Category: Sports

Gonzaga University’s basketball program has lost one of its key players, as point guard Mario Saint-Supery has departed the team and inked a deal with Spanish EuroLeague club Valencia.

According to the Field of 68, the signing caught Gonzaga off guard. Saint-Supery had been on the practice floor with the Bulldogs in Spokane, Washington, just earlier in the week before the news broke.

The 20-year-old’s contract with Valencia runs through June 30, 2030.

Saint-Supery spent one season with Gonzaga in 2025-26, earning a spot on the West Coast Conference All-Freshman Team. He suited up for all 35 games, starting 17 of them, and put up averages of 8.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists while logging 23.1 minutes per game.

He connected on 40.3% of his three-point attempts, going 48-for-119 from beyond the arc, and knocked down 87.8% of his free throws, hitting 65 of 74 attempts. His development throughout the season had positioned him as the expected starter at the point guard spot going forward.

Originally from Malaga, Spain, Saint-Supery is heading back to his home country to play under head coach Xavi Albert at Valencia.

Gonzaga head coach Mark Few had not yet made a public statement regarding the departure, but the loss is considered a significant setback for the program.

The Bulldogs are preparing for a move to the restructured Pac-12 and had already been working with a slim group of returning players — just three — from a squad that went 31-4 before falling to Texas in the second round of the NCAA Tournament this past March. With Saint-Supery now gone, that returning group shrinks to two.

The Milwaukee Brewers announced Saturday that left-handed pitcher Kyle Harrison has been placed on the 15-day injured list, sidelined by tightness in his forearm.

The roster move was made retroactive to Thursday — one day after Harrison threw four innings and absorbed the loss in Milwaukee’s 5-1 defeat at the hands of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Harrison, 24, has been one of the Brewers’ standout performers this season, his first in Milwaukee. He carries an impressive 8-2 record with a 3.01 ERA across 17 starts. The team acquired him from the Boston Red Sox back in February.

To replace Harrison on the active roster, Milwaukee recalled left-hander Robert Gasser, 27, from Triple-A Nashville on Saturday. Gasser holds a 2-3 record with a 4.15 ERA in eight starts with the Brewers this season.

Alexander Zverev steps onto Centre Court Sunday with a chance to make history, but standing between him and the Wimbledon title is world number one Jannik Sinner — an opponent who has beaten the German nine straight times and taken the last 14 sets between them.

Zverev arrives at his first-ever Wimbledon final riding a wave of momentum after claiming the French Open crown at Roland Garros. He is the first German man to reach the Wimbledon final since Boris Becker accomplished the feat in 1995.

His path to the Roland Garros title was aided by circumstances — 2025 champion Carlos Alcaraz was sidelined by a wrist injury, and Sinner suffered a shocking second-round exit in the Paris heat. Zverev capitalized, grinding out a tense victory over Italian Flavio Cobolli in the final to snap the Alcaraz-Sinner stranglehold that had produced the previous nine Grand Slam winners.

Wimbledon’s grass courts have historically not been kind to Zverev, but the confidence he carried out of Paris has translated beautifully to London. His second-week performances — victories over Czech player Jiri Lehecka, hard-serving American Taylor Fritz, and British wildcard Arthur Fery in the semifinals — paint the picture of a man playing without hesitation.

“Once you win a major you know how to do it and you feel like you can do it again. You have this feeling inside of you,” Zverev told reporters when asked about heading into the final.

One of the most striking developments during the tournament has been Zverev’s forehand. Once considered a vulnerability in his game, it has become a genuine weapon. In the semifinal against Fery, he produced 22 forehand winners compared to just eight on his trademark backhand.

“I’ve been trying to play a more aggressive game style. I’ve been trying to take on the game a bit more. For sure my forehand is a big part of it,” Zverev explained.

A victory Sunday would make Zverev just the seventh man in tennis history to win the French Open and Wimbledon in the same calendar year.

However, Sinner’s semifinal performance served as a sharp reminder of just how formidable the Italian is. He swept seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic aside in straight sets on Friday, delivering 16 aces and surrendering only six points on his first serve throughout the match.

Sinner had entered the tournament under some scrutiny — questions swirled about his ability to handle London’s third heatwave of the summer, given a perceived sensitivity to heat. He also had a nervous moment in the first round, needing five sets to get past Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic. But from there, he found his rhythm and never looked back.

The last time Sinner lost to Zverev was at the 2023 U.S. Open. Their most recent Grand Slam final meeting — the 2025 Australian Open — ended in a straight-sets defeat for Zverev that the German described as deeply affecting.

Sinner acknowledged that Zverev’s French Open victory has given his opponent a new level of belief heading into Sunday’s match.

“Because he tried for so long, and then when you finally achieve it, it’s amazing and then gives you this confidence boost,” Sinner said. “We see it again here. We saw how aggressive he’s playing, serving very big. He is a tough player to play against.”

The Athletics announced Saturday that first baseman Nick Kurtz has been placed on the 10-day injured list after being diagnosed with a right thumb capsule sprain.

The 23-year-old had already missed Friday’s 14-1 defeat to the Chicago White Sox and will now also be absent from Tuesday’s All-Star Game, set to take place in Philadelphia.

Kurtz had earned the starting spot for the American League at first base after Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays withdrew due to a back injury.

The thumb issue appears to have originated during Wednesday’s 6-1 loss in Detroit, when Kurtz left the game after just one and a half innings. The team initially attributed his early exit to illness, but he was also seen appearing to injure his hand while attempting to field a throw in the bottom of the first inning. He returned as the designated hitter the following day, going hitless in four at-bats with two strikeouts during Thursday’s 4-1 loss to the Tigers.

Through 92 games this season, Kurtz is hitting .266 with 20 home runs and 66 RBIs. Last year, he claimed the 2025 AL Rookie of the Year award after posting a .290 batting average, 36 home runs, and 86 RBIs across just 117 games.

To fill the roster spot, the Athletics recalled catcher Brian Serven from Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday. The 31-year-old appeared in one major league game this season — a 9-8 loss to the Miami Marlins on Sunday — going 1-for-4. With Las Vegas, Serven has put together a strong year, batting .308 with seven home runs and 41 RBIs in 55 games.

Saturday’s third round of the Scottish Open was brought to a halt by thick fog, with play suspended for close to two and a half hours before conditions improved enough to continue.

Seventeen players were already out on the course when the fog thickened to the point where play could no longer safely continue. Officials called the suspension at 10:45 a.m. local time — 5:45 a.m. ET — before eventually allowing action to resume at 1:10 p.m. local time at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland.

Among the players still waiting to take the course is Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, one of three golfers sharing the lead at 9-under par. McIlroy is set to tee off at 6:04 p.m. local time (1:04 p.m. ET), playing alongside England’s Matt Fitzpatrick, who sits at 8-under.

The other two co-leaders — England’s Jordan Smith and South Korea’s Tom Kim — are scheduled to begin their third rounds at 6:15 p.m. local time.

Players and officials will have some daylight to work with, as sunset in North Berwick is not expected until 9:52 p.m. local time.

South Africa’s sports ministry announced Saturday that international midfielder Jayden Adams, who represented his country at the 2026 World Cup, has died at the age of 25. No cause of death was disclosed.

Adams appeared in each of South Africa’s three Group A contests at the tournament. He started in the matches against Mexico and the Czech Republic, and entered as a substitute during the team’s 1-0 victory over South Korea — the result that secured South Africa’s historic first-ever berth in the knockout stage. The team was ultimately eliminated by Canada in that round.

The tournament carried personal heartbreak for Adams as well. His grandmother passed away the day before South Africa faced the Czech Republic, and he was substituted out at halftime during that game.

At the club level, Adams played for Pretoria-based Mamelodi Sundowns, where he helped the team claim the African Champions League title during the 2025/26 season. He had joined Sundowns in January 2025 after coming through the youth system at Stellenbosch FC.

On the international stage, Adams earned his first cap against Mozambique in 2022. He went on to collect 13 appearances for the national side, scoring two goals — both coming in qualifying matches for the 2026 World Cup.

The South African Football Players’ Union released a statement mourning his passing. “South African football has lost a gifted player, a proud servant of the game and a young life that still had so much to offer,” the organization said.

South Africa’s minister of sport Gayton McKenzie also shared his grief. “Our nation mourns alongside his family, his teammates and the millions of supporters who watched him grow from a promising academy prospect into a full Bafana Bafana international,” McKenzie said.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino extended his sympathies through Instagram, writing that his “thoughts and condolences, as well as those of everyone at FIFA and the global football community, are with his family, friends and teammates.”

LONDON — Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara, ranked as the top men’s doubles team in the world, have won the Wimbledon men’s doubles championship for the second time, defeating Mate Pavic and Marcelo Arevalo by a score of 7-6(4) 7-6(3) on Friday.

The victory marks the third Grand Slam doubles title for the partnership, which features British player Patten alongside his Finnish teammate Heliovaara.

Neither team managed to earn a single break point throughout the entire match, as both sides held their serve effectively in each set. With no breaks of serve, the outcome of both sets was decided in tiebreaks, where Patten and Heliovaara kept their composure and pulled through to secure the championship.

When soccer players collide in the air, the injuries that follow aren’t always the ones that make headlines. Concussions and torn ligaments get plenty of attention — but broken noses, it turns out, can leave athletes with lasting damage long after the final whistle.

Dr. Farhad Ardesh, a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon based in Beverly Hills, California, says nasal injuries in soccer are among the sport’s most underestimated risks.

“Sometimes a minor injury on the outside can cause major damage on the inside,” said Ardesh, who has worked with professional athletes including soccer players. “You might have the nose that just looks a little swollen or a little crooked, but the inside of the nose actually has a zigzag pattern or an S-shaped deformity that’s really affecting this player’s breathing.”

The issue has gained new visibility at the 2026 World Cup, where multiple players have competed while wearing protective facial masks following jaw or facial injuries. England’s Djed Spence, Austria’s Stefan Posch, and Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane have all appeared on the pitch with facial protection. The trend echoes recent high-profile cases, including France’s Kylian Mbappe wearing a mask to shield a broken nose at Euro 2024, and Croatian defender Josko Gvardiol donning similar protection at the 2022 World Cup.

While fans in the stands may see the mask as a symbol of toughness, Ardesh views it differently.

“The face is very fragile after an injury, whether it’s from trauma like getting hit with an elbow or if it’s from surgery,” he said. “We want to protect the bone.”

Ardesh compared the facial trauma soccer players endure to what is seen in boxing or mixed martial arts.

“People don’t think of soccer as being a combat sport,” he said. “But you’ve got elite athletes that are running as fast as humanly possible and jumping really high. When you’re talking about an elbow or a shoulder directly to the nose, it’s more or less like taking a right hook to the face.”

Contrary to what many might assume, the ball itself is rarely the main culprit. Instead, Ardesh said most facial injuries come from contact with heads, shoulders, elbows, knees, feet, or the ground after a fall.

The nose is particularly at risk due to its prominent position on the face.

“The nose is what’s sticking out from our faces,” Ardesh said. “It’s the first thing that’s probably going to take any kind of impact.”

A broken nose that goes untreated or is improperly evaluated can lead to a range of serious complications, including chronic nasal obstruction, a deviated septum, long-term breathing difficulties, a visibly misaligned nose, or the need for reconstructive surgery months down the road. For elite athletes, Ardesh said, restricted airflow can directly affect how they perform.

“If patients are not getting good airflow through their nose, they’re not going to be performing at their best,” he said. “The goal of rhinoplasty and septoplasty is not only to improve the aesthetics of the nose but also make sure they’re getting the best breathing possible.”

In the immediate moments after a facial blow, the priority is stopping the bleeding and ruling out more serious injuries. Players should lean forward to keep blood from running down the throat.

Once a player sees a specialist, one critical concern is a septal hematoma — a buildup of blood inside the wall dividing the nose. If left untreated, it can cut off blood supply to the cartilage and cause a collapsed, saddle-shaped deformity.

Because swelling can obscure the true extent of damage in the early hours after impact, Ardesh said imaging may be necessary to check for fractures involving the eye socket, cheekbone, or jaw, as well as to screen for concussion. For a straightforward nasal fracture, he typically waits one to two weeks for swelling to go down before attempting to reset the bones. More involved procedures, such as rhinoplasty or septoplasty, may follow three to six months later depending on the player’s breathing, appearance, and overall function.

“The goal for these players is that they want to get back on the field,” he said. “But we need to assess all the injuries and come up with an individualized plan.”

Goalkeepers face an especially elevated risk because of the nature of their position, regularly throwing themselves into situations where they come into direct contact with opposing players.

“They can get elbowed, head-butted or kneed,” Ardesh said. “They are at higher risk for taking on a straight-on facial impact.”

Despite the risks, Ardesh does not foresee mandatory facial protection becoming a widespread requirement in soccer, given the sport’s demands for speed, clear vision, and player comfort. He believes optional masks for players recovering from specific injuries are the more practical approach.

“These are fighters,” Ardesh said of professional players. “They don’t want to leave the field.”

Tristan Peters had a night to remember Friday, going a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with four RBIs and hitting for the cycle as the host Chicago White Sox overwhelmed the struggling Athletics by a score of 14-1.

The victory ended a three-game skid for Chicago while pushing the Athletics to their worst losing streak of the season at seven consecutive defeats.

Andrew Benintendi, Sam Antonacci, and Peters each drove in runs during a critical four-run fifth inning. The win kept the White Sox tied with Cleveland at the top of the American League Central standings.

Peters put an exclamation point on an eight-run seventh inning with both a two-run home run and a two-run triple, making him the first White Sox player to accomplish the cycle since Jose Abreu did it in 2017. He also became the third player in the majors to hit for the cycle this season.

Starting pitcher Sean Burke improved to 6-4 on the year, earning his third win in his last five starts. Burke held the Athletics to just one run and four hits across seven innings, with Tyler Soderstrom’s solo home run in the seventh being the only blemish on his outing.

Tigers 10, Phillies 2

Kevin McGonigle and Spencer Torkelson each launched two-run home runs as Detroit continued its hot streak, cruising past visiting Philadelphia. Colt Keith added a solo shot for the Tigers, who have now won six straight and nine of their last ten games. Riley Greene reached base four times and scored twice, while James Outman contributed a two-run triple. Jack Flaherty held Philadelphia to two runs and two hits over six innings to earn the victory.

Philadelphia starter Aaron Nola surrendered two runs and three hits while striking out eight over five innings. Derek Hill led the Phillies with three hits, including a solo homer, and two RBIs.

Rockies 4, Giants 3

Colorado pulled off a stunning comeback, scoring three runs in the ninth inning to topple San Francisco. Kyle Karros delivered a two-run single to flip the deficit into a lead, and Cole Carrigg added a sacrifice fly for extra insurance. Giants closer Caleb Kilian failed to retire any of the four batters he faced, allowing a single to Mickey Moniak, a walk to pinch hitter Troy Johnson, and a bunt single to Jake McCarthy before Karros came through. Antonio Senzatela, who threw a scoreless eighth, was credited with the win at 9-1.

Giants starter Robbie Ray gave up just one run on four hits and six walks over five-plus innings. Rafael Devers drove in three runs, while Luis Arraez had three hits for San Francisco, which fell to 2-3 on their current homestand.

Orioles 5, Royals 3

Samuel Basallo launched a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to give host Baltimore the winning edge against Kansas City in the first game of a three-game series. Blaze Alexander homered in the fourth and was the lone Oriole with two hits as Baltimore collected nine total. The Orioles have now won back-to-back games after dropping three straight.

Jac Caglianone and Isaac Collins went deep for Kansas City, which has now lost three in a row and seven of their last ten games. Josh Rojas joined Caglianone and Collins with two hits each as the Royals also totaled nine hits.

Reds 4, Cubs 0

Elly De La Cruz and JJ Bleday hit home runs, and Hunter Greene dominated for seven innings as host Cincinnati shut out Chicago in the series opener. De La Cruz blasted a solo homer and also tripled for the Reds, who out-hit the Cubs 13-4. Bleday hit a two-run shot, and Spencer Steer collected three hits. Greene improved to 1-1, surrendering just three hits and striking out 12 in his second start since returning from elbow surgery in March.

Seiya Suzuki had two hits for Chicago, which struck out 16 times and was shut out for the ninth time this season. De La Cruz snapped Cincinnati’s 15-inning scoreless drought with a leadoff homer in the fifth against Shota Imanaga, who fell to 5-8. The 400-foot blast was De La Cruz’s 15th home run of the year.

Guardians 3, Marlins 2

Parker Messick carried a no-hit bid into the sixth inning and Chase DeLauter smacked a two-run homer as Cleveland cooled off host Miami. Messick improved to 8-5, lasting six innings while allowing just one hit and one run. He struck out only one batter but induced 10 ground balls.

Sandy Alcantara dropped to 10-5 after giving up five hits and three runs while striking out eight over seven innings. Miami’s six-game winning streak came to an end. Heriberto Hernandez broke up the no-hit bid with a homer, and Leo Jimenez also went deep for the Marlins.

Rays 7, Mariners 2

Nick Martinez picked up his eighth win on the same day he was named to his first All-Star team, leading Tampa Bay to a victory over Seattle in St. Petersburg. Martinez tossed 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits. Junior Caminero went 2-for-4 with his 28th homer of the season — his 13th in just 17 games — along with a double, two RBIs, two runs scored, and a walk. Victor Mesa Jr., Jonathan Aranda, and Chandler Simpson each recorded three hits.

Cole Young homered and J.P. Crawford went 2-for-4 with a run for Seattle, which has now dropped four straight. Starter Luis Castillo fell to 3-8 after giving up four runs on nine hits over five innings.

Rangers 7, Astros 3

Wyatt Langford delivered a tiebreaking home run as Texas erupted for four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat Houston in Arlington. Langford’s ninth homer of the season answered Houston’s rally from a three-run hole. It was the first home run that left-handed reliever Bryan King has given up to a right-handed batter all season. Three batters later, Jake Burger also went deep off King with a three-run shot.

Houston had rallied from a 3-0 deficit when Yordan Alvarez launched his 30th homer of the season and 200th of his career to lead off the sixth. Yainer Diaz followed with a two-run shot in the seventh to tie the game at 3-3 before Texas took over in the eighth.

Red Sox 6, Mets 2

Wilyer Abreu contributed a two-run homer among his three hits, Anthony Seigler went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer, and Boston capped an eventful day by defeating host New York for its seventh consecutive win. The first pitch was delayed from 7:15 to 7:51 p.m. ET after the Red Sox didn’t land at nearby LaGuardia Airport until after 4 p.m. ET. Sonny Gray improved to 11-1, winning his ninth straight decision by allowing just one run on five hits and one walk over six innings.

Brett Baty homered and went 3-for-4, extending his career-best hitting streak to 10 games for the Mets, who have now lost twice in their last six games.

Angels 4, Twins 3

Vaughn Grissom hit a solo home run and a sacrifice fly, and Grayson Rodriguez delivered 5 1/3 solid innings to carry Los Angeles past host Minnesota. Grissom’s fifth homer of the season came in the fourth inning, helping the Angels build a 4-1 advantage that held up after Rodriguez departed having allowed three earned runs on six hits.

Josh Bell, Trevor Larnach, and Brooks Lee each hit two doubles for Minnesota, which went just 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

Yankees 5, Nationals 3

Jazz Chisholm Jr. crushed a go-ahead two-run homer in the ninth inning to spark New York past Washington, giving the Yankees back-to-back wins for the first time since June 23-24. Jasson Dominguez singled with one out before Chisholm connected off Matt Krook. Austin Wells added insurance with his own homer, and Ben Rice had hit his 29th of the season in the first inning. Ryan Weathers allowed one run on six hits over 5 1/3 innings, and David Bednar closed out the final two frames.

James Wood fell a triple short of the cycle and scored twice, while Keibert Ruiz also homered for Washington. The Nationals received a combined seven innings of two-run work from opener Carson Palmquist and bulk reliever Zach Littell.

Blue Jays 5, Padres 3

Kazuma Okamoto belted a historic three-run homer during a four-run fifth inning as visiting Toronto defeated San Diego. Okamoto’s 22nd homer of the season tied Shohei Ohtani’s major league rookie home run record for a Japanese-born player, giving the Blue Jays a 5-2 lead. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Alejandro Kirk added RBI hits for Toronto. Louis Varland recorded his 19th save in 19 attempts despite allowing a run in the ninth.

Xander Bogaerts gave the Padres an early 2-0 lead with a first-inning two-run shot, and Jackson Merrill added an RBI single. JP Sears fell to 2-2 after giving up six hits and three runs over 4 1/3 innings.

Diamondbacks 9, Dodgers 3

Tim Tawa homered and matched his career high with four RBIs as Arizona cruised past host Los Angeles. Tawa had three hits on the night, and Gabriel Moreno chipped in two hits and two RBIs as the Diamondbacks won their second game in a row. Eduardo Rodriguez improved to 8-3 with seven strong innings, pushing Arizona to 3-5 against the Dodgers this season.

Shohei Ohtani and Andy Pages homered for Los Angeles, which has now lost five of its last 17 games. Pages also had three hits.

Cardinals 2, Braves 1

Jimmy Crooks hit a go-ahead solo home run in the eighth inning to lift St. Louis over visiting Atlanta. After a rain delay of nearly three hours halted play in the top of the fourth, Crooks connected for his second home run of the season off Atlanta’s Danny Young to give the Cardinals the series-opening victory.

Chris Sale started for Atlanta, holding the Cardinals to two hits over three scoreless innings before the delay. Austin Riley’s RBI single in the fifth accounted for the Braves’ only run, as Atlanta dropped its fourth game in six tries.

Retirement may not be permanent for former Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald. The 10-time Pro Bowler, who walked away from professional football in 2024, has been generating buzz about a possible return to the field in 2026.

Those comeback rumors gained serious momentum after TMZ published photos showing Donald working out at the Rams’ training facility on Friday, making the prospect of an un-retirement appear far more realistic.

Over his decade with the Rams, Donald established himself as one of the most dominant defensive players in NFL history, earning eight All-Pro honors. His final season came in 2023, when he recorded eight sacks before calling it a career.

The speculation has intensified following the Rams’ blockbuster trade for Myles Garrett, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year. If Donald were to return anywhere close to his former elite level, a pairing between him and Garrett could form an extraordinarily fearsome defensive front for Los Angeles.

Rams head coach Sean McVay fueled the fire last month when he revealed he had already approached Donald about rejoining the team. “I’ve talked to him about the opportunity to bring him on board,” McVay said.

The coach made clear he believes Donald still has plenty left in the tank. “If Aaron decides he wants to dust ’em off at the age of 35,” McVay said, “I bet you he can still do it at a pretty high clip.”

Donald himself admitted that McVay’s pitch left an impression. Speaking with media personality Pat McAfee, he said, “It for sure got me thinking.”

During his career, Donald accumulated 111 sacks, 543 tackles, and 176 tackles for loss — numbers that cemented his legacy as one of the all-time greats at his position.

