Orioles' Taylor Ward scores historic, game-winning run, remains top trade candidate originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Leading off the second inning Friday at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Toronto Blues Jays' Yohendrick Pinango connected on a drive to left field. Reacting quickly, Baltimore Orioles' Taylor Ward dived, reaching out to snare the liner.Not to be outdone Saturday, Ward hustled back to the left-field wall, reached up and stole a potential home run from Kazuma Okamoto. In the ninth inning, Ward scored the winning run as the Orioles capped a historic comeback, earning a 6-5 win. The Blue Jays yielded five ninth-inning runs as the Orioles secured their first win in 368 straight outings when they trailed by at least four runs entering the final half-inning.Ward continues to make plays, making him one of the top players on the MLB trade market this summer.Orioles' Taylor Ward making offensive, defensive plays countThe 2012 31st-round draft pick continues to exceed expectations. Owning a career 11.5 WAR rating, Taylor signed a one-year, $12.175 million deal in the offseason. After connecting on a combined 61 homers the previous two campaigns with the Los Angeles Angels, Ward slammed just two homers during his opening 260 plate appearances this season, but compiled a .256 batting average and a career-best .400 on-base percentage.Leading off the first inning with a walk Saturday, Ward became the first franchise player to post 52 walks through 58 games in a season.Ward continues to prove one of the league's toughest batters, listed No. 4 by seeing an average of 4.37 pitches per plate appearance. Houston Astros Isaac Paredes, another top trade candidate, ranked first (4.46 P/PA). The Orioles traded pitching prospect Gayson Rodriguez to the Angels for Ward. Will general manager Mike Elias grow to regret the transaction if he fails to engineer another deal involving Ward this summer? More MLB news:Marlins could find Pete Fairbanks' trade market shrinking with widening ERAAstros' Spencer Arrighetti outduels Rangers' Nathan Eovaldi, continues hot streakBlue Jays' Patrick Corbin silences 1,000-hit celebration by Orioles' Pete AlonsoHow New York Yankees are impacted by new MLB salary cap

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — One week after the death of Kyle Busch shook the NASCAR garage, Richard Childress Racing is still grappling with a loss that Austin Dillon described as unlike anything the organization has faced before.Speaking Saturday at Nashville Superspeedway, Dillon reflected on an emotional week inside RCR and revealed the message that has helped guide the team through the tragedy.According to Dillon, that message has been simple.“The message this past week has been ‘ride for the brand.'”For an organization built around family, loyalty and decades of shared history, the past several days have tested everyone inside the RCR shop. Dillon called it “one of the toughest weeks of RCR’s history” and praised both NASCAR and fellow competitors for the support shown to the team since Busch’s death.As difficult as the week has been, Dillon said the focus has gradually shifted toward honoring Busch in the way he believes the two-time Cup Series champion would have wanted.Not by standing still. But by racing.RCR Believes Kyle Busch Would Want The Team Moving ForwardThroughout the week, RCR held multiple meetings as employees, team leaders and family members tried to process the loss.Dillon said team president Mike Verlander addressed the entire organization during a company-wide meeting, while Motor Racing Outreach chaplain Nick Terry delivered remarks that many within the team found especially meaningful.The gathering ultimately returned to a common theme.Making Busch proud.Dillon explained that he wrote a personal letter after returning home following the news. The process helped him begin moving forward while reflecting on what Busch meant to him both personally and professionally.“It was from the heart, and it’s how I felt about Kyle,” Dillon said. “And it’s gonna hurt for a long time, but I know the character he was, he’d want us to go kick butt.”That mindset has become a rallying point throughout the organization as RCR prepares for the next chapter.The team still faces major decisions, including determining who will ultimately take over Busch’s former ride, which now carries the No. 33. Dillon said those discussions will happen over time and expressed confidence in Austin Hill’s ability to step into the role for now.But on Saturday, the focus remained less on the future lineup and more on the people affected by the loss.Richard Childress Is Leaning On Same Resilience That Defined RCR BeforeKyle Busch (left) and Austin Dillon (right) speak on pit road before NASCAR Cup Series practice and qualifying for The Great American Getaway 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 21, 2025. Dillon reflected on Busch’s death and how Richard Childress Racing is working through the loss during media availability at Nashville Superspeedway.Dillon also spoke about the impact the tragedy has had on team owner Richard Childress.He described the situation as “very hard” on his grandfather but said Childress remains remarkably resilient despite the circumstances.The driver revealed that Childress and Austin’s father, Mike Dillon, were at the hospital with Busch, while he remained at the race shop helping keep team members informed as information became available.The experience has also sparked memories of another defining moment in RCR history.When asked what he has learned from the way Childress handled the death of Dale Earnhardt in 2001, Dillon acknowledged that he was too young at the time to fully understand everything happening around him.Now, experiencing a similar loss as an adult, he sees the strength of the relationships that helped carry the organization through that period.Going through this tragedy firsthand has given him a greater appreciation for the employees and team members who lived through both moments.“Hopefully this time around, we can do the same thing that they did the last time around.”For now, that means leaning on one another, honoring Busch’s legacy and continuing the work he helped build.Or, as Dillon put it, riding for the brand.

CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox still have plenty of power even with Munetaka Murakami unavailable because of a hamstring injury.Edgar Quero and Colson Montgomery hit solo home runs while Andrew Benintendi connected for a two-run home run on Saturday in a 7-1 victory against the Detroit Tigers in front of 29,435 at Rate Field.All three home runs came late in the game as the Sox won their fourth straight. At 31-27, the Sox are a season-high four games over .500.“When these guys create a culture where they bring a ton of energy, you hope that can sustain when you miss somebody and you have that built up,” manager Will Venable said. “And these guys have done a great job of building that up, and I thought today was a great example of that where we continued to see the good effort, playing hard and playing with belief.”Before the game, the Sox placed Murakami on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain. He could be out for four to six weeks. The first baseman leads the team with 20 home runs.The Sox scored in a variety of ways Saturday. They took advantage of a short period of wildness from Tigers starter Framber Valdez during a two-run first inning.Valdez surrendered a double to Chase Meidroth to begin the first. Miguel Vargas and Montgomery walked, which loaded the bases. With Randal Grichuk batting, Valdez threw a wild pitch. Meidroth scored, giving the Sox a 1-0 lead.Vargas moved to third on the wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Quero.Wenceel Pérez led off the third inning for Detroit with a home run, cutting the Sox’s lead to 2-1. That was the only run allowed by starter Anthony Kay, who scattered six hits, walked one and struck out three in five-plus innings.The Tigers had runners on first and second with one out in both the fourth and fifth innings. But they didn’t score in either inning, with Kay getting timely ground balls along the way.Matt Vierling led off the sixth with a single. And when Grichuk dropped Riley Greene’s fly ball to right field, the Tigers had runners at first and second with no outs. Reliever Grant Taylor entered and had a strikeout, a flyout and a groundout to maintain the 2-1 lead.“He pretty much saved the day there,” Kay said. “First and second, no outs, and him to retire three guys was massive. The boys tacked on and kind of made it a comfortable win.”The Sox extended the lead with two runs in the seventh. Quero led off the inning with a home run, his second of the season. Benintendi doubled and later scored on a single by Rikuu Nishida, giving the Sox a 4-1 lead.Montgomery hit his home run, his 14th of the season, in the eighth. And Benintendi added the two-run home run later in the inning.“The team is playing pretty good baseball,” Quero said. “Playing hard every day and that’s the mentality right now.”That mindset doesn’t change with Murakami out for a period of time. In Saturday’s corresponding move, the Sox called up 2023 first-round draft pick Jacob Gonzalez from Triple-A Charlotte.The infielder didn’t get in Saturday’s game, but had the chance to soak in the environment.“It’s really cool,” Gonzalez said after the game. “I’ve been dreaming about this since I was a kid. I’m happy to be here.”His arrival at the park on Saturday was pushed back because of a flight delay. While waiting for the plane to take off, Gonzalez joked, “I was just hoping they weren’t going to change their minds. I was going to turn my phone off and stay on the flight.”Saturday was his 24th birthday.“Probably the best one so far,” Gonzalez said.Gonzalez has been on a tear with the Knights, slashing .317/.419/.668 with 11 doubles, one triple, 19 home runs, 62 RBIs, 33 walks, 42 runs and a 1.087 OPS in 52 games.“We finally found a happy medium,” Gonzalez said. “Before I was trying to do stuff that I wasn’t comfortable with. Now, I’m doing what I want to do and doing what they have told me and blended them so it’s been really comfortable and working.”He’s largely played shortstop this year with Charlotte, but will be an option at first base for the Sox.“I’ll play anywhere,” Gonzalez said. “I grew up playing everywhere and ready to help this team win some games.”____

May 29, 2026; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs infielder Kolby Branch (9) throws out a runner against the Liberty Flames at Foley Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images Georgia’s road to the Super Regionals is now a lot smoother. After beginning Saturday with the absurdity of having to complete the final three innings of a lopsided win against Long Island in a game suspended by the previous night’s weather, the Diamond Dawgs fended off a fiesty Liberty University team 6-2 on Saturday night at Foley Field. Now, Georgia gets to sit back and rest in the Athens Regional. It’ll play the winner of Sunday’s early loser’s bracket game between Liberty and Boston College on Sunday night, needing just one win in two tries to advance to the Super Regionals. Sunday night’s game is scheduled to start at 5:06 p.m. “We gave up three hits today, and we gave up two yesterday,” Georgia head coach Wes Johnson said. “Our offense is extremely, extremely good, but other offenses are good as well. I thought our pitching and defense was outstanding today.”HEY, CAP!!!!#GoDawgs | @KolbyBranchpic.twitter.com/d50QLdtcNI— Georgia Baseball (@BaseballUGA) May 30, 2026It was, needless to say, a long day at Foley Field on Saturday. It all began on Friday night, when, leading 15-1 against Long Island, play was suspended by weather. And since NCAA postseason rules do not permit a mercy rule, the game had to be resumed Saturday morning.When “The 15 Hours of the Athens” resumed on Saturday, the Bulldogs put the closing touches on an 18-2 win in which a school record was tied with nine homers with Joey Volchko hurling six shutout innings. The day of homers was just beginning for the Diamond Dawgs, who got all of their runs against the Flames via homers. The contest was one in which Georgia, despite being the No. 3 national seed, SEC champion, and regional host, had to play as the visitor per NCAA postseason rules. But that lack of earned advantage didn’t shake the Diamond Dawgs’ resolve, either when it came to clutch pitching or big offensive hits toward the trees of Foley Field. Georgia went deep in the first on a two-run shot by Dan Jackson, and a pair of solo homers by Kenny Ishikawa and Ryan Wynn put the Dawgs in front 4-2 in the third. “We’ve always known that Ryan [Wynn] can get it done and come up in big spots,” Georgia shortstop Kolby Branch said. “He’s a great player. His mindset when he’s not playing is wonderful. It’s one of the reasons I think that we’re a good ball club is because when you have guys like Ryan who gets in the game, plays well and then goes back to the plan.” Round-trippers by Rylan Lujo in the sixth and Brennan Hudson in the ninth padded the lead. Ryan Wynn goes back-to-back with Kenny Ishikawa, and Georgia leads 4-2 in the top of the third inning. It traveled 426 feet.It’s the 12th time this season Georgia has gone back-to-back. pic.twitter.com/xQatGZdAC3— Olivia Sayer (@OliviaKSayer) May 30, 2026But this win was not one limited to outscoring an opponent. It was also one in which Georgia ended up leaning on its bullpen after starting pitcher Dylan Vigue was chased after just an inning and a third, having allowed two runs. The bullpen was up to the call, however. Matt Scott held the Flames to no runs and one hit through five innings before Justin Byrd fanned four of the nine batters he faced to close out the game. Byrd’s biggest moment was in the seventh when he inherited two runners aboard. After walking the first batter he faced, he retired the next two Flames to get out of the bases-loaded jam.JUSTIN BYRD SLAMS THE DOOR 🔥🔥🔥GEORGIA ADVANCES TO ATHENS REGIONAL FINAL. Liberty faces Boston College tomorrow pic.twitter.com/DesjaUcP4P— 11Point7 College Baseball (@11point7) May 31, 2026“I thought what Matt [Scott] did today was elite. It’s what big-time players do. Matt came in the game, things were a little sideways. There was some momentum leaving our side,” Johnson said. “Sometimes as a coach, you have to go out there and make a change. We did. Our team believes in Matt so much. We just do. He believes in himself. You want guys in the game when you need to stop momentum like Matt.”Go Dawgs!

