After the second-seeded San Antonio Spurs defeated the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference finals, they will host the East’s third-seeded New York Knicks in Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals on Wednesday.The Knicks opened the betting market as +170 underdogs in the best-of-seven series. The only teams to win as greater underdogs in NBA history, per Covers.com: the 2019 Toronto Raptors, 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers and 2004 Detroit Pistons.The NBA Finals will for the first time in its history feature a rematch of the NBA Cup final. The Knicks defeated the Spurs in the third annual regular-season tournament, 124-113, when Wembanyama was still working on a minutes restriction off the bench.The league must be licking its chops, what with New York, its largest media market, and Wembanyama, a 7-foot-4 self-described “alien,” who has a chance to be one of the most special talents the game has ever seen, headlining its championship series.We will dive deeper into the previewing here at Yahoo Sports, to be sure, but to tide you over until then here are three more reasons to watch when the games begin …It’s been a long time, New YorkThe Knicks are in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999, when a Patrick Ewing-less edition lost to the Spurs in a best-of-seven finale to a lockout-shortened season, 4-1. They have not won a championship since 1973, when Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, Bill Bradley, Earl Monroe, Dave DeBusschere, Phil Jackson and Jerry Lucas — indelible Hall of Famers, none of whom, we imagine, ever had to pay for a drink in New York again — won a second title in a four-year span (the only two rings in Knicks history).This is a big freaking deal. Basketball is the city’s sport. There is a court on every playground. Brooklyn was the birthplace of Michael Jordan. Harlem was home to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Long Island was where Julius Erving earned the name Dr. J.You get the point. Basketball and New York City are practically synonymous, except for the fact that the Knicks — the NBA team that has represented the city since the league’s inception — have been a sad-sack organization for much of their existence.Following Ewing’s departure in 2000, the Knicks went almost a quarter-century with a single playoff series win (courtesy of Carmelo Anthony’s charges). They missed the playoffs every season from 2005-10 and again from 2014-20, often embroiled in controversy under team governor James Dolan’s stewardship. Not until 2023, when this magical run with Jalen Brunson began, did the Knicks start regularly winning again. Now, still under Dolan’s governance, with a team as lovable as that 1973 crew, the Knicks are here again. These long-starved New Yorkers are right where any fan would want to be — in the Finals, with a shot at a championship for the first time in forever. It is no wonder the cheapest ticket to Game 3 in Madison Square Garden right now, according to Gametime, is $4,112. The hottest ticket in the house? $103,364. Savor it.(Henry Russell/Yahoo Sports Illustration)Victor Wembanyama, GOAT in the makingSince a rookie Bill Russell led the Boston Celtics to the first of his 11 championships in 13 seasons at the age of 22, few young superstars have taken their teams to titles in their first three seasons. The 22-year-old Wembanyama has a shot to do just that.Go through them.A 23-year-old Abdul-Jabbar won his first of six titles in his second season in 1971.A 24-year-old Bill Walton won his first of two titles in his third season in 1977.A 20-year-old Magic Johnson won his first of five titles in his first season in 1980.A 24-year-old Larry Bird won his first of three titles in his second season in 1981.A 22-year-old Tim Duncan won his first of five titles in his second season in 1999.A 24-year-old Dwyane Wade won his first of three titles in his third season in 2006.A 22-year-old Kawhi Leonard won his first of two titles in his third season in 2014.The list is short and full of all-time greats. It is filled only with multi-time champions. Often these players win a handful of titles. The sky is the limit for Wembanyama, or at least it is in this moment, which is as exciting as anything at MSG.Jalen Brunson vs. San Antonio’s defenseNow, for the actual basketball.Yes, Wembanyama is a nightmare matchup, especially for a foul-happy Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson, who underwent surgery on his shooting pinkie finger this week. But consider the job Jalen Brunson has ahead of him against these Spurs.It was tough for 6-foot-6 Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA’s back-to-back MVP, to operate against a Spurs defense that features waves of guard and wing defenders — including Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper — who are protected by Wembanyama. It is a maze of a defense that only a basketball wizard could figure.And Brunson is that wizard. He carves his way into a defense, getting to a spot, firing off a step-back 3-pointer, a pull-up jumper or a creative layup that feels like a miracle, only it is not, because he will do it time and time again, and he will create off of that. It is really something to watch, this 6-2 brute, juxtaposed against the slender Wemby.In three meetings this past year, including the NBA Cup final, Brunson averaged a 26-4-8 on 42/42/88 shooting splits. The Knicks finished 2-1 in their regular-season series (again, including the NBA Cup final victory), losing only by two points in San Antonio.The Knicks should have all the confidence in the world they can beat the Spurs, even as underdogs, so long as Brunson has all the confidence in the world, and Brunson always has all the confidence in the world. It’s who he’s been since he was a kid, watching as a toddler as his father, Rick Brunson, toiled for those 1999 Knicks. What a world we live in where we get to watch this all unfold before our eyes on Wednesday.

The Riverside Prep softball team became the sixth team from the High Desert to capture a CIF-Southern Section softball championship. The Silver Knights beat Great Oak 4-3 at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine on Saturday, May 30, in the CIF-SS Division 3 championship. Riverside Prep scored three runs in the fifth inning, erasing a two-run deficit. After allowing three runs in a 33-pitch first inning, freshman Lila Morris settled down and held the Wolfpack scoreless the rest of the way. This story is developing. Check back later for a full game recap.This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Riverside Prep beats Great Oak for the CIF-SS Division 3 title

Michael Scotto: Victor Wembanyama: “Winning the Larry O'Brien is a childhood dream and having a real shot at it, having a chance, a tangible chance at winning it, realizing a dream, it's a lifetime chance. You never know what's going to happen again. The day we win it, it’s going to be an amazing day of realization of a dream. It's almost like the meaning of my life.”x.comThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Victor Wembanyama on playing the NBA Finals: 'It's a lifetime chance'

Oh No He Didn’t: Wemby: "(Pop) goes through some things we can't even imagine. I need to call him. I need to see him, I need to talk to him because there's no way I can understand right now how he feels. When I talk to him, it's gonna be only a story in my head, except if I record it in secret but I need to talk him so quick"x.comThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "(Pop) goes through some things we can't even imagine. …

Oh No He Didn't: Wemby on Julian Champagnie: "Julian's amazing. He deserves everything that he gets. He got cut in the NBA few years back. He's had tough moments...now he's taking this team to the NBA Finals"x.comThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Wemby on Julian Champagnie: "Julian's amazing. He …

SEATTLE (AP) — Luke Raley and Julio Rodríguez homered for the second straight game — two of four solo shots by Seattle in the first three innings — and the Mariners beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-1 on Saturday night behind seven shutout innings from Bryan Woo.Woo (5-3) allowed only two fifth-inning singles while matching his season high with nine strikeouts in a fifth straight victory for the Mariners — their longest winning streak of the season.The 26-year-old right-hander did not allow a baserunner until Adrian Del Castillo singled with one out in the fifth, striking out five in a row at one point. Cooper Criswell allowed a hit in the eighth, and Alex Hoppe issued the game's only walk with two outs in the ninth and then failed to cover home on a wild pitch allowing Geraldo Perdomo to score from second and spoil the shutout.Raley homered for the 13th time as Seattle grabbed the lead against Ryne Nelson (2-4) in the second. Dominic Canzone hit his sixth homer one out later for a 2-0 advantage. Rookie Colt Emerson led off the third with his second homer, and Rodríguez followed one out later with his 12th for a 4-0 lead. Rodríguez has 10 homers in May, two more than he’s ever hit in a single month.Randy Arozarena reached on a two-base throwing error by Jose Fernandez to begin the sixth before scoring on Cole Young's sacrifice fly to make it 5-0, leading to Nelson's exit after 99 pitches. The right-hander, who had never surrendered more than two home runs in any of his previous 89 starts, allowed five runs — four earned — on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings.The AL West-leading Mariners (30-29) move above .500 for the first time since they were 3-2.Seattle hit four home runs in a 7-6 10-inning victory in the opener. The last time the Marisners hit as many as eight homers in the first two games of a series was in 1999 when they had 10 against the Twins.Up nextDiamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (5-3, 5.25) was set to start Sunday opposite RHP Bryce Miller (1-0, 2.25) as the Mariners go for the sweep.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

The Hurricanes battled back from a 6-1 deficit against rival Florida, tying the game at eight in the fifth inning. But one inning later, issues that have plagued Miami all year came to a head.Due to a combination of poor pitching from the bullpen and multiple fielding mistakes, the Gators scored seven runs in the sixth inning. Florida took a 15-8 lead in the frame en route to a 22-10 win over Miami in the Gainesville regional at Condron Ballpark.Miami will play Troy in an elimination game Sunday afternoon.Florida needed only one hit to rally in the sixth inning. Two batters walked, and shortstop Vance Shehan failed to turn a ground ball to shortstop into the sixth inning’s third out. Miami reliever Ryan Bilka walked in Florida’s go-ahead run. Brixton Lofgren entered the game for Bilka, and he issued another bases-loaded walk. A third run came across when Shehan committed an error on a potential inning-ending ground ball. Lofgren hit a Gators batter to push across a fourth run in the inning.Center fielder Kyle Jones delivered the hammer blow with a three-run double to extend the Gators’ lead to 15-8. It was too deep a hole for Miami to dig out of.The sixth inning was the most crucial frame of a topsy-turvy game that was poised to be high-scoring from the start. Miami second baseman Jake Ogden got the Hurricanes on the board immediately, hitting a leadoff home run off Florida ace Aidan King.But the Hurricanes’ lead didn’t last long, and the Gators roughed up Miami starter AJ Ciscar. Florisa scored one run on an error, another on a sacrifice fly by Ethan Surowiec, a third on a single by Karson Bowen and three more on a Cade Kurland home run that cleared the stadium. As a result, Miami coach J.D. Arteaga took Ciscar out before the first inning ended.Miami did not give up after UF’s six-run first inning. Alex Sosa hit an RBI double, and Alonzo Alvarez drove in two with a single to cut the deficit to two runs. But Bowen hit a solo home run in the bottom of the third to extend Florida’s lead back to three runs.The back-and-forth contest continued in the fourth inning. The Hurricanes chased King after Vance Sheahan hit an RBI single to cut the deficit to 7-5. UM added a sixth run on a wild pitch, cutting its deficit to one run. But UF scored on Miami’s third error of the game.Fabio Peralta walked with the bases loaded in the fifth inning, making it 8-7 Gators. Ogden hit a grounder to short that the Gators failed to turn into a double play, which pushed across the tying run. But the Hurricanes only kept the game tied for one inning.Miami added a pair of runs in the eighth inning, but it did not claw its way back into the game. Florida got the runs backand more in the bottom half of the eighth on five home runs.Of the 22 runs Miami allowed on Saturday, only 11 were earned runs. The Hurricanes issued nine walks, hit three batters, and they committed four errors.

GAYLORD — At this rate, the Petoskey baseball team is going to run out of fingers to hold up representing consecutive district championships. They’re probably just fine with that. And the No. 1 always works as a solid go-to. On Saturday in Gaylord, playing in a Division 2 district tournament with a Northmen team barely tied to the streak that grew to six last season, Petoskey baseball made it seven straight district titles won on the diamond. It’s a feat rarely seen in the sport, to continue such dominance, though baseball has been something bigger than just a way to pass the spring months in the Petoskey community for a while now. Wins of 13-1 over Cheboygan, then 4-2 over host Gaylord Saturday helped deliver the title, with the Blue Devils giving everything they had in nail-biter Down a couple of key pieces, both atop the lineup and on top of the mound, Petoskey never lost a step and came through when they needed to most. In the district championship, Petoskey and Gaylord sat knotted at 2-2 until the top of the seventh, when back to back errors delivers life to the Northmen that they took advantage of. Fred Hollerback scored on a bases loaded error by the Blue Devils to bring on a 3-2 lead, then one batter later, Tyler Pool scored on an error. Boyne City Softball Title: Big at-bats, resiliency help Boyne City softball come through in the clutchBoyne Title Photos: PHOTOS: Boyne City softball survives D3 district gauntlet for titlePetoskey’s Dylan Aukeman then shut down Gaylord from there, picking up three strikeouts in the bottom of the seventh.Aukeman delivered once again for Petoskey, striking out six across seven innings with five hits and one walk issued. Pool doubled at the plate, Tate Russell went 2-for-3 with an RBI, then Beckett Blake also had an RBI. Against Cheboygan, Russell doubled in a run, Zach Wodek went 2-for-3 with three runs scored, Blake and Pool each had two hits and three Rbis, Brady Kanine drove in two, as did Brock Jeffers. Baseball Rankings: Final Michigan high school baseball rankings, May 28Russell and Mateo Lange combined for five innings and 10 strikeouts, giving up just two hits. The win for the Northmen (24-8) brings on a Division 2 regional semifinal game against Escanaba at 4 p.m., Wednesday, June 3 in Kingsford. DIVISION 3 Harbor Springs shows both sidesELK RAPIDS — A good sign of a great team is when one quality can pick up another on the field. When the bats aren’t finding gaps, Harbor Springs’ arms have been able to hold opponents off the board. When it’s the arms that need a little help, the bats come through. It’s been that kind of story all season for Harbor Springs and the story continues now past Saturday thanks to a Division 3 district championship in Elk Rapids. The Rams earned wins of 5-1 over Mancelona and 6-4 against Elk Rapids to earn the title and keep the season alive. Harbor’s previous district title came in the 2024 season. Nick Lemieur brought another gem in game one against the Ironmen, going a complete seven innings with three hits and a walk issued, to go with eight strikeouts. Greyson Rife doubled, Ben McShannock had two RBIs and a single, Thaddeus Cosens singled twice and drove in one and Ryan Novak added an RBI.Harbor Springs NSC Title: Harbor Springs baseball earns first league title in at least 30 yearsHarbor Springs Soccer: Reskevics, Harbor Springs pull off the impossible in final minutes for district titleThe Rams began the district final with a pair of runs in the first inning, but fell behind 4-2, then 4-3 after three, with the deficit holding until the sixth, when the Rams plated three runs and held on from there. Caiden Phillips doubled and had an RBI, Rife went 2-for-3 with three runs, then Nolan Kennedy, Cosens and Lemieur all had an RBI. McShannock earned the win over 5 2/3 innings, striking out four. The title moves Harbor Springs (27-3) into an Elk Rapids hosted Division 3 regional seminal at 5 p.m., Wednesday, June 3 against D3 reigning champ, Traverse City St. Francis. DIVISION 4 Harbor Light starts weekend off rightPELLSTON — It might not have been an evening of Friday night lights when the Harbor Light Christian baseball team took to its Division 4 district tournament in Pellston Friday, though there was a whole lot of lighting up the scoreboard on Friday night for the Swordsmen.Victories of 18-3 over Burt Lake NMCA and 7-0 over Inland Lakes helped bring on a district title for the Swordsmen. It comes as a repeat title for Harbor Light after a district title in a 25-win season a year ago and run to the regional finals. Golf Regionals: Charlevoix golf secures another chance to be together with regional titleHarbor Light’s Will Paulus was on the top of his game on top of the hill against Inland Lakes in the championship, tossing 6 2/3 innings with just three hits allowed, no walks and six strikeouts. Paulus also doubled and drove in two at the plate, Ayden Burns doubled, Daniel Urman went 3-for-4 and CJ DuBois had an RBI single.Everyone hit in the opener against NMCA, which went just four innings, led by 3-for-3 games from DuBois, Lynus Cadarette and Gerrit Boerman. Urman also doubled in the game, while Dubois earned the win with six strikeouts. Travis Rose also pitched an inning, collecting two strikeouts. The win sends the Swordsmen (24-8) into a Division 4 regional semifinal against Hillman at 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 3 in Hillman. Reach Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at dkochanny@petoskeynews.com and follow him on X @DrewKochanny and Instagram @drewkochannyThis article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Petoskey-area baseball teams reign over districts for D2, D3 and D4

