SWOOPE — With just two hits and a run through the first two innings, it was a slower start than Buffalo Gap would have liked in its Region 1B softball opener, but the Bison broke things open in the third inning with eight runs on the way to a 12-0, five-inning win over Cumberland May 29.Buffalo Gap (18-3), the region's top seed, will host No. 5 Luray, a winner over No. 4 Surry 17-0. For Luray (8-10) the win broke a four-game losing streak in the tough Bull Run District. The semifinal game will be June 2. Buffalo Gap coach Holly Desper would like to see faster starts when it comes to offense. "We've just got to come out of the gate stronger," Desper said. "We didn't have any action until the third inning. We've got to figure that part out about us still. That's been the story of the season, late in the game we want to come alive."But, better late than never. With one out in the third, Paige Showalter and Rachel Showalter each had singles, the hits sandwiching a walk by Elissa Caricofe to load the bases. A two-out walk by Charleigh Phillips brought home a run before Taylor Mealy singled home two more runs.Avery Wheeler than walked, bringing Bailey Tribble to the plate. The sophomore ripped a double just past the shortstop, then reached third on a throwing error. Tribble then got up and sprinted for home as the ball got away from the third baseman. The at-bat pushed Gap's lead to 8-0. Gap added one more run in the inning and three more in the fourth to run-rule No. 8 Cumberland.Tribble led the offensive attack for Gap against Cumberland, going 3-for-4 with five RBIs and two runs. Rachel Showalter pitched all five innings, giving up just two hits and striking out eight for the win. After days of rain and a messy field, the game was moved from Thursday to Friday. Desper said they practiced inside with a batting cage, then got outside to the batting cage, but it wasn't like facing live pitching. She said the slow offensive start was probably more a factor of that than anything else and it took her players a few innings to find their groove. "You make the best use of the space that you have," Desper said. "You just work on a lot of different hitting drills. We did pitching stuff, but hitting balls in the gym isn't the same as taking the field outside."More: Community benefits with boost from Wilson Elementary running clubRiverheads softball winsTenleigh Long had a pair of hits and two RBIs in Riverheads 7-1 win over Altavista May 29 in the quarterfinals of the Region 1B softball playoffs. The No. 3 seeded Gladiators (11-10) will now travel to No. 2 William Campbell for a June 2 regional semifinal game. William Campbell beat Rappahannock County 18-2 to advance.Long singled home a run, then stole home, part of a three-run second inning for Riverheads. Long had another RBI single in the third to stretch Riverheads' lead to 6-0.Freshman Emmy Fitzgerald got the win, pitching all seven innings and giving up just the one unearned run while scattering 10 hits. She struck out four. Riverheads has now won three games in a row and five out of its last seven as it head into the semifinals. A win against Altavista would earn Riverheads a berth in the state playoffs and, perhaps, another meeting with rival Buffalo Gap for the regional championship. More: Fort Defiance boys soccer, Draft girls soccer win regional openersWilson Memorial baseball fallsWilson Memorial's baseball season came to an end May 29 in the quarterfinals of the Region 3C playoffs. The second-seeded Hornets fell to No. 7 Fluvanna 3-0.Christian Brewer threw a strong seven innings for Wilson, giving up just five hits and three unearned runs and striking out nine. Wilson committed four errors in the loss and the offense didn't give Brewer much support. Fluvanna sophomore Jake McCall limited Wilson to just four hits while striking out seven in the complete-game win.It was the final game for Wilson seniors Addy Flesher, Bradley Young, Jacob McWhorter and Brewer. Wilson Memorial (16-5) was 15-2 through the middle of May, but finished the season dropping three of its last four games.More: Jax State baseball cruises to NCAA Tournament win over Virginia: Recap, highlightsPatrick Hite is a reporter at The News Leader. Story ideas and tips are always welcome. Connect with Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and on Instagram @hitepatrick. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Buffalo Gap, Riverheads softball win regional playoff openers

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - MAY 08: Alex Pereira is seen on stage during the UFC Freedom 250 press conference at Prudential Center on May 08, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)Zuffa LLCJune is going to be a big month for Alex "Poatan" Pereira. The former two-division UFC champion has a chance to do something no other fighter in history has done. Pereira will face Ciryl Gane for the UFC's interim heavyweight championship on June 14 at UFC Freedom 250 at the White House. Two days before that, Pereira graces the cover of the EA UFC 6 Standard Edition which will hit early access on June 12 with a worldwide release date on June 19.If Pereira wins at UFC Freedom 250 just two days after early access and five days before the major launch, he'll have had a month that is tough to top for any fighter before or after him. I spoke to Pereira about EA UFC 6, his upcoming fight and more.What Was Motion Capturing For EA UFC 6 Like?Pereira sat through the full motion-capture process with the EA Sports team, and walking through the experience, he was clearly impressed by the technology side as much as the final product."I don't know how things work, but then they showed it there, doing everything the same, the movements," Pereira said through his translator. "I said, damn, how do these guys do that. A lot of study, a lot of technology. I really liked it. You're there, you do the movement, sometimes the arm movement comes out the same. The guys get it all. So it's a very good experience that I had there."If you've watched Pereira live, you know the left hook is the signature weapon — and that's exactly the detail the dev team locked onto. Seeing it translated cleanly into the game is, frankly, one of the moments the trailer breakdown caught.How Much Input Did Pereira Have In His Hall Of Legends Environment?EA UFC 6 builds custom arenas tied to the cover athletes and perhaps more to come after launch. It’s called the “Hall of Legends.” and part of the appeal is that it embodies the fighter’s culture and fight history.I asked Pereira how much he steered the look of his."No, it was them who did it. I liked it, but the idea is all theirs," he said. "If it was for me to do something like that, I wouldn't do it my way. I don't know if it would be so cool, because the guys studied for it, so they see details that we don't see when we live there."He extended the metaphor to fighting itself, which I thought was an interesting answer. "It's the same thing, if I'm training for someone, I can't correct it because I can't even see it. I'm fighting, but I can't see it. But there's a coach out there, the guy who's always watching, he sees all the details and knows what to say. The guys know all the details and know what to do."How Heavy Is Pereira Now, And How Does He Feel?For someone preparing to debut at heavyweight against a 265-pound test, Pereira admitted he doesn't even have a current weight number on him."I don't even know how much I weigh. It's been a while since I've weighed," Pereira said. "The last time I weighed I was at 117 [kilos], then I said, no, I see that my body is changing. I'm getting a little drier, but I'm also gaining more musculature. I haven't weighed in a while, I think since I came from Sobral."His translator clarified that 117 kilos was roughly a month-plus ago in pre-camp, putting him somewhere in the 255-to-258-pound range now, and noted Pereira is "feeling good, like he's getting in good shape." The training videos that have been making the rounds back that up. He looks the part.Would Three Belts Make Him The Best Ever?I asked the obvious question. If Pereira beats Gane and becomes a three-division champion — something no one has done in UFC history — does that crown him the greatest of all time?His answer wasn’t direct, but it still carried some weight. "I'll never say that, because everyone has their own opinion. I'm not gonna keep exposing myself and talking about it. A lot of people, maybe it's out of envy. Most fighters, or former fighters, frustrated people who never managed to do something, or didn't even get close, they like to talk about it. Because people don't accept a guy who started late in martial arts, people who have been in the UFC for 10 years, and couldn't do 10%."The bottom line for him is the work itself. "I'm gonna do my job," he said. "If people think I'm the best, if they think I'm not, it's okay. I'll be doing my job, making my money, changing my life."When I asked him for his own internal answer — not what anyone else thinks — he kept it tight: "Three division champion, breaking a lot of records."It feels like he considers himself an all-time great, but knows topic is subjective.Jon Jones, Tom Aspinall Or Jake Paul Next?If Pereira wins, the dance card writes itself: a unification with Tom Aspinall, the long-talked Jon Jones bout, or the Jake Paul crossover that keeps circling. I gave him all three. The Jake Paul option got the shortest answer in the interview."Boxing, I can't even talk about boxing," Pereira said. "I just signed an 8 fight deal with the UFC. I'm 39 years old. It's not something I should be thinking about right now."On the MMA side, Pereira didn’t want to name a name. "I'm not picking opponents. Anybody that can fight. The UFC is not going to bring an alien for me at this point that's going to be able to fight different than anybody else. Everybody is everybody. Heavyweight is heavyweight. So anybody that they bring."That tracks with how Pereira has handled matchmaking his whole UFC run — but it also keeps the Aspinall and Jones storylines alive without him stepping on either. Win first, then let Dana White's bigger heavyweight picture sort itself out.If everything breaks his way, Pereira’s June is going to be one of the most stacked months any UFC fighter has ever assembled. Chama.This article was originally published on Forbes.com

The hottest teams in hockey will meet for the Stanley Cup.The Carolina Hurricanes have won 12 of 13 in the playoffs, including four in a row to put away Montreal to reach the Cup final. The Vegas Golden Knights swept Presidents' Trophy-winning Colorado in the Western Conference Final and have won 19 of 24 games since John Tortorella took over as coach in late March."I probably would give an edge to Vegas, but I don't feel that secure in that," former player-turned-NHL Network analyst Mike Rupp said. "Both teams are just playing this demonstrative way right now that it feels like it's the right matchup here in the finals."The Stanley Cup Final is set. pic.twitter.com/ml9qnDVYVb— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) May 30, 2026The Hurricanes go into the series as a slight favorite, perhaps because they have home-ice advantage and have looked especially dominant. Game 1 is Tuesday night in Raleigh.How they got hereCarolina was 8-0 through two rounds with sweeps of Ottawa and Philadelphia. A wakeup call of a loss to the Canadiens could easily be attributed to rust after an 11-day layoff, and the Hurricanes have not lost since.The Hurricanes are the first team to enter the Stanley Cup Final with 1 or fewer losses in the playoffs since the NHL went to 4 best-of-7 series in 1987 😱 pic.twitter.com/ukJPdYBqeg— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) May 30, 2026Vegas had some bumps getting through Utah and Anaheim, then had no trouble with the banged-up and battered Avalanche. The Golden Knights will have a full week off between rounds."I worry about, just you lose your edge just a little bit, that's a big disadvantage," Tortorella said Friday. "That's the key for us. As a coach, you're always worried about that. I think our players, the group is good, and I think they understand that because they've been in this before, most of them."While Carolina is in the final for the first time since 2006, when coach Rod Brind'Amour was captain, this is nothing new for the Golden Knights. They've reached the final for a third time in less than a decade of existence and a second time in the past four years, having won the Stanley Cup in 2023.In Vegas, the Carolina Hurricanes will meet a team that's just as hot. The Golden Knights swept the favored Avalanche out of the Western Conference Final. John LocherVegas has 12 players back from that title run."That feeling, you want that feeling back," said defenseman Shea Theodore, who has been with the team since the inaugural season in 2017-18. "It feels different, but I think the feeling in the locker room with the guys and how we are with one another, it feels very similar to that - that group in '23 - how close we are, and it's just exciting to be back."What to expect in the Vegas-Carolina Stanley Cup FinalMostly, a low-scoring affair. The Golden Knights and Hurricanes have allowed some of the fewest goals of all the teams in the playoffs."Both these teams defend at a high level," former goalie and now NHL Network analyst Cory Schneider said. "They work at a high level. They don't give you much room, space, and time. I don't want to say it's going to be a boring final, but it's definitely going to be a bit of a grind, and whoever comes out on top is going to be the team that can sort of survive that grind."Canes gather around the Prince of Wales Trophy…no one touches.There’s a bigger one they want.#SoundTheSirenpic.twitter.com/8NfaEogumM— Travon Miles (@TrayABC11) May 30, 2026Brind'Amour's hard-working style has finally paid off in his eighth season in charge. Carolina won at least a round in each of the previous seven but had consistently failed to get over the hump.The Hurricanes have gotten to this point despite not being an offensive powerhouse."So far, it's worked, but this is where they run into trouble," Schneider said. "This is why in years past they haven't quite broken through to the finals is because they play such a high-intensity style that it emphasizes shot quantity over quality, so that doesn't always lead to goals. They'll possess the puck and throw a million pucks on net, but they don't always get great looks and high-end scoring chances, and they don't have a ton of elite finishers."You can watch all the Stanley Cup Final action on ABC11.- The Associated Press contributed.SEE ALSO: Mebane Canes superfan's collection spans a lifetimeSEE ALSO: Hurricanes and Canadiens playoff run sparks friendly rivalry between couple, their Raleigh barDownload the ABC11 News app

Jay Baxter’s biggest worry in life right now? Prom is tomorrow night for Eastside Catholic, so the stands might be emptier than he hoped for the team’s Class 3A state championship game.He’ll have to make do. Thin crowd or packed house, the state title is on the line after Eastside Catholic coasted past Decatur in the 3A tournament semifinal on Friday night at Everett Memorial Stadium, 7-1.Things unraveled quickly for Decatur — the Gators found themselves in a 5-0 hole in the blink of an eye after the Crusaders put three runs on the board in the first inning and two more in the second.It didn’t get any better. Decatur’s typically feared lineup was silenced by Baxter, who threw a complete game. His line: seven innings, three hits, one run, a walk and nine strikeouts.“The fastball was what was working best,” he said. “Fastball, curveball.”Eastside Catholic left fielder Hudson Schock went 2-for-2 with a team-high three RBI. Ethan Flavel, Dylan Reano and Nate Gilmore had a hit apiece for Decatur.Eastside Catholic is the surprise of the tournament, playing in the state championship as the No. 17 seed. The Crusaders have had to scratch and claw through several elimination games in recent weeks to make it to this point.“I don’t even know if you can put it into words,” Baxter said. “This team is something special. Started the season off a little rough, but the team has bounced back. We’ve gotten closer, the chemistry is there. It’s just amazing.”Eastside Catholic will face Kentlake in the 3A state championship game, 7 p.m. Saturday in Everett. Decatur will face O’Dea in the third/fourth place consolation game, 1 p.m. Saturday.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 24: Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard lifts the Premier League Trophy and the team celebrates after the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park on May 24, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) | Arsenal FC via Getty Images The last time Arsenal won the league, I was 10. More than that: living in America, Premier League matches were not readily available. I think you could pay a lot of money and watch on pay per view. So in April 2004 my dad told me Arsenal won the league, in May 2004 he told me we went unbeaten, and I went, “cool.” Given this was Arsenal’s third league title in 6 years and second in 3 years it felt like something that came pretty frequently, if not exactly like the Yankees winning the World Series (my primary concern as a disgruntled Mets fan with a soft spot for the Red Sox because by that point we were living in southern New England). By 2007, things had changed. Matches were more readily available. There were illegal streaming sites. There was a Champions League campaign in 2006, watched on ITV in England and then on VHS that my dad’s friend recorded. I–or my parents at least–still have the VHS of Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Villarreal, the final European game at Highbury. During that campaign I fell in love with Cesc Fabregas, who featured heavily in my membership DVD that I got for the 2007/08 season. And that season was the first heart break. I didn’t watch every game – we hadn’t yet discovered illegal streams – but I watched a lot of it: the 1-1 at Anfield, the 2-2 against Manchester United, the 1-0 against Chelsea at the Emirates, and I was reading the MBMs on The Guardian. And then there was the 2-2 at Birmingham City, the Eduardo leg break, the 2-0 win in Milan, the non-penalty against Liverpool in the Champions League and finally the 2-1 loss against Manchester United. Fast forward 10 years later, and there were plenty more heart breaks. 2013/14, the year we were top for so long but were out of it at the end, the Leicester year, and then Arsène left, and Emery came, and it really didn’t look like we were going to win the league for a long time. In Fever Pitch, Nick Hornby famously makes a comparison between George Graham and his dad. While I don’t want to speak for my generation, I wonder if that might be apt for Mikel Arteta. For those of us born in the mid to late 1990s, Arsène was already in place. But Mikel came to the club during the dark days of 2011 and became someone to hold on to. Van Persie left and Mikel stayed and captained the team and lifted the first silverware since 2005 and was underappreciated by the wider footballing public for his shortcomings rather than his strengths (hmmm, sounds familiar). And then he left and went to Manchester City, and then again during some very dark days, where the club was aimless and drifting he came back and gave us something to believe in. Perhaps, then, he’s the dad that stepped up. That isn’t to say there wasn’t heartbreak in the intervening period or doubts. We all know the history. But what I want to get into is the experience of winning the league, and why it might be bigger than we all think it is. Last Tuesday, I went to work knowing there was a chance we could do it. I packed my Arsenal CHAMPIONS 25 shirt, acquired after Arsenal Women had won the Champions League on 24 May 2025. And I also went to work knowing that I had my 7th and 8th periods that day, working on their final senior essays, and that I wasn’t going to watch Manchester City’s game against Bournemouth until the end. At this point, I think I should clarify that my students are well aware of my love and fixation on Arsenal. After Arsenal beat Atléti, I shamelessly wrote ONE NIL TO THE ARSENAL on my whiteboard. After Arsenal beat West Ham, I kept ONE NIL TO THE ARSENAL ON MY BOARD and added the Premier League table, handwritten. The students who are aware of the Premier League knew, and the ones who didn’t, well I made sure they knew too. And so on Monday, after Arsenal beat Burnley and I saw a senior trying to take a candid photo (despite the ban on cell phones in schools) I told them that they might get a good one if City “don’t win tomorrow, because that means Arsenal win the league.” On Tuesday afternoon, as I checked the score during the first half, I punched the air, and then told my friends to text me updates because I wasn’t going to watch. By the time 8th period began, it was in the 80th minute. I told the same student from the previous day, “that thing we talked about yesterday…it could happen.”I took attendance and got Wordle started, trying to be as unbothered as possible (meanwhile, I was sweating profusely and my palms were shaking). By this time I had the game up on FotMob, and when it went to 90, I gave up and put the game on. I missed Bournemouth hitting the post; saw Erling Haaland score, and thought the worst. But then it happened, and I think my combination of lifting my arms and then putting my hands to my face caused some confusion. One student asked “Are you crying? It’s not deep” but when some in the back realized it was about soccer they said, “That’s valid!” A week and a half later, when they had their final class with me, I told them I’d always remember them because they were in class when Arsenal won the league for the first time in twenty-two years. And then class carried on. I was in a better mood than usual but it didn’t really sink in, not until it was the end of the day and I was able to watch videos with envy of celebrations in North London, talk with my parents, and text with friends (something that I refused to do after the game because of professionalism…having watched the end of a game of football during class). Since then, it’s been full on celebration mode. Arsenal shirts everyday. Going to the Arsenal supporters pub on Tuesday afternoon to celebrate with the 7 other people who had the same idea, cheering every time a new person showed up. And it’s been countless comments about Arsenal in the 10 days since we won the league, from people saying congratulations to people yelling “COME ON YOU GUNNERS” to the driver of a TriMet bus pulling up beside my bike and saying, “Nice shirt! Twenty-two years!”All of this is happening about 5,000 miles from North London. Today, on the eve of the Champions League final I was asked about the final by several students. Someone brought it up to me unprompted at a bar. All of this feels very surreal: watching Arsenal can sometimes be a very lonely experience. Perhaps once a season I get to see a game at the Emirates, but it’s often an experience I go through on my own unless I’m watching with my dad or at the Arsenal pub. To have people bring Arsenal up to me rather than vice versa has been fundamentally weird.We all know the numbers by now: an expected 500,000 to one million people in North London for the parade on Sunday. We’ve seen the videos across the world of people celebrating Arsenal winning the league and lifting the Premier League the following Sunday. And even then this feels like scratching the surface of something that has truly become a global phenomenon: something that I doubt anyone would’ve predicted twenty-two years ago.