Merab Dvalishvili doesn’t come from a wrestling background but you’d never know that with his impressive performance shutting down UFC Hall of Famer Frankie Edgar at RAF 9.A slow start gave way to an offensive onslaught from Dvalishvili as he scored multiple takedowns to eventually reach a 12-1 lead over Edgar, which ended the match via technical superiority. Afterwards, Dvalishvili turned his attention towards his old rival Henry Cejudo, who he was originally supposed to meet in his RAF debut.View this post on Instagram“I want to call him out,” Dvalishvili said about Cejudo. “He disappeared when I was ready. Henry, I hope you have big balls to go wrestling with me. Show me some Mexican balls, bro!“This is wrestling, one point can change everything. I love RAF. It motivates me. This is a great reason to be busy, to get better everywhere. I’m ready. Whoever. I would like to challenge everybody.”An early takedown attempt from Dvalishvili was thwarted by Edgar but the referee soon issued a warning for a lack of activity. That cost Dvalishvili a point and Edgar continued showing strong defense until the first period ended.Dvalishvili got on the board with a pushout as he kept attacking in an attempt to put Edgar on the ground for the first time. The former UFC bantamweight champion then snatched a single-leg takedown to score two more points on Edgar as he stayed the busier wrestler.A late clash of heads busted Dvalishvili directly in the nose after he just recently suffered another break during a training session.On the restart in the final period, Dvalishvili grabbed another single-leg with a slick trip that scored four more points. Dvalishvili grabbed a leg lace but he couldn’t turn Edgar before they were stood up again by the referee.Before long, Dvalishvili was deep on another body lock and Edgar tried to reverse for a throw of his own to get back in the match but he was shut down before landing on his back. Dvalishvili executed one more turn after the takedown and that put him up by more than 10 points, which gave him the tech fall victory.With Dvalishvili still waiting on his trilogy against reigning UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan to get scheduled, he plans on staying busy in RAF with his sights set on Cejudo next.

Miami (FL) vs. Florida baseball box score: Live stats from NCAA Baseball Championship Game 2 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Hurricanes started out NCAA tournament play in the Gainesville Regional on Friday with a win over Troy. Some 24 hours later, they face in-state rival Florida, who took out Rider yesterday as well.This game would put the winner in the driver's seat for the region, while the loser faces unknowns. Either way, it's going to be an interesting matchup with many fireworks.2026 NCAA Baseball Championship123456789RHEMiami (39-18)10326102Florida (40-19)6010770Miami vs. Florida baseball box score: Live stats from NCAA ChampionshipMiami Hurricanes BatterPOSABRHRBIBBSOAVGOBP4Jake Ogden2B312101.310.3847Max GalvinLF312000.288.3532Derek WilliamsRF211001.382.47513Alex Sosa1B211100.336.45037Alonzo AlvarezC201200.335.43847Dylan DubovikDH200001.311.35440Gabirel Milano3B211000.324.358Vance SheahanSS201101.278.38217Fabio PeraltaCF201000.291.411Total205105042B: Galvin 1 (9)Sosa 1 (15)H: Ogden 1 (6)RBI: Ogden 1 (35)Sosa 1 (67)Alvarez 2 (32)Sheahan 1 (30)PitcherPOSIPHRERBBSOBFERA52AJ CiscarP0.25610094.555Sebastian Santos-OlsP2.11112394.2Total3.06722318Santos-Ols 41 (20 strikes)Ciscar 26 (15 strikes)Florida GatorsBatterPOSABRHRBIBBSOAVGOBP3Kyle JonesCF010010.308.40811Brendan LawsonSS211000.314.5185Blake CyrLF210100.328.40710Ethan Surowiec3B000110.326.42121Caden McDonaldDH211001.329.38914Karson BowenC222200.259.34713Landon Stripling1B200001.282.3484Cade Kurland2B211300.266.36916Hayden YostRF201001.286.387Total1476723H: Bowen 1 (6)Kurland 1 (7)RBI: Cyr 1 (57)Surowiec 1 (62)Bowen 2 (30)Kurland 3 (28)PitcherPOSIPHRERBBSOBFERA47Aidan KingP3.085503173.19Luke McNeillieP0.22000143.5Total3.210550421McNeillie 11 (8 strikes)King 74 (50 strikes)How to watch: Miami vs. Florida 2026 NCAA Baseball Championship GameDate: Saturday, May 30Time: 8 p.m. ETTV: ACC NetworkMore NCAA NewsSaint Mary's vs. UCLA baseball box score: Final stats from NCAA Baseball Championship Game 1Milwaukee vs. Auburn baseball box score: Final stats from NCAA Baseball Championship Game 1Arkansas vs. Georgia box score: Final stats from 2026 SEC Baseball ChampionshipBill Belichick, Jordon Hudson at Kentucky Derby leaves everyone saying the same thingDemond Williams bombshell could have resulted in Lane Kiffin fired by LSU

CINCINNATI (AP) — Ronald Acuña Jr. homered for a third straight game — hitting a pair of solo shots — to lead the Atlanta Braves over the Cincinnati Reds 5-2 on Saturday night.Acuña homered to right-center field off Brady Singer (2-5) to tie it at 2 in the third inning. The 2023 NL MVP capped the scoring with a two-out shot in the ninth off Lyon Richardson. He also stole two bases to help the Braves become the first team to 40 wins. Jorge Mateo hit his third homer — to the second deck in left field off Singer for a 3-2 lead in the fifth. Matt Olson followed with his 16th — off Brock Burke — to make it 4-2 in the seventh. Martín Pérez (3-3) allowed two runs and four hits and walked three in five innings to earn the win. Three relievers each pitched a scoreless inning before Raisel Iglesias closed it with a perfect ninth for his 10th save.Ozzie Albies hit a ground-rule double leading off the second before scoring on a single by Mike Yastrzemski to put Atlanta up 1-0.Spencer Steer drew a one-out walk from Pérez to extend his on-base streak to 18 games and JJ Bleday hit his ninth home run and second in as many days to put the Reds up 2-1 after two innings.De La Cruz answered with a one-out triple, but was stranded when Pérez retired Sal Stewart on a grounder to third before striking out Eugenio Suárez to keep it 2-2.Singer gave up three runs and four hits and four walks in five innings. He has allowed eight home runs in his last 12 innings.The Braves improved to 23-9 on the road — best in the majors.Up nextBraves RHP Spencer Strider (3-0, 3.46) starts Sunday as Atlanta aims for a sweep of the Reds, who'll start LHP Nick Lodolo (1-1, 5.57).___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

BYU golfer Kihei Akina watches a shot during BYU photo day Sept. 2, 2025. | Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo Thanks to an eagle on the par-4 13th hole Saturday, BYU freshman Kihei Akina remains in the top 10 of the player leaderboard in the 2026 NCAA Men’s Golf Championships at La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California.Akina shot a 2-under 70 in the second round on the North Course and is tied for 9th on the player leaderboard. He shot a 1-under 71 on Thursday when BYU was playing alone, but that score will not be added to the official leaderboard until Sunday when the other teams in the field conclude their rounds. So Akina currently sits at -6 for the tournament, which would put him at T7 if no other scores change in regards to par on Sunday. Obviously, they will.The 18th-seeded Cougars, however, are in danger of not making the 54-hole cut in the stroke-play qualifying portion of the tournament. Saturday, BYU shot a 2-over 290 and sits in a tie for 20th on the team leaderboard. But the Cougars’ tournament could be over, depending on how everybody else fares on Sunday when retiring coach Bruce Brockbank’s squad is not on the course.Factoring in Thursday’s “third round” score of 1-under 287, BYU is currently at +9. The top 15 teams after Sunday’s third round advance to Monday’s final round of stroke play.After Monday, the top eight teams make the match play portion of the tournament; A national champion will be crowned on Wednesday.BYU made the cut last year, but did not get into the top eight for match play and tied for 13th.Individually on Saturday, senior Tyson Shelley posted BYU’s second-best score, a 1-under 71, after a couple of rough rounds earlier in the tournament.Junior Peter Kim added a 1-over 73, while freshman Parker Bunn registered a 4-over 76. Senior Simon Kwon shot a non-counting 6-over 78.Akina posted three birdies and three bogeys on Saturday to go with the eagle, his second eagle of the tournament. He had one on Thursday when no other teams were playing, an accommodation the NCAA makes for BYU, which does not play on Sundays, for religious reasons.Two Utahns — Boston Bracken and Jackson Mauss — are competing for Arizona State in the tournament. Saturday, Bracken of St. George shot a 73, while Mauss of Draper shot a 77.

May 30—BEMIDJI — Bemidji High School will be represented at the Class 3A state track and field meet in two events.Caleb Knott took second place in the 800-meter race with a time of 1:59.67 at the Section 8-3A finals in St. Michael. It's good enough to advance to state. He will be joined by the girls 4x800-meter relay team of Liv Thompson, Chloe Derby, Mya Thompson and Claire Story, who took fourth place. However, despite not finishing inside the top two, their mark of 9:27.44 eclipsed the state standard.Other BHS athletes closed their seasons on high notes.With injured Taylor Schermerhorn out, Vinny Nelson, Rhys Sneide and Henry McCrady were joined by Brendin Martinka for the 4x100. They finished in third place with a time of 43.40.Sneide also took eighth in the long jump at 20-09.5, two spots behind teammate Jayden Bondy, who marked 21-00. William Ames took 10th in the 1600 at 4:42.41.Finley Zothman clocked a fourth-place time of 48.23 in the 300-meter hurdles. Samantha Cox took fifth in the discus at 34-06.75.Naomi Johnson finished her season in two finals races. She took sixth in the 200 at 26.08 and eighth in the 100 at12.85. Chloe Derby rounded out the day for BHS in the 800 in sixth (2:26.39).Area track and field athletes qualified for state in seven events at the Section 8A championships in Mahnomen.Bagley/Fosston's Brydin Daniel took second place in both the 100 and 200-meter races with times of 11.12 and 22.30, respectively. William Strandberg took second place in the 300-meter hurdles (42.21). The Flyers' 4x400 team of Ethan Proulx, Gage Gray, Strandberg and Daniel finished as the runner-up at 3:30.41.B/F's Trenton Frazier took home one of two section titles from the area this spring in the discus, reaching a mark of 153-09. Hanna Fonder also took second place in the 800 at 2:24.40.Northome/Kelliher/Blackduck is sending two representatives to state. Allison Lundin won the Section 8A title in the 800 at 2:22.93. Taylor Henry took second place in the 100-meter hurdles at 16.81.The state tournaments for all classes will run from June 4-6 at St. Michael-Albertville High School.

The No. 31 Whelen Action Express Cadillac V-Series.R controlled the Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Classic from the pole position, leading 73 of 82 laps to win Saturday on the downtown street course.The victory in the Grand Touring Prototype category was punctuated by a GTD Pro win by the No. 3 Corvette Z06 GT3.R, giving GM Motoports a double triumph at its home event.It's the first overall win in Detroit for Cadillac since 2022.RESULTS: Click here for overall l Click here for classPOINTS: Click here for the championship standings“To do it here at the home of GM and Cadillac with so many friends and family with us, you know, my team absolutely nailed it,” said Jack Aitken, who took over the points lead by closing the win for the No. 31 after teammate Earl Bamber started first.The No. 31 Cadillac has seven consecutive podium finishes dating to last September at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a record during the hybrid prototype era.“It was pretty nervy with those last yellows, just watching,” Bamber said. “I'm just really happy for Cadillac, and happy for the Corvette guys also, to finally get the win here in our home race. We had a great Cadillac this weekend that was super quick from the moment it hit the track. That’s a pretty perfect weekend.”The No. 25 BMW M Team WRT Hybrid V8 finished second, followed by the No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac V-Series.R and the No. 93 Meyer Shank Racing Acura ARX-06.Antonio Garcia hung on for the GTD Pro victory, the 119th in IMSA for Corvette Racing, after late contact with Jack Hawksworth for the lead. Hawksworth was assessed a drive-through penalty for incident responsibility by his No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Racing Lexus RC F GT3 (two other cars also received penalties for contact in the final 10 minutes). The No. 9 Pfaff Motorsports Lamborghini Temerario GT3 was second in GTD Pro, and Ford Racing’s No. 65 Mustang GT3 took third.Garcia and teammate Alexander Sims combined to lead 73 of 79 laps. It's the 32nd IMSA win for Garcia, tying him with Allan McNish, Ricky Taylor, and Sascha Maassen for 18th on the all-time victory list. “Super happy to be on victory lane in Chevrolet land, underneath the towers," Garcia said. "I think all the big bosses will be very happy as we are. So fantastic drive by Alex, putting it on pole, opening up a big gap. Great race overall.”Results from the 2026 IMSA Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car ClassicResultsResults by classFastest laps by driverFastest laps by driver after race (over the weekend)Fastest laps by driver and class after raceFastest lap sequenceLeader sequenceLap chartRace analysis by lapStint analysisTime cardsPit stop time cardsBest sector timesFlag analysis with race control messagesRace distance and average speedWeather reportUp nextThe IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will race June 28 at Watkins Glen International.

