As Xi Jinping visits Pyongyang, he faces an emboldened North Korean dictator, whose alliance with Russia has reduced his dependence on China.

Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles set a WNBA rookie record by hitting eight 3-pointers in Thursday’s 87-84 win over the Golden State Valkyries. The previous rookie mark of seven 3s in a single game was held by four players, including Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark. Utah’s Elena Baranova, Houston’s Cynthia Cooper (both in 1997) and the New York Liberty’s Crystal Robinson (1999) were the other three to hold the record.This story will be updated with more information.

The USC baseball team is set to take on the UNC Tarheels this weekend in the Trojans’ first Super Regional appearance in 21 years.USC (47-16) faces UNC (43-11-1) in a three-game series, with a trip to Omaha, Nebraska, and the College World Series on the line.The Trojans haven’t made that eight-team tournament in 25 years, something that players and coaches have been thinking about, as reported by Haley Sawyer of the Orange County Register.“It’s been an honor to wear the Trojan brand on the front of my chest,” sophomore catcher Augie Lopez said. “Honestly, just knowing that this team is the team to bring USC back to a super regional is incredible. It hasn’t hit me until right now, but just feeling grateful and super blessed.”May 31, 2025; Corvallis, OR, USA; USC head coach Andy Stankiewicz takes questions after a game against Saint Mary’s at the NCAA Corvallis Regional at Goss Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images“Man, I can’t tell you how proud I am of everybody on our team,” added head coach Andy Stankiewicz. “They just kept working, kept getting after it and believing in each other.”View this post on InstagramA post shared by USC Baseball (@sctrojans_baseball)How did the USC Trojans get to the Super Regionals and what’s at stake?Despite initially falling to Texas State, the Trojans made it out of a regional round hosted at top-seeded Texas A&M, a squad they beat in two games by a combined 21-4 score.USC’s Isaac Cadena makes a catch to clinch the Trojans’ win in extra innings as the Oregon Ducks host the USC Trojans on May 14, 2026, in Eugene, Oregon.Those wins allow the Trojans, the winningest program in college baseball history with 12 championships, to compete again for a title after decades without one.As Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Los Angeles Times notes, “No player on the current roster was alive when the Trojans won their last national title in 1998.”How to watch the USC baseball teamThe first game of the best-of-three series begins at noon PT Friday at Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill.The game will be broadcast on ESPN2, while Saturday’s second game will be broadcast on ESPN. That matchup is set to begin at 11 a.m. PT.Details of the potential third game on Sunday have not yet been released. The winner of this series moves on to face the winner of Ole Miss and Auburn.The post USC Baseball Begins 1st Super Regionals in 21 Years appeared first on LA Sports Report.

St. Augustine native Sofia Rivera had a rough start to her first U.S. Women's Open round on June 4 at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif.But a late dinner may go down easier after she played the front nine (her back) at 1-under par with a closing birdie at the par-4 ninth hole.Rivera, at 16, the youngest First Coast resident to play in a USGA National Open, finished with a 4-over 74 and is in a tie for 104th, eight shots behind leader Jennifer Kupcho. Rivera is being caddied by her uncle, two-time PGA Tour winner Russell Knox.Rivera goes 4-over in first five holesRivera, the Times-Union girls' high school player of the year and FHSAA Class 3A state champion in 2025, bogeyed her first two holes and then doubled the par-4 14th hole. She then bogeyed the next par-3, No. 16 and shot 5-over 41 on the back nine.However, she made her first birdie at the par-5 first hole on a putt of 2 feet, 2 inches, and shook off her final bogey of the day at No. 3 with five pars in a row and then a birdie at the ninth, on a putt of 3-9.Rivera found the putting surface despite missing her 10th fairway of the day at the last. She hit only six greens but saved herself from an even higher score with only 26 putts.When will Sofia Rivera tee off in the second round?Rivera, playing with another amateur, University of Missouri junior Addie Dobson and professional Natsumi Hayakawa of Japan, will tee off No. 1 at 11:46 a.m. on June 5.Rivera will begin the day two shots off the cut line.This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Sofia Rivera stumbles early, rallies for a closing birdie in U.S. Open

Baseball briefly became a contact sport during a game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday.Both Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy and D-backs first baseman Ildemaro Vargas exited the game in the fifth inning after a violent collision at first base. The Dodgers later announced Muncy had been removed from the game “with shortness of breath and to rule out a concussion.”Muncy ran hard into first on a grounder, while Vargas moved in from behind the bag to get the out. The two men reached the base almost simultaneously, with the play essentially becoming a game of chicken. Neither man got out of the way, leading to their heads slamming into each other.Both men immediately fell to the ground in clear pain. Muncy's helmet and glasses caused issues for both, as the brim of the helmet hitting Vargas' temple while the glasses got pushed into Muncy's eye socket. They were clearly dazed, and were respectively replaced by Santiago Espinal on the basepaths and Pavin Smith at first base.Muncy was called safe on the play, which wound up being significant as Ryan Ward doubled in Espinal one batter to open the scoring. Ward then scored on a single from Dalton Rushing.A significant injury for Muncy would be a blow for the Dodgers in particular. The veteran entered Thursday as the clear favorite to start at third base for the NL in the 2026 MLB All-Star Game, slashing .251/.346/.513 with a team-high 14 home runs.Vargas is a 10-year veteran on his third-stint in Arizona. He entered Thursday slashing .286/.31/4/.448 and ranked second on the D-backs in hits with 60.

This article originally appeared on PGHBaseballNOW.com.Jared Jones’ second start went much better than the first, and Ryan O’Hearn homered for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who won a 5-1 rubber match against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on Thursday night. Scoring PlaysTop 1st, 1-0 PIT: With two outs, Ryan O’Hearn singled up the middle off Astros starter Kai-Wei Teng (3-4), Brandon Lowe, who doubled with one out, scored from second base.Top 6th, 5-0 PIT: Teng held the Pirates (34-29) in check until they struck in the sixth. Lowe doubled to open the inning and scored on a Bryan Reynolds base hit. On the very next pitch, O’Hearn skied a home run to right field. Pittsburgh added another on shortstop Jeremy Peña’s error on a Jared Triolo grounder, which allowed Nick Gonzales to score from second.Bottom 6th, 5-1 PIT: Isaac Paredes hit a solo home run on Carmen Mlodzinski’s second pitch of the game in relief of Jared Jones (1-0). It was Paredes’ second homer in as many games.Click here to read more from PGHBaseballNOW.com.Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

Olivia Miles was already off to a prolific start to her professional career, scoring double digits in each of her nine games to lead the Minnesota Lynx to the top of the WNBA standings. Now, this year’s No. 2 pick in the WNBA Draft is part of history with a WNBA rookie single-game record eight 3-pointers in Minnesota’s 87-84 win over the Golden State Valkyries.Miles finished Thursday’s game with a career-high 28 points to go along with seven assists, three blocks and only one turnover. The Lynx were a team-high plus-14 in her minutes. Minnesota moves to 2-0 in Commissioner’s Cup play as the Lynx attempt to return to the Cup final for the third consecutive season.“She went crazy,” Lynx guard Courtney Williams said on the broadcast after the victory. “She carried us in that first half. I don’t know why they kept going under, but I told her, ‘They wanna keep going under, make ’em pay,’ and that’s exactly what she did.”The 3-point jumper has mostly eluded Miles so far in her WNBA tenure. Entering the game against the Valkyries, she had made 2 of 18 3s and didn’t attempt any during Minnesota’s most recent game, a 34-point romp over the Phoenix Mercury. Miles’ prodigious passing still made an impact, but she resembled the player she was during the start of her college career.Before she tore her ACL at Notre Dame, Miles was a dynamic point guard who didn’t have much of a jump shot. During those two-plus seasons, she made 24.6 percent of her 3-pointers and was even worse off the dribble, making 22.8 percent of those attempts.Post-ACL Miles can hardly be considered the same player. After she recovered from her injury, she made 37.6 percent of her 3-pointers at Notre Dame and as a transfer at TCU, including 35.8 percent of her off-the-dribble attempts. The Lynx had been waiting for that version of Miles, and she arrived Thursday.This article originally appeared in The Athletic.Minnesota Lynx, WNBA2026 The Athletic Media Company

UFC BJJ 9 produced a lot of action and ended up with a whopping eight submission finishes in nine matches. The biggest story coming out of the night is UFC BJJ champ Mason Fowler and CJI champ Nick Rodriguez quickly winning their respective matches by rear naked chokes, then both calling for a title rematch.After coming off a draw on his last bout, Nicky Rod dropped down to light heavyweight and just ran through his opponent in Joao Nicolite. The CJI millionaire rushed into a takedown from the opening bell, and worked on his trademark body lock passing before ending up with a rear naked choke.“Pretty solid 205 lb debut. I want that belt. I want a title shot,” Rodriguez said.Coming off a draw last time, CJI champ Nicky Rod left no doubt and made it look easy at UFC BJJ 9. pic.twitter.com/BPHAFZFPPA— Anton Tabuena (@antontabuena) June 5, 2026Rodriguez predicted that Fowler would win his main event match up, as he asked to be next in line for the belt. The UFC BJJ light heavyweight champion did just that soon after.After an early feeling out period in the headliner, Fowler got a beautiful arm drag to an immediate back take against Devhonte Johnson. Much like his former rival, Fowler made it look easy and quickly finished with a rear naked choke. He then called for the same match up.“I was planning on fighting ‘Hulk’ (Lucas Barbosa) next. He’s a match that I’ve called for many times, but out of nowhere Nicky Rod also dropped to 205,” Fowler said after his win.“I think that’s also a really interesting match to do, especially since he has a win over me. It was a really close match,” he said about a possible rematch with Nicky Rod. “I think 205 is going to be a better weight class more me. That match was at heavyweight… I felt I was a little fat when I competed against him. I wasn’t super lean and I felt that played against me.”TOO EASY 😤Mason Fowler KNEW he had it locked up to defend his title!! #UFCBJJ9pic.twitter.com/0N20SBp8wa— UFC BJJ (@ufcbjj) June 5, 2026The pair previously faced off before the promotion’s rebrand, at UFC Fight Pass Invitational 7. Rodriguez won by points in 2024, then went on to have his iconic million dollar run in CJI a few months later. Fowler has since won four straight matches, all with the UFC, where he is now the UFC BJJ light heavyweight champion.Gilbert Burns wins grappling return, Ffion Davies and Bella Mir get armbar wins at UFC BJJ 9In the UFC BJJ 9 co-main event, longtime UFC star Gilbert Burns made a successful return to his grappling roots after recently retiring from MMA. In a full circle moment, he also had the face of UFC BJJ in his corner in Mikey Musumeci, who Burns actually promoted to black belt all the way back in 2015.Burns got on top and submitted Horlando Monteiro with a rear naked choke in a little over a minute. After the win, he called out several potential opponents for his next match. Burns said he either wants a UFC BJJ title bout, or fun matches with fellow MMA stars like Dustin Poirier, Demian Maia, or Nate Diaz.And it was over in about a minute. Gilbert Burns got Horlando Monteiro’s back and quickly choked him out to win his UFC BJJ debut. pic.twitter.com/J8j7oOqBbT— Anton Tabuena (@antontabuena) June 5, 2026After dropping a close title bout against Cassia Moura last March, former ADCC champion Ffion Davies returned to the win column at UFC BJJ 9, and got her first submission finish in the promotion. The BJJ star defended an early reverse triangle attempt from Amanda Bruse, then used it to pass and completely take over the match. Davies got Bruse’s back, then eventually transitioned to a match ending armbar in the final seconds of the first round.TOOK THE ARM HOME 🏠Ffion Davies just DELIVERED at #UFCBJJ9! pic.twitter.com/QRmAvDqEFw— UFC BJJ (@ufcbjj) June 5, 2026Also in the card, second generation grappling star Bella Mir submitted Nichelle Johnson to go 3-0 in UFC BJJ. After dominating the first two rounds, Mir locked in a kimura in the third round, and transitioned to finish with an armbar.The 22-year-old daughter of former UFC champion Frank Mir has been active juggling various combat sports simultaneously. She is 4-0 in MMA, 3-0 in UFC BJJ, and recently won the US Open in wrestling and will have an upcoming qualifier for Team USA this month.PERFECT 3-0 IN THE BOWL 😤Bella Mir found the armbar late in Round 3 to close the show at #UFCBJJ9!! pic.twitter.com/HAtAahDNxJ— UFC BJJ (@ufcbjj) June 5, 2026Mir isn’t the only second generation BJJ star on the card. Earlier in UFC BJJ 9, Vagner Rocha’s 19-year-old son, Achilles Rocha made it look easy against Filipe Pimentel. The recent ADCC Trials Champ came out aggressive early, and quickly finished the match with a first round heel hook.Check here for complete results and more highlights from UFC BJJ 9.FOR THE LATEST BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU (BJJ) AND GRAPPLING-RELATED NEWS CLICK HERE. FOR ADDITIONAL GRAPPLING CONTENT, FOLLOW @BJJBEAT ON INSTAGRAM.

Stanley Cup Final schedule 2026: Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes dates, times, TV channels, live streams, scores for NHL playoff games originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.In many ways, the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes could not be more different. The Golden Knights are in just their ninth season and have made their fourth Stanley Cup Final, with one win in 2023. The Hurricanes, on the other hand, have qualified for their first Stanley Cup Final in 20 years, over twice as long as the Golden Knights have existed. For the Hurricanes, the key to breaking their championship drought lies in their defense. The Hurricanes lead the NHL this postseason, with the fewest goals allowed per game by a wide margin. During this playoff run, the Hurricanes' only loss came against the Canadiens, where they allowed six goals. In the other 12 games, the Hurricanes allowed no more than two goals and hold a perfect 12-0 record. The Golden Knights, once again, are an opposite team, whose specialty lies in goal scoring. The Golden Knights have applied scoring pressure early and often in this playoff cycle, but they also boasted impressive defensive numbers. The Colorado Avalanche led the NHL in regular season scoring but only scored 7 total goals in four games against Vegas. Don't be surprised if the Stanley Cup Finals is a low-scoring affair. Here's what you need to know to watch Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes, including broadcast information and start times.Stanley Cup Final schedule 2026Series tied 1-1DateGameTime (ET)WatchJune 2Game 1: Golden Knights 5, Hurricanes 4——June 4Game 2: Hurricanes 4, Golden Knights 3 (OT)——June 6Game 3 at Vegas8 p.m.ABC, DIRECTV, fubo, ESPN appJune 9Game 4 at Vegas8 p.m.ABC, DIRECTV, fubo, ESPN appJune 11Game 5 at Carolina8 p.m.ABC, DIRECTV, fubo, ESPN appJune 14Game 6* at Vegas8 p.m.ABC, DIRECTV, fubo, ESPN appJune 17Game 7* at Carolina8 p.m.ABC, DIRECTV, fubo, ESPN app* If necessaryWhere to watch Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes: TV channel, live streamTV channels: ABCLive streams: DIRECTV, fubo, ESPN appGames in the Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes series will air on ABC.Fans can stream every playoff game live on DIRECTV, which offers a free trial to new users. Games on ABC and ESPN networks can also be streamed on the ESPN app or fubo, which also has a free trial. NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs schedule, key dates for 2026Here are the key dates to know for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs and offseason. Some series start dates could move up depending on when previous series end. EventDatesFirst round beginsApril 18NHL Draft LotteryMay 5NHL Scouting Combine at BuffaloMay 31-June 6Stanley Cup Finals Game 7 (if necessary)June 21NHL Draft at Los AngelesJune 26-27Free agency beginsJuly 1Related LinksLatest NHL news and rumorsFull NHL schedule, scores for 2025-26NHL playoffs bracket 2026

The Yankees are going to be without their captain for an extended period of time.Aaron Judge has been diagnosed with a stress fracture of the first rib on his right side, the team announced late Thursday night."This will require a period of rest and limited activity," the statement read. "He will be reimaged in approximately four to six weeks to determine level of healing and appropriate next steps.There is no timetable for Judge's return. He has missed the Yankees' last three games while undergoing tests."Judge is expected to return at some point this season," the Yankees said.This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Aaron Judge out for extended period of time with rib fracture

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Seth Jarvis scores in overtime to give Carolina a 4-3 victory over Vegas in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Olivia Miles scored a career-high 28 points and set a WNBA rookie record with eight 3-pointers, and the Minnesota Lynx held off the Golden State Valkyries 87-84 on Thursday night for their sixth straight victory.Miles was 8 of 11 from 3-point range to surpass Caitlin Clark and Crystal Robinson, who shared the previous rookie mark with seven. The No. 2 overall draft pick made her fifth straight 3 with 6:24 remaining in the first half to reach 17 points, while the rest of her teammates had just 14. She also made her first two 3s of the third quarter.Minnesota (8-2) improved to 7-0 all-time against Golden State, which joined the league last an expansion team last season.The Lynx trailed 75-70 with seven minutes remaining before scoring the next 11 points.After Golden State pulled within 86-84 with 33.8 seconds left, Courtney Williams dribbled down the clock before finding Miles, who attempted a driving layup that rolled off the rim. But the Lynx grabbed the offensive rebound and Williams went 1 of 2 at the foul line for a three-point lead with 5.4 seconds left.An inadvertent whistle led to a jump ball that Golden State forward Cecilia Zandalasini secured with 3.8 seconds left. After a timeout, Zandalasini did not hit the rim on a contested 3-pointer at the buzzer.Williams finished with 17 points, Kayla McBride added 14 and Natasha Howard had 12 points and 10 rebounds for Minnesota. The Lynx went 13 of 26 from distance.Zandalasini led Golden State (6-4) with 18 points. Janelle Salaun had five 3-pointers and 17 points, and Tiffany Hayes added 15.FEVER 83, DREAM 71INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Kelsey Mitchell scored 11 straight points during a third-quarter run Thursday night and finished with 25 points to help defending Commissioner’s Cup champion Indiana open this season’s tournament with a victory over Atlanta.Aliyah Boston added 19 points, seven rebounds and three blocks while Caitlin Clark had 17 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Mitchell was 11 of 15 from the field and joined the WNBA’s 5,000-point club.The victory capped an emotional week for Indiana, which included questions about a sideline spat between Clark and coach Stephanie White during last weekend’s loss at Portland. The Fever had a team meeting on Monday.Allisha Gray and Jordin Canada each scored 13 points for the Dream. Naz Hillmon added 12 points, and Angel Reese, Clark’s college rival, finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Canada also had seven assists.The difference for Indiana was defense. It entered the game allowing 89 points per contest but gave up a season-low point total against the Dream, the team the Fever eliminated from last year’s playoffs.Mitchell’s third-quarter burst swung the game for good after Atlanta charged back from a 38-29 halftime deficit to take a 43-42 lead on Hillmon’s 3-pointer with 6:15 left in the quarter.White called timeout and when play resumed, Boston’s block led to an easy basket. Clark followed with her second 3-pointer of the game to make it 47-43 and Mitchell converted Lexie Hull’s block into a layup, starting her 11-point flurry that extended the margin to 58-43.

