INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark and coach Stephanie White downplayed their viral argument that occurred in Indiana’s 100-84 loss to the Portland Fire on Saturday. Clark and White addressed that moment Monday before practice, both calling their relationship “great” and saying they will “ride” for each other. They also said their exchange has been overblown by media and fans.“Two people being competitive. Two people that really want to win,” Clark said of the nature of her back-and-forth with White. “I think a lot of those things happen all of the time, and I know there’s a camera on me, and that’s how it’s gonna be. But there’s a lot of people out there in the media or on TV that they think they know a lot of things, but they’re just blatantly wrong about a lot of things. And I ride for Steph. I ride for these girls. … Steph has my back more than anybody.”The apparent disagreement between Clark and White happened during a timeout at the 8:26 mark of the second quarter on Saturday. Neither revealed on Monday what led to their exchange, though Clark said, “We were down (18) points, so probably that.” It appeared that while Clark and White were arguing, White decided that she had heard enough from Clark and signaled for her to be subbed out. Clark then stood from the bench and was replaced in the lineup by rookie Raven Johnson. Clark shook her head while drinking from her water bottle as she stood beside White, who was seated and continued talking to the five players who were preparing to enter the game.Thought Steph left her fire in Connecticut! 🥵 pic.twitter.com/meFefzUAAf— Mostly WNBA Tweets  (@MostlyWNBA) May 31, 2026The Fever never regained control of the game in what turned out to be arguably their worst performance of the season. Clark was held to a season-low 6 points on 1-of-7 shooting, which was just the seventh time she’s been held to single digits in the WNBA.After the loss, Clark said she didn’t think twice about her incident with White. She said she’s more focused on helping her Fever, who are 4-4, snap their two-game losing streak when they host the Atlanta Dream on Thursday.But in the days since Indiana’s loss at Portland, the clip of Clark and White disagreeing has been shared on sports broadcasts and social media. Several prominent figures, like Hall of Famers Sue Bird and Cheryl Miller, have weighed in. Clark and White, however, pushed back on the notion that this particular argument was a fair summation of their bond.“I think what happened in that moment is I was challenging a player. It’s coaching, is what it is,” White said. “I don’t think it often becomes an issue if you’re watching it in men’s sports most of the time. But my relationship with Caitlin is great. I love Caitlin. I ride with her.”White is in her sixth season as a WNBA head coach and was an assistant for eight years. She also spent six years in the league as a player. The 48-year-old said the back-and-forth with Clark was not an uncommon experience in her two decades of WNBA experience.“This is not a new thing. It’s just new because everything that (Clark) does gets clicks. That’s how everybody makes money,” White said, waving her hands toward reporters. “… When there was player confrontation, tension, coaching 10 years ago when I was doing this … it wasn’t on social media. That was just getting started. It happens in every sport. It happens in all walks of life, so this is not anything that’s new, and it’s not a story.”White, who played for the Fever and previously coached them, rejoined the franchise last year. She replaced Christie Sides as head coach and is now in her second year as Clark’s coach. White is also an assistant for the U.S. women’s national team and coached Clark in March when Clark made her senior team debut in the World Cup qualifying tournament. Clark took home MVP honors.But before Clark reestablished herself on a global stage, she endured a trying 2025 season with White by her side. After never missing a game in college or as a rookie in the WNBA, Clark was limited to just 13 games last year due to various lower-body injuries. White helped her navigate the weight of those absences.“When I got hurt at the Connecticut game last year, I bawled in Steph’s arms. That’s somebody I will ride for, for the rest of my life,” Clark said. “People that just sit on their phones all day, they don’t see those moments. They don’t see the moments when we come into work. They don’t see the moments that absolutely suck, and people have your back. But they think they know everything, and in reality, they don’t have a clue.”White added that “all the people who haven’t played at an elite level” wouldn’t understand why it’s inevitable for a coach and star player to butt heads.“She wants to be coached, and I want her to help me be a better coach,” White said of Clark. “We’re both competitive. We’re both stubborn. We’re more alike than different, and hopefully we continue to bring the best out of each other.”This article originally appeared in The Athletic.Indiana Fever, WNBA2026 The Athletic Media Company

Jan 11, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) during warmups against the San Francisco 49ers in an NFC Wild Card Round game at Lincoln Financial Field. © Eric Hartline-Imagn ImagesA.J. Brown has a new NFL home as of Monday, as the Philadelphia Eagles traded the star wide receiver to the New England Patriots.After the deal was completed, Brown headed online and posted a number of images of him wearing a Patriots uniform as a kid with the song “Coming Home” by Diddy. There was only one problem with the images: they were AI-generated.NFL World Calls Out A.J. Brown’s AI Photos After Patriots TradeWhile it’s true that Brown grew up a Patriots fan, the NFL world quickly clowned him for using AI photos. Eagles writer Anthony DiBona was one of the first people to call him out.DiBona posted on X, “Nike started making NFL jerseys in 2012… Either A.J. Brown looked surprisingly small at 15-years old or this picture is edited.”“Zoom in… AJ deada** just posted AI Patriots jerseys just to pander,” one influencer wrote on X. “I’m actually laughing so hard these aren’t even real pictures”Social media personality Tom Stakes, who posts Eagles content on TikTok and YouTube, didn’t hold back after seeing Brown’s images.Take a Quick Break. Run a Mock Draft! Before you keep reading, jump into the shoes of the GM of your favorite team.Powered by PFSN's NFL Mock Draft Simulator“Look at the jersey lol,” Stakes posted on X. “When did any brand make a jersey that looked like that? Fraudin for the Gram is crazy work.”Another user pointed out that Brown’s post was flagged by Instagram as “created by AI.”One user pointed out that Brown may have been trying to protect his endorsement deal with Nike.“I’m an Eagles fan but guessing he’s a Nike athlete,” he posted. “Prolly was a Reebok logo on there pretty common sense.”Brown now joins the Patriots, where he’ll become the No. 1 target for MVP runner-up Drake Maye. The Patriots advanced to the Super Bowl last year and now have a revamped passing attack around their star quarterback.As for the Eagles, they traded away an uber-talented player who sometimes rocked the boat and didn’t always see eye to eye with head coach Nick Sirianni and quarterback Jalen Hurts.

The Golden State Warriors have put together their teams through a variety of ways over the years, yet few approaches have proven as successful as the NBA draft. More than anything else, the most talented players to represent the Warriors have arrived in Golden State either by being selected directly in the annual draft or through trades executed on that same night.The Golden State Warriors have taken many of their top stars through the draft, but have also landed a number of notable players over the years as well. From tiny colleges to blue blood programs, these alumni have contributed significantly to the team's roster over the years. So, we chose to take a closer look at which Dubs came from which schools over the years.So without further ado, let's take a look at every player who has been drafted by the Warriors out of Illinois.Don Sunderlage - guardDraft year and position: fist round (ninth pick, ninth overall), 1951 NBA DraftSeasons at Illinois: threeSeasons played with Warriors: did not make the teamDon Ohl - guardDraft year and position: fifth round (ffth pick, 37th overall), 1958 NBA DraftSeasons at Illinois: threeSeasons played with Warriors: did not make the teamDave Downey - guardDraft year and position: fourth round (third pick, 30th overall), 1963 NBA DraftSeasons at Illinois: threeSeasons played with Warriors: did not make the teamJeff Dawson - guardDraft year and position: eighth round (11th pick, 131st overall), 1973 NBA DraftSeasons at Illinois: threeSeasons played with Warriors: did not make the teamNeil Bresnahan - forwardDraft year and position: sixth round (second pick, 117th overall), 1980 NBA DraftSeasons at Illinois: fourSeasons played with Warriors: did not make the teamAll stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Every Illinois player drafted by the Warriors

The Brooklyn Nets have developed their teams through a number of strategies over the decades, and their front office has put together considerable success through the NBA draft. Many of the franchise's best players have joined the Nets either by being selected directly in the annual draft or through trades made on that day.Moreover, it is not only the star players who have been acquired by the Nets through the draft. Several prominent alumni have been selected by the team each offseason during this annual event, with certain colleges being more prominently represented than others. An analysis of the players from different schools reveals that both prestigious programs and smaller institutions have contributed top talent to the Nets' roster over the years.So without further ado, let's take a look at every player who has been drafted by the Nets out of Louisiana-Monroe.Calvin Natt - forwardDraft year and position: first round (eighth pick, eighth overall), 1979 NBA DraftSeasons at Louisiana-Monroe: fourSeasons played with Nets: oneAll stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Every Louisiana-Monroe player drafted by the Nets

Another coach of a PWHL expansion team has been let go.On Monday, the Vancouver Goldeneyes announced a “change at the head coaching position,” parting ways with Brian Idalski after just one season.“As we conclude our inaugural season and evaluate the future direction of the organization, we have made the decision to make a change at the head coaching position,” Goldeneyes general manager Cara Gardner Morey said in a statement. “We thank Brian for his professionalism and commitment to the Vancouver Goldeneyes and wish him all the best moving forward.”Idalski was hired in June 2025 as the Goldeneyes’ first head coach. He had two decades of experience in women’s hockey, including at the pro level and with the Chinese women’s team at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.The Goldeneyes joined the PWHL last season along with the Seattle Torrent in the league’s first wave of expansion. Vancouver looked like the team to beat with a roster stacked with talent, led by Sarah Nurse and Sophie Jaques. But the Goldeneyes struggled in their inaugural season, finishing sixth in the league standings. They were the second team eliminated from playoff contention, just days after Seattle.Vancouver’s roster greatly underperformed expectations, and very few Goldeneyes players matched or improved upon their production from last season. In fact, when The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn first launched his PWHL data model, Vancouver had the deepest offensive roster in the league, with a 12.9 offensive rating — 10 full points more than the next-best team, the eventual champion Montreal Victoire (2.2). Vancouver’s preseason expected win percentage (.560) was also among the highest in the league, but in reality it was nowhere close with a .411 percent win rate.Throughout the season, Idalski talked a lot about wanting Vancouver to be difficult to play against with a strong on-ice identity, much like his college team. But that style didn’t really translate for Vancouver, which looked like it lacked direction at times during the season.Vancouver won’t be alone in its coaching search. Last month, the Seattle Torrent announced the team had parted ways with head coach Steve O’Rourke after a similarly disappointing inaugural season, finishing last with just eight wins. Vancouver, however, won the No. 1 pick in the 2026 PWHL Draft via the league’s “Gold Plan,” and secured the right to draft generational defender Caroline Harvey later this month.The Toronto Sceptres and Boston Fleet also currently have vacancies at the head coach position after Troy Ryan (San Jose) and Kris Sparre (Hamilton) accepted jobs with the league’s new expansion teams. Las Vegas has yet to announce its head coach.This article originally appeared in The Athletic.Vancouver Goldeneyes, NHL, Women's Hockey2026 The Athletic Media Company

HOLLAND - The dream is slowly becoming a reality.The Holland High School football team has been around since 1897 with a long and rich history.But the school has never had its own football field on the high school campus.The Dutch have played at Riverside Park and Holland Municipal Stadium, which has become Hope College's Ray & Sue Smith Stadium.A new era began on Monday, June 1, with a groundbreaking on the new stadium and athletic complex scheduled to be finished by 2027."Nothing beats your own place. It is going to be something special," Holland coach Will Siffin said. "I want to help build that and bring more pride into it. It is nice to know I was a part of it, but this stadium is going to be here long after I'm gone."More: Holland High School to begin campus football stadium constructionVoters passed a millage for Holland Public Schools in 2025 to fund the project.Siffin, along with Superintendent Nick Cassidy, Athletic Director Blake Muller and members of the school board and staff joined students in taking the first ceremonial digs near where the 50-yard line will be in the football stadium.Some of the sophomore starters, including quarterback Eli Wolters and receiver Finn Galloway, will be seniors when the first season of the new stadium kicks off in 2027."It is so exciting. I can't wait for it to be ready so we can play on this field," Wolters said. "It is going to feel a lot better than riding a bus for a home game. It will be really cool to have the community have our back. I am already imagining the first game at the new stadium with all of the community in the stands. It is going to be awesome."But this project is not just about football. It will bring a new track, baseball and softball fields, and a place for the marching band to practice and host events.The excitement is there for everyone."It is really nice to have this. We have been working hard for our shows and the field is not always in the greatest condition, so getting this new field is going to make a world of a difference," Holland band member Alex Perales said. "We are excited for this new edition."The baseball and softball fields are slated to be finished for the 2027 spring season.Many community members, staff, athletes, alumni and students were on hand for the groundbreaking.The excitement is already growing."I feel lucky being in the place I am at the time I am with all the great support around us. We are trying to elevate the expectations for our team and community. We want to show we are serious about football. I have seen this happen in other places and what it can do," Siffin said. "Building this home field is such a big part of us coming together in trying times and in a challenging district. I think this can bring a nice light and pride in the community, not just the kids."Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Holland High School breaks ground on first football stadium

