FIFA's on-field officials for the World Cup will insist on keeping matches moving by taking rule changes designed to limit time-wasting seriously, the sport's governing body said Sunday with the start of the 48-team tournament now less than two weeks away.Also among the points of emphasis for referees and officials: a commitment to issuing red cards to any player who covers his mouth while talking to an opponent in a “confrontational situation," FIFA said.“We are continuing on trying to achieve an objective, which is to eliminate from matches — as much as possible — the disruption of the tempo of the match," said Pierluigi Collina, FIFA chief refereeing officer and chair of the referees committee.Other issues that referees will be mindful of during the tournament:— If a player leaves the field of play after being angered by an official's decision, a red card can be issued.— To speed up play, referees can institute a five-second visual countdown on goal kicks and throw-ins. If the goal kick is not taken before the end of that countdown, a corner kick will be awarded to the opposing team. If the throw-in is not executed by the end of the five-second count, a throw-in for the opponents will be the reward. It's along the same lines of the so-called eight-second goalkeeper rule that has been in place for some time to release the ball after making a save.— Players getting subbed off must leave the field within 10 seconds, except for special situations such as ones involving injuries or a security issue.— The protocol for Video Assistant Referee, or VAR, is being clarified in certain areas. VAR can be used to check when red cards are issued following a clearly incorrect second yellow card, or when cards are issued in the case of mistaken identity. Incorrectly awarded corner kicks can also be checked by VAR, FIFA said.Players covering their mouth with a hand, arm or shirt will be given red cards if referees deem it not to be a friendly conversation, FIFA said. Conversations that are not confrontational but still have players shielding their mouths from public view will continue to be permitted without penalty.“Confrontational ... a completely different story,” Collina said.There has also been a clarification on VAR protocol “regarding clear offenses committed by the attacking team before the ball is in play at a corner kick or free kick” that directly impacts goals, penalty kicks or sanctions.VAR can be used in those moments and “if the referee determines that an offense occurred before the ball was in play, the appropriate disciplinary action will be taken.”But all the emphasis on speedy play won't necessarily mean quicker matches. There will be three-minute water breaks midway through each half of every match, FIFA said.___AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

AUBURN — Alex Golesh and his Auburn football coaching staff have made plenty of headway on the recruiting trail since the end of spring practices, landing eight commitments for their 2027 recruiting class.They got their ninth pledge Sunday, May 31, adding cornerback Nash Johnson, a consensus three-star prospect who had been committed to Alabama until early April.Johnson, a Georgia native, ranks as the eighth-best prospect in what's now a 10-commit contingent for the Tigers according to 247Sports composite ratings, but his addition feels like a foreshadow for a flurry of incoming pledges. Golesh had posted five "bat signals" — which he's posted whenever Auburn's landed a high-school commitment — to his personal X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, account this weekend.BREAKING: Class of 2027 CB Nash Johnson has Committed to Auburn, he tells me for @RivalsThe 6’1 175 CB from Atlanta, GA was previously committed to Alabama“Watch me work🦅. #WDE”https://t.co/UaJUIihB76pic.twitter.com/A9ceeHqQjf— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) May 31, 2026With Johnson, Auburn's class should move up in the team rankings, going from 33rd to 28th in 247's listing. It'd move up just one spot in the SEC's class rankings, leapfrogging Missouri for the league's eighth-best recruiting class.Adam Cole is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at acole@gannett.com or on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @colereporter.To support Adam's work, please subscribe to the Montgomery Advertiser.This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn football gets pledge from former Alabama commit Nash Johnson

Alabama baseball pitcher Myles Upchurch is preparing for the first postseason start of his collegiate career.The No. 7 overall seed Crimson Tide stuck with the weekend rotation it has used all year in the Tuscaloosa Regional. Tyler Fay threw Friday's 21-3 win over 4-seed Alabama State and Zane Adams answered with a 7-5 victory over USC Upstate on Saturday, leaving the freshman Upchurch available for the region championship game on Sunday, May 31.Here are three things to know about the right-handed rookie.REQUIRED READING: Why Alabama baseball still feels like underdog ahead of regional championshipMyles Upchurch was multi-sport athlete in high schoolUpchurch also played basketball and football during his varsity days at St. Albans in Washington D.C. before committing solely to baseball for his senior year.In his lone season of hoops, Upchurch averaged 6.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. On the gridiron, he was a quarterback for two seasons. As a sophomore, he played in 10 games, throwing for 936 yards on 91 passes. He threw 15 touchdowns in his career.Tide rookie chose Alabama baseball over big leaguesComing out of high school, Upchurch was selected 564th overall by the Cincinnati Reds in the 19th round of the 2025 MLB Draft. He opted to forgo the big leagues and chose the Crimson Tide, which he committed to in December 2024.How many pitches are up Upchurch's sleeve?Upchurch has four pitches: a changeup, curveball, fastball and slider. His changeup is the most highly praised, but his fastball consistently sits in the mid-90s and has touched 97 MPH.The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Sunday starter has an 8-3 record on the season. His 3.34 ERA leads the Crimson Tide's pitching staff and ranks seventh in the SEC.Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for The Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@usatodayco.com.This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama baseball pitcher Myles Upchurch: What to know for playoff debut

Jarren Duran Moves Into No. 2 Red Sox History In Leadoff HR originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Jarren Duran is quietly cementing himself as one of the most prolific leadoff hitters in Boston Red Sox history. The 29-year-old outfielder has been with the team since he made his MLB debut in 2021. He became an everyday starter in 2023 and has played in 372 of 384 possible games since 2024. Duran got off to a rocky start this season, to put it generously. But he has been one of the league's best players in the month of May. It only took him five pitches to continue his scorching hot month on Sunday against the Cleveland Guardians. Leading off the game, he smashed a belt-high fastball 402 feet and touched them all. The home run was the 11th leadoff home run of his career. It broke the tie he previously held with Jacob Ellsbury and thrust Duran into second place all-time in Red Sox history. He now trails only NL MVP and 2018 World Series Champion Mookie Betts, who hit 20 leadoff home runs in his time with Boston.At the pace Duran is going this month, Betts' franchise record may not be safe for long. More MLB: Insider Urges Red Sox Pursue Trade For Three-Time All-Star Infielder

Fifa wants to prevent a situation where coaches can use a goalkeeper injury to hold a team talk [Getty Images]Players at the 2026 World Cup will be stopped from going to the technical area to talk to coaches when goalkeepers are injured, Fifa referees' chief Pierluigi Collina has revealed.The International Football Association Board (Ifab) has also approved a request to change video assistant referee (VAR) protocol to allow reviews of attacking fouls that happen before the ball is in play.The 'goalkeeper tactical time-out' has become a hot topic in recent years. It is used by a manager to get new instructions to his players, or to impact the momentum of the opposition.In November, Leeds United boss Daniel Farke accused Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to "bend the rules" and break up play.The goalkeeper sits on the turf and signals for the physio, the other players rush to the technical area for a team talk, then as soon as the coach has delivered his instructions, the keeper simply gets up to play on.The Ifab has been looking at the issue, but no law change has been agreed.Leagues have been invited to hold a series of trials throughout the 2026-27 season to find a solution.The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) - the women's professional league in the United States - introduced its own temporary measure earlier this year.If a goalkeeper is injured, the players of both teams must stay where they are or gather in the centre circle. All players leaving the field for a team talk 'is not good'Fifa will apply the same logic as the NWSL and prevent players from going to the touchline.But this only tackles part of the problem, as it will not stop the tactic being used simply to break up the momentum of the other team.Collina said all nations should be aware this is now not permitted. "We had a workshop with all the coaches of all the 48 teams and we told them that referees will be proactive," Collina said."They will not allow the two teams to go to the benches when a goalkeeper is lying on the ground injured."The goalkeeper has the right to be injured, but the players do not have the right to leave the field of play to have a sort of timeout with their respective coaches."The effectiveness of the measure at the World Cup is open to debate, as there will be a three-minute hydration break in each half, creating a natural timeout for coaches. The officials will be responsible for enforcing the rule but Collina said there will be no yellow cards or disciplinary action for players who do try to go over and speak to the coach. "It's quite weird that there really is only the referee, the physio and the goalkeeper on the field play," Collina added."All the other players leave the pitch, and it is not good."A goal scored from a foul is 'very unfair' - CollinaUnder Pierluigi Collina's plans, the VAR would be able to disallow England's goal which angered the Uruguay players so greatly [Getty Images]Collina asked for protocol to be updated so the VAR could step in if a foul occurred before the ball was in play.There have been several examples, such as a goal scored by England in their 1-1 draw against Uruguay at Wembley in March.Cole Palmer delivered a corner into the area, but before the ball was kicked Adam Wharton blocked the run of Jose Maria Gimenez.That allowed the ball to run through to Harvey Barnes, who saw his effort saved by Fernando Muslera, and Ben White tapped in from close range.VAR protocol did not previously allow a review for a foul before a corner has been taken, but the Italian asked Ifab for permission to change this. The Ifab has now accepted the request, and says that any foul before the ball is in play that has a direct impact can be reviewed.This will apply to a goal, penalty kick or disciplinary sanction which happens on a corner or free-kickThe measure will be applied for the World Cup and reassessed after the tournament.It means that for the England goal, the VAR would be able to suggest a retake of the corner because of the foul by Wharton on Gimenez."We think this is very unfair, that the goal is given when the defender is prevented from being able to defend," Collina said."A clear, illegal block made by an attacker. The only objective was to prevent the defender from being able to defend on his opponent."We are very confident to receive a clarification from the Ifab before the World Cup, saying that the VAR can intervene just before the ball is in play. We are convinced that nobody can object."This will only apply to attacking fouls, and not to defensive fouls for holding or pulling.Collina also explained the new rule for players who cover their mouth with a hand, arm or shirt in confrontation with an opponent. This will now be a red card after the controversial incident involving Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni and Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr in a Champions League game in February. Prestianni received a six-game ban from Uefa for homophobic conduct."If the conversation is friendly, they can continue to do it without any problem," Collina said."When the conversation is confrontational, covering the mouth means that you are doing something very wrong, potentially, and the sanction is the red card."Collina also said his referees would be ready to monitor grappling inside the area, with officials provided with data on the tactical approach of teams.Four ways to tackle football's frustrating 'tactical timeout'Every VAR error: How Arsenal escaped red cards and penaltiesFifa ordered to explain World Cup ticket pricingLaw changes for the World CupThis summer's World Cup will see a high number of law changes, primarily around eradicating tactics to slow the tempo of play and waste time.Collina hopes these changes will mean stoppage time is not as long as at the 2022 World Cup. But there is guaranteed to be three minutes in each half for the hydration breaks.Throw-in countdown (five seconds): If a player deliberately delays the restart of play, the throw can be given to the opposition.Goal-kick countdown (five seconds): Also applies to deliberate attempts to run down the clock and can result in a corner being awarded.Time-limited substitutions (10 seconds): Substituted players have 10 seconds to leave the field at the nearest point. If they fail to do so, the substitute cannot enter the field for at least one minute and the team must continue with 10 players.Off-field treatment (one minute): Players who are treated by the physio must stay off the field for 60 seconds. There are some exceptions, including for goalkeepers, injuries and if the opponent is booked or sent off. Players covering their mouths: Any player covering their mouth in a confrontational situation with an opponent may be sanctioned with a red card.As well as Collina's request for the change to the protocol on corners, there are also a couple of other tweaks to VAR.Corners can be checked: If VAR can make sure that a corner has been correctly awarded, but this must be done quickly and before the restart. Does not apply to wrongly awarded goal-kicks.Second yellows can be reviewed: Players sent off for two cautions can have the second booking checked - but there will be no reviews for potential second yellows.World Cup fixtures and group standingsHow to watch the World Cup on the BBCEverything you need to know about the World Cup

Liverpool are looking to open formal talks with Andoni Iraola this week as they step up their interest in appointing the Spaniard as the successor to the sacked Arne Slot. VfB Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness and Lens’ Pierre Sage are also under consideration at Anfield but Iraola is the early frontrunner to take over after Slot was dismissed on Saturday. Andoni Iraola left Bournemouth at the end of the season (PA)Now Liverpool are moving quickly as they seek to make a quick appointment and, unlike Hoeness and Sage, the 43-year-old is available after leaving Bournemouth following a season in which he took them to sixth place, the highest finish in their history. He was headhunted by Liverpool director of football Richard Hughes for Bournemouth in 2023, following a successful three-season spell in charge of Rayo Vallecano. But Liverpool face competition for Iraola, with AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen also showing an interest and Crystal Palace making strenuous attempts to appoint him as the replacement to the departing Oliver Glasner. Iraola also worked with Liverpool left-back Milos Kerkez at Bournemouth, helping the Hungary international earn his move to Anfield. In an end-of-season review that led to Slot’s departure, Liverpool concluded they wanted more urgent and aggressive football – which could suit Iraola’s high-paced style of play. Meanwhile, some of Slot’s backroom staff are following him out, with performance coach Ruben Peeters confirming he is leaving. Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Sipke Hulshoff are also expected to depart. The 47-year-old, who won the Premier League in his first season in charge, was axed after Liverpool slipped to fifth place this season, earning only 60 points and losing 19 games in all competitions.