ONE Championship is bringing another explosive main event to the global stage, as American Muay Thai sensation Luke “The Chef” Lessei is set to square off against Algerian firecracker ”The Eagle” Mohamed Younes Rabah.The two world-class strikers will headline ONE Fight Night 45 on Prime Video in a high-stakes featherweight Muay Thai showdown that guarantees fireworks from the opening bell. The show airs live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, July 17.View this post on InstagramLessei has experienced a roller-coaster run in his ONE Championship tenure, consistently proving his willingness to test himself against the absolute best in the division. Because of this, he has quickly become a fan favorite since making his debut in the world’s largest martial arts organization.After securing a dazzling first-round TKO victory over Cody Jerome in January 2025, the American standout suffered a tough second-round loss to ONE Interim Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Nico “King of the North” Carrillo at ONE Fight Night 37 last November.Now returning to the ring hungry for redemption, Lessei is determined to showcase his flashy skills, bounce back into the win column, and solidify his standing as a premier featherweight Muay Thai contender.View this post on InstagramOn the other side of the squared circle will be Rabah, who brings a truly imposing physical presence to the featherweight Muay Thai division. Standing incredibly tall for the weight class at 6-foot-2, the Algerian powerhouse utilizes his superior reach and devastating knee strikes to completely overwhelm the competition.Rabah arrives at ONE Fight Night 45 eager to resume his climb up the ladder after an unexpected halt to his momentum.“The Eagle” delivered a strong performance in November 2024, scoring multiple knockdowns to earn a unanimous decision victory over American veteran Eddie “Silky Smooth” Abasolo at ONE 169. However, his most recent outing against Shadow Mavinn in July 2025 unfortunately ended in a no contest due to an inadvertent eye poke. Eager to leave that frustrating result behind him, Rabah is fully focused on producing a commanding stoppage victory and making a massive statement on the global stage.View this post on InstagramThis main event carries heavy implications for the incredibly stacked featherweight Muay Thai division. With interim titleholder Carrillo and incumbent ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai reigning at the top, the weight class is an absolute shark tank of talent.Both Lessei and Rabah are aggressively hunting for a definitive highlight-reel victory that will propel them up the ranks and place them one step closer to World Title contention.“The Chef” will look to use his elusive footwork and devastating inside game to bypass his opponent’s immense reach, while “The Eagle” aims to establish his range, dictate the pace, and land his heavy, fight-ending artillery.When these two distinct styles inevitably collide in the center of the ring, martial arts fans around the world can expect a breathtaking striking masterclass for however long the fight lasts.View this post on InstagramStay tuned to onefc.com for more news about ONE Fight Night 45 on Prime Video.Source

West Reading David Smith Memorial LeagueJune 4Gage Personnel 37 (Keba Mitchell 14), Overhead Door 33 (Rece Harmon 11).Tompkins Bank 64 (Malik Green 19), Athletes Edge 52 (AJ Colon 12).Admixtures 47 (Aidan Melograna 11), Green Valley Dental 37.

Radio Host Urges Pirates To Pursue Reunion With Superstar Closer originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here.After beating the Houston Astros on Thursday, the Pittsburgh Pirates improved to 34-29, giving them the third-most wins in the National League.Thanks to their improved offense, the Pirates have emerged as one of the better teams in baseball this year. They're not perfect, however, as their bullpen and defense could use some help.Fortunately, the MLB trade deadline is still two months away, so Pittsburgh has plenty of time to land reinforcements.According to 93.7 The Fan on Thursday, one reliever the Pirates should consider pursuing is Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman.Joe says if he was the Pirates he would be calling teams like the Royals and Red Sox "every single day" in an effort to get bullpen help. pic.twitter.com/NoL1CAX84b— 93.7 The Fan (@937theFan) June 4, 2026Pittsburgh is already familiar with Chapman, who pitched for them in 2024. He's been the best reliever in baseball since joining the Red Sox, however, posting a 1.01 ERA for them since the start of 2025.Boston is nine games below .500 and, barring a massive turnaround, may need to sell at the deadline. Ben Cherington also has a professional relationship with Craig Breslow after last offseason's Jhotstynxon Garcia-Johan Oviedo trade.Chapman's 38, but he's shown no signs of slowing down. He also has a mutual option for 2027, so he wouldn't be just a rental.The flamethrowing lefty would be a great fit for the Pirates and give them an elite weapon in their bullpen, which would make Don Kelly's job a little easier in tight games.More MLB: MLB Trade Rumors: Pirates 'Actively' Seeking Upgrades At This Position

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Olivia Miles scored a career-high 28 points and set a WNBA rookie record with eight 3-pointers, and the Minnesota Lynx held off the Golden State Valkyries 87-84 on Thursday night for their sixth straight victory. Miles was 8 of 11 from 3-point range to surpass Caitlin Clark and Crystal Robinson, who shared the previous rookie mark with seven. The No. 2 overall draft pick made her fifth straight 3 with 6:24 remaining in the first half to reach 17 points, while the rest of her teammates had just 14. She also made her first two 3s of the third quarter.Minnesota (8-2) improved to 7-0 all-time against Golden State, which joined the league last an expansion team last season.The Lynx trailed 75-70 with seven minutes remaining before scoring the next 11 points. After Golden State pulled within 86-84 with 33.8 seconds left, Courtney Williams dribbled down the clock before finding Miles, who attempted a driving layup that rolled off the rim. But the Lynx grabbed the offensive rebound and Williams went 1 of 2 at the foul line for a three-point lead with 5.4 seconds left.An inadvertent whistle led to a jump ball that Golden State forward Cecilia Zandalasini secured with 3.8 seconds left. After a timeout, Zandalasini did not hit the rim on a contested 3-pointer at the buzzer.Williams finished with 17 points, Kayla McBride added 14 and Natasha Howard had 12 points and 10 rebounds for Minnesota. The Lynx went 13 of 26 from distance. Zandalasini led Golden State (6-4) with 18 points. Janelle Salaun had five 3-pointers and 17 points, and Tiffany Hayes added 15.Up nextGolden State: At Las Vegas on Saturday. Minnesota: Continues a three-game homestand on Saturday against Seattle. ___AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

While some powerful Russians shun the West, others want to restore ties and embrace friendly Westerners. President Vladimir V. Putin’s annual economic conference illustrates the conflicting impulses.

Summer is here, sort of, and it is everyone’s favorite time of the year, scouting time. Every year, we do Summer Scouting to preview college football for Vikings fans, but also give them an idea of names to follow and watch in the fall as needs pop up for Minnesota. Are we going to write about quarterbacks? Offensive tackles? Edge rushers? You know it, but why? Because other NFL teams will draft them, just as they will draft every other position. It all matters whether these players end up on the Vikings, the Bears, or the Steelers. We write these so Vikings fans can be the most informed fans. So if you are still with us, enjoy our latest Summer Scouting report as we prepare you for the Fall.FilmNew MexicoOklahomaBackground InfoListed at 5-11/210 lbs.5-Star prospect according to 247 SportsTransferred from Alabama to Michigan and then to Georgia TechInvited to the All-American Bowl in high schoolPlayed baseball in high schoolThird-team All-Big Ten in 2025Dad is Vernon Haynes, the former Steelers running backNotable career stats heading into 2026225 Carries1,473 Rushing yards6.5 Yards per carry30 Receptions149 Receiving yardsReceived 47.8% of the carries out of the backfield in 2025Notable numbers from PFF heading into 20263.58 Yards per carry after contact43 Missed tackles forcedStrengthsDemonstrates solid contact balanceDecent potential as a receiverGood change of direction skillsHigh motor late in games to finish runsQuick feet for effective cutbacksPlayer SummaryJustice Haynes could be a perfect fit for the Yellow Jackets at Georgia Tech in 2026. His style will fit in with what Brent Key looks to run on offense, as he has a bruising style paired with some nimbleness. He has good contact balance, excellent footwork for making cutbacks, and changes directions on top of it all. He could be used more as a receiver, which isn’t likely to happen in 2026, but could be used in the NFL. This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: 2027 NFL Draft Summer Report on Georgia Tech's Justice Haynes

Tom Brady and Eli Manning have never needed a football field to keep their rivalry alive. The two legends who defined a generation of Super Bowl battles are heading back to New York City this July for Fanatics Fest 2026, and Brady is already stirring the pot. During a recent Fanatics Collect livestream, he took direct aim at Manning, and the Giants faithful have not forgotten what happened the last time these two shared a stage. One year ago, Brady pushed things too far and paid for it in front of a packed New York crowd.Eli Manning Jumps Tom Brady After Jersey Rip in NYCAt Fanatics Fest 2025, Brady walked in like a WWE star, carrying a championship belt over his shoulder and entering to the theme song of Cody Rhodes. The Javits Center crowd was already restless before he touched anything.Brady first pulled out a New York Jets jersey, spitting and stomping on it to loud boos, then grabbed an Eli Manning No. 10 Giants jersey and ripped it clean in half. That was the moment Manning had been waiting for.Eli Manning Tackles Tom Brady On Stage After He Rips #10 Jersey (Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports)Manning made his own WWE-style entrance to Roman Reigns’ theme, then ran down the walkway and jumped directly onto Brady’s back. The crowd erupted. Manning could clearly not hold back laughter as the two awkwardly made their way out of sight.The history behind the moment gave it real weight. Brady finished his career 7-3 in the Super Bowl, but both losses came against Manning’s Giants, including Super Bowl XLII, when New York stopped the Patriots from finishing a perfect 19-0 season. Manning holds a 2-0 record over Brady when it mattered most, and that scoreline has never stopped being relevant.Brady Trash-Talks Manning Ahead of Fanatics Fest 2026Brady has not learned his lesson. With both men confirmed to attend Fanatics Fest 2026 at the Javits Center from July 16 to 19, Brady went on a Fanatics Collect livestream and claimed Manning “loses focus easily,” then stared into the camera and said, “Eli… I am in your head!”Manning has not yet responded publicly, but his record does the talking. Eli outdueled Brady in both Super Bowl matchups and was named MVP of both games. The Giants crowd will be there in July, and they have not forgotten any of it.The 2026 Fanatics Fest is shaping up to be one of the biggest editions yet, with over 125,000 attendees expected and names like Aaron Judge, Mike Tyson, John Cena, and The Undertaker already on the roster. With Brady publicly poking Manning before the doors even open, another moment between the two feels less like a possibility and more like a guarantee.Brady now works as an NFL on Fox broadcaster, while Manning remains a fixture on Monday Night Football. Both are retired, but moments like this suggest their competitive history still has plenty of chapters left to write. With Fanatics Fest 2026 set for July, New York is about to remind both men exactly where that rivalry stands.The post Eli Manning Tackles Tom Brady On Stage After He Rips #10 Jersey appeared first on Gridiron Heroics.

Summer is here, sort of, and it is everyone’s favorite time of the year, scouting time. Every year, we do Summer Scouting to preview college football for Vikings fans, but also give them an idea of names to follow and watch in the fall as needs pop up for Minnesota. Are we going to write about quarterbacks? Offensive tackles? Edge rushers? You know it, but why? Because other NFL teams will draft them, just as they will draft every other position. It all matters whether these players end up on the Vikings, the Bears, or the Steelers. We write these so Vikings fans can be the most informed fans. So if you are still with us, enjoy our latest Summer Scouting report as we prepare you for the Fall.FilmVirginia Tech Miami (FL)Background InfoListed at 5-9/190 lbs.4-Star prospect according to 247 SportsRan a 10.89 in the 100-meter dash as a sophomore in high schoolState qualifier in the long jump in high schoolPosted personal bests of 22’8.5 in the long jump and 10.89 in the 100-meter dash in high schoolACC Rookie of the Year in 2004ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2004Second-team All-ACC in 2004Third-team All-ACC in 2005Notable career stats heading into 2026266 Carries2,057 Rushing yards7.7 Yards per carry43 Receptions200 Receiving yardsReceived 40.4% of the carries out of the backfield in 2025Notable numbers from PFF heading into 20264.54 Yards per carry after contact76 Missed tackles forcedStrengthsExcellent vision as a ball carrierCutback ability is in the top tier of the classKeep legs moving through contact and in piles to pick up extra yardsMakes defenders miss in spaceStrong runner between the tacklesPlayer SummaryThis running back class is not getting the respect it deserves. Isaac Brown is another player who could be drafted on day one by a team and become an impact player for whoever lands him. He uses his vision to navigate in short yardage situations, but when forced to run through defenders, he does that as well. In space, he showcases excellent cutback ability and nimbleness to make defenders miss. On top of it all, he is a homerun threat as he has the motor to finish big runs later in the game. This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: 2027 NFL Draft Summer Scouting Report on Louisville's Isaac Brown

The Abierto GNP Seguros continues to strengthen its position as one of the premier events on the WTA calendar, and the first wave of player announcements for the 2026 edition demonstrates exactly why. Set to take place August 22-29 in Monterrey, Mexico, the WTA 500 event has already secured defending champion Linda Noskova, 2025 finalist Ekaterina Alexandrova, and in-form Anastasia Potapova for what promises to be another strong tournament in northern Mexico’s powerhouse city. This news was announced today, June 4th, at a pre-tournament press conference covered by Last Word on Tennis.Record Prize Money for WTA MonterreyThe event will offer a record prize purse of $1.206 million, the largest in tournament history, further cementing its status as the leading women’s tennis event in Latin America. Tournament organizers have also expanded the fan experience by beginning main-draw play on Sunday, August 23, giving spectators an extra day of tier one action.Noskova returns as a former champion and one of the rising stars of the women’s game. The Czech reached a career-high ranking of World No. 12 and continues to establish herself as a fixture near the top of the WTA Tour. Alexandrova, meanwhile, has long been one of the most dangerous players outside the very top tier and will be eager to go one step further after finishing runner-up in Monterrey last season.Perhaps the most intriguing entrant is Potapova, who arrives after producing some of the best tennis of her career. The Austrian representative made history earlier this season by becoming the first lucky loser to reach the semifinals of a WTA 1000 event at Madrid. With her aggressive game and growing confidence, she could emerge as a serious title contender.The home crowd will also have plenty to cheer for. Mexican stars Renata Zarazúa and Giuliana Olmos are both confirmed for the tournament. Zarazúa continues to lead Mexican women’s singles tennis, while Olmos remains one of the country’s most accomplished doubles players ever.Beyond the quality on court, the tournament has increasingly become a destination event. Activities such as Wellness Day, Kids Day, and a post-final concert by Venezuelan duo Lagos help create a full entertainment experience for attendees.The timing of the tournament is particularly significant for Monterrey. The city is about to spend the summer on the global sporting stage as it hosts multiple FIFA World Cup matches at Estadio BBVA, including serving as the base camp location for the Japanese national football team. With international attention already focused on Monterrey, the Abierto GNP Seguros has an opportunity to showcase another side of the city’s growing reputation as a world-class sports destination.For tennis fans in Mexico and across the region, the 2026 Abierto GNP Seguros is shaping up as one of the strongest editions yet. With a quality player field, record prize money, and a city already buzzing with major sporting events, Monterrey will once again be one of the most important stops on the North American summer hard-court swing ahead of the US Open.Tickets are available online through Boletomóvil, at the Club Sonoma box office, and at authorized sales locations.Main Photo Credit: Smartframe Images

