Category: Sports

Chicago Cubs right-hander Edward Cabrera left Tuesday night’s road contest against the New York Mets on a cart after sustaining a left hamstring and adductor strain during the fifth inning.

The play that caused the injury unfolded with two runners on base, two outs, and the Cubs ahead 7-2. Jared Young hit a ground ball that slipped past first baseman Michael Busch, and second baseman Nico Hoerner tracked it down on the right field grass. Cabrera sprinted over to cover first base, dropping into a split to receive the throw and complete the out — but immediately felt sharp pain in his leg upon landing.

Unable to put any weight on the injured limb, Cabrera was helped onto the medical cart by a trainer and manager Craig Counsell and was taken off the field.

Before the injury ended his night, Cabrera had pitched five innings, surrendering two runs on three hits. He came into Tuesday’s start with a 4-4 record and a 5.21 ERA over 13 outings in his first season with Chicago, having been acquired from the Miami Marlins during the offseason.

It was a rough night for Cabrera even before the hamstring issue. Earlier in the game, Young hit a comebacker off the mound that struck Cabrera in the leg. The injury trouble is not entirely new — just last week, Cabrera exited a start against the Colorado Rockies due to cramping in his right, or pitching, hand.

New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto cut his night short Tuesday, leaving the game against the visiting Chicago Cubs following the fourth inning because of tightness in the left side of his back.

Before exiting, Soto was spotted in the dugout with what appeared to be a heating pad strapped to him. He went 0-for-2 at the plate before calling it a night. Once he left the field, Jared Young shifted from first base to left field to cover the vacancy, while Mark Vientos stepped in at first base.

Through 61 games this season, Soto is batting .299 with 17 home runs and 38 RBIs. He had previously missed 15 games in April due to a strained right calf — the same stretch during which the Mets dropped 12 consecutive games and fell into an early season hole.

Soto’s early exit came while teammate Francisco Lindor was playing in his third minor league rehab game. Lindor has been sidelined since April 22 with a strained right calf and could potentially be reinstated to the active roster later this week.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are on the verge of a new ownership era after the NHL Board of Governors voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the team’s sale to the Hoffmann Family of Companies.

The deal is expected to wrap up shortly, bringing Fenway Sports Group’s tenure as controlling owner to a close. The Hoffmann family will take over one of hockey’s most well-known franchises. While exact financial terms were not made public, earlier reports had suggested the sale price was around $1.7 billion.

Geoff Hoffmann, who serves as CEO of the company’s private equity division, will take on the role of the Penguins’ governor. Greg Hoffmann, David Hoffmann, and Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas will each serve as alternate governors.

“This is a defining moment for our family,” Geoff Hoffmann said in a statement. “The Penguins represent everything Hoffmann Family of Companies stands for — community, excellence and long-term thinking. We look forward to building on the team’s success by providing support and resources to both Kyle Dubas and the hockey operations team, as well as the established leadership group on the business side. We’re proud to represent this storied franchise and are eager to become an active, invested part of the Pittsburgh community.”

Fenway Sports Group originally acquired the Penguins back in 2021 for a reported $900 million from an ownership group that included Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle. The franchise boasts five Stanley Cup championships, three of which came under that previous ownership group, with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang leading the charge.

The Penguins’ performance under Fenway Sports Group was less impressive, with the team missing the playoffs three times and suffering two first-round exits during that stretch. This past season, Pittsburgh finished 41-25-16 before being eliminated by the Philadelphia Flyers in six games in the opening round.

The Hoffmann family is no stranger to hockey ownership. The group has owned the Florida Everblades, an ECHL team, since 2019. The Everblades have claimed multiple Kelly Cup championships under the Hoffmanns, including a title this season.

WASHINGTON — For the first time in decades, the Washington Wizards may have reason for genuine optimism heading into a new era of basketball.

That renewed hope arrived Tuesday night in the form of AJ Dybantsa, whom Washington selected with the first overall pick in the NBA draft. The 6-foot-9 forward put up 25.5 points per game during his lone college season at BYU. Originally from Boston, Dybantsa attended Utah Prep before choosing to stay in the state for his one year of college ball. Once Washington secured the lottery’s top spot, there was talk that the Utah Jazz might attempt to move up from the No. 2 position to grab Dybantsa — but the Wizards held firm and made the pick.

Washington’s championship history is a distant memory. The franchise — then known as the Bullets — won an NBA title back in 1978. Since 1979, the team has never won 50 games in a season, and that was also the last time they reached the conference finals. The decades in between have featured occasional flashes of entertaining basketball, but never the kind of true superstar capable of delivering a title.

The organization’s struggles with top picks are well documented. Washington famously whiffed on the No. 1 selection in 2001, choosing Kwame Brown. Things went better in 2010 when they drafted John Wall first overall — he at least helped the team advance past the first round of the playoffs at times.

That chapter eventually closed, and even a short stint from Russell Westbrook during the 2020-21 season failed to make Washington relevant on a national stage. The Wizards then committed to a full rebuild, a painful stretch that produced a combined record of 50-196 across the last three seasons.

Still, the pieces have been accumulating. Washington took big man Alex Sarr with the second overall pick in 2024, and the roster also features recent first-round selections Tre Johnson, Bub Carrington, Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George, Will Riley, and Cam Whitmore. The team also made moves to acquire Trae Young and Anthony Davis last season — though Davis never played for Washington and Young saw very limited action. Even so, Dybantsa steps into a situation with more surrounding talent than the franchise has had in years.

Dybantsa has been compared to his favorite player, Kevin Durant — a fitting parallel given that Durant is a D.C. native who has never suited up for Washington at the college or professional level, making him something of an elusive dream for the city’s basketball fans.

The Washington Wizards made their selection at the top of the NBA draft Tuesday evening, choosing BYU forward AJ Dybantsa with the first overall pick.

Washington passed on Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, who had a turbulent college season with the Jayhawks, opting instead for Dybantsa. Peterson didn’t wait long to hear his name called — the Utah Jazz grabbed him with the very next pick at No. 2 overall.

Standing 6-foot-9, Dybantsa dominated college basketball in his lone season, finishing as the nation’s top scorer at 25.5 points per game. Analysts expect him to contribute right away at the professional level.

Speaking on ESPN after being selected, Dybantsa expressed what the moment meant to him. “This means a lot,” he said. “It’s a stepping stone. Obviously, I have a lot more work to do.”

Tuesday’s selection marked the third time in franchise history that Washington has held the No. 1 overall pick. The team previously used that slot to draft Kwame Brown in 2001 and John Wall in 2010.

Dybantsa also made history for his program, becoming the first player from BYU ever to be taken first overall in the NBA draft.

The first round of the 2026 NBA Draft wrapped up Tuesday night in New York, with all 30 teams making their selections. Here is a look at how the first round unfolded, including scouting breakdowns on two of the top prospects taken.

One of the early picks was a first-team Associated Press All-American who led the nation in scoring as a freshman, averaging 25.5 points per game. Built with a sturdy frame, he was especially effective creating his own shot and drawing fouls — he topped the entire country in free throws both made (229) and attempted (296). According to Synergy Sports data, he ranked in the 87th percentile as a ball-handler in pick-and-roll situations, which accounted for 27% of his possessions, and in the 94th percentile in post-up situations. He also averaged 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game while shooting 51% from the field. He set a program freshman record at BYU with 43 points in a game against Utah. His three-point shooting (33.1%) remains an area for development.

Another early selection was a freshman scoring playmaker who excelled both in the half-court and in transition. He averaged 20.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game, while connecting on 38.2% of his three-point attempts — including a game where he drained six threes in a win at Oklahoma State. He made 82.6% of his free throws and logged six games with at least eight free throw attempts. However, availability was a major concern throughout the season. He was hospitalized during the preseason due to a full-body cramping issue and went on to miss 11 games because of injury or illness, frequently dealing with day-to-day uncertainty that limited his minutes.

Below is the complete list of first-round picks from the 2026 NBA Draft:

3. Memphis Grizzlies
4. Chicago Bulls
5. Los Angeles Clippers (from Indiana)
6. Brooklyn Nets
7. Sacramento Kings
8. Atlanta Hawks (from New Orleans)
9. Dallas Mavericks
10. Milwaukee Bucks
11. Golden State Warriors
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Los Angeles Clippers)
13. Miami Heat (traded to Milwaukee)
14. Charlotte Hornets
15. Chicago Bulls (from Portland)
16. Memphis Grizzlies (from Phoenix via Orlando)
17. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Philadelphia)
18. Charlotte Hornets (from Orlando via Phoenix)
19. Toronto Raptors
20. San Antonio Spurs (from Atlanta)
21. Detroit Pistons (from Minnesota)
22. Philadelphia 76ers (from Houston via Oklahoma City)
23. Atlanta Hawks (from Cleveland)
24. New York Knicks
25. Los Angeles Lakers
26. Denver Nuggets
27. Boston Celtics
28. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Detroit, traded to Brooklyn)
29. Cleveland Cavaliers (from San Antonio via Atlanta)
30. Dallas Mavericks (from Oklahoma City via Washington and Philadelphia)

Olympic gold medalist Bode Miller has entered a not guilty plea to two misdemeanor drug charges following his arrest in eastern Idaho on suspicion of possessing psilocybin mushrooms.

Court records show Miller was arrested on June 6 in eastern Idaho and entered his not guilty plea to charges of controlled substance possession and drug paraphernalia possession the following week. His attorney, Jeromy Stafford, and his longtime representative, Lowell Taub, did not respond to messages seeking comment. It remains unclear whether Taub still serves as Miller’s representative.

The court documents provide no details about what led to Miller’s arrest. However, a probable cause statement from Fremont County Sheriff’s Deputy Jacob Hurt indicates the deputy found Miller carrying a white dispensary bag that contained 4.1 grams of the psychedelic mushrooms.

Idaho is known for having some of the toughest drug laws in the country. By contrast, states like Colorado and Oregon have legalized psilocybin for therapeutic purposes. The substance has gained growing attention among certain health advocates who believe it can help treat anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder when used in controlled settings or in small doses.

In April, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the Food and Drug Administration and other federal agencies to accelerate research into psychedelics and ease restrictions on their use. In response, the FDA announced it would offer an expedited review process for three psychedelic drugs currently being developed to treat mental health conditions.

Miller, now 48, built his legendary career on an aggressive, all-or-nothing approach to ski racing. That style earned him six Olympic medals, highlighted by a gold in the super-combined event at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games, along with a long list of spectacular crashes.

His final major competition came at the 2015 world championships in Beaver Creek, Colorado, where a severe crash during the super-G ended his run. He clipped a gate too closely, catching his left arm and sending him tumbling violently down the slope. His skis flew off as he somersaulted before regaining his footing. He stood up slowly, waited for his skis to be returned, clicked back in, and glided the rest of the way down, waving to the crowd. Miller later had surgery to repair a torn right hamstring tendon that occurred when his ski struck him during the fall.

Over the course of his career, Miller won 33 World Cup races, claimed two World Cup overall titles, and took home four gold medals at world championships.

The Washington Capitals bolstered their offense Tuesday by landing established goal-scorer Jordan Kyrou from the St. Louis Blues in a multi-piece deal that included center Connor McMichael, draft prospect Milton Gastrin, and the No. 16 overall pick in the upcoming NHL draft starting Friday.

Kyrou, 28, spent eight seasons in St. Louis, where he racked up 168 goals — highlighted by three consecutive 30-plus-goal campaigns between the 2022-23 and 2024-25 seasons. The Toronto native saw a dip in production during the 2025-26 season, finishing with 18 goals in 72 games.

McMichael, who spent parts of six seasons in Washington including four full years, leaves with a career total of 67 goals and 87 assists across 315 games. He won 43 percent of his career faceoffs during his time with the Capitals.

Gastrin was selected in the second round of the 2025 draft and remained in Sweden following his selection. He got his first taste of North American hockey during the 2026 AHL playoffs, suiting up for one game with the Hershey Bears.

With the addition of the No. 16 pick, the Blues now hold four first-round selections heading into Friday’s draft — the 11th, 15th, 16th, and 29th overall picks.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone never thought he’d be having a conversation with a professional baseball player about keeping lollipops off the field — but that’s exactly what happened Monday night.

Second baseman Jazz Chisholm jogged out to his position between innings for the second time this season with a green Charms Blow Pop in his mouth, completely without his manager’s knowledge. When Boone learned about it, he made no secret of his embarrassment over the situation.

“I just don’t think he should’ve had a lollipop out on the field. Nothing more, less. It just wasn’t a good look to me,” Boone told reporters during pregame media availability Tuesday. “I mean, listen, I was annoyed by it, I addressed it and let’s move on from it. At the end of the day it wasn’t that big of a deal.”

He added simply: “Just … shouldn’t do that.”

Chisholm had the lollipop in his mouth when the opposing Tigers stepped up to bat in the bottom of the fifth inning. He was not called upon to make any defensive plays during that half-inning. This comes just days after Chisholm made headlines for declaring he still refuses to wear a protective cup, even after taking a foul ball to the groin during Thursday’s loss to the Chicago White Sox.

Earlier Tuesday, Boone expressed himself even more bluntly on the Talkin’ Yankees podcast. “That pisses me off,” he said.

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons are investing heavily in their offensive core, reaching a three-year agreement worth $54 million with tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. that will keep him in Atlanta through the 2028 season.

The contract was announced Tuesday by Pitts’ representation, Athletes First, via social media. According to the agency, the deal stands as the largest three-year contract ever handed to a tight end in NFL history.

The Pitts signing follows closely behind the Falcons’ recent agreement with wide receiver Drake London, who inked a four-year, $141 million deal just three weeks prior.

Pitts, 25 years old, was selected by Atlanta with the eighth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Last season, he turned in the best statistical performance of his career, hauling in 88 catches for 928 yards and five touchdowns. Those numbers placed him second among all NFL tight ends in both receptions and receiving yards.

The deal includes $36 million in guaranteed money and was first reported by ESPN. While the Falcons organization has not made a formal announcement, the team did celebrate the news by sharing a video of Pitts on their social media channels.

One of the highlights of Pitts’ standout season came on December 11, when he scored three touchdowns in Atlanta’s 29-28 road victory over Tampa Bay. Kirk Cousins was under center for that game. Looking ahead, the Falcons will head into training camp with Tua Tagovailoa expected to battle Michael Penix Jr. for the starting quarterback role.

Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski noted that Penix, who is recovering from knee surgery, is progressing on schedule. Penix was not yet cleared for full team drills during a recent minicamp, but he showed well in seven-on-seven sessions.

Tagovailoa, formerly the starting quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, was signed by Atlanta to a one-year contract in March. That move came after the team released Cousins with a post-June 1 designation.

Pitts had been playing under a franchise tag worth $15.045 million, but beginning in the 2026 season he will operate under his new long-term deal. At an average annual value of $18 million, Pitts ranks third among the NFL’s highest-paid tight ends, trailing only San Francisco’s George Kittle at $19.1 million per year and Arizona’s Trey McBride at $19 million.

FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts — England walked away with just a point Tuesday after a disciplined Ghana squad held them scoreless in their second World Cup Group L contest, finishing in a 0-0 draw that left both teams well positioned to advance — but disappointed manager Thomas Tuchel’s squad following their opening 4-2 triumph over Croatia.

Ghana entered the match fresh off a dramatic last-second 1-0 win over Panama and made their defensive intentions obvious from the opening whistle, setting up to neutralize England’s attacking game.

Playing through steady rain, England controlled possession for nearly 80% of the first half but could rarely generate quality chances. Ghana players crowded England captain Harry Kane and his teammates whenever they threatened near goal.

The first 45 minutes were historic for the wrong reasons — it marked the first half in any match at this World Cup where neither team registered a single shot on target. One of the loudest crowd reactions came when former England captain David Beckham appeared on the stadium’s giant screens, watching the match from the stands in a suit at the New England Patriots’ NFL home near Boston.

Tuchel had anticipated Ghana’s organized defensive approach, noting beforehand that coach Carlos Queiroz — now at his fifth World Cup as a head coach — had deep familiarity with English football from two stints as assistant manager at Manchester United.

England assistant coach Anthony Barry described Ghana’s defensive setup at halftime as defending “deep, deep, deep, probably deeper than we expected,” urging his side to remain patient.

In search of a breakthrough, Tuchel sent on Bukayo Saka and Nico O’Reilly in the 65th minute, then brought in Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze shortly after, and eventually introduced Marcus Rashford as well.

Ghana kept England honest on the counter, with the speed of Antoine Semenyo and substitute Prince Kwabena Adu posing a threat on the break.

England’s clearest opportunity came in the 86th minute when O’Reilly’s header struck the crossbar and Kane drove the rebound over the net.

“I just couldn’t quite get over the ball,” Kane said afterward. “But, yeah, I’m backing myself to score that more often than not. So, it is what it is. I’ve been a striker long enough to know they don’t always go in, so I have to accept it.”

Ghana coach Queiroz expressed pride in how his players executed the game plan against a formidable opponent.

“I am so proud, the way our players they fought during the game, how much they stand behind the game plan,” the Portuguese veteran said.

The draw extended a notable pattern for England — it was the fourth consecutive time at a major tournament, spanning two European Championships and now two World Cups, that they have drawn their second group stage match.

Croatia and Panama, both still without a point, were set to face each other later Tuesday.

The Dallas Mavericks made it official on Tuesday, announcing the hiring of Dusty May as the franchise’s next head coach — one day after initial reports surfaced that the Michigan head coach was set to take the position.

May, 49, wrapped up a standout college career that included leading the Wolverines to a 37-3 record and an NCAA Tournament championship during the 2025-26 season, his second year in Ann Arbor.

“I am honored to join the Dallas Mavericks organization,” May said in the team’s official announcement. “This is one of the most respected franchises in professional sports, with passionate fans, a talented roster, and a clear commitment to building a championship organization. I am grateful to Patrick Dumont, Masai Ujiri, and the Mavericks organization for this opportunity, and I look forward to helping bring another championship to the city of Dallas.”

May steps into the role vacated by Jason Kidd, who and the Mavericks mutually agreed to part ways on May 19 following five seasons as head coach. Dallas struggled last season, finishing 26-56 — the franchise’s worst record since the 2017-18 campaign.

While May has never coached at the professional level, his track record in college basketball speaks for itself. In two seasons leading Michigan, he went 64-13. When he arrived, the program was coming off an 8-24 season.

Before joining the Wolverines, May replaced Juwan Howard at Michigan after building a remarkable résumé at Florida Atlantic, where he spent six seasons from 2018 to 2024 and compiled a 126-69 record. His most memorable moment there came in 2023, when he guided the Owls on a surprise run to the Final Four — a run that ended when San Diego State knocked them out on a buzzer-beating shot.

Dallas Mavericks president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri praised the hire in the team’s announcement. “We set out to find a leader who embodies the values we want to define our organization,” Ujiri said. “Dusty has won at every stage of his career because of his ability to build. He develops players, creates accountability, and brings people together around a shared standard of excellence. His work ethic is extraordinary, and his teams consistently reflect his values.”

Ujiri continued: “When you study his journey, you see someone who has earned every opportunity through preparation, discipline, humility, and an unwavering commitment to improvement. We believe those qualities make him the right leader for the Dallas Mavericks.”

Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont also weighed in, saying, “Dusty represents the type of leader we want guiding this franchise. He has demonstrated throughout his career that success is built through preparation, character, accountability, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. His leadership style, ability to develop people, and championship mindset align with the vision we have for the Dallas Mavericks. We are thrilled to welcome Dusty, his wife Anna, and their sons Jack, Charlie, and Eli to the Mavericks family.”

A formal introductory press conference will be held at a later date, according to the team. In the meantime, May’s attention turns immediately to the NBA Draft, which got underway Tuesday night. Dallas holds the ninth and 30th picks in the first round.

MEXICO CITY — Czech Republic head coach Miroslav Koubek is urging his players to set aside the weight of history and keep believing they can advance to the knockout round when they face Mexico in a critical Group A contest on Wednesday.

Mexico has already locked up first place in the group and a spot in the next round, following wins over South Africa and South Korea. The Czechs, on the other hand, have managed just one point through their first two games and are in desperate need of a strong result to stay alive in the tournament.

As co-hosts, Mexico has yet to allow a goal and is expected to enjoy a massive home crowd advantage at the Azteca Stadium — a venue where they have never lost a World Cup match, going six wins and two draws across the 1970, 1986, and 2026 tournaments.

Koubek recognized the enormous task in front of his team but made clear his players cannot afford to be intimidated by Mexico’s track record.

“We know their successes are really fascinating. It’s a great success and we really do respect that. We have great respect for Mexican football and also for Mexican fans,” Koubek told reporters Tuesday.

“However, we need to focus on what we need to do. We have to get the necessary points, otherwise we will drop out of the World Cup.”

Even so, the Czech coach expressed belief that his squad had not given up hope.

“Miracles do happen and nothing is impossible in football. That’s our approach,” he said. “We can’t think about these facts right now and we have to follow our dream as best as we can.”

Czech captain Ladislav Krejci pointed to the team’s playoff run back in March — when they defeated Ireland and Denmark to earn their spot in the tournament — as proof they can rise to the occasion against a stronger opponent.

“This is our last chance,” Krejci said. “The experience from March is very important for us. Back then we proved that we were able to succeed against stronger teams, so we can succeed now against Mexico as well.”

Koubek also acknowledged that his team must play better than they have so far, having blown leads in both previous matches against South Korea and South Africa.

“We have to score, that’s clear,” he said. “We need to be stronger in the game, stronger in the combinations and have bigger possession of the ball. We are not very happy about what happened so far and we want to improve.”

Imagine racing a boat 750 miles through open water — without ever firing up an engine. That’s exactly what a bold group of competitors is doing in the “Race to Alaska,” a grueling non-motorized boat race that stretches from Washington state all the way up to Alaska.

Participants in the race must rely entirely on wind, muscle power, or other non-engine means to propel themselves through hundreds of miles of challenging Pacific Northwest waters. There are no motors allowed — just determination and seamanship.

The race is considered one of the most demanding human-powered maritime competitions around, testing both the physical endurance and navigational skills of everyone who dares to enter.

The Atlanta Falcons have agreed to a new contract with tight end Kyle Pitts, locking him in for three years at $54 million, according to Pitts’ agents, who shared the news with ESPN on Tuesday. The deal includes a reported $36 million in fully guaranteed money.

The agreement makes Pitts the third-highest-paid tight end in NFL history by average annual value, at $18 million per year. Only San Francisco 49ers star George Kittle, at $19.1 million per year, and Arizona Cardinals standout Trey McBride, at $19 million per year, rank above him.

The new contract extends through the 2028 season and takes the place of the $15.045 million franchise tag Atlanta had applied to Pitts earlier in the offseason. Both sides faced a July 15 deadline to finalize a long-term arrangement.

Pitts, who is 25 years old, earned second-team All-Pro honors last season after posting 928 receiving yards along with career-best marks of 88 receptions and five touchdown catches across 17 games.

The tight end first made his mark on the league as a rookie in 2021, earning a Pro Bowl selection after hauling in 68 catches for a career-high 1,026 yards and one touchdown.

Over five seasons in Atlanta, Pitts has accumulated 284 receptions for 3,579 yards and 15 touchdowns in 78 games, with 72 starts.

Pitts was selected fourth overall in the 2021 NFL Draft out of the University of Florida.

The Falcons have been busy securing their offensive weapons. Earlier this month, the team also signed receiver Drake London to a four-year, $141 million extension that runs through the 2030 season.

DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks wasted no time introducing their new head coach, formally announcing Dusty May in the role just hours before the team stepped to the podium at the NBA draft Tuesday night with the ninth overall pick.

May is transitioning from college basketball to the professional level fewer than three months after guiding Michigan to its first NCAA national title since 1989. In two seasons with the Wolverines, he compiled a 64-13 record, capping it with a dominant 34-3 campaign that concluded in a 69-63 championship game win over UConn.