SAN ANTONIO — If the Spurs win a first quarter, eight times out of 10 they go on to win the basketball game. That’s bad news for a Knicks team that’s built a poor habit of playing catch-up after slow starts both in the regular season and in the playoffs.The Spurs have been the NBA’s most dominant first-quarter playoff force: They are 8-2 in games they’ve won the first quarter this playoff run, the only losses coming in Game 2 of their first-round series against the Portland Trail Blazers, then Game 3 of the Western Conference finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.On paper, the Knicks are the best first-quarter team in the playoffs, boasting a 27.6 net rating in opening periods and riding an 11-game winning streak into the NBA Finals. But they fell behind by 22 points in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers before closing the game on an obscene 44-11 run. And they haven’t quite been tested — to no fault of their own — in the run-up to the Finals: The Knicks avoided both the No. 1 Detroit Pistons and No. 2 Boston Celtics, instead running through the Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers before eviscerating James Harden and Donovan Mitchell to reach the Finals for the first time in 53 years.Now comes the real test. True hostile, enemy territory the likes of which even the most rabid Knicks fan base can’t infiltrate across the country. And a true championship-caliber opponent in the Spurs, who will use a quick turnaround to their advantage against a Knicks team, once again, coming off of eight days of rest in-between playoff series.“We can’t control the break. The reality is our job at-hand right now is making sure our bodies are right, making sure our minds are right, making sure we’re paying attention to details. We’ve been incredibly sharp and locked-in, and taking care of the controllables was just really all you can do,” backup sharpshooter Landry Shamet said after practice at the team’s Tarrytown training facility on Monday. “And then when the ball is tipped up in a couple of days, it’ll be right back into the swing of things of a series. And you know, that’s been our sole focus: keeping that competitive edge and staying locked into the rhythm of a playoff series coming up.”The Knicks have found success in Game 1s of this playoff run. They beat the Hawks by 11, the 76ers by 39, then came back from down 22 to force overtime and beat the Cavaliers by 11. They had home-court advantage in each of those series openers. That will not be the case against a Spurs team that won 62 games during the regular season.“Just being aware of going into an environment where the opposing team is going to generate a lot of energy. Our crowd is one of the best, if not the best, in the league, and the energy we get from playing here, at Madison Square Garden, is unbelievable. There are probably other buildings that, in their players’ minds, give them that same energy,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “So knowing that it’s gonna be hostile, we don’t have the energy of the crowd to help us get over the hump, and so we have to come out — not come out and jump on them, I’m not saying that — but we have to come out with a purpose, not just physically, but mentally as well, so we don’t fall behind, because the crowd will really feed into that.”The Spurs do not typically give leads away after building them. The Knicks don’t want an encore of the mistakes that nearly cost them their opener in the conference finals.“The focus is on going on the road and winning Game 1. And it’s been the same. This isn’t our first long break we’ve had. So, more of the same,” added Shamet. “And focusing on the details, game plan, not getting too crazy or outside of the box. The reality is we’re here for a reason and we don’t need to reinvent the wheel entirely. So staying with our principles and focusing on the little things and building up to try to go Game 1.”

On Monday, the NBA announced the passing of Rick Adelman, a former player and head coach who was recently enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.Adelman was 79 years old. His time in the NBA included multiple stints with the Rockets franchise, both as a player and head coach.“Rick Adelman was one of the most respected and accomplished coaches in the history of the NBA,” Adam Silver, league commissioner, said in a statement.“Following his NBA playing career, Rick turned to coaching where his leadership, innovation, and genuine love for basketball left a lasting impression on generations of players and fellow coaches over his nearly 30-year run. He was a brilliant strategist and teacher of the game, and an even better person. I send my deepest condolences to Rick's family and many friends throughout the league.”Adelman was preceded in death by his son, R.J., a former Rockets assistant who died in 2018. Adelman’s other son, David, is now head coach of the Denver Nuggets.As a franchise, the Rockets issued their own statement on Adelman’s passing. It reads:The Houston Rockets and the Fertitta family mourn the passing of Rick Adelman, one of the most respected and influential figures in NBA history. During his four seasons in Houston, Coach Adelman guided the Rockets with professionalism, integrity, and a deep commitment to the game. His role in leading the team during the 22-game winning streak in 2008 remains one of the most remarkable achievements in franchise history and will always be remembered by Rockets fans. We extend our deepest condolences to Mary Kay, his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him. His legacy will forever be a part of Rockets history and the fabric of the NBA.View this post on Instagram

CARLSBAD. Calif. — To those who follow college golf, the name Preston Stout shouldn't be unknown.The junior at Oklahoma State has been one of the best amateurs in the world the past year. He won medalist honors at last year's U.S. Amateur in addition to a title at the Northeast Amateur. He was on the U.S. Walker Cup team and the World Amateur Team Championship squad. Yet in college golf this year, Stout's excellence – four wins and coming into the national championship with a 69.08 stroke average – has been overshadowed due to the dominance of world No. 1 Jackson Koivun. His latest achievement makes sure he garners the respect he deserves heading into his final summer of amateur golf.Stout won the 2026 NCAA Men's Golf individual championship on Monday, capping off a dominating week at Omni La Costa with the biggest win of his career. Stout becomes the 10th NCAA individual champion from Oklahoma State and first since Matthew Wolff in 2019. His birdie on the 72nd hole game him a one-shot victory over Alabama sophomore William Jennings. Jennings had a par putt on his final hole to force a playoff but missed, giving Stout the title.With the win, Stout earns exemptions into the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills and the 2027 Masters, given he remains an amateur. It also gets him closer to a PGA Tour card, which he could earn by finishing No. 1 in the PGA Tour University Class of 2027 rankings following this tournament in a year's time.And as it stands, the defending national champions also have the new NCAA medalists. On Tuesday, Stout and the Cowboys will begin their quest to go back-to-back, trying to do so for the first time since Alabama in 2013-14.After opening with a 1-over 73, Stout shot 67, 65 and 69 to close out his national title. His 7-under performance on Sunday included an eagle on the par-5 10th and no bogeys. Then in the final round Monday, he added four more birdies on the front nine and was 5 under thru 10 holes before a bogey on the difficult par-3 12th. Two more bogeys down the stretch had him standing on the 18th tee tied with Jennings, but a closing birdie was enough to hold off the chasing pack.This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Oklahoma State's Preston Stout wins 2026 NCAA golf individual title

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The Oklahoma State men’s golf team added an individual national championship trophy to its collection, and is in position to defend its team title over the next two days at the Omni La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, California.OSU junior Preston Stout birdied the 72nd hole of the stroke play portion of the NCAA Championships and Alabama’s William Jennings bogeyed to give Stout a one-stroke win. He is OSU’s 10th individual champion and first since Matthew Wolff in 2019.The Cowboys finished comfortably inside the top eight to qualify for the match play bracket that will decide the team champion. Seeds for Tuesday’s match play quarterfinals will be settled when all teams complete play Monday.Stout had built a comfortable lead before Jennings made a strong charge over the final nine holes, pulling into a tie before Jennings played his final hole. Stout finished with a four-round total of 14-under-par 274, capped by a 3-under 69.This story will be updated.More: Oklahoma State's Preston Stout charges to lead, Cowboys 4th at NCAA golf championshipsScott Wright covers Oklahoma State athletics for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Scott? He can be reached at swright@oklahoman.com or on X at @ScottWrightOK. Support Scott’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com or by using the link at the top of this page.This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma State's Preston Stout wins 2026 NCAA championship

The Cleveland Browns made a blockbuster trade on Monday, deciding to send the best defensive player in the NFL, Myles Garrett, to the Los Angeles Rams for Jared Verse, a first-round draft pick, a second-round draft pick, and a third-round draft pick. The Browns were focused on getting a young up-and-coming defense player to take Garrett's roster spot, and Verse was the specific player they wanted, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Though Verse isn't on the same level as Garrett, it is easy to see what the Browns like about the former Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2024. Per PFF, Verse recorded 100 quarterback pressures in 2025, up from 89 in his rookie season in 2024. The biggest thing Verse needs to do is convert more of his pressures into sacks. He only had 4.5 sacks as a rookie and followed it up with 7.5 sacks in 2025. He's affecting the quarterback, but he needs to get the sack numbers up. He will turn 26 this year, and the Cleveland Browns have three more years of control if you include the fifth-year option. This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: The Browns had their sights set on Jared Verse

Graduation season is upon us, including for Stanford University senior, Megha Ganne.This time of year comes with an undeniable energy, as graduates stand on the precipice, bittersweet nostalgia collides with an intoxicating hope for the future, as they prepare to leave one world and enter another. For athletes like Ganne, leaving school also includes saying goodbye to your team and your college career."I think the moments with the teammates are irreplaceable," Ganne said. "Moments in the locker room, I found myself lingering after practice for 30 more minutes or trying to get more meals together...Spending time with people is the thing you try to take in more, but I think we do a good job of that."The New Jersey native will don a cap and gown next week and bid farewell to Stanford, on the heels of leading her team to the school’s fourth NCAA Championship in women’s golf last week. But unlike most graduates, Ganne's post-grad career will begin before she ever walks across the stage to receive her diploma. This week, she's making her professional golf debut about six hours south at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades for the U.S. Women’s Open."It's a little bit hectic," Ganne said on Monday at Riviera. "At the very least I can stay in California, which is really nice. And the weather is beautiful and I'm playing golf, so I don't have that many complaints. I have pretty much not that many classes left, so I am still in school but not that crazy."This will be Ganne's fourth time teeing it up at the U.S. Women's Open, but the first as a pro with Epson Tour status. Her most successful major was five years ago at the Olympic Club in 2021 as a high school junior. The 17-year-old shocked the golf world by securing a share of the lead after the first round and went on to finish T-14 with Low Amateur honors at the U.S. Women's Open. It was a high she said feels like a lifetime ago."I am hopefully drastically different than I was then in some ways, and in some ways, I still feel like I maintained a lot of good parts of myself that I love looking back on when I was 17 at Olympic," Ganne said. "I have definitely grown as a golfer, as person, and teammate, and four years at Stanford will definitely change you, so I feel like for the better."And that change, while not always easy, is something she'd tell her younger self was on the horizon, along with the brightest days. "This journey is long and there are ups and downs, but like your best days are still ahead. So, probably tell myself that right now, too," she added.One of the best days has nearly arrived for Ganne as she prepares to tee off on Thursday in the first round of the U.S. Women's Open, alongside all-time greats and fellow Stanford grads, Michelle Wie West and Lydia Ko, who she said she's been leaning on recently as a resource as she takes the next step in her career."I think just being comfortable being uncomfortable is going to be my goal for the next 12 to 18 months," Ganne said.22-year-old Ganne said it felt great to be back playing at a U.S. Women's Open and admitted this one "feels extra special.""This course is absolutely stunning. I've never been here. I'm super excited to get to know it better," she added.Despite graduation for Ganne, she's clearly always a student of the game.U.S. Women’s Open 2026: How to watch, TV schedule, stream informationHow to watch all of the action from the 81st U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera Country Club. Golf Channel Staff, Golf Channel Staff,

MORGANTOWN, WV — Kentucky baseball dealt with a range of emotions in the span of week.On May 25, the Wildcats had a stressful time watching the NCAA Tournament selection show. They entered the day no guarantee to make the field. And they didn't see their name surface on the 64-team bracket until the 16th (and last) regional was revealed.Six days later, the team that eked into the tournament nearly was a regional champion.But it wasn't to be.Kentucky led by three runs, needing just three outs Sunday to sweep through the regional without a loss. West Virginia refused to let that happen, rallying in the ninth inning for an 11-9 win.That astounding loss carried into the first seven innings of Monday's winner-take-all tilt for UK, as it trailed 5-1. The Wildcats then put four on the board in the eighth to knot it at 5-all. But the ever-resilient Mountaineers answered back, lifting themselves off the mat to earn a 6-5, walk-off victory in 10 innings at Kendrick Family Ballpark — and in the process, end the Bat Cats' season.Kentucky and coach Nick Mingione finish the 2026 campaign with a record of 33-23.West Virginia improved to 43-15 and are into the Super Regional round for the third straight year. But 2026 is different: The Mountaineers will host a Super Regional for the first time in program history. WVU welcomes Cal Poly — the champion of the Los Angeles Regional, where top overall seed UCLA bowed out of the tournament after just three games — to town later this week. West Virginia hopes its Super Regional ends with another title, which would put them into the College World Series for the first time ever.A little more than 300 miles westward, the Wildcats will wonder what could have been.This story will be updated.Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky baseball vs West Virginia score, WVU to NCAA Super Regionals