NEW YORK (AP) — Ryan McMahon hit a go-ahead single in the seventh inning, Carlos Rodón combined with three relievers on a two-hitter and the New York Yankees beat the Cleveland Guardians 2-1 Thursday to salvage the finale of a three-game series that star Aaron Judge missed.New York manager Aaron Boone said before the game that the team was awaiting an update on Judge, who has a bruised rib on his right side that is causing shoulder pain. After the game, Boone said they were still awaiting an update from a specialist in Texas.Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit a tying sacrifice fly in the fourth and started the seventh-inning rally with a one-out walk from Codi Heuer (0-1). Chisholm stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch during consecutive pitches, then scored on McMahon’s single as the Yankees went on to win for the seventh time in 10 games.Rodón allowed one run and two hits in six innings with seven strikeouts and three walks. Stuart Fairchild hit an RBI single in the fourth.Brett Headrick (4-1) pitched the seventh, and Fernando Cruz tossed a perfect eighth. David Bednar got three groundouts for his 13th save in 15 chances.Max Schuemann started in place of Judge and made a pair of nice plays in his first career start in right field. In the second, he charged in for a diving catch on Steven Kwan’s sinking liner and five innings later, he made a leaping catch on Brayan Rocchio in front of the fence.Cleveland’s Slade Cecconi allowed one run and four hits in six innings.PHILLIES 6, PADRES 4PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Adolis García hit his first home run in nearly a month, Zack Wheeler allowed two hits in seven innings and Philadelphia passed San Diego in the NL wild-card standings with a victory to complete a season sweep.García, who signed with Philadelphia in the offseason to provide right-handed power to the lineup, went deep for the first time since May 6. His fifth homer this season came off San Diego starter Lucas Giolito (2-1) in the fifth inning to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead.Wheeler (5-1) took a no-hitter into the sixth before it was broken up on a bloop single by Bryce Johnson. Wheeler allowed two runs on a homer by Manny Machado while striking out eight.The Phillies completed their second sweep of the Padres in a week, winning all six games this season. They are 24-10 under interim manager Don Mattingly and have gone from 10 games under .500 to a wild-card position in 37 days.Bryson Stott, Trea Turner and Alec Bohm had RBI singles for the Phillies, who have won seven of their last nine games.ORIOLES 8, RED SOX 2BOSTON (AP) — Coby Mayo hit a bases-clearing double in a six-run first inning to help Baltimore beat Boston.Taylor Ward had three hits including a leadoff double and an RBI single in that first inning, which tied the Orioles’ most runs in a single frame this season.Adley Rutschman extended his on-base streak to 15 games on an RBI single, one game shy of his longest career streak.Leody Taveras drove in another run in the first, and all but one run came with two outs. Carlos Narváez got the Red Sox out of the inning with a successful ABS challenge, his eighth strikeout gained via ABS.Samuel Basallo drove in another in the fifth with an RBI double, and Colton Cowser added a sacrifice fly to stretch the O’s lead to 8-0.Trevor Rogers (3-6) carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning and surrendered one run while striking out five.Willson Contreras drove in the only runs for the Red Sox with a sixth-inning RBI single and a ninth-inning 403-foot homer.Brayan Bello (2-6) continued to struggle as a starter, allowing seven hits and eight runs in five innings. He has a 9.68 ERA in 30 2/3 innings when starting, and a 0.71 ERA in 25.1 innings as a reliever.GIANTS 12, BREWERS 9MILWAUKEE (AP) — Casey Schmitt homered on the game’s first pitch, Eric Haase hit the San Francisco's fifth grand slam in a 17-game span as they opened a nine-run lead in a win over Milwaukee for a a four-game split.Jung Hoo Lee had four of the Giants’ 20 hits, and Chapman and Bryce Eldridge three each. San Francisco scored six times in the seventh inning, opening a 12-3 lead.The Giants’ five slams in 17 games is the shortest span in team history; they hit five over 23 games from April 14 to May 10, 1970.Jackson Chourio homered twice for Milwaukee and David Hamilton once.Schmitt set his career with his 13th homer with his drive on a fastball from Coleman Crow (0-1), who allowed six runs and nine hits in 2 1/3 inning. Crow, whose ERA rose from 3.14 to 5.94, had not allowed more than two earned runs in each of his three previous major league starts.BLUE JAYS 7, BRAVES 2ATLANTA (AP) — Chad Dallas allowed one run in 3 2/3 innings in his major league debut and combined with five other Toronto pitchers on a four-hitter as it beat Chris Sale and Atlanta to end a four-game losing streak.Myles Straw drove in three runs on two hits in Toronto’s 16-hit attack.Sale (8-4) allowed three runs on a season-high 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings. Straw singled in two runs and Charles McAdoo added a run-scoring single in Toronto’s three-run third inning. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who doubled and scored in the third, and Ernie Clement each had three hits.Tyler Heineman doubled in two runs off Reynaldo López in Toronto’s four-run ninth.Toronto left-hander Mason Fluharty made his 33rd appearance of the season and recorded the first four outs as the opener in only his third career start. Dallas (1-0), who was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo, allowed two hits and one run with two walks and two strikeouts.Tyler Rogers, Jeff Hoffman, Braydon Fisher and Louis Varland followed Dallas. Varland recorded the final four outs for his ninth save.PIRATES 5, ASTROS 1HOUSTON (AP) — Ryan O’Hearn homered and drove in three runs to lead Pittsburgh to a win over Houston.O’Hearn hit an RBI single in the first inning and his two-run homer in the sixth made it 4-0.Pittsburgh’s Jared Jones (1-0) allowed four hits and walked two in five scoreless innings. Carmen Mlodzinski gave up four hits and a run the rest of the way to get his first save. It was his first work since being put on the restricted list for a day after general manager Ben Cherington told reporters he wasn’t ready to pitch Sunday following a move to the bullpen.Isaac Paredes hit a solo homer in the sixth inning for the Astros to become the fourth Mexican-born player in the MLB history to reach 100 for his career. But it wasn’t nearly enough to keep Houston from its third loss in four games.The Pirates’ run of four straight games in which they scored at least nine runs ended. But they still generated plenty of offense to bounce back and take the series after a late-game collapse cost them Wednesday’s game.CUBS 7, ATHLETICS 6CHICAGO (AP) — Pete Crow-Armstrong’s bloop RBI single capped a four-run ninth inning and Chicago beat the Athletics to avoid a three-game series sweep.Crow-Armstrong also hit a solo homer, his ninth of the season, in the sixth inning for Chicago, which had lost three straight and 14 of 17.Joel Kuhnel (1-2) gave up five Chicago hits in the ninth inning and was tagged for all four runs. Luis Medina replaced him with two outs and surrendered the tying single to Dansby Swanson before Crow-Armstrong’ knocked in Seiya Suzuki.Ian Happ homered and drove in three runs for Chicago, which banged out seven hits in the ninth inning after just four hits in the first eight innings. Ryan Rolison (4-1) worked the final 1 1/3 innings for the Cubs.Shea Langeliers hit two of the Athletics’ four homers and drove in three runs. Tyler Soderstrom and Jonah Heim added consecutive homers in the seventh inning that gave the A’s a seemingly comfortable 6-1 lead.Happ had a 446-foot homer to right, a two-run shot off reliever Scott Barlow that nearly cleared the right-field bleachers in the bottom of the seventh, tightening the score.J.T. Ginn allowed just two hits, including Crow-Armstrong’s sixth-inning solo homer, in the first six innings. He struck out eight and walked one.

Nithya Raman’s vote count still remains well behind Spencer Pratt’s, but hundreds of thousands of ballots remain to be counted in Los Angeles over the next few weeks.

Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy (13) reacts with an apparent injury after colliding with Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Ildemaro Vargas (not pictured) at first base in the fifth inning... PHOENIX — For seven innings on Thursday, the Dodgers looked poised to leave Arizona with another series victory and another encouraging performance from a young starter.Instead, they left Chase Field frustrated, beaten by a familiar problem and anxiously awaiting updates on one of their most important players.Ketel Marte launched a no-doubt, second-deck walk-off home run off Tanner Scott in the bottom of the ninth inning, lifting the Diamondbacks to a 3-2 victory and earning Arizona a split of the four-game series.KETEL MARTE CALLS GAME 😤 pic.twitter.com/GZIyw8qlCm— MLB (@MLB) June 5, 2026The loss dropped the Dodgers' record to 40-23, though they still maintain a comfortable 6½-game lead over Arizona in the National League West.The ending was particularly painful considering how well things had gone through seven innings.Justin Wrobleski continued his impressive emergence, delivering arguably another statement outing in a season full of them. The left-hander blanked Arizona across six innings, allowing six hits while walking nobody and striking out four.Wrobleski once again showed increased velocity, averaging 95 mph with his fastball, and lowered his ERA to 2.62. More importantly, he consistently escaped trouble against a dangerous Diamondbacks lineup.His biggest moment came in the sixth inning.Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Justin Wrobleski (70) throws a pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning at Chase Field. Anna Carrington-Imagn ImagesLos Angeles Dodgers pitcher Justin Wrobleski (70) throws a pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning at Chase Field.The D-Backs had the tying runs in scoring position and appeared poised to break through, but Dalton Rushing played a key role in preserving the lead. Two successful ABS challenges flipped what had been a favorable 2-0 count into an 0-2 advantage, and Wrobleski eventually retired Pavin Smith on a groundout to end the threat and preserve a 2-0 lead.At that point, the Dodgers appeared firmly in control.The offense had provided just enough support early.Ryan Ward delivered an RBI double to center field that scored Santiago Espinal and opened the scoring in the second inning. Moments later, Rushing lined an RBI single that brought home Ward for his first RBI since April 29, extending the lead to 2-0.Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing (68) reacts after hitting a single against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the fifth inning at Chase Field. Anna Carrington-Imagn ImagesLos Angeles Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing (68) reacts after hitting a single against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the fifth inning at Chase Field.That would be all the offense the Dodgers could generate. And eventually, it wasn't enough. The game began unraveling in the eighth.Will Klein entered having not allowed a run since May 3, but Arizona quickly changed that. Corbin Carroll crushed a 383-foot solo home run to right field, cutting the Dodgers' lead to 2-1 and injecting life into the Chase Field crowd.Things worsened from there.Gabriel Moreno followed with a walk and Ryan Waldschmidt singled, forcing the Dodgers to turn to Alex Vesia in an attempt to protect the lead.Vesia nearly escaped, but Geraldo Perdomo lined a game-tying RBI single to center field, bringing home Moreno and erasing the Dodgers' two-run advantage.Just like that, the game was tied.Dave Roberts turned to Tanner Scott in the ninth inning hoping to push the game into extras.Marte had other plans.The Diamondbacks star got a pitch he could handle and absolutely demolished it to the second deck in left field. The ball left his bat with the unmistakable sound of a game-ending swing, and the Diamondbacks poured out of the dugout moments later to celebrate a 3-2 victory.For the Dodgers, it was another bullpen collapse in a season that has featured too many of them. After Wrobleski's six scoreless innings, Dodgers relievers surrendered three runs over the final two innings.Yet the biggest concern leaving the ballpark had little to do with the standings.The most alarming moment of the evening occurred in the fifth inning when Max Muncy and Ildemaro Vargas collided violently near first base while running out a play.Max Muncy and Ildemaro Vargas collided HARD into each other and are both leaving the game pic.twitter.com/Yzl28PS2L5— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 5, 2026Both players immediately went down in pain.Muncy eventually exited the game with shortness of breath and was undergoing evaluation for a possible concussion. Following the game, Roberts said Muncy will not be available Friday, leaving the Dodgers waiting for additional medical updates.Given Muncy's importance to the middle of the lineup, his status now becomes the organization's biggest storyline heading into the weekend.The Dodgers nearly escaped Arizona with another series win behind another excellent performance from Wrobleski.Instead, they left with a split, a bullpen meltdown, and growing concern about Muncy's health.Those may prove far more significant than one frustrating loss in early June.

