Dayna Kathan, a fan-favorite personality from the reality TV series Vanderpump Rules, came out as a “late in life lesbian” in a June 7 Instagram post. Kathan previously came out as bisexual during Season 8 of the show, in a scene filmed in June 2020, as well as in a June 2019 Instagram post. The recent Instagram post showed Kathan sitting between two female friends under a Philadelphia Pride flag while wearing a camisole that said, “Gay.” The other photos in the post showed her partying with stylish friends, and hugging both men and women at various bars and outdoor settings. Numerous Instagram commenters congratulated her and wished her a happy Pride. Related Bowen Yang says he felt like “the seasoning” and “never felt central” to SNL Kathan, who lives in Los Angeles, co-hosts the Disrespectfully podcast with her sexually fluid “bestie,” former Vanderpump Rules personality Katie Maloney. Together, they discuss their friendship and adventures and occasionally host guests. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dayna Kathan (@daynakathan) Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Kathan had previously come out as bi in a June 2019 Instagram post in which she showed off her fingernails that were painted in neon rainbow colors. “nailed it,” she wrote. “this will come as a surprise to no one who really knows me but I am bisexual. whether you’re a little gay, or super gay, or not gay at all, let’s all try to remember that we’re in this human experience together. happy pride!” she wrote. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dayna Kathan (@daynakathan) She also came out as bisexual on a June 2020 episode of Vanderpump Rules in which she spoke with Ariana Madix, a bisexual bartender, about spending 12 hours partying and dancing at Los Angeles Pride. In a confessional segment, she said, “I think I knew in middle school that I was different. I just remember noticing both genders, and I had this good friend, and we kissed for the first time. Immediately after kissing that girl, I remember feeling that I shouldn’t tell anyone, but then I was like, ‘You know what? F**k it. This is who I am. I’m bisexual.” In the episode, Kathan and Madix both celebrated it being the first time that each woman had celebrated Pride as out bisexuals. The two happily squealed and gave each other high-fives while Kathan exclaimed, “Bi sisters!” Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

The Republican congresswoman from South Carolina, who made enemies on both sides of the political aisle, is just one of several flashy lawmakers to be leaving Capitol Hill.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Drew Rasmussen struck out a career-high 13 and two-hit the Boston Red Sox over seven scoreless innings, leading the Tampa Bay Rays to a 7-5 victory Wednesday.Nick Fortes, Yandy Díaz and Taylor Walls had multiple hits for the Rays, who swept the Red Sox for the first time since 2023.Rasmussen (6-2) fanned his first four hitters, faced the minimum through four innings and didn’t allow a runner to reach third base. Boston’s 1-4 batters were a combined 0 for 11 with 11 strikeouts against the Tampa Bay righty, who left with a 5-0 lead.Boston then jumped on the Rays’ bullpen with a four-run eighth, including Ceddanne Rafaela’s three-run homer. Caleb Durbin also homered in the frame to put the Red Sox on the board.But Fortes answered with his fourth hit, matching a career high, and Cedric Mullins hit a two-run homer off Boston reliever Justin Slaten. Garrett Cleavinger pitched the ninth for his second save, despite surrendering another homer to Durbin.The small-ball Rays scored in the third when Fortes doubled off the wall, Mullins’ sacrifice bunt moved Fortes to third and Taylor Walls scored him on a sacrifice fly.Tampa Bay used three infield hits — including an Austin Slater RBI double off the leg of Boston starter Jake Bennett (1-2) — to score three in the fifth.Díaz, who had three hits and two RBIs, extended the longest on-base streak in the majors to 24 games.The Rays are 12-0 against the AL East at Tropicana Field, the majors’ longest season-opening home streak against division opponents since 2009.Up nextBoston returns home to face Texas on Friday with RHP Sonny Gray (7-1, 3.20 ERA) on the mound.Tampa Bay begins a road trip against the Angels on Friday with LHP Shane McLanahan (6-3, 2.85) scheduled to start. Neither Texas nor Los Angeles has announced a starter.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

As the FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off Thursday in Mexico, Atlanta fans still have five more days before the first match comes to Mercedes-Benz Stadium.Fans, city officials and metro Atlanta residents are all counting down each second before the World Cup gets here.In Atlanta, World Cup fans are about to get a huge welcome with the city’s first big FIFA event.Channel 2’s Berndt Petersen was downtown at Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park, where the FIFA Fan Festival will start.[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]The park is the official home for the festival and Channel 2 Action News got to tour the area ahead of the festival’s start.All 22 acres of Centennial Olympic Park ere transformed into an “all soccer and entertainment” form, including a Jumbotron.TRENDING STORIES:Metro Atlanta mom accused of stealing nearly $280,000 from job, using some to pay for day care$1.65 million worth of fentanyl taken off streets in metro Atlanta bustFirearms manufacturer investing $22 million in Georgia, bringing more than 100 new jobsThe festival at the park will be open for 18 days during the course of the FIFA World Cup.That means live music, including big name acts, FIFA and Olympic Soccer superstars will do meet and greets.There’s also going to be a big “kid zone” full of fun games and even three-on-three soccer if you’re up for it.“The message is, we’re ready. We’re ready to welcome the world and ready to welcome our family here in Atlanta to our doorstep,” Joe Bocherer, Georgia World Congress Center Chief Commercial Officer, said. “You see the Jumbotron that’ll be playing all the matches. We feel really good, we’re excited!”The FIFA Fan Festival starts Thursday afternoon with a ceremonial first kick. The event will bring Gov. Brian Kemp and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens together, but we don’t know yet which one will get to put their foot to the soccer ball.[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Red Sox make the worst kind of MLB history with trifecta of hat tricks originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Boston Red Sox did something Wednesday that had never been done before in the history of Major League Baseball (at least dating back to 1901, when these records begin).That wasn't a good thing, though.The Red Sox leadoff hitter struck out in his first three plate appearances.Their No. 2 hitter struck out in his first three plate appearances.And the guy in the 3-spot struck out in his first three plate appearances.That had never happened before, ever, in MLB.History!2026 Red Sox become the first team since 1901 to have the first three hitters in their order all strike out in their first three at bats of a game.125 years! pic.twitter.com/SuyX4sq5hP— Mike Mutnansky (@MikeMutnansky) June 10, 2026MORE: A walk-off home run in an MLB debut, truly a dream come trueJarren Duran was batting leadoff and struck out thrice before a hit in his last at bat.Ceddanne Rafaela also struck out his first three times, then belted a three-run home run his fourth time.Wilyer Abreu struck out the first three times up, then made an out his fourth time.The Red Sox tried to rally, but the Tampa Bay Rays prevailed, 7-5.Rays starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen struck out 13 batters in 7.0 scoreless innings while allowing two hits and one walk. He was dominant.The Red Sox simply couldn't handle Rasmussen, in a historically negative way.AL East standingsAfter the Rays beat the Red Sox, and the Yankees beat the Guardians also on Wednesday afternoon, the AL East standings continued to take shape.Tampa Bay maintains a tie atop with the Yanks.The Red Sox are in the basement:1. Rays 40-251. Yankees 41-263. Blue Jays 33-354. Orioles 31-375. Red Sox 27-39Boston is playing like a last-place team, that's for sure.More MLB news:Bo Bichette reveals his plans for his opt-out clauseA 'gentlemanly' baserunning move confused the umpires, and everyone elseOneil Cruz is Pirates' big trade deadline questionOutfielder retires from baseball to go play college footballDodgers have a very simple reason to trade for Tarik Skubal

National accolades continue to roll in for Arizona State outfielder Landon Hairston.Hairston was named Division I National Player of the Year by Just Baseball. That was announced on June 10. Hairston is also a finalist for two other national awards, which will be announced later this month.Hairston led the nation in slugging percentage (.860) and was second in total bases (202). He was third in runs scored (82), fifth in RBI (81), fifth in home runs (28), and seventh in hits (94). He was named Big 12 Player of the Year last month, in leading the Sun Devils to a third-place finish. His 28 home runs broke the school's single-season record.Just Baseball's other honors went to left-hander Mason Edwards of USC (Pitcher of the Year), outfielder Anthony Pack of Texas (Freshman of the Year), and James Ramsey of Georgia Tech (Coach of the Year).On June 10, Hairston was also named one of three finalists for the 48th Golden Spikes Award, which will be presented on Monday, June 29, on MLB Network at 7:30 p.m. ET. The other two are UCLA junior shortstop Roch Cholowsky, a Hamilton High graduate, and Georgia catcher Daniel Jackson.Hairston is also a finalist for the Dick Howser Trophy, sponsored by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and presented to the college baseball player of the year. It will be unveiled on June 12.This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona State Landon Hairston wins national baseball honor

In the current day and age of college football, projecting anything more than a season out may seem foolish.With the rampant transfer portal usage, coaches leaving at will, court cases, injunctions, and congressional bills, rosters have no guarantee that they'll remain consistent. Even a team with a ton of talented underclassmen can see that future go the wayside in a snap. That's what makes what Kirk Ferentz and Iowa have done recently so impressive.The Hawkeyes have avoided massive roster turnovers over the past few years. That's led to a lot of roster continuity and success on the field. That continuity no doubt helped Iowa land near the top of a major sports media outlet's most recent list.ESPN compiled a list ranking the future of all 68 Power 4 college football teams. The list focused on teams' futures through the 2027 season, looking at the quarterback room, offensive and defensive lines, roster management, star power, and coaching staff. Iowa landed at 21st on the list.Over the next two years, who will be the best overall CFB team? 🤔@ESPNRittenberg dives into future power rankings 👀More: https://t.co/gxYSSI9Z3Fpic.twitter.com/i4enrXkFsA— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) June 9, 2026Writer Adam Rittenberg was complimentary of Iowa's offensive line, roster management, and coaching staff led by Kirk Ferentz. He named defensive back Zach Lutmer and running back Kamari Moulton as the next breakout stars for the Hawkeyes. Rittenberg also profiled Iowa's underheralded transfer portal class as a strength for the program going forward.His concerns with Iowa over the next two seasons started with the quarterback position, where the Hawkeyes will be starting someone new in 2026. Rittenberg mentioned Iowa's defensive line and the loss of special teams coordinator LeVar Woods as areas of concern that will need to be addressed.Overall, Iowa was the seventh-highest Big Ten team on the list and in the top half of the ranking. While the Hawkeyes' ceiling can certainly be questioned, Ferentz has built a program with an extremely high floor. It's not always flashy, but that floor gives Iowa a chance to compete year in and year out. And it's earned the respect of Rittenberg and college football media around the country.Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Zach on X: @zach_hineyThis article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: ESPN releases Iowa's future college football power ranking

Republicans are struggling to extend a powerful surveillance authority set to lapse this weekend after President Trump alienated lawmakers with his choice of acting spy chief.

Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks in Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)The NBA Finals are keeping their ratings streak going, with Game 3 bringing in the biggest Game 3 audience since 1998.Game 3, which aired Monday, June 8 at 8:30 ET on ABC and ESPN, brought in 23.8 million viewers, according to live-plus-same-day figures.More to come …The post NBA Finals Game 3 Nears 24 Million Viewers, Biggest Audience Since 1998 appeared first on TheWrap.

Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White explained that, yes, it was her intention for superstar guard Caitlin Clark to take the final shot against the Washington Mystics on Monday night.Clark's thrilling logo 3-pointer to ice the game against hosting Washington is easily the moment of the season for Indiana so far, one where Cunningham made the perfect in-bound pass to Clark and Clark knocked down with ease. Kid Cudi visits Fever practice, gets signed Caitlin Clark shirseyThere has been some chatter about whether or not Clark and Cunningham went off-script to make it happen, the latter lightly trolling the discourse earlier this week with a funny meme. Did those two go off on their own? On the Indianapolis radio program Query and Company, White answered the big question as to whether or not the big bucket went as they drew it up or if Clark and Cunningham freelanced outside the scheme to make it happen. "It was the designed play to be able to get Caitlin a shot in that moment," White explained. "I think the freedom to improvise comes on how the defense plays it. We didn't anticipate two players going with Lexie [Hull] in that situation, and Caitlin getting the ball opposite midline. We thought she'd get a little bit closer to midline, a little bit closer to where Sophie was. "She read it, and she read the fade, and Sophie was able to get it to [Clark] in that position. So, it's a little bit of both: certainly, the opportunity to get C the ball in that position, and second, their ability on the floor to read how the defense is playing it. We can script it one way, and defense does some other things, and it's up to players to make plays in those moments, and they did." Stephanie White on 1075 The Fan on Caitlin Clark’s game winning shot. pic.twitter.com/jYDNGQOuIO— Kaitlyn (ZuluEditsAe) (@zulueditsae) June 10, 2026It's all history now. The ball went through the hoop, and the Fever officially have a winning 6-5 record again. When is the next Fever game?Thursday night at home against the Chicago Sky.This article originally appeared on For The Win: Stephanie White reveals if Caitlin Clark game-winning play was planned or not

Dodgers are 'most likely' to make an unfortunate Will Smith decision amid injury originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Los Angeles Dodgers are once again the top World Series contenders this season. But, as seen with Will Smith, that doesn't mean everything is going well.Smith has been out for a few days now due to injury, but there has been some uncertainty about how long he'd continue to miss. But the recent update is not what fans will like to hear.According to Jack Harris of The California Post, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed Smith is "most likely" to land on the injured list, with Thursday being the date he's expected to hit the IL.Dodgers 'most likely' placing Will Smith on IL"Dave Roberts said it's 'most likely' Will Smith will go on the IL - though that move probably won't officially come until tomorrow," Harris reports.This is a rough update for the Dodgers as the 43-24 ball club is losing one of its key players for some time due to injury.Smith has a neck issue that, while Harris reports it's progressing, is still not good enough for him to return to game action this season.MORE: Tarik Skubal being traded by Tigers would help him in free agencyThe Dodgers catcher last played on June 5, meaning that the Dodgers could place him on the injured list retroactive to June 6 and not have to wait for him to return to action 10 days from his 10-day IL placement.Instead, he could return a bit sooner, which does seem like a possibility. But Harris noted that Roberts wants to give Smith a little bit of a ramp-up period to get back on track this season before throwing him into the starting lineup.So, while it's "most likely" that Smith is landing on the injured list on Thursday, it's not all bad news, as he shouldn't be out for too much longer, and is progressing from this neck issue that's forced him to miss some time this June.More MLB news:5 reasons to believe in Jordan Walker's breakout for CardinalsEx-MLB GM projects White Sox to sell at trade deadline despite 2026 successCubs’ cost to trade for Tarik Skubal from Tigers revealed by ex-MLB GMYankees’ Ryan McMahon problem has a $25 million release solution Phillies extending Cristopher Sanchez to his $107 million deal was genius

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - JUNE 9: Josh Allen #17 gives two thumbs up following the Buffalo Bills mandatory minicamp at Kaleida Health Performance Center on June 9, 2026 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Joe Hrycych/Getty Images) | Getty Images Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen continues to make an impact far beyond the football field. According to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, the Patricia Allen Fund has officially surpassed $17 million in donations to Golisano Children’s Hospital of Buffalo (formerly Oishei Children’s Hospital). The fund was inspired by Allen’s grandmother, Patricia Allen, and was established after her passing in November 2020. This latest milestone comes just over five years after the fund was founded.What began as an outpouring of support from Bills fans and the local Western New York community, has quietly grown into one of the most remarkable charitable movements in professional sports. More than 47,000 donors from all 50 states and 10 countries have contributed to the fund, helping provide critical resources for children and families throughout Western New York. The fund directly supports the hospital’s Critical Care Team, which provides emergency, trauma, and intensive care services.While the original wave of donations gained national attention during the 2020 season, the Patricia Allen Fund has continued to grow through a variety of community driven initiatives. Over the years, Allen has partnered with New Era Cap on several projects that have featured custom designed caps created alongside patients from the hospital. Fisher Price partnered with Allen and the Bills on their annual sale of the Fisher Price Little People, in which all of the proceeds goes to the Patricia Allen Fund.For a fan base often defined by its generosity, this latest milestone serves as another reminder of the unique bond between the Buffalo Bills, the fans, the players, and the Western New York community.Five plus years later, what started as a tribute to Allen’s grandmother has evolved into a lasting legacy that continues to make a difference in the lives of thousands of children and their families. And at more than $17 million raised and counting, there is no sign of that impact slowing down anytime soon.

