🚨 Lower wages than at Benfica! Mourinho signs for RealThe sparrows had been chirping it from the rooftops for quite some time, and now Benfica have made it official: José Mourinho is returning to Madrid and will be the new old coach of Los Blancos.Re-elected president Florentino Pérez had already announced this spectacular return in the event of an election victory. According to an official statement from Mourinho’s now former club Benfica, Real had to put around 15 million euros on the table to buy the 63-year-old Portuguese coach out of his contract, which was set to run until 2027.Mourinho thus becomes the successor to Àlvaro Arbeloa, who took over the team last season after Alonso was dismissed.What makes Mourinho’s new contract particularly explosive, after having already coached Real between 2010 and 2013: he is reportedly set to earn significantly less than he did at Benfica. Sport Bild reports this, citing information from insider Ramon Alvarez de Mon. According to the report, Real have prepared a two-year contract with an option for a third year.The coach is expected to earn around twelve million euros gross per season. At Benfica, according to Portuguese media, Mourinho earned 16 million euros gross in his first year, and in the second year, which would have started this summer, he would even have received 18 million euros gross. Mourinho himself denied those figures at the time, however.Still, if the information is even close to correct, it means Mourinho is giving up a considerable amount in salary to make this comeback possible.We’re very excited to see whether he can lead Real Madrid back to more regal heights. What do you think? Is the right coach now sitting on the bench in Madrid? Feel free to write it in the comments!This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

Florida baseball is set to have another change to its coaching staff.Assistant coach Taylor Black will be joining NC State’s staff as the recruiting coordinator, according to multiple reports.Black previously worked at NC State from 2014-17 and will be reunited with newly promoted head coach Chris Hart.During his four-year stint with Florida, Black helped the program reach the College World Series twice as a hitting coach and recruiter for both the transfer portal and high school ranks.This past season, UF finished with a 41-21 record and a No. 8 national seed, but the Gators fell short in their own regional.“Honestly, we need to evaluate this because we have to be more consistent all the way around,” said Florida coach O’Sullivan after the Gators were eliminated by Troy. “Offensively, we went through some spurts this year where we were a little inconsistent. At this time of year, we shouldn't be having these issues with the walks and that kind of thing.“I think the inconsistencies, whether it be offensively or pitching-wise, like this weekend, when you're inconsistent, it's very difficult to make consistent decisions.”The departure comes just one week after Florida fired pitching coach David Kopp after five seasons.During the Gainesville Regional, the Gators surrendered 43 runs and 49 hits.UF will now have two staff positions to fill this offseason.Reach Florida Gators writer Andrew Abadie at AAbadie@usatodayco.com or on X (formerly Twitter) at @AndrewAbadie. You can also find him on Facebook at Andrew Abadie Sports Reporter or on Instagram @andrewabadie_sports.This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida baseball assistant Taylor Black to join NC State staff

🚨 BREAKING: José Mourinho makes stunning Real Madrid returnIn one of the most shocking moves of the summer, José Mourinho has officially returned to Real Madrid as head coach.His time in Europe's major leagues appeared to be over after taking positions at Fenerbahçe and Benfica for his most recent jobs but he has now mad a surprise return to the Bernabéu hotseat.Following Alvaro Arbeloa's dismissal at the end of last season, Florentino Pérez announced that he would bring back 'the Special One' if he was successful in his presidential election bid.After securing his status once more, Pérez duly acted upon one of his campaign goals by releasing Mourinho from his contract and bring him back to the Spanish capital.Benfica confirmed on Tuesday that Los Blancos have triggered the €15m release clause in the 63-year-old's existing contract at the Estádio da Luz.During his previous spell in charge from 2010 to 2013, Mourinho won each of Spain's three domestic honours once.

The NCAA’s landmark House settlement agreement has its first major legal attack.Two California football players have filed a class-action lawsuit against the NCAA, the power conferences and the College Sports Commission, claiming those entities created a new enforcement arm whose policies directly contradict state statutes and violate federal antitrust law by illegally price-fixing.USC freshman linebacker Talanoa Ili and Stanford senior quarterback Charlie Mirer are the listed plaintiffs in the case, filed in the U.S. District Court’s Northern District of California on Tuesday. Three attorneys from the firm Berger Montague and one from the firm Freedman Normand Friedland are representing Ili, Mirer and those in the proposed classes, which include thousands of athletes at schools residing in more than a dozen states with statutes protecting their ability to earn an unlimited amount of NIL compensation.The plaintiffs are asking for monetary damages as well as an injunction to suspend the NCAA and College Sports Commission’s enforcement of athlete NIL deals, or else plaintiffs “will continue to suffer suppression of their NIL compensation" within a price-fixing “scheme,” the suit says.The 81-page complaint serves as the most significant outside legal challenge since the NCAA and power leagues agreed to settle three antitrust cases against a class of former and current athletes, most commonly referred to as House. The settlement, approved by a California judge last June, ushered in direct pay from schools to athletes, but only within a capped revenue-share system regulated by a new enforcement arm.The Ili-Mirer lawsuit takes aim not at the settlement itself but the settlement implementation and creation of an enforcement arm, the College Sports Commission and its NIL Go clearinghouse, which illegally, the suit says, prohibits certain athlete compensation contracts and violates statutes in a total of 17 states, including populous states like California, New York, Ohio and Michigan. The suit specifically names as defendants NCAA president Charlie Baker, the four power league commissioners (Jim Phillips, Brett Yormark, Tony Petitti and Greg Sankey) and Bryan Seeley, the CEO of the College Sports Commission, as they knowingly created and are operating an entity against state laws, the filing says.The suit says the defendants participated in a “conspiracy and scheme” by creating CSC policies — enshrined as NCAA rules — that “have direct anticompetitive effects, including the suppression of NIL compensation below competitive levels.”If certified as a class-action, the case stands to dismantle an enforcement structure created through the settlement that gives the CSC authority to reject certain athlete NIL deals. The CSC, created in an effort to eliminate booster-backed athlete pay, is charged with determining whether NIL deals are legitimate by meeting certain thresholds, such as the payor having a “valid business purpose” and the deal falling within a Deloitte-created “range-of-compensation” algorithm.These CSC policies directly contradict many of the state statutes that prohibit conferences and the NCAA from preventing athletes to earn NIL compensation and/or bars those associations from punishing schools for allowing such.However, some may question the complaint’s validity as plaintiff class members chose to release their antitrust claims as part of the settlement agreement and are bound by the federal injunction within the settlement.Only the latest challengeWhile this is the first outside legal challenge against the House settlement, the Ili-Mirer case is the latest attack on college sports’ new enforcement system.The own creators of the College Sports Commission — power league schools themselves — are attempting to circumvent the compensation cap by redirecting school sponsorship money to rosters disguised as NIL agreements. Third-party, non-school NIL payments to athletes through endorsement and commercial deals are not counted against the $20.5 million cap that each school had last year to distribute to athletes — as long as those NIL deals clear the new enforcement process.Several schools have used a built-in arbitration system to challenge the CSC’s decisions over rejected deals, including Nebraska and Georgia, for instance.Another challenge, perhaps the most significant yet, looms.Plaintiff attorneys in the House settlement have filed a claim with the settlement’s magistrate judge accusing the CSC of violating settlement terms with its rigid NIL clearinghouse system. One of the lead plaintiff attorneys, Jeffrey Kessler, will argue in a hearing scheduled for Wednesday that the CSC should not scrutinize deals with school-affiliated businesses, such as corporate sponsors, multimedia rights holders, apparel brands, etc.A win for Kessler ushers in what Seeley has even described as a “turbocharged” environment of schools redirecting sponsorship and booster cash to athletes in a “capless system.”“It’s a really important decision,” he said last month from SEC spring meetings.Separately, the Ili-Mirer case shines another light on a serious situation brewing.As of last month, more than $125 million worth of NIL compensation promised to athletes was under review or had been rejected within the system. As much as 80% of that derives from SEC and Big Ten programs who are arranging for their deep-pocketed boosters and sponsors to funnel NIL cash to rosters in an attempt to circumvent the cap.The issue has driven more of a financial wedge between the two conferences and their brethren, the ACC and Big 12, and may necessitate change within the CSC itself.Play 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world's biggest soccer tournamentIn fact, on Wednesday, the power league commissioners are expected to gather to deeply discuss potential changes, such as exempting a portion of the deals under review if they are within a certain scope of the CSC’s range-of-compensation metric, as well as increasing the de minimis threshold from $2,500 to a larger figure, like $10,000 (i.e.: deals of $10,000 or less would get immediately approved).Last month from his league meetings, Petitti, the Big Ten commissioner, called the situation an “immediate issue” that needs resolving soon with “some small adjustments” before more grander changes come later, such as expanding the revenue-share cap.“Can we collectively make adjustments that we think we need based on what is happening?” Petitti said aloud. “What’s the right way we make sure student-athletes are getting what we want them to get?”All of this has left administrators in an unusual predicament.Many of them — even those outside the big-spending Big Ten and SEC — are actively hoping plaintiff attorneys win this week’s challenge so that millions of third-party NIL dollars that they guaranteed to athletes can pass through the system.“I’m rooting for us to lose,” quipped one ACC athletic director last month.NIL and CongressAccording to the Ili-Mirer lawsuit, the College Sports Commission “undermines prospective lucrative NIL compensation arrangements.”The filing offers an example of such.Mirer, the Stanford quarterback, received NIL compensation from the school’s booster-backed collective in 2023 and 2024, but under CSC rules that limit or eliminate many collective contracts, the QB received no compensation from any collective, nor any direct revenue-share pay from Stanford this past year.“The [CSC agreement] has suppressed, deterred, and effectively terminated the economic relationships that had produced his prior NIL compensation,” the lawsuit says.The CSC enforcement policies violate California’s state NIL law, which prohibits associations from limiting NIL dollars meant for athletes — the crux of the lawsuit.In fact, judge Claudia Wilken approved the settlement under the condition that it explicitly does not preempt state NIL laws. Defendants were aware that congressional action would be “necessary to implement the restrictions” in those states with laws prohibiting such, including California, the lawsuit says. The suit provides evidence of conference commissioners publicly encouraging Congress to codify the settlement and preempt state NIL laws.As it turns out, two U.S. senators introduced bipartisan legislation recently that would codify at least a portion of the settlement by granting legal protection to the CSC to enforce rules while also preempting state laws. Attorneys for the plaintiff are aware of the potential for congressional action.“Should Congress act, it should not do so at the expense of college athletes’ lawful NIL rights,” said Robert Litan, one of the attorneys.Since the bill’s introduction, several factions have emerged against the legislation over it potentially limiting athlete movement and compensation by empowering the NCAA and CSC to enforce their rules with antitrust protection. That includes members of the Congressional Black Caucus, which requested that bill authors Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) suspend action on the legislation, and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), which said the bill goes too far in “protecting” college sports leaders and “limiting” the athletes.For some, the Ili-Mirer suit was an expected and inevitable legal action against an entity, the CSC, that many outsiders believed to be against antitrust law even before its implementation. Though supporters will claim the enforcement arm is protected within the House settlement’s federal injunction, others argued the NIL clearinghouse’s process is arbitrary and at risk of legal challenge.That time has arrived.Yet another legal quagmire amid a turbulent environment, the suit casts more doubt on a House settlement that many thought would deliver stability to the industry, yet has only resulted in “nothing short of a disaster,” Georgia president Jere Morehead told Yahoo Sports last month. “All the assurances from conference lawyers about this settlement solving any of our key issues have not materialized because of the loopholes around so-called third party NIL deals.”Even the settlement’s backpay to athletes is on hold.Tens of millions of dollars are in escrow while an appeal against the settlement is resolved, something that could take several more months.

Pirates fall in the rankings after a disappointing weekend series originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Pittsburgh Pirates have gotten off to a good start this year. Unfortunately, the rest of the teams in the NL Central have also gotten off to a solid start. There is only one team in the division with a losing record, and that is the Cincinnati Reds. So, that puts more pressure on Pittsburgh to stay afloat. Pittsburgh has gotten here with an elite starting rotation and solid offensive production from the offense, but they are coming off a rather poor week. MORE: Pirates' Paul Skenes shares a simple, special gesture with PittsburghPirates fall in the rankings after a disappointing weekend seriesThe Pirates are coming off a week where they played the Houston Astros and then the Atlanta Braves over the weekend. It was a big test that showed Pittsburgh still has some work to do. They were able to take care of the Astros, winning the series 2-1, but it would be a different story against the Braves. Pittsburgh struggled to get anything going, getting swept over the weekend. With this, and the test they have this week, Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter bumped them down a spot from No. 7 to No. 8 in his latest power rankings. "The Pirates played the Braves tough in a three-game series sweep, with one three-run inning in each game proving to be the difference. Now they have another opportunity to show they belong in the serious contender conversation when they welcome the Los Angeles Dodgers to town on Tuesday."Going up against the Braves and then the Dodgers is no laughing matter. It will be interesting to see if this team can bounce back from a sweep, clear their minds, and come out firing against Shohei Ohtani and company. If they can bounce back, they could set themselves up nicely for the rest of the month with a few series against some weaker teams like the Miami Marlins and Colorado Rockies. More MLB news:Diamondbacks slip in the rankings ahead of a brutal road stretchMarlins shake up the power rankings after an impressive weekRangers claim the week's biggest jump as a stellar bullpen leads the wayWhite Sox fall out of the top ten after a frustrating week on the road

Advocacy groups are criticizing a new Tennessee law, House Bill 1665, signed in April by Gov. Bill Lee (R), which prohibits doctors from asking minor patients questions about gender. The law takes effect in October. Advocacy groups say it’s an “unnecessary” attack on the LGBTQ+ community and likely disastrous for children suffering from gender dysphoria. “Everyone should be alarmed by the scale of government control over doctors’ and patients’ speech under this law,” say the Tennessee Equality Project (TEP) and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), in a new report detailing the corrosive effects of the law. Related GOP gov signs “harmful” law creating a state database of trans patients The law requires that medical providers inform parents before doctors ask children “sensitive” gender questions. It also prohibits insurance companies and managed care groups from asking gender-related questions on medical questionnaires. According to TEP and HRC’s report, the law is based on an assertion by its legislative sponsors that “asking minor patients questions about gender identity in clinical settings is upsetting and confuses or influences them into being transgender.” No Democrats voted in favor of the bill. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The report asserts there is no empirical evidence to confirm the bill’s claim that asking minors a “yes/no” question about gender identity is “coercive or causative” of transgender identity. The report also provided data supporting the importance of physicians’ freedom to address gender with their young patients. The report calls the law a form of “medical censorship” that could result in “costly litigation.” “Asking minors objective questions about gender identity is necessary to access developmentally appropriate and life-saving health prevention services. Our report clearly outlines the ways laws that intimidate doctors through medical censorship will lead to more mental distress and even worse health outcomes for transgender, gender diverse and intersex minors,” Bean Chapman, legislative analyst for Equality Project, said in a statement reported by the Tennessee Lookout. “This shameful law will have dire consequences for minors rejected by their families and those whose only access to mental health is with their doctor.” State Rep. Justin Pearson (D), a vocal ally of the LGBTQ+ community, said in debate that the legislation was another in a long line of “homophobic” bills targeting the LGBTQ+ community. Gender dysphoria exists, Pearson said, and added, “To try and put more barriers for doctors to be able to have intentional, meaningful conversations with children who may be experiencing gender dysphoria is wrong.” Denying it undermines existing Tennessee law and policy, the TEP and HRC’s report says. Current Tennessee laws allow physicians to screen LGBTQ+ minors for high-risk behavior, like substance abuse and exposure to sexually transmitted diseases. Those screenings could be prevented under the new law. Existing Tennessee laws also explicitly permit doctors to treat mature minors for specific health conditions without parental permission. The new law conflicts with insurers’ collection of demographic data on patients’ sex and gender that are necessary for payment, accreditation, and quality assurance, public health research, and compliance with existing state and federal laws, the TEP and HRC report says. Transgender, gender nonconforming, and intersex patients are legally protected from medical and insurance discrimination by numerous civil rights laws, the report adds. The new ban on gender questions for minor patients follows Tennessee’s law, upheld by the Supreme Court last year in U.S. v. Skrmetti, that outlaws gender-affirming care for trans youth. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

The Cubs made multiple roster moves before Tuesday’s game against the Rockies.Jameson Taillon left Sunday’s game in the second inning with a hamstring strain. Here’s how that happened [VIDEO]. Your browser does not support the video tag. (insert how much time Taillon is expected to be out)To replace Taillon on the Cubs pitching staff, right-hander Ethan Roberts was recalled from Triple-A Iowa. Roberts had been optioned to Iowa Friday when Edward Cabrera was activated, but that was largely just a numbers game. Roberts has been pretty effective out of the pen this year, posting a 1.96 ERA and 1.091 WHIP in 14 appearances covering 18.1 innings.Also Tuesday, the Cubs activated Matt Shaw from the injured list. He’d been placed on the IL May 22 with what was termed “mid-back tightness.” Shaw was batting .242/.291/.400 in 42 games at the time of the IL placement, and I’m not saying this is cause-and-effect, but the Cubs have gone 5-12, tied for MLB’s worst record, since Shaw last played May 19. Shaw went 4-for-14 with a double in four rehab games at Iowa.To make room for Shaw on the 26-man active roster, outfielder Kevin Alcántara was optioned to Iowa. Alcántara went 1-for-9 with four strikeouts in 12 games for the Cubs, serving mostly as a defensive replacement and pinch-runner.The return of Shaw gives the Cubs a bit of positional flexibility, as Shaw played center field for a couple of games at Iowa and has played in the outfield this year for the Cubs. Shaw and Pedro Ramirez remain as backup infielders.As always, we await developments.