Caden Connor supplied the big swing of the night, launching a three-run homer as the Knights piled up 11 runs against the Bulls. | (Rob Leiter/Getty Images) Charlotte Knights 11, Durham Bulls 6Another night, another double-digit outburst for Charlotte (32-28). The Knights wasted zero time as Braden Montgomery and Caden Connor drew back-to-back walks to open the first, Korey Lee watched strike three, and Dustin Harris promptly laced a single to plate Montgomery. 1-0, Knights.Durham answered in the bottom half, but not without a little charity. Shane Murphy served up a leadoff single, then airmailed a pickoff to move the runner up. A grounder pushed him to third, and Korey Lee let a pitch get by to gift the tying run.Charlotte’s bats responded in the second. The Knights hung a crooked four on the Bulls, capped by Connor unloading for a three-run shot — his third of the year — to put Charlotte up 5-1 and feeling pretty cozy.That comfort was gone in a hurry as Murphy unraveled over the next two frames with Durham chipping away, eventually knotting things at 5-5. The Bulls even nosed ahead 6-5 in the sixth off Chase Plymell, threatening to turn Charlotte’s big night into a wasted effort.But the Knights had other ideas in the eighth. Ryan Galanie sparked the rally with a one-out double, Andy Weber knocked an RBI single to tie it, and after a Josh Breaux fly out, Weber swiped second and scored on a clutch Jason Matthews base hit. Charlotte back on top, 7-6.Then, the ninth inning turned a close game into a rout. Mario Camilletti walked and swiped second, Montgomery ripped an RBI double, Connor whiffed, Lee took one for the team, and Harris singled to jam the bases. Then Galanie put the game on ice, smoking a bases-clearing double to blow it open, 11-6 Knights.Garrett Schoenle took care of the rest, mowing down all three in the ninth. Galanie starred with two doubles, including the backbreaker, while Connor’s early bomb and Montgomery’s late RBI double kept the Knights’ bats sizzling. This lineup just refuses to cool off. Now if only the pitching could take a hint.Who was the Knights MVP? Braden Montgomery: 1-for-4, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB, 2B, 2 KCaden Connor: 1-for-3, R, 3 RBI, 2 BB, HR, 2 KDustin Harris: 3-for-5, R, RBI, KRyan Galanie: 2-for-5, R, 3 RBI, 2 2B, KAndy Weber: 1-for-5, R, RBI, SBJosh Breaux: 1-for-3, R, 2 BBJason Matthews: 2-for-5, R, RBI, KPeyton Pallette: 1 1/3 1 H, BB, 3 K, WGarrett Schoenle: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K pollcode.com free pollsWho was the Knights Cold Cat?Mario Camiletti: 0-for-3, R, 2 BB, 2 KKorey Lee: 0-for-4, R, K, PBShane Murphy: 4 IP, 8 H, 5 R (4 ER), 3 BB, 4 K, EChase Plymell: 2 2/3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, BB, 3 K pollcode.com free pollsKnoxville Smokies 6, Birmingham Barons 2So much for the Barons’ (21-32) three-game heater. Jake Palisch took the mound and promptly set it on fire, loading the bases before recording an out. Knoxville did not miss and capitalized in the biggest possible way, launching a grand slam, 4-0, and the inning was still a mess. Palisch finally got an out, then allowed two singles and a sac fly. Five-zip before Birmingham even swung a bat. The Smokies tacked on another tally in the third, and the Barons were buried six feet under.Anthony DePino finally put the Barons on the board in the fourth with a solo shot — his fourth of the year, and about the only spark all night. Alec Makarewicz contributed an RBI ground out, but the bats otherwise stayed in hibernation.Buried under the wreckage was a lights-out bullpen. After Palisch’s meltdown, the relievers were spot on, tossing four scoreless, just one hit, no walks, and 10 punchouts. They deserved a better outcome.Unfortunately, the game was lost in the first, and that was that.Who was the Barons MVP?Jordan Sprinkle: 1-for-5, 2B, KAnthony DePino: 1-for-3, R, RBI, BB, HR, K, ESamuel Zavala: 1-for-4, 2 KJacob Burke: 1-for-4, 3 KCalvin Harris: 1-for-4Drake Logan: 1-for-3, R, 2 KCarson Jacobs: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 KMorris Austin: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 KJarold Rosado: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K pollcode.com free pollsWho was the Barons Cold Cat? Colby Shelton: 0-for-4, KBrenden Dixon: 0-for-3, BB, 2 KJake Palisch: 4 IP, 9 H, 6 R, BB, 2 K, B, L pollcode.com free pollsWinston-Salem Dash 1, Hub City Spartanburgers 0Three nights running and three nights of standout pitching for the Dash (33-21). The arms were unflappable. Five Winston-Salem hurlers stitched together a two-hit shutout, surrendering only two singles and three walks while racking up a meaty 13 punchouts.Liam Paddack kicked things off with four no-hit innings, mowing down eight and handing out just two free passes. Jake Peppers gave up the Spartanburgers’ first hit in the fifth, but the scoreboard stayed clean. Jake Curtis chipped in 1 2/3 with the other hit and two more Ks. Jake Bockenstedt stepped in and went four up, four down. Then, Garrett Wright closed it out with a clean ninth, no fuss.The Dash bats didn’t have much to write home about — just four hits, and mostly crickets until Ryan Burrowes ripped a leadoff double in the eighth. George Wolkow nudged him to third, Kyle Lodise lined out, and then, finally, a wild pitch did what the offense couldn’t: Burrowes scampered home for the only run of the night. Was it ugly? Sure. But with the arms dealing and a dash of luck, it was enough.Who was the Dash MVP?Ryan Burrowes: 1-for-3, R, BB, 2BKaleb Freeman: 1-for-2, 2 BB, 2BGrant Magill: 1-for-3, BB, KAlex Ungar: 1-for-3, SB, 2 KLiam Paddack: 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 KJake Peppers: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BBJake Curtis: 1 2/3 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 KJake Bockenstedt: 1 1/3 IP 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, WGarrett Wright: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, K, S pollcode.com free pollsWho was the Dash Cold Cat?Caleb Bonemer: 0-for-3, KGeorge Wolkow: 0-for-4Kyle Lodise: 0-for-4, KBryce Eblin: 0-for-4 pollcode.com free pollsKannapolis Cannon Ballers 4, Hickory Crawdads 3The Cannon Ballers (28-26) found themselves in a back-and-forth battle Wednesday night, but every time the Crawdads answered, the Ballers had a response.Kannapolis drew first blood in the third with Derek Cerda ripping an RBI double to finally put a dent in the scoreboard. That joy lasted all of five minutes as Hickory immediately countered with a solo shot off Caedmon Parker, and then in the fourth, Parker’s own wildness and a throwing misadventure handed the Crawdads a cheap, unearned run and their first lead.The Ballers came back in the fifth. James Taussig kicked things off with a single, Adrian Gil worked a walk, and then Cerda and Abraham Núñez delivered back-to-back RBI knocks to snatch the lead right back, 3-2.But Hickory refused to go quietly, tying it up again in the sixth with another solo blast, this time off Jesús Méndez. Enter Taussig, who led off the seventh by unloading a solo homer of his own, finally putting the Ballers ahead for keeps, 4-3.Daniel Wright tiptoed through a seventh-inning minefield with two singles, a walk, and a double, but got bailed out by some heads-up defense. One runner was gunned down while stealing, and another was erased trying to stretch a single. Landen Payne took it from there, mowing down the side in the eighth and facing the minimum in the ninth to earn the save.Who was the Ballers MVP?Abraham Núñez: 2-for-4, 2 RBIJames Taussig: 2-for-4, 2 R, RBI, HRDerek Cerda: 2-for-3, RBI, 2B, SB, OADaniel Wright: 1 IP, 3 H, 0R, BB, HLanden Payne: 2 IP, 1 H, 3 K, S pollcode.com free pollsWho was the Ballers Cold Cat?Jaden Fauske: 0-for-3, BB, KJavier Mogollón: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K, CSMatthew Boughton: 0-for-3, BBRylan Galvan: 0-for-4, 2 KAlexander Albertus: 0-for-4 Jesús Méndez: 1 2/3 IP, 2 H, R, BB, K, W pollcode.com free pollsACL White Sox 7, ACL Mariners 3 (7 innings)The ACL White Sox (8-16) took full advantage of a sloppy night by the Mariners, and the Sox’s arms backed it up with plenty of strikeouts for a rare, actual win.Nick McLain got things rolling with a leadoff double, then trotted home on an Alan Escobar single in the first. Next, Escobar scored on a balk, because why not, and the Sox tacked on another tally in the second when Erasmi Rodriguez singled, swiped second, and then jogged home after Seattle’s defense melted down with a wild pitch and an airmail throw. The Mariners kept tripping over themselves all night, and the Sox happily built a 6-1 cushion by the sixth.Seattle tried to make it a game in the sixth with a two-run triple, trimming the lead to 6-3, but the Sox shrugged and got the run right back in the seventh. Yordani Soto doubled, Alejandro Cruz singled him home, and the cushion was back to four.On the bump, Christian Oppor, Fidel Montero, and Reudis Diaz combined for 11 punchouts. Oppor, making just his second ACL appearance, managed two scoreless innings, allowing no hits, but a run on five walks and four Ks. The control issues are still very much a thing for the Sox’s No. 8 prospect per MLB Pipeline, who’s still searching for the strike zone and maybe a little peace of mind.Who was the ACL Sox MVP? Nick McLain: 2-for-3, R, RBI, BB, 2 2B, KAlan Escobar: 2-for-4, R, RBI, SBYordani Soto: 2-for-4, R, RBI, K, CSAlejandro Cruz: 1-for-4, RBI, PO, KJurdrick Profar: 1-for-3, 2 R, BB, 2 KErasmi Rodriguez: 1-for-1, R, SBEduardo Herrera: 2-for-3, RBI, KReudis Diaz: 1 2/3, 0 R, 1 H, 1 K, S pollcode.com free pollsWho was the ACL Sox Cold Cat? D’Angelo Tejada: 0-for-3, BB, 3 KLandon Hodge: 0-for-4, 2 KFidel Montero: 3 2/3 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 6 K, WP, W pollcode.com free polls

Caitlin Clark delivered a strong performance during the WNBA regular-season game against the Atlanta Dream on Thursday. However, the Indiana Fever superstar didn’t feel well during halftime and puked.The two-time All-Star was asked about what caused it and she admitted that she threw up a lot. She added that she felt fine and light after. Clark was able to play her usual minutes in the second half and showed no signs of discomfort.MORE: Caitlin Clark shares special postgame gesture with lucky fan“I tried to eat some apple sauce and then it just came up, and then everything else also in my stomach came up,” Clark said. “I found a trash can, thank God.”Clark finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. Kelsey Mitchell recorded a game-high 25 points, while Aliyah Boston contributed 19 points and seven rebounds. Indiana snapped a two-game losing streak and is now 5-4 for the season.Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts after losing the Fever’s season opener game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Dallas Wings defeated the Indiana Fever, 107-104. Credit: Imagn ImagesCaitlin Clark and Fever get season back on trackThe Fever were 4-4 entering Thursday’s matchup. They lost back-to-back games to the Golden State Valkyries and Portland Fire, and were looking to right the ship.The players answered with an inspired performance in the first game of the Commissioner’s Cup. The 83-71 win was just what Indiana needed before they embark on a two-game road trip. Expectations were high on them in the offseason with their bolstered roster and Clark’s return from injury. However, they started the season slow which sounded some alarm bells.The Fever are now back to above .500 and could start to string some wins together. It remains to be seen how they’ll perform in their upcoming matchups, but the victory over Angel Reese and Co. is a huge morale booster.

SOFTBALLDivision 1 sectional finalsAppleton North 9, Kimberly 8KAUKAUNA - The Lightning advanced to the state tournament for the first time since 2018 after getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the Papermakers’ half of the seventh inning at Kaukauna High School.After Kimberly took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on back-to-back home runs by Sophie Hermus and Payton Schreiber, Appleton North tied the game in its half of the first on run-scoring doubles by Charlotte Radtke and Brianna Gehrman.Appleton North went ahead to stay in the second inning on Sawyer Haessly’s home run to center field.VOTE NOW: Choose from four nominees for Cellcom Post-Crescent athlete of the weekAppleton North appeared to break open the game with a five-run fifth inning on a run-scoring infield single by Alyssa Wald, a run-scoring single by Drew Brown, a run-scoring double by Gehrman and a two-run single by Evelyn Frega.Game over? Not quite.Kimberly scored four runs in the fifth inning on a double by Hermus, a single by Schreiber and back-to-back home runs by Breckan Luedke and Nevaeh Honick to make it 8-6 Appleton North.The Lightning scored what proved to be the winning run in its half of the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Haessly.Kimberly closed to within a run in the seventh inning on a one-out single by Paige Schreck and a two-run home run to center by Luedke. After a walk and a strikeout, Chloe Biese singled and Rylin Deering was hit by a pitch to load the bases.Radtke, who had relieved Appleton North starting pitcher Frega in the fifth inning, finally put down the Kimberly rally by getting Olivia Paveletzke to fly out to shallow right-center field.Division 2 sectional finalsFox Valley Lutheran 7, Denmark 6PLYMOUTH - The Foxes punched their ticket to the state tournament as they held off a late Vikings rally.FVL took a 2-0 lead after one inning. After Denmark took a 3-2 edge in the top of the third, the Foxes rallied back to grab a 5-3 advantage in the bottom half of the inning. FVL took a 6-3 lead after four and led 7-5 after five. The Vikings plated one run in the top of the seventh, but could not complete their comeback.Hazel Fields, Maggie Frank and Shaelyn Kraschnewski had two hits each for Denmark. Kraschnewski’s hits were a double and a homer with three RBIs, while one of Frank’s hits was a double with three RBIs.BASEBALLDivision 1 regional finalsKimberly 8, Pulaski 5KIMBERLY - The Papermakers overcame a slow start to earn the regional final win over the Red Raiders.Pulaski scored four runs in the top of the first inning, but Kimberly answered with four of its own in the bottom of the second. The Papermakers grabbed a 6-4 edge in the fifth and 8-4 in the sixth.The Red Raiders closed out the scoring with one in the seventh.Maddux Hermus pitched five innings to get the win. He allowed six hits and four runs, walked one and struck out seven. Bryce Mischler pitched two innings in relief, allowed one hit and one run, walked two and struck out three to get the save.Hermus also had a two-run home run for Kimberly. Beckett Hermus added three hits, including a home run, and two RBIs. Shaefer Peterson hit a home run, and Jake Mau had a double, a home run and two RBIs.Eli Heuser led Pulaski, going 3-for-4 with a double, while Gavin Sikorski was 2-for-4. Eddie Van Roy drove in two runs.Second-seeded Kimberly will face third-seeded Kaukauna in the sectional semifinal June 9 at 1 p.m. at Sunset Park in Kimberly.Kaukauna 13, Appleton West 1KAUKAUNA - After falling behind briefly, the Ghosts scored one run in the first inning, four in the second, three in the third and five in the fourth en route to the regional final win.Kaukauna will face Kimberly in the sectional semifinal June 9 at 1 p.m. at Sunset Park in Kimberly.William Malnar led the Terrors with a double, while Isaac Ise singled and added an RBI. Charlie Blevins had West’s other hit.Bay Port 17, Appleton North 6SUAMICO - The top-seeded Pirates exploded for 12 runs in the bottom of the fourth to race past the eighth-seeded Lightning to advance to the sectional semifinal.Bay Port will play West De Pere at 10 a.m. on June 9 at Sunset Park in Kimberly in a sectional semifinal.Eli Hart helped power Bay Port, going 2-for-2 with two homers and four RBIs, while Ethan Orlando homered and drove in two runs. Tommy Berg was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while Cayden Heier doubled and drove in two runs. Carson Hawley also had two hits, including a double.The Pirates led 2-0 after one inning and 5-4 after two. Appleton North evened the score with a run in the third before grabbing a 6-5 advantage in the top of the third.West De Pere 5, Hortonville 2HORTONVILLE - The fifth-seeded Phantoms topped the fourth-seeded Polar Bears to advance to the sectional semifinals against top-seeded Bay Port.West De Pere struck for three runs in the fourth and two in the fifth to hold off Hortonville.The Polar Bears scored single runs in the fourth and the fifth.Gary Wuest led the Hortonville offense, going 2-for-4 with a run scored.Neenah 10, Hartford 3NEENAH - The Rockets hit three home runs and had eight extra-base hits in the regional final win over the Orioles.Mack Krause hit a home run and had three RBIs for Neenah. Gus Weinholzer hit a home run and a double. Levi Boivin had a home run and two RBIs.Owen Pire added a double, a triple and two RBIs, and James Weiland had two hits for the Rockets.Cal Juckem pitched a complete game for the win. He allowed three runs and struck out six.Third-seeded Neenah will play No. 2 seed West Bend West on June 9 at 1 p.m. in Manitowoc in a sectional semifinal game.Fond du Lac 6, Menasha 5FOND DU LAC - The fourth-seeded Cardinals held off the 12th-seeded Bluejays to claim the regional title.The win propels Fond du Lac into the sectional semifinals against top-seeded Germantown, an 11-1 winner over Manitowoc, on June 9 at 10 a.m. in Manitowoc.GIRLS SOCCERDivision 3 regional semifinalsFreedom 5, Wautoma/Wild Rose 0FREEDOM - The fourth-seeded Irish get to host a regional final after defeating the Hornets.Freedom, which was led by Ava Calhoon with three goals and one assist, is now 13-3 overall. Ally Daul and Lucie Johnson also scored goals for Freedom.Irish goalie Sophia Johnson made one save.Freedom will host Luxemburg-Casco at 1 p.m. on June 6 in the regional final.Notre Dame 12, New London 0GREEN BAY - The Tritons improve to 13-5-3 with the victory and advance to the regional final June 6.New London finishes the season 3-11-1.Winneconne 12, Marinette 0WINNECONNE - The Wolves improve to 18-2 with the regional final win over the Marines.Marinette finishes the season 3-10.Division 4 regional semifinalsXavier 10, Valders 0APPLETON - The Hawks, who improved to 18-1 with the win over the Vikings, have held their opponents scoreless in five of their last six games.Xavier will play host to either Wrightstown or Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah in the regional final June 6.New Holstein 1, St. Mary Catholic 0NEW HOLSTEIN - The seventh-seeded Huskies blanked the 10th-seeded Zephyrs to move on in the Division 4 tournament.New Holstein will play at second-seeded Howards Grove in the regional final June 6.St. Mary Catholic’s season comes to a close with a record of 4-9-2.Providence Academy/NEW Lutheran 13, Clintonville 0HOWARD - The Paladins improve to 12-2-1 with the regional semifinal win over the Truckers.Clintonville finishes the season 6-13.BOYS TENNISWIAA State TournamentDivision 1 singlesFirst roundOliver Boyd, University School Milwaukee def. Henry Farrell, Neenah, 5-7, 6-3, 10-3.Liam Hankel, West De Pere def. Carson Slowinski, Stevens Point, 6-1, 6-3.Anish Chaudhari, Franklin def. Gavin Feng, Appleton North, 4-6, 7-6 (6), 10-7.Rafe Zifferblatt, West De Pere def. Will Nordstrom, Eau Claire Memorial, 6-4, 6-3.Cale Vogel, Appleton West def. Mason McGrath, Kenosha Indian Trail, 6-1, 6-0.Augustine Luy, Notre Dame Academy def. Beckett Hall, Marshfield, 6-1 6-1.Second roundAlex Thomas, Notre Dame Academy def. Leyton Batchelder, Fond du Lac, 6-2, 6-1.Liam Hankel, West De Pere def. Ty Tennison, Verona, 6-3, 6-3.Colin Meixl, Kimberly def. Anish Chaudhari, Franklin, 6-0, 6-4.Truman Vogel, Appleton West def. Rafe Zifferblatt, West De Pere, 6-0, 6-0.Cale Vogel, Appleton West def. Sawyer Brault, Sheboygan North, 6-1, 6-1.Hunter Brown, Neenah def. Noah Weitzer, Brookfield Central, 6-1, 6-0.Augustine Luy, Notre Dame Academy def. Rohan Peddamallu, Franklin, 5-7, 6-3, 10-5.Division 1 doublesFirst roundGavin Bruere/Aashrith Kamini, Sun Prairie United def. Hunter Holschuh/Jackson Lawson, Kimberly, 6-3, 6-0.Giovanni Zifferblatt/Brayden Hagenow, West De Pere def. Brandon Schatzman/Landon Sciborski, Waukesha South, 6-1, 6-4.Desmond Lasseter/Samuel Stampfli, Madison West def. Tudor Cristescu/Alex Kaufman, De Pere, 6-3, 6-1.Tully Smith/Will Matthews, Stevens Point def. Eric Graf/Jack Mendolla, Appleton North, 6-4, 6-2.Elijah Lee/Colby Smith, Sheboygan North def. Brady Wells/Porter DeGroot, Bay Port, 4-6, 6-4, 10-3.Sam Bannan/Boe Rewey, Tomah def. Sam Hahnke/Spencer Munson, Appleton North, 7-6 (13), 7-6 (1).Division 2 singlesFirst roundKojo Norman, Xavier def. Preston Chen, Kohler, 6-2, 6-1.Tegan Schott, Aquinas def. Enrique Omella Valls, Shawano, by default.Division 2 doublesFirst roundSean Osland/Aiden Tines, St. Mary Catholic def. Brayden Comaris/Cole Johnson, The Prairie School, 7-6 (5), 6-2.Aidan Schueller/Zach Regennitter, Kohler def. Brock Polzin/Noah Broeckert, Xavier, 6-1, 6-2.This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Appleton area high school sports results for Thursday, June 4