All Times EDTSunday, May 31MLBToronto at Baltimore, 12:15 p.m.Minnesota at Pittsburgh, 1:35 p.m.San Diego at Washington, 1:35 p.m.Atlanta at Cincinnati, 1:40 p.m.Boston at Cleveland, 1:40 p.m.L.A. Angels at Tampa Bay, 1:40 p.m.Miami at N.Y. Mets, 1:40 p.m.Detroit at Chicago White Sox, 2:10 p.m.Milwaukee at Houston, 2:10 p.m.Kansas City at Texas, 2:35 p.m.San Francisco at Colorado, 3:10 p.m.N.Y. Yankees at Athletics, 4:05 p.m.Arizona at Seattle, 4:10 p.m.Philadelphia at L.A. Dodgers, 4:10 p.m.Chicago Cubs at St. Louis, 7:20 p.m.WNBALas Vegas at Golden State, 3:30 p.m.NWSLSan Diego at Chicago, 1 p.m.Houston at Gotham FC, 3 p.m.North Carolina at Angel City, 7 p.m.OTHER EVENTSAUTO RACINGNASCAR Cup Series - Cracker Barrel 400, Lebanon, Tenn.NHRA - NHRA Potomac Nationals presented by JEGS, Mechanicsville, Md.NTT IndyCar Series - Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix, DetroitGOLFDP World Tour - Austrian Alpine Open presented by Kitzbühel Tirol, Kitzbühel, AustriaLIV Golf League - Busan, South KoreaLPGA Tour - ShopRite LPGA powered by Wakefern, Galloway, N.J.PGA Tour - Charles Schwab Challenge, Fort Worth, TexasTENNISATP/WTA - French Open, Paris_____

BERLIN, GERMANY - MAY 23: Max Eberl Board Member for Sport FC Bayern München with Bernd Neuendorf, president of the German Football Association DFB prior the DFB Cup Final 2026 match between FC Bayern München and VfB Stuttgart at Olympiastadion on May 23, 2026 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Stefan Matzke - sampics/Getty Images) | Getty Images Bayern Munich is historically one of the biggest clubs in Germany, both culturally and financially, too. It’s no news that they spend a lot of money on players, but what about agents fees and commissions?Based on a new financial report from the DFL, captured by @iMiaSanMia, Bayern leads the way in Bundesliga agent fees for the 2024/25 season. The data reveals how much German clubs spent on these commissions during that campaign.Bayern spent a total of €49.8 million on agent fees and commissions. Following the leaders, RB Leipzig recorded €39.81 million in spending, while Borussia Dortmund accounted for €32.25 million. Other big name clubs followed, with VfB Stuttgart at €32.03 million and Bayer Leverkusen at €29.44 million. Lower down the list, clubs such as SV Elversberg spent only €734,000.These figures show a significant financial gap within the league. The high spending from Bayern Munich shows their priority of heavily investing in maintaining a top tier squad, something that often involves complex negotiations and representative interests. This creates a clear divide compared to smaller clubs that operate with significantly leaner budgets for agent fees. The kind of money that’s being spent these days, it’s no shock that Bayern is performing at the level it does. Which club do you think gets the most value for their spending? Let us know in the comments!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

TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 14: Colby Covington prepares to face Joaquin Buckley in a welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Amalie Arena on December 14, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) This is the live blog for Colby Covington vs. Chris Weidman, the co-main event match at RAF 9 from College Park Center in Arlington, Tex. on Saturday night.A former UFC welterweight interim champion, Covington officially notified the UFC of his retirement earlier this month, saying he wants to put all of his focus into RAF and his first love, wrestling. Covington is currently 2-0 in RAF, with wins over Luke Rockhold and Dillon Danis, but Weidman represents a big step up in competition for the former NCAA All-American.Soon to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, Weidman is a former UFC middleweight champion and two-time NCAA All-American wrestler. Weidman retired in MMA in 2024, but after he was called out by Covington for an RAF match, “The All-American” laced up the boots once again and is ready to make his return to competition.Check out the live blog for Covington vs. Weidman below.Period 1Period 2Period 3Official DecisionPost Match

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Arkansas baseball has failed to start 2-0 in a regional nine times in the past 24 years.On all nine occasions, the Hogs' season came to an end later in the weekend. They'll have to prove that history isn't an indicator of the future and turn a weakness into a strength to keep their 2026 campaign alive. The Razorbacks (40-21) lost to Kansas 5-3 in the winners bracket of the Lawrence Regional on Saturday, May 30, sending them into an elimination game against Northeastern on Sunday. Arkansas only recorded three hits, with a two-run homer from Reese Robinett proving to be loudest swing from its offense. A dazzling 14-strikeout start from Hunter Dietz got spoiled. "I thought he pitched great," Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said. "I mean, he gave us every opportunity to win that game. We just didn't score any runs."Dietz (7-4) took the loss with four earned runs in 6⅓ innings. Daniel Osoria drew a leadoff walk against Dietz in the bottom of the seventh and came around to score the go-ahead run on a bases-loaded walk from reliever James DeCremer. Dietz's lone big mistake of the night was a hanging cutter Tyson LeBlanc turned on for a game-tying two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth."The only bad cutter I threw all day," Dietz said. Now, Arkansas must come out of the losers bracket, and the Hogs have already burned through their top arms in Dietz and Gabe Gaeckle. All season long, pitching depth has been a question mark for the Razorbacks. They have no other choice but to find reliable options over the next 48 hours, otherwise a late-season surge will turn into an early postseason exit. Avoiding the losers bracket is always a top priority, but the Hogs showed in series-finale losses to Georgia and Oklahoma during the regular season that their pitching staff lacks quality options on the back end. The Bulldogs scored 26 runs on April 18. Oklahoma pounced for 15 on May 10. Even more recently, Arkansas gave up 11 runs in seven innings during a loss to Georgia at the SEC Tournament championship. That was the Razorbacks' fourth game of the weekend. They'll need to play five this weekend to advance to the super regionals. "We can say all we want to, and (the players) have to rally themselves. I told them that," Van Horn said. "We come out, let's find a way to play well, you know, and get maybe you'll get an opportunity to play Kansas again."After the loss to the Jayhawks, Van Horn said he didn't know who will be Arkansas' starting pitcher against Northeastern. The most likely options are Colin Fisher (4-7, 5.24 ERA) and Tate McGuire (1-1, 5.20 ERA), who have combined for 17 starts this year. Fisher has struggled since the start of conference play, but he was brilliant against mid-major opposition this season.No matter who gets the ball on a day Arkansas hopes to play two games, Van Horn has set simple instructions for his arms. "We need to throw them all over the plate," he said. Arkansas' season is hanging in the balance. Another offensive dud could also end the year at any point, but the Hogs simply won't be able to reach the next round without newfound success from the back end of its pitching staff. Jackson Fuller covers Arkansas football, basketball and baseball for the Southwest Times Record, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at jfuller@usatodayco.com or follow him @jacksonfuller16 on X, formerly known as Twitter. This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Arkansas baseball's pitching depth faces stiff test in Lawrence Regional

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Spurs reach NBA Finals with 111-103 win over Thunder in Game 7 of Western Conference Final.

Sumner left no doubt.The Spartans dominated Gonzaga Prep from the first pitch until the final out in the Class 4A state championship game on Saturday night at Everett Memorial Stadium, 7-0.There were no nail-biting moments, no dramatic comebacks or game-winning plays. The only real question was just how many runs the Spartans would win by.Starting pitcher Brody Santman was masterful and nearly unhittable, pounding the zone while also keeping every Gonzaga Prep hitter off balance. He carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning and racked up 10 strikeouts, allowing just two hits, no runs and walking three over six innings of work.“A lot of four seams, two seams and cutters,” Santman said. “Really mixing those in. The changeup was the big wipeout.”Sumner coach Dylan Mclauchlin heaped praise onto the lefty.“He’ll mix your eye level, he’ll mix the speed, he’ll mix the zone,” he said. “He tries to make you not look like a good hitter, that’s kind of his job. He tries to mess with you and he does a really good job with it. … He knows how to command the ball well. Phenomenal pitcher.”It’s the first state baseball title for Sumner High School.Sumner built a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning with a Jake Miller double into the gap and a Bryce Carl single into right field scoring a run apiece. Carl drove in another run with a hit in the third. Liam Ferguson drove in Xander Cypher in the fourth after Cypher tripled, making it 4-0.Carl struck again in the fifth inning, driving in two runs with a double. Cypher drove in the final run with a single in the fifth.Carl was suspended for Friday’s semifinal game after an awkward slide attempt at second base against Kennedy Catholic in a state tournament quarterfinal game a week earlier provoked a response from the Kennedy Catholic player, who got into Carl’s face. Both players were ejected from the game, and Carl was therefore ineligible for the following game, which was the state semifinal.“Free Bryce” has been the team’s mantra, Santman joked. He was freed for Saturday’s championship game and made an immediate impact, going 3-for-3 with four RBI.“I was definitely just waiting to get after it,” Carl said. “That was really tough to (sit in the semifinal game), but the boys still got it done for me. So it was nice to be back.”Mclauchlin had a suspicion Carl might be extra motivated after watching from the dugout the day before.“I could tell up there in (batting practice),” he said. “He was locked in.”UW commit Jake Miller, who has been one of the team’s top hitters all season, went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a walk. Now he’s a state champion.“It’s the best feeling I’ve ever felt in my life,” he said. “This is what we’ve worked all season for, it’s what we prepared for, it’s what our goal was from the beginning.”It was a historic school year for the Sumner Spartans. The football team won its second consecutive 4A title in the fall under longtime coach Keith Ross, who was in attendance for Saturday’s baseball game.The girls basketball team also played in the 4A state championship game, falling to Davis in the winter and the boys soccer team played in the 4A state championship game at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup on Saturday, falling 3-1 to Eastmont.

Two years after winning a state title at Don Bosco, Dylan Harper is headed the NBA Finals.The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals on May 30 to punch their ticket to face the New York Knicks in a rematch of the 1999 NBA Finals.Harper, a 6-foot-5 guard, was the No. 2 pick in last year's NBA Draft. He scored 1,646 career points in his high school career − half of his freshman season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic − before starring at Rutgers for one season.He scored 26 points in the 2024 Non-Public A state final as Don Bosco beat Paul VI, 56-29, to finish the season on a 19-game winning streak. Longtime Ironmen coach Kevin Diviero called Harper "the best player we’ve ever had at the school” after the win.The Spurs enter the finals coming off a grueling seven-game series against the defending-champion Thunder. The Knicks will be well-rested after sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals, part of an 11-game winning streak dating back to Game 4 of the first round.Dylan's father, Ron Sr., won five NBA championships during a 14-year NBA career, winning three with the Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls and two with the Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers. Dylan's older brother, Ron Jr., also starred at Don Bosco and Rutgers and now plays for the Boston Celtics.This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Dylan Harper, Spurs on to NBA Finals - rookie from Don Bosco, Rutgers

Even with the majesty that is watching Victor Wembanyama defy the laws of physics on the basketball court, San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet may have made the play of the season for his team. During Saturday night's Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals in Oklahoma City, the Thunder saw a perfect opportunity to flip momentum in the fourth quarter. Center Isaiah Hartenstein came up with a steal with his team down 97-91 and looked clear for a dunk to put his team within four. Victor Wembanyama getting away with Flagrant 1 landed Thunder coach a techThat would have put the Spurs on the defense with the lead collapsing against the hosting team. However, Kornet flew in to save the day and get the block. That play arguably kept the Thunder from seizing momentum and gave the Spurs just enough of a jolt to close out key minutes and book a trip to the NBA Finals. LUKE KORNET CHASE DOWN BLOCKWHAT A PLAY. pic.twitter.com/CBtPExPMUR— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 31, 2026You never know who will step up in the playoffs when you need them most. On Saturday night, it was Kornet. This article originally appeared on For The Win: Did Luke Kornet save the Spurs' season in Game 7 with huge block?

The family of Claude Lemieux will be donating the NHL great’s brain to the Boston University CTE Center, the family announced in a statement on Saturday. Lemieux, a four-time Stanley Cup champion and 27-year NHL veteran, died on Thursday at age 60.In the statement, the family said that Lemieux’s brain will be donated to the UNITE Brain Bank to become part of the Center’s research into chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), as well as other brain injuries and repetitive head trauma. The statement was posted to the Instagram account of Brendan Lemieux, Claude’s son, who is also a former NHL player.The statement clarifies that Claude Lemieux has not been posthumously diagnosed with CTE.“The family emphasizes that this decision is a gift to science, to athletes, and to future generations of families seeking answers. No conclusions should be drawn at this time regarding any diagnosis,” the statement adds.View this post on InstagramIn addition, the family has given the CTE Center permission to use Lemieux’s name publicly when announcing findings related to the donation.In the statement, the Lemieux family also addressed reports about the manner of Lemieux’s death. The Athletic reported Thursday that the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office is considering Lemieux’s death a suicide, and has declined to provide additional information other than confirming the NHL player’s death.“The family recognized that there has been public reporting about the circumstances of Claude’s death. Suicide is complex, and the family asks media and the public to discuss this loss with care, compassion and respect for those who loved him,” the statement said, while also including information for the United States Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (988).The Boston University CTE Center is one of the preeminent research centers studying the effects of repetitive head trauma in athletes, military personnel and first responders. Suicidal thoughts and behaviors are among the symptoms of CTE, per the Center’s research.Per the Center’s website, more than 1,700 brains have been donated to be studied, including more than 800 that have been diagnosed with CTE.