Benjamin Sesko reveals United cult hero as his football idol It was a great season for Manchester United’s new-look attack as all three summer signings surpassed the 10-goal mark in their debut season at their new club.The impressive record, helped by Bruno Fernandes’ exceptional playmaking skills, saw the Red Devils finish third in the Premier League and secure Champions League football for next season.Both Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo were Premier League-proven, which explains why INEOS spent big to bring them in.There was an element of risk when Christopher Vivell pushed for Benjamin Sesko, as the last time the Red Devils recruited a relatively inexperienced striker, things did not go according to plan.Impressive debut season for Benjamin SeskoBut the Slovenian has proven his critics wrong, scoring 12 goals in all competitions, and fans are already salivating at the prospect of seeing him next season now that he has adapted to the pace and physicality of the league.GivemeSport caught up with the former RB Leipzig ace, and asked him about his footballing idol. The 23-year-old named former Old Trafford cult hero Zlatan Ibrahimovic as his inspiration.“My idol is Ibrahimovic, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Great player, of course. He was amazing. I looked at him a lot, but not just him.“Just in general football, skills, goals, it was just something that I used to try to go out and copy. It could be in the summer when it’s really hot, I just wanted to get better.”Benjamin Sesko names Zlatan Ibrahimovic as his footballing heroIt is easy to see the resemblance between the pair. Like the Swede, Benjamin Sesko is tall, but that does not mean he is only effective when it comes to winning aerial duels.He is fleet-footed, fantastic with the ball at his feet, and can score all types of goals, something Ibrahimovic was also famous for.The former Sweden international was at United for one and a half seasons, with his debut campaign being one to remember.The Jose Mourinho signing scored 28 goals in 46 appearances, helping the 20-time English league champions win the Carabao Cup and the Europa League.A serious knee injury meant he left for Major League Soccer the following season, but fans still remember him fondly. Hopefully, Benjamin Sesko can emulate his idol’s goalscoring feat in the seasons to come.Feature image Carl Recine via Getty Imagesonline pollsThe Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

It’s unenviable job to be the guy who takes the court every time Victor Wembanyama has to sit, but Luke Kornet has dutifully filled that role this season. However, he got his star moment in the San Antonio Spurs’ Game 7 win on Saturday.Here was the situation with 6:48 left in the fourth quarter: The Spurs were up by by six but the Oklahoma City Thunder had just scored five points. More importantly, Wembanyama picked up his fifth foul and needed to come out.In came Kornet, who had a risky feed from Spurs rookie Dylan Harper poked away by Thunder big man Isaiah Hartenstein. Hartenstein got the ball and got past Harper, with a seemingly clear path to cut the deficit to two. But then Kornet — all 7-foot-1, 250 pounds of him — rushed down the court for the chasedown block of his life.The Thunder didn’t get closer than six points for the rest of the game, with Wembanyama coming in soon after.Kornet’s block was arguably the play of the game, as it took the air out of the Thunder’s last real chance to make it a game. It was also a momentum-swinging chasedown block in a Game 7, meaning the LeBron James comparisons were clear. Someone on Kornet’s bench was well aware of the similarity, as the big man told reporters before showing off some dry humor.“I did a poor job of getting the catch, so then I had to redeem myself,” Kornet said. “Someone from the bench yelled, ‘Who is it? LeBron James?’ We’ll see which one has more staying power in the record books of history.”In a game featuring Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren, Luke Kornet had the block of the series.IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect / REUTERSThe NBA all-time scoring leader’s block of Andre Iguodala in the 2016 NBA Finals remains the defining moment of his career. So now he and Kornet have something in common.Kornet was an undrafted player who played for five different teams before landing with the Spurs last summer on a four-year, $41 million contract. He averaged 6.5 points on 64.3% shooting plus 6.1 rebounds in 68 games during the regular season, which included 25 starts.

“Heteropessimism” is all the rage — but really, there’s never been a better time to be looking for love. Go on, be a hetero-optimist.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Edmundo Sosa capped a three-run eighth inning with a two-run home run and the Philadelphia Phillies rallied to beat Los Angeles 4-3 on Saturday night, ending the Dodgers’ winning streak at six games.Bryce Harper added an RBI single in the eighth as the Phillies scored all three runs against left-hander Tanner Scott with two outs.Alec Bohm hit a home run, while Jesus Luzardo gave up two runs over 5 1/3 innings, Orion Kerkering (3-0) got the victory after allowing one run in an inning of work and Jhoan Duran pitched the ninth inning for his 12th save.Kerkering pitched at Los Angeles for the first time since his error in the 11th inning of Game 4 in the National League Division Series ended Philadelphia’s season last year.Alex Call, Santiago Espinal and Mookie Betts drove in runs for the Dodgers. They lost for just the third time in their past 16 games.Roki Sasaki gave up one run and three hits over 5 1/3 innings, while Scott (1-2) was tagged for three runs on three hits in his inning of work.Bohm gave Philadelphia a 1-0 lead in the second inning with a 406-foot home run to center field.The Dodgers tied it at 1 in the second on an RBI single from Call and scored again in the fourth when Call doubled, advanced to third on an error by Adolis Garcia and scored on a fly ball from Espinal.The Phillies had the bases loaded with one out in the sixth before Dodgers left-hander Alex Vesia struck out Sosa and got Bohm to ground out to Espinal at third base.Betts gave the Dodgers a 3-1 lead with an RBI single in the seventh.Up nextPhillies RHP Andrew Painter (1-5, 5.40 ERA) was scheduled to start Sunday against RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (4-4, 3.09 ERA).___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Régis Le Bris and his squad have an exciting pre-season trip to the United States scheduled for later this summer, when the Sunderland head coach will be following in the footsteps of one of his predecessors, Bill Murray.The former Roker Park full back had returned to the club in 1939 to take up the managerial hotseat and during his reign, Sunderland gained a reputation for being one of the most glamourous teams in the sport.A series of high-profile and highly lucrative fixtures were lined up for North America upon the end of the 1954/1955 season and shortly after the group had departed, stories of sightseeing and various high jinks soon started filtering back home, with Murray himself one of those keeping supporters updated through a series of letters to The Sunderland Echo and Shipping Gazette.The following is an abridged version of one of these updates, first printed on Tuesday 31 May 1955…I am afraid this is the last letter from the big city, as we leave for Montreal on Friday morning. Since writing you last, it has been noticeable how blasé the party has become in New York City.Everything is being taken in their stride and the newcomers to the hotel, who arrive every day, are completely ignored — despite their garish garb. These parties, who arrive from places we used to associate with cowboys and Indians, are dressed in the most fantastic and colourful clothes one could imagine. The hotel always has a huge placard (6ft x 4ft) saying welcome to every club or party which comes along. The Sunderland soccer club placard looks like a permanent fitting. The boys did not take long in finding a way past the expensive haircutting.A Glasgow Scot has been appointed unpaid hairdresser to the club while in New York. He has refereed and acted as linesman in our matches. His shop is stocked with football periodicals and he fills in the gaps with soccer stories of his own while cutting the hair. YES, IT IS A WONDERFUL CITY.Our trip to Philadelphia was a huge success.We arrived in time to see a parade of the American Army, Navy and Air Force, but it was tough going even to stand watching with a temperature of 81 degrees. We also paid a visit to the Steven Gerard College, where boys who have no father are educated. A very interesting visit it was, particularly as it was Founders’ Day. It can accommodate 2,000 boys from the age of five years. The match against the Uhrik Truckers [which Sunderland won 3-1 on 22 May] was a good sporting game which everybody thoroughly enjoyed.On Saturday night, we attended the Old Timers’ Soccer Association of Philadelphia. Over 250 were present and after the eats there were musical items and presentations of various trophies. They even made me a life member, but it is a long way to come for an annual meeting!Sixty-four-year-old John Nesbitt, a Southwick lad who came out in 1907, is Secretary and Treasurer of the Philadelphia Association and gave a really wonderful build up to the Sunderland Club before presenting a very nice plaque.Mr Ditchburn [Chairman of Sunderland AFC], Mr Ritson [Vice chairman] and myself in that order then had the honour and privilege of saying a few words over the microphone. It was a real get-together of the old timers, the oldest being 91. The pre-match play up shook our party.After ten minutes kicking in, all the players were brought to one end of the field, and as the announcer gave out each individual player’s name, number, nationality, transfer fee etc. they had to run to their respective places on the field. As he announced Len Shackleton…a Scot…etc. the antics of the rest of the boys must have had the spectators worried for a bit as the error was not corrected. The British Consul General, John Kingston O’Donoghue OBE, kicked off the match and when the ball was retrieved Mr Walter D. Miller, President of the Chamber of Commerce Philadelphia, also kicked off. The first double kick off I have ever seen, but this is America when anything can, and does happen. After the match we were taken to the home of Mr Tony Uhrik, who sponsors the Truckers.A wealthy bachelor in the trucking business, he is mad on soccer and determined to see it grow in the States. His home is situated in the middle of heavily wooded country and the table for refreshments and food was set under the trees which were floodlit after dark.The house was thrown wide open for everyone to use and it was with considerable reluctance that we left for New York City. A night to be remembered by everyone. Tonight [25 May] we fulfilled a request fixture from the Bronx Area of New York City, when we beat a select team from New Jersey, Philadelphia and New York 4-1. Purdon (3) and Bingham were the scorers. It was a pioneering effort on a poor ground with poor accommodation, so the boys stripped in the hotel and went up in a bus. The lights were not too good but the boys gave a very good show despite the heat (84 degrees). You can imagine we are looking forward to the cooler weather of Canada. On our way home, our bus ran into the back of a car. The front of the bus was badly damaged so the boys trooped out and we took taxis for the remainder of the journey.Bert Johnston [trainer and a former Sunderland teammate of Murray’s] and myself helped the driver to get his bus to the hotel.Bert and myself were amused at the various speed cops etc. who came on the scene and jotted down all the evidence. One cop had a carton of ice cream, which he placed on the rear of the damaged car and kept taking a few spoonfuls while taking down the evidence. Yes, anything can happen. TO NEW YORK CITY, WE SAY THANKS FOR A WONDERFUL THREE WEEKS AND TO THE LEGION OF PEOPLE WHO RALLIED ROUND THE PLAYERS AND ENTERTAINED THEM ROYALLY I SAY THE HEARTFELT THANKS OF THE CLUB FOR DOING SUCH A GRAND JOB OF WORK.*Prior to the Truckers’ match, Sunderland’s previous game had ended in a 1-1 draw with Nuremburg in Brooklyn.As the game was tied, it was unclear which side would be presented with the trophy that had been provided by the organisers, so the matter was decided by way of a coin toss. Murray had stated separately that he “accompanied [captain] George Aitken into the German dressing room”.“As skipper Morlock didn’t speak English, there was a bit of a palaver before it was decided he should use his index finger to show which side of the coin, a silver half dollar, was his choice.”Morlock was out of luck however, and as of 2026, the trophy remains on display at the Stadium of Light.

MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 4: Robert Lewandowski of FC Barcelona celebrates 1-2 during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Atletico Madrid v FC Barcelona at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on April 4, 2026 in Madrid Spain (Photo by Maria Gracia Jimenez/Soccrates/Getty Images) | Getty Images Querida Robert,I still remember.It’s all too fresh as it was yesterday.See, in life, there are few such moments where one will always remember where they were when it happened.I believe you signing for Barcelona warrants being part of that core memory of mine.Like I said, I still remember where I was – not just physically – when it was made official that THE ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI will be playing for the historic but at the time, fading Blaugrana colours. I am also willing to bet nearly all of us wouldn’t be able to get that moment of you looking over the Miami shore at sunrise out of our heads.The Robert Lewandowski. pic.twitter.com/trSoeG51hC— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 18, 2022Especially more so now that you have said goodbye.So I guess all I can say is, thank you.Thank you for betting on us when the chips were down.Thank you for your sacrifice when you had the world at your feet. When you were laden with silverware. When you were guaranteed success and deserved recognition for the remaining years of your illustrious career.You had everything up there in Bavaria. You were and are a legend in those parts. We would have been perfectly happy to see you win it all from afar from our television sets.But no. You had to leave it all behind to help us get back to where even you believed we belong.And perhaps that’s the thing Robert. When we saw you up close, it soon became crystal clear that you believed it more than most. I wouldn’t be being hyperbolic to suggest you might be one of the only few who believed in us at all. You saw something in this club. In its glory. In its fanbase. That future perhaps we never knew we had.That is why I wouldn’t want you to leave without knowing the lightning bolt of hope you became for us.That fiesta at the Camp Nou with your hat-trick in the Champions League. Your magisterial touch to get away from two scampering Villarreal centre-backs and bury it in the top corner. Your moment of sheer brilliance when you slotted it home and hit the coldest football celebration EVER against Real Madrid in a memorable 4-0 win.All these moments, plenty of them in these four years, gave us that bit more hope and gave us that much more joy that the goals the world has been fawning over for over a decade now, were now reserved exclusively for us.And to be absolutely honest, I am really glad we are able to wish you farewell with silverware. To repay you, with the one thing that will make you as happy to see that you succeeded Robert. And that’s not all.You succeeded in lifting up an entire generation of the crestfallen faithful to scream, cheer and jump for the most beautiful club in the world again. In liberating people around the world to roam on the streets repping the club of their dreams.I would also like you to know this is how we will always remember you by. Not solely for your goals, mind-boggling stats and impossible finishes but the sheer admiration and awe you had us in. So much so that we were bubbling with love for a legend after you played for the final time at the Camp Nou.I swear I wasn’t expecting to feel funny either. I thought I was more prepared for this inevitable goodbye. But when the greatest wasn’t able to not let it get to him for once, who are we who feed off their assurance to control our own emotions.“We have Robert Lewangoalski… you know Robert LewanGOALski!”Said a good friend of yours, Thomas Muller.Now that makes two of us. “We had Robert Lewandowski. You know, the Barcelona hero that took us back to the top.”And just to boast about our special connection here, if the farewell was anything to go by, maybe the likes of Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund or the ramdeuter himself never truly knew what it meant to have Robert Lewandowski play for their club. For my club.Maybe they took it for granted. His goals. His charisma. His personality. His impact.Impact.You never let us down Robert. Your legend will be passed on to the upcoming generation of fans who will be whirling their scarves in pride for a club back at the top and entertaining the world. You did that. That will be your legacy.The best thing about it will be, they will remember who needs to be thanked for their joy. We, the witnesses, will keep it alive. Especially in Catalonia, your place on earth. Your home for eternity.By the end of it all, I am sorry I couldn’t bring myself to make this purely professional and talk about how we are losing the most potent goal-scorer of our time. For Barcelona, you have been so much more and bigger than that. You gave ‘mes que un club’ its life back.And that just leaves me in agreement with the 65,000 strong who let the world know what they thought of you, it all really started with you Robert.