A UTEP men's basketball team unlike any other in school history has taken its first steps, and as is usually the case in June, they were steps filled with excitement and big dreams.The 13 new players, with zero returners to ease the transition, had their first official workout Tuesday, June 10, which came after several days of informal shirts-vs.-skins scrimmages as all these new pieces began the process of learning each other and their staff.More: UTEP Miners men's basketball looks to new era with taller rosterUTEP has never done anything quite like this before as it moves into a Mountain West Conference it has never been in before. After last year's 11-20, well, no player in Miners gear had anything to do with that and their eyes were on the future and on the weeks to come as they learn about each other.More: UTEP men's basketball hoping more money changes fortunes on the court'We have no knuckleheads on this team'"It takes a while, it takes a whole summer to figure out everybody's tendencies, when someone is going to cut or someone's going to pop for a 3," said fifth-year senior guard Jace Whiting, who came from Weber State after previous stops at UNLV and Boise State. "But the most important factor is the chemistry between the guys."I told some coaches, the No. 1 thing I noticed is we have no knuckleheads on this team. We have a great group of guys who love each other. "It was weird how fast we clicked, we were laughing and joking with each other. It plays a big part when you're all really good friends and want to hang out together off the court."Coach Joe Golding went into the offseason ready for a complete scrub and a clean slate, and here it is."Completely different," he said. "There are 13 new faces, we have some new staff members. We have a lot of newness, but it's exciting at the same time."Did Golding come to UTEP with a plan to build a program? Is this what he had planned after three seasons as the head coach?So what is this time now about?Coach Joe Golding: Make sure pieces fit"On pencil right now, we have an idea of what things are going to look like, but we need to come in here and get together," Golding said. "We have some talent in that room, we have to make sure the pieces fit."That's the biggest challenge when you turn over the whole roster, it's not just to get talent. You have to make sure those pieces fit with each other. We've done a good job with that on pencil, now we have to get on the floor. We have to make it work. "Then trust. We have to trust them, they have to trust us. We don't have a whole lot of time. We have this training camp that's going to last eight weeks, so we have a lot of work in these eight weeks to do to figure each other out."For the players who began when they started trickling into El Paso a week ago, and while they are all new to UTEP, not all are new to each other.UTEP basketball does have players familiar with each otherReece Miller and Ryan Miller came together from a William & Mary team that beat UTEP last year en route to 20 wins. True freshmen Isaiah Ward, Donovan Criss and Delano Tarpley all arrived from San Antonio Brennan High. Whiting and new coach Dan Russell both were at Weber State last year."We're building good relationships," Reece Miller said. "It helps out a lot of us, we were teammates last year. We have three freshmen from the same high school, me and Ryan were teammates last year, Jace was with one of the coaches last year. Basically, half the team comes in with relationships that help build more relationships."Sophomore point guard Leif Moeller, a 6-foot-7 German by way of the University of Evansville, sees it all coming together."I've been on teams where the chemistry was not good at all," he said. "I've been here three or four days and already have a really good connection with each other."He added, "I miss home, but I think El Paso is the best place to not miss home as much. I feel very comfortable here. I love the weather. I love El Paso. I love it here."'You have to spend time with your teammates'Augusto Cassio, a well-traveled senior forward from Brazil who is now on his third university (Ole Miss last year, Butler before that) and fourth country (he played youth ball in Australia and Mexico), is used to this."It's college basketball: A lot of transfers, everybody going everywhere," he said. "So you have to spend time with your teammates, you have to get out of your shell, get together and eventually you become like family, like you're supposed to be."What are Golding's first impressions of his new group?"It comes off, right off the bat, how much bigger we are," he said of a team that has two 6-11 players and another at 6-10, and positional size at all five spots. "The second thing is the basketball skill, the IQ and the skill. We can shoot the basketball, dribbling and passing is at a much higher level. "That excites me. I've been really impressed with their character since I've been here. Everything gets done on time, that's a good sign when you're not having to chase down things like that."For the next eight weeks Golding will figure out how the pieces fit, then UTEP transitions into fall for the final prep for the November start to their first Mountain West season. This is an uncommonly busy time for an entirely turned-over Miner team, but it is a time full of excitement as new players build new relationships.Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X.This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: UTEP Miners men's basketball has first practice with 13 newcomers

A U.S. military official said the president’s seemingly dramatic announcement on Wednesday referred to a previously reported effort to shepherd commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.

Some of America’s largest cities are now being governed by progressives. What will we learn?

KANSAS CITY, MO - JUNE 09: Texas Rangers centerfielder Evan Carter (32) is congratulated by teammates after scoring during a MLB game between the Texas Rangers and the Kansas City Royals on June 09, 2026, at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Texas Rangers lineup for June 10, 2026 against the Kansas City Royals: starting pitchers are MacKenzie Gore for the Rangers and Seth Lugo for the Royals.We have game two of the three game series in Kansas City. After the Rangers put just three runs up on the board yesterday, Skip Schumaker has decided to put offensive catalyst Nicky Lopez back in the starting lineup. Jake Burger is getting the day off.The lineup:Pederson — DHSeager — SSJung — 3BNimmo — RFLangford — LFDuran — 1BCarter — CFHigashioka — CLopez — 2B6:40 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are -119 favorites.

We can officially commence the countdown to the start of the Arizona Cardinals' regular season. Today, Wednesday, June 10, is 95 days away from the Arizona Cardinals' regular-season opener on Sept. 13 on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers.With 95 days until Week 1, let's look back at the 1995 season for the Cardinals.A look back at the 1995 season for the CardinalsThe 1995 season was a disaster. After going 8-8 in 1994 with a great defense, both the offense and defense were bad in 1995. They started 1-4 and lost seven of their final eight games, including their final four games to end the year. They were 27th in offense, averaging a paltry 17.2 points per game, and their defense was the worst in the league, allowing 26.4 per game. After the season Buddy Ryan was fired. Even with a terrible season, they had four Pro Bowlers — DL Eric Swann, CB Aeneas Williams, FB Larry Centers and P Jeff Feagles. Williams was also an All-Pro. 1995 offensive leadersDave Krieg was the latest of the journeymen veterans to play for the Cardinals. He led the league in interceptions (21), fumbles (16), sacks taken (53), but he also had a league-high three fourth-quarter comebacks. He had 16 touchdown passes to 21 interceptions. He completed 58.3% of his passes for 3,554 yards. Garrison Hearst led the Cardinals with 1,070 yards and only one touchdown, averaging 3.8 yards per attempt. Center led the team with 101 receptions for 962 yards and two touchdowns.Rob Moore followed with 63 catches for 907 yards and five scores. 1995 defensive leadersLinebacker Eric Hill led the team with 118 total tackles and had two sacks. Clyde Simmons had 11 sacks, while Swann had 8.5. Nobody else had more than two. Aeneas Williams picked off six passes. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: 95 days till Arizona Cardinals' opener: Remembering the 1995 season

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs and quarterback Patrick Mahomes have agreed to a restructured contract that adds two years to his deal and pushes the total compensation past a half-billion dollars, a person familiar with the terms told The Associated Press on Wednesday.The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the Chiefs do not disclose financial terms of their contracts.Mahomes signed a 10-year, $450 million contract in 2020 that set a benchmark not only for the quarterback position but for any football player. The latest extension ties the two-time MVP to the Chiefs through the 2033 season, when Mahomes will be 38, and it comes in at $504.75 million, with incentives and escalators that could push the value beyond $520 million.The Chiefs and Mahomes regularly rework his contract in the offseason, giving the team the financial flexibility to surround him with enough talent to compete for championships. The latest deal, though, includes a hefty pay increase after recent deals done for other quarterbacks — among them Dak Prescott, Jordan Love, Joe Burrow and Josh Allen — had reset the QB market.Prescott's four-year deal included a league-leading average of $60 million per year. Mahomes will average $63.1 million.Mahomes underwent season-ending surgery last December after tearing ligaments in his left knee in the waning minutes of a loss to the Chargers. He has spent the entire offseason rehabbing the injury in Kansas City, and he has been on the field for the entirety of the Chiefs' offseason program, which concludes Thursday with the final day of their mandatory three-day minicamp.___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Massara linked with Lecce after Roma exitAfter leaving Roma in recent weeks, sporting director Frederic Massara could soon return to work at another team. Lecce, after securing safety last season, is continuing to reorganize its management structure. In the last few hours, Frederic Massara’s name has emerged among the candidates being evaluated by the Salento club to strengthen their transfer market for next season.According to Marco Conterio, there has already been initial exploratory contact between the parties. At the moment, there are no official meetings or advanced negotiations, but the manager remains one of the club’s most popular candidates.

The UFC’s White House show is nearly here. And thanks to the unique nature of Sunday’s event, the company has taken a different approach for an unprecedented fight week. As one of the 14 fighters competing at UFC Freedom 250, UFC bantamweight contender Aiemann Zahabi has been in Washington, D.C. since May 31, preparing for his feature bout against former champion Sean O'Malley. Speaking Wednesday on "The Ariel Helwani Show," Zahabi noted that pre-fight protocol for an event like this requires a rehearsal that takes place on Thursday."They're going to show us where our locker rooms are, and we're going to do our walk to experience it and see it, and do a little tour of the Octagon," Zahabi told Uncrowned."It's definitely a new thing, and it's nice that they're doing it because it's going to help with the visualization and getting used to [what to expect on Sunday], so we're not lost in the lights when we get out there for the first time."Zahabi, 38, has been excited for his White House moment since the O’Malley matchup was made official, however he still isn't entirely sure what to expect. One example of that is his walkout, as the UFC asked for multiple song options ahead of the night."They asked us for three songs, so I don't know which one I got in the end," Zahabi said. "I told them which one was the one I wanted, which was a mash-up of two songs.“Then I gave them my other choices, but in the end, I won't know until Sunday."A win for Zahabi on Sunday would extend his UFC win streak to eight, making O'Malley the second former champion added to Zahabi’s résumé alongside UFC Hall of Famer Jose Aldo. The stretch has arguably made him Canada's best active fighter.The spectacle of UFC Freedom 250 doesn't end with the walkouts, though. The entire design of the event will stand out, unlike anything seen before it in the UFC.That includes this weekend’s athlete attire, from fight wear to the in-cage gloves. Despite the international flair littered throughout the seven-fight card, the gear remains heavily America-themed, which caught Zahabi off guard as a proud Canadian."I thought it was [going to be] more like the Olympics, this celebration. I thought they would give us like a little wink on our outfits, like a little Canadian flag or maybe a moose for me," Zahabi said. "Something for the Brazilians, something for the French, something for the Mexican, whatever they're going to do. A little wink, a little customization for it because, yes, we're all coming to celebrate America, but we all have our own heritage.“I'm still happy to celebrate America's birthday, but if I got to represent my country, it would be nice, too, while we're doing it."It would have been nice to give us a little touch, and I think it would have sold a lot too,” Zahabi continued. “The World Cup Soccer jersey, everybody wants to get their country's jersey. It kind of would have been the same thing. I was a little bit surprised, but it is what it is. It's their party, man. I'm already coming to spoil it by beating Sean O'Malley. I can't complain about too much. I'm happy they gave me the American [opponent] I wanted, and to do that at this event, it's very nice."O'Malley remains one of the UFC’s more lethal strikers at 135 pounds. The former champ returned to the win column in January following back-to-back title fight losses to Merab Dvalishvili, and while he didn't score a finish in his unanimous decision victory over Song Yadong, "Sugar" still looked sharp and reminded the world that he's still elite.Zahabi vs. O'Malley is currently slated to be the final fight of the night before Sunday’s two championship bouts close the show. Even with the Canadian's great win streak, he still finds himself a heavy underdog in the eyes of most sportsbooks.Aiemann Zahabi (right) faces off against Sean O'Malley at Sunday's UFC White House event.Chris Unger via Getty ImagesFor Zahabi, he's more excited to test himself than he is afraid."I'm not afraid of his striking whatsoever. The fight's going to start on the feet," Zahabi said. "I don't really wrestle unless I have to, unless there's a situation where I need it. I haven't needed it in the past, so I haven't really used it in the UFC. I've seen him wrestle — he took down Petr Yan at the end of Round 1 [in 2022]. That was interesting when he felt a lot of pressure. He might just be saying his insecurities — he knows that wrestling is his weakness. He knows being on his back is a weakness for him."It doesn't really matter what he thinks is going to happen. It's all about approach. He knew Merab was going to shoot [takedowns] the first time they fought, and he knew for certain in the rematch Merab was going to shoot. Merab still took him down. It's just about approach — not about knowing, but about executing."Regarding common opponents, Zahabi is fresh off a win in October over O'Malley's old rival, Marlon "Chito" Vera. O'Malley has been critical of the split decision nod Zahabi got in his favor, but the Canadian's counter is simple."I know he said that I barely beat 'Chito,' but I didn't lose to 'Chito' the first time I fought him, and my arm broke,” Zahabi said.“He got finished by 'Chito' the first time he fought him.”

Six months in, many teens are already back on platforms they were supposed to be blocked from. The ban’s benefits may fall to the next generation.

Months after Australia banned social media for everyone under 16, the British government is considering new policies to keep children safe online.