LANCASTER – The deeper teams get in the tournament, the games usually get tougher and can turn into nailbiters.Don’t tell that to the Lancaster, Bloom-Carroll, and Liberty Union softball teams. They not only won their regional championship games, but they dominated.The Golden Gales, Bulldogs, and Lions will look to take that momentum into the Ohio High School Athletic Association state softball tournament, which gets underway June 3 and concludes June 7 at Akron’s Firestone Stadium.Lancaster pounded out 17 hits and cruised to a 14-5 win over Grove City in its Division I regional title win, while the Bulldogs pounded Jonathan Alder 15-0 in the Division III regional championship, and Liberty Union topped Johnston 9-2 in the Division V regional title game.After reaching the final four for the first time in school history a year ago, Lancaster is making a return trip. The Bulldogs will be making their seventh appearance in the state tournament. Bloom-Carroll has won three state championships (2006, 2007, 2013) and finished as state runner-up three times (2012, 2014, 2015). Liberty Union will be making its third consecutive trip to the final four. The Lions won the Division III state championship in 2024 and were state runners-up a year ago.Here is a closer look at each team.Lancaster Golden GalesDivision IHead coach: Allie KinniardRecord: 23-7 (have won 18 straight games)Tournament trail: Beat Reynoldsburg 26-1; Marysville 17-11; Lakewood 5-1; Grove City 14-5.Players to watch: Kendall Brown, Hailey Rings, Mia Griggs, Kileigh Rohr, JoJo Sheets.Bloom-Carroll BulldogsDivision IIIHead Coach: Chris LucasRecord: 24-4 (Ranked No. 5 in the State; have won 17 straight games)Tournament trail: Beat Whitehall 22-0; Columbus South 22-0; Hamilton Township 7-0; Dover 3-2; Jonathan Alder 15-0.Players to watch: Madelyn Gates, Emma Brandt, Maddi Walters, Addison Brown, Gabby Johnson.Liberty Union LionsDivision VCoach Shaun HochradelRecord: 26-1 (Ranked No. 1 in the State)Tournament trail: Beat Harvest Prep 26-0; Madison Plains 13-0; Galion Northmor 2-1; Archbold 5-1; Johnstown 9-2.Players to watch: Suzie Shultz, Eden Wilson, Haedan Brunty, Ryleigh Brown, Alexis McCoy. 2026 OHSAA Softball State Tournament PairingsHome team listed firstAll games at Firestone Stadium, AkronWednesday, June 3Division I Semifinal #1 (10 a.m.): No. 1 Austintown-Fitch vs. LancasterDivision I Semifinal #2 (12:30 p.m.): No. 3 Centerville vs. No. 2 Hilliard BradleyDivision VI Semifinal #1 (3 p.m.): West Jefferson vs. No. 6 Van Wert LincolnviewDivision VI Semifinal #2 (5:30 p.m.): No. 5 Danville vs. DaltonThursday, June 4Division VII Semifinal #1 (10 a.m.): Cortland Maplewood vs. No. 6 South Charleston SoutheasternDivision VII Semifinal #2 (12:30 p.m.): No. 2 Sycamore Mohawk vs. No. 3 Portsmouth Notre DameDivision I Championship (3 p.m.)Division VI Championship (5:30 p.m.)Friday, June 5Division III Semifinal #1 (10 a.m.): Mansfield Madison Comprehensive vs. LouisvilleDivision III Semifinal #2 (12:30 p.m.): No. 5 Carroll Bloom-Carroll vs. No. 2 GreenvilleDivision IV Semifinal #1 (3 p.m.): No. 1 Springfield Kenton Ridge vs. Mogadore FieldDivision IV Semifinal #2 (5:30 p.m.): No. 3 Bryan vs. No. 2 Newark Licking ValleyDivision VII Championship (8 p.m.)Saturday, June 6Division V Semifinal #1 (10 a.m.): No. 4 Casstown Miami East vs. No. 2 WheelersburgDivision V Semifinal #2 (12:30 p.m.): No. 1 Baltimore Liberty-Union vs. No. 10 Canfield South RangeDivision II Semifinal #1 (3 p.m.): No. 7 Kings Mills Kings vs. No. 3 Painesville RiversideDivision II Semifinal #2 (5:30 p.m.): No. 6 Westerville Central vs. No. 2 Cuyahoga Falls Walsh JesuitDivision III Championship (8 p.m.)Sunday, June 7Division IV Championship (11 a.m.)Division V Championship (1:30 p.m.)Division II Championship (4 p.m.)Tom Wilson is a sports reporter for the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. Contact him at 740-689-5150 or via email at twilson@gannett.com for comments or story tips. Follow him on X at twil2323.This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: B-C, LU, and Lancaster right where they expected to be

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sandy Alcantara pitched seven steady innings and the Miami Marlins hit three home runs, snapping their five-game losing streak with a 7-3 win over the Washington Nationals on Monday night.After yielding 14 runs over his previous two starts, Alcantara (4-4) allowed three runs and seven hits this time. He struck out five without a walk.The Marlins trailed 3-1 before scoring three runs in the sixth. After pinch-hitter Heriberto Hernández tied it with a two-run homer, Miami went ahead on Connor Norby's RBI double off Richard Lovelady (2-3). Liam Hicks and Kyle Stowers added home runs for the Marlins in the ninth.Jacob Young went deep for Washington.Otto Lopez had three hits and a walk for Miami, raising his major league-leading batting average to .333.Cade Cavalli walked three batters in the first inning, including Owen Caissie with the bases loaded to give the Marlins a 1-0 lead. Young's two-run homer put Washington up by a run in the second, and Curtis Mead added an RBI single in the third.Leo Jiménez led off the sixth with a single, and with three straight left-handed batters due up, the Nationals pulled Cavalli in favor of Lovelady, a lefty. Hernández batted for Caissie and sent a drive to left field that easily cleared the wall, tying the game.The Marlins weren't finished. After a hit batter and a sacrifice bunt, Norby sent a flare just inside the foul line behind first base, putting Miami up 4-3.Hicks hit a solo homer and Stowers added a two-run shot in the ninth.Miami put right-hander Josh Ekness on the 15-day injured list with a right calf strain, retroactive to Friday.Up nextThe Nationals send Miles Mikolas (1-4) to the mound Tuesday night. Miami had not announced a scheduled starter.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

Aspiration co-founder Joseph Sanberg was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison on Monday after he pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud, according to ESPN’s Baxter Holmes. Sanberg was behind the now-defunct green banking company that is the focus of the NBA’s investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers and their deals with star Kawhi Leonard, something that journalist Pablo Torre first reported on and later won a Pulitzer Prize for.Prosecutors said that Sanberg defrauded investors and lenders out of $248 million by obtaining loans, falsifying bank statements and more. They were seeking a prison sentence of nearly 18 years, though Sanberg’s attorney argued that he displayed “no malice, no ill will and no greed” while arguing that he should avoid prison time all together.But Judge Stephen V. Wilson said that Sanberg’s actions were “among the worst I’ve ever seen” on the bench, and that the case had “touched almost every badge of fraud,” according to ESPN. So he sentenced Sanberg to 14 years. “I accept that I lost my moral compass and wrongly stepped over the line, and I’m very sorry,” Sanberg said in court. “I broke the law … I'm sorry. I’m so sorry.”Aspiration’s ties to the Los Angeles ClippersAspiration was founded in 2013 as an environmentally conscious digital bank. While several notable celebrities and companies partnered with the company over the years, Aspiration signed a $300 million endorsement deal with the Clippers in 2021 and a $28 million deal with Leonard the following year. In September, Torre accused Ballmer and the Clippers of using Aspiration as a way to circumvent the NBA’s salary cap and pay Leonard more money to sign with the team in free agency. The deal with Leonard was essentially a no-show marketing deal. Ballmer, who said he invested $60 million of his own money into the company, repeatedly continued to donate to Aspiration even after the government started investigating the company for fraud, according to Torre’s reporting, and he initially called Torre’s reporting “gossip.”In April, Ballmer sent a letter to the judge overseeing Sanberg’s case detailing all the ways he said he was defrauded by both Sanberg and Aspiration. Ballmer described himself as a “clear and undisputed victim” here, and claimed he was targeted for his “reputation for integrity, and genuine passion for sustainability.” Ballmer has acknowledged introducing Aspiration to Leonard, but he denied any knowledge of the $28 million endorsement deal. Leonard has also denied any wrongdoing. The NBA announced in September that it was launching an investigation into Ballmer’s relationship with Aspiration. That is still ongoing, and it’s unclear when it will wrap up. NBA commissioner Adam Silver described the probe as “enormously complex” during the All-Star break in February.

Arman Tsarukyan had a front row seat to Khamzat Chimaev’s first career loss against Sean Strickland in May at UFC 328. With a role helping the now-former middleweight champion with his camp, Tsarukyan saw the struggles Chimaev endured.Chimaev started his lone title defense in typical fashion, smothering and dominating Strickland with a heavy-pressure grappling assault. But his success in that department waned immediately; Chimaev dropped the subsequent round and battled competitively on the feet throughout the rest of the 25-minute affair. Ultimately, Strickland walked away as the winner via split decision, making him a UFC two-time titleholder. Tsarukyan spoke on “The Ariel Helwani Show” Monday, explaining that the 185-pound weight cut took a serious toll on his teammate."After first round, he got tired," Tsarukyan told Uncrowned. "Mostly because of weight cut. He could wrestle like 25 minutes nonstop [in camp], spar 25 minutes, but his body — after when he started cutting weight, that night he felt so bad, and in the morning he had no energy. We thought it was gonna be easy. But in the morning, four pounds left, his body didn't start, so we just pushed him to cut and make weight. It was so hard. Then he said, even to me, 'If I'm going to make this weight, I might lose.' I said, 'Bro, no, no. You're gonna recover and you're gonna be good."I wasn't worried [that he would make weight]. At one point, when he said, 'I cannot cut weight,' I thought, 'No way,' and we started to push him, and he could make the weight. I said, 'After weigh-ins, you're gonna feel good. So, if you're not gonna feel good, let me know.' But he didn't say anything."Plenty was made of Chimaev’s rough weight cut ahead of the fight. He appeared noticeably gaunt on the scales Friday before fight night. Directly after the fight ended, Chimaev went as far as to tell UFC CEO Dana White — while still in the Octagon — that he wants to move up in weight.According to Tsarukyan, Chimaev struggled the most when he was a pound or less away from the 185-pound championship mark. Tsarukyan said he wasn’t there for the absolute worst of it, when Chimaev vomited throughout the process, but confirmed that was what happened amid the cut."His body, personally, I think can't take the hits from the sauna. Probably. Most likely," Tsarukyan said. "He can still make the weight. Just needs to adjust a couple things to become lighter on the last day. Instead of [cutting] 15 pounds, he’s gotta be 10 pounds."The loss was Chimaev’s first of an otherwise dominant 16-fight career, and it’s opened Chimaev up to plenty of criticism throughout the fight community, something that already ran rampant after his title win over Dricus du Plessis.Tsarukyan sees it as nothing more than the ebbs and flows of MMA. When you’re up, you’re the best. When you’re down, you suck and aren’t worth a damn.Tsarukyan believes the rebound for Chimaev will be more about some minor tweaks rather than an entire preparation overhaul."People are always gonna talk,” Tsarukyan said. “When he wins, everyone say, 'Oh yeah, he did a good job.' He lose, everyone is saying he's doing the wrong things and that he overtrained. But Khamzat's last training in the garage was like 15-20 minutes. On this level, you're a professional — you gotta control yourself. If you feel tired, just skip the training."As for Tsarukyan, he remains the top contender in the UFC lightweight division after slicing through Dan Hooker with a second-round arm-triangle choke in November. He’s been collecting win after win on the Real American Freestyle (RAF) wrestling mats ever since, competing as recently as this past Saturday.Tsarukyan awaits the outcome of June 14’s lightweight title bout between champion Ilia Topuria and interim champ Justin Gaethje at the UFC White House event. He’s set to be the replacement fighter for the card if needed, and in the meantime is staying active with RAF; Tsarukyan already has matches scheduled against both Tony Ferguson and Colby Covington over the next two months.Tsarukyan also shut down rumors of a potential Charles Oliveira rematch. He has an idea of when he expects to return to MMA action, he said, but nothing is official."Today on my YouTube, I say I might fight in September, and everybody posts 'Arman is officially fighting [Oliveira].' ... People started posting that I'm fighting with him. Nothing official. I didn't say 100% I'm gonna fight him. I said I might fight him as well. It could happen."My next fight can be in September, October, December. You never know. Maybe next year. Who knows what the UFC wants to do and who I'll be fighting next? It's the winner of [Ilia] Topuria and [Justin] Gaethje, and if it's Topuria, probably end of this year. If it's Gaethje, it's September, maybe October."Tsarukyan defeated Oliveira via split decision in their UFC 300 clash in April 2024. The win was the fourth among Tsarukyan’s current five-fight win streak.Oliveira has since gone 3-1, defeating Max Holloway, Mateusz Gamrot and Michael Chandler, with his loss coming to the aforementioned Topuria for the then-vacant title.

