Category: Sports

The 2026 World Cup has arrived at its semifinal stage, and the matchups could hardly be more exciting for soccer fans around the world.

Thanks to a new seeding system introduced alongside the tournament’s expanded format, FIFA arranged the bracket so that the top teams in the world were placed in opposite corners during the knockout rounds. The result: both semifinal games feature elite-level competition.

Leading the way is a clash between France and Spain, two of the sport’s most celebrated national programs. The other semifinal pits England against Argentina — a matchup headlined by some of the biggest names in the game.

The restructured bracket format was specifically designed to prevent top contenders from eliminating each other too early, and by the semifinal stage, it has delivered exactly the high-stakes drama FIFA was hoping for.

A proposed merger between professional tennis’s two major tours — the men’s Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) — has been shelved with no clear timeline for revival, according to a report published Monday by The Guardian.

The two organizations had been working toward combining their commercial and media rights into a single deal. Talks had advanced to near-agreement in 2025 under the WTA’s former chair, Steve Simon. However, when his replacement, Valerie Camillo, took over, she determined that the revenue-sharing arrangement on the table was not acceptable, causing the WTA to walk away from negotiations.

As recently as January, ATP chief executive Eno Polo had spoken optimistically about the discussions, telling reporters the two sides were “quite close” to finalizing an agreement.

A significant financial gap between the two tours lies at the heart of the dispute. The WTA reported revenues of $142 million in 2024, which is less than half of the ATP’s reported $294 million for the same period. While joining forces on rights deals would have boosted the WTA’s total income, it would have also locked the women’s tour into a smaller share of the combined revenue — a setback for women’s sports organizations that have been pushing for greater financial parity.

Both tours are currently dealing with budget pressures. The ATP recently announced cuts to its doubles programming as a cost-saving measure. The WTA has so far avoided a similar step, but reports indicate the organization has begun trimming expenses in other ways, including sending fewer staff members to major tournaments like Wimbledon.

PHILADELPHIA — Kyle Schwarber kept his Home Run Derby dreams alive on his home turf Monday night, blasting nine home runs in the second round to defeat Boston’s Willson Contreras and punch his ticket to the finals at Citizens Bank Park.

The Phillies’ slugger and major league home run leader will now square off against St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker in the championship round.

The atmosphere inside Citizens Bank Park was electric, with Philadelphia fans providing a raucous backdrop for every swing — particularly during the matchup between Schwarber and Contreras, who were teammates on the 2016 World Series champion Chicago Cubs. Contreras was met with loud boos that only grew with each home run he hit, and the crowd erupted when his final swing resulted in nothing more than a flyball that landed on the All-Star logo painted in short-center field.

Schwarber struggled out of the gate, failing to clear the fence on his first three swings of the second round. He then rattled off four consecutive home runs — most of them pulled by the left-handed hitter into the right-field seats in the first or second decks — sending the crowd into a frenzy.

“This place is electric,” Schwarber said. “Follow the energy. Follow the energy they bring.”

On the other side of the bracket, Walker made quick work of Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero, hitting his sixth homer of the second round with seven swings still remaining. Caminero — last year’s runner-up to Seattle’s Cal Raleigh — managed just five home runs on 15 swings after totaling 12 in the first round.

Walker, a 24-year-old who was selected in the first round of the 2020 draft, is enjoying a breakout season with 22 home runs for the Cardinals. He took the plate wearing a backward cap, reminiscent of Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr.

Phillies star Bryce Harper, who said earlier Monday that this would be his final Home Run Derby appearance, managed only eight home runs in the first round and was the last hitter of the round with a chance to advance. The crowd went wild trying to will him into the next round, but it wasn’t enough. Harper previously won the Derby in 2018 in Washington while playing for the Nationals.

Schwarber, who made the finals in 2018 at Nationals Park before losing to Harper, had hoped both he and his teammate would move on this time around.

“Bittersweet,” Schwarber said after the first round. “I wanted both of us to move on.”

Kansas City’s Jac Caglianone and New York Yankees slugger Ben Rice also failed to advance from the first round. In the second round, Contreras and Walker each hit 13 home runs, while Caminero finished with 12.

Schwarber didn’t connect on one of his trademark long balls until his sixth swing of the first round, then followed up with home runs on his seventh, eighth, and ninth attempts — a stretch reminiscent of his four-homer game last season against Atlanta.

MLB changed its format this season, abandoning the timed clock and returning to a swing-based system. Each hitter received 20 swings in the first round, with the top four advancing. In the second round, hitters took 15 swings, and any batter who homered on their final swing kept going until they failed to go deep.

The new format gave hitters a bit more time between swings to watch their blasts — and gave the Philadelphia crowd a few extra seconds to unleash their boos at Contreras.

Schwarber and Harper — the first pair of teammates to participate in the Derby since 2018 — received thunderous ovations when ring announcer Michael Buffer introduced them before the competition. The other six participants, all wearing home jerseys with red, white, and blue uniform numbers, were loudly booed, with Rice drawing the biggest jeers. He laughed it off as he walked out from his Liberty Bell entrance.

Harper played to the crowd, waving his arms and shaking the ropes at the home plate platform like a professional wrestler as the fans went wild for the star known as The Showman.

Even the ball-shagging kids in the outfield weren’t spared from the boos.

Some highlights from the first round included Caglianone launching a ball deep into the third deck in right field, and Contreras sending several shots into the upper deck in left field, including one that bounced off the concourse in front of a bar after clearing the last row of seats. His longest blast measured 490 feet, making it the longest of the first round.

The longest Home Run Derby shot since Statcast began tracking in 2016 remains a 520-foot blast by Juan Soto in the thin air of Denver’s Coors Field during the 2021 event.

This was Citizens Bank Park’s first Home Run Derby and All-Star Game since the ballpark opened in 2004, and the first Derby held in Philadelphia since Barry Bonds defeated Mark McGwire in an afternoon event at Veterans Stadium in 1996 — in front of thousands of empty seats.

This year’s Derby was a sellout and aired on Netflix for the first time as part of a three-event package the streaming service secured this season. Netflix previously aired the opening night game, and the third event is the Field of Dreams game between the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies scheduled for August 13.

The Los Angeles Lakers rounded out their roster on Monday by inking small forward Ziaire Williams to a one-year deal worth $3 million, according to reports from multiple news outlets.

The signing carries a personal connection — Williams and Bronny James were teammates at Sierra Canyon, a California high school, and will now share a locker room once again at the professional level.

Williams was selected 10th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft by the Memphis Grizzlies. Over his career, he has averaged 8.7 points per game. Most recently, he posted a career-best 10.2 points per game during his second season with the Brooklyn Nets, having previously spent three seasons in Memphis.

With Williams now on the books, the Lakers have reached the league maximum of 15 players on their roster. However, ESPN notes that Los Angeles is still in pursuit of Jonathan Kuminga, potentially through a sign-and-trade arrangement with the Atlanta Hawks.

Williams joins a group of other newly signed Lakers players, including Quentin Grimes, Walker Kessler, Kevon Looney, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Collin Sexton.

Brown University basketball head coach Mike Martin announced his resignation on Monday, leaving his post to take on an assistant coaching role at the University of Michigan.

Brown acknowledged the move on social media, honoring Martin for what it called “a distinguished 14-year coaching career.” Michigan separately confirmed the transition through an official news release.

A spot opened up on the Wolverines’ coaching staff after Mike Boynton Jr. was elevated to head coach, a change that followed the Dallas Mavericks’ decision to bring Dusty May on board as their head coach.

Martin expressed enthusiasm about his new role, stating: “I’m incredibly grateful to Coach Boynton for the opportunity to join the Michigan basketball family. Michigan has established itself as one of the premier programs in college basketball, and it’s easy to see why. The championship culture, the people and the commitment to excellence all make this a special place. I’m excited to get to work with our student-athletes and help build on everything this program has accomplished.”

Boynton spoke highly of his new hire, saying: “Mike is someone I’ve admired for a long time. He’s an outstanding coach, an exceptional teacher and one of the best recruiters in the game, but more than anything, he’s a great person who truly invests in his players. At Brown, he’s built consistently competitive teams through player development and a winning culture, and those values align perfectly with what we’re building here in Ann Arbor. We’re excited to welcome Mike, Kristin and their daughters to the Michigan family.”

Martin, 44, took over as head coach at his alma mater in 2012, having previously played for the Bears from 2000 to 2004. Over his 14 seasons leading the program, he compiled a 171-202 record, with his strongest campaign coming during the 2018-19 season when Brown finished 20-12.

According to ESPN, Brown plans to conduct a full coaching search outside the university to fill the vacancy left by Martin’s departure.

Eleven college athletes representing multiple sports and universities nationwide have joined forces in a class action lawsuit targeting the NCAA over its newly revised eligibility rules.

The federal lawsuit was filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Colorado. Among the named plaintiffs are Minnesota basketball player Cade Tyson and Northern Colorado basketball player Brock Wisne. The group alleges that the NCAA’s updated rules unlawfully cut off thousands of student-athletes from additional eligibility — and, by extension, from Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) earning opportunities.

Earlier this summer, the NCAA overhauled its eligibility framework by establishing a universal five-year window for all athletes. However, the organization chose not to apply that rule retroactively to athletes who had already used up their eligibility heading into the 2025-26 season — the very group that stood to benefit most from the change.

The lawsuit contends that thousands of athletes have been wrongfully denied a fifth year of competition as a result.

Rob Shelquist, a partner at Cuneo Gilbert Flannery & LaDuca, LLP, spoke on behalf of the plaintiffs. “These athletes aren’t asking for special treatment,” he said. “They’re asking to not be singled out and excluded from the NCAA’s eligibility framework. The NCAA updated the rules but refused to apply them only to the very group that was most immediately affected.”

Shelquist continued: “If the NCAA has determined that five years of eligibility is the fair rule for college athletes, then athletes who would still be eligible but for completing four years of eligibility should not be deprived of the same educational, athletic, and NIL opportunities.”

Beyond Tyson and Wisne, the lawsuit names nine additional plaintiffs competing in men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, and track and field: Anthony Johnson of Arizona State, Louie Jordan of Radford, Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro of California State, Isaiah Jones of South Florida, Aidan Shaw of Boston College, Dimond Loosli of Penn State, Jake Morell of Seattle, Aislin Malcolm of Robert Morris, and Abigail Jefferies of Long Island.

The outcome of the case could have significant consequences. A ruling in the athletes’ favor could strike down the NCAA’s new rule entirely, while a ruling for the NCAA could actually reinforce its position. The decision could also influence a number of similar lawsuits currently making their way through state courts.

Just last week, an Ohio judge ruled in favor of 24 athletes in one such state-level case. Despite that outcome, an NCAA cabinet publicly responded that “we do not intend to change course.”

Shortstop Roch Cholowsky, the first overall selection in last weekend’s MLB Draft, is set to receive a historic $10.35 million signing bonus from the Chicago White Sox, according to a Monday report from MLB.com.

Although the figure falls short of the $11.35 million slot value assigned to the top pick, it still stands as the largest signing bonus ever handed out in Major League Baseball history. The previous record was shared by Chase Burns and Charlie Condon, who each signed for $9.25 million as the No. 2 and No. 3 picks in the 2024 MLB Draft.

Cholowsky, 21, had long been discussed as a future top draft prospect throughout his college career at UCLA. Over three seasons and 178 games with the Bruins, he posted a .329 batting average and a .448 on-base percentage, while clubbing 52 home runs and driving in 167 runs. He also showed exceptional plate discipline, drawing more walks — 105 — than he had strikeouts, which totaled 100.

The young shortstop is considered a likely fast-mover through Chicago’s farm system and could find himself in the big leagues as early as next season. He joins a White Sox organization that has turned things around dramatically, sitting at 50-45 heading into the All-Star break after suffering 100-plus loss seasons in each of the past three years.

Reports surfaced Sunday suggesting that Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel could be on his way out following an external investigation into the culture within the university’s athletic department — but Manuel himself is telling a different story.

Manuel, who has served as athletic director at his alma mater since January 2016, says he does not expect to be removed from his position when investigation findings are presented at an upcoming Michigan board of regents meeting reportedly scheduled for this week.

“The president and I have had several great conversations over the past couple of days,” Manuel told Yahoo Sports, speaking about his relationship with Michigan president Domenico Grasso. “There are no plans for me not to continue to be the athletic director for the near future.”

The board is set to convene Thursday in Traverse City, Michigan, where members will review the results of a $12 million inquiry into the Wolverines’ athletics program. The investigation stems from a scandal involving former head football coach Sherrone Moore. However, a university spokesman told several media outlets Sunday that there are currently no plans to release any materials from the investigation — conducted by the law firm Jenner & Block — during this week’s meeting.

Manuel, 58, is reportedly weighing his options, which may include retirement, according to CBS Sports. He signed a five-year contract extension through June 30, 2030, back in December 2024, which carries an annual base salary of $1.9 million. Should the university terminate him without cause before the contract expires, he would be entitled to 36 months of severance pay. A termination with cause, however, would allow the school to avoid paying out the remainder of his contract. A mutual buyout agreement is also a possibility.

Michigan president Grasso had previously stated, after the board authorized the investigation in December, that the probe would extend into “an independent evaluation of culture, conduct and procedures throughout our athletics department.”

The investigation follows the firing of Moore on December 10 for cause, after it was revealed he had engaged in a longstanding personal relationship with his then-executive assistant, Paige Shiver. On the same day he was dismissed, Moore allegedly went to Shiver’s apartment, where she told authorities he forced his way in, grabbed two butter knives, and backed her into a corner.

Moore was subsequently arrested and spent two nights in jail. He originally faced charges of home invasion, stalking, and breaking and entering — offenses that carried penalties of up to five years in prison.

In April, Moore was sentenced to 18 months of probation with no jail time. He was also fined more than $1,000 and ordered to have no contact with Shiver and to abstain from drugs and alcohol during his probation period. The sentence came after Moore agreed to a plea deal, pleading no contest to new misdemeanor charges of malicious use of a telecommunications device and trespassing. In return, prosecutors in Washtenaw County, Michigan, dropped the earlier, more serious charges, including a third-degree felony home invasion count.

During his time leading Michigan football, Moore compiled a 16-8 record after taking over for Jim Harbaugh, under whom he had served as offensive coordinator. Both Moore and Harbaugh were also caught up in a sign-stealing controversy involving former staff member Connor Stalions during the school’s 2023 national championship season. Moore ultimately received a two-game suspension in connection with that matter.

In a separate controversy, former co-offensive coordinator Matt Weiss was fired on January 20, 2023, just after completing his second season on Michigan’s staff. Weiss has pleaded not guilty to felony charges of aggravated identity theft and unauthorized access to computers. His trial is currently scheduled for September.

Manuel has not been implicated in any of these scandals. Under his leadership, Michigan has captured national championships in women’s gymnastics (2021), football (2023), men’s gymnastics (2025), and men’s basketball (2026).

Harbaugh departed Michigan for the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers, while men’s basketball coach Dusty May left following the title run to take the head coaching position with the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks in June. Former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham stepped in to replace Moore in December, and Wolverines assistant basketball coach Mike Boynton Jr. served as interim head coach before being announced Friday as the full-time head coach under a two-year contract.

Tom Herman, who previously served as head coach at Houston, Texas, and Florida Atlantic, is reportedly joining Florida State’s coaching staff in a role that has not yet been publicly defined, according to several media outlets reporting Monday.

Herman, age 51, was once considered one of college football’s brightest up-and-coming coaches. He earned the Broyles Award — an honor given annually to the top assistant coach in college football — while serving as offensive coordinator at Ohio State during the Buckeyes’ 2014 national championship run.

His head coaching career got off to a strong start at Houston, where he posted a 22-4 record over the 2015 and 2016 seasons. That included a 13-1 debut season that ended with a Peach Bowl victory over Florida State. He then departed for Texas ahead of the 2017 campaign, but was let go after four seasons with a 32-18 overall record and only one year in which the team won more than eight games.

After his time at Texas, Herman took on an offensive analyst role with the Chicago Bears in 2021. He returned to college football in 2023 as head coach at Florida Atlantic, but was dismissed following two disappointing seasons that produced just a 6-16 record.

Herman is now set to join a Florida State program that is looking to rebound in 2026. Head coach Mike Norvell is under significant scrutiny after the Seminoles went a combined 7-17 over the past two seasons — a steep drop following a perfect regular season in 2023 that nonetheless saw the team excluded from the College Football Playoff.

Forward Fabian Lysell is getting a fresh opportunity at the NHL level, this time with the Colorado Avalanche after spending the previous season in the minor leagues.

Colorado officially signed Lysell to a one-year contract on Monday, though the financial terms of the deal were not made public.

The Avalanche brought Lysell into the fold on June 27, acquiring him from the Boston Bruins in a trade that sent forward Ivan Ivan to Boston.

At 23 years old, Lysell was originally selected by the Bruins with the 21st overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, making him a first-round selection. He got his first taste of NHL action during the 2024-25 season, recording one goal and two assists over 12 games.

Prior to that, Lysell put together a strong campaign with AHL affiliate Providence in 2025-26, posting 42 points — including 17 goals and 25 assists — across 57 regular-season games. He has also represented Sweden on the international stage, suiting up for his home country at the IIHF World Junior Championships in both 2022 and 2023.

China’s Qinwen Zheng entered the Athens Open without a seed and left the first round with a convincing victory, taking down Spain’s No. 6 seed Jessica Bouzas Maneiro by a score of 7-5, 6-1 on Monday.

Zheng dominated the serving department, racking up seven aces compared to none for Bouzas Maneiro. She also showed strong defensive play, saving six of seven break points she faced, while converting four of her seven break-point chances. The match lasted one hour and 49 minutes. Zheng broke her opponent’s serve to seal the opening set, then broke twice more in the second to cruise to the finish line.

A second upset came courtesy of Japan’s Mai Hontama, who defeated No. 8 seed Magda Linette of Poland 6-4, 7-5. Hontama was relentless on Linette’s serve, breaking it three times in each set. Among other first-round winners were Athens native and No. 4 seed Maria Sakkari, No. 5 seed Sara Bejlek of the Czech Republic, American Alycia Parks, Austria’s Lilli Tagger, Elena Micic of Australia, and Great Britain’s Harriet Dart.

At the UniCredit Iasi Open, a clay-court event held in Iasi, Romania, Croatia’s No. 2 seed Petra Marcinko fought off Argentine wild card Nadia Podoroska 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 to advance past the first round.

Marcinko was exceptional under pressure, saving 16 of 19 break points — including all eight in the deciding third set — while converting four of her eight break-point opportunities. Podoroska served three aces to Marcinko’s none, and both players each committed eight double faults.

Elsewhere in Iasi, Hungary’s No. 7 seed Anna Bondar swept Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo 7-5, 6-4. Armenia’s Alina Charaeva dominated Andorra’s Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva 6-0, 6-1, and French wild card Clara Burel outlasted lucky loser Varvara Lepchenko 2-6, 7-5, 6-3.

PHILADELPHIA — Some of baseball’s biggest stars are drawing a hard line against Major League Baseball’s salary cap proposal, though they say there’s still enough time on the clock to prevent a work stoppage from cutting into the 2027 season.

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes, who also sits on the union’s eight-man negotiating committee, summed up where things stand. “Both sides kind of have their line that they’re not going to cross,” he said Monday. “Whether that results in missing games or missing a season, we’ll see.”

The current five-year labor agreement between players and owners expires December 1, at which point MLB is expected to lock players out. The more critical deadline, however, falls in late February or early March, when the league would have to decide whether to push back opening day.

Owners have put a salary cap on the table for the first time since the union fought off a similar effort with a 7½-month strike in 1994-95 — a work stoppage that led to the first World Series cancellation since 1904. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred has argued that a cap is necessary to reduce the growing gap between high- and low-spending teams.

Juan Soto, who signed a record-setting $765 million, 15-year deal with the New York Mets following the 2024 season, would have seen his contract capped at $265 million over six years under MLB’s current proposal. His reaction was blunt: “Yeah, that sucks. It shouldn’t be there.”

Under the league’s plan, team payrolls would be capped at $245.3 million in 2027, a figure that includes $20.1 million in benefits and a pre-arbitration bonus pool. The proposal also sets a payroll floor of $171.2 million, which would require lower-spending franchises to increase what they spend on players. MLB has not yet outlined how high-spending clubs — like the Los Angeles Dodgers, whose opening day payroll this year reached $415.2 million — would transition to the new system.

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout, 34 years old and in the eighth year of a $426.5 million, 12-year contract, acknowledged what the proposal is designed to do. “It’s trying to minimize the years and obviously the totals. For sure, we see that,” he said. “I think baseball’s in a good spot right now and we can’t mess this up.”

Philadelphia’s Bryce Harper, also in the eighth year of his $330 million, 13-year contract, said he couldn’t imagine any situation in which the players’ association would sign off on a cap. “The opportunity for players to get paid is what this is all about,” Harper said, pointing to the union’s long history of fighting for player rights dating back to when Curt Flood helped organize players in the 1970s. “We owe it to the guys that have come before us to do the same thing.”

Harper, who inked his first professional contract at age 17, also took issue with MLB’s proposal to prevent players from signing until they are at least 20 years old by September 1 of their signing year and at least two years past their high school graduation class. The league argues that college baseball offers a better path for player development. Harper disagreed. “If you’re in the top three rounds as a high school kid, I think you should be able to do whatever you want,” he said. “It would really be tough for a guy like Jackson Holliday to not be the number one pick and not get the chance to go to the big leagues at 19 or 18 if he’s able to.”

Formal bargaining got underway in May and is set to continue after the All-Star break. The players’ union has called for expanded free agency rights, earlier access to salary arbitration, and nearly doubling the major league minimum salary.

Pirates pitcher Braxton Ashcraft described the early rounds of talks as “back-and-forth proposals that may or may not be unrealistic.”

Skenes, a 24-year-old right-hander in his second full big league season, stands to lose significant earning potential under the proposed system. He is currently on track for free agency after the 2029 season, earns $1,085,000 this year in the final season before arbitration eligibility, and has collected nearly $5.6 million from the pre-arbitration bonus pool that launched in 2022. Still, he sees the negotiations as early-stage posturing. “MLB is kind of presenting their perfect-world offers and we’re kind of presenting our perfect-world offers,” Skenes said. “So there’s a lot of time before there’s any real movement, I think.”

San Diego closer Mason Miller, considered baseball’s top reliever, also faces free agency after the 2029 season. The 27-year-old right-hander is making $4 million this year and expressed cautious hope. “I still have some optimism,” he said. “The place that the game’s at right now, I think killing that momentum is kind of fruitless for everybody.”

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Don Mattingly admitted to feeling a bit of an odd sensation when he was invited to serve as a coach under Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts for this year’s All-Star Game.

When Mattingly departed his position as bench coach under Toronto manager John Schneider following the World Series — which the Blue Jays dropped in seven games to the Dodgers — he gave up a guaranteed spot in the American League dugout for Tuesday’s Midsummer Classic.

A six-time AL All-Star himself, Mattingly believed at that point his days in baseball were behind him.

As it turns out, he’s not only still involved in the sport — he’s now running the Philadelphia Phillies as interim manager and has guided them back into serious contention for a playoff spot.

On Tuesday, he’ll be in the opposing dugout from Schneider and the Blue Jays coaching staff when the All-Star Game is played at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park.

Defenseman Braden Schneider reached an agreement on a one-year contract Monday to continue his career with the New York Rangers, steering clear of what would have been an arbitration hearing.

While the Rangers kept the financial terms private, both The Athletic and the New York Post reported the deal is valued at $5.5 million. According to those reports, Schneider had an arbitration hearing set for July 29. He will enter next offseason as a restricted free agent and will still hold his arbitration rights.

The 24-year-old had an impressive campaign last season, suiting up for all 82 regular season games and recording 18 points, including two goals and 16 assists. He topped the Rangers in blocked shots with 140 and ranked third on the team with 163 hits. Schneider was one of just three NHL players in 2025-26 to reach both the 160-hit and 140-blocked-shot thresholds. The Prince Albert, Saskatchewan native also set a personal best in average ice time, logging 20 minutes and 27 seconds per game.

Originally drafted 19th overall by New York in the 2020 NHL Draft, Schneider made his NHL debut in January 2022. Over 368 regular season games, he has put up 87 points on 20 goals and 67 assists. In 43 playoff appearances, he has added six points, consisting of one goal and five assists.

Authorities in Cape Town, South Africa, have opened a formal investigation after the body of soccer player Jayden Adams was discovered at a residence in the city’s Schotsche Kloof neighborhood. The South African Football Players Union confirmed his passing on Saturday.

Adams, a 25-year-old midfielder who represented South Africa’s national team, had just returned from competing in the World Cup when he was found dead. No cause of death has been made public.

Despite losing his grandmother, Marianna, the day before a 1-1 draw against the Czech Republic, Adams showed remarkable determination and took the field as a starter in that match. He also started in his country’s 2-0 defeat to Mexico and came on as a substitute during a 1-0 victory over South Korea. He was an unused substitute when South Africa was eliminated by Canada on June 28.