England under way against Costa Rica in final World Cup warm-up gameDeflected Rice strike gives Three Lions early leadMatch was delayed by one hour after storms in Orlando, FloridaListen to BBC Radio 5 Live commentary at top of pageTournament gets under way on Thursday when hosts Mexico play South AfricaEngland's first match against Croatia on Wednesday, 17 June (21:00 BST) Rice gives England early lead against Costa Rica in final World Cup warm-up game

The World Cup never goes according to plan. While fans and pundits might be looking ahead to the knockout round and assuming the biggest favorites will easily advance as group winners, history has shown that there are bumps along the way.Argentina famously lost its opening match against Saudi Arabia in Qatar before it went on to win the tournament in 2022. France was defending champion when it fell to Senegal in its first game in 2002. We've seen smaller countries Morocco, Turkey, South Korea (with some controversy) and Bulgaria reach the semifinals after knocking out traditional powers.So where will the surprises come this time? We offer our eight possible upsets in the group stage that could create chaos in the tournament.Morocco vs. Brazil, June 13Brazil might have the significantly greater World Cup pedigree, but it's Morocco that's been to the semifinals more recently after its surprising run in Qatar. The Atlas Lions might be even more talented this time around with Brahim Diaz of Real Madrid and Aschraf Hakimi of Paris Saint-Germain joined by a slew of contributors playing throughout Europe. Yes, the Brazilians have the star power and will be flashy on the ball. But if they cannot find their way to goals, look for Morocco to be a threat in counter attacks and give Brazil's defense fits.Japan vs. Netherlands, June 14Japan often gets overlooked because it's not part of World Cup royalty. But it is one of the more difficult opponents to face due to its frenetic style that's high on energy and has several key players playing at some of the bigger clubs in Europe. Facing a European power won't overwhelm Japan. It beat both Germany and Spain in the group stage in 2022 and can take down the Dutch here.Egypt vs. Belgium, June 15The transition from a golden generation hasn't gone smoothly for Belgium. They crashed out in the group stage in Qatar and were disappointing in the 2024 Euros. Their attack relies mostly on Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku to create chaos and maybe a moment of brilliance from Kevin De Bruyne, who has slowed down at age 34. Egypt's attack is led by a pair of excellent goal scorers in Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush. An early tally would put Belgium under pressure and could lead to an upset.Croatia vs. England, June 17England enters as one of the favorites, partly based on their recent tournament success. However, it is Croatia that has gone deeper in the last two World Cups, including a defeat of the Three Lions in the 2018 semifinals. Many of the veterans from Croatia run, including Luka Modric and Ivan Perisic, are in the twilight of their career. The heat in the United States might be in an issue deeper in the tournament. But with this opening match expected to be indoors in Arlington, Texas, Croatia will be capable of slowing a disjointed England attack and get away with a shocking early result.Mexico vs. South Korea, June 18This shapes up to be the key matchup in Group A. El Tri has the advantage of playing at home but there are questions about how their pieces fit together. South Korea has several standouts with European pedigree, notably forward Son Heung-min and defender Kim Min-jae, and has the quality to deal a blow to the hosts early in the tournament.Argentina vs. Austria, June 22Two countries have won consecutive World Cups – Italy (1934 and 1938) and Brazil (1958 and 1962). Odds are against Argentina becoming the third. While Lionel Messi is back for his sixth tournament, he likely won't be the same presence as he was in Qatar. Austria presents the biggest challenge of the group state with Ralf Rangnick employing a pressing system that relies on relentless aggression, something not usually seen in international play. If they can create turnovers in the Argentina half, there's enough goal-scoring threat to take down the defending champions.Ecuador vs. Germany, June 25It used to be a guarantee that you could write down Germany to advance to the quarterfinals as it made the final eight at 11 consecutive World Cups, culminating in its fourth title in 2014. That's no longer the case after consecutive flameouts in the group stage. Ecuador represents the biggest challenge for the Germans with Chelsea midfielder Moisés Caicedo and an experienced backline able to make things difficult. The big question is if Ecuador can convert its chances when they come.Colombia vs. Portugal, June 27The Portuguese enter the tournament as one of the favorites. But it faces a tricky group that could set up a final match with Colombia with first place on the line. While there's Cristiano Ronaldo leading the line, there are questions about how the Portugal attack will fare against strong defense. Colombia has enough firepower to pull a surprise with Luis Diaz of Bayern Munich and Luis Suarez of Sporting Lisbon up front.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 World Cup upset predictions. Forecasting surprises in group stages

WASHINGTON – Bo Nickal has his own theory as to why Colby Covington abruptly retired from MMA. Nickal (8-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC), who fights this Sunday at UFC Freedom 250 (Paramount+) at the White House, believes Covington was trying to avoid fighting him to the point that putting an end to his career assured the only way."It's crazy that he doesn't want to fight me so bad that he ended his entire career," Nickal said at Wednesday's UFC Freedom 250 media day. "Probably a smart move by his part."Nickal and Covington are far from friends. Covington, who had an ugly split from Nickal's current gym, American Top Team, many years go, has long talked poorly about many fighters from ATT, including Nickal. In their more recent run-in, the two were jawing at each other and throwing insults during an RAF press conference earlier in the year.The back-and-forth resulted in Nickal publicly challenging Covington to a fight at the White House. The former Penn State wrestling star said he hadn't signed the contract to fight Kyle Daukaus (17-4 MMA, 4-4 UFC) at the time and urged Covington to call the UFC brass to make the fight happen. In the end, Nickal's bout with Daukaus ended up moving forward, and Covington, who was asking to fight, made a surprising move to retire.More: UFC White House: Make predictions for Topuria-Gaethje, Pereira-GaneCovington or not, Nickal fights this Sunday on the South Lawn, which has him feeling honored and excited."I'm grateful for all the opportunities I've been given to compete at big events and exciting places, so this is definitely the biggest and most exciting that I've been a part of," Nickal said. "Overall, just feeling really grateful for the opportunity, and yeah, it's a blessing. I want to make the most of it."Unlike in Covington's case, Nickal has a great deal of respect for Daukaus. He's impressed with Daukaus' ability to fight his way back into the UFC after the promotion cut him in 2022 and re-signed him in 2025."It says a lot to be able to, you know, make it back to the UFC after being cut," Nickal said. "So he's a tough guy and has a lot of good skills. Looking forward to going out and putting on a dominant performance on Sunday."This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC White House: Bo Nickal puts Colby Covington on blast one last time

Betway, one of the UK’s leading betting sites, is running a World Cup sign-up offer for new customers to register and receive £60 in free bets after betting just £10. This Betway sign up offer requires a minimum £10 stake on a single bet at odds of 2.0 (evens) or greater, or an each-way bet at odds of 3.0 (2/1) or greater. Upon qualifying, £40 in free bet tokens is credited instantly, with a further £20 in free World Cup bets added on the opening day of the tournament.Below, we have provided all the necessary information for customers to take advantage of this offer, including how to qualify and the relevant terms and conditions.What is the 2026 World Cup Betway sign up offer?The Betway World Cup betting offer is a 'free bet' type of promo. It is only available for new customers.Customers simply need to register, select the offer at sign-up, deposit via debit card, and place a qualifying bet of £10 or more.When you place the qualifying bet, four free bet tokens worth £40 in total are instantly credited to your account. Two further £10 free bet tokens - reserved specifically for the 2026 World Cup - are then credited on 11th June 2026, bringing the total offer value to £60.The free bet tokens are split as follows:Token 1 & 2 – £10 Bet Builder each, minimum odds of 4.0, minimum 4+ legs.Token 3 & 4 – £10 Acca each, minimum odds of 4.0, minimum 4+ legs.Token 5 & 6 – £10 World Cup Bet Builder each, minimum odds of 4.0, minimum 4+ legs (credited 11th June 2026).All free bet tokens expire seven days after being credited.Is there a Betway promo code?There is no Betway promo code for securing this World Cup welcome offer. New users simply need to sign up, select the offer during registration, and deposit via a debit card. Once the account is funded, customers must place a single qualifying bet of £10 or more at minimum odds of 2.0 (evens), or an each-way bet at minimum odds of 3.0 (2/1), to trigger the free bet tokens.How to claim the Betway World Cup offerStep 1: Visit Betway via one of the links on this page by clicking on the Betway £60 in free bets offer button.Step 2: Click the sign-up button and make sure to select the free bet welcome offer during registration before completing your registration using your personal details, including name, age, address and any other relevant information.Step 3: Make your first deposit of at least £10 via a Visa or Mastercard debit card. Remember that no other payment method will qualify.Step 4: Place a qualifying bet of at least £10 on a single at minimum odds of 2.0 (evens), or an each-way bet at minimum odds of 3.0 (2/1).Step 5: Four free bet tokens worth £40 in total will be credited instantly upon settlement of your qualifying bet. Step 6: A further £20 in World Cup free bet tokens will be added to your account on 11th June 2026.How Betway World Cup offer compares to rivalsAt £60 in free bets from a £10 stake, the Betway World Cup offer is one of the more competitive on the market. We rank Betway among the best World Cup betting sites but potential new customers should bear in mind that their free bet tokens carry restrictions, including multis with minimum odds of 4.0 and a four-leg minimum on all tokens.Below is a rundown of some of the alternative options if you want to get as much value as possible from a first deposit.BookmakerOffer TypeBest World Cup betting offerBet365 World Cup offerBet & GetBet £10 get £30 in free World Cup betting creditsBetMGM World Cup offerConditionalBet £10 on top goalscorer, get £2 free bet every time the player scoresWilliam Hill World Cup offerBet & GetBet £10 on mobile, get £30 in free World Cup betsBetfred World Cup bonusBet & GetBet 10, get £50 in free bets for the World CupBetfair World Cup offersPrice BoostSpain to qualify from their group - 50/1Paddy Power World Cup offerBet & GetBet £5 get £40 in free betsSky Bet World Cup offerPrice BoostBet £10 on the World Cup, get a £10 free bet for every Harry Kane goalCoral World Cup bonusPrice Boost66/1 on Scott McTominay to score at the World CupBOYLE Sports World Cup offersConditionalBet £20 on tournament winner, get a free £5 bet every time they winUnibet World Cup offersBet & GetBet £10 on sport, get £30 in free bets for the World CupBetway World Cup offerBet & GetBet £10 get £60 in free bets for the World CupQuinnBet World Cup offerCashbackGet 50% of your losses back on your first bets (up to £50)Betway bonuses for existing customersBetway is one of the leading football betting sites, with its ‘Fixture Frenzy’ game a a simple way to earn regular no-deposit free bets - just log in every week day from 12pm, reveal your random fixture and every game that produces over 2.5 goals and over 8.5 corners will net you free bets. As well as football, their offers for existing customers extend across several sports. For example, they offer the ‘4 To Win’ free game, which gives users the chance to earn cash prizes for correctly predicting the winner of four horse races on select days.Betway also have a ‘Free Bet Club’ that rewards users with two free bets of up to £10 after they place acca bets of up to £25 after opting in on the promotion. This is available throughout the World Cup. World Cup betting guidesBest World Cup betting exchange sitesWorld Cup enhanced odds offersBest World Cup bet builder sitesWorld Cup odds 2026England World Cup oddsEngland World Cup betting tipsWorld Cup accumulator betting sitesYour £25 acca bets can be split across multiple bets with three legs or more and odds of 2/1 or greater. Free bets can be used on any sport other than eSports betting. Betway boosts are available daily too, across all sports for single, double, treble and acca bets – these are found through the Betway Boosts category or on the front page.Betway is also a leader among horse racing betting sites, with customers receiving Best Odds Guaranteed, ensuring that bettors placing bets on the day of the race receive the best possible price on their selection. On top of that, once you have an active sportsbook account you can also gain access to Betway’s UK online casino where you’ll find poker and bingo games, plus lots of casino offers which are valid on some of the best online slots and live casino products. Betway World Cup offer pros and consOverall, the Betway World Cup welcome offer benefits from a strong total value of £60, a straightforward qualification process and the added excitement of World Cup-specific free bet tokens arriving ahead of the tournament.Nevertheless, there are terms and conditions which don't necessarily favour the customer, so we've provided a pros and cons table below:ProsCons✓ High total value of £60 in free bets from a £10 stake ✗ Minimum odds of 4.0 and 4+ legs required on all free bet stakes✓ Initial £40 credited instantly upon qualifying bet settlement✗ Final £20 in tokens only credited on 11th June when tournament begins✓ World Cup Bet Builder tokens add a timely incentive✗ Only debit card deposits will qualify for the promo✓ No wagering requirements on any winnings from the free bets✗ Seven-day expiry window in which to use up the free betsGamble responsiblyIt’s vital that you practice responsible gambling online from the moment you sign up for a bookmaker. Gambling sites should only be considered a form of entertainment and never a form of making money. Only place a stake amount that you’re comfortable losing.Betway have a range of tools to support responsible gambling, including deposit limits, loss limits, self-exclusion and time-outs. Ensure you use these measures if necessary and always remain in control of your budget.There are a number of charities and healthcare providers available for problem gamblers. If you require further assistance, these providers will offer help and advice regarding problem gambling issues.NHS HelpGambleAwareGamblers AnonymousWe may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

Alex Scott: Bournemouth star’s stance on Man United moveManchester City are yet to find an agreement with Nottingham Forest for Elliot Anderson. However, their latest bid may well have ended any chance of Manchester United making a move for their dream midfield signing.City’s latest bid for the all-action midfielder was worth £106 million plus up front, with potential add-ons taking it in excess of £120m. However, Forest want the fixed fee to surpass the £125m British record Liverpool spent on Alexander Isak.United are not going to spend that much on a single player, given they would like to ideally bring in three midfielders this summer, having already signed Ederson. Alex Scott wants Manchester UnitedAccording to The Athletic, Manchester United admire Elliot Anderson but “they are not in contention at the current financial levels.”It is claimed United are refusing to enter a bidding war for Anderson, who has yet to show any keen desire to move to Old Trafford.David Ornstein adds that the Red Devils are instead targeting players who want to join them. These players are West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes and Bournemouth’s Alex Scott.Fernandes’ preference to join United is well documented, but this is the first time The Athletic have underlined that Scott is also prepared to be part of Michael Carrick’s project.Manchester United have already made a moveEarlier this month, The Athletic reported that United have made “inquiries as to the cost of a deal” for the English midfielder.The 22-year-old has enjoyed a fantastic season with Bournemouth and is exactly the sort of midfielder Carrick needs to dominate possession. The technically gifted Cherries star likes to receive the ball in tight areas, drop a shoulder, and drive his side forward. He has bite to his game, and he works hard to win the ball back.Alex Scott Premier League stats: 2025/26 SeasonSource: SofascoreFormer Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola famously called Scott an “unbelievable player”.It must be noted that Bournemouth are in talks with Scott over a new contract, with his deal set to run until 2028. However, the same report claimed that, as things stand, an extension is seen as unlikely.Featured image Ryan Pierse 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

The New York Times wants to talk to workers about what they think artificial intelligence will mean for their careers, and how they are navigating this uncertain period.