Cincinnati Reds star Elly De La Cruz left their matchup with the Atlanta Braves early on Sunday with an apparent hamstring injury.De La Cruz hit a deep shot that reached the wall at the Great American Ball Park in the fifth inning of the contest on Sunday. But as he started approaching first base, he awkwardly pulled up and was noticeably in some pain. Instead of pushing it for a double, De La Cruz walked back slowly to first and was clearly shaken up.The Reds quickly pulled him from the game there. They ruled him out the rest of the way with right hamstring tightness. Further specifics of the injury are not yet known. Matt McLain came in to replace De La Cruz the rest of the way.De La Cruz entered Sunday holding a .274 batting average with 12 home runs and 37 RBIs this season, his fourth in the league.He had two hits on Sunday and scored twice, once in the first inning after JJ Bleday hit him in with a double. Bleday hit another double to bring De La Cruz in again in the third inning, too, which put the Reds up 2-1 at the time. The Reds carried a 29-28 record into Sunday’s contest, which has them in last in the NL Central race. They’ve lost three straight, too, including the first two of the three-game series with the Braves. This post will be updated with more information shortly.

Mr. Booker and other Senate Democrats faced questions Sunday about reports that Mr. Platner’s wife previously told his campaign he had exchanged sexual messages with women outside his marriage.

Aviation start-ups and the Trump administration want to replace helicopters with electric aircraft, but the new vehicles still have to pass arduous tests before the public can use them.

May 30, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) stands in the dugout during the eighth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images | Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh made a cameo appearance in the dugout during last night’s 5-1 win against the Diamondbacks, marking the first time he’s been in Seattle since going to the Mariners’ facility in Arizona a week ago to rehab his injured oblique.Despite a plan to have him at the park pregame, Raleigh was delayed getting into town and only popped up in the dugout in the sixth inning, surprising his teammates, who had been asking where Cal was all day.“I was glad I got to come watch a good one last night, and see the boys, and hang out in the dugout,” Raleigh told the media during a pregame scrum on Sunday.Your browser does not support the video tag. Download the video.It was a brief respite for Raleigh from what he describes as “a lot of nothing” in his rehab in Arizona, getting to be close to his team again and in a game situation, even if it wasn’t one he was playing in.“It was good to get down there and focus on what I needed to focus on, but I miss the guys. I miss being here each day. It’s tough, watching these games on TV.”Raleigh is progressing steadily in his rehab, doing tee work and flips at moderate intensity, standing in (no swings) on bullpens and against the Trajekt machine, and even caught a bullpen while in Arizona. A complicating factor in Raleigh’s rehab is the fact that he’s a switch-hitter, so he feels the injury differently from each side: more at the beginning of the swing when hitting right-handed and more at the end of the swing when hitting lefty. Yesterday he hit off a tee, fifteen swings per side, and said it went well.“Felt really good, really promising. Didn’t feel anything. Obviously you’re not going as hard as you can but it felt good to get in there, take some swings, and feel the ball off the bat, see where we’re at.”Today’s plan involves mostly monitoring, checking in with the training staff and doing light rehab, before attempting to dial up the intensity tomorrow. Raleigh is hoping to have a better idea by Wednesday of what the next steps will look like, saying rehab games are “still up in the air,” but he seems optimistic that the bulk of his Arizona time is over, saying “I think for the most part I’ll probably be up here for good.” (Source: Cal Raleigh, notably not GM Justin Hollander, head athletic trainer Kyle Torgerson, or any of the other stakeholders.)“These next two days will be pretty telling as far as how things are going. Ramping up the baseball slowly but surely, checking boxes, and from there it’ll just be communication with the staff and trying to set a plan up to get back as soon as I can.”‘As soon as he can’ comes with caveats. For as anxious as Raleigh is to get back on the field, he’s aware of the specific nature of an oblique injury and the challenges rehabbing one can present. From talking with good friend Luke Raley, who dealt with a similar injury last year, Raleigh knows how temperamental oblique muscles can be in the rehab process. “The hard part about it is you can’t really replicate in-game swings, having that same kind of energy and percentile and that adrenaline going, it’s hard to replicate. So everything can feel great now, and then you get into a game and you might feel it, or have a little setback. So I’m just hoping with all the work I put in it’ll get there. I’m trying to be smart about getting back as quick as I can, but making sure this thing doesn’t linger for the rest of the year. It’s definitely been a topic we’ve talked about a lot.”So Raleigh is attempting to practice patience. He’s trying to take things day-by-day, but for a player who is used to being one of the first to the park and one of the last to leave, with every free moment tightly scheduled in between, the sudden shift in schedule has been a sudden and unwelcome adjustment, requiring Raleigh speed-run the stages of grieving his injury straight to “acceptance.”“The first couple days didn’t feel real, didn’t feel right. And then once I got to Arizona, it was kind of like, the acceptance stage, I guess. Once I got there, I was able to accept it and realize I had to try to get back as quick as I can. Control what you can control.”Still, that doesn’t make it fun. Raleigh dryly describes his daily schedule at the complex: “It’s been rehabbing, rehabbing some more, and then training, lifting weights and running, trying to stay on top of that. And then more rehab stuff. So you get home early, you don’t really know what to do with yourself, just waiting for the games to come on.”Watching the Mariners from afar for the first time has been both a pain point and a source of introspection, and even inspiration, for Raleigh.“It’s really hard watching the games on TV. It’s weird, watching it and not being there – it’s like a Twilight Zone kind of feeling. But I think it makes you appreciate it a little more when you’re that far away and you realize you don’t get to do it every day, the thing you love. So it gave me a little more appreciation for getting to play every day, being around the guys. It’s eye-opening…Realizing how much I miss it, how much I enjoy playing the game and being with the guys, it’s very eye-opening. And it makes me never want to go back on the IL again.”That bird’s-eye view of the team has also allowed him to take a step back and gain a new perspective on the team: one that maybe wasn’t available to Raleigh as he was mired in his own struggles at the plate.“The biggest thing I noticed is how talented this team really is. It’s so much fun to watch. Me not being here stinks, and I hate it, but sitting back and realizing, I’m like, oh my gosh, this is a really good team. And the team seems to be hitting a really good stride right now. It’s a lot of fun to watch when we’re doing all three facets of the game like we’re doing it – pitching, hitting, and defense.”“Watching them do it from afar and seeing them do it without you, you kind of notice a few more things that you don’t really notice when you’re in it. Sometimes you’re so close that you don’t see certain things, or it just takes a while to notice things like that. So it’s been a different kind of perspective.”Without being able to contribute in games, Raleigh has still found a way to impact his team from afar, even if he rolls his eyes about it.“I feel like that relative that texts you after every game. Like if anyone hits a home run I’m like, ‘nice swing, dude.’ I feel like such a loser right now, sitting on the bench. So I’m a big cheerleader from afar. I was trying to stay in touch, trying to keep it light and be funny with the guys as much as I could.”But praise only – any critiques Raleigh has, he’s keeping to himself for now.“I’m not saying a word. They’re on a five-game winning streak. I don’t want to do anything to mess it up.”

USMNT player ratings vs. Senegal: Live grades for USA team in 2026 FIFA World Cup tuneup friendly originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The first chance to test themselves against World Cup opposition is here for the U.S. men's national team as they begin their ramp-up to the 2026 FIFA tournament with a friendly against Senegal on Sunday.Mauricio Pochettino has made his final decisions on the USMNT roster for the coming summer competition and now is ready to challenge the players on the pitch.This will be the first of two pre-World Cup friendlies for the United States before the tournament itself begins on June 11, with a game against Germany to follow on June 6.The Sporting News brings you a live breakdown of each USMNT player's performance against 14th-ranked Senegal as the game progresses, as well as more detailed analysis after the conclusion of the match.FOLLOW LIVE:Get minute-by-minute updates from USA vs. Senegal LIVE on site in Charlotte, NCUSA vs. Senegal live scoreLocation: Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, NC)USMNT starting lineup:USA (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Turner — 16. Freeman, 22. McKenzie, 13. Ream, 5. A. Robinson — 4. Adams, 14. Berhalter — 2. Dest, 7. Reyna, 10. Pulisic — 9. PepiUSA substitutes: Freese (GK), Brady (GK), Trusty, M. Robinson, Arfsten, Scally, McKennie, Aaronson, Tillman, Weah, Zendejas, H. Wright, Balogun. MORE:USMNT roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup | Why is the USMNT midfield so thin?USMNT player ratings vs. SenegalThe United States began the match with a lineup that reflects the recent trend of Mauricio Pochettino deploying a team that plays a 4-2-3-1 in possession, and a 5-4-1 out of possession.Five defenders were named to the lineup, but one — Sergino Dest on the right — moves high up the field when on the ball, and drops back to the defensive line when out of possession, with Alex Freeman tucking in as a third center-back.A number of players, including Ricardo Pepi and Mark McKenzie, are not expected to be regular starters at the World Cup, but in the interest of squad rotation and keeping others healthy, Pochettino has decided to give some backups a chance to impress.All ratings are on a 10-point scaleStartersGK — Matt Turner: Grade pendingWhile Matt Freese is expected to be the No. 1 goalkeeper at the World Cup, 2022 starter Matt Turner got the start against Senegal to get him game action before Freese takes over. Could he make a late play at the starting spot? Most likely not, but he will be needed today against a quality attacking side in Senegal.This section will be updated with further analysis as the game progresses.Matt Turner gets the start 🧤📺: TBS + HBO Max pic.twitter.com/Mn3EtgmVGB— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 31, 2026RB — Alex Freeman: Grade pendingThis section will be updated with analysis as the game progresses.RCB — Mark McKenzie: 6Looked shaky in possession early, nearly putting the U.S. in a bad spot under Senegal pressing in the opening 10 minutes.This section will be updated with analysis as the game progresses.LCB — Tim Ream: Grade pendingThis section will be updated with analysis as the game progresses.LB — Antonee Robinson: Grade pendingThis section will be updated with analysis as the game progresses.DCM — Tyler Adams: Grade pendingThis section will be updated with analysis as the game progresses.CM — Sebastian Berhalter: Grade pendingWith the battle for the second starting central midfield spot next to Tyler Adams in full swing, Sebastian Berhalter was deployed against Senegal with a chance to impress. Berhalter is likely battling Cristian Roldan for that spot, but Weston McKennie and Gio Reyna could factor into this position as well, with Tanner Tessmann left off the roster entirely.This section will be updated further with analysis as the game progresses.MORE:A thin midfield leaves USMNT dangerously exposed in 2026 World Cup journeyRW — Sergino Dest: 7Sergino Dest was deployed in the hybrid Tim Weah role, where he will maraud forward when the U.S. has the ball, and drops back to right-back along a five-man defensive line when out of possession.Was heavily involved down the right early, scoring the game's first goal with a high-IQ back-post run and thumping finish.This section will be updated with further analysis as the game progresses.ACM — Gio Reyna: Grade pendingShould have pounded on a cutback across the face of goal, but let it go believing a teammate was behind him. Need to have a more killer instinct for a World Cup.This section will be updated with further analysis as the game progresses.LW — Christian Pulisic: 7In the midst of a brutal stretch of poor form through the second half of the club season with AC Milan, USMNT star Christian Pulisic needs a reversal in fortunes if he is to lead the American attack on home soil. A goal or assist today would go a long way towards allaying fears of World Cup struggles.Was dispossessed early in a one-on-one attack of Senegal right-back Krepin Diatta, but showed good attacking impetus. Played a lovely move with Ricardo Pepi on the opening goal, driving forward and feeding an inch-perfect cross to Sergino Dest for the strike.This section will be updated with further analysis as the game progresses.FWD — Ricardo Pepi: 7Always known as a strong presser and good finisher, he isn't exactly known as a great passer, but his wonderful hockey assist to Christian Pulisic on the opening goal showed ingenuity and creativity to unlock the Senegal back line.This section will be updated with further analysis as the game progresses.%3Cscript%20async%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fplatform.twitter.com%2Fwidgets.js%22%20charset%3D%22utf-8%22%3E%3C%2Fscript%3EUSMNT substitutes vs. PortugalGrades pendingThis section will be updated with analysis as the game progresses.USMNT coach vs. PortugalMauricio Pochettino: Grade pendingThis section will be updated with analysis following the conclusion of the match.

