Category: Sports

ATLANTA (AP) — As the World Cup approaches, Team USA defender Chris Richards has developed a humorous perspective on what defines American culture.

“Maybe the TSA lines right now, that’s pretty American,” Richards commented on Monday while preparing for a World Cup exhibition match against Portugal.

The Birmingham, Alabama native spends most of his time in London playing for Crystal Palace in the English Premier League. He returned to the United States last week to participate in two international friendly matches scheduled in Atlanta.

Previously, Richards had focused on American cuisine when describing cultural differences. During friendly matches in Texas and Colorado last October, he introduced teammates Cameron Carter-Vickers and Antonee Robinson, both raised in England, to the American dining experience at Chili’s Grill and Bar. The group also included Tim Weah, Weston McKennie, and Mark McKenzie, according to cbssports.com.

“The Triple Dipper you have to get but then I think it’s the endless chips and salsa, but then also there’s sports on TV and also the chocolate molten lava cake and it’s just like you’re sitting there and you’re looking at the ground, the tile,” Richards explained in his earlier comments. “You’re like, this is beautiful. This is nostalgia. This is really America … I think that’s one of the things that makes us American — places like Chili’s are like a staple and I think they finally could have that stamp on their passport now that they’ve had Chili’s so I was happy for them.”

Even France’s national team coach Didier Deschamps experienced America’s stringent airport security measures before his team’s friendly match against Colombia in Landover, Maryland on Sunday.

During a press conference prior to the Colombia match, Deschamps expressed surprise at the extensive security procedures his team encountered upon entering the country.

“At our arrival, we spent an incredible amount of time at the airport, with checks that I’ve never seen in my life,” Deschamps told reporters. “We are adapting.”

The Buffalo Bills have exercised the fifth-year contract option for tight end Dalton Kincaid, securing his services through the 2027 season.

Brandon Beane, the team’s general manager, announced the decision Monday during league meetings taking place in Phoenix.

The contract extension guarantees Kincaid $8.1 million for the 2027 campaign. The 26-year-old player was selected 25th overall in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Kincaid earned his inaugural Pro Bowl selection in 2025 following a season where he recorded 39 receptions for 571 receiving yards and five touchdowns across 12 games played.

Throughout his professional career spanning 41 games with 24 as a starter, Kincaid has accumulated 156 catches for 1,692 yards and nine touchdown receptions.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged that wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk will eventually be separated from the team, but emphasized there’s no specific timeline for his departure.

Speaking to reporters Monday during the NFL league meetings in Phoenix, Shanahan addressed questions about when the organization might cut Aiyuk from the roster. “I don’t have a date,” Shanahan stated. “We’re in no rush to do that.”

The 28-year-old receiver signed a lucrative four-year, $120 million deal in August 2024, but his guaranteed money for 2026 was eliminated after he failed to report to the team facility for rehabilitation following knee injuries. Aiyuk suffered torn ACL and MCL injuries to his right knee during Week 7 of the 2024 season.

The situation represents a dramatic downturn for Aiyuk, who posted impressive numbers in 2023 with a team-leading 1,342 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Throughout his five-year NFL career, the former first-round draft selection has recorded 294 receptions for 4,305 yards and 25 touchdowns.

Shanahan reflected on the unusual nature of the contract situation in November, saying: “I’ve been coaching over 20 years and I’ve never been in a situation where a contract’s been voided. It takes a lot of things to get a contract voided. Never dealt with that.”

General Manager John Lynch previously announced in February that Aiyuk would remain on the roster until at least March 11, when the new league year begins.

Rather than simply releasing the receiver, Shanahan expressed optimism about potentially acquiring compensation through a trade. Aiyuk hasn’t appeared in a game since October 2024.

“Eventually, it will resolve itself,” Shanahan commented. “Hopefully, we get something for it.”

With both Aiyuk’s departure looming and 2025 leading receiver Jauan Jennings expected to leave via free agency, San Francisco has already begun reshaping its receiving corps by signing veteran Mike Evans from Tampa Bay and multi-team player Christian Kirk.

Lynch offered praise for the departing Jennings, a 2020 seventh-round selection who compiled 210 catches for 2,581 yards and 22 touchdowns across 75 games with the franchise.

“He’ll find a good home, and Jauan will go play great football for someone,” Lynch told The Athletic. “I can’t say enough for what that guy did; when that guy stepped between the lines, man, he was a presence, and they had to deal with him, and he won us a lot of games.”

Duncan Powell, a senior forward on Providence University’s basketball team, was taken into custody Sunday in Cranston, Rhode Island, facing charges of domestic disorderly conduct, law enforcement officials confirmed.

According to WJAR’s reporting, the 23-year-old athlete’s former girlfriend informed police that Powell physically struck her and issued threats directed at both her and her friends.

Court records show Powell was set to appear for arraignment Monday morning.

The Providence Journal reported that university officials did not provide a response when asked for comment regarding the arrest.

During the current 2025-26 season, Powell has appeared in 22 contests for the Friars, starting five of those games. His statistics include 4.6 points per game, 3.0 rebounds per game, and 16.7 minutes of playing time per contest.

Earlier this year in February, the Big East Conference handed Powell a three-game suspension following a hard foul he committed against St. John’s player Bryce Hopkins, which led to an on-court altercation resulting in six players being ejected from the game.

The 6-foot-8 player from Dallas has transferred multiple times during his college career, beginning at North Carolina A&T from 2021-23, then moving to Sacramento State for the 2023-24 season, followed by Georgia Tech in 2024-25, before arriving at Providence.

Philadelphia Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman maintained his evasive stance when questioned about persistent speculation regarding potential trades involving star wide receiver A.J. Brown.

Speaking to media members on Sunday during NFL league meetings in Phoenix, Roseman acknowledged the widespread attention surrounding the situation.

“I understand that there’s interest in the A.J. Brown story. I, unfortunately, don’t have a home under a rock,” he told reporters Sunday at the league meetings in Phoenix.

“But my answer to any question on A.J. Brown is A.J. Brown is a member of the Eagles. From my perspective, anything you ask me about A.J. Brown, I’m going to go right back to that answer. But I understand the interest. I put on TV and I see that there’s interest, but my answer is A.J. Brown is a member of the Philadelphia Eagles.”

This response mirrors Roseman’s cautious approach from January when questioned about the team’s future plans regarding Brown, whose dissatisfaction with Philadelphia’s offensive system has become increasingly apparent during recent seasons.

“It is hard to find great players in the NFL, and A.J. is a great player,” Roseman said two months ago. “I think from my perspective, that’s what we’re going out and looking for when we go out here in free agency, in the draft, just trying to find great players who love football, and he’s that guy.”

Philadelphia faces no immediate pressure to move Brown, despite reports connecting him to the New England Patriots during this offseason. Financial considerations play a significant role, as trading him prior to June 1 would result in a dead salary cap penalty exceeding $40 million, while waiting until after that date reduces the hit to approximately $20 million.

The 28-year-old receiver’s production has declined over the past two seasons, recording an average of 72.5 receptions and 1,041 receiving yards, a notable drop from his impressive 97.0 catches and 1,476 yards per season during his initial two campaigns with Philadelphia from 2022-23.

Multiple reports emerged Monday indicating that NC State University is nearing completion of a deal to bring back alumnus Justin Gainey as the program’s new men’s basketball head coach. Gainey currently serves as associate head coach at the University of Tennessee.

The 49-year-old coach will step into the role vacated by Will Wade, who departed the program last week to return to his previous position at LSU. Wade led the Wolfpack to a 20-14 season record and secured an NCAA Tournament berth during his single year leading the program in Raleigh.

For the last five years, Gainey has been part of Rick Barnes’ coaching staff in Knoxville, where he helped guide the Volunteers to three consecutive Elite Eight appearances in the NCAA Tournament over the past three seasons.

This appointment marks Gainey’s first opportunity as a head coach. The former Wolfpack player suited up for NC State between 1996 and 2000, later building his coaching resume with assistant positions at Elon, Appalachian State, Santa Clara, Arizona, and Marquette before moving to Tennessee in 2021.

Barnes offered high praise for his departing assistant coach when speaking to The Athletic on Saturday. “I hope he gets the job,” Barnes stated. “I don’t think there’s anybody in the country that loves NC State more than Justin Gainey. … A terrific basketball coach. I mean, if you come to our walk-throughs, like today or the other day, he scouted the last game. I don’t say a whole lot because those guys have it.”

The Tennessee coach continued his endorsement, saying, “But Justin has an incredible feel for the game, really understands players. He works at it. Terrific recruiter. Understands the NIL era today. If NC State knew what I knew, they would be begging him to be their next head coach. Because he’s ready not just for NC State, he’s ready to be the head coach of the University of Tennessee or any school in the country. He’s that good.”

During his playing career under coach Herb Sendek, Gainey posted averages of 6.9 points, 2.7 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals across 128 games, starting 103 of those contests for the Wolfpack.

The final sprint of the NBA regular season is now underway.

As of Monday, just 111 games remain on the schedule, meaning 91% of the regular season has been completed. The field for postseason play has largely been determined: Milwaukee, Chicago, Washington, Brooklyn and Indiana have been knocked out of Eastern Conference contention, while Memphis, New Orleans, Dallas, Utah and Sacramento won’t be participating from the Western Conference.

This leaves 20 franchises using the remaining two weeks primarily to jockey for better playoff seeding.

Detroit, Boston, Oklahoma City and San Antonio have already locked up playoff berths, with New York, Cleveland, the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver appearing mathematically certain to join them soon. Houston and Minnesota are also close to securing their spots.

Portland and Golden State have guaranteed themselves play-in tournament positions.

Several key matchups highlight Monday’s slate:

Philadelphia visits Miami in a game where the victor claims the season series tiebreaker. The contest may mark Kyle Lowry’s final appearance as a player in Miami, where he previously starred. The Heat are coming off a disappointing defeat in Indiana on Sunday.

Boston travels to Atlanta for a rematch after defeating the Hawks by seven points on Friday. The Celtics have already reached 50 victories, while Atlanta has won 12 consecutive home games and 15 of their last 17 overall.

Phoenix faces Memphis in a crucial game for the Suns, who need victories to avoid the play-in tournament’s uncertainty.

Chicago meets San Antonio, where the Spurs have compiled an impressive 24-2 record since February 1st while pursuing the top overall seed.

Minnesota visits Dallas seeking to complete a 4-0 season sweep, having won the first three encounters by double-digit margins.

Other notable games include Cleveland at Utah, Detroit at Oklahoma City in a potential No. 1 seed showdown, Washington at the Lakers, and several matchups with play-in implications.

NBC Sports Network and Peacock will broadcast Philadelphia-Miami and Detroit-Oklahoma City on Monday, with Chicago-San Antonio also streaming on Peacock. Tuesday’s NBC and Peacock games feature New York-Houston and Portland-LA Clippers.

According to BetMGM Sportsbook, Oklahoma City leads championship odds at +140, followed by San Antonio (+550), Boston (+600), Cleveland (+900), Denver (+1100) and New York (+1500). Detroit, despite heading toward the East’s top seed, sits at +2500.

The remaining schedule includes all 30 teams playing their 81st games on April 10th and season finales on April 12th. The play-in tournament runs April 14, 15 and 17, with playoff series beginning April 18-19.

Conference semifinals start May 2-4, followed by the draft lottery and combine on May 10-17. Eastern Conference finals begin May 17 or 19 on ESPN and ABC, while Western Conference finals start May 18 or 20 on NBC and Peacock. The NBA Finals tip off June 3rd on ABC.

This season has featured exceptional scoring margins, with 81 games decided by 30 or more points after Sunday’s action, breaking last year’s record of 80 such contests.

Toronto’s 139-87 victory over Orlando on Sunday exemplified these blowouts, marking the second-largest win in Raptors history and biggest loss in Magic franchise history. The game included a remarkable 31-0 Toronto run spanning just 7½ minutes, during which Orlando missed all eight shots and committed 11 turnovers.

High-definition replay technology has transformed how major sporting events are officiated, with referees and umpires increasingly relying on video screens to examine disputed calls.

This technological shift has created a distinctive visual communication system throughout professional sports.

Basketball fans recognize the circular finger motion that players make when requesting a replay review during NBA contests. Football features coaches hurling red challenge flags onto the field, a gesture frequently copied by spectators in the stands.

International sports have developed their own symbols: Soccer players worldwide draw imaginary rectangles in the air to request VAR (Video assistant referee) reviews. Cricket athletes form a “T” shape with their hands to activate the DRS (Decision review system), while umpires respond by tracing a box in the air, similar to soccer officials.

Baseball has introduced its newest gesture to this growing vocabulary: gentle taps on the head.

The Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System has become an official component of MLB games, utilizing camera technology to monitor each pitch and determine if it passes through the strike zone over home plate. While human umpires continue making initial calls, both teams can contest two decisions per game.

Players including batters, pitchers, and catchers can tap their heads several times while verbally requesting a challenge when they believe an incorrect ball-strike call was made. Fans have quickly adopted this signal, performing the head-tapping motion when they disagree with umpire decisions.

“Everyone understands what touching the top of their hat signifies,” Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo explained with a chuckle. “It’s caught on incredibly quickly. I believe it’s beneficial — we all want accurate calls.”

However, these hand signals can sometimes be interpreted as disrespectful behavior.

Tampa Bay Rays infielder Taylor Walls received an ejection during a regular season game last year after disputing a call and tapping his helmet while confronting the umpire. The ABS system was tested experimentally during 2025 spring training but wasn’t permitted in regular season contests.

Walls insisted his gesture was harmless. Home plate umpire Nic Lentz viewed it differently and ejected Walls from the game.

Lovullo anticipates fewer miscommunications going forward.

“Players must also give verbal confirmation, which should prevent confusion,” he noted.

Video review expansion across sports has generated new tactical approaches for timing challenges correctly. Quick non-verbal signals often make these systems function effectively.

Numerous NBA franchises assign an assistant coach or staff member to monitor a tablet displaying the television broadcast, enabling rapid play analysis. Players frequently make impulsive choices during intense game moments — spinning their finger in the air when believing their team should challenge a call. (Reality check: Players consistently believe they’re correct.)

However, coaching staffs make the ultimate decisions.

For the New York Knicks, assistant coach Jordan Brink provides guidance to head coach Mike Brown.

“When he signals like this (nodding affirmatively), then you do this (finger twirl). When he signals like this (head shake), then you just think ‘Well…’ and have to apologize to your players,” Brown explained.

Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson emphasized that “you must maintain self-control” since replay situations typically involve high emotions. Los Angeles Clippers coach Ty Lue couldn’t explain how the finger twirl became basketball’s standard replay symbol, but in his characteristic dry style, admitted its widespread use can be irritating.

“I’m tired of seeing it. Let’s examine that,” Lue commented, prompting laughter from reporters. “College players are doing it now too, it’s everywhere.”

MLB currently employs two replay signals. Managers request reviews of safe-out calls and other rulings by placing hands over their ears, imitating umpires wearing headsets to communicate with MLB’s replay center. This gesture and the ABS head-tap have emerged as traditional baseball hand signals fade away. For over 100 years, catchers used finger signals to call pitches, sometimes employing complex sequences to prevent opposing teams from deciphering upcoming pitches.

Everything changed after the 2017 Houston Astros cheating scandal was revealed in 2020. A system called PitchCom now transmits pitch calls and defensive positioning instructions without manual signals.

“Previously, dugouts used signals to indicate bunt attempts or delayed steals, but now it’s just pressing a few buttons,” Lovullo said.

Despite technological advances, hand signals remain prevalent in sports. Ironically, sophisticated video replay technology has become a primary reason for their continued importance.

The introduction of reviewable ball and strike calls in Major League Baseball has brought unexpected drama to the opening days of the new season.

Despite teams having limited challenges per game and advanced technology backing the decisions, tensions remain high. This was evident when Minnesota’s manager Derek Shelton was thrown out during the ninth inning of Sunday’s game against Baltimore following a disputed pitch review.

The controversial moment came with Baltimore leading by two runs, one runner on base, and one out. When pitcher Ryan Helsley’s 3-2 delivery to Minnesota’s Josh Bell was ruled a ball, Helsley signaled for a challenge by tapping his cap, then repeated the gesture for emphasis. Video review revealed the pitch caught the outside edge of the strike zone, reversing the call and striking out Bell. Shelton’s heated protest resulted in his ejection, and Baltimore secured an 8-6 victory.

Speaking to media after the game, Shelton claimed Helsley didn’t signal for the challenge fast enough.

Saturday’s matchup between Cincinnati and Boston also drew attention, with the Reds winning 6-5 in a game featuring eight Automated Ball-Strike System challenges with CB Bucknor calling balls and strikes. Six of those challenges resulted in overturned calls. Boston exhausted both their challenges before the third inning concluded, while Cincinnati went five-for-five on successful reviews.

While Detroit sent a two-time Cy Young Award winner to the hill on opening day, rookie Kevin McGonigle stole the spotlight with an outstanding debut performance Thursday.

McGonigle, ranked among baseball’s premier prospects, connected on the very first pitch he faced, delivering a bases-clearing double in the opening frame at San Diego. He continued his hot start with hits in his following two plate appearances. With Tarik Skubal pitching effectively, Detroit cruised to an 8-2 triumph.

St. Louis rookie JJ Wetherholt has also made an immediate impact. In just his second major league contest Saturday against Tampa Bay, he delivered a game-winning two-run single in the tenth inning. This heroic moment followed his home run in Thursday’s debut.

New York Mets newcomer Carson Benge earned a roster spot for the season opener and has already gone deep. Cleveland’s Chase DeLauter connected twice in Thursday’s regular season opener, including on his first swing, though he technically debuted during last year’s postseason.

Toronto established a new benchmark by recording 50 strikeouts through their opening three contests, with both Kevin Gausman and Dylan Cease reaching double-digit strikeout totals. The previous mark belonged to whom?

Seattle’s Emerson Hancock delivered six no-hit innings Sunday during an 8-0 shutout victory over Cleveland, fanning nine while issuing just one free pass.

After posting a 4-5 record with a 4.90 earned run average last year, Hancock earned a rotation spot due to Bryce Miller’s injury and made a compelling argument to retain his role with this impressive opening effort.

Thursday’s game between Tampa Bay and St. Louis featured a remarkable sixth-inning turnaround. The Rays plated six runs in the top half to grab a commanding 7-1 advantage, only to trail when the frame concluded.

St. Louis answered with an eight-run explosion in the bottom of the sixth to take a 9-7 lead, which held up for the final margin.

The Cardinals’ rally featured two-run singles from both Nolan Gorman and Nathan Church, followed by sacrifice flies from Wetherholt and Iván Herrera. Alec Burleson, who opened the inning with a base hit, provided the finishing touch with a two-run blast.

Each team sent 11 hitters to the plate during that wild sixth inning.

The answer: Cincinnati’s 2020 squad previously held the strikeout record with 46 through three games, featuring starts from Sonny Gray, Luis Castillo, and Trevor Bauer against Detroit. Ironically, the Reds dropped two of those three contests.

Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta has struck a deal to purchase the Connecticut Sun for a record-breaking $300 million, with plans to relocate the franchise to Houston in 2027, according to sources familiar with the transaction.

The WNBA Board of Governors must still give their approval for both the sale and the relocation. A source who requested anonymity due to the confidential nature of the negotiations confirmed the historic price tag to The Associated Press.

Connecticut will host the franchise for one more season before the team makes its way to Houston, where it will revive the Comets name.

“I would have loved to remain in the region for our fan base and for the fact that I think this region deserves a women’s basketball team,” Connecticut Sun president Jen Rizzotti told the AP. “At the same time, it wasn’t my decision and I’m at a point now where my focus turns to making this the best season we can have and a memorable one for our fans. It’s an opportunity to say thank you to them.”

The sale marks the conclusion of the franchise’s 23-year presence in New England, which began when the team relocated from Orlando in 2003.

Houston had previously shown interest in acquiring the team last year, eventually increasing their offer to $250 million — matching what Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia paid for expansion rights. The final $300 million purchase price sets a new record for WNBA team sales.

A competing bid of $325 million from a group headed by Boston Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca would have brought the franchise to Boston, but the WNBA effectively prevented that transaction. League officials stated that “relocation decisions are made by the WNBA Board of Governors and not by individual teams.”

The league further explained that other cities had already begun the expansion process and held priority over Boston.

“This decision has always sat at the ownership level and we worked hard as a front office to make us New England’s WNBA team,” Rizzotti said. “Playing and selling out two games in Boston shows this is a market that can support a team at a significant level.”

During a press conference announcing three new expansion franchises, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert indicated Houston was next in line for a team.

Following Mark Davis’s acquisition of the Las Vegas Aces in 2021, the league has consistently brought in new ownership with NBA connections. The Golden State franchise, which debuted last season, belongs to the Warriors organization. Portland and Toronto are joining the WNBA this season with ownership groups tied to NBA teams.

The upcoming three expansion franchises — Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia — will all operate under NBA ownership groups from their respective cities.

Last week’s new collective bargaining agreement requires teams to maintain premium facilities comparable to NBA standards.

Making the announcement at this time provides clarity for potential free agents who could join the Sun next month.

“Morgan (Tuck) started last off season with the rebuild after our old roster turned over,” Rizzotti said of the Sun general manager. “She will now have clarity and strategic decisions regardless where it is if we remained in Connecticut or moving. With this new CBA in place, she can really evaluate the salary cap situation and build around the young core we established.”

The original Houston Comets were founding members of the WNBA and captured the league’s first four championships from 1997-2000. The franchise ceased operations following the 2008 season.

“My family and I are thrilled for the opportunity to bring the Houston Comets back to this incredible city,” Rockets alternate governor Patrick Fertitta said. “Houston has a proud championship history in the WNBA, with banners from the Comets’ four historic championship seasons still hanging in the rafters of Toyota Center. We believe the time is right to begin the next great era of Comets basketball, and we look forward to working with the WNBA as we move through this process.”

The Las Vegas Aces were the last WNBA franchise to change cities when they moved from San Antonio in 2017.

“What I don’t want people to forget is the Mohegan Tribe stepped up when nobody wanted a WNBA team and there were NBA owners folding franchises left and right,” Rizzotti said. “I hope that regardless of people’s feelings around this, they’ll remember that we had a really supportive ownership group that poured into the franchise for over two decades.

“The decision they made now doesn’t erase the fact they were there for the WNBA in a time of need and kept them going when it wasn’t as popular as it is now to have a franchise.”

The National Football League will begin recruiting and preparing substitute officials in the coming weeks as contract talks with the referees’ union have reached an impasse, according to two sources familiar with the negotiations who spoke to The Associated Press.

The sources requested anonymity Sunday due to the confidential nature of the ongoing discussions.

Contract talks between the NFL and the NFL Referees Association have been ongoing since summer 2024, with the existing collective bargaining agreement set to expire May 31.

While the league has raised its compensation proposal to 6.45% yearly increases over a six-year contract, the referees’ union is demanding 10% annual raises plus an additional $2.5 million for marketing fees, according to the sources.

The NFL wants to link official compensation to job performance, ensuring only top-performing regular season referees receive year-end bonuses from a shared pool.

League officials also seek more authority to place their best referees in playoff games. Under the existing contract, seniority plays a role in determining postseason officiating assignments.

Another NFL priority involves reducing the “dark period” – currently a three-month span from the Super Bowl through May 15 when the league cannot contact game officials. The NFL aims to maintain year-round communication for rules clarification, video analysis, procedural training and relevant committee participation to enhance both game quality and official performance.

While the NFL has offered to employ some referees on a full-time basis, one source indicated the union opposes this change, seeking “full-time pay and part-time hours.”

The NFLRA was not available for immediate comment.

As the league prepares for possible substitute officials, the NFL competition committee has drafted a backup plan allowing the New York replay center to alert field referees about overlooked roughing the passer calls, intentional grounding violations, and actions warranting ejections if penalties had been assessed. Team owners will decide on this proposal during this week’s annual meeting.

The league previously employed replacement referees during the opening three weeks of the 2012 season, leading to numerous errors and controversial decisions, including the infamous “Fail Mary” touchdown ruling.

Scottie Barnes delivered 23 points and a career-best 15 assists for his second straight double-double performance as the Toronto Raptors demolished the Orlando Magic 139-87 on Sunday in a historic blowout.

The crushing 52-point defeat marked the worst loss in Magic franchise history, surpassing their previous low of a 47-point defeat to Chicago in 2017. Toronto seized control early with an incredible 31-0 scoring streak during the first half, then added insult to injury with a 17-0 run spanning the end of the third quarter into the fourth period.

The devastating three-minute burst expanded Toronto’s commanding 38-point advantage to an insurmountable 55-point margin. Orlando briefly showed signs of life in the final quarter with a 15-4 surge that cut the deficit to 45 points with 4:26 left on the clock. However, a Moritz Wagner three-pointer capped that run and represented the Magic’s final points of the game.

RJ Barrett topped all scorers with 24 points while leading eight Toronto players who reached double digits. Jamal Shead contributed 12 points and 10 assists, with Ja’Kobe Walter and Jakob Poetlt each adding 11 points. For Orlando, Desmond Bane paced the scoring with 17 points, Jalen Suggs managed 13 points and five assists, and Tristan da Silva chipped in 12 points. Star player Paolo Banchero, the team’s leading scorer, was held to just nine points.

In other NBA action, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 30 points powered Oklahoma City past New York 110-100 at home. The Thunder extended their hot streak to 14 wins in 15 games, building a 2.5-game cushion over San Antonio atop the Western Conference standings. Jalen Williams contributed 22 points on efficient 7-of-11 shooting in his most extensive action since returning from a hamstring injury. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 32 points, while Josh Hart, Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges each scored 15. Towns also grabbed 18 rebounds in the loss that snapped New York’s seven-game winning streak.

The Los Angeles Clippers defeated Milwaukee 127-113 behind Bennedict Mathurin’s 28 points and John Collins’ 22-point effort. Kawhi Leonard added 20 points and eight rebounds while Darius Garland posted a double-double with 15 points and 11 assists as Los Angeles won its fifth consecutive game. The struggling Bucks dropped their fourth straight contest and 14th in 17 games despite Gary Trent Jr.’s game-high 36 points and Taurean Prince’s 18 points, eight assists and six rebounds. Milwaukee played without key players Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kyle Kuzma, Kevin Porter Jr. and Gary Harris.

Jayson Tatum’s 32 points, five rebounds and eight assists led short-handed Boston to a 114-99 road victory over Charlotte, extending the Celtics’ winning streak to three games. Payton Pritchard added 28 points, six rebounds and six assists with Jaylen Brown and Derrick White sidelined. Neemias Queta contributed 17 points and eight rebounds. The Hornets struggled from long range, connecting on just 12 of 43 three-point attempts (27.9%), with Kon Knueppel particularly cold at 1-for-6 from beyond the arc. LaMelo Ball led Charlotte with 19 points and Miles Bridges scored 14.

Pascal Siakam dominated with 30 points, 11 rebounds and six assists as Indiana topped visiting Miami 135-118. Micah Potter knocked down five three-pointers for 21 points, Kobe Brown added 18 and Andrew Nembhard tallied 15 points and 10 assists for the Pacers, who earned their first home victory since January 31. T.J. McConnell contributed 15 points and nine assists while Obi Toppin finished with 12. Tyler Herro paced Miami with 31 points, followed by Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s 17. Bam Adebayo recorded 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Heat, who lost their seventh game in eight attempts.

Portland crushed visiting Washington 123-88 as Toumani Camara scored 23 points with seven rebounds and Scoot Henderson added 21 points and seven assists. Former Wizards player Deni Avdija contributed 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists as the Trail Blazers never trailed while winning their sixth game in eight contests. Portland now sits just 1.5 games behind the eighth-place Los Angeles Clippers in Western Conference play-in positioning. Will Riley led Washington with 14 points off the bench as the Wizards suffered their 18th loss in 19 games. Bub Carrington scored 11 points before exiting in the final quarter with muscle cramps.

Alperen Sengun posted 36 points and 13 rebounds while adding seven assists, three steals, three blocks and five three-pointers in Houston’s 134-102 victory over host New Orleans. Jabari Smith Jr. and Kevin Durant each scored 20 points as the Rockets extended their lead over Phoenix to four games for the No. 6 Western Conference seed. Clint Capela grabbed 14 rebounds in just 16 minutes off the bench. Dejounte Murray led New Orleans with 19 points as the Pelicans (25-51) dropped their fifth straight game. Saddiq Bey and Zion Williamson each contributed 18 points.

Brooklyn snapped a 10-game losing streak with a 116-99 victory over Sacramento in New York, getting 17 fourth-quarter points from Ochai Agbaji and rookie Drake Powell. The Nets took control early and never relinquished their lead, building a 27-point advantage midway through the second quarter for their first win since March 9. Agbaji finished with 18 points and Powell scored 16, while rookie Nolan Traore added 17 points and six assists. The victory marked just Brooklyn’s third win in 23 games. Sacramento extended their road struggles against Eastern Conference teams to 11 straight losses while playing without DeMar DeRozan (hamstring) and Malik Monk (bruised shoulder). Devin Carter paced the Kings with 20 points, rookie Nique Clifford contributed 17 points and seven rebounds, and Precious Achiuwa chipped in 16 points and eight boards.

The professional surfing world championship tour launches its historic 50th season this week, beginning at the legendary Bells Beach in Australia before embarking on a globe-spanning journey that will end at Hawaii’s famous Banzai Pipeline in December.

The World Surf League’s championship circuit will visit 12 locations across nine nations, starting with the opening rounds that will include complete fields of 36 male competitors and 24 female surfers. Competition will intensify as the season progresses, with the field condensing to 24 men and 16 women for the final two regular season events that will decide who advances to compete for world titles.

The 2026 WSL Championship Tour schedule includes:

April 1-11: Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia
April 16-26: Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia
May 1-11: Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
May 15-25: Raglan, New Zealand
June 5-15: Punta Roca, El Salvador
June 19-27: Saquarema, Brazil
August 8-18: Teahupo’o, Tahiti
August 25-September 4: Cloudbreak, Fiji
September 11-20: Lower Trestles, California, USA
October 14-18: Surf Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (marking the end of regular season and beginning of post-season)
October 22-November 1: Peniche, Portugal
December 8-20: Pipe Masters, Hawaii, USA

The season finale at the Pipe Masters will reunite the complete championship tour fields with post-season qualifiers, with points awarded at 1.5 times their normal value for the climactic event.

Three surfing legends are making their highly anticipated return to professional competition this week as the elite world tour launches its 50th season at Australia’s renowned Bells Beach. Veterans Stephanie Gilmore, Carissa Moore, and Gabriel Medina are stepping back into the spotlight to compete against an emerging generation of athletes who have transformed the sport’s competitive landscape.

The returning champions, who each took time away from competition for personal reasons, will encounter heightened competition levels on the 12-event tour, especially during contests featuring massive, challenging waves.

“I am so stoked to be back,” said Moore, a five-time world champion who welcomed her first child last year. “Being away for two years really gave me a renewed sense of appreciation for the sport – getting to do something that pushes me out of my comfort zone every day and challenges me and takes me around the world and meet great people.”

The Hawaiian champion previously captured Olympic gold in Tokyo and sat out the 2024 season to prepare for defending her title at Tahiti’s dangerous Teahupo’o reef break. While competing pregnant with daughter Olena, Moore failed to medal and subsequently dedicated time to motherhood while watching the sport from afar.

“Yeah, it’s been fun to be a fan the last two years, I’ll tell you that,” the 33-year-old athlete commented. “I’ve been super impressed with how everybody’s been competing and raising the level of the sport, especially in waves of consequence.”

Moore and Australia’s Gilmore, age 38, controlled women’s professional surfing for over ten years, accumulating 13 world championships combined. During their hiatus, a group of twenty-something competitors spearheaded by 2025 champion Molly Picklum, Olympic gold winner Caroline Marks, and 2024 top-ranked Caitlin Simmers have delivered exceptional performances in powerful surf conditions at Teahupo’o and Hawaii’s Pipeline.

However, even these accomplished athletes may need to watch for an emerging talent in French teenager Tya Zebrowski, who becomes the youngest competitor ever to join the elite tour at just 15 years old.

In men’s competition, Brazil’s Medina is returning from injury but won’t be able to continue his famous rivalry with Hawaii’s John John Florence, who chose to spend another year sailing globally with his family. This leaves the 32-year-old Brazilian and his compatriots Yago Dora, the current champion, and two-time titleholder Filipe Toledo to compete against California’s Griffin Colapinto and Australians Jack Robinson and Ethan Ewing for the championship.

Competition begins Wednesday at Bells Beach, with the tour traveling through nine nations before concluding at Pipeline in surfing’s traditional home in December. The schedule includes New Zealand’s Raglan as a new venue, offering the high-performance left-hand waves many competitors have desired, while Australia’s Gold Coast and California’s Lower Trestles return to the lineup.

Uncertainty surrounds the wave pool competition planned for Abu Dhabi in October due to ongoing Middle East conflicts. In a significant format change announced previously, the World Surf League eliminated its controversial winner-takes-all finale, returning to a cumulative scoring system for determining champions. The final Pipeline event will carry 1.5 times the points of regular tour stops to acknowledge its special significance.

A recent addition is the maternity wild card program starting in 2027, an initiative that particularly pleased Moore. “I hope that I can inspire other moms to keep doing what they love too,” Moore stated. “I am excited about and motivated to push myself in ways that I haven’t before, and see who I can become and how I can become a better person, a better mom, a better wife, a better sister, friend, daughter, all those things.”

The Boston Bruins pulled off a remarkable comeback Sunday night, erasing a three-goal third-period deficit to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 in a shootout, with Viktor Arvidsson delivering the clinching goal after recording three assists during regulation play.

Pavel Zacha completed the dramatic rally by evening the score at 3-3 with just 11 seconds left on the clock, converting a power-play opportunity during a 6-on-4 advantage following a chaotic scramble in front of the net.

Zacha finished with two goals and one assist, while Charlie McAvoy contributed a goal and an assist for Boston (42-24-8, 92 points). The Bruins have now won five of their last six contests and hold a four-point advantage over Columbus in the race for the Eastern Conference’s first wild card playoff spot. Goaltender Jeremy Swayman turned away 21 shots in the victory.

For the Blue Jackets (38-23-12, 88 points), Mason Marchment recorded a goal and an assist, while Kirill Marchenko added two assists. Goalie Jet Greaves made 35 saves in the losing effort. Columbus has now dropped four of their past five games (1-3-1). Boston’s David Pastrnak saw his 12-game point streak come to an end.

Flyers 2, Stars 1 (OT)

Trevor Zegras found the back of the net with 1:33 remaining in overtime, leading Philadelphia past Dallas at home while matching his career-best mark of 23 goals this season.

Philadelphia goaltender Samuel Ersson stopped 17 shots and also recorded an assist on the game-winning goal for the Flyers, who have compiled an impressive 8-1-1 record over their last 10 outings. Following a scoreless opening frame, Travis Konecny put Philadelphia on the board with a power-play tally midway through the second period. The forward received a pass from Matvei Michkov near the goal line, moved to the front of the crease, and slid the puck past Casey DeSmith for his 26th goal of the campaign.

Dallas has already secured a playoff berth but has managed just one victory in their last six games. DeSmith made 28 saves for the Stars, while Arttu Hyry notched his first NHL goal.

Rangers 3, Panthers 1

Rookie Adam Sykora found the net for the second consecutive game, Igor Shesterkin stopped 26 shots, and New York defeated Florida at home for their second straight victory following a season-worst six-game losing streak.

Conor Sheary scored on a short-handed breakaway with 8:46 remaining in the final period. Adam Fox sealed the Rangers’ victory with a short-handed empty-net goal with 3:54 left in the third.

Mackie Samoskevich scored in the closing minute as Florida dropped to 2-6-0 in their last eight contests. Sergei Bobrovsky made 18 saves in defeat.

Canadiens 3, Hurricanes 1

Nick Suzuki netted two goals and added an assist to power Montreal’s comeback victory in Raleigh, N.C., extending their winning streak to five games against Carolina.

Cole Caufield contributed a goal and an assist while Lane Hutson recorded two assists for the Canadiens. Goaltender Jakub Dobes made 34 saves as Montreal maintained third place in the Atlantic Division standings.

Andrei Svechnikov scored for Carolina and Frederik Andersen stopped 15 shots for the Hurricanes, who have suffered just two defeats in their past six games — both against Montreal. Carolina continues to lead the Metropolitan Division by nine points.

Devils 5, Blackhawks 3

Dougie Hamilton and Jack Hughes scored within 19 seconds of each other late in the third period, sparking New Jersey’s comeback victory over Chicago at home.

Hamilton knotted the score at 3-3 with a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle that found the far corner at 14:32, and Hughes converted a breakaway down the right wing at 14:51 to give New Jersey a 4-3 advantage. Hughes added an empty-net goal with 31 seconds remaining to finish with two goals and two assists.

Connor Brown and Simon Nemec also scored for the Devils, while Jake Allen made 28 saves. New Jersey has won six of eight games. Frank Nazar scored twice for Chicago, Ilya Mikheyev added a goal, and Spencer Knight stopped 35 shots for the Blackhawks, who have lost five of six.

Lightning 3, Predators 2

Corey Perry scored the go-ahead goal off a rebound in the third period as Tampa Bay held on to reclaim the top spot in the Atlantic Division with a victory over Nashville at home.

Perry’s 15th goal of the season and fourth in 13 games since returning to Tampa Bay came at 6:52 of the final period, allowing the Lightning (46-21-6, 98 points) to match Buffalo in points while holding one game in hand over the surging Sabres. Jake Guentzel recorded a goal and two assists, while Brandon Hagel scored once to tie his career-high mark of 35 goals, which he set last season with Tampa Bay.

Filip Forsberg tallied a goal and an assist, Joakim Kemell scored his first NHL goal in his 10th career appearance, and defenseman Justin Barron earned an assist in his 200th game as Nashville (34-31-9, 77 points) suffered their third consecutive loss (0-3-0).

SEATTLE — What a difference a year makes for Seattle Mariners pitcher Emerson Hancock. After managing just two outs in his season opener last year, the right-hander delivered a masterful performance Sunday at T-Mobile Park.

Hancock dominated the Cleveland Guardians for six hitless innings, striking out nine batters while leading Seattle to an 8-0 victory. The stellar outing marked a dramatic turnaround from his struggles in 2025.

“A year ago, right now, we’re having a completely different conversation. Things went completely different,” Hancock said with a laugh. “But, I think that’s just part of this game. And you’re going to struggle, there’s going to be ups, there’s going to be downs.”

The 30,800 fans in attendance certainly weren’t seeing any downs on this afternoon. They gave Hancock a rousing standing ovation after he completed a perfect sixth inning, capping off his dominant performance.

Hancock’s achievement placed him in elite company, becoming only the second Mariners pitcher alongside Félix Hernández to record nine or more strikeouts in a hitless outing lasting at least six innings. Hernández accomplished the feat during his perfect game in 2012.

The nine strikeouts represented a personal best for Hancock, powered largely by his four-seam fastball that fooled Cleveland hitters into nine swing-and-miss attempts. Combined with an improved sweeper he worked on extensively during the winter, his fastball kept the Guardians off balance throughout the evening.

“You’re playing the speed game and the break game,” Hancock explained. “It’s something slower, it’s something that is breaking a lot through the zone. And if you can throw it in the zone, it can help a ton. And then the heater for me, I’m just trying to see it as the mask and just kind of rip it.”

The 26-year-old navigated Cleveland’s batting order with ease. His only baserunners came via a first-inning walk to José Ramírez and when he plunked CJ Kayfus with a fastball in the sixth.

Manager Dan Wilson made the decision to remove Hancock after six innings and 97 pitches, ending any possibility of the seventh no-hitter in franchise history.

“What he did today was really good execution,” Wilson explained. “Really hard to take a guy out after no hits, six innings. But, pitch count was where it was.”

Cleveland rookie Chase DeLauter ended Seattle’s combined no-hit hopes by lining a clean single off reliever Cooper Criswell to start the seventh inning.

Despite cooler temperatures in the low 40s throughout the chilly Pacific Northwest afternoon, Hancock’s velocity was slightly reduced compared to last season. Both he and Wilson attributed this to the early stage of the campaign and the cold conditions.

Third baseman Brendan Donovan was struck by Hancock’s aggressive approach from the beginning, noting how the pitcher attacked the strike zone early and often. Hancock threw first-pitch strikes to 12 of his 19 batters faced and didn’t allow a single ball to leave the infield.

“I feel like he had confidence in everything that was coming out of his hand,” Donovan observed. “Mixing speeds, locations, high levels. Kind of in and out, down, everything seemed to be working for him.”

This performance stood in stark contrast to Hancock’s disastrous 2025 season opener, after which he eventually moved to the bullpen as Seattle’s rotation regained health. Hancock earned his current rotation spot partly due to an injury to Bryce Miller during spring training.

If Hancock can replicate Sunday’s brilliance consistently, Wilson may face more difficult decisions beyond simply managing pitch counts.

“What an incredible performance by Emerson Hancock,” Wilson said. “It was impressive.”

Seattle pitcher Emerson Hancock nearly achieved baseball perfection Sunday, tossing six no-hit innings before being removed from the game as the Mariners crushed the Cleveland Guardians 8-0 to split their four-game series.

Hancock (1-0), filling in for injured starter Bryce Miller who’s sidelined with an oblique injury, dominated Cleveland hitters by striking out nine batters while walking just one and hitting another. Remarkably, no Cleveland batter managed to hit a ball beyond the infield during Hancock’s dominant outing.

The Guardians came closest to breaking through against Hancock during the third frame when bottom-of-the-order hitter Brayan Rocchio grounded a ball that caromed off first base and popped high into the air. Josh Naylor corralled the unusual bounce and easily tagged the base ahead of Rocchio.

Cleveland finally broke up the no-hit attempt when Chase DeLauter lined a single to right field off reliever Cooper Criswell to open the seventh inning. The Guardians managed only one additional hit – a single by Daniel Schneemann with one out in the eighth. Cleveland starter Slade Cecconi (0-1) struggled through 4 1/3 innings, surrendering six runs on six hits while walking three and striking out five.

In other Sunday action, Toronto powered past Oakland 5-2 behind home runs from Jesus Sanchez, George Springer and Kazuma Okamoto. The Blue Jays received strong pitching from Eric Lauer (1-0), who allowed just two runs while fanning nine over 5 1/3 innings.

Kansas City salvaged the finale of their Atlanta series with a 4-1 victory, getting 6 1/3 scoreless innings from Seth Lugo (1-0). Bobby Witt Jr. extended his hitting streak to three games and delivered his first RBI of the season for the Royals.

Cincinnati erased a two-run deficit when Eugenio Suarez launched a three-run homer to lift the Reds over Boston 3-2 in their series rubber match. Rookie Sal Stewart continued his torrid start, collecting two more hits and raising his average to .700 through three games.

Texas claimed their series finale against Philadelphia 8-3, powered by home runs from Andrew McCutchen and Brandon Nimmo. MacKenzie Gore (1-0) impressed in his Rangers debut, allowing two runs over 5 1/3 innings after joining Texas in an offseason trade.

Baltimore rallied with three runs in the seventh inning to defeat Minnesota 8-6, taking two of three games in their season-opening series. Tyler O’Neill’s three-run blast and clutch hits from Pete Alonso, Adley Rutschman and Coby Mayo fueled the comeback.

Miami completed a stunning sweep of Colorado with rookie Owen Caissie’s walk-off two-run homer in the ninth, giving the Marlins a 4-3 victory. The win improved Miami to 3-0 for the first time since 2009.

Houston split their four-game set with Los Angeles after Isaac Paredes delivered a clutch two-out, two-strike double in the eighth inning to break a 6-6 tie and lead the Astros to a 9-7 triumph.

Pittsburgh avoided a season-opening sweep by edging New York 4-3 in 10 innings, with Ryan O’Hearn driving in the winning run with his second RBI single of the contest.

Tampa Bay exploded for 17 hits in an 11-7 victory over St. Louis, led by Yandy Diaz’s outstanding 5-for-6 performance with four RBIs. The Rays avoided being swept in the three-game series.

Washington took their series against Chicago behind home runs from Joey Wiemer and Keibert Ruiz in a 6-3 win. Wiemer’s hot start continued as he reached base safely in his first eight plate appearances as a National.

Milwaukee completed a three-game sweep of Chicago with a dramatic 9-7 comeback victory, overcoming a 7-2 deficit thanks to Christian Yelich’s three-run pinch-hit homer that capped a six-run eighth-inning rally.

South Korean golfer Hyo Joo Kim captured her second consecutive LPGA Tour victory Sunday, successfully defending her Ford Championship title in Chandler, Arizona, while once again defeating world No. 2 Nelly Korda.

Kim carded a final-round 69, three strokes under par, to finish the tournament at 28-under 260 at Whirlwind Golf Club’s Cattail Course. The 30-year-old golfer displayed remarkable consistency throughout the four-day event, recording scores of 61 and 69 in alternating fashion.

Despite stumbling with a double-bogey six on the eighth hole and dropping another shot at the par-4 16th, Kim recovered with six birdies distributed evenly across both halves of her scorecard.

Speaking through an interpreter after her victory, Kim reflected on the challenge of defending a title. “It’s super hard as a player to become a defending champion,” Kim said. “But I took the great energy from last week and the course and all of that into this place here and I want to carry that on to next week.”

Kim’s performance included setting the LPGA’s 54-hole scoring record on Saturday, though she fell three shots short of matching the tour’s 72-hole record of 257, established by Sei Young Kim in 2017.

Korda, who entered the final round trailing, mounted a strong challenge with two eagles during her 67 on Sunday. The American star found the bottom of the cup twice on par-5 holes, at the second and 17th, before adding a birdie at the 18th hole in a late surge.

However, Kim maintained her composure, making par on the final hole to secure a two-shot victory at 26-under par. This marked the second straight week that Kim edged Korda, having defeated her by a single stroke at the previous week’s Fortinet Founders Cup.

The mutual respect between the competitors was evident in their post-round comments. Kim, who has previously stated that Korda is her favorite player, praised her playing partner’s performance.

“Just loved and felt great playing with Nelly,” Kim said. “She has such a beautiful swing and this whole time it was just wire to wire, just so tight. Just watching her getting that eagle and finishing, the birdie at the end, I think she is just a fantastic player.”

Korda returned the compliment, calling Kim’s recent play “inspiring” while reflecting on her consecutive runner-up finishes.

“There’s times when I’m going to get frustrated. I’m a human being, so I’m going to get down and I’m going to get a little frustrated,” said Korda, who won the season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. “But I’m trying to get over that as fast as possible.”

The world No. 2 expressed gratitude for her current form, contrasting it with her struggles from the previous year. “I’m just very grateful. If you’d have told me this time last year the finishes that I would have right now, I would be super happy with the game that is trending. Last year I just felt so weird with my game. Nothing was kind of going my way.”

Korda emphasized the positive aspects of competition and improvement. “I’m really happy. I’ve put in a lot of work, and that’s the best thing about golf is that you can always improve and you can have someone like Hyo Joo that’s going to test you and push your buttons but in a really good way to improve.”

Japan’s Minami Katsu claimed third place at 23-under par after shooting a final-round 65. New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, who opened the tournament with a remarkable 60, finished fourth at 20-under following a Sunday 68.

South Korea’s In Gee Chun rounded out the top five at 19-under par after carding a 68 in the final round.

A top Egyptian soccer official is advising Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah to steer clear of Major League Soccer when his time with the English club concludes this season, arguing such a move would damage his international profile.

Ibrahim Hassan, who serves as Egypt’s national team director, expressed concerns that the 33-year-old forward would lose global recognition if he chooses MLS over European competition. Salah is weighing his options after a remarkable nine-season run at Liverpool that included two Premier League championships and a Champions League victory.

While MLS Commissioner Don Garber has publicly expressed interest in bringing Salah to American soccer, Hassan believes Europe remains the better choice for maintaining the player’s worldwide status.

“Personally, I would prefer him to stay in Europe,” Hassan shared during an interview with On Sports. “I have heard about offers from Paris Saint‑Germain, Bayern Munich and clubs in the Italian league.”

Hassan drew a pointed comparison to Lionel Messi’s recent career path to emphasize his concerns about MLS visibility.

“A move to the Major League? He would be far too out of the spotlight. You won’t remember Salah any more than I remember (Lionel) Messi now, I don’t even try to watch him,” Hassan explained.

The Argentina captain Messi transitioned to Inter Miami in 2023 following championship runs with Barcelona and Paris Saint‑Germain, shortly after capturing the World Cup. Despite becoming Miami’s leading scorer in franchise history, Hassan suggests the move has reduced Messi’s global presence.

Should European opportunities fail to materialize, Hassan indicated that Saudi Arabia’s professional league would serve as a viable alternative for Salah.

“If he does not receive offers from Europe, then a move to the Saudi league would be a good option, especially with big names such as Cristiano (Ronaldo),” noted Hassan, whose twin brother Hossam Hassan coaches Egypt’s national squad.

Currently dealing with an injury, Salah will be absent from Egypt’s preparation sessions as the team gears up for World Cup competition in North America. The squad recently defeated Saudi Arabia 4-0 in Jeddah and has a scheduled friendly against Spain in Barcelona this Tuesday.

Egypt, which has claimed seven African championships, will compete in World Cup Group G alongside Belgium, New Zealand and Iran when the tournament kicks off June 11 through July 19.

Professional golfer Gary Woodland achieved much more than just another tournament victory on Sunday – he triumphed over personal struggles that have defined his recent years.

The veteran player carded a final-round 67, three strokes under par, to claim the Texas Children’s Houston Open title at Memorial Park Golf Course. This marks Woodland’s first PGA Tour championship in almost seven years, a drought that included brain surgery in 2023 to remove a tumor.

Woodland has publicly discussed his ongoing battle with post-traumatic stress disorder, making Sunday’s victory particularly meaningful and emotional.

“We play an individual sport out here, but I wasn’t alone today,” Woodland said. “I got a lot of people behind me, my team, my family and this golf world. Anybody that’s struggling with something, I hope they see me and don’t give up, just keep fighting.”

The champion completed four rounds at 21-under-par 259, securing a commanding five-shot victory over Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard, who finished with a final-round 71. Woodland had tied for runner-up at the same venue the previous year.

This represents Woodland’s fifth career PGA Tour championship, but his first since capturing the 2019 U.S. Open title.

“I’ve got a big fight ahead of me and I’m going to keep going, but I’m proud of myself right now,” Woodland said.

Fellow professionals have expressed admiration for Woodland’s courage in sharing his personal struggles publicly.

“Just really look up to him as a mate who put it out there just a couple weeks ago on television, what he’s dealing with,” Australia’s Adam Scott said. “It is inspirational.”

Woodland established control early, posting four birdies on the front nine, including back-to-back birdies on holes seven through nine, creating a six-shot cushion. His lead expanded to seven strokes when Hojgaard stumbled with a bogey on the 10th hole.

“Nice to stay in the fight on the back nine and thought if I made the eagle on 16, something interesting could happen the last two,” Hojgaard said. “And then when I didn’t make the eagle, I felt like I couldn’t reach him.”

Johnny Keefer fired a impressive 64 in the final round to secure a share of third place at 15-under alongside defending champion Min Woo Lee of Australia, who shot 67. Sam Stevens claimed fifth position at 14-under with a 67. The third-place showing represents rookie Keefer’s first top-10 result on tour at age 25.

Jake Knapp delivered the round of the day with a flawless 62, matching the course record while playing well ahead of the final groups. His spectacular 43-foot eagle putt on the par-5 16th hole highlighted an outstanding performance.

“I still didn’t drive it necessarily amazing, but was able to control distances and hit it pretty well into the greens to give myself a bunch of looks,” Knapp said.

Knapp joined Chris Gotterup (65), Australia’s Jason Day (68), and Canada’s Sudarshan Yellamaraju (67) in a four-way tie for sixth place at 13-under-par.

Michael Thorbjornsen experienced disappointment after entering the final round with hopes of cracking the world’s top 50 to earn Masters Tournament qualification. Currently ranked 56th globally, Thorbjornsen needed a top-five finish but struggled with a double-bogey on the eighth hole and three bogeys over four holes on the back nine, settling for 72 and a tie for 14th at 10-under.

Scott provided one of the tournament’s memorable moments with a hole-in-one on the 11th hole using an 8-iron. The ace marked his third on the PGA Tour but first in 14 years.

“It was actually hard to see the flag mixed in with the people and the crowd, but we heard it go in,” said Scott, who finished the tournament at 8-under with a final-round 71.

St. John’s University announced Sunday that head basketball coach Rick Pitino has received a contract extension and salary boost following the team’s impressive recent performance. The university confirmed the veteran coach’s deal has been extended through the 2029-30 season.

According to ESPN’s reporting, Pitino’s original six-year agreement from 2023 now includes an extra year along with increased compensation that positions him as the Big East’s second-highest paid coach, trailing only Dan Hurley at UConn.

The 73-year-old coach has compiled an 81-25 record during his tenure with the Red Storm, leading the program to two NCAA Tournament berths. This includes their current March Madness run that ended Friday with a narrow 80-75 loss to Duke in the Sweet 16. The appearance marked just their second time reaching the tournament’s regional semifinals since 1999.

Athletic director Ed Kull expressed enthusiasm about securing Pitino’s future with the program. “We’re thrilled that Coach Pitino has signed a new agreement to remain at St. John’s, a deal that will keep him in Queens through the end of the decade,” Kull stated. “This extension reflects our strong confidence in his leadership, vision and commitment to our student-athletes.”

Kull continued his praise, adding: “Coach Pitino has changed the culture of our community, and we want his presence to be felt on this campus for years to come. We look forward to more Big East championships and NCAA tournament runs with Coach Pitino at the helm.”

Under Pitino’s guidance, St. John’s completed the season with a 30-7 record and earned rankings as high as fifth nationally. The Red Storm achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Big East school to capture both regular-season and conference tournament championships in back-to-back years. Their NCAA Tournament victories came against Northern Iowa and Kansas before falling to Duke.

When asked about his future plans during Thursday’s pre-game media session, Pitino expressed his desire to continue coaching. “I’d like to stay in as long as I can,” he said. “As long as God willing is giving me good health, I’d like to stay in it as long as I can.”

Pitino brings extensive experience to St. John’s, with a career coaching record of 915-318 (.742 winning percentage). His coaching journey has included positions at Hawaii (1975-76), Boston University (1978-83), Providence (1985-87), Kentucky (1989-97), Louisville (2001-17), Iona (2020-22), and now St. John’s.

Throughout his career, Pitino has secured 12 regular-season conference championships and 16 conference tournament titles. His most notable achievements include leading Kentucky to the 1996 NCAA championship and Louisville to the 2013 national title.

Pitino also spent time in professional basketball, coaching the New York Knicks (1987-89) and Boston Celtics (1997-2001), where he posted a combined 192-220 record (.466 winning percentage).

March Madness delivered another unforgettable moment as the University of Connecticut punched their ticket to the Final Four with a heart-stopping victory over Duke in the Elite Eight round.

The Huskies’ dramatic win came courtesy of guard Braylon Mullins, who nailed a three-point shot from the logo with just 0.4 seconds remaining on the clock Sunday evening in Washington. The Indianapolis-area native’s clutch performance sent UConn to college basketball’s biggest stage.

Connecticut now joins Illinois, Arizona, and Michigan in the Final Four, setting up what promises to be an exciting conclusion to the 2026 NCAA tournament. The Huskies’ stunning upset of the highly-favored Blue Devils caps off another thrilling weekend of March Madness basketball.

Italian tennis sensation Jannik Sinner claimed the Miami Open championship on Sunday, defeating Czech opponent Jiri Lehecka 6-4, 6-4 in a weather-disrupted final that made tennis history.

The world’s second-ranked player achieved something no man had accomplished before – completing the prestigious ‘Sunshine Double’ while remaining undefeated in sets throughout both tournaments. His dominant serving performance saw him win 92% of first-serve points while successfully defending against all three break point attempts.

“We did a lot of work to be in this position, so I’m really, really happy, and I’m also happy to go back home now,” Sinner expressed following his championship victory.

“Making here the Sunshine Double here for the first time, it’s incredible. It’s something I would have never thought, because it’s also difficult to achieve, and yeah, we made it somehow, so I’m very happy.”

Weather proved challenging throughout the day, with approximately 90 minutes of rain delays before the match began. Sinner stayed relaxed during the interruption by juggling a soccer ball with his coaching staff.

The Italian established early control by securing a break for a 3-1 advantage, then relied on strong serving to claim the opening set without losing a point in his final service game.

More precipitation arrived during the second set’s first game, sending both players to the locker room for another 90-minute delay. Once again, Sinner maintained his composure by playing with a soccer ball alongside his team members.

Lehecka, ranked 22nd globally and competing in his inaugural Masters 1000 championship match, showed resilience by surviving five break opportunities across two service games in the second set. He even took a 4-3 lead with a love hold before Sinner seized control.

The Italian converted his sixth break chance of the set to move ahead 5-4, then sealed the title with a forehand volley to an open court on his first championship opportunity.

This accomplishment makes Sinner the first male player since Roger Federer in 2017 to capture both Indian Wells and Miami titles consecutively – an achievement dubbed the ‘Sunshine Double’ due to the tournaments’ California and Florida locations.

Sinner now joins an exclusive group of champions that includes Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andre Agassi, Marcelo Rios, Pete Sampras, Michael Chang, and Jim Courier. His victory also extended his remarkable Masters 1000 streak to 17 consecutive matches without dropping a set.

In a stunning upset that will be remembered for years, Braylon Mullins nailed a clutch three-pointer with just 0.4 seconds remaining to propel UConn past top-seeded Duke 73-72, securing the Huskies a place in the Final Four after overcoming a massive 19-point first-half deficit.

Duke appeared to have control of the game, holding a three-point advantage before UConn’s Silas Demary Jr. converted one of two free throws with 10 seconds on the clock. As the Blue Devils attempted to run out the clock and avoid fouling situations, Cayden Boozer’s pass near center court was knocked away. UConn recovered the loose ball, setting up Demary’s long-range shot from well beyond the arc. This marks consecutive seasons ending in devastating fashion for Duke, who entered as the tournament’s overall top seed.

The championship semifinals are now confirmed with UConn’s dramatic victory over Duke completing the Final Four bracket alongside Illinois, Arizona and Michigan. Illinois will meet UConn while Michigan squares off against Arizona this Saturday, with victors advancing to Monday’s championship game. The Arizona-Michigan contest features two top seeds, while UConn enters as a second seed facing third-seeded Illinois. According to BetMGM Sportsbook, Arizona leads as the early championship favorite followed by Michigan. The game-winning shot came from Mullins, who was raised near Indianapolis where the title game will be played.

Gary Woodland captured his first PGA Tour victory since undergoing brain surgery, claiming the Houston Open title just 30 months after his medical procedure. Woodland dominated the field, building leads as large as seven strokes and closing with a 67 to win by four shots. The golfer underwent surgery in September 2023 to remove a brain lesion that had caused irrational fears about dying. Two weeks prior to his Houston triumph, Woodland publicly shared his battle with post-traumatic stress disorder during an emotional Golf Channel interview. The victory earns him entry into the Masters tournament.

The Vegas Golden Knights dismissed head coach Bruce Cassidy on Sunday, immediately naming John Tortorella as his replacement. General Manager Kelly McCrimmon made the announcement following the team’s struggles, having dropped three consecutive games and six of their last seven contests. Tortorella brings 24 seasons of NHL head coaching experience to Vegas, though he was not coaching this season and served as a U.S. assistant coach at the Milan Cortina Olympics where the team captured gold. He previously guided Tampa Bay to the Stanley Cup championship in 2004. Cassidy had led the Golden Knights to their 2023 Stanley Cup title but was terminated less than three years into his tenure.

Yaxel Lendeborg powered Michigan’s dominant 95-62 victory over Tennessee with 27 points, propelling the Wolverines into the Final Four alongside Elliot Cadeau’s 10 assists in the NCAA Tournament rout. Morez Johnson Jr. contributed 12 points as top-seeded Michigan recorded their 11th win this season by 30 or more points. Aday Mara added 11 points and two blocked shots in the Midwest Region championship game. Utilizing their size and athletic advantages on both ends of the floor, Michigan earned their first Final Four berth since 2018 and ninth in program history. The Wolverines will face Arizona in Saturday’s national semifinal.

Defending champion UConn and coach Geno Auriemma advanced to their 25th women’s Final Four with a 70-52 victory over Notre Dame in the Fort Worth Regional final. All-America forward Sarah Strong led the undefeated Huskies with 21 points while Blanca Quiñonez contributed 20 in the win. UConn improved to 38-0 and extended their winning streak to 54 games as they pursue their 13th national championship. Fellow first-team AP All-America selection Azzi Fudd scored 13 points for the Huskies. Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo recorded 22 points and 11 rebounds in the Fighting Irish’s season-ending loss.

Lauren Betts dominated with 23 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks as UCLA overcame a halftime deficit to defeat Duke 70-58, earning the Bruins their second consecutive women’s Final Four appearance. Top-seeded UCLA will face either Texas or Michigan in Phoenix on Friday’s national semifinal round. The Bruins now sit just two victories away from capturing the program’s first NCAA championship. Third-seeded Duke challenged UCLA more than most opponents this season, with Taina Mair leading the Blue Devils with 21 points in their second straight regional final defeat.

Chase Elliott outmaneuvered Denny Hamlin at Martinsville Speedway to capture his first NASCAR Cup Series victory of the season. Elliott benefited from a strategic decision by crew chief Alan Gustafson to pit the No. 9 Chevrolet ahead of other contenders on Sunday. When a caution flag waved on lap 312, Elliott held the lead and joined other lead-lap drivers in pitting, except for Ross Chastain. Elliott passed Chastain following the restart and controlled the final 69 laps, winning by 0.565 seconds over Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota. Joey Logano claimed third place, with Ty Gibbs and William Byron rounding out the top five.

Irish rugby player Neff Giwa has committed to South Carolina’s football program despite never playing American football. The 6-foot-7½, 295-pound athlete from Tipperary chose the Gamecocks over scholarship offers from Miami, North Carolina, SMU, Tennessee and Texas to play offensive line. The 20-year-old, who also holds Nigerian citizenship, only became interested in football several months ago and connected with American recruiter Brandon Collier in Germany. Collier arranged a recent tour of U.S. colleges for Giwa, whose workout video attracted attention from multiple universities.

Chicago White Sox rookie Munetaka Murakami and Cleveland Guardians’ Chase DeLauter have joined an exclusive group by homering in each of their first three major league games, an achievement accomplished by only two previous players. According to Sportradar, Trevor Story of the Colorado Rockies in 2016 and Kyle Lewis of the Seattle Mariners in 2019 were the only other players to homer in at least their first three MLB contests. Story holds the major league record with home runs in his first four career games.

LAS VEGAS — The Vegas Golden Knights dismissed head coach Bruce Cassidy on Sunday, making a surprising late-season coaching switch by bringing in John Tortorella to take his place.

The decision was revealed by General Manager Kelly McCrimmon following the team’s recent struggles, having dropped three consecutive games and losing six of their last seven contests. Despite this rough patch, Vegas remains in third place within the Pacific Division and appears headed for playoff contention.

Tortorella arrives for what will be his 24th season as an NHL head coach. The veteran coach sat out this season but served as an assistant with the U.S. Olympic team that captured gold at the Milan Cortina Olympics. His coaching resume includes leading Tampa Bay to a Stanley Cup victory in 2004.

The dismissal comes less than three years after Cassidy guided the Golden Knights to their first Stanley Cup championship in 2023.

“Under Bruce’s leadership, we reached our ultimate goal in 2023 by bringing a Stanley Cup to Vegas,” McCrimmon stated. “Bruce will forever be remembered with the utmost regard by our organization for what was accomplished here. With the stretch run of the 2025-26 regular season upon us, we believe that a change is necessary for us to return to the level of play that is expected of our club.”

“With John Tortorella, we bring in a Stanley Cup Champion as well as one of the most experienced and respected coaches in the NHL. His guidance will be a great asset to our team at the pivotal point in the season we currently face,” McCrimmon added.

The coaching change comes as little shock considering Vegas’s performance following the Olympic break, posting a 5-10-2 record while being outscored 3.2 to 2.4 goals per game on average. This marks the first time the franchise will conclude a season with more losses than wins.

However, the timing caught some off guard, with only eight games left in the regular season and the Golden Knights maintaining a four-point cushion over Los Angeles for the Pacific Division’s third playoff position.

The organization has never been known for patience, consistently pursuing elite NHL talent through trades and free agency while demanding excellence from its coaching staff. Although Cassidy holds the record as the franchise’s longest-serving coach with a 178-99-43 record across four seasons, Vegas now moves forward with its fourth different coach as the organization completes its ninth campaign.

High expectations surrounded this squad entering the season after acquiring forward Mitch Marner through a sign-and-trade arrangement with Toronto. The team also controversially signed goaltender Carter Hart and acquired defenseman Rasmus Andersson via trade, among other significant roster moves.

Prior to the Olympic break, Vegas sat atop the division standings. However, their play since returning has fallen short of championship caliber, and the tactical adjustments that brought Cassidy success during the 2023 Cup run failed to produce similar results this time around. The Golden Knights have surrendered valuable points, suffering 16 losses in overtime or shootout situations.

Whether Cassidy’s dismissal represents desperation, necessity, or something in between, attention now turns to Tortorella’s capacity to maximize what management views as a championship-capable roster. With five players having competed in the Olympic gold medal game, that belief may have merit.

Since 2000, five teams have captured the Stanley Cup after making mid-season coaching changes, most recently St. Louis in 2019 when they replaced Mike Yeo with Craig Berube and defeated Cassidy’s Boston Bruins. Golden Knights forward Ivan Barbashev was part of that Blues championship team, playing alongside current Vegas teammate Alex Pietrangelo.

Tortorella is expected to bring a different atmosphere to the Golden Knights. While Cassidy challenged his players and enjoyed discussing hockey’s strategic aspects, Tortorella enters the veteran locker room with a reputation as an intense coach who embraces confrontation, typically achieving early success before eventually wearing out his welcome.

His coaching career spans 770-648-37 across five different organizations. Beyond his Stanley Cup triumph with Tampa Bay, he also coached Columbus when the Blue Jackets shocked the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Lightning with a first-round sweep in the 2019 playoffs.

The coach nicknamed “Torts” has limited time to work his magic in Vegas, starting with Monday night’s home matchup against Vancouver.

PHILADELPHIA — Andrew McCutchen channeled his inner Michael Jordan with a shoulder shrug and playfully apologized to a Phillies supporter after crossing home plate following his debut home run as a Texas Ranger.

Brandon Nimmo also connected for his inaugural long ball with Texas — a blast that only intensified the hostile reception from Philadelphia fans who relentlessly jeered the former New York Mets standout throughout the entire three-game series.

MacKenzie Gore continued his dominance over Philadelphia from his previous appearance. During his debut with Washington last season, he recorded 13 strikeouts against the Phillies. Gore maintained that excellence in his Rangers debut, carrying a no-hit bid into the sixth inning before working out of a bases-loaded situation by striking out two-time National League MVP Bryce Harper in Sunday’s 8-3 victory.

Inaugural home runs and Gore’s stellar first outing helped Texas capture two games out of three against the defending NL East champions.

For Rangers supporters tracking milestones, here’s another notable first — the inaugural series victory under new Texas skipper Skip Schumaker.

“It’s just confirmation of what we think our offense is,” Schumaker said.

Nimmo ignited the Texas attack by taking Philadelphia starter Jesús Luzardo (0-1) deep for a two-run blast in the second inning.

Nimmo has launched 11 home runs at Citizens Bank Park, more than any other road venue. He owns 16 career homers against Philadelphia, and their supporters haven’t forgotten his crucial go-ahead hit in Game 1 of the 2024 National League Division Series that propelled the Mets to victory and eventual series triumph.

Philadelphia fans unleashed a chorus of boos when Nimmo was announced on opening day, maintaining their hostility throughout all three contests.

“I hear the boos when I go up there,” Nimmo said with a smile. “It’s part of baseball. Part of baseball in the Northeast. It’s good to know they still remember me. Even though they don’t like me, I appreciate their passion for their team and the game. It’s been a great atmosphere to play here.”

Philadelphia supporters couldn’t generate the same level of animosity toward McCutchen, widely regarded as one of baseball’s most respected players who joined the Rangers during spring training after a potential Pittsburgh reunion fell through.

McCutchen, who played one season in Philadelphia and maintains a friendship with the heckling fan, delivered a three-run homer in the fourth inning for a 5-0 advantage. McCutchen also contributed an RBI single in the 10th inning during Saturday’s 5-3 Rangers victory.

McCutchen revealed he spent time with his Philadelphia sports fan friend who pleaded with him, “Stop hurting us.”

“I was like, no, dude, I can’t do that, I’m sorry,” McCutchen said with a laugh. “When I hit the homer, he was looking right at me. I was like, dude, I’m not sorry. It’s a good exchange between me and him, but he’s one of my guys.”

Gore is anticipated to be a cornerstone of Texas’ rotation following his acquisition for five prospects.

He provides the 2023 World Series champions with a starter capable of strengthening their rotation alongside Jacob deGrom — a two-time NL Cy Young Award winner who earned American League Comeback Player of the Year honors in 2025 — and Nathan Eovaldi, who battled a rotator cuff strain and underwent sports hernia surgery after posting a 1.73 ERA across 22 starts last season.

Gore recorded seven strikeouts and completed five hitless frames before his bid for Texas’ first no-hitter since Kenny Rogers’ perfect game in 1994 ended with a leadoff infield single by Justin Crawford in the sixth.

The southpaw struck out Harper with runners on all three bases in the sixth and departed after hitting Alec Bohm with a pitch to make the score 6-1.

“That’s a situation where we got ahead and we kind of wanted to put him away,” Gore said.

The 27-year-old Gore carries a 26-41 record with a 4.19 ERA across four major league campaigns, spending the last three with Washington. He earned NL All-Star recognition last season but struggled in the second half, finishing 5-15 with a 4.17 ERA and a career-high 185 strikeouts in 30 appearances, all starts.

Gore has compiled a 3.06 ERA (16 earned runs across 47 innings) with 57 strikeouts over his last eight starts against Philadelphia since early 2024.

“I don’t necessarily know if anybody is a great matchup against that lineup,” he said. “I think I just really understand what they’re capable of doing. I know I kind of have to be at my best to have success against them.”

Harper drew boos following his strikeout and managed just a .091 average with one RBI, one run and two walks during the opening series.

“Not the start we wanted to have (this) weekend,” Harper said, “but we’ll get there.”

Nobody in the home dugout wants to hear jeers just three games into the season. But those sounds represented a successful series for the Rangers.

“It’s totally OK they don’t like me,” Nimmo said.

The Vegas Golden Knights made a shocking coaching change Sunday, dismissing Bruce Cassidy and immediately naming John Tortorella as his replacement with just eight regular season games remaining.

The decision comes as the franchise struggles through what could be its worst season performance-wise, despite still having a chance to secure a playoff spot. Vegas currently holds a .541 points percentage, the lowest in the team’s nine-year NHL history.

Cassidy, 60, led the Golden Knights to their first Stanley Cup championship in 2023 during his inaugural season after spending six years with the Boston Bruins. However, the team has stumbled recently, dropping six of their past seven contests with a 1-4-2 record and sitting third in the Pacific Division standings.

Vegas General Manager Kelly McCrimmon acknowledged Cassidy’s contributions in an official statement: “We thank Bruce Cassidy for his dedication to our hockey club and community over the past four seasons. Under Bruce’s leadership, we reached our ultimate goal in 2023 by bringing a Stanley Cup to Vegas. Bruce will forever be remembered with the utmost regard by our organization for what was accomplished here.”

McCrimmon explained the timing of the change: “With the stretch run of the 2025-26 regular season upon us, we believe that a change is necessary for us to return to the level of play that is expected of our club. With John Tortorella, we bring in a Stanley Cup Champion as well as one of the most experienced and respected coaches in the NHL. His guidance will be a great asset to our team at the pivotal point in the season we currently face. We look forward to welcoming John to Vegas.”

Tortorella, 67, becomes available after Philadelphia released him during his third campaign with the Flyers in the 2024-25 season. He spent this year away from coaching duties.

The veteran coach previously guided Tampa Bay to the 2004 Stanley Cup title and has managed the New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks, and Columbus Blue Jackets during his career. His last playoff appearance came in 2020 while leading Columbus.

Tortorella brings extensive experience with a career record of 770-648-37-165 across 1,620 games spanning parts of 23 seasons. Cassidy concludes his tenure with a 470-254-9-96 mark over 829 games, including stops with Washington (2002-04), Boston (2016-22), and Vegas (2022-26).

The new coach could make his Golden Knights debut Monday evening when Vegas welcomes Vancouver to town.

Marco Bezzecchi maintained his flawless racing streak Sunday, claiming victory at the United States Grand Prix held at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas. The Aprilia rider dominated the 20-lap race from start to finish, marking his third straight triumph this season and extending his winning streak to five races dating back to the previous year.

The Italian motorcycle racer controlled the entire race, finishing with a commanding 2.036-second advantage over his Aprilia teammate Jorge Martin. Pedro Acosta managed to secure third place on the podium despite starting from eighth position due to a penalty received during Saturday’s sprint competition.

Sunday’s victory propelled Bezzecchi to the top of the championship standings with 81 points, establishing a four-point lead over Martin, who had claimed Saturday’s sprint race victory.

VR46 Racing’s Fabio Di Giannantonio, who started from pole position, ended the race in fourth place. Meanwhile, Francesco Bagnaia of the Ducati Lenovo Team, who won last year’s Austin race, could only manage a disappointing 10th-place finish.

LANDOVER, Maryland – France demonstrated impressive offensive strength and roster versatility in defeating Colombia 3-1 during a friendly match on Sunday, marking their last game before coach Didier Deschamps announces his World Cup team selection.

Desire Doue netted two goals as France dominated the match, with the team using a completely different starting eleven than the squad that defeated Brazil 2-1 just days earlier on Thursday. Despite the roster changes, Les Bleus controlled the game, with Doue’s pair of goals and an additional score from Marcus Thuram securing a convincing win.

Colombia managed to score once through Jaminton Campaz, but the team struggled to keep pace after showing promise early in the match.

France has faced criticism in the past for prioritizing tactical discipline over creative play, but across their two recent preparation matches, they successfully blended entertaining football with tactical effectiveness as they approach the June 11-July 19 World Cup – Deschamps’ final tournament as head coach.

“What we’ve produced over these two games is really interesting. We can’t wait to be in June,” said Rayan Cherki, who appeared well-suited to France’s 4-2-3-1 tactical setup.

Deschamps shared an optimistic view of his team’s performance.

“A very positive sporting assessment against two very strong South American teams,” he said. “We gave a lot of players opportunities… the quality is there.”

Following an energetic opening period, France broke through via Doue, who sent a low shot into the corner of the net in the 29th minute for his debut international goal.

Thuram extended France’s lead five minutes before halftime, directing a powerful header off the crossbar after connecting with a perfectly curved cross delivered by Maghnes Akliouche.

The outcome was essentially decided before the 60-minute mark.

France launched a swift counterattack from midfield, initiated by Akliouche before Cherki set up Thuram on the right flank. Thuram then passed across the goal area for Doue to finish with precision.

Moments before Kylian Mbappe entered as a late substitution, Campaz narrowed Colombia’s deficit with an accurate angled strike.

Both Mbappe and fellow substitute Hugo Ekitike nearly added a fourth goal during an exciting final period.

France will continue their World Cup preparation with a match against Ivory Coast in Nantes on June 4, followed by another contest against a yet-to-be-announced opponent on June 8.

Deschamps plans to reveal his World Cup roster on May 14.

Two rookie players have etched their names into baseball history this past week by achieving a feat accomplished by only two others before them.

Chicago White Sox player Munetaka Murakami and Cleveland Guardians outfielder Chase DeLauter have both launched home runs in each of their initial three major league contests. Sports data company Sportradar reports that just Trevor Story of the Colorado Rockies in 2016 and Kyle Lewis of the Seattle Mariners in 2019 had previously managed this accomplishment.

Story holds the major league record for consecutive games with home runs to start a career, going deep in his first four contests. DeLauter will have the opportunity to tie that mark when Cleveland faces Seattle on Sunday evening.

The 26-year-old Murakami secured his spot in this exclusive group on Sunday by driving a 3-2 offering from Milwaukee’s Brandon Sproat beyond the right-center field wall and into the White Sox bullpen during the second inning. The Japanese power hitter had previously connected off Jake Woodford in the ninth inning of his Thursday debut and launched another against Chad Patrick in Saturday’s fourth inning.

This marks Murakami’s inaugural major league series following his December signing of a two-year, $34 million deal with Chicago. During his eight seasons with Japan’s Central League Yakult Swallows, Murakami blasted 246 home runs, including an impressive 56-homer campaign in 2022.

The 24-year-old DeLauter has collected four home runs across his first three major league appearances.

The outfielder connected twice during his Thursday debut, becoming just the fifth player in the Guardians’ 126-year franchise history to homer in his inaugural regular-season plate appearance. He followed with a solo blast off Seattle’s George Kirby on Friday, then delivered a two-run shot against Andrés Muñoz during Saturday’s 10th inning.

Texas Rangers star pitcher Jacob deGrom is planning to take the mound for his first appearance of the season either Tuesday or Wednesday, following a brief setback from neck stiffness that caused him to miss his planned Saturday outing.

The veteran right-hander was unable to start Saturday’s game due to physical limitations, prompting the Rangers to substitute left-handed pitcher Jacob Latz against Philadelphia. Despite the last-minute change, Texas managed to secure a 5-4 win in extra innings.

DeGrom participated in throwing exercises Sunday, working at distances up to 120 feet as part of his recovery process. The Rangers begin a three-game road series against Baltimore on Monday, with manager Skip Schumaker indicating deGrom will likely start during the series’ final games.

“We’ll see how it goes (Monday),” deGrom said to media members. “It’s definitely a big improvement from yesterday.”

The 37-year-old veteran is coming off a remarkable comeback season in which he made 30 starts for the first time since 2019, earning American League Comeback Player of the Year honors for his performance.

Following Tommy John surgery that kept him sidelined for most of 2023 and 2024, the former Cy Young Award winner returned to action with three limited appearances for Texas in September 2024. Last season, he compiled a 12-8 record with a 2.97 earned run average while receiving his fifth All-Star Game selection.

The Wildcats of Arizona have secured their spot in the Final Four for the first time since 1999, defeating Purdue 79-64 in the West Region championship game in San Jose, California. Freshman standout Koa Peat led the top-seeded Wildcats with 20 points as head coach Tommy Lloyd finally broke through after previous March disappointments. Arizona demonstrated their versatility throughout the tournament, using an explosive offensive display to eliminate Arkansas in the Sweet 16 before stifling Purdue’s high-powered attack in the regional final.

In Houston, Illinois punched their ticket to the Final Four for the first time since 2005, overwhelming Iowa 71-59 in the South Region final. First-year player Keaton Wagler poured in 25 points and earned regional MVP honors as the Fighting Illini dominated the paint against the undersized Hawkeyes. Illinois controlled the boards 38-21, with David Mirkovic pulling down 12 rebounds. This marks the sixth Final Four appearance for Illinois, a program still seeking its first national championship. The Fighting Illini will meet either Duke or UConn next weekend in Indianapolis. Iowa’s surprising tournament run came to an end despite 24 points from Bennett Stirtz, as first-year head coach Ben McCollum’s squad couldn’t overcome Illinois’ size advantage.

In Formula 1 action from Suzuka, Japan, teenage sensation Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes claimed his second consecutive Grand Prix victory, winning the Japanese GP on a beautiful spring afternoon. The 19-year-old Italian driver finished ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc rounding out the podium in third place. George Russell of Mercedes placed fourth, followed by McLaren’s Lando Norris in fifth and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton in sixth. Antonelli, who captured his maiden F1 victory just two weeks earlier in China, has become the second-youngest race winner in the sport’s history, trailing only Max Verstappen who won at age 18 in 2016.

Speaking of Verstappen, the four-time world champion continues to express uncertainty about his racing future following an disappointing eighth-place finish at Suzuka. The 28-year-old Red Bull driver openly voiced his frustration with this season’s significant regulation changes and confirmed he hasn’t ruled out retirement when the current campaign concludes. When pressed by BBC reporters about whether this could be his final season, Verstappen responded, “That’s what I’m saying,” indicating he’s working “very hard” to find enjoyment in racing under the new rules.

NFL executives, owners, and coaching staffs are gathering in Arizona this week for their annual spring meetings, where several key issues will be addressed. The agenda includes discussions about replacement officials, potential rule modifications, artificial intelligence applications, player health and safety protocols, international expansion efforts, and the integration of flag football. Notably absent from this year’s talks is the controversial “tush push” play, which survived a close vote to ban it in 2025 and faces no new elimination proposals. NFC coaches will address the media Monday, AFC coaches Tuesday, with Commissioner Roger Goodell providing closing remarks.

Atlanta Braves designated hitter Dominic Smith made baseball history Saturday night, becoming the first player ever to hit a walk-off grand slam in his debut with a new organization. Smith’s dramatic blast capped a six-run ninth-inning rally that lifted the Braves to a 6-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals. The achievement carries extra emotional weight, as Smith lost his mother less than two weeks ago. Smith credited his new teammates with providing crucial support during spring training and throughout his recent personal tragedy, saying the organization lifted him up when he needed it most.

Two-time Olympic champion Caster Semenya voiced strong criticism of IOC President Kirsty Coventry following the International Olympic Committee’s recent decision to prohibit transgender women from competing in female categories at Olympic events. Speaking at a press conference in Cape Town after participating in a women’s race celebrating female empowerment and community solidarity, Semenya expressed particular disappointment given Coventry’s status as both a woman leader and fellow African from Zimbabwe. Her remarks came three days after the IOC announced the ban, which extends to all IOC-sanctioned competitions.

UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma launched a scathing attack on the NCAA’s double-regional format currently being used in the women’s March Madness tournament. The 12-time national champion coach argued the format hurts both competing teams and efforts to expand the sport’s popularity. Before fielding questions from reporters in Fort Worth, Texas, Auriemma criticized poor attendance figures, declining shooting percentages, and the burden placed on teams who must arrive early and stay late on the same day. The controversial format, now in its fourth year, is scheduled to continue for at least five more seasons.

Golf superstar Tiger Woods faces mounting legal troubles following his Friday arrest in Florida on suspicion of driving under the influence after a vehicle accident. Law enforcement officials determined Woods was impaired by medication, and he was taken into custody after declining to provide a urine sample. The timing proves particularly problematic for Woods, who plays a central role in restructuring the PGA Tour and was close to announcing his decision about serving as Ryder Cup captain. Additionally, Woods is scheduled to appear alongside Masters chairman Fred Ridley on April 5 for the unveiling of a new golf course development project.

National Football League team owners, executives and coaching staff will convene in Arizona this week for their yearly conference, where they’ll address numerous significant matters including backup referee plans, rule modifications, technology advances, player safety concerns, global expansion efforts and flag football initiatives.

Notably absent from this year’s agenda is the controversial “tush push” play that sparked heated debate twelve months ago, as no formal proposal exists to ban the strategy despite it nearly being eliminated in a narrow 2025 vote.

The meeting schedule includes NFC coaching staff addressing media on Monday, followed by AFC coaches on Tuesday, with Commissioner Roger Goodell providing closing remarks.

The most substantial proposal from the NFL competition committee involves backup plans should the league need substitute officials during a potential work dispute, similar to what occurred at the beginning of the 2012 campaign. The existing labor contract between the NFL and NFL Referees Association concludes on May 31.

Under this proposal, the replay headquarters in New York would gain authority to guide field officials regarding overlooked roughing the passer violations, intentional grounding infractions, and any actions warranting ejection if penalties had been assessed.

The NFL’s deployment of substitute officials during 2012’s opening three weeks led to numerous errors and incorrect decisions, most notably the controversial touchdown reception dubbed the “Fail Mary.”

“The negotiations with the officials have not gone as quickly as we would have wanted,” stated NFL executive Jeff Miller. “We’ve made a number of proposals. We’re looking to improve the accountability and performance of the officials, and we just haven’t gotten to where we need to go. So, we’re going to play football this fall, and we’re going to need officials to do it. So, this is part of the preparation, and we felt compelled to make these sorts of decisions in anticipation of playing football in a different environment.”

Multiple minor adjustments are being considered for the dynamic kickoff regulation now entering its third year of implementation.

“In 2024, we had 920 returns, and we had 25,000 return yards. In 2025, we had 2,076 returns, and we had 53,869 yards,” explained Rich McKay, Atlanta Falcons CEO and Competition Committee Chair. “So that’s just a crazy change in the game, one that we’ve worked on for a long time. It’s a credit to the special teams coaches who’ve gotten together and really helped influence where we are on that play. It’s a credit to our head coaches for being able to be flexible enough to adopt and adapt, I should say, to the play. So, it’s a really good story.”

“But we won’t just leave it alone. This year, we’re going to propose that we allow the 5-4-2 alignment. … That really was the original alignment the special teams coaches wanted, but we were just taking our time and kind of being a little conservative, if you will, in how we allowed the alignment change. So, that’s kind of our process and how we got to where we are,” McKay continued.

The organization has welcomed technological innovations and artificial intelligence developments, incorporating microchips into footballs and utilizing virtual measurement systems for first-down determinations.

“The ability to use any modern technologies in media to advance the game on the field or with our fans, especially internationally, is coming at a really important time for the league’s growth,” Miller noted.

The NFL plans nine international contests this season, featuring inaugural regular-season games in France and Australia. League officials aim to eventually conduct 16 overseas games annually.

“It’s an incredibly important area of our business and growth and takes up a good amount of time during these meetings,” Miller commented.

Kickoff-related concussions increased to 35 in 2025 from eight in 2024, primarily due to moving the touchback position to the 35-yard line, which generated 1,157 additional returns. The return percentage surged to 74% from 33% the previous season, marking the highest return rate in fifteen years. However, the overall injury rate remains lower than previous kickoff formats, when coverage teams had running starts versus the current standing start requirement.

“The goal was to have a fewer, lower injury rate on that play, and to make it seem more like a play from scrimmage, which has been accomplished by and large,” Miller stated. “But we always knew that we were going to revisit this play as soon as we had more data on it, and with an almost 75% return rate this year, we have a whole lot of plays that we’ve been working through and a lot of people and we’ve been working really diligently on this because we think the results are heading into a really good direction. But we do need to address the injuries that we saw to the returner and to the tackler this year.”

ATLANTA – Television viewers and players alike had trouble distinguishing between teams during Saturday’s international soccer friendly between the United States and Belgium, as uniform color similarities created widespread confusion throughout the Americans’ 5-2 loss.

The match served as a showcase for both nations’ new World Cup uniforms ahead of the tournament running from June 11 through July 19. The competition will take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Team USA debuted jerseys featuring red and white stripes inspired by the American flag, while Belgium introduced their alternate uniforms in light blue with pink details.

Belgian winger Jeremy Doku expressed frustration with the situation during post-game interviews with his country’s television network. “Sometimes you had to look twice, especially if you wanted to play quickly,” Doku explained. “I would have preferred clearer colours.”

USA team captain Christian Pulisic echoed those concerns when speaking with media representatives. “A lot of times you get the ball and you look up, you can’t really lock in on something. You only can base it off the colour of the shirt. That’s how it works,” Pulisic stated. “And when it’s very similar, it’s difficult.”

Belgian broadcasters issued an on-air apology to their audience following the conclusion of the match. Former Belgian national team player and current television analyst Marc Degryse directed sharp criticism toward event organizers.

“Football is a product that needs to be sold. Everything always has to be better and better, yet they still managed to make the match annoying with the jerseys,” Degryse commented. “This goes completely against the whole commercial aspect. This is really unacceptable.”

Officials from US Soccer defended their decision, stating that photographs of both team’s jerseys had been provided to match officials beforehand, and referees never expressed concerns about potential color conflicts.

Reports from Belgian news outlets on Sunday placed responsibility on the host American team, claiming they refused to compromise on wearing their new red and white design despite knowing it would create visibility issues with Belgium’s traditional red jerseys and their backup kit.

According to these reports, both nations wanted to unveil their new uniforms for the first time during this high-profile matchup. Belgium reportedly offered to switch to their standard red jerseys once the problem became apparent, but this solution proved ineffective since the American design also incorporated significant red elements. While the United States could have opted for their navy blue alternate uniforms, sources indicated this change would have conflicted with their marketing strategy.

Atlanta Braves newcomer Dominic Smith made baseball history Saturday night, launching a walk-off grand slam that capped a remarkable six-run ninth inning comeback to defeat the Kansas City Royals 6-2.

Smith’s dramatic 386-foot blast to right-center field came with one out against Kansas City closer Carlos Estevez (0-1), who couldn’t preserve a 2-0 lead. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Smith became the first player in Major League Baseball history to hit a walk-off grand slam in his debut with a new team.

The thrilling ninth-inning rally began when Drake Baldwin drew a leadoff walk, advanced to third on Matt Olson’s single, and came home on Mike Yastrzemski’s one-out single. Following Ozzie Albies’ walk, Jorge Mateo — running for Olson — crossed the plate with the tying run when Michael Harris II lined a single. Osvaldo Bido (1-0) earned the victory after striking out all three batters he faced in the ninth.

Kansas City had broken a scoreless deadlock in the seventh when Salvador Perez connected on a solo home run off Reynaldo Lopez’s first pitch, snapping the Royals’ 15-inning scoreless streak to begin the season. The blast marked Perez’s 304th career homer, putting him just 13 away from matching Hall of Famer George Brett’s franchise record.

Cardinals 6, Rays 5 (10 innings)

Rookie JJ Wetherholt delivered a clutch two-run single with one out in the 10th inning, propelling St. Louis to victory over visiting Tampa Bay. Jordan Walker opened the frame by drawing a four-pitch walk, placing runners on first and second. Victor Scott II executed a perfect sacrifice bunt to advance both runners before Wetherholt grounded the first pitch into right field for his first career walk-off hit. Griffin Jax (0-1) suffered the loss after failing to preserve the save in the 10th.

Cardinals closer Ryne Stanek (1-0) earned the victory despite surrendering the save in the ninth and allowing the go-ahead run in the 10th. Yandy Diaz had given Tampa a 5-4 advantage by singling home automatic runner Ben Williamson on the first pitch of the 10th inning.

Guardians 6, Mariners 5 (10 innings)

Chase DeLauter continued his hot streak with a two-run homer in the 10th inning, his third consecutive game with a long ball, as Cleveland defeated host Seattle. The Guardians broke a 3-3 deadlock when Brendon Donovan’s throwing error on Steven Kwan’s bunt allowed Brayan Rocchio to score from second base. DeLauter then crushed a 2-2 fastball from Andres Munoz (0-1) just over the left field wall for his fourth homer of the season.

Seattle’s Luke Raley answered with a two-run shot to center with one out in the bottom of the 10th, his third homer in three games, but right-hander Connor Brogdon struck out Leo Rivas and Cole Young to secure the save.

Reds 6, Red Sox 5 (11 innings)

Dane Myers drove home automatic runner TJ Friedl from second base with the decisive hit, leading host Cincinnati to a wild 11-inning victory over Boston. Sal Stewart homered and collected two RBIs, Elly De La Cruz belted his first homer of 2026, and Matt McLain contributed three hits as the Reds captured their first win of the season. Connor Phillips (1-0) struck out three and retired all five batters he faced in the 10th and 11th innings for the victory.

Trevor Story, who had homered earlier, lined into a double play to end the top of the 11th. Right-hander Justin Slaten (0-1) allowed the game-winning hit. Boston nearly avoided defeat when Wilyer Abreu homered in the ninth to tie the game at 5-all with the Red Sox down to their final out.

Rangers 5, Phillies 4 (10 innings)

Texas scored on a wild pitch and Andrew McCutchen’s RBI single in the 10th inning, then held on to defeat host Philadelphia. Corey Seager and Jake Burger launched early home runs for the Rangers, who squandered a 3-0 lead but recovered to give Skip Schumaker his first victory as their manager.

Philadelphia’s Brandon Marsh delivered the game-tying hit in the ninth for a 3-3 deadlock. Trailing 5-3 with two outs in the bottom of the 10th, Bryce Harper singled in one run, but reliever Tyler Alexander got Alec Bohm to pop out to end the game.

Mets 4, Pirates 2 (11 innings)

Luis Robert Jr. crushed a walk-off three-run homer in the 11th inning for New York, which rallied from multiple deficits in extra innings to beat visiting Pittsburgh. Bryan Reynolds had given the Pirates the lead with an RBI infield single in the top of the 11th before the Mets responded against Hunter Barco (0-1). Jorge Polanco worked a five-pitch walk, setting up Robert’s 1-0 pitch that sailed beyond the left-center-field wall for his first homer with New York and second career walk-off shot.

Richard Lovelady (1-0) allowed an unearned run in the top of the 11th before earning his first major league victory since 2024. Luis Torrens had tied the game with an RBI single in the 10th for the Mets. Pittsburgh’s Nick Gonzales contributed an RBI single in the top of the 10th, while Gonzales, Reynolds, and Jake Mangum each collected two hits.

Blue Jays 8, Athletics 7 (11 innings)

Ernie Clement stroked an RBI single in the 11th inning as host Toronto rallied to defeat Oakland. Clement’s hit off Luis Medina (0-1) gave the Blue Jays their second consecutive walk-off victory to start the season. Spencer Miles (1-0) made his major league debut in the 11th inning and worked around a walk to earn the win.

Shea Langeliers connected on his third career grand slam in the seventh inning to give Oakland a 6-2 advantage. Toronto’s Alejandro Kirk tied the game at six with a one-out solo homer in the ninth. Oakland’s Brent Rooker delivered an RBI single in the 10th, but the Blue Jays answered with Addison Barger’s sacrifice fly in the home 10th.

Dodgers 3, Diamondbacks 2

Will Smith launched a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning as the two-time defending champion Los Angeles completed a three-game, season-opening sweep with a victory over visiting Arizona. Freddie Freeman collected three hits, including an RBI double, starter Tyler Glasnow delivered six strong innings, and new Dodgers closer Edwin Diaz recorded his second save in two nights.

Corbin Carroll contributed a hit, an RBI, and a run scored, while Venezuela’s World Baseball Classic hero Eduardo Rodriguez allowed an unearned run over five-plus innings in a no-decision for Arizona.

Cubs 10, Nationals 2

Miguel Amaya and Ian Happ homered while right-hander Cade Horton pitched effectively into the seventh inning in a dominant season debut as host Chicago routed Washington. The Cubs out-hit the Nationals 9-4, with Amaya collecting two hits and two RBIs while Pete Crow-Armstrong added two hits. Horton (1-0) cruised with the offensive support, allowing two runs and four hits over 6 1/3 innings with one walk and four strikeouts.

Horton was perfect through three innings before James Wood connected on a solo home run for Washington’s only extra-base hit. Chicago pounded right-hander Miles Mikolas in his Nationals debut, tagging the veteran for six runs (four earned) and six hits in five innings. Mikolas (0-1) walked three and struck out four.

Twins 4, Orioles 1

Royce Lewis launched a two-run home run as Minnesota earned its first victory under first-year manager Derek Shelton by defeating host Baltimore. Six Minnesota pitchers combined on a five-hitter while striking out 16 batters and walking six. Anthony Banda (1-0) earned the victory with two-thirds of an inning of relief, while Cole Sands worked the ninth and was credited with a save.

Baltimore stranded 11 runners, with Jeremiah Jackson collecting two hits for the Orioles. Minnesota starter Taj Bradley struck out nine in 4 1/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits before finishing after 92 pitches. Orioles starter Kyle Bradish (0-1) lasted 4 2/3 innings, surrendering three runs (two earned) on two hits.

Brewers 6, White Sox 1

Chad Patrick pitched effectively into the fifth inning and Brice Turang doubled twice to lead Milwaukee past visiting Chicago for its second straight victory. Aaron Ashby (1-0) earned the win with 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. Patrick allowed one run on five hits in 4 1/3 innings, striking out four and walking one. Garrett Mitchell delivered a two-run single in a three-run first inning, and Christian Yelich went 3-for-5 with an RBI hit.

Munetaka Murakami homered for the second consecutive game, a 409-foot leadoff shot in the fourth inning off Patrick to pull Chicago within 4-1. Starter Sean Burke (0-1) allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits over four innings.

Astros 11, Angels 9

Yainer Diaz and Jake Meyers each drove in two runs during an eight-run sixth inning for Houston, which rallied from a six-run deficit to beat visiting Los Angeles. The Astros scored all eight runs with two outs. Isaac Paredes and Carlos Correa also contributed two RBIs apiece for Houston. Meyers, Correa, Yordan Alvarez, and Christian Walker each had two hits. Astros starter Cristian Javier lasted 4 2/3 innings, allowing six runs and four hits with one strikeout and four walks. Kai-Wei Teng (1-0) threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief to earn the victory.

Oswald Peraza homered and singled twice, Jorge Soler and Nolan Schanuel also homered, and Mike Trout singled, walked twice, and scored two runs for the Angels, who were attempting to start 3-0 for the first time since winning their first five games in 2006.

Yankees 3, Giants 1

Aaron Judge homered in his second straight game and Ben Rice doubled in two runs as visiting New York beat San Francisco to complete a three-game series sweep. San Francisco put its first two batters on base in the ninth against David Bednar before Harrison Bader struck out and Patrick Bailey grounded into a double play. The Giants scored their first run of the season in the third when Jung Hoo Lee hit a leadoff double off Will Warren and scored on Matt Chapman’s single up the middle.

Bednar recorded his second save in as many games for the Yankees, who outscored the Giants 13-1 in the series and turned four inning-ending double plays in the finale. Jake Bird (1-0), one of four New York relievers, earned the victory with 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

Padres 3, Tigers 0

Randy Vasquez fired six shutout innings as host San Diego beat Detroit and avoided a season-opening, three-game sweep. Vasquez allowed just two hits, both to third baseman Cole Keith, while walking three and striking out eight, one shy of his career high. Kyle Hart followed with two perfect innings and Mason Miller worked the ninth to earn the save. It was the first win for Craig Stammen, the Padres’ first-year manager.

Jack Flaherty absorbed the loss for Detroit, allowing four hits and three runs (two earned) over 4 1/3 innings. Flaherty walked four and struck out two.

Marlins 4, Rockies 3

Rookie Owen Caissie drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, and Liam Hicks posted three RBIs as Miami rallied to defeat visiting Colorado. Pete Fairbanks, acquired as an offseason free agent, earned his second save in two games for the Marlins. Caissie, acquired in January from the Cubs as part of the package for Edward Cabrera, went 3-for-4 with a double, a steal, and one RBI. Hicks had a two-run homer and a sacrifice fly.

Colorado connected on two home runs: a two-run shot by Ezequiel Tovar and TJ Rumfield’s solo blast. Rumfield’s homer was the first of his major-league career in just his second game. Calvin Faucher (1-0) earned the win with one inning of scoreless relief, while Jaden Hill (0-1) took the loss, allowing one run and two hits in 1 2/3 innings.

The Washington Capitals mounted a dramatic comeback Saturday night in Las Vegas, with Dylan Strome breaking out of a lengthy scoring slump to deliver both the equalizing goal and the shootout winner in a thrilling 5-4 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights.

Strome, who had been held without a goal for 17 consecutive games, found redemption after hitting the goalpost on his opening shot of the contest. The forward knotted the score at 4-4 during the middle portion of the final period, converting a power-play opportunity by firing a one-timer from the right circle’s center. He then sealed the victory in the shootout’s opening round, lifting a backhand shot over goaltender Adin Hill.

Washington received offensive contributions from Justin Sourdif, who recorded one goal and one assist, while Cole Hutson contributed two helpers. Hendrix Lapierre and Anthony Beauvillier also found the back of the net for the Capitals, who trail the Eastern Conference’s second wild card position by four points. Netminder Logan Thompson turned aside 25 shots and was perfect on all three shootout attempts he faced.

Vegas was led by Jack Eichel’s three-point performance, including one goal and two assists. Rasmus Andersson added a goal and assist, while Nic Dowd and Mitch Marner also scored for the Golden Knights, who suffered their third consecutive defeat and sixth loss in seven outings. Hill recorded 17 saves for Vegas, which now sits three points behind Pacific Division runner-up Edmonton.

In other NHL action, the New York Islanders exploded for five second-period goals to overcome Florida 5-2 in Elmont. Rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer tied a franchise record with his 56th point of the season, matching Stefan Persson’s mark from 1977-78. The victory moved New York one point ahead of Pittsburgh for the Metropolitan Division’s second playoff position.

Tampa Bay extended their point streak to seven games with a 4-2 triumph over Ottawa. Emil Lilleberg provided the go-ahead goal at 8:51 of the third period and finished with a career-high three points. Andrei Vasilevskiy earned his NHL-leading 35th victory with 26 saves.

Connor McDavid continued his pursuit of another scoring title, recording three points in Edmonton’s 4-2 victory over Anaheim. The league’s points leader now has 124 points on 42 goals and 82 assists, extending his point streak to four games.

Boston received two goals each from Pavel Zacha and Elias Lindholm in a 6-3 win over Minnesota, while Carolina kept pace atop the Eastern Conference with a 5-2 victory over New Jersey behind Nikolaj Ehlers’ goal and assist.

In late-game drama, Igor Chernyshov scored with 1:25 remaining to lift San Jose past Columbus 3-2, snapping the Sharks’ six-game losing streak. Cole Perfetti’s late third-period goal helped Winnipeg defeat Colorado 4-2, moving the Jets within three points of a Western Conference wild card spot.

Dallas ended a four-game slide with a 6-3 victory over Pittsburgh, getting Miko Rantanen back in the lineup after nearly two months. Montreal began a crucial five-game road trip with a 4-1 win in Nashville, while Buffalo rallied for a 3-2 shootout victory over Seattle.

St. Louis continued their dominant March with a 5-1 rout of Toronto, improving to 10-1-2 this month. Philadelphia matched a franchise record with their eighth consecutive road victory, defeating Detroit 5-3 behind Owen Tippett’s hat trick.

Utah strengthened their wild card position with a 6-2 victory over Los Angeles, while Calgary rode a four-goal second period to a 7-3 win over struggling Vancouver, extending their remarkable streak to 55 consecutive victories when scoring four or more goals.

The Philadelphia 76ers mounted an impressive comeback Saturday night, overcoming a 15-point deficit to defeat the Charlotte Hornets 118-114 in North Carolina. Joel Embiid led the charge with 29 points and delivered a crucial defensive block in the game’s final moments.

The victory brought Charlotte’s impressive five-game winning streak to an end and secured Philadelphia a 2-1 season series win, which could prove valuable for Eastern Conference playoff positioning.

Philadelphia received significant contributions from returning players. Paul George, playing just his second game after completing a 25-game suspension related to the league’s anti-drug policy violations, contributed 26 points. Tyrese Maxey matched that total with 26 points in his comeback performance after sitting out 10 games due to a finger injury.

Charlotte was paced by Brandon Miller’s 29-point effort, while LaMelo Ball chipped in 20 points and Coby White added 16. Despite the loss, the Hornets secured their first playoff tournament berth since 2022 after Milwaukee fell to San Antonio earlier Saturday.

Spurs 127, Bucks 95

Stephon Castle recorded his fourth triple-double this season as San Antonio dominated Milwaukee on the road, extending their winning streak to eight consecutive games.

The victory marked San Antonio’s 13th win in their last 14 contests, keeping them within striking distance of Oklahoma City for the Western Conference’s top position. The Spurs trail the defending champion Thunder by just two games with eight regular season matchups remaining.

Castle posted 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, while Victor Wembanyama paced all scorers with 23 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. Milwaukee, playing without Giannis Antetokounmpo for the sixth consecutive game due to a left knee issue, was led by Gary Trent Jr.’s 18 points.

Pistons 109, Timberwolves 87

Tobias Harris delivered an efficient 18-point performance on 7-of-10 shooting as Detroit dominated Minnesota in Minneapolis for a convincing road victory.

Ronald Holland II and Daniss Jenkins each contributed 13 points for the Pistons, who captured their sixth victory in seven outings. Paul Reed provided 12 points from the bench, while Jalen Duren achieved a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.

Minnesota’s Donte DiVincenzo topped all scorers with 22 points, connecting on five three-point attempts. Rudy Gobert recorded 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Julius Randle managed just 11 points on a difficult 2-of-13 shooting night. Detroit’s 60-43 second-half scoring advantage proved decisive.

Hawks 123, Kings 113

Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s 27-point performance and Jalen Johnson’s 26 points and 10 assists helped Atlanta defeat Sacramento, delivering coach Quin Snyder his 500th career victory and making him the sixth active NBA coach to reach that milestone.

CJ McCollum added 22 points while Jock Landale recorded 19 points and 13 rebounds for Atlanta, which has now won 15 of their last 17 games. Zaccharie Risacher scored 13 points and Mohamed Gueye contributed 10 for the Hawks, who maintain a half-game advantage over Philadelphia for the Eastern Conference’s sixth seed.

Sacramento received 22 points from DeMar DeRozan and 18 points with 10 rebounds from Maxime Raynaud. Precious Achiuwa scored 16, DaQuan Jeffries added 15, and Daeqwon Plowden contributed 14 for the Kings, who suffered their third straight defeat. Malik Monk and Killian Hayes each scored 10 points.

Suns 134, Jazz 109

Jalen Green exploded for 31 points with five three-pointers while Devin Booker added 26 points as Phoenix matched their season scoring high in a dominant performance against Utah.

Grayson Allen scored 19 points and Oso Ighodaro contributed 13 points and eight rebounds for the Suns, who snapped a rough stretch that saw them lose six of seven games. Green shot an impressive 13-of-22 from the field and 5-of-11 from beyond the arc, adding six rebounds and three assists in just 22 minutes. Booker distributed eight assists.

Utah received 26 points from Kyle Filipowski, who also grabbed nine rebounds, while Brice Sensabaugh matched that scoring total. Svi Mykhailiuk scored all 14 of his points after halftime for the Jazz, who have now dropped five straight games and 17 of their last 20.

Grizzlies 125, Bulls 124

Cedric Coward’s 24-point effort, including two clutch free throws with 6.5 seconds remaining, lifted Memphis over Chicago and ended a five-game losing skid.

Tyler Burton contributed 18 points for the Grizzlies while Jahmai Mashack added 17. Rayan Rupert and DeJon Jarreau each finished with 14 points.

Chicago was led by Matas Buzelis, who recorded 29 points and 10 rebounds, followed by Collin Sexton’s 26-point output. Josh Giddey notched his 13th triple-double this season with 18 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists, while Tre Jones added 19 points, nine rebounds, and six assists. The Bulls extended their losing streak to three games and have now fallen in five of their last six contests.

Former boxing champion Floyd Mayweather clarified Saturday that his upcoming rematch against Manny Pacquiao will be staged as an exhibition match, with the location still undetermined.

The 49-year-old Mayweather and 47-year-old Pacquiao had previously revealed plans last month to face off at Las Vegas’ Sphere venue in September, with Netflix set to stream the event worldwide.

Speaking to Vegas Sports Today, Mayweather explained the uncertainty surrounding the venue: “As of right now, we don’t know exactly where the fight is going to be at.”

“The Sphere is one of the places that they talked about. So, we don’t know if it’s 100% going to be there,” he continued.

“And this is not actually a fight, it’s an exhibition…”

“It’s an exhibition, so we’re both winners. I mean, we just want to go out there and entertain the people and put on a good show,” Mayweather stated.

Netflix has not yet provided a response when contacted for comment.

Mayweather had previously declared his intention to come out of retirement last month. His most recent professional match took place in 2017 when he faced mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor.

The undefeated American boxer maintains a flawless 50-0 professional record with 27 knockouts and previously beat Pacquiao, a former eight-division world champion, back in 2015.

Chicago and Washington finalized a player exchange on Saturday that brings catcher Boston Smith to the White Sox organization while sending infielder Curtis Mead to the Nationals.

The 23-year-old Smith was selected by Washington in the sixth round of the 2025 First-Year Player Draft but has yet to begin his professional career in the minors. During his final college season at Wright State, Smith earned consensus second-team All-American honors after posting a .330 batting average along with 26 home runs, 70 RBIs and 70 runs scored across 59 games in 2025. His home run total tied him for first place among all Division I players, while his .770 slugging percentage ranked seventh nationally.

The 25-year-old Mead had been placed on waivers by Chicago earlier this week on Wednesday. During his time with the White Sox last season, the Australian player managed a .240 batting average without any home runs while driving in 11 runs over 41 games. The White Sox originally obtained Mead from Tampa Bay on July 31 in a four-player transaction that sent right-handed pitcher Adrian Houser to the Rays.

ATLANTA — In an emotional and historic moment Saturday night, Atlanta Braves designated hitter Dominic Smith accomplished something never before seen in Major League Baseball history, all while grieving the recent loss of his mother.

Smith became the first MLB player ever to hit a walk-off grand slam during his debut with a new team, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. His dramatic home run capped off a remarkable six-run ninth inning comeback that gave the Braves a 6-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals.

The achievement carries extra significance as Smith’s mother died from cancer less than two weeks ago. Throughout his personal struggle, Smith says his new teammates have provided unwavering support.

“It’s just amazing,” Smith commented after the game. “Played against the Braves for a long time, and being on the other side a lot of these endings kind of hurt, so to be on the right side of it this time was so fun.”

Smith, who barely made the Braves’ opening day roster, shared with reporters how the organization supported him during spring training while his mother battled illness. After receiving her cancer diagnosis in September, she nearly died when training camp began. Smith departed the team for more than a week during a health “scare,” but returned to compete for his roster spot. He was not present in California when she passed away.

“This team is just so awesome,” Smith expressed. “I’m so blessed because of the love they showed me, the support every day. They’re asking about her, asking about her well-being, my well-being, and that’s all they really cared about. They didn’t care about baseball.”

Smith’s moment of gratitude came in the ninth inning against Royals closer Carlos Estévez, who led the majors with 42 saves last season. The Braves had overcome a 2-0 deficit with RBI singles from Mike Yastrzemski and Michael Harris II, loading the bases with one out. After taking a timeout to compose himself on a full count, Smith launched a fly ball into the right field stands, sending the sold-out crowd into celebration.

Smith described feeling his mother’s presence during the celebration and looks forward to the team’s upcoming road trip to Anaheim, where he can visit family and “say his goodbyes.”

“I got choked up a bunch of times, and it’s, you know, I’m trying to hold back tears now,” he said. “I feel her every day. I miss her dearly. It’s not a moment I don’t think about her. And like I said, I’m just so thankful because this team knows what I’m going through. So they really, you know, picked me up the last few weeks.”

Troy University has named Adam Howard, an assistant coach from North Carolina State, as their new men’s basketball head coach, the university revealed on Saturday evening.

Howard steps into the role previously held by Scott Cross, who departed following the NCAA Tournament to take the head coaching position at Georgia Tech. Cross concluded his seven-year run with the program after achieving five consecutive seasons with at least 20 victories.

The Trojans compiled a 22-12 record during the most recent season and secured their second consecutive NCAA Tournament berth. However, their tournament run ended quickly as the 13th-seeded team suffered a decisive 76-47 defeat against Nebraska in the opening round.

The new coach brings familiarity with the program, having served as an assistant at Troy from 2016 to 2018. During his previous tenure, the Trojans earned a spot in the 2017 NCAA Tournament.

Howard completed his first and only season at NC State, where the Wolfpack posted a 20-14 record and made the NCAA Tournament before falling to Texas in the First Four. Following the season, NC State head coach Will Wade moved on to LSU.

Throughout his coaching career, Howard has worked as an assistant at multiple programs, including Southern Miss from 2012 to 2014, Tennessee in 2014, South Alabama from 2018 to 2022, and Nebraska from 2022 to 2025.

Howard’s tenure at Tennessee ended abruptly in November 2014 when he stepped down for personal reasons. His departure occurred while both he and then-head coach Donnie Tyndall faced NCAA investigation regarding recruiting violations that allegedly took place at Southern Miss, where Tyndall had previously served as head coach.

Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic will sit out Monday’s matchup against the Washington Wizards after the NBA handed down a one-game suspension without pay following his 16th technical foul of the season.

The league’s top scorer received the technical during Friday night’s 116-99 home victory over Brooklyn, when he and Nets forward Ziaire Williams got into a scuffle with 5:12 left in the third quarter.

The incident began when officials called Doncic for an offensive foul. Video replay revealed Doncic shoving Williams, prompting the Brooklyn player to swipe back at Doncic’s face area.

Under NBA regulations, a player’s 16th technical foul automatically triggers a suspension. The penalty will cost Doncic roughly $264,000, which represents 1/174th of his yearly contract according to ESPN. Moving forward, league policy mandates additional one-game suspensions for every two more technical fouls he accumulates.

The Lakers had previously won an appeal regarding Doncic’s latest technical, which occurred during a heated exchange with Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze on March 21. Officials ultimately reversed those technical fouls.

The 27-year-old guard leads the NBA in scoring with 33.7 points per game while contributing 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds for the Lakers, who hold a 48-26 record and sit third in the Western Conference standings with eight regular season contests remaining.

Doncic brings an impressive resume that includes six All-Star selections, five All-NBA first team honors, and the 2018-19 Rookie of the Year award.

MEXICO CITY – A tragic accident claimed the life of a spectator at the newly refurbished Azteca Stadium in Mexico City during Saturday’s reopening festivities, according to security personnel.

The fatal incident took place as the historic venue, officially called Estadio Banorte following renovations, was hosting an international friendly match between Mexico and Portugal. The game was designed as a trial run for the facility following intensive around-the-clock construction work to complete renovations by Saturday’s target date.

Security officials report that the victim had been drinking alcohol before attempting a dangerous maneuver. The man tried to leap from second-floor luxury seating to the lower level by scaling the building’s exterior structure, but instead plummeted to the stadium’s ground level.

The venue holds special significance in soccer history, as it is set to become the first stadium ever to host World Cup matches across three separate tournaments. The facility is also slated to hold the opening ceremony on June 11.

NASCAR veteran Denny Hamlin secured his 49th career pole position Saturday at Martinsville Speedway, earning the front-row starting spot for Sunday’s Cook Out 400 race scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET on FS1.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver piloted his No. 11 Toyota around the half-mile track at 98.241 mph during qualifying, besting Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron in the No. 24 Chevrolet by a narrow margin of .056 seconds. The two drivers will lead the field when racing begins Sunday, with Hamlin seeking his second win this season while Byron aims to deliver Chevrolet’s first victory of 2026.

“I knew it was possible simply from where my car was in practice,” Hamlin commented after securing his fifth pole award at the Virginia short track. “Any time you’ve got fast lap speed in practice here that’s in the top 12, you’re close enough there that qualifying trim doesn’t change your car that much.”

“You’ve got enough speed to where you nail it and do a good enough job as a driver you’ve got a chance at the pole, so I knew it was very possible but truthfully, I approached the lap to get in the top eight. I think I’d go faster if I went and did it again right now, but I think I’ll go on and stand on my time,” he continued with a grin.

This latest pole achievement places Hamlin in a tie with Bobby Isaac for 10th place on the all-time Cup Series pole winners list, a milestone that appeared to catch the driver off guard. When informed of the accomplishment, Hamlin immediately responded competitively, asking “Who has the next most on the list?” Ryan Newman holds the next spot with 51 pole awards.

“I never really go into any weekend thinking about qualifying on pole, it’s really kind of a sidebar to how my Saturday goes,” Hamlin explained. “It’s pretty awesome, and really, with age, the hardest part is actually still having a fast time. It’s one thing to be able to manage races and use your experience to your advantage. But usually, the first thing to go is your raw speed and we’re still knocking off poles, which is really good.”

Wood Brothers Racing’s Josh Berry claimed the third starting position in his No. 21 Ford, while Hamlin’s teammate Ty Gibbs qualified fourth in the No. 54 Toyota to complete the second row.

Trackhouse Racing driver Shane van Gisbergen delivered a strong oval qualifying performance, earning fifth place in the No. 97 Chevrolet.

The remainder of the top ten starting lineup features Austin Cindric, Carson Hocevar, championship points leader Tyler Reddick, Joey Logano, and Chase Elliott.

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants tied a team record Saturday when they went 20 consecutive innings without putting a run on the board to open the season, before breaking through with their first score in the third inning during their matchup with the New York Yankees.

The Giants had been blanked by New York in consecutive games, losing 7-0 and 3-0 while managing just four hits across both contests — marking the first occurrence in Major League Baseball history of a team starting a season with such offensive struggles.

Jung Hoo Lee kicked off the third inning Saturday by smacking a double to right field off pitcher Will Warren, followed by Matt Chapman delivering an RBI single that sent the home crowd into a frenzy as supporters leaped from their seats in clear relief.

First-year skipper Tony Vitello, who was elevated from his position at the University of Tennessee despite lacking any professional playing or coaching background, joined an exclusive group as the ninth manager in baseball history to see his team shut out in both of his initial two games, and the seventh to experience this during his first two games overall, based on Sportradar data.

The streak of 20 innings without a run equaled the franchise record established in 1909, when the Giants failed to score for 13 innings in their season opener and the opening seven innings of their second game.

The San Diego Padres remain the only franchise to suffer three consecutive shutouts to begin a campaign, which occurred in 2016 when Los Angeles swept them en route to a disappointing 68-94 record.

A historic night for women’s professional soccer unfolded Saturday as the Denver Summit and Washington Spirit battled to a goalless tie in front of 63,004 spectators, establishing a new National Women’s Soccer League attendance milestone at the Denver Broncos’ stadium.

The massive turnout obliterated the previous NWSL attendance mark of 40,091, which was established during a Bay FC match at Oracle Park in San Francisco last season.

Both teams’ goalkeepers delivered stellar performances to maintain the stalemate. Denver’s Abby Smith recorded her second consecutive shutout with two saves, while Washington’s Sandy MacIver matched that effort with two stops of her own.

The Summit improved to 1-1-2 with the result, while the Spirit remained winless at 0-1-3 through four matches this season.

Elsewhere across the league, Portland secured a 2-0 victory against Kansas City at Providence Park, highlighted by Olivia Moultrie’s penalty conversion in the 53rd minute. The 20-year-old midfielder achieved a historic milestone, becoming the youngest player in league history to reach 20 career goals, surpassing Sam Kerr’s previous record from 2016.

Reilyn Turner extended Portland’s advantage with a goal in the 63rd minute, lifting the Thorns to 3-1-0. Kansas City dropped to 1-3-0 and continues facing challenges without injured two-time NWSL MVP Temwa Chawinga, who is sidelined for the remainder of the season with a hip problem.

The match marked a special return for Thorns forward Sophia Wilson, who made her first start of the campaign after returning from maternity leave.

In Utah, the Royals overcame Boston Legacy 2-1 behind goals from Tatumn Milazzo and Lara Prasnikar. Milazzo, back from a one-game suspension for a red card, found the net with a close-range finish in the 33rd minute for her second goal this season.

Utah doubled their lead when Mina Tanaka drew a penalty in the 49th minute, which Prasnikar successfully converted. Boston avoided the shutout when Aissata Traoré scored in the 72nd minute, but the Legacy remained winless at 0-3-0 while Utah improved to 1-2-1.

NEW YORK — The NBA has handed down a one-game suspension without pay to Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic after he accumulated his 16th technical foul of the current season, league officials confirmed Saturday.

The league’s top scorer received dual technical fouls in the third period of Los Angeles’ commanding 116-99 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday evening.

The incident began when Brooklyn’s Ziaire Williams enthusiastically celebrated an offensive foul call against Doncic by shouting directly at the star player from close range. Doncic attempted to push Williams’ arm away, prompting Williams to swing his hand across Doncic’s face in response.

NBA regulations mandate an automatic one-game suspension without compensation once any player or coach accumulates 16 technical fouls in a regular season. Additional suspensions follow for every pair of technical fouls beyond that threshold.

The suspension will take effect Monday when Los Angeles welcomes the Washington Wizards to their home court. Doncic contributed 41 points in the victory over Brooklyn.

Following Friday’s contest, Doncic explained his perspective on the altercation: “He was yelling in my face three times. I just wanted to get out of there. It’s a double tech, of course. What can I say? I didn’t even talk. I just wanted to get out of there. (The referee) said my push was exaggerated, which (it) was obviously not. I don’t know what else to say.”

Game officials conducted a review of the confrontation before assessing technical fouls to both participants.

The league recently overturned one of Doncic’s previous technical fouls from last week following a dispute with Orlando’s Goga Bitadze. While the NBA did not provide an official explanation for the reversal, Doncic claimed Bitadze made derogatory comments about his family in Serbian, which Bitadze disputed.

ATLANTA – The United States men’s national soccer team suffered a devastating 5-2 defeat to Belgium during Saturday’s international friendly match in Atlanta, a troubling result that raises serious questions about the team’s World Cup readiness.

The Americans initially grabbed control when Weston McKennie scored from a corner kick in the 39th minute, but Belgian defender Zeno Debast answered with a powerful long-distance strike that leveled the match at halftime.

Belgium took command in the second half as Amadou Onana found the net just eight minutes after the break, followed by Charles De Ketelaere converting from the penalty spot six minutes later to push the lead to 3-1.

Substitute Dodi Lukebakio delivered a spectacular fourth goal in the 68th minute, showcasing Belgium’s dominance, then added his second score nine minutes before full time. Patrick Agyemang managed a late goal for the United States in the 87th minute following a Belgian defensive mistake.

With both nations using this match as World Cup preparation ahead of June’s tournament, Belgium’s commanding performance will boost their confidence while leaving the co-host Americans with significant concerns three months before competition begins.

Jeremy Doku tormented the American defense throughout the match, his skillful dribbling along the left side creating constant problems as Belgium controlled most phases of play.

The United States had initially seized the advantage when McKennie moved unmarked into position to redirect Antonee Robinson’s curving corner kick into the goal.

Doku’s 45th-minute attempt was deflected by goalkeeper Matt Turner, but the ball fell to Debast outside the penalty box, who fired a low shot that caught Turner off guard and found the back of the net.

Doku’s continued attacking created the opportunity for Onana to score with a skillful side-footed finish, while the subsequent penalty was granted after video review determined American captain Tim Ream had illegally used his hand to block a shot attempt.

Lukebakio’s opening goal came after veteran fullback Thomas Meunier made a deep run from the defensive end, though the substitute still had to cut inside and curl a shot into the upper corner.

Belgium’s fifth goal resulted from a simple finish off Timothy Castagne’s cross, while defensive errors by Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens and Youri Tielemans allowed Agyemang to score the Americans’ second goal.

Belgium will remain in the United States for another World Cup preparation match against Mexico in Chicago on Tuesday, while the Americans will host Portugal in Atlanta the same evening.

Denver Summit FC’s first-ever home match ended without any scoring as the expansion team battled Washington Spirit to a 0-0 tie on Saturday, despite playing before a historic crowd that shattered NWSL attendance records.

The milestone game at Empower Field at Mile High drew 63,004 fans, marking the largest crowd in league history. However, the massive audience witnessed a defensive struggle where neither team could find the back of the net throughout 90 minutes of play.

Both squads generated limited scoring chances, combining for just seven corner kicks without capitalizing on any of them. Denver’s goalkeeper Abby Smith recorded two saves to help the Summit improve to 1-2-1 with 5 points on the season.

Washington’s Sandy MacIver also made two saves, but the Spirit continue searching for their first victory at 0-3-1 with 3 points.

In other NWSL action, Utah Royals defeated Boston Legacy FC 2-1 in Foxborough, Massachusetts, claiming their first win of the campaign behind Lara Prasnikar’s second-half penalty kick.

Tatumn Milazzo opened the scoring for Utah in the first half, and Prasnikar extended the lead to 2-0 just five minutes into the second period after Anni Karich committed a foul inside the penalty box.

Boston avoided a shutout when Aissata Traore scored in the 72nd minute for Legacy, which entered the match having been blanked in their opening two games. The physical contest saw officials call 40 total fouls, with Boston committing 25 of them. The loss dropped Legacy to 0-0-3 with zero points.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka claimed her second consecutive Miami Open championship Saturday, defeating American star Coco Gauff 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 to achieve the rare ‘Sunshine Double’ distinction.

The Belarusian tennis champion’s victory over Gauff in their latest showdown makes her only the fifth woman in tennis history to capture both the Indian Wells and Miami tournaments in the same season. This accomplishment earns the nickname ‘Sunshine Double’ due to the California and Florida locations of these prestigious events.

Sabalenka dominated her first serves, winning 73 percent of those points while facing only two break point opportunities throughout the match. The defending champion had advanced to the final without losing a single set during the tournament.

During the awards ceremony, Sabalenka praised her opponent: “I want to start with (Coco). You’re a fighter and you also push me so hard to be a better player and I like our rivalry.” The victory gives Sabalenka a 7-6 career record against Gauff.

The match began with Sabalenka jumping ahead 2-0, but Gauff, who hails from nearby Delray Beach and was competing in her first Miami final, responded with a service hold at love. The Florida resident then saved three break points in her following service game to narrow the gap to 3-2.

However, Sabalenka maintained her composure and secured a double break advantage over the world’s fourth-ranked player before wrapping up the first set on her own serve.

The second set featured closely matched play with both players holding serve until Gauff managed her lone break of the contest against Sabalenka, pushing the match to a decisive third set.

In the final set, Sabalenka immediately broke Gauff’s serve, then held her own service games at love twice consecutively to build a 5-3 advantage. She clinched the championship with her fourth break of the match when Gauff’s backhand sailed wide.

This triumph makes Sabalenka the first player to win consecutive Miami Open titles since Ashleigh Barty accomplished the feat in 2019 and 2021. The 2020 tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sabalenka now joins an elite group including Iga Swiatek (2022), Victoria Azarenka (2016), Kim Clijsters (2005), and Steffi Graf (1994, 1996) as the only women to complete the ‘Sunshine Double.’

The victory improves Sabalenka’s 2025 record to an impressive 23-1, with her sole defeat coming in the Australian Open final against Elena Rybakina. She later defeated Rybakina in both the Indian Wells final and Miami semifinals.

Gauff offered gracious remarks following the match: “Aryna congratulations. We’ve had many battles, many finals and, yeah, I think you push me to be a better player. You’re a great fighter and hopefully we can play many more. I think we will.”

A massive turnout of 63,004 spectators established a new National Women’s Soccer League attendance milestone when the expansion Denver Summit faced off against the Washington Spirit at Mile High Stadium on Saturday.

The enormous crowd at the Denver Broncos’ venue easily surpassed the former NWSL attendance mark of 40,091, which was set when Bay FC hosted the Spirit at Oracle Park, the San Francisco Giants’ ballpark, during the previous season.

The previous year saw the Chicago Stars attract 35,038 supporters for their contest against Bay FC at Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs’ home venue.

Saturday’s contest marked the Summit’s inaugural home appearance in Colorado. The franchise had completed three away matches to start the season, posting a record of one win, one loss, and one tie. The Summit and Spirit battled to a 0-0 tie in Saturday’s historic matchup.

The league granted Denver its 16th franchise in January 2025, with reports indicating an expansion payment of $110 million. The Summit began competition this season alongside fellow newcomer Boston Legacy.

Following their debut at Mile High, the Summit will relocate their home matches to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, which serves as the home venue for MLS club Colorado Rapids. Come July, the team plans to transition to the temporary 12,000-capacity Centennial Stadium during construction of a dedicated women’s soccer facility in downtown Denver.

Earlier this week, the Summit confirmed they had finalized the purchase of property at Santa Fe Yards for their permanent stadium, with the organization targeting completion by the 2028 campaign.

History was made on the soccer field as the Denver Summit celebrated their first season with a record-breaking achievement.

A massive crowd of 63,004 spectators packed Empower Field on Saturday to watch the Summit face off against the Washington Spirit, shattering the National Women’s Soccer League’s all-time single-game attendance record.

The previous attendance milestone belonged to Bay FC, who welcomed 40,091 supporters to Oracle Park last August. Prior to Denver’s achievement, no NWSL franchise had ever drawn more than 40,000 fans to a single match.

Saturday’s historic game at Empower Field marks the Summit’s final appearance at the venue. The team will relocate to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park for the remainder of their debut season leading up to the FIFA World Cup and NWSL intermission. That facility accommodates approximately 18,000 spectators.

Following the break, Denver will complete their season schedule at the newly constructed Centennial Stadium, which will house the franchise through 2028. The state-of-the-art venue features a seating capacity of 12,000.

Going into Saturday’s showdown with the Spirit, the Summit held five points with a season record of one win, two losses, and one draw. The historic match concluded in a scoreless 0-0 stalemate.

Italian racing prodigy Kimi Antonelli has claimed his second straight Formula 1 pole position, setting the fastest qualifying time for Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Japan.

The 19-year-old Mercedes driver made history last week by becoming the youngest competitor to ever secure an F1 pole position, then followed that achievement with his first career victory at the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.

Antonelli dominated Saturday’s qualifying session at the 3.6-mile Suzuka track with a blazing lap time of 1 minute, 28.778 seconds, narrowly beating his Mercedes teammate George Russell from Great Britain. McLaren-Mercedes driver Oscar Piastri of Australia rounded out the top three starting positions.

“It was a good session, I’m happy with it,” Antonelli said. “I think I was able to improve lap by lap. That first Q3 lap was good. Second lap was looking strong but then at Turn 11, I locked up and lost quite a bit of time so it was a shame.”

“I was a bit annoyed with that but (I got) pole position. I felt good in the car, felt good with the track, and now focusing on (Sunday’s race).”

Mercedes has now dominated qualifying for three consecutive races, with Russell earning pole at the season opener in Australia. Russell currently tops the championship standings with 51 points after winning in Australia, while Antonelli sits just four points behind in second place with 47 points.

“It’s just trying to keep this momentum and keep on trying to improve and squeeze a bit of performance every time without overdoing it,” Antonelli said. “I think overall I’m getting a good feeling with the car.”

University of North Carolina freshman basketball standout Caleb Wilson has announced his decision to enter the 2026 NBA Draft, ending his college career after just one season.

The 19-year-old forward, standing 6-foot-10, put up impressive numbers during his abbreviated freshman campaign, posting averages of 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds across 24 contests. However, his season was cut short when he sat out the final nine games due to injuries to his hand and thumb.

Wilson made his announcement through social media on Friday, sharing a series of photographs on Instagram with the caption “never take it for granted” along with the hashtag “8 out,” a reference to the jersey number he wore for the Tar Heels.

Despite missing significant time due to injury, the teenage forward earned recognition as an All-American second team selection and was named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference first team. Draft analysts currently project him to be selected within the top five picks of this summer’s draft.

Wilson’s injury troubles began during a February 10 matchup against Miami when he suffered a fractured left hand. His setbacks continued when he broke his right thumb during a practice dunking session on March 5, requiring surgical intervention the following day.

The announcement comes during a period of upheaval for the North Carolina program, which dismissed head coach Hubert Davis on Tuesday following a disappointing season. The sixth-seeded Tar Heels were eliminated in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on March 19, falling 82-78 in overtime to 11th-seeded VCU.

Jeff Siemon, the legendary Minnesota Vikings linebacker who earned four Pro Bowl selections during his NFL career, passed away Saturday at the age of 75.

While the Vikings organization confirmed Siemon’s death, they have not released details about what caused his passing.

The Stanford University product dedicated his entire professional football career to Minnesota after the team chose him as the 10th selection in the 1972 NFL Draft. During the franchise’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2010, Siemon received recognition as one of the 50 Greatest Vikings in team history.

His Pro Bowl honors came in 1973, 1975, 1976, and 1977, marking him as one of the premier linebackers of his era.

Former Vikings defensive back Bobby Bryant shared his memories of Siemon following news of his death, according to the team’s official website.

“Jeff was a great teammate — a leader for us on the field and a really good linebacker. He was key to our teams,” Bryant said.

“As good of a player that Jeff was, he was a better person — truly one of the best guys we had. You never heard anyone speak cross of Jeff. His faith was his guide, and he was not afraid to share it with people. He touched so many.”

Throughout his professional career, Siemon appeared in 156 games and started 124 of them. His defensive statistics included 11 interceptions, 11 fumble recoveries, and seven quarterback sacks.

Professional tennis player David Goffin from Belgium revealed on Friday his intention to conclude his competitive career after the 2026 season ends.

The 35-year-old athlete has secured six ATP singles championships throughout his professional journey and holds a career win-loss record of 357-275, achieving his highest world ranking of seventh place in 2017.

“Some decisions stay with you for a long time. I’ve given everything for this sport, and tennis has given me more than I could ever have imagined,” Goffin expressed in an Instagram video announcement. “The matches, the battles, the wins, the losses. The emotions. The people who were there through all of it. And that’s why this has been one of the hardest decisions of my life.”

Throughout his career, Goffin’s strongest Grand Slam performances included reaching the quarterfinal rounds at Roland Garros in 2016, the Australian Open in 2017, and Wimbledon in both 2019 and 2022. He also advanced to the championship match of the ATP Finals in 2017.

The Belgian player’s latest tournament championship came in Morocco during 2022. Throughout his professional tenure, he has recorded 21 victories against players ranked in the top 10, with notable wins coming against tennis legends Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.

Multiple media sources report that North Carolina State University conducted an interview Saturday with Saint Louis basketball head coach Josh Schertz as they search for a new leader of their men’s basketball program.

The Wolfpack coaching position became available Thursday when Will Wade departed to take the head coaching role at LSU. During his single year leading NC State, Wade compiled a 20-14 record and secured the team’s spot in the NCAA Tournament.

The 50-year-old Schertz recently committed to Saint Louis through a lucrative six-year deal worth $20 million, which he signed on March 13. Reports indicate he had previously declined an interview opportunity with Kansas State before agreeing to the extension.

Under Schertz’s leadership this past season, the Billikens achieved an impressive 29-6 record in 2025-26, with their tournament run ending in a second-round loss to top-seeded Michigan on March 21.

During his inaugural 2024-25 campaign at Saint Louis, Schertz transformed the program from a 13-20 record the year before his arrival to a 19-15 finish. This season, the Billikens captured the Atlantic 10 regular season championship and earned the conference tournament’s top seed, though they were eliminated by Dayton in the semifinal round.

Before joining Saint Louis, Schertz spent three years leading Indiana State’s basketball program, where he guided the team to the NIT championship game during the 2023-24 season. His career coaching record stands at 114-61.

Tennessee associate coach Justin Gainey, a former NC State guard who played for the Wolfpack from 1996 to 2000, has also emerged as a candidate for the vacant position.

Multiple sources reported Saturday that the Milwaukee Brewers plan to promote catching prospect Jeferson Quero for his first appearance in the major leagues.

The team will need to make a corresponding roster adjustment before Saturday’s matchup with the Chicago White Sox at home. The 23-year-old catcher holds the No. 8 spot on MLB.com’s ranking of Milwaukee’s top prospects.

After William Contreras and Gary Sanchez were tapped as the team’s primary catchers to begin the season, Quero was assigned to Triple-A Nashville. There, he appeared in just one contest, drawing a walk across four trips to the plate.

Throughout his six-year minor league career, the Venezuelan player has maintained a .275 batting average while collecting 39 homers and driving in 171 runs across 279 contests. During his 58-game stint with Nashville last year, he posted a .255 average along with six home runs and 44 RBIs.

Shoulder surgery limited Quero to just a single game during the entire 2024 minor league campaign.

Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen was cleared to return from injured reserve Saturday, just hours before his team faced the Pittsburgh Penguins on the road.

The 29-year-old player had been out of action since the Olympic break following a lower-body injury he suffered while representing Finland at the Milan Cortina Games.

Rantanen’s injury occurred during Finland’s matchup with Canada on February 20th, preventing him from participating in the bronze-medal game against Slovakia. During his Olympic stint, he contributed six points through two goals and four assists across five contests for the Finnish national team.

This season, the 11-year NHL veteran has compiled 69 points for Dallas, recording 20 goals and 49 assists through 54 games played.

Currently under an eight-year deal worth $96 million, Rantanen brings extensive experience with 774 career points spanning 706 NHL games. His career statistics include 314 goals and 460 assists across stints with Colorado (2015-25), Carolina (2025), and Dallas (2025-26). Colorado selected him 10th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft, and he was part of the Avalanche’s Stanley Cup championship team in 2022.

Texas Rangers star pitcher Jacob deGrom will not take the mound Saturday against the Philadelphia Phillies after being sidelined with neck stiffness.

The Rangers have turned to left-handed pitcher Jacob Latz to fill the starting role after their 5-3 defeat to Philadelphia in Thursday’s season opener.

DeGrom, 37, completed his most active season since 2019 last year, taking the mound for 30 starts. His performance earned him recognition as the American League Comeback Player of the Year.

The veteran pitcher’s recent seasons were largely derailed by Tommy John surgery, which kept him off the field for most of 2023 and 2024. The former Cy Young Award winner made a brief return in September 2024 with three short appearances for Texas, before bouncing back with a strong 2025 campaign that included a 12-8 record, 2.97 ERA, and his fifth All-Star Game selection.

Latz, 29, brings solid credentials to his emergency start, having compiled a 2-0 record with a 2.84 ERA across 33 appearances last season, including eight as a starter.

Dallas has added experienced pass rusher Jonathan Bullard to their defensive lineup, with his representative confirming Saturday that the veteran defensive end has agreed to a one-year contract worth $2.5 million with the Cowboys.

The 32-year-old defender spent the 2024 season with New Orleans, where he registered 26 tackles across 15 appearances, including six games as a starter for the Saints.

Throughout his eight-year NFL career spanning 131 games with 59 starts, Bullard has accumulated 6.5 quarterback sacks, 247 total tackles, 32 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, 10 pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. His professional journey has taken him through Chicago (2016-18), Arizona (2019), Seattle (2020), Atlanta (2021), Minnesota (2022-24), and most recently New Orleans. The Bears selected him in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

There’s already a connection between Bullard and Dallas leadership, as Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer previously served as Seattle’s offensive coordinator during Bullard’s 2020 season with the Seahawks.

Portland Thorns defender Reyna Reyes will sit out another game following an extended one-match suspension handed down for her conduct during a March 20 matchup with the Seattle Reign.

The incident occurred when Reyes was ejected from the game after grabbing Seattle defender Madison Curry by the hair during the 57th minute of Portland’s 2-0 victory. She already completed her mandatory one-game suspension during Portland’s Wednesday defeat to San Diego Wave, losing 3-1.

The league announced the extended penalty on Friday, meaning Reyes will be absent from Saturday’s home game when Kansas City Current visits.

According to the NWSL Disciplinary Committee’s findings, the 25-year-old defender broke Section 12.4.11 of the league’s operations manual, which covers “Major Game Misconduct.”

This marks Reyes’ fourth year playing for Portland after the team drafted her fifth overall in the 2023 NWSL Draft following her college career at Alabama.

Miami Marlins first baseman Christopher Morel will miss at least the next 10 days after the team placed him on the injured list Saturday due to a left oblique strain.

The Marlins are bringing up first baseman Deyvison De Los Santos from their Triple-A affiliate in Jacksonville to take Morel’s spot on the roster.

The 26-year-old Morel was pulled from the lineup before Friday’s season opener, which Miami won 2-1 over the Colorado Rockies.

Morel joined the Marlins this past December on a one-year contract worth $2 million after spending last season with the Tampa Bay Rays, where he hit .219 with 11 home runs and 33 RBIs across 105 games in 2025.

Throughout his major league career spanning 477 games with the Chicago Cubs (2022-24) and Rays (2024-25), Morel has compiled a .222/.299/.415 batting line with 74 homers and 210 RBIs.

De Los Santos, 22, is still waiting for his first major league opportunity. In Jacksonville’s season-opening 8-7 defeat to Rochester on Friday, he collected two hits in four at-bats, including a home run that drove in three runs and scored twice.

Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo isn’t entertaining thoughts of stepping away from coaching, even at age 71 and after three decades leading the Spartans program.

Following his team’s Sweet 16 defeat against UConn on Friday, reporters questioned where the veteran coach envisions himself five years from now.

“Trying to win a national championship — plain and simple,” Izzo responded, referencing his 2000 championship victory with Michigan State.

The Spartans concluded their season with a 27-8 record after the 67-63 defeat in Washington, D.C., bringing Izzo’s overall coaching record to 764-310 (.711) since he assumed control of the East Lansing program during the 1995-96 season. Under his leadership, the team has qualified for 28 NCAA Tournaments and advanced to eight Final Four appearances.

The accomplished coach, who earned Big Ten Coach of the Year honors four times and national Coach of the Year recognition twice, received induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. Despite checking off virtually every milestone a coach could achieve, Izzo emphasized he’s far from ready to step aside.

“We all talk about retirement,” Izzo explained. “Why? What the hell am I going to do? The minute I don’t feel good, the minute I don’t feel like I’m giving my AD or president or school every ounce of energy I have every day or that energy drops, you don’t have to worry about it. I don’t steal money. I won’t steal anybody’s time. But it’s sure as hell not going to be now.”

“I’ve got some things to accomplish.”

Looking ahead to next season, Izzo anticipates seven or eight current players will return, complemented by an incoming freshman class. He also addressed the transfer portal situation.

“The only difference is the portal at Michigan State is different than the portal at most places,” he noted. “I’m going right to my frickin’ locker room, and I’m going to talk to each and every player right there. I’m going to make some decisions about what we’re going to do that I feel very comfortable with.”

Despite missing out on their first Final Four appearance since 2019, Izzo maintained an optimistic perspective.

“I’m the luckiest guy in the world. I’m just not lucky enough to be playing on Sunday,” Izzo concluded. “I’ll get to play on another Sunday. Hang around.”

University of Mississippi quarterback Trinidad Chambliss has overcome another major legal obstacle in his fight to continue playing college football through the 2026 season.

The Mississippi Supreme Court rejected the NCAA’s request on Friday to challenge a previous state court decision that favored the player.

While the legal proceedings aren’t finished, attorneys familiar with the case believe it’s improbable the matter will reach a conclusion before Chambliss completes his upcoming season with the Rebels.

The NCAA had challenged a February decision from a Pittsboro, Mississippi judge who issued an injunction granting Chambliss an additional year of college playing time based on a medical redshirt he received in 2022 while at Ferris State.

In their 658-page appeal document, the NCAA requested the court reverse the injunction that allowed Chambliss to continue his college career instead of entering the 2026 NFL Draft.

The quarterback, who placed eighth in this year’s Heisman Trophy voting while guiding the Rebels to the College Football Playoff semifinals, initially saw his request for a sixth year of eligibility rejected by the NCAA on January 9.

Chambliss played his initial four collegiate seasons at Ferris State University. He took a redshirt year as a freshman in 2021, played only two games in 2022 due to injury, and served primarily as a backup with just 33 pass attempts in 2023 before leading Ferris State to the Division II national title in 2024.

After transferring to Ole Miss in 2025, he became the starting quarterback in Week 3 when Austin Simmons was injured. Chambliss guided the Rebels to a 13-2 record that concluded with a 31-27 defeat to Miami in the Fiesta Bowl on January 8.

During his Ole Miss campaign, Chambliss achieved a 66.1% completion rate, throwing for 3,937 yards with 22 touchdowns and only three interceptions. He also contributed 527 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns.

Although he secured a substantial NIL agreement to stay at Ole Miss, that deal faced uncertainty when his eligibility waiver was initially rejected.

SUZUKA, Japan – Nineteen-year-old Italian Formula One driver Kimi Antonelli secured the top starting position for Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix by making his first qualifying lap count at Suzuka Circuit.

The young Mercedes driver posted a time of 1 minute, 28.778 seconds during his initial run in the final qualifying session, which proved fast enough to earn pole position despite a costly error on his follow-up attempt.

Antonelli experienced a wheel lock-up during his second qualifying run that prevented him from improving his time, but his opening effort was sufficient to outpace Mercedes teammate George Russell by nearly three-tenths of a second.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff praised the teenager’s approach during an interview with Sky Sports, saying “Putting that one lap in that was very good.”

“Bono (Antonelli’s engineer Peter Bonnington) told him to put a banker in – and then he pushed it a little bit hard on the last one and it wasn’t so good, but it’s really pleasing to see,” Wolff explained.

In Formula One qualifying, drivers commonly attempt two fast laps during the final session. The opening run serves as a safety net, with drivers typically exercising caution to guarantee a competitive time before attempting a more aggressive final lap for pole position.

Antonelli’s cautious strategy proved successful, marking the 50th pole position achieved by an Italian driver in Formula One history.

The achievement comes just two weeks after Antonelli captured his maiden pole position and race victory in China, as he now seeks his first triumph at Suzuka’s challenging circuit, widely regarded as one of motorsport’s premier tracks.

Wolff highlighted the young driver’s composure under pressure, noting “When you hear his radio communications, also on the intercom in the garage, it’s just calm.”

“Not putting himself too much under pressure,” the team boss added.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers’ major offseason investments are already showing returns as the defending World Series champions began their quest for a third consecutive title.

In Friday night’s 5-4 triumph over the Arizona Diamondbacks, closer Edwin Diaz secured his inaugural save as a Dodger while outfielder Kyle Tucker delivered the decisive run-scoring single during the eighth inning.

When Diaz entered for the ninth inning, he was accompanied by the live trumpet sounds of Tatiana Tate, who performed from the stands beside the left field bullpen. Sporting Diaz’s No. 3 uniform, she delivered Timmy Trumpet’s “Narcos” theme song that previously energized New York Mets supporters before Los Angeles secured the popular reliever with a three-year, $69 million contract.

“It’s really cool because it’s another way to keep the fans involved in the game until the ninth inning because they’re all going to be waiting for that,” infielder Miguel Rojas said. “Having Sugar in the ninth is always going to be special.”

Though supporters might hear a recorded soundtrack going forward, as Tate — who has performed alongside Stevie Wonder and Doechii — won’t be a consistent fixture throughout the campaign.

Díaz recorded two strikeouts and issued one walk. Last season with the Mets, he successfully completed 28 of 31 save opportunities.

“I always get a little bit nervous when I come into the game, but at the end of the day I was excited, too,” Diaz said. “I come in a one-run game was really big for me. I want to set it down the second day of the season, help this team to win, get the save and keep going.”

Los Angeles captured consecutive World Series titles without establishing a dedicated closer, though the approach sometimes created challenges. Kenley Jansen was the last pitcher to serve in that capacity, leading the National League in saves twice during his tenure with the franchise.

Diaz now brings reliability, proven experience, and confidence to the bullpen’s final inning.

“It’s going to be a lot on Sugar because he’s going to have to be under a lot of pressure,” Rojas said, “but he’s done it before. He’s the right guy for the task.”

Manager Dave Roberts initially doubted the Dodgers could successfully recruit Diaz after the right-handed pitcher declined the remaining two years and $38 million on his Mets deal.

Following a 45-minute video conference with Diaz and front office personnel, Roberts told his spouse, “We’re going to get him.”

“It was selling ourselves and talking about how much we valued him and the culture of the team and the ownership and how we’ll do anything to win,” Roberts recalled. “He talked to his wife and convinced her moving West was a good decision.”

Roberts believes another advantage was that Diaz’s younger sibling, Alexis, had joined Los Angeles last May as a relief pitcher before moving to the Texas Rangers organization.

“Calling him up from the minors and us treating him like a superstar, I think that kind of helped make that decision and comfort going forward,” Roberts said.

For Diaz, the appeal was clear: “A lot of good players here. Everyone stays healthy, this team has a chance to win a three-peat,” he said.

Tucker finished 1-for-3 with the game-deciding hit and one stolen base. During Thursday’s debut, the right fielder recorded his initial hit and RBI in an 8-2 comeback win. He committed to a four-year, $240 million agreement after departing the Chicago Cubs.

“I’m excited for them to have the opportunity to play in this environment and feel part of the family,” Rojas said. “I’m pretty sure they’re looking closely at how fun it’s been.”