels of women’s hockey that set him apart, and his passion for teaching and individual character are qualities I value in a leader,” said Detroit general manager Manon Rhéaume. “Hockeytown is in his blood, and this is an opportunity I know he is eager to embrace with an understanding of what it means to represent this city and be part of its legacy.”A native of Westland, Mich., Sciba will join Rhéaume in building PWHL Detroit from the ground up.“I’m incredibly honored and excited for the opportunity to become the Head Coach of PWHL Detroit and beyond grateful for the trust placed in me to help lead the organization from the beginning,” said Sciba. “This is home and especially meaningful for me and my entire family, knowing Detroit’s rich hockey history and identity firsthand and how much the women’s hockey community has been yearning for this moment.“Working alongside Manon, someone who has meant so much to the growth of the sport, is a journey I’m so fortunate to be on, with her passion, leadership, and vision that will make Detroit a destination for players.”The PWHL announced Detroit as one of its four new expansion teams on May 6, and the team will debut at Little Caesars Arena in the fall. All four teams — Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas and San Jose — will fill out their inaugural rosters through a six-phase process that officially begins on June 2.This article originally appeared in The Athletic.Women's Hockey, women's sports2026 The Athletic Media Company

The YMCA of Central Stark County is teaming up with the Cleveland Cavaliers to bring the Cavs Summer Basketball Academy to Stark County youth on June 12.The one-day basketball academy will take place at two YMCA locations:9 to 11:30 a.m., Alliance Family YMCA 1:30 to 4 p.m., Eric Snow Family YMCA in CantonThe academy is open to boys and girls, ages 8–14, and will provide participants with high-energy basketball instruction focused on skill development, teamwork, fundamentals and fun.Instruction will be led by the Cleveland Cavaliers Junior Cavs staff along with community volunteers.The cost of the academy is free for families who qualify under TANF assistance, or $75 per camper for general registration. Every participant will receive an official camp jersey and basketball.“This academy is an incredible opportunity for young people in our community to learn the game from experienced instructors while building confidence, character, and healthy habits,” Michael Brown of the YMCA of Central Stark County said in a statement. “We are excited to partner with the Cleveland Cavaliers to bring this experience directly to Stark County families.”Space is limited and early registration is encouraged. For more information or to register, stop by the Alliance Family YMCA or the Eric Snow Family YMCA or visit www.ymcastark.org.This article originally appeared on The Repository: Cavs bring youth basketball academy to Stark County

The city of Dayton, Ohio has covered its Flock automated license plate reader cameras with black trash bags in part because police there are unsure whether the cameras are still active and the city also doesn’t seem to know whether it is allowed to take the cameras down. The move comes after months of resident outrage, a scandal in which the city was sharing Flock camera data for immigration enforcement apparently on accident, and a $30,000 audit into how the cameras are being used. Joe Parlette, the deputy city manager of Dayton, said at a city commission meeting last week that the “Dayton Police Department agreed to work with Public Works to put bags over the cameras” as a stop-gap measure until Flock cameras could be removed entirely. I spoke to multiple people in Dayton who said they had seen bagged cameras in the last few days. The Dayton Daily News first reported on the baggings.Bagged Flock cameras in Dayton. Image: Melissa BertoloDayton is not the first city to cover its Flock cameras with trash bags because they can’t figure out how to immediately terminate the use of the cameras. Late last year, the city of Evanston, Illinois also covered its cameras with trash bags while it was waiting for the company to remove them from the city. Cities around the country have been reconsidering their relationship with the surveillance company after reporting from 404 Media and local news outlets that showed data from the cameras was making its way to Immigration and Customs Enforcement through Flock’s national camera network. Most cities that have reconsidered their contracts have done so via city council meetings and public debate that have played out over the course of months, and both Dayton and Evanston city officials told residents that they were not sure whether they could immediately deactivate or remove the cameras under the terms of their contracts. And so both cities decided to physically block them as a stop-gap measure, showing that cities feel that they do not have the ability to unilaterally decide when to stop using Flock surveillance cameras.The bagging came after Dayton city commissioner Darius Beckham said at a city commission meeting last week that the city has been “requesting that the Flock cameras be taken down. I think we are working through how soon we can do that. I think in the interim, we are trying to figure out what steps can be taken to mitigate the vulnerability and concerns that there are still recordings being taken.” Covering them with trash bags is the idea the city ultimately came up with.Cities are not sure what their contracts state how to extricate themselves from those contracts, or whether the cameras are recording (and where that data is going). This uncertainty highlights the problems associated with using private, third-party surveillance infrastructure. Last week, for example, the mayor of Menominee, Wisconsin said that Flock cameras in the city “have been activated without city council approval.” Dayton has had Flock cameras in the city for several years, but in October the city learned that data from the cameras was being passed to the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement through Flock’s national network, which is a phenomenon we first reported in May of last year. The city claimed that it did not intend for this sharing to happen, and that a specific police officer “failed to implement the safeguards he helped develop” to prevent the sharing; essentially, a setting to prevent the sharing was not enabled. On May 1, the police department announced that it was “indefinitely suspending the use of our fixed-site automated license plate readers” because of this data sharing, and that the officer who failed to implement the privacy safeguards would be leaving the department. “It’s very disappointing, and disappointing would be a pretty mild word,” Dayton Police Chief Kamran Afzal said in a press conference earlier this month. “Disappointing would be a pretty mild word. My choice words I cannot say live on air or how I really feel, but it’s disappointing and disgusting would be another word I would use … absolutely it was user error. It’s nothing more than that because we shut things down right away as soon as we found out [about the sharing]. All they needed to do was hit a toggle button saying ‘nope, no sharing’ and then we were done.” On March 31, Afzal announced he would be resigning this summer to take another job in North Carolina. For months, city residents have been calling for more accountability from the city of Dayton and for the resignation of Dayton’s city manager over the use of Flock cameras. Melissa Bertolo, who has been pushing against Flock cameras through an organization called DeFlock Dayton and the Coalition for Public Protection, told 404 Media that the work of residents to push for transparency about Flock data sharing practices in the city has brought the issue to the forefront. “It’s a step in the right direction,” Bertolo said of covering the cameras, adding that, ultimately the cameras need to come down. “Our coalition has made six demands—covering the cameras is not one of them. Removal of the cameras is one of them. It’s a step toward that. We have had all five city commissioners saying they agreed with taking down the cameras, but they say there’s a process to figuring that out … so even if the program is quote unquote ‘suspended’ data is still able to be captured. We can’t just say the program is suspended until we can actively know they’re down.” One of the major questions is whether Dayton is actually going to end the Flock program, and how it will be able to do so. In August, Evanston terminated its contract with Flock, and the Flock cameras were removed. The city then claimed Flock “reinstalled the cameras without the city’s permission,” and sent the company a cease-and-desist. Reporting by the Evanston Roundtable suggested that the cameras were possibly active after they had been reinstalled. The city then decided to cover the cameras with trash bags; the cameras were fully removed from the city earlier this year. “All Flock cameras have been removed from Evanston,” a spokesperson for the city of Evanston told 404 Media. “The cameras are owned by Flock and had to be removed by Flock. While we awaited the removal, we covered them.”A Flock spokesperson told 404 Media that “of course, any city can turn off its cameras if it no longer wants to use them. However, each contract is negotiated with the city attorney beforehand, and legal conditions may prevent a city from voiding the contract without grounds to do so.” “Our goal is to ensure city leaders make that decision with open eyes, regardless of the contract,” the spokesperson added. “You're well aware of the volume of misinformation that has spread thru Reddit threads and on YouTube, and we always want to ensure that a city fully understands the impact of their decision before cameras are turned off. Like Richmond, CA claiming they saw a 33% spike in auto thefts during the time cameras were off, or multiple violent incidents in Austin, Texas that would have ended much earlier had they been using Flock.”Notably, Flock said that it wants to keep working with the city of Dayton: “We're proud to work with the city of Dayton, OH and hope we can continue.”The City of Dayton did not respond to a request for comment.

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With the 2026 French Open well underway, there's a key "main character" kind of figure missing in Paris. It's none other than Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, the current men's world No. 2 and last year's winner at Roland-Garros. You would've thought someone like Alcaraz could've been poised to pounce on the early-round upset of Jannik Sinner, but alas, it is now a wide-open field for the men. As for why Alcaraz isn't playing this edition of the French Open, he's currently recovering from a right wrist injury suffered in mid-April. In addition to missing the French Open, Alcaraz also pulled himself out of the preceding Madrid Open and the Italian Open tournaments. He explained his decision in a post on X when originally making the announcement:Después de los resultados de las pruebas realizadas hoy, hemos decidido que lo más prudente es ser cautos y no participar en Roma y Roland Garros, a la espera de valorar la evolución para decidir cuándo volveremos a la pista. Es un momento complicado para mí, pero estoy seguro de… pic.twitter.com/U6PhjtXnBX— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) April 24, 2026At the time of this writing, it's unclear when Alcaraz will return, but coming back during Wimbledon late next month shouldn't be out of the question. That would give the tennis superstar about another month of recovery plus additional necessary training to get back into the swing of things. Let's hope he is back by then because tennis is just so much better whenever we get to watch Alcaraz play. This article originally appeared on For The Win: Carlos Alcaraz: Why Spanish star is sitting out French Open

Dodgers make major roster move with Teoscar Hernández IL decision originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Los Angeles Dodgers have recalled outfielder and first baseman Ryan Ward to replace Teoscar Hernández, who will be going on the injured list with a hamstring strain. Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic shared the news via X. The Dodgers will recall Ryan Ward with Teoscar Hernández going on the IL with his hamstring strain, source tells The Athletic.— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) May 28, 2026Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced after their win over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday that Hernández will be going on the IL. "Disappointing," Roberts said. "He's been playing so well, and he's a big part of what we're doing. So to lose him for any length of time is not great."The 33-year-old has been stellar to start the season for Los Angeles. He was hitting .276 with a .784 OPS. After being dropped in the lineup to as low as the eighth spot, he has been on a surge. Hernández started in all but six games for the Dodgers this season.Dodgers continue dealing with injury issues across roster As Ward, he will come back up the majors after a brief stint from April 19-21. The 28-year-old recorded two hits in his first six at-bats when he was last with the Dodgers big league club. The injury couldn't have come at a worse time, as the Dodgers were already down an outfielder, fellow Hernández, Kiké. The Puerto Rican Hernández went back into the IL just two games after returning from it due to a left oblique strain. He is expected to miss six to eight weeks with the injury. Injuries have been an issue for the Dodgers in May as their top two pitchers, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, hit the IL earlier in the month. It’s been a struggle for the Dodgers in that area, but despite that, they still remain arguably the deepest team in baseball and currently own the second-best record in the league.More MLB news: Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani makes MLB history again with jaw-dropping two-way performanceWhat if Shohei Ohtani faced Shohei Ohtani? The answer may surprise MLB fansDodgers trade idea from ex-MLB GM acquires Cy Young ace from Tigers for just two playersWhy the Phillies should terrify the rest of the NL despite a 29-27 start