Payton Brennan #11 of the UCLA Bruins slides back to first base during the game against St. Mary’s Gaels at Jackie Robinson Stadium on May 29, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. LOS ANGELES -- A No. 1 overall seed had never lost a regional opener under the NCAA Baseball Tournament’s current format. That changed on Friday. Four-seeded Saint Mary’s ousted top-seeded UCLA, 3-2, in the opening game of the Los Angeles regional at Jackie Robinson Stadium. Saint Mary’s (35-25) victory was stunning. But it also correlated with the Bruins’ (51-7) shaky form lately.“The same thing that makes you laugh will make you cry at times,” UCLA coach John Savage said. “We’ve kind of been playing on … that tight rope a little bit.” The wire-to-wire No. 1 team in the country has flirted with countless upset defeats over the previous weeks. Yet, they almost always evaded disaster. So, when the Bruins and Gaels entered Friday’s ninth inning in a 2-2 tie, the expectation remained the same: UCLA would somehow find a way to win. Then, Gaels senior Jacob Johnson cast a serious shade of doubt upon that belief. Johnson — who opened the scoring with an opposite field solo homer in the fourth inning — lofted a seemingly routine fly ball to right field with one out in the ninth. The Saint Mary’s designated hitter said he wasn’t sure if he’d gotten his second home run of the game, but thought he “put a great swing on it.”. Bruin right fielder Jarred Hocking had a beat on the ball, although he kept drifting. The senior outfielder continued shuffling backward, stepping on the warning track as a hush fell upon the JRS crowd. Then, an eruption occurred — from a concentrated section of red and navy blue. The patch of Saint Mary’s fans sitting above the first base dugout roared as the ball sailed over the wall, and beyond the reach of a leaping Hocking.But even with the Gaels holding a 3-2 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth, UCLA still had a reasonable shot at victory. And naturally, the game came down to Roch Cholowsky, who stepped to the dish with a man on first and two outs.The projected first overall pick in this summer’s MLB Draft had an RBI, but was 0-for-3 at that point. He was also seeking the first extra-base hit of his NCAA tournament career after failing to register one during UCLA’s College World Series run last year. Facing a 2-2 count with the chance to deliver the most important swing of his career, Cholowsky lifted a fastball into center field. Gasps reverberated around JRS, but they were brief. Saint Mary’s centerfielder Tanner Griffith settled under the ball several steps in front of the warning track. He squeezed the final out, drawing another roar from the Gaels’ faithful. Some Saint Mary’s fans even belted out a brief “Beat LA” chant as UCLA supporters departed.“They travel everywhere,” Saint Mary’s right-hander John Damozonio said. “It’s so awesome. We always have a square [of fans].”Damozonio, the Gaels’ ace, limited UCLA to two runs across seven innings. The Bruins mustered five knocks against the senior, with Roman Martin’s fourth-inning solo homer being the only hit that produced a run. Damozonio credited much of Friday’s success to his two-seam fastball, which he often spotted inside to right-handed hitters. Though, the Bruins lack of production against the Saint Mary’s starter was a continuation of the same offensive inconsistency that’s forced them to play from behind so frequently of late. What’s next for the Bruins? UCLA’s charge to win the Los Angeles Regional will require four consecutive wins, starting with Saturday’s 1 pm game against Virginia Tech (30-25). The Hokies “pitched off” in their 6-2 loss to Cal Poly (37-22), preserving ace Brett Renfrow for their second game of the regional. Virginia Tech likely employed the strategy to have its best arm available for a potential winner’s bracket game against the Bruins on Saturday. Renfrow will get that matchup against UCLA, ironically, in a win-or-go-home contest. The Bruins will turn to right-hander Michael Barnett. The senior, who relies on deception as opposed to overpowering stuff, hasn’t gone past five innings in a start since late March. Though UCLA is 27-2 in games started by Barnett over the past two seasons. “We’ve been through a lot as a core — especially our junior class,” Martin said. “We know how to lose, and we know what it takes to respond.”

May 29, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Justin Wrobleski (70) pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images The Philadelphia Phillies (29-28) played their first game in Chavez Ravine since they were eliminated in the National League Divisional Series last October and fell 4-2 to the Los Angeles Dodgers (37-20) on Friday night.Four of the five hits allowed by Zack Wheeler (4-1) were solo home runs to Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, Shohei Ohtani and Will Smith, which accounted for the entirety of the Dodgers’ runs on the night.Freddie Freeman’s last 15 games:.283 AVG4 HR16 BB | 16 K’s.460 OBP.630 SLG1.090 OPSFreddie is on a TEAR ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/HzbPEjnDD6— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) May 30, 2026Max Muncy connects for his 13th homer of the season! pic.twitter.com/cT6HlNBlvD— MLB (@MLB) May 30, 2026Shohei Ohtani hits the third @Dodgers homer of the game! pic.twitter.com/JPF49OCYbS— MLB (@MLB) May 30, 2026The Dodgers have now hit 4 home runs off of Zack Wheeler after this 388 foot bomb from Will Smith.It’s a home run derby in Los Angeles tonight and LA takes a 4-0 lead over the Phillies in the 5th inning 🔥 pic.twitter.com/47nwi89Fwz— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) May 30, 2026Dodgers’ lefty, Justin Wrobleski (7-2), hurled nine of the Dodgers’ 11 K’s and carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning, though the Phillies did get a runner on in the fourth when a fly ball hit by Trea Turner was fumbled by Kyle Tucker for a two-base error. With two outs in the top of the sixth, Kyle Schwarber denied the no-hitter and the shutout with his major league-leading 22nd home run.Dodgers' Justin Wrobleski is through five no-hit innings against the Phillies. He'd be perfect if it weren't for an error.He has eight strikeouts, a new career-high. He's at 65 pitches.He's struck out the side in both the first and fifth innings.pic.twitter.com/VdcICJV4uC— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) May 30, 2026Kyle Schwarber extends his Major League lead with home run No. 22 💥 pic.twitter.com/kkDLQghXn5— MLB (@MLB) May 30, 2026In the top of the eighth, the Phillies did muster two hits and a run off Dodgers’ reliever, Edgardo Henriquez, via a Brandon Marsh double and a first-as-a-Phillie RBI single by Steward Berroa, who was promoted to the big league club in favor of Otto Kemp earlier in the day.Steward Berroa turns around a 100 mph pitch to cut the deficit in half. #Philliespic.twitter.com/zfnLnquM2Q— Cory Nidoh (@Cory_Nidoh) May 30, 2026Dodgers’ lefty, Alex Vesia, came in with Schwarber at the plate as the tying run and struck him out to end the inning.ベシア シュワーバーを空振り三振🔥 Alex Vesia #Dodgers 🎥:©AppleTV pic.twitter.com/zgRNQZHJqr— 【MLB速報】放送地区【大谷速報】 (@MLB_comment) May 30, 2026This is only the second time in his career that Wheeler has surrendered four homers in a start, the first also coming as a Phillies in June of 2024 against the Orioles. He has never surrendered more than two in any other game.Andrew Painter (1-5) faces a tall task against Roki Sasaki (3-3) in the middle game of the series tomorrow night.

The report by President Trump’s physician said he was in “excellent health.” It showed that he had gained weight and that neurological and heart tests had come back “normal.”

On the brink of their first Stanley Cup since 2006, the Carolina Hurricanes did not want to tempt fate.The Hurricanes crushed the Montreal Canadiens to win the Eastern Conference Finals 4-1. Afterwards, when being presented with the Prince of Wales trophy, Carolina chose to not touch the trophy — a decision that is rife with superstition.Turns out that the choice may have come on the advice of Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour. A former player who spent 10 seasons in Carolina, Brind’Amour was the captain of the Stanley Cup-winning Carolina squad in 2006, and notably did not touch the trophy after his team won the conference finals.Brind’Amour addressed the issue in his post-game press conference: When asked if he had any input on the decision to not touch the trophy, he said “not really.” But he did say that he offered some players his blunt advice.“I had a few guys ask me what I thought, and I said, ‘Do what you want, but don’t touch it,’” Brind’Amour said.Historically, the decision to not touch or touch the trophy doesn’t have much consistency in the outcome. Of the 10 teams over the past 20 years who touched the trophy, four have not won the Cup, per NHL.com.But hockey players are incredibly superstitious, and the few success stories after not touching it are enough to make the solution clear. The Florida Panthers, who won the last two Stanley Cups, lost the final series in 2023 after touching the conference trophy, but came back to win it twice after nottouching it.And in Hurricanes’ history, in the team’s only other Easter Conference Finals win in 2002, captain Ron Francis picked up the trophy. Carolina went on to lose the 2002 Stanley Cup in five games to the Detroit Red Wings.The Canes’ win on Friday comes after years of knocking on the door to return to the Stanley Cup Finals. Under Brind’Amour, Carolina has lost three conference finals series, all by three or four games. That unlucky streak came to an end on Friday, with the Hurricanes flipping the script for a 4-1 win over the Habs.Brind’Amour was candid about the challenges that will come ahead, with Carolina set to face the Vegas Golden Knights in the finals.“I was a lot more excited as a player,” Brind’Amour admitted, when asked about the difference between winning the Prince of Wales trophy as a player versus a coach. “I’m not saying the expectation was the same, but this has been like eight years of ‘this is where we should’ve been’ in the way we feel.“Now we’re finally here, and we know that, I know, if you don’t win it all it’s just kind of, ‘eh,’ do you know what I mean?” Brind’Amour added with a laugh. “So I’m trying to hold off on that, cause I wanna enjoy this, this is a great accomplishment. But I know tomorrow I’ll wake up and it’s gonna be ‘How do we get over this last stretch?’”That last stretch will start with Game 1 on Tuesday, where Carolina will host Vegas.

What time is Champions League final? Live stream, TV channel, kickoff schedule for PSG vs. Arsenal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Paris Saint-Germain are seeking to become back-to-back European champions in Saturday's Champions League final, but a formidable challenge lies in wait.Arsenal saw off the challenge of Manchester City to win a first Premier League title for 22 years earlier this month and Mikel Arteta's side are aiming to win the club's maiden European title.PSG swept aside Inter Milan in last year's final 5-0, after overcoming the Gunners in a competitive semifinal.Arsenal topped this season's league phase with eight wins out of eight and are still yet to taste defeat in the competition following knockout ties against Bayer Leverkusen, Sporting CP and Atletico Madrid.MORE: Inside Arsenal's Premier League title partyWhat time does the Champions League final kick off?Paris Saint-Germain vs. Arsenal takes place at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary and kicks off on Saturday, May 30, at 6 p.m. local time.Here's how that time translates across the United States:DateKickoff timeEastern TimeSat, May 3012:00 p.m.Central TimeSat, May 3011:00 a.m.Mountain TimeSat, May 3010:00 a.m.Pacific TimeSat, May 309:00 a.m.MORE:Get a full overview of the latest Arsenal team news and injury updates for Arsenal ahead of this matchPSG vs. Arsenal live stream, TV channelHere's how to watch the Champions League final in English across the United States:TV channel: CBSLive stream:Paramount+, FuboThe European soccer showpiece will be broadcast live on CBS.Paramount+, will also be live-streaming the match, and is the home of Champions League football in the U.S.Paramount+ gives subscribers the ability to watch basketball, football, golf and soccer, and they won't have to break the bank in order to follow along with the latest sporting events. The match will also be available for cord-cutters to catch the match on streaming platform Fubo.Fubo offers a FREE trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)MORE:Will Arteta's Arsenal surpass Wenger's Invincibles with Champions League final win

Where to watch Canada vs. Finland live stream, TV channel, start time for 2026 hockey worlds semifinal game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Led by superstars young and old, Team Canada hopes to continue its roll straight into the IIHF World Championship final when it faces Finland in the semis Saturday. The Canadians have been on a mission in Switzerland after missing out on the medal round altogether in 2025. They plowed through Group B play, then drilled the United States 4-0 in Thursday's quarterfinal, setting up a matchup with the Finns. Macklin Celebrini has been a revelation, recording six goals and six assists through eight games. Late roster addition Sidney Crosby found the net for the first time against Team USA after dishing out nine assists in the preliminary round. In all, 15 players have scored for Canada in the tournament and they will try to maintain that balanced attack in the semis. The Finns are here thanks in part to surprising contributions from Aleksander Barkov, who missed the entire NHL season after tearing his ACL in September but has two goals and seven assists at Worlds as one of Finland's leaders in average time on ice (18:35). Who will move on to play for gold Sunday? Here's everything you need to know to watch the semifinal.Where to watch Canada vs. Finland: Live stream, TV channelTV channel: NHL NetworkLive stream: fuboCanada vs. Finland will air live in the U.S. on NHL Network, and fans can stream them live on fubo. Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)What time is Canada vs. Finland today? Date: Saturday, May 30Time: 2 p.m. ET | 11 a.m. PTPuck drop for Canada vs. Finland is set for 2 p.m. ET on Saturday. The game will be played at Swiss Life Arena in Zurich, the first time Canada has played there this tournament.The winner moves on to Sunday's gold medal game, while the loser will play for bronze. IIHF World Championship playoffs schedule, scores 2026Thursday, May 28 - QuarterfinalsGameTime (ET)WatchCanada 4, USA 0——Finland 4, Czechia 1——Switzerland 3, Sweden 1——Norway 2, Latvia 0——Saturday, May 30 - SemifinalsGameTime (ET)WatchSwitzerland vs. Norway9:20 a.m.NHL Network, fuboCanada vs. Finland2 p.m.NHL Network, fuboSunday, May 31 - Medal roundGameTime (ET)WatchBronze medal game9:30 a.m.NHL Network, fuboGold medal game2:20 p.m.NHL Network, fuboRelated LinksLatest NHL news and rumorsFull NHL schedule, scores for 2025-26How to bet on the NHL