As for Garrett, the 30-year-old set the NFL single-season sack record last year with 23, all coming during his nine seasons and 134 games with the Cleveland Browns. He also tallied 412 career tackles, 125.5 sacks, 23 forced fumbles, and six fumble recoveries during his time in Cleveland.

At 6 feet, 5 inches tall, Erling Haaland cuts an imposing figure on the soccer field — a towering presence who can make opponents look small in both size and ability. With seven goals scored across four World Cup matches heading into Saturday’s game, the Norwegian striker has earned comparisons to a machine. But among a growing wave of devoted new fans, he’s something else entirely: a babygirl and a princess.

Haaland has exploded into a full-blown social media sensation, with his own posts and fan-created memes converting casual observers into passionate supporters almost overnight.

His commanding physical presence paired with a surprisingly playful online personality has fueled the frenzy. Fans can’t stop talking about his flowing blond hair, color-coordinated hair ties, and lighthearted posts — including a Snapchat-filtered selfie where he declared Shrek his “twin.” The sharp contrast between his on-field dominance and his relaxed, self-deprecating internet personality has earned him the “babygirl” label, a term fans often apply to male celebrities or characters who come across as sensitive, caring, or vulnerable.

Haaland’s crossover appeal reflects a wider trend of soccer players becoming pop culture icons, driven largely by how they carry themselves away from the game.

Sarah Wilson, a 31-year-old baseball content creator based in New York, only recently started following soccer — but she’s become such a devoted fan over the past month that she went on an extended search to track down her new favorite player’s jersey.

“I love Erling Haaland more than life itself,” Wilson said in a video that has since gone viral. “I cannot fathom being such a pretty Norwegian princess and also being one of the best strikers in all of football.”

Haaland is riding a wave of fame even greater than what he’d already built as the Premier League’s leading scorer. Wilson says it comes down to the combination of extraordinary talent and an endearing personality.

“Him being really, really talented — that’s the first pillar of it all. And then you find out that he’s 25 years old and he’s probably the most Gen Z athlete in the World Cup,” Wilson told the Associated Press, pointing to his use of Snapchat and playful photo filters. She added that many new fans are thinking, “‘Wow, I love that guy, he’s hilarious. Now he’s my new favorite player,’ which is exactly what happened with me.”

Haaland’s animated reactions during matches and his distinctive look have inspired hundreds of memes. He’s embraced the attention, posting cheeky selfies on Instagram, sharing long-form vlogs on YouTube, and engaging with followers through his public Snapchat stories — frequently poking fun at himself in the process.

After netting two goals to eliminate Brazil from the tournament, he shared a smug locker room selfie with the caption, “Well well well.” When an Instagram video with close to 100 million views compared his appearance to a green onion — its stringy roots serving as a stand-in for his hair — Haaland fired back in the comments with a side-eyeing dog GIF. And when Google added a Viking rowing animation to his search results, he posted on X: “One thing to do today… search my name on Google,” complete with a winking emoji.

At a team news conference on Thursday, Haaland said he’s genuinely enjoyed the embrace he’s received from American fans.

“I think it’s a good thing because I like the Americans. I think they are kind of hilarious as well. They are funny. I like the way they are,” he said. “I think it’s just good and honestly, on every single thing, the World Cup so far here has been amazing.”

Sports function as a “cultural force” comparable to politics or religion, according to Jeffrey Kassing, a professor at Arizona State University who has spent years studying how fans and athletes use social media. He said it makes perfect sense that Haaland has “crossed over” into audiences with no prior interest in soccer. A song from his childhood has gone viral online. A lookalike competition is being organized. Even dogs have been spotted wearing blond wigs in his honor.

“There used to be a whole lot of gatekeeping that would happen with athletes; you would only ever hear from athletes maybe in an interview or in a press conference,” Kassing said. He noted that Haaland is a prime example of how today’s players have far greater control over how they’re perceived by the public.

The closeness fans feel toward athletes like Haaland is rooted in what researchers call a parasocial relationship — a one-sided connection where fans feel they know a celebrity personally, even though that celebrity doesn’t know them. Gayle Stever, a professor at Empire State University who has studied celebrity-fan dynamics for decades, noted that Haaland’s nearly 60 million Instagram followers feel a personal bond with him, despite the relationship being entirely one-directional.

The vast majority of these parasocial connections are “positive, healthy and normal,” Stever said, with only a small fraction of people taking things to unhealthy extremes.

Skyla Clarke, a 19-year-old sports management student in Brisbane, Australia, and a lifelong soccer fan, says she’s witnessed the darker side of fan culture — attacks on players after poor performances, and unprovoked hostility directed at athletes’ partners are not uncommon. Haaland himself described AI-generated content involving players as “a bit scary,” though he noted in Norwegian that the widespread attention on the team and its traditions — such as the rowing celebration — is ultimately a form of praise.

“Usually if it’s like that, it means that you’re doing something right, and that your country is doing something right,” Haaland said.

Even healthy fan behavior can seem strange to those unfamiliar with internet culture. Haaland isn’t the only player whose persona has taken off online, nor is he the only one fans have crowned a babygirl.

Fans have described feeling “maternal” toward Luka Modrić — particularly following Croatia’s elimination in what was the 40-year-old’s final international match. Clarke called Modrić a “special case,” saying his difficult childhood during the dissolution of Yugoslavia adds emotional depth to how fans connect with him online. Some fans incorporate childhood photos of him into their content, creating “a deeper appreciation for him as a player,” she said. Clarke’s own TikTok video about Modrić’s possible retirement racked up hundreds of thousands of views within days.

While Modrić maintains a relatively quiet social media presence compared to Haaland, Kassing noted that fans “take it upon themselves to try to shape the perception” of athletes they feel connected to. In both Modrić and Haaland’s cases, some fans do this by adding bows and hearts to images of the players.

Ahead of Norway’s quarterfinal matchup against England on Saturday, fans have also zeroed in on Haaland’s friendship with English player Jude Bellingham, his former teammate. Some fans have “shipped” the two, creating edits of them hugging and celebrating together and drawing comparisons to the TV show “Heated Rivalry,” in which two rival professional hockey players develop a romance away from the ice.

“People have been saying ‘heated Haalandry,’” said Nulara Ratwatté, a 19-year-old art student at the University of Melbourne, who is among the many fans whose videos about falling for Haaland have gone viral.

Ratwatté admits she’s “not supposed to talk about football” given her limited knowledge of the sport, but she says there’s no turning back after catching Haaland fever. She describes him as a “big, friendly giant” and, despite knowing little about soccer, she’s now tuning in to root for Norway.

“Truly, from the bottom of my heart,” she said, “I love him.”

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago White Sox rookie center fielder Tristan Peters made franchise history Friday night, becoming the first White Sox player to hit for the cycle in almost nine years during a commanding 14-1 win over the Athletics.

Peters put together the rare accomplishment piece by piece throughout the game — collecting a double in the third inning, a single in the fifth, and a two-run home run in the seventh.

With only a triple standing between him and the cycle, Peters stepped back into the batter’s box later in the seventh inning and smoked a hard ground ball past first base and down the right-field line. The 26-year-old from Canada hustled around second base and dove headfirst into third, beating the relay throw and sending the crowd into a frenzy. That hit drove in three of Chicago’s eight runs in the inning, capping a stellar night in which he went 4-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored, all while batting ninth in the lineup.

Peters joins Pete Crow-Armstrong and Bryce Harper as the only three major leaguers to hit for the cycle so far this season. The last time a White Sox player turned the trick was Jose Abreu on September 9, 2017 — nearly nine years ago.

MIAMI — England captain Harry Kane is opening up about an unexpected golf outing with U.S. President Donald Trump, calling the experience “surreal” and giving the president high marks for his game on the course.

Earlier this week, Trump mentioned to reporters that he had hit the links with the England striker, calling Kane a great player and a solid golfer. Kane then confirmed the story himself on Friday, speaking to reporters in Miami ahead of England’s World Cup quarter-final showdown with Norway.

Kane said the round took place in Palm Beach, Florida, roughly 18 months ago. “I played all right, to be honest,” Kane told reporters. “He invited me to play when I was down in Palm Beach. So yeah, when the president invites you somewhere …”

Kane went on to reflect on what the encounter was like. “It was a pretty surreal experience just to meet him and obviously play golf with him. His golf is pretty good, to be honest,” Kane said. “I hope I can play as well as him when I’m his age. So yeah, unique experience and I was just grateful he invited me down to play.”

The conversation around the two began after Trump took to his Truth Social platform to praise the Bayern Munich forward following England’s 3-2 round-of-16 win over Mexico, posting: “Harry Kane of England is a GREAT player!!!”

The very next day, Trump revealed to reporters that the two had shared a round of golf together. “I think Kane is a great player,” Trump said. “I played golf with him and I like him a lot. He’s a good golfer. He’s really great.”

The St. Louis Blues have brought back forward Oskar Sundqvist, inking the unrestricted free agent to a one-year, two-way contract on Friday.

Under the terms of the deal, Sundqvist will earn $850,000 if playing at the NHL level, or $300,000 if he plays in the American Hockey League.

In 52 games with St. Louis last season, the 32-year-old forward tallied 17 points — five goals and 12 assists — along with a minus-18 rating, 26 penalty minutes, 26 blocked shots, and 69 hits.

Over his entire NHL career spanning 545 regular-season games, Sundqvist has accumulated 181 points (67 goals and 114 assists), a minus-40 rating, 231 penalty minutes, 288 blocks, and 651 hits. He has suited up for the Pittsburgh Penguins (2015-17), the Blues (2017-22 and 2023 to present), the Detroit Red Wings (2022-23), and the Minnesota Wild (2023).

A native of Sweden, Sundqvist has also made his mark in the postseason, recording 13 points (six goals, seven assists), a plus-4 rating, 16 penalty minutes, 18 blocks, and 126 hits across 44 playoff games. He has won two Stanley Cup championships — one with Pittsburgh in 2016 and another with St. Louis in 2019, which was the franchise’s first-ever title.

Sundqvist was originally selected by the Penguins in the third round of the 2012 NHL Draft.

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo reportedly threw a punch at his former teammate Tyler Herro during a brief confrontation in Las Vegas on Friday, according to reports from ESPN and The Athletic.

The altercation took place on a practice court inside a Las Vegas hotel, where NBA Summer League games are currently being hosted. Herro was present with an AAU team that he oversees. According to ESPN, Adebayo walked onto the court, and after Herro made a comment to his ex-teammate, Adebayo struck him in the “head area.”

Security personnel escorted Herro away from the scene, while Adebayo departed on his own. The Athletic reported that Las Vegas police were not called to respond to the incident.

Shortly after the altercation — but before news of it became public — Herro sat down for an interview with Amazon Prime Video ahead of a summer league game between the Miami and Milwaukee squads. He spoke warmly about his time with the Heat organization.

“It’s all love. It’s all love in Miami,” Herro said. “I’ve seen a couple of the guys, and the coaching staff. Chris Quinn, Spo (Erik Spoelstra), front office guys. We are all good in Miami and just the opportunity for both sides to reset, get a fresh start and we’re both super happy for this.”

The upbeat comments came despite tension that had been building publicly. Last week, a series of private messages between Herro and an anonymous fan surfaced online, in which Herro appeared to take a shot at Adebayo’s defensive abilities.

“You should get paid 60 million to be a top tier defender on some nights? I’m just wondering,” Herro allegedly wrote in those messages.

Herro, 26, was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a major deal. In that transaction, the Bucks sent Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to Miami in exchange for Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round draft picks, a second-round pick, and a pick swap.

Adebayo, 28, has spent his entire nine-year NBA career with the Heat and was Herro’s teammate for seven of those seasons. Earlier this year, on March 10, Adebayo erupted for 83 points against the Washington Wizards, surpassing Kobe Bryant for the second-highest individual scoring performance in NBA history.

Adebayo signed a three-year, $166 million contract extension with Miami in June 2024. This past season, he averaged 20.1 points and 10.0 rebounds per game over 73 appearances. Herro, meanwhile, averaged 20.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists, though injuries limited him to just 33 games.

The San Antonio Spurs announced Friday that French basketball phenom Victor Wembanyama has agreed to a multi-year contract extension with the franchise. The team did not reveal the financial terms of the agreement.

Wembanyama took to social media to share the news with fans, writing, “Spurs family, I’m here to stay. Whatever it takes.”

The 22-year-old center had a remarkable season, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to earn the Defensive Player of the Year award. He also helped carry the Spurs all the way to the NBA Finals, where the team ultimately fell to the New York Knicks in five games.

Selected first overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama posted career-best numbers during the regular season, averaging 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists across 64 games.

He also led the entire league with 3.08 blocked shots per game while adding 1.03 steals per contest. Those numbers made him just the seventh player in NBA history to average at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks in a single season.

Spain’s Mikel Merino delivered another late-game heroic moment, scoring in the 88th minute to lift Spain past Belgium 2-1 in the World Cup quarterfinals in Inglewood, California. Merino entered the match in the 86th minute and needed only two touches to make his mark, rushing into the box and capitalizing after backup Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens fumbled a long-range shot from Pau Cubarsí. It was the second consecutive match in which Merino came off the bench to seal a win — he also scored late as a substitute in Spain’s 1-0 victory over Portugal. Spain will now face tournament favorite France in the semifinals on Tuesday in the Dallas area.

World Cup quarterfinal ticket resale prices fell sharply after the United States and Mexico were eliminated from the tournament. According to the resale platform TickPick, the lowest available ticket for the Spain-Belgium match dropped to $1,381 — down from $3,261 before the U.S. fell to Belgium in the round of 16. The England-Norway quarterfinal had a floor price of $2,049, compared to $3,866 before England beat Mexico to advance. The Argentina-Switzerland game’s lowest listed price was $1,142, down from $2,381 prior to the round of 16. Meanwhile, FIFA put nearly 1,200 additional seats on sale for the World Cup final, priced at $7,380 each.

Victor Wembanyama has agreed to the largest contract in San Antonio Spurs franchise history. A source familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press that the five-year extension could surpass $250 million if Wembanyama exercises the player option in the final year of the deal. The source spoke anonymously because neither side publicly disclosed the specific financial terms.

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani will undergo a procedure Sunday to drain fluid from his left knee, and as a result, he will not participate in next week’s All-Star Game. The Dodgers pulled Ohtani from his scheduled Friday night pitching start against the Arizona Diamondbacks, though he is expected to serve as designated hitter throughout the weekend series. Ohtani has been managing the knee issue for at least a month, with an earlier outing against the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 11 cut short due to inflammation in the same knee.

Former Miami Heat teammates Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro were involved in a brief physical altercation at an NBA Summer League practice facility in Las Vegas on Friday. Reports indicate Adebayo struck Herro during the encounter. Herro was dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks earlier this month. The Heat acknowledged the incident but offered no further comment, and Herro did not speak publicly about what happened. In other NBA news, the National Basketball Players Association’s executive director David Kelly voiced criticism of the second apron provision in the league’s collective bargaining agreement. Additionally, Trae Young spoke about his new $212 million contract with the Washington Wizards, stressing the importance of team chemistry and brushing aside outside criticism.

Defending Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner dominated seven-time winner Novak Djokovic with a commanding 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory to reach the Wimbledon final. The win gave Sinner some payback after Djokovic defeated him at the Australian Open earlier this year, and it helped quiet doubts following Sinner’s struggles at the French Open. The top-ranked Sinner will face second-seeded Alexander Zverev in Sunday’s championship match. Zverev reached the final by defeating British wild card Arthur Fery 7-6 (0), 6-2, 6-4 in a lopsided match on Centre Court. The win comes just one month after Zverev claimed his first Grand Slam title at the French Open. The loss prompted Djokovic to reflect, saying he feels both “blessed and cursed” by the level of success he has achieved throughout his career.

World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler experienced a rare stumble at the Scottish Open in North Berwick, Scotland, missing the cut for the first time in nearly four years. Scheffler carded a 72 on Friday and finished two shots outside the cut line at The Renaissance Club. His last missed cut came at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in August 2022. Scheffler noted he was unable to get close enough to the hole to generate quality birdie chances, and he also missed a 6-foot par putt on the final hole and a 7-foot birdie attempt on his 16th hole. He is heading to Royal Birkdale early to begin preparations for the British Open.

With Scheffler out of contention, Rory McIlroy seized the moment at the Scottish Open, shooting a 66 to share the 36-hole lead with Tom Kim and Jordan Smith. McIlroy, who won the Scottish Open three years ago, is well-positioned to add another title. Scheffler was not alone in his early exit — Patrick Cantlay and Bernd Wiesberger also fell from a share of the first-round lead to missing the cut entirely.

In the World Cup quarterfinals, England prepared to face Norway in Miami Gardens, Florida, with much of the attention focused on Norwegian forward Erling Haaland. Haaland has tallied seven goals in the tournament, just behind Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi in the scoring race. England midfielder Morgan Rogers acknowledged the difficulty of containing Haaland, citing his size, strength, and skill. Haaland’s Manchester City teammate and England player Nico O’Reilly suggested the key was keeping the ball away from Haaland altogether. The match also set up a personal battle between Haaland and England’s Harry Kane, with both teams having reached the quarterfinals through dramatic victories.

Defending World Cup champion Argentina faced Switzerland in the final quarterfinal match Saturday night at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, is considered one of the tournament favorites, while Switzerland is making its first quarterfinal appearance since 1954. Switzerland’s defense has been among the stingiest in the tournament, surrendering just three goals across five matches. Argentina, by contrast, had to grind past Cape Verde before rallying from two goals down to defeat Egypt 3-2. Messi heads into the match tied with France’s Kylian Mbappé at eight goals each in the race for the tournament’s Golden Boot award.

Former Miami Heat teammates Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro found themselves in a brief but heated confrontation — both verbal and physical — at an NBA Summer League practice facility in Las Vegas on Friday, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

The source, who asked not to be identified because neither player nor their respective teams made any public statement about the incident, told The Associated Press that Adebayo hit Herro at least once during the encounter.

The two players were teammates until earlier this month, when Herro was dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of the trade that brought Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami. Adebayo, the Heat’s team captain, will now play alongside the superstar in South Florida.

The Heat acknowledged that something happened but offered no further details. Herro briefly addressed reporters from The Miami Herald and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel following a summer league game between the Bucks and Heat, offering only this: “my only comment is no comment.” Herro was in attendance for that game, while Adebayo did not appear at the contest. ESPN was the first outlet to report specifics of the altercation.

The source told AP that one contributing factor to the confrontation was that Herro had apparently made critical remarks about Adebayo — specifically targeting the three-year, $166 million contract extension Miami awarded him in 2024. Those comments are believed to have been made through direct messages on social media, and screenshots of the conversations eventually became public.

Meanwhile, other notable developments unfolded in Las Vegas during Summer League on Friday.

The Washington Wizards have been using the Summer League as an opportunity for team bonding, with veteran players gathering to watch their top overall pick and others showing up to support Trae Young at a press conference where his new $212 million, four-year contract was announced.

Young appeared to embrace the team atmosphere, saying: “I’m a people’s person. I think to be the best version of yourself, you’ve got to be in the most comfortable spot for yourself. I mean, surround yourself with the right people and the right things. And for me, just being around here (for) the few months that I was after I got traded, it just felt like this could be my next home. And I mean, that’s why I’m here.”

The four-time All-Star had a difficult past season, playing in only 15 games split between Atlanta and Washington — including just five appearances after being traded from the Hawks, the team he spent his first 7½ NBA seasons with. He averaged 17.9 points per game, more than seven points below his career average.

Young addressed the criticism surrounding the large contract the Wizards committed to him, saying he isn’t concerned about outside opinions. “I don’t really care about what other people think,” he said. “I just care about what the people in this organization think, my teammates think and how we’re going to get better and how we’re going to find ways to win games. So, what everybody else has to say, I mean, it’s all irrelevant to me.”

Also on Friday, newly appointed National Basketball Players Association executive director David Kelly took strong aim at the NBA’s second apron salary rule, vowing that the union will push back against it in the next collective bargaining agreement.

“We are not fans of the second apron,” Kelly said. “We did not propose the second apron. We should have done a better job of fighting back against the second apron, and in the future, we will have a much more unified union, and we will do a better of fighting it back against a second apron.”

Kelly’s remarks came in response to a question about comments NBA veteran Kyle Kuzma posted on social media earlier this month. Kuzma argued that the salary apron rules are “starting to function like a hard cap on player value, team continuity, and player movement,” and urged the union to step up its efforts rather than let the league “continue to run circles around us time and time again with elite lawyers, economists, cap experts, media strategists, and long term business operators.”

Kelly pushed back on that framing, though he said he did so with respect. “You don’t ever go into any sort of a competition trying to score as many points as your opponent,” he said. “We do not need anyone who is equal to the NBA. The NBA is not the standard. We need people who will fight for us and force the NBA to raise their game to our standard.”

The current collective bargaining agreement is set to remain in effect through at least the 2028-29 season.

The New York Mets have placed infielder Mark Vientos on the 10-day injured list following a fractured right hand sustained during Thursday’s game. While surgery will not be necessary, the 26-year-old is expected to miss six to eight weeks of action.

The injury occurred in the second inning of New York’s 7-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals at home on Thursday, when Vientos was struck by a 92.2 mph sinker thrown by Royals pitcher Michael Wacha. Vientos was able to run the bases after being hit but did not return to his position at third base when the third inning began.

Describing the moment he realized something was seriously wrong, Vientos said, “It definitely sucks because I want to be with the team and play with the guys. I’ve been hit in the hand before. I started to realize this (injury) was different when I was on first base and the hand started to feel a little numb. It was a painful feeling. … The hand was swollen and there was no way I could grip the ball.”

Through 73 games this season, Vientos is batting .211 with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs. He has seen his playing time decrease, splitting time between first base (60 games), designated hitter (eight games), and third base (three games).

Now in his fifth year with the Mets — the team that drafted him in the second round back in 2017 — Vientos carries a career batting average of .234 with 65 home runs and 192 RBIs across 386 games. His standout year came in 2024, when he posted a .266 average with 27 home runs and 71 RBIs in 111 games.

To fill the roster spot, the Mets promoted shortstop Zack Short from Triple-A Syracuse. The 31-year-old had appeared in three games for New York earlier this season, going 1-for-8 (.125), after previously posting a .167 average in 23 games with the Detroit Tigers. At Syracuse this year, Short went 3-for-21 (.143) in seven games. He has now suited up for five different Major League Baseball organizations since 2021, including 10 games with the Mets in 2024 where he hit .111.

Right-handed pitcher Tobias Myers, 27, was also recalled from Syracuse. In his first season with the Mets, Myers is 0-2 with one save, a 6.14 ERA, 13 walks, and 33 strikeouts in 44 innings spread across 25 appearances, including three starts. Over his career, Myers is 10-10 with one save, 64 walks, and 198 strikeouts in 232 and two-thirds innings across 74 games, pitching for both the Milwaukee Brewers and the Mets.

Myers had been optioned to Syracuse on Thursday when 28-year-old Dan Hammer, a career minor leaguer, was added to the major league roster to strengthen the bullpen. Hammer did not appear in a game before being designated for assignment as part of Friday’s moves.

