Category: Sports

The National Women’s Soccer League has shelved plans for an anticipated vote this week regarding a major schedule change, according to Monday reporting from CBS Sports.

Earlier reports on April 17 suggested the league’s Board of Governors would decide on the calendar switch, though the NWSL never officially confirmed those plans.

The league presently operates from March through November, while major European soccer competitions begin in late summer or early fall and conclude in late spring. Major League Soccer will adopt this fall-spring format starting next season.

NWSL leadership previously rejected a similar calendar change proposal in 2024, ESPN reported.

When asked about the timing, a league representative suggested no immediate changes are planned.

“The NWSL has been actively evaluating its competition calendar, including the potential to align more closely with the international soccer landscape,” a league spokesperson said in a statement to CBS Sports. “No decision has been made at this time. Any change of this magnitude will be thoughtfully considered and we are taking input from all key stakeholders.”

Players represent a crucial voice in these discussions, with the NWSL Players Union issuing a response following the April 17 ESPN coverage.

“We recognize the pros and cons of each and acknowledge that factors outside our control — including the Women’s International Match Calendar and limited control over facilities — are driving this conversation,” the union stated to The Athletic.

“We remain concerned, however, that the issue is being framed around the wrong question. The right question is not whether the league should flip the calendar, but whether the right conditions exist to do so responsibly. Right now, they do not. The ability to navigate weather-related disruptions depends on consistent control over facilities and operational flexibility across clubs, and that standard has not been met league-wide.

“Our top priorities in any scenario are protecting and promoting Player health, safety, and performance. As a general matter, a majority of Players polled on this question currently oppose flipping the calendar.”

While the NWSL maintains full discretion over schedule modifications to a fall-spring format, the collective bargaining agreement with the players union mandates at least twelve months advance notice.

Additionally, given that numerous teams operate in northeastern regions where winter play would be required, the CBA would mandate implementation of protective “extreme cold policy” measures.

The Cleveland Guardians plan to promote Travis Bazzana, their historic first overall draft selection from 2024, to the major league roster for Tuesday’s matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays at home.

Multiple reports indicate that rookie Juan Brito, who had been starting at second base in five of the team’s previous seven contests, will be sent down to Triple-A Columbus to make room for Bazzana’s arrival.

The 23-year-old from Sydney, Australia, has compiled impressive statistics during his 24-game stint with Columbus, posting a .287 batting average along with two home runs and 10 runs batted in. His offensive production includes 15 extra-base hits and 21 walks, resulting in a .511 slugging percentage and .933 OPS.

After completing his college career at Oregon State from 2022-24, Bazzana moved swiftly through Cleveland’s farm system in 2025. However, oblique muscle injuries limited his playing time during the summer months, restricting him to just 26 appearances with Columbus.

Bazzana holds the distinction of being Cleveland’s first-ever top overall draft pick in franchise history. The organization secured this coveted selection despite having only a 2% probability of winning the draft lottery in December 2023.

Meanwhile, Brito has struggled at the plate, managing just a .176 batting average with no home runs and three RBIs across 51 at-bats. The 24-year-old player also sat out Monday’s 3-2 defeat to the Rays and has committed four defensive errors this season.

The Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit is considering moving its Louisiana tournament from its planned June dates to avoid competing with the World Cup for viewers and attendees, according to sources familiar with the situation.

Insiders say the golf organization has been collaborating with Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry’s administration and state economic development officials to identify alternative dates in either September or October for the event.

The tournament is currently set to take place June 25-28 at Bayou Oaks at City Park. However, the FIFA World Cup is scheduled to run from June 11 through July 19 across venues in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Beyond concerns about the World Cup drawing away audiences, sources indicate that factors like extreme heat and golf course conditions during Louisiana’s summer months are also influencing the potential schedule change.

An official announcement regarding the tournament’s status is expected Tuesday from LIV Golf, Governor Landry, and Louisiana Economic Development, according to the sources.

This development comes roughly two weeks after LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil publicly stated that the alternative golf series would move forward with its 2026 season as originally planned, despite ongoing speculation about potential funding challenges.

The Louisiana tournament represents the only LIV Golf event currently scheduled to overlap with World Cup competition dates.

The Cleveland Guardians are preparing to promote Travis Bazzana, their first overall selection in the 2024 amateur draft, according to a source with knowledge of the decision who spoke anonymously Monday evening. The young infielder may see his first major league action during Tuesday’s matchup with the Tampa Bay Rays.

The source requested anonymity since Cleveland has not yet made an official announcement regarding the roster change.

Bazzana, 23, currently leads the Guardians’ prospect rankings and plays second base. During his 24-game stint with Triple-A Columbus, he has posted a .287 batting average while contributing two home runs and 10 RBIs.

To create roster space for Bazzana’s arrival, the team is anticipated to demote Juan Brito, who has struggled offensively with just a .176 batting average across 15 games and has struck out 17 times in 51 plate appearances.

Cleveland had promoted Brito from Columbus on April 7 when Gabriel Arias went on the injured list with a strained left hamstring.

During the recent World Baseball Classic, Bazzana demonstrated his abilities on the international stage, recording two hits including a home run while helping Australia defeat Chinese Taipei 3-0.

Last season presented challenges for Bazzana, as an oblique injury sidelined him for two months. Despite the setback, he managed a .239 batting average with nine home runs, 39 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases while playing for both Double-A Akron and Columbus.

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg has claimed the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year award following one of the tightest voting contests in the honor’s recent memory, announced Monday by a worldwide panel of 100 media members.

The young star received the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy after edging out Charlotte Hornets player Kon Knueppel, his former teammate at Duke University, by a margin of 412-386 points. The voting breakdown showed Flagg securing 56 first-place selections compared to Knueppel’s 44.

Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe claimed the third position with 96 points, though he failed to receive any first-place recognition and earned just a single second-place nod. San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper garnered 5 points, while Memphis Grizzlies forward Cedric Coward received 1 point, rounding out the vote recipients.

The top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft fulfilled every expectation placed upon him during his debut season. Among qualifying first-year players, Flagg topped the scoring charts at 21.0 points per game while ranking second in assists with 4.5 per contest and third in rebounds at 6.7 per game.

“This is a truly great honor,” Flagg said in a statement. “I’m grateful to receive this award and thankful to everyone in the Dallas Mavericks organization who believed in me from Day 1.”

“None of this happens without my teammates, coaches and the people around me pushing me every day. I came here to compete and help this team win. This is just one step forward in what we’re building.”

The achievement places Flagg among elite company as just the fourth first-year player to post averages of at least 20 points, six rebounds and four assists per game since the NBA-ABA merger. He joins Larry Bird (1979-80), Michael Jordan (1984-85) and Luke Doncic (2018-19) in reaching those statistical benchmarks.

At 19 years and 112 days old as of April 12, Flagg becomes the second-youngest recipient of the award, trailing LeBron James by merely six days when James captured the honor in 2003-04.

Many analysts believed Knueppel had a strong case for the award after he established a new league record for three-point field goals made with 273, surpassing the previous rookie milestone by 67 shots. However, the fourth overall draft selection ranked third in scoring on his own team at 18.5 points per game, behind Brandon Miller’s 20.2 and LaMelo Ball’s 20.1.

The voting margin represents the second-closest decision in recent years, following Toronto’s Scottie Barnes’ narrow victory over Cleveland’s Evan Mobley four years ago by a 378-363 count, which remains the smallest gap under the current voting system established in 2002-03.

DALLAS — In one of the tightest NBA Rookie of the Year competitions ever recorded, Cooper Flagg has claimed the prestigious award, narrowly defeating his former Duke Blue Devils teammate Kon Knueppel in Monday night’s announcement.

The 19-year-old Flagg accomplished something not seen since Michael Jordan’s rookie campaign in 1984-85: leading his team in all four major statistical categories — points, rebounds, assists, and steals. This historic achievement helped him secure the honor despite playing for a struggling Dallas Mavericks squad that failed to reach the playoffs.

Meanwhile, Knueppel contributed significantly to the Charlotte Hornets’ remarkable turnaround, helping the franchise improve by 25 wins and nearly securing a playoff berth. The former college teammates finished as the top two rookies in scoring, marking the first time since UConn’s Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon in 2004-05 that former college teammates achieved this distinction. Philadelphia’s VJ Edgecombe rounded out the finalist trio.

The voting margin proved exceptionally narrow, with just 26 points separating the Duke alumni in balloting conducted by 100 league reporters and broadcasters. Each voter ranked their top three choices, awarding five points for first place, three for second, and one for third. This represented one of the closest margins in award history, surpassing only the 15-point difference when Scottie Barnes edged Evan Mobley in 2002.

A late-season surge may have sealed Flagg’s victory. His extraordinary 96-point performance across two games during the season’s final weekend likely influenced voters. The highlight came against Orlando, where Flagg erupted for 51 points, establishing a new NBA record for teenage scoring. This performance broke his own previous teenage record of 49 points, which he had set earlier against Knueppel’s Hornets in January.

“I see the games every night. I can check the box scores,” Flagg explained regarding how closely he monitored Knueppel’s performance. “I think also I was watching Kon just because that’s one of my brothers. We had such a good connection, and we’re gonna be there for each other for the rest of our lives. I was watching him as a fan as well, but there was obviously that competition at the same time.”

Knueppel, who turned 20 before beginning his professional career, established his own milestone by becoming the first rookie to lead the NBA in three-point field goals with 273 made shots. His stellar season included averages of 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists while shooting an impressive 42.5% from beyond the arc. These numbers placed him alongside Larry Bird and Paul Pierce as the only NBA rookies to average 15 points and five rebounds while maintaining better than 40% three-point accuracy.

Charlotte’s success behind Knueppel’s contributions resulted in 44 victories before falling to Orlando in the play-in tournament’s final round.

Flagg’s situation proved more challenging than anticipated. The Mavericks had secured his services through a fortunate 1.8% lottery chance, expecting to compete for playoff positioning. However, injuries derailed those plans as center Anthony Davis missed significant time before being traded to Washington, while Kyrie Irving remained sidelined with a knee injury for the entire season.

Despite the team’s struggles, Flagg continued building an impressive resume following his Final Four appearance at Duke, where he became just the fourth freshman named AP men’s basketball player of the year. His professional achievements include joining Jordan as the only rookies since the 1976-77 NBA-ABA merger to record multiple 45-point games.

A memorable performance against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers showcased Flagg’s potential when he scored 45 points, surpassing the 41-year-old superstar for most 40-point games by a teenager with his fourth such performance. This game capped the crucial weekend that may have determined the rookie race outcome.

The Mavericks finished 26-56, returning to the draft lottery as Flagg shouldered a heavier burden than expected. His final statistics included 21.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals across 70 games.

“I think you talk about pressure and things like that, this season was a lot different going into it and what I was expecting and how the season ended up turning out,” Flagg reflected. “I think dealing with that and adjusting and kind of getting thrown in on the fly right away like that helped me long-term and throughout the season just getting really comfortable. I think I grew in a lot of different areas.”

The rookie announcement represents the sixth NBA award revealed since the regular season concluded. Previous winners include San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama claiming unanimous Defensive Player of the Year honors, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander earning Clutch Player of the Year with 96 of 100 first-place votes, San Antonio’s Keldon Johnson taking Sixth Man of the Year, Boston’s Derrick White receiving the player-voted Sportsmanship Award, and Atlanta’s Nickeil Alexander-Walker capturing Most Improved Player.

Remaining announcements include MVP voting between Gilgeous-Alexander, Wembanyama, and Denver’s Nikola Jokic, plus Coach of the Year competition featuring Detroit’s J.B. Bickerstaff, San Antonio’s Mitch Johnson, and Boston’s Joe Mazzulla. Additional honors including Executive of the Year, the Twyman-Stokes Teammate Award, and the Hustle Award will be announced later this week.

Me’Arah O’Neal, daughter of basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal, revealed Monday on social media that she’s switching universities, moving from the University of Florida to Kentucky for her basketball career.

The decision comes after O’Neal completed an impressive second year with the Gators, averaging 13.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game. Her departure follows the dismissal of head coach Kelly Rae Finley after Florida struggled to a 5-11 conference record and tied for 12th place in the SEC during the 2025-26 season.

Taking to Instagram to share her decision, O’Neal explained her reasoning. “After a lot of thought and intentionality with my next steps, I’ve made the tough decision to enter the transfer portal,” she wrote on Instagram. “With faith and high expectations, I’m ready to power forward and embrace wherever God takes me next.”

Basketball runs deep in the O’Neal family, with Me’Arah joining her siblings who have also competed at the collegiate level. Her brother Shareef played for UCLA and LSU, sister Amirah suited up for LSU and Texas Southern, while brother Shaqir played at Sacramento State.

Her famous father has been vocal about her athletic abilities, recently praising her versatility on his podcast. “My baby is the best athlete in the family because she can do it all,” Shaquille O’Neal said about Me’Arah recently on his podcast. “She’s not an old-school player. She’s the new pick-your-type player, so I’m going to give her the title. She can shoot, she can dribble. She can’t be fazed when it comes to certain things.”

At Kentucky, O’Neal will join head coach Kenny Brooks’ program, which advanced to the Sweet 16 during March Madness. The Wildcats are bringing back their top scorer Clara Strack, an all-SEC first-team honoree, along with Asia Boone, who contributed 10.1 points per game while shooting 36.5% from beyond the arc.

Kentucky’s roster will also feature three McDonald’s All-Americans in their incoming class: Maddyn Greenway, Savvy Swords, and Emily McDonald. Additionally, the team has added UConn transfer Ayanna Patterson for the upcoming season.

Buffalo has finally broken free from a record-setting 14-year Stanley Cup playoff drought and now stands on the brink of achieving their next milestone.

If the Sabres can defeat Boston at home during Tuesday’s Game 5, they’ll advance to the second round for the first time since 2007.

“You can expect this to be the hardest game that we’re going to have to play short-term here, because they’re in the nothing-to-lose-and-everything-to-gain category,” said Sabres coach Lindy Ruff, whose previous tenure with Buffalo lasted 15 years and included their most recent playoff run and series win — along with four conference finals appearances and one Stanley Cup finals appearance.

Boston, under first-year head coach Marco Sturm, is struggling after suffering a devastating 6-1 defeat on Sunday that put them in a 3-1 hole.

“They know that if they don’t put whatever they can put into the game,” Ruff said, “they’re done.”

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away across the Canadian border, another squad that has dramatically surpassed predictions finds itself close to advancing. Anaheim needs to close out their series on Edmonton’s home ice, but this fearless young roster is eager to deliver the organization’s first series win in nine years.

“We just believe in ourselves,” center Ryan Poehling said, discussing the overtime victory in Game 4 that gave them a 3-1 advantage after trailing by two goals on Sunday. “We’ve done it all year, and I think it just teaches you throughout a season that you’re never out of it. The belief on the bench is something that you truly feel when you go out there for offensive play. It’s a great way to play hockey for us.”

In Dallas, Tuesday night will also feature a Game 5, though no championship celebration will occur after Minnesota tied their series on Saturday.

Game 5 Details: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. EDT (TNT)

Series Standing: Sabres ahead 3-1

Boston lost their composure during their Game 4 collapse. Defenseman Nikita Zadorov was fined $5,000 by the league on Monday for cross-checking Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin. Goaltender Jeremy Swayman yelled at his own coaching staff as he left the ice after being removed from the contest.

“We have an extremely high competitive group. We all have a standard that we all carry ourselves to, and it wasn’t met. So that was just emotion,” Swayman told reporters. “It’s moved on now, and we have a job to do going into Buffalo.”

Buffalo is eager to hit the ice before an energized home crowd.

“When I came in last season, there was lots of talk of, ‘This is a hockey city, not a football city,’ and that was pretty hard to believe as an outsider coming in. You can see the passion for the Bills and just everything around that,” Sabres left wing Beck Malenstyn said. “But then I think throughout this year, we’ve slowly grown to see just how supportive and passionate this fan base is.”

Game 5 Details: Tuesday, 8 p.m. EDT (ESPN2)

Series Standing: Tied 2-2

This physical matchup between two strong clubs that finished second and third in the Western Conference during regular season play shows dramatically different results depending on player situations. Minnesota has controlled even-strength action, outscoring Dallas 10-3. However, Dallas’s power play has been unstoppable with eight goals in 19 chances, while their penalty kill has allowed just three scores in 19 situations.

While Dallas prepared Monday for another crucial contest, they showed confidence in their 5-on-5 play due to consistent shot production. They top all playoff teams this postseason with 141 shots on goal, including 102 at even strength, ranking fifth among playoff squads.

“We just have to take the next step and get some loose pucks, get some tips,” Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said.

Just one Dallas player maintains a positive rating in even-strength play this series: defenseman Nils Lundqvist. However, he’ll miss Game 5 after accidentally taking a skate blade to the face during a Game 4 collision. Gulutzan expressed hope for Lundqvist’s return later in the series.

“Sometimes the puck goes in. Sometimes it doesn’t. It’s hockey,” Stars captain Jamie Benn said.

Minnesota’s power play has clearly struggled without right wing Mats Zuccarello, who hasn’t appeared since sustaining an upper-body injury in Game 1, though his Monday practice participation offered hope.

“We’ll see how he felt and what his response is from that,” coach John Hynes said. “But it is definitely a step in the right direction.”

Game 5 Details: Tuesday, 10 p.m. EDT (TNT)

Series Standing: Ducks ahead 3-1

As both clubs traveled back to Canada, hockey fans continued discussing the dramatic conclusion to Sunday night’s Game 4 and the unique process officials used to reach what appeared to be the accurate decision on Ryan Poehling’s narrow overtime winner for Anaheim.

However, that wild conclusion didn’t change this series’ overall direction: The attacking Ducks seem capable of overcoming any problems created by their inconsistent defensive performance, while Edmonton appears increasingly exhausted as they try to begin their fifth straight extended playoff campaign.

“We just believe in each other, and kind of no matter the score, we just continue to compete,” said Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe, who leads all Stanley Cup playoff scorers with eight points. “It’s something that’s been huge for us all year, and it’s something nice to have in your back pocket right now.”

Edmonton faces elimination after surrendering two leads in Game 4 despite strong play from new goaltender Tristan Jarry. Anaheim has completed more multi-goal rallies than any team this season under coach Joel Quenneville, who surpassed Al Arbour for second-most playoff coaching wins in NHL history during Game 4.

The Ducks have captured three consecutive games in this series, scoring 20 goals across four contests as they pursue their franchise’s first playoff series triumph since 2017. But this veteran Edmonton core has faced major postseason challenges before. They delivered their strongest defensive effort of the series on Sunday, so no visible panic exists as they work to force a Game 6 return to Southern California.

Two major U.S. cities have emerged as frontrunners to land a Major League Soccer franchise if the Vancouver Whitecaps decide to relocate from Canada, according to a Monday report from The Athletic.

Las Vegas and Phoenix top the list of potential new homes for the soccer club, though Major League Soccer officials refused to provide comment on the speculation.

According to the report, a special committee consisting of MLS team owners convened earlier this month to discuss what lies ahead for the Whitecaps organization, with relocation being one possibility on the table. Other cities including Indianapolis and Sacramento have also shown interest in attracting an MLS team.

League officials have already held discussions with a Las Vegas group seeking to establish a soccer club in the city, the report indicates. Additionally, a different investment group called Starr Vegas has announced an ambitious $10 billion development project for the Las Vegas Strip that would feature a 50,000-capacity soccer venue, though this group has not yet initiated talks with MLS.

The Whitecaps face a deadline pressure as their current agreement to play at BC Place expires at the conclusion of 2026, forcing the organization to secure alternative stadium arrangements in Vancouver.

“Since December 2024, ownership has prioritized finding a buyer committed to keeping the team in Vancouver, and to date, no solution has been found,” the Whitecaps said in a club statement provided to The Athletic.

Any potential move would require approval from MLS ownership and involve both a purchase price and relocation fees. San Diego FC, the league’s newest member as of last season, paid $500 million in expansion fees, and the report suggests any incoming group would face costs exceeding that half-billion dollar threshold.

The Whitecaps entered into exclusive discussions with Vancouver city officials last December, establishing a negotiation window extending through 2026 to explore building a new stadium and entertainment complex at Hastings Park. However, no progress updates have emerged since the club and city signed their Memorandum of Understanding.

The franchise boasts a rich history dating to 1974 when it launched in the North American Soccer League, competing there until the league’s dissolution in 1984. The team then moved through various leagues including the Canadian Soccer League starting in 1986, plus the American Professional Soccer League, United Soccer League, and USSF Division 2 Pro League before joining MLS in 2011.

Despite the uncertainty, Vancouver has achieved recent success as four-time defending Canadian Championship winners and following their historic first MLS Cup final appearance, where they fell 3-1 to Inter Miami CF. The team has started the 2026 season strongly, trailing the Supporters’ Shield leader by just three points after nine games while posting a 7-1-0 record at BC Place.

PITTSBURGH — An inflatable bounce house took center stage in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ locker room prior to Monday evening’s matchup with St. Louis, thanks to National League Cy Young Award recipient Paul Skenes.

The star pitcher arranged for the children’s play structure as part of a delayed birthday party for rookie infielder Konnor Griffin, who reached the milestone age of 20 last Friday and marked the occasion by launching his inaugural big league home run during a victory over Milwaukee.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t get to get in it, but I love it,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said of the bounce house. “Teammates, it’s good camaraderie and I know that Konnor’s a great sport about it. There are not too many guys that get to celebrate their 20th birthday in the big leagues. Really cool.”

Griffin stepped onto the major league stage for the first time on April 3 following his promotion from Triple-A Indianapolis. His arrival was quickly followed by a substantial $140 million, nine-year deal signed just five days afterward.

After earning Minor League Player of the Year honors in the previous season, Griffin currently maintains a .224 batting average alongside his single home run and six successful base thefts across 22 appearances. The Pirates selected him as their top choice in the 2024 amateur draft.

The Toronto Blue Jays have sidelined veteran pitcher Max Scherzer for at least 15 days after placing him on the injured list Monday due to right forearm tendinitis and left ankle inflammation.

The 41-year-old right-handed pitcher has been tantalizingly close to a career milestone, sitting just one strikeout away from 3,500 for more than a week. He was unable to reach that mark during recent defeats against Arizona on April 18 and Cleveland last Friday.

Scherzer’s performance against Cleveland was particularly challenging, as he failed to record any strikeouts while surrendering seven earned runs over 2 1/3 innings on 82 pitches, pushing his earned run average to 9.64. However, following that game, Scherzer stated, “I would not characterize this start as the fault of my forearm.”