The announcement made it official that May would replace Jason Kidd on the Dallas bench — and it came on a significant night for the franchise, as the team also looked to select a young talent to help build alongside 2025 No. 1 overall pick and reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg, who will turn 20 this December.

In addition to the ninth pick, Dallas also holds the 30th selection at the end of the first round and the 48th pick in the second round, which is scheduled for Wednesday.

New president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri — who let Kidd go roughly two weeks after being brought on board himself — spoke highly of the hire. “Dusty has won at every stage of his career because of his ability to build,” Ujiri said. “He develops players, creates accountability and brings people together around a shared standard of excellence. His work ethic is extraordinary, and his teams consistently reflect his values.”

May’s championship run at Michigan came three years after he guided Florida Atlantic to its only Final Four appearance. When he took over the Wolverines, he inherited a program that had gone just 8-24 under the previous coach — the lowest win total for the school since a 7-20 season in 1981-82. In his first year, he led Michigan to a Big Ten Tournament title.

The 49-year-old coach put together a 124-26 record over his last four college seasons, an .827 winning percentage that ranked third among all major college men’s basketball coaches over that stretch, trailing only Houston’s Kelvin Sampson (.861) and Duke’s Jon Scheyer (.832). His full college coaching record stands at 190-82.

May spent 21 years working in the college game. The Indiana native got his start as a student manager for the Hoosiers under coach Bob Knight from 1996 to 2000, then worked as an assistant at several programs including Florida, UAB, and Murray State before becoming a head coach at Florida Atlantic in 2018-19.

May expressed enthusiasm about joining the organization. “This is one of the most respected franchises in professional sports, with passionate fans, a talented roster, and a clear commitment to building a championship organization,” he said.

The hiring closes a difficult chapter for Dallas that began with the trade of Luka Doncic. General manager Nico Harrison, who orchestrated the deal that brought the frequently injured Anthony Davis over from the Los Angeles Lakers, was let go in November after the team got off to a slow start in the 2025-26 season. Dallas missed the playoffs for the second year in a row, following a run that had taken them all the way to the NBA Finals before losing to Boston in five games.

That deep playoff run in 2024 featured both Doncic and Kyrie Irving, and Doncic had also carried the team to the Western Conference finals two years prior with a largely different supporting cast around him.

Irving is still on the roster, though questions about his future persist after he missed the entire last season due to a torn ACL in his left knee, an injury he suffered in March — just one month after the Doncic trade went through.

Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont also weighed in on the decision. “Dusty represents the type of leader we want guiding this franchise,” Dumont said. “He has demonstrated throughout his career that success is built through preparation, character, accountability, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.”

BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Argentina’s love for Lionel Messi has reached new heights during the 2026 World Cup, with a towering steel statue rising over a remote Patagonian town and a fan-signed mural in the suburbs of Buenos Aires drawing attention from the soccer legend himself.

Standing 26 meters tall — roughly 85 feet — the massive figure constructed from 70 tons of steel and iron looms over the edge of Cutral Co, a southern oil-producing town in Patagonia. The sculpture shows Messi on one knee, the 2022 World Cup trophy resting between his legs and one arm lifted skyward, as though welcoming drivers passing along Route 22.

The monument was unveiled on June 16, coinciding with Argentina’s World Cup opener, in which Messi scored three goals to help defeat Algeria. Local officials and the artist behind the work say it is the largest tribute ever built in honor of the team captain, who celebrates his 39th birthday this Wednesday.

Sculptor Aldo Beroisa, 61, spoke about what the project meant to him personally. “He is Argentina’s natural ambassador. For me, it was very important, not only as an artist but as an Argentine,” Beroisa told the Associated Press.

Beroisa has previously crafted oversized dinosaur sculptures and monuments honoring Argentina’s independence heroes in Cutral Co — a town that typically draws far less tourism than other Patagonian destinations known for their scenic lakes and mountains. That is changing now, as visitors pour in to see the statue of the player who has scored 18 goals since his World Cup debut back in 2006. He claimed the record as the tournament’s all-time leading scorer this week, after finding the net twice in Argentina’s 2-0 win over Austria.

The statue, which required 18 months to build, captures the emotional moment from the 2022 World Cup final at Lusail Stadium in Qatar, when Messi dropped to his knees on the field after Gonzalo Montiel’s decisive penalty kick gave Argentina a 4-2 shootout victory over France. The sculpture also shows Messi gripping Argentina’s jersey in one hand while pointing one finger toward the sky — a signature celebration he performs in memory of his late grandmother.

Meanwhile, in the Buenos Aires suburb of Berazategui, a different kind of tribute has been turning heads. A mural approximately six meters wide and 5.5 meters tall — about 20 by 18 feet — features a hyperrealistic portrait of Messi’s smiling face surrounded by the handwritten names of hundreds of his supporters.

The artwork caught Messi’s attention, prompting him to send a video message to its creators. “Crazy … thank you very much to all of you, to the people who supported it, who came by, and who keep coming by,” Messi said in the recording.

Mural creator Leonel García, 32, was quick to share the credit. “This is a mural that I didn’t make by myself. Beyond the fact that I painted it, it was made by more than 1,300 people,” García said, referring to the fans who traveled from various towns to personally sign their names on the wall.

The work took 18 days to complete. García worked alongside Federico Merodo, who owns the parking lot where the wall used as the canvas is located. Painting a hyperrealistic likeness of one of the world’s most recognizable faces presented an enormous challenge. The image draws inspiration from a moment during a friendly match following Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph, when Messi appeared relaxed and genuinely joyful on the field.

“Messi brings joy to the country. The times we’re living through in Argentina may not be very good for some people, but Messi unites everyone … and the mural does that too, because people from everywhere come together here, from every social class and every political sector,” García said.

The Minnesota Twins made a roster move Tuesday, selecting the contract of veteran right-hander Austin Voth from their Triple-A affiliate in St. Paul.

To clear a spot on the roster, the Twins sent fellow right-hander Cody Lawyerson down to St. Paul in a corresponding move.

Voth, 33, posted a 0-1 record with a 5.40 ERA across three starts for St. Paul, fanning 17 hitters over 13 and one-third innings. He had signed a minor league deal on June 4.

Prior to joining the Twins organization, Voth had appeared in two relief outings for the Toronto Blue Jays earlier this season, going 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA, five walks, and one strikeout across six innings. Toronto released him on June 1.

Over parts of eight major league seasons, Voth has compiled a 17-19 record with a 4.77 ERA in 209 games, including 39 starts. His career stops include the Washington Nationals (2018-22), Baltimore Orioles (2022-23), Seattle Mariners (2024), and Blue Jays (2026). Last season, he pitched in Japan for Chiba Lotte.

Lawyerson, 28, finishes his time with the big league club having gone 1-0 with one save, a 5.06 ERA, and 18 strikeouts in 16 innings across 14 relief appearances this season.

NEW YORK — The 2026 FIFA World Cup is heading toward record-breaking attendance figures, and experts say it has less to do with American passion for soccer and more to do with the nation’s hunger for once-in-a-generation events.

Through the first 44 matches of the tournament, total attendance surpassed 2.85 million fans, with stadiums running at an average of 99.6% capacity, according to a Reuters analysis of FIFA data.

“Americans like big events,” said Dan Rascher, a sports economics expert at the University of San Francisco. “They want to be there for the big moments.”

This year’s tournament is significantly larger than previous editions — featuring 104 total matches compared to 64 in prior cups — but attendance is already on pace to shatter the all-time record before even reaching the 64th game. That existing record of approximately 3.5 million spectators was established in 1994, the last time the United States served as host.

“Part of it is that we have these gigantic stadiums,” noted Victor Matheson, an economist and sports business expert at the College of the Holy Cross.

Beyond sheer size, the 2026 venues are also running fuller on a percentage basis than nearly any World Cup this century, with the possible exception of Germany’s 2006 tournament, according to FIFA annual reports and Reuters data.

Steep Prices Haven’t Scared Anyone Off

Soccer doesn’t hold the same cultural grip in the U.S. as it does in recent host countries like Brazil and Germany, and ticket prices have reached historic highs — yet fans are still coming.

FIFA introduced dynamic pricing for the first time this year, adjusting costs based on demand. A last-minute ticket to Thursday’s match between Paraguay and Australia, for instance, ran $450.

On the resale market, prices climbed even higher. TicketData, which monitors secondary market activity, reported average “get-in” prices of $798 — meaning that was the cheapest available resale ticket for any given game.

FIFA has drawn criticism over its pricing approach, but a spokesperson said Tuesday that the model reflects market demand and “aligns with industry trends … where the price is adapted to optimise sales and attendance.” The spokesperson also noted that FIFA made 130,000 tickets available at $60 apiece.

The organization also faced backlash for its December decision to award a peace prize to U.S. President Donald Trump, whose immigration policies have made it harder for fans from Haiti, Iran, Senegal, and other countries to enter the United States for the tournament.

If any resentment exists among fans, it hasn’t translated into empty seats. “The American consumer is willing to pay for what they perceive to be a premium sporting event,” said John Grady, a sport management professor at the University of South Carolina.

Americans Spend Big When It Counts

This pattern fits a wider consumer trend. Despite persistently low consumer confidence, Americans haven’t stopped spending on high-end experiences — they’ve simply become more selective, researchers at Nielsen IQ noted in a May report, increasingly balancing splurges with savings on everyday purchases.

“Americans want the best, and the World Cup is the cream of the crop,” Rascher said.

Interestingly, more Americans tune in to watch Mexico’s Liga MX — widely regarded as a high-talent league — than the U.S.’s own Major League Soccer, according to a June Nielsen report.

“We always think the World Cup will lead to a boost in MLS ratings, but so far, it hasn’t,” Rascher added.

Star athletes with worldwide name recognition, such as Argentina’s Lionel Messi and France’s Kylian Mbappe, can draw enormous crowds on their own — a relatively new phenomenon driven by the influencer era, according to Grady.

FIFA has projected more than $3 billion in revenue from ticket sales and hospitality rights, and some experts believe that figure may actually be too conservative. Matheson estimates the total could reach as high as $4 billion — a dramatic jump from approximately $949 million generated in 2022 and $712 million in 2018, per FIFA annual reports.

Immigration Policies Cast a Shadow

Some analysts believe fan turnout — particularly at surrounding events like FIFA fan festivals — could have been even greater without the Trump administration’s travel restrictions and rising anti-American sentiment in some parts of the world.

International tourism to the U.S. dropped 5.7% last year, driven in part by what consulting firm Oxford Economics described in a January report as “sentiment and policy headwinds.” Early World Cup tourism was slow to pick up as well.

“Under a different administration, we almost certainly would’ve had more international interest in coming,” Matheson said.

The White House did not respond when asked for comment.

FIFA fan festivals — large-scale watch parties featuring food, entertainment, and merchandise — drew 7.7 million visits during the 2018 World Cup in Russia and 5.5 million during the 2014 tournament in Brazil, according to FIFA. This year’s festivals have shown strong performance.

Beyond official FIFA events, companies and cities have launched their own gatherings. Walmart’s Kickoff event held in Dallas on June 20 attracted roughly 800 attendees, a spokesperson confirmed. Goya is backing what it calls Flag Cities events, complete with food trucks and live music. San Jose and its MLS club, the Earthquakes, have hosted a daily watch party running throughout the entire tournament.

Experts say the success could be a promising sign for the next major U.S. sports event on the horizon — the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

The World Cup has been “a nice precursor,” Grady said. “It shows global fans the United States can throw a good party.”

MIAMI (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo is 31 years old, has dealt with recurring calf injuries, suited up for only 36 games with the Milwaukee Bucks this past season, and is expected to command a contract extension that could approach nearly $1 million per game in the coming years.

For some teams, those factors might be dealbreakers. For the Miami Heat, they were not.

The current era of NBA basketball operates by a clear unwritten rule: when a chance to compete for a championship comes along, you take it without hesitation. With eight different teams winning NBA titles over the past eight seasons, the league’s parity has sent a clear message — be aggressive when opportunity arrives, because waiting around could cost you everything.

The Heat recognized that opportunity, accepted the risks, and completed a trade with Milwaukee to bring Antetokounmpo to South Florida.

Had the Heat walked away empty-handed, the backlash from fans would have been severe, particularly given that the franchise has come up short in previous attempts to land marquee players — including Antetokounmpo himself. This time around, it was the Boston Celtics who appeared to miss out, with reports indicating that acquiring Antetokounmpo would have required Boston to part ways with star player Jaylen Brown.

Heat President Pat Riley has a long-standing rivalry with the Celtics dating back to his days with the Lakers and later the New York Knicks. Landing Antetokounmpo ahead of Boston carries extra satisfaction for Riley, while the Celtics are now left navigating an awkward situation — either repairing their relationship with Brown or exploring other roster moves.

Brown himself addressed the situation Monday during a Twitch stream, which went live hours before the Antetokounmpo trade was officially announced. “I get to see some negativity that I didn’t want … just adds more fuel to the fire,” he said. “I see some comments or takes that I didn’t even care to see, that just gives me more fuel to the fire. So, all the people who doubted me, that want me to do this or want me gone or whatever, you’re turning me into a monster.”

Those comments carry significant weight. Brown — an NBA Finals MVP who shouldered much of Boston’s offensive load this season while teammate Jayson Tatum recovered from Achilles tendon surgery — has now learned publicly that his own team was willing to trade him. While player movement is simply part of the business, that knowledge can still sting deeply, especially for someone experiencing it for the first time.

The uncertainty in Boston stands in stark contrast to the celebration in Miami.

The Heat’s acquisition of Antetokounmpo capped off a remarkable stretch of sports news in South Florida. The Florida Panthers added Brady Tkachuk on Sunday to play alongside his brother Matthew Tkachuk on a team that has captured two Stanley Cup championships in the past three seasons. Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi scored twice for Argentina at the World Cup on Monday, cementing his place as the tournament’s all-time leading goal scorer. Three World Cup matches are scheduled in South Florida this week, including a wave of Scotland supporters who have become something of a celebrity attraction during their visit. Then Monday night, the Heat sealed the Giannis deal.

“We’re all fans,” said Panthers hockey operations president and general manager Bill Zito. “This is cool. Now I get to see Giannis — but I’m from Milwaukee. I feel bad for the Bucks, but I am so happy for the Heat.”

Antetokounmpo himself had never been comfortable with the constant trade speculation that surrounded him over the past couple of years, so the resolution likely comes as a relief. Before the deal was finalized, he shared a message on social media: “GOD, I trusted you at the beginning, and I will continue to trust you throughout.”

With NBA free agency opening next week, more storylines are set to unfold. LeBron James faces a decision about whether to remain with the Lakers or take his talents elsewhere — if he continues playing at all. Oklahoma City faces notable roster choices a year after winning a title, and reigning champion New York has most of its core in place but still has some decisions ahead.

Still, the most seismic moves in today’s NBA happen through trades, and Miami has made its intentions crystal clear. The Heat are fully committed to chasing another championship, banking on the belief that Antetokounmpo remains among the elite players in the world. Now it falls on him to prove them right.

It took Tyler Shough seven years of college football to eventually land a starting spot as an NFL quarterback — but under a landmark rule change approved Tuesday, future athletes won’t have that same path available to them.

The NCAA has given the green light to a new eligibility framework for Division I athletes, the highest tier of college competition. Going forward, athletes will have a five-year window in which to complete five seasons of play. The governing body hopes the change will bring order to a system that has been strained by an explosion of transfers, redshirt decisions, injury situations, NIL-driven roster moves, and the lingering effects of pandemic-era rule adjustments.

Under the new structure, an athlete’s eligibility clock begins ticking when they enroll full time or at the start of the academic year following their 19th birthday — whichever comes first.

Assuming the rules survive any potential legal challenges, the landscape of college athletics will look dramatically different. Traditional redshirt seasons will be a thing of the past, and medical or general hardship waivers will no longer be available. The only exceptions that allow athletes to go beyond the five-in-five framework are military service, religious missions, and maternity leave.

Tom Loy, a national recruiting analyst for 247Sports, believes the new model could actually encourage talented players to stay in college longer and push coaches to hold onto their current rosters more tightly.

“In addition, I believe this rule change would have coaches putting a significant emphasis on retaining as much of the current roster as possible, especially upperclassmen, while focusing their attention slightly less on the transfer portal,” Loy said in an email. “With the opportunity to play five full seasons, they could have a roster full of 23-year-olds, for example, compared to 18- or 19-year-olds, and beyond that, potentially have a group full of talent they have developed in their system.”

Shough’s college journey took him through two seasons at Oregon and three at Texas Tech before he suited up at Louisville as a seventh-year senior in 2024. A combination of injuries, a redshirt year, and the pandemic stretched his career, ultimately helping him develop into a second-round NFL draft pick and the starting quarterback for the New Orleans Saints.

He feels strongly that future players deserve the same opportunities he had. “I think everybody should have a chance to at least get a medical and then a redshirt,” Shough said. “I know I benefited from that experience, the maturation process, having to compete multiple years. I feel strongly about that.”

Detroit Lions rookie defensive lineman Aidan Keanaaina took a comparable route. His six-year college career included time as an undergraduate at Notre Dame followed by two postgraduate seasons at California, made possible by a medical redshirt and a pandemic waiver — part of the period when the NCAA granted thousands of athletes an additional year of eligibility.

The five-in-five rule would have eliminated his final college season in 2025, a year that was crucial in getting him in front of NFL scouts. Still, he acknowledges why the NCAA felt something had to change, describing the current system as the wild West.

“You can’t please everyone in this world, ever, but they’re trying to please as many people as they can and do right by as many people as possible,” said Keanaaina, an undrafted free agent. “As someone who was injured, I think it’s tough to make a one-size-fits-all rule. But I also get that sometimes an older player is taking opportunities away from a younger one.”

While both Shough and Keanaaina focus on what the new model takes away, others in the college sports world see it opening new doors.

“I think it’s the NCAA’s way of keeping college sports as amateur as possible with the chaos that is the NIL era. It will be good for sports like lacrosse where post-grad and redshirt years are less common than in football,” said Kelsey Fee, an assistant women’s lacrosse coach at Dartmouth. “It will open up the portal to a new slew of craziness with kids looking to use their fifth year.”

Fee also believes the change will inject a fresh energy into recruiting that has been missing in recent years. Loy echoed that sentiment, suggesting coaches may refocus their attention on high school prospects and prioritizing getting them on the field quickly.

“Whether it works out or not, everyone would get a glimpse at where each prospect stands compared to others,” Loy wrote. “The players would get the early playing time, the coaches would see who outperforms who, and then, without the ability to redshirt anyone, a prospect can continue to be developed if they want to stick around and compete. They also wouldn’t just rush to leave and transfer, since they know they have five years to play ball.”

Green Bay Packers center Sean Rhyan, a third-round pick in 2022, said stricter eligibility limits could reshape how athletes approach the transfer portal. Once the clock starts, there’s no longer a way to recover from a bad decision by buying more time.

“Five for five, that’s fair. I think NIL is good, but I also think it took away that loyalty aspect that I think sports need,” Rhyan said. “Having that fixed amount of time is going to bring that loyalty.”

Rhyan also offered what may be the most straightforward case for the change: “Having like a 27-year-old linebacker or something and then you have a 17-year-old running back … I think five for five is more than fair.”

Mexico City is cracking down on alcohol ahead of Wednesday evening’s World Cup clash between Mexico and the Czech Republic, banning sales in some of the city’s most heavily trafficked areas to prevent a repeat of last week’s rowdy street celebrations.

The sales restriction will be in effect from 3 p.m. local time Wednesday through 7 a.m. Thursday, timed around the match, which is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at Mexico City Stadium.

While bars and restaurants will be allowed to continue operating normally, the ban will affect convenience stores, grocery stores, and supermarkets located in the historic downtown area and several surrounding boroughs.

The restricted zone includes the well-known Zona Rosa entertainment district and Reforma Avenue — the city’s main boulevard — where fans traditionally flock to celebrate soccer victories near the iconic Angel of Independence monument.

City officials had already signaled last week that additional personnel would be stationed to keep watch over beer sales by street vendors. That announcement came after more than 700,000 people flooded downtown streets to cheer Mexico’s win over South Korea, a result that pushed the co-hosting nation into the World Cup knockout round.

It’s worth noting that public drinking is prohibited under Mexican law.

Even so, thousands of fans took to Reforma Avenue after the South Korea match despite rainy conditions, transforming one of the city’s most recognizable streets into a massive outdoor celebration filled with green jerseys, Mexican flags, national songs, and late-night revelry.

When the party was over, city crews faced a significant cleanup — hauling away roughly 40 metric tons of trash from in and around the historic center.

HOUSTON — Cristiano Ronaldo had a message for his doubters on Tuesday: he’s back. The Portuguese superstar made World Cup history by becoming the first player in the tournament’s history to score in six different World Cups, tallying two goals as Portugal dominated Uzbekistan 5-0 in a Group K contest played in Houston.

After the final whistle, an emotional Ronaldo sprinted toward the television cameras and shouted “I’m back, I’m back” — a raw reaction from the 41-year-old who had faced mounting criticism over a goal-scoring dry spell stretching 10 matches in major tournament play.

Given room to operate inside the penalty area, Ronaldo made Uzbekistan pay dearly. His first goal came in just the sixth minute, a clean finish from six yards out at the near post after converting a low cross from Joao Cancelo. He later slotted Bruno Fernandes’ perfectly weighted pass into the far corner for his second. The brace pushed his career World Cup goal total to 10, surpassing Eusebio as Portugal’s all-time top scorer at the global finals.

After each goal, Ronaldo was swarmed by his teammates along the sideline while coach Roberto Martinez watched on with a satisfied smile.

Sandwiched between Ronaldo’s two strikes was a brilliant free kick from Nuno Mendes, who caught Uzbekistan goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov — and the entire crowd — off guard while Ronaldo served as a decoy on the set piece.

Uzbekistan had a moment of hope when Azizjon Ganiev unleashed an impressive shot that appeared to cut into the deficit, but a VAR review determined a foul had been committed on Cancelo, and the goal was wiped off the board.

In the second half, Nematov suffered an unfortunate own goal after fumbling the ball into his own net, and Rafael Leao capped the scoring with a late fifth goal in front of a capacity crowd of 68,777 fans.

The result came after Portugal’s opening match ended in a frustrating 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo. Tuesday’s performance appeared to reflect a team determined to make up for that disappointment, pressing aggressively from the opening whistle and generating chances throughout.

Portugal, now sitting on four points through two Group K matches, will close out the group stage against Colombia. Uzbekistan, still without a point and on the edge of elimination, will face DR Congo in their final group game.

Brendan Sorsby’s hopes of reaching the NFL took another major blow Tuesday when the league officially rejected his petition to enter the supplemental draft.

In a letter to Sorsby that was published by ESPN, the NFL told the quarterback that his petition was either incomplete or deliberately vague, and that it failed to “demonstrate accountability for your conduct or indicate whether, or how, you would adhere to the League’s rules and policies governing the integrity of competition.”

Sorsby had been declared ineligible by the NCAA after being found to have violated rules related to gambling. NFL counsel Lawrence P. Ferazani Jr. wrote in the letter that the league was troubled by Sorsby’s refusal to accept “responsibility for your actions,” noting that he first tried to fight the consequences through the courts before attempting to gain entry to the NFL through the supplemental draft process.

The quarterback had transferred from Cincinnati to Texas Tech ahead of the 2026 season, but those plans fell apart after his gambling violations came to light. Among the allegations was that he placed bets on Indiana games while he was a member of that team.

The NFL noted that it reviewed the full case and public record in making its decision, saying that was necessary because Sorsby failed to address the specifics or context surrounding his NCAA ban.

The league’s letter laid out its findings in detail: “You knowingly engaged in repeated and significant violations of NCAA rules designed to preserve the integrity of athletic competition. Reported conduct includes placing wagers on your own team and teammates and, to avoid detection, establishing or funding accounts in the names of intermediaries who placed bets on your behalf. There are also reports that you may have violated state criminal law.”