Eagles' A.J. Brown makes notable decision on eve of Patriots trade timeline originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.A.J. Brown made his feelings known during the 2025 NFL season in a variety of ways.That included on his X (formerly Twitter) account, as he wasn't shy about making some cryptic posts as things didn't go as well as he wanted with the Philadelphia Eagles.Now, he could be just a day or so from being traded to the New England Patriots. Once June 1 arrives, it's a better cap setup for the Eagles to trade Brown away.The only links of late have been to the Pats, so it certainly seems if something is going to happen, it will be with New England.But before anything happens, Brown has made a move of his own.This weekend, Brown deactivated his X account:In an very fitting last act before June 1st, AJ Brown has deactivated his twitter.#Eagles— Thomas R. Petersen (@thomasrp93) May 31, 2026MORE: Jason Kelce says the NFL is ruining its most valuable assetA few folks are noting that it seems to have been this way for a while. There isn't a great way to go back and see a deactivation date.It is clear that Brown no longer has his account live as of Sunday, May 31.Is he trying to avoid sharing any unnecessary posts soon after a trade? Does he want fans not to be able to go back and look at his history on the social media app?Whatever the reason, it's clear that Brown is hoping to keep his focus forward rather than on his social media. Maybe that's a good move just to avoid some early drama in a new place.More NFL news:The Aaron Rodgers problem no one is talking about for the SteelersCommanders, Brandon Aiyuk are waiting for the same thingStefon Diggs' best free agent landing spot could be in NFCCould the Bosa brothers join forces?Saints still waiting for Cameron Jordan news

The Baltimore Ravens entered the offseason facing a familiar challenge. Maintain a championship-caliber roster despite losing significant contributors in free agency. Baltimore watched 13 players depart while continuing to manage the salary cap aggressively around Lamar Jackson's contract structure. Still, through disciplined roster construction, another strong draft class, and several targeted veteran additions, the Ravens once again positioned themselves among the AFC's top contenders entering 2026.The biggest improvements came at positions where Baltimore prioritized versatility, physicality, and depth.Here are the Ravens' position groups that improved most during the offseason.1. Wide receiverNo position group changed more significantly than wide receiver.Baltimore completely reshaped both the profile and long-term outlook of the room by drafting Ja'Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt, two receivers known for contested-catch dominance and physical play at the catch point. The additions reflected a deliberate organizational shift after watching DeAndre Hopkins consistently make difficult catches in critical situations last season. The Ravens clearly wanted more size, toughness, and reliability in traffic.Lane and Sarratt were among the nation's leaders in contested-target production during their collegiate careers, and they immediately give Lamar Jackson a different type of receiving corps than he has traditionally operated with in Baltimore. Sarratt arrives after helping lead Indiana to a national championship season while producing 15 touchdown receptions. Lane adds another large-bodied target capable of winning vertically and in the red zone. The room already featured stability with Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman.Flowers earned his second consecutive Pro Bowl selection, and Baltimore exercised his fifth-year option earlier this offseason. Bateman remains under contract through 2029 despite occasional trade speculation following an injury-affected 2025 campaign.The depth also improved.Devontez Walker still offers developmental upside entering Year 3, while LaJohntay Wester provides value as a return specialist. Cornelius Johnson and Dayton Wade remain developmental options competing for practice squad and reserve roles.Baltimore's receiving corps is now bigger, deeper, and more physically equipped for postseason football.2. Edge rusherThe Ravens aggressively rebuilt the pass rush around one clear objective. Finish games consistently against elite quarterbacks. That pursuit led directly to Trey Hendrickson. The veteran pass rusher remains one of the NFL's premier sack artists despite an injury-interrupted 2025 season. Before core muscle surgery and contract frustration complicated his year in Cincinnati, Hendrickson had produced back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons and established himself as one of football's most disruptive edge defenders.Baltimore expects him to become the closer this defense lacked at times last season.The depth around him also improved substantially.Mike Green returns after flashing strong pass-rush potential during his rookie season, while Tavius Robinson enters another important developmental year after producing 4.5 sacks despite battling injuries. Adisa Isaac and Kaimon Rucker continue adding rotational depth, and second-round pick Zion Young arrives after a highly productive SEC career.Young may become one of the more important additions over time.The athletic edge defender fits exactly the type of versatile pressure player Baltimore values, particularly within Jesse Minter's aggressive defensive structure. The Ravens are expected to manufacture pressure more creatively this season, and the expanded edge rotation gives Minter significantly more flexibility.Baltimore may now possess its deepest edge group since the peak years of its Wink Martindale defenses.3. SafetyBaltimore quietly built one of the NFL's most versatile safety groups.The addition of Jaylinn Hawkins alongside Kyle Hamilton and Malaki Starks gives the Ravens the flexibility few teams can match defensively. Hawkins is coming off the best season of his career after recording 71 tackles and four interceptions with New England while playing extensive defensive snaps.Hamilton remains the centerpiece.His ability to play deep safety, nickel defender, linebacker, and blitzer continues allowing Baltimore to disguise coverage structures pre-snap. Starks adds range and athleticism, while Hawkins gives the Ravens another interchangeable defensive back capable of rotating responsibilities depending on matchups.The versatility of the group should allow Minter to disguise coverage and pressure concepts far more effectively than most defenses. Baltimore's safety room now projects as one of the defense's defining strengths.4. Quarterback depthThe Ravens continue to structure the quarterback room intelligently around Lamar Jackson.Jackson remains the unquestioned centerpiece after restructuring his contract to create nearly $40 million in cap flexibility. The two-time MVP has reportedly looked sharp during offseason workouts in Florida after injuries disrupted portions of the 2025 season.The bigger improvement came behind him.Baltimore lost Cooper Rush but re-signed Tyler Huntley, whose familiarity with the offense and ability to stabilize the team during stretches without Jackson remain valuable. Huntley already proved capable of keeping Baltimore competitive in difficult situations.The developmental depth also improved.Diego Pavia and Joe Fagnano both bring intriguing long-term upside as athletic developmental quarterbacks. Baltimore has consistently prioritized mobility and adaptability at the backup quarterback position because of how much the offensive structure changes when Jackson is unavailable.The room now combines experience, continuity, and developmental upside.5. Running back versatilityDerrick Henry still headlines the room, but Baltimore quietly expanded the flexibility of the backfield.Justice Hill returns in a complementary role, while Rasheen Ali continues developing as a rotational option. The more intriguing addition may ultimately be Adam Randall, whose hybrid skill set gives the offense another movable chess piece.New offensive coordinator Declan Doyle appears likely to favor more versatile H-back and tight end alignments rather than relying heavily on traditional fullback structures. That shift creates opportunities for players capable of impacting the game both as runners and receivers. Randall fits that profile naturally and could eventually push for offensive snaps behind Henry. The room is not necessarily more star-heavy. It is simply more adaptable to Baltimore's evolving offensive identity.The Ravens did not completely overhaul the roster during the offseason.Instead, Baltimore focused on strengthening key weaknesses while improving depth, versatility, and long-term sustainability at several important positions. The result is another roster capable of competing deep into January while still maintaining one of the league's healthiest long-term organizational structures.This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Which Ravens position groups improved most this offseason?

The San Antonio Spurs are officially NBA Finals bound after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 Saturday night. The Spurs came back from a 3-2 deficit, winning back-to-back games to reach their first finals since 2014, where they defeated the Miami Heat in five games.This of course means that Duke alum Mason Plumlee will be playing for his first NBA championship. A 13-year veteran with 880 career games of experience, Plumlee is the oldest active Blue Devil in the NBA. In four seasons with Duke, Plumlee averaged a double-double, tallying 15.2 points, 11.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.2 blocks and 1.2 steals per game. Following a four-year run with the Blue Devils, Plumlee was selected with the No. 22 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft by the Brooklyn Nets. His brothers Marshall and Miles each played in the NBA and also went to Duke.Game 1 of the NBA Finals is set to begin Wednesday at 8:30 PM EST.This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: Former Duke center reaches first NBA Finals after Spurs win over Thunder

Police arrest a man accused of multiple killings, right, on Thursday, May 28, 2026, in Kaimu, Hawaii. (Deborah Davis via AP)2026-05-31T15:55:16Z HONOLULU (AP) — Authorities in Hawaii have charged a 36-year-old man with murder in the killings of three people in a remote community known for its eclectic, communal lifestyle.Jacob Daniel Baker was charged with counts of first- and second-degree murder Saturday, the Hawaii Police Department said in a news release. Baker remained jailed without bond Sunday and police said his first court appearance was scheduled for Monday. It was not immediately known if Baker had an attorney who could speak for him. Charges in the killings came two days after police apprehended Baker following a manhunt on Hawaii’s Big Island, where the three victims were found in the rural Puna community known for its tropical landscape and free-spirited residents.Robert Shine, 69, was found dead Monday partially submerged in a cement pond, according to police. The second victim, a 79-year-old man, was discovered Tuesday a few hundred feet away. Friends identified him as Chitta Morse. Police found the third victim, 69-year-old John Carse, late Tuesday at a property 19 miles (31 kilometers) from where the other two bodies were located. Police have not given a suspected motive for the killings. Hawaii Police Chief Reed Mahuna has said investigators found no connections among the victims other than that two of them lived near each other. In addition to the murder charges, Baker also faces counts of burglary, auto theft and criminal damage to property. Read More The killings left residents on edge in Puna, a community set amid lush jungle and barren lava fields where people seeking to live off-grid commonly trade work for lodging.Puna resident Stephen Shaffer said that Baker had worked for his ex-wife, climbing coconut trees on land where she grows fruit, in exchange for a place to live. After several months, Shaffer said, his ex-wife sought a restraining order against Baker, saying she felt threatened by him. Donald Hyatt, a friend of Shaffer’s ex-wife and of two of the men killed, said Baker left the cabin where he had been living months ago. Hyatt said that Baker recently returned claiming “squatter’s rights” and threatened Shaffer’s ex.Just days before the killings, two women had requested temporary restraining orders against Baker, saying he had threatened and harassed them, according to court records. A judge denied both applications, saying there was not enough proof of harassment.Court records showed Baker named in 20 other cases in the past two decades, many of them traffic infractions. In most of those cases, Baker had no attorney and represented himself.