Brazilian football player Leonardo Veiga, 18, was stuck playing for a small club in his home state of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil when he discovered the Footbao app (Nelson ALMEIDA)Brazilian teenager Leo Veiga had almost given up on his dream of becoming a professional footballer when artificial intelligence helped him secure a spot in the youth ranks of an Italian club.Tech companies promising to "democratize" football are launching apps that allow young players to upload videos recorded on their phone of them showcasing their ball skills.AI is then used to analyze and score their performance, which is sent to scouts and clubs.The 18-year-old Veiga was stuck playing for a small club in his home state of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil when he discovered one of these apps, from Swiss company Footbao.A YouTube video offered the highest-scoring users to train for a few days with the Italian club Lecce. Veiga was selected and caught the eye of a scout, who decided to take a chance on him."AI opened a new door," he told AFP from Italy, where he is now under contract with the youth academy of the club Spezia, which plays in Italy's second division."I thought, 'I'm going to download the app and give it a try. If nothing happens, it doesn't matter because nothing else is working out for me. But what if something does happen?'" he said.Footbao works with videos from matches and training sessions, while another tech company in the field, German firm CUJU, uses videos of drills suggested to users through the app.- Untapped potential -Around 120,000 players have used the Footbao app, most of them in Brazil, the world's largest exporter of football talent."There are probably between 14,000 and 15,000 players with the potential to join clubs or academies," chief executive Nick Rappolt told AFP.The company, founded in 2023, also operates in Colombia and Argentina and plans to expand into other South American countries.According to Rappolt, AI can "democratize" football by helping identify talent that lies outside the radar of major development centers.CUJU's app, meanwhile, was launched last year and has been downloaded around 160,000 times."Professional clubs have huge databases, but they mostly contain players who have already been scouted. There is no reliable data on talent at the earliest stages," Sven Muller, CUJU's marketing director, told AFP.The goal, he said, is to turn "simple videos recorded on a phone" into "reliable performance data."- Boost to women's football -In Sao Paulo, Marcela Geremias de Lima repeatedly kicks a ball against a wall, one of the exercises proposed by CUJU, which focuses on technical skills such as ball control and speed.After using the app, Marcela was invited to youth tournaments organized by the company in front of scouts.She eventually earned a place in the Under-15 side of Corinthians, a powerhouse of South American women's football with six Copa Libertadores titles.The exercises "help you improve" and mean "you can be seen from anywhere in the world," she said.Brazil will host the 2027 Women's World Cup, an event that could help drive the recruitment of young female players.The Brazilian club Santos, associated with star players like Pele and Neymar, in December announced a deal with Footbao to help identify young prospects.It is a way to "expand our search for athletes," club president Marcelo Teixeira said.Top prospects are usually recruited from a very young age, but AI can give a boost to players who might otherwise go unnoticed, according to Joao Paulo Sampaio, head of youth development at Palmeiras, where international talents such as Endrick and Estevao came through the ranks."I receive between 30 and 40 videos every day," Sampaio told AFP, adding that tech companies that carry out "a first round of pre-selection" represent "a new tool," although the Sao Paulo club does not currently work with these firms.erc/app/fb/jgc

SAN DIEGO, CA - MAY 23: Lucas Giolito #55 of the San Diego Padres pitches during the game between the Athletics and the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Ryan Levy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images The start of the 2026 season began with a Spring Training that resulted in San Diego Padres starter Joe Musgrove landing on the injured list with a surgically repaired elbow that wasn’t ready to pitch. Then, after four starts, Nick Pivetta was placed on the injured list with a flexor tendon strain of his right arm. Germán Márquez made six starts and was placed on the injured list with right forearm nerve discomfort. He had been inconsistent, at best, before that move.Righty Matt Waldron, who had been spectacularly effective in Triple-A, was called up and was unable to put together any consistent success, often being hit hard. He was also placed on the IL. Reclamation project, Walker Buehler, started the season seemingly knowing that his command and control would be of utmost importance because of the diminished velocity after his two elbow surgeries.Fortunately, Michael King and Randy Vásquez have remained healthy. They have both made all their scheduled starts but neither has been consistent and have had some outings that cause concern. Griffin Canning completed his rehab assignment and joined the rotation but has also had problems with consistency so far.Considering the situation with the starters, it isn’t a surprise that the president of baseball operations, A.J. Preller signed free agent starter Lucas Giolito to a one-year, $2.8 million guaranteed contract on April 22. Giolito was still available after not signing during the offseason or during spring camp. He ended the 2025 season on the injured list with the Boston Red Sox and hadn’t pitched for them during the playoffs. He missed all of 2024 after undergoing UCL repair but bounced back with the Red Sox. His 10-4 record and 3.41 ERA as the No. 3 starter for Boston motivated him to bypass his $19 million option for 2026 and go on the free agent market.The reason for his not having a contract before Spring Training isn’t known but it has been discussed that his asking price was too high, given that he ended the 2025 season on the IL with a sore elbow. Whatever the reason, Giolito was available in late April, and at a discount price.What did the Padres get in Giolito?In 2025, Giolito featured a 93 mph fastball that he threw 48% of the time. He threw his 86 mph slider 26% of the time, his 81.7 mph changeup 23% of the time and his 76.6 mph curveball 3% of his pitches. During his ramp-up in the minor leagues after signing in April (two games each with Single-A Lake Elsinore and Double-A San Antonio), Giolito totaled 17 innings pitched with a 4.76 ERA.During the course of a normal spring camp, starters work up from pitching one or two innings to begin and progress up to 60-80 pitches and at least five innings before the end of their progression. With six weeks allowed, most starters are ready to pitch before spring camp is done and back off their pitch count in their last start.The contract agreed to by the Padres and Giolito guaranteed that he be with the major league team by May 16. That only allowed time for the four starts in the minors. It became apparent in his first start with the Padres, on May 17 versus Seattle, that Giolito was not back to where he left off in 2025.His fastball velocity is down 3 mph, as is his slider and changeup velocity. He has changed his pitch usage from a fastball-and-slider-dominant mix to a fastball-and-changeup-dominant mix. His curveball remains a show-me pitch at 3%. Not surprisingly, his walk rate is up and his strikeout rate is down. The batting average against his fastball sits at .313 with a .555 slug. The groundball rate is sitting at 26.3% where he normally sits 35% and above.Can Lucas Giolito recover his form?The most optimistic answer is that the lack of a normal Spring Training, and only having four starts to prepare for his season, is responsible for his poor start to 2026. In his three games with the Padres, he has been unable to get past the fifth inning. His last start was 2.2 innings, allowing five hits and four walks for four runs. His command has not improved and seems to have slipped. There have been 11 walks in 12.2 innings with six strikeouts.With less than a month to prepare and a contract that required his promotion, Giolito didn’t do himself or the Padres any favors. It could be argued that he might have been called up anyway, given the situation with the starting rotation. The Padres have a significant lack of depth in the organization when it comes to starting pitchers. But with Canning and Giolito both working back from a not-normal spring preparation, the Padres are relying on King, Vásquez, and Buehler to carry the load. That’s a lot to ask considering King is working back after missing the majority of last season and Buehler is trying to reinvent himself as a starter.The trade rumor mill is churning out leaks about Preller inquiring regarding more bullpen depth. It seems more likely that another starter or two would be a wiser choice if this team wants to try to stay in the running for a playoff spot this season.Assuming the offense starts improving over the next month, it seems unlikely this group of starters will get the Padres to where they want to go. Hoping Pivetta and Musgrove are back this summer doesn’t seem like a good enough plan.

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Jun. 1—PULLMAN — Washington State is adding some size to its next prep class.On Monday, the Cougars reeled in a commitment from prep tight end Owen Yurosek, the team's sixth pledge in their class of 2027.Listed at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Yurosek hails from Bakersfield Christian School in California, where he also fielded offers from Fresno State, San Jose State, Nevada, Hawaii, UNLV and others. He turned those down to join the Cougs' class of 2027, which features three other players from California, perhaps signaling a shift back to WSU's traditional recruiting roots.Under former coach Jimmy Rogers, who left after one season for the same job at Iowa State last winter, the Cougars attempted to establish recruiting pipelines in places like Louisiana and the Midwest, where coaches had connections from their previous stop at South Dakota State.Last fall, Yurosek caught 13 passes for 153 yards and one touchdown, including a long reception of 48 yards. Yurosek is also the brother of Ben Yurosek, who authored a sparkling career playing tight end at Stanford before signing an undrafted free -agent deal with the Minnesota Vikings last spring.Owen Yurosek still has a visit to Nevada lined up, set for June 12.WSU's updated class of 2027:—Owen Yurosek, TE, Bakersfield HS (Bakersfield, California)—Ryan Harrington, 3-star QB, Anacortes HS (Washington)—Josiah Rand, 3-star LB, Chaminade HS (West Hills, California)—Marquez Wimberly, 3-star RB, Nazareth HS (Nazareth, Pennsylvania)—Lopeti Malupo, 3-star DL, Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco)—EJ Coleman, 3-star ATH, Folsom HS (Folsom, California)

Jun. 1—PULLMAN — Mike Leach, one of the greatest coaches in Washington State football history, is eligible to get his due.For the first time, Leach is on the ballot for the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame, which on Monday released its annual list of 80 players and nine coaches eligible to be selected for the class of 2027. The final class is set to be unveiled in January.Leach's eligibility is big news because to land on the ballot, the NFF adjusted its requirements. When Leach suddenly died in December 2022, after his third season coaching at Mississippi State, his career winning percentage was .596 — just below the threshold of .600 required by the NFF to appear on the HOF ballot.So last year, the NFF moved its requirements down to .595, which allowed Leach to appear on the ballot.At WSU, where Leach coached from 2012-18, he lifted the Cougars to national heights. Led by the famous Air Raid offense, Leach and WSU made six bowl appearances, highlighted by a 2018 season in which the Cougars won 11 games and captured a victory in the Alamo Bowl and a No. 10 final ranking.Leach, the Pac-12 Coach of the Year in both 2015 and 2018, used the Air Raid system to pace the FBS in passing yards per game in 2014, 2015, 2018, and 2019. He helped develop two of the most prolific quarterbacks in WSU history, Connor Halliday and Gardner Minshew, both of whom broke all manner of records in their time as Cougs.Also on the ballot is former WSU quarterback and current TV commentator Ryan Leaf, who earned first team All-American honors in 1997 and finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting that year, still the highest finish in WSU history. He led the Cougars to their first Rose Bowl in 67 years, and he was named the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year.The ballot also includes the brother of current WSU head coach Kirby Moore, Kellen Moore, the former Boise State QB and current head coach of the New Orleans Saints.

Jun. 1—The Eastern Washington men's basketball team added junior college transfer Isak Homelius on Monday, a freshman guard coming off of a successful scoring season at Western Texas College.A Swedish international, Homelius is listed at 6-foot-5 and averaged 17.3 points per game in his first competitive season in the United States. He shot 41% from the field, 36% on 3-pointers and 79% on free throws."We are excited to welcome Isak to Cheney," EWU coach Dan Monson said via release. "He's a proven scorer who is coming off an all-conference season in one of the top JUCO leagues in the country. His shooting ability and basketball IQ will immediately translate to this level and we feel confident he has all the intangibles to earn a big role for us."Homelius also has international experience, playing one season in the Sweden-Superettan, the country's second division, where he averaged 12.5 points a game.At Western Texas his role grew as the season went on, scoring over 30 points in four of the teams' last 10 games, including a career high of 37.Homelius is the Eagles' fifth addition this offseason.

Jun. 1—A quartet of former Gonzaga players will be part of the Canadian men's national team player pool ahead of 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifying games taking place next month in Hamilton, Ontario.Brothers Andrew and Ryan Nembhard were named to the 23-player pool that also includes Kelly Olynyk, Kyle Wiltjer and a handful of Canadian NBA players. The team will be coached by Gordon Herbert, a former North Idaho College standout and Idaho forward who was appointed by Canada Basketball last spring after previously working with the German national team.The Canadian national team will continue World Cup qualification on July 3 against Puerto Rico at TD Coliseum in Hamilton before facing Jamaica three days later at the same venue. Canada will regroup for two more games in August as part of the fourth qualification window.The Nembhard brothers, who account for three of the top 10 assist seasons in Gonzaga history, could share the floor for the first time on the senior national team.Andrew, who just completed his fourth season with the NBA's Indiana Pacers, competed for Canada during the 2019 FIBA World Cup and was named to the nation's 2024 Summer Olympics roster in Paris.The elder Nembhard posted career-high scoring and assist numbers in 2025-26 for an Indiana team that played the season without All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton. Andrew averaged 16.9 points and 7.7 assists while shooting a career-best 36.1% from the 3-point line.Ryan Nembhard has played in a handful of international competitions for Canada's youth teams, but could be making his senior national team debut next month during the FIBA World Cup qualifiers.After setting Gonzaga single-season assists records as a junior and senior, the younger Nembhard went undrafted last summer and signed a two-way contract with the Dallas Mavericks. Ryan's contract was eventually converted to a standard multiyear deal and the rookie started in 27 of 69 games for Dallas, scoring 6.6 ppg to go with 5.3 apg.Olynyk could join the Canadian national team coming off an NBA championship. The veteran forward is making the second Finals appearance of his career this week for the San Antonio Spurs, who outlasted fellow former Zag Chet Holmgren and the Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games.Primarily a reserve for San Antonio this season, the 35-year-old Olynyk averaged 3.2 ppg, 1.8 rpg and 1.2 apg. He won a bronze medal with Canada during the 2023 FIBA World Cup and was named a captain ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics.Wiltjer hasn't participated in a major competition for the senior national team since the 2019 FIBA World Cup. The forward, who played two seasons at Gonzaga from 2014-16 after transferring from Kentucky, just completed his third season with Reyer Venezia of Italy's Lega Basket Serie A.

