President Trump has pursued fame his entire adult life. Now in his second term in the White House, he is finding how little power he has to force cultural figures to fall in line.

The U.S.-brokered deal depends on Hezbollah halting its attacks first. But the leader of the Iran-backed group rejected those terms, and Israel said that its offensive would continue.

Caitlin Clark had the perfect reaction to major Iowa baby news originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Long before Caitlin Clark became the face of the WNBA and one of the most recognizable athletes in America, she was building lifelong relationships at the University of Iowa.Clark's record-breaking college career transformed the Hawkeyes into one of the biggest stories in sports. While fans remember the unforgettable logo threes, sold-out arenas and back-to-back national championship game appearances, many of the people behind the scenes who helped tell Clark's story remain close to the Indiana Fever superstar today.That was evident this week when Clark quickly responded to a major personal announcement from one of Iowa's longtime athletic department staff members.Big news from a familiar Iowa faceOn Wednesday, Iowa athletics director of social media and digital strategy Brandee Saunders shared exciting news with family, friends and followers on Instagram. Saunders announced that she and her husband, Caleb, are expecting their first child together. The post featured ultrasound photos, baby shoes, matching "mom" and "dad" hats and a sign that read, "Baby Saunders December 2026."It didn't take long for Clark to notice.The Fever star jumped into the comments section with a simple but heartfelt message."Congrats!!!!" Clark wrote.Saunders later acknowledged the comment with a like, adding another public reminder of the bond the two built during Clark's historic run in Iowa City.MORE: Kelsey Plum admits she 'rehabbed like a maniac' to get back on courtThe Iowa connection remains strongFew people played a bigger role in showcasing Clark's rise than Saunders. As Iowa's director of social media and digital strategy, Saunders helped lead the digital content efforts that brought Clark's biggest moments to millions of fans across the country. From record-breaking performances to viral highlights, Iowa's social media presence became one of the most influential brands in college athletics during Clark's career.The relationship extended beyond simply posting highlights. Throughout her four seasons with the Hawkeyes, Clark developed close connections with coaches, teammates and staff members throughout the athletic department. Even after leaving for the WNBA, those relationships have remained intact.That's one reason moments like this continue to hit home with Iowa fans.Clark's legacy at Iowa still growsClark's impact on Iowa basketball remains unmatched. The former Hawkeyes star finished her collegiate career as the NCAA's all-time leading scorer with 3,951 points while leading Iowa to consecutive national championship game appearances.She left campus as one of the most decorated players in college basketball history and immediately carried that momentum into the professional ranks. After being selected No. 1 overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2024 WNBA Draft, Clark helped lead the franchise back to the playoffs and captured WNBA Rookie of the Year honors.Today, she remains at the center of Indiana's championship aspirations. But as her reaction to Saunders' announcement showed, Clark still makes time to celebrate the people who were part of her journey before the spotlight became even brighter. Sometimes, a simple congratulatory message is enough to remind everyone where those roots began.More WNBA NewsIndiana Fever veterans are already embracing rookie in viral Sophie Cunningham interactionWNBA expansion teams are proving they belong much faster than expectedIndiana Fever’s high-powered offense is becoming one of the WNBA’s biggest early storylinesKelsey Plum injury leaves Sparks facing major early-season testAngel Reese keeps proving Atlanta Dream made the right bet

Kelsey Plum appears ready to return to the Los Angeles Sparks’ lineup. Sparks coach Lynne Roberts told reporters on Thursday that Plum looked good in practice and hoped she could play. Plum also said she expected to suit up for Friday’s game and hasn’t enjoyed watching the past three games from the bench. “I hated it,” she told reporters, including the Los Angeles Times’ Marisa Ingemi. “I have been just rehabbing like a maniac, sleeping in a hyperbaric chamber, red lighting my way back.”Play 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world's biggest soccer tournamentThe four-time WNBA All-Star has missed the past three games with a sprained ankle sustained during practice on May 26. However, she’s listed as probable on the injury report for Friday’s home matchup with the Dallas Wings. In her ninth WNBA season, Plum, 31, currently leads the league in scoring at 26.8 points per game, averaging two points more than the next closest player, reigning MVP A’ja Wilson. She’s also averaging a career-high 6.3 assists and shooting 49% on 41 3-point attempts. “She’s kind of the engine that makes everything go,” Roberts added. “We’ve sputtered a little bit offensively.”The Sparks have gone 1-2 in Plum’s absence, losing two consecutive games and scoring a season-low 69 points in a loss to the Aces on Tuesday. That has them at 4-5 going into Friday’s game, placing them sixth in the Western Conference and 11th in the playoff standings. Dallas comes into Friday’s matchup at 6-3, tied for the third-best record in the league, The Wings have won three consecutive games and five of their past six contests, including wins over the Aces and New York Liberty.

Blue Jays' Chad Dallas makes jaw-dropping behind-the-back snag to escape trouble in memorable MLB debut originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Toronto Blue Jays reliever Chad Dallas announced himself with an insane play in his MLB debut against the Atlanta Braves on Thursday.In the third inning, Dallas allowed an infield single to Ronald Acuna Jr., followed by a steal to second base. The pitcher gave up another single to Mauricio Dubon and Matt Olson's sac-fly brought home Acuna Jr. Ozzie Albies flied out to right field. Dubon reached second as Dallas walked Michael Harris II. A wild pitch from Dallas put Dubon at third. With runners stranded at the corner, danger was looming for the Blue Jays rookie. This is when Dallas delivered an unforgettable play on the mound. Braves' Dominic Smith hit it back at him and Dallas made a slick behind-the-back snag to strand runners at the corner.Chad Dallas makes a nice behind-the-back snag to strand runners at the corners in his Major League debut! pic.twitter.com/e8KrIDepkq— MLB (@MLB) June 5, 2026The defensive gem came at a critical moment as the Braves were threatening to eat into Toronto's 3-1 lead.MORE:Who is Chad Dallas? What to know about Blue Jays' pitcher making MLB debutChad Dallas retires Braves sluggers in first MLB inningChad Dallas delivered a top-notch moment in the second inning as well.Dallas was brought on the mound after starting pitcher Mason Fluharty ran into trouble in the second inning. The Blue Jays' rookie had Michael Harris II at third when he walked out.In the pressure situation, the rookie retired Austin Riley (fouled out to third) before allowing a walk to Mike Yastrzemski. Dallas struck out catcher Sandy Leon to close out the inning without giving up any runs. More MLB news:Chase Burns makes Reds history that hasn't been done in 104 yearsDiamondbacks turn Shohei Ohtani triple ball into viral business moveShohei Ohtani took a no-hitter into the 6th — but Dodgers ace was still frustrated afterwardWhat if Shohei Ohtani faced Shohei Ohtani? The answer may surprise MLB fans

Just two weeks after UFC BJJ 8, the promotion goes for a quick turnaround to host more Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) stars along with a light heavyweight title bout. UFC BJJ 9 happens on THURSDAY (June 4, 2026) inside the UFC’s Meta Apex venue in Las Vegas, Nevada.The event will be headlined by Mason Fowler looking to defend his light heavyweight crown against former IBJJF no gi world champ Devhonte Johnson. In the co-main event, longtime UFC star Gilbert Burns will go back to his grappling roots after retiring from MMA, and will make his UFC BJJ debut against Horlando Monteiro. Burns previously won three IBJJF world titles in both gi and no gi from 2010 to 2013, and he was actually the one who promoted current UFC BJJ superstar Mikey Musumeci to black belt.Outside of the main and co-main events, there will be quite a few big name BJJ stars on the card such as CJI champ Nick Rodriguez, ADCC champ Ffion Davies, along with second generation grapplers Achilles Rocha and Bella Mir.The no gi Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) event will stream LIVE on YouTube, starting at 8 p.m. ET. You can watch the live stream for free on the video embedded here.UFC BJJ 9 free live stream, full event videoUFC BJJ 9 full results, fight card and video highlightsMason Fowler vs. Devhonte Johnson [LHW title]Gilbert Burns vs. Horlando MonteiroNick Rodriguez vs. Joao NicoliteFfion Davies vs. Amanda BruseBella Mir vs. Nichelle JohnsonAchilles Rocha vs. Filipe Pimentel Raphael Ferreira vs. John Chandler — John Chandler def. Raphael Ferreira by submission (triangle), R3Victor Delibero vs. Mourece Ramirez — Mourece Ramirez def. Victor Delibero by unanimous decisionAna Lima vs. Amanda Mazza — Ana Lima def. Amanda Mazza by submission (armlock)FOR THE LATEST BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU (BJJ) AND GRAPPLING-RELATED NEWS CLICK HERE. FOR ADDITIONAL GRAPPLING CONTENT, FOLLOW @BJJBEAT ON INSTAGRAM.

AKRON — Southeastern softball coach Kaitlyn Blair knew how the energy would affect her players at Firestone Stadium Thursday, June 4. She hoped it wouldn’t matter.But it did, even if only for an inning.Blair experienced the same jitters as a high school player, playing here in the 2008, 2010 and 2011 state semifinals for West Liberty-Salem. So she brought her team to some of the Wednesday games to get the feel of a stadium and a crowd that resembles what they see watching college softball on ESPN.“I knew that we were going to have to fight some nerves because when you step out on that field, it's a whole different energy,” Blair said. “They had to take it in but not let it affect them.”Then the first inning happened. Cortland Maplewood played small ball, four straight batters reached base on bunts and the Trojans were undone by an error and indecision. The Rockets scored three runs with only one batted ball leaving the infield.Unfortunately for the Trojans, Maplewood had all the offense it needed because of the pitching of Addison Marker. And despite settling well into the game in the second inning, Southeastern lost 4-0 in the program’s first state appearance.“I do think it affected them the first inning, and I don't consider it a bad thing,” Blair said. “They're always going to remember being out there in that energy, so I wanted that experience for them regardless.”Then Blair looked at the three seniors seated next to her – Kaylee Wells, Kami Horner, Reese Wells – and reminded them that they had been in it to win it.“You guys did great,” she said getting choked up. “You guys did so good.”Still, the Trojans would like to have the first inning and some of their at-bats back.Reese Wells hit Maplewood’s first batter but struck out the next one. But the Rockets turned to their small-ball identity and the inning went sideways for the Trojans.Lexi Yannucci put down a sacrifice bunt that Wells fielded quickly. But she threw over first baseman Jolie Henderson’s head. The Rockets’ first run scored and the bunter made it to third.Next, Raegan Krieg bunted to third baseman Addi Vanover. She looked back the runner at third, looked to first, then back to third without making a throw. Runners at first and third.The next batter, Samantha Krieg bunted again to Vanover. This time she came up throwing to first but the runner was too fast and reached for a hit. Yannucci scored and it was 2-0.Blair visited the mound and changed the strategy. With Raegan Krieg on third, Lauran Krieg bunted again to Vanover. This time Vanover faked the throw to first and Raegan Krieg got caught in a rundown for the second out. Then Ali Woomer singled to left to plate the third run.“If we didn't have that first inning, it would be a tie ball game right now,” Reese Wells said was her thought as the game progressed. “On that bunt, I just tried to rush myself because I was nervous. I should have tried to calm my team down a little bit better because then it started snowballing a little bit.”The deficit cured the Trojans’ nerves.“We definitely had some jitters that we needed to get out, and I knew after one bad inning we were going to come in and lock it down,” Blair said.Wells made sure of it. She finished with 10 strikeouts, walked one and allowed six hits. Woomer’s home run in the sixth was the only other hard-hit ball she allowed. And she had her defense behind her, handling three more bunts and making all the routine plays.The seniors showed leadership to keep each other and their younger teammates focused.“After that first inning it slowed down because we slowed ourselves down,” Horner said. “We started realizing, hey, this girl's nervous, so I'm going to talk to her, or she had a bad at-bat, when she comes in, I'm going to say something to her, calm her nerves down, because it takes a whole team.”Marker was the Trojans’ biggest problem after the first inning. Their only hits were a lead off single by Gabby McNier in the second inning and a double to the fence by Reese Wells with two outs in the seventh. In between, Marker retired 16 straight Trojans.“The dugout stayed up for the most part, everybody was just kind of like, ‘It's OK, we're going to get it next time,’” Kaylee Wells said. “We did a pretty good job of talking about what kind of pitches she was throwing, but she was mixing up really well. My first at-bat I got two really good inside pitches, and then I got change-ups and high pitches.”Blair guided her team to the regional final in 2025 only to fall to Covington. Now, with seven seniors, she has taken them to Akron. Yes, there were nerves early and tears afterward, but she expressed no regrets about the game.“Having these seven seniors has been such a blessing,” she said holding back the emotion she felt.“You’re going to make me cry,” Horner said.They all laughed. Then Blair continued.“I know it didn't end the way we wanted it to, but we have made so much history, and you don't even realize it, and you guys have left your legacy at Southeastern,” she said as she looked down the table at them. “Now everybody's going to try to chase what you guys have left behind.”

The Republicans Steve Hilton, who is running for governor, and Spencer Pratt, running for Los Angeles mayor, have shown early strength, but that could fade as more ballots are counted.