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 30: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates with Stephon Castle #5 and De'aaron Fox #4 after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder with a score of 111 to 103 to win Game Seven of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Paycom Center on May 30, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images)Getty ImagesLed by 22-year-old wunderkind Victor Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs defeated the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder on the road in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals on Saturday, 111-103. They're now set to revive the 1999 NBA Finals by facing off against the New York Knicks for this year's championship.That should send chills down the spines of the 29 other front offices through the league. Much like the Thunder over the past few years, the Spurs are well ahead of schedule in their rebuild. They had back-to-back 22-win seasons, which netted them Wembanyama with the No. 1 overall pick in 2023 and Stephon Castle with the No. 4 overall pick in 2024. They proceeded to acquire De'Aaron Fox at the 2025 trade deadline and then landed Dylan Harper with the No. 2 overall pick in this past year's draft.Teams won’t be able to go on that type of a draft run for the next few years. The NBA just passed a massive draft lottery reform, part of which prohibits teams from receiving top-five picks in three straight years. (Don't ask the Memphis Grizzlies about that right now.)The Thunder began their takeoff when they landed Chet Holmgren with the No. 2 overall pick and Jalen Williams with the No. 12 overall pick in 2022. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a mountain of assets also in place, they jumped 16 wins from 2021-22 to 2022-23, and they jumped another 17 wins the following year.That’s right. They went from 24-58 to 57-25 in the span of two years. They won a title the following year after going an NBA-best 68-14 during the regular season.This year should be the Spurs' version of OKC's 57-25 season, two years after their final season of the win-later phase of the rebuild. Except the Spurs went 62-20 in the regular season instead of 57-25, and they just knocked the Thunder out in a hard-fought seven-game series with a trip to the NBA Finals on the line.Regardless of what happens in this year's Finals, the Spurs' ability to beat two of the toughest teams in the NBA through the Western Conference playoff bracket suggests they should be a fixture in the championship conversation moving forward. What’s even scarier: This might be the worst that the Spurs are for the next few years.Spurs Won't Be A One-Hit WonderThe Spurs are heading into the offseason with only $156.4 million in salary on their books. If the salary cap lands at $165 million as expected, the Spurs should have the full $15.0 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception at their disposal, plus plenty of sign-and-trade options and flexibility under the $209 million first apron. This playoff run should prove to the Spurs that they're ready to win now around Wembanyama, Fox, Castle and Harper. If they can't finish the deal in this year's Finals, they'll likely look to spend the offseason shoring up whatever weaknesses the Knicks expose en route to the title.Once Harper and Castle are up for extensions, the Spurs will likely have to consider breaking up those two and Fox. It's very difficult to build around three max or near-max contracts, much less four. Unless Castle and/or Harper accept far less than expected on their next deals, the Spurs would have to contend with those two, Wembanyama and Fox alone earning more than the entire salary cap moving forward.Luckily, they don't have to worry about that for another 2-3 years.Wembanyama is eligible for a contract extension this offseason and will inevitably be offered a full max deal that could start at 30% of the salary cap if he wins MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and/or gets named to an All-NBA team next year. At least one of those are locks—if not all three—as long as he plays in the mandatory 65 games. If he doesn't, his new max deal will start at 25% of the 2027-28 salary cap.Castle still has two years left on his rookie deal, so he won't be extension-eligible until the 2027 offseason, and his new deal won't begin until after the 2027-28 season. Harper won't be eligible for a new deal until 2028, and it won't kick in until after the 2028-29 campaign.Fox is about to begin the four-year, $221.8 million max extension that he signed with the Spurs last August. By the time that Harper's rookie-scale contract expires, Fox will be on an expiring contract that's projected to be worth nearly $61.4 million.But for the next three seasons, they already have their core locked into place. The supporting cast will be their big question moving forward.Can The Spurs Maintain Their Supporting Cast?When building around multiple players on max contracts—as the Spurs will be doing as soon as 2027-28—it becomes increasingly difficult to sustain a championship-caliber supporting cast. With all due respect to Harrison Barnes, Kelly Olynyk and Jordan McLaughlin, the Spurs don't have many notable free agents to re-sign this offseason, but that won't be the case next summer and beyond.Devin Vassell still has three years left on his five-year, $135 million contract, so he's signed through 2028-29. Rookie forward Carter Bryant also has three years left on his rookie-scale deal, and Luke Kornet is signed through 2028-29 as well, although his salary is non-guaranteed after 2026-27.The Spurs have a $3.0 million team option on Julian Champagnie that they could either pick up this offseason or decline it to sign him to a longer-term contract. Keldon Johnson is also on an $18.0 million expiring contract. The Spurs will have to decide whether to re-sign either player within the next 13 months (if not sooner).Depending on what they do with Champagnie and whether they re-sign any of their other free agents (namely Barnes), the Spurs still should have plenty of room under the first apron to use both the $15.0 million non-taxpayer MLE and the $5.5 million bi-annual exception this offseason. They also have the allure of playing with Wembanyama—and no state income tax in Texas—as two major free-agent drawing points.Ring-chasers historically flock to big-market teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks, particularly when those teams are championship contenders. But those teams don't have Wembanyama, who's already making his case as a greatest-of-all-time candidate if he can stay healthy.Wembanyama was just named the first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year in NBA history. The Spurs just became the first team in league history to make it to the Finals with its top two scorers no older than 22, and they're the "second-youngest Finals team based on weighted minutes played," according to ESPN Research, trailing only the 1977 Portland Trail Blazers.There's no guarantee that Wembanyama stays healthy moving forward, of course. There's never been someone with his combination of size and skill set before. He's basically an NBA2K Create-a-Player come to life.But if he does, the Spurs have the right combination of youth, top-end talent, depth and financial flexibility to be a fixture in the championship conversation moving forward."They're young. They're talented. Well-coached. They play the right way, play together. Seems like they like each other. They have the makeup for sure," Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander told reporters after his team's Game 7 loss to the Spurs on Saturday. "You don't beat us without the makeup. So they have the makeup to go get [a title]."The Spurs might not stop at only one title, either. Multiple championships, DPOYs and Most Valuable Player awards seem to be in Wembanyama's future, health permitting.Unless otherwise noted, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball Reference. All salary information via Spotrac and salary-cap information via RealGM. All odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.Follow Bryan on Bluesky.This article was originally published on Forbes.com

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 25: Josh Sweat #10 of the Arizona Cardinals runs downfield during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks at State Farm Stadium on September 25, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images) | Getty Images Arizona Cardinals pass rushing edge Josh Sweat, has been the subject matter of recent trade inquiries by interested NFL suitors, and it begs the questions of whether the Indianapolis Colts could be among those actively pursuing league suitors: Sources: The #Cardinals have received trade calls on Pro Bowl DE Josh Sweat.Sweat had 12 sacks last season in his first year with Arizona and had a close relationship with Jonathan Gannon, whom the Cardinals moved on from. pic.twitter.com/ateZ6r4bi4— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) May 26, 2026The 29-year-old former Super Bowl LIX Champion and NFL Pro Bowler is coming off a 2025 campaign in which he recorded 30 tackles (20 solo), 13 tackles for loss, 12.0 sacks, 47 total QB pressures (via PFF), 4 forced fumbles, 2 passes defensed, and a fumble recovery during all 17 starts for the Cardinals defense. Sweat signed a 4-year, $76.4 million contract with the Cardinals last offseason, as he reunited in Arizona (from their prior tenure together in Philadelphia) with former Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, who was fired after last year’s 3-14 season. Sweat has so far not reported to Cardinals’ voluntary OTAs, and it’s not injury related. That could mean that at the very least, Sweat is unhappy with his current contract situation in Arizona—after a highly productive season, and is looking for a pay raise. Meanwhile, the Colts, having seen both starter Kwity Paye and veteran Samson Ebukam depart earlier in this year’s free agency, have added fellow veteran Arden Key as a potential starting replacement—and reinforcement. They appear to also be counting on former Colts’ 2025 2nd round pick Jaylahn Tuimoloau having a clear jump in his development entering Year 2—as he only played in limited action as a rookie last season with 0 sacks. However, there’s no question that Sweat would be a meaningful upgrade to either, but it’s just a matter of whether the Cardinals would seriously entertain such an offer—and what Arizona’s asking price ultimately would be.

(All times Pacific)Schedule subject to change and/or blackoutsMonday, June 1WNBA BASKETBALL8 p.m.Seattle at Dallas — USAThe Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive TV listings provided by LiveSportsOnTV.

📋 Would you change anything? Brazil reveal line-up v PanamaBrazil’s national team lineup is SET for the friendly against Panama. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. this Sunday, at the Maracanã.It will be the team’s last match in Brazil before traveling to the United States in search of a sixth World Cup title.Globo, SporTV 4, and GE TV will broadcast Brazil vs. Panama. And you can follow the main live updates in the card below:Brazil lineup 🇧🇷Carlo Ancelotti has four absences from the squad list. Neymar, for example, is recovering from a calf injury.Meanwhile, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhães, and Gabriel Martinelli are out after playing in the Champions League final on Saturday (30).The Brazil coach is also without the injured Éder Militão, Rodrygo, and Estêvão — none of whom were even called up for the World Cup.Bremer and Léo Pereira take the places of Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhães. And Luiz Henrique gets a chance up front.So, Brazil’s lineup — as Ancelotti had already said in an interview on Saturday (30) — is:Alisson; Wesley, Bremer, Léo Pereira, and Alex Sandro; Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães; Luiz Henrique, Matheus Cunha, Vini Jr, and Raphinha.By agreement between the teams, each coach will be able to make 11 CHANGES, allowing for several tests with an eye on the World Cup.After Panama, Brazil will still play a friendly against Egypt next Saturday (6), at 7 p.m., in the United States.Brazil’s World Cup opener will be against Morocco on June 13, a Saturday, at 7 p.m., in New Jersey, United States.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

The St. Louis Cardinals hold an annual event for “non-traditional” media types who cover the team, including yours truly, where we have the opportunity to have access to whoever the current sitting POBO of the team is. Historically, that’s been John Mozeliak, but this year we had our first opportunity to ask Chaim Bloom about his thoughts on the current state of affairs. He did not disappoint. Chaim Bloom was very thoughtful and engaging with his style of answer, and even after his obligation concluded, he stuck around for about an hour afterwards to talk with and elaborate further on his thoughts with anyone who wished to hold court with him. Unfortunately, this event does not allow for video recording, but we are allowed to audio record the conversation and some of the topics included: extensions, trade talk, roles of new front office personnel, and how they are providing the Cardinals with an additional edge as they continue to try and rebuild the franchise, how the team can utilize AI, the process he uses when determining a players readiness for promotion, and so much more! I will look to finalize June’s podcast schedule this week and announce ASAP. Be on the lookout for this announcement, as I have some VIP level Cardinals guests lined up. -Thanks for listening

In Ukraine, Gaza and now Iran, President Trump’s early declarations of easy wins have given way to harsh reality.

NEW DELHI: Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has questioned the scheduling of the IPL 2026 final, saying the summit clash could have been postponed by a day to ensure a fairer contest after Gujarat Titans were hit by travel disruptions and an exhausting playoff schedule.Gujarat Titans entered Sunday's final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru with less than 24 hours of preparation after reaching Ahmedabad late on Saturday evening following weather-related delays in Chandigarh.The franchise had booked their place in the final with a victory over Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 on Friday night in New Chandigarh. However, heavy rainfall across parts of north-western India disrupted their travel plans, preventing their charter flight from departing as scheduled on Saturday afternoon.Instead of arriving in Ahmedabad with sufficient recovery time, the Titans only reached their hotel in Gandhinagar late at night ahead of the biggest game of the season.Gavaskar calls for a fairer approachGavaskar believes the extraordinary circumstances warranted a change in schedule, especially with a reserve day already available for the final."Yes, definitely," Gavaskar told India Today when asked whether the final should have been pushed back by a day. "Make no mistake, players require rest. You didn't know when your flight was taking off, so there was anxiousness. Which means you are mentally also off apart from the physical toll."The batting great pointed out that the disruption was beyond Gujarat's control and argued that postponing the match by a day would have given the players a fair opportunity to recover physically and mentally."I thought with a reserve day in place, considering what happened was completely unexpected, they could have pushed the final to tomorrow, just to be a little fair to the Gujarat Titans team," he added.Qualifier 1 advantage grows strongerThe issue has once again highlighted the growing advantage enjoyed by teams winning Qualifier 1.RCB secured a direct place in the final by defeating Gujarat Titans on Tuesday and had nearly five full days to rest, recover and prepare for the title clash.In contrast, Gujarat had to travel from Dharamsala to New Chandigarh after losing Qualifier 1, then head to Ahmedabad after winning Qualifier 2.Traditionally, IPL playoffs are staged across two venues, reducing travel demands on teams. This season, however, the playoffs were spread across three cities, increasing logistical challenges.The trend has also been reflected in results. The winner of Qualifier 1 has gone on to lift the IPL trophy in each of the last eight seasons, further strengthening the argument that the playoff structure increasingly favours the team that reaches the final first.

The Arizona Cardinals signed only eight rookie free agents after the draft because that’s all they had space for on the offseason 91-player roster limit.The extra player is tackle Valentin Senn, who is part of the International Pathway Player (IPP) program, and has a roster exemption. Senn was signed last year and spent the entire season on injured reserve.Undrafted rookies all sign three-year contracts with league minimum salaries: $885,000 in 2026; $1.05 million in 2027 and $1.165 million in 2028 for a total of $3.1 million. Some receive nominal signing bonuses and a portion of their first-year salary guaranteed.It’s important to note that if a player isn’t on the 53-man roster to begin the season, but is signed to the practice squad, the guaranteed salary counts toward the practice-squad salary.This year, the practice-squad compensation for rookies is $13,750 per week, which totals $247,500 if the player is there for all 18 weeks of the season.Players signed to the active roster during the season, including those elevated for games, receive a prorated portion ($49,167) of the minimum for those games.It’s no coincidence that two Cardinals have $247,500 of their salaries guaranteed, one has $245,000 and three others are $100,000 or more.Overall, the Cardinals guaranteed a total of $1.175 million in salaries and paid out $155,000 in signing bonuses. All eight players have salary-cap charges under $900,000 and none currently counts against the cap because the offseason 51-player cutoff is now $1,262,500. If any wind up on injured reserve, the split salary would be $515,000.Practice-squad pay counts against the cap, obviously when the regular season begins.Following are the specifics for the eight players:WR Harrison Wallace III: $287,500 guaranteed ($247,500 salary/$40,000 bonus); $898,333 capCB Elijah Culp: $272,500 guaranteed ($247,500 salary/$25,000 bonus); $893,333 capLB Cameron Robertson: $265,000 guaranteed ($245,000 salary/$20,000 bonus); $891,666 capDT Damonic Williams: $215,000 guaranteed ($175,000 salary/$40,000 bonus); $898,333 capTE Jamison Geers: $125,000 guaranteed ($110,000 salary/$15,000 bonus); $890,000 capS Wydett Williams Jr.: $110,000 guaranteed ($100,000 salary/$10,000 bonus); $888,333 capC Ka’ena De Cambre: $55,000 guaranteed ($50,000 salary/$5,000 bonus); $886,666 capLB Stephen Dixon: Nothing guaranteed; $885,000 capGet more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: How much money did the Arizona Cardinals spend on UDFAs in 2026?

CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 25: The New York Knicks celebrate with the Bob Cousy Trophy after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 130-93 in Game Four of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 25, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)Getty ImagesThe New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs will meet in the NBA Finals, a rematch of the 1999 Finals where the latter franchise, led by forwards Tim Duncan and David Robinson, won 4-1. The Spurs’ victory kick-started a 15-year run featuring five NBA titles under legendary coach Gregg Popovich.Meanwhile, the Knicks’ appearance in the Finals is their first in 27 years, making it arguably the right time for owner James Dolan to sell a stake in the franchise, which hasn’t won an NBA Championship in 53 years.This year’s Finals will also mark the eighth straight year that there will be a different NBA team to hoist the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.When Is The NBA FinalsHere’s a full schedule breakdown for the NBA Finals, which is a best-of-seven series. All games will begin at 8:30 p.m. ET.Game 1: Wednesday, June 3 - New York at San AntonioGame 2: Friday, June 5 - New York at San AntonioGame 3: Monday, June 8 - San Antonio at New YorkGame 4: Wednesday, June 10 - San Antonio at New YorkGame 5 (if necessary): Saturday, June 13 - New York at San AntonioGame 6 (if necessary): Tuesday, June 16 - San Antonio at New YorkGame 7 (if necessary): Friday, June 19 - New York at San AntonioHow To Watch The NBA FinalsAll NBA Finals games will air exclusively on ABC. Veteran sports broadcaster Mike Green, a lifelong New Yorker and Knicks television play by play announcer, will serve as the main voice for the NBA Finals. He will be joined by analysts Richard Jefferson and Tim Legler as well as sideline reporter Lisa Salters.How To Bet On The NBA FinalsAhead of the the NBA Finals, the Spurs are the betting favorite at -205 to win the NBA Finals, per the latest odds at the DraftKings Sportsbook. San Antonio star forward Victor Wembanyama, who was selected first overall by the Spurs in the 2023 NBA Draft, is the favorite (-185) to win the NBA Finals MVP Award, followed by New York’s Jalen Brunson (+210) and Karl-Anthony Towns (+1800), according to DraftKings betting data.This article was originally published on Forbes.com

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jose Siri kept four runs off the board with a grand slam-robbing catch against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. He also did some hungry fans in the outfield a favor. With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the third inning, Rays shortstop Taylor Walls took the plate with a chance to extend a 3-1 Tampa Bay lead against Angles reliever Mitch Farris. Walls delivered a first-pitch fastball to deep left field that appeared destined to clear the wall for his first home run of the season. But Siri tracked the ball down to the short wall next to the left-field foul pole. He reached over the wall and grabbed the ball for an inning-ending out that robbed Rays of four runs and Walls of what would have been the 23rd home run of his six-season MLB career.The snag also saved a potential mess on the other side of the wall. An outfield camera angle tells the story.The ball was tracking to land just over the outfield wall. For some reason, a buffet for fans in the section beyond the wall was placed directly on the other side of that wall. Had Siri not made that catch, what looks like a build-your-own nacho station might have been toast.But thanks to Siri’s heroics, the nachos were saved — even if Rays fans missed out on a chance at securing a would-be messy souvenir. Unfortunately for Siri’s Angels, his catch did not fend off a 5-2 Tampa Bay win.

Paul Finebaum on ESPN's SEC Championship coverage in December 2024. (Brett Davis/Imagn Images.)College football has spent two years convincing itself that the 12-team playoff was the right call, and the sport’s loudest skeptic thinks the coverage that followed has only made the next bad idea easier to sell.Paul Finebaum has been waging a one-man war against expanding the College Football Playoff to 24 teams since the proposal picked up serious momentum this spring, calling it “utterly ridiculous” and an access grab dressed up as progress, one that would hand postseason berths to 8-4 teams who have no business being there and reduce the most compelling regular season in American sports to a months-long warmup act.On Thursday’s The Paul Finebaum Show, he turned his attention to what two seasons of the expanded format have already revealed about the people covering it. The 12-team field gave programs that would have been watching from home under the old format a seat at the table, and a corner of the college football media has spent two years treating that seat as the destination rather than the starting point.“We’ve got a lot of stupid people covering college football,” Finebaum said on his eponymous show. “If you make the playoffs, they’re going to prop you up more. You heard it last year with ‘Tennessee, made it, Alabama made it.’ It doesn’t matter what happened after they made it. I think it does matter. I think that should be the minimum. You think Kirby Smart in a 24-team playoff is going to be happy if they lose in the first game? Of course not. And neither are the Georgia fans.”The coverage problem and the expansion problem — driven by the Big Ten — are the same problem, according to Finebaum, who has been making that case all spring. There is a reasonable counter to his media criticism, of course. The sport has more than 130 teams and one title, and for many of them, a first-round appearance is genuinely something worth celebrating. Just not for the programs Finebaum spends most of his time talking about.The CFP committee has until Dec. 1 to decide on any format changes for 2027, and if the field does reach 24, the so-called “stupid people” covering college football will have twice as many first-round exits to celebrate.The post Paul Finebaum calls out ‘stupid people’ covering college football for propping up teams over CFP appearances appeared first on Awful Announcing.

In Ukraine, Gaza and now Iran, President Trump’s early declarations of easy wins have given way to harsh reality.

CINCINNATI (AP) — Eugenio Suárez homered for the first time since April 15 and Nick Lodolo allowed three earned runs in 6 2/3 innings to lead the Cincinnati Reds over the first-place Atlanta Braves 6-4 on Sunday.Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz left the game in the fifth inning with right hamstring tightness after hitting a single and pulling up at first base.Lodolo (2-1) allowed seven hits, including a pair of homers with four walks and four strikeouts.Ronald Acuña Jr. hit his franchise-best 39th career leadoff home run on Lodolo's first pitch to make it five homers in four games.The Reds avoided being swept at home for the first time since the Royals did it in August 2024, a stretch of 40 consecutive series. It's the team's longest sweep-less streak since 2013.Reds left fielder JJ Bleday had RBI doubles in each of his first two at-bats, driving in De La Cruz twice.Spencer Steer singled and scored when Will Benson doubled off the wall and Acuña misplayed the carom for an error to make it 3-1 in the fourth.Braves designated hitter Jorge Mateo homered for the second straight game to cut the Reds' lead in the fifth.Suarez's sacrifice fly extended it to 4-2 in the fifth. Reds catcher P.J. Higgins made it 5-3 with an RBI double off Didier Fuentes in the sixth.Braves starter Spencer Strider (3-1) allowed three earned runs on seven hits in five innings. He fanned eight.Suárez, who missed 25 games with a mild left oblique strain, homered off Dylan Dodd in the seventh, his fourth homer of the season.Left-hander Sam Moll got Matt Olson to ground out with the bases loaded for his first save, the second of his career.Up nextBraves: RPH Bryce Elder (4-3, 2.50) is scheduled to start Tuesday against the Blue Jays.Reds: RHP Chase Burns (7-1, 1.96) is scheduled to start Monday against the Royals.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

🎥 Parc des Princes in party mood, brilliant celebration scenes 🏆After the parade on foot at the Champs-de-Mars, it was time to celebrate at the Parc. As last year, the PSG players and staff were introduced one by one from the tunnel to the stage in the middle of the pitch.Chants, applause and smiles were all part of the occasion. As if this second title felt even better than the first.Supporters had never seen the Parc des Princes rocking quite like it did on Sunday, May 31.A look back in videos at this historic evening in the stadium of all dreams.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.

🚨 Marcelo Flores confirms ligament tear, out of the World CupMarcelo Flores confirmed the worst fears: he has torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and will miss the 2026 World Cup with Canada.The Tigres player announced the news through his social media, one day after suffering the injury in the Concacaf Champions Cup Final against Toluca.“Sorry for not replying to anyone yet, these are very difficult times. I tore my ACL (anterior cruciate ligament),” the forward wrote.“I just wanted to thank you all for your messages. I haven’t been using my phone or checking messages, but I promise I’ll reply to everyone and I really appreciate your concern,” he said.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

BALTIMORE (AP) — Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jesús Sánchez was injured by a ball thrown from the bleachers Sunday, sustaining a bruise to his right wrist that forced him to leave the game against the Baltimore Orioles.The culprit wasn't a malicious fan. Rather, the ball was tossed by a youngster who merely wanted to play a game of catch.The mishap occurred in the sixth inning of Baltimore's 9-5 victory. During a stoppage in play, Sánchez glanced up at the fans in the right field bleachers. Not long after that, the ball soared from the stands and plunked his wrist.“I wasn't trying to play catch right there,” Sánchez said through an interpreter. “I just looked at them, and they thought maybe that I want them to throw the ball. It was a complete misunderstanding.”Sanchez was wearing a bandage on his wrist after the game, but X-rays were negative and he seemed confident the injury wouldn't keep him out of the lineup.“It hurts a little bit, but thank God it's nothing bad or a fracture,” he said. “I'll be all right.”A statement from an Orioles spokesperson said the club has “identified the fan and removed them from the ballpark while we conduct a thorough investigation.”Toronto manager John Schneider shook his head but smiled when asked to explain what happened.“Yeah, you never know what you're going to see at the ballpark,” he said. “He was kind of talking to a, I think it was a 12-year-old kid ... in a playful manner, like almost let's play catch. I think the kid took it literally.”Schneider added, “I'm sure the kid feels bad. I'm assuming there's no ill intent there, I think it was just a misunderstanding and bad timing.”It's certainly not something the Orioles condone.“That’s something that I know we’re looking into,” Baltimore manager Craig Albernaz said. “We don’t want anyone getting hurt or fans throwing the ball on the field or anything like that.”Sánchez never saw it coming, but he will learn from the experience.“Big surprise, of course,” he said. “I never imagined that was going to happen, but it happened. Just turn the page and keep going.”___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

10 Commandments For Arteta: The Rules Arsenal Must Follow To Stay On TopMikel Arteta has just led Arsenal to our first Premier League title in 22 years and a Champions League Final. For that alone, he deserves enormous credit.Yet football never stands still. Success brings new expectations, and if Arsenal are to build on what has been achieved this season, there are still areas where improvements can be made.With that in mind, here are my 10 Commandments for Arteta heading into the new campaign.What Arsenal Must Do To Stay On Top Do Not Sign Any Chelsea PlayersWhenever a transfer window opens, Arsenal inevitably get linked with players from Stamford Bridge. It wouldn’t surprise me if names such as Garnacho, Delap, Mudryk, Fofana or Lavia start appearing in rumours.Personally, I’d rather we looked elsewhere. Too often, Arsenal have become the destination for players who failed to fully convince at Chelsea. Stop Playing With The Brakes OnI’ve never been one of those fans who believes Arsenal cannot attack.We’ve shown plenty of times that we can create chances and score goals when we play with freedom. My concern is that there are occasions when we become too cautious and invite pressure onto ourselves. Stop Playing Players Out Of PositionVersatility is useful, but there is a limit.While injuries sometimes force difficult decisions, I would rather see players used in their strongest positions whenever possible. The more comfortable players feel in their roles, the better the team performs. Stop Overplaying Key PlayersFootballers are not machines.Saka, Rice and others have carried enormous workloads in recent seasons. Squad depth exists for a reason, and proper rotation will be essential if Arsenal are to compete on multiple fronts again. Sell Gabriel JesusI know this won’t be a popular opinion with everyone, but I have never been fully convinced.At his wages, Arsenal need more output. Injuries have not helped, but there comes a point where difficult decisions have to be made. Do Not Die On The Altar Of Martinelli And TrossardBoth players have qualities, but I still believe the left wing position could be improved.If Arsenal want to keep evolving, we must be willing to strengthen even areas that are already relatively strong.The Next Step In Arsenal’s Evolution Sign Another StrikerEven if Viktor Gyokeres arrives and succeeds, Arsenal need options.The modern game demands depth, and having two quality centre forwards would help us compete across all competitions. Stop Exiting Domestic Cups EarlyOne thing I would like to see improve is our approach to domestic cup competitions.Reaching the Carabao Cup Final this season was progress, but Arsenal should be challenging seriously for every trophy available. Rework And Revive The Set Piece MachineSet pieces played a huge role in our success and became one of our biggest strengths.Opponents will continue finding ways to prepare for them, which means Nicolas Jover and the coaching staff must keep innovating and staying one step ahead. Sign The ContractThis may be my most important commandment of all.Arteta should remain at Arsenal for years to come. No manager is perfect, but he has transformed the culture, raised standards and delivered results.The Premier League title proves the project is working.Now it is about building on that success and chasing even bigger achievements.Which of these commandments do you agree with most, Gooners? And is there anything you would add to the list?Reader Opinion: dgr8xt _____________________________________________________________________________________________ADMIN COMMENTSo here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us through this link…More Stories / Latest News10 Commandments For Arteta: The Rules Arsenal Must Follow To Stay On Top 31 May 2026, 21:30Bayern Munich is now challenging Arsenal for Premier League youngster 31 May 2026, 21:00Thank You Marquinhos, Football Still Has Room For Class 31 May 2026, 20:00

Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar was left visibly frustrated after a controversial third-umpire decision handed Gujarat Titans batter Washington Sundar a crucial reprieve during the IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad.The incident occurred after RCB had already made the ideal start with the ball. Having won the toss and chosen to field, the defending champions struck twice inside the powerplay to remove Gujarat's star opening pair. Josh Hazlewood dismissed Shubman Gill for 10, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar accounted for Sai Sudharsan for 12, leaving GT under pressure early.With the Titans looking for a recovery, Jacob Duffy appeared to have provided RCB with another breakthrough. Bowling a short delivery on the leg stump, Duffy induced a mistimed pull shot from Washington Sundar, with the ball heading towards fine leg where Jordan Cox completed what initially looked like a clean catch.However, the celebration was cut short as the third umpire was called into action to examine whether the catch had been taken fairly.Multiple replays showed that Cox did not appear to have complete control of the ball throughout the catching process. The ball seemed to be trapped awkwardly between the ring fingers of both hands and, while he managed to hold on, there was uncertainty over whether it had brushed the ground as he attempted to complete the catch.After reviewing the footage, the third umpire ruled Washington not out, concluding that there was insufficient evidence to confirm a clean catch.The decision did not go down well with Patidar. The RCB skipper immediately approached the on-field umpire and appeared eager to understand the reasoning behind the verdict. Television cameras captured Patidar engaged in a lengthy discussion as he sought clarification over why the catch had not been upheld.From RCB's perspective, the decision was particularly frustrating given how well they had started. Gujarat Titans have relied heavily on their top order throughout IPL 2026, with both Gill and Sudharsan scoring more than 700 runs during the season and playing a major role in the team's run to the final. Their early dismissals had put RCB firmly in control before Sundar's escape offered GT a potential route back into the contest.