Want to have your say on all things Sunderland? Drop us a line and we’ll publish your views! RokerReport@yahoo.co.ukDear Roker Report,To me, a football club is a bit like my car engine.When things are on the up, the engine purrs. I don’t know which component of the engine is the main reason for my contented smile as I press down the accelerator; in fact, I don’t really know how the engine works or how a clutch, valve, cylinder block, fuel line and the rest link together. I just know I’m happy. If I can torture this analogy a little further and return to Sunderland.Again, I don’t really know how the football club works or about the day-to-day activities of the owner, the manager, the players, the recruitment team, the social media team, the finance and accounting function and the many other components of the business — I just know when I’m happy.But unlike with an engine, I can at least make some educated guesses that might be as valuable as many other onlookers’ similar guesses and might entertain even if not.So here goes:It seems to me that the primary reason that Sunderland are where they are is that they, in their wisdom (which I was seriously questioning after the dumping of Tony Mowbray and appointment of a Cockney fish-out-of-water in his stead, alighted on the professorial talents of an out-of-work Breton whose only foray into management after he obtained his professional coaching licence didn’t inspire giddy confidence.Others might disagree and select the owner as the primary reason. No doubt a strong case can be made but I can’t help but think there have been plenty of smart, rich owners of many football clubs whose diligent efforts have not resulted in the eye-popping turnaround that we’ve seen at Sunderland.Similarly, what about the recruitment team?An extraordinary performance to find players like Nordi Mukiele (a passionate skilful monster of a defender who could surely get into the line-up of almost any team in Europe but whose career was languishing a little after a mixed-time on loan at Bayer Leverkusen) or Granit Xhaka (no words needed) or Enzo Le Fée (a footballing mixture of Legolas, Aragorn and Gandalf) but the very fact that two of those three were, it seems, treading water shows that just being a great footballer is not enough.So I return to Régis— whom I can’t recall criticising a referee, blaming VAR, being rude or dismissive in an interview, unnecessarily stoking up the furnace before any game, blaming a player or making any interview about himself.A man that — in a language recently learnt — bonded with this proud and passionate city; who moulded a team around triangles, unselfish running and smart decision-making, who dealt with the highs and the lows with calm; a man with an apparent instinct for understanding what data matters in a data-driven world.A man that made tough decisions such as moving on one of our most expensive and highly anticipated signings, Simon Adingra, so quickly. A man that eased Chris Rigg into the picture despite the clamour, that integrated Trai Hume, Dan Ballard, Wilson Isidor and Luke O’Nien amongst all the shiny new faces, and that created a platform for Xhaka to produce one of the most extraordinary seasons by any player in my lifetime.I return to Le Bris and I hear the smooth rumble of perhaps a V8 and I say “thank you”. Then I cross my fingers and say a little prayer that he’ll be with us for many years to come.P.S. I love the podcast. Keep up the fantastic work.Damian MurphyEd’s Note [Phil]: Hi, Damian. Thank you for your letter.In my view, the job that Régis Le Bris has done at the Stadium of Light this season (he’s been hugely influential ever since he arrived and was already rightly being acclaimed for leading us to promotion) is not being given enough credit outside of the Sunderland circle, with the achievements of the likes of Mikel Arteta being lauded and Le Bris seemingly overlooked by the wider footballing media.To my mind, it’s unfair.To bring such a diverse and uniquely talented group of players together, unify them around a common goal, earn the results to back up the promise of the squad and see it through to an eventual seventh-place finish is one of the most notable achievements of any Sunderland head coach in my lifetime.To my mind, he’s the greatest boss we’ve had since Peter Reid and his personality — unflappable, gracious in victory or defeat, strong in belief yet relatable and charismatic — is ideally suited to this job.Like you, I hope he’s here for a long time to come and that he can continue to build something special and sustainable at Sunderland. He’s earned the right to do just that.Dear Roker Report,Before I say this, you may take this as something that’s rather annoying or not something that fun to think about, but trust me: after the first few seconds, you’ll realise how fun of a thought it really is.We could (and should) have finished even higher than we did! I still can’t comprehend that our beloved Sunderland will be going up against the likes of Juventus, AC Milan, (wonder if we’ll ever see a Mackem there now?) and Bayer Leverkusen! Two of the biggest clubs — not just in Italy, but in all of football, and also the former treble winners who dethroned the one and only Bayern Munich whilst having a genius of a Swiss midfielder in their ranks (I can’t remember his name, but I’m sure one of you will know). Anyway, just think back to a few games, gents: Sunderland vs Manchester United (H) Wolves vs Sunderland (A) Aston Villa vs Sunderland (A) Liverpool vs Sunderland (A) Five games that could’ve lifted us so much higher if we’d taken our clear-cut chances. When Manchester United came to Wearside, we were the better team, created plenty of chances, and should’ve scored and won. Arguably our best performance of the season. That would’ve been two extra points. At Wolves, Dan Ballard was sent off in a game we were dominating and winning for something I personally feel was unfair and aroused discussion of a look at the hair-pulling rules. If that doesn’t happen, we easily win that game for two extra points.Villa away. Habib Diarra one-on-one after we came back from 3-1 down. I won’t say anything more, but you get the idea. Three points. Just like Diarra, Wilson Isidor was one-on-one at Anfield to win it, but Federico Chiesa got back to defend against an Isidor who was low on confidence around that time. It could’ve easily been an additional two points. I could mention the Brentford away game where if Enzo Le Fée hadn’t tried his panenka penalty, we could’ve maybe earned a draw, but I’ll leave that one out on the basis that Brentford could’ve just as easily still won that game as we had an off-day. So by my maths, that’s an extra nine points we could’ve had on our total.Our final total of fifty four plus my hypothetical nine would give us sixty three points. In the final standings from teams that finished above us, only Aston Villa would’ve been affected by fantastical waffle, as they would have three less points than the sixty five they finished on. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but if things went our way, we would’ve finished in the Champions League spots as this dream scenario would have lifted us to fourth.What a season.Gabriel RidleyEd’s Note [Phil]: Hi, Gabriel. Thank you for getting in touch.Whilst I agree that there were games during the season in which we let points slip in occasionally frustrating circumstances, the fact that our powers of recovery and never-say-die spirit allowed us to retrieve a frankly astonishing twenty two points from losing positions was undoubtedly a major driving force behind our eventual seventh-place finish.We were able to rally consistently, turning around games that might’ve been beyond us, and at the end of the day, 2025/2026 was a learning process as well as a successful league campaign, with the Lads needing to understand what it takes to compete and to win at this level, and occasionally that meant going through some tough experiences.It was all worthwhile in the end, though!

We’ve certainly had some cracking full backs at our club — and I fear to start a list as I’m certain to miss someone’s favourite.Cecil Irwin provided one of my earliest memories of seeing an imposing full back. Then there’s Len Ashurst, Joe Bolton, Dariusz Kubicki, Mickey Gray, Phil Bardsley, George Burley, Barry Venison…and on it goes.But then there are the full backs who, for whatever reason, just strike a chord with the fans. I guess that’s why it’s called the ‘X-Factor’, because no-one can quite put a finger on why a connection is formed between those on the pitch and in the stands.I’m thinking of John Kay, for example (he used to practice by tackling lampposts), Julio Arca, and in the current team, Trai Hume. In my own lifetime of following Sunderland, one of the first real favourites of mine was such a full back.Reuben Agboola was born on this day in 1962, and I can still hear the cries from the terraces of “Reuuuuben, Reuuuuben”.He wasn’t the tallest of defenders at 5”9 and weighing 11st 9lb in old money, and nor did he appear particularly stocky. But he was a solid defender — speedy, well balanced and a good passer of the ball.Funnily enough, our manager at the time was one of the full backs I’ve already given a nod to, and Ashurst must’ve seen something he liked in Agboola when he bought him from Southampton in January 1985. It takes a defender to recognise the qualities in another defender!He actually made his debut against his previous club that same month, but he didn’t become a regular starter in the team until the 1987/1988 season, when Denis Smith was in charge and the Third Division championship was secured.The Roker Park crowd recognised his total commitment to the cause through his no-nonsense, wholehearted and ‘take no prisoners’ approach. We’ve always liked our defenders like that!Agboola became the first Lads player to be capped by an African country whilst with the club when he was selected to play for Nigeria in 1990.He also experienced another promotion during his final season of first team football in 1989/1990, when we were eventually promoted via the Wembley playoff final against Swindon Town — despite a defeat, Swindon were relegated after falling foul of Inland Revenue investigations.In total, he made 155 appearances from 1985 to 1992.He never scored a single goal in any competition for the Lads, but I remember there was no lack of encouragement or humour from the stands every time he got near the opposition goal — in fact, whilst looking at his records, I gather he never scored a single goal in his entire professional career!He had a couple of loan spells before he left to play twenty eight games for Swansea City in 1992/1993, before returning to Southampton where he became a pub landlord like so many players in those days. In 2004, he moved to Majorca to run a bar.He had the ‘X Factor’, was a crowd favourite, and was just a genuine, ‘salt of the earth-type’ of player.Happy birthday, Reuben. You brought a lot of joy to a lot of people.

Arizona sprinter Mason Laywer had himself a day Friday at the NCAA West Regionals, qualifying for next month’s NCAA Championships in the men’s 100m and 200m dashes Lawyer was also part of the Arizona 4x100m relay team that qualified for championships next month in Eugene, Ore. The third day of regionals in Fayetteville, Ark. saw six Wildcats male athletes punch their tickets for championships, joining shot putter Tyler Michelini, who advanced on Wednesday. Lawyer, the Big 12 champion in both the 100m and 200m dashes, continued his strong outdoor season with his performances on Friday. Lawyer finished third in the 100m with a time of 10.03. He took fourth in the 200m with a time of 20.28.𝗡𝗘𝗫𝗧 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗣 ➡️ 𝗘𝗨𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗘✈️Mason Lawyer is a 𝗥𝗢𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗧. He punched his ticket to the NCAA Championships in both the 100m & 200m finishing 3rd in the 100 with a time of 10.03 (𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗟 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗗) and 4th in the 200 with a time of 20.28 at West Regionals! pic.twitter.com/COqJsgmvy9— Arizona Track & Field/Cross Country (@ArizonaTrack) May 30, 2026Lawyer is top five in the NCAA in both events, putting him in real title contention at NCAA Championships, which take place June 10-14.Lawyer helped the Arizona men’s 4x100m relay team to an eighth place finish. The team, which also consists of James Onanubosi, John Paredes and Parker Duskin, ran a time of 39.02 to qualify for championships. Paredes also qualified in the 110m hurdles with a time of 13.47, good enough for 11th place. Antone Smith joined the travel party to Eugene with a fifth-place finish in the triple jump, earning a mark of 16.59m (54-51/4). In the field events, Arizona’s Sam Hala’Ufia qualified in the discuss with a mark of 56.92m (186-9) for 10th place. The NCAA West Regionals wrap up Saturday with women’s events. Arizona will be represented in eight events, including the 4x100m relay. Live stats can be found here, and the meet can be streamed on ESPN+.

MEN: Bayern Munich could now make shock approach for in-form Man Utd man after missing out on Anthony GordonKeen to reinforce their options on the left flank this summer, Bayern Munich are considering turning their attention to Marcus Rashford after missing out on Anthony Gordon.The Everton graduate, who’s spent the last three-and-a-half years with Newcastle United, agreed a shock switch to Barcelona this week, rendering Rashford’s future at Camp Nou up in the air.DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL STRETTY NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES & BREAKING NEWS – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE &GOOGLE PLAYGordon and Rashford: What’s the state of play?Barcelona were willing to splurge a whopping £70 million to get a deal over the line with the Magpies, yet have been reluctant to shell out Rashford’s £26m buy clause – despite the on-loan Red overseeing a more prolific campaign in front of goal.Gordon is three years younger than his England counterpart, which is perhaps the driving factor for Hansi Flick and Deco, given that the Blaugrana do boast a young but proven squad.Want more Stretty News coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trustAlthough Rashford had his heart set on a permanent transfer to Barça when the window opened, a move to Bayern would pose as an equally exciting one, should anything materialise.Bayern shortlist Rashford following Gordon snubManchester Evening News’ Steven Railston revealed on Friday that there was a chance of Bayern switching their focus to the Carrington graduate to bolster Vincent Kompany’s squad.Any talks with the player himself will have to happen either in the coming days or after England’s World Cup campaign ends, as his full focus will be on the tournament when the Three Lions kick off their group stage journey against Croatia on June 17.It remains to be seen if United would keep Rashford’s asking price the same in the event his buy option is waived, or whether they would cheekily look to increase their demands based on his form this term.More Stories / Latest NewsMEN: Bayern Munich could now make shock approach for in-form Man Utd man after missing out on Anthony Gordon May 30 2026, 6:15“He’s really good” – Whitwell confirms Man Utd want £50m star as EPL rivals are ‘forced’ to sell May 29 2026, 17:45Just in: Man Utd drop interest in EPL midfielder who was their top target May 29 2026, 12:56

Chelsea plot shock move for Ibrahima Konate after Liverpool exit decisionChelsea are considering a shocking move for Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate, who is expected to leave Anfield this summer.According to French news publication L’Equipe, the Blues are looking to snap up the Frenchman following his shocking departure from Liverpool.After the blow of missing out on Europe altogether, Chelsea are set to shake up their squad this summer, with the club expected to target at least four new players.Signing a centre-back is firmly on the club’s to-do list, and Chelsea are now looking to make Konate their new defender without paying a dime in transfer fees.Whether they can convince Konate to switch Merseyside for West London remains to be seen, but Chelsea aren’t pulling their punches in the race for the Frenchman.Konate’s Anfield spell appears to be coming to an end after failing to agree a new deal with Liverpool.His current deal expires next month, meaning he will be free to join another club from July 1.His exit will bring an end to his five-year spell at Liverpool, where he won the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, and the Community Shield.Bringing in Konate would be a massive coup for Chelsea, considering he has bags of Premier League experience under his belt.The Blues believe the “outstanding” defender can add leadership and stability to the backline, but they’re not the only club keeping an eye on the Frenchman’s situation.Chelsea will have to battle other European giants such as Real Madrid and Bayern Munich for Konate’s signature, sparking what could be one of the most competitive transfer sagas of the summer.The 27-year-old represents an attractive opportunity for European clubs this summer, and the Blues are looking to make him the first signing of the Xabi Alonso era.The former midfielder is set to lead Chelsea into a new era following a miserable campaign that ended with the Blues sitting 10th in the Premier League table.