Start spreading the news: The New York Knicks are underdogs in their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999.Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs beat the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder 111-103 in Game 7 on Saturday night to advance to face the Knicks in the 2026 NBA Finals. The Thunder had been the favorite at sportsbooks to win the 2025-26 NBA title throughout the season.The Spurs opened as -210 favorites in the series, with the Knicks at +170.The Knicks had been favorites in every series this postseason — -300 vs. the Atlanta Hawks, -275 vs. the Philadelphia 76ers and -300 vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers — but will be an underdog for the first time in this playoffs in the franchise’s long-awaited return to the finals.Play 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world's biggest soccer tournamentThis will be the sixth time the Knicks have been in the NBA Finals since 1970 — and the Knicks have been underdogs in every one, except that 1970 matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers in which New York entered as a -160 favorite, per Sports Odds History. The Knicks won that series seven games.Here are the odds for the Knicks’ five other finals appearances since 1970:1970: Knicks (-160) beat Lakers (+140) in seven games1972: Knicks (+200) lose to Lakers (-250) in five games1973: Knicks (+140) beat Lakers (-160) in five games1994: Knicks (+180) lose to Houston Rockets (-220) in seven games1999: Knicks (+600) lose to Spurs (-900) in five gamesNew York comes into the series winners of 11 straight postseason games — 10-1 against the spread in those contests — winning them by an average of 23.8 points per game en route to consecutive sweeps of the 76ers and Cavaliers.“I’m shading towards the Knicks because of how much liability we have here,” Thomas Gable, sportsbook director at The Borgata in Atlantic City told Yahoo Sports on Thursday. “I think there’s going to be a lot of public money on the Knicks once this series price opens and the price is going to dip.Gable noted that he “doesn’t want any more Knicks money” and that his book had taken several five-figure wagers on New York to win the title this week.The Spurs are 4.5-point home favorites in Game 1 on Wednesday night, June 3.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts Saturday, May 9, 2026, after losing the Fever’s season opener game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Dallas Wings defeated the Indiana Fever, 107-104.The Indiana Fever have enjoyed the return of Caitlin Clark this season after she missed all but 13 games last season with various lower-body injuries. Clark had to shake off some rust in her first few games of the season, especially from the three-point line, but has looked more like the player who won Rookie of the Year and was named to first-team All-WNBA.Unfortunately for Clark and the Fever, she really struggled both on offense and defense against the Golden State Valkyries. Those struggles stretched into her next game against the Portland Fire on Thursday night.Clark turned in her worst performance of the season, going 1-7 from the field for only six points. After committing her fourth foul in the third quarter, head coach Stephanie White made the decision to sit Clark and didn’t reinsert her until there were six minutes left in the fourth. In total, Clark only played 22 minutes of the game, just over half of the total action.Caitlin Clark scored single digits for the 7th time in her career in Indiana’s loss vs. Portland Clark’s 6 points also marks her lowest scoring game since June 24, 2025 vs. the Storm. pic.twitter.com/GH7kqf4SAm— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) May 31, 2026Clark’s struggles on the defensive end were pronounced once again, with Portland’s game plan clearly to attack her there. Fans on social media weren’t quiet about the performance Clark turned in.“But she the face of the league? Over an actual point guard with finesse ? And an actual dribble drive game ? Man stop it,” one fan wrote on X.“What a fall from grace,” someone else added.“Caitlin defense is just terrible at times. teams now have just said we are gonna hunt and attack her over and over,” one person added.“It appears CaitlinClark time in Indiana is coming to an end. I think it’s best the Fever let Caitlin go to the Cleveland expansion team. Because I don’t see her fitting with any other team right now,” one fan added.There’s still a lot of the season left for Clark and the Fever to get things figured out, but they’ll need her to be better. If not, one of the sport’s brightest stars could flame out far too soon.The post ‘Just terrible at times’: Caitlin Clark comes under fire after struggles deepen appeared first on The Comeback: Today’s Top Sports Stories & Reactions.

Though we already heard the news, it's now official that Scottie Pippen's son, former Michigan and Cal guard Justin, is now a member of the Ohio State basketball team. If you wonder what the Buckeyes are getting with his arrival -- seeing how he did much of his work on the West Coast out of sight -- it might be important to catch some of his highlights from last season at Cal.Before that, though, the numbers say that he's developed into a very good player since he played his freshman season up in Ann Arbor at that school. Last year, Pippen averaged 14.2 points, 4.6 assists, and 3.9 rebounds in 30.8 minutes per contest for the Golden Bears. That's the type of production that should be able to plug into the Ohio State rotation very, very well.But to get a better look at Pippen and what he can do, we give you some of his highlights from last season, thanks to what the Ohio State Hoops X account shared earlier this week.From California to Columbus, Justin's just getting started 📹 pic.twitter.com/a7goAJ6CiE— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) May 27, 2026Pippen may not have the size that his dad does, but he's a guard who can handle the ball and score going to the rim, and he should develop into a better player next season.Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: WATCH: Ohio State basketball transfer guard Justin Pippen highlights

Victor Wembanyama continues to do the unthinkable. On Saturday, the Spurs defeated the Thunder 111–103 in Game 7 to clinch the franchise’s first Western Conference title in 12 years. Wembanyama scored a team-high 22 points in the win and was named MVP of the conference finals. The victory guarantees the NBA’s recent run of parity will continue with its eighth different champion in eight years. The Spurs will face the Knicks in the NBA Finals with Game 1 set for Wednesday at Frost Bank Center. Tipoff is slated for 8:30 pm ET on ABC. It’s a rematch of the 1999 NBA Finals in which the eighth-seeded Knicks fell to the top-seeded Spurs in five games. The victory marked the beginning of the Spurs dynasty, the first of five titles the organization would win behind coach Gregg Popovich and star forward Tim Duncan. Wembanyama has led the Spurs to the Finals in his third season in the league and first postseason. This Spurs roster has a trio of players younger than 23 in Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and rookie Dylan Harper, plus 28-year-old De’Aaron Fox; Fox is the only Spurs starter who had previously played in the postseason (with the Kings). It is extremely rare for a team with no playoff experience to win the conference. The matchup pits the NBA’s biggest market in the Knicks against one of its smallest. But with Wembanyama’s potential as the future face of the league, it should put ABC in position for a major viewership spike compared to the 2025 Finals, which averaged 10.27 million viewers for the seven-game Thunder-Pacers series, down 9.3% compared to the 2024 Celtics-Mavericks series, and the least-watched NBA Finals since 2021 when the Bucks defeated the Suns.The Knicks will attempt to win the franchise’s first NBA title since 1973, and third overall. A Knicks win would also mark New York City’s first championship in the four major men’s sports since the Giants won the Super Bowl in 2012. New York won the Eastern Conference with the second-highest payroll in the NBA, behind only the Cavaliers. New York’s active salary cap allocations for this season are $207.4 million, according to Spotrac. The Spurs had a team salary of roughly $174 million, which ranked 19th in the league. Wembanyama is still on his rookie contract, though he is expected to sign a five-year, $252 million extension this summer, as are his young co-stars Castle and Harper. The Knicks are looking to snap a half-century long championship drought. Just like they did in 1999, the Spurs are looking to start another dynasty.The post Spurs Shock Thunder to Punch Ticket to NBA Finals Against Knicks appeared first on Front Office Sports.

The remains of the two workers who were still missing after the blast this week at a Washington State paper mill were recovered on Saturday, officials said.

The Los Angeles Lakers are about to begin what could turn out to be a very consequential offseason. They're projected to have tens of millions of dollars of salary cap space, as well as two future first-round draft picks to offer in a trade, and those resources could allow them to start to truly build a championship-caliber team around Luka Doncic.Los Angeles will also have the No. 25 pick in this year's draft. They have been starting to work out prospects in this year's draft class, including Alex Karaban, a 6-foot-8, 225-pound forward from the University of Connecticut.Karaban isn't that athletic (his vertical leap was reportedly recorded at just 33 inches) and his wingspan is a modest 6-foot-11. However, he has a reputation for being a fine shooter. In four years with the Huskies (he redshirted as a freshman), he shot 37.4% from 3-point range and 46.8% overall while averaging 12.5 points and five rebounds a game.The Huskies won back-to-back NCAA championships in 2024 and 2025 with Karaban contributing as a starter. He had originally declared for the draft two years ago, but he changed his mind and remained at Storrs for two more years.Karaban is a strong standstill shooter, as well as a reliable shooter off of movement. Despite his lack of hops, he averaged one block a game during his four years at the University of Connecticut, including 1.5 blocks a game during the 2024-25 campaign. He is also a good connective passer who can keep a possession going.Many feel he could be a late second-round draft pick. While the Lakers don't have a second-round selection this year, they have a history of buying such picks, and Karaban is a player who could help them off the bench if he pans out.This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: 2026 Lakers draft prospects: Alex Karaban

🚨 Toluca defeat Tigres on penalties in Concacaf Champions Cup finalBacked by a lively home crowd, Deportivo Toluca topped Tigres UANL on penalties in an all-Mexican Concacaf Champions Cup final.Scorers: Díaz 103' ; Henrique 113Penalties: 6 - 5After a cagey, but uneventful first-half, both teams went into the break scoreless. The Liga MX sides had a even share of possession and two shots on target each, through 45 minutes.In a cruel twist of fate, Marcelo Flores was forced off through an injury in the 78th minute – just a day after being named to Canada's World Cup squad.Flores was replaced by Tigres legend André-Pierre Gignac, who forced a stunning reaction save from Luis García with his first touch of the match.However, after another 45-minute stalemate, the match headed to extra-time.Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Toluca's Jorge Díaz fired a low-driven shot across the face of goal and into the bottom-left corner to finally break the deadlock.But remarkably, it wasn't over as Tigres' Joaquim Henrique equalised ten minutes later with an acrobatic, leaping header, with the game eventually going to penalties.The penalties proved to be just as tight as the rest of the match, with Toluca coming away with a 6-5 win in the shootout.It is the club's third Concacaf Champions Cup title and their first since 2003.Meanwhile, it is the ultimate heartbreak for Tigres as they finish runner-up in a final that, well and truly, could have gone either way.

The NBA Finals matchup is official as the San Antonio Spurs will take on the New York Knicks for the Larry O'Brien Trophy.Victor Wembanyama continues Wemby-mania with Stephon Castle and rookie sensation Dylan Harper as he marches into his first NBA Finals with the Spurs. The center has already had an outstanding postseason with the most blocks in a game, and, at 22, he was the youngest player to have a 40-point, 20-rebound in playoff history.After bulldozing through the conference semifinals and finals, this is the Knicks' first time making it to the championship round since 1999. Josh Hart, Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges will seek to bring the Big Apple back to glory with Ben Stiller, Spike Lee and Timothée Chalamet cheering them on every step of the way.The NBA Finals tip off on Wednesday, June 3 in San Antonio.Here are USA TODAY Sports' expert picks:NBA Finals predictionsNick Brinkerhoff: Knicks over Spurs in 6Bryan Kalbrosky: Knicks over Spurs in 6Victoria Hernandez: Knicks over Spurs in 7Mark Giannotto: Knicks over Spurs in 6Lorenzo Reyes: Spurs over Knicks in 7Marcus Smith: Knicks over Spurs in 7This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA Finals predictions: Knicks vs. Spurs