His father, Juanito Adams, spoke to South African news service eNCA on Sunday, expressing the family’s grief. “The family is struggling to process it. It won’t be easy to carry on,” he said. “People say it will become easier, but it won’t. You just learn to live with it. So, we’ll see what the time ahead holds for us.”

Juanito Adams also noted the outpouring of support from around the globe. “The whole world is reacting to Jayden’s death. Like I said, it’s very tough. We can see the love the world had for his soccer and for Jayden.”

Before Saturday’s quarterfinal match between England and Norway, a moment of silence was observed in Adams’ honor.

South Africa’s minister of sports, arts and culture, Gayton McKenzie, released a statement paying tribute to the young player, particularly reflecting on Adams’ choice to compete so soon after his grandmother’s passing. “I shall carry forever the humble, appreciative response he gave me,” McKenzie said. “That he chose to wear the national jersey and give his all for his country in that moment speaks to a depth of character and professionalism well beyond his years, and it reflects the caliber of young man South Africa has lost.”

Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bryce Harper is pushing back against FanDuel after discovering the sportsbook used a video he recorded through Cameo as part of a VIP promotion — without his knowledge or approval.

In a statement shared on Instagram Monday, Harper made clear he never would have recorded the video if he had known FanDuel’s real intentions. “Had I known FanDuel’s true intent, I would not have made the video,” Harper wrote. “The same is true had I known anything about Terry or his situation, or about any alleged ‘partnership’ between Cameo and FanDuel.”

The customer at the center of the controversy, Terry Thompson, filed a lawsuit in March against FanDuel, his VIP host Bryttanni Morgan, DraftKings, the NFL, and the league’s official data distributor, Genius Sports. Thompson’s suit alleges the sportsbooks fueled his gambling addiction and caused him to lose roughly $2 million in wagers.

Harper said he received the Cameo request back in November 2024, asking him to read a script for what was described as a personal holiday video for someone named Terry. He even shared a screenshot of the original Cameo instructions in his Instagram post, which read: “Hey Terry, Your host Bryttanni from FanDuel wanted to make sure your Thanksgiving was extra special so I just wanted to hop on and wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving. Tell Max (son) I said hello.”

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the finished video featured Harper saying, “Hey, Terry? What’s up, brother? Hey, man, your host Bryttanni from FanDuel wanted to make sure your Thanksgiving was extra special.”

Harper noted in his statement that Cameo has a separate category specifically for business video requests, and he was unaware the message to Terry would be used for any commercial or promotional purpose.

“The request included a short script. I read it in good faith. FanDuel then put its own logo on the video and used it as a gambling promotion,” Harper wrote. “I did not know FanDuel would do this. I did not consent to it, and FanDuel had no right to do it.”

Under MLB rules, players are permitted to work with sportsbooks on promotions, provided those promotions do not encourage betting on baseball or involve the unauthorized use of a player’s name, number, image, or likeness.

Harper was direct about his relationship with the company: “I have no affiliation with FanDuel whatsoever.”

Thompson’s lawsuit also alleges that VIP host Morgan encouraged him to place larger bets by offering him gifts and special perks, including tickets and hotel accommodations for the Super Bowl.

In a previous statement to ESPN, FanDuel said its employees “are trained to recognize and flag signs of problem gambling and offer resources and tools,” adding that the company continues to review and strengthen its consumer protection policies.

Harper said he joined Cameo as a way to connect with fans through paid, personalized video messages — not to be used in gambling advertisements. “What happened here went beyond anything I knew about or approved,” he said.

Los Angeles Rams left tackle Alaric Jackson, who was taken into custody on June 9 on suspicion of felony domestic violence, now has a chance to sidestep formal criminal charges.

A spokesman for the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, Ivor Pine, confirmed to The Associated Press on Monday that Jackson’s case has been placed into a pre-filing diversion program for eligible individuals. This type of City Attorney Hearing serves as an alternative pathway rather than pursuing misdemeanor criminal prosecution.

While no charges are being filed against Jackson at this time, the case has not been closed. Authorities say it can be revisited if additional developments come to light.

When Jackson was arrested, the Los Angeles Police Department reported that officers responded to his home in the West Hills area of the San Fernando Valley. According to NBC4, Jackson allegedly tried to grab a phone from a woman because he believed he was being recorded, and the woman was found to have scratches on her arm.

Jackson has served as the Rams’ starting left tackle for the last three seasons, appearing in 45 regular-season games and six playoff contests. The former undrafted free agent signed a new three-year contract worth $57 million with the team back in February 2025.

Following the arrest, the Rams released a statement saying the organization was aware of the situation “and we take these matters very seriously. Due to this being an ongoing legal situation, we cannot comment further at this time.”

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper is pushing back after discovering that the online sportsbook FanDuel used a personal video he recorded through the Cameo app as a reward for a high-spending customer — without his knowledge or approval.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported last week that a man named Terry Thompson had placed $18.5 million in wagers with FanDuel and was eventually given a customized video from Harper as a VIP perk. In the recording, Harper called Thompson by name and even referenced his young son.

On Monday, Harper posted a screenshot of the original Cameo request on social media, making clear he had been kept in the dark about who was actually behind it.

“Had I known FanDuel’s true intent, I would not have made the video,” Harper stated. “The same is true had I known anything about Terry or his situation.”

The video itself carried FanDuel’s logo, and in it, Harper said he was reaching out at the request of Thompson’s VIP manager on the site — referring to “your host Bryttanni at FanDuel.”

Harper made his feelings even clearer in a social media post Monday, writing: “I did not know FanDuel would do this. I did not consent to it, and FanDuel had no right to do it.”

He posted those comments just hours before he was set to take part in the Home Run Derby.

According to the Inquirer, Thompson lost $1.5 million, a figure cited in a lawsuit filed in March by the Public Health Advocacy Institute in Common Pleas Court in Philadelphia. The suit names both FanDuel and DraftKings as defendants and was brought on Thompson’s behalf. Thompson is also reported to have lost money through DraftKings.

When asked to respond, FanDuel issued a statement saying the company is “committed to fostering a culture of responsible gaming and protecting our customers.”

“Unlike illegal offshore sportsbooks, FanDuel employees are trained to recognize and flag signs of problem gambling and offer resources and tools, and we continue to review and strengthen our policies to ensure we have the industry’s strongest consumer protection initiatives,” the company added.

Forward Peyton Krebs will stay in Buffalo after reaching an agreement on a four-year, $18 million contract with the Sabres on Monday — sidestepping an arbitration hearing that had been looming just one week after he filed for the process.

The 25-year-old is coming off the most productive season of his career, recording a personal-best 39 points — including 12 goals and 27 assists — while appearing in all 82 regular-season games. He also made his first NHL playoff appearance, chipping in six points (two goals and four assists) across 13 postseason contests.

Krebs had been a restricted free agent heading into the offseason and submitted his arbitration filing on July 5 before the two sides reached this agreement.

Originally selected 17th overall by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2019 NHL Draft, Krebs became a Sabre as part of the blockbuster November 2021 trade that sent star center Jack Eichel to Vegas. Over six NHL seasons split between the two franchises, Krebs has accumulated 133 points — 42 goals and 91 assists — in 378 games.

Los Angeles Rams starting left tackle Alaric Jackson is off the hook for felony charges stemming from a domestic battery arrest last June, according to a report from ESPN published Monday.

The Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office assigned Jackson’s case to a pre-filing diversion program last week — an alternative path that bypasses traditional misdemeanor criminal prosecution.

Despite avoiding criminal charges, the 27-year-old lineman could still face punishment from the NFL under the league’s personal conduct policy.

According to the police report, Los Angeles officers were called to Jackson’s home in the San Fernando Valley late on the night of June 8. NBC Los Angeles reported that the 6-foot-7, 340-pound Jackson got into a verbal dispute with a woman and allegedly tried to grab a phone from her hand after believing she was recording him. The woman was found to have scratch marks on her arm following the alleged incident.

Jackson was held on $50,000 bail before being released from the Van Nuys jail on bond.

On the field, Jackson serves as the blind-side protector for star quarterback Matthew Stafford. Before the 2025 season, he signed a three-year contract worth $56.3 million. He had previously played the 2024 season on a one-year deal after signing his restricted free agent tender the offseason prior.

Jackson has appeared in 57 career games, making 51 starts, since joining the Rams as an undrafted player out of Iowa in 2021. He was suspended two games by the NFL during the 2024 season for a prior violation of the league’s personal conduct policy.

Additionally, a woman filed a lawsuit against Jackson last November, alleging he recorded her without her knowledge during a sexual encounter, repeatedly refused to erase the footage, and used it to taunt her — a complaint she also brought to the NFL’s attention. A federal court ultimately dismissed that lawsuit in April.

When the National League and American League square off Tuesday at Philadelphia in the MLB All-Star Game, both managers have crafted their batting orders with one goal in mind: exploiting the opposing starting pitcher’s weaknesses.

National League skipper Dave Roberts, who manages the Los Angeles Dodgers, plans to send out as many as seven straight left-handed hitters to open the game against American League starter Dylan Cease, a right-hander from the Toronto Blue Jays.

On the other side, American League manager John Schneider — also of the Blue Jays — has loaded the top of his lineup with right-handed bats, placing them in four of the first five spots to face National League starter Cristopher Sanchez, a left-hander who pitches for the host Philadelphia Phillies.

With Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani sitting out due to a sore knee, Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber will lead off for the NL. Behind him: right fielder Juan Soto of the New York Mets, first baseman Freddie Freeman of the Dodgers, shortstop CJ Abrams of the Washington Nationals, third baseman Max Muncy of the Dodgers, switch-hitting second baseman Ozzie Albies of the Atlanta Braves, and left fielder Brandon Marsh of the Phillies. Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages and Braves catcher Drake Baldwin round out the National League’s starting nine.

In the American League lineup, Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout — a native of nearby Millville, N.J. — will bat leadoff. Left-handed designated hitter Yordan Alvarez of the Houston Astros hits second, followed by three consecutive right-handed bats: catcher Shea Langeliers of the Athletics, third baseman Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays, and shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals. The lineup is completed by right fielder Cody Bellinger and first baseman Ben Rice, both of the New York Yankees, left fielder Riley Greene of the Detroit Tigers, and second baseman Ernie Clement of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Sanchez makes history as the 14th pitcher ever to start an All-Star Game in his home ballpark, and the first to do so since the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw accomplished the feat in 2022.

Cease brings his own storyline into the game, having come within just three outs of a no-hitter last Wednesday in San Francisco. He becomes only the fourth Blue Jays pitcher to ever start an All-Star Game, joining Dave Stieb, who started in both 1983 and 1984, David Wells in 2000, and Hall of Famer Roy Halladay in 2009.

Argentina’s run to the World Cup semi-finals is drawing as much attention for refereeing disputes as it is for the team’s play on the field, with critics and former officials raising serious concerns about the fairness of officiating at the tournament.

The defending champions have faced repeated accusations from opponents who believe referee decisions have gone in Argentina’s favor, and social media users have taken to calling the team “VARgentina” — a nod to the video review system at the center of the controversy.

Things came to a head during Saturday’s quarter-final matchup between Argentina and Switzerland. Swiss forward Breel Embolo received a second yellow card for simulation — a call made possible through a VAR protocol — and was ejected from the game. Switzerland’s head coach Murat Yakin did not hold back, describing the rule as “unacceptable.”

Reuters has reached out to FIFA seeking comment on the controversy.

The protocol at issue relates to cases of mistaken identity and is one of several situations where VAR is permitted to step in under rules adopted for the 2026-27 season and the current World Cup. Critics say the largely untested rule has now been thrust into the spotlight at the biggest stage in soccer.

Christina Unkel, a rules analyst for British broadcaster ITV and a former FIFA referee, said the protocol was applied too broadly. “I don’t think it should have been applied in the first place. It was too broad,” she said.

Unkel went on to explain her deeper concern with how the rule is being used. “And where I’m struggling with it is we’re not just changing who gets the card, we’re changing the underlying decision from a free kick going this way to saying no, no, no, it’s actually a decision completely opposite way. So we’re changing the basis of the decision,” she said. “And to me, that is where we are now officially, I think, in the re-refereeing area that VAR has been fighting to try to stay out of.”

The fact that the ruling ended up helping Argentina only intensified the backlash from fans. Unkel described the situation as a ticking time bomb. “This new expansion of the protocol without testing it, without really knowing that that’s what they wanted it to do… it’s just like a powder keg,” she told Reuters. “I’m just waiting for the final lynchpin.”

The controversy did not begin with the quarter-final. During the group stage, Algeria called for Messi to be removed from the game after he appeared to step on the calf of their captain Aissa Mandi. No card was issued, and Messi went on to score three goals. Algeria later filed a formal complaint about the officiating in that match, according to a source who spoke with Reuters.

Argentina’s round of 16 victory over Egypt also generated days of controversy. Egypt scored in the 62nd minute, but the goal was overturned following a VAR review that determined a foul occurred during the buildup. A penalty appeal from Egypt later in the match was denied, and Argentina ultimately won the game with a goal in the 92nd minute. Egypt’s football association stated that multiple officiating decisions affected the result.

Unkel said she did not see clear evidence of poor refereeing in either of those two matches, though she acknowledged that referees are often the first to be blamed when things go wrong. She did note, however, that decisions made off the field have contributed to growing distrust among fans.

FIFA’s handling of two red-card cases drew additional criticism this month. U.S. striker Folarin Balogun received a last-minute reprieve from a one-match ban, while England defender Jarell Quansah was handed a two-match suspension — a contrast that raised eyebrows.

Unkel, who also serves as president of United Soccer League women’s side Tampa Bay Sun FC, said the level of public frustration she is witnessing is unlike anything she has seen before. “I think fan confidence is completely eroded right now,” she said. “I’ve covered major tournaments in this position and or as a referee and I have never seen the level of chatter — not just on social media.”

You don’t need a Super Bowl ring to be considered the best in the game — at least according to a panel of Associated Press pro football writers.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has claimed the top spot in the AP’s preseason survey ranking the NFL’s best quarterbacks heading into the 2026 season. It marks the first time in four years that someone other than Patrick Mahomes has held that distinction.

Allen, who took home the 2024 AP NFL Most Valuable Player award, collected five first-place votes from a panel of eight AP pro football writers. The scoring system awarded 10 points for a first-place vote, followed by 5, 3, 2, and 1 point for second through fifth place, respectively. Allen appeared on every single ballot, also picking up one second-place vote, one third-place vote, and one fourth-place vote.

Mahomes finished in second place, narrowly ahead of reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford. Lamar Jackson landed in fourth, while Joe Burrow rounded out the top five.

Despite another strong individual performance in 2025, Allen’s Bills saw their five-year run of AFC East division titles come to an end at the hands of New England. Buffalo was eliminated in the divisional round of the playoffs by Denver, a result that ultimately cost head coach Sean McDermott his position.

On the field, Allen threw for 3,668 yards with 25 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions, posting a 102.2 passer rating. He also contributed significantly on the ground, rushing for 579 yards and 14 touchdowns. He earned his fourth Pro Bowl selection and placed third in MVP voting. Allen and the Bills continue to search for their first Super Bowl trip since the 1993 season, despite reaching the playoffs in seven consecutive years.

Mahomes, meanwhile, endured the most difficult season of his NFL career, tearing his ACL in Week 15. Kansas City went 6-8 during the games he played and dropped all three contests without him. Even so, the three-time Super Bowl champion — who was the unanimous top choice in this survey in both 2023 and 2024 — still earned two first-place votes. Before going down with the injury, Mahomes threw for 3,587 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He is working toward being healthy for Week 1 as Kansas City looks to bounce back from its first losing season under head coach Andy Reid.

Stafford, in his 17th NFL season, had a career year — earning first-team All-Pro recognition for the first time and beating out Drake Maye for the MVP award. He received one first-place vote and two second-place votes in the preseason survey, appearing on all eight ballots. Stafford led the entire league with 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdown throws, adding just eight interceptions and a 109.2 passer rating — second only to Maye. His team finished 14-6, won two playoff games, and fell to Seattle in the conference championship.

Jackson, a three-time All-Pro and two-time league MVP, experienced a rough 2024 campaign — his first losing season as a starting quarterback, going 6-7 — as the Baltimore Ravens missed the postseason entirely. He threw for 2,549 yards, 21 touchdowns, and seven interceptions with a 103.8 passer rating, while also posting a career-low 349 rushing yards and two rushing scores. Jackson received two third-place votes and appeared on six of the eight ballots.

Burrow was limited to just eight games due to a toe injury, though he guided his team to a 5-3 record during that stretch. It was the third time in his career that injuries have held him to 10 or fewer games in a season. He threw for 1,809 yards with 17 touchdowns and five interceptions, finishing with a 100.7 passer rating. The three-time Pro Bowl quarterback appeared on five ballots with one third-place vote. Burrow had previously won the AP Comeback Player of the Year award on two separate occasions after returning from injury-shortened seasons.

The Athletics made a coaching change Monday, parting ways with pitching coach Scott Emerson as the struggling club heads into the All-Star break on a sour note.

The team announced that bullpen coach Dan Hubbs will take over as interim pitching coach for the remainder of the season.

The move comes after a 9-1 defeat at the hands of the Chicago White Sox on Sunday, which extended the Athletics’ losing streak to nine consecutive games. The team’s pitching staff has posted a 5.21 ERA this season, ranking second-worst in all of Major League Baseball — only Colorado’s 5.44 ERA is higher.

The Athletics currently sit at 41-55, placing them fourth in the AL West standings.

Emerson first came aboard with the Athletics back in 2014 as bullpen coach before being elevated to the pitching coach role in 2017.

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski is expected to take part in a throwing session on Tuesday as he works to recover from arm fatigue, according to a report from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The right-hander had recently been selected to the National League All-Star team for the second time in his career, but was unable to participate in the showcase event held Tuesday in Philadelphia. Concerns deepened when he was pulled from a scheduled Sunday start against Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes.

According to the report, Misiorowski will also sit out Milwaukee’s upcoming home series against the Miami Marlins this weekend. The Brewers are slated to face the New York Mets in their next series, which gets underway the following Monday.

Misiorowski spoke candidly about what he’s been experiencing. “Fatigue would be the best word,” he told reporters over the weekend after his scratching was announced. “Nothing crazy. Just didn’t bounce back. A little quick on the days off between but nothing crazy.”

Despite the current health concern, Misiorowski has put together a remarkable season and is firmly in the conversation for the National League Cy Young Award. He has posted a 10-4 record with a 1.62 ERA across 18 starts this year — already surpassing the 15 appearances he made during his breakout 2024 campaign, when he dazzled fans with a fastball topping 100 miles per hour.

The hard-throwing pitcher has now logged 111 innings this season, quickly closing in on the combined 129 and one-third innings he pitched across both the minor and major leagues last year.

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber will bat first for the National League when the MLB All-Star Game kicks off Tuesday night, stepping into the leadoff spot vacated by Shohei Ohtani. The two-way star is sitting out the midsummer showcase to undergo a knee procedure before the season resumes.

On the American League side, several lineup adjustments were also necessary due to injuries. Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene and New York Yankees players Ben Rice and Cody Bellinger all earned starting spots as replacements.

Rice, a first baseman who ranks third in the major leagues with 29 home runs — trailing only Schwarber’s 32 and the Houston Astros’ Yordan Alvarez’s 31 — gets the starting nod after Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. chose to sit out the game to rest a sore back. The original replacement for Guerrero, the Athletics’ Nick Kurtz, then sprained a thumb, paving the way for Rice.

Bellinger stepped in for Yankees teammate Aaron Judge, who has been out of action since May 31 with a fractured rib. Greene replaced Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton, who is dealing with a hip injury. Bellinger will play right field while Greene takes left field.

Philadelphia left-hander Cristopher Sánchez and Toronto right-hander Dylan Cease were named as the starting pitchers for their respective leagues on Sunday.

Despite Ohtani’s absence, NL manager Dave Roberts of the two-time champion Dodgers still has three of his own players in the starting lineup, joined by two Phillies and two Braves.

The NL batting order behind Schwarber features New York Mets left fielder Juan Soto hitting second, followed by Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, Washington shortstop CJ Abrams, Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy, Atlanta second baseman Ozzie Albies, Phillies right fielder Brandon Marsh, Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages, and Braves catcher Drake Baldwin.

AL skipper John Schneider of the Toronto Blue Jays has Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout leading off, with Alvarez batting second as the designated hitter. The rest of the lineup includes Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers, Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero, Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., Bellinger, Rice, Greene, and Blue Jays second baseman Ernie Clement.

Sánchez will become the 14th pitcher in history to start an All-Star Game at his home ballpark, the first to do so since the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw accomplished the feat in 2022. He will also be the first Phillies pitcher to start an All-Star Game since the late Roy Halladay did so in 2011.

As for Cease, his start will make him the first Blue Jays pitcher to open an All-Star Game since Halladay took the ball for Toronto back in 2009.

Louis Oosthuizen, who once claimed the Claret Jug as Open Championship winner, announced Monday that a back injury will keep him out of this year’s competition.

The 43-year-old South African currently plays on the LIV Golf circuit. He captured his Open title at St Andrews, Scotland, back in 2010 — the only Grand Slam victory of his career.

Beyond missing The Open, Oosthuizen revealed he will also be sidelined for the LIV Golf United Kingdom event in Rocester, England, scheduled to get underway on July 23.

Taking to social media, Oosthuizen expressed his frustration over the dual absences. “It’s incredibly disappointing to miss two events I always look forward to, but my priority now is to focus on my recovery and make sure I’m fully fit before returning to competition,” he wrote.

He added: “Thank you to everyone for the support and kind messages. I’ll be backing the Southern Guards from afar and look forward to being back out there as soon as I can.”

With Oosthuizen out, fellow South African Aldrich Potgieter steps in as the first alternate for the 154th Open Championship, which tees off Thursday at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England.

While Oosthuizen’s 2010 Open title remains his only major championship win, he has come agonizingly close on multiple other occasions. He has finished as runner-up in six major tournaments — the Masters in 2012, the PGA Championship in 2017 and 2021, the U.S. Open in 2015 and 2021, and The Open in 2015.

Atlanta United have bolstered their defensive ranks by signing Paraguayan international Junior Alonso on a free transfer, locking him in through the 2028-29 season. The 33-year-old defender comes to the club after spending the last two years with Brazil’s Atletico Mineiro.

Alonso made headlines this summer when he was part of the Paraguay squad that advanced to the round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Atlanta’s chief soccer officer and sporting director Chris Henderson expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition. “Junior is a hard-working defender who will help add solidity and stability to our backline,” Henderson said. “He’s a natural leader, reads the game very well, and brings great experience from South America and Europe at the club and international level, recently representing Paraguay at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. We’re excited to welcome him to Atlanta.”

Over the course of his career, Alonso has appeared in 422 matches across all competitions, recording nine goals and 15 assists. He has played in top-tier leagues in Paraguay, France, Spain, Argentina, Brazil, and Russia. At the international level, he has earned 76 caps for Paraguay, contributing three goals and three assists.

Atlanta United are set to resume their season on Friday night when they travel to face Nashville SC, returning from the World Cup break.

The Houston Astros have reversed a recent minor league assignment for pitcher Mike Burrows and instead placed the right-hander on the 15-day injured list due to right elbow neuritis.

The roster move is backdated to last Tuesday, the same day Burrows was originally sent down — one day after he gave up 10 runs, seven of which were earned, in just over four innings against the Washington Nationals. Houston had initially assigned him to Triple-A Sugar Land, but that placement was voided once the elbow problem was identified.

The team has not provided any indication of when Burrows might be ready to return to action.

The 26-year-old has had a difficult debut season in Houston, posting a 4-9 record with a 5.99 ERA through 18 appearances, including 17 starts, while giving up 21 home runs. The Astros acquired Burrows from the Pittsburgh Pirates in a three-team trade during the offseason and had recently shifted him to a bullpen role.

This marks the second roster adjustment Houston has made since the All-Star break began. The team also optioned right-hander Alimber Santa to Triple-A following Sunday’s 6-5 defeat to the Texas Rangers. The 23-year-old Santa posted a 0-1 record with a 1.17 ERA across 10 relief appearances.

Additionally, the Astros moved left-hander Bennett Sousa’s rehab assignment to the team’s Florida Complex League affiliate. Sousa remains on the injured list with elbow inflammation.

DALLAS, Texas — When Spain steps onto the pitch Tuesday for their World Cup semi-final showdown against France, they won’t be sitting back and bracing for impact. Instead, their strategy is built around controlling the ball, setting the tempo, and forcing France to play defense.

Winger Alex Baena acknowledged that France’s attacking lineup — featuring Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele, and either Desire Doue or Bradley Barcola — is one of the most dangerous in the tournament. But he made clear that Spain has no intention of playing scared.

“The four up front are having a great tournament and we will have to keep an eye on them. But we will try to make them watch us more than we watch them,” Baena told reporters Monday.