Ferazani also reminded Sorsby that commissioner Roger Goodell considers playing in the NFL a privilege “that carries with it significant responsibilities, including accountability. By all accounts, you are a talented player with the potential for future success. We encourage you to focus on preparing for possible entry into the NFL through the 2027 NFL Annual Draft.”

Sorsby’s attorney, Jeffrey Kessler, responded to the decision by telling ESPN the NFL had violated the “CBA and the law” — a response the league likely anticipated given their prior legal battles.

Kessler has a strong track record against the NFL in court and is well known for his expertise in union-related sports law. He represented the NFLPA during Tom Brady’s “Deflategate” suspension, worked on behalf of New Orleans Saints players disciplined in the “Bountygate” case, and has scored major legal victories as lead counsel in House vs. NCAA and 23XI Racing/Front Row Motorsports vs. NASCAR.

NEW YORK (AP) — The NHL may be headed to Texas. According to a source familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, Houston and Austin are among the cities being considered as the league looks into the possibility of expansion.

The league’s Board of Governors gathered Tuesday in New York for their yearly meeting following the Stanley Cup Final and ahead of the draft. Because no official announcement had been made, the source declined to be identified. ESPN and Sportsnet were the first outlets to break the story.

There is no certainty that the NHL will add a 33rd franchise, but the exploration marks an early step in what could eventually make the league larger than the NFL — a title that would make it the biggest professional sports organization in North America. Commissioner Gary Bettman has said in recent years that the league has been open to hearing from potential ownership groups in cities like Houston and Atlanta, but stopped short of describing any formal expansion process.

The most recent expansion brought the total to 32 teams when the Seattle Kraken hit the ice in 2021. Before that, the Vegas Golden Knights launched play in the 2017-18 season. Prior to those additions, the league had operated with 30 teams since 2000, when Columbus and Minnesota joined the fold.

The financial success of those newer franchises, along with skyrocketing team valuations across professional sports, has fueled growing expansion chatter — particularly since expansion fees could now surpass $1 billion. Seattle’s entry fee was $650 million, while Las Vegas paid $500 million.

Over the past four decades, the NHL has built a strong following across the Sun Belt and in markets not traditionally associated with hockey. The league added teams in South Florida, Tampa, San Jose, Anaheim, Nashville, and Las Vegas, while franchise relocations brought teams to Dallas, Raleigh, Denver, and other cities.

Those Sun Belt and non-traditional market teams have dominated the Stanley Cup, winning it seven consecutive times and 13 times overall going back to Colorado’s championship in the 1995-96 season.

Cristiano Ronaldo had something to prove, and he delivered. After a largely forgettable performance against the Democratic Republic of Congo left fans and analysts questioning whether the 41-year-old still belonged at the World Cup, Portugal’s iconic forward stepped up in a big way against Uzbekistan.

Ronaldo, one of the oldest players competing in this year’s tournament, had been nearly invisible in Portugal’s earlier match, drawing criticism and fueling speculation about his effectiveness at this stage of his career. But against Uzbekistan, the veteran striker looked like a completely different player — sharp, involved, and dangerous.

He went on to score twice in the contest, silencing the doubters and reminding the world why he remains one of the most celebrated athletes in the sport’s history. The performance took place in Houston on Tuesday.

At 41, Ronaldo continues to defy expectations and push the boundaries of what is considered possible at his age in professional soccer. His two-goal outing gave Portugal a significant boost and reignited confidence in their World Cup campaign.

WASHINGTON — The United States government has relaxed travel restrictions for Iran’s World Cup soccer team, according to an announcement made Tuesday by the Department of Homeland Security.

Under the updated arrangements, the Iranian squad is now permitted to travel two days ahead of their next scheduled World Cup match, giving the team additional time on the ground before game day.

The Portland Trail Blazers announced Tuesday that they have chosen Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach Micah Nori to lead the team as their next head coach, following a playoff appearance this past season under interim coach Tiago Splitter — the club’s first postseason berth in five years.

Nori, 52, spent the last five seasons in Minnesota, serving as the lead assistant under head coach Chris Finch. During that stretch, the Timberwolves reached the playoffs each year, won five playoff series, and advanced to the Western Conference finals in both 2023 and 2024. When Finch was sidelined with a knee injury during the 2024 postseason, Nori took on an expanded role in managing games.

Before landing in Minnesota, Nori built a lengthy career across the NBA. He got his start in the league in 1998 as a scout with the Toronto Raptors and later served as an assistant coach for the Raptors, the Sacramento Kings, the Denver Nuggets, and the Detroit Pistons. He had also been considered for several other head coaching positions, including interviews with the Chicago Bulls earlier this month, the New York Knicks last year, and the Los Angeles Lakers in 2024. On a personal note, his son Dante plays minor league baseball in the Philadelphia Phillies organization.

Blazers general manager Joe Cronin expressed strong confidence in the decision. “After an extensive search process, it became clear that Micah embodies the qualities we are looking for in the leader of this franchise,” Cronin said in a statement. “He has been a key contributor to successful organizations and brings a wealth of expertise, a proven ability to develop players and an authenticity that aligns with the culture we are building. We are excited about the future under his direction and look forward to what we can accomplish together.”

Nori steps into a role that became available under dramatic circumstances. Former head coach Chauncey Billups was arrested last October as part of a federal crackdown on a large-scale gambling operation. Billups has pleaded not guilty to charges of wire fraud and money laundering. Splitter, who was elevated from assistant to interim head coach following Billups’ departure, was hired last week as the head coach of the Chicago Bulls.

Under Splitter’s guidance this past season, Portland finished 42-40 and returned to the playoffs for the first time in five years — also the first time in that span the team posted a winning record. Their run ended with a five-game first-round loss to San Antonio, which went on to become an NBA finalist.

The Nori hire is the first major personnel decision made by the Blazers’ new ownership group, led by Tom Dundon. The group purchased the franchise from the estate of Paul Allen, the Microsoft co-founder who passed away in 2018. The NBA’s Board of Governors approved the sale — reported to be worth $4.25 billion — in April.

Nori spoke positively about his conversations with team leadership. “From my conversations with Tom and Joe, it was evident that there is a strong commitment to building a culture that values accountability, development and team success,” he said. “This is a team with tremendous talent, and I’m excited to begin working with our players and staff.”

The NFL delivered a clear message to quarterback Brendan Sorsby on Tuesday: there will be no supplemental draft this year. In a letter obtained by The Associated Press, the league told Sorsby he should instead set his sights on entering the NFL through next year’s regular draft.

Sorsby had sought entry into the supplemental draft following a prolonged dispute with the NCAA, which permanently banned him from college athletics after finding he had placed thousands of bets on sporting events — totaling at least $90,000 — throughout his college career. Among those wagers were at least 40 bets placed on Indiana games during his freshman year there in 2022, though none of those bets involved games in which he personally played for the team.

NFL attorney Lawrence P. Ferazani Jr. spelled out the league’s reasoning in the letter, writing: “The League has not conducted such a draft for several years and, prior to your submission, the League had no plans to do so this year, as no other player has sought entry. Your Petition — filed three business days before the deadline, without any supporting information or documentation, and only after abandoning your recent litigation efforts to avoid NCAA sanctions — does not provide a basis for the League to alter those plans. The issues presented by your Petition are too significant, and too closely tied to the League’s core integrity interests, to permit meaningful review within the timeline presented.”

The letter also included this guidance for the 22-year-old quarterback: “We encourage you to focus on preparing for possible entry into the NFL through the 2027 NFL Annual Draft.”

The deadline to apply for the supplemental draft had been Monday. Sorsby had previously planned to hold a workout for NFL teams on July 10.

Sorsby’s path to this point has been a turbulent one. He transferred earlier this year from Cincinnati to Texas Tech, only to be removed from competition by the NCAA because of his gambling history. He then spent a month in a residential treatment program after being diagnosed with a gambling addiction that contributed to the extensive betting activity.

After completing that program, Sorsby took legal action against the NCAA and secured a court-ordered reinstatement to play at Texas Tech. That move triggered widespread backlash directed at the university, ultimately pushing Sorsby to pursue the supplemental draft — a process that has not actually been used to select a player since 2019.

Ferazani’s letter also addressed the substance of Sorsby’s petition directly: “The sole reasons identified in your Petition for seeking entry into the Supplemental Draft are that you have been ‘declared ineligible’ by the NCAA, have ‘exhausted all of (your) avenues to continue in the NCAA,’ and ‘want to now play in the NFL.’ The Petition provides no information regarding the basis for, or timing of, the NCAA’s decision. Public sources, however, indicate that in May 2026 the NCAA issued a determination declaring you permanently ineligible from participation in college athletics, based on a sustained pattern of improper gambling activity during your collegiate career at three different universities.”

With the supplemental draft off the table, Sorsby will have to wait until next year for his first opportunity to enter the NFL.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump will be present to hand over the World Cup championship trophy at the final match, scheduled for July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium.

Infantino, who leads the global governing body of soccer, has built a notably close relationship with the U.S. president. That relationship was on display in December when Infantino presented Trump with the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize — an award Infantino himself created — as Trump continued to seek out high-profile moments in the world of sports.

Speaking on the “Fox and Friends” television program, Infantino described the plan: “We will be together with the president enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course, together.”

FIFA declined to add anything beyond what Infantino said on television.

This won’t be Trump’s first time at the center of a major soccer moment. At the same East Rutherford, New Jersey, stadium last year, Trump presented the trophy to Club World Cup champions Chelsea, receiving a mix of cheers and boos from the crowd. He also stood among the players during their trophy celebration, a moment that left some players visibly puzzled.

Since then, Trump has made appearances at several other major sporting events in the greater New York area, including the U.S. Open men’s tennis final, the Ryder Cup golf competition, and the NBA Finals.

The World Cup is currently in progress, with games being played across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. New York New Jersey Stadium is slated to host eight matches in total, including the championship final.

A stampede that erupted among World Cup fans gathered in Jordan’s capital city early Tuesday morning claimed one life and sent eight others to the hospital, according to the country’s state news agency.

Thousands of supporters had packed into Hashemite Plaza in central Amman to watch their national team take on Algeria, with the match broadcast on large screens set up for the occasion. As the crowd swelled, a dangerous crush developed, resulting in nine people being taken to the hospital, the Jordan News Agency reported, citing the Public Security Directorate.

One of those nine injured fans later succumbed to their injuries, according to the report.

The loss was especially painful for Jordan supporters, as this year marked the first time the country’s national team had ever qualified for the World Cup. Adding to the heartbreak, the team was eliminated from the tournament Tuesday after falling to Algeria by a score of 2-1.

Vancouver Whitecaps defender Joedrick Pupe is heading to Belgium on a permanent basis, with the club officially completing his transfer to Sint-Truidense VV on Tuesday.

As part of the agreement, the Whitecaps negotiated the right to receive a share of any future transfer fees should Pupe move on from the Belgian Pro League club down the road.

Whitecaps FC sporting director Axel Schuster expressed gratitude toward the departing player, saying, “We are thankful to Joedrick for his contributions to our club and wish him the best of luck with Sint-Truidense VV.”

The 29-year-old defender made two appearances for Vancouver during last season’s playoff run. Prior to the permanent deal being finalized, Pupe had already been playing for Sint-Truidense VV on loan, logging 10 appearances and finding the net once during that stretch.

The Edmonton Oilers announced Tuesday that Mike Babcock will serve as their new head coach, bringing back the controversial figure after the NHL wrapped up an investigation last week and found nothing that would bar him from returning to the league.

Babcock steps into the role tasked with finally delivering a Stanley Cup to star players Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, two of the game’s elite talents who have spent a decade chasing that championship without success.

At 63 years old, Babcock does bring proven championship credentials. He led Detroit to a Stanley Cup title in 2008, made two additional trips to the final — with Anaheim in 2003 and again with the Red Wings in 2009, when they fell to Pittsburgh — and coached Canada to back-to-back Olympic gold medals in 2010 and 2014.

But his record also comes with significant controversy.

Babcock took the Columbus Blue Jackets head coaching job on July 1, 2023, only to resign before training camp that September without ever coaching a single game. His departure came amid criticism over his practice of asking players to share personal photos as a way of getting acquainted — a move many viewed as an invasion of privacy.

When reports surfaced that Edmonton was eyeing Babcock for the position, the NHL Players’ Association requested that the league take a closer look at what transpired in Columbus three years ago. After completing that review, the NHL issued a statement saying it found nothing that would prevent a team from employing him.

Babcock has not been behind an NHL bench since Toronto let him go 23 games into the 2019-20 season.

Though once regarded as among the best coaches in the sport, a number of former players have come forward over the years to speak out against his methods, which some characterize as outright bullying.

Following his dismissal from Toronto, a report emerged that Babcock had asked forward Mitch Marner to rank his teammates from hardest- to least-hardest working — and then revealed that list to the rest of the locker room. Former Detroit Red Wings player Johan Franzen told a Swedish media outlet that Babcock was the worst person he had ever encountered and that there was a period when he was terrified to go to the arena.

Retired player and long-time Babcock critic Mike Commodore reignited his opposition this spring when word of the potential hiring surfaced.

“I don’t want to hear another word about how important mental health is for us when you literally just paved the way, cleared the way for Mike Babcock to get another opportunity in the NHL and put him in another position of power where he can abuse people,” Commodore said on the “Clearing the Crease” podcast.

Daniel Winnik, who played under Babcock during the 2015-16 season with Toronto, also weighed in last week, calling him “the only guy that’s ever made me hate hockey.”

“I just hated coming to the rink,” Winnik said on TSN 1050 radio in Toronto on Thursday. “He’s just a bully.”

The Oilers’ path to Babcock was shaped partly by a failed attempt to hire another coach. Edmonton sought permission to interview Bruce Cassidy, who guided Vegas to the Stanley Cup in 2023, but the Golden Knights — who dismissed Cassidy on March 30 with eight games remaining in the regular season — refused, as he remains under contract for one more year. News of that pursuit became public while Kris Knoblauch, the coach who led Edmonton to back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances in 2024 and 2025, was still employed. Knoblauch was let go just days afterward.

That chain of events ultimately brought the organization to Babcock, who ranks 12th in NHL history with 700 regular season wins and 10th with 90 playoff victories.

NEW YORK — It’s Washington’s moment. The Wizards hold the top spot in Tuesday night’s NBA draft, and the basketball world is watching to see who they’ll choose with the No. 1 overall pick.

Three names have dominated the pre-draft conversation: AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer — all of whom impressed during their freshman years in college basketball. Dybantsa, a forward, led the entire country in scoring while playing at BYU. Peterson, a guard, showed tremendous talent at Kansas but raised some concerns after sitting out 11 games due to injuries and illness. Boozer, another forward, was named college basketball’s player of the year after his season at Duke.

The draft takes place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, home of the Nets — just a short distance from where the New York Knicks held their championship parade last week. The Knicks captured their first NBA title since 1973 by defeating the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals, ending one of the league’s longest championship droughts.

On the eve of the draft, another major story broke when Milwaukee and Miami reached an agreement on a blockbuster trade that will send two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Heat — a move that could quickly reshape the Eastern Conference landscape.

Washington hopes its draft pick will eventually put the Wizards in that same conversation. The franchise hasn’t won an NBA championship since 1978, back when the team was still called the Bullets — a drought nearly as long as the one the Knicks just ended.

Dybantsa is already thinking about what hearing his name called would mean, reflecting on everything his family has given up to help him reach this point.

“Who knows, I might cry,” Dybantsa said.

MILWAUKEE — For more than a decade, Giannis Antetokounmpo was the face of the Milwaukee Bucks, lifting the franchise back into prominence and delivering its first championship in 50 years. Now, the Bucks must find a way to move forward without him.

On the eve of Tuesday’s NBA Draft, Milwaukee agreed to trade Antetokounmpo and forward Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat. In return, the Bucks will receive Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware, and Kasparas Jakucionis, according to a source who spoke to The Associated Press under the condition of anonymity, as the deal had not yet received the required league approval.

Milwaukee will also receive the No. 13 pick in Tuesday’s draft, a first-round pick swap in 2030, first-round selections in 2031 and 2033, and a second-round pick in 2033, the source added.

The trade marks the departure of one of the most cherished figures in Wisconsin sports history. Bucks fans watched Antetokounmpo grow over 13 seasons from a lanky 18-year-old from Greece — selected 15th overall in the 2013 draft — into one of the premier players in the world. He leads the Bucks in virtually every major career statistical category, including points, rebounds, assists, blocks, games played, and minutes.

Antetokounmpo claimed MVP honors in both 2019 and 2020. In the 2021 playoffs, he returned from a painful knee hyperextension to put up 50 points in the title-clinching Game 6 win over the Phoenix Suns, earning NBA Finals MVP recognition in the process.

The 31-year-old had signed multiple contract extensions to remain in one of the NBA’s smaller markets. His loyalty was celebrated by the city — a mural measuring 53½ feet high and 56½ feet wide was painted on the side of a three-story building in downtown Milwaukee in his honor.

Despite aggressive moves to keep Antetokounmpo surrounded by talent and the team in championship contention, Milwaukee never advanced past the second round of the playoffs after that 2021 title. Injuries to Antetokounmpo and other key contributors played a significant role. The Bucks just finished a 32-50 season — their worst in years — snapping a streak of nine consecutive playoff appearances.

Those bold roster moves to stay competitive will now complicate the rebuilding process. Even after this trade brought back some draft capital, Milwaukee still has no first-round picks in 2027 or 2029.

The franchise gave up multiple first-round selections in the 2020 trade for Jrue Holiday and the 2023 deal that brought Damian Lillard to Milwaukee. Holiday was a key contributor to the 2021 championship before being dealt in the Lillard trade. Lillard was later released after tearing his Achilles in a first-round playoff loss to Indiana in 2025 — a move that freed up money to sign former Pacers center Myles Turner.

With those gaps in their draft pipeline, it becomes critical that the Bucks make the most of their two lottery picks on Tuesday — the 10th and 13th overall selections. The 10th pick is their highest selection since 2016, when they also picked 10th and chose Thon Maker.

Guard Ryan Rollins, who turns 24 next month, is viewed as a potential cornerstone going forward. There’s also hope that a new coaching staff can unlock more from Turner, whose output dipped during his first year in Milwaukee.

New Bucks head coach Taylor Jenkins acknowledged that the possibility of a Giannis trade was part of the conversation when he took the job in April after Doc Rivers’ departure.

“Naturally, we did talk about Giannis, the entire roster, developmental pathways for everyone you know, moving forward,” Jenkins said at his introductory press conference last month. “Because from the coaching lens, I’ve got to start formulating that, what we’re going to do, not just this offseason, but when we hit the ground running, you know, at the start of training camp. So naturally, (we) talked about that. Had great dialogue, full transparency.”

The incoming players offer the Bucks a younger foundation. Herro, 26, is a Milwaukee-area native and 2025 All-Star who has averaged at least 20 points per game in each of the past four seasons, though injuries held him to just 33 games in 2025-26. Jaquez, 25, averaged 15.4 points per game off the bench this past season. Ware is a 22-year-old, 7-foot center. Jakucionis, 20, was selected 20th overall in last year’s draft.

Still, this is a seismic shift for a franchise that had considered itself a genuine title contender as long as a healthy Antetokounmpo was on the court. He finished fourth or higher in MVP voting every year from 2019 through 2025 before injuries limited him to just 36 games this past season — a career low.

The Bucks have endured lean stretches before. They reached the Eastern Conference finals in 2001 but didn’t win another playoff series until returning to that stage in 2019.

Long-tenured Bucks fans also remember the last time a generational superstar left town. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — then known as Lew Alcindor — led Milwaukee to the 1971 NBA title and another conference championship in 1974 before requesting a trade. The Bucks sent him to the Los Angeles Lakers in the summer of 1975, and the franchise wouldn’t reach the NBA Finals again until that 2021 championship run.

Now, the player most responsible for ending that 50-year title drought is also heading out the door.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Headed to Miami in Massive NBA Deal

MIAMI (AP) — In one of the biggest moves in recent NBA history, Giannis Antetokounmpo is being sent to the Miami Heat in a blockbuster trade. Heading to the Milwaukee Bucks in return are Tyler Herro and several other players, along with multiple draft picks. Bobby Portis will also join Antetokounmpo in Miami, while Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware, and Kasparas Jakucionis are all bound for Milwaukee. The Bucks will also receive three first-round picks, one of which is the 13th overall selection in Tuesday’s draft. The deal gives Miami another marquee superstar as the franchise chases its fourth championship and an eighth NBA Finals appearance since 2006.

Messi Breaks World Cup Scoring Record with Two Goals Against Austria

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Lionel Messi is now the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history, having reached 18 career tournament goals after netting twice in Argentina’s 2-0 win over Austria on Monday in Dallas. Messi struck in the 38th minute and then again in stoppage time, despite missing a penalty kick in the ninth minute. The first goal gave Argentina the lead and broke the previous record of 17, which he had shared entering the match. The milestone came just two days before Messi’s 39th birthday and during a difficult time as he deals with concerns over his ailing father. It marked the sixth straight World Cup match in which Messi has found the back of the net. He had entered play tied with Germany’s Miroslav Klose, whose mark of 16 had previously been matched by France’s Kylian Mbappé.

Messi, Mbappé, and Haaland Steal the Show on Same World Cup Day

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Three of the world’s biggest soccer stars put on a spectacular show on the same day at the World Cup. Erling Haaland scored twice for Norway in the opening 15 minutes of the second half, helping his team defeat Senegal 3-2 on Monday night. Haaland’s big night came after Messi and Mbappé each scored two goals for Argentina and France, respectively, earlier in the day. Combined, the three stars have now accounted for 13 goals in the tournament.

Timberwolves Send Julius Randle to Brooklyn in Three-Team Trade

The Minnesota Timberwolves are dealing Julius Randle and a first-round draft pick to the Brooklyn Nets as part of a three-team arrangement that also involves the Chicago Bulls, according to a source familiar with the deal who spoke to the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity, as the trade has yet to receive official league approval. Minnesota will send the 28th pick in Tuesday’s draft to Brooklyn and will receive the 33rd pick, which will be awarded in the second round on Wednesday night.

Serena Williams Makes Bold Wimbledon Comeback in Singles Draw

Serena Williams is diving headfirst back into competitive tennis by accepting a wild card invitation to compete in singles at Wimbledon — a bold move given she has played only two doubles matches in nearly four years away from the professional game. Williams and her sister Venus have both received wild card invitations for singles and doubles from the All England Club ahead of the grass-court Grand Slam, which begins next week. ESPN commentator Mary Joe Fernandez described the decision as “a sign of confidence,” adding that “if anybody can do it, it’s Serena.” On the men’s side, defending champion Jannik Sinner and seven-time winner Novak Djokovic are considered the top favorites.

Oklahoma Wins College World Series for First Title Since 1994

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Oklahoma captured the College World Series championship with a dominant 13-2 victory over North Carolina in the decisive Game 3 of the finals. The Sooners took advantage of uncharacteristic pitching struggles from the Tar Heels and got a strong relief outing from LJ Mercurius to claim their first national title since 1994. It also marked the Southeastern Conference’s seventh consecutive championship. Oklahoma’s run was especially remarkable given the team finished 11th in the regular season and entered the NCAA Tournament having lost seven of its last nine games. North Carolina, meanwhile, suffered its third runner-up finish since 2006 and now has 13 College World Series appearances without ever winning the title.

MLB Commissioner Says Giants Mishandled Pride Night Cap Policy

NEW YORK (AP) — MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred stated that the San Francisco Giants failed to properly inform their players that they had the option to decline wearing rainbow-themed caps during Pride Night. Some players, including pitcher Landen Roupp, added Bible verses to their caps, which the league deemed a violation of its policies. Missouri Senator Josh Hawley raised concerns about the warning issued to those players, calling it “dubious” and arguing that MLB promotes a political viewpoint through its Pride-themed uniforms. Manfred pushed back, saying the league’s policy includes an opt-out option for players regarding Pride emblems. He acknowledged that the Giants did not communicate this clearly enough but confirmed that no players will face fines or other penalties.