COOPERSTOWN, NY - JULY 29: Patrick Saunders, President of the BBWAA, introduces Claire Smith during the 2017 Hall of Fame Awards Presentation on Doubleday Field at the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Saturday July 29, 2017 in Cooperstown, New York. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB via Getty Images) | MLB via Getty Images Long-time Denver Post sports reporter Patrick Saunders announced today on X that he would be leaving the newspaper on June 24, 2026.Some bittersweet personal news. I’m leaving The Denver Post, having taken the company buyout. My last game is June 24. Too many people to thank here. I’ll miss so many, but especially ⁦@harding_at_mlb⁩. The Adventures of Bonnie and Peaches will continue. Thanks! #Rockiespic.twitter.com/fRAMiqpJSL— Patrick Saunders (@psaundersdp) June 5, 2026Saunders has worked for the post since October 1998 when he began writing about the Denver Broncos. In 2005, he moved to covering the Colorado Rockies, only missing two years when he served as The Post’s online sports editor (2010-2011). The third-generation Colorado native, Saunders was recognized in 2018 as the Colorado Sportswriter of the Year. He also served as president of the Baseball Writers’ Association in 2017. Saunders has degrees in history and education from Fort Lewis College and earned a master’s degree in journalism for the University of Colorado where he works as an adjunct faculty member teaching journalism courses. Thoughts and well wishes have poured in from the Rockies media community:This one is tough. @psaundersdp hired me at The Daily Times-Call in 1996. My life and career have been better because of Patrick. He is a total pro in every way. And will be missed https://t.co/zrNaR4I5jB— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) June 5, 2026Thank you for your @Rockies work and friendship…Marc— Marc Stout (@MILEHIMARC) June 5, 2026Can’t imagine that press box without you and Thomas singing! Best of luck Patrick, thanks for everything— Danielle Allentuck (@d_allentuck) June 5, 2026Wow!!!!! A legend. An era ended.— AlaNNa Rizzo (@alannarizzo) June 5, 2026Enjoy the rest of your ride!— Clint Hurdle (@ClintHurdle13) June 5, 2026Man, Rockies fans are losing one of the best writers in the business. Patrick has been through the highs and lows (lots of lows) covering the Rockies. The press box at Coors Field won’t be the same! https://t.co/qUxa8ydyUD— Christian Saez🎙 (@DNVRSaez) June 5, 2026Good man and a cornerstone of #Rockies coverage. Many are saying the Magic Johnson of the Coors Field press box can never be replaced, and they're absolutely spot on.— Kevin Henry (@kgh23) June 5, 2026THE pinnacle of sports journalism in Denver.Loved learning from this man over the years. Leadoff walks will never be the same. https://t.co/TGobFRA7zh— Patrick Lyons (@PatrickDLyons) June 5, 2026On a personal note, Saunders’ departure marks a significant loss of institutional memory on the Rockies beat. In watching Patrick work, he has an ability to ask difficult questions in ways that elicit thoughtful answers. He has worked tirelessly to cover the Rockies and share stories that might be overlooked.Plus, he’s very funny.Whatever’s next for Patrick, we here at Purple Row appreciate all that he’s done and look forward to seeing what’s next.Join the conversation!Sign up for a user account and get:Fewer adsCreate community postsComment on articles, community postsRec comments, community postsNew, improved notifications system!Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

CARLSBAD, Calif. – Ryan Hybl’s final round as the head coach at the University of Oklahoma came to an end Monday on La Costa’s front nine. The Sooners began the day in ninth place, just a shot outside of the top eight, but an eighth trip to match play wasn’t in the cards for Hybl’s program, which he returned to prominence over the past 17 years.A week earlier, Hybl, 45, was officially announced as the new head coach at Georgia Tech and successor to legendary skipper Bruce Heppler. The tidal wave of noise had grown so big, Hybl choose to charge straight into the storm and tell his players ahead of the national championship. The news dump came on a Sunday afternoon.“A lot of folks, when they go through stuff like this, they hide behind the curtains, and that’s not who I am,” Hybl told Golf Channel less than 24 hours after the surprise announcement. “I’m not usually a crier, but there were a lot of tears.”More were shed just yards away from the ninth green, where nearly two decades of memories came flooding back. Hybl led Oklahoma to the 2017 NCAA Championship among 51 total team titles, including the NCAA Corvallis Regional this spring. His Sooners have made 15 straight national appearance, and he’s had at least one All-American in all but two seasons. Most importantly, though, Hybl revitalized the Oklahoma men’s golf program, building not only a world-class facility but great culture and young men as well.“It’s never been about the championships; it’s been about the journey, and you never want that journey to end,” Hybl said. “We have a great life here. My wife is a beast, and she has built a great life for our family. My oldest is about to go play college basketball at Central Oklahoma. My youngest is about to become an incoming freshman in high school. So, there’s a lot going on. … And even though we’re going to be moving on, our journey is still going to be a part of Oklahoma.”Hybl considers himself a builder, and so he relishes the opportunity to bring the Yellow Jackets their first NCAA team title in school history. While Heppler had tons of success and left the program in a great position financially thanks to an extensive donor network, that top prize forever eluded him at Georgia Tech. “Not that we’re done building at Oklahoma,” said Hybl, who lauded the leadership qualities of incoming head coach Jonathan Moore. “But this is an opportunity for new challenges and a new climb. You know, the climb is a little bit of my drug. So, we’re going to dig back in at a new place and know that climb’s going to be real and super exciting.”Added Heppler: “I believe we’ve just hired the best coach in Division I golf. All this that we built and all the work that we’ve done and the success, I don’t have to worry about it going away.”Hybl dismissed social-media chatter that claimed Oklahoma’s athletic director was set to cut his salary as “nonsense.” The crux of Hybl’s decision was the desire to be closer to family in Georgia. Hybl’s brother, Nate, lives in Atlanta and has two young boys, ages 4 and 2. Hybl’s parents and in-laws are both less than two hours from Tech’s campus, as is his brother-in-law’s family.“We’ve missed out on a lot,” Hybl said. “There’s no doubt family was a big part of the decision. Everybody’s getting a little older. These next 10 years are going to be pretty critical.”Lastly, Hybl’s move to Georgia Tech was mostly shocking considering he played college golf and was an assistant coach at rival Georgia (Hybl also said goodbye to retiring Bulldogs coach Chris Haack after Sunday's third round, watching Haack's final hole before the two shared a long embrace). But Hybl revealed that when he was in high school, he walked into his living room and told his parents that he was committing to the Yellow Jackets. Heppler had watched more holes than any other coach by far. But Hybl ended up taking one more visit to Georgia and changing his mind.“But I have always had a love for what that school meant and the brotherhood of Georgia Tech golf,” Hybl said. “A lot of supporters of the program are buddies that I grew up with, and we were talking earlier and were saying, well, after 27 years we finally figured it out. I also talked to Bruce’s wife, Traci, and told her, ‘You know, all those years that you hated your husband coming out and watching me play golf, and this is how it all ended up.’“If he wouldn’t have done that, if he wouldn’t have watched me for all those rounds, I don’t believe that we would be here, heading back in that direction.”

How many points did Caitlin Clark score today? Full stats, results, highlights from Fever vs. Dream originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.For the first time since a blockbuster offseason trade, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese squared off at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Thursday night as the Indiana Fever hosted the Atlanta Dream.This showdown between the Dream (6-2) and the Fever (4-4) marked the sides' first meeting since Indiana eliminated Atlanta from the WNBA playoffs last September. The Fever's upset win in the best-of-three series keyed Indiana's surprise run to the semifinals -- without Clark, who had been ruled out for the season due to a groin strain.MORE: Fever vs. Dream live score, updates, highlights from Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese rivalry gameThe Dream's response -- trading two draft picks to the Chicago Sky in exchange for Reese -- has helped Atlanta surge to the top of the WNBA standings, while the Fever have struggled defensively amid an inconsistent start to the 2026 season.But on Thursday, Clark and the Fever got the better of Reese and the Dream, demonstrating once more that Indiana really might be Atlanta's kryptonite as both teams jostle for position in the title conversation.Caitlin Clark stats vs FeverFinal score: Fever 83. Dream 71Minutes: 31Points: 17Rebounds: 7Assists: 8Steals: 0Blocks: 1TOs: 3FG: 6-17 (35%)3PG: 2-8 (25%)FT: 3-4 (75%)Clark missed her first two shots before she drilled a 20-foot step-back jumper to even the score at six apiece. That was her only hit of the first quarter, though she did pick up two assists.Caitlin Clark is on the board with the stepback 🔥#WNBAonPrimeDream-Fever on @PrimeVideo 🍿 pic.twitter.com/seMddRCChs— Sports on Prime (@SportsonPrime) June 4, 2026In the second quarter, Clark attempted just three shots, but she made two of them. She also added three more assists to her tally and grabbed her second personal foul as the Dream targeted her on the defensive end.Clark battled through the first half with an upset stomach. The Prime Video broadcast revealed that she threw up after she put up some practice shots shortly before the third quarter began.Something to keep an eye on:According to the broadcast, Caitlin Clark threw up after putting up shots before the start of the second half.— Meghan L. Hall (@ItsMeghanLHall) June 5, 2026Perhaps that was the jolt Clark needed after the relative indifference of her first 20 minutes. She hit a difficult mid-range jumper before the Fever began a decisive run to pull away from the Dream.Caitlin Clark knocks down the TOUGH middy off one foot 🔥pic.twitter.com/Sri2yViLFS— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 5, 2026Clark was central to Indiana's 9-0 run in the middle of the third, as she scored one basket and assisted two more. She was visibly pumped as Atlanta called a timeout with the score at 49-43, going over to chest-bump Stephanie White -- and reasserting that the coach and the franchise player get along just fine.Caitlin Clark leads the Fever run.Coach White loves what she’s seeing. pic.twitter.com/Tf6Vbqab9R— Underdog WNBA (@UnderdogWNBA) June 5, 2026In the fourth quarter, Clark went 1-for-3 from the floor and assisted a Sophie Cunningham 3-pointer as the Fever kept the Dream at arm's length. More WNBA news:NBA champion makes shocking Caitlin Clark claim – and asks this team to trade for herWhat's wrong with Caitlin Clark? Inside the defensive woes, offensive inconsistencies for Fever starValkyries continue winning their way as WNBA's buzzsaw hurtles toward title contentionCaitlin Clark isn't surprised opponents keep targeting her on defense

Caitlin Clark vomits at halftime, scores 17 with 8 assists in win over Atlanta Dream, Angel Reese originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Indiana Fever's primetime joust with the Atlanta Dream drew plenty of interest, with the prospect of another Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese joust proving eye-catching to the masses of women's basketball enthusiasts.The first two quarters of the contest largely lived up to the hype. Reese opened up the more productive of the two talents, tallying five rebounds in the first quarter while providing strong defense in the heart of the paint.Clark, whose Fever came emerged with a 83-71 win in the clash, showed improvement in the second frame, getting her teammates involved in the offense and canning a triple. During the halftime break, however, Clark endured adversity she is unlikely to have experienced often in her basketball career: she vomited during shootaround.Here's what you need to know.SN's WNBA HQ:Live WNBA scores | Updated WNBA standings | Full WNBA scheduleCaitlin Clark vomits during game vs. DreamPrime Video's broadcast crew reported that Clark vomited while shooting around before the start of the second half.Something to keep an eye on:According to the broadcast, Caitlin Clark threw up after putting up shots before the start of the second half.— Meghan L. Hall (@ItsMeghanLHall) June 5, 2026It's unclear what prompted Clark to spill her guts. But she looked unfazed by the issue during the third quarter, producing five points and two assists as Indiana's advantage swelled.Caitlin Clark with a SICK sidestep triple 😳 pic.twitter.com/gH2YVHuGif— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) June 5, 2026Was Caitlin Clark sick during game vs. Dream?Clark wasn't believed to have entered Thursday's contest with any issues. She wasn't listed on the injury report and showed no apparent signs of illness during the game's first two quarters. Her halftime vomiting episode appeared to come out of nowhere, as it was first referenced by the commentary team during the third quarter.MORE: Kelsey Mitchell, Fever defense power Indiana past AtlantaCaitlin Clark stats vs. Dream Points: 17Rebounds: 7Assists: 8Steals: 0Blocks: 1Turnovers: 3FGM-FGA: 6-173PM-3PA: 2-8FTM-FTA: 3-4

The Indiana Fever recovered from their most lopsided loss of the season with a win to open Commissioner’s Cup play on Thursday.Facing the Angel Reese-led version of the Atlanta Dream for the first time, Indiana won 83-71 in a big night for Kelsey Mitchell and a persistent night for Caitlin Clark, whom the Prime Video stream reported was vomiting shortly before the second half began.The reason for Clark’s sickness is currently unclear, but it didn’t stop her from showing up in the third quarter. After a slow first half, Clark helped build a double-digit lead for the home team, while also playing some of her best defense of the season.Play 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world's biggest soccer tournamentShe finished the game with 17 points on 6-of-17 shooting, 8 assists and 7 rebounds..Mitchell was the other featured player of that push, and finished with 25 points on 11-of-15 shooting. She reached a career milestone of 5,000 points as well, while continuing the WNBA’s third-longest streak of games with double-digit scoring.Aliyah Boston also had a strong showing with 19 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 assists.The Fever entered the game on their back foot after back-to-back losses to the Golden State Valkyries and Portland Fire, the latter of which saw them outscored by 16 points in a particular rough game for Clark. With their record at 4-4 entering Thursday and Commissioner’s Cup play beginning against the East-leading Dream, Indiana needed a reset.They got that courtesy of their big 3, along with a strong defensive effort overall. It was the fewest points the Fever have allowed all season and the fewest points the Dream have scored all season. No player on the Dream scored more than 13 points, and they shot 34.8% from the field collectively.Reese had 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting and 10 rebounds. That was enough to become the fastest player in Dream history to reach 100 points and 100 rebounds.

Brayan Bello Told Reporters 'Stop Talking About Bullpen' Before Being Optioned originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Interim manager Chad Tracy dropped a bomb on Thursday evening by optioning long-time Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Brayan Bello to Triple-A after his ERA plummeted to the worst in Major League Baseball. Discussions about Bello's inadequate play have been happening all year. Tracy grew tired of being forced to use an opener for the pitcher 12 appearances into his fifth major league season. Some fans floated the idea of moving the 27-year-old right-hander to the bullpen. But Bello himself made sure to let relievers know that the bullpen is not an option for him after he surrendered eight runs in five innings. "First of all, just stop talking about bullpen and starting games," Bello's translator said on his behalf. "I've always been a starter, and when I've been successful as a starter, no one has questioned whether I have to be in the bullpen or starting games. So, starting from there, just stop that talk..."I'm just having a bad season. That's it. It's not whether I'm a starter or a reliever; I'm just having a bad season."Here's the full presser. pic.twitter.com/gTWle3jN8z— Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) June 4, 2026Bello went on to say that he is looking forward to turning his season around and believes that he will do so. Tracy took that option away from him late Thursday night. More MLB: Red Sox Option Brayan Bello To Triple-A