Reports indicate the forearm tendinitis has been bothering Scherzer since the beginning of April.

“The doctor said, ‘Hey, take five or seven days, let this all heal, and then ramp back up and you’ll see,’” Scherzer explained Monday. “‘Your body will tell you how fast you can ramp up.’”

The team has not yet announced who will take Scherzer’s scheduled Wednesday start. Left-hander Eric Lauer was expected to transition to relief duties when Trey Yesavage returns from the injured list Tuesday for his season debut against Boston, but Lauer may now remain in the starting rotation given Scherzer’s absence. Yesavage has been recovering from a right shoulder impingement.

The Blue Jays promoted reliever Chase Lee to fill the roster spot Monday, though another roster adjustment will be necessary for Yesavage’s activation.

Scherzer joins an extensive list of injured Blue Jays players this season, which includes more than a dozen teammates. Among them are designated hitter George Springer with a fractured left big toe, outfielders Addison Barger (sprained left ankle), Anthony Santander (torn left shoulder labrum), and Nathan Lukes (hamstring strain). Also sidelined are catcher Alejandro Kirk (fractured left thumb), starting pitchers Bowden Francis (elbow surgery), Jose Berrios (stress fracture in right elbow), Cody Ponce (torn right knee ACL), and Shane Bieber (right elbow inflammation), plus reliever Yimi Garcia (elbow injury).

Currently sitting fourth in the American League East division with a 12-15 record, the Blue Jays began a three-game home series against Boston on Monday.

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel returned to his duties Monday following a two-day absence during which he sought family counseling after controversy erupted over his relationship with former sports journalist Dianna Russini.

The 50-year-old coach was spotted at Salt Lake City’s airport on Saturday while the NFL draft’s final rounds were taking place.

According to ESPN, Vrabel maintained ongoing communication through email and text with the Patriots organization throughout his time away and has now resumed his complete coaching duties. However, team officials painted a different picture, with vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf stating the organization deliberately limited contact to give Vrabel space.

“We kind of talked through things and made the decision that the time away really needs to be time away, so we were not in contact with Mike (Saturday) other than some just, ‘Hope everything’s going OK’ kind of texts early (in the) morning,” Wolf explained.

Vrabel acknowledged the need for family counseling after the alleged affair became public knowledge.

“This is what I have to do to be the best husband, father and coach that I possibly can be. This is not an easy thing for me to admit, but it is one that I know will make me a better person,” he stated.

Both Vrabel and Russini are married to other people. The New York Post released photographs showing the pair together in Sedona, Arizona, prior to league meetings in Phoenix last month. Following an internal investigation by The Athletic’s parent company, the New York Times, Russini stepped down from her position as the publication’s top NFL reporter.

Last Tuesday, Vrabel addressed the media directly about the situation and its aftermath.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced during the draft that the league will not pursue disciplinary action or additional investigation under its off-field conduct policies.

Vrabel took over as Patriots head coach before the 2025 season, returning to the franchise where he once played. Under his leadership, New England reached Super Bowl LX, though they fell to the Seattle Seahawks 29-13.

Last season marked Vrabel’s second AP NFL Coach of the Year recognition, adding to his first award in 2021 during his tenure with Tennessee. He served as the Titans’ head coach from 2018 through 2023.

DENVER — Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards faces a minimum one-week absence due to a hyperextended left knee and bone bruise, the team officially announced Monday ahead of Game 5 in their first-round NBA playoff matchup against Denver.

Medical imaging revealed no structural damage to Edwards’ knee, providing some relief to the organization after the injury occurred during the second quarter of their Game 4 win against the Nuggets. However, his participation in potential second-round playoff action remains uncertain. Team officials have labeled his condition as week-to-week, suggesting Edwards could miss the start of any subsequent playoff series before receiving medical clearance to play.

“With the two injuries we had in one game, it was as positive as you can get it,” guard Mike Conley told reporters after the team’s pregame shootaround in Denver. “Obviously we want him to get healthy. We want him to be recovered as quickly as he can, but his health is No. 1. He knows his body. When his body’s ready, he’s going to fight through it. We know if we can get out of the series, we’ll get him back.”

The Timberwolves entered Game 5 holding a commanding 3-1 series advantage over Denver but also suffered another significant loss when starting guard Donte DiVincenzo sustained a ruptured right Achilles tendon during the early moments of Game 4, ending his postseason and sidelining him for most of next season.

Edwards finished the regular season with an average of 28.8 points per game, ranking third in the NBA behind Dallas’ Luka Doncic and reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from Oklahoma City. This season marked Edwards’ most injury-plagued campaign, missing 21 games primarily due to a right knee issue.

Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers made it clear during Monday’s media day that questions about her personal relationship with teammate Azzi Fudd are off-limits moving forward.

The two former University of Connecticut players have reunited in Dallas after being selected in consecutive WNBA first rounds, with Fudd becoming this year’s top overall draft choice. Both athletes publicly confirmed their romantic involvement last July, following their 2025 NCAA championship victory with the Huskies.

During Fudd’s recent introductory media session, team officials prevented her from discussing the relationship, with a Wings spokesperson saying they would “respectfully decline from commenting on our players’ personal lives.”

Speaking just days before Dallas opens preseason play against Indiana on April 30, Bueckers addressed the matter directly.

“There is something I want to address, and I only plan on addressing it once. If we continue to get asked about it, we will refer to this moment in time or use the time to deflect and talk about our teammates,” Bueckers stated. “Quite frankly, I believe me and Azzi’s personal relationship is nobody’s business but our own. And what we choose to share is completely up to us. … Me and Azzi have always been utmost professionals. We’ve always conducted ourselves as such. We’ve never let anything that happens off the court carry onto the court, and that’s what we’ll continue to do.”

The 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year, who posted impressive numbers with 19.2 points, 5.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game, also emphasized that she played no role in Dallas selecting Fudd with the first pick.

“Azzi Fudd was the No. 1 draft pick because she earned it,” Bueckers explained. “It had nothing to do with me and everything to do with who she is as a human being, as a basketball player, her resilience, her strength and her career-best year at UConn.”

“Azzi is a great individual person, her own great individual person, and should be celebrated as such,” she added.

Fudd’s final collegiate season supported that assessment, as she recorded career-high averages of 17.3 points, 3.1 assists and 2.5 steals while shooting 48.1% from the field and 44.7% from three-point range. The Huskies compiled a perfect 38-0 record before falling to South Carolina in the Final Four.

TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona State receiver Rylen Bourguet raced along the sideline before executing a perfect fake curl route that left her defender behind. She caught the perfectly timed pass for a game-winning touchdown that capped off last week’s first-ever Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic.

The dramatic finish exemplified the excitement surrounding the inaugural tournament held on Arizona State’s campus, showcasing the rapid expansion of women’s flag football in NCAA Division I athletics.

Bourguet believes such thrilling moments will become increasingly frequent as the sport gains momentum nationwide. With flag football making its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, featuring both men’s and women’s divisions, Bourguet has her sights set on representing Team USA.

“It was so awesome — it blew everything I’ve ever experienced out of the water,” Bourguet said of the Fiesta Bowl tournament. “It’s great to see how much it’s taking off at the youth level, the high school level and now the collegiate level. Seeing what it’s become is so surreal — very excited for the generations to come that are going to play the sport.”

The championship event demonstrated why flag football ranks among America’s fastest-expanding sports. Eight universities participated: Arizona State, Alabama State, Georgia, UCF, Florida, Grand Canyon, Charlotte and USC.

UCF claimed the tournament crown with a 19-7 victory over Florida in the championship game, which aired on ESPNU. According to Fiesta Bowl’s Scott Leightman, approximately 1,500 complimentary tickets were distributed to fans during the two-day competition.

Erik Moses, the Fiesta Bowl’s executive director, expressed such enthusiasm about the tournament’s success that he anticipates expanding to 12 or 16 participating teams in future years. He noted that corporate sponsors like Oakley were eager to support the event.

“It is easy to say that women’s sport is having a moment,” Moses said. “But we’re more interested in making sure that this is a movement and not just a moment.”

Bourguet praised the tournament’s professional atmosphere, describing it as the most impressive women’s flag football competition she had witnessed. The event featured dedicated media sessions, athlete gift packages, food truck vendors, and a DJ providing entertainment across two playing fields.

Among the eight participating universities, Alabama State stands alone in providing scholarships, while the remaining seven operate as club sports. This landscape may shift rapidly: flag football has joined the NCAA’s Emerging Sports for Women initiative, and Nebraska recently declared its intention to elevate women’s flag football to varsity status.

Georgia coach Caroline Caplinger anticipates this transformation will accelerate. Her primary role involves working with RCX Sports, which operates NFL FLAG and coordinates clinics and showcases nationwide, including a recent event in Pittsburgh during the NFL draft.

Caplinger reports nearly 100 NCAA Division I club teams currently exist across the country, representing a dramatic increase from roughly 10 teams in 2019. NFL FLAG research indicates 4.1 million girls aged 6-17 participated in flag football last season, up from 2.9 million in 2022.

High school participation reached 68,800 girls in 2024, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations’ most recent survey — a 60% jump from 2023 numbers.

“I definitely foresee by 2028 that one, or a couple, Power 4 conferences deciding to make this a varsity sport,” Caplinger said. “I know it’s on track to become a championship status. It’s really grabbing the attention of colleges, at the Division I, II, III and NAIA level. It’s a rapid-fire transition and spreading across the country.”

“I definitely see this sport, that within the next five years, this sport having a true NCAA championship.”

Multiple factors drive flag football’s growth, particularly among women. The sport requires minimal equipment investment while showcasing football’s athletic demands without the physical punishment of tackle football.

Caplinger observes that much of women’s flag football expansion occurs within Southeastern Conference territory, a region with deep football traditions. Florida pioneered widespread high school flag football programs.

Several tournament participants recently transitioned from volleyball, basketball and soccer backgrounds. However, as more high schools adopt the sport annually, many current players have extensive flag football experience.

“It’s one of the first times that football is really accessible to women — that they get to be on the field and really experience a version of the game,” Caplinger said. “The young women on my team love watching the (men’s) Georgia Bulldogs go play, they’re out there every Saturday and sometimes even travel for the away games.”

“They love football, they understand it and this gives them a chance to play football, grow their knowledge of the sport and be even more invested in a sport they love watching. It really only takes one passionate girl to come to a school and get everyone else on board.”

Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo Lopez has been temporarily shifted to relief duties while he addresses mechanical problems with his pitching form, manager Walt Weiss announced to media on Sunday.

The right-handed pitcher started this season in Atlanta’s second spot in the rotation after making only one appearance in 2025 before requiring season-ending shoulder surgery. Lopez posted an impressive 2.18 ERA across his first four outings this year, but struggled significantly in his most recent appearance, surrendering four runs on five hits plus three walks during just one inning in last Tuesday’s 11-4 defeat against Washington.

“We see him as a starter,” Weiss explained. “He’s working through some things, delivery wise, that type of thing, and he’s getting right there. And when he’s right, he’s one of our best starters. He was our No. 2 coming out of camp, even with some of the issues at the end of spring training.”

“So we see him as a starter long term, but right now, trying to iron some things out. He’s going to help us out of the pen in the short term,” the manager added.

The veteran pitcher brings significant experience in both starting and relief roles throughout his major league career. Across 11 seasons and 273 total appearances, including 128 starts, Lopez holds a 48-55 record with a 3.93 ERA.

His 2024 campaign with Atlanta marked a career highlight, earning his inaugural All-Star selection and placing 11th in National League Cy Young Award balloting. That season saw him compile a stellar 1.99 ERA with 148 strikeouts against 42 walks across 135 2/3 innings pitched.

Meanwhile, Atlanta has retained 22-year-old right-hander JR Ritchie on the major league roster following his impressive debut performance Thursday against Washington, where he surrendered two runs on five hits while recording seven strikeouts over seven innings. Ritchie is scheduled for his first home appearance Wednesday when the team faces Detroit.

The Braves also anticipate the return of right-hander Spencer Strider, who could make his season debut as early as this weekend during the team’s series in Colorado. Strider began the year on the injured list due to an oblique strain.

Mark Toothaker was enjoying a typical December evening last year at his Lexington, Kentucky home. The Spendthrift Farm employee had finished his workout and was relaxing in bed with his wife Malory, watching Monday Night Football as the New York Giants faced the New England Patriots.

What happened next changed everything.

As Malory read beside him, Toothaker watched Giants kicker Younghoe Koo completely miss a field goal attempt in a moment that looked straight out of a Peanuts comic strip. The 59-year-old found the replay so hilarious that his laughter triggered an unexpected medical emergency.

“I’ve never felt anything like this in my life,” Toothaker remembered. “I felt like I got electrocuted.”

Fortunately, Malory works as a nurse at a rehabilitation facility specializing in brain injuries. After realizing her husband wasn’t joking around, she immediately contacted emergency services.

Hospital scans revealed shocking news: a brain tumor the size of a tennis ball was growing on the left side of Toothaker’s head. “When you hear the news, ‘You’ve got a brain tumor,’ that’s what nobody wants to hear,” Malory explained.

Doctors at the University of Kentucky hospital successfully removed the growth, which tested as non-cancerous. Toothaker recovered completely and returned home within days. This Saturday, he’ll attend the Kentucky Derby to watch Further Ado, a horse owned by his employer, compete in the prestigious race.

The stallion sales manager remains grateful for that fateful missed kick.

“(The) kicker saved my life because it could’ve happened any other time,” Toothaker shared with The Associated Press during a telephone conversation. “I wholeheartedly believe I was in the right spot at the right time, and he was the trigger for that happening. It was a miracle.”

The tumor had already shifted Toothaker’s brain six millimeters without causing any noticeable symptoms. In the weeks leading up to his seizure, he had traveled extensively by car and plane for work, including a trip to Louisville the previous weekend to watch Further Ado win the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes.

“I could have had it on a plane, anywhere,” Toothaker reflected. “I didn’t kill anybody. I didn’t run over a family in my Expedition running up and down the road. I guess that would’ve been the hardest thing for me to live with if somebody would’ve got hurt out of this. Believe me, as tough as that thing was, as violent as that seizure was, I have no memory of it and I would find it hard to believe that I wouldn’t have hurt somebody or hurt myself if I would’ve been behind a wheel.”

Toothaker had been watching specifically to support then-Giants receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, whose father Dale is a longtime friend. Robinson later became the first player under 5-foot-8 to exceed 1,000 receiving yards since 1989 and signed a major contract with the Tennessee Titans.

The Kentucky man hopes to invite 31-year-old Koo, formerly one of the NFL’s most reliable kickers, as his Derby guest, despite the embarrassing nature of the miss. Koo was cut from the team two weeks following the game and didn’t respond to AP requests for comment.

“I know it wasn’t his best moment, but it was beyond crazy,” Toothaker said. “For she and I to be belly-laughing at his expense, which I feel terrible about now, but it all worked out in the end, that for me it couldn’t have been a better moment.”

According to Malory Toothaker, her husband has returned to his normal routine.

“So many people aren’t that fortunate,” she noted. “Really the first indication that he had a problem was the seizure — and to be in your own bed at home, not behind the wheel of a car or traveling, you’re just so humbled and feel so blessed and just fortunate that if this had to happen, it was the best-case scenario.”

The National Hockey League imposed a $5,000 penalty on Boston Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov following an illegal hit against Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin during Sunday’s playoff matchup.

The violation took place after play had stopped, with 16 minutes and 43 seconds left on the clock during Boston’s devastating 6-1 defeat at home in the fourth game of their Eastern Conference opening round matchup.

The towering 6-foot-7 Zadorov skated toward Dahlin at center ice and delivered a cross-check to the opposing defenseman’s back, resulting in a five-minute major penalty and ejection from the game.

League officials issued the maximum financial penalty permitted under the current collective bargaining agreement terms.

Buffalo now holds a commanding 3-1 advantage in the playoff series, with the fifth game scheduled for Tuesday evening at their home arena.

The 31-year-old Zadorov has contributed one assist while accumulating 37 minutes in penalties across the four playoff contests. During the regular season, he tallied 22 points through two goals and 20 assists in 81 games, while leading the NHL with 152 penalty minutes.

New York Giants receiver Malik Nabers stepped into the role of draft critic recently, offering candid commentary about his team’s decision to select Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese with the fifth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

During a podcast appearance, Nabers expressed his preference for Ohio State safety Caleb Downs instead, describing him as someone he “would rather play with than against.” The two faced each other when Nabers was at LSU and Downs played his freshman season at Alabama in 2023. Downs was ultimately chosen 11th overall by division rival Dallas.

“I love (Reese) the player but just like (podcast co-host Micah Parsons) said, where does he play? You want to be on the outside and rush but we just drafted someone last year to that same position,” Nabers commented.

Giants head coach John Harbaugh responded by personally contacting Nabers to discuss how Reese would fit alongside the team’s existing pass-rushing talent, which includes 2025 first-round selection Abdul Carter and veteran edge rusher Brian Burns.

“One thing that you’ll kind of probably see as we go here, we don’t get too worried about stuff,” Harbaugh explained. “As long as the person’s heart is in the right place, as long as the person really cares … and you really want what’s best for everybody and he’s got a good heart and it’s coming from a good place, say what you think. Put it out there.”

“We talk all the time about confronting everything that has to do with our football team. And so Malik wants to know how we’re going to use our first-round pick. I want to show him. I want to explain it to him. The fact that he says it publicly, who cares? I know fans are probably thinking the same thing.”

The Giants had another opportunity to select Downs with their 10th pick but instead chose Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa.

According to Harbaugh, Nabers visited the team facility on Friday before the draft’s second day, where they had an in-depth discussion about Reese’s role. The first-year Giants coach said Nabers left that meeting “fired up” about the linebacker.

“We had a great conversation with that,” Harbaugh noted. “Like came in the next morning, sat up there and we were talking about it. He made himself clear. It’s like you even said, if you go back and you watch it, I appreciate kind of where he’s coming from. I mean, you’re in a podcast, you’re talking ball and he’s just like, well, how do they got to use the guy? How’s he going to play? … It’s like he said, ‘I was curious about how you’re going to use him.’”

Nabers later took to social media to clarify his intentions and address the reaction to his comments.

“First off, we have to stop overreacting,” Nabers wrote online. “I would never intentionally take away from the biggest moment/night of Arvell’s life. Very excited to see him play on the team and happy that we have another dawg on the squad!!”

PHILADELPHIA — What Joel Embiid initially thought was severe food poisoning during the Philadelphia 76ers’ Texas road trip earlier this month turned out to be something far more serious.

The Cameroon-born center became so severely ill that simple tasks like walking and using the restroom became extremely difficult, keeping him awake through the night. When Embiid finally informed team medical staff that his condition was beyond any typical stomach ailment, doctors ordered immediate hospital testing.

The diagnosis delivered yet another cruel blow to Embiid’s injury-plagued playoff history.

The dominant center, who has seen his postseason appearances repeatedly derailed by various injuries including sprains, broken bones, and even facial nerve damage, faced another devastating setback this April.

On April 9 in Houston, Embiid underwent emergency appendix removal surgery after developing acute appendicitis overnight, leaving the two-time NBA scoring leader sidelined with no clear return date.

Missing Philadelphia’s final regular season games and their play-in tournament appearance, he could only watch helplessly as the Sixers fell behind 2-1 to Boston in their opening playoff round.

“You probably go through a couple of days where you feel bad for yourself,” Embiid said late Sunday. “Then it’s right back to it. Are you going to give up or are you going to try and come back as early as possible?”

Making his dramatic return in Game 4 just over two weeks post-surgery, Embiid received a thunderous standing ovation from fans hoping he could provide the offensive firepower needed to challenge a Celtics squad that had demolished Philadelphia by 32 points in Game 1.

Unfortunately, history repeated itself as the 76ers suffered another 32-point defeat, losing 128-96 Sunday evening and falling into a 3-1 series deficit heading into Tuesday’s Game 5 in Boston.

Despite posting 26 points and 10 rebounds across 34 minutes in a courageous performance, Embiid’s heroic return couldn’t mask Philadelphia’s glaring weaknesses. The statistics told a brutal story: Boston connected on 24 three-point shots compared to Philadelphia’s nine, dominated the boards 51-30, and at one stretch held a commanding 13-0 advantage in second-chance scoring to build their 21-point cushion.

The Sixers have unfortunately mastered the art of lopsided defeats.

Despite featuring All-Star talents like Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George, Philadelphia made NBA history this season as the first franchise to lose three home contests by 40 or more points. Adding two 32-point playoff blowouts puts significant pressure on team president Daryl Morey and head coach Nick Nurse if they cannot engineer a miraculous series comeback.

“I think those are going to kind of happen a couple of times a year,” Nurse said. “Listen, our kind of MO all year was to have a lot of things thrown at us, pick ourselves up and fight back. We’re just going to have to do it again.”

For Philadelphia to have any hope of reviving their championship aspirations, they desperately need aggressive play and consistent scoring from Maxey and promising rookie VJ Edgecombe. The team’s roster construction remains problematic, attempting to balance two young, athletic guards while simultaneously feeding an aging, injury-prone big man in the post.

Embiid certainly started strong, converting two free throws for Philadelphia’s opening points, thundering home a powerful two-handed dunk, and accounting for the team’s first eight points.

However, Maxey deferred too much to Embiid’s presence, attempting just three shots in the opening half before finishing with 22 points over 40 minutes.

“That can’t happen,” Maxey said of the slow start. “That’s on me. That’s just unacceptable by me. I was playing within the flow of the game. It kind of happened that way. It wasn’t meant to happen that way.”

The shot distribution showed Maxey and Edgecombe combining for 23 attempts while Embiid took 21 shots.

“There’s a couple of times when he had opportunities to shoot the ball, but he’s got to take them,” Embiid said of Maxey. “You’ve got to want it.”

Embiid revealed he experienced unspecified post-surgical complications but remained determined “to do the best job possible with the conditions.” Limited to just 38 games this season due primarily to ongoing knee management, he hasn’t reached 40 regular season appearances since the 2022-23 campaign when he averaged a career-high 33.1 points and captured MVP recognition.

According to Embiid, he felt compelled to battle through this latest medical emergency to rescue Philadelphia’s season. It’s become a recurring theme in the City of Brotherly Love. While upsets remain possible, the Sixers’ ultimate fate appears as predictable as Embiid’s next injury — no championship since 1983, no conference finals appearance since 2001.

