Former NBA guard celebrates Karl-Anthony Towns as the best player of the 2026 NBA Finals originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks have been quite competitive despite the latter having a clear 2-0 lead. It has been tough for both teams, but it seems the Knicks are still riding high on their momentum.They have a 13-game winning streak at the moment, dating back to their first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks. All of the players have been superb, but it seems Karl-Anthony Towns' growth has been game-changing.Darren Collison celebrates Karl-Anthony Towns being the Finals MVP favoriteInitially, most people saw Towns as he usually was in his career. He was a dominant offensive big man who could score from anywhere. That has always been the case, but that has changed with the evolution of his game in recent months.The Knicks have been a team focused on maximizing Jalen Brunson for a long time now. However, they needed more dimensions to their system to get the most out of their results.MORE: Victor Wembanyama reveals why Karl-Anthony Towns is becoming a nuisance for himThat is where Towns playing as an offensive hub comes in. As a connective passer, Towns knows how to get the most out of his teammates. It has worked because not only is he more efficient with his shots, but he is also playmaking.It has paid off because the Knicks are now two wins away from their first championship in 50+ years. Former NBA point guard Darren Collison is so impressed with what he is seeing that he calls KAT the Finals MVP favorite."This six-time All-Star is tired of hearing all the Wemby talk, by the way. You can probably make the case that he's probably been the best player in this series as well. It's his aggression offensively and defensively," Collison said on SportsCenter about Towns' performance in the Finals.That is a big statement from Collison, but it seems Towns is living up to the hype. The Spurs will need to find solutions for Towns as they look to come back from a 2-0 deficit and win this series.More NBA news:History is not on the Spurs' side for a potential NBA Finals comebackKarl-Anthony Towns is finally proving Jimmy Butler wrongThe celebrities who are enjoying the Knicks vs Spurs NBA Finals so farDe'Aaron Fox speaks about how the team is motivating Victor Wembanyama during half-timeJalen Brunson speaks on why he can always rely on his teammates to step up amid his struggles

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers starter Tyler Glasnow was transferred to the 60-day injured list Saturday, another sign that his balky back is hindering his rehab progression.The 32-year-old right-hander has been out since May 8, two days after a back spasm surfaced. Initially, the team expected him to miss a short period of time.Instead, Glasnow was shut down and manager Dave Roberts said the pitcher still hasn’t been cleared to resume a throwing program.“I think he wants to get cranking again,” Roberts said, “but then the doctors just are not allowing for it and the body is not allowing for it.”The earliest Glasnow would be eligible to return is July 6.The Dodgers added pitcher Nick Frasso to the 40-man roster but he will remain with Triple-A Oklahoma City for now.The 27-year-old right-hander is 0-0 with a 4.85 ERA in 11 games, with 24 strikeouts in 13 innings.Last season, Frasso went 6-1 with a 5.49 ERA in 43 games (seven starts) for the Comets. He’s spent five seasons in the minor leagues after being acquired by the Dodgers in August 2022 from the Toronto Blue Jays.

If 'Grandson of Wind' Jung Hoo Lee continues torrid offensive pace, Giants OF could be gone with wind originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.San Francisco Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee arrived in North America with the nickname “Grandson of the Wind.” Except during his first two MLB seasons, Lee often looked like he was running against the wind. After registering just 12 stolen bases duing his first two seasons with the franchise, he failed to steal a base through 56 appearances this season.With meandering outfield metrics, Lee, before recently launching a career-best hitting streak, was not considered a big trade deadline candidate, despite the Giants (26-39) suffering a poor start and falling out of playoff contention early. Most opposing scouts assigned to cover the Giants generally focused on free-agents-to-be Luis Arraez or Robbie Ray. The two were general manager Zack Minasian's top assets until recent developments.Now, with Lee joining franchise icons for amassing a bulk amount of hits, Minasian could find a bidder for the former KBO star. Lee, who collected 11 hits in 15 at-bats during last weekend's series at the Colorado Rockies, extended his hitting streak to a personal best 14 games during Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. He went 2-for-4.Opposing executives are noticing that Lee posted 19 multi-hit games, including four outings with at least four hits.Is Giants' Jung Hoo Lee hitting way to being traded?Lee entered Saturday with the second-most hits (22) during any nine-game span in franchise history. Lee was sandwiched between Hall of Famer Willie May's 23 hits during a stretch in 1958 and 21 also in '58. Orlando Cepeda (1963), Bengie Molina (2008) and Buster Posey (2014) and Omar Vizquel (2006) also collected 21 hits during nine-game spans.The Giants dropped to 15.5 games behind the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers after Saturday's loss. With a run differential of minus-49, the Giants likely will attempt to stockpile prospects at the trade deadline.A contact-oriented hitter, Lee could offer a contender outfield depth and team control through 2027. Lee signed the six-year, $113 million contract before the 2024 season. The contract includes a player opt-out option after Year 4. He will not be a free agent until 2030.As recently as two weeks ago, Kim mostly failed to play up to the two-way potential he demonstrated overseas.But if the "Grandson of the Wind" continues to hit with average and display stolen-base ability, Lee, near the trade deadline, likely will be gone with the wind.More MLB news:Dodgers' Japanese-born starting trio establishes unique MLB markBraves SS Ha-Seong Kim struggling, losing playing timeDiamondbacks' Corbin Carroll creating MLB history vs. LHPAL Central-leading Guardians seek to clean up offensive issues

NCAA baseball super regionals bracket, schedule, channels, live streams, scores for 2026 college tournament games originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.As the NCAA baseball tournament moves to its second weekend, the overriding theme is clear: chaos reigns in 2026. After a regular season that featured a wire-to-wire No. 1 in the rankings, the postseason moves to the super regionals without that team, top overall seed UCLA, or the clear No. 2 entering NCAA play, ACC champion Georgia Tech. They were the most prominent victims in a wild weekend of regional play that saw seven of the 16 national seeds fail to advance.That carnage ushers in some unexpected super regional matchups, none more so than Troy hosting Little Rock in a battle of the Trojans. Those two were joined in their bracket-busting efforts by Cal Poly and St. John's, who advanced from the regionals that were supposed to belong to UCLA and Florida State, respectively. While Cinderellas were the story of the first weekend, the remaining powerhouses will still like their chances to make it to Omaha. The top remaining seed is No. 3 Georgia, which hosts SEC foe Mississippi State this weekend. The same goes for No. 4 Auburn and Ole Miss. Other marquee matchups include No. 5 North Carolina against USC and No. 6 Texas against No. 11 Oregon. Expected the unexpected, but by the end of the weekend we'll know who's moving on to what should be a wide-open College World Series. Here's when and where to watch every game. NCAA baseball super regionals bracket 2026Super regionals will be played June 5-7 or 6-8 at the site of the higher seed. See the full game schedule below.No. 16 West Virginia vs. Cal PolyTroy vs. Little RockNo. 5 North Carolina vs. USCNo. 4 Auburn vs. Ole MissNo. 15 Kansas vs. OklahomaNo. 7 Alabama vs. St. John'sNo. 6 Texas vs. No. 11 OregonNo. 3 Georgia vs. No. 14 Mississippi StateWhere to watch NCAA baseball super regionalsTV channels: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNULive streams:fubo, ESPN appNCAA baseball super regional games will air across a variety of ESPN platforms, including ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU.Fans can stream games live via the ESPN app or fubo, which offers a free trial so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)NCAA baseball super regionals schedule, scores 2026Morgantown super regional scheduleDateGameTime (ET)WatchJune 5Game 1: West Virginia 12, Cal Poly 2——June 6Game 2: West Virginia 17, Cal Poly 1 - WVU advances——Troy super regional scheduleDateGameTime (ET)WatchJune 5Game 1: Troy 12, Little Rock 2——June 6Game 2: Troy 7, Little Rock 2 - Troy advances——Chapel Hill super regional scheduleDateGameTime (ET)WatchJune 5Game 1: USC 9, North Carolina 5——June 6Game 2: North Carolina 4, USC 0——June 7Game 3: North Carolina vs. USC3 p.m.ESPN, fubo, ESPN appAuburn super regional scheduleDateGameTime (ET)WatchJune 5Game 1: Ole Miss 6, Auburn 4——June 6Game 2: Ole Miss 5, Auburn 3 - Miss. advances——Lawrence super regional scheduleDateGameTime (ET)WatchJune 6Game 1: Oklahoma 8, Kansas 1——June 7Game 2: Oklahoma vs. Kansas6 p.m.TBD, fubo, ESPN appJune 8Game 3*: Kansas vs. OklahomaTBDTBD, fubo, ESPN appTuscaloosa super regional scheduleDateGameTime (ET)WatchJune 6Game 1: Alabama vs. St. John's9 p.m.ESPN2, fubo, ESPN appJune 7Game 2: St. John's vs. Alabama3 p.m.TBD, fubo, ESPN appJune 8Game 3*: Alabama vs. St. John'sTBDTBD, fubo, ESPN appAustin super regional scheduleDateGameTime (ET)WatchJune 6Game 1: Texas vs. Oregon8 p.m.ESPN, fubo, ESPN appJune 7Game 2: Oregon vs. Texas9 p.m.ESPN, fubo, ESPN appJune 8Game 3*: Texas vs. OregonTBDTBD, fubo, ESPN appAthens super regional scheduleDateGameTime (ET)WatchJune 6Game 1: Georgia 13, Mississippi State 12——June 7Game 2: Mississippi State vs. Georgia12 p.m.ESPN, fubo, ESPN appJune 8Game 3*: Georgia vs. Mississippi StateTBDTBD, fubo, ESPN appCollege World Series schedule 2026Friday, June 12GameTime (ET)WatchGame 12 p.m.ESPN, fubo, ESPN appGame 27 p.m.ESPN, fubo, ESPN appSaturday, June 13GameTime (ET)WatchGame 33 p.m.ESPN, fubo, ESPN appGame 48 p.m.ESPN, fubo, ESPN appSunday, June 14GameTime (ET)WatchGame 5: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser2 p.m.ESPN, fubo, ESPN appGame 6: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner7 p.m.ESPN, fubo, ESPN appMonday, June 15GameTime (ET)WatchGame 7: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser2 p.m.ESPN, fubo, ESPN appGame 8: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner7 p.m.ESPN, fubo, ESPN appTuesday, June 16GameTime (ET)WatchGame 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 loser2 p.m.ESPN, fubo, ESPN appGame 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 loser8 p.m.ESPN, fubo, ESPN appWednesday, June 17GameTime (ET)WatchGame 11: Game 6 winner vs. Game 9 winner2 p.m.ESPN, fubo, ESPN appGame 12: game 8 winner vs. Game 10 winner7 p.m.ESPN, fubo, ESPN appThursday, June 18GameTime (ET)WatchBracket 1: Game 11 rematch*TBDESPN, fubo, ESPN appBracket 2: Game 12 rematch*TBDESPN, fubo, ESPN app* If necessaryCollege World Series finals schedule 2026DateGameTime (ET)WatchSat., June 20Game 1TBDESPN, fubo, ESPN appSun., June 21Game 22:30 p.m.ABC, fubo, ESPN appMon., June 22Game 3*7 p.m.ESPN, fubo, ESPN app* If necessary

Police officers work at the scene of a shooting near a festival in Toledo, Ohio on Saturday, June 6, 2026. (WTVG via AP)2026-06-06T22:45:28Z A shooting near a community festival in Toledo, Ohio, wounded at least 12 people, and police said a search for the suspects was ongoing following an outbreak of gunfire that sent crowds scrambling for cover. Two of the wounded were in critical condition, Toledo Deputy Police Chief Joe Heffernan said. He said it appeared there were at least two people firing weapons who were “probably shooting at each other.” The Toledo Police Department said the shooting happened near the Old West End Festival, an annual gathering of live music and home tours in a historic district of the city. The department said an active search was underway for those responsible.“I am deeply concerned about the situation in Toledo tonight. Summer festivals should be safe spaces for families to spend time together without fear of violence,” Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said in a statement. Multiple videos posted to social media showed people running over the sound of gunshots and emergency officials tending to others who appeared wounded. Kevin Berry said he was sitting in the neighborhood arboretum listening to live music with his friends when he heard a handful of gunshots ring out. “Everybody hit the deck,” he said.When he looked back up, he saw a gun being tossed to the ground less than 50 feet (15 meters) away from him. Police officers who were already on-site for the festival immediately responded to the scene. Read More Berry, who has medical training and served in the U.S. Navy, said he walked around the area looking for potential victims who might need help.He said he saw at least five people with gunshot wounds.“The folks who were hit were spread out around the arboretum area,” he said.The Old West End Festival is a two-day celebration in Toledo’s historic district that includes live music, food vendors, home tours and shopping. Berry described it as the “kick-off to Toledo’s summer festival season.” JAIMIE DING Ding covers California breaking news for The Associated Press. She focuses on law enforcement and the courts, and is based in Los Angeles. twitter mailto

PREVIEW | Peru vs Spain: team news, lineups, predictions (National Friendlies 09/06)UnavailablePeruEspanhaLast starting XIsPeru ( vs Haiti 2026-06-06): Spain ( vs Iraq 2026-06-04): Joan Garcia, Pedro Porro, Aymeric Laporte, Álex Grimaldo, Dani Olmo, Álex Baena, Borja Iglesias, Ferran Torres