BYU's Jane Hedengren reacts after breaking the NCAA 10,000-meter record Thursday, May 28, 2026, at the NCAA West regionals in Fayetteville, Arkansas. | Emma Thomas, BYU Photo BYU’s incomparable Jane Hedengren stayed on pace to compete for national championships in two distance running events on Saturday night as the NCAA Division I Track & Field West Preliminaries wrapped up in Fayetteville, Arkansas.Having won the 10,000 meters on Thursday night to qualify for the finals of that event in Eugene, Oregon, in two weeks, Hedengren was back on the track at John McDonnell Field Saturday in the 5,000 meters. The freshman from Provo’s Timpview High easily won her heat with a time of 15 minutes, 17.93 seconds, but finished third overall as Iowa State’s Betty Kipkore and New Mexico’s Pamela Kosgei posted better times in the second heat.Kipkore’s time of 15:14.28 broke the facility record of 15:17.79, set by Alabama’s Mercy Chelangat in 2021.The 2026 national finals run from June 10-13 at Hayward Field in Eugene, the 17th time the national championships will have been held in Oregon.Hedengren will be joined in Eugene by several other outstanding female athletes from BYU, including steeplechasers Taylor Lovell and Raygan Dimond, mid-distance runners Carlee Hansen, Tessa Buswell, Kristie Solomon and Carmen Alder, sprinter Paje Rasmussen and discus thrower Kaiah Fisher.Utah’s Mackenzie Rogers (steeplechase) and Chelsea Amoah (200 meters) also qualified for nationals on Saturday.After the 5,000 meter run concluded Saturday, the meet was delayed due to lightning in the area and the women’s 4x400 relay — which included a team from BYU — had not been contested as of 9 p.m. MT.BYU’s Taylor Rohatinsky (16th) and Jenna Hutchins (26th) also ran in the 5,000 meters Saturday, but did not qualify for nationals. By far, the state of Utah’s best showing was in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, as BYU’s Taylor Lovell placed first with a time of 9:38.36. Fellow BYU junior Raygan Dimond was fourth at 10:03.02 and will also advance.Utah’s Rogers also moves on to nationals, after placing 10th with a time of 10:08.03.Utah State’s Shelby Jensen (13th), Utah’s Sona Kourilova (14th) and BYU’s Addie Meldrum (15th) and River White (26th) also showed well in the national quarterfinals of the steeplechase, but will not advance.In the 1,500 meters, BYU seniors Hansen and Alder both qualified in Arkansas, with Hansen placing eighth and Alder placing ninth. Hansen’s time was 4:09.46 and Alder’s time was 4:09.77.BYU freshman Zariel Macchia placed 24th (4:31.06) and did not advance.BYU’s Paje Rasmussen, who prepped at Draper’s Corner Canyon High School, qualified in both the 100 and 200. She placed 12th in the 100 with a time of 11.13 seconds. She played 12th in the 200 with a time of 22.86 seconds.Utah’s Amoah was 11th in the 200 meters to advance, clocking in at 22.85 seconds.In the women’s discus, BYU’s Fisher, a graduate transfer from Stanford, punched her ticket to nationals with an 11th-place finish in Arkansas. Fisher’s throw of 54.67 meters came close to her season-best, a 55.09 throw in the Weber State Spring Classic.In the women’s 800 meters, BYU’s Buswell and Solomon both qualified for the national semifinals, as Buswell placed 10th (2:02.02) and Solomon placed 12th (2:02.21) in Arkansas.In the 100 meter hurdles, BYU senior Kali McEuen just missed qualifying for nationals, placing 13th with a time of 13.069 seconds. The 12th-place finisher clocked in at 13.065 seconds to edge McEuen’s time.McEuen placed 15th in the 400 meter hurdles.Utah’s 4x100 relay team, perhaps the best in school history, placed 13th with a time of 44.68 and did not advance, nor did BYU’s 4x100 relay team, which clocked in at 20th place (45.58).

Houston Rockets center Steven Adams was seen at Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals Saturday night, supporting his former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder. His presence couldn't spur Oklahoma City to a victory, however, falling to San Antonio in heartbreaking fashion. Throughout his career, Adams has played for four different franchises, but his seven years with the Thunder mark the longest stint in his 12-year career.A former No. 12 overall pick by the Thunder in the 2013 NBA Draft, Stevens averaged 9.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, one block and 0.9 steals. Although Adams hasn't been seen in a Thunder uniform in six seasons, a mural of him still remains up in Oklahoma City.This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Rockets center Steven Adams makes appearance at Western Conference Finals

UW-Milwaukee's Grant Ross didn't quite get all of a pitch in the bottom of the fifth inning against Central Florida in the NCAA Tournament.But thanks to a fortuitous bounce, the ball still went over the fence for a home run at Plainsman Park in Auburn, Alabama.That's because it bounced off the head of UCF centerfielder DeAmez Ross.#ForTheMKE Somewhere Jose Canseco is smiling at the Grant Ross home run #CollegeBaseball#Milwaukeepic.twitter.com/gWPpYjQ6pm— Arizona Sports Fan (@AzCardinals1988) May 31, 2026Ouch.The play was reminiscent of an infamous play in major-league baseball history in 1993, when the same thing happened to Jose Canseco with the Texas Rangers.Happy Jose Canseco Hard Head Homer Day to those who celebrate! pic.twitter.com/VMVNLS18aZ— Super 70s Sports (@Super70sSports) May 27, 2026This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: UW-Milwaukee's Grant Ross gets homer thanks to 'Canseco' head bounce

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Portland Thorns and Fire staged a unique women's sports doubleheader Saturday in the first collaboration between the NWSL and WNBA teams. The Thorns hosted the Utah Royals in a match between the top two teams in the National Women's Soccer League on Saturday afternoon, before the expansion Fire hosted Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever in the evening. The teams hyped Saturday’s matches, selling a ticket package to both events for $80. T-shirts were sold that exclaimed “Portland Loves Women’s Sports.”After the Thorns played to a 2-2 draw with the Royals, midfielder Olivia Moultrie was headed straight to the Fire game, where she was hoping to exchange jerseys with Clark. But she ultimately wanted a Fire win, too. “Obviously, this city and women’s sports, like, that’s a match made in heaven,” Moultrie said. “Honestly, I think it’s just really cool to be able to support our own team now, with the fire, awesome.”The Fire gave Moultrie her wish with a 100-84 victory.The Thorns and the Fire share the same owners, Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal, who operate the teams under the entity Raj Sports. “Just seeing the support that they show for both of our organizations, it means a lot. I think as just as a woman, you want that support. And just seeing where women’s basketball is going and growing and being able to know that the city’s behind us, it’s really cool,” Fire guard Sarah Ashlee Barker said.The Thorns, who have played in Portland since 2013 as one of the founding teams of the NWSL, drew 20,053 fans. The Fire announced a sellout crowd of 19,347 at the Moda Center. The two teams will soon share the nation’s first performance center shared by pair of professional women’s teams in different sports. The $150 million center, a repurposed former Nike facility on 12 acres west of Portland, is set to open Aug. 22. “I hope in the future that we are always going to feel like we are one city and make sure we have two teams with one organization and one community with that,” Thorns coach Robert Vilahamn said. “So I'm very much looking forward to the collaboration.”___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer___AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

LINCOLN, NE — Ole Miss baseball's game against Nebraska in the NCAA Tournament has entered a last-second delay.With Ole Miss holding a 6-3 lead over Nebraska heading into the ninth inning, lightning and the looming threat of rain has forced a pause at Haymarket Park. Umpires paused the game as the ninth inning was set to begin.The Rebels (37-21) played a 14-inning game on May 29 against Arizona State that was also delayed due to weather.There has not been a time estimate released for when the game could resume. Fans have been instructed to exit the venue and take cover in their vehicles. The tarp is out to cover the field and lightning is in the air.Lincoln Regional schedule in 2026 NCAA TournamentFriday, May 29Game 1: Nebraska 4, South Dakota State 1Game 2: Ole Miss 7, Arizona State 6Saturday, May 30Game 3: Arizona State 17, SDSU 0Game 4: Nebraska vs Ole Miss, 7 p.m. CTSunday, May 31Game 5: Game 3 winner vs Game 4 loser, 2 p.m. CTGame 6: Game 4 winner vs Game 5 winner, 7 p.m. CTSam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Ole Miss baseball, Nebraska in weather delay at NCAA Tournament

When you have an athletic department as big as what Ohio State has, there's always something going on. While football and men's basketball take most of the news, there's plenty of other sports going on, and one of those is men's soccer. You may have missed it, and if so, we are here to let you know that the complete Ohio State men's soccer schedule was announced for the 2026 season, and in the event that you'd like to catch a game, or just follow along with how the Buckeyes do, we've got all the details for you.The Buckeyes will be looking to improve on the 2025 season that saw them finish the year 6-10-0 overall and 3-7-0 in the Big Ten, good for a ninth-place tie in the conference. Here's how the campaign looks for the upcoming season:2026 Schedule – Ohio State Men's Soccer Aug. 7 Friday Wright State - Preseason Aug. 11 Tuesday IU Indianapolis - Preseason Aug. 15 Saturday University of Indianapolis - Preseason Aug. 20 Thursday Virginia Tech Aug. 24 Monday DePaul (Wolstein Week) Aug. 28 Friday Memphis (Wolstein Week) Sept. 3 Thursday Northern Kentucky Sept. 8 Tuesday @ Kentucky Sept. 11 Friday @ Wisconsin Sept. 18 Friday Rutgers Sept. 21 Monday Washington Sept. 25 Friday @ George Mason Oct. 2 Friday @ Penn State Oct. 10 Saturday @ UCLA Oct. 16 Friday Michigan State Oct. 20 Tuesday Indiana Oct. 24 Saturday @ Maryland Oct. 30 Friday Northwestern (Senior Night) Nov. 4 Wednesday @ Michigan Times and broadcast designations will be announced at a later dateThe 2026 Ohio State men's soccer schedule is set. #GoBuckspic.twitter.com/CcgBXVCikL— Ohio State Men’s Soccer (@OhioStateMSOC) May 26, 2026Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State men's soccer schedule for 2026 announced | Buckeyes Wire

An emotional Victor Wembanyama, left, celebrates with San Antonio Spurs teammates Stephon Castle and De'Aaron Fox after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder to advance to the NBA Finals (Joshua Gateley)The San Antonio Spurs, sparked by superstar Victor Wembanyama, advanced to the NBA Finals by dethroning defending champion Oklahoma City 111-103 on Saturday, booking a championship showdown against New York.The Spurs captured the best-of-seven Western Conference finals 4-3 to reach the NBA Finals, which begin on Wednesday against the Knicks in San Antonio."Though we're still hungry for one more, this feeling is, I can't explain it, it's so powerful," Wembanyama said. "We want four more. We're not done. Go Spurs go."French 7-foot-4 (2.24m) center Wembanyama scored 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds, Julian Champagnie added 20 points including six three-pointers and Stephon Castle had 16 points for the Spurs, who led the winner-take-all contest almost the entire way."We had a good team, a great team," Champagnie said. "We had to stay the course and play a good game."We were passing the ball. We were playing as a team. We come out here and play together."We never knew if we were going to get this far but when you've got the greatest player in the world things happen."That was a nod to Wembanyama, the Most Valuable Player of the Western Conference finals and the NBA Defensive Player of the Year."It doesn't mean anything for me other than the fact we are a team," Wembanyama said of his series MVP award. "I got this for all of us and all the fans right here."Of his teammates, Wembanyama added, "They don't even know how much I love them. They are just incredible. Everybody stepped up tonight.""Wemby" dominated in his first playoff game seven and was emotional at the finish, laughing and crying and hugging teammates over reaching his first NBA Finals."Realizing that some part of the childhood dream was going to come true," the 22-year-old Frenchman said of his reaction.The win sets up an NBA Finals repeat of this season's NBA Cup final, which the Knicks won with a 124-113 defeat of San Antonio last December in Las Vegas.NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City with 35 points.- Forget experience -A Spurs squad with only one player that had been in a game seven before overcame a more experienced Thunder squad that won the title in a game seven last year."Back in October we knew we had a chance to be pretty good," Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. "There's a lot being talked about, words like competitiveness, resolve, togetherness, execution -- who gives a damn about the word experience?"They had to go out and execute and they did."Wembanyama hit two three-pointers in a 17-9 run to start the fourth quarter that lifted the Spurs ahead 97-86 with eight minutes remaining."Wemby" was whistled for his fifth foul seconds later and went to the bench, boosting Thunder hopes in the dying minutes while Gilgeous-Alexander tried to rally the reigning champions.Spurs fill-in big man Luke Kornet blocked a fast break dunk attempt by Isaiah Hartenstein and the Spurs added a Castle basket and Champagnie three-pointer for a 102-91 lead with 5:33 to play.The Thunder charged in the final seconds but could never close the gap within a possession at the end.The Thunder, without forward Jalen Williams due to a hamstring injury, had 20 first-half points from reserves and 17 from offensive rebounds to stay close.Gilgeous-Alexander scored 11 of his 19 first-half points in a 20-5 Thunder run that gave Oklahoma City a 53-49 lead.San Antonio, however, closed the first half on a 7-0 run, a dunk by Wembanyama giving the Spurs a 56-53 half-time edge.Champagnie sank three three-pointers and two free throws for 11 points in a 16-2 Spurs run that lifted San Antonio ahead 76-65 but Gilgeous-Alexander sparked a 12-3 run to set the stage for the late fightback.js/rcw