“I just told them again, way out of character,” Nurse said. “We played another, about as bad as we could play, game. That’s two in the series.”

A third poor performance will end another disappointing postseason run.

The Boston Red Sox dismissed manager Alex Cora over the weekend, a move that could have happened to any of three struggling major league franchises.

Despite winning two games out of three against Baltimore, Boston remains at the bottom of their division with an 11-17 record. The New York Mets have performed even more poorly, managing just one run on Sunday while being swept in a doubleheader at home by Colorado. New York has dropped 15 of their last 17 games, falling to 9-19.

The Mets share the National League East basement with Philadelphia, as the Phillies have lost 11 of their past 12 contests to match that 9-19 mark.

As of Sunday evening, both Mets skipper Carlos Mendoza and Philadelphia’s Rob Thomson remained in their positions. These three large-market franchises can find comfort in the fact that it’s difficult to eliminate yourself from playoff contention before April ends — assuming sufficient talent exists for a turnaround.

Currently, FanGraphs projects a 34% playoff probability for Boston, while both Philadelphia and New York sit at 33%. This suggests a reasonable possibility that one of these clubs will reverse course and reach October baseball.

However, the season has been troubling for all three organizations. The Mets and Phillies possess baseball’s two poorest run differentials, and New York will play without shortstop Francisco Lindor for several weeks due to a calf problem. This absence won’t assist an attack that has produced the fewest runs in the majors.

Star pitcher Zack Wheeler finally took the mound for his 2026 season opener on Saturday for Philadelphia, helping end a 10-game losing streak, but Sunday’s defeat left them 10½ games behind division-leading Atlanta.

Boston sits closer to first place, trailing New York’s Yankees by seven games, though their run differential of minus-11 appears reasonable only because of Saturday’s 17-1 victory where Baltimore used a position player to pitch during a 10-run ninth inning.

The coming month will prove crucial for these three organizations. Continued poor performance through Memorial Day could make recovery impossible.

Philadelphia holds both the National League’s lowest batting average and highest ERA among qualifying players. The struggling performers are Alec Bohm, hitting .143, and Jesús Luzardo, carrying a 6.91 ERA.

Milwaukee faced both of last season’s Cy Young Award recipients on consecutive nights Thursday and Friday. Detroit’s Tarik Skubal pitched against the Brewers, with the Tigers ultimately winning 5-4 on Spencer Torkelson’s home run. Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes then carried a perfect game into the seventh inning during the Pirates’ 6-0 victory.

Sunday’s most unexpected pitching battle occurred when Washington and Chicago played nine scoreless frames before the Nationals won 2-1 in extra innings. Washington averages 5.38 runs per contest, fourth-highest in baseball, while allowing 5.9 runs, second-most in the majors. The Nationals actually led in both categories entering Wednesday’s games.

Poor pitching was anticipated, but the offense has made Washington entertaining thanks to James Wood’s 10 home runs, CJ Abrams’ .897 OPS, and Joey Wiemer’s strong .320 batting average.

In 14 of Washington’s 29 games, at least one team has reached eight runs.

Milwaukee’s Kyle Harrison fanned 12 batters across six one-hit innings during Sunday’s 5-0 triumph over Pittsburgh, preventing the Pirates from completing their first series sweep in Milwaukee since 2016.

Kansas City trailed by three runs with two outs and no runners in the ninth inning before mounting a comeback to tie Sunday’s game against Los Angeles. The Royals eventually prevailed 11-9 in 10 innings.

The Angels had commanded a 6-0 lead in the fifth inning and led 8-5 in the ninth before Vinnie Pasquantino’s triple, Salvador Perez’s RBI single, and Jac Caglianone’s two-run homer forced extra innings. Baseball Savant calculated Kansas City’s win probability at just 0.5%.

The Royals faced elimination again in the 10th inning when Lane Thomas delivered a walk-off three-run homer.

A young Spanish tennis player captured the attention of home fans Sunday when 19-year-old wildcard Rafael Jodar took down Brazilian rising star Joao Fonseca in a thrilling three-set match, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-1, at the Madrid Open.

Just two days earlier, Jodar had claimed his first victory over a top-10 ranked player by defeating Australia’s Alex de Minaur.

Fonseca, who is also 19 and ranked 27th in the Madrid tournament, recovered from losing a tight first-set tiebreak to break Jodar’s serve early in the second set and push the match to a third set. However, the Spanish newcomer dominated the final set, recording 11 winners compared to just one for his Brazilian opponent to secure his spot in the fourth round.

“A very tough match,” Jodar said. “Joao is always a very tough player, so these matches are decided by very small details and various small points. I think I did a great job in those points, trying to play my game.”

Jodar’s next opponent will be Czech player Vit Kopriva, who has no current ranking and advanced when 22nd-seeded Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech withdrew due to a calf injury after two sets. Kopriva had taken the opening set 6-4 but lost the second 6-3 before Rinderknech retired from the match.

The Spanish player is taking time to savor Sunday’s breakthrough performance.

“I’m very, very happy with my level,” Jodar said. “I’ll just try to recover well and think about the next match.”

In other action, Italy’s top-seeded Jannik Sinner dominated Danish qualifier Elmer Moller with a commanding 6-2, 6-3 win to reach the fourth round. The victory extended Sinner’s remarkable winning streak to 24 straight matches at ATP 1000-level tournaments. Sinner committed only 10 unforced errors against the powerful-hitting Moller.

“I tried to stay calm and serve well in important moments,” Sinner said after the match. “I think that was the key today. There was not a lot of rhythm, so I tried to stay quite compact. Let’s see what’s coming in the next round.”

Sinner will face 19th-seeded Cameron Norrie of Britain on Tuesday, after Norrie narrowly defeated Argentina’s Thiago Tirante 7-5, 7-6 (5). The upcoming match will mark the first meeting between Sinner and the left-handed Norrie.

Sunday also saw other higher-seeded players advance without major upsets. Italy’s sixth-seeded Lorenzo Musetti outlasted 29th-seeded Tallon Griekspoor from the Netherlands, 6-4, 7-5. Czech Republic’s 11th-seeded Jiri Lehecka defeated Alex Michelsen, 6-4, 6-2. France’s 21st-seeded Arthur Fils knocked out Emilio Nava, 7-6 (2), 6-3. And 25th-seeded Argentine Tomas Martin Etchevarry came from behind to stop Croatia’s Dino Prizmic with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 comeback victory.

Mike Tomlin has broken his silence about departing Pittsburgh, explaining that both he and the Steelers organization needed a change after nearly two decades together.

The 54-year-old coach, who never posted a losing season during his tenure, spoke with NBC Sunday night in his first public comments since leaving the team in January. Tomlin acknowledged that the franchise’s playoff struggles – they haven’t won a postseason game since 2016 – played a role in his difficult choice to step away.

“You know, it’s probably not an overnight decision,” Tomlin explained. “It’s probably not something that I could articulate or share with people. There’s a loneliness with leadership.”

“I just thought it was a good time for me personally and by that, I mean, just where I am in life and I thought it was a good time for the organization, to be quite honest with you. We didn’t have success in the playoffs in recent years and there’s just some veteran players there, man, guys like Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt and (Chris) Boswell, man, that I thought that just were worthy of the excitement and the optimism of new leadership.”

NBC officially confirmed Sunday that Tomlin will become an analyst on “Football Night in America,” which precedes the network’s Sunday evening NFL broadcasts.

“I just thought it would be a great way to stay connected to the game and the awesome people in it, players, coaches, executives,” Tomlin shared about his new role. “and excited about doing that on Sunday night and traveling to different venues and getting that feel for the environment and lastly, I just thought it would be awesome to share insight with fellow football lovers.”

“I love to talk football and so that’s just an exciting component for me. I got to admit, though, there’s going to be some anxiety about stepping into a new space, but good anxiety, it’s good to be uncomfortable with the growth associated with that. I’m fired up about it.”

Pittsburgh finished 10-7 this past season before suffering a crushing 30-6 wild-card defeat to Houston on January 12th. The organization subsequently hired Pittsburgh native Mike McCarthy as Tomlin’s replacement in late January.

During his remarkable run with the Steelers, Tomlin captured Super Bowl XLIII with a thrilling 27-23 win over Arizona in February 2009. The team also reached Super Bowl XLV two years later, falling 31-25 to Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay.

Tomlin compiled a 193-114-2 record in Pittsburgh, matching Hall of Famer Chuck Noll for most regular-season victories in franchise history and ranking ninth all-time in the NFL. Noll led the Steelers from 1969-91, with Bill Cowher coaching from 1992-2007 before Tomlin took over.

Regarding Rodgers, who worked with both McCarthy in Green Bay and Tomlin this past season, the former coach predicted the 42-year-old quarterback will return for his 22nd NFL campaign despite uncertainty about his future plans.

“Man, if you got a gun to my head, I’d say it’s AR,” Tomlin said. “I just think, Aaron, I just think being around him for the 12 months that I’m around him, he’s got a love affair with the game of football and not only the game, but the process, the informal moments, the development of younger guys, the interaction with teammates. I think he has an addiction to that, and there’s only one way to feed it. And certainly he is still capable and in really good shape. And so I think at the end of the day, he’ll play football.”

The Colorado Avalanche closed out their playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings with a commanding 5-1 win on Sunday, completing a four-game sweep in the Western Conference first round. Nathan MacKinnon led the charge with two goals and an assist in the decisive victory.

MacKinnon, who topped the NHL with 53 goals during the regular season, finally found the back of the net in his first postseason goals of the year. The Avalanche also received scoring from Cale Makar, Nicolas Roy, and Devon Toews, while Gabriel Landeskog contributed two assists. Goaltender Scott Wedgewood turned away 24 shots to secure the win that sends Colorado to face either Dallas or Minnesota in the next round.

Los Angeles managed just one goal from Joel Edmundson, assisted by Adrian Kempe and Alex Laferriere. Kings goalie Anton Forsberg made 27 saves on 31 shots before being pulled with 5:48 left in the game. MacKinnon capped the scoring just 20 seconds after the empty-net situation began.

The defeat brought an emotional end to the career of Kings captain Anze Kopitar, who had previously announced his intention to retire following this season. As the final minutes ticked away, Los Angeles fans showed their appreciation for Kopitar with chants, honoring his two decades with the franchise that included two Stanley Cup championships.

In other playoff action, Anaheim moved within one win of advancing by defeating Edmonton 4-3 in overtime. Ryan Poehling netted the game-winner for the Ducks, who now lead their series 3-1. Cutter Gauthier, Mikael Granlund, and Jeffery Viel also scored for Anaheim, while Connor McDavid recorded two assists for Edmonton in his 100th career playoff game.

Tampa Bay evened their series with Montreal at 2-2 after a 3-2 comeback victory. Brandon Hagel scored twice, including the winner with 4:53 remaining, as the Lightning overcame a two-goal deficit. Meanwhile, Buffalo took control of their series against Boston with a dominant 6-1 victory, building a 3-1 series lead behind a four-goal first period explosion.

HOUSTON — Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton found himself heading to the locker room early during Sunday night’s playoff matchup with the Houston Rockets after officials determined he made excessive contact with an opponent’s face.

The incident occurred with approximately 5½ minutes remaining in the third quarter when Ayton struck Rockets player Alperen Sengun in the face using his elbow and forearm as Sengun moved toward the basket with possession of the ball. Officials initially called a standard foul but decided to review the play.

Following the review, referees upgraded the call to a flagrant foul 2, which carries an automatic ejection. The official making the announcement described the contact as “unnecessary and excessive.”

At the time of Ayton’s removal from the game, the Lakers were trailing 76-57, despite holding a commanding 3-0 advantage in the playoff series. Ayton had been performing well for Los Angeles, recording a team-high 19 points along with 10 rebounds before his early departure from the contest.

LANCASTER, Pa. — Former Major League Baseball Cy Young Award recipient Trevor Bauer delivered a stellar no-hit performance Sunday while pitching for the Atlantic League’s Long Island Ducks in their matchup against the Lancaster Stormers.

The 35-year-old right-handed pitcher completed seven innings of work, surrendering only a single walk while fanning seven batters on 84 total pitches, with 54 finding the strike zone. Bauer (1-0) set down the first 15 batters in order before issuing his lone free pass to Kevin Watson Jr. with one out in the sixth inning.

After the walk, Bauer regained his composure and dispatched the final five hitters he encountered, securing the third no-hitter in franchise history for the Ducks, who cruised to a 13-0 victory.

The performance comes as Bauer works to resurrect his major league career following a 194-game suspension for violations of MLB’s policies regarding domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse. While criminal charges were never filed against him, civil lawsuits related to the allegations were resolved through settlements.

The Los Angeles Dodgers cut ties with Bauer in January 2023. Since then, he has played internationally, spending time with Yokohama in Japan during 2023 and 2025, while also competing for Diablos Rojos in Mexico’s professional league in 2024, where he earned pitcher of the year honors.

During his most recent stint in Japan last season, Bauer compiled a 4-10 record with a 4.41 earned run average while pitching for Yokohama.

Multiple media sources reported Sunday that the New York Yankees plan to promote outfielder Jasson Dominguez from their Triple-A affiliate.

The 23-year-old player from the Dominican Republic had significant playing time with New York during the 2025 season and showed promise in Spring Training before being sent down to the minors on March 20.

During his 2025 campaign, Dominguez posted a .257 batting average with a .331 on-base percentage and .388 slugging percentage across 429 plate appearances. His season totals included 47 RBIs, 10 home runs, and 23 stolen bases.

In his recent stint with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this spring, Dominguez performed well across 22 games, recording 13 RBIs and three home runs while maintaining a .306 batting average.

The Yankees created a roster spot after sending right-handed pitcher Luis Gil down to Triple-A on Sunday. Dominguez may also serve as a replacement for outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, who is currently sidelined with a calf injury.

Reports indicate Dominguez will be added to the active roster in time for Monday’s away game against the Texas Rangers.

Monte Coleman, a linebacker who captured three Super Bowl titles during his 16-year career with Washington’s NFL franchise, passed away Sunday at the age of 68.

Neither the Washington Commanders nor Arkansas Pine Bluff University disclosed the cause of Coleman’s death. Coleman served as head football coach at his alma mater from 2008 through 2017, compiling a 40-71 record. Under his leadership, the Golden Lions claimed the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship in 2012 and earned the Boxtorow HBCU Division I coaches’ national title that same year.

“Coach Coleman represented everything we strive for at UAPB — excellence, integrity, and a relentless commitment to developing our student-athletes,” stated UAPB athletic director Chris Robinson. “His legacy is not only written in championships and honors, but in the lives he changed every single day.”

Coleman made history as the first player ever selected from Central Arkansas when Washington chose him in the 11th round of the 1979 NFL Draft, which featured 12 rounds at that time.

Throughout his career spanning from 1979 to 1994, Coleman appeared in 215 regular-season contests with 62 starts, accumulating 1,002 tackles (999 unassisted), 49.5 quarterback sacks, 17 interceptions with three returned for scores, 13 forced fumbles, and 14 fumble recoveries.

His playoff experience included 21 games with five starts, where he registered five tackles, 4.5 sacks, and two picks.

Washington captured Super Bowl victories in 1982, 1987, and 1991, while also reaching the championship game in 1983.

“Monte Coleman was one of the greatest players in Washington history,” declared Commanders owner Josh Harris. “He was one of the pillars of our championship defenses having played for all three Super Bowl-winning teams. His durability and leadership set the standard for what it meant to suit up for the Burgundy & Gold.”

Coleman holds the second-highest marks in franchise history for total games played and solo tackles, while ranking sixth in sacks.

The Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame welcomed Coleman in 1998, and Washington honored him with induction into their Ring of Fame in 2015.

“That was one of the greatest accolades I’ve ever received,” Coleman reflected on his Washington recognition. “To be listed among those players, I will always cherish that. That means a whole lot to me.”

Coleman leaves behind his wife Yvette, his partner of 43 years, and five children: Jasmine, Kyndall, Kyle, Corey, and Londie.

Nelly Korda claimed her third major championship Sunday at the Chevron Championship in Houston, dominating from start to finish while recapturing the world’s top ranking in women’s golf.

The 27-year-old golfer controlled the tournament from beginning to end, carding a final-round 70 at Memorial Park Golf Course to secure a commanding five-stroke victory. Korda began with back-to-back rounds of 65 to build a substantial lead heading into the weekend, then closed out the championship at 18-under 270.

“That was a hard weekend. Honestly, having that big of a lead, it’s not easy,” Korda explained. “It was definitely one of the hardest things I’ve had to do mentally.

“But I have an amazing support system, amazing family right behind me, amazing caddie that’s on the bag, and just happy to get it done.”

China’s Ruoning Yin finished with a 69 while Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit carded a 70, both ending in a deadlock for second place at 13-under par.

This marks Korda’s third major championship victory, joining her 2021 Women’s PGA Championship triumph and now her second Chevron title in three years. The achievement places her alongside notable contemporaries including New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, Australia’s Minjee Lee, Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist, South Korea’s In-gee Chun, and Hall of Fame legend Nancy Lopez.

The victory also allowed Korda to reclaim the top position in the Rolex Rankings from Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul, who failed to make the cut in Houston. Korda had held the second spot since last August’s Women’s Open.

Her early-season performance has been exceptional, recording two wins and three runner-up finishes across five tournaments. This hot streak mirrors her remarkable 2024 campaign when she captured six titles by mid-May and seven overall.

“I can’t compare. Every year is so different,” Korda reflected. “I would say the only the thing that’s similar is like when do you get into like a zone like this, you’re kind of in your own little bubble, and that’s what I was feeling in 2024. I was in my own little bubble.

“But as for the way that I am mentally — was mentally in 2024 versus what I am mentally right now, they’re almost two different people as well.”

Following her victory, Korda honored tradition by jumping into a specially constructed 4-foot pond at Memorial Park. This custom originated when the tournament was previously held at Rancho Mirage, where champions would leap into water near the 18th green.

“So refreshing,” Korda commented. “Yeah, it was so hot this weekend in Houston. … And, yeah, I mean, if I’m hoisting the trophy then I’m jumping in. I’m going to keep the tradition alive. Everyone is going to have their own opinion. My opinion is if you kill a tradition it’s going to be gone forever.”

Korda entered the final day with a five-shot advantage and immediately extended her lead with birdies on the opening and third holes. She maintained steady play with consistent pars until a bogey on the 12th hole, which she quickly answered with consecutive birdies to seal the championship.

Tavatanakit, who previously won one major title, stayed closest to Korda throughout most of the week and began Sunday in sole possession of second place.

She managed three birdies in her opening six holes Sunday before struggling on the back nine, recording a bogey on the eighth hole and making pars the remainder of the round.

“To be honest, I feel like I didn’t have my A-game at all, but I just managed myself really well,” Tavatanakit admitted. “Just kept grinding out there. Made really nice up and downs all week, which is great. At the same time, I really wish I had my iron game a little bit better.”

Yin also fell short of adding another major championship to her collection.

“I live in Texas so I just assume I have good vibes here,” Yin said. “So, yeah, I mean, I think this course suits me well, and I think if I can hit a little bit longer it would be great. But overall I think I’m just really proud of this week.”

China’s Yan Liu shot 67 and South Korea’s Ina Yoon posted 68 to share fourth place at 12-under par. South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim, who has claimed two victories this season, finished well back in sixth at 7-under following a final-round 69, as few competitors reached double digits under par at this first-time major championship venue.

The National Basketball Association has imposed significant financial penalties on two star players following a heated confrontation during Saturday’s playoff game between Denver and Minnesota.

Denver’s Nikola Jokic received a $50,000 fine while Minnesota’s Julius Randle was hit with a $35,000 penalty for their involvement in the late-game incident that marred the Timberwolves’ 112-96 victory.

NBA executive vice president and head of basketball operations James Jones announced the disciplinary action on Sunday, just one day after Minnesota secured a commanding 3-1 advantage in their first-round playoff matchup.

The trouble began when Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels scored an easy basket in the game’s closing moments with the outcome already determined. Jokic sprinted across the court from the far end to push McDaniels, which triggered the confrontation between both squads.

The league determined that Randle warranted punishment because he “escalated the incident by forcefully inserting himself into the scrum” when he shoved Denver’s Bruce Brown. Officials assessed technical fouls to both Jokic and Randle and ejected them before the final buzzer sounded.

Tensions have been running high between these Western Conference opponents throughout their playoff series. Minnesota previously knocked Denver out of postseason contention two seasons ago.

The series continues Monday night in Denver for Game 5.

Major League Baseball delivered spectacular entertainment in Mexico’s capital city this weekend, as the Arizona Diamondbacks claimed a 12-7 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday, evening their international series at one game apiece.

The action unfolded at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu, where enthusiastic crowds enjoyed banda music, colorful alebrije displays, and specialty concessions during the high-energy weekend that demonstrated MLB’s successful expansion into international markets.

This marks the third time baseball’s premier league has brought games to Mexico City, continuing the World Tour initiative that began in 2023.

Dedicated fans made lengthy journeys to witness the games, including Jacinto Perez and Jose Rodriguez, two Padres supporters from San Diego who wore traditional lucha libre masks while cheering for their team.

“My first game was in ’81. My cousin took me and since then I’ve been a die-hard fan,” Rodriguez explained. Perez added, “Wherever they go, we’ll follow them,” with both expressing interest in attending future Padres games in Japan.

Another notable attendee was “El Yorch,” a San Diego fan with Tijuana family connections who regularly attends Mexico City sporting events and plans to return for this year’s NFL game.

All three supporters rejected safety concerns about traveling to Mexico for the games.

“Please avoid believing everything the newspapers said, yes the country has had some difficult moments this year, but nothing compares to this experience, to the people here and the ambient,” El Yorch stated.

Perez, identifying as Mexican, expressed unwavering commitment to visiting. “I will never lose the desire to come to my homeland. I will always come, no matter what anyone says. As long as you stay on the right path, nothing will happen.”

The weekend featured exceptional baseball action across both contests.

San Diego dominated Saturday’s opener, mounting a comeback from a four-run deficit to secure a 6-4 victory. The Padres scored four runs during the seventh inning before Ty France delivered the decisive blow with his second homer in the ninth.

Sunday’s finale swung Arizona’s direction despite Manny Machado’s two home runs for San Diego. Tim Tawa’s career-first grand slam sparked a decisive six-run seventh inning rally that propelled the Diamondbacks to victory.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred emphasized the league’s commitment to international market development, highlighting Mexico’s importance in baseball’s worldwide growth strategy.