Oakland Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz was held out of Friday night’s lineup after being diagnosed with a right thumb capsule strain — an injury that could cost him a spot in next Tuesday’s All-Star Game in Philadelphia.

A’s manager Mark Kotsay said the team anticipates Kurtz will need to be placed on the 10-day injured list, a move that would make him unavailable for the All-Star Game. Kurtz had been selected as the American League’s starting first baseman after Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays withdrew from the game due to a back injury.

“We had Kurtz evaluated because he’s been dealing with a right thumb issue,” Kotsay said. “He’s played through it for, I don’t want to quote the timeline, but more than a few days. … We’re expecting him to have to go to the IL, which, obviously, will impact the All-Star Game. Once we really determine that, we’ll have more info.”

Kurtz left Wednesday’s game against the Detroit Tigers after just one and a half innings. The team initially cited illness as the reason for his early exit, but Kurtz also appeared to injure the hand while attempting to field a throw during the bottom of the first inning.

The 23-year-old is hitting .266 with 20 home runs across 92 games this season. His 66 RBIs entering Friday ranked second-highest among American League players.

In additional roster moves, the Athletics placed versatile infielder/outfielder Zack Gelof on the 10-day injured list with a knee injury and called up first baseman/outfielder Joey Meneses from Triple-A Las Vegas.

Gelof, 26, suffered the knee injury Thursday night while playing left field. He made a sliding catch in foul territory after a lengthy run, and his knee was cut when it struck the metal railing in front of the stands. The injury came shortly after Gelof had returned from a right hand contusion on July 4. In 67 games this season, he is batting .273 with 11 home runs and 29 RBIs.

Meneses, 34, appeared in seven games with the A’s earlier this year, going 2-for-14 with two RBIs for a .143 batting average.

Philadelphia Phillies fans will have plenty to cheer about at Monday’s Home Run Derby, with two of their own taking part in the festivities at Citizens Bank Park.

Kyle Schwarber made it official on Friday, announcing he will compete alongside Phillies teammate Bryce Harper in the annual slugfest. Schwarber currently leads all of Major League Baseball with 32 home runs on the season.

The final spot in the eight-man field was filled Friday night by Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami. The 26-year-old Japanese rookie had been sidelined for 35 games with a hamstring injury before returning to action Friday. Despite the time missed, Murakami had already launched 20 home runs in just 57 games before hitting the injured list.

The rest of the derby lineup includes Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero, New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice, Kansas City Royals outfielder Jac Caglianone, St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker, and Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras.

This won’t be Schwarber’s first time in the derby spotlight. Back in 2018, when he was playing for the Chicago Cubs, he advanced all the way to the finals — where he lost to none other than Harper, who was then with the Nationals. That year’s All-Star events were hosted in Washington.

His most recent derby appearance didn’t go as well. In 2022, Schwarber was eliminated in the opening round.

INGLEWOOD, California — Substitute Mikel Merino delivered another clutch late goal for Spain on Friday, capitalizing on a fumble by Belgium’s backup goalkeeper to secure a 2-1 quarterfinal victory and set up a World Cup semifinal showdown with France.

The match was deadlocked at 1-1 heading into the second half, but Belgium’s fortunes took a turn when starting keeper Thibaut Courtois left the field injured. His replacement, Senne Lammens, couldn’t hold onto a low shot from Pau Cubarsi, and the ball bounced right to Merino, who buried it in front of a packed, largely pro-Spain crowd on a scorching afternoon at Los Angeles Stadium.

“There are no such things as coincidences,” Merino said after the match. “If you go into a match well-prepared, things tend to happen again.”

It was a familiar script for Merino, who had also come off the bench to score the decisive goal in Spain’s 1-0 round-of-16 win over Portugal. He entered Friday’s contest in the 86th minute and netted just two minutes later, making him the first player in World Cup history to score the winning goal in two separate knockout-stage matches as a substitute.

“We are two matches away from winning the World Cup and that is what we are going after,” Merino added.

The last time Spain reached the World Cup semifinals was in 2010 — the year they lifted the trophy. Now, as European champions, they’ll face tournament favorites France in Dallas on Tuesday for a spot in the final.

“We’re going to work hard to try and beat France,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said. “They’ll be just as worried as we are.”

Spain came out aggressive from the opening whistle. Fabian Ruiz gave them the lead around the 30-minute mark, firing a shot through defender Timothy Castagne’s legs and into the net after Courtois made a superb diving save. The goal validated De la Fuente’s surprising choice to start the Paris St Germain midfielder over Pedri, who came on for Ruiz early in the second half.

Belgium pulled level 11 minutes later when Charles De Ketelaere timed his run perfectly to head a Castagne cross past Spanish keeper Unai Simon — the first goal Spain had given up in the entire tournament. The equalizer reinvigorated Belgium as both sides battled through the intense heat to halftime.

Spain came out of the locker room with renewed energy, dominating possession and pressing the Belgian defense. Eighteen-year-old Lamine Yamal was a constant danger throughout the match. Spain ultimately outshot Belgium 17 to 5, and the late winner felt like only a matter of time.

Belgium entered the match already shorthanded. Captain Youri Tielemans picked up an injury during warmups and was pulled from the starting lineup, with Hans Vanaken stepping in. Midfielder Amadou Onana was also absent, having torn his ACL in Belgium’s round-of-16 win over the United States.

But the loss of Courtois proved to be the turning point. The 34-year-old Real Madrid goalkeeper, regarded as one of the best in the world, made four outstanding saves before reporting muscle pain in his leg on long kicks in the second half. Coach Rudi Garcia made the call to substitute him, and Courtois left the field in tears.

“I wanted to continue but, yeah, the coach wanted someone 100%, so okay, that’s his decision … and that’s not a problem,” Courtois said afterward.

With Courtois watching helplessly from the sideline, Lammens was unable to make the routine stop that would have kept Belgium alive. Courtois was quick to console his teammate.

“Senne, obviously, I gave him a big hug,” Courtois said. “Not much more I can do at the moment. I know, for goalkeepers, this is a shit feeling, and he’s a great goalkeeper, and he will only get stronger from this.”

Belgium veterans Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku pushed for a late equalizer but couldn’t break through Spain’s defense.

The 70,492 fans in attendance at the sun-drenched Los Angeles Stadium included musicians Courtney Love and Noel Gallagher, American actor Brad Pitt, and Spanish actors Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem.

Friday’s quarterfinal was the eighth and final World Cup match held at the $5 billion venue, known outside the tournament as SoFi Stadium and home to the NFL’s Rams and Chargers.

The Minnesota Twins bolstered their bullpen Friday, landing right-handed reliever Tommy Nance from the Toronto Blue Jays. In return, Toronto received catcher and infielder prospect Ryan Sprock along with an undisclosed sum of international bonus pool money.

Nance, 35, has been with Toronto for three seasons. Before joining the Blue Jays, he spent one season each with the Chicago Cubs in 2021 and the Miami Marlins in 2022, marking the beginning of his Major League Baseball career.

This season, Nance has appeared in 32 games, compiling a 1-2 record and a 3.82 earned run average. He has struck out 34 batters while issuing just 13 walks. Right-handed hitters have had a particularly tough time against him in 2026, batting only .159.

Sprock, 21 years old, was selected by Minnesota in the eighth round of the 2025 draft. He has seen action at both Class-A Fort Myers and High-A Cedar Rapids this season, combining for a .297 batting average, five home runs, 38 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases across both levels.

To open a spot for Nance on the 40-man roster, the Twins moved right-hander Mick Abel to the 60-day injured list. Abel has been dealing with right elbow inflammation.

The St. Louis Cardinals made a major commitment to one of baseball’s brightest young talents Friday, agreeing to an eight-year contract extension with rookie second baseman JJ Wetherholt.

Reports indicate the 23-year-old will earn $112.5 million under the deal, with additional performance bonuses capable of pushing the total value as high as $132 million. The extension begins with the 2026 season and carries through the 2034 campaign.

Wetherholt was St. Louis’s first-round pick — seventh overall — in the 2024 amateur draft. Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom praised the young infielder in an official news release.

“Since joining the Cardinals two years ago, JJ has impressed in every aspect,” Bloom said. “He is a dynamic player who produces in every facet of the game, and a true professional who is consistent, prepared and hard-working. Equally as important, he’s a great teammate who wants to win, and he represents the organization with class both at the field and away from it.”

Bloom continued: “We are proud of the person JJ is and the player he continues to become, and are pleased to enter into this commitment with him. JJ is a very important part of what we are building, and we look forward to winning together for many years.”

Through 87 games heading into Friday, Wetherholt has already etched his name in Cardinals history. His 13 home runs this season are the most ever hit by a rookie second baseman in franchise history. He has also driven in 36 runs while batting .267. On defense, he has been equally impressive, ranking first among all major league second basemen with 12 runs prevented.

The left-handed hitter made a name for himself at West Virginia during his college days before quickly rising through the Cardinals’ minor league system. In his first professional season, he was named MVP of the Double-A Texas League — a remarkable achievement considering he appeared in just 62 games for Springfield.

With the deal now in place, Wetherholt becomes the first St. Louis player currently under contract for the 2027 season.

Victor Wembanyama has locked in a new deal with the San Antonio Spurs — and it will go down as the biggest contract in the franchise’s history. A source familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Friday that the five-year extension could surpass $250 million if Wembanyama exercises the player option included in the final year of the agreement.

The source spoke anonymously to the AP because neither the Spurs nor Wembanyama’s camp publicly disclosed the financial terms. The team confirmed the signing in an official announcement, describing it only as “a multi-year contract extension.”

What makes the deal notable is that Wembanyama left money on the table. According to the source, he was eligible for a contract that could have climbed above $300 million, but deliberately chose a lower figure. The reason, the source said, was to give the Spurs more salary cap flexibility as they look to build around their promising young core — with an eye toward future contract extensions for other rising players on the roster.

The Spurs reached the NBA Finals this past season, powered in large part by Wembanyama, who earned All-NBA honors and was the unanimous selection as Defensive Player of the Year. ESPN was first to report the agreement.

Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred put together one of the fastest women’s 200-metre performances in history on Friday, clocking 21.51 seconds at the Monaco Diamond League meet to claim victory and cement her place as the third-fastest woman ever over the distance.

Alfred struggled off the starting blocks but made up ground dramatically over the final 50 metres, ultimately setting a new world lead for the season. She finished 0.25 seconds ahead of Adaejah Hodge of the British Virgin Islands, with American Gabby Thomas — who beat Alfred for the gold medal at the Paris Games — finishing third in 21.84.

“It’s not about the reaction time, it’s about how you finish,” said Alfred, who is also the Olympic champion in the 100m. “I didn’t realise how fast it was until I crossed the line.”

In the men’s 100m, Jamaica’s world champion Oblique Seville looked dominant from start to finish, holding off a late challenge to win in 9.88 seconds. Seville had placed second earlier this month in Eugene but left no doubt in Monaco. American Jordan Anthony was second in 9.92, and Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme took third in 10.00.

One of the evening’s most remarkable moments came in the rarely run 1,000 metres, where Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi shattered the world record on his very first attempt at the event. The Olympic 800m champion finished in 2 minutes and 11.83 seconds, trimming 0.13 seconds off the previous mark set by fellow Kenyan Noah Ngeny 27 years ago. Britain’s Jake Wightman came in nearly a full second behind in second place, with Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati finishing third.

Botswana’s world champion Busang Collen Kebinatshipi continued his dominant 2025 campaign in the 400m, claiming his fifth consecutive Diamond League win in the event with a time of 43.44 seconds. Americans Jacory Patterson (43.96) and Rai Benjamin (44.13) rounded out the top three.

“I did not expect me to be fast like this. We are just playing around and see how fast we can go towards the end of the season,” Kebinatshipi said. “My focus now is on the 400m but maybe in the future, when I achieve what I want in this event, we can switch to 200m.”

Dominican runner Marileidy Paulino stayed perfect on the season, taking the women’s 400m in 48.67 seconds. American Aaliyah Butler was second in 48.84, and Czech athlete Lurdes Gloria Manuel placed third in 49.44.

American Olympic champion Masai Russell continued her impressive season with a 12.20-second win in the 100m hurdles, finishing 0.18 seconds ahead of fellow American Alaysha Johnson. The Netherlands’ Nadine Visser was third in 12.49.

Switzerland’s Dominic Lokinyomo Lobalu edged American Graham Blanks by just six hundredths of a second in the men’s 5,000m, winning in 12:52.54 after overtaking Blanks in the final strides. Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew finished third in 12:52.91.

In the field events, Australia’s Nina Kennedy soared to a 4.95-metre clearance in the women’s pole vault, setting the new world lead and becoming just the sixth woman in history to reach that height. The Paris Olympic champion had missed nearly all of the 2025 season due to leg injuries before her return at the Rabat Diamond League in May. She made an attempt at the five-metre mark before ending her night.

Meanwhile, Mondo Duplantis — who regularly draws crowds hoping to witness another world record — won the men’s pole vault with a leap of 6.07 metres, though he was unable to clear 6.15 on three attempts.

China’s 18-year-old Yan Ziyi won the women’s javelin with a throw of 68.75 metres, while Cuba’s reigning world champion Leyanis Perez took the women’s triple jump with a mark of 15.06 metres. Greece’s two-time Olympic champion Miltiadis Tentoglou won the men’s long jump with 8.61 metres, and Ukraine’s Oleh Doroshchuk topped the men’s high jump at 2.32 metres.

ROSARIO, Argentina — A towering tribute to soccer icon Lionel Messi has gotten a fresh makeover in the city where he grew up.

The enormous mural, spanning 534 square meters — roughly 5,748 square feet — covers the side of a building in downtown Rosario, Argentina, Messi’s birthplace. Artists restored and officially unveiled the work just in time for Argentina’s World Cup quarterfinal matchup against Switzerland.

Project director Marlene Zuriaga noted that the restoration of the mural, which was first created in 2021, required 300 liters — about 79 gallons — of paint to complete.

The artwork carries the title “From another galaxy and from my city” and features several new additions, including three stars on the jersey badge worn by the giant painted version of Messi — one for each of Argentina’s three World Cup championship victories — along with the word “Gracias!” meaning “Thank you!” displayed at the top of the mural.

Messi, now 39 years old, became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history during this tournament. His roots in the sport trace back to Rosario, where he played for local club Newell’s Old Boys before rising to global stardom.

Artist Lisandro Urteaga reflected on the meaning behind the mural’s name, saying: “We called the mural ‘From another galaxy’ but in reality he’s a human like us, who had to deal with a lot of challenges from childhood, who was born among humble working people, who rose above it.”

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani will not take the mound Friday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, as the team announced he has been removed from his scheduled start due to persistent irritation in his left knee.

The four-time MVP, who plays both as a pitcher and a hitter, will shift to the designated hitter role for the remainder of the weekend series rather than pitching.

In addition to missing Friday’s start, the 32-year-old will not travel to Philadelphia to participate in the MLB All-Star Game, which he had been set to appear in.

Following the conclusion of the Diamondbacks series, Ohtani is expected to undergo some unspecified “interventions” on his knee, with the goal of having him fully ready to contribute when the second half of the season gets underway.

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani has been ruled out of next week’s All-Star Game in Philadelphia, as persistent irritation in his left knee continues to sideline him from certain duties.

The Dodgers announced that Ohtani would also skip his scheduled pitching start against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday evening, though he will remain in the lineup as a designated hitter throughout the weekend series.

The knee has been bothering Ohtani for at least a month. His outing against the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 11 was cut short due to inflammation in that same knee.

Once the team’s series against Arizona concludes on Sunday, Ohtani will undergo what the Dodgers described as “interventions” on the knee to prepare for the second half of the season — a process that will keep him away from the All-Star festivities at Citizens Bank Park.

The four-time MVP has once again established himself as one of baseball’s premier players this season, remaining the only true two-way player in the big leagues. He is currently batting .290 with 20 home runs and 56 RBIs, while posting an 8-2 record on the mound with a 1.79 ERA and 95 strikeouts across 85 2/3 innings.

His absence from the All-Star Game is a significant loss for baseball’s midsummer showcase. The Japanese star, who celebrated his 32nd birthday earlier this week, ranks among the sport’s most recognizable figures and led all of Major League Baseball in jersey sales last season.

Earlier this week, on Tuesday night, Ohtani launched his 300th career home run — a leadoff blast off Colorado’s Michael Lorenzen — becoming the first Japanese-born player in major league history to reach that milestone.

The Dodgers, the two-time defending World Series champions, owned baseball’s best record at 61-33 heading into Friday’s action.

The Philadelphia Phillies will have a strong presence in this year’s Home Run Derby, with two of their own set to compete when the event takes place Monday at Citizens Bank Park.

Kyle Schwarber made the announcement Friday that he will be taking part in the exhibition alongside fellow Phillie Bryce Harper, giving the host city’s fans plenty to cheer about.

Several other players have also been confirmed for the competition, including Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero, New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice, Kansas City Royals outfielder Jac Caglianone, St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker, and Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras.

Schwarber enters the contest as the current major league home run leader, having blasted 32 this season. This won’t be his first time in the derby — he made it all the way to the finals back in 2018 while playing for the Chicago Cubs, only to lose to Harper, who was then with the Nationals when Washington hosted the All-Star festivities that year.

His most recent Derby appearance didn’t fare as well. In 2022, Schwarber was eliminated in the opening round.

LONDON — Novak Djokovic walked off Centre Court on Friday with a loss but not a broken spirit, after world number one Jannik Sinner thoroughly outplayed the Serbian legend in a one-sided Wimbledon semifinal, dashing Djokovic’s bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title.

The seven-time Wimbledon champion received a thunderous standing ovation from the crowd after the 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 defeat, leaving many spectators wondering if they had witnessed his final match at the iconic grass-court tournament. But Djokovic quickly put those concerns to rest.

When reporters asked whether he planned to return to Wimbledon as a 40-year-old for the tournament’s 150th edition next year, a composed Djokovic replied, “I would like to, at least one more time. Let’s see.”

Djokovic openly acknowledged the lopsided nature of the match, calling it “a good old blowout,” but he was quick to highlight the positives from his overall run at this year’s tournament. He had battled past Canadian third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in the longest match of the tournament earlier in the week — a result he said proved he still belongs at the top of the sport.

“Of course, I’m disappointed. I wanted to win Wimbledon. That’s the reason why I’m still pushing myself so hard,” said Djokovic, who claimed his 24th Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open in 2023.

“I’m proud of what I achieved three nights ago. Felix is number three, fourth player in the world. Proven to myself and others that I can still play at the highest level, and I have,” he added.

“I reached the last four of Wimbledon. Losing in straight sets against the best player in the world, okay. It is what it is. But the tournament was positive in terms of the attitude on the court, the fighting spirit, the dedication. I mean, it’s still there.”

It’s worth noting that even Sinner, the world’s top-ranked player, lost to Djokovic earlier this year in the Australian Open semifinals, underscoring that the veteran Serb remains a formidable opponent despite his age.

With Wimbledon now behind him, Djokovic is setting his sights on the U.S. Open, the year’s final Grand Slam event.

“A little bitter taste stays as I wasn’t at the desired level today. But we turn the next page and we move on,” he said.

“I don’t have any pressure or no one is forcing me to play. I do it because I really want to and because I still can. I still can play as a top-10, top-5 player. Let’s see what the future brings.”

The Cincinnati Reds activated third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes from the 10-day injured list on Friday, returning the veteran infielder to action after an extended absence.

To make a corresponding roster move, Cincinnati placed infielder/outfielder Matt McLain on the injured list due to a left calf strain. That designation was made retroactive to Wednesday.

Hayes, who is 29 years old, had been sidelined since May 20 after being diagnosed with a bulging disc in his back. Before the injury, he appeared in 44 games and posted a .142 batting average with two home runs and five RBIs.

The two-time Gold Glove winner brings a strong defensive reputation to the hot corner. Over his major league career spanning 672 games with the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2020 to 2025 and the Reds, Hayes holds a .247 career batting average with 44 home runs and 230 RBIs.

McLain, 26, has put together solid numbers this season, hitting .190 with eight home runs, 25 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases across 83 games before landing on the injured list.

Philadelphia Phillies power hitter Kyle Schwarber has been officially added to the lineup for the Home Run Derby, set to take place Monday night at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.

Schwarber will compete alongside his Phillies teammate Bryce Harper in the eight-man bracket, giving the home crowd two familiar faces to cheer on. Also confirmed for the competition are Boston’s Willson Contreras, Kansas City’s Jac Caglianone, Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero, St. Louis’ Jordan Walker, and the New York Yankees’ Ben Rice. One spot in the field remains open, with that participant yet to be announced.

Heading into Friday’s games, the 33-year-old Schwarber tops the major leagues with 32 home runs on the season. A four-time All-Star, Schwarber has established himself as one of baseball’s premier power hitters, having launched 219 home runs since 2022 — second only to Aaron Judge, who has 227 over that same stretch.

This will mark Schwarber’s third time competing in the Home Run Derby. He reached the finals back in 2018, where he fell to Harper at Nationals Park, and returned to the competition in 2022, where he was eliminated in the opening round by Albert Pujols.

PHILADELPHIA — The Chicago White Sox have turned the corner in the standings, but they’re also sitting in prime position for the future: they hold the No. 1 overall pick in Saturday’s MLB Draft, taking place in Philadelphia as part of All-Star Game weekend.

Chicago earned that top selection after losing 102 games last season and winning the draft lottery. Now, with All-Star third baseman Miguel Vargas leading a surprising turnaround — the team is in AL Central contention after three consecutive 100-loss seasons — the White Sox are looking to add another piece that could help them chase their first World Series championship since 2005.

Unlike some years when a clear-cut top prospect exists — think current Philadelphia Phillies slugger and 2026 All-Star Bryce Harper, who was the obvious No. 1 in 2010 — this year’s draft doesn’t have one obvious answer. The White Sox are expected to choose from three candidates: UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, Texas high school shortstop Grady Emerson, or Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey.

MLB announced Friday that no amateur players are scheduled to attend the draft, consistent with last year’s format.

Here’s a closer look at the leading candidates for the top pick and other notable early-round prospects:

— Cholowsky: The 6-foot-2 right-handed hitter was a Golden Spikes Award finalist at UCLA, posting a 1.088 OPS with 21 home runs and 60 RBIs during his junior season.

— Lackey: The 21-year-old catcher didn’t receive a single Division I scholarship offer until his senior year of high school, but has developed into one of the draft’s premier catching prospects at Georgia Tech. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound backstop also showed versatility by playing third base.

— Emerson: At just 18 years old, the 6-foot-3, 185-pound shortstop bats left and throws right, and is widely regarded as the most complete player available in this draft class.

Because the White Sox are now in win-now mode after years of rebuilding, they may favor a college player like Cholowsky, who has proven himself at a high level and could contribute to the organization more quickly — potentially even this season, with the exception of pitchers.

White Sox director of player development Paul Janish explained the team’s thinking on bringing new draftees along.

Five years ago, Luke Prokop made history by becoming the first openly gay player under contract with an NHL team — a milestone that instantly put him in the spotlight and placed the weight of representing an entire community on his shoulders.