Instagram | Angel ReeseAngel Reese is celebrating her trade to the Atlanta Dream with a brand-new colorway from her Reebok collection. On June 12, the WNBA sensation is releasing the next edition of her “Angel Reese 1” sneaker. The news comes days after the 24-year-old set a new record in the league.Angel Reese Celebrates Her Trade To The Atlanta Dream With A New Colorway Of Her Reebok SneakerReebokReese’s impressive start to her third WNBA season is being marked by the release of a new edition of her signature Reebok sneaker, according to a press release sent to The Blast.The bright red basketball shoe, dubbed “Red,” will be available for purchase on Reebok.com and at Dick’s Sporting Goods on June 12 at 10 AM EST.“The Angel Reese 1 ‘Red’ celebrates a new season, new team, and even bigger energy,” said Reese. “We’ve had a great start to our season, and I’m excited to continue building one game at a time.” Angel Reese Was Traded To Atlanta Just Before The Start Of Her Third Year In The LeagueReebokDon’t forget, Reese was traded to Atlanta in April 2026, according to The Blast. Jeff Pagliocca, general manager for the Chicago Sky, said that the trade was designed to create roster balance.“Angel has achieved many record-breaking milestones in her first two years in the WNBA and has been a competitive force for the Sky. We are thankful for her many important contributions to this league and this game, and we know she will continue to have a big impact on the court and beyond,” he said. Before her trade, Reese made it clear that she wanted to play on a championship-contending team.“… I’d like to be [in Chicago] for my career, but if things don’t pan out, obviously I might have to move in a different direction and do what’s best for me. But while I am here, I’m going to try to stay open-minded about what I have here and maximize that as much as I can,” she said back in 2025.Angel Reese Is Focused On Growing Her Game And Winning With The Atlanta DreamReebokReese spoke with the media after her trade, saying her primary focus was on “continuing to grow my game” and “competing at the highest level.” She’s doing exactly that, per The Blast. In her most recent game, the LSU alum recorded her first three-pointer and her fifth double-double of the season.Right now, the Atlanta Dream has the second-best record in the league, sitting at 6-2 ahead of their matchup against the Indiana Fever tonight at 7 PM EST.In a previous interview, Reese said she felt good about her team’s chances of winning it all this season. “Transferring from Maryland and going to LSU and winning a championship, it feels like deja vu right now,” Reese said. “And I get chills right now because being a part of Chicago my first two years and going to Atlanta, I just feel that urge right now that I’m going to win again.” Reese Sets Another WNBA Record In Her Third YearUNRIVALEDAccording to a previous report from The Blast, Reese recently set another WNBA record, becoming the fastest player to reach 900 rebounds (71 games). “Rebounds are something that I can always rely on, no matter how the game is going,” the star player said. “I knew tonight that I was gonna get a lot of offensive rebounds, and I think [at times I don’t] do a great job getting offensive rebounds or even defensive rebounds.”She added, “I [want] to take pride in that … and going in there and getting those extra second-chance points, but also opportunities to my teammates to kick out on the three.” This NBA Icon Defends Reese Against The NoiseBeing one of the faces of the league comes with a lot of pressure and scrutiny. In a recent interview, Shaquille O’Neal rushed to Reese’s defense, slamming internet trolls for “bullying” the Maryland native. “I wish I could punch some of these guys in the face that just pick on my Angel … but I have to be professional,” O’Neal said, per The Blast. “It’s just a lot of nonsense, and just a lot of embarrassing, a lot of bullying sometimes. And guys bullying [other] guys is fine, but I can’t let you just bully females, just so you can get likes,” he added. The Angel Reese Celebrates Atlanta Dream Trade With New Reebok Colorway first appeared on The Blast

The Charlotte Hornets have many options in this year's 2026 NBA Draft, as the team holds two mid-first-round picks (No. 14 and No. 18). With one of those selections, Charlotte could be targeting versatile Arizona forward Koa Peat. According to Peat's TikTok story, he worked out for the Hornets Wednesday, posting a picture of his practice jersey online.Last season with the Wildcats, Peat averaged 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.7 blocks and 0.6 steals. At 6'9" and just 19 years of age, Peat has the potential to be one of the highest upside prospects in the entire draft. That said, he's slid down draft boards recently, lacking polish at the 2026 NBA Draft Combine and displaying concerning shooting struggles as well. Either way, if the Hornets were to trade down, Peat would be a solid selection due to his potential and Charlotte's need for frontcourt depth.This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Hornets host former top prospect for pre-draft workout

Just four days after losing in the NCAA Starkville Regional while starting six underclassmen and using two freshmen pitchers, the Cincinnati Bearcats baseball team got three of those players to "run it back" for the 2027 season.All three were key cogs for head coach Jordan Bischel's crew, who won 38 games, just one shy of the school record, and made the first back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances in UC history.Making their announcements on Thursday, June 4 were sophomores Quinton Coats and Derrick Pitts and freshman Enzo Infelise. More are expected and Bischel predicted as much after his season-ending press conference in Mississippi."We want what's best for those guys," Bischel said June 1 after being eliminated by Louisiana. "I want Derrick and Quinton and Enzo and every guy in our program to be wherever they're going to be the happiest. Hopefully, they think that's Cincinnati. I don't think dollar signs are going to change that for them."Home❤️ #runitbackpic.twitter.com/W5Zs4DSwbx— quinton coats (@qsc_25) June 4, 2026Cincinnati Bearcats single-season home run leader Quinton Coats returnsAs a sophomore, Coats was a Dick Howser Trophy Award semifinalist hitting .339 with 28 home runs, 79 RBIs and 10 steals in 60 games. After hitting .315 with six home runs as a freshman and playing his way into the lineup, he blew past the school home run record of 23 set in 2009 by Mike Spina. Coats surpassed the record on May 5 on the road at Oral Roberts.The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Coats is from Olathe, Kansas and was First Team All-Big 12.no more questions🖤❤️ #runitback@GoBearcatsBASE@Ethan_Harrison6pic.twitter.com/YaulwxgLox— Derrick Pitts (@iamdp3_) June 4, 2026SportsCenter highlight machine Derrick Pitts also back for UC baseballSimilar to Coats, Pitts played his way into the lineup as a freshman in 2024 getting into 42 games, hitting .247 with 10 steals. He improved immensely in 2026 and had a knack for the cameras with his defense and flair.Pitts hit .329 in 58 games with six homers, 42 RBIs and 17 steals in addition to his defensive highlight plays that often found their way onto ESPN.Home #notdonepic.twitter.com/hwPhSnVVJQ— Enzo infelise (@Enzo_infelise9) June 4, 2026Big 12 Freshman of the Year remains in UC fold for 2027A true freshman doesn't always play regularly, let alone lead your team in hitting. That's what the designated hitter/catcher Infelise did by hitting .374 in 59 games with 10 home runs and 48 RBIs.When future pro Jack Natili didn't catch, it was Infelise whose fielding percentage was barely behind that of Natili (.993 to .992). He is poised to become next year's No. 1 catcher.Other UC Bearcats could be announcing plans soon, plus 2 will be in MLB DraftBuster Posey Award semifinalist Jack Natili had a strong NCAA tournament and finished the season at .339 with 19 homers and 65 RBIs in 60 games. Natil has moved up to No. 87 in the MLB.com Top 200, which puts him in third-round territory next month.Nathan Taylor was UC's ace and finished 7-3 with a 3.60 ERA and a new school-record of 115 strikeouts in 90 innings over 16 starts. MLB.com listed him as one of the "sleeper" possible draft picks as UC went into the Starkville Regional. Prospect Porch lists the 6-foot-5, 230-pound right-hander from West Clermont High School in their Top 200 at No. 181.The first round of the MLB Draft is July 11, with rounds 2-20 completed July 12-13.This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: UC baseball gets 3 top Bearcats back for 2027 Big 12 campaign

Texas vs. Texas Tech softball box score: Live stats from Women's College World Series Game 2 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Women's College World Series battle kicked off in Oklahoma City on Wednesday night with the Texas Longhorns taking Game 1 by the score of 7-3 over the Texas Tech Red Raiders. There's one good sign with Tech 8-0 this season after a loss with a plus-65 run advantage. Both teams have been tested this postseason with each facing multiple must-win elimination games. But Texas and Texas Tech have got to this point by fighting through. Game 2 in OKC starts Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.2026 NCAA Softball Championship 1234567RHETexas (51-12)00000040Texas Tech (60-9)0010140Texas Tech vs. Texas softball box score: Live stats from NCAA Women's College World Series FinalTexas LonghornsBatterPOSABRHRBIBBSOAVGOBP21Kayden HenryCF201000.405.48120Katie Stewart1B200001.425.55123Viviana MartinezSS200000.383.44314Reese AtwoodC201000.326.41943Leighann Goode2B100000.325.43313Hannah WellsDP/P200001.293.35244Kaiah AltmeyerLF100000.297.4107Ashton MaloneyRF100000.293.38024Jaycie Nichols3B100000.324.3924Adayah WallacePR000000.250.400Total14020022B: Atwood 1 (10)PitcherPOSIPHRERBBSOBFERA77Citlaly GutierrezP3.131112152.3Total4.04112220Wells 19 (8 strikes)Gutierrez 55 (36 strikes)Texas Tech Red Raiders BatterPOSABRHRBIBBSOAVGOBP1Mia Williams2B200000.432.51742Mihyia DavisCF211000.434.49111Lauren AllredRF201101.385.508Jackie Lis1B200000.417.5336Taylor Pannell3B200000.350.41455Kaitlyn TerryLF100010.431.5297Logan HallemanPR000000.346.45232Hailey ToneySS200001.299.38513Victoria ValdezC000000.074.26512Jasmyn BurnsDP202000.358.4514Lagi QuirogaC100000.325.4723Makayla GarciaPR000000.400.400Total1614122RBI: Allred 1 (51)PitcherPOSIPHRERBBSOBFERA24Nijaree CanadyP4.020002151.8Total4.02000215Canady 48 (33 strikes)How to watch: Texas vs. Texas Tech 2026 NCAA Softball Women's College World Series Final Game 1Date: Thursday, June 4Time: 8 p.m. ETTV: ESPNMore NCAA NewsWhat Texas Tech vs. Texas Women's College World Series proves about NIL and winningBill Belichick, Jordon Hudson at Kentucky Derby leaves everyone saying the same thingDemond Williams bombshell could have resulted in Lane Kiffin fired by LSULSU's roster is older than San Antonio Spurs, proving college basketball is cooked'Ain't no love in Oklahoma': Buc-ee's expanding to nearly every state with an SEC school

PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 04: Sei Young Kim of The Republic of Korea plays her tee shot on the 13th hole during the first round of the U.S. Women’s Open presented by Ally 2026 at Riviera Country Club on June 04, 2026 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)David Cannon/Getty ImagesThe second women's major of the year continues on Friday at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California.Take a look below to find scheduled second-round tee times and groupings for when play continues on Friday, June 5.Coverage will be split between USA, Peacock and NBCSN. All times are ET. USA: 2-7 p.m.Peacock: 7-10 p.m.NBCSN: 7-10 p.m.How to watch the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open: TV schedule, tee times, streaming & coverage guideFind out how to watch the 81st U.S. Women’s Open, including TV coverage, streaming options, tee times and full broadcast schedule on NBC, Peacock, and USA. Patricia Duffy,Round 2 featured groupsTee No. 1: 4:03 p.m. – Minjee Lee, Lottie Woad, Nasa Hataoka 4:14 p.m. – Nelly Korda, Hyo Joo Kim, Hannah GreenTee No. 10: 10:18 a.m. – Charley Hull, Jeeno Thitikul, Patty Tavatanakit 10:29 a.m. – Lydia Ko, Mao Saigo, Lauren Coughlin2026 U.S. Women’s Open Round Two tee times:Tee No. 1 9:45 a.m. – Anna Nordqvist, Ashleigh Buhai, Jiyai Shin 9:56 a.m. – Minsol Kim, Lilia Vu, Nanna Koerstz Madsen 10:07 a.m. – Yuka Saso, Jeongeun Lee6, Kiara Romero (a) 10:18 a.m. – Aphrodite Deng (a), Rose Zhang, Yealimi Noh 10:29 a.m. – Jenny Bae, Pajaree Anannarukarn, Yuna Araki 10:40 a.m. – Jinhee Im, Casandra Alexander, Ai Suzuki 10:51 a.m. – Somi Lee, Mimi Rhodes, Fuka Suga 11:02 a.m. – Minami Katsu, Anna Huang, Peiyun Chien 11:13 a.m. – Paula Reto, Veronika Kedronova (a), Gina Kim 11:24 a.m. – Minji Kang, Liqi Zeng, Zoe Cusack (a) 11:35 a.m. – Katelyn Kong (a), Amiyu Ozeki, Jaravee Boonchant 11:46 a.m. – Addie Dobson (a), Natsumi Hayakawa, Sofia Rivera (a) 11:57 a.m. – Kaleiya Romero, Jie-En Lin (a), Kaylyn Noh 3:30 p.m. – Catherine Park, Lucy Li, Asterisk Talley (a) 3:41 p.m. – Alison Lee, Paula Martin Sampedro (a), Jasmine Suwannapura 3:52 p.m. – Maja Stark, Megha Ganne, Miyu Yamashita 4:03 p.m. – Minjee Lee, Lottie Woad, Nasa Hataoka 4:14 p.m. – Nelly Korda, Hyo Joo Kim, Hannah Green 4:25 p.m. – Angel Yin, Gaby Lopez, Ruoning Yin 4:36 p.m. – Sei Young Kim, Linn Grant, Andrea Lee 4:47 p.m. – Jin Young Ko, Ayaka Furue, Grace Kim 4:58 p.m. – Miranda Wang, Esther Henseleit, Shuri Sakuma 5:09 p.m. – Brittany Lang, Danielle Kang, Sung Hyun Park 5:20 p.m. – Yuri Yoshida, Paula Francisco (a), Nataliya Guseva 5:31 p.m. – Nellie Ong (a), DaYeon Lee, Shiho Kuwaki 5:42 p.m. – Pauline del Rosario, Napat Lertsadwattana, Athena Singh (a)Tee No. 10 9:45 a.m. – A Lim Kim, Yui Kawamoto, Megan Khang 9:56 a.m. – Ariya Jutanugarn, Allisen Corpuz, In Gee Chun 10:07 a.m. – Carlota Ciganda, Aki Iwai, Jennifer Kupcho 10:18 a.m. – Charley Hull, Jeeno Thitikul, Patty Tavatanakit 10:29 a.m. – Lydia Ko, Mao Saigo, Lauren Coughlin 10:40 a.m. – Brooke Henderson, Celine Boutier, Rio Takeda 10:51 a.m. – Michelle Wie West, Hinako Shibuno, Yani Tseng 11:02 a.m. – Chizzy Iwai, Hye-Jin Choi, Auston Kim 11:13 a.m. – Jungmin Hong, Lauren Kim (a), Sora Kamiya 11:24 a.m. – Melanie Green, Gurleen Kaur, Soomin Oh (a) 11:35 a.m. – Bronte Law, Johanna Sjursen, Bianca Pagdanganan 11:46 a.m. – Thanana Kotchasanmanee (a), Weiwei Zhang, Farah O’Keefe (a) 11:57 a.m. – Katherine Muzi, Laney Frye, Anita Lumpongpoung (a) 3:30 p.m. – Brianna Do, Muni He, Sarah Hammett (a) 3:41 p.m. – Karis Davidson, Meja Ortengren (a), Mi Hyang Lee 3:52 p.m. – Chanettee Wannasaen, Youmin Hwang, Sakura Koiwai 4:03 p.m. – Lindy Duncan, Sayaka Takahashi, Hyunjo Yoo 4:14 p.m. – Madelene Sagstrom, Yan Liu, Jiwon Ko 4:25 p.m. – Ina Yoon, Leona Maguire, Steph Kyriacou 4:36 p.m. – Amy Yang, Ingrid Lindblad, Julia Lopez Ramirez 4:47 p.m. – Maria Jose Marin (a), Carla Bernat Escuder, Miyuu Goto 4:58 p.m. – Hailee Cooper, Siuue Wu, Dewi Weber 5:09 p.m. – Ally Ewing, Ana Belac, Xiyu Janet Lin 5:20 p.m. – Becky Morgan, Olivia Mehaffey, Ina Kim-Schaad (a) 5:31 p.m. – Chloe Kovelesky (a), Chiara Tamburlini, Chia Yen Wu 5:42 p.m. – Lois Lau, Yue Zhang, Amy Seung Hyun Lee (a)Ranking the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open Field: Full list of all 156 players at Riviera Country ClubWho are the top contenders at the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open? We rank all 156 players in the field at Riviera Country Club, breaking down favorites, sleepers, and long shots. Patricia Duffy,

