Who is the most valuable player on each World Cup team?Instead of creating what would clearly be an arbitrary ranking, we’re going to rank them by what their transfer market value is at the club level. Sure, a player like Argentina's Lionel Messi may be the most indispensable part of his team. But thanks to his age (38), he would go for a relative pittance ($17 million) if another club wanted to purchase him from Inter Miami.Based on the values from TransferMarkt, here are the players with the biggest valuations on each of the 48 teams at the World Cup. Given that soccer clubs prioritize potential and goal-scoring ability when buying players, you'll notice that this list is heavily skewed towards younger attackers. AlgeriaMF Ibrahim Maza, 20, Bayer Leverkusen ($52 million)Maza just completed his first year at Bayer Leverkusen after playing for Hertha Berlin. In 28 Bundesliga appearances this past season, he had three goals and four assists.ArgentinaF Julián Alvarez, 26, Atletico Madrid ($115 million)Alvarez came to Atletico Madrid from Manchester City in the summer of 2024. Since then, he's scored 25 league goals and is again the subject of transfer rumors as Real Madrid's bid has been rejected by Atleti and Barcelona is also interested.AustraliaLB Jordan Bos, 23, Feyenoord ($14 million)Bos moved to Europe after two seasons with A-League champions Melbourne City. He spent two seasons at Westerlo in the Belgian Pro League before spending this past season at Feyenoord, where he had seven assists in 28 Eredivisie appearances in 2025-26.AustriaRB Konrad Laimer, 29, Bayern Munich ($37 million)Laimer just completed his third season at Bayern and has spent the past nine seasons in the German Bundesliga after starting his career in his home country.BelgiumLW Jeremy Doku, 24, Manchester City ($87 million)Doku has become an important attacking piece at Manchester City since his arrival from Rennes at the start of the 2023-24 season. He has 19 goals across all competitions in the past three seasons.Play 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world's biggest soccer tournamentBosnia-HerzegovinaCB Tarik Muharemovic, 23, Sassuolo ($29 million)Muharemovic helped lead Sassuolo back to Serie A in 2024-25 and started every league game for the team this season as it finished 11th and easily avoided relegation back to Serie B.Only five players in the world would command more in the transfer market than Brazil's Vinicius Junior.Dustin Satloff - FIFA via Getty ImagesBrazilF Vinicius Junior, 25, Real Madrid ($161 million)Vini Jr. has scored 69 goals over the past five La Liga seasons for Real Madrid and is one of the best attackers in the world. Can he replicate that form for Brazil at the World Cup this summer?CanadaLB Alphonso Davies, 25, Bayern Munich ($46 million)Davies has been in the Bayern system ever since he started 27 matches for the Vancouver Whitecaps as a teenager in 2018 before moving abroad. He has been limited by injuries over the past two seasons and will miss the start of the World Cup.Cape VerdeCB Logan Costa, 25, Villarreal ($18 million)Costa joined Villarreal from French side Toulouse ahead of the 2024-25 season. He appeared in just two La Liga games after tearing his ACL in August of 2025, but is healthy for the World Cup.ColombiaLW Luis Diaz, 29, Bayern Munich ($81 million)Diaz moved from Liverpool to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2025 for a reported fee of $88 million. Diaz scored 15 goals and added 14 assists in his first Bundesliga season.Côte d'IvoireLW Yan Diomandé, 19, RB Leipzig ($104 million)Diomandé came to Leipzig last summer after a season at Leganés in La Liga. He made 28 starts and had 12 goals and eight assists. He could be on the move again with a huge World Cup.CroatiaCB Josko Gvardiol, 24, Manchester City ($81 million)Gvardiol's breakout came during the 2022 World Cup when he was at RB Leipzig. He went to Man City in the summer of 2023 and has been an integral piece of the City defense since.CuraçaoCB Armando Obispo, 27, PSV Eindhoven ($5 million)Obispo has been a part-time player for PSV throughout his career. He started every match he played in while on loan at Vitesse during he 2019-20 and has made 40 appearances with 14 starts over the past three Eredivisie seasons for PSV.CzechiaCB Ladislav Krejčí, 27, Wolves ($25 million)Krejčí moved to Wolves before the transfer window closed in August of 2025. He started all but one EPL game he played in, however, Wolves were relegated and finished last.DR CongoMF Noah Sadiki, 21, Sunderland ($40 million)Like Wolves, Sunderland moved up to the EPL from the Championship in 2025. Unlike Wolves, Sunderland excelled in the EPL. And Sadiki was a big reason why. The defensive midfielder started 33 games as Sunderland finished seventh in the league table.EcuadorMF Moisés Caicedo, 24, Chelsea ($115 million)Caicedo has been at Chelsea for the past three seasons after a big-money move from Brighton as part of Chelsea's effort to sing numerous high-dollar young players to long contracts.EgyptF Omar Marmoush, 27, Manchester City ($64 million)Marmoush joined Man City during the January transfer window in the 2024-25 season. He started 14 games for City immediately after his arrival, but was used more as a sub than a starter during the league season in 2025-26.England will rely heavily on Jude Bellingham in its attempt to win its first World Cup since 1966.Rich Storry via Getty ImagesEnglandMF Jude Bellingham, 22, Real Madrid ($150 million)Capable of being one the most dynamic attacking midfielders in the world, Bellingham joined Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund three seasons ago for $110 million. As Real Madrid had a tumultuous season, Bellingham had just six goals and four assists in 2025-26. That was his lowest combined total since 2020-21.FranceF Kylian Mbappé, 27, Real Madrid ($207 million)Mbappé had 42 goals across all competitions in 2025-26 as he scored 15 Champions League goals across 11 games and had 25 league goals in 31 appearances.GermanyMF Florian Wirtz, 23, Liverpool ($115 million)Wirtz came to Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2025 for $130 million. He had just five goals and three assists in 33 league appearances as Liverpool finished fifth in a rocky campaign.GhanaRW Antoine Semenyo, 26, Manchester City ($104 million)Semenyo joined Man City in January for a fee near $75 million. After scoring 10 EPL goals for Bournemouth in 20 starts, he added seven goals and an assist in 17 league games for City.HaitiF Wilson Isidor, 25, Sunderland ($21 million)Isidor scored 12 goals in the Championship for Sunderland in 2024-25 as the Black Cats earned promotion. He made 32 appearances with 11 starts in the Premier League in 2025-26 and scored six goals.IranLW Mehdi Ghayedi, 27, Al-Nasr ($5 million)Ghayedi's team plays in the United Arab Emirates league and he scored six goals this past season.IraqRW Ahmed Qasem, 22, Nashville SC ($4 million)Before MLS's World Cup break, Qasem had a goal and an assist in nine starts and 14 overall appearances this season. In his first season at Nashville, in 2025, Qasem scored two goals and had one assist.JapanMF Kaishū Sano, 25, Mainz ($46 million)Sano spent his career in Japan's domestic leagues before moving to Mainz in the summer of 2024. He's started 68 games in his two Bundesliga seasons and scored his first league goal since 2023 this past season.JordanMousa Tamari, 29, Stade Rennais ($12 million)Rennes made the leap from 12th to sixth in the French Ligue I standings in 2025-26 as Tamari scored six league goals across 33 appearances.MexicoF Santiago Giménez, 25, AC Milan ($21 million)Giménez has been with Milan the past two seasons after a transfer from Feyenoord. He has five goals and three assists in 30 league appearances during his time with Milan, but didn't score a Serie A goal at all in 2025-26.MoroccoRB Achraf Hakimi, 27, PSG ($98 million)Hakimi has been an integral part of a PSG team that has won back-to-back Champions League titles. In 2025-26, he appeared in 13 Champions League games with one goal and six assists after scoring four goals and notching five assists in 17 UCL games in 2024-25.NetherlandsMF Ryan Gravenberch, 24, Liverpool ($104 million)The Dutch midfielder has become a mainstay in Liverpool's midfield over the past two seasons. He started 37 league matches in 2024-25 as Liverpool won the Premier League, and made 36 appearances with 34 starts in 2025-26.New ZealandF Chris Wood, 34, Nottingham Forest ($6 million)After scoring 20 goals in 26 Premier League games in 2024-25, Wood was limited to just 15 league appearances this past season and scored three goals.Norway will go as far as Erling Haaland, one of the best goal scorers in the world, takes them.Stuart Franklin via Getty ImagesNorwayF Erling Haaland, 25, Manchester City ($230 million)The goal-scoring machine has topped 20 goals in each of his past six league seasons. In 2025-26, Haaland scored eight goals in the Champions League and had 27 EPL goals. He scored 36 goals in 35 games during his first EPL season in 2023.PanamaRB Amir Murillo, 30, Besiktas ($8 million)Murillo joined Besiktas from Marseille in January and made 28 combined league appearances in 2025-26 in Ligue 1 and the Turkish Super Ligue.ParaguayMF Julio Enciso, 22, Strasbourg ($29 million)Enciso scored three goals and had six assists for Strasbourg in Ligue 1 in 2025-26. He joined the team after spending the past three seasons in the Premier League for Brighton & Hove Albion and Ipswich Town.PortugalMF João Neves, 21, PSG ($161 million)Neves is one of the many dynamic players in an incredibly stacked PSG midfield. He made 35 total appearances in 2025-26 in the Champions League and Ligue 1 with seven goals and four assists.QatarLW Akram Afif, 29, Al-Sadd ($9 million)Afif played the first four seasons of his career in Europe and is now a key piece of Al Sadd in Qatar as the team won the Qatar Stars League.Saudi ArabiaRB Saud Abdulhamid, 26, Lens ($11 million)Abdulhamid scored two goals and had four assists in 25 Ligue 1 appearances for Lens in 2025-26. It was his first season in France after spending the 2024-25 season with Roma in Serie A.ScotlandMF Scott McTominay, 29, Napoli ($46 million)McTominay has been an indispensable part of Napoli's team since leaving Manchester United at the start of the 2024-25 season. He's made 64 league starts for Napoli with 22 goals and seven assists and scored four Champions League goals this past season.SenegalRW Iliman Ndiaye, 26, Everton ($64 million)Ndiaye has become an important player for Everton since joining from Marseille in the summer of 2024. He's started 61 EPL games over the past two years and has scored 15 goals and added three assists.South AfricaF Lyle Foster, 25, Burnley ($9 million)Foster had three goals and two assists over 26 appearances and 15 starts for Burnley in 2025-26. However, Burnley was relegated back to the Championship after finishing 19th in the EPL.South KoreaMF Kang-in Lee, 25, PSG ($32 million)PSG has the luxury of rotating its squad heavily during Ligue 1 games to focus on the Champions League. Lee played in 10 UCL games with no starts in 2025-26 but had 18 starts in Ligue 1 with three goals and four assists.Lamine Yamal is the highest priced player in the world, and he's only 18.Eric Alonso via Getty ImagesSpainRW Lamine Yamal, 18, Barcelona ($230 million)Yamal appeared in seven fewer La Liga games in 2025-26 thanks to a hamstring injury at the end of the season, but still upped his goal tally from nine to 16 and also had 11 assists. He's the overwhelming favorite to win young player of the tournament at the World Cup even if he misses the start of the tournament.SwedenF Alexander Isak, 26, Liverpool ($98 million)Like Wirtz, Isak didn't have an easy first year at Liverpool. Injuries and his holdout at Newcastle led to just 14 EPL appearances and eight starts. He had three goals and an assist after scoring 23 league goals and dishing out six assists in 2024-25.SwitzerlandMF Johan Manzambi, 20, SC Freiburg ($64 million)Manzambi emerged as an undisputed starter for Freiburg in 2025-26. He started 26 of the 27 Bundesliga games he played in with five goals and four assists.TunisiaMF Hannibal, 23, Burnley ($18 million)The former Manchester United academy player has been with Burnley for the past two seasons and talked two goals and eight assists with the team.TürkiyeMF Arda Güler, 21, Real Madrid ($104 million)Güler joined Real Madrid from Fenerbahce in the summer of 2023. He's scored 13 league goals and added 13 assists over 71 appearances and 43 starts.If the United States is to go far in this tournament, Folarin Balogun will need to put the ball in the net for the USMNT.Cory Knowlton/ISI Photos via Getty ImagesUnited StatesF Folarin Balogun, 24, AS Monaco ($46 million)Balogun had a breakout season at Monaco in 2025-26. After scoring 11 goals over his first 42 Ligue 1 appearances, Balogun scored 13 goals and had four assists in 30 matches. Can he carry that form over to the World Cup for the U.S.?UruguayMF Federico Valverde, 27, Real Madrid ($104 million)Valverde is one of the best midfielders in the world and has started 127 La Liga games and 50 Champions League games for Real Madrid over the past four seasons.UzbekistanCB Abdukodir Khusanov, 22, Manchester City ($64 million)Khusanov has made 47 total appearances for Manchester City since he arrived from Lens in January of 2025.

