Category: Sports

The long-awaited playoff clash between Central Division foes Dallas and Minnesota is finally here, with both clubs having anticipated this first-round matchup for several months now.

These division rivals already provided a preview of what’s to come during a hard-hitting encounter just over a week ago at the same venue where Game 1 will unfold Saturday night.

“I think it’s exactly what it was,” Stars forward Mikko Rantanen commented Friday.

The Stars emerged victorious 5-4 in that April 9 contest, which featured an astounding 12 roughing infractions split evenly between both squads. The regular season series concluded with each team capturing two victories while both clubs tallied 13 goals overall.

“They got the best of us for sure, but it was a great hockey game for the end of a regular season,” Minnesota forward Matt Boldy reflected.

The two franchises that occupied second and third positions in the Central Division standings for most of the campaign, trailing Presidents’ Trophy champion Colorado, will now engage in a best-of-seven battle beginning Saturday in Dallas.

Minnesota squandered an opportunity that evening to draw even with Dallas in the standings. The Stars essentially secured home-ice advantage with that victory, which kicked off a five-game winning streak to close out the regular season.

“We learned some lessons last time we played them,” Wild forward Marcus Foligno explained. “We know that they’re a really, really good team, and so are we. They have some lethal weapons. We’re just more educated, more experienced going into this series than we were before. We always like our chances. We’re positive.”

For the first time in their respective histories, both organizations boast a pair of 40-goal scorers in the same campaign. Kirill Kaprizov netted 45 goals while Boldy contributed 42 for Minnesota. Dallas countered with Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnston, the 22-year-old center already participating in his fourth postseason, each finding the net 45 times.

“That’s a legit number,” Stars veteran forward Matt Duchene acknowledged.

Dallas defenseman Miro Heiskanen returned to practice Friday for the first time since suffering a lower-body injury when Ryan Hartman sent him crashing into the boards during their previous meeting with Minnesota.

Stars coach Glen Gulutzan reported that Heiskanen, who missed the beginning of last year’s playoffs, completed practice without complications and felt strong.

“I would think that as long as everything goes good, he should be in,” Gulutzan stated. “He means everything on both sides of the puck for us. Power play, penalty kill, he touches all parts of the game.”

Stars top-line center Roope Hintz, sidelined since March 6, will be absent for the playoff opener following a setback in his recovery from a lower-body ailment.

Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes, battling an illness since his last appearance Saturday, made his own travel arrangements to Dallas Friday after missing the team’s Thursday departure.

“With the illness, I think more rest for him and just not having him on the plane,” coach John Hynes explained. “The expectation is for him to play.”

Jake Oettinger enters his 11th playoff series as Dallas’s starting netminder, marking his second appearance against Minnesota — particularly meaningful for the Minnesota native who grew up roughly 30 miles from their home arena. His inaugural playoff series victory came in six games against the Wild during the 2023 first round.

Minnesota has chosen rookie Jesper Wallstedt over playoff-veteran Filip Gustavsson, though Hynes stressed this decision applies only to Game 1 rather than the entire series.

“His overall body work has been really solid. He’s played really well coming down the stretch,” Hynes said regarding the 23-year-old rookie. “We’re confident in both guys.”

Gustavsson made his playoff debut three seasons ago with an outstanding 51-save performance in a double-overtime triumph over Dallas during Game 1. Wallstedt appeared in 33 games during his NHL rookie season, posting the league’s second-best .916 save percentage while establishing franchise rookie marks with 18 victories and four shutouts.

While Dallas will concentrate heavily on neutralizing Kaprizov and Boldy, Minnesota possesses a reliable scorer on their third line with extensive playoff experience in Vladimir Tarasenko. The former St. Louis standout, who has captured the Stanley Cup twice during his 14-year career, has recorded 49 goals across 121 career playoff contests. Tarasenko contributed 23 goals and 24 assists in his debut season with Minnesota.

“He’s a big-game player,” Hynes noted. “I think that leadership and the way he plays is certainly a playoff-style of game.”

Dallas has won both previous postseason matchups against Minnesota in six games, occurring in 2016 and 2023. The Stars franchise previously operated as the Minnesota North Stars before relocating south in 1993. Minnesota’s 12 playoff appearances over 14 years represent the most in the NHL during that timeframe, though they’ve dropped nine consecutive series since defeating St. Louis in the 2015 first round. Dallas is making its fifth straight postseason appearance, with the last three campaigns ending in the Western Conference final. Gulutzan, who participated in 83 playoff games as an Edmonton assistant including Stanley Cup Final trips the past two seasons, seeks his first postseason victory as a head coach after Calgary was swept by Anaheim in 2017.

Fighting Illini basketball received a major boost Friday when star guard Andrej Stojakovic confirmed he will remain with the program for the 2026-27 campaign.

The announcement came via Stojakovic’s Instagram account with a playful post that began with the question “Did I make you nervous?” The accompanying video showed him dramatically lowering a newspaper, then his sunglasses, before declaring “I’m back.”

Stojakovic’s decision to stay represents a significant victory for Illinois, which made an impressive run to the Final Four before falling to UConn. The Fighting Illini compiled a 28-9 record this past season and are expected to enter next year’s preseason rankings among the nation’s top five programs, though final positioning will depend on transfer portal activity and NBA draft decisions across college basketball.

The 6-foot-7 player contributed 13.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game across 34 contests this season, despite missing some action due to an ankle injury that sidelined him temporarily.

This marked Stojakovic’s inaugural campaign with Illinois following previous stops at Stanford during the 2023-24 season and Cal in 2024-25. During his time with the Golden Bears, he posted impressive numbers with 17.9 points per game before making the decision to transfer once again.

Throughout his collegiate career spanning 95 games with 59 starts, Stojakovic has maintained averages of 12.9 points and 4.2 rebounds. His shooting statistics include 95 successful three-point attempts, while also recording 53 blocked shots and 49 steals on the defensive end.

STUTTGART, Germany – Major upsets dominated Friday’s quarterfinal action at the Stuttgart Open, as tennis superstars Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff both saw their tournament runs come to an unexpected end, while Elena Rybakina advanced after surviving a marathon three-set match against Leylah Fernandez to earn a semifinal spot opposite Mirra Andreeva.

The clay court season began poorly for Gauff, the French Open titleholder, who fell to Karolina Muchova in a 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 defeat. The third-ranked player in the world had previously dominated Muchova in all six of their encounters on hard court surfaces, but struggled with 13 forehand unforced errors while dropping her first-ever set to the Czech competitor.

Despite rallying to capture the second set, the two-time Grand Slam champion from America couldn’t maintain momentum in the decisive third set. Muchova executed perfectly when it mattered most, successfully defending against five break point opportunities while securing the lone break of the set for a crucial 4-2 advantage.

“It’s always very tough against her. She’s a tough player… I think the third set was a battle. It was very physical, as well, and I’m glad I managed the first break and then I was able to keep it going,” the 12th-ranked Muchova explained to media members.

Muchova’s semifinal opponent will be Elina Svitolina, who defeated Linda Noskova with scores of 7-6(2), 7-5 as the tournament’s fourth seed.

In another stunning result, 18-year-old Russian player Mirra Andreeva dominated Swiatek 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in their inaugural clay court matchup. Andreeva secured an early service break in the opening game, though the fourth-ranked Swiatek responded with two breaks of her own to claim the first set.

After falling behind 2-0 in the second set, Swiatek mounted a comeback to even the score at 4-4, but Andreeva maintained her composure to push the match to a third set.

“I think my baseline game was fine, and I see a progress there comparing to the last tournaments. But for sure, overall, it wasn’t enough,” Poland’s Swiatek reflected.

The second-ranked Rybakina, who won the Australian Open, endured a challenging battle against Canada’s Fernandez before prevailing 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-6(6) to secure her semifinal berth against ninth-ranked Andreeva.

“I was pretty negative from the beginning of the match, nothing was working, so I was just trying to play point at a time,” the 26-year-old Rybakina commented.

Two of basketball’s greatest players will renew their playoff rivalry this weekend as the Houston Rockets travel to face the Los Angeles Lakers in what could be the final postseason meeting between LeBron James and Kevin Durant.

Their playoff history dates back to 2012, when James’s Miami Heat defeated Durant’s Oklahoma City Thunder for James’s first NBA title. Durant got his revenge in 2017 and 2018, leading Golden State to victories over James’s Cleveland Cavaliers and capturing two championships in the process.

Now, more than a decade later, the 41-year-old James—who holds the record as the league’s all-time leading scorer—will square off against the 37-year-old Durant, who ranks fifth in NBA scoring history. Game 1 tips off Saturday night in Los Angeles.

“It’s prime time,” Houston coach Ime Udoka explained. “Two of the best, and still doing it at this stage in their careers. And they have had some battles in the playoffs, but not a ton being in the East and the West a lot. So that part alone has a lot of storylines, a lot of history. I’m sure this will add to their chapters.”

While this may represent their final spring encounter—and possibly James’s last playoff run—both veterans are focusing on the present challenge rather than dwelling on past battles.

“It’s always great playing against great players,” Durant commented. “You feel their presence on the floor, even if you’re not matched up with them. But it’s just like all basketball players know, it’s much more than just one player. You need a whole group of guys to go out there and win … but yeah, the matchup is definitely fun. Two great players who’ve been in the league for a long time. But everybody who’s involved in this series knows it’s much deeper than that.”

Their previous playoff encounters highlight how crucial supporting talent is, even for elite players. James’s Miami squad overwhelmed a young Thunder team that featured Durant alongside James Harden and Russell Westbrook. Later, Golden State assembled one of the most talented rosters in recent memory when Durant joined Stephen Curry’s squad, proving too powerful even for James, who subsequently moved to Los Angeles after his Cavaliers fell to the Warriors for the third time in four seasons.

The significance of depth explains why fifth-seeded Houston enters as the clear favorite in this series.

Los Angeles suffered devastating blows two weeks ago when NBA scoring leader Luka Doncic and productive guard Austin Reaves sustained injuries that will sideline them indefinitely.

While James once again attempts to elevate an undermanned roster beyond its natural capabilities, the industrious Rockets remain healthy around Durant, who hopes to make his first Houston postseason run memorable.

“Obviously, we know that’s the head of the snake,” James said regarding Durant. “But it’s the Houston Rockets, and they have some damn good players on their team. It’s not just a KD team. It’s the whole group. Like I said, KD is gonna do what KD does. He’s a Hall of Famer. We know that. So we have to prepare not only for him, but for the whole group.”

The Lakers haven’t provided a public timeline for their top scorers’ return, if they return at all. Doncic’s Grade 2 hamstring strain and Reaves’s Grade 2 oblique strain typically require several weeks of recovery. Though the first-round schedule includes extra rest days, that offers no guarantees.

“We’re going try to make this season as long as possible so that we can get those guys back at some point,” Lakers coach JJ Redick stated. “We don’t know what that is, but that’s just our job. And their job is to do everything they can to be in a position to come back at some point. It may not work, but that’s what we’re trying to do.”

The determined Houston squad would present challenges even if Los Angeles were at full strength, but the Rockets understand they’re facing a capable opponent motivated by widespread doubts about their ability to compete while short-handed.

Los Angeles secured home-court advantage by winning 53 games, including a pair of victories in Houston last month.

“Even though they got injuries, we’re not looking at this team like they’re not a good team,” Durant noted. “We have to show the proper respect to them as NBA players and then into the game as well. We’ve got to come out and respect these guys, because they can have that impact if we let them.”

Udoka remained secretive this week about who will start alongside Durant, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., and Amen Thompson. Throughout the season’s final stretch, Udoka rotated between Tari Eason, Josh Okogie, and Reed Sheppard based on matchups. Okogie could earn the nod for his defensive capabilities, though his 4.5 points per game make him less attractive offensively than Sheppard (13.5 points) or Eason (10.5).

Redick has emphasized Houston’s historic rebounding dominance since practice began this week, implementing basic rebounding and boxing-out exercises that reminded his players of middle school fundamentals.

“Taking care of the basketball and boxing out. That’s the series,” Redick emphasized. “Scheme, personnel, obviously important. But if we don’t take care of the basketball and we don’t box out, we’re not going to win the series.”

Houston topped the league in total rebounds (48.1 per game) and offensive rebounds (15.0 per game). That dominance fueled much of the Rockets’ offensive production, while Los Angeles relied heavily on Doncic’s exceptional play for a significant portion of their scoring.

Houston Astros closer Josh Hader was transferred to the 60-day injured list on Friday as he continues dealing with a biceps injury that has kept the left-handed pitcher out of action.

The roster move allowed Houston to create space on their 40-man roster to bring up right-handed pitcher Peter Lambert, whose contract was purchased from the minors. Meanwhile, the team sent reliever Christian Roa down to their Triple-A affiliate in Sugar Land.

The 32-year-old Hader earned All-Star honors last season after posting a 6-2 record with a 2.05 earned run average and recording 28 saves across 48 relief outings. Throughout his nine-year major league career with Milwaukee (2017-22), San Diego (2022-23), and Houston, the six-time All-Star has compiled a 34-31 record with a 2.64 ERA and 227 career saves.

Lambert, who celebrates his 29th birthday on Saturday, was scheduled to make his first appearance in an Astros uniform as a starter against St. Louis on Friday. Since entering the majors in 2019, all with Colorado, Lambert has appeared in 74 games (including 35 starts) and holds an 8-19 record with a 6.28 ERA.

The 27-year-old Roa had struggled in his seven relief appearances for Houston this season, posting a 5.19 ERA before being demoted.

A massive payday has made Houston Texans star Will Anderson Jr. the most expensive non-quarterback player in National Football League history, according to sources familiar with the contract negotiations who spoke to The Associated Press on Friday.

Anderson’s new three-year deal is worth $150 million, with anonymous sources confirming the agreement that has not yet received official announcement from the team.

The contract guarantees Anderson $134 million over its duration.

At $50 million annually, Anderson’s new salary eclipses the previous record held by defensive end Micah Parsons, who earns $46.5 million per year under a four-year contract he signed with Green Bay following his trade from Dallas in the previous year.

During the most recent season, Anderson appeared in every game for Houston and recorded career-best numbers with 12 quarterback sacks and 20 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, helping anchor one of the league’s premier defensive units.

Houston moved up in the 2023 draft to select Anderson third overall, choosing the former Alabama star immediately after taking quarterback C.J. Stroud with the second pick.

Throughout his three-year tenure with Houston, Anderson has accumulated impressive statistics including 30 total sacks and 136 tackles, with 46 of those stops coming behind the line of scrimmage. His career numbers also feature 64 hits on opposing quarterbacks, four forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.

With Houston having already picked up Anderson’s fifth-year option earlier this month, the new extension will secure his services through the 2030 campaign.

Arizona Cardinals signal-caller Jacoby Brissett is pursuing a new deal that would compensate him at starting quarterback levels.

According to NFL Network’s Friday report, Brissett has chosen to skip the team’s voluntary offseason training sessions while he works to resolve his contract situation.

The 33-year-old quarterback currently has just $1.5 million in guaranteed money remaining on his one-year deal and appears set to take over as the Cardinals’ primary starter following the team’s decision to part ways with Kyler Murray on March 3. Murray, who was previously selected first overall in the draft, inked a one-year agreement with the Minnesota Vikings on March 12.

Beyond Brissett, Arizona’s quarterback depth chart includes Gardner Minshew II and Kedon Slovis. The organization is anticipated to select another quarterback in the upcoming NFL draft.

During the previous campaign, the veteran quarterback filled in admirably for Murray, completing passes for 3,366 yards while recording 23 touchdown throws against eight interceptions across 14 appearances, including 12 as a starter.

Despite Brissett’s solid performance, the Cardinals struggled to a 3-14 record in the competitive NFC West during 2025 and dismissed head coach Jonathan Gannon on January 5 following his three-year tenure.

The former Super Bowl winner with New England has accumulated 14,766 passing yards throughout his career, along with 76 touchdown passes and 32 interceptions while playing for the Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, Washington Commanders and Cardinals.

Chicago Cubs pitcher Cade Horton underwent Tommy John surgery Thursday and faces an extended rehabilitation period of 15 to 16 months, according to the team’s Friday announcement.

The 24-year-old right-hander won’t be expected back on the mound until July or August 2027, a lengthier recovery period than typical because this marks his second elbow ligament reconstruction surgery. Horton previously had the same UCL repair procedure performed during his college career in 2021.

The Cubs placed Horton on the 15-day injured list April 5, just two days following his abbreviated appearance against Cleveland. He departed that road game after throwing only 17 pitches across one-plus innings.

Through his two starts this season, Horton posted a 1-0 record with a 2.45 earned run average.

Chicago selected Horton as their first-round draft choice in 2022, taking him seventh overall. Last season, he compiled an 11-4 record with a 2.67 ERA across 23 appearances, including 22 starts, and earned runner-up honors in National League Rookie of the Year balloting.

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza appears destined to hear his name called first when the NFL Draft begins next Thursday, giving him the opportunity to develop under veteran Kirk Cousins before taking over as the franchise signal-caller.

The Heisman Trophy recipient, who guided Indiana to its inaugural national title, stands as the clear consensus choice for the opening selection. Rather than attending the draft ceremony in Pittsburgh, Mendoza has opted to mark the milestone moment surrounded by loved ones in Miami.

While the top selection seems settled, genuine uncertainty begins with the second overall choice. The New York Jets were widely anticipated to select Ohio State pass rusher Arvell Reese, but Texas Tech defensive end David Bailey has generated significant buzz in recent weeks.

The Associated Press has released its third mock draft projection ahead of Thursday’s selections:

Mendoza brings exceptional accuracy as a pocket quarterback, combining ideal physical dimensions with composure and leadership qualities. Las Vegas has assembled offensive weapons including Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty while investing over $250 million in free agency additions. Cousins provides veteran guidance in the quarterback room, while part-owner Tom Brady offers championship expertise. The Raiders haven’t captured a playoff victory since their Super Bowl appearance following the 2002 campaign and have qualified for postseason play just twice since then. Mendoza represents their hope for a cornerstone quarterback.

The projection maintains Reese as the Jets’ selection. His exceptional athleticism was showcased by a 4.47-second 40-yard dash time, and his versatility playing both linebacker and edge positions demonstrates his rare talent. Reese possesses the ability to become an elite pass rusher with immediate impact potential for New York.

Bailey represents another supremely athletic edge defender with tremendous upside potential. Arizona could explore trading down to accumulate additional draft capital or focus on offensive line improvements. Bailey would pair with Josh Sweat to create a formidable pass-rushing tandem.

Tennessee has been active in free agency, overhauling their secondary and adding defensive depth while bringing in wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson as another target for Cam Ward. They face a difficult decision between Love and providing new head coach Robert Saleh with a defensive star like edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. or linebacker Sonny Styles. If general manager Mike Borgonzi follows best available talent, Love emerges as the choice.

Styles’ outstanding combine showing has elevated him into numerous top-five projections. While protecting Jaxson Dart remains a priority for New York, making them candidates for the draft’s premier offensive lineman, Styles represents an exceptionally talented defensive prospect.

Tate excels as a reliable route runner with sure hands and sufficient speed to become a premier playmaker. Cleveland added three veteran offensive linemen but could still target tackle help. Tate provides them with a number one receiver option that’s difficult to overlook.

Delane stands as the draft’s top coverage cornerback. His addition would significantly strengthen a defense lacking depth in the secondary.

Bain offers versatility as a pass rusher capable of lining up outside or inside against guards, creating favorable matchups. He would become a valuable asset for New Orleans.

Mauigoa brings three years of starting experience at right tackle and would replace Jawaan Taylor while enhancing Patrick Mahomes’ protection. Adding a playmaking receiver or edge rusher also remains possible, but Mauigoa represents strong value at this position.

Downs is an elite, multi-faceted playmaker who would bolster a struggling defense that has limited Cincinnati in recent seasons. Downs possesses top-five talent but slides due to positional value considerations.

Following trades involving Jaylen Waddle and the release of Tyreek Hill, Miami must provide Malik Willis with a top receiving target. Lemon is an elite playmaker who creates difficult matchup problems for defenses from the slot position.

Mesidor is an older prospect at 25 but demonstrates clear talent on film. He generates outside pressure while remaining solid against the run, addressing priorities Jerry Jones emphasized after trading Micah Parsons.

An outstanding route runner with speed who makes catches in traffic. Los Angeles showed interest in high-profile receivers, so selecting Tyson would upgrade a dynamic group featuring All-Pro Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.

Ioane addresses a significant need for Baltimore along their interior offensive line while fitting their run-blocking system perfectly.

Scouts praise Faulk’s leadership qualities alongside his obvious talent. Tampa Bay needs an impact pass rusher, and Faulk fits general manager Jason Licht’s character standards. Trading down for additional selections also remains possible.

Boston combines strength, speed, and elite ball skills. His frame at 6-foot-4, 212 pounds matches receivers that new offensive coordinator Frank Reich has utilized in his system. The Jets could trade down while still landing Boston or Omar Cooper Jr. and accumulating more picks.

Proctor began starting at left tackle as a freshman and surrendered only two sacks across three seasons. His impressive size at 6-foot-7, 352 pounds comes with considerable athleticism. Proctor even contributed five rushing attempts for 16 yards.

Thieneman impressed at the combine with a 4.36-second 40-yard dash that exceeded some of the NFL’s top receivers. As a three-year starter, he would immediately contribute to Brian Flores’ defense.

Carolina improved their defense through free agency by acquiring edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and linebacker Devin Lloyd. If Sadiq remains available, they would land the draft’s best tight end, providing Bryce Young with a potential primary target.

McCoy is a reliable cornerback with exceptional ball skills frequently projected to Dallas at the 12th selection. The Cowboys would acquire a defensive back capable of anchoring their secondary.

Freeling possesses elite athleticism and is considered a potential top-10 selection. He requires additional experience after starting just one season on the right side. Freeling has the athletic ability to adjust to a new position.

Woods is a powerful, versatile defensive lineman who embodies the type of player coach Jim Harbaugh wants on defense.

Miller started 54 collegiate games and can contribute immediately if Philadelphia needs him. He provides an eventual replacement for right tackle Lane Johnson.

Parker’s production declined after strong 2024 numbers, but he’s a strong, powerful edge defender with flourishing potential. His selection would make three consecutive Clemson players in this projection.

Chicago lost several secondary starters, making a defensive back addition possible, but a strong pass rusher also provides significant help. Young is a disruptive force who brings energy and leadership.

Despite acquiring D.J. Moore, another playmaking receiver remains an option. Edge rusher also ranks as a priority, and Howell has demonstrated his ability to reach quarterbacks and finish plays.

Concepcion is a speedy, elusive receiver who would give Brock Purdy and San Francisco another top target and offensive playmaker. Despite signing Mike Evans in free agency, the 49ers cannot pass up a confident player who has already declared himself the draft’s best receiver.

McDonald represents another Buckeyes player entering the first round. He’s a natural run defender who will occupy the middle of the defensive line.

After providing Mahomes with a blocker at the ninth pick, Kansas City adds a potential top target late in the round. Cooper is a versatile playmaker known for generating yards after catches.

Terrell is an athletic cornerback projected higher in the draft. Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson is possible if still available, but Miami signed Malik Willis.

Iheanachor is an athletic former basketball player with ideal size who needs development time but projects as a potential immediate starter.

Price replaces the departed Super Bowl MVP and provides Seattle with a natural runner in the backfield. With Kenneth Walker III gone and Zach Charbonnet recovering from knee injury, Price fills a need. Seattle could trade out of the first round, add more picks, and potentially acquire Price early in the second round.

A source familiar with ongoing discussions confirmed to The Associated Press that the family of deceased San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler is approaching completion of the team’s sale.

The individual requested anonymity due to the organization’s decision not to publicly discuss the transaction process.

According to initial reporting by The Wall Street Journal, the pending agreement involves private equity magnate Jose E. Feliciano and his spouse, Kwanza Jones. The franchise is anticipated to fetch $3.9 billion, establishing a new benchmark for Major League Baseball team valuations and significantly exceeding the roughly $2.4 billion Steven Cohen spent acquiring the New York Mets in 2020.

Feliciano, age 53, serves as co-founder and managing partner of Santa Monica, California-based Clearlake Capital, a private equity company. His firm participated in the investment consortium that acquired Premier League soccer club Chelsea in 2022, with Los Angeles Dodgers minority stakeholder Todd Boehly assuming the role of Blues chairman.

The Seidler family initiated discussions about divesting the Padres this past November, marking two years since beloved owner Peter Seidler’s passing. His sibling, John Seidler, has occupied the chairman position during the interim period.

Peter Seidler joined an ownership group that acquired the Padres in 2012, eventually becoming the franchise’s controlling owner in 2020. He captivated San Diego baseball enthusiasts through his willingness to invest heavily in pursuit of the organization’s inaugural World Series championship, while general manager A.J. Preller assembled competitive rosters that secured playoff berths in four of the previous six campaigns — an unprecedented achievement in franchise history.

The substantial asking price for the Padres stems from their status as San Diego’s sole representative among North America’s four premier professional sports leagues, cultivating devoted supporters who pack the scenic downtown Petco Park facility. The organization has established new attendance benchmarks during each of the last three seasons, culminating in last year’s remarkable total of 3,437,201 spectators — ranking second nationally behind only the Dodgers, who benefit from their considerably larger venue in Chavez Ravine.

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Feliciano pursued his education at Princeton and Stanford universities before establishing Clearlake Capital two decades ago.

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — As evening approaches, Bridgeport High School sophomore Becky Pepper-Jackson steps into the throwing circle, blocks out surrounding noise, and launches her discus into the fading daylight.

Her approach remains straightforward. Whether she’s working to surpass her third-place showing from West Virginia’s state track championship last year or dismissing critics who oppose transgender girls participating in female athletics, the student-athlete simply wants to spend time with her teammates.

She pushes aside everything else that could distract her. Right now, that includes avoiding thoughts about the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court decision expected this summer in a landmark case where she plays a central role regarding transgender girls’ participation in sports.

“I’m not here to get an advantage,” Pepper-Jackson said. “I’ve been like pushed down and have people that just look at me nasty my whole life. And I’ve learned that that’s just something I’m going to have to deal with.”

Pepper-Jackson made headlines in 2021 when she legally contested West Virginia’s recently enacted legislation prohibiting transgender students from participating in female athletics across middle schools, high schools, and universities. The nation’s highest court permitted her continued participation in middle school competition in 2023 as legal proceedings moved forward.

She has since advanced to high school, and her case approaches its conclusion. During January proceedings, the Supreme Court’s conservative members, who have consistently decided against transgender rights in recent rulings, indicated they would likely determine that state prohibitions don’t breach constitutional protections or Title IX, the federal statute preventing sex-based educational discrimination.

The court also considered arguments in a related Idaho case, where Lindsay Hecox challenged her state’s pioneering ban while seeking opportunities to try out for Boise State University’s women’s track and cross-country programs. She ultimately didn’t qualify for either team.

Throughout West Virginia, Pepper-Jackson remains the sole transgender individual who has requested to participate in girls’ athletics. Should the court validate state prohibitions, her ongoing track season would mark her final competition. She avoids dwelling on this possibility.

“I can’t make their decisions for them, so I just have to wait and see what they’ll say,” she said. “I try not to look at it if this could be my last season.”

West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey expressed confidence in his state’s position.

“West Virginia’s law does not exclude anyone; it simply says biological boys will compete against boys, and biological girls will compete against girls,” McCuskey said in a statement. “On the athletic field, biological sex matters — gender identity does not.”

Pepper-Jackson began living openly as a girl at age 8, though she expressed this identity much earlier within her family.

Her mother, Heather Jackson, recognized that Becky differed from her two older brothers.

“I noticed immediately that Becky was different,” Jackson said. “When she was old enough to say what she wanted, toys or clothing or anything, she was very profound in her opinion.”

Early signs included requesting and receiving a makeup set for Christmas at age 3. She also began using her mother’s shirts as makeshift dresses.

“She would be very opinionated on what she wanted to wear,” Jackson said. “I just followed her lead from the very beginning.”

When puberty began, Pepper-Jackson began taking hormone-blocking treatments.

“Becky did not undergo male puberty,” said Aubrey Sparks, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union’s West Virginia chapter. “And so when you hear, ‘Well, this is unfair. Trans kids have an advantage.’ That’s just not the case here.”

During sixth grade, Pepper-Jackson followed her girls’ track coach’s recommendation to transition from competitive distance events to field competitions. Last year as a freshman, she earned third place in discus and eighth in shot put at the state championship.

Opposition has consistently shadowed her career, including from Republican Governor Patrick Morrisey.

During 2024, five competitors from an opposing school declined to participate against Pepper-Jackson. These athletes later received enthusiastic applause at a Charleston press conference, where Morrisey, serving as attorney general at the time, declared the state’s intention to contest a federal appeals court decision supporting Pepper-Jackson.

At the 2025 state championship, a female sprinter celebrated her victory on the podium while wearing a shirt declaring, “Men don’t belong in women’s sports.”

This season has proceeded more peacefully. Pepper-Jackson has claimed first place in both discus and shot put during her initial two competitions and has supported teammates in their various events.

“There’s a lot of core lessons you learn from being in sports that you don’t get anywhere else, like teamwork, sportsmanship,” she said.

Beyond athletics, she intends to study music in college and eventually become a band director.

Pepper-Jackson has followed the achievements of other transgender girls who have succeeded in high school track nationwide.

AB Hernandez captured gold medals in girls’ high jump and triple jump at California’s state high school championship last year. Hernandez currently attends Jurupa Valley High School as a senior. Verónica Garcia claimed consecutive 400-meter championships in Washington state during 2024 and 2025, while Ada Gallagher won the 200-meter race at Oregon’s state meet in 2024.

“I think it’s very inspiring,” Pepper-Jackson said.

Hernandez’s achievements reignited demands from certain parent organizations and conservatives, including President Donald Trump, for California to prohibit transgender girls from competing against other female athletes. California maintains legislation allowing students to join sports teams matching their gender identity, regardless of birth-assigned sex.

When Hernandez earned qualification in three events last year, the resulting controversy prompted the meet’s organizing body to permit an additional girl to compete and earn medals in Hernandez’s events. This accommodation may represent the nation’s first such rule modification.

Pepper-Jackson’s strongest advocate remains her mother. Following a recent practice session, the two danced together, and Heather Jackson moved across the field to collect discuses after her daughter’s throws.

Jackson praised how her daughter has managed the attention and examination surrounding her case “with astounding grace and intelligence and education, which is more than I would have been able to do at that age.”

Pepper-Jackson mentioned that others have expressed admiration for her, though she struggles to understand why because “I don’t see the gravity of this court case. I think it’s just common knowledge: Transgender girls should be able to be on the girls’ sports team. I think that’s simple.”

SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Boxing legend George Foreman has been laid to rest in an Iowa cemetery, far from his Texas roots, after a single visit to the area nearly four decades ago left a lasting impression on the champion.

The former heavyweight titleholder passed away on March 21, 2025, at 76 years old in Houston. A month following his death, he was interred at Logan Park Cemetery in Sioux City, Iowa, according to city representatives. On Thursday, Foreman’s relatives gathered at the gravesite alongside Sioux City Mayor Bob Scott for a press conference, unveiling the burial location marked by an impressive monument featuring his image as a young Olympic gold medalist.

According to a statement from city officials, Foreman’s family shared that he had traveled to the Iowa community in 1988 and frequently remembered the tranquility he felt during that stay.

When the family arrived on April 17 of last year to inter Foreman, they said they quickly grasped why the area had such an impact on him.

“Our father lived a life of purpose, faith and gratitude,” the family said in a statement released by Sioux City officials. “To see him laid to rest in a place that brought him peace means everything to us.”

Scott stood with family members beside Foreman’s memorial, located several miles north of the Missouri River in the upper Midwest community of approximately 87,000 residents. The burial ground provides views of the striking Loess Hills, formed by wind-carried sediment deposits rising as high as 200 feet and extending along the Iowa riverfront for 200 miles.

“Their story is a reminder of how one place can stay with someone for a lifetime,” Scott said.

Born in Texas, Foreman gained national attention after earning a spot on the 1968 U.S. Olympic boxing squad and capturing gold in Mexico City. He claimed the world heavyweight title in 1973 by beating Joe Frazier, but lost the belt the following year to Muhammad Ali in the legendary “Rumble in the Jungle.”

Two decades later in 1994, Foreman made history by becoming the oldest heavyweight champion at age 45, stunning Michael Moorer in a remarkable comeback victory.

Foreman hung up his gloves in 1997 with a professional record of 76 wins and 5 losses.

Following his boxing career, he transitioned into business ventures, endorsements and occasional acting roles, gaining recognition among younger audiences through the George Foreman Grill. The compact cooking device generated sales exceeding 100 million units and earned him greater financial success than his fighting career.

A film chronicling Foreman’s life story premiered in 2023.

After sitting out last year’s playoffs due to injury, NBA veteran Kevin Durant is making his postseason comeback with the Houston Rockets as they prepare to take on the Los Angeles Lakers in their opening playoff series Saturday evening.

“I’m grateful to be here healthy with a team that’s looking forward to trying to do some big things,” Durant expressed. “(What) a difference a year can make and I’m just grateful to be back in this position. I don’t want to take any moment for granted.”

Following a major summer trade that brought him from Phoenix to Houston, the seasoned forward is guiding a youthful Rockets squad into playoff territory for their initial matchup against Los Angeles.

Last season proved challenging for the 37-year-old athlete, who sat out the final seven regular season contests due to an ankle problem while Phoenix struggled to a 1-6 record, ultimately missing playoff qualification.

This year tells a different story, as Durant ranked second league-wide in playing time with 2,840 minutes despite entering his 19th NBA campaign.

His enthusiasm for extended postseason play remains evident.

“When you get on the court and you get a chance to be healthy you want go out there and take advantage of that opportunity,” Durant explained. “So, I’m looking forward to it.”

Durant paced Houston’s scoring this season with a 26-point average, establishing himself as the NBA’s oldest player ever to reach the 2,000-point milestone in a single season.

Head coach Ime Udoka praised Durant’s contributions since joining the team, emphasizing his consistent presence on the court.

“Just the availability on a night-to-night basis,” Udoka noted. “Being able to play this many games at this stage in his career and the efficiency that he does it with … just the fact that he’s durable and available with the injuries in his past, is very impressive.”

Houston seeks its first championship since capturing consecutive titles in 1994 and 1995. The franchise returns to playoff action for the second consecutive year after Golden State eliminated them in round one last season, marking their first postseason since 2020.

Durant brings an impressive resume as the league’s fifth all-time leading scorer, two-time champion, 16-time All-Star, and four-time Olympic gold winner. His championship experience provides valuable leadership for a starting unit where his four teammates have combined for just one previous playoff appearance each.

When asked about his motivation for pursuing another championship, Durant emphasized daily focus.

“Winning every day is the most important thing,” he stated. “Obviously the main objective is to win a title, but you can’t do that unless you take care of each day first.”

Young teammates have embraced Durant’s guidance throughout the season. Twenty-three-year-old Amen Thompson described modeling his approach after the veteran’s work ethic and physical preparation.

“He’s great and I want to be great,” Thompson shared. “We’ve got a lot of young guys that want to be great, so just having that as something to look at every day and just being teammates with him is good.”

Durant’s positive influence extends beyond physical preparation. Fellow 23-year-old Alperen Sengun credited the veteran with improving his mental approach to offensive struggles.

“I used to care a lot when I used to miss shots,” Sengun revealed. “But when I miss shots now, he’s already screaming in my ear: ‘It’s gonna come.’ So, he’s helped with a lot of things, but the big thing is confidence, especially confidence.”

Despite his mentoring role throughout the regular season, Durant plans to let experience be the teacher as playoffs begin.

“Nope,” he responded when asked about sharing playoff wisdom. “Just jump in the fire and let’s see what happens, man. We can all get advice and words of encouragement from everybody in our lives and it’s not going to be like actually being in that action.”

Durant expresses confidence in Houston’s readiness after finishing the regular season with nine victories in their final ten contests.

“It’s the biggest stage of basketball and there’s a lot that comes around the game, but at the end of the day, when that ball’s tipped up, it’s just basketball,” he concluded. “So, we all know how to play at this level, and we all know what it takes to win basketball games. We’ve just got to do that consistently.”

The New York Liberty have locked up their championship trio for the future, announcing Friday that Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Jonquel Jones have all inked deals to remain with the franchise through the 2026 season.

The organization did not reveal the financial details of the contract extensions.

“This is an incredibly historic moment for the New York Liberty franchise,” Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb said. “Re-signing Breanna, Jonquel and Sabrina reflects the trust, sacrifice and shared purpose that define what it means to represent the Liberty, this city and our fanbase. The three cornerstone players chose to invest in each other and the long-term legacy of this organization, a rare commitment that has the chance to redefine that standard of excellence across basketball.”

Both Stewart and Ionescu had previously indicated this month their intentions to return to New York, removing uncertainty about their status as free agents.

The 31-year-old Stewart, a forward, is preparing for her fourth campaign with the Liberty and her tenth year in the WNBA overall. She has claimed MVP honors twice – first with the Seattle Storm in 2018 and again with New York in 2023.

During the previous season, Stewart posted averages of 18.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists across 31 contests while earning her seventh All-Star selection.

The veteran has captured three WNBA championships — two with Seattle in 2018 and 2020, plus last year’s title with New York — and holds career numbers of 20.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists over 292 games, all as a starter.

Ionescu, 28, is set to begin her seventh professional season after spending her entire WNBA career in New York. Selected first overall in the 2020 draft, she has earned four All-Star nods.

The former Oregon standout contributed 18.2 points, 5.7 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game over 38 appearances last season.

Throughout her professional career, Ionescu has compiled averages of 16.7 points, 5.9 assists and 5.5 rebounds in 181 contests (177 as a starter) and captured one WNBA championship in 2024.

Jones, 32, contributed 13.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per contest across 31 starts last season. The 2021 WNBA MVP has career averages of 13.4 points and 8.4 rebounds over 306 games (259 starts) split between the Connecticut Sun and Liberty.

NEWARK, N.J. — Soccer enthusiasts planning to attend World Cup matches this spring will face sticker shock beyond just ticket prices when traveling to certain U.S. venues.

Transportation authorities announced Friday that soccer fans traveling from New York City to MetLife Stadium will pay $150 for round-trip train service during each match.

The steep price represents nearly a twelve-fold increase from the standard $12.90 cost for the approximately 15-minute journey covering 9 miles from Penn Station in Manhattan to the East Rutherford, New Jersey venue. With stadium parking unavailable to most attendees, New Jersey authorities project roughly 40,000 spectators will rely on public transportation for each game.

MetLife Stadium, which serves as home field for both the New York Giants and New York Jets, will welcome eight World Cup contests, culminating with the championship match on July 19. Tournament group play featuring soccer giants Brazil, France, Germany and England, plus additional countries, kicks off June 13.

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill defended the price hike as essential to prevent state commuters from being saddled with a “tab for years to come” as the World Cup returns to American soil for the first time since 1994.

NJ Transit leadership revealed that fan transportation throughout the tournament will require $62 million, with external funding covering just $14 million of projected costs.

“This isn’t price gouging,” declared NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri during Friday’s press briefing. “We’re literally trying to recoup our costs.”

Boston-area World Cup attendees will also encounter elevated transportation expenses.

Express bus service from multiple pickup points to Gillette Stadium, home to the New England Patriots, will run $95, authorities revealed this week.

Additionally, thousands of supporters have already purchased $80 round-trip rail passes from Boston to the commuter station serving the stadium. This rate quadruples the typical $20 charge for round-trip service during game days and special occasions. Unlike MetLife’s proximity to downtown, Gillette sits in Foxborough, roughly 30 miles south of Boston.

Several other World Cup host locations, including Los Angeles and Philadelphia, have committed to maintaining standard transit pricing, highlighting that federal authorities allocated approximately $100 million in transportation grants to host communities for enhanced bus and rail operations.

Kansas City operates shuttle service from various city locations to Arrowhead Stadium for just $15 round-trip, plus complimentary airport-to-downtown bus service. Houston, hosting seven World Cup matches, expanded its bus and rail capacity for fans while maintaining existing rates: $1.25 for buses and light rail, with park-and-ride options between $2 and $4.50.

However, New Jersey’s governor, a Democrat who assumed office in January, stated her administration inherited arrangements where FIFA, soccer’s international governing organization, provided “$0 for transportation” while leaving the state’s financially struggling transit system “stuck with a $48 million bill.”

“FIFA should pay for the rides. But if they don’t — I’m not going to let New Jersey get taken for one,” Sherrill wrote in a Wednesday social media message.

FIFA rejected these claims, emphasizing that 2018 agreements with World Cup host cities required complimentary fan transportation to all matches. The organization also noted that previous major events at MetLife weren’t required to fund fan transit.

“We are quite surprised by the NJ Governor’s approach today on fan transportation,” FIFA stated Thursday as news of the fare increase spread. “FIFA worked for years with host cities on transportation and mobility plans, including advocating for millions of dollars in federal funding to support host cities for transportation.”

The dramatic MetLife fare increase also prompted criticism from New York Governor Kathy Hochul.

“Charging over $100 for a short train ride sounds awfully high to me,” the Democrat wrote on X earlier this week.

Sports publication The Athletic initially reported the surge pricing.

Alternative transportation to MetLife Stadium games carries similarly steep costs. Limited parking spaces at the adjacent American Dream Mall are being pre-sold for $225.

Baseball lost one of its most respected players Thursday when Garret Anderson, the Los Angeles Angels’ all-time hits leader and World Series champion, passed away at his Newport Beach, California home. He was 53 years old.

The Angels organization announced Anderson’s death Friday but did not reveal the cause. TMZ reported that the former outfielder suffered a medical emergency at his residence.

“The Angels Organization is mourning the loss of one of our franchise’s most beloved icons, Garret Anderson,” team owner Arte Moreno stated. “Garret was a cornerstone of our organization throughout his 15 seasons and his stoic presence in the outfield and our clubhouse elevated the Angels into an era of continued success, highlighted by the 2002 World Series championship.”

Anderson delivered the most memorable hit in franchise history during Game 7 of the 2002 World Series against the San Francisco Giants. His three-run double in the third inning became the game-winning blow in the then-Anaheim Angels’ 4-1 victory, securing the organization’s only World Series title to date.

“Garret will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Angels fans for his professionalism, class, and loyalty throughout his career and beyond,” Moreno continued. “His admiration and respect for the game was immeasurable.”

Throughout his Angels career, Anderson established himself as the franchise’s offensive leader across multiple categories. He holds team records for hits (2,368), total bases (3,743), extra-base hits (796), doubles (489), RBIs (1,292) and games played (2,013). The outfielder compiled a .296 batting average with 272 home runs after the Angels selected him in the fourth round of the 1990 MLB Draft from John F. Kennedy High School in Granada Hills, California.

The Angels inducted Anderson into their Hall of Fame on August 20, 2016. The team announced players will wear memorial patches on their uniforms for the rest of the season to honor his memory.

“We extend our deepest condolences to Garret’s wife Teresa, daughters Brianne and Bailey, son Garret ‘Trey’ Anderson III, and his entire family,” Moreno said.

Anderson earned recognition as a two-time Silver Slugger Award winner and three-time All-Star during his career. He became a regular starter in Anaheim in 1995 and remained with the team for 14 seasons. His major league career concluded with single seasons playing for the Atlanta Braves in 2009 and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2010.

Among Angels players, only current star Mike Trout, who joined the franchise in 2011, has spent more time wearing the team’s uniform than Anderson did during his tenure.

The lengthy and disputed effort to find a new owner for the San Diego Padres appears headed toward completion, with Chelsea FC owner Jose E. Feliciano emerging as the winning bidder with an unprecedented $3.9 billion offer.

Multiple sources indicate the basic terms have been settled, leaving only the requirement for three-quarters of Major League Baseball owners to give their approval before the transaction becomes official.

Should the deal receive the green light, it would obliterate the existing MLB franchise sale record set when Steve Cohen acquired the New York Mets for $2.42 billion in 2020.

Feliciano, who established Clearlake Capital and holds partial ownership of Chelsea FC, joined the bidding process alongside his spouse Kwanza Jones when the Seidler Family put the team up for sale.

The franchise’s longtime owner Peter Seidler passed away in 2023, leaving family members divided over who should control the organization. Current Padres chairman John Seidler announced in November that the team would be sold. Forbes had valued the Padres at $3.1 billion heading into the 2026 season.

Through Clearlake Capital, Feliciano controls more than 60 percent of Chelsea, with the ownership group including Mark Walter, Todd Boehly and Hansjorg Wyss as partners.

Other prominent figures who pursued the MLB franchise included Joe Lacob, who owns the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, the WNBA’s Valkyries and San Francisco’s Chase Center; Dan Friedkin, who serves as principal owner of three European soccer teams; and Tom Gores, owner of both Platinum Equities and the NBA’s Detroit Pistons.

The Wall Street Journal cited sources familiar with the agreement who indicated the Padres hope to complete the entire sale process by June.

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers has pointed to former head coach John Harbaugh’s intense training methods as a contributing factor to the team’s injury struggles.

Speaking on the “4th and South” podcast, Flowers described how the Ravens constantly practiced in complete protective gear without providing sufficient time for players to recover and address injuries. Harbaugh was dismissed following the 2025 regular season after nearly two decades with Baltimore and subsequently joined the New York Giants.

“However many practices in pads you can get, every single one. We’re doing one-on-ones in Week 17,” Flowers explained. “Week 17, we’re doing one-on-ones, everybody out there, we’re tired, we’re still going.”

The NFL’s collective bargaining agreement does allow padded practices but with specific limitations. Teams may conduct a maximum of 14 padded sessions during the regular season, with no more than one per week permitted. Additionally, 11 of these padded practices must occur within the first 11 weeks of the season.

Star quarterback Lamar Jackson frequently sat out practice sessions last year. When questioned about how players coped with Harbaugh’s training approach, Flowers responded bluntly: “We don’t. That’s why we had a lot of injuries, because of how we practiced, how we went. The load was heavy.”

New head coach Jesse Minter, a former Ravens assistant who replaced Harbaugh, is implementing modifications based on player feedback, according to Flowers.

“He knows how we worked with Harbaugh,” Flowers noted. “So, he’s like, ‘You’re going to get your work, but it’s going to be a little easier on your body. You’re going to be fresher for the game.’”

Minter previously served under Harbaugh with the Ravens from 2017-20 before joining Jim Harbaugh at Michigan as defensive coordinator in 2022 and 2023. After Jim Harbaugh captured a national championship with the Wolverines and returned to the NFL with the Chargers, he brought Minter along as his defensive coordinator for the 2024-25 seasons.

During his tenure, John Harbaugh guided the Ravens to six AFC North division championships and a Super Bowl victory following the 2012 season, finishing with a 193-124 overall record.

The NHL playoffs were expected to feature recent top draft selections Matthew Schaefer and Macklin Celebrini, both teenagers, but their teams – the New York Islanders and San Jose Sharks – failed to qualify for postseason play.

Despite their absence, this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs still showcase an impressive collection of emerging talent, with numerous rookies and players under 22 experiencing their inaugural playoff runs in hockey’s premier league.

Among the notable young performers are Montreal’s Ivan Demidov, Pittsburgh’s Ben Kindel, Boston’s Fraser Minten, Philadelphia’s Porter Martone and Matvei Michkov, plus Anaheim’s Bennett Sennecke and Leo Carlsson – all positioned as key contributors in their teams’ championship pursuits.

“(This will be about) showcasing some of these young players that are on the rise that maybe haven’t had that experience,” retired Hall of Fame defenseman Chris Pronger said. “Now they get a chance to kind of understand what it’s all about and what it means to play in the playoffs.”

While Demidov’s upcoming series opener versus Tampa Bay won’t mark his playoff debut – he appeared in last year’s opening round against Washington – the dynamic winger has significantly developed his game. His impressive 19 goals and 43 assists this season have helped establish Montreal as a serious championship threat.

“He’s just gotten better over the season at understanding the NHL game and understanding our systems and where he can be effective,” captain Nick Suzuki said. “He’s still a young kid in the league, and he’s going to keep getting better.”

Despite being just 20 years old and selected fifth in the 2024 draft (after Celebrini went first overall), Demidov has earned the trust of Hall of Fame coach Martin St. Louis, who has placed him in a crucial top-six forward position.

“He’s really using his speed, using his skills and he creates a lot on the ice,” linemate Alex Newhook said. “Fun to play with. We play a fast game, and I think it suits his style a lot. He sees the ice really well. He plays fast himself. Sure, he can slow it down, but he fits that style and he’s built for what we’ve got going here.”

While Schaefer’s immediate NHL transition was anticipated, Kindel’s rapid ascension was more surprising. Pittsburgh selected him 12th overall in the draft, and his exceptional training camp performance left team management with little option but to retain him on the roster.

“For him it was just continuing to check boxes,” first-year coach Dan Muse said. “For a younger player, it’s just continuing to work with him and continuing to help his game evolve at the things that do go well and then over the course of the season, this is a game of mistakes. It’s also seeing how you adjust and how you adapt when maybe things don’t go as perfect.”

Kindel recorded 35 points across 77 games this season. Saturday’s series opener against Philadelphia occurs just two days prior to his 19th birthday.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” Kindel said. “It’s been a whirlwind, but I love going out there and competing.”

Minten represents Boston’s primary asset from last year’s trade deadline deal that sent Brandon Carlo to Toronto. The 21-year-old, 6-foot-2 center wasn’t initially projected to make the roster immediately, but his performance compelled the coaching staff to reconsider.

“It was more up to him, so I give him a lot of credit,” coach Marco Sturm said, adding that he has seen Minten’s confidence grow in his rookie season. “When you have that, I think it automatically gives you more boost. It could be his skating. It could be his just calmness on the ice, playing a two-way game. He’s still growing. He’s still becoming a man and he’s just taking really good strides right now.”

Minten has demonstrated versatility throughout Boston’s lineup, proving capable of handling various roles and responsibilities.

“What impressed me is his ability to play in all three zones,” teammate Casey Mittelstadt said. “As a young guy, I had my troubles with that, so to see him do it is very impressive.”

Michkov enters his sophomore campaign after Philadelphia successfully negotiated his release from a KHL contract one year following his seventh overall selection in the 2023 draft. While his point production declined slightly, the 21-year-old has evolved into a more complete player.

“He’s really taken the information and applied it,” coach Rick Tocchet said. “He’s always been a team guy, but it’s just about the team. And then whatever we can do to help him, we’ll help him.”

Martone, 19, joined Philadelphia in March following the conclusion of his collegiate season at Michigan State. He provides the Flyers with a physical, power-forward presence that complements Michkov’s offensive creativity.

“They’re just a little bit different,” Tocchet said. “It’s good to have different flavors in your lineup.”

Anaheim’s front office, led by General Manager Pat Verbeek, faced criticism for selecting Carlsson second overall in 2023 ahead of Adam Fantilli and for choosing Sennecke third in 2024, well above most projections. Both decisions have vindicated the organization’s scouting evaluation.

Sennecke has emerged as a potential Calder Trophy candidate for rookie of the year honors, while Carlsson has become Anaheim’s most crucial player as they’ve secured a playoff berth under coach Joel Quenneville’s guidance.

Carlsson maintained nearly a point-per-game pace with 67 points in 70 contests despite missing time due to an injury that occurred before the Olympics. Sennecke’s 60 points finished just two behind Demidov for the rookie scoring lead.

Vancouver Canucks management terminated general manager Patrik Allvin on Friday following the team’s basement finish in the Western Conference standings.

Allvin began his tenure with the organization on January 26, 2022. During his time at the helm, Vancouver reached the playoffs only once. The team captured the Pacific Division title during the 2023-24 campaign with a 50-23-9 record and 109 points, but Edmonton eliminated them in a seven-game second-round series.

This past season saw Vancouver struggle mightily, posting a 25-49-8 record for just 58 points.

Hockey operations president Jim Rutherford addressed the dismissal in an official statement. “I would like to thank Patrik for all his hard work over the past four seasons,” Rutherford said in a news release. “Under his guidance we have accumulated a lot of good young talent, and he has helped us lay the foundation of our rebuild. This season was disappointing for everyone in the organization, and we understand how frustrating it was for those who care about the team. Moving forward our goal will be to continue to bring in younger players who can grow together with our current group and form our next competitive core.”

The 51-year-old Allvin previously spent 16 seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins organization in various capacities, eventually advancing to assistant general manager. During his Pittsburgh tenure, the franchise captured three Stanley Cup championships.

Allvin transitioned into front office work in 2002, joining Montreal as a European scout following his retirement as a player, primarily competing in his homeland of Sweden.

Australian golf sensation Minjee Lee, currently ranked sixth in the world, has pulled out of the LA Championship before Friday’s second round began. The LPGA Tour has not disclosed any explanation for her departure.

The 29-year-old golfer from Australia was positioned in a tie for 40th place following her opening round performance of 69, which was three strokes under par at El Caballero Country Club in Tarzana, California.

Throughout her professional career, Lee has captured victory in 11 LPGA Tour events, with three of those being major championships. She claimed her latest major championship at the Women’s PGA Championship held in Frisco, Texas last year.

This season, Lee started strong with top-five performances at both the HSBC Women’s World Championship and the Founders Cup. However, she failed to advance past the cut at the Aramco Championship earlier this month.

Alshon Jeffery, the former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver who helped bring home the franchise’s first Super Bowl title, was taken into custody in California this week on insurance fraud allegations, according to TMZ Sports reporting Friday.

The 36-year-old former Pro Bowl player was processed at a California detention facility Wednesday morning before being released, the report stated.

Specific details surrounding the charges have not been disclosed at this time. Should Jeffery be found guilty of the felony accusation, he could be sentenced to as many as five years in prison, TMZ Sports noted.

Chicago selected Jeffery in the second round of the 2012 draft, and he went on to record 475 receptions for 6,786 receiving yards and 46 touchdowns across 109 professional games during his time with the Bears from 2012-2016 and the Eagles from 2017-2020.

A Dallas judge has determined that former Southern Methodist University defensive back Theodore “Teddy” Knox acted with “gross negligence” during a high-speed street racing incident last year that also involved NFL player Rashee Rice of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Judge Kim Bailey Phipps handed down a default ruling Wednesday ordering Knox to pay $2.88 million to crash victim Kathryn Kuykendall. The financial award covers punitive damages along with medical bills and income lost due to the March 30, 2024 collision in which both drivers lost control of their cars and multiple people sustained injuries.

Rice faces his own legal proceedings with a trial date set for June 9. The NFL wide receiver began the current season serving a six-game suspension imposed by the league for breaking its personal conduct rules related to his involvement in the racing incident.

The 25-year-old football player entered guilty pleas to two third-degree felony counts: causing a collision that resulted in serious injuries and highway racing that led to bodily harm. Following the crash, Rice and four companions left the scene on foot without checking on injured victims before law enforcement arrived.

Rice received a sentence of five years deferred probation plus 30 days behind bars. The court also mandated he pay over $115,000 in victim restitution.

During the incident, Rice was operating a rented Lamborghini SUV at speeds reaching 119 mph, while Knox drove a rented Corvette.

Kansas City selected Rice in the second round of the 2023 draft following his college career at SMU. Through three NFL seasons spanning 28 games with 20 starts, he has accumulated 156 receptions for 1,797 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Earlier this year in January, the same court issued additional default rulings against Knox totaling more than $3.6 million for two other crash victims. Knox spent two seasons playing for the Mustangs from 2022-23 after transferring from Mississippi State where he played one season.

Oklahoma City’s star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t getting ahead of himself when it comes to discussing a potential second consecutive NBA championship.

While that might appear unusual, it perfectly reflects the mindset of Gilgeous-Alexander and the entire Thunder organization.

The team focuses on the here and now. They avoid jumping ahead or expending energy on matters beyond their influence. Oklahoma City — the league’s current titleholders and top overall playoff seed heading into Saturday’s postseason opener — maintains a straightforward approach and lets results speak for themselves.

This explains why the current NBA MVP and Finals MVP in Gilgeous-Alexander believes discussions about consecutive championships and breaking the league’s historic streak of different winners — seven unique champions across seven seasons — should be postponed for several weeks.

“That’s so far down the line,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “So many things are going to happen before we get to the finals-clinching game. Yeah, it’s cool. To have the opportunity to repeat means you won before, so it’s cool. I’ll keep it there.”

Put simply: Oklahoma City’s complete attention centers on the opening round’s first game.

The championship path runs through OKC once more, as 16 franchises begin their two-month quest to determine who will hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy in June. Detroit claims the Eastern Conference’s number one position, while the Thunder lead the Western bracket. San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama prepares for his inaugural playoff appearance, and the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James enters his 19th postseason in 21 years.

“It’s competitive basketball,” James said. “Anytime you’re able to be in meaningful games, it definitely means a lot more for sure.”

Eastern Conference matchups feature: Top-seeded Detroit waiting for either Orlando or Charlotte (determined Friday evening), second-seeded Boston facing seventh-seeded Philadelphia in their 23rd playoff series (the league’s most frequent postseason pairing), third-seeded New York battling sixth-seeded Atlanta, and fourth-seeded Cleveland confronting fifth-seeded Toronto.

Western Conference brackets include: Number one Oklahoma City awaiting either Phoenix or Golden State (also decided Friday evening), second-seeded San Antonio opposing seventh-seeded Portland, third-seeded Denver facing sixth-seeded Minnesota (their third encounter in four years), and fourth-seeded Lakers meeting fifth-seeded Houston — creating an intriguing clash between 41-year-old James and 37-year-old Kevin Durant with the Rockets.

“Obviously it’s the biggest stage of basketball and there’s a lot that comes around the game,” Durant said. “But at the end of the day, when that ball’s tipped up, it’s just basketball. We all know how to play at this level. We all know what it takes to win basketball games. Just got to do that consistently.”

The Thunder — who opened with a 24-1 record and finished strong at 19-3 in their final 22 contests — never relinquished first place in the Western Conference throughout the entire season. Detroit nearly accomplished the same feat in the East, requiring approximately two and a half weeks to reach the top spot before maintaining that position.

“We feel like we play a playoff brand of basketball every night,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “We’re a physical team. We’re a gritty team. We’re a tough team. We orchestrate well in the trenches. Those are things you have to do in the playoffs.”

Recent champions include Toronto in 2019, followed by the Lakers in 2020, Milwaukee in 2021, Golden State in 2022, Denver in 2023, Boston in 2024, and Oklahoma City last season.

This unprecedented stretch — seven different winners in seven consecutive years — has never occurred in NBA history.

Several legitimate contenders could extend this remarkable pattern. Betting favorites to potentially claim titles include Detroit, New York, and San Antonio.

“I dream about it every day,” Wembanyama said.

The young star remains uncertain how his championship aspirations might compare to actual reality, should San Antonio succeed. Oklahoma City discovered this feeling last year when they captured Game 7 of the NBA Finals at home, finally delivering a title to OKC and completing one of the most successful seasons in league history.

Since this season began, the Thunder haven’t focused on winning consecutive championships. While defending a title creates genuine pressure, they consider such expectations external factors. Oklahoma City concentrates solely on daily challenges, an approach that succeeded last year and makes them heavy favorites to repeat.

“This group of guys is preconditioned to compete,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “They’re preconditioned to stay inside the team. And they’ve stayed in character on that through a lot of different experiences over a long period of time. So, that’s allowed us to just focus a lot on the basketball.”

The accolades are already piling up for the young star. Victor Wembanyama appears destined to capture Defensive Player of the Year honors, likely unanimously. An All-NBA team selection seems certain, along with MVP consideration. His global stardom is undeniable.

Yet the San Antonio Spurs sensation has surpassed virtually every benchmark set before him. The only expectations he may not have fulfilled are the lofty ones he set for himself.

When Wembanyama arrived in San Antonio as the top draft selection three seasons ago, he envisioned leading the franchise’s renaissance. The goal was transforming a former championship powerhouse stuck in rebuilding mode back into title contention. The progress has been remarkable — San Antonio just completed their strongest campaign in ten years with a 62-20 record.

Now comes the ultimate test — postseason basketball.

“How ready? As ready as you can be,” Wembanyama said when asked about his level of preparation for his first look at the NBA postseason. “These moments, it’s really what you work on all year, but also your whole career. We’re dreaming of playoffs as kids before we come here.”

The numbers suggest these second-seeded Spurs, beginning their Western Conference playoff journey at home versus seventh-seeded Portland on Sunday evening, might be positioned for a significant postseason push.

Among the franchise’s 15 previous teams that achieved a .700 winning percentage or higher, 14 captured at least one playoff round, 10 advanced to the conference finals, six reached the NBA Finals, and five claimed championships.

The previous championship core featured Gregg Popovich coaching legends Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili. Today’s foundation includes Mitch Johnson as head coach directing talents like Stephon Castle, De’Aaron Fox, and Wembanyama — who appears to make the impossible routine.

“He’s embraced the city and the city’s embraced him, the stepping foot into the community,” Johnson said. “And it’s been genuine and it’s been authentic. … It’s pretty cool to witness upfront.”

Describing Wembanyama — standing at minimum 7-foot-4 and making fellow seven-footers appear small — as extraordinary somehow feels inadequate. Few other 21-year-old NBA players spend summer months at Buddhist temples for basketball development (as he did recently), bring literature to All-Star festivities (shocking fellow participants), or demonstrate mathematical prowess during media sessions (recently while discussing the league’s 65-game requirement).

The list is short.

“He’s unique,” Spurs forward Harrison Barnes said, knowing he was stating the obvious.

This season’s statistical achievement by Wembanyama reads: 1,600 points, 736 rebounds, 199 assists, 197 blocked shots, 122 three-pointers. No player in league history has ever compiled those combined numbers in a single campaign, with his shot-blocking prowess being the primary differentiator.

Remove the blocks from consideration. Evaluate his historical standing based solely on scoring, rebounding, assists, and three-point shooting for one season. The complete roster of players reaching his benchmarks in just those four categories includes: Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, DeMarcus Cousins, Karl-Anthony Towns (accomplished twice), Nikola Vucevic, Julius Randle, and Nikola Jokic. That concludes the list.

“He’s a 7-5 guy that can handle the ball, shoot, guard the rim, guard the perimeter, all the little things,” said Portland coach Tiago Splitter, who went to the NBA Finals as a player on some of the great San Antonio teams and was part of the Spurs’ most recent championship in 2014. “It’s not a secret. He’s a very good player.”

Betting markets rank San Antonio as the second favorite behind only defending champion Oklahoma City — the conference’s top seed — to claim the NBA championship. This creates genuine expectation that Wembanyama’s playoff introduction could deliver both individual brilliance and team success.

Two seasons ago, he earned Rookie of the Year recognition. Last year, he was tracking toward Defensive Player of the Year before a deep vein thrombosis diagnosis shortened his season. This campaign, he’s contending for every major NBA honor, while basketball enthusiasts seem insatiable for details about his every move.

The league’s grandest platform now awaits San Antonio’s premier talent. Olympic gold medal experience has provided him with high-pressure basketball knowledge, but his inaugural opportunity to chase an NBA championship has finally arrived.

“I can’t really help but dream about it, of course,” Wembanyama said. “But we have to stay grounded, stay in the moment. And before even thinking about Game 1, I have to think about showing up the right way. Practice, doing all my stuff, preparing, being locked in on the scouts. But yeah, I dream about it every day.”

Two prominent Catholic universities are taking their basketball programs overseas to launch the new season, with Notre Dame and Villanova scheduling both men’s and women’s games in Rome, Italy.

Set for November 1st, this collaborative event will feature more than just basketball, according to Villanova’s announcement. The university describes plans for “special programming that brings together academics, athletics and spirituality.”

Villanova President Rev. Peter Donohue emphasized the educational value of the trip, stating: “From academic engagement and cultural immersion to shared worship and athletics, this journey offers a profound opportunity to grow in mind, body and spirit.”

Both universities cite Pope Leo XIV, who was an Augustinian friar and Villanova graduate, as the driving force behind organizing these games in the Eternal City.

Participants traveling to Italy will experience several unique opportunities, including a shared Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, a scheduled papal audience with Pope Leo XIV prior to the games, and exclusive access to Vatican Museums tours.

Television coverage will bring the action to American audiences, with Fox broadcasting the men’s contest at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time, followed by the women’s game on FS1 at noon.

This international approach reflects a broader trend in college basketball as programs increasingly embrace global opportunities. The growth mirrors the sport’s expanding international presence – Final Four teams this past season included 23 players from foreign countries among their 62 total roster spots. Current NCAA statistics reveal that Division I programs now feature 888 international players, representing more than double the number from 2010.

Additional overseas competitions are being developed, with games planned for Croatia and Serbia in November through the newly established College Basketball International Series, a partnership between Intersport and Rochelle Management Group.

JOHANNESBURG — Two male runners have been stripped of their finishes at a major South African marathon after officials discovered they competed using women’s race numbers, bumping legitimate female competitors from top-10 positions.

Luke Jacobs and Bradfield crossed the finish line in seventh and tenth place respectively in the women’s division of the Two Oceans Marathon held April 12 in Cape Town. Their fraudulent scheme was exposed by race officials who noticed irregularities in timing data.

The Two Oceans event stands as one of South Africa’s most celebrated running competitions, featuring both a 56-kilometer ultramarathon and a 21.1-kilometer half-marathon that draws more than 16,000 participants annually. Securing a top-10 finish represents a major accomplishment for most competitors.

Stuart Mann, a board member for the Two Oceans Marathon who helped expose the fraud, said both men will undergo formal disciplinary proceedings through the race’s disciplinary committee.

According to Mann, the practice of switching race numbers between participants has grown increasingly common, though it carries serious risks beyond simple cheating.

“Not only is it considered unethical, but it also poses health and medicals risks in case of an emergency as wrong medication may be administered to a wrong person,” Mann explained.

Mann noted that runners exchange bibs for various reasons, including avoiding financial losses when injury prevents participation or attempting to record faster qualifying times for future competitions.

The investigation began when Jacobs shared race photos on social media platforms, prompting observers to notice his bib displayed the name “Larissa.” Further inquiry revealed Jacobs had used credentials belonging to Larissa Parekh, who was registered for the women’s competition.

“I made an error in judgment and did not consider the consequences. I should not have taken part,” Jacobs wrote in his public apology.

Modern race technology ultimately exposed both cheaters when electronic chips embedded in the bibs recorded data showing two additional women had completed the course, despite officials only observing the first 10 female finishers crossing the line.

This discrepancy led to the discovery that Bradfield had competed using a number assigned to Tegan Garvey, who later acknowledged giving away her bib due to a hip injury sustained before race day.

“The day before, my hip gave in completely, leaving me unable to even walk. I felt bad as to give up my race entry so my friend ran in my place,” Garvey stated.

While Parekh has not provided a detailed explanation for her involvement, Mann confirmed both women have issued apologies and will face two-year suspensions from participating in the Two Oceans Marathon. The female runners who were initially displaced have since been properly recognized for their authentic achievements.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — After months of preparation and building momentum toward a potential playoff run, the Los Angeles Lakers find themselves facing an unexpected challenge.

The team’s postseason aspirations took a devastating hit during a single quarter of play in Oklahoma City just weeks ago.

During that fateful game, Luka Doncic was driving toward the basket when he suddenly pulled up and limped off the court with a hamstring injury. Austin Reaves, who had been visibly uncomfortable throughout the game while dealing with oblique pain, also exited and didn’t return.

In an instant, what had been a Lakers campaign gaining serious momentum suddenly shifted into a downward spiral that continues today.

The Lakers will face the Houston Rockets in Saturday night’s first-round playoff matchup without their starting guard duo, and the fourth-seeded team hasn’t provided a timeline for either player’s potential return.

Many observers believe the Lakers face an uphill battle without their leading scorers, including the league’s scoring champion. Even with LeBron James still anchoring the roster, the supporting cast may struggle against the Western Conference’s other powerhouse teams.

“I’m sure everybody wants to play us,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said last week, before the Rockets earned that honor.

However, the Lakers haven’t abandoned hope for what looked like a promising postseason just two weeks earlier. Before that crushing night in Oklahoma City, the team appeared to be hitting their stride at the perfect time, capturing 16 victories in 18 games to climb into the conference’s third position.

The Lakers managed to win 53 games this season despite Doncic appearing in only 64 contests, James in 60, and Reaves in just 51. The squad gained valuable experience playing without key contributors throughout the regular season, though their current situation presents their biggest test yet.

“We’re a little short-handed, and we know that,” guard Luke Kennard said. “But we’ve been preparing really well. Our focus is really high. … We were able to get some looks and develop a different kind of chemistry out on the court. We’ve added some stuff in practice, and I think we’ve done a good job executing it in practice, and I think our preparation has been really good.”

Multiple players must elevate their performance to give Los Angeles a fighting chance, with Kennard among those expected to shoulder increased responsibility.

This marks Kennard’s fifth playoff appearance across four different franchises, though he hasn’t earned a postseason start since his 2019 Detroit tenure. Following the injuries to Doncic and Reaves, Kennard has embraced expanded duties as both a primary ball-handler and playmaker while maintaining his signature long-range shooting.

Veteran Marcus Smart believes the Lakers’ success hinges on one crucial element: “Willpower.”

“We’re competitors,” added Smart, who’s back in the postseason for the first time since 2023 after making it in each of his nine seasons with Boston. “They’re going to try to come in and punk us, and if you will allow that, you will be punked. I don’t think we have any guys that are going to be punked on this team. We might not be the most athletic and the strongest, but we’ve got to have the most heart.”

Center Deandre Ayton and forward Rui Hachimura understand they must increase their offensive aggression to compensate for losing Doncic, one of basketball’s highest-usage players. Jake LaRavia, whose minutes varied considerably during the regular season, is expected to contribute significantly on both sides of the ball.

Bronny James may even see his first meaningful playoff action, potentially sharing the court with his legendary father.

Regardless of the strategy Redick develops to handle Houston’s physical style, the Lakers refuse to accept that their season effectively concluded during that Oklahoma City setback.

“It’s going to take everybody,” Smart said. “With that, it’s a different style of play, and I don’t think it’s something that Houston has prepared for. To be fair, they haven’t seen us without those guys. When they’re playing us, they’ve always played us with them. They’ve always had a matchup and game plan for them, and it’ll be interesting to see how they play us without them.”

The most successful college football programs naturally send the most players to the NFL, but an examination of draft patterns reveals fascinating specializations by position across different universities.

Over the last decade, certain schools have emerged as position-specific powerhouses, with Oklahoma transforming into a quarterback development machine under Lincoln Riley’s leadership as offensive coordinator and later head coach.

Analysis of draft data from Sportradar shows 2,565 players selected across the past 10 drafts, representing 223 different schools based on where athletes completed their collegiate careers. Among the top 10 producing programs, six captured national championships between 2015 and 2024, with these elite schools combining for 35 College Football Playoff appearances during that period. Only Florida among the top producers failed to reach the playoffs.

Alabama dominated the overall count with 95 drafted players, trailed by Ohio State with 85, Georgia with 81, and both LSU and Michigan tied at 73. The remaining top-10 schools included Florida, Penn State, Clemson, Notre Dame, and Oklahoma.

First-round selections tell a similar story, as Alabama’s 32 opening-round picks from 2016-25 led all 74 schools with at least one first-rounder. Ohio State followed with 26, Georgia contributed 21, and only LSU (15), Michigan (13), Clemson (13), and Florida (10) reached double digits in first-round selections.

Position-by-position analysis reveals distinct specializations among college programs based on players’ final collegiate destinations.

Oklahoma’s evolution from a wishbone rushing attack featuring legends like Billy Sims, Adrian Peterson, and DeMarco Murray into a passing powerhouse accelerated when Riley joined as offensive coordinator in 2015 before becoming head coach from 2017-21. The Sooners produced a remarkable five-year stretch featuring future top overall draft picks Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray, plus Super Bowl champion Jalen Hurts following his transfer from Alabama.

These three Oklahoma quarterbacks have accumulated 66,876 professional passing yards – exceeding any other school’s 2016-25 draft class by more than 27,000 yards – along with 428 touchdown passes and 289 starts combined.

Alabama, Hurts’ original program, also performed well with first-round quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones, and Bryce Young, though their production hasn’t matched the Sooners’ trio. Ohio State was the sole other school producing three first-round quarterbacks during this timeframe, with C.J. Stroud leading the group while Dwayne Haskins and Justin Fields contributed less.

LSU boasts two standouts in Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels, joining other schools with notable quarterback pairs including Oregon’s Justin Herbert and Bo Nix, plus USC’s Sam Darnold and Caleb Williams.

An interesting anomaly appears with FCS-level North Dakota State, which despite its lower division status had three players drafted, including high picks Carson Wentz (2016) and Trey Lance (2021). The Bison rank among the top 12 programs in passing yards, touchdown passes, and starts from the past decade’s drafts.

Running back development shows no competition, as Alabama clearly leads this category. Featuring stars like Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, and Jahmyr Gibbs, Crimson Tide running backs from recent drafts have rushed for 37,997 NFL yards and 335 touchdowns. Georgia ranks a distant second with 20,628 rushing yards and 144 touchdowns.

Alabama’s depth at the position is remarkable, with five former players rushing for at least 3,500 professional yards, including Najee Harris and Kenyan Drake. Only 28 other players drafted in the past decade reached that milestone, with Georgia being the only other school having more than two such players in Nick Chubb, De’Andre Swift, and James Cook III.

Wide receiver presents the most competitive debate, as LSU developed two elite talents in Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase. Ohio State contributed reigning AP Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba plus four other first-rounders since 2016, while Alabama leads with seven first-round receiver selections.

Regarding production statistics, Ohio State claims the top position with 2,794 receptions for 34,165 yards and 190 touchdowns from 2016-25 draftees, led by Smith-Njigba, Michael Thomas, Garret Wilson, Chris Olave, and Terry McLaurin.

LSU ranks second across all three statistical categories, powered by multiple-time All-Pros Jefferson and Chase, along with recent selections Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr.

Alabama featured consecutive drafts with multiple first-round receivers in 2020 (Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs) and 2021 (Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith), placing in the top four across all production categories.

USC represents another major producer with Amon-Ra St. Brown, Drake London, and Jordan Addison leading their contingent.

Iowa has claimed supremacy in the “Tight End U” discussion through players like George Kittle, Sam LaPorta, and T.J. Hockenson’s professional success.

This designation has shifted between programs over time, with Miami holding it during the early 2000s through players like Jeremy Shockey and Greg Olsen, before Stanford assumed the title while Notre Dame remained consistently competitive.

Hawkeyes tight ends maintain a substantial lead among 2016-25 draftees with 1,568 catches for 18,303 yards and 116 touchdowns. Stanford holds second place partly due to Austin Hooper and Dalton Schultz, though their most productive player, Zach Ertz, entered the league in 2013 before this analysis period.

South Dakota State provides a surprising entry at tight end, ranking among the top seven programs across all categories thanks to Dallas Goedert and Tucker Kraft.

Offensive line production shows Notre Dame competing with Alabama for the lead. The Crimson Tide holds a slight edge in total starts (669 to 645) and snap counts, but the Fighting Irish counter with superior star power through players like Quenton Nelson, Ronnie Stanley, and Joe Alt.

Midwestern programs excel at line development, with Ohio State and Michigan ranking third and fourth in playing time, while Wisconsin sits close behind at seventh.

Defensive production splits between specializations, as Ohio State leads with 380.5 sacks from 2016-25 draftees, highlighted by the Bosa brothers’ contributions. LSU dominates the secondary with Derek Stingley Jr. and Tre’Davious White helping the Tigers achieve an NFL-high 100 interceptions. Alabama ranks best overall with 146 takeaways, plus leading totals in starts, snaps, and tackles.

Both Georgia and Michigan finished among the top six programs in sacks, takeaways, and total snaps played.

America’s national soccer team is preparing for the World Cup with ambitious goals of securing their first knockout round triumph since their memorable 2002 campaign.

The squad faces significant challenges heading into the tournament, particularly with what many consider their weakest goalkeeper situation in 40 years and limited central defensive options from elite European leagues. However, their co-host status provides favorable seeding that could help them avoid top-tier competition until reaching the round of 16.

“It would be everything to win, and especially to do it in your home, in front of your friends, your families, the people that have supported you throughout your whole career that are closest to you,” midfielder Weston McKennie said.

The national team seeks to demonstrate soccer’s growing prominence in a country where it continues to lag behind the NFL, MLB and NBA in fan interest. Their World Cup knockout record stands at a disappointing 1-7, with their sole victory coming against Mexico two decades ago.

The Americans haven’t advanced beyond the quarterfinals since 1930’s inaugural World Cup, when they reached the semifinals. Their best modern performance came in 2002 when they made the quarterfinals. Recent form against European teams has been concerning, losing eight consecutive matches since 2022 while being outscored 22-6, yet team confidence remains high.

Mauricio Pochettino, who took over as head coach in September 2024 following the team’s Copa America group stage exit, has instilled championship ambitions in his players.

“Why not us?” he said during a March training camp. “We need to really believe that we can be there. We need to dream.”

The tournament begins for the Americans on June 12 against Paraguay, followed by Group D matches against Australia and Turkey.

The goalkeeper position, once a position of strength featuring standouts like Tony Meola, Kasey Keller, Brad Friedel, Tim Howard and Brad Guzan, has become a major concern.

Matt Freese has taken over the starting role from Matt Turner, who held the position during the 2022 tournament. The team may enter the World Cup without a European-based goalkeeper for the first time since 1990.

“We had this goalkeeping thing figured out for a long time, didn’t we? Going all the way back,” Howard said. “It just seems like we’ve had a little bit of a rut.”

Star player Christian Pulisic, widely considered America’s top talent, hasn’t found the net in international competition for eight matches dating back to November 2024.

His club form has also been concerning, going scoreless in 14 appearances for AC Milan since December 28 through mid-April.

“He’s going to score because he has the quality,” Pochettino said.

At 27 years old and in his athletic prime, Pulisic carries the weight of expectations as he did in 2022, when his crucial goal against Iran in the group stage finale secured advancement to the knockout rounds.

“There’s pressure, I feel it. Yes, it’s there but it’s nothing that I can’t handle,” he said.

Defensively, Chris Richards represents one of the few American center-backs competing at the highest level, enjoying an excellent campaign with Crystal Palace at age 26. He was unavailable for the 2022 World Cup due to hamstring problems.

Team captain Tim Ream, who has led the squad through much of Pochettino’s tenure, is 38 and moved from Fulham to Charlotte FC in Major League Soccer following the 2023-24 season.

Auston Trusty, 27, has established himself as a regular starter for Celtic in Scotland since late October, while Mark McKenzie, also 27, plays consistently for Toulouse.

Pochettino has experimented with a three-center-back formation since taking charge last fall.

Right-back Sergiño Dest, who started in 2022, is working to recover from a hamstring injury suffered while playing for PSV Eindhoven on March 7.

Veteran center-back Cameron Carter-Vickers will miss the tournament entirely due to an Achilles injury, and John Tolkin, third in the left-back pecking order behind Antonee Robinson and Max Arfsten, faces uncertainty with a knee problem.

Alex Freeman, a defender who made the move from Orlando to Villarreal in January, brings an interesting family connection as the son of Antonio Freeman, the former All-Pro receiver who captured the 1997 Super Bowl with Green Bay.

“Growing up I always got asked if football was the path, but when I was younger I always had a secret love for soccer,” Alex said.

Matt Savoie capped off the regular season in spectacular fashion, netting his inaugural NHL hat trick as Edmonton dominated Vancouver 6-1 on Thursday night, securing home-ice advantage for their upcoming playoff run.

The decisive victory in their final regular season matchup locked up second place in the Pacific Division for Edmonton. The Oilers will welcome the third-seeded Anaheim Ducks for the opening game of their Western Conference playoff series on Monday.

Colton Dach contributed a goal and assist for Edmonton, while Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Josh Samanski also found the back of the net. Connor McDavid distributed four assists, completing his NHL scoring title campaign with 138 points, and Evan Bouchard recorded three helpers. Goaltender Connor Ingram faced minimal pressure, turning away just 11 shots for the victory.

Rookie Ty Mueller notched his first NHL goal for Vancouver, the league’s worst team, ending their three-game winning streak. Kevin Lankinen recorded 29 saves and earned an assist on Mueller’s tally.

Ducks 5, Predators 4

Troy Terry earned a high-sticking penalty call and capitalized on the resulting power play with 2:54 remaining, propelling visiting Anaheim past Nashville in both teams’ regular season conclusion.

Cutter Gauthier, Jackson LaCombe, Alex Killorn and Tristan Luneau also lit the lamp, while Mikael Granlund collected three assists, John Carlson added two helpers and Ville Husso stopped 17 shots for Anaheim, who return to playoff action for the first time in eight seasons.

Steven Stamkos recorded two goals and one assist, Filip Forsberg also scored twice, Luke Evangelista and Ryan Ufko each contributed two assists and Juuse Saros made 35 saves for Nashville, who dropped three of their final four contests.

Flames 3, Kings 1

Arsenii Sergeev turned in a stellar performance with 27 saves, including several highlight-reel stops, in his NHL debut as host Calgary defeated Los Angeles.

Morgan Frost, Zayne Parekh and Joel Farabee scored while Zach Whitecloud provided two assists for Calgary, who will sit out the playoffs for consecutive seasons.

Quinton Byfield scored for Los Angeles, who claimed the second wild-card playoff position in the Western Conference and will face the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche in their first-round series beginning Sunday. Anton Forsberg made 18 saves in the Kings’ first regulation defeat in April following a 6-0-2 stretch.

Blues 5, Mammoth 3

Robert Thomas achieved his second career hat trick, powering St. Louis past Utah in both teams’ season finale in Salt Lake City.

Rookie defenseman Logan Mailloux delivered the decisive goal with 2:57 left in the final period. Pavel Buchnevich also scored, Dylan Holloway registered two assists and Joel Hofer made 20 saves as St. Louis entered the offseason riding a four-game winning streak.

Lawson Crouse matched his career high with his 24th goal of the campaign for Utah, while Kailer Yamamoto and Michael Carcone also scored and captain Clayton Keller and MacKenzie Weegar each recorded two assists. The Mammoth have dropped three of their last four games before their Western Conference first-round matchup with the Vegas Golden Knights.

Sharks 6, Jets 1

Macklin Celebrini posted one goal and two assists to establish a new franchise single-season scoring record, leading San Jose past host Winnipeg in both teams’ season finale.

The 19-year-old Celebrini accumulated 115 points (45 goals, 70 assists) to surpass Joe Thornton’s previous franchise mark of 114 points from the 2006-2007 campaign. William Eklund also contributed a goal and two assists, Will Smith added a goal and assist and Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 25 shots.

Cole Koepke provided the only goal for Winnipeg, who concluded their season with four consecutive defeats. Eric Comrie made 27 saves.

Star forward Napheesa Collier has committed to staying with the Minnesota Lynx after agreeing to a one-year supermax contract worth $1.4 million, according to ESPN reports released Thursday.

Once finalized, this agreement will place Collier among an exclusive group of just three WNBA players holding supermax contracts, joining Indiana Fever’s Kelsey Mitchell on a one-year deal and Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson on a three-year agreement.

The 29-year-old forward overcame injury challenges during the 2025 season, posting impressive numbers with 22.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game across 33 contests. Her performance earned her second-place in MVP voting behind Wilson for consecutive seasons. Remarkably, Collier achieved a rare milestone by becoming only the second player in league history to record a 50-40-90 shooting split during regular season play.

Her shooting percentages were exceptional: 53.1% from the field, 40.3% beyond the three-point arc, and 90.6% from the free-throw line. This made her the first player ever to reach those benchmarks while maintaining a 20-plus point scoring average.

Injuries plagued Collier’s season as she missed seven games in August due to a right ankle problem, then suffered a left ankle injury during Game 3 of the WNBA semifinals that ended her season. The Lynx were eliminated by the Phoenix Mercury in five games.

As she prepares for her eighth campaign since Minnesota selected her sixth overall in the 2019 draft, Collier faces the start of the upcoming season on the sidelines while recovering from surgical procedures on both ankles.

Throughout her 193 career games with Minnesota, all as a starter, Collier has compiled averages of 18.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists per contest.

Minnesota has retained Courtney Williams and Kayla McBride alongside Collier, while losing several players including Natisha Hiedeman, DiJonai Carrington, Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard through free agency. The team also lost Bridget Carleton when Portland selected her in the expansion draft. The Lynx recently added Olivia Miles as the second overall selection in Monday’s WNBA draft.

Cleveland Guardians rookie Parker Messick came tantalizingly close to baseball history Thursday night, taking a no-hit bid into the final inning before Baltimore’s Leody Taveras broke it up with a leadoff single that sparked a two-run ninth-inning surge. Despite the late drama, Cleveland managed to secure a 4-2 win over the visiting Orioles.

The left-handed Messick, now 3-0 in his 11th big league outing, dominated Baltimore hitters through eight innings, allowing just two walks – one to Taylor Ward in the opening frame and another to Taveras in the sixth. He matched his personal best with nine strikeouts while issuing two free passes.

The magic ended when Taveras sent a ground ball to the left side of second baseman Juan Brito, who made a diving attempt but couldn’t contain the ball in the infield. Blaze Alexander then delivered another base hit, ending Messick’s night after eight-plus stellar innings. Reliever Cade Smith surrendered two hits and allowed both inherited runners to cross the plate, though he still earned his fourth save of the season.

Cleveland’s offense was powered by Jose Ramirez’s two-run blast, while George Valera and Steven Kwan each contributed RBI knocks. The victory ended a two-game losing streak for the Guardians in the series opener.

In other Thursday action, Detroit extended their hot streak to six consecutive wins with a thrilling 10-9 comeback victory over Kansas City. Colt Keith delivered the decisive blow with a ninth-inning single that completed a three-run rally after Riley Greene’s clutch two-out, two-RBI double had evened the score.

San Francisco snapped their four-game slide with a 3-0 shutout of Cincinnati, as Landen Roupp took a no-hit effort into the sixth before P.J. Higgins managed the Reds’ lone safety. Jung Hoo Lee paced the Giants’ attack with three hits and an RBI.

Mike Trout continued his torrid series at Yankee Stadium, launching his fourth consecutive homer to help Los Angeles cruise past New York 11-4. Trout’s five home runs in the four-game set made him just the fourth player in history to accomplish that feat against the Yankees.

Washington edged Pittsburgh 8-7 in extra innings on James Wood’s go-ahead RBI single in the tenth, while Milwaukee used small-ball tactics to defeat Toronto 2-1, scoring the winning run on Joey Ortiz’s sacrifice bunt.

Tampa Bay maintained their six-game winning streak with a 5-3 victory over Chicago, rallying after Junior Caminero’s game-tying solo shot with two bases-loaded walks in the ninth. Texas completed their series split with Oakland by scoring four runs in the final frame for a 9-6 triumph, highlighted by Joc Pederson’s go-ahead single.

The University of Georgia basketball program secured its inaugural transfer portal acquisition for this recruiting period on Thursday with the signing of Penn State guard Freddie Dilione V.

The talented guard was the Nittany Lions’ top offensive performer this season, averaging 14.0 points per game overall and 14.1 points per game during Big Ten Conference matchups. Throughout 32 games with 15 starting appearances, Dilione also contributed 3.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per outing.

These statistics represent personal bests across all four statistical categories during his third collegiate basketball campaign.

Over his college career spanning 81 games with 43 starts between Tennessee (2023-24) and Penn State (2024-26), Dilione maintains career numbers of 9.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game.

The guard will be joining a Georgia squad that brings back four players who made at least eight starts last season — Blue Cain, Kanon Catchings, Marcus “Smurf” Millender, and Kareem Stagg — while dealing with the departures of leading scorer Jeremiah Wilkinson and center Somto Cyril to the transfer portal.

The New Jersey Devils announced Thursday they have named Sunny Mehta as their new general manager, bringing back a familiar face who previously worked in the organization’s analytics department.

The 48-year-old executive spent the last four years with the Florida Panthers, serving as assistant general manager and head of analytics while helping the team capture back-to-back Stanley Cup championships.

According to ESPN, Mehta will oversee all hockey operations for New Jersey. The organization plans to assess head coach Sheldon Keefe and his staff following the team’s failure to reach the playoffs in two of the past three seasons.

“This is a dream come true for a New Jersey kid, who grew up watching Devils’ practices just 20 minutes away in Totowa,” Mehta said. “New Jersey has a tremendous young core that will be looking to get back to being a contender, a complement of young assets and draft picks, and a passionate fan base hungry for success. I was fortunate enough to watch the New Jersey Devils raise three Stanley Cups and am excited to get to work to return to that level.”

A New Jersey native who played hockey in high school, Mehta had an unconventional path to hockey management, working as a musician, professional poker player and derivatives trader before joining the Devils’ front office from 2014 to 2018.

Mehta steps into the position vacated when the Devils fired Tom Fitzgerald earlier this month. The 57-year-old Fitzgerald is reportedly being considered for the general manager opening with the Nashville Predators.

The Devils boast a young roster featuring Olympic standout Jack Hughes, along with Jesper Bratt, Simon Nemec and Luke Hughes, Jack’s younger brother. A key decision looms regarding captain Nico Hischier, as the team faces a July 1 deadline to offer him a contract extension. Hischier has one season remaining on his seven-year, $50.75 million agreement. According to PuckPedia, New Jersey is projected to have $12.18 million in salary cap flexibility this summer.

Duke University announced Thursday that football coach Manny Diaz has secured a contract extension that will keep him with the Blue Devils through the 2031 season.

In his two years leading the program, Diaz has compiled an 18-9 record and guided Duke to its first outright Atlantic Coast Conference championship since 1962. The Blue Devils captured the ACC title with a 27-20 overtime victory over Virginia in the conference championship game, then closed out the season with a 42-39 win against Arizona State in the Sun Bowl on New Year’s Eve.

According to AVG Recruit Ranking, Diaz has secured the program’s most impressive recruiting class in school history for the 2026 season.

Duke officials did not disclose the financial details of the contract extension.

“Manny Diaz is exactly the right leader at exactly the right time for Duke University,” athletic director Nina King said in a statement. “His clear vision for Duke football, deep understanding of our student-athletes and strong alignment with campus and athletics leadership have positioned us for sustained success in the years ahead. We are incredibly proud to have him leading the Blue Devils, and with his passion, integrity and expertise, Duke football will continue to pursue excellence on and off the field well into the future.”

The 52-year-old coach took over the program after Mike Elko departed for Texas A&M following the 2023 season. Under Diaz’s leadership in 2024, the Blue Devils posted a 9-4 record, though they suffered a 52-20 defeat to Ole Miss in the Gator Bowl.

A Miami, Florida native, Diaz previously coached his hometown Hurricanes from 2019-21, recording a 21-15 mark. Miami reached three straight bowl games during his tenure, though Diaz was let go before the 2021 Sun Bowl and the team chose not to participate in that contest.

Following his Miami departure, he spent two seasons as Penn State’s defensive coordinator before accepting the Duke position.

During the 2025 season, Duke showcased the aggressive defensive style that has become Diaz’s trademark. The Blue Devils ranked 11th nationally in fumble recoveries with 10, placed 13th in turnover margin at +0.71, finished 14th with 24 turnovers gained, and ranked 16th in tackles for loss per game at 6.6.

The New Jersey Devils have appointed Sunny Mehta as their new general manager, welcoming back a former team executive who most recently worked with the Stanley Cup-winning Florida Panthers.

Team owner David Blitzer made the announcement Thursday evening, just two days following the conclusion of the Devils’ disappointing regular season that failed to secure a playoff berth. Mehta served as an assistant with Florida during their back-to-back championship victories over the last two seasons.

“We quickly realized this job was in high demand and were incredibly fortunate to meet with many qualified candidates,” Blitzer said. “Sunny’s familiarity with our organization and experience with a two-time Stanley Cup-winning team are characteristics that will serve as a foundation for future success. Our expectations are to be a perennial playoff team and compete for the Stanley Cup, and I look forward to Sunny leading us there.”

The 48-year-old Mehta previously created the NHL’s inaugural comprehensive analytics division during his initial tenure with New Jersey from 2014 through 2018. Following his departure from the Devils, he worked briefly with Washington before joining the Panthers organization.

A native of Wyckoff, New Jersey, Mehta grew up supporting the Devils and brings an unconventional background to hockey management, having worked as both a professional poker player and in the financial sector before entering the sport.

“I knew this was the place I wanted to be,” Mehta said, thanking the Panthers for the chance to take the next step in his career. “New Jersey has a tremendous young core that will be looking to get back to being a contender, a complement of young assets and draft picks, and a passionate fan base hungry for success.”

The Devils dismissed longtime general manager Tom Fitzgerald during the latter part of the season. The organization has yet to determine the status of head coach Sheldon Keefe moving forward.

CLEVELAND — First-year Cleveland Guardians pitcher Parker Messick is on the verge of baseball history, holding the Baltimore Orioles without a hit through eight complete innings Thursday evening.

The 25-year-old southpaw has issued two walks while recording nine strikeouts, tying his personal best, across 106 pitches with 73 finding the strike zone. Cleveland holds a commanding 4-0 advantage as the game heads to the ninth.

Should Messick complete the feat, it would mark the first major league no-hitter since September 4, 2024, when Shota Imanaga and two Chicago Cubs relief pitchers combined to shut out Pittsburgh 12-0.

Thursday’s outing represents the deepest Messick has ever pitched in his young career. His previous longest appearance came last season when he threw seven scoreless frames against Tampa Bay.

The Guardians organization has endured the longest current drought between no-hitters in Major League Baseball. Their last one occurred on May 15, 1981, when Len Barker threw a perfect game against Toronto.

Cleveland has come tantalizingly close in recent years. Carlos Carrasco pitched 8⅔ hitless innings against Tampa Bay on July 1, 2015, while Gavin Williams carried a no-hitter through 8⅓ innings last August 6 versus the New York Mets.

Carrasco came within a single strike of completing his bid when Rays outfielder Joey Butler connected on an 0-2 slider that barely escaped the reach of diving Cleveland second baseman Jason Kipnis.

Juan Soto ended Williams’ attempt with a home run to center field.

Messick has faced just one batter beyond the minimum tonight. After walking leadoff man Taylor Ward, he retired the following 15 batters in succession. Ward hit a deep fly ball to center in the third that Steven Kwan hauled in at the warning track, while José Ramírez made an impressive defensive play on a Coby Mayo ground ball deep in the hole at third to close the fifth.

Though Messick walked Leody Taveras to open the sixth inning, Ward immediately grounded into a double play to end the threat.

Ramírez contributed another stellar defensive moment, making a spectacular catch in foul territory to retire Samuel Basallo leading off the eighth.

This marks Messick’s 11th career major league start. Selected 54th overall in the 2022 amateur draft from Florida State University, he made his big league debut last season.

Entering tonight’s contest, Messick carried a 5-1 career record with a 2.04 earned run average. He had posted a 2-0 mark with a 0.51 ERA through his first three starts this season.

Cleveland has provided offensive support with Ramírez’s two-run homer in the opening inning, plus RBI singles from Kwan in the fifth and George Valera in the sixth.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The James family dynasty could reach unprecedented heights this month as LeBron and Bronny James prepare to potentially become the first father-son combination to share significant playoff action in NBA history.

After making league history last season as the first parent-child duo to compete together professionally, the James pair has elevated their on-court partnership this year with substantial shared minutes and the NBA’s inaugural father-to-son assist.

With the Los Angeles Lakers set to battle the Houston Rockets in their opening playoff series, the basketball legend and his 21-year-old son appear positioned to add another groundbreaking achievement to their remarkable story. Despite nearly two seasons as teammates, the possibility of this fresh milestone continues to resonate with both players.

“It’s insane,” Bronny commented Thursday following practice at the Lakers’ training facility. “I mean, I’ve literally watched his whole career. Now I’m a part of it. So it’s a great experience. I’m appreciative of it — but I’m part of the job, too. So I have to do my job as well. I’ve got to lock in.”

The younger James has seen his court time expand significantly during recent weeks, becoming a consistent rotation player since injuries sidelined Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic two weeks ago.

LeBron expresses clear paternal satisfaction watching Bronny develop into a reliable contributor for their injury-depleted squad.

“Every moment we get an opportunity to play together is something I never take for granted,” LeBron said.

“Me being on the floor with him postseason, regular season, training camp, practices, it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me in my career, above everything I’ve accomplished,” he added. “The fact that he’s put himself in position to get his number called for a postseason game is pretty remarkable and pretty cool, given the circumstances that he’s been through over the last couple of years. He earned it. He deserves it. He’ll be ready.”

Following limited appearances during his initial NBA season and a half, Bronny has emerged as a steady rotation piece — initially from necessity with the Lakers’ primary scorers injured, but also through merit-based performance. He has logged 13 or more minutes in seven of the team’s most recent 10 contests, averaging 19 minutes across the past four games.

This expanded role appears likely to persist throughout the playoffs, as neither Doncic nor Reaves will participate in Saturday’s Game 1, with no established timeline for their return.

Lakers head coach JJ Redick acknowledged he plans to utilize every available healthy player as Los Angeles attempts to overcome steep odds without their regular starting backcourt.

“We’re going to have to have all hands on deck in this series,” Redick said. “That’s just what we’re handed. I think Bronny has improved a lot. We trust him. The shooting piece (of his game), I’m a believer in, because of how well he shot it the last two years in the G League. … He’s improved a ton defensively, in terms of his body positioning, both on and off ball. We want him to continue to evolve as a disruptive defender as well.”

Bronny appeared in just four playoff minutes last season during two of the Lakers’ first-round defeats to Minnesota, and he admits he hasn’t participated in many high-stakes games throughout his brief basketball journey.

His only college campaign occurred at Southern California, though he didn’t compete for the Trojans until mid-season following recovery from an offseason cardiac event, and that squad failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

“It’s what I’ve wanted, to play in the playoffs,” Bronny said. “I wasn’t able to play in March (Madness), and this is a bigger stage than that. I’m so excited to get out there with my teammates and try to get some wins and try to make it further in the playoffs.”

Should they share court time this month, Bronny believes they can develop immediate chemistry. After all, he possesses intimate knowledge of LeBron’s playing style.

“I don’t want to give all the answers to the test, but I’ve been watching him for a long time, and I’ve kind of picked up on his tendencies,” Bronny said with a grin. “I think it’s good that I’m paying attention during his career and what he likes to do in the postseason. I think we’ll be able to play good together. My IQ isn’t going to be far behind him, but I know what he’s doing and where he likes to get the ball on the floor.”

The NHL postseason will launch Saturday with three playoff matchups, though final seeding won’t be determined until Thursday evening when the last Western Conference regular season games conclude.

Saturday’s playoff action begins at 3 p.m. ET when the Ottawa Senators take on the Carolina Hurricanes, who claimed the Eastern Conference’s top position. The day continues with Minnesota Wild facing the Dallas Stars at 5:30 p.m. ET, followed by a Pennsylvania rivalry showdown as Philadelphia Flyers travel to face Pittsburgh Penguins at 8 p.m. ET.

Carolina secured the Eastern Conference’s number one ranking by finishing four points ahead of Buffalo, earning the right to host the second wild card team. Though Pittsburgh and Philadelphia ended the regular season tied in points within the Metropolitan Division, the Penguins gained home ice advantage through a tiebreaker based on regulation victories, winning 34 compared to Philadelphia’s 27.

The Western Conference picture remains partially unclear, though Dallas and Minnesota have been confirmed for the Central Division’s second-versus-third seed battle longer than any other playoff pairing. Only one additional Western series has been finalized: Pacific Division champions Vegas will meet the top wild card team Utah Mammoth, beginning Sunday.

Sunday’s schedule, with start times yet to be announced, features Boston visiting Buffalo, Montreal traveling to Tampa Bay, and the Presidents’ Trophy champion Colorado hosting the West’s second wild card team.

The Pacific Division’s second and third seeds will start their series Monday, though their exact positioning awaits Thursday’s results. Edmonton (40-30-11, 91 points), Anaheim (42-33-6, 90 points), and Los Angeles (35-26-20, 90 points) will complete their regular seasons Thursday night, determining the final playoff seeding order.

Second-seeded tennis player Coco Gauff battled back from an early deficit to defeat Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova 7-5, 6-1 in her first-round match at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix on Thursday, securing her spot in the quarterfinals in Stuttgart, Germany.

Despite falling behind 0-3 in the opening set, Gauff regrouped to claim four consecutive games and seize control of the match before cruising through the second set. The American recorded seven aces while committing five double faults during the contest. Her next opponent will be seventh-seeded Karolina Muchova from the Czech Republic, who mounted her own comeback to defeat Belgium’s Elise Mertens 1-6, 6-3, 6-0. Gauff enters the matchup with a perfect 6-0 record against Muchova and is seeking her first semifinal berth at the Stuttgart tournament.

Top-seeded Elena Rybakina from Kazakhstan also advanced with a 6-3, 6-4 triumph over Russia’s Diana Shnaider in a match lasting 73 minutes, while sixth-seeded Mirra Andreeva of Russia defeated Alycia Parks 7-6 (3), 6-3. The only seeded player to suffer an upset was eighth-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova, who lost decisively to Czech competitor Linda Noskova 6-1, 6-1 in just 58 minutes.

The day’s final match featured Canada’s Leylah Fernandez enduring a grueling three-hour battle against Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez, ultimately prevailing 6-7 (2), 6-1, 7-6 (5) to earn a quarterfinal meeting with Rybakina.

At the Rouen Metropolitan Open in France, Belarus player Iryna Shymanovich achieved her first career victory over a top-50 opponent by defeating fourth-seeded Hailey Baptiste 6-3, 5-7, 6-3. Although Baptiste served seven aces compared to Shymanovich’s none, the 28-year-old Belarusian converted four breaks of serve to Baptiste’s two, earning her maiden tour-level quarterfinal appearance. Shymanovich will next face unseeded German Tatjana Maria, who advanced with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Czech player Dominika Salkova.

Second-seeded Sorana Cirstea of Romania moved into the quarterfinals when China’s Xinyu Wang withdrew from their first-round match, while seventh-seeded Elisabetta Cocciaretto was eliminated by Ukraine’s Veronika Podrez 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-4. Hungary’s Anna Bondar completed the day’s results with a 6-0, 4-6, 6-0 victory over Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova in the tournament’s opening match.

Federal authorities are issuing stern warnings after numerous unauthorized drones were detected flying near Coors Field during the Colorado Rockies’ opening home series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Between April 3 and April 5, law enforcement tracked more than six separate drone incidents around the baseball stadium, though no arrests were made during the games. However, the drone operators may still face significant penalties down the road. On Thursday, both the Federal Aviation Administration and FBI released public warnings aimed at preventing similar violations during upcoming home games, citing concerns about security risks.

“The illegal drone activity did not jeopardize anyone’s safety, but there were enough violations that the teams on the ground were concerned about the number of operators that did not seem to understand the seriousness of the situation. Thus the proactive messaging,” FBI spokeswoman Vikki Migoya said.

Federal aviation officials regularly establish no-fly zones around major sporting venues to safeguard spectators and prevent game disruptions.

Security experts worry most about potential terrorist attacks using unmanned aircraft, similar to deadly drone strikes seen in conflicts in Ukraine and Iran. This concern has led federal agencies and World Cup organizing committees to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in anti-drone technology for upcoming matches.

Beyond terrorism concerns, Migoya explained that unauthorized drone flights create unnecessary burdens for security teams.

“Every instance of illegal drone activity requires a law enforcement intervention to ensure the intent is not nefarious; the fewer violations there are, the more law enforcement can focus on what might be a true threat,” she said.

Aviation regulations prohibit all aircraft within a three-mile radius of Coors Field beginning one hour before kickoff and lasting until one hour after baseball or football games conclude. Drone pilots must verify these restrictions before takeoff.

According to the FAA, violators could receive penalties reaching $75,000 for each infraction and may have their pilot certifications revoked.

While drones must transmit location data, law enforcement agencies possess additional tracking capabilities to identify operators.

NEW YORK — Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout delivered another thunderous blast at Yankee Stadium Thursday, launching his fifth home run across the four-game series with a towering 446-foot shot in the seventh inning.

The slugging outfielder became just the fourth player in baseball history to connect for five home runs during a single series against the Yankees, joining an exclusive group that includes Jimmie Foxx (1933), Darrell Evans (1985), and George Bell (1990), according to MLB statistics expert Sarah Langs. Trout’s power surge began Monday with two home runs, followed by additional long balls in each of the next two contests.

During Thursday’s series conclusion, the three-time Most Valuable Player launched a 2-2 slider from Yankees reliever Angel Chivilli deep into the left field bleachers, propelling the Angels to their 7-4 advantage.

Throughout the four-game stretch, Trout posted impressive numbers with six hits in 16 at-bats, collecting nine runs batted in alongside his five home runs. His hot streak at the Bronx ballpark now extends to five consecutive games with a homer.

For the season, Trout maintains a .246 batting average with seven home runs and 16 RBIs. During the Angels’ current road swing, he’s batting .333 with nine hits in 27 at-bats, driving in 13 runs with five homers after implementing a mechanical adjustment to his swing.

Trout’s personal record for consecutive games with home runs stands at seven, which he accomplished during a stretch from September 4-12 in 2022.

For the past month, the Golden State Warriors accepted their destiny. Before officially qualifying for the play-in tournament, they understood their path would require winning two consecutive games to secure an improbable playoff berth.

They’ve been treating this as a two-game championship.

In their view, they’re only halfway to completing their objective.

The Warriors, Charlotte, Orlando, and Phoenix face elimination games Friday night as the play-in tournament concludes, determining which two franchises will claim the remaining playoff positions.

Charlotte travels to face Orlando, while Golden State heads to Phoenix. The victors will earn Game 1 matchups Friday evening — against Detroit in the Eastern Conference and Oklahoma City in the Western Conference.

“This is literally it,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. “This is it.”

Golden State orchestrated a dramatic 41-23 surge during the final 9:49 minutes to complete a stunning road victory against the Los Angeles Clippers, erasing a 13-point disadvantage for a 126-121 triumph that extended their season. The Warriors connected on six more three-point shots than the Clippers during that crucial period, with those 18 additional points accounting for precisely their margin of victory in the closing stretch.

“That was fun,” Warriors guard Stephen Curry said. “That’s what you live for, right there.”

Charlotte advanced to Friday’s action with a triumph over Miami, though LaMelo Ball’s uncalled flagrant foul against Bam Adebayo dominated postgame discussions. The Magic fell in Philadelphia, handing the 76ers the seventh seed in the East and a first-round series against Boston. Phoenix suffered a home defeat to Portland, giving the Trail Blazers the seventh seed in the West and a playoff date with San Antonio.

Everything is now on the line. Miami and the Clippers have already been eliminated, and two additional franchises will begin their offseason Friday evening.

“We’ve got to be ready,” Magic forward Paolo Banchero said. “I’ve got to be ready.”

This marks Phoenix’s inaugural appearance in the play-in tournament format. The remaining three teams have all participated previously.

Golden State enters their fourth play-in appearance, Charlotte their third, and Orlando their second. Philadelphia and Portland, who have already advanced, were making their second play-in appearances.

Golden State holds a 2-3 play-in record. Orlando stands at 1-1, Charlotte at 1-2, and Phoenix at 0-1.

Regular season matchups: Charlotte won the series 3-1.

Vegas odds: Charlotte favored by 3.5 points.

What’s at stake: The victor advances to face top-seeded Detroit in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals beginning Sunday. The defeated team’s season ends.

Game preview: Multiple storylines converge here. LaMelo Ball delivered the game-winning shot in their previous contest, injured Bam Adebayo, and learned a day later from league officials that he should have been ejected. Orlando dropped their last three encounters against Charlotte by a total of 61 points and has struggled with consistency throughout the campaign. Charlotte captured both previous games in Orlando this season; no visiting team has achieved three or more victories against the Magic in a single season — excluding the bubble year — since Detroit in 2006-07. Charlotte’s Miles Bridges has appeared in more regular-season contests (501) than any other active player without playoff experience. Friday could end that streak.

Regular season matchups: Golden State won the series 3-1.

Vegas odds: Phoenix favored by 2.5 points.

What’s at stake: The winner advances to face top-seeded Oklahoma City in the Western Conference quarterfinals beginning Sunday. The losing team’s season concludes.

Game preview: Golden State captured their initial meeting by 11 points, with Phoenix trailing by 25 before possessing the ball with an opportunity to cut the deficit to single digits with three minutes remaining. The remaining contests were decided by margins of one, three, and four points. The Warriors approach this game with a fearless mentality, understandably so after an injury-riddled campaign that produced a 37-45 record and a month-long preparation for an expected play-in run. Phoenix exceeded most preseason projections by winning 45 games but must now defeat Stephen Curry, arguably basketball’s greatest shooter, to avoid becoming the first franchise to lose twice at home during a play-in tournament.

NEW YORK — Former professional basketball player and assistant coach Damon Jones will likely become the initial defendant to enter a guilty plea in a sweeping gambling investigation that resulted in more than 30 arrests, including alleged organized crime members and other basketball personalities.

Court documents filed Thursday reveal that Jones has a plea change hearing set for May 6 in federal court in Brooklyn.

The 49-year-old Jones had initially entered not guilty pleas to two separate indictments. The charges accuse him of benefiting from manipulated poker games and sharing confidential injury information about NBA superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis with sports gamblers.

Both cases include charges of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy against Jones.

His attorney Kenneth Montgomery could not be reached for comment immediately. During Jones’ November court appearances, Montgomery informed the judge that they “may be engaging in plea negotiations.”

The arrest of Jones occurred in October alongside Portland Trail Blazers head coach and Basketball Hall of Fame member Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat player Terry Rozier, and several others, including a gambler accused of profiting from insider injury details.

Among all defendants, Jones faces charges in both the poker manipulation and sports betting conspiracies. He continues to remain out of custody on bond.

Born in Galveston, Texas, Jones accumulated over $20 million during his professional career, playing for 10 different franchises across 11 seasons between 1999 and 2009. He was teammates with James in Cleveland from 2005 to 2008 and worked as an unofficial assistant coach with James’ Los Angeles Lakers during the 2022-2023 campaign.

Federal prosecutors allege that Jones sold or tried to sell confidential information to gamblers regarding James’ injury status before a February 9, 2023, matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks. He allegedly texted an unidentified accomplice: “Get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight before the information is out.”

At the time Jones sent the message, James wasn’t included on the Lakers’ official injury report. However, the NBA’s career scoring champion was subsequently ruled out due to a lower body ailment, and Milwaukee defeated Los Angeles 115-106.

On January 15, 2024, authorities claim sports gambler Marves Fairley compensated Jones roughly $2,500 for inside information that Davis, then the Lakers’ forward-center, would have restricted playing time against Oklahoma City Thunder due to injury.

Fairley subsequently wagered $100,000 on the Thunder to win, but the information proved inaccurate. Davis played his typical minutes, recording 27 points and 15 rebounds in a 112-105 Lakers victory, leading Fairley to request a $2,500 refund, according to prosecutors.

Regarding the poker conspiracy, authorities say Jones was among former NBA athletes recruited to attract unsuspecting players into rigged games using modified shuffling devices, concealed cameras, specialized eyewear, and even X-ray technology embedded in tables.

The indictment states Jones received $2,500 for participating in a Hamptons game where he was directed to cheat by carefully observing other scheme participants. His instructor compared those individuals to James and NBA All-Star Stephen Curry. When uncertain, Jones was advised to fold, prosecutors stated.

Jones allegedly responded via text: “y’all know I know what I’m doing!!”

The poker operation frequently utilized illegal games controlled by New York organized crime families, requiring operators to share profits with the Gambino, Genovese, and Bonanno crime families.

These crime family members also participated in violent activities, including assault, extortion, and robbery, to ensure debt collection and maintain operational success, court documents indicate.

Known for his three-point shooting ability, Jones once declared himself in an insidehoops.com interview as “the best shooter in the world.” He appeared in every regular season contest for three straight seasons from 2003 to 2006.

Following his playing career, he served as a “shooting consultant” for the Cavaliers and worked as an assistant coach when the James-led team captured the NBA championship in 2016.

Dallas Stars netminder Jake Oettinger is welcoming the challenge ahead. The veteran goaltender is fully embracing what promises to be one of the most difficult playoff paths in recent memory.

The route through the Central Division to reach the Western Conference Final presents an incredibly demanding gauntlet for both Dallas and Minnesota. Despite ranking third and seventh respectively in NHL points this season, the Stars and Wild will clash in the opening round, with the victor potentially meeting the league-leading Colorado Avalanche in round two.

“If you can get through that and win it all, I think it just makes it that much better,” Oettinger said. “It just makes it more fulfilling.”

The Stanley Cup championship never comes without a fight, and even the Pacific Division bracket offers no relief. Edmonton, fresh off back-to-back Cup Final appearances, joins the Vegas Golden Knights, who surged with seven victories in their last eight contests after bringing in John Tortorella as head coach.

“It’s the most exciting time because everybody’s playing at a different level, and it’s a good test to see how high you can get as a team,” Tortorella told reporters in Las Vegas after the regular season finale. “Everything’s going to be amped up. As each game goes by in the series, it’s going to be harder and harder, and so it’s a great challenge.”

Colorado enters as the clear Western Conference favorite after capturing the Presidents’ Trophy. The Avalanche have dominated since October, boasting elite talents Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, while addressing their center position by reacquiring 2022 Cup winner Nazem Kadri before the trade deadline.

While home-ice advantage helps, carrying the top seed brings added expectations. Colorado players say they’re ready for that responsibility.

“Pressure is a privilege — it’s the old cliche, but it truly is,” forward Logan O’Connor said. “You just have to be dialed in the whole time, and I think that’s the challenge for any team. There can’t be any lapses. You can’t have any passengers. Everyone all in, all the time. I think we obviously have the capability to do that.”

Vegas claimed the Pacific Division title following their coaching change from Bruce Cassidy to Tortorella, who brings extensive postseason experience with 13 playoff appearances across four different franchises.

Dallas has reached three straight Western Conference Finals and possesses all the necessary pieces, particularly if star defenseman Miro Heiskanen returns to full health.

“It’s never a straight line to win all these things,” said first-year coach Glen Gulutzan, who was an Edmonton assistant when the Oilers made back-to-back trips to the Cup final. “You keep getting yourself back in the dance and win a round and win two rounds, and then finally you break through. Hopefully that experience is going to allow us to do it.”

Minnesota features superstar Kirill Kaprizov, who will soon begin the most lucrative contract in hockey history. Matt Boldy has emerged as another offensive threat on a roster that needs only center depth to become a legitimate Western Conference Final contender.

Labeling Connor McDavid and Edmonton as underdogs seems questionable given their recent Cup Final runs against Florida, but the team has logged significant playoff minutes. Strong goaltending and Leon Draisaitl’s return from his season-ending injury will be crucial factors.

The Utah Mammoth represent the West’s inspiring success story, reaching the playoffs in just their second season since relocating from Arizona. Playing without pressure could benefit a franchise simply celebrating their postseason berth in Salt Lake City.

Los Angeles dismissed coach Jim Hiller and found stability under interim leader D.J. Smith. The February acquisition of Artemi Panarin has transformed the Kings into a legitimate threat.

Could an LA-area team surprise everyone? Joe Quenneville’s championship pedigree has guided Anaheim into playoff contention, and his experience combined with young talent and Lukas Dostal’s goaltending could produce some upsets.

McDavid’s two-year, $25 million extension without a salary increase essentially gave Edmonton a two-season window to prove their championship credentials. The superstar could very well elevate his team to a third consecutive Cup Final appearance.

Colorado’s championship opportunity remains wide open, with captain Gabriel Landeskog returning from his chronic knee problems to support MacKinnon and Makar. Another title run like their 2022 championship seems possible.

Can Minnesota finally advance past the first round for the first time since 2015? The Wild have dropped eight straight opening-round matchups, but this season marked their first without being shut out, while adding Quinn Hughes on defense provides offensive confidence.

“There’s a lot of pushback with our team,” coach John Hynes said. “We have guys that can score. One of the things we talk about is trying to create offense in multiple ways.”

MIAMI — The NBA’s determination that LaMelo Ball’s grab of Bam Adebayo constituted a flagrant foul worthy of ejection generated little response in Miami.

In Charlotte, however, the fact that the league’s ruling stopped short of a suspension provided significant relief.

Ball remains available for Friday’s crucial play-in elimination matchup when the Hornets face Orlando — exactly the outcome Charlotte head coach Charles Lee was hoping for, and a decision that Miami’s Erik Spoelstra appeared comfortable with.

“I didn’t believe he should face additional penalties going forward. That wouldn’t have made sense to me,” Spoelstra commented Thursday during the Heat’s season-ending discussions — occurring two days following their postseason elimination in a 127-126 defeat at Charlotte, a contest where Adebayo sat out significant time after sustaining injury when Ball grabbed his ankle during a fall.

“I don’t believe he’s a dirty player. I just think, in that moment, all things can be true,” Spoelstra explained. “It was a dirty play and a dangerous play. It should have been caught at that moment. But it wasn’t and then, you know, you move on.”

The NBA determined Ball committed “unnecessary and reckless contact” against Adebayo. Ball received a $35,000 fine for the incident, along with an additional $25,000 penalty for using profanity during a postgame court-side interview.

Had the flagrant foul from Tuesday’s contest been assessed as a Category 2 violation during live action, Miami would have received two free throws and ball possession — while Ball would have faced immediate ejection.

League investigations following such incidents are routine procedure; official Zach Zarba informed a pool reporter Tuesday evening that the NBA would conduct additional review of the sequence. The league’s decision arrived late Wednesday evening, finally allowing Lee to feel relieved.

“I believe the league issued what they considered appropriate,” Lee stated in Charlotte Thursday prior to the team’s departure for Orlando. “And we’re pleased that we still have him available for the upcoming game. I know he never intends to injure anyone on the basketball court. But I’m relieved everything’s resolved now.”

According to NBA regulations, Miami could not contest the play’s ruling since no foul was initially called. Action continued without pause, preventing any replay review opportunity. Adebayo received a lower-back contusion diagnosis resulting from the fall.

This marks at least the second occasion Ball has been involved in such an incident with Adebayo. During a January 2024 game in Miami, Ball grabbed Adebayo’s leg while the Heat player was running downcourt. Adebayo stumbled but remained upright.

ARLINGTON, Va. — Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin jokingly suggested he wants a two-year contract extension from the team.

While he was likely kidding, the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer’s future remains uncertain following the conclusion of his 21st professional season on Tuesday. Recent games felt like potential farewell moments to fans and even rival players, though Ovechkin hasn’t ruled out a comeback.

With his current deal now expired, the veteran forward met with media Thursday for an extended interview where he discussed upcoming conversations with head coach Spencer Carbery and general manager Chris Patrick. When reporters asked what he hoped to hear from Patrick regarding the franchise’s direction, Ovechkin responded with humor.

“Two more years,” he said, prompting laughter. “This is the contract. Sign it.”

Such a lengthy agreement would shock most observers given Ovechkin’s age of 40. The more pressing question centers on whether he’ll continue his NHL career at all. The Russian captain indicated his choice will hinge on his physical condition, family circumstances, and Washington’s competitive prospects.

Washington concluded their campaign with a victory over Columbus on Tuesday, finishing with 95 points. While that total would have topped the Pacific Division, it left them three points shy of an Eastern Conference playoff berth. Promising young talents like Ryan Leonard and Cole Hutson have shown development for the organization, leaving the team in reasonable shape regardless of Ovechkin’s decision.

Should he return, his salary negotiations would be fascinating after earning $9.5 million annually on his previous contract. This season, he led Washington with 32 goals while appearing in all 82 contests — impressive statistics for someone his age. However, his signature one-timer from the left wing wasn’t as dominant as in previous years, managing just five power-play goals on 86 attempts, and his defensive play showed signs of decline.

When asked about potentially joining another NHL franchise, Ovechkin noted his free agent status.

“I’m a free agent,” he stated.

Pressed further about playing elsewhere after spending his entire career in Washington, he responded: “Probably not, no.”

Speculation has surrounded a possible return to Russia, but Ovechkin emphasized he must first resolve his NHL situation.

“I’m pretty sure it’s not my last game — I hope it’s not my last game, against Columbus. I have to make a decision to see where we’re at — the team, family,” Ovechkin explained. “Obviously, family are going to support me, like my wife and kids. Kids are already asking, ‘Dad, are you staying or not?’”

His response to his children?

“I tell them, ‘We’ll see,’” he said. “They want me to come back because they love the city, they love the team, they love the boys.”

Two NBA stars will remain in contention for major league honors this season after successfully appealing the league’s 65-game participation requirement, officials announced Thursday.

The NBA and National Basketball Players Association jointly decided that Luka Dončić of the Los Angeles Lakers and Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham can compete for awards including Most Valuable Player and All-NBA team selections, even though neither met the standard game threshold.

Dončić appeared in 64 contests while Cunningham participated in 63 games during the regular season. However, both organizations determined that exceptional circumstances warranted their inclusion under a special provision within the collective bargaining agreement.

The scoring champion and MVP contender Dončić was absent for two games while traveling to Slovenia for his daughter’s birth. Meanwhile, Cunningham sat out 12 games following a collapsed lung diagnosis on March 17.

“The NBA and NBPA agreed that, taking into account the totality of the circumstances for Cunningham and Dončić, each player qualified for awards,” the league and union stated jointly.

Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, who participated in 60 qualifying games, also challenged the rule through an independent arbitrator but received a denial for his appeal.

The eligibility question became a significant storyline as the season concluded. San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama, considered an MVP finalist and probable Defensive Player of the Year winner, reached the 65-game threshold during the Spurs’ second-to-last contest. Denver’s three-time MVP Nikola Jokic secured his qualification on the regular season’s final day, extending his streak of finishing first or second in MVP voting over five consecutive seasons while capturing this year’s rebounding and assist championships.

Denver head coach David Adelman expressed hope last week that the 65-game requirement will face modification this summer, arguing that dedicated players like Jokic who compete in 64 games without wanting rest shouldn’t face award disqualification.

“That’s not the spirit of what that rule is,” Adelman commented.

Several prominent players will lose award eligibility this season due to the game minimum, including Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, whose remarkable 21-season All-NBA team streak will conclude. Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and Golden State’s Stephen Curry also missed excessive games to qualify.

Following the completion of appeals for Dončić, Cunningham, and Edwards, the NBA will distribute award ballots to its voting panel of league reporters and broadcasters within days. The timing for announcing award recipients remains undetermined.

ORLANDO, Fla. — The defense team representing professional golfer Tiger Woods is mounting a legal challenge against prosecutors who want access to his medical prescription records as part of a driving under the influence case in Florida.

Defense attorney Doug Duncan filed court documents this week arguing that Woods maintains constitutional privacy protections regarding his medication history. Duncan has requested that the Martin County judge presiding over the case schedule a hearing to evaluate whether obtaining these medical records is essential to the prosecution’s case.

Should the court rule that the prescription information is required for the investigation, Duncan has petitioned for strict limitations on who can access the records, requesting they be restricted to prosecutors, investigating officers, state forensic specialists, and Woods’ legal representatives.

The golf legend has entered a not guilty plea to the DUI charges. According to law enforcement documentation, officers discovered two pain medication pills on Woods during the incident and observed indicators of impairment after his vehicle struck a truck’s trailer and overturned.

The crash occurred on Jupiter Island, where Woods was driving at excessive speeds on a coastal residential street with a posted limit of 30 mph. His Land Rover caused approximately $5,000 in damages to the truck, investigation records show. While Woods consented to breath testing that revealed no alcohol presence, he declined to provide a urine sample, officials reported.

Court filings reveal that prosecutors plan to subpoena prescription medication records for the championship golfer from Lewis Pharmacy in Palm Beach, Florida, covering the period from January through the end of last month.

Additionally, prosecution attorneys filed a Wednesday court motion requiring Woods to disclose the identity and whereabouts of any defense witnesses he intends to call during proceedings.

DENVER — When playoff season arrives, Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic finds his relaxation in an unexpected place: his backyard swimming pool.

The versatile big man traditionally opens his pool around this time each year, weather allowing, creating a peaceful retreat where he and his children can unwind. For Jokic, these quiet moments floating in the water provide the perfect mental break from the intense pressure of championship aspirations.

The Nuggets secured the third playoff position after winning 54 games this season and will square off against Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves in their opening playoff round beginning Saturday.

This campaign has been extraordinary for Jokic in terms of both performance and physical challenges.

From a statistical standpoint, Jokic accomplished something not seen in over five decades, becoming the first player since 1969-70 to top the league in both rebounds and assists per game. The only other player to achieve this feat was Wilt Chamberlain in 1967-68, though that was based on total numbers rather than averages.

From a health perspective, the three-time Most Valuable Player faced his first significant NBA injury when he hyperextended his left knee, forcing him to sit out 16 contests between late December and January. Denver managed a 10-6 record during his absence.

“It’s not a difficult year, but an inconsistent year, with the injuries, with the lineups, with everything,” Jokic said, having averaged a triple-double for the second consecutive season with 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists. “We still managed to be one of the top teams. That’s something telling about this team, and the group that we have in the locker room. We definitely show ourselves that we can answer to anything, and hopefully we’re going find a way and in the playoffs when the moment is big.”

Denver approaches the postseason with tremendous momentum, having won 12 straight games. When asked about the streak, Jokic displayed his characteristic wit.

“It’s definitely better than a 12-game losing streak,” Jokic remarked. “When you’re playing well, everybody’s feeling good.”

The Serbian center recorded 34 triple-doubles across 65 games this season, including an unforgettable Christmas Day showcase against Minnesota when he exploded for 56 points, 16 rebounds and 15 assists in a 142-138 overtime victory.

“It’ll probably take a little bit of everything,” Timberwolves forward Julius Randle said regarding the challenge of defending Jokic. “Probably got to call God and talk to him for a little bit and ask him for a few favors. … He’s an incredible player. He does so much on the floor for that team.”

Standing 6-foot-11 and weighing 284 pounds, Jokic possesses the court vision of a point guard combined with unstoppable post moves and three-point shooting ability.

“He’s a joy to watch,” said San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson, whose squad could potentially meet Denver in the second round. “He’s just so unique in so many ways.”

Denver teammates emphasize they never take Jokic’s nightly excellence for granted. His 198 career triple-doubles rank second only to former teammate Russell Westbrook’s 209, while his 21 playoff triple-doubles trail just Magic Johnson (30) and LeBron James (28).

“Nothing has shocked me this year,” said teammate Christian Braun, who was a rookie during Denver’s 2023 championship run. “But that’s probably not the right way to say it. Everything (Jokic) does shocks me. Every time I watch him, he shocks me.”

The organization breathed a collective sigh of relief when doctors determined Jokic would miss only several weeks after his December 29 injury in Miami. The incident looked frightening as Jokic collapsed and clutched his knee after stepping on Spencer Jones’ foot.

Following his January 30 return, he’s missed just one additional game. This healthy stretch allowed him to reach the 65-game minimum required for major awards consideration.

“He’s in a great place,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said, “physically and mentally.”

Jokic’s signature trait remains his ability to elevate teammates’ performance, whether delivering passes to Cam Johnson on the perimeter, creating screens to free Jamal Murray for drives, or finding Aaron Gordon for open shots.

“We need everybody,” Jokic explained. “Everybody needs to step up.”

Coach Adelman remains baffled by the lack of MVP discussion surrounding his star player, with current betting favorites pointing toward Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

“I would say what stands out to me is how much he has not been talked about,” Adelman said. “I think it’s absolutely insane. I have no idea what the narrative is and why.”

Minnesota center Rudy Gobert has developed deep admiration for Jokic’s approach to the game.

“Whatever he does, he plays to win. He’s selfless,” Gobert said. “He’s just here to show up, help his team win and go home. I like that. I respect that.”

The legal team representing Tiger Woods is pushing back against prosecutors who want access to the golf legend’s prescription medication records as part of his ongoing DUI case.

The 50-year-old professional golfer has entered a not guilty plea to misdemeanor driving under the influence charges stemming from a rollover accident that occurred on March 31 in Florida.

State prosecutors are working to obtain a subpoena for the 15-time major champion’s pharmaceutical records from a Palm Beach, Florida pharmacy. According to court documents accessed by ESPN, they want comprehensive information about his prescriptions between January 1 and March 27, including refill frequency, pill quantities, dosage specifications, and any medication guidelines provided.

Woods’ legal representative, Douglas Duncan, submitted a motion on Wednesday asking for a court hearing on the issue while questioning both the relevance of the state’s demand and potential violations of his client’s privacy protections.

“This right is admittedly not absolute should the State show the relevance of the records to its criminal investigation and thus warrant intrusion into Mr. Woods’ privacy,” Duncan stated in his filing.

Law enforcement officers who responded to the crash scene reported that Woods displayed signs of impairment and was found with two pills in his possession.

Should the court approve the state’s petition for these records, Duncan has requested the judge implement a protective order limiting access to Woods’ prescription information exclusively to prosecutors, defense counsel, and law enforcement personnel.

“The records shall not be disclosed to any third parties, including Order prohibiting dissemination of the records by the State in response to any public records request,” Duncan explained in his motion. “If and when it becomes necessary for the State to publicly disclose said records or any portion of said records, that a hearing must be held to determine the necessity of said disclosure.”

Following the incident, Woods issued a public statement announcing his decision to take a break from professional golf to concentrate on his health recovery. Reports indicate he subsequently entered a treatment program at a facility in Switzerland.

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers reached out to Joel Embiid to gauge whether their recovering star center might attend Wednesday night’s crucial play-in matchup, hoping his presence could provide a morale boost during their postseason pursuit.

The All-Star big man had been sidelined following emergency appendix surgery the previous week, and his teammates weren’t certain he would show up until Embiid unexpectedly entered the locker room roughly an hour before game time against the Orlando Magic. His mere appearance energized Tyrese Maxey and the entire squad.

“I gave him a big hug,” Maxey said. “I was glad to see him.”

When crunch time arrived, Maxey stepped up in the final period the same way Embiid has done during pivotal moments throughout his career.

The guard finished with 31 points while rookie V.J. Edgecombe contributed 19 points and 11 rebounds as Philadelphia defeated Orlando 109-97, clinching the Eastern Conference’s seventh playoff position.

Philadelphia will face Boston in the opening round starting Sunday.

Maxey, who earned his first All-Star starting selection this season, delivered seven consecutive points during the closing minutes to help seal the victory over the Magic.

“It was just me deciding I wanted to be aggressive,” Maxey said. “I had some really good looks that I missed early in the third, that I made in the first half. So I was just really confident I was going to make some shots.”

The franchise’s all-time leader in three-pointers connected on three shots from beyond the arc and converted 11 of 25 field goal attempts, helping the Sixers reach the playoffs after finishing 24-58 last season.

“He’s been doing a bit of that lately as far as understanding we need kind of his greatness at the right time,” coach Nick Nurse said.

While Philadelphia has historically relied on Embiid’s dominant performances, the organization has also learned to adapt when the frequently injured former MVP is unavailable.

Team officials haven’t established a timeline for Embiid’s comeback from the appendix procedure. The two-time scoring champion participated in video review sessions Wednesday and observed the contest from the sideline.

Maxey will need to maintain his high level of play for Philadelphia to compete effectively against Boston.

Home fans chanted “We want Boston!” during the game’s final moments, though history suggests caution — the 76ers have dropped their past six playoff matchups with the Celtics. Philadelphia’s last series victory over Boston came in 1982.

Those concerns can wait for future preparation sessions. Maxey departed the court to thunderous applause from the crowd, which included Allen Iverson, as teammates surrounded him in celebration.

“I promised some guys we were going to get in the playoffs,” Maxey said.

Last season’s disappointing campaign did yield one positive outcome: securing the third overall draft selection. The Sixers, who selected several unsuccessful prospects during their extensive rebuilding period, appear to have made an excellent choice by picking Edgecombe from Baylor.

The 20-year-old rookie began the campaign with 34 points against Boston, recording the third-highest point total for any NBA player in their debut game. He delivered another strong performance in his first play-in appearance with 19 points and 11 rebounds.

Officials assessed Edgecombe a taunting penalty following a dunk in the third quarter, and referees had to intervene when tensions escalated between both teams.

“I was tweaking a little bit tonight,” Edgecombe said. “I guess it happens when you let a kid play such a high-intensity game. I was out there having fun. If I’ve got to play wild for us to win, I’ll play wild.”

NEW YORK — Los Angeles established a new Major League Baseball spending benchmark in 2025, investing a combined $515 million in player payroll and luxury tax penalties while capturing their second consecutive World Series championship, according to final calculations released by the commissioner’s office. The franchise is expected to lead league spending again in 2026.

The Dodgers’ 2025 expenditures set new marks with a $345.3 million payroll and $169.4 million in tax penalties, totaling $514.6 million. Even with several player contracts reduced due to deferred payment arrangements, Los Angeles spent seven times more than Miami’s league-minimum $68.7 million payroll and exceeded the combined spending of the six lowest-budget franchises.

Los Angeles surpassed the previous spending record of $430.4 million established by the 2024 New York Mets. The Dodgers’ total also excluded the $6.5 million signing bonus paid to pitcher Roki Sasaki through a minor league deal.

Together, the Mets and Dodgers invested $948.3 million. The spending gap between the five highest and five lowest payrolls grew from a 3.6 ratio in 2021 to an unprecedented 4.7 last season.

Los Angeles broke New York’s three-year reign as the top-spending franchise in 2025, with additional costs including $8.5 million in performance bonuses earned by retiring pitcher Clayton Kershaw.

The Dodgers’ actual spending would have reached approximately $71 million higher without deferred payment structures for seven players that reduced their payroll calculations. Shohei Ohtani’s contract counts as $28.2 million because $68 million of his $70 million 2025 salary won’t be paid until 2035.

New York ranked second in payroll at $342.1 million and spent $433.7 million including tax penalties.

During Steve Cohen’s first five years as Mets owner, the franchise has invested $1.44 billion without securing a championship: $1.11 billion in player salaries and $320 million in luxury tax payments.

Both franchises exceeded the previous payroll record of $333.3 million set by the 2024 Mets.

Based on MLB’s opening-day projections, Los Angeles leads 2026 spending expectations with a $323.3 million 40-man roster payroll and projected $163.7 million tax bill for a $487.1 million total. The Mets started with a record $358.4 million payroll and face an estimated $124.1 million tax for $482.5 million in total spending.

Cleveland carries the smallest opening-day 40-man payroll this season at $75.5 million.

League-wide spending increased 3.1% to $5.32 billion in 2025 from $5.16 billion in 2024, representing a 31.3% rise over four seasons under the current labor agreement from $4.05 billion in 2021.

These totals exclude the $50 million annual pre-arbitration bonus pool established in the 2022 collective bargaining agreement and benefit allocations included in MLB’s luxury tax calculations.

Eight teams began 2026 above the $244 million luxury tax threshold. Following the Dodgers ($415.2 million), Mets ($379.2 million) and Yankees ($339.6 million) were Toronto ($319.5 million), Philadelphia ($315.2 million), Boston ($263.7 million), San Diego ($260.1 million) and Atlanta ($247.9 million).

The Chicago Cubs started $25,000 below the threshold while Detroit began $2.5 million under. Team payrolls fluctuate throughout seasons due to trades and roster adjustments.

New York finished 2025 with the third-largest regular payroll at $301.5 million, followed by Philadelphia ($291.9 million), AL champion Toronto ($253.1 million), Houston ($236.4 million) and Texas ($229.9 million).

Four of the five biggest spenders made the playoffs, excluding the Mets, alongside teams ranked ninth, 10th, 12th, 15th, 17th, 22nd, 23rd and 25th in payroll.

Los Angeles increased spending the most in 2025 by $74.4 million. Other significant increases came from Detroit ($61.9 million), Baltimore ($60.2 million to $165.6 million), San Diego ($45.6 million to $217.6 million), Philadelphia ($42.8 million) and Toronto ($34.7 million).

Fifteen franchises reduced payroll from 2024 to 2025, led by Chicago White Sox (down $66.1 million to $87.9 million), St. Louis (down $39.3 million to $139.1 million), Miami (down $29.4 million to $68.8 million) and San Francisco (down $28 million to $182.9 million). The Cardinals further reduced their opening-day payroll to $102.3 million this year, including approximately $47.4 million from trades involving Nolan Arenado, Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras, who no longer play for St. Louis.

The Yankees decreased payroll by $9.4 million from 2024 to 2025 but increased it to $302.8 million this season.

Eleven teams exceeded $200 million in 2025, matching the record established in 2023. Five teams operated below $100 million, one more than 2024’s record low.

Last year’s regular payrolls reflect 2025 salaries, earned performance bonuses and proportional shares of signing bonuses and non-cash compensation for 40-man rosters. Deferred salary and bonus payments are adjusted to current values, with termination payments, option buyouts and inter-team cash transactions factored in.

MLB calculated the average salary as of Aug. 31, the final day before active rosters expanded to 26 players, at $4,611,595. The players’ association, using different methodology, determined the average at $4,721,393.

Luxury tax calculations use payrolls with average annual values including benefits and the pre-arbitration bonus pool. The players’ association argues tax payments shouldn’t measure spending disparity since half the tax revenue goes to a commissioner’s discretionary fund distributed among revenue-sharing eligible teams that have increased their non-media local revenue.

A dramatic ninth-inning comeback highlighted Wednesday night’s Major League Baseball action as the San Diego Padres rallied for five runs in their final at-bat to defeat the Seattle Mariners 7-6, pushing their winning streak to seven games.

The heroics came courtesy of Jackson Merrill, who delivered a crucial two-run double by connecting on a 2-2 fastball from Seattle reliever Jose A. Ferrer. The ball found its way down the left field line, allowing Luis Campusano to cross home with the tying run while Ramon Laureano scored what proved to be the game-winner when Randy Arozarena couldn’t complete a throw to the plate after the ball slipped from his grasp.

Alek Jacob (1-0) earned his first victory of the season after throwing two scoreless frames in his 2024 major league debut. The pitcher had been promoted from Triple-A El Paso just one day earlier. Seattle closer Andres Munoz (2-2) shouldered the blame for all five ninth-inning runs, while Luke Raley provided offensive fireworks with four hits including a two-run home run.

In Los Angeles, Shohei Ohtani dominated on the mound with 10 strikeouts across six innings while Dalton Rushing connected for a grand slam as the Dodgers completed a series sweep of the New York Mets with an 8-2 victory. The loss extended New York’s skid to eight consecutive defeats.

Additional home runs came from Hyeseong Kim, Teoscar Hernandez and Kyle Tucker for Los Angeles, which improved to 10-2 since April 3. Ohtani (2-0) surrendered just one run on two hits and two walks in a rare pitching appearance where he didn’t also serve as a designated hitter – his first such outing since May 2021 with the Angels.

The Yankees edged the Angels 4-5 thanks to Jose Caballero’s walk-off two-run double in the ninth inning, snapping New York out of a rough stretch where they’d won just once in their previous seven contests. Mike Trout continued his hot streak at Yankee Stadium with a two-run homer, becoming the first visiting player to go deep in three consecutive days at the venue since Miguel Cabrera accomplished the feat nearly 13 years ago.

Arizona outlasted Baltimore 8-5 in 10 innings behind Adrian Del Castillo’s explosive five-RBI performance, which included a decisive two-run homer in the extra frame and a two-run triple earlier in the game. Every player in the Diamondbacks’ lineup managed at least one hit through nine innings.

Pittsburgh blanked Washington 2-0 as Carmen Mlodzinski tossed six shutout innings in the Pirates’ three-hit victory. The Cardinals took down Cleveland 5-3 with Dustin May delivering six strong innings, while Boston avoided a sweep by defeating Minnesota 9-5 behind Trevor Story’s three-run homer and five-RBI night.

Cincinnati’s Sal Stewart powered the Reds past San Francisco 8-3 with a pair of three-run homers, giving him seven home runs to lead all rookies this season. Chicago dominated Philadelphia 11-2 as Nico Hoerner drove in a career-high five runs while Shota Imanaga struck out 11 batters.

Milwaukee snapped a six-game losing streak by rallying past Toronto 2-1 with two eighth-inning runs, and Detroit extended its winning streak to five games by edging Kansas City 2-1 on Wenceel Perez’s go-ahead eighth-inning homer.

Atlanta defeated Miami 6-3 behind Bryce Elder’s 5⅔ scoreless innings and three home runs from the Braves’ offense. Tampa Bay stretched their winning streak to five games with an 8-3 victory over Chicago, while Oakland beat Texas 6-5 and Houston claimed a 3-1 win over Colorado.

The Vegas Golden Knights captured the Pacific Division championship Wednesday night following a dramatic comeback victory against the Seattle Kraken, winning 4-1 at home in Las Vegas.

Reilly Smith powered the Golden Knights’ surge with a pair of third-period goals while also contributing an assist during Vegas’ explosive final frame that featured three unanswered scores. This marked Smith’s 31st career multi-goal performance and his second this season.

Jack Eichel contributed two assists while Shea Theodore and Mitch Marner each found the back of the net for Vegas (39-26-17, 95 points). The Golden Knights will now face the Utah Mammoth when the Stanley Cup playoffs begin.

Goaltender Carter Hart turned away 22 shots for Vegas, helping the team stretch their point streak to a season-best 10 games (7-0-3). This division title represents the third for the franchise in four years and their sixth in nine seasons. The Golden Knights have posted an impressive 7-0-1 record since John Tortorella took over behind the bench, replacing Bruce Cassidy.

Shane Wright provided Seattle’s lone scoring for the Kraken (34-36-11, 79 points), who have struggled recently with a 2-7-1 mark over their last 10 contests. Nikke Kokko registered 22 saves for Seattle, which will wrap up their season Thursday night in Colorado.

Stars 4, Sabres 3 (SO)

Wyatt Johnston netted the decisive shootout goal as Dallas claimed victory in Buffalo.

Esa Lindell and Justin Hryckowian each recorded one goal and one assist for the Stars, who closed the regular season with five consecutive victories. Mavrik Bourque reached the 20-goal milestone while Jake Oettinger turned aside 21 shots.

Zach Benson tallied a goal and assist for Buffalo, whose four-game win streak came to an end. Josh Norris and Alex Tuch also scored in regulation for the Sabres. Owen Power registered two assists and Colten Ellis made 25 saves.

Senators 3, Maple Leafs 1

Drake Batherson and Warren Foegele both converted power-play opportunities as Ottawa defeated Toronto at home in the regular-season finale for both clubs.

Dylan Cozens sealed the victory with an empty-net goal for the Senators, while Claude Giroux added two assists. Former Toronto netminder James Reimer made 19 saves for Ottawa, which took the season series against the Maple Leafs 3-1-0.

William Nylander scored Toronto’s only goal in a contest that lacked the typical intensity of a Battle of Ontario matchup. Dennis Hildeby stopped 35 shots for the Maple Leafs.

Panthers 8, Red Wings 1

Mike Benning celebrated his first two NHL goals while Wilmer Skoog recorded his first two assists in just his third game as Florida demolished Detroit 8-1 in Sunrise, Florida. Mikulas Hovorka also earned his first NHL point in his fourth appearance.

Luke Kunin contributed two goals and an assist, Cole Reinhardt added a goal and assist, Matthew Tkachuk and Marek Alscher each provided two assists, and Daniil Tarasov made 24 saves for the Panthers.

Justin Faulk scored Detroit’s only goal as the Red Wings finished their final 10 games with a disappointing 2-6-2 record. Cam Talbot relieved John Gibson, who allowed four goals on 11 shots before leaving in the second period after taking a puck to the face.

Rangers 4, Lightning 2

Tye Kartye scored twice in a three-point performance as visiting New York concluded their season with a victory over playoff-bound Tampa Bay.

Mika Zibanejad scored on the power play and added an assist, Gabe Perreault found the net, and J.T. Miller distributed two assists. Goaltender Dylan Garand stopped 29 shots to improve his record to 2-0-1.

Oliver Bjorkstrand and Corey Perry scored for Tampa Bay. Brandon Halverson made 17 saves in his second appearance this season.

Blackhawks 5, Sharks 2

Louis Crevier scored twice in the third period as Chicago rallied from a deficit with five straight goals to defeat visiting San Jose in their season finale.

Sam Rinzel, Ryan Greene and Nick Lardis also scored for the Blackhawks, Connor Bedard contributed two assists, and Spencer Knight made 15 saves. Chicago had previously lost four straight and nine of their last 10 games (1-8-1).

Mario Ferraro and Michael Misa scored for San Jose, Kiefer Sherwood had two assists, and Yaroslav Askarov made 19 saves while also stopping a penalty shot. The Sharks have lost four of their last five games (1-3-1) heading into Thursday’s finale at Winnipeg.

Former world number three Stefanos Tsitsipas experienced another disappointing early tournament exit Wednesday in Munich, extending a concerning decline that has seen the Greek tennis star fall far from elite status due to injury setbacks and erratic performance.

After rain delayed their match Tuesday evening with the score tied 2-2 in the final set, the 27-year-old completed his loss to Fabian Marozsan by scores of 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-4. This first-round elimination will push Tsitsipas’ world ranking down into the 70s, marking his lowest position in eight years.

The decision to compete in Munich rather than his typical Barcelona tournament stop has proven unsuccessful for Tsitsipas, who recognizes that his declining ranking means facing stronger opposition in tournament opening rounds.

“I’m aware that I might need to play good players in earlier rounds at different tournaments this year,” Tsitsipas explained to Tennis TV before the ATP 500 event began.

“It’s not an easy thing to get to play them early, but I also accept the challenge and I accept my current position and state, that these things need to happen in order for me to get back to where I belong.”

Despite demonstrating significant promise during his breakthrough eight years ago, Tsitsipas has failed to maintain consistent excellence since appearing in Grand Slam finals at the French Open in 2021 and Australian Open in 2023.

A persistent back problem disrupted the latter portion of his 2025 season, and although he entered this year focused simply on feeling competitive once more, his sole notable performance came in Doha with a quarterfinal appearance.

His dedication has faced scrutiny, particularly from former coach Goran Ivanisevic, who worked with him in 2025. Following Tsitsipas’ opening-round Wimbledon loss last year, Ivanisevic stated he had never encountered a more “unprepared player” throughout his career.

Prior to the Munich tournament, Tsitsipas indicated he might participate in additional ATP 250 events to rebuild his competitive rhythm. The Geneva Open represents the only remaining tournament at that level before the French Open begins May 24.

“I’m a player that needs matches, I’m a player that needs to play a lot of sets to feel my game better, and this is something I might need to do in the next couple of weeks,” he stated.

“I’m expecting to play a lot of tournaments, I want to get a lot of tournaments under my belt, but of course be careful where I choose my tournaments and when I get to play.”

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Stephen Curry mesmerized every spectator at Intuit Dome Wednesday night, draining seven three-pointers on his way to 35 points in a performance that showcased his legendary shooting prowess.

When the fourth quarter arrived in this must-win contest, Draymond Green stepped up defensively, completely neutralizing Kawhi Leonard and limiting one of basketball’s premier scorers.

Though Curry and Green have achieved everything possible during their 14-season partnership that includes four NBA titles, Wednesday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers was simply a play-in contest — the prize being a trip to Phoenix following a difficult regular season that saw Golden State finish 10th in the Western Conference, eight games under .500.

Yet both the manner and quality of this 126-121 rally victory brought back memories of the Warriors’ championship dynasty.

The remaining core players who experienced the entire championship run were excited to recapture that magic.

“For one night, we’re us. We’re champions again,” coach Steve Kerr said. “And I know that may sound crazy to everybody out there. It’s a play-in game. I don’t care. Just absolutely beautiful to watch.”

Curry expressed it more directly: “That’s what you live for right there.”

Golden State erased a 13-point fourth-quarter disadvantage thanks to Curry’s brilliance, as he tallied 27 points after halftime. While Curry handled the offensive load, Green dominated defensively by completely containing Leonard, who remained scoreless in the final period until the game was essentially decided.

The Warriors received excellent production from two recent additions. Kristaps Porzingis contributed 20 points, five rebounds and five assists while making several crucial plays — and 39-year-old Al Horford stunned the crowd by connecting on four three-pointers in the fourth quarter, playing just his third game after missing a month due to a strained right calf.

Curry’s decisive three-pointer broke the deadlock, sending him tumbling into the front row of Clippers supporters as the shot found its mark with 50 seconds remaining. The superstar was appearing in only his fifth game since returning from a 27-game absence due to a knee injury, proving why he dismissed suggestions to end his season early.

“This is what you work all year for, all summer, offseason,” Curry said. “We’re not guaranteed a (playoff) series yet, but these nights make everything worth it, because you feel the anxiety of having to perform when the lights are bright, do-or-die game. … Considering how our season has gone, all the injuries and all that, for us to play the way we did tonight was special.”

Green failed to score in the final quarter, but the Warriors praised their defensive anchor for neutralizing Leonard, whose performance against Toronto in the 2019 NBA Finals remains a sore subject for Golden State supporters.

With Green shadowing his every movement, Leonard managed just two fourth-quarter shot attempts. Leonard ended with 21 points while having minimal influence on the outcome compared to his typical impact.

Leonard acknowledged Green as a “Hall of Fame defender. It was hard to even get shots up.”

Green believed the Warriors could compete for a championship entering this season, but circumstances prevented that outcome. Jimmy Butler suffered a season-ending injury in January, Moses Moody was hurt in March, and Golden State concluded the regular season with a 5-15 collapse that produced their worst full-season record since 2012.

However, after defeating Los Angeles, Golden State sits one victory away from reaching the playoffs regardless. Even for Warriors who have captured every possible prize, the opportunity to accomplish something unexpected remains appealing.

“I know we’re not satisfied,” Curry said. “We want to go to Phoenix and guarantee a playoff series against OKC. That’s the next goal, but for us to lock in on just 48 minutes, figure out how to get a win, knowing that the game was not going to be perfect, we were all pretty committed to that. The eight guys that got on the floor all had a part in making it happen.”

The Los Angeles Dodgers completed a dominant three-game sweep of the New York Mets with an 8-2 victory on Wednesday, powered by Shohei Ohtani’s exceptional pitching performance that included 10 strikeouts across six innings. The loss marked the eighth straight defeat for the struggling Mets.

Dalton Rushing delivered the game’s biggest blow with a grand slam, while Hyeseong Kim, Teoscar Hernandez, and Kyle Tucker also connected for home runs. The offensive explosion helped the Dodgers improve their record to 14-4 overall and an impressive 10-2 since April 3.

Ohtani earned his second win of the season (2-0) by allowing just one run on two hits and two walks. In an unusual move, the two-way star focused solely on pitching after taking a hit to his right shoulder during Monday’s game, marking the first time since May 2021 with the Angels that he pitched without also serving as a hitter.

The Mets managed only limited offensive production against Ohtani and the Dodgers’ pitching staff. Clay Holmes absorbed the loss (2-2) despite working five innings and surrendering two runs. MJ Melendez provided the brightest spot for New York with two doubles and an RBI, while top-of-the-order hitters Francisco Lindor, Luis Robert Jr., and Brett Baty each struggled, going hitless with multiple strikeouts.

Los Angeles opened the scoring in the second inning when Rushing doubled before Kim launched his first home run of the season, a shot that barely cleared the right field wall. Kim has seen increased playing time while Mookie Betts remains on the injured list.

New York finally broke through against Ohtani in the fifth inning after Francisco Alvarez and Marcus Semien drew walks. Melendez followed with an RBI ground-rule double that cut the lead to 2-1, ending Ohtani’s remarkable 16-inning streak without allowing an earned run to begin the season.

The Japanese star finished his outing in style, recording three consecutive strikeouts in the sixth inning.

Hernandez extended the Dodgers’ advantage with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the sixth against Tobias Myers, his fourth of the season. Relievers Blake Treinen and Tanner Scott maintained the lead with scoreless innings before Los Angeles erupted for five runs in the eighth inning, highlighted by Rushing’s grand slam and Tucker’s solo shot.

The Mets added a consolation run in the ninth when Semien delivered an RBI single, but the damage was already done as they managed just three total runs across the entire three-game series.

Veteran forward Al Horford delivered when it mattered most, draining four three-pointers during the final 5:37 to propel the Golden State Warriors past the Los Angeles Clippers 126-121 in Wednesday night’s Western Conference play-in tournament game in Inglewood, California.

The victory sends the Warriors into a winner-take-all showdown against Phoenix on Friday, with the eighth playoff seed and a first-round matchup against Oklahoma City on the line. For the Clippers, the defeat marks the end of their season.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr reflected on the significance of the win. “With all the wins we’ve ever had here,” Kerr explained, “a lot of them with a lot more at stake – this one is right up there because of where we are, and our age and the decline of our performance this year with the injuries. It was just a beautiful display of competitive will.”

Horford’s dramatic shooting surge fueled a decisive 27-13 Warriors rally to close the game. Stephen Curry, who scored 35 points on the night, sealed the victory with a long-range three-pointer with 50.4 seconds left on the clock, giving Golden State a 120-117 advantage they wouldn’t surrender. Curry made seven of 12 attempts from beyond the arc as the Warriors connected on 19 of 41 three-point shots for 46.3 percent.

After missing time with a knee injury, Curry had been playing limited minutes during the regular season’s final games. He logged nearly 36 minutes in Wednesday’s crucial contest.

“This is why Steph came back,” Kerr noted. “Everybody out there who thought Steph should have taken the rest of the year off, this is what he does. This is who he is. If he can compete, he’s going to compete.”

While Curry provided stellar production, it was the 39-year-old Horford who emerged as the unlikely hero. The veteran reserve had managed only two points before his game-changing barrage, finishing with 14 points total. His crucial baskets came courtesy of assists from Gui Santos and Curry.

Santos delivered an outstanding all-around performance with 20 points, six rebounds and five assists. Kristaps Porzingis also contributed 20 points for Golden State, including six consecutive points during a key fourth-quarter stretch.

Porzingis sparked the Warriors’ comeback by converting an and-one play, then immediately following with a three-pointer that cut a nine-point Clippers advantage to three with 8:17 remaining.

Los Angeles responded through Darius Garland, who made his own and-one before setting up Brook Lopez for an inside score. Garland capped his strong sequence with a three-pointer that restored the Clippers’ nine-point cushion with 6:37 left.

That basket proved to be Los Angeles’ final moment of control in a game they had dominated for most of the evening.

Garland and Kawhi Leonard each tallied 21 points as the Clippers built leads as large as 13 points. However, Los Angeles couldn’t maintain their advantage in the second half, especially as Leonard struggled offensively against intense defensive pressure from Draymond Green.

“We had the game in our hands,” said Clippers coach Tyronn Lue. “Some silly plays, not doing the right thing execution-wise. To be up 13 [points] with 10 minutes to go in the game, we’ve got to finish. So I’m disappointed.”

Leonard committed two fourth-quarter turnovers and managed his only points of the final period on a dunk in the closing seconds after Golden State had secured the victory. The star forward had scored 14 of his points in the first half, highlighted by a coast-to-coast slam just before halftime.

Bennedict Mathurin paced Los Angeles with 23 points coming off the bench.

CBS scored its biggest television audience in more than a decade Sunday as golf fans tuned in to watch Rory McIlroy defend his Masters title at Augusta National Golf Club.

The final round drew an average of 13,995,000 viewers, representing the largest CBS audience for Masters Sunday coverage since 2015 when Jordan Spieth claimed his first major championship, according to Front Office Sports.

Sunday’s viewership marked an 8% jump compared to last April’s final round, which attracted 12.71 million viewers when McIlroy achieved golf’s career grand slam in a dramatic playoff victory over England’s Justin Rose.

This year’s tournament delivered plenty of drama as well. McIlroy started strong, sharing the first-round lead before building a commanding six-stroke advantage at the halfway point. However, that margin disappeared by Saturday, leaving McIlroy tied with Cameron Young heading into the final round.

Saturday’s third round also benefited from the excitement, drawing 8.1 million CBS viewers – a 14% boost from the previous year’s 7.6 million and the highest third-round audience since Tiger Woods’ 2019 Masters triumph.

The final day’s tension peaked as Scottie Scheffler, currently ranked number one in the world, mounted a charge from four shots behind. Despite Scheffler’s pressure, McIlroy managed to secure the victory by a single stroke, joining an elite group that includes Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods as the only golfers to win consecutive Masters tournaments.

Viewership reached its highest point at just over 20 million viewers during Sunday’s broadcast – the tournament’s largest peak audience since Adam Scott’s 2013 victory when Woods finished tied for fourth. Last year’s peak reached 19.54 million viewers.

The 2026 Masters marked the first tournament measured using Nielsen’s new Big Data+ Panel system. This updated methodology aims to provide more comprehensive and precise audience measurement, typically resulting in higher ratings for live sporting events compared to previous tracking methods, Front Office Sports noted.

Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham says the soccer club will take its time finding a new head coach following the unexpected resignation of Javier Mascherano on Tuesday.

Speaking to CBS Sports, Beckham explained the team needs to “let things settle down” after Mascherano’s abrupt departure for what the former coach described as personal reasons. According to ESPN, Mascherano made his decision over the weekend following a 2-2 tie with the New York Red Bulls.

The timing of the departure caught the organization off guard, with Beckham calling it “a difficult one.” Mascherano, age 41, had only been with the club since November 26, 2024, when he was brought in to lead the team.

“He came off the back of last season by winning our first championship,” Beckham said. “He’s an amazing person, a great coach, the players loved him, but obviously, these things happen in football clubs and we have to move on. We have to find a new coach at some point. But at the moment, we have to let things settle down. But, like I said, with owning a team, there are always challenges.”

Under Mascherano’s leadership, the Lionel Messi-led squad captured the 2025 MLS Cup title. The team also made impressive runs to the Leagues Cup final and CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal during the previous season.

Sporting director Guillermo Hoyos has stepped in as temporary manager for the Herons, who currently sit at 3-1-3 with 12 points. The team’s next match is scheduled for Saturday against the Colorado Rapids in Commerce City, Colorado.

Mascherano had taken over the position from Gerardo “Tata” Martino. This marked his first experience coaching a professional club, though he had been working with Argentina’s youth national teams since 2021. His previous coaching achievements included guiding squads to the Round of 16 at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina and the quarterfinals of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

While Hoyos manages the team temporarily, chief soccer officer Alberto Marrero will handle sporting director responsibilities.

The NBA has determined that Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball deserved an ejection during Tuesday night’s playoff elimination game after he grabbed the ankle of Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo, leading to a back injury that sidelined the All-Star player for the remainder of the contest.

League officials announced Wednesday that Ball engaged in “unnecessary and reckless contact” during the play-in tournament matchup. The guard received a $60,000 penalty – $35,000 for the incident with Adebayo and an additional $25,000 for using inappropriate language during a televised postgame interview. Despite the fine, Ball will be available for Charlotte’s Friday elimination matchup against Orlando.

According to the NBA’s assessment, the incident warranted a flagrant foul penalty two classification, which would have automatically resulted in Ball’s removal from the game. Had referees caught the violation during live play, Miami would have been granted two free throw attempts plus ball possession. Instead, the Heat fell 127-126 in overtime, bringing their season to a close.

The injury occurred during the early minutes of the second quarter, forcing Miami to play without their top performer for the majority of the game. Ironically, Ball scored the game-winning basket for Charlotte in the extra period.

Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra expressed frustration with the officiating crew’s failure to detect the incident, while acknowledging Charlotte’s strong performance. The three-man referee team included Zach Zarba, Curtis Blair, and Gediminas Petraitis.

“I don’t think that belongs in the game, tripping guys, shenanigans,” Spoelstra said. “Curtis was there. It’s his responsibility to see that. And if it’s not his responsibility, then Zach’s got to see it. Somebody’s got to see that. He should have been thrown out of the game for that. I don’t know him from anyone. There’s no place in the game for that.”

NBA regulations prevented Miami from requesting a coach’s challenge since no initial foul was whistled on the play. The action continued with a fast break, eliminating any chance for video review.

“The play wasn’t whistled in real time,” Zarba told a pool reporter. “Play continued with a fast break. And because play wasn’t stopped immediately, and there was no whistle on the play, the window to review the play was closed.”

The league chose not to address a separate postgame incident involving Ball striking Charlotte’s team mascot during victory celebrations.

This marks the second time Ball has targeted Adebayo’s legs during gameplay. A similar incident occurred in January 2024 when Ball grabbed at the Heat center’s leg while he was running downcourt, causing Adebayo to stumble without falling.

San Diego Padres backstop Freddy Fermin was forced to exit Wednesday evening’s matchup against the Seattle Mariners during the third frame after being struck by his second foul ball of the contest.

The catcher had already taken one foul ball off his protective mask in the second frame before Brendan Donovan’s swing on a 1-1 offering from Randy Vasquez sent another ball directly into Fermin’s face, striking him between the eyes.

The impact dropped Fermin to his knees on the field. Following consultation with the medical staff and manager Craig Stammen, who came out to check on the injured player, Fermin walked off under his own power.

Luis Campusano stepped in to take over catching duties, replacing Fermin who had not yet come to the plate through the first two frames. This season, Fermin has struggled at the dish, posting a .161 batting average with zero home runs and just two runs batted in across 14 appearances.

When Fermin departed the contest, the Mariners held a 2-0 advantage over San Diego.

Monday night’s WNBA draft captured the attention of 1.5 million viewers nationwide, making it the second-most watched draft in league history, according to ESPN data.

The broadcast saw a 20% jump in viewership compared to the previous year’s draft, with audience numbers peaking at 1.79 million just before 8 p.m. Eastern Time. The increased interest stemmed from questions surrounding who would be selected first overall and UCLA’s remarkable showing following their recent NCAA championship.

The all-time viewership record remains at 2.45 million from 2024, when college basketball stars Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese were drafted first and seventh respectively.

The Dallas Wings made UConn’s Azzi Fudd their number one selection this year. Dallas also held the top pick in the previous draft, using it to choose Fudd’s former UConn teammate Paige Bueckers, who earned WNBA Rookie of the Year honors.

UCLA’s Bruins made draft history after capturing their first NCAA championship this month, setting new records with five first-round selections and six total players drafted. The first-round picks included Lauren Betts going fourth to Washington Mystics, Gabriela Jaquez fifth to Chicago Sky, Kiki Rice sixth to expansion team Toronto Tempo, Angela Dugalic ninth to Washington Mystics, and Gianna Kneepkens 15th to Connecticut Sun. Charlisse Leger-Walker was selected 18th overall by Connecticut in the second round’s third pick.

Former UFC champion Ronda Rousey boldly declared that her upcoming May showdown with Gina Carano represents the most significant mixed martial arts contest in history during a Wednesday press conference.

The 39-year-old fighter, who made history as the first female inductee into the UFC Hall of Fame and earned Olympic bronze in judo at the 2008 Beijing Games, successfully defended her bantamweight championship six times before suffering a shocking defeat to Holly Holm in 2015.

“This is not just the biggest women’s fight of all time … This is something that’s going to happen once in a lifetime in MMA, is the beginning of something huge,” Rousey declared during the media event.

Rousey dismissed suggestions that the matchup represents merely “nostalgia bait or a cash grab,” referencing the massive viewership numbers from Mike Tyson’s November 2024 encounter with Jake Paul as proof that audiences remain eager to watch legendary fighters return to competition.

That Tyson-Paul matchup attracted 108 million global viewers, setting records as the most-watched sporting event in streaming platform history.

The Rousey-Carano contest will mark promotion company MVP’s first venture into mixed martial arts and will be available for streaming on Netflix beginning May 16.

The former champion also responded sharply to current UFC women’s bantamweight titleholder Kayla Harrison, who recently dismissed Rousey as irrelevant during a podcast appearance.

“Gina is so relevant that she’s the whole reason the 145lb division even exists. I am so relevant that the only reason Kayla has a job at the UFC is because of me,” Rousey fired back.

“She has the charisma of a wet towel and will always be in someone else’s shadow. The next time she wants to talk, she should look down at her feet and consider who paved the road she’s walking on.”

Regarding fighter compensation, Rousey revealed that every competitor on the MVP card will receive a minimum $40,000 purse, emphasizing this was “something the UFC cannot say.”

For 43-year-old Carano, who hasn’t competed since losing to Cris Cyborg in 2009, this return feels markedly different from her previous fighting experiences.

“I feel real peace and excitement about it. It’s not anxiety, it’s excitement — and that’s new for me,” Carano shared.

The event’s co-main attraction will feature former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou taking on Philipe Lins, while Nate Diaz squares off against BKFC’s Mike Perry in the welterweight division.

NEW YORK — The National Football League is moving forward with contingency plans for substitute officials as contract talks with current referees remain stalled, according to communications sent to team organizations.

Multiple media outlets reported Wednesday that potential replacement officials have finished initial vetting processes, including background screenings, and are preparing to undergo medical evaluations. If these steps are completed, training with league officiating supervisors could commence as soon as next month.

The league is pursuing these backup measures due to unsuccessful contract discussions with the officials’ union, according to two individuals familiar with the negotiations who spoke to The Associated Press last month under condition of anonymity given the confidential nature of the talks.

The current labor contract between the NFL and the NFL Referees Association expires on May 31.

ESPN reported that Perry Fewell, the league’s senior vice president of officiating, notified teams Wednesday that additional details will be provided in coming weeks regarding when substitute officials might be available for offseason training programs and minicamps scheduled to start in June, should no agreement be reached with the union.

Contract discussions between the two sides have been ongoing since summer 2024.

The NFL has raised its proposal to a 6.45% yearly increase in pay over a six-year contract, while the NFLRA is seeking 10% plus $2.5 million in marketing fees, according to the two AP sources from last month.

NFLRA executive director Scott Green disputed these figures to the AP, stating “those numbers are not accurate.” He compared the current negotiations to the 2012 situation when an impasse led to a 110-day lockout and the use of replacement officials.

CHICAGO — A medical emergency during pre-game ceremonies at Wednesday night’s Chicago White Sox versus Tampa Bay Rays matchup sent a performer to the hospital and delayed the start of play.

Gerald Chaney, a Chicago resident, experienced a collapse while performing during Jackie Robinson Day commemorations at the ballpark. The White Sox organization reported that Chaney remained conscious following the incident that occurred as he sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” widely recognized as the Black national anthem.

The performer had begun singing just a few words of the hymn when he paused, attempted to continue, then fell to the ground. Medical personnel responded immediately, providing treatment on the field for several minutes while both teams observed from their respective dugouts.

Paramedics eventually transported Chaney from the playing field on a stretcher to receive further medical care. The baseball game’s first pitch was pushed back by 12 minutes due to the medical situation.

LOS ANGELES — For the first time in nearly three years, Shohei Ohtani stepped onto the pitcher’s mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers Wednesday evening without also taking his place in the batting order as designated hitter.

The Japanese superstar was sidelined from hitting duties due to lingering discomfort from being struck by a pitch during Monday’s game against the New York Mets. Pitcher David Peterson’s throw hit Ohtani on the back of his right shoulder, causing him to cry out in pain, though he remained in the contest.

This marked the first occasion since May 28, 2021, while playing for the Los Angeles Angels, that Ohtani has been absent from the batting lineup during one of his pitching appearances.

“If it weren’t for the hit by pitch, he would’ve been DHing and pitching tonight,” manager Dave Roberts explained prior to the game. “But I do think that just to be able to pitch and focus on that will be a benefit for the mind and the body, and hopefully, we’re just in a little moment of fatigue and we can get past it.”

According to Roberts, Ohtani’s condition has shown steady improvement since Monday’s incident. However, the medical staff, coaching team, and Roberts agreed it would be wise to rest him from batting in the series conclusion, even though Ohtani was caught off guard by the choice.

“Because I’ve never asked him to pitch and not hit,” Roberts explained. “I think that he understands that I’m making a decision that’s best for the player, for him, and for the team.”

The star player has struggled offensively since the injury, going hitless in seven at-bats following the incident.

Despite his recent batting woes, Ohtani extended his remarkable on-base streak to 48 games after receiving an intentional walk during Tuesday’s eighth inning. This achievement ranks as the fourth-longest such streak in the franchise’s history.

Roberts anticipates Ohtani will resume both pitching and hitting responsibilities for his upcoming start, though he mentioned potentially considering similar rest periods for hitting on future pitching days.

“It’s got to make sense to not have your best hitter not in the lineup,” Roberts noted. “Then the question is when he does hit, on days that he pitches, where’s the best for him to hit in the order? I think there’s fair arguments to both, to moving him down a little bit, give him a breather, let him get into the game. But I’m not prepared to make that decision quite yet. But it is something that I’m mindful of it.”

Regarding his pitching performance, Ohtani saw his impressive 22⅔-inning scoreless streak end during last week’s game in Toronto. However, the right-handed pitcher has maintained an extraordinary run without allowing an earned run since August 27, 2025, against Cincinnati — spanning 28⅔ innings.

Last season marked Ohtani’s inaugural pitching campaign with the Dodgers, where he compiled a 1-1 record with a 2.87 ERA and recorded 62 strikeouts across 47 innings in 14 starts. His four-seam fastball reached a career-high average velocity of 98.4 mph during the season.

Ohtani’s current 48-game on-base streak represents a record for Japanese-born players, surpassing Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki’s previous mark of 43 consecutive games set in 2009.

Roberts confirmed that Ohtani would not be available for pinch-hitting duties against the Mets.

“You can tell Carlos Mendoza he’s an option, though,” he joked, referring to New York’s manager.

The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee announced Wednesday it is keeping a watchful eye on the growing controversy surrounding Casey Wasserman, who leads the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics organizing committee, signaling a shift from earlier support for the embattled chairman.

The heightened attention comes after Justice Department documents released in January connected Wasserman to Jeffrey Epstein.

“We’ve actively engaged and listened to our stakeholders, including athletes, and we’re closely monitoring the impact on our community,” USOPC chair Gene Sykes told reporters during a conference call. “We’ve also shared our concerns directly with the LA28 board, which is responsible for determining who serves as its chair.”

Back in February, LA28 CEO Reynold Hoover had expressed confidence in Wasserman, stating that sponsors weren’t voicing worries and that daily operations remained unaffected.

Despite the ongoing scrutiny, Sykes noted that LA28’s leadership team continues making “very solid” headway in organizing efforts and building partnerships, maintaining robust backing from both commercial partners and government entities.

Olympic officials highlighted overwhelming interest in the 2028 Games after worldwide ticket sales launched last week.

The global sales phase began following a record-breaking local pre-sale period, though many prospective attendees have criticized steep prices, additional charges, and limited ticket availability.

Sykes explained that organizers have worked to provide various pricing options, including over one million affordable tickets.

“There was a registration process over a month. They had a tremendous number of registrations… and they’ve been selling tickets at a remarkable rate,” he said.

“There are clearly some tickets which are high-priced, but they’ve made a great effort to have low-price tickets. They’ll have a million tickets priced at $28… so I know they’re thinking very seriously about how to manage the ticket activity so that it satisfies everybody.”

Sykes also responded to widespread criticism about a 24% service charge added to ticket purchases, calling it industry standard practice, while acknowledging that organizers are aware of the negative reaction and have thoroughly discussed the matter.

“They are not only aware of the issue, but they had given us a lot to think about,” he said.

INDIANAPOLIS — College sports officials announced Wednesday they are examining a potential shift to age-based eligibility requirements that would provide Division I athletes with a five-year competition window beginning right after they complete high school or reach age 19, whichever occurs earlier.

During meetings that wrapped up Wednesday, the Division I Cabinet reviewed this possibility but stopped short of adopting an official stance. Cabinet members endorsed having NCAA personnel continue exploring the concept with various stakeholders to collect input.

According to the Cabinet, this new framework would incorporate potential exemptions for situations including pregnancy, military duty, and religious missions.

This age-focused approach mirrors a concept featured in an executive order that President Donald Trump signed on April 3.

Under present regulations, student-athletes typically receive four seasons of eligibility spread across five years without any age limitations.

The consideration of age-based requirements follows multiple legal challenges by athletes seeking to extend their collegiate careers and earning opportunities through revenue sharing and name, image and likeness agreements.

At the same meetings, Cabinet members approved modifications to pre-enrollment eligibility standards, including a provision that would prevent athletes who have participated in and stayed in professional sports drafts from competing collegiately.

Among these regulations is a requirement for prospects to remove themselves from opt-in professional league drafts, such as the NBA draft, aligning pre-college enrollment draft policies with post-college enrollment draft policies. Men’s ice hockey and baseball would remain unaffected since athletes don’t opt into those sports’ drafts.

This modification followed the cases of two basketball players, Alabama’s Charles Bediako and Baylor’s James Nnaji, who competed collegiately this season despite having entered the 2023 NBA draft.

Bediako competed for two seasons at Alabama before declaring for the draft. Though undrafted, he spent three years in the G League, the NBA’s developmental league. He appeared in five games this past season before the Alabama Supreme Court confirmed a ruling declaring him ineligible.

Nnaji was chosen by the Detroit Pistons in the second round. Following professional play overseas, he enrolled as a freshman at Baylor in December. He received eligibility approval because he had never executed an NBA contract or competed in the G League. Under the new regulations, he would be ineligible for the 2026-27 season.

Additional changes permit athletes to work with agents before enrollment for purposes beyond name, image and likeness deals and allow them to receive prize money in their sports without affecting eligibility status.

Former world number one Iga Swiatek secured her spot in the quarterfinals at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany on Wednesday, defeating home favorite Laura Siegemund 6-2, 6-3. The victory marked Swiatek’s debut match working alongside her new clay court coach Francisco Roig.

The third-seeded Polish player, who has captured the Stuttgart title twice before, initially struggled to hold onto an early service break in the first set. However, she regained control by breaking Siegemund’s serve in both the sixth and eighth games to claim the opening set. The six-time Grand Slam winner faced similar early challenges in the second set, failing to convert an initial break opportunity, but ultimately broke through in the eighth game to establish a 5-3 advantage before sealing the victory. Having received a first-round bye, Swiatek now moves forward to the quarterfinal round.

Turkish qualifier Zeynep Sonmez delivered a stunning upset by defeating Italy’s fifth-seeded Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-2 in just one hour and 16 minutes. Sonmez dominated with a 72% first-serve percentage and captured 62.5% of second-return points, while Paolini struggled to convert her single break-point chance and managed only 41.8% of total points.

Ukraine’s fourth-seeded Elina Svitolina delivered a commanding performance against Germany’s Eva Lys, winning 6-1, 6-0. Meanwhile, sixth-seeded Mirra Andreeva of Russia overcame defending champion Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia in a three-set battle, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4. Additional winners included American qualifier Alycia Parks, who beat German wild card Noma Noha Akugue 6-4, 6-2, and Czech Republic’s Linda Noskova, who outlasted China’s Zhang Shuai 5-7, 6-1, 6-4.

At the Rouen Metropolitan Open in France, unseeded British player Katie Boulter stunned third-seeded Jaqueline Cristian of Romania 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-1 to reach the quarterfinals. Boulter, who has claimed just one WTA Tour title, navigated a challenging opening set where she built a 5-0 tiebreaker lead before Cristian saved five set points. Though Cristian bounced back to take the second set, Boulter dominated the final set with two service breaks to secure the upset.

Top-seeded Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine recovered from dropping the first set to unseeded American Caty McNally, rallying for a 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory and a quarterfinal berth. Kostyuk’s next opponent will be fifth-seeded American Ann Li, who completed her own comeback against unseeded Kamilla Rakhimova of Uzbekistan, winning 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. Germany’s unseeded Tatjana Maria upset ninth-seeded Elsa Jacquemot of France 6-4, 6-3, while other advancing players included second-seeded Sorana Cirstea of Romania, Hungary’s Anna Bondar, and Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Western Conference’s powerhouse teams are set to cannibalize each other in what promises to be a dramatic Stanley Cup playoff run, thanks to a controversial NHL bracket system that has drawn criticism from players and management alike.

The playoff structure guarantees that at least two of the conference’s three strongest teams – Colorado, Dallas, and Minnesota – will be eliminated before reaching the conference finals, despite their dominant regular season performances.

“The rules are the rules, so you deal with them, and if you’re going to win the Stanley Cup, you’ve got to beat all the teams anyway, so it is what it is,” Stars general manager Jim Nill said.

The NHL reintroduced this divisional-focused playoff system during the 2013-14 season restructuring, aiming to create more intense opening rounds and strengthen geographic rivalries. However, the format has sparked debate, particularly this spring as the Avalanche, Stars, and Wild dominated both their division and conference standings throughout most of the season.

Colorado, despite leading the entire league, would meet either Minnesota or Dallas in round two if they advance as expected against the second wild card team. Meanwhile, Dallas receives little benefit for securing the third-best record league-wide, having reached the Western Conference championship in each of the previous three seasons.

“Well, I’ve yet to meet somebody who likes it, so I’ll leave it at that,” Stars forward Matt Duchene said. “I think everybody feels the same way. Regular season should set you up well if you do well, and with our division being as strong as it is, it doesn’t, right? But at the same time, there’s nothing we can do about it. You’ve got to go through great teams no matter what round you’re in.”

Dallas nearly caught Colorado for the top spot last month before stumbling in the final stretch. Colorado’s first-place finish at least earned them the advantage of avoiding a Central Division rival in the opening round.

“We’re just worried about our business. We like to clinch the one seed just to be able to have home ice throughout the entire thing,” center Brock Nelson said.

This marks only the third instance in the current format’s 13-year history where one conference’s top three teams all belonged to the same division. In previous similar situations, the favored teams struggled to capitalize on their regular season dominance.

During the 2016-17 season, Washington led the NHL and captured the Metropolitan Division title, only to fall in round two to second-seeded Pittsburgh, which subsequently claimed the Stanley Cup. Similarly, in 2015-16, Dallas topped the Central Division with 109 points and the league’s second-best record, but lost in the second round to runner-up St. Louis.

Commissioner Gary Bettman remains dedicated to the current structure, which he promotes as creating the most exciting first round in professional sports, emphasizing both competitive intensity and extended series that generate additional games. The format echoes a 12-year period from 1981-82 through 1992-93 when the NHL selected each division’s top four teams without wild card spots, before eventually adopting conference-based seeding.

Players and executives who experienced or watched that earlier era feel some nostalgic connection to the current system, which helps temper their frustration with the format’s drawbacks.

“Winning the Stanley Cup, there’s no such thing as an easy path,” said Nill, who competed for Winnipeg during the mid-1980s when his squad consistently finished behind Edmonton and Calgary in the Smythe Division.

Minnesota, which achieved their third-best franchise record with 104 points, has suffered through nine consecutive series defeats since their last playoff advancement in 2015. Defeating Dallas would provide a significant breakthrough to snap that lengthy drought.

“It’s an opportunity for us to get better and to build our game and to hopefully be there at the finish line, right? So I’m not too concerned about who we’re playing,” forward Nick Foligno said. “I think this team understands that if we play the way we need to, we have a great chance against anybody.”

NEW YORK — The New York Islanders hockey organization is under fire after displaying a controversial fundraising appeal on their arena’s big screen during Tuesday night’s match against the Carolina Hurricanes.

The promotional display featured former New York Police Department sergeant Erik Duran, who recently received a three to nine-year prison sentence for manslaughter in connection with the death of 30-year-old Eric Duprey.

Arena attendees saw Duran’s photograph alongside a scannable code allowing direct contributions to his legal defense fund. The Sergeants Benevolent Association provided messaging encouraging supporters to join what they called “the fight for justice.” Additionally, the hockey franchise committed to donating 25% of their evening’s 50/50 raffle earnings to support Duran’s cause, union officials confirmed.

Vincent Vallelong, who leads the police union, explained that The New York Post contacted him about the Islanders organization “wanting to do something” to help Duran.

Team representatives chose not to provide statements regarding the matter. The Post also did not respond to media inquiries.

Legal counsel for Duprey’s relatives, Jon Roberts, expressed their family’s distress over the hockey team’s choice to support Duran’s defense efforts, even in a symbolic capacity.

“This was not a neutral act,” Roberts stated. “It sends a message — intended or not — that risks undermining public confidence in a fair legal process and deepens the pain of a family still grieving.”

National Hockey League officials have not yet responded to requests for comment.

The fatal incident occurred during a 2023 undercover narcotics operation in the Bronx involving Duran and fellow officers.

Video evidence captured Duran grabbing a nearby cooler containing beverages and ice, then hurling it toward Duprey as he attempted to escape on a motorized scooter. The thrown cooler caused Duprey to collide with a tree, resulting in his immediate death.

February’s guilty verdict against the former sergeant sparked significant demonstrations from law enforcement personnel and supporters who claimed such prosecutions would discourage police work and compromise community safety. This marks the first instance in approximately twenty years where an NYPD officer will serve prison time for a death occurring during official duties. Defense attorneys plan to challenge the conviction.

Union leader Vallelong described the fundraising opportunity at the professional hockey venue as unexpected, saying it “came out of left field.”

Published images from The New York Post show Vallelong photographed with Islanders co-owner Jon Ledecky and newspaper executive Pat Judge at the Long Island arena.

According to Vallelong, spectators responded enthusiastically when Duran’s image appeared on the scoreboard display. He defended the hockey organization’s fundraising decision against detractors.

“They’re a private organization. They can do whatever they want,” Vallelong said, comparing the promotion to military appreciation events common in professional athletics.

Vallelong refused to disclose the total amount collected for Duran’s legal fund. The evening’s 50/50 raffle generated $44,890 according to the team’s official website.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman recently highlighted how the league has historically seen opening-round playoff pairings settled on the season’s final day, and this year follows that same pattern.

Three series matchups remained undetermined until the last day before this weekend’s playoff start. Here’s a breakdown of the confirmed first-round series:

Carolina (53-22-7, 113 points): Under Rod Brind’Amour’s leadership, the Hurricanes have reached the playoffs for eight straight seasons and earned the Eastern Conference’s top seed, giving them home-ice advantage through the conference championship. Their advantages include playoff experience with three Eastern Conference final appearances in recent years and seven players who scored 20 or more goals, topped by Seth Jarvis with 32. However, questions persist about their goaltending situation and their history of offensive struggles in high-pressure situations.

Ottawa (43-27-11, 97 points with 1 game remaining): The Senators sat 15th among 16 Eastern Conference teams on January 25 before winning 20 of their following 29 contests to secure a playoff spot. Travis Green’s squad plays with intensity, and goaltender Linus Ullmark can dominate when performing at his peak. Late-season injuries revealed impressive organizational depth. Their challenges include taking the seventh-most penalties league-wide while ranking fourth-worst in penalty killing, plus the energy spent on their dramatic comeback.

Whyno’s prediction: Carolina (-175) deserves favorite status due to superior talent, but expect a challenging series. Hurricanes in six games.

Pittsburgh (41-25-16, 98 points): The underdog Penguins have given Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang another postseason opportunity after three years away from the playoffs. Erik Karlsson has excelled at age 35, while rookie coach Dan Muse employs a system that enables quick scoring bursts and momentum shifts. Their defensive play and goaltending remain problematic, often requiring them to outscore their issues.

Philadelphia (43-27-12, 98 points): The Flyers have dominated since March 7, posting a 15-5-1 record to reach their first playoffs since 2020. They benefit from veteran leadership like Sean Couturier while riding emerging young talents Tyson Foerster, Porter Martone, and Matvei Michkov. Goaltender Dan Vladar carried a heavy workload during the stretch run, and many players lack experience with playoff pressure.

Whyno’s prediction: Pittsburgh (-160) possesses too many battle-tested veterans and could surprise with an extended run. Penguins in five games.

Buffalo (50-23-8, 108 points with 1 game remaining): The Sabres overcame an 18-29 start to break the league’s longest playoff absence and capture their division title, with Lindy Ruff emerging as a coach of the year candidate. Unlike previous seasons, players have learned to handle close games and secure victories rather than collapse. Tage Thompson provides scoring threats from anywhere on the ice. Their inexperience could surface during playoff intensity, making player adaptation crucial.

Boston (45-27-10, 100 points): Following a one-year playoff absence, the Bruins leaned on 100-point scorer David Pastrnak, goaltender Jeremy Swayman, and top defenseman Charlie McAvoy for stability. Marco Sturm provides excellent coaching, and Swayman delivered an outstanding season. They represent a dependable but unspectacular team that relies heavily on Pastrnak and top offensive contributors.

Whyno’s prediction: Buffalo (-190) succeeds after being tested to their limits. Sabres in seven games.

Tampa Bay (50-25-6, 106 points with 1 game remaining): The Lightning weathered injuries to key players including defensemen Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh, plus centers Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli, yet remain Stanley Cup contenders thanks to winger Nikita Kucherov, goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, and roster depth. Vasilevskiy provides championship-level goaltending nightly, while extended player absences showcased coach Jon Cooper’s excellence. Hedman hasn’t played since mid-March with uncertain playoff availability.

Montreal (48-24-10, 106 points): The Canadiens closed strong with eight consecutive victories and 15 wins in their final 21 games, featuring Cole Caufield as the franchise’s first 50-goal scorer since 1990 and center Nick Suzuki entering MVP consideration. They excel at quick puck movement and can score at even strength or on power plays. They must prove their ability to play playoff-style defense and receive consistent goaltending.

Whyno’s prediction: Tampa Bay (-235) brings championship experience, but Montreal arrives hot at the perfect time. Canadiens in six games.

Dallas (49-20-12, 110 points with 1 game remaining): The Stars will miss injured center Roope Hintz for at least two games, with top defenseman Miro Heiskanen’s return timeline also uncertain, despite their overall strength. Jake Oettinger can dominate in goal, particularly in third periods, while winger Mikko Rantanen has proven playoff credentials. Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnson both exceeded 40 goals. Key injuries may prove overwhelming against elite competition.

Minnesota (46-24-12, 104 points): The Wild have lost eight straight playoff series since their last advancement in 2015, though they now feature elite defenseman Quinn Hughes following a December trade. Top wingers Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy provide offensive firepower, with Hughes joining Brock Faber on defense. Center depth remains problematic, along with inconsistent goaltending since February’s Olympic break.

Whyno’s prediction: Dallas (-100) holds slight favorite status but faces injury concerns at an inopportune time. Wild in seven games.

Western Conference will finalize three remaining matchups by Thursday evening.

Colorado, the Presidents’ Trophy recipient, will meet either Los Angeles, Anaheim, or two-time defending conference champion Edmonton. Among the Kings, Ducks, and Oilers, two teams will face each other while the third meets Vegas.

Multiple news sources confirmed Wednesday that Indiana University has secured a commitment from Aiden Sherrell, a former Alabama center who entered the NCAA transfer portal.

The big man is heading to Bloomington following a productive season with Alabama where he posted 11.1 points per game, pulled down 6.2 rebounds, and recorded 2.2 blocks across 34 contests, starting every game for the Crimson Tide.

Standing 6-foot-10 and weighing 255 pounds, Sherrell demonstrated strong shooting efficiency last season, connecting on 53.9% of his field goal attempts and 33.8% from beyond the arc. His defensive presence was notable as well, recording eight rejections in two separate games during the season.

Earlier Wednesday, Sherrell announced his departure from Alabama through a social media post.

“I want to sincerely thank the University of Alabama, coach (Nate) Oats, and the entire coaching staff and support team for believing in me and giving me the chance to be a part of such a special program,” Sherrell wrote on Instagram. “The experience, knowledge, and relationships I’ve built during my time in Tuscaloosa are something I will always carry with me.

“To my teammates, thank you for pushing me every day and making this journey unforgettable. The brotherhood we created goes far beyond basketball, and I’m grateful for every moment we’ve shared.”

The head of FIFA confirmed on Wednesday that Iran’s national soccer team will definitely take part in the upcoming World Cup, even as the country remains engaged in military conflict with the United States.

During an appearance at CNBC’s Invest in America Forum, FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized the importance of Iran’s World Cup participation, despite questions surrounding their involvement following U.S. and Israeli military strikes against the nation.

“The Iranian team is coming for sure, yes,” Infantino stated. “We hope that by then, of course, the situation will be a peaceful situation. As I said, that would definitely help. But Iran has to come. Of course, they represent their people. They have qualified. The players want to play.”

Two weeks prior to his Wednesday comments, Infantino traveled to Antalya, Turkey, where he met with Iran’s national team and came away with positive impressions.

“I went to see them. They are actually quite a good team as well,” Infantino remarked. “And they really want to play and they should play. Sports should be outside of politics now.”

The FIFA president recognized that completely separating athletics from political matters isn’t always achievable.

“OK we don’t live on the moon, we live on planet Earth,” Infantino explained. “But you know if there is nobody else that believes in building bridges and in keeping them, you know, intact and together, well we are doing that job.”

The World Cup will take place across three host nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Iran’s tournament schedule includes two group matches in Inglewood, California, with an additional game set for Seattle.

The ongoing military conflict has created uncertainty about whether Iran would actually participate in the World Cup. Mixed messages from both Iranian government representatives and soccer officials have added to the confusion. President Donald Trump has advised against the Iranian team’s attendance, expressing concerns about their safety.