PROVIDENCE — La Salle boys volleyball was easy to find.The maroon and white colors seemed all-encompassing this season. But it was even easier to hear the Rams from every corner of the Murray Center — or any gym La Salle invaded this spring.The best bench mob always traveled with the best team in the state and the starters fed off their teammates’ energy. The Rams’ machine trampled through Division I and the playoffs were just an extension of that excellence.The top-ranked Rams (15-3) didn’t surrender a set over three postseason victories. La Salle was only competing against itself when the calendar hit June, and it succeeded in outshining its previous matches.The final showcase was a 3-0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-16) bulldozer championship against rival No. 2 Hendricken (14-3) on Saturday, June 6 at Rhode Island College. The Rams reached the final round after sweeps of Coventry and North Kingstown. The state championship victory was La Salle’s third in four seasons and landed in the first title meeting against the Hawks.“Our bench is the best in the state,” Flavio Tavares said. “They help us out so much and we wouldn’t have the amount of energy without them. It’s so hard to see people who aren’t playing be so selfless and be so energized on the bench. They’re so bought in and we love them for it.”“Our practice squad would easily put up good numbers against other teams,” David St. Onge said. “Winning against most of D-I and the other divisions as well. Practices help our blocking, passing — just everything. [The bench] contributes so much to our wins.”La Salle’s been on a title run since it broke through in 2023 with its first volleyball crown. That group swept Chariho and then La Salle upset North Kingstown the following year. It took the first championship to help build the culture and now everyone’s subscribed to the winning ways.Tavares was the group’s best hitter, and it showed on Saturday. But St. Onge, Stephen Buco, Daniel Ayorinde and a host of more hitters all aided to La Salle’s title run. Setter Cooper Amaral had his pick of options to run the offense through.“I’m just so proud,” Amaral said. “The coaches put in so much time — they deserve all the credit. … They’re in here everyday and I’m just super proud of the program.”The Rams turned in a 3-0 run midway through the first set to take control with a 20-14 advantage. The sequence stretched to six straight points with an ace from Jackson Potter and a kill by Anthony Thibeault from the middle of the attack. La Salle finished that opening stanza by winning eight of the last nine points and built on the run with a 5-1 lead to start the middle set.Hendricken climbed back into the frame as it cut the deficit to 16-13 with four straight points. But Tavares returned after a timeout with a kill and then La Salle ended the set with three consecutive points.“We were trying, our goal was obviously to win, but we were trying to just build a bigger margin than the last game,” Tavares said. “Our first championship in [2023] they did just that, every single game they grew and grew. So that's what we were really striving for. We were trying to play our best ball, and then the next game, play our best ball.”The banner-raising third set was never in doubt as La Salle held 7-2 and 21-15 leads. The final four points went La Salle’s way as the Rams put the finishing touches on a standout season.“It’s impressive [not losing a set], but we have so many great players playing behind me and playing with me,” libero Jayden Simao said. “Especially our bench, our bench was definitely a big part of this season.”“We were ready for everything during this playoff season,” St. Onge said. “We practiced hard, our alumni came back and that just shows how much they love our team and La Salle volleyball.”Saturday marked just the second all-private school State Championship as Hendricken returned match for the first time since 2021. The Hawks improved by five wins this season and beat East Providence and East Greenwich to make it to the championship. “There’s no feeling like [winning], it’s indescribable,” Tavares said. “You have to feel it in the moment, it was amazing to be around my brothers and feel that sense of victory.”This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Score from the 2026 RI high school boys volleyball state championship

LA CROSSE — The WIAA state track and field championships wrapped up on Saturday, June 6 and a number of Oshkosh and Fond du Lac area athletes were in action at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium in La Crosse.Here’s a look at the Oshkosh, Fond du Lac athletes that won a state medal.Division 1Oshkosh West had two girls medal in track events as Sydnee Nelson won her third straight state title in the 100-meter hurdles (13.94). Kylie Triebold took third in the 400 meters (55.99).Oshkosh West’s Kayana Turner took third in the triple jump (37-3), while Emma Liebergen took fourth (36-11).Oshkosh West’s 4x400-meter relay (3:19.29) team of Alex Dedecker, Carson Choinski, Noah Cardinal and Carter Crowe took third.Fond du Lac’s Tyvon Pate took second in the shot put (56-1).Division 2Winneconne’s Hudson Samolinski finished second in the discus (173-10), while Winnebago Lutheran’s Orville Blohm took fifth (162-9). Samolinski took first in the shot put (61-2 3/4).Berlin’s Thomas McCarthy took fourth in the 3,200 meters (9:10.90) and Campbellsport’s Garrett Pickering took fifth (9:17.05).Omro’s Lucas Kasuboski took second in the 800 meters (1:53.95).Berlin’s Selci Sirrell took first in the triple jump (38-8), second in the 100-meter hurdles (14.29) and second in the 300-meter hurdles (44.35).North Fond du Lac’s Sunjaya Greenlee took third in the 100 meters (12.05), fourth in the long jump (17-9 3/4), fourth in the 200 meters (24.90) and sixth in the 400 meters (58.16).Winneconne had multiple boys medal in track events. Grant Wenzelow took first in the 800 meters (1:53.43) and second in the 1,600 meters (4:14.41). Brody Schaffer took third in the 100 meters (10.87). He also took second in the long jump (22-9 1/2). The 4x200-meter relay (1:28.38) team of Mason Mathe, Koltyn Kachur, Bryce Jones and Brody Schaffer took fourth. The 4x400-meter relay (3:22.55) team of Luke Fuller, Logan Wolf, Koltyn Kachur and Grant Wenzelow took third.Winneconne’s Trey Zemke took first in the pole vault (15-0) and Winnebago Lutheran’s Cole Keifenheim took sixth (13-6).Winneconne’s Carlee Hart tied for fifth in the pole vault (11-0).Division 3Lourdes Academy’s Mat Yaggie took fifth in the 300-meter hurdles (40.38).Central Wisconsin Christian’s Dylan Buwalda took sixth in the triple jump (43-10 1/2).Contact or send game stats/info to Ben Schultz at BSchultz@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @benschultz52.This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: WIAA track and field: Oshkosh, Fond du Lac athletes shine at state

Brooklyn Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez has impressed plenty of coaches around the NBA over his past two years as head coach of the Nets, despite the team still in the early stages of its rebuild. Brooklyn has tabbed Fernandez and his coaching staff to hopefully lead the team into the next era of competitive Nets basketball, but he explains where he grew the most this past season."Probably controlling my emotions with the results. Understanding that wins and losses for you are not just understandings, it's very pretty to say, but to actually emotionally live with it day-to-day, it's not easy," Fernandez said during a recent appearance on the "Nets Pod" with Sarah Kustok. Fernandez addressed a variety of topics over the course of this interview, including how he has dealt with the past two seasons of mostly losses."You see the young guys get better, our young guys play 6,400 minutes, the most that I think any rookies have ever played. There's different areas that they're very good at," Fernandez continued by explaining how much he values the rookies from the 2025 draft class getting better. "Egor's shooting and Nolan's playmaking and Ben's touching the paint and Danny's versatility and Drake's ability to guard the ball. All those things that we have the results and the numbers [on]."As Fernandez touched on in the first part of his answer, he has had to learn with the losses in a different capacity than he normally would with all things being equal. Over the past two years, the Nets have a combined record of 46-118 (.280), placing them as one of the worst teams in the league in that timespan, but the main goal of the franchise currently is to develop as many of the younger players as possible.As Fernandez alluded to, all of the five rookies showed what their potential can be as time goes on, but most of the attention is focused on players like Egor Demin and Nolan Traore. The Nets will be going into the 2026-27 season with Demin, Traore, and the rest of the second-year players along with a rookie from the 2026 class so Fernandez will hope that his growth will help him handle next season in a better manner.This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets' Jordi Fernandez explains where he grew as a coach last season

Warriors-Bucks trade pitch sees Golden State mortgage future to land generational $175 million star originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.If the Golden State Warriors want to prove their doubters wrong this offseason and enter the 2026-27 campaign with a far more competitive roster than they had last year, they’ll have to be willing to surrender several key assets and draft capital. Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus believes the Dubs could ultimately do so, as the NBA writer crafted a blockbuster trade proposal that would see Golden State mortgage its future to acquire a generational Milwaukee Bucks star forward.“The Warriors can offer (the Bucks) Wisconsin native (Brandin) Podziemski (for Giannis Antetokounmpo), who is extension eligible this summer; however, (Jimmy) Butler is recovering from a knee injury and is expected to miss the start of the 2026-27 season,” Pincus wrote Thursday.“At 36, Butler isn't Milwaukee's ideal piece to build around, though his expiring $56.8 million contract could be used again in trade. The Bucks' value lies in the draft compensation, which consists of distant first-round picks, with the hope that Steph Curry and Antetokounmpo are winding down by then.”"For Golden State to have a real shot, Antetokounmpo would probably need to push extremely hard to make it happen. That would include scaring off other suitors by promising to leave as a free agent in 2027.”For clarity, Pincus’ massive trade pitch would send Butler, Podziemski, a 2026 first-rounder, a 2027 first-rounder, a 2030 protected first-rounder, and a 2032 protected first-rounder to the Bucks for Antetokounmpo. Obviously, landing Antetokounmpo would be considered a win-now transaction for the Warriors, as sending multiple future first-round picks to a franchise for a proven superstar indicates that winning in the present is a clear priority.Considering that Curry is 38 years old and is yearning for a late-career championship before rising off into the sunset like many other greats have done, securing a clutch, explosive, and high-motor forward in Antetokounmpo seems to be the way to go.With the Miami Heat reportedly being the frontrunners to pry the two-time MVP from Milwaukee this summer, there’s no guarantee that Pincus’ trade package would get the job done. That said, there’s no question it’s likely the best offer the Warriors could extend to the Bucks, likely forcing them to submit it at the start of the offseason and hope for the best.More NBA news:Rockets predicted to swap ex-Lakers disgruntled forward for $285 million Celtics starLakers rumor is good news for Luka Doncic, bad news for LeBron JamesLakers predicted to cut ties with Dalton Knecht, acquire $175 million two-time MVP

How many points did Caitlin Clark score tonight? Full stats and highlights from Fever at Liberty originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Saturday night in the WNBA featured a star-studded Commissioner's Cup contest between the Indiana Fever and the New York Liberty at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.Though the Liberty's Sabrina Ionescu was unavailable with a back injury, there were plenty of All-Stars to watch as Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever against former league MVPs Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart -- plus All-Star Satou Sabally -- on the Liberty.MORE: Sophie Cunningham arrived in New York wearing an outfit Fever fans lovedThough they led by as many as 12 points, the Fever could not build off a comfortable win over the Atlanta Dream on Thursday, and Indiana dropped to 5-5 on the young season with a loss to the Liberty (7-4).Clark came close to a triple-double in a defensive tussle, but she struggled with foul trouble and shot inefficiently as the Fever suffered an 83-75 loss on the road.Caitlin Clark stats vs. LibertyFinal score: Fever 83, Dream 71Minutes: 33Points: 10Rebounds: 7Assists: 9Steals: 0Blocks: 1TOs: 3FG: 4-14 (29%)3PG: 2-6 (33%)FT: 0-0Clark assisted the Fever's first two baskets, a Kelsey Mitchell step-back and a Lexie Hull reverse layup, but she didn't score in the first quarter and missed all five shots she attempted.Caitlin Clark is on the board for the @IndianaFeverpic.twitter.com/InvRH2H0FI— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) June 7, 2026Clark didn't score until the 3:01 mark of the second quarter, when she nailed an eight-foot floater. She later hit a trademark step-back 3-pointer from 27 feet, but that would complete her scoring for the first half. Though the Fever went back to the locker room with a 40-37 lead, Clark had just five points on 2-of-8 shooting and as many turnovers as assists (three).Her signature move 😏Caitlin Clark goes between the legs, steps back and nails the deep triple!IND-NYL | CBS & Paramount+ | 2026 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup | @coinbaseTap to watch: https://t.co/MJPIwIY5N0pic.twitter.com/OpdjxMYry7— WNBA (@WNBA) June 7, 2026Clark kicked off the third quarter with a 3-pointer, and she quickly racked up three more assists as the Fever stretched their lead. A driving layup took her into double-digits; Indiana maintained its three-point lead, and Clark ended the third quarter with 10 points, seven assists and five rebounds.Unlimited range for Caitlin Clark ⭐️IND-NYL | CBS & Paramount+ | 2026 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup | @coinbaseTap to watch: https://t.co/MJPIwIY5N0pic.twitter.com/GMsuu4mRAh— WNBA (@WNBA) June 7, 2026Clark was held scoreless in the fourth quarter as the fouls piled up. She ended the game with five personal fouls, and the Liberty outscored the Fever 29-18 to pick up the home win.Clark finished 4-of-14 from the floor; it is the fourth time already this season in which she has missed 10 or more shots in a game.More WNBA news:Angel Reese had three words after her latest dominant performance and fans loved itCaitlin Clark to the Sparks? Why viral trade rumor isn't what it seemsHow Lynx's 'vitamins' have helped Olivia Miles set WNBA rookie recordsMystics coach Sydney Johnson escorted off floor by police after being ejected from Washington's loss to Atlanta

Kim Kardashian supports Lewis Hamilton at Monaco Grand Prix originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Kim Kardashian is supporting her man.The SKIMS founder came to cheer on Lewis Hamilton at the Monaco Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday, June 6. She even brought her sister, Khloe Kardashian, for some extra good luck for the qualifying round.Hamilton finished in third behind Max Verstappen, who placed second, and Kimi Antonelli, who won the qualifying for Sunday's race. Welcome to the paddockKim Kardashian has arrived in Monaco #F1#MonacoGPpic.twitter.com/zAHRAUQBi1— Formula 1 (@F1) June 6, 2026Kim Kardashian and Lewis Hamilton's relationshipThe social media star and F1 driver sparked romance rumors in February after they were seen when they spent a weekend getaway at Estelle Manor in the Cotswolds in the United Kingdom. They were later spotted on a jet to Paris. The pair also were sitting next to each other later on that month in a VIP box at Super Bowl 60.Kardashian also supported Hamilton in Tokyo when he competed in the Japanese Grand Prix back in April. He later posted a video of himself drifting a Ferrari in Tokyo with Kardashian in the passenger seat. Later that month, they were also seen at Coachella supporting Justin Bieber during his headlining set as well as an intimate date at a beach in Malibu. The mom of four also made a post with Hamilton on Instagram of them riding bikes earlier this month.While the couple only recently made their relationship romantic, they have known each other for years. They first connected in 2014 but were both in relationships with other people. Kardashian was married to Kanye West at the time and Hamilton was dating Nicole Scherzinger.More lifestyle news:Ilona Maher reacts to criticism over Sports Illustrated Swimsuit runway lookKyle Busch's wife Samantha makes first social post since NASCAR legend's death Shaq defends Angel Reese amid haters: 'I wish I could punch some of them in the face'Megan Thee Stallion sizzles in orange bikini as she joins Baywatch reboot with Livvy DunneTaylor Swift and Travis Kelce to reportedly have wedding at Madison Square Garden

Jun 6, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jack Leiter (22) is called to the bench during the fifth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images | Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images The Texas Rangers scored zero runs but the Cleveland Guardians scored six runs.The irony-pilled cynic in me saw that tonight’s Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee was winless for American League Central-leading Cleveland in 14 starts this season while coming into the game sporting a mid-4s ERA and immediately thought, “Oh yeah, he’s for sure beating the Rangers tonight.”It wasn’t even that difficult for him to achieve my doomed prophecy. There really isn’t much to say about this game. The Rangers just kind of got their asses kicked. I guess the best you can say is that there are 162 games per year and several of them ultimately end up like this one.If you want to point to a series of moments in which it became clear that tonight wasn’t going to be the night for a victory, it was probably the juncture where, in a 1-0 game in the bottom of the fourth, with the Rangers having sent up the minimum with their lone baserunner by that point being erased on a double play, Texas got a two-on, two-out rally needing a big hit with RISP to tie the game but Wyatt Langford flew out to end the threat. That was pretty much the only threat of the night for the lineup. Meanwhile a half inning later, Texas starter Jack Leiter allowed his second solo home run to make it 2-0 before the Guardians eventually tacked on three more in the inning, all with two outs.In like a 20 minute span the Rangers went from a hit away from a tied game in the middle innings to Leiter exiting in a relative blowout. Leiter entered that the top of the fifth having made just one mistake pitch to Jose Ramirez for a solo home run and the game’s first run and then left without even being able to make it through the inning having allowed five runs in 4.2 frames overall.Meanwhile, the Rangers got one more hit the rest of the way and the Guardians got another run in the eighth off the Texas bullpen. As for Bibee? He tossed eight shutout on 87 pitches for his first win of the season.Who told Chris Young he turn the run suppression machine back on at The Shed just because the Rangers had won a few games lately?Player of the Game: I’m thinking it’s probably Cal Quantrill for pitching multiple innings of scoreless mop up relief if that tells you anything about this game.Up Next: The Rangers and Guardians close out this series with RHP Jacob deGrom looking to help Texas claim a series win opposite LHP Joey Cantillo for Cleveland in the finale.The Sunday afternoon first pitch from The Shed is scheduled for 1:35 pm CDT and you can view it on the Rangers Sports Network.