How Spurs' Game 7 win over Thunder extends NBA's historic streak of parity originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Another NBA season, another new champion.In the modern era of professional sports in North American, competitive balance and the idea of "parity" — essentially meaning that as many teams as possible have a realistic shot at championship contention — has become a hot topic. The NFL has often been an ideal example, with many teams going from bad-to-good each year, while MLB's upcoming labor battle also is centered around a debate over payroll and how it impacts competitive balance.But over in the NBA, there has never been more parity.With the San Antonio Spurs taking down the defending champion Thunder in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, there will officially be yet another new team hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy in 2026, extending the league's streak of differing champions.Here's a look at the NBA's now-eight different champions in eight years, regardless of the results from Knicks vs. Spurs in the Finals.NBA PLAYOFFS HQ:Live NBA scores | NBA playoff schedule | NBA playoff bracketNBA champions since 20192019: Raptors2020: Lakers2021: Bucks2022: Warriors2023: Nuggets2024: Celtics2025: Thunder2026: TBD (Knicks or Spurs)In many ways, the results of the 2010s era of the NBA has shaped the 2020s. In the previous decade, Finals matchups may have been a bit more predictable — LeBron James-led teams made the Finals in eight-straight years from 2011-18, the Spurs reached the stage twice, and the Warriors shook the league's landscape by making five NBA Finals appearances while winning three.However, since the 2018 iteration of Warriors vs. Cavaliers — which was the fourth-straight year of those teams facing off in the Finals — a new team has won it all.The trend began with Kawhi Leonard's dominant 2019 postseason, as Toronto took down Golden State in the Finals following Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson injuries. The Warriors' fate was altered from there with Durant's departure — and after the Lakers hoisted the 2020 NBA title in the Orlando bubble, even James hasn't been able to overcome the NBA's parity.Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokic, Jayson Tatum and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have all guided their teams to a title in the 2020s, with only Curry being a multi-time champion.Now, either Jalen Brunson or Victor Wembanyama will join them. The 2026 NBA Finals will mark the eighth-straight year of a new champion when either the Spurs or Knicks finish the job.MORE: Knicks vs. Spurs predictions, odds, schedule and moreNBA teams with Finals appearances since 2019Warriors (2)Celtics (2)Heat (2)RaptorsLakersSunsBucksNuggetsMavericksThunderPacersKnicksSpursThe NBA's parity only grows clearer when examining the teams to reach the Finals since 2019. Only three squads have made it to the Finals twice — the Warriors lost in 2019, then won in 2022. That's the year the Celtics lost, but Boston bounced back with a championship in 2024. Unfortunately for the Heat, both of their Finals appearances behind Jimmy Butler (2020, 2023) ended in losses.Overall, since 2019, 13 of the 30 NBA teams (43.3% of the league) have reached the Finals at least once, with the Spurs and Knicks now added to that list.MORE: Watch as Victor Wembanyama gets emotional after clinching first Finals appearanceWhen was the last back-to-back NBA champion?For most of the 2025-26 season, it appeared the Thunder were poised to make a push for a second-straight title. After winning 68 regular season games, Oklahoma City opened the postseason on a dominant run — but winning consecutive championships in the modern NBA is looking more difficult by the year.The last time a team went back-to-back was the 2017 and 2018 Warriors, who dismantled James' Cavaliers in both Finals thanks to their historic core-four of Curry, Durant, Thompson and Draymond Green. Durant won both Finals MVP awards.Prior to those Warriors, the 2011 and 2012 Heat were the last team to go back-to-back. MORE: Inside Chet Holmgren's struggles vs. Spurs in WCF

May 30—JAMESTOWN — There is no new state champion in Class B softball this year.Central Cass topped Kindred/Richland 10-2 Saturday afternoon to win the 2026 Class B State Softball Championship."It feels really good," Central Cass head coach Scott Kost said. "There is a lot of work that goes into it and the kids have worked so hard and they have done everything we've asked them to do. It's been a really good season. This is really rewarding."Kindred/Richland was not ranked entering the tournament. The Vikings defeated the third-seeded Des Lacs-Burlington and Velva/Drake-Anamoose, the No. 2 seed, in the first two rounds of the tournament.They just couldn't quite knock off the No. 1 seed."They are a good team and they are well-coached and do a lot of things right so this was a great accomplishment," Kost said.The Squirrels have won eight of the Class B State Championships since the program started in 2012. In every year except 2016, 2020 and 2023, the Squirrels have played for a state championship. The squad has been back-to-back champs three times (2018-2019, 2021-2022, 2025-2026)."You have to start over and we talk about that right away," Kost said of how the program handles success. "What we did last year doesn't really matter. What is important is putting the work in right away — and they did that."While they were the No. 1 seed entering the tournament, the Squirrels had to come from behind on a couple of occasions during the weekend.After defeating Pembina County North 13-3 in the quarterfinals, the Squirrels had to do battle with Beulah for a spot in the championship game. Kost's crew fell behind 11-4 before the bats got going. The Squirrels edged out the Miners 12-11.On Saturday, they found themselves down again.Kindred's No. 9 hitter, Lauren Schlieman, got the Vikings on the board in the top of the second with a double that split the outfielders. Schlieman's hit sent Ellie Taszarek home to make it a 1-0 ball game.At that point, all the momentum was with Kindred but — in the fourth — something shifted."(Earlier today) we talked about how we beat Kindred in the Region championship game and what our game plan needed to be and what we needed to do and the kids just did a really good job of going out and executing it," Kost said. "They didn't take anything for granted — they came out and worked hard and did what they needed to do."The Vikings faced 13 batters in the bottom of the fourth. Central Cass strung together nine runs on five hits."I was feeling a lot better after that," Kost said with a smile. "That was a big inning. We ran the bases well, we had some timely hitting and that really set the tone for the rest of the game."Senior Aspyn Prien hit her second home run of the tournament during the inning. Prien was one of the nominees for the 2026 Senior Athlete of the Year."She has been a leader really from the day she came into our program as a seventh grader," Kost said of Prien. "She is a key leader of this team and she played an amazing game."While Saturday signaled the end of the road for Prien and the other five seniors on Central Cass' roster, the rest of the Squirrels will get back to business next week."We are going to take a deep breath and enjoy this and enjoy what went into this," Kost said. "I really want the kids to soak all of this in and enjoy it and then we'll get some stuff going this summer."Central Cass 10, Kindred 2KIN 010 000 1 — 2 9 1CC 000 901 X — 10 11 1KIN: Charlie Odegaard; CC: Whitney Mitchell. W — Mitchell. L — OdegaardHighlights: CC — Mitchell (7 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K); Bradey Bosse 2-3, 2B; Rya Zimmerman 2-4, 2B; Madeline Steig 2-4, 3 RBI, 2B; Aspyn Prien 1-4, 3 RBI, HR.KIN — Josie Matthys 2-4; Janna Taszarek 2-4, RBI; Lauren Schlieman 1-3, RBI, 2B.Class B State Softball TournamentMay 30Seventh place: Glenburn 13, Pembina County North 11Fifth place: Thompson 8, Des Lacs-Burlington/Lewis and Clark 3Third place: Beulah 6, Velva-Drake/Anamoose 0Championship: Central Cass 10, Kindred/Richland 2

For some fans, the San Antonio Spurs’ thrilling Game 7 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder was hardly a surprise. After all, the corgi saw it coming.Air Corgi, a dog who predicts sports outcomes by acrobatically tapping balls into baskets, started going viral for her predictions for the Western Conference Finals after the picks aligned with the final results. With the Spurs’ win on Saturday, Air Corgi’s predictions have officially come true: a perfect seven-for-seven.As she does with all major playoff series, Air Corgi had seven chances to guess the outcomes of each of the seven games. In order, the dog predicted all of the wins correctly: Spurs (Game 1), Thunder (Game 2), Thunder (Game 3), Spurs (Game 4), Thunder (Game 5), Spurs (Game 6) and the Spurs rounding out the series victory in Game 7.The corgi, whose name is Lilo, has an Instagram page full of predictions for all sorts of sports. Lilo’s predictions and athletic skills have earned her various sports-themed nicknames, including Steph Furry and Fluffy Mamba.Lilo’s owner, Denny Ku, told San Antonio’s WOAI that Lilo’s accuracy rate hovers around 70%, though it depends on the sport.As the series started coming to a close, Spurs fans embraced the corgi’s predictions as proof of the team’s upcoming wins. One fan present at Game 6 in San Antonio went viral for a large sign with Lilo’s face, reading: “Trust in Corgi.”Whether or not you credit Air Corgi or series MVP Victor Wembanyama with sending the Spurs to the NBA Finals is up to you. But either way, there will be fans of the Spurs and the New York Knicks waiting with bated breath to see what the fuzzy forecaster will predict next.

Leeds United And Hull City Eye €4m Ligue 2 Attacking Ace: Should The Whites Press In?Hull City and Leeds United have both placed USL Dunkerque’s Anto Sekongo on their summer transfer radar, with the newly promoted Tigers working to build Sergej Jakirović’s squad for Premier League football. The story, initially reported by Africa Foot and subsequently picked up by Sport Witness, confirms the breadth of interest in the 21-year-old Malian.Leeds United enter the race for Ligue 2 attacking midfielderSekongo is capable of operating in central midfield, attacking midfield, and on the right side of midfield, giving him genuine versatility throughout the pitch. He joined the Ligue 2 side on a free transfer in July 2024 and has gone on to register nine goals and six assists across 34 matches this season. Those numbers, accumulated in 2,533 minutes of football, represent a productive and consistent output from a player who has only recently found a settled home in professional football.Leeds United face a crowded transfer race for the Dunkerque starAlongside Leeds and Hull, clubs including Lille, Toulouse, Lorient, Rennes, Saint-Etienne, and Samsunspor are all tracking the player, making this one of the more competitive pursuits of the summer. Samsunspor share ownership with Dunkerque, though whether that gives them any practical advantage remains unclear. Sekongo’s contract runs until 2028, and Transfermarkt value him at €4m, meaning Dunkerque stand to generate a significant profit on a player they recruited for nothing. His final decision is expected soon.A player at this price point who can both score and create is exactly the kind of affordable, high-upside profile that suits where Leeds United currently stand financially, given Squad Cost Ratio restrictions will shape their approach this summer.Should Leeds United make a serious move for this €4m midfielder?LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 24: Daniel Farke, Manager of Leeds United, applauds the fans after the Premier League match between West Ham United and Leeds United at the London Stadium on May 24, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images)Honestly, this one makes sense on paper, but the picture is far from straightforward. Farke has identified an attacking midfielder as one of his top priorities this summer, alongside a striker and a left wing-back. Nine goals and four assists in Ligue 2 at 21 years old tells you the hunger is real. The fee is manageable. The profile is suitable as well.But Ligue 2 is not the Premier League. The step up is enormous, and Leeds United are operating under SCR constraints that demand measured spending rather than speculative signings. Spending on a player who may need a full season to adjust carries risk. Farke’s priorities lean towards an attacking midfielder who can contribute immediately, and Sekongo, for all his promise, arrives unproven at the top level.Leeds United should monitor this situation, but they should not rush. The smarter move is to secure a proven Premier League-ready option first, then revisit Sekongo if the numbers hold and the player chooses England.

Chelsea Are Ready To Launch A Move For This Liverpool Defender: Should Alonso Get Him On Board?In a recent report, L’Equipe stated that Chelsea are ready to launch a move for Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate, who is set to become a free agent this summer. It has been stated that the Blues would have to rival Real Madrid in the race to land the France international in this summer transfer period.Konate’s Up-And-Down Season In English FootballKonate has been a rock at the back for Liverpool, but has struggled to find consistency at times with his performances at the heart of Arne Slot’s defence. The 27-year-old has made 51 appearances for the Reds this season, scoring two goals across all fronts.The French talent remains one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League when he is playing with confidence on the pitch. Thus, it is no wonder that the Blues are in the running to sign him this summer.Konate’s current contract at the Merseyside club will run out at the end of next month, which could open the door for Chelsea to sign him on a free transfer this off-season.LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – APRIL 11: Ibrahima Konate of Liverpool gestures during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Fulham at Anfield on April 11, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)Should Chelsea Boss Xabi Alonso Get Konate On Board?Konate can get stuck in with some solid tackles to make life tough for the opposition attackers. He can scan the danger well to secure the ball back for his team inside his half.The French defensive ace doesn’t mind putting his foot through the ball when the opposition are on the front foot. He is even proficient at playing his way out from the back. Konate has got a wealth of experience in the Premier League and won’t take much time to adjust to life at the West London club. However, he has had a dip in form for Liverpool this season, which makes it a gamble for Chelsea.We can expect Konate to enhance the quality of Xabi Alonso’s backline. He is more than capable of nailing down a regular starting place at Stamford Bridge in the coming years.At 27, Konate is about to enter his prime, which makes him a decent choice for the Blues to pursue this summer. He might help the Blues challenge for some major honours in the future. Thus, Alonso should consider going all out to get Konate on board in this summer transfer window.

A Chinese-born woman accused of infiltration has set off a debate over how Taiwan defends its democracy without profiling migrants from China.

The San Antonio Spurs are in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014, an eternity under the standard set by Gregg Popovich. If you want to see Game 1, it will cost you.According to Gametime data as of Saturday evening, the get-in price for Wednesday’s series opener between the Spurs and New York Knicks currently sits at $1,905, with Game 2 on Friday starting at $2,044. That is a lot of money… until you see what fans in New York are paying for the first two Finals games at Madison Square Garden.Game 3 on June 8: $4,112.Game 4 on June 10: $3,722.If you wanted to go to just the first four games of the NBA Finals, that adds up to $11,783.The prices get even more ridiculous if you look at the median-priced tickets being sold. Those Spurs games jump to $3,452 and $3,832, while the Knicks games are $7,887 and $7,571. A $22,742 total.And if they happen, Games 5 through 7 are slated to be even more expensive. The current median-priced ticket for Game 6 in New York is $10,995.Victor Wembanyama in the NBA Finals, against a Knicks team looking for its first title of the century. Dustin Satloff via Getty ImagesAll of that will happen when the team in the NBA’s premier market reaches its first NBA Finals since 1999, in addition to the rush to see Victor Wembanyama play his first career NBA Finals.Both teams impressed on their way to the Finals. The Spurs took on the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder and beat them in a series that lived up to the hype, with Wembanyama looking primed to take over as the face of the NBA. The Knicks have run roughshod over the competition for two-and-a-half rounds, with a 14-game winning streak and the best 14-game point differential in NBA history.It figures to be an intense Finals, and tickets are being priced accordingly.