Shubman Gill may currently lead India in Tests and ODIs, but the Gujarat Titans captain has not given up on making a return to the national T20I side.Speaking ahead of the IPL 2026 final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gill said he remains focused on improving his game despite finding himself out of India's plans in the shortest format.The 26-year-old last played a T20 International during India's home series against South Africa in December 2025. After a difficult run in the format, Gill was subsequently left out of the squad for this year's T20 World Cup, where India successfully defended their title.However, the opener insisted that his ambition to represent India in T20Is remains intact."I'd be happy to play if I get picked for the T20 team."Rather than dwelling on selection matters, Gill said his focus remains on constant improvement across all formats of the game."Honestly, I want to keep working on my game. I want to keep getting better as a T20 batsman, as an ODI batsman, as a Test batsman."Gill endured a disappointing run in T20 Internationals last year. Across 15 matches in 2025, he managed only 291 runs at an average of 24.25, with a highest score of 47. Those struggles eventually saw him lose his place in the side amid intense competition for opening spots.Since then, India's T20 batting depth has only grown stronger. Sanju Samson cemented his place with a stellar T20 World Cup campaign, while Abhishek Sharma has continued to strengthen his credentials. The emergence of 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has further intensified competition after the Rajasthan Royals sensation smashed 776 runs this IPL season at a staggering strike rate of over 237.Despite the challenge ahead, Gill remains committed to refining his game."You know, cricket is such a game that you can never really get perfect, but obviously, you can strive for it, and that's what I try to do."The Gujarat skipper enters the IPL final in excellent form. He has amassed 722 runs this season at an average of 48.13 and a strike rate of 163.72, including a brilliant 104 off 53 balls in Qualifier 2 against Rajasthan Royals.Gill said staying focused on preparation rather than external discussions has helped him remain mentally fresh throughout the season."I think preparation is what keeps me mentally fresh, knowing what I need to do the next week, next couple of weeks or in the next series or next tournament, and preparing for that."According to Gill, clarity around controllable factors is the key to handling the pressures that come with international cricket."It's about knowing the things that are in my control or knowing the things that I need to do well to be able to succeed and what we need to do well as a team to be able to succeed is what I think keeps me mentally fit."While a return to India's T20I setup may not be immediate given the competition for places, Gill's performances in IPL 2026 have at least reopened the conversation. With another opportunity awaiting in the final, the Gujarat Titans captain will look to strengthen his case further with the bat.

STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 21: Co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Ty Howle of the Penn State Nittany Lions looks on before the game against the Kent State Golden Flashes at Beaver Stadium on September 21, 2024 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Virginia Tech Hokies are in the middle of a huge weekend. Official visit season kicked off on Friday, and the Hokies are hosting several of their top remaining targets for the 2027 recruiting class. Some of Virginia Tech’s current commitments are also in Blacksburg for their official visits. We were bound for some good news. Right? No longer do we have to wait until the weekend is over to hear good news. On Saturday, tight end Sam Faniel announced his commitment to the Hokies. Faniel is the third tight end to commit to Virginia Tech for 2027, joining Jordan Karhoff (Columbus, Ohio) and Braxton Salster (Jacksonville, Alabama). 🦃🦃🦃!! Thank you to @coachjfranklin@CoachTHowle With that being said I will be committing to Virginia Tech! #Thisishomepic.twitter.com/AzBn48c62w— Sam "Sosa" Faniel (@samfaniel_) May 30, 2026The 6-foot-5, 215-pound Faniel plays at the Benedictine School in Richmond and is the No. 10 overall player in Virginia for 2027, according to 247Sports, Rivals, and the 247Sports team composite rankings. Why the Hokies?“I’m very excited about my decision,” Faniel told Greg Biggins of Rivals. “The biggest reasons why I chose the Hokies is the culture that coach Franklin is bringing in and my fit in the offense. I love the culture and what coach Franklin is trying to do, it really stands out for me. Coach (Ty) Howle is a great coach, and his production with tight ends is another huge thing. The love and support I received from the entire coaching staff was great and really showed how much they want me.”It’s not a surprise that Faniel cites head coach James Franklin and Howle, the offensive coordinator and tight ends coach. Howle has a reputation as arguably the nation’s top tight end coach. The position is one of the deepest on the 2026 roster, thanks to the returns of Benji Gosnell and Ja’Ricous Hairston, and the transfer additions of Luke Reynolds and Matt Henderson. Another big addition to what is already one of the nation’s top-15 recruiting classes. Welcome home, Sam.

The narrative for the Oklahoma City Thunder was clear as they entered Game 7: Someone needed to step up with both Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell out for the winner-take-all contest.That someone could easily have been Chet Holmgren. Should have been, even. The 7-foot-1 big man was a third-team All-NBA selection and finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored more points for OKC this season.It is hard to emphasize enough just how badly that idea worked out.A potential duel with Victor Wembanyama might as well have been a shadow-boxing session, as Holmgren was a non-factor in the game that decided the Thunder’s season. He finished with 4 points on 1-of-2 shooting (two shots!) with 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks and 2 turnovers.He had his moments on defense, but OKC needed far more than a defensively inclined big man in Game 7. What’s more, both of those shots came in the Thunder’s first four possessions. He made a step-back jumper after deciding against challenging Wembanyama in the paint. He missed a float with Wembanyama waiting for him at the basket.And then he didn’t take a shot for the rest of the game.That’s not to say he didn’t get the ball. He just avoided doing anything with it while Wembanyama was looming. And the few times he did try to something, like on an iso with his team down five points in the fourth quarter, the results were… not star-level.Maybe it’s unfair to expect Holmgren to do something he hasn’t all season. He is a shooter and finisher on offense, not a creator. With Williams and Mitchell out, OKC’s biggest problem in Game 7 was an offense that didn’t know what to do when Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t have the ball. Holmgren has never been a ballhandler and this wasn’t exactly the best environment to give it a try.However, we need to remember two things. One, this is the player who has been frequently presented as a foil to Wembanyama, a physical freak approaching the absurdity of a 7-foot-4 Frenchman with guard handles. They are supposed to be rivals, and one of them decided it wasn’t even worth trying to go toe-to-toe in the biggest game of the season.Two, Holmgren signed a five-year, $239 million max extension last year that goes into effect next season. If he can’t be something, anything, for the Thunder against the Wembanyama-era Spurs, there might be some re-evaluating to do in Oklahoma City.Trade speculation was running rampant on social media before the game even ended. It could be a long offseason for the Thunder, which is suddenly facing the idea of a younger team that could blot out its future, much like OKC did to the West’s other contenders last year.No single player should have his future judged off just one game (though this wasn’t a great series overall for Holmgren before Saturday, either). It’s simply a sign of how catastrophic Saturday was that a contender trading a 24-year-old All-NBA defensive anchor is even a conversation.

Michael Carrick: Berbatov issues bold verdict on Man United coachFormer Manchester United forward Dimitar Berbatov has outlined his expectations for Michael Carrick next season. The Englishman was initially appointed as the Red Devils’ caretaker manager in January following the departure of former head coach Ruben Amorim. The English giants had struggled under the Portuguese, but Carrick’s arrival helped revive the season. United have since registered 12 wins in 17 games under the Englishman, finishing third in the league table and securing qualification for the Champions League. The Red Devils rewarded Carrick with the permanent job just before the end of the season and are now preparing to upgrade the squad over the summer. A new midfielder remains one of their priorities as they prepare for life after Casemiro. While the Englishman has been a revelation so far, Berbatov insists that much more will be expected of him next campaign. MIchael Carrick Managerial Career StatsSource: Wikipedia. Carrick deserves permanent positionSpeaking to talkSPORT, Berbatov acknowledged that Carrick deserves the full-time position. He said: “I think he earned it, and based on the job he’s done, he earned the position and he deserved it.” “And congratulations to him. And, of course, now starts the difficult part to show everyone that, you know, the next season United will be fighting for. I know, in my mind, it’s always about titles and trophies and to go back to the winning ways.”The Bulgarian insisted that he was eager to see how the team shapes up over the summer and performs next season, adding: “But as I said, next season comes, probably new players will come, some will leave. I’m curious to see, you know, how the team again will line up, how they play, how they continue to play so good or we’re going to witness a drop in form from the start of the season.”“Just waiting, anticipating that United will be back in my mind at least where they belong in the first place in the Premier League.”United must fight for silverwareBerbatov went on to add that while securing qualification for the Champions League is a good start, his former side must fight for trophies next season. He said: “Well, they qualify for the Champions League, which is always a good pulling power for new players to come into the team because everybody wants to play Champions League football.”“In my mind, as I said, maybe it’s not the right way of thinking, but in my mind, United should always be fighting for at least a trophy, some type of trophies, because then everybody will be happy because the team is about the trophies.”“When you look at the history, the players, the managers, everybody going through United will see that it’s about trophies. So, in my mind, they should be fighting for any type of trophies.”Final ThoughtsUnited must invest wisely in the squad over the summer if they wish to sustain their recent rise under Carrick. The Englishman has done an excellent job with the current squad so far, but needs more quality in key areas to hit a higher level next season. Featured image Steve Bardens via Getty Imagesonline pollsThe Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball has made the Starkville Regional final in the NCAA Tournament but must wait to find out its opponent.The No. 14 national seed Bulldogs (42-17) defeated No. 2 Cincinnati 10-5 at Dudy Noble Field on May 30.They'll either play Cincinnati again on May 31 (7 p.m.) or No. 3 Louisiana (40-24). Those two teams play each other earlier on May 31 at 2 p.m. and the winner advances to play the Bulldogs.The Bearcats slugged Louisiana 12-2 on May 29. The Ragin' Cajuns took down No. 4 Lipscomb, 10-4, on May 30 to keep their season alive.It's the third straight season that MSU is in a regional final. However, it lost both of the regional finals in 2024 in Charlottesville and 2025 in Tallahassee. The winner of Cincinnati vs. Louisiana will have to beat Mississippi State twice to win the regional. If Mississippi State loses on May 31, another game will be played June 1.The Starkville Regional is paired in the super regionals with the Athens Regional, where No. 3 Georgia is in that regional final against an undetermined opponent.MORE: How Duke Stone start set Mississippi State pitching up perfectly for rest of regionalStarkville Regional schedule in 2026 NCAA baseball tournamentAll games at Dudy Noble Field; double elimination format; game times in CentralSunday, May 31Game 5: Louisiana vs. Cincinnati, 2 p.m., TBAGame 6: Mississippi State vs. Game 5 winner, 7 p.m., TBAMonday, June 1Game 7 (if necessary): TBASam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State baseball's next opponent in NCAA Tournament regional

OKLAHOMA CITY — Exiting the court, the reigning NBA champions' time on the throne has officially come to an end. Victor Wembanyama went from teammate to teammate to drape his lengthy wingspan over their bodies for several bear hugs in a row. Meanwhile, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander quietly went through the home tunnel.The Oklahoma City Thunder fell in a 111-103 Game 7 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. They came up a win shy in the 2026 Western Conference Finals, being on the wrong side of a 4-3 final series count.Without Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell, the Thunder faced an uphill battle. Conventional wisdom suggested all year that OKC desperately needed the former against San Antonio to have a chance. Instead, he only played one full game looking like himself before another hamstring injury sidelined him.To add insult to injury — pun intended — Mitchell's absence for the last four games of this series made the Thunder play offense with a hand tied behind their collective back. Bless OKC's role players' hearts, but the talent gap was too wide to overcome. Barring some wild outside shooting variance.The Thunder had that in Game 5. It was needed again in this do-or-die situation. Instead, they once again started on a flat note. Turning it over every other possession, they were in an 18-8 hole from the jump. Slow starts have plagued OKC all series long. Now, it's happening again in the finale.Eventually, the Thunder settled down. They were in a 32-25 deficit after the first quarter. Gilgeous-Alexander had it going. So did Jared McCain in spurts. But everybody else couldn't join in on helping out the short-handed squad. The second quarter was a much different story, though.In what turned out to be their best punch of the game, the Thunder went on a 20-5 run to make things interesting. Gilgeous-Alexander finally looked like a two-time MVP winner who shared the same sentences as Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Drilling mid-range jumpers over San Antonio defenders, he wouldn't allow OKC to get buried on the scoreboard again.The Thunder had 28 points in the second quarter. They entered halftime in a 56-53 deficit. You easily take being in that spot — all things considered. Gilgeous-Alexander had 19 points. McCain helped with 10. If they hoped to pull off the all-time win, others had to help out. Looking at you, Chet Holmgren.Shaking up the second half lineup, Alex Caruso and Jaylin Williams replaced Lu Dort and Isaiah Hartenstein. The Thunder turned every stone in sight to see if they could conjure up some clutch-time magic to overcome their scoring talent dressed up in street clothes.Scoring eight in a row, the lineup change worked out. Williams hit a big-time 3-pointer to make it a 79-77 game with a minute to go in the third frame. The Thunder were in a manageable 80-77 deficit through three quarters. Alas, those hopes quickly evaporated.In the biggest stretch of the series, the Spurs started the fourth quarter on a 17-9 run. To twist the knife? Wembanyama had little to do with it. Instead, it was San Antonio's others. Julian Champagnie poured it on from the outside. Keldon Johnson delivered huge outside jumpers. Even Stephon Castle bullied his way to the rim.With eight minutes left, the Thunder were in a 97-86 deficit. All of the progress they made it keep it within a possessions was gone. Poof. And even with Wembanyama's foul trouble, OKC couldn't capitalize. The lack of top-scoring sans Gilgeous-Alexander reared its ugly head to the top.Even when the Thunder's defense finally showed up by forcing turnovers, they couldn't convert on the other end in transition. That's been a theme all series. And it finally bit them in the worst way possible. Gilgeous-Alexander tried his best to play Superman, but OKC's offense quickly bogged down to bad shot attempts. They scored 26 points in the final frame.The Thunder shot 45% from the field and went 12-of-35 (34.3%) from 3. They shot 17-of-22 on free throws. They also had 23 assists on 37 baskets. Five Thunder players scored double-digit points.Gilgeous-Alexander gave it his all with 35 points and nine assists. Cason Wallace helped out with 17 points and seven rebounds. Caruso had 12 points and five rebounds. McCain finished with 12 points. Williams had 11 points and 10 rebounds.Meanwhile, the Spurs shot 46% from the field and went 17-of-40 (42.5%) from 3. They shot 14-of-19 on free throws. They had 21 assists on 40 baskets. Seven Spurs players scored double-digit points.Wembanyama had 22 points and seven rebounds en route to the Western Conference Finals MVP. Castle had 16 points, six rebounds and six assists. Champagnie chipped in with 20 points and six rebounds. De'Aaron Fox had 15 points and five assists. Dylan Harper finished with 12 points and seven rebounds. Johnson scored 11 points.Well, that's how the cookie crumbles sometimes. Once Williams and Mitchell were lost for most of the playoff series, it was going to take a Herculean effort from Gilgeous-Alexander and the rest of the Thunder to pull this off. The Spurs were OKC's equal all year. Both were the NBA's best two teams all season as 60-plus-win juggernauts. They finished just one win shy of doing so. As the adage goes — you need as much luck as talent to win an NBA championship. The Thunder didn't have the former in the health department.Now, the Thunder will have an entire summer to figure out what's next. Roster changes are inevitable. Looking at their cap sheet, they have some important decisions to make regarding the supporting cast around Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and Holmgren. That's part of the NBA gig. No such thing as a standstill roster. You tip your cap to OKC. It did everything it could under its situation. Just didn't have the talent to beat the Spurs.Let's look at Thunder player grades:Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: A-plusDown six points with 90 seconds left, Gilgeous-Alexander had one last gasp to do something. Matched up with Champagnie, the two-time MVP went with the signature stepback 3-pointer. The move he's worked countless hours on betrayed him at the biggest moment of the year. He badly missed the desperate.He could still hold his head up high, though. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 35 points on 12-of-21 shooting, nine assists and four rebounds. He shot 2-of-5 from 3 and went 9-of-11 on free throws. He also had three steals and one block.Without Williams and Mitchell, the Thunder needed Gilgeous-Alexander to go supernova to have a chance. And considering the final score, he almost did. It took seven games, but the 27-year-old finally looked like the league's best player. He left it all on the floor and outdueled Wembanyama — even if that fact gets lost in time.Gilgeous-Alexander had it going from the start. He scored 19 points in the first half. Nobody else on the Thunder had it going. All of OKC's role players' hot scoring has dried up. Considering how dire the situation was, they needed him to be a one-man show as Williams was physically absent while Holmgren was mentally absent.Helping the Thunder stay within striking distance, Gilgeous-Alexander had 12 points in the third quarter alone. At 31 points through three frames, he was their sole source of consistent offense. His mid-range jumper finally returned after an impromptu sabbatical. You can't afford to pass up on decent looks for hopefully better ones in this scenario.Unfortunately, the Thunder learned the very hard lesson that you can't win a Game 7 with just one player showing up. Gilgeous-Alexander emptied the chamber and made things interesting, but a year filled with OKC overcoming injuries finally caught up to it at the end. It was his worst playoff series to date as an NBA superstar, but he finished it off with a bang and playing well enough to get the series win.Get up 2️⃣‼️ pic.twitter.com/MFlVCdnAih— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) May 31, 2026One possession at a time ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/tt4BLWI6tJ— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) May 31, 2026Come out swinging in the second half 🎯 pic.twitter.com/ahaczOtwdd— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) May 31, 2026Chet Holmgren: F-minusThe same can't be said about OKC's other All-NBA player. Seldom playing in the fourth quarter of a Game 7 with a trip to the NBA Finals on the line, Holmgren's ineffectiveness was plastered all over television screens across the country. It finally caught up to the Thunder in this season-ending loss.Holmgren finished with four points on 1-of-2 shooting and four rebounds. He shot 2-of-4 on free throws. He also had two blocks and two steals.Just bad. Flat-out bad. Holmgren has done an excellent job of evading the Wembanyama beef. But this Western Conference Finals will force the Thunder to address that elephant in the room — one way or another. After playing like an All-NBA guy through OKC's first two playoff series, his production dipped below the floor. Save for maybe a few flashes. But flashes aren't what you're about to pay him a boatload of money for.Of course, nobody reasonable could've expected Holmgren to meet Wembanyama's production. The latter left those talks years ago. But there's zero excuse for the 24-year-old to be borderline unplayable in OKC's biggest game of the year. The scoring numbers were gone. He couldn't even muster up a decent volume in a do-or-die scenario.And then Holmgren's rim protection eroded as the series went on. The Spurs had little fear of going right at him by Game 7. Scrolling online reactions, feels like a lot of Thunder fans want him to be gone this summer — I hate to break it to you, but that isn't happening. Not out of pure spite, at least.Criticize Holmgren all you want in this series. And he deserves most of it. But he was one of the NBA's 15 best players this season. He helped the Thunder become a 64-win team that was a win away from another NBA Finals trip. You just don't throw that away over one bad series — even with how ugly it got. Let's see how OKC responds this summer with its offseason moves, but expect it to tweak the cast instead of fundamentally changing things.Cason Wallace: AWith the outside shot falling, Wallace was feeling himself. He went headfirst at the basket and kissed the ball off the glass for the impressive layup. The 22-year-old was the sole player who did enough to help Gilgeous-Alexander secure another Game 7 win.Wallace finished with 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting, seven rebounds and four assists. He shot 5-of-9 from 3. He also had two steals and one block.Give credit to Wallace, he showed out. An inconsistent regular season became a distant memory. If you were gonna rank everybody's Western Conference Finals from OKC's side, the 22-year-old has to be near the top of the list. Desperately needing some scoring, he provided it by knocking down his catch-and-shoot looks.In the biggest dozen minutes of the season, Wallace scored an unreal 14 points in the final frame. The buckets were much-needed as Gilgeous-Alexander's meter was near empty. On defense, he showed why he was an All-Defense guy. A handful of steals helped fuel OKC's momentum. Even if it came in vain.If you're looking for glass-half-full thoughts on this heartbreaker, Wallace's breakout is one of them. He's a gamer. And given the starting nod in a Game 7, I think the Thunder showed their hand a little in terms of how much they value him. Expect him to become a regular starter next season with Lu Dort's probable departure.Alex Caruso: DWell, Caruso's magic run finally ran out. The 32-year-old has built up a reputation for being a playoff riser. And while it's still warranted, that wasn't really there in this one. Like the rest of the Thunder's suited-up role players, most couldn't handle the intensity that a Game 7 came with.Caruso finished with 12 points on 3-of-14 shooting, five rebounds and four assists. He shot 1-of-6 from 3 and went 5-of-6 on free throws. He also had one block.Always juiced up for these high-intensity circumstances, perhaps Caruso was a little too amped up for his own good. That would at least explain why he missed so many bunnies around the rim. And why his outside jumper finally crashed back down to Earth after he flirted with being in the Western Conference Finals MVP conversation. He couldn't deliver the same hero-esque outings in this one.Gilgeous-Alexander and Wallace had it going, but nobody else on the Thunder did. Meanwhile, the Spurs had seven folks score double-digit points. While Wembanyama struggled with foul trouble, the rest of their cast stepped up to get this resume-building road win. That was ultimately the difference between the two sides.Ah well. Can't get too mad at Caruso. Or really, any of the other Thunder role players. They punched above their weight for most of the playoff series. But things eventually normalized at the worst time possible. Now, OKC will have the rest of the summer to wonder what-if regarding its bad health luck finally costing them in the end.AC for 3️⃣ pic.twitter.com/WPCyB1yztx— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) May 31, 2026Highlights:This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Player grades: Thunder's season ends in 111-103 Game 7 loss to Spurs

Milwaukee proved its offensive outburst in the Auburn Regional opener was no fluke, though UCF's pitchers certainly aided the Panthers' efforts on May 30.The Horizon League champs tagged the Knights for five extra-base hits and capitalized on five walks in the first three innings to cruise for a 13-6 victory at Plainsman Park. Milwaukee (27-31) sits in the driver's seat to become just the 10th regional No. 4 seed to advance to supers in NCAA baseball tournament history.UCF (32-22) will meet Auburn (39-20) at 3 p.m. Sunday in an elimination game. The winner will turn around and face Milwaukee at 8, needing to upend the Panthers twice.Milwaukee scored the game's first nine runs to win for the 22nd time in their last 30 games. They jumped out to a 10-0 lead the day before to stun Auburn.Andrew Williamson demolished his fourth home run of the regional to lead off the sixth inning, a 443-foot blast with an exit velocity of 110 mph off the bat. Evan Jones gave the Knights a chance at an improbable comeback with a career-high 4⅓ innings of two-run relief.Here are three takeaways from an untimely upset that puts the Knights on the brink of elimination.UCF had no answers for the top of Milwaukee's orderMilwaukee's big bats at the top of the lineup set the tone and proved to be near-impossible outs for UCF's pitchers.Panthers leadoff hitter Grant Ross reached base in each of his five plate appearances, including an unorthodox solo home run deflected off the head of UCF center fielder De'Amez Ross — reminiscent of an infamous 1993 José Canseco blooper in Cleveland."We're just gritty, man. We're grinding it out," Grant Ross told the ESPN+ broadcast crew after the game. "We knew we had the talent all along. It's just clicking."Charlie Marion singled twice, walked twice, was hit by a pitch and scored twice. Dylan O'Connell smacked doubles in his first two at-bats and drove in four runs.The Panthers chased Mateo Gray after 1⅓ innings. He found the strike zone on just 13 of his 27 pitches, allowing three hits and three earned runs. UCF burned through five of its bullpen arms, a potentially problematic situation for the rest of the weekend.Home plate umpire exits after taking foul tip off maskPlay was halted for 20 minutes in the second inning when home plate umpire Blake Felix absorbed a foul ball off the face mask — a fastball thrown by Milwaukee starter Aric Ehmke that UCF catcher Zak Skinner tipped.Felix was visibly shaken up, and he met with the on-site athletic training staff before heading into the dugout. He underwent testing for a concussion and did not return, replaced behind the plate by second base umpire Travis Carlson.Alan Gorewitz filled the void at second base for the remainder of the evening.UCF faces elimination against No. 4 national seed AuburnThe Knights will need to knock out the fourth-ranked team in the country to keep hope of a first trip to supers alive.Auburn rebounded to eliminate NC State in a 17-13 slugfest in earlier action Saturday. Five Tigers had multi-hit games; Ethin Bingaman and Cade Belyeu each homered twice, and Chase Fralick drove in six RBIs.UCF has a 5-6 all-time record against the Tigers, though it swept a three-game series at Plainsman Park during the abbreviated 2020 season.Auburn's pitching staff has allowed 26 runs through two regional games. During the regular season, the Tigers ranked fourth in Division I with a 3.45 ERA.This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: UCF baseball takeaways from NCAA Tournament loss to Milwaukee

Oct 9, 2021; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; A Virginia Tech Hokies helmet on the bench during the second half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images It’s official visit weekend for Virginia Tech. Things kicked off in a big way on Saturday when in-state tight end Sam Faniel (Richmond) announced his commitment to the Hokies. Head coach James Franklin wasn’t done. On Saturday night, the Hokies struck again, this time landing a commitment from three-star offensive lineman Luke Braham. This commitment may have come as a surprise, as we haven’t heard of Braham being on Tech’s radar for long. However, that’s not true. Offensive line coach Matt Moore knows Braham well. He got to know him during his time as West Virginia’s offensive line coach before arriving in Blacksburg last season. Braham plays high school football at University High in Morgantown, West Virginia. 100% committed. @CoachMooreVT@Coach_Danielsen@CoachTHowle@coachjfranklin@AllenTrieu@Coach_Lawless@CoachSnyderUHS@uhshawksfbpic.twitter.com/mUS3cBmV5s— Luke Braham (@LUKEBRAHAM52) May 31, 2026The 6-foot-5, 260-pound Braham chose the Hokies over West Virginia, Rutgers, and others. So, how did Virginia Tech land an offensive lineman from Morgantown — home of the Mountaineers? It’s simple: Moore. The relationship between the two goes back a few years, and once the Hokies officially offered in May, the decision became easier for Braham. Braham plays offensive tackle in high school. It’s uncertain if he’ll remain a tackle once he arrives in Blacksburg, but he does have the required length. His high-school film shows a dominant run blocker. Braham is commitment No. 17 to Virginia Tech’s 2027 recruiting class. He is the second offensive lineman, joining four-star Kaden Buchanan (Lebanon, Tennessee), who committed last week. Welcome home, Luke.

Cason Wallace declares the San Antonio Spurs a 'beatable team' despite losing to them originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.In one of the most competitive Western Conference Finals of all time, the San Antonio Spurs prevailed against the Oklahoma City Thunder. It was quite a superb series, but only one team could advance, and this time, it was the Spurs.Despite losing to the Spurs, the Thunder did have some significant players sidelined. Ajay Mitchell missed the majority of the series, while Jalen Williams missed out on playing Game 7 after a premature return in Game 6.Cason Wallace believes the Spurs are still a 'beatable' team after the WCFAs one of the standout players who helped Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in Game 7, Cason Wallace can hold his head high. He was superb in the do-or-die game, but he has always been a consistent defensive standout for OKC.Unfortunately, the rest of the team struggled to keep up offensively, which led to the Spurs winning the series. However, the Spurs are not a perfect team because they still almost lost to a short-handed Thunder squad.MORE: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is not going to make inputs about offseason movesWallace made sure to point this out in his post-game interview after Game 7. He probably does not mean any disrespect to the Spurs, but he did give an honest take on the team that just beat the Thunder."They're a good team. Beatable team, obviously we beat them, but we gotta do things better for a longer period of time," Wallace said after Game 7 in his post-game presser.It might sound like sour grapes, but Wallace does make a valid point. This series would have been so much better for the Thunder had Mitchell and Williams played. Unfortunately, that was not the case, and the Thunder lost because of it.They can run it back in the 2026-27 season, but it will be interesting how the Thunder adjusts. They still have a fantastic core group of players led by arguably the best player in the league.More NBA news:Mark Daigneuault reveals that Chet Holmgren's issues were a problem across the teamHow the Spurs' Game 7 win shows the parity in the NBAThe Spurs have reached their first NBA Finals since 2014Victor Wembanyama talks about why he was emotional after the Game 7 winThe complete box score for Game 7 between the Spurs and the Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder saw their season end in a 111-103 Game 7 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday. They finish on the wrong side of a 4-3 series count in the 2026 Western Conference Finals.Shai Gilgeous-Alexander left it all on the floor with 35 points and nine assists. Cason Wallace helped out with 17 points and seven rebounds. Chet Holmgren was a no-show with four points and four rebounds.Meanwhile, Victor Wembanyama had 22 points and seven rebounds. He won the 2026 Western Conference Finals MVP. Stephon Castle had 16 points, six rebounds and six assists. Julian Champagnie popped off for 20 points and six rebounds.Let's look at some of the best photos from the Thunder's eight-point Game 7 loss to the Spurs:This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Photos: Best images from Thunder's 111-103 Game 7 loss to Spurs