AKRON, OHIO - MAY 24, 2025: Justin Meis #47 of the Altoona Curve throws a pitch during the seventh inning against the Akron RubberDucks at Canal Park on May 24, 2025 in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by George Kubas/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images The Pittsburgh Pirates undoubtedly have issues in their bullpen. The back end, middle relief, and any area not named long relief (thanks to Wilber Dotel), needs help.Less than two months away from the August 3 MLB trading deadline, the Pirates are stuck between a rock and a hard place. They need relievers and are reportedly the most active club pursuing bullpen help, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, but it takes two to make a trade.Some teams may believe they are still in the race, aren’t ready to part with key bullpen arms yet, or have set a price so high that a trade is less likely until closer to the deadline.The Pirates do have one internal option that has been pitching well and is familiar with PNC Park: right-hander Justin Meis.A right-handed reliever in Triple-A Indy, Meis owns a 3.00 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 30 outings this season.Meis, 26, is from Bethel Park and has been in the organization for six years.A 10th-round draft pick of the Pirates in 2021 out of Eastern Michigan, Meis has struck out 27 batters in 30 innings.He owns a career 4.22 ERA over 371.1 innings, with 386 strikeouts and a 1.33 WHIP in 162 games, but has pitched his best the last two seasons. In 42 games in Double-A Altoona last year, Meis recorded a 2.89 ERA in 62.1 innings, posted seven holds, seven saves, and totaled a .213 opponent average. Meis has been even better this season as opponents are only hitting .149 against him, the best of his career. He has walked 16 batters over his 30 innings and throws his fastball in the mid-90s, but does a good job changing speeds.Justin Meis struck out four across 3.0 hitless and scoreless frames. 👏 pic.twitter.com/uMX1u2SSXx— Indianapolis Indians (@indyindians) April 18, 2026A converted starter, Meis has pitched well in a multi-inning relief role. He’s been used to cover multiple frames or just one inning this season and has been especially good of late.Meis totaled a 2.84 ERA in May and has only allowed one run in his last eight outings over 10.1 innings. He has struck out 12 and walked five during that span. The area has done a nice job developing relievers over the last 10 years, with Mason Miller (Bethel Park), David Bednar (Mars), and Isaac Mattson (Erie) reaching the majors.Could Meis join Miller as the next player from Bethel Park to make an impact in a Major League bullpen??It’s time for the Pirates to find out. Call up Meis and give him the opportunity to be an answer to their lingering questions about how to solve the pitching.I talked to Meis in 2021 after being drafted by the Pirates, and what the opportunity means to him.From Bethel to the Bucs, Justin Meis looks to make an impact on his hometown team

The roster overhaul for the Arizona State men's basketball team is nearly complete.New coach Randy Bennett has 14 scholarship players in the fold, one fewer than the maximum allowed. The roster overhaul was not unexpected, especially given the coaching change. Even last season, the last of the Bobby Hurley tenure, there was just one returning player.This year, there are two returning players, although one was out for the entire season with an injury.ASU's transfer portal class received rave reviews, ranking No. 9 overall and first in the Big 12, according to 247Sports.While area basketball fans probably know little about the incoming athletes or Bennett's preferred style of play, just a look at the roster speaks volumes.Our takeaways from Bennett's first assembled roster:This ASU basketball team will be tall, very tallThe Sun Devils might be the biggest team in the country, with three 7-footers and four others who are 6-8 or taller. There is only one player shorter than 6-4, and that will be the likely starting point guard, Joel Foxwell, who is 6-1.The tallest player is 7-3 center Filip Malesevic, a native of Serbia who played for the country's Under-20 team in the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket Tournament.ASU has struggled in recent years when it comes to rebounding and having a presence in the paint. The Sun Devils ranked 306th out of 361 Division 1 programs in rebounding margin. Time will tell if these are just tall players or tall players with a true "physical" presence. To compete in the Big 12, you have to have physicality.It won't be Guard UMuch was made of Hurley's reliance on his guards, which led to the nickname Guard U when some referred to his version of the Sun Devils. Well, Guard U this isn't. Only four of the 14 players on the current roster are listed as guards, and one of those is the lone true freshman coming in out of the high school ranks, JRob Croy.Safe to say, this won't be one of those teams whipping up and down the court and counting on transition points and turning the opponent over. It looks like it will be more of a half-court offense, not necessarily the most exciting style of play to watch.Bennett has one roster spot left, and it should be used by bringing in another guard.Bennett relied on first-hand eye testNot only does Bennett have two newcomers who came with him from Saint Mary's, Paulius Murauskas and Dillan Shaw, but two others are coming from schools that his team played against in the West Coast Conference: Foxwell (Portland) and Emmanuel Innocenti (Gonzaga).In addition, two players are coming over from California Baptist, which was headed by Bennett's assistant, Rick Croy.European influence remainsOther Division I programs have leaned on the foreign market for years, but ASU started doing so only last season. Bennett hasn't been overly reliant on foreign players, but has had at least a few on his rosters previously.Bennett's squad will feature eight players from foreign countries — two from Lithuania, three from Australia, and one each from Italy, Serbia and Venezuela. Most of those have experience in professional leagues, so they're not the typical "freshmen." Some, such as Foxwell, were already in Division I programs before ASU.Most have multiple years of eligibilityYou never know who can become eligible for an extra year, but it looks like 10 of the 14 players have eligibility left AFTER this season. Of course, retaining players is always a challenge in the current landscape of the sport. Maybe Bennett will have better luck than Hurley. It also remains to be seen if the school is willing to make a financial commitment to the program.Still, having players with multiple years left can help build a much-needed foundation. There is a learning curve that comes with having a new mix of players, and if ASU can retain at least a portion of the roster, it would go a long way toward building continuity. Here is a look at the roster:TransfersC Ben Defty (Jr., 7-0, 255, Boston University): Averaged 15.1 points and 6.8 rebounds, earning second-team All-Patriot League honors. Season best of 26 points came against Lehigh.PG Joel Foxwell (So., 6-1, 180, Portland): Averaged 15.6 points and a conference-high 6.5 assists. Shot 39.3% from the field and 31.9% from long distance. Best of 35 points came against Pepperdine.C Nate Garcia (So., 7-0, 250 Cal Baptist): Played 6.2 minutes over 16 games as a true freshman. Broke all-time scoring and rebounding records at Damien (California) HS.PF Jonathan Griman (6-11, 215, Cal Baptist): Started 19 of 31 games last season and averaged 6.1 points and 5.9 rebounds with 0.9 blocks per 23.2 minutes a game. Season high of 12 points came in two games.SF Emmanuel Innocenti (Sr., 6-5, 200, Gonzaga): Averaged 6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.7 assists, and is noted for his defense. Played in 66 games in two seasons at Gonzaga, starting in 29 the past season.PF Paulius Murauskas (Sr., 6-8, 220, Saint Mary's): A two-time first-team All-WAC selection. The Lithuanian averaged 18.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. Played two years at Saint Mary's but spent his freshman season at Arizona.SF Dillan Shaw (So., 6-6, 175, Saint Mary's): Averaged 7.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists, earning All-Freshman WAC honors. Shot 41.6% from long distance in 125 attempts. Made at least two 3-pointers in 14 games.SF Marcus Vaughns (Fr., 6-8, 221, LSU): An Australian product out of NBA Global Academy. Listed as the No. 171 overall prospect and No. 4 prospect out of Australia. Enrolled at LSU in January but never played there. Father Brian played at UC Santa Barbara.Returning playersG Bryce Ford (Sr., 6-4, 190): Will be his second season in Tempe for the Pinnacle High product. Averaged 6.9 points, starting in 20 of his 27 games, but was slowed for most of it by a hip injury that required surgery. Season best of 20 points came in a win over Hawaii.SF Vijay Wallace (Jr., 6-5, 180): Was expected to contend for a starting spot but was sidelined with a broken leg in an exhibition game against Texas A&M. Before that, he averaged 15.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists at Triton College, a community college in the Chicago area.High school recruitsG JRob Croy (6-5, Riverside Poly HS, California): Led Poly to a Division II CIF regional semifinal berth as a senior. On the AAU circuit, he helped lead Team CPSA to the 2025 Puma Pro16 17U League title, averaging 13.5 points and six assists per game while shooting 39 percent from three.EuropeansF Ajak Nyuon (6-10, 195, Center of Excellence, Australia): Nyuon is in the Australian national program, which includes ASU associate head coach David Patrick as one of its assistants. Nyuon averaged 2.3 points and 1.7 rebounds playing for the national U19 team at last year's World Cup.C Filip Malesevic (7-3, 220, KK Dynamic, Serbia): Averaged 10.2 points and 9.4 rebounds for the 12th-place team out of 16 in the Basketball League of Serbia, a top-flight professional league in the country. Malesevic was a backup center who averaged 2.9 points and 3.3 rebounds in 8.4 minutes for Serbia's U20 team in the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket Tournament.G Jokubas Rudaitis (6-6, Zalgaris Kaunas II Club, Lithuania): Averaged 12.9 points (shooting 44%), 7.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game last season for his club team in Lithuania and five points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists at the FIBA U20 EuroBasket event.This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Takeaways as Bennett has his first ASU roster nearly finalized

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 08: Collin Price #37 and Bryan Abreu #52 of the Houston Astros celebrate after the 5-4 win against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 08, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images Finally getting healthier, the Houston Astros have won 3 of 4 and 11 of 17. Jeremy Pena is hitting .307 since returning from injury May 18, with 3 doubles, 3 HR, 12 RBI and 4 SB.Josh Hader has struck out 7 of the 10 batters he has faced in his 3 innings since returning from the IL, and has not allowed a hit or a run. Jose Altuve has also returned from injury, much sooner than anticipated. He scored the game winning run on Monday night tagging up on a pop-up caught by the Angels second baseman in shallow centerfield. His sprint speed was clocked at over 29 ft/sec, incredibly fast for anyone, let alone a player of Altuve’s age.Monday night, Bryan Abreu may have finally found his fastball. He threw three straight heaters to Jo Adell at 97 MPH for a 3 pitch strikeout. Hunter Brown has pitched brilliantly in his rehab starts, and has one more rehab start scheduled before likely being activated. Cristian Javier will make his second rehab start tonight for Sugar Land after making his first last week for Corpus Christi. Yainer Diaz is starting his rehab assignment with Sugar Land this evening as well. Houston is playing better, getting better pitching, and getting healthier as they try to get back over .500 and solidify their place in the playoff race.The Astros play a total of 27 games in the month of June, and are currently 4-3.How many games do you think the Astros will win in total for the month of June?Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Astros fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.Please take our survey

SAN ANTONIO, TX - OCTOBER 08: Lamont Roach speaks during a press conference ahead of his fight with Isaac Cruz at Frost Bank Center on October 8, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images Lamont Roach talks to Fight Hub TV about his upcoming fight against William Zepeda on Aug. 1, which comes on the heels of a draw with Pitbull Cruz. Here, Roach talks about why he’s fighting Zepeda and how he compares him to his last opponent, wanting to fight Shakur Stevenson, Keyshawn Davis and more. Check out some excerpts from him below. Roach on how he assesses Zepeda compared to Pitbull“I think Zepeda brings a whole different dynamic. He throws a lot more punches, and in some aspects they’re kind of similar because Pitbull is not known to take a step backwards…We’ll see how Zepeda is able to take what I bring to the table as far as IQ, as far as punching power, as far as my pressure…He presents more speed, he presents more foot pressure, and the things that he does different from Pitbull it [makes] them different fighters.”On his interest in fighting O’Shaquie Foster“Obviously it can happen. Some business got in the way of us fighting before and it’s really easy for him to make that fight, all he has to do is say he wants to move up, he’ll be the mandatory. So for everybody listening, just know that’s all he has to do, literally.”On his thoughts about Keyshawn Davis“Potential foe and that’s not off of the table…I already had Zepeda on the line, basically, and that was the route we chose. So we were lining up to fight Zepeda anyway. [Keyshawn] called me out and we talked…It’s nothing wrong with calling out, you don’t have to see it as disrespect. “A matchup with him would be great, but as you can see, he’s huge. He’s big. And he’s going up to ‘47 so I wouldn’t fight him at ‘47. I’d fight him at ‘40 but I wouldn’t fight him at ‘47. I’m a 35-pounder.”On targeting Shakur Stevenson“Absolutely…Skill for skill he knows we are compatible and he knows that a fight with us would be one of the best fights, especially for the 135 pound division…Obviously he has a lot on his plate so he can go whatever direction he wants but if he chooses to buckle down and say let’s do it, we are going to be ready.”

Wait until you see the "after" photos! READ MORE...