What time is the NBA Finals tonight? TV schedule, channel to watch Knicks vs. Spurs Game 4 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Three raucous home crowds. Three road team victories.The NBA Finals has been a bizarre spectacle of close games thus far. In each of these contests, the road team has emerged victorious despite the boos. Game 3 saw San Antonio win by 4 points, with a final score of 115-111. Victor Wembanyama was once again the leading scorer for San Antonio, with 32 points alongside 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 blocks. OG Anunoby's 28 points were his highest since the first round of the playoffs. For Game 4, the Spurs can take control if they find a way to limit the Knicks' fast-break offense. New York had 15 fast-break points in Game 3, while San Antonio had just five. Conversely, the Knicks will need to limit their turnovers, as San Antonio scored 14 more points off turnovers in Game 3. Here's what you need to know about Wednesday's matchup between the Knicks and Spurs, including broadcast information and start time.LIVE:Follow Knicks vs. Spurs updates from NBA Finals Game 4Knicks vs. Spurs start timeDate: Wednesday, June 10Time: 8:30 p.m. ETGame 4 of the NBA Playoffs series between the Knicks and Spurs is set to tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET from Madison Square Garden in New York City. What channel is Knicks vs. Spurs on today?TV channel: ABCLive streams: ESPN app, DIRECTV, fuboKnicks vs. Spurs Game 4 will be broadcast by ABC and will stream live on the ESPN app or via DIRECTV or fubo, which offer a free trial to new users. Catch every game – try DIRECTV FREE today! Stream live MLB, March Madness, soccer and more with must-have sports channels like TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, FS1, and NFL Network—all included with DIRECTV.Start your FREE trial now and never miss a moment of the action. No contracts, no hassle, just wall-to-wall sports and entertainment.Knicks vs. Spurs series scheduleNew York leads series 2-1DateGameTime (ET)WatchJune 3Game 1: Knicks 105, Spurs 95——June 5Game 2: Knicks 105, Spurs 104——June 8Game 3: Spurs 115, Knicks 111——June 10Game 4 at Knicks8:30 p.m.ABC, ESPN app, fubo, DIRECTVJune 13Game 5 at Spurs8:30 p.m.ABC, ESPN app, fubo, DIRECTVJune 16Game 6* at Knicks8:30 p.m.ABC, ESPN app, fubo, DIRECTVJune 19Game 7* at Spurs8:30 p.m.ABC, ESPN app, fubo, DIRECTV* If necessaryNBA Playoffs bracket 2026Click here for the updated 2026 NBA Playoffs bracket from The Sporting News.NBA Playoffs schedule, key dates for 2026Here are the key dates to know for the NBA Playoffs and offseason. EventDatesNBA Finals beginJune 3NBA Finals Game 7 (if necessary)June 19NBA DraftJune 23-24NBA Summer League Las VegasJuly 9-19Related LinksLatest NBA news and rumorsFull 2025-26 NBA schedule and scoresHow to bet on the NBAThe GOAT Debate: Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James

Why Notre Dame's CJ Carr is suddenly a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr entered the 2025 season with plenty of expectations, but few projected him to be discussed among the nation's elite quarterbacks this quickly. Less than a year later, that conversation has changed dramatically.In ESPN's recent quarterback tiers rankings for the 2026 college football season, Carr was placed among the top quarterbacks in the country, trailing only a handful of established stars such as Texas quarterback Arch Manning and Miami's Darian Mensah. The ranking reflects how much Carr's stock has risen nationally and highlights why the Notre Dame signal-caller could become a serious factor in the 2026 Heisman Trophy race.For Notre Dame fans, the recognition validates what they watched unfold throughout last season. For the rest of college football, it serves as a reminder that the Fighting Irish may once again possess the most important ingredient required for a national championship run: elite quarterback play.The ESPN rankings weren't designed to predict Heisman winners, but they revealed something important. Carr is no longer viewed as a promising young quarterback. He's now viewed as one of the best quarterbacks in America.ESPN's rankings show growing confidence in CJ CarrQuarterback rankings published during the offseason often reveal how national analysts view a team's ceiling. That's what makes Carr's placement so noteworthy.According to ESPN's evaluation, Carr belongs in the same conversation as many of the quarterbacks expected to lead College Football Playoff contenders. That's a significant jump for a player who spent much of his early career developing within one of college football's most scrutinized programs.The recognition isn't solely based on potential. Carr demonstrated the ability to make difficult throws, operate within Notre Dame's offensive structure and consistently limit mistakes. Those traits often separate good quarterbacks from championship-caliber quarterbacks.It's also worth noting that Notre Dame enters the season with legitimate national title aspirations. Quarterbacks on playoff contenders naturally receive more attention, and Carr appears positioned to benefit from that spotlight throughout the fall.Notre Dame's supporting cast could boost his Heisman chancesOne reason Heisman campaigns often gain momentum is team success. Quarterbacks don't win the award solely because of statistics. They win because they're producing at a high level while leading teams that remain in the national spotlight.Notre Dame appears capable of doing exactly that.The Fighting Irish return one of the stronger rosters in college football and are expected to compete for a playoff berth from the opening week of the season. The offensive line should once again be among the program's strengths, while the defense projects as one of the nation's better units. That matters because it allows Carr to focus on elevating the offense rather than carrying the team by himself.Some of the most successful Heisman campaigns in recent years have featured quarterbacks surrounded by talented rosters capable of winning double-digit games. Carr enters 2026 with a similar opportunity.If Notre Dame finds itself ranked inside the top five entering November, Carr's name will almost certainly become a bigger part of the Heisman conversation.MORE: Ryan Day keeps winning, but one thing still hasn't changedNational exposure has always favored Notre Dame quarterbacksFew programs receive the weekly attention that Notre Dame commands. Whether the Fighting Irish are playing a top-10 opponent or a non-conference matchup, their games consistently attract national audiences. Every major performance receives immediate attention across television, social media and sports talk shows.That level of visibility can be invaluable in a Heisman race. Voters tend to remember standout performances in high-profile games. Notre Dame quarterbacks have historically benefited from that exposure, and Carr could be next in line.If he delivers signature performances against ranked opponents and helps guide the Fighting Irish toward another playoff appearance, he'll have opportunities to build a compelling Heisman résumé throughout the season.The key will be consistency.Quarterbacks such as Manning, Mensah and several other highly-ranked passers will also be competing for attention. Carr doesn't necessarily need to post the biggest numbers in the country, but he does need to continue producing at a high level when the spotlight is brightest.Why 2026 could be the year Carr becomes a household nameThe biggest takeaway from ESPN's quarterback rankings isn't necessarily where Carr landed. It's who he was grouped with.The publication placed him alongside quarterbacks expected to compete for conference championships, playoff appearances and national awards. That's not recognition handed out lightly.For years, Notre Dame has searched for the quarterback capable of helping push the program over the final hurdle in its pursuit of a national championship. Carr may not have accomplished that yet, but national analysts clearly believe he has the talent to make it happen. Whether he ultimately wins the Heisman Trophy remains to be seen.What is clear, however, is that one of college football's most prestigious programs enters the 2026 season with a quarterback who is rapidly earning the respect of the entire sport. And if ESPN's rankings are any indication, CJ Carr's rise may just be getting started.More NCAA FootballRyan Day keeps winning, but one thing still hasn't changedBill Belichick's latest ranking reveals a brutal truth about North CarolinaThe shocking quarterback ESPN believes can challenge Arch ManningCurt Cignetti just pulled off something nobody thought possible in college footballArch Manning finally lives up to the hype entering 2026

Nov 23, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) gets ready prior to a game against the Indianapolis Colts at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn ImagesKansas City Chiefs superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes has made plenty of history on the field throughout his NFL career. Now, he’s making history with his bank account.On Wednesday, ESPN reported that Mahomes and the team had agreed to a new deal for the star quarterback that will keep him under contract with the Chiefs through 2033. As for the compensation, it’s historically hefty.According to ESPN’s report, new money on the deal is worth $239.05 million, with the total value now at $504.75 million from 2026 through 2033. Notably, ESPN reports that “all $504.75 million becomes guaranteed through contract mechanisms.”With that, Mahomes has made history, becoming the first player in NFL history to sign a contract worth more than $500 million.“Over the last decade Patrick has become one of the most iconic, beloved sports figures of all-time,” Chiefs owner Clark Hunt said, via ESPN. “He has helped lead our franchise to five Super Bowl appearances and three championships, he has been instrumental in shaping the Chiefs brand and putting Kansas City on the world stage, and on top of it all he has been an outstanding role model in the community. Patrick is a generational talent and an elite human being, and I’m so excited he will continue to lead our team into the future.”After signing the massive contract, Mahomes’ next task is simply getting back on the field.Mahomes suffered a season-ending torn ACL and LCL on Dec. 14, 2025, and underwent surgery the next day. He has since been rehabbing the injury, and the Chiefs have remained optimistic throughout the offseason that he’ll be ready for Week 1, when they host the Denver Broncos on “Monday Night Football.”Regardless of his short-term availability, the Chiefs have now locked him down in the long run as they look to continue their dynasty and hopefully chase more Super Bowls.The post Patrick Mahomes makes NFL history, this time with his bank account appeared first on The Comeback: Today’s Top Sports Stories & Reactions.

Defensive end A.J. Epenesa finally has a new home. Three months after the Browns backed out of a deal to sign Epenesa, he signed with the Eagles on Wednesday. The team also announced the signing of offensive guard Michael Jordan.In corresponding moves, the Eagles waived linebackers Chandler Martin and Isiah King.Epenesa visited the Dolphins and Bears after a failed physical prompted the Browns to withdraw their contract offer on March 29.Epenesa had a concussion, a pectoral injury, a foot injury and a neck injury last season. He still played 16 regular-season games in 2025, recording 32 tackles and 2.5 sacks.He also played the divisional playoff game despite being listed on the injury report with a neck injury.A second-round pick in 2020, Epenesa has spent his career with the Bills. He has appeared in 91 regular-season games, with 19 starts, and has totaled 24 sacks.Jordan entered the NFL as a fourth-round pick of the Bengals in 2019. He also has played with the Panthers and Patriots and was with the Bucs last season when he appeared in 11 games with nine starts.For his career, Jordan has played 78 games, with 49 starts.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington originally joined the team as a sixth-round pick (No. 184 overall) in the 2024 NFL draft following a collegiate career split between Northwestern and Virginia.Over his first two seasons, Washington caught 72 passes for 540 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for another 135 yards and two scores. He also served as the team's primary punt and kick returner.Heading into his third year in the league, Washington is looking to make one change, and it doesn't have much to do with his production."I want to be a leader in that room," he said during his media availability on Tuesday. "I want to be a leader on this team. I want to make guys want to go harder. I want to make guys want to work and put in everything they got each and every day. That starts with the receiver room and just getting those guys to approach the day like they're going to be the best. We all want to be WR1s, we all want to take the load, so approach it like that."Washington is fighting for opportunities this offseason, as he's one of just three holdovers from last year's wide receiver room. Over the last few months, Miami has brought in Tutu Atwell, Jalen Tolbert, Terrace Marshall Jr., Caleb Douglas, Chris Bell, Kevin Coleman Jr., Jalen Reagor and Donaven McCulley.It would be unlikely that Washington doesn't make the roster with the versatility he brings to the roster, but being a leader in an important room full of new players make him even harder to move on from. More Dolphins: Jeff Hafley explains growth he's seen from Dolphins' top two QBsThis article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Dolphins WR Malik Washington has one big goal on his mind for 2026

With Graham Platner now the Democratic nominee against Senator Susan Collins, signs of how hostile the race will be have quickly emerged.

INDIANAPOLIS — Sophie Cunningham is questionable for Indiana’s game against Chicago on Thursday with an elbow injury, according to the Fever’s day-before injury report.It is unknown when Cunningham suffered the injury. She practiced as normal in the portion open to media Wednesday. This is the first time Cunnningham has appeared on the injury report this year following her season-ending MCL tear in 2025.Coming off the bench, Cunningham is averaging 8.7 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 23 minutes per game.Fever guard Caitlin Clark is also probable (back), as usual. Fever coach Stephanie White said Clark would likely be probable going forward after the league issued a warning to Indiana for improper reporting practices with Clark’s back in May.Chloe Peterson is the Indiana Fever beat reporter for IndyStar. Reach her at chloe.peterson@indystar.com or follow her on X at @chloepeterson67. Get IndyStar's Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Caitlin Clark Fever newsletter. Subscribe to IndyStar TV: Fever for in-depth analysis, behind-the-scenes coverage and more.This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Sophie Cunningham, Fever wing, injury update: Questionable vs Chicago Sky

After its success in Regionals, ESPN continued to score strong TV ratings through Super Regionals of the 2026 NCAA Baseball Tournament. The network announced more strong viewership during the second weekend of games.Two Sunday games helped lead the charge through Super Regionals. USC vs. North Carolina averaged 1.3 million viewers to become the most-watched Super Regional game on record. Meanwhile, the slugfest between Georgia vs. Mississippi State averaged 1.2 million – the second-highest viewership ever for a Super Regional game.[ $19.99 gets you a FULL year of On3 | Rivals national coverage ]Texas vs. Oregon also topped 1 million viewers, averaging 1.1 million for their Sunday matchup. That gave ESPN three of the six most-watched Super Regional games on record and five of the Top 10 games in the round in history, the network said.Fans tuned in for the '26 @NCAABaseball Super Regionals! Most-watched Supers since '09 Up 31% YoY Top 2 most-watched Super Regional telecasts EVER & 5 of the top 10 most-watched pic.twitter.com/LlsA1QuA2o— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) June 10, 2026On the whole, Super Regionals saw a 31% year-over-year increase in viewership, ESPN announced Wednesday. An average of 608,000 viewers tuned in for the most-watched round since 2009.The Super Regional TV ratings came after ESPN saw a 38% year-over-year increase during the regional round of the 2026 NCAA Baseball Tournament. Tennessee’s season-ending loss to VCU drew the highest viewership of the opening round with 804,000 viewers to lead the way through the first weekend.ESPN also saw TV ratings surge during the college baseball regular season, the network previously announced. The family of networks saw viewership increase 49% year-over-year for the company’s best regular season since 2012. Texas A&M vs. LSU held the top two spots during the regular season with 382,000 viewers on April 17 and 375,000 on April 15.With Super Regionals in the books, it’s now on to the College World Series, which gets underway Friday from Omaha. There’s plenty of SEC flare to this year’s CWS with five teams from the conference competing at Charles Schwab Field.Of course, there’s also some history in the bracket. West Virginia and Troy are both gearing up for their first-ever College World Series appearances, and they will square off in the first game Friday at 1 p.m. ET. Georgia is also back in Omaha for the first time since its 2008 national championship appearance after winning the Athens Super Regional.