Edmen Shahbazyan gave a good account for himself at UFC Fight Night 278, but ultimately he could not steal Brendan Allen's ranking.Allen (27-7 MMA, 15-4 UFC) took a major risk on Saturday at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas when the highly ranked middleweight contender fought the unranked Shahbazyan (16-6 MMA, 9-6 UFC) in the co-main event.It was more competitive than Allen would have hoped, but he emerged with the unanimous decision win by scores of 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28."Sean (Strickland) sacrificed his boy, so hopefully he's next," Allen said in his post-fight interview with Paul Felder. "This was a big risk – a very big risk, so let's see."'ALL IN' gets that dub 💪Brendan Allen keeps his top 5 ranking at 185lbs! [ #UFCVegas118 | 📺 @paramountplus ] pic.twitter.com/YzhSq3q4Y5— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) June 7, 2026The opening round was almost entirely striking-based, with Shahbazyan allowed to build some early confidence striking behind his jab and leg kicks. Allen tried to make the fight dirty, but was hit more often than he landed and had all both his takedown attempts stuffed.Allen found something with his striking in the second round. He started to connect with hard punches and elbows from close range. He could not find any success with his takedowns, but kept ahead in the striking, even slicing Shahbazyan open to take some momentum back going into the final frame.With urgent messaging from Shahbazyan's lead corner Eric Nicksick of Xtreme Couture going into Round 3, Allen was the one who came out with some more urgency as he pressured Shahbazyan backward and landed the cleaner competitions. Shahbazyan continued to bleed as his face swelled, and Allen managed to keep focused down the stretch and close it strong.With the win, Allen secured his 14th victory in UFC middleweight competition, trailing only Michael Bisping (16) and Brad Tavares (16) all-time. He's put in his work, and now he wants his first crack at 185-pound gold in a rematch with Strickland."I'm a dog," Allen said. "I'm a real dog. I come here to fight and put on a show for all you guys. I'm going to come out here every time and put it on the line, and I'm coming out here to f*ck someone up. Hopefully we can get that belt at the end of the year or the beginning of next. I'm coming for it, Sean."Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 278 results:Brendan Allen def. Edmen Shahbazyan via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)Tom Nolan def. Fares Ziam via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)Bryce Mitchell def. Santiago Luna via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 3, 4:52Iwo Baraniewski def. Junior Tafa via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:25Alessandro Costa def. Matt Schnell via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:32Marcus McGhee def. John Yannis via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)Edgar Chairez def. Bruno Silva via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 4:13Chelsea Chandler def. Priscila Cachoeira via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 3:42Joanderson Brito def. Jordan Leavitt via submission (ninja choke) – Round 1, 4:19Jeisla Chaves def. Yuneisy Duben via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)Ketlen Souza def. Ariane Carnelossi via knockout (head kick) – Round 1, 1:34This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Vegas 118 results: Brendan Allen bloodies Edmen Shahbazyan, wants title

Mitch Marner breaks Maurice 'Rocket' Richard's 69-year old Stanley Cup record originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.You can put all the narratives from Mitch Marner's Toronto Maple Leafs tenure to bed.Maybe he used to struggle to live up to his standard in the playoffs. That's no longer the case. He's having a postseason for the ages for the Vegas Golden Knights.And on Saturday night, in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Carolina Hurricanes, Marner had one of the best periods in championship series history.Marner started his surge with an assist 10:26 into the second period, helping set up a Tomas Hertl goal for a 1-0 lead.Just 16 seconds after that, Marner scored himself, from William Karlsson and Shea Theodore.Three minutes and 50 seconds later, Marner scored again, this time from Brayden McNabb.And then two minutes and 20 seconds after that, Marner scored his third goal of the period, from Hertl.It was three goals in 6:10 for Marner. That's a new Stanley Cup record.Previously, Maurice 'Rocket' Richard had set that mark at 6:21, a whopping 69 years ago.Now, it belongs to Marner.From NHL stats:Mitch Marner (6:10) scored the fastest hat trick in Stanley Cup Final history, besting the previous mark of 6:21 set 69 years ago by Maurice Richard— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) June 7, 2026MORE: Canucks make Gavin McKenna decision that Maple Leafs, Sharks don't makeHe's also up to 28 points on the postseason after those four points in the second period on Saturday night.It's just astounding. Marner was brought to Vegas to make a difference. He had made it clear he didn't want to go back to Toronto. The Maple Leafs had no real choice but to sign-and-trade him to the Golden Knights.And now, on the biggest stage in hockey, Marner is proving himself to be one of the best players on the planet.It's painful for the Maple Leafs to watch from afar.But it's looking like one of the best moves the Golden Knights have ever made.More NHL news:Canadiens had a trade agreed to, but they missed by 1 minuteHenrik Sedin's son is excelling in a different sportElias Petersson trade plans may be missing a key pointWould the Maple Leafs trade Easton Cowan?Alex Ovechkin's mom is playing a role in his retirement decision

New York Liberty rookie guard Pauline Astier piloted the offense down the stretch, and Breanna Stewart fueled a second-half comeback that amounted in an 83-75 win over the Indiana Fever on Saturday at Barclays Center in Commissioner’s Cup play. The Fever led for most of the first half and by as many as nine points in the opening two quarters, and that's despite Clark struggling early. She was 0 of 5 from the floor in the first quarter and didn't make her first field goal until more than three minutes into the second frame.Although Liberty guard Marine Johannes drilled a pair of 3-pointers in the game's infancy, New York quickly went cold from downtown. In fact, head coach Chris DeMarco's team, which came in third in the WNBA with a 36.8% clip from 3, missed 16 of its 18 long-range attempts, clocking out with its fewest-made 3s in a game since 2022. Indiana received a sizable boost from forward Monique Billings. She went scoreless in the Fever's previous two outings. This time around, though, she piled up a season-high 15 points and eight rebounds. Billings helped the Fever create separation late in the first quarter after the score was knotted 15-15. Five quick points from the veteran did the trick.Indiana entered the second quarter with a four-point advantage. The Fever remained in control as Clark started to find her footing as a scorer. She knocked down her patented step-back 3 midway through the frame. At times, however, miscommunication neutralized Clark's playmaking chops. There was one instance in the quarter when Clark thought fellow guard Kelsey Mitchell was headed left, and, instead, she went right, resulting in one of Clark's three turnovers.Even so, the Fever built a nine-point cushion. Fortunately for New York, it was able to cut its deficit to three before intermission. A layup through contact from Satou Sabally and four Liberty free throws made it a one-possession game.But then in the third quarter, the Fever stretched their lead to 12. Clark dialed up a 29-foot triple and then a pair of dimes, one to a backdoor-cutting Billups and another to center Aliyah Boston. With 6:24 left in the frame, two Mitchell free throws put Indiana up 51-39. That's when the Liberty put the brakes on a high-octane, Stephanie White-led offense that thrives on movement. New York ramped up the pressure, with DeMarco imposing a tenacious press that consistently turned the Fever over. In the process, Stewart heated up, and Liberty fans created a raucous. After cashing in a layup, the two-time WNBA MVP located Sabally on the run. She scored inside as well. Later, following two free throws from New York guard Rebekah Gardner, Stewart hit a turnaround, fadeaway jumper to make it a 57-54 game.The fourth quarter got going with Stewart draining a free throw after Boston was assessed a technical for spewing some apparently choice words at an official after the third frame wrapped.The Liberty kept their foot on the gas. Center Jonquel Jones delivered a no-look pass to Stewart, who completed the highlight-reel play with a layup. Soon enough, Jones tied the game 66-66 at the charity stripe. Meanwhile, Clark was on the bench with five fouls.She checked back in with four minutes to go, as Stewart gave the Liberty a two-point lead at the free-throw line. Mitchell made two timely field goals to keep the Fever close. But those were overshadowed by an incredible sequence from Astier. She glided with a Euro step to the cup, angled an assist to Jones and, perhaps most notably, skirted past Clark on a drive for two. The French native scored or assisted on six consecutive Liberty points late.When Indiana ran out of counter punches, New York found much-welcomed breathing room at the stripe.

Australia's Alessandro Cicati (left) and Switzerland's Zeki Amdouni battle for the ball during the 1-1 draw in San Diego (SANDY HUFFAKER)Australia coach Tony Popovic said he was confident he side could "punch above our weight" at the World Cup after a battling 1-1 draw with Switzerland on Saturday.Dan Ndoye opened the scoring for the Swiss in the 14th minute at San Diego before Australia debutant Tete Yengi levelled in the second half.It was the final warm-up for both sides for the World Cup, which begins on Thursday.Popovic named an experimental starting side, with seven changes from Australia's 1-0 defeat to Mexico last week, before reverting to a likely first-choice line-up for the second-half."I'm just happy. We've got no injuries. We've got through the game," Popovic said."We got a result, that always helps and we scored a very nice goal. We need to start better, of course, next week, that will help us."Australia, who are at their sixth successive World Cup, are in Group D alongside Turkey, co-hosts the United States and Paraguay. The Swiss are pitted with Qatar, Bosnia-Herzegovina and co-hosts Canada in Group B.Popovic said he was encouraged by holding a near full-strength Swiss side ranked eight places above them at 19th and believes his youthful team can make it through to the knockout rounds."If you ask every Australian, they expect to be right at the end because we always feel that we can punch above our weight," he said."We've proven that time and time again in all sports, and we've done it in football. So we've shown what we can do."In Qatar four years ago, Australia made it through the group phase and gave eventual champions Argentina a scare in the last 16 before going out to a brave 2-1 defeat orchestrated by Lionel Messi."We want to go through, and that's the challenge that we have," added Popovic. "We want it to be a knockout stage where we know anything is possible."But if we peel it back, there's a lot of work to do until then, and we've got a really tough group, but I'd like to think that our opponents will see us as a tough task as well."Australia open their World Cup against Turkey in Vancouver on June 13, while the Swiss kick off against Qatar in San Francisco on the same day. mp/dh

World number one Nelly Korda has a share of the third-round lead in the US Women's Open at Riviera Country Club (Sean M. Haffey)World number one Nelly Korda birdied the last three holes in a four-under par 67 on Saturday to share the US Women's Open lead with Kim Sei-young going into the final round.Korda, who was seven shots off the pace after a two-over opening round on Thursday, notched her second straight 67 for a six-under total of 207, putting herself in position to strike for a second straight major title this year after her triumph at the Chevron Championship in April.She was joined on six-under by South Korean Kim, who carded a three-under 68 at Riviera Country Club, the iconic Pacific Palisades course that will host the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics golf competition."It's always amazing to be in this position," Korda said of the chance to challenge for a third career major title.The American kick-started her round with a chip-in birdie at the third hole and rolled in an 18-footer at the sixth. She gave a shot back with a bogey at the eighth, but powered home with birdies at 16, 17 and 18."Just had a comfortable eight-iron on 16," she said of the shot that left her "solid, straightforward" five and a half-foot birdie putt.At 17, she bombed her drive but missed the green, chipping to two feet to pick up another shot."And then 18 I smoked my drive and just had a nine-iron in," Korda said. "Pretty comfortable, nice little birdie finish."I'm really happy with how I grinded out the front nine and then took the opportunities that I had on the last three holes."Korda has said her runner-up finish in last year's US Open fueled her hunger to win her national championship, but she said she can't let that desire get the better of her on Sunday."I think last year I really, really wanted it, and the more you want it sometimes the more you stiffen up and you get a little bit more nervous," she said. "I play my best golf when I'm happy, free Nelly ... so that's kind of the attitude that I'm going to have tomorrow."- Under pressure -Kim, whose 13 LPGA titles include a major at the 2020 Women's PGA Championship, was alone in first on six-under after birdies at the 10th and 12th, draining a seven-footer at 10 and a five-footer at 12.But she missed the green at the par-four 15th and her chip left her 12 feet. She two-putted to drop a shot but birdied the 17th."I played better than yesterday, for sure," Kim said. "It has been a long time since I won a major championship, so maybe I'll play under pressure tomorrow but I'll try to just do what I have to do to focus on the course."The leading duo were one stroke clear of South Korean Chun In-gee and American Jennifer Kupcho, who both shot 69.Chun, who won the first of her three major titles at the 2015 US Women's Open, launched her round with an eagle at the first. She was tied for the lead after a chip-in birdie at 11 followed by a 21-foot birdie at the 12th but gave a stroke back at 16.Kupcho, tied for the lead after a pair of front-nine birdies, dropped off the pace with bogeys at 12 and 13 but bounced back with birdies at 16 and 17.Overnight co-leader Yin Ruoning of China carded an even par 71 to headline a trio sharing fifth on four-under 20. She was joined by Japan's Nasa Hataoka (68) and Mexico's Gaby Lopez (70).bb/js

NEW YORK (AP) — Breanna Stewart made 18 of 21 free throws and scored 30 points to help the New York Liberty rally to beat the Indiana Fever 83-75 on Saturday night.The Liberty (7-4), who have won four straight games, trailed by double-digits in the second half.New York was down 66-62 midway through the fourth quarter before going on a 19-4 run to take the lead. Stewart made 11 of 12 free throws during that game-changing burst. Her two free throws with 3:36 left put the Liberty up 70-68. Paulina Astier then made two layups to seal the win over the next final minutes. The Liberty finished 33 for 40 from the foul line for the game.New York was once again playing without star guard Sabrina Ionescu, who was sidelined again by back soreness. She's only played in one game this season, but went through practice Friday. It bothered her a little bit after according to coach Chris DeMarco. That practice was the first time that the Liberty had their entire team together all season.Caitlin Clark had 10 points, nine assists and seven rebounds for Indiana (5-5). Kelsey Mitchell scored 21 points to lead the way for Indiana.Indiana turned a three-point halftime lead into a 57-45 advantage with 3:27 left in the third quarter. New York then mounted a comeback behind Sabally, scoring the final 10 points of the period. The last came on a free throw by Stewart before the start of the fourth quarter as Aliyah Boston had been given a technical foul just as the third quarter ended.Clark got off to a slow start missing her first five shots. She finally hit a floater in the lane a minute before Indiana went on a 12-4 run that was started by a deep 3-pointer by her. The Fever were up 40-31 with 1:47 left in the half before New York scored the final six points of the period.Up nextFever: At Washington on Monday night.Liberty: At Connecticut on Monday night.___AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