OXFORD, Ohio – As St. Xavier and Oak Hills took the field at Hayden Park, one drought had to end. The Bombers hadn't won a regional since 2003, a year they also took home the state title; the Highlanders sought their first regional title in 45 years.After huge swings of momentum in a classic championship bout, St. Xavier held off Oak Hills to win the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division I regional championship, 6-5. The win completes an incredible two year turnaround for the Bombers, who won just 10 games in 2024 and are now two wins away from a state championship."We came into a culture that needed to be adjusted and these seniors bought into it," St. Xavier head coach Don DiGiacomo said. "They made it happen, this is all about St. Xavier baseball."St. Xavier senior right fielder Dillon Brus, the Bombers all-time leader in steals, said the win marked a culmination of an entire season's worth of effort."It means everything. We worked incredibly hard this season for this, Coach Jack and Coach D pushed us beyond our limits. Being able to do this again with Coach D, it really means a lot to all the boys," Brus said. The win required a complete team effort. The Bombers' senior Jack Ryan, playing first base just one day removed from a complete-game no-hitter against Elder, scored the first run of the game on a Logan Von Holle RBI single. Oak Hills' leading hitter Will Kraus, a Wright State commit, knotted things up with his RBI single to bring Adam Williamson home.The Bombers set a school record for steals, and that superior base running set up a commanding lead through the middle innings. Ryan was hit by a pitch to reach first, then stole second and third to put himself in position. Von Holle got on with a walk, and Griffin Doxey drove them both home with an RBI triple to deep left. One inning later, it was Dillon Brus with an RBI triple to score Cameron Schaefer. St. Xavier suddenly held a commanding 4-1 lead with just three innings to play.Oak Hills, however, were no strangers to tight spots. In the regional semifinals against Mason, the Highlanders faced a 5-1 deficit in the fifth before rallying for an 11-5 win. Buoyed by the confidence of what had been, Oak Hills orchestrated yet another a tremendous fifth-inning comeback. Led by Kraus, Dax Redmon, and Logan Schreiber's RBI singles, the Highlanders put up five hits and drove home four runs to take a 5-4 lead. Oak Hills went through its entire lineup before finally bowing out to the bottom of the inning."They're gritty, we call them blue collar workers on the west side," Oak Hills head coach Shawn Sowders said of his team's comeback. "That says a lot about these guys. They bought into a new system, held themselves accountable, and they're reaping the benefits now." But the Bombers were far from out of it. DiGiacomo rightly said they were lucky to escape the inning without giving up more runs, but relief pitcher Sam Vovak found his groove to secure the final strikeout. The Bombers just needed some offense to survive and advance. Where else could that come from than elite baserunning? After Brus hit a single, he stole his 35th and 36th bags of the year to sit on the corner. Brayden Bricking followed up with a single to tie it, putting the leading run on first. With sacrifice flies from Jackson Sharrard and Von Holle, the Bombers cashed in for a 6-5 lead."For us to come back and score those two to take the lead, we felt very good with Sam on the mound," DiGiacomo said. "He doesn't walk very many guys and had a high number of strikeouts, so we knew he was gonna be around the plate and they (Oak Hills) were going to have to earn it."Vovak secured a pop out from Kraus, struck out Ethan Moeves, but let the tying run get on base with a Redman single. That run would never score as the Bombers put out Schreiber on a ground ball to second, and the celebration was on."Everybody played their part today. These are all brothers, and there's nobody else I'd rather do it with," Brus said.For Oak Hills, the loss brings a tremendous 23-8 season to a close. The Highlanders will graduate 10 seniors: Ethan Moeves, Dax Redman, Brady Kornmann, Evan Griffin, Adam Williamson, Anthony Young, Kellen Gantzer, Will Kraus, Brandon Arnold, and Brady Smith. Coach Sowders praised their contributions to the team's success."They've set the standard very, very high," Sowders said.St. Xavier, now 25-5, advances to the state semifinals to take on Olentangy Orange (24-5) at Akron's 7 17 Credit Union Park on June 11. Brus says the team is confident in its abilities heading into the tournament."We know what we're capable of. If we play how we're supposed to, we won't lose. We're just going to play how we play."This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: St. Xavier baseball wins 2026 OHSAA Division I regional title

OXFORD, Ohio – As St. Xavier and Oak Hills took the field at Hayden Park, one drought had to end. The Bombers hadn't won a regional since 2003, a year they also took home the state title; the Highlanders sought their first regional title in 45 years.After huge swings of momentum in a classic championship bout, St. Xavier held off Oak Hills to win the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division I regional championship, 6-5. The win completes an incredible two year turnaround for the Bombers, who won just 10 games in 2024 and are now two wins away from a state championship."We came into a culture that needed to be adjusted and these seniors bought into it," St. Xavier head coach Don DiGiacomo said. "They made it happen, this is all about St. Xavier baseball."St. Xavier senior right fielder Dillon Brus, the Bombers all-time leader in steals, said the win marked a culmination of an entire season's worth of effort."It means everything. We worked incredibly hard this season for this, Coach Jack and Coach D pushed us beyond our limits. Being able to do this again with Coach D, it really means a lot to all the boys," Brus said. The win required a complete team effort. The Bombers' senior Jack Ryan, playing first base just one day removed from a complete-game no-hitter against Elder, scored the first run of the game on a Logan Von Holle RBI single. Oak Hills' leading hitter Will Kraus, a Wright State commit, knotted things up with his RBI single to bring Adam Williamson home.The Bombers set a school record for steals, and that superior base running set up a commanding lead through the middle innings. Ryan was hit by a pitch to reach first, then stole second and third to put himself in position. Von Holle got on with a walk, and Griffin Doxey drove them both home with an RBI triple to deep left. One inning later, it was Dillon Brus with an RBI triple to score Cameron Schaefer. St. Xavier suddenly held a commanding 4-1 lead with just three innings to play.Oak Hills, however, were no strangers to tight spots. In the regional semifinals against Mason, the Highlanders faced a 5-1 deficit in the fifth before rallying for an 11-5 win. Buoyed by the confidence of what had been, Oak Hills orchestrated yet another a tremendous fifth-inning comeback. Led by Kraus, Dax Redmon, and Logan Schreiber's RBI singles, the Highlanders put up five hits and drove home four runs to take a 5-4 lead. Oak Hills went through its entire lineup before finally bowing out to the bottom of the inning."They're gritty, we call them blue collar workers on the west side," Oak Hills head coach Shawn Sowders said of his team's comeback. "That says a lot about these guys. They bought into a new system, held themselves accountable, and they're reaping the benefits now." But the Bombers were far from out of it. DiGiacomo rightly said they were lucky to escape the inning without giving up more runs, but relief pitcher Sam Vovak found his groove to secure the final strikeout. The Bombers just needed some offense to survive and advance. Where else could that come from than elite baserunning? After Brus hit a single, he stole his 35th and 36th bags of the year to sit on the corner. Brayden Bricking followed up with a single to tie it, putting the leading run on first. With sacrifice flies from Jackson Sharrard and Von Holle, the Bombers cashed in for a 6-5 lead."For us to come back and score those two to take the lead, we felt very good with Sam on the mound," DiGiacomo said. "He doesn't walk very many guys and had a high number of strikeouts, so we knew he was gonna be around the plate and they (Oak Hills) were going to have to earn it."Vovak secured a pop out from Kraus, struck out Ethan Moeves, but let the tying run get on base with a Redman single. That run would never score as the Bombers put out Schreiber on a ground ball to second, and the celebration was on."Everybody played their part today. These are all brothers, and there's nobody else I'd rather do it with," Brus said.For Oak Hills, the loss brings a tremendous 23-8 season to a close. The Highlanders will graduate 10 seniors: Ethan Moeves, Dax Redman, Brady Kornmann, Evan Griffin, Adam Williamson, Anthony Young, Kellen Gantzer, Will Kraus, Brandon Arnold, and Brady Smith. Coach Sowders praised their contributions to the team's success."They've set the standard very, very high," Sowders said.St. Xavier, now 25-5, advances to the state semifinals to take on Olentangy Orange (24-5) at Akron's 7 17 Credit Union Park on June 11. Brus says the team is confident in its abilities heading into the tournament."We know what we're capable of. If we play how we're supposed to, we won't lose. We're just going to play how we play."This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: St. Xavier baseball wins 2026 OHSAA Division I regional title

Knicks' star avoids initial injury report following injury scare originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Game one of the NBA Finals lived up to the billing that everyone had been expecting, with the New York Knicks coming out on top of the San Antonio Spurs, after what was quite a contentious game.The two sides would end up exchanging the lead a total of ten times, while tying the score up six times over the four periods. The bigger story to leave the match was the efforts of the Knicks down the stretch, outscoring the Spurs by 17 points in the second half, with Jalen Brunson dropping 19 of his 30 points in that time period.Brunson injury:pic.twitter.com/OopM9R07WShttps://t.co/tuXVXsMxFv— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) June 4, 2026These efforts weren’t guaranteed when Brunson walked off the court during the first half, while being seen limping on multiple occasions. The Knicks guard would roll his ankle while landing after a layup, which was challenged by Luke Kornet under the basket.Brunson omitted from Knicks' early injury reportDespite his late-game heroics, there could have been some worries that Brunson might have gotten injured to some degree in the opening match, but the New York faithful can let out a sigh of relief.Their star guard hasn’t appeared on the Knicks’ injury report for game two, which would’ve been tough to imagine when the images of Brunson going into the locker room were displayed during the opening match.Granted, there could still be time for Brunson to make an appearance, given that game two of the Finals isn’t until Friday night, but for the time being, he is omitted from the report.Game two between the Knicks and Spurs is set to take place on Friday night, with tip-off from the Frost Bank Center, slated for 8:30 p.m. EST.More NBA news: Warriors' Steph Curry details difficult return from nagging knee injuryKristaps Porzingis gets brutally honest regarding his future with WarriorsHow Luka Doncic could still win NBA MVP award despite season-ending injuryCollin Gillespie breaks Phoenix Suns' 3-point record for a single seasonZion Williamson gets brutally honest regarding his future with New Orleans Pelicans

Maddy Mescher crushed a two-run home run in the first inning and No. 3 Sioux Falls Washington opened up an 8-0 lead through five on the way to a 10-3 win over Rapid City Stevens in the Class AA state quarterfinals.Washington will play No. 2 Harrisburg for the third time this season in the state semifinals at 4 p.m. Friday, June 5.Mescher's home run jump started a Warrior offense that scored in four of six innings. Natalie Thompson also doubled home Josie Biteler later in the first."We've been hitting hitting hard all week, so the swing felt good," Mescher said. "I hunted my pitch and it went over."Aubrey Chavez singled and scored on an error in the third to make it 4-0 Washington.Biteler unloaded the bases in the fifth with a three-run triple to make it a 7-0 game, then she scored on a Thompson groundout. The triple was a ground ball down the third-base line that scooted into the corner, and the Warriors' center fielder made her way to third."You've just got to sit on your pitch and not do too much," Biteler said. "See ball, hit ball, keep it simple. Things will happen."Washington's final runs came on Kjerstin Kyte and Chavez RBI groundouts in the sixth.Head coach Kim Bazata was thrilled to see her team pick apart Stevens' pitching, especially with it being a big game. The offense has come up short in a few big spots in 2026, but that wasn't the case Thursday."We did it from the top of the lineup to the bottom of the lineup, which is nice too," Bazata said. "We know that if we're going to go the distance this year we need the bats coming around for us, so we've been working really hard on making adjustments and timing things up."Mescher spun five scoreless innings, then the Raiders began making a move in the sixth and seventh. Stevens loaded the bases in both innings, but Mescher had plenty of wiggle room at that point. Bazata made a few mound visits to give her pitcher a chance to relax and settle down again."They were coming up their third and fourth time through the order, so it was huge we had those runs and Maddy could relax a little out there," Bazata said.The standout junior ended her day allowing three runs, two earned, on 11 hits and a walk with just two strikeouts. It wasn't as dominant a showing as she's used to, but Mescher still recorded 21 outs and pushed the Warriors to the state semifinals."I don't care how she gets us outs, I just want her to get us outs," Bazata said. "She did a great job of doing that."This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Washington beats RC Stevens in SDHSAA softball state quarterfinal

After a career-best year in 2025 that resulted in a first-team All-WNBA First Team nod, Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell continues to reach new heights.Mitchell surpassed 5,000 career points in the Fever's 83-71 win over the Atlanta Dream on Thursday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, a victory that ended Indiana's two-game skid to climb above the .500 mark at 5-4. Mitchell hit the milestone in the third quarter on a floating jumper in the paint. Mitchell finished with a game-high 25 points, shooting 11-of-15 from the field and 3-of-4 from the 3-point line.She's the second player in franchise history to score 5,000 or more points, joining Tamika Catchings (7,380)."Anytime I hear Tamika Catchings, I get humbled. She filled a lot of great shoes.," Mitchell said after the win. "I think that for me it's less about the accolade and more about the journey and the process. I can recall what it looked like ... when it wasn't so great for me. And so I try to keep a fine line of being excited but also humble."5,000 points for Kelz 🔥watch the bucket that made it happen ⤵️ https://t.co/Uk24M0HGHXpic.twitter.com/kapzriWtqj— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) June 5, 2026Mitchell highlighted her humility by crediting her teammates with her milestone."I'm only as good as the people around me," Mitchell said. "The organization started investing and putting really big pieces around me... so having Aliyah Boston and having Caitlin Clark and Lexie Hall and the young group that came in over the course of the years has kind of helped me be who I am. And so I don't think I would be in this position without such a great group."Mitchell is averaging a career-high 21.1 points through nine games this season, which ranks third in the league. She has scored double digit points in every game this season, including four performances of 20 points or more.Re-signing Mitchell was the No. 1 priority for the Fever this offseason. Indiana extended a core qualifying offer to Mitchell and she went on to sign a one-year supermax contract worth $1.4 million."Kelsey (Mitchell) is one of the biggest pieces of this franchise," Boston said after Thursday's win. "Kelsey was here before we got here, continued to give it her all, continue to show up every single day and we see that example in front of us. "And so to see her get all these accomplishments and pass all these milestones ... it just makes me so excited to have a leader and a role model in Kelsey."Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@gannett.com and follow her on X at @CydHenderson.The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kelsey Mitchell reaches 5,000 career points for Fever