“Our strength is having the ball, having a lot of possession to attack and to make sure they attack us as little as possible. Hopefully, tomorrow it will be like that too,” he added.

That philosophy mirrors how Spain handled France in both the European Championship and Nations League semi-finals — two matches Spain won. But Baena cautioned against leaning too heavily on past results.

“It is true that we come from two matches in which we beat them, and that suited us, but every match is a world of its own,” he said. “They are having a spectacular tournament.”

Behind the tactical talk is another storyline: Spain’s travel schedule heading into this semi-final has been far more demanding than France’s. While France based themselves in Boston throughout the tournament and are playing their first match outside the Eastern Time zone, Spain set up camp in Chattanooga, Tennessee during the group stage — a city that hosted no World Cup games — and was forced to travel across three different time zones for their matches. In total, Spain has covered roughly 16,000 kilometers more than France.

Full back Pedro Porro tried to brush off any concerns about exhaustion.

“From the outside you see it, but in our day-to-day life we travel up and down and we don’t see the kilometers we do,” Porro said. “We have been able to recover for this match.”

Baena was more candid about the wear and tear.

“It is true that we are a little tired from so much travel,” he said. “We have travelled much more and done more kilometers than them and, in the end, when you get close to the end, you notice it a bit.”

Still, Baena said the team’s energy and motivation remain high heading into one of the biggest matches of the tournament.

“But I think we are all fine, with a lot of excitement and a lot of desire. It is respect for one of the best teams in the tournament and in the world,” he said. “We hope it will be a very, very even match and that it will be decided by small details.”

English golfer Joe Dean, currently ranked 268th in the world, punched his ticket to the 154th Open Championship on Monday by winning the first-ever Last Chance Qualifier.

The 32-year-old, who competes on the DP World Tour, posted a 2-under-par round of 68 at Royal Birkdale Golf Club to claim the last available spot in the 156-player field set to compete in Southport, England.

“Any opportunity to get in The Open again, I’ll gladly turn up and play,” Dean said. “One-day events, I seem to play better. I don’t quite know why, the mentality of trying to keep the same throughout any round and every round.”

Among the 12 competitors in the qualifier, fellow Englishman Andrew Wilson finished as runner-up at 1-under par, while South Africa’s Aldrich Potgieter came in third at even par.

Dean seized the lead with an eagle on the par-5 14th hole after his approach shot from 250 yards out settled just 3 feet from the pin.

“(I) just probably hit the best 6-iron I’ve ever hit,” Dean said. “Fortunately, (the) wind caught it and it bounced pretty good. We didn’t hear anything from the grandstands, but I don’t know if we were too far away to hear anything.”

Potgieter had a chance to force a playoff with a birdie on the 18th hole, but his approach landed in a greenside bunker and he walked away with a bogey instead.

This will mark Dean’s third appearance at The Open. He previously finished tied for 70th at Royal Birkdale in 2017 and tied for 25th at Royal Troon in Scotland in 2024.

NEW YORK — A highly anticipated Jay-Z concert at Yankee Stadium turned chaotic Sunday night when hundreds of fans who did not have tickets attempted to push their way into the venue, causing entrances to be shut down and delaying the show for hours.

The rapper ultimately took the stage at 12:17 a.m. Monday morning, telling the audience that the lengthy wait was due to people attempting to rush the doors. He said he refused to begin performing while there was a risk of fans being trampled as they tried to get inside.

“Really sorry for the inconvenience, but I had to make sure everybody was OK,” Jay-Z told the crowd. He went on to thank attendees for their patience and assured them they would have a “good time tonight.”

In a joint statement, the Yankees, Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, and Live Nation described the situation as groups of hundreds of people without tickets who “stormed over peaceful ticketholders, and in some cases, breached security.” As a result, the stadium was forced to close its entrances for an extended period before being able to carefully reopen them.

Video footage captured outside the stadium showed a massive crowd gathered near one of the entrances. Separate video from inside the venue showed individuals rushing through an open door before security personnel were able to step in and prevent more people from entering.

A spokesperson for the New York Police Department stated that there was no information available regarding any arrests connected to the incident.

Lagerald Vick, a former guard for the University of Kansas basketball program, is now facing a charge of attempted first-degree murder stemming from a shooting that took place in Memphis, Tennessee on July 4.

Vick, who is 29 years old, played for the Jayhawks from 2015 through 2019 and was a starter on coach Bill Self’s squad that reached the Final Four in 2018.

Authorities arrested Vick in Memphis on Saturday in connection with the Fourth of July shooting. He was additionally charged with using a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony.

Arrest documents obtained by ESPN reveal that a shooting victim, who was hospitalized after being struck by a bullet in the back, told officers he attempted to flee following a confrontation after noticing the other individual was carrying a weapon. That victim later picked Vick out of a photo lineup as the person who allegedly shot him.

A judge set Vick’s bail at $1.5 million. He was scheduled to appear for arraignment on Monday. This is not Vick’s only legal trouble — he is also currently facing two separate felony counts from an earlier incident this year, accused of theft and breaking into the home of a former girlfriend.

During his college career, Vick appeared in 117 games for Kansas, starting 61 of them. He averaged 9.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. His best offensive season came during his senior year in 2018-19, when he averaged a career-high 14.1 points per game.

After going undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft, Vick pursued a professional playing career overseas and in other international leagues, suiting up in Taiwan, Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, Uruguay, and New Zealand between 2019 and 2024.

ESPN also reports that during his freshman year in Lawrence, Kansas, Vick was the subject of a Title IX investigation after he allegedly struck a female student.

Matt Fitzpatrick arrived at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport this week riding a wave of success heading into The Open Championship, held in his home country of England. But beyond his impressive play on the course, the 31-year-old also had something important to say about how gambling is changing the way fans treat professional athletes.

Speaking with reporters on Monday, Fitzpatrick addressed the growing problem of gambling-related harassment that athletes across all sports are experiencing. “It’s a great question because you just look at all the messages people get — footballers, tennis players, you name it, everyone’s getting messages of, ‘Oh, you missed that penalty; you cost me this. Oh, you didn’t make a birdie; cost me this,’” he said.

Fitzpatrick made clear that golfers are no exception. “I’ve had my fair share. I would say every golfer that’s played a professional tournament has had a message of abuse from someone that is related to gambling. I mean, you could see it this week. You go and type in a player’s name who maybe isn’t playing well, maybe someone who’s favored to play well, you type the name into Twitter and you’ll just see their name followed by abuse after abuse after abuse,” he said.

On the course, Fitzpatrick enters the 154th Open as one of the most in-form players in the game, currently ranked No. 3 in the world after three victories this season on the PGA Tour. He tied for third place at the Genesis Scottish Open just last Sunday.

“Hopefully I’ve not peaked yet obviously, but I just think I’m doing a lot of good stuff this year. Short game’s been really, really good, and so has my irons,” he said. “That’s a first for me. My irons have never really been a strength. I’ve had good seasons but never really taken advantage of that, I don’t feel like; whereas now I feel like I’ve got that.”

Fitzpatrick, who claimed the U.S. Open title in 2022, is also looking to top his best performance at The Open, where he finished tied for fourth last year at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland.

When it comes to gambling personally, Fitzpatrick said he does not “condone gambling in the slightest … it’s not really for me,” though he acknowledged placing small friendly bets on England during the World Cup with friends.

“I’ve had 20 quid on England to win the World Cup, but at the same time, if it doesn’t come in, I’m not going to send a message to Harry Kane and be like, why did you play rubbish? There’s obviously individuals that have that problem,” he said.

He also raised concerns about how easily gambling could be manipulated during a golf round. “For me, it’s definitely becoming a problem and the issue is, particularly in golf, it would be very easy to influence a bet, whether it’s you’re shouting on someone’s backswing, shouting on a putting stroke. It’s really easy. Obviously that is really hard to monitor, but it is definitely an issue,” he said.

Fitzpatrick said he generally avoids social media but is well aware of the hostility that exists there. “You just search my name, Tommy’s (Fleetwood) name, anyone’s name, and you will find just tweet after tweet just straight abuse. It’s not right. I’m not going into someone’s office or in their e-mails abusing them. I would say a lot of it comes down to the gambling,” he said. “But when you’re getting personally attacked, it’s just ridiculous.”

It’s not often that division-leading teams find themselves with the top selections in baseball’s amateur draft — but that’s exactly where the Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays landed this past weekend.

Chicago used the first overall pick to select shortstop Roch Cholowsky out of UCLA, while Tampa Bay grabbed shortstop Grady Emerson right behind him at No. 2. Both franchises are currently sitting in first place in their respective divisions.

Unlike other professional sports drafts, baseball holds its draft in the middle of the ongoing season rather than the offseason. That timing means teams that struggled the year before can sometimes rebound dramatically by the time draft day arrives. The White Sox dropped 102 games last season and the Rays lost 85 — yet both clubs have turned things around and are now legitimate contenders while also securing potentially valuable young talent for the future.

A look back at a few clubs that won 90 or more games in the same year they held the top draft pick:

2008 Rays (97-65)
That season marked Tampa Bay’s fourth No. 1 selection in a decade, and the Rays haven’t held that spot since. The 2008 campaign ended with a World Series appearance, signaling the start of a much more successful era for the franchise. However, the Rays didn’t fully capitalize on that final top pick — they chose infielder Tim Beckham while Eric Hosmer and Buster Posey were selected later in the top five.

2024 Guardians (92-69)
Cleveland won the draft lottery and then went on to claim the AL Central title. Their top selection, Travis Bazzana, has already made his major league debut earlier this season.

1984 Mets (90-72)
New York began building toward its mid-1980s dynasty that year, finishing 6.5 games behind first place in the NL East while Dwight Gooden earned Rookie of the Year honors. The Mets would win a World Series two years later, though their 1984 draft pick — outfielder Shawn Abner — never actually suited up for them.

1977 White Sox (90-72)
Chicago jumped from 64 wins to 90 that year, though the surge didn’t last long. Still, the White Sox landed a future Hall of Famer in that draft: Harold Baines, who went on to play more than 20 years in the majors and was part of division championship teams in Chicago in both 1983 and 2000.

Cholowsky’s selection made him the first UCLA player to go first overall since Gerrit Cole in 2011. Interestingly, another UCLA product drafted in the first round has accumulated even more career wins above replacement than Cole — that player was Chase Utley, taken 15th overall in 2000, who compiled a 64.6 WAR according to Baseball Reference.

In other baseball news, the New York Mets squandered a big lead against Kansas City on Tuesday night. After Juan Soto’s three-run homer in the bottom of the fourth gave the Mets a 9-4 advantage — and a 94.2% win probability according to Baseball Savant — the Royals rallied with five runs in the fifth inning and seven more in the seventh to claim a stunning 16-12 victory.

The Mets’ rough stretch continued Sunday when they blew a two-run lead in the ninth inning and fell to Boston 3-2 in ten innings. The rival Yankees, meanwhile, swept three straight games in Washington by coming from behind in the eighth inning or later in each contest.

Toronto’s Dylan Cease nearly threw a no-hitter Wednesday, carrying the bid into the ninth inning of a 10-0 win over San Francisco. He finished allowing just one hit over eight-plus innings while striking out 11 batters.

Kansas City’s Tyler Tolbert had a standout performance in that comeback win over the Mets, going 5-for-6 with a home run. In doing so, he tied a major league record by recording hits in 12 consecutive plate appearances.

The speed of the modern baseball fastball just keeps climbing — and those who played the game years ago say they barely recognize what pitching looks like today.

As the league heads into its All-Star break, four-seam fastball velocity is on pace to break the record for the sixth year running. Through Saturday, pitchers were averaging 94.7 mph on their four-seamers, compared to 94.5 mph last season, 93.7 mph in 2021, and just 91.9 mph back in 2008 when Major League Baseball first began tracking pitch speed. The first-half average for 2025 came in at 94.4 mph, meaning the final number could tick even higher.

Boston Red Sox manager Chad Tracy, who last appeared in a big league game 13 years ago, described just how dramatically things have shifted. “You watch a Triple-A game, most everybody that’s coming out of the bullpen left-handed or right-handed is throwing 95-plus,” he said. “Back in the day, it was you’d get a lead and you’d get to the lower part of a bullpen and you’d see some guys coming out throwing 88.”

New York Mets infielder Marcus Semien, a three-time All-Star who broke into the majors in 2013 when four-seamers averaged 92.7 mph, says expectations among hitters have completely shifted. “Definitely expecting anybody you’ve never heard of to throw a 95-plus,” he said. “Before you’d know who the guys were who were throwing 98. Now, you just expect that this new guy is probably throwing 98. So that shows how everybody’s trained.”

To put the change in cultural context: the 2001 Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Proof” by David Auburn described a piece of elegant mathematical work as being like “a 95-mile-an-hour fastball.” That comparison no longer carries the same weight — 95 mph is now considered routine.

Right-handed pitchers are throwing at an average of 95.2 mph in 2026, up from 95.0 mph a year ago. Right-handed relievers are even harder to handle, averaging 95.6 mph. Even at the Triple-A level, the average has risen to 93.6 mph, up from 92.7 mph when tracking began at that level in 2022.

Athletics pitcher Hogan Harris has experienced the velocity revolution firsthand, watching his own four-seam average climb from 92.6 mph as a rookie in 2023 to 95.0 mph this season. He credits improved understanding of how the body works. “People are learning the biomechanics of the body a lot better and it’s easier to figure out why people are throwing hard,” he said. “There’s so many young kids throwing hard now and then you see a lot younger people in the big leagues, so my thought is they see a guy that’s throwing 100 when he’s 22 and, boy, he’s not going to throw 100 when it’s 30, so let’s get in there now.”

Six pitchers currently average 100 mph or more on their four-seamers. Leading the pack are two relievers: the Athletics’ Mason Miller at 101.3 mph and the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Edgardo Henriquez at 100.6 mph. Milwaukee starter Jacob Misiorowski, just 24 years old, is averaging 100.5 mph — up from 99.3 mph during his rookie campaign last year — and has thrown a major league-best 670 pitches at or above 100 mph. The Brewers held him out of his scheduled Sunday start due to arm fatigue.

Along with rising speeds, pitchers are also changing what they throw. Four-seamers now make up just 30.4% of all pitches, down from 31.8% last season and 35.8% in 2019. Sinkers have grown from 15.5% to 16.6% of pitches, cutters from 7.5% to 7.8%, and offspeed offerings from 13.6% to 14.3%.

New York Mets interim manager Andy Green, whose last significant playing time came in 2006, said the challenge facing today’s hitters goes beyond just raw speed. “It is exponentially harder to hit and I hit .200 in my career, so that should show you how well I would do in the game today,” he said. “The thing that I think gets me when I watch games is it’s not just one fastball anymore. It’s easy for us that played a couple of decades ago to malign the offensive players for not hitting from a batting average perspective what used to be hit, but there’s so much to contend with, so much information, so much awareness of what hitter handles what fastball shape. The game’s gotten harder, there’s no doubt about it.”

Despite the challenges, big league batters are hitting a collective .244 this season, just a hair below last year’s .245 mark and above the .243 average from 2024.

Chicago Cubs star Alex Bregman offered a straightforward take on surviving in today’s pitching environment: “At the end of the day, us as hitters have to find a good pitch to hit and put a good swing on it.”

Blaney Battles Through Overtime for NASCAR Win in Atlanta

Ryan Blaney claimed a commanding victory at the NASCAR Cup Series race in Atlanta after surviving a dramatic three-wide showdown on the final lap of overtime. Blaney, driving a Team Penske Ford, led from the pole and swept every stage of the race — but still had to hold off hard charges from Bubba Wallace and Christopher Hill, who crossed the line in second, to seal the win. Carson Hocevar and Ty Gibbs finished third and fourth, respectively. Wallace was later penalized for passing below the double yellow lines, dropping him from second all the way to 29th in the final results. The race had been delayed for three hours and nine minutes due to rain and lightning.

World Cup Semifinals Feature Four Champions and a Historic Rivalry

The World Cup semifinals are shaping up to be one of the most compelling in tournament history. France, Spain, England, and Argentina — all former champions and the top four ranked teams in the world — are each just two wins away from claiming the title again. It marks the first time since 1990 that every team remaining in the final four has previously won the World Cup. England and Argentina, two nations with one of soccer’s most intense rivalries, will clash on Wednesday. Before that, Kylian Mbappé’s France faces Lamine Yamal’s Spain in Tuesday’s first semifinal.

Sinner’s Wimbledon Win Shows Expanding Game

Jannik Sinner’s victory over Alexander Zverev at Wimbledon highlighted a new dimension to his already impressive skill set. His co-coach Darren Cahill noted that the win featured “a lot of the stuff he doesn’t normally like doing” — including “sliced backhands, a couple lobs, couple drop shots. Really stepping up when he needed to in the big moments.” The title was Sinner’s fifth Grand Slam, closing the gap slightly on Carlos Alcaraz, who has seven. Coaches say Sinner’s continued evolution mirrors the development paths of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.

New World Cup Rules Spark Controversy

A series of contentious calls at the World Cup has drawn attention to newly implemented rules and officiating technology. The most recent flashpoint came during Saturday’s quarterfinal between Switzerland and Argentina, when Swiss player Breel Embolo was sent off under a new rule known as the “mistaken identity” law. The call, made from a review room using television replays rather than anything that happened on the field, left many fans confused. It was not the first time teams at this tournament have raised objections to new regulations or technology.

South African World Cup Player Jayden Adams Found Dead

Police in Cape Town, South Africa are investigating the death of soccer player Jayden Adams, who was 25 years old. Adams was found dead at a property in Cape Town on Saturday, just weeks after representing South Africa at the World Cup. No cause of death has been announced. His passing came only two weeks after he helped South Africa reach the knockout round of a World Cup for the first time in the country’s history. Adams appeared in all three of his nation’s group stage matches but did not play in their round of 32 loss to Canada. His father told reporters the family is still awaiting autopsy results.

Sánchez and Cease Named All-Star Game Starters

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sánchez will take the mound for the National League in Tuesday night’s MLB All-Star Game, played at his home ballpark. He’ll face American League starter Dylan Cease of the Toronto Blue Jays. The NL is managed by Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who confirmed Sánchez as his pick. On the AL side, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone initially said pitcher Cam Schlittler would not appear in the game — only to reverse course hours later, saying Schlittler could potentially be available after all.

Flewelling Shines as AL Wins All-Star Futures Game

Tampa Bay Rays prospect Nathan Flewelling hit a two-run home run and was named MVP as the American League defeated the National League 6-1 in the All-Star Futures Game in Philadelphia. The 19-year-old catcher is ranked as the second-best prospect in Tampa Bay’s organization. He and fellow Rays prospect Theo Gillen combined for three RBIs in the win. Phillies minor leaguer Gage Wood started for the National League, giving up one run in one inning. Former Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino managed the NL squad, while Larry Bowa led the AL side. Historically, 86.8 percent of Futures Game participants have gone on to appear in at least one major league game.

Zverev Vows to Challenge Tennis Elite After Wimbledon Final Run

Alexander Zverev says he is tired of being seen as “the third guy” in tennis and believes his run to the Wimbledon final — following his French Open championship — puts him closer than ever to the top of the sport. Despite falling to Jannik Sinner in the final on Centre Court Sunday, Zverev expressed optimism about his future against the game’s best. “I think I’ve been pushing those guys,” he said, adding that this was the first time in his career he genuinely believed he could win Wimbledon.

Royal Birkdale Presents New Challenges for British Open

Players arriving at Royal Birkdale ahead of the British Open are finding a course that looks and plays quite differently from the last time the venue hosted the tournament in 2017. Golfer Peter Uihlein was among those getting in practice Sunday and was caught off guard by a brand-new 241-yard 15th hole. Other changes include shifted fairways and a redesigned fifth hole. Beyond the layout adjustments, the hot and dry conditions have left the links turf yellowed and parched — a factor that could significantly shape how the final major of the year unfolds.

LONDON (AP) — Over the course of the two-week Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Associated Press photographers captured thousands of images from one of the sport’s most celebrated events.

Each photographer covering the tournament was invited to choose a handful of their personal favorites, resulting in a curated collection of standout moments from the competition.

The photo gallery was assembled by AP photographers Brian Inganga, Kin Cheung, Kirsty Wigglesworth, and Maja Smiejkowska, with contributions from photo editor Eloy Martin.

The Cincinnati Reds have landed starting pitcher Nick Lodolo back on the injured list, this time for 15 days, after a blister on his left index finger forced him out of Saturday’s game against the visiting Chicago Cubs.

To fill his roster spot, the team called up 23-year-old rookie right-hander Chase Petty from Triple-A Louisville.

Blisters on that same finger have been a persistent problem for Lodolo. He was already on the injured list to start this season after a blister developed on March 22, and Saturday marked just his 12th start since returning. He was pulled from that outing after giving up a leadoff home run to Carson Kelly in the sixth inning.

Before exiting, the 28-year-old southpaw had allowed two runs on five hits, walked three, and struck out four batters over five-plus innings. Lodolo said he noticed something was off while warming up before the sixth inning, though he didn’t spot the blister on his finger until after Kelly’s home run cleared the fences.

On the season, Lodolo carries a 3-2 record with a 4.60 ERA, 27 walks, and 50 strikeouts across 62 2/3 innings in those 12 outings.

Looking at his career numbers, Lodolo is 27-24 with one save and a 4.13 ERA, totaling 144 walks and 506 strikeouts over 472 1/3 innings in 88 regular-season appearances — 87 of them starts — since breaking into the majors in 2022. Blister-related injured list stints have also occurred in 2024 and 2025, and he missed time as a minor leaguer in 2021. The Reds originally selected him in the first round, seventh overall, in the 2019 MLB Draft out of TCU.

Lodolo is actively looking for ways to prevent the blisters from recurring, including possibly adjusting the grip on his breaking ball. Reds manager Terry Francona said the organization is working through options alongside him, but cautioned against rushing into any changes.

“Nick even mentioned it last night talking to him. Saying that, you really got to think it through,” Francona said. “Because for me to sit here in my chair and say, ‘Well, just move your finger over to the side.’”

“The kid’s been pitching like this his whole life. I agree the blister is not good. If you hurt your shoulder (changing grips), there’s got to be some pulling back on the reins a little bit and not jumping in until you know something can really help,” Francona added.

As for Petty, the young right-hander has appeared in 11 games for Cincinnati this season — including two starts — posting a 1-2 record with one save, a 4.38 ERA, seven walks, and 11 strikeouts over 24 2/3 innings. Minnesota originally drafted him in the first round, 26th overall, in 2021 before trading him to Cincinnati in March 2022 in exchange for right-hander Sonny Gray and minor league pitcher Francis Peguero. Since making his major league debut in 2025, Petty holds a career mark of 1-5 with one save and a 7.34 ERA across 30 2/3 innings in 14 games.

The Edmonton Oilers made their move on Sunday, signing restricted free agent forward Colton Dach to a two-year contract worth $2.4 million.

Before joining Edmonton, the 23-year-old spent the majority of last season with the Chicago Blackhawks, putting up nine points — three goals and six assists — along with a minus-15 rating, 47 penalty minutes, 27 blocked shots, and 189 hits across 53 games. His time in Chicago came to an end on March 4, when he and forward Jason Dickinson were dealt to the Oilers in exchange for forward Andrew Mangiapane and a conditional first-round draft pick in 2027.

Once in Edmonton, Dach appeared in eight regular-season games and contributed four points — two goals and two assists — with a zero rating, five penalty minutes, two blocked shots, and 30 hits.

When the playoffs arrived, the 6-foot-4, 218-pound forward added one assist, four penalty minutes, one blocked shot, and 23 hits over five postseason games with the Oilers.

Combining his totals from both teams, Dach’s 219 hits on the season placed him 14th in the entire league — a notable achievement considering he played just 61 games, the fewest among any player ranked in the top 17 on that list.

Chicago originally selected Dach in the second round of the 2021 NHL Draft. Over his career, spanning time with the Blackhawks from 2024 to 2026 and the Oilers in 2026, he has accumulated 20 points — seven goals and 13 assists — along with a minus-18 rating, 69 penalty minutes, 41 blocked shots, and 305 hits in 86 regular-season games.

Baltimore Orioles utility player Blaze Alexander is dealing with a fractured left hand after being struck by a pitch during Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Royals, according to Orioles manager Craig Albernaz.

The incident took place in the seventh inning when Alexander was hit by a 95-mph fastball thrown by Royals right-hander Lucas Erceg. The pitch — the seventh of the at-bat — prompted both teams’ benches to clear. Erceg said after the game that hitting Alexander was not intentional.

Medical imaging confirmed a non-displaced fracture in Alexander’s hand. The 27-year-old is scheduled to meet with a doctor during the All-Star break this week, Albernaz said.

“You know it hurts, but he has a good attitude about it,” Albernaz said. “Blaze will be around and see where he’s at rehab-wise and go from there.”

No timeline has been established for Alexander’s return. Albernaz described the loss of the player as “definitely a gut punch.” Alexander was not available to speak with reporters following the game.