Following the series split, San Diego holds second place in the National League West standings, trailing the Los Angeles Dodgers by one game, while Arizona sits in third position.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Salisbury University’s women’s tennis squad wrapped up their regular season on a winning note Sunday, defeating Virginia Wesleyan University’s Marlins 5-2 at the Everett Tennis Center.

The victory allowed the Sea Gulls to reach their 10th win of the season, continuing an impressive streak of double-digit win seasons that now extends to five consecutive years.

Sunday’s match served as the final regular season competition for Salisbury as they prepare for postseason play. The team’s consistent performance over recent seasons demonstrates the program’s sustained excellence under current leadership.

HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets will once again be without superstar Kevin Durant for Sunday night’s crucial Game 4 matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers, as the team fights to stay alive in their first-round Western Conference playoff series.

Durant will be sidelined due to a sprained left ankle injury he sustained during Friday’s heartbreaking Game 3, where Houston surrendered a six-point advantage in the final 30 seconds of regulation before falling 112-108 in overtime, putting them on the brink of elimination at 0-3.

The veteran forward has now been absent for three of the four games in this playoff series, having also missed the series opener due to a bruised right knee. Durant made his return in Game 2, contributing 23 points over 41 minutes in the team’s 101-94 defeat, but suffered the ankle injury in the closing moments of that contest.

These recent injury setbacks come as a surprise given that the 37-year-old veteran logged 2,840 minutes during the regular season, ranking him second league-wide in total playing time.

Durant joined the Rockets this season following a trade from the Phoenix Suns and currently stands as the NBA’s fifth all-time leading scorer in league history.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid returned to action Sunday, taking his place in the starting five for the crucial Game 4 matchup against the Boston Celtics in their Eastern Conference first-round playoff battle.

The star big man had been absent from the court since April 6, when he underwent emergency surgery to remove his appendix while the team was traveling in Texas. Team officials had marked him as doubtful for Game 3, where he remained on the sidelines, and initially carried the same designation into Game 4 before elevating his status to questionable roughly an hour prior to game time.

Team officials have not disclosed how many minutes Embiid might see or what limitations may be placed on his playing time during his return.

The former league Most Valuable Player, who has earned five All-NBA team selections, managed to appear in just 38 regular season contests this year due to various health issues. During those appearances, he posted averages of 26.9 points per game along with 7.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.2 blocks.

The Celtics currently hold a 2-1 advantage in the playoff series.

Former Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia will participate in the Baltimore Ravens’ rookie minicamp next weekend after receiving an invitation, according to ESPN reports on Sunday.

The Ravens are bringing in quarterbacks for their rookie camp since they lack eligible players on their current roster and didn’t draft any signal-callers in the recently completed NFL Draft. Baltimore is also reportedly inviting University of Connecticut quarterback Joe Fagnano to participate in the camp.

Currently, the Ravens have veteran quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley on their active roster.

Despite finishing as Heisman Trophy runner-up, Pavia was not selected during the seven-round NFL Draft. He becomes the first Heisman runner-up to go undrafted since Iowa’s Brad Banks in 2003.

Additionally, Pavia marks the first Heisman finalist since Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch in 2014 to be overlooked entirely in the draft.

Throughout his college career at New Mexico State (2022-23) and Vanderbilt (2024-25), Pavia threw for 10,255 yards with 88 touchdowns and 27 interceptions. In his final season, he completed 70.6% of his throws for 3,539 yards and 29 touchdowns while throwing just eight interceptions.

Pavia secured his place in Vanderbilt history by leading the Commodores to a stunning victory over top-ranked Alabama during the 2024 season, marking the program’s first win against a Top 5 opponent.

NFL evaluators expressed concerns about Pavia’s 5-foot-10 height and questioned whether his arm strength meets professional standards.

PHILADELPHIA — In a stunning turn of events, Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid took the court Sunday evening as a starter for Game 4 against the Boston Celtics, barely two and a half weeks following his appendix removal surgery.

The Wells Fargo Center erupted when Embiid’s name was announced during pregame introductions, as fans welcomed back their franchise player who hadn’t competed since April 6. The former MVP wasted no time making his presence felt, converting two free throws for Philadelphia’s opening points before delivering a thunderous two-handed dunk and accounting for the team’s first eight points.

Embiid’s status remained uncertain throughout the day, initially listed as doubtful before being upgraded to questionable roughly 90 minutes prior to game time. Team officials gave him medical clearance approximately 40 minutes before tipoff, with the 32-year-old center sporting a protective wrap around his torso.

During the 2024-25 campaign, Embiid posted averages of 26.9 points and 7.7 rebounds despite appearing in just 19 contests. His last full season came in 2022-23, when he participated in at least 40 games while averaging a career-high 33.1 points en route to MVP recognition.

The big man underwent emergency appendix surgery in Houston on April 9 after developing appendicitis symptoms overnight, forcing him to miss Philadelphia’s play-in victory over Orlando and the series’ opening three games.

Head coach Nick Nurse acknowledged pregame uncertainty regarding Embiid’s playing time and effectiveness, though the 2023 MVP’s presence clearly provided an emotional boost for a Philadelphia squad that entered as 7½-point home underdogs despite trailing the series 2-1.

Boston dominated the series opener with a 32-point blowout victory, but Philadelphia bounced back with a shocking 111-97 road triumph in Game 2. Game 3 saw Tyrese Maxey pour in 31 points to give the 76ers a fourth-quarter advantage before Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown rallied the Celtics to a 108-100 win.

Sunday’s starting five featured Embiid alongside Maxey, rookie sensation VJ Edgecombe, Paul George, and Kelly Oubre Jr.

Embiid’s absence from the play-in tournament and early playoff rounds continues a troubling pattern of postseason injuries that have plagued his career.

Last year’s playoffs saw him battle through Bell’s palsy, a condition causing facial paralysis. He famously wore sunglasses during a press conference after scoring 50 points against New York in Game 3, explaining he was experiencing blurred vision and dry eyes.

The 2023 postseason cost him games in two different series due to a sprained right knee injury.

Perhaps most devastating was 2022, when Philadelphia won 51 regular season games under Doc Rivers and appeared poised for a championship run. Those hopes were derailed when Embiid sustained a right orbital fracture, concussion, and torn thumb ligament after taking an inadvertent hit to the face from Toronto’s Pascal Siakam. His two-game absence in the second round against Miami proved costly, as Philadelphia lost both contests and the series 4-2.

Previous playoff campaigns have also been interrupted by injuries, including a torn meniscus in 2021 and various ailments in 2019 and 2018 that forced him to miss multiple games.

Major League Baseball is setting its sights on worldwide growth, with Commissioner Rob Manfred announcing ambitious plans for international expansion during this weekend’s games in Mexico City.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Manfred outlined the league’s strategy following the successful two-game series between the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu. The Padres claimed victory in Saturday’s opener with a 6-4 win, while both games drew capacity crowds.

The commissioner emphasized Mexico’s significance in MLB’s worldwide vision, citing the country’s deep-rooted baseball traditions and competitive leagues.

“We love being in Mexico City, it’s been a great success for us,” Manfred stated. “It’s a really important market for us … a market that has a baseball culture, important participants in the World Baseball Classic and great professional leagues.”

MLB’s international efforts continue despite recent setbacks, including canceled regular-season contests in Paris next year and London this season due to broadcasting conflicts and logistical issues.

“We are interested in expansion … if distributors (broadcasters) add up around the world for us, there are other markets for baseball,” the commissioner explained.

Manfred revealed that additional games in Mexico are part of MLB’s long-term international schedule, which will be developed under the current collective bargaining agreement set for renegotiation with players in December.

“We are going to do an international play plan with the MLB Players Association as part of the collective bargaining agreement … Mexico is going to be a big part of that plan going forward,” he confirmed.

Boston Bruins forward Viktor Arvidsson has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday’s Eastern Conference playoff matchup against the Buffalo Sabres due to an upper body injury, team officials announced.

The injury occurred when Arvidsson took a forceful hit to his left arm from Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson during the opening period of Game 4 in their first-round playoff series.

The 33-year-old forward enjoyed a productive debut season with Boston, recording 54 points through 25 goals and 29 assists across 69 regular season contests. In the current playoff series, Arvidsson has been among Boston’s top performers, sharing the team lead with two goals, both scored during the Bruins’ Game 2 win.

Boston entered Sunday’s contest facing elimination, down 2-1 in the series. The situation deteriorated quickly as the team gave up a commanding 4-0 advantage after the first period, with Buffalo extending their lead to 5-0 early in the third period.

Veteran offensive lineman Donovan Smith has officially called time on his NFL career, making the announcement this past Sunday after nine seasons in the league.

Throughout his professional football journey, Smith appeared in 136 regular season contests. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected him in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft, and he quickly earned a spot in their starting lineup as a rookie, receiving recognition as a PFWA All-Rookie team member.

Smith spent the majority of his career with Tampa Bay, suiting up for eight seasons with the franchise. His most memorable achievement came as a key contributor to the Buccaneers’ championship run that culminated in their Super Bowl LV victory.

After Tampa Bay parted ways with Smith in March 2023, the veteran lineman found a new home with the Kansas City Chiefs. His final season in Kansas City proved fruitful, as he captured his second championship ring with the team’s Super Bowl triumph.

Smith remained a free agent throughout the entire 2025 season before ultimately deciding to retire from professional football.

BALTIMORE — Following the unexpected dismissal of Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora and five coaching staff members, veteran infielder Trevor Story expressed uncertainty about the organization’s future direction less than a day after the shocking decision.

“I mean obviously, it’s kind of up in the air what the true direction is,” the two-time All-Star commented Sunday morning prior to the series finale against the Baltimore Orioles. “Those are conversations that need to be had. They’ll be had today and onward going forward, too.”

Boston officially terminated Cora on Saturday night following a disappointing 10-17 beginning to his eighth campaign leading the team, which included a humiliating three-game home sweep by the New York Yankees this past week.

Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow justified the first mid-season managerial change in Boston since 2001 by stating it demonstrated dedication to salvaging the current campaign.

“It really comes down to the belief we have in the players, and the belief we have in the group to accomplish what we set out to accomplish,” Breslow stated Sunday. “By acting today, it gives us 135 games ahead of us, almost a full season’s worth of run, to take advantage of this fresh start.”

However, Story, currently in year five of his six-year, $140-million contract, stands as a veteran presence on a youthful roster that has seen stars like Mookie Betts, Chris Sale, Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers traded away following Cora’s successful 2018 World Series championship in his inaugural season.

Boston has qualified for the playoffs just twice since then, with only one postseason appearance since Story joined the team when they secured a wild-card spot in 2025.

“I came here to win and I came here to be successful,” stated the 33-year-old Story, who is among Boston hitters struggling with a .198 batting average, two home runs and 17 RBIs. “And we had a flash of that last year. We’re looking to build on that. Obviously not off to a great start. But yeah, some of the direction needs to be cleared up, in my opinion.”

According to reliever Garrett Whitlock, Breslow and interim manager Chad Tracy addressed the team for approximately eight minutes during a Sunday morning meeting that also featured owner John Henry and team president Sam Kennedy. Players remained silent throughout the gathering.

“They spoke. Yeah, they spoke,” Story said. “There just has to be more conversations had. I wouldn’t say it was satisfactory.”

Speaking to media members, Breslow and Kennedy emphasized this decision originated from baseball operations after the team struggled significantly on offense.

Despite Saturday’s 17-1 victory over Baltimore that ended a four-game losing streak, Red Sox hitters entered Sunday with a collective .233/.312/.354 slash line and ranked among the bottom quarter of Major League Baseball in most important offensive categories.

“Ultimately, responsibility for the performance on the field, it falls on me as the leader of baseball operations,” Breslow explained. “But so, too, does the responsibility for doing everything I can and the organization can to find solutions. And right now we feel like this change, these changes were warranted.”

Kennedy praised Breslow for making “several bold decisions and recommendations.”

“And this was one of them and we fully support it,” he said.

Henry stayed in Baltimore Sunday but declined to speak with reporters.

“I think it’s evident by his presence here that this was a collaborative decision (with Henry),” Kennedy noted.

Tracy begins his Major League managerial career after spending six seasons leading Triple-A Worcester. The son of veteran manager Jim Tracy, he acknowledged the sensitive nature of his opportunity.

“I’m toeing that line of sitting here with all of you in this moment, but also acknowledge the relationship with some of the people that are no longer here was strong,” Tracy explained. “And you also know that that’s, in a lot of ways, that’s how some of the players feel as well. So, excited, right? But also honoring the people that were before me that were mentors to me.”

Story complimented Tracy’s “baseball mind,” but remained visibly emotional regarding Cora’s departure.

“He had our backs every single day,” Story reflected. “He was very truthful with players and took bullets for us and did everything you can ask for and more as a manager. I just can’t express how thankful I am to have played for him. Yeah, I’ve got a love for that guy.”

The Oakland Athletics welcomed back two-time All-Star Brent Rooker from the 10-day injured list Sunday, while simultaneously releasing utility player Andy Ibanez to create roster space.

Rooker had been recovering from an oblique strain he sustained during Oakland’s matchup with the New York Yankees on April 9.

The slugger returned to action Sunday, batting cleanup as the designated hitter against the Texas Rangers.

Prior to his injury, Rooker was struggling at the plate with a .146 batting average (6-for-41), though he had managed two home runs and eight RBIs.

The 31-year-old power hitter launched 30 home runs last season, marking his third consecutive year reaching that milestone. Rooker enjoyed his best campaign in 2024, setting personal records with 39 homers and 112 RBIs.

To accommodate Rooker’s activation, the Athletics parted ways with Ibanez through the roster move.

During the 2024 season with Detroit, Ibanez contributed four homers, 21 RBIs, four stolen bases and posted a .239/.301/.352 slash line over 91 contests.

The veteran signed a one-year deal worth $1.2 million with Los Angeles in January, but the Dodgers released him just one month later when they picked up Michael Siani from waivers.

Oakland subsequently claimed Ibanez, though he struggled in limited action with an .118/.167/.118 line across 11 appearances.

The 33-year-old utility man will enter waivers again, potentially attracting interest due to his ability to play multiple positions including first base, second base, shortstop, third base, and both corner outfield spots.

Throughout his six-year major league career, Ibanez has accumulated 28 home runs, 131 RBIs and maintains a .252 batting average.

The National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety has scheduled a disciplinary hearing for Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig following an altercation with Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker.

League officials have not yet announced when the hearing will take place.

According to reports from the Ottawa Citizen, the disciplinary review will be conducted via telephone, which limits any potential suspension to a maximum of five games.

The controversial play happened during a break in action halfway through the second period of Saturday’s fourth game in the Eastern Conference opening round matchup.

Walker had been engaged in a physical confrontation with Warren Foegele when Greig joined the altercation and seemingly delivered a high punch that sent Walker falling to the ice.

Carolina eliminated Ottawa from the playoffs by completing a four-game sweep with their 4-2 win.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs has received medical clearance to participate in Sunday’s fourth game of their opening playoff round matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers, having successfully completed the NBA’s required concussion evaluation process.

The towering center, who made history as the league’s first unanimous selection for Defensive Player of the Year, was sidelined for Friday’s third game in Portland due to concussion protocol requirements. Despite his absence, San Antonio secured a decisive 120-108 victory, taking a 2-1 advantage in the series.

The French basketball sensation suffered his head injury during the opening half of Tuesday’s narrow 106-103 defeat against Portland.

While continuing his recovery process, Wembanyama made the trip to Portland and had been designated as questionable for Sunday’s contest until receiving final clearance.

In Wembanyama’s place during Game 2, Luke Kornet stepped into the starting lineup and contributed 14 points along with 10 rebounds. The Spurs received exceptional performances from Stephon Castle, who scored 33 points, and first-year player Dylan Harper, who recorded 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

The league’s concussion evaluation requires athletes to successfully complete multiple assessment stages before returning to competition. These test results are measured against neurological baseline measurements taken by players during preseason evaluations.

Behind the exceptional play of the versatile 7-foot-4 French center, San Antonio compiled the NBA’s second-highest win total this season. The team maintained a strong 12-6 record during regular season games played without their star player.

During the current campaign, Wembanyama posted averages of 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and led the league with 3.1 blocks per contest.

Forward Jalen Shelley has announced his decision to join the Texas A&M basketball program after transferring from Loyola Marymount, according to his statement to On3 on Sunday.

The Little Elm, Texas native made his commitment following a campus visit to College Station over the weekend.

During his time at Loyola Marymount last season, Shelley posted impressive numbers with 13.7 points per game, 6.6 rebounds per contest, and 2.7 assists while maintaining a 45.7% shooting percentage from the floor across 25 games, starting in every appearance.

Prior to his stint at Loyola Marymount, Shelley spent his freshman year at USC during the 2024-25 season, where he contributed 2.0 points and 1.4 rebounds per game over 22 contests with one starting assignment.

Boston Red Sox leadership addressed the media Sunday morning in Baltimore to explain their decision to dismiss manager Alex Cora and multiple coaching staff members the previous day.

Baseball operations head Craig Breslow emphasized the organization’s confidence in their roster during the announcement alongside CEO Sam Kennedy.

“It really comes down to the belief that we have in the players,” Breslow stated. “And the belief that we have in the group to accomplish what we set out to accomplish. By acting today, it gives us 135 games ahead of us.”

“We’ve got almost a full season’s worth of run to take advantage of this fresh start and ultimately to compete for a division and a deep postseason run in the way that we talked about it and envisioned and believed heading into spring training,” he continued.

Boston hasn’t advanced far in the playoffs since their 2021 ALCS loss to Houston in six games. Their most recent championship came in 2018, which marked Cora’s inaugural season as skipper.

During his time leading the team, Cora compiled a 620-541 record (.534) across seven-plus seasons. Saturday morning’s decision by Breslow, backed by Kennedy and owner John Henry, also resulted in the termination of hitting coach Peter Fatse, assistant hitting coach Dillon Lawson, major league hitting strategy coach Joe Cronin, bench coach Ramon Vazquez and third-base coach Kyle Hudson. Game planning and run prevention coach Jason Varitek will receive a new role within the organization.

“Ultimately, responsibility for the performance on the field, it falls on me as the leader of the baseball operation,” Breslow acknowledged. “But so, too, does the responsibility for doing everything that I can – and everything that the organization can – to find solutions. And right now, we feel like this change, these changes, were warranted. And we’re really excited about the chance for Chad (Tracy) to come in and be a consistent, stabilizing voice – and one that the majority of our player group is familiar with.”

Kennedy expressed full organizational support for the baseball operations chief’s decision-making.

“Craig leads our baseball operation and he has made several bold decisions and recommendations,” Kennedy remarked. “This was one of them and we fully support it. That’s why we took the action that we took yesterday.”

Chad Tracy, who has managed the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox since early 2022, will step into the interim manager role. He takes over a struggling team that sits tied for 20th in scoring average (4.15 runs per game), tied for last in home runs (18), tied for 27th in OPS (.665), 20th in ERA (4.43) and 26th in defensive efficiency.

More significantly, Boston enters Sunday’s matchup with Baltimore carrying a 10-17 record. This places them last in the AL East – trailing the first-place New York Yankees by eight games – and tied for the fourth-worst mark in Major League Baseball.

Andrew Bailey remains as pitching coach despite struggles from the rotation’s top arms. Garrett Crochet holds a 3-3 record with a 6.30 ERA, while Ranger Suarez, who inked a five-year, $140 million contract during the offseason, stands at 1-2 with a 4.00 ERA.

“It is true that we have fallen short in terms of the performance across, you know, hitting, pitching, defense, baserunning,” Breslow admitted. “But as it relates to the staff and trying to tease out exactly what’s driving that, I have confidence in the pitching group’s ability to turn that around. I think we’ve seen evidence of that with Ranger (Suarez) and with Garrett (Crochet). Have the full confidence in that group to be able to get us on track.”

Kennedy emphasized the importance of on-field results moving forward.

“Ultimately what matters is the performance on the field at the major league level,” Kennedy concluded. “And a new beginning starts today.”

Veteran leadership and playoff savvy helped the Carolina Hurricanes complete a first-round sweep of the Ottawa Senators, finishing the series with a 4-2 victory in Saturday’s Game 4.

The Eastern Conference’s top-seeded team navigated through a physically demanding series marked by tight checking and limited scoring opportunities. While Carolina’s primary offensive line struggled to produce and the team accumulated excessive penalty minutes, they compensated with outstanding secondary scoring, exceptional penalty killing, and stellar goaltending from Frederik Andersen.

“Like we’ve kind of talked about all year, whatever way the game goes, our group can handle it,” Carolina head coach Rod Brind’Amour explained. The coach, who has captured at least one playoff series victory in each of his eight seasons, added: “I didn’t love all the penalties. There’s a fine line you’ve got to try to balance. I don’t know that we did a great job there. But I loved just the compete level of our group from Game 1 all the way through. Pretty impressive.”

Carolina’s playoff success under Brind’Amour began with a surprising Eastern Conference Final appearance in 2019, ending a nine-year postseason absence. Since then, the Hurricanes have become consistent playoff contenders, reaching the Eastern final twice in the last three campaigns, falling to Florida both times.

In 2023, they suffered four single-goal defeats to the Panthers in a series featuring a quadruple-overtime marathon. Brind’Amour noted he didn’t view that as a typical sweep due to how competitive each game remained.

Three years later, Carolina found themselves on the favorable end of a similar situation. They never held more than a two-goal advantage and survived double overtime in Game 2, but became the first team since Detroit’s 2009 victory over Columbus to complete a first-round series without ever trailing, according to ESPN Insights.

“For it to be this tight of a series and not go our way, every game, it’s really tough,” Ottawa captain Brady Tkachuk said following the series-clinching loss.

The Hurricanes’ playoff experience manifested in multiple ways as they improved to 11-5 in series-ending games under Brind’Amour, capturing six of their previous seven such contests.

Brind’Amour selected the 36-year-old Andersen over waiver claim Brandon Bussi for the veteran’s playoff presence. Andersen delivered with a Game 1 shutout and finished by stopping 105 of 110 shots for a .955 save percentage and 1.10 goals-against average, crucial numbers given Ottawa’s Linus Ullmark posted impressive statistics (.932 save percentage, 2.03 GAA) at the other end.

Carolina’s top trio of Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis and Andrei Svechnikov produced what Brind’Amour described as “diddly squat” offensively. Regular season goal leaders Jarvis (32) and Svechnikov (31) failed to score, Svechnikov recorded no points, and Aho’s three goals included two empty-netters in the finale.