GREENWOOD --- One batter into Saturday's Class 3A regional title game, Cathedral second baseman Tyler Carlos knew something was wrong with his knee.The senior banged his knee against the turf while fielding and ground ball and had to leave the game. Now the Fighting Irish were down their No. 2 hitter in a win-or-go-home situation, but fellow senior Braden Mann was ready for his opportunity.With runners on first and second in the fifth inning, Mann bounced a ball back to Shelbyville pitcher Reece Prickett. Prickett tried to get the lead runner out at third, but he threw the ball away, allowing the tying a go-ahead runs to score. The Fighting Irish added three more runs in the seventh inning, pulling away for a 6-1 win over the Golden Bears.The win gives Cathedral (21-9-1) 10 regional titles as a program. The Fighting Irish advance to play Gibson Southern in the semistate semifinals."His preparation is unmatched," Cathedral coach Ed Freije said of Mann. "He's about as dialed in a player and a kid that there is. He competes really hard. He practices really hard. He's a student of the game and a phenomenal teammate."He's a guy that hasn't been in the lineup a ton but he's always ready. He's always ready when his number is called."Mann entered Saturday's game with 12 games played and eight total plate appearances. He reached base twice against the Golden Bears and scored two runs. In the bottom of the sixth, Mann made a sliding stop near the second base bag, got to his feet and threw out the runner at first, preventing the runner at third from scoring and preserving a 3-1 lead."I was going to continue to trust in this team," Mann said. "I didn't know if it was going to be me. I didn't know if it was going to be the person on my left or right, I was just ready to make a play and help my time win."With infielders like Mann and Army commit Eli Sinsabaugh playing up the middle, pitcher Henry Haley challenged the Golden Bears (20-5) with pitches in the zone and relied on his defense to make plays. Haley went the distance, striking out seven while scattering four hits and walking two."Just pounding the zone and trusting my guys," Haley said. "They told me I could trust them at the beginning of the game, so pitching to contact and trusting my infield to get the balls in play and get outs."Cathedral lost one of its best hitters during the game, but Shelbyville entered the game without its best player, Kentucky commit Aiden Smith, one of the state's top players. Smith injured his knee sliding into second base during Shelbyville's sectional semifinal against New Palestine. The team thought Smith might be able to hit in the sectional final against Indian Creek, but the swelling in his knee increased and tests revealed that he'll need surgery to repair his meniscus. Prickett battled in Smith's absence, striking out seven over 4⅔ innings, but the Fighting Irish started to time him up, bouncing him in the fifth, and scoring two runs off reliever Austin Martzell. Michael Gallagher led Cathedral with two hits and one RBI. Scout Bushong added a two-RBI double in the seventh.Shelbyville's promising season ends with a slight question mark. Baseball is a team game, but Smith is the type of talent who can single handedly swing the outcome of the game. Instead of wallowing in the what ifs, Shelbyville coach Jacon Shively will remember all the success his senior class had this season."We're proud of what they accomplished," Shively said. "We expected to win every game. It wasn't just saying that, they saw it. Five losses all season, the ones we did lose could've went one way or the other. ... We talked about high standards and strong relationships. I told them I'm super proud of that and those are the things after all this is done that they'll carry with them."This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA Baseball: Cathedral wins regional title over Shelbyville

COLUMBUS, OH — On the third day of the 2026 Ohio High School Athletic Association track and field state championships, Mother Nature gave us ... two weather delays that postponed a large number of events until Sunday, June 7.As it turns out, Divisions I and II ruled the third day of the state meet and gave Cincinnati two more state champions.Here are a few highlights from the penultimate day of the track and field season. St. Xavier senior Dom Ellis claims Division I 3,200-meter titleThe St. Xavier senior and Indiana University commit is one step closer to finishing out one of the greatest distance running careers in school history.He led a bevy of Cincinnati runners that included Little Miami's Ryne Reynolds, Mason's Caden Winship and Springboro's Joshua Linde to the podium on Saturday afternoon."We have a lot of really good runners down in Cincinnati, which makes it really fun to be able to compete with them all the time. You have really good competition," Ellis said.Conserving his legs for two more races on Sunday, Ellis hung back in the pack, coming through 800 meters in 15th place. He quickly worked his way up to second place by the halfway mark, then led the final three laps before running the final 400 meters in 1:00.53."I wanted to be a bit more tactical rather than just going from the gun," Ellis said.He has taken that approach all season, running a total of four two-mile races, four one-mile races and two 800-meter runs.If Ellis wins the 1,600-meter run on Sunday, he will be just the second Cincinnati boy to win the distance triple crown (cross country title, outdoor 1,600- and 3,200-meter titles). La Salle's Doug Bockenstette did so way back in the 1993-1994 school year. Ellis has the third-best seed time entering the race. He also has the top seed time in the 800-meter run at 1:53.19.Loveland girls 4x800 sets Division II state recordThe Loveland Tigers turned to their seniors in the first championship final of the DII state meet. Delaney Cilley and Caroline Murnan didn't let them down.Leading off the 4x800 meter relay, Cilley split 2:16.74 on her leg, one of her fastest 800-meter times of the season. She handed off to freshman Brynleigh Scherman, who kept the lead thanks to an impressive split of 2:16.77."I knew we had a chance to be state champs and (Caroline) and I are both seniors. We've run together since seventh grade so we've run the 4x800 every year at state so I knew that we had to end on a good note. I was really excited to do it for all of us," Cilley said.While Emma Todd had the slowest split of the four at 2:21.72, she came to the exchange zone in second place and handed off to senior Caroline Murnan, who has elite speed in the 800 meters, thanks to her pedigree at 200 and 400 meters."I knew I had a good kick at the end, so just staying with her or in front of her was the main thing I was focusing on," Murnan said.The Butler University commit completed her two laps in 2:08.01, which would have been a Cincinnati city record if she were running the open 800. Over the final 200 meters, she pulled away from Big Walnut and crossed the line in a new DII state record of 9:05.14.The quartet broke the school record with a time of 9:15.07 at regionals and had a strong final month of the season, winning a district title in 9:24.17 and an Eastern Cincinnati Conference title in 9:15.44.Even with Cilley, Murnan and Parker Mentzer graduating, the future remains bright for Loveland's distance crew as Scherman, Todd and freshman Abby Kaszyca are all returning."It's been an incredible experience. They're so talented and I'm so lucky that I got to run with them for their last year," Todd said.Talawanda's Abra Mills caps career with third-place finish in 3,200-meter runTalawanda has had quite the distance resurgence over the last three years thanks to Lucia Rodbro, Adriana Luking and Abra Mills.The Ball State University commit, who spent her freshman and sophomore years living in Suffolk, England, while her dad taught math at an American school on Lakenheath Air Force Base, crossed the finish line of the 3,200-meter run in 10:37.62. Her time, which placed her third, broke a 40-year-old school record and clocked a 17-second personal best."I was not expecting that at all. Recently I've been running really well and I was just like, 'I don't think anybody in this race is better than me.' I just went out with that mindset. The whole race, I was feeling great. There's no point in holding back and staying in the back of the pack," Mills said.She was never in worse than ninth place but tightened the screws in the second half of the race, working her way down to lap times around 80 seconds before cruising through the final 400 meters in 1:14.92.Despite a nearly four-hour rain delay, Mills's family, friends and coaches stuck around to watch her race and gathered on the fence by the podium as she accepted her medal."They all drove the two hours. The principal of my school came. They all came to support me and they stayed through the whole rain delay to watch me race. I just felt so much love that they all stayed," Mills said. "This year for me has been a breakthrough year. I haven't been this fast since eighth grade."After coming back from England, Mills helped the Brave win back-to-back cross country regional titles. She was the 2025 regional champion and took seventh place at state and lowered her personal best to 18:12.19. She will also run the DII 1,600-meter run on Sunday after recording a personal best of 5:00.32 at the regional meet.Which Cincinnati athletes made the podium on the third day of the 2026 OHSAA track and field state championships?Events are listed by division, starting with DI.DI girls 4x800 meter relay: 3. Milford (Maren Barnett, Lauren Johnson, Schylar Sperl, Elle Campbell)DI boys 4x800 meter relay: 2. St. Xavier (Liam Holman, Aidan Dehring, Jake Molas, Dom Ellis); 3. Little Miami (Ian Patrick, Justin Evans, Ethan Greenwood, Ryne Reynolds); 8. Moeller (Brock Grubert, Preston Wesley, Duncan Shirley, Trindin Booker)DI girls 3,200-meter run: 6. Ava Shepard, Lakota West; 7. Heidi Harmeyer, SetonDI boys 3,200-meter run: 1. Dom Ellis, St. Xavier; 2. Ryne Reynolds, Little Miami; 4. Caden Winship, Mason; 6. Joshua Linde, SpringboroDII girls 4x800 meter relay: 1. Loveland (Delaney Cilley, Brynleigh Scherman, Emma Todd, Caroline Murnan)DII girls 3,200-meter run: 3. Abra Mills, TalawandaDII boys discus: 6. Ethan Schock, Goshen; 8. Hunter Ogdan, La SalleDII girls high jump: T-6. Shylah Day, Western BrownDII boys pole vault: T-5. Nolan Hodgson, TalawandaDIII girls 100-meter dash: 2. Sci-Yesha Anderson, Waynesville; 8. Brilyn Foust, CHCADIII boys 1,600-meter run: 6. James O'Driscoll, Indian HillDIII girls 200-meter dash: 3. Sci-Yesha Anderson, WaynesvilleDIII girls 4x400 meter relay: 4. Mercy McAuley (Alayna Crawford, Lailah Shepard, Lily Davis, Sarah Blessing)This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati brings home 2 titles on third day of OHSAA state track meet

The New York Liberty ended their seven-game homestand with a four-game winning streak, coming back from a 12-point third-quarter deficit to defeat the Indiana Fever 83-75 on Saturday at Barclays Center in New York. The Liberty ratcheted up their defensive pressure in the second half and used their size advantage on offense to get the Fever into foul trouble, living at the foul line late.Breanna Stewart led the way with 30 points and eight rebounds and became the seventh player in WNBA history to attempt at least 20 free throws in one game; she shot 18 of 21 from the line. The two-time MVP also added four steals.“Our defense really dictated our offense, we got up, we got aggressive,” Stewart said postgame on the broadcast.New York is the lone undefeated team (2-0) in the Eastern Conference in Commissioner’s Cup play, setting up a critical matchup in Atlanta on Thursday that will likely decide the East’s representative in the Cup final June 30.The Fever’s Caitlin Clark scored 10 points on 4-of-14 shooting and had seven rebounds and nine assists.This article originally appeared in The Athletic.New York Liberty, Indiana Fever, WNBA2026 The Athletic Media Company

Mavericks predicted to swap ex-Duke phenom for $120 million All-Star in blockbuster trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Dallas Mavericks are poised to endure one of the most intriguing 2026 offseasons in the NBA this summer. With Masai Ujiri taking over as the Mavericks’ president and already taking the liberty of firing Jason Kidd, it’s reasonable to assume more changes are on the way in Dallas. Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz has a hunch that one of those changes could consist of Dallas swapping a former Duke phenom for a 26-year-old All-Star guard."If the Mavs want a guard who's closer to Cooper Flagg's timeline, swapping out the 34-year-old Irving for the 26-year-old (Tyler) Herro (and 20-year-old Kasparas Jakucionis) would make sense,” Swartz wrote Friday. “Dallas desperately needs help at guard and with their three-point attack. The Mavs ranked 29th overall in made threes per game (11.0) and were 26th in accuracy (34.4%). Herro is a lifetime 38.2% shooter from deep on 2.7 makes per game. Klay Thompson was the only Maverick to best Herro last season (2.9 per contest).”"Jakucionis was Miami's 20th overall pick in the 2025 draft. A 6-foot-5 guard who can also shoot (42.3% from three as a rookie), Jakucionis gives the Mavs some much-needed young talent around Cooper Flagg.In addition to receiving Herro and Jakucionis, the Mavericks would also receive a 2026 second-round pick (No. 41 overall) in Swartz's hypothetical trade idea. Herro would be a near-perfect running mate for Flagg in Dallas. Like Flagg, Herro’s upside is extraordinarily high, and a key part of the rebuilding process is swapping older, less dependable assets for younger, more dependable long-term contributors.Herro fits that description perfectly, as the 20.5 points-per-game scorer is firmly in his prime and has plenty of high-level basketball ahead of him.Of course, it’ll come down to the Mavericks’ willingness to part ways with Irving this summer, which honestly shouldn’t be a hardship given the NBA champion’s advanced age and durability concerns.More NBA news:Rockets predicted to swap ex-Lakers disgruntled forward for $285 million Celtics starLakers rumor is good news for Luka Doncic, bad news for LeBron JamesLakers predicted to cut ties with Dalton Knecht, acquire $175 million two-time MVP

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Conn Smythe favorite Mitch Marner had a natural hat trick in the second period to help the Vegas Golden Knights build a four-goal lead over the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final.The 4-0 advantage didn't last, with Carolina cutting it 4-3 midway through the third.Tomas Hertl broke a scoreless tie midway through the second, after Vegas opened the stanza by having two goals overturned by challenges.Marner’s first goal came when he gathered a loose puck near the boards and fired a backhander into the crease, where Carolina defenseman Sean Walker accidentally deflected the puck past Frederik Andersen.Less than four minutes later, Marner gracefully deked around Andersen and slipped the puck into the net with relative ease to make it 3-0.Then, with a little more than three minutes left in the period, the 10-year veteran blasted a shot from the right circle, triggering throngs of hats being thrown on the ice. It was the fastest natural hat trick in Stanley Cup history at 6:10.“I can’t do it by myself, that’s for sure,” Marner said during a television interview between periods. “All five guys have been on a great page. I’ve liked our line’s play for the last month.”Marner also assisted on Hertl’s goal. His four points are tied for the most in a single period since 1919.Marner’s 28 points are the most by any player in NHL history in his first postseason with a new teamThe 29-year-old now has 10 goals in 19 playoff games with the Golden Knights. He had 13 goals in 70 playoff games during his nine years with Toronto.___AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL

Desert Edge Scorpions Yahzeen Zion (93) jumps over Marshawn Coleman (9) to get to the ball during a game against the Millennium Tigers at Desert Edge High School in Goodyear on Oct. 31, 2025. | Diannie Chavez/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The Wisconsin Badgers won yet another big recruiting battle on Saturday, as they landed a commitment from three-star defensive lineman Yahzeen Zion, he announced.Wisconsin beat out the likes of LSU, Oklahoma, and Mississippi State for Zion, who wasn’t a guarantee to commit to the Badgers heading into the weekend. But Wisconsin closed once again on a top target and added another edge rusher/defensive lineman to their 2027 class.Zion, a 6’4, 265-pound defensive lineman, hails from Arizona and plays at Desert High School, where Wisconsin has made some recruiting ground in recent years.Wisconsin has options with Zion, who could be a jumbo edge or bulk up and play more on the interior. But he joins Isaac Miller as the second edge prospect in the class, and the Badgers may not be done.Wisconsin is also hosting three-star Texas Tech commit Brody Pfannenstiel on a visit this weekend and hosted three-star Chicago edge Darin Graham last weekend. Either could become a third commit for Wisconsin on the edge in the 2027 class.Wisconsin is up to 18 commits in the class, and they’re not done yet. Now, following Zion’s commitment, let’s see who the Badgers can land from their remaining pool of targets this weekend.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 06: (L-R) Gabriel Bonfim of Brazil punches Belal Muhammad in a welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Meta APEX on June 06, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) Belal Muhammad vs. Gabriel Bonfim squared off in a Welterweight bout earlier tonight (Sat., June 6, 2026) at UFC Vegas 118 inside Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. In a stellar showing, Bonfim really beat up the former champion.Bonfim opened with pressure, trying to establish his jab and calf kick. Muhammad saw it all coming, however, and he actually landed first by stepping forward with a 3-2 that cracked the bigger Brazilian. Undeterred, Bonfim kept pressing and scored with a couple hard body kicks. Bonfim started to pick up on the timing of Muhammad’s punches, allowing him to connect with several significant counter punches. The paced heated up a little in the final minute, as Muhammad started to press more often and create exchanges.All told, it was a strong opening round for Bonfim, who landed the heavier blows.Muhammad stood his ground more to start round two, but it wasn’t long before Bonfim had backed him beyond the black line yet again. Bonfim’s low kick started to find the mark more often as well, and Muhammad answered with inside low kicks of his own. Muhammad began dipping in the pocket and returning fire with his left hook. He wasn’t matching Bonfim’s volume, however, and when the Brazilian did land, his connections scored with great impact. A hard Bonfim right hand interrupted an awkward Muhammad combination. By the end of the second, Muhammad’s face was bloody from several cuts, but perhaps Bonfim was starting to fatigue a little bit as well.Muhammad opened round three with a powerful takedown attempt, but Bonfim was ready for it and escaped back to center. In the open, Bonfim continued to kick the lead leg effectively and landed a hard right hand. Muhammad ripped a Southpaw left body kick and tried to exchange off it, but Bonfim was too fast in the pocket. Muhammad doubled down on that left body kick and landed it several more times. Then, Bonfim’s cracking right hand sent his mouthpiece flying … but Belal just ate it! Regardless of the former champion’s iron jaw, the damage was really starting to wear on him between the bloodied face and battered lead leg.“The Bully” needed a finish with 10 minutes remaining.Unfortunately for Muhammad, nothing really changed in the fourth. He still couldn’t get his wrestling going, and Bonfim’s punches were just so much snappier in exchanges. Furthermore, that lead leg continued to take abuse, widening the athleticism gap further. To his credit, Bonfim’s gas tank held up really well also, as he looked quite sharp in his first visit to the championship round.There would be no fifth-round miracle. Muhammad tried to press forward but could not hit Bonfim without taking heavier fire in return. It was a game effort, but the writing was already on the wall.It’s time to put some respect on Gabriel Bonfim’s name. His kickboxing has developed considerably, and his gas tank is no longer a question mark. For a jiu-jitsu ace to soundly batter and out-strike a former champion is very impressive! He walked away from a 25-minute fight fresh-faced and energized, looking the part of a future title contender.Result: Bonfim defeats Muhammad via unanimous decisionFor complete UFC Vegas 118 results and play-by-play, click here.

A general view of the south end zone scoreboard at Jack Trice Stadium with text reading “Welcome to Cyclone Football” | Jared Larson From Saturday, May 30, to Saturday, June 6, the recruiting for class of 2027 has increased in size from seven to 14.Drew AagesenHailing from Goodrich, Michigan, Drew Aagesen pledged his commitment to the Cyclones on May 30. Though he was a versatile standout on both sides of the ball in high school, Iowa State plans to utilize him as an offensive lineman. During his junior year, he demonstrated his defensive prowess with 11 sacks and 21 tackles for loss, while his athleticism also allowed him to contribute at tight end on offense. Ranked as the No. 21 prospect in Michigan, Aagesen chose Ames over several major programs, including Michigan State and Wisconsin, after the Cyclones became his first power-conference offer in March.Jordan CriderSafety Jordan Crider followed Aagesen’s lead by announcing his commitment on May 31. A 6-foot-1, 185-pound prospect from Middletown, Ohio, Crider is considered the nation’s No. 114 safety for the class of 2027. Despite being limited to five games last season due to state transfer regulations, he managed four interceptions and 18 tackles. He also showcased offensive skills with three receiving touchdowns, ultimately choosing Iowa State over offers from Kentucky and Temple.Jason WoodenJason Wooden, an athlete from Frisco, Texas, joined the program following an official visit in early June. While he spent his previous season as a wide receiver, recording 25 catches and two total touchdowns, he has embraced a move to the defensive side of the ball for the Cyclones. This transition to defense was a major factor in his commitment, as other programs like Richmond and North Dakota had been recruiting him to stay at receiver.Cash HollingsheadSalem Hills, Utah, native Cash Hollingshead committed to Iowa State’s 2027 class after a strong performance at a camp in Ames. The 6-foot-3 quarterback threw for over 1,000 yards last season and maintained an impressive 15-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Hollingshead noted that he feels his skill set is a perfect fit for the offensive system run by coordinator Tyler Roehl.Joey MasseyJoey Massey, a tight end from Green Bay, Wisconsin, flipped his commitment from Central Michigan to Iowa State on June 5. The 233-pound athlete is known for his versatility, having played multiple roles in high school. As a junior, he recorded 352 receiving yards and three touchdowns, while also being a defensive force with 48 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and four sacks.Josh McCarthyFarmington, Missouri’s own linebacker Josh McCarthy accepted an offer on June 5 after months of working toward a Power-4 opportunity. As a junior at Farmington, McCarthy put up massive defensive statistics, including 119 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks. He was also a major threat on offense, hauling in nine touchdown passes and totaling 507 receiving yards.Blake MoserOn June 6, three-star prospect Blake Moser became the latest addition to the 2027 class. A current high school quarterback in Lake Stevens, Washington – where he accounted for over 3,400 total yards and 55 combined touchdowns last season – Iowa State plans to transition his elite speed to wide receiver.

Anders Nelson has the top-seeded Avengers one victory away from a Division II championship after the East Greenwich starter struck out 10 and allowed a single run in Saturday's win over West Warwick. He also delivered a key hit in Saturday's Game 1 at Rhode Island College.With the 6-1 victory, East Greenwich will look to close out the No. 2 seeded Wizards in this best-of-three title series on Sunday afternoon.West Warwick scored first, plating its only run in the top of the second inning when Charles Brown's single drove in Kole Kilduff.But the Avengers answered in a hurry, scoring four times in the bottom of the inning when Nelson hit a bases-loaded double to bring in two runs, and two more came home when a ground ball off the bat of Tyler Nuti was mishandled. Nuti led the team with three RBIs and Nelson had a pair.Miles Doman and Nolan Colucci and Nelson each collected two hits in the win. Aayan Modi pitched an inning and a third of scoreless relief to close out the victory.The two teams are scheduled to meet again at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Score from East Greenwich vs. West Warwick Division II baseball Game 1

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Lionel Messi sat out Argentina's friendly match against Honduras on Saturday night as he continues to manage muscle fatigue and a mild strain in his left hamstring ahead of the upcoming World Cup.Messi, who turns 39 in three weeks, was active after warming up with his teammates at Kyle Field on the campus of Texas A&M before the game. He stayed on the bench, though, watching from the sideline as Argentina won 2-0.The team has said Messi's recovery time will depend on “his clinical and functional progress.” Argentina next plays Iceland in Auburn, Alabama, on Tuesday in a final World Cup tune-up before resuming its training in Kansas City.Argentina begins its World Cup title defense against Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium on June 16.During workouts in Kansas City on Wednesday, Messi came to the practice field after the rest of the team and did some conditioning work off to the side.Messi, who's widely expected to retire from international soccer after this summer's tournament, holds the record for most World Cup matches (26) and needs four more goals to surpass Germany’s Miroslav Klose’s World Cup record of 16.___AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

Apr 25, 2026; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts during the first half against the New York Liberty at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn ImagesThroughout the week, Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark received a lot of criticism after her defensive struggles and her heated exchange with head coach Stephanie White, which resulted in a brief benching. Things did not get better on Saturday night.Clark obviously would have hoped for a bit of a bounce-back performance during Saturday night’s game against the New York Liberty, considering the recent struggles and the negative media attention she has received in recent weeks. Unfortunately, however, Clark struggled yet again on both sides of the ball, and the Fever suffered yet another loss.Another Bad GameA week after posting one of the worst games of her entire career in a blowout loss to the Portland Fire, Clark had yet another disappointing performance on both sides of the ball. Once again, Clark struggled to make shots consistently and got herself into foul trouble that made her a liability late in the game.Clark finished the game with just 10 points, going just 4-for-14 from the field, which works out to a paltry 28.5%. On the defensive side of the ball, Clark once again got herself into foul trouble, finishing the game with five fouls. She also had trouble defending Liberty rookie guard Pauline Astier at times, especially late in the game when she was trying to avoid picking up another foul.It was a disappointing performance for Clark after she looked much better and more confident during Thursday night’s win over the Atlanta Dream, especially on the defensive side of the ball. But in Saturday’s loss, she showed many of the same struggles and limitations that plagued her last week.Criticism Mounts For ClarkWith Clark struggling yet again in a Fever loss, she once again faced some heavy criticism on social media as fans called out her shortcomings.“Caitlin Clark just isn’t that good actually has had no positive impact just getting bodied on defense and being passive on offense,” one fan wrote in a post on X.“CaitlinClark is Trae Young. Harsh truth. She needs to improve. Love her regardless tho,” someone else wrote, comparing her to the NBA star.“CaitlinClark is getting cooked by a rookie. She is the WNBA Luka on the defensive side. lol. Fever needs to start hiding her on defense,” another fan wrote.“CaitlinClark is not impressive at all, she’s costing her team this game,” someone else added.“Teams are just going to hunt CaitlinClark late game to get an automatic bucket,” another fan wrote, criticizing her defense.With the loss, the Fever fall to 1-1 in the Commissioner’s Cup. Clark and the Fever will have a chance to bounce back with a showdown against the Washington Mystics on Monday night.The post ‘Caitlin Clark just isn’t that good’: Criticism mounts after another bad game appeared first on The Comeback: Today’s Top Sports Stories & Reactions.

LAS VEGAS, NV- SEPTEMBER 6: Gabriel Bonfim speaks to the media following week 7 of the Dana White Contender Series on September 6, 2022, at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Amy Kaplan/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Now that the action is in the books from UFC Vegas 118 earlier tonight (Sat., June 6, 2026) LIVE on Paramount+ from inside UFC’s Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, fight fans can check out the post-fight presser for all the best reaction and official bonus winners.On a night that featured a main event clash between former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad and rising contender Gabriel Bonfim, a middleweight co-main event pitting veteran grappler Brendan Allen against knockout specialist Edmen Shahbazyan, and the return of light heavyweight fan favorite Iwo Baraniewski, there will be a lot to discuss when the fighters take to the stage.The post-fight presser is scheduled to go LIVE in the above video player around 11:15 p.m. ET. It will feature the biggest winners and losers from the card.For complete UFC Vegas 118 results, coverage, and highlights click HERE.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 06: (R-L) Gabriel Bonfim of Brazil punches Belal Muhammad in a welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Meta APEX on June 06, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) Gabriel Bonfim has arrived as a legitimate title contender at 170 pounds.On Saturday, Bonfim had the biggest test of his MMA career, taking on former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad in the main event of UFC Vegas 118. Bonfim passed with flying colors, beating “Remember The Name” up for 25 minutes to leap into the thick of the welterweight title race.Heading into the fight, Bonfim was on a four-fight winning streak, but none had come against a truly elite welterweight, and despite being on a two-fight losing streak, Muhammad certainly still fit that description. But Bonfim rose to the occasion, delivering the best performance of his career, chewing Muhammad up on the feet with crisp boxing and sharp low kicks.As has been the case for Muhammad in recent fights, he didn’t go to his trademark wrestling game early, and by the time Muhammad shot for his first takedown in the third round, Bonfim was already far ahead and stuffed it with ease. From there, Bonfim continued to pick Muhammad apart, as the former champion completely abandoned the skill set that once took him to the title, instead engaging in a kickboxing fight with a bigger, younger opponent.That did not end up working out for him, and by the end of 25 minutes, Muhammad had lost every round and was a bloody mess. The scorecards were formulaic, with 50-45s across the board for Bonfim. Muhammad entered the fight ranked No. 5 in the UFC welterweight rankings, a position Bonfim is likely to take over on Tuesday when the promotion updates its rankings. Following his win, Bonfim gave Muhammad a lot of love, bringing him over for his post-fight interview and giving him props for taking the long road up to being a champion. He then called out another former welterweight champion for his next bout, Jack Della Maddalena.“Jack Maddalena, stay ready,” Bonfim said via a Portuguese translator. “You’re right there. You’re my next opponent. I just got to the top 5, and I want to be active. You’re next.”Muhammad, meanwhile, now finds his career in free fall, having lost three straight fights since winning the UFC welterweight title in July 2024.

CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 06: Germany fans are seen with flags prior to a friendly match between the United States and Germany on June 6, 2026, at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images I had the chance to travel to Chicago to see Germany face the USMNT in the final match for both teams before next week’s World Cup matches begin. For a few days leading up to the match, there were people wearing Germany jerseys and various Bundesliga clubs. I had a few people mention my Bayern Munich jersey I wore the day before the match, including one German lady who came up to me at dinner and told me how excited she was excited to see Germany play in Chicago.On the morning of the matchday is really when the Germany jerseys were on display. Walking through the city and heading to the stadium, it felt like there were more people repping Germany than the USA. Outside the stadium, was a large biergarten set up by the German Consulate. They had food, beer (of course), and a three-man polka band playing a mix of German and English songs.For BFW – Germany vs. USMNT pic.twitter.com/RM36WjQAya— The BFW Guy (@TheBarrelBlog) June 7, 2026Inside the stadium was a great atmosphere. US Soccer used this as their “send-off game” and introduced their full roster before the match. Although the Germany national anthem was just a played recording, many fans sang it proudly, enougth that you could hear the words clearly. The US national anthem was sang beautifully by a local legend, Jim Cornelison, and included fireworks and red, white, and blue smoke. While the American Outlaws were still leading the stadium in a U-S-A Viking clap chant, Germany came straight down and won a freekick in the attacking half. Kimmich took the ensuing freekick and Havertz scored a nice header just as the rain started to pick up and really pour down. Germany’s fans really made their presence known at that moment.For BFW – Germany vs. USMNT pic.twitter.com/wW19EyYWmq— The BFW Guy (@TheBarrelBlog) June 7, 2026It was great to see and hear fans of both countries get loud when their teams had chances. The USMNT had their loudest moment when they scored in the 37th minute. Besides the playing of the national anthem and the random calls that would not go the USMNT’s way, the goal celebrations were when you really noticed that this was a pro-US crowd. To be fair, a lot of fans rooting for Germany were probably also rooting for the USMNT to some degree.If anyone was there, share your matchday expeirence in the comments below!If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor… Join the conversation!Sign up for a user account and get:New, improved notifications system!Fewer adsCreate community postsComment on articles, community postsRec comments, community posts

PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 06: In Gee Chun of South Korea lines her a putt on the 10th green during the third round of the U.S. Women’s Open presented by Ally 2026 at Riviera Country Club on June 06, 2026 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Photo by Ryan Sirius Sun/Getty Images)Ryan Sirius Sun/Getty ImagesThe leaderboard is stacked and ready ahead of the final round of the 2026 U.S Women’s Open.Take a look below to find scheduled fourth-round tee times and pairings for when play continues on Sunday, June 7 at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California.Coverage split between Peacock, NBCSN and NBC. All times are ET. Peacock: 3-8 p.m.NBCSN: 3-5 p.m.NBC: 5-8 p.m.U.S Women’s Open 2026: Nelly Korda, Sei Young Kim co-lead heading into Sunday’s final roundMoving Day certainly lived up to its name during the third round of the 2026 U.S Women’s Open at Riviera. Heading into Sunday’s final round, the leaderboard is crowded and star-studded. Syd Pierre,2026 U.S. Women’s Open tee times - Final Round:9:45 a.m. — Gurleen Kaur, Nataliya Guseva9:55 a.m. — Liqi Zeng, Ingrid Lindblad10:05 a.m. — Yealimi Noh, Mao Saigo10:15 a.m. — Celine Boutier, Lottie Woad10:25 a.m. — Yue Zhang, Hye-Jin Choi10:35 a.m. — Julia Lopez Ramirez, Ariya Jutanugarn10:45 a.m. — Bianca Pagdanganan, Yuri Yoshida11:00 a.m. — Minsol Kim, Sakura Koiwai11:10 a.m. — Somi Lee, Hannah Green11:20 a.m. — Lucy Li, Anna Nordqvist11:30 a.m. — Rose Zhang, Kaleiya Romero11:40 a.m. — Chia Yen Wu, Xiyu Janet Lin11:50 a.m. — Aki Iwai, Grace Kim12:00 p.m. — Esther Henseleit, Nanna Koerstz Madsen12:15 p.m. — Rio Takeda, Jiyai Shin12:25 p.m. — Brooke Henderson, Melanie Green12:35 p.m. — Ayaka Furue, A Lim Kim12:45 p.m. — Minjee Lee, Lauren Coughlin12:55 p.m. — Casandra Alexander, Patty Tavatanakit1:05 p.m. — Pajaree Anannarukarn, Shuri Sakuma1:15 p.m. — Amy Yang, Farah O'Keefe (a)1:30 p.m. — DaYeon Lee, Jinhee Im1:40 p.m. — Jeeno Thitikul, Hinako Shibuno1:50 p.m. — Sora Kamiya, Karis Davidson2:00 p.m. — Kiara Romero (a), Ana Belac2:10 p.m. — Shiho Kuwaki, Miyu Yamashita2:20 p.m. — Asterisk Talley (a), Allisen Corpuz2:30 p.m. — Aphrodite Deng (a), Minji Kang2:45 p.m. — Maja Stark, Maria José Marin (a)2:55 p.m. — Alison Lee, Hyunjo Yoo3:05 p.m. — Charley Hull, Ruoning Yin3:15 p.m. — Gaby Lopez, Nasa Hataoka3:25 p.m. — In Gee Chun, Jennifer Kupcho3:35 p.m. — Sei Young Kim, Nelly KordaHow to watch the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open: TV schedule, tee times, streaming & coverage guideFind out how to watch the 81st U.S. Women’s Open, including TV coverage, streaming options, tee times and full broadcast schedule on NBC, Peacock, and USA. Patricia Duffy,

Bounced from the cup: Sporting Club Jacksonville introduced its youngest-ever player but endured the same old struggles, going down 2-0 to the Tampa Bay Rowdies on June 6 to suffer elimination from the USL Cup in-season tournament.Underwood's debut: Sporting Jax fielded its youngest-ever player when 16-year-old academy prospect Ethan Underwood, from Bartram Trail High School, entered from the bench for his debut in the 66th minute. Underwood played the remaining 24 minutes on the left side of midfield. He became the second Sporting Jax player with Bears ties, with Ethan Dudley starting in central defense.First-half miscues: The first-place Rowdies had already had two goals nullified for offside and another shot off the crossbar when they finally broke through in the 35th minute. Charlie Ostrem raided up the left side on a counterattack and set up Sebastian Cruz for the goal. Then, in first-half stoppage time, Sporting Jax gave away the ball on the sideline and then blew an offside trap to allow MD Myers in for a breakaway and finish.Schaefer starts: Former Fletcher High School standout Brian Schaefer started in the Rowdies' central defense, playing all 90 minutes and blocking a goal-bound attempt from Sporting Jax midfielder Piero Elias.Quick free kicks: The series of miscues leading to Tampa Bay's scores frustrated Sporting Jax head coach Liam Fox, who termed them "two really, really simple goals." … After combining for six goals in their last two games, Sporting Jax mustered only three shots, none on target, while the Rowdies had 16 shots. … Sporting Jax rested normal starters including goalkeeper Christian Olivares and midfielders Rafferty Pedder and Jordan Rossiter at the start of a stretch of three games in eight days. … Goalkeeper Jake McGuire recorded three saves.They said it: "He's been awesome to have around. He works really good, he's got a really good attitude and he's got a super bright future." --Sporting Jax defender Ethan Dudley on 16-year-old newcomer Ethan Underwood.Up next: Sporting Jax returns to normal league play in the USL Championship and hits the road for a cross-country trip, taking on Monterey Bay FC on Wednesday, June 10.This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Sporting Club Jacksonville men's soccer eliminated from USL Cup

As soon as a few weeks from now, LeBron James will make a decision in free agency that will likely dictate how his storied career will wrap up. The Los Angeles Lakers still seem to be the likeliest option for him, but there is a real chance he returns to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Golden State Warriors now seem to be a realistic option for him as well.If James is to stay with the Lakers for a ninth season with them, they won't have an easy time retaining enough of their other free agents while also improving their overall roster, even though they could have as much as roughly $50 million of salary cap space. With James, they could end up having a team that is about as good as the one they had this season — one that is very good, but not a championship contender.Charles Barkley of "Inside the NBA" said on ESPN's "Get Up" that it wouldn't make sense for James to remain with L.A. if James is serious about winning another championship.“It doesn’t do him [LeBron] any good staying in L.A.,” said Barkley. “Number one, they’re not going to be competitive in the West. And also, it’s time for the Lakers to turn the team over to Luka [Doncic]. LeBron’s not going to play better as he gets older. The Lakers got swept. Even if they had Luka, they’re not a contender in the West. They’re not going to compete with the [San Antonio] Spurs. They’re not gonna compete with OKC or the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 42-year-old guy. They’re not going to be competitive. So, if he stays in L.A., he’s doing it for off-court reasons.”The Lakers went 53-29 during this regular season, despite significant injuries to James, Doncic and Austin Reaves. With Doncic out due to a hamstring strain, they upset the Houston Rockets in the first round of the NBA playoffs before getting swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals.James continued to play at a very high level by averaging 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists a game during the regular season and putting up 23.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists a game in the postseason. He throttled back to being the team's third scoring option, and it is something that should conserve his energy should he continue to play in such a role.But the Lakers lack speed, athleticism, perimeter defense, 3-point shooting and a robust center rotation. If James doesn't take a significant pay cut to stay put, it will be next-to-impossible to address enough of those needs this offseason.This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Charles Barkley: Lakers won't be competitive if they keep LeBron James

Airport, Whiteford and Summerfield march on along the state tournament trail.All three earned the right to play in the state softball quarterfinals next week after winning regional championships on Saturday, June 6.Airport slipped past Huron League rival Milan to win a Division 2 title at Fowlerville.Whiteford captured a Division 3 crown at Wixom St. Catherine and Summerfield emerged victorious in a Division 4 tourney at Dansville.More: Regional final losses end season for Monroe, Summerfield baseballMore: Regional results for Monroe County Region baseball and softball teamsGibraltar Carlson saw its season end with a semifinal loss in the Division 1 event hosted by Bedford.Division 2FOWLERVILLE – Airport returned almost its entire roster from a team that was one pitch away from a spot in the state finals last spring.But the Jets refused to let high expectations get in their way.“That’s the funny thing about this team,” Airport coach Jess Irwin said. “We have such great leadership. They just stay steady.”Airport cruised to its third straight regional championship by beating Chelsea 7-2 and Milan 11-4.“We have seven seniors and they all start,” Irwin said. “They want to get back to that place they were last year (the state semifinals and finals in East Lansing). That’s been the goal all year.”All that stands between the 35-5 Jets and achieving that return trip to Michigan State is a quarterfinal game at 4 p.m. Tuesday against Farmington Hills Mercy at Ypsilanti Lincoln.“Obviously the two we had on the mound (Brooklyn Martin and Julia Dyson) were great today,” Irwin said.Martin went the distance in the first game, then finished up the finals after a strong start by Dyson.Brityn Duffy, Peyton Zajac and Jillian Baker collected two hits each in the opener.Dyson and Olivia Tilley led the offense in the title game. Each logged two singles and a double. Martin, Zajac and Kennady Kroll contributed two hits apiece.Milan’s Charleigh Meggison went 2-for-2 with a walk and teammate Reese Knox collected two hits.The Big Reds fought back from an 8-0 deficit to pull within four runs of Airport.“These girls are so resilient,” said Milan coach Micah Higa. “They’ve been that way the whole season.”Milan reached the finals by outslugging Jackson Parma County Western 19-8 in the semifinals.Kenzie Chrysler rang up four hits and drove in five runs in that game and Georgia Linzell also collected four hits.Milan broke the game open with a seven-run sixth inning highlighted by an run-producing triple from Mya Vance and a two-run home run by Meggison.The Big Reds finished Higa’s first year as head coach with a 15-13 record.“This absolutely means the world to me,” Higa said of a hot finish that lifted Milan over .500 and produced a district championship trophy.This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Airport, Whiteford, Summerfield softball reach state quarterfinals

Considering Oklahoma City's terrific rotation of guards, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cason Wallace, Jalen Williams, Ajay Mitchell and etcetera, there's reason to believe that the Thunder may target frontcourt depth in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft.Oklahoma City is one of six teams to have multiple first-round selections, as they currently hold the No. 12 and No. 17 overall selections. According to Thunder insider Justin Martinez, the Thunder could be considering a couple of former Michigan Wolverines with those selections, having hosted both Yaxel Lendeborg and Morez Johnson Jr. for individual pre-draft workouts. While it may be difficult for the Thunder to land both of these players (each is ranked in the top 14), it seems as though either could be targeted by Oklahoma City at No. 12 overall.At 6'9", both Lendeborg and Johnson Jr. are known for their defense, averaging over one block per game. Considering Oklahoma City's position, they may prefer the more "NBA-ready" prospect (Lendeborg), but other teams may favor Johnson Jr.'s youth (three years younger than Lendeborg). Either way, barring a trade, it seems as though Oklahoma City is targeting length, versatility and defense with the No. 12 overall selection.This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg and Morez Johnson Jr. both workout with OKC

NEW YORK — The catching position has been full of surprises for the New York Yankees since late Friday night.First, the Bombers optioned backup backstop J.C. Escarra to Triple-A after their series-opening loss to the Boston Red Sox. Then the team replaced Escarra by promoting journeyman Ali Sánchez early Saturday afternoon.Just like that, the Yankees had a new big league catching contingent of Sánchez and Austin Wells.But another twist came from the Yankees’ catching crew on Saturday night, as Wells was placed on the 10-day injured list with cervical headaches before rain postponed the club’s game against Boston. Suddenly in need of another receiver, Escarra was promptly recalled before he could ever leave New York.According to the Cleveland Clinic, a cervical, or cervicogenic, headache “is head pain that originates in your neck. The pain can radiate from an injury or condition that affects your cervical spine, like an injury, arthritis or a slipped disk. Physical therapy and medications treat these headaches so you don’t have to live in pain.”MSPhysicalTherapy adds that, “Whiplash injuries are a common cause of cervicogenic headaches. Car accidents or sports-related impacts can jolt the neck, damaging its delicate structures. Even seemingly minor incidents can trigger long-lasting pain.”The site also said symptoms can include sensitivity to light and sound, blurred vision and mild nausea.Catchers are particularly susceptible to “jolts of the neck,” as they can take foul balls and backswings to the head. With catchers always taking a beating, Aaron Boone said it was tough to say if Wells’ issue stemmed from Friday’s game, a previous game, or the cumulative result of multiple impacts to the catcher’s head/neck.Boone, speaking after Saturday’s postponement, said that Wells first “complained about some neck stuff that was leading to a headache” late Friday night after Escarra had been optioned. On Thursday, Wells went through a “battery of tests” with a neurologist, which cleared him of a concussion, Boone said.However, more tests on Wells’ neck await on Sunday. In the meantime, he’ll just rest.“Hopefully it’s short,” Boone said of Wells’ absence. “That’s the expectation, but he’ll have testing tomorrow.”Wells’ unexpected diagnosis comes with him in the midst of a dreadful season. While he’s been excellent behind the plate, Wells has been one of the worst hitters in baseball, batting .166 with a .533 OPS, four home runs and just seven RBI over 47 games.His struggles have made the catching position an area of need prior to the trade deadline, though the Yankees have publicly maintained faith in the former Rookie of the Year finalist.“I know we’re prisoners of the moment all the time,” Boone said during his pregame press conference on Saturday before Wells’ diagnosis was announced, “but there is a really good offensive player in there.”Boone did not mention Wells’ headaches during his pregame presser, and he even said that the struggling left-handed hitter would get some off days against southpaws with the right-handed Sánchez promoted.It wasn’t until well after the Yankees had concluded batting practice and pregame workouts that the team announced Wells had landed on the IL.With Wells out, Sánchez and Escarra, another lefty, will now share time behind the plate.Neither has done much offensively this season. Escarra, 31, has a .493 OPS over 68 major league plate appearances, while Sánchez has a .702 OPS over 40 Triple-A games. Sánchez, 29, had reverse splits at Triple-A, posting a .576 OPS vs. lefties and a .747 OPS against righties.Sánchez, in big league camp with the Yanks this past spring, also has a .454 OPS over 50 MLB games with the Mets, Cardinals, Marlins, Blue Jays and Red Sox.With the Yankees desperate for catching help even before Wells’ absence, the subject of Ben Rice receiving has come up repeatedly over the last few days. However, Brian Cashman said, “It’s not something that’s on the radar right now.”Boone echoed those sentiments on Saturday, as the Yankees don’t want to do anything that could take a toll on the slugger’s bat.“It doesn’t mean we won’t do it,” the manager said. “It doesn’t mean we won’t get to that point, but it’s not on the board right now.”____

Jun 6, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee (28) pitches in the second inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images | Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images The offense came alive tonight but the story of the game was Tanner Bibee’s phenomenal outing. He tossed 8 scoreless innings and had only 87 pitches, I really wish they would’ve game him a chance to complete the Maddux. He lowered his ERA all the way down to 4.09 from this outing. If Bibee can find this version of himself more consistently, the version we’ve seen for years, this team will be a force in the playoffs.The offense was super fun to watch tonight, there were contributions from nearly everyone. Jose hit his team leading 10th HR of the season. Rocchio hit a bomb off the foul pole in a 2-4 effort. DeLauter and Schneemann also both had two hits. Manzardo had a double and two walks. It was super nice to see the offense have a game like this. The Guardians will look to win the series tomorrow. It will be Joey Cantillo vs Jacob DeGrom at 2:35 pm ET.