Haaland Scores Twice as Norway Advances at World Cup

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Erling Haaland continued his remarkable goal-scoring form, netting twice to bring his World Cup total to four goals as Norway edged Senegal 3-2 to advance to the round of 32. Marcus Pederson gave Norway the lead in the 43rd minute after coming on as a substitute for an injured teammate, and Haaland extended the advantage with goals in the 48th and 58th minutes to make it 3-1. Haaland has now scored in each of his last 12 international matches, tallying 24 goals in that span, and has 59 total goals across 52 international appearances. Ismaïla Sarr scored both goals for Senegal, which falls to 0-2 in the tournament.

Mbappé Reaches 16 World Cup Goals, Ties for Second All-Time

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — France’s Kylian Mbappé scored twice on Monday to reach 16 career World Cup goals, pulling into a tie for second place in tournament history behind new record-holder Lionel Messi. The 27-year-old Mbappé, competing in his third World Cup, opened the scoring in the 14th minute against Iraq in what was also his 100th international appearance. After a weather delay that stretched halftime to more than two hours, Mbappé struck again in the 54th minute, drawing even with Germany’s Miroslav Klose for second place all-time. Messi had claimed the outright record earlier the same day after scoring twice to reach 18 career World Cup goals.

Formula E, the all-electric racing championship owned by Liberty Global, is set to launch a brand-new race format for its upcoming 2026-27 Gen 4 era — one that draws inspiration from the shorter sprint race concepts that have gained traction in Formula One and MotoGP.

The series is calling the new format “ePrix unleashed,” and it will be used during weekend events where two races are scheduled. Unlike Formula One’s sprint races, which cover roughly a third of a grand prix distance, the unleashed version will be only about 10 minutes shorter than a standard ePrix.

Typical Formula E races run 45 minutes plus one lap — generally between 33 and 45 laps depending on the venue — compared to a Formula One grand prix, which can last up to two hours.

The key difference with the unleashed format is that it strips away much of the energy management strategy that defines a regular race, freeing drivers to push flat out and showcase the car’s full capabilities.

Formula E chief executive Jeff Dodds explained the distinction to Reuters: “It’s a very, very different proposition. Maybe there’s 10 minutes difference between an unleashed race and a traditional ePrix.”

“The difference is one is a purely strategic game of chess on a racetrack — energy management, very complex — the other is more full send, much less energy restrictions and 450kw of four-wheel drive power,” Dodds added. “So they are going to feel like completely different races.”

Dodds also sees the shorter format as a way to attract a wider audience. “I think having a version that’s more clippable, better for social media, much shorter attention span is not a bad thing,” he said. “And we’ll only do them on double-headers. We’ll only introduce them in a format whereby if you come for the weekend, you get to experience both different types of format.”

The expanded 2026-27 calendar will feature 21 races held across 13 cities — more events than the series has ever held. The season will kick off with night races in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on December 18 and 19, 2026, and conclude with night races in Tokyo on July 24 and 25, 2027.

New venues familiar to Formula One fans will join the schedule, including Brands Hatch in southern England, Zandvoort in the Netherlands, and Austin’s Circuit of the Americas.

Brands Hatch, located southeast of London, will serve as Formula E’s new home in Britain, replacing its previous London venue. The circuit hosted 12 editions of the British Formula One Grand Prix between 1964 and 1986 before the series outgrew it.

“We think for the kind of crowd we would hope to get there, we can fill Brands Hatch up and turn that into a proper amphitheatre and make it feel really special and really busy and really full,” said Dodds. “We think Brands Hatch has the potential to be a long-term home for us in the UK if we do it right.”

Dodds acknowledged that racing at a non-urban circuit more easily reached by car than public transport carries carbon footprint implications, but said those concerns would be offset by reduced equipment haulage and the elimination of temporary structures that street circuits require.

The new Gen 4 car set to debut in this era is a significant step forward in performance. It can exceed 335 kph (208 mph), accelerating from 0 to 100 kph in just 1.8 seconds and from 0 to 200 kph in 4.4 seconds. It will produce 50% more power in race mode compared to the current Gen3 Evo model and is projected to be an average of 10 seconds per lap faster in qualifying mode, with organizers expecting a 5-second-per-lap improvement on street circuits.

When the Professional Women’s Hockey League was first getting off the ground, executive Stan Kasten had a timeline in mind for when the league would be ready to bring in outside investors — and it wasn’t anywhere close to now.

The plan was to double the league’s size to 12 teams first, and Kasten figured that milestone would come somewhere around year 10 or 12. Instead, it arrived in just two and a half years.

“We thought we’d get there in Year 10 or 12,” said the 74-year-old Kasten, who has held executive positions with teams across major league baseball, the NBA, and the NHL. “And here we are after two-and-a-half years. It’s extraordinary.”

The PWHL’s breakneck expansion is being driven by real numbers — rising attendance, booming merchandise sales, and growing viewership, trends that accelerated even further after the U.S. captured gold at the Milan Cortina Games. Despite concerns from some observers that the league may be moving too aggressively, Kasten isn’t buying it.

“I want to hear the case for going slower. I can’t imagine it,” Kasten told The Associated Press.

The league has yet to turn a profit, but Kasten argues the enthusiasm from fans and the business community tells the real story. Detroit-based Ilitch Cos. and Toronto-based Kilmer Sports Ventures have signed on as the league’s first outside investors, a milestone Kasten says speaks volumes about confidence in the PWHL’s future.

Outside experts share that optimism. Jane McManus, a professor at New York University’s Tisch Institute for Global Sport and author of the book “The Fast Track: Inside the Surging Business of Women’s Sports,” said no one would advise a men’s league to pump the brakes under similar circumstances.

“Would you tell a men’s league to go slow if they saw a real upside in a developing market? You just wouldn’t,” McManus said. She added that she witnessed the demand firsthand while attending a sold-out PWHL game at Madison Square Garden in April. “You’d never tell somebody to put a cap on that if it’s happening on the men’s side.”

McManus credited the league’s coast-to-coast expansion strategy as a smart move to establish dominance and fend off potential rival leagues in women’s hockey. She also pointed to the PWHL’s single-entity ownership structure, which centralizes planning decisions, as a key advantage.

At the top of that structure are founders and primary financial backers Mark and Kimbra Walter, who oversee operations alongside the league’s advisory board.

Walter committed hundreds of millions of dollars to launch the six-team league in June 2023, striking a deal with the then-Professional Women’s Hockey Players’ Association and purchasing the assets of the rival Premier Hockey Federation. That organization had featured the world’s best players, including most members of the U.S. and Canadian national teams.

With those North American stars secured, McManus said the league had the foundation it needed to attract top international talent from Europe as well.

University of Colorado-Denver professor Sarah Fields, who specializes in the history of women’s professional sports, said the next few years will be the true test — but she likes what she sees so far.

“Give credit to the Walters because they took a big swing. And it looks like they’re going to have great success,” Fields said. “If I had the kind of money to invest that the Walters do, I’d do the same thing. I think this is a pretty good bet.”

Montreal Victoire forward and PWHL Players Association president Laura Stacey said she trusts league leadership to set the right pace for growth.

“If they’ve done this and made it this incredible in three years, then I trust that four more (teams) is exactly what we need,” Stacey said at the league’s awards ceremonies in Detroit last week. “People are thriving and really want to be a part of this sport and this movement. I think we’re ready for it.”

The four new franchises will be based in Detroit, San Jose, Las Vegas, and Hamilton, Ontario. Looking further ahead, the league is also exploring hosting an All-Star game, staging an outdoor game, and scheduling games in Europe.

Average attendance last season reached 9,304 per game — a 28% increase over the previous year and up 71% from the league’s debut season. Merchandise sales doubled, and viewership on YouTube climbed 77%, with more than a third of those viewers tuning in for the first time.

Canadian Press has reported that Kilmer’s investment stake is valued at $100 million. The Ilitch family had previously expressed interest in acquiring a franchise during the PWHL’s first expansion phase, when Vancouver and Seattle were added a year ago.

McManus projects the league could eventually sell off individual franchises to private owners at enormous returns. For context, WNBA teams were valued at roughly $25 million each a decade ago before skyrocketing in value — the Golden State Valkyries are now estimated to be worth $1 billion.

“I hope Mark Walter gets absolutely filthy rich, even richer than he is now because of putting his money in this league,” McManus said. “I hope he sells those franchises off in like five years for $500 million each.”

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The roar of “GOOOOOOOOOAL!” echoes through a working-class neighborhood in downtown Mexico City, where a crowd has gathered around a television balanced on plastic tables, surrounded by a maze of street vendors. Across Mexico, fans are watching their national team rack up victories in the FIFA World Cup on screens set up in public plazas, beneath highway overpasses, and inside taco stands.

Locked out by skyrocketing ticket prices for a tournament their own country is co-hosting with the U.S. and Canada, many Mexicans have decided to create their own version of the celebration — right in their own streets.

“Honestly, there’s nothing like going to the stadiums, but I prefer being here in the street. … For me it’s like watching the game from my living room,” said Esmeralda Serrato, who watched a street television alongside dozens of her neighbors. “I feel the blood rushing through my veins saying ‘This is the World Cup.’”

The excitement has been enormous, with hundreds of thousands of people pouring into mass watch parties in host cities including Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey following Mexico’s two straight wins.

But the festive atmosphere exists alongside months of growing anger at FIFA over what critics describe as outrageously high ticket prices. In a country where the typical worker brings home around $433 per month and soccer is widely seen as a sport that crosses class lines, the exclusivity of stadium access has struck a nerve.

That disconnect has stirred social tension and left many feeling like outsiders at their own party, according to Diego Merla, fiscal justice coordinator for Oxfam Mexico.

“The World Cup is built around the logic of squeezing as much value out of it as possible,” Merla said. “It’s about getting those who are willing and able to pay the absolute maximum. And that ends up excluding a lot of people.”

When tickets first went on sale earlier this year, prices ranged from $140 to $8,680. Since then, costs have climbed dramatically — with some tickets to the World Cup final now running around $32,970.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has pushed back against the criticism, arguing that the prices reflect the American market.

“You cannot go to watch in the U.S. a college game, not even speaking about a top professional game of a certain level, for less than $300,” Infantino said. “And this is the World Cup.”

For fans like Guillermo Ramírez, the answer was simple: do it themselves.

Ramírez, 49, grew up in Tepito, a working-class Mexico City neighborhood known for its sprawling street markets, which are currently packed with pirated World Cup jerseys. Soccer carries deep meaning in Tepito — a symbol of community identity and resilience in an area often associated with crime. At the center of the neighborhood’s dense market streets sits a soccer field named after Bernardo Manolete Hernández, a celebrated Mexican soccer player who was born there.

Just a block from that field, Ramírez — dressed in a bright green and white Mexico jersey — set up a television and speakers on plastic tables in front of his home and small corner shop before Mexico’s match against South Korea. He recalls watching the 1986 Mexico World Cup as a boy, from TVs set up by neighbors who also couldn’t afford stadium tickets.

“There are a lot of us who simply can’t afford to go to the stadium,” Ramírez said. “Tepito is a soccer barrio, and when there’s a match on, everyone takes out their TVs to watch, especially now during the World Cup.”

Neighbors pack around his screen wearing green and red lucha libre masks, holding their children, and grabbing beers from Ramírez’s corner shop. When Mexico wins, the celebration spills into the broader city, with tens of thousands flooding the streets and heading to Mexico City’s central monument, the Angel de la Independencia.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has also voiced concern over the costs, saying last week that FIFA leadership should reconsider its pricing approach.

“Soccer has to be something else,” Sheinbaum said.

Sheinbaum has encouraged fans to attend free public watch parties organized by local governments and FIFA in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey. Nearly 20 such venues have been set up across the capital, including in lower-income parts of the city. During one match, more than 200,000 Mexican and international fans filled the city’s main plaza, the Zocalo, in a sea of green jerseys.

Armando Soriano brought his wife and two children from the outskirts of the city to a smaller Fan Fest at a plaza about a mile from where Ramírez lives. Locals arrived on motorcycles, and vendors sold beer, tequila, and snacks from plastic tubs on rolling carts. To Soriano, that scene felt more genuinely Mexican than the central FIFA-organized event.

“I want (my family) to be swept up in the spirit — to feel, more than anything, what it means to be Mexican, and to experience the traditions that people here live and breathe,” Soriano said.

A single swing from Manny Machado was all the San Diego Padres needed Monday night, as they shut out the Atlanta Braves 1-0 behind a dominant pitching performance.

Michael King took the mound and delivered seven shutout innings, giving up six hits while walking nobody and striking out five. It marked King’s first victory since May 18, when he also earned a 1-0 decision against the Los Angeles Dodgers. King, who had dropped his previous four decisions, threw 62 of his 93 pitches for strikes. He improved to 5-6 on the season.

Adrian Morejon handled a clean eighth inning, and Mason Miller navigated some late trouble in the ninth to record his 21st save in as many opportunities. Austin Riley singled and Dominic Smith drew a walk, but Mike Yastrzemski went down on a called third strike to end the game.

Atlanta starter Grant Holmes fell to 4-4 after allowing three hits and the game’s lone run across 4 2/3 innings, walking five and striking out four. The Braves’ bullpen contributed 3 1/3 scoreless frames, but it wasn’t enough as Atlanta dropped its eighth game in its last 11.

The decisive moment came in the bottom of the fourth inning. Holmes left a 1-2 slider up in the zone, and Machado didn’t miss it — driving his 14th home run of the year to center field. The ball traveled an estimated 418 feet, landing in the San Diego bullpen.

Atlanta had opportunities to get on the board against King but couldn’t deliver when it mattered. In the second inning, Michael Harris II and Riley opened with back-to-back singles, but King induced two grounders and a lineout to strand both runners.

The Braves threatened again in the sixth when Matt Olson singled and eventually reached third base on Ozzie Albies’ groundout, aided by a throwing error from first baseman Ty France. However, Harris grounded out to leave Olson stranded.

San Diego also left runs on the table, going 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranding nine baserunners. Rodolfo Duran grounded into a double play in the second with two runners on, and struck out with runners at the corners in the fourth. In the eighth, Machado led off with a double and Xander Bogaerts drew a two-out walk, but pinch-hitter Jase Bowen struck out to end the threat.

Riley finished as the game’s top hitter, going 3-for-4 on the night.

The Brooklyn Nets landed former All-Star forward Julius Randle on Monday night in a three-team trade involving the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Chicago Bulls, just one day before the NBA Draft.

Reports from multiple media outlets indicate that Minnesota sent Randle along with the 28th overall draft pick to Brooklyn in exchange for the 33rd overall selection.

As part of the deal, the Nets shipped center Nic Claxton to Chicago, while the Bulls sent forward Mouhamadou Gueye to Minnesota. The Timberwolves are reportedly planning to waive Gueye after the transaction is complete.

Randle, who is 31 years old, is set to earn $33.3 million during the upcoming season. He also holds a player option worth $35.8 million for the 2027-28 campaign.

The three-time All-Star put up 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game last season. Over his 12-year NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers from 2014-15 through 2017-18, the New Orleans Pelicans in 2018-19, the New York Knicks from 2019-20 through 2023-24, and Minnesota from 2024-25 through 2025-26, he has posted career averages of 19.2 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. Randle was also honored as the NBA’s Most Improved Player during the 2020-21 season.

Claxton, 27, has spent his entire seven-season NBA career with Brooklyn. Last season he appeared in 69 games, starting 68 of them, and averaged 11.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. His career averages stand at 10.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. He is under contract for $23.3 million in 2026-27 and $21.1 million in 2027-28.

Gueye, also 27, made his NBA debut during the 2023-24 season with the Toronto Raptors, coming off the bench in 11 games. He appeared in two reserve games for Chicago last season. Across his NBA career, he has averaged 3.2 points and 2.2 rebounds in 12.7 minutes per game.

MIAMI (AP) — The Miami Heat have landed their next superstar, acquiring two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks in a massive trade completed Monday night.

The deal brings an end to a lengthy pursuit by Miami for a marquee player of Antetokounmpo’s caliber. The 31-year-old is not only a two-time Most Valuable Player but also a 10-time All-Star, a nine-time All-NBA selection, and was named to the NBA’s 75th anniversary list honoring the greatest players in league history. He led Milwaukee to the 2021 NBA championship and averaged 27.6 points per game last season before an injury cut his year short.

According to a source who spoke with The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity — because the trade has not yet received the required league approval — the terms are as follows: Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis will go to Miami, while Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware, and Kasparas Jakucionis head to Milwaukee. The Bucks will also receive at least four draft picks, including the No. 13 pick set to be used in Tuesday night’s NBA draft.

In the final days leading up to the deal, the Bucks weighed competing offers from both Miami and Boston before ultimately choosing the Heat’s package.

This type of blockbuster acquisition is nothing new for Miami. The franchise made similar splashes when it brought in Shaquille O’Neal in 2004 — a move that helped deliver the 2006 NBA title — and again in 2010 when LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined Dwyane Wade, resulting in four consecutive NBA Finals appearances and back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013.

With Antetokounmpo now in the fold, the Heat are widely expected to offer him a substantial contract extension later this year, betting that the Greek superstar still has plenty of productive seasons ahead of him.

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred has acknowledged in a written response to Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley that the San Francisco Giants dropped the ball when it came to informing players that wearing rainbow-themed caps during the team’s annual Pride Night celebration was entirely their choice.

During the event earlier this month, several Giants players — including starting pitcher Landen Roupp — chose to write Bible verses on the Pride-themed caps rather than simply wearing them as issued. That decision triggered a warning from the league, which noted that writing on caps runs afoul of official uniform policy.

Sen. Hawley had previously written to Manfred expressing what he described as “grave concern” over the league’s warning to those players. Hawley called the warning “dubious,” arguing that MLB was already taking a political stance by requiring Pride-themed uniforms in the first place.

Manfred’s reply to Hawley was shared publicly by the senator on social media Monday. In that letter, Manfred explained that back in 2023, the league moved to ban clubs from using special uniforms, caps, or equipment during themed celebration events — a policy shift driven in part by the discomfort some players had expressed about wearing such gear. Narrow exceptions were carved out for things like patches honoring members of the baseball community who had passed away.

That same year, both the Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers — franchises located in cities with some of the country’s largest LGBTQ+ communities — were granted special exemptions allowing Pride symbols on caps and uniforms during Pride Night. The exemption came with conditions: no player or uniformed staff member could be required to wear the items, and the team was obligated to speak with players in advance to ensure everyone was comfortable.

According to Manfred, those conditions were not adequately met this year. “Unfortunately, this year the Giants’ communication with players was inadequate and not clear,” he wrote. “Some players apparently did not understand that they had the option to wear their normal uniform and elected to add messages to their hats bearing the pride logo as a result.”

Manfred went on to clarify that the players were permitted to wear the caps with their biblical inscriptions throughout the entire game. The league’s warning came only after the game had ended — and before league officials were aware of the Giants’ failure to properly inform the players. “The players were neither fined nor disciplined, nor will they ever be,” Manfred wrote.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are moving forward Julius Randle along with a first-round draft selection to the Brooklyn Nets as part of a three-team arrangement that also brings in the Chicago Bulls, according to a source familiar with the agreement who spoke Monday evening.

Minnesota will be sending the 28th overall pick in Tuesday’s draft to Brooklyn, while receiving the 33rd pick — a second-round selection set to be announced Wednesday night. The source spoke to the Associated Press under the condition of anonymity, noting the deal has yet to receive the necessary sign-off from the league office.

ESPN, which broke the story, reported that the Bulls would receive Nic Claxton from Brooklyn as their piece of the transaction.

The move carries major financial implications for Minnesota. It generates a $33 million trade exception for the Timberwolves and frees up cap space the team can use to re-sign Ayo Dosunmu and pursue additional players when free agency opens.

Randle, a three-time All-Star, will now be suiting up for his fifth NBA franchise. He previously played for the Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans, New York, and most recently Minnesota. This past season he averaged 21.1 points per game, though he struggled with efficiency — shooting just 39% from the field and 24% from three-point range across Minnesota’s 12 playoff games.

Claxton wraps up his seventh NBA season, all of which were spent in Brooklyn. He averaged 11.7 points per game this past year.

The Hockey Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2026 on Monday, with Patrice Bergeron, Carey Price, and Keith Tkachuk leading a group of six honorees.

Bergeron, Price, Tkachuk, Pekka Rinne, and Cindy Curley were chosen as player inductees, while longtime NHL executive Brian Burke will enter the Hall as a builder.

Bergeron earned the honor in his very first year of eligibility. The forward spent 19 seasons skating for the Boston Bruins, capturing the Stanley Cup in 2011 and setting a record with six Selke Trophies — awarded annually to the league’s top defensive forward. Over his career, Bergeron tallied 417 goals and 613 assists across 1,294 regular-season games, adding 128 points in 170 playoff contests.

His accomplishments stretch beyond the NHL as well. Bergeron won Olympic gold twice representing Canada, at the 2010 Vancouver Games and again at the 2014 Sochi Games. He also claimed gold at the 2004 IIHF World Championship, the 2005 World Junior Hockey Championship, the 2012 Spengler Cup, and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

Goaltender Carey Price, a longtime rival of Bergeron on the ice, spent 15 seasons with the Montreal Canadiens and retired as the franchise’s all-time wins leader with 361 victories. He posted a career 2.51 goals-against average, a .917 save percentage, and 49 shutouts over 712 games. Price is entering the Hall in his second year of eligibility.

In 2015, Price took home both the Hart Trophy as the league’s most valuable player and the Vezina Trophy as its best goaltender. He also stood alongside Bergeron on Canada’s gold medal-winning team at the 2014 Olympics.

Tkachuk had to wait considerably longer for the call — this was his 14th year of eligibility. During his NHL career with the Winnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes, St. Louis Blues, and Atlanta Thrashers, he scored 538 goals and added 527 assists in 1,201 games. Those numbers place him third all-time in goals among American-born players.

The timing of Tkachuk’s induction carried a personal touch. Just one day before the announcement, his two sons became teammates again when the Florida Panthers acquired Brady Tkachuk from the Ottawa Senators to join his brother Matthew on the roster.

Rinne will become only the fourth Finnish player ever inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. He spent 15 seasons with the Nashville Predators, finishing with 369 wins, a 2.43 goals-against average, and a .917 save percentage. He earned the 2018 Vezina Trophy as the league’s premier goaltender.

Curley, 62, made history as a member of the United States’ first-ever IIHF Women’s World Championship team back in 1990. She still holds the single-tournament points record from that year with 23 points, and was previously honored with induction into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013.

Burke, 70, built a lengthy career as an NHL general manager, holding that role with the Hartford Whalers, Vancouver Canucks, Anaheim Ducks, and Toronto Maple Leafs. He also served in front-office capacities with the Calgary Flames and Pittsburgh Penguins. His crowning achievement came when he helped guide the Ducks to the Stanley Cup championship in 2007.

The induction ceremony for the Class of 2026 is scheduled to take place in Toronto on November 9.

PHILADELPHIA — Kylian Mbappe delivered two more goals and Ousmane Dembele chipped in a third as France rolled past Iraq 3-0 on Monday, securing their place in the World Cup’s last 32 — all while enduring the tournament’s first major weather stoppage.

The match marked Mbappe’s 100th appearance for the French national team, but the evening’s drama extended well beyond the pitch. Thunderstorms rolling through the Philadelphia area forced a halt to the game just before the second half was set to begin, pushing the restart back by nearly two hours. As a result, Mbappe’s two goals were scored almost three hours apart.

France manager Didier Deschamps praised his team’s ability to refocus after the lengthy interruption. “The first half was good,” Deschamps said. “In the second half, we picked up where we left off, bearing in mind that it wasn’t easy given what happened, and we managed to put the game beyond reach. That’s a very good thing.”