However, the second line of Logan Stankoven, Taylor Hall and Jackson Blake more than compensated, showcasing Carolina’s offensive depth. Stankoven found the net in each game, including the decisive third-period power-play goal in Game 4. Blake contributed the Game 3 winner plus three assists, while Hall led all players with seven points.

“I couldn’t imagine being in a better spot teamwise,” said Hall, a former Hart Trophy recipient. “Just the mix of guys that we have and having Rod as a coach has been awesome for me personally, the way he pushes buttons — it’s not really pushing buttons, but he gets the most out of his players.”

Carolina’s penalty kill unit received extensive work throughout the increasingly physical series, converting 20 of 21 opportunities (95.2%). The chippy play escalated during Game 4’s second period, which featured multiple altercations.

Captain Jordan Staal acknowledged the Hurricanes “probably went a little cuckoo” responding to hard contact and getting swept up in the period’s intensity. Carolina accumulated eight of their 11 penalties during that middle frame, yet their penalty killers surrendered only Drake Batherson’s tying deflection. The team regained composure in the final period, focusing on controlling even-strength play and committing just one too-many-men penalty.

“It was a very mature third period from us,” Aho observed.

Regarding injuries, winger Nikolaj Ehlers was scratched from Game 4 due to a lower-body ailment, while defenseman Alexander Nikishin left the contest in the second period with a concussion following a heavy hit from Ottawa’s Tyler Kleven. As the first playoff team to advance, Carolina will have several days to prepare before meeting the Philadelphia-Pittsburgh series winner in the second round.

DENVER (AP) — A heated rivalry between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets has produced three playoff matchups over the past four seasons, with both teams trading dramatic victories.

Denver eliminated Minnesota 4-1 during their 2023 championship run, but the Timberwolves got revenge the following year with a stunning 20-point comeback victory in Game 7 at Denver.

The current series began with Denver riding a 12-game winning streak into the playoffs and dominating the opening game. However, the Nuggets surrendered a 19-point advantage in Game 2 and then suffered consecutive blowout losses in Minneapolis.

Despite losing key players Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles) and Anthony Edwards (knee) to injuries Saturday, Minnesota crushed Denver 112-96. Reserve guard Ayo Dosunmu delivered a spectacular 43-point performance, marking the highest scoring output by a bench player in a playoff game in 50 years.

Monday’s Game 5 returns to Denver, where another poor showing could eliminate the Nuggets in a shocking early upset. The loss would trigger an offseason of major changes following an injury-plagued first complete season under head coach David Adelman, who has struggled to find solutions for his team’s sudden collapse.

The Minnesota-Denver showdown caps a three-game Monday schedule that could also witness the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder complete their third straight first-round sweep. Oklahoma City holds a 3-0 advantage over Phoenix heading into Game 4 at the Suns’ home arena.

Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the current MVP, dominated Game 3 with 42 points while shooting an exceptional 15-for-18 from the field.

“He doesn’t need a ton of direction from me,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said of Gilgeous-Alexander. “But I thought he was obviously outstanding. The efficiency was ridiculous. For him to score like that, on 15 of 18, is a really impressive game.”

The evening begins with Game 4 in Orlando, where the eighth-seeded Magic will attempt to build a 3-1 series lead against the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal battle.

“Being up 2-1 at home is a good thing, but again, you got to come out and do it again,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said after Saturday’s Game 3 win. “And that’s why I’ll keep saying it’s the one game. … We’ve got to learn from this game and what we could do better.”

Denver’s only display of fight since their series-opening victory occurred when Nikola Jokic became upset over Jaden McDaniels scoring an easy basket with 2.1 seconds remaining after the Nuggets had already given up on their double-digit loss Saturday.

Jokic sprinted across the entire court to push McDaniels, who had criticized all Nuggets players as poor defenders following Game 2. Players from both squads rushed in to escalate the confrontation. Timberwolves forward Julius Randle, who was furious with Jokic, received an ejection alongside Denver’s star center.

“He scored when we’d stopped playing,” Jokic explained. “You guys saw what happened.”

Historical data suggests Denver faces an uphill battle to advance. Throughout NBA history, just 13 of 298 teams trailing 3-1 in a series have managed to complete the comeback. Ironically, the most recent team to accomplish this feat was Denver in 2020, when they overcame 3-1 deficits against both Utah and the Los Angeles Clippers.

DiVincenzo’s campaign has ended due to his Achilles injury, while Edwards faces an extended recovery from a bone bruise and hyperextended knee. Denver led the league in scoring this season and was held below 100 points only twice in January, yet managed just 96 points in both Minneapolis defeats.

Orlando earned Saturday’s victory behind 25-point efforts from both Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane. This marks the 13th occasion since the NBA adopted its current 16-team playoff format in 1984 that an eighth seed has taken a 2-1 lead over a top seed. Five of the previous 12 teams in this position completed the upset: Miami (2023), Philadelphia (2012), Memphis (2011), Golden State (2007), and New York (1999).

Phoenix star Devin Booker should be available for Game 4 as the Suns attempt to avoid elimination after briefly leaving Game 3 with a left ankle injury sustained when he tripped over Lu Dort’s foot. The five-time All-Star returned minutes later and reported feeling fine. Booker suggested Dort may have intentionally extended his foot during the play, though he wasn’t certain.

The Vancouver Goldeneyes have claimed the top selection in the 2026 Professional Women’s Hockey League Draft, positioning themselves to select Olympic champion defenseman Caroline Harvey.

The PWHL determines its first overall pick through a distinctive system called the Gold Plan, which differs significantly from traditional professional sports leagues. Rather than awarding the selection to the team with the poorest record or using a lottery format, the PWHL grants the top pick to whichever team accumulates the most points after being eliminated from playoff contention.

Vancouver clinched this coveted position following their 4-3 overtime victory against the Minnesota Frost on Saturday evening, combined with Seattle Torrent’s 2-1 shootout defeat to the Montreal Victoire. Saturday marked the conclusion of the regular season for the first-year franchise.

The complete draft selection order remains undetermined, as does the exact draft date, though it is anticipated to occur in June.

Harvey, age 23, is transitioning to professional hockey following an exceptional collegiate career at Wisconsin, where she guided the Badgers to three NCAA championships and one runner-up appearance across four seasons. During her 150 collegiate games, she recorded 201 points through 54 goals and 147 assists, including 15 power-play scores and 12 game-deciding goals.

The NCAA championship concluded an extraordinary hockey year for Harvey. She captured Olympic gold with Team USA at the Milan-Cortina Games, adding to the silver medal she earned in Beijing in 2022 at age 19. Harvey earned Tournament MVP honors with nine points across five Olympic games, establishing a record for American defensemen.

Harvey also received Best Defenseman recognition at the 2003 and 2005 World Championships, both tournaments won by the United States.

She hails from Salem, New Hampshire.

The Edmonton Oilers face a crucial decision as they prepare for Game 4 of their Stanley Cup playoff series against the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday night. With their team trailing 2-1 in the best-of-seven matchup, head coach Kris Knoblauch remains undecided about which goaltender will take the ice.

Connor Ingram has been between the pipes for all three games so far, but his playoff performance has raised questions. During Saturday’s practice, backup netminder Tristan Jarry took position in the crease typically reserved for the upcoming game’s starter, though Knoblauch downplayed any significance to the move.

“We haven’t decided,” Knoblauch explained. “I think going in (to this series), we were pretty sure (about our No. 1). And it was the same thing last year, and maybe the year before. Today in the NHL, very rarely do you have one goalie play all the games in the playoffs.”

The coach elaborated on the modern approach to playoff goaltending: “Twenty years ago and before that, it was unheard-of to be swapping goalies. But we’ve got two good goalies. We feel confident they can both play. And going into the playoffs, we felt there was going to be a time where we’re going to have to make a switch at some time. Whether that’s for Game 4 or Game 5 or whatever it is, we have confidence in both of them.”

Ingram’s struggles have become apparent during the postseason. The 29-year-old goalie, who compiled a 16-10-3 record during the regular season with a 2.60 goals-against average and .899 save percentage across 32 games, has allowed the most goals in the playoffs. Following Friday’s 7-4 defeat to Anaheim, Ingram has given up 14 goals and carries a concerning 4.70 GAA and .849 save percentage into the next contest.

Meanwhile, Jarry brings a different set of credentials to the table. The goaltender, who celebrates his 31st birthday this week, joined Edmonton from the Pittsburgh Penguins in a December 12 trade. During his time with the Oilers, he recorded a 9-6-2 mark with a 3.86 GAA and .858 save percentage over 19 appearances. His last start came on April 7 in a 6-5 overtime defeat against Utah, and he hasn’t seen game action since relieving for the final 20 minutes of a 5-2 victory over San Jose on April 8.

Should Jarry receive the starting assignment for Game 4, it would mark his return to Stanley Cup playoff action for the first time since May 15, 2022, when Pittsburgh fell 4-3 in overtime to the New York Rangers.

Throughout his playoff experience with the Penguins from 2020-22, Jarry appeared in eight postseason contests, compiling a 2-6 record alongside a 3.00 GAA and .891 save percentage.

Soccer’s international governing body FIFA announced Sunday it’s working with national soccer organizations worldwide to boost financial rewards for all 48 teams that will compete in the 2026 World Cup.

The enhanced prize money proposal needs approval during Tuesday’s FIFA Council meeting, which takes place before the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver.

Back in December, FIFA announced that this year’s World Cup prize pool would jump 50% compared to the previous tournament, reaching $655 million as part of a record $727 million financial package for the event.

FIFA told Reuters the prize money is expected to grow even more, as the organization anticipates generating over $11 billion in revenue during its current four-year period spanning 2023 to 2026.

A FIFA representative confirmed the organization’s plans, stating: “FIFA can confirm it is in discussions with associations around the world to increase available revenues.”

The spokesperson continued: “This includes a proposed increase of financial contributions to all qualified teams for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and of development funding available to all 211 member associations.”

“The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be groundbreaking in terms of its financial contribution to the global football community and FIFA is proud to be in its strongest ever financial position to benefit the global game through its FIFA Forward programme,” the spokesperson added.

Under FIFA’s original funding plan for the North American tournament, the majority of the $655 million would go toward performance-based payments for the 48 participating countries.

December’s prize money structure outlined that the winning team would receive $50 million, while the second-place finisher would earn $33 million. The 16 teams eliminated during the group stage were scheduled to receive $9 million each.

Each qualifying country would also receive $1.5 million to help with preparation expenses.

FIFA’s 2025 annual report revealed that 93% of its projected revenue had already been secured through contracts by the end of 2025, largely due to the successful launch of the expanded 32-team Club World Cup in the United States last year.

The 2026 World Cup is scheduled to run from June 11 through July 19 across the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Minnesota Timberwolves standout guard Anthony Edwards faces a multi-week absence following a left knee injury he sustained during Saturday evening’s 112-96 playoff victory over the Denver Nuggets.

According to ESPN reports, medical examinations on Sunday revealed Edwards suffered a bone bruise and knee hyperextension. Fortunately, imaging showed no ligament damage, and the star player is set to start rehabilitation right away.

The sixth-seeded Timberwolves currently hold a commanding 3-1 advantage over the third-seeded Nuggets in their best-of-seven playoff matchup, which continues Monday evening in Denver.

However, Minnesota faces significant challenges in finishing off the series.

Edwards’ backcourt partner Donte DiVincenzo also went down with a non-contact right leg injury just 79 seconds into Saturday’s contest. ESPN confirmed that DiVincenzo, who departed the arena in a wheelchair at halftime, suffered a torn right Achilles tendon that will sideline him for months.

With both starting guards unavailable, reserve player Ayo Dosunmu delivered an extraordinary performance off the bench Saturday, tallying 43 points on remarkable shooting: 13-of-17 from the floor, a perfect 5-for-5 beyond the arc, and 12-for-12 at the free-throw line.

OptaSTATS noted that Dosunmu made NBA history as the first player ever to score 40-plus points while shooting at least 75% from the field, making five or more three-pointers without a miss, and converting 10 or more free throws perfectly.

“This is for Ant. This is for Donte,” Dosunmu said in a post-game interview with Timberwolves social media. “I hope for a speedy recovery for them.”

Since joining Minnesota via trade deadline acquisition from Chicago, Dosunmu played 24 regular-season games and posted 14.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per contest. Throughout this playoff series, he’s leading the team with 22.8 points per game on 64% shooting.

Edwards paced the Timberwolves during the regular season with 28.8 points per game and connected on 39.9% of his three-point attempts across 61 games.

DiVincenzo started every game this season, contributing 12.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per outing.

Forward Julius Randle expressed confidence in his team’s ability to overcome the loss of both starting guards.

“We’ve got more than enough talent in here to win,” Randle stated after the game. “We lost two guys who are big pieces to our team but we talked about it all year, you need depth in the playoffs to win.”

Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards will be sidelined for several weeks after suffering a knee injury during Saturday night’s playoff game, according to a source familiar with the situation.

Medical evaluations revealed that Edwards sustained a bone bruise and hyperextended his left knee during the first half of Minnesota’s 112-96 victory against the Denver Nuggets. The source spoke to The Associated Press anonymously since the team has not publicly released injury details or recovery timeline.

The injury occurred while Edwards was defending a layup attempt by Denver’s Cam Johnson. Edwards jumped to contest the shot, but landed awkwardly with his left leg at an unusual angle. His knee gave way, and he limped off the court unable to bear weight on the injured leg.

ESPN and The Athletic were first to report Edwards’ diagnosis.

The timing couldn’t be worse for Minnesota, which now holds a 3-1 series advantage over the Nuggets heading into Monday night’s Game 5 in Denver. The Timberwolves also lost starting guard Donte DiVincenzo in the same contest to a torn Achilles tendon, ending his season and potentially threatening his availability for 2026-27.

Edwards ranks among the NBA’s elite performers and would have earned All-NBA honors for the third straight year if he had met the league’s minimum games requirement. During the regular season, he posted 28.8 points per game, ranking third in the league behind Dallas’ Luka Doncic and reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Oklahoma City. Edwards also contributed 5.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists nightly.

The dynamic guard served as the fourth-leading scorer for Team USA’s gold medal-winning squad at the 2024 Paris Olympics. This season marked a career-high 21 missed games for Edwards.

Teammate Julius Randle described the somber mood in the locker room following the injuries, particularly his interaction with Edwards after the game.

“I just dapped him up,” Randle explained. “There’s not much to say in those moments. … Somebody who’s going through those situations is processing a lot.”

Randle noted he didn’t have a chance to speak with DiVincenzo before departing the arena.

San Antonio’s rising stars are proving they can handle the spotlight, even when their franchise player Victor Wembanyama remains sidelined.

Without the towering Spurs sensation available for action, sophomore guard Stephon Castle exploded for 33 points while first-year player Dylan Harper contributed a personal-best 27 points plus 10 rebounds during Friday’s 120-108 triumph over Portland, giving San Antonio a 2-1 advantage in their series.

The 7-foot-4 Wembanyama, who earned Defensive Player of the Year honors while averaging 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and a league-leading 3.1 blocks per game, suffered a head injury during the opening half of Game 2 and couldn’t continue. Portland capitalized on his absence to claim a 106-103 home victory in San Antonio.

Although Wembanyama made the trip to Portland with hopes of returning to action, head coach Mitch Johnson declared before tipoff that while his star was making progress, he remained unavailable for competition.

As it happened, San Antonio managed just fine without him. Portland built a commanding 15-point advantage during the third period before Castle and Harper seized control while the Trail Blazers fell apart.

Whether Wembanyama will be cleared for Sunday’s contest remains uncertain.

Harper contributed 22 of his points after halftime. The 20-year-old, selected second overall in last summer’s NBA draft, became just the second-youngest player in league history to record 20-plus points coming off the bench during postseason play. Only 18-year-old Kobe Bryant was younger when he accomplished the feat.

“When I came in the game, my biggest focus was just not trying to get it all at once and just try to be that energy guy that came in and played hard,” Harper explained. “Once I started doing that, I think the game kind of just opened up.”

Game 4 Details: 3:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN
Current Series Standing: Spurs ahead 2-1
Vegas Line: Spurs favored by 5.5 points

Key Information: Luke Kornet stepped into Wembanyama’s role with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Head coach Mitch Johnson would only confirm that Wembanyama continues improving but declined to discuss his availability for Sunday’s matchup.

Celtics vs. 76ers – Game 4: 7 p.m. EDT on Prime Video
Series Status: Boston leads 2-1
Spread: Celtics by 7.5

Storylines: Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each contributed 25 points as Boston defeated Philadelphia in Game 3 to regain home-court advantage. Tyrese Maxey, earning his first All-Star starting selection this season, continues shouldering the offensive load for the Sixers while Joel Embiid remains recovering from appendix surgery. Embiid, marked as doubtful, participated in solo court work Saturday. Head coach Nick Nurse indicated he expects more clarity on Embiid’s potential return following Sunday’s pregame warmups. VJ Edgecombe recorded his second series double-double but struggled from beyond the arc, missing all seven three-point attempts. Boston has dominated from long range, connecting on 16 threes in Game 1 and hitting 20 of 47 attempts in Game 3.

Lakers vs. Rockets – Game 4: 9:30 p.m. EDT on NBC Peacock
Series Situation: Los Angeles leads 3-0
Betting Line: Houston favored by 8.5

Key Notes: Houston’s Kevin Durant was absent from the Rockets’ 112-108 overtime defeat to Los Angeles on Friday, which placed them on the brink of elimination trailing 3-0. Durant also missed the series opener due to knee problems and carries a questionable designation for Sunday’s must-win game. The timeless LeBron James delivered 29 points, including a clutch three-pointer with 13 seconds remaining in regulation for the Lakers, who erased a six-point deficit in the final 30 seconds to force overtime. Los Angeles is playing without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, forcing the 41-year-old James to shoulder additional responsibility and log over 45 minutes Friday evening.

Cavaliers vs. Raptors – Game 4: 1 p.m. EDT on ESPN
Series Update: Cleveland ahead 2-1
Point Spread: Cavaliers by 3.5

What’s Happening: Following consecutive losses to start the series, Toronto returned to Canadian soil and received outstanding performances from Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett in a dominant 126-104 victory that cut their deficit to 2-1. Both Barnes and Barrett scored 33 points, establishing new postseason career highs. The Raptors overwhelmed Cleveland 43-23 in the final quarter. The victory ended the Cavaliers’ 12-game playoff winning streak against Toronto. However, the Raptors received disappointing news Friday when starting guard Immanuel Quickley was declared unavailable for the remainder of the opening round due to complications in his hamstring injury rehabilitation.

LONDON, April 26 – In a historic achievement that rewrites the record books, Kenyan distance runner Sabastian Sawe accomplished what many thought impossible Sunday, crossing the finish line at the London Marathon in 1 hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds to become the first athlete to officially break the two-hour marathon barrier.

The groundbreaking performance demolished the previous world record of 2:00:35, which had been set by the late Kelvin Kiptum at Chicago’s marathon in October 2023. Kiptum tragically lost his life in a vehicle accident in Kenya last year at age 24.

Ethiopian runner Yomif Kejelcha maintained close contact with Sawe throughout most of the 26.2-mile route before losing ground in the closing miles, finishing second in his first-ever marathon attempt with a time of 1:59:41. Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo claimed third place at 2:00:28, creating what many are calling the most extraordinary men’s marathon conclusion in the sport’s history.

“I am feeling good, I am happy, it’s a day to remember for me,” Sawe shared with BBC reporters while displaying his running shoe marked with “world record” and “sub-2” in black ink.

“We started the race well. Approaching finishing the race, I was feeling strong. Finally reaching the finish line, I saw the time and I was so excited. I think today shows me a lot the first (time) for everyone, and I am so happy for today. Coming to London for the second time was so important to me and that’s why I prepared well for it.”

The women’s competition also produced record-breaking results as Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa improved upon her own world record. The 29-year-old athlete separated herself from Kenya’s Hellen Obiri and Joyciline Jepkosgei in the final stretch, completing the course in 2:15:41 and surpassing her previous mark of 2:15:50 from last year’s London event.

“I’m so happy to win again, I want to thank God for giving me this victory, to repeat my victory from last year means even more. And so the happiness I feel is just welling up inside me,” Assefa shared with BBC.

Obiri secured second place with 2:15:53, while Jepkosgei earned third at 2:15:55.

Weather conditions proved nearly perfect for record attempts, with temperatures in the mid-teens and minimal wind providing an ideal environment for fast times.

Breaking the two-hour marathon threshold has represented one of athletics’ greatest challenges for decades, with previous attempts involving highly controlled scientific experiments designed to push human performance boundaries.

Nike’s Breaking2 project at Monza in 2017 came close but fell short, though Kenyan legend Eliud Kipchoge did run under two hours during INEOS’s 1:59 Challenge in 2019. However, those achievements weren’t recognized in official competition records.

Sawe’s Sunday triumph stands apart because it occurred during legitimate race conditions on one of the sport’s most prominent stages, transforming a goal previously tested only in laboratory-like settings into an officially recognized milestone.

The achievement becomes even more remarkable considering Sawe dealt with injuries throughout the fall and only resumed serious training in January. He realized in February that his fitness had returned sufficiently to defend his London title.

An estimated one million spectators lined the Thames River course route, cheering Sawe toward the finish line on The Mall with Buckingham Palace providing the backdrop. Prior to the race, Sawe had suggested a world record might be necessary to defeat the strong field of competitors.

“Finally, what I had done for four months it has come today to be a good result,” he explained. “I want to thank the crowds for cheering us. I think they help a lot, because if it was not for them you don’t feel like you are so loved.

“I think they help a lot because them calling make you feel so happy and strong and pushing. That is why I can say what comes for me today is not for me alone but all of us in London.”

Training at high altitude in western Kenya, Sawe draws inspiration from his uncle, former Ugandan Olympic 800-meter competitor Abraham Chepkirwod. A teacher once encouraged him by saying: “Running is not just talent, it is your fortune and your future.”

Sawe first gained attention with his spectacular marathon debut victory in Valencia this past December, recording what was then the fifth-fastest time in history. He has remained undefeated in every marathon since beginning his career in the distance.

The runner has been vocal about anti-doping efforts in athletics, advocating for frequent testing and, aware of Kenya’s troubled doping history, requesting the Athletics Integrity Unit test him extensively last year. Officials conducted 25 tests leading up to the 2025 Berlin Marathon.

