Category: Sports

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma City Thunder will face Saturday night’s decisive Game 7 matchup against the San Antonio Spurs without two key players, as Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell remain sidelined due to injuries that have plagued them during the Western Conference finals.

Williams continues to battle a left hamstring strain that has troubled him throughout much of the postseason. Mitchell is dealing with a strained right soleus muscle.

The injury struggles have been a recurring theme for Williams, who sat out 49 of the team’s 82 regular-season contests due to wrist and hamstring ailments. Saturday’s Game 7 will mark the 10th playoff game this season that Williams has been unable to participate in due to his latest hamstring troubles. He did manage to appear in five games during this series, including approximately 10 minutes of action during Thursday’s Game 6 defeat to the Spurs.

Mitchell had stepped into the starting role to fill Williams’ absence until sustaining his own injury. Since then, Oklahoma City has turned to Jared McCain as their starter in that position, joining Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Isaiah Hartenstein, Lu Dort and Chet Holmgren in the starting five.

In contrast, the Spurs enter Game 7 with a clean bill of health, listing no injuries on their report.

The NBA has assigned Marc Davis, John Goble and Josh Tiven as the officiating crew for Saturday’s winner-take-all contest between the Spurs and Thunder. Both Davis and Tiven bring Game 7 experience from earlier in these playoffs, with Davis having worked the deciding game of the Cleveland-Detroit series in Round 2, while Tiven officiated Game 7 of the Orlando-Detroit matchup in Round 1.

The Chicago Bulls are reportedly showing interest in BYU head coach Kevin Young as they search for a new leader to guide their franchise.

According to ESPN’s Friday report, the organization has begun “early conversations” with Young as part of their comprehensive search to find Billy Donovan’s replacement, who departed on April 21 following six seasons with the team.

The Bulls also made significant front office changes last month, letting go of executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley. The franchise struggled this season with a 31-51 record and failed to reach the playoffs for the eighth time in nine seasons.

The 44-year-old Young has compiled an impressive 49-22 record while leading BYU and secured two NCAA Tournament berths since accepting the position in April 2024, taking over after Mark Pope departed for Kentucky.

Under Young’s leadership, the Cougars advanced to the Sweet 16 and concluded his debut season ranked 13th in the final poll. The team achieved a peak ranking of seventh this past season.

Before joining BYU, Young served as an assistant coach with the Phoenix Suns from 2020-24, spending his final three years there as associate head coach. His NBA experience also includes four seasons as an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers from 2016-20, along with head coaching experience across several NBA G League organizations.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka dominated her way into the French Open fourth round on Saturday, defeating Daria Kasatkina of Australia 6-0, 7-5 at Roland Garros in Paris.

The victory brought stability to a tournament that has seen major surprises over the past two days, including the exits of top seed Jannik Sinner and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.

Sabalenka’s dominant performance sets up an exciting fourth-round matchup against Japan’s Naomi Osaka.

Playing under sunny skies on Court Suzanne Lenglen, Sabalenka quickly took control of the match. She captured the first five games using powerful baseline shots combined with accurate net play, then battled back from a 15-40 deficit to complete a first-set shutout.

Kasatkina, who was born in Russia but started competing for Australia last year, managed to break serve and hold in the second set, prompting enthusiastic “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie” cheers from supporters. However, those celebrations were short-lived.

A mistake by Kasatkina enabled Sabalenka to even the second set at 2-2. The four-time Grand Slam winner maintained her position throughout the set before increasing her aggression in the final games to close out the match.

The win marked Sabalenka’s eighth victory in their 10 career encounters.

PARIS, May 30 – Key results from Saturday’s seventh day of competition at the French Open tennis tournament (all times GMT):

1350 SABALENKA ADVANCES TO FACE OSAKA

World number one Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus defeated Daria Kasatkina 6-0 7-5, earning a fourth-round matchup against four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka.

1208 OSAKA MAKES FRENCH OPEN BREAKTHROUGH

Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, advanced to the French Open’s fourth round for the first time in her career, defeating 17th-seeded American Iva Jovic 7-6(5) 6-7(3) 6-4.

1156 COBOLLI ADVANCES IN STRAIGHT SETS

Italy’s 10th-seeded Flavio Cobolli, who made the Wimbledon quarterfinals last season, dominated American 18th seed Learner Tien with a 6-2 6-2 6-3 victory to reach his first French Open fourth round.

Cobolli’s next opponent will be Zachary Svajda in the round of 16.

0908 COMPETITION BEGINS

Saturday’s matches commenced under hot weather conditions at Roland Garros, with Paris temperatures reaching 28 degrees Celsius and forecasted to climb to approximately 33 degrees. The French national weather service Meteo France issued a high-temperature advisory for the capital city.

Defending women’s champion Coco Gauff was scheduled to compete against Anastasia Potapova, while top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka faced Daria Kasatkina.

SATURDAY’S MATCH SCHEDULE (numbers indicate tournament seeding):

COURT PHILIPPE CHATRIER

10-Flavio Cobolli (Italy) v 18-Learner Tien (U.S.)

Diane Parry (France) v 6-Amanda Anisimova (U.S.)

4-Coco Gauff (U.S.) v 28-Anastasia Potapova (Austria)

4-Felix Auger-Aliassime (Canada) v 31-Brandon Nakashima (U.S.)

COURT SUZANNE LENGLEN

17-Iva Jovic (U.S.) v 16-Naomi Osaka (Japan)

1-Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) v Daria Kasatkina (Australia)

Moise Kouame (France) v Alejandro Tabilo (Chile)

Jaime Faria (Portugal) v 19-Frances Tiafoe (U.S.)

COURT SIMONNE MATHIEU

Maria Sakkari (Greece) v Maja Chwalinska (Poland)

Matteo Berrettini (Italy) v Francisco Comesana (Argentina)

9-Victoria Mboko (Canada) v 19-Madison Keys (U.S.)

PARIS, May 30 – Key results from Saturday’s seventh day of competition at the French Open tennis tournament (all times in GMT):

1208 OSAKA MAKES HISTORIC FRENCH OPEN BREAKTHROUGH

Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, achieved a career milestone by advancing to the French Open’s round of 16 for the first time. The Japanese player, seeded 16th, defeated American 17th seed Iva Jovic in a three-set match with scores of 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 6-4.

Osaka’s next opponent will be determined by the outcome of the match between top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka and Daria Kasatkina.

1156 COBOLLI ADVANCES WITH STRAIGHT-SET VICTORY

Italian 10th seed Flavio Cobolli secured his first-ever spot in the French Open’s fourth round by defeating American 18th seed Learner Tien. The Italian, who made the Wimbledon quarter-finals last season, won convincingly 6-2, 6-2, 6-3.

Cobolli’s round of 16 opponent will be Zachary Svajda.

0908 HOT CONDITIONS MARK START OF PLAY

Competition commenced at Roland Garros under sweltering weather conditions, with temperatures reaching approximately 28 degrees Celsius in the French capital and forecasted to climb to around 33 degrees. The public weather service Meteo France issued a high-temperature alert for Paris.

Saturday’s featured matches included defending women’s champion Coco Gauff facing Anastasia Potapova, and world number one Aryna Sabalenka meeting Daria Kasatkina.

PARIS – Italian tennis player Flavio Cobolli dominated American Learner Tien on Saturday at the French Open, winning in straight sets with scores of 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 to move forward to the tournament’s fourth round.

The 10th-seeded Italian, who has only reached a Grand Slam fourth round once before, quickly jumped ahead 3-0 in the opening set. Tien appeared tired after his grueling five-set victory over Facundo Diaz Acosta in the prior round.

The 18th-ranked American entered Saturday’s match riding a six-game winning streak following his first clay court championship in Geneva the previous week. However, once he fell behind 4-1 in the second set, it became evident his winning streak was nearing its conclusion.

Cobolli secured the second set with an ace and benefited from a backhand mistake by Tien. The Italian maintained his aggressive play to take a 3-1 advantage in the third set after breaking serve early once again.

The 24-year-old Cobolli will face American Zachary Svajda in his next match.

PARIS, May 30 – Naomi Osaka battled through a challenging three-set match to defeat American teenager Iva Jovic 7-6(5) 6-7(3) 6-4 on Saturday, advancing to her first French Open fourth round appearance.

The former world number one made headlines not just for her tennis but also for her eye-catching gold sequined ensemble, marking another bold fashion choice during her Paris campaign. However, the 18-year-old Jovic proved she wouldn’t be distracted by the glamour, delivering an impressive performance in her debut Grand Slam third-round match.

Despite being in uncharted tournament waters, Jovic appeared comfortable competing on Court Suzanne Lenglen, forcing the 16th-seeded Osaka into a first-set tiebreaker. Osaka had squandered two opportunities to close out the set at 6-5 before finally securing it 7-5 in the tiebreak after needing three set points.

The second set followed a similar pattern, with both players exchanging breaks before Jovic claimed the tiebreaker to even the match at one set apiece.

The deciding set remained tightly contested as Jovic continued to stand her ground, matching Osaka’s powerful shots throughout the battle. However, Osaka managed to create a match point opportunity while leading 5-4 with Jovic serving, successfully converting the chance to secure her spot in the next round.

Osaka’s next opponent will be determined by the outcome of the match between top seed Aryna Sabalenka and Australian Daria Kasatkina.

PARIS, May 30 – Key moments from Saturday’s action at the French Open tennis tournament (all times in GMT):

1156 COBOLLI ADVANCES WITH COMMANDING VICTORY OVER TIEN

Flavio Cobolli, the 10th-seeded player from Italy who made it to the Wimbledon quarter-finals last season, defeated 18th-seeded American Learner Tien with scores of 6-2, 6-2, 6-3. This victory marks Cobolli’s first advancement to the fourth round at Roland Garros.

0908 MATCHES BEGIN DESPITE SCORCHING CONDITIONS

Tournament action commenced under sweltering weather conditions at the Roland Garros complex, with thermometers registering around 28 degrees Celsius in the French capital and forecasts calling for peaks near 33 degrees. France’s national weather agency, Meteo France, has issued an elevated temperature alert for Paris.

Saturday’s schedule features defending women’s titleholder Coco Gauff facing off against Anastasia Potapova, while top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka squares off with Daria Kasatkina.

SATURDAY’S MATCH SCHEDULE AT FRENCH OPEN (numbers indicate tournament seeding):

COURT PHILIPPE CHATRIER

10-Flavio Cobolli (Italy) v 18-Learner Tien (U.S.)

Diane Parry (France) v 6-Amanda Anisimova (U.S.)

4-Coco Gauff (U.S.) v 28-Anastasia Potapova (Austria)

4-Felix Auger-Aliassime (Canada) v 31-Brandon Nakashima (U.S.)

COURT SUZANNE LENGLEN

17-Iva Jovic (U.S.) v 16-Naomi Osaka (Japan)

1-Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) v Daria Kasatkina (Australia)

Moise Kouame (France) v Alejandro Tabilo (Chile)

Jaime Faria (Portugal) v 19-Frances Tiafoe (U.S.)

COURT SIMONNE MATHIEU

Maria Sakkari (Greece) v Maja Chwalinska (Poland)

Matteo Berrettini (Italy) v Francisco Comesana (Argentina)

9-Victoria Mboko (Canada) v 19-Madison Keys (U.S.)

Four major league baseball teams experienced the thrill of walk-off victories Friday night, with dramatic home runs deciding contests across the country.

In Pittsburgh, Bryan Reynolds delivered a two-run blast in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Pirates a 6-5 victory over the Minnesota Twins. Reynolds connected with one out against Taylor Rogers (1-2) for his second career game-ending homer.

Oneil Cruz also homered for Pittsburgh, while Gregory Soto (4-0) earned the win with a scoreless ninth inning. Pirates starter Jared Jones made his return after being sidelined 20 months following elbow surgery, surrendering five runs in 4 1/3 innings.

For Minnesota, Trevor Larnach and Kody Clemens went deep, but the Twins dropped their third consecutive game. Taj Bradley allowed four runs over four innings in the loss.

White Sox 4, Tigers 3 (10 innings)

Miguel Vargas connected for a two-run homer in the 10th inning off Drew Anderson to lift host Chicago over Detroit. The White Sox have now won three straight games despite losing slugger Munetaka Murakami to hamstring tightness in the third inning.

Chicago forced extra innings through aggressive baserunning in the ninth after being stymied by Tigers starter Troy Melton. Bryan Hudson (3-1) took the loss after allowing an unearned run in the 10th on a Zack Short sacrifice fly.

Detroit has now lost three straight and 11 of their last 13 games. Anderson (2-2) surrendered the fourth walk-off homer against the Tigers this season. Riley Greene collected two singles for Detroit, which was outhit 10-4.

Mets 9, Marlins 7 (10 innings)

MJ Melendez launched his first career walk-off home run as New York overcame a blown four-run lead to defeat visiting Miami. Austin Warren (1-1) delivered a perfect 10th inning, stranding automatic runner Jakob Marsee at third base.

Freddy Peralta surrendered four runs (two earned) on seven hits over 4 2/3 innings for the Mets, who captured their second straight victory following a six-game slide.

Owen Caissie tied the game with a two-run homer in the eighth for Miami, which has dropped three consecutive contests. Max Meyer gave up six runs (five earned) on six hits over six innings.

Rockies 8, Giants 6

Hunter Goodman and Ezequiel Tovar homered during a five-run ninth inning rally as Colorado stunned San Francisco in Denver. Goodman’s three-run shot off Caleb Kilian (1-3) knotted the score, and three batters later, Tovar delivered the game-winning two-run blast.

Willi Castro, Jake McCarthy, Tyler Freeman, Goodman and Tovar each collected two hits for Colorado. Juan Mejia (1-4) earned the victory for the Rockies, who ended a five-game losing streak.

Jung Hoo Lee recorded four hits and scored twice for San Francisco, which has lost four in a row. Logan Webb made his first appearance since May 5, lasting 4 1/3 innings after returning from right knee bursitis. He allowed one run on three hits.

Blue Jays 6, Orioles 5

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drove in two runs with a go-ahead double in the eighth inning as Toronto erased a five-run deficit to shock host Baltimore. Charles McAdoo homered in his major league debut, while Kazuma Okamoto also went deep during the comeback.

The Blue Jays have won eight of their past 10 games. Toronto reliever Mason Fluharty (3-0) threw 1 1/3 hitless innings, and Braydon Fisher earned his first career save despite a two-out error in the ninth.

Jackson Holliday, Pete Alonso and Samuel Basallo hit solo homers for Baltimore, which has lost back-to-back games to Toronto following a three-game sweep of the American League-best Tampa Bay Rays.

Cardinals 6, Cubs 5

Ivan Herrera belted a go-ahead solo homer in the fifth inning as host St. Louis defeated Chicago to snap a four-game skid. Nelson Velazquez hit a three-run homer in his Cardinals debut, and Thomas Saggese also went deep.

St. Louis used seven pitchers, with reliever Gordon Graceffo (4-1) earning the win and Riley O’Brien recording his 14th save. The Cubs’ Ian Happ homered for the third straight game, connecting for a three-run blast in the first inning. Shota Imanaga (4-6) allowed three homers and five runs in 5 1/3 innings.

Additional Friday results included Milwaukee defeating Houston 5-4 in 10 innings, Los Angeles Dodgers beating Philadelphia 4-2, Texas routing Kansas City 9-1, San Diego rallying past Washington 7-5, New York Yankees crushing Oakland 8-2, Seattle edging Arizona 7-6 in 10 innings, Tampa Bay stopping Los Angeles Angels 8-5, Atlanta topping Cincinnati 8-3, and Cleveland defeating Boston 4-3.

Following Oklahoma City’s defeat in Game 6 against the San Antonio Spurs during the Western Conference finals, Thunder standout Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wasted no time looking ahead to the decisive matchup.

“Oh, I’m good. I’m ready to go,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Biggest game of my career.”

Those are confident words from someone who guided his squad to a Game 7 victory in last year’s NBA Finals.

However, Gilgeous-Alexander is placing enormous significance on Saturday’s winner-take-all clash against the Spurs in Oklahoma City, with an NBA Finals spot on the line.

This marks the initial Game 7 in the Western Conference Finals since the Golden State-Houston series in 2018 and represents only the sixth Conference Finals Game 7 featuring the top two seeds since the current 16-team structure started in 1983.

The victorious team will face the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals starting Wednesday.

Saturday’s contest becomes the fifth Game 7 during these playoffs, matching the record for most decisive games in one postseason.

Road teams have claimed two of the previous four winner-take-all games, with the 76ers and Cavaliers completing their series with Game 7 victories away from home.

Oklahoma City aims to bounce back after San Antonio controlled Game 6 from start to finish.

“It’s a double-edged sword, right?” Oklahoma City guard Alex Caruso said. “You gotta put it behind you, clear the mind, and get ready to compete again, but also learn from what you did wrong and try to figure out how you can be better.”

Gilgeous-Alexander has struggled with accuracy throughout the series, connecting on only 37.9% of his field goal attempts. Jalen Williams, who managed just 10 ineffective minutes in Game 6 while dealing with his left hamstring injury, has been declared unavailable for Game 7.

However, during last season’s championship campaign, the Thunder captured two Game 7 victories at home, both following Game 6 losses by double-digit margins.

Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault believes those past experiences will prove valuable.

“Take the lessons from tonight that are relevant for Game 7 and be ready to go out there and throw our best punch,” Daigneault said.

Though Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder possess Game 7 experience, this represents uncharted territory for the Spurs and standout Victor Wembanyama.

Wembanyama is posting averages of 28.2 points and 11.5 rebounds per game throughout the series.

Following a relatively quiet performance in Game 5, Wembanyama established dominance early in Game 6 and recorded 28 points and 10 rebounds. He’s converting 48.2% of his shots during the series.

“I think that’s his biggest growth this year is not waiting to be perfect or necessarily knowing what to do all the time,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said, “but attack the moment and have the right approach and live with the results.”

Spurs associate head coach Sean Sweeney is anticipated to continue with the team through the remainder of their playoff journey despite reports Friday indicating he’s nearing an agreement to coach Orlando.

Sweeney has played a crucial role in the defensive improvements that have transformed San Antonio into a championship contender this season.

During Thursday’s Game 6 victory, San Antonio’s defense sparked the decisive 20-0 third-quarter surge that sealed the outcome.

The New York Yankees delivered a commanding 8-2 defeat to the Athletics on Friday night in West Sacramento, California, powered by Paul Goldschmidt’s three-run blast and solo home runs from Ryan McMahon and Ben Rice.

Ben Rice turned in a standout performance with four hits and two RBIs, matching his season high, while Aaron Judge contributed two RBIs as New York extended its winning streak to five games. During this hot stretch, the Yankees have dominated opponents by a combined score of 36-6.

On the mound, Carlos Rodon (1-2) delivered six solid innings for New York, surrendering just one run on four hits while recording three strikeouts and issuing two walks.

The Athletics got a home run from Nick Kurtz but have struggled mightily, being outscored 30-6 during a four-game losing skid. Rookie Henry Bolte provided a bright spot with three hits in his 15th major league game, setting a personal best.

Oakland’s troubles began early when starter Luis Severino (2-6) was forced to leave after the first inning due to right arm discomfort. The former Yankees pitcher allowed four unearned runs on three hits before experiencing soreness while warming up for the second frame, prompting a conversation with trainers and his removal from the game.

Against his former club, Severino’s record fell to 0-3 with a 9.88 ERA across four career starts.

New York’s explosive first inning was sparked by a throwing mistake from first baseman Kurtz.

Following a balk that advanced Rice to second base, Judge connected for an RBI single. Three batters later, Goldschmidt launched his three-run homer.

Kurtz responded immediately in the bottom half, connecting on a center field homer with one out to put the Athletics on the scoreboard.

The Yankees struck again in the second when Jose Caballero doubled with one out against Jose Suarez, moved to third on Trent Grisham’s single, and came home on Rice’s base hit.

McMahon extended the lead to 6-1 with two outs in the third, driving a homer to right-center field off Joel Kuhnel.

Another run crossed in the fourth as Grisham singled with one out, reached third on Rice’s double, and scored when Judge grounded out.

Rice capped his stellar night by crushing a homer to center field on Scott Barlow’s second pitch of the seventh inning.

The Athletics managed one final run in the ninth on Zack Gelof’s RBI single with one out.

RALEIGH, N.C. — When the final buzzer echoed through the arena, signaling Carolina’s long-awaited breakthrough in the Eastern Conference Final, the Hurricanes players rushed across the ice directly to Frederik Andersen’s net.

Veteran forward Jordan Martinook wrapped the goaltender in an emotional embrace, repeatedly patting his helmet. Defenseman Jalen Chatfield followed suit. Then coach Rod Brind’Amour approached for an extended hug and brief conversation, after which Andersen paused to lean forward and gather his composure before participating in the customary handshake line.

The goaltender delivered another solid performance as Carolina dominated Montreal 6-1 on Friday evening in Game 5, propelling the Eastern Conference’s top-seeded team into the Stanley Cup Final against Vegas. The triumph followed a devastating 36-hour period for Andersen, whose representative — former NHL star Claude Lemieux — died by suicide on Thursday.

“It’s been a difficult couple days, but the way we showed up today and the last couple days for the team for each other, it’s been incredible,” Andersen shared during his postgame TNT interview. “I can’t talk enough good things about this team and the way they’ve supported me. It’s been awesome.”

The netminder’s performance has emerged as one of the most compelling narratives in Carolina’s journey back to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since capturing the championship in 2006, when current coach Rod Brind’Amour served as team captain. Andersen battled through an uncertain beginning to the season as waiver pickup Brandon Bussi appeared poised to claim the starting position, enjoyed a revitalizing experience representing Denmark in the Milan Cortina Olympics, finished the regular season strong, and has elevated his game to new heights during the playoffs.

The 36-year-old veteran is now making his first-ever Cup Final appearance.

Andersen entered Friday’s contest fresh off his third playoff shutout in Wednesday’s commanding 4-0 victory on the road, as Carolina tightened its stranglehold on the series. That performance came just 48 hours after Lemieux had served as Montreal’s ceremonial torch bearer prior to the Hurricanes’ 3-2 overtime triumph in Game 3.

The goaltender harbored no resentment about Lemieux’s participation in the pregame Montreal tradition for the organization where he captured one of his four Stanley Cup championships as a rookie in 1986.

“He’s like family,” Andersen shared with North State Journal following that game.

By Thursday, reports surfaced regarding Lemieux’s passing, with Andersen scheduled to start as Carolina held a commanding 3-1 advantage in the best-of-seven matchup.

“To be honest, wasn’t sure if he was going to be able to play,” Brind’Amour admitted. “You just don’t know how that was going to shake out. Obviously, he shook it off and battled through it. You saw the emotion after the game. Yeah, that’s a tough time for him. But he made us all proud, that’s for sure.”

Andersen recorded 23 saves and, consistent with his entire postseason performance, delivered crucial stops when Carolina needed them most against a talented but desperate Montreal squad. Similar to the previous three victories, the Hurricanes executed their suffocating defensive system effectively, consistently winning puck battles and maintaining pressure in Montreal’s defensive zone rather than surrendering scoring opportunities or allowing shots on Andersen.

The goaltender preserved his shutout deep into the final period before Cole Caufield finally scored on the power play, though Carolina already commanded a 5-0 advantage.

Andersen continues to pace all playoff netminders in goals-against average (1.41) and ranks among the top performers in save percentage (.931).

“I know we were playing for him as best we could,” captain Jordan Staal explained. “And it’s a tough couple of days here for him. We’re just family here, and we all felt that hurt. We tried to share as best we could and playing well in front of him as best we could do tonight.

“I thought he played unbelievable.”

Though neither the Vegas Golden Knights nor Carolina Hurricanes emerged as the NHL’s top teams during regular season play, both franchises have dominated throughout their playoff campaigns.

The two hottest clubs in professional hockey are now set to battle for the Stanley Cup championship.

The Golden Knights completed a sweep of Presidents’ Trophy winner Colorado in the Western Conference Final and have captured 19 victories in 24 contests since John Tortorella assumed coaching duties in late March. Meanwhile, Carolina has secured 12 wins in 13 playoff games, including a four-game winning streak that eliminated Montreal and secured their Cup final berth.

“I probably would give an edge to Vegas, but I don’t feel that secure in that,” former player-turned-NHL Network analyst Mike Rupp said. “Both teams are just playing this demonstrative way right now that it feels like it’s the right matchup here in the finals.”

Carolina enters the championship series as slight betting favorites, likely due to their home-ice advantage and impressive recent performance. Tuesday night’s opening game takes place in Raleigh.

The Hurricanes posted a perfect 8-0 record through their first two playoff rounds, sweeping both Ottawa and Philadelphia. Their lone setback against the Canadiens may have resulted from an 11-day break between rounds, but Carolina has remained undefeated since that wake-up call.

Vegas faced more challenges while defeating Utah and Anaheim before easily handling the injury-riddled Avalanche. The Golden Knights will enjoy a full week of rest between rounds.