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 third of eight who wore the No. 17, guard alum Charlie Ward. After ending his college career at Florida State, Ward was picked up with the 26th overall selection of the 1994 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks.The Thomasville, Georgia native played the first 10 seasons of his pro career with New York, coming to an end when he signed with the San Antonio Spurs in 2004. That fall, he then signed with the Houston Rockets for the final season of his NBA career.During his time suiting up for the Rockets, Ward wore only jersey No. 17 and put up 5.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Rockets jersey history No. 17 - Charlie Ward (2004-05)

SAN ANTONIO — That wasn't the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1. At least the Spurs as they see themselves.After a night to reflect and break down the film, the Spurs' reaction to blowing a 14-point second-half lead and losing Game 1 at home to the Knicks was that they strayed from doing the things that got them to this point. Too much isolation (particularly with Victor Wembanyama). Too much hero ball (particularly with Wembanyama). Not enough ball movement. Too much trying to force the ball into the heart of the Knicks defense. Not enough help on the defensive glass."It didn't take too much film or too deep to dig to find the second-chance points (surrendered)..." Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. "Sixteen assists is not a reflection of this program ever since I've been here, and decades before I was. We can be much sharper on just a lot of game plan execution stuff."Then I think you add that I think Victor will play better? Sure. I think a couple guys will make more shots than they did. Agree.""Really, I think the reason we lost that game isn't even technical. It's not even technical, tactical," Wembanyama said. "We need to approach the game with a better mental state. We just need to play our game. We just need to be normal. We don't need to do anything incredible."Bottom line, the Spurs believe they just need to make the "play better" adjustment. Here are three things to look for to see if they made that adjustment in Game 2.Knicks second-chance pointsFor the first three rounds of the playoffs, when a perimeter shooter saw Wemby rotate out to them, that player just moved the ball and bailed on the shot. Not the Knicks, they tried to create space and get the jumper up over those long arms, if possible. That led to some spectacular makes, like OG Anunoby's.What a cold-blooded shot by OG Anunoby. Fourth quarter of Game 1, on the road, one-possession game, the most menacing defensive player on the planet in his face ... and he just jabs, rocks and dots Wemby's eye. pic.twitter.com/qQ3GKvgPGP— Dan Devine (@YourManDevine) June 4, 2026More importantly, it means that Wembanyama isn't in the paint to get the rebound, and that's when Karl-Anthony Towns used his size and Josh Hart used his hustle to get an offensive board and another chance. It was one of the key factors in the Knicks' win, and with that, it becomes something to watch in Game 2 — if the Knicks keep dominating the second-chance opportunities, they will dominate the game.Spurs assistsMitch Johnson could not have been more clear in the quote above: "Sixteen assists is not a reflection of this program ever since I've been here."Part of that was the Spurs leaning too heavily on isolation, with players trying to do too much on their own (again, starting with Wembanyama). But there are two parts to an assist: the pass and then making the shot. Part of the Spurs' low assist number was that they just missed shots. San Antonio missed from everywhere, shooting just 50% in the paint and 25.6% from 3-point range. The Knicks did a better job running the Spurs off the line in the second half, but the Spurs just missed the good looks they did get.It's still a make-or-miss league, and the Spurs need some makes.Get Wembanyama better looksIt feels like it's the hot take after every Spurs loss, but it's not wrong: The Spurs need to get Victor Wembanyama better touches closer to the rim. Wembanyama shot just 3-of-5 in the restricted area and 4-of-9 in the paint overall in Game 1 — that is not enough shots and touches.Give the Knicks defense credit here: They did a good job taking those away in Game 1. Wembanyama would set a screen for Stephon Castle or De'Aaron Fox, and he rolled hard to the rim, but the Spurs did a good job of bumping him, being physical, and never letting him get comfortable and to a place where he could easily collect a pass. It was as good a job on him as any team has done.However, there are counters, including using Wemby more like the Knicks use Karl-Anthony Towns as a hub at the high post, rather than having him face up and attack. There are ways to get him the ball in motion moving toward the rim. The Spurs need to exploit that and get Wemby going, and if he is doing that in the paint everything else with the Spurs offense will open up.

Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes live score: Full stats from Stanley Cup Finals Game 2 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Will the Carolina Hurricanes pull even in the series or will the Vegas Golden Knights go up another game. That's the biggest question as Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final comes on Thursday night.Vegas holds a 1-0 lead after a wild 5-4 win. They swept the Colorado Avalanche to get here and have kept the playoff winning streak alive. The Hurricanes lost their Eastern Conference finals opener against the Montreal Canadiens, but made adjustments in Game 2 to advance. 2026 Stanley Cup FinalsEnd of 2nd123TotalGolden Knights112Hurricanes000Scoring summary2nd PeriodVGKCAR7:23VegasBrett Howden (13) Assists: Ivan Barbashev (8), Noah Hanifin (7)201st PeriodVGKCAR13:33VegasBrett Howden (12) Assists: Mitch Marner (16)10Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes NHL box score: Live stats from Stanley Cup Final Game 2Vegas Golden KnightsforwardsGA+/-SPIMTOIM. StoneRW0001010:50T. HertlC0000010:46M. MarnerRW0112013:03J. EichelC0000011:29P. DorofeyevRW0000010:54GoaltenderSAGASVSV%TOIC. HartG140141.00033:45Carolina HurricanesforwardsGA+/-SPIMTOIJ. SlavinD00-10012:48J. ChatfieldD0000014:02M. JankowskiLW000005:15J. StaalC000028:55GoaltenderSAGASVSV%TOIF. AndersenG1129.81835:32How to watch: Vegas vs. Carolina 2026 Stanley Cup Finals Game 2Date: Wednesday, June 3Time: 8 p.m. ETTV: ABCMore NHL NewsTaking a look at Judd Brackett's history as a talent evaluator; What he'll bring to the Maple LeafsDrafting Gavin McKenna is the only option for the Maple Leafs at the 2026 NHL draft‘It’s upsetting,’ Bruce Cassidy speaks about Golden Knights denying him permission to speak to NHL teamsMitch Marner isn't allowed to pick and choose when he talks about his past with the Maple Leafs'It’s pretty clear I’ll be moving on,' Longtime Canadiens star gets emotional discussing future

CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg’s children have sued his widow for alleged mishandling of his trust.In the lawsuit, Justin Sandberg and Lindsey Sandberg accused their stepmother, Margaret Sandberg, of going against their father’s wishes by trying to shift control of the trust that oversees his name, image and likeness rights to her, her son and the family’s financial adviser.This change would destroy the “collaborative arrangement” Sandberg set up between his second wife and biological children, the suit filed in April in Lake County Circuit Court said. The dispute was first reported Wednesday by the Chicago Sun-Times.Norm Finkel and Adam Hirsch, attorneys representing the siblings, didn’t respond to a request for comment. Margaret Sandberg couldn’t be reached for comment.Ryne Sandberg, often referred to as “Ryno,” is perhaps best known for the June 23, 1984, “Sandberg Game,” where he hit a pair of thrilling home runs in the ninth and 10th innings. He won nine Gold Glove and seven Silver Slugger awards, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005. He also went on to have a career as a manager.He died last July at age 65 from metastatic prostate cancer. The baseball legend disclosed the diagnosis the year prior, and while he at one point went into remission, the cancer returned and spread to other organs.Before his death, Ryne Sandberg left “clear instructions” that Margaret, Justin and Lindsey Sandberg would act as equal co-trustees over his name, image and likeness rights, the lawsuit said. He married Margaret Koehnemann in 1995 after divorcing his first wife, Cindy.“It would disappoint me if they were unable to make decisions on my (name, image and likeness) in a positive and collaborative manner,” he wrote in the trust, the lawsuit said. “It is also important to me to have any project reflect positively on my legacy and my entire family.”However, after his death, the lawsuit accuses his widow of ignoring the siblings and refusing to sign documents to open a new, separate bank account for the trust. It said she has refused to establish the trust, a “direct contravention of Ryne’s wishes.”Instead, it said Margaret Sandberg produced a note her husband allegedly wrote on July 16, less than two weeks before his death. The note purported to amend the trust and add his stepson and the family’s financial adviser as trustees, the suit said.The lawsuit included a copy of the short, signed note where Ryne Sandberg allegedly wrote “N.I.L” at the top and “majority rules” at the bottom with a list of the five names on the new committee.The suit argues that the note isn’t “legally enforceable” because it wasn’t delivered to the siblings prior to their father’s death, as required by the trust. It also said their father lacked the “capacity” with his deteriorating medical state to make such a change.Justin and Lindsey Sandberg visited their father in the weeks leading up to his death, and said he was often “heavily sedated” and in “significant pain,” according to the lawsuit. He was admitted to hospice on July 20.It alleged that on the same day Ryne Sandberg supposedly wrote the note, his daughter heard him screaming in pain from his driveway. He also had lapses in short-term memory before his death, the suit said.The siblings asked the court in the suit to declare that the note isn’t a “valid or enforceable amendment” to the trust, and to compel their stepmother to create the trust.The next hearing in the case is scheduled for July 31.

LOS ANGELES – The last time Michelle Wie West competed in a U.S. Women’s Open, three years ago at Pebble Beach, she posted back-to-back 79s and failed to card a single birdie.The 36-year-old mother of two’s return to major-championship golf went much better Thursday at Riviera Country Club.Wie West, who came out of retirement to play last month’s Mizuho Americas Open, the tournament she hosts and where she missed the cut with rounds of 82-80, and this week’s U.S. Women’s Open, shot 4-over 75, which included a pair of birdies. Wie West stuck a 130-yard approach to 7 feet and rolled in the putt at the par-4 fifth, then poured in a 12-footer at the par-5 17th.Both moments elicited audible celebrations from Wie West’s mother, Bo, who even cheered a short bogey make at the 307-yard, par-4 10th, where Wie West drove it right and well out of position before laying up to the fairway just shy of the skinny green.Riviera is where Wie West’s late father-in-law, Los Angeles Lakers great Jerry West, who died June 12, 2024, at age 85, was a member. West also served a few years as executive director of the PGA Tour stop at Riv, back when it was called the Northern Trust Open. West’s son and Wie West’s husband, Jonnie, is caddying for his wife.“If it wasn’t here, I wouldn’t be playing,” Wie West told Golfweek.After Wie West got up and down for par at the par-4 finishing hole, the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open champion acknowledged the crowd with a smile and signed dozens of autographs on her way up the steps to scoring. Wie West's 5-year-old daughter, Kenna, who doubles as the "best sports psychologist" Wie West has ever had, was likely super proud of mom."My husband and I were talking about this a lot, I'm going to try to live by the words I tell my daughter; I always tell her before a game or a tournament, whatever, I say I don't care about the results, all I care about is a good attitude and that you try your hardest," Wie West explained earlier this week. "My No. 1 goal this week is to go out there and try hard and have a good attitude. There were times at Mizuho I did not have a good attitude out there, so I want to change that this week and I want to have a good attitude."Not that it was an overly difficult on Thursday. Jennifer Kupcho’s 66 leads after 18 holes, but Wie West's 75 is only two strokes off the projected cut line entering Friday, where she'll tee off No. 10 at 7:51 a.m. local.

Jun 4, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter George Springer (4) reacts after hitting a double against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Mady Mertens-Imagn Images | Mady Mertens-Imagn Images These Atlanta Braves sure have a knack for winning just enough games to take a series.After winning the first two games at home against the Toronto Blue Jays to win their 17th series of the season, they sputtered out at the plate in a 7-2 loss to the Blue Jays in Thursday night’s finale.Of those copious series wins, only two have been sweeps — which they haven’t done since May 1-3 at Colorado.It’s at least somewhat true that the final score was not indicative of the competitiveness of the game. The Blue Jays blew open what had been a contested battle with a four-run ninth off Reynaldo López, scoring all of the runs with two outs. But that inning made what was a lopsided offensive showing more like it probably should have on the scoreboard based on the hit column.The Braves allowed a season-high-tying 16 hits to Toronto, which saw each of its top eight hitters in the lineup notch at least one hit and was 7-for-18 with runners in scoring position.Atlanta’s offense, by comparison, managed just four hits and was 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position.That was certainly surprising given the pitching matchup. The Braves started Chris Sale, while Toronto opened with reliever Mason Fluharty before turning it over to Chad Dallas, making his major league debut after he was promoted from Triple-A Buffalo earlier in the day.Dallas managed the Braves pretty well, getting out of a runner-on-third, one-out situation he inherited and allowing one run on two hits over 3 2/3 innings. And Toronto’s bullpen then really shut the door on the Braves, retiring 12 of 13 Braves over their final four innings at the plate.All of the Blue Jays’ scoring before the ninth came in a three-run third where they put five straight runners on base with one out. The rally began with the only extra-base hit of the inning, a double by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Singles by Kazuma Okamoto and Charles McAdoo followed before a hit-by-pitch of Nathan Lukes and a two-run single off Myles Straw’s bat.That was certainly the tone of Sale’s outing. He wasn’t consistently hit hard but Toronto racked up 10 hits (his season high allowed) over 5 2/3 innings. His three earned runs allowed were his most since allowing six against the Angels on April 6.Once again, run support was a totally uncontrollable problem for Sale, who fell to 3-3 over his last six starts despite posting a 2.15 ERA over that span.The Braves got a run right back in the bottom of the third after Ronald Acuña Jr. led off with a single, stole second for his 14th swipe of the season (and third in as many nights), advanced to third on a Mauricio Dubón single and came home on Matt Olson’s sacrifice fly.Speaking of Dubón, he built off last night’s go-ahead homer by notching two of Atlanta’s four hits. His second hit was an eighth-inning solo homer to snap a streak of 14 straight batters retired which dated back to the final out of the third.After Dubón had one homer in May, he has two in his first three June games.At first, the Braves’ bullpen gave the offense a chance to come to life. Didier Fuentes got out of a jam he inherited in the sixth before delivering a scoreless seventh, and Dylan Dodd worked through the eighth without incident.But López’s ninth inning that got away from him dug way too deep a hole for an offense which never found its gear after a strong showing in Wednesday’s series-clinching win.Up NextNo rest for these Braves, who will stay at home to host the Pittsburgh Pirates this weekend. Pittsburgh entered Thursday’s series finale against Houston having won four of five.