The Detroit Lions have spent the last several years proving that sometimes draft night criticism means absolutely nothing.Back in 2023, Detroit shocked much of the NFL world by selecting Jahmyr Gibbs and Jack Campbell in the first round. At the time, many analysts questioned whether either player justified being selected that high.Fast forward to 2026, and both players have become cornerstone pieces of Detroit’s roster.Still, CBS Sports analyst Ryan Wilson recently revisited the 2023 NFL Draft with a full first round re-draft, and the Lions ended up going in a completely different direction.Most notably, Detroit landed a new pass rushing partner for Aidan Hutchinson.Jahmyr Gibbs and Jack Campbell Went Earlier in Re-DraftIn Wilson’s updated version of the 2023 first round, Gibbs no longer lasted until Detroit’s original selection at No. 12 overall.Instead, the explosive running back jumped all the way to No. 5 overall to the Seattle Seahawks.Meanwhile, Campbell came off the board at No. 15 to the New York Jets in a fictional reunion with former Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.That left Detroit needing completely different answers with both of its original first round selections.Lions Add Explosive Speed at Running BackAt No. 12 overall, Wilson had Detroit selecting De’Von Achane out of Texas A&M Aggies football.Wilson acknowledged Achane is not quite Gibbs, but still viewed him as an ideal fit for Detroit’s offense because of his explosiveness and versatility.That part is hard to argue with.Achane has developed into one of the NFL’s most dangerous big play threats thanks to elite speed and home run ability in space. While Gibbs has become a star in Detroit, Achane’s skill set would have also fit beautifully inside the Lions offense.Still, it is difficult imagining Detroit fans trading Gibbs for anyone at this point.Especially considering how central he now is to the offense following David Montgomery’s trade to the Houston Texans.Detroit Lands Pass Rush Help Across From HutchinsonThe more fascinating pick came at No. 18 overall.Instead of Campbell, Wilson had Detroit selecting Byron Young from Tennessee Volunteers football.And honestly, the fit makes a lot of sense.Young has quietly developed into one of the more productive pass rushers from the 2023 draft class, recording 29 sacks across his first three NFL seasons, including 12 sacks during the 2025 campaign.That production would have looked awfully appealing next to Hutchinson.For years, one of Detroit’s biggest roster questions has centered around finding a consistent edge rusher opposite Hutchinson. Wilson’s re-draft essentially solves that problem immediately by pairing Detroit’s superstar pass rusher with another proven disruptor.Lions Fans Probably Still Prefer RealityEven with Young’s production, it is hard imagining many Lions fans wanting to completely rewrite the 2023 draft.Campbell has already become an All Pro linebacker and emotional leader of the defense, while Gibbs developed into one of the NFL’s most electric offensive weapons.Those selections were heavily criticized at the time because many analysts believed Detroit overdrafted both positions.Instead, the Lions trusted their evaluations and doubled down on culture, explosiveness, and fit.Three years later, that approach looks pretty smart.Still, it is fascinating imagining what Detroit’s defense might look like today had Byron Young been lining up opposite Hutchinson all along.

Nacional and Paysandu battle for the Copa Norte title this ThursdayNacional and Paysandu will decide the title of the first edition of the Copa Norte this Thursday (28). The match that will determine the champion will be played at Carlos Zamith Stadium, in Manaus, at 9 p.m. In the first leg, played last week at Mangueirão, in Belém, Paysandu won 1-0.If they beat the team from Pará by a one-goal margin, Nacional will take the contest to a penalty shootout. Paysandu only need a draw. To be crowned champions in regular time, the Amazonas side must beat their rivals 2-0, 3-1, 4-2, or by any other score following that pattern.Whoever wins the Copa Norte automatically qualifies for the third round of the 2027 Copa do Brasil and also secures a place in the Copa Verde final, which this year was split into the Copa Norte and Copa Centro-Oeste. The latter was won by Anápolis on Wednesday (27) in a clash with Rio Branco-ES.Therefore, Anápolis are waiting for the outcome of the match between Nacional and Paysandu to find out who their opponent will be in the Copa Verde final, which will be played over two legs.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

Golden Arrows star Siyanda Ndlovu attracts interest from KuwaitExclusiveArrows star on the radar of Kuwait teamPhoto: Siyanda Ndlovu Golden Arrows attacker Siyanda Ndlovu has attracted interest from Kuwait Premier League outfit Al-Qadsia SC, Foot Africa has established.The 22-year-old rose through the development ranks at the KwaZulu-Natal side, earning promotion to the first-team in the 2023/24 season.Ndlovu was one of the standout performers for Arrows in the just-ended campaign, chipping in with four goals and eight assists in 31 matches across all competitions.His exploits were rewarded with the Betway Premiership Player of the Month and Goal of the Month accolade in the period of September/October.Now, sources have told this publication that Qadsia sent scouts to South Africa during the final stretch of the 2025/26 term in a bid to evaluate the player closely.The 17-time Kuwait champions are understood to have concrete interest in Ndlovu's services, and intend to entice the player with a lucrative contract.While Qadsia have entered the race for the player's signature, they are yet to open talks with his representatives, and club-to-club discussion at this stage.The Kuwait team will, however, face stern competition as the Arrows winger is reportedly also on the radar of Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Kaizer Chiefs.

The Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors connecting the Greek Freak to the Boston Celtics just do not seem to want to go away. But senior ESPN reporter Brian Windhorst is not sensing much fire to the proverbial smoke when it comes to bona fide interest in such a move by all rumored parties.Speaking on ESPN Cleveland, Windhorst downplayed the recent rumor recurring this week following some speculation of interest in Boston from Antetokounmpo from Ringer founder Bill Simmons on his eponymous podcast later confirmed by the Stein Line founder Marc Stein. Windhorst made a point of relating he has not heard much about any such move in a way that makes him thinks there is traction."I know some people are linking him to Boston, but I have not heard that Giannis, Boston, and Milwaukee are serious about it," said the ESPN reporter. "That's out there, but I haven't heard it," he reiterated, making a point of noting that this does not necessarily mean there is no interest -- just that this well-sourced senior reporter has not caught wind of anything to that effect."I'm not saying it hasn't happened," said Windhorst. "I haven't heard it."Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on:Blue Wire: https://tiny.ee/CdKpiTunes: https://tiny.ee/RK47YouTube: https://tiny.ee/cOW3This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Windhorst: No serious rumors heard on Giannis trades for Celtics

Napoli follow in Juventus’s footsteps as Allegri poised to replace Conte for 2026-27History is repeating itself as Massimiliano Allegri looks set to replace Antonio Conte as head coach of Napoli for the 2026-27 season, as it was at Juventus ahead of the 2014-15 campaign.Allegri set to replace Conte, againAccording to the latest updates across Italy, Napoli have accelerated in negotiations with Allegri over the last 24 hours, and now have a full verbal agreement in place over a two-year deal at the Stadio Maradona.Conte already confirmed that he would be leaving Napoli at the end of the 2025-26 season, and Allegri’s departure from Milan was made official the day after the season came to an end, after the Rossoneri had missed out on Champions League qualification on the final day of the season.Now, Allegri, after just one year back in charge of Milan, is set to take over from Conte at Napoli.NAPLES, ITALY – APRIL 06: The head coaches of AC Milan and Napoli meet before the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and AC Milan at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on April 06, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)This is a situation that also occurred at Juventus over a decade ago, when Conte left the Old Lady shortly before the start of the 2014-15 season. Juve decided to turn to Allegri, who had just left Milan a few months earlier.Conte had won three consecutive Serie A titles during his three seasons in charge of Juventus, and the Bianconeri remain the only club that the coach has stayed at for any longer than two seasons. The baton was passed over to Allegri, who would go on to win the next five consecutive Serie A titles.

Mississippi State vs. Texas Tech live box score Women's College World Series originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Mississippi State Bulldogs softball team will make history Thursday with the first-ever appearance in the Women’s College World Series against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in Oklahoma City.Mississippi State (43-19) earned its spot in the WCWS with a commanding 6-0 win over the Oklahoma Sooners in the decisive game of the super regionals, and now faces a familiar opponent with a trip deeper into the bracket at stake.Texas Tech (57-7) eliminated the Bulldogs in last year’s NCAA Tournament and arrives with one of the nation’s most dangerous combinations of elite pitching and explosive offense. The Red Raiders rank among the national leaders in batting average, home runs and runs scored, led by slugger Mia Williams. In the circle, Texas Tech features standout arms NiJaree Canady and Kaitlyn Terry, who have built one of college softball’s top pitching staffs all season.But Mississippi State enters with momentum and confidence after shutting out Oklahoma. Delainey Everett delivered a breakout performance in that win, while Peja Goold and SEC Newcomer of the Year Alyssa Faircloth give the Bulldogs valuable depth. 2026 NCAA Women's College World Series 1234567RHENo. 5 Mississippi State (43-19)00010No. 3 Texas Tech (57-7)22440Mississippi State vs. Texas Tech live box score Women's College World SeriesMississippi State BatterPOSABRHRBIBBSOAVGOBP24Morgan StilesSS100000.313.40210Nadia Barbary3B100001.328.39683Xiane Romero2B100001.240.33033Kinley KellerRF101000.330.37713Morgan BernardiniLF100000.255.31412Paige ErnstesDP100000.190.28122Tatum SilvaCF000000.298.3442Abby G. Richardson1B000000.225.33023Des RiveraC000000.262.2883Peja GooldP000000-0.0%4Alyssa FairclothP000000-0.0%Total601002PitcherPOSIPHRERBBSOBFERA3Peja GooldP0.20000022.44Alyssa FairclothP1.144413102.6Total2.04441312Texas TechBatterPOSABRHRBIBBSOAVGOBP1Mia Williams2B111100.438.521Jackie Lis1B211200.440.54712Jasmyn BurnsDP200001.368.4606Taylor Pannell3B100001.357.42555Kaitlyn TerryLF100000.455.54842Mihyia DavisCF111000.434.49211Lauren AllredRF111100.392.52124Nijaree CanadyP100001.220.3404Lagi QuirogaC000010.371.52032Hailey ToneySS000000.302.393Total10444132B: Williams 1 (23)Allred 1 (11)H: Lis 1 (21)RBI: Williams 1 (83)Lis 2 (73)Allred 1 (47)PitcherPOSIPHRERBBSOBFERA24Nijaree CanadyP2.01000261.8Total2.0100026Canady 22 (14 strikes)How to watch Mississippi State vs. Texas Tech: 2026 NCAA Women's College World SeriesDate: Thursday, May 28Time: Noon ETTV: ESPN2026 Women's College World Series schedule. All times Eastern. May 28Game 1: Mississippi State vs Texas Tech (Noon, ESPN)Game 2: Tennessee vs Texas (2:30 p.m., ESPN)Game 3: UCLA vs Alabama (7 p.m., ESPN2)Game 4: Arkansas vs Nebraska (9:30 p.m., ESPN2)May 29Game 5: Game 1 loser vs Game 2 loser (7 p.m., ESPN2)Game 6: Game 3 loser vs Game 4 loser (9:30 p.m., ESPN2)May 30Game 7: Game 1 winner vs Game 2 winner (3 p.m., ABC)Game 8: Game 3 winner vs Game 4 winner (7 p.m., ESPN)May 31Game 9: Game 5 winner vs Game 7 loser (3 p.m., ABC)Game 10: Game 6 winner vs Game 8 loser (7 p.m., ESPN2)June 1Game 11: Game 7 winner vs Game 9 winner (Noon, ESPN)Game 12 (if necessary): Game 7 winner vs Game 9 winner (2:30 p.m., ESPN)Game 13: Game 8 winner vs Game 10 winner (7 p.m., ESPN2)Game 14 (if necessary): Game 8 winner vs Game 10 winner (9:30 p.m., ESPN2)June 3Finals Game 1 (8 p.m., ESPN)June 4Finals Game 2 (8 p.m., ESPN)June 5Finals Game 3, if necessary (8 p.m., ESPN)More NCAA NewsMiss. State vs. Oklahoma box score: Final stats from NCAA Softball Super RegionalsTexas Tech vs. Florida box score: Final stats from NCAA Softball Super RegionalsTexas vs. Arizona State box score: Final stats from NCAA Softball Super RegionalsShedeur Sanders is all over social media after Colorado GPA surfacesBill Belichick, Jordon Hudson at Kentucky Derby leaves everyone saying the same thing