With his 16th career World Cup goal, Mbappe pulled even with Germany’s former all-time record holder Miroslav Klose. Earlier the same day, Lionel Messi raised the bar even higher, netting two goals in Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Austria to reach 18 World Cup goals total. Mbappe’s four goals in this tournament put him just one behind Messi in the race for the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot.

Dembele, the reigning Ballon d’Or winner, had drawn criticism following what many considered a lackluster showing in France’s 3-1 opening win over Senegal. Deschamps stood firmly behind his player. “There’s no issue,” the manager said. “Ousmane is confident in himself. He can sometimes get people talking, but I have complete faith in him. He’s still finding his bearings because his role is different from the one he has at his club.”

France will now face Norway on Saturday with first place in Group I at stake. The Norwegians defeated Senegal 3-2 on Monday, drawing level with France at three points.

Mbappe got France on the board in the 14th minute, taking a pass from Michael Olise, touching the ball to his left, and firing a powerful shot from outside the penalty area past goalkeeper Ahmed Basil. The goal came after what appeared to be a fairly routine buildup on the right side of the field.

Iraq, who spent much of the opening half chasing the ball, had hoped the weather break might help them regroup. Instead, a costly error on a goal kick in the 54th minute made things worse. Basil could not control a short pass from defender Zaid Tahseen, and Dembele was there to set up Mbappe for an easy tap-in. Twelve minutes after that, Dembele scored himself, finishing low past Basil after receiving a sharp pass from Olise.

Iraq substitute Ali Al-Hamadi, who entered the match in the 26th minute after Aymen Hussein came off with an apparent injury, reflected on the difficulty of the night. “You have one moment of excellence from one of the best players in the world,” Al-Hamadi said. “And then we have to go inside and wait for an hour and a half. You know, it’s really difficult to come out and keep the same intensity against these great players. And in the end I think we made too many mistakes again.”

Hussein, who had scored in Iraq’s 4-1 opening loss to Norway, may be unavailable for their final group match against Senegal. Iraq remain in contention for one of eight third-place spots, though they will likely need a win and some favorable results elsewhere to advance.

As for the storm itself, referee Drew Fischer blew the halftime whistle just as the weather was beginning to deteriorate. Conditions worsened quickly after that, and stadium officials directed fans to seek cover in the concourse areas. Players returned for warm-ups roughly one hour and 40 minutes later, but even then, ground crews had to use squeegees to clear standing water from the east side of the field before play could resume.

ATLANTA — In a World Cup designed to cast the soccer spotlight broader than ever before, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe have wasted no time delivering the kind of superstar performances that FIFA, television networks, and American fans have been hungry to see. Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, and 18-year-old phenom Lamine Yamal have added to the excitement with their own jaw-dropping contributions.

If there is one thing American sports culture thrives on, it is the magnetism of a true superstar — someone whose individual talent and personality can elevate an entire event. Messi has answered that call emphatically, becoming the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history just two matches into the tournament.

The nearly 39-year-old struck a hat-trick as Argentina rolled past Algeria 3-0, then kept the momentum going on Monday. Even a missed penalty could not overshadow the sense that Messi is savoring every moment of what is almost certainly his final World Cup appearance.

He scored both goals in Argentina’s 2-0 win over Austria, pushing his career World Cup tally to 18. Hot on his heels is France’s Mbappe, who is closing the gap quickly.

ONE STAR INSPIRES ANOTHER

Mbappe scored twice as France defeated Senegal 3-1, then added two more in Monday’s 3-0 victory over Iraq, leaving him just two goals behind Messi on the all-time list. After a challenging season at club level, the 27-year-old Real Madrid forward appears reinvigorated, playing with visible joy and confidence.

Spain’s Yamal has also captured the imagination of fans. Spain struggled to find the net in a scoreless tie against Cape Verde without him, but when the 18-year-old returned Sunday for his first start in two months, the buzz inside Atlanta Stadium was unmistakable.

Fans rose to their feet as Yamal opened the scoring to spark Spain to a commanding 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia. Spain had the match wrapped up by halftime, enabling the coaching staff to take Yamal off — a player who performs with a freedom that suggests he feels no burden from the enormous expectations placed on him.

Messi made his World Cup debut back in 2006, and now, two decades later, Yamal — wearing the same number 19 jersey — looks poised to carry that torch forward.

Norway’s Haaland has also shaken off any early nerves in his debut World Cup, tallying four goals across two matches. He bagged a brace in the 4-1 win over Iraq and did it again in Monday’s 3-2 thriller against Senegal.

Haaland and Mbappe are set to square off Friday when Norway and France clash for the top spot in Group I, with both prolific strikers eager to extend their leads in the scoring race.

Meanwhile, Kane’s two-goal effort against Croatia drew him level with Gary Lineker at 10 World Cup goals for England, making the Golden Boot chase one of the tournament’s most compelling subplots.

Four years ago, Mbappe and Messi dominated the tournament. Mbappe led all scorers with eight goals — one more than Messi — yet it was the Argentine who lifted the trophy after a final in which even Mbappe’s hat-trick was not enough to tip the scales. A rematch between the two nations is beginning to look like a genuine possibility, though this World Cup may also crown an entirely new hero in a country that has always had a soft spot for rising young talent.

Women’s golf is set to reach a new financial milestone this week as the 2026 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship tees off with a record-breaking $13 million purse — the biggest prize pool in the history of women’s golf.

The tournament runs Thursday through Sunday at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota, and draws a 156-player field that includes every one of the top 100 players in the current Race to the CME Globe standings. Leading the pack are World No. 1 Nelly Korda and defending champion Minjee Lee of Australia.

LPGA commissioner Craig Kessler highlighted the significance of the event in a prepared statement. “The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship continues to raise the bar for women’s golf,” he said. “Record purse increases, enhanced broadcast coverage, and one of the strongest fields of the year makes this tournament a can’t-miss event for fans.”

Beyond the record prize money, this year’s championship introduces a range of technology upgrades designed to give both players and viewers a richer experience. The KPMG Performance Insights platform brings AI-powered player reels and a live outcome prediction engine, among other features.

Broadcast enhancements through KPMG CHAMPCAST will also deliver 3D course imagery, radar tracking data, shot trails, green views, and individual shot video highlights throughout the competition.

Coverage of the four-day event will air on NBC, Golf Channel, and Peacock, with close to 100 hours of live, streaming, and supplemental programming planned in total.

PGA of America CEO Terry Clark expressed enthusiasm for the championship in his own statement. “Together with KPMG and the LPGA Tour, we are excited to once again present a world-class experience at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship,” Clark said. “This Championship is a testament to our continued investment in growing the women’s game, setting new standards with a record purse, innovative technology enhancements and comprehensive broadcast coverage. We look forward to seeing 156 of the world’s best players compete.”

Hazeltine National is no stranger to hosting major events. This marks the course’s second time welcoming the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, having previously hosted the event in 2019. The club has also been home to two PGA Championships, held in 2002 and 2009, as well as the 2016 Ryder Cup — an event that is scheduled to return to Hazeltine in 2029.

A blockbuster deal that brings brothers Brady and Matthew Tkachuk together on the same NHL team has sent oddsmakers scrambling, pushing the Florida Panthers into the upper tier of Stanley Cup favorites heading into the 2026-27 season.

The move came as something of a surprise given that Florida finished 14th in the Eastern Conference last season and failed to reach the playoffs. General manager Bill Zito made an aggressive push to reshape the roster, giving up a hefty package that includes three first-round picks. Earlier that same Sunday, Florida also shipped Mackie Samoskevich to the Seattle Kraken before finalizing the deal to bring Brady Tkachuk aboard to play alongside his older brother Matthew.

At BetMGM, the Panthers’ Stanley Cup odds improved dramatically — shifting from +1100 before the trade to +800 afterward. The sportsbook also noted that since the deal was completed, 64% of all bets placed on next season’s Stanley Cup winner have gone toward Florida.

Only two teams currently carry shorter odds at BetMGM: the defending champion Carolina Hurricanes and the Colorado Avalanche, both sitting at +750. The Panthers’ surge pushed them past the Vegas Golden Knights, now listed at +900, and further ahead of the Edmonton Oilers at +1100.

Interestingly, the Golden Knights remain the book’s biggest financial liability despite attracting just 7.7% of total bets placed — because 80.6% of all money wagered on the Stanley Cup champion has gone toward Vegas. In terms of total bet volume, Colorado leads with 16.5%, followed by Florida at 12.6% and Carolina at 11.5%.

On the other side of the deal, the Ottawa Senators saw their own title odds worsen, moving from +1800 to +2500 following the departure of their franchise cornerstone.

Brady Tkachuk, 26, was Ottawa’s fourth overall selection in the 2018 NHL Draft and stepped right into the lineup after being chosen. Over eight seasons with the Senators, the forward accumulated 463 points — 213 goals and 250 assists — across 572 games.

Both Brady and his brother Matthew, 28, were part of the Team USA squad that captured Olympic gold earlier this year. Now the two aim to deliver championship success to Florida, a team that won back-to-back Stanley Cups before falling short of the playoffs last season.

Ottawa did make the postseason in each of the last two years — the first playoff appearances during Brady Tkachuk’s tenure — but the Senators have not advanced past the first round since 2017.

In return for Tkachuk, Ottawa will receive Florida’s two first-round picks in this year’s draft, slotted at ninth and 25th overall, along with a top-10 protected first-round pick in 2029 and a second-round selection in 2027.

Bill Foley, the man behind the Vegas Golden Knights, has officially thrown his hat in the ring to bring a National Basketball Association expansion team to Las Vegas.

Foley already has an extensive sports ownership portfolio that includes two European soccer clubs — AFC Bournemouth in England’s Premier League and FC Lorient in France’s Ligue 1. If awarded the NBA franchise, he plans to house the new team at T-Mobile Arena on the Las Vegas Strip, the same venue where his NHL squad plays its home games.

“Las Vegas has earned its place among great sports cities in America, and an NBA team belongs here,” Foley said in a written statement. “We built the Golden Knights into a championship organization from the ground up, and we are prepared to do it again — with the same standard, the same commitment to this community, and the same insistence on winning. We have the market, a proven world-class arena and a best-in-class organization in place. Our intention is to be ready the day the NBA is ready.”

Foley indicated that if his bid is selected, he anticipates bringing in a small group of minority investors. The price tag to secure an NBA expansion franchise is expected to fall somewhere between $7 billion and $10 billion.

Las Vegas is already in the midst of a major sports expansion era. The city is set to welcome Major League Baseball’s A’s in 2028, and it already hosts the WNBA’s Aces, the NFL’s Raiders, and the NHL’s Golden Knights — teams that now call a city home that was once considered too unpredictable for permanent professional sports franchises.

“This is the NBA’s decision to make,” Foley added. “Our job is to provide the league a Las Vegas option that is ready, credible, and built to last.”

The NBA’s board of governors opened up exclusive expansion bidding in March, targeting two potential cities: Las Vegas and Seattle. Currently, six NHL team owners also hold a primary ownership stake in an NBA franchise.

American tennis player Ethan Quinn made a strong statement in Mallorca, Spain on Monday, rolling past Frenchman Valentin Royer 6-4, 6-3 in the opening round of the Vanda Pharmaceuticals Mallorca Championships.

The 22-year-old from California, currently ranked 63rd in the world, was particularly dominant on his first serve, converting 28 of 34 first-serve points for an 82.4% success rate.

Elsewhere in Round of 32 action at the same tournament, Australia’s Adam Walton took down his fellow countryman Nick Kyrgios 6-3, 6-4. Jordan’s Abdullah Shelbayh pulled off an upset, defeating French sixth seed Corentin Moutet 7-5, 6-4. Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan mounted an impressive comeback against Slovakian qualifier Alex Molcan, winning 2-6, 7-6 (10), 7-6 (5) after saving three match points and fending off 9 of 11 break point opportunities.

Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic outlasted France’s Antoine Ghibaudo 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6), while Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff edged Spain’s Martin Landaluce 6-3, 1-6, 7-5.

At the Lexus Eastbourne Open in the United Kingdom, Belgium’s Zizou Bergs knocked out seventh-seeded Spaniard Jaume Munar 6-2, 6-4. Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo, seeded eighth, got past Belgium’s Raphael Collignon in a three-set battle, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (5).

Great Britain’s Jan Choinski overcame a tough first set to defeat Australia’s Alexei Popyrin 1-6, 6-2, 6-2. Canada’s Gabriel Diallo survived a grueling three-set contest against France’s Terence Atmane, taking the match 6-7 (7), 6-4, 7-5.

Two British players also picked up wins at Eastbourne. Jack Draper handled Marcos Giron 6-4, 7-6 (5), and Jack Pinnington Jones defeated Argentina’s Marco Trungelliti 5-7, 6-3, 7-5.

PHILADELPHIA — France is moving on in the World Cup after defeating Iraq 3-0 Monday, but the Group I matchup turned into a marathon event when severe thunderstorms forced a lengthy stoppage that stretched the game to nearly four hours total.

Star forward Kylian Mbappe was the standout performer, finding the back of the net twice — once before halftime and once after — to power France to their second consecutive win in the tournament. Ousmane Dembele also scored to round out the victory.

The second half was held up for close to two hours as thunderstorms and lightning swept through the Philadelphia region, forcing players and fans to wait out the dangerous conditions before play could resume.

With the win, France now sit atop their group with six points and a perfect record heading into the final round of group stage play. Mbappe’s brace puts him at 16 career World Cup goals, leaving him two behind Lionel Messi on the all-time scoring list.

France will wrap up their group stage schedule against Norway in Boston on Friday.

Field Level Media analyst Ethan Ward takes a closer look at one of the more intriguing prospects ahead of the 2026 NBA Draft: Illinois freshman Keaton Wagler.

Wagler came into the season flying under the radar but quickly made believers out of scouts and front offices alike. During the first three months of the year, he shot a blistering 43.7 percent from three-point range, only to cool off considerably down the stretch — connecting on just 30.9 percent from deep over Illinois’ final 12 games. Still, the 6-foot-6 off-guard’s broad skill set could be enough to overshadow questions about his physical profile.

What He Does Well: Wagler is a high-volume, high-efficiency perimeter shooter who knocked down 39.7 percent of his 5.9 three-point attempts per game. His shot chart reflects a 60/40 split between pull-up jumpers and catch-and-shoot opportunities, highlighting his versatility as a scorer. Though his shooting mechanics are unconventional — featuring a chin-level release — the shot is quick and high-arcing, and he rarely backs down when defenders crowd him. He uses reset dribbles and dribble handoffs effectively to create separation, and he’s a capable pick-and-roll ball handler who can threaten the rim without elite athleticism. His footwork and body control allow him to finish in creative ways — jump stops, spins, and shoulder-driven drives — supported by a toolkit of hesitations, wide crossovers, hang dribbles, and step-backs. He’s particularly effective finishing off two feet inside the arc. As a passer, he shows solid court awareness, reading the floor calmly and making decisions without forcing the action. His size and slightly above-average wingspan give him a workable defensive foundation, and he has room to add strength to his frame.

Areas of Concern: At approximately 190 pounds, Wagler’s lean build limits his ability to hold his ground against physical defenders when attacking off the dribble. He lacks elite burst and vertical explosiveness, and while his coordination is impressive, it only compensates so much for those athletic limitations. His finishing inside 10 feet has been inconsistent, with a 51.3 percent conversion rate within that range according to Hoop Explorer. He also tends to turn his back to defenders or lead with his shoulder on drives, which can result in poor shot selection at the rim. Despite being right-handed, he shows a preference for attacking with his left hand. Defensively, he struggles to stay in front of quicker guards laterally and doesn’t generate many disruptions — he’s a reliable team defender but not someone who will consistently impact possessions with energy or aggression.

Best Fit: Los Angeles Clippers

Ward identifies the Los Angeles Clippers, holding the No. 5 overall pick, as the ideal landing spot for Wagler. The Brooklyn Nets at No. 6 and the Milwaukee Bucks at No. 10 are also seen as strong organizational fits. There’s even a possibility Wagler goes earlier than expected — the Chicago Bulls at No. 4 are worth monitoring — depending on how the top of the draft unfolds. The Clippers are viewed as a natural match given the uncertainty surrounding Kawhi Leonard following the James Harden trade.

— Field Level Media

Danish tennis player Clara Tauson made a statement at the Bad Homburg Open on Monday in Bad Homburg, Germany, taking down seventh-seeded Diana Shnaider of Russia in what turned out to be the most notable upset of the first round.

Ranked 25th in the world, Tauson wrapped up the victory in just one hour and 45 minutes, winning 6-4, 6-4. She converted four of her 10 break point opportunities and fired six aces compared to Shnaider’s two. The win was especially meaningful for Tauson, as it snapped a seven-match losing streak — her previous win dating back to March at the BNP Paribas Open.

For Shnaider, who claimed the Bad Homburg title back in 2024, it marked a second consecutive first-round loss on grass. She had previously been eliminated from the Berlin Tennis Open by Nikola Bartunkova of the Czech Republic.

Elsewhere in the draw, an ankle injury forced Iva Jovic to withdraw from her scheduled first-round match against China’s Xinyu Wang. Mexico’s Renata Zarazua stepped in as a replacement, but Wang dominated the match, winning 6-1, 6-2.

Japan’s Naomi Osaka, seeded sixth and a four-time Grand Slam champion, completed a rain-delayed match against Poland’s Magdalena Frech, rolling to a 6-4, 6-1 victory. Osaka was particularly strong on her second serve, winning 60 percent of those points — 21 of 35 — compared to just 21.4 percent for Frech, who converted only 6 of 28.

Also advancing to the second round on Monday were Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya, China’s Qinwen Zheng, Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu, and Belgium’s Elise Mertens.

At the Lexus Eastbourne Open, held at the Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club, Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic caused a stir by defeating eighth-seeded Elisabetta Cocciaretto of Italy 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5 in a match that stretched two hours and 45 minutes — even though Tomljanovic needed just 36 minutes to claim the opening set.

Tomljanovic held a commanding edge on her first-serve points, winning 72.1 percent — 44 of 61 — while Cocciaretto won just 58.5 percent of hers, converting 31 of 53.

Colombia’s Emiliana Arango, ranked No. 101, stepped into the draw as a late replacement after Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic withdrew due to injury. Arango made the most of the opportunity, defeating Australia’s Maya Joint 7-6 (2), 6-4.

Other first-round winners at Eastbourne included Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko, the third seed; seventh seed McCartney Kessler; Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina; the Czech Republic’s Tereza Valentova; and Croatia’s Petra Marcinko.

First baseman and outfielder Trey Mancini is a free agent once again after declining a minor league assignment from the Los Angeles Angels on Monday.

The Angels had designated Mancini for assignment last week, and after clearing waivers, he was sent back to Triple-A Salt Lake — the same place he started the season. Rather than accept that assignment, the veteran opted to pursue free agency.

Mancini had not appeared in a major league game since July 2023 until the Angels called him up from Salt Lake on June 8. He made an immediate impact in his first start, going 3-for-4 against Houston and driving in a run during his very first at-bat back in the big leagues.

Over five games and three starts with the injury-depleted Angels, Mancini went 4-for-13 with a triple and four RBIs. His final appearance came on June 14 before the team decided to designate him for assignment.

The 34-year-old has a remarkable story beyond baseball. He missed the entire 2020 season while successfully fighting Stage 3 colon cancer, then returned to the field in 2021. Across 836 career major league games, Mancini carries a .263 batting average along with 129 home runs and 404 RBIs, having played for the Baltimore Orioles from 2016 through 2022, the Houston Astros in 2022, the Chicago Cubs in 2023, and most recently the Angels.

In related roster moves, the Angels brought designated hitter and outfielder Jorge Soler back from the injured list. Soler had been sidelined with an oblique strain since June 3 and was hitting .220 with nine home runs and 33 RBIs in 58 games before going down.

To make room, the Angels designated infielder Nick Madrigal for assignment. Madrigal batted .273 in 15 appearances for Los Angeles this season. It marked his first time in the majors since playing with the Cubs in 2024.

Field Level Media analyst Ethan Ward has taken a closer look at one of the most talked-about players heading into the 2026 NBA Draft — BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa.

Dybantsa has been a household name in basketball circles since his junior year of high school, and his college debut lived up to the hype. He finished the season as the nation’s leading scorer, putting up 25.5 points per game. Standing at a verified 6-foot-9 and 215 pounds — measurements confirmed at the NBA draft combine — he possesses the physical profile of a versatile inside-out swingman. His style of play blends power and finesse, with most of his production coming from within the arc.

What He Does Well: Dybantsa is a smooth wing scorer capable of exploiting weaknesses in halfcourt defenses on his own. He finishes at the rim with authority, converting at a 73.4 percent clip, and can elevate from well beyond the charge circle. He shows three-point range periodically, connecting on 34.7 percent of above-the-break attempts. His offensive approach centers on aggressive drives — either backing defenders down or attacking them face-up. He plays with patience and deliberateness, using ball fakes and shoulder movements to manufacture space rather than relying on pure straight-line speed. He’s comfortable operating in the corner or attacking closeouts on the weak side. As a secondary playmaker, he recognizes defensive attention and delivers the ball to open shooters or cutters. He draws fouls at an elite rate — 7.3 free throw attempts drawn per 36 minutes, which ranks in the 99th percentile among players at his position according to CBB Analytics. Defensively, his length helps him disrupt passing lanes, and he navigates screens reasonably well for someone his size. He’s also a strong long rebounder, often positioned to push in transition.

Areas That Need Work: Dybantsa leans too heavily on back-to-the-basket scoring, which reflects a handle that still needs refinement. His jump shot mechanics are inconsistent — he brings his knees together during his release, which throws off his rhythm and arc. He shot just 7-for-26 from the corner three (26.9 percent) and only 30 percent on catch-and-shoot opportunities overall. There are also concerns about his tendency to initiate contact rather than create clean looks. He can be steered in one direction by physical defenders, and his downhill attacks sometimes stall without a clear plan. According to Draft Ballr, he produced just 0.94 points per possession on post-ups, 0.98 on mid-range attempts, and 0.81 on dribble jumpers. When defenses key in on him, he can be contained. On the defensive end, he struggles in one-on-one coverage, can lose focus away from the ball, and his ability to switch assignments is sometimes slow to develop. Projecting him as a standout defender appears unlikely at this stage — a solid but unspectacular wing defender seems like the more realistic outcome.

Best NBA Fit: Washington Wizards

With Trae Young now committed to staying in Washington, Dybantsa would have the benefit of joining a team without being immediately thrust into a primary offensive role. Some evaluators view him as a polished prospect ready to contribute right away, and those expectations aren’t unreasonable. However, the Wizards understand better than most franchises that even highly touted teenagers face a learning curve when making the jump to professional basketball.

Norway head coach Stale Solbakken has decided to go with an unchanged roster for Monday’s World Cup Group I showdown against Senegal in East Rutherford, N.J. The decision keeps intact the squad that delivered a dominant 4-1 victory over Iraq in Norway’s tournament opener.

Senegal’s coaching staff made the same call, rolling out the identical starting eleven that took the field in their 3-1 loss to France earlier in the competition.

For Norway, Solbakken is sticking with his preferred attacking trio, with Alexander Sorloth and Antonio Nusa flanking star striker Erling Haaland up front.

On the Senegal side, Ibrahim Mbaye will once again start the match from the bench — a decision that raised eyebrows given that Mbaye found the back of the net in the defeat to France.

Norway Starting Lineup: Orjan Haskjold Nyland; Julian Ryerson, Kristoffer Ajer, Torbjorn Heggem, David Moller Wolfe; Martin Odegaard, Sander Berge, Fredrik Aursnes; Alexander Sorloth, Erling Haaland, Antonio Nusa.

Senegal Starting Lineup: Edouard Mendy; Krepin Diatta, Kalidou Koulibaly, Moussa Niakhate, El Hadji Malick Diouf; Idrissa Gana Gueye, Lamine Camara, Pape Gueye; Ismaila Sarr, Sadio Mane, Nicolas Jackson.