That burden, he says, hasn’t gotten any lighter.

Prokop was just 19 years old when he came out publicly. Drafted by the Nashville Predators in 2020, he has since fielded a constant stream of questions about LGBTQ+ inclusion in ice hockey, while also making himself available to those who reach out for guidance and support.

“I guess in terms of dealing with those issues, it’s kind of lonely because I am the only one that a lot of people will come and speak to about it,” the now 24-year-old told Reuters. “Because no one else is out in the men’s game.”

That sense of isolation — alongside the broader challenges of chasing a professional career — is at the heart of a new documentary titled “The Hockey Player.” The film tracks the Canadian athlete’s life as he navigates a sport widely regarded as deeply traditional and often described as an old boys’ club.

Despite some early reluctance, Prokop said his desire to connect with others who might see themselves in his story ultimately convinced him to participate in the years-long filming process.

“I’ve said before that if I could help one person in the world with my story, then I’ve done my job, so hopefully it just resonates with a lot of people,” said Prokop, a free agent who most recently suited up for the Bakersfield Condors in the American Hockey League.

“I could take a few more cameras in the face if I need to help more,” he added.

SHIFTING CULTURE IN THE SPORT

The road hasn’t been without controversy. In June 2023, the NHL prohibited teams from wearing special jerseys during warmups, practices, or games on themed nights after multiple players declined to wear Pride-themed uniforms, with some pointing to religious convictions as their reason. The league also banned the use of colored stick tape during those same events.

Many viewed the policy as a step in the wrong direction, though the stick tape restriction was lifted in October 2023. Prokop believes the sport is now trending toward greater acceptance.

He cited the popularity of the HBO series “Heated Rivalry” — which centers on a romantic relationship between two gay ice hockey players — as evidence of changing attitudes.

“(The NHL) kind of had to accept it because there were so many new fans that were coming in because of the show,” Prokop said. “And it was now a responsibility of the teams to provide an open and welcoming environment for fans, for future players.”

Even so, no openly gay player currently competes in the NHL. Prokop said that doesn’t entirely shock him. While the outpouring of support he received in 2021 might encourage other athletes to consider coming out, he acknowledged that the intense attention that follows can be a lot to handle.

“Some players would rather just kind of have a close circle of people that knew and kind of live their lives that way,” he said.

For his part, Prokop said he has no regrets about stepping into the public role he now holds.

“It’s something that I chose to deal with, chose to tackle, and I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said of his decision to come out. “I think being able to stand up for my community is a privilege and an honour, and I want to always make sure I’m doing it right by them.”

“The Hockey Player,” presented in partnership with OUTtv, is currently available for purchase on iTunes and Amazon Prime Video, with a broader release on OUTtv planned for later this year.

LONDON — Defending Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner made short work of Novak Djokovic on Friday, dispatching the veteran Serbian star 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the semi-finals to advance to Sunday’s title match.

Cooler temperatures settled over the All England Club for the evening’s second semi-final, but Sinner brought his own intensity, thoroughly outplaying a 39-year-old Djokovic who could rarely find an answer to the Italian’s game.

Sinner, the tournament’s top seed, will now compete for his fifth Grand Slam championship on Sunday against Germany’s Alexander Zverev, who earlier in the day knocked out British wildcard Arthur Fery on Centre Court.

The 24-year-old Sinner had steadily elevated his play with each passing round after a rocky start to his title defense. Notably, this was a rematch of sorts — Djokovic had beaten Sinner at the same stage of this year’s Australian Open — but Friday told a very different story.

Sinner did not face a single break point during nearly two full hours of play, controlling the match from start to finish.

Djokovic arrived at the semi-final having logged 16 and a half hours on court across his previous matches, including the tournament’s longest match against Felix Auger-Aliassime on Tuesday. The accumulated fatigue appeared to finally take its toll.

In the opening set, Sinner cracked a backhand winner down the line in the ninth game to break Djokovic’s serve, the ball flying past a stunned Djokovic before he could react.

In the second set, Djokovic’s resistance gave way at 3-3 when a perfectly placed Sinner drop shot left him stranded and unable to respond.

Sinner then broke early in the third set to put the outcome beyond doubt. Though Djokovic continued to compete, a look of resignation crossed his face as his bid for an eighth Wimbledon title faded away in the evening light.

London — When Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova step onto Centre Court Saturday for the Wimbledon women’s singles final, they will add another page to the Czech Republic’s storied history at the world’s most prestigious tennis tournament — and one of them will walk away with her first Grand Slam championship.

The all-Czech final means a new name from that nation will be etched into the Wimbledon record books for the third time in four years, and the tournament’s remarkable streak of first-time women’s champions will stretch to nine consecutive editions.

For the 29-year-old Muchova, Saturday’s final represents a long-awaited return to the biggest stage. A wrist injury had slowed her career after she reached the French Open final three years ago, but she has rediscovered her form as one of the most creative players in the women’s game.

“We have great history of Czech tennis,” Muchova said. She is looking to follow in the footsteps of Marketa Vondrousova, who won at Wimbledon in 2023, and Barbora Krejcikova, who claimed the title in 2024.

Muchova credited the depth of Czech women’s tennis for inspiring her own ambitions. “Definitely the fact that there’s so many of us. Myself, when I was younger, looking up to the girls who were like maybe five years older than I was, you can see them doing so well. So it gave me the belief that I can as well do it,” she said. “That’s how it worked for me. It’s nice that we’re from such a small country and we have so many good players.”

A win for either player would place her alongside an illustrious group of Czech Wimbledon champions that includes Petra Kvitova, who won the title in 2011 and 2014, and the late Jana Novotna, whose 1998 victory remains one of the tournament’s most cherished moments. At the top of that list stands Martina Navratilova, who won her first Wimbledon singles title representing Czechoslovakia in 1978 before becoming an American citizen and ultimately collecting nine Wimbledon crowns.

At just 21 years old, Noskova arrives at her first Grand Slam final with momentum and a game well-suited to grass courts. She also teamed with Muchova in the Olympic doubles at the 2024 Paris Games, where the pair finished fourth.

Noskova’s path to the final was far from certain after a disappointing early exit at the French Open, but she regrouped and found her best tennis on the Wimbledon lawns. “It always comes out of nowhere. You can’t really plan your success or good times,” she said.

“If I could do it, I’d definitely be planning it at every Grand Slam. But after Roland Garros I was mentally tired because the clay season was long for me. I had a lot of good matches, a lot of great tournaments, but the French Open was a disaster. I had to restart, reset, focus on just enjoying the time on court and this is where it got me.”

Both players came into Wimbledon with pre-tournament title victories to build their confidence — Muchova won in Bad Homburg, while Noskova claimed the Berlin title. Noskova has been one of the quieter stories of the fortnight, but her grass-court numbers speak loudly: she carries a tour-best 19-4 win-loss record on the surface dating back to the start of 2025.

“I think I’m playing great tennis,” Noskova said. “It’s always when I feel good and relaxed off court is probably when it shows the most on court. At this stage, everybody has the level; it’s the small percent that makes the biggest difference. I feel like I’m using my game, my style on grass a lot, and it’s paying off.”

While Noskova’s success reflects a natural fit for the grass, Muchova’s greatest asset is her ability to adapt. “On grass I hadn’t played that many matches overall until this year,” Muchova said. “I’m pretty adaptive. I like them all because you can use all different types of game, weapons, spins on all the surfaces. I enjoy the changes.”

The women’s final is scheduled to begin no earlier than 11:00 a.m. Eastern time on Saturday. Earlier in the day, the men’s doubles final will feature the top-seeded team of Harri Heliovaara of Finland and Henry Patten of Britain taking on the sixth-seeded pairing of Marcelo Arevalo of El Salvador and Mate Pavic of Croatia.

The Milwaukee Brewers are reportedly bringing veteran right-handed pitcher Bryse Wilson back into the fold, according to multiple news outlets on Friday.

The financial details of the agreement had not been made public at the time of the reports.

Wilson, who is 28 years old, entered free agency after the Chicago Cubs designated him for assignment last Saturday.

During his brief time with Chicago, he made two appearances out of the bullpen, giving up seven runs on 12 hits across 7 2/3 innings of work.

Before joining the Cubs, Wilson had started this season with the Philadelphia Phillies, but was let go following a single scoreless two-inning outing.

Wilson is no stranger to Milwaukee — he previously wore a Brewers uniform from 2023 through 2024, posting an 11-4 record with a 3.42 ERA across 87 appearances, including nine starts.

Over his career, which began in 2018, Wilson has compiled a 20-23 record with four saves and a 4.86 ERA in 166 games, including 57 starts, while suiting up for six different teams.

Alexander Zverev put an end to Arthur Fery’s remarkable Wimbledon journey on Friday, defeating the British wildcard 7-6(0), 6-2, 6-4 to book his spot in the tournament’s final.

Coming off a landmark victory at Roland Garros that ended years of near-misses at major tournaments, the 29-year-old German is now competing in his fifth Grand Slam final. He will face either reigning Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner or seven-time Wimbledon winner Novak Djokovic for the title.

On a warm and gusty afternoon at Centre Court, Zverev struggled to hit his rhythm early, trading service breaks with Fery before taking complete control in the tiebreak. The German dropped zero points in that tiebreak to claim the opening set.

Fery had been attempting to become just the second man in history to reach a Grand Slam final as a wildcard, following in the footsteps of Goran Ivanisevic at Wimbledon in 2001. The 23-year-old British player fought hard in the second set, but found himself trailing 1-4 as Zverev raised his level of play.

The passionate Centre Court crowd roared in support of Fery after the young Briton appeared to show his frustration on court, but Zverev quickly quieted the crowd by unleashing a powerful serve and forehand combination to take firm control of the match.

With a two-set lead secured, Zverev continued his dominant performance and closed out the match in efficient fashion, cementing his place as only the 13th man in professional tennis history — since the open era began in 1968 — to reach finals at all four Grand Slam tournaments.

MIAMI — FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s push to use technology to eliminate refereeing disputes has had the opposite effect at the 2026 World Cup, where video review decisions have been at the center of nearly every major controversy.

The Video Assistant Referee system, known as VAR, has faced criticism ranging from accusations of overreach and inconsistent application to outright conspiracy theories suggesting it was being manipulated to benefit certain teams or players.

Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan voiced all of those concerns on Tuesday after his team lost 3-2 to Argentina in the round of 16. VAR wiped out an Egypt goal due to a foul that occurred at the opposite end of the field, while a potential penalty call for Egypt went unreviewed. “What’s happening isn’t fair,” Hassan said.

FIFA’s top referee official, Pierluigi Collina, pushed back in a Wednesday interview, defending the decision to disallow the Egypt goal. “There is no defined limit regarding either the distance from goal or the amount of time between the incident and the goal,” he wrote. “We believe that a foul is a foul. Regardless of whether the foul appears ‘obvious’, if the referee did not see it on the field of play, the VAR can intervene.”

VAR was originally created to correct glaring refereeing mistakes — the kind exemplified by Diego Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God” handball goal against England at the 1986 tournament. The system was blocked by then-FIFA President Sepp Blatter but was quickly embraced by Infantino after he took charge in 2016.

There were 20 VAR interventions across 64 matches at the 2018 World Cup, and fewer than 30 in the same number of games at the 2022 tournament in Qatar. Those figures have already been surpassed early in the 2026 competition, which features 104 total matches.

The increase was intentional. Collina expanded the scope of VAR in collaboration with the International Football Association Board, the governing body for the rules of the game, adding four new areas where the technology could be applied.

Network scientist Brennan Klein, who along with his team at Northeastern University has been analyzing data throughout the tournament, told Reuters that fans have already hit their breaking point. “This kind of dystopian future of over-refereeing everything kind of fails to address what it’s originally designed to intervene on,” Klein said. “My sense is that fans in the stadium, by and large, just hate this. They’ve sort of been informed that this is the right way to do things, but not really had a say in it. I think fans seem to be voting with their boos.”

One of the most debated moments came during the round-of-32 match between Croatia and Portugal. Josko Gvardiol scored in the 13th minute of stoppage time to level the match for Croatia, but VAR ruled the goal out after determining that the ball had made contact with Igor Matanovic before reaching Gvardiol, putting Matanovic in an offside position.

The contact was invisible to the naked eye and the ball’s path did not visibly change, but a sensor inside the ball registered what may have been a touch from Matanovic’s hair. FIFA defended the call on social media, saying the sensor “is capable of determining any slight contact … allowing officials an unprecedented level of data to make fast, accurate decisions.”

Croatian legend Luka Modric, whose 24-year World Cup career ended with the 2-1 defeat, was not satisfied. “For some things it’s useful, but it’s either being used incorrectly or selectively, depending on the size of the team or whatever else,” he said. “If it’s a 200% mistake, then you intervene. If it’s not, if it’s in a grey area, then there’s no reason to get involved.”

The Croatian football federation, which actually supports the use of VAR, sent a formal letter to FIFA requesting an explanation for the decision, describing it as “an abuse of technology.”

Klein noted that red cards have more than tripled compared to the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, with 13 issued through the end of the round of 16 — though that came across 94 matches versus 64 in each of the two prior tournaments. At least two of those red cards would not have been given without VAR, including ones shown to U.S. striker Folarin Balogun and England defender Jarell Quansah for fouls the on-field referee missed in real time.

The Balogun red card drew international attention when U.S. President Donald Trump revealed he had contacted Infantino directly to push for the one-match ban to be reversed, citing the “unfairness” of the call. Infantino later said he had no role in the ban ultimately being overturned.

England’s VAR troubles didn’t end with Quansah’s red card. A penalty was also awarded against England captain Harry Kane via video review during their round-of-16 match. Despite those setbacks, England still managed a dramatic 3-2 win over Mexico at the Azteca Stadium.

England manager Thomas Tuchel was furious after the match. “VAR overturns (but) is this a clear and obvious error for the penalty? For sure not,” he said. “They overturned a situation where (the referee) doesn’t even give a foul. Referees just not good enough, fourth officials just not good enough.”

MIAMI (AP) — Ashleigh Hallam spends her days teaching English to non-native speakers at a library in Indiana. These days, soccer is returning the favor — giving her an unexpected introduction to Spanish.

For Hallam, watching this World Cup on a Spanish-language channel just makes sense.

She’s part of a surprisingly large group of English-speaking Americans who have been tuning into World Cup matches on Telemundo — despite having limited or zero understanding of what the commentators are actually saying.

“I can’t really understand everything they’re saying on Telemundo because they’re speaking in Spanish,” Hallam said. “But you understand what’s going on.”

The numbers tell an interesting story. U.S. Census data shows that approximately 20% of the American population is Hispanic, yet Telemundo, citing Nielsen ratings, says that close to half of all World Cup viewers in the country have watched at least a portion of the tournament in Spanish. Every match has been available in English through Fox or FS1, in Spanish on Telemundo or Universo, and through streaming platforms like Fox One or Peacock.

Viewers who spoke with The Associated Press gave several reasons for making the switch: the thrill of beloved announcer Andrés Cantor’s iconic “¡goooooool!” call; the fact that Telemundo keeps the camera on the field during hydration breaks instead of cutting to commercials like Fox does; a general sense that the Spanish broadcasts are simply more fun to watch; and for some, a financial reason — Peacock, which carries Telemundo, costs less than Fox One.

Jackson Braunius, originally from Michigan, watched a U.S. match from a barstool at a steakhouse in Miami Lakes, Florida. He admitted his Spanish vocabulary is almost nonexistent — “I know ‘cerveza,’” he said, tapping his beer — but said watching on Telemundo didn’t bother him at all.

“I figured out the science here,” Braunius said. “When they’re not talking too loud, nothing is happening. When they get loud, there’s a chance. When they get real loud, it’s probably going to be a goal.”

Comedian Trevor Noah has been hosting World Cup watch parties on YouTube and made the move to Spanish-language broadcasts himself, largely because of the commercial break issue.

“We’re seeing the players on the pitch discussing what’s happening. You see which coach is more stressed. Some players are tapping each other on the back. This is part of the game,” Noah said during one of his YouTube streams. “I feel like when you cut to ads, you lose this — you lose the stress, you lose the joy, the anticipation. So, shout out again, Telemundo: Really, really amazing coverage.”

Telemundo has acknowledged the wave of praise, publicly thanking English-speaking viewers — and Noah personally — for the kind words about its coverage.

Meanwhile, there appear to be plenty of viewers to go around. The tournament’s strong performance could spark a competitive bidding situation for the 2030 World Cup rights, with reports indicating that English-language and Spanish-language broadcast rights may be bundled together in that deal — something that was not the case for this tournament.

Fox Sports reported that the Belgium-U.S. match on Monday night peaked at around 41 million viewers at one point, calling it the “most-watched soccer telecast in U.S. history.” Combined viewership between Fox, which averaged 33 million, and Telemundo, which drew an estimated 12 million, put the average at no fewer than 45 million — making it the most-watched U.S. broadcast event since the Super Bowl. For comparison, the most recent Super Bowl drew an average audience of roughly 125 million, according to Nielsen data.

William Kennedy of Miami is married to a Colombian woman whose first language is Spanish. He says he only knows enough Spanish to order food at a restaurant, yet he frequently finds himself watching World Cup matches on Telemundo.

When Colombia was playing, the Kennedy household was definitely on Telemundo. Even after Colombia was eliminated in a penalty shootout against Switzerland, Kennedy said he still tends to drift toward Telemundo.

“When the American commentators are doing the game, I don’t know what game they’re watching. I just don’t,” Kennedy said. “I’d rather get the excitement in Spanish because essentially what happens is they’re talking, and then they’re talking really, really fast, and then they’re getting loud and your brain is just like, ‘Oh, something’s happening — even if I don’t know what’s happening.’”

Hallam said the World Cup has actually strengthened her connection with her Spanish-speaking students. She only became a serious soccer fan a few years ago when her daughter wanted to join a recreational league for elementary school-aged kids. The league needed coaches, so Hallam literally checked out a “coaching for dummies” book and taught herself the sport from scratch.

She went on to coach her daughter all the way through high school. Now she’s a devoted soccer fan and a devoted Telemundo viewer — and she plans to keep watching Spanish-language broadcasts long after the World Cup wraps up.

“It’s just very comforting,” Hallam said. “We’ve really enjoyed it and I hope we get to continue. The next World Cup, we’re going to watch it just like this.”

Framber Valdez put together an outstanding evening on the mound Thursday, tossing seven innings of one-run baseball to guide the Detroit Tigers past the visiting Athletics by a score of 4-1.

Valdez, who improved to 5-6 on the season, was untouchable early — retiring the first 11 batters he faced. He surrendered only three hits, fanned nine, and did not issue a single walk. Jake Rogers, Zach McKinstry, and Eduardo Valencia each went deep for Detroit, which has now won five games in a row and completed a series sweep over Oakland. The A’s have now dropped six consecutive contests.

Valencia’s home run carried a special significance. Called up to provide catching depth while starter Dillon Dingler nurses a right-hand contusion, Valencia entered as a pinch hitter for Kerry Carpenter in the seventh inning. The 26-year-old Venezuelan launched a shot to center field off Hogan Harris — making him the 10th player in Tigers history to hit a home run in his very first major league at-bat.

For Oakland, Jacob Wilson went 2-for-4, and all five of the Athletics’ hits were singles. Jack Perkins dropped to 2-5 after serving as the bulk reliever on a scheduled bullpen day, giving up three runs across three innings.

Rangers 7, Angels 6

Wyatt Langford singled home Alejandro Osuna with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, lifting Texas to a walk-off win over the visiting Los Angeles Angels and moving the Rangers into first place in the American League West. The victory came in the rubber match of a three-game series.

Langford had been activated off the injured list earlier that day following a stint on the shelf with a hamstring strain. He lined a 1-1 fastball from Angels reliever Kirby Yates — who fell to 0-4 — over the head of left fielder Jose Siri to plate Osuna. Brandon Nimmo went 2-for-4 with a homer and two runs scored, Justin Foscue homered and doubled with two RBIs, and Ezequiel Duran added a two-run blast for Texas.

Nolan Schanuel was 4-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs, and a run scored for Los Angeles, while Wade Meckler contributed two hits, two runs, and an RBI. The Angels have now lost eight of their last nine games.

Braves 10, Pirates 5

Mike Yastrzemski crushed his third career grand slam in the ninth inning to blow the game open and secure Atlanta’s first series victory in Pittsburgh in four years.

Rookie Jim Jarvis went 3-for-5 and hit the first home run of his career, while Matt Olson added a solo shot for the Braves. Dylan Dodd improved to 2-0 after throwing a perfect fifth inning in relief of starter Bryce Elder, who gave up four hits and four runs — three earned — in four innings.

Jake Mangum collected four hits including a homer and drove in three runs for Pittsburgh. Bryan Reynolds and Esmerlyn Valdez hit back-to-back solo home runs in the third inning. Pirates starter Mitch Keller fell to 6-7 after lasting just three innings — a season-low — while allowing three runs on four hits.

Red Sox 2, White Sox 1

Caleb Durbin belted a two-run homer and Patrick Sandoval pitched well in his first major league appearance in two years as Boston extended its winning streak to eight games and swept the host Chicago White Sox.

Sandoval had been sidelined by Tommy John surgery and additional injuries since June 21, 2024. Making his Red Sox debut, he scattered five hits and one run over 4 1/3 innings. Tyron Guerrero improved to 1-1 by recording five outs in relief, and Aroldis Chapman earned his 19th save. Boston managed just four hits, with Willson Contreras sitting out to begin serving a five-game suspension.

White Sox starter Anthony Kay dropped to 6-4 after allowing two runs on four hits in 5 1/3 innings. Colson Montgomery had two of Chicago’s seven hits. The White Sox made history in an unwanted way — becoming the first MLB team this season to go an entire three-game series without recording an extra-base hit.

Mets 7, Royals 3

Rookie Carson Benge and Francisco Alvarez each drove in runs with singles during a five-run fifth inning, Sean Manaea went a season-high seven innings, and the host New York Mets beat Kansas City to claim their first series win since mid-June.

Tyrone Taylor sparked the big inning with a tying home run to left field. Juan Soto also homered and reached base three times for New York. Manaea improved to 2-4, giving up three runs — two earned — on six hits. His seven-inning outing was his longest since the 2024 NLDS against Philadelphia.

Lane Thomas hit a leadoff homer and Bobby Witt Jr. also went deep for Kansas City. Starter Michael Wacha fell to 5-7 after turning in his worst outing of the season — 4 2/3 innings, six runs allowed on six hits — dropping the Royals to 4-10 over their last 14 games.

Yankees 12, Rays 4

Ben Rice slugged two home runs and finished with five RBIs and three runs scored as New York hammered Tampa Bay to split a four-game series in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Rice’s first blast came during a six-run Yankees third inning. Austin Wells chipped in a solo homer, and Ryan McMahon contributed two doubles and two RBIs. It marked the first time in 21 games that New York had scored at least six runs.

For Tampa Bay, Junior Caminero homered for the 12th time in 16 games. Chandler Simpson hit two triples, and Ben Williamson and Jonathan Aranda each had a pair of hits.