Organized team activities are, both in time and spirit, a long way from Week 1. Players mostly cycle through brief drills, dressed in practice jerseys and shorts. Pads remain stored away for months to come. The Tempe air burns hot, with State Farm Stadium sitting empty across the Valley.But there’s one position group this month that has made you cock an eyebrow and think, “Huh, that’s interesting.”At cornerback, the Cardinals began OTAs with what looked, on the surface, like a jumbled mix of players. They finished the past three weeks with a much clearer hierarchy.Will Johnson appears to have one starting spot locked down, as he enters his second season. Across from him, Denzel Burke and Max Melton look to be in competition for the second starting spot.The latter comes as something of a surprise, given the difficulties Melton endured late last season. The 2024 second-round pick started just one game after the Cardinals’ Week 8 bye, dealing with a heel injury and on-field struggles that pushed him down the depth chart.But in speaking with reporters on Thursday, June 4, defensive coordinator Nick Rallis saved his highest praise for Melton.“The biggest thing with him is just understanding the stress and the strength of each call,” Rallis said. “And knowing, 'Where do I have to win on this and where can I take a risk?'"I've seen a huge growth in terms of deep understanding of when calls are gonna be called and what they're really doing.”The third member of that competition for snaps across from Johnson could be Starling Thomas V. He missed all of last season with a torn ACL suffered in training camp, but has been on the side of the field working with trainers for much of OTAs, suggesting that a return may be near.The most notable element of the cornerbacks room, though, has been Sean Murphy-Bunting’s new role. With Garrett Williams recovering from a torn Achilles, the Cardinals have shifted Murphy-Bunting to nickel, meaning that he spends his practice sessions training with the safeties.Murphy-Bunting, who also missed all of last season with a torn ACL, was primarily a nickel early in his career but has played almost exclusively as an outside cornerback since 2022.After Williams’ injury, Rallis knew that the Cardinals would need to shift one of their outside cornerbacks to the inside — a role in which he prioritizes on-field intelligence.“You have to be able to process very fast inside,” Rallis said. “Just because things pass off a little bit quicker in there. But also, you're a little bit closer to the line of scrimmage, and you're just gonna be involved in a lot of coverage tools. It is not easy.”Cardinals cut kickerThe Cardinals released kicker Joshua Karty on June 4, meaning that Chad Ryland has won the competition for that job — for now.Ryland struggled late last season, making just 10 of 16 field goal attempts after the bye week, as he developed a consistent miss to the right. To address that issue, the Cardinals focused on finishing through the ball with Ryland, rather than falling away from his kicks at the point of contact.“When he finishes downfield, that ball goes straight, on line through the target,” special teams coach Michael Ghobrial said. “So that has been a point of emphasis for him.”So far, Ghobrial said, the results have been encouraging.Rookie offensive lineman finding footingThe Cardinals have brought their rookies along slowly during OTAs, generally leaving veterans higher on the presumptive depth chart, based on the order of reps in practice. That’s created a mild surprise at right guard, with Isaiah Adams working ahead of second-round pick Chase Bisontis.“They have to learn a new system, new techniques, new calls, new guys around them,” offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett said. “There's a ton of new for them. And there's growing pains. … So for (Bisontis), it's just about the reps, it's about the experience and just making the system his own.”This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Why the Arizona Cardinals are reworking cornerbacks room

INDIANAPOLIS — There was a little more at stake Thursday as the Indiana Fever defeated the Atlanta Dream 83-71 in the teams’ first Commissioner’s Cup game of the season. The Fever won last season’s Commissioner’s Cup — an annual in-season tournament — and took home the $500,000 prize. Several Indiana players said it was important to begin their title defense against the Dream, with Sophie Cunningham noting that the $30,000 each player won in 2025 was less than that after taxes, but more importantly, they wanted to rebound from an abysmal road loss against the Portland Fire last week.The Fever held a team meeting on Monday to address their issues and air grievances, and they responded with a statement win over the hot Dream. Indiana used a balanced offensive approach and stifling defense to bounce back and improve to 5-4. Atlanta fell to 6-3.Clark throws up and then goes offFever star Caitlin Clark looked particularly fatigued during certain stretches. She threw up at halftime, the Prime Video broadcast reported, which team sources confirmed to The Athletic. But in the third quarter, it was hard to tell that Clark may have been feeling less than 100 percent. She drilled a step-back 3-pointer over Dream defender Allisha Gray to help the Fever retake the lead at 44-43, and she briefly posed for the home fans before running back on defense.A few plays later, Clark dished a pinpoint pass to Kelsey Mitchell for a layup that pushed Indiana’s lead to six points and forced the Dream to call a timeout. As fired-up Clark went back to her bench, she and coach Stephanie White, who went viral for their verbal spat in the Fever’s loss at Portland last week, bear-hugged each other as they smiled from ear to ear. Clark totaled 17 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in 31 minutes.Fever’s improved defenseThe Fever had given up at least 100 points in three of their four losses this season entering Thursday’s contest. They’d also allowed opponents to shoot 47 percent from the field, which was fourth highest in the WNBA. Against the Dream, however, Indiana displayed much more defensive resistance, holding them to 34.3 percent shooting and just 29 first-half points.Cunningham revealed earlier this week that Indiana was able to run only one defensive scheme, which was basically a bunch of switching, because players were unable to execute other coverages that White has tried to implement. The Fever did less switching Thursday, and Clark and Mitchell, who’ve both said struggled to guard in isolation situations, held their own better against the Dream.On one possession in the second quarter, Mitchell was guarding Gray one-on-one and forced her into a tough, missed shot. Mitchell came down on the next play and drilled a step-back jumper over Gray, which was a sign of things to come.Kelsey Mitchell’s heaterMitchell got off to a slow start Thursday, missing 4 of 6 first-quarter shots. But when the second frame rolled around, Mitchell, a three-time All-Star, entered a zone that proved why she’s one of the best WNBA scorers. She didn’t miss a shot in the second and third quarters, reeling off nine straight field goals and scoring 20 of her 25 points during that stretch.Mitchell caught fire in the third quarter when she scored 11 straight points for a 58-46 Indiana lead. After making a pull-up 3-pointer in transition to cap her personal explosion, the Dream called a timeout as Gainbridge Fieldhouse erupted with excitement. Mitchell eclipsed 5,000 regular-season points, joining Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings as the only Fever players to reach that threshold.Dream winning streak snappedAtlanta was on a two-game winning streak and had won four of its last five before facing the Fever, but outside of a brief third-quarter stretch, the Dream struggled to take control of the game.All-Star trio Gray, Rhyne Howard and Angel Reese all had subpar outings. Gray entered Thursday averaging 21.1 points per game, second-most in the league, but she was held to 13 points on 5-of-18 shooting. Howard, who had been averaging 19.3 points per game, finished with 8 points on 2-of-9 shooting. Howard and Gray had just 2 points apiece in the first half. Reese, meanwhile, totaled 11 points and 10 rebounds but coughed up a team-high four turnovers.The Dream are back in action Saturday when they host the Washington Mystics. The Fever will play on the road against the New York Liberty on Saturday.This article originally appeared in The Athletic.Atlanta Dream, Indiana Fever, WNBA2026 The Athletic Media Company

It’s a long road early for the Kalispell A Lakers.First-year head coach Thomas O’Connell’s squad opens with two games at home tonight against Mission Valley before embarking on a 10-plus game road trip, including a spot in the Palouse Summer Series in Pullman, Washington.“We are hoping that we do well (on the road) and then can have the home field advantage late,” O’Connell said. “Obviously early in the season we will have some mistakes and errors but I know this team well. I know what they can do.”The A Lakers won’t be back at Archie Roe Field until a June 27 date with Cranbrook; the early road trip means a backloaded home schedule. The heavy road schedule also allows for some maintenance at Archie Roe Field after the recent rain.O’Connell moves up to coach the A Lakers after a season as B Lakers head coach and assistant on the A team. His brother, Mike O’Connell, is the new head coach of the AA Lakers.Thomas O’Connell is excited to see how his squad progresses during the season, highlighting Jacobe Sullenger and Landon Jacobsen for their play with the Flathead Braves during the high school season.He added that his squad features a good amount of depth, similar to their AA counterparts.“We have a lot of pitching which is nice, there’s only three or four guys that don’t pitch on the mound,” O’Connell said. “Excited for everyone to see the progress they made.”Unlike the AA Lakers — who only had one 20-minute practice before embarking on their season opener Wednesday — O’Connell says he has been able to work with his team for around two weeks.“We should be ready to go for the season,” O’Connell said. “The program is going to really turn around with the new coaching staff.”O’Connell notes that the new coaching staff includes former Washington State pitcher and Mariners’ draft pick Joe Pistorese as a pitching coach. Pistorese now works as a realtor in the Flathead Valley.

A longtime New York Knicks fan, US President Donald Trump and the first lady -- then-Melania Knauss -- were photographed courtside by AFP during the 1999 NBA Eastern Conference Finals game against the Indiana Pacers (JEFF HAYNES)US President Donald Trump is scheduled to attend game three of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on Monday, saying he accepted an invitation from New York Knicks owner James Dolan."The answer is yes," Trump told reporters at the White House, when asked if would attend. "He's invited me, I'm going."The Knicks will host the San Antonio Spurs in game three of the best-of-seven championship series on Monday, with game four on Wednesday, June 10.Trump was initially vague on which game he would make -- not ruling out attending both.The White House confirmed his intention to be at Monday's game in its daily guidance on the president's schedule.Trump's appearance will likely mean much more heightened security in and around the Midtown Manhattan venue.The Knicks are back in the Finals for the first time since 1999 -- when Trump had courtside seats -- and are chasing their first title since 1973. They won game one in San Antonio on Wednesday, marking their 12th straight win of these playoffs. Their run is fueling feverish support in the Big Apple along with astonishing ticket prices for Finals games.NBA commissioner Adam Silver, speaking at a community event in San Antonio on Thursday, told reporters he was "thrilled" that the president wanted to be a part of it."President Trump is very much a New Yorker," Silver said according to The Athletic. "I'm thrilled another New Yorker wants to participate in the enthusiasm and joy around this Knicks team."Silver said that before Trump ever sought public office "he was a big Knicks fan."I was there at many Knicks games with him in the old days," Silver said, adding that Trump once appeared in an "I Love this Game" NBA promotional spot.The spot, made in the 2004-05 season, featured multiple celebrities, including Trump playing on his "You're fired" tagline from the reality show "The Apprentice."bb/sla

If this is the end of the road for Lu Dort and the Oklahoma City Thunder, then the former will go down as one of their greatest success stories in franchise history. Added as an undrafted rookie, he's carved out a remarkable career that not even the biggest optimists could've dreamed of.Dort has a $17.7 million team option for the 2026-27 season. And considering the Thunder have had the chance to sign him to a new deal since last summer, I think the writing is on the wall about his future in OKC. Seeing his playing time dwindle due to dull defense and poor outside shooting, it feels like both sides are heading toward an inevitable divorce.As emotionally difficult as that might be, it's likely the best move for both sides. The Thunder have a replacement waiting in the wings in Cason Wallace. He's also eligible for a contract extension for the first time this offseason. Considering his breakout year as an All-Defense Team member, the 22-year-old is ready for a full-time starting gig.And for Dort, it'd be unfair to ask him to take a team-friendly deal or downsize in role. Even with his down season, there'd surely be a market for him among contenders desperately needing to fortify their defense — cough, cough, the Los Angeles Lakers.After the Thunder fell in a Game 7 loss to the San Antonio Spurs in the 2026 Western Conference Finals, Dort iterated several times that being in OKC is where he wants to be. It makes sense to feel that way. But sometimes, other factors just don't make that a feasible option. Regardless of what happens, he spoke highly of his relationship with Thunder fans."Just imagining me at 20 years old when I came here first and the person I am today is totally different. Just the way that this organization shapes you on the court and off the court as a man, how to be professional, and also just the love that we get from this city and our fans," Dort said. "There's nowhere I would go around the city where I don't get reminded that I'm a Thunder player and people are so happy to see me."Can't help but get a little teary-eyed hearing Dort's comments in his exit interview. Knowing it's likely the last time he talks to the media as a Thunder player. Say what you want about how moving on makes the most basketball sense, it doesn't make it any less of an emotional gutpunch to see him go elsewhere. Especially since he's tied with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the longest-tenured player on the team.Dort has had a firsthand experience of seeing the Thunder go from a rebuild to an NBA champion. It's been synonymous with his individual journey. To see another key piece of their 2025 championship-winning squad go elsewhere is the latest cold reminder that this league is a results-oriented business. Nobody is ever in one spot for the longest.Doesn't mean the memories you make suddenly disappear or hold less value, though."It's been amazing," Dort said. "And I'm still enjoying it."This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Lu Dort shows love to Thunder fans ahead of offseason: 'It's been amazing'

Former Arizona Cardinals Pro Bowl quarterback Kyler Murray has the upper hand in the Minnesota Vikings quarterback battle, if Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell's comments are the primary indicator.While O'Connell did not declare a leader in the race between Murray and third-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy, he did take his time to praise Murray after OTAs on June 4."It's been fantastic just to see the daily growth, for a guy that was obviously with one organization, but really two schemes throughout his time in Arizona," O'Connell said. "Our scheme's probably different than what he's most comfortable doing from the time on task there, and just the daily growth. "Just as simple as comparing Day 1 of calling plays versus today. Just two totally different guys."Comfort in O'Connell's offensive system was always going to be Murray's top focus if he wanted to win the starting quarterback job. Murray is the more proven option in terms of productivity, as he has averaged 7 yards per pass and 6 yards per rush in his seven-year NFL career. McCarthy is at 6.7 yards per pass and 4.9 yards per rush in his NFL career.It was going to come down to whether Murray could pick up an offense that McCarthy has been around already for two seasons. O'Connell did address Murray's physical ability, though."His physical talent throwing the ball has been on display every day," O'Connell added. "The ability to throw to all three levels, layer the ball, anticipation that veteran players bring to the position."McCarthy threw 12 interceptions in 10 starts last season, which were the only 10 starts of his career. He threw 11 touchdown passes. Murray has tossed 121 touchdown passes to 60 interceptions in his 87 career starts. He has tacked on 32 rushing touchdowns compared to McCarthy's four.O'Connell still wants to see more before naming a starter."I've been really happy with the way both of those guys — J.J. and Kyler — have kind of attacked it in their own individual ways knowing they're competing," O'Connell said.Despite McCarthy's struggles last season, Minnesota went 9-8. With Murray having a history of improving his team's overall win percentage (Murray was 38-48-1 as a starter in Arizona while his backups were 5-25), Murray grasping the offense would give the Vikings a ceiling that enables them to contend in the vaunted NFC North. Next up for the Vikings' QB saga comes June 9, when mandatory minicamp kicks off.This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Ex-Cardinals QB Kyler Murray impressing coach before summer heats up

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Texas wins its second consecutive NCAA softball title, beating Texas Tech 4-1 in rematch of last year's final.