The Milwaukee Brewers made a roster move Monday, reinstating right-handed pitcher Brandon Woodruff from the injured list just in time for their series opener at Cincinnati. To make room, the team optioned left-hander Drew Rom.

Woodruff, 33, had been placed on the injured list due to right shoulder inflammation after making six starts this season. In those outings, he posted a 2-1 record with a 3.60 ERA across 30 innings. He is set to take the mound against the Reds on Monday.

The veteran pitcher missed the entire 2024 season following shoulder surgery and managed only 12 starts in his comeback last year. In nine years in the league, Woodruff has faced the Reds 15 times — including 13 starts — compiling a 7-4 record with a 3.48 ERA against them.

A two-time All-Star, Woodruff has been a consistent presence for Milwaukee since 2017, going 55-29 with a 3.12 ERA over 148 appearances, including 133 starts.

Rom, 26, posted a 3.38 ERA in four relief appearances during his return to the majors this season. His previous big-league stint came in 2023 with the St. Louis Cardinals, where he went 1-4 with an 8.02 ERA in eight starts.

After more than three decades behind the desk, ESPN announced Monday that Linda Cohn — the network’s longest-serving SportsCenter anchor — will officially step away from the job on June 30.

At 66 years old, Cohn holds a record no one else at ESPN can claim: she has hosted more editions of SportsCenter than any anchor in the show’s history. The milestone was formally recognized back in 2016 when she anchored her 5,000th episode of the flagship program.

Her farewell broadcasts are set for Friday, with final appearances during the 6 p.m., 10 p.m., and 11 p.m. ET editions of the show.

Reflecting on her career, Cohn said, “I’ve always said I was a fan first and I’ve always tried to keep that top of mind when I was doing ‘SportsCenter’ or anything else. But what I’m most proud of is that my career lasted long enough for me to see little girls grow up watching ‘SportsCenter,’ enter this business, and succeed in it.”

Cohn’s broadcasting journey began in 1981, when she worked as a radio news anchor, writer, and sports reporter on her native Long Island, New York. She came aboard ESPN in July 1992, anchoring her very first SportsCenter on July 11 of that year. In recent years, she had been a regular presence on the late-night edition of the show.

Throughout her tenure, Cohn proved herself a versatile broadcaster — taking on roles as a reporter, commentator, interviewer, writer, play-by-play caller, and contributor to the network’s hockey coverage. She was also a familiar face in many of ESPN’s beloved “This is ‘SportsCenter’” advertising spots.

“I’m grateful for every moment I had at ESPN, but I’m inspired and energized by the opportunities that lie ahead,” Cohn said. “My story is still being written.”

In 2017, Cohn was inducted into the National Sports Media Association Hall of Fame, cementing her place among the most respected figures in sports broadcasting.

Burke Magnus, ESPN President of Content, praised her legacy in a statement: “Linda Cohn is a legend and a major part of the history of ESPN. She has brought enthusiasm, personality and her love of sports to our audience for more than 30 years and her contributions to ESPN both in front of and behind the camera would make a very long list. We wish her all the best in her retirement and sincerely thank her.”

Field Level Media analyst Ethan Ward has released a detailed breakdown of top prospects heading into the 2026 NBA Draft, with Kansas guard Darryn Peterson among those in the spotlight.

Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 200 pounds, Peterson brings a 6-foot-10 wingspan to the table and the ability to play both guard positions effectively. While his freshman year drew criticism regarding his perceived effort level, his actual on-court output — both statistically and visually — was difficult to overlook. His flexibility between running the offense as a lead guard and playing off the ball gives him an advantage over many top guard prospects in recent draft classes.

On the positive side of the ledger, Peterson is a fluid ball-handler capable of shifting speeds and attacking defenders in either direction. As a pick-and-roll scorer, he has a complete toolkit — pull-up jumpers from distance, a soft touch around the basket, and hesitation moves to create better angles. He is especially skilled at keeping defenders trailing him around screens. His floater is quick and difficult to block, connecting on 50 percent of those attempts in the upper paint area, according to CBB Analytics. His shooting form is compact with a fast release, and he buried 55.6 percent of his 27 corner three-point attempts during his freshman season.

Away from the ball, Peterson is constantly moving — using screens, cutting to the rim, and repositioning to create spacing for teammates. He passes with good timing when defenders converge, and as a pick-and-roll passer, he generated 1.18 points per possession according to Draft Ballr. Defensively, he shows solid instincts when switching assignments, particularly on help-side plays, and is active in disrupting passing lanes.

However, there are concerns. Peterson dealt with a recurring full-body cramping condition throughout the college season, and questions about his long-term durability could factor into how teams evaluate him. He shot just 34.8 percent on above-the-break three-pointers, which made up 84 percent of his total three-point attempts. While he is a smart passer, he relies more on his scoring reputation to create opportunities for teammates than on sharp decision-making. He has also not been tested as a primary ball-handler, and on defense, he can be overpowered by bigger players and struggles on the defensive glass against physical baseline crashers.

Analysts identify the Utah Jazz as the best NBA fit for Peterson. He had previously aimed to be the first overall pick, but has pulled back from pursuing a workout with the Washington Wizards as indications grow that BYU’s AJ Dybantsa is poised to go No. 1. Utah holds the second pick and is weighing trade offers, with the decision likely coming down to Peterson and Duke’s Cam Boozer.

NBA point guard Trae Young has reached an agreement on a four-year contract extension with the Washington Wizards, a deal that could be worth around $212 million if he exercises the final-year option, according to a source familiar with the agreement who spoke with The Associated Press on Monday.

The source, who requested anonymity because the Wizards have not publicly disclosed the contract terms, confirmed that the fourth year of the extension is a player option. Young is set to earn approximately $49 million in the upcoming season alone.

The contract agreement is just one piece of what could be a landmark week for Washington. The Wizards hold the No. 1 overall pick heading into the NBA draft, which gets underway Tuesday night.

Young, a four-time All-Star, struggled through an injury-plagued 2024-25 season, appearing in only 15 games split between Atlanta and Washington. He averaged 17.9 points per game — a drop of more than seven points below his career average. After being traded from the Hawks, who had him for seven and a half seasons, Young made just five appearances in a Wizards uniform.

Financially, the extension is structured so that the total value closely mirrors the maximum Young could have earned by signing with another team on the open market, making Washington’s offer essentially as competitive as anything available to him elsewhere.

Over the course of his career, Young has averaged 25.1 points and 9.8 assists per game. The only other player in NBA history to maintain averages of at least 25 points and nine assists across an entire career is Oscar Robertson — a distinction that underscores Young’s elite playmaking ability.

HOUSTON — World Cup excitement is taking on a truly international character in Houston, where an estimated one-third of residents were born outside the United States and approximately 145 languages are spoken throughout what is considered one of the most culturally diverse cities in the country.

As the fourth-largest city in the U.S., Houston has thrown itself into full celebration mode for this year’s tournament, with a sprawling downtown fan festival and packed bars and restaurants buzzing with passionate supporters cheering on their home nations.

“We’ve been to the fan festival in East Downtown and it’s been a fantastic experience to see all cultures kind of mesh and have a great time together and celebrate the sport and celebrate humanity as a whole,” said Frank Haces, 27, who watched a recent match alongside family members who traveled to visit him from Mexico.

The presence of Mexico’s national team — known as “El Tri” — is felt strongly across the city. Green jerseys have become a common sight at restaurants, bars, and supermarkets, reflecting the fact that people of Mexican heritage make up roughly a third of Houston’s population.

The downtown fan festival has embraced the city’s diversity with entertainment spanning everything from Tejano to Bollywood performers, according to festival director Patti Smith. She noted that local fans representing a wide range of countries gather to watch their teams compete on large screens. For a recent Egypt match, organizers even set up a prayer room and a foot-washing area to accommodate Muslim supporters. Smith estimated that as many as 20,000 people are attending the festival each day.

“The cultures are all coming out and it’s every single night,” Smith told Reuters. “We see when it’s the Turkish, the Iranians or whoever is playing. People from the community are coming out in droves.”

Houston’s appeal to international residents stems from several factors, including a strong job market driven by the energy and medical industries, relatively affordable living costs, and its geographic closeness to Latin America — all of which have contributed to its large Latino population and drawn people from around the world.

Sae Yang, a 35-year-old South Korean resident, said the opportunity to share different traditions and celebrations is what makes experiencing the World Cup in Houston so meaningful. Meanwhile, Canadian resident Saige Antoine said she enjoys the chance to connect with fellow transplants from other parts of the globe.

“I remember like the first few days of it was huge,” Antoine said. “It was going crazy. People just want to like show off the flags, their accessories, anything to support the culture and what we have here.”

Texas is also home to the largest Czech American population in the United States, and Houston residents Derrick Junek and his wife Jaylen said they plan to honor their heritage in a fitting way — given that the Czech Republic ranks as the top beer-consuming nation per capita in the world.

“I’ll drink some Pilsner beer to celebrate,” Derrick Junek said.

Keith Tkachuk spent more than 15 years after hanging up his skates waiting for the Hockey Hall of Fame to come calling — and when the moment finally arrived, his family had even more reason to raise a glass.

The announcement of Tkachuk’s election to the Hall of Fame came on Monday, barely a day after his two sons found themselves on the same NHL roster. Brady Tkachuk was dealt from Ottawa to Florida, where he now plays alongside his older brother Matthew.

Known by the nickname “Walt,” Tkachuk is joining a Hall of Fame class that features center Patrice Bergeron, a six-time Selke Trophy winner who captured the Stanley Cup with Boston in 2011, along with goalies Carey Price from Montreal and Pekka Rinne from Nashville.

Also set to be inducted at the November 9 ceremony in Toronto are U.S. women’s hockey trailblazer Cindy Curley and hockey executive Brian Burke.

Tkachuk was widely considered one of the most dominant power forwards of his generation, competing throughout the 1990s and 2000s as part of the first wave of elite American-born NHL players. Across his career with Winnipeg, Phoenix, St. Louis, and Atlanta, he tallied 1,121 points in 1,290 games including playoff action, and was a member of the U.S. squad that claimed the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.

“I was blessed to play in the greatest sports league in the world,” Tkachuk said. “Through good times and bad times, it was always the best experience imaginable.”

Bergeron, who played his entire career in Boston, earned his spot in the first year he was eligible. Price and Rinne were selected in their second year of eligibility, while Henrik Zetterberg and Rod Brind’Amour were once again passed over.

Price and Bergeron were both part of Canada’s gold medal-winning team at the 2014 Winter Olympics. Bergeron also won gold at the 2010 Games.

Curley made history by competing in the very first IIHF Women’s World Championship in 1990, where she set single-tournament records that still stand — 11 goals, 12 assists, and 23 points across five games.

Burke earned a Stanley Cup ring as general manager of Anaheim in 2007 and has held numerous front-office roles throughout his career, including serving as the NHL’s director of hockey operations. He has also been a prominent advocate for the women’s game and played a leading role in hockey’s Pride initiatives, including a tenure as executive director of the Professional Women’s Hockey League Players Association.

NEW YORK (AP) — With the NBA draft just hours away, basketball fans were searching for any hint about where top prospect AJ Dybantsa might land — but his Father’s Day social media post turned out to be no clue at all.

Dybantsa posted a tribute to his father, Anicet Dybantsa Sr., known as “Ace,” on X, and one of the photos showed a young AJ being held by his dad in front of the White House. Since Washington holds the No. 1 overall pick in Tuesday night’s draft, many wondered if the image was a subtle hint about his destination.

It wasn’t. Dybantsa explained Monday that the photo choice came down to something much simpler — modesty.

“Actually, it was just a random photo that I found,” Dybantsa said. “I was going to do one and I was a baby, but I was naked, so I didn’t want to do that one. So the next one to the right just happened to be in front of the White House.”

Still, there’s a solid chance Dybantsa is indeed Washington-bound. The 6-foot-9 forward from Boston dominated college basketball in his single season at BYU, leading the entire country with 25.5 points per game. Scouts have compared his combination of size and skill to Kevin Durant — who also happens to be Dybantsa’s favorite player.

Washington could also look at other top-tier one-and-done prospects, including Darryn Peterson of Kansas, college player of the year Cameron Boozer of Duke, or North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson. A talented group of scoring guards rounds out the rest of the top of the draft.

“I think this draft top to bottom is elite. I think you look at guys even outside of the top group, guys in the 16-to-20 range, those are all great players,” Boozer said. “I think our draft is really strong, stronger than a lot of classes that came before us. I guess we’ll see how strong we really are in a couple of years from now, but I am super excited for sure.”

The Utah Jazz hold the second overall pick, followed by the Memphis Grizzlies and Chicago Bulls. If all four top forwards are off the board by then, the Los Angeles Clippers at No. 5 would be the first team to choose from a group of guards and other prospects that includes Keaton Wagler of Illinois, Darius Acuff Jr. of Arkansas, Kingston Flemings of Houston, and Mikel Brown Jr. of Louisville.

While Dybantsa’s impressive track record against elite competition makes him a difficult player to pass up, Washington must also weigh the upside of Peterson against what he was actually able to show during his time at Kansas.

A McDonald’s All-American coming out of high school, Peterson averaged 20.2 points per game last season and was one of the highest-profile recruits the Jayhawks have ever signed. However, questions linger about his health. He dealt with full-body cramping before the season that led to a brief hospital stay, and a series of injuries and illnesses caused him to miss 11 games while limiting his performance in several others.

The 6-foot-5 guard said NBA teams have not raised any red flags about his physical condition.

“Not at all,” Peterson said. “Every team’s got my medicals and I’m cleared, so there’s no issues.”

Peterson also says the uncertainty of not knowing his draft destination isn’t rattling him heading into draft night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

“Oh, it’s been my life for a while now,” Peterson said. “I went to three different high schools. I’ve been on the move my entire life, so no problem at all. That’s part of the process and I’m embracing it.”

The Brooklyn Nets, who are hosting the draft as the No. 6 pick holders, are hoping to generate some excitement in a city where they’ve felt increasingly overshadowed — especially after the Knicks captured their first NBA championship since 1973.

Dybantsa was actually in the building for Game 4 at Madison Square Garden — the other photo in his Father’s Day post was taken at the NBA Finals — when the Knicks pulled off the largest comeback in Finals history by overcoming a 29-point deficit.

“Craziest game I’ve ever watched in real life,” he said. “Like, it was so loud in there.”

Now Dybantsa is focused on being the one who gets the crowd on its feet. Washington’s championship drought nearly matches the one the Knicks just ended — the franchise last won a title in 1978, when the team was still called the Bullets.

If Washington selects Dybantsa to help rebuild the franchise, he says he’s more than prepared for the weight of those expectations.

“Obviously, it’s going to be a little bit more pressure probably, target on my back,” Dybantsa said. “I mean, I’ve been No. 1 my whole life and people gunning after me, so it’d be a bigger motivation for me going into the league.”

Panama will head into Tuesday’s World Cup Group L showdown against Croatia short-handed, as coach Thomas Christiansen confirmed that midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla will not be available for the critical match.

The 27-year-old has been working his way back from a muscle injury and was limited to bench duty during Panama’s 1-0 defeat to Ghana last week. Although he had been making strides in his recovery, Christiansen said Carrasquilla felt ill during a training session ahead of the Croatia clash.

“It’s a pity not to have (Carrasquilla) with us for such an important match against Croatia,” Christiansen told reporters. “But we have shown that the group is ready to compete.”

Both Panama and Croatia enter Tuesday’s match looking to bounce back after suffering losses in their opening group stage games. For Panama, the stakes are especially high — if they fall to Croatia and England avoid defeat against Ghana, Panama’s tournament will be over.

“This is the most important one,” Christiansen said. “The group (squad) is very excited. They want to remove the thorn from Ghana, where we deserved a lot more.”

Panama’s loss to Ghana was particularly painful, as the African side didn’t break through until the 95th minute. Despite showing promise going forward, Panama left empty-handed and now must tighten up defensively against a seasoned Croatian squad.

Croatia presents a formidable challenge, boasting 40-year-old veteran midfielder Luka Modric alongside Manchester City pair Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol. The Balkan nation finished third at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and brings a wealth of international experience to the pitch.

“They have top qualities on the flanks, their physical condition is really good,” Christiansen acknowledged, noting that Croatia will be eager to prove their 4-2 loss to England was just a stumble.

Still, Panama’s coach hasn’t given up on the idea of pulling off an upset and claiming the country’s first-ever World Cup victory.

“I am ambitious, but I’m also realistic,” Christiansen said. “Because in this World Cup, we’ve seen interesting results where people did not expect these results. So why couldn’t we be one of those teams that surprises in a positive way?”

A Notre Dame football legacy is being carried forward by not one, but two sons of a former Fighting Irish star. Both Julius Jones Jr., a 4-star wide receiver, and his brother Andre, a 4-star safety, announced on Monday that they will play college football at Notre Dame.

The brothers made their announcements together during a live appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” creating a memorable moment for the Jones family.

Julius Jones Jr., who stands 5-foot-10 and weighs 170 pounds, is ranked No. 75 overall and No. 12 among wide receivers in the 247Sports composite rankings for the Class of 2027. He picked Notre Dame after narrowing his choices to Miami and Oregon as finalists, ultimately selecting the Irish from a pool of roughly 44 reported scholarship offers.

His younger brother Andre, listed at 5-foot-11 and 175 pounds, plays cornerback and is ranked No. 315 overall and No. 29 among safeties in the 247Sports composite for the Class of 2028.

Both brothers currently play together at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Their father, Julius Jones Sr., was a standout running back who led Notre Dame in rushing three times between 1999 and 2003.

Julius Jr. explained what drew him to South Bend. “It’s just the mystique of Notre Dame — there’s only one in the world,” he said on the show. “When I was up there, I felt it, and it felt different from what they can do for me now to when I’m done with football.”

The younger Jones had a standout junior season in 2025, hauling in 58 catches for 876 yards and 14 touchdowns. He is also a three-time state champion at the high school level.

His father built an impressive resume at Notre Dame as well, totaling 3,018 rushing yards over four seasons in South Bend. His best campaign came in 2003, when he rushed for 1,268 yards, and he currently ranks sixth all-time in school history in rushing yards. The elder Jones went on to play seven seasons in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks, and New Orleans Saints.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Lionel Messi is now the most prolific goal scorer in World Cup history, but when asked to reflect on the milestone after Monday night’s match, the 38-year-old kept it simple: “I’m very tired.”

Despite his exhaustion, Messi delivered a memorable performance, netting two goals in Argentina’s hard-fought 2-0 win over Austria — though he did miss a penalty kick in the first half. The victory secured Argentina’s place in the tournament’s knockout stage, giving the team six points through two Group J contests.

His first goal came off a low cross from Facundo Medina, which Messi finished cleanly on the first touch. That strike pulled him even with Brazilian legend Marta at 17 World Cup goals, a combined total spanning both the men’s and women’s competitions. A second goal deep in stoppage time pushed him past Marta and gave him sole possession of the all-time record.

“I’m very happy with the win,” Messi said after the match. “It was a hugely important victory, a tough one, and one we worked hard for. It gives us calm for what’s coming.”

Austria made things more difficult after halftime, and Messi acknowledged that his missed penalty could have made the game more manageable. Still, he expressed satisfaction with how the night unfolded.

“The truth is that the way it turned out today was spectacular,” he said. “I had the penalty that could have increased the lead, but I’m happy with the result and with the team’s work.”

Messi, who is set to turn 39 later this week, now has five goals at this World Cup. Argentina advances to the round of 32 with one group stage match still remaining.

Lionel Messi etched his name further into soccer history on Monday, claiming the title of all-time top scorer in men’s World Cup play after finding the net for the 17th time in tournament competition during Argentina’s Group J clash against Austria.

The record-breaking tally moved the Argentina captain past Germany striker Miroslav Klose, who previously held the men’s record. Messi’s 17th goal also pulled him level with Brazilian legend Marta, whose 17 goals in women’s World Cup play had long stood as the overall record across both tournaments.

The historic moment unfolded in Dallas, where Messi helped orchestrate a fluid Argentina attacking move before slipping into the penalty area unmarked. He calmly finished a low cross from Facundo Medina into the bottom corner on his first touch to put Argentina in front.

The strike gave Argentina the lead in their second Group J outing. The South American powerhouse entered the match riding high after a dominant 3-0 opening win over Algeria, with a spot in the knockout round firmly in their sights.

Northwestern center Jackson Carsello will be able to suit up for college football in 2026, thanks to a court injunction handed down Monday by a Cook County, Illinois judge.

The NCAA had denied Carsello’s request for a waiver that would have granted him a sixth year of eligibility. The organization’s position was that Carsello should have used his redshirt year back in 2021. During that season, he practiced but never appeared in a game due to an ankle injury. Carsello, however, considered 2022 his redshirt year — a season in which he appeared in four games.

Over the past three seasons, Carsello played in 32 games total, including 13 starts in 2025.

Cook County Circuit Judge Neil Cohen ruled in Carsello’s favor, pointing out that the injury was beyond the player’s control.

“Mr. Carsello didn’t impose a high-ankle sprain on himself in order to dodge the rules of the NCAA,” Cohen stated in his ruling. “… You have his own coach saying, ‘I wouldn’t put him in, he was damaged, it would be unhealthy, it would be a violation,’ — my terms, not his — ‘of the whole purpose of the NCAA, which is to guarantee the safety and health of a student-athlete.’”

The judge also had pointed words for the NCAA, though he stopped short of accusing the organization of acting in bad faith.

“I admire the NCAA, and I thank them for the process they went through, but they got it wrong in this case. I imply no bad faith in their getting it wrong, but they got it really wrong,” Cohen said.

Carsello joins a growing list of college football players who have turned to the courts to secure their eligibility. Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and Oklahoma linebacker Owen Heinecke have also received similar injunctions ahead of the upcoming season.

Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby received an injunction as well following an NCAA suspension tied to gambling on his own team and other college football programs, though he has since pursued entry into the NFL’s supplemental draft — a route that had also been available to Carsello if the court had not ruled in his favor.

Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk appears to be making it crystal clear where he wants to play next. The San Francisco 49ers pass-catcher took to Instagram on Sunday night to publicly root for the Washington Commanders, shouting in his story, “Go Commanders! Go Commanders! Go Commanders! Raise Hail! Take Command!”

Aiyuk also shared a photo of Washington quarterback Mark Rypien hoisting the Lombardi Trophy following Washington’s Super Bowl XXVI championship victory.

The 28-year-old receiver has been in an uncertain situation this offseason after 49ers general manager John Lynch stated in January that “it’s safe to say that he’s played his last snap with the Niners.” Despite that declaration, San Francisco has neither released Aiyuk nor found a team willing to take him in a trade.

Aiyuk missed the entire 2024 season after suffering tears to his ACL, MCL, and meniscus in October of that year. Since then, he has used his social media platforms to express his frustration with the organization. Earlier this month, he described the team as “dumb” and “stupid” for continuing to pay him, and suggested the franchise was afraid of how effectively he might perform against them if he landed elsewhere.

Part of his interest in Washington may stem from a personal connection — Aiyuk shares a close bond with Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, the two having been teammates at Arizona State.

Aiyuk had signed a four-year, $120 million contract back in August 2024. However, the 49ers voided the guaranteed money remaining on the deal last summer and eventually placed him on the reserve/left team list after he stopped reporting to the team facility to rehabilitate his right knee.

Before his injury, Aiyuk was one of the top performers in San Francisco, leading the team with 1,342 receiving yards and seven touchdown receptions in 2023. Across five NFL seasons, the former first-round pick from the 2020 draft has recorded 294 catches for 4,305 yards and 25 touchdowns with the 49ers.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Fresh off a national championship, the University of Michigan basketball program finds itself in an unexpected coaching search.

Dusty May is heading to the NBA, with the 49-year-old coach and the Dallas Mavericks in the final stages of completing a contract agreement, according to a source familiar with the situation who spoke to the Associated Press on Monday. The source requested anonymity since the deal had not yet been officially finalized.