Orioles 3, Cubs 2

Jeremiah Jackson delivered a pinch-hit, two-run double in the eighth inning to put Baltimore ahead, helping the Orioles avoid a three-game sweep with a 3-2 victory over Chicago.

Tyler O’Neill, who had homered in each of his two at-bats the previous day after entering in the seventh inning, went deep again in the second inning Thursday — his sixth homer of the season, coming in three consecutive at-bats. Starter Trevor Rogers held the Cubs to one run on five hits over six innings.

Seiya Suzuki accounted for both of Chicago’s RBIs, homering in the sixth and delivering a go-ahead double in the eighth. Nico Hoerner and Pete Crow-Armstrong also had doubles for the Cubs, who out-hit Baltimore nine to three. David Peterson limited the Orioles to one run on two hits over five innings before Tyler Ferguson dropped to 0-1 after surrendering two runs in a third of an inning.

Guardians 5, Twins 2

Gavin Williams matched his season best with 11 strikeouts and Cleveland hit three solo home runs in a win over Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Williams improved to 10-4, allowing two runs on three hits over seven innings to snap a five-start stretch without a win. Gabriel Arias homered in the second, rookie Chase DeLauter hit the go-ahead shot in the sixth, and Patrick Bailey went deep in the ninth. Cleveland’s six hits consisted entirely of three home runs and three doubles.

For Minnesota, Royce Lewis scored on Tristan Gray’s RBI single in the fifth and led off the seventh with a home run. Lewis went 2-for-3, accounting for two of the Twins’ three total hits.

Marlins 8, Mariners 4

Janson Junk took the mound for the first time since May 25 and delivered five solid innings, leading a surging Miami squad to a win over the visiting Seattle Mariners.

Miami has now won six games in a row — matching its best winning streak of the season — and has also won 16 of its last 18 home games. Griffin Conine homered and finished with three hits as the Marlins provided Junk with plenty of run support. Junk gave up just one earned run on three hits.

Seattle received home runs from Randy Arozarena and Dominic Canzone but still dropped their third straight game. Bryce Miller fell to 4-3 as his ERA climbed from 1.71 to 2.18 after setting season-high marks across the board — nine hits, four walks, and six runs allowed in five innings.

Phillies 1, Reds 0

Justin Crawford plated pinch runner Derek Hill for the game’s lone run, backing seven masterful innings from Jesus Luzardo as visiting Philadelphia took the rubber game against Cincinnati.

Luzardo improved to 8-4, besting Reds starter Brady Singer — who dropped to 3-9 — and running his road record to 6-0 in 11 starts away from home this season. Jonathan Bowlan threw a perfect eighth inning and Jhoan Duran closed it out for his 23rd save in 24 opportunities.

Luzardo was lifted after seven innings having allowed just two hits, with 11 strikeouts and two walks. His road ERA now stands at 1.38. Singer was sharp as well, going a season-high 7 1/3 innings while allowing four hits, one walk, and striking out five.

Brewers 8, Cardinals 4

Jake Bauers and Brice Turang both went deep for Milwaukee as the Brewers capped a lengthy road trip in St. Louis by beating the Cardinals and winning four of the five games in the series.

Turang went 2-for-5 and Bauers went 2-for-4, joined by Jackson Chourio (2-for-5), Sal Frelick (2-for-4), and Cooper Pratt (2-for-3) in an 11-hit offensive effort. Bauers launched a three-run homer — his 17th of the year — to cap a four-run third inning. Turang hit his 13th home run of the season leading off the seventh, driving in two.

Jordan Walker homered for St. Louis, which managed just five hits and has now lost five of its last six games. Cardinals starter Andre Pallante dropped to 10-6 after surrendering six runs on eight hits and two walks over five innings.

Philadelphia Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly spoke openly Thursday about his desire to remain in the dugout beyond this season, confirming reports that had emerged a day earlier from ESPN.

Mattingly addressed reporters and left little doubt about where he stands. “I like doing it,” he said. “I didn’t come here to do it, but I actually like doing it. I committed to two years, right? And, in my mind, I told Dave (Dombrowski, Phillies president of baseball operations), ‘I’d go two years.’ Right? So at that point you make a commitment with your family and what’s going on with everything that you’re going to do this for two years. So if that’s something that Dave wanted me to do then I’m fine with it.”

Mattingly originally joined the Phillies organization as bench coach. He had previously managed the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2011 to 2015 and the Miami Marlins from 2016 to 2022 before stepping into the interim role on April 28, when Rob Thomson was let go.

At the time Mattingly took the reins, Philadelphia was sitting 10.5 games out of first place in the National League East. Since then, the team has gone 42-23 under his leadership and trimmed that gap to just three games behind the Braves heading into Thursday.

Mattingly’s playing career was equally distinguished. He spent 14 seasons with the New York Yankees from 1982 to 1995, finishing with a .307 batting average, 222 home runs, and 1,099 RBIs across 1,785 games. He was named the American League’s Most Valuable Player in 1985.

On the managerial side, Mattingly earned National League Manager of the Year honors in 2020 with Miami. His overall regular-season record as a manager stands at 931-973, with a 10-14 mark in the playoffs. He led the Dodgers to the 2013 NLCS and three additional NLDS appearances.

Adding a family dimension to the story, Mattingly’s son Preston has served as the Phillies’ general manager since 2024, working alongside Dombrowski in the front office.

According to a report from Front Office Sports published Thursday, two groups have separated themselves as the leading contenders to purchase the Seattle Seahawks, the current Super Bowl champions.

The first group is led by Aditya Mittal, a current minority owner of the Boston Celtics, and Wyc Grousbeck, a former Celtics governor. The second group is spearheaded by Vinod Khosla, a minor investor in the San Francisco 49ers. Front Office Sports also noted that one of the two bidding groups includes a former Seahawks player, though no additional details were provided.

Should the Khosla family ultimately win the bid, they would be required to divest the minority stake in the 49ers that they picked up last spring. According to Forbes, Vinod Khosla — who founded the venture-capital firm Khosla Ventures — has a personal net worth of roughly $14 billion.

Grousbeck’s individual net worth has not been publicly confirmed, though his family’s net worth is estimated at approximately $2.2 billion by Forbes. Mittal’s personal fortune is similarly not well-documented, but his family’s net worth has been pegged at over $17 billion by Forbes. Mittal serves as CEO of ArcelorMittal, an Indian steel company.

During the $6.1 billion sale of the Celtics to a group led by Bill Chisholm last August, Mittal contributed $1 billion to the deal. Front Office Sports reported at that time that Mittal was set to become the second-largest stakeholder in the Celtics and could potentially serve as their alternate governor in the future.

While it looks like the race has narrowed to these two groups, the door remains open for a surprise late entry. A similar situation unfolded during the 2014 sale of the Los Angeles Clippers, when Steve Ballmer stepped in with a last-minute $2 billion offer that was ultimately accepted.

What is known is that the field of potential buyers has been trimmed following a recent submission deadline. Front Office Sports reported that a status update on the sale process is expected sometime next month.

Canadian billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos and Todd Boehly — who co-owns the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Chelsea FC — are both said to be out of contention. ESPN first reported Apostolopoulos’s potential interest, while Sportico was first to report Khosla’s involvement and the formation of the Mittal-Grousbeck bid.

A spokesperson for the Paul G. Allen Estate, which is overseeing the sale of the team, offered little in the way of detail. “There is no news to share about the sale process,” the representative told Front Office Sports.

Analysts estimate the final sale price for the Seahawks could land somewhere between $8 billion and $10 billion — or potentially even higher. Representatives for Allen & Co., the investment bank managing the sale, declined to comment, as did the NFL and Latham & Watkins, the legal firm advising the Allen Estate. Spokespersons for Mittal, Grousbeck, Khosla, Boehly, and Apostolopoulos did not respond to requests for comment.

New York Mets third baseman Mark Vientos is headed to the injured list after suffering a fractured bone in his right hand when he was hit by a pitch during Thursday night’s game against the Kansas City Royals.

The injury occurred in the second inning of a 7-3 Mets home victory. Vientos, 26, was struck by a 92.2 mph sinker thrown by Kansas City pitcher Michael Wacha. He stayed in the game long enough to run the bases on his own but was pulled from his position at third base when the third inning began.

Speaking with reporters following the game, Mets interim manager Andy Green said it remained uncertain whether Vientos would require surgery. If the fractured bone turns out to be the hamate, surgery would likely be necessary, sidelining him for roughly four to six weeks.

“I’m just disappointed for what he’s going through right now,” Green said.

The injury comes during an already difficult season for Vientos. Through 73 games, he is batting just .211 with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs, and his time on the field has been shrinking.

After Vientos left the game, Brett Baty shifted from second base to cover third, while A.J. Ewing made his first major league appearance at second base despite having started the game in center field. Tyrone Taylor stepped into the lineup and took over in center field.

According to MLB.com, infielder Ronny Mauricio — who was sent down to Triple-A Syracuse just this past Tuesday — is considered the top candidate to fill Vientos’ spot on the active roster.

Now in his fifth season with New York, Vientos was originally selected by the Mets in the second round of the 2017 draft. Over 386 career games, he holds a .234 batting average with 65 home runs and 192 RBIs. His standout year came in 2024, when he posted a .266 average along with 27 home runs and 71 RBIs across 111 games.

FC Dallas landed goalkeeper Daniel from the San Jose Earthquakes on Thursday, sending up to $1 million in General Allocation Money (GAM) to the Bay Area club in return.

Daniel, 32, joined San Jose in 2023 after playing for SC Internacional in Brazil’s top flight. Over four seasons with the Earthquakes, he appeared in 77 of a possible 78 matches, recording 14 shutouts and 276 saves while conceding 117 goals — good for a save percentage of roughly 70.2%.

In his first MLS season in 2023, Daniel ranked second in the league with 3.88 saves per 90 minutes. His momentum was interrupted the following year when he underwent hamstring surgery, limiting him to just 12 appearances.

Originally from Barra do Garcas, Brazil, Daniel made 83 career appearances for Internacional between 2017 and 2022 before making the move to Major League Soccer.

Under the terms of the deal, San Jose will receive a guaranteed $700,000 in GAM spread over the next two years — $300,000 in 2026 and $400,000 in 2027 — along with an additional $300,000 in GAM if certain performance incentives are met.

FC Dallas currently has 25-year-old Plano, Texas native Michael Collodi serving as their starting goalkeeper in 2026, with Collodi posting three clean sheets across 13 appearances this season.

San Jose wasted little time addressing the vacancy, announcing Wednesday the signing of Scottish international goalkeeper Angus Gunn, who started all three of Scotland’s matches at the 2026 World Cup.

Minnesota Twins left-handed reliever Anthony Banda will not pitch again this season after undergoing surgery on his lat muscle Thursday, according to The Athletic.

Banda, 32, landed on the 15-day injured list on June 29 with a left lat strain. He said he anticipates being ready in time for spring training next year. Once Minnesota needs to clear a roster spot, he will be moved to the 60-day injured list.

Before going down with the injury, Banda had put together a solid 2024 campaign, finishing 2-0 with a 4.46 ERA over 34 1/3 innings across 39 appearances. He had been particularly sharp in the weeks before getting hurt, recording a 1.93 ERA in 9 1/3 innings over 11 outings in June.

Over the course of his career, Banda owns a 17-9 record with a 4.44 ERA across 248 appearances, including nine starts, spread across nine different teams.

The loss of Banda is a significant blow to Minnesota’s relief corps, which carried a 5.24 ERA heading into Thursday’s games — tied with the Kansas City Royals for the highest mark in the majors.

The Twins picked up Banda in February after the Los Angeles Dodgers designated him for assignment. Minnesota retains the option to bring him back through the arbitration process for the 2027 season.

FOXBOROUGH, MA — France captain Kylian Mbappe put a missed penalty behind him in spectacular fashion Wednesday, curling a beautiful shot into the net at the 60-minute mark as France dominated Morocco 2-0 to punch their ticket to the World Cup semi-finals.

The 27-year-old Mbappe, who became the youngest player ever to make 20 World Cup appearances, also notched his 20th career World Cup goal with that curling strike from just inside the penalty area. Ousmane Dembele then added a second goal six minutes later with a low, hard shot, setting up a semi-final showdown against either Belgium or Spain.

Mbappe now sits tied atop the tournament’s scoring chart with eight goals, matching Lionel Messi. He trails the Argentine by just one goal on the all-time World Cup scoring list.

France coach Didier Deschamps reflected on the team’s third consecutive semi-final appearance. “That’s three in a row — it’s good,” he said. “It seems logical and natural, but you still have to get the job done. It was tricky, the penalty… when it’s Kylian. He never has any doubts.”

Deschamps, who pulled Mbappe from the game late after the star took a knock to his ankle, added: “But we’re exactly where we wanted to be. We’re taking another step forward today, finding ourselves in the final four once again. It shows we’re right there in the mix.”

The match was a rematch of the 2022 World Cup semi-final between the two nations. France kept clean sheets in all three of their knockout-round games, while Morocco — seeking a second straight semi-final appearance — was hampered by the absence of injured forward Ismael Saibari. The Moroccan side failed to register a single shot on target until the 84th minute.

Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi acknowledged France’s superiority. “We are very disappointed, we wanted to advance,” he said. “We have to recognise that France is a great team with excellent players. France had the better scoring opportunities. We lacked ideas and freshness, and we have to accept this defeat.”

Ouahbi remained hopeful for the future, saying: “Today France were stronger but we are able to compete and progress and maybe eliminate them in four years’ time.” Morocco is set to co-host the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.

Mbappe also tied the all-time French record for World Cup appearances, previously held by Hugo Lloris. His evening nearly got off to a strong start when an early low drive forced Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou into a diving save to tip the ball wide.

France earned a penalty in the 28th minute, but Bounou stood firm, guessed correctly, and smothered Mbappe’s low attempt. It marked the first penalty miss of Mbappe’s international career since Euro 2020.

France continued to press in the first half, with Lucas Digne rattling the crossbar with a powerful long-range shot in stoppage time. Morocco, playing with a defensive mindset and only Brahim Diaz up front, failed to produce a single attempt — on or off target — during the entire opening 45 minutes.

Mbappe made up for the miss at the hour mark, taking a quick look and delivering a superb finish. Before Morocco could regroup, Dembele made it 2-0, capitalizing on space created by Mbappe’s run to drive home his fifth goal of the tournament. Dembele forms a dangerous attacking trio with Mbappe and Michael Olise.

“A mission? I don’t know but we can’t afford to let up,” Mbappe said after the match. “There’s still a long way to go, and what lies ahead is even tougher, but we’ll recover well.”

CHICAGO (AP) — Munetaka Murakami is expected to be back in the Chicago White Sox lineup Friday evening, ending his stint on the injured list due to a strained right hamstring.

The 26-year-old completed two rehabilitation appearances with Triple-A Charlotte, collecting two hits in seven at-bats, including a double. After Chicago dropped a 2-1 decision to Boston on Thursday, White Sox manager Will Venable confirmed that Murakami would be penciled into the starting lineup for the first game of the team’s weekend series against the Athletics.

“He’s ready to go,” Venable said. “He was challenged running the bases, defensively, had a really long game yesterday. So feel good about the workload, recovered well today so he’s ready to go.”

Murakami originally suffered the injury on May 29 during a 4-3 win over the Detroit Tigers, clutching his right hamstring after hustling to beat a throw to first base on a fielder’s choice in the third inning. Before going down, the Japanese rookie had put up impressive numbers, ranking among the major league leaders with 20 home runs, 41 RBIs, 43 runs scored, and a .947 OPS.

The timing of Murakami’s return is significant, as Chicago (47-45) finds itself in a near-deadlock with Cleveland (48-46) atop the AL Central standings. However, the White Sox have been struggling, dropping three straight and six of their past eight contests. During their just-completed three-game series with Boston, they mustered only two runs and 15 total hits.

White Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi made clear just how important Murakami’s comeback is for the club.

“Obviously, he’s a presence in the lineup,” Benintendi said. “He’ll bring the energy, I think. It seems like the vibe in here is kind of down right now but I’m sure seeing him tomorrow will spark it back up.”

Murakami signed a two-year, $34 million deal with Chicago back in December. During the stretch he spent on the injured list, the White Sox went 17-18.

“We understand the impact he makes on the field and in the clubhouse so to activate him is going to mean a lot for our group,” Venable added. “Really excited about him.”

France and Morocco are set to face each other once more on the World Cup stage, this time in the quarterfinals. The two nations previously clashed in the 2022 semifinal in Qatar, where France eliminated Morocco — who had made history as the first African country to reach that round. France is now chasing a spot in the final for the third consecutive World Cup, a feat only two other nations have ever accomplished. Adding to the intrigue, six Moroccan players were born in France, and the ties extend to club soccer as well. France captain Kylian Mbappé and midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni are both Real Madrid teammates with Morocco’s Brahim Diaz.

A trade sending Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors has been put on hold while the NBA investigates the Los Angeles Clippers over possible salary cap violations. The league launched its probe in September, centered on a $28 million endorsement deal between Leonard and Aspiration Fund Adviser LLC. The Raptors announced Thursday they are waiting for the investigation to wrap up before moving forward. The two teams had already reached a trade agreement earlier this month. Leonard, a seven-time All-Star who just completed his highest-scoring season, now waits in limbo with no set timeline for the investigation’s end.

Coco Gauff’s run at Wimbledon came to a painful end in a tiebreaker-filled semifinal loss to Karolina Muchova. Gauff squandered a match point in the deciding tiebreaker, and Muchova did the same before ultimately closing out the match 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (10). Gauff admitted she “panicked” on the missed match point. Muchova will now face Linda Noskova in an all-Czech final on Saturday after Noskova defeated Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 6-4. The men’s semifinals on Friday will feature top-ranked defending champion Jannik Sinner taking on seven-time Wimbledon winner Novak Djokovic, while French Open champion Alexander Zverev squares off against British wild card Arthur Fery.

U.S. soccer standout Christian Pulisic suffered a fractured right leg during the Americans’ World Cup round-of-16 defeat to Belgium and will be out of action for several weeks. The U.S. Soccer Federation confirmed Pulisic has a bone bruise along with a microfracture in both his tibia and fibula, a diagnosis reached through an X-ray and MRI on Tuesday. The injury occurred in the 52nd minute of Monday’s 4-1 loss in Seattle when Pulisic struck the leg of Belgium captain Youri Tielemans while attempting a shot. He is expected to return to training before his club team AC Milan opens its season at Torino on August 23.

A federal judge in Ohio has granted a preliminary injunction allowing 24 college basketball players — both men and women — to remain eligible while their lawsuit against the NCAA moves forward. The athletes argue the organization’s new age-based eligibility model unfairly bars them from further competition. Judge Christopher Wagner ruled Thursday that the NCAA has applied its eligibility rules in an arbitrary and capricious manner, and his decision allows the players to enter the transfer portal. A conference has been scheduled for August 4 to prepare for trial. The attorney behind the suit has filed similar cases on behalf of nearly 30 other men’s and women’s basketball players.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker has been announced as the fifth participant in the upcoming Home Run Derby, set for Monday in Philadelphia. The 24-year-old joins Boston’s Willson Contreras, Kansas City’s Jac Caglianone, Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero, and the New York Yankees’ Ben Rice in the competition, with three spots still to be filled. A first-time All-Star, Walker is in the midst of a breakout season, ranking fifth in the National League with 21 home runs. The 2020 first-round draft pick is batting .294 with an .889 OPS and leads all of Major League Baseball with 70 RBIs.

The Anaheim Ducks have decided to match the Philadelphia Flyers’ offer sheet for center Leo Carlsson, retaining the young star at a significant price. The Flyers had extended a five-year, $90 million offer to the 21-year-old one week ago, making Carlsson the NHL’s highest-paid player under the deal. Carlsson had agreed to the offer sheet after a year of unsuccessful contract talks with Anaheim general manager Pat Verbeek, whose firm negotiating stance ultimately backfired. The final contract value far exceeded what most observers expected for a restricted free agent.

Russia’s track and field federation has taken its fight to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland, seeking to overturn a World Athletics ban that has kept its athletes out of international competition since March 2022. World Athletics suspended Russian and Belarusian athletes following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and reaffirmed that ban at a council meeting last week. The appeal comes as the International Olympic Committee has recently eased its own restrictions on Russia ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Games and encouraged other sports organizations to follow suit.

Los Angeles officials are using the 2026 FIFA World Cup as a proving ground for an ambitious plan to make the 2028 Olympics a largely car-free event. City leaders have encouraged fans attending World Cup matches to rely on public transit instead of driving, and the results have been notable. A recent game saw nearly 50,000 rides taken on rail lines, with more than 30,000 additional rides on special shuttles deployed by LA Metro. Transit officials are also in the process of building their own police force and are hopeful the World Cup has helped attract new regular riders while boosting the public’s view of the city’s transit system.

England defender Jarell Quansah has been handed a two-game suspension stemming from a red card he received during England’s World Cup round-of-16 match against Mexico. The ban will keep Quansah out of England’s quarterfinal against Norway on Saturday and the semifinal if Thomas Tuchel’s squad advances that far. Quansah was ejected in the second half of England’s 3-2 win over Mexico on Sunday after committing a dangerous foul on Jesus Gallardo.

Jonathan Gonzalez Perez is adding another prestigious honor to his resume after earning a selection to the HBCU Swingman Classic.

The recognition comes as Gonzalez Perez wraps up his collegiate career, capping it with an invitation to one of the sport’s notable showcase events for HBCU athletes.

When people think of Wimbledon, they think of strawberries and cream, Pimm’s, and petunias — but increasingly, they should also think of Czech women’s tennis. Saturday’s singles final will pit 21-year-old Linda Noskova against her fellow Czech Karolina Muchova, a historic meeting that has never happened before at a Grand Slam in the professional era.

What makes it even more fitting is the venue. Wimbledon has long been a hunting ground for Czech women, and whoever lifts the Venus Rosewater Dish on Saturday will become the third Czech champion in four years. Marketa Vondrousova claimed the title in 2023 and Barbora Krejcikova followed in 2024.

The Czech legacy at Wimbledon stretches back decades. Petra Kvitova won the championship in both 2011 and 2014. The late Jana Novotna triumphed in 1998. And before them all, Martina Navratilova — competing as a Czech — claimed the first of her nine Wimbledon singles titles in 1978, before later becoming an American citizen.

Noskova reached her first-ever Grand Slam final with a commanding 6-4, 6-4 victory over Marta Kostyuk, relying on her powerful serve, strong groundstrokes, and sharp net play. She reflected on what seems to be a national gift for grass-court tennis.

“It’s a tradition at this point, I would guess, but I would say we are all kind of brought up in the same way in Czechia, in our game styles, in our tennis, but in some ways we are very different,” Noskova said.

“We are very creative, I would say, so grass allows us to kind of use any side of tennis, if it’s serve and volley back in the old days, if it’s slices and volleys in this new era. I would say that we have all these sides that we can use, that grass allows us, and it’s showing.”

Noskova’s win was her 19th on grass over the past two years — more than any other player on the Tour. “I feel like I’m using my game, my game style on grass, a lot, and it’s paying off,” said the self-described nature lover.