NEW YORK — Rarely has an all-time great — and we believe Victor Wembanyama has a chance to be one — been in the position that the San Antonio Spurs center found himself in between Games 2 and 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals: down 2-0 after a pair of home games.Where he is now, though, trailing, 2-1, is quite familiar for a young superstar, and if history is any indication, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about Wembanyama's Spurs.Only twice before has anyone fallen behind 2-0 at home in the championship series. Shaquille O'Neal's Orlando Magic dropped the first two games to the Houston Rockets and were promptly swept from the 1995 NBA Finals, while Charles Barkley's Phoenix Suns lost the opening two games of the 1993 NBA Finals, only to win Game 3 on the road, as the Spurs did against the New York Knicks on Monday. Barkley's Suns pushed the best-of-seven set to six games but were ultimately defeated by Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls.Neither O'Neal nor Barkley were the best player in their series. Those distinctions belonged to Hakeem Olajuwon and Jordan by a wide margin. As good as Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns have been for the Knicks, I think we can pretty comfortably say that Wembanyama — the 22-year-old phenomenon — is the best player in this series."I tell the guys it's a seven-game series for a reason," said Knicks coach Mike Brown on Monday. "They are a great team. They are well-coached. They have an iconic player. It's not going to be easy. We have to keep trying to take one game, one possession at a time."Which is why it was so surprising to see Wemby's Spurs fall behind Brown's Knicks 2-0.Arguably, only six other times in NBA history has the best player in a series, making his first Finals appearance, fallen behind 2-0 (home or road). Has history taught us anything? It informs us Wembanyama, as the best player in this series, has a shot to flip the script.And the Knicks understand that."We've consistently talked to each other about everything being 0-0," said Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson, removing momentum from this equation. "Even now, it's 0-0."Best to treat it that way, for fear of losing his grip on this series.Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts during the second quarter against the New York Knicks in Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 08, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)Dustin Satloff via Getty Images2024: Boston Celtics 4, Dallas Mavericks 1Luka Dončić's Mavericks lost the first two games of the 2024 NBA Finals to the Celtics on the road, lost Game 3 at home, avoided the sweep in Game 4 and lost the series 4-1. Which is why San Antonio's Game 3 win was so vital. A 3-0 hole is a lot different than 2-1.Was Dončić the best player in those Finals? Debatable. He certainly didn't play like it. Both Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum outperformed the ex-Mavs superstar in the series.Could Brunson and Towns do the same? Sure, they could. But Wembanyama is averaging 29 points (on 47/32/83 shooting splits), 9.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 3.3 blocks and 1.7 steals so far in this set. To topple him, the Knicks must be the better team, and they may be that.It would be hard to say the Knicks didn't have momentum through Game 2 of this series, winning 13 straight — the second-longest streak in playoff history — but if we recognize that, we must also acknowledge that Wembanyama halted said momentum on Monday.Can the Spurs carry the momentum forward into Wednesday's Game 4?"You can feel a certain way about it," said Spurs reserve center Luke Kornet, a component of Boston's 2024 championship team (as well as a member of the Celtics team that lost in the 2022 NBA Finals). "I think there's something to just progressing in terms of how you want to play against teams. That can kind of play out. But, frankly, every single game is just an individual one. It's kind of like the 0-0 thing, but every team, you feel this emotional up and down, regardless of the result, and then really all that matters is how you perform the next 48 minutes, and that can be a completely different thing from game to game."2021: Milwaukee Bucks 4, Phoenix Suns 2Giannis Antetokounmpo's Bucks dropped the first two games of the 2021 NBA Finals to the Suns on the road, won Games 3 and 4 at home and rolled to a six-game series victory.Antetokounmpo was absolutely the best player in a series that featured Devin Booker, Chris Paul, Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges (now on the Knicks) as the stars of the Suns."I just remember losing four straight. That's what I remember out of that," said Bridges, who has shared his experience from those 2021 Finals with teammates. "Yeah, they all know, too, and they all understand as well, knowing the series is far from over. Got to keep playing desperate and be the more desperate team. But we do a great job and we understand that after every game, no matter what, it's always 0-0 at the end of the day."2007: San Antonio Spurs 4, Cleveland Cavaliers 0LeBron James' Cavaliers dropped the first two games of the 2007 NBA Finals to the Spurs on the road, and then lost Games 3 and 4 at home, getting swept from the series.While James ended up the tilt's best player, he was only 22 years old, playing in his fourth season and second playoffs. He carried an ill-equipped team to the Finals, where he met Tim Duncan — one of the 10 greatest players ever and the steward of five championships.But wait! Wembanyama is only 22 years old, playing in his third season and first playoffs. That is true. Yet, again, as good as Brunson and Towns have been, neither is Duncan, and these Knicks are hardly those Spurs — a dynasty in full bloom. Actually, these two teams, New York and San Antonio, are about as even as it gets through three games of a Finals.Which is why the best player in the series matters. He almost always wins, especially if the teams are evenly matched. Dirk Nowitzki's Mavericks, who beat James' Miami Heat in 2011, and Chauncey Billups' Detroit Pistons, who bested Shaquille O'Neal's Los Angeles Lakers in 2004, are a couple of exceptions from the past quarter-century — not the rule.1995: Houston Rockets 4, Orlando Magic 0Speaking of O'Neal, his Magic, like James' Cavs, failed to win a single game against the Rockets in the 1995 NBA Finals. He, too, was 22 years old, playing in his second playoffs.We can debate whether O'Neal or Houston's Olajuwon — both top-15 players in the sport's history — are the better player, but at the time they met in a championship series two decades ago Olajuwon was in his prime, working on his second straight title.There aren't many comparisons here, either, because Wembanyama has already done what James and O'Neal could not at the age of 22 — make a series of it in his first Finals.1977: Portland Trail Blazers 4, Philadelphia 76ers 2Bill Walton's Blazers from 1977 are actually the closest facsimile to this year's Spurs. They are also the only team younger than the Spurs to reach the NBA Finals. They, too, fell into a 2-0 hole, albeit on the road, and then they won their next four games to take the crown.It was thanks to Walton, 24 years old then, playing in his third season and first playoffs, who proved with each passing game that he — not Julius Erving — was, in fact, the best player in the series. Walton averaged a 19-19-5 with 3.7 blocks per game, capturing Finals MVP, before embarking upon a regular-season MVP campaign the next season at age 23.It is not difficult to draw comparisons between Wembanyama and Walton, who, before injuries derailed his career, was another one-of-a-kind big man. He could score. He could defend. He could pass better than anyone on planet Earth (or beyond). His skill-set was different than the Frenchman, but the impact so soon into his career was just the same.And that should concern the Knicks. The only other two times the best player in the series snatched a Game 3 win from the jaws of a 2-0 hole, when Antetokounmpo faced the Suns and Walton played the Sixers, he went on to win the series and Finals MVP.1964: Boston Celtics 4, San Francisco Warriors 1Wilt Chamberlain's Warriors won only Game 3 (at home) in a five-game 1964 NBA Finals against, you guessed it, Bill Russell's Celtics. We can argue all day about who was better, Chamberlain or Russell, and we have, but at the very least we have to accept them as equals, and Russell's Celtics were deeper and better (or at least they were this season).And maybe the Knicks are deeper and better.But it pays to have the best player. Ask the Golden State Warriors, who watched James erase a 3-1 deficit — one of five times (2021, 2016, 2006, 1977, 1969) a team has come back from a two-game hole in the Finals — to lead his Cavs to a championship, even against a team as talented as those 73-win Warriors, even against a player as great as Steph Curry.For his part, though, Spurs forward Harrison Barnes, also a member of those '16 Warriors, still does not believe in momentum, or at least the idea that his team gained control of it."I don't think there's momentum in a series," said Barnes, a 14-year vet. "When you look at the last three games, we've had leads. Two of the times we haven't been able to maintain it. So, I think for us it's just a matter of, we know them very well, they know us very well, and we're going to go out there each game, and each game has taken on a life of its own."Through Wembanyama, then, all things can be done, even a comeback."We will see," said Wemby. "But my bet would be yes, it's possible."

The Brooklyn Nets have a little over two weeks before they have to decide who they will be taking with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft on Jun. 23. Brooklyn has been linked to various players over the course of the pre-draft process and while all of the players are talented in their own right, two of them will seemingly be competing against each other."I haven't had any of these group workouts, but I'll be having a couple soon. I'm going to Brooklyn in a couple days," New Zealand Breakers forward Karim Lopez said in a recent interview with Kevin O'Connor of Yahoo! Sports. Lopez is considered one of the players that could be taken in the Lottery, but it's possible that he's held in higher regard given what some of his future workouts are going to look like."I'm going up against Nate Ament, I think that's who's going to be in that workout. I'm super excited for that. I feel like it's going to be a good one, I'm excited for that," Lopez continued. Tennessee forward Nate Ament is another player that has been linked to the Nets up to this point in the pre-draft calendar so this workout could be Brooklyn trying to see which player they prefer depending on the workout.Lopez, 19, has not only played for the Breakers of Australia's National Basketball League (NBL), but he has also represented his native Mexico in FIBA and Olympic competition. During his 2025-26 season with the Breakers, Lopez averaged 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game while shooting 50.2% from the field and 32.6% from behind the three-point line."He would be a good fit for teams that have available roles and see a valuable archetype with Lopez's potential to provide physicality at the 4, spot-up shooting and ball-screen playmaking," Jonathan Wasserman wrote of Lopez in his latest mock draft for Bleacher Report. Lopez is likely one of the players in consideration for the Nets with the No. 6 pick, but this upcoming workout could determine how interested Brooklyn is in his future.This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets to work out 2026 NBA Draft picks Karim Lopez, Nate Ament together

The New York Jets made a surprising selection during the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft when they traded up to select Clemson QB Cade Klubnik.Most draft analysts didn’t have him with a fourth-round grade, but the Jets chose to be aggressive to avoid another team potentially selecting Klubnik as they view him as an integral part of the team’s future.Klubnik's stats over his final two seasons at Clemson was polarizing to say the least. Last year, he threw for just under 3,000 yards and only 16 touchdowns to go along with six interceptions. He did add four touchdowns on the ground, but his stats are a bit misleading. Not exactly impressive stats to warrant a trade up to select him, especially when the Jets had plenty of areas on the roster that needed to be fixed. Klubnik did deal with injuries for most of last season as well as a weaker team in regards to talent compared to his 2024 season at Clemson.It’s fair to say the Jets are hoping they get the Klubnik that threw for 3,639 yards, 36 touchdowns and added seven rushing touchdowns as well in 2024. Had he entered the 2025 NFL Draft, many analysts had him graded out as a potential first-round pick. But, he opted to stay at Clemson for another season and his draft status suffered. The Jets fell in love with him during the pre-draft process and barring any additions to the quarterback room, Klubnik is currently QB2 on the team’s depth chart.But is this the right move for a team that desperately needs to show major improvement and for a head coach that desperately needs to keep his job? Geno Smith will be the Jets' starting quarterback when they open the season against the Tennessee Titans. What happens if Smith gets injured early in the season? This was exactly the situation that burned the organization at the beginning of the 2023 season when QB Aaron Rodgers tore his achilles tendon four plays into opening night against the Buffalo Bills. The Jets didn't add a veteran to back up Rodgers and were forced to play Zach Wilson, who was coming off a brutal 2022 season and not nearly ready to be a leader for the team.It’s unknown if the Jets plan to add a veteran quarterback and could wait until the preseason once final roster cuts are made. But, Klubnik has the advantage for a few reasons. First, he was selected in the fourth-round and on top of that, the Jets traded two of their three picks in that round to select him. You don’t waste an early Day 3 pick on a quarterback if you don’t think he has potential to be the eventual starter. Second, the current depth chart for the Jets is currently not threatening to Klubnik’s position. Jets fans saw enough of QB Brady Cook last year to know he isn’t the answer. And while they did sign Bailey Zappe, who is technically a veteran, he’s bounced around from practice squads in Cleveland as well as Kansas City and hasn’t started a game since January 2, 2025, while with the Browns.It’s fine for the Jets to be excited about Klubnik’s ability. He’s a dual-threat quarterback who can hurt teams through the air and on the ground. He has the size that Frank Reich loves in his quarterbacks, standing 6’2 and weighing 210 lbs. He comes off very likeable during OTA’s and has a great attitude. The Jets beat writers have definitely started the hype train around Klubnik, talking him up as a potential steal of the draft and his impressive performance during team workouts, even though those don’t carry much weight this early in the offseason.But, it wouldn’t be fair to throw Klubnik out to the wolves should something happen to Smith that forces him to miss time. That's exactly what happened to Smith during his first run in New York when he was drafted in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft.Rex Ryan inexplicably left his starting quarterback, Mark Sanchez, in to play the fourth quarter of a meaningless preseason game against the New York Giants. Sanchez played behind a fourth-string offensive line, hurt his shoulder being taken down on a sack and was lost for the season. Smith was the backup after the Jets did not bring in a veteran and while he had his moments, it was clear that Geno was not ready to be a starter and it hurt his overall development with the team.The best move the Jets can make for Klubnik is to bring in another veteran to back up Smith. This is a Jets team coming off a solid offseason both in free agency and the draft. They added playmakers on both sides of the ball and locked up a key piece to their offense, Breece Hall, on a new three-year contract. It would be a massive amount of pressure for a rookie quarterback to be thrown into the fire on a season where there is plenty at stake for the head coach. If Klubnik fails, it could really damage his confidence, and he may not recover to play a role in the team’s future.The free agent quarterbacks left are nothing special. Russell Wilson recently joined the crew at CBS Sports' The NFL Today and while he hasn't officially retired, he's not considered a serious option. Cooper Rush is probably the best option at this moment, which isn't saying much. The trade market might be a better option and the cost will probably be a late draft pick as teams try to finalize their rosters. Among the names the Jets have been linked to include Tennessee’s Will Levis, Philadelphia’s Tanner McKee and, most recently, Pittsburgh’s Mason Rudolph.Aaron Glenn can ill afford to take any unnecessary risks with a key position on the team. While Geno Smith is an improvement over last year’s starter, Justin Fields, he’ll be 36 years old in October, and anything can happen at any given moment when the games are played on Sunday. It’s important that he brings in a veteran as Geno’s backup and allows Klubnik to sit and learn as a rookie. In a season where the Jets and Glenn have literally zero margin for error, it’s important to have a backup plan that has the experience to navigate tough waters and lead the team when the starter goes down. While Cade Klubnik could be an exciting player to watch down the road, he's an unknown commodity. The best decision for Klubnik is to bring him along slowly and let him learn from the sidelines before taking another step in his development in 2027.This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Should Jets sign vet to replace Cade Klubnik, Bailey Zappe at backup QB?

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in FSU fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.Over the last year, Florida State fans have been through the wringer.From early tournament exits from both baseball and softball to another losing football season, it’s been rough, with the only saving grace being FSU soccer’s national championship.As we fully head into the offseason, we wanted to gauge the current state of the fanbase through three simple questions:1. How are you feeling as an FSU fan these days?Optimistic that good things are comingFrustrated but still investedDiscouraged, have felt interest dwindleApathetic, not invested2. How would you describe the current direction of FSU athletics?Figuring itself out with upward trajectoryConcerning, but not irreversibleStuck in place with no clear planIn decline, headed the wrong way3. Is FSU capable of competing in the current era of college athletics?YesNoVote in the poll, expand on your answers in the comment section and we’ll have the results for you later this week.Please take our survey

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Milwaukee Brewers left-handed reliever Brian Fitzpatrick is seeking a second opinion after being diagnosed with a partial proximal sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow.Fitzpatrick got injured while throwing a warmup pitch Friday night in a 9-7 victory at Colorado after getting called up from Triple-A Nashville earlier in the day.The Brewers offered an update on Fitzpatrick’s situation before their Tuesday night game with the Athletics in Las Vegas.Fitzpatrick had thrown a scoreless sixth inning in the Friday game at Colorado. He went back out for the seventh inning and got hurt during a warmup pitch.The 26-year-old Fitzpatrick has gone 0-0 with a 1.35 ERA in five appearances with Milwaukee. He is 3-1 with a 1.13 ERA and one save in 15 games with Nashville.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Dermatologists say bemotrizinol offers advantages over other compounds in sunscreens currently on the market.

Cal Raleigh hit a grand slam in his rehab assignment with the Tacoma Rainiers on Tuesday, a positive sign for his planned return to the Seattle Mariners from a stint on the injured list and a slow start to his season.Raleigh dug out a low breaking ball on the inside corner and launched it over the right-field wall with the bases loaded in the fifth inning of a 15-3 win over the Albuquerque Isotopes.The bases-clearing blast was a welcome sight for the reigning MLB home run champion, who was struggling at the plate long before an oblique strain sent him to the injured list on May 14.Play 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world's biggest soccer tournamentThe stint on the injured list is the first of Raleigh's career. He started rehabbing in live games Sunday with High-A Everett and went 1 for 3 with a single. He joined the Triple-A Rainiers for Tuesday's game and delivered for the fans who showed up to watch the slugging Mariners All-Star.The Mariners are hoping it's a sign of things to come when makes his return to the big-league club. Per MLB.com, Raleigh is expected to return to the Mariners on June 16 for a homestand against the Baltimore Orioles, barring any setbacks.Raleigh led the majors with 60 home runs, topping Kyle Schwarber, Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge in a thrilling home run race. Raleigh's breakout helped the Mariners to the AL West crown and a trip to the ALCS.His start to the 2026 season has been one of the most disappointing in baseball. In 41 games before landing on the IL, Raleigh was slugging .161/243/.317 with 7 home runs and 18 RBI. His slump including an 0-for-38 streak at the plate.Despite Raleigh's struggles and his absence from the lineup since mid-May, the Mariners entered Tuesday in first place in the AL West at 35-32, two games ahead of the Texas Rangers. A return to anywhere close to form for Raleigh would be of immense help for the Mariners in what's shaping up as another tight race for the AL West crown.