Before the injury, Alexander had a strong afternoon at the plate, going 2-for-2 with two runs scored and a walk while playing third base. The performance pushed his batting average to a team-best .312, with a .368 on-base percentage and a .439 slugging percentage. He has tallied four home runs and 29 RBIs across 82 games this season.

Originally drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 11th round of the 2018 MLB Draft, Alexander was acquired by Baltimore in February in exchange for rookie right-hander Kade Strowd and two minor league players.

Alexander has proven to be one of the team’s most versatile players this season, starting at third base 34 times, second base 11 times, shortstop seven times, center field six times, left field four times, and right field twice.

When France and Spain square off Tuesday for a spot in the World Cup final, one notable chapter will come to a close — the life of the Dallas Stadium pitch.

The playing surface, which took five years of research to develop and perfect, will be torn apart once the match concludes and one of the two teams heads to New York to prepare for the championship game.

“What we’re doing here is hosting the biggest football tournament in the world, these are the best players in the world so we want to provide the best surfaces for them,” said Ian Craig, FIFA’s pitch manager for Dallas Stadium.

Creating a consistent playing experience across all 16 World Cup venues — plus training sites for the first-ever 48-team tournament — required turf scientists and groundskeepers to collaborate with the University of Tennessee, Michigan State University, and FIFA’s pitch management team. Their goal was to standardize how the ball rolls and bounces on every surface.

“It’s not just about having green grass. We have to make sure that these pitches play the way that these elite-level players are used to, which is obviously where years of research and hard work have gone into,” Craig explained.

Dallas presented a particularly tough challenge as one of three indoor venues in the tournament. The lack of natural sunlight and the constant use of air conditioning meant that grass native to Texas simply wouldn’t survive. Instead, a variety capable of tolerating cooler temperatures was brought in from Colorado.

To keep the grass alive on non-match days, grow lamps have been hung from the stadium’s roof and repositioned as needed. The entire pitch sits four-and-a-half feet above the artificial turf the Dallas Cowboys normally play on.

“We’re standing four-and-a-half feet above where the NFL field is, just in order to fit this within the stadium, but we have a full soil profile in there,” Craig said. “This is a full football pitch. This isn’t just a temporary installation. This is typical of what would be underneath a standard playing surface. We also have the hybrid elements, so it’s typical of what you would see at the elite level in Europe.”

After hosting nine matches over the course of more than four weeks, the pitch has served its purpose. Craig and his crew will begin tearing it down as soon as the semifinal wraps up.

“This is a very, very busy stadium,” Craig noted. “It has a lot of events, so this pitch has done what it was here to do, and it’s then on to concerts and the NFL again.”

The Golden State Warriors are bolstering their coaching staff by bringing in Frank Vogel as associate head coach alongside head coach Steve Kerr, ESPN reported Sunday.

Vogel steps into the role previously held by Terry Stotts, who departed Golden State’s staff along with Jerry Stackhouse following the 2025-26 season.

The 53-year-old Vogel is best known for guiding the Los Angeles Lakers to the NBA championship in 2020. Most recently, he served as an assistant coach with the Dallas Mavericks last season — his first time on the bench in a non-head coaching capacity after a lengthy run leading teams at the top level.

His head coaching career included stops with the Indiana Pacers from 2011 to 2016, the Orlando Magic from 2016 to 2018, the Lakers from 2019 to 2022, and the Phoenix Suns from 2023 to 2024. He compiled an overall head coaching record of 480 wins and 422 losses, guiding his teams to the playoffs eight times. Among his highlights were back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals appearances with Indiana in 2013 and 2014, before his Lakers squad captured the title during the NBA’s COVID bubble season.

That Lakers championship was the only title the franchise won during LeBron James’ tenure there. James is currently reported to be weighing the Warriors as one of several potential destinations for his next team.

Golden State is coming off one of its most difficult seasons in recent memory, finishing 37-45 — their worst record since 2019-20. The Warriors did earn a spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament, where they defeated the Clippers in their first game before falling to the Suns and being eliminated.

The Boston Red Sox are heading into the All-Star break on a roll, winning their ninth consecutive game Sunday by edging the New York Mets 3-2 in extra innings to close out a three-game interleague series in New York.

Anthony Siegler delivered the go-ahead sacrifice fly in the 10th inning to seal the victory for Boston. The Red Sox had rallied in the ninth, with Andrew Monasterio drawing a bases-loaded walk and Jarren Duran adding an RBI single to force extra innings. Aroldis Chapman earned the win after getting through a ninth-inning threat, and Garrett Whitlock recorded his second save by retiring all three batters he faced in the 10th. Boston’s current streak is its longest since the club won 10 straight last July.

Francisco Lindor was responsible for all of New York’s offense, hitting a run-scoring double in the first inning and a solo home run in the sixth. However, a one-out error by Lindor in the ninth kept Boston’s comeback alive. Rookie Zach Thornton put together a solid outing for the Mets, surrendering just two hits and two walks while striking out five across seven innings in his first appearance since June 26. Brooks Raley took the loss after giving up Siegler’s decisive fly ball.

Pirates 14, Brewers 5

Pittsburgh put up 10 runs in the fourth inning alone to blow past Milwaukee and complete a three-game sweep at home. The Pirates sent 14 batters to the plate in that massive inning, chasing two Brewers pitchers in the process. Starter Paul Skenes allowed two runs on three hits with seven strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings to improve to 8-8. Jared Triolo collected three of Pittsburgh’s 15 hits on the day. Milwaukee starter Robert Gasser fell to 2-4 after giving up seven runs on eight hits in just over three innings. He was filling in for Jacob Misiorowski, who was sidelined with arm fatigue. Jackson Chourio led the Brewers with two hits, including a double.

Orioles 8, Royals 2

Baltimore swept visiting Kansas City in three games, heading into the break riding a season-best four-game winning streak. Leody Taveras homered and later drove in the tiebreaking run, finishing with three RBIs on the day. Samuel Basallo also went deep, Gunnar Henderson had three hits, and Blaze Alexander scored twice. Grant Wolfram picked up the win to move to 2-2. The Royals, now on a five-game skid, collected nine hits from players like Lane Thomas and Bobby Witt Jr. but stranded nine runners on base.

Yankees 5, Nationals 3

New York completed a three-game sweep in Washington, using yet another late-inning rally — this time an eighth-inning comeback — to close out the first half. Ben Rice’s two-run triple in the eighth was the key blow. Ryan Yarbrough improved to 2-0 with the victory, and Paul Blackburn pitched two innings for his first career save. Cody Bellinger had two hits for New York, which has won four straight and enters the break second in the American League East and leading the AL wild-card standings. James Wood homered for the second consecutive day and Curtis Mead also went deep for Washington, which sits fourth in the National League East and remains in wild-card contention.

Phillies 5, Tigers 0

Zach Wheeler was dominant for Philadelphia, striking out 10 over six innings as the Phillies blanked Detroit to head into the break with two straight wins. Wheeler improved to 10-1 on the season. Jose Alvarado, Orion Kerkering, and Jonathan Bowlan each threw a perfect inning of relief to complete the two-hit shutout. J.T. Realmuto paced the offense with two hits, two runs, and three RBIs, while Bryson Stott and Kyle Schwarber each added two hits and an RBI. Detroit starter Tarik Skubal dropped to 5-5 after allowing two runs and four hits over five-plus innings. Riley Greene and Zack McKinstry each had a single for the Tigers’ only hits.

Cubs 8, Reds 4

Alex Bregman went 3-for-4 with a three-run homer in the seventh inning to power Chicago past Cincinnati in the deciding game of their three-game series. Michael Busch added two hits and an RBI, and Kevin Alcantara drove in two for the Cubs, who have won five of their last seven entering the break. Left-hander Matthew Boyd won his third straight start to improve to 5-1, though he allowed four hits and six runs in 6 1/3 innings. Eugenio Suarez homered for Cincinnati, which has dropped three of four. Chase Petty took the loss for the Reds after two-plus innings of work.

Guardians 5, Marlins 2

Cleveland swept Miami at home, with Brayan Rocchio and Chase DeLauter each hitting home runs and Joey Cantillo striking out nine batters over five innings. Rocchio went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while right fielder Kahlil Watson contributed two hits, an RBI, a stolen base, and an outfield assist. Cantillo improved to 8-4 as the Guardians extended their winning streak to four games entering the break. Miami had entered the series on a six-game winning streak but was swept, scoring just five total runs in three games. Griffin Conine homered and Xavier Edwards had an RBI single for the Marlins. Opener Tyler Phillips dropped to 2-4 after giving up two runs in one inning.

Mariners 8, Rays 2

Seattle salvaged one win from its six-game Florida road trip by beating Tampa Bay in St. Petersburg. Weston Wilson and Randy Arozarena both homered during a four-run fourth inning. J.P. Crawford went 3-for-4 with two doubles, three RBIs, a run, and a walk, while Josh Naylor reached base three times. Starter Emerson Hancock exited in the second inning after fielding a comebacker barehanded, and Jose A. Ferrer stepped in to escape the jam with a key strikeout. Ferrer improved to 2-1 with the win. Jonathan Aranda homered to reach 64 RBIs for Tampa Bay, and Yandy Diaz went 2-for-4. Starter Ian Seymour fell to 6-2 after surrendering six runs — five earned — on six hits in 3 1/3 innings.

White Sox 9, Athletics 1

Rookie Braden Montgomery delivered a career-high four RBIs, including a three-run homer in a six-run first inning, as host Chicago routed Oakland. Sam Antonacci also went deep for the White Sox. Rookie left-hander Noah Schultz picked up his first win since May 1, improving to 3-6 by allowing just one run and four hits over five innings. The Chicago bullpen — Jordan Hicks, Seranthony Dominguez, and Tyler Schweitzer — combined for four hitless innings without issuing a single walk. Shea Langeliers hit a solo shot early to give Oakland a brief lead — the first time the club had led since July 1. Starter J.T. Ginn dropped to 7-6 after allowing eight runs in 4 1/3 innings. The Athletics have now dropped nine straight and 13 of their last 14 games.

Twins 4, Angels 2

Taj Bradley threw seven strong innings and Ryan Jeffers hit a go-ahead two-run double in the third inning as Minnesota beat Los Angeles at home. Bradley improved to 9-3, allowing two runs on six hits with six strikeouts — going 4-0 over his last five starts. Trevor Larnach added an RBI single and a solo homer for the Twins, who have now won five straight series. Josh Lowe and rookie Denzer Guzman each hit solo homers for the Angels, but Los Angeles couldn’t generate more. Starter Jose Soriano fell to 8-6, dropping to 0-2 over his last five outings. The Angels have lost 10 of their last 12 to fall to a season-worst 21 games below .500 at 38-59.

Braves 4, Cardinals 3

A ninth-inning throwing error by St. Louis shortstop Masyn Winn — a Gold Glove winner — allowed the go-ahead run to score, lifting visiting Atlanta to a series-salvaging win after dropping the first two games. JoJo Romero pitched the ninth for the Cardinals, allowing Ozzie Albies’ one-out double. Matt Olson’s groundout moved Albies to third. Romero then hit Michael Harris II with a pitch, a call that prompted St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol to argue and get ejected. Mauricio Dubon followed with a grounder, and Albies scored when Winn’s throw went astray. Raisel Iglesias closed it out with a perfect ninth for his 19th save in 20 attempts. Tyler Kinley earned the win at 5-3 by striking out Winn in the eighth.

Diamondbacks 5, Dodgers 3

Arizona completed a three-game sweep of Los Angeles on the road, with Ildemaro Vargas delivering a go-ahead single in the sixth inning and Tim Tawa adding a home run. Nolan Arenado and Ryan Waldschmidt also drove in runs for the Diamondbacks, who enter the break on a four-game winning streak — their best run since a five-game stretch in May. Mitch Bratt filled in for injured Zac Gallen and allowed three runs in three innings before the bullpen shut down the Dodgers with six hitless frames. Ryan Thompson earned the win at 4-2, and Paul Sewald notched his 22nd save. Shohei Ohtani homered and Tommy Edman had a two-run single for Los Angeles. The Dodgers head into the break at a major-league-best 61-34 despite losing three straight for the first time since a four-game skid in early May.

Rangers 6, Astros 5

Brandon Nimmo capped a 3-for-5 performance with a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth to give Texas a victory over Houston in the rubber match of their in-state series in Arlington. Nimmo also had an RBI triple earlier in the game. Kyle Higashioka homered for the Rangers, who blew a 4-1 lead but still won. Starter MacKenzie Gore was effective on short rest, allowing just one run over four innings. Jacob Latz improved to 2-1 by escaping a ninth-inning jam with a double play. Cam Smith hit his 12th homer and Jose Altuve blasted his 11th for Houston. Josh Hader dropped to 3-1 after allowing hits to all three batters he faced in the ninth, capped by Nimmo’s walk-off.

Giants 3, Rockies 1

Willy Adames had three hits, including an RBI single in a two-run eighth inning, as San Francisco edged visiting Colorado. Trevor McDonald allowed three hits and one run over seven innings, combining with two relievers on a four-hit complete effort. The Giants scored the decisive runs off Colorado reliever Antonio Senzatela, who fell to 9-2. Erik Miller improved to 1-1 by striking out Mickey Moniak to escape an eighth-inning jam before finishing with a scoreless ninth. Colorado’s Jake McCarthy hit an inside-the-park home run on just the second pitch of the game for the Rockies’ only run. Michael Lorenzen lasted five innings for Colorado, giving up one run and five hits.

Padres 5, Blue Jays 4

Ty France’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth inning broke a tie and lifted San Diego past visiting Toronto. Manny Machado had three hits on the day, including an RBI single earlier in the eighth that knotted the score. Starter German Marquez went four innings before Adrian Morejon picked up the win at 7-2, and Mason Miller earned his 25th save in as many chances. Toronto’s four runs all came via home runs — solo shots from Nathan Lukes, Ernie Clement, and Jonatan Clase. Clase’s blast in the eighth gave the Blue Jays a 4-3 lead before San Diego responded. Kevin Gausman worked six innings for Toronto, allowing four hits and three runs. Jeff Hoffman dropped to 5-6 with the loss.

Retired tennis star Mardy Fish may have found his second calling on the golf course.

The 44-year-old Fish captured his third American Century Championship title on Sunday, pulling away from the field with a final score of 72 points at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in Stateline, Nevada.

Fish, who reached a career-high ranking of No. 7 in the world during a 15-year tennis career that included six singles titles and eight doubles championships, now has three celebrity golf victories to his name. He finished six points ahead of runner-up Joe Pavelski in the tournament’s modified Stableford scoring format.

Speaking with NBC after the win, Fish reflected on his love for the game. “I think I played the right sport, but I am obsessed with this game,” he said. “I do love playing. This is the best week of the year. It’s the best email of the year when you get the invite.”

Pavelski, a retired hockey player who was attempting to defend his title from the previous year, saw his chances slip away on Hole 17 with a bogey. Needing an eagle on the final hole to catch Fish, Pavelski instead sent his shot into the water, ending his bid for back-to-back titles.

Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry finished third with 59 points. LPGA legend Annika Sorenstam came in fourth with 58 points, and former MLB pitcher John Smoltz rounded out the top five with 55 points.

Here is the full American Century Championship Top 10:

1. Mardy Fish – 72
2. Joe Pavelski – 66
3. Steph Curry – 59
4. Annika Sorenstam – 58
5. John Smoltz – 55
6. Tony Romo – 52
7. Derek Lowe – 50
8. Taylor Twellman – 47
9. Matt Boldy – 43
10. Dwight Freeney – 42

Zack Wheeler isn’t interested in a consolation prize.

The ace pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies announced he has turned down a late invitation to the MLB All-Star Game, saying the selection committee “disrespected” him through a series of oversights.

Wheeler was left off the All-Star roster when it was officially announced last weekend. To make matters worse, he wasn’t included when replacement players were added on Tuesday either. It wasn’t until Friday that he finally received an invite — as an injury replacement — but by then, the damage was done.

“They disrespected me, so I’m just not going to participate in that thing,” Wheeler told NBC Sports Philadelphia on Saturday.

The veteran pitcher said he didn’t want to be treated as a last resort. “Maybe I didn’t earn it from the get-go, but maybe just second choice,” he said. “Once I feel like they kind of messed that up, I’m out.”

Wheeler, 36, has put together an impressive season despite missing the first month of the year while recovering from thoracic outlet surgery. He has logged 93 innings across 15 starts and has been pitching at an elite level.

His last two outings made a strong case that MLB made a serious error. He matched a career best with 14 strikeouts against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, then followed that up Sunday with six scoreless innings and 10 strikeouts against the Detroit Tigers, outdueling that team’s ace Tarik Skubal.

Sunday’s victory pushed Wheeler’s record to 10-1, and his 2.13 ERA ranks second in the National League, trailing only Jacob Misiorowski.

The three-time All-Star called the midsummer classic a “privilege” and said this particular year would have carried extra meaning given his comeback from surgery.

“It’s personal to me, and I really tried hard to get back to where I was,” Wheeler said. “This is hard work, appreciation of everybody who kind of helped me get back to where I am now.”

Adding another layer to the story, this year’s All-Star Game is scheduled for Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia — Wheeler’s home ballpark. Despite his absence, six of his Phillies teammates will be on hand to represent the club: Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, Cristopher Sanchez, Jhoan Duran, Brandon Marsh, and late addition Jesus Luzardo.

Conor McGregor’s highly anticipated comeback to the UFC came to a painful and abrupt end Saturday night when his knee gave out on the very first kick he threw against Max Holloway, with the bout being stopped after just 69 seconds.

McGregor’s coach, John Kavanagh, took to Facebook to address speculation that the fighter may have entered the match already dealing with an injury. Kavanagh firmly rejected that idea.

“Devastated,” Kavanagh wrote. “That opening jump switch kick was drilled daily for months, multiple times in warmup. Never an issue. Knee went when he (threw) the very first kick. Doesn’t get any worse than this.”

After McGregor landed from the kick, his right leg buckled beneath him. He tried to push forward and continue fighting, but was unable to stay on his feet, prompting the referee to step in and stop the contest.

UFC president and CEO Dana White said the organization’s medical team believes McGregor suffered a torn ACL. White also pushed back against social media chatter suggesting the fighter was already hurt before the match started.

“If there was a preexisting injury, somebody would have noticed,” White said. “I don’t think there was. Anything is possible, but he sure didn’t look like it. And for 80 million people (to watch him) on my account alone, that overall number has to be massive. Nobody noticed anything, so, there you go.”

The ending drew painful comparisons to McGregor’s last UFC appearance in July 2021, when he broke his right tibia against Dustin Poirier, also resulting in a doctor’s stoppage at the end of the first round.

McGregor, who turns 38 on Tuesday, addressed his fans directly through his X account in the early hours of Sunday morning, insisting he was fully prepared going into the fight and promising he will be back.

“I was so sharp and so ready for this fight I cannot believe what has happened. The talk of me being off while walking in to the fight is nonsense,” McGregor posted. “I was calm, ready and confident. I am in shock what has taken place. The devil is literally staring at me right in front of my face here. I am not engaging. I will be at church tomorrow.”

He closed his message with a defiant pledge: “I will overcome this. I will not be deterred. I will return.”

Alexander Zverev came agonizingly close to Wimbledon glory on Sunday, but the German star says the aggressive game plan that got him to the final is the key to eventually catching up with men’s tennis powerhouses Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

Zverev, 29, will move up to second in the ATP world rankings on Monday after pushing world number one Sinner hard before falling 6-7(7) 7-6(2) 6-3 6-4 in the Centre Court final. It was his 10th consecutive loss to the Italian, but this one was a genuine battle from start to finish.

A pivotal moment came in the third set when Zverev stumbled and fell at 3-3 during his only break point opportunity of the match. Had he converted, he might have become the first German man to claim the Wimbledon singles title since Michael Stich did it in 1991.

The Wimbledon final came just weeks after Zverev broke through for his first Grand Slam championship at the French Open — his 41st major attempt. Some observers have noted that Sinner was eliminated in the second round at Roland Garros and that Alcaraz missed the tournament entirely due to an ongoing wrist injury.

The confidence Zverev gained from his Roland Garros victory was on full display at Wimbledon, where a noticeably more aggressive style — particularly with his forehand — carried him to his deepest run ever at the grasscourt major.

“I’ve said it at the beginning of the year, and I’ve stuck to it. That’s the tennis I want to play. That’s the game style I want to play,” Zverev told reporters. “There were matches in the beginning of the year where I was struggling a bit more with this style, but I was consistently doing it. The more I do it, the better I’ll become.”

“I won a Grand Slam for the first time in my career in Paris. I made it to the finals here for the first time in my career. Of course, something has to be working.”

During the final, Zverev’s first serve landed in at roughly 80% throughout much of the match, while his forehand — once considered too cautious — was deployed with real force against Sinner.

“When I have the opportunity, I hit it. Whether I make it or miss it, that depends on the day. But I definitely go for it,” he said. “That’s my goal, that’s my aim for this year, that’s my aim for hopefully the rest of my career.”

With Sinner and Alcaraz combining for 12 Grand Slam titles between them, Zverev is confident he belongs in that conversation.

“I think I’ve been pushing those guys. I haven’t beaten them this year, but I’ve pushed them to the limits, I would say,” Zverev said. “Alcaraz in Australia, Jannik maybe here. Even though it was four sets, I think it was a very close four sets, which could have gone five as well.”

“There was always this conversation who will be the third guy, the search for the third guy. Kind of the last couple years, I’ve always been the third guy, but I was just far away from those two. If I get closer to them, if I can be in the mix, competing and winning the big tournaments, it would be great.”

Zverev also addressed the fall that disrupted his momentum in the third set, revealing it affected his ability to serve effectively.

“I over-extended my knee again, similar to two years ago. I was struggling to push off on the serve a little bit. So my serve speed went down,” he said. “But everything else went fine. I think the fall didn’t help me in the third set. My level dropped a little bit. But then I picked it up in the fourth again. Overall I thought it was quite high level throughout.”

A familiar last name could soon be returning to the New York Yankees organization.

During the conclusion of the 2026 MLB Draft held Sunday in Philadelphia, the Yankees used their eighth-round selection on Luke Pettitte, a 21-year-old two-way player from Dallas Baptist University — and the son of longtime Yankees pitching great Andy Pettitte.

Andy Pettitte himself was drafted by New York in the 22nd round back in 1990, going on to become one of the franchise’s most celebrated pitchers over 15 seasons. He earned three All-Star selections and five World Series rings during his time with the Yankees (1995-2003, 2007-13) and the Houston Astros (2004-06).

Now his son Luke has the opportunity to carve out a path of his own. This past spring, Luke Pettitte hit .337 with 16 home runs for Dallas Baptist. He served as the team’s designated hitter throughout the season because Tommy John surgery on his right arm kept him off the mound in 2026.

Yankees skipper Aaron Boone learned the news from reporters after a game in Washington on Sunday, and his reaction was enthusiastic. Andy Pettitte was once his teammate, and Boone said the connection runs deep.

“Heck yeah. Andy’s become a real good friend now, and obviously he’s not here right now but they know he’s around a lot and a big part of our staff and our culture,” Boone said. “And getting to know Luke and his journey and his story. Having Tommy John and going out raking in college this year. … Looking forward to seeing his journey unfold. He’s a great kid. That’s great news.”

Sunday’s action covered rounds 5 through 20 of the draft. The Colorado Rockies kicked things off by selecting high school right-hander Tyler Putnam with the first pick of the fifth round.

Among the most talked-about selections of the day was first baseman Rintaro Sasaki, taken in the eighth round by the Miami Marlins. Sasaki made a name for himself by breaking Japan’s all-time high school home run record with 140 long balls. He relocated to the United States in 2024 and went on to play two seasons of college baseball at Stanford.

Whether Sasaki will actually sign with Miami remains uncertain. He was also selected in the first round of the Nippon Professional Baseball draft last fall by the Fukuoka Hawks, giving him options on both sides of the Pacific.

The Los Angeles Angels grabbed Oklahoma shortstop Jaxon Willits in the fifth round. Willits is the older brother of Eli Willits, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft by the Washington Nationals, and the son of former Angels outfielder Reggie Willits, who played for the club from 2006 to 2011. Jaxon Willits was named Most Outstanding Player of the College World Series last month.

One of his Oklahoma teammates, catcher Deiten Lachance, was taken in the sixth round by the Cleveland Guardians.

Rounding out the notable picks, Carsten Sabathia III — son of another former Yankees ace — was chosen in the 20th round, though not by New York. The Milwaukee Brewers drafted the younger Sabathia, who plays first base.

Arizona Diamondbacks right-handed pitcher Zac Gallen has been shut down and placed on the 15-day injured list after developing inflammation in his throwing elbow, the team announced Sunday.

Gallen first told team staff about the discomfort on Saturday, which led to him being scratched from his scheduled Sunday start against the Los Angeles Dodgers at their home stadium. The 30-year-old was sent back to Phoenix on Saturday to undergo imaging, which confirmed the issue.