Muchova, the 29-year-old 10th seed, displayed equally impressive grass-court instincts in a gripping third-set tiebreaker against American Coco Gauff. She plucked off a breathtaking volley at her feet, executed a gorgeous topspin lob, delivered an ace, and kept attacking even as the pressure mounted.

When asked about the Czech secret to success on grass, Muchova was candid. “I don’t have a theory,” she said. “Yeah, we have great history of Czech tennis. Definitely the fact that there is so many of us. Myself, when I was younger, looking up to the girls who were like maybe five years older than I was, you can just see them doing so well. It’s nice that we’re from such a small country and we have so many good players.”

Tel Aviv University officially opened its doors to a state-of-the-art sport science facility on Wednesday, marking a major step forward in Israel’s preparation for future Olympic competition. The new Sylvan Adams Sport Science Institute was funded through an approximately $35 million philanthropic gift from businessman and philanthropist Sylvan Adams, whose name the institute now bears.

At the opening ceremony, the university also unveiled a formal strategic partnership with the Olympic Committee of Israel. Through this agreement, members of Israel’s Olympic squads will have access to scientific research, performance evaluations, and customized training guidance as they work toward competing at the Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.

The inauguration drew a notable gathering of attendees, including Adams himself, Tel Aviv University President Prof. Ariel Porat, Olympic Committee of Israel Chair and International Olympic Committee member Yael Arad, institute head Prof. Eran Ben Gal, Olympic cyclist Mikhail Yakovlev, and other Israeli athletes.

The facility was designed to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world athletic performance. Among its many features are sport science laboratories developed in collaboration with Tel Aviv University’s Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences and Faculty of Engineering. The institute also houses an advanced scientific gym, a climate chamber capable of recreating environmental conditions found at competition venues around the world, fitness assessment labs, motion analysis systems, an advanced swimming flume, and a hypoxic hotel that can simulate altitudes of up to 5,000 meters.

In addition to physical training resources, athletes will have access to physiological testing, nutrition counseling, training consultation, and mental performance support. The institute’s staff brings together a wide range of specialists, including sport scientists, physiologists, engineers, data scientists, artificial intelligence experts, physicians, and public health professionals.

Under the terms of the Olympic Committee partnership, selected athletes will undergo continuous performance evaluations and receive personalized scientific guidance as they prepare not only for the Olympics but also for future World Championships and European Championships.

Adams spoke about the institute’s broader mission at the ceremony. “The Institute lays the scientific, technological, and research foundation that will help Israeli athletes achieve new levels of sporting excellence,” he said.

Yael Arad expressed confidence that the new center would give Israeli competitors a meaningful edge on the world stage. “The Sylvan Adams Sport Science Institute will undoubtedly become a significant—and at times decisive—competitive advantage for Israel’s athletes,” she said.

Prof. Eran Ben Gal explained that the institute’s approach centers on the individual athlete, with each person receiving tailored assessments and performance plans designed to improve results, fine-tune training, lower the risk of injury, and track long-term development.

When Matthew Smith brought his five-year-old son to a World Cup match in the Los Angeles area earlier this month, they chose public transit over driving from their nearby coastal community. It was Smith’s first time riding LA Metro in ten years — and he came away impressed.

“Seems like a very functioning transit system, which is somewhat surprising given its reputation,” Smith said.

That kind of reaction is exactly what Metro officials were aiming for. The agency used the eight Los Angeles-area games of the 2026 FIFA World Cup to introduce — or reintroduce — residents to a transit network that often gets overlooked in a city built around the car. The games are also serving as an early trial run for the 2028 Olympics, which organizers have promised will be a “no car” event, with zero parking available for spectators at any venue. Everyone attending will need to use public transit or shuttles to get there.

For the July 2 Spain-Austria game that Smith and his son attended, nearly 50,000 trips were taken on rail lines. While no train runs directly to SoFi Stadium in the LA suburb of Inglewood, Metro added 15 shuttle routes connecting major rail stations and transit hubs to the venue — with the longest route running one hour and 15 minutes. More than 30,000 shuttle rides were taken for that single game, according to the agency.

Metro plans to use a similar model for the Olympics, since many venues aren’t directly connected to the rail network. For the World Cup, the agency borrowed around 200 buses to handle the surge in riders. Officials say they’ll need roughly 3,000 borrowed buses to meet Olympic demand.

For many Angelenos, hopping on a bus or train isn’t part of daily life the way it is in cities like New York or Chicago. LA Metro estimates its system handles about 1 million rides per day — roughly on par with Chicago, which is a smaller city. New York’s system, by comparison, sees well over 3 million weekday riders.

The LA system has long struggled with a reputation for being unreliable and, at times, unsafe. High-profile incidents — including the death of a 67-year-old woman who was stabbed aboard a Metro train in 2024 — have reinforced those concerns. Riders have also raised issues about drug use, cleanliness, and the presence of unhoused individuals on trains and platforms.

In response, Metro launched its own police department in June, with plans to have it fully operational by 2029, replacing the LAPD’s role on the transit system. The agency hopes that pairing sworn officers with homeless outreach and crisis response teams will make riders feel more comfortable. Metro has also pointed to data showing a 13.6% drop in overall crime in March 2026 compared to the same period a year earlier, part of a two-year downward trend.

Martha Banuelos had used the system occasionally in the past but said she typically tried to “avoid it like the plague.” She recently started riding the trains again to travel from North Hollywood into the city for World Cup watch parties.

“It’s a lot cleaner and smells way better,” she said.

To build excitement around transit during the tournament, Metro partnered with FIFA to set up fan zones and watch parties at major transit hubs. Thousands of fans gathered at these locations to drink, dance to DJ sets, and cheer on their favorite teams. The agency also promoted limited edition tap cards featuring different countries and used social media to encourage people to ride public transit during the games.

Metro also updated its payment system ahead of the World Cup, now allowing riders to pay directly with a credit card — eliminating the need for a separate tap card, similar to what other cities have already done.

Those changes helped attract first-time riders like Yasmin Cortez, 32, who boarded a train for the very first time to attend the official FIFA Fan Festival at the LA Memorial Coliseum, where she watched matches and volunteered for FIFA. A week later, she rode the rail again — this time from Cerritos, about 16 miles southwest of Los Angeles — to cheer for Uruguay at the Union Station Fan Zone.

“Especially with gas prices now, yeah I should be taking the Metro,” she said. “There’s a lot to explore, and I bought some new walking shoes.”

The 2024 Paris Summer Olympics set a high bar for transit accessibility, with nearly every venue reachable by Metro, commuter train, tram, or bus. LA is working hard to close that gap before the 2028 Games arrive.

In June, transit fans celebrated the long-awaited extension of the D line, which previously connected downtown LA to Koreatown and now stretches further west to reach popular destinations like the Grove shopping mall, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the La Brea Tar Pits. It was the first heavy rail expansion to open in the United States since 2020. Four additional stations are currently under construction to push the line all the way to the University of California, Los Angeles campus, which is slated to serve as the official Athlete Village for the 2028 Games.

“LA is a transit city,” said Jennifer Vides, Metro’s chief customer experience officer. “People want to try to say that it’s not. Obviously we have a lot more expansion to do and we’re working on it. But people really want transit.”

The Anaheim Ducks announced Thursday that they will match the offer sheet submitted by the Philadelphia Flyers for young forward Leo Carlsson, keeping him in Anaheim on a five-year contract worth $90 million.

The agreement carries an average annual value of $18 million, making it the largest per-season salary in NHL history. At that figure, Carlsson, 21, now earns $1 million more per year than Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov, who previously held the top spot. Carlsson had been playing under his entry-level deal, which paid him $950,000 per season.

Despite the massive offer from Philadelphia, Carlsson made clear where his heart was. “It was an offer that 99% of people would sign, too. It’s a pretty simple answer,” he said. “I really wanted to be here though. I really wanted them to match. I want to be an Anaheim Duck.”

Under the terms of the deal, Anaheim is prohibited from trading Carlsson for at least one year. His contract runs through 2031, at which point he will become an unrestricted free agent.

Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek expressed enthusiasm about keeping the young center in the fold. “We are very happy to have Leo under contract for five years,” Verbeek said. “We have viewed Leo as a franchise player since the moment we met him prior to the 2023 draft. He’s a character person on and off the ice. Leo is viewed as a top player in this league, and it was always our intention to match any offer sheet.”

The announcement came Thursday, one day before the matching deadline would have expired. Had Anaheim chosen not to match, the team would have received four first-round draft picks from Philadelphia as compensation.

Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli released a joint statement backing the decision. “Matching the offer sheet was an easy decision, as Pat has intelligently left enough cap space to give us the ability to retain Leo,” the statement read. “We have extremely high expectations for Leo. We firmly believe he will continue his strong growth trajectory and become one of the truly elite centers in the league, while continuing to make a strong impact in our community.”

Carlsson had a standout season in 2024-25, setting career bests with 29 goals, 38 assists, and 67 total points across 70 games. Since being chosen by the Ducks with the second overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, he has accumulated 141 points — 61 goals and 80 assists — over 201 career games.

A blockbuster NBA trade sending Kawhi Leonard back to Toronto is temporarily frozen while the league investigates potential salary cap violations by the Los Angeles Clippers, the Raptors announced Thursday.

The Raptors said the NBA’s league office told them they would be taking on the risk of any fallout from the ongoing Clippers investigation if the deal went through. As a result, the team said it would hold off until the investigation wraps up.

“The NBA league office informed us that as a result of the ongoing investigation involving the Clippers, we would assume the risk of any potential outcome of the investigation impacting Kawhi,” the Raptors stated. “In light of this, we will wait until the league’s investigation is complete.”

The NBA launched its investigation back in September after journalist Pablo Torre reported on a $28 million endorsement deal between Leonard and Aspiration Fund Adviser LLC — a company that has since filed for bankruptcy. The league is using outside legal counsel to conduct the probe, and there is currently no estimated end date for the investigation. The NBA had no comment on the matter Thursday.

Despite the delay, the Raptors made clear they still want Leonard back in their lineup. “The Raptors remain eager to bring Kawhi back to Toronto and look forward to a swift resolution for our players, our organization, and our fans,” the team said.

The two teams had reached a trade agreement earlier this month. Under the deal, Toronto would send Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round draft picks, two second-round picks, and pick swaps to the Clippers in exchange for Leonard.

Leonard’s lone season in Toronto was a memorable one — he helped the Raptors capture their only NBA championship in 2019. He turned 35 earlier this month and is coming off the best scoring season of his career, putting up an average of 27.9 points per game over 65 games with the Clippers.

A seven-time All-Star and seven-time All-NBA selection, Leonard has won two NBA championships — the one with Toronto and another in 2014 with San Antonio. He is widely regarded as one of the premier defensive players in the history of the game.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — New York Yankees star Aaron Judge is set to have his injured rib reimaged during the All-Star break, with the team hoping the updated scans will show progress in his recovery.

The three-time AL MVP has been out of action since May 31. He was placed on the injured list on June 5 after a CT scan, an MRI, and a consultation with a specialist revealed a stress fracture in his right rib.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman addressed the situation with reporters on Thursday, emphasizing that the team won’t rush Judge back before he’s fully ready. “I don’t think we want to put him at risk of coming back while still injured,” Cashman said. “He should be asymptomatic before we turn him loose. If he’s asymptomatic and not feeling anything and (medical images) are showing healing, then it’s probably appropriate to get him going again. But we don’t want to, because the schedule is what it is, put him in a position where we’re putting him in jeopardy where it somehow gets worse.”

Cashman also noted that the injury has limited Judge’s ability to do upper-body workouts, as putting any strain on his rib cage is off the table for now. The upcoming imaging will give the team a clearer picture of how far along he is in his rehabilitation.

Entering their series finale against the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays, the Yankees had posted a 14-19 record during Judge’s absence.

MIAMI — England’s 60-year wait for a second World Cup title will be front of mind when they take the field Saturday against Norway in a quarterfinal showdown in Miami, facing a squad that may be the underdog but is armed with one of football’s most dangerous forwards.

Erling Haaland has been a standout performer throughout the tournament, netting seven goals and pushing Norway into territory the country hasn’t seen in 28 years — their first World Cup in nearly three decades. His two-goal performance against Brazil in the round of 16 quickly became fodder for internet memes around the world.

England enters the match with more experience at this stage of major competitions, having advanced to the quarterfinals or beyond at three World Cups and two European Championships over the past eight years. But their only international championship remains the 1966 World Cup, won on home soil, and the pressure that builds at home every time England reaches the later rounds of a tournament is something Norway is eager to exploit.

Norway midfielder Kristian Thorstvedt said Thursday that his squad feels they have little to lose, and the 25-year-old Haaland — himself born in England — was more than happy to stoke the flames. Speaking to reporters with a smile, he said: “I think there are some clear favourites out there, England is one of them, so I think all of you should put every single pressure on the English lads.”

Haaland is hardly a mystery to England’s players. After four years in the Premier League, he shares familiarity with five current and former club teammates who are now in the England squad. Defender John Stones, one of those players, acknowledged what Norway brings to the table. “We’ll treat them with the same respect we show every opponent,” Stones said. “We know what they’ve got, especially with Erling, but we’ve put in some great defensive performances so far.”

Norway’s run to the quarterfinals has been built on more than just Haaland and playmaker Martin Odegaard. The squad has developed a tight bond that has shown up in their on-field performances. “There’s very little negative energy in the group,” said midfielder Morten Thorsby. “We’ve been together a long time, and we have a very good time together.”

England has also shown resilience, most notably in a gutsy victory over co-hosts Mexico in the round of 16, a win achieved with only 10 men that many are calling England’s best World Cup performance. However, that match came at a cost — defender Jarell Quansah picked up a red card and faces a two-game suspension, leaving coach Thomas Tuchel with limited options at right back.

England still boasts captain Harry Kane, who has scored six goals in the tournament, along with midfielder Jude Bellingham, who has emerged as one of the competition’s brightest players. Thorstvedt acknowledged England’s collective strength but said individual moments will be the deciding factor. “They have a good collective,” he said. “But we have individual players who can decide the big moments, and I feel that’s what top-level football is. When two good teams meet, it often becomes an even match, and then it’s really those moments that decide it.”

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker will step up to the plate in the Home Run Derby this Monday evening at Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia.

Walker, a first-time All-Star, is enjoying a remarkable breakout season in St. Louis. Heading into Thursday, he had already set a career best with 21 home runs and paced the entire Major League Baseball with 70 RBIs.

At just 24 years old, Walker becomes the first Cardinals representative in the annual power-hitting showcase since Albert Pujols participated back in 2022.

Spectators at Citizens Bank Ballpark may want to brace themselves — Walker is posting an average exit velocity of 94.2 mph, which ranks tied for fifth among qualified hitters according to Statcast data.

Walker will share the Derby stage with Rays third baseman Junior Caminero, Yankees first baseman Ben Rice, Royals outfielder Jac Caglianone, and Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras. The eight-player field still has three open spots yet to be announced.

According to a report from The Athletic published Thursday, the Houston Dynamo are in the process of acquiring American striker Duncan McGuire from Orlando City.

As part of the deal, Orlando City will receive $1.25 million in general allocation money, along with $1.15 million in targeted allocation money tied to performance-based incentives. The club will also hold onto a sell-on clause as part of the agreement.

Orlando City had already kept the 25-year-old McGuire off the field during Wednesday night’s friendly matchup against the Tampa Bay Rowdies, a move that now makes more sense in light of the reported transfer.

During the current season — his fourth with Orlando — McGuire has contributed two goals and one assist across 11 appearances, including four starts.

McGuire made a strong impression on the MLS scene back in 2023 when he netted 14 goals, then followed that up with 10 more in 2024. His 2025 campaign was interrupted by surgeries on both shoulders. Over his career, he has accumulated 29 goals and eight assists in 85 total matches, starting 45 of them.

Despite losing McGuire, Orlando City’s attacking options remain deep. The club added French star Antoine Griezmann this spring, along with designated players Martin Ojeda and Marco Pasalic, Brazilian attacker Tiago, and homegrown forward Justin Ellis.

Veteran guard Jordan Clarkson is returning to the New York Knicks after agreeing to a one-year contract worth $3.9 million, according to an announcement made Thursday by his agent and Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul.

The contract represents the veteran’s minimum salary for Clarkson, who earned the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award five years ago.

The 34-year-old put up averages of 8.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists across 72 games — including just one start — during his most recent season with New York.

Clarkson’s NBA journey began when the Washington Wizards selected him in the second round of the 2014 draft, though he was immediately traded to the Lakers. He spent three and a half seasons in Los Angeles before moving on to the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he played parts of three seasons. In December 2019, he was dealt to the Utah Jazz.

Over the course of 825 career NBA games — with 232 starts — Clarkson has averaged 15.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game.

The Anaheim Ducks are keeping their prized young center Leo Carlsson — but it’s going to cost them dearly.

The organization announced Thursday that it will match the Philadelphia Flyers’ offer sheet for the 21-year-old, locking him into a five-year, $90 million contract. That $18 million average annual value makes Carlsson the highest-paid player in the entire NHL, edging out Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov, who was previously at the top at $17 million per year.

Carlsson had signed the Flyers’ offer sheet as a restricted free agent following a year of unsuccessful contract talks with Anaheim general manager Pat Verbeek. Verbeek’s typically firm stance in negotiations with restricted free agents backfired significantly in this case, as the deal Carlsson ultimately landed far exceeded what most around the league believed he would command — and even more than what Carlsson himself had reportedly been willing to accept.

Philadelphia’s general manager Danny Briere didn’t land the top-line center his team has been searching for, but the bold move demonstrated his willingness to do whatever it takes to strengthen his roster. Had Anaheim declined to match, the Ducks would have received four first-round draft picks from Philadelphia as compensation.

The unusual structure of the Flyers’ offer sheet also stood out — it front-loaded Carlsson’s contract with large signing bonuses, a departure from how most NHL deals are typically structured. The move may have lasting effects on how young NHL talent is valued in future negotiations.

While the Ducks managed to hold onto their most important young player, the saga has put Verbeek’s front office under a harsh spotlight. The general manager, who has kept Anaheim’s payroll well below the salary cap throughout his tenure, will now be spending owner Henry Samueli’s money right up against the cap ceiling next season. The league’s salary cap currently sits at $104 million and is projected to climb in the years ahead.

The situation comes on the heels of what had been a promising moment for the franchise — the Ducks ended a seven-year playoff absence last season with a second-round run that suggested they were becoming a genuine contender in the Western Conference.

Verbeek’s offseason troubles don’t stop with Carlsson. He has yet to sign 41-goal scorer Cutter Gauthier, another restricted free agent, though Gauthier is not eligible to receive an offer sheet. Verbeek did sign defenseman Pavel Mintyukov to a five-year, $36 million deal last week — again paying well above what the market expected for a restricted free agent — amid reports that Mintyukov was close to receiving an offer sheet of his own.

The Ducks also lost four key defensemen from last season — Jacob Trouba, captain Radko Gudas, Olen Zellweger, and late-season rental John Carlson — without making any notable replacements beyond veteran journeyman Nick Jensen. Additionally, Anaheim traded center Mason McTavish, a key part of the team for several seasons, to St. Louis in exchange for draft picks after McTavish struggled last year.

This pattern of contentious negotiations has become a defining characteristic of Verbeek’s tenure. Players Trevor Zegras, Jamie Drysdale, and McTavish all missed training camp in recent years due to unresolved contract disputes with Verbeek — and all three were eventually signed, then later traded away. Two of those trades involved the Flyers. Sending Drysdale to Philadelphia in a package for Gauthier drew praise, while giving up the high-scoring Zegras last summer drew criticism from Ducks fans.

Despite the drama surrounding his contract, Carlsson’s talent is not in question. Selected second overall in the 2023 draft — just behind Connor Bedard — he has quickly established himself as one of the game’s top young playmakers. Last season, he posted 67 points in 70 games even while missing a significant stretch due to a leg injury, and he added 11 points in 12 playoff games during his first postseason.

Though his point production hasn’t yet matched the level implied by his new salary, most observers believe he has the potential to become one of the best centers in hockey — meaning this deal could eventually look like a bargain. When the contract expires in 2031, Carlsson is expected to become an unrestricted free agent at just 26 years old, setting him up for yet another massive payday.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker is headed to the Home Run Derby, set to take place in Philadelphia on Monday.

Walker becomes the fifth confirmed entrant in the competition, joining Boston’s Willson Contreras, Kansas City’s Jac Caglianone, Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero, and the New York Yankees’ Ben Rice. Three spots in the eight-player field have yet to be filled.

The 24-year-old is making his first All-Star appearance and has been one of the breakout performers of the season. Walker has launched 21 home runs, placing him fifth in the National League, while batting .294 with an .889 OPS. He also leads all of Major League Baseball with 70 RBIs. Walker was selected by the Cardinals in the first round of the 2020 draft.

With his appearance in the derby, Walker will become the eighth Cardinals player to ever compete in the event. He joins a list that includes Jack Clark (1985), Ray Lankford (1997), Mark McGwire (1998-99), Jim Edmonds (2003), Albert Pujols (2003, 2007, 2009, 2022), Matt Holliday (2010-11), and Carlos Beltran (2012).

Despite that long history of participation, no Cardinals player has ever taken home the Home Run Derby title.

U.S. men’s national team forward Christian Pulisic is dealing with a microfracture and bone bruise in his right leg, sustained during the United States’ World Cup round of 16 defeat against Belgium, the country’s soccer federation announced Thursday.

According to U.S. Soccer, the federation and Pulisic’s club team, AC Milan of Italy’s Serie A, will work together to develop a recovery plan for the injured forward. AC Milan did not immediately provide a response when contacted for comment.

U.S. Soccer stopped short of giving a specific timeframe for when Pulisic might return to action. However, a report from The Athletic indicated the injuries could require several weeks of recovery time.

Pulisic was forced off the field during the second half of the Belgium match after going down with the injury. It wasn’t his first health setback during the tournament — earlier in the competition, a separate calf issue had already limited his time on the field.

American soccer star Christian Pulisic is expected to miss several weeks of action after suffering a bone bruise and microfracture in his right leg, according to a new report.

The injury happened during the U.S. men’s national team’s 4-1 round of 16 World Cup defeat to Belgium on Monday in Seattle.

The Athletic was first to report the details of the injury and the projected recovery timeline. Pulisic is anticipated to be back in training before AC Milan kicks off its Serie A season against Torino on August 23.

The incident took place in the 54th minute, with the United States trailing 2-1. Pulisic was preparing to take a shot from the edge of the 18-yard box when Belgium captain Youri Tielemans stepped in between the ball and Pulisic’s leg, causing the American to make contact with Tielemans’ foot instead.

After initially going down on the field, Pulisic tried to push through the pain and continue playing. However, he was clearly hobbling and was substituted out in the 59th minute — shortly after goalkeeper Matt Freese made a costly error that allowed Belgium to extend their lead to 3-1.

The 27-year-old was visibly emotional on the bench following his exit from the match. He wrapped up his second World Cup appearance with one assist across four games.