Why Jared McCain is deciding what 76ers do with Quentin Grimes originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Philadelphia 76ers continue to sit at home, and all they can do is watch as Jared McCain has helped the Oklahoma City Thunder to the verge of the NBA Finals.Meanwhile, the 'Sixers have to decide what to do with Quentin Grimes. And these realities are more connected than it seems.In fact, ESPN's Tim Bontemps wrote in a new article on Thursday that what Philadelphia decides to do with Grimes will be quite tied to McCain.MORE: There's a 7th-grade hooper named Kobe BryantHow Jared McCain impacts Quentin GrimesIn essence, the 76ers chose at the trade deadline to keep Grimes and trade McCain.They may not have had similar offers available for Grimes, but the reality is that there was a logjam and Philly chose McCain as the guy to get rid of."With Jared McCain's emergence as a critical piece of Oklahoma City's push to return to the NBA Finals for a second straight year, the pressure on the 76ers to retain Grimes -- whom they chose to keep over McCain at February's trade deadline -- grows by the day," Bontemps writes. "Since-fired president of basketball operations Daryl Morey traded McCain for a first-round pick and three second-rounders."The salary-cap implications of the 76ers keeping Grimes are tricky, though."Keeping Grimes -- along with fellow free agent wing Kelly Oubre Jr. -- would cause Philadelphia to go well into the luxury tax, something the team has repeatedly avoided in recent years," Bontemps writes. "It will be one of the first important decisions for whoever is hired to replace Morey (a decision expected to come fairly soon)."The good news for 76ers fans, at least those who like Grimes, is that he'll probably end up staying put."The belief overall is that Grimes will land something at or below the midlevel exception, and ultimately, it will come from the 76ers," Bontemps writes.Whether that's better than having McCain is a different discussion altogether.More NBA news:James Harden might be delusionalBobby Marks sees 5 possible outcomes for LeBron JamesHeat, Norman Powell can impact the Giannis trade pictureCJ McCollum heads for interesting free agencyTimberwolves can't afford to lose this talented free agent

Craig Breslow Explains Red Sox's Alarming Struggles With ABS Challenges originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.There are several reasons for the Boston Red Sox's disappointing record this year, from unexpected slumps and injuries to coaching changes and inconsistent performance.One area where the Red Sox haven't helped themselves is ABS challenges, where they rank dead last in MLB.On Thursday's episode of "The Greg Hill Show," Craig Breslow was asked why Boston is struggling so much with the new feature, especially given Chad Tracy's prior experience with it while managing Triple-A Worcester.Curtis: "How are you dead last in ABS challenges?"Greg: "Are you aggressively looking to add a bat to this lineup?"Are there any players that are 'untouchable' in trades? Red Sox CBO Craig Breslow joins! #MLB#RedSox#news #fyp#BaseballStrategy #TeamBuildingpic.twitter.com/8QMGl6VFJF— WEEI (@WEEI) May 28, 2026"It's something that we wrestle with and try to address," Breslow said. "We got caught maybe in a situation where we were very focused on the right situations to challenge. That was what a lot of the conversations were about... I think what that did is it left a lot of opportunities to challenge on the table... The overall number of challenges that we've made is too low."The Red Sox have been too conservative when it comes to ABS challenges, likely costing themselves runs and wins in the process. It's another area where they need to improve if they want to overcome their slow start and make the playoffs.More MLB: Craig Breslow Revisits Red Sox's Controversial Alex Cora Decision

An earlier version of the defamation suit, which focused on an article about a birthday note to Jeffrey Epstein, was dismissed by a judge.

Jalen Williams, Ajay Mitchell headline Thunder injury report for WCF Game 6 vs. Spurs originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Oklahoma City Thunder are on the road on Thursday night as they travel to take on the San Antonio Spurs in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals.For the Thunder, they enter Thursday’s game with a 3-2 series lead after defeating the Spurs at home on Tuesday night in Game 5 behind big performances from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Alex Caruso and Jared McCain.Now Oklahoma City will head to San Antonio for Game 6 on Thursday where they will try to end the series with a victory and clinch their spot in the NBA Finals for the second straight season.While the Thunder are looking to pick up a victory on the road in Game 6 on Thursday night, they may be without multiple key players due to injuries.Thunder list Jalen Williams, Ajay Mitchell on injury report for Game 6For the Thunder, they have three players listed on their injury report for Thursday’s matchup, including both Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell.Oklahoma City has listed Williams as questionable due to left hamstring strain injury management and he is in danger of missing his fourth consecutive contest after he re-aggravated the injury in Game 2.If Williams is sidelined once again for Game 6, McCain, Cason Wallace and Isaiah Joe could all continue to have increased roles.MORE: What channel is Spurs vs. Thunder on? Time, TV schedule, live stream to watch Game 6 of NBA Playoffs seriesThe Thunder have ruled out Mitchell as he will miss his third straight game due to a right calf strain that he suffered in Game 3.Thomas Sorber has also been ruled out as the rookie center remains sidelined while recovering from a torn ACL.Fans can catch Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals between the Thunder and Spurs from San Antonio on Thursday night at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.More NBA news:Shai Gilgeous-Alexander cease-and-desist, explained: Why Thunder star wants 'Unethical Hoops' board game 'destroyed'Lakers may lose Austin Reaves to surprise Eastern Conference landing spotWhy Timberwolves may part ways with Donte DiVincenzo after brutal injury

Where to watch North Carolina high school softball championships: Schedule, channel, live stream for NCHSAA finals originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Another thrilling North Carolina softball season concludes this week with the state championship series at Duke and UNC Greensboro. The East and West region champions will face off in eight best-of-three series for the first time after the NCHSAA doubled the number of classifications from four. Two of last year's four state champions return to the finals in different classifications, with West Wilkes (2A last year) facing McMichael for the 3A title and South Caldwell (4A) meeting Union Pines in the 6A final.The must-see matchup will be in 7A, where two nationally ranked teams face off for a title. Weddington (25-0) is ranked 15th by MaxPreps and seeking its first state championship. The Warriors will face a 25-2 D.H. Conley team ranked 17th in the country. It should be a great weekend of softball as champions are crowned. Here's all you need to know to watch with trophies on the line this week in North Carolina. Where to watch North Carolina high school softball championshipsTV channel: NoneLive stream:NFHS NetworkThe NCHSAA softball championship series will not air on traditional television but fans can stream every game live on the NFHS Network. The NFHS Network offers two basic plans: an Annual Pass ($6.67 per month) or a Monthly Pass ($13.99 per month). These plans give subscribers the ability to watch live sporting events and create clips of their favorite moments from games. North Carolina high school softball championships schedule 2026NCHSAA softball championship series are best-of-three, with Game 1 the first day and Games 2 and 3 (if necessary) the following day. This year the 1A, 2A, 5A and 6A championships will be played at Duke's softball stadium in Durham, while the 3A, 4A, 7A and 8A finals are at UNC Greensboro. Wednesday, May 27ClassGameTime (ET)2AGame 1: North Duplin 4, Roxboro Community 3—7AGame 1: Weddington 1, D.H. Conley 0 (8 inn.)—5AGame 1: Enka 11, West Carteret 5—8AGame 1: Providence 2, Corinth Holders 1—Thursday, May 28Stream every game live on the NFHS Network.ClassGameTime (ET)2AGame 2: North Duplin vs. Roxboro Community11 a.m.7AGame 2: Weddington 5, D.H. Conley 0—5AGame 2: West Carteret vs. Enka2 p.m.8AGame 2: Corinth Holders vs. Providence2 p.m.8AGame 3*: Corinth Holders vs. Providence5 p.m.2AGame 3*: North Duplin vs. Roxboro Community5 or 8 p.m.5AGame 3*: West Carteret vs. Enka5 or 8 p.m.* If necessaryFriday, May 29ClassGameTime (ET)1AGame 1: Bear Grass Charter vs. Robbinsville4 p.m.4AGame 1: SW Randolph vs. West Stanly5 p.m.6AGame 1: Union Pines vs. South Caldwell6 p.m.3AGame 1: McMichael vs. West Wilkes7:30 p.m.Saturday, May 30ClassGameTime (ET)1AGame 2: Bear Grass Charter vs. Robbinsville11 a.m.4AGame 2: SW Randolph vs. West Stanly11 a.m.6AGame 2: Union Pines vs. South Caldwell2 p.m.3AGame 2: McMichael vs. West Wilkes2 p.m.1AGame 3*: Bear Grass Charter vs. Robbinsville5 or 8 p.m.4AGame 3*: SW Randolph vs. West Stanly5 or 8 p.m.6AGame 3*: Union Pines vs. South Caldwell5 or 8 p.m.3AGame 3*: McMichael vs. West Wilkes5 or 8 p.m.* If necessary