Arizona manager Torey Lovullo spoke with reporters but said no timetable has been established for when Gallen might return to action.

The injury arrives at a difficult point for Gallen, who carries a 3-9 record and a 6.34 ERA on the season. His recent performances have been especially rough — he has not picked up a win in eight straight starts, going 0-5 with an 8.24 ERA during that span.

Lovullo offered some perspective on Gallen’s situation, saying the pitcher had been pushing through discomfort without saying much. “Zac will be able to give you a little bit more detail as to exactly how he was feeling outing to outing,” Lovullo said. “But he was taking the baseball, and I don’t think he was throwing the ball terribly. I know that there were some moments where it was touch-and-go for him, but he’s a warrior.”

The manager continued: “He just wanted the ball, and then I think he felt something, he spoke up and that’s why we decided to get him examined.”

Gallen’s most recent appearance came last Tuesday in a 4-1 defeat to the San Diego Padres, where he surrendered four runs on six hits across six innings, suffering his fourth loss in a row.

The setback is a stark contrast to where Gallen was just two years ago. In 2023, he earned an All-Star selection and posted a career-high 17 wins. Over his career — which includes time with the Miami Marlins in 2019 and the Diamondbacks from 2019 through 2026 — he holds a 69-61 record with a 3.83 ERA across 195 starts.

To fill Gallen’s spot in the rotation, Arizona recalled left-hander Mitch Bratt from Triple-A Reno. The 23-year-old started Sunday’s game against the Dodgers, allowing three runs and three hits over three innings. He walked three batters and recorded no strikeouts in what was his second appearance in the major leagues.

Six relievers followed Bratt to the mound and collectively threw six hitless innings, helping Arizona secure a 5-3 victory that completed a three-game sweep at Dodger Stadium.

It was a short night for Conor McGregor inside the octagon, but the UFC 329 main event still shattered records at the betting window. Max Holloway finished McGregor in just over a minute, yet the fight generated more MMA wagering than any other event in BetMGM’s history.

BetMGM trading manager Alex Rella confirmed the milestone, saying, “Conor McGregor-Max Holloway was the most-bet MMA event in BetMGM history. There was heavy action on McGregor as an underdog in his return fight. Holloway winning was a good outcome for the sportsbook.”

McGregor was returning to the UFC for the first time in more than five years, and bettors rallied behind him despite his underdog status. He opened at +250 and entered fight night at +240, yet still attracted 88% of all fight bets and 81% of the total money wagered. Holloway, the -300 favorite who had opened at -345, drew only 12% of bets and 19% of the money.

The fight came to an end at the 1:09 mark of the opening round when Holloway (28-9 MMA) stopped McGregor (22-7 MMA) via TKO. McGregor suffered an injury to the same right leg that had sidelined him following his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 back in July 2021.

While Holloway winning by KO, TKO, or disqualification was available at -145, the single most popular prop bet across the entire main card was actually McGregor winning by KO, TKO, or DQ — offered at +275.

The event also ranked as the second-most wagered combat sports event in BetMGM’s history, surpassed only by the Jake Paul versus Mike Tyson matchup.

The full card featured 14 bouts, capped by a five-fight main card. In the co-main event, Paddy Pimblett (24-4 MMA) strengthened his lightweight title credentials by submitting Benoit Saint-Denis (17-4, 1 NC MMA) with a D’arce choke just 52 seconds into round one.

Pimblett’s win turned out to be the most bettor-friendly result of the evening. He pulled in 87% of bets and 77% of the money as the +110 underdog. The prop bet for Pimblett to win by submission — offered at +500 — was the most popular wager on that fight.

Life is imitating art for Cristo Fernandez, the actor who spent years pretending to be a professional soccer player on television — because he just became one for real.

Fernandez, widely recognized for his recurring role as Danny Rojas on the popular streaming series “Ted Lasso,” stepped onto the field for El Paso in a USL Cup match against New Mexico United this past Saturday. He entered the game as a substitute in the 79th minute, picked up a yellow card, and ended the night on the losing side of a 2-0 final score.

Before fame found him through acting, the 35-year-old had already put in serious time on the pitch as a young player, competing with Tecos FC in Liga MX. Injuries, however, cut that career short and sent him down a different path — one that eventually led to Hollywood.

His road back to professional soccer began earlier this year when he tried out for the Chicago Fire’s reserve squad. That opportunity opened the door to a second tryout with El Paso, which ultimately resulted in a contract.

Fans of “Ted Lasso” will instantly recognize the phrase that defined his character: “Football is life!” Fernandez reflected on those words in a May interview with ESPN.

“Football has given me both the best moments, the sad moments,” he said. “I guess that’s why, for me, football is life.”

Sinner Wins Back-to-Back Wimbledon Titles

LONDON — World No. 1 Jannik Sinner secured his second consecutive Wimbledon championship Sunday, defeating Alexander Zverev 6-7 (7), 7-6 (2), 6-3, 6-4. The victory marks Sinner’s fifth Grand Slam title overall and his 10th consecutive win over Zverev. Zverev appeared to struggle with a knee problem after slipping on the grass during a critical moment in the third set. The win was especially meaningful for Sinner, as it came in his first tournament following a difficult exit at the French Open. Zverev, who had just claimed his first Grand Slam crown at the French Open, fell short in his bid to add Wimbledon to that achievement. In the women’s final on Saturday, Linda Noskova defeated fellow Czech player Karolina Muchova to capture her first Grand Slam title.

Zverev Looks Ahead After Wimbledon Runner-Up Finish

LONDON — Despite the loss to Sinner on Centre Court Sunday, Alexander Zverev says he believes he is closer than ever to breaking through at the top of the sport. Zverev has long been considered a step behind Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in the Grand Slam conversation. “I think I’ve been pushing those guys,” Zverev said, adding that this is the first time in his career he genuinely believes he could win Wimbledon.

World Cup Semifinals Feature Four Former Champions

ATLANTA — The World Cup semifinal stage is shaping up to be one of the most memorable in recent history. France, Spain, England, and Argentina — all previous champions and the four highest-ranked teams in the world — are each two wins away from lifting the trophy again. It marks the first time since 1990 that all four remaining teams in a World Cup have previously won the tournament. England and Argentina, both of whom were in that 1990 semifinal, will face each other on Wednesday. France and Spain meet in the other semifinal on Tuesday, featuring a matchup between Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal.

Sánchez, Cease Named All-Star Starters

Cristopher Sánchez of the Philadelphia Phillies will take the mound for the National League in Tuesday night’s MLB All-Star Game, which is being played at his home ballpark. He will face American League starter Dylan Cease of the Toronto Blue Jays, who was announced as the AL’s pick on Sunday. National League manager Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers confirmed Sánchez as his choice. In a separate development, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone initially said pitcher Cam Schlittler would not participate in the All-Star Game, but later in the day both Boone and Schlittler indicated the right-hander might be available after all.

Flewelling Named MVP in All-Star Futures Game

PHILADELPHIA — Tampa Bay Rays prospect Nathan Flewelling slugged a two-run home run and was named MVP as the American League topped the National League 6-1 in the All-Star Futures Game. The 19-year-old catcher is considered the second-best prospect in the Tampa Bay organization. He and fellow Tampa Bay prospect Theo Gillen combined to drive in three runs. Philadelphia Phillies minor leaguer Gage Wood started the game for the National League, giving up one run in one inning. Former Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino managed the NL squad, while Larry Bowa managed the AL. Historically, 86.8% of Futures Game participants have gone on to appear in at least one major league game.

Royal Birkdale Offers New Challenges at British Open

SOUTHPORT, England — Royal Birkdale is hosting the British Open for the first time in several years, and players arriving for practice Sunday found a noticeably different course than in the past. Golfer Peter Uihlein was puzzled by the 241-yard 15th hole before discovering it was an entirely new addition. Fairways have been repositioned, and the fifth hole has been redesigned. Beyond the course changes, the conditions themselves stand out — hot, dry weather has left the links turf yellowed and parched from the sun.

Ryu Wins Evian Championship for Second Straight Major Title

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France — South Korean golfer Haeran Ryu won the Evian Championship in a playoff over Brooke Henderson, claiming her second major title in just three weeks. Ryu had previously won the Women’s PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club on June 29. Both players finished the week at 19-under par at Evian Golf Resort — Ryu shooting a level-par 71 and Henderson firing a 7-under 64 on Sunday. Henderson’s final-round charge included three eagles, one of which was a hole-in-one at No. 8, and another eagle at No. 18 that forced the playoff. In the extra hole, Henderson was forced to lay up after a wayward drive and made par, while Ryu drained a three-foot birdie putt to seal the win. Ryu had set the tone with a 60 on Saturday, the lowest single round ever recorded at a major championship.

Prince William and Kate Attend Wimbledon Men’s Final

LONDON — Prince William and his wife Kate were among the notable attendees at Sunday’s Wimbledon men’s final, joined by two of their children in a Royal Box that also included actors Dustin Hoffman, Nicole Kidman, and Ben Stiller. Kate, who serves as patron of the All England Club, presented the championship trophy to Jannik Sinner following his win over Alexander Zverev. She had also handed out the women’s trophy to Linda Noskova on Saturday, though family members were not with her that day. The couple’s two oldest children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, were present for Sunday’s final.

Brothers Who Ran 33 Marathons for Dementia Awareness Visit Wimbledon’s Royal Box

LONDON — British brothers Jordan and Cian Adams completed 33 marathons in 33 days to raise awareness of frontotemporal dementia, known as FTD — a brain disease that claimed their mother’s life at age 52, six years after her diagnosis. Both brothers carry the same genetic mutation linked to the disease: Jordan is 31 and Cian is 25, and both expect to begin experiencing symptoms in their mid-40s. Their campaign earned them an invitation to spend a day in the Royal Box at Wimbledon, and Prince William personally wrote to commend them on their “inspiring journey.” Working with Alzheimer’s organizations in Britain and Ireland, the brothers have raised nearly $2.7 million. There is currently no cure for FTD.

McGregor Suffers Knee Injury in UFC 329 Return

LAS VEGAS — Conor McGregor’s highly anticipated comeback fight at UFC 329 came to an abrupt end just 1 minute and 9 seconds into the first round Saturday night due to a knee injury. McGregor, who had not fought in more than five years, launched a flying left roundhouse kick at the opening of the match and landed awkwardly on his right knee. After attempting two more strikes on Max Holloway, it was apparent McGregor could not continue the scheduled five-round welterweight bout. Holloway improved to 28-9-0, while McGregor’s record stands at 22-7-0.

Houston Astros center fielder Brice Matthews was removed from Sunday’s contest against the Texas Rangers in the second inning after sustaining a left knee injury when he collided with the outfield wall.

The incident occurred in the bottom of the first inning as Matthews sprinted toward the wall in an attempt to haul in a fly ball off the bat of Josh Jung. He crashed hard into the barrier, and the ball fell loose from his glove on impact, allowing Jung to advance all the way to third base for a triple.

Matthews was able to stay in the game through the end of the inning after receiving attention from a Houston trainer on the field. However, when his spot in the batting order arrived with two outs in the second inning, manager Joe Espada chose to send Taylor Trammell to the plate as a pinch-hitter rather than let Matthews continue.

The 24-year-old outfielder has appeared in 81 games this season, putting up a .197 batting average along with seven home runs and four stolen bases.

Seattle Mariners right-handed pitcher Emerson Hancock was pulled from Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays during the second inning after sustaining an injury to his pitching hand.

The trouble began in the bottom of the first inning when leadoff batter Yandy Diaz hit a hard ball directly back toward Hancock, who caught it with his bare hand. Despite the contact, Hancock finished the play and continued on the mound, retiring the first five batters he faced without issue.

However, in the second inning, after issuing a walk to Victor Mesa Jr. with two outs, Hancock gestured toward the dugout to indicate he could not keep pitching. Relief pitcher Jose A. Ferrer was brought in to finish out the inning.

Hancock, 27, had been one of the more reliable arms in the Seattle rotation this year, compiling a 6-4 record and a 3.17 earned run average across 18 starts. Over 99 and one-third innings pitched, he has recorded 94 strikeouts while walking just 25 batters.

LONDON — Italian tennis sensation Jannik Sinner has captured his second Wimbledon men’s singles crown, taking down second seed and French Open champion Alexander Zverev 6-7(7) 7-6(2) 6-3 6-4 in Sunday’s final at the All England Club.

Here is a look at the key facts surrounding the defending champion’s latest triumph:

At a Glance

Age: 24 | Nation: Italy | ATP Ranking: 1 | Seeding: 1

Grand Slam titles: 5 — Australian Open 2024 and 2025, U.S. Open 2024, Wimbledon 2025 and 2026

His Path to the Final

First round: defeated Miomir Kecmanovic (Serbia) 4-6 6-3 6-7 6-2 6-3

Second round: defeated Nuno Borges (Portugal) 7-6 7-6 6-4

Third round: defeated Jenson Brooksby (USA) 6-4 6-3 6-4

Fourth round: defeated Shintaro Mochizuki (Japan) 6-3 7-6 6-3

Quarterfinals: defeated Jan-Lennard Struff (Germany) 7-5 7-6 6-3

Semifinals: defeated Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 6-4 6-4 6-4

Early Life

Sinner grew up in Innichen, a small town in northern Italy, and first picked up a tennis racket at age 7. Before fully dedicating himself to the sport at age 13, he had a greater passion for skiing and soccer.

Career Highlights

Sinner launched his professional journey on the ITF Circuit in 2018. The following year, he captured the 2019 Next Gen ATP Finals with a victory over Alex de Minaur and closed out the season ranked 78th in the world, earning the ATP Newcomer of the Year award.

In 2020, he took home the Sofia Open — his first ATP-level title — becoming the youngest Italian to win a tour event in the Open Era and finishing the year ranked 37th.

During 2021, he added four more titles: the Great Ocean Road Open, the Washington Open, the Sofia Open, and the European Open, wrapping up the year inside the top 10.

At Wimbledon 2023, Sinner reached his first Grand Slam semifinal and also claimed his first Masters 1000 crown at the Canadian Open. His ranking climbed to a then-career-best of world number four, making him only the second Italian ever to crack the top five. Later that November, he was part of the Italian squad that won the Davis Cup for the first time in 47 years.

Sinner then defeated Daniil Medvedev to capture his first Grand Slam title at the 2024 Australian Open. However, his year was complicated when two samples taken in March 2024 tested positive for the steroid clostebol. He avoided suspension after the International Tennis Integrity Agency concluded the positive results stemmed from contamination caused by his physiotherapist.

He ascended to the world number one ranking after reaching the French Open semifinals in June 2024, then beat Taylor Fritz to claim the 2024 U.S. Open. He capped that year by winning the Shanghai Masters and the ATP Finals.

In 2025, Sinner successfully defended his Australian Open title. That February, he accepted a three-month ban following an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency, which had contested the earlier decision not to suspend him over the 2024 positive tests.

He went on to avenge a 2025 French Open final defeat against Alcaraz by beating him in the 2025 Wimbledon final, securing his first title at the All England Club. In May 2026, he became the first man in history to win five consecutive Masters 1000 titles after claiming the Madrid Open.

On Sunday, Sinner completed back-to-back Wimbledon championships by defeating Alexander Zverev in the 2026 final.

Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sánchez will have the honor of starting Tuesday night’s MLB All-Star Game on his home field, pitching for the National League against American League starter Dylan Cease of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Toronto’s club announced Sunday that Cease would carry the AL flag into the game. Meanwhile, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who is leading the NL squad, confirmed that Sánchez is his choice to open on the mound.

“I think he deserves it. He’s the hometown ballplayer and I think the city of Philly will enjoy watching him and supporting him,” Roberts said. “I had a conversation with him this morning. … He was very grateful. In a time when guys are not wanting to participate, this guy in the Midsummer Classic for fans, I think this is a good thing. He’s very excited about pitching.”

In other All-Star news Sunday, Yankees manager Aaron Boone revealed that New York right-hander Cam Schlittler has decided not to pitch in the game. Schlittler will still attend the event, and no replacement is being added to the AL roster.

Sánchez has put together an impressive season, going 11-4 with a 2.62 ERA. He ranks third across the major leagues with 144 strikeouts, and his remarkable streak of 50 and two-thirds consecutive scoreless innings has been one of the standout stories of the season.

Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski, who tops the majors in ERA (1.62), WHIP (0.76), and strikeouts (167), had been removed from the All-Star roster earlier in the week. He had been expected to start for the Brewers on Sunday, but Milwaukee pulled him from that outing due to arm fatigue.

Cease has posted a 6-4 record with a 2.56 ERA for Toronto this season. He came within one out of throwing his second career no-hitter last Wednesday against San Francisco before the bid was broken up in the ninth inning.

With this selection, Cease becomes the first Blue Jays pitcher to start an All-Star Game since Roy Halladay did so in 2009.

Schlittler had been considered a strong candidate to start the All-Star Game, carrying an AL-best 2.05 ERA, but he took the mound for the Yankees on Saturday, making the quick turnaround a concern.

“Just feels like on his recovery day to go back out there throwing 100 mph is something that I think he felt a little apprehensive about,” Boone told reporters ahead of New York’s game at Washington. “Certainly support that decision and obviously I think he understands what’s at stake here in the second half too for us and for him.”

Schlittler could potentially be tabbed to start the Yankees’ first game of the second half against the Dodgers on Friday at Yankee Stadium.

When Mauricio Pochettino put together his U.S. roster for the World Cup, one organization stood out above all others in shaping the players who would represent the tournament’s co-hosts — FC Dallas.

The Frisco-based club developed four players who earned spots on the national team: Weston McKennie, Chris Richards, Ricardo Pepi, and Alejandro Zendejas. That quartet cemented FC Dallas’s standing as the top talent-producing club in Major League Soccer.

“We’re a big believer in domestic talent,” FC Dallas president Dan Hunt told Reuters. “And we want to try to help not only FC Dallas win, but the national teams win. Because without a strong national team, I really think it hurts the domestic league too. So we stay true to who we are.”

All four players saw action during the U.S. team’s run to the round of 16. But FC Dallas’s connection to this World Cup goes beyond player development — the Dallas venue hosted more World Cup matches than any of the tournament’s other 16 sites.

Dallas Stadium will wrap up its World Cup run on Tuesday when France takes on Spain in the first semifinal, capping more than four weeks of matches and festivities.

“We’re so thankful that we had nine games and we’ve had unbelievable matches here,” said Hunt, who also served as co-chair of the North Texas World Cup organizing committee. “I mean, that England-Croatia game. Japan twice was amazing here. Argentina twice. Even having Cristiano Ronaldo’s last World Cup game. I mean, these are just amazing things.”

The Hunt family’s ties to soccer in the region run deep. Dan’s father, Lamar, founded the Dallas Tornado back in 1967. A year later, the club became one of the founding members of the North American Soccer League, competing until that league shut down in 1981.

Hunt believes those deep roots — combined with the club’s continued investment in youth development — are a major reason the Dallas area keeps producing elite players.

“Sports are a big deal in Texas,” he said. “Families are willing to invest, spend the time and effort to do it. We have the climate for it too, even though it gets hot. The reason why this is such a great youth soccer market goes all the way back to the Dallas Tornado, because a bunch of those players stayed after their days were done, started youth clubs. There are both boys and girls who coached at the local high schools or did camps and clinics. And so you have this huge ecosystem of teams where the games are so competitive all the time and they’re always fighting and they push each other to be so much better.”

Hunt is confident that hosting the World Cup has given that development system an additional boost. FC Dallas saw youth enrollment grow by roughly 10% in 2025, and the club expects at least another 7% increase this year as World Cup excitement continues to draw new players to the sport.

The tournament also triggered the start of a redevelopment project at the club’s Toyota Stadium, which Sweden used as a training base during the competition.

“You hope that this inspires the American Messi,” Hunt said. “You hope this inspires a kid that might not have picked soccer, who’s this special athlete and has a special brain for the game to come play and hopefully play here at FC Dallas or at MLS teams, and we develop players like this. We keep developing more and more top talent here. I’m so excited about our next generation of young players. Really, the only thing that limits us is fields. We have, one way or another, between 40 and 55 fields under management. I could build another 100 and I could fill every single ground.”

Jannik Sinner is a Wimbledon champion once again. The Italian star held off Alexander Zverev in a hard-fought four-set final on Sunday, winning 6-7(7) 7-6(2) 6-3 6-4 to claim his fifth Grand Slam title and successfully defend last year’s championship at the All England Club in London.

With the victory, Sinner joined an exclusive group as just the 10th man in the professional era to successfully defend the Wimbledon title. The win also strengthens his case as one of the premier players of his generation as he continues to chase rival Carlos Alcaraz, who holds seven major titles.

The match opened with both players trading blows through 12 games in a tense, high-energy first set played on a warm and windy afternoon. Zverev ultimately seized the moment, firing a sharp forehand winner to close out the tiebreak and taking the opener. He dropped to the ground in celebration, pumping his fist in excitement.

The quality of play remained high into the second set, but Zverev’s composure began to crack late in the set. Sinner, visibly fired up, took control of the tiebreak to even the match at one set each.

A dramatic moment unfolded midway through the third set, more than two and a half hours into the match. Zverev had just earned his first break point opportunity when a Sinner drop shot caught him off guard. He slipped trying to recover and crashed to the ground, rolling onto his back and grabbing his right knee in pain. The crowd at Centre Court fell silent in shock.

Zverev shook it off and returned to play, but his frustration boiled over moments later when Sinner broke serve to go up 5-3, prompting Zverev to slam his racket against the court. Sinner closed out the third set to take a two-sets-to-one lead after nearly three hours of play.

In the fourth set, Sinner broke again to take a 4-3 lead as Zverev’s level briefly dropped. The 24-year-old Sinner held on through an entertaining stretch of tennis to seal the championship, then collapsed onto the grass at Centre Court in a moment of pure joy.

New York Mets second baseman Marcus Semien moved closer to a return from injury Sunday, starting a rehab assignment in the minor leagues as he recovers from a left hip flexor strain.

Semien suited up for Double-A Binghamton in its series finale against the Hartford Yard Goats, marking his first game action since June 24 — one day before the Mets placed him on the 10-day injured list.

Hitting second in the Rumble Ponies’ lineup, directly behind Luis Robert Jr., Semien struck out in his opening at-bat but followed that up with a sharp single to left field in his next plate appearance.

Through 80 games in his first season with New York, the 35-year-old is batting .214 with nine home runs, 29 RBIs, and six stolen bases. The Mets brought him to New York from the Texas Rangers last November in a trade that sent outfielder Brandon Nimmo to Texas.

Sunday’s outing is expected to give the Mets a clearer picture of how ready Semien is to rejoin their active roster. The club has not announced a specific number of rehab appearances he will need before being activated.

Now in his 14th major league season, Semien carries a .252 career batting average with 262 home runs and 830 RBIs across 1,709 games with the Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays, Rangers, and Mets. He has earned three All-Star selections, along with two Gold Glove and two Silver Slugger awards. He also played a key role in Texas’s 2023 World Series championship, recording at least one hit in each of the five games against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

ATLANTA — FIFA president Gianni Infantino has signaled that a potential expansion of the World Cup to 64 participating teams could be on the agenda, though he said those conversations won’t happen until after the current tournament wraps up.

The 2026 World Cup, being held across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, is the first edition to feature 48 teams — an increase that drew significant criticism when it was announced but has generated little controversy since play began on June 11.

Speaking to Swiss television outlet Blue Sport, Infantino — who championed the move from 32 to 48 teams — said, “These are all issues that we will be examining after the World Cup.”

He kept his comments brief on the subject but offered a broader vision for the tournament’s future: “I think it is important that when you want to organise a World Cup, you do it for the whole world — not just Europe and South America, but effectively the entire world.”

Infantino continued: “Every nation should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup. You can see that the quality of the teams is extremely high and it’s getting higher and higher, all over the world.”

He also made the case for giving smaller nations a seat at the table: “If you don’t give smaller countries a chance to participate in the World Cup, they’ll lack the incentive to keep improving.”

The FIFA president called the expanded 48-team format a success, pointing to strong performances from teams across all continents. “Every team played at a high level. Teams from every continent scored goals and earned at least one point,” he said.

Infantino highlighted Africa’s strong showing in particular: “Nine out of 10 African teams reached the knockout stage. At the last World Cup, there were only five teams from Africa. That just goes to show how important it is to include all teams, to give them this opportunity to participate.”

The World Cup field was last expanded in 1998, when it grew to 32 teams. Looking ahead, the 2030 tournament is set to be co-hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, while Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 edition.

Infantino, who rarely sits down with journalists and has held few formal press conferences during the tournament, also addressed two other hot-button issues: hydration breaks and ticket pricing.

On the subject of mid-half hydration breaks — which critics have suggested are designed to give television partners additional advertising time — Infantino acknowledged the backlash while referencing last year’s Club World Cup in the United States as a testing ground.