“The main reason was to show that I am clean, and I am doing it the right way,” he stated.

In wheelchair competition, Switzerland’s Marcel Hug captured his sixth straight men’s title and eighth overall victory, while Catherine Debrunner outsprinted American Tatyana McFadden for her third consecutive London women’s wheelchair championship.

A wave of serious injuries continues to impact the NBA playoffs significantly.

Minnesota’s Donte DiVincenzo suffered a torn Achilles tendon during Saturday night’s game, bringing his season to an abrupt end and potentially affecting his availability for the 2026-27 campaign. DiVincenzo now joins a concerning list of star players who have torn their Achilles during playoff action over the past year, including Boston’s Jayson Tatum, Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton, and Damian Lillard, who was with Milwaukee before moving to Portland.

In an odd twist of fate, all four players wear the number 0 jersey.

Minnesota’s injury troubles deepened as Anthony Edwards also exited Saturday’s contest with a knee problem that requires additional medical evaluation.

The DiVincenzo injury occurred during a game that featured a late-game altercation involving Denver’s Nikola Jokic and other players in the closing moments. The NBA plans to review the incident Sunday and may issue disciplinary action. Denver, currently down 3-1 in the series, faces elimination in Game 5 on Monday evening.

Several key players remain questionable for Sunday’s action depending on their injury status, including Houston’s Kevin Durant, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Austin Reaves, and San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama. Luka Doncic has been ruled out for the Lakers, while Joel Embiid’s status for Philadelphia remains doubtful.

Sunday’s slate includes four matchups: the Lakers travel to Houston seeking a series sweep, San Antonio visits Portland, Cleveland heads to Toronto, and Boston takes on Philadelphia.

Saturday’s results showed Orlando defeating Detroit 113-105 to take a 2-1 series advantage, Oklahoma City dominating Phoenix 120-108 for a commanding 3-0 lead, New York beating Atlanta 114-98 to even their series at 2-2, and Minnesota crushing Denver 112-96 to move within one win of advancing.

Saturday night witnessed basketball history as two players accomplished an extremely rare scoring achievement. Prior to Saturday, only four instances had been recorded since 1963 of a player tallying at least 40 points while missing four or fewer shots in a playoff contest.

That exclusive club doubled in size during Saturday’s games. Minnesota’s Ayo Dosunmu exploded for 43 points while missing just four field goal attempts, and Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander contributed 42 points with only three misses.

These performances place them alongside Anthony Davis (2020), Dirk Nowitzki (2011), Elton Brand (2006), and Terry Porter (1992) as the only known players to achieve this remarkable feat during playoff action. League historians believe no other NBA players have accomplished this, though complete shot attempt records from the league’s earliest seasons are unavailable.

The NBA’s awards season continues with Monday’s Rookie of the Year announcement scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT on Peacock and NBCSN. The three finalists are Philadelphia’s VJ Edgecombe, Dallas’s Cooper Flagg, and Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel.

Additional awards will be revealed throughout the week, including Basketball Executive of the Year on Tuesday, the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year on Wednesday, and the Hustle Award on Thursday. All announcements will occur at 1 p.m. EDT on NBA social media platforms.

Several awards have already been distributed this season. San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama made history as the youngest Defensive Player of the Year winner and the first to receive a unanimous vote for the honor. Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander nearly achieved unanimous selection for Clutch Player of the Year, earning 96 of 100 possible first-place votes.

San Antonio’s Keldon Johnson captured Sixth Man of the Year honors over Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. with 63 first-place votes. Boston’s Derrick White received the Sportsmanship Award as chosen by league players, narrowly edging Indiana’s TJ McConnell. Atlanta claimed back-to-back Most Improved Player awards, with Nickeil Alexander-Walker following last year’s winner Dyson Daniels.

Major awards still pending include Most Valuable Player, which will go to either Gilgeous-Alexander, Wembanyama, or Denver’s Nikola Jokic. Coach of the Year will be awarded to Detroit’s J.B. Bickerstaff, San Antonio’s Mitch Johnson, or Boston’s Joe Mazzulla.

Sunday’s television schedule features Cleveland at Toronto at 1 p.m. EDT on ESPN, San Antonio at Portland at 3:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN, Boston at Philadelphia at 7 p.m. EDT on NBC and Peacock, and the LA Lakers at Houston at 9:30 p.m. EDT on NBC and Peacock.

Defending champion Oklahoma City leads championship betting odds at -120, followed by San Antonio (+450), Boston (+550), Cleveland (+1300), and the Los Angeles Lakers (+2500). Denver sits at +2800, with New York at +3000 and Detroit at +3500. Despite their 3-1 series lead, Minnesota’s odds have dropped to +12500 following the injuries to DiVincenzo and Edwards.

Key upcoming dates include conference semifinals beginning May 2-4, the NBA draft lottery on May 10, Eastern Conference finals starting May 17 or 19 on ESPN and ABC, Western Conference finals beginning May 18 or 20 on NBC and Peacock, and the NBA Finals opening June 3 on ABC.

Minnesota’s Julius Randle praised teammate Ayo Dosunmu following his historic 43-point performance, saying: “I didn’t know he was that damn good. I ain’t going to lie to you. … But damn, I’m glad we got him.”

Additional notable statistics include Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert extending his career three-point drought to 0-for-24 after missing another attempt Saturday, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s incredible recent fourth-quarter shooting (18-for-19 from the field since March 17), and Karl-Anthony Towns recording just the seventh triple-double in Knicks playoff history with his 20-10-10 performance.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Buffalo linebacker Red Murdock had begun questioning whether any NFL team would select him when the Denver Broncos called his name as the 257th and last selection in Saturday’s draft, earning him the traditional “Mr. Irrelevant” designation.

“The thoughts crept in, but I was trying to keep my mind off of things that I can’t control,” Murdock told reporters during a conference call from the team’s suburban Denver facility. “And when I got that call, I was extremely grateful.”

Utah tight end Dallen Bentley shared similar feelings after being chosen just one selection before Murdock. The Broncos held both final draft spots, marking the first time any franchise has controlled the last two picks since the AFL-NFL merger occurred in 1970.

“I’m just grateful to be part of Broncos Country, man,” Bentley expressed. “I’m just excited. It doesn’t matter when or where you get drafted or (if you go) undrafted, you’ve just got to make the most of every opportunity you get.”

This marks only the second time Denver has selected a “Mr. Irrelevant,” with Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly receiving that distinction in 2017.

Head coach Sean Payton and general manager George Paton deliberated over which player should receive the final selection before settling on Murdock, who established an FBS record with 17 forced fumbles during his time at Buffalo.

“Man, he’s a tackling machine, really instinctive, really good against the run,” Paton explained. “Just a nose for the ball, relentless, we think he can be a good special teamer. So, we like him.”

Payton described the draft room atmosphere as electric, noting the rare circumstances of controlling both final selections: “The rest of your career, no one will be a part of this when you have the last two picks of the draft, so, there’s eight minutes where you’re kind of controlling things.”

Despite the late round positioning, interest remained high in the final picks.

“There were a handful of teams, believe it or not, that called about coming to get Mr. Irrelevant,” Payton revealed.

“It was a hot pick,” his general manager agreed.

“We were just trying to decide who would be better to go to Newport Beach” for the annual celebration and charity gathering that has honored the draft’s final selection since 1976.

“I mean, it’s cool. In my career we’ve drafted two and they both made” the roster, Paton noted, adding that Denver plans to send both players to the festivities.

“When we talked to Bentley (we told him) he’s vice president, Mr. Irrelevant,” Payton added with humor. “So, if there’s anything he can’t handle, then the two of them can.”

For Murdock, reaching Denver represents the primary goal.

“I feel extremely grateful and excited to help the Broncos win,” Murdock stated. “I know a little bit about Mr. Irrelevant but the main thing is I’ve got an opportunity and I’m trying to make the most of it and help us win.”

“It was a pretty emotional moment, trying to hold it all in in front of the family and everything but yeah I was just really excited to get the opportunity. That’s the main thing. Man, I’m excited to go play for the Broncos. That’s a great team.”

Murdock represented one of only 16 selections throughout the three-day, seven-round draft who attended schools outside the Power Four conferences. This group includes Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Ura Barnard, a Nigerian prospect who never participated in college football.

Despite opportunities to transfer to larger programs like many of his fellow draftees, Murdock chose to remain committed to Buffalo.

“I’ve had opportunities, but I mentioned earlier being a team-first guy,” he explained. “That’s all that matters to me.”

The combination of name, image and likeness compensation and the increasingly active transfer portal has shifted talent toward power conferences, as major programs recruit stars from smaller leagues.

The trend shows declining representation from non-power conferences: from 70 draftees in 2022, numbers dropped to 38 in 2023, 34 in 2024, 24 in 2025, and just 16 this year.

Murdock hopes to emulate the success of notable “Mr. Irrelevant” alumni, including 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy from 2022 and former Chiefs kicker Ryan Succop from 2009.

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka continued her exceptional 2026 campaign Saturday, defeating Romania’s 29th-ranked Jaqueline Cristian in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4, to reach the Madrid Open’s fourth round. The victory pushes the Belarussian’s season record to an outstanding 25-1.

The top seed has made a smooth transition from hard courts to clay following her spectacular early-season performance. Sabalenka claimed the prestigious “Sunshine Double” in March by capturing consecutive championships at Indian Wells and Miami. Her only defeat this year came in the Australian Open final, where she lost to Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan.

While Cristian managed to create four opportunities to break serve and take a 4-2 lead in the second set, Sabalenka successfully defended all of them before breaking back at 4-4 to seal the match. Next up for the world No. 1 will be Japan’s Naomi Osaka in what promises to be a compelling fourth-round clash.

Osaka earned her spot in the next round with a commanding 6-1, 6-3 victory over Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina. The Japanese star dominated on return, converting nearly half of her receiving opportunities and breaking serve six times throughout the match.

These two accomplished players have faced each other just twice previously, with each claiming one victory. Their most recent meeting saw Sabalenka win 6-2, 6-4 in the same round at Indian Wells.

The day’s most significant surprise came when 31st-seeded Ann Li upset fourth-ranked Iga Swiatek of Poland, though the circumstances left both competitors unsatisfied. Li was leading 7-6 (4), 2-6, 3-0 when the Polish star was forced to withdraw due to illness.

“Defintely knew it was going to be a tough match, I’m super sorry for her that she’s had to pull out, it’s never easy to go like that,” Li commented. “I was just super proud of the way that I fought and I pushed through.”

Russia’s ninth-seeded Mirra Andreeva also moved forward with a convincing 6-3, 6-2 triumph over Hungary’s Dalma Galfi. Similar to Osaka’s performance, Andreeva dominated her opponent’s service games, winning 42 of 75 return points for a 56% success rate.

The Russian teenager has now compiled a 9-1 record on clay courts in 2026.

“Clay is such a special surface,” Andreeva noted. “You really have to adjust your game.”

Additional third-round results saw several notable outcomes: 30th-seeded Hayley Baptiste shocked eighth-ranked Italian Jasmine Paolini 7-5, 6-3; Switzerland’s 11th-seeded Belinda Benic narrowly defeated Russia’s 18th-ranked Diana Shnaider 6-2, 7-6 (6); Hungary’s Anna Bondar eliminated Laura Samson of Czechia 7-6 (3), 6-1; and Canada’s 24th-seeded Leylah Fernandez rallied past 15th-ranked Iva Jovic 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in a marathon two-hour, eight-minute battle.

Fernandez secured her fourth-round berth by breaking Jovic’s serve three times in the deciding set and will now meet Li in the next round.

The Boston Red Sox delivered a crushing blow to the Baltimore Orioles with a 17-1 victory on Saturday afternoon, breaking their four-game losing streak in spectacular fashion behind six scoreless innings from pitcher Garrett Crochet and a late grand slam by Andruw Monasterio.

In a shocking turn of events later that evening, Boston dismissed manager Alex Cora along with five other staff members. The organization has promoted Chad Tracy, who has led the Triple-A Worcester club since 2022, to serve as interim manager.

The Red Sox unleashed a devastating 10-run assault in the ninth inning, highlighted by home runs from Caleb Durbin, Willson Contreras, and Monasterio. Contreras drove in five runs during the contest, while Connor Wong contributed a three-run double in the fifth frame. Both Monasterio and Ceddanne Rafaela collected three hits each in the offensive explosion.

Baltimore, coming off a 20-hit performance Friday evening, managed just one hit through five innings Saturday. Taylor Ward accounted for two of the Orioles’ six total hits in the lopsided defeat.

In other major league action, the Los Angeles Dodgers halted Chicago’s 10-game winning streak with a 12-4 victory, powered by Max Muncy’s two-run homer and Andy Pages’ three RBIs. A six-run fourth inning proved decisive for the Dodgers.

The Philadelphia Phillies ended their 10-game losing streak in dramatic fashion, defeating Atlanta 8-5 in 10 innings on Bryce Harper’s bases-loaded single that drove home two runs. Harper finished 2-for-3 with four RBIs, while Zack Wheeler made his first appearance since August 15 after recovering from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery.

Washington topped Chicago White Sox 6-3 in 10 innings, with Nasim Nunez delivering a pair of two-run singles, including the game-winner in the extra frame. Nunez drove in four of the Nationals’ five runs, nearly doubling his season total.

The New York Yankees continued their road dominance, beating Houston 6-3 behind Austin Wells’ leadoff homer in a three-run seventh inning. The victory improved New York to 5-0 on their current nine-game road trip and extended their overall winning streak to eight games.

Toronto split their series with Cleveland, winning 5-3 as Kevin Gausman pitched effectively for 6⅔ innings and Kazuma Okamoto homered. Andres Gimenez sparked a three-run sixth with a two-run double for the Blue Jays.

Seattle rallied past St. Louis 11-9 on Leo Rivas’ tie-breaking two-run single in the ninth inning. The Mariners overcame a poor start from Bryan Woo, who surrendered seven runs in three innings, with home runs from Julio Rodriguez, Will Wilson, and Cole Young.

San Francisco evened their series with Miami at one game each, winning 6-2 behind Casey Schmitt’s two-run homer and solo shots from Drew Gilbert and Heliot Ramos. The Giants snapped Miami’s six-game winning streak in San Francisco.

Tampa Bay defeated Minnesota 6-1 as Jake Fraley homered and Ben Williamson went 3-for-4 with a triple, double, and two RBIs. The victory extended the Rays’ winning streak to three games while the Twins suffered their fourth consecutive loss.

Texas rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat Oakland 4-3, with Josh Jung’s go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth inning proving decisive. The Rangers evened the series and set up a rubber match for Sunday.

In Mexico City, San Diego overcame an early 4-0 deficit to defeat Arizona 6-4, with Ty France hitting two solo homers. Mason Miller recorded his major league-leading 10th save while extending his scoreless streak to a franchise-record 34⅔ innings.

Kansas City routed Los Angeles Angels 12-1 behind Salvador Perez’s three hits, including a homer, and Cole Ragans’ six strong innings with 11 strikeouts. Nick Loftin drove in four runs for the Royals.

Pittsburgh defeated Milwaukee 6-3 in 10 innings on Bryan Reynolds’ go-ahead single that triggered a three-run extra frame. The victory handed the Brewers their fourth straight loss.

Cincinnati completed a series victory over Detroit with a 9-2 win, as Sal Stewart homered and drove in five runs. The Reds have won nine of their last 11 games behind strong pitching from Brady Singer.

Following the conclusion of the 2026 NFL Draft, professional football analysts have completed their comprehensive evaluation of how all 32 franchises performed during the selection process.

Teams that invested heavily to secure early draft positions generally maximized their opportunities, according to the assessment.

Football experts examined each organization’s draft strategy and assigned letter grades based on their immediate analysis of every team’s rookie class.

However, analysts caution that these early evaluations are based on projections of developing talent and evolving team systems, with the learning curve often being significant. Typically, it requires a minimum of two complete seasons to understand the reasoning behind these draft choices, and not every prospect will reach their potential.

Arizona Cardinals

Grade: B-

Selecting Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with the third overall pick raises concerns given teams’ historical success finding quality backs in later rounds. Arizona’s primary need was quarterback, but no signal-caller warranted the third selection after Fernando Mendoza was unavailable. Their secondary need was pass rusher, with Texas Tech’s David Bailey being the only elite edge player available – he was taken one spot before Love. While Love’s big-play ability is undeniable, the wisdom of this selection is questionable given opportunities to trade down and address multiple roster holes.

Atlanta Falcons

Grade: B+

Without a first-round selection due to their 2025 trade for pass rusher James Pearce Jr., Atlanta found excellent value with Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell at pick 48 and speedy Georgia receiver Zachariah Branch (4.36 40-yard dash) in round three.

Baltimore Ravens

Grade: A-

No pre-draft prediction was simpler than matching the offensive line-needy Ravens with Penn State’s Olaivavega Ioane at 14th overall. Second-round selection Zion Young from Missouri was a player Dallas might have reached for earlier. He possesses all the necessary attributes to contribute immediately alongside Trey Hendrickson.

Buffalo Bills

Grade: B

Buffalo’s strategy of trading backward paid dividends. The most impressive values appear to be fifth-round selections safety Jalon Kilgore from South Carolina and Penn State defensive tackle Zane Durant. However, their first two picks will likely provide the most immediate impact: 35th overall selection T.J. Parker, a Clemson edge rusher, and 62nd pick Davison Igbinosun, an Ohio State cornerback.

Carolina Panthers

Grade: B-

This grade could have approached the top tier if offensive tackle Monroe Freeling had returned to Georgia for his final season. He represents excellent value at 19th overall, while 49th pick Lee Hunter from Texas Tech could be the perfect nose tackle prospect due to his massive frame and surprising mobility. Tennessee’s Chris Brazzell II, selected 83rd overall, offers the most appealing combination of size, skill, and speed among available receivers.

Chicago Bears

Grade: B-

Chicago deserves credit for being positioned to select Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman 25th overall. He can significantly improve their inconsistent secondary. Iowa center Logan Jones at 57th helps restructure the offensive line behind Garrett Bradbury, though if he’s not a starter, addressing pass rush might have been wiser.

Cincinnati Bengals

Grade: B+

The decision to trade their 10th pick to New York for nose tackle Dexter Lawrence would feel better if not for his declining production last season with the Giants. If he arrives motivated and 41st overall pick Cashius Howell develops – he brings tremendous energy but lacks ideal size – this strategy improves significantly.

Cleveland Browns

Grade: A-

According to Field Level Media’s analysis of prospects Andrew Berry contacted to welcome to Cleveland, the Browns executed another outstanding draft. First-round selections of Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano and Texas A&M receiver KC Concepcion launched an exceptional weekend. 39th pick Denzel Boston from Washington is a borderline number one receiver most expected to go in the top 30, while Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren went 58th, approximately 40 spots below projections based on his talent and versatility.

Dallas Cowboys

Grade: A

Ohio State safety Caleb Downs ranked among the six undisputed elite prospects, making Dallas wise to sacrifice mid-round selections for the versatile playmaker. UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence possesses impressive traits, though he’s not immediately ready to rush the passer. He should win consistently. Acquiring linebacker Dee Winters from San Francisco for a fifth-round pick and selecting Michigan edge Jaishawn Barham gives Dallas the foundation for a formidable defense.

Denver Broncos

Grade: C+

Acquiring proven commodity Jaylen Waddle surpasses what Denver could have accomplished with the 30th overall pick traded to Miami.

Detroit Lions

Grade: B

Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller provides an immediate replacement for Taylor Decker, while Michigan edge Derrick Moore represented typical Detroit value in round two.

Green Bay Packers

Grade: B

This year’s first-round selection and their 2027 first-rounder went to Dallas in the Micah Parsons trade. Parsons showed Defensive Player of the Year potential before suffering a season-ending Denver injury. As he recovers, Green Bay should contend seriously. South Carolina cornerback Brandon Cisse at 52nd overall deserved first-round consideration.

Houston Texans

Grade: C

The first-round selection of Georgia Tech guard Keylan Rutledge raises questions. Not because Rutledge lacks talent, but because no teams were competing for him or any interior lineman at that draft position, making the trade-up an overpayment. GM Nick Caserio redeemed himself in round two with Ohio State nose tackle Kayden McDonald.

Indianapolis Colts

Grade: C

Sauce Gardner himself acknowledged being Indianapolis’s first-round pick for 2026. Acquired at last season’s trade deadline, Gardner’s campaign collapsed due to calf injury. Will he return to his 2022 and 2023 All-Pro form in 2026?

Jacksonville Jaguars

Grade: C-

Jacksonville’s draft lacked excitement, particularly after trading up for Travis Hunter second overall in 2025. Weighing the cost of their 2026 first-rounder against Hunter’s franchise contribution thus far, this appears disappointing.

Kansas City Chiefs

Grade: A

Questioning Andy Reid proves unwise. The trade-up for LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane at sixth overall was brilliant, while 29th pick Peter Woods from Clemson possesses top-15 talent. Edge rusher R Mason Thomas could significantly impact this defense.

Las Vegas Raiders

Grade: A

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza was the obvious first overall selection, but lesser-known picks could drive the franchise turnaround. Multi-position lineman Trey Zuhn III and cornerback Jermod McCoy – a first-round talent who missed last season with a January 2025 ACL injury – at 101st overall represent foundation-building selections if they succeed.

Los Angeles Chargers

Grade: B-

Miami edge rusher Akheem Mesidor can revitalize the pass rush with Odafe Oweh departed and Khalil Mack nearing retirement. Their strongest work came later, particularly four selections invested in offensive line improvement.

Los Angeles Rams

Grade: D+

The Rams selected Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson when three consensus first-round talents remained available. Simpson’s evaluation suggested 44th overall value, drawing reactions similar to Sean McVay’s visible disappointment. However, viewing this as a bonus pick while considering trade acquisition Trent McDuffie as their first-round success makes GM Les Snead’s reach more understandable.

Miami Dolphins

Grade: C

This draft emphasized quantity for Miami, exiting round one with two potential starters who could equally be first-year projects: 12th pick Alabama tackle Kadyn Proctor and 27th overall San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson. Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez shows second-round gem potential. Red Raiders receiver Caleb Douglas at 75th overall surprised everyone, as nobody projected him near the top 100.

Minnesota Vikings

Grade: C-

Using the 18th pick on massive Florida defensive lineman Caleb Banks seems questionable when Minnesota could have traded back or found similar talent later. Second-round Cincinnati linebacker Jake Golday and fourth-round Miami pick Jakobe Thomas represent solid selections.