OKLAHOMA CITY — It won't be long before NiJaree Canady is back in OKC, if she leaves town at all.The Texas Volts, who selected Canady with the No. 2 pick in this year's AUSL draft, open their season here a few days from now at Tom Heath Field, a short eight-mile drive from Devon Park. And she'll be back at the site of the Women's College World Series in short order, the Summer Olympics being held here in two year's time.This is not the end of Canady's story, and it was never intended to be that way. Long before she arrived at Texas Tech, Canady envisioned herself with a gold medal around her neck, representing the United States in the sport of softball, a game she didn't even dedicate herself to until big colleges came calling for her services. Since then, Canady has put together one of the greatest lists of achievements possible. Conference and national player of the year awards. All-American team after All-American team. Considered the best pitcher the country has had to offer for three consecutive years (at least). Blazing a trail for little girls who want to be the next NiJa.All that Canady has achieved in her four years of college will be commemorated with hall of fame inductions in short order. Maybe even a statue outside of Tracy Sellers Field. The one thing that won't be included in those accolades, though, is a national championship.Sometimes the best players, or the best teams, don't get to hoist the trophy or find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Sports are a cruel mistress that can deliver the most beautiful moments and crushing devastation in such quick succession that it necessitates a visit to a chiropractor to diagnose whiplash.What Canady has done is something few people could dream of, little of it having to do with what she did on the softball field.For as much attention the NIL deal that got Canady to Texas Tech has gotten over the past 24 months, most can see what it truly represented: hope. Women can make the same sort of money as men do, even in sports that are still fighting for their spot in line. Players of all ages have gravitated toward Canady the person, the businesswoman, as much as they have the player.Canady would like nothing more than to say she went out on top, that everything she dreamed of with the Red Raiders had gotten done. That includes claiming just the fourth national title in Texas Tech school history. It wasn't meant to be, a reality she and everyone else, unfortunately, has to accept.There's a long line of amazing players to never win a title. Charles Barkley is often the first name that comes up. So do Dan Marino, Randy Moss and Allen Iverson. All four broke new ground in their respective fields, are considered the cream of the crop at what they did and remembered as the legends they were. Canady joins that list, one nobody ever wants to be on.Truth is, Canady's lack of a national championship is a footnote, or at least it should be. She didn't just change the way people think about Texas Tech softball, or the sport in general. Canady changed lives, including mine.If you had told me in June 2024 that I would be dedicating much of my life to college softball, I would have scoffed. But here we are, now in my fourth full week in Oklahoma City in the last 13 months to cover the Red Raiders' pursuit of a national championship. Softball wasn't a sport that registered with me much before, outside of the high school games I'd cover. Now it's one of my favorites to cover, even to watch without the Red Raiders being involved.In the time since Canady joined the Red Raiders, I've written some of my favorite stories (some of which have earned modest recognition) about her and the world she encompasses; about her teammates and coaches; about the sport at large. My entire career has changed because Canady came to Lubbock. A sport that was a distant thought came front of mind in the instant she signed with the Red Raiders. The spring is no longer just what comes after basketball ends. It's now the start of what has become an annual retreat to OKC.Just before making the trek to the WCWS, I'd gotten into the hobby of collecting trading cards. I focus on very specific people, though: athletes who I know personally, went to school with or have covered professionally in a direct capacity. The 10-plus day stay in OKC has allowed ample time to hit different card shops throughout the city to extend my collection.I've been able to secure prime cards of guys like Darrion Williams (who, despite transferring to NC State last year, made the trip to the WCWS to support the Red Raiders), Plainview legend Michael Egnew and plenty of others. The biggest find, out in a little shop in Edmond that sells mostly Pokemon, was a numbered autographed memorabilia rookie card of Nate Wolters, the South Dakota State basketball legend I had the honor of spending hours rebounding for (even crashing on his couch during Christmas break my freshman year) and watching up close during my time as a student manager.Finding that card in the wild meant little to the shop owner who pulled it out of the case. To me, it was everything. Few have meant more to my love of basketball than Wolters, who is one of the reasons I stuck around as a manager beyond his time at SDSU. I got weirdly emotional seeing it, and gladly paid the reasonable $15 for something that, for me, is worth millions.I don't know if the AUSL has a trading card deal. If they do, I'd gladly fork over a nice chunk of change for a similar card of Canady. She occupies a rare space in my life, someone who has shaped what it is today by simply being herself. The same can be said of what Canady has done for the sport, for the people (children and adults alike) who bought her jersey, made signs and cheered her on in her pursuit of greatness.There will be plenty of others who share this sentiment, but allow me to throw my hat in the ring: thank you, NiJaree Canady. For everything.This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Why NiJaree Canady's impact on Texas Tech softball goes beyond titles

The United States Men’s National Team will play its second World Cup friendly this weekend against Germany in Chicago, Illinois. The Americans play their first World Cup match of the summer against Paraguay in Los Angeles, California next Friday June 12th. Local standout athlete Miles Robinson will make his World Cup debut for his country. “He did a family facetime, and we were like oh my God,” Jane Madden, Robinson’s mother said. “Guys I made the team. We were all really excited.”Robinson grew up playing soccer in Arlington, Massachusetts and started kicking a ball around when he was three years old. He played one season of varsity soccer at the high school before joining a local club team. At Arlington High, Robinson was a standout basketball player. He scored more than 1,000 career points, which is 4th in school history. The star athletes went on to play soccer for Syracuse University. After less than two years, he entered the Major League Soccer Draft and was taken with the second overall pick by Atlanta United in 2017. The defender won trophies with Atlanta before joining FC Cincinnati in 2024. The 29-year-old has made 39 appearances for the USMNT and has scored three goals, but he missed the last World Cup in 2022. Robinson had an Achilles injury. His mother says he has worked hard since the injury to get back and form and make the USMNT roster for soccer’s biggest stage. “He’s been working towards playing in this World Cup especially on home soil that’s really nice,” she said. “This is the pinnacle.”Robinson played in the friendly against Senegal last weekend, starting the second half on defense. He helped preserve the lead as the USMNT won 3-2. Now, his family is focused on the final friendly with Germany this weekend before they fly to the west coast to watch the World Cup matches. “When Miles is locked in, he is extraordinary. I’m not just saying that because he’s my son. Other people have said it too,” Robinson’s father Jeff Robinson said. “I’m excited because I know he’s going to be focused. He wants to win the World Cup. He doesn’t want to be just there, that’s not how he thinks.”The town was buzzing when Robinson made the team. His former basketball coach, John Bowler, said the school was pumped for him. “First person from Arlington to play in the Olympics and first to play in the World Cup,” Bowler said. “He’s done a lot of firsts. All the kids in Arlington probably didn’t think it was possible to be an Olympian, or a World Cup now see someone from Arlington did it.”Bowler is now the Arlington High School Athletic Director. He says Robinson was a great athlete, but a better teammate.“Great representative for the town and everybody loves him,” Bowler said. “He was the best teammate, great friend and great role model for kids in Arlington.”Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW

Where to watch Texas high school baseball playoffs: Schedule, channel, live stream for UIL championship games originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Texas is always home to some of the best high school baseball teams and players in the country, and this season is no exception.This weekend's UIL state championship games will feature the top two teams in MaxPreps' current national rankings, No. 1 Tomball and No. 2 Calallen, trying to close out their seasons with titles. The Cougars are looking to return to the top in 6A after winning the state championship in 2024 but falling to Kingwood in last year's 6AD2 final. Calallen prevailed in the 4AD1 final last year and is trying for a repeat as it faces Pleasant Grove,, ranked No. 20 nationally by MaxPreps. Two other top-25 teams also will play for trophies, with No. 13 Keller meeting Lake Travis for the 6AD1 crown and No. 22 Aledo trying to go back-to-back in 5AD1 with a title-game matchup against Lake Creek. It should be a great weekend of baseball in Round Rock. Here's when and where to watch every game. Where to watch Texas high school baseball playoffsTV channel: N/ALive stream:NFHS NetworkThe Texas high school baseball state championships will not air on national TV channels. Viewers can stream games on the NFHS Network.The NFHS Network offers two basic plans: an Annual Pass ($6.67 per month) or a Monthly Pass ($13.99 per month). These plans give subscribers the ability to watch live sporting events and create clips of their favorite moments from games.Texas high school baseball state championships schedule 2026All games will be played at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, home of the Triple-A Round Rock Express.Thursday, June 4Watch every game live on the NFHS Network.ConferenceGameTime (CT)2A Div. 1New Home 7, Iola 2—2A Div. 2Burton 6, Ropes 1—3A Div. 1Boyd 9, London 8—3A Div. 2Franklin vs. Paradise7 p.m.Friday, June 5ConferenceGameTime (CT)4A Div. 1Pleasant Grove vs. Calallen9 a.m.4A Div. 2Robinson vs. Brock12 p.m.5A Div. 1Lake Creek vs. Aledo4 p.m.5A Div. 2Lovejoy vs. Sharyland7 p.m.Saturday, June 6ConferenceGameTime (CT)1AGordon vs. Centerville9 a.m.6A Div. 1Lake Travis vs. Keller12 p.m.6A Div. 2Tomball vs. Houston Memorial4 p.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Teagan Kavan struck out five in the final two innings to back a strong start from Citlaly Gutierrez, and Kayden Henry homered to lead Texas to a 4-1 victory over Texas Tech on Thursday night at the Women's College World Series for a second straight national championship.Texas trailed 1-0 after four innings, but a bases-loaded throwing error by shortstop Hailey Toney allowed two unearned runs to score in the fifth for a 2-1 lead.Henry homered off Red Raiders ace NiJaree Canady — in her final collegiate game — to begin the seventh and Leighann Goode singled to drive in the final run.Gutierrez (11-3) allowed one run on three hits in 4 1/3 innings. Kavan notched her fifth save.Canady (29-7) went the distance and allowed four runs — two earned — on eight hits with three walks.Lauren Allred had an RBI single in the third to put Texas Tech up 1-0.Coach Mike White led Texas to the school's second title in his eighth season.Second-year coach Gerry Glasgo has led the Red Raiders to their only two WCWS appearances. Texas Tech fell 7-3 in the opener.Texas won the rubber game of the three-game series against Texas Tech last season to claim its first title.__AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports

Karl-Anthony Towns reveals that he will always find ways to be a star, no matter his role originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.During the 2025-26 regular season, Karl-Anthony Towns admitted that he did not know his role under head coach Mike Brown's system. For most of his career, he has been a go-to scorer in the paint or as a spot-up three-point shooter. That was mostly his role this season, but to a lesser degree. He finally got the hang of a new role in the 2026 Playoffs, as he is functioning more as an offensive hub rather than a scorer. That has unlocked a new dimension of his game, and the New York Knicks are benefiting from it. Karl-Anthony Towns is confident he will be impactful in any role for the KnicksThe role change has been huge for the Knicks, as they have won 12 consecutive games in the Playoffs. They solved the Atlanta Hawks puzzle in the first round, and they swept both the Philadelphia 76ers and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the following rounds.Now, they are playing against a young and ambitious San Antonio Spurs team. Towns' matchup is the biggest one so far, as he is playing against Victor Wembanyama. Despite most people taking Wemby over KAT, it seems the latter has the advantage after Game 1.MORE: Shaquille O'Neal reveals the adjustment Victor Wembayama needs to make to win Game 2 vs the KnicksAs the primary matchup against Wemby, Towns did a wonderful job of being physical in defending against him. Despite not being known as a top-tier defender throughout his career, Towns stepped up when it mattered the most as he helped limit Wemby's efficiency.At the same time, Towns was still impactful on offense, which is what coach Brown wants to see from him. Now, Towns has shown that he is versatile enough to stand out in any role the coach gives him, which is something he takes pride in."Whatever the team needs me to do to impact winning, so whatever the team needs me to do to impact winning to get us get over that hump and get that win on that night, I'm willing to do. Jalen got hurt, and I changed my role. Jalen got back, I changed my role again... Whatever my role is, I've got to be the best at it," Towns said a day after the Game 1 victory vs the Spurs.Towns is approaching every game with solid energy and a strong mindset. That is evident with how he has been playing, and that is scary for the Spurs because a locked-in Towns is one of the toughest matchups not only for Wembanyama but for the rest of the team as well.More NBA news:Victor Wembanyama seems not to be worried after the Spurs' Game 1 loss to the KnicksMike Brown is ecstatic that Jalen Brunson is playing at an MVP level in the NBA FinalsMitch Johnson is looking for ways to maximize Victor Wembanyama in Game 2De'Aaron Fox's terrible Game 1 performance gets exposed by a former star NFL playerStephon Castle and Victor Wembanyama are confident ahead of Game 2 vs the Knicks

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. – Aphrodite Deng is a leaderboard watcher, and when the 16-year-old U.S. Women's Open debutante looked up early into her round on Thursday, she was tied for the lead at Riviera Country Club."I thought it was cool," said Deng, "but it's only the first day. I mean, at the CKPC I was leading too, so I was kind of used to it."Canada's Deng opened with a 65 at her own national open, the CPKC Women's Open, last summer to hold a share of the early lead.Deng won the 2025 U.S. Girls' Junior last summer at Atlanta Athletic Club to earn her spot in the field. For a while on Thursday, it looked like nothing could go wrong for Deng, whose second shot on the par-4 12th hole ricocheted off the tree named after Humphrey Bogart – "Bogey's tree" – and nestled 6 feet from the hole. She'd go on to make birdie, one of four in her first 10 holes. UNREAL RIVIERA MEMBER'S BOUNCE 😎🙌Aphrodite Deng benefits from an incredible kick off the tree that sets up birdie on the 12th📺 USA Network | @USWomensOpenpic.twitter.com/2KA15TxS7E— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) June 4, 2026"She's so calm," said John Wood, the longtime PGA Tour caddie who has caddied at Riviera in 22 tournaments. Another longtime Tour caddie, Paul Tesori, connected the two for this week."It's just like it's another tournament," continued Wood, who now works for NBC and was mic'd up during the round. "It's not in her head that this is the U.S. Open and she's 16 yet ears old. She's just playing golf, It's so hard to do."Deng sputtered down the stretch, making a two bogeys and a double on her second nine. But she closed with a birdie from 7 feet on the par-4 ninth hole to shoot 1-under 70 and take a share of 14th, four back of leader Jennifer Kupcho. Deng was one of three amateurs to open with a 70 at Riviera. Reigning Augusta National Women's Amateur champion Maria Jose Marin and SEC champion Paula Francisco Liano joined her. Asterisk Talley, 17, shot 71.This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Aphrodite Deng, 16, lucky break off Bogey's Tree at U.S. Women's Open

In an interview after The Times reported on his treatment of women he had dated, Graham Platner acknowledged “not exactly acting with the best behavior” after his military service.

The pilot heard a “thump” while landing in Newark, according to a newly released report. The light pole crashed onto a truck.

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. – Jennifer Kupcho has never been one to get an early preview of a U.S. Women's Open venue. Her parents always thought it was a good idea, but Kupcho thought, well, she didn't do that anywhere else. Why do it here?This year, however, she took them up on it, coming over to check out Riviera Country Club while she was playing at the nearby JM Eagle LA Championship in April.After opening with a 5-under 66 to lead the 81st U.S. Women's Open, she decided: "Parents are always right, right?"Kupcho, who is staying with a host family this week, has missed the cut in her last three U.S. Open appearances. The fact that she's nowhere near the cut line has taken a weight off her chest. A four-time winner on the LPGA, including the 2022 Chevron Championship, the 29-year-old's previous best finish at this event was a share of 21st in 2017."Just kind of got it all together, and it's just flowing," said Kupcho of her ball-striking this week. She leads South Korea's Sei Young Kim by one shot. Five players hold a share of third. A total of 28 players broke par on a picture-perfect day in Pacific Palisades. Amateur Aphrodite Deng, 16, briefly held a share of the lead before ultimately shooting 70. She's joined by 2026 Augusta National Women's Amateur champion Maria Jose Marin and SEC champion Paula Francisco Liano in a share of 14th.Despite the ideal scoring conditions, a number of of the tour's biggest names fell flat. World No. 1 Nelly Korda was bewildered by an opening 2-over 73 that saw her changing her shoes mid-round. No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul matched her efforts at 73 to take a share of 57th along with Charley Hull, Brooke Henderson, Yani Tseng and Kiara Romero, the top-ranked amateur in the world.Now on the tee, Michelle Wie West, who is likely playing in her final @uswomensopen. (Until she wins the U.S. Senior Women’s Open?) pic.twitter.com/Yqpic9fm9g— Beth Ann Nichols (@GolfweekNichols) June 4, 2026Michelle Wie West, the 2014 U.S. Women's Open champion who might be making her final appearance in the event, shot 75. She hit her opening drive off the famed first tee 319 yards.Beth Ann Nichols is a Golfweek senior writer covering the LPGA and women's golf.This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Jennifer Kupcho leads U.S. Women's Open, gives a nod to mom and dad

Aaron Judge Will Not Play vs. Red Sox Friday, Lengthy Injury Diagnosis originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Any Boston Red Sox fans who are making the trip south and were hoping to see one of Major League Baseball's best players during this weekend's series against the New York Yankees will be disappointed to hear that Aaron Judge has been ruled out for the entire series.Judge has missed the last couple of games, seeking second and third opinions from doctors all over the country. Some feared the Yankees captain was on pace to miss the remainder of the 2026 season, but a new report implies that Judge could be back on the diamond as soon as late August. "Aaron Judge has been diagnosed with a stress fracture of the first rib on his right side, the Yankees announced," Jorge Castillo wrote on X. "He will be reimaged in approximately four to six weeks."It's hard to imagine, but this is good news for several Yankees fans who feared the worst. As far as Red Sox fans are concerned, this is good news as well. The reigning AL MVP will not only miss the series starting Friday in the Bronx, but the series at Fenway Park to close out June as well. Judge has 34 home runs and 74 RBI in his 120 career games played against Boston. More MLB: Red Sox Trade For Left-Handed Pitcher Before Optioning Brayan Bello

Greg Hurst doesn’t shy away from his Scottish roots.It’s certainly apparent in his accent. Unsurprisingly in his underdog pick for the World Cup, too. Or even how the New Mexico United forward goes about his business on the pitch.Hurst, self-admittedly, isn’t always great at hiding his emotions. Sometimes, he knows that can get him into trouble. Other times, it can have the opposite effect.At least, that’s what Hurst was hoping when he gathered his teammates on the field for a “pretty real talk” right after the 3-0 drubbing United received at rival Phoenix Rising FC in a regular-season matchup on April 11.“Looking back on it, a couple of (the) boys just wanted to talk about it and there’s no point sometimes in keeping things to yourself,” Hurst said Thursday ahead of Saturday’s rematch against Rising, at home, in the USL Cup. “It’s good to get it out in the open, and that’s what competing and wanting to win is.“There’s going to be difficult times, there’s going to be good times and it’s all about, as harsh as you can be (in those moments), sticking together, and at no point I ever felt the group didn’t stick together.”Hurst’s main message? Don’t expect to just show up for matches and win. Training and playing for United is a job, treat it as such or others will.It sounds simple and rather standard — and it is — but those “healthy” talks, as Hurst called them, can also be the most appreciative.“It’s good to have those conversions rather than leave it for later,” forward Niall Reid-Stephen said. “The conversation was about getting the guys back to where we want to be. Some take it personal, but we’re all grown men, so you gotta deal with it.”It’s a move manager Dennis Sanchez supports. The coaching staff can only say so much. At some point, any accountability or ownership has to be player-driven. They are, after all, the ones on the pitch.Since that 3-0 loss, United has seen some benefits. The club has gone 3-2-2 overall and 2-1-2 in USL Championship play. One of those overall wins came against League One-side AV Alta FC in the USL Cup, while one of the losses came at Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in the same tournament. Sanchez rested the majority of his starters in that 4-0 loss.More importantly, New Mexico has earned eight points in the Western Conference standings, putting the club seventh on the 12-team table. United is currently tied with El Paso Locomotive FC with 14 total points.“We talked about taking more of a village approach, especially at the beginning of the year,” Sanchez said. “And guys feeling like if it’s Greg one game or (defender) Kipp (Keller) one game, Niall, whoever it is, whoever feels in the moment that we’re not adhering to our standard, which I think has been a big focus of how we can find more consistency … and every time we step on the field to one, cherish it, be present, know this is a very difficult league, that’s something that we’re saying in here almost every single day on the field.“I think the more people that are saying it and recognizing those moments in real time, halftime, whenever it is, I have no problem and want to encourage those types of discussions. And we’re open in good times, too.”Honesty, sometimes, can be the best policy. How and when that’s communicated tends to help, too.Just ask Hurst.“This league is not easy, every game is a challenge, and I was super proud of how the boys reacted to that (talk),” Hurst said. “I think we’ve seen that in recent weeks and it’s just continuing to understand that every game is a dogfight, every game is a battle and if we turn up ready to fight, we’ll do it.”David Glovach covers New Mexico United and other sports for the Journal. Reach him at dglovach@abqjournal.com or via X @DavidGlovach.More New Mexico United reading*NM United sees road draw as 'valuable point'Coming off longest trip of season, NMU leaves Hartford with some positives*Match day: New Mexico United at Hartford AthleticNMU is capping off three games against top Eastern Conference opponents*NM United's road warriors find ways to stay sharpAhead of a 2,100-mile trip, players rely on video games and a relaxed routine to unwind and prepare for the match*Keller's late goal and Griddy dance lift UnitedNMU defender Kipp Keller scored in the 81st minute to secure a win over Charleston Battery, then celebrated with a signature dance move*Match day: Charleston Battery at New Mexico UnitedNMU looks to snap streak against another top club from Eastern Conference*A star is born? A look at the making of NM United's release video for new kitPlayers took on different roles in 'Breakfast Club'-inspired skit*Tampa Bay does just enough against NM United to stay unbeatenLouis Perez’s 5th-minute goal lifts league-leading Rowdies*Match day: Tampa Bay Rowdies at New Mexico UnitedNMU is back at home and will host league-best Rowdies*APS project invites United players to be models for student artistsNMU defender Chris Gloster club's latest United in Art participant*For NM United, State Fairgrounds 'our first choice right now' for stadiumWith Balloon Fiesta Park proposal still mired in legal hurdles, NMU has turned attention elsewhere

Now it’s up to the schools.The New Mexico Activities Association Board of Directors on Thursday afternoon voted in favor — but not unanimously — of approving the NMAA’s revamped eligibility bylaw, including the “one free transfer” rule.Previously, the NMAA Commission and the NMAA staff approved.The final step of the process places this bylaw in the hands of the NMAA’s approximately 160 member schools. NMAA Executive Director Dusty Young said a ballot would be sent Thursday afternoon, and each school will have two weeks to cast a vote.Young said the NMAA would announce the results of the vote on June 22. If it passes, the bylaw goes into effect for the upcoming 2026-27 school year.There were board votes on a number of other items Thursday — there will be an increase in the number of state qualifiers in soccer, plus small-school baseball brackets, for example, plus a change in dates for next year’s Class 4A/5A state track and field meet — but the vote on the eligibility topic is the one that has attracted the most attention.As expected, this item created considerable discussion, and some consternation, among board members, as these proposed revisions mark a radical philosophical change for the NMAA.Most of this centers on the one-free-transfer rule, which would allow students to change schools without penalty and, so long as they transfer before the start date of a particular sport season, they’d become varsity-eligible at their new school.There are, naturally, some provisions. There is particular concern among coaches, and inside the NMAA offices, about the recruitment of athletes, and how precisely this could be detected. It is the “undue influence” section of the eligibility bylaw. The penalties for recruitment — if caught — could be severe for the athlete and the offending school.Another aspect is that individual districts across the state may institute their own policies that are stricter than the NMAA language. Rio Rancho Public Schools Athletic Director Todd Resch said transfers between Rio Rancho and Cleveland would, he believed, be all but prohibited. Either school, he added, would accept transfers from other districts — such as Albuquerque Public Schools.In Las Cruces, athletes can’t transfer among the four large schools without sitting out a season, barring a bonafide change in residence.Gabriella Duran Blakey, the APS superintendent who is also an NMAA board member, said APS would follow the NMAA's lead on this bylaw.Students who attempt a second transfer will be ineligible for varsity competition for a full calendar year, although there are some exceptions.Lee White, the superintendent of Loving Municipal Schools and an NMAA board member, agonized over his decision as the board members were polled individually.He finally gave his answer: No.“My No. 1 concern is the displacement of any student that currently exists in the system,” White said in a post-meeting interview. “And the displacement (because) of a star athlete from another place. I don’t think that’s fair.”Moreover, White said, “I’m just frustrated by the fact that it’s come to this. I’m frustrated by the fact that we’re here.”While the eligibility issue goes to a school vote, other action items Thursday will be implemented immediately.State soccer tournaments will see an increase in qualifying teams from 12 to 16 in classes 4A and 5A, but the bracket will not have that traditional 1 vs. 16, 2 vs. 15 format.It appears as though seeds 9-16 will play each other in an initial round. The four winners advance to the next round to meet seeds 5-8. And the winners of those games advance to meet one of the top four seeds. The lower seeds will need to win five games, over the course of a two-week postseason, to earn a state title. Seeds 5-8, four games. The top four seeds, three games.Class 2A and 3A baseball are moving from 12 to 16 teams in the postseason, thus eliminating the first-round byes for the top four seeds. Class 1A will go from six to eight teams.The 4A/5A state track and field meet will move from May 14-15 of next year to May 5-6, a Wednesday and Thursday, and will be held prior to the Class 1A-3A meet on May 7-8. This is because the University of New Mexico needs its facility to host the Mountain West Championships the weekend of the 14th and 15th.The NMAA member schools will also be voting on a couple of soccer proposals that passed a board vote on Thursday.The first is the elimination of all regular-season overtimes, except in tournaments that require a winner. The second is removing card count misconduct progression for players and coaches.James Yodice covers prep sports for the Journal. You can reach him at jyodice@abqjournal.com or via X at @JamesDYodice.

HOUSTON, TEXAS - JUNE 04: Isaac Paredes #15 of the Houston Astros reacts after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Daikin Park on June 04, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images The hope going in was that momentum would continue, propelling the Astros to a series win and consecutive victories. Unfortunately, no one told Ryan O’Hearn and the rest of the Pittsburgh Pirates. O’Hearn would be a constant thorn in the side of this rubber match. Pirates 5 Astros 1. The scoring opened with O’Hearn’s RBI single in the first off starter Kai-Wei Teng. Tang would settle down after a 25-pitch opening frame, but things would begin to unravel in the 6th inning as once again O’Hearn would do the damage, this time blasting a 2-run shot to break things open. The Pirates have now registered home runs in 11 straight contests. Oneil Cruz would do his part, reaching safely in all four of his plate appearances with a pair of hits and walks on the night.The Astros lone run would come off the bat of Isaac Paredes and a solo shot in the 6th. For Paredes, it would be a small milestone, notching career HR 100. Teng (3-4) took the loss, allowing 7 hits over 5 innings, 4 of the runs earned. Fortunately, better news is on the immediate horizon with the heightened anticipation of Jose Altuve’s return. Prior to Thursday Night’s contest, Astros Announcer Todd Kalas told me “Altuve brings an immediate presence to the lineup and a jolt to the clubhouse. His ability to get on a heater, could take the pressure off Yordan, Walker and Pena who have been carrying the team recently. He also strengthens the lineup, so you get a recent All-Star in Parades or a potential All-Star in Christian Walker hitting 5th with Altuve in there.” When #27 returns, (skipping a rehab assignment) he’ll face a “softer schedule” these next two weeks, as the Astros will not face an opponent over .500 until the Guardians come here on June 19th. A’s, Angels, Royals & Tigers have combined to lose just shy of 150 games thus far. Expect to see him potentially as early as this weekend. Odds & Ends. The Astros have completed their journey through the N.L. West, compiling a mark of 6 and 9. Three of those six wins came at the expense of the Cubs during a Memorial Day Weekend sweep at Wrigley.Collin Price made his Astros debut. His first at bat reaching safely on a walk. Jeremy Pena has now hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games. With Thursday’s result, the Astros now have 11% odds of reaching the postseason according to MLB’s playoff odds. Up Next, the Astros host the A’s and pitcher Jack Perkins who enters with a lofty 5.46 ERA. Friday Night’s contest will celebrate Orbit’s birthday.