CHARLESTON — Chaz Oberkfell is a triple crown winner and the members of the Auburn 4x400-meter relay cemented a legacy. Oberkfell, a Gillespie senior distance runner, is the current Illinois High School Association holder of the one-mile, two-mile and three-mile races in Class 1A in the state of Illinois, and the way he did it was a little surprising. In the second of three heats of the 3,200-meter run — organized by slowest times to fastest times — Oberkfell won the heat in 9 minutes, 8.17 seconds, then had to wait around for more than an hour to watch as Toulon Stark County sophomore Evan Knobloch won his third heat in 9:32.06, giving Oberkfell a rather anticlimactic, but still satisfying, state title on Saturday at O'Brien Field on the Eastern Illinois University campus. “It feels really good,” Oberkfell said. “A lot of pressure lifted off for sure. I mean, just coming in today knowing I had this opportunity is just amazing.”He wasn’t done. In the 1,600 run, he was pushed to the limit by Sullivan’s Johnathan Iacobazzi, beating the fellow senior by just 0.07 seconds in 4:14.66.“That was very competitive,” Oberkfell said. “I just want to thank God (that) He gave me the legs there for that last lap. I mean, after that 800 I was feeling it and just coming back for it, I was a little nervous. "I got to the last 100 (meters) whenever I saw he was slightly in front of me, I'm like, I got to go. I’ve just seen (Iacobazzi’s) times are really strong, especially from last year. And so just coming into that last 100 with him slightly in front of me, I'm like, ‘I'm going.’ And that last stretch, seeing him in front of me, I (didn’t) know if I could keep this pace too much longer.” In the Class 1A boys cross country state meet last November, Oberkfell won his second straight title at 14:32.10, topping Knobloch by 14.15 seconds.Oberkfell also claimed eighth place in the 800-meter run in 1:56.66.More: Glenwood doubles duo Arshad, Patel capture fifth place at state tennisAuburn repeats in the 4x400 Jacob Barth anchored the Auburn one-mile relay team to a second consecutive Class 1A state title as the Trojans set the 1A 4x400 record in 3:17.79 and beat second-place Forreston by more than five seconds. “Just proving that it wasn't an accident that we won last year, that we didn't care what anybody else did or had to say,” Barth said. “We just went out and did our own thing and showed that we belonged here.” Hunter Piper ran the opening leg and handed off to James Baisden for the second lap. It was the same start for the Auburn relay team as last year’s that won in 3:22.05. Instead of the graduated Carter Hunley getting the baton from Baisden and handing off to Barth, it was Sam Talavera, a sophomore.The Trojans didn’t skip a beat and led almost wire-to-wire.“We don't really feel too much pressure, but we knew we had a target on our back for sure,” Piper said. “We felt really good, especially this year's prelims compared to last year's, not fumbling the baton and all that, and getting a good time to start, we definitely felt confident.”Baisden said previous experience helped them level up increased pressure. “I wouldn't say (this title was) easier, but we were up to the level of competition needed to succeed,” Baisden said. “We had worked way harder than we had last year, and it just paid off.”Barth and Co. will treasure their gold medals and memories from their wins on the blue track at EIU, but the team had one thing on its mind following the win in the last race together.“Before we head back home, we're all getting the steak and shrimp combo (at the Stadium Grill in Mattoon),” Barth said, “and we can finally have a soda (now that) the season's over.” Barth also had a second-place finish in the 400-meter dash at 48.74. More: Perfect patience | Greer's walk in 7th sparks Williamsville to titleTeams bringing home hardware Thanks to a second-place finish by Chatham Glenwood’s McKenzie Doe III in the Class 2A high jump and a third-place finish from teammate Larry Wills, Glenwood vaulted both Downers Grove North and Homewood-Flossmoor to get the third-place team trophy. Doe, Wills and Class 3A state champion Jaden Jean-Paul of Evanston all cleared 6-feet, 7-inches, but Jean-Paul was awarded the win based on previous number of misses. Doe barely edged Wills in misses, but the 15 points the two combined to stun and overtake Homewood-Flossmoor. Evanston (56 points) and Belleville West (49) took first and second place in the team standings. Glenwood also got seven points from its third-place 4x100-meter relay team and seven more from the 4x200 third-place team.In 1A, Pleasant Plains finished second overall with 34 points, 17 points shy of team champ Morrison and five points in front of third-place finisher El Paso-Gridley. Auburn was seventh with 25 points and Gillespie was eighth with 22 — all recorded by Oberkfell.Elijah Teefey grabbed third for Plains in the 3,200 (9:38.54).Taylorville junior Liam Bettis was second in the Class 2A 1,600-run at 4:18.01. He also claimed seventh in the 3,200 at 9:21.89.“It feels pretty good, considering last year I wasn’t even an all-stater,” Bettis said. “It’s (also) a little upsetting because I had the lead and I made a move that I really didn’t think anybody would respond to. Congrats to (winner, Cuyler Swanson of Morris), but I thought in my mind, ‘Oh my gosh, I could be a state champion.’ “I wanted to prove something and shut some mouths up. (Swanson) came up on me and didn’t see him and didn’t hear him; wish I had another little half-gear in there, which I did for prelims.”Other area top-three resultsWills added a second-place finish in the long jump to go with his third in the high jump at 23-4 ¾. Southeast’s Kamri Sales captured second in the 2A triple jump at 46-0 ¾. Carlinville’s Austin Homer was third in the 1A pole vault, topping out at 13-11 ¼. In the 2A high jump, Jacksonville’s Darren Henry was third at 6-8 ¼. Rushville-Industry's Ian Escapa took third in the 1A triple jump at 46-6.Contact Ryan Mahan: 788-1546, ryan.mahan@sj-r.com, Twitter.com/RyanMahanSJR.This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: 2026 IHSA boys state track and field meet recap

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — When the Western Conference finals started, Victor Wembanyama watched Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hoist a Most Valuable Player trophy that the San Antonio Spurs star desperately wanted.Wembanyama left the series with an MVP trophy of his own — and a whole lot more.The French standout — in just his third season — has led the Spurs to the NBA Finals. The newly crowned Western Conference finals MVP had 22 points in a Game 7 win at Oklahoma City, one that gave San Antonio a chance to play for the NBA title for the first time since 2014. It'll be San Antonio vs. New York in the NBA Finals, starting Wednesday night.“Winning the Larry O’Brien, it’s a childhood dream,” Wembanyama said, referring to the name of the trophy given to the NBA champions. “And having a real shot at it, having a chance, a tangible chance at winning it and realizing a dream … it’s a lifetime chance. You never know when it’s going to happen again.“It’s hard to put into words. It’s almost like the meaning of my life now.”He averaged 27.3 points and 10.9 rebounds in the series, scoring at least 20 points in every game. He set the tone with a 41-point effort in a Game 1 win, then did a little of everything — dunks, blocks, playing point guard even — to keep control on the way to the Game 7 win. He was the unanimous pick as series MVP, which should be no surprise. He carried that trophy into the locker room after the game, screaming in joy at supporters and teammates.“You work all these hours, it’s for these type of emotions,” Wembanyama said. “I want to win so bad. It’s like my life depends on it.”On the night he was drafted, Wembanyama talked about all the things he knew about San Antonio. Breakfast tacos, which he couldn’t wait to try. Spanish, which he said he wanted to learn. The culture, which he said he wanted to embrace.And, of course, the winning.“The ring,” Wembanyama said that night.The ring. The championship ring. Not even three years since leaving France and coming to the U.S., Wembanyama is about to get his first chance to play for it.“The best player in the world,” Spurs forward Keldon Johnson yelled at no one in particular, but making clear everyone knew who he was talking about.He didn’t get that NBA MVP trophy. But it wouldn’t be difficult to say Wembanyama indeed is the best player in the world. Or at the very least, will be soon. He might not even be near his prime yet. The Spurs are young and built for the long haul.Translated: This may just be the start.“When you step into a game in regular season, you don’t even look at the big picture of the season. You look at what you need to do tonight, what you have to do in the first half, on the first possession,” Wembanyama said. “And when you lay a brick like this every time you get a chance and you lay it perfectly fine, at the end of the day you get a big castle — a beautiful house and we just did. This, it’s just like the entry hall of our castle right here.”___AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

DENVER (AP) — Jake McCarthy had a two-run homer and two RBIs singles, Kyle Karros also homered and the Colorado Rockies had 14 hits in an 8-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Saturday night.McCarthy homered to center in the fourth inning and singled in the fifth and seventh. The speedy outfielder also stole a base and scored three runs. Karros homered as a pinch hitter in the seventh.Ryan Feltner (2-1) pitched six innings for the Rockies, giving up four hits in his first game back since being placed on the injured list April 24 because of right ulnar nerve inflammation. He threw 63 pitches, 41 of them strikes.Adrian Houser (2-5) pitched 3 2/3 innings for the Giants. He gave up eight hits and four earned runs.Willi Castro hit an RBI single in the first inning to open the scoring. Thompson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and Hunter Goodman scored to make it 2-0. TJ Rumfield had an RBI single in the seventh.Drew Gilbert hit a two-run homer in the eighth or the Giants. Jung Hoo Lee had a two-out triple in the ninth and scored on Matt Chapman's single.Up nextColorado RHP Tanner Gordon (0-0, 5.85 ERA) was set to start against RHP Robbie Ray (3-6, 4.60) in the season finale Sunday.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

CINCINNATI, OHIO - MAY 30: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves hits a home run in the third inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on May 30, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images This season is going astonishingly well in Atlanta. They are the first team to 40 wins despite missing half of their projected rotation, having missed time from Ronald Acuna and Drake Baldwin, Ha-Seong Kim only playing 12 games and being astonishingly bad, and Austin Riley struggling. Now Schwellenbach, Waldrep, and Smith-Shawver are progressing back towards health, Ronald Acuna is healthy and in full form, Drake Baldwin should hopefully be back soon, they have the depth to bench Kim for real MLB shortstop options, and Austin Riley is (maybe? hopefully?) showing some life. This could be a SCARY team in October if health doesn’t betray them, but we’ve still got ~100 games to go for the regular season. Let’s enjoy what a journey it’s been so far, what a journey we’ve got to come, and hope for something special come October. Braves NewsRonald Acuna led the way as the Braves homered their way to a 5-2 win, with strong pitching from the bullpen behind a solid Martin Perez. MLB NewsBreakout star Munetaka Murikami will miss a month or two with a grade 2 hamstring strain. Former Braves Jarred Kelenic elected free agency after being DFA’d by the White Sox. The A’s placed veteran Luis Severino on the 15-day IL with a shoulder strain.

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — Defender Johan Vazquez scored a first-half goal and Mexico beat Australia 1-0 on Saturday night in a warm-up match for the World Cup.On a corner kick taken by Alexis Vega, Vázquez connected with a header that went in past the right post of goalkeeper Mathew Ryan in the 27th minute.Mexico extended its unbeaten streak to seven games this year and has not lost since Nov. 18, when it fell 2-1 to Paraguay in a friendly match in San Antonio.Mexico will open World Cup play June 11 against South Africa at the Azteca stadium in Mexico City. On the 18th, it will face South Korea in Guadalajara and close out the first round against Czechia on the 24th. The Mexicans will have one last warm-up match next Thursday night in Toluca against Serbia.Australia will open the tournament against Turkey on June 13 in Vancouver, British Columbia, then play the United States in Seattle on the 19th, and conclude the group stage against Paraguay on the 25th, in Santa Clara, California.The Australians last friendly match will be June 6, when they take on Switzerland at the Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

O’Shaquie Foster retained his WBC super featherweight title with a pretty clear win that the judges had a majority decision, beating Raymond Ford after a highly contentious start to their fight in Houston.One judge had the fight even, 114-114, while the other two scored it for Foster on tallies of 116-112 and 118-110. Bad Left Hook’s two unofficial cards were both in Foster’s favor, 115-113 and 117-111.Foster tossed Ford from the ring in the opening round, which came after a heated build-up that appears to be a lot more than just talk. Ford luckily didn’t take a hard spill and was able to return without problem.WHAT WAS THAT? FOSTER TOSSES RAY FORD OUT THE RING 😭#FosterFord | Live NOW on DAZN ▪️ pic.twitter.com/a9j4YxNDF8— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 31, 2026Ford (18-2-1, 8 KO) remained quite competitive for most of the fight, but he did seem to struggle with late conditioning compared to Foster (25-3, 12 KO), who closed the show nicely and may have sealed a win over a potential draw or even loss with the 11th and 12th rounds, where he was pretty clearly the better fighter.After the fight, Foster and Shakur Stevenson — a friend of Ford’s — argued in the ring, with Foster offering to fight Stevenson next. This would seem unlikely, as Stevenson has been fighting at 140 lbs and Foster remains at 130. But while they’re two divisions apart, but if there’s money there, it’s probably doable.“He was a little sharper early, but I knew I was going to start picking him apart. I told him there was levels to this, and I told the son (Ford) that I was gonna get the daddy (Stevenson) next, and that’s who I want,” Foster told DAZN’s Chris Mannix.O'SHAQUIE FOSTER AND SHAKUR STEVENSON GET INTO IT! 😱#FosterFord | Live NOW on DAZN ▪️ pic.twitter.com/7KC3NF5eRZ— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 31, 2026“I’m one of the smartest people in this ring, and all I needed to do was adjust,” Foster added. “I knew what he was going to want to do, and I just took it away from him.”Foster says he’s serious about fighting Stevenson, but open to also facing Emanuel Navarrete in a unification if that can’t get done.“Skill-for-skill, I’m the best. If I can’t get Shakur next, hopefully me and Navarrete can do it, but y’all know who I want,” he said.“(Shakur) knows this is why I (fought) his little man, to show him I was serious about making a fight with him, and I’m still serious right now. I’ll go to 140, or whatever he wants to do. If he wants to meet at 135, whatever he wants to do, let’s do it.”What would you rather see O’Shaquie Foster get next, Shakur Stevenson or Emanuel Navarrete?

We are just 98 days out from Texas teeing it up against Texas State (as much as others would like to assume otherwise). That means it’s time to start the countdown to kickoff. This countdown will take different forms depending on the day of the week. The rest of the categories will reveal themselves over the next six days but today (and subsequent Saturdays) is all about predictions for the Longhorns season. Today, I’ve circled a unit that Longhorns fans are incredibly excited and possibly somewhat nervous about, the running backs. Texas brought in Hollywood Smothers from NC State, Raleek Brown from Arizona State and freshman Derrek Cooper to overhaul the entire room. It’s unknown exactly how this group will take shape, in terms of the carries split, but I’m willing to predict the Longhorns will have two 700-yard rushers in 2026. Does Texas have the best running back duo in the country in 2026?😤 Raleek Brown, Arizona State ➡️ Texas😤 Hollywood Smothers, NC State ➡️ Texas2025 stats for the transfer portal pairing ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/YACYzS0rs4— PFSN College (@PFSNcollege) May 29, 2026Countdown to Kickoff: Texas will have two 700-yard rushersLast season, Tre Wisner led the Longhorns in rushing yards, totalling just under 600 yards. Arch Manning came in second, with 399 yards on the ground. Then, Christian Clark, CJ Baxter and Jerrick Gibson combined for just under 600 yards. Manning is the only one of that bunch that returns to Austin this season. With Smothers, Brown and Cooper joining, I expect both the balance and overall production to improve drastically this season. Last season, the best yards per carry mark was 4.6 from Tre Wisner. In comparison, Hollywood Smothers ripped off 5.9 yards per carry, while Raleek Brown ripped off 6.1 yards each time he carried the rock. The remarkable speed and acceleration from the duo gives them much more ability to break explosive runs consistently, something Texas didn’t do much at all a season ago. Brown is coming off a 1,100 yard season while Smothers nearly topped the 1,000 yard mark. This duo alone should improve the run game for Texas exponentially. The RB duo the Texas Longhorns got out of the transfer portal could be one of the best in the COUNTRY.They went and portaled in:- Hollywood Smothers (No. 2 RB): 939 yards, 6 TD- Raleek Brown (No. 4 RB): 1,141 yards, 4 TDBoth players averaged over 5.9 yards per carry last… pic.twitter.com/YDQJvA8t5v— Will Thomas (@wthomassports) April 26, 2026The variable here, and the only reason I didn’t up the mark to 800 or 900 yards, is the offensive line. The Longhorns starting unit figures to be a more pass blocking first unit. That’s not to say the run blocking won’t improve(I expect it to), but it does add a layer of doubt that the rushing attack will hit its ceiling. If it doesn’t, I still think the duo of Smothers and Brown will lead the Texas run game, with at least 700 yards on the season. If the OL does come together and improve drastically, Steve Sarkisian could have the most explosive run game in the country. Now, this prediction isn’t quite as bold as others will be, but I do think it’s important. If the Texas run game has two 700-yard rushers this season, I expect the offense to be one of the top units in the country. If either goes above and beyond that, it could be an attack that defenses have no answers for. One way or another, Longhorns fans will see a much improved rushing attack, led by their two star transfers.This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Countdown to Kickoff: Texas' Smothers, Brown will each top 700 yards

Fans fill the stands as the Oregon Ducks host the USC Trojans on May 14, 2026, in Eugene, Oregon. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images WSU dropped a heartbreaker to the Ducks on Saturday night, losing 4-0. WSU got a masterful performance from senior Luke Meyers who pitched into the 7th, and Oregon only led 1-0 entering the ninth. The Ducks finally struck gold in the top of the inning, launching a three-run shot over the center field fence. PK Park was electric Saturday night Washington State (31-26) was the home team, despite playing the host #11 Oregon Ducks (41-16) in the first game of the winners bracket at the Eugene Regional. The Cougs looked to build on their momentous win over Oregon State in the opener yesterday, defeating the Beavers for the second time this season, 3-2. Oregon, came into the game with a chance to advance to the title round of their own regional after crushing Yale 14-2 on Friday night. The Ducks are looking to earn redemption from last season, where they famously were bounced from their own regional by Utah Valley and Cal Poly.The Cougs went with Luke Meyers to start the game, who pitched the majority of the second game at the Mountain West tournament. Griffin Smith started that game, only pitching one inning while getting tagged; Meyers ended up pitching 7 innings of relief. It was assumed that without Nick Lewis on the mound, the WSU pitchers would have a very short leash. Will Sanford got the nod for the Ducks, coming into the game with a 8-2 record, and a 3.75 ERA in 74 innings pitched. Thanks to Yale, the Ducks were forced to use five pitchers on Friday night. Of course, Washington State only used one, giving the WSU bullpen the advantage of being well rested. However, the Ducks were not forced to use any of their “leverage” arms. Regardless, the Cougs certainly wanted to push the Oregon bullpen to the limit. The Friday afternoon contest against Oregon State was certainly a road game for the Cougs, but not to this level. The host Ducks packed PK Park and made it a really challenging environment for WSU all night long. Two cans of corn to left on the first three pitches helped settle senior righty Meyers into the game. It took him only 6 pitches to cut down the Ducks in the top of the 1st inning, as he struck out Drew Smith in 3 pitches to end the inning. 6 pitches, 6 strikes. Sanford matched the energy in the bottom of the inning, striking out the Cougs in order, in 16 pitches. Sanford is the Ducks ace, whom they saved for the Saturday game, a strategy some of the other host teams used as well. Meyers had another efficient inning, forcing a soft line out and two weak ground balls to second baseman Gavin Roy. Sanford continued his hot start striking out Matt Priest and Dustin Robinson, before Ryan Skjonsby popped out to third. Five strikeouts in the first two innings for the Cougs. 9 up 9 down for Meyers. 32 pitches, 2 strikeouts, and a lot of weak contact through 3 innings. Cam Macleod became the first base runner of the ball game with WSU’s 5th hit by pitch of this regional. Macleod advanced on a throwing error to second base, but the Cougs couldn’t cash him in. Yet, they made Sanford work a little, who had 51 pitches through 3 innings. Meyers was on fire through 4 innings and a true pitching duel was taking shape, as he added two K’s in the top of the 4th. Will Sanford was absolutely shoving, 10 K’s through 4 innings of work. The game remained hitless going into the 5th where Oregon’s Burke-Lee Mabeus doubled to earn the Ducks their first base runner. Meyers punched out Naulivou Lauaki and after a walk to Maddox Moloney, gave up a two-out rbi single to Jax Gimenez. Ducks entered the half-inning without hit, and left with a 1-0 lead. Ollie Obenour worked a 2-out walk and Macleod singled through the left side for WSU’s first base hit, but then Will Sanford bounced back to strike out Kyler Northrop, his 12th of the day matching a career high. WSU trailed Oregon 1-0 going into the 6th, but they managed to push Sanford to 88 pitches. A leadoff single for Oregon in the 6th and a masterful bunt by Drew Smith set up 1st and 2nd with only 1 out for Brayden Jaksa, who grounded into a 5-4-3 around the horn double play. Nothing doing for the Cougs in the 6th, as Max Hartman struck out for the third time giving Will Sanford his career high 13th strikeout. Luke Meyers pitched into the 7th inning, allowing a leadoff walk, which turned into a 4-6-3 double play. After a Dustin Robinson walk, Will Sanford’s career night was done. 14 Ks in 6.1 innings for Sanford, and stud reliever Tanner Bradley (1.86 ERA in 48.1 innings pitched) took over for the Ducks. Ryan Skjonsby rolled over to first to move Robinson to 2nd, the 2nd time the Cougs had a runner in scoring position in the game. Ollie Obenour geared up for the fastball, and Bradley slowed it down on him and the Cougs remained scoreless through 7.Luke Meyers was everything the Cougs could have hoped for and more. He had 7.1 innings of one-run baseball, fueled by 7 Ks and two double plays. WSU starting pitching in the Eugene Regional combined for 16.1 innings and just 3 earned runs in 2 games. He was replaced by Mountain West title game hero Scott Rienguette. Rienguette, aided by Jax Gimenez running himself into a pickle, promptly struck out Ryan Cooney to end the top of the 8th. The Cougs headed into the bottom of the 8th looking for anything on offense. WSU went quietly in the 8th, striking out for the 17th time in the ball game. It was 1-0 heading to the 9th. Noah Thein came in for the Cougs, and the Ducks played a little small ball. Pinch hitter Angel Layla led off the inning with a single to center, and was immediately pinch ran for speedster Elijah Cook, before Drew Smith laid down a nice bunt up the first base line to advance Cook to 2nd. Then the Ducks finally got into one, as Lauaki drilled a ball to dead center, for a three-run shot. With the Cougs trailing 4-0, that felt like a kill shot. Devin Bell came in to finish off Oregon’s pitching stellar night, and despite Max Hartman’s single, WSU was held scoreless, putting them on the brink of elimination. If you had told coach Choate he was going to get that kind of performance from Luke Meyers, he would have taken it in a hot second. The decision to lift Rienguette after just two batters remains curious, but you cannot fault the pitching staff for allowing only four runs. Ultimately the offense sputtered, and Washington State will have to get back off the mat just like they have all season long. As Coach Choate said in his postgame presser “I’ve told you before, we can take a punch”. Gavin Roy echoed the same notion “We’ve always found a way to bounce back from tough losses, and that is what we are going to do tomorrow”. WSU will play a rematch against Oregon State in an Elimination game tomorrow at 1pm, for the right to play the Ducks in the regional final.

The Portland Fire beat Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever at the Moda Center May 30, besting the visiting team 100-84.This was the second meeting between the two teams. A Clark-less Fever beat the Fire in Indiana on May 20 90-73. It's also the second consecutive loss on the road for Indiana.The Fire's victory came after a brutal loss to the Atlanta Dream on May 29.But against the Fever, power forward Megan Gustafson and guard Carla Leite led the charge with a combined 40 points to grab the win for Portland. Small forward Emily Engstler scored 16 and guard Sarah Ashlee Barker sank another 15.An IMPRESSIVE performance by Megan and Carla tonight for @theportlandfire 🙌They combined for 40 PTS and led their team to win No. 6 of the szn!Megan Gustafson: 22 PTS | 8/8 FGCarla Leite: 18 PTS | 12 AST (career-high)#WNBASeason30pic.twitter.com/Vuff74RsHT— WNBA (@WNBA) May 31, 2026The May 30 match bring's the Fire's record to 6-4 as it begins its inaugural season under its current ownership. The team lay dormant for more than two decades after its initial three-season run in Portland.Here's what the scene looked like in the Moda Center after the win:The Portland Fire move on to 6-4 after a 100-84 blowout win over the Indiana Fever.The Portland Fire shutdown Caitlin Clark, it was an Alex Sarama masterclass. Do you believe yet?❤️‍🔥 pic.twitter.com/SQN3X6ySYk— Eddie Perez (@CreateHoops) May 31, 2026Season-high Saturday for Megan Gustafson with 22 (8-8 FG) as six Portland Fire players finish in double-figures and get to 6-4 with a 100-84 victory over the Indiana Fever. pic.twitter.com/nK3ftyaY5z— Nick Krupke (@NickKrupke) May 31, 2026Portland Fire vs Indiana Fever. Fire pit didn’t disappoint ‼️ pic.twitter.com/xUdVPsSyQD— Ryan Starwalt🏀⚾ (@RyStar7_) May 31, 2026The Fire will next take on the Golden State Valkyries on June 2.How can I watch, stream Portland Fire games?Fans can watch the team on its dedicated streaming service, Portland Fire+. It's $5.99 for a one-month pass or $59.99 for a one-year subscription.The game will also be streamed on Paramount+.Eder Campuzano is the local news editor for the Statesman Journal. He can can be reached at ecampuzano@statesmanjournal.com. Find him on Bluesky at @ederc.bsky.social or Threads @ederc.This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Moda Center mood ecstatic after Portland Fire beats Indiana Fever