“This is a topic that sparks a lot of debate. After all, we don’t want to get everything perfect; we like to give everyone something to disagree with… no, joking aside. Last year, during the Club World Cup in the USA, there were cooling breaks whenever it was very hot,” he said.

He noted that those breaks occurred in roughly 60% of matches but not in the remaining 40% where temperatures were lower, which itself drew complaints about uneven conditions between teams.

As for ticket prices drawing criticism for being too expensive, Infantino pointed to near-full stadiums as evidence the market supported the cost. “The stadiums are full; capacity utilisation is at 99.7% and it will likely reach 99.9% by the end,” he said.

“Experts determined the ticket prices before the tournament. Our experts worked on that and told us: ‘These are the prices you can go with’. We see the proof now: prices that some people claimed were too high are being resold on the secondary market — which is perfectly legal here — for four or five times the original cost,” Infantino added.

The FIFA president projected that the organization would bring in between 13 and 14 billion Swiss francs — roughly $16.08 billion to $17.32 billion — from the 39-day event. “That is quite satisfactory,” he said.

The starting pitchers for Tuesday’s MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia have been announced — and the hometown crowd will get to cheer on one of their own. Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sanchez has been chosen to start for the National League, while Dylan Cease of the Toronto Blue Jays will take the ball for the American League.

Sanchez, 29, is no stranger to the All-Star stage — this marks his second appearance in the game. He enters with an impressive 11-4 record and a 2.62 ERA over 20 starts this season. Among all major league pitchers, only Milwaukee Brewers reliever Aaron Ashby, who has 12 wins, has more victories than Sanchez.

When All-Star rosters were revealed on July 4, Sanchez held the second-best ERA in all of baseball at 2.00. However, he ran into trouble two days later, surrendering nine runs in just 3 1/3 innings.

Earlier this season, Sanchez put together one of the most remarkable stretches in recent memory. From April 30 through June 3, he threw 50 2/3 consecutive innings without giving up a single earned run — breaking the all-time major league record for the longest such streak by a left-handed pitcher and ranking fifth in history overall.

While Citizens Bank Park is generally known as a hitter-friendly ballpark, Sanchez has been virtually untouchable there. In his 11 home starts, he carries a 7-1 record with a microscopic 0.86 ERA, allowing just two home runs across 73 innings. On the road, the numbers look quite different — a 4-3 record and a 4.97 ERA with 10 homers allowed in 54 1/3 innings over nine outings.

Cease, 30, will be making his All-Star Game debut. The right-hander holds a 6-4 record and a 2.56 ERA through 17 starts. He leads the entire American League with 148 strikeouts, and his rate of 13.5 punchouts per nine innings ties Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski for the top spot in all of baseball.

Cease’s most recent outing came Wednesday in San Francisco, where he nearly made history. He carried a no-hitter all the way into the ninth inning before Heliot Ramos broke it up with a leadoff single on Cease’s 118th and final pitch of the game.

The Boston Red Sox have brought right-hander Brayan Bello back up from Triple-A Worcester, adding a fresh pitcher to their roster on Sunday before their last game prior to the All-Star break.

Bello is expected to potentially pitch behind rookie Payton Tolle in the series finale against the New York Mets, as the Red Sox look to avoid putting too much strain on a bullpen that has already been heavily used. Boston also faces a doubleheader against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday — the first day back from the break — making pitching depth even more critical.

Interim manager Chad Tracy said how Bello is used will depend on how the game plays out Sunday, whether the team needs him to eat multiple innings early or provide relief later in the contest.

“The big thing is you guys know over the last handful of days how short we are bullpen-wise,” Tracy said. “So just want to make sure that we have enough (pitchers) down there and have enough coverage to get through the game.”

Bello was sent down to the minors on June 5 following a rough stretch in which he posted a 2-6 record and a 6.34 ERA across 61 innings in 12 appearances, including eight starts. During his time with Worcester, the 27-year-old turned things around, putting up a 4.34 ERA with 22 strikeouts over 18 2/3 innings in four starts.

Over his five-year major league career with Boston, Bello holds a 41-42 record and a 4.32 ERA across 112 appearances, 105 of which were starts.

The Los Angeles Sparks announced Sunday that they have cut ties with general manager Raegan Pebley.

Pebley, who is 50 years old, joined the Sparks on January 5, 2024, bringing with her more than two decades of head coaching experience at Utah State, Fresno State, and TCU. Under her tenure as GM, the team went 8-32 in 2024, improved to 21-23 in 2025, and currently holds a 10-11 record this season.

Despite the front office change, the Sparks have won their last two games after struggling through a 1-5 stretch that ran from June 15 through July 6.

Eric Holoman, the Sparks managing partner and governor, released a statement expressing appreciation for Pebley’s time with the organization. “We are grateful to Raegan for her leadership and commitment to the Los Angeles Sparks and women’s basketball,” Holoman said. “Her work on the Sparks roster and player experience will have a lasting positive impact on our organization. We sincerely thank her for all she has invested in the Sparks and wish her success in her next chapter.”

In the meantime, assistant general managers Zach Knowlton and Nate Nielsen will divide GM responsibilities between them while the team searches for a permanent replacement, according to the Sparks.

New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler will not take the mound in Tuesday’s All-Star Game, manager Aaron Boone confirmed on Sunday.

Boone shared with reporters that the right-hander — who is not dealing with any injury — expressed concern about throwing on what would be his scheduled rest day, and that his focus is on being fresh for the second half of the baseball season.

Schlittler’s most recent outing came just a day earlier on Saturday, when he delivered 6 2/3 strong innings in New York’s 4-2 win against the Washington Nationals.

The 25-year-old has put together an impressive 2025 campaign, going 9-5 with a 2.05 ERA across 20 starts — the best earned run average among American League pitchers. His 137 strikeouts rank second in the AL, just behind Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease.

Through 118 2/3 innings pitched this season, Schlittler is on track to surpass his personal best of 149 2/3 innings, which he accumulated last year split between the Yankees, Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and Double-A Somerset.

According to a report from USA Today, two-time reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal has told friends he wants to continue his career with the Detroit Tigers.

Skubal has spent all seven years of his professional career with Detroit and is currently playing out the final season of his contract. Many around the league believe he could land the largest free-agent pitching contract in baseball history when he hits the open market.

USA Today reports that Skubal believes the Tigers have a genuine chance to capture the World Series this season. The publication quoted the pitcher as saying, “I’ve never lost faith.”

Detroit has been playing some of its best baseball recently, going 9-2 over its last 11 games. That run has brought the Tigers to within 5 and a half games of both the Chicago White Sox and the Cleveland Guardians, who share first place in the American League Central division.

The 29-year-old Skubal carries a 5-4 record and a 3.06 ERA through 12 starts this season. In 70 and two-thirds innings pitched, he has struck out 84 batters while issuing just 10 walks heading into his scheduled start against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Over the course of his entire career with Detroit dating back to 2020, Skubal has compiled a 59-41 record with a 3.07 ERA in 149 games, including 146 starts. He has racked up 973 strikeouts against only 182 walks across 837 and a third innings of work.

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — England’s tenacious run through the World Cup has earned them a semi-final showdown with Argentina, a matchup steeped in decades of rivalry and drama. For Thomas Tuchel’s squad, the reward for outlasting Norway 2-1 in extra time is a date with the reigning world champions — and a shot at reaching the final for the first time in 60 years.

The day after their hard-fought victory over Norway, England turned their attention to a familiar foe. The two nations have clashed five times at previous World Cups, producing some of the tournament’s most memorable and controversial moments.

This marks England’s second semi-final appearance in the last three World Cups. They were eliminated by Croatia in extra time at the 2018 tournament in Russia. Their sole trip to a World Cup final dates back to 1966, when they claimed the trophy on home turf.

Throughout this tournament, England have shown a knack for survival, coming from behind twice during the knockout stage to keep their campaign alive. Tuchel says that fighting spirit has become a hallmark of his side.

“They just refuse to give in. They just refuse to accept a defeat,” Tuchel said. “They overcome setbacks. They put a shift in. There is not one 1% complaint about that.”

Still, the coach was quick to note that the team has not yet reached its ceiling.

“To overcome adversity and find ways to win is on the absolutely highest level,” he said. “We found a way, we’re in the last four, which is the most important thing. But I still think we can and have to play better football.”

Much of England’s success has been fueled by captain Harry Kane and midfielder Jude Bellingham, who have each scored six of the team’s 13 goals — making them the first pair of teammates to each reach that total at a single World Cup. Bellingham heads into the semi-final in Atlanta on a torrid run, having found the net four times in his last two matches.

“World-class performance from a world-class player in big, big moments,” Tuchel said. “Absolute top class.”

Forward Noni Madueke suggested Bellingham’s brilliance is simply business as usual for the Real Madrid star.

“It’s unbelievable what he’s doing,” Madueke said. “It’s very normal though for him.”

The match against Norway pushed England to their physical limits, with players battling cramps and illness in brutal heat. Tuchel disclosed that midfielder Declan Rice, who was absent for the second half Saturday, had spent most of the three days prior to the game sick in bed. Despite the rough conditions, Madueke said the only thing that matters is the result.

“Listen, if we play like this and win the next two games, I don’t mind. I’m not bothered,” he said.

The history between these two nations at the World Cup is rich and complicated. England defeated Argentina in both 1962 and 1966, but the 1986 tournament in Mexico saw Diego Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God” goal — along with a breathtaking solo effort — lead Argentina to victory. In 1998, Argentina edged England on penalties in the round of 16, a match remembered for Michael Owen’s stunning goal and David Beckham’s red card. Beckham had the last laugh in 2002 in Japan, converting a penalty to give England a 1-0 group-stage win.

England’s most recent major tournament semi-final had a happier ending — a 2-1 win over the Netherlands at Euro 2024, secured by a late goal from Ollie Watkins, which sent them to the final. Now they face Lionel Scaloni’s world champions with a berth in the 2026 World Cup final on the line.

Tuchel acknowledged that the emotional weight of international tournament football is unlike anything he has encountered managing club teams, but said he wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.

“I feel very alive in these moments,” he said. “This is where I want to be. I don’t want to be anywhere else in the world.”

Powered by the brilliance of Kane and Bellingham and a growing conviction that they can weather any storm, England will be hoping that feeling carries them at least one match further.

With the 2026 World Cup nearing its conclusion, FIFA’s top official is already looking ahead — and potentially bigger — for 2030.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino revealed in an interview with Swiss media outlet Bluewin that the organization may consider adding another 16 teams to the World Cup field, bumping participation from 48 to 64 nations for the 2030 edition.

“That’s definitely an issue that will be examined and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup,” Infantino told Bluewin.

He went on to explain his reasoning, saying, “When organizing a World Cup, it’s important to organize it for the whole world — not just Europe and South America — but effectively the entire world. Every nation should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup. You can see that the quality of the teams is extremely high — and it’s getting higher and higher, all over the world. If you don’t give smaller countries a chance to participate in the World Cup, they’ll lack the incentive to keep improving.”

The World Cup featured 32 teams from 1998 through 2022. This year’s 2026 tournament marked the first time the field was expanded to 48 countries.

Only four nations remain in contention — Argentina, England, France, and Spain. Two semifinal matches and the championship game are all that stand between now and the end of a 104-game tournament that was held across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Infantino described the expanded 48-team format as a “huge success.”

“Every team played at a high level. Teams from every continent scored goals and earned at least one point,” he said. “Nine out of 10 African teams reached the knockout stage. At the last World Cup, there were only five teams from Africa. That just goes to show how important it is to include all teams — to give them this opportunity to participate.”

The 2030 World Cup is already shaping up to be a sprawling, multi-continent event. The opening three matches are set to take place in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay — one game per country — while the bulk of the tournament will be hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain. If the field grows to 64 teams, those three South American host nations could each take on a full four-team group rather than just a single match.

LONDON — A Chinese and French partnership made history at Wimbledon on Sunday, as Guo Hanyu and Kristina Mladenovic defeated second seeds Gabriela Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani 6-3, 7-5 to claim the women’s doubles championship — their first major title as a team.

Seeded tenth heading into the final, Guo and Mladenovic came out firing, quickly picking apart Dabrowski’s early lob attempts and storming to a commanding 5-0 lead in the opening set. The Canadian-Brazilian duo of Dabrowski and Stefani rallied to take three straight games, but the deficit proved too steep to overcome, and the first set went to the underdogs.

The second set was a tighter affair. Dabrowski and Stefani looked far more comfortable and pressed hard for a service break, but Guo and Mladenovic held firm, with Mladenovic’s sharp cross-court forehands keeping the match level at 5-5.

The decisive moment came in the 11th game, when Guo’s backhand returns at the net created a break point opportunity. The 28-year-old, playing in her first Grand Slam final, converted it with a precisely angled cross-court backhand to put her side one game away from the title.

With Mladenovic serving for the championship, she closed things out in clinical fashion — a forehand winner that her opponents could only send back into the net, sealing the victory and the Wimbledon crown.

Argentina edges Switzerland 3-1 in extra time, sets up semifinal clash with England

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Argentina is headed to the World Cup semifinals after Julián Alvarez delivered a breathtaking long-range goal in the 112th minute to break a 1-1 deadlock against Switzerland. Lautaro Martinez then added a final goal in the closing seconds to seal the 3-1 result. Earlier in the match, Alexis Mac Allister converted off a corner kick set up by Lionel Messi. The match stirred controversy in the second half when a yellow card initially issued to Leandro Paredes was reversed through video review, and a Swiss player was sent off instead, leaving Switzerland to finish the game with only 10 men. Argentina will now face England on Wednesday in Atlanta.

Bellingham’s extra-time heroics send England to World Cup semis

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Jude Bellingham scored twice — including a decisive strike in the 93rd minute — to push England past Norway 2-1 and into the World Cup semifinals for the first time since 2018. The Real Madrid star now shares the tournament scoring lead with teammate Harry Kane, each with six goals. England, which last won the World Cup in 1966, now needs just one more win to reach the championship match. Their next opponent will be Argentina in the semifinals.

Messi’s scoring streak snapped, but his playmaking still shines in Argentina’s win

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Lionel Messi did not find the back of the net against Switzerland on Saturday, ending a run of nine consecutive World Cup matches with a goal. Still, the 39-year-old superstar contributed meaningfully, as his skillful play in the 10th minute drew a corner kick that led directly to Alexis Mac Allister’s opening goal. Switzerland tied things up in the 67th minute before Julián Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez took over in extra time to secure Argentina’s 3-1 victory. Messi holds the all-time record with 21 career World Cup goals.

McGregor’s UFC comeback cut short by knee injury in first round

LAS VEGAS — Conor McGregor’s highly anticipated return to the octagon lasted just 1 minute and 9 seconds. Fighting for the first time in more than five years at UFC 329, McGregor launched a flying left roundhouse kick at the opening bell against Max Holloway but came down awkwardly on his right knee. Despite attempting to continue with two more strikes, it became apparent McGregor (22-7-0) could not carry on in the scheduled five-round welterweight bout. Holloway improved to 28-9-0 with the victory.

Noskova claims Wimbledon title in all-Czech final

LONDON — Linda Noskova added her name to a long and distinguished list of Czech women to win Wimbledon. The 21-year-old rallied from a shaky second set — in which she squandered five match points — to defeat fellow Czech Karolina Muchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 and capture her first Grand Slam title. Noskova became the third Czech woman in four years to claim the grass-court championship, following Marketa Vondrousova in 2023 and Barbora Krejcikova in 2024. Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova was among those watching, as was record nine-time champion Martina Navratilova, who was seated in the Royal Box alongside Kate, the Princess of Wales.

Khosla family agrees to buy Seattle Seahawks for $9.612 billion

The Khosla family, led by Vinod Khosla, has reached a formal agreement to purchase the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks for $9.612 billion. The deal was announced Saturday by the estate of Paul Allen. A person with knowledge of the agreement shared the details with the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity, noting the sale still requires approval from the NFL before it becomes official.

Sinner’s hard-court prep paid off in Wimbledon semifinal rout of Djokovic

LONDON — Before dismantling Novak Djokovic on Wimbledon’s Centre Court, top-ranked Jannik Sinner made a strategic decision to practice on an indoor hard court two days prior. Coaches Darren Cahill and Simone Vagnozzi made the call to help Sinner rediscover the crisp ball-striking that makes him the most feared baseline player in the game. Tennis legend Andre Agassi noted on the BBC that Sinner “reminded himself just how much that ball can explode off his racket.” Sinner will now face French Open champion Alexander Zverev in Sunday’s final as he looks to defend his Wimbledon crown.

Reddick aims to reclaim NASCAR points lead at Atlanta

HAMPTON, Ga. — Tyler Reddick is hoping EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta can help him turn things around in the NASCAR Cup Series points race. Reddick won five of the first nine races on this year’s schedule, including at EchoPark Speedway in February — just one week after taking the Daytona 500. That fast start gave him a commanding lead in the standings, but that advantage has since evaporated. Denny Hamlin, who co-owns 23XI Racing with Michael Jordan, now leads Reddick by 44 points heading into Sunday night’s race. Reddick said he is “extremely” confident he can find success again at Atlanta.

Haaland kept off scoresheet as Norway’s World Cup journey ends

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Erling Haaland was substituted out of Norway’s quarterfinal match against England with about 15 minutes remaining in extra time, and shortly after his exit, Norway’s World Cup run came to an end with a 2-1 defeat. Haaland was largely neutralized throughout the contest, possibly affected by the intense heat and humidity in South Florida. It marked the first time in this tournament that Haaland failed to score — he had netted six goals across his previous four appearances.

South Africa mourns World Cup midfielder Jayden Adams, 25

JOHANNESBURG — The soccer world is grieving the loss of South Africa midfielder Jayden Adams, who has died at the age of 25. South Africa’s minister of sport, arts and culture, Gayton McKenzie, confirmed the news in a statement posted on X, writing that “it is with profound shock and a heavy heart that I have learnt of the passing of Jayden Adams.” Adams had been part of the South African squad that made history by advancing to the World Cup knockout stage for the first time. No details about the cause of death were provided. A moment of silence in his memory was observed before the World Cup quarterfinal between Norway and England in Miami Gardens, Florida.

INGLEWOOD, California — A top official at SoFi Stadium says a month of World Cup action has left the venue better prepared than ever for the high-profile events still to come, including the Super Bowl and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The $5 billion stadium in Inglewood hosted eight World Cup matches, among them the United States’ opening contest and two games featuring Iran, all without any major problems.

Otto Benedict, senior vice president of facility and campus operations at SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park, told Reuters the experience confirmed years of careful preparation.

“From a public safety perspective, I think that went very, very well,” Benedict said. “The number of matches, the size of our matches, having two matches with Iran … all of our law enforcement partners, our federal assets and even our local assets worked collaboratively to create a very safe environment.”

The World Cup stretch served as a high-stakes rehearsal for a venue that will host February’s Super Bowl — its second, after also holding the NFL championship game in 2022 — along with swimming competitions and the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Benedict noted that stadium systems covering ticketing, crowd movement, food and beverage service, and entry and exit points all held up well during repeated World Cup events, many of which brought first-time visitors to the venue.

“At no point as we walked around did we see areas where we thought, ‘Hey, we’re actually too tight here, there’s not enough space here,’” he said. “We saw everything flowing very well.”

He also pointed out that soccer crowds behave differently than NFL audiences, with a larger portion of fans leaving their seats simultaneously at halftime, placing heavier demands on walkways, concession stands, and restrooms all at once. The stadium managed those surges effectively, Benedict said, giving the operations team useful data heading into future events.

The temporary natural grass surface installed for the World Cup also drew positive attention. Benedict said the field exceeded expectations and was actually improving as the tournament progressed. However, he said keeping a permanent grass surface at the stadium would not be practical given that it houses two NFL teams, hosts concerts, and runs a packed year-round schedule.

“It just wouldn’t be a feasible operation,” he said, pointing to the stadium’s below-ground depth, its canopy structure, and its busy event calendar as key factors.

While Benedict expressed the view that SoFi should have been selected to host a semifinal or final, he said the tournament still demonstrated the stadium’s readiness for what lies ahead.

“It gives us the ability to say to anybody coming in, and even for our own operations, that what we’re doing is the right consistency,” he said. “Let’s keep moving these items forward.”

The Pittsburgh Pirates needed a heroic performance to get past the Milwaukee Brewers in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader, and Esmerlyn Valdez delivered exactly that. The Pirates edged the Brewers 7-6 as Valdez crushed a go-ahead grand slam, finishing the afternoon with six RBIs total.

Valdez had already given Pittsburgh a 3-2 advantage with a home run in the third inning. Then, after the Brewers rallied to take the lead, he launched his second homer of the game — a grand slam in the seventh — to put the Pirates back on top for good.

Braxton Ashcraft started on the mound for Pittsburgh, surrendering five runs on five hits while striking out six across five innings. Gregory Soto then worked out of a bases-loaded situation in the top of the ninth to earn his 12th save of the season.

For Milwaukee, starter Brandon Sproat gave up three runs on two hits and struck out three before being pulled after the third inning. Jake Bauers and Sal Frelick each hit home runs for the Brewers.

Pirates 3, Brewers 2 (Game 2)

Pittsburgh completed the sweep in the nightcap, with Bryan Reynolds going 2-for-3 and delivering the go-ahead run in a 3-2 victory. Starting pitcher Bubba Chandler was sharp, striking out six and holding Milwaukee to two runs on five hits across 4 2/3 innings. Valdez added yet another home run in Game 2, giving him home runs in three consecutive games.

Shane Drohan took the loss for Milwaukee, falling to 4-3 after allowing three runs on five hits with six strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. The Brewers have now dropped three of their last four games after going 8-2 in the previous 10.

White Sox 1, Athletics 0

Chase Meidroth came through with an RBI double in the sixth inning to lift Chicago over the visiting Athletics in a tight, low-scoring affair. Meidroth finished 2-for-3, while Luisangel Acuna also had a pair of hits. Five White Sox pitchers combined to hold Oakland to just four hits. Erick Fedde improved to 5-6 with the win, tossing four scoreless innings while allowing just two hits. Athletics starter Gage Jump dropped to 3-4 after surrendering one run on five hits over 5 2/3 innings. Joshua Kuroda-Grauer went 2-for-4 with a double, and Jacob Wilson was 2-for-4 with a triple for Oakland.

Red Sox 4, Mets 0

Boston made it eight wins in a row by blanking New York, with Andruw Monasterio and Masataka Yoshida each connecting on two-run home runs. Five Red Sox pitchers combined on a three-hit shutout. Reliever Jovani Moran picked up the win at 2-2 with 1 2/3 scoreless innings, while fill-in starter Eduardo Rivera turned in 3 2/3 scoreless frames in only his second big league appearance. Freddy Peralta absorbed the loss, dropping to 5-8 after working 4 1/3 innings and allowing two runs on three hits and five walks. New York went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left nine runners on base.

Twins 5, Angels 3

Victor Caratini’s double down the left field line scored Royce Lewis for the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh as Minnesota held off Los Angeles in Minneapolis. Lewis had earlier hit a two-run home run to give the Twins a three-run cushion, but the Angels fought back to tie the game. Minnesota then responded with two runs in the seventh — starting with a Lewis double, followed by Caratini’s double and a run-scoring single from Alan Roden. Starter Joe Ryan went six innings, allowing two runs on six hits with six strikeouts. Ryan Johnson took the loss for Los Angeles, giving up three runs on three hits over five innings.

Guardians 4, Marlins 1

Steven Kwan, batting ninth in the order, lined a two-out, two-strike, two-run double and also made a run-saving defensive play as Cleveland topped host Miami. Patrick Bailey, hitting eighth, added another two-out, two-strike, two-run double in the eighth inning for insurance. Tanner Bibee earned the win, improving to 3-9 with a quality start — allowing five hits, four walks and one run across 6 2/3 innings. Eury Perez, who had thrown seven perfect innings in his previous start, took the loss at 5-7, giving up eight hits, two walks and two runs over six innings.

Giants 4, Rockies 2

Casey Schmitt broke a 1-1 tie with a three-run homer in the sixth inning to lead host San Francisco over Colorado. Heliot Ramos and Luis Arraez had opened the inning with singles before Schmitt launched his 19th home run of the season, tying him for the team lead. Arraez went 2-for-4, Tyler Mahle improved to 2-8 after allowing just one run on five hits over seven innings, and J.T. Brubaker closed out the final two innings for his first career save. Kyle Karros homered and Mickey Moniak went 2-for-4 for Colorado, which has lost three of its last four. Starter Kyle Freeland fell to 2-8 after giving up four runs and six hits in six innings.

Yankees 4, Nationals 2

New York rallied for the second consecutive game, this time with three eighth-inning home runs to top host Washington. Trailing 2-0, Ryan McMahon got things started with a solo shot off right-hander Orlando Ribalta. After Ben Rice drew a walk, Clayton Beeter came on and gave up a two-run blast to Trent Grisham, handing New York the lead. Paul Goldschmidt then followed with his 15th homer of the season. Brent Headrick improved to 5-1 with the win, and David Bednar earned his 18th save in the ninth. For Washington, James Wood had three hits including a homer, and Curtis Mead added a homer and a single. The Nationals recorded their 27th blown save of the season.