UNC basketball’s 2026-27 ACC schedule includes a home-and-home series with Louisville and rival Duke, but the Tar Heels won’t play Clemson for the first time in more than 70 years. The conference released opponents for the upcoming 18-game league schedule on Thursday, May 28. Dates and times will be announced at a later date. For the first time since the 1950-51 season, the Tar Heels won't play the Tigers, who were a part of the original group of schools that formed the ACC in 1953.UNC also won’t have a game against N.C. State in Raleigh for the first time since 1947. The Tar Heels and Wolfpack had their game canceled on Feb. 26, 1947, at Thompson Gym. The announcement was made minutes before the opening tip by a fire marshal because there were too many fans in the gym. UNC NONCONFERENCE SCHEDULE: UNC basketball schedule 2026-27: Nonconference games in Michael Malone’s first seasonIn 2025, the ACC announced its move to an 18-game schedule and assigned the Blue Devils as UNC's primary partner. UNC's variable partner, which changes annually, was Syracuse last season and is Louisville this season. Michael Malone is entering his first season as head coach of the Tar Heels, who are likely to have a starting lineup that includes three transfer portal additions in Terrence Brown Jr. (Utah), Neoklis Avdalas (Virginia Tech) and Matt Able (N.C. State). Senior returner Jarin Stevenson and international prospect Sayon Keita are expected to round out the starters. Here's a breakdown of the ACC teams UNC will face in the 2027-28 season.UNC basketball ACC schedule 2026-27Home and Away: Duke, LouisvilleHome only: Cal, Georgia Tech, Miami, N.C. State, SMU, Stanford, VirginiaAway only: Boston College, Florida State, Notre Dame, Pitt, Syracuse, Virginia Tech, Wake ForestRodd Baxley covers North Carolina Tar Heels athletics for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding UNC? Send them to rbaxley@usatodayco.com.This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: UNC basketball ACC schedule 2026-27: Tar Heels conference opponents

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. — As the U.S. national soccer team accelerates World Cup preparations, Mauricio Pochettino has reportedly engaged in conversations with AC Milan about filling its coaching vacancy after this summer’s tournament.It’s not a particularly surprising development, given Pochettino’s coaching history prior to the U.S. job was exclusively at the club level. Furthermore, his $6 million-a-year contract with the U.S. Soccer Federation expires after the World Cup — a typical reassessment period for any national team coach.The Athletic reported Thursday that Pochettino spoke with Milan last week.The interest in Pochettino adds another layer in the buildup to a World Cup that, with U.S. success, promises to hasten the sport’s growth in this country.Overseeing the team’s second workout at the new national training center Thursday, Pochettino was not immediately available for comment.USSF chief executive JT Batson did not confirm the AC Milan talks, but did say, “Mauricio and the entire [coaching] team has been incredibly transparent the entire process.”Since the USSF first approached Pochettino two summers ago, “there are lots of other people interested in having Maurico and [his] team join,” Batson said. “He had standing offers from other places to come, and he wanted to be here. He's a big believer in what we're doing in U.S soccer, he's a big believer in soccer in America, and he's a big believer in this men’s team.”U.S. soccer coach Mauricio Pochettino jokes with Malik Tillman during a practice prior to the World Cup.John Dorton/USSF via Getty ImagesPochettino, 54, has coached at Espanyol, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, and since taking the U.S. job in the fall of 2024, has been linked with numerous clubs overseas.“There's been a longer list of outreach than what has even been reported,” Batson said.AC Milan, which employs U.S. star Christian Pulisic, has begun a coaching search to replace Massimiliano Allegri, who failed to secure a Champions League berth next season. RedBird Capital Partners, an American firm that owns the Serie A titans, called it an “unequivocal failure.”Though the Argentine-born Pochettino has expressed some interest in re-upping with the U.S. program, there has been broad expectation that he would return to European club circles. While he does visit the U.S. regularly, his homes are in London and Barcelona.Nonetheless, Batson said, “We've had a number of very long discussions around what the next four years could look like. We're excited and they're excited, but of course, we’ve got to focus on the summer.”The U.S. will play friendlies against Senegal on Sunday in Charlotte and Germany on June 6 in Chicago before opening the World Cup on June 12 against Paraguay in Inglewood, California.Playing in a World Cup at home for the first time since 1994, the Americans are seeking a breakthrough after losing in the round of 16 in 2010, 2014 and 2022. (They didn’t qualify in 2018.) Their last deep run was to the 2002 quarterfinals.Given soccer’s global nature, Batson said the federation is always prepared for personnel changes in all of its more than two-dozen teams, particularly at the senior level.“We, on a monthly basis, have a succession planning session for all of our coaches across all of our teams,” he said. “So as a part of that, we have plans for renewals, we have plans for interims and we have plans for replacements.”Batson said Pochettino’s future has not caused distractions.“We’re confident that Mauricio and team are 100 percent focused on this summer. They're excited. They were one of the first people here this morning, they were the last to leave last night.”The club offseason does, however, offer opportunities for coaches and players alike.“There's guys in contract situations right now that have to figure out what to do, either before the World Cup, after the World Cup,” midfielder Tyler Adams said. “It's going to be the same deal with coaches. He’s fully present with us every single day, finding ways to make us better, focusing on the trainings, just as we are.”Last month, sporting director Matt Crocker, who oversees the national teams and spearheaded Pochettino’s hiring, left the USSF to work for the Saudi federation.“I would not expect a like-for-like sporting director going forward,” Batson said. “And we are very active in sort of both planning and executing that new structure.”

The Los Angeles Angels reinstated left-handed reliever Drew Pomeranz from the injured list ahead of the final game of a three-game set against the Detroit Tigers.In a corresponding move, they optioned fellow southpaw Tayler Saucedo to Triple-A Salt Lake.Pomeranz signed with the Angels on a one-year, $4 million contract during the offseason, but hasn’t yet made much of a mark with the Halos. He has made 17 appearances so far this season, allowing 12 earned runs in 15 innings for a 7.02 ERA.His last appearance came against the Cleveland Guardians on May 12, when an unearned run crossed the plate under his watch during a 3-2 loss. The following day, the Angels placed Pomeranz on the 15-day injured list with left elbow inflammation.One of just two left-handers in the bullpen now, the Angels will hope Pomeranz can alleviate the struggles the Halos have had in relief so far. May 12, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Drew Pomeranz (13) delivers a pitch in the seventh inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn ImagesWhy Did the Angels Option Tayler Saucedo?Saucedo, 32, first came up to MLB May 3, and made his Angels debut against the New York Mets on the same day.The southpaw made four appearances out of the Angels’ bullpen afterwards, though none of them lasted a full inning. He allowed one earned run, which came against the Mets in his season debut, and struck out three batters across two total innings of work. Saucedo has made 152 MLB appearances, the majority of which came with the Seattle Mariners from 2023-25. He has thrown 130 innings in the big leagues, posting a 4.36 ERA while striking out 115 batters.Over the last few weeks with the Angels, manager Kurt Suzuki has used Saucedo exclusively in situations where he has an advantageous matchup against a left-handed batter. Pomeranz is more accustomed to high-leverage work in MLB, and will fill a similar role as a left-handed relief arm.Saucedo was reliable in his few opportunities, though, and could very well make his way back to MLB by the end of the season.How Has the Angels’ Bullpen Performed This Season?Among all MLB bullpens, the Angels have the second-worst ERA mark in all of baseball at 5.24. They’ve collectively blown 10 saves, which also ranks in the bottom five teams in MLB. The bullpen also posed some trouble for the Angels last season, failing to reliably see out games, and their offseason signings—Pomeranz included—haven’t helped much.They’ll hope a rested and healthy Pomeranz can improve their relief core and pull them up out of last place in the AL West.Do you think Drew Pomeranz will make the difference for the Angels?The post Angels Reinstate Offseason Signing From IL Ahead of Series Finale appeared first on LA Sports Report.

SUMMIT, NJ—In a surprise attack of astonishing brutality, oral cavity sources confirmed Thursday that the Listerine inside a local mouth was leaving 0.1% of germs alive in order to spread a message of terror throughout the microbial community. “The mouthwash killed my entire colony and then told me to bear witness to the horrors I saw today,” said a rod-shaped Porphyromonas gingivalis, adding that its cell wall was nearly dissolved when suddenly the 20 milliliters of antiseptic liquid retreated, leaving the bacterium with severe but nonfatal injuries. “The Listerine viciously wiped out our entire community. There was nothing left but a wasteland covered in piles of dead cell membranes. It laughed and told us that even God fears the minty power of Listerine.” Sources later refused to verify rumors that shell-shocked survivors had taken refuge inside a decayed tooth. The post Listerine Leaves 0.1% Of Germs Alive To Spread Message Of Terror Throughout Microbial Community appeared first on The Onion.

The post DOJ Launches Criminal Investigation Into All Women appeared first on The Onion.

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The Oklahoma Coaches Association released its 2026 All-State golf rosters Tuesday. The All-State golf event is set for 8:30 a.m. July 27 at KickingBird Golf Club in Edmond. Here are the rosters and coaches. More: OU football OL commit Cooper Hackett out for 2026 Oklahoma high school seasonWest girls Coach: Mike Morton, Edmond Santa Fe Jamie Brown, Cordell; Gabriella Gross, Heritage Hall; Hadley Hill, Turner; Juliana Hong, Norman North; Drew Jacobson, Bethany; Abbie Justiz, Edmond North; Anna Kate Ownbey, Plainview; Kory Scott, Marlow; Addison Stavig, Guymon; Laura Stewart, Duncan; Kenli Wade, Lawton MacArthur; Bentli Whitson, Corn Bible AcademyEast girls Coach: Jordan London, Fort GibsonLeah Ansley, Morris; Savanna Butler, Tulsa Kelley; Audrey Ellis, Owasso; Teagan Graves, Fort Gibson; Lisa Herman, Jenks; Shalyn Hughes, Caney; Megan Kalapura, Holland Hall; Tori Kirberger, Jenks; Claire Mauck, Silo; Nikki Pitts, Stillwater; Madison Schultz, Summit Christian; Ildri Weber, Tulsa KelleyWest boys Coach: Matt Layman, TuttleWyatt Davison, Velma-Alma; Benson Diehm, Norman; Jack Ensey, Duncan; Bryce Freeman, Tuttle; Logan Janaway, Washington; Ben Lathrop, Heritage Hall; Austen Mueller, Piedmont; Harper Nance, Crossings Christian; Ty Neatherlin, Oklahoma Christian School; Ethan Travis, Marlow; Cooper Watson, Lawton MacArthur; Rocky Willis, SayreEast boysCoach: Tucker Thompson, InolaCanton Brown, Victory Christian; Noah Campbell, Summit Christian; Tate Dunlap, Claremore; Porter Finley, Metro Christian; Seth Gilliam, McAlester; Kase McAdams, Kingston; Kaleb McAlester, Wilburton; Collin Pollock, Owasso; Harrison Shaw, Tulsa Booker T. Washington; Jones Vrska, Owasso; Travis Weast, Inola; Jack Williams, Claremore Nick Sardis covers high school sports for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Nick? He can be reached at nsardis@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @nicksardis. Sign up for The Varsity Club newsletter to access more high school coverage. Support Nick's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.comThis article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Coaches Association announces 2026 All-State golf rosters

The Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki team announced Cameron McAdoo and Drew Adams will miss the opening round of the 2026 Pro Motocross championship this week due to injury.Adams has been out of the lineup since he was landed on in the Cleveland Supercross round. He injured his wrist and arm in the accident. McAdoo crashed in the Supercross season finale and failed to finish the main. He was transported to the hospital and initially declared he was okay.Levi Kitchen and Seth Hammaker, both of whom finished second in their respective 250 divisional championships, will lead the Pro Circuit brigade in its attempt to score the outdoor title. Nick Romano, signed to fill in for Adams after his Cleveland crash, will also race this weekend.With Haiden Deegan graduating to the 450 class, the pressure is on for 250 riders to establish dominance early in the season, since the last seven Motocross championships have been earned by the winner of the opening round.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi admitted he was left stunned after learning that Sachin Tendulkar had praised his breathtaking IPL 2026 Eliminator knock against Sunrisers Hyderabad, calling it a proud and deeply motivating moment in his young career.The 15-year-old once again lit up the IPL stage with a breathtaking innings of 97 off just 29 balls, helping Rajasthan Royals crush SRH by 47 runs and move one step closer to the final. Sooryavanshi smashed 12 sixes during his explosive stay at the crease and came within three runs of Chris Gayle’s record for the fastest century in IPL history.His fearless assault left the cricket world in awe, with even Sachin Tendulkar taking to X to applaud the youngster’s extraordinary shot-making and attacking approach.“Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s bat swing has been outstanding. What’s even more remarkable is how beautifully he clears his front foot to create room for balls aimed at his legs. This freedom allows him to play the way he does. That innings was nothing short of spectacular!” Tendulkar tweeted.The praise from the batting legend turned out to be an emotional moment for Sooryavanshi, who revealed he was unaware of the tweet until teammate Dhruv Jurel mentioned it during a conversation for the IPL website.Reacting to Tendulkar’s words, the teenager admitted it was a proud and motivating feeling to receive recognition from someone he regards as the “God of Cricket.”"It feels really good, sir. It motivates me. You just told me about it; I wasn't even aware. And of course, everyone knows he is the God of Cricket. If he has tweeted something like that, it's a huge deal for us that a legend like him has tweeted about us. So, of course, it is a matter of pride,” Sooryavanshi said in the video on the IPL website.Sooryavanshi’s innings against Hyderabad once again underlined why he has become the breakout superstar of IPL 2026. The left-handed opener tore apart SRH’s bowling attack from the very beginning, smashing Pat Cummins for an early straight six before unleashing complete destruction in the overs that followed. 131371687He raced to a half-century in only 16 balls and later surpassed Chris Gayle’s long-standing record for the most sixes in a single IPL season. With 65 sixes already this year, the teenager has transformed Rajasthan Royals into one of the most dangerous batting units in the competition.The knock also pushed him to the top of the Orange Cap standings. Sooryavanshi has now scored 680 runs from 15 innings at an average of 45.33 and a staggering strike rate of 242.85.Despite the growing attention and records, the youngster insisted his focus remains simple."I think a little, not too much. Try and keep things simple. I try to play with good intent and dominate the bowlers. I want to pressurise the bowler. My focus (today) was on contributing for the team, my focus now is how to win the trophy."Rajasthan Royals will now face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2, with a place in the IPL 2026 final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on the line.

Scotland defender Grant Hanley admits there were times in his career where he thought competing at the World Cup was out of reach. The 34-year-old, currently at Scottish Premiership side Hibs, has struggled with injuries throughout his career.Having missed a month with a hamstring issue in February, the centre-back was forced off against Motherwell in Hibs' final game of the season but is fit and ready for the World Cup.When asked if there were times he felt reaching a World Cup might not happen from him, Hanley admitted: "Definitely. "I think that's part and parcel of life and certainly part of a career in football."There's loads of highs and probably more lows. There's been some tough and testing periods along the way, but having opportunities like this, that's what really makes it worth it."Scotland will mark their departure for the United States with a final game at Hampden when they face Curacao in Saturday's friendly. And while the excitement about reaching a first World Cup in nearly 30 years has been bubbling away, Hanley insists the focus is on doing more. "I don't think it's a secret that we would like to have performed better and progress further in the last couple of tournaments we've been to," he added. "Qualifying for them is one thing, but you want to give a good account of yourself and you want to be as successful as we can. "This one's no different, so full focus on that."Speaking before head coach Steve Clarke's new contract was announced, Handly shared his admiration of the Scotland boss."I don't think he'd appreciate me commenting on it, but he's certainly been unbelievable for me," the defender said. "The faith and the trust he's shown in me, for bringing me in and playing me consistently and even times when I was really struggling with injuries and things like that. I think back to the last few Euros, I hadn't really played any."He's shown a lot of trust in me, so certainly I will always be grateful for everything the manager's done for me."

Cross Creek Clays will host the 8th Annual Night Stalker & Legion Memorial Shoot June 26-28, 2026, continuing a tradition of honoring fallen members of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and the 5th Special Forces Group.Each shooting station is dedicated to a fallen service member, serving as a tribute to their lives and service.The event has raised nearly $300,000 over the past seven years for the Night Stalker Association and Special Forces Association Chapter 38, which provide resources to active-duty soldiers and the families of the fallen."Every year, we come together not just to shoot, but to honor, remember, and give back," said Joe Calabrace, owner of Cross Creek Clays and a former member of the original Night Stalkers. "This event means a great deal to me personally, but more importantly, it brings people together in support of the families who have sacrificed so much.”2025 event drew over 380 shootersThe 2025 event drew more than 380 shooters and raised over $100,000 for the second consecutive year.In addition to the competition, attendees can connect with members of the units, view operational equipment and experience a static aircraft display.A highlight of the weekend is the 160th SOAR flyover and aerial demonstration, open to the public and set to begin around 8:30 a.m. June 27. The demonstration will feature a Blackhawk and a Little Bird out of Fort Campbell, according to the announcement.Cross Creek Clays will welcome By Light/Veraxx Professional IT Services LLC as the 2026 title sponsor.Registration is open through ScoreChaser, and sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, visit crosscreekclays.com/night-stalker/.Cross Creek Clays is located in Palmyra, about 20 minutes from downtown Clarksville. The facility is open to the public and welcomes shooters of all skill levels. For more information, call 931-999-8190 or visit crosscreekclays.com.This story was created by reporter Kenya Anderson, kanderson@gannett.com, with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: Honoring the fallen: Night Stalker & Legion Memorial Shoot returns in June

This month, a North Dakota court barred Greenpeace from saying what it wanted in a European court, an unusual move. The environmental group says it is forging ahead.

Michael Preysman, who ran the brand for a decade, can’t believe what happened to the company he built. Can he start over?

Ukraine and Iran have shown us that war as we’ve known it is over.

The Chinese e-commerce platform faces a penalty of more than $230 million for selling baby toys and other products the European Commission said could harm consumers.

Nicknamed Russell the Muscle, he finished ninth in the decathlon at the 1964 Games. His mother, Alice Arden, placed the same as a high jumper in 1936.

Vitória and Fortaleza to decide the Copa do NordesteVitória and Fortaleza will play in the final of the 2026 Copa do Nordeste. The team from Bahia secured its place after two wins over ABC: 6-2 last week at Barradão, and 4-3 this Wednesday at Rei Pelé. Fortaleza, meanwhile, had a tougher task and booked its spot in the final by defeating Sport 2-0 at Ilha do Retiro, also on Wednesday.In the other match, at Castelão on May 20, Sport had won 2-1.Vitória has won the Copa do Nordeste four times. Fortaleza has three titles. Bahia holds the competition record, with five trophies.The current Copa champions, Bahia were left out of the 2026 edition due to a change in CBF regulations, which prevents clubs qualified for Conmebol competitions (the Libertadores and the Sudamericana) from playing in regional tournaments. Since Bahia earned a place in the Libertadores preliminary round, the club was automatically barred from the competition.Vitória beat ABC again: 4-3 at Rei PeléCredits: Victor Ferreira / VitóriaAt Rei Pelé on Wednesday, ABC took the lead through Luiz Fernando in the 15th minute. Vitória equalized shortly afterward through Nathan Mendes. But still in the first half, Luiz Fernando scored again to put the home side back in front.In the second half, Baralhas made it 2-2 in the 27th minute. ABC went ahead again in the 42nd, through Igor Bahia. However, the visitors turned it around with goals in the 43rd and 49th minutes, scored by Fabri and Erick, respectively.At Ilha do Retiro, Miritello opened the scoring for Fortaleza with a header in the 35th minute of the first half. In the 7th minute of the second half, Vitinho hit a powerful shot from outside the box to make it two.Vitória and Fortaleza will contest the title over two matches.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

Boston College made Blaize Battaglia feel like a priority early in the process, and that approach paid off.The three-star linebacker out of Milton (Ga.) committed to the Eagles after Boston College pushed hard from the moment the offer went out earlier this year.Now Battaglia is headed to Chestnut Hill.“They made me feel like I was a priority,” Battaglia told Rivals. “Ted Roof, Bill O’Brien and Dan O’Brien are all great coaches and they made me feel like they really wanted me. They built great relationships with me, they recruited me really hard and that was big in my decision.”[ $19.99 gets you a FULL year of On3 | Rivals national coverage ]Boston College got involved before many other schools seriously entered the picture, and the Eagles never let up once they identified Battaglia as a top target.Battaglia visited Boston College in March, and the trip quickly changed the direction of his recruitment.“The campus and the city stood out. Everything was clean, the facilities were great and I really liked the football staff. I had a great time on the visit, the coaches were great, and the feeling I had up there was great.”Kansas, Maryland and UNLV all remained involved late, but Boston College continued separating itself.Battaglia originally planned to take more visits into the summer before making a final decision, but after continued conversations with his family and the Eagles’ staff, he decided he did not need to wait any longer.“I was praying about it and it just felt different with Boston College,” Battaglia said. “It felt more like home.”The relationship with linebackers coach Dan O’Brien became another major factor.“He has been down to see me as much as he could, and he is a coach who really knows what he is talking about. We have watched film and I really like his knowledge of the game and his personality.”Head coach Bill O’Brien also made a major impact throughout the process. He got the news of this decision first, earlier this week. “He answered and said, ‘I’m hoping this is exciting news,’” Battaglia said with a laugh. “I told him I was shutting it down and committing to Boston College.“He and the staff were super excited with my decision. They have always felt I was the best fit for them. Ted Roof sees a lot of him in me, so he is excited to coach me too. It was exciting to make this decision.”Battaglia will officially visit Boston College June 12-14. He had 121 total tackles, 14 quarterback hurries, 8.5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks as a juniors. Battaglia is another key piece in the Eagles’ class.

May 22, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Payton Tolle (70) pitches against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | Eric Canha-Imagn Images TV: NESNFirst Pitch: 4:10 p.m. ETThe Red Sox and Braves will compete in the rubber match of their three-game series on Thursday at Fenway Park.Payton Tolle and Chris Sale will be the men tasked with getting the job done.I don’t have to tell you guys just how fun this matchup could be, with the former riding an incredible streak of four consecutive quality starts into the outing, while the latter has allowed six total earned runs across his last seven starts. Tolle and Sale both had an opportunity to meet each other on Wednesday.Andruw Monasterio, Carlos Narváez, and Caleb Durbin will slot back into the lineup, with the former getting the start as the designated hitter over Masataka Yoshida. Narváez will return behind the dish, while Durbin plays third base.Series finale up next. pic.twitter.com/UFpFH7ontO— Red Sox (@RedSox) May 28, 2026Sandy León and Dom Smith will join their starting pitcher as former members of the Red Sox to return to Fenway Park. Sale gets the start for the series finale 💪#BravesCountrypic.twitter.com/D5OsEeh65f— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) May 28, 2026I’ll be betting the under on total runs and over on total strikeouts, in case you were wondering…

No one in Major League Baseball does bobbleheads quite like the Los Angeles Dodgers.Not only do the giveaways draw a crowd, but they often can be resold online, helping offset the cost of attending a game or, in some cases, turning you a profit.Here’s the list of bobbleheads released so far in 2026, as well as how much they’re selling for on the secondhand market.This story will be updated as more bobbleheads are announced and released.March 28: Will Smith “Game 7 Home Run”The first bobblehead giveaway of the season captures the final run of the 2025 season: Will Smith’s World Series-winning homer.Resale prices run between $70 and $90.March 31: YoshiThe giveaway of the Yoshi bobblehead, which shows the beloved Nintendo character dressed in homage to Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, has been perhaps the most sought-after bobblehead of the season.Resale prices range from about $230 to $400, depending on your website of choice.View this post on InstagramA post shared by Dodgers Nation (@dodgersnation)April 10: Shohei Ohtani “Greatest Game” Part 1This was Part 1 of the two-part celebration of Shohei Ohtani’s NLCS Game 4, in which he hit three home runs and struck out 10 batters over six scoreless innings.Prices range from $70 to $350.Additionally, the Dodgers will give away a Shohei Ohtani "Greatest Game (Part 1)" bobblehead on April 10.This Ohtani bobblehead will commemorate his 3-HR performance at the plate in the pennant-clinching Game 4 of the NLCS. Later in the season, another bobblehead will celebrate… https://t.co/wJOE7AR4FLpic.twitter.com/KNsIA4SdYs— MLB (@MLB) February 9, 2026April 25: Roki SasakiThe bobblehead depicting pitcher Roki Sasaki is for sale for about $50 to $100 online.Apr 25, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; A view of a bobblehead depicting Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) during the game against the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn ImagesMay 8: Miguel Rojas “Game 7 Home Run”Miguel Rojas’ Game 7-tying homer is immortalized in this bobblehead, which will probably run you between $90 and $120.The Miguel Rojas Game 7 bobblehead shows the Dodgers fan-favorite hitting his famous World Series home run. Credit: DodgersMay 9: Blake Snell “Starter Series”Blake Snell, the first of four parts in the “Starter Series,” will cost you between $40 and $70.Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell is the subject of a bobblehead that will be given away on Saturday, May 9, 2026, as part of the “Starter Series.” Credit: DodgersMay 12: Ice Cube LowriderThis bobblehead celebrates LA icon Ice Cube and the Dodgers’ back-to-back championships.If you want one, it will cost you between $110 and $210.The Dodgers gave out an Ice Cube lowrider bobblehead on May 12, 2026. Credit: MLB.comMay 14: Grogu The movie “The Mandalorian and Grogu” is the subject of this Star Wars Night bobblehead, which shows Grogu — aka Baby Yoda — levitating a baseball with the LA logo on it while perched in his hover pram.Listings on eBay have it going for about $100, though some prices go as high as $250.Grogu, or Baby Yoda, is depicted in a bobblehead given away on May 14, 2026, at Dodger Stadium.May 25: Dave Roberts Manager Dave Roberts got his own bobblehead, with the skipper depicted in the championship edition uniforms to celebrate back-to-back championships.Secondary market prices range from $35 to $70.The Los Angeles Dodgers are giving away a bobblehead of manager Dave Roberts on May 25, 2026. Credit: DodgersMay 27: Yoshinobu Yamamoto “Game 7 Last Out”The World Series MVP was honored with a bobblehead depicting his reaction to closing out the 2025 Fall Classic.The Yoshinobu Yamamoto “Last Out” bobblehead was given out on May 27, 2026. Credit: DodgersPrices on the secondhand market range from about $75 to $113.May 29: Alex VesiaMay 30: Teoscar Hernández “Mr. Seeds”June 6: Tyler Glasnow “Starter Series”June 19: Mookie Betts “Game 7 Double Play”June 20: Shaquille O’NealJuly 6: Freddie Freeman “18th Inning Walk-Off”July 8: Shohei Ohtani “Greatest Game” Part 2July 11: Son Heung-minJuly 29: Edwin DiazJuly 31: Kyle TuckerAug. 10: Max Muncy “Game 7 Home Run”Aug. 14: Clayton KershawAug. 15: Reggie Smith “Legends of Dodger Baseball”Aug. 22: Shohei Ohtani “Starter Series”Sept. 5: Yoshinobu Yamamoto “Starter Series”Janai Williams contributed to this report.

Jannik Sinner became the biggest shock of this year’s French Open and of any grand slam for many years after a stunning second round exit at the hands of Juan Manuel Cerundolo.The world No 1 suffered in the heat and appeared to struggle with an injury as the Argentine pulled off a remarkable comeback from two sets down on Thursday.On Wednesday, Elena Rybakina crashed out on the women’s side of the draw as the second seed fell to a three-set defeat to Ukraine’s Yuliia Starodubtseva in the biggest upset of the tournament so far. The women’s draw is still full of potential winners, with defending champion Coco Gauff having had a mixed clay-court season thus far but arriving with a point to prove after a tough defeat in the Italian Open final.The American returns to action alongside US Open champion and last year’s runner-up Aryna Sabalenka, four-time Roland-Garros winner Iga Swiatek, and a rejuvenated Elina Svitolina, who recently won her biggest title in eight years on the clay in Rome to put herself among the contenders. Follow the top players’ progress with our seed tracker here:Men’s seeds❌ Jannik Sinner (ITA) - second round defeat to Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-3, 6-2, 5-7, 1-6, 1-6Alexander Zverev (GER)Novak Djokovic (SRB)Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN)Ben Shelton (USA)❌ Daniil Medvedev - first round defeat to Adam Walton - 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4❌ Taylor Fritz (USA) - first round defeat to Nishesh Basavareddy 7-6(5), 7-6(5), 6-7(9), 6-1 Alex de Minaur (AUS)❌ Alexander Bublik (KAZ) - first round defeat to Jan-Lennard Struff 7-5, 6-7 (6), 6-4, 7-5Flavio Cobolli (ITA)Andrey Rublev❌ Jiri Lehecka (CZE) - first round defeat to Pablo Carrena Busta 6-3, 7-6 (3), 6-3Karen KhachanovLuciano Darderi (ITA)Casper Ruud (NOR)❌ Valentin Vacherot (MON) - withdrew before second round with injury❌Arthur Fils (FRA) - withdrew before first round with injuryLearner Tien (USA)Frances Tiafoe (USA)❌ Cameron Norrie (GBR) – retired from first round match with Adolfo Daniel Vallejo trailing 7-6 (7), 2-0❌ Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP) - second round defeat to Thiago Agustín Tirante 4-6 7-6 6-1 6-3 Arthur Rinderknech (FRA)❌Tomas Martin Etcheverry (ARG) - first round defeat to Nuno Borges 6-3, 6-4, 6-2Tommy Paul (USA)Francisco Cerundolo (ARG)Jakub Mensik (CZE)Rafael Jodar (ESP)Joao Fonseca (BRA)❌ Tallon Griekspoor (NED) - first round defeat to Matteo Arnaldi 6-7 (9), 6-3, 7-6 (6), 6-3❌ Corentin Moutet (FRA) - first round defeat to Vit Kopriva 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3Brandon Nakashima (USA) ❌ Ugo Humbert (FRA) - second round defeat to Quentin Halys 6-4, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (8).Women’s seedsAryna Sabalenka ❌ Elena Rybakina (KAZ) - second round defeat to Yuliia Starodubtseva 3-6 6-1 7-6 (10-4)Iga Swiatek (POL) Coco Gauff (USA) ❌ Jessica Pegula (USA) - first round defeat to Kimberly Birrell 1-6, 6-3, 6-3Amanda Anisimova (USA) Elina Svitolina (UKR) Mirra Andreeva Victoria Mboko (CAN) Karolina Muchova (CZE) Belinda Bencic (SUI) ❌ Linda Noskova (CZE) - first round defeat to Maria Sakkari 7-5, 7-6 (3)❌ Jasmine Paolini (ITA) - second round defeat to Solana Sierra 3-6, 6-4, 6-3❌ Ekaterina Alexandrova - first round defeat to Camila Osorio 6-2, 6-4Marta Kostyuk (UKR) Naomi Osaka (JPN) Iva Jovic (USA) Sorana Cîrstea (ROU) Madison Keys (USA) ❌ Liudmila Samsonova - first round defeat toJil Teichmann 6-4, 6-4❌ Clara Tauson (DEN) - first round defeat to Daria Snigur 3-6, 7-5, 6-2Anna Kalinskaya ❌ Elise Mertens (BEL) - second round defeat to Maja Chwalinska 4-6, 0-6❌ Leylah Fernandez (CAN) - first round defeat to Alycia Parks 6-4, 6-4Diana Shnaider ❌ Hailey Baptiste (USA) - retired in second round against Wang Xiyu, 5-4, ret.Marie Bouzková (CZE) Anastasia Potapova ❌ Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) - second round defeat to Magda Linette 6-2 2-6 6-2Ann Li (USA) ❌ Cristina Bucsa (ESP) - first round defeat to Susan Bandecchi 6-4, 2-6, 6-4❌ Wang Xinyu (CHN) - second round defeat to Tamara Korpatsch 6-2, 2-6, 6-3