On Wednesday, Pulisic took to Instagram to share his thoughts on the tournament’s end. “Tough to find the words. I want to start by saying thank you to everyone who believed. The support carried us all the way through,” he wrote.

He continued: “It simply wasn’t good enough from us in the end and I wanted to deliver so much more. I still feel blessed to be a part of this team. The memories this summer will last a lifetime. It’s just the start for us and for this sport in America.”

Pulisic had already been dealing with injury issues heading into the tournament. During the U.S. opener against Paraguay, he aggravated a calf injury he had sustained before the World Cup and was pulled at halftime. He did not see the field again until the second half of the team’s final group-stage match against Turkey.

Rory McIlroy walked off the course Thursday feeling good about his 65, despite a couple of short-range putts he would have liked to convert, as he shared the first-round lead at the Scottish Open in North Berwick, Scotland.

McIlroy sits at 5-under alongside Tom Kim of South Korea, Bernd Wiesberger of Austria, and Patrick Cantlay — one stroke ahead of a group that includes Brooks Koepka, Min Woo Lee of Australia, and Patrick Reed, among others tied for fifth place.

Several competitors were still making their way around the course, including Scottie Scheffler, who had carded a birdie on the par-3 ninth hole and stood at 2-under through nine holes.

McIlroy’s round got off to a rocky start, but he steadied himself with back-to-back birdies and a clutch sand save for par at the ninth hole. That recovery helped offset two bogeys — one on his opening hole, the 10th, and another at the 18th. A highlight of the day was a brilliant eagle on the par-5 first hole, which stretches beyond 600 yards this week, with McIlroy crediting his putter for that moment.

Czech tennis player Karolina Muchova punched her ticket to the Wimbledon final for the first time in her career Wednesday, defeating American Coco Gauff in a breathtaking three-set semifinal that lasted two hours and 35 minutes. The final score — 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (12-10) — barely captures just how dramatic the match turned out to be.

What made the victory even more remarkable is that Muchova, the tournament’s 10th seed, reportedly has a grass allergy and needs what she described as “a lot of pills, sprays, eyedrops” just to compete on the surface.

Muchova dominated the opening set, breaking Gauff’s serve in the third and fifth games. A 111 mph ace closed out the set in style. But Gauff — who had already survived four consecutive three-set matches just to reach the semifinals — was not about to go quietly.

The American seventh seed came roaring back in the second set. After failing to convert her first eight break point chances, Gauff finally broke through on her ninth attempt to grab a 3-1 lead. She broke again to go up 5-1, sending her mother into a frenzy in the player’s box. Gauff rolled through the set 6-1 to force a deciding third.

The final set was a showcase of elite tennis from both players, with powerful forehands and stunning backhands traded back and forth. Gauff had two opportunities to break for a 5-4 lead, but Muchova escaped both times and never looked back.

In the nerve-wracking match tiebreak, Muchova delivered when it mattered most — including a jaw-dropping diving volley winner and a perfectly placed lob that earned her the first match point. That chance slipped away, but she calmly converted the second when Gauff drove a forehand into the net.

Muchova’s win sets up the possibility of a historic all-Czech women’s final at a Grand Slam. Her compatriot Linda Noskova was set to face Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in Thursday’s second semifinal. If Noskova advances, it would be the first time two Czech players have met in a Grand Slam final. A Czech champion would also be the third in four years, following Marketa Vondrousova’s 2023 title and Barbora Krejcikova’s 2024 victory.

NEW YORK — Steve Cherundolo, a former U.S. men’s national team player and Major League Soccer head coach, has been selected to guide the United States under-23 men’s national soccer team ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the nation’s soccer federation announced Thursday.

Cherundolo is no stranger to the highest levels of American soccer. During his playing career, he earned 87 caps for the United States and suited up for three separate World Cup tournaments. On the coaching side, he made a major mark when he led LAFC to the MLS Cup championship in 2022, following earlier work coaching youth teams in Germany.

The U.S. under-23 squad has already secured its place in the 2028 Games as the host nation. The team’s most recent Olympic showing came at the Paris Games, where they advanced to the quarterfinals — a notable achievement considering it marked their first Olympic appearance since 2008.

Cherundolo expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity, saying in a statement: “I believe we have an exciting group of players with tremendous potential, and I’m looking forward to building an environment where they can challenge themselves, grow together, and represent our country with pride.”

A former strength and conditioning coach at Bucknell University is now facing criminal charges in connection with the death of a freshman football player who collapsed during a workout nearly a year ago.

Mark Kulbis was charged Monday in the death of Calvin “CJ” Dickey Jr., a first-year athlete who had sickle-cell trait. Dickey collapsed during a training session in July 2024.

The case draws renewed attention to the risks faced by student athletes with sickle-cell trait during intense physical training, and raises questions about the responsibilities of coaching staff to monitor and protect players with known medical conditions.

A clutch single from Mookie Betts in the eighth inning gave the Los Angeles Dodgers the lead they needed, and Kyle Tucker’s two-run hit earlier in the game helped seal a 4-3 win over the visiting Colorado Rockies on Wednesday.

Starting pitcher Roki Sasaki bounced back after a rough performance the week before, holding the Rockies to three runs across six innings. Despite surrendering early leads in all three games of the series, the Dodgers managed to take two out of three, pushing their home record against Colorado to an impressive 21-3 since 2023.

Edgardo Henriquez earned the victory after recording just one out, improving his record to 4-0. Tanner Scott then closed things out with a flawless ninth inning, earning his 13th save of the season.

Colorado starter Gabriel Hughes made his first career start — and only his second major league appearance — holding the Dodgers to three runs over six innings. Hughes was especially sharp late in the outing, retiring 16 of the final 17 batters he faced. Kyle Karros and Edouard Julien each hit home runs for the Rockies during what turned out to be a tight three-game set, with all three contests decided by a single run.

The Dodgers jumped on Hughes right from the start in the first inning. Tommy Edman singled with one out, Freddie Freeman doubled, and Betts drew a walk to load the bases. Edman came home on a wild pitch, and Tucker followed with a two-out, two-run single to give Los Angeles a 3-0 advantage.

Colorado answered in the second inning when both Karros and Julien went deep, trimming the deficit to 3-2. Karros’ blast was his eighth home run of the season and only his second ever at Dodger Stadium — a ballpark where his father, Eric Karros, holds the all-time record with 130 home runs.

The Rockies evened the score in the third inning when Brett Sullivan worked a walk and eventually came around to score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Mickey Moniak, making it a 3-3 game.

Hughes finished his outing allowing four hits and two walks while striking out seven. Sasaki surrendered four hits and one walk, fanning five batters.

Colorado had a golden opportunity to grab the lead in the eighth inning, putting runners on second and third with nobody out and later loading the bases with one out. However, TJ Rumfield struck out against Alex Vesia, and Karros flied out against Henriquez to end the threat.

The Dodgers wasted no time responding. Edman and Freeman each hit one-out singles off Antonio Senzatela — who fell to 8-1 on the season — before Betts stepped up and delivered the go-ahead hit to put Los Angeles back in front for good.

Arizona Diamondbacks skipper Torey Lovullo found himself ejected during Wednesday’s road matchup against the San Diego Padres after taking issue with a balk ruling against one of his pitchers.

The play occurred in the bottom of the fifth inning with runners standing at first and second base and one out on the board. Arizona rookie hurler Jose Cabrera attempted to spin away from the pitching rubber and fake a throw toward second base, where Fernando Tatis Jr. had positioned himself after drawing a walk and swiping the bag.

Plate umpire Willie Traynor determined that Cabrera failed to properly step toward second base and also noted that the pitcher’s knee buckled during the motion — both violations that qualify as balks under the rules of baseball. Lovullo stormed out to challenge the ruling, resulting in his first ejection of the current season.

With Lovullo sent to the clubhouse, bench coach Jeff Banister assumed the role of acting manager for the remainder of the game.

The controversy didn’t help Arizona’s cause on the field either. Just moments after the balk was called, Xander Bogaerts lined a two-run single into left field, pushing San Diego’s advantage to 4-1.

According to a report published Wednesday by The Athletic, the New England Revolution are set to bring back goalkeeper Matt Turner on a continued loan from French Ligue 1 club Olympique Lyonnais.

Turner, who is 32 years old, first joined New England to begin his Major League Soccer career back in 2018. He returned to the club last August on a loan agreement running through June 30, 2026.

During his time back with the Revolution, Turner has occupied the team’s designated player roster spot. The report indicates that a purchase option exists, and Turner would be eligible for targeted allocation money — meaning the club would not need to use a designated player slot to retain him.

So far this season, Turner has appeared in all 14 matches for the Revolution, who currently sit at 8-5-1 with 25 points. He has recorded three shutouts, allowed 18 goals, and made 61 saves. Among MLS goalkeepers, he ranks third in save percentage at 76.3%, tied for fourth in total saves, and seventh in goals-against average at 1.29.

A New Jersey native from Park Ridge, Turner holds the second spot in Revolution franchise history in wins (54), saves (455), and games started as a goalkeeper (126). In 2021, he earned MLS Goalkeeper of the Year honors and was recognized as both an MLS All-Star and a member of the MLS Best XI.

Turner departed New England in February 2022 when he joined English Premier League club Arsenal in a transfer reportedly worth $6 million. He later moved to Nottingham Forest in 2023, went on loan to Crystal Palace in 2024, and signed with Lyon in the summer of 2025 ahead of the 2025-26 season.

Turner was the starting goalkeeper for the United States throughout their entire run at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and has earned 55 caps for the U.S. men’s national team. At the 2026 World Cup, he served as the backup behind starter Matt Freese, but took the net in the Americans’ 3-2 defeat to Turkey in their final group-stage match on June 25.

Collin Klein arrives at Kansas State this fall with a unique advantage — he already knows the place well. As a former Heisman Trophy candidate and Big 12 champion who played for the Wildcats, Klein is returning to familiar ground as a first-year head coach.

At Big 12 media days held Wednesday in Frisco, Texas, Klein acknowledged that his deep familiarity with the program gives him a head start — but he was careful to note that history alone won’t win games.

That message of earned success is central to what he tells prospective players. “I tell recruits it’s going to be hard,” Klein said. “I tell them it’s a badge of honor to wear that Powercat. I tell them that the most valuable things in life you’re going to have to pay the most for. We’re going to make that price really freaking high to play at Kansas State.”

Klein is one of four coaches making their Big 12 head coaching debuts this season. Joining him are Iowa State’s Jimmy Rogers, who previously coached at Washington State; Oklahoma State’s Eric Morris, who came from North Texas; and Utah’s Morgan Scalley.

Like Klein, Scalley is a first-time head coach taking over at his own alma mater — a situation Klein says is difficult to fully grasp until you’re actually living it. “I don’t think even as much as you walk yourself through it mentally, you really even understand until your boots are on the ground and you’re in it,” Klein said.

Klein also has an existing bond with returning Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson. Klein had recruited Johnson during his time as an offensive assistant with the Wildcats before departing to serve as offensive coordinator at Texas A&M during the 2024 season. Johnson said the team is thrilled to have Klein back. “Everybody has a newfound energy,” Johnson said. “We’ve all been super grateful for Coach Klein to come back, and I think we’re all excited for the season.”

Meanwhile, Scalley shared an amusing story about once trying to recruit Klein when Scalley was a graduate assistant at Utah. Despite Klein arriving on campus dressed to impress, he left without an offer. “He showed up on campus in a suit and tie,” Scalley recalled, using the anecdote to speak to the caliber of people in the conference. “So much respect for the coaches in this league. Really good coaches, good men, and it is a competitive league.”

Scalley faces the challenge of following his predecessor, who posted 18 winning seasons across 22 years. “It is a responsibility I do not take lightly,” Scalley said. “There’s something to be said about continuity and believing in a staff and creating a culture.”

In other Big 12 news, Yahoo Sports reported that conference leadership recently met with Texas Tech officials following a heated dispute over quarterback Brendan Sorsby’s eligibility. Sorsby ultimately dropped his effort to play for the Red Raiders after controversy arose over his admission to wagering roughly $90,000 on college and professional sporting events.

Those talks were described as “productive, but not over,” with discussions centering on how Big 12 schools can remain competitive in today’s college football landscape. Texas Tech board chair Cody Campbell told Yahoo, “We want to find a way to get all other Big 12 schools to elevate themselves. Everybody needs to do some version of what we’ve done. That’s the path forward for this conference. A rising tide lifts all boats. People not on board with that and those that want everyone worse so they can be relatively better, we’ll have a problem with those institutions.”

Sarah Storey, a 19-time Paralympic gold medalist, announced Thursday that she is stepping away from international competition — closing the door on what would have been a run at the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics.

The 48-year-old retires as the most accomplished British Paralympian in history, having earned 30 medals across nine Paralympic Games. Her career began in the pool as a swimmer before she transitioned to cycling, where she continued to dominate on the world stage.

“I am so privileged to have spent 35 years as an international athlete,” Storey said in a prepared statement.

“I genuinely pinch myself that my childhood dream of being an athlete for as long as I possibly could has led to nine Paralympic Games and opportunities across so many sporting events,” she added.

Storey captured five Paralympic gold medals in swimming before going on to claim 14 additional golds in cycling, cementing her place among the all-time greats of Paralympic competition.

Notably, Storey made clear that her retirement is not the result of any physical decline. She expressed confidence that she could have competed — and won — in Los Angeles.

“Physically, I fully believe that I could be on that start line in Los Angeles, confident of defending my two titles from Paris,” she said.

Instead, she explained that she feels she can make a greater difference outside of competition. “However, I believe I can now be a more positive influence leveraging new roles and opportunities that allow me to fight for Para sport, and the coverage that it deserves,” Storey said.

So your team didn’t make it. They’ve been sent home from the World Cup, and now you’re left wondering whether there’s any reason to keep watching. Good news — there absolutely is.

Sure, cheering for a team that isn’t your own might feel a little strange, but we’re not here to judge. Instead, we’ve put together a guide to all eight quarterfinalists so you can find a new squad to get behind. We’ve included the latest betting odds from U.S. sportsbooks as of Wednesday, along with the fan chants you’ll need to blend right in. Here are your eight choices, listed alphabetically.

ARGENTINA
ODDS OF WINNING IT ALL: +400 (bet $10, win $40)
STAR PLAYER: Lionel Messi — you may have heard of him.
WHAT TO KNOW: Argentina is chasing history, aiming to become the first country to defend the men’s World Cup title since Brazil accomplished the feat back in 1962. Messi holds the record as the tournament’s all-time top scorer with 21 goals and has already found the net eight times in this year’s competition — the most of any player.
FAN CHANT: “Vamos, vamos Argentina” (“Let’s go, Argentina”)
PICK THIS TEAM IF YOU ENJOY: Safe bets, flavorful steak, and extraordinarily gifted No. 10s.

BELGIUM
ODDS OF WINNING IT ALL: 30-1 (bet $10, win $300)
STAR PLAYERS: Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois
WHAT TO KNOW: Belgium knocked the United States out in the round of 16 — a result that many felt carried extra weight given that President Donald Trump had stepped in to help get Folarin Balogun back into the U.S. lineup ahead of that match. Few expected much from Belgium coming into the tournament, given that so many of their longtime veterans were no longer on the squad.
FAN CHANT: “Waar is dat feestje” (“Where is the party”) or “Tous ensemble” (“All together”)
PICK THIS TEAM IF YOU ENJOY: Waffles, chocolate, memorable goal celebrations, and golden generations that never quite deliver.

ENGLAND
ODDS OF WINNING IT ALL: +450 (bet $10, win $45)
STAR PLAYERS: Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham
WHAT TO KNOW: It doesn’t come up often, but England’s men’s national team has not claimed a major international title since the 1966 World Cup. The English may have invented the sport, but they’ve rarely been the ones setting the standard.
FAN CHANT: “It’s coming home”
PICK THIS TEAM IF YOU ENJOY: Oasis, lions, fish and chips, and decades of heartbreak.

FRANCE
ODDS OF WINNING IT ALL: +180 (bet $10, win $18)
STAR PLAYERS: Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise
WHAT TO KNOW: France took the title in 2018, came in second in 2022, and enters this year as many people’s top pick. Their outgoing coach, Didier Deschamps, already has a legendary résumé — he lifted the trophy as France’s captain in 1998 and then led the team to another championship two decades later.
FAN CHANT: “Allez les bleus” (“Go Blues”)
PICK THIS TEAM IF YOU ENJOY: Baguettes, iconic towers, Champagne, and a ferocious attacking style.

MOROCCO
ODDS OF WINNING IT ALL: 27-1 (bet $10, win $270)
STAR PLAYERS: Achraf Hakimi, Yassine Bounou
WHAT TO KNOW: Morocco made history in 2022 by becoming the first African or Arab nation ever to reach the World Cup semifinals — a landmark moment for the sport. Now they have a chance to repeat that achievement, though they’ll have to get past France, the very team that ended their run four years ago.
FAN CHANT: “Dima Maghrib” (“Morocco Forever”)
PICK THIS TEAM IF YOU ENJOY: Deserts, open-air markets, and rooting for the underdog.

NORWAY
ODDS OF WINNING IT ALL: 14-1 (bet $10, win $140)
STAR PLAYERS: Erling Haaland, Martin Odegaard
WHAT TO KNOW: Norway is competing in their first men’s World Cup since 1998 and has never advanced this deep into the tournament. Their supporters — both inside the stadiums and back home — have become well known for their energetic Viking Row routines.
FAN CHANT: “Ro! Ro!” (“Row! Row!”)
PICK THIS TEAM IF YOU ENJOY: Rowing, Snapchat, towering blond strikers, and upsets over Brazil.

SPAIN
ODDS OF WINNING IT ALL: +360 (bet $10, win $36)
STAR PLAYERS: Lamine Yamal, Rodri
WHAT TO KNOW: Spain has not allowed a single goal through five matches in this tournament. Their standout winger, Yamal, was just 16 years old when he helped Spain win the European Championship in 2024. He turns 19 on Monday — practically a veteran by his standards.
FAN CHANT: “Lolololo”
PICK THIS TEAM IF YOU ENJOY: Tapas, shutouts, possession-based soccer, and gifted young wingers.

SWITZERLAND
ODDS OF WINNING IT ALL: 30-1 or longer depending on the sportsbook — making them the longest shot of the group.
STAR PLAYERS: Granit Xhaka, Johan Manzambi
WHAT TO KNOW: Switzerland has long been a steady presence at the European Championship, and now they’re finally making their mark on the World Cup stage. This marks the first time in 72 years the Swiss have reached the quarterfinals. They are notoriously difficult to beat within 90 minutes.
FAN CHANT: “Hopp Schwiiz” or “Hop Suisse” (“Go Switzerland”)
PICK THIS TEAM IF YOU ENJOY: Roger Federer, countries with multiple official languages, cowbells, and reliable public transportation.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout wasted no time making his presence felt Wednesday, launching a home run in the eighth inning against the Texas Rangers in his first game back from the injured list.

Trout had been sidelined for 17 games after straining his right hamstring while running the bases on June 17. His return came at a perfect time — just one week before the All-Star Game, which will be held at Citizens Bank Park in his hometown area of Philadelphia. Trout grew up in Millville, New Jersey, roughly 40 miles from the ballpark.

Adding another layer of significance to Wednesday’s performance, the game marked the 15th anniversary of Trout’s major league debut with the Angels, which he made at just 19 years old.

Angels manager Kurt Suzuki slotted Trout into the second spot in the batting order as the designated hitter. Before the game, Suzuki was cautious about whether he would send Trout back out to play in the field.

“We’re going to obviously see how he feels. Maybe in the beginning, I take it out of his hands. Not really sure how I’m going to handle it yet, but he is ready to go,” Suzuki said.

Fans voted Trout in as a starter for the American League squad at next week’s All-Star Game. The 12-time All-Star had been unable to take part in the event since 2019, missing the 2021, 2022, and 2023 games due to injuries despite being selected each year.

The three-time AL Most Valuable Player and two-time All-Star Game MVP has put together a strong bounce-back season, clubbing 18 home runs across 75 games.

To open a roster spot for Trout’s return, the Angels designated infielder Donovan Walton for assignment.

World Cup Quarterfinals: The FIFA World Cup field has been trimmed to eight nations, and six of those teams hail from Europe. Morocco remains the lone hope for Africa and for a non-traditional champion. History backs the European and South American powers — European nations have claimed 12 World Cup titles and South American countries have won 10. This year’s tournament is being hosted by North America, where the United States, Mexico, and Canada all entered with high expectations, but each was eliminated before reaching the quarterfinal round. African teams also struggled to advance deep into the competition, leaving Morocco as the continent’s final representative.

Wimbledon Semifinals: A remarkable run continues at Wimbledon for British wild card Arthur Fery, who grew up just five minutes from the All England Club. The 23-year-old, ranked 114th in the world, needed a wild-card entry to compete in the tournament but has now punched his ticket to the semifinals. On Wednesday, Fery defeated ninth-seeded Flavio Cobolli 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-0 on Centre Court, with Britain’s Queen Camilla watching from the Royal Box. He will take on Alexander Zverev in Friday’s semifinal. On the women’s side, Marta Kostyuk defeated Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-2 to reach her first-ever Wimbledon semifinal. Kostyuk is scheduled to face Linda Noskova on Thursday, after Noskova beat Elise Mertens 6-3, 7-5.

World Cup Game Balls: The soccer balls used in World Cup matches have drawn attention this tournament for their built-in technology — and for a question many fans are asking: why must the ball always be returned to the field when it goes out of play? Unlike baseball, where catching a ball in the stands is a beloved tradition fans get to keep as a souvenir, FIFA requires that any ball leaving the field be brought back immediately. Soccer historian Charles Cuttone notes this has long been standard practice, driven in part by the cost of the balls and the sophisticated technology embedded in them. Still, some fans — many of whom have spent significant money to attend — feel they should be allowed to keep a ball that comes their way.

Justin Verlander Retiring: Three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander has announced he will retire at the end of this season with the Detroit Tigers. The 43-year-old, who is also a two-time World Series champion and the 2011 American League MVP, made the announcement on Wednesday, the same day he was named a Legend Pick to the AL All-Star roster. Verlander is currently the oldest active player in Major League Baseball. He signed a one-year, $13 million contract this season but has appeared in only one game, back in March, before landing on the injured list with hip inflammation and a pulled hamstring.

Kostyuk Speaks Out: While Marta Kostyuk was competing in her first Wimbledon quarterfinal on Centre Court, Russian forces were carrying out another deadly attack on Kyiv back in her home country of Ukraine. The situation has been a constant backdrop throughout her run at the Grand Slam. After her victory over Jasmine Paolini, Kostyuk reflected on the difficulty of staying focused. “It’s not easy to disconnect entirely,” she said, adding that “I try for these things not to influence me too much.” Kostyuk also took aim at the International Olympic Committee for provisionally lifting its ban on Russian athletes, calling the decision “terrible.”

Connor Bedard Out After Surgery: Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard will not be ready for the start of the upcoming NHL season after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder. Team physician Michael Terry said Bedard is expected “to make a full recovery in an approximate timeline of four months.” Bedard, who turns 21 on July 17, was injured while skating with a group of NHL players last week in his hometown of Vancouver. The NHL has not yet released its regular-season schedule, though Chicago opened play last season on October 7. The injury is a significant setback for a Blackhawks organization still working through a rebuilding phase.

Dylan Cease’s Near No-Hitter: Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Dylan Cease came within one out of a no-hitter on Wednesday before Giants outfielder Heliot Ramos broke it up with a line-drive single to center field in the ninth inning. Cease was removed from the game following Ramos’ hit and received a standing ovation from the San Francisco crowd. Reliever Tyler Rogers finished the game, retiring the final three batters on just four pitches, as the Blue Jays cruised to a 10-0 victory. The 30-year-old Cease threw a career-high 118 pitches and struck out 11 batters, pushing his American League-leading strikeout total to 148. It would have been his second career no-hitter and the first solo no-hitter in the majors since 2024.

Queen Camilla at Wimbledon: Britain’s Queen Camilla made her annual appearance at Wimbledon on Wednesday, marking the fourth consecutive year she has attended the tournament on Day 10. Dressed in a light blue gown, she watched the women’s quarterfinal between Jasmine Paolini and Marta Kostyuk from the Royal Box. Among the other notable guests in attendance was actor Dominic West, who earned an Emmy nomination for portraying King Charles III in the Netflix series “The Crown” — making for an unusual pairing, as the queen herself was also present. Actress Elle Fanning was also spotted in the Royal Box.

Tim Hardaway Jr. Joins Miami Heat: Tim Hardaway Jr. was officially introduced as a member of the Miami Heat on Wednesday, donning a No. 10 jersey with “Jr.” added — a nod to his father’s retired number with the franchise. Hardaway Jr. recalled visiting Miami as a child and running around the team’s practice facility while his father played for the Heat. Now he joins the organization as a shooting threat expected to support Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.

Home Run Derby Field Taking Shape: Boston’s Willson Contreras and Kansas City’s Jac Caglianone have both committed to participating in the Home Run Derby, set for Monday in Philadelphia. The 34-year-old Contreras has slugged 20 home runs in 306 at-bats this season and is chasing the career-best 24 he hit for the Chicago Cubs in 2019. A win would make him the first Red Sox player to claim the Home Run Derby title since David Ortiz in 2010. The 23-year-old Caglianone joins Contreras along with Ben Rice of the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero. Four additional participants have yet to be announced.

NEW YORK — Free agent NBA guard Terry Rozier is eager to get back on the basketball court while he contests federal sports gambling charges that kept him out of the league last season. However, bail conditions restricting his contact with certain individuals and limiting where he can travel may stand in the way of any comeback.

On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall rejected a defense motion to loosen those bail restrictions, which would have allowed Rozier to practice and play alongside potential witnesses in his case, provided no one discussed the charges. The judge said monitoring what Rozier says during games would be practically impossible.

DeArcy Hall also rebuked Rozier for already crossing a line — sending a text message to someone he had been explicitly told not to contact. According to the judge, Rozier reached out to that person simply to inform them they were on his no-contact list.

“What that tells me is that he believes he knows better than the court,” DeArcy Hall said during a hearing at Brooklyn federal court. She added that Rozier “violated the court’s trust with that text message.”

Over his 10 NBA seasons, Rozier averaged 3.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. He spent four and a half of those seasons with the Charlotte Hornets before being dealt to Miami in 2024. The Heat released him in April, leaving him a free agent. An arbitrator ruled in February that the Heat were still obligated to pay Rozier his $26.6 million salary for last season.

Rozier, 32, is set to face trial in February on bribery and conspiracy charges. Federal prosecutors allege he accepted a $70,000 payment to help gamblers profit by leaking that he intended to exit a March 2023 game early due to a nagging lower leg injury. Neither the public nor sportsbooks had been informed of that plan, and Rozier had not appeared on the team’s injury report, prosecutors said.

According to federal prosecutors, Rozier’s friend Deniro “Niro” Laster — who also faces charges — passed or sold that tip to others, who then placed more than $250,000 in wagers betting that Rozier’s point, assist, and other statistical totals would fall below the sportsbooks’ set lines.

Rozier has entered a not guilty plea. His legal team has asked DeArcy Hall to throw out the case entirely and has also sought to move the trial from New York to Miami. Rozier recently overhauled his defense, bringing on attorney David Markus — whose past clients have included Ghislaine Maxwell — as lead counsel, replacing former President Donald Trump’s one-time lawyer Jim Trusty.

“I wish we were starting trial in this case because Terry is innocent and we want to show the world that he had no involvement in this,” Markus told reporters following Wednesday’s hearing.

Rozier was taken into custody last October as part of a broad federal gambling probe that has resulted in more than three dozen arrests. Last week, former NBA player Malik Beasley pleaded not guilty to allegations that he deliberately altered his performance in certain 2024 games to benefit sports bettors and reduce his own debts.

Following his arrest, Rozier was initially prohibited from any contact with both the Heat and the Hornets. Prosecutors later removed the Heat from that restriction and, after objections from Rozier’s attorneys, agreed last month to narrow the contact ban to a specific list of people who were part of the Hornets organization when Rozier played there in 2023.

Markus argued that without further changes, NBA franchises could interpret the current bail terms as effectively banning Rozier from the league altogether.

“It is not a directive that he cannot play in the NBA,” DeArcy Hall responded, but added, “unfortunately there is a consequence of being under indictment. That’s the reality.”

Rozier is currently barred from contacting at least a dozen potential witnesses, including seven former Hornets teammates who now play for four different teams.

Markus floated a proposal to have an attorney present courtside to oversee any on-court interactions, but the judge quickly dismissed the idea, saying a lawyer watching from the bench would have no way of hearing what players say to each other.

“Unless you’re suiting up, it doesn’t help me,” DeArcy Hall said.

Markus also requested that the ban on Rozier leaving the United States be lifted so he could travel to Canada to play against the Toronto Raptors if he were to sign with an NBA team.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin Farrell called that request premature and raised concerns that Rozier might attempt to flee prosecution if allowed to cross international borders. Markus pushed back, calling the suggestion “out of bounds” and insisting Rozier would never walk away from his career or his family.

After further debate, DeArcy Hall said she would hold off on ruling about international travel until Rozier actually signs an NBA contract. The judge also mentioned that another defendant had recently asked her permission to play basketball in Greece — a request she denied.

BOSTON — When France and Morocco take the field Thursday in a World Cup quarter-final, the stakes go far beyond the scoreboard. The two nations share a complex post-colonial history that runs through every aspect of this matchup — from Moroccan players who were born and raised in France, to the close bond between Kylian Mbappe and Achraf Hakimi, teammates who built their friendship during their time together at Paris St Germain.

The game is being played in Boston, a setting that may give the occasion a warmer, more communal atmosphere than it might have had elsewhere. Morocco was under French rule from 1912 until gaining independence in 1956, and the two countries have remained tightly linked ever since through education, business, and the movement of people between them. Football has become one of the most visible expressions of that enduring connection.

Six players on Morocco’s roster were born in France, and several more have either competed in France’s top professional league or spent time in the French youth development system before deciding to play internationally for Morocco. These overlapping paths reflect the deep sporting ties between the two nations and Morocco’s success in channeling its diaspora into a competitive advantage on the world stage.

Teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi stands out as a particularly striking example of this dual identity. Born in France, developed at Lille, and previously capped at the youth level by France, he ultimately chose to represent Morocco — a decision that captures the kind of layered footballing identity that makes this matchup so meaningful.

France, who claimed the World Cup title in 2018, enter as one of the sport’s most decorated programs, armed with tournament experience and an attacking lineup capable of challenging any opponent. Morocco, meanwhile, arrive with a confidence built over years of rising expectations. Four years ago, they became the first African nation ever to advance to a World Cup semi-final.

The two sides previously met at the 2022 tournament in Qatar, with France winning 2-0 in a match that was emotionally charged but also marked by a notable sense of mutual respect. Morocco’s run through that tournament captivated fans well beyond their home country, while France’s squad once again highlighted the multicultural identity that has long defined its football program.

BOSTON PROVIDES A UNIQUE BACKDROP

The city of Boston adds an interesting dimension to this rematch. While the Moroccan community there is smaller and less prominent than in major French cities, it is well-established across the greater metropolitan area, where Morocco-born residents have built a presence through family networks, academic institutions, professional careers, and local businesses.

For many supporters in Boston, this quarter-final won’t create a sharp divide. Mohammed Saadi, a 57-year-old taxi driver, described the mood among fans. “Some live in the same building and French and Moroccans will watch the game together and shake hands at the end,” he said. “There is no tension here. Soccer is a family thing and France v Morocco will be no different. Quite the opposite, even.”

At Boston Common, more than 1,000 fans gathered ahead of Thursday’s match, singing Dima l-Maghrib — meaning Always Morocco — and waving flags in a peaceful celebration. Among those in attendance was Youssef Bennani, a 36-year-old software engineer who traveled from Finland to be there. “I’ve come all the way from Finland,” he said. “I’ve been to all of Morocco’s games and here it’s the best place. I met a lot of Moroccans, also some French and it’s going to be a big party tomorrow.”

Morocco’s growth as a program has fundamentally changed how this fixture is perceived. They are no longer seen simply as the inspiring underdogs of 2022, but as a well-organized side with a clear player development strategy and the belief needed to compete with football’s traditional powerhouses. Their federation has successfully connected homegrown talent with players developed across Europe.

France, who defeated Paraguay to advance to the quarter-finals, have reason to approach the match with caution. While their attack has been among the most dangerous in the tournament, Morocco’s dominant 3-0 victory over Canada served as a reminder of the speed, discipline, and ambition that have carried them back to this stage.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino may soon face scrutiny from the International Olympic Committee after a human rights organization announced Wednesday it intends to file a formal complaint accusing him of violating political neutrality rules by publicly supporting U.S. President Donald Trump.

The group, FairSquare, said it plans to bring the complaint before the IOC, describing what it calls Infantino’s “repeated breach of political neutrality rules.” The move escalates an ongoing dispute that already led FairSquare to challenge FIFA’s internal ethics process.

Infantino has held IOC membership since 2020.

FairSquare first brought a complaint before FIFA’s Ethics Committee back in December 2025, pointing to several instances in which Infantino “expressed his public support for the actions and policies” of Trump.

The complaint also calls on the Ethics Committee to look into Infantino’s involvement in creating a FIFA Peace Prize and the decision to present that award to Trump at the World Cup draw. “It also requests that the Ethics Committee investigate Mr Infantino’s role in the decision to introduce a FIFA Peace Prize, the decision to award it to President Trump … and the conformity of these processes with FIFA’s procedural rules,” FairSquare stated.

Reuters has reached out to FIFA seeking a response.

At the heart of FairSquare’s complaint is Article 15 of the FIFA Code of Ethics, which requires those bound by the code to remain politically neutral in their official conduct. Violations can result in a fine of no less than 10,000 Swiss francs — equivalent to roughly $12,378 — and a ban of up to two years from any soccer-related activity.

The complaint further asks the Ethics Committee to determine whether the creation of the annual Peace Prize and its presentation to Trump were decisions made by the FIFA Council as a whole, or whether Infantino acted on his own. “If Mr Infantino acted unilaterally and without any statutory authority, this should be considered an egregious abuse of power,” FairSquare said.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry confirmed Tuesday that no complaint had yet been received by the ethics commission, but said: “Obviously, if they do, they would look into it.”

Although FIFA’s Secretariat of the Investigatory Chamber confirmed it received the original complaint in December, FairSquare says the organization has given “no indication” that a formal investigation has been launched. In correspondence reviewed by Reuters, FIFA informed FairSquare that its secretariat may begin preliminary investigations into a “potential breach of the FIFA Code of Ethics” when directed by the Chairperson of the Investigatory Chamber. However, submitting a complaint does not ensure that ethics proceedings will be opened, and complainants are not considered parties to any proceedings, meaning they receive no updates due to confidentiality rules.

FairSquare kicked off a public campaign called “Reboot” — aimed at pushing for major reforms within FIFA — just one week before the World Cup began. Last week, the group revealed that 50 members of the European Parliament had written to FIFA’s Ethics Committee expressing support for the complaint against Infantino.

Norway’s national football federation also formally backed the complaint, urging the committee to examine whether Infantino violated FIFA’s statutes on political neutrality through the Peace Prize award and related actions.

The controversy surrounding Infantino deepened during the World Cup when FIFA suspended a red-card ban against American striker Folarin Balogun, allowing him to take the field in a round-of-16 match against Belgium — a game the U.S. ultimately lost 4-1 — after Trump personally asked Infantino to reconsider the case. Infantino, however, denied playing a role in the final ruling.

SAN FRANCISCO — Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Dylan Cease put together one of the most dominant performances of the season Wednesday, retiring San Francisco Giants hitters without a hit through eight full innings.

Cease was nearly perfect from the start, getting through the first 14 Giants batters before issuing a walk to Willy Adames with two outs in the fifth inning. He also walked Drew Gilbert to lead off the sixth and walked Rafael Devers with one out in the seventh, but no San Francisco hitter could manage a base hit against him.

By the time he exited after eight innings, Cease had thrown a career-high 115 pitches, with 79 of them going for strikes. He also struck out 11 batters, continuing his dominant stretch that had him leading the American League in strikeouts heading into Wednesday’s game.

Toronto held a commanding 7-0 advantage through eight frames.

The Giants came closest to breaking up the no-hit bid on two consecutive at-bats. With two outs in the seventh, Willy Adames hit a sharp grounder up the middle, but second baseman Ernie Clement ranged to his left, made a clean pickup, and fired a throw to first in time to retire the runner.

Then, leading off the eighth, Bryce Eldridge launched a deep drive to left-center field. Center fielder Daulton Varsho sprinted back and made an outstanding catch just before colliding with the outfield wall.

Toronto’s big lead was built early. Kazuma Okamoto crushed an opposite-field grand slam off Giants starter Logan Webb, capping a five-run first inning for the Blue Jays.

The win continued a strong stretch for Toronto against San Francisco. In the previous night’s 9-3 victory, the Blue Jays had retired the final 15 Giants hitters in a row.

Cease previously accomplished a complete no-hitter on July 25, 2024, when he was pitching for the San Diego Padres against Washington.

Phil Regan, a veteran of professional baseball who spent decades in the sport as a player, manager, and coach, died Wednesday according to ESPN. He was 89 years old.

The right-handed pitcher played 13 seasons in the major leagues with four different teams. He also managed the Baltimore Orioles during the strike-shortened 1995 season, finishing with a 71-73 record. Beyond managing, Regan worked as a pitching coach for four organizations and took on various other roles throughout his baseball career.

Regan’s most celebrated season came in 1966 while pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers, when he was named an All-Star. That year, he posted a 14-1 record with a 1.62 ERA and led the National League with 21 saves across 65 relief appearances. It was Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax who gave Regan the nickname “The Vulture,” a nod to the way Regan was constantly picking up relief wins.

Regan’s big league journey began with the Detroit Tigers in 1960. Over six seasons with the club, he won 10 or more games three times before being dealt to the Dodgers prior to the 1966 season.

A trade to the Chicago Cubs early in the 1968 season marked another strong chapter in his career, as he led all of Major League Baseball with 25 saves that year. He wrapped up his playing days in 1972, splitting that final season between the Cubs and the Chicago White Sox.

Over the course of his career, Regan appeared in 551 games — including 105 starts — and compiled a 96-81 record with a 3.84 ERA and 92 saves.

His coaching career took him to the Seattle Mariners, Cleveland (on two separate occasions), the Cubs, and the New York Mets. He stepped away from the game in 2019 following an interim role with the Mets. However, four years later he filed a lawsuit against the organization, alleging age discrimination and wrongful termination.

CHICAGO — Connor Bedard, the star center for the Chicago Blackhawks, went under the knife Wednesday for surgery on his left shoulder, and he won’t be ready when the puck drops to open the new season.

Team physician Michael Terry indicated that Bedard is expected “to make a full recovery in an approximate timeline of four months.” While the NHL has yet to release its regular-season schedule, the Blackhawks opened play last year on October 7.

Bedard, who will turn 21 on July 17, suffered the injury while skating with a group of NHL players last week in western Canada. The setback is a tough blow for a Blackhawks organization that has been working hard to climb out of a difficult rebuilding stretch.

This past season, Bedard put up career-best numbers, recording 30 goals and 45 assists across 69 games. He had already missed 12 games earlier in the year after injuring his right shoulder during a faceoff in a 3-2 loss at St. Louis on December 12.

General manager Kyle Davidson spoke glowingly of Bedard back in April, saying, “He’s so important to our team. He took such a big step forward this year in every facet.”

Bedard currently holds restricted free agent status, and it’s unclear whether the injury will complicate ongoing contract negotiations. This isn’t his first major health scare — he also missed nearly six weeks of his rookie season after breaking his jaw.

Chicago finished last season with a 29-39-14 record, which represented an 11-point improvement over the prior year, though the team remained well out of playoff contention. The Blackhawks have landed at No. 31 in the NHL standings in each of the last three seasons.

The team has been active in adding new players, acquiring defenseman Bowen Byram from Buffalo in a trade on June 23, and signing forward Cole Smith and defenseman Ian Cole on the opening day of NHL free agency.

Despite his injury, Bedard personally reached out to welcome Byram, Smith, and Cole to the organization.

When asked Wednesday about the prospect of playing alongside Bedard, Ian Cole offered his thoughts: “Obviously a superb young talent. Unfortunately, yeah, it sounds like it’s going to be a little later than originally anticipated, but you know he seems like a great guy.”

Chicago has not appeared in the postseason since the NHL used an expanded playoff format following the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season.

Bedard has been the cornerstone of the franchise since being selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft. He made his highly anticipated NHL debut that October and went on to claim the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie. In his second season, he appeared in all 82 games, tallying 23 goals and 44 assists.

MEXICO CITY — Mexico’s football federation announced Wednesday that Rafael Marquez has been named the country’s new national team head coach, taking over from Javier Aguirre following Mexico’s exit from the World Cup.

Marquez, 47, spent the World Cup campaign working alongside Aguirre as his assistant. During that tournament, Mexico achieved a milestone not seen in 40 years — advancing past the knockout stage — before ultimately falling to England 3-2 in the round of 16.

The new appointment is a continuation of the federation’s “Project 2030” initiative, which was first unveiled in August 2024. At that time, Marquez was brought on as Aguirre’s assistant with the clear intention that he would eventually step into the top role.

Aguirre’s third tenure leading the Mexican national team came to a close with an overall record of 22 victories, nine draws, and six defeats across 37 matches. His time in charge also included a flawless group stage performance at the World Cup, going three wins from three games. Additionally, Mexico claimed the 2024-2025 CONCACAF Nations League title and the 2025 Gold Cup under his leadership.

As a player, Marquez had a distinguished career representing Mexico, captaining the national side at five separate World Cups and earning 148 international appearances. He also won the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup and CONCACAF Gold Cup championships in both 2003 and 2011.

Before joining the Mexican national team’s coaching staff, Marquez gained managerial experience with Spanish clubs RSD Alcala and Barcelona Atletic. He later joined Aguirre’s staff during the World Cup qualifying campaign before transitioning to his new role as head coach.

UME Hawks women’s bowling standout Gabriela Beccera Diaz delivered a golden performance at the Colombia National Tournament, capturing three gold medals at the prestigious competition.

The accomplished bowler represented her country at the national level and came away with top honors across multiple events, cementing her status as one of the top competitors in Colombian bowling.

MIAMI (AP) — Every time Tim Hardaway Jr. walked into the arena as a visiting player over 15 trips to Miami, he had a ritual. He would look up into the rafters and find one particular banner hanging above the court.

That banner reads “Hardaway 10” — a tribute to his father’s career with the Heat and the jersey the franchise retired in the elder Hardaway’s honor.

“Coming here when I was an opponent, I felt like it gave me a superpower,” Hardaway Jr. said.

Now, that number belongs to him.

The Heat officially unveiled their newest player Wednesday, giving the 34-year-old Hardaway Jr. a formal introduction — and handing him a No. 10 Heat jersey, this one with “Jr.” stitched after the family name on the back.

“This is really bizarre,” said Heat President Pat Riley, who once coached Hardaway’s father in Miami.

As a child, Hardaway Jr. would roam the Heat practice facility while his dad played for the team, spending time in the family room playing video games. As he grew older, Riley would arrange for a staff member to put the younger Hardaway through workouts on the practice floor.

That staff member was Erik Spoelstra — who is now the Heat’s head coach.

“I think things are going to be a little bit more serious now than before,” Hardaway said. “But I mean, I’m very comfortable and confident to be able to go up there and talk to coach anytime I need some guidance or assistance on anything. I feel like he’s a great person in order to do that.”

Miami came into this offseason with a clear list of priorities. The team wanted a superstar and landed one by acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Heat were also searching for shooting ability and a player who could stay healthy. Hardaway checks both boxes — he set career highs last season with 224 three-pointers made and a three-point shooting percentage of nearly 41%, and he appeared in 236 out of a possible 246 regular-season games over the past three seasons.

Whether he starts or comes off the bench, his role is straightforward: make things easier for Antetokounmpo and Heat center Bam Adebayo.

“Once the call came, I think it was kind of a no-brainer,” Hardaway said. “It’s the right fit, not only for this franchise, but for me personally — especially when you have two guys out there that definitely need spacing for them to go out there and operate and do what they do best. My job here, it’s just to make their life easy and that’s to knock down shots.”

For Hardaway, this move is also deeply personal. Born and raised in Miami, the Heat will be his sixth NBA team — and the one playing in the city he still considers home.

“I’ve been praying for this day,” Hardaway said. “I’ve always wanted this day to come, ever since I was a kid.”

FIFA and Global Citizen, an organization dedicated to fighting extreme poverty, have announced that Canadian pop sensation Justin Bieber will join the World Cup final halftime show as a co-headliner. Bieber will share the stage with music legends Madonna, Shakira, and K-pop group BTS when the event takes place on July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium.

Nigerian Afrobeats star Burna Boy will also perform during the 11-minute broadcast. His collaboration with Shakira on the track “Dai Dai” has been making waves on music charts around the globe.

The entire halftime production will be shaped by Chris Martin of the rock band Coldplay, who is serving as curator for the show.

Adding a family-friendly element to the spectacle, beloved characters from both Sesame Street and The Muppets are expected to make appearances during the performance.

The halftime show is tied to a broader humanitarian effort. The initiative aims to raise $100 million to improve access to quality education and soccer opportunities for children around the world. So far, the campaign has surpassed the halfway mark, having already collected more than $50 million. One dollar from every World Cup match ticket sold is being directed toward the cause.

FIFA announced Wednesday that pop star Justin Bieber will co-headline the halftime show at the World Cup final, joining an already impressive roster of performers.

Bieber will take the stage alongside Madonna, Shakira, and BTS for the 11-minute performance on July 19 — marking the first time a live musical halftime show has ever been featured at a World Cup final, according to a statement from the soccer governing body.

The championship match will be held in East Rutherford, New Jersey, just outside New York City.