Rays 6, Mariners 1

Jonathan Aranda had three hits and drove in the go-ahead run as Tampa Bay claimed its final home series before the All-Star break with a win over struggling Seattle in St. Petersburg. Aranda went 3-for-4 with two doubles, with his first double in the third inning scoring Yandy Diaz to break a 1-1 tie. Pinch hitter Ryan Vilade then added a three-run home run in the seventh. Ben Williamson was outstanding, going 4-for-4 with a double, an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base. The victory lifted Tampa Bay’s home record to 35-14, the best in the majors. Starter Griffin Jax improved to 5-6 after allowing just one run on four hits over five innings. Seattle’s Logan Gilbert fell to 7-6, giving up four runs on nine hits in 6 2/3 innings as the Mariners dropped their fifth straight.

Phillies 4, Tigers 2

J.T. Realmuto delivered a two-run double and All-Star Cristopher Sanchez turned in more than seven strong innings as visiting Philadelphia snapped Detroit’s six-game winning streak. Sanchez improved to 11-4, allowing two runs on 10 hits while striking out seven — a strong bounce-back after surrendering nine runs to Kansas City earlier in the week. Jhoan Duran recorded his 24th save with a perfect ninth inning. Eduardo Valencia homered and Matt Vierling went 3-for-3 for the Tigers. Starter Casey Mize dropped to 4-6 after giving up all four runs — three earned — on five hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Orioles 6, Royals 1

Kyle Bradish carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning as Baltimore stretched its winning streak to three games against visiting Kansas City. Bradish finished at 6-9, working 6 2/3 innings and allowing just one run on two hits. Kansas City’s Jac Caglianone broke up the no-hit bid with a single to lead off the seventh and later scored on a Salvador Perez sacrifice fly. Pete Alonso hit a two-run homer for Baltimore, while Coby Mayo, Taylor Ward and Gunnar Henderson each added solo shots. The Orioles also snapped a four-series losing streak at their home ballpark. Royals starter Noah Cameron fell to 5-7 despite striking out nine in seven innings, charged with five runs on five hits.

Cardinals 4, Braves 1

Lars Nootbaar hit a three-run home run in the opening inning and Matthew Liberatore delivered six outstanding innings as St. Louis defeated visiting Atlanta. Liberatore improved to 5-6 with six scoreless frames, giving up four hits while striking out six and walking one. The Cardinals also clinched their final series before the All-Star break. Reynaldo Lopez took the loss at 4-2, allowing four runs on five hits over five innings. Mauricio Dubon homered for Atlanta, which has now dropped five of its last seven games. The loss also trimmed the Braves’ lead over the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East to just two games.

Astros 9, Rangers 3

LaMonte Wade Jr. hit the first grand slam of his career in the third inning as visiting Houston cruised past Texas in Arlington. Yordan Alvarez launched his American League-leading 31st home run in the first inning, and Christian Vazquez added a solo shot as well. Starter Peter Lambert improved to 8-5, allowing just one run on three hits over six innings for his sixth win in seven decisions. Ezequiel Duran drove in all three Texas runs with a pair of home runs. Rangers starter Kumar Rocker fell to 2-8, continuing to struggle at home by giving up three home runs among seven runs on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings.

Cubs 5, Reds 3

Alex Bregman broke a tie game with a two-run homer in the seventh inning as Chicago defeated host Cincinnati for its fourth win in the last six games. Carson Kelly added a solo home run and Michael Busch had three hits for the Cubs. Drew Pomeranz improved to 2-3 with the win after pitching the sixth inning, though he allowed a run on two hits. Caleb Thielbar and Jacob Webb each threw a scoreless inning before Trent Thornton recorded the final out for his third save. Nathaniel Lowe, Eugenio Suarez and JJ Bleday each homered for Cincinnati, which has now lost five of its last eight. Starter Nick Lodolo exited with a blister on his left index finger after giving up a leadoff homer to Kelly in the sixth, having allowed two runs on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts to that point.

Jacob Misiorowski was set to take the mound Sunday afternoon against standout pitcher Paul Skenes and the host Pittsburgh Pirates, but the hard-throwing Milwaukee Brewers right-hander was removed from the lineup because of arm fatigue — and he will also sit out Tuesday night’s All-Star Game.

The 24-year-old told reporters he will not be placed on the injured list and anticipates returning to the starting rotation once the All-Star break concludes.

“It (stinks) to miss a start and the All-Star Game, but I know it’s the right thing to do in this situation,” Misiorowski said. “My arm is a little tired.”

Left-handed pitcher Robert Gasser will take Misiorowski’s spot in Sunday’s lineup as Milwaukee looks to salvage the final game of a three-game series against Pittsburgh.

Earning his second consecutive All-Star selection, Misiorowski has posted a 10-4 record across 18 starts covering 111 innings. He tops the major leagues with 167 strikeouts and a 1.62 ERA, while issuing just 27 walks. Over two professional seasons combined, he holds a 15-7 record with a 2.64 ERA in 33 appearances — 32 of them starts — totaling 254 strikeouts and 58 walks across 177 innings.

Among all starting pitchers this season, Misiorowski ranks first with an average four-seam fastball velocity of 100.5 mph. He has also thrown 670 pitches at or above 100 mph, the highest total in all of baseball.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy announced Misiorowski’s status following Saturday’s doubleheader sweep at the hands of the Pirates.

“He didn’t recover well from his last start, and his throwing program was clunky today, so we’re just going to give him some extra rest,” Murphy said.

Conor McGregor’s eagerly anticipated comeback to the UFC cage came to a painful and abrupt end Saturday night in Las Vegas, lasting barely more than a minute after the Irish fighter suffered a severe knee injury during his UFC 329 matchup against Max Holloway.

McGregor, a former champion in two weight classes, had been away from competition since suffering a broken leg in a July 2021 bout against Dustin Poirier. In his return Saturday, he attempted a flying kick at the very start of the fight, but landed badly and immediately appeared to be in serious trouble.

He attempted to push through the pain for a brief moment before turning to the referee to indicate he was unable to go on.

Holloway, a former featherweight champion, said after the fight that he’d be willing to face McGregor again once the Irishman has recovered from the injury. “It is what it is, I’m going to sit down with the UFC,” Holloway said. “(There was) so much hype for that right there. We’ve got to run it back one more time. One more time for the boys.”

Saturday’s contest was actually a rematch — the two fighters first met back in 2013, when McGregor walked away with a unanimous decision victory.

McGregor’s career has been repeatedly derailed by both injuries and off-the-mat controversies. Beyond the leg injury against Poirier five years ago, a planned fight against Michael Chandler in June 2024 was called off after McGregor broke a toe during training camp. Later in 2024, an Irish civil court jury found the 37-year-old liable for the rape of Nikita Hand, an incident that allegedly occurred in 2018.

Adding to his troubles, McGregor accepted an 18-month ban in October 2025 for what were described as “whereabouts failures” — he had missed three attempts by Combat Sports Anti-Doping to collect biological samples from him during 2024. That suspension was backdated and officially expired in March.

In the co-main event at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, British fighter Paddy Pimblett also made quick work of his opponent, submitting Frenchman Benoit Saint-Denis with a choke in less than a minute during their lightweight bout.

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Argentina kept their dream of back-to-back World Cup titles alive on Saturday, defeating Switzerland 3-1 after extra time to advance to the semi-finals in a match full of drama and late-game tension.

It marked the third straight knockout round match in which Argentina found themselves in a nail-biting situation, but they once again came out on top.

Alexis Mac Allister got Argentina on the board early, heading home a Lionel Messi corner kick in the 10th minute. Switzerland responded, however, with Dan Ndoye finding the equalizer in the 67th minute to level the match and force extra time.

Switzerland’s chances took a major hit in the 72nd minute when Breel Embolo was sent off following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review, leaving the Swiss a man down for the remainder of the contest.

Argentina capitalized on the advantage, with Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez both finding the net during extra time to put the match out of reach and secure the 3-1 final.

Argentina will now turn their attention to Wednesday’s semi-final matchup in Atlanta, where they will face England, who also advanced after defeating Norway 2-1 in extra time.

Argentina’s run at the World Cup continues, but it has been anything but easy. The Albiceleste — as the Argentine squad is traditionally known — have now survived back-to-back close calls in the knockout stage, and Saturday’s quarterfinal against Switzerland in Kansas City was no different.

Despite being pushed to the edge once again, Argentina managed to hold on and advance to the semifinals, where a high-stakes showdown with England awaits.

This marks the third consecutive knockout match in which Argentina has faced a serious threat of elimination. The team’s ability to grind out results under pressure has become a defining characteristic of their 2026 World Cup campaign.

Lionel Messi, the Argentine forward and global soccer icon, was on the field working to control play during the tense quarterfinal contest, as the team fought to keep their championship hopes alive.

The semifinal matchup between Argentina and England is expected to draw enormous international attention, given the storied and often dramatic history between the two soccer powerhouses on the world stage.

The Seattle Seahawks are on their way to a new ownership group, with the franchise announcing Saturday that a sale agreement has been reached.

The incoming ownership is headed by the Khosla family, with venture capitalist and Sun Microsystems co-founder Vinod Khosla at the helm. Khosla previously held a minority ownership stake in the San Francisco 49ers.

The team has been under the control of the Paul Allen estate since the NFL franchise owner passed away in 2018. Allen’s will directed that the Seahawks be sold and that the proceeds be distributed to various charitable causes.

Vinod Khosla expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition in a written statement: “We are honored to be entrusted as the next stewards of the Seattle Seahawks. We look forward to building on the winning legacy Paul Allen created and to earning the trust of the Seahawks organization and fans everywhere.”

While the financial terms of the agreement were not officially released, the Tacoma News Tribune reported the sale price at $9.61 billion — a figure that would shatter the previous NFL record. That amount would also rank as the second-largest sports franchise transaction in North American history, trailing only the $10 billion sale of the Los Angeles Lakers in 2025.

The deal is not yet finalized. It must go before NFL owners for a vote, a process expected to take place over the coming months.

The Milwaukee Bucks have reached an agreement with swingman Gary Trent Jr. on a four-year, $64 million contract, according to a report from ESPN released Saturday.

The agreement means Trent will remain in Milwaukee, where he suited up for 139 games — including 30 starts — across his two seasons with the team.

In his debut season with the Bucks, the combo guard/forward put up 11.1 points per game, but his scoring dropped to 8.1 points per game in the 2025-26 season — the lowest single-season average of his career since his rookie campaign.

The 27-year-old initially joined Milwaukee on a league minimum contract heading into the 2024-25 season. His performance earned him a follow-up two-year deal worth $7.5 million, which he chose to opt out of this past offseason.

That decision proved to be a smart one financially. Despite the Bucks holding his bird rights, Trent attracted considerable interest from other teams around the league.

Over his career, Trent has averaged 13.0 points per game, but the size of his new contract may make him a candidate for trade talks down the road. ESPN notes that his salary in the first year of the deal will be $15.2 million.

MIAMI — Jude Bellingham delivered a two-goal performance, capping it with an extra-time winner, as England edged past a tenacious Norway squad 2-1 at Miami Stadium on Saturday to punch their ticket to the World Cup semifinals for the fourth time.

The match was deadlocked at 1-1 when regulation time expired. Norway had taken the lead in the 36th minute through a stunning strike by Andreas Schjelderup, but Bellingham answered just before the halftime whistle to level the score.

Three minutes into extra time, Morgan Rogers unleashed a long-distance shot that Norwegian goalkeeper Orjan Nyland could only deflect, and Bellingham pounced on the loose ball to finish it off — sending the 64,478 fans dressed in white into a frenzy.

England will now travel to Atlanta on Wednesday for a semifinal showdown against either Argentina or Switzerland. It marks the fourth time England has reached the final four in their last five major championships, as they chase a second World Cup title after their only triumph back in 1966.

England head coach Thomas Tuchel was candid in his assessment of the performance despite the positive result. “The result is fantastic. We’re in the last four. It’s amazing, but I’m not happy with the performance,” he said. “We made life very, very difficult for ourselves in the way we played. Sloppy, a lot of technical mistakes, not fast enough, not repetitive enough. We were lucky today.”

Norway, appearing in their first World Cup in 28 years, can leave with their pride intact despite the loss. Notably, England managed to keep Erling Haaland off the scoresheet for the first time in his last 16 appearances for his national team.

Norway captain Martin Odegaard reflected on the tournament experience. “It is a bit bitter, but it has been an adventure,” he said. “We must be proud. We are here for the first time in a long time, and we are making our mark. The whole world is talking about us.”

The opening half was a cautious contest, likely influenced by the intense heat. Norway showed the first real threat in the 35th minute when Julian Ryerson crossed for Haaland, whose header was saved by goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. Just a minute later, Patrick Berg stripped Harry Kane of the ball near midfield and fed Schjelderup down the left flank. The winger left makeshift England fullback Ezri Konsa in his wake before smashing the ball into the net.

Norway pressed their advantage, with Alexander Sorloth rattling a rising shot over the bar and Odegaard drilling a low effort that Pickford pushed away. In the 44th minute, Norway had a golden opportunity to double their lead during a two-on-one situation, but Sorloth opted against passing to Haaland and England’s defense recovered in time.

That missed chance proved costly when Bellingham conjured an equalizer of real quality in stoppage time. Taking a clever pass from Anthony Gordon along the edge of the box, Bellingham used one touch to guide the ball into the area, another to beat a defender, and then curled a shot past Nyland into the far corner.

Kane had the ball in the net before halftime, but the effort was ruled out for offside — a call confirmed by VAR.

Ten minutes into the second half, VAR was called upon again when Torbjorn Heggem believed he had put Norway back in front from a corner kick, but the goal was disallowed due to a push by Haaland on Elliot Anderson.

Norway’s introduction of winger Oscar Bobb in the 67th minute sparked another stretch of pressure, with England nearly conceding when David Moller Wolfe headed the ball off the crossbar. England substitute Bukayo Saka came close to giving his side the lead with a dangerous cross in the 78th minute, and later fired a low ball across the box from the byline that no England player could connect with. Another substitute, Djed Spence, caught Nyland off guard late in regulation, but the second half ended without a goal.

After Bellingham’s winner in extra time, VAR stepped in once more to overturn a penalty awarded to England for a foul on Spence. Haaland, who finished the tournament with seven goals, was taken off at the break in extra time. Norway pushed forward desperately seeking an equalizer, but England held firm to advance — matching their semifinal appearances at the 1966, 1990, and 2018 World Cups.

A visibly emotional Norway coach Stale Solbakken summed up the heartbreak. “I feel sorry for the lads, but this is top level sports at its best or its most gruesome,” he said. “We played fantastic football against a super team, but we didn’t make it.”

MIAMI — Jude Bellingham delivered a two-goal performance, capping it with an extra-time winner, as England edged past a determined Norway squad 2-1 at Miami Stadium on Saturday to book a spot in the World Cup semifinals for the fourth time.

The match was deadlocked at 1-1 through 90 minutes after Andreas Schjelderup gave Norway the lead with a stunning strike in the 36th minute, only for Bellingham to level the score just before halftime.

Three minutes into extra time, Morgan Rogers unleashed a long-range effort that Norwegian goalkeeper Orjan Nyland could only deflect, and Bellingham pounced on the loose ball to drive it home. The goal sent the white-shirted supporters among the crowd of 64,478 into a frenzy.

England will now meet either Argentina or Switzerland in Atlanta on Wednesday, competing in their fourth semifinal across their last five major championships. The team is chasing a repeat of their only World Cup title, which came back in 1966.

England coach Thomas Tuchel was candid in his post-match remarks, saying the result was cause for celebration but the performance left something to be desired. “The result is fantastic. We’re in the last four. It’s amazing, but I’m not happy with the performance,” Tuchel said. “We made life very, very difficult for ourselves in the way we played. Sloppy, a lot of technical mistakes, not fast enough, not repetitive enough. We were lucky today.”

Norway, meanwhile, can feel hard done by despite the loss. They kept Erling Haaland off the scoresheet for the first time in his last 16 international appearances, and will leave their first World Cup in 28 years with their pride intact.

Norway captain Martin Odegaard reflected on the tournament with mixed emotions. “It is a bit bitter, but it has been an adventure,” he said. “We must be proud. We are here for the first time in a long time, and we are making our mark. The whole world is talking about us.”

The first half was a cautious, low-tempo affair — perhaps due to the oppressive heat — until Norway sparked to life when Julian Ryerson crossed for Haaland to head toward goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in the 35th minute. A minute later, Patrick Berg stripped Harry Kane of the ball near midfield and set Schjelderup free down the left side. The winger left makeshift England fullback Ezri Konsa in his wake before hammering a shot-cross hybrid into the net.

England looked shaken, and Norway pressed the advantage with Alexander Sorloth firing over the bar and Odegaard drilling a low shot that Pickford managed to push away. Norway nearly doubled their lead in the 44th minute when they had a two-on-one situation deep in England’s half, but Sorloth chose not to play Haaland in, allowing the defenders to recover and clear the danger.

Norway would pay for those missed opportunities when Bellingham conjured an equalizer of real quality just before halftime. Receiving a sharp pass from Anthony Gordon along the edge of the box, Bellingham used one touch to guide the ball into the area, another to beat a defender, then whipped a finish past Nyland into the far corner. Kane also got the ball into the net late in the half, but was ruled offside, a call confirmed by video review.

Video review was called upon again 10 minutes into the second half when Torbjorn Heggem believed he had put Norway back in front from a corner kick, but the goal was disallowed after officials determined Haaland had shoved Elliot Anderson in the buildup.

Norway gained momentum again after introducing speedy winger Oscar Bobb in the 67th minute, and England were fortunate to escape when David Moller Wolfe headed the ball over Pickford and onto the crossbar. England substitute Bukayo Saka nearly broke the deadlock with a dangerous cross in the 78th minute, and later created another chance from the byline, but no teammate could convert. Substitute Djed Spence caught Nyland off guard near the end of regulation, but the second half concluded with the score still level.

After Bellingham’s second goal in extra time, video review was used once more to overturn a penalty that had initially been awarded to England for a foul on Spence. Haaland, who finished the tournament with seven goals but couldn’t add to that tally, was substituted at halftime of extra time. Norway pushed for an equalizer but England held firm, matching the deep runs they made at the 1966, 1990, and 2018 World Cups.

A visibly emotional Norway coach Stale Solbakken offered a heartfelt assessment after the final whistle. “I feel sorry for the lads, but this is top level sports at its best or its most gruesome,” he said. “We played fantastic football against a super team, but we didn’t make it.”

The Seattle Seahawks officially announced Saturday that the Khosla family, including Vinod Khosla, has agreed to take ownership of the franchise — a move made in keeping with the wishes of the team’s late owner, Paul Allen.

According to a source with knowledge of the transaction, the Khosla family has entered into a formal agreement to buy the defending Super Bowl champions for $9.612 billion. The source spoke with The Associated Press under the condition of anonymity, as the deal has not yet received final approval from the NFL.

A social media post from the Seahawks confirmed that the Khosla family will take on the role of controlling owner.

“We are honored to be entrusted as the next stewards of the Seattle Seahawks,” Vinod Khosla said in a prepared statement. “We look forward to building on the winning legacy Paul Allen created and to earning the trust of the Seahawks organization and fans everywhere.”

Allen’s estate announced on February 18 that it had kicked off the process of selling the team, which recently captured its second Super Bowl title in franchise history. Investment bank Allen & Company LLC and law firm Latham & Watkins guided the sales process, which was expected back in February to stretch through the offseason.

As a condition of the purchase, the Khosla family will be required to sell off its ownership interest in the San Francisco 49ers.

NFL owners are still required to ratify a final purchase agreement. ESPN reported that team owners are expected to convene in August to vote on approving the transaction.

The Seahawks have been under Allen family ownership since 1997, when Paul Allen purchased the team for $194 million from then-owner Ken Behring. Allen played a pivotal role in keeping the franchise in Seattle, and the team is expected to remain there once the sale is complete.

The Seahawks hold a lease at Lumen Field that extends through 2032, with three additional 10-year options available.

Paul Allen, who co-founded Microsoft, passed away in 2018 from complications related to non-Hodgkin lymphoma at the age of 65. Since his death, both the Seahawks and the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers have been managed by his sister, Jody.

In September, Allen’s estate reached an agreement to sell the Trail Blazers to an investment group headed by Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon. That deal, which includes a commitment to keep the Trail Blazers in Portland, is still awaiting final sign-off from the NBA Board of Governors.

The most recent NFL franchise sale before this one was the Washington Commanders in 2023, when a group led by Josh Harris — which includes Magic Johnson — purchased the team from longtime owner Dan Snyder and his family for a then-record $6.05 billion.

The Seahawks claimed the Super Bowl title this past February with a 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots.

MIAMI — England is heading to the World Cup semi-finals after a dramatic 2-1 extra-time victory over Norway in their quarter-final matchup at Miami Stadium on Saturday, with Jude Bellingham serving as the hero with two crucial goals.

It was Norway who drew first blood, with Andreas Schjelderup putting his team on the board in the 36th minute. Schjelderup’s powerful shot deflected off the far post and into the net, giving Norway the early advantage.

England found their equalizer in stoppage time at the end of the first half, when Bellingham made a smooth run into the penalty area and fired a shot past two defenders to level the match at 1-1.

With regulation unable to separate the two sides, the game moved into extra time. There, Bellingham proved to be the difference once again — reacting fastest to a rebound off a goalkeeper save to slot home the winning goal in the first half of extra time.

The double strike brings Bellingham level with Harry Kane at six goals for the tournament, making him one of the competition’s top scorers.

England will now wait to see who emerges from the other quarter-final matchup between Argentina and Switzerland, with the winner set to face them in the semi-finals.

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — The notion that soccer lacks a real following in the United States is “a little bit overstated,” according to “Ted Lasso” co-creator and star Brendan Hunt, who says the ongoing World Cup is helping make that case.

Hunt spoke with reporters in Kansas City ahead of the quarter-final matchup between Argentina and Switzerland on Saturday. He said he’s heard from viewers who claim the Apple TV comedy series sparked their interest in a sport they had previously ignored.

The show centers on an American coach who is unexpectedly brought on to lead an English soccer club. It became a major hit over its three-season run from 2020 to 2023, earning 13 Emmy Awards — including two for best comedy series.

When asked whether the show deserves some credit for boosting soccer’s profile in America, co-creator and star Jason Sudeikis offered a playful response: “I do within my own home.”

“It’s made it more popular,” Sudeikis added, before passing the question along to Hunt, who plays the character Coach Beard on the series.

Hunt jokingly suggested the show’s team had “tricked” some reluctant viewers into becoming soccer fans. But he was quick to point out that the sport’s rise in the United States started long before the show aired and is frequently underestimated.

The U.S. is currently co-hosting the World Cup alongside Mexico and Canada — the first time the country has hosted the tournament since 1994, more than 30 years ago. That earlier tournament helped fuel soccer’s growth in America, with Major League Soccer launching just two years afterward. Despite the presence of legendary players like Pele, David Beckham, and now Lionel Messi, soccer has yet to reach the dominant status enjoyed by other American sports.

Hunt noted that U.S. fans are far more knowledgeable and engaged heading into this World Cup compared to 1994, when awareness of the event was considerably lower.

“We’re not as far behind in terms of the sport’s popularity as is made out to be, and I think this World Cup has shown that,” he said.

“The stuff about soccer being not popular here is a little bit overstated … It’s getting there,” Hunt continued.

He also acknowledged that every World Cup brings in casual fans, adding: “Now, because every World Cup gets bandwagon fans in every country, whether some of them stick around a little bit more remains to be seen.”

As for the future of “Ted Lasso” itself — after years of uncertainty about whether the show would continue beyond its original three-season plan — a fourth season was officially announced in March 2025. It is set to debut on Apple TV on August 5, with the title character returning to his club in Richmond to coach a women’s second-division team.

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — As Kansas City prepared to close the chapter on its World Cup hosting duties Saturday, those who organized the event were already looking back on a month that thrust the Midwestern city onto the world’s biggest stage.

The city served as the venue for six matches during the tournament, culminating in Saturday’s quarter-final showdown between Argentina and Switzerland at Arrowhead Stadium — the home field of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs.

But beyond the games themselves, organizers say the tournament’s true impact will be defined by the international supporters who made Kansas City their home away from home.

Fans from Algeria flooded the city and nearby Lawrence, Kansas, where the North African national team established their base camp. Supporters dressed in the Netherlands’ signature orange color marched through downtown streets, turning portions of the city center into a lively Dutch celebration.

Fans backing Argentina, Switzerland, Colombia, and numerous other nations filled fan zones, bars, and public gathering spots throughout the month — transforming the city that calls itself the “Soccer Capital of America” into a true crossroads of global culture.

Clark Hunt, honorary co-chair of the KC 2026 board and chairman and CEO of the Chiefs, reflected on the experience with reporters.