Marcus Rashford: Premier League return will not please United Manchester United will need to be resolve the future of Marcus Rashford one way or the other as Barcelona prepare to cut him loose.After a fine loan campaign in which the Mancunian netted 14 times and registered as many assists and helped the Catalan giants to the La Liga crown, it was expected that Barca would trigger his buy option.All they would need was a mere £26 million, far lower than his market value. However, the Camp Nou outfit have been trying to lowball the Red Devils for quite some time now.From demanding another loan, to asking to pay the amount in instalments, to now hoping for a discount, Barcelona have been up to all sorts of tricks.Barcelona seem to have moved on from Marcus RashfordINEOS have stood firm thus far, believing they will earn more from a sale elsewhere should the Spanish giants choose to walk away from the agreement.That could materialise, as Barcelona have signed Anthony Gordon, and are on the verge of bringing in Bernardo Silva on a free and Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid.That leaves no room for the Englishman at the Blaugrana, and the 20-time English league champions are hoping for Bayern Munich to enter the fray.Apart from the German giants, Arsenal have also been linked with a sensational move for the Carrington graduate.Arsenal interested, INEOS would prefer not to do businessAccording to The Manchester Evening News, INEOS would prefer not to sell to a direct Premier League rival.The versatile forward will be eager to prove United wrong, and they might be left with egg on their faces if he succeeds at the Emirates.But given the circumstances, they might be forced to, but only if the Gunners submit an offer that cannot be refused.“It feels like there’s a chance of Bayern Munich enquiring about Rashford now that Anthony Gordon is on his way to Barcelona. Bayern wanted to sign Gordon before Barca swooped for the Newcastle winger, so they are in the market for a left winger.INEOS face a major conundrum“Rashford needs to be realistic about his wage expectations to get a permanent move. His contract at United is worth £325,000 per week, but that deal was signed in the summer of 2023, following an impressive 30-goal campaign.“Regarding Arsenal, United would not want to strengthen a Premier League rival, but an offer would be considered for the right money.”Bayern Munich or even Paris Saint-Germain will be the preferred options, with Serie A sides unlikely to cough up the kind of money INEOS want.Should the North London side pay above his market value, INEOS might be forced to take the money considering the England international is an academy product and his sale will count as pure profit. It will be interesting to see where Marcus Rashford lands up at the end of the window.Feature image Alex Caparros via Getty Imagesonline pollsThe Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 29: Tyler Soderstrom #21, Alika Williams #12, and Zack Gelof #20 of the Athletics misplay a ball hit by Ben Rice #22 of the New York Yankees in the ninth inning at Sutter Health Park on May 29, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Athletics and New York Yankees kicked off a three-game weekend series tonight in Sacramento. The A’s entered the game trying to end a three-game losing streak, while the Yankees sought to make it five-straight wins. The “Bronx Bombers” took the lead before most fans had reached their seats and did not look back, earning a blowout 8-2 victory over the A’s in a game they dominated in all facets. Early ActionA’s starting pitcher Luis Severino gave up runs in the first inning for a second-straight outing, but this time he was not helped by his defense. A’s first baseman Nick Kurtz made a throwing error allowing Yankees designated hitter Ben Rice to reach safely. Rice advanced to second on Severino’s balk and then scored on Aaron Judge’s RBI single to give the Yankees an immediate lead. A few batters later, with two on and two outs, Yankees’ first baseman Paul Goldschmidt hit his sixth home run of the season, a three-run blast just over the left field wall to give the visitors a 4-0 lead after the first half inning of the game. All four runs were unearned, yet that three-run home run really stung.In the bottom of the first, the A’s got a run back. Kurtz atoned for his error by hitting his ninth home run of the season, a solo blast to left-center field.408 ft. from Kurtzy! pic.twitter.com/ipYGMb9BXP— Athletics (@Athletics) May 30, 2026Yankees Extend Their LeadIn the second inning, Severino got hurt warming up, exiting his start with right arm soreness. Apparently, he has been dealing with shoulder soreness, which is why his start got pushed back to tonight. Maybe it should have been pushed back a bit longer to prevent a bullpen game to open the series.Luis Severino exits the game after appearing to get injured pic.twitter.com/d4tXvQqJid— Athletics on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) May 30, 2026Left-hander Jose Suarez replaced him on the mound. The Yankees’ offense went right back to work. They got three-straight hits with Rice’s RBI single pushing their fifth run across home plate. Suarez escaped the inning, limiting the damage to one run.A’s Offense StallsAthletics left fielder Tyler Soderstrom worked a walk to begin the A’s half of the second. Center fielder Henry Bolte singled to left, advancing his teammate to second base. The A’s rally fizzled out from there as back-t0-back groundouts with runners in scoring position erased the momentum they had built at the start of the frame.Yankees’ Offense On Fire Suarez only pitched one inning. A’s reliever Joel Kuhnel replaced him in the third. He gave up third baseman Ryan McMahon’s sixth home run of the season, a two-out solo shot to right-center. The Yankees added a seventh run in the fourth, courtesy of Judge’s RBI groundout. Through four innings, the Yankees scored at least one run in every inning.Gelof Not Coming up ClutchIn the bottom of the fourth, Soderstrom and Bolte strung together two-straight singles with two outs. Alas, Rodòn got Gelof to fly out, completing a third-straight scoreless inning. Gelof has twice failed to come through in prime run-scoring opportunities for the hosts this evening. Left-handed reliever Hogan Harris answered by recording the first scoreless inning by an A’s pitcher in the fifth.Yankees in Cruise ControlWith a six-run cushion, Rodòn cruised through six innings of one-run ball, limiting the slumping A’s offense to only four hits. In the seventh, the Yankees extended their lead to seven runs via their third home run of the game. Rice blasted his 17th home run of the season against new A’s reliever Scott Barlow. He finished with three hits in five at-bats and was a triple shy of the cycle. Cortes’ Magic Wearing Off?Bolte was one of the few positives for the A’s tonight. He recorded three singles in four at-bats, the last one coming off Yankees’ left-handed reliever Brent Headrick in the seventh. After his third single, he moved up a base on Gelof’s first of two hits in this game. With the bases loaded, Yankees manager Aaron Boone replaced Headrick with right-handed reliever Fernando Cruz. A’s manager Mark Kotsay countered by bringing Carlos Cortes off the bench to pinch hit for Darell Hernaiz. Cruz won the matchup, inducing an inning-ending 1-2-3 double play as the A’s failed yet again with runners in scoring position and less than two outs. That outcome was indicative of the A’s teamwide offensive struggles not only tonight, but this whole week. The Athletics’ recent offensive ineptitude during home games remains perplexing, especially considering that visiting teams seem to take full advantage of the hitter-friendly ballpark to score runs in bunches.The A’s offensive struggles carried over to defense. In the ninth, three A’s defenders collided trying to cleanly field Rice’s catchable pop-up that somehow ended up on the grass. The wheels have officially fallen off for the A’s tonight. #Athleticspic.twitter.com/l52iqaICGb— Uprooted (@uprootedoakland) May 30, 2026The A’s got a consolation run off former A’s pitcher Paul Blackburn in the ninth. Gelof’s RBI single scored designated hitter Brent Rooker, who started the rally with an infield single, for the A’s second run of the night. Blackburn buckled down, retiring the next two hitters to seal the Yankees fifth straight win and doom the Athletics to further misery.The A’s have been outscored 30-6 during this woeful, winless late May homestand. Additionally, they have committed 15 errors in their past 17 games. Currently riding a four-game losing streak that has dropped their record to 27-30, the vibes are not good for this team. As a result, something must be done sooner than later to restore some positivity and turn things around before the team’s 2026 season spirals completely out of control. The Athletics will look to snap their losing skid and even up this series tomorrow evening. Right-hander J.T. Ginn, who is 2-3 with a 3.19 ERA, will look to play stopper. The A’s need him to pitch at least five or six innings in the wake of the bullpen having to cover eight innings today. The Yankees will counter with left-hander Ryan Weathers, who is 2-2 with a 3.14 ERA.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The horn sounded to give Carolina a long-awaited Eastern Conference Final breakthrough. And the Hurricanes immediately made their way across the ice to Frederik Andersen in the victorious crease.Veteran forward Jordan Martinook gave Andersen a hearty hug, tapping the goalie on the helmet the entire time. Then came defenseman Jalen Chatfield. And coach Rod Brind’Amour followed with a long hug and shared some words, with Andersen pausing afterward to bend forward and collect himself before going through the traditional handshake line.Andersen was steady again as the Hurricanes beat the Montreal Canadiens 6-1 on Friday night in Game 5 to send the Eastern Conference’s top seed on to the Stanley Cup Final to face Vegas. It came after an emotionally wrenching 36 hours for Andersen, whose agent — former NHL playing great Claude Lemieux — took his own life Thursday.”It’s been a difficult couple days, but the way we showed up today and the last couple days for the team for each other, it’s been incredible," Andersen said in a postgame interview with TNT. "I can’t talk enough good things about this team and the way they’ve supported me. It’s been awesome.”Andersen's play has been one of the biggest stories in the Hurricanes' return to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since hoisting the Cup in 2006, back when coach Rod Brind'Amour was the captain. He overcame a shaky start to the year as waiver-wire wonder Brandon Bussi seemed ready to run away with the starting job, had a rejuvenating stretch of playing for Denmark in the Milan Cortina Olympics, played well down the stretch of the regular season and has been a leveled-up version of himself throughout the postseason.Now the 36-year-old veteran is headed to the Cup Final for the first time in his career.He was coming off his third shutout of the postseason with Wednesday's 4-0 road win as the Hurricanes asserted a tighter and tighter grip on control for the series. And that had come just two days after Lemieux had been the Canadiens' torch bearer before Carolina's 3-2 overtime win in Game 3.Andersen didn't mind Lemieux participating in the pregame Montreal mojo for the franchise where he won one of his four Stanley Cups in 1986 as a rookie. “He's like family,” Andersen told North State Journal afterward.By Thursday, news had broken of Lemieux's death, with Andersen set to start as the Hurricanes led 3-1 in the best-of-seven series. “To be honest, wasn’t sure if he was going to be able to play,” Brind'Amour said. "You just don’t know how that was going to shake out. Obviously, he shook it off and battled through it. You saw the emotion after the game. Yeah, that’s a tough time for him. But he made us all proud, that’s for sure.”Andersen finished with 23 saves and, as he has throughout the entire playoffs, came up with just about every timely save the Hurricanes needed against a skilled but desperate Canadiens team. And just as in the previous three wins, the Hurricanes were largely on their game to play a suffocating style that routinely won puck battles and kept the pressure on Montreal in its own end rather than giving up chances going the other way or shots attempted at Andersen.He carried the shutout well into the third period before finally giving up a goal to Cole Caufield on the power play, though with Carolina already up 5-0. Andersen continues to lead the postseason in goals-against average (1.41) and rank among the leaders in save percentage (.931).“I know we were playing for him as best we could,” captain Jordan Staal said. "And it's a tough couple of days here for him. We're just family here, and we all felt that hurt. We tried to share as best we could and playing well in front of him as best we could do tonight.“I thought he played unbelievable.”___AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

The next step a promising young defender will take is seemingly at Manchester CityVitor Reis left Manchester City for the 2025-26 season to spend the campaign in Spain playing with Girona. A season plying his trade in La Liga looks to have done wonders for the young Brazilian defender’s development. Vitor Reis made 38 appearances in all competitions, playing 3287 minutes. Although Girona were relegated from La Liga, the way Vitor Reis performed was a success. He established himself as a starter at Girona, and was far and away the best young centre-back in La Liga.Looking ahead, Vitor Reis seems ready to make the step up into the Manchester City squad. A new report from Brazil indicates that Vitor Reis is set for a role in the City first team next season. Based on how the young defender performed this season, he is ready for such a role.Vitor Reis is reportedly set for a role at Manchester City next season.Brazilian publication Globo has reported that despite the fact that Pep Guardiola has stepped down as Manchester City manager, Vitor Reis is set for a role in the City squad next season. Furthermore, it is reported that Reis’s form for Girona throughout this season impressed City. In particular, his performances in Girona’s matches against Real Madrid and Barcelona were particularly impressive. Given that Girona are part of the City Football Group, the close relationship between City and Girona allowed City to keep close track of how well Vitor Reis performed all season. His strong form is set to earn him a role in the FA Cup holders’ squad for next season.There is an opening in the City squad for Vitor Reis and it will be up to him to seize it.With John Stones no longer a part of the Manchester City squad following his emotional departure, there is an opening in the City squad for Vitor Reis. City does need a fifth centre-back for next season. The expectation is that Marc Guehi, Abdukodir Khusanov, Josko Gvardiol, and Ruben Dias will be the four centre-backs that City will start next season with. Nathan Ake could also depart City this summer. If that is how it plays out, there is a role for Vitor Reis to take in City’s squad for next season.Given that Vitor Reis is poised and composed in possession, he has always seemed like Manchester City’s long-term John Stones replacement. Reis shines in possession, which is am attribute that City need in their centre-backs. Also, Vitor Reis is now a more mature player after spending a season in Spain; he should be ready for the rigors of playing in the Premier League.The young Brazilian defender may not be the most physically mature defender, he is only 20 years of age, he now knows what it takes to play in Europe. Defensively, Vitor Reis is solid and he is rarely beaten by a man and he reads the game exceptionally well. That stood out all season at Girona.Being a squad member for Manchester City shouldn’t be too big a step up for Reis. City will need him as they navigate a long season so there will be opportunities for Vitor Reis to play at City. He will have to seize those chances when they arrive to earn more minutes at City.Final thoughts.Vitor Reis seems set to stay at Manchester City for the 2026-27 season. He has earned that opportunity after his impressive season for Girona. There is a defined role for Reis to take in the City squad, and it will be fascinating to see how he fares next season as a City player if he is given a role in Manchester City’s squad as reported.

Liverpool slap £35m asking price on Inter Milan target Curtis JonesLiverpool are now ready to cash in on midfielder Curtis Jones, who is wanted by Serie A giants Inter Milan as well as a handful of Premier League clubs.According to The Times, Liverpool are demanding at least £35 million for the England international, who has just one year left on his contract.Liverpool are set for another busy summer in the transfer market, with the club looking to strengthen a number of positions across the team.The Reds have already waved goodbye to legendary duo Mohamed Salah and Andrew Robertson.Recent reports also claim centre-back Ibrahima Konate will follow both players through the Anfield exit after failing to agree a new deal with Liverpool.While Liverpool are already working on incoming transfers, there could be more players heading for the exit, with Jones now drawing attention from clubs in the Premier League and abroad.Jones has one year left on his contract with Liverpool, and there hasn’t been any talks of an extension being on the cards.Having already lost three players on free transfers, Liverpool are keen to avoid a similar situation with Jones and are ready to cash in while they can.The 25-year-old came up through Liverpool’s academy before establishing himself in the first team.Since making his breakthrough, Jones has made 228 appearances for Liverpool, contributing 22 goals and 25 assists. He also featured 49 times in all competitions during the 2025/26 campaign.The “outstanding” midfielder was once described as a “complete” player by manager Arne Slot, but his reluctance to commit his future to Liverpool could force him out of the club this summer.Several reports claim a host of Premier League clubs are weighing up a move for Jones, including Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, and Europa League winner Aston Villa.However, Inter are believed to be the most interested club in Jones at the moment, but they’re not ready to match Liverpool’s asking price.The Serie A champions are only ready to pay around £25m for Jones, which could scupper their chances of finalising a deal.

BERLIN, GERMANY - MAY 23: Leon Goretzka of Munich celebrates the victory after the DFB Cup Final 2026 match between FC Bayern München and VfB Stuttgart at Olympiastadion on May 23, 2026 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Marvin Ibo Guengoer - GES Sportfoto/Getty Images) | Getty Images Bayern Munich’s social media team is always hard at work on Friday as the social squad was busy putting out thank you and goodbye posts for three first-team players who are exiting the club this summer — Leon Goretzka, Raphaël Guerreiro, and Chelsea FC loanee Nicolas Jackson. As it has become tradition on social media, each player got a nice send off on the club’s social media account:Leon Goretzka As of now, AC Milan looks like the frontrunner to land Goretzka, but the recent organizational overhaul there could thwart those plans. View this post on InstagramRaphaël GuerreiroGuerreiro’s future is up in the air.View this post on InstagramNicolas JacksonJackson is retuning to Chelsea, but what happens from there is anyone’s guess. View this post on InstagramIn a non-club post, Giulia Gwinn hit Instagram with a smile after her shoulder surgery: View this post on InstagramGwinn will not be available for the international games coming up and her presence on the pitch for Germany will be sorely missed.If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor… Join the conversation!Sign up for a user account and get:New, improved notifications system!Fewer adsCreate community postsComment on articles, community postsRec comments, community posts

Shubman Gill produced one of the greatest knocks in IPL playoff history on Friday, smashing a breathtaking century against Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 and rewriting multiple records in the process.Chasing a daunting 215 after Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s stunning 96 and Donovan Ferreira’s late carnage had powered Rajasthan Royals to 214/6, Gill walked into one of the biggest matches of Gujarat Titans’ season and delivered a captain’s innings for the ages.The Gujarat Titans skipper raced to his century in just 47 balls, making it: The fastest century in IPL playoff history The fastest hundred ever scored by a Gujarat Titans batter The first century by a captain in IPL playoff history Gill also became the first batter ever to score multiple hundreds in IPL playoffs, adding another historic achievement to his growing IPL legacy. It was also his fifth IPL century overall.The classy right-hander dominated Rajasthan’s attack from the outset, mixing elegant timing with controlled aggression. His innings included 15 fours and three sixes before Jofra Archer finally trapped him lbw for a magnificent 104 off 53 balls.Interestingly, Archer’s breakthrough also sparked debate over whether Rajasthan had delayed bringing their strike bowler back into the attack for too long as Gill had already inflicted massive damage by then.But Gill was not alone in the run-fest. Sai Sudharsan continued his extraordinary consistency and together the pair stitched the highest partnership in IPL playoff history.Their unbeaten 160-run stand surpassed the legendary 159-run partnership between Michael Hussey and Murali Vijay for Chennai Super Kings against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 2011 IPL final.Highest partnerships in IPL playoffs: 160* – Shubman Gill & Sai Sudharsan (GT) vs RR, 2026 Qualifier 2 159 – Michael Hussey & Murali Vijay (CSK) vs RCB, 2011 Final The innings also helped Gill enter another elite IPL list. He now joins Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli and Sai Sudharsan as one of the few batters to score 700-plus runs in multiple IPL seasons.Gill’s historic night came after Rajasthan Royals had earlier lit up the evening through teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who hammered 96 off just 47 balls despite RR losing Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel inside the first two overs.However, Gill’s astonishing chase completely shifted the momentum of the knockout clash as the Gujarat Titans skipper turned Qualifier 2 into a record-breaking spectacle.

Kevin Utton, from Harrod Sport, said it was a good conversation starter to be involved in a major sporting event [BBC]A family business has provided the goalposts for one of sport's biggest competitions.Harrod Sport, based in Lowestoft, Suffolk, manufactured the goals for Saturday's Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris St-Germain.The match is being held at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary.Kevin Utton, director of sport sales and marketing, said being part of a major event was "a good conversation piece" and something he "bored" his friends with.The firm supplied hockey equipment for the 2024 Olympics in Paris and has also catered for a range of other prestigious events including football's World Cup and Euros, the Rugby World Cup and the Commonwealth Games.It also provided goals for this year's Women's Champions League final in Oslo, Norway and the Europa League final in Istanbul, Turkey. Alongside goals, the business makes corner posts, nets, team shelters and sin-bins.The Puskas Arena in Budapest will host the Champions League final [Reuters]Utton said the business had about 120 employees and had been operating since 1954.He said typically sporting organisations would want to bring in new products, like goalposts installed for major events like a final, despite aluminium goalposts being made to last about 20 years. Another factor to consider was video assistant referee decision-making (VAR). Utton said there was a bit of "paranoia" to make sure all the equipment was compliant.Do you have a story suggestion for Suffolk? Contact us below.Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Related internet links Uefa Champions League

Mail Sport detail scenario in which Nicolas Jackson would be prepared to stay at ChelseaNicolas Jackson is prepared to stay at Chelsea next season as long as he gets his fair share of game time according to reports.DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CHELSEA NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON THE APP STOREThe Senegal international joined Bayern Munich on a season loan last summer, but will return to Chelsea after the obligation to buy in the deal wasn’t triggered.Jackson won the Bundesliga and German Cup last season, but played second fiddle to Harry Kane for the majority of the campaign.Nicolas Jackson prepared to stay at Chelsea this summerThe 24-year-old scored 11 goals in 34 appearances for Bayern in all competitions, and would have cost Bayern an additional £56.2m on top of the £14.3m loan fee.Jackson is attracting interest from clubs in Italy, whilst there’s also believed to be Premier League interest, although it’s unclear what Chelsea’s valuation is.The Senegalese will return to Chelsea, and it’s been reported the Blues will hold meetings with his representatives over his future in the coming weeks.Jackson will be at the World Cup with Senegal which starts next month, so any decision will likely be made once his participation concludes.Mail Sport have reported Jackson is prepared to stay at Chelsea as long as he gets his fair share of game time, with the main reason for his move to Bayern the breakdown in his relationship with Enzo Maresca.The report adds Jackson is still highly regarded internally, and the final decision on his future will be taken by Xabi Alonso and the sporting leadership team.If you enjoy Chelsea News coverage and want to see more of it, add us as a preferred source on Google to make us a favourite and see more of our content.In other news…Manchester City are reportedly interested in Marc Cucurella, with the Spaniard facing an uncertain future at Stamford Bridge.More Stories / Latest NewsMail Sport detail scenario in which Nicolas Jackson would be prepared to stay at Chelsea 30th May 2026, 06:45amChelsea’s tricky goalkeeping situation gets more complex as Robert Sanchez makes his demands 29th May 2026, 03:15pmHow Robert Sanchez ranked compared to Gigi Donnarumma in crucial goalkeeping stat 29th May 2026, 02:45pmBarcelona and Atletico Madrid are also said to be interested in Cucurella, who has two years left on his deal, and has made no secret he’d be open to a return to Spain.Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:

OKLAHOMA CITY — UCLA lost the coveted reward of a day off in this Women’s College World Series when its record-shattering offense stilled slightly against Alabama’s arms. Not that it ended up mattering much. The Bruins might as well have called it an off day the way they lit up Arkansas with four home runs in a 11-0 run-rule win bearing more similarities to batting practice than an elimination game. “We always say loosen the pickle jar,” Megan Grant said. “It's not just any one person. It could be all of us.” UCLA batted around in the second inning, blasting 3.9999 home runs, sending nine runners across home plate and chasing two Arkansas pitchers from the circle. They were inches short of four in the half-inning when second baseman Kaniya Bragg’s hit to right field bounced off the top of the padding and back into play. The two-RBI double served as a UCLA heat check on a squad opposing coaches compared to the New York Yankees Murderers’ Row. Which says a lot about the power UCLA can unleash as the tournament continues. “Thank God it's double elimination,” said UCLA head coach Kelly Inouye-Perez, the winningest coach in sport history. “We got an opportunity to get another chance to get out here and play our game. That's all we talked about. We're a contagious hitting team. When they're loose and have discipline at the plate, great things can happen.”UCLA's Megan Grant and the Bruins are moving on after an 11-0 win over Arkansas. (AP Photo/Vera Nieuwenhuis)AP Photo/Vera NieuwenhuisShortstop Aleena Garcia took her first pitch of the second inning off starter Payton Burnham to center field as the game’s opening run. Bri Alejandre grounded out to third, Bragg was hit by the first pitch and catcher Alexis Ramirez singled down the left-field line. It set up a three-run homer by Soo-Jin Berry to left field that chased Burnham. Saylor Timmerman walked two on full counts, and a session three-record 12,546 in attendance braced for potential impact from the record-setting slugger. Grant, an adult stepping into a children’s T-ball game to end it before dinner, swung at the first pitch with ease. Her blast to center field bounced off the top railing of the back of the bleachers for a 7-0 lead and officially clocked in at 260 feet. “When Megan hits home runs, I back up,” Garcia said. “Megan is different. I mean, when she hits home runs, oh, my gosh, her energy. She's a big energy starter for us. Megan has the biggest energy. She's the biggest killer up to bat. She just starts a lot of things for us.” The senior slugger’s 42nd home run of the season — extending the 31-year-old record she broke earlier this month — set the program’s all-time home run mark. She tied Stacey Nuveman, the inaugural USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year in 2002, with 90 homers on Thursday night. As with any unbelievable feat, critics clamored to poke holes in UCLA’s 200 home run season. The total shattered the previous season high of 161 set by the 2021 Oklahoma squad. The Bruins averaged 3.3 home runs per game before arriving in Oklahoma City. By game’s end, they stand at 206 in 62 games, including Jolyna Lamar’s lead-off solo shot in the fifth. UCLA’s Easton Stadium fences are 210 feet out at center field, and 190 down the lines. It’s slightly shorter than most, but not a significant outlier. At most it took away a handful, though many of Grant’s cleared with ease. “She murders the ball every time she sees it,” Berry said. About an hour before Texas and Mississippi State took the field for the first game, a fan came over to a popular taco truck behind the lower center field bleachers to ask if it was a good place to be for home run balls. Grant answered that, clearing the fence line by nearly half a football field. Her pop up to short in a 1-2-3 first inning drew the loudest cheers from Arkansas fans, an exhausted bunch whose World Series hopes went sideways in the prior night’s emotional 10-inning thriller. Arkansas fell on the wrong side of the margins in a game that finished after midnight local time. “We felt like we turned the page,” Arkansas head coach Courtney Deifel said. “It wasn't our night. It's softball. Sometimes s*** happens. It happened tonight. UCLA, wherever you're not at your best, they're going to expose you. They exposed us tonight.”The massive early lead took stress off UCLA starter Taylor Tinsley, their late-season workhorse ace. The senior leads all NCAA tournament pitchers with 40.1 innings pitched, and came into the WCWS pitching 59.5% of the team’s total innings this season (215 of 361.1). UCLA will have a real day off on Saturday while the winner’s brackets play out. They will face the loser of Texas Tech and Tennessee, both programs with aces. The Red Raiders’ NiJaree Canady and Kaitlyn Terry are a shutdown pair; while the Lady Vols’ senior Karlyn Pickens is the hardest thrower in the game. The Bruins proved again on Friday they can pass the bat down the line with the best of them, a contagious energy that continued into the post-game presser. Before exiting, Grant, the longest hitter of them all, gently pushed in every folding chair. They’ll be back, this time on true rest.

TOPSHOT - Bayern Munich's Senegalese forward #11 Nicolas Jackson celebrates after scoring his team's fourth goal during the UEFA Champions League last 16, first leg football match between Atalanta and Bayern Munich at the Gewiss stadium in Bergamo, on March 10, 2026. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images Unlike most of his Chelsea compadres, Nicolas Jackson got to experience life on a winning team this season as Bayern Munich completed their latest league-and-cup double. He may not have featured as much as he might have wished, but he still managed to get into double digits for goals (11) for the fourth successive season, while making 34 appearances (15 starts) across all competitions.Hopefully he enjoyed that experience, because winning may be a bit harder to come by next season. Those numbers were good, but not quite good enough to trigger the clause in his loan contract that would’ve forced Bayern to fork over €65m and keep him for good. They’re instead sending him back to Chelsea.But that may yet work out satisfactorily for all involved. As the Mail and the BBC report, Jackson’s expected to be back in the mix at Chelsea, and set to compete with Liam Delap and the incoming Emmanuel Emegha for the job at center forward alongside the entrenched João Pedro. (Marc Guiu doesn’t even get a mention.)One might imagine that Delap is — by some distance — at the bottom of the pecking order in that quartet as things stand, but even three strikers may be too many given our lack of European football next season.The decision is said to be up to the club (including new manager Xabi Alonso), but a transfer for Jackson isn’t being ruled either were an “offer too good to turn down” arrive “suddenly”. No one expects the sudden offer too good to turn down! (Or are we?)Can Jackson impress Alonso at the World Cup? He might still be busy with all that by the time our preseason begins, but it’s not like there’s any shortage of tape for Alonso to review either way.Nicolas Jackson is expected to be back at Chelsea in pre-season. The 24-year-old is under contract until 2033 and one of the main issues with him was he lost the faith of former head coach Enzo Maresca. There is also Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Emmanuel Emegha as striking…— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) May 29, 2026

Arsenal made a proposal to initiate negotiations for Julian AlvarezArsenal made a proposal of over €100 million to initiate negotiations for Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez. The Gunners also offered a player to sweeten the deal.Arsenal are among the teams in the queue to sign Alvarez, who is expected to be on the move this summer.The North Londoners are already trying to bolster their squad ahead of next season, and Alvarez would be a replacement for Gabriel Jesus.Jesus should leave the Emirates Stadium after failing to shrug off the injuries that have plagued his past two campaigns.Alvarez would be a fantastic signing for the Gunners. He is an incredible fighter.The 26-year-old Argentine had a good 2025/26 season, bagging 20 goals and nine assists in 49 appearances across all competitions.However, Arsenal are not alone in the race for his signature, with Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona also pushing to sign him.It remains unclear who will land him at this point, with Atletico vehemently against Barcelona’s charm offensive.But the pursuit of Alvarez increasingly feels like a vanity exercise rather than a strategic necessity for Arsenal.His return of a measly eight La Liga goals this season raises legitimate questions about whether he represents an upgrade worthy of a nine-figure outlay.Arsenal would be better served by building around Victor Gyokeres as the focal point. His profile is better suited to the Premier League.The remaining attacking slot should go to a younger, emerging forward ready to develop in tandem with Kai Havertz, offering mobility, pressing intensity and long-term upside.Alvarez is an expensive luxury rather than an essential solution for Mikel Arteta’s side. Interest in the young Frenchman Junior Eli Kroupi makes more sense.He also knows the Premier League well after a fantastic debut campaign in which he bagged 13 goals.Kroupi is less expensive and just as ready to explode at the Emirates. He also has a very similar profile to Alvarez.

San Antonio Spurs (62-20, second in the Western Conference) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (64-18, first in the Western Conference)Oklahoma City; Saturday, 8 p.m. EDTLINE: Thunder -3.5; over/under is 212.5WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: Series tied 3-3BOTTOM LINE: The San Antonio Spurs visit the Oklahoma City Thunder in game seven of the Western Conference finals. The Spurs defeated the Thunder 118-91 in the last matchup on Friday. Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 28 points, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 15.The Thunder are 41-11 against Western Conference opponents. Oklahoma City ranks third in the league with 34.6 defensive rebounds per game led by Chet Holmgren averaging 7.0.The Spurs have gone 36-16 against Western Conference opponents. San Antonio is second in the Western Conference with 47.0 rebounds per game led by Wembanyama averaging 11.5.The Thunder's 13.8 made 3-pointers per game this season are only 0.8 more made shots on average than the 13.0 per game the Spurs give up. The Spurs are shooting 48.3% from the field, 4.6% higher than the 43.7% the Thunder's opponents have shot this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.1 points and 6.6 assists for the Thunder. Holmgren is averaging 15.1 points over the last 10 games.Stephon Castle is scoring 16.6 points per game and averaging 5.3 rebounds for the Spurs. Wembanyama is averaging 25.8 points and 11.1 rebounds over the last 10 games.LAST 10 GAMES: Thunder: 7-3, averaging 113.9 points, 41.2 rebounds, 26.2 assists, 10.6 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 46.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.3 points per game.Spurs: 6-4, averaging 116.7 points, 48.7 rebounds, 25.5 assists, 9.0 steals and 7.0 blocks per game while shooting 46.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.8 points.INJURIES: Thunder: Ajay Mitchell: out (calf), Jalen Williams: out (hamstring), Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee).Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle).___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Albion captain Maisie Symonds says the world is beginning to see the results of the team's work in training [Getty Images]A season to remember for Brighton & Hove Albion Women is coming to a dramatic end, one which could see them bring the FA Cup down to the seaside.Albion took care of Arsenal in the quarter finals, and a last-minute goal against Liverpool in the semis means they face Manchester City in the final at Wembley on Sunday.There is no doubt Albion go into the match as the underdogs, but they are also one of the few teams to have beaten City in the Women's Super League (WSL).Nadine Noorden, responsible for the winner against Liverpool, visited Wembley a decade ago as a fan. Now, she returns to play in an FA Cup final."I never thought about playing there; it wasn't really realistic, but wow," Noordam said."As a kid you dream of that moment. It's a good feeling. We all do this together, and if you're in a final, you want to win."Between the sticks will be Chiamaka Nnadozie, who has arguably been the best keeper this season in the WSL.Nnadozie, who last year won the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria, said: "It's not just a game; Wembley means everything. It's going to give that World Cup feeling. It's a big name, so it's going to be amazing playing there.Chiamaka Nnadozie joined Albion last summer [BBC]"At the end of the day, it's 11 versus 11, woman to woman. We're just going to do what we know how to do."Captain Maisie Symonds said the hard work the club has put in is "finally beginning to show to the world".She added: "It is an incredible group, and part of my relief after the Liverpool game is that we get to experience a day at Wembley together, the opportunity to win a trophy together, because that is exactly what the girls deserve.Symonds says the hard work the club has put in is "finally beginning to show to the world" [BBC]"The experience of Wembley is magical. It'll be my first time playing there. It's a dream for all of us. Hopefully, we'll bring some silverware back to Brighton."Paul Mullen, operations director for Brighton & Hove Albion, agreed."The women's team have been growing considerably over the last 10 years," he said."To be able to end the season with an FA Cup final appearance at Wembley, the first ever for our women's team, is going to be fantastic."Combine that with what the men have achieved, and it is going to be the most successful year in the club's history."You can watch a special live stream in the build-up to the match, from Wembley Way on Sunday. Head to the BBC Sussex Facebook page and bbc.co.uk/sussex from 13:00 BST.Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. More on this story Postal workers to FA Cup: a history of Albion WomenWhy Brighton's first Women's FA Cup final felt like it was coming'We've waited for a new stadium for a long time'

Real Madrid academy graduate’s return this summer is a ‘done deal’As of yesterday, Jose Mourinho has signed the paperwork naming him the next manager of Real Madrid, and all signs point to the announcement being made after Florentino Perez is re-elected as president.The Portuguese manager, needless to say, has already begun the planning and preparation for his project in the Spanish capital, and he unsurprisingly has a say in the moves Los Blancos are pushing for this summer.Nico Paz, on that front, is one player Mourinho is reportedly keen to work with and wants the club to bring back. After all, the player has grown tremendously in two seasons at Como and it is widely seen as the right time for him to return home.A done dealMourinho wants to work with Nico Paz. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)Earlier this week, there were reports that Paz prefers to stay one more season at Como and that he does not see a place for himself at Real Madrid yet. His future, thus, was suddenly uncertain once more.Now, however, Diario AS confirms that Paz to Real Madrid is a done deal for all practical purposes and that there is an agreement and understanding between all parties involved. In fact, the deal is so close to completion that the club’s official announcement may come as soon as the elections are complete. His future will thus be settled before the FIFA World Cup.Clause triggeredNico Paz will return to Real Madrid. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)As a product of their academy, Real Madrid had a strong hold on Paz’s future and ensured to maintain a buy-back clause for a couple of seasons.The deal, thus, will be officially triggered by Real Madrid activating their €9 million buyback clause to the Serie A side and automatically sealing his return home.Los Blancos struggled in midfield last season, especially in terms of lacking a controlling and creative presence. There is hope that Paz can help fill that void next season although he will not be the only midfield signing for the club. Names like Joao Neves and Rodri are also on the radar.

Had Alabama baseball's Johnny Lemm not left the Crimson Tide's win over Alabama State with an injury on Friday, May 29, coach Rob Vaughn may not have reconsidered the lack of a run-rule in the NCAA Tournament.Yet, Alabama was up 18-3 before Lemm led off the seventh inning. The catcher started the at-bat with a strike, but worked the count for three more balls and three fouls before disaster struck.Lemm flung his hand back as he made his way to first base after Hornets reliever Jacob Loeffl threw a pitch that grazed his finger.He remained in the game and eventually scored when Andrew Purdy flied out to right field. It wasn't long after, though, that his day on the diamond was done.Vaughn gave as much of an update as he could on the Australian roster member after the 21-3 win, and took a minute to mention that there's no rule in college baseball in NCAA Tournament play. He didn't advocate for it in the postseason, but he also didn't suggest that it would be the worst thing to happen in this era of college athletics.REQUIRED READING: The handwritten baseball tradition uniting Rob Vaughn and Alabama studentsLemm ultimately returned to the dugout in "good spirits," Vaughn said, anticipating an update from trainers by Saturday morning ahead of Alabama's game against USC Upstate."Obviously, he took the foul ball right off the finger, you know, so any time you do that, you're kind of holding your breath, and it's tough, man," Vaughn said.He wasn't asked about the NCAA Tournament being a run rule-free competition. Nonetheless, it came up."Like, the run rule is something most all teams play all year long, then we get to the postseason and don't play," Vaughn said.Immediately, he noted there were "pros" like younger players having the opportunity to take innings and get postseason experience."But in a 21-3 game, you hate a foul ball coming off a hand like that," Vaughn said.Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for The Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@usatodayco.com.This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama baseball injury in NCAA regional raises run rule debate

PREVIEW: PSG and Arsenal hoping for history in Champions League finalParis Saint-Germain will face Arsenal in Budapest tonight as the Parisians look to retain their Champions League title. Meanwhile, the Gunners will be hoping to lift their first UCL title in the club’s history. Both sides have already tasted success this season, having won their respective domestic leagues.There have not been many previous meetings between the two sides, but PSG did knock Arsenal out in the semi-final of this competition last season, on their way to the crown, winning 1-0 at the Emirates and 2-1 at the Parc des Princes in the return leg. However, you only have to go back as far as October 2024 to find the last time Arsenal beat PSG, a 2-0 win at home.Gunners gaffer Mikel Arteta confirmed that Jurrien Timber is back fit and in contention for this evening’s game. If he takes part, it will be the Dutchman’s first appearance since March 14th. Noni Madueke is also available, but Ben White will remain on the sidelines due to injury.Arteta went on to speak about how his side can use last year’s defeats to PSG to fuel the fire ahead of today. “We certainly use examples and things that we learned from those matches, and there is a lot to take from there. But it is true that we have evolved in a different way, and they have evolved in a different way. Their scenario is different as well. We took some learnings and things that we have to do better, and I am sure that will happen tomorrow.”Meanwhile, Luis Enrique stands on the verge of history at PSG; a win for his side today would see them join just eight other clubs who have retained club football’s crown jewels previously. Enrique himself has already won it twice; his prior success came at Barcelona in 2015.The Spaniard gave his thoughts ahead of the final, “We’ve spent time analysing an opponent that we know very well, we’ve played against them a few times. There are always things you can fine-tune, and that’s what we do in our sessions. Managing the final is always different, and you have to make the most of it.“Final’s always a difficult game. Last year was exceptional; we dominated against Inter. In the final tomorrow, I don’t think there’s a favourite, honestly. For us, the devil’s in the detail. We’ll have to give it our all for all 90 minutes, but always enjoy those 90 minutes.”This evening’s game will kick off at 5pm (UK time).

TimesofIndia.com in Mullanpur: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's remarkable IPL 2026 campaign may have ended with Rajasthan Royals falling short in Qualifier 2, but the conversation around the 15-year-old has only grown louder. After another composed knock under pressure in a high-stakes playoff, Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara delivered perhaps the strongest endorsement yet of the teenager's future, declaring that he is "more than ready" for any challenge, including an India call-up.The Rajasthan Royals opener amassed 776 runs in 16 innings at a blistering strike rate of 237.30, including one century and five fifties. Sooryavanshi's season has been one of the defining stories of the tournament. The and capped off his campaign with another mature innings when Rajasthan needed him most. At Mullanpur Stadium, where the pitch was double paced in the first innings, when wickets kept tumbling around him, the teenager resisted the pressure and guided his side to a competitive total. He scored a 47-ball 96 against the Gujarat Titans (GT), after scoring a 19-ball 97 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), a couple of days ago on the same venue. Sangakkara, who is Rajasthan Royals director of cricket as well as the head coach, was particularly impressed by the way Sooryavanshi handled the situation."I thought he batted brilliantly today. It was a much tougher batting innings with wickets falling around him and he held his nerve and really got us to a defendable total," Sangakkara said after the match.What continues to stand out, according to the former Sri Lanka captain, is not merely the teenager's shot-making ability but his understanding of the game."The guy, for 15-years-old, is very mature, he reads the game really well, he reads situations well and he's got no fear," Sangakkara said.The question naturally followed: is Sooryavanshi ready for India?Sangakkara's response left little room for doubt."You never know if anyone's ready until they play. And with everything Vaibhav's shown against some of the best bowlers in the world, I think he's more than ready to take on any challenge that you throw at him."— rajasthanroyals (@rajasthanroyals) The Royals coach went a step further and predicted that national recognition may not be far away."I'm sure that he'll get that call-up very, very soon," he said.The praise was not limited to Sooryavanshi's runs. Sangakkara highlighted the responsibility the youngster has carried throughout the season, particularly at the top of the order."He's batted with a lot of maturity. He has shouldered the responsibility of that opening partnership so well for us this season."With expectations around the teenager continuing to soar, Rajasthan Royals are already planning carefully for his development during the off-season. Sangakkara revealed that the franchise will create an individual programme for Sooryavanshi, covering fitness, skill development and workload management.Like every player in the squad, the teenager will have a customised roadmap prepared in consultation with the Royals' medical and coaching staff."We'll sit down with our medical team and go through what he might need and then support him. We'll run our camps, he'll have enough practice opportunities with us. So we'll be keeping a very close eye, not just on Vaibhav, but all our players," Sangakkara said.Managing a prodigious talent, however, extends beyond batting drills and fitness sessions. In the age of social media, every innings, every failure and every success is amplified. Sangakkara said the franchise is conscious of protecting Sooryavanshi from unnecessary distractions."We don't clutter his mind too much. He comes to all our team meetings, he contributes, he listens and he does a lot of homework. He practises well and he reads bowlers well."The former Sri Lankan captain stressed that maintaining a clear mind is critical for a young player whose greatest strength remains his fearless approach."We don't want to put any unnecessary thoughts into his head. A clear mind, batting with that courage, is exactly what we want to see of him."For Sangakkara, coaching a 15-year-old is ultimately no different from coaching any elite cricketer. The focus remains on understanding the individual rather than overwhelming them with information."Overloading people with information is never good. So we keep things pretty simple when we can," he said.If Sooryavanshi's IPL campaign proved anything, it is that simplicity, clarity and fearlessness can take a player a very long way. And if Sangakkara's assessment is accurate, the next stop could well be the Indian dressing room in Ireland.

Marcel Desailly urges Xabi Alonso to sign player who can “bring something special into the system”Chelsea legend Marcel Desailly has urged Xabi Alonso to make a move for former Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez.DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CHELSEA NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON THE APP STOREThe Blues appointed Alonso earlier this month, with the Spaniard signing a four year contract at Stamford Bridge.Alonso has been given the title of manager unlike Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior, and it’s been reported he’ll have a say in transfers.Marcel Desailly urges Xabi Alonso to sign Darwin NunezChelsea face a critical summer after a disappointing season which saw them finish tenth and fail to qualify for any European football.The Blues are said to be in the market for a centre back, whilst it’s thought they want to add another midfielder and attacker.Co-owner Behdad Eghbali has said the recruitment model will be tweaked this summer, and Chelsea are reportedly prepared to target players who are Premier League ready.The Blues have been linked with Morgan Rogers, and now Desailly has urged Alonso to sign Al-Hilal striker Nunez.“I also love Darwin Nunez,” he told Football Transfers.“Yeah, he’s not that experienced yet, but I feel that at Chelsea he can perform. He can bring something special into the system.“If he plays by himself up front, he can really be a great point of reference in a Xabi Alonso system.”Nunez is expected to leave Al-Hilal this summer after being dropped from their Saudi Pro League squad in January to make room for Karim Benzema.The 26-year-old ended the season with nine goals and five assists in 24 appearances in all competitions for the Saudi club.If you enjoy Chelsea News coverage and want to see more of it, add us as a preferred source on Google to make us a favourite and see more of our content.In other news…Manchester City are reportedly interested in Marc Cucurella, with the Spaniard facing an uncertain future at Stamford Bridge.More Stories / Latest NewsMarcel Desailly urges Xabi Alonso to sign player who can “bring something special into the system” 30th May 2026, 07:15amMail Sport detail scenario in which Nicolas Jackson would be prepared to stay at Chelsea 30th May 2026, 06:45amChelsea’s tricky goalkeeping situation gets more complex as Robert Sanchez makes his demands 29th May 2026, 03:15pmBarcelona and Atletico Madrid are also said to be interested in Cucurella, who has two years left on his deal, and has made no secret he’d be open to a return to Spain.Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:

League winners now seriously exploring deal for 69-app Man Utd man after being informed of his price tag by INEOSGalatasaray are ramping up their pursuit of Manchester United’s Manuel Ugarte, according to Turkish outlet Aksam.The Super Lig giants have reportedly been informed by INEOS that it would take £24.2 million to agree a deal, meaning they stand to take a direct £17.8m loss on the £42m they paid for him back in August 2024.DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL STRETTY NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES & BREAKING NEWS – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAYManuel Ugarte: The state of playGalatasaray first established their interest in Ugarte back in January, but nothing materialised due to United being unwilling to facilitate a mid-season sale.The Reds have had their sights on a summer exit for their out-of-favour midfielder, however, so they will be keen to agree terms this time around.Otherwise, it’s thought Ugarte may have to stay put at Old Trafford for the beginning of 2026/2027 if no other suitors can be found.How Ugarte has fared in the lead-up to his expected United departureIt’s safe to say that the 25-year-old has endured a sizeable drop-off in form from his maiden to his sophomore campaign.Of the 29 Premier League appearances Ugarte made last term, 22 came from the off, and he totalled 1,792 minutes of action.In comparison, he was granted 22 appearances across the entirety of 2025/2026, with just eight being as a starter.Under Michael Carrick, the only time he made the starting XI was when Kobbie Mainoo had sustained an injury for the visit of Leeds United.Ugarte oversaw a particularly dismal display as United slumped to a 2-1 defeat, and it would go on to mark his final appearance of the campaign; the Uruguayan was an unused substitute for five games following that outing.Alas, it goes without saying that a move in the coming months will suit all parties. More Stories / Latest NewsLeague winners now seriously exploring deal for 69-app Man Utd man after being informed of his price tag by INEOS May 30 2026, 7:00MEN: Bayern Munich could now make shock approach for in-form Man Utd man after missing out on Anthony Gordon May 30 2026, 6:15“He’s really good” – Whitwell confirms Man Utd want £50m star as EPL rivals are ‘forced’ to sell May 29 2026, 17:45

A much-maligned Manchester City midfielder is linked with a move to SpainTijjani Reijnders endured a frustrating debut season for Manchester City. At first glance, Reijnders’ stats of 7 goals and 8 assists in 47 appearances in all competitions are acceptable for a midfielder. However, too often, Reijnders drifted completely out of games, and that was disappointing to see from the Dutch international. A new report indicates that Atletico Madrid has an interest in potentially signing Tijjani Reijnders this summer. Atletico’s reported interest does pose a question: Should Manchester City sell Tijjani Reijnders this summer? There are both pros and cons to that idea.Atletico Madrid have shown interest in signing Tijjani Reijnders this summer.Simon Jones has reported for the Daily Mail that Atletico Madrid have shown interest in signing Tijjani Reijnders this summer. Furthermore, Jones reports that Atletico Madrid wants to check if the possibility exists of them signing the Dutch international. Reijnders joined Manchester City from AC Milan last summer for a transfer fee of £46.5 million. It is also reported by Jones that Manchester City’s next manager, Enzo Maresca, is assessing the City squad, so it remains unclear if City will be willing to sell Reijnders this summer.There is a case both for and against Manchester City selling Tijjani Reijnders this summer.Throughout the 2025-26 season, Tijjani Reijnders became a frustrating figure in the Manchester City squad. Too often, Reijnders drifted completely out of games. He often seemed to be struggling to deal with the physicality and pace of the Premier League. Also, given how winning duels in midfield has become vital in the Premier League, Reijnders struggled in this area of the game. However, last season was Reijnders’ first in the Premier League. He should be better for the experience next season.In terms of why Manchester City should keep Tijjani Reijnders, goal-scoring midfielders are hard to find. The ability of Reijnders to arrive late in the box and be a goal threat is one that City do need. Especially, when City are faced with teams who employ a low defensive block. Also, Reijnders can pick open an opposing defence with a pass and that is a skill that City do need. The best attributes of Reijnders game do suit City’s style of play, he just needs to display them consistently.However, the flaws in Reijnders’ game did see him struggle in the Premier League last season. They were mentioned above. Also, is Reijnders good enough to claim a starting role at City next season? Competition will come in a creative midfielder role for Reijnders from Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden. Also, City are in the market for a midfielder, or possibly two, this summer. Depending on who Manchester City sign this summer, Tijjani Reijnders may fall further down the pecking order at City. If this occurs, perhaps Reijnders will be surplus to requirements. That may only change if Reijnders takes a massive leap forward after a trying and frustrating debut season for Manchester City.Final thoughts.It isn’t a surprise to learn that Tijjani Reijnders is attracting interest from a club like Atletico Madrid ahead of the summer transfer window. Reijnders can be a quality midfielder on his day. It remains to be seen what Manchester City will do with Reijnders. There is value in City keeping him, as well as selling him. Tijjani Reijnders’ future at Manchester City may well be dictated by how Manchester City’s summer transfer window unfolds to find out where he sits in the landscape of City’s squad for next season.

Mo Salah wanted for jaw-dropping €90m contract dealMohamed Salah has played his final game for Liverpool. The Egyptian King has drawn the curtain on a glorious nine-year spell on Merseyside. Salah - a two-time African footballer of the year - has swept the board of team and individual honours throughout his time at Anfield.He spearheaded two Premier League title wins - as well as the Champions League - and has landed various other domestic and international honours besides.But owing to a fallout with Arne Slot the 33-year-old has reached an agreement to rip up his £400k per week contract one year early.Salah therefore remains in total control of his future with teams in MLS as well as the Saudi Pro League keen on landing his signature.Fenerbahce want €90m Salah dealWe are led to believe however that the Egypt legend is intent on remaining in Europe and competing at the highest level.And he may well have an offer from Fenerbahce in Turkey - with talks reportedly taking place between Salah and the Istanbul giants.Fenerbahce are in the midst of a presidential showdown - with candidate Aziz Yildirim spelling out just how much it would take to land Salah."Salah reportedly wants a salary of €20 million,” he told state broadcaster TRT Spor.“With taxes, that rises to €30 million. He would want a three-year contract, which means a total cost of €90 million.“If that is our urgent need, we will sign him."Salah not finished at the top levelSaudi sides like Al-Qadsiah and Al-Ittihad have been noted as potential Salah suitors in the SPL.And in MLS San Diego FC would love to have Salah on board - although it is clear that teams in the US could not pay Salah as much as he could earn in Saudi Arabia.But there may be sporting considerations to take into account - with Salah in the mindset of having plenty of miles left in his tank.Liverpool fans will rue the day they lost their much-adored attacker and that a place could not be carved out for him in Arne Slot’s system.Instead he had to bid an emotional farewell to Anfield - and he will earn the acclaim from another set of fans next season instead.

During the IPL 2026 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi back in December 2025, every franchise walked out believing it had cracked the tournament before a ball had even been bowled.Cameron Green became the most expensive overseas player in IPL history after Kolkata Knight Riders splashed Rs 25.20 crore on him, banking on a genuine all-round cricketer who could anchor the batting and chip in with the ball. KKR later doubled down on the pace-and-firepower route by bringing in Matheesha Pathirana for Rs 18 crore.Then came Chennai Super Kings, shattering the uncapped-player ceiling not once, but twice, splashing Rs 14.20 crore each on Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer.Sunrisers Hyderabad went after explosiveness by securing Liam Livingstone for Rs 13 crore, while other franchises continued chasing high-ceiling overseas stars, specialist roles and Impact Player flexibility.Five months later, the league table, and more importantly, the numbers are telling a very different story.KKR, despite the blockbuster spending, finished seventh. CSK ended eighth. Some of the biggest buys of the season barely played, some never settled, while a few simply could not justify the price tags attached to them.And while franchises were busy chasing auction-night headlines, the biggest takeaway from the auction may not be who performed best. It is how little value the group delivered collectively.According to a TOI Data Desk model that converts on-field output into rupee-equivalent value, franchises spent Rs 122.80 crore on the ten most expensive buys from the IPL 2026 mini-auction. The estimated value returned by those players? Rs 55.32 crore.In simple terms, the group delivered less than half of what franchises paid for them.Only two players generated a positive return: Jason Holder and Josh Inglis.Jason Holder: The only clear winnerFor all the attention around the biggest bids, the smartest buy of the auction cost Gujarat Titans just Rs 7 crore. Holder, who initially spent time on the sidelines before forcing his way into GT's plans, ended the league stage with 13 wickets in eight matches at an economy of 7.34.Read those numbers in the context of the league average economy rate of 10.26, and Holder's season becomes even more impressive.In a year when bowlers spent most evenings trying to survive, Holder consistently controlled games. He gave GT flexibility. He bowled difficult overs. He chipped away at partnerships. He became the kind of player every franchise wants but rarely manages to find.Using a league-wide value model, Holder generated an estimated Rs 11.98 crore worth of on-field value for GT against a Rs 7 crore investment. That translated to a net gain of Rs 4.98 crore and a multiplier of 1.71x - comfortably the best return among the top 10 buys.The only other player to generate a positive return was Inglis. And that might frustrate Lucknow Super Giants supporters even more. Available only for the final stretch of the season, Inglis arrived late and immediately looked like the missing piece LSG had spent two months searching for.In just five matches, he produced 262 runs and generated Rs 9.01 crore worth of value from an Rs 8.60 crore investment. The margin was slim - a net gain of Rs 0.41 crore - but he still finished on the right side of the ledger.He reeled of scores of 13, 85, 36, 60 and 72 with high impact strike-rate. Had Inglis been available from the start, it is difficult not to wonder how different LSG's campaign might have looked.Cameron Green: The Rs 25 crore paradoxPerhaps the most fascinating player in the study is Green. Because depending on how you look at the numbers, he was both a success and a disappointment. Green produced the highest absolute output among all ten players.His 322 runs and seven wickets translated into an estimated Rs 12.71 crore worth of value - more than any other player in the group.The problem was the contract. KKR paid Rs 25.20 crore. That left Green with a net deficit of Rs 12.49 crore - the single largest negative number in the entire study.That does not mean Green failed. Far from it. In fact, he was the only genuine dual-discipline contributor among the top 10 buys. But mega-money signings are never judged in isolation. They are judged against expectation.Add to that the fact that Green was not cleared to bowl at the start of the tournament, impacting KKR's balance, and his season becomes one of the most intriguing ‘what if’ stories of IPL 2026.The smart middle-tier buysThe players who came closest to justifying their price tags largely came from the Rs 7-9 crore bracket. Holder topped the list, Inglis followed. Ravi Bishnoi narrowly missed breaking even, delivering Rs 6.63 crore worth of value against a Rs 7.20 crore fee. Venkatesh Iyer was next.Bought by RCB for Rs 7 crore and used sparingly, Iyer still generated Rs 5.23 crore worth of value despite playing only four innings. His unbeaten 73 off 40 against Punjab Kings in Dharamsala became one of RCB's most important knocks of the season.Interestingly, the four best-performing contracts in the study all sat below the Rs 9 crore mark.Did the uncapped Indian gambles pay off?When CSK spent Rs 14.20 crore each on Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer, it felt like a statement. Secure young Indian players before prices rise even further. Unfortunately for CSK, the returns were mixed.Sharma, to an extent, justified much of the hype. His 295 runs translated into Rs 7.51 crore worth of value. But even then, the franchise still ended up with a net deficit of Rs 6.69 crore on the contract.The same cannot be said about Veer. Limited by injuries and opportunities, he generated just Rs 2.25 crore worth of value from a Rs 14.20 crore investment. Together, the duo cost CSK Rs 28.40 crore and returned less than Rs 10 crore worth of value.Rs 39.4 crore for almost nothingThen there are the contracts that became cautionary tales. Pathirana, Livingstone and Dar combined cost Rs 39.40 crore. However, their combined value return was effectively zero.Pathirana played one match before injury struck. Livingstone managed just two appearances. Auqib Nabi Dar never crossed the sample threshold required to generate measurable value. Availability issues, injuries and team selection decisions all played a role.And maybe that is the biggest takeaway from IPL 2026’s auction story. For all the noise around mega bids and headline buys, the smartest signings of the season did not necessarily come from the biggest price tags.Instead, they came from the middle tier: players bought with a clear purpose and used exactly that way.Holder became GT’s problem-solver with the ball. Bishnoi quietly delivered consistent returns throughout the season. Inglis and Iyer maximised their limited opportunities.On the other hand, several marquee spends - not helped by injuries, role mismatches, poor form, and team balance - essentially turned into non-factors within weeks.How we measured value: The methodology behind IPL 2026's top auction buysWe analysed ball-by-ball data from all 70 IPL 2026 league-stage matches (through May 24), sourced from Cricsheet, for the ten most expensive buys at the December 2025 mini-auction. Mustafizur Rahman was excluded after being released by KKR, with Venkatesh Iyer replacing him as the next-highest mini-auction buy.For each player, we computed Value Points (VP) by combining batting and bowling contributions. To convert those Value Points into rupee-equivalent value, we calculated a league-wide exchange rate by dividing the total IPL salary commitment by the total Value Points generated by all 165 qualifying IPL 2026 players. Each player's ‘Rupee Value Delivered’ was calculated by multiplying their Value Points by this exchange rate. Net return represents Rupee Value Delivered minus auction price, while multiplier represents Value Delivered divided by Price Paid.