Mark Vientos has had a rough go of it as of late for the New York Mets. In his last 10 games, he is hitting .179 with one home run and three RBI. He has simply been very inconsistent this season, starting as far back as spring training. He will have his flashes and then have droughts like this one right now. Between his non-existent bat, his poor defensive play, and the return of Jorge Polanco, as well as Jared Young‘s red-hot bat, it might be time to say goodbye to Vientos.Mark Vientos May Not Finish the Season with the MetsIn 53 games this season, Vientos has seven homers, 26 RBI, and a slash line of .219/.254/.380. His play has been very poor recently, and he doesn’t seem to show any signs of breaking out. As stated earlier, the bat is not there, and the defense is really making a case to keep him off the field altogether.Mark Vientos strikes out swinging to end the 5th inning on a ball that hits him. pic.twitter.com/ZRlxsiCAG7— SNY (@SNYtv) May 25, 2026Vientos made an error in Tuesday night’s loss to the Seattle Mariners that got a very negative reaction from Mets fans on social media. What he had to say after the game just made it worse. When asked about his defense, Vientos responded, “Feel like I’ve done a pretty good job over there,” he said Tuesday. “Been working. Feel like I’ve been doing pretty good. I have to give myself a little bit of props.” Sadly, the words do not back up the product that Vientos has shown on the field. Mark Vientos was asked to evaluate how he’s done defensively so far this season:“Pretty good. Feel like I’ve done a pretty good job over there. Been working. Feel like I’ve been doing pretty good” pic.twitter.com/brXxsfRgbc— SNY (@SNYtv) June 3, 2026Polanco Returning Means Less ABs for VientosThe Mets have stated that Polanco will be returning as early as their weekend trip to San Diego to face the Padres. With that being said, it seems as if this will take away plenty of playing time from Vientos. The plan for Polanco is for him to return and be the full-time DH.So instead of experimenting and splitting time between guys like Vientos and Brett Baty, the Mets are ensuring that they have a permanent DH for the foreseeable future. The only chance Vientos has to play then would be at first base. However, there is another factor that would eliminate him from playing there. That factor is Jared Young’s hot bat since coming back from the injured list.Young May Take Playing Time from Vientos at FirstIn his last 15 games, Young has been hitting .314, with two homers and six runs scored. He has also been solid defensively at first base. With Vientos struggling at the same time as Young is heating up, there may not be much of a spot for Vientos on this team. It will be really hard for the Mets to throw him into the lineup at times if he doesn’t have an impact.What Do the Mets Plan to Do?This is the first time in a while that it seems as though there are no plans for Vientos on this team. Between the miscues defensively and the cold bat, his playing time will diminish. It will be intriguing to see what the Mets plan to do with Vientos. Will they give him another shot, or will they come to terms with the fact that it may be time to trade him or cut him loose some other way? These next couple of weeks will most likely determine the outcome of Mark Vientos and his Mets career. Main Photo Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

NEW DELHI: With his ability to clear boundaries from ball one and turn matches on their head in a matter of overs, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi emerged as the biggest talking point of IPL 2026. The 15-year-old batting sensation left bowlers searching for answers and earned admiration from opponents and teammates alike.Sooryavanshi's numbers from the season were nothing short of extraordinary. The Rajasthan Royals opener finished as the tournament's highest run-scorer, scoring 776 runs in 16 innings at a staggering strike rate of 237.30.The left-handed batter also rewrote the IPL record books by smashing 72 sixes during the season, surpassing the previous record of 59 maximums held by West Indies great Chris Gayle.His most memorable performance came in the Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad. With Rajasthan Royals facing a do-or-die clash, Sooryavanshi produced one of the most destructive innings in IPL history, hammering 97 off just 29 balls to power his side into Qualifier 2. The teenager was at it again in Qualifier 2 against Gujarat Titans, blasting a sensational 96. Although Rajasthan Royals eventually lost by seven wickets and missed out on a place in the final, Sooryavanshi's fearless strokeplay once again stole the spotlight.Among those impressed by the youngster's remarkable rise was Royal Challengers Bengaluru all-rounder Krunal Pandya, who faced him during the season and even managed to dismiss him.Asked whether he enjoyed his battles with the Rajasthan Royals prodigy, Krunal did not hide his admiration."Oh, yeah. We played one game against RR in Guwahati. In fact, I got his wicket as well," Krunal told Times of India.Krunal then lavished praise on the teenager, describing him as one of the most exciting talents he has seen."But boy, what a talent! At 15! Generational talent. To bat like that at 15. Even if you are 30, 40, or 25, to bat like this is commendable. But 15? And he’s not just slogging. That boy has brains."The RCB star pointed to Sooryavanshi's mature innings in the knockout stages as proof that there is far more to his game than power-hitting."Look at how he batted in Qualifier-2 vs GT. He played the situation. I’m very eager to see how he continues his journey forward in the next ten years," Krunal said.

We can’t get enough of Sunderland’s 2025-26 season so we go on a little deep dive to go through it We created a shortlist of ten and we’ve covered the first half, but today we go through our top five! Join Andrew, Jonny, Gav & Chris to go back through the top moments from last season! On today’s show…There’s disagreement in the ranks!Which derby win was best?!Why we included games!How much do you disagree?!All this and more! Get subscribed to Haway The Podcast so you never miss another episode of our free daily show.Want to get in touch with us? You can drop us an email at HawayThePodcastSAFC@Gmail.com, or you can contact us via social media – we’re @RokerReport on almost every platform. For your daily SAFC fan-written content, head over to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RokerReport.SBNation.com ⁠𝗛𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗢𝗗𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗧 🎙️🔥 TOP 10 MOMENTS OF 25-26 🔥Join us for part two as we go from 5 to 1, ranking the greatest moments of a historic season for Sunderland!APPLE: https://t.co/1qY4yAcv4eSPOTIFY: https://t.co/Tm0hNfyNTShttps://t.co/MrScfojZL0 | #SAFC ❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/joAzZv9qkS— Roker Report (@RokerReport) June 5, 2026

The winner of the Premier League ‘Manager of the Season’ award is pretty inevitable these days, with eleven of the past twelve winners being in charge of the team that won the title, yet when there’s this much predictability, it does raise the question of whether there’s much meaning in this award.Mikel Arteta picked up the 2025/2026 accolade having led Arsenal from second to first, spending hundreds of millions in the process — yet Régis Le Bris, who guided Sunderland to seventh in the league having been told by seemingly everyone in the sport we’d go straight back down, was overlooked.Others who joined him included Andoni Iraola, the departed Bournemouth head coach who secured European football for the Cherries for the first time in their history, and Keith Andrews, who had a brilliant first year in management for Brentford…but nothing.Le Bris not being recognised is both a frustration and a relief, but the annoying thing for a head coach that’s revitalized the club and turned us into a top half team is that it’s arguably the story of the season. On the other hand, keeping as much of our success out of the spotlight can only be a good thing.Granit Xhaka and Robin Roefs also went relatively unnoticed in the end-of-season accolades, and the same can be said for them — particularly Roefs, who enjoyed a superb season during which he kept ten clean sheets in thirty five appearances.Keeping things low key and grounded is a staple quality of Le Bris, and he has been key to our success through implementing this on his players both this season and last. “Calm” and “collected” are two ideal words to describe the boss, it’s fair to say.Arsenal have taken the majority of the plaudits, as expected, and Manchester United are being praised for getting back into the Champions League. Elsewhere, Aston Villa and Bournemouth both had brilliant seasons, with the pundits crowing about them. To an extent, and although it’s nice that we aren’t being talked about a great deal, it does feel slightly irritating that the successes of Le Bris and the club aren’t getting the exposure they deserve.If we could look twelve months into the future and see we’ve had another relatively successful season, with a steady league run and a flirtation with the knockout stages of the Europa League, perhaps we’ll be getting a lot more attention, and maybe I’ll be thankful that we went under the radar.Positive attention is unusual for Sunderland.It’s not too long since we were making national headlines for falling down the divisions or going nearly twelve months without a home win. However, any good news stories about us this summer will be hard-earned after a season of hard work, success and structure.Le Bris and some of our players will be in the spotlight this summer, and for good reason.From the outside looking in, it seems that we’ve created an ethos whereby the players and staff are all singing from the same hymn sheet — the proof is in European qualification and only twelve defeats all season.

SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - MAY 24: Trai Hume of Sunderland celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Chelsea at the Stadium of Light on May 24, 2026 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images) | Getty Images After two of the most amazing seasons in our recent history, most of us can scarcely believe how far we’ve come from the not-so-long ago days of League One.Going back over sixty years or more Sunderland have typically followed up a season of promotion from the second tier with an objective no greater than survival in the top flight. There was of course one notable exception to this pattern in the shape of Peter Reid’s team of 1998/1999, but what we’ve just witnessed has completely broken the mould after qualifying for European football next season.Looking back from the 1960s onwards, when we started the shenanigans of promotion/relegation and flitting between the top flight, the second tier and even at times bringing the third tier into the equation, there have been a few but significant missed opportunities where as a club, we tottered on what you might call the precipice of success with one foot sticking out, waving our arms trying to keep our balance and unsure as to whether to commit, push off and take the plunge.In the summer of 1964, with a young, newly-promoted promising team and for reasons which have never been clearly explained, Sunderland manager Alan Brown — the architect of the side over the previous six seasons following relegation — left the club.Then, in the wake of our famous FA Cup win in 1973, key players who would be become England internationals were sold.Manager Bob Stokoe eventually did gain promotion in 1976 with the players he was able to recruit, but England players such as Dennis Tueart and Dave Watson could’ve made a huge difference during what was a doomed First Division campaign.In 1984 Alan Durban was sacked despite being on the cusp of assembling a good young side, many of whom — as a mark of the pedigree they had — went on to win First Division titles and FA Cups with other clubs.Denis Smith won promotion to the First Division by good fortune with a good young team in 1990, but for a manager who was a savvy operator in the transfer market, he was never backed with the cash he needed to keep us there.Then came the infamous implosion of Peter Reid’s team in the early 2000s after two seventh-place finishes.This was during time when with a almost brand new stadium (and one of the biggest club stadiums in the country at the time) and a new academy when most clubs didn’t have them, we really felt we’d cemented ourselves in the top flight and were destined to push onto even greater things.Finally, our last chance before the present day was one that nobody seems to really acknowledge, and that was Steve Bruce’s team of 2010/20111.We’d been picking up good results all through the season and all through the winter, and we were firmly in sixth or seventh place in the Premier League…right up until the day we sold Darren Bent.In the summer that followed, we also sold Jordan Henderson and Simon Mignolet, and incredibly let Asamoah Gyan leave on loan after the transfer window had closed.What’s the point of all this reminiscing on missed opportunities? Well, we can and should learn from it. Let’s not cock this up. The past sixty years or more are full of opportunities where we have always — not to put too fine a point on it — bottled it!We’re standing at a point in the history of our club which feels like one of those decisive moments where we decide where we want to go and what we want to become.It feels like not only have we put one foot out over the precipice, but that we’re pushing off and are ready to take that great leap forward. Let’s not miss this chance, because this is the best position that Sunderland A.F.C. have got themselves into since we used to win things regularly, and that was a very, very long time ago.We’re all confident in our owners, and if they had a five-year plan to get us into the Premier League, you wonder what their plan looks like now? Although one or two promising mainstays from the team may leave this summer, you can’t see Kyril Louis-Dreyfus selling the family silver, or not backing the management. We’ve exceeded all expectations to get into Europe — can we push on?

SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - JULY 02: Manager Jack Ross speaks to Luke O'Nien (R) during the first SAFC training session of the season on July 2, 2019 at The Academy of Light in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images) | Sunderland AFC via Getty Images Today marks the birthday of our former manager Jack Ross, a figure whose time on Wearside continues to divide opinion among supporters as to whether it was a successful tenure or not. While his reign ultimately ended in disappointment, Ross also played an important role in stabilising the club during one of the most turbulent periods in its history.Appointed by new owner Stewart Donald in May 2018 following our relegation to League One, Ross arrived with the task of trying to rebuild a club that had suffered back-to-back drops from the Premier League to the third tier. Naturally, expectations were enormous, but the Scotsman quickly brought a sense of calm and stability to a dressing room and fanbase that had been rocked by years of decline and disappointment.One of the biggest positives of Ross’s tenure was his ability to restore the team’s pride in their performances and, crucially, start winning games again. Sunderland lost just five league matches during the 2018-19 campaign and finished fifth with 88 points. The team reached the League One play-off final at Wembley, where they narrowly lost 2-1 to Charlton Athletic in heartbreaking fashion. Ross also guided the Black Cats to the final of the EFL Trophy, although they were defeated on penalties by Portsmouth.Ross deserves credit for creating a side that was difficult to beat and capable of grinding out results. Players such as Aiden McGeady thrived under his management, while the club regained a level of professionalism and organisation on the pitch that had been lacking in previous seasons.However, there were significant criticisms too. Despite Sunderland’s decent points tally, many fans felt the team lacked attacking ambition. Too often, winning positions were surrendered and matches ended in frustrating draws, particularly 1-1 stalemates.Ross’s side developed a reputation for cautious and unexciting football, particularly against teams lower in the table, leading to accusations that the Scot was not getting the best from one of League One’s strongest squads.These concerns were heightened by the departure of Josh Maja, who left the club in the January transfer window to join Bordeaux after scoring sixteen goals prior to his move, along with the protracted and somewhat comical transfer saga surrounding Will Grigg, who arrived as Maja’s replacement.The failure to secure promotion in 2018-19 proved costly. When Sunderland struggled to establish themselves as automatic promotion contenders during the following season, patience from the board and some fans began to wear thin. Ross became the fall guy – perhaps somewhat harshly – and was dismissed in October 2019 with the club sitting sixth in the table, a decision that remains a subject of debate among supporters.Looking back, Jack Ross’s time at Sunderland can be viewed through two lenses. On one hand, he steadied a sinking ship, restored pride and guided the club to two Wembley finals. On the other, he was unable to deliver the promotion that was considered essential and was often criticised for a style of football that failed to fully convince despite the talent at his disposal.On his birthday, Ross remains a notable figure in Sunderland’s recent history – a manager whose reign featured both genuine progress and lingering frustration in equal measure.

Trump wants results against organized crime. Can Mexico’s president deliver?

When they left, they changed.