New England Patriots

Grade: C+

Utah tackle Caleb Lomu at 28th overall offers flexibility with guard experience. GM Eliot Wolf traded up for Lomu, then acquired Illinois player Gabe Jacas in round two.

New Orleans Saints

Grade: B

Arizona State receiver Jordyn Tyson at eighth overall feels risky considering durability concerns that mirror current Saints number one Chris Olave. Georgia tight end Oscar Delp appears to be a third-round steal.

New York Giants

Grade: A-

Most expected Ohio State’s Arvell Reese to be gone before fifth overall, where New York secured him, five picks before powerful Miami tackle Francis Mauigoa. Based purely on potential and fit, the Giants excelled in round one. However, they never addressed replacing defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, traded to Cincinnati for the 10th pick.

New York Jets

Grade: A

GM Darren Mougey acquired three potential Pro Bowl players in round one, a haul the franchise can celebrate knowing more premium picks arrive next season. Texas Tech’s David Bailey was the draft’s best pure pass rusher, Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq was the only elite player at his position, and 30th pick Omar Cooper Jr. from Indiana matched or exceeded several receivers selected earlier. Cooper’s teammate D’Angelo Ponds offers speed and ball skills, representing excellent 50th overall value.

Philadelphia Eagles

Grade: B

While respecting Howie Roseman’s roster construction, trading up for slot receiver Makai Lemon in round one was puzzling with multiple talented receivers still available late in the first round.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Grade: C-

Landing Arizona State tackle Max Iheanachor, one of the draft’s best finishers, deserves praise. The Drew Allar quarterback selection shows tools and potential, but the upside remains unclear unless Pittsburgh plans to develop him for two years.

San Francisco 49ers

Grade: B-

After multiple trades back, San Francisco selected Ole Miss receiver De’Zhaun Stribling with the first second-round pick. He’s a big-bodied target to complement free agent Mike Evans and 2025 first-rounder Ricky Pearsall.

Seattle Seahawks

Grade: B

GM John Schneider discussed trading out of round one before surprising everyone by selecting Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price with the final first-round pick. Price can immediately replace Kenneth Walker III if needed.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Grade: A

Selecting falling Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. at 15th overall sparked Warren Sapp comparisons and began a series of successful picks. Missouri linebacker Josiah Trotter (46th) and Bain’s Miami teammate cornerback Keionte Scott (116th) enter the NFL with starter-plus ability.

Tennessee Titans

Grade: A-

Quarterback Cam Ward, the 2025 first overall pick, suddenly has an impressive arsenal. First-round Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate (fourth overall) and 31st pick Auburn edge Keldric Faulk address key positions while setting the tempo.

Washington Commanders

Grade: B

Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles (seventh overall) was considered top-five talent after his NFL Combine performance. Every great Dan Quinn defense features a linebacker with coach-on-the-field qualities. Clemson slot receiver Antonio Williams (71st overall) exceeds expectations.

Minnesota secured a commanding 112-96 victory over Denver in Game 4 of their Western Conference playoff matchup Saturday night, moving within one win of advancing to the next round. However, the triumph came with significant concerns as the Timberwolves lost two key players to injuries during the contest.

Ayo Dosunmu delivered an outstanding performance coming off the bench, establishing a new personal best with 43 points while shooting an impressive 13-of-17 from the field. His exceptional play helped Minnesota take a 3-1 advantage in the best-of-seven series.

The victory was overshadowed by injuries to two Minnesota starters. Four-time All-Star Anthony Edwards, the team’s leading scorer, exited during the second quarter with a left knee injury and was unable to return. Guard Donte DiVincenzo also suffered a concerning right leg injury on a non-contact play in the first half, with initial assessments suggesting a possible Achilles tendon rupture.

Supporting the depleted lineup, Naz Reid contributed 17 points from the bench for Minnesota. Julius Randle recorded 15 points and nine rebounds, while Rudy Gobert dominated the boards with a game-high 15 rebounds along with four points.

Denver was paced by Jamal Murray’s 30 points on 10-of-25 shooting. Nikola Jokic posted 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, though he struggled with his shot, connecting on just 8-of-22 field goal attempts and missing all three 3-point tries.

In other playoff action, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander established a new playoff career-high with 42 points, shooting 15-of-18 from the floor with eight assists to lead Oklahoma City past Phoenix 121-109. The reigning NBA MVP’s performance gave the Thunder a commanding 3-0 series advantage and extended their first-round winning streak to 11 games. Playing without injured Jalen Williams, who strained his hamstring in Game 2, Oklahoma City relied heavily on their star guard.

Dillon Brooks paced Phoenix with 33 points while Jalen Green added 26. Devin Booker managed 16 points but shot just 6-of-16 from the field.

Karl Anthony-Towns achieved his first playoff triple-double with 20 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds as New York defeated Atlanta 114-98, evening their Eastern Conference series at 2-2. Towns recorded the seventh postseason triple-double in franchise history and his fifth career triple-double overall. The performance ensures Game 5 will take place Tuesday in New York rather than serving as an elimination contest for the Knicks. OG Anunoby led New York’s scoring with 22 points and 10 rebounds.

CJ McCollum topped Atlanta with 17 points but managed only three after halftime. Nickell Alexander-Walker contributed 15 points with five 3-pointers, though the Hawks struggled from long range, making just 10-of-41 attempts for 24.4%.

Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane each scored 25 points as Orlando held off a late Detroit surge for a 113-105 Game 3 victory in their first-round Eastern Conference series. Banchero added 12 rebounds and nine assists for the eighth-seeded Magic, who improved to 7-1 in their last eight home playoff contests. Bane connected on 7-of-9 attempts from beyond the arc.

Cade Cunningham scored 12 of his 27 points in the final quarter for Detroit. Tobias Harris contributed 23 points, Ausar Thompson had 17 and Duncan Robinson chipped in 10.

With just 29 seconds remaining in overtime, Matt Boldy found the back of the net to propel the Minnesota Wild to a 3-2 victory over the Dallas Stars on Saturday night in St. Paul, evening their Western Conference first-round playoff series at two games apiece.

The Wild received contributions from multiple players, with one unnamed player recording a goal and assist, while Marcus Foligno also found the scoresheet. Goaltender Jesper Wallstedt was outstanding between the pipes, turning away 43 shots to keep Minnesota in the contest. The Wild had started the series strong with a commanding 6-1 victory in the opener before dropping back-to-back contests, including a heartbreaking double-overtime loss in Game 3 on home ice.

For Dallas, Jason Robertson and Miro Heiskanen provided the offense, while Matt Duchene and Mikko Rantanen each contributed two helpers. Stars netminder Jake Oettinger was equally impressive, making 40 stops in the losing effort.

Special teams played a crucial role in the outcome, as Minnesota struggled on the man advantage, failing to convert on all four power-play opportunities. Meanwhile, Dallas capitalized on both of their chances with the extra attacker. The series now shifts back to Dallas for Game 5 on Tuesday evening.

In other NHL playoff action, the Carolina Hurricanes completed a sweep of the Ottawa Senators with a 4-2 victory. Logan Stankoven’s power-play marker in the third period proved to be the difference-maker for Carolina, which never surrendered the lead in eliminating Ottawa from postseason contention. Sebastian Aho added two empty-net tallies, while Taylor Hall contributed a goal and assist. Seth Jarvis recorded two assists and Frederik Andersen made 25 saves for the victorious Hurricanes.

Ottawa received offensive production from Drake Batherson, who had a goal and assist, and Dylan Cozens, who also scored. Linus Ullmark made 26 saves in the losing effort.

Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Penguins kept their playoff hopes alive with a 4-2 triumph over the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference first-round matchup. Sidney Crosby led the way with a goal and assist for the visiting Penguins, who had been outscored 11-4 while falling behind 3-0 in the series.

Rickard Rakell also contributed a goal and assist for Pittsburgh. Penguins coach Dan Muse made the decision to start Arturs Silovs in goal instead of Stuart Skinner, and Silovs delivered with 28 saves in a stellar performance.

Philadelphia got goals from Denver Barkey and Travis Konecny, and will have another opportunity to close out the best-of-seven series when the teams meet for Game 5 in Pittsburgh on Monday. Dan Vladar, playing through a right arm injury, stopped 17 shots for the Flyers.

Minnesota Timberwolves star guard Anthony Edwards suffered a left knee injury during Saturday evening’s playoff matchup against the Denver Nuggets at home in Minneapolis, forcing him to leave the game with assistance.

The injury occurred when Edwards jumped to attempt blocking a shot but came down awkwardly on his left leg with 2:43 remaining in the second quarter. He immediately fell to the floor and grabbed his knee in apparent pain.

Shortly after, team personnel assisted Edwards as he limped off the court toward the locker room, putting minimal weight on his injured left leg during his exit.

The Timberwolves officially declared Edwards would not return to the game shortly after halftime began, and he is set to undergo an MRI scan to assess how serious the injury is.

Before getting hurt, Edwards had contributed five points and three rebounds across 18 minutes of play. Minnesota held a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-seven first-round Western Conference playoff series heading into Saturday’s fourth game.

The four-time All-Star paced the Timberwolves with 28.8 points per game throughout the regular season. In the opening three playoff games, he was averaging 23 points per contest.

Edwards became the second Timberwolves player to exit Game 4 due to injury. Earlier in the first quarter, guard Donte DiVincenzo departed with a non-contact right leg injury. According to ESPN reports, DiVincenzo, who left the arena at halftime using a wheelchair, suffered a torn right Achilles tendon.

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Timberwolves suffered a devastating blow during Saturday night’s playoff matchup against the Denver Nuggets, losing both starting guards to leg injuries in the opening half of Game 4.

Star player Anthony Edwards sustained what appeared to be a left knee injury during the final moments of the second quarter. The injury occurred when Edwards’ knee seemed to give way as he came down from defending a layup attempt. Team personnel assisted him off the court to the locker room, and he was unable to continue playing.

Earlier in the contest, Donte DiVincenzo sustained an injury to his lower right leg during the game’s first few minutes. The incident happened when DiVincenzo lost his footing while pursuing a loose ball on the court. He immediately signaled for medical assistance and was unable to put weight on his injured foot as he was escorted to the locker room. Team officials confirmed DiVincenzo would not return to action.

The injuries represent a significant setback for Minnesota, which had been performing well in the series. Edwards had been leading the team with 23.0 points per game along with 8.0 rebounds as the sixth-seeded Timberwolves held a 2-1 series advantage over Denver. DiVincenzo had also been contributing significantly, averaging 14.3 points per game and connecting on 11 of his 22 three-point attempts through the first three contests.

The 2026 NFL draft concluded with 257 players chosen, ranging from Fernando Mendoza to Red Murdock, as teams completed months of evaluation and preparation.

While some rookies will make immediate impacts, others will require development time, and not every draftee will secure a roster spot. The Associated Press has released preliminary evaluations for each franchise’s draft performance, though definitive assessments won’t be possible for several years.

The Arizona Cardinals selected running back Jeremiyah Love as a special talent and immediate improvement, though choosing him third overall raises questions about positional importance. Offensive lineman Chase Bisontis (34th pick) should create opportunities for Love, while interior defensive lineman Kaleb Proctor (104th) shows promise. In a weak quarterback class, they took an early chance on Carson Beck (65th).

Atlanta secured first-round caliber talent in the second round with cornerback Avieon Terrell (48th), who will play alongside his brother AJ Terrell in the secondary. Wide receiver Zachariah Branch (79th) brings playmaking ability to the slot, and linebacker Kendal Daniels (134th) should contribute on special teams at minimum.

Baltimore addressed immediate needs with guard Olaivavega Ioane (14th) as a day-one starter. Edge rusher Zion Young (45th) was frequently projected for the first round. They added size at receiver with Ja’Kobi Lane (80th) and Elijah Sarratt (115th), while tight end Matthew Hibner (133rd) addresses a position of need.

Buffalo traded their first-round selection, accumulated additional picks, and still landed talented edge rusher T.J. Parker (35th). Cornerback Davison Igbinosun (62nd) provides depth, while offensive tackle Jude Bowry (102nd), wide receiver Skyler Bell (125th), and linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr (126th) fill specific requirements.

Carolina found excellent value with offensive tackle Monroe Freeling (19th), who was often considered a top-10 prospect and fits the prototypical left tackle mold. Defensive lineman Lee Hunter (49th) can disrupt plays from the interior. Their day-three selections include wide receiver Chris Brazzell II (83rd), cornerback Will Lee III (129th), offensive lineman Sam Hecht (144th), and safety Zakee Wheatley (151st).

Chicago addressed a critical need with safety Dillon Thieneman (25th) in the first round. Center Logan Jones (57th) was selected earlier than anticipated, while tight end Sam Roush (69th) specializes in run blocking. Wide receiver Zavion Thomas (89th) enhances the return game, and cornerback Malik Muhammad represents solid value.

The New York Giants didn’t possess a first-round pick after trading the 10th overall selection for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. They acquired edge rusher Cashius Howell (41st), who received first-round evaluations. Cornerback Tacario Davis (72nd) also strengthens a struggling defense. Center Connor Lew (128th) could start after being found in the fourth round, and 6-foot-5 wide receiver Colbie Young (140th) adds size to a deep receiving corps.

Green Bay traded down, accumulated additional selections, and assembled an impressive overall collection. Offensive tackle Spencer Fano (9th) will start immediately, while wide receiver KC Concepcion (24th) possesses all necessary tools. They selected another receiver in the second round with Denzel Boston (39th). Safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (58th) carried first-round grades. Offensive tackle Austin Barber (86th) provides line depth and flexibility. Center Parker Brailsford (146th) fills a need, and linebacker Justin Jefferson (149th) brings athleticism and talent.

Houston made an excellent defensive move by trading up one spot to secure the draft’s top safety, Caleb Downs, at 11th overall. Moving back three positions to 23rd might have cost them a better option, but they ended up with Malachi Lawrence, who wasn’t universally considered first-round material. Edge rusher Jaishawn Barham (92nd), cornerback Devin Moore (114th), and edge rusher LT Overton (137th) give new defensive coordinator Christian Parker additional talent to develop. Offensive tackle Drew Shelton (112th) has significant upside.

Denver’s first selection came in the third round with defensive tackle Tyler Onyedim (66th). Running back Jonah Coleman (108th) adds depth, offensive lineman Kage Casey (111th) offers versatility, and tight end Justin Joly (152nd) provides a downfield receiving threat. Denver had already acquired wide receiver Jaylen Waddle via trade before the draft.

Detroit filled a major need with offensive tackle Blake Miller (17th). Edge rusher Derrick Moore (44th) remains in Michigan and brings energy to the pass rush. Linebacker Jimmy Rolder (118th) is another Michigan player staying local. Cornerback Keith Abney II (157th) and wide receiver Kenrick Law (168th) represent solid value selections.

Green Bay acquired first-round talent with cornerback Brandon Cisse (52nd). Defensive tackle Chris McClellan (77th) provides needed run-stopping ability. Edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton (120th) could prove to be a fourth-round steal, while versatile offensive lineman Jager Burton (153rd) matches the offense’s character.

Houston boosted a problematic area with offensive lineman Keylan Rutledge (26th) after two weak seasons. Defensive tackle Kayden McDonald (36th) is an elite run defender who complements edge rushers Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. Tight end Martin Klein (59th) was a reach, but Febechi Nwaiwu (106th) is a versatile offensive lineman. Linebacker Wade Woodaz (123rd) has good potential, and safety Kamari Ramsey (141st) offers value.

Indianapolis filled a significant need with linebacker CJ Allen (53rd), who was projected higher, giving the Colts excellent value. Safety A.J. Haulcy could start as a rookie. Offensive lineman Jalen Farmer (113th) is powerful and versatile. Linebacker Bryce Boettcher (135th) and edge rusher George Gumbs Jr. (156th) have development potential in Lou Anarumo’s defense.

Jacksonville selected Texas A&M teammates with their first two picks. Tight end Nate Boerkircher (56th) is physical and will enhance the running game, though the Jaguars needed defensive help. Defensive lineman Albert Regis (81st) primarily defends against the run from the interior. Offensive lineman Emmanuel Pregnon (88th) has strong potential. Safety Jalen Huskey (100th) and edge rusher Wesley Williams (119th) provide depth at positions of need. Tight end Tanner Koziol (164th), wide receiver Josh Cameron (191st), and wide receiver CJ Williams (203rd) give Liam Coen additional offensive options.

Kansas City traded up three spots and surrendered a third-round pick to acquire needed cornerback Mansoor Delane (6th). They found Chris Jones’ potential replacement later in the first round with defensive lineman Peter Woods (29th). Edge rusher R Mason Thomas (40th) is a speedy pass rusher. Cornerback Jadon Canady (109th) strengthens a depleted secondary. Running back Emmett Johnson (161st) and wide receiver Cyrus Allen (176th) provide decent fifth-round value.

Las Vegas quarterback Fernando Mendoza won’t play immediately, but the Raiders don’t need to wait to see this draft class’s impact. Cornerbacks Treydan Stukes (38th) and Keyron Crawford (67th) will contribute right away. Offensive lineman Trey Zuhn III (91st) fits new coach Klint Kubiak’s system. Cornerback Jermod McCoy (101st) is among the draft’s best prospects who fell only due to injury concerns. Running back Mike Washington Jr. (122nd) could form a tandem with Ashton Jeanty. Safety Dalton Johnson (150th), cornerback Hezekiah Masses (175th), and wide receiver Malik Benson (195th) add depth.

Los Angeles Chargers selected edge rusher Akheem Mesidor (22nd), who performed like a top-10 pick at Miami. Offensive lineman Jake Slaughter (63rd) seems questionable since the Chargers signed center Tyler Biadasz. Speedy wide receiver Brenen Thompson (105th) stretches the field. Offensive tackle Travis Burke (117th) and safety Genesis Smith (131st) completed a productive fourth round. They further strengthened the trenches with defensive lineman Nick Barrett (145th) and offensive linemen Logan Taylor (202nd) and Alex Harkey (206th).

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Ty Simpson might become a franchise player, but using the 13th pick on someone who won’t play until Matthew Stafford retires is difficult to justify instead of selecting someone who could help a Super Bowl run. Tight end Max Klare (61st) is talented but doesn’t address an immediate void. Offensive lineman Keagen Trost (93rd) is a 25-year-old prospect providing depth. Wide receiver CJ Daniels (197th) could succeed in Sean McVay’s offense. Defensive tackle Tim Keenan III (232nd) stops the run.

Miami’s offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor (12th) could become dominant. Cornerback Chris Johnson (27th) gives Jeff Hafley’s defense a secondary anchor. Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (43rd) has high potential. They reached for wide receiver Caleb Douglas (75th), projected for middle day-three, but found great value with wide receiver Chris Bell (94th). Tight end Will Kacmarek (87th), linebacker Kyle Louis, and safety Michael Taaffe (158th) are among a 13-player haul. Wide receiver Kevin Coleman Jr. (177th) could be a fifth-round gem.

Minnesota defensive tackle Caleb Banks is superb but recovering from two foot surgeries. Linebacker Jake Golday (51st) could thrive under defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Defensive lineman Domonique Orange (82nd) adds depth. Offensive tackle Caleb Tiernan (97th) is versatile and ready. Safety Jakobe Thomas (98th) is dynamic. The Vikings traded to acquire speedy running back Demond Claiborne (198th), potentially the highlight among four day-three selections.

New England got offensive tackle Caleb Lomu (28th), considered the draft’s best by some analysts, making this potentially a steal. Edge rusher Gabe Jacas (55th) has immediate contribution talent. Tight end Eli Raridon (95th) and offensive tackle Dametrious Crownover (196th) strengthen both positions. Quarterback Behren Morton (234th) was among five other picks.

New Orleans wide receiver Jordyn Tyson is tremendously talented but needs to stay healthy to justify the eighth overall selection. Defensive lineman Christen Miller (42nd) will help stop the run. Tight end Oscar Delp (73rd) fits Kellen Moore’s scheme. Wide receiver Bryce Lance (136th) highlights the Saints’ day-three picks. Cornerbacks Lorenzo Styles Jr. (172nd) and TJ Hall (219th) are value picks with potential.

The New York Giants selected foundation players with edge rusher Arvell Reese (5th) and offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa (10th). Cornerback Colton Hood (37th) is first-round talent. Wide receiver Malachi Fields (74th) could have gone higher. Defensive lineman Bobby Jamison-Travis (186th), offensive tackle J.C. Davis (192nd), and linebacker Jack Kelly (193rd) complete an impressive group in John Harbaugh’s first draft with the Giants.

The New York Jets chose David Bailey over Reese (2nd) as the first of three first-rounders. Kenyon Sadiq (16th) is the draft’s best tight end. They traded up for wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. (30th) to give the Jets another playmaker with Garrett Wilson. Cornerback D’Angelo Ponds (50th) resembles coach Aaron Glenn. Defensive lineman Darrell Jackson Jr. (103rd) and offensive lineman Anez Cooper (188th) strengthen the trenches. They took a chance on quarterback Cade Klubnik (110th) in the fourth round.

Philadelphia took wide receiver Makai Lemon (20th) from the Steelers but surrendered two fourth-rounders to move up three spots. Tight end Eli Stowers (54th) lacks size but offers offensive versatility. Offensive tackle Markel Bell (68th) is a developmental talent. They finally selected a Georgia player in the sixth round with offensive lineman Micah Morris (207th). Quarterback Cole Payton (178th) is intriguing for a team that values backups.

Pittsburgh will be remembered for the Lemon situation but acquired considerable talent among a 10-player class. Offensive tackle Max Iheanachor (21st) gives Aaron Rodgers or any quarterback more protection if he starts immediately. Wide receiver Germie Bernard (47th) compensates for losing Lemon. Quarterback Drew Allar (76th) seems like a reach, but cornerback Daylen Everette (85th) and guard Gennings Dunker (96th) have high potential. Wide receiver Kaden Wetjen (121st) should be a dynamic returner. Safety Robert Spears-Jennings (224th) could be the best day-three selection.

San Francisco traded out of the first round and selected wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling (33rd) to begin the second. Edge rusher Romello Height (70th) should improve a pass rush that recorded the fewest NFL sacks. Running back Kaelon Black (90th) could give Christian McCaffrey rest. They added offensive tackles Carver Willis (127th) and Enrique Cruz Jr. on day three. Defensive tackle Gracen Halton (107th) provides significant interior help.