The Houston Rockets have had players donning a total of 52 different jersey numbers (and have one not part of any numerical series for Houston assistant coach and general manager Carroll Dawson) since their founding at the start of the 1967-68 season, worn by just under 500 players in the course of Rockets history.To honor all of the players who wore those numbers over the decades, Rockets Wire is covering the entire history of jersey numbers and the players who wore them since the founding of the team all those years ago right up to the present day.With seven of those jerseys now retired to honor some of the greatest Rockets of all time to wear those jerseys, there is a lot of history to cover.And for today's article, we will continue with the first of four who wore the No. 16, center alum George Johnson. After ending his college career at Stephen F. Austin, Johnson was picked up with the ninth overall selection of the 1970 NBA Draft by the (then) Baltimore Bullets (now, Washington Wizards).The Harleton, Texas native played the first season of his pro career with Baltimore, coming to an end when he left the NBA for the ABA's (defunct) Dallas Chaparrals. After a season there, he signed with the Houston Rockets in 1973 for the final two seasons of his NBA career.During his time suiting up for the Rockets, Johnson wore only jersey No. 15 and put up 2.2 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Rockets jersey history No. 16 - George Johnson (1973-74)

The fund has drawn backlash from critics who said it was a scheme to reward President Trump’s political allies with public benefits.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Aziaha James scored 18 points off the bench, Paige Bueckers had 10 points, nine rebounds and seven assists and the Dallas Wings beat the Seattle Storm 79-56 on Monday night.Bueckers scored all 10 of her points in the first half to help Dallas lead 36-25. She finished the game 4 of 12 from the field as the Wings shot just 36%. Dallas began the third quarter on an 8-0 run to extend its lead to 44-25. Seattle did not make its first field goal of the second half until the 5:39 mark of the third.Four other starters for Dallas (6-3) finished with nine points. Arike Ogunbowale was just 2 of 13 from the field and Maddy Siegrist made 3 of her 10 attempts. Jessica Shepard grabbed eight rebounds to help Dallas outrebound Seattle 48-36.Flau’jae Johnson led Seattle (3-7) with 16 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out with 39.7 seconds left. Natisha Hiedeman added 11 points. Johnson became the second rookie guard in WNBA history to reach 15 blocks in 10 games, joining Elena Delle Donne.Seattle also struggled from the floor, making just 20 of 61 field goals (33%) — including 4 of 19 from distance. Up nextSeattle hosts Phoenix on Wednesday. Dallas is at Los Angeles on Friday. ___AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

Can Marlins' Sandy Alcantara shake off messy May, reinstate tradability? originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Sandy Alcantara needed a rebound start.The Miami Marlins' pitcher got it Monday night against the host Washington Nationals, earning a quality start.As much as Alcantara needed a strong outing, Marlins general manager Gabe Kapler may have yearned for one more.Once viewed as an attractive MLB trade deadline candidate, Alcantara entered the start at National Park needing to distance himself from his May performance. The 30-year-old right-hander yielded at least six earned runs in three of five starts last month, compiling a 7.39 earned-run average during that span.On Monday, the 2022 All-Star pitched seven innings and yielded three earned runs during the Marlins' 7-3 victory, snapping a five-game losing streak.Marlins' Sandy Alcantara shakes off recent skid If Alcantara's funk had continued, Kapler would have been challenged to engineer a favorable deal, if an offer materialized. In his past two starts, covering 11.2 innings, the nine-year veteran surrendered 14 earned runs on 19 hits, including five home runs.Alcantara yielded all eight runs in his last start against the Toronto Blue Jays on May 26. He opened the month by surrendering seven earned runs in 4.1 innings against the Baltimore Orioles on May 5. Against the Nationals, he retired the top of the lineup in order in the first inning, but yielded a two-run homer to hot-hitting Jacob Young with one out in the second. The Nationals claimed a 3-1 lead in the third on Curtis Mead's RBI hit.Alcantara (4-4) retired 12 of the final 14 batters he faced Monday.He needed that.More MLB news: White Sox outfield situation getting messy without injured Munetaka MurakamiAL Central-leading Guardians seek to clean up offensive issuesBrewers' Jacob Misiorowski matches unique MLB history, yields one run in MayMarlins could find Pete Fairbanks' trade market shrinking with widening ERA

Federal prosecutors sought a prison sentence of 212 months -- nearly 18 years -- while Sanberg's lead attorney, Marc Mukasey, argued that a prison sentence would be "too severe." Mukasey instead advocated for a punishment that would avoid any time behind bars for Sanberg, saying that Sanberg displayed "no malice, no ill will, no greed" in his actions and that he was not an outlaw but "a good person who did a bad thing." Judge Stephen V. Wilson, who has been a federal judge since 1985, disagreed.ESPNThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Mukasey instead advocated for a punishment that would …

In a federal courtroom in downtown Los Angeles, in front of people who said they had been defrauded by Aspiration and specifically by Sanberg, Wilson said the circumstances of Sanberg's actions were "among the worst I've ever seen" in his career on the bench before adding that "this case has touched almost every badge of fraud."ESPNThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: In a federal courtroom in downtown Los Angeles, in …

“I thought I was gone [from the NBA] bro, I ain’t going to lie to you,” Champagnie told reporters. “I was always told how small the window is to get your foot in the league and stay there and make a career for yourself. To get an opportunity only in the G League and getting waived with no warning, no nothing, no explanation or anything was tough. “It was tough for a 22-year-old kid who was just thinking of chasing my dreams and telling myself I can do this. I didn’t have any clue where I was going to end up. My agent told me it could be anywhere.”AndscapeThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “I thought I was gone [from the NBA] bro, I ain’t …

The U.N. panel met after Israel had threatened to attack southern Beirut. President Trump said later that Israel and Hezbollah had agreed not to attack each other.

A pop-up shop in the heart of Seaport is gearing up fans who are waiting patiently for the World Cup to kick off in less than two weeks. Classic Football Shirts opened in Boston Thursday and told Boston 25 their small storefront has been packed ever since.“It’s been crazy,” said manager Sean Hemenway. “This is the first time we came to Boston and it’s a great opportunity for people to come and see.”Inside the store, hundreds of soccer kits for sale hang from their racks and the ceilings. The jerseys dozens of clubs and nations over decades of international football. The company began in the United Kingdom but has since expanded with permanent locations across the globe — including several in the US. There are also temporary pop-ups ahead of the World Cup in Dallas.Hemenway added, “There are more soccer fans than people think in the Boston area.”Fans with old soccer kits are able to bring them into different Classic Football Shirts locations and have them authenticated by their team. Then, the company is able to buy the jerseys off them.Hemenway told Boston 25 their authentication team is expected to be in Boston later this summer.He also said fans from nations playing at Boston Stadium are already trickling into town.“They love Boston,” he said. “They haven’t been loving the weather lately, and ... They’re looking forward to the World Cup here in Boston.”Some of their bestsellers, as expected, include Team USA kits. Others like France’s Kylian Mbappe and Norway’s Erling Haaland have also been popular. But, they said, the busiest time is yet to come.Hemenway finished, “We’re expecting massive amounts of foot traffic.”Haiti faces off against Scotland on June 13th.Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW

USC vs. Texas A&M baseball box score: Live stats from NCAA Baseball Championship Game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The USC Trojans baseball team aims to take out the Texas A&M Aggies in the College Station Regional Final on Monday night. The winner will take a spot in the NCAA Super Regionals.USC beat Texas A&M 14-3 on Sunday night to keep the season alive. First pitch will be at 9 p.m. ET. 2026 NCAA Baseball Championship 123456789RHEUSC (46-16)00001150Texas A&M (41-15)0010130USC vs. Texas A&M baseball box score: Live stats from NCAA ChampionshipUSC TrojansBatterPOSABRHRBIBBSOAVGOBP7Abbrie Covarrubias2B302101.282.3825Adrian Lopez1B301001.303.38424Augie LopezDH200000.272.3638Kevin Takeuchi3B201000.313.41920Isaac CadenaC200000.304.43714Jack BasseerRF100001.347.44729Andrew LambLF200001.280.3796Dean CarpentierSS211000.250.38316Walter UrbonCF100000.403.433Total18151042B: Lopez 1 (14)RBI: Covarrubias 1 (30)PitcherPOSIPHRERBBSOBFERA95Grant GovelP4.031124162.9Total4.03112416Govel 64 (45 strikes)Texas A&M AggiesBatterPOSABRHRBIBBSOAVGOBP9Gavin Grahovac1B200001.342.43213Caden SorrellCF200000.344.4378Chris HacopianDH100010.317.4043Jake DuerLF200001.302.4062Nico Partida3B200002.309.41210Ben Royo2B201000.452.49023Jorian WilsonRF201000.287.35516Bear HarrisonC111100.299.4956Boston KellnerSS000010.244.423Total1413124H: Harrison 1 (12)RBI: Harrison 1 (35)PitcherPOSIPHRERBBSOBFERA25Clayton FreshcornP4.251104202.2Total4.25110420Freshcorn 63 (47 strikes)How to watch: USC Trojans vs. Texas A&M Aggies 2026 NCAA Baseball Championship GameDate: Monday, June 1Time: 9 p.m. ETTV: ESPN2More NCAA NewsSaint Mary's vs. UCLA baseball box score: Final stats from NCAA Baseball Championship Game 1Milwaukee vs. Auburn baseball box score: Final stats from NCAA Baseball Championship Game 1Arkansas vs. Georgia box score: Final stats from 2026 SEC Baseball ChampionshipBill Belichick, Jordon Hudson at Kentucky Derby leaves everyone saying the same thingDemond Williams bombshell could have resulted in Lane Kiffin fired by LSU

Jun 1, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Texas Rangers shortstop Ezequiel Duran (20) reacts after hitting a one run double against the St. Louis Cardinals during the fourth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images The Texas Rangers scored two runs while the St. Louis Cardinals scored one run.Tonight’s game was so low scoring you’d think it were played at The Shed pre-Chris Young turning off the run suppression machine last week.The Rangers starters have been doing their part to keep runs down of late. In fact, after five scoreless from Jacob deGrom in tonight’s opener, Texas starters have gone 27 innings combined without allowing a run. That’s the second longest scoreless streak from members of the rotation in franchise history.The last time a Rangers starter allowed a run was when Nathan Eovaldi coughed up a couple in the third inning against Houston last Thursday. Tonight deGrom had a relatively easy time keeping the spotless stretch alive. Aside from running his pitching count a little higher than he’d probably like, deGrom got better as the game went along.The veteran deGrom allowed four hits with only one of them going for extra bases as he worked around a two-out second inning double from Victor Scott with Nolan Gorman matching his third base counterpart Josh Jung in footspeed on the bases to hold up at third base on the two-bagger.That eventually erased threat followed a first inning where it seemed like Texas had left their gloves in Arlington as a couple of misplays in the infield forced deGrom to have to wiggle out of a first inning jam. The first inning has been deGrom’s kryptonite all year so it was nice to see him escape with a zero on the board, which paved the way for more to come.Though he lasted just five innings on 91 pitches, deGrom also walked only one batter and struck out eight in his first win on the road since beating the Los Angeles Dodgers back in mid-April nine starts ago.Meanwhile, while deGrom was dealing, the Rangers lineup were getting similar treatment from Cardinals starter Michael McGreevy. However, Texas was able to break through with a run in the top of the fourth via a two-out RBI double from Ezequiel Duran which scored Brandon Nimmo all the way from first base.The Rangers tacked on another run an inning later when Joc Pederson worked his way back from an 0-2 count to line a single up the middle to score Danny Jansen who had walked and stolen his first base of the season. The Rangers couldn’t add to the lead that inning despite a rally and it nearly cost them in such a close game as St. Louis scored their first and only run in the bottom of the sixth with a two-out solo home run by Masyn Winn off Peyton Gray in the first frame after deGrom had exited.But after some shaky games from the bullpen over the last week or so, the high leverage relief arms were up to the task tonight as Tyler Alexander, Jakob Junis, and Jacob Latz each tossed a scoreless inning apiece to shepherd the Rangers to their first four-game winning streak since taking four in a row at the end of March.Player of the Game: deGrom produced a solid start and Pederson deserves praise for his RBI hit that ultimately proved the difference, but Duran got the ball rolling with his two-out RBI double that got Texas on the board. Later, he utilized his speed to pressure St. Louis third baseman Gorman into a poor throw on an infield single where he reached second base to represent a potential insurance run in a one-run game in the ninth.The Rangers flubbed the chance and Duran didn’t score which meant we had to sweat out the bottom of the ninth a little more than we should have but Duran has continued to come up with big hits for a Rangers lineup that often has a shortage of them.Up Next: The Rangers and Cardinals are back at it tomorrow with RHP Nathan Eovaldi passed the starter scoreless streak baton for Texas opposite RHP Dustin May for St. Louis.The Tuesday evening first pitch from Busch Stadium is once again scheduled for 6:45 pm CDT and will be aired on the Rangers Sports Network.

Jun 1, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jacob Degrom (48) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images Michael McGreevy gave the St. Louis Cardinals a quality start, but he was not quite up to the level that Jacob deGrom was as the Rangers managed to eek out a 2-1 win against the Cardinals Monday night at Busch Stadium. Jacob deGrom looked like a pitcher who has won the Cy Young Award twice. He gave the Texas Rangers 5 full innings allowing just 4 hits with 1 walk and 8 strikeouts. The Cardinals had some opportunities against him, but were unable to put any runs on the board during his 5 inning stint. Michael McGreevy also had an impressive night. He tossed 6 full innings allowing 5 hits and 2 earned runs with just 1 strikeout while giving Texas 2 walks. Texas would get their runs in the 4th and 5th innings against McGreevy. In the top of the 4th inning, Brandon Nimmo delivered a one-out single. That was followed by a double by Ezequiel Duran which scored Nimmo from first giving the Rangers a 1-0 lead. In the top of the 5th, McGreevy walked Jansen which would come back to haunt him. Jansen stole second and then advanced to third when Lopez singled. Joc Pederson would come through with a single up the middle scoring Jansen doubling the Texas lead to 2-0. With deGrom out of the game in the bottom of the 6th inning, the Cardinals bats would come alive (somewhat) when Masyn Winn turned on an 85 mph changeup and deposited it into the left field seats cutting the Rangers lead in half making it 2-1 Texas. Justin Bruihl gave St. Louis 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief until he gave up a single to Lopez in the top of the 8th inning and then he advanced to second when Joc Pederson hit into a fielder’s choice. Ryne Stanek was brought in to keep the Rangers from adding to their lead. He got Josh Jung out on a good lateral play by Masyn Winn who covered a lot of ground to his left and then threw out Jung. Stanek then hit Nimmo giving Texas a first and third scoring opportunity bringing up Jake Burger. Ryne was fortunately able to get Burger to go fishing for a diving slider to end the Rangers 8th inning. George Soriano was the Cardinals answer for the top of the 9th inning. Duran started the inning with an infield single that Nolan Gorman made worse with a throwing error that gave Duran second base. Osuna then followed with his own infield single making it first and third with no one out for the Rangers. Soriano came through with a clutch strikeout of Carter and a pop-out by Jansen. George struck out Lopez to keep Texas close at 2-1 going into the bottom of the 9th inning. The St. Louis offense had been quiet after Masyn Winn’s home run in the bottom of the 6th with no baserunners in either the bottom of the 7th or 8th innings. In the bottom of the 9th, the Rangers brought in Jacob Latz. Bryan Torres grounded out to start the Cardinals 9th. Masyn Winn whiffed on a ball nowhere near the strike zone. That brought up Nolan Gorman. He managed to work a full count against Latz before fouling off a couple pitches. Unfortunately, there would be no David Freese bottom of the 9th magic as Gorman struck out on the 8th pitch ending the Cardinals night with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Rangers. The St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers will tangle again Tuesday night as Dustin May will try to match his excellent last start for the Cardinals while Nathan Eovaldi will take the mound for the Rangers. First pitch is set for 6:45pm central time at Busch Stadium. Game broadcast will be handled by Cardinals.tv.

Milwaukee vs. Auburn baseball box score: Live stats from NCAA Baseball Championship Game 6 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.After taking care of business against the Milwaukee Panthers late in the early morning hours on Monday, the Auburn Tigers baseball team is back at it again. A rematch is in store with both teams will be in store tonight in the Auburn Regional Final.The Tigers need a win to advance, while Milwaukee needs two straight victories to survive. First pitch will be at 6 p.m. ET. 2026 NCAA Baseball Championship 123456789RHEMilwaukee (27-32)00020261Auburn (41-20)1010240Milwaukee vs. Auburn baseball box score: Live stats from NCAA ChampionshipMilwaukeeBatterPOSABRHRBIBBSOAVGOBP8Grant Ross3B200001.290.45322Charlie MarionRF202000.319.4012Dylan O'ConnellCF200001.340.43727Dominic KiblerC200002.303.45420Bradyn HornLF211000.315.3836John Hadley1B212200.281.3847Connor Bozak2B200002.204.27813Joey SpenceDH201000.245.34029Christian HolmesSS100000.190.249Total17262062B: Hadley 1 (8)H: Hadley 1 (8)RBI: Hadley 2 (25)PitcherPOSIPHRERBBSOBFERA39Riley PetersonP4.042112167.0Total4.04211216Peterson 64 (39 strikes)AuburnBatterPOSABRHRBIBBSOAVGOBP17Mason McCraineRF100010.311.4198Eric Guevara3B210001.326.3993Chase FralickC211100.320.4242Chris Rembert2B201000.348.39818Ethin Bingaman1B202100.337.42214Cade BelyeuCF200000.250.36019Bub TerrellLF200000.283.36411Brandon McCraineSS100000.327.41225Taylor BelzaDH100001.222.382Total1524212RBI: Fralick 1 (59)Bingaman 1 (50)PitcherPOSIPHRERBBSOBFERA4Jake MarcianoP4.062206173.336Jackson SandersP0.0000000-Total4.06220617Marciano 63 (41 strikes)How to watch: Milwaukee vs. Auburn 2026 NCAA Baseball Championship GameDate: Monday, June 1Time: 9 p.m. ETTV: ESPNUMore NCAA NewsSaint Mary's vs. UCLA baseball box score: Final stats from NCAA Baseball Championship Game 1Milwaukee vs. Auburn baseball box score: Final stats from NCAA Baseball Championship Game 1Arkansas vs. Georgia box score: Final stats from 2026 SEC Baseball ChampionshipBill Belichick, Jordon Hudson at Kentucky Derby leaves everyone saying the same thingDemond Williams bombshell could have resulted in Lane Kiffin fired by LSU

A.J. Brown is preparing to speak publicly about his blockbuster move from the Philadelphia Eagles to the New England Patriots. Brown recently sat down with NBC Sports host Maria Taylor and NBA Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony for an appearance on Anthony's "7 PM in Brooklyn" podcast. While no release date has been announced, Taylor indicated the interview is coming soon.The appearance will likely mark Brown's most extensive public comments since the trade that sent the All-Pro wide receiver from Philadelphia to New England in exchange for draft compensation that included a first-round pick.The timing makes the interview one of the most anticipated conversations of the NFL offseason.Man of the Hour. Coming soon! @7PMinBrooklynpic.twitter.com/Nuyda5us96— Maria Taylor (@MariaTaylor) June 1, 2026Brown's departure from Philadelphia ended a four-year run that ranks among the most productive stretches by a wide receiver in franchise history. Acquired from the Tennessee Titans during the 2022 NFL Draft, Brown quickly became one of quarterback Jalen Hurts' favorite targets and helped transform the Eagles into one of the NFL's premier contenders.During his tenure in Philadelphia, Brown totaled 339 receptions, 5,034 receiving yards, and 32 touchdowns while earning multiple Pro Bowl selections and All-Pro honors. He also helped the Eagles reach two Super Bowls and establish themselves as one of the league's elite teams.The trade to New England reunited Brown with Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, who coached him during his early years with the Titans. It also fulfilled what many view as a childhood dream for Brown, who has frequently spoken about growing up as a Patriots fan and admiring Tom Brady. Given the circumstances surrounding the trade, Brown's relationship with Philadelphia, his excitement about joining the Patriots, and his expectations for the future are likely to be topics of discussion.For Eagles fans, Patriots fans, and NFL observers alike, the interview should provide the first detailed look into Brown's perspective on one of the league's most shocking offseason moves.Now the only question is: when will the episode drop?This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: A.J. Brown joins Maria Taylor, Carmelo Anthony's podcast for interview

Buccaneers receiver Jalen McMillan played only four games last season after a scary neck injury that not only nearly ended his season but also jeopardized his career. McMillan fractured three vertebrae and had herniated discs after landing on his head in a preseason game.He caught 12 passes for 178 yards to close out last season."I am happy," McMillan said last week, via Matt Matera of Pewter Report. "Just to be out there and to catch balls from Baker [Mayfield] and just to run on my feet, I feel good. . . . I am definitely taking appreciation for the small things and celebrating small wins and call my mom and dad every day. I am not taking any relationship for granted, so life has been good."I had to sit in my bed and wonder, 'Is my neck going to heal correctly?' So, as soon as I was given the opportunity to play again, I knew that I could not look back and there was no time to be nervous and no time to be thinking about anything."The Bucs made McMillan a third-round pick in 2024, and he made 37 receptions for 461 yards and eight touchdowns in 13 games.The team needs that McMillan this season with Mike Evans now in San Francisco. "Jalen's tough. His mental toughness is unbelievable," Bucs coach Todd Bowles said. "His competitiveness, the way he attacks the ball, the way he fights for every route and tries to get open and wants to be 'that guy,' you know, that gives you a lot of confidence that he'll be doing that in the games."

With the first FIFA World Cup match in Foxboro less than two weeks away, concerns about stadium parking costs and availability are prompting some nearby homeowners to open their properties to fans looking for a more convenient and affordable place to park.Residents in South Walpole are preparing for an influx of visitors by turning their yards and driveways into temporary parking lots on match days.“Quite a few of our neighbors do it around here, so I figured we’d join the party,” said Walpole resident Justin Burdon.Burdon obtained a permit from the Town of Walpole that allows him to accommodate up to 26 vehicles on his Washington Street property. He plans to charge $100 per vehicle.“We’ll just have them come through the driveway and park on the lawn in rows so no one’s blocked in or out,” Burdon said.He said the permitting process involved several requirements, including a fee.“There’s a bunch of rules around it, so we had to have the town come out and assess the property and let us know how we should do it,” he said.Another resident, Priscilla MacKenzie, is also charging $100 per vehicle on match days.MacKenzie is taking reservations for parking spots at her home on Shufelt Road and said she is already fully booked for the first World Cup match on June 13. Her property can accommodate up to 16 vehicles.“I have eight cars parallel here, then there’s one car up here that’s straight up and down. Then I take little cars and put five of them fanned out under those trees,” MacKenzie said while describing her parking setup.One advantage of MacKenzie’s location is its proximity to the stadium. A walking path at the end of her dead-end street leads directly toward the stadium area.MacKenzie said it took her only 11 minutes to walk from her home to the ticket gate through a pedestrian cut-through, which leads to the parking lot across from the stadium.“People are so grateful when they park on Shufelt because it just takes away all the traffic and you don’t have to be on Route 1,” she said.As World Cup excitement builds, many homeowners in the area are advertising available parking spaces on social media. Others plan to attract drivers on game days by directing traffic to their properties.“What happens is the traffic gets super backed up, so people will park wherever they can and just walk to the stadium. It’s a lot easier,” Burdon said. “That intersection gets really jammed up, so my wife will be down there waving people to the lot and I’ll be helping park the cars on the lawn.”Official stadium parking for World Cup matches is priced at $175 per vehicle, according to FIFA. Homeowners in nearby neighborhoods hope their lower-cost alternatives will appeal to visitors while providing an opportunity to earn extra income during one of the region’s biggest sporting events.Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW

Texas Tech vs. Alabama softball box score: Live stats from Women's College World Series semifinal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Texas Tech Red Raiders softball will get one last shot to make the Women's College World Series on Monday night. The winner-take-all matchup in Oklahoma City will be the deciding game.Tech took a 5-4 win over the Alabama Crimson Tide just moments before and will look to do it again. Both teams will be fueled off of emotions with first pitch at 9:30 p.m. ET at Devon Park in Oklahoma City. 2026 NCAA Softball Championship 1234567RHETexas Tech (59-8)00030Alabama (55-8)00000Alabama vs. Texas Tech softball box score: Live stats from NCAA Women's College World SeriesTexas Tech Red RaidershittersH-ABRHRRBIAVGM. Williams 2B1-1000.439M. Davis CF0-1000.430L. Allred RF1-1000.393J. Lis 1B0-1000.431T. Pannell 3B0-1000.357J. Burns DP0-1000.348K. Terry LF1-1000.444H. Toney SS0-1000.311L. Quiroga C0-1000.338pitchersIPHERBBKPC-STERAN. Canady1.2000322-161.90Alabama Crimson Tide hittersH-ABRHRRBIAVGJ. Young 2B0-1000.349B. Wells 1B0-1000.371A. Pupillo DP0-1000.386M. Giles C0-1000.382A. Roman RF0-1000.309A. Vandagriff LF0-0000.328A. Taylor 3B0-0000.299S. Hawkins SS0-0000.284K. White CF0-0000.357pitchersIPHERBBKPC-STERAJ. Briski2.0300233-231.39How to watch: Alabama vs. Texas Tech 2026 NCAA Softball Women's College World Series Semifinal GameDate: Monday, June 1Time: 7 p.m. ETTV: ESPNMore NCAA NewsSaint Mary's vs. UCLA baseball box score: Final stats from NCAA Baseball Championship Game 1Milwaukee vs. Auburn baseball box score: Final stats from NCAA Baseball Championship Game 1Arkansas vs. Georgia box score: Final stats from 2026 SEC Baseball ChampionshipBill Belichick, Jordon Hudson at Kentucky Derby leaves everyone saying the same thingDemond Williams bombshell could have resulted in Lane Kiffin fired by LSU

The Patriots announced Monday that the trade with the Eagles would bring wide receiver A.J. Brown to Foxborough. “Vert excited, very excited to see what he can do,” longtime Patriots fan, Anna Groves said. Groves and her family are season ticket holders, and she says they are still reeling from last season with the Patriots making it all the way to the Super Bowl. Now, the Patriots have a new weapon on the field. Even Jake Stiner, a Giants fan, can’t deny this is a great move for the Pats. “...anytime you can add an additional weapon like A.J. Brown, he’s a top ten easily wide receiver in the league, I think any team is going to want a guy of his body size, physicality... he’s great at route running. Overall, great addition to the team,” Stiner said. However, some longtime Patriots fans have to admit, they are concerned with what this cost the Patriots. “Mixed emotions,” one fan described feeling. The trade strips the Patriots of their fifth round draft pick next year and their first round draft pick in 2028. “...just concerned about the one and the fifth thought we could get away with a two but what do I know?” Dan Clark explaind. At the same time though, no one can deny Brown’s talent on the field and if he can help bring the Patriots back to the Super Bowl, then of course they’ll agree this was a well worth it trade. “If he catches 8 touchdowns this season, I think he will play an instrumental role helping some of the other guys out in the depth shot, for sure,” Stiner said. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW

MIDDLETOWN – East Greenwich will make a fourth straight trip to the Division II baseball title series thanks to a successful second chance against Middletown. The Avengers needed another game to close out the Islanders in Pod 1 after suffering a shutout defeat Sunday. They capitalized on the benefit that comes with remaining in the winner’s bracket of a double-elimination field, punching another ticket on a sunny Monday afternoon at Gaudet Field. Anders Nelson found enough escapes from some early jams and his offense backed him on the second turn through the order. Brady O’Brien delivered an RBI single in an early rally and Walker Klika opened it up with a two-run single in the top of the sixth inning, paving the way to an 8-5 triumph. Nelson worked into the sixth inning while striking out eight and stranding six – all but one of those in scoring position. O’Brien reached safely three times and Klika drove home three runs as East Greenwich buried the 3-0 blanking they absorbed at home the previous day courtesy of Cam Carlisle. West Warwick awaits in a regional rivalry matchup, with the best-of-three series at Rhode Island College opening later this week. “Obviously a little disappointed yesterday that we couldn’t get the job done,” O’Brien said. “A lot of emotions involved. But we knew we had the talent to come out here and win.” An infield error leading off the top of the third invited the Avengers to take control. Van Martin singled to left, Caiden Souza beat out an infield single to shortstop and O’Brien sat on the same curveball from Evan Agren that struck him out in his first at-bat. He ripped one through the left side for a base hit that made it 1-0. “First at-bat he froze me on a pretty good curve, so I knew he was going to try it again first pitch,” O’Brien said. “I put a good swing on it.” Miles Doman’s fielder’s choice and Klika’s sacrifice fly to right gave Nelson a working margin, and the right-hander made the most of it while scattering four hits. A balk moved runners to second and third in the bottom of the first, but Nelson fanned the next two men to keep the game scoreless. It was more of the same in the bottom of the fourth, as Nelson recorded a swinging strikeout to leave the bases loaded in a 4-0 game. “That’s a real good team,” Nelson said. “They can hit the ball well. They had long, tough at-bats – they stayed in. We just showed our grit.” A throwing error on Garrett West’s steal of third put the Islanders on the board in the fifth, and Colton Kerrison floated an RBI single to left-center that cut the Avenger lead in half to 4-2. Nelson induced a towering foul pop to Klika wide of third base to keep it there and Zahedi induced a fielder’s choice to record a clean bottom of the sixth after Nelson walked leadoff man Junyi Zhang. “(Nelson is) our ace – he's our guy,” O’Brien said. “We have 100% confidence in him. We just had to get the bats going and get them going early, which we did.” Zhang’s run-scoring single and infield outs by Noah Travers and Kyle Keefe helped Middletown (16-7) tighten the margin in the bottom of the seventh. Zahedi allowed the first four men to reach safely before steadying himself, collecting three straight groundballs to finish it. Klika threw accurately across the diamond on the last one to push East Greenwich (17-4-1) back to the title round. “Last year we started slow and we got there,” O’Brien said. “We knew we were only getting better this year. We were adding a couple guys and guys were growing and developing.” West Warwick (18-4) stormed through Pod 2 with three straight wins, including an 8-1 clincher against defending champion North Providence. The Wizards haven’t lost to an opponent from the division since a 3-2 defeat against Johnston on April 28, and their lone meeting with the Avengers eight days earlier brought a 5-3 setback on the road. “They’re a good team,” Nelson said. “We already played them earlier in the season – we showed that we’re better. We’re going to come out there and give it to them. “We’re going to keep our consistent mentality – pitch by pitch. We’re going to be our team.”East Greenwich 003 104 0 – 8 7 2 Middletown 000 020 3 – 5 8 2 Anders Nelson, Keyan Zahedi (6) and Brady O’Brien. Evan Agren, Colton Kerrison (4), Kenny Pirches (6) and Kyle Keefe. bkoch@providencejournal.com On X: @BillKoch25 This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: East Greenwich defeats Middletown in D-II baseball playoffs

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 11, 2017: The New York Yankees celebrate after defeating the Cleveland Indians 5-2 in game five of the American League Division Series at Progressive Field on October 11, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by: 2017 Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images Now, for my second least favorite series of the Guardians’ season.I despise the Yankees. I endure so much generational trauma when we play them. This is only my second least favorite series because playing them in Cleveland is worse.The Guardians are 34-27 with a +1 run differential, 16th in MLB with a 97 wRC+, 16th in baserunning runs above average at -0.4, 11th in Defense at -4.8, 7th in starting pitcher ERA at 3.69 (3.98 FIP) and 13th in bullpen ERA at 3.83 (3.68 FIP).The Yankees are 36-23 with a +98 run differential, 2nd in MLB with a 117 wRC+, 10th in baserunning runs above average at 1.4, 8th in Defense at -1.4, 1st in starting pitcher ERA at 2.97 (3.35 FIP) and 10th in bullpen ERA at 3.59 (3.89 FIP).Literally the only thing the Guardians do better than the Yankees is Fielding Independant Pitching which doesn’t matter because Cleveland’s defense is worse and they have replaced injured Erik Sabrowksi with Will Dion and Tim Herrin.The Yankees are very good. The Guardians are mediocre. That’s what the numbers say. We will see if that plays out on the field, or not.MATCHUPS:Game One, Tuesday, 7:05PM: Cantillo vs SchlittlerGame Two, Wednesday, 7:05PM: Williams vs. ColeGame Three, Thursday, 7:05PM: Rodon vs. Cecconi.I never make predictions. I predict the Guardians will endure their first sweep of the season by an opposing team. This series is gonna be painful.Look forward to seeing these Yankees tattoo Guardians’ pitchers: Ben Rice 188 wRC+, Aaron Judge 150 wRC+, Cody Bellinger 141 wRC+, Paul Goldschmidt 140 wRC+, Amed Rosario 129 wRC+, and Anthony Volpe 128 wRC+.Look forward to seeing three elite starters on the Yankees wipe the floor with our Travis Bazzana 137 wRC+, Brayan Rocchio 129 wRC+, David Fry 122 wRC+, Chase DeLauter 120 wRC+, Rhys Hoskins 108 wRC+, Jose Ramirez 107 wRC+ and Angel Martinez 102 wRC+.Enjoy, folks. I am sure I won’t.

Another former Tennessee Titans player is headed to the New England Patriots to reunite with former head coach Mike Vrabel. After months of speculation and anticipation for the June 1st date, the Philadelphia Eaglestraded A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots.After playing his first three seasons in Tennessee as its 2019 second-round draft pick, Brown spent four years with the Eagles following his exit from the Titans in 2022. His recent trade netted the Eagles a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick. The Titans originally traded him to the Eagles for a first-round and third-round pick on the first night of the 2022 NFL Draft.With A.J. Brown on the move again, his return to play the Titans in Nashville is delayed once again.A.J. Brown won't play another game at the current Nissan StadiumSince the Titans traded A.J. Brown, they've only faced him once, against Philadelphia in December 2022. With the Eagles scheduled to play the Titans in Nashville in Week 2 of the upcoming season, it would've been Brown's first trip back since their deflating playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in January 2022.Now, with his trade to the Patriots, Brown's return to Nashville will be delayed for the near future if he remains with the Patriots. With the Titans scheduled to move to the new Nissan Stadium in 2027, Brown likely played his final game ever at the current Nissan Stadium when he was a member of the Titans.Also, there is no path for him to return to play against the Titans in the new stadium even if he remains with the Patriots throughout the remainder of his four-year contract. The Titans are scheduled to play at New England in 2027 and to play their AFC East opponent on the road in 2028 and 2029. That means that unless Brown switches teams again, he won't return to Nashville until 2030, and that's only if he re-signs with New England by then.This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans: A.J. Brown's trade means no return to Nashville

Stephen Curry ended a 12-year partnership with Under Armour in 2025 [Getty Images]Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry says he has signed an endorsement deal with Chinese sportswear giant Li-Ning.The 38-year-old has been free to sign with a retail partner for his line of shoes and sports wear since ending a 12-year deal with US activewear firm Under Armour last year.Curry and Li-Ning will collaborate on new products and on plans to launch his signature chain of shops in the US and China. The value of the deal was not immediately disclosed.Signing Curry marks a major step in Li-Ning's push to become an international brand, alongside other Chinese sportswear labels like Anta.In a video posted on his business website Thirty Ink, Curry said the partnership will help Li-Ning expand in the US. It has 7,000 shops across Asia.The deal is Curry's first collaboration with a Chinese brand. He partnered with Nike at the start of his career before moving to Under Armour.He joins a growing list of NBA stars that have signed with Chinese brands, including Dwayne Wade and Jimmy Butler with Li-Ning and Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving, who are partnered with Anta.Anta, which used to make shoes for international brands, has led a global push by buying the rights to Western firms like Fila. This year, it also bought a key stake in Puma, pledging to help the firm grow in China.Many Western brands have been keen to gain a foothold in China, but face intense competition from local manufacturers offering cheaper goods. Demand in China has also slowed due to low domestic spending.Curry said the deal will give his brand an "expanded runway of resources" to grow its basketball, golf and other portfolios globally."We have plans to launch Curry Brand stores together in China and the US, as we look to build on the success that Li-Ning has already established, with even more growth," he said.Curry, a point guard for the Golden State Warriors, is one of the most well-known names in the sport today. He is a four-time NBA champion and widely regarded as one of the best shooters in its history.The Chinese sports brand taking on Nike and AdidasStephen Curry: The 'little guy with skinny arms' who changed the sport of giants

Mountain Ridge’s Tytan DeJong, brings a long ball down the sideline with Herriman’s Tate Love defending as they play at Herriman, on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. The game was delayed part way through the third quarter, due to lightning. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Football recruiting at BYU has clearly been on an upward trend, as head coach Kalani Sitake has landed top-50 signing classes each of the past three years. Last year’s recruiting class, signed in December 2025 and February 2026, ranked No. 21 nationally and was headed by four-star quarterback Ryder Lyons, four-star tight end Brock Harris and four-star offensive lineman Bott Mulitalo. Lyons and Harris are currently on church missions, while Mulitalo enrolled early and showed in March’s spring drills that he is fully capable of competing for the starting left tackle spot this fall.The signing class included seven four-stars and 14 three-stars, and was widely viewed as the best in school history. In 2025, the class ranked No. 43 nationally, and in 2024, the class ranked 44th nationally. Which brings us to the 2027 signing class, the one that Sitake and his revamped coaching staff is currently building. How is this class shaping up?Short answer: It is too early to tell, because BYU currently has only five commits from the class of 2027, but the next 30 days are absolutely huge if the Big 12 program hopes to stay on its upward track.BYU absolutely has a shot at (Bode) Sparrow, but I will say that ... they do have their work cut out for them, because it has seemingly been Oklahoma and Oregon at the forefront for the last couple of months,Recruiting expert Brandon Huffman of On3.comBrandon Huffman, national recruiting analyst for On3.com since March 1, who previously had the same role for years at 247Sports.com, says it is way too soon for BYU fans to panic over the fact that BYU only has five commitments and is nowhere near the top 50 in the team rankings right now.“I think it is strategic. There are a lot of schools that do their heavy lifting early on, and there are a lot of schools that do their heavy lifting in June,” Huffman said. “BYU is a little more strategic in that they are banking on the official visits being where they really start to see the number increase from five to 15 or 20.”Huffman said schools with new head coaches and staffs generally get more aggressive early, while established staffs such as Kalani Sitake’s at BYU are more patient.“You are seeing that out West with UCLA, with Cal, and with Utah, to an extent,” he said. “As the official visits begin ramping up here in the next three weeks, you are going to see (the rankings) look a lot different than they do now.”June has replaced January as the most important month on the football recruiting calendar for high schoolers; January is now the time when programs load up on top players from the transfer portal, and BYU got its share by acquiring the likes of Oregon receiver Kyler Kasper and tight end Roger Saleapaga, USC tight end Walker Lyons, and Cal linebacker Cade Uluave.So quality high school recruiting is not as indispensable as it once was, but it is valued nevertheless, and Sitake and company are certainly in the thick of it right now, Huffman said.The danger in taking the approach that BYU is taking, he said, is that prospects are being told if they don’t commit on the spot during an official visit, their spot might go to someone else.“The old days of having the last visit being the key to getting a kid (are gone),” he said. “Now, you’re just praying for dear life that you get that (late June) visit because so many guys are committing earlier than they are later, so it is definitely a double-edged sword.”BYU in the hunt for two four-star WRsBYU’s two major visit dates are June 11-12, and June 18-19. But before that, BYU is expecting perhaps the key to its entire class, Blake Wong of Norco, California, to visit. Wong, a four-star receiver, is scheduled to visit on Monday, June 8. He spent the end of last week at Utah, and will visit UCLA this weekend before heading to Provo. The 6-foot-1, 170-pounder is scheduled to visit Oregon and Ohio State after his BYU visit.Wong is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and recently attended a BYU Fanfest in Southern California and a church fireside in the same area. Huffman does not believe that Wong has plans to serve a church mission at the current time, but is not certain.“BYU has been up there high on his list for quite some time,” Huffman said. “I think BYU has a very legitimate shot at him, especially now that Brian Hartline is not at Ohio State. That’s hard for any receiver to pass up.”Wong is being compared to BYU product and current Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua, in some circles. He’s that talented.“If he kind of insists on waiting longer to make his decision, that could favor BYU, because I think of all the schools out West, BYU does the best job of being patient and allowing guys to take as much time as they need to make a decision. Other schools are like, ‘Hey, it’s either commit now or we don’t have a spot.’ BYU hasn’t been like that.”Does BYU have a chance to land Davis High’s Bode Sparrow?The No. 1 prospect in Utah, according to most recruiting services, is Davis High receiver Bode Sparrow, a 6-2, 195-pound all-around athlete from Kaysville who has narrowed his choices to BYU, Utah, Oklahoma and Oregon. Most services list Sparrow as a receiver, but he is much more than that. American Fork’s Christian Hanshaw reaches for Davis High’s Bode Sparrow as Sparrow runs with the ball after making an interception during a game at American Fork High School in American Fork on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Sparrow visited the presumed leader, Oklahoma, last week along with his parents and brothers. The Sooners are the clear favorite to land his services, according to Blair Angulo of 247Sports. Sparrow’s father, Ty, played free safety for Snow College and Weber State in the mid-2000s and served a church mission to Korea.“BYU absolutely has a shot at Sparrow, but I will say that that is one that they do have their work cut out for them, because it has seemingly been Oklahoma and Oregon at the forefront for the last couple of months,” Huffman said. “Both Krew Jones, who has committed to Oklahoma, and Sam Ngata, who has committed to Oregon, have said at different times that they are getting (Sparrow) to join them (at their chosen school).” BYU is still very much in the picture for Sparrow, according to a source close to the program, although there is some level of uneasiness because his Provo visit (June 19) is scheduled to come after officials to Oregon (Friday) and Utah (June 12).Will the game-changer be patient enough to give BYU a chance?“There is plenty of evidence that would suggest the Sooners are in the lead and BYU is playing catchup,” wrote Jeff Hansen of Cougar Sports Insider on the 247Sports network. “But there is confidence in Provo. When we last talked with Sparrow, he told (us) that he is as high on BYU as he has been at any point in the recruiting calendar.”Huffman predicts that BYU and Utah will make big pushes, but in the end he sees Sparrow heading out of state.BYU’s other top targets from 2027 class• Another four-star prospect BYU certainly has a good chance to get is Uhila Wolfgramm, an edge rusher from Maple Mountain High in Utah County. After shining at a couple of camps in May, Wolfgramm was recently upgraded to a four-star, and has offers from UCLA, Oklahoma and, of course, BYU. Wolfgramm is schedule to visit the same day as Sparrow, June 18. • BYU coaches usually offer only one quarterback per class, and this year that QB is Brody Rudnicki, who hails from the same school as Ryder Lyons — Folsom High near Sacramento, California. Rudnicki, 6-1, 205, has told reporters that he plans to serve a mission for a year before enrolling at his chosen school in 2028.Cal is probably BYU’s biggest competitor for Rudnicki, which is notable because the Bears recently beat BYU for receiver Elyjah Staples. The 6-3, 205-pound Staples, from Huntington Park, had surprisingly narrowed his choices to BYU and Cal before deciding to stay in his home state.New Cal coach Tosh Lupoi “is one of the best recruiters in college football, and had been for a long time,” Huffman said. “You go on that visit to Berkeley and you know that Tosh is going to do what he can to make sure you (don’t leave) without committing to that school.”• Another top prospect to watch is offensive lineman Kyle Nabrotzky of Brentwood, Tennessee. The 6-6, 250-pound Nabrotzky has a bunch of Power Four offers, but reportedly has BYU in his top six with Michigan, Tennessee and others. He has told reporters that he grew up cheering for BYU.• June 18-19 is shaping up to be huge for BYU, as Salem Hills High athlete Peyton Higginson is also scheduled to visit those days. Higginson, a three-star who has had an offer from BYU for more than a year, can play a variety of positions. Trouble is, his primary recruiter at BYU up until last January was Jay Hill, who is now at Michigan. Yes, the Wolverines have offered Higginson, along with Utah, Cal, Purdue and others.More on BYU’s class of 2027 commitsBYU is currently ranked 60th in the 247Sports.com team recruiting rankings for 2027, and 59th in the composite rankings. The composite rankings are assembled by 247Sports and include their rankings along with rankings from On3, Rivals and ESPN.Some teams, such as No. 1 Oklahoma, have as many as 23 commits; most of the teams just ahead of BYU in the team rankings have between six to 11 commits.The gems of the class, to date, are defensive lineman Jeremiah Williams of Tustin, California, and defensive back Ryan Wooten of Jersey City, New Jersey. Neither are members of the faith that supports BYU, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but both mentioned BYU’s unique culture established by Sitake as big reasons for their commitments.“I’m a big Jeremiah Williams fan,’” Huffman said. “I’ve been tracking him since he was an eighth-grader heading into high school. He’s been part of a very talented Tustin team that’s got (defensive linemen) going all over, to Oklahoma, to UCLA. … He’s been overshadowed by some guys on that defense, but he takes up a lot of real estate up front and has allowed other guys to put up the numbers that they have.”5 BYU commits to keep an eye onTytan DeJong, athlete, 6-3, 215 pounds, Herriman, Utah (Mountain Ridge High)DeJong got BYU’s recruiting of the 2027 class started in late March, becoming the first to pledge to Sitake and his staff. The lanky athlete played tight end and outside linebacker for Mountain Ridge last fall and is projected to be able to play on either side of the ball in college, but most likely will play defense for the Cougars. DeJong had 77 catches for 1,057 yards and nine touchdowns as a tight end as a junior, and two interceptions and 30 tackles on defense. He also had offers from Michigan, Stanford, Utah, Cal and Purdue, according to 247Sports. A three-star prospect, DeJong is rated by 247Sports as the No. 96 athlete in the country and a top-20 player within the state of Utah. Ezra Sanelivi, running back, 5-11, 210 pounds, Las Vegas, Nevada (Liberty High)The same school that produced BYU safety Kai Nacua, Liberty High of Las Vegas, is reportedly sending another star to Sitake, although this time on the other side of the line of scrimmage. Sanelivi committed to BYU on April 9, when he was rated as the 73rd best running back in the country in the 2027 class in the 247Sports Composite. Sanelivi was on BYU’s radar for more than a year before he committed, and also had offers from Iowa, Arizona, Wisconsin and Washington, among others. He rushed for 1,606 yards and 21 touchdowns in the first two seasons of his prep career. He put up 122 yards and a touchdown in Liberty’s game against Utah’s Skyridge High last fall. Jeremiah Williams, defensive lineman, 6-1, 310 pounds, Tustin, California (Tustin High)One of the gems of BYU’s 2027 recruiting class committed on April 23, as this four-star prospect picked the Cougars over the likes of UCLA, Colorado, Arizona State and North Carolina. Williams is rated as the No. 37 defensive lineman nationally by 247Sports and the 27th best player in the state of California.As a junior, Williams posted 67 tackles, including 24 tackles for loss, and five sacks. He had 10 sacks as a sophomore, while also performing as a running back. In two seasons carrying the football, he has scored 10 touchdowns. He averaged 7 yards per carry as a junior.“It was the culture and the coaching staff for me, truly,” Williams told 247Sports. “It was really an eye-opener being around them after also interacting with other coaching staffs. … For me, BYU was the best fit and I trust that they’re going to develop me into the best player I can be.”Ryan Wooten, cornerback, 6-2, 175 pounds, Jersey City, New Jersey (St. Peter’s Prep)The Cougars picked up their fourth commitment of the 2027 cycle from a player a long way away from their campus in Provo, and from a state from which they don’t usually get players. Wooten stunned a lot of recruiting observers on May 3 when he made a pledge to BYU coaches, announcing on social media that he was “1000% committed.”The three-star prospect picked BYU over Florida, Florida State and Boston College. He ranks as the No. 61 cornerback nationally, and the No. 16 overall prospect out of New Jersey. As a junior, he had 46 tackles and an interception.“BYU just feels different; the energy, the mountains, the whole vibe is elite,” Wooten told 247Sports after a visit to Provo with his parents. “Coach Kalani Sitake is one of the most inspiring head coaches I’ve been around.” Ma’a’imoa Havili, defensive lineman, 6-3, 290 pounds, West Valley City, Utah (Granger High) Havili’s case is evidence that those showcases and elite camps for some prospects really can pay off. Relatively unknown last month and with no scholarship offers, the Granger High player shined at a couple events in Utah in May and watched the offers pour in, according to Greg Biggins of On3.Michigan, Alabama and several other Power Four programs sought his services, but Havili went with his favorite school growing up — BYU — and announced his commitment on May 20.Havili recorded 102 tackles and 12 sacks as a junior for the Lancers last fall, according to the Deseret News’ high school sports statistical database.“Ma’a Havili is super intriguing,” Huffman said. “He kind of saw his recruitment just explode in a matter of days. At the beginning of May, he had one offer. He went from that to double-digit offers. With some good senior film, his ranking could blow up.” BYU Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake, argues a call as the Cougars and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets play in the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

One week ago, Troy baseball waited with bated breath to find out its NCAA Tournament fate.The Trojans heard their name called for the Gainesville Regional. Seven days later, they left the Sunshine State with a trophy in hand.Now, the men of Troy don’t need to leave the Yellowhammer State again, unless it’s on a plane bound for Omaha.The Trojans won the Gainesville Regional 10-2 over host and No. 8 seeded Florida. Now, they’ll host their first ever super regional vs. Little Rock, which swept the Hattiesburg Regional as the No. 4 seed.The Trojans were only going to host if Little Rock won. It’s a feeling Meade experienced as a player at Louisville in 2007.“It was one of the coolest things ever, and for me to be able to tell my players,” Meade said. “It doesn’t matter who we are playing. We’re going to be ready to go.”Meade, who praised the support of the Troy fans who traveled to Gainesville, joked he will pay off the fire marshal to allow 19,000 fans into Riddle-Pace Field – with a capacity of 2,500.“It’s really awesome for the fans, especially those who made the trip down here or those who have been a Trojan much longer than I have,” Meade said. “I’ve only been a Trojan for four years, 11 months, but there are those who have been it for 70 years, and they get to rock the Power T really hard right now.”Noah Ram covers Florida Gators athletics and Gainesville-area high school sports for The Gainesville Sun, GatorSports.com and the USA TODAY Network. Contact him at nram@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @Noah_ram1 and on Instagram @Ramreporter.This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Troy baseball set to host Little Rock in super regional for first time

CARLSBAD, Calif. — The men’s individual national champion has been crowned, which means one thing: it’s time for match play at the 2026 NCAA Women's Golf Championship.Auburn finished first after stroke play while Oklahoma State junior Preston Stout became the school's 10th NCAA individual champion, beating Alabama's William Jennings by a shot. In addition, there was a 4-for-2 playoff for the final match play spots.A reminder: Oklahoma State in 2018 is the only No. 1 seed after stroke play to go on and win the title in match play.The quarterfinals are set to begin on Tuesday morning and the semifinals to follow in the afternoon. On Wednesday, it'll be the final. (Note: all times ET, which is three hours ahead of Carlsbad).NCAA Men's Golf Championship 2026 match play bracketNo. 1 Auburn vs. No. 8 UCLAQuarterfinal matchesJackson Koivun vs. Nathan Wang, 10:40 a.m., 10th teeLogan Reilly vs. Dean Greyserman, 10:50 a.m.Jake Albert vs. Ethan Gao, 11 a.m.Josiah Gilbert vs. Jay Leng, 11:10 a.m.Cayden Pope vs. Edan Cui, 11:20 a.m.AuburnAppearances: 4Match Play Record: 4-1NCAA ranking: No. 1StanfordAppearances: 4Match Play Record: 4-2NCAA ranking: No. 15No. 4 Florida vs. No. 5 Oklahoma StateLuke Poulter vs. Eric Lee, 10:40 a.m., 1st teeZach Swanwick vs. Ethan Fang, 10:50 a.m.Parker Sands vs. Filip Fahlberg-Johnsson, 11 a.m.Matthew Kress vs. Preston Stout, 11:10 a.m.Jack Turner vs. Gaven Lane, 11:20 a.m.FloridaAppearances: 3Match Play Record: 4-1NCAA ranking: No. 2Oklahoma StateAppearances: 11Match Play Record: 13-8NCAA ranking: No. 5No. 3 Vanderbilt vs. No. 6 ArizonaChase Nevins vs. Taishi Moto, 9:50 a.m., 1st teeJon Ed Steed vs. Tianyi Xiong, 10 a.m.Will Hartman vs. Filip Jakubcik, 10:10 a.m.Ryan Downes vs. William Wistrand, 10:20 a.m.Wells Williams vs. Zach Pollo, 10:30 a.m.VanderbiltAppearances: Match Play Record: NCAA ranking: ArizonaAppearances: 0Match Play Record: 0-0NCAA ranking: No. 12No. 2 Texas vs. No. 7 UCLADaniel Bennett vs. Alex Papayoanou, 9:50 a.m., 10th teeTommy Morrison vs. Josh Kim, 10 a.m.Christiaan Maas vs. Baylor Larrabee, 10:10 a.m.Luke Potter vs. Tyler Loree, 10:20 a.m.Matt Comegys vs. Kyle An, 10:30 a.m.TexasAppearances: 9Match Play Record: 10-6NCAA ranking: No. 3UCLAAppearances: 5Match Play Record: 0-4NCAA ranking: No. 30This article originally appeared on Golfweek: NCAA Men's Golf Championship 2026: Match play bracket, pairings