“I worry about, just you lose your edge just a little bit, that’s a big disadvantage,” Tortorella said Friday. “That’s the key for us. As a coach, you’re always worried about that. I think our players, the group is good, and I think they understand that because they’ve been in this before, most of them.”

Carolina reaches the championship round for the first time since 2006, when current coach Rod Brind’Amour served as team captain. For Vegas, this represents familiar territory – their third final appearance in less than a decade of existence and second in four years, following their 2023 Stanley Cup victory.

Twelve players from that championship team remain with Vegas.

“That feeling, you want that feeling back,” said defenseman Shea Theodore, who has been with the team since the inaugural season in 2017-18. “It feels different, but I think the feeling in the locker room with the guys and how we are with one another, it feels very similar to that — that group in ’23 — how close we are, and it’s just exciting to be back.”

Expect a defensive battle with limited scoring opportunities. Both the Golden Knights and Hurricanes rank among the stingiest defensive teams remaining in the playoffs.

“Both these teams defend at a high level,” former goalie and now NHL Network analyst Cory Schneider said. “They work at a high level. They don’t give you much room and space and time. I don’t want to say it’s going to be a boring final, but it’s definitely going to be a bit of a grind and whoever comes out on top is going to be the team that can sort of survive that grind.”

Brind’Amour’s demanding coaching approach has finally delivered results in his eighth season leading the team. While Carolina advanced at least one round in each of the previous seven seasons, they consistently fell short of reaching the finals.

The Hurricanes have reached this stage without relying on offensive firepower.

“So far, it’s worked, but this where they run into trouble,” Schneider said. “This is why in years past they haven’t quite broken through to the finals is because they play such a high-intensity style that emphasizes shot quantity over quality, so that doesn’t always lead to goals. They’ll possess the puck and throw a million pucks on net, but they don’t always get great looks and high-end scoring chances and they don’t have a ton of elite finishers.”

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams has been ruled out for Saturday night’s pivotal Game 7 matchup against the San Antonio Spurs following a disappointing return to action in the previous game of the Western Conference finals.

The 25-year-old guard, who worsened a left hamstring injury during Game 2 and missed the following three games, returned to the court for a limited 10-minute stint in Game 6. His performance was lackluster, missing his only field goal attempt while making one free throw, turning the ball over twice, and posting a minus-18 rating.

Following his team’s 118-91 defeat on Thursday, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault addressed Williams’ condition. “He’s obviously not 100%,” Daigneault explained. “He didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know what to expect. So, it was a matter of getting him out there in kind of an insulated role and see what he can bring to the team.”

The coach continued to praise Williams’ dedication despite his physical limitations. “He’s an All-Star player, he’s an All-NBA player. He hasn’t done a full return-to-play (protocol) like he would if this was the regular season, and yet, he just wants to do whatever he can to try to contribute whatever he can to the team.”

The Thunder officially declared Williams unavailable on Friday evening’s injury report, joining Ajay Mitchell, who was previously sidelined for the entire series due to a soleus strain.

Williams earned third-team All-NBA honors for the 2024-25 season, posting averages of 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists during the regular season before contributing to the Thunder’s championship run alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren.

Injuries to his wrist and hamstring restricted Williams to just 33 regular season appearances in 2025-26, during which he averaged 17.1 points, 5.5 assists and 4.6 rebounds per contest. Throughout five playoff games this postseason — including the opening two contests against Phoenix and Games 1, 2 and 6 versus San Antonio — he has contributed 14.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists while shooting 41.7% from beyond the arc.

The NHL playoffs have culminated with two teams remaining as the Stanley Cup Final approaches.

Following early rounds filled with teams that hadn’t experienced postseason action in years, the conference championships brought back familiar contenders.

The Vegas Golden Knights dominated their West final series, sweeping the Presidents’ Trophy champion Colorado team, while the Carolina Hurricanes eliminated Montreal in a five-game series. These squads will face off in the championship round as the two most successful franchises over the last two months.

A fresh champion will emerge this year, and no team will achieve a three-peat following the Florida Panthers’ injury-plagued exit after reaching three straight finals. Both finalists are different from last year after Edmonton fell to Anaheim.

WESTERN CONFERENCE: Vegas advanced past Utah and Anaheim in six-game series, then completed a four-game sweep against the Avalanche.

EASTERN CONFERENCE: Carolina eliminated Ottawa and Philadelphia in sweeps, then bounced back from an opening game defeat to the Canadiens to reach their first final since 2006.

The playoff format includes the top three teams from each division’s four groups. The remaining four positions are awarded to the next two highest-ranking teams per conference, without regard to division. All playoff rounds follow a best-of-seven format, with the Stanley Cup going to the first team reaching 16 wins.

— Carolina faces Vegas, with Game 1 scheduled for Tuesday night.

Carolina enters as a narrow favorite with slightly better than even odds.

All playoff contests receive national television coverage in the United States through ESPN or Turner networks. The NHL schedule is available online along with streaming information. Much of TNT’s programming, including the Stanley Cup Final, will air simultaneously on truTV and stream on Max’s B/R Sports Add-On. Canadian viewers can watch games on Sportsnet and CBC.

Following three rounds of seven-game series, the final begins Tuesday evening. Should the series reach its maximum length, Game 7 could occur as late as June 20.

WEST: Straightforward coach John Tortorella assumed control of the Vegas Golden Knights in late March, and the team has maintained momentum since. Mitch Marner, previously criticized for postseason struggles during his Toronto tenure, has emerged as potentially the playoffs’ top performer.

EAST: The Carolina Hurricanes have dominated their Eastern Conference run, receiving outstanding goaltending from 36-year-old Frederik Andersen and versatile contributions from 2018 league MVP Taylor Hall. Following numerous disappointing playoff conclusions, they seek the franchise’s second title and first since 2006.

The Stanley Cup drought for Canadian teams will continue another year. No team from north of the border has captured the championship since Montreal’s 1993 victory.

Oakland Athletics pitcher Luis Severino was forced to leave Friday’s matchup with the New York Yankees in West Sacramento, California, after completing just one inning due to discomfort in his right arm.

The 32-year-old was preparing for the second inning when he abruptly stepped away from the pitcher’s mound and glanced toward his team’s dugout. Catcher Shea Langeliers noticed the situation and gestured to the bench for assistance. After a quick conversation with the team trainer and manager Mark Kotsay, Severino departed the game.

Left-handed pitcher Jose Suarez took over pitching duties in his place.

Originally, Severino was set to take the mound Tuesday against the Seattle Mariners, but his appearance was delayed. Team officials explained they preferred to use left-handed starters in that series.

During his single inning of work, Severino allowed four runs, though none were considered earned due to a fielding mistake by first baseman Nick Kurtz. Aaron Judge contributed an RBI single while Paul Goldschmidt connected for a three-run home run.

The right-hander previously played for the Yankees organization from 2015 through 2023, and his former club had given him trouble in recent outings. Coming into Friday’s contest, he held an 0-2 record with a 10.66 ERA across three appearances against them. This marks his second year with Oakland following a 2024 stint with the New York Mets.

Severino has posted a 4.16 ERA over 12 starts during the current season.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have officially placed outfielder Teoscar Hernandez on the 10-day injured list following a left hamstring strain he suffered two days earlier, the team announced Friday. Additionally, Hyeseong Kim, who stepped in to replace Hernandez in left field, has been sent down to the minor leagues.

Kim found himself in unfamiliar territory Wednesday when Hernandez sustained his injury while running to first base on a ground ball during the second inning of their matchup with the Colorado Rockies. It marked Kim’s first-ever appearance in left field at the professional level.

After completing Wednesday’s contest and sitting out Thursday’s off day, Kim received his assignment to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday, just before Los Angeles began a three-game homestand against the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Dodgers addressed their roster needs by bringing up infielder/outfielder Ryan Ward from Triple-A Oklahoma City and bringing back infielder/outfielder Santiago Espinal through a new signing.

The 33-year-old Hernandez has compiled a .276 batting average this season, along with seven home runs and 31 RBIs across 51 games. His injury came during an impressive stretch where he posted a .375 average with three homers and 14 RBIs over his most recent 14 contests.

Throughout his career, the two-time All-Star has maintained a .261 batting average, .317 on-base percentage, and .482 slugging percentage, accumulating 224 home runs and 692 RBIs in 1,150 games. His major league journey has included stops with the Houston Astros (2016-17), Toronto Blue Jays (2017-22), Seattle Mariners (2023), and now the Dodgers.

Kim, age 27, has recorded a .259/.323/.328 slash line this season with one home run and 11 RBIs in 43 appearances. Following his major league debut with Los Angeles last season, he posted a .280/.314/.385 line with three homers and 17 RBIs over 71 games.

The 31-year-old Espinal had been moved to Oklahoma City on Thursday after going unclaimed on waivers. His 2024 performance with Los Angeles included a .220 batting average, one home run, and four RBIs in 26 games before being designated for assignment earlier this week.

Ward, 28, made his major league debut with the Dodgers last month, collecting two hits in six at-bats during two games while covering for Freddie Freeman during his paternity leave.

In Triple-A action this year, Ward has posted a .254 average with six home runs and 31 RBIs in 47 games, following a standout 2023 campaign for Oklahoma City where he launched 36 homers and drove in 122 runs. His minor league career spans seven seasons with 156 total home runs.

To create room on the 40-man roster for Espinal’s return, left-handed pitcher Blake Snell, who underwent left elbow surgery earlier this month, was moved to the 60-day injured list.

NEW YORK (AP) — When Bobby Valentine put on sunglasses and a fake mustache to sneak back into the dugout after getting ejected on June 9, 1999, he was simply trying to keep team morale up — and maybe keep his job with the New York Mets.

That sneaky move became a career-defining moment, possibly the most unforgettable incident in his four decades in professional baseball.

Before his upcoming induction into the Mets Hall of Fame, Valentine celebrated that legendary stunt Friday evening by once again sporting the same disguise while delivering the ceremonial first pitch to an equally disguised Mr. Met.

The 76-year-old former skipper, set to be honored Saturday along with former Mets teammate Lee Mazzilli, walked out from the New York dugout to enthusiastic applause from the Citi Field audience, many already wearing the promotional giveaway items — sunglasses and fake mustaches.

Valentine stepped forward near the pitcher’s mound and delivered his throw to the team mascot, whose cap displayed the words: Not Mr. Met.

Shortly after, local students from John Lewis Childs grammar school on Long Island performed the national anthem — with several sporting fake mustaches. Another group of disguised children then pressed a button to light up the Home Run Apple in center field.

“Great memories for me,” Valentine shared through vice president of alumni public relations and team historian Jay Horwitz. “At the time I did the mustache, we were struggling and I wanted to let the guys know I was behind them.”

Valentine created his disguise — using eye black for the mustache — just three days after general manager Steve Phillips dismissed three New York coaches. Valentine had challenged the organization by declaring the Mets, sitting at 27-28 when the coaches were let go, should dismiss him if the team couldn’t achieve a 40-15 record in their following 55 games.

The team won their next three contests and were tied with Toronto when Valentine was ejected for disputing a catcher’s interference ruling involving Mike Piazza. With encouragement from Orel Hershiser and Robin Ventura, Valentine put on the sunglasses, fashioned his mustache and slipped back into the dugout, where TV cameras quickly caught him.

Valentine’s cover was completely blown when he rushed onto the field to join the celebration of Rey Ordoñez’s walk-off hit in the 14th inning. The league penalized Valentine with a $5,000 fine and a two-game suspension.

“It was made a big thing because things were kind of big at that time,” Valentine explained to ESPN in 2019. “I was supposed to be fired.”

The Mets actually delivered on Valentine’s challenge, going 40-15 over those next 55 games and advancing to the National League Championship Series. Valentine led New York to the World Series against their crosstown rivals the Yankees in 2000 and held the second-highest totals in franchise history for victories and games managed before his dismissal after the 2002 season.

Chicago White Sox power hitter Munetaka Murakami exited Friday’s contest against the Detroit Tigers during the third inning after suffering a hamstring injury.

The slugger, who shares the American League home run crown with 20 blasts alongside Houston’s Yordan Alvarez, clutched his right hamstring following a sprint to first base while trying to beat out a potential 4-6-3 double play.

The injured player made his way back to the bench under his own power, moving at a cautious pace.

“He’ll be evaluated and we’ll see what we got,” White Sox manager Will Venable explained to CHSN following the inning. “Obviously, it grabbed on him. In that instance, you just want to make sure he’s all right and not push it. Obviously with all our guys, we want to protect them and make sure they’re healthy.”

Luisangel Acuna entered as a pinch runner for the injured Murakami and came home to score on Miguel Vargas’ two-base hit. When the fourth inning began, the team made several defensive adjustments: Vargas shifted from third base to first, Acuna moved to shortstop, and Colson Montgomery transitioned from short to third base. Montgomery remained in the lineup despite experiencing lower back discomfort after making an out to end the previous inning.

The injured player has been a standout performer for a White Sox team that held the second American League wild card position entering Friday’s matchup. The 26-year-old first baseman has started every one of the team’s 57 contests this season, posting a .240/.378/.560 statistical line while contributing 20 home runs, 41 runs batted in, and drawing 44 walks.

Canada revealed its World Cup roster Friday, putting to rest concerns that injured captain Alphonso Davies wouldn’t recover in time to compete in the tournament.

The 26-player lineup announcement, broadcast on television, held few unexpected selections.

Davies from Bayern Munich made the cut as anticipated, along with other key players including Juventus forward Jonathan David.

“We really think this is our strongest group,” said coach Jesse Marsch. While injuries have affected the Canadian team, several players who are healing from ailments earned spots on the roster.

Most discussion surrounding the announcement centered on Davies, who hurt his hamstring during the Champions League semi-final match against Paris St Germain.

Marsch indicated Davies would meet up with his teammates in Edmonton on May 31, giving him additional recovery time. The rest of the squad completed training this week in Charlotte, North Carolina. Davies worked out on his own during the week, according to Marsch.

The coach has wrestled with selecting his starting goalkeeper, admitting he feels “tormented” choosing between Orlando City’s Maxime Crepeau and Inter Miami’s Dayne St. Clair. His decision isn’t expected for several days.

The competing goalkeepers, who are friends, made light of the pressure surrounding the selection battle.

“We’re gonna play rocks-paper-scissors,” St. Clair joked about determining the starter during the TSN television broadcast.

Davies stands out among soccer players who remain largely unknown to most Canadians, who typically prefer ice hockey, American-style football, basketball and baseball. The Bundesliga defender has gained recognition among millions, drawing crowds of supporters at the 2022 World Cup.

David has also built a significant fan base in Canada, especially among the country’s millions of residents with Italian and Haitian heritage.

One notable 2022 player missing from this squad is Junior Hoilett. The veteran team member has declined in performance during his 36th year, and Marsch is recognized for prioritizing pace.

Marsch, who is American, brings extensive coaching experience, having led Germany’s RB Leipzig in 2021 and England’s Leeds United in 2022-23, while also earning multiple achievements in MLS as both coach and player.

The coach expressed frustration that injuries dominated questions about Canada’s chances, insisting the roster represents the country’s finest ever assembled.

“Guys are getting healthy,” he stated.

Soccer has gained significant popularity as a spectator sport in Canada recently, with English and Spanish leagues attracting widespread viewership, a domestic league launching, and Major League Soccer enjoying strong fan engagement.

Canada squad:

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau from Orlando City SC, Owen Goodman from Barnsley FC (on loan from Crystal Palace FC), and Dayne St. Clair from Inter Miami FC.

Defenders: Moise Bombito from OGC Nice, Derek Cornelius from Olympique de Marseille, Alphonso Davies from Bayern Munich, Luc de Fougerolles from Fulham FC, Alistair Johnston from Celtic FC, Alfie Jones from Middlesbrough FC, Richie Laryea from Toronto FC, Niko Sigur from Hajduk Split and Joel Waterman from Chicago Fire FC.

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed from Norwich City FC, Tajon Buchanan from Villarreal CF, Mathieu Choiniere from LAFC, Stephen Eustaquio from FC Porto, Marcelo Flores from Tigres UANL, Ismael Kone from U.S. Sassuolo Calcio, Liam Millar from Hull City FC, Jonathan Osorio from Toronto FC, Nathan Saliba from R.S.C. Anderlecht and Jacob Shaffelburg from LAFC.

Forwards: Jonathan David from Juventus FC, Promise David from Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, Cyle Larin from RCD Mallorca, and Tani Oluwaseyi from Villarreal CF.

The soccer world has seen significant transformations since the previous World Cup tournament concluded.

The global FIFA competition has expanded by 16 additional teams, bringing the total to 48 nations that will participate across the United States, Mexico and Canada between June 11 and July 19. The tournament schedule has shifted back to its customary summer timing, unlike Qatar’s November and December 2022 matches.

On a more personal level, United States midfielder Gio Reyna exemplifies these changes. During a Friday press conference, Reyna discussed his evolution from the 20-year-old player who faced criticism from his coach regarding insufficient effort during 2022 World Cup preparations.

“Obviously, a lot has changed,” Reyna said. “(I’m) married now. Have a dog. I just like to say, I matured and grown up in many aspects of my life. It’s hard to pinpoint one.”

Questions about Reyna’s development persist due to comments made by Gregg Berhalter, who coached the USMNT during the 2022 World Cup. After that tournament ended, Berhalter revealed he had considered sending a player home.

Investigation later identified Reyna as that player, who accumulated only 53 minutes of playing time during the 2022 World Cup. This situation led to a family dispute spanning multiple generations between the Reyna and Berhalter families.

“It doesn’t really affect me anymore,” Reyna said. “… It more confuses me when I get asked the question still. It’s obviously four years removed and I think everyone is so far removed from that.”

Among the 26-player roster for this World Cup, Reyna represents one of 13 returning team members. The 2022 squad secured second place in Group B, earning advancement to the Round of 16, where they lost 3-1 to the Netherlands.

Prior to Sunday’s exhibition match against Senegal in Charlotte, N.C., the American team holds the 16th position in FIFA’s official world rankings.

Reyna’s influence on this year’s team remains uncertain. His roster spot wasn’t guaranteed due to limited Bundesliga action this season with Borussia Monchengladbach, where he started only four games and netted one goal across 137 total minutes.

“I think rhythm comes from game time, which I feel even those 30, 20-minute stints definitely help,” Reyna said.

“But in the end, it also comes down to training well every day and preparing yourself, which I feel like I try to do whether I’m playing 90 minutes in a good situation or not playing at all. So it’s just the consistent body of work every day showing up and trying to get better.”

The Philadelphia 76ers have appointed Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Mike Gansey to serve as their new president of basketball operations, multiple media outlets reported Friday.

The 43-year-old executive takes over for Daryl Morey, who departed Philadelphia on May 12 following six seasons as the organization’s top basketball executive.

Gansey, a former West Virginia college basketball standout who helped lead the Mountaineers to the 2005 Elite Eight, began his front office career with Cleveland during the 2011-12 campaign. He worked his way through the organization’s hierarchy before being promoted to general manager in February 2022. Under his leadership, the Cavaliers posted an average of 53.8 victories across four complete seasons and made it to the Eastern Conference finals this past year.

In his new role, Gansey will answer to Josh Harris and the team’s ownership group — Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) — along with Bob Myers, who previously served as GM and President of the Golden State Warriors and helped construct four NBA championship squads (2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022). Myers joined HBSE as President of Sports last October.

Gansey inherits a team that hasn’t reached the Eastern Conference finals since 2001. Following a disappointing 2024-25 campaign that saw them miss the playoffs due to injuries to Joel Embiid and other core players, Philadelphia bounced back with a 45-37 record this season to claim the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. The team pulled off an upset victory over the Boston Celtics in a seven-game opening round matchup before falling to the New York Knicks in a four-game sweep during the conference semifinals.

The Philadelphia 76ers have selected their new basketball leadership, reaching an agreement with Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Mike Gansey to serve as president of basketball operations, according to a source familiar with the decision who spoke to The Associated Press on Friday.

The source requested anonymity since the organization has not yet made the hiring official.

Gansey has been with the Cavaliers organization since 2011 and took over general manager duties in 2022.

The 43-year-old executive hails from Northeast Ohio and played college basketball at West Virginia, earning first-team All-Big East honors. His previous experience includes serving as general manager for the Cleveland Charge in the NBA’s G League.

Gansey will step into the position left vacant by Morey, who was dismissed earlier this month following the team’s playoff elimination in the Eastern Conference’s second round.

The 76ers suffered a decisive defeat to the New York Knicks, concluding Morey’s sixth year leading the organization. Team leadership quickly determined a change was needed in the basketball operations department.

During Morey’s tenure, the Sixers compiled a 270-212 record in regular season play but managed only 28-26 in playoff games, never advancing beyond the second round. The team returned to postseason play this year after missing the playoffs for the first time during Morey’s leadership in 2024-25, when they finished 24-58.

Former Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers conducted the search to find Morey’s successor.

Myers constructed the Golden State squads that captured NBA titles in 2015, ’17, ’18 and ’22. Following his departure from the Warriors, he worked as an ESPN analyst before taking on the role of president of sports with Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment in October 2025.

Bringing Gansey into the front office represents Myers’ first significant decision with the 76ers. When the organization let Morey go, they chose to retain Nick Nurse as head coach.

During his time in Cleveland, Gansey collaborated with President Koby Altman and contributed to developing the Cavaliers into a competitive Eastern Conference playoff contender.

New York Giants wide receiver Gunner Olszewski may have suffered a torn Achilles tendon during Friday’s organized team activities, according to ESPN reports.

The 29-year-old veteran player went down during practice without any contact from other players and will need medical testing to determine the extent of his injury. Olszewski was seen clutching his right leg before hitting the ground in frustration as medical staff transported him from the practice field.

“That was a noncontact change in direction kind of a deal on the grass there,” coach John Harbaugh told reporters after practice. “So that was disappointing.”

The Giants brought Olszewski aboard on a one-year contract during the offseason, planning to use him primarily in the return game while also having him contribute at the receiver position. His potential absence comes as other receivers Malik Nabers (knee) and Darius Slayton (core muscle) continue recovering from their own injuries.

During his most recent healthy season, Olszewski handled 24 punt returns totaling 216 yards and managed 26 kickoff returns for 682 yards. He also contributed 10 catches for 145 yards and one touchdown as a receiver. A groin injury sidelined him for the entire 2024 season.

Throughout his seven-year professional career with the New England Patriots (2019-21), Pittsburgh Steelers (2022-23) and Giants, Olszewski has accumulated 122 punt returns for 1,386 yards and two touchdowns. His kickoff return statistics include 67 attempts for 1,586 yards.

As a receiver across 81 games with five starts, Olszewski has recorded 25 career catches for 325 yards and two touchdowns.

Court filings reveal that quarterback Brendan Sorsby wagered on Indiana football at least 40 times during his tenure with the program, according to ESPN reports released Friday. The documents were submitted by his attorneys as part of efforts to secure a temporary injunction against the NCAA to preserve his college playing eligibility.

Legal paperwork shows Sorsby gambled approximately $90,000 across four years using betting accounts registered under names of relatives and acquaintances, with his wagering activity persisting even after his winter transfer from Cincinnati to Texas Tech, ESPN reported.

The quarterback was ruled ineligible following investigations that uncovered thousands of dollars in sports betting through mobile applications, breaking NCAA regulations. Current rules prohibit student-athletes from wagering on any NCAA-sanctioned or professional sporting events. Athletes face potential lifetime bans for betting on their own programs.

After the NCAA rejected Sorsby’s reinstatement appeal Tuesday, his legal challenge seeking an injunction for 2026 season eligibility has become crucial. A court hearing for that matter is set for Monday in district court in Lubbock, Texas.

Recent court filings disclosed that Sorsby admitted to making no fewer than 2,900 wagers exceeding $30,000 during his Indiana enrollment from June 2022 through December 2023. Among these were at least 40 bets valued between $1 and $114 on Indiana football and/or specific players, ESPN reported. The wagers amounted to no less than $850 during September and October 2022, when he was redshirting.

Sorsby first appeared for Indiana against Penn State on Nov. 5, 2022, with betting activity reportedly ending two weeks beforehand.

In correspondence to the NCAA, Sorsby stated he never wagered on contests in which he participated, nor did he ever bet against his team.

Tuesday brought a social media statement from Sorsby announcing his recent completion of a 35-day inpatient rehabilitation program in Arizona for “a diagnosed gambling addiction and anxiety disorder.”

“While I accept responsibility for my behavior and know that I have a lot of work ahead of me, for the first time in many years I feel more free and no longer fully at the mercy of my addiction,” Sorsby wrote in part.

“With the support of my coaches, teammates and the university, I’m looking forward to returning to campus in Lubbock. If I’m blessed and fortunate enough to have the opportunity to continue my college career at Texas Tech, I know I will get the support I need, including through the school’s Center for Students in Addiction Recovery. I am deeply sorry to everyone I’ve disappointed and am committed to the hard and necessary work ahead.”

Sorsby moved to Texas Tech from Cincinnati during the offseason and was expected to be the Red Raiders’ starting quarterback for 2026. ESPN rated Sorsby as the top overall transfer in this year’s recruiting class.