Many may see Elisha Ellison's next bout as a setup to get his opponent a guaranteed UFC win, but not Ellison. He sees it as an opportunity to skyrocket his young career and announce himself as a name to look out for in the UFC's heavyweight division.Ellison (5-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) has been given the task of welcoming 2020 Olympic wrestling gold medalist and blue-chip MMA prospect Gable Steveson (3-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) into the UFC. The oddsmakers are not giving Ellison much of a chance in his sophomore UFC bout, as Steveson enters as high as a -2500 favorite on some sportsbooks for their July 11 meet at UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (Paramount+).But that's precisely what excited Ellison. He knows spoiling Steveson's UFC debut is a tall task, but one that comes with a big reward."I think the thing I was most excited about was the matchup itself and all the hype that Gable has," Ellison told MMA Junkie. "Respect to him. He earned it, you know, with his background and accolades, but the opportunity to shock the world is what I'm most excited about. The hard work that I'm putting in and the training partners that I have around me, the coaching staff that I've partnered with – it all makes for a great opportunity to shock the world."Ellison, 29, is taking this opportunity very seriously, as he should. He's moved from Washington to Arizona to train with Javier Torres at Ultimate Kombat Training Center. He's been preparing with UFC heavyweight contender Waldo Cortes-Acosta and wrestling standout and fellow UFC heavyweight Tyrell Fortune.Ellison feels this move to be key in his plans of shocking the combat sports world, and he already has a foundation for the strategy a week in at the new gym."He's a very explosive fighter," Ellison said. "He's a wrestler, so I think if he gets hit hard, he's going to revert back to what his nature is, and that's wrestling. And he's good at it. I guess the goal would be to just really try and control the ring as much as possible and get him to shoot on our terms – which means, like, you know, setting up the right shots and anticipating that he's going to shoot because he is a wrestler. He's really good at wrestling. I mean, he's an Olympic-level athlete. But, you know, it's a fight, and not a wrestling match. I can hit him and vice versa, which opens up a lot of space for many things."Ellison not only looks to pull off one of the biggest upsets of 2026, but also bounce back from his first UFC defeat. Ellison debuted for the promotion earlier this year at UFC Fight Night 260 and suffered a knockout loss to Brando Pericic. He blames the "UFC jitters" for the lackluster performance, and feels having that out of the way will serve him as an advantage when he steps in the cage at UFC 329."Man, just being myself, bro," Ellison said when asked what he lacked in his UFC debut. "I think because I fought in Perth, I was trying to just act like I've been there and done it before. I think by doing that, I suppressed a lot of nerves, and I wasn't able to fight like myself at all. I was very contained. And, I mean, the fight didn't last long, and I didn't win. But I just need to learn to relax, bro. Relax, be myself, and let the game flow. Fighting is always evolving and so I feel like I'm a very quick-adapting fighter. So I think just relaxing and letting the game go where it goes and trying to steer it in my direction for my win."With UFC 329 still more than one month away, Ellison knows the chatter, hype, and attention is all going to ramp up as the days go by. He's enjoying the fact that very few expect him to get his hand raised, and can't wait to defy the odds."I do like being an underdog, man," Ellison said. "People are already expecting you to lose, and I have everything to gain. I mean, whether it's from a financial standpoint to supporting my family, to more eyes on me – which honestly, brings better fight opportunities down the line. Yeah, I like being the underdog because all the pressure is on him. I like being the underdog. There's nothing to lose and everything to gain. People are already making their assumptions about the fight, and it's going to be what it's going to be. When I shock the world, I'll make everybody shut the hell up."This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 329: Gable Steveson debut opponent vows to 'shock the world'

Barcelona weighing up summer move for €50 million-rated Arsenal defenderFC Barcelona have been making all the right moves in the market so far even with the summer transfer window still not officially open.A transfer for Anthony Gordon has been secured, with Barça agreeing a deal worth €70 million plus €10 million with Newcastle United.The focus has now fully shifted to closing the deal for Atletico Madrid and Argentina striker Julian Alvarez, with an opening bid already in the works.At the same time, the Catalans remain on the lookout for a new defender, having decided to cool their interest in Alessandro Bastoni.Piero Hincapie a targetPiero Hincapie on Barcelona’s radar. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)In that regard, the Daily Mail reports that Barcelona are weighing up a move for Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie in the summer.Even though it is not a priority for the moment, the La Liga champions remain keen on a new central defender, preferably left-footed, making the Ecuadorian a viable option for Hansi Flick & co.Alessandro Bastoni had been their primary target, but a move for the Inter Milan and Italy defender has been ruled out due to multiple factors. Now, Hincapie has emerged as an alternative, with Barcelona considering making an approach.Deal difficultHowever, signing Hincapie this summer will be anything but straightforward.A deal for Hincapie will not be easy. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images For Premier League)The 24-year-old centre-back joined the Gunners last summer on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, with the deal containing a permanent purchase option of £45 million. Having played his part in Arsenal’s Premier League triumph, the Ecuadorian international is expected to be signed permanently by the Londoners by activating the clause, while Leverkusen will also retain a 10% future sell-on clause.Once the permanent buy clause is triggered, Hincapie will sign a five-year contract at Arsenal, which has already been agreed. Therefore, any move for the defender will be difficult to pull off for Barcelona in the upcoming summer window.*Player valuation in title obtained from transfermarkt.com on date of publication

Event: UFC Belgrade: “Medic vs. Rodriguez”Date: Sat., Aug. 1, 2026Location: Belgrade Arena in Belgrade, SerbiaStart times: Paramount+ Prelims at 12 p.m. ET | Paramount+ Main Card at 3 p.m. ETUFC Belgrade Main Event on Paramount+:170 lbs.: Uros Medic vs. Daniel RodriguezUFC Belgrade Main Card on Paramount+ (3 p.m. ET):265 lbs.: Marcin Tybura vs. Aleksandar Rakic265 lbs.: Ante Delija vs. Johnny WalkerUFC Belgrade Preliminary Card on Paramount+ (12 p.m. ET):265 lbs.: Jovan Leka vs. Max Gimenis185 lbs.: Vlasto Cepo vs. Gilbert Urbina185 lbs.: Dusko Todorovic vs. Robert Valentin*Fight card, bout order and number of fights subject to change.*For the current UFC schedule of events click HERE.

MONTREAL (AP) — Four-time Stanley Cup champion Claude Lemieux has died at the age of 60, NHL Alumni Association says.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 24: Dejan Kulusevski of Tottenham Hotspur applauds the fans after the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Everton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 24, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images) | Getty Images Dejan Kulusevski hasn’t kicked a football competitively for more than a year now. His injury was unusual for a number of reasons, but mostly because, instead of tearing his ACL like most normal footballers, he went and fractured his patella, which can be a pernicious and highly complicated injury with a long recovery time.Deki’s national team doctor in Sweden, Jonas Werner, now has quotes in football.london about his injury, Deki’s World Cup hopes being dashed by the long recovery time, and some interesting details on what exactly is going on with him.“It’s been a long story with Dejan. He’s done everything he can to get ready [for the World Cup], but when it came to deciding [if he would make the squad] he wasn’t. The reason is that he hasn’t played football in a year, but even the medical assessments made this spring have pointed in the direction that he wouldn’t be ready.“Cartilage injuries, like in Dejan’s case, are troublesome. They are difficult to treat. Plus, he has it in a place that gets a lot of stress. The injury simply hasn’t healed enough to handle that stress. I have high hopes for that and I really hope so.”Wait. Cartilage damage? Does he even have cartilage in his knee anymore? That sounds a lot like what happened to Ledley King, who even after his knee injury was good enough to play but not enough to train. So if that’s the case, it would make Deki, what — Cartilage Free Captain 2.0? Carty Free Midfielder? Should we name him club captain next season just to make it official?Jokes aside, Deki’s injury is stupidly complicated and he’s clearly not healed enough to get back on the pitch. It’s an open question now as to what happens next — maybe he gets healthy enough by the end of the summer to start training again. That’s the optimistic option. The pessimistic option would be that the knee never fully heals properly and he either is reduced to a late game substitute option, or even that he ends up hanging up his boots for good. I’d hate for that to happen, because I think Deki still has a good 5-8 years of football in him, but who knows.At any rate, it’s a small comfort to know that his doctor thinks he can yet make a full recovery. It sucks that he still isn’t ready, though. Let’s crowd-fund him a shipment of horse placenta.

Nature, Published online: 28 May 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01733-zAs a director of the Wellcome Trust and charity founder, the labs she built sequenced the human genome and more.

English racer leaves behind wife and two children Photo by Isle of Man TT Races. Organizers of the Isle of Man TT have confirmed that English rider Daniel Ingham, 33, has died, following an incident during a qualifying session. Ingham was competing in his first TT, but was familiar with the Mountain Course, having debuted in the Manx Grand Prix in 2016, winning multiple podiums including a win at the 2024 Senior Manx Grand Prix.The resident of Melton Mowbray, in Leicestershire, England, Ingham is survived by his wife, Helayna, son Joey, and daughter Phoebe. We send our sympathies to the family, and to all those who knew Ingham.Ingham's crash preceded another incident on the May 27 qualifying day that saw the sidecar tandem of brothers Ryan Crowe and Callum Crowe coming off the road. The brothers were reportedly conscious and talking, and were takent o hospital for further assessment. That was the second sidecar crash of the week, following an incident with rider Maria Costello and passenger Shaun Parker. In response, the Isle of Man TT organizers cancelled all sidecar activities for the remainder of the 2026 event. Earlier in the week, another rider and eight spectators were sent to hospital to be treated for various injuries following a crash.The official races still haven't started yet, but already, safety has become a major talking point of the 2026 Isle of Man TT.Begin Press Release:STATEMENT ISSUED AT 14:30 ON 28 MAY 2026The Isle of Man TT Races regrets to confirm that Daniel Ingham, 33, from Melton Mowbray, was killed in an incident during qualifying yesterday at the Isle of Man TT Races. The accident occurred at Doran's Bend, on the first lap of the third qualifying session. Daniel made his Mountain Course debut in 2016 as a competitor in the Manx Grand Prix before graduating to the Isle of Man TT Races. He had achieved a number of podium finishes during his 10 years' experience of competing – most notably achieving a 1st place in the 2024 Senior Manx Grand Prix.The Isle of Man TT Races pass on their deepest sympathy to his wife, Helayna, and his son Joey and daughter Phoebe, as well as his family and friends.Become a Motorcycle.com insider. Get the latest motorcycle news first by subscribing to our newsletter here.