“The last month has been very special for Kansas City to have a chance to be on the international stage,” Hunt said. “Getting to see fans from all around the world coming to Kansas City to cheer on their teams … has been amazing.”

Hunt also hinted at interest in hosting future tournaments, saying, “If we have the opportunity to bid, we’ll do it.”

KC 2026 Chief Executive Pam Kramer said the event’s impact reaches well beyond the sport itself.

“We’ve proven we can handle the biggest sporting competition in the world,” Kramer said, noting that the World Cup had also put Kansas City in front of a global audience as a place for business, investment, and potential new residents.

When asked what moment stood out most, Kramer described a memorable conversation with an older man she happened to meet during the tournament.

“(He) said, ‘You know, I didn’t know much about soccer before and, I have to tell you, I thought it was maybe going to be overblown, it seemed like much to do about nothing,’” Kramer recalled.

“But what seems to have happened is that people put aside their differences and cheered for the teams for a couple of weeks, and I thought that was so insightful to what has happened here … that will stick with me,” she added.

Author and longtime soccer commentator Nate Bukaty said what moved him most was the sense of human connection the tournament created.

“Everything I loved about what the game of soccer does has been here for the past month,” Bukaty said of Kansas City. “And that’s the part, I think, more than the soccer itself, that I will cherish. I’m already kind of nostalgic about it and a little sad that it’s almost over.”

Bukaty said Kansas City residents had long wondered how the rest of the world would perceive their city. After a month of packed venues and enthusiastic international visitors, he believes that question has been answered decisively.

“The question I heard over and over was, ‘What’s the world going to think of us when they get here?’” he said. “My response was, ‘Is the world ready for Kansas City?’ … I feel like everybody’s been pleasantly surprised with this place. And I think we’ve acquitted ourselves very well.”

Argentina, England, the Netherlands, and Algeria all chose Kansas City as their base camp locations during the tournament.

Kramer said the city’s FIFA Fan Fest drew more than 310,000 attendees representing over 150 countries, with additional crowds expected for Saturday’s quarter-final. The Netherlands’ “Oranje Fanwalk” drew 36,000 supporters — the largest Dutch fan gathering ever recorded in the United States.

LONDON — When Alexander Zverev steps onto the court Sunday for the Wimbledon final against defending champion Jannik Sinner, he’ll be facing more than just a tough opponent. The 29-year-old German tennis star also manages Type 1 diabetes, requiring him to keep a close eye on his blood sugar and sometimes inject insulin right there on the court during match changeovers.

Zverev, who claimed the French Open title and is now chasing back-to-back Grand Slam championships, uses an insulin pen to administer injections to his thigh during breaks in play when necessary.

He first revealed his diagnosis publicly in 2022, though he had lived with the condition since he was 4 years old, according to his diabetes foundation. Before going public, Zverev handled insulin injections quietly during bathroom breaks so no one would notice.

His public announcement came alongside the launch of his foundation, which focuses on helping children affected by diabetes.

“If we as a foundation, and me just as a tennis player and somebody who has diabetes, can help even just a single kid or a single parent, I’ll be the happiest person in the world,” Zverev said following an early-round win at Wimbledon. “There’s a lot of great athletes, there’s a lot of actors, musicians, who have diabetes. It shows that with diabetes there shouldn’t be any limits.”

Zverev’s condition created a serious problem at a pre-Wimbledon warmup tournament in Halle, Germany. During his semifinal match against Taylor Fritz, his glucose sensor gave him a faulty reading — showing falsely elevated levels — which led him to inject more insulin than he actually needed.

Once he realized what had happened, Zverev consumed 350 grams of sugar through glucose gels within the first hour of the match in an attempt to bring his blood sugar back to a safe level. He described feeling “awful” and went on to lose the match in straight sets.

“The company’s investigating it, looking into it,” he said at a press conference ahead of Wimbledon, referring to the manufacturer of the sensor. “I’ve been using it for 10-plus years. This is the first time ever it happened.”

Despite that frightening incident, Zverev was quick to defend the technology overall.

“Those things are still very, very useful for a diabetic, make the life of a diabetic much easier than without them,” he said. “It was very unfortunate for me that it happened, but I think as a product, it still is very helpful for millions of diabetes patients.”

Grand Slam tournaments, including Wimbledon’s All England Club, have granted Zverev special permission to use his phone during matches to monitor his glucose readings. His sensor transmits data directly to the phone, eliminating the need for finger-prick blood tests. Phones are not otherwise permitted on court.

Zverev is far from the only elite athlete to compete at the highest level with Type 1 diabetes. NHL Hall of Famer Bobby Clarke played his entire professional career with the disease, and current NHL player Max Domi also has the condition. Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews, who was diagnosed as a child, regularly checks his blood sugar during games. Former NFL quarterback Jay Cutler received his diagnosis in his mid-20s, as did Olympic gold-medal swimmer Gary Hall Jr.

Advocates stress that visibility matters — both in sports and beyond. Last year, Mattel unveiled its first Barbie doll representing a person with Type 1 diabetes, complete with a continuous glucose monitor on her arm and a phone showing a diabetes management app.

The disease was once commonly called “juvenile diabetes” because it tends to develop in children and teenagers. The International Diabetes Federation estimates that approximately 9.2 million people worldwide are living with Type 1 diabetes.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the disease occurs when “your pancreas doesn’t make insulin or makes very little insulin.” Insulin is essential for allowing blood sugar to enter the body’s cells for energy. Without it, blood sugar builds up dangerously in the bloodstream, making insulin injections a daily necessity for those with the condition.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Edwin Diaz is ready to take the mound again, beginning a rehab assignment with Single-A Ontario on Saturday after spending over two months sidelined due to a procedure on his pitching elbow.

The right-hander, who inked a three-year, $69 million contract with the Dodgers in the offseason, had a rough start to the season — posting a 10.50 ERA across seven outings with four saves before being placed on the injured list with loose bodies in his elbow.

Diaz, 32, carries a career record of 29-36 with a 2.91 ERA and 257 saves over nine seasons in the majors. He previously played for the Seattle Mariners from 2016 to 2018 and the New York Mets from 2019 to 2025. A three-time All-Star, he earned his most recent selection last season while still with New York.

The Dodgers bullpen has held its own during Diaz’s absence, though the team did suffer a 9-3 home defeat to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday. Heading into Saturday’s action, Los Angeles relievers collectively owned a 3.77 ERA — the fifth-best mark in the National League.

Diaz himself sounded optimistic about his recovery when speaking with reporters this past week. “I feel really good. I feel way better than early in the season,” he said. “I can see them missing the fastball. That’s something I couldn’t do early in the season, because I wasn’t right. Now I just gotta keep throwing strikes, making pitches.”

The team anticipates Diaz will be back on the active roster shortly after the All-Star break.

NEW YORK (AP) — Mets infielder Bo Bichette has been kept out of the starting lineup for two days in a row due to soreness in his legs and right ankle, with the possibility that he may not return to action until after the All-Star break.

“It’s a day to day thing,” manager Andy Green said ahead of the club’s continuation of a three-game series against Boston. “If he’s feeling great tomorrow we’ll get him back out there. If not we’ll likely use the All-Star break to kind of get him a full reset.”

Green explained that the trouble started during last weekend’s series in Atlanta, where Bichette went 8 for 18 at the plate but repeatedly fouled balls off his legs throughout the series.

“In Atlanta, he fouled some balls off of his legs, kind of beat his legs up a little bit, played through a lot; the guy’s a warrior,” Green said. “Legs are just overall sore, got some right ankle soreness, as well, coupled with that.”

Before being held out, Bichette went 0 for 3 in Thursday’s 7-3 victory over Kansas City. Over his last 25 games, he has been batting .320 with two home runs and 11 RBIs.

On the season as a whole, Bichette is hitting .256 with 10 home runs and 51 RBIs in his first year with New York after spending seven seasons with the Blue Jays. He had a rough start to the year, going 2-for-22 out of the gate and sitting at just .219 through the first two months of play.

The Mets brought Bichette aboard with a three-year, $126 million contract signed in mid-January to fill the third base role. He ended up making most of his 44 starts at shortstop while Francisco Lindor was sidelined recovering from a calf strain. Bichette has the option to opt out of the contract after either the first or second season and enter free agency.

In other injury news, second baseman Marcus Semien did some running on Saturday after taking part in live batting practice against Clay Holmes on Friday. He could be starting a rehab assignment in the near future as he continues recovering from a left hip flexor strain.

However, Semien’s rehab assignment may be delayed until late next week, since both the Mets’ Triple-A and Double-A affiliates will be off during the All-Star break.

“Obviously, it’s tough timing with the All-Star break,” Green said. “Only games going on are in the FCL through the All-Star break and I’ve seen too many of those games in the last few years to feel great about putting our hitters in the batter’s box.”

Semien was placed on the 10-day injured list on June 25 and has now missed 16 games. He came to the Mets from Texas in exchange for Brandon Nimmo in November and is currently batting .214 with nine home runs and 29 RBIs across 80 games this season.

The Los Angeles Dodgers will have yet another representative at the All-Star Game after left-hander Justin Wrobleski was added to the National League roster on Saturday, stepping in for Cincinnati Reds right-hander Chase Burns.

Burns, who last took the mound for Cincinnati on Wednesday, was not expected to pitch in Tuesday’s Midsummer Classic at Philadelphia regardless of his roster status.

The addition makes Wrobleski the sixth Dodgers player on the NL squad — a team that will be led by Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts.

When All-Star rosters were first revealed earlier this week, Wrobleski was notably absent despite being tied for the league lead in victories. The 25-year-old pitcher acknowledged the roster crunch at the time but said being passed over would only push him harder.

“I mean, you want to be an All-Star, and I felt like I did enough to kind of put myself in that conversation, if not be there,” Wrobleski said last week. “To not get the selection, yeah, it definitely adds some fuel to the fire for the rest of this year. Go out there every outing and prove that I’m worthy of that, and that I’m going to be one of those guys moving forward.”

Through 16 appearances — 15 of them starts — Wrobleski has posted a 10-2 record with a 2.69 ERA this season. He also played a role in last October’s World Series, coming out of the bullpen in Game 7 to throw 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of Shohei Ohtani during the third inning, when the Dodgers were trailing the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0. Los Angeles came back to claim the championship in 11 innings.

Burns, 23, has had an impressive first full major league season, going 11-1 with a 2.54 ERA across 18 starts. Selected second overall in the 2024 draft, he has already logged 102 2/3 innings this year — nearly matching the combined 109 1/3 innings he threw between the majors and minors last season, his first as a professional.

Cincinnati will still have a presence at the All-Star Game through rookie infielder Sal Stewart.

PHILADELPHIA — The Chicago White Sox, already sitting atop the AL Central standings, made what many considered the obvious choice Saturday by selecting UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky as the first overall pick in Major League Baseball’s amateur draft.

Standing 6-foot-2 and batting right-handed, Cholowsky was a Golden Spikes Award finalist during his time at UCLA. In his junior season, he put up a 1.088 OPS to go along with 21 home runs and 60 RBIs, earning him Big Ten Player of the Year honors.

White Sox general manager Chris Getz praised the selection, saying: “Roch, his family and his support structure impressed us throughout the entire process, and his experience at UCLA certainly prepared him to take the next step as a professional. An outstanding defensive shortstop, Roch brings an impact bat to any lineup, and he is a leader on the field as well as in the clubhouse. He has more than lived up to very high expectations, and we cannot wait to get him into our organization, get started and see him continue his growth and success.”

The next two picks also went largely as analysts had forecast. Tampa Bay used the second pick to grab Texas high school shortstop Grady Emerson, while Minnesota went third and selected Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey.

At just 18 years old, Emerson — a 6-foot-3, 185-pound left-handed hitter who throws right — is widely viewed as the most complete player available in this year’s draft. A University of Texas commit, Emerson moved to Fort Worth Christian for his senior year, where he played under head coach Rusty Greer, a nine-year MLB veteran who spent his entire career with the Texas Rangers.

Lackey, 21, didn’t draw a single Division I offer until his senior year of high school but has since developed into one of the draft’s premier catching prospects at Georgia Tech. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Lackey also showed flexibility by playing third base at times.

San Francisco grabbed right-handed pitcher Jackson Flora — known for his love of fried chicken — out of UC Santa Barbara with the fourth pick. Pittsburgh followed by selecting LSU outfielder Derek Curiel fifth. Louisville outfielder Zion Rose went sixth to Kansas City, and Oak Grove High School outfielder Eric Booth Jr. from Mississippi landed with Baltimore at seventh.

Oakland chose Georgia Tech outfielder Drew Burress eighth, Atlanta took Virginia outfielder AJ Gracia ninth, and Colorado rounded out the top ten by picking Kentucky shortstop Tyler Bell.

The draft, held at a Philadelphia convention center just a few miles from Citizens Bank Park — home of Tuesday’s MLB All-Star Game — drew hundreds of fans, including former White Sox and Phillies players Jimmy Rollins and Greg Luzinski. For Chicago, this marks the first time the franchise has held the top draft pick since selecting Harold Baines in 1977. Baines was later inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.

The White Sox earned the No. 1 pick after losing 102 games last season and winning the draft lottery. The team has endured three consecutive 100-loss seasons but has since turned things around dramatically. Led by All-Star third baseman Miguel Vargas, Chicago entered Saturday in first place in the AL Central and is viewed as one of the biggest surprises in baseball this year. The organization hopes Cholowsky can one day help the franchise win its first World Series title since 2005.

Cholowsky becomes the first collegiate shortstop selected first overall since Vanderbilt’s Dansby Swanson in 2015 and the first UCLA player to go No. 1 since Gerrit Cole in 2011.

Notably, none of the draft prospects were present at the event in Philadelphia. MLB announced Friday that no amateur players were scheduled to attend — consistent with last year’s approach. Major League Baseball has floated the idea of requiring prospects to attend as part of collective bargaining negotiations, with a proposal that would bring up to 10 players to the draft, each receiving a $50,000 attendance bonus.

In the absence of the players, the loudest cheer of the evening went to the Phillie Phanatic during a mascot introduction segment. Phillies fans directed boos at the Braves’ mascot Blooper and also greeted MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred with jeers — though Manfred managed to win the crowd over somewhat by referencing celebrated names from Phillies history before the draft began. Manfred did stumble at the podium, mispronouncing Cholowsky’s name. For the record, it’s pronounced chil-OW’-skee.

MLB Network’s Siera Santos summed up the evening’s promise for the crowd: “We’re going to see the arrival of tremendous talent today” — even if that talent was watching from somewhere other than Philadelphia.

CHICAGO — One day after etching his name into White Sox history books, outfielder Tristan Peters received another major honor — a spot on the American League All-Star team. Peters was selected as a replacement for Athletics slugger Nick Kurtz, who was forced out of the All-Star Game due to a right thumb sprain.

Kurtz had been slated to start at first base for the American League in next week’s Midsummer Classic. He was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday, with the move backdated to Friday. The 23-year-old sat out as the Athletics fell to the White Sox 14-1 in Chicago. Kurtz is currently hitting .266 on the season with 20 home runs, 66 RBIs, and a league-best 76 walks. Last year, he earned AL Rookie of the Year honors after batting .290 with 36 home runs and 86 RBIs. This marks the second time in his career he has landed on the injured list, following a strained left hip flexor in May 2025.

Peters now joins White Sox teammates Miguel Vargas and Munetaka Murakami on the 2026 All-Star roster. Murakami, a rookie from Japan, was added to the team just Friday — hours before he returned from a six-week absence caused by a right hamstring strain.

Still in his first full major league season, Peters has been nothing short of impressive. The 26-year-old rookie is hitting .303 with six home runs, 35 RBIs, 20 doubles, and three triples. His most recent triple came Friday night in the seventh inning of Chicago’s blowout win over Oakland, completing the cycle and making him the first White Sox player to accomplish the feat since Jose Abreu did it in September 2017.

Peters’ path to Chicago was unconventional. The White Sox acquired his rights from Tampa Bay last December. He had appeared in just four games with the Rays the previous season, going hitless in 12 plate appearances. A former Savannah Banana, Peters has found a home — and a breakout season — in Chicago.

Reflecting on his journey, Peters credited the organization’s support for helping him grow. “The White Sox gave me this opportunity and I went into it just trying to make the most out of it and just be who I am as a player, too,” he said. “I know there was a lot of bunting in the beginning and just trying to figure out who I am at the big league level and you know they give space for that, too. Just an incredibly supportive group and that’s helped me thrive.”

A native of Winkler, Manitoba, Peters became just the second Canadian player in major league history to hit for the cycle. He joins Cleveland right-hander Cade Smith and Miami infielder Otto Lopez — who holds dual Canadian-Dominican citizenship — as Canadian representatives on the 2026 All-Star roster.

Peters admitted that earning an All-Star selection felt like a distant dream at the start of the year, but his perspective shifted as the first half progressed. “I guess toward the end of this first half, I was like ‘OK, maybe there’s a chance,’” he said, “but there’s a lot of really, really talented players in this league.”

The Chicago White Sox kicked off the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft on Saturday in Philadelphia by choosing UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky as the first overall selection.

Cholowsky, who celebrated his 21st birthday in April, has drawn comparisons to some of the best shortstop prospects in recent memory. Draft analysts consider him the finest college shortstop prospect since Troy Tulowitzki was drafted in 2005, and he becomes the first college shortstop taken with the top pick since Dansby Swanson in 2015.

The UCLA standout was widely expected to land at the top of the board heading into draft day. Texas high school shortstop Grady Emerson and Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey were also considered among the elite available talent. The Tampa Bay Rays held the second pick and the Minnesota Twins the third.

For Chicago, this marks the first time the franchise has held the top pick since 1977, when they selected prep outfielder Harold Baines, who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019. The White Sox previously picked first overall in 1971 when they chose high school catcher Danny Goodwin, though they were unable to sign him.

Over three seasons and 178 games with the Bruins, Cholowsky posted a .329/.448/.624 slash line and hit 52 home runs. USA Baseball ranked him second among NCAA Division I shortstops in wins above replacement and defensive runs saved this past season, and named him a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award, which honors the nation’s top amateur player.

Cholowsky earned Big Ten Player of the Year honors twice — a feat only three players in history have achieved — and contributed to UCLA capturing a share of the last two conference titles. While his overall production remained strong as a junior, some analysts lowered their evaluations after he failed to stand out at the NCAA tournament, with the top-ranked Bruins falling short of the Men’s College World Series.

Analysts broadly project Cholowsky as at least a dependable major leaguer who can contribute on both offense and defense at a premium position. However, some scouts wonder whether his ceiling is as high as that of Emerson, the 18-year-old from Fort Worth Christian High School. Neither shortstop is projected to have the kind of impact that Kansas City Royals star Bobby Witt has made. Some analysts actually rated Lackey as the top player in the entire draft class, though concerns about his limited baseball experience and the physical demands of catching tempered his standing.

Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 202 pounds, Cholowsky bats right-handed and reportedly could have accepted a college football scholarship to play quarterback at Notre Dame. He has acknowledged that he personally prefers football, but recognized that pursuing baseball exclusively offered him the best path to professional success.

Had Cholowsky entered the draft straight out of high school three years ago, he was projected as a top-50 pick. Baseball runs in his family — his father, Dan Cholowsky, was himself selected in the first round, 39th overall, by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1991. The elder Cholowsky spent eight professional seasons with four organizations, including 285 games at the Triple-A level, before transitioning into a career as an MLB scout.

Chicago has spent recent years rebuilding but has emerged as a surprise contender in the American League Central. Shortstop Colson Montgomery has grown into one of the better players at the position in a league filled with elite shortstop talent.

The White Sox also boast a loaded farm system with additional shortstop depth, including prospects Caleb Bonemer and Billy Carlson. One advantage of drafting a shortstop is the positional flexibility it provides — if Cholowsky is ready for the big leagues down the road, Montgomery and others could shift to different spots on the field.

LONDON — Twenty-one-year-old Czech Republic tennis player Linda Noskova claimed her first Grand Slam championship on Saturday, defeating her compatriot Karolina Muchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 in the Wimbledon women’s singles final.

Seeded ninth in the tournament, Noskova currently holds a WTA ranking of 12. The Wimbledon title is her first Grand Slam crown.

ROAD TO THE FINAL

Noskova’s path through the draw included the following results: a first-round win over Ella Seidel (6-4, 6-3), a second-round victory against Camila Osorio (6-3, 4-6, 6-2), a third-round triumph over Sorana Cirstea (6-2, 3-6, 7-6(9)), a fourth-round win against Madison Keys (6-4, 7-6(2)), a quarterfinal victory over Elise Mertens (6-3, 7-5), and a semifinal win against Marta Kostyuk (6-4, 6-4).

EARLY LIFE

Noskova made her first appearance in WTA qualifying competition in Prague in 2020. The following year, she captured the 2021 French Open girls’ singles title and put together an impressive 38-9 win-loss record for the season, which included four ITF Circuit titles — among them a W60 event held in Prerov, Czech Republic.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

She launched her professional career on the ITF circuit in 2022, winning six titles that year. On August 1, 2022, she broke into the top 100 of the world rankings following a semifinal run in Prague, making her the youngest player in the rankings at the time by surpassing Coco Gauff.

During a breakout 2023 season, Noskova reached the runner-up position at Adelaide 1 as a qualifier, falling to Aryna Sabalenka, and also finished second in Prague, where she lost to Nao Hibino. She additionally reached the quarterfinals in Lyon and the third round at both Indian Wells and Cincinnati, cracking the top 40 on October 9, 2023.

At the 2024 Australian Open, Noskova reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinal, highlighted by an upset victory over then-world number one Iga Swiatek in the third round before losing to Dayana Yastremska. That same year, she also claimed her first WTA singles title in Monterrey, beating Lulu Sun in the final, and reached the semifinals in both Prague and Brisbane.

In 2025, Noskova advanced to three tour finals — including her first WTA 1000 final in Beijing, where she fell to Amanda Anisimova, along with finals in Prague and Tokyo. She also made her top 20 debut that season and closed the year ranked a career-high No. 13.

Saturday’s Wimbledon final was Noskova’s eighth career WTA singles final. With the win, she becomes the fourth player since 2020 to reach their first Grand Slam singles final at Wimbledon, joining Elena Rybakina, Ons Jabeur, and Amanda Anisimova. She is also the youngest Wimbledon champion since Petra Kvitova won the title in 2011.

Linda Noskova had to dig deep on Saturday, overcoming a serious case of nerves to defeat fellow Czech Karolina Muchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 in one of the most dramatic Wimbledon women’s singles finals in recent memory.

The 21-year-old looked unstoppable early on, cruising through the opening set in just 32 minutes and building a 5-2 lead in the second. It was already a historic occasion — the first Grand Slam singles final between two women from the Czech Republic in the professional era.

Then everything started to unravel. Muchova, the 29-year-old veteran, refused to give in, saving three match points when trailing 2-5. Noskova then gifted another match point away with a double fault, and Muchova saved yet another at 4-5, suddenly turning what had been a one-sided affair into a Centre Court thriller.

Noskova dropped five straight games as Muchova forced a deciding third set. The ninth-seeded Noskova, however, found a way to clear her head and storm back, racing out to a 5-2 lead in the final set.

Muchova clawed one game back, but when Noskova stepped up to serve for the championship a second time, she delivered. After earning two more match points — more than an hour after her first opportunity — she fired an unreturnable serve and collapsed to the court, overcome with relief and emotion.

With the victory, Noskova becomes the third Czech player in four years to win the Wimbledon women’s title, following Marketa Vondrousova’s triumph in 2023 and Barbora Krejcikova’s win in 2024.

Gonzaga University’s basketball program has lost one of its key players, as point guard Mario Saint-Supery has departed the team and inked a deal with Spanish EuroLeague club Valencia.

According to the Field of 68, the signing caught Gonzaga off guard. Saint-Supery had been on the practice floor with the Bulldogs in Spokane, Washington, just earlier in the week before the news broke.

The 20-year-old’s contract with Valencia runs through June 30, 2030.

Saint-Supery spent one season with Gonzaga in 2025-26, earning a spot on the West Coast Conference All-Freshman Team. He suited up for all 35 games, starting 17 of them, and put up averages of 8.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists while logging 23.1 minutes per game.

He connected on 40.3% of his three-point attempts, going 48-for-119 from beyond the arc, and knocked down 87.8% of his free throws, hitting 65 of 74 attempts. His development throughout the season had positioned him as the expected starter at the point guard spot going forward.

Originally from Malaga, Spain, Saint-Supery is heading back to his home country to play under head coach Xavi Albert at Valencia.

Gonzaga head coach Mark Few had not yet made a public statement regarding the departure, but the loss is considered a significant setback for the program.

The Bulldogs are preparing for a move to the restructured Pac-12 and had already been working with a slim group of returning players — just three — from a squad that went 31-4 before falling to Texas in the second round of the NCAA Tournament this past March. With Saint-Supery now gone, that returning group shrinks to two.