FEATURE | How Mikel Arteta’s PSG stint set him on course for greatness at Arsenal“On Saturday, we are going to be the champions of Europe,” Mikel Arteta proclaimed in a private exchange celebrating Arsenal’s Premier League win. Why wouldn’t belief be running through the veins of the manager who ended the club’s 22-year wait for the title? Even if they will be coming up against reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain. The Premier League trophy has ensured Arteta’s place in the club’s pantheon of managerial greats, but winning their first-ever UEFA Champions League would set him apart. Other Arsenal managers have won the league, but none other than Arsène Wenger has ever come close to touching the Holy Grail. At the back of his mind, perhaps Arteta is thinking that there is a beautiful symmetry to Saturday’s opponents being PSG. It’s a personal twist of fate that standing in the way of what could be his crowning moment as a manager is the club that kick-started his playing career, the team that represented the very first steps in a long and often torturous journey that took him to where he is today. When Paris came callingThe then 18-year-old Arteta arrived at PSG on a one-and-a-half-year loan from the Barcelona B team midway through the 2000/01 season. A graduate of Barcelona’s prestigious academy, La Masia, his pathway into the first team was blocked by the likes of Pep Guardiola, Emmanuel Petit, Xavi Hernández, and, funnily enough, current PSG manager Luis Enrique. Without any hope of breaking into a star-studded midfield, opportunity knocked in the form of a call from Luis Fernandez. The PSG manager was in his second stint in charge of the club and was a long-term admirer of Arteta’s talents. Prior to returning to Les Parisiens in 2000, Fernandez had taken the reins at Athletic Bilbao, where he had unsuccessfully tried to sign Arteta. In an interview with TNT Sports, Arteta revealed what Fernandez told him to convince him to move to Paris: “I fully trust you. I know you’re very young, but I think you’re going to glide into this team in a great way. And believe me, you have my word, you are going to play games.” It was a promise that the manager stuck to. Arteta was handed his debut in the 4-0 Coupe de France defeat to AJ Auxerre on the 9th of February, and then five days later, he was in the starting line-up for the trip to face AC Milan in the Champions League. A glittering glass jawAt PSG, Arteta was immediately surrounded by the likes of Mauricio Pochettino, Jay-Jay Okocha, and Nicolas Anelka. A few months later, Gabriel Heinze would arrive on the banks of the Seine, accompanied by a fresh-faced Ronaldinho, ready for his first taste of European football. And it was here in his formative experiences in the professional game that Arteta received a crash course in the art of doing the dirty work. As he told the press last season, ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final exit to PSG, “I had to do all the defending because I had Ronaldinho and Okocha in front of me. Imagine! It was super, almost unreal. It was a dream for me. I was so blessed, and I had so much energy at that time. I couldn’t waste that opportunity.”A sentiment that was not, but perhaps should have been, the doctrine of the team, because it’s hard not to look at that PSG squad and think of wasted opportunities. There was so much talent in the squad, but dysfunction coursed throughout it, no less so than between Fernandez and Ronaldinho, where there was a widely reported rift between the two (albeit this is something Fernandez has routinely denied). Regardless, the result was that, for all of PSG’s talent, they were a team that fell flat across Arteta’s year and a half, winning solely the UEFA Intertoto Cup; a team that glittered with a glass jaw. And one that could not bring back the success of the 1990s, where they won the league, three Coupe de France’s, two Coupe de Ligue’s, and the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup. The long shadows of the City of LightAt the end of his loan, Arteta wanted to remain in the French capital. The feeling was mutual, with Fernandez keen to keep him. However, an agreement with Barcelona couldn’t be reached, and instead, the young Spaniard would begin his long association with British football by moving to Rangers. But the City of Lights cast a long shadow over his career. Talking of his time in Paris, Arteta has said, “It was an experience that will stay with me forever, with teammates who helped and shaped who I wanted to be as a player, and ignited something in me to become a manager in the future.” And maybe, when he succeeded Unai Emery in 2019 as Arsenal manager, he saw shades of the PSG side he joined as a teenager reflected in The Gunners. A team chasing the memories of their golden era, of egos and dysfunction, and of a glittering glass jaw. As a young player, he was not able to (or expected to) steer PSG in the right direction, but as a manager, he has been able to plot a path that has made Arsenal, once more, one of the dominant forces in English football. He’s rid the side of individualism and selfishness and installed in them a love of defensive diligence. When Arsenal now play, the star is the team, even if the team is full of stars in their own right. Mikel Arteta: a player and manager transformed“Luiz [Fernandez] did it,” Arteta told TNT Sport. “The manager did it. I think there was a moment where I recognised the power of the manager and the power of feeling somebody is convinced by your ability.” The unerring belief that was shown to him by Fernandez when he was a young player is the same one he now shows as a manager. It is the same recognition he gives to his players and to the supporters. And it is the same confidence that led him to proclaim, “On Saturday, we are going to be the champions of Europe.” GFFN | Nick Hartland

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Justin Wrobleski (70) throws against the Philadelphia Phillies during the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium. LOS ANGELES — Justin Wrobleski walked off the mound Friday night after delivering the best start of his young major league career, but his mind wasn't focused on the seven dominant innings he had just thrown.It was fixed on one pitch.After carrying a no-hitter into the sixth inning against one of baseball's most dangerous lineups, Wrobleski watched Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber crush a 95-mph fastball 411 feet over the head of center fielder Andy Pages, ending both the no-hit bid and the shutout.Kyle Schwarber hits HR number 22💥(via @MLB )pic.twitter.com/2NkUpo6DOU— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 30, 2026The Dodgers left-hander wasn't interested in celebrating what had otherwise been a masterpiece."I knew. I was pissed when I gave up that hit, it sucks," Wrobleski said. "It's frustrating to give up a homer right there as the first hit of the game."That reaction said everything about where Wrobleski is in his development.Seven innings. One hit. One run. No walks. Nine strikeouts. 88 pitches.And he was still angry."Whatever," Wrobleski said. "I'm going to look back and be mad about that but at the same time I'm happy with the outing. He put a good swing on it."The homer may have spoiled the no-hit dream, but it didn't diminish what Wrobleski accomplished Friday night in the Dodgers' 4-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies before a crowd of 50,834 at Dodger Stadium.Facing one of the National League's hottest clubs, Wrobleski attacked relentlessly from the first pitch. He retired hitters efficiently, pounded the strike zone and generated swings and misses at a rate he hadn't shown all season.The only baserunner through five innings came in the fourth when a dropped fly ball in right field by Kyle Tucker to reach. Otherwise, the Phillies had no answers.Even after Schwarber's blast, Wrobleski never lost his composure.Perhaps fittingly, Schwarber was the one player capable of ruining the evening.Wrobleski knew it immediately."I looked at him and that's how I know if he got it or not," Wrobleski said. "You kinda look at their reaction and I knew he got it. I've seen it a thousand times, I grew up a Cubs fan. I've seen him do that a lot."The home run was the lone blemish against Wrobleski, who improved to 7-2 and lowered his ERA to 2.87, placing him among the National League leaders.More importantly, it represented a dramatic turnaround from a pitcher who had surrendered 14 runs across his previous three starts.Dave Roberts noticed one significant difference."I thought tonight, the biggest thing was the velocity," Roberts said. "The slider was good. Those guys had to honor it."Roberts later added that the increased velocity gave Wrobleski a larger margin for error and allowed him to maximize both his secondary pitches and the defense behind him.Wrobleski agreed something felt different."Just something clicked for me," he said. "I felt good. I feel like my mechanics are in a good spot."The results were impossible to ignore.Wrobleski established a career high with nine strikeouts and consistently overpowered a Phillies lineup that entered the series as one of the most dangerous offensive groups in baseball.While Wrobleski authored the headline performance, the Dodgers offense supplied all the support he needed by turning Zack Wheeler's night into an unexpected Home Run Derby.Freddie Freeman opened the scoring with an opposite-field blast in the first inning, the 375th home run of his career. Max Muncy followed with a towering fly ball in the second inning, his 13th homer of the season and 222nd as a Dodger.Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) hits a home run against the Philadelphia Phillies in the third inning at Dodger Stadium. Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn ImagesLos Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) hits a home run against the Philadelphia Phillies in the third inning at Dodger Stadium.Shohei Ohtani joined the party in the third with his 10th homer, and Will Smith capped the barrage with a fifth-inning shot that made it four solo home runs against Wheeler.It marked just the second time in Wheeler's career that he had surrendered four home runs in a game."Tonight, we had four really good swings and had a great pitching performance by Wrobo and that's all we needed," Roberts said.The game tightened after Wrobleski exited with a 4-1 lead.Edgardo Henriquez allowed a double to Brandon Marsh and an RBI single by Steward Berroa in the eighth inning, cutting the lead to 4-2 and bringing the tying run to the plate.That set the stage for perhaps the most electric moment of the night.With two outs and Berroa on first, Roberts brought in Alex Vesia on his bobblehead night to face Schwarber, who already had one thunderous swing to his credit.This time, Vesia won.ベシア シュワーバーを空振り三振🔥Alex Vesia #Dodgers 🎥:©AppleTV pic.twitter.com/zgRNQZHJqr— 【MLB速報】放送地区【大谷速報】 (@MLB_comment) May 30, 2026He elevated a slider away and got Schwarber to swing through it for a strikeout, sending Dodger Stadium into a frenzy. Vesia stormed off the mound with the same fiery energy captured in the bobblehead being handed out throughout the ballpark.It was the defining bullpen moment of the game. The Phillies' best hitter represented the tying run. Vesia never gave him a chance.The Dodgers closed out their sixth consecutive victory and improved to 37-20, continuing one of their strongest stretches of the season. They have now won 13 of their last 15 games and extended their National League West lead to 4½ games over San Diego and 5½ over Arizona."I think there's more intent," Roberts said when asked about the club's recent surge. "We hit four homers tonight. We didn't put a lot of hits together but I still thought that we were still on the aggressive side of things offensively."That aggression has fueled the offense.The no-hitter disappeared with one swing. The frustration lingered afterward. Against one of baseball's best teams, Wrobleski looked every bit like a pitcher emerging into a frontline role.And if his reaction to a one-hit, nine-strikeout performance is any indication, he's only scratching the surface.

What channel is Texas Tech vs. Tennessee softball on today? Time, TV schedule, live stream to watch WCWS game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The winners' bracket is looking to be a doozy at the Women's College World Series — Texas Tech and Tennessee will go head-to-head Saturday.Despite falling just short of a national championship last year, No. 11 Texas Tech is back with a vengeance. Behind ace pitcher NiJaree Canady, the Red Raiders took down Mississippi State Thursday in a decisive run-rule win, 8-0. They'll now face a more equally matched squad in Tennessee.The seventh-seeded Vols bumped the defending champion Longhorns into the losers' bracket Thursday night. With the help of a three-run homer from Elsa Morrison and a sharp finish on the mound by Karlyn Pickens, Tennessee breezed by Texas 6-3.Who can keep the momentum rolling this weekend?Here's everything you need to know about Texas Tech vs. Tennessee softball, including TV channel and streaming options for the WCWS game.What channel is Texas Tech vs. Tennessee softball on today?TV channel: ABCLive streams:fubo, ESPN appThe Women's College World Series matchup between Texas Tech and Tennessee will be broadcast on ABC with Beth Mowins, Michele Smith, Jessica Mendoza and Holly Rowe on the call.Fans can stream the game via the ESPN app or fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)Texas Tech vs. Tennessee softball start timeDate: Saturday, May 30Time: 3 p.m. ET | 2 p.m. CTTexas Tech and Tennessee will face off on Saturday, May 30 at 3 p.m. ET. The game will be played at OGE Energy Field at Devon Park in Oklahoma City.Women's College World Series schedule, scores 2026Thursday, May 28GameTime (ET)WatchGame 1: Texas Tech 8, Mississippi State 0 (5 inn.)——Game 2: Tennessee 6, Texas 3——Game 3: Alabama 6, UCLA 3——Game 4: Nebraska 5, Arkansas 3 (10 inn.)——Friday, May 29GameTime (ET)WatchGame 5: Texas vs. Mississippi State7 p.m.ESPN2, ESPN app, fuboGame 6: Arkansas vs. UCLA9:30 p.m.ESPN2, ESPN app, fuboSaturday, May 30GameTime (ET)WatchGame 7: Texas Tech vs. Tennessee3 p.m.ABC, ESPN app, fuboGame 8: Alabama vs. Nebraska7 p.m.ESPN, ESPN app, fuboSunday, May 31GameTime (ET)WatchGame 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 8 loser3 p.m.ABC, ESPN app, fuboGame 10: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 loser7 p.m.ESPN2, ESPN app, fuboMonday, June 1GameTime (ET)WatchGame 11: Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 winner12 p.m.ESPN, ESPN app, fuboGame 12: Game 11 rematch*2:30 p.m.ESPN, ESPN app, fuboGame 13: Game 8 winner vs. Game 10 winner7 p.m.ESPN2, ESPN app, fuboGame 14: Game 13 rematch*9:30 p.m.ESPN2, ESPN app, fubo* If necessaryWomen's College World Series finals schedule 2026DateGameTime (ET)TVWednesday, June 3Game 18 p.m.ESPN, ESPN app, fuboThursday, June 4Game 28 p.m.ESPN, ESPN app, fuboFriday, June 5Game 3*8 p.m.ESPN, ESPN app, fubo* If necessary

[Getty Images]During a wide-ranging interview, Arsenal co-chairman Josh Kroenke has reflected on his relationship with manager Mikel Arteta and how the club picked him.Giving a manager their first senior job in football is always a risk, but Kroenke says Arteta's character made it clear that he was the right candidate to succeed Unai Emery in December 2019."Anybody that gets a chance to be around Mikel, you can buy into what he's selling pretty easily," Kroenke said."So I don't want to give myself or my father [Stan Kroenke, founder and chairman of KSE and co-chair of Arsenal] any credit."I think Mikel and his staff and our players are the ones that earned those rights to have the patience in those moments by the amount of work and energy they were putting in behind the scenes."Arteta won the 2020 FA Cup but finished eighth in a league affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, which meant games were played behind closed doors."I don't know if I would ever acknowledge it, or Mikel or anybody - there was something about Mikel having a little bit of what I would say 'space' during Covid when there weren't fans around." Kroenke said."There were some growing pains that went on during matches, different moments, and obviously we won the FA Cup, but to not have that extra pressure of fans being on top of you at different points in time when we were going through different growth phases was probably something I don't think any of us would acknowledge in the moment."But, looking back I think we can say 'maybe that was a little bit of a benefit'."Read the full article here

[Getty Images]Defender Adam Webster will leave Brighton when his contract expires next month after seven years and 158 appearances.The 31-year-old defender joined the Seagulls in 2019 from Bristol City and was part of the side that earned the club its highest league finish when they came sixth in 2023 and qualified for the Europa League.Webster suffered a knee injury during pre-season in summer 2025 and did not feature in his final campaign."I will never forget what you did for us, especially last season in a tough period," said Albion boss Fabian Hurzeler."You stepped up as a great leader. You stepped up as a great person. You really showed our principles on the pitch and beside the pitch."You have a great positivity in your character, and that always makes a team run, makes a team work hard and makes a team successful."Brighton say Webster will continue his rehabilitation with the club's medical staff over the summer."You will come back stronger. Rehab feels lonely sometimes, but I want you to know that you should never feel lonely," added Hurzeler."You have so many people here in Brighton - in the team, players and staff - who will be there for you, who will support you even when you're not here any more."I always said to you that good things will come to good people, and you are a great person, so great things will come to you. All the best for your future. Stay strong, and we will see each other on the pitch."

Maya Le Tissier: Man United captain reveals what team thinks of World SevensManchester United Women captain Maya Le Tissier expressed her joy at playing in the World Sevens.World SevensThe women’s team endured a difficult end to the season, managing only one win in their final 10 matches.Nonetheless, they are clearly enjoying the World Sevens format, having finished day two with three wins from three and topping the group. They will now face Everton for a place in the final later today at 12:00 BST.Le Tissier’s thoughtsSpeaking to the club’s site after her side’s 8-2 demolition of Tottenham Hotspur, Le Tissier claimed, “yeah, it was great. We had a lot of fun out there. I think, was it eight goals? Maybe eight goals. So yeah, we love playing this tournament. It’s a lot of fun and we just want to have fun out there, and I think you can see that as well with our performances.”Commenting on her stunning header which marked United’s seventh goal of the match, she said, “I wanted to score against Tottenham Hotspur. I had about four chances, so yeah, I could have put one of them away. But yeah, Jess (Park) just put it in the box and I just headed it in. I don’t know.”The interviewer praised the energy and positivity of the crowd in Brentford, and Le Tissier agreed.When asked to comment on how much energy the crowd give the team, she explained, “yeah, massive. I think literally most of the crowd is United. They’re everywhere, and they always are everywhere. So yeah, we really appreciate their support. Obviously, it’s been a long season with a lot of games, so for them to have some fun here and for us to have some fun here as well to finish the season off, it’s great. So yeah, we’re very happy that they’re here with us.”Le Tissier then reflected on this tournament as a rare opportunity to enjoy professional football without pressure.She explained, “I wish football was like this generally. It’s so fun, and when there’s no pressure and we don’t really care if we win or lose, we just want to have fun. Maybe the secret code is just to enjoy it. So yeah, it’s great.”Looking ahead to tomorrow’s semi-final and potentially the final, Le Tissier said her team did not really know what to expect.When asked about any specific preparation her team would undertake, she explained, “we don’t talk about anything about on the pitch, so I don’t know, to be honest. Hopefully the same as today. I don’t know what we did, but it worked. And then off the pitch, we’ll have to come up with another little walkout. We’ll try and make it a bit more dangerous than the last one, and I think that’s a good thing to go with.”Maya Le Tissier WSL season statsSource: Fotmob.comFeature image Molly Darlington via Getty Imagesonline pollsThe Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Alphonso Davies made 23 appearances this season [Getty Images]Head coach Jesse Marsch has included Bayern Munich defender Alphonso Davies in what he described the best 26-man squad "ever assembled" by co-hosts Canada for this summer's World Cup.Davies, 25, was deemed sufficiently fit for inclusion despite recovering from a hamstring injury, while Juventus forward Jonathan David also makes the cut.Porto midfielder Stephen Eustaquio, Villarreal's Tajon Buchanan and Tani Oluwaseyi, and Southampton forward Cyle Larin are all included."We have really our best group of 26 players that this country has ever assembled at any one time," said Marsch."Are all of them right now at full 100%? No, but they're close," he added, signalling frustration at the repeated questions from media about players' injuries."Davies faces a race against time to be fit for Canada's opening game against Bosnia and Herzegovina on 12 June after being injured in Bayern Munich's Champions League semi-final defeat by Paris St-Germain.That followed a series of muscle injuries after his return from an eight-month absence with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear suffered in October."We've had a pretty good idea of who our core group is for a while. The real X factor in all these decisions was to determine... which players are gonna be healthy, and who could we project to be really close to 100% and in the best form of their life," added Marsch."Luckily, we are on track with a lot of guys. Will everyone be 100% for the Bosnia match? No, that won't be the case. But we will have a really strong core that will be ready for that match, and we believe we can get stronger as the tournament goes on."As one of three co-hosts, Canada, who are yet to win a World Cup game, will play all three group games on home soil.Games against Qatar and Switzerland in Vancouver follow their World Cup opener in Toronto.The expanded 48-team competition in Canada, the US and Mexico runs from 11 June to 19 July.Canada World Cup squadGoalkeepers: Dayne St Clair (Inter Miami), Maxime Crepeau (Orlando City), Owen Goodman (Crystal Palace).Defenders: Alistair Johnston (Celtic), Derek Cornelius (Marseille), Richie Laryea (Toronto), Niko Sigur (Hajduk Split), Joel Waterman (Chicago Fire), Luc de Fougerolles (Fulham), Moise Bombito (Nice), Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich), Alfie Jones (Middlesbrough).Midfielders: Stephen Eustaquio (Porto), Ismael Kone (Sassuolo), Tajon Buchanan (Villarreal), Mathieu Choiniere (Los Angeles FC), Ali Ahmed (Norwich City), Nathan Saliba (Anderlecht), Liam Millar (Hull City), Marcelo Flores (Tigres UANL), Jacob Shaffelburg (Toronto), Jonathan Osorio (Toronto).Forwards: Jonathan David (Juventus), Cyle Larin (Southampton), Tani Oluwaseyi (Villarreal), Promise David (Union SG).World Cup: Every squad as they are announcedHow to watch the World Cup on the BBCEverything you need to know about the World Cup

Lucy Woodward will be the first Jersey woman to compete in a Commonwealth Games heptathlon [Lucy Woodward]Jersey heptathlete Lucy Woodward says her selection for the 2026 Commonwealth Games is a "dream come true". Woodward, 23, scored a personal best of 5391 in Germany earlier this month.The score was enough to ensure she will become the first islander to compete in the heptathlon at the Games, in Glasgow in July. "I'm so excited, I'm really happy to be selected, it's a dream come true for me," Woodward told BBC Radio Jersey."This time last year I just wouldn't have thought this was a possibility, but I've had the season of my dreams so far and it's just very quickly become a reality, and I'm just so grateful."Nowacki heads Jersey's 2026 Commonwealth Games teamJersey Commonwealth Games chief confident for futureWoodward is part of a five-strong athletics team representing Jersey - the island's largest-ever for a Commonwealth Games.She is the only female competitor alongside sprinters Zach Saunders, Steve MacKay and Jamie Oldham, as well as decathlete Evan Campbell who will be the first Jersey man to compete in the 10-discipline event for the island. "It's going to be incredible. Kind of scary, I feel like there's a bit of mental preparation for me to keep my cool," said Woodward, who balances her training while working full-time as an architect and is currently ranked 11th in Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the heptathlon. "A lot of my friends and family are going to try and make the effort to come up so it should be a very good atmosphere and lots of people supporting for Team Jersey," she added."I've never competed in a stadium that big, let alone with that many people. "I think running that 800m at the end of the heptathlon with all the girls that are going to be so competitive, it's going to be a great race and then just crossing that line and being able to say that I finished a heptathlon at Commonwealth Games."

The clubs that have played the most Champions League games without winning the trophyArsenal aim to end the club's wait for an elusive European Cup this evening, when the Gunners face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final.Mikel Arteta's men can make history in Budapest tonight, as Arsenal look to win the Champions League for the first time. It's only a second-ever final for the North Londoners, who have beenChampions League regulars without getting over the line.No team in the history of the European Cup and Champions League has played more games in the competition than Arsenal without winning the trophy.The teams that have played the most European Cup and Champions League games without winning the trophy5. Olympiacos - 166 gamesOlympiacos are the most successful side in Greek football with 48 league titles and have competed regularly in Europe's top club competition. The Athens outfit made their first appearance in the European Cup in 1959/60, becoming the first Greek club to compete in UEFA club competition.Olympiacos are the only side from Greece to win a European trophy, afterlifting the Europa Conference League in 2023/24, but they have never progressed past the Champions League quarter-finals, reaching that stage in 1998/99.4. Galatasaray - 169 gamesGalatasaray are also ground-breakers, as the first and only Turkish team to have won a European trophy.The Istanbul giants won the UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup in 2000, but their best run in the European Cup ended in the semi-finals. Galatasaray reached the last four in 1988, but lost to FC Steaua București 5-1 on aggregate.3. Dynamo Kyiv - 184 gamesDynamo Kyiv memorably reached the Champions League semi-finals in 1998/99, where a narrow loss to Bayern Munich denied the Ukrainians a place in the final.The club's exciting side, featuring Andriy Shevchenko and Serhiy Rebrov, stunned Europe to reach the final four, but bowed out to the German giants.That represent Dynamo's best venture in the European Cup or Champions League, though the club are two-time winners of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.2. Atletico Madrid - 192 gamesNo side has ever featured in more European Cup or Champions League finals thanAtletico Madrid without winning the trophy.The Spanish side lost to Bayern Munich in the 1974 decider, before heartbreaking losses to arch-rivals Real Madrid in 2014 and 2016. The first saw Atletico leading until stoppage time before conceding a late equaliser, while the second ended in shootout defeat.Cruel luck for the Rojiblancos.1. Arsenal - 225 gamesArsenal have played the most games in the European Cup and Champions League without winning the trophy. The Gunners played their 225th fixture in the competition proper during the club's semi-final win over Atletico Madrid this season.That result has booked Arsenal a place in only their second final, having lost to Barcelona in the 2006 decider.

An Israeli soldier occupies a military position overlooking the so-called yellow line in the central Gaza Strip, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)2026-05-30T05:09:36Z TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The Israeli combat soldier saw his teammates yelling in celebration, congratulating one another. They had just struck a vehicle of Palestinians driving near the Israeli-controlled part of the Gaza Strip, killing everyone inside.The reservist said scenes like this had become common after a fragile ceasefire took effect in October. In the weeks he was stationed in Gaza, he said, he saw soldiers relishing the chance to go after those who crossed — or came close to crossing — the so-called yellow line that divides the strip into Israeli-controlled and Palestinian areas.“It was a jungle,” the soldier, in his 20s, told The Associated Press. “After the ceasefire, the order was: If someone crosses the line, you shoot them.” Israeli soldiers occupy a military position overlooking the so-called yellow line in the central Gaza Strip, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) Israeli soldiers occupy a military position overlooking the so-called yellow line in the central Gaza Strip, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More As diplomatic efforts to strengthen the deal have stalled, three soldiers described to AP a sense of confusion in the embattled territory, with a lack of clarity on rules of engagement around the yellow line. Some commanders paid lip service to the agreement, the soldiers said, while privately voicing desire for the war in Gaza to continue. Sometimes, troops were too far away or acted too quickly to recognize who they were shooting, one soldier said — a concern echoed in comments from a whistleblower group of veterans. The soldiers’ accounts are a rare glimpse into what’s happened in the Israeli-controlled part of Gaza since the deal went into effect seven months ago. The soldiers — reservists deployed throughout Gaza between October and January who’ve since returned — spoke on condition of anonymity because they feared being ostracized over their comments. They said they were speaking out because they were angered and saddened by what they saw. AP has documented shootings of Palestinian civilians, including children playing, close to the yellow line. And the soldiers said it felt like the killings never stopped amid the tenuous deal.“To call it a ceasefire is a joke,” one soldier told AP. Read More Gaza’s yellow line has been ambiguous, and Israel has taken control of more landWhen the ceasefire went into effect, Israel withdrew troops to a buffer zone demarcated by a yellow line, giving it control of just over half the strip. Under the agreement, Israeli forces are meant to complete a fuller withdrawal, though there’s no timeline for that. The U.S.-backed diplomat overseeing the truce says progress is deadlocked over the central sticking point of disarming Hamas, upon which all other issues — including Israeli withdrawals and reconstruction — hinge.In the meantime, Israel has expanded control over additional territory in Gaza. Both sides have accused the other of violating the ceasefire. The line’s exact location has been ambiguous and sometimes invisible. In some places, it’s marked with yellow blocks and barrels; in others, it at times hasn’t been indicated at all.The Israeli military invited AP this week to see a section of the yellow line in central Gaza, near the Maghazi refugee camp. The line there was visible, demarcated by a wide dirt path and small yellow markings. To the east was a desolate stretch of open space leading to a heavily fortified Israeli military post about 500 meters away. An Israeli military commander said Hamas is active on the other side of the line and frequently sends people — militants and civilians — toward the line and even across it to test the army’s readiness and responses. Have a news tip?Contact AP’s global investigative team at [email protected]. For secure and confidential communications, use the free Signal app +1 (202) 281-8604. “There is no reason for anyone to come near the line,” he said, speaking on condition of anonymity under military rules. “There’s nothing here.”The army says the entire line, which stretches the length of Gaza, is now clearly marked. Since the ceasefire went into effect, more than 900 people have been killed in Gaza — dozens of those close to or over the yellow line, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry doesn’t say how many are militants, but unarmed men and children have been among the dead.Israel’s military has said most of the people killed crossing the line posed a threat to troops. But soldiers who spoke to AP and Breaking the Silence — the whistleblower group that has collected troops’ testimonies throughout the war — say that at times soldiers were too far away, acting too quickly and under too much pressure to tell. Israel’s army told AP that the area adjacent to the yellow line is a “sensitive operational environment” with signs saying approaching is prohibited. It said the army doesn’t target civilians solely for approaching the line and that its rules of engagement require the use of warnings before using force. In situations involving an immediate threat, forces are authorized to act, it said.One soldier says troops must act fast, with information sometimes based on a hunchIt was the combat soldier’s second tour in Gaza when the ceasefire began. He said he was posted several hundred meters from the yellow line and saw several people trying to cross it killed by soldiers. An Israeli soldier occupies a military position overlooking the so-called yellow line in the central Gaza Strip, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) An Israeli soldier occupies a military position overlooking the so-called yellow line in the central Gaza Strip, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Soldiers shooting or ordering drone strikes don’t always know who’s crossing the line, he said. Although soldiers must provide coordinates and get approval from superiors before striking, it’s hard to give exact information as people are moving, he said. He described soldiers calling in coordinates based on a hunch or the last place they saw someone. Breaking the Silence says the general rules of engagement are extremely permissive, especially for those crossing the line, with orders in many areas being “shoot to kill.” Executive director Nadav Weiman, a veteran who served in Gaza but not in this war, said distance from the target and some trigger-happy soldiers can be problematic.He said orders and policies from the military’s high commanders “have created a reality where countless civilians have and are being killed for crossing invisible lines.”In one account to Breaking the Silence, in interview notes seen by AP, a soldier describes instructions for troops about anyone crossing the yellow line: “eliminate him no matter what.”A soldier who was stationed in Gaza says human lives weren’t valuedAnother soldier stationed in Gaza for weeks after the ceasefire said the message from commanders was to hold the line at all costs.“There was a general feeling that human lives are not valuable,” he said.When it came to demarcating the yellow line, the soldier said his superiors told him it was “too much work,” not their job and that Palestinians should know where it was.Being in Gaza took an emotional toll, he said.Sometimes snipers fired warning shots at people close to the line, he said, but commanders told troops to do more to protect themselves. The soldier understood that to mean firing more lethal shots.He and the other soldiers who spoke to AP said troops generally understood, based on leaders and fellow soldiers’ actions, that Israel was in Gaza for the long run, not an eventual withdrawal.Israel’s strikes are ‘increasingly proactive,’ according to an internal reportAn internal report circulated among aid groups last month and seen by AP said that across Gaza, Israel has become “increasingly proactive” with its strikes.Separate data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, a U.S.-based nonprofit, said April was the deadliest month in Gaza this year and that recorded deaths near the yellow line or of people who crossed it increased by more than 25% from January to April, to 73 from 58. A yellow block stands demarcating the “Yellow Line,” which has separated the Gaza Strip’s Israeli-held and Palestinian zones since the October ceasefire, is visible in central Gaza Strip, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) A yellow block stands demarcating the “Yellow Line,” which has separated the Gaza Strip’s Israeli-held and Palestinian zones since the October ceasefire, is visible in central Gaza Strip, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More This week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel controls 60% of Gaza and the next step was to move to 70% control.The soldiers told AP that on the ground, the ceasefire is elusive.“We need to stop using this term,” one said of the word, ceasefire. “It’s not serving people that want to stop the war.”___Josef Federman contributed reporting from the central Gaza Strip. SAM MEDNICK Mednick is an AP correspondent for Israel and the Palestinian Territories. She focuses on conflict, humanitarian crises and human rights abuses. Mednick formerly covered West & Central Africa and South Sudan. twitter

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gestures as he speaks during the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's annual defense and security forum, in Singapore, Saturday, May 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)2026-05-30T03:19:38Z SINGAPORE (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth assured Pacific allies on Saturday that Washington remained committed to the region, but toned down previous comments calling China a threat.Speaking to a group of world leaders, diplomats and top security officials at the Shangri-La defense conference in Singapore, Hegseth said that the region “has profound implications for U.S. security and prosperity” and that Washington’s priority was to “achieve a lasting and favorable balance of power in the Pacific.”It was his second time addressing the forum, hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Last year, he raised the ire of Beijing by warning of rapidly developing threats from China, particularly its aggressive stance toward Taiwan. He said China is no longer just building up its military forces to take Taiwan, it’s “actively training for it, every day.”This year, however, the meeting comes only about two weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump visited Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing, following which Trump called Xi a “great leader” and said that they were going to have a “fantastic future together.” Hegseth says China won’t be allowed to dominate the regionHegseth, who was with Trump in Beijing, said the two leaders had agreed that China and the U.S. should “build a constructive relationship of strategic stability, based on fairness and reciprocity, reaffirming that while our nations will vigorously protect our respective interests, we can secure practical, mutually beneficial agreements where our interests align.”However, he said it was still an American priority to ensure that China is not allowed to dominate the Indo-Pacific. “There is rightful alarm regarding China’s historic military buildup and the expansion of its military activities in the region and beyond,” he said. “We share a clear-eyed assessment of that security environment and a mutual understanding that a Pacific dominated by any hegemon would unravel the regional balance of power and undermine the equilibrium we all seek to preserve.” U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, part of a congressional delegation to the conference, accused the Trump administration of “cozying up” to China. Read More “I worry that this administration is being distracted into wars that they’ve started in other parts of the world at the expense of our commitment here in the Indo-Pacific,” the Illinois Democrat told reporters on the sidelines. “I am concerned that it seems like our president is entering into, you know, policies where he’s doing what Beijing wants him to do,” she added.After the meetings between Xi and Trump, the American president raised questions about Washington’s willingness to defend Taiwan, calling a new $14 billion arms package that he has yet to greenlight “a very good negotiating chip for us” with China. China claims the democratic self-governing island as its own, and Xi has not ruled out using force to take it. The U.S. is required by law to help provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, though follows a policy of “strategic ambiguity” on whether it would intervene militarily if China were to attack the island. Hegseth told the forum that there was “no change in our status” toward Taiwan, but would not comment on the arms deal. “Any decision about future Taiwan arms sales, as the president said, will rest with him,” he said. US praises countries that spent more on defenseHe underscored the Trump administration’s insistence that allies increase defense spending, saying “we need partners, not protectorates.” He lauded several countries in Asia for their efforts, while reiterating criticism of European allies, without naming names, who he suggested got “distracted by empty globalist rhetoric about the rules-based international order.”“Our partners in Asia have long understood that the bedrock of a durable partnership is not based on idealistic values but on the concrete alignment of national interests,” he said. “When our interests diverge, we adjust pragmatically, without the drama or the moralizing,” he added. “I think Western Europe might take note — this is a mindset we fully embrace.” Hegseth did not mention either the war in Ukraine or Iran war in his speech. When asked about Iran, he only said that Trump had assured him that when negotiations with Tehran had concluded, “any deal will be a good deal.”Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles, whose country was among those Hegseth praised for increased military spending, said that while the international rules-based order is not perfect, the “task before us, all of us, including the great powers, is the renovation of that order, not its dismemberment.” “When the rules apply, smaller states have agency,” Marles said in a speech that followed Hegseth’s. “When the rules yield to power, sovereignty becomes, as others have put it, the purview of the powerful, and no state in this room today, whatever its size, is well served by that outcome.” DAVID RISING Rising covers regional Asia-Pacific stories for The Associated Press. He has worked around the world, including covering the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Ukraine, and was based for nearly 20 years in Berlin before moving to Bangkok. twitter mailto