Jun. 10—VERMILLION, S.D. — For much of the 2025 season, Tysen Boze was patiently waiting for his opportunity.By the time the University of South Dakota football team reached the postseason, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound wide receiver had become one of the Coyotes' most reliable playmakers, emerging as a key target during the team's run to the FCS playoffs as a junior.Now, entering his senior season, Boze finds himself in a much different position.After spending much of last season working his way into the rotation, Boze will enter the new fall season as the most established receiver on USD's roster and the player expected to carry the No. 1 wide receiver responsibility.With second-team All-American receiver Larenzo Fenner transferring to the University of Cincinnati and veteran receiver Jack Martens graduated, the spotlight has shifted squarely onto Boze as the leader of a young but talented receiving room."I am just trying to be consistent each and every day," Boze said of what he expects of himself heading into the new season. "I enjoy the added responsibility, and that's why I honestly came back for this season. I wanted this role. I want to embrace it and take it head on."Boze earned that opportunity through steady growth throughout the 2025 campaign.He appeared in all 15 games for the Coyotes and had eight starts, recording at least one reception in every game. His 19 catches for 298 yards ranked third on the team, while his two touchdown receptions both came during the postseason. He found the end zone against Mercer before adding another touchdown reception at Montana in the FCS quarterfinals, helping establish himself as a dependable option when the games mattered most down the stretch."I felt like it was just me learning each and every game, and that was my first time getting good playing time last season," Boze said of his game starting to grow toward the end of last season. "I plan on taking that with me this year, and I hope I can produce even more for my team."USD head coach Matt Vitzthum believes the confidence Boze gained during last year's postseason has carried directly into his preparation for the upcoming season."I really feel like Tysen had kind of his coming out party in the playoffs last year, and he has taken that confidence and really kind of rolled throughout the spring with it," Vitzthum said. "You can tell he is much more comfortable and confident in his abilities, and I am excited to see what he can do for us this year."That confidence will be needed as the Coyotes attempt to replace one of the most productive receiving tandems in program history.Fenner rewrote the Coyotes' Division I record book last season, setting single-season program records with 1,001 receiving yards and 15 touchdown receptions. Martens complemented Fenner with 34 receptions for 503 yards and four touchdown receptions, finishing second on the team in all three categories.Combined, the duo accounted for more than 1,500 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns. Replacing that production will not fall entirely on Boze's shoulders, but he will definitely be asked to take on a larger role in the offense."I have loved Tysen's progress in the spring, and he has kind of been more of a supporting cast guy, and now, we're asking him to step up in there and he has done a great job," USD offensive coordinator Tim Morrison said. "He is a natural leader, and we have high expectations for him this season as somewhat of that lead guy for us."Boze believes the group has the talent necessary to continue South Dakota's recent offensive success."We have a lot of young guys that are going to help step up and help replace those roles," Boze said. "I feel like we all are very excited to be out there, and we are all itching to make plays. I just can't wait to make these plays out there on the field with my brothers."While Boze headlines the group, USD's receiving room will feature several players expected to take on expanded responsibilities in 2026.One of the most intriguing options is senior wide receiver Tennel Bryant, a transfer from Arkansas State who showcased his explosiveness in limited opportunities last season.The 5-foot-7, 170-pound playmaker finished with nine receptions for 193 yards and a touchdown grab in the playoffs against Mercer. He also contributed as a kick returner and is expected to become a more versatile piece of the offense this season."I think Tennel Bryant has had an excellent spring, and we're trying to get him out of that more gadget, slot receiver mold, and stressing him more into the offense and lining him up in every position," Morrison said.Vitzthum echoed Morrison, and believes Bryant can become one of the offense's most dangerous weapons."The guy that everyone forgets about is Tennel Bryant," Vitzthum said. "He is a big weapon for us, and we're going to have to learn how to utilize him in the right ways and I love what he brings to our offense."Vitzthum and Morrison are also excited about the continued development of Brayden White. The 5-foot-11 sophomore spent much of last season making an impact on special teams, recording more than 300 kickoff-return yards while seeing limited offensive opportunities. Vitzthum believes he is poised for a larger offensive role entering his second season."I am super excited about Brayden, and I truly believe he is going to be a special one," Vitzthum said. "He was only a redshirt freshman last season, and he looks much more poised and ready to go to help contribute to our football team."Andre Jacobs is another player looking to carve out a bigger role. The 6-foot, 195-pound junior saw limited action at receiver last season but enters the year with an opportunity to earn meaningful snaps in a crowded competition.The Coyotes also added experience through the transfer portal with Bryce Cohoon. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound junior receiver began his collegiate career at Syracuse before spending the past two seasons at Kansas. Now in Vermillion, Cohoon will look to establish himself within the Coyotes' offensive playbook and compete for targets.Together, the group forms a receiving corps with plenty of potential but relatively limited production. Morrison said he was pleased with what he saw during the spring period, as it will only ramp up heading into summer workouts and fall camp."Overall, the group did everything they were asked throughout the spring, and I am super excited to see what they can achieve this season," Morrison said.

Jun. 10—GRAND FORKS — Jim Vahrenkamp and Tom Scott landed in Amsterdam in October 2023.The UND track and field coaches then rented a car and drove to Lille in northern France to meet up with an athlete named Louis-Lys Fanucchi."We went to this French restaurant right around noon," Vahrenkamp recalled. "It was just the right temperature. I had been up for about 30 hours and I was struggling to stay awake the whole time."Vahrenkamp and Scott battled the lack of sleep. They walked around town and talked to Fanucchi, a long-distance runner, about coming to UND.It paid off big time.UND landed Fanucchi — one of several athletes they visited on that trip — and he's become one of the school's best athletes.The sophomore set the school record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase last month at the NCAA West Preliminary Round and is now set to compete at the NCAA Outdoor Championships this week at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.Fanucchi will run in the 3,000-meter steeplechase semifinals at 7:38 p.m. Wednesday. It will be televised by ESPN.If he reaches the final, it will be held at 7:24 p.m. Friday on ESPN2."It's been pretty awesome," Fanucchi said. "It's a breakthrough season for me. Last year was good overall. This year, I made a huge step forward. It was pretty fun."It's a breakthrough that Scott saw coming."Tom and I had a conversation last year," Vahrenkamp recalled. "Tom told me, 'This is the most talented kid I've ever worked with.' Tom and I have worked together for eight or nine years at this point. We've had people who have done some really incredible stuff. For him to make that comment at that point, he knew something was there. The question is whether the person who is talented can put everything together over time."Fanucchi has done that.He finished the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA West Preliminary Round in Fayetteville, Ark., in 8:33.56, setting UND's school record. His run clinched an automatic bid to the national championships as a top-three heat-finisher. He finished seventh overall."I thought it would be really stressful in a big arena," Fanucchi said of the race in late May. "It ended up being the same. No pressure at all, just a lot of fun. Hopefully, I can do the same thing this week."In high school, Fanucchi ran between 20 and 30 miles per week. That has been upped to 70 or 80 miles a week at UND."You can't do that for four weeks and see a big change," Vahrenkamp said. "But a year or a year and a half, with the time and effort put together, you get results."Fanucchi, who had not been to America until he reported to UND last season, said he didn't set a specific goal for this season. His target is just to excel in every competition he enters."When I qualified for regionals for the first time, I was really happy," Fanucchi said. "When I ended up qualifying for nationals, I was super happy. It was the same. It's been a lot of new experiences."The next experience: competing at the NCAA Outdoor Championships."He's an incredibly talented young man," Vahrenkamp said.

Santos have 6️⃣ starters who can’t switch Série A clubs, see listNine Santos players have already surpassed the limit of 12 matches in the Brazilian Championship, a rule that prevents them from switching teams during this edition of the tournament.Of that total, six are starters: Gabriel Brazão (16 matches), Igor Vinícius (13), Luan Peres (15), Gabriel Bontempo (16), Benjamín Rollheiser (14) and Barreal (15), as ge reported on Wednesday (10).Three other players frequently used by Cuca have also reached the limit: Willian Arão (13), Rony (14) and Moisés (13).Escobar, Christian Oliva and Gabigol have 12 appearances each and are right at the limit.The full-back’s contract expires at the end of the year and, starting in July, he will be able to sign a pre-contract with another club.Gabigol, who belongs to Cruzeiro, is not expected to hit the mark anytime soon because he is serving a suspension after being sent off against Vitória.Neymar, rested for load management, has played only eight matches in the Brasileirão.He is with the national team at the World Cup and his contract also expires at the end of the year; his future should become clearer after the tournament.Close to the limit are João Schmidt (10 matches), Lucas Veríssimo (11) and Thaciano (11).Players who will probably leave in the squad overhaul are not a concern because they have made few appearances: Mayke (3 matches) and Tomás Rincón (2).Zé Ivaldo has played more often among the possible departures (5 matches), but has not played since April 5; Zé Rafael, who trains separately, has five appearances in the championship.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

New York City is preparing for rowdy crowds as the Knicks will take on the Spurs Wednesday at Madison Square Garden. So much so, that officials are having disagreements on the best way to figure out how to properly handle crowd control — particularly between the Garden and the city.Referring to both Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch as "New York City's biggest party poopers," the arena slammed officials for keeping some of the tightened security measures in place for President Donald Trump's attendance on Monday night."The last several victories the Knicks have had have been celebrated by thousands and thousands outside MSG. The joy and happiness were palpable everywhere,” The Garden's statement, released Tuesday, said. “Apparently Mayor Mamdani and Police Commissioner Tisch, despite what they say, don’t want to see these celebrations happen.”The NYPD had granted the Knicks a permit to host the Game 4 watch party outside of the stadium for up to 1,000 people, according to The Athletic. Tickets will be needed for attendees and no re-entries will be allowed.But the stadium snapped at some of the security measures the city told them it planned to take. "We have been told that the NYPD will once again implement the same 'frozen zone' restrictions for Game 4, which were supposedly to thwart any threats related to the President's attendance," the Garden wrote. "We now know these restrictions were never about the President — it was just a convenient excuse to restrict how and when Knicks fans celebrate."Police told USA TODAY Network that a security perimeter would be established, beginning at 4 p.m., from West 29th to West 35th streets, between Sixth and Eighth avenues.The venue claimed that closing the area would lead to small businesses losing support they have come to rely on from Knicks fans."The actions of the Mayor and Police Commissioner, supposedly in support of the Knicks and their fans, are difficult to understand," MSG said."We urge them to lift these restrictions and embrace the love of the team."This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NYPD, MSG clash over watch party for Knicks Finals match

Notorious transphobe Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) lost in her state’s Republican gubernatorial primary yesterday, coming in 5th place as Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson advanced to a runoff. As the vote count came in, Equality PAC hosted its National Pride Gala in Washington, D.C., where trans Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE) took the stage and celebrated Mace’s loss. Related House Republicans are trying to make June “Family Month” nationwide. They’re failing. McBride told the crowd it was “a big day” for several reasons, including the South Carolina primary. “For those of you who aren’t aware, my colleague and Congress’s top bathroom sheriff, Nancy Mace, is on the ballot.” At that, the crowd erupted into a chorus of boos. McBride was referring to Mace’s cruel and successful campaign (in direct response to McBride being elected to Congress) to ban trans people at the Capitol from using the bathroom that corresponds to their gender identity Your LGBTQ+ guide to Election 2024 Stay ahead of the 2024 Election with our newsletter that covers candidates, issues, and perspectives that matter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today “While not all of the votes have been counted yet,” McBride continued, “She is in a respectful fifth place.” The crowd cheered. “I don’t like punching down, and I believe in the politics of grace,” McBride continued, before gleefully exclaiming, “So all I will say is Happy Pride, Nancy.” The audience loved it, breaking into a mix of laughter and applause. “Congress's top bathroom sheriff Nancy Mace is on the ballot, and while not all of the votes have been counted yet, she is in a respectful fifth place,” Sarah McBride just said. “I don't like punching down and I believe in the politics of grace. So all I will say is happy Pride, Nancy.”[image or embed]— Christopher Wiggins (@cwnewser.bsky.social) June 9, 2026 at 8:14 PM When McBride became the first out trans person elected to Congress, Mace not only got her banned from women’s restrooms, but also decided to make hating McBride and the overall trans community her entire brand. She centered her gubernatorial campaign around dismantling trans rights and has relentlessly bullied McBride since the two became colleagues in the House. The self-described “proud transphobe” has lobbed transphobic slurs at a student, shouted these slurs during a speech and a House committee meeting, publicly bullied a trans influencer, was booed when discussing a trans activist’s genitals at a public talk, targeted two universities in her state for offering more than two gender options on certain student forms, referred to McBride as “it” and “a man” in a TV news appearance, and called trans people “mentally ill” (even though trans identity isn’t considered a mental illness by any major medical or psychological association). In a social media post following the primary results, Mace blamed her loss on her support for the release of the Epstein files. “Apparently, I chose wrong if the goal was winning an election,” she said. “I’m at peace with that. Because when a candidate is OK with corruption and cover-ups – something is broken. That’s not a political opinion. That’s a moral emergency.” Serving South Carolina has been the greatest honor of my life. Every vote I cast, every hearing I called, every fight I picked — it was always for you.I’ve seen what happens when good people stay quiet. And I’ve seen what happens when they don’t. I would choose the latter every… pic.twitter.com/Dwx7oCUT9q— Nancy Mace (@NancyMace) June 10, 2026 Mace also freaked out last week when the president endorsed Evette over her. She went so far as to claim he didn’t really endorse her, even though he wrote that she had his “Complete and Total Endorsement.” Mace chose not to run for Congress again this year to focus on her gubernatorial campaign, so she will be out of elected office completely this coming January. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Airfares shot up 27 percent from a year earlier in the latest inflation data.

The Consumer Price Index is one of the last major data releases ahead Kevin M. Warsh’s first meeting as chair of the Federal Reserve.

The 25 charges include manslaughter and conspiracy. They are the first to emerge from a monthslong investigation into a blaze that killed 168 people.

NEW DELHI: After a spectacular IPL 2026 campaign, the focus quickly shifted to 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and was expected he will continue his six-hitting spree in the India A tri-nation one-day series in Sri Lanka. However, things did not go according to plan for the young batting sensation in his first outing.Sooryavanshi, with his fearless and dynamic approach in batting in IPL 2026, played a key role in earning him a place in the Indian setup. Expectations were high when he walked out to bat for India A in the tri-series opener against Sri Lanka A.But his debut appearance for India A in one-day cricket ended with a modest 14. Despite the teenager's early departure, India A held their nerve to register an eight-run victory over Sri Lanka A in a thrilling contest.Chasing 278, Sri Lanka A appeared firmly in control after captain Sahan Arachchige produced a sublime 74 off 72 balls. However, a dramatic collapse saw the hosts lose their last four wickets in the space of just 10 deliveries. Pacer Arshad Khan starred in the closing stages, claiming three wickets in the final over to help India A snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.There was considerable focus on Sooryavanshi's innings and the youngster looked in good touch during his brief stay at the crease, striking three boundaries. However, a moment of impatience cut short his knock. Attempting to bunt Shiraz over mid-off, Sooryavanshi found Sahan Arachchige, who completed a sharp diving catch. 131631773When will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi play next?After managing just 14 runs against Sri Lanka A, Sooryavanshi will have an opportunity to bounce back in India A's next fixture of the tournament.India A are scheduled to face Afghanistan A on June 11 at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla. The match will start at 10 AM IST.With the spotlight firmly on the teenage sensation, fans will once again be eager to see whether Sooryavanshi can replicate the explosive form that made him one of the standout performers of IPL 2026.Squads:India A Squad: Prabhsimran Singh(w), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Priyansh Arya, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma(c), Ayush Badoni, Suryansh Shedge, Anukul Roy, Anshul Kamboj, Arshad Khan, Vipraj Nigam, Yash Thakur, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Kumar Kushagra, Nishant SindhuAfghanistan A Squad: Imran Mir(c), Noor ul Rahman(w), Hassan Eisakhil, Bahir Shah, Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai, Farmanullah Safi, Shams Ur Rahman, Khalil Gurbaz, Zahir Khan, Faridoon Dawoodzai, Mohammad Ibrahim, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Khalid Taniwal, Ishaq Rahimi, Faisal Khan Ahmadzai

Everton avoided relegation by four points in the 2021-22 season [Getty Images]Everton have been told they must pay Burnley £35m over the impact of breaches of the Premier League's financial rules.The case - heard by a Premier League commission - relates to the 2021-22 season, when Everton were found to have broken profit and sustainability regulations (PSR) over a three-year period.Burnley argued the breach impacted their chances of staying in the Premier League, and sought compensation for the losses associated with being relegated.The Clarets have been awarded £26m in damages and a further £9m in interest. Everton have appealed, with sources saying they will "robustly and thoroughly" contest the ruling.The club said in a statement they were "clear in the belief the ruling is fundamentally flawed in both law and fact"."This ruling sets a dangerous and unworkable precedent for English football, given it is constructed on a principle that a club can be in breach of financial rules at any point in a financial year," the statement said."Everton believes the panel's ruling misrepresents the clear evidence presented by its legal representatives and that an appeal will be successful."Any compensation payment would not impact Everton's PSR accounts for the current period.What is the background?Everton were charged by the Premier League and deducted 10 points in November 2023, which was reduced to six points on appeal and applied to the league table in 2023-24.The case centred on the argument that had the points been deducted in 2021-22, Burnley would have had a greater chance of avoiding relegation.Everton finished 16th in 2021-22 on 39 points, with Leeds in 17th on 38 points and Burnley 18th on 35 points. Leeds are reported to have agreed a settlement with Everton in September 2025.Because of the complexities of the accounting period, which runs to the end of June, the Premier League is unable to apply points deductions in the season the offence happens.But Premier League rules allow clubs to seek compensation against another members if rules are broken and cause them loss.Leicester City, Nottingham Forest and Southampton were also reported to have considered legal action.The ruling could have implications for Chelsea, who were not given a points deduction but were fined £10m after admitting making £47m in secret payments to unregistered agents and third parties over transfers between 2011 and 2018.Elsewhere, clubs could seek compensation if Manchester City are found guilty of the 115 charges related to alleged financial rule breaches between 2009 and 2018. City deny all of the charges.Other Premier League clubs could argue their chances of success in the Premier League were impacted by the rule breaches.'Everton astonished by flawed judgement'This is the single biggest claim made by one club against another in Premier League history.Four years on from being deducted points for breaching PSR rules, Everton continue to be punished for those indiscretions.There is a feeling that the latest ruling makes it a triple jeopardy for one single sanction - the points deduction they received at the time, the financial implications of merit money reducing by dropping down the table and now this claim from Burnley.Everton's hierarchy have reacted with astonishment at the panel's decision to award this compensation claim to the Clarets and feel the judgement is flawed and one that is hugely excessive.While this took place on the watch of former owner Farhad Moshiri, the Friedkin Group are now having for fork out significant sum of money for the claim against the football club, and it is not known whether any contingencies were put in place to claim the sum back from the Iranian's business.Nevertheless, it is understood this ruling has no impact on the current ownership's transfer plans for the summer or direction of the club. In fact, sources have said it will embolden them to drive Everton forward and back towards the top echelons of the Premier League.There is a feeling, though, that the amount awarded is grossly unfair in comparison to the £10m fine handed to Chelsea in March after they admitted making £47m in secret payments to unregistered agents and the £5.5m punishment given to West Ham in 2007 over the transfers of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.Tuesday's news came out of the blue as Everton were not given a date by which a ruling should be handed down - the same principle which applies to Manchester City and their 115 charges for allegedly breaching financial rules.Everton have immediately appealed the decision, but feel it could potentially have huge implications for Premier League football as a whole if they are not successful.Get news, insight and fan views on your Premier League teamAll your football quizzes in one place

Photo by Tasos Katopodis - FIFA/FIFA via Getty ImagesMiguel Delaney has raised concerns about freedom of movement guarantees before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the tournament now close to opening across North America.The competition is being hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, with matches scheduled from 11 June to 19 July 2026.Questions around visas and entry have already formed part of the build-up, with reported concerns over access for some supporters, officials and delegations.What Miguel Delaney said about World Cup guaranteesDelaney’s comments were shared in a clip on X, where he discussed the legal and technical context around World Cup hosting.He said: “When a World Cup is awarded, there are a number of contractual provisions about how a tournament basically has to give certain guarantees.”Delaney added that those were “literal guarantees” covering “freedom of movement for participating nations” and “entry”.He also claimed: “FIFA, evidently, despite Infantino’s very craven relationship with Donald Trump, hasn’t been able to secure those guarantees.”Delaney further said that “all of the countries, or all of the individuals that have faced issues so far, have been from Muslim countries”.Visa questions remain part of 2026 World Cup build-upThe 2026 World Cup is the first 48-team men’s tournament, expanding the event before it is staged across three host countries.Reports have already highlighted visa and entry concerns before the tournament, including issues affecting fans from some countries.Further legal analysis has noted that tournament access arrangements still sit alongside national immigration rules, meaning host-state authorities retain final control over entry decisions.Delaney’s comments add scrutiny to an issue that remains active before kick-off, but no legal breach is stated here as established fact.Read more:Norway transports more than 1000kg of traditional food to US WC to help Erling Haaland and co perform at their bestWhy was FIFA World Cup 2026 expanded to 48 teams instead of 32?How fans can get free tickets to World Cup games at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey

Photo by Bradley Collyer - Pool/Getty ImagesEngland fans will be hoping that head coach Thomas Tuchel can lead them to their first World Cup since 1966.Former England boss Gareth Southgate reinvigorated the national team by reaching the latter stages of four tournaments.Most recently, Southgate led the Three Lions to the 2024 European Championship final in Berlin, in which they lost 2-1 to Spain.Tuchel’s job is to take England one step further at the World Cup this summer — a feat John Terry believes is possible.Terry recently explained why he expects England to challenge top contenders Spain and France for the Jules Rimet trophy.He also named the biggest difference between Tuchel and Southgate, which could be the deciding factor in going all the way.Photo by Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty ImagesJohn Terry says Thomas Tuchel will make England calls Gareth Southgate never didThomas Tuchel is considered to be a much more experienced and successful manager than Gareth Southgate.He has won the Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain and the Champions League with Chelsea in the last five years.Those achievements have probably given him the confidence to make controversial decisions, such as leaving out Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold.Tuchel excluded several high-profile players from his 26-man squad, preferring to build a cohesive team with fewer stars.John Terry expects the former PSG manager to make similarly difficult decisions with England’s playing XI at the World Cup.“I’ve always been a big fan of Tuchel’s. When he had success at Chelsea, I saw him work; I saw firsthand just how good he is with the players,” Terry said on TikTok.“I think the most important thing, and we’ve seen this with the group he’s sent over to the World Cup, is that he will make the big decisions.Photo by Matt McNulty – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images“I think the one criticism of Gareth over his tenure is probably that he didn’t do what a lot of us would have done in those big moments, taking big players off in those big games.“If Harry Kane needs to come off, I think Tuchel is big enough to take him off if he’s not playing well.”Having observed Tuchel at Chelsea, Terry thinks the German’s ruthlessness separates him from the player-friendly Southgate.While this may appear harsh on Southgate, England ultimately fell short in a number of big games during his tenure.The penalty-shootout defeat to Italy at Euro 2020, having scored after two minutes, was probably the most disappointing.Therefore, Tuchel’s winning mentality may be the key factor in finally ending England’s 60-year trophy drought.Read more:Norway transports more than 1000kg of traditional food to US WC to help Erling Haaland and co perform at their bestWhy was FIFA World Cup 2026 expanded to 48 teams instead of 32?How fans can get free tickets to World Cup games at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey

One thing that's been missing from the Dallas Cowboys' offseason is Dak Prescott chiming in on George Pickens, so, right on cue, the Cowboys' official website remedied that in an interview with the star quarterback.Not surprisingly, Prescott didn't stir up much and he sure does love George. Former Cowboys legend Michael Irvin is not in love with the idea of Aaron Darnold coming out of retirement, but one NFL Insider thinks that's going to happen.More: CeeDee Lamb says new Cowboys defense is 'annoying'And we're coming up on the release date of the third season of the Netflix series on the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders. Here is Dallas' day. Dak Prescott George PickensDallasCowboys.com caught up with quarterback Dak Prescott for an interview about the start of OTAs, and inevitably, the status of receiver George Pickens came up.Pickens, as expected, missed voluntary OTAs, but is expected to be at the voluntary minicamp on June 16. Prescott pointed out that even if Pickens shows up at the facility, he may not be doing much.More: Dak Prescott earns MVP buzz as Cowboys finish first round of OTAs"I haven't had any conversations, and to be honest, would love for him to be in, but even if he's in, I doubt it's a full, he's going full go, jumping in the team," Prescott told DallasCowboys.com. "I would hope not to be honest, just being protected and being smart. Just hope he gets in just to see some of the new guys, meet some of the new guys. I'm sure he'll be here."He also said he had two throwing sessions with Pickens in "March or April.""They were great," Prescott said of the throwing sessions with Pickens. "George is George. He's great, he's awesome. The personality, excitement, his energy was consistent, consistent as it's been those times that I got to throw with him. "Just even communicating with him through phone as we have these last couple of weeks, George is great. I'm excited about where he's going to be. I'm excited about when he gets in and the work that we're going to have to build off of. George is George, and he's fine."Dallas Cowboys training camp 2026The Dallas Cowboys 2026 training camp will be at the River Ridge Playing Fields in Oxnard, Calif. in late July. An exact start date has not been determined but the camp is expected to last around four weeks and conclude on Aug. 21 before the team heads to Arizona for its second preseason game.America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys CheerleadersThe third season of the Netflix reality series about the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders drops on June 16, with all seven episodes premiering. Per Netflix, the series follows the squad from early auditions to game-day stadium performances.Breaking down the chances of Aaron Donald coming out of retirement to return to the Los Angeles Rams.Cc: @tyschmit🎧 https://t.co/feeOzzB3Ozpic.twitter.com/7oxNlp4N3m— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 9, 2026Aaron DonaldThe former Los Angeles Rams star rusher Aaron Donald has been retired since 2023, but has floated the idea of a return after the Rams acquired Myles Garrett on a June 1 trade with Cleveland.ESPN’s Adam Schefter thinks that is going to happen. He said on his podcast, the Adam Schefter Report: “Everybody is acknowledging that it is a possibility. And the fact that it is even a possibility in June tells me that I think there's every possibility it will become more real in July."I think, if and when they present a plan to him as to how he would be used, I think it's more likely than not that he'll be back."Former Cowboys great Michael Irvin, though, is not on board. On his YouTube channel, he said, “People talking about Aaron Donald thinking about coming back, and we know that’s not real. We just know that’s not real because I would expect the NFL to step in and stop that. You cannot allow Aaron Donald. I don’t care if he’s been off for a few years. I don’t care what you think. You can’t allow Aaron Donald.”Presumably he was kidding since the NFL can’t actually bar Donald from returning, but goes to show Los Angeles would be an even bigger favorite than they are now to win the Super Bowl.Dallas Cowboys rosterHere is the Dallas Cowboys roster by position.QuarterbacksDak Prescott (#4)Sam Howell (#16)Joe Milton III (#10)Running BacksIsrael Abanikanda (#30)Jaydon Blue (#23)Javonte Williams (#33)Malik Davis (#20)Phil Mafah (#37)Hunter Luepke (#40 - FB)Wide ReceiversCeeDee Lamb (#88)George Pickens (#3)Marquez Valdes-Scantling (#11)Jonathan Mingo (#81)KaVontae Turpin (#9)Tyler Johnson (#15)Ryan Flournoy (#19)Camden Brown (#6)Traeshon Holden (#80)Romello Brinson (#84)Tight EndsJake Ferguson (#87)Luke Schoonmaker (#86)Brevyn Spann-Ford (#89)Princeton Fant (#85)Offensive LineTyler Guyton (#60 - T)Tyler Smith (#73 - G)Cooper Beebe (#56 - C)Tyler Booker (#52 - G)Terence Steele (#78 - T)T.J. Bass (#66 - G)Matt Hennessy (#72 - OL)Trevor Keegan (#77 - G)Ajani Cornelius (#65 - T)Nathan Thomas (#71 - T)Marcellus Johnson (#79 - T)Nick Leverett (#51 - OL)Defensive Line / EdgeDeMarvion Overshown (#0 - LB/EDGE)Rashan Gary (#7 - DE/EDGE)Sam Williams (#54 - DE)Tyrus Wheat (#90 - DE)James Houston (#41 - EDGE)Donovan Ezeiruaku (#6 - DE)Isaiah Land (#58 - EDGE)Marist Liufau (#35 - LB/EDGE)Osa Odighizuwa (#97)Quinnen Williams (#92)Jonathan Bullard (#98)LT Overton (#99)Otito Ogbonnia (#91)Jay Toia (#93)Tommy Dunn (#95)Adedayo Odeleye (#96)LinebackersJaishawn Barham (#55)Markquese Bell (#14 - LB/S)Shemar James (#50)Dee Winters (#53)Justin Barron (#45)Curtis Robinson (#42)Defensive BacksTrevon DiggsDaRon Bland (#26 - CB)Caelen Carson (#21 - CB)Shavon Revel Jr. (#28 - CB)Derion Kendrick (#15 - CB)Trikweze Bridges (#25 - CB)Corey Ballentine (#36 - CB)Malik Hooker (#24 - S)Caleb Downs (#13 - S)P.J. Locke (#1 - S)Special TeamsBrandon Aubrey (#17 - K)Bryan Anger (#5 - P)Trent Sieg (#44 - LS)Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X.This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: NFL QB Dak Prescott discusses WR George Pickens, Cowboys roster

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Omar Artan, the Somalian referee who was scheduled to work the World Cup and was denied entry into the United States, was not allowed in due to "association with suspected members of terror organizations," according to a U.S. official.According to the Associated Press, U.S. Customs and Border Protection determined that Artan was to "be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry."On Tuesday, FIFA confirmed that Artan would not be allowed to enter the U.S. to work the tournament, which begins on Thursday, and that the organization was unable to fight the ruling."FIFA can confirm that match official Omar Abdulkadir Artan will be unable to train and officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after he was denied entry into the United States," the statement said. "FIFA is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr. Artan's status will not be changed at present. In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country."Under President Donald Trump, Somalia is one of nearly 40 countries whose citizens are unable to enter the U.S. as part of the administration's crackdown on immigration.Play 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world's biggest soccer tournamentThis week, Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, said that there was a "very good reason" for Artan being denied entry, but did not elaborate.The 34-year-old Artan arrived in Mogadishu on Wednesday and was welcomed by supporters and government officials.Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who had been expected to officiate at matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup but was denied entry to the United States, is received as he arrives at the Aden Abdulle Osman International Airport in Mogadishu, Somalia June 10, 2026. REUTERS/Feisal OmarREUTERS / REUTERS"I promise you, God willing, that I will attend the next one," said Artan, who was named Africa's best male referee in 2025. "I want the Somali public to take comfort in this and remain confident."Artan reportedly arrived in the U.S. on Saturday to take part in a training hub for all World Cup referees. That hub, which is located in Miami, was organized by referees' chief Pierluigi Collina. Any official who takes part in the tournament is required to stay at that hub for "training, preparation and security." Because of that requirement, Artan cannot stay outside the U.S. and only officiate games in Mexico and Canada.Artan said he was "very disappointed" about the decision in a statement to The Athletic. He said he had the "right papers" and visa and showed border agents documentation of his career as a FIFA referee."I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa," Mr. Artan said, adding that he had also showed documentation from FIFA as well as photographs of his career of over a decade as a professional referee. Border officials also checked online material detailing Mr. Artan's career, he said.Artan was set to become the first referee from Somalia to work a World Cup after he was included in the final list of officials for the tournament.

The Iowa high school tennis season wrapped up on Tuesday, June 9, with co-ed competition punctuating an exciting campaign. In the Class 2A bracket, Waukee Northwest's duo of Addison Latta and Vincent Flynn claimed the top prize. They clinched a spot in the state title match after defeating the Cedar Falls duo of Mackenzie Sagers and Ben Smalley 6-2, 6-2. In the finals, the Wolves pair defeated fellow Waukee Northwest athletes, Riley Hilton and Maarten Beekhuis, 7-6 (7-3) before Hilton and Beekhuis were forced to medically retire. Dubuque Senior's pair of Frank Hamel and Madeline Bellomy finished in third place following a medical forfeit by Sagers and Smalley. In Class 1A action, Cedar Rapids Xavier's team of Charlie LeGrand and Gabriella Fleming took home the state title. That pair made it to the championship match thanks to a 6-4, 6-0 win over Columbus Catholic's team of Kate Holton and Parker Stroh. In the championship match, LeGrand and Fleming defeated their Xavier teammates, Lulu Rozeboom and Carson Sorg, 6-3, 6-1. Holton and Stroh took home third-place honors following a medical forfeit from Bishop Heelan's duo of Kate Kelly and Easton LubarskiThis article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Waukee Northwest, Xavier claim Iowa high school co-ed tennis titles

Rochester Adams product Bino Watters starred last season for the Notre Dame baseball team. On Wednesday, he announced where he hopes to star next.Watters, considered the top-ranked player in the college baseball's transfer portal by Baseball America, announced his plans to transfer to SEC powerhouse LSU.GEAUX TIGERS💜💛 pic.twitter.com/ImWHkAMfBb— Bino Watters (@BinoWatters) June 10, 2026The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Watters slashed .362/.447/.610 with 10 home runs. His 31 extra-base hits and 51 RBIs each ranked second on the Fighting Irish, who finished the season 31-22 overall following a second-round exit in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament.More: Rochester Adams star Koltyn 'Flip' Watters on brothers' path, but blazing own trailIn conference play, Watters hit .339 with a 1.060 OPS, compiling with 21 RBIs and 24 runs scored in 24 conference games to earn first-team All-ACC honors."Watters is an aggressive offensive player who can expand the strike zone at times, but he consistently does damage when pitchers challenge him in the zone," Baseball America wrote in listing Watters atop the transfer-portal rankings. "While his power production is already notable, there is still room for additional offensive growth if he continues to elevate the baseball more consistently. Encouragingly, he showed measurable progress in that area over his first two collegiate seasons."Watters will join an LSU program that failed to reach the NCAA Tournament this past season with a 30-28 record (9-21 in the SEC), after winning the College World Series in 2025 — their second national title in three seasons.Watters was a two-time all-state selection at Adams in 2023 and 2024.This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Bino Watters, ex-Rochester Adams baseball star, to transfer to LSU

Photo by Adam Gray/Getty ImagesThe New York Knicks’ NBA Finals return to Madison Square Garden has already produced huge noise, but Game 3 left the city dealing with more than a painful defeat.After the San Antonio Spurs won to cut the series to 2-1, videos and reports of trouble involving visiting fans put extra focus on safety around MSG.With the series able to go 2-2 tonight, and New York desperate to protect its home floor, police are now preparing another secure zone around the arena. The message is clear enough, enjoy the game, but do not arrive expecting a normal walk-up after what happened on Monday night.Photo by Nurettin Boydak/Anadolu via Getty ImagesNYPD release statement for fans ahead of NBA Finals Game 4After the incidents following Game 3, Zohran Mamdani approved a ticketed watch party outside the Garden, with the Game 4 watch party decision aimed at keeping the atmosphere controlled.High-profile fans also spoke out after visiting supporters were targeted, with Ben Stiller’s postgame fan warning reminding Knicks supporters that rivalry cannot become harassment.Now the NYPD have joined those calls for a safer night around MSG, saying in a statement posted on X that supporters should prepare for tighter entry conditions.They write: “We know you are excited to cheer on the Knicks tonight, and we are too, but we want everyone to be safe.“Starting at 4pm, we will have the same secure zone around MSG as we had on Monday. Everyone will be screened.“Get there early and leave the bags at home.”The warning comes after a tense few days around the series. Victor Wembanyama’s controversial contact on Jalen Brunson has also added to the edge, with the mayor addressing Knicks tension while predicting the series would still go in New York’s favour.That should be the point of Game 4. The Knicks have waited decades for an NBA Finals, and tonight should be about basketball, not hostility outside the arena.READ MORE: De’Aaron Fox perfectly sums up why Wemby and the Spurs can win the NBA Finals

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson might not care much about individual statistics, but he still has big personal goals after signing a four-year, $92 million extension. The first step, of course, is to play a full, 17-game season. Watson missed 10 games during his first two seasons, then tore his ACL to end his third season and played in only 10 games in 2025. As Watson understands, achieving any kind of individual statistical goal must start with playing in most or all of the games. Availability is the only way to create volume.So, what kind of numbers could the Packers receiver achieve over 17 games?Per Steve Megargee of the AP, Watson's best attempt at setting individual goals was 1,100 receiving yards and at least 10 touchdown catches -- which would both set new career highs for a season.“I try not to look into the number stuff too much,” Watson said after Tuesday's minicamp practice. “I take it week by week. But if I’m really searching and I want to set personal goals, I definitely want to have double-digit touchdowns and I want to have over 1,100 yards.”Getting to 1,100 receiving yards would require almost 65 receiving yards per game over 17 games. Last season, Watson produced 611 yards over 10 games, or 61 yards per game. He did catch six touchdown passes over 10 games, or seven over 11 games, if you count the postseason, so hitting double digits is well within reach for a receiver with big play ability and the frame and athleticism to win in the red zone.Much has been made about Watson never producing more than 620 receiving yards in a season. But a healthy season in a passing game that has become more streamlined -- following the departures of Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks this offseason -- gives Watson an excellent chance of producing the type of volume numbers that are expected out of a top target.The Packers are paying Watson at a WR1 rate. Now, he wants to produce like one over a full season.Hear more from Watson below:This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers WR Christian Watson has big individual goals after signing extension

Dr. Alveda King, niece of civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was asked at a committee hearing about President Trump’s $1.8 billion slush fund for January 6 rioters. Her response was to peddle alarmist anti-abortion rhetoric and misinformation about gender-affirming care for minors. “I will not speak on whether that particular fund should be shut down, I think some of these slush funds that SPLC is using—” King said before Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) attempted to redirect her to the point of his question. “I will not answer,” she continued, “I think they need to stop killing the babies and cutting the penises off.” Related Did Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream include LGBTQ people too? Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) does not fund abortions, but the organization does fight for reproductive rights, including the right to an abortion. Similarly, SPLC does not have a fund for gender-affirming care for trans youth, but it does fight anti-trans legislation and has recently identified a “Christian crowdfunding site” that appears to be funneling donations to the anti-trans movement. While King’s words suggest bottom surgeries are being performed on minors, it is extremely rare for gender-affirming care for trans youth to include any surgeries at all, with care for minors including puberty blockers, hormone treatments, and, on rare occasions, top surgery. The committee hearing in which King and Raskin’s exchange took place is part of a case brought against the SPLC by the Department of Justice (DOJ), which claims the nonprofit gave donations to hate groups to “manufacture hate” and justify its own existence. SPLC has responded to the allegations by saying the money was used for their paid informant program, which has been used to warn of planned violent attacks (such as at the Charlottesville Unite the Right march in 2017) and was established after SPLC was firebombed in the 1980s. Raskin’s question about the slush fund orchestrated by Trump and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche was aimed at highlighting the hypocrisy of attacking the SPLC for giving money to paid informants from hate groups while Trump’s fund would provide large payouts to members of “the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, and other convicted criminals.” Alveda King, a Republican, has become known for touting right-wing and anti-LGBTQ+ views. She previously served in the Georgia House of Representatives and has been a fierce anti-abortion advocate. She also opposes marriage equality. Now a regular contributor to Fox News, her relationship to her late uncle is used to make her a credible source for the far-right talking points she spouts. During the hearing, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) pointed out that a “vast majority of [Republicans at the hearing] were white men lecturing people of color… who is fighting for who?” She went on to say that “people of color do not feel comfortable or welcomed within your party.” “That’s why you have to parade someone who has the name Dr. King attached to them so people can be confused… You want them to believe that somehow she espouses who Dr. King was, yet you have yet to have MLK III come in here, yet to have Dr. Bernice King: the ones that were actually raised by Dr. King, the ones who probably actually understand the teachings of Dr. King.” Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

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Apr 24, 2026; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns first round draft picks Spencer Fano, left, and KC Concepcion hold their new jerseys during an introductory press conference at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images In the span of two years, with three big trades and two NFL draft classes, the Cleveland Browns have remade their roster from one of the oldest to one of the youngest. The 2025 draft class set a high standard for the Browns, but the 2026 class has an even higher upside given the premium positions selected this year.Fans and media gave very high grades for what GM Andrew Berry was able to accomplish in this year’s NFL draft, giving new HC Todd Monken a lot of quality pieces to work with on offense.Shortly after the draft, Berry signed eight of his 10 selections to their rookie contracts. A week later, S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren inked his deal as well. Heading into mandatory minicamp, that left WR KC Concepcion, Cleveland’s second pick in the first round, unsigned. Thursday morning, that changed with the team announcing Concepcion’s contract:The Cleveland Browns have signed WR KC Concepcion. The team has now signed all 10 of their 2026 draft picks.Browns fans are hoping that Concepcion and second round pick WR Denzel Boston can help remake Cleveland’s passing attack this year.

Report: Liverpool midfielder reveals he expects to leave this summerLiverpool Transfer News: Luca Stephenson Faces Defining SummerStephenson’s Liverpool Future Enters Uncertain TerritoryThere are summers in football that feel administrative, a little tidying here, a little trimming there, the quiet reshaping of a squad before the serious work begins. This one at Liverpool already feels more meaningful. The transfer window does not officially open until June 15, yet the sense of movement around Anfield has begun.As reported by The Athletic, Luca Stephenson has offered the clearest indication yet that his Liverpool future may be approaching a decisive point. The midfielder, back from a second loan spell at Dundee United that was cut short by injury, knows he has reached the stage of his career where promise must become permanence.His words were honest, measured and revealing.“It’s going to be an important summer for me. If I’m around, I’ll be looking to get on that pre-season tour [Liverpool are off to the United States again in July and early August], hopefully get some minutes, and impress,” Stephenson said in an interview with the Athletic.That phrase, “if I’m around”, carries weight. It speaks not of frustration, but of realism. Liverpool remains a place of ambition, glamour and opportunity, yet also a place where young players must find a route through one of the most demanding squads in Europe.Photo: IMAGORegular Football Now Matters MostStephenson has already sampled senior football in Scotland, making 67 appearances for Dundee United across all competitions and scoring eight goals. That experience matters. It gives him evidence of who he is beyond academy football, beyond potential, beyond the controlled environment of Kirkby.His next comment underlined the point.“I’m at the age now where I need to be playing first-team football, like I have done for the past couple of seasons. If that’s at Liverpool, fantastic. If it’s not, I’ll find a new adventure, like the other boys who have left and done really well.”There is maturity in that. No bitterness, no public demand, no dramatic rupture. Simply a young footballer understanding that careers do not wait forever. At 22, the question is no longer whether Stephenson has ability. The question is whether Liverpool can offer him the minutes required to turn that ability into a proper senior career.Championship Interest Could Suit All PartiesChampionship clubs are circling, with Bolton Wanderers among those keen. A deal in the region of £700,000 has been mentioned, with Liverpool likely to include a sell-on clause. That structure would make sense. It gives Stephenson a platform, gives Liverpool protection and allows both player and club to avoid the limbo that can stall careers.Liverpool’s retained list already shows the club making firm academy decisions, with Kareem Ahmed, Emmanuel Airoboma, James Balagizi, DJ Bernard, Oakley Cannonier, Josh Davidson, Terence Miles and Jacob Poytress all released. At the same time, the Reds are reportedly pushing to sign Manchester City youngster Xavier Alexander, a reminder that youth development is not sentimental. It is competitive, ruthless and constantly moving.Pathway Questions RemainFor Stephenson, pre-season could still provide a final window to impress. Yet the more logical outcome may be a permanent move, particularly if a Championship side can offer regular football and responsibility.Liverpool supporters will wish him well if that moment arrives. Not every academy journey ends at Anfield. Some end with a smart move, a sell-on clause and a player ready to write the next part elsewhere.Our View – Anfield Index AnalysisFrom a Liverpool supporter’s perspective, Luca Stephenson’s comments feel like the kind of story that deserves more attention than it will probably receive. Not because he is likely to transform the first team, but because these are the decisions that reveal how a club truly manages its academy pathway.There is always a temptation to romanticise every young player coming through Kirkby. We want them all to be Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones or Jarell Quansah. Reality is less forgiving. Liverpool have to keep standards brutally high, especially in midfield, where competition for minutes remains intense and every place in the squad has to be earned.Stephenson comes across well here. He sounds ambitious, grounded and clear minded. He has already played proper senior football, and after 67 appearances for Dundee United, another loan would only make sense if it led somewhere concrete. At this stage, a permanent move with a sell-on clause may actually be the best football decision.The £700,000 figure will not excite supporters, yet the clever part is the structure. If Liverpool believe there is still growth in Stephenson, a sell-on clause protects them. If he kicks on in the Championship, everyone benefits.Supporters should not see this as failure. It is part of the academy model. Develop players, create pathways, make smart calls and avoid blocking careers. Stephenson may yet have a strong senior career, even if it unfolds away from Anfield.

Tottenham to spoil Liverpool transfer party with double summer hammer blowLiverpool look set to miss out on the potential signings of Micky van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke this summer.DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL EMPIRE OF THE KOP APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAYBen Jacobs reports that Tottenham are likely to keep hold of the 25-year-old centre-back, amid reported interest from the likes of Real Madrid and Andoni Iraola’s Reds.Likewise, it seems that Spurs will prove successful in their pursuit of the Brighton defender.Liverpool transfer news: We’ll miss out on Jan Paul van HeckeLiverpool find themselves in troubled waters when it comes to their backline.Ibrahima Konate’s departure on a free to Real Madrid now means the club finds itself a body short in the heart of the backline.With that in mind, it would have made a tonne of sense to consider moves for the likes of Van de Ven (at previously relegation-threatened Spurs) and Van Hecke (given Brighton’s willingness to sell).However, it seems we’ll have to put a pin in both options following Ben Jacobs’ update with GiveMeSport: “I do actually [think it’ll get done]. I think Brighton’s perspective is to not stand in Jan Paul van Hecke’s way so much as to get a price that suits all parties, and Tottenham are expected to bid a third time. So, he’s a key priority.”Want more Empire of the Kop coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trustHow much will it cost to sign Van Hecke?It’s understood that Brighton value Jan Paul van Hecke at around the £70m mark, but we expect a deal to fall below this figure, given the 26-year-old’s contract expires next summer.Either way, it’s a huge amount of dough for the Seagulls star, and we’re not entirely sure if we’d feel comfortable forking that amount out for a player of his qualities.Micky van de Ven set to stay put at TottenhamBarring any late surprises in the window, it seems that Liverpool-linked Micky van de Ven is also unlikely to find himself on the path to Anfield this summer.Jacobs went on to add: “Micky van de Ven, I think there’s a strong chance he’ll stay and sign a new deal, despite interest, because he’s really enjoying life under Roberto De Zerbi.“Obviously, Tottenham don’t want to lose Christian Romero and Micky van de Ven in the same window.”This one would comparatively hurt a little more.The 25-year-old is positionally versatile (able to play at left-back as well as centre-back) and appears to have a very bright future in the game.Statistically, Fotmob haven’t painted him out to be the most astounding centre-half in the Premier League, never mind world football, in the 2025/26 season. But we see this as more of a reflection of Tottenham’s struggles for much of the prior campaign.Our one big concern, however – and it’s one shared with Van Hecke – is Van de Ven’s apparent weakness in the air.* Micky van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke compared in the air in the 2025/26 Premier League season (Fotmob)With the Premier League having shifted to an even more intense focus on set pieces and physical play, this feels like a giant red flag for our recruitment team.So, we can understand why Liverpool might feel more inclined to turn their attention to alternative targets.More Stories / Latest NewsTottenham to spoil Liverpool transfer party with double summer hammer blow June 10, 2026 16:15‘He will only grow…’ – World Cup winner backs 2025 Liverpool signing to prove his critics wrong June 10, 2026 15:50‘Personal terms’ secured: Liverpool inexplicably pulled out of perfect transfer June 10, 2026 15:07

Matias Fernandez-Pardo: United considering signing Ligue 1 wingerManchester United are open to adding another forward to their ranks this summer.Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko all arrived at Old Trafford last year. The trio performed well in their debut seasons, with each reaching double figures.However, United need more firepower up front as they head into the Champions League next season.Manchester United interested in Matias Fernandez-PardoAccording to Sky Sports, Manchester United could look to add a versatile forward this summer, depending on the potential departure of Joshua Zirkzee.The 25-year-old Dutchman, who joined United from Bologna, is thought to be “a positive influence around the changing room since his arrival at the club in 2024” but has not been able to impress on the pitch.Sky Sports claims that United are showing interest in Lille’s 21-year-old forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo.“The young forward can also play on the wings and was included in Belgium’s World Cup squad having tallied eight goals and five assists in Ligue 1 last season,” the report adds.Last year, French publication L’Équipe described the Brussels-born talent as “one of the best wingers in Ligue 1” due to his “rare physical profile.”The 6ft winger possesses explosive pace and exceptional technical ability, making him a nightmare for defenders.Morgan Rogers and Iliman Ndiaye also on Manchester United’s radarUnited are also reported to be interested in Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers and Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye.However, Villa are expected to listen to offers around the £80m mark. Meanwhile, Everton are reluctant to lose Ndiaye, who has three years left on his contract in Merseyside.Given that United’s priority is to revamp the midfield, they are unlikely to be able to spend big on a Premier League-proven attacker. As such, Fernandez-Pardo has the potential to be a shrewd acquisition.Featured image Alessandro Sabattini via Getty Imagesonline pollsThe Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

NORTH PORT, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 20: James Karinchak #00 of the Atlanta Braves poses for a photo during Spring Training photo day at CoolToday Park on February 20, 2026 in North Port, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images Prior to tonight’s game in Chicago, the Braves have made a few bullpen-bolstering moves.The expected: after last night’s blown save versus the White Sox, Carlos Carrasco re-enters the DFA spin cycle. Let’s see if the fourth go-around looks a lot like the last three and if we’ll be seeing him soon enough. In his place, the Braves have selected RHP James Karinchak to the major league roster. Signed to a minor-league contract in December, the 30-year-old has a 2.45 ERA and five saves in 21 games played with Triple-A Gwinnett.Tyler Kinley was starting to find it again after a rough patch, so it’s unfortunate to see him hit the 15-day IL (backdated to June 8), with right elbow inflammation. We’re likely to hear more about the severity of it from Walt Weiss before tonight’s contest, but here’s hoping it’s just an Iggy-like stint to rest and let things calm down. The corresponding move for Kinley is the return of rookie JR Ritchie. Ritchie hasn’t had a scoreless outing in three games with the Stripers since being sent back down, but a fresh arm is a fresh arm. The #Braves today selected RHP James Karinchak to the major league roster and designated RHP Carlos Carrasco for assignment. The club also recalled RHP JR Ritchie to Atlanta and placed RHP Tyler Kinley on the 15-day injured list, backdated to June 8, with right elbow…— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 10, 2026

This undated image provided by Peng Zhou shows a Chinese submersible recovering fossilized whale bones from the deep seafloor, southeastern Indian Ocean, in the Diamantina Fracture Zone. (Global TREnD, IDSSE via AP)2026-06-10T15:02:07Z NEW YORK (AP) — Scientists have unearthed communities of marine life — including jellyfish, tubeworms and brittle stars — thriving on a millions-year-old whale graveyard.These graveyards form when whale carcasses fall to the sea floor, becoming a sustaining snack for nearby critters. This one, located up to 23,000 feet (7 kilometers) below the surface of the southeastern Indian Ocean, spans the largest area and is so far the deepest and oldest found.A whale’s sheer size and the unique chemistry of its bones are the keys to forming these unique underwater neighborhoods, said Xikun Song, a biologist with the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering. “At the same time, the very nature of the deep ocean makes these sites exceptionally difficult for scientists to locate,” Song, who was involved with the latest find, wrote in an email. Researchers explored the remains during multiple deep-sea submersible trips in 2023, collecting samples and mapping the extent of the necropolis. They found five carcass sites and fossils, including skulls belonging to beaked and baleen whales. The oldest bones date back 5.3 million years. Feeding and living on the carcasses were myriad creatures, large and small, including sea cucumbers, squat lobsters and saltwater clams. Many of them are likely species that have never been documented, according to findings published Wednesday in the journal Nature. Read More “The potential number of specimens is just astounding,” said paleontologist Stephen Godfrey with the Calvert Marine Museum in Maryland, who wasn’t involved in the research.Many factors likely conspired to preserve the bones for millions of years, according to the study authors. They’re dense enough to outlast attacks from bone-eating worms, and located deep enough in the ocean to avoid getting buried by dust and loose particles. The bones also were coated with a light layer of minerals from the surrounding seawater, which may have prevented them from degrading. Why did so many whales die here? Maybe they were already living in the area and died of natural causes. A few could have perished from exhaustion or illness caused by deep-sea diving. The area’s shape, akin to the letter V, could also have funneled the remains to their resting spot, the authors wrote.Such discoveries are important because they clue scientists into the vibrant communities that find a way even in remote, hard-to-reach environments. Studying the whale graveyards “is important for understanding how life can adapt to such extreme conditions, not only due to the lack of light and oxygen but also to the incredibly high pressure,” said study co-author and paleontologist Giovanni Bianucci with the University of Pisa in Italy in an email.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. ADITHI RAMAKRISHNAN Ramakrishnan is a science reporter for The Associated Press, based in New York. She covers research and new developments related to space, early human history and more. twitter mailto

NEW YORK — Through the first two games of the 2026 NBA Finals, Victor Wembanyama had taken more shots outside the paint (22) than inside the paint (20). His first three shots of Game 3: an alley-oop dunk, a dunk after rolling to the rim following a low ball screen and a layup after catching a half-court alley-oop from Stephon Castle. Wembanyama said at the San Antonio Spurs’ Tuesday practice that he didn’t emphasize point-blank, high-percentage looks at the outset of Game 3 any more than he would in any other game. But he did make it clear that he wants to own that high-value real estate in front of the rim.“Especially early in games, yeah, you have to put pressure on the rim, because it's the most efficient shot. Then we look for other options,” Wembanyama said. “The goal is always to go inside. The best shot in the game is an alley-oop, the most efficient shot. But teams don't just let you do that.”The Spurs certainly didn’t let the New York Knicks do that in Game 3, allowing the hosts to take just nine field-goal attempts after a paint touch, down from 12 in Game 1 and 11 in Game 2, according to Second Spectrum tracking data. After scoring a playoff-leading 53.3 points per game in the paint in their run to the Finals, the Knicks have averaged just 42 points in the paint over the last two games — a mark that would’ve been the second-lowest in the regular season, ahead of only a Milwaukee Bucks team that prioritized 3-point volume and didn’t have Giannis Antetokounmpo for most of the season.The process of tamping that number down and forcing an outward migration for New York’s offense, began with refusing to give the Knicks what they want.“Yeah, I mean, at this point when you've played a team so many times, you know what they're going to do, they know what you're going to do,” All-Star guard De’Aaron Fox said after the Spurs’ Game 3 win at Madison Square Garden. “They got us in rotations. It's not a secret: Teams want to get Vic out of the paint. That's not a secret.”The most direct path to pulling Wembanyama away from the paint for the Knicks? Getting him to guard stretch 5 Karl-Anthony Towns, whose combined threat as an elite 3-point shooter and a physical driver off the catch helped mitigate Wembanyama’s defensive effectiveness — well, as much as you can limit the impact of a unanimous Defensive Player of the Year, anyway — through the first two games of the series as the Knicks took a 2-0 lead in San Antonio.In Game 3, the Spurs were much more intentional about moving Wembanyama out of that matchup, sending an armada of wings and guards — Castle, Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie, Dylan Harper, even the 6-foot-3 Fox — to guard Towns, either to start possessions or by switching onto him in the pick-and-roll. According to NBA.com’s matchup tracking data, more than three-quarters of Towns’ offensive possessions in Game 3 were spent with a perimeter player on him, pressing up into his airspace as he looked to survey and facilitate from the top of the floor:“You try to get under them — I try not to let bigger guys dribble against me,” Fox said of his approach to guarding a larger player in a cross-match. “Obviously, the closer they get to the basket, the easier it is for them. I think despite my size, I feel like I'm pretty physical, especially on the defensive end, just being able to try to take those hits and stand guys up. If you can force a shot to be [from] 13 feet rather than 10 feet, the [field-goal percentage] numbers drop drastically.”Towns has the tools to punish smaller defenders in those cross-matches: muscling them with drives off the dribble, taking them to the post (either on the low block or from the middle of the floor at the nail, a la Dirk Nowitzki) or getting off the ball and rushing into offensive rebounding position. He has to aggressively seek those opportunities, though, rather than allow the physicality of the Spurs’ perimeter defenders — who did a great job in Game 3 of making those processes tougher on Towns — to influence him into getting off the ball and just sort of floating out of the play.Play 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world's biggest soccer tournament“Whenever the defense presents itself to me, I just want to solve that puzzle,” Towns said Tuesday. “My whole career, I've seen a bunch of cross-matching, and utilizing that experience now is [more] important than ever.”Particularly because of the other part of the cross-matching strategy.“Knowing I have help on my side, knowing I have Victor behind me, it allows you to be a little bit more aggressive on the defensive end,” Fox added.That’s the reason so many of us expected to see Wembanyama start the series primarily guarding Josh Hart, sagging off him in “ghost” coverage to lock down the lane. The Spurs ramped up that gambit in Game 3, more aggressively pre-switching New York’s attempts to bring Wembanyama into the action — both with KAT on the floor and when he sat, in small-ball looks with OG Anunoby at the 5 — so that they could keep the league’s premier interior deterrent as close to the basket as possible, as often as possible.After the Knicks came out ahead in the center battle in Games 1 and 2, the Spurs grabbed the sticks in Game 3, with Towns getting 18 fewer frontcourt touches than he had in Games 1 and 2, and his average touch time being a half-second longer than it was in the previous two games — a function of his difficulty shedding the Spurs’ dogged perimeter defenders and the challenge he faced attacking with Wembanyama (or Luke Kornet) lurking off Hart in help position on the second layer of the defense.That problem was once again particularly acute late, as Towns was scoreless in the fourth quarter for the third time in this series. In the Finals thus far, the All-Star big man — second among the Knicks’ starters in usage rate in both the regular season and postseason thus far — has finished just 8.1% of New York’s fourth-quarter possessions with a shot attempt, foul drawn or turnover. That, head coach Mike Brown acknowledged Tuesday, can’t continue.“It's extremely important that he's getting touches, that he's involved — not just in the fourth quarter, but obviously throughout the ballgame,” Brown said.Towns’ reduced effectiveness and longer Game 3 touch time also point toward the degree to which Wembanyama’s ostensible zoning up down low dampened the Knicks’ off-ball activity …… a deterioration that New York lamented after Game 3, and again at Tuesday’s practice session.Towns said that, when he looked back at the film, he saw a Knicks team that wasn’t “executing the little details that's made us special,” namely “that ball movement and getting the ball zipping around the court, and allowing it to judge who shoots the ball.” The numbers bear that out.As a team, the Knicks’ average touch took longer and featured more dribbles in Game 3 than in Games 1 or 2. They passed the ball less, generated fewer assists and potential assists, and had their fewest dimes and most turnovers in a single game than they had since Game 3 against the Atlanta Hawks in Round 1 — their last loss before reorienting their offense, opening things up and locking into the rhythm that led to one of the greatest runs of postseason play in NBA history.“We just got to keep moving,” said Mikal Bridges, who was sharply critical of his own Game 3 performance after picking up two early fouls. “I think they do a great job defensively with the guards, and then Wemby staying low. It can draw confusion sometimes. I think if we keep moving, it's going to help us and benefit us.”Brown believes they can rediscover that rhythm, and that he can help them do it. But they’re also going to have to help each other.“I’ve got to help them a little bit better on the fly, by putting them in better positions with stuff that they're comfortable with,” Brown said. “But then, we have to play to our concepts, or play to what our strengths are. It's been pace. It's been space. It's been getting the ball reversed. It's been touching the paint. And, more importantly, it's been making quick decisions.“There were a lot of times where the decisions weren't made quick [in Game 3],” Brown added. “One guy caught, held, held, held, held, held. Now the defense settles in. Now you're in trouble.”Over the course of Game 3, it was Jalen Brunson who was most frequently holding and dribbling the ball as the Spurs defense loaded up. That Brunson would be the Knicks’ primary bring-up ball-handler and shot creator isn’t anything new; that’s the role he’s played throughout his ascent to All-NBA status and the Knicks’ rise to championship contention.The volume of it, though, has probably veered a little further toward the extreme than Brown would prefer. Through three Finals games, Brunson has been on the ball for nearly seven more minutes per game than any other Knicks starter and has dribbled the ball nearly twice as much as any other player in the series — with plenty of that on-ball activity coming against full-court pressure from the likes of Castle, replicating the 94-feet hectoring he turned in against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the Western Conference finals:Castle’s average pickup point on the Knicks’ bring-up ball-handler was more than over 55 feet away from the rim, according to Jared Dubin at Last Night in Basketball — a major reason why New York so frequently took so long to get into their offense.“I feel like my aggressiveness throughout the game was pretty consistent, pretty solid,” Castle said.Brunson can break the pressure, and the Knicks can play out of it and eventually get good looks, but the consistency of the pressure is the point. The more Brunson has to battle to get the ball across half-court against Castle, Harper, Fox, Champagnie, Vassell, Carter Bryant and anyone else head coach Mitch Johnson can throw at him, the more miles he puts on his legs — regular deposits that the Spurs hope will pay dividends come crunch time, when the Knicks typically look to Brunson to make magic, possession after possession.It also saps some of the dynamism out of New York’s offense. The longer it takes to get the ball up the floor, the less time the Knicks have to do something with it in the half-court. The less time they have to do something with it, the smaller the menu of sets and actions they have to choose from. The smaller the menu available, the more likely it is that they’ll just order the usual — Brunson chiseling his way into a contested midrange look late in the shot clock. The Knicks can eat that way; it’s just not nearly as satisfying as the meals they’ve been cooking up for the last month and a half.(If this sounds familiar to you, it might be because you remember the Indiana Pacers executing a similar wear-down-effect game plan against Brunson in last year’s Eastern Conference finals — the series that effectively convinced Knicks brass that they needed a new plan of attack on offense and a new head coach to implement it.)Against the Spurs’ persistent pressure, Brunson has turned in his two highest-usage games of this postseason — including Game 3, when he finished 38.4% of New York’s possession with a shot attempt, turnover or foul drawn. The pressure and the offensive primacy might not be mutually exclusive.“I mean, they can be connected at times,” Brunson said. “That goes back to our attention to detail — understanding where we're supposed to be, doing the things we're supposed to do, as a team and obviously individually, as well. Remain focused on the things we're supposed to do, and understanding the situations that we're in as a team. Just help each other out.”Bridges, too, made multiple mentions of how important it is to “help the next guy out” — the idea that your cut, your drive, your motion might not get you the shot, but it can help push the door open a little bit wider for a teammate, who then might be able to do the same. String enough of those together, and you can get the defense in the blender:Struggle to do that, though, and you allow the Spurs to dictate the terms of engagement with their hellacious recoveries and rotations, enabling them to keep Wembanyama on the back line to just go ahead and stick a fork in that blender:“We have gotten good about rotating around [Wembanyama]. He's gotten better at closing out to shooters, getting guys off the line while trying to stay in front of them,” Fox said. “How many guys are going to get to the rim and finish over him? With someone like Landry [Shamet], who shoots the skin off the ball, shoots the leather off the ball, he got [Wembanyama] off the line, we're scrambling around him. Does he want to finish over him or not? He elected to try to finish over him. He blocked the shot. If he passed the ball out, we're X-ing, we're X-ing around Vic, we're scrambling. I think we've guarded them pretty well.”That defensive approach requires a hell of a lot of energy, precision, connectivity and relentlessness by the Spurs. As Johnson sees it, though, if they want to come back to even and eventually win this series, they’re going to have to do the hard things over and over and over again.“It's going to have to [be sustainable],” Johnson said Tuesday. “They move the ball. I think there's things we can be better at. I think we've had some really good moments of being connected in those rotations and taking certain things away, forcing the ball to certain spots or individuals in certain situations. We've forced them to take a lot of shots at the end of [the shot] clock. They've made a lot of those shots. There's some give and take there.”Through two games, the Knicks were giving the Spurs everything they could handle. In Game 3, the Spurs made the defensive adjustments to take back control; now that they’ve got the Knicks searching for answers — Better/more frequent screening, on and off the ball? More Bridges, Hart or two-point-guard looks with Jose Alvarado to help Brunson bring the ball up? — they hope to continue to press that advantage.“I think we've shown that we can be impactful when we're connected and doing it the right way,” Johnson said. “They've shown they do a great job moving the ball and making the basketball find the open man. I think it will be a little bit of tug-of-war until this thing's over.”“We know what teams want to do. Teams know how we want to defend them,” Fox said. “At this point, it's a battle of wills, and a battle of who can execute the most.”The Knicks just spent a month and a half proving they can generate better offense than what they got in the second half of Game 3, as they watched a potential 3-0 lead slip through their grasp. The task ahead of them in Game 4: proving it again, against the best defense they’ve faced thus far.“We have, what, 13 games in a row, 50 days of film, to show what it looks like when we're at our best?” Towns said. “So we've got good film. We'll get back to our fundamentals, what makes us great, what made us great, and get back to work.”

The Iowa high school golf season is now totally in the books, with the co-ed state meet wrapping up on Tuesday, June 9. Cedar Rapids Xavier's duo of Haley Morris and Jacob Scmit claimed the Class 2A state title, shooting a 70 at the Westwood Golf Course in Newton. Waterloo West's duo of Bree Stegall and Jay McCausland was just two shots behind, finishing in second place with a score of 72. Rounding out the top three was Southeast Polk's team of Anna Wahman and Carter Mulcahy, who shot a 74. In Class 1A action at the American Legion Golf Course in Marshalltown, North Union's team of Alexis Cummins and Drew Henderson took home the top prize. Wahlert Catholic's duo of Elin Mueller and Alex Ihrig claimed second place while New Hampton's team of Kirsten Nuss and Charlie Kriener rounded out the top three. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: North Union, Xavier claim co-ed Iowa high school golf state titles

Real Madrid offered the chance to sign three Premier League starsThe arrival of Jose Mourinho is likely to lead to a proliferation of Portuguese players in the Real Madrid team, thanks to Jorge Mendes’ improved relationship with the club.The Portuguese super-agent represents some of the most gifted players in world football and has a particular pull when it comes to Portuguese talents.Keeping that in mind, Real Madrid have already been offered the chance to sign a variety of Portuguese internationals in this summer transfer window.Real Madrid offered three playersMourinho may favour Portuguese players. (Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images)According to El Chiringuito, Jorge Mendes has offered Real Madrid the opportunity to sign at least three Portuguese players.The players in question are Ruben Dias, Mateus Fernandes and Matheus Nunes, all three represented by Mendes’ agency.However, it must be noted that none of these three players is currently a free agent and Real Madrid would have to spend a fortune to sign them.Useful additions to Real Madrid?Ruben Dias is arguably the most high-profile name on the list. The Manchester City centre-back is widely regarded as one of the best defenders in the world.Ruben Dias would be a star addition to the team. (Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images)He would immediately address Real Madrid’s most pressing area of need at the back, following the departures of Dani Carvajal and David Alaba.Mateus Fernandes, as previously reported, is already understood to be Jose Mourinho’s preferred midfield target. The West Ham midfielder has attracted interest from Arsenal and Manchester United as well, with the English club demanding in excess of €90 million for his services.Matheus Nunes, currently at Manchester City, is a versatile operator who can operate as a right-back as well, thus providing depth in both midfield and defence.

Now two weeks removed from the 2026 NBA Draft, here's a rundown of the players connected to the Milwaukee Bucks in mock drafts around the internet, although the list includes some names you've probably already seen.The NBA Draft begins Tuesday, June 23, though the wait seems longer given that the Bucks would likely have a decision made about the future of Giannis Antetokounmpo between then and now.Nate Ament, power forward, TennesseeIf you've been following mock drafts at all, you know this is a name that's going to come up as a fit for the Bucks.From Adam Finkelstein of CBS Sports: Ament is a polarizing prospect with a wide range of outcomes on draft night. A late-blooming 6-foot-10 combo-forward who is fluid, has touch, and skill, he's also inconsistent and needs to get stronger. While his freshman year was up and down, Ament's overall arc has been linear, and there's still glaring potential. That upside makes him a logical choice for a Milwaukee team that has a very uncertain future ahead of them.From Jeremy Woo of ESPN in a late-May mock: Ament was polarizing for teams all season, with some evaluators still enamored with his size and skill, while others view him as a theoretical prospect and are concerned with his struggles in college. In either case, he's a ways away from impacting winning at the NBA level, which makes him a bit more fit-specific to teams that have minutes available and a runway to develop him. The Bucks might wind up in that position and could opt to roll the dice here.From Derek Parker of Sports Illustrated: Ament’s upside as a 6-foot-10 wing with premier face-up ability is undeniable. If developed properly, he could add the prototypical modern wing with shooting, rebounding, defense and a dash of handling. Milwaukee could be soon operating with multiple first-round picks, and using one on Ament wouldn’t be far-fetched.The Ringer also picked Ament in May.Mikel Brown Jr., guard, LouisvilleFrom Sam Vecenie of The Athletic: The Bucks have certainly been doing due diligence into the lead guards, including Flemings, Anderson, Labaron Philon Jr. and Brown. I’ve also heard Hannes Steinbach’s name as an option here. But with the potential for Giannis Antetokounmpo’s departure, it makes sense for the Bucks to go with as high an upside swing as possible. Brown is a dynamic playmaker with the ball who can play in ball screens, make high-level passing reads and shoot. However, his decision-making can be questionable at times while trying to hit home runs, and his scoring inside of 15 feet has left some scouts with questions.Stephen Noh of Sporting News also picked Brown for the Bucks in May.Kingston Flemings, guard, HoustonFrom Kevin O'Connor of Yahoo! Sports: The Bucks should take a swing to jump start their new era, whether or not Giannis Antetokounmpo is part of it. Flemings could be that type of bet since he plays with surgical midrange touch, an explosive first step, and the passing vision of a true point guard who can run an offense. But Flemings is also 183 pounds and midrange-heavy in a 3-point league, and he watched his efficiency crater against the stiffest competition late in the season. The question is whether his scoring package translates against NBA length and spacing, or whether opposing scouts figure him out the same way late-season defenses did. Still, he brings incredible effort and passion to the floor and will likely maximize whatever he’s going to become.Aday Mara, center, MichiganFrom Bryan Kalbrosky of USA TODAY: While leading his team to win the NCAA championship, Aday Mara became one of the prospects who helped himself the most during March Madness. The 7-foot-3 big man, who transferred from UCLA, is a fantastic rim protector. Opponents only attempted 20.4 percent of their field goals at the rim when the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year was on the court, per CBB Analytics, which ranks near the lowest among all NCAA players. He could potentially hear his name called even higher than this, too, as teams look for large defenders like Mara (who measured with a 9-foot-9 standing reach) as front offices value bigger bodies to throw at Victor Wembanyama.This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Here's who Bucks might pick at No. 10, based on these NBA mock drafts

Now two weeks removed from the 2026 NBA Draft, here's a rundown of the players connected to the Milwaukee Bucks in mock drafts around the internet, although the list includes some names you've probably already seen.The NBA Draft begins Tuesday, June 23, though the wait seems longer given that the Bucks would likely have a decision made about the future of Giannis Antetokounmpo between then and now.Nate Ament, power forward, TennesseeIf you've been following mock drafts at all, you know this is a name that's going to come up as a fit for the Bucks.From Adam Finkelstein of CBS Sports: Ament is a polarizing prospect with a wide range of outcomes on draft night. A late-blooming 6-foot-10 combo-forward who is fluid, has touch, and skill, he's also inconsistent and needs to get stronger. While his freshman year was up and down, Ament's overall arc has been linear, and there's still glaring potential. That upside makes him a logical choice for a Milwaukee team that has a very uncertain future ahead of them.From Jeremy Woo of ESPN in a late-May mock: Ament was polarizing for teams all season, with some evaluators still enamored with his size and skill, while others view him as a theoretical prospect and are concerned with his struggles in college. In either case, he's a ways away from impacting winning at the NBA level, which makes him a bit more fit-specific to teams that have minutes available and a runway to develop him. The Bucks might wind up in that position and could opt to roll the dice here.From Derek Parker of Sports Illustrated: Ament’s upside as a 6-foot-10 wing with premier face-up ability is undeniable. If developed properly, he could add the prototypical modern wing with shooting, rebounding, defense and a dash of handling. Milwaukee could be soon operating with multiple first-round picks, and using one on Ament wouldn’t be far-fetched.The Ringer also picked Ament in May.Mikel Brown Jr., guard, LouisvilleFrom Sam Vecenie of The Athletic: The Bucks have certainly been doing due diligence into the lead guards, including Flemings, Anderson, Labaron Philon Jr. and Brown. I’ve also heard Hannes Steinbach’s name as an option here. But with the potential for Giannis Antetokounmpo’s departure, it makes sense for the Bucks to go with as high an upside swing as possible. Brown is a dynamic playmaker with the ball who can play in ball screens, make high-level passing reads and shoot. However, his decision-making can be questionable at times while trying to hit home runs, and his scoring inside of 15 feet has left some scouts with questions.Stephen Noh of Sporting News also picked Brown for the Bucks in May.Kingston Flemings, guard, HoustonFrom Kevin O'Connor of Yahoo! Sports: The Bucks should take a swing to jump start their new era, whether or not Giannis Antetokounmpo is part of it. Flemings could be that type of bet since he plays with surgical midrange touch, an explosive first step, and the passing vision of a true point guard who can run an offense. But Flemings is also 183 pounds and midrange-heavy in a 3-point league, and he watched his efficiency crater against the stiffest competition late in the season. The question is whether his scoring package translates against NBA length and spacing, or whether opposing scouts figure him out the same way late-season defenses did. Still, he brings incredible effort and passion to the floor and will likely maximize whatever he’s going to become.Aday Mara, center, MichiganFrom Bryan Kalbrosky of USA TODAY: While leading his team to win the NCAA championship, Aday Mara became one of the prospects who helped himself the most during March Madness. The 7-foot-3 big man, who transferred from UCLA, is a fantastic rim protector. Opponents only attempted 20.4 percent of their field goals at the rim when the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year was on the court, per CBB Analytics, which ranks near the lowest among all NCAA players. He could potentially hear his name called even higher than this, too, as teams look for large defenders like Mara (who measured with a 9-foot-9 standing reach) as front offices value bigger bodies to throw at Victor Wembanyama.This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Here's who Bucks might pick at No. 10, based on these NBA mock drafts

Earlier this year, the federal government removed Pride flags from the Stonewall National Monument, and the outrage from the LGBTQ+ community was deafening. Activists across the country spoke out against it, LGBTQ+ media published column after column denouncing the removal, and a group of queer activists and Democrats went rogue and re-raised the flag. It was a stronger national reaction than many state laws attacking our community’s rights have received. Related Gay activist wants to put up cameras for 24-hour surveillance of Stonewall Monument It’s also a reminder of just how much LGBTQ+ people love flags… as well as how much anti-LGBTQ+ activists hate them. It’s something I first noticed back when I was working freelance at another LGBTQ+ publication on guides to Pride celebrations; after putting together articles filled with pictures of Prides in major cities across the country, I would have rainbows imprinted in my mind. Flags serve several purposes for LGBTQ+ people. Much of the oppression we face attacks us using shame and invisibility: being queer or trans isn’t something that’s necessarily noticeable, but we’re supposed to feel ashamed about it, and that shame and invisibility work together to reinforce one another. Flags cut through that, since they’re highly visible symbols of identity that show what’s going on inside is bright and cheery. There’s a reason we call them “Pride” flags. Dive deeper every day Join our newsletter for thought-provoking commentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ+ issues Subscribe to our Newsletter today Flags also define territory, showing us where we’re safe. One 2017 study of LGBTQ+ youth found that subjects associate the rainbow flag with safety and support and use it to navigate spaces. “If there’s a little thing there that you can see, it’s like a wink, definitely go up and ask about it, because it’s something that you might want to figure out, because it’s definitely someone who is going to be there for you,” one of the teens surveyed in the study said. It helps that flags are generally simple symbols that can be identified from a distance. They can also be taken down, transported, and raised again fairly easily, a useful characteristic for a population that has few permanent claims to any spaces and is constantly on the move. For Pride Month this year, the Encyclopedia Britannica celebrated by posting an infographic to social media that highlights just some of the flags you’re most likely to see if you attend Pride festivities this year. In broad strokes, it aligns with my vague memories as a 43-year-old: the six-stripe rainbow flag when I was little, bi and trans flags gaining popularity in the 2000s, and then an explosion of flags in the 2010s, mainly first appearing on Tumblr. In the late 2010s, the city of Philadelphia added brown and black stripes to the rainbow. Then Daniel Quasar took that basic concept, added trans flag colors, and designed the Progress Pride flag, which became perhaps the most common flag people see at community events. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Encyclopaedia Britannica (@britannica) But that’s only telling part of the story. That explosion of flags in the 2010s wasn’t just a dozen or so. It was a lot more. The infographic below highlights just the flags that appeared in that era related to asexuality and aromanticism – more infographics could be produced with even more flags. We’ve done our best to catalog them. The push and pull between the two purposes of Pride flags – symbolizing community and safety but also expressing individuals’ identities – explains why there are just so many of them. Some Pride flags – like the rainbow flag, the Progress Pride flag, and the trans Pride flag – are used to bring people together. Most people know what they look like, so they know what kind of space they’re entering. The flags say that it’s safe to be yourself. But there will always be context and differing opinions, hence the need for a variety of flags to symbolize queer presence in various spaces. Other Pride flags – like the ones that appear in infographics shared on social media – are more about expressing one’s own identity. Having a flag associated with inchoate feelings can make those feelings easier to process, legitimizing them by showing that others also feel the same way. There’s something about having a flag that can feel “official” even if it was designed by an anonymous Tumblr user. LGBTQ Nation’s June 2026 Edition is all about the community’s relationship with flags. Why do we love them? How do we create them? What do they mean? And why do our opponents hate them so much? The month will start with a cover story about rural Pride organizers who were dismayed when they saw that vandals broke into the barn where they were storing their gear for their Pride march and tore their Pride flag in half. But their reaction showed the resiliency of these symbols. Other pieces in the edition will range from theoretical inquiries into flags and identity construction, while others will take a more practical approach to examine rules around flags, like where Pride flags are welcome and what that means. We’ll also be talking to experts on flags, including a professor who studies semiotics and the creator of an iconic Pride flag. Flags have historically been used to symbolize territorial claims, but that symbolism has expanded to include different ideas about what territory means. In 1969, for example, American astronauts planted the lunar flag on the Moon. It wasn’t a territorial claim since international treaties already banned territorial claims on extraterrestrial bodies. Instead, it was a way to say, “We were here.” The rainbow flags at the National Stonewall Monument aren’t there because of a concrete claim to that land. It’s a federal monument; it legally belongs to everyone. But those flags were raised in a country where LGBTQ+ identities are suppressed in the vast majority of spaces, where holding one’s partner’s hand in public or being visibly gender nonconforming can lead to violence. Even the nation’s history gets presented as cishet in an effort to make it seem like queer and trans identities are a recent, superficial thing, rather than part of the fabric of the nation. So maybe it wasn’t all that surprising that people got pretty upset about the flags at a monument that is “the only unit of the National Park Service specifically dedicated to LGBTQ+ history.” They were trying to take away our claim on history. But as that history has shown, LGBTQ+ people don’t shy away from a fight. This community has made it clear it will never stop raising it’s flags so that everyone knows, “We are here.” Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

In the race to dominate the artificial intelligence industry, companies like SpaceX and Alphabet are borrowing cash and raising equity from investors at the fastest pace in decades.

Sunil Gavaskar has strongly defended the IPL and the BCCI amid renewed criticism from former players and commentators over the growing influence of franchise cricket on the international calendar.The debate intensified during and after the 2026 IPL season, particularly in England, where concerns were raised about players prioritising franchise commitments over national duty. Much of the discussion focused on Jofra Archer, who remained with Rajasthan Royals for the IPL playoffs and consequently missed England's opening Test against New Zealand.Jacob Bethell was another player caught in the middle of the debate earlier in the season. After limited opportunities in the IPL, former England captain Alastair Cook suggested that the youngster would have been better off returning to county cricket to prepare for the upcoming red-ball campaign. Former cricketers Simon Doull and Michael Atherton also questioned Archer's decision to continue in the IPL instead of joining England's Test squad, reigniting the broader conversation around franchise leagues and Test cricket.Writing in his column for Mid-Day, Gavaskar took exception to what he sees as persistent criticism of Indian cricket and the BCCI from overseas voices. The former India captain argued that many of those criticising the IPL ultimately benefit from the commercial power generated by Indian cricket and its vast fanbase.“Indian cricket and BCCI bashing is par for the course," Gavaskar wrote in his column for Mid-Day. “But when it comes to revenues, they still have to come to the BCCI because it is Indian cricket and Indian fans that fill their coffers much more than even what their traditional rivalry does."Gavaskar also pointed to the financial rewards that foreign cricket boards receive from IPL contracts involving their players. In his view, critics often ignore those benefits while continuing to complain about players being unavailable for international duty during the tournament.“Cribbing about IPL and their players not being available for their country is another favourite pastime. Not a word though about the 10% their Boards get of the fee of every player from their country," he added.The batting great further highlighted what he believes is a unique contribution made by the IPL to world cricket, noting that overseas boards receive a share of player earnings from the tournament.“It adds up to a cool million plus pounds every year. Does The Hundred give any percentage to the Boards of their overseas players playing in their tournament? No sir. Does the BBL or any other country T20 leagues give any percentage to the Boards of their overseas players. No sir again. Only the IPL does. Yet the whining and moaning about BCCI and Indian cricket just goes on and on. Wake up and smell the coffee guys. Indian cricket is here to stay, no matter how you try to pull it down," he added.Gavaskar's comments come at a time when the relationship between franchise cricket and the international game continues to be heavily debated. While concerns remain over player workload and availability, the former India captain made it clear that he believes the IPL's contribution to global cricket is often overlooked by its critics.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Kirsty Coventry (Stefano RELLANDINI)Olympic chief Kirsty Coventry said on Wednesday she was confident for the successful hosting of the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles despite what she described as "challenges" for the World Cup.Football's showpiece tournament, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, kicks off on Thursday.But the build-up to the June 11-July 19 competition has been marred by fans, a top referee and team officials being barred from the tournament.A record 48 teams and millions of supporters are descending on the three host countries for the largest and most logistically complex World Cup ever staged.But the refusal of US immigration authorities to allow Somali referee Omar Artan, one of Africa's leading match officials, into the country underlined fears that US President Donald Trump's immigration policy could leave deep scars on the tournament."We're obviously very aware and following the World Cup as it gets closer and closer to kick-off time," said Coventy, the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)."I am confident that in two years we will be able to overcome a number of the challenges that the World Cup are facing right now."That, Coventry told a press conference, took "collaboration and learning"."The task force and everyone on the ground now are learning and we can only continue to work very closely with the OCOG (local organising committee), the USOPC (the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee), at this moment to continuously give our feedback we are receiving from stakeholders."Then it's our job to monitor that, to advocate for that and for athletes and their entourage to be able to ensure that they are there in the LA28 Games."Coventry added: "We're going to consistently work with them, we're going to consistently collaborate with them."As soon as we get any feedback from the Olympic movement and our stakeholders, we relay that directly to them."This is just a part of the process, so we have to just continue having faith in that process."And I do believe that we will see a successful LA 2028."The Los Angeles Olympics are slated for July 14-30, 2028, when President Trump will still be in power.cfe-lp/iwd

MIAMI, FL - JUNE 09: Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen (23) walks the dugout during the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Miami Marlins on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at LoanDepot Park in Miami, FL (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Diamondbacks NewsArizona’s Comeback StymiedArizona managed to come back from a four-run deficit, tying the game up with a three-run eighth. Unfortunately, the bullpen had a rough afternoon and allowed four runs in the bottom of the inning.Kayson Cunningham Moving Up LadderLast year’s first pick in the draft and one of Arizona’s top prospects has managed to do something other highly-rated prospects of late have had trouble with, staying healthy and thus moving up quickly through the minors.They Came to the U.S. for Baseball, Diamondbacks’ School Covers the RestThe development of Latin American players begins at the Diamondbacks Dominican Academy in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic. There, alongside constant baseball training, there is a strong emphasis on academic preparation.Lovullo Defends Marte Amongst Swirling Criticisms and RumoursTorey Lovullo threw a sea of frigid water on Bob Nightengale’s latest Ketel Marte hit piece.Other Baseball NewsWhat All 30 Teams Should Do Before Trade DeadlineThe Diamondbacks’ lineup needs to make it abundantly clear that Mike Hazen can focus on pitching upgrades at the deadline.Do Catchers Challenge Well Where They Frame Well?It is still early days, but which catchers are better at challenging and are they also the ones with good framing tendencies?Minnesota Waited a Decade for this Byron BuxtonBetter late than never in this case. But what do they do now?White Sox are in Midst of Impressive TurnaroundWhile there’s a long way to go in the 2026 season, at their current pace the White Sox could post this century’s second-largest improvement in winning percentage among the teams that lost at least 108 games two years prior.

DENVER — The Chicago Cubs are expected to be without starter Jameson Taillon until after the All-Star break due to a strained left hamstring.The right-hander exited a game against San Francisco in the second inning. He was placed on the 15-day injury list before opening a three-game series with the Colorado Rockies.Chicago made a series of moves, including reinstating outfielder/infielder Matt Shaw from the 10-day IL and recalling right-handers Ethan Roberts and Tyler Ferguson from Triple-A Iowa. The team also optioned designated hitter Kevin Alcántara to Iowa, while placing pitcher Trent Thornton on the paternity list.The loss of Taillon is the latest blow to a pitching staff already without Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton and Justin Steele. Boyd, the Cubs’ opening-day starter, is nearing a return. He’s slated to pitch over the weekend in San Francisco.The 34-year-old Taillon threw an inning, allowing a run, before departing in the second with the injury. He’s 2-5 with a 5.19 ERA.“After the All-Star break, I think, would be what we’re shooting for,” manager Craig Counsell said. “The margins become ... it makes losing somebody else more daunting, obviously. So that’s just the way we’re at, and guys are going to have some opportunities for the next month or so, until we get to the All-Star break, because of it.”Shaw is hitting .242 with three homers and 12 RBIs.“Ready to help in any way I can,” Shaw said. “Whatever that looks like, whatever that kind of manifests into, whether it’s some of those late-inning pinch running situations, I look forward to those.”

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 26: Greg Rousseau #50 and Ed Oliver #91 of the Buffalo Bills look on against the Chicago Bears during the first half of a preseason game at Soldier Field on August 26, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images By now, all Buffalo Bills fans know this — whether it be from visceral memories or from completed research they’ve read — the team’s defense flopped in playoff defeats during the Sean McDermott era. As yet another reminder of those infamously disappointing defensive showings — in Buffalo’s eight playoff losses from 2017 through 2025, the opposition averaged a higher points-per-drive (3.83)… than the 2007 Patriots. For an entire unit to make its opponents more efficient than the 16-0 (and ultimately 18-1) Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Wes Welker Patriots hints at drastic problems at every level. Here, I want to focus on Buffalo’s pass rush and its presence as a core issue for the team even in the regular season over the past decade.Related here — I’ve been on a mission to find advanced stats that track to winning the Super Bowl, because that is, of course, what the Bills have set in their sights on — and justifiably so.For example, I discovered a few years ago that point differential is probably the best indicator of which team (or the cluster of teams) can win the Super Bowl in a given season. Check this out: In 11 of past 12 seasons — including nine-straight — Super Bowl winner finished in Top 6 of point differential during the regular season(and 9 of 12 finished in Top 5)Top 6 in regular-season point differential: 1. Seahawks2. Rams3. Pats4. Jags5. Bills6. Texans— Chris Trapasso (@ChrisTrapasso) January 5, 2026It’s currently my favorite statistical nugget pertaining to the NFL. Now, the below discovery is not nearly as straightforward, and it’s certainly not as predictive as regular-season point differential on the cusp of the playoffs.In conducting research on the pass-rush units of recent Super Bowl winners, I found that said units either were incredibly deep or had an elite-level (like All-Pro caliber) defender on it. Below are the amount of defenders the last 10 Super Bowl winners had who registered 20-plus pressures during the regular season. You will notice the trend right away.2025 – Seahawks (7 players)2024 – Eagles (7 players) 2023 – Chiefs (4 players but Chris Jones with 75 pressures)2022 – Chiefs (5 players but Chris Jones with 77) 2021 – Rams (5 players but Aaron Donald with 86) 2020 – Buccaneers (5 players, Vita Vea had 16 in 5 games)2019 – Chiefs (5 players but Chris Jones with 58)2018 – Patriots (6 players) 2017 – Eagles (7 players) 2016 – Patriots (6 players) The verdict over the past 10 years centers around an abundance of productive depth OR a superstar. In the case of the Chiefs and Rams, said superstar was an interior havoc wreaker. The average 20-plus pressure defenders for the last 10 Super Bowl winners is 5.7. Of course, simply fielding seven defenders who ultimately register 20-plus pressures in the regular season is not magic — it won’t guarantee any team wins the Super Bowl. But note the (albeit small) difference between those figures and the number of 20-plus pressure defenders the Bills had during the McDermott era from 2017 to 2025.2025 – 42024 – 52023 – 52022 – 62021 – 62020 – 52019 – 62018 – 52017 – 4That equates to an average of 5.1 players per season, which may not seem like a drastic disparity from the Super Bowl winners. In a sample size of 10, it’s noteworthy. And, heck, even if you don’t believe it is, it’s not as though the were Bills lightyears away from reaching a Super Bowl with McDermott as head coach, particularly from 2020 through last season.The past two years, the losing Super Bowl team (Chiefs, Patriots) only had four 20-plus pressure defenders in the regular season before each of their respective runs to the big game. The two previous years featured the 49ers and their five 20-plus pressure defenders and Eagles with six such defenders being defeated in the Super Bowl.Believe me, I understand how this may feel like a stretch. And it’s certainly a demonstration of correlation not necessarily implying causation.However, Buffalo’s lack of pass rush is near of the top of the culprit list as to why the otherwise super-successful McDermott era didn’t even feature a Super Bowl appearance.Here are the top pressure generators (and their regular-season pressure numbers) during the McDermott era, and I only included those who hit at least 50 pressures:2025 Greg Rousseau (54 pressures)2024 Greg Rousseau (63)2023 Ed Oliver (65)2020 Jerry Hughes (54)2018 Jerry Hughes (74!)Of course, it’s mostly been in the playoffs when the typically reliable McDermott defenses failed, and those downturns in production were typified by relative lackluster performances from the pass-rushing units.In those eight playoff losses, the Bills generated a pressure on just 31.5% of the opposing quarterbacks’ dropbacks. Is that low? For context, that is ever so slightly below the pressure rate of the Chicago Bears pass rush in 2025, which was the 25th-best in football.Frankly, a pressure rate under 32% in the playoffs is simply not good enough. The easiest, quick-fix to this problem for the Bills — or any team for that matter — is to find an All-Pro caliber player in the front seven (or a tremendously productive blitzing cornerback or linebacker). Matt Milano is Buffalo’s last defensive front seven All-Pro. In that All-Pro season of 2022, he set a career high in pressures with 19. The more challenging way to field what appears to be a Super Bowl caliber pass-rush unit is by loading up on talent. This is what the Bills have mostly done — and what most teams attempt to do. Sure, the defensive front seven production over the past decade has not matched Brandon Beane’s pass-rush investments in it. But now, with Bradley Chubb, second-round pick T.J. Parker, Greg Rousseau entering his prime, Ed Oliver close to being 100% healthy, a potentially healthier than expected Michael Hoecht, and plenty of newcomers on the interior, the Bills have their deepest pass-rushing group since Von Miller’s first season in Buffalo in 2022.Some would say, the defensive front is clearly better than it was a season ago. I agree with that sentiment.The Bills didn’t swing for the fences with a trade to acquire Myles Garrett or Maxx Crosby. They didn’t pony up big money for Trey Hendrickson. Therefore what they should be/seemingly are aiming for is a defensive front that comes at opposing quarterbacks in waves and has as many as seven rushers who can register more than 20 pressures in the regular season. Because that formula has worked well for teams that’ve recently hoisted the Lombardi Trophy in February.

U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., takes questions from reporters following a South Carolina gubernatorial GOP candidate debate on April 1, in Newberry, S.C. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard, File)2026-06-10T15:30:56Z COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — After a decade of roiling South Carolina and national politics, Rep. Nancy Mace finished a distant fifth in her state’s Republican primary for governor, leaving an uncertain future for one of the nation’s unabashed politicians.Her campaign mirrored her whipsaw career. Mace courted the support of President Donald Trump after harshly criticizing him over the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. She emphasized her fights with other Republicans to release files from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. In the final days before Tuesday’s primary, she called for a law to prevent anyone not born in the U.S. from holding political office or serving as a judge. She suggested that Rom Reddy, another candidate for governor, wasn’t qualified because he was a naturalized citizen whose mother was from India and father from Italy. “I didn’t come out of a slum in India,” Mace said during an appearance in Greenville County this month. “I am born and made here in America.”By the end of her campaign she was only making sporadic public appearances. She struggled to raise money and had no presence on television. Mace mostly communicated through social media — a place she has used to her advantage since first being elected to the South Carolina House in 2017. In a lengthy statement posted after her loss, Mace recounted her achievements in the U.S. House, saying she had “taken on the rich and powerful in both parties” and “voted to release the Epstein files and lost some support for that.” Read More Four congressional Republicans were part of the initial group pushing for a discharge petition forcing the files’ release. Mace and Rep. Thomas Massie lost their races, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene resigned in January. Mace didn’t give an indication of her next plans in her concession speech Tuesday night. She is backing Alan Wilson in the runoff for governor, even though just last year she accused Wilson of protecting child sex abuse defendants. “When children needed him to act, Wilson looked the other way,” she said.Wilson will face Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette in the runoff on June 23. Evette received Trump’s endorsement, spurring Mace to lash out on social media. “Pamela Evette is NOT ENDORSED by DONALD TRUMP,” Mace wrote, incorrectly. “Do not believe her LIES.” Mace posted an AI-generated image of posing with Trump herself. Mace dropped out of high school and worked as a server at the Waffle House before getting her diploma. She later attended The Citadel and became the first woman to graduate from the state’s military academy. And in recent years, she talked about the importance of defending victims of sexual assault and shared stories of being raped as a teen.After her political career began in the South Carolina House, Mace got wide praise from Republicans in 2020 for winning back a U.S. House seat around Charleston that had flipped to Democrats for one term.“For those folks that are out there today that maybe weren’t with us yesterday, I’m asking for a chance — a chance to prove to you that I will be a compassionate leader, a good listener, an independent thinker,” Mace said then.___Kinnard reported from Washington. Bill Barrow contributed from Atlanta. JEFFREY COLLINS Collins covers South Carolina from Columbia for The Associated Press. He has been with the AP since 2000. twitter mailto MEG KINNARD Kinnard covers national politics for The Associated Press. She lives in South Carolina. twitter instagram mailto

Nature, Published online: 10 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01754-8A protein signal remains silent under normal conditions but is activated under cold stress to protect developing pollen. This ‘on-demand’ resilience mechanism could enable the development of ‘climate smart’ crops that maintain high yields in good years and food security under climate stress.

Nature, Published online: 10 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10633-1Linafexor is a rapidly cleared FXR agonist designed to mimic natural bile acid signalling, achieving transient receptor activation with strong efficacy and reduced toxicity in preclinical and early clinical studies.

Nature, Published online: 10 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01586-6An ingredient of nylon has been made in high yields from lignin — revealing a fresh strategy for turning this complex plant biopolymer into industrial chemicals.

Nature, Published online: 10 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01835-8A ripple effect of climate change is providing habitat for corals, sponges and other Arctic animals.

Nature, Published online: 10 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01581-xIn the Indian Ocean, a deep-sea area roughly 1,200 kilometres long and 7 kilometres deep was found to harbour an ecological landmark site of whale remains.

It starts with “We the people” for a reason.

50% discount on 2026–2027 season ticketsGirona FC is launching its season ticket campaign for the 2026/27 season with significant price reductions of up to 50% in 95% of cases. The initiative is part of the club’s commitment to making it easier for fans to attend matches at Montilivi and to strengthen its bond with its fan base, which currently includes 9,800 season ticket holders.The new prices set the adult season ticket for the Gol Stand starting at 165 euros, for the Preferente Stand starting at 250 euros, and for the Tribuna Stand —where the discount is 35%—starting at 515 euros. As for other stands, the fan and family section will be priced at 125 euros.What the season ticket includesThe 2026/27 season ticket includes access to the 21 LaLiga Hypermotion matches that Girona FC will play at the Montilivi Stadium, as well as the Copa del Rey matches played at home up to the quarterfinals, except for matches where the opponents may be FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, or Atlético de Madrid.Season ticket holders will have the card in both physical and digital formats through the Club's official app. Additionally, the card can be integrated into Wallet/NFC, allowing for faster access to the stadium on match days.Removal of the South Goal Temporary StandFor the new season, the Club will remove the South Goal temporary stand but will maintain the temporary stands in the Preferente and North Goal Upper sections, thanks to the collaboration of Nüssli, the Club's official provider, who has supported Girona based on years of partnership.This action will involve relocating season ticket holders who have their seats in this area, who will be able to choose a new location between June 15 and June 21 through the Member Area.New memberships and waiting listThe Club will manage new memberships starting July 6 through the waiting list. Members interested in obtaining a season ticket must register before July 5. Subsequently, they will be able to formalize their membership and select their seat — primarily in the North Goal Upper section — through the Member Area.Seat changesDuring the season, season ticket holders will be able to request seat changes through the form available in the Member Area. The Club will review each request individually and make the change whenever possible, without the request implying an automatic guarantee.Key campaign datesSeason ticket management: June 10 to June 14Relocation of South Goal affected members: June 15 to June 21Installment payment: June 22 to June 24Direct debit: July 1Waiting list: until July 5New memberships: starting July 6

CLEVELAND — When Mike Shannon was broadcasting Cardinals baseball for 50 years, he used to tell a story from one of the scariest moments of his playing career. During a home game in St. Louis against the Dodgers on a hot summer day in the mid-1960s, he went to the plate to face a living legend, Don Drysdale, and the dirt in the batter’s box was hard as a rock.Shannon kicked and kicked the dirt with his spikes trying to dig in, then he looked up and saw Drysdale standing at the front of the mound staring at him with a scowl on his face. Fearing a first pitch would drill him in the ear, Shannon dropped to his hands and knees, then pushed the dirt to where it was, repeatedly yelling to Drysdale that he was sorry.That’s the kind of fear pitchers used to command.You hit a home run off the great Bob Gibson, Shannon’s Cardinals teammate from 1962-70, the next batter often was drilled in the back with a fastball.It’s a good thing Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm didn’t play in that era.The way the flashy Bahamas native celebrates all of his homers — the bat flips, the slow jog around the bases, the arm waving — he might not make it out of the ballpark alive if he did that in any other era, especially during road games.Yankees moneyline is listed at +102 on FanDuel for Wednesday’s game versus the Guardians. Our complete FanDuel Sportsbook review makes it easy to figure out how to navigate through their app.But in 2026, there’s no unwritten rule about players seeking attention, especially if it’s mocking an opponent, and no one in baseball has more fun than Chisholm, whose five-tool skills are complemented by showboating that’s his way of enjoying the game.“Jazz is one of one,” shortstop Anthony Volpe said with a smile.Amen to that.On a ballfield, he’s what Muhammad Ali was like when the boxing great was floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee in the ring. He’s a modern-day Billy “White Shoes” Johnson, who celebrated punt returns for touchdowns in Houston Oilers games with his “Funky Chicken” dance.Chisholm is like an old-time hockey goon who can score goals. You love him when he’s on your team and despise him when he’s the opponent.Somehow, Chisholm outdid himself Tuesday night when he celebrated hitting a tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning of a 3-2 Yankees win over the Guardians.By then, the two-time All-Star was on a mission to stick it to Guardians fans for some in-game mocking.When Chisholm was up in the fifth inning with Cody Bellinger on first base and two outs, a chant broke out:OVERRATED!OVERRATED!“I heard it,” Chisholm said. “I kind of loved it.”The taunting changed his approach. He was no longer just looking to get on base to keep the inning going or hit a gap shot to put the Yankees ahead. He wanted to launch the baseball all the way to Columbus and shut everyone up.With Guardians right-handed reliever Slade Cecconi pitching, Chisholm was behind in the count 1-2 when he got a mistake pitch, a middle-in fastball at the top of the zone.“I got the pitch that I was looking for,” he said.And …“I really overswung,” he said.The fans got to him.“I think that’s why I overswung a lot in that at-bat,” he said.The fans loved seeing the villain fail, but the game wasn’t over.The game was still tied 2-2 when Chisholm led off the eighth facing Tim Herrin, who is one of the toughest lefty-on-lefty relievers in the majors.This time he grabbed one of Aaron Judge’s bats - maybe the same one that he used one last Sunday in New York to hit a home run - figuring it woudl help him avoid overswining.“I was like, ‘Keep your composure … don’t overswing,’” Chisholm said.Once again, a group of fans started chanting:OVERRATED!OVERRATED! “I feel like that was the loudest chants all day we heard, so I think it was great,” he said.Chisholm quickly was down in the count 0-2, then he took a pitch that was on the corner but called a ball. The Guardians had an ABS challenge, but didn’t use it, so the at-bat continued.Two balls evened the count, then Chisholm spoiled a pitch before taking a ball that filled the count.“Man, good at-bat,” manager Aaron Boone said. “That’s a true tough left on left. He gets to 0-2 and he just got patient and is able to lay off some tough pitches. He doesn’t expand.“He doesn’t try and do too much, and it probably got him back to a pitch that he could handle.”The next pitch was a hanging slider. That’s what he was hoping for.Chisholm took a nice uppercut swing and … As the late, great John Sterling would say, “Swung on, there it goes. It is high, it is far … it is GONE!Chisholm dropped Judge’s bat at his feet after his swing, then stood in the box and admired his blast until it touched down about six rows into the right-field seats.And then Chisholm rubbed it in with a home run trot that was slower than his usual crawl around the bases. Of course, there were antics the whole way. He held out his arms wide, which was his way of saying, “Look at me!”He pointed at the Guardians dugout. He did his little fake-handoff football move before he crossed home plate. He waved to booing fans while he headed back to his dugout.The average home run trot in the majors takes 22 seconds. Chisholm stretched this one to 32 seconds.“That was really for the fans,” he said with a big smile.Chisholm embraces his bad-guy role, which now has made him a villain in at least two cities. Royals fans have loathed him since he said Kansas City got lucky winning a playoff game in Yankee Stadium in 2024.Boone sometimes has to rein in Chisholm, who’s been kicked out of games for losing his cool on umpires. MORE BY RANDY MILLER‘Gift from God’ carries Yankees across finish lineJun. 10, 2026, 11:01 a.m.Yankees news: Secret to Ben Rice’s success; Black hole exposed againJun. 10, 2026, 6:00 a.m.Even though the home run trots amount to showing up opponents and Boone has old-school background as a third-generation big leaguer, he approves.“I love them,” he said. “I really do.”Because Chisholm’s latest was a payback, “even better,” Boone said with a smile and a nod.Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.