Dario Vidosic joined Brighton in 2024 from Melbourne City [Getty Images]When Brighton face Manchester City in the Women's FA Cup final, it will mean more to the club than just hunting a first major trophy.Rado Vidosic, the club's head of women's and girls' coaching, passed away in January following a battle with cancer.He was manager Dario Vidosic's father and a much-loved figure following his arrival a year earlier.Rado's passing aged 64 was felt by everyone at Brighton and Dario missed a month of the Women's Super League (WSL) campaign on compassionate leave.His return in February inspired a strong finish as the Seagulls climbed to seventh and reached their first FA Cup final.On Sunday, Dario will lead his team out at Wembley (15:00 BST) with his family watching in support."Football connects a lot of people through life. You make great memories and it will be a nice day," he told BBC Sport."I carry dad every single day with me into every game and I think about what he would tell me and what I've learned from reading back through his notes from when he was a coach. "I still try to pick up words of wisdom from him. I know he will be with us and I know he's been with us for every single game. "Hopefully we can go out, play some nice football, make him proud and give him something to celebrate."Rado Vidosic was 'one of the most incredible men'How Toone is navigating grief through footballExtra: The big FA Cup Final preview'Everything was with dad'Dario, 39, was born in Croatia - the home country of his parents - when it was part of Yugoslavia, but moved to Australia a year later when Rado played for Queensland Lions.He followed his father's path, becoming a player and representing Australia, before moving into coaching.Asked about the role of football in his life, Dario added: "From a young age it was probably with dad, everything was with him. When he was playing, I was watching."A lot of the time I'd be on the back fields with the kids. We were in a Croatian community club, so were always together. "We would play early in the day with the juniors and then we'd head off to wherever the first team were playing. Those are all my memories, just following dad around."It was something I loved to do. Mum and dad both sacrificed a lot to help me travel. I never felt like I missed out."For Dario, moving into coaching was "natural" and he asked to join Rado as an assistant at Melbourne City to learn the ropes.In 2022, his father moved across to the men's side so Dario took charge of the women's team before joining Brighton two years later. During his time in the WSL, he has impressed in helping Albion close the gap to the top four."[My dad] influenced what we're doing and some ideas that we were working on together, even when I was his assistant [in Melbourne]," said Dario. "I try to live day by day, try to improve myself, try to improve the team and give them as much as I possibly can. "Now I'm enjoying it [in a different way]. I went to my son's training this week. It was a beautiful afternoon. "It's a moment to disconnect even though you're not disconnecting from football totally. Family gives that nice perspective away from the game."Watch 24 Hours with Ella Toone on BBC iPlayerWe all want to make Rado proud - HaleyRado Vidosic spent four years in charge of Melbourne City Women between 2018 and 2022 [Getty Images]There is a lot at stake at Wembley with opponents Manchester City, recently crowned WSL champions, chasing a domestic Double.Brighton, meanwhile, are looking to scale new heights having continually raised investment in its women's team for several years.In 2021, the women's team moved into training facilities at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre thanks to an £8.5m investment.Last month, they released plans for Europe's first purpose-built women's football stadium, at a cost of £75-80m. On the pitch, top talent has arrived, including England's Euro 2022 winner Fran Kirby, Nigeria keeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and Japan striker Kiko Seike.It is the right trajectory for success and Kirby hoped their performance in the FA Cup final will honour Rado's part in their growth."I'm pretty sure there will be no-one else prouder than Rado of Dario for getting there. We really wanted to honour him and the work that he did here," said the 32-year-old forward, who won the FA Cup five times at former club Chelsea."It left a massive mark on the team, and to get to Wembley, with everything that's been going on, is credit to the coaching staff to push their emotions aside."USA striker Madison Haley, who scored in their dramatic 3-2 win over Liverpool in the semi-finals, believes Rado will be on their minds on Sunday.Asked what victory would mean to the Vidosic family, she told BBC Sport: "It would be really, really special but Dario's not one to make it about himself."It's not something he would probably say to the group but it's definitely been on our minds. We all want to make Rado proud. "I think he would want us to give absolutely everything and get it done. Hopefully we can continue to make the whole family proud."[BBC]Listen to Ben Haines, Ellen White and Jen Beattie on the Women's Football Weekly podcast. New episodes drop every Tuesday on BBC Sounds, plus find interviews and content from the Women's Super League and beyond on the Women's Football Weekly feedGet the latest WSL news on our dedicated page

South Korea's Son Heung-min scored twice in a pre-World Cup friendly, his first goals for his country since a friendly against Bolivia in 2025 (Jung Yeon-je)Son Heung-min ended his goal drought with a double as South Korea warmed up for the World Cup by hammering Trinidad and Tobago 5-0 in a friendly on Saturday.The 33-year-old has faced growing questions about his faltering form after scoring only twice for his club Los Angeles FC this season. His last goal for South Korea came in a friendly against Bolivia in November, 2025.But the captain was back on target as South Korea cruised past the Caribbean team at their training camp in Salt Lake City, Utah, with fellow striker Cho Gue-sung also hitting a double.South Korea will face the Czech Republic, South Africa and co-hosts Mexico in Group A and begin their campaign against the Czechs in Guadalajara on June 11.Son gave his team the lead five minutes before half-time, turning home a low cross in the penalty box.He doubled their tally minutes later from the penalty spot, drilling the ball into the corner of the net.It took his international tally to 56 goals in 144 games, two short of Cha Bum-kun's South Korea record.amk/dh

Texas A&M is headed to the College Station Regional Final after defeating Texas State 17-2 on Saturday night, thanks to 20 hits from the Aggie lineup, while junior RHP Weston Moss posted a career-high 10 strikeouts after allowing two early home runs that gave the Bobcats an early 2-0 lead.However, Moss's start spurred more speculation about star sophomore LHP Aiden Sims, who has not taken the mound in four games after dealing with reported "tightness," prompting second-year coach Michael Earley to provide several cryptic updates heading into the postseason. Texas A&M's pitching rotation has been thin all season, while Sims served as the lone bright spot for most of the year after finishing the regular season with an 8-1 record, team-high 3.84 ERA, and 17 strikeouts during his first starting season. After the Aggies throttled Texas State, Earley provided the grim news that Aiden Sims will miss the rest of the postseason, just minutes after Weston Moss excited the game to a standing ovation. While specifics regarding his injury weren't provided, Earley also stated that this was not the plan all along, as Sims attempted a comeback, but his future is too important, and the plan is to prevent any further damage. "It's just not there, and for the best interest of the kid, he's not going to pitch."Outside of Weston Moss and Shane Sdao, who struggled on Friday, Gavin Lyons and Ethan Darden will now serve as the only reliable starting options, while closer Clayton Freshcorn will be heavily relied on to finish games. Still, this puts even more pressure on Texas A&M's offense to produce big innings and provide each pitcher a cushion. Texas A&M will face either Texas State or USC in the College Station Regional Final on Sunday night.Here’s what Texas A&M baseball coach Michael Earley said about shutting down starting pitcher Aiden Sims for the rest of the season. pic.twitter.com/F7vqc3736S— Carter Karels (@CarterKarels) May 31, 2026Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M star pitcher Aiden Sims is out for the rest of the season

OKLAHOMA CITY — Three hours before an elated Julian Champagnie tucked the Western Conference finals trophy safely under his arm Saturday night, the beautiful reward of a 110-103 Game 7 win, a wave of frustration was settling in. His routine pregame 3-point gauntlet was going off the rails. No matter how the shot left his fingertips or how he positioned himself at various spots around the perimeter, the consistency just wasn’t there. Front rim. Back rim. Off to the side. “Oh my God!” Champagnie yelled in disgust. At one point, Champagnie looked off in the direction of the rim as if he were inspecting it, because something surely was off with it. He even stared at his hands, moving his individual fingers, searching for an answer. For much of the Western Conference finals, Champagnie had been searching for a similar rhythm. His floor spacing, which had meant so much to San Antonio for months, had suddenly vanished without reason. Before his last few moments of the warmup, assistant coach Matt Nielsen spoke up. “Layup!” Nielsen exclaimed as Champagnie’s attempt soared through the air, a reminder of how talented the 24-year-old is. The shooter he knew could knock down 25-footers in his sleep. Like layups. So on Saturday night, behind enemy lines with the NBA Finals within grasp, Champagnie dared to dream. He launched without hesitation or trepidation, defended like his life depended on it and stuck his nose in rebounding business it should not have been, saving his best performance for last when the Spurs needed his contributions the most: 20 points on 6-for-10 shooting from 3, six rebounds, an assist, a steal and a game-best +16. “Julian is amazing,” teammate Victor Wembanyama said. “He deserves everything that he gets. And he’s the type of guy that makes you wanna die for him on the court because he gives so much effort. And he’s got such an amazing story — he got cut in the NBA a few years back. He’s had tough moments, but he keeps pushing and now he’s taken his team to the NBA Finals.”The story of Game 7, the story of such a majestic, captivating series, could have simply been San Antonio’s proficiency from deep, with Oklahoma City becoming a prisoner to its pressure-packed defensive shell, allowing the Spurs to knock down 17 3s for the first time in a fortnight. Or it could have also been how the Spurs controlled the offensive glass, dominated in transition and allowed the lowest success rate of shots at the rim in the playoffsBecause Game 7 was all of those things. And it was also none of those things. A matchup rooted in tactics, experience and mettle ultimately boiled down to heart. Luke Kornet racing down the floor to meet an eager Isaiah Hartenstein at the rim, sending his shot flying and the bench into an absolute frenzy. Keldon Johnson, who dealt with inconsistency all series, hitting two huge momentum-shifting triples and attacking the rim with aplomb. Dylan Harper, refusing to succumb to rookie culture, playing beyond his years. Wembanyama and Stephon Castle balancing aggression and smarts, even against their head coach’s best interests because of foul trouble. And the fight, passion and tears of joy after the final buzzer, an entire Spurs family hugging, jumping and thrusting the trophy in equal parts disbelief and pandemonium, all on the floor of a prideful Thunder team with dynasty on their minds. “I’m most excited about feeling what I felt when that buzzer went off again and again,” an extremely emotional Wembanyama said. “All these hours we put in, it’s for these types of emotions. I want to win so bad. It’s like my life depends on it.”As the Thunder walk away, they’ll have the next few months to evaluate what went wrong in a season filled with so much right. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dragged his team for as far and long as he possibly could, offering flamethrower after flamethrower to simply keep Oklahoma City within striking distance — ending his season with an impressive 35 points, 9 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals. But the Thunder will need to examine the embarrassing erasure of Chet Holmgren, who is about to begin a five-year, $239 million deal. They’ll also need to revisit their depth and contingency plans, which became exposed toward the end of a series lacking a healthy Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell — with Lu Dort struggling mightily and veteran Alex Caruso missing 11 of 14 shots in a must-win environment. For now, though, the Spurs will celebrate. The extent of the festivities is unknown at this juncture, given how well oiled the New York Knicks are and how easily they’ve dismantled their Eastern opposition, but San Antonio has leaned on their preparation all year. This season has shown the significance of growth, understanding and connectivity for a group forged by failing, developing and ascending. And regardless of how their story ends — whether it culminates in hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy or finding themselves in a similar predicament as the Thunder, wondering how an opportunity slipped through their grasp — the journey is worth holding on to. Even for one night. “Man, you love it,” Spurs general manager Brian Wright told Yahoo Sports. “Gotta love it.”“People don’t talk about the habits, the character, the togetherness, the competitive response,” Johnson added. “This team has now been pretty damn consistent for a long time, over 100 games for the most part. I’ll take those things with the experiences that we’ve gone through when you want to look back at how we started the year. We’ve played in three playoff series without Victor and [De’Aaron] Fox for multiple games. I don’t know who else has as much experience as we do this year.”

Marc Richards (left) played alongside Ivan Toney at Northampton Town in the 2014-15 season [Getty Images]Ivan Toney's surprise inclusion in England's 2026 World Cup squad is a reward for his "self-belief", according to one of the striker's former team-mates.Toney, 30, made his professional debut at Northampton Town in 2012 and his former strike partner Marc Richards said the England international "certainly has an eye for goal".Northampton-born Toney left the Cobblers in 2015 and now plays for Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli following a career in England at clubs including Newcastle United, Peterborough United and Brentford.Richards said Toney had "become a focal point for any team he plays for".However, his inclusion by Thomas Tuchel was largely seen as a surprise, with the striker not having featured in an England squad for almost a year.He is expected to serve as a back-up to captain Harry Kane at the World Cup, which is being held in the United States, Canada and Mexico and begins on 11 June.Richards, now part of Northampton's coaching set-up, said Tuchel's decision to call-up Toney was "certainly from left field", but predicted Toney would "certainly feature".He said: "If we [England] need a goal, the powers that be will rely on him to go on and come up trumps."Playing with him at such a young age, you would never have expected him to go on to play for England at a World Cup, but he's got the mindset, the audacity and the arrogance to be there and do what he needs to do."Toney scored in England's penalty shootout win over Switzerland at Euro 2024 [Getty Images]After starting at Northampton, Toney moved to Newcastle but was sent out on six different loan spells before joining Peterborough.He scored in all four of the top divisions in English football before settling at Brentford in 2020.His career has also been marked by controversy. In May 2023 he was banned from playing for eight months for 232 breaches of the Football Association's betting rules.Toney played for England at Euro 2024 and joined Al-Ahli in August 2024 for £40m. Do you have a story suggestion for Northamptonshire? Contact us below.Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Related to this story Why Tuchel wanted Toney back in England pictureIvan Toney says hometown support 'a good feeling'Town 'buzzing' after Toney's England debut

Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andrej Stojakovic (2) dunks the ball past VCU Rams forward Lazar Djokovic (17) during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament second round game at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. | Alex Martin/Greenville News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images On this episode of ‘Oskee Talk’ I discuss how Andrej Stojakovic’s return impacts the Fighting Illini’s bid for another Final Four (3:51) as well as incoming freshman Quentin Coleman earning a spot on Team USA (17:02). I also introduce Illinois’ newest women’s basketball recruits (23:15) and criticize the NCAA’s new international eligibility rules (30:20). Finally, I provide updates on Illinois’ football schedule (43:25) and the program’s newest signees (51:43).Click HERE to listen!Join the conversation! Comment below and make sure to subscribe to Oskee Talk wherever you find your podcasts!

While Luka Doncic is regarded by many, if not most, people as one of the five greatest basketball players on the planet right now, plenty of people have expressed doubts that a team led by him can win the NBA championship.Critics point to his underwhelming man-to-man defense, his extremely high usage rate (he's the NBA's all-time career leader in that category) and his tendency to complain to referees as reasons he allegedly can't lead a team to basketball's grand prize. But Derek Fisher, a man who won five rings with the Lakers alongside the late great Kobe Bryant, said on 97.1 The Fan that he believes in Doncic's ability to earn the Larry O'Brien Trophy.“The short answer is yes,” Fisher said when asked if he can lead L.A. to an NBA title. “Congratulations to Luka on the All-NBA First Team. He slowly worked his way up the MVP conversation late. The post-All-Star break run he was on prior to the injury was, yeah, there was another level of basketball that he was playing. Not just the scoring, but I thought his defense was improving.“He’s always been able to make his teammates better -- some of the passes that he makes. His court mapping and spatial awareness in terms of where his teammates are, where the defense is, how to anticipate defensive rotations — it’s next level. He’s definitely the type of player that you can win with in terms of winning a championship. I think guys enjoy playing with him. You need a superstar that can elevate his teammates either through -- Michael [Jordan] did it through force. You had to get to Michael’s level. Kobe [Bryant] had some of that energy as well, but other guys, Magic [Johnson] did it differently…“Luka has a lot of that energy about him. I think the Lakers will be able to get free agents and guys to come and play here with Luka and his style of play.”Doncic averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 1.6 steals a game this season and was fourth in the voting for the MVP award. He is 27 years of age and has entered the prime of his career, and he's at the point in his career where he's probably ready to make a real run at the world championship as long as he has enough support around him.The Lakers need a couple more complementary pieces around him, especially in terms of athleticism, defense and 3-point shooting. But during his time with the Dallas Mavericks, he proved he can get his team to overachieve during the playoffs, especially when he led a fifth-seeded Mavs team to the NBA Finals just two years ago.The time is now for Doncic and the Lakers, and it may only be a matter of making the right personnel moves starting this summer.This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Derek Fisher refutes narrative that Luka Doncic can't win NBA title

After 73 matches we've reached the IPL 2026 final as Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on Gujarat Titans to lift the famous trophy.RCB are attempting to go back-to-back, and after eight weeks of thrilling action, they have that chance to create history at the Narendra Modi Stadium.STREAM: IPL 2026 final, LIVE on fubo via Willow TV (free trial)Standing in Virat Kohli's way are the Titans, whose only IPL success came in their maiden campaign in 2022.Here's everything you need to know about the IPL final, including TV channel and streaming options for the match.IPL final 2026 cricket live stream, TV channel in the US and CanadaHere's how to watch this match in the United States and Canada:TV Channel: Willow TVLive Stream: Fubo, fubo CanadaFans in the United States and Canada will be able to watch this game live exclusively on Willow TV.Willow Sports is a cable TV channel, but if it's not included in your current package or you've cut the cord, it's available on fubo.Fubo offers Willow TV as part of its expanded sports offering. In addition to live matches, you can also watch replays and highlights on demand at any time from any device. Fubo offers a FREE trial for new subscribers in the US only, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)Fubo Canada is the home of cricket for fans north of the border.fuboStream live IPL final 2026Watch Live Sports and TV Without CableStart WatchingWhat time does IPL 2026 final match start in the US and Canada?This match takes place at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India and starts on Sunday, May 31 at 7:30 p.m. local time.Here's how that time translates across North America: DateStart time (ET)Eastern TimeSun, May 3110 a.m.Central TimeSun, May 319 a.m.Mountain TimeSun, May 318 a.m.Pacific TimeSun, May 317 a.m.

Where to watch IPL 2026 final free live stream, TV channel, start time for Gujarat Titans vs. Royal Challengers Bengaluru originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.After 73 matches we've reached the IPL 2026 final as Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on Gujarat Titans to lift the famous trophy.RCB are attempting to go back-to-back, and after eight weeks of thrilling action, they have that chance to create history at the Narendra Modi Stadium.Standing in Virat Kohli's way are the Titans, whose only IPL success came in their maiden campaign in 2022.Here's everything you need to know about the IPL final, including TV channel and streaming options for the match.IPL final 2026 cricket live stream, TV channel in the US and CanadaHere's how to watch this match in the United States and Canada:TV Channel: Willow TVLive Stream:Fubo, fubo CanadaFans in the United States and Canada will be able to watch this game live exclusively on Willow TV.Willow Sports is a cable TV channel, but if it's not included in your current package or you've cut the cord, it's available on fubo.Fubo offers Willow TV as part of its expanded sports offering. In addition to live matches, you can also watch replays and highlights on demand at any time from any device. Fubo offers a FREE trial for new subscribers in the US only, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)Fubo Canada is the home of cricket for fans north of the border.What time does IPL 2026 final match start in the US and Canada?This match takes place at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India and starts on Sunday, May 31 at 7:30 p.m. local time.Here's how that time translates across North America:DateStart time (ET)Eastern TimeSun, May 3110 a.m.Central TimeSun, May 319 a.m.Mountain TimeSun, May 318 a.m.Pacific TimeSun, May 317 a.m.

Jose' Mourinho head coach of AS Roma gestures during the Serie A match between AS Roma and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Olimpico on December 10, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images When José Mourinho arrived at Chelsea in 2004, he startled a generation of English players by rolling footballs onto the training pitch from the first day of pre-season. As former captain John Terry later recalled, getting the balls out so early was unheard of for his generation; Mourinho’s logic was that a pianist does not run around the piano but works on it. Behind that unconventional approach was a coaching philosophy known as Tactical Periodisation.The methodology was developed roughly 35 years ago by Vítor Frade, a sports science professor at the University of Porto, where he worked on the pitch under Sir Bobby Robson while pursuing his academic research. Frade is not a household name, but his influence within the game is enormous, and Mourinho was among the first world-renowned coaches to adopt his ideas publicly and prove their effectiveness — guiding FC Porto to two league titles, the UEFA Cup and the Champions League between 2002 and 2004.At its core, Tactical Periodisation rejects the conventional view that the physical, technical, tactical and psychological dimensions of football should be trained in isolation and given equal priority. Instead, it treats the tactical dimension as the overarching one, with the other three operating within it. Football is understood as a chaotic, complex game drawing on disciplines as varied as neuroscience, complexity theory and physiology, and the methodology insists that training must reflect that complexity rather than fragment it. As explained on Spielverlagerung, the principle of specificity — what Frade calls the supra-principle — demands that every exercise relate directly to the team’s game model, the set of pre-determined behaviours that give the side its identity across the four moments of the game: attacking organisation, defensive transition, defensive organisation and attacking transition.The word periodisation here does not refer to managing physical load, as in traditional fitness theory, but to the weekly organisation of tactical principles. This weekly plan is called the Morphocycle, structured around recovery and acquisition days where strength, endurance and speed are each emphasised in turn, always paired with the relevant tactical principles. Crucially, fitness is never separated from the ball.This was precisely Mourinho’s conviction. Speaking at a 2005 coaching conference, he argued that he did not believe in sending players away for isolated fitness sessions or practising skills separately, insisting that all aspects had to be combined in match-realistic situations. Under his regime, the role of the fitness coach changed entirely; his long-time assistant Rui Faria was not a fitness coach in the traditional sense at all.As Sky Sports reported, Frade’s fingerprints are all over the modern Premier League, with coaches such as Marco Silva, Nuno Espírito Santo, Brendan Rodgers and Carlos Carvalhal among his disciples. Carvalhal, who studied under Frade for years at Porto, cautions that the theory is widely misunderstood — many believe that simply training with the ball amounts to Tactical Periodisation, when in truth grasping it requires study of complexity theory itself.For all its academic density, the practical promise is straightforward. Teams that train the game by playing the game spend less time on fragmented work and more on tactical sophistication, while players cover comparable distances — often more — but run with an idea. Mourinho was the figure who carried that conviction from the classrooms of Porto onto the pitches of England, and in doing so reshaped how the modern game prepares.

Luke Kornet jokingly compares his block to LeBron James' legendary 2016 Finals moment originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Victor Wembanyama is often the big man who gets all the spotlight when it comes to the San Antonio Spurs. Despite his standout moments throughout the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, his backup, Luke Kornet, might have had the best moment of the series.Around the 6:35 mark of the fourth quarter, the Thunder got a steal. They went on transition, eventually ending up in Isaiah Hartenstein's hands, who was about to finish at the rim. That would have happened had Kornet not been there to block the shot.Luke Kornet has fun recalling his iconic Game 7 blockAfter the game, there were a lot of moments that people remembered from Game 7. This includes Wembanyama's dunk over Chet Holmgren or Julian Champagnie's three-point barrage throughout the game.However, Kornet's block is still fresh in a lot of people's minds because it was such an impressive feat. Most people don't see Kornet as an athletic player, but he was superb on that play, showcasing why he is the best possible backup for Wemby.MORE: How Luke Kornet's evolution helped him become a fantastic player for the SpursThe Frenchman himself was in awe of Kornet's winning play. He was celebrating on the bench, and he made sure to celebrate it after the game in his post-game presser.Outside of the praise, Kornet himself had a lot of fun with his highlight moment. After the game, in a locker room interview, he made a joke that has gone viral."Someone from the bench yelled, 'Who is it? LeBron James?' We’ll see which one has more staying power in the record books of history," Kornet said after the game in his post-game interview. Moving forward, this will be a moment that both Kornet and Spurs fans will always remember. It was proof that he is ready to keep helping the Spurs to win a championship, and now, they are four wins away from doing so.More NBA news:Mark Daigneault admits that he and the Thunder are also responsible for Chet Holmgren's strugglesParity is real in the NBA, and the Spurs just proved that after Game 7How the Spurs reached their first NBA Finals since 2014Victor Wembanyama reveals why he was emotional after the big Game 7 winShai Gilgeous-Alexander is ready to trust Sam Presti in the offseason

Los Angeles (Calif.) Marquez athlete Elyjah Staples has committed to Cal and broke down why he chose the Bears. Cal had a huge visit weekend and we expect several names to pop as commitments over the next few days. Staples was the one of the headliners of the weekend and he pulled the trigger earlier tonight.“I really wasn’t expecting to commit this soon,” Staples said. “I really expected to make it to my visit to BYU but Cal is just too great an opportunity for me.“I actually committed during dinner. It just felt right. I love everything about Cal and it’s the best all around fit for me.”Staples narrowed his choices to two a week ago- Cal and BYU. BYU was actually the team to beat a month ago. “Cal really pushed hard and then on this visit, it felt like home,” Staples said. “Tosh Lupoi is the man, I can’t wait to play for him. “I love the direction the program is going in right now and you can tell Cal is building something special. The campus is great, I loved the city of Berkeley and it’s a great academic fit as well so it really had everything I was looking for.”Staples said he loved the defense and scheme fit as well.“Cal has a great defensive staff,” Staples said. “Tosh is a defensive minded head coach and and their whole defensive staff has a lot of great coaches with NFL experience. “I love the fit for me. They see me as outside linebacker who can play in space and rush the passer. I see a lot of opportunity there and like I said, I’m just really excited to be a Bear.”Staples is a four-star prospect and the No. 353 player nationally in the Rivals Industry Ranking, an equally weighted average that utilizes all three major recruiting services.He’s one of the more versatile athletes in the region with a strong multi-sport background. As a sophomore, he earned League Player of the Year honors in football and basketball, plays on the volleyball team and runs on the track team as well.

Florentino Perez raises Negreira issue with UEFA president, promises to deliver key reportThe UEFA Champions League final last night saw Paris Saint-Germain crowned the kings of Europe for the second straight season, and they are now within touching distance of Real Madrid’s three-peat record.While the game in itself was not the most entertaining, the Parisiens got the job done in the penalty shootout in Budapest. Needless to say, the Puskas Arena was filled with celebrity presences and notable legends of both Arsenal and PSG on the night. Notably, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez was also in the stands, and with a clear objective in mind.Promise deliveredAs reported by Diario AS in a recent update, Perez was seated with UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin during the UCL final, and his meeting with the official was anything but coincidental.UEFA have been informed of the files in Real Madrid’s custody. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)After all, Perez went to Budapest with the clear idea of delivering on the promise he made to the Real Madrid fanbase earlier in the week – to raise the Negreira issue to the next level.During his meeting with the UEFA president, Perez informed him of the 500-page report that Real Madrid have compiled over three years that include the refereeing scandals, Barcelona’s involvement, and even the decisions that have gone against Real Madrid.In that sense, Perez delivered on what he promised by escalating the matter to UEFA, and the delivery of the report will happen immediately after the election as matters stand.A nonchalant approachWhile Perez’s presidency is being challenged for the first time since 2006, the Real Madrid president does not seem too perturbed by the developments.The clear favourite in the presidential election. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)In fact, he has not taken any open steps of announcing a manifesto, signing or appointments, and trusts that the merit of his presidency will carry him to another term.Such is Perez’s confidence that while Enrique Riquelme promises the moon and stars to the club members, the current president is planning for next season as if no election being held at all. He is, after all, the massive favourite to win.

Man United dream of signing 22-goal star hailed as a “force of nature”Manchester United are interested in a move for Victor Osimhen.The Nigerian has scored 22 goals and picked up eight assists for Galatasaray, and he could prove to be an excellent acquisition for the Premier League side.Even though they have Benjamin Sesko at their disposal, they need another experienced striker who can score goals consistently and lead the line for them. Osimhen would improve them in the final third, and he could be the ideal mentor for Sesko as well.The young Slovenian International has impressed during his debut season with Manchester United, but they cannot rely on him to lead the line every week, especially now that they will be competing in the Champions League. They need a more experienced attacker who can share the goal-scoring burden. According to a report from CaughtOffside, Osimhen would be a dream target for Manchester United this summer.The opportunity to play in the Premier League could be exciting for the 27-year-old as well. He is at the peak of his career, and this could be the right time for him to join one of the biggest clubs in the world. He could help Manchester United push for trophies next season.Meanwhile, Galatasaray will not want to easily lose a key player like him. They could demand a premium for the striker. It remains to be seen whether Manchester United is prepared to spend a substantial sum to secure his signature.The Nigerian has proven his quality across multiple leagues, and he could make an immediate impact in the Premier League. He could transform Manchester United’s attack. He has been hailed as a “force of nature” in the past.

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The ABS system appeared to hit a rare glitch during the Athletics' game against the New York Yankees on Saturday night.A pitch to A's catcher Shea Langeliers in the fourth inning was confirmed as a strike even though the replay showed it missed the zone by a little less than an inch.The call in question came in the fourth inning of the 6-4 win by the Athletics when Ryan Weathers threw a 2-0 pitch that was called a strike. Langeliers immediately challenged the call because he thought the pitch was low.After a short delay, home plate umpire Adam Beck announced that the pitch was confirmed as a strike and the A's lost their challenge. But the replay on MLB.com showed the pitch was 0.8 inches low and should have been called a ball. It ended up being mostly moot as Langeliers eventually drew a walk although the A's did lose one challenge.“The explanation on the field was the umpires were told from the communication upstairs, the controller of the ABS, that the call was confirmed,” A's manager Mark Kotsay said after the game.Kotsay said the A's got to see the replay at the end of the inning on the iPad in the dugout, which is standard, and saw that it should have been called a ball. Kotsay went out to talk to the umpires between innings but was unable to get the challenge back.“Obviously, they don't have access to the iPad,” Kotsay said. “They only have access to the information they're being told through their ear piece. That's something we need clarified through the league and we will have that conversation with the league.”___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

Tyler Fletcher placed on standby for the World Cup It was a season to remember for Manchester United academy graduate Tyler Fletcher and it could get even better in the days to come.First, his brilliant displays for the Under-21 side saw him receive the Reserve Player of the Year award.Michael Carrick was clearly impressed, and the head coach subsequently handed him his first-team debut against Tottenham Hotspur.The 19-year-old also came off the bench in the final game of the season against Brighton & Hove Albion, with reports stating that Carrick has big plans for him next season.Tyler Fletcher starred for Scotland on his debutThe Manchester-born midfielder was subsequently called up by Scotland, and he made his national team debut against Curaçao on Saturday.It was an impressive display, with manager Steve Clarke full of praise for the Carrington graduate.“Everybody’s impressed,” he said. “The players are impressed, the coaching staff are impressed. “I actually thought about putting him on as Billy came off, but I just thought I’d have a little look, see how the game panned out before introducing him at half time.”Things could get even better for United cult hero Darren Fletcher’s son, with Scotland playmaker Billy Gilmour ruled out of the World Cup with a knee injury. The Scotsman have reported that Tyler Fletcher has been placed on standby for a remarkable World Cup call-up..World Cup call-up beckons“The three I mentioned are on standby,” said Clarke, with reference to Lennon Miller, Connor Barron and Andy Irvin.“He (Fletcher) joined us this week and trained well so is a little bit closer than the other three. But I would need to have a big discussion with my staff in deciding that’s the way to go.”Tyler Fletcher is yet to start for his club and but could yet represent Scotland in the upcoming World Cup.What a year it has been for the wonderkid. Fingers crossed that it gets even better for him!Feature image Ben Roberts photo via Getty Imagesonline pollsThe Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

One player looks to be ideal for Manchester City if they are to bolster their attackManchester City will likely be in the market for a winger this summer. It would be a major surprise if Savinho remained a City player for next season. If the Brazilian international were to leave the club, City would need to replace him. Also, it remains to be seen what the future holds for Omar Marmoush. The Egyptian international endured a frustrating 2025-26 season and may seek more opportunities to play regularly this summer. If Marmoush and Savinho were to leave City, they’d need another attacking player. Bournemouth’s clinical and versatile striker Eli Junior Kroupi looks to be ideally suited for a role in the Manchester City squad.Manchester City have reportedly held talks with Eli Junior Kroupi’s representatives.Fraser Fletcher has reported for TeamTalk that Manchester City have held preliminary talks with Eli Junior Kroupi’s representatives over a potential move to the Etihad. Furthermore, Fletcher reports that Kroupi’s impressive form across the 2025-26 season has also caught the eye of Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Barcelona, PSG, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich. The fact that almost every top club in Europe has an interest in signing Kroupi says everything about how good a player he already is.It is also reported by Fletcher that Manchester City sees Kroupi as an ideal addition to their squad. Kroupi’s clinical finishing, versatility, and tremendous technical ability have impressed those at City. However, Bournemouth is determined not to sell Eli Junior Kroupi this summer. Lastly, Fletcher reports that the Cherries have slapped an £80 million price tag on Kroupi. That move has been done to put off any suitors for Kroupi.Eli Junior Kroupi would almost be the ideal fit for the City squad, however Bournemouth do not want to sell him this summer.After signing for Bournemouth from Lorient last summer, Eli Junior Kroupi quickly made an impression in the Premier League. The young French striker scored 13 goals in 33 appearances as his clinical finishing caught the eye. Also, Kroupi’s pace is blistering and his clever movement in the final third has him earmarked as a potential world-class player. Kroupi is only 19 years of age, so if he continues on his current trajectory, he has the potential to be a very special player.In terms of fitting into the Manchester City squad, Eli Junior Kroupi looks to have the makings of a City player. He is versatile and can play in a variety of roles up front. Across his young career, Kroupi has played on the left wing, as a striker, and as an attacking midfielder. That versatility would fit into Manchester City’s squad. Also, Kroupi’s playing style lends itself to playing with Erling Haaland. Kroupi’s pace, technical ability, and finishing make him almost the ideal player to play alongside, or just behind, Haaland. Also, Kroupi works hard out of possession, which is a prerequisite skill needed to play in a City side.If Omar Marmoush left Manchester City this summer, you could see City making a big move to sign Eli Junior Kroupi. Although Bournemouth seemingly have no intention of selling their young French starlet, you do feel that City will need to sign a winger this summer to cover for Savinho’s expected departure. Eli Junior Kroupi could fill that role. However, you’d expect that only if Marmoush and Savinho both left City they would go big to sign a young player who ticks nearly every box required to play for Manchester City.

NEW DELHI: With his powerful strokeplay, ability to thrive under pressure, and knack for taking apart some of the world's best bowlers, young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has earned praise from all quarters, including legendary Sachin Tendulkar.Tendulkar described Sooryavanshi as "truly special" and said he would love to see the youngster play Test cricket, but cautioned against rushing him into the format.Sooryavanshi enjoyed a remarkable IPL 2026 season for Rajasthan Royals, scoring 776 runs at a staggering strike rate of 237.31. His tally of 72 sixes not only underlined his dominance but also shattered the record for the most sixes in a single IPL season, surpassing Chris Gayle's previous mark of 59."Everyone is talking about Sooryavanshi, and I watched him bat - it was magnificent," Tendulkar, who was named the best men's international batter of the 21st century at Cricinfo Honours in Mumbai, said. "I mean he is something truly special. And not just the ability to hit the ball, but what also fascinated me was the wrist work that he has."To be able to play in all directions of the ground, you need good wrist work. And he is not slogging the ball. He is just picking the line and length earlier than the rest of the guys and he is able to clear the rope comfortably."There has been considerable discussion around a possible India call-up for Sooryavanshi. Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara had also backed the idea after the team's defeat to Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2, saying the 15-year-old was "more than ready" for international cricket.Tendulkar, meanwhile, said he would like to see Sooryavanshi play Test cricket."I would tell him to just be himself," he said. "There is always a first time. In Test cricket, along with age, he will learn how to deal with various challenges. [It's about] having a solution-oriented mindset. Problems are always going to be there. Problems will be there till the last day of your career, till the last ball you face. The bowler is asking a question every ball. Now, what solutions do you find? He's kind of a player who looks very confident, very, very sure of what he wants to do and I would not want to play around with his natural instincts."The way he sees the ball and the way he responds to that, if that signal is interrupted - if you put a lot of hurdles in between that by telling him multiple things - that's where the real challenge would be. I would give him the freedom to go out and bat the way he does. Along with time, he will learn to deal with other challenges of the game."Not just me, but everyone would want to see him [playing Test cricket] at some stage. I don't know when that is going to happen. But an exciting talent needs encouragement. And if he's doing well, then we need to encourage and support him and enjoy above all and not put pressure on him constantly, you know, he should play this, or he shouldn't be doing this, or he should be picked in whatever squad. Leave that to the guys [selectors] who are responsible for that."Sooryavanshi has also been included in India's 30-member probables list for the upcoming Asian Games.The men's cricket competition at the Asian Games is scheduled to be held from September 24 to October 3.

Steven Gerrard believes 43y/o coach ‘should be in the conversation’ to replace Slot at LiverpoolSteven Gerrard has said that Andoni Iraola ‘should be in the conversation’ to become the next head coach of Liverpool.FSG are on the lookout for a replacement for Arne Slot, who was relieved of his duties on Saturday after two years in charge.DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL EMPIRE OF THE KOP APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAYJust after leaving Bournemouth, the 43-year-old has emerged as the early favourite to fill the vacancy at Anfield, and he’s been given the seal of approval by the former Reds captain.Gerrard talks up Iraola as a candidate for Liverpool jobGerrard was asked on TNT Sports’ coverage of the Champions League final if Iraola would be a suitable choice for the Liverpool job, and he replied (via Liverpool Echo): “Potentially, yes. I think he has done a fabulous job at Bournemouth. I think his style would suit Liverpool.“Let’s not beat around the bush, Liverpool Football Club is an attractive job for a lot of elite managers around the world, so I don’t think he will be the only name on the table; but because of the link to Bournemouth and the guys that have come from Bournemouth to Liverpool in terms of board level, they will know him very well.“There are other names out there as well that I am sure would want that Liverpool job. It’s a huge job in world football. Potentially, to answer your question, I think he should be in the conversation, yes.”Want more Empire of the Kop coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trustIraola has a lot going for him as a candidate for the Liverpool jobThe presence of Richard Hughes at Anfield – who was sporting director at Bournemouth when Iraola came to the Vitality Stadium three years ago – is a standout factor in potentially luring the Spaniard to Liverpool for a reunion.Primarily, though, it’s the 43-year-old’s steady growth with the Cherries which has propelled him into firm contention to replace Slot, leading the south coast club to a first-ever European qualification and even taking them to the brink of sneaking into the Champions League.He did so with a commitment to high-intensity, attack-minded football and, as his former player Antoine Semenyo has testified, a relentless approach to training – he’s most certainly not a believer in handing out cheap days off.Question marks over his unfamiliarity with frequently having three matches a week and not managing a club at the top end of the table are valid, but Iraola has made a coaching career out of getting the most from the resources available to him and exceeding expectations.He’s earned a crack at the Liverpool job if FSG were to appoint him, and receiving Gerrard’s blessing ought to count for quite a lot in these parts.

The San Antonio Spurs aren’t going anywhere — at least not anytime soon.Victor Wembanyama is 22 years old and might already be the best player on the planet. Stephon Castle (21) and Dylan Harper (20) are emerging stars. And the Spurs have just dethroned the Oklahoma City Thunder after going into their house and stunning them in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals.All of which prompts the question: does Oklahoma City need to significantly tweak its roster to compete with San Antonio?This is the new reality facing the Thunder. When a young team goes on to win the NBA Finals ahead of schedule like they did last season, it becomes championship or bust.The thornier complications are financial, and Thunder executive vice president and general manager Sam Presti will need to be creative to juggle this roster.Yet, to be clear, the goal here should be to keep this core intact as much as possible.GAME 7 TAKEAWAYS: Victor Wembanyama, Spurs top Thunder to reach NBA FinalsLet’s start here: the Thunder, for the latter half of the series, were without Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell, both of whom are excellent offensive creators and both of whom ease pressure off of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.With both sidelined, that forced the ball into Gilgeous-Alexander’s hands and made it easier for the Spurs to throw double-teams at him.It also put a ton of pressure on Oklahoma City’s shooters, to knock down open looks.Williams and Mitchell, who emerged this postseason as a solid offensive play-maker, allow Gilgeous-Alexander to play off the ball more. In their absence, the Thunder offense stagnated and everything was taxing for the back-to-back NBA MVP, who scored 35 points on 12-of-21 shooting in Game 7.It’s a very different series if both Williams and Mitchell are healthy.“I still think we had enough to get it done,” Gilgeous-Alexander said after the game. “We won two-and-a-half games without them, we just didn’t get to it in the biggest game of the series. I guess it will take a little bit, but I’ll go back and watch the games where we had some success, and why did we have success and try to duplicate those things next season.”In some ways, Oklahoma City is already built to stop a team like the Spurs.The Thunder have a pair of bigs in Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein who can make life tough for Wembanyama. Hartenstein, in particular, used his strength at times in the Western Conference finals to shove and manipulate Wembanyama in the low post.But Hartenstein has a $28.5 million club option for next season that the Thunder will need to exercise before June 29. If Oklahoma City wants to save some space in the salary cap, declining that option is an easy route.The more complicated question surrounds Holmgren. His five-year, $239.3 million contract extension kicks in next season. Holmgren finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting to Wembanyama and was an All-NBA third-team selection. Yet, he disappeared at times during the Western Conference finals and produced his worst performance in Game 7, when he took just 2 shot attempts and finished with 4 points and 4 rebounds.That’s probably not enough for the Thunder to dangle him in a trade this offseason — perhaps to move up from the No. 12 pick that they currently hold in the 2026 NBA Draft — but Presti is going to have to be calculating a judicious.That means veterans like Luguentz Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Kenrich Williams may be gone — out of necessity more than anything. The same could be said even for Alex Caruso, who is a tremendously versatile defender and whose championship experience is treasured in the locker room.If the goal is to keep the core of Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Holmgren intact, the Thunder will need to be cold and calculated. They will have to let go of good players — including ones beloved in the locker room.Gilgeous-Alexander turns 28 in July and is in his prime. Williams is 25 and Holmgren is 24. The Thunder's window to win is now. As long as this core is together, anything else becomes a disappointment.“To be a 64-win team and have the net rating we did, overcome some of the adversities we did in the season is something we’re incredibly proud of,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said after Game 7. “It’s something we can build on. When you have a team that’s together for a long time, you have to grow from every experience, including the tough ones. It’s the NBA, there are tough ones.“And we can also be really disappointed. We felt like we could’ve won the series, obviously. We were right there, in the game and in the series. There’s nobody that we don’t think we can beat, respectfully, so obviously we’re going to be disappointed with the outcome. You don’t have to choose one or the other. You can be proud of the progress you made this season and some of the successes, and you can be disappointed.”This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Thunder offseason starts now. How does OKC compete with Spur in future

Manchester United weighing up summer move for 13-goal “generational talent”Manchester United are keeping tabs on the Bournemouth attacker Eli Junior Kroupi.The 19-year-old French attacker has had an impressive debut Premier League campaign and has attracted the attention of top clubs. According to a report from CaughtOffside, Manchester United are monitoring a number of attackers ahead of the summer transfer window, and they believe that Kroupi could be a solid long-term acquisition.However, Bournemouth will not want to lose a player of his quality anytime soon. He has a long-term contract with the club, and they are under no pressure to sell him. He has been labelled as a “generational talent” by his teammates.The 19-year-old scored 13 goals in the Premier League this season, and there is no doubt that he would be an excellent addition for Manchester United. He can operate as a centre forward as well as on the flanks. He will help create opportunities for his teammates and find the back of the net.The player has shown tremendous technical attributes and has all the tools to become a future star. Manchester United would do well to secure his signature.The attacker has been linked with multiple clubs in recent weeks, and it remains to be seen whether any club will make an official approach for him.Kroupi is a young player with great potential, and there is no doubt he is good enough to play for big clubs. The opportunity to join Manchester United could be tempting for him. They are one of the biggest clubs in the world, and they could provide him with the platform to fight for trophies.However, the Cherries have already secured European football for the next season, and that could give him a strong reason to continue with Bournemouth.

HOUSTON, TEXAS - MAY 12: Bryan Woo #22 of the Seattle Mariners pitches in the third inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on May 12, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images Well, there’s honestly not so much to say about this one. Ryne Nelson was going for us today, which I actually felt pretty good about, given that the Ryno had pitched at least seven innings in his last three starts, and was rocking an ERA right around 2.70 for the month of May. He was going up against Bryan Woo, a very talented Seattle righ-thander who’s been pretty good but who has had a middle-of-the-road performance so far this year, much like the rest of the Mariners’ ballclub. Sadly, though, tonight it was no contest.It started off okay, or it seemed to. Ketel Marte led off the game by making good contact on the first pitch Woo threw him for a fading liner into shallow right. I thought it was going to drop for a hit, but Mariners’ right fielder Luke Raley made a nice diving-ish catch to snag it just before it landed in the right field grass. Corbin Carroll then struck out l0oking, and Geraldo Perdomo struck out looking, getting Woo out of the top of the first with all of ten pitches thrown. Ryne Nelson matched him, sorta, and even did better, sorta—he gave up a leadoff single, but then induced a one-pitch double play and then a lineout to Tommy Troy in left to face the minimum with only eight pitches thrown. So that was cool….maybe it would be a pitching duel.Woo came out for the second, however, and promptly struck out Gabriel Moreno, Adrian Del Castillo, and Ryan Waldschmidt on fifteen total pitches. So, six batters faced, and after what turned out to be a lineout he struck out the next five. Yeah. It was all like that.Meanwhile, Ryne Nelson stumbled in the bottom of the second. After getting a one-pitch flyout to start things off, he allowed a solo home run to Raley, who sent a middle-middle fastball over the wall in right center. One out later, he threw a hanging curveball to old friend Dominic Canzone for the same result. 2-0 SeattleWoo recorded three more outs in order against the bottom of our lineup in the top of the third, though in what seemed like it might be a hopeful sign (SPOILER: it wasn’t), there were no strikeouts involved. In the bottom of the inning, though, Nelson pretty much repeated what he’d done in the previous inning, surrendering his third solo homer to Mariners’ rookie and nine-hole hitter Colt Emerson, and then his fourth one out later to Julio Rodriguez. 4-0 SeattleBut the real story, aside from all the jokes that erupted in the Gameday Thread about “solo homers won’t lose you the game” and so forth, was really Bryan Woo, who continued to deal. He retired the top of our order again in the fourth, continuing what was to that point a perfect game. That, thankfully, was broken up with one out in the top of the fifth, as Adrian Del Castillo lined and single to center, and then, after Waldschmidt grounded to third but beat the throw that would have resulted in an inning-ending double play, Ildemaro Vargas singled to center. That was that, though, as Jose Fernandez, playing third after Nolan Arenado was a late scratch from the lineup, struck out looking to end our one threat. Woo then retired the Diamondbacks in order in both the sixth and the seventh. We could do nothing against the dude.Nelson, meanwhile, settled down, I suppose, at least insofar as he stopped giving up solo dingers to random Mariners. He pitched around traffic in both the fourth and the fifth, but managed to put up zeroes in both frames, and given that he’d actually been very efficient, he was only at 78 pitches after five innings of work so he came out to start the sixth. Sadly, however, it did not go well, though this time it was not entirely his fault. Randy Arozarena hung a seven-pitch AB on him to start the frame, but hit an easy grounder to Jose Fernandez for what should have been the first out of the inning. Fernandez, however, air-mailed the throw to first, putting Arozarena on second on the two-base error. Luke Raley then singled to left to advance Arozarena to third, and a Cole Young sac fly to right scored him. All that mishegaas brought Nelson to 99 pitches, and with only the one out recorded, Torey Lovullo swapped him out for Ryan Thompson. Thompson gave up a double down the left field line to Canzone, but recorded the last two outs without any further damage. 5-0 SeattleAnd you might think that that would be your ballgame—I expected it to be, myself. Woo was basically unstoppable through his seven innings of work, and our offense, which was basically everywhere all the time when they were needed over the last three series, were nowhere to be found. Their bullpen did their job, our bullpen did its job, with Thompson pitching a second scoreless inning for us and Taylor Clarke putting up a zero in the bottom of the eighth, and us squandering a leadoff single from Waldschmidt in the eighth and then going down to our last out with Ketel Marte and Corbin Carroll making easy outs on the infield to start the ninth. But no! While everyone else on the team would have liked nothing more than to simply put this one to bed and absquatulate back to the hotel with all speed, Perdomo decided that he was having none of it. Facing Mariners reliever Alex Hoppe, Gerry drew an eight-pitch walk, then promptly took second on defensive indifference. Hoppe then uncorked a pitch that I thought was wild, but was scored a passed ball instead. It rolled to the backstop, Gerry advanced to third, and when Hoppe forgot to cover home plate, Gerry just kept on going:View LinkMoreno promptly grounded out to short to end things after that, but at least Gerry’s hustle spared us the indignity of a shutout loss? 5-1 SeattleLoss Probability Added, courtesy of FanGraphsGood Rhinos: NONEBad Rhino: Ryne Nelson (5 1/3 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 3 K, 4 HR, -26% WPA) So, yeah. That was pretty much that. Only one Diamondback had a positive WPA contribution, and that was Ryan Thompson, who managed to contribute a whopping +1%. Adrian Del Castillo and Taylor Clarke, managed to be neutral, contributing 0% apiece in total. But, well, it was that sort of game.Perhaps surprisingly, given that, we had a pretty well-attended Gameday Thread tonight, with 274 comments at time of writing, so that was nice. Comment of the game goes to Fearless Leader for this one that got the most rec’s, though to be fair it was one of many that appeared around the same time that worked the same theme:To be fair, it wasn’t the solo home runs that beat us, I don’t think. It was more that we couldn’t score any runs of our own. Well, at least not until the very end.Anyway.Tomorrow we will try to avoid being driven back to the desert by sailors brandishing brooms, I guess. Merrill Kelly goes for us, Bryce Miller takes the mound for Seattle, first pitch is scheduled for an actually reasonable time for a weekend game, which is to say 1:10pm AZ time. Join us if you can, we hope to see you!As always, thanks for reading, and as always, go Diamondbacks!

Elfyn Evans victory in Japan was his second of the season and the Toyota Gazoo Racing driver's 50th WRC podium [Getty Images]Elfyn Evans claimed a third win in four years at Rally Japan to extend his lead in the World Rally Championship (WRC).At the halfway point of the 14-race serie,s the Welshman's advantage over Toyota team-mate Takamoto Katsuta has grown from 12 points to 20.Evans, 37, grabbed the lead in Japan with an impressive drive on Friday's iconic stage-two run through Isegami's Tunnel, and remained in control of the rally over the remaining 18 stages.He finished 12.8 seconds ahead of nine-time world champion Sebastien Ogier, with Sami Pajari 51.4secs back in third. Katsuta, with Irish co-driver Aaron Johnston, completed a Toyota 1-2-3-4 in their home race."What a great weekend, amazing car again on tarmac," said Evans, who played down the significance of his growing championship lead."Not sure, a long way to go and too early to talk about that," he added. "We have to just enjoy this one."Jon Armstrong added four points to his championship tally with eighth place, while Motorsport Ireland and M-Sport Ford team-mate Josh McErlean finished 10th, collecting one point.Evans faces gravel conundrum in world title bid Evans boosts WRC lead as Neuville wins in PortugalEvans took full advantage of being the first driver on the road to set himself up for victory on Friday - winning stage two by 7.5 seconds. Posting the fastest time on stage three, and again winning the afternoon's second run through Isegami's Tunnel, meant the Welshman led by 15.7 seconds at the end of the first day.Toyota team-mate Oliver Solberg and English co-driver Elliott Edmondson cut that by more than five seconds with two stage wins on Saturday morning, but the 24-year old Swede crashed out of contention on stage 12 - earning a rebuke from veteran Ogier."Unfortunately it's not really a surprise, but it's a shame," said the 42-year-old Frenchman."I've seen the risk he's taking is too high."Solberg, who dismissed Ogier's claim, rejoined to claim the maximum 10 Sunday bonus points and is third in the championship, 49 points behind Evans.After three crashes this year in Tarmac events he is now looking forward to the remaining seven rallies on gravel."Gravel and so on has been very strong," said Solberg."It's only gravel from now, so I still believe everything is possible."Failing to win any of seven consecutive gravel rallies between May and September last season ultimately cost Evans and co-driver Scott Martin the title - as they finished championship runners-up for a fifth time in six years.Running first as championship leader can be a disadvantage in gravel rallies, as the opening car 'sweeps' the road, leaving a cleaner run for those following.Evans is mindful of the pitfalls ahead, admitting dry gravel rallies are "what we identified as perhaps the weakest point of our championships in the past".A stern examination of those skills, and a threat to his WRC lead, comes next - with round eight of the 14-race series heading to Greece for the Acropolis Rally from 25-28 June.Elfyn Evans and co-driver Scott Martin won five of the 20 stages at Rally Japan [Getty Images]Rally Japan result1. Elfyn Evans (Great Britain), Toyota, 3 hours 17 minutes 08.0 seconds2. Sebastien Ogier (France), Toyota, +12.8secs3. Sami Pajari (Finland), Toyota, +51.4secs4. Takamoto Katsuta (Japan), Toyota, +1min 03.5secs5. Adrien Fourmaux (France), Hyundai, +2min 34.8secs6. Thierry Neuville (Belgium), Hyundai, +3min 13.6secsSelected others8. Jon Armstrong (Ireland) Ford +5min 45.2secs10. Josh McErlean (Ireland) Ford, +9min 23.0secs21. Oliver Solberg (Sweden), Toyota, +49min 43.6secsFIA World Rally Championship drivers' standings (provisional)1. Elfyn Evans (Great Britain), Toyota, 151 points2. Takamoto Katsuta (Japan), Toyota, 1313. Oliver Solberg (Sweden), Toyota, 1024. Sami Pajari (Finland), Toyota, 965. Sebastien Ogier (France), Toyota, 906. Adrien Fourmaux (France), Hyundai, 897. Thierry Neuville (Belgium), Hyundai, 73Selected others12. Jon Armstrong (Ireland), Ford, 1418. Josh McErlean (Ireland), Ford, 7

GT's record in IPL finals: Total appearances, results, highest score and win percentage originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.KEY TAKEAWAYS:GT have recorded their third appearance in the IPL finals in five years of their existence.They won the IPL title during their debut season in 2022 and finished runners-up in 2023.After losing to RCB in Qualifier 1, they set up a rematch after defeating RR in Qualifier 2.GT's IPL final historyHaving been part of the Indian Premier League since 2022, winning it on their debut with the final played at home, Gujarat Titans have become among the most dependable teams in the league within the very short time that they have been playing in it.They have achieved remarkable success under the captaincy of Hardik Pandya in their first two seasons before moving to Shubman Gill, who has since led them into the finals of two seasons.After a top-two finish in IPL 2026, GT lost to RCB by 92 runs in the Qualifier 1 match but reached their third final after beating Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets in Qualifier 2.MORE:RCB vs GT head-to-head IPLJust like RCB but in a much shorter franchise history, GT will be gunning for their second IPL title when they take on the side who come in as defending champions after winning their first championship at none other than Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.GT's record in IPL finalsYearOpponentResult2022Rajasthan RoyalsWon by 7 wickets2023Chennai Super KingsLost by 5 wickets (DLS)2026Royal Challengers BengaluruTBDGT IPL finals record: Matches, wins, losses and win percentageGT currently boast of a 50% win rate in IPL finals, with one victory from two completed finals.MatchesWinsLossesWin percentage2*1150%*Completed IPL finals only.MORE:GT record in IPL playoffsWhat is GT's highest score in an IPL final?The highest score achieved by GT in an IPL final is 214/4 against Chennai Super Kings in the 2023 final.Sai Sudharsan scored 96 runs in just 47 deliveries for Gujarat. Nevertheless, CSK chased down the DLS revised target on the reserve day to deny GT back-to-back titles.GT highest scores in IPL finalsYearOpponentScore2023Chennai Super Kings214/42022Rajasthan Royals130/9MORE:Virat Kohli IPL playoff record and statsThe Cricket News Opinion: GT have the chance to cement an early IPL legacyIPL franchises have taken several years to join the ranks of the best-performing teams, but Gujarat Titans have managed to speed up the process. With three finals in five seasons, the Gujarat-based side has already made an unusual case in the league.Playing at the IPL 2026 final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru will either increase the GT finals winning percentage to 66.7% or decrease it to 33.3%.To keep up to date with all the latest cricket news and share your opinion on the biggest topics visit our Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter) pages.

Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad is the only thing that stands in the way of Royal Challengers Bengaluru clinching back-to-back IPL titles on Sunday.Although RCB have defeated GT in Ahmedabad in the past, GT have won a final while playing at Narendra Modi Stadium which is their home for regular league-phase matches. The last time this fixture was played here, GT restricted RCB to a total of 155 and chased the target within 16 overs.Add The Sporting News as a preferred news sourceAs defending champions, RCB topped the points table and advanced to the finals by thrashing GT by 92 runs in Qualifier 1. An explosive unbeaten knock of 93 by Rajat Patidar was key to RCB's victory, along with an efficient bowling attack.Subsequently, GT bounced back with an outstanding performance against Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2. The performances of Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan played a major role in their qualification to the final as both sides eye their second IPL title.In this article, The Sporting News takes you through all the details related to how and where to watch the IPL 2026 final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans.CLICK HERE TO MAKE YOUR BET WITH DAFABETWhere to watch RCB vs GT: Live stream, TV channelHere's how to watch the Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs. Gujarat Titans IPL 2026 final in India:TV channel: Star Sports Network channelsLive stream: JioHotstar app and websiteLive screening: PVR INOX LimitedIPL 2026 matches are available for live TV broadcast across Star Sports Network channels in India. Fans can also watch the live stream on the JioHotstar app and website.PVR INOX Limited will also screen the IPL playoffs and finals live in cinemas across India through its association with the BCCI.Screenings will take place across 55 screens in multiple cities, including Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Pune, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Goa, Jaipur and Patna, giving fans a stadium-like viewing experience.MORE: Visit Cricket News for all the latest cricket coverage and opinionWhat time does RCB vs GT match kick off?The IPL 2026 final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans will be played at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.The match will start at 7:30 p.m. IST on Sunday, May 31, 2026.MORE: What are the highest run-chases in IPL knockouts?RCB vs GT lineups, team newsThe likes of Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar should lead the RCB top order. Given that Phil Salt missed the Qualifier 1 match due to fitness concerns, it is unlikely that he will be included for the final.Purple cap contender Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood lead the pace attack for the defending champions.Royal Challengers Bengaluru predicted XI: Venkatesh Iyer, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (c), Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal.With the victory in the Qualifier 2 match against RR via an exciting chase, GT's Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan continue to be the mainstay opening pair.While there are many bowling options among Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada and Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj is expected to be fit despite a shoulder scare in Qualifier 2.Gujarat Titans predicted XI: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, Nishant Sindhu, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.RCB vs GT: Betting oddsRoyal Challengers Bengaluru are the favourites to win this IPL 2026 final at 1.80 on Dafa, while the odds for Gujarat Titans to win are 2.02.* Odds are correct at time of publish but subject to change.DafabetBEST ODDS AND OFFERSCLICK TO BETRelated links:Live cricket matches todayAll the latest cricket newsAll the IPL-related news

French club register interest in fringe Barcelona midfielder; player has other offersHaving already announced the signing of Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United, it is clear that Barcelona have started the summer earlier than most clubs.However, as the club look to land other top targets, including Julian Alvarez, who is keen on a move to Camp Nou, they must bring in fresh sources of revenue and therefore, player exits could be key.To Barcelona’s fortune, one of their fringe stars appears to be closing in on an exit, in the form of Ansu Fati, with AS Monaco reportedly reaching an agreement worth around €11 million.Marc Casado’s name was also discussedCan Casado thrive under Filipe Luis? (Photo by Wagner Meier/Getty Images)According to Mundo Deportivo, Fati is not the only player AS Monaco are interested in, as the name of Marc Casado was also discussed during the meeting that took place between Jorge Mendes.This is an interesting development for Casado, as the Spaniard has completely fallen out of favour with Barcelona and is unlikely to be a part of Hansi Flick’s plan for next season.At Monaco, the midfielder could find a new lease of life under the leadership of new coach Filipe Luis and thrive alongside his fellow La Masia brethren Fati.Casado has other optionsCasado has multiple offers. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)Casado, for his part, though, has no shortage of options as Monaco are not the only club interested in his services.The young midfielder has been approached by Saudi Arabia as well as some clubs from Europe. He now has to decide whether these offers are suitable enough for him.The introduction of Monaco is a net positive for Barcelona, as the Ligue 1 giants can entice the midfielder with European football.The coming weeks, therefore, could be critical as Casado looks to take the next step in his career.