The last time Tatsuya Imai made a start, his Houston Astros pitched MLB’s first no-hitter since 2024.Sunday was Jacob Misiorowski’s time to shine — again. The Brewers’ starter outdueled Imai in seven shoutout innings to lead Milwaukee to a 2-0 win. The shutout was the fifth in six starts for the second-year flamethrower, who finished May having allowed just one run in 38 1/3 innings pitched. Misiorowski’s gem on Sunday lowered his 2026 ERA to 1.65 and keeps near the top of the early-season Cy Young race in the National League. It also spoiled a second straight standout start for Imai, who allowed two runs in six innings while tallying the highest pitch count (110) of his brief MLB career.This story will be updated.

Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 75 and inspired bowling led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their second straight Indian Premier League title with a five-wicket win against Gujarat Titans.Bengaluru restricted Gujarat to 155-8, a total they chased down with 12 balls to spare after Kohli reached his fifth half-century of the season in a lopsided final in Ahmedabad on Sunday.Kohli sealed victory with a six to cap a magnificent 42-ball innings featuring nine fours and three sixes, then pointed to the stands as Bengaluru players sprinted out to celebrate.Bengaluru, led by Rajat Patidar, and Kohli have been on a roll since they won their first IPL crown at the 18th attempt last year. They finished top of the 10-team table after this season’s league stage.“Stuff you dream of. Thought of this moment many times, wanting to hit the winning run,” said the 37-year-old Kohli, who was named player of the match.“Felt really relaxed coming in. The team we have gives confidence to see any kind of situation through. Knew exactly what to do in the chase. Such is the demand (with) super young players pushing you to up the ante.”Kohli added: “We knew what kind of ability we have in the group. And we just said one thing, ‘If we stick to our cricket, if we execute our plans, we are the best team in the competition.'”Kohli’s iconic number 18 jersey dominated the stands at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s biggest cricket ground which recorded an official attendance of over 90,000 spectators on Sunday.Kohli and fellow opener Venkatesh Iyer, who hit 32 off 16 balls, got Bengaluru off to a flying start in a 62-run partnership.Mohammed Siraj broke the stand as he dismissed Iyer and Kagiso Rabada removed Devdutt Padikkal from the other end.Rashid Khan struck twice in one over to send back Patidar for 15 and Krunal Pandya to raise Gujarat’s hopes.But Tim David and Kohli put on 41 runs to steady the reply. David fell for 24 but Kohli saw the team through with Jitesh Sharma for company.Kohli has stepped away from Test cricket and T20 internationals and plays just the ODI format for India.Patidar joined an elite group of IPL captains to win back-to-back titles. M.S. Dhoni achieved the feat with Chennai Super Kings in 2010 and 2011, while Rohit Sharma led Mumbai Indians to glory in 2019 and 2020.“This year was more calm with the way we played throughout the tournament,” Patidar told reporters, as he celebrated his 33rd birthday in style. “My way of captaincy is different. I am not expressive but aware of the game situations.”Bengaluru’s quicks set up the victory as Rasikh Salam stood out with 3-27 in a disciplined attack alongside Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who both took two wickets.The trio justified the decision to put Gujarat in to bat, striking early and regularly. Only Washington Sundar offered much resistance as he scored a defiant 50 not out.Hazlewood landed the first blow as he dismissed skipper Shubman Gill for 10 with Patidar taking a fine running catch.Kumar dislodged the other opener, Sai Sudharsan, for 12 in the next over.Both Gill and Sudharsan were in the race for the Orange Cap awarded to the top scorer in the IPL season, but Rajasthan Royals’ 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ended top of the list with 776 runs.Teenage sensation Sooryavanshi was named player of the tournament and also won the emerging player award.Gill (732) and Sudharsan (722) finished second and third in the run charts. Kohli was fourth with 675.Nishant Sindhu, who made 20, and Jos Buttler attempted to steady the Gujarat innings but struggled against a miserly attack and soon Salam removed Sindhu.Krunal Pandya had Buttler stumped for 19 with his left-arm spin and Gujarat slumped to 73-4.“We have apex predators but couldn’t get going in the powerplay,” said Gujarat batting coach Matthew Hayden. “I thought it was an incredible bowling performance by RCB.”Wickets continued to fall but Sundar stood firm to reach his fifty in the 20th over.The effort was not enough as Gujarat finished runners-up for the second time in three finals. Their only triumph came in their debut season in 2022.

Roman Reigns vs. Jacob Fatu at WWE Clash in Italy.WWEWWE Clash In Italy (May 31, 2026) Key Points Brock Lesnar defeated Oba Femi with seven F-5s in a war. WWE teased a third match between the two juggernauts down the road. Sol Ruca stuck Becky Lynch with a Sol Snatcher to win the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship. Roman Reigns beat Jacob Fatu with multiple Spears, and exposed turnbuckles, in Tribal Combat. The MFTs watched on from the crowd as Reigns vowed “they’re next.” Fatu had to fall in line and join the Bloodline.WWE Clash In Italy 2026 ResultsCody Rhodes def. Gunther | WWE Title (on ESPN) Rhea Ripley def. Jade Cargill | WWE Women’s Title (on ESPN) Brock Lesnar def. Oba Femi Sol Ruca def. Becky Lynch | WWE Women’s IC Title Roman Reigns def. Jacob Fatu | Tribal Combat for the WWE World Title WWE SmackDown Ratings And ViewershipMay 22, 2026 | 1.258 million May 15, 2026 | 1.184 millionMay 8, 0226 | 1.279 million May 1, 2026 | 1.153 million April 24, 2026 | 1.267 millionWWE Clash In Italy Ticket Sales On May 31, 2026 WWE Clash in Italy 2026 Venue: Inalpi Arena (Turin, Italy) WWE Clash in Italy 2026 Ticket Sales: Over 12,000 (Sold-out) WWE Clash In Italy Results, Winners And Highlights Brock Lesnar Def. Oba FemiInalpi Arena sang along to the melodies of Brock Lesnar’s iconic theme song. They had just as much energy, if not more, for Oba Femi’s aura-infused entrance. Brock Lesnar attacked Femi before the bell rang and delivered an F-5. Lesnar stuck Femi with four F-5’s in the first minute, shades of Lesnar’s surprise return on Raw. Femi kicked out. Lesnar trapped Oba Femi with a Kimura Lock as fans chanted for Oba. Femi stood Brock up with one arm and drilled Lesnar with a spinebuster. Oba drove Lesnar into the corner several times as Turin chanted, in Italian, for Oba. Brock hit a fifth F-5 and Femi kicked out again. Oba hit an awkward one-arm chokeslam on Lesnar for a nearfall. Oba clotheslined Lesnar to the outside as both men went crashing to the mat. Lesnar drove Oba’s bad arm into the post. Femi slammed Lesnar into the post, but as fans chanted “Suplex City,” Brock Lesnar hit an F-5 on Oba through the table. Brock Lesnar laid in the corner and tried to win via countout. Fans chanted in Italian, but Femi stood up at the count of seven. Femi marched into the ring as Lesnar stared on in shock. Oba hammered Lesnar with several running elbows in the corner. Femi went for the Fall from Grace, but Lesnar escaped. Lesnar delivered a seventh F-5 for the win. Match Grade: A+Sol Ruca Def. Becky LynchBecky Lynch received a bigger reaction from the Italian crowd. Of course, Jessika Carr was the referee for the match. Sol Ruca caught Becky Lynch off-guard early as Becky tried (unsuccessfully) to use Carr as a human shield. Sol Ruca hit a standing moonsault for a two-count. Ruca dumped Becky out of the ring and landed another moonsault, this time to the outside. Lynch weathered the storm and caught Sol Ruca in a ground-and-pound as fans booed. Turin engaged in dueling chants for Ruca and Lynch. Becky Lynch and Sol Ruca started throwing hands until Becky dumped Sol to the outside. Back on the inside, Lynch connected with a flying leg drop. After a nearfall, Becky got in Jessika Carr’s face and berated her. Ruca launched into her comeback, hitting a flying back elbow followed by a German suplex. Sol Ruca hit a missile dropkick and a kip-up. Ruca hit a running knee for a kickout at two. Sol Ruca did a roundoff, then went for the Sol Snatcher but Becky Lynch caught Sol in an armbar. Sol Ruca countered with a crossface. Lynch transitioned into a Dis-Arm-Her. Ruca and Lynch bumped Jessika Carr out of the ring. Lynch had a visual three-count since Carr was out of the ring. Carr slid back into the ring and Sol kicked out at two. Becky scolded Carr yet again. Sol hit an avalanche X-Factor for a nearfall. Lynch tried to drag Jessika Carr into harm’s way, and shoved her into the ropes, causing Ruca to trip. Lynch hit a superkick, but Sol countered a DDT and followed up with a superkick. “This is awesome” chants commence. Sol Ruca went for the roundoff into a backflip, but she tripped and barely hit Becky. Ruca went for a front flip clothesline, but Becky caught her with a Manhandle Slam. Becky went for a Sol Snatcher, but Sol countered with a Manhandle Slam for a nearfall. Lynch went for a Manhandle Slam again but Sol countered, yet again, this time with a Sol Snatcher for the win. Match Grade: B+Roman Reigns Def. Jacob FatuJacob Fatu walked to the ring menacingly, like a heel. Roman Reigns walked out to a hero’s welcome. Alicia Taylor introduced each individually as opposed to after their entrances. The bell rang and fans chanted in Italian for Reigns, then they did the traditional Roman Reigns chant. Some fans chanted for Fatu as well. The match began at a slow pace before Jacob Fatu exploded with a suicide dive. The announcers brought up speculation of Fatu’s injury before confirming he looked to be 100%. The Tribal Combat spilled into the crowd as fans chanted “OTC.” Roman took control with help from concession items. Jacob got back into the match by slamming Reigns into a post. The two cousins brawled back to ringside. Fans chanted for tables as Fatu grounded Reigns with a headbutt. Fatu went for a table, but Reigns cut him off and grabbed the table himself. Fatu turned the tables and attacked Reigns, pulling the foreign object from underneath the ring. Now it was Reigns’ turn to take an inordinate amount of time sliding the table into the ring. Fatu took apart the steel steps, but Reigns threw one of the stairs at Fatu’s head. Roman then lined up Jacob for a running dropkick against the post. Reigns picked up the pace in the ring with a clothesline and 10 corner clotheslines. Fatu exploded with a flurry of offense including a headbutt, a corner splash and a running hip attack. Reigns hit a pop-up Superman Punch for a nearfall. Reigns went for a spear, but Fatu intercepted with a kick. Fatu locked in the Tongan Death Grip as Turin booed and rallied behind Roman. Reigns rolled to the outside. Fatu tried a suicide dive, but Reigns caught him with a Superman Punch. “This is awesome” chants filled Inalpi Arena. Reigns pulled a toolbox from under the ring. Reigns bashed Fatu’s hand with the toolbox. Fans chanted “mama mia." Reigns went for the Spear, but Fatu collided with Reigns and gained a second wind. Fatu gained a full head of steam on the outside, but Reigns cut him off with another Superman Punch. Roman Reigns speared Fatu through the barricade. Back in the ring, Reigns hit another spear for a false finish. Reigns talked trash to Fatu about how he doesn’t need anyone. It was reminiscent of Reigns during the pandemic era when he went on those emotional tirades against Jey Uso. Reigns exposed three of the four top turnbuckles. Fatu went for a Tongan Death Grip, but his injured hand prevented him from holding on. Reigns smashed Fatu into two different exposed turnbuckles. Reigns charged Fatu, but ate a spear for a nearfall. Fatu countered a spear with a popup Samoan. Fatu followed up with a Mighty Moonsault, but Reigns kicked out at the last second and hit a low blow simultaneously. Reigns battered Fatu’s head against the exposed turnbuckle several more times and speared Fatu through the table. Fatu stumbled back to his feet, but Roman hit another spear for the win. After the match, Reigns and the Usos stared down the MFTs. “They’re next,” said Reigns. Match Grade: B+ This article was originally published on Forbes.com