Seattle running back Jadarian Price (32nd) replaces Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker. Safety Bud Clark (64th) also fills a void. Cornerback Julian Neal (99th) is tough and physical, ideal for this defense. Cornerback Andre Fuller (236th) might be a discovery among five day-three picks.

Tampa Bay edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. (15th) gives the Buccaneers a desperately needed pass rusher. Linebacker Josiah Trotter (46th) plays Todd Bowles’ defensive style. Wide receiver Ted Hurst (84th) has size but can’t be expected to replace Mike Evans. Safety Keionte Scott (116th) is a physical tackler who can help the secondary. Offensive lineman Billy Schrauth (160th) is talented and represents solid fifth-round value.

Tennessee made Carnell Tate the first wide receiver selected (4th) instead of taking Reese or another impact defender. But they traded back into the first round for edge rusher Keldric Faulk (31st). Linebacker Anthony Hill (60th) is a versatile plug-and-play athlete. Offensive lineman Fernando Carmona (142nd) can play multiple positions. Running back Nicholas Singleton (165th) has potential to be a fifth-round steal. Defensive lineman Jackie Marshall (184th) fits well with Robert Saleh.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo will not return to Saturday’s playoff matchup against the Denver Nuggets after suffering a lower right leg injury during the opening quarter.

The injury happened without any contact from opposing players. DiVincenzo was moving toward a loose ball when he planted his foot and immediately collapsed, clutching the back of his right leg.

Team officials announced DiVincenzo would not return before the first quarter concluded.

Throughout the regular season, DiVincenzo contributed 12.2 points per contest while connecting on 37.9% of his three-point attempts. In the opening three games of this playoff series against Denver, he had elevated his scoring to 14.3 points per game.

Despite an outstanding collegiate career at Buffalo University, Red Murdock watched his impressive statistics and achievements fail to impress NFL scouts throughout draft weekend.

The Denver Broncos finally called Murdock’s name on Sunday, selecting him with pick number 257 – the final selection of the seven-round 2026 NFL Draft held in Pittsburgh. This distinction automatically grants him the well-known “Mr. Irrelevant” designation.

The second-team All-American becomes the 51st athlete to receive the “Mr. Irrelevant” moniker since the custom started in 1976.

During his Buffalo tenure, Murdock – whose given name is Khalil – established a new FBS milestone with 17 forced fumbles throughout his career. His yearly totals included four in 2023, seven in 2024, and six in 2025. In a twist of fate, former Buffalo standout Khalil Mack, now an established NFL veteran, previously owned the record with 16.

In 2025, Murdock finished third nationally with 142 total tackles while recording five quarterback sacks among his 13.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. The previous year saw him rank second across the country with 156 tackles. Both seasons earned him first-team All-Mid-American Conference recognition.

Despite these accomplishments, Murdock grew increasingly anxious as the draft’s final day progressed, fearing he might not be selected at all.

“I feel extremely grateful and excited to help the Broncos win, above all else,” Murdock told reporters. “I know a little bit about Mr. Irrelevant, but the main thing is I got an opportunity, and I’m trying to make the most of it to help us win.”

The most successful Mr. Irrelevant remains quarterback Brock Purdy, who San Francisco selected with the 2022 draft’s concluding pick. Despite an impressive collegiate resume at Iowa State, Purdy watched 261 players chosen before him.

Purdy quickly proved his worth, leading the 49ers to the 2023 Super Bowl before falling to the Kansas City Chiefs in the championship game.

Paul Salata, the former NFL wide receiver who created the Mr. Irrelevant tradition, passed away in 2021 at 94 years old.

The final draft selection generates more publicity than any other seventh-round pick, with attention peaking when the player visits Southern California for the annual Irrelevant Week celebration. The festivities culminate with presentation of the “Lowsman Trophy.”

Following a dismal 10-17 beginning to their season, the Boston Red Sox terminated manager Alex Cora along with five members of his coaching staff, the team confirmed Saturday night.

The organization also let go hitting coach Peter Fatse, assistant hitting coach Dillon Lawson, third base coach Kyle Hudson, bench coach Ramon Vasquez, and hitting strategy coach Joe Cronin alongside Cora’s dismissal.

The Red Sox have promoted Chad Tracy, 40, who has managed their Triple-A Worcester affiliate since 2022, to serve as interim manager. Meanwhile, game planning and run-prevention coach Jason Varitek will move into a different position within the franchise.

Red Sox owner John Henry expressed his appreciation for Cora’s contributions in an official team statement, saying: “Alex Cora led this organization to one of the greatest seasons in Red Sox history in 2018, and for that, and the many years that followed, he will always have our deepest gratitude. He has had a lasting impact on this team and on this city. He has led on and off the field in so many important ways. These decisions are never easy, but this one is especially difficult given what Alex has meant to the Red Sox since the day he arrived.”

Henry continued: “I want to thank Alex, our coaches, and their families for everything they have given to this organization. They have been part of this club in a way that goes beyond the field, and they will always have our respect and gratitude.”

The team’s record fell to 9-17 following Friday’s crushing 10-3 defeat against Baltimore, where the Orioles hammered six home runs and recorded 20 hits. Following that loss, Boston found themselves trailing the New York Yankees by eight games in the American League East standings.

The Red Sox managed to bounce back Saturday, overwhelming the Orioles in a 17-1 victory.

Cora joined Boston as manager in 2018 after working as bench coach for Houston’s 2017 championship team. During his first season, he guided the Red Sox to a team-record 108 wins and a World Series championship.

Following the 2019 season, Cora became involved in Major League Baseball’s investigation concerning Houston’s sign-stealing scandal. Although MLB launched a separate inquiry into Boston’s practices, Cora and the organization mutually decided to part ways before the 2020 campaign began.

The 50-year-old manager served a suspension for the entire 2020 season due to his involvement with Houston’s violations, but Boston rehired him as manager in 2021.

Following three consecutive seasons without playoff appearances from 2022-24, the Red Sox made the postseason last year but were eliminated by the New York Yankees in an American League wild-card series.

Throughout his tenure, Cora compiled a regular-season record of 619-541 and went 18-10 in postseason play across eight years.

TALLADEGA, Alabama — Twenty-year-old Corey Day achieved a milestone victory Saturday afternoon, securing his inaugural NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series triumph at Talladega Superspeedway during the Ag-Pro 300. The California native crossed the finish line under caution in his No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, taking command only during the race’s final circuit in his debut full-time campaign.

The young sprint car racer brought Hendrick Motorsports their inaugural O’Reilly Auto Parts Series victory at the Alabama track, while also delivering a win for an unusual pit crew addition — retired Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, who donned team colors and assisted with tire duties during Saturday’s competition.

“I sure as heck didn’t think it [first win] would be at a superspeedway,” Day said with a broad smile, noting he had also won a sprint car event in Nebraska earlier in the week. “My 17 guys just built a rocket ship.”

“I feel like we’ve been close, had a good day at Rockingham (North Carolina race) and had a couple other good days and just didn’t finish it off, so this is super cool,” he added.

The race concluded after 1 hour, 58 minutes and 33 seconds of competition.

Rookie driver Brent Crews achieved a personal milestone with a second-place finish in his No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, while Sheldon Creed from Haas Factory Team claimed third position in another characteristic photo-finish conclusion on the 2.66-mile high-banked oval. Creed’s performance earned him the $100,000 Dash 4 Cash bonus for the second consecutive week.

“Hard to be too mad at second here when so much happens and very easily could have been in one of those crashes at the end,” Crews commented. “Getting to take home the Dash 4 Cash is really special, and thank the guys in the shop for that.”

JR Motorsports’ Sammy Smith finished fourth in the No. 8 Chevrolet, helping extend the organization’s remarkable top-10 streak to 68 consecutive races — the second-longest in series history. Owner-operator Jeremy Clements rounded out the top five in his South Carolina-based No. 51 Chevrolet, marking the independent operation’s strongest result since 2022.

The remaining top-10 positions went to Dean Thompson, Jesse Love, Brandon Jones, Parker Retzlaff and Austin Green, with J.J. Yeley earning the sole Ford entry an impressive 11th-place showing among the 38-car field.

Love began the race from pole position in his No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, pacing the field for the most circuits (37) and holding the lead late before falling backward with six laps remaining. The pack divided around his machine, allowing Creed to assume command with five laps left.

Creed’s teammate Sam Mayer, who had shown strength throughout the afternoon, was credited as the leader with two laps remaining in a three-wide formation that also included Creed and Day. However, as frequently occurs at Talladega, contact during the final frantic moments reshuffled the leading group, sending Mayer’s No. 41 Chevrolet and two-time race winner Jeb Burton’s No. 27 Jordan Anderson Chevrolet into the outside barrier.

Mayer finished 25th despite leading three separate times for eight total laps. Burton, who came within inches of winning this event last year, ended up 26th.

JR Motorsports teammates Carson Kvapil and Justin Allgaier captured the stage victories in segments one and two respectively, but both drivers were unable to recover from mid-race penalties for “impeding” other competitors during the final stage.

Officials called only four caution periods — the fewest since 2022. The 38 lead changes represented the most at this facility since 2013.

Despite recording his worst finish of the season in 23rd position, Allgaier maintains his championship advantage by 105 points over Creed in the standings.

Competition continues next Saturday at Texas Motor Speedway for the Andy’s Frozen Custard 340, where reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson will defend his victory from last year.

Day, Crews, Creed and Smith have qualified for next week’s $100,000 Dash 4 Cash opportunity.

LOS ANGELES – Half a century after one of baseball’s most patriotic moments, the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrated the 50th anniversary of Rick Monday’s heroic flag rescue during Saturday’s game against the Chicago Cubs.

Monday and his spouse Barbaralee displayed the same flag he saved to thunderous applause from the crowd at Dodger Stadium.

The memorable incident occurred on April 25, 1976, when Monday was patrolling center field for Chicago during a game at Dodger Stadium. During the fourth inning, a pair of protesters entered the playing field, laid out an American flag on the grass between left and center field, and poured lighter fluid on it in preparation to set it ablaze.

Monday quickly sprinted toward the demonstrators and grabbed the flag with his right hand before racing away from the scene. He then handed the flag to Los Angeles pitcher Doug Rau as fans erupted in appreciation.

The following inning when Monday stepped into the batter’s box, the stadium scoreboard displayed a message reading: “Rick Monday…You made a great play.”

During Saturday’s ceremony, Marine Corps representatives presented Monday, who served six years in the Marine Corps reserves, with a bronze statue depicting his famous flag-saving sprint.

“I had no idea they were going to be here or present me with an honor. Very humbled,” Monday commented during the game’s radio broadcast.

Both teams formed lines along the baselines for the national anthem, performed by Davis Gaines from “Phantom of the Opera.”

Monday became a Dodger the next season when Tommy Lasorda started his legendary tenure as manager. He contributed to the franchise’s 1981 World Series title and has served as a Dodgers radio announcer intermittently since 1985.

Starting Memorial Day weekend, the preserved flag will go on display at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Monday has maintained the flag’s condition over the decades and is lending it to the museum for the exhibit.

“What’s very nice is that flag they were trying to desecrate still has a life,” Monday reflected.

BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox have terminated manager Alex Cora, the skipper who guided the franchise to its 2018 World Series title and a record-breaking 108 regular-season victories that year.

Triple-A Worcester manager Chad Tracy will step in as interim manager to replace Cora.

“Alex Cora led this organization to one of the greatest seasons in Red Sox history in 2018, and for that, and the many years that followed, he will always have our deepest gratitude,” owner John Henry said in a statement. “He has had a lasting impact on this team and on this city. He has led on and off the field in so many important ways.”

The organization made this announcement on Saturday following a dominant 17-1 win against Baltimore, which ended a four-game skid that included getting swept at home by their longtime rivals, the New York Yankees.

Currently sitting at 10-17 for the season, the Red Sox find themselves at the bottom of the AL East standings.

Along with Cora’s dismissal, the organization is releasing five coaching staff members: hitting coach Peter Fatse, third base coach Kyle Hudson, bench coach Ramón Vázquez, assistant hitting coach Dillon Lawson, and major league hitting strategy coach Joe Cronin.

Jason Varitek, who serves as game planning and run prevention coach and caught for three of the team’s four championship teams this century, will move to a different position within the organization that has not yet been specified.

Cora, who played as an infielder for Boston for more than three seasons and earned a 2007 World Series ring as a player, served as Houston’s bench coach during their 2017 championship run. Boston brought him in to take over for John Farrell, marking his debut as a major league manager.

During his inaugural season as manager, Boston captured 108 regular-season games, eliminated their bitter rivals the Yankees in the playoffs, then beat Houston in the American League Championship Series. The team completed their championship run by defeating Los Angeles in five games for their fourth World Series crown in 15 seasons.

The following year saw Boston finish third in their division, ending a four-year playoff streak. During that offseason, The Athletic published reports indicating Cora had played a central role in Houston’s illegal sign-stealing operation during their title-winning campaign.

After Major League Baseball completed its investigation, both Cora and the Red Sox mutually agreed on his departure. Ron Roenicke took the helm of a team that would subsequently undergo major salary cuts, including trading 2018 AL MVP Mookie Betts and pitcher David Price. Following a basement finish in the shortened 2020 campaign, the team dismissed Roenicke and brought Cora back.

In his return season, Boston made the playoffs once more, defeating New York in the AL wild-card matchup and Tampa Bay in the Division Series before falling to Houston in the ALCS.

Since that playoff run, Boston has failed to win another postseason series, finishing last in consecutive seasons before returning to the playoffs last year only to lose to the Yankees in the wild-card round.

Cora compiled a 620-541 record during his tenure as Red Sox manager.

“These decisions are never easy, but this one is especially difficult given what Alex has meant to the Red Sox since the day he arrived,” Henry’s statement said. “I want to thank Alex, our coaches, and their families for everything they have given to this organization. They have been part of this club in a way that goes beyond the field, and they will always have our respect and gratitude.”

Chad Epperson, previously managing the Double-A Portland team in the Eastern League, will temporarily fill the third base coaching position. Collin Hetzler, who coached hitting for Worcester, will join Boston’s major league hitting staff.

The Cincinnati Reds have moved veteran slugger Eugenio Suarez to the 10-day injured list Saturday after he suffered a left oblique strain.

The roster move dates back to Thursday, with the team bringing up outfielder JJ Bleday from their Triple-A Louisville affiliate to take Suarez’s spot.

Manager Terry Francona anticipates the injury won’t keep Suarez out for an extended period.

“The hope is after possibly five or six days if symptoms are gone, we’ll get him imaged again,” Francona explained to the media. “Then we’ll start to build him back up.”

The 34-year-old designated hitter and third baseman was pulled from Friday’s starting lineup against Detroit approximately one hour before game time when he experienced discomfort in his left side during batting practice. An MRI scan revealed the muscle strain.

This season, Suarez is hitting .231 with three home runs and 11 RBIs across 25 games. He returned to Cincinnati on a one-year, $15 million contract after previously playing for the Reds from 2015 through 2021.

Last year, Suarez tied his personal best with 49 home runs while playing for both Arizona (36 homers) and Seattle (13). He previously reached that same 49-homer mark during his 2019 season with Cincinnati.

Bleday, 28, was performing well at Louisville with a .341 batting average, six home runs and 19 RBIs in 24 games. The outfielder nearly earned a spot on Cincinnati’s opening day roster after hitting .317 with four homers during spring training.

Throughout his four-year major league career with Miami and Oakland, Bleday has accumulated 49 home runs but carries a .215 batting average.

In additional roster moves, Cincinnati brought up right-handed pitcher Jose Franco from Louisville while sending Kyle Nicolas down to the same club.

Franco, 25, posted a 3.18 ERA in three earlier appearances with the Reds this season. Nicolas, 27, struggled with a 1-0 record and 8.59 ERA over seven outings, issuing 13 walks in just 7 1/3 innings pitched.

Polish tennis star Iga Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam winner, was forced to withdraw from her Madrid Open match on Saturday after falling ill during competition against American player Ann Li.

Swiatek, who held the fourth seed position at the WTA 1000 clay court event, called for medical help before ultimately leaving the court in tears. At the time of her withdrawal, she was behind in the round-of-32 match with scores of 6-7(4) 6-2 0-3.

Speaking about her condition, Swiatek explained her recent struggles with what appears to be a viral infection. “The past two days were pretty terrible, I think I have some virus,” the defending Madrid champion said.

“It’s been some hours fine, some hours pretty bad. I had zero energy, zero stability, and I just felt really bad physically,” she continued.

Despite feeling unwell, the 24-year-old athlete attempted to push through the match, drawing on past experiences when she successfully competed while sick. “I knew that (it was) going to be hard but I still wanted to try because I already have been sick twice in my career and I could still win most of my matches. I guess it depends on how bad it is, and I guess this time it was worse than before,” Swiatek said.

The unexpected withdrawal creates challenges for Swiatek’s preparation schedule leading up to the French Open, where she has established herself as a dominant force. The Polish player has claimed the Roland Garros title four times, including her most recent victory in 2024.

Swiatek plans to resume her French Open preparation at the upcoming Italian Open, scheduled to run from May 5-17. The main draw competition at the French Open is set to begin on May 24.

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas emphasized the significance of Major League Baseball’s expansion into Mexico as his team prepares for a weekend doubleheader against the San Diego Padres in Mexico City, where enthusiastic fans are expected to pack the stadium.

Thomas, born in the United States but eligible to play for Mexico through his mother’s heritage, expressed that competing in the nation’s capital holds special meaning for him personally.

“It’s definitely important,” Thomas shared with media on Saturday. “Getting the game all across the world is a big part of what MLB is trying to do… so everybody can see some of the best players in the world.”

The outfielder spoke about his strong connection with Mexican supporters leading up to the series, noting that his representation of Mexico in international competition has strengthened that relationship.

“There’s been a lot of people that came up to me,” he explained. “I feel like the Mexican fan base has always been very supportive.”

“It’s an honour to represent Mexico and my mom’s side of the family,” he continued. “After those games, the hugs were a little bit tighter… you could see how proud they were.”

With both of his parents attending the series at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu, Thomas described the opportunity as “really special” and expressed hope to win over what’s anticipated to be a crowd favoring the Padres.

“I’m looking forward to the crowd reaction,” he said. “Hopefully we can sway them a little bit.”

San Diego star Fernando Tatis Jr. highlighted the impressive growth of Mexican baseball, specifically mentioning the improving standards of the country’s domestic summer league, where his father Fernando Tatis Sr. currently serves as manager for the Algodoneros de Union Laguna.

“It’s very nice to see the quality of baseball being played here,” Tatis Jr. commented. “It’s a league that’s growing… you can see the investment and the work that’s being put in.”

Fellow Padres player and Dominican Republic native Manny Machado emphasized how Latin American supporters transform the atmosphere completely.

“Latinos play the game differently… and a big part of that is the fans,” Machado explained. “They give us energy. You’re going to see that here again.”

For the Padres, who have cultivated substantial Mexican support over the years, this series strengthens a relationship that MLB continues to prioritize as part of its international expansion strategy.

“It’s something the sport has needed for a long time,” noted manager Craig Stammen.

Both teams are currently competing with the Los Angeles Dodgers for National League West supremacy, and focus now shifts to on-field performance, where high-scoring contests are anticipated due to the altitude, with a capacity crowd expected to attend.

Saturday’s concluding day of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh opened with a surprising selection that caught many analysts off guard.

Tennessee defensive back Jermod McCoy, who numerous experts predicted would be chosen in the opening round, instead became the Las Vegas Raiders’ pick at 101st overall to start the fourth round.

The Raiders executed a minor trade with Buffalo, giving up a 2027 seventh-round selection to move from 102nd to 101st position and land McCoy.

Scouts Inc. had ranked McCoy as the 16th best available talent, but his dramatic slide resulted from medical red flags. The cornerback suffered an ACL tear that sidelined him for the entire 2025 collegiate campaign, and while that injury has recovered, medical evaluations revealed degenerative cartilage damage in his right knee.

“All of my doctors that did my surgery told me (that) I’m good,” McCoy said, per ESPN. “But if there’s something that (the Raiders) want me to do for the longevity of my career, I’m willing to do that because I feel like they have my best interest.”

During his 2024 season with Tennessee, McCoy recorded four interceptions and nine pass deflections following his transfer from Oregon State.

Las Vegas continued making bold moves after selecting Indiana signal-caller Fernando Mendoza with the draft’s opening pick two days earlier. The organization shipped former top-10 selection Tyree Wilson to New Orleans to jump from 219th overall up to 150th in the fifth round.

Wilson, chosen seventh overall in 2023, recorded 12 quarterback sacks across three seasons rushing the passer for Las Vegas. The Raiders had previously attempted to deal star pass rusher Maxx Crosby to Baltimore this offseason, but the Ravens withdrew from negotiations when Crosby failed his physical while rehabilitating from knee surgery.

With their 150th selection, Las Vegas chose Arizona safety Dalton Johnson.

The quarterback position remained sparse throughout the weekend, with only one passer taken in round four and another in round five.

New York’s Jets moved up through a deal with Cincinnati to grab Clemson’s Cade Klubnik at 110th overall. The trade sent Cincinnati the 128th pick while the Jets received the 199th selection in addition to moving up from 140th.

Klubnik, formerly considered elite college quarterback material, failed to meet expectations during his three-plus seasons leading Clemson’s offense. The 6-foot-2 prospect completed passes for 2,943 yards with 16 touchdowns against six interceptions in 2025 for the Tigers.

New York has once again restructured its quarterback position but waited until round four to gamble on an incoming rookie, having selected pass rusher David Bailey second overall. Klubnik will compete alongside Geno Smith, Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe for playing time.

“I woke up this morning hoping the Jets were going to pick me,” Klubnik told reporters after the pick.

Philadelphia utilized the 178th overall selection on North Dakota State’s Cole Payton, a former FCS championship winner who will join a depth chart featuring Jalen Hurts, Tanner McKee and veteran Andy Dalton.

Although only six quarterbacks were selected through five rounds, tight ends experienced tremendous popularity. Seventeen were chosen in rounds one through five, exceeding the 16 total drafted in 2025.

Mississippi State tight end Seydou Traore, a London native, joined the Miami Dolphins at 180th overall as the fifth round’s second-to-last selection. Despite not being announced among the prospect “green room” attendees, Traore appeared on Pittsburgh’s stage and received recognition from commissioner Roger Goodell, creating an uncommon moment for the draft’s third day.

Cleveland opened round six by selecting Arkansas quarterback Talen Green with the opening pick. Green will enter a crowded Browns quarterback room including Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel.