Category: Sports

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Wearing a dark hoodie and carrying his glove, Tony Vitello moves around the practice field like he belongs among the Giants players.

The San Francisco Giants’ new skipper grabs some gum from the dugout container before stepping onto the field at Scottsdale Stadium to begin his work. He spends time observing from right field, taking in the full view, then moves to the indoor batting facility. Later, he positions himself near home plate on the cage’s right side, offering fist bumps to left fielder Heliot Ramos following batting practice rounds. Vitello shifts a few steps over to watch additional hitters take their swings.

“He’s everywhere,” said shortstop Willy Adames. “He has a lot of energy. He likes to be watching everybody, making sure that everybody is working right and doing the right things. He’s just trying to push the guys to work hard and to be better and I think that’s something that’s going to help the guys a lot and I think that’s something we needed.”

The spotlight focuses intensely on Vitello as he assumes control of one of baseball’s most legendary organizations despite lacking any professional baseball background. Giants executive and former catcher Buster Posey made this unusual selection, placing trust in someone without major league experience either playing or coaching.

Everyone will be watching closely when Vitello makes his highly anticipated managerial debut as the Giants welcome the New York Yankees for baseball’s opening day on March 25.

“As ready as I’ll be if you ask me that question before the season starts,” Vitello commented before the team’s Cactus League opener. “I don’t think you’re ever really ready to do something until you get to do it. … Inevitably something pops up in where you’re like, ‘I wish I could go back in time and know that.’”

A dedicated swimmer who hopes to someday tackle the challenging swim from Alcatraz in San Francisco, Vitello monitors his different baseball areas similar to a lifeguard keeping watch, staying alert to everything and everyone around him.

He has also made a commitment to absorbing knowledge from experienced former managers he has brought into his circle, including Dusty Baker and Bruce Bochy, along with new Giants infield coach Ron Washington.

“I’ve talked with those guys, they’ve been awesome,” Vitello explained. “A lot of little things. When Boch says it, not only do you hear it but you hear it in that thunderous voice. I’ve taken notes from all those guys. I don’t think there’s been one drastic thing said to me, like, ‘Holy cow, reinvent the game’ or anything like that. It’s just been a lot of consistent help.”

Moving between different practice fields during spring training has presented one of the most significant adjustments for the 47-year-old Vitello.

During his first team meeting, Vitello focused on staying authentic — “hopefully it didn’t sound like a speech, more of a conversation,” he noted.

While everyone understands there will be substantial challenges ahead, Vitello has already created a positive impact on his players.

“Tony’s passion for baseball is something else,” said outfielder Jung Hoo Lee. “Just being around him, I feel like my passion grows more with him. It’s really nice being around Tony.”

During a recent spring training session, Vitello crouched down with his hands on his knees, observing Washington work with Adames.

“That’s going to help him a lot,” Adames commented about all the mentorship. “He’s got Bochy that’s going to be around and Dusty that’s going to be around and Buster is always around. We’ve got a lot of people who have a lot of experience in baseball and have a lot of people who have a lot of experience being a manager, and I think that’s going to help him a lot.”

Former Padres manager Jayce Tingler serves as both Vitello’s close friend and current bench coach. Vitello waited until spring training began to reveal his coaching staff — well after most other teams — demonstrating how carefully he considered who he wanted supporting him.

Learning to delegate responsibilities has been an ongoing process. In his previous role, he handled recruiting, organizing travel, overseeing academics, and numerous other college baseball responsibilities.

“I think get more comfortable with delegating, but about nine years ago I definitely warmed up to it with the group of people that I was around,” he said.

First-year San Diego Padres manager Craig Stammen recognizes the questions surrounding inexperience and accepts that scrutiny accompanies the position.

“He’s a baseball guy, so I’m going to respect him the same way I respect somebody that played 20 years in the big leagues,” Stammen said regarding Vitello. “I think he’s earned the right to be a manager in the big leagues. Some people will question me if I earned the right to be a manager in the big leagues. His track record in college is very successful, so he’s going to have the opportunity to bring that track record to MLB.”

Vitello admits there have been some initial challenges — and expects many more throughout the journey. He takes over from three-time Manager of the Year Bob Melvin, a 22-year managerial veteran who was dismissed after two seasons and the Giants’ fourth consecutive year missing the playoffs.

“I don’t think it’s been too wild. I think everything that was a precursor to here was the key,” he said. “FanFest, just how welcoming everybody is. It might sound silly, but just interacting with the 49ers group a few different times and other people in the Bay Area, it made you feel like you were in high school instead of a freshman. I still remember freshman year in high school was kind of nerve-wracking.

“So I think there was a little bit of momentum for myself coming in. Seamless is a high standard. I think there’s been some snags, but it’s kind of been like, ‘OK, I get how this goes now.’”

Multiple media sources confirmed Thursday that Penn State has selected Tanisha Wright, a former Lady Lions standout who currently serves as an assistant coach for the Chicago Sky, to lead their women’s basketball program.

The 42-year-old Wright made her mark at Penn State between 2001 and 2005, capturing three Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors while earning first-team all-conference recognition three times as a shooting guard.

Wright steps in to replace Carolyn Kieger, who was dismissed from her position two weeks ago following a seven-year tenure that produced an 84-123 overall record. The Nittany Lions struggled this past season, finishing 11-18 overall and 4-14 in conference play.

Following her collegiate career, Wright became the 12th overall selection in the 2005 WNBA Draft when the Seattle Storm picked her in the first round. Her professional playing career spanned 14 seasons, during which she averaged 7.3 points, 3.1 assists, and 2.6 rebounds across 457 games with 304 starts for three different franchises. Wright earned seven WNBA All-Defensive team selections and captured a championship with Seattle in 2010.

Most recently, Wright served as head coach for the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream from 2022 through 2024, posting a 48-68 record while guiding the team to two playoff berths.

Wright began her coaching journey in college basketball, working as an assistant at Charlotte from 2017 to 2021, before transitioning to the professional ranks as an assistant with the Las Vegas Aces from 2020 to 2021.

MIAMI — The Los Angeles Lakers have listed superstar LeBron James as questionable for Thursday’s matchup against the Miami Heat, potentially delaying his pursuit of the NBA’s all-time record for career games played by a few more days.

According to the Lakers, James is managing left foot arthritis. The team also listed Luka Doncic as questionable with right hip soreness and Austin Reaves with a right forearm contusion.

This trio contributed 84 points during the Lakers’ 124-116 victory over Houston on Wednesday evening. Following that contest, the team traveled to Miami, touching down at 3:59 a.m. — unusually late compared to typical arrival times for teams playing consecutive nights.

In Wednesday’s triumph, James shot an exceptional 13 of 14 from the field, matching his career-best shooting display. This marked his 1,610th regular-season appearance, placing him just one game shy of Robert Parish’s all-time record.

During the closing moments of Wednesday’s victory, James struck his right elbow against the court surface, staying down momentarily while showing clear signs of discomfort. Speaking with ESPN during the post-game television interview, he expressed optimism about participating Thursday in Miami — a city where he spent four seasons and captured two of his four NBA titles.

Parish, who entered the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003, has held the outright games played record since April 6, 1996. On that date, he appeared in his 1,561st contest, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s previous mark.

Parish ultimately competed in 50 additional regular-season contests before retiring following the 1996-97 campaign. His 21-year NBA journey began with Golden State, continued for more than ten years in Boston, and concluded with stints in Charlotte and Chicago.

“No player is better deserving to break that Ironman record, that 1,611 games played record, than LeBron,” Parish told Sirius NBA Radio earlier this week. “He deserves it, in my opinion.”

This games played milestone would represent another addition to James’ extensive collection of NBA records, as he currently holds the league’s top position in multiple categories including total points, minutes played, field goals made and attempted.

James also owns NBA records with 23 seasons played, 22 All-Star selections and 21 All-NBA team honors.

Should he remain sidelined Thursday, James’ next opportunity to match the record would come Saturday when the Lakers visit Orlando.

Major League Baseball has forged a new alliance with prediction market platform Polymarket while simultaneously establishing a formal agreement with federal regulators to safeguard the sport’s integrity.

The league announced Thursday it has created a memorandum of understanding with Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chair Michael S. Selig to “further protect the integrity of baseball by ensuring swift response to incidents and anticipating emerging trends more strongly.”

Sports organizations have expressed growing unease about prediction markets as they already grapple with challenges from legalized sports betting. Unlike regulated sportsbooks that must comply with state oversight, prediction market operators contend their trading activities — known as event contracts — constitute derivative markets under CFTC authority.

Twelve months ago, MLB wrote to the commission requesting robust integrity safeguards.

“The new agreements that we formed with Polymarket and the CFTC are imperative steps in proactively managing the new and rapidly growing prediction market space,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “Protecting the integrity of the game on the field is our top priority. By engaging in this community, we are able to work together to create clear boundaries with the goal of mitigating risk while providing fan engagement opportunities.”

The Polymarket deal grants the platform and its partners exclusive rights to use MLB branding in their prediction market offerings. Polymarket will also receive official league statistics through Sportradar, MLB’s designated worldwide data distributor for prediction markets.

The federal agreement establishes information sharing between MLB and the CFTC concerning baseball integrity issues and related prediction markets. All exchanged data will remain confidential, with appointed officials holding regular meetings.

“We’ve committed to work together to protect the integrity and resilience of prediction markets relating to professional baseball,” Selig said on X. “Through this partnership, the @CFTC is well-positioned to add additional tools to protect our markets from fraud, manipulation, and other abuses. Thanks to @MLB and Commissioner Manfred for working with us to protect the integrity of these growing markets.

Despite its exclusive arrangement with Polymarket, MLB emphasized its desire to establish integrity frameworks with all prediction market platforms offering baseball-related contracts. These platforms must incorporate required integrity measures into their operating rules.

The expanding presence of sports content on prediction markets has created new income streams for leagues while simultaneously raising regulatory questions about market oversight.

Prediction markets allow users to trade on future event outcomes through straightforward yes-or-no wagering options.

The NHL announced multi-year partnerships with both Polymarket and Kalshi, another prominent prediction market operator, in October. Major League Soccer revealed its Polymarket partnership on January 26. Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo disclosed last month that he has acquired an ownership stake in Kalshi.

MLB owners received a briefing about prediction markets during their recent meetings in Florida.

Multiple sources indicate that Ball State University has set its sights on Chris Capko, an associate coach at Southern Methodist University, to lead their men’s basketball program.

The Cardinals are seeking to fill the vacancy left by Michael Lewis, whom the university dismissed on March 8 following three consecutive seasons with losing records.

Ball State concluded the recent season with a disappointing 12-19 overall record and went 7-11 in Mid-American Conference play, failing to earn a spot in the league tournament.

Currently serving as the top aide to head coach Andy Enfield at SMU, Capko brings extensive coaching experience to the potential role. He previously worked alongside Enfield as an assistant head coach at the University of Southern California beginning in 2016, then followed Enfield to SMU when both joined the Mustangs’ program this past year.

Golden State head coach Steve Kerr has accepted the mathematical reality facing his team. The Warriors are destined for the NBA’s play-in tournament.

With just 13 regular season contests remaining, Golden State finds themselves trailing the sixth-place Western Conference position by 8.5 games following Wednesday’s defeat in Boston — another contest that saw Stephen Curry sidelined due to ongoing knee problems.

However, the Warriors maintain an 8.5-game cushion over the 11th-place team. While there’s still a technical possibility Golden State could fall outside the play-in tournament bracket — reserved for teams placing seventh through tenth in each conference — Kerr understands this scenario is unrealistic.

“What I’m most interested in right now is can we prepare ourselves for the play-in,” Kerr stated following Wednesday’s 120-99 defeat. “We’re going to be in the play-in. We know that — one way or the other. So, we’ve got to prepare.”

The regular season concludes April 12, with the top six teams in each conference earning automatic playoff berths. Teams finishing 11th through 15th face elimination.

The remaining clubs enter the play-in tournament, scheduled from April 14-17. This format debuted in a limited form during the 2020 bubble season, with the current structure implemented in 2021.

The tournament operates identically in both conferences: The seventh seed hosts the eighth seed in the opening round, while the ninth seed welcomes the tenth seed. The 7-8 winner advances to face the second seed in the first playoff round. The 7-8 loser hosts the 9-10 winner for the final playoff spot against the top seed. Both losing teams are eliminated.

“We’ve had our eyes on (the No. 6 seed) for a while. And that’s out of the question now,” Kerr explained. “I mean, we’re not getting there. And so, if we can string together some wins, try to get to eight, that’d be ideal. Get two cracks at it. We’re not getting to seven. We know that.”

Golden State has occupied the play-in territory for most of this campaign, maintaining the eighth position almost continuously from mid-November through March. Their recent struggles — losing eight of ten games — have dropped them to tenth in the Western standings.

Curry remains with the team during their current road swing, participating in workouts and shooting sessions as his knee condition improves from recent weeks. Team officials plan to provide a status update Saturday before their Atlanta matchup.

This development suggests Curry might return against the Hawks. “He may or may not have already had a little contact,” Kerr hinted.

While the Warriors won’t see Jimmy Butler return this season due to his January ACL tear, they anticipate getting Curry, Al Horford, and Moses Moody back from their respective injuries. Kerr wants Golden State prepared to peak when these players return.

“Over the last few weeks, I’ve been telling the guys we have to build our habits and be ready for when we get guys healthy again,” Kerr said. “Then we can really have the firepower that can be complemented by a foundation of good habits, good fundamentals. … Being prepared for that time is everything for us.”

As of Thursday, Phoenix, the Los Angeles Clippers, Portland, and Golden State would comprise the West’s play-in participants. While nothing is finalized, the Clippers and Trail Blazers likely share similar thinking with the Warriors, given their slim chances of reaching sixth place or dropping below tenth.

If Kerr’s prediction proves accurate, this would mark Golden State’s third straight play-in appearance and fourth overall. Phoenix has never participated, the Clippers appeared once in 2022, and Portland’s only experience came during the 2020 bubble season when just two teams competed in that round.

In the Eastern Conference, Miami, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Charlotte currently occupy the play-in positions as of Thursday. All four teams maintain significant leads over the 11th-15th place group, though reaching sixth place or higher remains mathematically feasible for these clubs.

Atlanta has reached the play-in round four consecutive seasons. Miami has participated in each of the past three seasons, while Charlotte last appeared in 2022 and Philadelphia competed in 2024.

Detroit Pistons All-Star point guard Cade Cunningham is facing a significant absence after suffering a collapsed lung during Tuesday night’s victory against Washington, according to a source familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on Thursday.

The injury will sideline Cunningham for a minimum of two weeks, though the recovery period could extend longer, the source revealed. Medical staff have not yet established a definitive return date for the star player.

The source requested anonymity as the team has not officially disclosed these medical details to the public.

With fewer than four weeks remaining in the regular season, the timing presents challenges for Detroit’s playoff positioning. The Pistons initially listed Cunningham as unavailable for Thursday’s matchup in Washington due to a left back contusion. Detroit’s first playoff game is scheduled for April 18 or 19.

ESPN initially broke the story regarding the specific nature of Cunningham’s injury.

The incident occurred during Tuesday’s contest against the Wizards when Cunningham dove after a loose ball and collided with Washington’s Tre Johnson at the 7:44 mark of the first quarter. Following the contact, Cunningham appeared to struggle physically before exiting the game just over a minute later, with team officials initially attributing his departure to back spasms.

This season, Cunningham has posted impressive numbers with 24.5 points and 9.9 assists per game, helping fuel Detroit’s most successful campaign in nearly twenty years.

Detroit sits atop the Eastern Conference with a 49-19 record entering Thursday, maintaining a 3.5-game advantage over Boston with fourteen contests left to play. Having appeared in 61 games this season, an extended recovery period could prevent Cunningham from reaching the 65-game minimum required for major awards consideration, including All-NBA team selection.

An Indonesian tobacco magnate who helped transform an Italian soccer club from obscurity to elite competition has passed away at the age of 86.

Michael Bambang Hartono, the billionaire co-owner of Como football club, died recently, though officials have not revealed the specific cause of his death. The businessman had previously disclosed his battles with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and had survived a heart attack.

The Italian soccer team expressed its grief in an official statement on Thursday, saying it was heartbroken by Hartono’s passing. The timing comes as Como, under coach Cesc Fabregas, approaches a potential breakthrough qualification for Europe’s premier soccer competition.

“Como 1907 is deeply saddened by the passing of Michael Bambang Hartono,” the organization announced. “We extend our sincere condolences to the Hartono family and to all at the Djarum Group.”

The club added: “Under the family’s leadership, the club has entered a new chapter in its history, and we remember him with gratitude and respect.”

Michael Bambang Hartono, along with his brother Roberto Budi Hartono, acquired ownership of Como in 2019 when the team was competing in Italy’s fourth tier of professional soccer.

The remarkable turnaround under their stewardship culminated in Como’s promotion back to Serie A in 2024, marking their first appearance in Italy’s top flight in more than twenty years. Currently, the team occupies fourth position in the league standings, placing them ahead of traditional powerhouses like Juventus and Roma in the race for Champions League spots.

The Atlanta Hawks continued their remarkable hot streak Wednesday evening, securing their 11th consecutive victory with a commanding 135-120 triumph over the Dallas Mavericks on the road. CJ McCollum led the charge with 24 points while Nickeil Alexander-Walker contributed 22 points in the impressive win.

This extended winning streak now matches the third-longest by any NBA franchise this season. Meanwhile, Dallas continues to struggle at home, suffering their 10th consecutive loss on their home court.

Dyson Daniels chipped in 19 points for the Hawks, while Jalen Johnson nearly recorded a triple-double with 17 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists, falling just one assist short. The victory propels Atlanta into a tie with Miami, positioning them just a half-game behind Orlando for the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference standings.

Dallas received a stellar performance from Daniel Gafford, who came off the bench to score 24 points on exceptional 9-of-10 shooting. P.J. Washington contributed 23 points and Cooper Flagg added 17 points, though he struggled with ball security, turning the ball over six times.

Lakers 124, Rockets 116

LeBron James delivered a near-perfect shooting performance with 30 points on all but one shot attempt, while Luka Doncic fell just one rebound short of a 40-point triple-double as visiting Los Angeles defeated Houston. The victory secured the season series for the Lakers and marked their seventh straight win.

Deandre Ayton scored 16 points and Austin Reaves added 14 points with eight assists as Los Angeles shot an impressive 60.5% from the field. The Lakers outscored Houston 35-24 in the final quarter, with Doncic adding 10 fourth-quarter points and James contributing nine.

Houston was paced by Alperen Sengun’s 27 points and 10 assists, while Amen Thompson recorded 26 points and 11 rebounds. The defeat dropped the Rockets one game behind Minnesota in the race for fourth place in the Western Conference.

Celtics 120, Warriors 99

Jaylen Brown’s 32-point explosion helped him climb to 10th place on Boston’s all-time scoring list as the Celtics dominated visiting Golden State. Jayson Tatum added 24 points and 10 rebounds, while Payton Pritchard contributed 19 points in the comfortable victory that extended Boston’s winning streak to three games.

Golden State struggled without Stephen Curry, falling to 6-13 during his ongoing absence. Pat Spencer and Gary Payton II each scored 14 points off the bench to lead the Warriors, who have now lost six of their past seven contests and eight of their last 10.

Thunder 121, Nets 92

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander needed just three quarters to score 20 points, extending his NBA record streak of 20-point games to 130 consecutive contests as Oklahoma City demolished host Brooklyn. The Thunder jumped out to a massive 60-24 halftime advantage and coasted to their 10th straight victory.

Jared McCain led all scorers with a season-high 26 points off the bench on 9-of-16 shooting, surpassing Gilgeous-Alexander’s total. Aaron Wiggins added 17 points, Isaiah Joe scored 13, Chet Holmgren contributed 11, and Ajay Mitchell finished with 10 for the balanced Thunder attack.

Brooklyn played without Michael Porter Jr. for a fourth consecutive game due to ankle and hamstring injuries, and lost Noah Clowney to a wrist sprain in the first quarter. The Nets have now dropped five straight games and 15 of their last 17 contests.

Timberwolves 147, Jazz 111

Ayo Dosunmu recorded 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists as Minnesota overwhelmed Utah at home. Rudy Gobert posted a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who scored 75 points in the second half to pull away for their second consecutive victory.

Utah’s Brice Sensabaugh had an outstanding individual performance with 41 points on 17-of-31 shooting, while Ace Bailey returned from concussion protocol to score 17 points and connect on five three-pointers.

Trail Blazers 127, Pacers 119

Deni Avdija’s 32 points and 11 rebounds powered Portland past Indiana on the road. Donovan Clingan added 28 points and 13 rebounds, Toumani Camara scored 17 points, and Jrue Holiday contributed 15 points with eight assists. Robert Williams III grabbed 10 rebounds off the bench as Portland won back-to-back games for the first time since early February.

Indiana was led by Ivica Zubac’s 18 points, followed by Jalen Slawson with 17 and Aaron Nesmith with 15. The loss extended the Pacers’ franchise-record losing streak to 15 games.

Raptors 139, Bulls 109

RJ Barrett scored 23 points while Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram and Ja’Kobe Walter each added 18 points as visiting Toronto dominated Chicago. The Raptors shot 57.1% from the field and led by as many as 38 points, with seven players reaching double figures in their third straight victory.

Chicago was led by Matas Buzelis, who scored 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the loss, their third defeat in four games.

Pelicans 124, Clippers 109

Saddiq Bey scored 25 points and Trey Murphy III added 23 as New Orleans defeated visiting Los Angeles in the first of back-to-back meetings. Dejounte Murray contributed 17 points and a season-high 11 assists as the Pelicans overcame an 18-point first-quarter deficit for their sixth consecutive home win and fourth victory in five games overall.

Los Angeles got 25 points and eight rebounds from Kawhi Leonard and 18 points from John Collins, but dropped their third straight game while maintaining their half-game lead for eighth place in the Western Conference.

Grizzlies 125, Nuggets 118

Ty Jerome connected on five three-pointers en route to 21 points, and Memphis’ aggressive defense helped upset host Denver. Jerome nearly recorded a triple-double with team-highs of nine rebounds and nine assists, while Olivier-Maxence Prosper added 19 points and GG Jackson II contributed 16 points and six rebounds.

Denver’s Nikola Jokic finished one assist shy of a triple-double with game-highs of 29 points and 14 rebounds, but Memphis forced the three-time MVP into 10 turnovers as part of Denver’s 19 total giveaways. Christian Braun and Cam Johnson scored 26 and 20 points respectively for the Nuggets.

The Cleveland Browns are pushing the National Football League to give teams more flexibility in future planning by extending how far ahead they can trade draft selections.

Cleveland has submitted a formal request to league officials asking to expand the current three-year trading window for draft picks to five years. The Browns, who have managed just one playoff victory over the past 27 seasons since rejoining the NFL, believe the change would benefit all franchises.

NFL team owners will consider this proposal during their upcoming meetings later this month. The measure needs support from at least 24 of the 32 franchise owners to become official policy.

In their formal submission, Cleveland outlined multiple benefits of the extended timeframe. The Browns argued the change “1) would provide Clubs with greater roster-building flexibility, 2) would create more creative trade structures that better mirror the valuations of both draft selections and players, 3) would increase the liquidity of draft capital which supports league-wide parity, 4) would improve alignment with contract and salary cap cycles, and 5) would encourage a more active trade market.”

If approved, this modification would bring NFL practices more in line with the National Basketball Association, which currently allows teams to trade draft picks as far as seven years into the future.

Pittsburgh also submitted the only other rule modification request this year, focusing on free agency communication protocols. The Steelers want to adjust the “legal tampering” window that kicks off each free agency period. Under existing rules, franchises cannot communicate directly with players during this timeframe, limiting contact to player representatives and agents.

The Pittsburgh proposal would authorize teams to make direct contact with up to five prospective unrestricted free agents through single phone or video conversations per player. These calls could include discussions about potential visits and travel logistics.

Any such direct communication would need to be documented and reported to league headquarters.

Notably absent this year were any proposals targeting on-field rule modifications. Last season, an attempt to prohibit the “tush push” quarterback sneak technique popularized by the Philadelphia Eagles was unsuccessful.

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Standing on the field at JetBlue Park, Kelsie Whitmore surveyed a scene she never imagined would become reality during her athletic career.

Female baseball athletes from across the globe were practicing together, exchanging advice and receiving instruction from major league coaching staff. In fewer than five months, these women will compete in America’s first professional women’s baseball league in more than seven decades.

“I never thought this would ever happen for me in my prime career,” Whitmore explained. The accomplished pitcher and outfielder has earned multiple medals competing for Team USA’s women’s national baseball squad. “I never thought it was ever going to happen, truly.”

Wednesday marked a milestone moment for Whitmore and fellow athletes from the Women’s Pro Baseball League. The emerging organization participated in a two-day training event at the Florida spring training facility of the Boston Red Sox, gearing up for their season debut on August 1st.

For ten years, the Red Sox organization has conducted women’s baseball training camps and invited several WPBL standouts to participate in Wednesday’s practice sessions. Notable participants included experienced Japanese pitcher Ayami Sato and former Little League sensation Mo’ne Davis.

Davis, who made history at age 13 as the first female to record both a victory and shutout in Little League World Series competition, remained close to instructors throughout the two-hour training session, seeking guidance to improve her skills. She departed with valuable coaching advice, particularly regarding maintaining a lower batting stance to create power through hip rotation.

“This is another moment that I take when I go back home — what do I need to work on?” Davis reflected. “For me specifically is hitting approach. That’s the one I’m really focusing on because I want to be a better hitter. I want be a more consistent hitter. … I appreciate all the coaches that helped today. Whatever question you had, they were open to answering it.”

The WPBL has scheduled an intrasquad exhibition game for Thursday, taking place before the Red Sox spring training matchup against the Minnesota Twins.

“These athletes have done something that hasn’t existed in 80 years,” commented Shawn Smith, Red Sox general manager of Florida operations. “And they’re at the pinnacle of their craft right now only to get better. For us to be here — I feel like a little kid. I can’t describe it any other way.”

The WPBL will debut this summer featuring four franchises — Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York — conducting a six-week regular season followed by a two-week playoff series at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois.

America has been without a professional women’s baseball organization since the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League ended operations in 1954, but the WPBL aims to establish a permanent opportunity for women to pursue professional baseball careers. Such chances have been rare in the United States, where female players seeking opportunities beyond youth programs have typically needed to pursue unconventional routes, often competing alongside male athletes.

A San Diego native, Whitmore began her professional career in the Bay Area playing for a mixed-gender team, the Sonoma Stompers, in 2016. The 27-year-old athlete has captured two silver medals representing the United States at the Women’s Baseball World Cup and earned gold at the 2015 Pan-Am Games in Toronto.

Selected as the top overall pick by San Diego in the WPBL’s first draft, Whitmore has become accustomed to being the sole female player on most rosters and frequently envisioned competing alongside other women players.

With this vision now becoming reality, the expectation is that this league will establish opportunities that were unavailable to Whitmore and many of her contemporaries.

“A lot of us women have created the path and created it without knowing what that looked like,” Whitmore observed. “Now there is a path for them, and so these young girls have something to look forward to.”

Logan Wilson, the linebacker who played a pivotal role in Cincinnati’s historic Super Bowl run, has decided to hang up his cleats at age 29, announcing his retirement Wednesday.

The former Bengals standout was instrumental in the team’s journey to Super Bowl LVI during the 2021 season, where Cincinnati ultimately fell to the Los Angeles Rams.

In a heartfelt Instagram post, Wilson reflected on his professional journey. “When I look back on my career, I just feel grateful,” Wilson wrote on Instagram. “Not many Wyoming kids get the chance to live out their dream in the NFL, and I never took a single snap for granted.”

During his time with Cincinnati, Wilson achieved remarkable consistency, posting four consecutive seasons with over 100 tackles from 2021 through 2024. The team named him captain for the 2025 season before dealing him to Dallas partway through the campaign.

Cincinnati selected Wilson in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. His playoff performance in 2021 was exceptional, leading all postseason players with 39 tackles while also making a crucial interception.

Wilson fondly remembered his most memorable moments in professional football. “That 2021 playoff run was something special — the interception in Tennessee to send us to the AFC Championship, beating Kansas City to win the AFC, and taking the field in the Super Bowl,” Wilson said. “Those moments and that locker room are something I’ll carry with me forever. And the best part of all, my daughter was born there.”

In his final NFL season, Wilson accumulated 70 tackles across 15 games, dividing his time between Cincinnati (eight contests) and Dallas (seven games). He was notably inactive for Dallas during their Week 17 game against Washington.

The Cowboys released Wilson in February to create $6.5 million in salary cap relief.

Throughout his six-year professional career, Wilson compiled impressive statistics: 565 total tackles, 11 interceptions, and seven forced fumbles across 83 games with 66 starts.

During his college years at Wyoming, Wilson played alongside current Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. His collegiate career featured 10 interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns between 2016 and 2019.

Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle is celebrating one major benefit of his recent trade to the Denver Broncos: the chance to team up with longtime friend and former Alabama teammate Patrick Surtain II.

The two former Crimson Tide stars had frequently talked about joining forces on an NFL roster throughout their professional careers, especially after both became top-10 selections in the 2021 NFL Draft. Miami selected Waddle with the sixth overall pick, while Denver chose cornerback Surtain with the ninth selection.

On Wednesday, their dream became reality when Denver officially confirmed they had obtained Waddle and a 2026 fourth-round draft pick from Miami in exchange for three 2026 selections: a first-round pick, third-round pick, and fourth-round pick.

“It was special,” Waddle commented about discovering he would join Surtain, who earned 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors. “He was one of the first calls that I made. We talked about this earlier in our careers, we wanted to get together and play with each other. Just seeing it happen, it’s special.”

Their ongoing communication also provided Waddle with insights into Denver head coach Sean Payton’s coaching approach.

“Not too many details,” Waddle explained. “We kept in contact through the years when Coach Payton has been here. He’s been keeping me in the loop without even knowing.”

Waddle’s arrival provides Denver quarterback Bo Nix with an additional reliable receiving option. The Broncos already have two-time Pro Bowl receiver Courtland Sutton, who paced the team with 74 receptions, 1,017 receiving yards, and seven touchdown catches in 2025.

The 5-foot-10 Waddle hauled in 64 passes for 910 yards and six scores across 16 games last season with Miami. His contract runs through the 2028 season.

“I don’t think there are No. 1s, everyone is here to make plays and try to win,” Waddle said regarding Denver’s receiving corps. “That’s ultimately the goal for the team and for the organization.”

The 27-year-old Waddle has compiled 373 catches for 5,039 yards and 26 touchdowns over 78 career games (all starts) since joining the NFL. He surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in his first three professional seasons and set a career mark with 104 receptions during his 2021 rookie campaign.

Perhaps most appealing to Waddle is joining a franchise positioned to compete for consecutive AFC Championship Game appearances. Miami finished 7-10 last season and has entered a rebuilding period, removing them from championship discussions.

“It’s exciting, like I said, just playing with great players,” Waddle noted. “Everyone is talking about how great and close the team is. I’m excited to be around the guys, get to know them, and they get to know me and go from there.”

Cleveland has submitted a proposal that would extend the NFL’s draft pick trading window from three years to five years ahead, according to league announcements made Wednesday.

League officials revealed that just two franchises put forward rule change proposals for owner consideration during upcoming meetings this month. Pittsburgh offered the second proposal, focusing on player contact protocols during free agency negotiations.

Troy Vincent, an NFL executive, mentioned during last month’s scouting combine that no franchise had proposed eliminating the tush push, after Green Bay’s similar attempt failed by a narrow margin last year. Teams didn’t submit any other on-field rule modifications this season, though the competition committee plans to reveal its own proposed changes next week.

Rule modifications require approval from a minimum of 24 out of 32 franchises.

Cleveland’s proposal represents the more substantial change, seeking to expand the current three-year draft pick trading limit. For comparison, the NBA permits teams to trade picks up to seven years in advance.

Recent years have seen increased trading activity under a new generation of general managers, and this modification would facilitate even more deals. Six first-round selections from this year’s draft have already changed hands, including Denver’s recent trade to Miami for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.

Cleveland maintains that extending the trading window would stimulate market activity and provide teams with enhanced roster management options.

This season, the league tested allowing franchises up to five direct phone or video communications with players from other teams during the two-day negotiating window before free agency officially begins. Previously, teams could only contact player representatives during this period.

Pittsburgh wants this trial rule made permanent and also seeks permission for teams to arrange travel plans with players who have agreed to contract terms during negotiations, even before the league year officially starts.

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani showcased his pitching prowess Wednesday afternoon, delivering a blazing 99-mph fastball past Willy Adames for his opening strikeout of the day.

Despite limited mound time over the last two and a half years, the Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander showed no signs of rust during his spring training pitching return.

The dual-threat athlete dominated in his first mound appearance of the preseason, allowing just one hit while walking two and hitting one batter. He recorded four strikeouts across 4 1/3 innings without surrendering a run to the San Francisco Giants.

Ohtani’s pitch total reached 61, with 34 finding the strike zone.

“The stuff was really good — it’s going to get more crisp as he gets out there and gets regular pitching,” manager Dave Roberts said. “But, man, it was really good. He knows he only has a couple outings before the start of the season, so he was focused. To have him touch the fifth inning was a huge win for us.”

The star pitcher remained composed despite record-breaking heat in Arizona, needing only five pitches to navigate the opening frame as temperatures soared near 100 degrees at Camelback Ranch. During the second inning, he surrendered a leadoff double to Heliot Ramos but responded by retiring the next three batters, including strikeouts of Adames and Will Brennan.

“I was pretty happy with the pitch count today,” Ohtani said through an interpreter. “In terms of the next outing, I do want to be better at executing on two-strike counts. I just didn’t finish off hitters as much as I wanted.”

Before joining Team Japan for the World Baseball Classic in early March, Ohtani participated in live batting practice sessions with the Dodgers in Arizona. The four-time Most Valuable Player served exclusively as a designated hitter during the WBC but maintained his pitching routine through bullpen sessions.

Wednesday marked his first competitive mound appearance since Game 7 of the World Series on Nov. 1.

According to Roberts, Ohtani is scheduled for one additional preseason start next week ahead of the March 26 regular season opener.

The 31-year-old aims to complete his first full pitching campaign since 2022, when he posted a 15-9 record with a 2.33 ERA across 28 starts for the Los Angeles Angels. An elbow injury sustained late in 2023 sidelined him from pitching throughout the entire 2024 season.

Ohtani resumed his pitching duties during the middle portion of 2025, compiling a 2.87 ERA over 14 regular-season appearances. He contributed a 2-1 record with a 4.43 ERA during the postseason, supporting the Dodgers’ second consecutive World Series championship.

The versatile player opted against hitting Wednesday, concentrating solely on his pitching performance given the extreme temperatures. Roberts indicated Ohtani will likely serve as the team’s designated hitter Friday against the Padres.

“He’s already taken enough at-bats, so I don’t think the at-bats are a concern,” Roberts said.

Ohtani rejoined the Dodgers at Camelback Ranch following Japan’s quarterfinal elimination from the WBC. He batted 6-for-13 with three home runs for Japan during five tournament games.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — When Colin Dorgan celebrated his high school hockey team’s state championship victory following a grueling quadruple overtime battle, three empty seats in the Rhode Island arena served as a heartbreaking reminder of what was lost.

The team captain’s mother, brother, and grandfather were not there to witness one of his greatest athletic achievements — they had been gunned down during a previous game while watching Dorgan and his Blackstone Valley Co-op teammates compete on the ice.

The tragic incident shook the tight-knit hockey community to its core, leaving many to question if the season should even continue. But in the following weeks, Dorgan not only returned to lead his squad as captain, he played at such an elite level that he helped drive the team to Wednesday’s Division 2 boys’ state title, a thrilling 3-2 victory.

The squad’s remarkable journey has captured nationwide attention, particularly after Dorgan delivered a clutch game-winning goal during double overtime in a recent playoff matchup. That dramatic moment set up the championship showdown against Lincoln High School.

“It’s just a game for Lincoln High School and for everybody that’s coming here, but for us who lived through that shooting? It’s our lives. It’s a tragedy we all went through and are still healing from it,” Blackstone Valley head coach Chris Librizzi said, wiping away tears during an interview ahead of the game.

An energetic crowd packed the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, cheering, weeping, and sitting on edge through three regulation periods before Dorgan evened the score, setting up four heart-stopping overtime sessions. Eventually, Blackstone Valley’s Jaxon Boyes found the back of the net for the championship-clinching goal.

The dramatic conclusion provided much-needed emotional release for a squad that has battled grief and trauma for weeks.

Authorities have named Robert Dorgan as the gunman who fatally shot his ex-wife Rhonda Dorgan and son Aidan Dorgan on February 16 in the spectator area of the Pawtucket ice facility. Officials say the attack was deliberate. Colin Dorgan’s grandfather Gerald Dorgan also sustained gunshot wounds and later succumbed to his injuries, while two additional victims suffered serious wounds.

The terrifying assault ended when several witnesses tackled the gunman as panicked spectators evacuated the building. Robert Dorgan, who authorities say also used the names Roberta Esposito and Roberta Dorgano, eventually died from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot.

Librizzi, a former firefighter with over three decades of hockey coaching experience, wrestled with how to move forward after the tragedy. The squad took a break from competition, and the coach ensured all players attended 10 days of counseling sessions.

He also allowed each athlete to choose whether to return to the ice, while encouraging those who opted out to still support their teammates from the bench or stands.

After some initial uncertainty, every single player returned — including Dorgan, who needed the most time to make his decision.

“I sent Colin a text saying, ‘Bud, playoffs are this Friday night, it’s your call,” Librizzi said. “He didn’t respond all day, but at about 9 o’clock at night, he sent me a text saying, ‘Coach I’ll see you tomorrow at practice.’”

The healing journey has been far from smooth. Librizzi had to pause their first practice back multiple times as players struggled emotionally. There have been countless tears shed by the coach, family members, and even strangers following the team’s story from across the country. Questions about what comes next after the championship victory still linger.

Librizzi remains amazed by his players’ resilience and the overwhelming support from the hockey community during this difficult period. Volunteers sewed heart patches bearing the initials of the three victims onto the team’s uniforms, and many Rhode Island residents have placed hockey sticks outside their homes as a show of solidarity.

“We’re all still struggling with it,” Librizzi said. “We just need to be family with each other, we need to be supportive of each other moving forward and to heal from this.”

Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is reportedly clashing with team management over their desire to end his season early due to ongoing knee problems, according to Wednesday reports from multiple sources.

The 31-year-old forward is currently dealing with a hyperextended left knee and bone bruise, adding to what has been an injury-riddled campaign that has already forced him to miss a career-high 32 games.

Milwaukee sits at 28-40, trailing the Charlotte Hornets by 6 1/2 games for the Eastern Conference’s final play-in tournament position. The Hornets currently hold a 35-34 record.

With just 14 contests left on the schedule, the Bucks’ postseason aspirations appear increasingly unlikely. A continued slide down the standings would improve Milwaukee’s draft position for what many consider a talent-rich opening round of the 2026 NBA Draft.

Despite rejecting trade proposals for their franchise player, team officials believe shutting down Antetokounmpo would benefit both his long-term health and the organization’s future. However, sources indicate the two-time MVP wants to continue competing.

Head coach Doc Rivers announced Tuesday that recent medical scans showed no structural damage to the knee, with Antetokounmpo scheduled for another evaluation in seven days.

The Greek star previously missed 15 games with a calf injury before returning March 2nd, then sat out two additional contests during a stretch where Milwaukee went 2-6 overall and 0-2 without him. A left ankle sprain kept him out of the team’s 122-99 defeat to Atlanta on March 14th.

His current injury occurred during Sunday’s home win against Indiana when he landed awkwardly following a dunk attempt, forcing him to leave in the third quarter. He was subsequently ruled out for Tuesday’s 123-116 home loss to Cleveland.

This season, Milwaukee has struggled to an 11-21 record without the 10-time All-Star while going 17-19 in games he has played.

Through 36 appearances, Antetokounmpo is posting averages of 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists. This marks the fewest games he will play across his 13 seasons in Milwaukee, falling short of his previous low of 61 games during the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season.

Over his career, Antetokounmpo has compiled averages of 24.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists across 895 games with 830 starts.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Two former Alabama standouts are back together in the Mile High City as Jaylen Waddle and Pat Surtain II prepare for intense training camp battles with the Denver Broncos.

Following the completion of his trade from Miami to Denver, Waddle revealed Wednesday during a conference call that Surtain was among his first contacts.

“He was one of the first calls that I made,” Waddle explained. “We talked about this earlier in our careers, we wanted to get together and play with each other. Just seeing it happen, it’s special.”

Both players arrived at Alabama as part of the same 2018 recruiting class and spent three seasons together in Tuscaloosa, capturing a national title in 2020 before entering the NFL. Miami selected Waddle with the sixth overall pick in 2021, while Denver chose Surtain three spots later. The cornerback has since established himself among the league’s elite defenders.

Denver, the sole NFL franchise that hasn’t added an outside free agent this offseason, landed one of the fastest and most skilled receivers available through a major trade package that included three draft picks to Miami, featuring the 30th overall selection in next month’s draft.

According to Waddle, his former teammate kept details about the Broncos organization and head coach Sean Payton to himself during their recent discussions.

“Not too many details. (But) we kept in contact through the years when Coach Payton has been here,” Waddle noted. “He’s been keeping me in the loop without even knowing.”

While Waddle possesses the credentials of a top-tier receiver, he avoided claiming that designation for himself.

“I don’t think there are No. 1s,” he stated. “Everyone is here to make plays and try to win. That’s ultimately the goal for the team and for the organization.”

The addition of Waddle provides developing quarterback Bo Nix with another offensive weapon alongside Courtland Sutton, enhancing a passing attack that ranked 11th league-wide last season.

Waddle’s presence also creates Denver’s first legitimate top receiving tandem since Emmanuel Sanders joined the team in 2014 and partnered with the late Demaryius Thomas to help drive the franchise to a Super Bowl victory ten years ago.

Despite earning the AFC’s top seed last season, the Broncos fell to New England in a snowy AFC championship contest without Nix, who suffered an ankle fracture during their divisional round victory over Buffalo.

Waddle seems well-suited for a team culture that emphasizes character over ego, aligning with the philosophy emphasized by Payton, general manager George Paton, and owner Greg Penner regarding roster construction.

When asked about his aspirations for 2026, Waddle focused entirely on team success rather than individual achievements.

“I wouldn’t say nothing personal. I would say for the team, just take it week-by-week. Just try to go out there and play a good brand of football and try to stack some wins together,” he said.

The 27-year-old receiver represents the opposite of the stereotypical demanding wideout, reserving competitive fire for game situations while displaying modesty in interviews.

“I honestly think it was just the way I was brought up,” he reflected. “My mom and dad obviously tried to do a good job as best they could with keeping me not too high, but not too low. So just staying at a good head space.”

Though Waddle headlines a receiving corps that includes Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin, Pat Bryant, and Lil’Jordan Humphrey, he emphasized mutual learning opportunities.

“I’m excited to learn from them and for them to learn from me. It should be fun,” he said.

After posting three consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons to start his professional career, Waddle hasn’t reached that milestone since 2023.

“I don’t look at it as that standpoint of getting back to where I was,” Waddle explained. “I just look at it as a new opportunity to go out there with a new team in a great place, play along great talent and help out as best I can.”

Waddle plans to rely on Surtain’s guidance for community involvement opportunities, similar to his Miami work where he developed a close relationship with young cancer patient Rocco Passaro during his leukemia battle from 2022-23.

“I’m definitely going to get in the community and do something,” Waddle promised. “I know ‘PS2’ is going to help me find different things to get into. I know he does a lot of good things out here. Rocco is definitely someone that is special. We have a special a bond, and I think that’s just going to continue (no matter) where I play at. He has family in me on his side.”

MIAMI (AP) — Following record-breaking attendance figures and television ratings, the World Baseball Classic is scheduled to return in either 2029 or 2030, with the possibility of relocating the tournament to mid-season rather than its traditional spring training timeframe.

The WBC has taken place during spring training since its debut in 2006. Current tournament regulations include pitch count limitations, and teams maintain the authority to impose stricter restrictions or prevent their players from participating entirely.

“Obviously we have commitments to Fox in terms of the All-Star Game in the middle of the season through ’28,” baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said Wednesday during an interview with The Associated Press. “As the game continues to evolve, we have talked about midseason tournaments in general. And certainly if we decided to get serious about this, about a midseason tournament, this would be an ideal opportunity.”

The 2024 WBC attracted 1,619,839 spectators across 47 contests, representing a 24% jump from the previous record of 1,306,414 set in 2023. The inaugural 2006 tournament brought in 740,451 fans for 39 games.

Back in 2006, the highest-rated television broadcast featured Mexico defeating the United States in the second round, drawing 2.46 million viewers on ESPN.

This year’s most-watched contest through Sunday was Team USA’s semifinal triumph over the Dominican Republic, which attracted 7.37 million viewers on FS1 and Fox Deportes. This surpassed the previous peak of 5.2 million for the 2023 championship game on FS1, Fox Deportes and Fox Sports streaming platforms. Final viewership numbers for Tuesday’s championship have not been released.

“There’s no resemblance to where we started in 2006,” Manfred said. “This one, I feel like it went to a different level. We set an attendance record after the early play. By the time we got into the semis and the final it was all gravy.”

The dramatic moment when Shohei Ohtani struck out his then-Angels teammate Mike Trout to secure the final out of the 2023 WBC became a defining moment. A sport that originated in America during the 1800s required more than two centuries to develop a genuinely worldwide competition.

“The WBC is kind of a springboard for the rest of our international efforts,” Manfred said. “It gives you kind of a cornerstone to work from in terms of making long-term business relationships with sponsors, broadcasters and whatnot.”

Supporters from baseball-passionate nations including Japan, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela have followed the competition closely since it began. Japan leads with three championships, while the Dominican Republic and Venezuela have each captured one title.

Team USA also holds just one championship from 2017, despite fielding an All-Star lineup this year featuring captain Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper and Paul Skenes. Judge received his captaincy appointment last April, and his early participation commitment encouraged other elite players to join the roster.

Judge described the WBC audiences as “bigger and better than the World Series.” Italy’s surprising semifinal appearance this year generated baseball enthusiasm in a nation dominated by soccer, despite games beginning in the early morning hours.

“I just told the guys that they are the champions of this tournament,” Italy manager Francisco Cervelli said after the Azzurri were eliminated by Venezuela, the eventual champion. “They revolutionized Italy. They put another sport on the map.”

A mid-season tournament format would likely result in fewer superstars declining participation or being restricted by their clubs. Two-time American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal agreed with Detroit to make just one tournament appearance, leading to the United States starting 24-year-old rookie Nolan McLean in the championship game. Team USA fell 3-2 to Venezuela, which mounted a ninth-inning comeback against Garrett Whitlock to claim its first title.

Relief pitcher Mason Miller was kept out of action by manager Mark DeRosa, who had promised the San Diego Padres that Miller would only pitch in save situations.

“Certainly if it was moved to the middle of the season, I don’t think you would have any nos for competing in it,” DeRosa said.

Major League Baseball and the players’ union are currently discussing big league participation in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The six-team baseball competition, featuring the United States, Dominican Republic and Venezuela among others, would occur during an extended All-Star break. This Olympic event could influence the timing decision for the seventh WBC.

MLB and the players’ association hold equal ownership stakes representing the largest shares in the WBC, with Nippon Professional Baseball, the Korea Baseball Organization and the World Baseball Softball Confederation maintaining smaller portions.

“The issue for us is whether we do it in ’29 or in ’30, three years or four years? I’m getting a lot of email from people today saying don’t make us wait four more years for this,” Manfred said. “I do think a three- or four-year cycle is probably about right for the event. The timing is going to turn on what we do with respect to related sorts of international efforts. I remain optimistic about the Olympics and obviously if we play in the Olympics it’s a short time from July of ’28 ’till the spring of 29 and that’s something we’ll have to take into account. I’m not saying it’s outcome determinative, but it’s something we’ll have to think about.”

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley has transformed South Texas into the premier chess destination throughout the state. The university’s competitive chess program is now gearing up to defend their national championship title in collegiate chess competition.

The success of the university’s chess team has been instrumental in establishing the region’s reputation as a powerhouse in the strategic board game, elevating South Texas to become the state’s chess hub.

TAMPA, Fla. — New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole made his highly anticipated return to competitive pitching Wednesday, taking the mound for the first time in 377 days following Tommy John surgery.

The right-handed pitcher delivered a clean first inning against the Boston Red Sox in spring training action, throwing 10 total pitches with seven finding the strike zone. Cole’s fastball showed encouraging velocity, averaging 97.1 mph across six four-seam fastballs, with his hardest reaching 98.7 mph and his softest clocking 96.1 mph. He also mixed in two sliders and two knuckle-curve pitches.

The inning began with Braiden Ward bunting Cole’s opening pitch — a 96.6 mph fastball — down the right field line for a base hit as the pitcher attempted to make the defensive play. Ward advanced to second base on a steal but was later thrown out attempting to swipe third by Yankees catcher Austin Wells, with Kristian Campbell flying out in between.

Jason Delay managed to line a 1-2 fastball into left field for a single before Nathan Hickey ended the frame by grounding out on Cole’s first-pitch knuckle-curve.

Cole showcased a modified pitching motion, raising his hands above his head during his windup, and sported facial hair thanks to the Yankees’ relaxed grooming standards implemented last season.

The 35-year-old underwent the elbow reconstruction procedure on March 11 of last year under the care of renowned Los Angeles Dodgers team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache.

Cole’s most recent competitive appearance came during Game 5 of the 2024 World Series on October 30. The All-Star had participated in two spring training contests in 2025 before his surgery, with his final outing occurring on March 6.

His spring preparation began with a bullpen session on February 13, followed by his first live batting practice seven days later.

Yankees skipper Aaron Boone anticipates Cole will rejoin the regular season rotation sometime between late May and early June.

Cole’s 2024 campaign was also delayed, with his season opener pushed back to June 19 due to nerve inflammation and swelling in his pitching elbow. Despite the late start, he compiled an 8-5 record with a 3.41 ERA across 17 regular season starts and posted a 1-0 mark with a 2.17 ERA in five playoff appearances.

The veteran pitcher is currently working under a massive nine-year, $324 million deal that runs through 2028. Throughout his career with Pittsburgh (2013-17), Houston (2018-19), and New York (2020-present), Cole has accumulated a 153-80 record with a 3.18 ERA over 317 starts.

Marshall University has reversed its decision to cut the women’s swimming and diving program following a student-led legal challenge that raised questions about federal gender equity compliance.

The about-face was revealed Wednesday during a special Marshall Board of Governors meeting, just one week after team members filed suit to preserve their sport.

“Leadership is about making difficult decisions and tradeoffs, and sometimes those decisions are unpopular,” Marshall President Brad Smith stated during a press conference. “But leadership is also about having humility to listen, to learn, and to adjust course if new facts and information emerge. And that’s what we have done here.”

Swimming coach Ian Walsh expressed his admiration for the program participants, particularly the student-athletes. “How you’ve navigated the past month has been nothing short of exceptional,” Walsh commented.

The controversy began last month when Marshall announced it would discontinue swimming while adding stunt — a discipline combining cheerleading elements — to its women’s athletic offerings. Team members learned of the program’s termination just one day before their conference championship competition, ending what would have been a 23-year run.

During a February 17 presentation to the Marshall Board of Governors, Athletic Director Gerald Harrison outlined the swimming program’s $819,000 yearly budget and noted that current facilities fail to meet NCAA competitive standards. He explained the athletic department lacked resources to upgrade facilities and maintain the program long-term. The proposed stunt program, accommodating up to 65 student-athletes, would require approximately $320,000 annually, according to Smith.

Title IX mandates gender equality in educational settings and forbids sex-based discrimination in any federally funded educational program or activity. Universities can demonstrate compliance through various methods, including maintaining athletic participation rates that reflect the overall student body’s gender composition.

The swimmers’ legal action highlighted an independent assessment from last fall revealing Marshall’s difficulties in providing adequate Title IX athletic opportunities for female students. Smith referenced this audit Wednesday, explaining that cutting women’s swimming “could potentially place our university outside the safe harbor framework of Title IX.”

Smith acknowledged this information differed from earlier guidance the university had received. He noted that potential costs from extended litigation also influenced Wednesday’s reversal.

The university will proceed with plans to establish stunt as a varsity sport, Smith confirmed.

This situation reflects broader changes affecting college athletics nationwide, as increasing numbers of universities modify their sports programs amid significant shifts driven by a $2.8 billion NCAA settlement.

Two standout players from the University of Connecticut women’s basketball team have earned spots on the Associated Press All-America First Team, announced Wednesday, as the Huskies head into March Madness with a perfect record.

Sophomore forward Sarah Strong received every vote from the selection panel, making her a unanimous choice for the prestigious honor. This recognition adds to Strong’s growing collection of accolades this season, including her Tuesday selection alongside teammate Azzi Fudd to the U.S. Basketball Writers Association First Team. Strong has also been recognized as National Player of the Year by both The Athletic and ESPN.

Rounding out the first team alongside the UConn pair are Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes, Lauren Betts from UCLA, and Texas player Madison Booker. Both Blakes and Betts earned recognition from 29 of the 31 voting panel members.

The schools represented on the first team reflect tournament strength, with UConn, UCLA, and Texas all earning No. 1 seeds for the upcoming NCAA Tournament, while Vanderbilt secured a second seed position.

This marks the seventh time two teammates from head coach Geno Auriemma’s program have both earned first-team recognition. They represent the 10th overall pair of teammates to achieve this distinction and the first duo since Oregon’s Sabrina Ionescu and Ruthy Hebard accomplished the feat in 2020.

Strong’s statistical dominance becomes even more impressive considering her limited playing time. She posts 18.5 points per game despite averaging just 26.3 minutes on the court. With UConn’s commanding 38.4-point average margin of victory, Strong typically sits out fourth quarters.

Her shooting efficiency stands out with a 60.1% field goal percentage and 42.7% accuracy from beyond the three-point line. Strong paces the Huskies in scoring, rebounding, steals, and blocked shots while ranking second in assists. Her scoring consistency includes reaching double figures in 47 straight contests.

Graduate student Fudd has posted career-best numbers with 17.7 points per game across 28.2 minutes of action. Like her teammate, fourth-quarter minutes remain scarce for the guard due to the team’s dominant performances. Fudd leads the squad with 44.6% three-point shooting, ranking seventh nationally, while converting 95.1% of her free throw attempts.

Blakes becomes the first Vanderbilt player in more than two decades to earn AP All-America first-team status. The sophomore guard has collected five first-team All-American selections this season from various organizations, including The Athletic and ESPN.

Leading all Division I players with 27.0 points per game, Blakes has recorded 12 games with 30 or more points, tops in the nation. She stands as the only NCAA player averaging better than 4.0 assists, 2.9 steals, and 2.8 made three-pointers per contest while shooting 45.8% from the field.

Betts earns her second consecutive first-team selection, becoming UCLA’s first repeat honoree since the program’s initial first-team selection last season. The senior center contributes 18.5 points and 7.6 rebounds while shooting 56.2% from the field. Her 26.9-minute average reflects the Bruins’ 28.1-point average victory margin.

Booker also returns to the first team for the second straight year. The junior forward averages 18.9 points and 6.5 rebounds with 51.6% field goal shooting. She joined Strong and Betts as preseason AP All-Americans.

The second team includes Ohio State’s Jaloni Cambridge, Iowa State’s Audi Crooks, South Carolina’s Joyce Edwards, Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo, and TCU’s Olivia Miles.

Third-team selections feature Duke’s Toby Fournier, LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson, South Carolina’s Raven Johnson, Michigan’s Olivia Olson, and UCLA’s Kiki Rice.

Honorable mention recognition went to Oklahoma’s Raegan Beers, Navy’s Zanai Barnett-Gay, USC’s Jazzy Davidson, Richmond’s Maggie Doogan, LSU’s MiLaysia Fulwiley, Texas’s Rori Harmon, Iowa’s Ava Heiden, UCLA’s Gianna Kneepkens, North Dakota State’s Avery Koenen, South Carolina’s Ta’Niya Latson, Florida’s Liv McGill, Ole Miss’s Cotie McMahon, South Dakota State’s Brooklyn Meyer, Maryland’s Oluchi Okanawa, North Carolina State’s Khamil Pierre, TCU’s Marta Suarez, Kentucky’s Clara Strack, Columbia’s Riley Weiss, and LSU’s Mikaylah Williams.

Detroit Lions officials confirmed Wednesday they have brought aboard defensive end D.J. Wonnum as a free agent acquisition.

The 28-year-old pass rusher has agreed to a one-year contract with a maximum value of $6 million, sources indicate, though the Lions have not disclosed financial details.

During the previous season with Carolina, Wonnum appeared in 16 regular-season contests, earning starting assignments in 15 of those games. His statistical production included 42 total tackles, three quarterback sacks, four stops behind the line of scrimmage, four quarterback pressures, one picked-off pass and one fumble recovery. Wonnum also contributed five tackles as a starter in Carolina’s postseason appearance, which ended in a 34-31 defeat to Los Angeles in the NFC wild-card round.

Throughout his professional career spanning time with Minnesota from 2020-2023 and Carolina, Wonnum has accumulated 250 total tackles, 30 quarterback sacks, 32 tackles behind the line, 59 quarterback pressures, one interception, 15 pass breakups, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries across 86 regular-season appearances with 54 starts. One of those fumble recoveries resulted in a defensive touchdown.

The Vikings made Wonnum a fourth-round draft selection in 2020 after his collegiate career at South Carolina concluded.

The National Hockey League imposed a $5,000 penalty on Carolina Hurricanes player Seth Jarvis following a high-sticking violation against Columbus Blue Jackets’ Conor Garland during Tuesday evening’s matchup.

The violation took place with 2 minutes and 2 seconds elapsed in the final period, as Carolina found themselves down by three goals in what would become a 5-1 defeat in Columbus, Ohio.

This marked Jarvis’s second high-sticking infraction of the evening that resulted in a four-minute penalty and caused facial bleeding to a Blue Jackets player. Earlier in the opening period, he had similarly struck Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski, which led to a power-play score by Mason Marchment that put the Blue Jackets ahead 1-0.

The penalty issued by the NHL’s Player Safety division represents the highest amount permitted under the current collective bargaining agreement.

The 24-year-old Jarvis has accumulated 53 points this season through 28 goals and 25 assists across 59 games played. Prior to serving eight penalty minutes during Tuesday’s contest, he had only been assessed 13 penalty minutes throughout the entire season.

Miami Dolphins officials have notified interested teams that running back De’Von Achane will not be available for trade, according to an ESPN report released Wednesday.

The franchise has completely restructured its offensive roster during the offseason with new head coach Jeff Hafley and newly appointed general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan at the helm, moving on from established players including quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and receivers Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill through trades and releases.

However, the 24-year-old Achane, who will complete his rookie deal this upcoming season, has been exempted from the organizational shake-up, according to the report.

The running back is anticipated to serve as a central figure in Miami’s offense, working with newly acquired quarterback Malik Willis under the guidance of offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.

Selected in the third round of the 2023 draft, Achane achieved personal bests last season with 1,350 rushing yards, ranking fifth league-wide, along with eight rushing touchdowns while earning his inaugural Pro Bowl selection. His 5.7 yards per rushing attempt led all NFL players, and he contributed an additional 67 receptions for 488 receiving yards and four receiving scores across 16 starting appearances.

Throughout his professional career spanning 44 games with 36 starts, Achane has accumulated 4,334 total yards and 35 touchdowns. He has surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark on 10 occasions, with his standout performance coming as a rookie when he gained 203 yards and scored four touchdowns in Miami’s dominant 70-20 victory over Denver.

Venezuela has proclaimed Wednesday a national holiday after securing its inaugural World Baseball Classic championship, following a thrilling 3-2 triumph against the United States at Miami’s LoanDepot Park on Tuesday.

Acting President Delcy Rodriguez announced the nationwide work suspension on Wednesday, though essential service employees remained on duty.

Educational authorities released a statement confirming the cancellation of classes across the country in honor of the landmark victory.

The Venezuelan squad’s championship path featured a dramatic comeback win against defending titleholders Japan during the quarter-final round, followed by a solid performance defeating surprise semi-final contenders Italy, before ultimately prevailing over the U.S. team in front of an enthusiastic, predominantly Venezuelan crowd in Miami.

“We made history today; we made it happen,” store owner Elio Davila shared with Reuters during exuberant festivities featuring banners, whistles, horns, and salsa rhythms in a crowded plaza in central Caracas packed with hundreds of supporters.

The championship “is a source of national pride that will last forever,” remarked art student Yolanda Pantoja.

MIAMI — The manager of Venezuela’s national baseball team went to extraordinary lengths to secure his country’s first World Baseball Classic championship, successfully challenging restrictions imposed by Major League Baseball organizations.

MLB franchises typically impose strict guidelines on how their players can be utilized by national team managers during the WBC tournament. Venezuela’s skipper Omar López managed to convince several MLB front offices to remove their initial player usage constraints, while Team USA manager Mark DeRosa chose to honor such limitations.

This negotiation proved crucial as it enabled López to deploy Chicago Cubs reliever Daniel Palencia on consecutive nights and for the third appearance in a four-game span. Palencia struck out three consecutive batters to secure Venezuela’s 3-2 championship victory.

“I woke this morning, three text messages from different organizations trying not to pitch guys back to back,” López explained prior to Tuesday’s title game. “One of my strengths is talk, and I send my text back fighting for my guys and then set a phone call with everybody. When you talk and you get an agreement, you negotiate it, everything is going to go well.”

Following the successful negotiations, López expressed relief about his options.

“I have my guys tonight to go back to back if I need to, and that’s the most important thing,” he stated.

In contrast, DeRosa chose not to utilize Mason Miller, considered among baseball’s elite relievers, due to a commitment made to the San Diego Padres regarding usage only in save opportunities. The 27-year-old right-hander had rested Monday following a 22-pitch performance in Sunday’s ninth inning during a 2-1 victory against the Dominican Republic, where his fastball reached an average of 101 mph.

Following Bryce Harper’s two-run home run that evened the score at 2-2 in the eighth inning against Venezuela, DeRosa selected Boston’s Garrett Whitlock to begin the ninth frame. Whitlock issued a walk to Luis Arraez, and substitute runner Javier Sanoja successfully stole second base. Sanoja crossed home plate when Eugenio Suárez delivered a double to the left-center field gap on a full-count changeup.

“Honoring the Padres,” DeRosa explained regarding Miller’s absence from the game. “Had we taken the lead, he was coming in, but I wasn’t going to bring him in to a tie game.”

Since Team USA batted in the bottom half of each inning as the designated home team, no save opportunity could materialize once the ninth inning began with the score tied.

“I wanted to honor the fact that there was a situation there where, if it was tied, we were going to use Whitlock,” DeRosa said. “We had talked to the Red Sox about that. And if we had the lead, we were going to use Mason.”

The 26-year-old right-handed Palencia required only 13 pitches to complete a flawless ninth inning during Saturday’s 8-6 quarterfinal triumph over Japan, recording two strikeouts and concluding the contest by retiring Shohei Ohtani on a fly ball.

He delivered 15 additional pitches Sunday during a perfect top of the ninth that completed a 4-2 victory against Italy.

In the championship game against Team USA, Palencia needed merely 11 pitches, bringing his three-game total to 39 throws. He struck out Kyle Schwarber using a 98.5 mph four-seam fastball, generated a popup from pinch-hitter Gunnar Henderson, and delivered a 99.7 mph fastball past Roman Anthony for the championship-clinching strikeout.

Palencia’s fastball speed averaged 98.1 mph versus Team USA, a decrease from 99.3 mph against Italy and 98.8 mph against Japan, though it remained effective enough for victory.

Across the three contests, he threw 30 fastballs, seven sliders, and two splitters, achieving 26 strikes against 13 balls.

“With that fastball, it is not easy to have good control, but I train that with my coaches in Venezuela,” he commented during the tournament. “I trained like a sprinter because I learned that it is about velocity, the capability of the muscle to move.”

NOME, Alaska – Television personality Jessie Holmes has secured his second consecutive championship in Alaska’s demanding Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, completing the approximately 1,000-mile journey with his canine team.

Holmes and his sled dogs reached the finish line Tuesday evening in Nome, the historic Gold Rush community situated along the Bering Sea coast.

The challenging competition began March 8 in Willow, following a ceremonial launch the previous day in Anchorage. Participants navigated their teams through two mountain ranges, alongside the icy Yukon River, and over treacherous Bering Sea ice formations.

The former “Life Below Zero” cast member joins an exclusive group as only the third musher in the race’s 54-year existence to achieve consecutive victories after their initial championship. Susan Butcher accomplished this feat in 1986-1987, followed by Lance Mackey in 2007-2008, with both eventually claiming four total titles.

Speaking to The Associated Press prior to this year’s competition, Holmes described the race as his career’s most significant challenge. “That’s hard to put that on yourself because you got to live with that pressure every day,” Holmes explained. “And if I do not make it, it is going to absolutely crush me.”

His victory comes with an $80,000 prize, exceeding last year’s $57,000-plus payout. The increased purse resulted from financial backing by Norwegian billionaire Kjell Rokke, who competed in a newly established non-competitive amateur division. Rokke completed his journey Monday under special provisions allowing external assistance from a former champion, modified rest schedules, and dog substitutions.

Holmes made his Iditarod debut in 2018, earning rookie honors with a seventh-place showing. Across nine race appearances, he has achieved seven top-10 results and placed in the top five during his last five competitions.

His eight-season run on National Geographic’s “Life Below Zero” documented the challenges of remote Alaskan living. Television earnings enabled Holmes to acquire superior dogs and equipment, plus purchase undeveloped property near Denali National Park and Preserve. The carpenter has built his wilderness homestead, with his nearest neighbor residing roughly 30 miles away.

Rokke, currently residing in Switzerland, contributed $100,000 in additional prize funding and $170,000 to Alaska Native communities serving as race checkpoints. Fellow non-competitive participant Steve Curtis, a Canadian businessman, committed $50,000 toward village youth athletic programs, though he did not complete the course.

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the race’s primary opposition group, maintains that over 150 dogs have perished throughout Iditarod history. The organization called on Rokke to redirect his funding toward canine welfare rather than subjecting animals to “hazards and misery.”

Race officials have never released official fatality statistics for participating dogs.

This year’s competition saw one canine death – a four-year-old female named Charly from musher Mille Porsild’s team, according to Tuesday’s official statement. A necropsy examination will be performed.

Thirty-four competitive mushers began the race, matching the 1973 inaugural event for the second-smallest field in history. Veteran musher retirements and rising costs for essentials like dog food have contributed to reduced participation this decade.

Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov put on a spectacular show Tuesday night, recording three goals and two assists to lead the Lightning to a commanding 6-2 victory over Seattle in the opening game of their four-game road swing.

The Lightning received strong offensive contributions throughout their lineup, with Brandon Hagel contributing one goal and three assists, while Anthony Cirelli chipped in a goal and two assists. Gage Goncalves also found the scoresheet with a goal and an assist for Tampa Bay.

Between the pipes, Andrei Vasilevskiy turned away 16 shots to help the Lightning capture only their second victory in their past five contests.

Seattle’s scoring came from Bobby McMann and Jared McCann, but their brief two-game winning run came to an end. Kraken netminder Philipp Grubauer made 19 saves on 24 shots in the losing effort.

Wild 4, Blackhawks 3 (OT)

Minnesota’s Mats Zuccarello netted the game-winner 3:09 into overtime, while Marcus Johansson contributed a goal and two assists as the Wild defeated Chicago on the road to snap a three-game skid.

Brock Faber recorded three assists for Minnesota, which ended an 0-2-1 stretch. Ryan Hartman and Vladimir Tarasenko also tallied goals for the Wild, with Filip Gustavsson collecting 21 saves despite briefly leaving the game. The victory improved Minnesota to a perfect 3-0-0 record against Chicago this season, with all three matchups requiring extra time and producing identical final scores.

Chicago forced overtime when Frank Nazar scored with just 1:40 remaining in regulation. Nazar and Louis Crevier each recorded a goal and assist for the Blackhawks, while Ryan Greene also contributed a goal.

Sabres 2, Golden Knights 0

Buffalo goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped all 28 shots he faced to earn his first shutout of the campaign as the Sabres blanked Vegas on the road.

Josh Doan and Josh Norris provided the offense for Buffalo, which extended its impressive road record to 18-2-1 over their last 21 away games and captured their 10th victory in 11 contests since the Winter Olympics break. The shutout was Luukkonen’s eighth career clean sheet.

Golden Knights goalie Adin Hill, starting his fifth straight game after posting his first shutout of the season in his previous outing, made 23 saves on 24 shots. The loss ended Vegas’s two-game winning streak.

Blue Jackets 5, Hurricanes 1

Columbus forward Charlie Coyle registered a goal and three assists to power the hot Blue Jackets to their 10th consecutive game with at least one point, defeating Carolina at home.

Mason Marchment joined Coyle in scoring power-play goals during the opening period. Danton Heinen and Denton Mateychuk found the net 34 seconds apart in the second frame, while Mathieu Olivier added a third-period tally as Columbus improved to 6-0-4 in their last 10 outings. Adam Fantilli and Cole Sillinger each registered two assists, and Jet Greaves made 27 stops.

Carolina’s Andrei Svechnikov scored in the second period, with Brandon Bussi making 25 saves for the Eastern Conference leaders, who have dropped three of their past five games.

Islanders 3, Maple Leafs 1

New York’s Calum Ritchie scored a goal and added an assist as the visiting Islanders defeated Toronto.

Brayden Schenn and Emil Heineman also found the net for the Islanders, who have captured four of their last five games. Mathew Barzal distributed three assists, while Ilya Sorokin made 26 saves.

Steven Lorentz scored the lone goal for Toronto, which holds a 2-1-1 record over their past four contests. Joseph Woll stopped 31 shots in the loss.

Predators 4, Jets 3 (SO)

Nashville’s Ryan O’Reilly converted the only goal in the shootout to lift the Predators to victory in Winnipeg.

Filip Forsberg recorded a goal and assist for Nashville, which now stands 2-1-1 in their last four games. Erik Haula and Matthew Wood also scored, while Jonathan Marchessault collected two assists. Juuse Saros was outstanding with 36 saves.

Winnipeg’s Jonathan Toews forced overtime with a goal with 1:01 left in regulation after Connor Hellebuyck was pulled for an extra attacker. Gabriel Vilardi contributed a goal and assist, Josh Morrissey scored, and Kyle Connor recorded three assists for the Jets, who had their two-game home winning streak snapped. Hellebuyck finished with 20 saves.

Canadiens 3, Bruins 2 (OT)

Montreal’s Cole Caufield scored with just 22 seconds remaining in overtime to give the Canadiens a thrilling victory over visiting Boston.

Caufield, who reached the 40-goal milestone for the season, and Nick Suzuki each posted a goal and assist, while Josh Anderson also scored. Jakub Dobes made 26 saves for Montreal, which had dropped consecutive games entering the contest.

Pavel Zacha scored both Boston goals, including one on the power play. Jeremy Swayman stopped 28 shots as the Bruins played their fifth game out of six decided in overtime or shootout, going 2-1-3 in those contests.

Canucks 5, Panthers 2

Vancouver’s Marco Rossi contributed a goal and two assists in the Canucks’ victory over visiting Florida.

Elias Pettersson scored twice, Brock Boeser recorded three assists, and Kevin Lankinen made 21 saves for Vancouver, which has won two of its last three games. Aatu Raty and Drew O’Connor also scored for the Canucks.

Matthew Tkachuk had a goal and assist, Sam Bennett also scored, Carter Verhaeghe collected two assists, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 17 saves for Florida, which has lost consecutive games.

Oilers 5, Sharks 3

Edmonton’s Max Jones and Zach Hyman scored 3:23 apart early in the third period to help the Oilers secure a crucial victory over visiting San Jose.

Adam Henrique recorded two assists for Edmonton, which won its second straight game. Connor Murphy scored his first goal as an Oiler after being acquired before the trade deadline, while Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Vasily Podkolzin also tallied. Connor Ingram made 27 saves to improve to 4-0-1 in March.

Kiefer Sherwood and Dmitry Orlov each scored a goal and added an assist for San Jose, which fell seven points behind Edmonton in the standings. Pavol Regenda also scored, and Alex Nedeljkovic made 32 saves as the Sharks dropped their fifth game in seven outings.

Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put on a scoring clinic Tuesday night, dropping 40 points as the Thunder defeated Orlando 113-108 on the road.

With the victory, Oklahoma City secured their spot in the postseason, becoming the season’s first team to guarantee a playoff berth and extending their consecutive playoff appearances to three years.

Supporting Gilgeous-Alexander’s explosive performance, Chet Holmgren contributed 20 points while leading all players with 12 rebounds. Ajay Mitchell rounded out Oklahoma City’s double-digit scorers with 16 points.

Orlando received balanced scoring from their starting lineup, with all five starters reaching double figures. Paolo Banchero paced the Magic with 32 points and matched his teammate with 10 rebounds, while Desmond Bane chipped in 16 points.

The loss snapped Orlando’s impressive seven-game winning streak, as they’ve now fallen in consecutive contests.

Knicks 136, Pacers 110

Josh Hart delivered a career-defining performance, pouring in 33 points to power New York past visiting Indiana in dominant fashion.

Hart’s shooting display was nearly flawless, connecting on 12 of 13 field goal attempts and a perfect 5-for-5 from beyond the arc. The 33-point outburst marked the second-highest single-game total of Hart’s nine-season career. Despite sitting out the entire fourth quarter, Hart also grabbed seven rebounds and dished five assists as New York stretched their winning streak to four games. Karl-Anthony Towns delivered 22 points and 11 rebounds while Jose Alvarado added 16 points and 10 assists in double-double efforts for the Knicks.

Indiana’s struggles continued as T.J. McConnell managed 10 points and 10 assists in a double-double performance, while Jarace Walker led the team with 16 points. The defeat extended the Pacers’ franchise-worst losing streak to 14 games. Sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, Indiana previously endured a 13-game slide earlier this season.

Nuggets 124, 76ers 96

Christian Braun’s 22 points and Cameron Johnson’s 18 points powered Denver to a commanding home victory over an injury-depleted Philadelphia squad.

Aaron Gordon, Jamal Murray, and Bruce Brown each added 12 points, while Nikola Jokic orchestrated the offense with 14 assists for Denver, which controlled the game from start to finish and held a commanding 72-40 advantage at intermission.

MarJon Beauchamp topped Philadelphia’s scoring with 16 points as their two-game winning streak came to an end. The 76ers played without key contributors Joel Embiid (oblique injury), Kelly Oubre Jr. (elbow), and Tyrese Maxey (finger).

Spurs 132, Kings 104

Victor Wembanyama needed just 22 minutes to score 18 points, while Keldon Johnson provided 18 points off the bench as San Antonio dominated Sacramento from the opening tip.

Stephon Castle distributed a game-leading 12 assists and Luke Kornet hauled in a game-high 10 rebounds for the Spurs, who captured their 19th victory in 21 games to stay within three games of Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City. Former Sacramento players Harrison Barnes (16 points) and De’Aaron Fox (15 points) combined for 31 points as San Antonio completed a season series sweep.

Rookie Maxime Raynaud exploded for a season-best 32 points and team-leading nine rebounds for Sacramento, connecting on 13 of 25 field goal attempts. The Kings had previously won four of their last five contests.

Timberwolves 116, Suns 104

Julius Randle’s efficient 32-point performance on 10-of-17 shooting helped Minnesota pull away for a home victory over Phoenix.

Bones Hyland provided a 22-point spark off the bench for Minnesota, which rebounded from a 13-point road defeat to Oklahoma City in their previous outing. Ayo Dosunmu contributed 19 points while Jaden McDaniels added 16 points.

Phoenix received 34 points in 35 minutes from Devin Booker, but the Suns dropped their third consecutive game. Oso Ighodaro tallied 16 points and Collin Gillespie managed 12 points despite connecting on just four of 13 field goal attempts.

Hornets 136, Heat 106

LaMelo Ball recorded 30 points and 13 assists as Charlotte launched a seven-game homestand with an impressive victory over Miami.

Coby White’s 24 points and Kon Kneuppel’s 22 points provided additional offensive firepower for Charlotte (35-34), which returned home following a 2-2 road trip. Brandon Miller scored 16 points while Miles Bridges added 14 points.

Miami received 20 points from Tyler Herro and 17 points from Norman Powell, with Keshad Johnson contributing 15 points, Pelle Larsson adding 14 points, and Simone Fontecchio finishing with 10 points. The Heat (38-31) have now lost two straight following their seven-game winning streak.

Pistons 130, Wizards 117

Jalen Duren established a new career high with 36 points and secured 12 rebounds as visiting Detroit overcame star player Cade Cunningham’s early departure to defeat Washington.

Daniss Jenkins scored 15 points, Tobias Harris added 12 points, and Ronald Holland II contributed 11 points for Detroit, which handed Washington their 13th straight defeat. Cunningham left the contest midway through the first quarter with back spasms and did not return to action.

Washington’s Bub Carrington erupted for a season-high 30 points, including 21 in the fourth quarter alone. Carrington shot an impressive 12-for-16 from the field and tied his season high with six three-pointers made.

Cavaliers 123, Bucks 116

Evan Mobley posted 27 points and a season-high 15 rebounds, while James Harden added 27 points and six assists as Cleveland seized control in the final seven minutes to win at Milwaukee.

Cleveland scored eight consecutive points in a 70-second stretch during the fourth quarter to grab a 108-100 advantage, then closed out their 11th victory in 15 games since acquiring Harden.

Milwaukee received 25 points and 10 assists from Kevin Porter Jr., while Bobby Portis Jr., Ousmane Dieng, and Ryan Rollins each scored 19 points. The Bucks fell to 2-9 since February 27th.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a spectacular 40-point performance Tuesday night, powering the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 113-108 victory against the Orlando Magic on the road.

The win secured Oklahoma City’s third straight postseason berth, marking the first time any NBA team has clinched a playoff spot this season.

Chet Holmgren contributed significantly with 20 points and a game-leading 12 rebounds for the Thunder. Ajay Mitchell was the only other Oklahoma City player to reach double digits, finishing with 16 points.

Orlando saw all five of their starting players score in double figures, with Paolo Banchero leading the way with 32 points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Desmond Bane contributed 16 points to the Magic’s effort.

The loss marked consecutive defeats for Orlando following a seven-game winning streak.

Gilgeous-Alexander struggled offensively during the opening half, managing just 4-of-12 shooting from the floor. However, the reigning Most Valuable Player caught fire in the third quarter.

The star guard tied his season-high for points in a single quarter, pouring in 19 of Oklahoma City’s 34 third-quarter points.

Orlando held a 77-70 advantage with under five minutes remaining in the third period when the Thunder launched a decisive 15-2 surge to close the quarter and reclaim control. Gilgeous-Alexander contributed seven points during this crucial stretch while the Magic connected on just one of their final 10 field goal attempts in the frame.

Despite playing their second game in as many nights, the Magic refused to surrender easily.

Orlando responded with nine straight points early in the final quarter to regain the lead. Bane’s three-pointer with 8:21 left on the clock put the home team ahead 90-89.

Following a timeout, Oklahoma City countered with their own 8-0 scoring run, featuring five quick points from Mitchell before Isaiah Joe’s three-pointer extended the Thunder’s lead to 97-90.

The Magic pulled within three points with less than 3:30 on the clock before Gilgeous-Alexander took over to seal the victory.

After being held scoreless in the fourth quarter up to that point, Gilgeous-Alexander erupted for seven rapid points. During this offensive explosion, Alex Caruso added a layup following his own steal, helping the Thunder extend their advantage to 10 points.

The defending NBA Most Valuable Player recorded a season-low two assists but matched his season-best with four steals.

An unusual moment occurred with approximately four minutes left in the second quarter when Caruso’s shoe came off during a defensive play, which he then picked up.

Caruso moved over to defend Tristan de Silva’s drive toward the basket, reaching up with both his hand and his shoe to block de Silva’s shot attempt.

Officials awarded de Silva the basket and assessed Caruso a technical foul for the unconventional defensive play.

Venezuela secured its maiden World Baseball Classic championship Tuesday night, stunning the United States 3-2 in a nail-biting final that showcased the power of team chemistry and patriotic spirit.

The decisive moment came in the top of the ninth inning when Eugenio Suarez delivered a clutch double that brought home the winning run. Venezuela’s pitching staff dominated throughout the contest, holding the potent American batting order to just three hits en route to the historic victory.

“We’re not just teammates, we’re family,” Suarez explained following the triumph. “That’s why we play with passion, with love, because we feel the jersey. We feel our country in front of us.”

The championship capped off an incredible tournament journey for Venezuela, which included a dramatic comeback victory against defending champion Japan in the quarterfinals and another thrilling rally past surprise semifinalist Italy. The final took place before an enthusiastic crowd in Miami that heavily favored the Venezuelan squad.

“Our country right now, they are going to celebrate for about a week,” manager Omar Lopez declared during the medal presentation ceremony.

Lopez revealed the extensive preparation that went into Tuesday’s victory, describing how his coaching staff worked through the night after advancing past Italy to study their American opponents.

“We went back to floor number seven and we started to study USA until almost 3 in the morning so we could win tonight. And we did it.”

Venezuela appeared in control with a 2-0 advantage until Bryce Harper launched a massive 432-foot, two-run home run in the eighth inning off Venezuelan reliever Andres Machado to level the score.

However, the South Americans answered quickly. Suarez came through with his game-winning hit that scored Javier Sanoja in the ninth, and Daniel Palencia shut down the Americans in order during the bottom half to secure the championship.

The defeat marked another heartbreaking finish for Team USA, which has now lost in the World Baseball Classic final in back-to-back tournaments. The Americans captured the 2017 title before falling 3-2 to Japan in the 2023 championship game.

Tournament Most Valuable Player Maikel Garcia emphasized how significant this achievement was for Venezuela’s baseball-passionate population.

“I’m proud of this group, proud of this coaching staff and these players and proud to be representing 30 million Venezuelans back in my country,” Garcia stated through an interpreter. “Next time you do a ranking of baseball teams, Venezuela is number one.”

MIAMI — Venezuela made history Tuesday night, claiming its first World Baseball Classic championship with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Team USA in Miami.

The decisive moment came in the ninth inning when Eugenio Suarez connected on a clutch double that brought home the winning run, capping off Venezuela’s remarkable tournament run.

Daniel Palencia closed out the championship by retiring three straight batters in the bottom of the ninth, earning his second consecutive save and third of the tournament.

Tournament MVP Maikel Garcia, who knocked in Venezuela’s opening run with a sacrifice fly, helped lead his team to the historic triumph.

Team captain and catcher Salvador Perez expressed the significance of the victory for his homeland. “Every Venezuelan knows the effort we put in, and from where we come from,” Perez said. “Even in the smallest parts of Venezuela, people were supporting us. Even people watching on little black-and-white TVs, on their knees, supporting us. I just want to tell those people, ‘Thank you, from the bottom of my heart,’ for their support. We felt so much positivity. And even the ones who weren’t positive with us, I thank them for motivating us.”

The defeat marks the second straight final loss for Team USA, which also fell 3-2 to Japan in the 2023 championship game. The Americans previously won the Classic in 2017.

USA manager Mark DeRosa reflected on the heartbreaking loss when asked about potentially returning to manage the team again. “I would love to do it again. I would love to get over the finish line. Not only two times, but (losing) 3-2 each time,” DeRosa said.

“Why? Because if you saw how hurting those guys are in that locker room now, you’d know why. The tidal wave of emotion that this WBC has become. … It’s a special group to be a part of, and I’m proud of the way we represented the USA.”

Venezuela’s path to glory included defeating defending champion Japan in the quarterfinals and upset-minded Italy in the semifinals before taking down the United States.

“This is a moment of pride and it’s unforgettable,” Venezuela’s Luis Arraez said. “Getting this win makes me so proud because we’re dedicating this to our country, which really needs to feel this right now.”

“It’s amazing to do this especially in Miami. We got so much support from the people from Venezuela and a lot of Latin people here.”

Suarez’s championship-clinching hit came on a 3-2 changeup from Garrett Whitlock (0-1), sending the ball into the left-center gap with nobody out. The hit scored pinch-runner Javier Sanoja, who had entered after Arraez drew a leadoff walk and successfully stole second base.

“From the dugout, I was just making sure I supported my teammates and stayed ready,” Sanoja said. “My moment came and I was ready to steal that base. It was a pitch we felt we could run, and (Whitlock) made a slow delivery and I felt it was a perfect decision.”

Venezuela’s winning rally followed immediately after Bryce Harper’s massive 432-foot, two-run blast off reliever Andres Machado (1-0) had knotted the score at 2-2 in the eighth inning. Harper’s home run ended an impressive streak of more than 21 scoreless innings by Venezuelan relief pitchers.

“I knew he was going to have a moment,” DeRosa said of Harper. “That’s who he is. He has the ability to have big moments in big spots.”

“It hurts. We spent a special moment in my office after the game. I’ve watched him grow up in his career. I was just proud he was part of the team.”

Beyond Harper’s homer, Venezuela’s pitching staff limited the potent United States offense to just two total hits throughout the game.

Starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez dominated for Venezuela, allowing only one hit and one walk across 4 1/3 shutout innings while striking out four batters. Relievers Eduard Bazardo, Jose Butto and Angel Zerpa combined for 2 1/3 innings of one-hit relief work.

Venezuela opened the scoring in the third inning when Garcia’s sacrifice fly brought home Salvador Perez, who had led off the inning with a single.

The lead doubled to 2-0 in the fifth when Wilyer Abreu launched a 414-foot solo homer to center field off USA starter Nolan McLean.

McLean completed 4 2/3 innings for the Americans, surrendering two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out four.

MIAMI — Team USA captain Aaron Judge paced back and forth in the dugout Tuesday evening as Venezuelan players dropped to their knees in celebration, having just captured their nation’s inaugural World Baseball Classic championship.

The American squad, featuring a roster valued at $320 million, remained motionless on the field for several minutes before eventually making their exit.

Despite assembling their most talented lineup in the tournament’s history, the United States suffered its second consecutive championship game defeat after claiming the 2017 title.

Tuesday’s offensive struggles continued a concerning trend for Team USA, which managed only three hits in the final and scored just four runs across their last two tournament games. This performance fell far below expectations for a group of players who collectively hit 382 home runs and drove in 1,111 runs during the previous MLB season.

Following their 2023 championship game loss to Shohei Ohtani’s Japan squad, the Americans found themselves defeated once again, this time by a spirited Venezuelan team anchored by All-Stars Ronald Acuña Jr., Maikel Garcia and Luis Arraez.

Venezuelan southpaw Eduardo Rodríguez dominated the powerful American batting order with remarkable control Tuesday, earning applause from his teammates as he calmly walked off the mound in the fifth inning.

Rodríguez struck out four batters, including Judge twice — the U.S. captain finished 0 for 4 — while limiting the Americans to a single hit across 5 1/3 innings of work.

Venezuela’s relief pitchers continued the dominance, surrendering only two hits the rest of the way, though one was Bryce Harper’s game-tying two-run blast over the center field wall against Andrés Machado in the eighth inning.

The decisive moment came in the ninth when Arraez drew a walk off Garrett Whitlock to open the frame. Pinch-runner Javier Sanoja successfully stole second base, beating catcher Will Smith’s throw, then raced home on Eugenio Suárez’s clutch double. Suárez extended his arms skyward and pointed upward from second base as his teammates poured from the dugout to embrace Sanoja at home plate.

The heartbreaking conclusion mirrored the Americans’ 2023 championship game disappointment, when Ohtani struck out Mike Trout to secure Japan’s victory.

Team USA’s roster boasted players with more than 2,300 career home runs and 419 saves combined, including nine who have appeared in World Series competition.

However, the offensive explosion never materialized. The team posted a .250 batting average across seven tournament games while scoring 44 runs with 10 home runs and 40 RBIs.

Following the Americans’ 2-1 semifinal victory over the Dominican Republic, manager Mark DeRosa expressed hope that his team’s offensive breakthrough was still coming.

That anticipated eruption will now have to wait until the next tournament cycle in three years.

MIAMI — During batting practice before Tuesday night’s World Baseball Classic championship match between the United States and Venezuela, Pablo Cuerta experienced a moment of clarity.

No matter the outcome, he would emerge victorious.

Thousands of Venezuelan supporters packed the Miami stadium that evening, joined by thousands of American fans. Some attendees, like Cuerta who holds dual citizenship, found themselves supporting both nations. He wore Venezuela’s team jersey and cap while proudly displaying the American flag across his shoulders.

“I was born in Venezuela, and this country gave me the opportunity to come, to be a citizen,” explained Cuerta, who made the drive from his Orlando-area home to attend the tournament’s final days in Miami. “I appreciate both countries, you know. One, I was born in Venezuela. And two, this one gave me everything I’ve got. So, I’m proud to have both countries.”

The South American nation claimed a historic 3-2 victory, securing the WBC championship for the first time in the tournament’s history. Following the final out, loanDepot Park erupted in thunderous celebration. Despite technically being the visiting team, Venezuela’s players felt completely at home thanks to Miami’s heavily Latino crowd.

“This is a celebration for all of the Venezuelan country,” declared designated hitter Eugenio Suárez, whose ninth-inning double provided the winning run.

Venezuelan supporters maintained their strong presence throughout the competition, with all seven of their team’s WBC games taking place at the Miami Marlins’ home stadium. Despite ongoing political turmoil in their homeland — including the recent capture and imprisonment of former leader Nicolás Maduro on drug trafficking charges following a U.S. military operation — Venezuelan fans remained focused on celebrating their team’s achievements on American soil.

The pregame ceremony featuring both nations’ flags generated ear-splitting cheers that seemed to vibrate throughout the entire facility.

“Super emotional with Venezuela and being here for the championship game. This is beyond sport. It is well deserved,” stated Argenis Masiaf, a Miami local who decorated his face with Venezuelan flag colors. “We have lived through many difficult things inside our country. This is the moment for Venezuela to accomplish something so special and memorable.”

Throughout the tournament, Venezuela’s players and coaching staff deliberately steered clear of political discussions. They consistently emphasized their singular focus on baseball competition, with manager Omar López reinforcing this message before the championship game.

López did acknowledge the tournament’s profound significance for Venezuela, a baseball-obsessed South American nation with approximately 32 million residents.

“Together we are going to have better generations for our country, united with no color, political colors or ideology,” López stated. “We have people with double citizenship. … Baseball is one of the best tools or ways to educate a country. Discipline, dedication, determination.

“If you don’t believe in that, you should start believing. You have to believe in that. Thirty human beings today are going to unite Venezuela through a baseball game.”

His prediction proved accurate.

In Caracas, Venezuela’s capital and most populous city, the streets stood virtually deserted Tuesday evening as citizens remained glued to their televisions. Thousands gathered at a public square to watch collectively, many dancing and waving national flags while children joined the festivities.

“Long live Venezuela! Truly, I am very happy,” acting President Delcy Rodriguez declared following the victory. “I want, on behalf of our people and the government of Venezuela, to thank and embrace each one of our players.”

Celebrations continued long after the game concluded, with live music, flag-waving, and emotional fans — both in Caracas and Miami — marking the historic achievement.

“The USA is (the) best country in the world,” shouted Enrique Cabrera, a retired educator, over the massive celebration that transformed loanDepot Park’s right-field concourse into a human sea of revelers. “But Venezuela is the best at baseball.”

In a nation deeply fractured by political divisions, baseball serves as one of the rare activities capable of uniting citizens across generational and ideological lines.

Consider 75-year-old Miguel Blanco, who traveled approximately 43 miles to join fellow fans at Caracas’ public viewing area. After enduring a 12-hour power outage Monday, he refused to risk missing the game due to another blackout — a common occurrence in his region.

Meanwhile, 26-year-old Ashley Peña, a youth organizer in Caracas, described the game as providing essential relief for her fellow citizens.

“This is a moment for every Venezuelan to regain faith,” she observed. “Wherever we are in any country, we are all supporting the national team.”

Josh Rojas, a Utah student, arrived at the stadium three hours before the opening pitch to absorb the electric atmosphere. He sported “V” face paint on both cheeks while carrying a Venezuelan flag.

“Me and my family knew Venezuela would make a good run, so we came,” Rojas explained. “Man, it’s meant everything. I’m a Latino American, and it’s just making me more proud of my Latin heritage. It’s just awesome to see a whole country, a whole community come together to support this country through baseball.”

Jaci Douglas, a Pennsylvania medical student who admits she “hates” baseball, viewed Tuesday’s contest as something far more significant than sports.

“My mother is Venezuelan. I have in-laws who are Venezuelans,” Douglas said. “They’re all here tonight and they told me that if I miss this, I’d regret it. … It’s an event.”

Cuerta departed Venezuela eight years ago but understood the profound meaning of this WBC journey for his birth country even before Tuesday’s championship.

“When we’re born, that’s the first thing your parents do. Before they send you to school, they send you to the field,” Cuerta reflected. “That’s what they mean when they say it’s in our blood.”

In international baseball action, Venezuela secured its inaugural World Baseball Classic championship by defeating the United States 3-2 in the final matchup held in Miami.

Major NFL news broke as the Denver Broncos completed a significant trade to acquire Pro Bowl wide receiver Jaylen Waddle from the Miami Dolphins, according to sources familiar with the transaction who spoke anonymously to The Associated Press since the deal remains unofficial. Miami will receive Denver’s first-round selection (30th overall) in the upcoming draft, plus third and fourth-round picks. The Broncos get Waddle and a fourth-round pick from Miami. The addition gives quarterback Bo Nix another elite target alongside Courtland Sutton, enhancing an aerial attack that ranked 11th league-wide last season.

The World Anti-Doping Agency postponed its decision on potentially banning government officials from major sporting competitions when their nations refuse to pay required fees. Tuesday’s delay means any confrontation with President Donald Trump and other American officials won’t occur until after this summer’s World Cup concludes. WADA’s executive board announced it will revisit the proposed regulation in September, following the tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Should the rule pass later this year, it would likely take effect prior to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Iran’s diplomatic mission in Mexico indicated the country is discussing with FIFA the possibility of relocating Iran’s World Cup games from American venues to Mexican sites, following President Trump’s discouragement of the team’s participation due to security worries. FIFA maintains regular communication with Iran’s soccer federation but stated it won’t alter the match schedule released in December. Iranian leadership previously indicated FIFA and the U.S. bear responsibility for team safety during the tournament. When asked about the situation Tuesday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded, “We’ll see what FIFA decides.”

Duke’s Cameron Boozer earned unanimous selection to The Associated Press first-team All-America squad in college basketball. Joining the forward were fellow first-year players AJ Dybantsa from BYU and Arkansas’s Darius Acuff Jr., plus Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg and JT Toppin of Texas Tech. Purdue’s Braden Smith led the second team after earning first-team honors last season and honorable mention recognition in 2023-24. Gonzaga’s Graham Ike made the third team, improving from honorable mention status two seasons ago. Arizona placed two players on the honorable mention list with Jaden Bradley and Brayden Burries.

Howard University claimed its first NCAA Tournament victory in school history, defeating UMBC 86-83 in First Four action at Dayton, Ohio. Bryce Harris contributed 19 points and 14 rebounds, including a crucial turnaround shot with 13 seconds left that sealed the win. Ose Okojie led the Bison with a career-best 23 points as Howard overcame its previous 0-4 March Madness record and withstood a late UMBC comeback attempt. The 16th-seeded Bison advance to face top-ranked Michigan in Buffalo, New York, in the Midwest Region. The Retrievers got 19 points from Jah’Likah King and 17 from DJ Armstrong Jr.

Alabama basketball’s second-leading scorer Aden Holloway was found with 2.1 pounds of marijuana when authorities arrested him Monday on felony drug charges, court documents revealed Tuesday. The Crimson Tide has suspended Holloway indefinitely and removed him from team activities as they prepare for Friday’s NCAA Tournament matchup against Hofstra. Defense attorney Jason Neff didn’t immediately respond to AP requests for comment but told ESPN the case could require 18 months to navigate Alabama’s court system, potentially derailing Holloway’s collegiate and professional basketball prospects.

In a shocking reversal, appeals judges stripped Senegal of its Africa Cup of Nations title and declared Morocco the champion. The Confederation of African Football announced its appeals panel ruled Senegal “declared to have forfeited the Final,” converting their 1-0 extra-time victory into a 3-0 default loss. The controversial January 18 final in Rabat saw Senegal abandon the field for 15 minutes during stoppage time in protest, while spectators attempted to rush onto the pitch when Morocco received a penalty kick.

Two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani is set to make his spring training pitching debut Wednesday when the Los Angeles Dodgers face the San Francisco Giants in Glendale, Arizona. Manager Dave Roberts also announced Ohtani will serve as designated hitter Friday against the San Diego Padres as the four-time MVP prepares for the March 26 season opener. Ohtani recently rejoined the Dodgers at Camelback Ranch after Japan’s quarterfinal elimination from the World Baseball Classic, where he batted but didn’t pitch, though he did throw bullpen sessions.

Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl will miss the remainder of the NHL regular season due to what the team described as a lower-body injury. The German forward exited Sunday’s contest against Nashville after taking a hard hit from the Predators’ Ozzy Wiesblatt and couldn’t continue. Team officials haven’t specified the injury’s nature or whether Draisaitl might miss playoff time. The 30-year-old ranks fourth league-wide with 97 points across 65 games this season, having won the Hart Trophy as MVP in 2020 and finished runner-up last year.

The NFL Players Association has selected JC Tretter, a former union president who stepped away from his leadership position last summer, to serve as its new executive director following Tuesday’s election results.

The 35-year-old Tretter becomes the fifth person to hold the executive director position for the NFLPA. His victory came after the union evaluated over 300 potential candidates, with Tretter ultimately prevailing in a final three-candidate race against David White, who had been serving as interim executive director, and Tim Pernetti, the American Conference commissioner in the NCAA.

“There are times in your life when you know that you are exactly where you’re supposed to be. That’s where I am today,” Tretter said in a statement. “I’m grateful for the trust my fellow players have placed in me, and I’m going to reward that trust with my fullest commitment to these players and chart a new course for our union. My sole goal is to build up the strength of the NFLPA.”

“I understand the responsibility that comes with this role and how important it is to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with player leadership. This union has always played a critical role in shaping the game, and that work is as important now as it’s ever been. The NFLPA needs leadership that listens, leads with integrity, and puts players first every day. That’s exactly how I plan to lead.”

Union officials expressed strong support for their new leader, stating they have “confidence in the leadership” Tretter will provide to the players organization.

“This decision reflects the responsibility our Board of Player Representatives carries on behalf of every player,” the NFLPA said in its official statement. “We conducted a thorough, deliberate search to identify the right long-term leader to deliver sustained, meaningful progress for our members. JC earned the trust of our Board and demonstrated a clear commitment to serving this membership. We’re excited about what’s ahead.”

During his professional football career, Tretter played center for nine seasons, including four years with the Green Bay Packers from 2013 to 2016, followed by five seasons with the Cleveland Browns through 2021. He also earned a degree in labor relations from Cornell University.

The search for new permanent leadership became necessary when Lloyd Howell stepped down last summer following several controversies and ethical questions surrounding his tenure.

Multiple media investigations revealed that Howell had concealed important details of an arbitration decision from union members, maintained a problematic business relationship with The Carlyle Group—a private equity company authorized to buy minority stakes in NFL teams—and charged the union for expenses related to visits to adult entertainment establishments.

During the interim period with White leading the organization, Tretter had initially been considered a strong possibility for the permanent role before he departed his union position in July 2025.

During Tretter’s tenure as NFLPA president from 2020 to 2024, he led the selection process that brought Howell into the executive director role. Tretter’s involvement also came under scrutiny when his name surfaced in a “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast episode that exposed another arbitration decision that had been kept secret from players.

A formal complaint was filed against Tretter alleging he had advised players they could feign injuries as a strategy during contract discussions. Speaking to CBS Sports, Tretter acknowledged this was “a dumb tongue-in-cheek remark” that he regretted making.

“I don’t have any proof of this,” Tretter told CBS. “I think a lot of the attacks on me came from inside the building over the last six weeks. And I don’t want to walk inside that building anymore.”

At the time of his departure, Tretter clarified to CBS that he wasn’t leaving “in disgrace,” but felt he had been left vulnerable to criticism without adequate support from the union. Despite these challenges, he maintained sufficient player support to be considered for the top executive position.

Tretter played a significant role in negotiating the current collective bargaining agreement that was finalized with the league in 2020. He also spearheaded the development of the NFLPA’s yearly “team report cards,” which enable players to evaluate each franchise’s workplace standards, covering everything from training facilities and meal programs to how teams treat players’ family members.

Team ownership has criticized the public release of these evaluations, and recently, an arbitrator determined that the union’s distribution of the report cards breached the collective bargaining agreement by containing content deemed harmful to NFL teams and personnel.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell issued a statement acknowledging Tretter’s election victory.

“We have worked with JC for several years, first as union president when he helped the league and the NFLPA successfully navigate through COVID during the 2020 season,” Goodell said. “We look forward to building upon that relationship to further our shared priorities, including our commitment to advancing player health and safety and ensuring the global growth of our game for our fans, the players and our clubs.”

Milwaukee Bucks star player Giannis Antetokounmpo faces another week on the sidelines after medical tests confirmed he suffered a hyperextended left knee along with a bone bruise, according to ESPN’s Tuesday report.

The injury adds to what has become a challenging season for the two-time MVP, who has already been absent for a career-high 31 games due to various health issues. Team officials plan to reassess his condition after seven days.

Head coach Doc Rivers provided some encouraging news, stating that recent medical scans showed no serious structural problems with the knee.

“The good news was it was really a good image. There was no damage,” Rivers said.

Despite the setbacks, the 31-year-old forward continues to put up impressive numbers when healthy, posting averages of 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists across 36 appearances this season. However, he’s on track to play fewer games than any of his 13 seasons with Milwaukee, falling short of his previous low of 61 games during the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season.

Antetokounmpo had just returned to action on March 2 following a 15-game absence caused by a right calf strain. During a recent eight-game stretch where Milwaukee went 2-6, he was forced to miss two additional contests, and the team went 0-2 in games without their star player.

His most recent absence came during the team’s 122-99 defeat against the Atlanta Hawks on March 14, when he was ruled out due to a left ankle sprain.

The struggling Bucks currently hold a 28-39 record and trail the Charlotte Hornets by 5.5 games for the Eastern Conference’s final play-in tournament position. Charlotte sits at 34-34.

Throughout his career, the 10-time All-Star has maintained averages of 24.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 5.0 assists over 895 games, starting 830 of those contests.

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Two-way baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani will take the mound Wednesday for his inaugural spring training pitching performance with the Los Angeles Dodgers as they face off against the San Francisco Giants.

Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts announced Tuesday that the Japanese sensation will also serve as designated hitter during Friday’s matchup with the San Diego Padres, as the dual-threat player prepares for the March 26 season opener.

The four-time MVP recently rejoined the Dodgers at Camelback Ranch following Japan’s quarterfinal exit from the World Baseball Classic. While Ohtani didn’t take the mound for his national team during the tournament, he maintained his pitching form through bullpen work.

“I think three to four (innings) is fair for tomorrow,” Roberts explained. “It’s more of just doing what we can with what we have left to get him ready for the season. He did his part when he was with Team Japan and now you’re putting him in against real competition, build him up there, and try to get as much buildup before the season starts.”

According to Roberts, the team plans to have Ohtani pitch in one additional exhibition contest against the Los Angeles Angels on March 23 or 24.

This timeline suggests the right-handed pitcher likely won’t make his regular season debut until the Dodgers’ second series when they meet the Cleveland Guardians.

Last season, Ohtani posted a 2.87 ERA across 14 regular season starts following his comeback from elbow surgery. During the playoffs, he compiled a 2-1 record with a 4.43 ERA while contributing to the Dodgers’ consecutive World Series championship.

New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes is demanding the Hockey Hall of Fame give back the puck from his overtime goal that clinched Olympic gold for Team USA, according to a Tuesday report from ESPN.

The historic puck, which delivered America’s first men’s Olympic hockey championship since the 1980 Miracle on Ice, currently sits in a display case at the Toronto museum. It’s featured in the Hall of Fame’s “Olympics ’26” exhibition next to the puck from Megan Keller’s overtime game-winner that secured gold for the U.S. women’s squad.

“I’m trying to get it. Like, that’s bulls — that the Hockey Hall of Fame has it, in my opinion. Why would they have that puck?” Hughes said during his ESPN interview Tuesday.

The 23-year-old center expressed frustration that both he and Keller are missing these precious mementos from their career-defining moments. Hughes revealed his plan to present the puck to his father, Jim Hughes, who maintains a memorabilia collection for Jack and his hockey-playing brothers.

Hall of Fame officials defended their possession of the items, stating the donated artifacts capture pivotal moments in hockey’s history and serve to preserve these memories for future museum visitors.

A representative from the International Ice Hockey Federation previously explained to Sportico that officials collected Hughes’s puck immediately following the championship game, with plans to archive it permanently at the Hall of Fame.

Both the Hockey Hall of Fame and USA Hockey have yet to respond to requests for additional comment regarding Hughes’s demands.

Alabama basketball guard Aden Holloway was taken into custody Monday after law enforcement officers discovered more than two pounds of marijuana during a search of his residence, according to ESPN reporting based on court documents filed Tuesday.

The 21-year-old junior now faces serious felony drug charges just four days ahead of Alabama’s first NCAA Tournament matchup against 13th-seeded Hofstra scheduled for Friday in Tampa, Florida. The Crimson Tide earned the fourth seed in the Midwest Region bracket.

University officials announced Monday evening that Holloway has been “removed from campus” and will not travel with the basketball team while an investigation proceeds.

The cannabis seized during the search weighed nearly one kilogram at 2.1 pounds, falling just 0.1 pounds below Alabama’s threshold for drug trafficking charges, which begin at 2.2 pounds.

According to ESPN’s report, investigators found marijuana scattered throughout multiple areas of the residence, including inside a backpack, luggage, within a television entertainment center, and stored in a bedroom dresser drawer. Officers also seized cash, unprescribed sedative medication, drug paraphernalia for rolling, and materials used for packaging.

During questioning, Holloway told authorities he “only smokes” the substance and does not engage in selling drugs, ESPN reported.

The junior guard was formally charged with first-degree marijuana possession not intended for personal use, classified as a Class C felony in Alabama. Additionally, he received charges for failing to affix a required tax stamp, which represents a second felony count. After posting $5,000 bond, Holloway was released from custody Monday morning.

The tax stamp violation stems from Alabama law requiring individuals who distribute, sell, or transfer controlled substances to pay specific taxes on those transactions.

Each felony count carries potential penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment and $15,000 in fines if Holloway is ultimately convicted.

Head coach Nate Oats discussed the situation during his Monday evening radio program.

“We’re certainly disappointed in his behavior. But that being said, we still love him, he’s still our guy,” Oats stated. “We’re helping him get the help that he needs and we’re going to continue to help him whatever way we can. But as far as our team goes, I thought we had a great practice. We’re preparing to play without him this weekend.”

During the final week leading up to March Madness, BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa exploded for 40 points in his Big 12 Tournament debut, surpassing a single-game freshman scoring record previously held by NBA legend Kevin Durant.

“I’m just trying to win games,” Dybantsa said afterward.

Meanwhile, by Selection Sunday, Darius Acuff Jr. had powered through a dominant three-game stretch in the Southeastern Conference Tournament, delivering Arkansas its first conference title in over two decades.

“Downhill was working all weekend and today,” he said.

This exceptional freshman class, packed with future NBA talent, has consistently made remarkable performances appear effortless throughout the season — creating such buzz that NBA executives worry about teams deliberately losing games to improve their draft positioning for June.

Featuring headliners like Dybantsa, Acuff, Duke’s Cameron Boozer, and Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, this potential draft class ranks among the most talent-rich in recent memory, assuming all pursue the anticipated one-and-done path.

These standout players have now reached college basketball’s premier showcase event. March Madness has transformed into a freshman showcase, potentially extending all the way to the Final Four in Indianapolis.

“I know most of those guys. They’re all having great years,” Acuff commented during his SEC Tournament run. “They’re playing special. It’s great to see all the young guys playing great.”

The East Region features top overall tournament seed Duke, anchored by the imposing 6-foot-10, 250-pound Boozer, who contributes 22.5 points and 10.2 rebounds while spearheading a devastating offensive attack.

The East also showcases Peterson, a potential top overall draft selection — the 6-6 guard has maintained a 19.8-point average despite missing time throughout the season for the fourth-seeded Jayhawks. Additionally, sixth-seeded Louisville features potential top-10 talent in 6-5 guard Mikel Brown Jr.

The West Region highlights the 6-foot-9 Dybantsa, who has strengthened his position as the longtime frontrunner for the NBA draft’s first overall pick while leading the nation with 25.3 points per game for the sixth-seeded Cougars. Acuff joins him there — the 6-3 point guard recently established an SEC Tournament scoring record by averaging 30.3 points while dominating wherever he chose to attack, playing 117 of 120 possible minutes for the fourth-seeded Razorbacks.

West Region leader Arizona features its own promising NBA freshman prospects: 6-4 guard Brayden Burries (15.9 points) and 6-8 forward Koa Peat (13.6 points).

South Region second seed Houston is guided by 6-4 guard Kingston Flemings (16.4 points), while third-seeded Illinois discovered a star in four-star recruit Keaton Wagler — a 6-6 guard leading the team with 17.9 points per game.

The Midwest Region includes sixth-seeded Tennessee’s lean 6-10 forward Nate Ament, who has posted 20.3 points per game since mid-January while coach Rick Barnes has praised his improvement in physical situations.

The tournament’s freshman talent could have been even more impressive if South sixth seed North Carolina hadn’t lost 6-foot-10 freshman Caleb Wilson (19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds) to a season-ending thumb injury in early March.

Tuesday’s Associated Press All-America team announcements highlighted the freshman dominance. Boozer earned unanimous first-team recognition, joining Dybantsa and Acuff in the elite top five. Wagler and Wilson received second-team honors, while Flemings made the third team.

“You knew they were extremely talented, but you just never know how they’re going to adjust moving to this level,” Tar Heels coach Hubert Davis observed about the freshman class. “I know a lot of people think going from high school to playing at this level, the transition is easy. It is not.”

However, freshmen have made the adjustment appear seamless throughout the season, extending well beyond the high-profile professional prospects.

Currently, 24 freshmen are averaging at least 16.0 points according to Tuesday’s NCAA leaderboard statistics. This represents nearly triple the annual average from the 2011-12 season through last year (8.8), with no season during that period producing more than 15 players reaching that benchmark.

These numbers had been particularly suppressed in recent years, as college basketball aged with players who competed during the COVID-19 pandemic utilizing extra eligibility to extend their careers to five seasons. During that period, only 17 freshmen achieved the 16-point threshold across the previous three seasons combined.

This season, freshmen have produced 10 games of 40 or more points, compared to just seven such performances in the previous seven seasons combined.

Acuff topped that list with 49 points in a double-overtime defeat at Alabama, while Wagler exploded for 46 against eventual Big Ten champion Purdue. Louisville’s Brown scored 45 against N.C. State, breaking the Atlantic Coast Conference freshman single-game record previously held by last year’s top NBA draft pick, Duke’s Cooper Flagg. Flemings contributed 42 points against NCAA Tournament participant Texas Tech.

Dybantsa accomplished the feat twice, first scoring 43 against Utah in January before last week’s 40-point performance against Kansas State. He subsequently shattered Durant’s overall Big 12 Tournament scoring record despite a loss to Houston.

“I coached six years in the NBA,” Cougars coach Kelvin Sampson explained. “So I sat on the front of that bench and watched everybody from Allen Iverson to Rip Hamilton, to LeBron, Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, Dubinski, Jason Kidd, all of those guys.

“You know, some of them just have the bucket gene. I don’t think you can teach that. For us, we have to recruit it. For the NBA, they have to draft it. … But Dybantsa has got the gene.”

ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla believes this freshman-dominated draft class could rank as the strongest since the 2003 group that featured LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade among the top five selections.

“If you don’t get a top-3 pick, there’s going to be a lot of consolation prizes for the tankers right down to probably 8 or 9 or 10,” he said. “That’s a good thing.”

Fraschilla ranks Dybantsa, Boozer and Peterson as his premier prospects, while Acuff — whose potential he compares to NBA star Damian Lillard — along with Wilson and Flemings form the next tier of a top group expected to provide “instant production” professionally.

He also believes Burries and Brown could develop into all-star caliber players, and he’s optimistic about Ament’s long-term potential as he builds strength to handle physical play.

Fraschilla estimates most NBA teams have completed “75% of the way home” in their draft prospect evaluations, though he notes: “There are still guys that can help themselves.”

“A piece of it is the NCAA Tournament, a piece of it will be interviews and background, a piece of it might be talking to these kids at the combine,” Fraschilla explained. “Here’s the way I’d put it: the NCAA Tournament is like getting an extra-credit question on your final exam. … You can go from a B to an A.”

Perhaps that’s true, but this freshman class appears to have earned Dean’s List recognition long ago.

EDMONTON, Alberta — The Edmonton Oilers announced Tuesday that superstar Leon Draisaitl will be sidelined for the remainder of the NHL regular season due to a lower-body injury, forcing the two-time defending Western Conference champions to battle for playoff positioning without one of hockey’s premier talents.

Draisaitl will be unavailable for Edmonton’s final 14 regular season contests, which conclude on April 16.

Team officials have not disclosed the specific nature of the injury or indicated whether the German forward might return in time for playoff action, which is scheduled to begin during the April 18-19 weekend.

The injury occurred during Sunday’s matchup against the Nashville Predators when Draisaitl took a hard hit from Nashville’s Ozzy Wiesblatt in the opening period. He was unable to continue playing after the collision.

Following their victory over Nashville, Edmonton currently holds third place in the Pacific Division standings, trailing Vegas by one point and Anaheim by two points, although both the Golden Knights and Ducks have played one fewer game.

The 30-year-old Draisaitl has been instrumental in Edmonton’s playoff push this season. He currently sits fourth league-wide in scoring with 97 points across 65 games, ranking second on his team behind only Connor McDavid, who leads the NHL with 114 points.

Draisaitl captured the Hart Trophy as the league’s Most Valuable Player in 2020 and finished as runner-up for the award last season. He recently represented Germany at the Olympics, leading his national team in scoring with seven points over five games.

Draisaitl joins Toronto’s Auston Matthews as the second high-profile NHL player ruled out for the regular season’s remainder, with Matthews sidelined by a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee.

Paralympic champion Oksana Masters has returned from Italy carrying five new para Nordic skiing medals, further cementing her position as the United States’ most successful Winter Paralympic competitor in history.

The remarkable athlete now holds 24 Paralympic medals total from both summer and winter competitions, with 14 of those being gold medals. Her latest achievements in Italy add to an already impressive collection that spans multiple sports and seasons.

Masters competes in both summer and winter Paralympic events, demonstrating exceptional versatility across different athletic disciplines. Looking ahead, she has already set her sights on the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics, continuing her competitive journey on home soil.

Despite her extraordinary medal count and record-breaking achievements, Masters prefers to focus conversations on the setbacks and defeats she has experienced throughout her career, viewing these moments as equally important to her athletic story.

Her success in Italy reinforces her dominance in winter Paralympic sports while highlighting her ongoing commitment to excellence as she prepares for future competitions.

Veteran offensive lineman Wyatt Teller has signed a two-year contract worth $16 million with the Houston Texans, according to Tuesday reports from NFL Network.

The agreement includes performance-based incentives that could boost the total value to $23 million, sources indicate.

The 31-year-old guard appeared in 13 games last season for Cleveland, starting each contest. Throughout his NFL career spanning stops with Buffalo (2018) and Cleveland (2019-25), Teller has started 101 of his 109 total appearances. His stellar play earned him three consecutive Pro Bowl selections between 2021 and 2023.

Houston general manager Nick Caserio had initially pursued Elgton Jenkins according to the Houston Chronicle, but the Browns secured the two-time Pro Bowl left guard with a two-year, $24 million deal on March 10.

Eastern Michigan University has selected Billy Donlon, a current assistant coach at Clemson, to become their new men’s basketball head coach, according to a CBS Sports report released Tuesday.

The announcement follows the university’s decision to dismiss head coach Stan Heath on March 8th.

The 49-year-old Donlon will inherit a program that struggled during the recent season, posting a 10-21 overall record and going 4-14 in Mid-American Conference play.

Donlon brings substantial head coaching experience to the position. He compiled a 109-94 record while leading Wright State from 2010 through 2016, then worked as an assistant coach under John Beilein at Michigan and Chris Collins at Northwestern. In 2019, he returned to head coaching at Kansas City, where he achieved a 49-39 record across three seasons.

Most recently, Donlon joined Brad Brownell’s coaching staff at Clemson prior to the 2022 season.

The departing Heath, a Detroit native who played for Eastern Michigan, compiled a 57-99 record during his tenure with his former school.

First-year college basketball players made history Tuesday when three freshmen earned spots on the Associated Press All-America first team, with Duke’s Cameron Boozer, BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, and Arkansas’s Darius Acuff Jr. receiving the prestigious honor.

Rounding out the top five selections were Michigan senior Yaxel Lendeborg and Texas Tech junior JT Toppin.

Boozer achieved unanimous recognition, appearing on all 61 voting ballots. This marks the second consecutive year a Duke freshman has earned universal acclaim, following Cooper Flagg’s perfect selection last season. Dybantsa garnered 57 first-team votes while Acuff secured 47.

The Blue Devils, led by Boozer’s stellar play, captured both the Atlantic Coast Conference regular season championship and tournament crown, earning them the top overall seed in March Madness. Boozer has posted impressive numbers with 22.5 points and 10.2 rebounds per contest.

Dybantsa tops the nation’s scoring charts at 25.3 points per game while contributing 6.7 rebounds. His selection makes him just the third BYU player to earn first-team honors, joining Danny Ainge and Jimmer Fredette. The Cougars enter the tournament as a sixth seed.

Arkansas hasn’t celebrated a first-team All-American since Sidney Moncrief claimed the distinction in 1978-79. Acuff has delivered 22.9 points and 6.5 assists per game for the fourth-seeded Razorbacks.

Lendeborg has helped propel Michigan to a No. 1 tournament seed, becoming the first Wolverines player to earn first-team recognition since Trey Burke accomplished the feat in 2012-13. He contributes 14.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.

Toppin earned second-team All-America honors last year when Texas Tech advanced to the Elite Eight. Now the program’s first-ever first-team selection, he unfortunately suffered a torn right ACL and will miss the tournament despite averaging 21.8 points and 10.8 rebounds across 25 games for the fifth-seeded Red Raiders.

The second team features Purdue’s Braden Smith, Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr., Illinois’s Keaton Wagler, Iowa State’s Joshua Jefferson, and North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson.

Third-team selections include Gonzaga’s Graham Ike, Houston’s Kingston Flemings, Texas Tech’s Christian Anderson, Alabama’s Labaron Philon Jr., and Florida’s Thomas Haugh.

Honorable mention recognition went to Arizona’s Jaden Bradley and Brayden Burries, Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz, Kansas’s Darryn Peterson, St. John’s Zuby Ejiofor, Florida’s Rueben Chinyelu, Ohio State’s Bruce Thornton, Butler’s Michael Ajayi, Kansas State’s P.J. Haggerty, Stanford’s Ebuka Okorie, and Vanderbilt’s Tyler Tanner.

Multiple media sources confirmed Tuesday that the Philadelphia Eagles have secured wide receiver Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown on a one-year deal.

Brown’s arrival comes amid speculation surrounding the potential exit of fellow receiver A.J. Brown, creating an interesting situation where one Brown may replace another. While the Eagles retain DeVonta Smith, their receiving corps lacks significant depth beyond Jahan Dotson, recovering player Johnny Wilson, and Darius Cooper.

Last season with the Kansas City Chiefs, the 28-year-old Brown hauled in 49 receptions for 587 yards and found the end zone five times across 16 games, starting six of those contests.

According to NFL Network, Brown’s Philadelphia contract carries a maximum value of $6.5 million.

Throughout his professional career spanning 90 games with 72 starts, Brown has accumulated 371 receptions for 4,322 yards and 33 touchdowns. His journey began when Baltimore selected him 25th overall in the 2019 draft, followed by stints with the Ravens through 2021, the Arizona Cardinals from 2022-23, and most recently Kansas City in 2024-25.

Denver has completed a significant trade with Miami, bringing in wide receiver Jayden Waddle along with a fourth-round draft selection in exchange for first-, third-, and fourth-round picks, according to ESPN’s Tuesday report.

This move provides Broncos quarterback Bo Nix with an additional elite receiving threat to complement two-time Pro Bowl wideout Courtland Sutton. During the previous season, Sutton topped Denver’s receiving statistics with 74 receptions, 1,017 yards, and seven touchdown catches.

The trade leaves Miami with seven total selections within the opening three rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft, including the 30th overall first-round pick they received from Denver.

The 27-year-old Waddle hauled in 64 passes for 910 yards and six scores across 16 starts last season while playing for the rebuilding Miami franchise. His contract carries $68.6 million remaining over the next three years.

Throughout his professional career since Miami selected him sixth overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, Waddle has accumulated 373 catches for 5,039 yards and 26 touchdowns across 78 games, all as a starter.

Denver has completed a major trade with Miami, landing veteran wide receiver Jaylen Waddle in exchange for multiple draft selections, according to a source familiar with the transaction who spoke to The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The source requested anonymity since the teams have not yet made an official announcement. Miami will receive Denver’s first-round selection (30th overall) in the upcoming NFL draft, plus third and fourth-round picks. The Broncos will get Waddle and a fourth-round selection from the Dolphins.

The addition of Waddle provides quarterback Bo Nix with another elite receiving option alongside Courtland Sutton, strengthening an aerial attack that ranked 11th league-wide during the previous campaign.

Denver earned the top seed in the AFC last season but fell to New England in the conference championship after losing Nix to an ankle injury suffered during their divisional playoff victory over Buffalo.

Selected in the first round during 2021, Waddle posted three consecutive 1,000-yard receiving campaigns to start his professional career, though he has not achieved that milestone since the 2023 season.

The 27-year-old receiver has compiled career averages of 81 catches, 1,098 receiving yards and six touchdown receptions across his five NFL seasons.

MEXICO CITY, March 17 – Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Tuesday that her nation stands ready to welcome Iran’s 2026 World Cup matches should FIFA, soccer’s international governing body, give the green light.

The Iranian football federation has formally requested FIFA relocate their World Cup games from American soil to Mexico, citing worries about player security following joint airstrikes conducted by the United States targeting the country.

Sheinbaum indicated Mexico would face no obstacles in accommodating Iran’s matches for the upcoming tournament.

MIAMI — The Atlanta Hawks are riding a 10-game victory streak, marking their longest winning run in over eleven years. Both Orlando and Miami recently completed seven-game winning streaks. Charlotte appears poised to reach the playoffs for the first time in ten years.

Could the Southeast Division actually be competitive this season?

It appears that way. This represents a dramatic turnaround from last year when Atlanta, Orlando, Miami, Charlotte and Washington combined for the NBA’s worst divisional record ever. Now four teams from the division could potentially make the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

While divisional titles carry little significance in today’s NBA, the four Southeast clubs with postseason aspirations — everyone except Washington — appear to be motivating each other since the All-Star break.

“I would say that’s probably a factor,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Everybody also knows what time it is right now. You have to make moves. You have to do something. And we knew that coming out of All-Star break.”

Nearly every team received that memo.

Washington appears uninterested in victories currently, evidenced by their defensive effort — or lack thereof — during Miami’s Bam Adebayo’s 83-point performance last week. The Wizards plan to rebuild next season around Trae Young and Anthony Davis.

The remaining four franchises are thriving. These teams have compiled a collective 40-25 record since the break, leading all NBA divisions during that period. Atlanta stands at 11-1, Miami at 9-3, Orlando at 10-4, Charlotte at 8-5, and Washington at 2-12.

The Southeast’s recent excellence is remarkable: Atlanta occupied ninth place in the Eastern Conference following a February 20th loss to Miami. Despite going 9-0 after that defeat entering Monday, the Hawks remained in ninth position.

Monday’s victory moved Atlanta into an eighth-place tie with Philadelphia, with the Hawks holding the tiebreaker advantage for the play-in tournament’s eighth seed.

Consider this: a 10-game winning streak yielding just one position improvement.

“Everybody’s trying to be aggressive but also solid at the same time,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said. “I think that’s really important. We don’t want to be gambling. We just want to make people work.”

Charlotte provides entertaining basketball, unless you’re their opponent. Kon Knueppel seriously contends with former Duke teammate Cooper Flagg of Dallas for Rookie of the Year honors. The Hornets launch numerous three-pointers, play with pace, and display confidence.

Charlotte improved through the draft. Atlanta may have benefited by subtraction; trading Young eliminated speculation about his Atlanta future, and his former team has gone 20-10 since the deal — the East’s third-best record, just half a game behind Detroit and Cleveland. Miami continues their trademark approach of outworking opponents while discovering talent in Pelle Larsson and Kasparas Jakucionis alongside established stars like Adebayo.

Orlando apparently needed some internal tension.

Coach-player conflicts don’t typically benefit teams. Orlando may prove the exception. Earlier this season, Magic coach Jamahl Mosley and star Paolo Banchero clearly weren’t aligned. Banchero made comments, Mosley responded indirectly, creating an awkward atmosphere.

Surprisingly, Orlando’s struggles preceded their breakthrough.

“We’re both competitors,” Banchero said when asked about his relationship with Mosley. “There were times where I was frustrated and I wasn’t playing as well as I think I should be. But it never became me pointing the finger at him or being disrespectful. It was all constructive; he’s talking to me, I’m talking to him. And winning, it cures everything. … Something I feel I learned at Duke is when there’s a little bit of conflict, it makes you lock in a little more.”

Under a month remains in the regular season. The competition between Atlanta, Miami, Orlando, and Charlotte could continue until the final games. The Southeast may lack a clear championship contender among this quartet — but features four teams potentially peaking at the optimal moment.

“It’s just this time of year,” Mosley said. “Every game matters.”

What seems like an unthinkable scenario could become reality as the World Anti-Doping Agency considers a controversial new policy.

Officials at WADA are contemplating a rule change that would prevent President Donald Trump and other U.S. government representatives from attending major international sporting competitions — including those held on U.S. territory.

Several massive events could potentially be affected: this summer’s World Cup, the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and the 2034 Winter Olympics in Utah.

This confrontation wasn’t initiated by Trump, but rather by WADA leadership, which has faced widespread criticism from both political parties in Congress, previous and current presidential administrations, and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency throughout most of the past decade.

The measure, scheduled for discussion at Tuesday’s WADA executive committee meeting, represents the most drastic step yet in an ongoing battle of words, warnings, and disputes between all involved parties. The conflict originated from America’s decision to withhold its yearly WADA membership fees.

America has withheld $7.3 million across 2024 and 2025 as a form of protest against WADA’s management of various controversies, particularly a recent incident involving Chinese swimmers who were permitted to compete after positive tests for prohibited substances. WADA accepted Chinese officials’ explanation that the athletes had experienced accidental contamination.

WADA representative James Fitzgerald stated the regulation, if approved, would “not (be) applied retroactively so World Cup, LA and SLC Games would not be covered.” Nevertheless, the draft proposal obtained by The Associated Press contains no such exemption language.

Fitzgerald remained silent on multiple follow-up inquiries sent Monday, including questions about how a rule under consideration this year wouldn’t apply retroactively to future events that haven’t occurred yet. Fitzgerald mentioned last week that the final determination wouldn’t come until November, following the World Cup, though communications between WADA and European representatives suggested the decision might arrive earlier.

Here’s an examination of how this situation developed and potential future developments.

WADA was established in 1999 with the mission of creating anti-doping regulations for sports and ensuring proper implementation.

During recent years, as more serious and complicated doping scandals emerged, WADA has expanded its role in investigating doping accusations — a responsibility traditionally handled by numerous organizations that monitor performance-enhancing drug use across different nations and sports.

WADA receives equal funding from two sources — governments of nations participating in the Olympic movement and the International Olympic Committee. Representatives on WADA’s primary decision-making panels are typically split evenly between sports and government officials.

Participation in major international competitions like the Olympics and World Cup requires all participants to commit to following WADA’s regulations, whether they concern doping directly or administrative matters like the current proposal addresses.

Athletic organizations — including the IOC and individual sport governing bodies — are considered “signatories” to the WADA code.

Governments connect to WADA through an agreement signed with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Similar to sports organizations, the UNESCO arrangement requires governments to pay membership fees and comply with WADA’s regulations.

Enforcement appears highly questionable. Rahul Gupta — the drug policy director under the Biden Administration who criticized WADA as strongly as his replacement, Sara Carter — described the concept as “ludicrous.”

Gupta explained this isn’t simply because restricting the U.S. president’s movements would be logistically impossible, but it would also communicate the wrong message to a host nation, which manages the games and ensures appropriate investments in security, facilities, and other infrastructure.

“That’s the responsibility of the government, not so much WADA,” Gupta said. “It’s clear that WADA attempting to propagate any rules-based system that interferes with a government, especially a host government — that would be a concern to any government.”

Although Trump hasn’t commented on this specific issue, Carter, his drug policy director, stated the U.S. government “will continue to stand firm in our demand for accountability and transparency from WADA to ensure fair competition in sport.”

WADA has achieved the unusual result of uniting politicians from opposite political parties. Legislation implementing the anti-doping Rodchenkov Act, which WADA strongly opposed in key sections, received unanimous approval in Congress six years ago.

Recent efforts to hold WADA responsible, leading to the suspended dues payments, have gained bipartisan backing in both congressional chambers.

Following the latest developments, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., posted on social media that the proposal provided “Further proof we’re doing the right thing by demanding accountability and defunding WADA.”

WADA operates with approximately $57.5 million annually, and the American contribution is substantial, though not the only missing payment recently. An analysis of membership payments obtained by the AP revealed that only 49% of African nations had paid their 2025 WADA dues.

However, no nation has criticized WADA more harshly than the United States, which has considered withholding payments since 2020 and actually implemented this strategy two years ago.

That’s accurate.

WADA has studied this concept since 2020 — approximately when American threats intensified. In 2024, the proposal actually reached the executive committee. Gupta served on that panel then and spearheaded the effort to defeat it. The U.S. currently lacks representation on the executive committee.

WADA hasn’t provided clear answers to this question, beyond stating the rule wouldn’t apply “retroactively” and that the World Cup, LA and Utah Olympics would remain unaffected.

WADA indicates the next foundation board meeting — the body that must formally approve any executive committee recommendation — won’t occur until November, four months following the World Cup’s conclusion.

However, in a question-and-answer session with European representatives regarding the rule, a document obtained by AP showed WADA informed officials that such a regulation “could be implemented without due delay.”

European officials posed that identical question to WADA. The rule’s future had been assigned to a WADA “discussion group” that was expected to report back to the executive committee but hasn’t completed this task.

WADA’s response indicated that legal complications involving penalties for countries that don’t pay dues have been resolved (the penalty sections have been eliminated).

“Little meaningful progress was made in the latest meetings of the Discussion Group and there is no reason (given the foregoing) not to bring this matter to the ExCo as a decision-making organ of WADA,” it stated.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker delivered a spectacular performance with 41 points, leading the Atlanta Hawks to their tenth straight victory in a 124-112 triumph over the Orlando Magic on Monday night.

The Hawks now possess the NBA’s longest current winning streak and their best stretch since a franchise-record 19-game run during the 2014-15 campaign. Atlanta’s victory brought an end to Orlando’s impressive seven-game winning streak.

Since the All-Star break, Atlanta has compiled an outstanding 11-1 record, pulling even with the Philadelphia 76ers for the eighth position in the Eastern Conference standings.

Alexander-Walker connected on 12 of 22 field goal attempts and knocked down a career-best nine three-pointers on 15 tries, marking his 36th game this season with at least 20 points. He also contributed seven rebounds, five assists and two steals. Jalen Johnson recorded his 13th triple-double of the campaign with 24 points, 15 rebounds and 13 assists.

For Orlando, Paolo Banchero posted 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Desmond Bane contributed 18 points and Wendell Carter Jr. added 17 points.

Lakers 100, Rockets 92

Luka Doncic led all scorers with 36 points as Los Angeles defeated Houston on the road.

The victory evened the season series between the teams before their final matchup Wednesday in Houston. Los Angeles also expanded its advantage over Houston for the Western Conference’s third seed to 1.5 games. LeBron James contributed 18 points, five rebounds and five assists for the Lakers.

Jabari Smith Jr. scored 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds, helping Houston take an 88-85 advantage before the Rockets collapsed. Los Angeles employed aggressive double-teams against Kevin Durant, who finished with 18 points and seven turnovers, and Houston couldn’t counter the strategy. The Rockets managed just 12 points in the final quarter.

Spurs 119, Clippers 115

Victor Wembanyama recorded 21 points and 13 rebounds while Stephon Castle contributed 23 points and eight assists, powering San Antonio past Los Angeles in Inglewood, California, as the Spurs maintained their impressive late-season momentum.

Devin Vassell scored 20 points and De’Aaron Fox added 18 as San Antonio improved to a league-best 18-2 record since February began. The Spurs seized control during the second quarter, outscoring Los Angeles 37-15.

Darius Garland finished with 25 points and 10 assists for the Clippers, who played without top scorer Kawhi Leonard due to a left ankle sprain suffered in Saturday’s loss to Sacramento. Jordan Miller matched a career-high with 22 points and collected nine rebounds.

Trail Blazers 114, Nets 95

Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara each scored 18 points as Portland controlled the game from start to finish in a road victory over Brooklyn.

Camara shot 7 of 9 from the field after connecting on just 5 of 20 attempts in his previous two contests. Scoot Henderson provided 16 points off the bench while Donovan Clingan recorded 14 points and 11 rebounds for his 29th double-double this season. Kris Murray added 14 points and Jerami Grant chipped in 12 for Portland.

With leading scorer Michael Porter Jr. sidelined by an ankle injury along with other key players, rookie Chaney Johnson paced Brooklyn with 17 points. Tyson Etienne and rookie Ben Saraf each contributed 15 points as the Nets continued giving extended minutes to younger players.

Bulls 132, Grizzlies 107

Matas Buzelis erupted for 18 of his 29 points during the third quarter and Josh Giddey delivered 16 points, 15 rebounds and 13 assists, leading Chicago to a commanding home victory over Memphis.

Giddey has now achieved triple-doubles in five of his seven March appearances. Tre Jones scored 17 points, Rob Dillingham had 15, Jalen Smith contributed 13, Guerschon Yabusele added 13 and Leonard Miller scored 10 for Chicago.

The defeat extended Memphis’ losing streak to a season-worst eight games. Cedric Coward topped the Grizzlies with 17 points, while Taylor Hendricks and Jaylen Wells each scored 16.

Celtics 120, Suns 112

Jaylen Brown exploded for 41 points, seven rebounds and six assists, guiding Boston to victory over Phoenix at home.

Brown converted 19 of 21 free throw attempts, with both the makes and attempts representing career-high marks. The Celtics got 21 points each from Jayson Tatum and Derrick White, plus 19 from Payton Pritchard.

Devin Booker paced Phoenix with 40 points and Jalen Green added 21. The Suns held a 110-106 edge with 4:46 remaining but failed to score another field goal.

Warriors 125, Wizards 117

Kristaps Porzingis returned to a former team and scored 30 points in just 26 minutes, while De’Anthony Melton added 27 points as Golden State handed Washington its 12th consecutive defeat.

Gui Santos contributed 18 points for the Warriors, who shot 50.5% from the field to snap a five-game losing streak in coach Steve Kerr’s 600th regular-season victory.

Trae Young had 21 points and five assists in 21 minutes for Washington before suffering a bruised right quadriceps in the third quarter and not returning. Bilal Coulibaly and Will Riley each scored 21 points for the Wizards.

Pelicans 129, Mavericks 111

Zion Williamson scored 27 points and Saddiq Bey added 23 as New Orleans defeated Dallas at home for its third victory in four games.

Trey Murphy III and Jeremiah Fears each contributed 17 points for the Pelicans. Yves Missi grabbed 10 rebounds and tied his career high with five blocks in his return to the starting lineup, replacing Dejounte Murray who was sidelined with illness.

Naji Marshall posted 32 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for Dallas, which suffered its 10th loss in 12 games. Cooper Flagg recorded 21 points, eight assists and seven rebounds, while P.J. Washington added 18 points.

Iranian football officials are working with FIFA to relocate their upcoming World Cup matches away from the United States and into Mexico, citing player safety concerns, according to statements made Monday by Iran’s football federation president Mehdi Taj.

The push for relocation comes after President Donald Trump indicated last week that while Iran could participate in the tournament, it may not be suitable for their team to compete on American soil due to safety considerations.

“When Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America,” Taj stated in a message posted on the Iranian embassy in Mexico’s X social media account.

“We are negotiating with FIFA to hold Iran’s World Cup matches in Mexico,” he added.

FIFA, soccer’s international governing organization, has not yet provided a response to requests for comment regarding the proposed venue changes.

Questions surrounding Iran’s tournament participation have intensified amid ongoing military conflicts involving one of the host nations. The international soccer championship is set to begin June 11 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with Iran originally scheduled for two group stage games in Los Angeles and another in Seattle.

Iran’s sports minister indicated last week that Iranian athletes could not compete in the tournament following U.S. and Israeli military strikes against Tehran that resulted in the death of the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader.

Should Iran officially withdraw, it would mark the first such departure in the tournament’s modern history and would require FIFA to quickly identify a replacement team.

The Asian Football Confederation stated Monday that they have not been formally notified of any Iranian withdrawal from the competition.

“At the end of the day, it’s the federation who should decide if they’re playing, and as of today, the federation has told us that they are going to the World Cup,” AFC General Secretary Windsor John explained to reporters in Kuala Lumpur.

Relief pitcher Mason Miller helped secure Team USA’s spot in the World Baseball Classic championship game by closing out Sunday’s semifinal victory, but his availability for Tuesday’s title game remains up in the air.

The decision ultimately rests with the San Diego Padres organization, which will assess Miller’s readiness after his recent performance against the Dominican Republic.

“Not ruled out, not decided,” Padres manager Craig Stammen told reporters Monday from the team’s Arizona spring training facility. “How we do with every pitcher, we evaluate them after their outing, see how they feel and then calculate when their next outing’s going to be. So he’s in that same boat.”

Miller delivered a clutch performance Sunday evening, striking out Geraldo Perdomo with 22 pitches to seal Team USA’s semifinal triumph. However, taking the mound Tuesday would mark his third appearance in just five days.

Team USA will need bullpen depth for the championship contest, as starter Nolan McLean of the New York Mets is expected to pitch only 60-65 pitches. McLean joined the WBC roster late due to vertigo issues but reports being completely healthy.

The situation highlights the delicate balance between international competition and MLB team interests, according to Stammen.

“They’re managing that team right now, but they’re not the manager of the player overall in Major League Baseball,” Stammen explained. “Definitely a tough position for (DeRosa and USA pitching coach Andy Pettitte) managing the pitching staff. They’ve been very communicative with us and understanding of our situation with Mason and, I’m sure, with the rest of the pitchers.”

Team USA manager Mark DeRosa may face additional roster constraints if Yankees reliever David Bednar is also held back due to workload concerns. Bednar has thrown 79 pitches across four appearances, while Miller has accumulated 73 pitches through his four outings.

Two Iranian women’s soccer players who decided to stay in Australia after requesting asylum have started training with a professional club as they establish new lives in the country.

Midfielder Fatemeh Pasandideh and defender Atefeh Ramezanizadeh were part of a group of seven Iranian delegation members who received humanitarian visas due to concerns about potential persecution upon returning to Iran following their participation in the women’s Asian Cup tournament held in Australia.

Safety concerns arose when the athletes refused to sing Iran’s national anthem prior to their first match on Queensland’s Gold Coast. Iranian government media called them “wartime traitors,” with their tournament participation occurring during U.S. and Israeli airstrikes against Iran.

However, five members from the original group later reconsidered Australia’s asylum protection and chose to go back to Iran.

The Brisbane Roar A-League team from Queensland shared on social media that the two remaining players joined their women’s squad for practice on Monday.

“Brisbane Roar officially welcomed both Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanizadeh to the club’s training facilities…and remain committed to providing a supportive environment for them whilst they navigate the next stages,” stated CEO Kaz Patafta.

Club photographs showed both athletes meeting Brisbane Roar team members and participating in shooting practice exercises.

“Thank you for everything,” Ramezanizadeh, age 33, commented on the club’s Instagram post.

The 21-year-old Pasandideh shared an Instagram story on Monday featuring a photograph with FIFA Chief Football Officer Jill Ellis in Brisbane, adding the message “everything will be fine.”

Meanwhile, their previous teammates departed Malaysia heading back to Iran. The squad was observed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Monday evening boarding an Oman Air flight, though their final destination remained unconfirmed.

The Edmonton Oilers face a significant challenge as they prepare to compete without their star player Leon Draisaitl for an undetermined period.

Head coach Kris Knoblauch confirmed the news to media on Monday, offering limited details about the injury that occurred during Sunday’s matchup with the Nashville Predators when Draisaitl absorbed a significant body check.

“He had his doctor’s appointment this morning while we were on the ice and I haven’t heard anything since,” Knoblauch said. “I think we’ll be some time without him. I’m not sure if it’s one or two (games) or how long it’s going to be. I don’t have much information right now.”

The 30-year-old forward currently ranks fourth league-wide with 97 points and has been on fire recently, recording 17 points through six goals and 11 assists during his current nine-game scoring run.

The incident occurred when Nashville’s Ozzy Wiesblatt delivered the hit during the opening period. While Draisaitl managed to return for two brief appearances before the first period ended, he remained absent for the remainder of the contest.

Superstar teammate Connor McDavid, who leads the league with 114 points on 37 goals and 77 assists, defended his injured partner while acknowledging the physical nature of the play.

“It’s not the dirtiest check in the world, but it’s just who you hit and the result of it, unfortunately. If you want to hit our top guys, there’s going to be a response,” McDavid stated.

Currently positioned third in the Pacific Division standings, just two points behind the division leader, Edmonton faces a crucial homestand with upcoming contests against San Jose on Tuesday, followed by Florida on Thursday and Tampa Bay on Saturday.

Coach Knoblauch emphasized the team’s cautious approach while recognizing the importance of each remaining game.

“We don’t want to aggravate it and make it worse,” Knoblauch said. “Obviously we’re looking at the big picture, but the games are important. There’s nothing for sure right now making the playoffs and we need to win hockey games, but obviously if he’s not healthy to play, he’s not going to play.”

The Los Angeles Dodgers have only seen Shohei Ohtani in action once during spring training as they prepare for the upcoming regular season.

The two-way superstar recorded one hit in three plate appearances during his sole spring training game before departing to represent Japan in the World Baseball Classic. Ohtani was unable to pitch for his national team, which suffered an unexpected quarterfinal defeat to Venezuela on Saturday, ending their tournament run sooner than anticipated.

With Ohtani returning to the Dodgers camp ahead of schedule, manager Dave Roberts indicated there’s a good possibility the star player will take the mound either this week or in the early days of next week.

“Last year, we had the plan to start from one inning to keep him with us active and playing. I think this year, we’re certainly north of that,” Roberts said. “I don’t see how we won’t be able to get three or four innings from him in a Major League game. So that’s certainly a better jumping-off point than last year. We’ll see how it goes.”

During his time with Team Japan, Ohtani completed a four-inning simulated game in Miami last week. Roberts explained that since Ohtani isn’t beginning his preparation from zero, the organization feels confident about including him in their starting rotation when the regular season begins.

In 2025, Ohtani took the mound for 14 regular-season games and four playoff contests for the Dodgers. His regular-season performance included 62 strikeouts and a 2.87 earned run average across 47 innings, while his postseason statistics showed a 2-1 win-loss record with a 4.43 ERA and 28 strikeouts over 20 1/3 innings. The previous season in 2024, Ohtani was sidelined from pitching duties for the Dodgers following surgical repair of an injured ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.

Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Johan Rojas will miss half the upcoming season after Major League Baseball handed down an 80-game suspension Monday for breaking the league’s drug prevention and treatment policies.

The 25-year-old outfielder failed a drug test that detected Boldenone, a banned performance-enhancing substance, according to MLB’s official announcement.

The punishment takes effect when the 2025 regular season begins. Philadelphia is set to host the Texas Rangers for their season opener on March 26, and Rojas will be eligible to return by June 25 when the team visits the Washington Nationals for what would be their 81st game.

“The Phillies fully support Major League Baseball’s Joint Prevention and Treatment Program and are disappointed to hear today’s news of Johan’s violation,” the team stated in their official response.

This marks a significant setback for Rojas, who was preparing for his fourth major league campaign, all spent with Philadelphia. During the 2025 season, he participated in 71 contests, posting a .224 batting average alongside one home run, 18 runs batted in, and 12 stolen bases. Throughout his 250-game major league career, the outfielder has compiled six home runs, 73 RBIs, and 51 stolen bases while maintaining a .252 batting average.

The University of Oklahoma, widely regarded as the strongest team shut out of March Madness, has committed to participate in the College Basketball Crown’s second annual tournament in Las Vegas, organizers announced Monday.

The Sooners will take on Colorado in their opening matchup on April 1st. Seven other universities – Baylor, Creighton, Minnesota, Rutgers, Stanford, and West Virginia – have also committed to the Fox Sports-sponsored alternative tournament.

Tournament organizers unveiled the complete bracket on Monday, scheduling two sets of opening round contests for April 1st and 2nd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The final four and championship rounds will take place April 4th and 5th at T-Mobile Arena, the home venue for the Vegas Golden Knights hockey team.

This year’s tournament has been scaled back from 16 participating schools to eight following last year’s inaugural event, which saw Nebraska claim the championship along with a $300,000 NIL prize package. UCF earned $100,000 as the tournament runner-up, while Boise State and Villanova each received $50,000 for reaching the semifinals.

Multiple universities chose not to participate in this year’s event. The tournament’s selection process automatically invites the two highest-ranked teams from the Big Ten, Big 12, and Big East conferences that missed the NCAA tournament, using final NET rankings as the determining factor. All three conferences maintain broadcasting partnerships with Fox.

Notable programs including Indiana, Cincinnati, and Seton Hall – the top available schools from their respective leagues – opted out of participation. San Diego State from the Mountain West Conference also reportedly declined invitations to both the Crown and NIT tournaments.

Rutgers enters the field with the weakest NET ranking at No. 134, despite posting a 14-19 record for the season.

Oklahoma finished 19-15 after winning six consecutive games down the stretch in an attempt to secure an NCAA tournament berth, before losing to eventual SEC tournament champion Arkansas in the quarterfinal round.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have selected World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto to take the mound for their season opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 26, marking his second consecutive year earning the prestigious Opening Day assignment.

The 27-year-old right-hander delivered an outstanding performance during the 2025 postseason, playing a crucial role in the Dodgers’ championship run.

“It is a pretty easy decision, considering that it’s an honor to be the Opening Day starter,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters Monday. “He started for us last year on the road. But for him to get that start on Opening Day at home, I think it’s going to be special.”

Los Angeles aims to achieve something no team has accomplished since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees: capturing three consecutive World Series titles.

During the 2025 World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, Yamamoto claimed three victories in what became a dramatic seven-game championship series.

His postseason heroics included delivering a complete-game four-hitter in Game 2, followed by six solid innings in Game 6 to force a deciding seventh game. Working on zero days’ rest, he then came out of the bullpen in Game 7 and threw 2⅔ scoreless innings to secure the victory in an 11-inning thriller.

Yamamoto’s postseason numbers were exceptional, posting a 5-1 record with a 1.45 ERA across six appearances, including five starts.

His regular season performance was equally impressive, finishing 12-8 with a 2.49 ERA over 30 starts, earning him third place in National League Cy Young Award voting and a selection to the NL All-Star team.

Currently in his third year of a massive 12-year, $325 million deal, Yamamoto has compiled a 19-10 record with a 2.66 ERA in 48 starts during his two seasons in Los Angeles. His postseason statistics are even more remarkable, showing a 7-1 record with a 2.25 ERA in 10 playoff appearances.

MIAMI (AP) — As Team USA prepares for the World Baseball Classic championship game, players are addressing criticism about their reserved style while showing respect for their opponents’ more theatrical approach.

Team captain Aaron Judge’s steady leadership style has shaped the atmosphere in the American clubhouse as they prepare for Tuesday night’s championship match against either Venezuela or Italy. While the Americans maintain their composed approach, they express admiration for the dramatic celebrations of Latin stars like Juan Soto and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

“You guys would all think it’s silly if we shuffled like Soto or did Vladdy’s little wiggle,” American outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong commented following Sunday night’s 2-1 victory over the Dominican Republic. “That’s them and if I had enough swag to do that I would probably do that, too. … We have fun in our own way, but we definitely have fun out there.”

Judge’s leadership approach has established the team’s culture, similar to his influence with the New York Yankees.

The 6-foot-7 captain commands respect from his teammates for more than just his physical stature.

“It’s been cool to see how he goes about his business,” commented standout pitcher Paul Skenes, who stands 6-foot-6 as the team’s second-tallest player. “He’s not faking anything. He’s playing as Aaron Judge, so that’s just his personality in the clubhouse and off the field. Obviously it shows up on the field, too.”

Manager Mark DeRosa revealed that Judge declined wearing a captain’s “C” on his jersey.

“Leader of men. Classy in every decision he makes,” DeRosa commented. “A lot of decisions that I’ve made throughout the course of the WBC I have made with his recommendations.”

The American squad has faced criticism for their sometimes restrained demeanor, including when catcher Cal Raleigh avoided shaking hands with Seattle teammate Randy Arozarena during pool play against Mexico. The team has also incorporated military connections throughout the tournament, with players saluting after wins. Both Skenes and Griffin Jax attended the Air Force Academy, and the team hosted Robert J. O’Neill, a former Navy SEAL who claims responsibility for killing Osama bin Laden in 2011, as a clubhouse speaker.

“You never want it to get lost why you’re doing this, whatever that why is,” DeRosa explained. “And a lot of people — like Paul Skenes said to me when he signed up for this, ‘I want to do this for every serviceman and woman who protects our freedom,’ and that’s why we wear USA across our chest.

“So I thought it would just be a time to redirect and get these guys to understand that, although this is an unbelievable event and you get a chance to share the locker room with the game’s greats, there’s a reason why we’re doing it and a reason why people protect our freedom at night. I just wanted to honor that. So that’s why he came in to talk.”

DeRosa acknowledged his earlier mistake when he prematurely claimed the United States had secured advancement to the quarterfinals before playing Italy, calling it simply an “overly confident statement” and confirming Thursday that he understood nothing was guaranteed then.

The manager faced criticism for declaring before the Italy loss that “our ticket’s punched to the quarterfinals.” This proved incorrect, and the U.S. only secured advancement after Italy defeated Mexico 9-1 on the group’s final day.

“I misspoke,” DeRosa subsequently acknowledged. “I completely misread the calculations.”

This marks the third consecutive WBC final appearance for the United States, as they pursue their second championship following their 2017 victory. The team fell 3-2 to Japan in the 2023 final.

Bryce Harper, now 33 and a 14-year veteran, recalled attempting to play with Latin-influenced style early in his major league career. He remembered drawing attention with gray bats, unique cleats, and dramatic eye black.

“I kind of got pounded for it,” he recalled. “So there’s an American way of baseball everybody talks about, right? But I think that’s so far from the truth. Obviously, when we grow up, we play a different style. But we learn from other people’s styles, as well.”

The Dominican Republic received tremendous energy from their passionate supporters.

“One hit for them got the crowd out of their seat. A 3-0 count got the crowd out their seat,” Crow-Armstrong observed. “You don’t necessarily see that with fans from the U.S. all the time.”

Nolan McLean, a 24-year-old rookie right-handed pitcher with only eight major league appearances, will take the mound for Team USA. He previously surrendered two home runs across three innings in the March 10 group stage loss to Italy, departing with a 3-0 deficit that nearly resulted in first-round elimination.

“Obviously I got clipped there a couple times … but overall I felt really good,” he said Monday. “It’s just kind of a dream come true to be able to get the ball in such a big moment, and it’s something I want to do.”