May guided the Wolverines to a national title with a victory over UConn in Indianapolis, delivering Michigan its first championship since 1989.

Just days after the celebration, athletic director Warde Manuel announced he had locked May into a long-term contract extension during a victory rally back in Ann Arbor. Two months later, May is on his way out the door.

He will take over a Dallas squad that includes reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg and nine-time All-Star Kyrie Irving. May steps into the role previously held by Jason Kidd, who was dismissed two weeks after Masai Ujiri came aboard as president of basketball operations and alternate governor.

Whether any of May’s current coaching staff will follow him to Dallas remains unknown at this time.

Manuel could look internally, potentially promoting assistant coach Mike Boynton — a former head coach at Oklahoma State — to lead the program. Two-time national champion coach Billy Donovan has also been mentioned as a possible candidate should he choose to return to the college game. The former Florida head coach stepped down from his position with the Chicago Bulls in April after six seasons there, which followed a five-year stint with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The coaching departure isn’t the only challenge facing Michigan heading into next season. The program is also expected to lose three players who are projected to be selected in the first round of Tuesday night’s NBA draft.

Manuel had brought May over from Florida Atlantic in 2024, and the coach wasted no time turning around a struggling program. Just two years earlier, Michigan had lost a school-record 24 games — a stretch that ultimately cost former Fab Five player Juwan Howard his job.

May made effective use of the transfer portal during both of his seasons, specifically targeting players who excelled at passing, believing that quality passers tend to be strong teammates. His offensive philosophy centered on floor spacing, while his defensive approach was aggressive and relentless.

Transfers Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara, and Morez Johnson Jr. all chose Michigan last season, and the trio helped the Wolverines win a school-record 37 games and claim the program’s second national title, all while boosting their own NBA draft prospects.

May had already been building toward next season, bringing in nine new players — including three from the portal — but those recruits and current roster members will now have the option to seek transfers following his exit.

Manuel had moved quickly to extend May’s contract after the season partly to fend off interest from other programs, including North Carolina, which parted ways with its own coach and hired a former NBA head coach. Keeping May away from an NBA opportunity, however, was likely never a realistic possibility.

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — The spirit of Diego Maradona is everywhere as Argentina’s players, coaches, and fans gear up for their second World Cup Group J showdown against Austria in Dallas on Monday.

The timing carries deep significance. Monday falls exactly 40 years after one of the most talked-about performances in soccer history — Maradona’s two-goal display in Argentina’s 2-1 victory over England during the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium.

On June 22, 1986, Maradona scored both the notorious “Hand of God” goal and the breathtaking “Goal of the Century,” weaving past defender after defender on the English side. In Argentina, that date is officially honored as the Day of the Argentine Footballer.

Even more than five years after his passing, Maradona remains a towering presence among Argentine supporters — the only figure who comes close to rivaling Lionel Messi in terms of devotion and reverence.

When fans gathered last week in Kansas City, which has served as Argentina’s home base during the tournament, massive flags referencing Maradona were on full display throughout the crowd. One banner placed him alongside Messi with just a single word: “simbiosis” — Spanish for symbiosis.

As the team traveled south to Texas, supporters continued the tribute, chanting that “Maradona is greater than Pele” — a pointed jab aimed at their longtime Brazilian rivals.

At a pre-match press conference, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni shared a personal memory of watching that historic 1986 match as a child.

“I think I was at home, at my grandmother’s house, because we all lived there. There were I don’t know how many of us living there, we didn’t have our own home. It was a very small TV,” Scaloni recalled. He was eight years old at the time.

“Emotional. I didn’t know tomorrow was the anniversary of that great goal, so let’s enjoy it. We will see it everywhere tomorrow. We’ll cry a little too,” Scaloni told reporters on Sunday.

Monday’s opponents, Austria, also hold a notable place in Maradona’s story. He delivered his only international hat-trick against them in a 5-1 Argentine victory back in 1980, and the two nations met again in 1990 — both times with Argentina holding the title of reigning world champions.

Maradona passed away on November 25, 2020, at the age of 60, following a heart attack while he was recovering from brain surgery to remove a blood clot.

The Edmonton Oilers are set to retain veteran defenseman Connor Murphy, with TSN reporting Monday that the two sides have agreed on a five-year contract extension valued at $20.4 million.

Murphy, who is 33 years old, came to Edmonton via a March 2 trade with Chicago and posted four points across 20 games with his new club. For the full 2025-26 season, he combined for 17 points — five goals and 12 assists — in 80 games split between the two organizations.

Over the course of his NHL career, Murphy has appeared in 825 games, accumulating 177 points (48 goals and 129 assists) along with 560 penalty minutes. His career stops have included the Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes from 2013 to 2017, the Blackhawks from 2017 to 2026, and now the Oilers.

The announcement comes just a day after Edmonton also locked up forward Jason Dickinson on a five-year deal worth $20 million, signaling a busy stretch of roster-building for the organization.

World Cup tickets are already a major expense. Add in flights, hotel rooms, and then the cost of a stadium beer — and the bill can really start to add up.

Across the North American venues hosting this summer’s World Cup, fans are encountering some truly unique — and at times eye-watering — food and drink options. In Miami, a tray of so-called “Fancy AF Tots” will set you back $75, while a massive five-pound empanada goes for $40. Over in Guadalajara, Mexico, rib-eye tacos are a comparatively modest $8. And in Los Angeles, a $22 item called a “Twinkie cheeseburger” — which has nothing to do with the snack cake — is turning heads.

For American fans accustomed to NFL or college football concession prices, none of this may come as much of a surprise. But for international visitors, the pricing has been a rude awakening — especially when it comes to beer, which can cost more than $20 at some venues.

“It’s unfair. It’s not right. It’s wrong,” said Thomas Schüller, an engineer from Germany who was in Toronto to watch his national team play. He was holding a beer that cost him 24.25 Canadian dollars — roughly $17 or 15 euros. “It’s three times the cost of what I pay in my country.”

That said, the price tag wasn’t enough to stop him from buying it. “Well, no,” Schüller admitted.

The sticker shock is understandable for many European visitors, where a beer at a typical venue might run just 4 or 5 euros — the equivalent of about $5 to $6 in U.S. dollars.

“Never seen anything like it,” said Janine Arbetter, a fan from Austria, as she waited in line for a hot dog, chips, and soda combo in Miami last week. The pre-tip price came to $19.35 — about 17 euros — though that did include a discount for paying with Visa. “It’s a lot of food for a little snack,” she added.

Reactions on social media have been mixed. Some Argentina fans proudly shared photos of their $34 lobster rolls from a match in Kansas City. Meanwhile, a brisket sandwich with chips and a bottled soda in Toronto — priced at nearly 40 Canadian dollars, or about $28 — prompted online commenters to call it “robbery.”

German fan Daniel Feldmann offered a more measured take after watching a match in Vancouver last week: “It’s OK, more or less, for the World Cup.”

FIFA, the organization that governs the sport and runs the tournament, has detailed rules covering nearly every aspect of World Cup operations — and that includes guidelines for food vendors. However, pricing and menu offerings can differ from city to city, meaning the concession experience in one stadium may look and taste completely different from another.

Those $75 “Fancy AF Tots” in Miami? They’re not actually tater tots. The dish consists of three deep-fried hash brown patties topped with caviar, creme fraiche, and chives. For fans who want just the caviar, that option is available for $70. The Los Angeles “Twinkie cheeseburger,” meanwhile, is a burger topped with what’s known as a Texas Twinkie — a bacon-wrapped jalapeño stuffed with brisket and cream cheese.

Many stadiums are also offering locally inspired menu items. In Vancouver, fans can try short rib poutine — a classic Canadian dish of fries topped with beef gravy, pulled short rib, and cheese curds — as well as a maple bacon smokie, a smoked sausage topped with bacon onion jam made with Canadian maple syrup.

Miami’s signature offerings lean into the city’s Cuban heritage, featuring pan con lechon — a Cuban-style sandwich with citrus mojo-marinated pork on a toasted Cuban loaf — along with the “Empanada Mundial,” a five-pound handmade chicken-and-cheese empanada named in honor of the World Cup.

Both Vancouver and Miami are working with Sodexo Live as their food and beverage provider, and standard game-day menus at both stadiums were adjusted to appeal to a soccer-focused crowd.

“We want it to feel like Miami when you’re here,” said Zach Williams, the stadium’s vice president of operations. “Everything we do around the Miami Stadium, we want to make sure everybody understands that when they come here, they’re getting a Miami experience.”

The situation in Mexico City presents a particularly stark contrast. The daily minimum wage there is 315.04 pesos — roughly $18. Yet some beers at Mexico City Stadium were being sold for between 299 and 310 pesos, which is about double what fans would normally pay at that same stadium outside of World Cup events.

On the other end of the spectrum is Atlanta, where the stadium’s owner has long championed affordable concession pricing — and made good on that promise for the World Cup. Pizza slices were available for $3, 32-ounce sodas for $4, cheeseburgers for $5, chicken tenders with fries for $6, and beers starting at just $8.

Jonathan Arango, a 33-year-old from Greenville, South Carolina, attended a match in Atlanta with his wife, daughter, and father. “In total for what we got — three orders of tacos, a slice of pizza, two waters and a Coke — we spent like $50,” he said. “Compared to what we’ve paid at other events … it’s nice after you paid a lot for a ticket.”

Despite the grumbling over prices, Schüller kept things in perspective. The World Cup only comes around every four years, he noted, and it still carries the feeling of a once-in-a-lifetime event. “The entire football world is having fun,” he said. “So cheers to that.”

The Utah Mammoth made a series of coaching commitments on Monday, inking head coach Andre Tourigny and assistant coach Blaine Forsythe to new multi-year contracts.

The organization also announced the addition of two-time Stanley Cup champion defenseman Adam Foote, who signed a multi-year deal to join the coaching staff as an assistant. The financial details of all three agreements were kept private.

Tourigny is coming off his second season leading the Mammoth, during which the team posted a 43-33-6 record and earned a playoff berth in 2025-26. The run ended in the first round when Utah fell to the Vegas Golden Knights in six games.

General manager Bill Armstrong praised all three additions. “Andre and Blaine have both been instrumental in building the foundation for our organization and will be critical in our continued success and leadership moving forward,” Armstrong said. “Andre is an excellent leader, communicator, and person, who is extremely well respected by our players and our staff. Blaine’s an experienced, knowledgeable, and Stanley Cup-winning coach who has a strong body of work running the power play.”

Armstrong also expressed enthusiasm about landing Foote. “We are also thrilled to have Adam, a two-time Stanley Cup champion and 2002 Olympic gold medalist right here in Salt Lake, join the organization and bring a fresh perspective to our room backed by years of experience as both a player and coach. This is another exciting day for the organization.”

Tourigny, 52, has compiled an overall head coaching record of 170-195-45, dating back to his time with the then-Arizona Coyotes from 2021 to 2024 before moving with the franchise to Utah.

The coach expressed gratitude for the renewed commitment. “I am grateful to the organization and feel fortunate to work alongside such an exceptional coaching staff and dedicated group of players, whose collective hard work and commitment to each other have fostered a culture we can be proud of,” Tourigny said. “My family and I love being in Utah and look forward to deepening our roots here.”

Forsythe earned a Stanley Cup ring in 2018 as an assistant with the Washington Capitals and came aboard with the Coyotes organization in July 2023.

Foote spent 17 of his 19 NHL seasons with the Colorado Avalanche, capturing Stanley Cup titles in 1996 and 2001. Most recently, he served as head coach of the Vancouver Canucks, going 25-49-8 last season.

The Dallas Mavericks are close to finalizing an agreement to bring in Michigan head coach Dusty May as their next head coach, according to reports published Monday by ESPN and The Athletic.

May, 49, wrapped up a remarkable second season with the Wolverines in 2025-26, steering the program to a 37-3 record and an NCAA Tournament championship — a stunning turnaround for a program that had struggled before his arrival.

He steps into the role left vacant by Jason Kidd, who parted ways with Dallas on May 19 following five seasons as head coach. The Mavericks finished last season with a 26-56 record, their worst performance since the 2017-18 campaign.

May has no prior NBA coaching experience but will take the reins of a Dallas squad that features Cooper Flagg, the league’s reigning Rookie of the Year.

By leaving Michigan, May walks away from a program he had built into a powerhouse. His 2026 recruiting class was ranked second in the country by 247Sports, featuring five-star point guard Brandon McCoy Jr. along with four four-star prospects — forwards Quinn Costello, Malachi Brown, and Lincoln Cosby, and guard Joseph Hartman. The Wolverines had also added three transfer players: center Moustapha Thiam from Cincinnati, forward Jalen Reed from LSU, and forward J.P. Estrella from Tennessee.

According to ESPN, May becomes the first college head coach to make the jump to an NBA job since former Michigan coach John Beilein took over the Cleveland Cavaliers back in 2019. The last coach to move directly from winning an NCAA title to an NBA head coaching position was Larry Brown of Kansas, who became head coach of the San Antonio Spurs in 1988.

One of May’s first tasks in Dallas will be the NBA draft, which gets underway Tuesday. The Mavericks hold the 9th and 30th picks in the first round.

May’s impact at Michigan was immediate. In two seasons, he went 64-13 with the Wolverines after inheriting a program that had gone just 8-24 the year before he arrived. Shortly after Michigan defeated UConn 69-63 in the national title game on April 6, May agreed to a contract extension with the university.

Prior to his time in Ann Arbor, May spent six seasons at Florida Atlantic from 2018 to 2024, compiling a 126-69 record and making national headlines with an unexpected run to the Final Four in 2023. He left Florida Atlantic to replace Juwan Howard at Michigan.

As for the man he’s replacing, Jason Kidd had a mixed tenure in Dallas. He led the team to 50 or more wins on two occasions and guided the Mavericks to a Western Conference title in 2023-24, though that run ended in a five-game NBA Finals loss to the Boston Celtics. He also endured three losing seasons during his time there.

Kidd, 53, finished his Dallas tenure with a 205-205 regular season record and a 22-18 playoff mark. His overall head coaching record stands at 388-395, with a 31-33 record in the postseason.

DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks are putting the finishing touches on an agreement to bring college basketball’s hottest coach to the NBA, according to a source familiar with the situation who spoke to the Associated Press on Monday. The source requested anonymity since the deal had not yet been officially completed.

The coach in question is Dusty May, who just guided Michigan to an NCAA national title — the program’s first since 1989 — with a 69-63 win over UConn in April, capping a remarkable 34-3 season. The Wolverines also made history at the start of that NCAA Tournament run by becoming the first team ever to score 90 or more points in five straight tournament games.

May’s rise to national prominence actually began a few years earlier, when he took Florida Atlantic to its only Final Four appearance. The Owls returned to the NCAA Tournament in 2024 before May departed for Michigan.

Now 49 years old, May steps into the role vacated by Jason Kidd, who was dismissed two weeks after Masai Ujiri came on board as president of basketball operations and alternate governor of the Mavericks.

The opportunity ahead of May is significant. He’ll have the chance to develop Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and reigning Rookie of the Year. Veteran guard Kyrie Irving is also on the roster, though he missed the entire 2025-26 season after tearing his ACL in March of last year.

May’s coaching journey began as a college assistant at Murray State in 2005-06. He went on to work on staffs at UAB, Louisiana Tech, and Florida before landing his first head coaching position at Florida Atlantic.

His tenure at FAU peaked during the 2022-23 season, when the Owls went 35-4 and made their magical Final Four run — only to fall 72-71 to San Diego State when Lamont Butler hit a buzzer-beater in the national semifinals.

At last month’s NBA draft combine, Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg — who played under May and is projected to be a lottery pick in Thursday night’s first round — spoke glowingly about his former coach.

Shohei Ohtani has already collected four MVP awards throughout his career, and now he’s mounting a serious push for an honor that has never been his: the Cy Young Award. But the competition in the National League this season may be too fierce to overcome.

Through 12 starts with the Los Angeles Dodgers — who are approaching the midpoint of their schedule — Ohtani sits at 7-2 with a sparkling 1.47 ERA across 73 2/3 innings pitched. His career bests in both categories came back in 2022, when he made 28 starts and threw 166 innings for the Los Angeles Angels, going 15-9 with a 2.33 ERA and finishing fourth in the American League Cy Young voting.

Ohtani’s bat has historically been more consistent than his arm from season to season. He didn’t take the mound at all in 2019 or 2024, and his teams have carefully managed how much he pitches. He’s currently a few innings short of officially qualifying for the ERA title, but with a mark well under 2.00, there’s no question he ranks among the best starters in the game right now.

Despite those impressive numbers, oddsmakers still view him as an unlikely Cy Young winner. Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski leads the pack at 8-3 with a 1.45 ERA over 15 starts, while Philadelphia’s Cristopher Sánchez is close behind at 9-3 with a 1.80 ERA — and he recently wrapped up a stretch of 50 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings.

On the offensive side, Ohtani remains the overwhelming favorite to take home yet another MVP. His home run and stolen base totals aren’t at the jaw-dropping levels he’s reached before, but he tops the National League in on-base percentage. When you add in his contributions on the pitching side, it’s difficult to argue that anyone else deserves the award.

A bit of Dodgers history: the very first Cy Young Award was handed to a Brooklyn Dodger. In 1956, when the award covered both leagues under a single honor, Don Newcombe claimed it. Since the franchise relocated to Los Angeles, seven Dodgers pitchers have taken home the Cy Young — Sandy Koufax three times, Clayton Kershaw three times, Don Drysdale, Mike Marshall, Fernando Valenzuela, Orel Hershiser, and Eric Gagne.

The 2026 baseball season has already produced two hitting for the cycle moments. Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Chicago Cubs completed the single-double-triple-home run sequence on Monday during a victory over Colorado. Then, this past Saturday, Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper accomplished the same feat during a lopsided win over the New York Mets. One small footnote: Crow-Armstrong was picked off first base right after the single that completed his cycle, giving Harper a slight edge in the comparison.

Worth noting alongside Harper’s big day: teammate Kyle Schwarber launched three home runs in that same game. The last time two players on the same team each hit for the cycle or went deep multiple times in one game was June 3, 1932, when Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees slugged four home runs while Tony Lazzeri hit for the cycle. The Yankees topped the Philadelphia Athletics 20-13 that afternoon.

Friday night brought one of the more stunning comebacks of the season, as the Athletics rallied from a seven-run deficit in the sixth inning to defeat the Los Angeles Angels 12-11 in 10 innings. The A’s had jumped out to a 4-0 lead before allowing 11 straight runs. By the bottom of the seventh inning, Baseball Savant had the Angels’ win probability sitting at 99 percent.

The rally started a frame earlier when Zack Gelof singled home a run to trim the gap to 11-5. Then, with two outs in the seventh, Tyler Soderstrom drew a walk and Jacob Wilson followed with a two-run homer to make it 11-7. Max Muncy added a two-run shot in the eighth to pull the A’s within two. With their last out looming in the ninth, Jonah Heim connected on a tying two-run homer to force extra innings. In the 10th, Muncy — playing third base — threw out a runner at the plate, and the Athletics ultimately won when Nick Kurtz worked a bases-loaded walk in the bottom half.

Despite now carrying the worst run differential in the American League at minus-54, the Athletics stand at 38-40 and trail first place in the AL West by just one and a half games.

BOSTON, Massachusetts — The Boston Red Sox are singing the praises of Scotland’s famous traveling supporters, known as the Tartan Army, after their remarkable visit to Fenway Park during the FIFA World Cup.

Thousands of Scotland supporters, in Boston for the tournament, took a break from football on June 14 to march through the city to the iconic baseball stadium, where the Red Sox were hosting the Texas Rangers that evening.

The march was accompanied by the sounds of more than a dozen bagpipers, with fans dressed in kilts and waving Scottish flags making their way to the ballpark just one day after Scotland celebrated their first World Cup victory since 1990 — a 1-0 defeat of Haiti.

Once at Fenway Park, the Scottish supporters belted out rousing songs, including the national team’s beloved anthem “Flower of Scotland,” for Red Sox fans gathered both outside and inside the stadium, before joining the crowd to watch the baseball game.

Red Sox President Sam Kennedy captured the excitement in a letter addressed to the Scottish FA. “What happened at Fenway Park on June 14th was something none of us will forget. We knew the Tartan Army was coming. We did not fully understand what that meant until we saw it,” Kennedy wrote.

Kennedy went on to describe the scene in vivid detail. “Hundreds of Scotland supporters gathered at the foot of a statue of Robert Burns in the Back Bay and marched all the way to Lansdowne Street to the sound of bagpipes. Kilts and Scottish flags filled our ballpark with a spirit that has no equivalent in American sport,” he wrote. “The Tartan Army treated our home like their own, and we are better for it.”

Beyond the ballpark, Scotland’s fans have become one of the most talked-about feel-good stories of this World Cup, taking over bars, restaurants, pubs, and public parks throughout Boston. Their celebrations stretched on for days, and reports indicate the festivities even strained the city’s beer supplies as Scotland played their first two group stage matches there.

Scotland’s next challenge comes Wednesday in Miami, where they face Brazil in a group match that could clinch their spot in the next round of the tournament.

Former Wimbledon women’s champion Marketa Vondrousova has been suspended from professional tennis for four years after refusing to take an anti-doping test, the International Tennis Integrity Agency announced Monday.

The ban will expire on June 21, 2030, at which point the Czech Republic native and two-time Grand Slam finalist will be 30 years old.

According to an ITIA statement, Vondrousova declined to provide a sample when a doping control officer arrived at her home for an out-of-competition test on the evening of December 3, around 8 p.m.

At a hearing, Vondrousova explained that her decision was influenced by stress, poor mental health, and worries about her personal safety at the time of the test request.

Despite her explanation, the tribunal determined that the evidence presented offered “no compelling justification” for refusing the test, the ITIA stated.

The former world number six had already been sidelined since withdrawing from the Adelaide International in January due to a shoulder injury.

The Professional Women’s Hockey League has reached a new landmark in its rapid growth, bringing on two well-known North American sports ownership groups as its first-ever outside investors — a move league officials say underscores the bright future of women’s hockey.

The league announced Monday that Detroit-based Ilitch Companies and Toronto-based Kilmer Sports Ventures, backed by Larry Tanenbaum, are joining as strategic partners.

Both groups have extensive experience owning and operating multiple professional sports franchises, and their involvement brings significant financial resources, business relationships, and industry influence to a league that has grown from six teams to twelve since its founding in June 2023.

PWHL advisory board member Stan Kasten called the development a powerful statement to the broader sports world. “This is the clearest signal of validation to the marketplace, to the players, to other owners, to media companies that we are cementing our reputation as one of the fastest-growing sports properties in the world,” he told The Associated Press.

Kasten added that the significance goes beyond the money itself. “These are serious, long-time experienced sports investors, and they are telling the world what they think about us. And that says much more than just them writing a check.”

The league’s existing leadership structure will remain unchanged. Founder and primary financial backer Mark Walter, along with co-founder Kimbra Walter and the PWHL’s advisory board, will continue running operations. The new partners will contribute expertise, connections, and perspective.

“Kimbra and I are incredibly proud of what the PWHL has accomplished in a short time, and are excited about what it can achieve moving forward,” said Walter, whose portfolio of sports holdings includes a Major League Baseball team and an NBA franchise.

Kasten noted that bringing on investors is happening sooner than originally planned, and said the timing is ideal heading into Season 4, particularly given the surge in interest following the Milan Cortina Games. U.S. viewership numbers climbed sharply after Team USA, led by Hilary Knight, captured a gold medal in February. The league also expanded last month by adding four new franchises in Detroit, Las Vegas, San Jose, and Hamilton, Ontario.

“I want to hear the case for going slower, but I can’t imagine it,” Kasten said. “The reception of fans, of sponsors and other willing partners has allowed us to go faster.”

The Ilitch family’s sports holdings include NHL and MLB franchises. Their involvement with the PWHL was already visible last week, when the league held its awards ceremony and draft in Detroit with broad participation from Ilitch Companies staff.

“The PWHL’s rise has been one of the most compelling stories in professional sports, and we are proud to be part of that story,” said company CEO Chris Ilitch. “Investing in the PWHL means an opportunity to broaden the game’s reach, connect with new fans, and create pathways for athletes for generations to come.”

Tanenbaum serves as chairman emeritus and holds a personal stake in a sports and entertainment company whose properties include NHL and NBA teams. His Kilmer Sports group owns a WNBA franchise in Toronto and a professional soccer club in France.

“What Mark Walter and PWHL senior leadership have built so quickly is incredible, and we’re honored to be part of this league and everything it stands for,” Tanenbaum said.

Despite the new investment, players should not expect immediate pay increases. Kasten explained that the league has not yet turned a profit on the hundreds of millions of dollars already poured in by Walter.

“When we are making money, that would be a great day for me and for the players,” Kasten said. “We’re not there yet. I hope this gets us closer.”

The PWHL made history by becoming the first professional women’s league to launch with a collective bargaining agreement already in place, which runs through 2031. Last season, ten of the league’s 194 players earned more than $100,000, while the minimum salary stood at just over $37,000, according to the PWHL Players Association.

The league launched on January 1, 2024, with Toronto hosting the opening game at a 2,500-seat arena. Within five months, the Toronto franchise had moved to a venue with more than 8,500 seats — and had already sold out a regular-season game at a 19,200-capacity arena. Average attendance last season reached 9,304, a 28% increase over the prior year. The league’s corporate partnership roster also grew to 81 companies, up from just over 50 the previous season.

With twelve teams now in place, the PWHL is considered better positioned to land a U.S. national broadcast deal. Last season, games aired on ION through Scripps Sports, reaching approximately 126 million American households. The league is also expected to pursue improved broadcast arrangements in Canada once its current deals expire after next season, with one possibility being an enhanced agreement with CBC.

When asked about future broadcast plans, Kasten simply said, “stay tuned.”

Reflecting on how far the league has come, Kasten recalled the uncertainty at the start. “We didn’t know what we had. We didn’t have venues. We didn’t have cities. We didn’t have logos,” he said. “We felt deeply that if we provided the environment for the greatest women’s hockey players in the world to do what they do, that there would be a market for them. And that has been demonstrated in countless ways over and over.”

New York State has announced plans to form an exploratory committee to examine the possibility of Lake Placid and New York City teaming up to host a future Winter Olympics.

The announcement came Monday from Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office, which pointed to a dual-city hosting model similar to the arrangement used at this year’s Games in Milan and Cortina as inspiration for the potential bid.

No specific Olympic year was identified in the announcement. With the 2034 Winter Games already awarded to Salt Lake City and Switzerland named as the front-runner for 2038, the earliest New York could realistically step in as host would be 2042.

“The time is now to return the Olympic flame back to New York,” Hochul said.

Lake Placid has a storied Olympic history, having hosted the Winter Games in both 1932 and 1980. The 1980 Games are especially memorable as the site of the famous “Miracle on Ice,” when the United States men’s hockey team — heavy underdogs — defeated the Soviet Union on home ice. More recently, Lake Placid served as a potential emergency backup venue for sliding sports at this year’s Olympics after construction delays plagued the facility in Cortina.

The newly formed committee is expected to take roughly one year to complete its review. Officials emphasized that forming the committee does not mean New York has officially entered any bid process. Ashley Walden, president and CEO of the Olympic Regional Development Authority, will serve as chair of the committee.

Lake Placid’s prospects are bolstered by a recent climate change study, which identified it as one of the few former Olympic host cities likely to have dependable enough winter weather conditions to support the Games through 2050.

Meanwhile, the 2030 Winter Olympics are set to be held in the French Alps.

William Contreras capped an explosive second inning with a three-run home run, and the Milwaukee Brewers rolled past the Atlanta Braves 9-4 on Sunday to snap a three-game losing streak.

The win allowed the National League Central-leading Brewers to take at least one game from the NL East-leading Braves in their three-game series. Contreras, who previously played for Atlanta, went 4-for-5 with two runs scored and three RBIs to anchor Milwaukee’s 13-hit offensive effort. Jake Bauers, Sal Frelick, and David Hamilton each contributed two hits in the victory.

Starting pitcher Robert Gasser (1-3) turned in a season-best six innings on 97 pitches, retiring the final nine batters he faced. He gave up two runs on four hits and a walk, tied his career high with seven strikeouts, and earned his first win since May 15, 2024.

Atlanta starter Bryce Elder (5-5) surrendered all eight of his runs during that second-inning collapse, giving up 12 hits over six innings. Rowdy Tellez launched a homer against his former club, while Mauricio Dubon went 3-for-4 for the Braves.

Reds 4, Yankees 1

Chase Burns threw five strong innings and stretched his personal winning streak to eight games as Cincinnati beat the host Yankees at Yankee Stadium, winning a series there for the second time in three seasons. Burns (9-1) surrendered just one run — Ben Rice’s 22nd homer in the third — among five hits. The 23-year-old right-hander also dealt with six stolen bases in seven attempts by New York. Burns is now 8-0 over his past 11 starts and has struck out at least seven batters in seven consecutive outings.

Tyler Stephenson launched a three-run homer in the fourth off Yankees rookie Elmer Rodriguez (0-2), who allowed three runs on four hits in just over four innings in his fourth career start. The Reds outscored New York 14-3 across the final two games of the series after fanning 17 times in Friday’s opener.

Tigers 5, White Sox 4 (10 innings)

Matt Vierling delivered a bases-loaded walk-off single in the 10th inning to give host Detroit a three-game sweep of Chicago. The Tigers scored twice in the 10th after Tristan Peters’ sacrifice fly had given the White Sox the lead in the top half. Dillon Dingler hit his team-leading 18th homer and drove in two runs. Will Vest (3-4) earned the win in relief. Luisangel Acuna contributed a two-run homer — his first of the season — for Chicago.

Marlins 2, Giants 1

Kyle Stowers homered off Logan Webb to help host Miami complete a three-game sweep of San Francisco, improving the Marlins to a major league-best 14-4 in June. Stowers scored both Miami runs in the second and fourth innings, with his eighth homer opening the scoring. Ryan Gusto lasted 4 1/3 innings, and John King (4-1) combined with the bullpen for 4 2/3 scoreless relief innings. Webb (4-5) went eight innings in his first complete game since 2024, allowing five hits and two runs. Casey Schmitt drove in San Francisco’s only run with a single in the third following a Luis Arraez double.

Astros 2, Guardians 1

Yordan Alvarez slugged his American League-leading 25th home run, and Kai-Wei Teng worked six solid innings as Houston took the series finale against visiting Cleveland. Teng (4-6) snapped a three-start losing stretch, allowing one run on four hits. Closer Josh Hader closed it out with a perfect ninth for his fifth save. Guardians starter Slade Cecconi (3-6) gave up two runs on six hits over six innings.

Rays 4, Nationals 3

Jonny DeLuca hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning as Tampa Bay rallied past Washington in St. Petersburg to strengthen the best home record in baseball. Trailing 3-2, Yandy Diaz singled with one out — his fourth straight multi-hit game — before DeLuca drove a slider from his brother-in-law, Orlando Ribalta (0-1), over the left field wall for his fourth homer of the year. The Rays improved to 26-10 at home and have won eight of their last nine home series. Washington’s CJ Abrams went 2-for-4 with a homer and a double, while Nasim Nunez went 2-for-3 and swiped his National League-leading 28th base.

Cardinals 12, Royals 10

JJ Wetherholt hit two of St. Louis’ four home runs as the Cardinals avoided a series sweep in Kansas City. Wetherholt scored three times and drove in three, while Ivan Herrera added a three-run shot and also scored three times. St. Louis racked up a season-high 16 hits. Jac Caglianone went deep twice for Kansas City, which also got homers from Carter Jensen and Nick Loftin. Kansas City starter Stephen Kolek (4-2) was roughed up for nine runs in just 1 2/3 innings. Cardinals starter Dustin May, coming off a one-hit shutout, gave up six runs in two innings.

Rangers 4, Padres 3

Wyatt Langford belted a three-run homer to lead Texas past San Diego in Arlington, giving the Rangers just their second win in six games and a two-of-three series victory. Langford went 2-for-4, and Josh Jung’s RBI single in the fourth broke a tie. Jung finished 2-for-3, while Nicky Lopez went 2-for-2 with two runs scored. Nathan Eovaldi (7-7) gave up three runs on seven hits over six innings with nine strikeouts. His start had been pushed back a day after he was scratched Saturday with left knee soreness. Xander Bogaerts went 2-for-3 with an RBI for San Diego, and bulk pitcher Lucas Giolito (2-3) allowed four runs on seven hits in four innings.

Twins 4, Diamondbacks 2

A three-run seventh inning carried visiting Minnesota to a series-clinching win over Arizona in Phoenix. Alex Jackson’s single into right field scored Ryan Kreidler and Josh Bell, aided by a Corbin Carroll error, to put the Twins ahead 3-2. Cody Laweryson (1-0) earned the first win of his major league career in relief of starter Mike Paredes, who allowed two runs over five innings in his third career start. Arizona’s Jose Cabrera impressed in his major league debut with five scoreless innings, but Ketel Marte’s two-run double in the second was all the Diamondbacks could muster as they went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

Pirates 8, Rockies 6

Bryan Reynolds and Nick Gonzales each homered and finished with two hits as Pittsburgh beat host Colorado. Jake Mangum had three hits and Spencer Horwitz added two as the Pirates built an 8-1 lead before holding off a late Colorado charge. Starter Jared Jones was forced from the game after being struck on the right elbow by a comebacker to end the third. He had allowed just one run on one hit. Yohan Ramirez (5-2) took over and threw two scoreless, hitless innings to earn the win. The Pirates announced initial imaging on Jones was negative, with a follow-up exam scheduled in Pittsburgh on Monday. TJ Rumfield homered and Jake McCarthy had two hits for Colorado.

Angels 9, Athletics 7

Zach Neto hit a tie-breaking home run in the top of the ninth inning to lift Los Angeles past the host Athletics in West Sacramento. With Jose Siri on base, Neto launched his 17th homer of the year over the left field wall off Elvis Alvarado (3-2) to make it 9-7. Reliever Chase Silseth (2-1) threw a scoreless eighth to help the Angels split the four-game series. Starter Reid Detmers allowed five runs on six hits in six innings. Nick Kurtz went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a two-run homer off Brent Suter that gave the A’s a 7-4 lead in the seventh. Denzer Guzman then tied it with a three-run blast in the eighth off Hogan Harris — his third consecutive game with a home run.

Orioles 12, Dodgers 1

Colton Cowser went 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs as Baltimore routed host Los Angeles in the decisive third game of their series. Taylor Ward singled, homered, and scored three times. Blaze Alexander added three hits including a homer, Pete Alonso blasted a three-run shot, and Gunnar Henderson had two hits and scored twice. Starter Brandon Young (6-2) went five innings, surrendering just one run on five hits. Los Angeles starter Emmet Sheehan (3-5) gave up six runs and eight hits in 3 1/3 innings. It was the Dodgers’ second straight loss — their first back-to-back defeats since a four-game skid May 9-12.

Phillies 6, Mets 2

Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper each went deep as host Philadelphia closed out a three-game series win over New York. Zack Wheeler pitched into the sixth for the 10th consecutive start. Schwarber, who clubbed three home runs Saturday, added a three-run shot Sunday. Harper, who hit for the first cycle of his career on Saturday, homered off Austin Warren in the fifth and finished 3-for-4. He went 7-for-9 over the final two games, raising his batting average from .248 to .266. The Phillies outscored the Mets 21-5 in the last two contests to improve to 12-6 this month. Carson Benge homered for New York, and David Peterson (3-6) gave up five runs — four earned — on six hits in four innings in his first start since May 26.

Mariners 3, Red Sox 1

Dominic Canzone homered and Logan Gilbert threw 6 1/3 solid innings as Seattle salvaged the final game of a three-game series against visiting Boston. Gilbert (6-4) allowed one run on three hits, walked two, and struck out eight. Canzone exited in the sixth with a hamstring issue. Nate Eaton homered for Boston’s lone run. Payton Tolle (3-5) went six innings and gave up three runs on six hits for the Red Sox.

Wyndham Clark walked away with his second U.S. Open trophy at Shinnecock Hills in Southampton, New York on Sunday, but the golfer knows a championship title alone won’t be enough to fully restore his standing with the public.

Clark edged out Sam Burns by a single stroke in a tense final round, though the atmosphere was far from welcoming. Many spectators departed before his third round even concluded, and others openly heckled him throughout the fourth round.

“New York didn’t really like me — I love you guys,” Clark said after finishing the tournament at four-under par. “But, you know, I get it. Some of it’s self deserved and I did some unfortunate things last year that I really regret.”

The source of that animosity traces back to the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club, where Clark was banned after destroying locker room property in a fit of rage following a missed cut. That same year, he drew sharp criticism at the PGA Championship for angrily hurling his driver after a wayward tee shot.

Clark said he found a way to cope with the hostile crowd at Shinnecock Hills, even managing to find some humor in the situation with his caddie, David Pelekoudas.

“I was kind of making jokes about it with (caddie David Pelekoudas) where if we heard someone cheer for me, I’d go, ‘Oh, there’s one person that likes me,’” said Clark, who also claimed the title back in 2023.

“I’ve played now a Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup on foreign soil, and it kind of had that atmosphere a little bit,” he added.

Clark has been open about the significant mental work he has put into steadying himself on the course, acknowledging that the road back to composure has been a long one.

“What happened at Oakmont was obviously the lowest point,” Clark said. “I just felt a lot of my career, world ranking, reputation, everything just dwindling. That’s a terrible feeling. I would say in that moment I definitely didn’t think I’d be here this year doing this.”

Brady Tkachuk is on his way to Florida, where he will team up with his older brother Matthew on the Panthers in what stands as one of the most significant NHL offseason transactions in recent years.

The Ottawa Senators announced Sunday that they are sending their team captain to Florida in exchange for a collection of draft picks. As part of the deal, Ottawa will receive two of Florida’s first-round selections in this year’s draft — ninth and 25th overall — plus a top-10 protected first-round pick in 2029 and a second-round selection in 2027.

Florida had picked up that 25th overall pick earlier the same day by sending forward Mackie Samoskevich to the Seattle Kraken.

The acquisition gives the Panthers another elite power forward while also reuniting the Tkachuk brothers at the NHL level. Brady, 26, and Matthew, 28, were teammates on Team USA’s gold medal-winning Olympic squad earlier this year. Now they’ll look to bring championship glory back to Florida after the Panthers missed the playoffs this past season — a notable stumble following back-to-back Stanley Cup titles.

“Brady is a dynamic competitor and one of the most physical and relentless forwards in the league,” Panthers general manager Bill Zito said. “A proven leader and exactly the type of player we want in our locker room, he strives to make everyone around him better both on and off the ice. We’re thrilled to welcome Brady to South Florida to join our group as we continue our pursuit of championship hockey.”

The trade marks a major turning point for Ottawa, which originally selected Tkachuk fourth overall in the 2018 draft and built its franchise identity around him. He spent eight seasons with the Senators and wore the captain’s ‘C’ for the last five of those years.

As recently as April, Tkachuk had pushed back on questions about whether he might leave Ottawa, following the team’s first-round playoff exit.

“I feel like I’ve answered this hundreds of times,” Tkachuk said at that time. “None of that, I feel like I’ve never shown, I’ve never said, none of those things ever came out of my mouth. And quite honestly, it’s just getting frustrating. It’s becoming a distraction, because I have been fully committed to this team, to the city and it’s just becoming a distraction and frustrating to deal with.”

During the most recent regular season, Tkachuk recorded 22 goals and 37 assists across 60 games. Ottawa made the playoffs for the second consecutive year but was swept in the first round by the Carolina Hurricanes, who went on to win the Stanley Cup. Tkachuk failed to register a single point throughout that series.

Over the course of his career, the four-time All-Star has accumulated 213 goals and 250 assists in 572 regular-season games, adding four goals and three assists in 10 career playoff appearances.

With two years still remaining on his contract at an $8.2 million salary cap figure, Florida is getting more than a temporary solution. The Panthers already boast a talented core that includes Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov, Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, Carter Verhaeghe, Gustav Forsling, and Anton Lundell.

For Ottawa, the haul of three first-round picks and a future second-round pick gives the franchise significant assets as it looks to replace its captain and continue developing its younger players.

“This was not a decision we took lightly, but ultimately we did what we felt was best for the long-term future of our hockey club,” Senators general manager Steve Staios said in a statement. “We now possess cap space and draft capital and will be actively working to improve our roster.”

Outside Cookieteria by Lovely in Los Angeles, customers have been lining up and spilling out onto the sidewalk — all hoping to get their hands on freshly baked World Cup conchas before they sell out.

Conchas are a traditional Mexican sweet bread, typically enjoyed alongside hot chocolate or coffee. But baker Erika Lopez has given them a soccer makeover, and the response from both Mexican and broader communities in the area has been overwhelming.

Lopez, 42, said she feels the pressure of making sure every fan feels included. “We want to give something to everyone, and then we don’t want anyone to feel like (they’re) left out, like ‘Oh! Where’s my jersey?’” she said, as she worked on the June 20 batch — which included conchas shaped like soccer shirts representing the U.S., Mexico, and Argentina, along with the golden World Cup trophy, soccer balls, and team mascots.

The photogenic treats have also taken off on social media. Leo Ruiz, 15, described them as “really cute and like, it’s like ‘aww’. And then it makes you want to post and, like, take pictures of the conchas and post them.”

Los Angeles is home to millions of people born in Mexico or of Mexican heritage, and the green Mexico national team jersey is a common sight across the city. For Lopez, blending that cultural pride with the beloved concha was a natural move.

“As a Mexican, we’re always thinking like, what can we do to be like part of everything? And soccer is a really important part of us,” she said.

But the passion Lopez brings to the World Cup goes beyond simple excitement. Originally from Mascota in Jalisco, Mexico, she describes the experience of serving her customers as emotionally intense — not unlike a player stepping onto the field for a high-stakes match.

“Sometimes I’m excited, sometimes a little scared. Happy. Worried. You name it. Every emotion is there every time,” said Lopez, who has been living in the United States for 23 years.

For customers, though, the experience is a lot more lighthearted. Nubia Wilson, 50, stopped in to pick up a box of Mexico and U.S. jersey-shaped conchas and concha soccer balls for a birthday party she was attending later that day.

“The little boy loves soccer, so what better way than to showcase the conchas? Because everybody loves conchas. At least at the party I’m going to,” Wilson said.

The Seattle Kraken made a move to strengthen their forward corps on Sunday, trading for right-shot winger Mackie Samoskevich from the Florida Panthers in a deal involving two draft picks timed just before this week’s NHL Draft.

In return for Samoskevich, Florida received the No. 25 overall pick in the 2026 draft — a selection Seattle had previously obtained from the Tampa Bay Lightning — along with a conditional second-round pick in 2027. That second-rounder will be whichever pick is ranked higher between the Winnipeg Jets and Columbus Blue Jackets selections Seattle had previously acquired.

At 23 years old, Samoskevich gives the Kraken a forward with notable speed and offensive potential, qualities that general manager Jason Botterill has been actively pursuing. During the 2024-25 season with Florida, he posted 12 goals and 20 assists across 77 games, establishing new career bests in assists, total points, and games played.

A native of Newtown, Connecticut, Samoskevich was Florida’s first-round pick — No. 24 overall — in the 2021 NHL Draft. He was a member of the Panthers’ Stanley Cup championship roster in 2025 and has totaled 27 goals and 36 assists over 156 regular-season games, all spent with Florida. He also contributed one assist in four playoff appearances.

Botterill spoke highly of what the young winger brings to Seattle. “For me, there’s the fact that, at such a young age, he’s been able to win a Stanley Cup already, and he’s been a part of a very successful organization in Florida,” Botterill said. “I just love his age, love his speed and I love his shot. So, I think he’ll fit in very well with the style of play that we’re trying to play on an everyday basis here.”

The acquisition also comes with a built-in locker room connection. Samoskevich and Kraken center Matty Beniers were teammates at the University of Michigan during the 2021-22 season.

With Samoskevich set to become a restricted free agent on July 1, Seattle will need to work out a new contract with him. For Florida, the deal brings in another first-round pick as the organization looks to rebuild after missing the playoffs this past season — a sharp contrast to their back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in the two prior years.

PHILADELPHIA — French superstar Kylian Mbappe believes the current French national team packs more attacking punch than the squads that made it to the World Cup finals in 2018 and 2022, as Les Bleus prepare to take on Iraq on Monday with a spot in the knockout round on the line.

France got off to a slow start before turning it on in the second half to defeat Senegal 3-1 in their Group I opener. Mbappe found the net twice, while Michael Olise drew widespread acclaim for his second-half performance — a display that underscored the offensive weapons available to manager Didier Deschamps.

“This is a more attacking team than in 2018 and 2022, a team that is much more geared towards going forward,” Mbappe told reporters Sunday.

“The second half was already a glimpse of what we can do when we’re in good technical conditions,” he added.

Mbappe noted that the chemistry between himself, Olise, Ousmane Dembele, and Desire Doue is starting to develop, and suggested that bond could make France harder and harder to stop as the tournament moves forward.

“We had that connection with Michael because the four of us in attack managed to be perfectly coordinated in terms of movement, positioning and rotations,” Mbappe said.

“With this type of movement and rotation, maybe tomorrow it will be two other attacking players who shine more. The advantage of this team is having so much talent. We are very aware of the quality we have up front,” he continued.

The France captain also pushed back on criticism that Ballon d’Or winner Dembele had an underwhelming outing against Senegal. After watching the match twice, Mbappe came to his teammate’s defense.

“In the first half, he’s the best attacker out of the four. He’s the one who makes our play flow the most,” Mbappe said.

“Then in the second half, Michael and I were decisive, but Ousmane also contributed,” he added.

Mbappe credited Dembele’s off-ball movement with creating the space that helped France’s attack break open in the second half.

“That doesn’t show up in the statistics but it’s very important because otherwise we wouldn’t have scored,” he said. “Ousmane is very calm. He’s the Ballon d’Or winner. He has the confidence of the team and the staff. I’m sure from tomorrow onwards he will continue moving forward and grow stronger.”

Dembele had a standout club season, scoring 35 goals across all competitions as Paris St Germain claimed their first-ever Champions League title.

Deschamps acknowledged that Dembele plays in a more advanced role at the club level than he does for the national team. “He is really playing further forward at his club, which is not the case here,” the manager said. “Those are some adjustments we have to make.”

A French victory over Iraq on Monday would punch their ticket to the round of 32 with one group match still remaining — a Friday showdown with Norway.

Texas Rangers pitcher Jack Leiter will not be taking the mound anytime soon after landing on the 15-day injured list with a right ankle impingement. The move was made official on Sunday and is retroactive to Friday, meaning Leiter missed what would have been his scheduled start against the Miami Marlins on Tuesday.

To fill his spot on the active roster, the Rangers called up right-hander Jose Corniell from their Triple-A affiliate in Round Rock.

The 26-year-old Leiter has had a difficult season, going 3-7 with a 5.29 ERA across 15 starts covering 80 innings. Since Texas selected him with the second overall pick in the 2021 draft, Leiter has compiled a 13-20 record and a 4.95 ERA over three seasons, appearing in 53 games — 50 of which were starts.

Corniell, who turns 23 on Monday, got his first taste of big league action last season when he appeared in one relief outing for the Rangers. In that appearance, he gave up four runs — three of them earned — on three hits over 1 2/3 innings.

At the Triple-A level this season, Corniell carries an 0-2 record and a 6.08 ERA in 26 2/3 innings. Ranked as the Rangers’ fourth-best prospect by MLB Pipeline, Corniell became part of the organization on December 15, 2020, when Texas acquired him in a trade that sent right-hander Rafael Montero to the Seattle Mariners.