Decision made following two separate crashes ahead of official races Photos by Isle of Man TT Races. Isle of Man TT organizers have decided to suspend all sidecar class events for the remainder of the 2026 event following the second red flag of the week during sidecar qualifying sessions.The team of rider Maria Costello and passenger Shaun Parker crashed during their second qualifying lap on May 26. Both of them were reportedly conscious and talking following the crash and were taken to hospital for treatment. Costello reportedly suffered head injuries and remains in hospital in serious but stable condition. Parker is also still in hospital being treated for chest, leg, arm, and facial injuries.On May 27, the brother team of Ryan Crowe and Callum Crowe crashed during another qualifying session. Both riders were taken to hospital. As of this writing, Ryan Crowe is reportedly being treated for arm injuries. Callum Crowe is being treated for shoulder injuries. The Crowe brothers were at the top of the leader board after the first qualifying session, with a 47.2 second gap over second.Race organizers made the decision to suspend all sidecar activity after a technical and operational review after the Crowe brothers' crash. Cancelling an entire class was no easy choice, and especially disappointing for the teams who have invested a lot of time and money into this year's TT, but ultimately, safety is the primary concern.The 2026 Isle of Man TT introduced a new requirement that all sidecars be fitted with a standardized restrictor plate to reduce overall speeds and bring the field much closer together. In theory, this move should improve safety, but it'd be interesting to see if the change factored into the decision to cancel the sidecar class.Begin Press Release:STATEMENT ISSUED AT 12:15 ON 28 MAY 2026Following an incident involving a Sidecar team during the third Qualifying Session of the 2026 Isle of Man TT Races, the Race Organisation initiated an immediate technical and operational review to assess the circumstances surrounding the incident and the continued participation of the Sidecar class at the event.Following that review, in conjunction with the Event Promoter, a decision has been taken to suspend the Sidecar class for the remainder of the 2026 Isle of Man TT Races.This precautionary measure has been implemented in the interests of competitor and spectator safety and reflects the Race Organisation's commitment to reviewing all aspects of event safety and operational delivery whenever an incident occurs.All sidecar competitors and teams involved in the event have been briefed by Race Officials on the outcome of the initial review and the next stages of the assessment process.We recognise the long-standing history of Sidecar racing at the TT, together with the commitment of the competitors, teams and supporters involved in the class. This decision has not been taken lightly. However, the safety of competitors, spectators, marshals, officials and all those involved in the event must remain the priority.Further updates will be provided in due course through official Isle of Man TT Races channels.

The forgiving new format at this World Cup means that top teams are highly unlikely to be eliminated in the group stage, like Germany and Belgium were at the 2022 World Cup after finishing third in their groups. The number of participants has expanded 50 percent to 48 teams, plus eight of the twelve third-place teams will advance to the knockout stage, so the group favorites would have to play far worse than expected against worse-than-before opposition to miss the Round of 32. Historically in 24-team FIFA tournaments, which have featured a similar format with half the teams, three points and a not-terrible goal difference usually got a team through. So a single win and no blowout losses were typically sufficient. Play 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world's biggest soccer tournamentWith the giants getting at least one chance and maybe two at routing lesser opposition, the betting odds reflect the improbability of the group favorites going out early. Of the dozen seeded teams, eight are each -10000 to advance, and the other non-host seed (Netherlands) is -1400 to go through. One of these massive favorites could certainly miss the knockout rounds, but the unlikelihood leads me to focus on teams with a more realistic chance of premature elimination. Let’s look at the worst-case scenarios for these candidates with odds of -500 or shorter to advance …Mexico (-1200 to advance from Group A)United States (-1000 to advance from Group D)Let’s start with two co-hosts that are favored to win their groups, but not by wide margins. Both Mexico and the U.S. are playing at home in groups without traditional powers. That’s the good news. The bad news is that both are in groups without a true bottom-tier team. The U.S. has played all three of its Group D opponents in the last year, losing 2-1 to Türkiye in June, coming from behind to beat Australia 2-1 in October, and topping Paraguay 2-1 in November. The Americans were the better team in both wins, but were hardly dominant, so a bounce or two could easily have flipped one or both matches. That would leave the U.S. with three or fewer points in this hypothetical group, firmly in danger of missing the knockout stage. Center back Chris Richards and defensive midfielder Tyler Adams have both battled injuries this season, and (heaven forbid) if one or both get hurt, the U.S. defense would have giant question marks.USMNT's Tyler Adams battling with Erick Sanchez of Mexico during the CONCACAF Nations League Final between Mexico and USMNT at AT&T Stadium on March 24, 2024 in Arlington, Texas.Robin Alam/ISI Photos via Getty ImagesMexico’s route to an early exit is similar. El Tri opens with South Africa, the worst team in Group A, and anything but a win puts Mexico in immediate desperation mode. South Korea has plenty of dangerous attackers who could pick apart Mexico’s suspect and injury-riddled defense on the counter, as does Czechia with Leverkusen’s Patrik Schick and Lyon’s Pavel Šulc. Playing at home and at elevation, Mexico should still advance, but a nightmare scenario isn’t off the table.Switzerland (-1400 to advance from Group B)The Swiss are Group B favorites and rightfully so, as their classic consistency has carried them to the knockout stage at three straight World Cups. However, stalwart keeper Yann Sommer retired after EURO 2024, leaving Gregor Kobel as the No. 1 for the first time at a major tournament. While always steady, Switzerland is also rarely spectacular. In a balanced Group B with host Canada, a tough Bosnia and Herzegovina and a wild card in Qatar, few results would be shocking.Ecuador (-1600 to advance from Group E)Ecuador is a popular sleeper pick for many, myself included, on the strength of its stellar defense, which allowed five goals in 18 CONMEBOL qualifiers this cycle. On the flip side, Ecuador scored a mere 14 goals in qualifying, and only 36-year-old Enner Valencia (six goals) scored more than twice. If the attack can’t get going, Ecuador could be in trouble against powerhouse Germany, a solid Ivory Coast and even CONCACAF Cinderella Curaçao.Ivory Coast (-800 to advance from Group E)If you prefer a different brand of disappointment in Group E, consider Ivory Coast. The case against the Elephants is more historical, as their golden generation never got out of the group stage in three tries from 2006 to 2014. This version of Ivory Coast doesn’t have the big names those teams had. The defense carried the team through qualifying, not allowing a goal in 10 matches. If/when that breaks down, can the Ivory Coast attack finally get going at a World Cup? Norway (-800 to advance from Group I)Powered by two huge Premier League stars, Norway may have already outgrown the sleeper label, but will be a popular and easy-to-root-for pick to make a run. The upside is clear: Manchester City’s Erling Haaland scores goals; Arsenal’s Martin Ødegaard runs the midfield; and Norway gets rolling as in qualifying, when Norway won all eight games (including two vs. Italy) by a combined score of 37-5. But if Ødegaard gets hurt again, after playing only two-thirds of Premier League games this season, or Haaland can’t find room against the stout defense of France and Senegal, trouble may loom. I liken this Norway team to Poland from 2018, when Robert Lewandowski was arguably the world’s best striker, yet Poland went out in the group stage at its first World Cup in a dozen years. Norway hasn’t been at a major tournament since before Haaland was born, so who knows how this could go. It’s hard for me to see Iraq putting up a good fight against Norway, but as always, if advancing comes down to one game, anything can happen. Croatia (-500 to advance from Group L)The case for Croatia to be eliminated in the group stage is easy, and it’s essentially the same case many made at the 2022 World Cup. Luka Modrić can’t keep getting away with this, right? Now 40 years old, Modrić fractured a cheekbone in April and underwent surgery, but he should be on the field for Croatia. Beyond Modrić, half of Croatia’s other starters could be on the wrong side of 30, and they’ll be dealing with the travel and heat of a North American summer. In a loaded Group L with favorite England, dangerous Ghana and a potentially sneaky Panama, this could finally be the end of the line for Modrić and Croatia.Austria (-850 to advance from Group J)Austria’s playing style will be familiar to anyone who’s watched a Red Bull team play over the past decade. When pressing high and attacking at pace is working, it’s a beautiful thing to watch and a terrifying thing to play against. When opponents solve the system, they exploit all the open space left by the pressing and carve up the tenuous midfield and back line. Argentina can of course do just that, and Algeria may have the wingers to do likewise against a high-risk, high-reward Austria team at its first World Cup since 1998.

With the 2026 NBA draft fast approaching, the first round is on June 23, now's the time to look at some potential options for the Philadelphia 76ers with the No. 22 pick. If one wants to look at Sixers Wire's draft big board, one can do so here.This series will focus on specific players. The Sixers have a first-round pick thanks to the Jared McCain trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder via the Houston Rockets. After a trip to Round 2 of the playoffs, the Sixers have an opportunity to add to the roster and get themselves another talented young piece around Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe for the future.Up next in this series is Arizona big man Koa Peat:StrengthsEvery team in the NBA needs a big man who is going to run the floor, attack the basket out of the post, and make himself available for easy baskets. That is the biggest strength Peat brings to the table. The young man just has a knack for finding open seams in the defense and is readily available to throw down lobs and get layups and dunks whether it's in transition or in the half court. He has NBA strength as he is able to push around opposing big men in an effort to get himself some easy opportunities on offense.He is also a capable playmaker. He averaged 2.6 assists in the 2025-26 season as he always has his head up with the ball in his hands. He is either looking for a chance to score or for a teammate cutting to the basket and finding a rhythm for the entire offense. Combine those skills with a high motor, and Peat is going to make a real impact on either end of the floor at the next level. The constant energy he plays with is going to be a big aspect in the NBA for a bench unit.WeaknessesIf there is a concern about Peat's game, it's the lack of a jumper. He brings everything else to the offensive end in terms of athleticism and physicality as well as a soft touch around the basket, but Peat doesn't offer much outside of the paint. He only took 20 3-pointers with Arizona in the 2025-26 season, making seven of them, and needs to nail down his mechanics and find some consistency there to really maximize his full potential on the offensive end of the floor.Potential fit with the SixersThe starting unit in Philadelphia is set--unless a Joel Embiid or Paul George trade pops up--so the Sixers are in the process of stabilizing the bench unit. They have some needs for the second unit, which includes the big man spot. If Peat is selected at No. 22, his toughness, size, motor, athleticism, and physicality would play perfectly for a bench unit in need of a boost. He can rebound the ball, run a break, provide versatility, and give coach Nick Nurse and Co. another tool to use in games.This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: 2026 NBA draft profiles: Philadelphia 76ers prospect Koa Peat