A plan has emerged about the type of right-back Manchester City are targetingOne position that Manchester City seems certain to strengthen this summer is right-back. City does need support for Matheus Nunes, who is now firmly established as a quality right-back. The question mark did seem to be whether the FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders would target a player to compete with Matheus Nunes or a young right-back who can develop and one day replace the Portuguese international. The answer seems to have arrived based on a new report.Manchester City are reportedly set to target a young right-back this summer.Shamoon Hafez has reported for the BBC that Manchester City are set to target a young right-back this summer. Furthermore, Hafez reports that Matheus Nunes is City’s number-one right-back. City are targeting a young right-back who is a natural in the role and will grow to become Manchester City’s first-choice right-back in time.Two right-backs jump out as prime candidates for City to target but one may be off the table.If Manchester City are in the market for a young right-back, there are two players that jump off the page as potential targets. They are Feyenoord’s impressive young right-back Givairo Read and Atalanta’s right-back Marco Palestra. The pair do seem to be the standout candidates as the right-backs that City will target. However, that race may be down to one based on a new report about Marco Palestra.Sky Sport Italia reports that Inter Milan believe that they will win the race to sign Marco Palestra. Furthermore, it is reported that Palestra is eager to remain in Italy rather than move abroad at this stage of his career. Lastly, the Sky Sport Italia report does state that Premier League clubs are interested in signing Palestra.If Marco Palestra is off the board, it is beginning to seem like Feyenoord right-back Givairo Read is shaping as Manchester City’s target for the position. Fabrizio Romano has again reported that Manchester City and Bayern Munich continue to monitor Read. If Palestra is determined to stay in Italy as reported, Givairo Read fits the bill as a right-back that City could bring in to provide cover for Matheus Nunes and one day become City’s first-choice right-back.A young right-back is seemingly what Manchester City are looking for this summer. Joining the dots and recent reports, a City move for Givairo Read may be on the cards during the summer transfer window.

The Dallas Cowboys wrapped up their first OTA session. The Organized Team Activities are Phase 3 of the NFL's offseason program, still restricting physical contact and totally voluntary. Still, the majority of the team is in attendance and working out on mock scenarios that simulate what they'll do once they ramp up in training camp.Head coach Brian Schottenheimer spoke about the handful of limitations to major players during his press conference on Thursday, Day 3 that was open to the media after an off day on Wednesday. He mentioned specifically how second-year edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku and top corner DaRon Bland are being held back out of an abundance of caution.You guys will see most of the guys in mock, we've got a few guys that we're gonna be smart with. Ezeiruaku, Daron Bland, guys like that. You'll see them throughout the next couple weeks advance into more individual drills and stuff like that. But a few of those guys we're gonna be really smart with. But right now we're pretty healthy, and most of our guys are in a good spot. The two that jump out at me right now would be Daron and EZ, would be the guys we're being mindful of.Ezeriuaku had just two sacks in his rookie campaign despite ranking third in pressures by rookie edge rushers with 36. He had hip surgery this offseason, which has limited him to doing rehab work while focusing on the learning aspect of the early offseason install phases. There's a reason why we felt so highly of him last year. Then you look back and know that he played the last number of games with some ailments.Bland, the Cowboys' most expensive defender, enters his second year under his $90 million contract. Bland has dealt with foot injuries over the last two seasons, playing just 19 games and also having offseason surgery to try and clear up the consistent issues. Schottenheimer provided positive outlooks on each's chance of being ready for training camp.Oh yeah. Both guys are doing great. It's more of us taking precaution and being smart. They both wanna get out there, but again, its OTAs. It's more important that they're learning the scheme and system and all that as opposed to them going out there.This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys top edge, $90M defender held back in OTAs

Boardmasters is set to bring some of the world's best surfers to Cornwall this summer after its flagship competition was upgraded to one of Europe's biggest events.The Boardmasters Open at Fistral Beach in Newquay will run from 5 to 9 August with a new Qualifying Series 4,000 status, up from QS 2,000 last year. It means the winner can get up to 4,000 points towards progressing up the rankings, instead of 2,000.Organisers said the move placed it among the top three events of its kind in Europe and they expected the festival to attract a stronger international line-up.More news stories for CornwallListen to the latest news for CornwallThe Boardmasters Open runs alongside the music festival which takes place just outside Newquay with highlights including Fatboy Slim, Kasabian and Lily Allen.World Surf League Europe tour manager Rob Gunning said the added Qualifying Series ranking points "will be impactful with a stronger field of athletes making the trip to Newquay to battle it out for this year's trophy".The event also offers local surfers the chance to take on Europe's best and chase big points on familiar waves.Defending champion Lukas Skinner, from Cornwall, said: "I'm super looking forward to Boardmasters this year, being upgraded to a QS 4,000 is massive."Skinner said he felt confident going into the event and wanted to push for a third straight win.Alys Barton, first ever British Surfer to qualify for the WSL Challenger Series, a step above the Qualifying Series, said: "Boardmasters is one of my favourite comps on the calendar. "I love the atmosphere and the energy of the event, and it is always great to compete in front of a home crowd."Vicky Gosling, chair of GB Surfing, said the upgrade was a "significant milestone for British surfing"."It gives our athletes the opportunity to compete against Europe's best and earn valuable ranking points on home waves, while reflecting the continued growth and progress of the sport in the UK," she said."Our LA 2028 Olympic hopefuls will be competing, and we are seeing them develop with real confidence and consistency as they progress along the Olympic pathway. "We believe they have the talent and potential to achieve outstanding results on the Olympic stage in the years ahead, while inspiring the next generation of British surfers to pursue their own Olympic ambitions."Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. More on this story Aspiring local artists offered main festival slotLily Allen to bring break-up album to Boardmasters festivalSunny highlights from Boardmasters festival Related internet links BoardmastersWorld Surf League

Los Angeles can learn valuable lessons from hosting matches at the World Cup as the city prepares to then "size up and scale" plans for the return of the Olympics in two years' time, according to LA28 chief executive Reynold Hoover.Eight World Cup matches will be staged at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Los Angeles, starting with the opening fixture for co-hosts the United States against Paraguay on June 12 as one of five group games, with another two in the round of 32 as well as one quarter-final.While the two global events will be dealing with many different logistical – not to mention security and political – challenges, Hoover feels the World Cup will provide valuable insight for the LA organising committee as preparations continue to host the Games for a third time."The World Cup is a great opportunity for the city to again shine. It is a tremendous opportunity for all of us and we are taking some great lessons learned," Hoover said at a press conference in LA on Thursday following a three-day visit by the International Olympic Committee Coordination Commission."We are looking at their transportation and how they are moving fans and spectators around. We are looking at security and security planning, but recognise that World Cup is an entirely different model and size, scope and scale than from what we are putting on."So we take that – we have to kind of kind of size up and scale what lessons we are learning from hem, but we are in close co-ordination with them all the time, and we are looking forward to the World Cup coming."LA28 chair Casey Wasserman remains confident the Games will provide a welcome for all, despite the continuing diplomatic tensions around the globe."We are preparing to host every country on Earth, and so our mindset around visas has been deeply engaged with both (US) Homeland Security and the (US) State Department, because of the complexity of that."This is a unique, complex time for Iran and the World Cup. Iran was always coming to the Olympics, North Korea is coming to the Olympics. It may be that Russia and Belarus are coming back to the Olympics."So visas for countries where we don't have diplomatic relations has been part of our gameplan since 2017. We have been deeply engaged with the State Department to be ahead of that."I feel incredibly confident that we will deliver against that for all of the cohorts from all those countries, not just athletes, but officials, fans, press and political figures, so it is a different perspective for us, and something that we have been planning for for a long time."Chair of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coordination Commission for LA28 Nicole Hoevertsz feels the city remains on course to host another memorable Games, with some four million tickets already having been sold and around 300,000 people expressing an interest in volunteering."We look at what has been achieved, and we use that progress to shape what still lies ahead," said Hoevertsz, a former synchronized swimmer who represented the Netherlands Antilles at the 1984 LA Olympics."The progress that we have seen so far gives us every confidence that the next two years will put us on course for another memorable edition of the Olympic Games."

SWOOPE — Buffalo Gap's offense came through just when it needed it as the Bison rallied for an 8-6 win over William Campbell June 4 in the Region 1B softball championship.Trailing 2-0 in the fourth inning, Buffalo Gap scored five runs to take the lead, one they never relinquished in claiming its third straight regional title. Buffalo Gap will host Lancaster, the Region 1A runner-up, Tuesday, June 9."It helps us a lot because we have lots of fans out here," Buffalo Gap starting pitcher Rachel Showalter said of playing in front of the home crowd one more time this season. "It just picks up everybody, gives everybody energy."Six Bison had hits, but none more than one in a balanced offensive attack. Elissa Caricofe started the fourth inning off reaching on an error, then advancing to second on the same play. Rachel Showalter singled home Caricofe's courtesy runner, Emarie Smiley, to get the Bison on the scoreboard.Sophomore Makenzie Wooddell doubled home Showalter to tie the game with two outs, then came home when a pitch hit the dirt in front of the William Campbell catcher and bounced away. It was Gap's first lead of the game and William Campbell never got it back. William Campbell made a pitching change, but Gap plated two more runs on an error to lead 5-2.Gap stretched its lead to 8-3 before the Generals put together a three-run sixth, but that was as close as the visitors would get. "It's the story of our season," said Buffalo Gap coach Holly Desper. "The first couple of innings it's just like we're hitting straight to people. But we just had to keep doing our thing and eventually they're going to fall. And they did."Rachel Showalter pitched the first six innings, scattering nine nits and striking out five, before Bailey Tribble entered in the seventh to close the door. After William Campbell got a baserunner on an error, Tribble got the next three outs and Gap picked up the win. "Bailey is ready at all times," Desper said of her relief pitcher and starting shortstop. "When we switched there in the sixth we were like, 'Hey, Bailey, are you ready if we go with you in the seventh?' and she said she needed to get a couple of pitches in and she was good to go. These girls are ready no matter what we throw at them, they're going to do it. I'm just so proud of them."When Gap faces Lancaster they will be trying to reach their sixth straight state semifinal game. More: Fort Defiance track and field duo raises the bar in high jumpMore: Augusta County ends historic era with new courthousePatrick Hite is a reporter at The News Leader. Story ideas and tips are always welcome. Connect with Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and on Instagram @hitepatrick. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Buffalo Gap beat William Campbell to win the Region 1B softball title

Beijing says the changes are needed for national security, but they could complicate efforts by Chinese companies to find growth overseas.

Bryce Eldridge has top-shelf power.Getty ImagesThe MLB best home run bets are 10-38 this season, with two no-bets for players who didn’t start on the days their home run props were touted. The betting record for home run bets is unimpressive, but that’s the nature of making long-shot bets. Even nailing home run props at a low rate can turn a tidy profit if the bets are carefully selected, though. As a result, the MLB best home run bets this season have yielded a $353 profit for anyone who’s wagered $100 on each of the suggested home run props at the listed odds. Tonight’s most alluring home run props belong to two young left-handed batters. Both have favorable hitting conditions and the requisite power to make their home run bets winners, and both props are listed at longer than +450 odds.MLB Best Home Run BetsBryce Eldridge (San Francisco Giants - 1B)Over 0.5 Home Runs (+475) at theScore BetBryce Eldridge has substantial power, earning present game power and raw power grades of 50 and 70, respectively, on the 20-to-80 scouting scale, with future grades of 70 and 80. Eldridge hit 25 homers in 102 games and 433 plate appearances in the upper minors last year, and he smashed five home runs in 30 games and 137 plate appearances in Triple-A this season. Eldridge has also muscled up for two home runs in 21 games and 76 plate appearances for the Giants.Both of Eldridge’s home runs this season have come in 64 plate appearances against right-handed pitching. The left-handed-hitting Eldridge also has quality batted-ball data.Among 425 batters with at least 25 batted-ball events this year, Eldridge is 75th in barrels per plate appearance rate (7.9%), tied for 67th in barrels per batted-ball event rate (12.5%), fifth in hard-hit rate (58.3%), tied for 30th in fly-ball and line-drive exit velocity (96.7 mph), tied for 45th in maximum exit velocity (113.4 mph), tied for 97th in launch-angle sweet-spot rate (37.5%) and has a 15.4-degree launch angle. Eldridge has a favorable matchup and even better park factors and weather working in his favor today. Edward Cabrera didn’t allow a home run in his first four starts and has coughed up eight in six subsequent starts, ceding multiple homers in three of those turns. Cabrera has also allowed 14 home runs to 441 left-handed batters faced since last season. In addition, Wrigley Field has a park factor of 109 for homers since last year, tying for the 10th-highest mark. The park factors account for games with the wind blowing out and in, so it’s not exactly double-counting to note today’s weather conditions. The winds are projected to gust out to center field today, which gives all the hitters in this contest an enhanced chance to reach the seats. Eldridge has the top-shelf power to make the most of the windy conditions and smash a home run today.JJ Wetherholt can reach double-digit homers for the year in a plus matchup tonight.Getty ImagesJJ Wetherholt (St. Louis Cardinals - 2B)Over 0.5 Home Runs (+458) at DraftKings SportsbookJJ Wetherholt broke camp with the Cardinals, and he hasn’t been overwhelmed in his rookie campaign. Instead, he’s been an above-average hitter. Wetherholt has hit nine home runs in 58 games and 266 plate appearances this year as part of a well-rounded profile, but the home runs are what matter for his home run prop.Wetherholt has hit seven of his nine home runs in 179 plate appearances against righties, six of them in 135 plate appearances at home and four of them in 87 plate appearances against righties at home. The left-handed-hitting infielder has made the most of the platoon advantage and done his best work for homers at home.Wetherholt also has decent batted-ball data. Among 257 qualified batters in 2026, Wetherholt is tied for 133rd in barrels per plate appearance rate (5.3%), tied for 140th in barrels per batted-ball event rate (7.7%), 39th in hard-hit rate (48.4%), tied for 45th in fly-ball and line-drive exit velocity (95.4 mph), tied for 81st in launch-angle sweet-spot rate (36.3%) and has a 16.1-degree launch angle. The rookie infielder hasn’t done the best job of barreling the ball up, but he’s hit it hard, and he’s done a good job of lifting the ball.Wetherholt’s batted-ball tendencies should result in a home run in a mouthwatering matchup today. Brady Singer’s 2.82 home runs allowed per nine innings (HR/9) are the most among today’s probable starters. Singer has allowed 16 homers in 11 starts this year, ceding at least one in nine starts and coughing up multiple homers in five starts, all of those multi-homer games coming in his past six starts, including three in a row. The righty hurler has also struggled mightily with the platoon disadvantage. The 552 left-handed batters who’ve faced Singer since last year have popped 25 home runs. Wetherholt is one of MLB’s premier home run hitters, but his +458 odds to hit a home run are too good to pass up against homer-prone Singer.This article was originally published on Forbes.com

John Stones: Manchester City’s Barnsley Beckenbauer who got the Blues excitedIt was summer 2020, and John Stones’ Manchester City career was hanging by a thread.The centre-back had started just two of the Blues’ 14 post-Covid games, had handed Aston Villa their goal in a surprise outing in the Carabao Cup final months prior, and Port Vale striker Tom Pope – then of League Two – had claimed that he would love to play against the ‘weak’ England international every week and ‘would score 40 a season’ if he did so – before duly bagging against Stones and City, despite a 4-1 FA Cup third-round defeat.Mid-table Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers were understood to be interested in signing Stones, and it looked as though his time at the Etihad Stadium, which had promised much in the years prior, was fizzling out in disappointment. It is now summer 2026. Stones didn’t leave in 2020. Instead, he made himself undroppable in the season which followed, blossoming into the player that City knew he could be when Pep Guardiola made him one of his first signings in 2016, and becoming one of the key contributors to some of the finest seasons in club history.Now departing the Etihad Stadium after a glittering decade of service, John Stones goes down not only as one of the most complete defenders the Premier League has ever seen, but as arguably the biggest cult hero in this era for Manchester City, evidenced by the adoring send-off he was afforded after his final game and during the trophy parade.We look back on the Barnsley Beckenbauer’s rollercoaster 10 years in Manchester, featuring Jamaican slang, the positional switch that changed everything, and some truly wicked dance moves…As the aforementioned nickname would suggest – referring to German great Franz Beckenbauer, revered for popularising the role which influenced much of what Stones would go on to achieve with Manchester City – the Englishman started his career at his native Barnsley, quickly catching the eye and earning a move to the top flight with Everton.After three impressive seasons at Goodison Park – with Chelsea routinely reported to be sniffing around – John Stones joined City for £47.5 million in 2016, the second-most expensive transfer fee for a defender in history at the time, behind only David Luiz’s move to PSG.This, coupled with the fact that he would be pairing his renowned ball-playing skills with the best possible manager to utilise them in Pep Guardiola, meant expectations were high.The pressure, perhaps, was too much initially for a player who had only turned 21 that summer.Manchester City struggled more than expected in that first Guardiola season and Stones was often left exposed, with blunders against Southampton, AS Monaco and on a nightmare return to Everton in particular making him one of the media’s favourite talking points (or, if you prefer, scapegoats) in what was a first-ever trophyless campaign for his new boss.Pep Guardiola never lost the faith though. 41 appearances that term were the most Stones ever managed in a season for City – in part due to injuries later down the line, but also because of the trust his manager had in both his abilities and in his mentality.Guardiola lauded the latter commodity in one of his most famous press conferences soundbites, insisting after a 1-1 draw with Liverpool that Stones had ‘more personality, more balls’ than the entire assembled room of journalists, due to his willingness to keep playing the right way even after making mistakes.A new-look Manchester City started the 2017/18 season in far finer fettle, and Stones was growing with the side, playing in each of the opening 12 Premier League matches.In a sign of things to come though, an injury proved costly; a hamstring problem suffered against Leicester knocked him out from mid-November until the New Year.By the time of his comeback, Aymeric Laporte was on the verge of being added to the ranks, and with captain Vincent Kompany returning to fitness himself and Nicolas Otamendi enjoying easily his best City campaign, John Stones went to the 2018 World Cup having played little in the climax to the Centurions season.Starring in England’s run to the semi-finals in Russia rejuvenated the Three Lions man, and he returned to Manchester to play a big part as City’s title defence was put under major pressure by Jurgen Klopp’s relentless Liverpool.His importance was never greater than when the top two went head-to-head at the Etihad Stadium in January 2019 – a mix-up with Ederson at 0-0 saw Stones’ attempted clearance bounce back towards his own goal, only for the defender to somehow extend his leg and hook it away, with just 11 millimetres of the ball staying the right side of the line.City went on to win the match 2-1 and reign the Reds in, Stones coming in where injury and the unshakeable partnership of Kompany and Laporte permitted to contribute to the ridiculous 14-match winning run needed to win the title by a single point.An unused substitute as the league was sealed on the final day at Brighton, Stones instead exerted his energy during the dressing room celebrations post-match, showing off some typically nifty footwork as he delighted teammates with his dancing to Robin S’ Show Me Love.2019/20 was, as previously mentioned, the season where it threatened to come apart for Stones. More muscular problems disrupted any rhythm he attempted to build up, coming to a head in that League Cup final – a surprise starter for the first time in almost two months, his badly-timed slip allowed Aston Villa in to score and nearly mount an improbable comeback.With midfielder Fernandinho, inexperienced academy graduate Eric Garcia and the outgoing and declining Otamendi preferred in defence at various points as the Blues flailed behind runaway champions Liverpool, the writing seemed on the wall for either that touted move to Wolves or another Premier League outfit further down the ladder than City.But Stones insisted on staying to fight for his place, and by a strange quirk of fate, started the opening game of the lockdown 2020/21 season at Molineux, home of the very club trying to bring him in.New signing Ruben Dias soon took up the starting spot next to Aymeric Laporte, but when John Stones got his chance to partner the Portuguese after a few months, a pairing blossomed which would be vital to City retaking their title.From a 5-0 win over Burnley in November, the duo started ten of the next 11 league games together, only beginning to sit out from February when they were rested domestically – with the title already looking a formality – in preparation to rejoin forces for big Champions League games. Indeed, they helped keep City in rock-solid shape right up until the final in Porto, when the Blues came unstuck against Chelsea.That ‘bromance’ with Dias – the pair would often complete club media together and embrace after seemingly every successfully-defended scenario – wasn’t Stones’ only tight bond in Manchester.Bernardo Silva revealed during the recent celebration of both departing legends’ City careers that their first interaction when playing against each other in the Champions League wasn’t of a savoury nature, but they’ve since become firm friends, with the Portuguese even naming his dog John in Stones’ honour (and, he has revealed, as a bit of a joke).Raheem Sterling was always quick to encourage his England and City teammate to showcase his fledgling impression of a Jamaican accent, with Stones first announcing that he was from ‘central Kingston’ when asked to describe where in the island country his character was from during Sterling’s 25th birthday celebrations, then greeting the winger’s social media followers with “wagwan, generals” in a video posted during title celebrations in 2022.The league win that term was once more watched largely from the sidelines by Stones, with a combination of that troublesome hamstring and the resurgent form of Laporte limiting him to just 14 Premier League appearances; the previous year’s upturn in form had clearly marked a positive change in Stones’ dependability when on the pitch though, and the following season was his defining campaign at the Etihad.It won’t come as a surprise at this point that two separate hamstring injuries either side of the winter 2022 World Cup had meant the season had been stop-start for Stones up to the end of February 2023.What followed though was one of the most memorable stretches of form by any player in the Guardiola era, as the defender built on the inverted full-back position performed earlier in the season by Rico Lewis and remarkably fulfilled the role from CENTRE-back.He transcended the norms of his natural position to roam freely over the pitch, one minute holding down the defence next to Dias, the next anchoring the engine room alongside Rodri, before gallivanting into attacking midfield, joining Bernardo Silva on the wing or even slotting in next to Erling Haaland as suited his fancy.Opposing sides simply couldn’t deal with the numerical overloads Stones’ presence allowed City to form, and one after the other, big teams were blown away by Pep Guardiola’s rampant Blues.In the space of two months, Liverpool and Arsenal had been thrashed en route to the Premier League title, Manchester United were put away in the FA Cup final, and RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Inter had all been dispatched in the UEFA Champions League as City roared to a legendary treble. John Stones started and bossed every match, and his performances in both finals in particular were mesmeric.It was around this time that Stones’ now-iconic chant, to the tune of Boney M’s Daddy Cool, became a massive hit on the terraces. Scarcely has a player so appreciated being appreciated as much as Stones does; even mid-match in his final game against Villa at the weekend, he took a moment to hail the South Stand at the Etihad as they serenaded the man who gets the Blues excited and isn’t overly fond of United.The final three seasons of Stones’ time at City weren’t without their high points – helping seal four Premier League titles in a row, saving City’s Champions League skins last term in the league phase win over Club Brugge and playing his part in the early rounds of both cups as City this year swooped a domestic double – but you won’t be shocked to hear that fitness has again been his biggest foe, with 72 games missed for club and country in that time.So now, having just turned 32 years old, John Stones calls time on a Manchester City career which began when he was not long out of his teens.Pep Guardiola saw something in that promising but unpolished talent at Everton and put faith in him – so much so that Stones is the only first-teamer to have been with the boss every step of the way in his management of Manchester City, starting both his first and last game in charge.Even those most beloved by Guardiola – Kevin de Bruyne, who missed out on the final season of his reign, or Bernardo Silva, who arrived one year in – haven’t been as fixed an institution at the Etihad Stadium as John Stones.There have been ups and downs in that decade, but you sense those have only deepened the bond between the Barnsley native and his supporters. The fans have taken him into their hearts, and he has reciprocated, never far from welling up at each rendition of ‘JOHNNY, JOHNNY STONES!’So Manchester City thanks you, John. It seems at times you can’t believe you’re worthy of the adulation of the fans, but we assure you, you are. We might never see another player like you.

The Los Angeles Dodgers will not have Max Muncy on Friday vs. the Los Angeles Angels, but they seemed to have dodged the worst of a scary collision. Muncy hit a ground ball and ran down the first base line hard, trying to beat it out in the fifth inning of Thursday’s series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks. View this post on InstagramA post shared by Dodgers Nation (@dodgersnation)While running, Muncy chose to take the inside line, assuming first baseman Ildemaro Vargas would go on the outside, but the defender went in the same lane, and they had a big collision.They were both down for a while, leaving the game after the moment. Jun 4, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy (13) reacts with an apparent injury after colliding with Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Ildemaro Vargas (not pictured) at first base in the fifth inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Anna Carrington-Imagn ImagesAccording to Dave Roberts, Muncy will sit on Friday, which was always the plan. Muncy has been nursing a wrist injury from a hit by a pitch dating back more than a week, and he was set to get some rest on Friday to make sure he stays upright. However, after the collision, he will naturally have a rest day to get him back on his feet and ensure he can play on Saturday and Sunday. Jun 4, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy (13) walks off the field with an apparent injury after colliding with Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Ildemaro Vargas (not pictured) during the fifth inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Anna Carrington-Imagn ImagesMax Muncy reacts to the collisionMuncy was revealed to be suffering from a possible concussion and a loss of breath. However, the third baseman was luckily able to speak to reporters. “I saw the pitcher didn’t get off the mound, and I saw he fielded it kind of running backward. So, busting it hard out of the box, as I’m running down the line, I saw him in foul territory,” Muncy said. “So I got to the inside of the bag, and I thought he was going to stay on that side. It felt like neither of us knew which direction we were going to go, and then we both went the wrong direction.“And, yeah, bang. Obviously, I really hope Vargas is OK. I sent something over to him, hoping he’s doing all right and that it’s not too bad.“But it was just a bad situation where it looked like neither of us knew which direction to go.”View this post on InstagramA post shared by Dodgers Nation (@dodgersnation)Muncy will be missed on Friday for the Freeway Series opener vs. the Angels, but with the worst-case scenario avoided, the Dodgers will certainly take one game over weeks of missed action.

Brazil's Kaka had just won the 2007 Fifa Player of the Year award but it was an awkward on-stage moment next to him that was to go viral and provide perhaps the first glimpse of a generational rivalry.A youthful Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo had finished second and third respectively but Brazil legend Pele mistakenly handed the latter the trophy for second place at the Zurich Opera House.Fifa president Sepp Blatter had to intervene to ask the duo to swap the trophies, with both looking suitably unimpressed.For the next 10 years, Messi or Ronaldo won every Ballon d'Or and Fifa award going. In fact since 2007, 20 of the 29 gongs awarded for Europe's player of the year has gone to one of them.With approaching 2,000 career goals between them, 85 trophies for club and country and countless individual awards and records, Messi and Ronaldo will forever be remembered as two of the most decorated players in history.It is a rivalry that has defined the last two decades of football, transcending clubs, countries and competitions to reshape how the game has been played, consumed and debated across the world."Two players like them, competing at that level for so many years, fighting over the Ballon d'Or and scoring that many goals... I don't think we'll see it again," Argentina World Cup winner Angel di Maria, who played with both, says in BBC Sport's new documentary Rivals: Messi v Ronaldo.Driven by a pursuit of trophies, records and a relentless desire to be the best, the pair – likely to be making their final World Cup appearances this summer - have pushed each other to new heights.It is a rivalry that goes beyond the ultimate 'greatest of all time' debate they have fuelled."They both changed football," says Di Maria.Ask anyone who is the greatest and agreement is hard to find."It has to be Ronaldo," ex-Manchester United team-mate Rio Ferdinand says. "Messi is the best there has ever been," insists ex-Barcelona player and manager Xavi. Ronaldo has had his say in the past, stating in 2012: "You cannot compare a Ferrari with a Porsche. It is a different engine. Some people say I am better, some people say he is. They are going to decide who is better in the moment and I think it's me."What do the numbers tell us? If it's judged on goals or Champions League trophies, Ronaldo leads the way. If it's Ballons d'Or or total trophies, Messi shades it.For some, Ronaldo nudged ahead when he helped Portugal lift the European Championship in 2016, but Messi has since guided Argentina to two Copa America titles and a World Cup."For me, Messi is the best player in history and Cristiano is the greatest goalscorer in history," Spanish football expert Guillem Balague says.And Deco, who played with Ronaldo for Portugal and Messi for Barcelona, says: "They are special. They are totally different from the rest. It's not normal to be on this level all these years."Each year, there's a lot of players who do amazing things for a few years, but being almost 20 years is not normal."Perhaps the beauty of the GOAT debate is that it may never be settled - and does not need to be."They have come to appreciate each as the co-stars of the football drama they have appeared in for the last 20 years," says Jonathan Clegg, co-author of a Ronaldo and Messi book.The pair are seen by many as polar opposites.The dribbler against the physical specimen. The shy genius against the arrogant ego. Pep Guardiola's Barcelona against Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid. Adidas against Nike.But, while the narrative of their rivalry was undoubtedly built on their differences, the similarities between the two were striking - even from an early age.Both players were raised in humble surroundings. Both left their homes at an early age to pursue their dreams - Messi to Barcelona from Argentina at 13 and Ronaldo to Lisbon from Madeira aged 12 - and both struggled with home sickness after leaving their family behind.Wall Street Journal reporter Joshua Robinson, co-author of a Messi Ronaldo book, said: "Messi and Ronaldo are always portrayed as being so different but the things that forged them in their childhoods were incredibly similar."They both go to a place that says 'we will take your talent and make you even greater'. That promise feels appealing but is a huge gamble. That moment of total commitment is when they realise this isn't kid stuff any more. 'If I'm going to be the greatest of all time, this is where it begins.'"But the biggest thing that brought the pair together was their unshakeable desire to succeed as they quickly built reputations as prodigious young talents. "You could already see something different with Messi," said Xavi. "Not only the quality but the intensity with which he did things. There was an aggressiveness in attack that I had never seen before."Cristiano even gave him an extra push to be a better player."Meanwhile in England, a teenage Ronaldo was signing for Manchester United from Sporting."I never met a young player so confident in knowing what he wanted," said Rene Meulensteen, who was part of the club's backroom team at the time. "The moment he came to Man United it was just a logical step of what he wanted to become - the best player in the world."Cristiano was a fast learner. I wanted to turn him from someone who could score a goal to a goalscorer. I made a three-minute video that just showed him scoring goals and also then the opportunities he didn't score. He embraced everything."Fast forward to 2008 and the Champions League semi-final. Manchester United v Barcelona. Ronaldo v Messi for the first time."You could see already Messi was the best in La Liga and Cristiano was the best in the Premier League," said Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague. "To see those two kids on the pitch together was the sign of something to come."Manchester United went on to win the trophy, Ronaldo lifted the Ballon d'Or and a rivalry for the ages had just begun."There is no doubt being in the same league changed everything," says Txiki Begiristain, director of football at Barcelona between 2003 and 2010.Ronaldo's world record £80m move to Real Madrid in 2009 thrust the pair right into the centre of one of football's most intense club rivalries - Barcelona v Real Madrid.And by the time Ronaldo left for Juventus in 2018, the pair had won five Ballons d'Or apiece. In the nine seasons the pair were together in Spain, Ronaldo had scored 450 goals in 438 games for Real. Messi, 471 in 476 games for Barca.But it had become far more than just numbers. By now, it was personal - and the growth of social media meant the world was watching."For Cristiano it was Lionel Messi and for Lionel Messi it was Cristiano. 'I need to beat this guy'," said Begiristain."The Mourinho - Guardiola rivalry was like a mirror for the Ronaldo - Messi rivalry. And, as players, they knew that game-winning goals were their route to one-upmanship," added Spanish football writer Sid Lowe."We could watch it all on our phones. And in turn, the global exposure for the Messi - Ronaldo rivalry was now sky high, absolutely off the charts. Everything they did was must-see."It was on everyone's lips in the press box, newspapers and social media comments, Cristiano and Leo were hell bent on outdoing each other on the pitch. Their personal battle for supremacy was symbolised by the ongoing trophy battle between the clubs."And what a battle it was. Messi and Barcelona undoubtedly won the La Liga honours, but the Champions League was dominated by Real Madrid and Ronaldo.In 2012, Ronaldo inspired Real to their first La Liga title in four years but it was Messi who picked up his fourth straight Ballon d'Or award - much to his rival's disgust. He went to win four of the next five."There is a genuine animosity that begins to grow," says Robinson. "They didn't acknowledge each other that much, they hated comparisons."They could not tolerate if they were the greatest of all time, there could be another in their era, in their football league."Deco adds: "I don't think there is something similar to what happened with Messi and Ronaldo at this moment because at the same time the two clubs, Barcelona and Madrid, were at the same level and fighting for the big trophies."When Messi scored a 92nd-minute winner for Barcelona at Real Madrid in 2017, he removed his jersey and held it up the crowd."In the popular narrative, Cristiano had been the diva and Messi had been the humble servant of Barcelona, but this was the moment of Messi reasserting himself on the rivalry, saying maybe for the first time in his career 'look at me'," says Robinson.Just a few months later, Ronaldo mimicked the celebration when he scored in the Spanish Super Cup at Barcelona.Balague added: "If you needed proof of how much it meant to beat each other, those are the pictures."The Messi v Ronaldo rivalry in Spain may have ended when the latter joined Juventus in 2018 - but the global, ongoing debate wasn't disappearing.Ronaldo went on to return to Manchester United before moving to current club Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, while Messi moved to Paris St-Germain, before signing for Inter Miami in America's Major League Soccer - where he remains now.Having seen their impact in Spain, for the first time the players' moves were as commercially motivated as they were for football reasons."Brand Beckham opened the door for what was possible and these two have kicked the door off its hinges," saidRob Pilgrim, head of sport at Meta for Europe, Middle East and Africa.Italian football expert Mina Rzouki, added: "You are not buying sporting excellence, you are buying a whole one-man economy."The numbers are astronomical and the rivalry continued.In 2018, Ronaldo joins Juventus and sells 520,000 shirts in the first 24 hours. In 2021, Messi moves to Paris and shifts 150,000 shirts in just seven minutes. Manchester United welcome Ronaldo back in 2021, and United's total sales of his shirt (£187m) are almost double those of Messi's at PSG. On Instagram, Ronaldo has close to 700m followers, Messi has 500m. The most-liked picture in the history of that platform is the Argentine lifting the World Cup trophy, amassing more than 75m likes.Financially, Ronaldo comes out on top - according to official channels anyway. The Portuguese has topped the Forbes Money List as the world's highest paid athlete for a fourth consecutive time, with $300m (£223m) in total earnings. Messi is third on the list with $140m (£104m).The rivalry between the pair is only accentuated by the fact they are on either side of the sportswear rivalry. Messi with Adidas and Ronaldo with Nike."They have become enormous global brands and what is amazing about them is they have to say almost nothing to become the world's biggest pitch man," said Robinson. Brands the world over threw unparalleled amounts of money to get the superstars on board.And who could forget the iconic image before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with both footballers playing chess against each other on a Louis Vuitton suitcase, to launch the designer's latest campaign."It is known as the picture that broke the internet. It was a commercial masterstroke," said Melanie Ropp, from social media marketing company the Goat Agency. "The timing of it before the World Cup made it globally iconic."So, back to where we started.Robinson said: "Messi has nothing left to conquer. He has that one thing Ronaldo does not, a World Cup. Now the question is did Messi win this entire era of football?"It has to be remembered this story is not over and, with Argentina and Portugal potentially meeting in the latter stages of this summer's World Cup, the final act could be about to play out.BBC to show Scotland's first World Cup game since 1998https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/scheduleThe World Cup line-up is complete - here's what you need to know

Tottenham eyeing move for hardworking winger Anan KhalailiTottenham Hotspur are among the clubs looking at Royale Saint-Union Gilloise winger Anan Khalaili, according to hln.be.He caught the eye of clubs like Spurs, operating on the right flank, bagging three goals and five assists (14 big chances created) in 38 Belgian Pro League appearances.Spurs could use another winger in the ranks with Dejan Kulusevski remaining sidelined.Mohammed Kudus impressed in his first season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but injuries curtailed his campaign, and the same goes for Wilson Odobert.Tottenham need to bring serious wingers for Roberto De Zerbi, and it appears Khalaili is on the club’s shortlist.The 21-year-old forward’s work rate is remarkable, allowing him to operate as a wing-back. He is a right-footer, offering a different threat to Kulusevski and Kudus.Union hope to receive more than €25 million (a club record outgoing fee) from whoever wants the Israeli international (16 caps).Spurs have been impressed by Khalaili’s performances over the past year, but they are not the only ones who have taken notice, with Napoli also reportedly eyeing him.However, while Khalaili looks like an exciting talent and €25 million could prove to be a bargain in today’s inflated market, this is a move Spurs can afford to pass on.He possesses the intensity, versatility and attacking output that would fit seamlessly into De Zerbi’s system.Still, Spurs are already pursuing Manchester City’s Savinho, a player capable of operating effectively on both flanks.Adding Khalaili would only create further congestion in an area of the squad that is already well-stocked.If Tottenham want to invest significant money in another winger, Savinho appears to be the more logical target because of his ability to cover multiple roles and higher ceiling.Khalaili is a fine player, but Spurs can afford not to pursue this particular target.

The vote on Democrats’ proposal, which would have sent the G.O.P. immigration bill back to committee, kicked off a marathon of votes that stretched all day and overnight.

'I thought I was never playing for England again': Ollie Robinson's emotional comeback after 4/10 spell at Lord's vs NZ originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.KEY TAKEAWAYS:Ollie Robinson took four wickets on a stunning Lord's comeback.He had feared his England career was finished just months ago.New Zealand were reduced to 61-6 despite England's modest 140.Ollie Robinson thought his England days were over, until a sensational comeback at Lord'sOllie Robinson admitted that he had privately given up on ever pulling on an England shirt again during Christmas 2025. However, on Thursday, he walked out at Lord's and produced one of the most sensational comeback performances in recent Test cricket memory, as he claimed three wickets in his very first over against New Zealand on Thursday afternoon. At the end of the day's play, Robinson finished the opening day of the Test summer with figures of four wickets for just 10 runs from six overs, which is a brilliant return in any context, let alone for a player making his return after more than two years away from the international stage."At Christmas time, I thought I was never playing for England again. I was nowhere near ready to play or anywhere near where I am now as a person, as a cricketer,” Robinson said.“It’s only been the last few months that I’ve got the enjoyment back for the game and knuckled down a bit more," he added. It's been nearly 28 months since Ollie Robinson played Test cricket for England.Today, he took three wickets in his first over back. There are comebacks; then there's that.— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 4, 2026How Ollie Robinson scripted an England comeback playing in Australia?Robinson had been left out of the England side in 2024 after selectors raised concerns about his physical condition and his attitude towards the game.However, while England were sliding to an Ashes defeat in Australia, a series that would eventually prompt a tactical and selection rethink, Robinson was also down under, though for very different reasons.He spent time playing grade cricket for Sydney University, a move that gradually rekindled his love for the sport."I went to Australia and got the love of the game back. I’ve put in a lot of work over the last couple of months to get back to the bowler I want to be. I’m not the finished article by any means, but those [moments] definitely make it all worthwhile.”MORE: WATCH: Kane Williamson takes a stunning catch to dismiss Ben Stokes as England struggle on Day 1 at Lord'sWhen the wickets began to fall, the Lord's crowd responded in kind, singing Robinson's name across the famous ground. He admitted the occasion momentarily overwhelmed him.“There was a point where I couldn’t really hear it,” he said. “I was just on cloud nine, I suppose. My legs were numb, and I couldn’t hear anything."I was trying to calm myself down and focus on the moment, but I think after the second wicket that’s probably the loudest [noise] I’ve ever heard on a cricket field. Just an incredible day of Test match cricket, and an incredible feeling to be out there and do it for the team.”However, Robinson was quick to keep his feet on the ground. Captain Ben Stokes had reminded him only last week that the hard graft ahead matters more than the headlines."Stokesy said to me last week 'great to have you back, but just know the hard work's still to be done', and that's what's constantly in my head at the moment," Robinson said."These days are what you play for. But, like I said, I've still got a lot of work to do, and it's just great to put the England shirt back on and be here."MORE:ENG vs NZ 1st Test 2026: TV channels and live streaming worldwideThe Cricket News Opinion: The best kind of comeback storyRobinson admitted he was lost, went away, rebuilt himself quietly, and came back ready.He put in the hard work behind the scenes with honesty, and now cricket has rewarded him with a magnificent comeback spell. Whether he can sustain it across a full series is another matter, but Thursday at Lord's felt like a reminder that sometimes the players who disappear and come back changed are worth waiting for.To keep up to date with all the latest cricket news and share your opinion on the biggest topics, visit our Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter) pages.

Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesIndiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark revealed that applesauce was behind the halftime illness that briefly interrupted her night against the Atlanta Dream.Clark still helped the Fever secure an 83-71 win, finishing with 17 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds in 31 minutes. The box score looked steady, but the scene before the second half was far less comfortable.The moment became a talking point because Clark did not disappear after getting sick. She returned, kept running the offense, and helped Indiana close out a needed response after a tense stretch around the team.Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty ImagesCaitlin Clark explains Indiana Fever scare against Atlanta DreamChloe Peterson shared Caitlin Clark’s explanation after the Indiana Fever win, with the guard making clear that a halftime snack did not stay down.“I tried to eat some applesauce, and then it just came up, and then everything else in my stomach also came up. I thought I was gonna stay down, but then I found a trash can, thank God,” Clark said.The explanation was blunt, funny, and slightly grim, which is why it traveled so quickly. Clark made the moment sound more like a bad locker-room inconvenience than a serious concern.Her ability to return mattered more than the awkward visual. Indiana needed her ball-handling, pace, and decision-making against Atlanta, especially in a game the Fever wanted after several days of scrutiny.Caitlin Clark felt lighter as Indiana Fever beat Atlanta DreamClark later admitted the episode was more intense than a normal upset stomach. The strange part was that it appeared to help her reset once the second half began.“I haven’t puked that much in a really long time. But then I felt fine. I felt light. So I was running around feeling good in the second half, but [I] feel OK. Obviously, I’m losing my voice a little bit. But I’ll be good,” Clark stated.Clark shot 6-for-17 and 2-for-8 from three, but she controlled enough of the game as a passer and organizer to keep Indiana moving.Stephanie White praised the energy Clark used on both ends, and the Fever needed that kind of edge. The illness made the night stranger, but Clark’s return helped make sure it still ended as a win.Read more:Indiana Fever bans independent journalist after false Caitlin Clark reportJason Whitlock wants Caitlin Clark to enter Michael Jordan’s ‘coach killer’ era amid Fever strugglesCaitlin Clark’s role as Fever’s leader in doubt despite clearing air about Stephanie White incident

Vitality T20 Blast 2026 schedule and points table: Detailed standings, latest results from England's T20 league originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.KEY TAKEAWAYS:Vitality T20 Blast 2026 season runs from May 22 to July 18, with 18 county teams participating in the North, Central and South groups.Somerset are the defending champions following their win in 2025.Finals Day is scheduled for Edgbaston on July 18 following the conclusion of the knockouts.Vitality T20 Blast 2026 format and previewWith the 2026 season, the format of the Vitality Blast will revert to the three divisions. The 18 teams are split evenly into North, Central & West and South groups, and each club will face the other teams within the same division in both home and away fixtures, plus some games outside their respective divisions.The best teams from each division qualify for the knockout stage, culminating in Finals Day at Edgbaston. The reigning champions are Somerset, who won the trophy last year in 2025.MORE:Most sixes in an IPL edition: Sooryavanshi breaks Indian record, closes in on GayleVitality T20 Blast 2026 points tableNorth GroupTeamMatchesWinsLossesPointsNRRYorkshire43112+0.527Derbyshire Falcons5238+0.856Durham4228−0.309Lancashire Lightning3124−0.375Notts Outlaws4134−0.923Leicestershire Foxes4134−2.007Central & West GroupTeamMatchesWinsLossesPointsNRRNorthamptonshire Steelbacks2208+2.575Somerset2208+1.508Gloucestershire2208+1.200Worcestershire Rapids2114−2.050Glamorgan2020−0.100Warwickshire Bears2020−1.616MORE:'Talk about cricket!’: Why Parag is furious with IPL commentators & ‘keyboard warriors’South GroupTeamMatchesWinsLossesPointsNRRHampshire Hawks541160.000Surrey532120.000Kent Spitfires431120.000Essex42280.000Middlesex51440.000Sussex Sharks41340.000Vitality T20 Blast 2026 fixtures and resultsWeek 2 schedule (May 29–June 7)DateMatchVenueStart time (BST)ResultMay 29Worcestershire (141) vs Warwickshire (142/4)Worcester5:30 p.m.Worcestershire won by 6 wktsMay 29Kent (129/9) vs Essex (130/1)Canterbury6:30 p.m.Essex won by 9 wktsMay 29Northamptonshire (166/3) vs Gloucestershire (164/)Northampton6:30 p.m.Northamptonshire won by 7 wktsMay 29Derbyshire (234/4) vs Notts Outlaws (211/6)Derby6:30 p.m.Derbyshire won by 23 runsMay 29Glamorgan (175/3) vs Somerset (171/9)Cardiff6:30 p.m.Glamorgan won by 7 wktsMay 29Lancashire (145/9) vs Leicestershire (146/8)Manchester6:30 p.m.Leicestershire won by 2 wktsMay 29Durham (93) vs Yorkshire (151/9)Chester-le-Street6:30 p.m.Yorkshire won by 58 runsMay 29Hampshire (178/5) vs Surrey (174/8)Southampton7:00 p.m.Hampshire won by 5 wktsMay 30Sussex (182) vs Middlesex (213/4)Hove7:00 p.m.Middlesex won by 31 runsMay 31Essex (179/5) vs Derbyshire (173)Chelmsford2:30 p.m.Essex won by 5 wktsMay 31Warwickshire (208/7) vs Gloucestershire (209/4)Birmingham2:30 p.m.Gloucestershire won by 6 wktsMay 31Yorkshire (161) vs Gloucestershire (217/6)Leeds2:30 p.m.Gloucestershire won by 56 runsMay 31Middlesex (126/7) vs Hampshire (130/2)Northwood2:30 p.m.Hampshire won by 8 wktsMay 31Notts Outlaws (157/4) vs Durham (156/8)Nottingham3:00 p.m.Notts Outlaws won by 6 wktsMay 31Surrey (116) vs Kent (118/2)Oval4:30 p.m.Kent won by 8 wktsJune 2Hampshire (173/6) vs Sussex (144)Southampton7:00 p.m.Hampshire won by 29 runsJune 3Surrey (134/2) vs Middlesex (130/7)Oval6:30 p.m.Surrey won by 8 wktsJune 4Somerset (202/6) vs Glamorgan (203/6)Taunton7:00 p.m.Glamorgan won by 4 wktsJune 5Worcestershire vs GlamorganWorcester5:30 p.m.June 5Surrey vs HampshireOval6:30 p.m.June 5Notts Outlaws vs WarwickshireNottingham6:30 p.m.June 5Yorkshire vs LancashireLeeds7:00 p.m.June 5Sussex vs LeicestershireHove7:00 p.m.June 5Gloucestershire vs SomersetBristol7:00 p.m.June 6Durham vs NorthamptonshireChester-le-Street7:00 p.m.June 7Lancashire vs GlamorganBlackpool2:30 p.m.June 7Sussex vs KentHove2:30 p.m.June 7Gloucestershire vs WorcestershireBristol2:30 p.m.June 7Leicestershire vs YorkshireLeicester2:30 p.m.June 7Notts Outlaws vs DerbyshireNottingham3:00 p.m.June 7Middlesex vs EssexNorthwood3:30 p.m.June 7Somerset vs WarwickshireTaunton3:30 p.m.MORE:ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 squads: Complete team and players listsWeek 1 schedule (May 22–27)DateMatchVenueStart time (BST)ResultMay 22Middlesex (181/8) vs Kent (208/6)Lord's6:15 p.m.Keny by 27 runsMay 22Derbyshire (197/8) vs Durham (203/8)Derby6:30 p.m.Durham won by 6 runsMay 22Leicestershire (170/4) vs Worcestershire (188/9)Leicester6:30 p.m.Worcestershire won by 18 runsMay 22Northamptonshire (165/8) vs Glamorgan (162/8)Northampton6:30 p.m.Northamptonshire won by 3 runsMay 22Notts Outlaws (167/7) vs Yorkshire (169/3)Nottingham6:30 p.m.Yorkshire won by 7 wktsMay 22Somerset (160/3) vs Hampshire (158)Taunton6:30 p.m.Somerset won by 7 wktsMay 22Surrey (213/3) vs Lancashire (154)Oval6:30 p.m.Surrey won by 59 runsMay 22Gloucestershire (121) vs Warwickshire (74)Bristol7:00 p.m.Gloucestershire won by 47 runsMay 22Essex (191/5) vs Sussex (192/4)Chelmsford7:00 p.m.Sussex won by 6 wktsMay 23Gloucestershire (158/8) vs Glamorgan (157/8)Cardiff7:00 p.m.Gloucestershire won by 2 wktsMay 24Middlesex (143/3) vs Surrey (144/4)Lord's12:00 p.m.Surrey won by 6 wktsMay 24Worcestershire (91) vs Northamptonshire (191)Worcester2:30 p.m.Northamptonshire won by 100 runsMay 24Durham (154/4) vs Leicestershire (148/8)Chester-le-Street3:30 p.m.Durham won by 6 wktsMay 24Warwickshire (189/6) vs Somerset (193/3)Birmingham3:30 p.m.Somerset won by 7 wktsMay 24Yorkshire (195/8) vs Derbyshire (194/4)Leeds3:30 p.m.Yorkshire won by 2 wktsMay 25Sussex (197/6) vs Kent (199/3)Canterbury3:30 p.m.Kent won by 7 wktsMay 25Lancashire (208/4) vs Notts Outlaws (169/9)Manchester4:00 p.m.Lancashire won by 39 runsMay 26Hampshire (200/4) vs Essex (170/7)Southampton7:00 p.m.Hampshire won by 30 runsMay 27Derbyshire (230/5) vs Leicestershire (145)Leicester6:30 p.m.Derbyshire won by 85 runsKnockout scheduleStageDateQuarter-finalsJuly 15Finals DayJuly 18The 2026 tournament is the 24th edition of England and Wales’ premier domestic T20 competition and features 115 matches across the league and knockout stages.To keep up to date with all the latest cricket news and share your opinion on the biggest topics visit our Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter) pages.