The four remaining Berks teams in the PIAA playoffs advanced Saturday to the semifinals in their respective tournaments.In boys volleyball, District 3 runnerup Brandywine Heights advanced to Tuesday’s semifinals with a straight set quarterfinal win over District 7 runnerup South Fayette 25-21, 25-13, 28-26.The Bullets (20-2) play District 10 champion Meadville in the semifinals on Tuesday at a time and site to be determined.In 2A girls lacrosse, District 3 champion Wyomissing and runnerup Twin Valley advanced to Tuesday’s semifinals.Wyomissing (22-1) defeated District 7 runnerup Quaker Valley 12-2 and the Raiders (20-2) beat Gwynedd Mercy 15-4.The Spartans play West Chester Rustin on Tuesday and Twin Valley plays Villa Maria Academy.In boys 2A lacrosse, Twin Valley (18-3) advanced to Tuesday’s semifinals with am 11-9 win over Scranton Prep.The Raiders play Penncrest in Tuesday’s semifinals.The times and sites for the lacrosse matches have not been announced.

CHEBOYGAN — There’s always more than meets the eye.The end result for the Boyne City softball team Saturday might have come after a collection of two games and 12 innings in a Cheboygan hosted Division 3 regional tournament, but those 12 innings were years in the making. Decades even.It began when Boyne City head coach Josh Bush first started engraving the sport into much of his current varsity team. It continued through years of girls working on their craft and through years of past Boyne teams meeting that same Saturday regional moment and coming up short. It took all of that to get through 12 innings that would deliver the Ramblers their first-ever regional championship in a 5-4 title game win over Gladstone. It’s a Rambler team loaded with young talent, not scarred by the past, though with enough veteran leadership to get through tough times. “This is my team,” Bush said. “These are the girls that I’ve brought up through t-ball and kind of introduced to travel ball. So I’ve really been looking forward to it. They’re young, but then again, they’re not. They’ve been around and I know their softball IQ and I know their talent. I know they’ve got it in them.”Boyne had it in them enough Saturday to earn a rare mercy-rule win in a regional semifinal, topping Calumet in a 14-0 five-inning game. Then, came the Braves. Boyne's Sidney Bush: Boyne City’s Sidney Bush proves to be built for tough postseason inningsBoyne District Title: Big at-bats, resiliency help Boyne City softball come through in the clutchWhile he’s only led Boyne City since 2023, Bush knows the regional history of Gladstone and Boyne well and made sure his team did, as well. “We’ve been talking about it,” Bush said. “I’ve been letting them know the history of it. They were ready and I think this is the first time that Boyne’s beat Gladstone.”He's probably right about that last part. Since 2013 alone, the Braves have knocked Boyne City out in seven of their last nine trips into the regional round, including twice in regional final games.Learning history is one thing, but Boyne City players like Sadie Bush were more so focused on making history. “I didn’t know much, but I thought we definitely had it in us to get by them,” Sadie said. It was another masterful day for the sophomore Bush, putting together four hits, a double, three RBIs and two runs scored at the plate, to go with calling two great games for her sister, Sidney, in the circle.She helped Sidney go five shutout innings in the opener with just three hits allowed and nine strikeouts. Sidney then went all seven against the Braves, striking out nine again with eight hits given up. “It’s just like practice,” Sadie said. “I’ve been catching her for so long, I know what’s working and I know what’s not working. She’ll shake me off if she’s having any issues with it.”Josh again saw Sidney get stronger as the day went on against tougher competition, sticking with pitches that weren’t there early against Gladstone, though came through late. “It’s a mentality thing,” he said. “You’ve just got to keep going because the more you throw, the more confident you get with it. She came in during the fifth inning and she said, ‘Dad, it’s working.’ Kudos to her. That’s tough and that’s a long day.”Harbor Springs Soccer: Harbor Springs soccer reshapes mindset with first regional title in 24 yearsHarbor's McShannock: Harbor Springs keeper Lillian McShannock lays nerves to rest in regional title shutoutBoyne combined for 21 hits between both games, with Addy Stanek doubling in each game, while driving in two. Riley Thiel went 4-for-7 with a double and five RBIs, Sidney went 3-for-3 with an RBI in the opener, then Lily Payton combined or three hits and a pair of RBIs. Though freshmen like Bella Jewett and Lucy Joyce and sophomores like Sadie, Thiel and Payton all start, the Ramblers never seem to show their age. For Sadie, that comes from all that they’ve gone through before those 12 innings Saturday. “My Dad has done a really great job of building our softball IQ to beyond how old we all are,” she said. Petoskey-area Features: Petoskey-area features on athletes and coaches over the past yearNow, a rematch with a 40-0 Evart team awaits the Ramblers in the Division 3 quarterfinal round at Ferris State University in Big Rapids at 6 p.m., Tuesday, June 9. The two met in early May, with the Wildcats taking a 9-5 game. For Sadie, it’ll again be about ignoring the history and playing for each other. “I think just trust in each other and trust that if one of us messes up, we’ll have each other’s backs,” she said. Reach Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at dkochanny@petoskeynews.com and follow him on X @DrewKochanny and Instagram @drewkochannyThis article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Boyne City softball earns first regional title by beating Gladstone

The New York Knicks have seized full control of the 2026 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs. Behind another outstanding performance from Karl-Anthony Towns, New York secured a dramatic 105-104 victory in Game 2 on Friday, extending its series lead to 2-0 over Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs.Charles Barkley’s Savage Victor Wembanyama Comment Goes Viral After Karl-Anthony Towns’ Dominant PerformanceTowns once again emerged as one of the biggest storylines in the Knicks’ surge by delivering another dominant display on both ends of the floor on Friday. His performance drew high praise from former NBA star Charles Barkley, who also took a subtle jab at Wembanyama while highlighting Towns’ impact.“Wemby’s in shock right now,” Barkley said. “It’s probably been a long time since he got his ass kicked like this. Wemby’s spinning. He’s 22. He’s gonna own the league soon. But right now, big KAT is just taking his ass to the woodshed. Plain and simple.”Charles Barkley Couldn’t Hold Back After Watching Karl-Anthony Towns Take Over Against Victor Wembanyama (Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)The Hall of Famer continued his praise by arguing that Towns has been the most valuable player of the Finals so far.“He was criticized in Minnesota,” he said. “He was criticized in New York. But the MVP of the Finals is gonna be Karl-Anthony Towns. He played two of the best games I’ve ever seen a big man play. That man earned his flowers.”Towns finished Game 2 with 21 points on an efficient 8-of-12 shooting from the field, including 3-of-5 from three-point range and 2-of-2 from the free-throw line. He also contributed 13 rebounds and four assists. With the performance, he became the first Knicks player since Dave DeBusschere in 1973 to record a 20-point double-double in a road NBA Finals game.Victor Wembanyama Makes Frank Admission After Another Tough Battle With Karl-Anthony TownsThe Knicks and Towns have thrived this season by playing an unselfish brand of basketball, and that approach has continued throughout the Finals. After helping limit Wembanyama in Game 1, Towns once again made life difficult for the Spurs superstar in Game 2. After the loss, Wembanyama acknowledged the challenges presented by Towns and the Knicks,“It’s very different from previous series,” Wembanyama said. “It’s bringing us into difficult areas because they’re good players, he’s a good player. We need to figure it out.New York’s victory further cemented its place in playoff history. The Knicks are now riding the second-longest single-season postseason winning streak in NBA history and have won eight consecutive road playoff games. They also became the first team since the 2017 Golden State Warriors to win 13 straight playoff games, a season that ended with a championship for Golden State.The Knicks are now just two victories away from capturing their first NBA title in 53 years. Their eighth consecutive road playoff win also ties the mark set by the 2000-01 Los Angeles Lakers for the longest road winning streak in a single postseason.

The Oklahoma Sooners lost their second wide receiver in the 2027 recruiting class on Saturday evening when Tra'von Hall flipped his commitment from Oklahoma to Ole Miss. That comes after Demare Dezeurn opted to flip to the Cal Bears earlier on Saturday. Hall committed to Oklahoma on November 30, but this spring saw his recruitment take off with schools like Ole Miss, Florida, and LSU coming in pursuit. He took an official visit with Florida at the end of May and on Oklahoma's first big official visit weekend of June, Hall was in Oxford visiting the Rebels. With Hall taking visits to prominent SEC schools, flipping from OU was a real possibility, even with an official visit scheduled for next weekend. However, it's looking like that's pretty unlikely at this point. So, now the Sooners are down to just one wide receiver in the 2027 recruiting class, Greydon Howell, the in-state star from Southeast Oklahoma. The Sooners took four in the 2026 cycle in Jayden Petit, Daniel Odom, Jahsiear Rogers, and Xavier Okwufulueze. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.You can also follow John on X @john9williams.This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Sooners lose 2027 WR Tra'Von Hall to Ole Miss Rebels

The Iranian national team players will only be allowed to enter the United States on the day of their World Cup matches, Iranian Ambassador to Mexico Abolfazl Pasandideh said, according to media reports on Saturday."They can enter [the US] in the morning and on the same day they have to leave," Mexican media cited Pasandideh as saying.Pasandideh also told reporters in Tijuana, according to a Spanish translation by an interpreter, that a total of 15 officials from the Iranian Football Federation have not yet received visas to enter the US for the World Cup, which begins on Thursday.However, the hope is that they will receive visas before Iran's first match against New Zeland on June 15.According to Iranian media, Iran's football federation president Mehdi Taj, the team's logistics manager, is among those affected.All members of the Iranian squad have received visas to enter Mexico, which is co-hosting the June 11-July 19 tournament with the US and Canada. All Iran's group matches are in the US.The war between Iran and the US began in February and there were doubts the Iranian team would make it to the US for the football tournament.The Iranian federation said in May it would relocate the team's training camp from the US state of Arizona to Tijuana in Mexico, south of San Diego in California.The Iranian team's first two games - against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21 - are set to take place in Los Angeles. Iran is then set to verse Egypt on June 26 in Seattle, in the north-western state of Washington.