Insider Explains Why Mike Onwenu Restructured His Contract With Patriots originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.New England Patriots starting right guard Mike Onwenu opted to restructure his deal, which was a bit of a surprise.After New England didn’t bring in any guard help this offseason, it appeared as if Onwenu would remain the starter. However, he and the Patriots opted to restructure his deal, which ESPN NFL insider Mike Reiss said was due to him not having guaranteed money in his contract.“Starting right guard Mike Onwenu could have held his ground, insisting he wouldn't adjust his contract that called for him to earn a base salary of $17.5 million in 2026,” Reiss wrote in an article published on Sunday. “He seemed to have some leverage as the team didn't draft a guard and has unproven depth at the position. “At the same time, Onwenu had no guaranteed money left on the deal, making it easier for the Patriots to move on from him. So the sides reached a compromise last week, with Onwenu taking a $7.5 million pay cut but receiving $10 million in guarantees/bonuses, in addition to $2 million in possible incentives. That locks him in for a seventh season in New England as the team's longest tenured player.”After the restructure, Onwenu appears set to be the Patriots' starting right guard. However, with him being a free agent at the end of the season, what his future holds is uncertain.New England selected Onwenu in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Michigan.More NFL: A.J. Brown Deactivates Social Media In What Will Be Last Day On Eagles

U.S. Central Command has helped around 70 commercial ships pass through the strait in the last three weeks, an official said.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Masataka Yoshida had the go-ahead single during a six-run seventh inning and the Boston Red Sox rallied for a 9-4 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday.Cleveland starter Tanner Bibee left with a 4-3 lead after six innings and stood to earn his first win of the season, before the Red Sox broke through off three Guardians' relievers. Bibee (0-7) is the fourth opening day pitcher since 1901 to make at least 12 starts and not have a win before June 1 according to Sportradar.Everyone in Boston's lineup had at least one hit as it finished with 12. Jarren Duran had a leadoff homer for the Red Sox. It was the 10th time he has gone deep this season, with nine coming in May. David Fry had three hits for Cleveland, which went 2-4 on its homestand. Austin Hedges drove in two runs.The Red Sox sent 10 to the plate in the seventh. They had the bases loaded with two outs when Connor Wong drew a walk on a full count off Tim Herrin to tie it at 4-all. Yoshida — who lost José Ramírez's ball in the sun in left field before it dropped for an RBI double in the fifth inning — then followed with a two-run single. Isiah Kiner-Falefa had an RBI base hit off Codi Heuer and Caleb Durbin's triple into the right-field corner drove in two runs.Boston starter Ranger Suarez tied a season high with 10 strikeouts, but allowed four runs and eight hits in five innings. Jovani Morán (1-2) got the win and Colin Holderman (3-1) took the loss.Bibee allowed three runs and six hits and struck out five.Up nextRed Sox: Return home to begin a three-game series against Baltimore on Tuesday.Guardians: Hit the road for the next six games. LHP Joey Cantillo (4-2, 3.57 ERA) gets the call for Tuesday night's game at the New York Yankees.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

CHICAGO (AP) — Colson Montgomery homered and Tristan Peters' RBI single put Chicago ahead as the White Sox rallied with two runs in the seventh inning to beat the slumping Detroit Tigers 2-1 on Sunday for their fifth straight win.Detroit lost for the 21st time in 25 games despite a terrific start by Keider Montero, who allowed just two hits in six shutout innings. Montgomery hit his 15th homer, a drive to right field off reliever Drew Anderson (2-3) to tie it. Chicago followed with three straight singles to take the lead and then held on for a series sweep.Spencer Torkelson doubled home a run in the first and finished with two hits for Detroit. Kevin McGonigle singled, walked twice and scored.Montero walked none and struck out four in matching his longest outing this season. The right-hander permitted only an infield single to Rikuu Nishida and Peters’ double.Chicago starter Sean Burke yielded one run and three hits while striking out six and walking two in 5 1/3 innings. Brandon Eisert (1-0) got the final out in the seventh. Tyler Davis recorded two outs for his first career save after third baseman Miguel Vargas made a diving catch of Riley Greene's foul popup over the tarp for the first out in the ninth.Chicago first baseman Jacob Gonzalez made his major league debut and singled in the seventh. He was called up from Triple-A on Saturday after the White Sox placed slugger Munetaka Murakami on the injured list with a right hamstring strain.Detroit pitcher Justin Verlander, the oldest player in the majors at 43, will make a rehab start for Triple-A Toledo at Iowa on Tuesday. Up nextTigers: Had not announced a starter to face Rays RHP Griffin Jax (1-3, 3.60 ERA) on Monday at Tampa Bay.White Sox: RHP David Sandlin (1-0, 1.50 ERA) faces Twins RHP Joe Ryan (3-3, 2.94) in Minnesota on Monday. Sandlin allowed one hit over six innings in his debut last Wednesday.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Valencia & Villarreal in transfer battleValencia’s hopes of keeping hold of midfield star Guido Rodriguez have this week been complicated by La Liga rivals Villarreal.This comes amid the understanding that the Yellow Submarine are expressing a keen interest in bringing the Argentine to Castellón.Guido for his part secured a move back to Spain this past January. After an underwhelming stint in the Premier League with West Ham United, the 32-year-old was snapped up by the aforementioned Valencia in a low-cost deal.Guido went on to play a starring role for Los Che across the 2nd half of the campaign, notching four goals in 16 league appearances.The issue for his current employers, however, comes in the form of Guido’s contract terms. The midfielder only committed to a deal at Mestalla through the summer, meaning he will soon be available as a free agent.And amid the ongoing efforts of the Valencia brass to find a renewal agreement, two rival suitors have entered the fray.As per a report from market insider Ekrem Konur:‘Olympiakos and Villarreal are interested in Valencia’s 32‑year‑old Argentine midfielder Guido Rodríguez. Contract runs until 2026, market value €5M, but high wages make a move difficult.’Conor Laird – GSFN

The biggest prize in junior hockey is up for grabs on Sunday night when the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League and the Everett Silvertips from the Western Hockey League face off for the Memorial Cup at Prospera Place in Kelowna, British Columbia.How to Watch Everett Silvertips vs Kitchener RangersWhen: Sunday, May 31, 2026Time: 7:00 PM ETTV Channel: NHL NetworkLive Stream: Fubo (try for free)Everett rolled into the final with a 6-1 thumping of the Chicoutimi Saguenéens, champions of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, in Friday night’s semifinal. Landon DuPont scored two goals, including the go-ahead marker at 13:59 of the first period, while Jaxsin Vaughan, Carter Bear, Zackary Shantz, and Julius Miettinen also scored for the Silvertips. Anders Miller made 25 saves in the win.Kitchener rolled directly to the final by winning all three of its games during the round-robin stage. The Rangers opened with a 5-0 win over the host Kelowna Rockets on May 22 before beating Everett 6-2 on Monday and topping Chicoutimi 3-2 on Tuesday. Jack Pridham leads all players at the Memorial Cup with four goals and six points and Christian Kirsch has a .957 save percentage in the tournament.The Rangers go into Sunday looking for a third Memorial Cup title to go with wins in 1982 and 2003. The Silvertips are playing in the Memorial Cup for the first time since the club’s founding in 2003.This is a great junior hockey matchup that you will not want to miss; make sure to tune in and catch all the action.Live stream Everett Silvertips vs Kitchener Rangers on Fubo: Try for free!Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

GAINESVILLE, Ga. (AP) — The Texas Longhorns women won two of three races on Sunday to capture their fourth NCAA rowing championship.All four of the Longhorns' titles have come in the past six seasons under coach Dave O'Neill. Texas matched a school record set during its championship run in 2024 with 130 points, five more than runner-up Stanford. Tennessee finished third in the event held at Lake Lanier Olympic Park.The Longhorns' First Varsity Eight won its race to clinch the title behind coxswain Amy Werner, edging out Stanford by less than three seconds. Paris West captained the Varsity Four to a victory to begin the day and the Second Eight boat finished second to Stanford in between under the watch of coxswain Bronwen Holmes.The Brown Bears are the only other school to claim four titles in a span of six years, doing so from 1999-2004.__AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports

The Southern United States’ first out lesbian Episcopal bishop was officially installed as the ninth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina last Saturday. The Rev. Sarah Fisher, 54, was elected last November by a simple majority on the third ballot, the Christian Post reports. In her response to essay questions provided to the diocese during the selection process, she wrote that she has “a heart that can sit with people in times of both joy and heartbreak.” Related Hinduism’s queer history provides a “sword of knowledge” for fighting anti-LGBTQ+ bias “I serve a very purple congregation,” she said in response to a question on how she approaches ministry in such a divided world. “We are not unanimous in politics, or in how much noise children should make in church, or what brand of coffee to serve. We are united in our desire to see, know and serve the Risen Christ.” “My approach is to dive into relationship–relationship with Christ, relationship with one another. Getting proximate to those who differ from us is vital to seeing the inherent dignity and divinity that dwells in every person. It is easy to hate an idea or a stereotype or a strongly held belief. It is harder to hate the neighbor you know, when you can recognize the light of Christ within them.” Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Fisher, who is married to the Rev. Mandy Brady, is now reportedly in charge of 66 North Carolina parishes and two college campus ministries. “My friends, as we stand on the precipice of this new adventure together, may we hold fast to the promise that God’s power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine,” she wrote to the diocese in the wake of her election, according to the Episcopal News Service. “With a grateful and full heart, I can’t wait to see where we go.” Over the last few decades, the Episcopal Church has become increasingly accepting of LGBTQ+ people. In 2015, the Episcopal General Convention voted in a landslide to allow same-sex couples to get married in churches. The vote was 129-26. In 2025, the Episcopal Church signed on to a historic affirmation of support for trans people that included a variety of religious denominations. The group said of transgender Americans, “During a time when our country is placing their lives under increasingly serious threat, there is a disgraceful misconception that all people of faith do not affirm the full spectrum of gender – a great many of us do.” Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Chet Holmgren attempted two shots in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals. He absorbed plenty of shots from critics afterward.And the Oklahoma City Thunder spent Day 1 of the offseason making clear that they support him.If the ballyhooed matchup in the West finals was Holmgren vs. San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama, then it was a one-sided one. Wembanyama had the superior numbers in the series and the Spurs wound up prevailing, while Holmgren was barely a factor offensively with the Thunder season on the line Saturday night."Every minute Chet Holmgren’s been on the team, we’ve been the 1 seed in the Western Conference," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said Sunday, when the team gathered for end-of-season meetings. “And it wasn’t the case before Chet was healthy.”Holmgren had likely his best season, with career-highs of 17.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. He made All-NBA for the first time, All-Defensive for the first time as well, got his first All-Star nod, plus was second in the Defensive Player of the Year balloting.He finished second in that voting behind Wembanyama — just like he did for Rookie of the Year in 2024, and just like the Thunder did in these West finals.“We need Chet. We need Chet Holmgren,” Thunder guard and back-to-back reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Before Chet was here, we weren’t who we are today. We didn’t have the success we had today. When he’s the best version of himself, we’re the best version of ourselves and it’s no secret.”It's easy to envision the West finals matchup — Thunder vs. Spurs — becoming a rivalry for years to come. Both teams have young, obviously highly talented corps, and now they have the ingredient that all rivalries truly need, that being a playoff matchup, to help provide fuel.“I definitely think that they’re different in terms of I don’t think there’s another team that has their play style, their personnel,” Holmgren said. “They're unique in that way. You can’t just kind of play like a base normal, ‘this is what we kind of do on an average Tuesday night’ type of thing.”And while the outside world might have looked at Holmgren as one of the reasons why Game 7 didn't go Oklahoma City's way, the rest of the Thunder disagreed.Gilgeous-Alexander, for example, pointed to himself — and that was after he had a brilliant 35-point effort in the deciding game against San Antonio. He even went as far as to describe a second straight MVP season as “a failure.”“I failed at my goal,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I didn’t achieve what I wanted to achieve, but through my experiences, I learned the most about myself and I make the greatest amount of increases I have in my career when I fail at my goal and don’t get what I want. And I look at this no different. I didn’t get where I wanted to go this season. There’s a reason for that. Now I have to look at that reason and try to make sure it never happens again.”___AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

TURIN, Italy -- After AAA’s ‘Noche de Los Grandes’ took over Monterrey, Mexico last night, the WWE continued its historic international weekend today with the ‘Clash in Italy’ Premium Live Event at the Inalpi Arena in Turin, the first time The Boot country has hosted a PLE. Here is a live match by match breakdown of this stacked WrestleMania worthy card, which is being powered, as usual, by the relentless European crowd. WWE Clash in Italy ResultsCody Rhodes (c) defeats Gunther to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship This is a WrestleMania main event worthy match that happened to be the opener for Clash in Italy. It certainly had that important feel to it, as there was a looming mystery as to who would come out on top, contrary to most of Rhodes’ title matches. Gunther is still running off of the momentum of having retired John Cena and AJ Styles, so he was certainly a real threat to defeat Rhodes. It looked like he would at a certain point, as after hard-hitting combat early in which both men hit their finishers to no avail, Gunther put Cody in the sleeper choke for what felt like forever. ‘QB1’ refused to quit, and got back up eventually, which is when he regained the momentum with a Cody-Cutter, before hitting the Cross-Rhodes, and pinning Gunther to earn the win. Gunther was visibly upset after the match, which is when the replay showed his foot under the rope for the first two seconds of the pin, but nothing was called by the referee. Therefore, Cody beats Gunther, not clean, but by confusion, probably the WWE’s only way to protect both stars, which does take away from the otherwise excellent match, that looked like it was about to really take off. It’s likely they’ll run it back soon, but with Randy Orton looming to take his 15th world title from Rhodes, it’s hard to see Gunther beating Cody. Either way, a high-profile and solid start to the show. Rhea Ripley (c) defeats Jade Cargill to retain the WWE Women’s ChampionshipThis feud has blossomed from one with little story or hype before WrestleMania, to a must see weekly saga on SmackDown. Both women brought their A-game on Sunday, with Cargill dominating the early goings of the match. She took the match outside and handled Ripley, before the match returned to the ring and took off. They delivered heavy blow after heavy blow, including a razors edge from Ripley and a Riptide beautifully countered into a DDT from Cargill. That is when ‘the others’ got involved and added even more to this match. Cargill’s posse, Michin and B-Fab came to save her from being pinned after eating a Riptide, before Rhea’s frenemy Charlotte Flair took them out, before saving Rhea herself from a ‘Jaded’. Rhea then took over, hit Riptide for the win, seemingly ending this feud. Brock Lesnar defeats Oba Femi Wow. Many were upset that the WWE ‘ruined’ a perfect Lesnar retirement at Mania by having him come back, but all of that went out of the window the second these two made their entrances in Italy. The crowd roared and strutted with Femi, and was in awe at seeing Lesnar in front of them. Now, before you read the details of the match, just know that nothing is an exaggeration. Lesnar attacked Femi before the bell rang, and once it rang, he hit Oba Femi with four F5’s. Femi did the impossible and kicked out. Lesnar then synched in the Kimora lock, and delivered a fifth F5, to which Femi kicked out. Femi finally got off some offense and hit a chokeslam, when Brock took over outside and hit an F5 to Femi through the announce table. After nearly being counted out, Femi shot back up and went into the ring, hitting a flurry of his running shoulder tackles on Brock, and attempint his patented ‘Fall From Grace’ power slam that took Brock out at Mania. Brock was ready this time, jumped over Femi, picked him up for another F5, this time putting the Ruler down for good, and sending Turin into a frenzy. If Oba Femi wasn’t already looked at as a beast, and the future face of the company, then he sure does now, even after the loss. The WWE made sure it took seven of one of the most devastating finishers ever to put him down. Some are already upset that Oba took a loss, but if this is going where it should, and it ends with Femi standing tall over Brock in a grudge match, indefinitely taking the place of the new Grim Reaper in the WWE, then I’m okay with Oba losing this one. Realistically, if he didn’t lose after taking seven F5’s, how could he ever lose? Brock is still Brock, Oba isn't invincible, but is as close as can be, and we likely get one more, where Oba will be crowned for good. Well played, WWE Creative. Sol Ruca beats Becky Lynch (c) to win the Women’s Intercontinental ChampionshipSol Ruca comes from the first class of the WWE’s NIL program, and has been an absolute star since starting out in NXT. The WWE has booked her no differently since she arrived to the main roster, and that was made evident in Italy. After having a short match that ended in DQ last weekend, these two put on a full show this time around. Sol Ruca got to fly around and show off her gymnastics background, and Lynch did what she does so well, playing the villain who tries to stop Ruca’s offense. In a match that many thought Lynch would win, and maybe lose the title to Ruca later on, the WWE universe was pleasantly surprised, as Lynch went for a second Manhandle Slam in the corner, but it sent Ruca onto the turnbuckle, from where she launched into the Sol Snatcher and landed it, then pinning Becky 1…2…3. Sol botched her finisher a few times in the recent weeks, but when it mattered most, the newcomer stepped up and dethroned the veteran much to the liking of the crowd, in a feud that is likely to continue throughout the summer. Roman Reigns (c) defeats Jacob Fatu (Tribal Combat) to retain the World Heavyweight Championship After an excellent card leading up to this point, the main event came around, and it was time for the family feud between Reigns and Fatu to wrap things up. In a build that has seen a mix of the old Bloodline drama, with the originality of Fatu’s desperation to win the Title, Tribal Combat seemed like the only way to go. It didn’t take long for this match to spill outside, as the stipulation means no count outs. The two battered each other all over ringside and into the crowd as well. Fatu locked in the Tongan Death Grip that has repeatedly done damage to Roman, but once the ‘OTC1’ got out of it, he grabbed a toolbox from under the ring, and brutally smashed Fatu’s hand with it, so that he couldn’t use it later for the submission. After a Reigns spear through the barricade, a crazy frontflip spear by Fatu, Roman countered the Death Grip and hit another spear that shattered a table in the ring. Fatu then got up quickly again, when Roman ran the ropes to hit one final avalanche spear, winning ‘Tribal Combat’, and as Michael Cole said, “neutering the Samoan Werewolf”. The Uso’s then came out and crowned Roman with the “Ula Fala” to which Cole announced that Fatu would now have to acknowledge and serve Roman and the bloodline, beginning tomorrow on Raw. Solo Sikoa and the MFT’s appeared ringside, to which Roman told the Uso’s “he’s next”. We’ll see where this goes, but for now, Roman reigns supreme, and has another impressive title defense.Once again the European crowd, this time Turin, showed out, bringing the energy from opener to closer, upholding the standard for what a PLE crowd should look like.

Deniz Undav downplays injury scare after starring in Germany 4-0 win over FinlandDeniz Undav delivered a standout performance for Germany on Sunday, scoring twice and providing an assist in a comfortable 4-0 friendly win over Finland, just two weeks before their World Cup opener against Curacao.There was, however, a fly in the ointment for the Stuttgart striker, who picked up a knock while scoring his second goal and was forced off.Then, around 25 minutes after being substituted, Undav returned from the dressing room in a tracksuit and rejoined the German bench.Speaking after the game, the 29-year-old did not appear overly concerned that the injury would affect his World Cup prospects.“I had a bit of pain, but nothing serious," Undav told ZDF in a post-match interview. “Everything’s fine, a few days of treatment and then it will be okay,” added the striker, who rated the evening ”10 out of 10".

Disallowed goal, VAR penalty in mad Palmeiras v Chapecoense finalePalmeiras vs. Chapecoense had a CRAZY ending, with two highly controversial moments. The match ended 1-0 for Palmeiras.Palmeiras were leading 1-0 at Allianz Parque in what had until then been a calm match for referee Felipe Fernandes de Lima.Everything changed in the 50th minute of the second half. First, Chape found the net through Ítalo — it WOULD have been the equalizer.The referee awarded the goal on the field. VAR did not call for a review, but according to Premiere, the referee decided on his own to review the play.And after checking the video, Felipe Fernandes de Lima decided to disallow Ítalo’s goal.And there was more. In the 60th MINUTE, VAR called the referee over, and he awarded a penalty to Chape. Bolasie, however, hit the post.Palmeiras moved up to 41 points from 18 matches. Flamengo — who had beaten Coritiba on Saturday (30) — have 34 points from 17 matches.How Palmeiras vs. Chapecoense played outIn the first half, Palmeiras hovered around the opposition box, but they missed Flaco López and created few truly dangerous chances.To make matters worse, Allan was shown a straight red card in the 42nd minute after a hard challenge in midfield. Correct decision? Have your say!Abel Ferreira then brought on Larson, Riquelme Fillipe and Paulinho. And he reaped the rewards in less than 10 minutes.In the 19th minute of the second half, Paulinho received the ball from Felipe Evangelista, controlled it while setting himself up to shoot, and fired across goal: 1-0.Chapecoense did find the net in the 50th minute through Ítalo, but the officials disallowed it for a foul after a VAR review.Then Chape won a penalty, but in the 63rd minute of the second half, Bolasie hit the CROSSBAR and wasted the chance to equalize.Palmeiras vs. Chapecoense was also marked by a century milestone (and a curious one) for Abel Ferreira in charge of Verdão.With the break for the World Cup, Palmeiras will only return to the field on July 22 or 23, against Coritiba, at Couto Pereira.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

Pirates Place Carmen Mlodzinski On Restricted List After Role Change originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Pittsburgh Piratesannounced on Sunday that the team was placing right-handed pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski on the restricted list. Today, we have reinstated 1B/OF Ryan O'Hearn from the 10-day injured list and placed INF Konnor Griffin (right elbow strain) on the 10-day injured list.Additionally, we have placed RHP Carmen Mlodzinski on the restricted list and recalled RHP Cam Sanders from Triple-A…— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) May 31, 2026Mlodzinski being placed on the restricted list comes as a complete surprise, just days after being moved from the starting rotation to the bullpen when the Pirates reactivated Jared Jones from the 60-day injured list. MLB.com's Aiden Stepansky shared that the 27-year-old pitcher is not physically injured and did not request a trade, but was not ready to perform in his new role out of the bullpen yet. "Mlodzinski has not requested a trade, and Cherington believes he’ll pitch for the Pirates on the road trip that ends June 7," Stepansky wrote on Sunday. "A source told MLB.com that the move was because Mlodzinski felt he wasn’t physically or mentally ready to help the team win in his new role just yet."Rather than force the Bucs to play a man short, he was honest with the team. The source also said that Mlodzinski seems to be on board with his role in the bullpen, and is prepared to pitch in Houston on Tuesday, following Monday's off-day."Mlodzinski has performed well for Pittsburgh this season, posting a 3.76 ERA across 11 appearances (nine starts) with a 4-3 record. Still, the Pirates elected to move the four-year veteran to the bullpen after reactivating Jones. Pirates general manager Ben Cherington is confident that Mlodzinski will be pitching again for the team very soon. “Confident that we're going to see him pitch for this team very soon, but he wasn't ready to do that today,” Cherington said, per Stepansky. “I think going into the weekend we understood and communicated with Carmen that at some point this weekend we were going to need him to be ready or we're going to have to replace him on the team, in fairness to the team. So that's what happened.”Though Mlodzinski is struggling with the transition to the bullpen, he should be back on the mound soon for Pittsburgh. More MLB: Pirates Get Passing Grade, Decent Playoff Odds But Room To Improve

Bhuvneshwar Kumar's dream IPL 2026 campaign reached another milestone on Sunday as the veteran pacer equalled a long-standing record during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's title clash against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.The RCB seamer claimed his 17th wicket in the powerplay this season when he dismissed Sai Sudharsan in the fourth over of the IPL 2026 final. With that breakthrough, Bhuvneshwar drew level with Mohammed Shami for the most wickets taken by an Indian bowler in overs 1-6 during a single IPL edition.Shami had set the benchmark while playing for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2023, picking up 17 powerplay wickets. Three years later, Bhuvneshwar matched the feat on the biggest stage of all.The wicket itself was a crucial one. Gujarat Titans desperately needed their prolific opening pair of Shubman Gill and Sudharsan to provide another strong start after both batters crossed the 700-run mark during the season. However, RCB's experienced new-ball attack had other ideas.Josh Hazlewood struck first to remove Gill for 10, leaving the Titans under pressure. Bhuvneshwar then produced a perfectly executed short-ball plan against Sudharsan. The left-hander attempted a pull shot but failed to get on top of the bounce, with wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma completing the catch after running forward.The dismissal reduced GT to 45 for 2 in the powerplay and deepened their troubles on a surface that offered little freedom for strokeplay.Bhuvneshwar's achievement highlights his immense value to RCB this season. While much of the spotlight has fallen on the team's explosive batting unit, the veteran fast bowler has consistently delivered early breakthroughs and set the tone with the new ball.His success has also put him firmly in the Purple Cap race. The wicket of Sudharsan took his season tally to 28 wickets, drawing him level with Kagiso Rabada at the top of the wicket-taking charts.Most wickets in the powerplay in an IPL seasonPlayerSeasonWicketsKagiso Rabada202619Mohammed Shami202317Bhuvneshwar Kumar202617Mitchell Johnson201316Trent Boult202016The record may have been shared, but the timing made it special. On the night of the IPL final, with RCB chasing a second consecutive title, Bhuvneshwar once again delivered the early breakthrough that has become his trademark throughout IPL 2026.