NEW YORK — After Francisco Alvarez tore his meniscus in his right knee on May 12, the expectation was that the Mets catcher would be out between six to eight weeks.Less than a month later, Alvarez is back in the Mets' lineup, well ahead of schedule.Alvarez is back behind the plate, batting ninth in the Mets' batting order as they open a three-game series against the Cardinals at 7:10 p.m. on Tuesday night at Citi Field."The trainers deserve all the credit," Alvarez said through an interpreter. "Right when I had my stitches, they told me to get a bunch of recovery work in, and I think that was able to expedite the process and we were able to work."Carlos Mendoza said that it will be the Mets' job to manage Alvarez's workload shortly after his return. Alvarez will catch, serve as designated hitter and have off days to continue to keep Luis Torrens in the fold, as well.Freddy Peralta will be throwing the ball to Alvarez on Tuesday night. Peralta enters with a 4-4 record and 3.63 ERA and on the heels of a quality outing of six innings with one earned run allowed against the Mariners last time out.Dustin May (3-6, 4.59) will be on the other side for the Cardinals, making his 13th start of the season.Follow along for our updates and analysis as the Mets and Cardinals open their three-game series on Tuesday night:Kodai Senga scratched from rehab startKodai Senga was expected to make his fourth rehab start on the way back from lumbar spine inflammation when another malady popped up this week.Senga was scratched from Tuesday's start with Double-A Binghamton as he deals with ulnar nerve irritation in his right arm. The Mets right-hander said that the issue came up in the midst of him working on mechanics in between starts but popped up a day after he didn't throw."Obviously the performance hasn't been great on the field and practicing a little bit more," Senga said through an interpreter. "With that comes a little more fatigue and I got some treatment and the treatment effects were a little bit greater than I anticipated and became a little bit more loose so that caused the nerve sensations."Senga is considered day-to-day and the Mets do not believe he needs to be shut down. He played catch off the mound on Tuesday and could make a rehab start later in the week. In three rehab starts between Single-A St. Lucie and Triple-A Syracuse, Senga has allowed seven earned runs on 14 hits, five walks and three hit batters in 12 innings."If we continue to stack together good days and feel like I'm prepared, I don't think getting back into a game is too far away," Senga said. "Obviously, being healthy is important and so is performance, so continuing to strive for that, putting those together to get back on the field."What time is NY Mets vs Cardinals game today?Time: 7:10 p.m.What channel is NY Mets vs Cardinals today?TV: SNYHow to stream NY Mets vs Cardinals game todayStreaming: MLB.TVNY Mets, Cardinals starting pitchers todayMets: Freddy Peralta (4-4, 3.63 ERA)Cardinals: Dustin May (3-6, 4.59)This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Mets vs Cardinals live score, updates and highlights today

The Brendan Sorsby case will culminate in a trial. Eventually.Via Mark Schlabach of ESPN, the trial has been set for February 8, 2027. Given that this date lands beyond the upcoming college football season, the preliminary order allowing Sorsby to play pending trial will keep him on the field for the full 2026 campaign — minus the two-game suspension the order applied.The only way to change that will be for the NCAA to win a reversal on appeal before or during the 2026 season. That depends on how quickly the appeal will proceed.Attorney Christopher Kratovil, who practices law in Texas, predicts that the appeal will take 9-12 months. Which means that it won't be resolved before the trial of the case happens.There should be a better way to get issues like this resolved. The NCAA wants to have it done before football season. Sorsby needs to have it done by June 22, when the deadline arrives for entering the 2026 supplemental draft.There's a chance neither deadline will be met. Which will make Sorsby eligible for the 2026 season.Both sides would benefit from a more expedient process. And, again, a unionized setting would include an arbitration process that would activate when required and provide a resolution when needed.That's how easy it would be. No more judge shopping. No more administrative delays. No more perception of unfairness. The NCAA and the players' union would jointly appoint and jointly compensate the arbitrator. And everyone would have a final and fair answer, quickly.

Few athletes in sports today command attention quite like Caitlin Clark, and Just Fresh Kicks on X broke some exciting news if you are a fan of the WNBA, Clark, or sneakers. On Tuesday afternoon, it was announced that Clark will officially debut her first signature basketball shoe in partnership with Nike.Whether she’s lighting up opponents on the basketball court, speaking with reporters, attending major sporting events, or making public appearances, Clark has become one of the most recognizable faces in American sports. The WNBA superstar has helped elevate women’s basketball to new heights, and now she’s adding another major milestone to her growing legacy.MORE: Caitlin Clark’s stance on her on-court behavior is extremely clearThe “Caitlin 1” Is Finally HereIndiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22). During the first half of an WNBA basketball game against the Seattle Storm, Sunday, May 17, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.The highly anticipated shoe will be called the “Caitlin 1”. It represents a significant moment not only for Clark but also for women’s basketball as a whole. Signature shoes have long been reserved for the biggest stars in the sport, and Clark’s arrival into that exclusive group is a reflection of her enormous impact both on and off the court.The announcement immediately generated excitement among fans, many of whom have been eagerly waiting for details surrounding Clark’s first signature sneaker since she signed with Nike. With her popularity continuing to soar, demand is expected to be extremely high when the shoe officially launches.Clark Promises Unique TechnologyOne of the most intriguing aspects of the announcement came from Clark herself. According to the WNBA star, the shoe will feature technology that has never before appeared in a Nike basketball sneaker. “The technology we’re putting into my shoe isn’t anything Nike has ever put into a basketball shoe before,” Clark said.That statement has already sparked curiosity throughout the basketball world, with fans eager to learn exactly what innovations Nike and Clark have developed for the new release. If the product lives up to the hype, it could become one of the most talked-about basketball shoes of the year.Another Major Achievement For The WNBA StarIndiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22). Celebrating a 3-pointer Friday, May 15, 2026, during the second half of a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Washington Mystics defeated the Indiana Fever in overtime, 104-102.The Caitlin 1 will officially become available to the public on September 29, 2026. For Clark, the release represents another significant accomplishment in a career that continues to break barriers. Her influence extends far beyond basketball games, and the creation of a signature shoe further solidifies her status as one of the most marketable athletes in sports.As anticipation builds toward the launch date, one thing remains clear: wherever Caitlin Clark goes, attention follows. The debut of the Caitlin 1 is likely to be no exception.— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —

2026 NBA Finals Game Two at Frost Bank Center on June 5, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)The NBA Finals are on a ratings roll, with Friday’s game becoming ABC’s most-watched Game 2 since 2018.As the New Yorks Knicks achieved a 105-104 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, Game 2 scored 16.43 million viewers, according to Nielsen big data plus panel figures.Viewership for the game, which peaked with 19.42 million viewers at 11:15 p.m. ET, was up 88% from last year’s Game 2.More to come …The post NBA Finals Game 2 Notches Over 16 Million Viewers, ABC’s Most-Watched Since 2018 appeared first on TheWrap.

The Cleveland Clinic of Ohio will direct $2 million to provide no-cost detransition healthcare services for the minuscule number of trans people who detransition, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced last Friday. Though the hospital already provided detransition care, its publicized pledge makes it the second major health system in the nation to make such an agreement, following a similar settlement made last month by Texas Children’s Hospital. The settlements are just the latest results of the current administration’s never-ending crusade against trans people and gender-affirming care. The leader of an Ohio trans advocacy organization criticized the Cleveland Clinic for participating in the “bigoted” “farce” that capitulates to the administration’s “cruelty and anti-trans hate.” Related GOP gov signs “harmful” law creating a state database of trans patients The settlement requires the hospital to continue refusing gender-affirming care for minors for the next 20 years (even though such care is already banned by state law), and to provide detransitional medical care such as hormonal balancing, surgical reconstruction, fertility restoration, and psychological support, as well as insurance coordination, The Hill reported. The hospital must also publicize its detransition services with a dedicated website, phone number, care coordinator, and direct outreach to three entities that provide non-medical services to people seeking detransition. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The hospital will “provide essential medical care for individuals living with the harmful consequences of such misguided medical interventions performed on them as children and adolescents,” the DOJ said in a statement. Despite the DOJ’s claims, almost all major medical and psychological associations suggest gender-affirming care for youth as a best practice for maintaining their overall well-being. The statement didn’t mention that that 97% of trans youth don’t regret transitioning, even a decade after receiving such care, and that only 1% of trans teens detransition. The DOJ noted that the settlement also requires the hospital to pay $308,000 to resolve allegations that it had falsely billed insurance agencies for childhood gender-affirming care services by passing them off as treatments for endocrine disorders. “These historic commitments pair the cessation of these dangerous practices masquerading as medical treatment with substantial investments in remediating the destruction they cause and restoring the health of the victims,” the DOJ wrote. Dara Adkison, executive director of TransOhio (who identifies as a nonbinary genderqueer trans-masculine person), said in a statement to The Hill, “Cleveland Clinic, once a highly respected medical institution, continues to show that maintaining medical integrity is no longer their priority by jumping to the front of the line to comply not with science and medicine, but with cruelty and anti-trans hate.” “Detransition services were always a part of gender affirming care,” Adkison added, [and] there continues to be no increased need, and it is a bigoted, sad performative farce the Clinic is choosing to promote.” In May, Texas Attorney General and U.S. Senate candidate Ken Paxton (R) reached a similar settlement with Texas Children’s Hospital, which had a clinic for trans youth. Paxton and the DOJ alleged that the hospital had used fraudulent billing to hide its gender-affirming services for youth and that those services violated the state’s ban on such care. Texas Children’s Hospital promised to pay $10 million to Texas Medicaid for its billing practices; to fire and permanently blacklist five gender-affirming healthcare providers who had worked in its clinic; and to establish a clinic for detransition services. While maintaining its innocence, the hospital said in a statement it decided to settle “to protect our resources from endless and costly litigation,” adding, “We stand proud knowing we will always put our purpose over politics and that we have and will continue to follow the law.” It’s unclear if anyone will use these new clinics. A 2025 survey of 84,000 transgender adults, released by Advocates For Trans Equality, revealed that 98% of respondents said they felt more satisfied with their lives since transitioning. Despite the current administration’s claims about gender-affirming care harming minors, a 2026 study found that trans youth who get HRT are less suicidal, a 2025 study found that gender-affirming medical care has positive effects on the mental health and psychosocial functioning of trans youth, and a 2023 study also found that HRT improves mental health for trans youth. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Nature, Published online: 09 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10763-6Author Correction: De novo design of quasisymmetric two-component protein cages

Also, meet NASA’s Artemis III crew. Here’s the latest at the end of Tuesday.

The start to the Tigers-Twins game Tuesday at Comerica Park will be delayed because of rainstorms forecasted in the area. Radar shows it could be a lengthy delay, up to two hours. This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit Tigers-Minnesota Twins delayed because of rainstorms

NEW YORK (AP) — If the New York Knicks win it all this year, just remember that Evan Pfeufer called it six years ago, and has the receipts to prove it.While his classmates dutifully listed their academic awards, extracurricular activities and sport accolades in the high school yearbook, the Long Island resident opted for just six simple words for his entry.“Knicks in 6. 2026 NBA Finals,” Pfeufer wrote next to his portrait in the 2020 Smithtown High School West yearbook.The prescient prediction has gone viral after he shared photos on social media in recent days. One Instagram post has more than 130,000 views. The Knicks lead the San Antonio Spurs 2-1 in the best of seven series. They dropped Game 3 Monday night with President Donald Trump making the first appearance by a sitting president at an NBA championship game. The teams play again Wednesday at Madison Square Garden.Pfeufer, now 23 and in sales, said he wanted to use the yearbook to make a bold declaration about his beloved Knicks, who he concedes were “terrible” at the time. (The Knicks finished 2020-21 season with a record of 41-31.)“I was at my good buddy’s house and I said, ‘Knicks, six, 2026’,” he said. “It rhymed so well that I just figured, all right, I’m gonna put that there.”“I could have said Knicks in 5, 2025, or Knicks in 7, 2027,” he added. “I guess I got the right year.”Pfeufer said he took some grief, particularly from his parents, for not using the yearbook space to spotlight his school achievements, which included being a member of the honor society.“I kept it just as the quote because I thought that if it happened, it would look way better than if I had a bunch of awards underneath,” he says.Pfeufer says his parents have since come around to his thinking.“Now that it’s happening the way it is, they said for the first time in their lives, alright, you were right,” he said.Early in the playoffs, the lifelong Knicks fan said he swore off watching the team’s games because every time he tuned in, they lost. Since they’ve reached the finals and his prediction is inching closer to reality, he’s been watching them at home with family.Pfeufer believes the current squad has what it takes win the franchise's first NBA title since 1973 — even if it isn't in six games. “I absolutely love that they play ethical basketball,” he said. “It’s team basketball. Everyone knows their role and cares so deeply, and you can see it whenever they play. They have heart.”___Follow Philip Marcelo at https://x.com/philmarcelo

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett was at the Arizona Cardinals' practice on Tuesday, walking around wearing a black hooded sweatshirt in the hot desert sun.Edge rusher Josh Sweat was on the field as well, chatting with some of the other defensive players as he watched while they went through their workout.The good news for the Cardinals is that two of their most important players decided to report for the team's mandatory minicamp after missing voluntary workouts earlier in the summer. The problem is it's unclear if the questions surrounding their status for the upcoming NFL season have been resolved.“It was good to see both those guys,” Cardinals first-year coach Mike LaFleur said. “We'll just take it one day at a time. You guys saw what it was today and we'll re-evaluate.”Brissett is seeking a re-worked contract after starting the final 12 games of last season while Sweat is reportedly unhappy with the direction of the franchise after the Cardinals finished with a 3-14 record and fired coach Jonathan Gannon, who was close with the edge rusher.Brissett stepped in for the injured Kyler Murray last season and put up big numbers, completing more than 64% of his passes for a career-high 3,366 yards and 23 touchdowns over 12 starts. But a decent chunk of that production was essentially meaningless, coming when the Cardinals were trailing by large margins.Arizona had a 1-11 record in Brissett's 12 starts.The 33-year-old is in the final year of a $12.5 million, two-year deal, though only $1.5 million for the upcoming season is guaranteed. If he remains the team's starter, he would be among the league's lowest-paid quarterbacks.Brissett is popular among the Cardinals' offensive players, including All-Pro tight end Trey McBride.“Guys are excited that he was here, guys want him to be here,” McBride said. “He's working through some things on his own, so we totally understand that. But you could tell the presence he brought today being in the building. It was awesome.”Neither Brissett or Sweat was made available to the media on Tuesday.The Cardinals added to their quarterback room during the offseason, bringing in veteran Gardner Minshew, whose resume looks a whole lot like Brissett's. Arizona also selected Carson Beck in the third round of April's draft and the 24-year-old figures to compete for snaps right away.Sweat had a career-high 12 sacks last season, providing the Cardinals with an elite pass rush presence after he signed a $76.4 million, four-year deal in 2025.LaFleur was optimistic about Sweat's situation on Tuesday. The coach noted that the edge rusher has always been a guy who had his own offseason training program and sometimes skips voluntary camps.LaFleur said he's had productive conversations with Sweat — even if he wouldn't divulge details — and added that the main reason he didn't practice on Tuesday was that the team wanted to ease him onto the field.“If Josh could (practice), he would right now," LaFleur said. "He's in a good spot, he looks good, looks really good. Had a good conversation with him — not worried about Josh Sweat at all.”___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Matthew Hudson-Smith has won four golds at European Championships [Getty Images]The North Stand at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium will be renamed to honour Great Britain track star Matthew Hudson-Smith during August's European Athletics Championships.Olympic silver medallist Hudson-Smith, who has won four European titles, was born in nearby Wolverhampton.The 31-year-old attended a surprise unveiling of the Matthew Hudson-Smith Stand, with his family present, plus his first coach Sharon Morris, Team GB 4x400m team coach Martyn Rooney and local dignitaries."It caught me off-guard walking in to see the stand is going to be named after me, and it was a special moment to share it with my family," said Hudson-Smith."It's just an indication of all the hard work I've put in and to get a stand named after me is the icing on the cake of a great career and now I want to add more to it at Europeans."Hudson-Smith has twice won individual gold in the 400m at the European Championships, in Berlin in 2018 and in Munich in 2022.He also won 4x400m gold in Zurich in 2014 and repeated the feat eight years later, while he also has three other podium finishes at the championships.The Birchfield Harriers athlete missed out on Olympic 400m gold by four-hundredths of a second in a dramatic finish at Paris 2024, but he was unable to reach the World Championship final in Tokyo last year.He started his 2026 outdoor season last month with a second place in the 400m in the Diamond League at Rabat.The European Athletics Championships, the first to be held in the United Kingdom, will run from 10-16 August in Birmingham.

IRVINE, Calif. (AP) — In many previous World Cup cycles over the past three decades, the best and most accomplished players on the U.S. men's roster were their goalkeepers.Kasey Keller. Brad Friedel. Tim Howard. Brad Guzan. They all played on major international club stages, and their national team could always count on having elite talent in net, even when the rest of the roster wasn't world-class.That's no longer the case as the current American team prepares for its home World Cup.While Matt Freese and Matt Turner are both solid domestic professionals, they have yet to match their esteemed predecessors' level of international accomplishment for club or country. Both are hoping they can summit that obstacle over the next few weeks — as soon as coach Mauricio Pochettino lets them know who's starting Friday night, that is.“It’s fair to say the U.S. has a great goalkeeping corps, historically,” said Freese, the New York City FC keeper. “I was a fan of that goalkeeping corps for most of my life. Still am. And so it’s an honor to be on this team and be a part of that group to hopefully continue that great legacy.”The U.S. arrived at its final World Cup training base in Orange County this week, but Pochettino has yet to announce which of his goalkeepers will start when his team opens the group stage against Paraguay in Inglewood, California — and it's tough not to see that as an indicator of the state of the U.S. situation in net.Freese has been the Americans' regular starter since the CONCACAF Gold Cup last summer, while Turner was their starter at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar under coach Gregg Berhalter. Freese seems likely to be Pochettino’s pick for Friday, but the fact that it hasn’t been made yet is interesting for both competitors for the job.“Not a ton of clarity, but I think the messaging for me is just to always be ready,” Turner said Tuesday. “It’s about training really well, keep fighting, and then the decision will be made."No matter who gets the nod, the U.S. will have a Major League Soccer goalkeeper in net at the World Cup for the first time. That's a coup for MLS, but the Americans are used to fielding goalies who had success beyond their shores.The 27-year-old Freese has spent his pro career in MLS since he left Harvard in early 2019. The 31-year-old Turner is also back in North America's top league with the New England Revolution after his European career stalled before it really got rolling.Pochettino has split up the time in net in the Americans’ four matches in 2026, even working third-stringer Chris Brady into the mix. Turner started their friendly against Senegal last month, while Freese got his turn last weekend against Germany.Turner knows he is probably behind Freese on Pochettino's depth chart, but the lack of a starting announcement has him working just that much harder.“Given the fact that I haven’t played a ton in the last year for the national team, of course, for me, that makes me feel like the door is always cracked,” Turner said. “Everyone has a chance. But I think the coach will always pick the guy that’s playing the best, and he’s going to make the right decision for the team, and whatever my role is going to be, I’m going to be ready to do it to the best of my ability.”Turner made his U.S. debut in early 2021, while Freese only got his first U.S. callup in January 2025, finally making his debut last June. But he quickly seized the starting job and played all six Gold Cup matches, earning praise for a run that included two clean sheets and three penalty saves during a successful shootout.“I dream of this opportunity,” Freese said. “You work for this opportunity, but you never know if it’s going to come. I learned probably nine years ago, the ones that work hard without the promise of reward are the ones that usually succeed.”NOTES: All 26 players participated in a full practice Tuesday for the first time in this World Cup training cycle. Tyler Adams, who sat out Monday's light workout for a maintenance day, was in the mix along with defender Chris Richards, who went through his second straight full practice while recovering from an ankle injury he picked up last month with Crystal Palace.___AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. The 23rd FIFA World Cup takes place across North America with the best and brightest soccer players and national teams from around the world, including Argentina, France, Spain, Brazil, England and Team USA, as well as other countries, competing to win the highly coveted FIFA World Cup trophy.More from BillboardElla Langley Shares 6 Travel Must-Haves for Life on the Road: "They Are My Little Pieces of Home"Here's How to Watch the Michael Jackson Movie Online at HomeNBA Finals 2026: Here's Where to Watch Game 3 New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs Live Online And for 2026, 16 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico, like New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto, Mexico City and others, will host the soccer tournament starting on Thursday (June 11).Watch 2026 FIFA World Cup with DirectV How to Watch 2026 FIFA World Cup Online, At a Glance: Date: June 11-July 19Broadcast Channels: FOX and FOX Sports (in English); Telemundo and Universo (in Spanish)Streaming:DirecTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, Peacock, ExpressVPN Who Is Performing During 2026 FIFA World Cup? The opening ceremony of the World Cup is spread across two days, Thursday (June 11) and Friday (June 12), and takes place in each host nation, including Estadio Azteca (Estadio Banorte) in Mexico City, Toronto Stadium (BMO Field) in Toronto and Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium) in Los Angeles. Performances across venues include Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema and Tyla (USA); as well as Alanis Morissette, Alessia Cara, Elyanna, Jessie Reyez, Michael Bublé and others (Canada); and Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs and others (Mexico). For the halftime show during the World Cup Final on Sunday, July 19, Madonna, Shakira and BTS are headlining. When Does 2026 FIFA World Cup Start? World Cup matches broadcast starting Thursday (June 11) and ends with the final on Sunday (July 19). The international soccer tournament airs live on FOX and FOX Sports (FS1) in English, and Telemundo and Universo for Spanish-language broadcasts. Check out a complete schedule for matches and kickoff times here. Where to Watch 2026 FIFA World Cup Online for Free Cord-cutters have a few ways to watch World Cup online, especially if you want to watch for free. Online streaming platforms, like DirecTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV and others have free trials, so you can watch FOX, FOX Sports, Telemundo and Universo for free. Keep reading for more details on how to watch the matches online without cable. DirecTV Get Five-Day Free Trial Sign up for a five-day free trial to watch for free. You can livestream the World Cup on FOX and FOX Sports with DirecTV’s “Entertainmet” package. The streaming service’s most comprehensive plan is the “Entertainment” signature streaming package with more than 90 live channels, which includes plenty of other sports channels: ESPN, ESPN2, FS2, NBA TV, NHL Network and more. For a limited time, new subscribers can get DirecTV for just $59.99 for the first month of service (reg. $89.99 per month) with DirecTV’s current deals. Meanwhile, a subscription to DirecTV also grants you access to the FOX One app for every FOX network, including FOX, FOX Sports and others. The streamer offers the “MySports Genre Pack” with over 20 sports channels, like FOX and FOX Sports, and access to ESPN Unlimited. It goes for $49.99 per month for the first two months of service ($64.99 per month afterward). In addition, FOX, FOX Sports and Universo are available via the “Ultimate” package, which goes for $89.99 per month for the first month ($124.99 per month afterward) and comes with over 160 channels. If you only want to watch matches with a Spanish-language broadcast, then DirecTV offers the “MiEspañol Genre Pack” for $29.99 per month for the first two months of service ($34.99 per month afterward) and includes more than Spanish-language channels, like Telemundo and Universo. You can stream up to three devices with a subscription to DirecTV, as well as unlimited cloud DVR to record your favorite TV shows to watch back on-demand. Sign up for a five-day free trial to start watching online. Sling TV Get Sling Blue Sling Blue comes with 40+ channels. A subscription to Sling Blue, which comes with FOX and goes for $45.99 per month, gets you access to live TV, local and cable channels. You can watch local networks such as NBC and ABC (in select markets), while you can watch many cable networks too. Additionally, a subscription to Sling TV comes with access to the FOX One app. Just use your Sling TV login credentials and you can watch World Cup matches on FOX and FOX Sports. Although Sling TV doesn’t include access for Telemundo, the streaming service does include Universo as part of the Sling Latino plan, which goes for $10 per month. It comes with more than 20 Spanish-language broadcast channels too.Please note: Prices and channel availability depends on your local TV market. You can learn more about Sling TV here. ExpressVPN Get ExpressVPN Want to watch international World Cup matches in the United States? ExpressVPN is a virtual private network that allows you to watch different broadcasts from various countries, if you want to add some local color to your World Cup watching. For example: If you’re French, but you live in New York City, then you can still watch French National Team matches on Métropole Télévision (Groupe M6) in the U.S. Just launch the ExpressVPN app on your smartphone, laptop, streaming device or web browser (via extension), set your location to Paris or Strasbourg in France, and then fire up the M6 app to start watching. You’ll be able to watch matches from TV channels located overseas with prices starting at $2.79 per month for 28 months. Learn more about ExpressVPN here. FuboTV Get Five-Day Free TrialFubo is affordable option offering a five-day free trial for new users who sign up. With prices starting at $48.99 per month for the first month of service, Fubo’s “Pro” plan is a cable alternative streaming service that offers the World Cup broadcasts on FOX and FOX Sports. The plan features more than 200 other channels, including ESPN, ESPN2, MLB.TV, MLB Network, NHL Network and others. Fubo comes with a five-day free trial, so you can try out the service before you commit month-to-month. Plus, Fubo gets you access to the FOX One app for World Cup matches on FOX and FOX Sports. Unfortunately, the streaming service doesn’t include Telemundo and Universo. Hulu + Live TV Get three-day free trialHulu + Live TV comes with Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN Unlimited at no additional cost. If you don’t have a Hulu + Live TV subscription, the streamer offers a free trial that’ll get you your first three days free to access FOX, FOX Sports and Telemundo. Once the free trial is over, you’ll be charged the regular subscription fee, which starts at $89.99 per month. For even more content, Hulu + Live TV bundles with Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN Unlimited at no extra cost to watch even more exclusive and original sporting events and programming. Peacock Get Peacock Premium The official streamer for Telemundo and Universo. There are two different plans offered on Peacock: The Premium Plan for $10.99 per month or the Premium Plus Plan for $16.99 per month. Both plans feature World Cup matches on Telemundo and Universo for Spanish-language broadcasts. If you’re looking to save some money, you can get 17% off when you do the annual plan for $109.99 per year or $169.99 per year. With the Premium Plan, it’s ad-supported and you’ll receive access to a wide range of movies, TV shows, originals, live sports from NBC Sports and live news from NBC News. Peacock’s Premium Plus plan comes with everything in the Premium plan, as well as no ads, your local NBC channel live and the ability to download and stream offline. Alongside World Cup matches, you’ll have access to even more live sports, including games and matches from Premiere League, MLB, WNBA, NBA, NFL and other leagues. The streaming platform doesn’t offer a free trial, but it does come with a couple of affordable plans starting at $10.99 per month. In addition, you can get 30 days of access to Peacock for as low as $1 with Walmart+, as one of the service’s benefits and perks. Learn more about Walmart+ and Peacock here. In the meantime, 2026 FIFA World Cup matches are available to watch on FOX and FOX Sports for English-language broadcasts, or Telemundo and Universo for Spanish-language broadcasts via DirecTV, starting on Thursday (June 11).Watch 2026 FIFA World Cup with DirectV Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.Sign up for Billboard's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

PLATTSBURGH — To say that Mike Mahaney is dialed in at the Airborne Park Speedway this season would be an understatement.Mahaney put on a masterclass on how to navigate the field, capturing his third consecutive win in the Hartson Total Opening DirtCar 358 Modified feature during another Thursday Night Thunder card at “The Big A.”Mahaney was emotional as his wife, Mandee, and son Emjay joined him in the victory lane after his decisive performance.“Smooth Shoe” launched from the 11th spot on the grid for the 30-lap main event, working his way through the pack. RJ Tressider sprang from the pole to lead the early laps, but Preston Forbes slipped underneath him off turn two on lap four to grab the point.Forbes began to run away up front, but Mahaney was on the move. Caution flew on lap 14 with Mahaney in the sixth spot.Mahaney quickly claimed the third spot on the restart before the caution came out again.On the ensuing restart, Mahaney disposed of Tressider for second, then swept around Forbes on the high side of turn four a lap later.Forbes held on for second. Tim Fuller, Justin Stone and Dany Gonyea rounded out the top five, respectively.Dylan Rabtoy started on the pole in the J&S Steel Sportsman Modified feature, and that’s all it took for the Swanton, Vermont, campaigner to collect the 25-lap feature win, ending a lengthy drought.Tanner Forbes took the lead at the drop of the green flag, but Rabtoy was able to work around him after a restart on lap two. Forbes had another shot at Rabtoy on a restart a few laps later, but the 22 car was too stout.The fastest car on the track from the halfway point on was the Travis Bruno machine. Bruno was flawless after an early issue appeared to cost him several positions, but an opportune yellow flag saved him.Despite Bruno’s best efforts, Rabtoy was not to be denied as he hugged the bottom, hit his marks perfectly and pulled away for the victory by nearly a full straightaway.Bruno placed second, followed by Bucko Branham, Forbes and Michael Wright.Parker Dermody and Adam LaFountain led the field to the green flag to begin the RainPro of Vermont Limited Sportsman Modified 20-lap feature, with Dermody leading the early laps.It was clear David Johnson, who started fifth on the grid, had a rocket ship. Johnson took a page out of Dylan Raboy’s playbook and used the bottom groove to gain the second spot effortlessly.On lap six, Johnson dove underneath Dermody in turn three. The two made slight contact as Johnson powered to the lead down the front stretch.Just past the midway point, Brogan Roberts moved to the second spot and seemed to have a car that could run down Johnson, but it wasn’t meant to be as Johnson extended his advantage and rolled to his third win of the season.Roberts finished second, followed by Boomer Patterson, Gary English and Dermody.The Mini Stock 15-lap main event got off to an auspicious start as a pile-up brought out the caution before the pack even made it through turn one on the opening lap.After a series of early cautions, Randy Martin assumed control, and it seemed as though he might earn an easy win. But Speedy Bresette had other plans.“Señor Speed” ran lap times consistently faster than Martin’s and, by five laps remaining, had closed in on the leader’s bumper.With three circuits left, Bresette won a drag race down the front stretch to wrestle the lead from Martin and pick up his first victory of 2026. Bresette became the fifth winner in five weeks for the division.Martin finished second, followed by Jake Fountain, JP Corrow, Glenn Engstrom and Tyler Bell.The finale of the evening was the 20-lap Renegade feature race. The sparks flew early as the yellow came out for an incident in turns three and four on the opening lap. Billy Thwaits was in the logjam and was forced to restart in the back of the pack.The early issue did not deter Thwaits as he rallied to capture the lead in the late stages. Nate Guay led the opening laps with Shawn Duquette on the prowl.Thwaits rapidly weaved through the pack to move to third and engaged in a battle with Duquette for second. Thwaits won the fight for the runner-up spot at the halfway point and set his radar lock on Guay.Guay held off Thwaits as long as he could, but the duo was side by side down the front stretch when the caution flew four laps from the finish.On the restart, Thwaits took the lead and drove away to take the checkers. However, Twaits was penalized to last place position for a minor rules infraction after going through post-race tech, and Duquette was elevated to the win, his third in a row.Guay was second, Tyler Irwin third, Shawn Fountain fourth and Tim Wilcox fifth.It will be a huge night this Thursday when the DirCar 358 Series invades Airborne Park Speedway for the 70-lap $5,000 to win “Battle of Plattsburgh.”The Dirtcar Sportsman Series will also compete in a 30-lap, $1,500-to-win showdown. The Renegades, Mini Stocks and Limited Sportsman will be on the card, as well.Grandstand gates open at 5:30 p.m. Racing is at 7 p.m.Grandstand admission is $25. Kids 12 and under are free. Pit admission is $45.

Marquinhos draws level with Emerson Leão and Ronaldo for Brazil caps: 105Marquinhos reached 105 appearances for the Brazil National TeamCredits: Rafael Ribeiro/CBFBrazil National Team captain Marquinhos reached 105 appearances for the Seleção in the 2-1 win over Egypt last Saturday (6), drawing level with goalkeeper Emerson Leão and forward Ronaldo Fenômeno. The trio now shares ninth place in the ranking of players with the most matches for the team.At this World Cup, the 32-year-old center back has the chance to climb even higher on the list. He is two matches behind five-time world champion Lúcio, who made 107 appearances, and three behind four-time world champion Taffarel, who guarded Brazil’s goal on 108 occasions.The São Paulo native made his debut for the Seleção on November 16, 2013, in the 5-0 rout of Honduras at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami — the same venue for Brazil vs. Scotland in the third round of the World Cup. His first goal came on September 11, 2018, in another 5-0 victory, this time over El Salvador at Northwest Stadium in the U.S. capital, Washington.At the Maracanã, Marquinhos celebrates the 2019 Copa América titleCredits: Lucas Figueiredo/CBFOver nearly 13 years with the senior national team, the defender has represented Brazil at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and at the Copa América in 2015, 2016, 2019 (champion), 2021, and 2024. At youth level, he has been called up since the U-17s, winning the 2011 South American Championship in that category, the Toulon Tournament with the U-21s in 2014, and the gold medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.Top 10 players with the most appearances for the Brazil National Team:1st) Cafu - 1502nd) Roberto Carlos - 1323rd) Neymar Jr. - 1284th) Daniel Alves - 1275th) Rivellino - 1206th) Pelé, Thiago Silva and Djalma Santos - 1137th) Taffarel - 1088th) Lúcio - 1079th)Marquinhos, Leão and Ronaldo - 10510th) Jairzinho, Ronaldinho Gaúcho and Gilmar - 102Marquinhos celebrates his first goal for the Brazil National Team; the strike came on September 11, 2018, in the 5-0 rout of El Salvador in WashingtonCredits: Lucas Figueiredo/CBFThis article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

ROCHESTER — Ticonderoga’s Noah Wells turned in the best performance for Section VII at last weekend’s NYSPHSAA Golf Championships.The two-day event for the boys was held at Mill Creek Golf Club in Churchville and featured 99 golfers from 11 sections.Wells carded a two-day total of 79-76-155 to finish 39th.Wells was also the top golfer for Section VII at last year’s state tournament where, as a freshman, he finished with an 81-80-161 total, good for 55th place.Saranac Lake’s Ryan McGinnis-Theis placed 67th with an 81-84-165, and Peru’s Liam Clark was 68th with an 87-79-166. Clark’s 79 on the second day was only the third round under 80 for Section VII golfers in the event. Wells had the other two.The remainder of the Section VII contingent included Peru’s Patrick Clark (70th, 86-81-167), Peru’s Cooper Sweeney (70th, 86-81-167), Moriah’s Silas Reeder (80th, 82-87-169), Saranac’s Rhys Fraser (90th, 86-90-176), Lake Placid’s Carver Bell (96th, 92-94-186) and Saranac Lake’s Jonah Peckham (97th, 95-97-192).There were two Tupper Lake golfers competing and representing Section X, Wyatt Trudeau (31st, 74-80-154) and Aiden Churco (82nd, 89-81-170).Two golfers ended up tied for first place overall, Ryan Liu from Section VIII’s Manhasset with a six-under par 70-66-136 and Charles Nevin from Section VIII’s Friends Academy, also with a six-under par 69-67-136.Finishing third was Josh Yan from Section IX’s Newburgh Free Academy with a 67-72-139.GIRLSThe two-day event for the girls was held Sunday and Monday at Wild Wood Country Club in Rush with 104 in the field.Hayden Knapp from Section II’s South Glens Falls won the overall competition with a two-under-par 72-70-142.She was followed by Rachel O’Rourke from Section III’s Rome Free Academy with a 71-73-144, Nina Choe from Section I’s The Ursuline School with a 78-68-146 and Delaney Abel from Section IV’s Corning PP with a 76-70-146.The best score for the four golfers from Section VII was Northeastern Clinton’s Joyce Andrew, who took 96th with a 108-110-218.Rounding out the golfers for Section VII were Boquet Valley’s Elizabeth Olson in 98th with a 108-111-219, AuSable Valley’s Farrah Goodman in 101st with a 118-120-238 and Willsboro’s Peyton Leerkes in 102nd with a 110-130-240.—NYSPHSAA Golf ChampionshipsBoysMill Creek Golf ClubChurchvilleSection VII results39, Noah Wells, Ticonderoga 79-76-15567, McGinnis-Theis, SLCS 81-84-16568, Liam Clark, Peru 87-79-16670, Patrick Clark, Peru 86-81-16770, Cooper Sweeney, Peru 86-81-16780, Silas Reeder, Moriah 82-87-16990, Rhys Fraser, Saranac 86-90-17696, Carver Bell, Lake Placid 92-94-18697, Jonah Peckham, SLCS 95-97-192—GirlsWild Wood Country ClubRushSection VII results96, Joyce Andrew, NCCS 108-110-21898, Elizabeth Olson, Boquet 108-111-219101, Farrah Goodman, AVCS 118-120-238102, Peyton Leerkes, Wills 110-130-240

CROWN POINT — Mike Ross always says, “The rest is gravy because everything tastes better with it,” when explaining his mindset after winning sectional titles.Sunday had to be the crème de la crème as family members and former players celebrated his career in a sendoff at Crown Point.“The speech I was going to give at the sports banquet, I gave here,” Mike said with a laugh. “Now, we can just skip the speech and get right to the food.”He added that the banquet doesn’t actually have food, but maybe there will be a snack bar for him.Players from teams across his 25 year coaching career convened in the Crown Point gymnasium to celebrate the man who always said, “It’s not about me, it’s about the girls.”“This celebration is for him because he deserves it, and this is his favorite kind of thing,” his granddaughter Kaitlin Ross said. “He loves community to come together, be together as a community and eat food and just talk amongst ourselves.”Event organization was coordinated by Mary Fleury and Liz Ross. Fleury joked about the moment she heard the retirement plan and Liz approached her about the idea.“It’s funny because I was going to come to you (Liz) and say we got to do something,” Fleury said.“Between (Liz’s) daughter being a senior, Liz is a teacher and then my son and I coach Little League, so to find the time, I did a group chat, got as many people from 1999 to now as I could, and everybody just — it wasn’t just me — everybody put it together.”THE CAREERCrown Point softball has been around since the mid-1970s and has had six head coaches of the program. Half of those teams were coached by Ross.From 1999-2026, he led the Panthers. There were only two years he didn’t coach, one due to COVID and the other in 2013 to watch his grandson Michael DuShane play his senior year in baseball.For his time as the head of Crown Point softball, Mike held a record of 312-64, a winning record of 83%. His only losing season was his first at 7-9 in 1999.Of the 24 MVAC championships, 20 were coached by Ross. Crown Point has 24 Section VII championships; Mike coached 18 of them. All three regional titles — 2007, 2019 and 2015 — were also coached by him.But that wasn’t what mattered to him. It was the girls that played for him.“I mean, the first year with his daughter Michelle ... that was, like, that first family feel of a softball team here ... Then his son Jeff happened to get sick in the same year. He had a liver transplant and everything,” Fluery said.“We did it for Coach. We’re fighting, he’s fighting with his family, so we’re fighting for him. Just, you know, the moment, and it just turned into a family thing.“He’s not yelling at you and always there for you. I was just in love with the game, and he made me love it even more.”After Saturday’s loss to Fort Ann, Mike Ross talked about his two granddaughters he coached, Kaitlin Ross and Chelsea Loitsch.“I loved it,” Loitsch said. “I always dreamed of being on his team when I was a little girl, and I’d go to practices with him and all the older girls I looked up to, so I was very excited to play with him.”LOVE OF THE GAMEMemories flooded into the Crown Point gymnasium as players walked in.Once Mike walked in, all bets were off.“Yeah, it’s nice. I used to be the team manager when I was in fourth, fifth and sixth grade,” Kaitlin Ross said. “I got to see all the girls that just made me love softball.”Fleury, who Mike called his “homerun queen,” remembers the story of how she found her way to the outfield.“I remember when I came up. Obviously, I wasn’t gonna start playing,” she said. “My father was a first baseman, and I was going to be one, too.“(Mike) told me, ‘No, you’re going to be center field,’ and I was like, ‘I don’t like that. I don’t want to be a center fielder. I want to be an infielder. Who wants to be outfield?’ and he just got me.“I had speed, you know, and he put me in center field, and I ended up being a star. I loved it. I asked and, even now, like when I’m coaching, I try to encourage kids, try outfield. My love of the position started because of him.”One person behind the scenes was Lynn Ross, Mike’s wife, who was still wrapping her head around the day. She knew this was planned, but it still surprised her.“It’s overwhelming. I mean, I didn’t play a big part in the setup or anything like that or what they were gonna do,” she said. “I knew there were going to be speeches and a slideshow, but when I walked in and saw all the people, it’s such an outpouring from the community. It’s very nice.“I mean, the girls, they all just adore him. We may go to the grocery store or something, and we’ll run into one or two of them. It’s not just them, it’s the mothers, and now, it’s the grandkids.”THE DAYLynn was prepared. When they walked into the gymnasium, Mike was without a hat. After a few moments of cheers and applause, she reached in her bag to give him a Crown Point hat.“We went back and forth with a couple of days. It was either a sectional game or my son had a baseball game or something else,” Fleury said. “We decided why not a Sunday? We knew the girls were playing yesterday, win or lose. I knew that coach was going to be fine today.“Either way, it was going to be great. We were going to celebrate, no matter what.”And celebrate they did.After a handful of speeches, Mike was fine. But when the slideshow began, the tears followed.It was played over a soundtrack the players knew all too well: The playlist made by Ross’ daughter Michelle that played every game and between innings.“Seeing all those pictures was special,” Ross said. “It brought back so many memories with the girls. This was special.”Loitsch said she was excited everyone came together to celebrate him.“He deserves it, and I’m sure he’ll be very touched by all of this,” she said.After the speech, former players and attendees spoke individually with Mike. With every hug, there were smiles, and a smile never left Mike’s face.The day ended a chapter that began at Crown Point in 1999, but Lynn said she doesn’t expect it to be over.“It’s totally mixed emotions because it’s our life, and so I don’t know what life is going to be like without it,” she said. “That’s part of it, definitely.“I mean, yes, he’s retired from having his teams, but I think he’ll still keep his hand in somehow with some of the younger kids.“I mean, we’ve got a great granddaughter who’s on a team in Glens Falls. We follow her, and when she comes, you know we’re softball in the backyard.”“It’s a Ross thing” is a phrase often heard around the softball team. and people know it’s family. Sunday proved that family is pretty large— it’s a community.

Christopher Bell suffered a fractured left wrist in a violent crash at Michigan on Sunday, but has been cleared to race on June 14 at Pocono.Joe Gibbs Racing revealed the nature of Bell’s injury on Tuesday after Gibbs said following Sunday’s race that Bell was dealing with ankle and wrist injuries after the crash. Bell’s car hit the outside wall in Turns 3 and 4 at a nasty angle and a high rate of speed after Chase Elliott got loose to the inside of him.Bell and Elliott were racing for second behind William Byron when the crash happened. The race had to be red flag for repairs to the wall — the first layer of the SAFER barrier was dented from the impact of the crash.The wreck dropped Bell three spots in the points standings to 10th. He’s 259 points behind leader Tyler Reddick with five top-five finishes and six top 10s in 2026. His 398 laps led are actually three more than Reddick and he ranks third in that category to Michigan winner Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson.Missing races can be more detrimental this season than in years past with NASCAR’s revised Chase playoff format. With the previous win-and-in format, a driver with a win could lock himself into the postseason despite missing races due to injury. This season, the top 16 drivers in the points standings will make the 10-race Chase at the end of the regular season regardless of win total. Bell is currently 81 points ahead of Joey Logano in 17th place.

The PWHL’s expansion process is underway following the addition of four teams in Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas, and San Jose. A six-phase process began on June 2, when the existing eight teams announced which players on their rosters they would protect. Each team was allotted three protection slots, which limited teams’ ability to keep all their star players.The selections produced some surprises, with some of the biggest names in the league and team captains going unprotected.These are the three best protection lists ahead of the PWHL expansion draft:3. New York SirensWith the Sirens ending the season seventh overall, sitting at the bottom of the standings the two previous seasons, they needed to be strategic with their protection list in hopes of building a stronger team for the future. Their selection of first-line forwards Sarah Fillier, Kristýna Kaltounková and Casey O’Brien is an investment in the organization’s future.The Sirens can develop these three young players as a unit, and considering they are all points leaders on the team (despite Kaltounková’s injury) it would have been a shame for Sirens fans to say goodbye before the trio had reached their full potential. 2. Boston FleetThe Fleet had an incredible regular season, finishing second overall, but fell in the first round of the playoffs to the Ottawa Charge. As one of the strongest teams in the league with several well-known stars, narrowing their roster down to just three is difficult. While the Sirens prioritized their top forwards, the Fleet held on to their defense, with Aerin Frankel, Megan Keller, and Haley Winn all securing their place in Boston next season.While it is unfortunate that forward Alina Müller was excluded from the list, the Olympic gold medalists are some of the best in the league and can help shape Boston into a Walter Cup contender for seasons to come.View this post on Instagram1. Montreal VictoireComing straight off winning a Walter Cup, the Victoire knew exactly which major players they needed moving forward. They took a different approach than the previous two teams by keeping their veteran players. Marie-Philip Poulin is one of the most successful and skilled players in women’s hockey, and she captained her team through their difficult playoff run against the back-to-back Walter Cup-winning Minnesota Frost and the goaltending of the Ottawa Charge.Speaking of goaltending, Ann-Renée Desbiens is the best in the league, with Frankel trailing just behind her. Having an experienced, skilled goaltender in a league with many young players will propel the Victoire forward across the next few seasons. The third protected player, Laura Stacey, is also an established forward and was tied for the most points on the Victoire this season with Abby Roque, who has now entered free agency. Poulin, Desbiens, and Stacey are players Montreal can rely on to produce at the highest level.The Future of PWHL ExpansionWith the PWHL expanding once again, the size of the league will now be double what it was three years ago during its inaugural season. Due to this rapid growth, it is unlikely that the league will expand again within the next few years, meaning that teams will have more stability without the constant threat of an expansion draft, and the players will have more time to develop their on-ice chemistry and team identities.There are still four more phases to get through for this expansion, as fans anxiously await the daily announcements from the league regarding signings.The PWHL will take place on June 17 in Detroit.The post Which PWHL Teams Had the Best Protection Lists? appeared first on The Lead.

CEDARVILLE — Hillman softball is returning to East Lansing. The Tigers booked their ticket to the MHSAA Division 4 state semifinals for a third consecutive year after capturing a 5-2 victory over Norway in a quarterfinal clash at Cedarville on Tuesday, June 9. GRETCHEN WEILAND'S RISE: Slighted early in career, Weiland evolves into Hillman softball greatONAWAY SOFTBALL SENIORS: Onaway softball seniors Szymoniak, Karsten leave with winning legacyPELLSTON'S ELLA KLUNGLE: Pellston softball star Ella Klungle ends career in full-circle momentThe Tigers (33-9) were spearheaded once more by senior pitcher Gretchen Weiland, who struck out eight, allowed one hit, and surrendered two runs across seven innings, earning the win. Hillman struck first in the top of the first with a double by Madelyn Oswald that scored Abby Oswald and made it a 1-0 advantage in favor of the Tigers. After multiple scoreless innings by both teams, the Tigers used a four-run fifth to take control of the contest. Delivering a clutch hit was Weiland, who ripped a two-run single for a 4-0 Hillman advantage. While Norway trimmed the deficit to 5-2 in the bottom of the fifth, it couldn’t muster any more runs against Weiland, who finished off the Hillman win with a strikeout in the bottom of the seventh. Offensively, Abby Oswald went 2-for-4 with a run scored to fuel the Tigers, who received a hit apiece from Gretchen Weiland (two RBIs), Aubrey Weiland (RBI, run), Madelyn Oswald (two RBIs), Peyton Banks (run) and Peyton Szlag (run). Raelyn Konieczny scored a run. With the win, No. 2-ranked Hillman heads to Michigan State University’s Sechia Stadium, where it’ll face No. 1 Mendon in a semifinal rematch. Last season, Mendon (30-3) captured a 4-2 victory over the Tigers and beat Unionville-Sebewaing in the 2025 state title game. Defending champion Mendon earned an 8-4 victory over Petersburg Summerfield in its quarterfinal on Tuesday. The Hillman-Mendon showdown will be a 3 p.m. start at MSU on Friday, June 12. The winner of that matchup faces the Brown City-Fowler semifinal winner in a 5:30 p.m. title game on Saturday, June 13. Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at jgreenleaf@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDTThis article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Hillman softball beats Norway, earns another trip to MHSAA semifinals

Real Madrid scout Arsenal's Calafiori, Tottenham consider Juventus defender Bremer to replace Romero, Manchester United chase Newcastle's Hall.Real Madrid are interested in Arsenal and Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori, 24, who previously played under Jose Mourinho at Roma. (Sky Sports)Tottenham are considering a move for Juventus and Brazil defender Gleison Bremer, 29, to replace 28-year-old Argentina international Cristian Romero in central defence. (Tuttosport - in Italian)Manchester United are not interested in signing Romero from Tottenham but are interested in Newcastle's versatile 21-year-old English defender Lewis Hall. (Teamtalk)Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is willing to satisfy the wage demands of Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, 23, in order to bring him to Manchester United. (Mirror)Manchester City remain the frontrunners to sign Anderson despite United's efforts to steal a march on their rivals. (Star - subscription required)Incoming Real Madrid boss Mourinho is keen on West Ham's 21-year-old Portugal midfielder Mateus Fernandes who is also of interest to Chelsea. (AS - in Spanish)Manchester United are also exploring a deal for Fernandes with West Ham valuing the player at about £80m, but the London club are in no rush to sell him. (Sky Sports)Manchester United are considering a surprise move for 35-year-old English goalkeeper Karl Darlow, who is out of contract at Leeds this summer, with Turkish shot-stopper Altay Bayindir, 28, set leave Old Trafford. Fulham are interested in signing Nigeria midfielder Samuel Chukwueze from AC Milan following the 27-year-old's season-long loan at Craven Cottage, but are trying to negotiate a smaller fee. (Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian)Atletico Madrid are hopeful of persuading former Manchester City midfielder Bernando Silva to join them instead of Barcelona or Real Madrid because they can offer the 31-year-old Portuguese more game time. (Marca - in Spanish)Fulham are weighing up whether to trigger the £8m release clause of Ipswich head coach Kieran McKenna, who leads their list of candidates to replace Marco Silva. (Talksport)Leicester are in talks with former Southampton and Rangers head coach Russell Martin about taking over the club following their relegation to League One. (Leicester Mercury)Get the latest on your Premier League teamAll your football quizzes in one placeListen to the latest Football Daily podcast

David Willey starred in his 50th game as Northamptonshire Steelbacks' T20 captain [Getty Images]David Willey marked his 50th game as Northamptonshire Steelbacks' T20 captain by guiding them to a sixth successive Vitality Blast victory as they overcame Worcestershire Rapids at Wantage Road.The Steelbacks skipper claimed 2-28 with the ball and then top scored with 47 from 33 balls, sharing a decisive stand of 69 with Justin Broad to pass 5,000 T20 career runs in the process.Elsewhere, Lancashire ended a three-game losing streak as Liam Livingstone brilliantly dismantled a target of 129 in a rain-reduced, 10-over clash with fellow strugglers Durham at Banks Homes Riverside.In Chelmsford, Charlie Allison continued his fine form with a personal best 74 to help Essex to a fourth straight victory as they held on to beat Kent.Steelbacks continue winning waysA second-wicket partnership of 62 from 48 balls between Gareth Roderick and Brett D'Oliveira anchored the Rapids' total of 154-5 from 18 overs after they were put in, with Sikandar Raza adding an unbeaten 36 from 24 balls.But both batters fell to James Sales (3-34) in the space of three deliveries as D'Oliveira holed out to deep mid-wicket and Saif Zaib, scampering in from the fence, held his nerve to take a skier from Roderick.The Steelbacks started slowly in pursuit, with the first two overs yielding only nine runs before Chris Lynn (37 from 18 balls) launched a merciless assault, with two of his four cleanly struck sixes in Tom Taylor's next over disappearing out of the ground.Lynn set the tone for Northamptonshire to chase down a rain-adjusted target before Willey and Broad helped the home side to 162-4 for a six-wicket victory on the DLS method.In a memorable night for Willey, he equalled Alex Wakely's Steelbacks record of 133 T20 appearances.The result keeps Northamptonshire top of the Central and West Group with six wins from six, while Worcestershire sit fourth after suffering their third defeat. Livingstone admits Lancashire are lacking fightLightning boost hopes in North GroupLancashire's quarter-final hopes were boosted by a seven-wicket win, their second victory in six games, at Chester-le-Street, while Durham's fourth defeat in six means they are joined on eight points by a Red Rose team who remain bottom of the North Group.Livingstone's second successive Blast half-century - 85 not out off 31 balls with eight sixes - included four successive sixes off Kasey Aldridge's seam bowling in a sensational innings.Durham's openers Graham Clark (49 not out) and Alex Lees (42) also impressed as the home side batted first and reached 128-2 from their 10 overs. England limited-overs quick Luke Wood returned 1-16 from two overs for Lightning, while Livingstone also struck.After a near two-hour delay through to 20:25 BST, Lees pulled and muscled the contest's first two balls from the spin of Tom Hartley for four and took four boundaries in all off the opening over.When Livingstone bowled an attacking Lees, Durham had 94 in the eighth over. But Clark brilliantly scooped Tom Aspinwall for a boundary as the hosts ended well, despite the opener just falling short of 50.In reply, skipper Keaton Jennings (1) and Ben McDermott (0) fell cheaply either side of a productive second over in which Livingstone pulled Matthew Potts for six. Michael Jones scored 27 from 15 balls before Livingstone was joined by Joe Moores (six not out) as Lancashire reached 130-3 to win with five balls remaining.On the back of scores of 44 and 81 in his past two matches - both defeats against Yorkshire and Glamorgan - Livingstone went on to break the record for most sixes by a Lancashire batter in T20 history (163), previously held by his coach Steven Croft.Allison impresses for Essex Essex survived a late comeback from Kent as Allison battered his third half-century on the bounce, with Jordan Cox firing 40 on his first Essex appearance of the summer – after IPL and England Lions duties - as the home side won by three runs.Charlie Bennett's early wickets meant that Kent never settled in their chase of 188 despite Sam Billings' 62, and some late hitting to make the scores closer.The Eagles sit clear in second in the South Group, with Kent four points behind, heading into the Blast's two-and-a-half-week hiatus.Having been put in, a tepid start for Essex was compounded by losing openers Michael Pepper and Paul Walter in the powerplay, but Cox's partnership with Allison improved their situation and they registered a par score of 187-6.The Spitfires had a similarly slow start before Zak Crawley and Billings threatened to take the game away with a quickfire 37 stand but Zaman Akhtar and Matt Critchley struck in back-to-back overs to put Essex in control.Billings picked up his 41st T20 half-century but things fizzled out for the visitors before Jake Lintott and Fred Klaassen threatened to make things nervy with a 34-run partnership for the last wicket as Kent finished on 184-9.Report supplied by the ECB Reporters' Network, supported by Rothesay.Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport

Here's everything Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said following the first day of minicamp, including an update on C.J. Stroud's relationship with second-year offensive coordinator Nick Caley and the development of the defense. Question: On how he advises his team during the offseason breaksDeMeco Ryans: “The advice during the break for me is always making sure you get some time to truly get some rest, get some relaxation, but also at the same time, you still have to continue to work with the gains that you've built, the conditioning that you've built up throughout the OTAs, throughout the veteran minicamp. You still want to see guys continuing to work for at least two, three weeks, and then give themselves a little break, and then we've got to ramp it up again and get ready to roll, because as we know, come training camp, for us in Houston, it's a little different. You have to be built different to play here in Houston when you deal with the humidity, deal with the heat that we have to go through. So, we want our guys, they truly have to come back and begin working out in Houston at least three weeks before camp so they're ready to roll and be able to really thrive in camp and not just try to survive.”Q: On who he is looking at in the defensive line room to replace former DE Derek BarnettRyans: “We're excited about the D-line that we have. We'll continue to roll our guys as much as possible. That's how we operate. We really want eight, nine guys who can go out there and play in a rotation. We're still figuring out who those eight or nine guys will be. It'll be really tough competition in training camp that I'm excited to see, excited to really see our young guys in the interior to see how they perform in camp.”Q: On DT Sheldon Rankin’s value to the defense and as a mentor with DT Kayden McDonaldRyans: “Sheldon brings a calming presence to the defense. We do a lot of communication, we put a lot on those guys from a standpoint of talking to each other, linebackers talking to the defensive line, so when you have a guy of Sheldon's caliber who's seen it all, done it all, very smart guy, very aware of formations, he can ID things that a lot of young guys can't do and we don't ask them to do, but we can put more on Sheldon's plate because of his experience. Having him there with Kayden is going to be significant for Kayden and his development. Kayden should grab a hold of Sheldon and not let him leave without gaining some type of insight, some type of knowledge every day on what it's like to play in one of the toughest positions in football: interior defensive line. He needs to learn that from a guy who's done it for over 10 years.”Q: On DT Sheldon Rankins developmental help with DE Will Anderson Jr. as a player and how he is now helping develop younger playersRyans: “Sheldon poured a lot into Will and you see Will now benefiting from that, but Will is also taking and he's pouring into the younger guys himself, and that's what the NFL has always been built on. I had veteran guys, Morlon Greenwood, Shawn Barber, Danny Clark, guys who poured into me and that's the only way I knew how it should be done. When I went through my career, it was my chance to pour into guys like Zach Diles, Brian Cushing, Jordan Hicks, Mychal Kendricks. That's what the league is built on.”Q: On T Aireontae Ersery’s development going into year twoRyans: “’Tae’ has done a really great job of preparing himself this offseason. Year two for him, he's definitely hit it in the weight room pretty hard. He's looking stronger, he's playing aggressive, he's smart, knowing where he needs to be. It's not new to him. So, you can see a guy who's really calm in what he's asked to do. He's calm with the position and things that we're asking him to do. He's doing a really good job of it.”Q: On how he feels about the team currently, and how he feels about the team quality overallRyans: “Our team is looking great. I feel really, really good about where we are as a team. It's one of the best OTAs that we've had since I've been here the past four years. I'm really excited about training camp. I'm really excited to see these guys actually put on pads and see who shows up in the pads. It's one thing in the shorts. Some guys can make plays in shorts, but you put the pads on, you play real football, you see who can really show up. But our guys have shown up. Everything that I've asked them to do, they've shown up with the right mindset. They've worked the right way. We have a really great group of guys, and I think we're building a really great team this year.”Q: On the team’s culture and competitiveness during offseason workoutsRyans: “When I first came here in 2023, it was really to establish a mindset and an identity of who I wanted the Texans to be. As you've seen over the past three years, we have that identity. We play ball aggressive. We play physical. We do it the right way. We're going to be the toughest team to suit up every time we suit up. That's the guys that we bring in. That's the culture that we've built. Now I don't have to go back and reestablish our identity and how we play. As we grow as a team, as I've grown as a head coach, for me, it's more so now about how much smarter can we play as a team? How can we be more elite on our execution? Our communication, can it be louder? Can we echo it more? Can we truly be tied together every time we line up? That's what I've seen when I talk about the process of us this year being better. I've seen better communication. I've seen guys just being able to absorb more defense, absorb more offense, formations, emotions. Guys are just able to handle more because it's second year in our offense, fourth year in our defense, it's a given, but it's also the veterans that we have, the leaders that we have at each and every position, allows me to see it, step back as a head coach and see we just need to keep fine-tuning the details. Not necessarily every period is a competitive get-after-it period. It's more of a mental check, and that's what we're working on this offseason, and we'll continue to develop that in the training camp.”Q: On the linebacker room and LB Jamal HillRyans: “The linebacker group is a really competitive group. Probably the most competitive it's been in a while. We have a lot of young players, which I like, a lot of young players in that room that can all play. That's the exciting part about it. A lot of great athletes in that position. Jamal is one of those guys. He's shined and flashed a couple of plays on special teams for us last year. I remember a play versus the Cardinals. One of our special team's goals was to take the football away, and Jamal goes down, first play of kickoff, first play of the game, and he puts his hat on the football. We get a huge turnover. He really set the tone for us. I'm just still pouring into him to not only get it done on the special teams aspect, but also grow as a player to where, can you go out and play true, first, second, third, down for us. He's growing. He's gotten better. Being a safety who's converted to the linebacker position, he's done a really good job of that. The more I can pour into those guys -- I'm always close to those linebackers. Those are my babies. I love working with the linebackers. They're a fun group. They're a really smart group. [Linebackers] Coach Bill Davis has done an outstanding job of working with those guys to get them caught up to speed. Our rookies are probably some of the smartest rookies that I've had the chance to work with, so that's encouraging to me.”Q: On Texas State’s Head Coach G. J. Kinne attending practice on TuesdayRyans: “It was fun seeing G.J. come out to practice today. Just congratulating him on the growth that he's had in his career as a head coach. At Incarnate Word, moving on to Texas State, taking that program to bowl games, the first-ever bowl games in their past three years. So he's done a great job of establishing a culture there in Texas State, and I'm proud of the success that he had. Former teammate there in [Philadelphia] with him, also a former neighbor of mine, so it's always good to see guys that flourish after the game and still being involved, still coaching, and talking to G.J., you just see the passion that he has for the recruiting, for helping young men, and that's what I love hearing that when I talk to young coaches.”Q: On NFL teams using more 13 personnel on their offense and what challenges does that cause on defense as well as create an advantage on offenseRyans: “Caley wants all the tight ends out, right? Put four of them out there. No, it's the tight ends pose a matchup problem, and it's not just because it's the tight end, it's how the tight ends have evolved in our game. Now you've got more pass threat tight ends than we've had in the past. In 2006, you put four tight ends on the field, and it's gold line. You're not doing that now. Now you have guys who are true receiving threats. So when you have that, are you matching up in base personnel? Are you matching up in nickel, dime personnel? Well, it really depends on who that tight end is, and you match up accordingly. It's a chess match when you're going against defenses and you put 13 personnel out on the field, having the ability to throw the ball in personnel, those percentages have skyrocketed over the past 10 years, so just having that flexibility by an offensive coordinator to have tight ends that we can put out, and not just last year we put a lot of extra O-linemen packages out on the field, which you kind of show your hand easier when you have the extra O-linemen, so now having the versatility and the depth of the group that we have now should open up a ton more options for us when it comes to being able to disguise some personnel.”Q: On G Keylan Rutledge development this offseason moving around on the offensive lineRyans: “Keylan has done a great job. Keylan's moved around from guard to center. He's done a great job with both. Really great communicator as a young player, aggressive, intense, just like the tape you saw at Georgia Tech, so it's looked great so far in OTAs. I'm excited to see him as another guy, with all the rookies, I'm just excited to see the guys put the pads on in training camp and truly compete, get the opportunity to play in some preseason games.”Q: On what having the defensive veterans be able to practice and get acclimated with the new additions allows as a coachRyans:“Offenses are going to struggle.”Q: On if he has any plans for the upcoming offseason breakRyans: “Looking forward to a break. I have not had a break since our last playoff game. So, I've been working ever since and getting after it. So much needed break is coming. So, I'm excited about that, being able to spend some time with family, take the kiddos to Disney World and get to enjoy that for a little bit. So, it's a much needed time to just get away, really allow the mind to just reset, refresh, so I come back to training camp ready to roll.”This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans: Everything HC DeMeco Ryans said following Day 1 of minicamp

Jun. 9—Alabama helped give the Southeastern Conference a record five-team party headed to the College World Series, while also capping off the Heart of Dixie's two-team contingent.The Crimson Tide on Monday finished Sunday's weather-suspended game and beat St. John's 7-2 to sweep an NCAA super regional series.With Oklahoma also finishing a super regional sweep of Kansas on Monday, the SEC will have five of the eight teams in Omaha. One whole side of the bracket will be all-SEC, ensuring the league has someone playing for the national championship for a ninth straight CWS."What a day, what a year, what a season, man, 27 years in the making," Alabama coach Rob Vaughn said Monday. "I couldn't think of a better group to be able to kick that door down. I don't even have words. I don't have words."Alabama (42-19) is in the CWS for the first time since 1999, ending the longest drought among longtime SEC schools. Missouri, which last went to Omaha in 1964, didn't join the league until July 2012.The Crimson Tide will play Oklahoma at 2 p.m. Saturday. Texas and Georgia are in the same bracket.Troy, making its Omaha debut, takes on West Virginia at 1 p.m. Friday with Ole Miss and North Carolina also in that bracket.The Trojans swept Arkansas-Little Rock in a super regional series, capped by a 7-2 victory Saturday."Excitement. I just don't have any words," Troy right fielder Houston Markham said, describing the final super regional out. "That moment, the last double play, I kind of went black. I started screaming, untucking my jersey."With the Trojans and Crimson Tide, the state of Alabama has two teams in the CWS field for the first time since 1997. That year, Alabama and Auburn went, plus LSU and Mississippi State. LSU beat Alabama in the one-game championship round.Under the current format, the two brackets will play a double-elimination format with the bracket winners meeting in a best-of-3 championship series.The CWS went to a best-of-3 championship round in 2003.This is the 34th consecutive CWS that the SEC has had at least one team reach Omaha. The SEC had never had more than four teams make it, a level reached three times 2019-24.Current SEC teams have combined for 26 national championships.The SEC has won six straight national championships with three of those title series pitting two SEC teams against each other. That does not include 2022 Oklahoma, which had yet to join the SEC and was runner-up to Ole Miss.Texas coach Jim Schlossnagle is just the fourth coach to have led three teams to Omaha. He did so five times at TCU and twice at Texas A&M.The Longhorns are in the CWS for the 39th time overall.Alabama and Texas were also part of the Women's College World Series that ended last week in Oklahoma City with Texas winning a second straight national championship.No school has won both the CWS and WCWS in the same year, though four came close.In 2022, Oklahoma was the softball champion and baseball runner-up, while 2007 Florida won the baseball title and was second in softball. The Gators were runners-up in both in 2011, while 2010 UCLA won in softball and was second in baseball.

Former 4th-round pick floated as cut candidate for Chicago Bears in 2026 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Chicago Bears have high hopes for the 2026 season. The team couldn't have asked for a much better debut season from head coach Ben Johnson, so the hope now is the team will go even further in 2026. On offense, the team should be set up nicely. Caleb Williams had a fantastic 2025 season, and Luther Burden, Rome Odunze, Colston Loveland, and D'Andre Swift will give the quarterback ample weapons. However, with the roster getting so much better, it naturally means some players will get bumped off. Unfortunately, it looks like a former fourth-round pick could be on his way out as a result. Roschon Johnson floated as cut candidateRoschon Johnson was drafted by the Bears out of Texas in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The team and fans had high hopes for Johnson at the time, as he looked like a future star in college. Unfortunately, things haven't panned out for Johnson at the NFL level. The running back has yet to earn a start in the league, and the 352 rushing yards he had as a rookie is still his highest single-season total. As a result, Bleacher Report's Alex Kay thinks Johnson is a realistic cut candidate for the Bears. Kay offered the following analysis: With Johnson rarely seeing the field and getting relegated mostly to special teams work in the seven games he was active for last year, it would be hard to fault the Bears for moving on from the running back. Johnson logged a mere two carries and didn't see a single target in 2025.Although the Bears didn't bolster the backfield with any draft picks or notable free agents, they did grab veteran Salvon Ahmed and undrafted rookie Coleman Bennett to contest for roles during training camp. It's possible one of these unheralded options could impress the coaching staff and usurp Johnson as Chicago's RB3.As Kay mentioned, Johnson has struggled to get on the field for the Bears' offense. The running back was a complete non-factor in 2025 and was only active for seven games. The thing is, the Bears don't have that much depth at running back. Swift and Kyle Monangai are the obvious top options, but 2025 UDFA Brittain Brown, 2026 UDFA Coleman Bennett, and veteran journeyman Salvon Ahmed are the only other backs on the roster. Cutting Johnson despite those uninspiring depth options would certainly be a bad sign for Johnson's career. But, then again, it's not like Johnson has done anything to prove he deserves more carries either. More NFL news:James Gladstone keeps getting roasted for 2026 draft49ers once again took a major risk during the draft Blockbuster trade proposal gives Lions elite defender Packers urged to trade for disgruntled star ahead of 2026 seasonFormer Tennessee star could be 49ers' best UDFABengals urged to sign future Hall of Famer for offense

Mississippi State right-handed pitcher Chris Billingsley Jr. is entering the NCAA Transfer Portal after one season in Starkville, according to On3’s Pete Nakos.Billingsley, who transferred from East Central CC last offseason, made 17 appearances for the Bulldogs this season. The junior out of Brent, Ala. is draft eligible this summer. He threw 23.2 innings and struck out 17 while surrendering 16 earned runs.$19.99 gets you a FULL year of On3 | Rivals national coverageTo keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and X (formerly Twitter) account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.

KOKOMO — Led by Maddie Such, top-ranked (Class 4A) Lake Central beat No. 3 Penn, 5-0, in softball semistate semifinal action on Monday.The game was halted because of the weather on Saturday in West Lafayette. At the time, Lake Central led 3-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning. The contest resumed on Monday in Kokomo.Such tossed a five-hit shutout, struck out 12 and walked none on the mound. Offensively, she added two hits and two RBIs. Teammate Tegan Tripp hit a solo homer in the seventh inning.Carson Petty, Charlie Swiger, Addison Bogunia, Harper Rumble and Addyson Zachary each singled for the Kingsmen, who finish at 28-4.Lake Central, which stands at 30-2, went on to beat No. 4-ranked Fort Wayne Carroll, 5-2, for the semistate championship.Penn finishes at 28-4.------------LAKE CENTRAL 5, PENN 0Lake Central;210;000;2;—;5;8;0Penn;000;000;0;—;0;5;1Caitlyn Denny (L, 6 K's); Maddie Such (W, 12 K's).Lake Central: Hits — Madi Wainwright 2, Such 2. HR — Tegan Tripp. 2B — Such, Wainright. RBI — Such 2. Runs — Tripp 2.

Big 12 athletic directors took part in a conference call Tuesday with Commissioner Brett Yormark to address the situation around Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby and the court ruling that restored his NCAA eligibility for the upcoming season. The temporary injunction issued Monday by a Texas district court prevents the NCAA from enforcing its ban of Sorsby. The transfer QB had been ruled ineligible for what will be his final college season after he acknowledged years of gambling that included at least 40 bets on his own team while a freshman at Indiana.Since NCAA rules call for a permanent loss of eligibility for any player who wagered on his own team, the judge's decision sent shockwaves through college sports, including in Texas Tech's own league. Yormark said there was a “thoughtful and productive conversations” with the athletic directors as “we continue to work through the broader implications of this situation.”In a statement without getting into specifics, the commissioner said many of the ADs voiced their opinions. "We will continue to have open and honest dialogue amongst the group, and until there is something to report, these conversations will remain within the conference,” he said. Next will be a meeting of the league's executive board, when there is expected to be a discussion to present options, but no immediate action is expected then. The full board of directors, made up of presidents and chancellors from the league's 16 members, is expected to meet next week. Part of the injunction from the 99th District Court against the NCAA includes a two-game suspension for Sorsby. He would miss games against Abilene Christian and Oregon State, but eligible to return when the Red Raiders play their Big 12 opener at home Sept. 18 against Houston. The NCAA is appealing to a higher Texas court. Sorsby made thousands of impermissible bets on college and pro sports that were worth at least $90,000 while at Indiana, Cincinnati and Texas Tech. Those bets include the ones he made while a freshman with the Hoosiers in 2022, though none were on games in which he played that season. “I think that’s the unpardonable sin,” Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin said Tuesday. "And I think everyone in America grew up knowing that was the unpardonable sin when it comes to sports and gambling.”___ AP Sports Writer Mark Long contributed to this report.___AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Kyle Vasey.Credit: Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via GettyNEED TO KNOWFormer Penn State football player Kyle Vasey was hospitalized after a driver allegedly intentionally struck him and his fiancée, who did not surviveVasey broke four ribs and has three spine fractures, his parents said in a GoFundMe established after the accident on Monday, June 8A third victim, 72-year-old Dianne Windes, also died in the crashFormer Penn State football player Kyle Vasey has been hospitalized after a man allegedly intentionally struck him and his fiancée, Corinne More, killing her.Vasey, 30, and More, 35, were out for a walk in their Colorado neighborhood around 10:30 a.m., local time on Monday, June 8, when 28-year-old Adam Bauserman, who was reportedly already driving with a suspended license from a DUI, allegedly intentionally drove his vehicle into them and another person, according to CBS News.The driver made a U-turn to drive back by the scene "slowly" and observe the damage after the crash before leaving the scene, witnesses told the outlet. Witnesses reportedly followed Bauserman more than five miles from the scene to Daniels Park, where police took him into custody.Kyle Vasey on Sept. 1, 2018.Credit: Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY SportsVasey suffered multiple injuries, including three spine fractures and four broken ribs, according to a GoFundMe set up by his parents, Bruce and Shelley Vasey. A doctor said in an affidavit that he is at substantial risk for permanent disfigurement or death, according to CBS."Kyle endured multiple fractures all over his body. His left arm was the only limb not injured," his parents said in the GoFundMe. "So far he has had six surgeries. At this point, he's still on a ventilator and is sedated to help manage the pain while his body recovers."More died from her injuries. A third victim, 72-year-old Dianne Windes, also passed away, according to CBS.Deputies said Bauserman was "unusually quiet" after the crash, according to CBS. He allegedly asked police if he had "killed the man" while speaking with authorities. Police believe that the driver did not know the victims personally, per the outlet."This was a horrific scene," Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly said, per CBS."Thankfully, there was no major head trauma, and everyone is optimistic about his physical recovery," Bruce and Shelley wrote of the athlete on GoFundMe."However, it is expected to be a long road of recovery. His beautiful fiancée did not survive. At this time, we are asking for your thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery of his body, heart, and mind. However, any donations to help with his ever-climbing medical bills would be greatly appreciated," his parents said.Kyle Vasey.Credit: GoFundMeNever miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.As of Tuesday, June 9, the fundraiser has raised more than $31,000 of its $40,000 goal.Bauser has been charged with seven felonies and one misdemeanor, per the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. His charges include: vehicular homicide, failure to remain at the scene of an accident involving death, two counts of vehicular assault, second-degree assault - crimes to at-risk person, and driving a motor vehicle when license under restrain.His bond is set at $100,000.Read the original article on People

Here's everything Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz said following the first day of minicamp, including his budding relationship with Pro Bowler C.J. Stroud and the impact of newcomer Foster Moreau. Question: On what he has seen from [QB] C.J. Stroud this offseasonDalton Schultz: “He's been working. Since the season has been over, I think he got to work straight away. We met up before OTAs even started and he already looked like he'd been training for months. I think just coming into OTAs with that mindset of getting back to work and really starting from basics, fundamentals, throwing mechanics, footwork, he's been looking really good out there. He's looked a lot smoother. Any time you're in year two of an offense, it's going to happen. But I think that he's just done a good job of just leading the group and leading the group cleanly, which clearly helps with the operation of everything. He's done a really good job.”Q: On wanting to make it further in the playoffs and if last season’s ending stungSchultz: “They all kind of sting the same. The older you get, maybe a little bit more because it's like, ‘Damn, it feels like another opportunity gone.’ But for me, I didn't really have an offseason. I've been training literally since we got back. I took a week and a half, two weeks to take a trip and I've been training ever since. I was rehabbing immediately after the season. To me, it's like as much work as it's been, it's kind of been refreshing because it's allowed me to kind of feel young. When you're young and your body's feeling good, you pour everything you got because you have to get bigger. You have to get stronger. For me this year, going into year nine, I was right back on that same plan. I'm a guy who kind of hangs my hat on the work and the prep that I do. For me, it's allowed me to hone in on my goals and really start back at ground zero and take a lot of leaps and strides in my own game, my own health, my own nutrition, and just get my body where I really want it to be.”Q: On whether he felt any extra pressure last season play with the other injuries in the tight end roomSchultz: “No. I don't think so. I've always prided myself on fighting through little bumps and scratches and nicks. That's just the game of football. It's weird still calling myself one of the older guys. When I was young, looking at the older guys around me to see what those guys were playing through when the game had a little less rules— To me, it's like I'm playing through bruises compared to what I saw the older guys when I was young play through. I think it's just a little different mindset for me.”Q: On what he has seen from WR Tank DellSchultz: “I'll be the first one to tell you, I love it when I see Tank on the field. It's been two long years for him. I know he's gone through a lot. He's had a crazy road to recovery, but every time he's out there, he's a dude that just brings juice, brings good energy. At the end of the day, the kid's a hell of a receiver. I know when he lines it up, when he's on the field, we're going to have a good matchup. To just to see him back out there is motivating for guys, especially considering what he's gone through.”Q: On whether the additions of TE Foster Moreau and having TE Brevin Jordan and TE Cade Stover healthy allows the offense to try new thingsSchultz: “It's a good question. We're not quite there yet. We'll see when the reigns come off everybody, but I'm excited. We have a very well-rounded room and a bunch of guys that do a lot of different stuff really well. I think Foster has been a great addition for us, just bringing the energy, the juice. He's a classic Louisiana kid, chirping everything all the time. We need that, especially on offense. We need that sort of thing. I think our room has come together nicely. We'll continue to work and to get better and show that we can contribute in many different ways in this offense.”Q: On how he hast been able to tweak his game to Offensive Coordinator Nick Caley’s offense and the impact of the addition of RB David MontgomerySchultz: “‘Cales’ is a tight end guy. He's always trying something. There are always little wrinkles like, ‘Hey, let's do this out of this formation. Let's try this out. Let's motion it.’ I don't think he goes to bed without thinking about ball, I don't think he can turn it off. We're always coming in, mixing stuff up. He's really good about letting us know, ‘Hey, on this, let's do this differently.’ That's been fun, especially in OTAs, where you can get away with trying some of that. You've got a little bit more time to spend on stuff like that. That's been fun. I think ‘D-Mo’ is going to be a hell of a back for us. That mindset, that downhill, ‘I don't have to go around you, I'm going to go through you mindset,’ is something that brings a different energy to the backfield. I'm hoping that this scheme works well for him. I think he's seeing it great. At the end of the day, we brought in another leader.”Q: On what he wants to add to his arsenal this season and what he wants to do differentlySchultz: “It's funny, like, everything. It's hard because, as a tight end, you're asked to do everything. You constantly have to be working on everything. I know that's not the best answer or the easiest thing to do. It's hard when you're asked to pass block against Will Anderson. It's hard when you're asked to run block against Danielle Hunter. It's hard when you're asked to go one-on-one against Derek Stingley. You're asked to do all these things and all the different facets, trying to get ‘Cales’ to give us a handoff one time to test those waters. There's so much to work on. At the end of the day, we only have so much time out here. For me, a lot of that's come in the training part, in the weight room and honing my physical body, trying to get it to a point where it's like, I feel more athletic. I feel more explosive. That helps the route-running stuff. That helps the run blocking stuff. Then I think with [James] Ferentz coming in, he has a really good kind of offensive line, physical run blocking background. I'm hoping that through some of that work, that'll kind of allow a little bit more growth in the run game, for me specifically. Just by working through some of those fundamentals and techniques, that is just a different view and a focal point than what I think we're used to technique-wise.”Q: On what he has seen from TE Marlin Klein both mentally and physicallySchultz: “Good athlete. He's a big dude. He moves well. I think in this offense, specifically, like I just was saying, you are asked to do everything. Knowing where to be and where to line up and how to execute is like a big hurdle. It's a big learning curve. I think as a young guy, being able to soak that up and to get that information and use it well and be able to go out and actually line up and execute at full speed, it's hard to do. So far, I think he's done a good job of that. Training Camp kind of is the true test of putting the pads on and figuring out like when the bullets are flying. We'll see, I'm excited for him.” Q: On what he has observed from the young offensive linemen and what will be the key to better run blocking this seasonSchultz: “I think first and foremost, run blocking is about mindset. The mindset and then the technique. It’s like, ‘Are you willing to put your face in there? Are you willing to fire off the ball and honestly be willing to miss sometimes? Are you willing to just take off and run through a guy?’ I think from the new faces that we have and the new guys that we brought in, that's the first thing that's jumped out to me is just the mindset. I think DeMeco threw a few clips on in the first week of like pulling some of the offensive line back saying like, ‘Hey, on pass blocking, we can't go clean out like a defensive end who's just kind of sitting there holding up.’ We had guys flying around trying to hit people. I think, from that mindset, that's a problem that we hadn't necessarily had for the last couple of years. That's something that jumped out immediately. Having to pull guys back and be like, ‘Hey, slow down.’ Which is usually what he's saying to the defense. To see it on the offensive side was nice (laughs). I think at the end of the day, it's all here [mental]. I think we have the guys for it.”This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans: Everything TE Dalton Schultz said following Day 1 of minicamp

Blockbuster NBA trade proposal has Bulls adding 2-time All-Star originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Chicago Bulls had another disappointing season in 2025-26. At least this time, though, the Bulls were actually somewhat rewarded in the draft lottery. The Bulls currently have the No. 4 pick in the draft, which means they'll be in position to land a talent like Caleb Wilson, Keaton Wagler, or Darius Acuff Jr. The Bulls need to hit on this pick if they want to get out of the basement, but what if they end up having other plans? Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes recently identified some blockbuster Ja Morant trade packages, and Hughes thinks the Bulls could offer a solid return. Hughes' proposal looks like this: Bulls Acquire: Ja Morant, No. 3 pickGrizzlies Acquire: Patrick Williams, Jalen Smith, Rob Dillingham, No. 4 pickRegarding this potential deal, Hughes offered the following analysis: Morant might not interest the Bulls at all, as they're just now beginning a proper rebuild. At the same time, maybe Chicago views the draft differently and believes there's a huge gap between No. 3 and No. 4. In that hypothetical, it's not so hard to imagine the Bulls taking on Morant and all his associated risk, particularly if it also gets them out of the Williams business.So, in Hughes' proposal, the Bulls get off of Patrick Williams' horrendous deal, and also move Jalen Smith, Rob Dillingham, and the No. 4 pick for Morant and the No. 3 pick. This would give the Bulls a troubled but talented point guard and a coveted top-three pick for this loaded class. Would Bulls trade for Morant? The Bulls definitely aren't the first team you'd identify as a fit for Morant. The Bulls are finally fully rebuilding, and Josh Giddey and Morant seem like an odd fit together. However, if this were the exact proposal, the Bulls couldn't say yes any faster. I have no clue why the Grizzlies would do this deal as constructed. They move off their franchise player AND give up the chance to land Cameron Boozer for the No. 4 pick, a horrible contract, and two role players? This is a fantastic deal for the Bulls and would be considered a fleece even if Morant never returns to form. The Bulls would definitely love to move up to No. 3 to land Boozer, especially if all it costs is a few role players. Sure, RIGHT NOW, Morant has a bad contract. However, he could play like his old self in a new environment. And like I said, even if Morant doesn't play better, who cares? You get to land an elite talent in the draft for basically nothing.