Nebraska picked up a commitment from a class of 2027 defensive lineman. Four-star prospect Nehemiah Ombati made the announcement on social media.Ombati is the 44th overall defensive lineman in the 2027 class, and the third overall player in his class from the state of Minnesota, according to the Rivals Industry Rankings. He measures in at 6-foot-3, 275 pounds. The recruit also had offers from Missouri, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Kansas State. He took two visits to Nebraska during the recruiting process, one on April 21 and one on June 5. He had a strong junior season for Shakopee High School, recording 70 total tackles, six tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks in nine games played.This is another big get for a 2027 recruiting class that continues to be strong. The class itself has 16 overall commitments, including six blue-chip prospects. The class ranks 17th overall according to the Rivals Team Rankings.The Huskers have done a solid job with recruiting the defensive line for this class. They now have four commits at that position, as they look to rebuild the unit. Ombati’s commitment certainly helps with that.🚨BREAKING🚨 4-star DL Nehemiah Ombati has committed to Nebraska🌽Read: https://t.co/fzVGSa9SMwpic.twitter.com/oGvshL4wOr— Rivals (@Rivals) June 10, 2026Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire (https://twitter.com/CornhuskersWire) on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page onFacebook (https://www.facebook.com/CornhuskersWire) to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: Nebraska lands commitment from defensive lineman Nehemiah Ombati

Turkish Giants Besiktas Set To Test Arsenal’s Resolve Over TrossardLeandro Trossard’s future at Arsenal has become one of the more intriguing stories of the summer transfer window.The Belgian has proven himself to be a valuable member of Mikel Arteta’s squad since arriving from Brighton in January 2023, but with Arsenal expected to strengthen their attacking options again this summer, speculation surrounding his long-term future continues to grow.JustArsenal recently reported Besiktas’ interest in Trossard but this fresh report now suggests the Turkish giants are preparing to make their move.Besiktas Ready To Test Arsenal’s ResolveAccording to Yağız Sabuncuoğlu, Besiktas are preparing an official offer worth €20 million for the Arsenal attacker.The report further claims that the Turkish club are prepared to offer Trossard a salary worth between €7 million and €8 million per year in an effort to convince him to move to Istanbul.It is also suggested that negotiations could accelerate in the coming weeks as Besiktas attempt to secure the Belgian’s signature ahead of the new season.While no formal bid has yet been submitted, this appears to be one of the most concrete developments regarding Trossard’s future so far this summer.(Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)What Could Arsenal Decide?Trossard has often been one of Arsenal’s most dependable attacking options.Whether deployed on the left wing, through the middle, or in a more creative attacking role, the 31-year-old has regularly contributed important goals and assists during Arteta’s reign.Although he has not always been a guaranteed starter, his versatility and experience have made him an important squad player during Arsenal’s return to the top of English football.That is why any decision regarding his future may not be straightforward.On one hand, Arsenal could view a €20 million offer as a reasonable opportunity to cash in on a player who recently turned 31, particularly if the club is planning further attacking additions this summer.On the other hand, Arteta may be reluctant to lose a player who has repeatedly shown his ability to impact matches from both the starting XI and the bench.A Decision Could Be ApproachingWith Besiktas reportedly preparing a formal proposal and willing to offer attractive personal terms, this could become a transfer story worth watching closely over the coming weeks.Much may depend on Arsenal’s own transfer plans and whether Arteta believes he already has sufficient cover in the attacking areas.For now, the Gunners appear to be in no rush to make a decision, but a formal bid could soon force the club to consider its position.Would you accept €20 million for Leandro Trossard this summer, Gooners, or would you keep the Belgian at the Emirates for another season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ADMIN COMMENTSo here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us through this link…More Stories / Latest NewsTurkish Giants Besiktas Set To Test Arsenal’s Resolve Over Trossard 10 June 2026, 22:30Have Arsenal Got The Best Owner In Football, In Stan Kroenke? 10 June 2026, 22:00“Heartbroken” Arsenal star breaks silence after missing out on World Cup 10 June 2026, 21:00

Billionaires and the golden FIFA ticket. Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesIn 1994, the last time U.S. stadiums hosted the World Cup, an average ticket cost US$58. The most expensive ticket for the final could be grabbed for $475.Adjusted for inflation, that would be $131 and $1,069, respectively, in today’s prices. Fast forward 32 years and things have become a lot pricier. In the tournament due to begin on June 11, 2026, at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico, the average ticket prices have been in the region of $1,300. The cheaper tickets for the final are going for a whopping $10,000, and it is even more for the better seats.That represents an inflation-adjusted increase in average ticket prices of about 1,000% between the two times the U.S. has hosted or co-hosted the event. As a benchmark for comparison, over that period, median household incomes in the U.S., adjusted for inflation, have risen by only 32%.But is ticket pricing the real problem with the World Cup? As a soccer economist and co-host of the Soccernomics podcast, it is a question I have long thought about. And economic analysis can bring some clarity as to what brought about such eye-watering ticket prices, whether they are justifiable and why many think them unfair.To start things off, let’s entertain a thought experiment. The three host nations of the World Cup – Canada, Mexico and the United States – are home to around 200,000 ultra-high net worth individuals, those sitting on fortunes in excess of $30 million. If that elite group contained 82,500 soccer fans prepared to pay $300,000 for a ticket to fill out the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey for the final, it would represent a payday for FIFA of close to $25 billion. And that isn’t a fanciful price — tickets for the final have listed for far higher.Now if FIFA vowed that all that money would go to good causes – say, eradicating malaria or ensuring that underprivileged kids had access to state-of-the-art soccer equipment and programs – would anyone really gripe that it came at the cost of making tickets affordable for all?The problem is FIFA is not vowing any such thing. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has stated that all money generated “goes back into the game all over.” But given the governing bodies’ reputation for shadowy financial doings, there are reasons to think much of the money will never be properly accounted for. The key point is this: It’s not really the high ticket prices in themselves that are the problem; it’s the context in which they are being sold.The devil in the dynamic pricingThat context involves at least three elements that critics have found particularly offensive.First is the same thing that is bane of gig-going music fans and frequent fliers alike: dynamic pricing. The economic term for such a policy is “price discrimination.” It amounts to charging people according to their willingness to pay rather than the cost of supplying the commodity or service.Dynamic pricing is simply an algorithm created to achieve that by exploiting market power. Although not illegal, the announcement of investigations by the New York and New Jersey attorneys general suggest that FIFA might have some legal problems down the road. Dynamic pricing has pushed the price tag of some tickets for the final to more than $2 million. Maximilian Haupt/picture alliance via Getty ImagesSecond, the whiff of corruption around FIFA never goes away. The 2015 prosecutions of high-ranking soccer officials revealed the extent of corrupt practices relating to the sale of broadcast rights. A recent statement by prominent figures in the world of soccer administration suggested that since then, things have gotten worse. When it comes to ticket revenues, where is all the money going? Most of it goes back, in one way or another, to the national soccer associations that make up FIFA. How they use it depends on their probity. Ideally, the money goes to invest into grass roots development — but in many cases, there seems little to show for FIFA’s largesse. Notorious figures such as Jack Warner from Trinidad and Tobago and Chuck Blazer from the U.S. — known as “Mr. 10%” due to the cut he took for doing business with him – are just the most egregious examples.FIFA stands accused of doing little or nothing to investigate where the money it hands out eventually ends up. I believe a little sunlight would be a great disinfectant.Fans hold their nose … up to a pointThe third issue, which is related to corruption, concerns the identity of the host nations.Russia hosted in 2018 despite having invaded the sovereign territory of another FIFA member four years before. Qatar in 2022 was allowed to host despite evidence of human rights abuses. Now, we have the bizarre spectacle in which a World Cup is being co-hosted by a country with a leader who has threatened to annex a fellow host country and started a war against one of the participating nations. There is a long history of supporters looking past the political realities in order to enjoy the soccer, but there are limits for fans. World Cups don’t just boost the coffers of FIFA; they provide a diplomatic and economic fillip for the host nations – something many see as “sportswashing” when the said hosts have checkered reputations.So fans have genuine reasons to resent the way in which FIFA organizes the World Cup both politically and commercially. But in an ideal world, should ticket prices be cheap? Economists often have a smug answer to this: The price should be set at what the market will bear. The World Cup is popular, tickets are scarce, and so, of course they should be expensive.In my view, that is a little too simplistic. The fundamental economic proposition is that prices should reflect the additional cost of supplying the service, or “marginal cost” in the economic jargon. And in this case, the marginal cost of each ticket is small – there are not even any very substantial overheads to cover, which often justify a higher price. The fact that marginal cost pricing would lead to reselling, creating windfall profits for anyone lucky enough to get a rationed ticket, does not alter the principle. Rather, it just demonstrates that there is a problem.Global soccer’s affordability crisisFIFA’s apparent answer to the problem of rationing is allowing for a system that lets only the richest people have access.If rich people were rich because they work hard, and poor people were poor because they didn’t, then maybe this would all seem fair. But most people don’t think that’s how the world really works. If there is to be rationing, most people would probably prefer that committed fans, with no interest in reselling, were rewarded with low-cost tickets.Put simply, the typical fan is experiencing an affordability crisis when it comes to ticket prices at this World Cup — the tickets they could afford in 1994 may now be unattainable, or at least would put a major stress on their household budget.But this reflects a broader social problem. The dissatisfaction with World Cup ticket pricing reflects a general discomfort with income distribution in the modern world. Income inequality has far bigger consequences for most people – in terms of their life prospects and life expectancy – than whether they can squeeze into a stadium to watch a World Cup game. The gap between the wealthy elites that can afford anything they want and the struggling middle for whom more and more of life’s opportunities are becoming out of reach is one of the primary economic problems of our age. To me, World Cup ticket prices are a striking illustration of how deep this reality has become.This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Stefan Szymanski, University of MichiganRead more:What the tattoos of World Cup players say about their love, life and religious beliefsWorld Cup creates perfect conditions for infectious diseases to spread – here are the biggest threats health experts are watching forAs an American, should you feel guilty about rooting against the US in the World Cup?Stefan Szymanski does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates placed center fielder Oneil Cruz on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a broken left hand.Cruz was injured while sliding into the plate during the fourth inning of a loss to Atlanta on Saturday. Cruz was available as a pinch-runner on Sunday and the club had been hopeful he would avoid a stint on the IL. But additional tests revealed non-displaced fractures between his ring finger and his pinkie.The move, retroactive to Monday, means the Pirates will have to try to stay in the mix in the NL Central without one of their most productive hitters. Cruz is hitting .264 with 14 home runs and 44 RBIs. His 98 strikeouts also lead the majors.Pittsburgh recalled utility player Billy Cooke from Triple-A Indianapolis to take Cruz’s roster spot. Cooke is hitting .190 in 32 games this year for Pittsburgh.The Pirates also placed catcher Henry Davis on the paternity list and recalled catcher Rafael Flores Jr. from Triple-A.

CLEVELAND — In a season in which so few American League teams have distinguished themselves as contenders, the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians have shown an impressive level of consistency and competence. This should come as no surprise: Despite operating on opposite ends of the payroll spectrum, few teams have been as reliably competitive as these two over the past decade, even as their rosters have turned over.In fact, only the Dodgers and Astros have won more regular-season games than the Yankees and Guardians since the start of the 2016 season. All that regular-season success has resulted in frequent trips to October, culminating in several clashes in the postseason: Cleveland and New York have faced off four times over that span (2017 ALDS, 2020 AL wild card, 2022 ALDS, 2024 ALCS), with the Yankees triumphing in all four (Cleveland last vanquished New York in the 2007 ALDS).With so much recent history between these ballclubs, even their non-October meet-ups have generated a bit more buzz than your average regular-season series. And this year, the two scheduled showdowns between Cleveland and New York were packed into a span of eight days, offering a compelling sample of data between two clubs that project to be relevant in the American League postseason picture. The Guardians took the first two games in the Bronx last week, including tagging emergent Yankees ace Cam Schlittler with his worst start of the season (4.1 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 3 K) and Gavin Williams outdueling Gerrit Cole. The Yankees responded by winning the series finale at home, then carried that momentum to Cleveland this week, where they earned narrow victories at Progressive Field on Mondayand Tuesday before cruising to a more comfortable win Wednesday, completing the sweep and clinching the season series.Whether these teams will meet again in October remains to be seen, but here are a few takeaways from their early-season encounters.Cleveland showing first signs of trouble after strong start to the seasonAfter finishing April at .500 (16-16), the Guardians found their groove in May. A red-hot stretch in the middle of the month featured four consecutive series victories, including a four-game sweep of their reeling rivals, the Detroit Tigers. A win in Philadelphia on May 24 brought Cleveland’s record to 32-23 and its lead atop the AL Central to 4.5 games. With little resistance from their divisional foes outside the young and hungry White Sox, a golden opportunity seemed to be surfacing for Cleveland to create significant distance atop the division and establish itself as one of the few no-doubt contenders in the American League.Instead, since that scorching sequence of 11 wins in 13 games last month, the Guardians have struggled to recapture their momentum and build upon their division lead. They’ve lost four of their past five series (Nationals, Red Sox, Rangers, Yankees), and any positive vibes enjoyed early last week in the Bronx were wiped away by the poor results in the following four contests against the Yankees. Notably, the Guardians suffered their first sweep of the season on Wednesday, leaving the Braves and Dodgers as the only remaining teams that have avoided being swept in 2026.Now Cleveland is 37-33 and technically tied for first with the 35-31 White Sox, who have continued to play well and just got some reinforcements in the form of top prospect Braden Montgomery, who hit a walk-off homer Tuesday in his MLB debut. Remarkably, the Guardians have yet to play the White Sox this season, but those upcoming games — a three-game set June 22-24 in Chicago and a four-game series July 2-5 at Progressive Field — are suddenly marquee matchups, which few would have projected a few months ago. Meanwhile, Tigers ace Tarik Skubal is on his way back from his revolutionary elbow surgery and could fuel a Detroit resurgence to flush its miserable first couple of months. The Royals and Twins would each have to show a lot more to be considered threatening to Cleveland, but they aren’t that far behind.Recent slog aside, the Guardians have played more good baseball than bad this season, and they deserve some faith that they’ll course-correct in short order. Still, what looked to be an easy path to a third consecutive division title no longer looks as clear. Cleveland has some work to do.Play 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world's biggest soccer tournamentPaul Goldschmidt is turning back the clockWhen the Yankees re-signed Goldschmidt to a one-year, $4 million deal in February — a finishing touch on New York’s run-it-back offseason — it was unclear what to expect from the veteran first baseman, in terms of both impact and role. With Ben Rice expected to assume an every-day role at first base and Giancarlo Stanton projected to clog the DH spot, Goldschmidt looked like a bench bat at best, one who would be called upon occasionally to mash against left-handers. He had tailed off hard down the stretch last season, posting a .653 OPS over the final two months — an ominous trajectory as he entered his age-38 season.That Stanton landed on the injured list in late April, opening up more playing time for Goldschmidt with Rice assuming more DH days, didn’t exactly come as a shock. But because Goldschmidt played so infrequently during the first month (just 29 plate appearances in the Yankees’ first 27 games) and because of his discouraging form toward the end of last season, expectations for his contributions remained low. Yet since Stanton went down, Goldschmidt has been not just one of the Yankees’ best bats but also one of the best hitters in the league: His 163 wRC+ since April 26 ranks ninth in MLB, ahead of Rice and even Aaron Judge over that span. Goldschmidt homered in both series openers vs. Cleveland, bringing his season total to eight in 42 games after he hit just 10 across 146 contests last season. While he has done the majority of his damage against lefties, Goldschmidt proved his potency against same-handed pitching on Monday, when he took a 94.6-mph cutter from Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams over the high wall in left field for a two-run homer in the top of the first inning."We've needed him to step up, and he certainly has,” manager Aaron Boone said afterward. “He's just been really productive, whether it's a big hit with runners in scoring position, whether it's flashing the power and still that real, real dangerous presence against lefties. So to get us off to a good start tonight against obviously a really good pitcher in Williams over there was big.”“He’s a Hall of Famer in my book,” Yankees starter Will Warren said. “38 and still doing it.”Still doing it, indeed. With his 39th birthday approaching in September, Goldschmidt is older than all but two position players who have appeared in an MLB game in 2026. And those two — D-backs first baseman Carlos Santana, who is currently on the injured list, and Andrew McCutchen, who was released by the Rangers on May 28 — aren’t exactly thriving.Whenever his career concludes, Goldschmidt’s case for Cooperstown will be one of the more fascinating to debate among this generation of highly accomplished hitters. But for now, he’ll keep adding to his résumé — and his teammates will keep enjoying the show."He's unbelievable,” outfielder Cody Bellinger said. “He's been in the league for so long, and his approach is so good. … It's really fun to watch. He's just been spectacular for us.”Yankees’ offense proving its mettle without Aaron JudgeGoldschmidt’s recent brilliance would warrant the spotlight under any circumstance, but his production has proven all the more pivotal in the wake of three-time MVP Aaron Judge landing on the injured list due to a fractured rib. While the Yankees expect Judge to return at some point this season, it’s unlikely that will happen before the All-Star break, which puts pressure on the rest of New York’s position-player group to step up in the meantime. “I think we're definitely going to maybe have to win more games kind of like this, with a little bit more of a team effort,” Goldschmidt said postgame Monday, after the Yankees used eight pitchers and emptied their bench to secure a 7-5 victory in 10 innings. It wasn’t the most explosive offensive display, but nine Yankees hitters reached base, and the bullpen was able to keep Cleveland in check long enough for New York to reclaim the lead in extras on a go-ahead, bases-loaded single from Bellinger on a full-count fastball from Shawn Armstrong.“It wasn’t pretty, but very gritty,” Boone said. Even without Judge, the Yankees’ roster is flush with impact talent around the diamond, not to mention an elite rotation. In addition to the Goldschmidt renaissance, Rice has been one of the biggest breakout bats of the season, making an MVP case of his own in Judge’s absence. Bellinger has been terrific on both sides of the ball. Chisholm is starting to heat up after a cold start; he supplied the go-ahead solo homer in the eighth inning of Tuesday’s 3-2 victory. Before that, rookie outfielder Spencer Jones did his best Judge impression, with a 112-mph exit velocity, 443-foot blast, the first homer of his major-league career.Not every hitter will contribute at every turn — heck, Rice went 5-for-24 with zero RBI across these six games vs. Cleveland — but the Yankees have thus far gotten enough from up and down the roster to continue winning without their captain. “The guy's probably the best hitter on the planet. He wins games for us by himself at times, definitely on the offensive side,” Goldschmidt said of playing without Judge. “So you know, we may have to do some things a little bit different, like tonight, whether that's just moving runners or stealing bases. It's stuff we're already trying to do, but … that's what it’s going to take until he's back.”Parker Messick starting to fade — but not by muchOne of the biggest stories of the season has been the depth and quality of this year’s rookie class, with super-hyped top prospects and surprise first-year contributors playing key roles across the league. And while most of these rising stars are hitters, there’s also an abundance of young talent to be found on the mound, and few rookie hurlers have emerged more prominently than Cleveland’s Messick.Messick showed well in his initial big-league cameo last season, posting a 2.72 ERA across seven starts but not accumulating enough innings to exhaust his rookie eligibility. That made him an intriguing Rookie of the Year candidate entering this season, with a secure spot in the Guardians’ rotation creating the rare opportunity for a rookie starter to amass a full season’s worth of innings. Messick shined across his first four starts (1.05 ERA in 25 ⅔ innings), including taking a no-hitter into the ninth inning against Baltimore on April 16. But the 25-year-old southpaw has been less dominant since that gem, completing six innings only once in his past 10 outings. That trend continued Wednesday, when Messick was pulled in the sixth inning after issuing a two-out walk to Jazz Chisholm Jr., marking the fifth time this season that the rookie has been removed after 5 ⅔ innings. Chisholm came around to score when Anthony Volpe doubled off reliever Matt Festa, putting a fourth earned run (and fifth on the day) on Messick’s ledger.But even with Wednesday’s uneven showing putting a dent in his run-prevention résumé, Messick’s ERA sits at a sterling 2.68 — the fourth-lowest mark among qualified American League starting pitchers, not just first-year arms. And despite his recent falterings in the middle frames, Messick has amassed an impressive workload: His 80 ⅔ innings pitched are eighth in MLB and first among rookie hurlers by a wide margin (Boston’s Connelly Early ranks second at 71 innings, while the Angels’ Walbert Urena is third at 55 ⅓.).If Messick is to work his way back to the forefront of a crowded AL Rookie of the Year conversation, some adjustments need to be made. But regardless of his awards chances, this is an extremely promising young arm that the Guardians can feel great about building around for years to come.

Morgan Rogers: Manchester United target addresses his futureManchester United target Morgan Rogers has reflected on his future ahead of what promises to be a busy summer transfer window. The Red Devils’ quest to add more firepower to their attack has taken them to Aston Villa’s doorstep this year. Rogers is coming off a spectacular campaign with the Birmingham-based club, registering 14 goals and 12 assists in 55 games across all competitions to help them clinch the Europa League. Morgan Rogers Stats: 2025/26 SeasonSource: Transfermarkt. The Englishman’s efforts have already earned him admirers at Old Trafford, with the player matching INEOS’ recent Premier League-proven transfer strategy. However, there is rising interest in Rogers’ services across the country as well as from abroad. The 23 year old is under contract until 2031, so the Villans can demand a colossal fee to let him go. Rogers is currently with the England squad preparing for the upcoming World Cup and recently shed light on his future. Rising rumours can be distractingSpeaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Rogers insisted that he no longer allows the rumours to get to his head. He said: “I think the first time it ever happened it was (a distraction).”“You’re in an uncomfortable spot of not realising that people have so much interest in you and you’re not quite realising that. But as you get older and gain experience along the way, you know that comes with it and 95 per cent of it is just noise.”“You hear it, course you do. You can’t help not [hearing it]. You know it’s there but you’ve got to use it in a positive way. You just try and get on with your game and just focus.”Bruno Fernandes’ long-term replacement?Bruno Fernandes is coming off a spectacular campaign, where he won the Premier League Player of the Season award. The Portuguese’s contract with United expires at the end of next season, but all signs indicate that he will extend his stay at the Theatre of Dreams.However, Fernandes will turn 32 this September and age is bound to catch up with him soon. The Portuguese maestro is the metronome that makes the Red Devils tick, so replacing him properly will be of utmost importance. This is where a move for Rogers could make sense. The Englishman could sharpen his skills while working closely with the United skipper, and his versatility could also add another dimension to Michael Carrick’s attack. Having previously worked together at Middlesbrough, the United manager is reportedly keen to be reunited with his former star at Old Trafford as well. When Fernandes eventually begins to show signs of regression, the prodigy could then be ready to take over the mantle from the master. Final ThoughtsUnited are likely to keep a close watch on Rogers as the summer progresses. However, midfield reinforcements remain the Red Devils’ priority this year, so a move for the Englishman may only materialise if the finances are in order. Featured image Dan Mullan 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

We want to know who you think was the top overall boys' athlete in the Bucks County area for the 2025-26 school year by voting in our poll.Was he a football player, basketball player, lacrosse player or did he play another sport? Let us know.Voting, which is permitted more than once, ends Friday, June 19, at 8 p.m.Our polls are designed to recognize excellent local high school athletes and we ask that you vote for your favorites as many times as you wish. But we also ask that you play fair. In other words, keep the bots or crazy cheats out of our polls. We shouldn't see a bunch of players with a significant number of votes from various European countries.Any suspicion of bot activity will result in immediate removal of the athlete, and possibly teammates, from this and future polls.Drew Markol covers local sports for PhillyBurbs.com. Support our journalism with a subscription.This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: PA High School Boys Top Athlete Poll Bucks County PIAA

Former FC Barcelona goalkeeper Sandra Paños has signed a three-year deal with San Diego Wave FCWave FC continues to add to its contending roster.San Diego, the leading team in the NWSL at the halfway point of the season, has signed a highly decorated and experienced starting goalkeeper, agreeing to terms with Sandra Paños on a three-year deal. Paños, 33, last played for Club América of Liga MX.“She is a world-class goalkeeper with experience and leadership at the highest levels of the game, which will be a tremendous addition to our team,” Wave FC Sporting Director and General Manager Camille Ashton said in a statement.“Bringing a player of her caliber to the Wave reflects the ambition of our Club as we continue working toward winning a championship, and we’re thrilled to have her join this team.”San Diego Wave FC has signed Spanish international goalkeeper Sandra Paños to a three-year deal.“I’m looking forward to bringing my experience to the team and doing everything I can to help the Wave compete for championships.” pic.twitter.com/ZYK0Czk6nI— Sebastian Sanchez (@Sanchez_Reports) June 10, 2026Paños joins a goalkeeping group that includes DiDi Haracic, Leah Freeman, and Luisa Agudelo. Despite the club's success in 2026, the goalkeeping position has been underwhelming—they have missed Kailen Sheridan in net, who signed with the North Carolina Courage this offseason.Sheridan was a reliable option between the posts for San Diego, logging 87 starts and was named the NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year in 2022. Haracic and Freeman have split time in goal and have allowed an average of one goal per game. Paños should bolster the defensive collective.Last month, Paños helped Club América secure the Liga MX Femenil Clausura title and was given the “Portera de la Final” in the match against Monterrey. She played three seasons in Mexico, appearing in 72 matches and recording 143 saves and 38 clean sheets. Paños has built a legacy at FC Barcelona and on the international stage, solidifying herself as an all-time great. She began her professional career in 2010 with Levante UD at 17, where she spent five seasons before transferring to the prestigious club.The Alicante, Spain native spent nine seasons with Barcelona, where she posted 171 clean sheets in 279 matches. She played a key role in winning 23 titles, including three UEFA Champions League championships and five Liga F Champions. She’s made 54 caps with Spain. The veteran goalkeeper is now tasked with bringing the first NWSL championship to San Diego.“The Wave has a talented group of players, and the Club’s strong foundation and ambition are what attracted me here,” Paños said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to bringing my experience to the team and doing everything I can to help the Wave compete for championships.”24 career trophies to her name 🏆 pic.twitter.com/diVvQIZMaZ— San Diego Wave FC (@sandiegowavefc) June 10, 2026This was the second marquee addition the Wave have made since the 2026 season began. Back in March, the club agreed to a record-breaking transfer agreement to bring USWNT star Catarina Macario back to San Diego. She signed one of the largest contracts in women’s soccer history, using the league's new High Impact Player Rule.Macario has yet to debut with the club. There haven’t been any updates on her status, but she has been listed with a heel injury since arriving. When healthy, she will join Dudinha and Lia Godfrey in the attack. Dudinha is playing at an MVP level with nine goal contributions (five goals, four assists), while Godfrey is on a rookie of the year trajectory with four goals.The Wave have the second-most goals (19) this season, behind Portland (20). They lead the league in total passes (6,443) and shots on target (77), and are tied with Orlando for the most shots (135). With eight wins and one draw, they lead the NWSL with 25 points.San Diego’s backline has been exceptional this season, allowing just 13 goals (tied for the 4th-fewest). The center-back duo of Kennedy Wesley and Kristen McNabb is one of the best pairings in the league. Rookie left back Mimi Van Zanten continues to ascend, joined by Perle Morroni on the opposite side.Paños, paired with a strong defense and an explosive attack, should put the rest of the NWSL on notice once they return from the June break. San Diego will host Gotham FC at Snapdragon Stadium on the 4th of July.

It's not too hard to see why they all selected this signature hue. READ MORE...

A watch party near Bryant Park devolved into brawls and chaos on Monday [Getty Images]Heavy security around Madison Square Garden for Wednesday's NBA Finals game has led to frustration from the owner of the New York Knicks, and a last-minute cancellation of an arena watch party.Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch planned to largely close the area for game four of the NBA Finals, similar to when Trump attended Monday's game.They also limited the number of fans allowed at a watch party outside the arena to 1,000 over safety concerns, after a similar party at nearby Bryant Park turned violent on Monday.Knicks owner James Dolan was unhappy about the zone, calling Mamdani and Tisch "party poopers" in a statement on Tuesday.Then, late Wednesday afternoon, Dolan said on a sports radio show that there would be no screens outside the arena for the party."We're not even putting up the screens. We're not about 999 people, we're about millions of people," he said."(Mamdani) gave us the gift of allowing us to screen 999 people and tell, you know, 20,000, 'no'."He indicated that he had thought Tisch and Mamdani would eventually reverse their decision to limit attendance, but "they clearly haven't changed their minds."Mamdani confirmed on X soon after that the Garden had requested a permit for a watch party for 500-999 fans, which the city had approved. "Mr. Dolan has now decided to cancel the watch party," he posted. "I know this is breaking hearts across our city."He had stressed the importance of safety on Tuesday. "As we prepare to watch together, let me be clear: this is a historic, joyful moment for our city. We will not allow it to be disrupted by violence," Mamdani said. Tisch also warned the public that they should again expect New Years Eve-levels of security, similar to when Trump attended the game Monday. Everyone will be screened, according to the New York City Police Department (NYPD), which advised attendees to "get there early and leave the bags at home".Dolan responded on Tuesday slamming Mamdani and Tisch as "New York City's biggest party poopers". "We now know that these restrictions were never about the President. It was just a convenient excuse to restrict how and when Knicks fans celebrate," he said. Asked about Dolan's comments during a press conference, Mamdani said the security measures fit a gathering the size of the watch party.The Knicks lost 111-115 at Madison Square Garden to the Spurs in game three of the best-of-seven NBA finals on Monday, cutting their lead in the series to 2-1.The Knicks haven't been in the finals since 1999, at which time they lost to the Spurs, and New Yorkers have been out in the streets celebrating each win. "The city is electric," a fan told the BBC.Trump's attendance led the cancellation of a scheduled watch party near Madison Square Garden and the installation of a fenced perimeter around the arena and surrounding streets. Those who had tickets for the game stood in line for hours as a section of Manhattan was blocked to pedestrians and vehicles. Inside the arena, airport-style security screenings greeted attendees.People climbed on top of cars and scaffolding to get a better look at the screens [Getty Images]Those without tickets turned to watch parties, including one organised by the city at nearby Bryant Park.Thousands of people eventually flooded the area, blocking traffic, standing on cars and climbing building scaffolding to see the screens. The crowed turned violent, police say, brawling and throwing glass objects at each other. Eventually, 21 people were arrested in what the the NYPD called an "incredibly reckless" reaction to the game by fans. Video also went viral showing a mob violently assaulting a 39-year-old Spurs fan as he walked back to his hotel room. "The individuals proceeded to punch and kick the victim about the body and forcibly removed victim's basketball jersey from his body," the NYPD said. Spurs star Victor Wembanyama called the violence "unacceptable" and Texas Senator Roland Gutierrez called out Mamdani directly saying: "We don't do this to your people."The NYPD's Crime Stoppers have now launched a hunt for the suspects.Celebrity fans of the Knicks also cautioned fans against getting violent. "Being a Knick fan doesn't mean being disrespectful to Spurs fans in any way…we get caught up during the games but we gotta show respect to our fellow humans," said actor Ben Stiller, who has been a fixture at the finals games.Mamdani echoed those comments. "Couldn't agree more. We'll win this series on the court ... not by targeting, harassing, or attacking Spurs fans," he said.

The Los Angeles Kings Head Coach Peter Laviolette responds to press during organization introduction on June 10, 2026 at the Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo, CA.EL SEGUNDO– The Los Angeles Kings Vice President and General Manager Ken Holland introduced new Head Coach Peter Laviolette at The Toyota Sports Performance Center on June 10th, 2026 and The Sporting Tribune’s Jessica Cryderman was there to capture the following TST Images.The Los Angeles Kings General Manager Ken Holland introduces new Head Coach Peter Laviolette on June 10, 2026 at the Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo, CA.Jessica Cryderman - The Sporting TribuneThe Los Angeles Kings General Manager Ken Holland introduces new Head Coach Peter Laviolette on June 10, 2026 at the Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo, CA.The Los Angeles Kings General Manager Ken Holland introduces new Head Coach Peter Laviolette on June 10, 2026 at the Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo, CA.Jessica Cryderman - The Sporting TribuneThe Los Angeles Kings General Manager Ken Holland introduces new Head Coach Peter Laviolette on June 10, 2026 at the Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo, CA.The Los Angeles Kings Head Coach Peter Laviolette responds to press during organization introduction on June 10, 2026 at the Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo, CA.Jessica Cryderman - The Sporting TribuneThe Los Angeles Kings Head Coach Peter Laviolette responds to press during organization introduction on June 10, 2026 at the Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo, CA.The Los Angeles Kings General Manager Ken Holland introduces new Head Coach Peter Laviolette on June 10, 2026 at the Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo, CA.Jessica Cryderman - The Sporting TribuneThe Los Angeles Kings General Manager Ken Holland introduces new Head Coach Peter Laviolette on June 10, 2026 at the Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo, CA.The Los Angeles Kings Head Coach Peter Laviolette responds to press during organization introduction on June 10, 2026 at the Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo, CA.Jessica Cryderman - The Sporting TribuneThe Los Angeles Kings Head Coach Peter Laviolette responds to press during organization introduction on June 10, 2026 at the Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo, CA.The Los Angeles Kings General Manager Ken Holland introduces new Head Coach Peter Laviolette on June 10, 2026 at the Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo, CA.Jessica Cryderman - The Sporting TribuneThe Los Angeles Kings General Manager Ken Holland introduces new Head Coach Peter Laviolette on June 10, 2026 at the Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo, CA.

The Indiana High School Sports Awards, presented by the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever, honored 400 athletes Monday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, including Players of the Year in 16 sports, overall winners for boys athlete of the year and girls athlete of the year, and several other specialty awards.Roncalli senior Brayden Collins capped the night with a touching speech after he was named the recipient of the Courage Award. Collins was diagnosed with leukemia in June 2024 but was able to return to the Roncalli basketball team and even played on the team as a senior, making a 3-pointer in his first appearance back on the court in January.“After missing my whole junior year (of school), my friends surprised me at my front door to welcome me back and ride with me to school,” Collins said during his speech Monday night at the sports awards show. “It was something I’ll never forget and helped me gain the confidence to know school was going to be OK. That is my ‘why.’ It’s why I get up every single day with the determination to not let the cancer get me. It’s why I practically worked myself to death to get the opportunity (to get) back on the basketball court. It’s why I will never take another day for granted ever again. And it’s why I will be forever grateful for the path God has led me down.“It doesn’t take a huge gesture to change someone’s life. Sometimes knowing they have your support is all it takes.”Julie Roe Lach, executive vice president of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, was the guest speaker for the show, sharing her experiences in high school athletics and how it shaped her career, which included five years as the commissioner of the Horizon League.“The leadership lessons you learn – it’s hope, it’s community, it’s unity – and now that I’ve hired a lot of people at a lot of different levels, you know if you are hiring an athlete,” Roe Lach said at the sports awards program. “Be proud that you are a student-athlete. That means something. There’s some grit there, there’s some work ethic, there’s some determination. So, always put that high on your resume … make sure you showcase what you’ve done on the court, on the floor, in the field, because that is going to carry you so far down the road.”Theresia Wynns was named winner of the IndyStar Trailblazer Award, which honors women’s sports administrators and athletes who paved the way for the next generation.“The benefits that (kids) reap from being involved in high school sports are developing teamwork, developing camaraderie and developing the ability to work with people in different situations,” Wynns said. “Those are places they can move from athletics to whatever they decide to do within their world of education.”Here are the other award winners:Boys Athlete of the Year, presented by the Indiana Pacers – Michael White from Lawrence North High SchoolWhite, a state champion with a 47-0 record in the 190-pound weight class, also became the first wrestler from Indiana to win the Ironman meet as the nation’s top wrestler. White overcame major obstacles in his life, including six months of homelessness, to become of the most talented wrestlers in the country.Girls Athlete of the Year, presented by the Indiana Fever – Molly Sweeney from Carmel High SchoolSweeney is the daughter of Butler Hall of Fame soccer players Joy (Aschenbrener) Sweeney and Casey Sweeney but made her mark in swimming. As a senior, Sweeney won the 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke, and helped Carmel win the 200-meter medley relay. As a senior, she increased her total state titles to 13, the fifth most in IHSAA history. Courage Award – Brayden Collins from Roncalli High SchoolCollins was diagnosed with high-risk B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in June of 2024, following his sophomore year of high school. He lost 55 pounds and went through many dark days, told he would be unable to play sports for nine months. Collins was able to be part of the Roncalli basketball team as a junior, but was fully involved as a senior last season. In a January game against Perry Meridian, Collins entered the game and swished a 3-pointer on his first shot. “A divine moment,” said his father, Steve Collins.Team of the Year – Carmel boys soccerThe Greyhounds started the season unranked with only three returning starters from their 2024 sectional championship team. They finished the year with only one loss, 10 goals against and the program’s first state championship since 2006. The title was Carmel’s first title under longtime coach Shane Schmidt. Coach of the Year – Christina Erazmus, Roncalli girls volleyballThe Royals were dealt a devastating blow when senior setter Addie Haberthy tore her ACL a week before the season opener. Erazmus pulled up freshman defensive specialist Norah Bell and reconfigured her system accordingly, then held the team together through some early growing pains. By season’s end, Roncalli was 33-5 and back-to-back 3A state champions. IndyStar Trailblazer AwardTheresia Wynns had a 50-year career in education at the local, state and national levels prior to her retirement in 2021. Wynns is a native of Easley, S.C., graduating from Clear View High School in Easley before going to South Carolina State. She came to Indianapolis in 1971 and spent the next 26 years as a teacher and administrator in Indianapolis Public Schools and Warren Township Schools. Wynns officiated the state girls’ basketball championship games in 1977, 1981 and 1986. She went on to a role with the Indiana High School Athletic Association from 1997 to 2012, administering the sports of boys and girls soccer, girls basketball and girls and boys tennis. She also handled the licensing of more than 8,000 IHSAA officials. She took a position with the National Federation of State High School Associations in 2012.IndyStar Miss Basketball, presented by the Indiana Fever – Gracyn Gilliard, Center GroveThe Stanford-bound Gilliard was voted IndyStar Miss Basketball following a sensational senior season that saw her average 26 points, 4 rebounds and three steals as she led Center Grove to an undefeated state championship. Gilliard finished with nearly 1,900 career points.IndyStar Mr. Basketball, presented by the Indiana Pacers – Luke Ertel, Mt. VernonErtel, a Purdue recruit, was voted IndyStar Mr. Basketball after leading Mt. Vernon to the Class 4A state championship, including posting a triple double with 22 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in Mt. Vernon’s 77-69 win over New Albany in the semistate championship. Ertel was named on 207 of 230 ballots for Mr. Basketball. He averaged 24.5 points, 9.9 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.8 steals as a senior. IndyStar Mr. Football – Myles McLaughlin, KnoxThe Murray State recruit attracted national attention as a senior, setting national records for rushing yards in a single season with 4,846 yards and 71 rushing TDs. He helped 13-1 Knox to the semistate in Class 3A. McLaughlin finished his high school career with 11,839 rushing yards to rank third nationally. He also had 66 tackles and eight interceptions as a senior. Girls wrestling – Corabella Wesley, HobartWesley won the state championship at the second sanctioned IHSAA meet in the 125-pound weight class, completing a remarkable 42-0 season. Wesley is also the 16U Folkstyle Nationals Champion.Boys wrestling – Michael White, Lawrence NorthWhite completed his remarkable season with a state championship in the 190-pound weight class and a sparkling 47-0 record. White will wrestle at Oklahoma State. Girls swimming and diving – Molly Sweeney, CarmelSweeney is the owner of 13 state titles. She struggled with burnout as a junior but returned to finish off her remarkable high school career with the 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke titles. She also helped Carmel win the 200-meter medley relay. She adjusted her workout regiment to again become one of the nation’s top swimmers.Boys swimming and diving – Peter Kovacs, Bloomington SouthKovacs, a sophomore, swept the sprint freestyles at the state meet, winning the 50-yard freestyle in 20.12 seconds and the 100-yard freestyle in 43.79 seconds. Those are the first two state titles for Kovacs, whose older brother David was the state champion in the IM and backstroke last year. Girls gymnastics – Jillian Creager, HomesteadCreager, a junior, won the uneven bars and the all-round competition at the state meet. She tied for the state championship in the bars, took third on the balance beam, tied for fourth in the floor exercise and finished fifth in the vault to accumulate 37.975 points and earn the all-around crown. Creager is the first Homestead all round winner since 2000. She also won the vault as a freshman. This is the second consecutive year Creager won the award.Girls volleyball presented by the Indy Ignite – Bailey Sinish, Fort Wayne CarrollSinish, a senior outside hitter, was named Miss Volleyball and the Gatorade Player of the Year in Indiana after leading the Chargers to a 37-0 record and Class 4A state championship. She compiled 557 kills and 219 digs, including 17 kills in the sweep of Plainfield in the state finals. Sinish concluded her career with 1,808 kills and 854 digs. She will continue her volleyball career at IU Indy. Girls soccer presented by the Indy Eleven – Adalyn Cameron, CarmelCameron closed out her high school career with a bang, scoring a school-record 40 goals for the 19-2-1 state runner-up Greyhounds. The senior striker had multiple hat tricks and a couple four-goal games, finishing her career with nearly 100 goals in 56 games played. Boys soccer presented by the Indy Eleven – Christian Zermeno, Guerin CatholicThe senior midfielder helped the nationally ranked Golden Eagles win their third state championship in program history this fall, netting a team-high 23 assists and 19 goals. He also aided a defense that allowed just 18 goals in 22 games. Zermeno scored six goals in six state tournament games, including two goals vs. Hanover Central at semistate. Girls golf – Taylor Snively, ZionsvilleSnively staged a second-round comeback at this year’s state championship to repeat as individual medalist with a two-day score of 3-under 141. It’s the fourth-best 36-hole total in event history and helped Zionsville secure its second straight team title. Snively was the eighth golfer in IHSAA history to win back-to-back state championships this fall and the first to do so as a freshman and sophomore. Girls cross country – Libby Dowty, Indian CreekDowty won the state championship in cross country last fall, winning her second state championship in three years. Dowty finished with a time of 17 minutes, 10.2 seconds. She is the three-time winner of the Gatorade cross country runner of the year for Indiana. Dowty, a University of Louisville recruit, finished sixth in the 3,200 meters as a junior and second as a sophomore. Dowty is also a state champion in girls’ wrestling with a title in the 110-pound weight class. Boys cross country – Calvin Seitz, Springs ValleySeitz, a junior, went head-to-head with one of the state’s top distance runners, Westview’s Noah Bontrager, dueling down the stretch to win the state meet by two-hundredths of a second with a time of 15:01.22 to Bontrager’s 15:01.24. As a freshman, Seitz took 12th at state. Seitz was second behind Bontrager in the 3,200 meters at the state track meet this spring.Boys tennis – Joe Garrean, HomesteadGarrean led the Spartans to a runner-up finish at the team state championship event in October. He made history a week later, becoming the first freshman in IHSAA history to win the singles state championship, doing so with back-to-back Saturday sweeps. Garrean is the second Homestead Spartan to win a singles title. Girls flag football – Alivia Dawson, PennIn the first IHSAA girls flag football state championship, Penn defeated Lawrence North 35-12. In the championship game, Dawson had four interceptions and also caught a touchdown pass. Dawson caught 46 passes for 638 yards and 14 touchdowns during the season and had six interceptions on defense. She also averaged 8.0 points per game for her basketball team. Athletes of the year in the spring sports of baseball, softball, boys golf, girls and boys lacrosse, girls lacrosse, girls tennis, boys volleyball and girls and boys track and field, will be announced by July 1.Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana High School Sports Awards show honors best in high school athletics

Dylan Harper, Jalen Brunson, Steph CurryCredit: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty; Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty; Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via GettyWhen you're the child of a pro athlete, expectations for your athleticism are high. Some take a completely different path from their parents, while others follow right in their sneakered footsteps — and in some cases, even outshoot their pro parent.Jalen Brunson and Dylan Harper are the latest NBA stars whose dads played pro ball, and they're going head-to-head for the 2026 championship finals. They can compare notes with other basketball stars including Steph Curry, Klay Thompson,Devin Booker and more, who have fielded comparisons to their superstar fathers.Ahead, see the second-generation NBA stars whose parents were also players.01 of 12Rick Brunson: Jalen BrunsonRick Brunson; Jalen BrunsonCredit: Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty (2)Jalen Brunson has had fans buzzing this year as the point guard leading the Knicks to their first NBA Finals since 1999. He's the second Brunson to wear orange and blue.Dad Rick spent nine seasons in the NBA. Despite going undrafted in the 1995 draft, he went on to play for eight teams, including the Portland Trailblazers, Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics and more throughout his career. He played for the Knicks from 1999 to 2000 and now serves as an assistant coach for the team."I'm a father first. At the end of the day I think [it's all about] the respect he has for me and the respect I have for him, but I'm always gonna be his father," Rick told ABC News' Will Reeve of their working relationship."When you're a coach, when you're coaching him, you gotta understand how he is and what he's going through emotionally or mentally if he's struggling or playing well. For me, I gotta pick my spots on when to coach him and when to just be quiet. Sometimes it's hard. Sometimes he tells me to shut up, but we get through it."02 of 12Ron Harper Sr: Ron Harper Jr. and Dylan HarperRon Harper Sr., Dylan HarperCredit: Brian Drake/NBAE via Getty; Joe Murphy/NBAE via GettyFacing off against Brunson and the Knicks in this year's finals is exceptional Spurs rookie Dylan Harper, the son of former guard Ron Harper Sr.The elder Harper played professionally for 15 years. He was drafted to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1986 and moved to the L.A. Clippers, then the Bulls (with whom he won three championships) and then ended his career as an L.A. Laker in 2001, after snagging two more championship with them.In a post-game interview following their Western Conference Championship win, Dylan was asked what his father, who was in attendance, said to him. "He congratulated me and then he talks about what he did, so he kind of just leaves it at that," Dylan revealed. "He just told me to be confident in myself and [that] there's a reason why I'm here and just, the job's not done. The job's not finished. He kind of preached that to me this whole playoffs."Dylan has also had to face off against big brother Ron Harper Sr. who currently plays for the Boston Celtics and has proudly cheered him on in the playoffs.Related: 8 Sets of Brothers in the NBA, from the Currys to the Harpers03 of 12Dell Curry: Steph CurryDell Curry, Steph CurryCredit: Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty; Juan Ocampo/NBAE via GettyFour-time NBA champ Steph Curry is lauded for his sharp three-pointers, but long before he became a franchise player for the Golden State Warriors, his dad Dell Curry was a the mainstay for the Charlotte Hornets. Though Dell exited his 16-year career without a ring, he snagged a Sixth Man of the Year award in 1994 and when he retired in 2002, he was the all-time leading scorer in Hornets history, and also the team's all-time leader in three-point field goals. And despite some distance from his pro days, he proved he hasn't lost any of his prowess, nailing a casual half-court shot during one of his son Steph's Warriors games in 2017.Dell's son Seth is also in the league and has played for several teams including the Hornets, Dallas Mavericks, Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers; he is now with the Warriors.04 of 12Mychal Thompson: Klay ThompsonMychal Thompson; Klay ThompsonCredit: Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty; Ron Jenkins/GettySteph Curry's former teammate Klay Thompson also comes from an NBA family. His father Mychal was in the league from 1978 to 1992. He played his first eight years with the Portland Trail Blazers and transferred to the San Antonio Spurs, before he landed at the L.A. Lakers in 1987. Mychal was a key player in helping his team secure back-to-back championships as the Lakers won in '87 and '88; Thompson would perform similarly decades later."I’m grateful to have a father who had a great career, who brought me around the game my whole childhood. I learned to respect the game and respect the greats who came before us," Klay stated in part, during a post-match interview after surpassing Reggie Miller to become No. 5 on the NBA’s all-time 3-pointers made list.05 of 12Jaren Jackson: Jaren Jackson Jr.Jaren Jackson, Jaren Jackson Jr.Credit: Fernando Medina/NBAE/Getty; Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via GettyAt 6-ft.-10-in. it's no surprise that Jaren Jackson Jr. is an expert shot-blocker. However, what makes him a compelling foward-center is also his keen ability to shoot from anywhere on the court, a skill he surely inherited from his father, who was a famous shooting guard in his hey day.Jaren Jackson Sr. was in the league for 13 years and played for several teams including the then-New Jersey Nets, Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers as well as the San Antonio Spurs. He was a key player in helping the latter secure their 1999 championship win against the Knicks.06 of 12Melvin Booker: Devin BookerCredit: Bernstein Associates/Getty; Jeff Bottari/NBAE/GettyKendall Jenner's former beau (currently a guard for the Phoenix Suns) also has an athletic pedigree: Devin Booker's father, Melvin had a short stint in the NBA back in the late '90s. His entire career spanned only 32 games between 1995 and 1997, and he played for three teams: the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors.Though Melvin's career in the NBA was short-lived, it was enough to intrigue a young Devin. The athlete made the decision to go pro when he was around 13 years old and after seeing his "love and passion" for the sport, Melvin dedicated his time to mentoring Devin, he told ESPN.There were some doubts at first, but once Melvin saw his son play in the summer AAU circuits in high school, he quickly realized Devin was a force. "Devin was having success against the likes of Julius Randle, Andrew Wiggins, Aaron Gordon, Jahlil Okafor and Jabari Parker — all of whom went on to NBA careers," ESPN reported at the time. Melvin stepped up and became Devin's coach and mentor, teaching him how to play like the pros, how to properly train and how to eat right.The work paid off, as Devin was the No. 13 overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft. He won the 2018 JBL Three-Point Contest during All-Star Weekend and in 2020, he attended All-Star Weekend as an All-Star player himself.07 of 12Mitchell Wiggins: Andrew WigginsMitchell Wiggins; Andrew WigginsCredit: Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty; Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via GettyThough Mitchell Wiggins only played six seasons in the NBA, his son Andrew Wiggins picked up where he left off. A versatile player, Andrew was selected first overall in the 2014 NBA draft and has played for teams such as the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Golden State Warriors (with whom he won a championship in 2022), and is currently with the Miami Heat.08 of 12LeBron James: LeBron 'Bronny' James Jr.Lebron James and Bronny JamesCredit: G Fiume/Getty; Christian Petersen/GettyWith a four-time NBA championship winner and three-time Olympic medalist for a father, it would've been surprising if Bronny James didn't follow in dad LeBron James' footsteps.In high school, Bronny led his Sierra Canyon School to a win against his dad's alma mater, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, back in 2019. In July 2021, Bronny was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated at the tender age of 16 — one-upping his superstar dad, who made his SI debut at 17 years old.As though that wasn't enough, Bronny was also one of five rising stars to sign an NIL (name, image and likeness) deal with Nike in October 2022. Details of the deal were kept under wraps, but ESPN reported that "Nike plans to partner with each student-athlete on a variety of community efforts in their hometowns."For his part, the elder James has always been supportive of his son's love for the game, always expressing a desire to play with his son professionally. "Bronny is number one on my list," the basketball legend stated on an episode of The Shop. (As to whether his offspring could beat him? That was a hard "no.")On May 7, 2023, Bronny announced via Instagram that he would be playing college basketball at the University of Southern California. On Oct. 22, 2024, he made his dad's dream come true, making his regular-season debut as a Laker after having been drafted by the team that summer — and making history as the first father-son duo to play in the same game.09 of 12Shaquille O'Neal: Shareef O'NealCredit: Chris Covatta/NBAE/Getty; Garrett Ellwood/NBAE/GettyUnlike most NBA dads, Shaquille O'Neal was not so keen on letting his son join the big league — but with good reason. Shareef O'Neal had seen a string of health issues, the most severe of which required him to undergo major heart surgery during his freshman year at UCLA. Naturally, his protective dad preferred he pace himself a bit before joining the pros.Shareef didn't feel the same way. "He wanted me to stay in school," the second-gen star told ESPN of his dad during a pre-draft workout with the Lakers. "He knows I'm working out with teams. But I'm not going to lie, we ain't talked about this. I'm kind of just going through it."And because the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, Shareef's tenacity ultimately paid off: he was drafted to the Los Angeles Lakers on a two-way contract in June 2022 and played for the purple and gold during the Summer League.The star then moved onto the G League Ignite for the 2022-2023 season. He signed with the Stockton Kings in 2024, but was ultimately waived. He decided to walk away from the game following a minor procedure that year."I always told myself, if I have to get another surgery after my heart surgery, I'd be done," he told Angel Reese on her podcast. "I had to get a double knee surgery. So I stopped. ... I was like, let me just chill. So now I just play for fun."10 of 12Scottie Pippen Sr.: Scotty Pippen Jr.Credit: Scott Cunningham/NBAE/Getty; Barry Gossage/NBAE/GettyWe know Scottie Pippen Sr. as one of the key players in making the Chicago Bulls a household name back in the '90s, and that legacy is helping support his son's career.A Sierra Canyon School graduate, Scotty joined the Los Angeles Lakers as an undrafted free agent on a two-way contract after playing for Vanderbilt University for three years. He has taken advice from Lakers teammates such as LeBron James and Russell Westbrook as to how best to acknowledge his dad's legacy while playing his own game."[LeBron] told me that I've been around the game even if I don't feel like I have, that my dad's put me through this and that," he told PEOPLE. "You have an advantage over these guys, so at the end of the day just focus on basketball ... at the end of the day, you're the only one on the court, so make sure you find something that brings you peace.'"As for the advice Pippen Sr. has imparted? "I tried to talk him through it his whole life, just teaching him the game and making him feel like that's the path you're on," the six-time NBA champion told PEOPLE. "You just teach him and hope for the blessing of God and a little luck and things falling in your way, but it's about preparing him for it and hoping and praying it happens."Scotty Jr. is currently a guard for the Memphis Grizzlies.11 of 12Kenyon Martin Sr.: Kenyon 'KJ' Martin Jr.Credit: Getty; Glenn James/NBAE/GettyLike his powerhouse dad (the first draft pick in 2000 and 2004 All-Star, who played 15 seasons as a power forward for teams including the Knicks and Nets), Kenyon Martin Jr. — more commonly referred to as KJ — made quite the impression after being drafted in 2020. As small forward for the Houston Rockets, KJ became a fan favorite due to his dynamic presence on the court.Kenyon Sr., for his part, wanted KJ to shoot for a bigger pond. While talking to SiriusXM NBA Radio, the Hall of Famer voiced some of his concerns about his son playing for the Rockets, stating, "I just want a better situation for him, as far as winning. Houston is Houston. The way it's looking now ... they're going to have another lottery pick and be even younger."While he acknowledged Houston was the best place for his son to get his feet wet and earn some stripes, in the long term, the NBA veteran prefered KJ go to a more developed team. "I would love for him to be in a situation where people approach every situation like that, and help their young guys get better. We'll see what's next," he concluded.KJ played five seasons in the NBA before heading off to the Chinese Basketball Association, where he's a forward for the Ningbo Rockets.12 of 12Arvydas Sabonis: Domantas SabonisCredit: Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty; William Mancebo/GettyArvydas Sabonis is considered of the greatest European basketball players of all time. With a career that spanned 15 seasons, Arvydas was a two-time European Player of the Year, Olympic gold medalist, six-time Euroscar Player of the Year, four-time Lithuanian Sportsman of the Year and a three-time USSR League Champion.A decade into his career, he was drafted from Lithuania to the Portland Blazers where he became a major player despite not being at his peak.Years later, Domantas (or Domas as his family calls him), a 6-ft.-11-in. power forward, was sought out by Gonzaga University coaches while playing in Spain. By age 20, he was the No. 11 overall draft pick, chosen by the Orlando Magic in 2016 (though traded that night to the Oklahoma City Thunder).Domantas is a two-time NBA All-Star, having made the prestigious All-Star team in 2020 and 2021.Asked about similarities to his legendary dad, Domantas told NBA.com, "I personally don't see comparisons. But my family and my dad's friends, they grew up watching my dad play, they say they see so many similarities it's crazy."He currently plays for the Sacramento Kings.Read the original article on People

GREEN BAY – For a team that couldn’t catch a break with injuries in 2025, Tucker Kraft finally has good news for the Green Bay Packers.The star tight end believes his recovery timeline from a torn ACL puts him on track to not only play Week 1, but also without any limitations. Kraft said his rehab, that will reach its seven-month mark June 13, has gone “better than expected.” He anticipates opening training camp on the physically unable to perform list, but Kraft will reach the nine-month milestone midway through August.If he’s activated off PUP on Aug. 13, it would give Kraft a full month to ramp up for the Packers’ Sept. 13 opener at the Minnesota Vikings. That date also would be exactly 10 months after his reconstructive knee surgery, padding time in his recovery.“I feel great,” Kraft said. “My quad looks great. Swelling is minimal to none. No weird pains and aches coming out of my treatment and my training. So we’re really excited to get this ball rolling, and we’re going to take off.”Kraft added: “I would say I’m going to get all the conditioning I need in camp to start Week 1 with no pitch count.”It remains to be seen if the Packers would allow Kraft’s first game back from a torn ACL to be on FieldTurf in Minnesota. A year ago, receiver Christian Watson believed he was ready to return from the same injury in Arizona, which also plays on FieldTurf. The Packers instead held off for one more week, scheduling his return for their trip to Pittsburgh. But getting a full month to prepare might make the Packers feel more comfortable with the playing surface.The bigger question than when Kraft will return is whether he’ll be the same level after surgery. By the time his right knee buckled midway through last season, Kraft knew the kind of player he’d become. It had been a slow buildup from when Kraft started his career in 2023, but by the first several weeks of last season he had announced his arrival as one of the NFL’s best tight ends.In Kraft’s mind, he doesn’t believe there was any debate about which young tight end in the league had the most promising future.“I thought at the combination of the do-it-all Y, which is me,” Kraft said, “that there wasn’t another guy in the league that was doing it as well as I was. Some people might think I’m delusional to say that, but every play I was either – I don’t know. The film is going to speak for itself. Outside zone, inside zone, screen game, down the field, just as far as putting it all together, I felt like I was in a great spot.”One month before tearing his ACL, Kraft said he believed the Packers needed to get him one touch every possession to be their best offense. A bold statement considering how overcrowded the offense was with target options last fall. It took time for the Packers to funnel their passing game through Kraft more, but by the middle of October he had become their engine.Kraft had 10 targets Week 7 at the Cardinals, including the game-winning catch to convert fourth-and-2 late in the fourth quarter. A week later, he overshadowed the Packers’ matchup against Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh, catching seven passes for 143 yards and a pair of scores. After the Packers beat the Steelers, coach Matt LaFleur said he’d be “crazy not to” feed Kraft more targets.Then Kraft’s knee slammed into offensive lineman Sean Rhyan while making a cross-sift block the following week against Carolina, ending his season. In a season decimated by injuries, perhaps nobody’s absence was more significant than Kraft’s, including Micah Parsons. Kraft was the security blanket underneath for quarterback Jordan Love, frequently stretching short, high-percentage throws into big plays. Without him, Love struggled to make plays when pass protection broke down.“I want to bear the weight for the team,” Kraft said after the team’s second day of minicamp June 10. “I think I can be someone to put the team on my back and do that dirty work, do that grunt work, but there’s multiple guys on this offense I would say the same thing. That’s where we have to use that drive to continue to push down the season and win some games.”Kraft believes the passing game is better equipped for him to get more targets after veteran receiver Romeo Doubs signed with New England and Dontayvion Wicks was traded to Philadelphia. He’s hoping his first chance to assert himself in that role comes Week 1. Kraft spent this offseason rehabbing his knee, spending most of his time in Green Bay outside a month and a half he spent with his wife’s family in Scottdale, Arizona. Kraft believes the rehab put him on the right track to get a full season in 2026. He reached 21.5 mph running two weeks ago, similar to his speed before the injury.It would help explain why the Packers have expressed their motivation to reach a contract extension with Kraft this offseason. With one year left on his rookie deal, Kraft declined to say whether the team has engaged with his representation on a new deal, but also didn’t say no. When Kraft was informed he left the door open for extension talks ongoing, he smiled and asked for the next question."I'd say my goal is I want to play for this organization my entire career,” Kraft said. “I'm spoiled to be drafted here, and this is all I know. Green and gold is all I know. We'd like to keep it that way.“My agent and the Packers' front office, they're going to be in those talks in time when it comes. You guys will find out eventually."Kraft doesn’t anticipate needing time to regain trust in his knee. Because it was a contact injury, he knows his torn ACL couldn’t have been prevented. With his rehab ahead of schedule, Kraft made clear he expects to be the same player he was before leaving the field against Carolina.He might have a new contract in hand when he does. But Kraft said his impact will be the same.“I’m not really buying into the people come back off an injury and they’re not the same,” Kraft said. “People come back off their injury, if you’re not coming back off your injury the same, then what are you doing? What were you doing your entire rehab? I have these confines of my rehab, and my trainer and I – I do my work and then some. Some people might not be the same, but they don’t speak for me.”This article originally appeared on Packers News: Packers' Tucker Kraft expects to play Week 1 with no limitations