Texas Tech filed an appeal Friday regarding the NCAA’s reinstatement denial, while university officials including coach Joey McGuire and president Lawrence Schovanec maintained their support for the quarterback following news of his addiction struggles.

Sorsby’s lawsuit criticized what he termed the NCAA’s “deeply hypocritical” positions on sports gambling, while Schovanec issued an open letter to the campus community Tuesday stating the NCAA’s decision “should be reversed or modified” considering the circumstances and “context” of Sorsby’s situation.

“As a generation of college athletes face the legalization and rapid proliferation of sports betting in our country, gambling addiction is rising to the point of epidemic among college aged men in particular,” Schovanec wrote. “The NCAA’s stated mission includes ‘fostering (student-athletes’) lifelong well-being,’ and they have claimed their goal is to promote a ‘culture of care’ for student athletes’ mental health. Gambling addiction is a clinically recognized behavioral disorder.”

Major League Baseball has handed down a one-game suspension and monetary penalty to Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Abner Uribe following what the league termed “inappropriate actions” during Tuesday’s matchup with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The disciplinary measures remain on hold as Uribe has filed an appeal, allowing him to remain eligible for Friday’s game when Milwaukee begins a three-game road series against the Houston Astros.

The league’s punishment stems from vulgar gestures the Milwaukee reliever directed at the Cardinals’ bench during the eighth inning of Tuesday’s 6-0 victory.

Following a strikeout that ended the inning with two baserunners stranded, Uribe performed three crotch chops while turned toward the opposing team’s dugout.

Speaking through an interpreter after the contest, the 25-year-old offered his regrets while also placing blame on the Cardinals organization.

“Everyone here knows me and knows who I am, and knows I have a bit of a history of being emotional out there,” he said. “I think first I owe an apology to the Brewers. I owe an apology to my teammates, to my manager, all the bosses of the team. I understand that’s unacceptable, to go out there and react in a way like that.

“But at the same time, I don’t think it’s professional for their manager to be making signs towards our dugout saying that he’s going to be hitting guys,” Uribe said, apparently referencing actions he saw from Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol during Monday’s series-opening 5-1 win by the Brewers.

“There was an event that occurred during the practice (Tuesday), too, and I don’t think that was right. So, I have my teammates’ back always,” Uribe added.

When pressed for more details about Tuesday’s batting practice incident, Uribe declined to elaborate, stating “I don’t have any comments toward that.”

This season, Uribe has compiled a 2-2 record with five saves and a 4.19 ERA across 21 relief outings.

New York Giants defensive player Abdul Carter spoke openly Friday about his previously deleted social media post that criticized teammate Jaxson Dart for his role introducing President Donald Trump at a campaign event this month.

Following Friday’s practice session, Carter expressed no regret for his original comments while emphasizing that the incident hasn’t damaged his friendship with Dart.

“First off, I’m going to say that some things are bigger than football, and this is one of those things. Jaxson is one of our leaders. He’s the face of our franchise. He not only represents himself and what he does, but he represents all of us, and that goes for anybody who wears a Giants uniform,” Carter said.

“But if he chooses to align himself with a man like President Trump, it’s my responsibility based on what I believe and what I stand on to not only show my teammates that I’m against that, but to show the world.

“That doesn’t mean that we have to spread hate. It doesn’t mean that me and Jaxson hate each other or we have beef. I sit next to Jaxson every day, every team meeting. We’re close. We talk. As long as we make sure we’ve got the same goal as a team and our goals align, which they do, I feel like that’s all that matters. I just want to move past this.”

The controversy began when Dart appeared at a campaign event supporting Rep. Mike Lawler, who represents New York’s Hudson Valley in Congress and is seeking a third term. Dart served as the person introducing Trump at the rally.

Carter, who was the third overall selection in the 2025 draft, reacted to video of Dart’s appearance with a now-deleted social media post. Both players were drafted by the Giants in the same year, with Dart chosen 25th overall.

“Thought this (s-) was AI,” Carter wrote in his deleted post on X, which included the video of Dart’s presidential introduction. “What we doing, man?”

When Dart addressed reporters Friday, he began by explaining his decision to participate in the political event.

“This was a unique opportunity, being asked and given the opportunity to introduce the President of the United States,” Dart said. “My thinking was pretty simple, in the fact of, I’ve always loved this country. I have extended family members who have fought in wars. I have two uncles who have retired from the Air Force Academy and served themselves. And I even have a great-grandfather who served as the Secretary of the Treasury at some point.

“The president position has always been a position that I have a lot of respect in, regardless of political affiliation, regardless of political party. My intentions were just that.”

According to Dart, the situation has led to meaningful discussions among Giants teammates.

“We have a real brotherhood. We’ve had a lot of honest conversations with each other, as a team, and I’d like to keep those things private between me and my teammates.”

Carter, who was observed embracing Dart during Friday’s practice, stated he doesn’t expect an apology from his teammate.

“I don’t want him to say he’s sorry. Stand on what you believe in,” Carter said. “But it can’t be a problem when I stand on what I believe in. That’s all that matters to me. As long as we have that understanding, it’s all good.”

Veteran backup quarterback Jameis Winston, who has 12 years of NFL experience, offered his perspective on how the two second-year players have handled the situation.

“I think these two young guys being resilient and showing that uncomfortable situations and coming to a, not a compromise, but coming to a position of strength, of authority, of the impact that they have, that we have as athletes with this platform to the world, is so good for them to experience,” Winston said.

“Because guys, they were drafted together. You don’t have a tighter bond than that. They sit next to each other in the team meeting room. That’s what we see in this world. Sometimes we try to normalize just opinions, people’s opinions. Everybody wants to jump on, oh, he said this, she did that, but we don’t normalize togetherness. We don’t normalize perspective. Everyone has that.”

HOUSTON (AP) — Major League Baseball issued a one-game suspension and undisclosed financial penalty to Milwaukee relief pitcher Abner Uribe on Friday for his improper conduct directed at the St. Louis dugout during this week’s game.

Since Uribe is contesting the disciplinary action, he remains eligible to play Friday evening as the Brewers begin a three-game series in Houston.

The penalty stems from Uribe’s conduct on Tuesday evening after completing an inning with a strikeout during Milwaukee’s 6-0 win against the St. Louis Cardinals.

After getting Alec Burleson out on a called third strike with two outs and baserunners on first and second during the eighth inning — his only inning of work — Uribe performed three wrestling-style crotch chops while looking toward the Cardinals bench.

St. Louis requested a review of the close pitch call, but replay officials confirmed the strike was just inside the bottom edge of the strike zone.

Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy expressed his displeasure with Uribe’s conduct following the contest, stating he felt embarrassed by the display and calling it unacceptable behavior.

Speaking through a translator on Tuesday, Uribe issued an apology.

“Everyone here knows me and knows who I am, and knows I have a bit of a history of being emotional out there,” Uribe said. “I think first I owe an apology to the Brewers. I owe an apology to my teammates, to my manager, all the bosses of the team. I understand that’s unacceptable, to go out there and react in a way like that.”

This marks Uribe’s second disciplinary action in recent months, following a six-game suspension and fine he received after a bench-clearing incident involving the Tampa Bay Rays in April 2024.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — New York Giants linebacker Abdul Carter explained Friday why he chose to publicly oppose his teammate quarterback Jaxson Dart’s appearance at a President Donald Trump rally last week.

“Some things are bigger than football, and this is one of those things,” Carter explained. “Jaxson is one of our leaders. He’s the face of our franchise. He not only represents himself and what he does, but he represents all of us and that goes for anybody who wears a Giants uniform. But if he chooses to align himself with a man like President Trump, it’s my responsibility based on what I believe and what I stand on to not only show my teammates that I’m against that — but to show the world.”

After discovering that footage of Dart appearing on stage with Trump was authentic, Carter posted criticism on social media Saturday. The linebacker reported that he and Dart had a conversation hours afterward and resolved their differences, statements he reiterated following an offseason practice session.

“That doesn’t mean that we have to spread hate,” Carter explained. “It doesn’t mean that me and Jaxson hate each other or we have beef. I sit next to Jaxson every day, every team meeting. We’re close. We talk. As long as we make sure we’ve got the same goal as a team and our goals align, which they do, then I feel like that’s all that matters.”

Through a prepared statement, Dart addressed the matter with his teammates without mentioning Trump by name, expressing his respect for the presidential office.

Coach John Harbaugh believes the Giants organization will emerge stronger from this experience.

Food service employees at SoFi Stadium are preparing to vote on whether to strike, creating potential disruption just days before the venue is set to host the opening match of the 2026 World Cup, according to a report from The Athletic published Friday.

Unite Here Local 11, which represents more than 2,000 stadium employees, has called off contract talks and approved a strike authorization vote after reaching an impasse with facility management.

The balloting is scheduled for the final days of next week — only seven days before the Inglewood, California venue welcomes the tournament’s first game on June 12, when the United States faces Paraguay.

The affected employees work in food service operations, handling both preparation and service of meals and drinks throughout the facility.

SoFi Stadium, which serves as home field for both the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers NFL teams, will host eight total World Cup games. The facility is also planned to accommodate major competitions during the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Contract talks between Legends Global, the stadium’s operating company, and Unite Here Local 11 have broken down following the expiration of their previous labor deal.

Kurt Petersen, who serves as the union’s co-president, informed The Athletic that his organization terminated discussions on Tuesday.

“We felt the company (Legends) were not taking the concerns and demands seriously enough,” Petersen said. “At midday (Tuesday), the workers told the company that we intend to proceed with a strike vote. The vote is scheduled for next week over two days on Thursday and Friday.”

A spokesperson for Legends Global responded to The Athletic regarding the possible work stoppage: “Legends Global has enjoyed a strong relationship with Unite Here Local 11 for more than a decade and remains committed to reaching a fair agreement through good faith negotiations. We look forward to delivering an outstanding hospitality experience for fans at the FIFA World Cup matches at SoFi Stadium.”

Officials with the World Cup organizing committee in Los Angeles refused to provide comment about how a potential strike might affect the tournament games planned for SoFi.

According to The Athletic, the union’s requests include:

—Assurance that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will be prohibited from entering stadium property during World Cup events, citing worker safety concerns. Federal authorities have indicated ICE personnel would focus on security rather than immigration enforcement.

—Limitations on the hiring of subcontracted workers.

—Prohibition of automation or artificial intelligence technology that might eliminate union positions.

—Access to workplace data including scheduling information and details about tip and service charge distribution.

“Our members are clear,” Petersen told The Athletic. “They are angry about this. We recognize the World Cup is an extraordinary event but the lack of transparency and movement is raising concerns and this could impact the 2,000 food service workers at the stadium.

“If we were to strike, then FIFA has a significant problem because other workers may not be accredited, which is a whole process for them requiring background checks a while in advance and would not be straightforward to rush through.”

The tennis world was rocked Friday when Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca delivered a stunning upset victory over Novak Djokovic at the French Open, crushing the Serbian star’s hopes of capturing a historic 25th Grand Slam championship.

Fonseca defeated the 39-year-old tennis legend 4-6 4-6 6-3 7-5 7-5 in their third-round match in Paris, marking a dramatic end to Djokovic’s quest to surpass Margaret Court’s all-time Grand Slam record.

The shocking elimination extends Djokovic’s pursuit of the milestone as his illustrious career enters its final chapters. The upset also creates additional opportunities in the tournament bracket, coming just one day after top-ranked player Jannik Sinner was surprisingly knocked out of the competition.

A long-awaited opportunity is finally coming to fruition for Sean Sweeney, who is on the verge of landing his first NBA head coaching position with the Orlando Magic.

According to a source familiar with the negotiations who spoke to The Associated Press anonymously on Friday, Sweeney is completing final arrangements to become Orlando’s next head coach. The team has not yet made the hiring official and declined to provide comment when contacted. ESPN was first to report the impending agreement.

The 41-year-old associate head coach from San Antonio beat out several other contenders for the position, including veteran coaches Billy Donovan and Jeff Van Gundy. Sweeney will take over from Jamahl Mosley, who was dismissed following five years with the team and three consecutive first-round playoff eliminations. Mosley has since joined the New Orleans Pelicans as their head coach.

The timing allows Sweeney to finish the current campaign with San Antonio. The Spurs face Oklahoma City in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals Saturday evening, with the winner advancing to face the New York Knicks in next week’s NBA Finals.

Known for his defensive expertise, Sweeney has earned recognition as one of the league’s most promising young minds on that end of the court. During his first year in San Antonio, he transformed what had been a struggling defense into one of the NBA’s most effective units, building his system around Victor Wembanyama, who earned unanimous selection as this season’s Defensive Player of the Year.

Both Wembanyama and Spurs coach Mitch Johnson have praised Sweeney throughout the season. Johnson valued Sweeney’s contributions so highly that he elevated him to associate head coach when assembling his inaugural San Antonio staff.

“I just took a liking to his ability to articulate his basketball philosophy and what he thought about the game and NBA coaching in general, in terms of competitiveness and how hard you should coach and holding guys accountable,” Johnson said earlier during this postseason, in comments published by the San Antonio Express-News. “But also the modern, creative part and thinking outside the box.”

While technically a first-time head coach, Sweeney’s situation mirrors that of Mosley when Orlando brought him aboard in 2021. Sweeney enters at 41 after 13 seasons as an assistant, while Mosley was 42 with 15 years of assistant experience when hired.

Sweeney does bring some head coaching experience to the role. He temporarily stepped in for former Dallas coach Jason Kidd on two occasions due to illness and COVID-19 health protocols. He has also mentioned previously that he may have coached more Summer League contests than any other person in NBA history.

When Orlando begins their season this fall, Sweeney will be leading a team for the first time in a full-time capacity.

His NBA journey began as a video coordinator with the then-New Jersey Nets, followed by assistant coaching roles with the Nets, Milwaukee, Detroit, Dallas and San Antonio. Despite being regularly considered for head coaching vacancies in recent years, Sweeney had never received an offer until now.

His international experience includes working with Luka Doncic as part of Slovenia’s coaching staff during the 2024 Paris Games. The Minnesota native began his coaching career with stops at Northern Iowa, Evansville, Anoka-Ramsey Community College and the Academy of Art University.

Sweeney will become the franchise’s 15th head coach, or 16th if counting Billy Donovan, who initially accepted Orlando’s offer in 2007 to leave the University of Florida before reversing his decision approximately one week later.

Donovan recently parted ways with the Chicago Bulls this spring. Jeff Van Gundy also interviewed for the Orlando position and is the brother of former Magic coach Stan Van Gundy.

Orlando dismissed Mosley one day after the team’s playoff elimination by the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference’s opening round, following a collapse from a 3-1 series advantage. During Game 6 of that series, Magic supporters booed the team off the court after they squandered a 24-point second-half lead by missing 23 straight shots.

The roster features considerable talent, anchored by forwards Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. Under Mosley’s leadership, Orlando won 22 games in his debut season, improved to 34-48 in year two, and maintained .500 or better records in the three seasons that followed: 47-35 in 2023-24, 41-41 last season, and 45-37 this season.

California’s capital region has officially launched its campaign to secure a Major League Baseball expansion franchise.

Area officials announced their formal proposal on Thursday, presenting what they’ve called “The Sacramento Pitch” through the Greater Sacramento Economic Council. The proposal highlights a “fully entitled 50-acre stadium site” backed by approximately $2 billion in combined public and private financing, plus land assets.

“When MLB moves forward on expansion, Sacramento will be impossible to ignore,” said Mark Friedman, founder and chairman of Fulcrum Property and board chair of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council.

“We have the market, the site, the capital, and the community. Sacramento is ready to compete — and Sacramento is ready to win,” Friedman said.

The Sacramento region ranks as the nation’s 20th largest media market. Among all markets larger than Sacramento, Orlando-Daytona Beach stands as the only area without a Major League Baseball franchise.

Currently, the Athletics are using West Sacramento, California as their home base for the second consecutive year. The team plays at Sutter Health Park, a minor-league facility serving as their interim venue while their new Las Vegas ballpark undergoes construction, scheduled for completion in 2028.

“This is a defining moment for West Sacramento, and we’re ready,” West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero said in a news release. “Major League Baseball is already seeing firsthand the passion, energy, and civic pride that exists here. This region offers a practical and achievable path for long-term MLB success, and we have the financial capacity, community support, and clear vision needed to bring Major League Baseball permanently to West Sacramento. We’re built for this. We’re ready. Bring it on.”

Initial development plans suggest building the new stadium at or adjacent to the current Sutter Health Park location.

The campaign features support from notable baseball figures, including former San Francisco Giants manager Dusty Baker and former MLB player and Sacramento native Derrek Lee, alongside political leaders.

“I have always believed Sacramento is a major league city. Throughout my career, I’ve traveled across the country, and there’s something different about the people here. This community truly loves baseball,” Baker said in a news release. “For more than a century, this region has built a proud baseball legacy and developed generations of Major League Baseball players. I could not be more excited for the prospect of bringing a permanent MLB team here.”

Major League Baseball hasn’t added new teams since 1998, when the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay (then-Devil) Rays joined the league.

Commissioner Rob Manfred has indicated his goal to select two expansion locations by 2029, with one franchise planned for the western United States and another for the eastern region.

A tennis player from Paraguay will face monetary penalties after making controversial statements about women’s ability to handle unruly spectators during tennis matches, tournament officials announced Friday.

Adolfo Daniel Vallejo made the disputed comments following his grueling five-hour second-round defeat to French teenager Moise Kouame at the French Open. The match ended 6-3 7-5 3-6 2-6 7-6 (10-8) on the packed Court Suzanne Lenglen, with Vallejo criticizing Brazilian referee Ana Carvalho’s handling of the enthusiastic home crowd.

Speaking to Clay magazine, Vallejo stated his belief that men should officiate such intense matches.

“I think this sort of matches should be umpired by a man,” Vallejo said. “It’s very difficult for a woman to do it because the crowd is very annoying. You need to have a lot of courage to go against the crowd.”

The 17-year-old Kouame received vocal support from French fans throughout the nearly five-hour contest. Vallejo acknowledged the crowd’s impact favored his opponent but maintained his position about officiating.

“I knew it was going to be like that. It didn’t harm me, it only strengthened him,” he explained, insisting that male officiating would have “absolutely” handled the “disrespectful” spectators differently.

The French Tennis Federation (FFT) quickly denounced Vallejo’s statements and announced the financial penalty.

“The competence of an umpire is not determined by their gender, but by their professionalism and ability to officiate at the highest level,” the FFT declared in their response.

“The outcome of a sporting event, whether positive or negative, can never justify or excuse such remarks. The tournament organisers will impose a significant sanction on Adolfo Vallejo in the form of a fine.”

“The Roland Garros tournament strongly condemns all sexist remarks, regardless of who makes them, and offers its support to the match umpire and, more broadly, to all the tournament’s umpiring officials,” the organization added.

Following the backlash, Vallejo took to social media platform X to clarify his position, claiming his words were misinterpreted.

“I never spoke about women in general, I was referring specifically to the referee, who failed to manage the crowd at any point during the match,” he wrote in his defense.

“That said, I didn’t say I lost because of her either. I congratulated the opponent and it’s only natural for the crowd to support the home player,” Vallejo concluded in his social media statement.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — This postseason has become defined by decisive seventh games.

Saturday night’s Western Conference finals between San Antonio and Oklahoma City will mark the fifth time this playoff year that a series has reached its final possible contest.

The previous Game 7 matchups this year included Philadelphia’s road victory over Boston in the opening round, Cleveland defeating Toronto in Round 1, Detroit topping Orlando in Round 1, and Cleveland beating Detroit away from home in the second round.

This year’s total of five seventh games matches the highest number ever recorded in a single postseason. The NBA previously saw this many in 1994, 2014, and 2016. Additionally, no postseason has ever featured three road victories in Game 7 situations; San Antonio has the opportunity to create that historic milestone on Saturday.

Throughout NBA playoff history, home teams have dominated Game 7 contests with a 117-42 record across 159 such matchups.

Here’s how both franchises have performed in Game 7 situations, noting that Oklahoma City and San Antonio have never faced each other in a decisive seventh game:

— Thunder performance since relocating to Oklahoma City: 4-2 overall record, perfect 4-0 at home.

Their four home victories — including last season’s NBA Finals Game 7 — were all decisive double-digit wins with an average margin of 17.5 points. Both defeats came in “road” games, though one was technically classified as such only because Oklahoma City had a lower seed than Houston during the 2020 bubble playoffs.

— Spurs record: 4-7 overall, 1-5 in road Game 7s.

San Antonio’s only road Game 7 victory came against New Orleans in 2008. The franchise has never played a Western Conference finals Game 7 away from home, though they did lose on the road in the 1979 Eastern Conference finals against Washington.

Saturday brings special significance for Spurs forward Harrison Barnes, who celebrates his 34th birthday. History suggests this timing could favor San Antonio.

No NBA player has ever lost a Game 7 played on his birthday. Paul George celebrated his 36th birthday on May 2 when Philadelphia defeated Boston. Barnes experienced this unique situation before, turning 24 on May 30, 2016, when his Golden State team beat Oklahoma City.

Previous birthday winners in Game 7 situations include:

— Pablo Prigoni, who turned 35 on May 17, 2015, when Houston defeated the Los Angeles Clippers.

— Udonis Haslem, celebrating his 32nd birthday on June 9, 2012, as Miami beat Boston.

— Kevin Garnett, turning 28 on May 19, 2004, when Minnesota defeated Sacramento.

— Scott Hastings, who turned 30 on June 3, 1990, as Detroit beat Chicago.

— Walt Hazzard, celebrating his 24th birthday on April 15, 1966, when the Los Angeles Lakers defeated St. Louis.

Saturday’s contest will represent the 12th meeting between these teams this season. San Antonio holds a 7-4 advantage in their previous 11 encounters.

The only recent comparison came last season when Golden State and Houston met 12 times through four regular-season games, an NBA Cup contest, and a seven-game first-round playoff series.

Before this season, the last time two teams faced each other 12 times in one season was 1994-95, when San Antonio and Houston had that many meetings.

For three decades, the league’s scheduling format limited teams to four regular-season meetings maximum, capping total head-to-head contests at 11 even with a full seven-game playoff series. However, the NBA Cup’s addition now allows for 12-game season series.

Theoretically, teams could meet as many as 13 times in one season.

This would require four regular-season games, one NBA Cup meeting, a play-in tournament matchup between the seventh and eighth seeds, followed by a complete seven-game playoff series.

Still, the all-time record for head-to-head meetings will likely remain untouchable. During 1959-60, the Minneapolis Lakers and St. Louis Hawks played 20 times, and in 1960-61, the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Hawks 20 more times. The league operated with only eight teams then and used a 75-game schedule.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — When Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder last participated in a Game 7, it was the decisive contest that determined last season’s NBA championship.

So it might come as a surprise that the NBA’s two-time Most Valuable Player described Saturday night’s upcoming Game 7 against the San Antonio Spurs for the Western Conference championship with these words: “Biggest game of my career.”

“It’s the next game,” he explained further. “And if I lose, my season’s over.”

The stakes are clear. Game 7. Thunder versus Spurs. The victorious team advances to face the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals beginning Wednesday night, while the losing squad heads home with championship dreams unfulfilled. Oklahoma City posted a perfect 2-0 record in Game 7 situations during last season’s championship run, whereas Spurs standout Victor Wembanyama will experience his first Game 7 appearance.

“I know there’ll be a lot of added attention, a lot of eyes watching,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “It’ll be a hostile environment, but we’ve been saying this for a long time: We’ve had a lot of firsts. This one will be a little bit more important or higher-stakes than all the others. That’s the goal as you keep playing and the season gets longer.”

This marks just the second occasion in NBA history where two franchises that each captured 62 or more regular season victories clash in a Game 7. The previous instance occurred in 1981, when Boston defeated Philadelphia 91-90 for the Eastern Conference championship.

While one could argue that Wembanyama faces the most significant contest of his professional life, the French superstar might disagree with that assessment.

The 7-foot-4 star, who recorded 28 points in 28 minutes during San Antonio’s dominant Game 6 victory that prevented elimination and forced Game 7, approaches every contest with Game 7 intensity. This mindset has guided his play throughout his basketball journey and likely contributed to reaching this pivotal moment.

“For me, winning in the NBA today isn’t any more important than winning a regional championship back when I was playing in the U-13 division,” Wembanyama said in his native French after the Game 6 win on Thursday night. “The competitive drive feels exactly the same.”

Game 1 featured a double-overtime thriller where neither squad held more than a 10-point advantage before San Antonio ultimately triumphed. In Game 2, Oklahoma City’s largest margin reached 13 points before the Thunder secured a nine-point victory.

The scoring margins have expanded throughout the series. Both clubs held leads of at least 15 points during Game 3 (a 15-point Thunder victory), the Spurs commanded a 25-point advantage before claiming Game 4 by 21, the Thunder built a 20-point cushion before winning Game 5 by 13, and the Spurs established a 28-point lead before capturing Game 6 by 27.

While individual games may not have all reached classic status, the overall series appears destined for that distinction. Following all the momentum swings for both organizations, everything comes down to a single contest — the 12th meeting between these teams this season, with San Antonio holding a 7-4 advantage in the previous 11 encounters.

“The one thing that we’ve learned more than anything is every game has a new life,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “Every game is earned if you want to win it. Game 7 will be no different. This is obviously a quality opponent. We have to play a lot better than we did (in Game 6) and we understand that from a number of experiences. … We’ll get some rest and recovery, learn from the tape, take the lessons from (Game 6) that are relevant for Game 7 and be ready to go out there and throw our best punch.”

Historical data demonstrates that Oklahoma City understands how to deliver that decisive blow.

Since the 2025 playoffs began, the Thunder have compiled a perfect 9-0 record in games immediately following playoff defeats — capturing those victories by an average margin of 15.4 points.

“We’re just a motivated group and we accept the challenge ahead,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Every game is going to present a different challenge and obviously when you lose, it hurts a little more and there’s a little extra motivation and we tend to fight a little bit harder.”

With Game 7 on the horizon, both sides will bring maximum intensity to the court.

Gilgeous-Alexander enters his fourth Game 7 appearance, while Wembanyama makes his debut on this stage. Most players in San Antonio’s rotation will experience this pressure for just the first or second time. However, everyone understands what’s at stake.

“I think there’s been a lot of legendary Game 7s and I feel like we’re a group that wants to be a part of that,” said Spurs rookie Dylan Harper, whose father — five-time champion Ron Harper — played in a pair of Game 7s. “We want to be a part of that kind of history of Game 7. We’re going to go out there swinging. No matter what, we just going to leave it all on the table.”

Russian tennis star Andrey Rublev dismissed any mystery surrounding his distinctive red locks during the French Open on Friday, explaining that his climbing world rankings changed how fans viewed his signature look.

The player’s unruly hair has become increasingly noticeable in recent months, staying remarkably intact despite intense matches and becoming as recognizable as his powerful forehand and occasional on-court outbursts.

“No secrets, I guess I was just lucky. The way I wake up is the way it is,” the world number 13 shared with media after his 7-5 7-6(2) 7-6(2) third round victory against Nuno Borges.

“No, to be honest, of course I take care of my hair.”

The tennis player explained that public opinion about his hairstyle transformed alongside his improved performance on the court, evolving from mockery to praise as his ranking rose.

“It’s funny because when I was far away from the top 10, it was the opposite. Can he have a normal haircut? What’s this with his hair? He looks like a monkey. He has no money to have a haircut?” the former world number five from Russia recalled.

“Then when you start to be a better player, somehow you appear to the top 10, it’s like ‘wow, what hair he has, what style, he’s a rockstar’.”

“I had all my life, this hair. How that opinion changes, you know? Of course I’m taking care (of it), but not (going) crazy.”

New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson intends to take the court for Game 1 of the NBA Finals despite suffering a broken right pinky finger, according to an ESPN report released Friday.

The 28-year-old player has had surgical repair done on the fracture and will use a protective brace on his hand during play, the report states.

Footage from Monday’s Eastern Conference finals-clinching victory at Cleveland captured Robinson clutching his right hand after attempting a rebound with 5:35 remaining in the third quarter. He remained in the game until the middle of the fourth quarter during the 130-93 Game 4 victory over the Cavaliers.

Wednesday night’s Game 1 marks the Knicks’ first Finals appearance since 1999, and they will face whichever team emerges victorious from Saturday’s Game 7 matchup between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference finals.

In Monday’s contest, Robinson contributed eight points and 10 rebounds during 18 minutes of play as the Knicks secured their sweep and extended their winning streak to 11 consecutive games.

Serving as the backup to six-time All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns, Robinson has posted averages of 5.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 14.2 minutes per contest while maintaining a league-best 73.7% field goal percentage (28 of 38) across 13 playoff appearances as a reserve player. His free-throw shooting has struggled at 30.2% (13 of 43 attempts).

Throughout the regular season, Robinson recorded averages of 5.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 19.6 minutes across 60 games (16 as a starter) and placed eighth in NBA Sixth Man of the Year voting.

Over his entire career, Robinson has maintained averages of 7.5 points, 8.0 boards, 1.7 blocks and 23.4 minutes across 397 regular-season contests (215 starts) with New York. The team’s longest-serving player was chosen in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft from Western Kentucky.

Soccer enthusiasm in Argentina has created a booming market for fake jerseys and collectible trading cards as the World Cup approaches, creating headaches for legitimate retailers already struggling with President Javier Milei’s market-opening policies.

Streets throughout Buenos Aires are packed with vendors selling hats, flags, mate gourds and t-shirts featuring the nation’s signature light-blue and white colors.

Argentina’s World Cup victory in 2022 “makes people who don’t even like soccer feel that passion,” said Fabián Castillo, head of the Buenos Aires commerce chamber.

However, Castillo believes more than 70% of the Argentine national team jerseys being sold by street vendors are fake. Across the globe, many shoppers deliberately purchase low-cost imitations due to the steep prices of authentic jerseys.

This trend is especially pronounced in Argentina, where people’s buying power has declined as wages haven’t matched inflation rates. The proliferation of fake merchandise compounds existing problems for the domestic textile sector, which has experienced factory shutdowns due to increased cheap imports under Milei’s administration.

Lucas Aranda, a textile merchant from the province of Buenos Aires, offers national team jerseys for 40,000 pesos ($28) each, roughly one-fourth the price of authentic versions.

Fake products have also entered the market for popular soccer stickers that children and many adults collect to fill their World Cup albums. While genuine stickers are available at convenience stores, less expensive “alternatives” are being sold online.

The World Cup begins next month, with the United States, Canada and Mexico serving as hosts. Argentina’s opening match is scheduled against Algeria on June 16.

PARIS, May 29 – Key moments from Friday’s sixth day of competition at the French Open (all times listed in GMT):

1336 ANDREEVA ADVANCES TO ROUND OF 16

Russian player Mirra Andreeva, who reached the semifinals last year, defeated Czech competitor Marie Bouzkova with scores of 6-4, 6-2 to secure her spot in the fourth round.

1154 RUBLEV OVERCOMES BORGES

Andrey Rublev, the Russian 11th seed who previously reached the quarterfinals, faced a challenge from Portugal’s Nuno Borges but maintained his composure during crucial tiebreak moments to claim victory 7-5, 7-6(2), 7-6(2) in their third-round encounter.

1134 SWIATEK DEFEATS FELLOW POLISH PLAYER LINETTE

Iga Swiatek, the four-time French Open winner, comfortably defeated compatriot Magda Linette with scores of 6-4, 6-4 to advance to a fourth-round meeting against Ukrainian 15th seed Marta Kostyuk.

1049 KOSTYUK ADVANCES TO ROUND OF 16

Marta Kostyuk, seeded 15th from Ukraine, powered through to the fourth round by defeating Swiss player Viktorija Golubic 6-4, 6-3. Kostyuk’s next opponent will be four-time champion Iga Swiatek or Magda Linette.

0908 COMPETITION BEGINS

Friday’s matches commenced under hot weather conditions at Roland Garros, with Paris temperatures reaching approximately 29 degrees Celsius and forecasted to climb to around 33 degrees during a high-temperature alert issued by public weather service Meteo France.

Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev were scheduled for third-round men’s singles matches, while four-time champion Iga Swiatek was set to face compatriot Magda Linette in women’s competition.

FRIDAY’S MATCH SCHEDULE (seeding numbers shown with prefix):

COURT PHILIPPE CHATRIER (starting at 1000 GMT)

Magda Linette (Poland) v 3-Iga Swiatek (Poland)

8-Mirra Andreeva (Russia) v 27-Marie Bouzkova (Czech Republic)

28-Joao Fonseca (Brazil) v 3-Novak Djokovic (Serbia)

Quentin Halys (France) v 2-Alexander Zverev (Germany)

COURT SUZANNE LENGLEN (starting at 0900 GMT)

Nuno Borges (Portugal) v 11-Andrey Rublev (Russia)

Jil Teichmann (Switzerland) v 10-Karolina Muchova (Czech Republic)

7-Elina Svitolina (Ukraine) v Tamara Korpatsch (Germany)

15-Casper Ruud (Norway) v 24-Tommy Paul (U.S.)

COURT SIMONNE MATHIEU (starting at 0900 GMT)

15-Marta Kostyuk (Ukraine) v Viktorija Golubic (Switzerland)

Alex Michelsen (U.S.) v 27-Rafael Jodar (Spain)

8-Alex De Minaur (Australia) v 26-Jakub Mensik (Czech Republic)

Peyton Stearns (U.S.) v 11-Belinda Bencic (Switzerland)

Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk advanced to the French Open’s round of 16 on Friday, securing a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic in Paris to continue her perfect clay court season.

The 23-year-old world number 15 faced a challenging match against the seasoned Golubic, who is ten years older. Both players engaged in extended, powerful exchanges from the baseline that produced spectacular winning shots.

The opening set lasted more than an hour, with Golubic managing to save three set points, including one with an aggressive net volley, before finally losing the set on her own mistake at the fourth chance.

Kostyuk took control in the second set, securing an early break of Golubic’s serve and maintaining her advantage. She utilized her serve effectively throughout, calling it her “favourite shot.”

“I feel like I found again that joy of creating points, changing rhythm, running around a little bit, and it’s something I love to do,” Kostyuk said.

“It’s something that’s not very difficult for me, so I love to take that advantage against players. Maybe that’s the key,” she added.

Leading 4-2 in the second set, Kostyuk secured her advantage with an unconventional under-arm serve.

This marks her first appearance in Roland Garros’ final 16 since 2021. Her next opponent will be four-time champion Iga Swiatek.

Canadian tennis player Victoria Mboko says any announcement about Serena Williams returning to competitive play should come directly from the American tennis legend herself, as rumors swirl about a possible doubles team-up at an upcoming tournament in London.

Williams captured her final Grand Slam singles championship in 2017 and hasn’t played competitively since the 2022 U.S. Open. The 44-year-old athlete became eligible to enter tournaments again after rejoining the tennis anti-doping testing pool last year.

In August 2022, Williams stated she was “evolving away from tennis” and hasn’t responded to media requests for comment about a potential return, having previously denied preparations for a comeback to the sport she dominated for two decades.

British media outlets reported Thursday that Williams has requested a wildcard entry to compete in doubles with 19-year-old Mboko at next month’s Queen’s Club Championships in London.

Speaking to reporters at the French Open, Mboko expressed enthusiasm about their relationship while stopping short of confirming Williams’ return plans.

“Yeah, I’m very happy. Serena and I have stayed in touch, which is really nice, because I really look up to her. The fact that she even knows me is very exciting,” Mboko said.

“I feel like if she’s ready to come back on her own terms, then I feel like it’s up to her to announce that, but other than that, I don’t really have much to say.”

“I think the moment is all up to her, and when she’s ready to come back.”

Tournament organizers for the Queen’s event, scheduled to begin June 8 in London, have not yet responded to requests for comment.

Following her second-round victory over Katerina Siniakova at Roland Garros on Thursday, Mboko revealed that Williams has been following her career progress and maintaining contact.

“She has texted me. I can’t really tell you the exact date. I don’t know. But it’s really cool that she follows the results. She knows who I am … I looked up to her. She’s my idol, it’s really cool,” Mboko said.

“I remember watching her at the U.S. Open on TV and then seeing her in person … I feel like it was hard not to like her because she won everything.”

“She was such a great role model and such an inspiration to so many young girls out there.”

PARIS, May 29 – The sixth day of competition at the French Open got underway Friday with sweltering conditions greeting players and spectators at Roland Garros.

Competition commenced at 0908 GMT with thermometers showing 29 degrees Celsius in the French capital, and forecasters predicting temperatures could climb to approximately 33 degrees. The public weather service Meteo France had issued a high-temperature advisory for the region.

Several marquee third-round matches were scheduled for the day’s action in both the men’s and women’s singles competitions. Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev were set to take the court for men’s singles action, while the women’s draw featured an all-Polish showdown between four-time champion Iga Swiatek and compatriot Magda Linette.

The day’s schedule included matches across the tournament’s main courts. Court Philippe Chatrier was set to begin play at 1000 GMT, featuring the Linette versus 3-seeded Swiatek match, followed by 8-Mirra Andreeva of Russia taking on 27-Marie Bouzkova from the Czech Republic. The men’s action would see 28-Joao Fonseca of Brazil face 3-Novak Djokovic of Serbia, with France’s Quentin Halys meeting 2-Alexander Zverev of Germany.

Court Suzanne Lenglen was scheduled to start earlier at 0900 GMT, hosting Portugal’s Nuno Borges against 11-Andrey Rublev of Russia, Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann versus 10-Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic, 7-Elina Svitolina of Ukraine facing Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch, and 15-Casper Ruud of Norway meeting 24-Tommy Paul from the United States.

Court Simonne Mathieu would also begin at 0900 GMT with 15-Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine playing Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic, American Alex Michelsen taking on 27-Rafael Jodar of Spain, 8-Alex De Minaur of Australia facing 26-Jakub Mensik from the Czech Republic, and American Peyton Stearns meeting 11-Belinda Bencic of Switzerland.

While soccer fans worldwide will witness the familiar sight of players warming up in circles before World Cup matches, in Rio de Janeiro, those same movements have evolved into something much more meaningful.

In Brazil’s iconic city, residents have transformed the traditional warm-up routine into a beloved street game called “altinha,” where participants use everything except their hands and arms to keep a soccer ball floating through the air. This activity serves as both a group effort and an individual showcase of talent.

“The feeling is wonderful,” said Patrick Emanuel, a 21-year-old at a court near the Engenhao soccer stadium where hundreds of people gather every Monday night to play altinha. “When we are playing … we get distracted, cut off from all problems.”

According to Cecilia Lang, the director of “Bola Pro Alto,” an award-winning documentary about the game, altinha emerged on Rio’s beaches during the 1960s when beach soccer was experiencing tremendous growth and players would practice these drills before competitions.

Lang explained that by the 1980s, the practice had evolved into its own distinct activity, becoming a platform for displaying impressive techniques between players working in perfect coordination.

The objective involves creating such smooth and graceful ball movement between participants that they reach a harmonious state where “the mind is no longer there,” Lang explained.

“I’ve always seen it as a beachside spectacle,” she said. “No one is going to take the ball from you. So that moment when the ball comes to you, that’s the magic.”

The activity has gained such worldwide recognition that supporters, including Senator Romario Faria, a celebrated former soccer player, are pushing to establish it as an Olympic competition.

“When that happens, I’ll apply to represent Brazil again in the Olympics,” said Romario, who won the World Cup with Brazil in 1994.

Currently, altinha supporters have created competitive events where the complexity of moves and duration of airborne ball control factor into final rankings.

Artur Marques, who regularly participates in altinha on Rio’s beaches and at the Engenhao court, has transformed his passion into a career. Initially aspiring to become a professional soccer player, he discovered a different path when those dreams didn’t materialize.

“I started recording videos for the internet and realized I had found my place there,” he said. “Now I live off it, it’s my only income.”

The president of Iran’s soccer federation stated Thursday that he has no knowledge of any efforts to add striker Sardar Azmoun to the country’s World Cup roster, even after a high-ranking government official publicly called for the player’s return.

Azmoun, who has netted 57 goals across 91 international appearances, was omitted from coach Amir Ghalenoei’s initial roster. Local news outlets have reported his exclusion stems from allegations of disloyalty to the government.

The 31-year-old forward made a passionate statement defending his patriotism last week, which prompted Vice President Abdolkarim Hosseinzadeh to make a public plea on Monday.

“If possible, let us bring him back to the national team,” Hosseinzadeh wrote on X.

“This is not merely a sporting decision, but a message in favour of national unity.”

Federation president Mehdi Taj told Iranian television Thursday that he lacks information regarding any potential call-up for Azmoun. When questioned further, he stated: “This matter will be followed up through the proper discussions. As for Mr. Sardar, I’m not currently aware of his situation.”

Iranian media outlets report that Azmoun angered government hardliners by sharing a photo of himself meeting with Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai’s ruler, soon after U.S. and Israeli airstrikes targeted Iran.

Iran views the United Arab Emirates, where Azmoun competes professionally, as an adversary in the conflict that emerged following those airstrikes.

The preliminary roster is currently training in Turkey, but time is limited for Azmoun’s potential inclusion, as the final 26-player squad must be finalized before FIFA’s Monday deadline.

The team will establish their tournament headquarters in Tijuana, Mexico, rather than Tucson, Arizona as originally planned.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo announced Monday that FIFA contacted her administration after U.S. officials indicated they preferred Iran not stay within American borders during the June 11 to July 19 competition.

Iran’s ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, visited Tijuana Thursday and expressed gratitude to Sheinbaum for accommodating the team after the United States “failed to do so.”

Despite Mexico serving as a co-host alongside the U.S. and Canada, Iran is scheduled to play two group stage contests in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.

Pasandideh noted that the squad has yet to receive U.S. entry visas.

Taj, who was denied entry to Canada for the FIFA Congress in late April due to his connections with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), emphasized that FIFA must secure U.S. visa guarantees.

“FIFA has to arrange multiple-entry visas so the players can travel back and forth,” said Taj, who held a senior IRGC position before transitioning to soccer leadership.

“If they aren’t granted visas to enter the United States, then the consequences are pretty obvious.”

Both the U.S. and Canada have designated the IRGC as a “terrorist entity” and maintain policies against admitting individuals with ties to the elite military organization.

Taj previously disclosed that some squad members and coaching staff also served in the IRGC during their required military service.

Iran’s tournament debut is set for June 15 against New Zealand.

Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark made WNBA history Thursday evening, setting a new league record as the quickest player ever to accumulate 500 career assists during the team’s matchup against the Golden State Valkyries in San Francisco.

The 24-year-old guard achieved this historic milestone in just her 59th professional game.

Clark began Thursday’s contest with 497 assists to her name, needing only three more to break the record. Those three crucial assists came rapidly during the second quarter of play. First, she set up Raven Johnson and Myisha Hines-Allen for easy scoring opportunities near the basket. Then, Clark made a long pass from her chest position down the court to Sophie Cunningham, who was running ahead for a fast-break score that brought Indiana within five points at 37-32.

Earlier in the current season, Clark also achieved another significant milestone by surpassing 1,000 career points. Her combination of reaching both 1,000 points and 500 assists makes her by far the most rapid WNBA player to accomplish both feats. The previous record holder for fastest to 500 assists was Sue Bird, who needed 82 games to reach that number.

Victor Wembanyama delivered a dominant performance with 28 points and 10 rebounds, propelling the San Antonio Spurs to a commanding 118-91 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals.

The series will now come down to a decisive Game 7 on Saturday in Oklahoma City, where the winning team will earn the right to meet the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals.

Following Oklahoma City’s 127-114 victory in Game 5 on Tuesday, where Wembanyama managed 20 points and six rebounds, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson expressed that his team required a bigger contribution from its star player.

Wembanyama wasted no time demonstrating his enhanced impact compared to Game 5. Within the opening 90 seconds, he connected on two three-point shots and recorded a blocked shot as San Antonio established an early advantage they would maintain throughout the contest.

San Antonio built a 15-point cushion early in the second quarter, though Oklahoma City managed to cut that margin to five points before halftime, ultimately entering the locker room down by seven.

The Spurs intensified their defensive pressure during the late stages of the third quarter and unleashed a devastating 20-0 scoring surge that effectively decided the outcome before the final period began.

Oklahoma City endured a brutal stretch where they failed to convert 14 straight field goal attempts, going nearly eight minutes without adding to their point total.

The Thunder managed only 13 points in the third quarter, marking their lowest single-quarter output of the entire season.

With the contest effectively decided after three quarters, Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault chose to rest Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein during the fourth quarter.

Gilgeous-Alexander led his team with just 15 points while shooting 6-of-18 from the field. This represented Gilgeous-Alexander’s most modest scoring performance since he tallied 14 points in Game 3 of last season’s Western Conference finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Dylan Harper contributed 18 points coming off the bench for San Antonio, while Stephon Castle chipped in 17 points and nine assists with only one turnover.

Although Oklahoma City’s bench players had generally outperformed San Antonio’s reserves throughout most of the series, the Spurs’ second unit outscored the Thunder’s bench 46-38 in Game 6.

San Antonio established momentum early through exceptional three-point shooting.

The Spurs connected on eight three-pointers in the opening quarter, with Wembanyama accounting for three of those makes.

Oklahoma City struggled from long range in the first quarter, converting just one of six attempts from beyond the arc.

The Thunder welcomed back Jalen Williams after he had been sidelined for the previous three games due to a hamstring strain, but he was limited to 10 minutes of action and scored only one point. Williams came off the bench for the first time since Dec. 10, 2022, during his rookie campaign.

Victor Wembanyama appeared transformed for Game 6 in every possible way.

The San Antonio superstar arrived at his home venue Thursday evening wearing a Shaolin robe, a clear reference to his two-week retreat at a Chinese temple last summer where he pursued physical, mental and spiritual development. His newly trimmed haircut provided another indication that he was focused entirely on the task ahead.

Most importantly, his play on the basketball court returned to elite levels.

In his first elimination game experience, Wembanyama delivered an impassioned speech to his teammates before tip-off, which is unusual for him. Despite the pressure, he appeared completely at ease. The young star recorded 28 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks and two assists while shooting 10-for-21 in 28 minutes of action, propelling the Spurs to a 118-91 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder and evening the Western Conference finals at 3-3.

The decisive Game 7 takes place Saturday evening in Oklahoma City, where Wembanyama began this conference championship series with an outstanding 41-point, 24-rebound performance that lifted the Spurs to a double-overtime victory. Another win on Saturday would send him and the Spurs to the NBA Finals to face the New York Knicks.

Wembanyama’s influence was evident from the opening moments of Game 6. Following the opening tip, his next three actions unfolded as follows: successful 3-point shot, defensive block, followed by another successful 3-pointer. This established the rhythm, and the Spurs maintained their lead throughout.

With the outcome determined well before the final period ended, he was able to rest for most of the fourth quarter. While Game 6 was still in progress, it seemed likely that Wembanyama’s thoughts had already shifted to Game 7. Harrison Barnes, the team’s third-oldest player, spent time during the fourth quarter speaking with Wembanyama on the Spurs’ bench, sharing some veteran advice. Barnes talked while Wembanyama listened and acknowledged. The specific content of their conversation was unclear, but the message appeared to resonate.

Thursday’s contest reinforced the pattern that has defined this series. When Wembanyama plays as the most impactful player on the court, the Spurs emerge victorious. When he falls short of that standard, they suffer defeats. Simply playing well has proven insufficient — during the three Spurs losses, he has posted an average of 22.3 points while shooting 43%. In the three Spurs victories, his averages jump to 34 points on 51% shooting.

Federal authorities have filed additional criminal charges against former Miami Heat player Terry Rozier in connection with an ongoing sports betting investigation, claiming he accepted a substantial payment to leave a basketball game early in March 2023.

The 32-year-old athlete faced new accusations Thursday when prosecutors in Brooklyn federal court issued a superseding indictment charging him with bribery in sporting contests and honest services wire fraud conspiracy. This type of legal filing allows prosecutors to modify or introduce additional charges in an active criminal matter.

Rozier has maintained his innocence regarding involvement in the betting operation and continues battling to get the case thrown out after entering not guilty pleas to wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy charges last December. His legal team contends that the prosecution’s approach — claiming he prevented betting platforms from making well-informed decisions about accepting wagers — conflicts with a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that limited the scope of federal wire fraud laws.

“The new indictment just confirms that our motion to dismiss was righteous — new charges, new theories, but all just an effort to make something stick,” Rozier’s attorney, Jim Trusty, wrote in an email to The Associated Press.

Authorities arrested Rozier in October alongside former NBA player Damon Jones, who admitted guilt last month for his involvement in schemes targeting major betting platforms including DraftKings and FanDuel. The case also involves sports bettor and influencer Marves Fairley, who entered guilty pleas Thursday to conspiracy, bribery and additional federal charges related to gambling schemes affecting basketball contests in the U.S. and China.

Rozier currently remains out of custody on $3 million bond. The ongoing legal proceedings have prevented him from playing this season.

The updated charges claim that Rozier not only deceived sportsbooks, but also betrayed the NBA and his team at the time, the Charlotte Hornets.

According to prosecutors, Rozier worked with gamblers to exit a game prematurely, claiming a persistent lower leg injury, enabling them to collect on more than $250,000 in wagers betting that his points, assists and other statistics would fall below the lines established by sportsbooks.

However, not every bet paid off because Rozier managed four rebounds, exceeding the betting line, according to the superseding indictment. Following the game, Rozier and his associates renegotiated his payment, reducing it from $100,000 to approximately $70,000, court documents stated.

Prosecutors filed the new charges against Rozier on the same day that Fairley, known as “Vezino Locks” on Instagram, entered his guilty pleas. During his plea hearing, Fairley acknowledged using inside information to gain advantages when wagering on NBA, NCAA and Chinese Professional Basketball League games — including paying $100,000 to Rozier’s longtime friend in exchange for advance notice that Rozier planned to leave a game early.

“Fairley’s attorney Eric Siegle said his client deeply regrets and is ashamed of his conduct.”

“By publicly acknowledging his guilt and conduct today, Marves is taking the first step toward atoning for his wrongful conduct and to starting his ‘second half’ on the right foot,” Siegle said.

The Toronto Blue Jays have sidelined second baseman Lenyn Sosa for at least 10 days after he suffered a right wrist contusion when struck by a pitch during Tuesday’s game.

The team announced Thursday that Sosa’s placement on the injured list is effective retroactively from Wednesday. To fill his roster spot, Toronto has promoted infielder Charles McAdoo from their Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo.

The 26-year-old Sosa sustained the injury when Miami’s starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara hit him with a pitch during the Blue Jays’ dominant 8-1 victory at home on Tuesday. This season with Toronto, Sosa has struggled at the plate, posting a .188 batting average with 15 hits in 80 at-bats, along with one home run and six RBIs across 28 games. Earlier this year with the Chicago White Sox, he managed a .212 average with seven hits in 33 at-bats over 12 appearances.

Throughout his major league career spanning from 2022 to 2026, Sosa has compiled a .241 batting average with 38 home runs and 134 RBIs over 343 games split between Chicago and Toronto.

The Blue Jays obtained Sosa from the White Sox on April 13 in exchange for minor league outfielder Jordan Rich plus future considerations.

McAdoo, age 24, has been performing well at Buffalo this season with a .250 batting average, eight home runs, and 27 RBIs in 50 games. MLB Pipeline ranks him as the 26th prospect in Toronto’s system, and he has yet to make his major league debut.

Toronto manager John Schneider praised McAdoo’s versatility and recent performance. “(McAdoo) can play third, first. He’s played a little bit of second the last couple of weeks in Triple-A,” Schneider explained. “He can run, but I think just putting together a pretty good offensive year. So, (we’ll) take a look at it for sure.”

The Pittsburgh Pirates drafted McAdoo in the 13th round of the 2023 MLB Draft from San Jose State University.

Thursday brought additional roster moves for the Blue Jays. The team sent right-handed pitcher Chase Lee back to Buffalo while bringing Connor Seabold up to the major league roster. They also moved right-hander Lazaro Estrada from the 15-day to the 60-day injured list due to right shoulder impingement, creating space on the 40-man roster.

The Blue Jays acquired Seabold on Wednesday from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for minor league left-handed pitcher Juanmi Vasquez.

Lee, 27, struggled in his brief major league stint, posting an 8.10 ERA with four walks and just one strikeout over 3 1/3 innings across three relief appearances for Toronto.

Seabold, 30, showed better results this season with Detroit, going 1-0 with a 3.45 ERA, five walks, and 14 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings of work.

Boston Red Sox right-handed pitcher Garrett Whitlock has been sidelined with knee inflammation, landing him on the 15-day injured list as of Thursday.

The roster move dates back to Monday. To fill the spot, Boston brought up rookie left-handed pitcher Tyler Samaniego from their Triple-A affiliate in Worcester.

Whitlock serves as the primary setup pitcher ahead of closer Aroldis Chapman. He injured his left knee during last Sunday’s 6-5 home defeat against the Minnesota Twins, when slippery field conditions caused him to hyperextend the joint.

“First warmup pitch on Sunday, obviously, the conditions were super wet, I kind of slipped and hyperextended my knee and everything,” Whitlock explained about the moment he got hurt.

The 29-year-old pitcher gave up one run on two hits while recording just one out in that appearance.

“Honestly, I got pretty sped-up just because it was on the very first (warmup) pitch, and then I was like, ‘Man, that didn’t feel good.’ And it was just kind of in my head,” Whitlock said. “And then I saw the clock going. I was like, ‘Oh, they didn’t stop it. I need to keep throwing.’ So yeah, I probably should have taken some time to be like, ‘All right, slow things down.’ But that’s part of it. You’re just trying to compete and everything. I’m never going to make excuses.”

Whitlock has been out of action for three games through Thursday and received a pain-relieving injection on Tuesday. He also had an MRI scan performed earlier in the week.

“Luckily, no structural damage, like no ligament or anything like that,” Whitlock said. “So I’m just kind of trying to get everything out of it now.”

This season, Whitlock has compiled a 3-1 record with a 3.20 ERA, issuing six walks while striking out 25 batters across 19 2/3 innings in 20 relief outings.

Since joining Boston in 2021, Whitlock has posted a 28-15 record with 10 saves and a 3.13 ERA, walking 82 and striking out 368 in 333 1/3 innings over 185 regular-season appearances, including 23 starts.

Samaniego brings a 0-2 record with a 1.04 ERA this season for Boston, walking seven and striking out 13 in 17 1/3 innings across 18 relief appearances.

New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson sustained a fracture to his right pinky finger during the past week, with no established timeline for his return to action, multiple sources reported Thursday.

The Knicks are set to compete in the NBA Finals for the first time in 25 years, with their championship series beginning Wednesday against whichever team emerges from the Western Conference finals. Oklahoma City holds a 3-2 advantage over host San Antonio in their best-of-seven series, with Thursday night’s game potentially deciding the matchup.

The 28-year-old Robinson contributed eight points and grabbed 10 rebounds during 18 minutes of action in New York’s dominant 130-93 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers at their home court in Game 4 on Monday, completing a sweep that secured the Eastern Conference title.

The circumstances and exact timing of Robinson’s injury remain unknown, according to the reports.

Serving as the primary backup to six-time All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns, Robinson has posted averages of 5.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 14.2 minutes per contest while connecting on a league-best 73.7% of his field goal attempts (28 of 38) across 13 playoff appearances as a reserve player. His free-throw shooting has been problematic, however, as he has converted just 13 of 43 attempts for a 30.2% success rate.

Throughout the regular season, Robinson compiled averages of 5.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 19.6 minutes across 60 games with 16 starts, earning an eighth-place finish in NBA Sixth Man of the Year award voting.

Second-year player Ariel Hukporti serves as New York’s third-string center option. The 7-footer appeared in 54 regular-season contests with five starts and averaged 2.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 9.2 minutes.

Over his professional career, Robinson has averaged 7.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 23.4 minutes across 397 regular-season appearances with 215 starts.

Robinson holds the distinction of being the longest-tenured player on the Knicks roster, having been chosen by New York in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft following his time at Western Kentucky.

New York Knicks big man Mitchell Robinson is dealing with a fractured right pinkie finger, with no clear timeline established for his recovery, a source with knowledge of the situation has revealed.

The source provided this information to The Associated Press anonymously on Thursday, as the organization has not yet made an official announcement regarding the injury.

The development comes as New York prepares for Game 1 of the NBA Finals, scheduled for next Wednesday as they travel to face either Oklahoma City or San Antonio.

Throughout the postseason’s first three rounds, Robinson has participated in 13 of the team’s initial 16 contests, contributing over 17 minutes as a substitute during the Eastern Conference finals-deciding win in Cleveland. The squad resumed practice activities at their home facility Thursday.

New York has compiled a remarkable 12-2 postseason record, outscoring opponents by an average of 19.4 points per contest while riding an 11-game winning streak. This current run matches the third-longest consecutive victory streak recorded within a single postseason.

The 28-year-old big man has contributed 5.3 points and 3.0 rebounds per game during the playoffs, serving primarily as a backup whose court time increases when Karl-Anthony Towns encounters foul difficulties. Offensively, Robinson has become a target for intentional fouling due to his struggles from the charity stripe, converting just 13 of 43 attempts for a 30.2% success rate.

ESPN initially broke the news of Robinson’s finger fracture.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The reigning MVP quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams, Matthew Stafford, expressed his acceptance of the team’s decision to select Ty Simpson in last month’s draft, despite having the league’s top performer locked in for a minimum of two more seasons.

“Listen, I’m not 25 years old, and I get that,” Stafford commented on Thursday following organized team activities at the Rams’ training facility. “So we’re doing everything we can to be as good a football team as we can for now, for the future, for all of it.”

The veteran signal-caller, now 38, revealed he maintains “constant dialogue and a great relationship” with head coach Sean McVay, who contacted him last month before the Rams shocked the league by selecting Simpson with the 13th overall selection. The Alabama quarterback wasn’t anticipated to be chosen so early in the draft or land with the Rams, who had already confirmed Stafford’s return for 2026.

Following his record-breaking season, the NFL’s sixth all-time leading passer secured a substantial contract extension for 2027 just last week, solidifying his position that was already secure. McVay has consistently affirmed that Stafford remains the Rams’ starter for however long he chooses to continue playing, even following the team’s investment of their highest draft selection in a decade on a quarterback.

However, Stafford also clarified the reasoning behind the Rams’ quarterback selection when he confirmed Thursday that he continues to evaluate his future on an annual basis, even with his two-year contractual obligation.

“Happy to have next year taken care of if I decide to play — and they still want me back,” Stafford remarked with a smile. “Excited to get that behind me, because I just want to come out here and play, and not think about the extra stuff. It’s good to get it done sooner rather than later.”

During this month’s workouts, Stafford and Simpson have been training together with returning backup Stetson Bennett and undrafted rookie Matthew Caldwell. Bennett and Simpson are anticipated to battle for the backup position behind Stafford, who enters his 18th professional season.

The veteran quarterback and the 23-year-old Simpson seem to be developing a positive relationship early on, though Stafford remains primarily concentrated on his own preparation rather than mentoring, as he pursues a legitimate opportunity to claim his second championship ring this season.

“He’s a guy that asks questions,” Stafford noted. “I’ve been trying to answer those as honestly and as thoroughly as I possibly can. He’s a smart kid. He’s got talent, obviously. Happy to add good players to our team. He’s one of them. But my job is to go out there and get myself and our team as ready to play as we possibly can.”

Stafford is fresh off one of his finest campaigns, earning his inaugural MVP recognition. He threw for a league-leading 4,707 yards and a personal-best 46 touchdown passes against only eight interceptions while guiding the Rams to 12 victories, two playoff road wins, and an appearance in the NFC championship contest.

Although Stafford plans to delay his decision about returning for 2027 until next offseason, it appears increasingly evident that he has no desire to play elsewhere. He rejected interest from other franchises a year ago and promptly secured his future with the Rams this year after his MVP campaign.

When questioned about whether he plans to conclude his career with the Rams, Stafford responded: “That would probably be a ‘Yes,’ but … this is life, and I don’t know what’s going to happen. I do love playing here. I love playing for this organization. Love my teammates, and my family loves it here.”

The head coach at Texas Tech has responded to criticism about his team’s schedule with a bold financial proposal aimed at Texas coach Steve Sarkisian.

Coach Joey Maguire announced that Texas Tech has already secured agreements from Texas State and Abilene Christian to accept buyout payments and face each other instead of their currently scheduled Week 1 opponents. This would clear the way for Texas Tech and Texas to meet in the season opener, either at AT&T Stadium or in Lubbock, Texas.

“We would love to play the University of Texas in Week 1,” Maguire stated Thursday during the Big 12 Conference spring meetings.

The Red Raiders captured the conference title with a 12-1 record last season and advanced to the College Football Playoff, where they fell to Oregon in the quarterfinal round after receiving a first-round bye.

Sarkisian sparked controversy when he commented that “there’s a team in our state that plays in another conference that has a schedule that I would argue if I played with our twos and our threes, we could go undefeated, and they’ll probably make the CFP this year.”

Texas Tech chairman of the Board of Regents Cody Campbell backed up the proposal Thursday on social media, confirming the university’s willingness to cover buyout costs for both the Abilene Christian and Texas State matchups. He directly addressed Sarkisian and Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte in his post.

“Upping the ante: @TechAthletics will pay the buyout for both the ACU and Texas State games. Let’s go!!! @CoachSark @_delconte,” Campbell wrote.

Maguire initially doubted that Sarkisian’s remarks were directed at his program, but after considering the details, he decided to issue the challenge.

“I said there’s no way they’re talking about us because Sark’s a pretty tough guy,” Maguire explained. “I would think if he was talking about us, he’d call us out.”

“… They can come to Lubbock Week 1, and we can figure out if their 2’s and 3’s can win this conference,” he added.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. — The contrast couldn’t be more striking for retired striker Jozy Altidore as he visited the newly opened U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Georgia. The $250 million facility spanning 200 acres with 19 fields stands in sharp contrast to where his 2014 squad used to recover in a plastic cold tub positioned on pavement outside Stanford’s Cagan Stadium in California.

“This is the culmination, right?” Altidore remarked Thursday. “This is what I’m sure past players strived to want to be a part of.”

The transformation of American soccer infrastructure has been dramatic as the nation gears up to host the World Cup next month. Sunil Gulati, who later served as U.S. Soccer Federation president, remembered having to purchase soccer balls from a Kmart on the day of a scrimmage in Colorado Springs, Colorado. That 1985 match featured players competing for roster spots for the FIFA Under-16 World Championship, and sprinklers even activated during the game.

Training conditions improved gradually over the decades. Before the 1994 World Cup, the Americans used a $3.5 million, seven-acre site that opened in 1993 in Mission Viejo, California. The team later utilized a Chula Vista, California facility for the 1998 tournament, followed by training in Cary, North Carolina for both 2002 and 2006. Princeton hosted preparations in 2010, with Stanford serving as the base in 2014.

More recently, the national squad conducted practices at Major League Soccer club facilities. The current training center, which officially opened May 7, received a $50 million founding donation from Arthur Bank, who owns both the Atlanta Falcons and an MLS franchise. Construction took place on former cattle grazing land approximately 25 miles from Atlanta, and the facility now serves all 27 U.S. national teams.

“It’s nice to have the first rights of everything that you want to do here,” explained midfielder Tyler Adams, who captained the American squad at the 2022 World Cup. “Whenever you train at an MLS facility or something like that, it’s their facility. You’re a guest.”

The complex features 13 regulation-size natural grass fields across three tiers, plus two additional artificial turf surfaces, two sand fields for beach soccer, and two indoor pitches. The USSF relocated its headquarters from Chicago to this center, which contains 20 locker rooms, 19 conference spaces, a 10,000-square-foot fitness center, and a kitchen with adjoining dining space.

Administrative offices occupy the second level, with some providing views of the primary training fields where the World Cup squad has been practicing.

“From my office, you can see the grass. It’s the first time I’ve ever been excited to see grass grow,” said USSF CEO JT Batson.

The USSF studied international models during development, including England’s St. Georges Park and France’s national team training center at Clairefontaine.

Team members are lodging at a hotel in the neighboring community of Trilith. This region has experienced rapid development following the establishment of Trilith Studios, a film and television production facility where Marvel Studios creates its movies.

Defender Chris Richards will join the group last, arriving Friday after staying with Crystal Palace for Wednesday’s UEFA Conference League final in Germany.

World Cup roster players observed the women’s under-16 squad during Wednesday’s training session.

“They can see the first team and how they move and how the operate and that’s the goal of where they want to end up,” Adams noted. “As a youth national team player, if I could have ever had the opportunity to be even close to the senior team, that would have been really special because that’s your dream.”

Major League Baseball has put forward a salary cap proposal during ongoing labor negotiations with the players’ union, as the current collective bargaining agreement approaches its December 1st deadline at 11:59 p.m. ET.

The league announced Thursday its intention to implement a $245.3 million salary cap that would include benefits, marking the first time since 1994 that baseball has pushed for such spending restrictions. This proposal comes one day after the players’ association presented its opening position in negotiations.

Data from Spotrac.com indicates the proposed cap falls below current spending levels for eight teams in the 2026 season, including the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves when taxes are included.

Along with the spending ceiling, the league also suggested establishing a $171.2 million salary floor, which would force 12 teams to boost their current payroll commitments according to Spotrac’s analysis.

The proposal includes increasing players’ revenue share to 50%, which the league argues would benefit athletes given that revenues have grown 247% since 2003 while player salaries have risen 149% during the same period.

“Our salary cap and floor proposal levels the playing field while sharing baseball revenue with the players 50/50 as we grow the game together,” MLB spokesman Glen Caplin said in a statement. “Further, by sharing media revenue equally as part of our proposal, we can address another top fan concern of local TV blackouts. We look forward to working with the MLBPA during the bargaining process to continue improving the game for the fans.”

The players’ union expressed concerns about returning to the contentious atmosphere of 1994, when a mid-season strike ultimately led to the cancellation of the World Series and continued until the start of the 1995 campaign.

“Yesterday, the MLBPA presented a comprehensive package of proposals designed to improve compensation for players at all levels, and to incentivize and reward competition on the field,” interim MLBPA executive director Bruce Meyer said in a statement.

“The owners responded today with a demand for a salary cap system, something generations of players have fought against. The last time the owners made such an explicit push for a cap — over 30 years ago — it led to the longest work stoppage in MLB history… Caps don’t lower ticket prices for fans, eliminate tanking or ensure teams are run with equal competence. They suffocate competition by offering owners an all-purpose excuse for inaction and mediocrity.”

During a Wednesday appearance on ESPN’s Pat McAfee Show, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred defended the ownership position by claiming it addresses fan concerns about competitive balance.

“We pay a lot of attention to what our fans are saying,” Manfred said. “The one thing that they’re the biggest on right now is the lack of competitive balance in the game. And I think that’s going to be the cornerstone issue of the negotiations with the MLBPA.”

Current season standings challenge this narrative, as four teams among the top 10 in payroll according to Spotrac — the Mets, Blue Jays, Houston Astros and Detroit Tigers — currently have losing records. In fact, 11 of the 18 highest-spending teams are performing below .500.

“We’ll continue our review of the owners’ proposal and stand ready to negotiate system improvements that benefit players and fans alike,” Meyer said.

First-year standout Elsa Morrison connected on the initial pitch thrown her way, sending it sailing beyond the center field wall for a three-run blast in the second frame, propelling Tennessee to a 6-3 victory over reigning national champion Texas during Thursday’s Women’s College World Series action in Oklahoma City.

Tennessee pitcher Sage Mardjetko (15-2) earned the victory after delivering four scoreless frames while silencing Texas’s potent offensive attack. Her postseason performance includes 16 strikeouts across 13 2/3 innings pitched.

Texas’s SEC Player of the Year Katie Stewart struggled at the plate, going without a hit in three trips to the batter’s box.

Morrison added a double that bounced off the wall’s top during the sixth inning, finishing 2-for-3 while nearly connecting for her second long ball of the contest.

Tennessee’s Taelyn Holley crossed home plate twice, helping the team get revenge for their 2-0 defeat against Texas in last year’s WCWS semifinal round.

These clutch performances from Morrison are becoming routine. She previously delivered a game-winning homer against Northern Kentucky in regional play and now owns seven round-trippers this campaign.

Texas narrowed the gap to 5-3 during the bottom of the sixth inning. Gold Glove senior catcher and cleanup hitter Reese Atwood put Texas on the scoreboard first, followed by second baseman Leighann Goode’s clutch two-out performance. Goode connected on a two-run blast to center field against Tennessee’s Karlyn Pickens, who registered a record-setting 78 mph delivery — equivalent to 109 mph from a major league pitching distance.

Pickens and Tennessee (48-10) will next face Texas Tech and their starter NiJaree Canady on Friday, competing for a semifinal berth. The Red Raiders dominated with an 8-0 victory in five innings during Thursday’s WCWS opener.

Texas will battle Mississippi State in an elimination contest, after Mississippi State managed just two hits and failed to score Thursday against Texas Tech.

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — The New York Knicks have assembled an impressive postseason campaign, but they must capture one additional series to cement their legacy among basketball’s elite squads.

Should they secure four more victories — and do so efficiently — the Knicks would earn recognition alongside legendary championship teams like the Lakers featuring Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, or the Stephen Curry-Kevin Durant Warriors dynasty.

However, should they lose to Oklahoma City or San Antonio in the NBA Finals, they face the possibility of being viewed as a squad that dominated inferior Eastern Conference competition but couldn’t deliver when the stakes reached their peak.

The team resumed training Thursday following their first practice since completing a sweep of Cleveland in the Eastern Conference finals, pledging to maintain their focus regardless of external commentary about their performance or their opponents’ quality.

“When there’s negative things being said about you, it’s important to ignore them. When there’s positive things about you it’s easy to be able to read them to make you feel good, but you can’t do one and not the other,” Jalen Brunson said. “So just block out as best you can.”

New York has compiled a 12-2 postseason record, averaging a 19.4-point victory margin while extending their current winning streak to 11 games. This streak matches the third-longest consecutive wins within a single playoff campaign.

The 2001 Lakers achieved the same 11-game streak during their 15-1 championship season, falling just short of Golden State’s historic 16-1 performance in 2017. O’Neal, who earned MVP honors during that Lakers title run and currently works as an ESPN analyst, has endorsed this Knicks team.

“They are so good I owe the whole state and all five boroughs of New York an apology,” he said during an appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show.”

“They are really good. They have it. It reminds me of that Detroit team that beat us my last year there (in 2004). They just got a bunch of guys that are just together.”

Critics would highlight how circumstances aligned to create a path to the NBA Finals that made the Knicks appear dominant without facing elite competition.

Beginning with the regular season’s final day, when Atlanta chose to rest key players and lost the opportunity to claim the No. 5 seed. Rather than meeting Toronto or Orlando — stronger defensive clubs that could have secured the No. 6 position and potentially worn them down physically — the Knicks instead faced the Hawks, a team emphasizing skill over physicality.

New York captured the series’ final three contests to win in six games, discovering their favorable circumstances were only starting.

Boston surrendered a 3-1 series advantage to Philadelphia, meaning instead of beginning on the road versus the second-seeded Celtics, the Knicks faced the No. 7 76ers, who arrived in New York with minimal rest and appeared exhausted from the opening tip. New York dominated them 137-98 in Game 1, Joel Embiid was unable to compete in Game 2 due to soreness, and the series concluded quickly.

Cleveland’s victory over Detroit in the Eastern Conference semifinals provided the Knicks home-court advantage against another weary opponent. Rather than confronting the top-seeded Pistons, who had defeated them decisively in all three regular season encounters, the Knicks hosted the No. 4 Cavaliers — a team coming off consecutive seven-game series with the same limited rest period as the 76ers.

Cleveland acknowledged their exhaustion nearly as much as New York’s skill level in post-series comments, with James Harden unable to determine if the Knicks were truly superior.

“Obviously they dominated us 4-0 but I don’t know if I can necessarily answer that question just because genuinely I do feel like we are the better team, but series-wise it didn’t show it,” he said.

The Knicks will maintain a rest advantage entering the finals, though not as pronounced as before. They must begin on the road against a team expected to be favored. Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon, referencing her earlier statements about the 6-foot-2 Brunson that a team couldn’t capture a championship behind a smaller player, stated the “two best teams are probably in the West, but I’m up for being proven wrong.”

The championship series will provide the definitive verdict.

“Lot of questions, lot of talk about how great we are, how great we’ve been. All that doesn’t matter,” guard Mikal Bridges said. “We’ve just got to worry about being ourselves and stay locked in and go win.”

Professional basketball’s governing body has given the green light to major reforms of its draft lottery system on Thursday, designed to discourage teams from intentionally losing games to improve their chances at top draft picks.

The league’s Board of Governors officially endorsed the new system for the upcoming three seasons. This “3-2-1 Lottery” format will include 16 teams and reduce the advantages previously given to clubs with the poorest records by flattening the probability structure for securing the top selection.

While the weakest teams can still claim the lottery victory, the mathematics now work against them. The bottom three franchises will each hold just 5.4% probability of winning, whereas clubs finishing with the fourth through tenth-worst records will each possess 8.1% chances of claiming the top spot.

“Since October, the league office has met with key stakeholders to discuss current competitive incentives and solicit ideas aimed at discouraging tanking,” the league said Thursday in announcing the move. “That process led to the creation of the 3-2-1 Lottery.”

According to ESPN’s reporting, the decision passed with Memphis providing the single opposing vote in a 29-1 tally.

Thursday’s decision delivered on a commitment made by Commissioner Adam Silver, who had pledged the organization would take decisive action against tanking practices before the upcoming season begins. The league has modified its lottery structure approximately six times over the past four decades.

Beginning with the next lottery drawing, the 16 eligible franchises will receive between one and three lottery balls distributed as follows:

— Teams that lose in the No. 7 versus No. 8 play-in matchups from each conference receive one lottery ball.

— The No. 9 and No. 10 seeded teams entering the play-in tournament receive two lottery balls each.

— The other 10 clubs missing both playoffs and play-in competition receive three lottery balls, except for the three teams with the worst standings. These bottom franchises enter “draft relegation” and forfeit one lottery ball as the anti-tanking mechanism.

Deliberate losing became a significant and unwelcome storyline this season from the league’s perspective. Utah received a $500,000 penalty “for conduct detrimental to the league” related to keeping two star players on the bench during fourth quarters of two contests, including one game Utah actually won. The franchise had motivation to restrict victories this year, as too many wins could have jeopardized their opportunity for a top-eight draft position, which Utah ultimately obtained.

Utah joined four other clubs — lottery champion Washington, Indiana, Memphis and Brooklyn — posting winning percentages under .180 following the All-Star break. No previous season had witnessed so many teams losing at such rates after the midseason break.

The revised system ensures teams with the three poorest records cannot drop below the No. 12 selection. However, the highest probability for claiming the top pick shifts to the remaining seven clubs that miss playoff and play-in qualification.

The No. 9 and No. 10 play-in seeds would also hold 5.4% odds of lottery victory, while the losing teams from No. 7 versus No. 8 play-in contests would each have 2.7% chances.

Additional provisions within the new framework include preventing any franchise from capturing consecutive No. 1 picks and granting the league “expanded disciplinary authority” for addressing tanking behavior, potentially including reduced lottery odds or altered draft positions.

These regulations remain active through 2029. The Board of Governors must vote again before the 2030 lottery to either continue the current system or develop alternative measures.

For the first time since baseball’s devastating 1994-95 strike, Major League Baseball owners have put forward a salary cap proposal

On Thursday, Major League Baseball ownership presented their anticipated salary cap proposal to the players’ union, introducing a system that the union has pledged to reject outright. This development puts both sides on a collision course that could jeopardize the 2027 season and potentially future seasons. Baseball’s ownership hasn’t put forth a hard cap since 1994, when their previous attempt led to a 7 1/2-month work stoppage that resulted in the World Series being canceled for the first time in nine decades. Under the new proposal, team spending would be limited to $245.3 million in 2027, while establishing a minimum spending requirement of $171.2 million.

Basketball league approves major revisions to draft lottery system to discourage tanking

The NBA has given the green light to significant modifications in the draft lottery structure that will prevent teams with the poorest records from having the strongest chances at securing the top draft selection. These modifications received approval on Thursday primarily as a measure to combat deliberate losing. The league’s Board of Governors officially endorsed the plan for the upcoming three seasons, with another evaluation scheduled before 2030. Beginning with the upcoming lottery, all 16 participating franchises will receive between one and three lottery balls.

Finals performance will determine whether the Knicks achieved greatness or simply rode good luck

GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) — The New York Knicks are experiencing an unprecedented playoff journey. However, they must capture one additional series to establish themselves as an elite franchise. Should they secure four more victories — and do so efficiently — they would earn recognition among the NBA’s legendary postseason dynasties. Should they lose to Oklahoma City or San Antonio in the NBA Finals, they face the possibility of being viewed as a squad that dominated a vulnerable Eastern Conference, winning numerous contests until reaching the most crucial games. They must demonstrate they represented genuine excellence, rather than a team that simply benefited from favorable circumstances.

Mahomes makes significant progress in knee rehabilitation, participates in Chiefs voluntary training

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes continues to aim for a Week 1 comeback from his significant knee injury with the Kansas City Chiefs. The dual MVP winner has reached a crucial milestone in his recovery from damaged ligaments by taking part in voluntary training sessions this week. On Thursday, Mahomes completed individual exercises and 7-on-7 practice drills while media observed, sporting a knee brace. He remains unauthorized for complete team practice sessions. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid is exercising caution regarding a timeline for that milestone, though Mahomes remains optimistic about returning to competition by Sept. 14, when the Chiefs face Denver on Monday night.

Hockey legend Claude Lemieux, aggressive four-time Stanley Cup winner, passes away at age 60

Four-time Stanley Cup winner Claude Lemieux has passed away. He was 60. The NHL Alumni Association confirmed Lemieux’s passing through a social media announcement. Details regarding the cause of death were not immediately released. Lemieux served as the Montreal Canadiens’ ceremonial torch bearer before Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final on Monday evening. He earned the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP with New Jersey in 1995. Following his extensive playing career, Lemieux transitioned into player representation and served as agent for Carolina’s Frederik Andersen and Detroit’s Moritz Seider among over a dozen NHL clients.

Tennis upset at French Open: Top seed Sinner battles heat-related dizziness in second-round defeat

PARIS (AP) — World number one Jannik Sinner has been eliminated in the French Open’s second round. Sinner battled dizziness and squandered an opportunity to close out the match in a 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 defeat to 56th-ranked Juan Manuel Cerundolo. Sinner entered with a 30-match victory streak and was heavily favored to achieve a career Grand Slam. Sinner repeatedly doubled over on the clay surface in visible exhaustion. He used a portable fan during breaks and placed ice bags on his neck for cooling. Temperatures reached 32 C (90 F).

College sports reform advocate Campbell urges leaders to consider bipartisan legislation

A key figure behind the Senate legislation designed to address college sports’ mounting issues says he immediately heard the pushback, alongside discussions about conference realignment, collective bargaining and escalating costs. Cody Campbell’s message to those conversations: You created this mess; we’re attempting to repair it. The wealthy chairman of the Texas Tech board of regents believes the legislation represents the optimal, possibly final opportunity to address issues that have intensified since college athletics entered their billion-dollar transformation. He acknowledges the legislation proposed by Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell is far from perfect but superior to any alternative he’s encountered.

Racing star Kyle Busch battled pneumonia for extended period before death, certificate reveals

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kyle Busch’s death resulted from hemorrhagic shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation following complications when bacterial pneumonia progressed to sepsis, according to his death certificate. The former NASCAR champion was 41 at the time of his death last week. Busch experienced pneumonia symptoms for “days to weeks” before sepsis developed. Busch was cremated in Mooresville, North Carolina. Busch claimed two Cup Series championships and held the record with 234 victories across NASCAR’s three premier series. He was scheduled to compete in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway when his family announced his withdrawal due to “severe illness.” Public memorial plans have not been disclosed.

Female viewership drives significant growth in NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs audience

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs viewership has increased substantially, with women representing the main growth demographic. ESPN and TNT report audience jumps of 101% and 66% respectively, attributed to several contributing elements. The 4 Nations Face-Off’s success last year and February’s Olympics, enhanced play quality, emerging Gen Z stars, and enthusiasm surrounding “Heated Rivalry” and “Off Campus” have collectively attracted more female viewers to hockey throughout this season and playoffs.

Celebrini and Crosby find the net as Canada defeats US to reach world championship semifinals

FRIBOURG, Switzerland (AP) — Macklin Celebrini scored once more and Jet Greaves made 34 saves as Canada defeated the United States 4-0 to reach the semifinals at the ice hockey world championship. In this recent chapter of their intense rivalry, Canada’s quarterfinal triumph concluded the Americans’ attempt to defend the title they captured for the first time since 1933. The teams faced each other for the first time since the Milan Cortina Olympics final three months prior, when the Americans won 2-1 in overtime to claim gold. Celebrini netted his sixth tournament goal, Sidney Crosby scored his first, while Dylan Holloway and Connor Brown also contributed goals. Mark Scheifele recorded two assists.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice remains behind bars in Texas, missing his team’s voluntary workout sessions as he serves a 30-day jail term for breaking his probation conditions related to a multi-vehicle accident that injured several people.

The 26-year-old player was taken into custody at the Dallas County jail on May 19 following a positive test for THC. His release is scheduled for June 16, meaning he’ll be absent for all voluntary team activities and the required three-day minicamp starting June 9.

Rice’s situation is complicated by knee surgery he underwent approximately one week prior to his sentencing. The procedure was performed to remove debris from his right knee that had been causing swelling. His incarceration has forced him to continue rehabilitation while in jail.

“We think he’ll be ready for camp as we go forward. We’ll just see how it goes,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Thursday, following the team’s final voluntary workout of the week. “He knows the rehab he can do there, and I think they’re keeping an eye on him as far as any possible infection goes.”

Last season, Rice sat out the first six games due to a suspension for breaking the league’s personal conduct policy, which resulted from the initial 2024 highway accident in Dallas. It remains uncertain if additional penalties will follow for his probation violation.

“We’re moving forward as normal as we go here,” Reid said. “When he gets back, we’ve got to get him caught up in doing what he needs to do, and make sure he gets it. It’s not an easy thing he’s going through.

“Life lessons are important,” Reid added, “but we’re all given chances to learn, and he’s in that position now.”

This isn’t Rice’s first time facing such challenges. Before last season’s training camp, the former SMU standout claimed he had “completely changed” and matured following the car accident, stating that “you have to learn from things like that.”

“I’ve learned and taken advantage of being able to learn from something like that,” Rice said.

Kansas City is counting on Rice to play a crucial role in their offensive turnaround after posting a 6-11 record last season.

The Chiefs made minimal additions to their receiving corps during the offseason, instead banking on continued development from Rice — who enters his final rookie contract year — and younger talents like Xavier Worthy and Jalen Royals.

When healthy and available, Rice has produced solid numbers, recording 156 receptions for 1,797 yards and 14 touchdowns while helping Kansas City capture the Super Bowl during the 2023 campaign. However, suspensions and injuries have limited him to just 28 games across three seasons.

A key figure behind new federal legislation designed to address major problems in college athletics says he immediately heard pushback from critics, including discussions about breakaway conferences and collective bargaining as alternatives to combat the industry’s rapidly increasing costs.

Cody Campbell’s message to those critics: You created this mess, we’re working to repair it.

“My take is, it’s pretty rich for these people who created the problem in the first place to say that all of the sudden, they have the solution to the problem,” he said.

The wealthy leader of the Texas Tech board of regents talked with The Associated Press on Thursday, one day after Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., unveiled bipartisan legislation they hope can strengthen enforcement of existing rules governing college sports during its multibillion-dollar transformation.

Conference leaders and the NCAA indicated they would examine the legislation before deciding on their support, but opposition surfaced almost immediately. Critics included Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., who seeks additional restrictions on coaching pay; and Reps. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., and Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., who want provisions preventing athletes from becoming school employees.

A players organization also voiced doubts, and the AP consulted with specialists who forecasted the legislation would struggle to secure 60 Senate votes and a House majority.

“It’s turning back the clock two to three years, and I don’t think that’s realistic,” said Michael LeRoy, a labor and sports law professor at Illinois, addressing how much more costly player compensation has become since name, image and likeness payments were permitted. “Players are getting paid in the millions of dollars. The underlying premise is to get a more uniform ceiling. That certainly is needed, but collective bargaining would do that.”

Universities have utilized external NIL arrangements to exceed the $20.5 million in revenue sharing that some anticipated as a spending limit when the lawsuit settlement establishing current college sports rules was finalized.

The escalating expenses have prompted prominent figures, including Tennessee athletic director Danny White, to propose collective bargaining between players and schools, conferences, or the NCAA as a solution that would bring financial predictability while providing needed antitrust protections.

Such an approach might also lead to athletes becoming school employees, which many consider a financially devastating burden that could eliminate Olympic and women’s collegiate sports, and potentially football and basketball as well.

Campbell, who participated in a committee established by President Donald Trump to address college sports issues and has been an influential voice in shaping its future, argues the Cruz-Cantwell legislation offers many benefits similar to collective bargaining, including partial antitrust protection.

“We created something that could actually be passable on a bipartisan basis,” Campbell said. “And while it’s not perfect, and it never will be, there are many, many good elements in it. I think that college sports should be universally pleased with the outcome.”

Campbell described one of the bill’s most controversial aspects — allowing conferences to combine their media rights — not as a danger but as a legitimate choice for leagues. The Southeastern and Big Ten Conferences oppose media pooling, claiming the financial calculations don’t work.

Campbell noted the proposal tackles longstanding worries about excessive coaching compensation but suggested the language in the 111-page document could be modified to strengthen the legislation further.

He explained it would grant the year-old College Sports Commission legal power to approve and deny external NIL agreements while protecting it from potential litigation under current rules.

Campbell also dismissed growing discussions from the SEC — led by Georgia president Jere Morehead and its football coach, Kirby Smart — suggesting those conferences might benefit from separating entirely from the existing system to create their own regulations and compete independently.

“If this was the solution, why didn’t they come up with it over the last several decades as this thing started to crumble?” Campbell said. “If you created this mess, I don’t see how you can stand up and say you’re the one who’s going to fix it.”

The AP interviewed several legal specialists familiar with college athletics, none of whom expected smooth passage for the Cruz-Cantwell bill.

“It might be trying to bite off too much at this point to get passed this year,” sports attorney Mit Winter said.

Cantwell confirmed to the AP that despite its bipartisan support, she recognizes the legislation faces significant challenges.

Those who joined Campbell in developing the proposal included Condoleezza Rice, Yankees President Randy Levine and Gerry Cardinale of the private equity firm Redbird Capital. According to a Yahoo Sports report, this was the group SEC commissioner Greg Sankey referenced when he noted “it’s interesting in Washington where the voices of influence come from.”

Campbell, however, sees it as a knowledgeable team without the competing interests that plague conferences and the NCAA.

“And if we can’t get it done,” he said, “then they can have their way and let chaos continue to persist.”

A team employee has received an indefinite suspension from NASCAR following criminal charges stemming from an incident involving a golf cart attack on an elderly victim.

Evanna Daneen Howell, age 35, faces felony charges for assault with a deadly weapon causing serious injury after allegedly attacking 77-year-old Dennis Manchester with a golf cart during last weekend’s events at Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina.

Authorities took Howell into custody on Saturday at the racing facility. Following her Tuesday court hearing, she posted bail in the amount of $125,000 and was released. The case will return to Cabarrus County court on June 16 for her next scheduled appearance.

Law enforcement has not released specific information regarding how the alleged attack occurred.

Howell holds the position of senior account manager with 23XI Racing, the team co-owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan.

Neither 23XI Racing nor NASCAR representatives have released public statements regarding the incident.

The racing organization announced Howell’s suspension through its weekly penalty report released Wednesday, categorizing the action as related to a “behavioral” issue.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The two-time MVP quarterback continues working toward a Week 1 comeback with the Kansas City Chiefs, marking a significant milestone in his rehabilitation from torn left knee ligaments by joining teammates for voluntary practice sessions this week.

During Thursday’s organized team activities — the first session open to media observation — the star quarterback took part in individual exercises and 7-on-7 formations. He sported a black protective brace covering his surgically repaired knee, where both ACL and LCL damage was addressed, and though he moved around effectively while jogging, he occasionally paused to readjust the equipment.

Considering the surgery occurred just five months ago, this represents meaningful progress in his rehabilitation journey.

“It’s good to be back on the field and just be with the guys, more than anything,” Mahomes said. “Some of those days you’re rehabbing with yourself, or with a couple of guys, and you get a little juice when the other guys are out there.”

However, Kansas City remains cautious about managing that enthusiasm.

The quarterback has yet to receive medical clearance from Dr. Dan Cooper, the Dallas-based orthopedist who performed the procedure, or the Kansas City training staff for complete team participation. Running and sharp cutting movements on the affected knee remain off-limits for now.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid avoided setting specific deadlines for his franchise quarterback’s full return, although Mahomes has consistently maintained he’ll be ready when Kansas City faces Denver on Sept. 14 in a Monday night game at Arrowhead Stadium.

The more pressing concern involves whether he’ll be available when training camp begins in approximately two months.

“It’s kind of, ‘We’ll see,’” Mahomes said. “You have these week-to-two week checkpoints that I have to get to. The biggest thing for me now is to get to the running and cutting. … Until I’m able to protect myself and get out there, they’re going to keep me safe. But if I can continue to do things the right way, that’s the hope for me at least.”

Rather than spending the offseason at his Texas residence, where Chiefs receivers and tight ends typically gather for quarterback-led workouts, Mahomes has remained in Kansas City almost daily since his December surgery — which occurred the day following his injury against the Chargers — focusing on rehabilitation under trainer Julie Frymyer’s supervision.

His daily routine includes early arrival at the facility for rehab work, followed by standard team meetings. This week introduced on-field activities, after which he completes recovery protocols and additional rehabilitation sessions.

“Then I go home and chase kids around until I fall asleep,” Mahomes said.

“I think everybody is different in how you go about it,” Reid said, “but I wouldn’t put it past where he’s at, and I don’t judge it. People say, ‘Is he ahead of schedule?’ Well, who made the schedule? Everybody is different. The way he goes about it is different. He and Julie have spent a ton of time working together, and she’s tough on him. She puts him through the ropes. And he’s willing to come back.

“Half the battle on that, besides the healing part, is trusting the person doing the rehab with you, and then showing up the next day.”

The team will conduct another voluntary workout session next week — Reid noted nearly complete participation despite the optional status. A mandatory three-day minicamp follows beginning June 9, with a break before training camp commences.

While Kansas City hasn’t announced their St. Joseph, Missouri arrival date, it typically occurs around July 21. This timeline provides Mahomes roughly two additional months for continued rehabilitation before serious regular season preparation begins.

“The first step was getting to 7-on-7, and for me, it was more seeing the defense. It’s been a long time since I’ve been out there, seeing the plays develop,” Mahomes said. “The next step will be getting with the team and getting under center and stuff like that. But we will progress to that. And then it will be going out there live with the guys, and then we’ll be playing games.”

A Philadelphia Phillies star player has found himself at the center of a social media controversy over his unconventional approach to dental hygiene.

Bryce Harper posted a morning routine video to his TikTok account, which has more than 600,000 followers, showing himself in a San Diego hotel bathroom. The post, labeled “Moring Y’all,” included a segment that left viewers stunned: Harper squeezing toothpaste directly from the tube into his mouth instead of putting it on his toothbrush first.

The unusual technique quickly drew criticism from social media users.

“Actually diabolical toothpaste application,” commented one TikTok user on the post.

The video gained widespread attention across multiple platforms, accumulating over 2.7 million views on Jomboy Media alone. The San Diego Padres even poked fun at Harper’s method by displaying it as a “fun fact” on their stadium videoboard, while British publication The Daily Mail reported that fans were “horrified” by his brushing approach.

Speaking to Phillies Nation from the visiting team’s clubhouse at Petco Park on Wednesday, Harper defended his longtime practice.

“It kind of happens when you post a little bit, right?” Harper said. “But yeah, I’ve done it forever.”

The American Dental Association took notice of the viral video and issued guidance discouraging others from copying Harper’s method.

“It is not suggested to do it that way,” stated Andrew Zucker, an Ohio dentist who serves as a consumer advisor for the organization.

After viewing the footage, Zucker initially assumed the two-time National League MVP was joking. However, Harper confirmed to the website that this has always been his standard tooth-brushing routine.

“I don’t think there’s anything to be gained,” Zucker commented on Thursday. “The only thing to be lost is just wasting a whole bunch of toothpaste.”

Zucker recommended a more traditional approach: “Just put a little pea-sized bit of it on a toothbrush and that’s all you need.”

During Tuesday night’s game, the Padres continued their playful ribbing by listing Harper’s biographical information on the scoreboard as: “SQUIRTS TOOTHPASTE INTO HIS MOUTH INSTEAD OF ONTO A TOOTHBRUSH WHEN BRUSHING HIS TEETH.”

Harper seemed to take the attention in stride, telling Phillies Nation: “I mean, it’s gone viral, so I’m happy about that. It always helps with my videos when it goes viral, so if that’s what makes it go viral, then I’ll take it.”

The dental professional noted that Harper’s approach is extremely rare. Despite his family background in dentistry and 45 years of experience, Zucker said the only time he’d witnessed the squeeze technique was with “my 3-year-old and it was because he was trying to eat it. But no, I’ve never seen an adult brush their teeth this way.”

Harper’s method appears to have served him well throughout his successful career, which includes 376 home runs and eight All-Star selections.

“If I help half a person a day, changing an ingredient or letting them know there are better quality products out there that they can use or that’ll make them feel better, then I won that day,” Harper explained.

Maria Ryan, chief clinical officer at Colgate-Palmolive, expressed specific concerns about the tube-to-mouth technique.

“My only concern would be, you have a lot of germs in your mouth,” Ryan said. “When you’re putting your mouth on the toothpaste tube, you get those germs on there. Sometimes people share toothpaste and things like that, so I worry about that a little bit.”

Despite the unconventional method, dental experts found a positive message in Harper’s viral moment. The baseball star’s influence could encourage young fans to maintain their oral hygiene habits.

“I was glad he was brushing his teeth,” Ryan noted. “I see he’s gotten a lot of views. It’s good he’s telling people you need to brush your teeth, which is very important for preventing cavities and gum disease.

“But it’s a unique way of doing it, for sure. So, I probably wouldn’t do it that way or instruct my patients to do it that way.”

Baseball team owners delivered their anticipated salary cap proposal to the players’ union Thursday, introducing a system that union representatives have consistently rejected and potentially setting up a labor dispute that could jeopardize the 2027 season and future campaigns.

This marks the first time baseball’s ownership has presented a hard spending ceiling since 1994. That previous attempt led to a strike lasting 7 1/2 months and resulted in the first World Series cancellation in nine decades.

Under the new proposal, team spending would be limited to $245.3 million in 2027, while establishing a minimum payroll requirement of $171.2 million.

“Our salary cap and floor proposal levels the playing field while sharing baseball revenue with the players 50/50 as we grow the game together,” MLB spokesman Glen Caplin said in a statement. “Further, by sharing media revenue equally as part of our proposal, we can address another top fan concern of local TV blackouts.”

Team executives presented their latest offer during negotiations at the commissioner’s headquarters, following the union’s economic counter-proposal delivered one day earlier. Ownership argues the spending limit would enhance competitive balance and prevent wealthy franchises like the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets from building significantly more talented rosters than smaller-market organizations.

Union representatives seek broader free agency and salary arbitration opportunities, nearly doubling the league minimum wage, increasing revenue sharing from high-earning to lower-revenue franchises, and implementing sanctions for teams falling below payroll minimums.

The sport’s existing five-year agreement, finalized in March 2022 following a 99-day work stoppage, concludes December 2. Although another lockout appears likely next winter, serious negotiations probably won’t intensify until late February or early March 2027, when the threat of losing regular-season contests and income becomes imminent. Should regular-season games be canceled, discussions may evolve into a battle over which party can endure greater financial hardship.

America’s other major professional sports leagues all utilize spending caps. The NBA implemented a cap during its inaugural 1946-47 campaign, eliminated it, then reintroduced the current system in 1984-85. NFL teams and players established a cap beginning in 1994, while the NHL adopted one in 2005-06 following a work stoppage that eliminated the entire 2004-05 season.

Los Angeles broke baseball’s spending records with a combined $515 million in payroll and luxury penalties last season while capturing their second consecutive World Series championship. The Dodgers’ expenditure was seven times greater than the Miami Marlins’ league-low $68.7 million payroll and exceeded the combined spending of the six lowest-budget clubs.

Union representatives maintain that spending restrictions would damage player interests while benefiting ownership, and they refuse to accept any cap system. Without spending limits, baseball’s top performers have secured lucrative, guaranteed deals that surpass compensation for elite athletes in other American professional leagues. Juan Soto’s $765 million, 15-year agreement with the Mets represents what’s believed to be the largest contract in team sports history, significantly exceeding the biggest deals in the NFL (Patrick Mahomes at $450 million over 10 years) and NBA (Jayson Tatum at $314 million over five years).

Baseball’s previous salary cap offer in 1994 included a 50-50 revenue split within a framework requiring teams to maintain payrolls between 84-110% of the league average. That proposal would have eliminated salary arbitration and reduced the free agency threshold from six years of major league service to four — though a player’s original team could match any competing offer until he reached six years of service.

Management presented that offer on June 14, 1994, and players began their strike on August 12. Baseball withdrew the cap proposal the following February 6 under pressure from the National Labor Relations Board. The work stoppage concluded on March 31 after U.S. District Judge Sonia Sotomayor — currently a Supreme Court Justice — issued an injunction restoring the previous labor contract’s working conditions. Two days later, ownership accepted the union’s return-to-work proposal without a new agreement. A final deal wasn’t completed until 1997.

The French Open was turned upside down Thursday when world number one Jannik Sinner suffered a devastating second-round loss that completely opened up what had appeared to be a predictable men’s tournament.

Sinner’s shocking 3-6 2-6 7-5 6-1 6-1 defeat to Juan Manuel Cerundolo represented far more than just one match going wrong – it was the complete breakdown of what seemed like a destined championship run after the Italian captured victories in Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome.

The top seed had arrived in Paris as the overwhelming favorite, especially with defending champion Carlos Alcaraz sidelined by injury and three-time winner Novak Djokovic still searching for peak form.

But all those expectations crumbled on Court Philippe Chatrier as Sinner collapsed against Cerundolo despite leading by two sets and holding a 5-1 advantage in the third, with the grueling clay court season apparently taking its toll on the Italian star.

“I struggled, started to feel very dizzy,” Sinner explained, acknowledging he’ll have to wait until next year for another shot at his first French Open crown and completing the career Grand Slam.

“I was very low of energy. I tried to serve it out (in the third set) but didn’t have a lot of energy.

“I woke up this morning, didn’t feel very well and tried to keep the points very short. Also in the beginning, I was hitting very clean, very good, and then I just hit the wall, that’s it.”

Cerundolo described having to maintain his mental toughness while Sinner battled what appeared to include cramping issues, and the victory also energized his older brother Francisco, who rallied to defeat Hugo Gaston 2-6 6-4 6-2 6-1.

“I’m super happy with the match,” the younger Cerundolo said following his massive upset.

“The match was almost lost, but I stayed mentally (strong) during the whole match. I was prepared to battle as long as it took. I was lucky he had cramp and his level went down.

“I stayed mentally focused on the match, trying to do my best every ball. I’m super happy for the win.”

With Sinner’s early exit forcing him to consider an extended break before defending his Wimbledon crown beginning June 29, Djokovic now has renewed hope in his pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam championship.

Second seed Alexander Zverev will also see fresh opportunity to claim his first major title after reaching three previous finals, along with other contenders including two-time finalist Casper Ruud, Ben Shelton and Rafael Jodar.

On the women’s side, Aryna Sabalenka prevented any additional major upsets during the warm afternoon, with the world number one defeating French hopeful Elsa Jacquemot 7-5 6-2 while defending champion Coco Gauff cruised past Egypt’s Mayar Sherif 6-3 6-2.

Together with four-time champion Swiatek, Sabalenka and Gauff remain the primary candidates to claim the Suzanne Lenglen Cup after meeting in last year’s Paris championship match.

Former world number one Naomi Osaka continues positioning herself for a deep tournament run, as the Japanese star combined flair and determination to beat Donna Vekic 7-6(1) 6-4 and advance to the third round.

Amanda Anisimova, who reached the Paris semifinals as a teenager in 2019, moved forward when opponent Julia Grabher withdrew due to illness after losing the first set.

French supporters found reason to celebrate when teenager Moise Kouame outlasted Paraguayan Adolfo Daniel Vallejo 6-3 7-5 3-6 2-6 7-6(10-8) in a thrilling nearly five-hour battle, with the young player citing Alcaraz as his inspiration.

The 17-year-old Kouame, currently ranked 318th globally and competing in his debut Grand Slam thanks to a wildcard entry, became just the fifth-youngest man to reach the third round at Roland Garros since the professional era started in 1968.

Claude Lemieux, the aggressive hockey player who captured four Stanley Cup titles during his career, has passed away at the age of 60.

The NHL Alumni Association confirmed Lemieux’s passing through a social media announcement. Officials did not immediately release details about the cause of death or specify his location at the time of passing.

Just Monday evening, Lemieux had served as the torch bearer for the Montreal Canadiens before Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final at Bell Centre.

“Today is a dark day for the Canadiens family and the entire hockey community,” stated Canadiens owner Geoff Molson. “A fierce competitor who rose to the occasion in big moments, Claude was a relentless, courageous, and tenacious player who led the team to the highest honors. He embodied the very essence of being a Montreal Canadiens player. Today we mourn the untimely passing of one of our champions. Our thoughts are with his family on this difficult day.”

Throughout his playing days, Lemieux combined talent with a confrontational approach, willing to push boundaries in pursuit of victory.

His performance earned him the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP when he helped the New Jersey Devils secure their inaugural championship in 1995. The following year with the Colorado Avalanche, he faced a two-game suspension for hitting Detroit’s Kris Draper from behind during their successful Stanley Cup run in the franchise’s debut season after relocating from his home province of Quebec.

Darren McCarty, who played for the Red Wings during the intense rivalry with Colorado that began with Lemieux’s hit on Draper, shared a broken heart emoji alongside the alumni association’s announcement and reflected on his former opponent’s death.

“This is extremely sad no matter what feelings from past or present you hold,” McCarty wrote. “My thoughts and prayers to his family and friends, and people who got to see the person off the ice wasn’t the person on. As I’ve said and will always call it as I see it ‘If you’re on the ICE with Claude Lemieux and your turn your back. YOU Are an IDIOT. But off the ICE I’ll turn mine’ And please. If you are struggling at all please reach out and talk to someone. Godspeed my friend.”

Lemieux’s championship collection also included victories with Montreal in 1986 and another with the Devils in 2000. His career spanned from 1983 to 2009, during which he appeared in 1,449 regular-season and playoff contests across six different franchises.

Commissioner Gary Bettman described Lemieux as “one of the greatest big-game players in hockey history.”

Following his retirement from playing, Lemieux transitioned into player representation, working as an agent for more than a dozen NHL clients including Carolina’s Frederik Andersen, New Jersey’s Timo Meier, Detroit’s Moritz Seider and Boston’s Hampus Lindholm.

During a December event commemorating the 30th anniversary of Colorado’s 1995 Stanley Cup victory, Lemieux reflected on success, saying, “When it’s happening, when you’re in the middle of it, you don’t quite appreciate it as much as you should.”

The ceremony honored late former teammate Chris Simon through his children’s participation. Simon died in 2024 at age 52.

“It’s very difficult, and especially with Chris passing at such a young age,” Lemieux observed. “We have to count our blessings — be grateful for the days that we have and enjoy and appreciate those times when we get together.”

The newly formed Detroit professional women’s hockey team announced Thursday that they have selected Josh Sciba, a Michigan native, to serve as their first-ever head coach.

The 41-year-old coach brings extensive experience to the role, having worked for two seasons as an assistant with the New York Sirens in the professional women’s league and also serving as an assistant coach for the U.S. women’s Olympic hockey team that captured gold in 2026.

Detroit’s general manager Manon Rheaume praised the hiring decision in a statement, saying: “Josh is a highly respected coach with a knowledge of the game and experience at all levels of women’s hockey that set him apart, and his passion for teaching and individual character are qualities I value in a leader. Hockeytown is in his blood, and this is an opportunity I know he is eager to embrace with an understanding of what it means to represent this city and be part of its legacy.”

Before joining the professional ranks, Sciba led the women’s hockey program at Union College as head coach from 2016 through 2024. Prior to that role, he worked as an assistant coach at Colgate for four seasons between 2012 and 2016.

Expressing his enthusiasm for the position, Sciba stated: “I’m incredibly honored and excited for the opportunity to become the Head Coach of PWHL Detroit and beyond grateful for the trust placed in me to help lead the organization from the beginning. This is home and especially meaningful for me and my entire family, knowing Detroit’s rich hockey history and identity firsthand and how much the women’s hockey community has been yearning for this moment. Working alongside Manon, someone who has meant so much to the growth of the sport, is a journey I’m so fortunate to be on, with her passion, leadership, and vision that will make Detroit a destination for players.”

Detroit will join the professional women’s hockey league as one of four new franchises beginning play in the 2026-27 season, alongside teams in Las Vegas, San Jose and Hamilton, Ontario.

The league has experienced significant growth since launching with six original teams in 2023, including Boston, Minnesota, Montreal, New York, Ottawa and Toronto. Two additional franchises in Vancouver and Seattle joined the competition in 2025.

Record-breaking television audiences are tuning in to watch the NHL’s Stanley Cup Playoffs during the opening two rounds, marking the highest viewership numbers in league history within the United States.

Female viewers are leading this unprecedented surge in hockey popularity.

According to TNT Sports, women’s viewership has climbed 66%, while ESPN documented a remarkable 106% jump, with much of this new audience consisting of viewers aged 18 to 34 discovering hockey during its most thrilling season.

“We see the numbers up everywhere,” said ESPN VP of production Linda Schulz. “(Hockey) is a particular challenge because sports fans tend to follow something that they themselves have participated in and hockey is one that is not as commonplace for people to have actually strapped on skates. I approach it with, if I get a new fan coming to hockey, what is going to keep them.”

According to Schulz and other broadcasting leaders, several combined elements are attracting new viewers. These include last year’s successful 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, February’s Olympics where U.S. men’s and women’s teams captured gold medals, exceptional gameplay quality, emerging young stars, and the widespread appeal of hockey romance series “Heated Rivalry” and “Off Campus” that have gained viral attention.

“It’s not any one thing,” said TNT Sports executive VP and chief content officer Craig Barry. “It’s the collective of the planets aligning that has shown dramatic increases in the female audience.”

According to league statistics, playoff games are drawing an average of 1.4 million viewers, representing a 63% increase from the previous year and 24% higher than the former record established in 2024. While some growth stems from Nielsen’s revised viewer measurement methods that have boosted numbers across television, hockey’s viewership trend has been climbing independently of these changes.

This upward trajectory started following the 4 Nations tournament, which NHL commissioner Gary Bettman credited with boosting viewership during the latter part of the 2024-25 season and continuing into playoff action. The Olympics further amplified this momentum, with the Milan Cortina Games generating exceptional ratings.

“The Olympics was a cultural moment,” said NHL chief operating officer Stephen McArdle. “We know that Olympic viewership does appeal to those demographics, to that female demographic, and so I think the Olympic bump that we saw was really in part influenced by that female Olympic audience.”

Determining the exact impact of “Heated Rivalry” proves challenging to quantify. While Schulz, who developed her sports fandom growing up in the Boston region, noted it doesn’t factor into her thinking, both networks and the league acknowledge the discussions surrounding these programs.

“We know that the fictional series are a gateway to our sport,” said McArdle. “We know that it opens doors to an interest in the sport of hockey, and it’s incumbent upon us to make sure that new audiences that are coming through those doors feel welcomed as they come in, and also that we help them find their way through the door.”

Technology plays a crucial role in engaging newcomers, Schulz explained, referencing overhead sky cameras that showcase the game’s speed and intensity, plus adding an on-ice camera operator to document emotional reactions such as players showing disappointment after penalty calls.

“It is incredible how that emotional draw, to me, is the real way to pull in a casual fan,” Schulz said. “It’s that balance of getting the feel of the ice through something like your aerial coverage and the feel of the player or the emotion of the player.”

The league has also embraced TikTok, where McArdle noted that many top-performing videos attracted more female than male viewers. A clip featuring Carolina’s Jordan Martinook losing a skate blade gained particular traction as content that resonated beyond typical highlight reels of goals, saves and body checks.

Social media platforms have successfully attracted younger audiences of both genders, while promotional efforts across ESPN, ABC, TNT, TruTV and HBO Max have encouraged live viewing across multiple platforms.

“That’s why it’s so important to meet them where they are,” Barry said. “That’s why our kind of strategy is put it everywhere in a simulcast capacity, so regardless of where you are consuming and digesting your content, in this particular case, NHL games, it’s there for you.”

Argentine tennis player Francisco Cerundolo was battling through his own French Open match Thursday when spectators began yelling news from an adjacent court – his younger brother was pulling off a massive upset against the world’s top-ranked player Jannik Sinner.

During breaks in play, fans shouted to the 25th-seeded Francisco that his brother was winning as Juan Manuel Cerundolo staged an incredible comeback against the four-time Grand Slam champion.

“‘Your brother is winning, your brother is winning,’” Francisco recalled hearing from the crowd during towel breaks while Juan Manuel was mounting his stunning rally against Sinner.

Francisco managed to overcome his own deficit, defeating French player Hugo Gaston 2-6 6-4 6-2 6-1 to advance to the third round. Meanwhile, Juan Manuel completed a remarkable turnaround from two sets down to defeat Sinner 3-6 2-6 7-5 6-1 6-1.

The loss snapped Sinner’s 30-match winning streak and dashed his hopes for a first French Open championship and career Grand Slam.

The Italian player had entered the tournament in Paris as the heavy favorite following Masters victories at Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome this season. However, the top seed appeared to struggle physically after holding a 5-1 advantage in the third set.

Speaking in a Spanish-language interview with ESPN after his own third-round advancement, Francisco said he slowly pieced together what was happening on the neighboring court.

“I had no idea,” Francisco explained. “I was suffering in my own match and people kept telling me, ‘Your brother won, your brother won.’”

“And I was thinking, ‘Damn it, now I have to win too because I can’t fail now.’”

Francisco, who holds two career victories over Sinner, said he initially believed Juan Manuel was headed for elimination after family members had divided their attention between courts earlier in the day.

“I looked up and my family still wasn’t there,” he said. “I asked what happened and they told me he was two sets to one down. I said, ‘Okay, good, he’s fighting.’”

Juan Manuel, currently ranked 56th globally, turned the match around after Sinner began struggling physically late in the third set and deteriorated significantly from that point forward.

Francisco said the brothers plan to celebrate together after both reached the French Open third round for the first time in their careers.

“It’s more than a dream,” he said. “A huge pride for all the family.”

NEW YORK — When Carson Benge wasn’t finding success at the plate, the first-year outfielder decided his scruffy facial hair might be the culprit — leading to a major league grooming choice.

“I haven’t really been getting a ton of hits, so I just shaved it off and it worked,” Benge explained Wednesday evening following his delivery of two crucial singles for the New York Mets.

Whether it’s related to his grooming habits or not, the 23-year-old Benge has emerged as one of the limited positive developments for the cellar-dwelling Mets this year.

Following an initial stretch where he managed only a .136 batting average with two extra-base hits and three RBIs across his opening 21 major league appearances, he’s now posting a batting average above .300 with 17 RBIs and 19 runs scored over 32 contests since April 23. This month alone, Benge provided the decisive hit in three overtime victories within a six-day period.

“He’s always aggressive. He has a really good swing and he knows it,” star teammate Juan Soto said. “He’s squaring balls most of the time and that’s really cool to see.”

Benge’s major league introduction on opening day in March was memorable, featuring a home run, two walks and a stolen base during a victory against Pittsburgh at Citi Field. However, he subsequently appeared overwhelmed in the batter’s box.

Rather than get discouraged, he made adjustments. Benge has simplified his approach to hitting and shortened his swing — particularly when facing two strikes. His development was especially noticeable Wednesday during a 4-2 triumph over the Cincinnati Reds that broke New York’s five-game skid.

Facing two outs in the fifth inning, the left-handed batter recovered from a 0-2 deficit against lefty starter Andrew Abbott and connected on an up-and-in fastball toward center field on the eighth pitch for an RBI single that broke a 1-for-20 drought and put the Mets ahead 3-1.

“Just fight,” Benge said. “Fight for every pitch. Not give them anything. Try to be a tough out. That’s all you can do.”

During the seventh inning with two outs, he again fell behind 0-2 and produced another RBI single to center on a 98 mph up-and-in fastball from right-handed reliever Zach Maxwell to extend the lead to 4-2.

“It’s really good to see,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Because that’s a pitch that he struggled (with) early on. And he just continues to get better. He continues to find a way. That wasn’t an easy at-bat there. It’s two of them. Left on left — it was also pretty impressive. I mean, you’ve got to give him credit. He’s not going to back down. He’s going to continue to work. He’s going to continue to show up.”

When asked about his improvement against high fastballs in the strike zone, Benge offered his explanation.

“Just trying to stay short, put it in play. Not trying to do too much with them, and things have been working out,” he said. “Getting reps, playing every day is definitely nice, and building that confidence up is really good.”

Due to five-time All-Star Francisco Lindor being on the injured list, Benge is now hitting in the leadoff spot for the Mets (23-33) after starting the season lower in the batting order.

While his season statistics remain humble at .247 with three homers and 20 RBIs, Benge has made remarkable progress quickly: He was selected 19th overall in 2024 from Oklahoma State and earned the starting right-field position during spring training despite having only 24 games of Triple-A experience the previous year.

“The one thing that I like about him is you can never really tell whether he’s 0 for 8 the past couple of days or he’s just coming off a couple of games where he either hit a walk-off or had a game like this,” Mendoza said Wednesday evening. “He’s going to show up the next day and he’s going to be the same person and he’s going to give you his best. So, it’s pretty impressive for a player his age.”

Benge’s athletic ability has never been in doubt. He also pitched at Oklahoma State, and he’s demonstrated his strong throwing arm in right field on multiple occasions while making several spectacular catches as well.

The expensive Mets began this season anticipating a championship run, but Benge’s quick development and the promotion of 21-year-old center fielder A.J. Ewing from the minors are offering optimism for what lies ahead.

“There’s something special,” rookie pitcher Jonah Tong said. “I don’t even think you guys have seen the half of it yet. Being in the clubhouse with them for so long, just seeing the guys they are and what they do day in and day out, it’s really exciting. And they’re going to be staples in New York for a very long time.”

A source familiar with the matter confirmed to The Associated Press on Thursday that the New York Giants have modified starting left tackle Andrew Thomas’ contract, transforming base salary into a roster bonus to generate $6.46 million in salary cap relief.

The individual requested anonymity since the team has not made the contract adjustment public.

This contract modification occurs during ongoing offseason workouts while No. 5 draft selection Arvell Reese remains without a signed rookie deal. All other drafted players, including No. 10 selection Francis “Sisi” Mauigoa, have completed their contracts.

According to the NFL Players Association’s public records, the Giants currently possess slightly less than $12 million in available salary cap room. Since Reese’s upcoming contract will likely consume a significant portion of those funds, additional financial adjustments may be necessary before the September season opener.

The 27-year-old Thomas ranks among the franchise’s top earners and serves as the cornerstone of an offensive line that demonstrated notable progress last season compared to prior years. New coach John Harbaugh indicated that Thomas is managing foot and shoulder ailments, prompting the coaching staff to restrict his participation during organized team activities.

“They have a nice ramp-up planned for me,” Thomas commented last week. “Just a precautionary thing. Obviously, what we care about is September, being ready, so I’ve been trusting that. It’s definitely tough sometimes because I want to push it and I want to get better, but I’m trying to trust the process to make sure I’m ready to go when it counts.”

Thomas underwent surgical repair for a Lisfranc injury in his right foot during October 2024 and sat out the season’s opening two contests before returning September 21. A hamstring issue sidelined him for the final two games, though currently he’s managing an ongoing shoulder condition.

“Something that I’ve been dealing with,” Thomas explained. “I think I’m in a good place.”

PARIS – The French Open witnessed a major upset on Thursday as tournament favorite Jannik Sinner suffered a shocking second-round elimination, losing to Juan Manuel Cerundolo 3-6 2-6 7-5 6-1 6-1 after dealing with physical difficulties during their match.

The Italian player had entered the tournament as the top contender for the championship, having captured recent claycourt victories in Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome. With defending titlist Carlos Alcaraz sidelined due to injury and Novak Djokovic still finding his rhythm, expectations were high for Sinner’s first French Open crown and potential career Grand Slam.

However, Cerundolo completely changed the narrative in a stunning turnaround that sent waves of surprise throughout Roland Garros, maintaining his composure while last year’s finalist faltered just as victory seemed within reach.

With afternoon temperatures soaring above 30 degrees Celsius for the first time during the tournament, Sinner had dominated early play, capturing the opening set with a single service break. The 24-year-old Italian appeared to be cruising toward an easy victory.

Though Cerundolo showed some fight late in the second set, the 56th-ranked player from Argentina faced an uphill battle after Sinner delivered a powerful forehand winner to claim a commanding two-set advantage, having dropped just five games total.

The four-time Grand Slam winner used an ice towel during the break and increased pressure on his unseeded rival in the third set, building a 5-1 lead before encountering difficulties and stopping play while serving at 5-4.

Following a five-minute medical timeout away from the court, Sinner returned but was immediately broken to even the score at 5-5, then lost the following two games to surrender the set to Cerundolo, who recognized his opportunity for a massive upset.

With his condition still compromised, Sinner easily gave up the fourth set and suffered an early break in the final set, allowing Cerundolo to capitalize fully and eliminate the tournament’s top seed from the Grand Slam event.

Competition continued Thursday for the fifth day of action at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, with highlights from matches played and scheduled throughout the day.

At 11:30 GMT, Italy’s 10th-seeded Flavio Cobolli secured his spot in the third round by defeating China’s Wu Yibing with straight-set scores of 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. This marks Cobolli’s second consecutive year reaching the third round at the tournament.

Earlier at 11:15 GMT, 16th-seeded Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, overcame Donna Vekic with scores of 7-6(1), 6-4. Osaka’s victory sets up a third-round meeting against 17th-seeded Iva Jovic.

Competition began at 9:09 GMT under pleasant weather conditions at Roland Garros, with temperatures starting around 27 degrees Celsius and forecasted to climb to approximately 32 degrees throughout the day.

The day’s featured matches included world number one and top-seeded Jannik Sinner opening play on Court Philippe Chatrier against Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo in second-round action. Women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka was also scheduled to compete later against France’s Elsa Jacquemot.

The complete order of play for Thursday included matches across three main courts, with Court Philippe Chatrier beginning at 10:00 GMT and Courts Suzanne Lenglen and Simonne Mathieu starting at 9:00 GMT. Notable scheduled matches featured top-seeded players including Coco Gauff facing Egypt’s Mayar Sherif and Ben Shelton taking on Belgium’s Raphael Collignon.

The same aromatic spice that adds flavor to your holiday eggnog has lent its name to one of soccer’s most prized maneuvers.

The ‘nutmeg’ represents both a treasured spice that enhances seasonal beverages and a highly coveted skill move that soccer players around the globe strive to master.

Two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani delivered a dominant performance both on the mound and at the plate Wednesday, throwing six innings without surrendering a hit while launching a leadoff home run to power the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 4-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies.

The win marked the Dodgers’ fifth consecutive victory and capped off a three-game sweep of the visiting Rockies. Ohtani teamed up with Will Klein to keep Colorado hitless through seven complete innings before Tyler Freeman broke up the no-hit bid with a two-out single to right field in the eighth inning against reliever Tanner Scott.

Kyle Hurt sealed the combined one-hitter by retiring the side in order during the ninth inning, recording his first career save in the process.

For the second straight start as a pitcher, Ohtani began the game by taking the opposing starter deep with a leadoff blast. Freddie Freeman followed suit with another homer in the opening frame, while Andy Pages added his 13th home run of the season during the eighth inning.

Despite struggling with his control throughout the outing, Ohtani (5-2) managed to limit the damage while walking four batters, hitting one, and allowing a single run. The right-hander fanned seven Colorado hitters across 99 pitches, seeing his season earned run average climb slightly from 0.73 to 0.82.

Rockies starter Tomoyuki Sugano (4-4) surrendered three runs on six hits during his 4 2/3-inning stint in the matchup between Japanese-born pitchers. He recorded three strikeouts and issued one walk. Colorado managed to score its only run in the fourth inning when Willi Castro drove home a runner with a groundout, but the team extended its losing streak to five games.

Following the early 2-0 advantage created by the Ohtani and Freeman long balls, the Rockies cut their deficit in half during the fourth inning. Los Angeles responded immediately in the bottom half of the frame when Alex Call delivered an RBI single to restore the two-run cushion.

Pages’ eighth-inning blast, his third homer in four games, provided the final margin at 4-1. The Dodgers connected for eight home runs over the series’ final two contests while improving to 12-2 in their last 14 games overall.

Los Angeles showcased exceptional defense with three standout plays throughout the contest. Call made a spectacular diving grab in right field during the second inning, while second baseman Alex Freeland dove toward first base to record the out on Castro’s RBI grounder in the fourth. Left fielder Hyeseong Kim capped the defensive highlights with a catch against the foul territory railing in the seventh.

Kim entered the game in the third inning after Teoscar Hernandez exited due to a left hamstring strain.

A lightning-fast offensive explosion in the opening period has put the Carolina Hurricanes one victory away from eliminating the Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference finals.

If Carolina can deliver another strong opening when Game 5 takes place Friday in Raleigh, N.C., they will likely secure their spot in the Stanley Cup Final for the third time in their franchise’s existence.

The Hurricanes, playing as the road team, netted three goals within a span of less than three minutes during the first period, while Frederik Andersen stopped 18 shots to lead Carolina to a 4-0 triumph over Montreal in Wednesday’s Game 4.

Despite Carolina’s commanding 3-1 advantage in the best-of-seven series, Andersen emphasized that his team must maintain their intensity.

“We want to put our minds right to get that job done,” Andersen told TNT. “We know that it doesn’t take any less because we’re up 3-1. We want to continue coming with this attitude and really take it to them. That’s what we’ve been successful with.”

Sebastian Aho netted a power-play goal, while captain Jordan Staal and Logan Stankoven also found the back of the net during a remarkable 2:47 span in the latter portion of the first period. Andrei Svechnikov capped the scoring with an empty-net goal late in the final period.

“We wanted to have a good start, and we got it,” Aho told Sportsnet. “… Couple big goals in the first. Jordan and Stank’s goal, so we extended the lead. I thought it was a solid game for us.”

Andersen stopped three shots in the third period to secure his eighth career postseason shutout and fifth with the Hurricanes, breaking Cam Ward’s franchise record. This marks Andersen’s third shutout of these playoffs, achieving one in each round.

Nikolaj Ehlers and defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere each contributed two assists for the Hurricanes, who made NHL history by becoming just the seventh team to win their first six road games in a single postseason.

Jakub Dobes recorded 39 saves on his 25th birthday for the Canadiens, who have now dropped four consecutive home games and six of eight total contests in Montreal throughout these playoffs.

“It obviously (stinks) to come in here and lose (Games 3 and 4) at home,” Montreal captain Nick Suzuki said. “We gotta focus on Game 5, we can go in there and win and give ourselves a chance to come back in the series.”

Carolina struck first for the fourth consecutive game when Aho’s one-timer from the right circle found its way past Dobes inside the near post with 5:01 left in the opening period.

Aho’s goal marked his 11th career power-play tally in postseason play, surpassing former captain Eric Staal for the franchise record.

The Hurricanes expanded their lead 68 seconds later when defenseman K’Andre Miller moved below the goal line and delivered a backhand centering pass that deflected off Jordan Staal’s stick and into the net. Montreal’s Josh Anderson was battling Jordan Staal in front of the goal during the play.

Gostisbehere blocked a shot attempt by Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson, creating a 2-on-1 opportunity that resulted in Jackson Blake setting up Stankoven for his playoff-leading eighth goal just 1:39 later.

“It was my time to lay my body on the line. I’m just happy it went the other way and we got rewarded,” Gostisbehere told Sportsnet.

Dobes stretched out his left pad to stop Blake on a breakaway opportunity, keeping the game scoreless just over two minutes into the contest.

“It seemed like the only guy who showed up was (Dobes),” Hutson said. “We were just not good enough, didn’t answer the bell. The good news is we get another chance to answer the bell.”

The Democratic Republic of Congo has announced that its national soccer team delegation meets all United States health requirements concerning the ongoing Ebola crisis, allowing the squad to participate in the upcoming World Cup competition.

On Saturday, a team representative stated that training would proceed according to schedule despite U.S. mandates requiring people to undergo a 21-day quarantine period prior to entering American territory.

Canada, Mexico, and the United States will jointly host the World Cup from June 11 through July 19.

Last week, the World Health Organization issued a warning about a “very high” possibility of the Bundibugyo variant of Ebola expanding throughout the DRC, citing over 1,000 potential cases and 246 possible fatalities recorded to date.

Officials from Congo announced that their soccer federation (FECOFA) conducted discussions with FIFA during the week, confirming the delegation now meets all health and safety requirements, which included scrapping a training session in Kinshasa and moving preparation activities to international locations.

“I applaud FECOFA and FIFA for moving swiftly and decisively to make this responsible, reasonable determination,” DRC Ambassador to the United States Yvette Kapinga Ngandu said in a statement on Wednesday.

“The Leopards are ready, they are safe, and I have no doubt that the United States will embrace this team.”

Reuters has reached out to FIFA seeking additional comments.

The majority of team players are currently located in Europe, which minimizes direct contact risks, while coaching staff who left Kinshasa in early May will spend no less than 21 days in Europe before traveling to America, following U.S. health requirements.

“The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has done everything in its power to ensure they arrive in the United States prepared, protected, and ready to compete,” Sports Minister Didier Budimbu said.

Authorities also expressed worry about supporters who purchased World Cup passes but cannot secure U.S. travel documents because of bureaucratic limitations, noting that conversations with FIFA regarding potential reimbursements are ongoing.

The Congo squad, making their World Cup return after a 52-year absence, will establish their headquarters in Houston. Their Group K schedule begins with Portugal on June 17, followed by Colombia in Guadalajara on June 23, and concludes against Uzbekistan in Atlanta on June 27.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Philadelphia pitcher Cristopher Sánchez celebrated with emphatic fist pumps after making baseball history Wednesday, capping off a remarkable month of May where he didn’t surrender a single run while shattering a franchise record that had stood for more than a century.

The left-handed hurler stretched his scoreless streak to 44 2/3 innings during Wednesday’s contest, surpassing Hall of Famer Grover Cleveland Alexander’s previous team record in Philadelphia’s 3-0 victory over the San Diego Padres, completing a sweep of the three-game series.

The historic achievement required four complete innings to eclipse Alexander’s mark of 41 consecutive scoreless innings from 1911. Sánchez continued his dominant performance for three additional shutout frames before exiting after 100 pitches. His line included six hits allowed, nine strikeouts, and zero walks.

His outstanding performance concluded with Philadelphia holding a 2-0 advantage, as he celebrated enthusiastically following a strikeout of pinch-hitter Ty France to close the seventh inning.

“I just went out to compete and give the best of myself,” he said through an interpreter.

Despite feeling his command wasn’t at its peak, Sánchez overwhelmed a San Diego offense that failed to deliver with runners in scoring position throughout the series, going 0 for 20 in such situations while leaving 19 baserunners stranded and recording 32 strikeouts.

Interim manager Don Mattingly noted the team recognized the achievement following the game, with Sánchez speaking to his teammates about the accomplishment.

“I just told them it was something special for me,” Sánchez said. “First I thanked God and then I thanked all my teammates and everyone around me for their support. It’s really special to have their support, in the good times and through the rough times as well. That’s something I admire with this group.

“This is a game that it’s not only about me or about what I do on the mound, it’s about our group and I think it’s really something special and beautiful to feel the support of the team as a whole,” he added.

A tense moment occurred in the fourth inning with Sánchez one frame away from the record, as Manny Machado launched a fly ball toward left field that Edmundo Sosa secured near the warning track. The pitcher then struck out Xander Bogaerts, allowed a double to left by Ramon Laureano, and induced Jackson Merrill to ground out to second base, officially establishing the new record.

Machado had connected for a home run during Tuesday evening’s 4-3 Philadelphia victory.

San Diego left runners in scoring position during both the opening and second innings, while Gavin Sheets hit a fly ball that landed just short of the warning track in right field to end the third.

“There were a couple of hits that I thought were gone off the bat, but thank God they didn’t,” he said.

Center fielder Justin Crawford made an impressive running grab on Machado’s fly ball with one out in the sixth inning, preventing an extra-base hit before colliding with the padded outfield wall.

Sánchez’s remarkable run began during the second inning of the opening game of a doubleheader versus San Francisco on April 30.

He established another franchise milestone by recording at least seven scoreless innings for his fifth consecutive start, joining just five other pitchers in major league history to accomplish this feat.

The streak also represents the longest single-season scoreless innings stretch by a left-handed pitcher in the Expansion Era, surpassing former Los Angeles Dodgers star Clayton Kershaw’s 41-inning run from 2014.

“You just don’t expect him to give up any runs,” said Mattingly, who managed Kershaw with the Dodgers in 2014. “I thought he was a little rough early. I don’t know if this thing’s on his mind at all, you know, he knew he had to get through four. He seemed to settle down a little more after that.

“He’s been amazing from the standpoint of, it just seems like every time out, no matter what team or who it is, he just kind of keeps going.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole was eager to emphasize Wednesday evening that his second consecutive outstanding performance since returning from Tommy John surgery represented just that: his second outing back.

“Small sample size,” the former Cy Young winner stated.

However, what an impressive sample it has been.

Following his first major league appearance since Game 5 of the 2024 World Series against the Dodgers, where he surrendered two hits across six shutout innings versus Tampa Bay, the 35-year-old Cole delivered an even more impressive showing against the struggling Kansas City squad. He gave up four hits while recording 10 strikeouts and zero walks, leading the Yankees to a 7-0 triumph — extending their winning streak against the Royals to 14 games.

“I feel like maybe the first game was the appetizer,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone commented, “and that was the main course right there. That was surgical. You saw everything, like, good fastball, both breaking balls going, mixed in the cutter a little bit, made some really good change-ups along the way. There was good defensive plays behind him early and then he kind of cruised.”

Cole (1-0) required just 79 pitches to complete 6 2/3 innings, and likely could have pitched deeper into the contest against Kansas City. However, at this stage of what the Yankees anticipate will be an extended season, there was no justification for taxing Cole’s previously injured right elbow.

Kansas City’s best scoring opportunity against him occurred in the third inning, when Michael Massey connected for a one-out double. Cole recovered to strike out Isaac Collins, bringing Maikel Garcia to bat. Garcia lined a single toward right field, where Aaron Judge handled a difficult bounce cleanly before delivering an accurate throw that retired Massey at home plate to end the inning.

Cole also left Garcia stranded at second base following a two-out double in the sixth inning. Salvador Perez managed a single against him in the seventh.

That represented the extent of Kansas City’s baserunners against him.

“I think it just reminds you of who he is, and how great a consistent pitcher he is,” Boone remarked. “And to see him go through the process the last several months to get back to this, and go out there and execute like he is here to start, it’s fun to watch.”

Cole demonstrated remarkable efficiency, particularly with his 96 mph fastball. He delivered first-pitch strikes to 16 of the 23 batters he encountered, with only a couple of hitters managing to work the count to three balls against him throughout the entire evening.

“I expect to execute pitches. I don’t necessarily expect to not give up any runs, especially on 75 percent strikes. You’re putting a lot of pressure on guys,” Cole explained. “So you have to play good defense, which is what we did tonight.”

Cole faced pressure to perform effectively because the Yankees never provided him with substantial run support. They managed two runs through a single by Paul Goldschmidt, a triple by Ben Rice and Judge’s sacrifice fly, while their remaining offense materialized after Cole’s departure.

The offensive output wasn’t nearly as explosive as the Yankees’ remarkable 15-1 victory Tuesday evening, during which they launched six home runs and collected 24 hits — achieving a franchise first where every New York starter recorded at least two hits.

However, with Cole commanding the mound, they required only a small portion of that offensive production Wednesday evening.

“It’s two games. Small sample size,” Cole noted. “We still have stuff to improve, and just have to keep the same mindset that we have right now, and that’s to take it one outing at a time.”

The head coach at Ole Miss is raising questions about fairness in NCAA enforcement after his program came under investigation for tampering violations involving linebacker Luke Ferrelli’s recruitment, while he believes other schools deserve similar scrutiny.

During the Southeastern Conference meetings in Miramar Beach, Florida on Wednesday, Pete Golding addressed the tampering allegations and suggested inconsistent enforcement by investigators.

When discussing the Ferrelli situation, Golding referenced how the linebacker served as a replacement for another player who left through the transfer portal under questionable circumstances. He appeared to reference former starting linebacker TJ Dottery, a three-year starter who transferred to LSU on the portal’s final day.

“The kid we’re talking about with tampering was on an official visit that weekend,” Golding stated regarding Ferrelli, before shifting focus to Dottery. “We’re not comparing that to a guy that was a three-year starter somewhere, that wasn’t in the portal that’s at a new school now? What are we doing?”

Golding continued his criticism, saying: “There’s an enforcement on this that just took an OV, but there’s not an enforcement of this, that he just ruined his brand over three years, who’s been tampered with his entire time?”

The tampering allegations emerged after Clemson’s head coach Dabo Swinney held a January press conference accusing Ole Miss of improper contact with Ferrelli. The linebacker had initially committed to transfer from Cal to Clemson and had already arrived on campus before switching to Ole Miss.

Dottery, who started for Ole Miss the previous two seasons, became the fourth player to follow former coach Lane Kiffin to LSU after Kiffin was hired away during Ole Miss’s 2025 playoff campaign.

Golding, who assumed control when Kiffin departed, extended his criticism to coaching tampering as well, referencing congressional efforts to address the issue through legislation dubbed the “Lane Kiffin Rule” designed to restrict coaching movement during seasons.

“My thing when they talk about tampering, you don’t think the coaches get tampered with?” Golding asked. “You don’t think ADs meet with head coaches? I mean we’re talking about this new Kiffin rule and this s—, who do you think’s meeting with these guys and offering them the job before?”

“So, I’m not getting into all of that, but holy cow,” he concluded.

The two programs will face each other when Ole Miss hosts LSU in Oxford, Mississippi on September 19.

Major League Baseball players are pushing for significantly higher minimum wages and broader free agency rights as labor negotiations intensify ahead of a potential work stoppage.

The players’ union submitted their demands on Wednesday, seeking to nearly double the current minimum salary while expanding both free agency opportunities and salary arbitration access. The proposal also calls for increased revenue sharing between teams, with a guarantee that smaller-market clubs would receive at least $240 million each year.

These demands arrived just one day before league officials are expected to counter with a salary cap proposal. The existing labor agreement ends on December 1, with many expecting a lockout to follow. League management has rejected the union’s requests, claiming they would create worse competitive balance problems across the sport.

Meanwhile, congressional leaders are attempting to resolve ongoing issues in college athletics through new bipartisan legislation. Republican Senator Ted Cruz and Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell have developed a bill aimed at breaking through legislative gridlock that has stalled efforts to regulate student-athlete compensation.

Their proposed legislation would limit college athletes to one penalty-free transfer during their careers while establishing what they call a “Lane Kiffin Rule” to restrict coaching changes during active seasons. The senators shared details of their proposal with reporters, expressing hope it could secure the 60 votes needed for Senate passage after more than a year of congressional inaction on the issue.

In professional football news, Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs has been released from custody while prosecutors continue reviewing domestic abuse allegations. Brown County District Attorney David Lasee announced Wednesday that more time is needed before making any formal charging decisions.

Jacobs was taken into custody Tuesday on allegations including strangulation and other offenses stemming from a weekend incident. His legal team expressed satisfaction with his release from jail while the investigation continues.

Soccer’s governing body FIFA faces new scrutiny over World Cup ticket pricing and sales practices that fans claim resulted in unfair deals. New York and New Jersey attorneys general announced Tuesday they are examining whether FIFA’s ticketing methods violated consumer protection regulations.

The investigation includes subpoenas demanding information about FIFA’s “variable pricing” system that caused ticket costs to skyrocket for most matches, along with stadium seating chart changes that allegedly moved fans’ seats away from the field. FIFA has not responded to requests for comment on the investigation.

President Donald Trump announced plans to attend NBA Finals games at Madison Square Garden next month after receiving an invitation from New York Knicks owner James Dolan. Trump said he would join Dolan when the Knicks face either the San Antonio Spurs or Oklahoma City Thunder in the championship series.

The Knicks advanced to their first finals appearance since 1999 after completing a sweep of Cleveland in the Eastern Conference finals. Trump, who grew up in New York, praised the team’s performance and called their championship return after decades of struggles “great to see.”

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has expanded his portfolio by purchasing a minority stake in the Cleveland Guardians baseball franchise. The team announced the investment Wednesday before their game against the Washington Nationals.

Kelce, who has won three Super Bowl titles and earned four All-Pro selections while being engaged to music star Taylor Swift, bought a small portion of David Blitzer’s 35% ownership share. The Cleveland Heights native joins the ownership group as Blitzer prepares to potentially become the controlling owner after the 2027 season.

At the French Open in Paris, Novak Djokovic advanced to the third round despite being challenged by 74th-ranked Valentin Royer in a four-set match lasting over three and a half hours. Djokovic ultimately prevailed 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (7), 6-3 as temperatures climbed above 90 degrees Fahrenheit for the fourth consecutive day.

This year’s Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina suffered an upset loss to Ukrainian player Yuliia Starodubtseva 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4). Ukrainian players had a strong showing overall, with Elina Svitolina and Marta Kostyuk both advancing after recent victories at the Madrid Open and Italian Open. Four-time French Open winner Iga Swiatek improved her Roland Garros career record to 42-3 by defeating 35th-ranked Sara Bejlek 6-2, 6-3.

New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton has reached an important milestone in his injury recovery by beginning outdoor running exercises. Manager Aaron Boone reported Wednesday that recent medical imaging of Stanton’s right calf injury has left the team optimistic about his progress.

Stanton has been sidelined since April 24 after experiencing stiffness while running bases during a game against Houston. Boone said the timeline for Stanton’s return remains uncertain despite the encouraging signs. Before his injury, Stanton was performing well with a .256 batting average, three home runs, and 14 RBIs through 24 games. Fellow Yankees prospect Jasson Dominguez is also preparing to increase his baseball activities this week as he recovers from a shoulder injury.

The Vegas Golden Knights have reached the Stanley Cup Final under coach John Tortorella, who was hired in March after the team dismissed Bruce Cassidy following a stretch where they lost six of seven games. Under Tortorella’s leadership, Vegas finished the regular season 7-0-1 and has compiled a 12-4 playoff record, including a sweep of Presidents’ Trophy winner Colorado.

If Tortorella guides Vegas to a championship, he would become just the eighth coach to win the Stanley Cup after taking over mid-season. This rare achievement has occurred five times since 2000, and a sixth occurrence would equal the combined total of such accomplishments across the NFL, NBA, and MLB throughout their histories.

The U.S. women’s national soccer team has reunited the “Triple Espresso” trio of Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson, and Sophia Wilson for upcoming training camp. All three players have been selected for the roster ahead of two June matches against Brazil’s national team.

The trio earned their nickname during the 2024 Paris Olympics and haven’t played together since the gold medal match. Swanson recently returned to her club team, the Chicago Stars, after taking time away following the birth of her daughter. Her last appearance for the national team was in October 2024.

WASHINGTON — Two influential senators are introducing bipartisan legislation aimed at addressing widespread turmoil in college athletics by establishing regulations on athlete compensation, restricting players to a single unrestricted transfer during their collegiate careers, and implementing what they’re calling a “Lane Kiffin Rule” to prevent coaching departures mid-season.

Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., who serve as the chair and ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee that has jurisdiction over collegiate athletics, shared details of their proposed legislation with The Associated Press. They developed the bill with hopes of securing the 60 votes necessary for Senate passage.

“This is a stability bill, not just an NIL bill,” Cruz said, referring to the name, image and likeness compensation that has resulted in football programs with $30 million payrolls and transformed the landscape.

Cantwell said she and Cruz collaborated on the measure “because he and I really do believe the college sports system is in a bit of chaos.”

The legislation resembles a compilation of the strongest elements from two previous proposals — one called SCORE, another called SAFE — that have stalled in recent months. It includes two components the NCAA has endorsed: limited antitrust protection and provisions that would override much of the inconsistent state-by-state NIL regulations currently in place.

Meredith Page, the chair of the NCAA Division I Student Athlete Advocacy Committee and a former volleyball player at Radford, described the bill as “a phenomenal step,” particularly following the recent failure of the SCORE Act, which the SAAC had also endorsed.

“I think this has lots of great protections and gives the ability for us to stablize the field that is so, so unstable right now,” Page said.

NCAA President Charlie Baker said the association was examining the bill and anticipated “further productive dialogue with members of Congress.”

Antitrust Protection

College athletics has been seeking federal assistance as it confronts escalating costs of athlete compensation and an unmanageable transfer system that have endangered smaller sports programs, particularly women’s athletics, which form the foundation of the U.S. Olympic development system.

This legislation, titled the Protect College Sports Act, would provide what Cruz and Cantwell described as focused antitrust protections for organizations like the NCAA and the College Sports Commission, which was included in the primarily Republican-supported SCORE Act that faced Democratic opposition. In return, Cruz said there would be “public-facing protections” for athletes across multiple areas, including guaranteed health coverage and scholarships, stricter oversight of NIL agreements with outside parties and the agents who facilitate these deals.

“I think it’s better predictability,” Cantwell said. “Why did we do it? Because when you’ve got thousands of athletes being cut, hundreds of programs being cut, the risk to the whole infrastructure was too high to not try to get better predictability.”

Regulations for Athletes and Coaches

The proposed legislation would restrict athletes to one unrestricted transfer throughout their college careers — a concept with broad national support — and would implement something similar to the five-year eligibility timeframe that the NCAA appears prepared to establish next month.

The bill also attempts to control coaching mobility. Kiffin’s unexpected departure to LSU from rival Mississippi while the Rebels were preparing for the College Football Playoff last season highlighted an escalating problem in an environment where programs invest millions to assemble rapidly changing football rosters: Schools have decreased patience and increased financial resources to pursue coaches for immediate solutions.

According to the bill’s provisions, mid-season coaching changes would be banned.

“It’s not fair or right to poach a coach in the middle of the season while the team is still competing,” Cruz said. “There’s a reason the NFL has a rule that you can’t do that. Obviously, NFL teams hire coaches away from each other but they don’t do so in the middle of the season.”

Television Revenue Sharing

The bill would modify the Sports Broadcasting Act to permit conferences to combine their television contracts — a change supporters claim could generate billions of additional dollars for the system, though the Southeastern and Big Ten Conferences dispute this assessment.

The senators explained that leagues wouldn’t be mandated to participate in media pooling, but those choosing to do so would need to allocate a portion of any revenue increases to support women’s and Olympic sports. This requirement alone could prove unacceptable to the SEC, which has reportedly been discussing possibilities including separating from the NCAA and permitting athlete collective bargaining during its conference meetings in Florida this week.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, along with Jim Phillips of the Atlantic Coast and Brett Yormark of the Big 12 all indicated they were examining the bill, with Sankey stating “bipartisan engagement in Washington on these issues is critical.”

Prospects for Passage

The SCORE Act, which received minimal Democratic backing, was scheduled for a House vote last week but was suddenly removed when the Congressional Black Caucus and NAACP opposed it. Even if it had narrowly passed in the closely divided House, it had virtually no possibility of succeeding as written in the Senate, where 60 votes would be required to overcome a potential filibuster.

“The Congressional Black Caucus and I have the same objective: stop the ‘SEC SCORE Act,’” said Cantwell, referring to the SEC as one of numerous conferences that have backed that legislation.

Some Democrats were hesitant to endorse a bill like SCORE that prevented college athletes from being designated as school employees. The new bill adopts what Cantwell characterized as a neutral position on employment status.

However, it doesn’t address all Democratic concerns, as Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., outlined in a statement released shortly after the bill’s announcement.

“It gives the NCAA an antitrust exemption that no other industry gets just so they can keep underpaying the athletes,” he said. “Sure, there are some good things for players in this bill, but this seems like a great deal for the NCAA and the rich guys who run college sports, and a bad deal for athletes.”

Mit Winter, a Missouri attorney who specializes in sports law, said the proposal was so comprehensive he doubted it would pass in its current form.

“When you start getting into the stuff about giving the CSC and NCAA antitrust exemptions and liability protection from enforcing rules on athlete denial of compensation, I think that’s where things get a little more dicey,” he said.

The National Basketball Association plans to implement artificial intelligence technology to automatically handle certain types of calls during games, Commissioner Adam Silver announced this week.

Speaking on ESPN’s the Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday, Silver explained that the league will deploy an automated system to handle out-of-bounds determinations and similar possession decisions, aiming to accelerate game pace and eliminate arguments over ball possession.

Silver drew parallels to the Hawk-Eye electronic system used in professional tennis, which rapidly determines whether balls land within or outside court boundaries.

“We’re going to move to a system like that where that whole category of calls will be automatic,” Silver stated during the broadcast.

“It’s going to be Laker ball, Knick ball, whatever it is. Those calls will be done by an AI, automated system with cameras lined around the court,” he explained.

The new technology would provide immediate decisions and enable referees to concentrate on contact violations and foul calls instead.

“It will take all those so-called objective calls out of the hands of the referees,” Silver noted. “You won’t have to deal with challenges on those calls.”

While Silver didn’t specify an exact launch date for the system, he indicated implementation would happen “fairly quickly.”

The league has progressively adopted replay reviews and centralized decision processes to enhance officiating precision, though these reviews sometimes extend game duration.

Silver emphasized that referees will continue to play a crucial role in evaluating physical contact situations, where human judgment remains necessary to assess whether players have been hindered.

“There’s often contact on every play, but that doesn’t mean there’s a foul on every play,” Silver observed. “That’s something that can’t just be done on camera.”

Professional golfer Tiger Woods has confirmed he will sit out all major championships this season after choosing not to register for The Open Championship, marking his continued absence from competitive golf since 2024.

While Woods lacks eligibility for next month’s U.S. Open, he maintained special qualification status for The Open. The golf star had previously spoken publicly about potentially making his return at last month’s Masters tournament.

However, a vehicle collision in late March that led to a DUI arrest changed those comeback aspirations. Following the incident, Woods revealed he would pursue treatment and step back from his organizational responsibilities, which included his positions on the PGA Tour Policy Board and the Future Competition Committee, while also removing himself from consideration as U.S. Ryder Cup captain.

Physical challenges have significantly impacted Woods’ professional involvement in recent years. A different automobile accident in 2021 caused injuries to his lower leg, and he has undergone seven back operations, including disk replacement surgery in October. The 15-time major winner has been unable to secure another championship since the 2021 accident, with his most recent victory coming at the 2019 Masters.

At age 50, Woods maintains his exemption status for The Open Championship through age 60.

Meanwhile, 55-year-old Phil Mickelson has chosen to register for the tournament, though his attendance remains uncertain due to his absence from multiple LIV events this spring while dealing with a family health matter. Mickelson’s last missed Open Championship occurred in 2009, and he claimed the title in 2013.

Woods captured Open Championship victories in 2000, 2005, and 2006.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — New York Yankees power hitter Giancarlo Stanton has reached an important milestone in his recovery from a right calf injury, beginning outdoor running exercises after encouraging medical imaging results, though his return timeline remains uncertain.

The slugger has been out of action since April 24, when he felt stiffness in his right calf during base running against Houston.

“I think he wants it fully clear, and I think we got enough news today that allows us to take that step to hopefully the running goes in line with how he’s feeling, and we can start to ramp up,” manager Aaron Boone told reporters Wednesday before the team’s final game against the Royals.

Through his first 24 games this season, Stanton was performing well with a .256 batting average, three home runs, and 14 RBIs. The five-time All-Star’s right-handed power is particularly crucial when Boone fields lineups heavy with left-handed hitters like Ben Rice, Trent Grisham, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Cody Bellinger and Austin Wells.

“Having him in the middle, his presence is massive,” Boone noted. “So you know, hopefully not too much longer.”

When Stanton was injured, the team brought up Jasson Dominguez from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but the young outfielder also landed on the injured list May 7 after straining his left shoulder’s AC joint in a collision with the outfield wall at Yankee Stadium.

Dominguez received a shoulder injection on May 11 and has been taking batting practice off a tee for approximately one week.

Team officials plan to increase Dominguez’s baseball activities this week as the Yankees finish their Kansas City series and travel to Sacramento for three games against the Athletics, wrapping up their six-game, seven-day road trip.

“Hopefully when we get back next week,” Boone explained, “there may be some live (batting practice) situations for him.”