Jun 6, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) gestures after he hits a home run during the ninth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | Matt Marton-Imagn Images A day after a trio of Giants clubbed a pair of home runs each in an 18-3 frolic, they were outdone and undone by a sole Cub clubbing a pair of his own. Pete Crow-Armstrong launched two equalizers towards the El tracks in right over the course of Chicago’s 3-2 extra-inning win on Saturday: the first in the 6th inning off Landen Roupp, and another with two outs in the bottom of the 9th off closer of the day Keaton Winn. Prior to those fireworks, starting arms Ben Brown and Roupp do-si-doed over 5 scoreless innings. For Roupp, the performance was a welcome return to form after allowing 8 runs on 8 hits and 5 walks during his last outing in Milwaukee. He got himself in and out of trouble in the 1st after a couple of two-out walks and settled in nicely after that. Cubs hitters managed just two singles off of him, limited in part by the soft hands and rangy defense of Willy Adames, Luis Arraez, and Roupp himself. With the speedy PCA at first, Roupp turned a weakly hit bounder that looked to be a surefire productive out into a double play with an aggressive throw that nabbed the lead runner. View LinkOn the other side of the hill, Ben Brown proved to be the wet blanket that always seems to await this offense after an outburst. 19-run feast against Colorado on Sunday, Monday they were scrounging for scraps. After posting 18 runs on 19 hits, the 26 year-old right-hander held the Giants to just a 1st inning single and walk as he pitched into the 6th. But nearing 90 pitches on the day as he tentatively embarked on his third time through the order, Chicago skipper, Craig Counsell, decided he’d rather not see the recently converted starter face Rafael Devers again. The move made somewhat sense on paper — it just didn’t quite work out that way as turned on a 1-2 fastball from Caleb Thielbar and punched it through the headwinds and into the stands. View LinkThe one-run lead didn’t last long. Three pitches into the bottom half of the 6th, Chicago had answered. View LinkCrow-Armstrong teased this outcome when he fouled off the first two pitches of the at-bat. The first, a change-up, had the distance to clear the wall but sailed wide. The second, a cutter, PCA deflected into the screen behind home plate before he shouted a choice monosyllabic word after the follow-through spun him around. He made a meal of his frustration at missing the offering. He tucked his bat under his arm and paced around the plate muttering to himself as he removed his arm padding and tore at his batting gloves. Typically this kind of batter’s box bluster precedes a third strike. The foul ball that just skirts being a home run is almost always a kiss of death. Maybe Roupp bought into that superstition as well. Maybe for PCA it was all an act, pretending to be annoyed and disgruntled and out-of-sorts in order to bait Roupp into another fastball. Roupp walked the next batter, Michael Conforto, who then stole second, giving the Cubs their first at-bats with a runner in scoring position since the 1st and a real chance to take their first lead of the series. They’d have to wait. Roupp locked back in and struck out the next two hitters, but at 98 pitches, Tony Vitello decided to dip into his pen rather than see his starter try to close out the frame — a decision that got him a North Carolinian glare Giants fans and coaches have long been familiar with. Reliever Caleb Kilian loaded the bases with a walk and a single (kept admirably on the infield by Adames) but ultimately got Nico Hoerner to fly out to end the threat, keep the game tied, and close the book on Roupp. View LinkThe score stayed knotted at 1 until the 9th when the Giants scratched another run home after one-out singles from Jung Hoo Lee (his second of the day, hitting streak to 14 games), and Bryce Eldridge (streak to 9 games) before Matt Chapman’s sacrifice fly. Solid situational baseball all around. Lee had a great read on the ball in play and went from first to third on the hit to Seiya Suzuki in right. Speedster Jonah Cox pinch ran for Eldridge and stole second, eliminating the possible inning-ending double play while also putting himself in scoring position. And Chapman stayed back on a center-cut fastball, saw it deep, and made sure he put it in play. If the 2-1 score held, and San Francisco won this game, that sequence at the plate and on the base paths would be the reason why. Looking back on it now, it’s just the inning in which a key runner was stranded at second, in which a clutch hit — in such ample supply yesterday! — didn’t occur. Eric Haase lined a fastball 330 feet with the ball leaving his bat at 104 MPH, but instead of splitting a gap or clearing a wall, it found a defender’s glove. View LinkThe one-run would have to do…and it didn’t. To be clear, Keaton Winn is having a solid year. Few batters get satisfaction from putting one of his pitches in play. The contact is off-barrel, weakly hit, often in the ground. In terms of physicality and stuff, Winn reads as a late-inning reliever — but so far he’s underperformed when thrust into a save situation. His overall ERA is in the mid-2.00, while his ERA in the 9th inning is now 4.50 with a 1.50 WHIP. Opponents are posting a .869 OPS (40 PA) in situations Baseball Reference defines as “high leverage” — and that number doesn’t include today’s results.Here’s today’s result. View LinkWinn got the first two guys out in the 9th before this splitter he banana-ed out over the heart of the plate to PCA, forcing extra innings. Extra innings didn’t go well. Victor Bericoto pinch hit against lefty Ryan Rolison for Drew Gilbert, who has yet to get a hit against a southpaw this season, and logged at an at-bat worthy of Gilbert’s ineffectiveness. Three pitches — he swung at two curveballs well-below the zone before taking a 95 MPH fastball. Without a productive lead-off hitter in the 10th, scoring the Manfred Man from second requires a knock, and San Francisco bats just couldn’t find a way. They had went out and spent all their scoring mojo on Friday and came up skint on Saturday, going 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position. Turning it over to Chicago, the Cubs just needed one batter in the 10th to finish it. Michael Busch singled to right and Bericoto, brought in for his bat, was forced to use his glove, and in his rush to ensure the winning run didn’t score, he booted the ball, ensuring it did. View LinkThe 2026 San Francisco Giants have yet to win four games in a row.

Knoxville Smokies infielder Jefferson Rojas (2) hits the ball during a Minor League baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Birmingham Barons at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tenn., on June 2, 2026. | Angelina Alcantar/ News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The Cubs signed right-hander Andrew Wantz and assigned him to Triple-A Iowa. Iowa CubsThe Iowa Cubs split a doubleheader with the Toledo Mud Hens (Tigers), winning game one 7-5 and losing the second one 8-1.The good news in game one is that Matthew Boyd started and got the win. The bad news is he allowed three home runs over five innings. But as I always say about a rehab appearance, the most important thing is how the player feels afterwards. Both Boyd and Craig Counsell said they expect Boyd’s next start to be with the major league squad. Boyd’s final line was five runs on seven hits over five innings. He struck out five and walked one. Boyd threw 80 pitches and 56 of them were strikes.Tyler Ferguson pitched the other two innings and got the save. Ferguson gave up two hits, but no runs. He struck out three and walked no one.Center fielder Brett Bateman went 3 for 4 with a double and a steal. He scored one run and drove in one.Right fielder Justin Dean was 2 for 3 with a double. He had two RBI and scored two runs. Matt Shaw played this entire game at first base in a rehab stint and was doubled in a run in the third inning. Shaw went 1 for 3 with a walk, one RBI and one run scoredBoyd with a strikeout.Boyd strikes out the first batter he faces! pic.twitter.com/6XaWt8orWi— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) June 6, 2026The hit by Shaw was ruled a double.Matt Shaw doubles home a run! pic.twitter.com/rIaUUbxttw— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) June 6, 2026Two-run double for Dean.Justin Dean extends the lead! pic.twitter.com/xoQ9FrtSpE— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) June 6, 2026Bateman’s RBI double.Can't stop hitting👏 pic.twitter.com/3ZZgN0EPhC— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) June 6, 2026Vince Velazquez gave the I-Cubs a good start in game two, allowing just one run on one hit over three innings. Velazquez walked two, hit one batter and struck out four.Things fell apart when Paul Campbell pitched the final three innings and allowed one run in the fifth, five in the sixth and one more in the seventh. He allowed four home runs in those three innings. Campbell finished with seven runs on eight hits over three innings. He walked one and struck out one.Catcher Eric Yang was 1 for 2 with a walk in game two.Knoxville SmokiesThe Knoxville Smokies were in open rebellion and overthrew the Birmingham Barons (White Sox), 14-5.Tyler Schlaffer started game one and gave up five runs on seven hits over four innings. He walked three and struck out seven.Jace Beck threw the next three innings and got the win. He allowed neither a run nor a hit, but he did walk two batters. Beck struck out three.Tyler Ras was six up, six down over the final two frames in a non-save situation. Ras struck out two.The Smokies hit six home runs in this game. Third baseman Jefferson Rojas connected for two home runs today: solo shots in both the first and seventh innings. Rojas was a perfect 3 for 3 with a double and the two home runs, which were the seventh and eighth of the season for him. Rojas also walked once. He scored three times and drove in three runs.DH Owen Ayers hit a two-run home run in the third inning, his ninth on the year. Ayers went 3 for 4 with a double and the home run. Ayers walked two and struck out two.Left fielder Carter Trice connected for a two-run home run in the fifth inning, also his ninth. Trice went 1 for 3 with a walk.Later on in the fifth inning, center fielder Andy Garriola hit his team-leading 11th home run with two men on. Garriola went 2 for 5 and scored twice.Finally, Edgar Alvarez hit a solo home run in the eighth. It was his sixth on the year. Alvarez went 1 for 4.Catcher Ariel Armas was 4 for 5 with a double and one run scored. Rojas’ first home run was historic for the reasons listed in this post. It was a long home run. SPECIAL DELIVERY TO THE THIRD DECK 💣 Jefferson Rojas becomes the first Smokie in the HISTORY of Covenant Health Park to slam a homer off of the Yardley Flats 😳 pic.twitter.com/X4Ls2Lo7eF— Knoxville Smokies (@smokiesbaseball) June 6, 2026The Carter Trice home run.Covenant Health Park is currently experiencing a homer outbreak 💥 @tricecarter0 leaves the yard for the 9th time this season pic.twitter.com/ZrSFHZdETX— Knoxville Smokies (@smokiesbaseball) June 7, 2026Garriola went to dead center.The home run bug is contagious 😷 Andy Garriola leaves the yard for the 11th time this season to put Knoxville ahead 12-5 pic.twitter.com/rHLefboQmD— Knoxville Smokies (@smokiesbaseball) June 7, 2026The second home run by Rojas may have went even farther.ROJAS FOR THE SECOND TIME TONIGHT LEAVES THE BUILDING!This blast went 422 ft 😱 pic.twitter.com/T6XyHPJc0d— Knoxville Smokies (@smokiesbaseball) June 7, 2026South Bend CubsThe South Bend Cubs incarcerated the Quad Cities River Bandits (Royals), 13-2.Will Sanders pitched the first four innings without allowing a run. Sanders gave up two hits. He walked three and struck out three.JP Wheat just pitched the fifth inning, but he got the win because Sanders didn’t go five. Wheat gave up two hits but no runs. He also did not record a strikeout or a walk.Koen Moreno threw the final four innings for the save. Moreno gave up a two-run home run in the eighth to ruin the shutout, but those were the only runs he allowed. He gave up six hits, but no walks and he struck out six.Center fielder Christian Olivo hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning, his fifth on the year. Olivo was 1 for 4.Three batters later in the fourth, right fielder Josiah Hartshorn homered with the bases empty. It was his ninth home run this year and fourth in just 12 games in High-A. Hartshorn went 3 for 5 with the home run and a two-run double in the first inning, giving him three RBI. Two batters after Hartshorn in the fourth with a man on, left fielder Miguel Useche hit the third South Bend home run of the inning. Useche went 1 for 3 with two walks. He scored twice.Shortstop Ty Southisene was 2 for 5 with a steal. He scored twice.Second baseman Drew Bowser went 2 for 4 with a double and an bases-loaded RBI walk. He also scored once.Hartshorn’s two-run double.Sweet Saturday start!#SBCubspic.twitter.com/0G5WT3BD5f— South Bend Cubs (@SBCubs) June 6, 2026Olivo’s home run.Christian Olivo started the @hoosierlottery home run party with his fifth of the season!#SBCubspic.twitter.com/lITOFzUu3R— South Bend Cubs (@SBCubs) June 7, 2026Hartshorn showing opposite field power.Josiah Hartshorn goes oppo for his fourth @hoosierlottery bomb in two series!#SBCubspic.twitter.com/VXS7gMuUe3— South Bend Cubs (@SBCubs) June 7, 2026Useche’s home run.Miguel Useche has back-to-back games with a @hoosierlottery home run!#SBCubspic.twitter.com/pUs4B7tThD— South Bend Cubs (@SBCubs) June 7, 2026Myrtle Beach PelicansThe Myrtle Beach Pelicans were carried downstream by the Charleston RiverDogs (Rays), 4-2.Dominick Reid pitched the first five innings and allowed two runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out one.Edwardo Melendez closed out the game and got the loss after he gave up two runs on just one hit over three innings. Melendez only walked one, but he also hit two batters while striking out just one. Both runs came in the bottom of the eighth.The Pelicans managed just two hits, both singles. Center fielder Darlyn DeLeon was 1 for 2 with a walk and one run scored.ACL CubsLost to the Giants, 5-3.

The San Antonio Spurs suffered another painful setback against the New York Knicks on Friday night in the NBA Finals. Despite several strong stretches throughout the game, Victor Wembanyama and the young Spurs squad were unable to match the execution, composure, and chemistry displayed by New York’s stars in the closing moments.Stephon Castle Explains Confusion Behind Wembanyama’s Costly Final PlaySan Antonio fought hard to stay within striking distance and nearly pulled off a remarkable comeback, but a critical mistake in the final seconds ultimately proved costly. With an opportunity to put the Spurs in position for a game-winning possession, Wembanyama’s late-game turnover helped seal a heartbreaking 105-104 defeat and gave the Knicks a 2-0 lead in the series.After Jalen Brunson missed a mid-range shot with roughly 13 seconds remaining, Wembanyama rose above everyone to secure a crucial defensive rebound. The Spurs star quickly attempted an outlet pass to Castle.Stephon Castle Breaks Silence on Victor Wembanyama’s Crushing Late Turnover (Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images)However, Castle was already sprinting up the floor and did not realize the pass was coming his way. With his back turned to Wembanyama, the ball struck him from behind and rolled away, resulting in a devastating turnover at the worst possible moment. Following the game, Castle explained what he saw during the sequence and revealed that he never anticipated the immediate pass from Wembanyama.“I was looking at him when he first got the rebound and I just started to take off, trying to give him some space to dribble up the court. I didn’t see him throw it to me,” Castle said.Despite the disappointing finish, Wembanyama delivered another impressive performance. After a relatively quiet opening half, he took over offensively after the break and finished with 29 points on 11-of-21 shooting. He was the driving force behind San Antonio’s fourth-quarter rally from a 14-point deficit and nearly carried his team to an improbable victory.Victor Wembanyama Accepts Full Responsibility for Game-Changing TurnoverWhile the turnover involved both players, Wembanyama refused to place any blame on Castle after the loss. Instead, the Spurs superstar openly accepted responsibility for the mistake after the game.“I threw that one away,” Wembanyama said. “I messed up.The last three possessions are blurry. That’s the whole problem. I need to have more poise, more control over the game. Am I gonna regret it? Yes, of course. Am I gonna use that to fuel me and to fuel us? Absolutely.”Wembanyama also addressed the emotional challenge of recovering from such a crushing defeat.“Personally, I think I could’ve been better in recovering from the high of the Conference Finals, but here we are,” he said. “We can’t change the past now. We’re already focused on Game 3.”Now trailing 0-2 in the series and heading into a hostile environment at Madison Square Garden, the Spurs face an uphill battle. If San Antonio hopes to climb back into the Finals, Wembanyama and the rest of the young roster will need to eliminate costly mistakes in the games ahead.

TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 21, 2026: Eric Hartman #64 of the Atlanta Braves bats during the second inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 21, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images The Braves now have two top 100 position-player prospects in high-A Rome. Eric Hartman continues to hit the cover off the ball with a tantalizing power-hit-speed package as a 19-year-old who was taken in the 20th round of the 2024 draft. That seems like incredible value and frankly incredible luck that the Braves still signed him, as usually those prep players in the last couple rounds can be more backup plans than realistic signing expectations. He is joined by shortstop Tate Southesene who is looking like a complete player and a really savvy pick underslot in the 2025 first round. His underslot signing enabled the signing of Briggs McKenzie, who struck out 8 in his full-season ball debut. Things are looking really promising on the farm right now, with a nice set of draft capital and reportedly a huge international free agent incoming. Braves NewsThe Braves took another series, beating the Pirates 6-3 behind strong offense and a middling Spencer Strider performance. MLB NewsThe Reds are hoping to have star pitcher Hunter Greene back starting games in the majors before the All-Star break. The Twins are bringing Royce Lewis back to the majors, as the former top overall pick has been tearing up triple-A pitching. The Red Sox are reportedly shopping catcher Connor Wong, as they have a surplus at the position.

DENVER (AP) — Milwaukee Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski threw a 103.7 mph pitch Saturday night against the Colorado Rockies, the fastest by a starter since tracking began in 2008.The 24-year-old right-hander's record-setting pitch was low and outside to Kyle Karros in the third inning.Misiorowski has thrown the 12 fastest pitches by a starter. His previous high was 103.4 mph against St. Louis on May 25.He threw 52 pitches 100 mph or faster Saturday night, including a record 45 of at least 101 mph. He allowed just an unearned run while striking out eight in seven innings, lowering his ERA to 1.50.Misiorowski threw a record 57 pitches 100 mph or faster in the May 25 game, including 40 of 101 mph or more.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb