Category: Sports

Iran’s Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali announced that his country’s government is holding off on a final World Cup participation decision until FIFA responds to their request for relocating matches away from the United States.

The Iranian Football Federation has been advocating to shift their three group stage games from American venues to Mexico instead. This push stems from Iran’s opposition to U.S. military actions supporting Israel in regional conflicts that have led to ongoing warfare.

Last month, Iranian football officials confirmed they were negotiating with FIFA regarding the venue change. Meanwhile, Iran’s sports ministry has prohibited all national and club teams from traveling to nations deemed hostile until further guidance is issued.

Despite Iran’s efforts, FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated last week that the matches would proceed as originally planned.

“Our request to FIFA to relocate Iran’s games from the U.S. to Mexico is still valid, but we have not yet received a response,” Donyamali explained in a weekend interview with Turkey’s Anadolu news agency.

“If accepted, Iran’s participation in the World Cup will be certain. However, FIFA has not yet responded.”

“As the Minister of Sports, together with the Iranian football federation, we will keep the football team ready for the World Cup. However, the final decision will be made by our government.”

Iran’s Group G schedule currently places all three matches on U.S. territory, with games against New Zealand and Belgium set for Los Angeles, followed by their final match against Egypt in Seattle.

President Donald Trump commented last month that while Iran’s team would be welcomed to compete in America, concerns existed regarding their “life and safety.”

Trump subsequently clarified that any potential threats would not originate from the United States.

“According to FIFA’s relevant regulations, security must be provided in the country concerned,” Donyamali stated. “However, the World Cup is taking place soon, and providing guarantees during this period is questionable.”

“Under these circumstances, the possibility of Iran participating in the World Cup matches in the U.S. is very low. But, if the relevant security guarantees are provided, our government will make the decision on Iran’s participation in the World Cup.”

FIFA has not yet provided comment on the matter.

The 2026 World Cup is scheduled to run from June 11 through July 19 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

A former Olympic cycling champion is speaking out against what he calls unfair media coverage after receiving a suspended prison sentence in connection with his wife’s tragic death.

Rohan Dennis, a two-time world champion from Australia, was handed a suspended jail term last year following the 2023 death of his wife, Melissa Hoskins, who was also an accomplished Olympic track cyclist and former world champion.

The fatal incident occurred in an inner northern Adelaide suburb when Hoskins was struck by a vehicle operated by Dennis. Court proceedings revealed that following a domestic dispute, Hoskins grabbed onto the car as Dennis tried to drive away, resulting in her falling.

Dennis entered a guilty plea to an aggravated charge of creating the likelihood of harm. The presiding judge determined that while Dennis had failed to consider his wife’s safety, he bore no criminal responsibility for her death.

The court imposed a sentence of one year, four months and 28 days imprisonment, suspended for a two-year period, along with a five-year driving ban.

Taking to social media, the 35-year-old athlete expressed his love for his deceased wife and stated he never meant to cause her harm.

“The narrative which the media ran with was clear. They wanted me to look like the husband who abused his wife,” Dennis wrote.

“The media speak about the children and how saddened they are for the children. Yet they happily stalk, follow and harass not just adults in my family but even when the kids are involved.

“They know I never intentionally or unintentionally used a vehicle as a weapon… Time for all you so called journalists and media outlets to back off and leave my family alone.”

Dennis achieved significant success in professional cycling, capturing two world championship titles in time trial events. He also earned a silver medal in team pursuit at the 2012 Olympics and claimed bronze in time trial competition at the Tokyo Games.

Hoskins had her own distinguished cycling career, winning team pursuit gold at the 2015 world championships and representing Australia in both the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games.

San Antonio’s standout big man Victor Wembanyama was unable to return after halftime in Monday’s matchup with Philadelphia following a left rib injury he suffered when he collided with 76ers forward Paul George during the second quarter.

The future availability of the All-Star player remains unclear following the incident.

The young center made two trips to San Antonio’s locker room during the second quarter after the contact with George, but managed to stay on the floor through the end of the first half.

After the Spurs secured a 115-102 win, head coach Mitch Johnson addressed the situation, stating: “At halftime, I was told he wasn’t coming back. I haven’t heard anything else up to this point. I think it would be a positive that he felt like he could come back, and he played the last four or five minutes of the half. So, that’s a positive from my perspective.”

During his 16 minutes of action, Wembanyama contributed 17 points, five rebounds, and three blocked shots, with his playing time officially counting toward postseason award eligibility requirements.

The 22-year-old French center has emerged as a candidate for the league’s Most Valuable Player award during his third season, currently posting averages of 24.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and a league-leading 3.1 blocks per contest.

Monday’s contest marked Wembanyama’s 64th appearance this season, counting the NBA Cup championship game that doesn’t typically factor into statistical records. To be eligible for end-of-season honors, players must participate in at least 65 games, and San Antonio has three contests left on their schedule.

Buffalo ended their recent struggles with a decisive 4-2 victory over Tampa Bay on Monday evening, as Jason Zucker netted the game-winning goal in the middle frame while also contributing an assist for the home team.

The Sabres (47-23-8, 102 points) received additional scoring from Alex Tuch, Josh Norris, and Jack Quinn, halting their two-game skid and creating a deadlock with Tampa Bay for first place in the Atlantic Division. Defenseman Bowen Byram contributed two helpers while goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen turned away 23 shots.

For the Lightning (48-23-6, 102 points), Jake Guentzel tallied one goal and one assist, with Nikita Kucherov adding the other marker for Tampa Bay, which had captured four victories in their last five contests. Defenseman Darren Raddysh recorded two assists while Andrei Vasilevskiy made 25 saves in the losing effort.

Buffalo took a 3-2 advantage when Zucker deflected Byram’s shot from the right point at waist height, finding the net 7:38 into the second period. Quinn sealed the victory with an empty-netter with 1:54 remaining, as Buffalo now has four contests left while Tampa Bay faces five remaining games.

Kings 3, Predators 2 (SO)

Los Angeles extended their point streak to four games (3-0-1) as Joel Armia and Scott Laughton found the net in regulation, while Adrian Kempe delivered the decisive shootout goal in the home victory over Nashville.

Goaltender Anton Forsberg was stellar with 29 saves and remained perfect in the shootout for Los Angeles (32-26-19, 83 points), moving one point clear of Nashville for the second Western Conference wild-card position.

The Predators (36-31-10, 82 points) got scoring from Roman Josi, who added an assist, and Steven Stamkos, while Juuse Saros made 26 stops. Nashville had claimed the second wild-card spot with Thursday’s 5-4 shootout triumph in Los Angeles and maintained that position following Saturday’s 6-3 victory over San Jose.

Sharks 3, Blackhawks 2

San Jose rallied for a home victory over Chicago behind William Eklund’s goal and assist performance.

Kiefer Sherwood and Will Smith also found the back of the net for the Sharks, who have captured five of their last six games while staying within two points of playoff contention. Alex Nedeljkovic recorded 27 saves for the winners.

Chicago received one goal and one assist from Frank Nazar, with Ryan Donato also scoring for the Blackhawks, who managed just one victory in their past seven outings (1-5-1). Spencer Knight made 20 saves in defeat.

Jets 6, Kraken 2

Winnipeg’s playoff hopes received a boost as Kyle Connor recorded two goals and Mark Scheifele dished out three assists in the commanding home victory over Seattle.

The Jets improved to 6-2-0 over their last eight contests, with this recent surge bringing Winnipeg (34-31-12, 80 points) to within three points of the final Western Conference wild-card berth. Gabriel Vilardi and Jonathan Toews each contributed one goal and one assist, while Connor Hellebuyck stopped 22 of 24 shots.

Winnipeg dominated special teams with a perfect 3-for-3 power-play performance, exploiting Seattle’s struggling penalty kill. The Jets entered Monday with the NHL’s fifth-worst power-play percentage at 17.22%, while the Kraken’s penalty-kill rate of 72.77% ranked second-worst league-wide. Seattle (32-33-11, 75 points) now trails the final Western wild-card spot by eight points.

The Los Angeles Dodgers delivered an offensive showcase Monday evening, crushing the Toronto Blue Jays 14-2 behind a five-home run barrage in what served as a rematch of the 2025 World Series.

Dalton Rushing powered the attack with a pair of home runs as part of a four-hit performance for the visiting Dodgers. Former Toronto player Teoscar Hernandez delivered a two-run blast and drove in four runs total, while Freddie Freeman contributed his own two-run homer and knocked in three runs against the Blue Jays.

Shohei Ohtani chipped in with two hits and a solo home run for Los Angeles, which extended its winning streak to four games. Starting pitcher Justin Wrobleski earned his first victory of the season, surrendering just one run across five innings of work.

Toronto’s struggles continued as they dropped their fifth consecutive game. Kazuma Okamoto managed two hits for the Blue Jays in the loss. Starter Max Scherzer lasted only two innings before exiting with forearm tendinitis after giving up two runs, though manager John Schneider indicated he could make his next scheduled appearance.

Royals 4, Guardians 2

Carter Jensen’s go-ahead solo blast in the sixth inning and Jonathan India’s two-run shot in the eighth powered Kansas City past Cleveland on an evening when Jose Ramirez set the Guardians’ franchise record for games played.

Jensen connected on a fastball from rookie Peyton Pallette, sending it into the right field seats to give Kansas City its first lead at 2-1. India, who had driven in a run with a fourth-inning single, launched a shot off Kolby Allard two frames later to score Jensen and extend the lead to 4-1.

Michael Wacha earned the victory with seven solid innings, allowing just one run on Steven Kwan’s homer among three hits surrendered. Ramirez made his franchise-record 1,620th appearance, drawing two walks while going hitless in two at-bats. The seven-time All-Star passed Terry Turner for the milestone.

Rockies 9, Astros 7

Colorado erupted for eight runs in the fifth inning, with Willi Castro collecting two hits in the frame and Troy Johnston homering among his three hits, as the Rockies defeated Houston at home.

Edouard Julien and TJ Rumfield each contributed two hits and two RBIs, while Juan Mejia secured his first save of the campaign for Colorado, which has now won back-to-back games after losing the first two contests of their opening homestand.

Jose Altuve recorded three hits and Cam Smith finished with two hits, including a home run, for Houston. Relief pitcher Ryan Weiss suffered the loss after being charged with seven runs in 2 2/3 innings.

Padres 5, Pirates 0

Nick Castellanos and Jake Cronenworth each doubled and drove in runs among their two hits, leading San Diego to victory over Pittsburgh and extending the Padres’ winning streak in Pittsburgh to seven straight games.

Xander Bogaerts and Freddy Fermin also recorded two hits apiece for San Diego, which received strong pitching from German Marquez in his five shutout innings. Relievers Ron Marinaccio and David Morgan finished the combined shutout effort.

Pittsburgh starter Bubba Chandler worked 4 1/3 innings and allowed three runs on five hits in the defeat.

Rays 6, Cubs 4

Cedric Mullins and Jonathan Aranda launched two-run homers as Tampa Bay returned to their renovated domed facility with a victory over Chicago in St. Petersburg.

The contest marked the Rays’ first game at Tropicana Field in 19 months following Hurricane Milton’s destruction 561 days earlier. Junior Caminero connected for a solo shot for the second straight game, while Yandy Diaz and Chandler Simpson each collected two hits.

Matt Shaw homered in the ninth and Nico Hoerner drove in two runs for Chicago, which managed only four hits and suffered its second consecutive loss.

Reds 2, Marlins 0

Brandon Williamson tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings and local product Sal Stewart delivered an RBI single as Cincinnati defeated Miami on the road.

Tyler Stephenson also went deep and Stewart swiped a base during his homecoming to help the Reds capture their fourth straight victory. Emilio Pagan worked a perfect ninth inning to record his fourth save of the season.

Miami starter Janson Junk pitched effectively for 7 1/3 innings, giving up seven hits and two runs, but the Marlins generated just three hits offensively.

Brewers 8, Red Sox 6

Garrett Mitchell’s two-out RBI single in the eighth inning snapped a tie and lifted Milwaukee to victory over Boston on the road.

Aaron Ashby picked up the win after throwing 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief. Christian Yelich tallied three hits as the Brewers improved to 8-2 on the season.

Willson Contreras had three hits for Boston, including a solo homer that completed the scoring in the ninth. Garrett Whitlock took the loss in relief as the Red Sox fell to 2-8.

Orioles 2, White Sox 1

Brandon Young delivered five shutout innings in an emergency start and Gunnar Henderson homered, helping Baltimore end a three-game skid and hand Chicago its first home defeat of the season.

Young scattered two hits and two walks while striking out two after being promoted from Triple-A Norfolk before the game to replace injured Dietrich Enns. Tyler O’Neill also drove in a run for Baltimore, and Ryan Helsley notched his third save.

Chicago’s Erick Fedde allowed two runs and five hits over six innings. Chase Meidroth went 2-for-3 with a walk for the White Sox.

Twins 7, Tigers 3

Luke Keaschall belted a tie-breaking two-run homer and Minnesota pulled away for a home victory over Detroit.

Victor Caratini went 2-for-4 with three RBIs for the Twins, while Matt Wallner finished 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI. Keaschall’s fourth-inning blast gave the Twins the lead for good and earned Joe Ryan the victory after his five-inning start in which he allowed three runs on three hits.

Detroit starter Casey Mize surrendered five runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. Zach McKinstry went 1-for-3 with two RBIs to pace the Tigers offense.

Nationals 9, Cardinals 6

James Wood, Brady House and CJ Abrams homered during a six-run eighth inning as Washington rallied for a home victory over St. Louis, snapping the Nationals’ five-game losing streak.

Washington trailed 6-3 before Wood knotted the score with a three-run blast, House followed with a two-run shot for the lead, and Abrams provided insurance with a solo homer. House finished with three hits overall. Cionel Perez earned the win with a scoreless ninth inning.

Ramon Urias collected three hits including a homer for St. Louis. Jordan Walker broke a 3-3 deadlock with an eighth-inning solo blast and added a single. Matt Svanson suffered the loss after allowing three runs in two-thirds of an inning.

Rangers 2, Mariners 1

Corey Seager recorded two hits and an RBI while Jake Burger drove in the deciding run with a sixth-inning double, leading Texas past struggling Seattle in Arlington.

Seager scored the game-winning run after reaching base with two outs, then came home on Burger’s clutch hit to give reliever Jalen Beeks the victory. Jacob DeGrom set up the heroics by tossing five one-hit innings, surrendering only a solo homer.

Seattle’s Cal Raleigh launched his first home run of the season in the opening frame. Logan Gilbert allowed two runs on six hits over six innings, but it wasn’t sufficient for the Mariners to avoid their fifth loss in six games.

Angels 6, Braves 2

Jose Soriano fanned 10 batters over eight innings while Jo Adell and Zach Neto homered to lead Los Angeles past Atlanta at home for its third consecutive victory.

Soriano retired 19 consecutive batters at one stretch while allowing just one run on three hits. Jordan Romano earned his fourth save, as Logan O’Hoppe, Yoan Moncada, and Bryce Teodosio each contributed an RBI.

Atlanta starter Chris Sale surrendered six runs on five hits, two walks and two hit batsmen in four-plus innings. It marked the first time Sale had allowed at least six runs since June 1, 2024. Drake Baldwin and Mauricio Dubon each homered as the Braves dropped their third straight contest.

Phillies 6, Giants 4

Bryce Harper collected three hits and drove in three runs, while Philadelphia’s bullpen threw five shutout innings to help the visiting Phillies defeat San Francisco.

Andrew Painter lasted just four innings, allowing the Giants to build a 4-0 advantage. However, Philadelphia’s relief corps pitched five scoreless frames, with Jhoan Duran recording his fourth save. Jonathan Bowlan earned the win after the Phillies took the lead in the seventh. Alec Bohm, Brandon Marsh and Trea Turner also drove in runs to help Philadelphia win its fifth game in six attempts.

Ryan Borucki surrendered two runs while recording just one out to take the loss. Adrian Houser couldn’t maintain the early 4-0 lead, giving up four runs over six innings. Matt Chapman, Heliot Ramos and Luis Arraez all drove in runs for San Francisco.

Paolo Banchero delivered a stellar 31-point performance while Desmond Bane contributed 25 points as the Orlando Magic fought off a late Detroit comeback to defeat the Pistons 123-107 on Monday night.

The Magic received strong bench production from Anthony Black, who added 14 points in the victory. Orlando also got balanced scoring from Wendell Carter Jr., Jalen Suggs, and Tristan da Silva, who each tallied 12 points. Suggs also recorded a personal-best 12 assists for the evening. The win marked Orlando’s fourth victory in their last five contests.

Currently sitting at 43-36, the Magic find themselves in a three-way deadlock for seventh place in the Eastern Conference alongside Charlotte and Philadelphia. All three teams trail Toronto by just half a game for the sixth seed.

Detroit was paced by Jalen Duren and Daniss Jenkins, who each scored 18 points in the loss. The Pistons, now 57-22 on the season, had already secured the Eastern Conference’s top playoff position for the first time since the 2006-07 campaign following Saturday’s victory over Philadelphia.

Kevin Huerter and Javonte Green each contributed 17 points for Detroit. The Pistons found themselves trailing by as much as 26 points during the third quarter but mounted a fourth-quarter surge, opening the final period with a 10-0 scoring run. Detroit managed to cut the deficit to just four points at 109-105 before Orlando closed the game with a decisive 14-2 run.

Spurs 115, 76ers 102

Stephon Castle recorded his fifth career triple-double, posting 19 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds as San Antonio defeated Philadelphia at home.

The Spurs played the entire second half without star big man Victor Wembanyama, who was sidelined with a left rib injury sustained during a second-quarter collision with Philadelphia’s Paul George. Wembanyama had scored 17 points before departing.

At 60-19, San Antonio remains mathematically alive for the league’s best record but would need to win their final three home games while Oklahoma City loses three of their remaining four contests. Joel Embiid led Philadelphia with 34 points and 12 rebounds.

Nuggets 137, Trail Blazers 132 (OT)

Aaron Gordon’s timely perimeter shooting sparked Denver’s comeback from an 18-point deficit to edge Portland in overtime.

The Nuggets trailed for most of regulation before Gordon’s deep two-pointer from the right corner gave Denver a 125-123 advantage with 27 seconds left. Gordon had tied the game moments earlier with a three-pointer from the opposite corner, finishing with 23 points.

Portland’s Deni Avdija forced overtime with a paint score, but Gordon opened the extra session with another crucial three-pointer as Denver outscored the Trail Blazers 10-3 to start overtime. Nikola Jokic recorded his 33rd triple-double of the season with 35 points, 14 rebounds, and 13 assists.

Knicks 108, Hawks 105

Jalen Brunson’s go-ahead basket with 29.8 seconds remaining, followed by his defensive stop on CJ McCollum’s potential game-tying three-pointer at the buzzer, lifted New York past Atlanta.

Brunson scored 17 of his 30 points in the final quarter, including 14 of New York’s last 16 points. His decisive 19-foot jumper bounced twice on the rim before falling through after he drove past McCollum.

OG Anunoby added 22 points while Karl-Anthony Towns recorded 21 points and 12 rebounds, helping the 51-28 Knicks overcome a 10-point third-quarter deficit. Atlanta’s Nickeil Alexander-Walker led all scorers with 36 points and seven three-pointers, while Jalen Johnson contributed 21 points and 11 rebounds. The loss was just Atlanta’s fourth in 23 games since the All-Star break.

Cavaliers 142, Grizzlies 126

Cleveland erased a 17-point first-half deficit to defeat Memphis on the road, securing the franchise’s 14th 50-win season despite the Grizzlies tying the NBA record for most three-pointers made in a single game.

Evan Mobley topped Cleveland’s scoring with 24 points, while Dennis Schroder added 22 points and 11 assists. Sam Merrill chipped in 21 points, and Keon Ellis contributed 19 points and eight assists for the Cavaliers, who improved to 50-29 with their ninth win in 11 games.

Memphis, plagued by injuries all season long, dropped their fifth consecutive game and 18th in their last 20 outings to fall to 25-54. However, the Grizzlies made history by matching the NBA record for three-pointers when Adama Bal connected on their 29th attempt with 1:41 remaining, tying marks previously set by Boston in 2024 and Milwaukee in 2020. Memphis finished an impressive 29-of-59 from beyond the arc.

The Memphis Grizzlies put on a historic shooting display Monday evening, equaling the NBA’s single-game three-point record with 29 successful shots from beyond the arc during their 142-126 defeat to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Despite the record-tying performance, Memphis couldn’t secure the victory. Nine different players contributed to the three-point barrage, with the team connecting on an impressive 49.2% of their long-range attempts (29 of 59) while shooting 45.7% from closer range (16 of 35).

The previous record was held jointly by Milwaukee and Boston. Milwaukee first achieved the mark during a dominant 144-97 victory over Miami on December 29, 2020, while Boston matched it more recently in a 132-109 triumph against the New York Knicks on October 22, 2024.

“I think we can be pretty proud of how we played with this group today on the court,” Memphis head coach Tuomas Iisalo commented. “Guys wanted to go for it in the end, and we were all for it. Unfortunately couldn’t set a singular record, but tied it. Nonetheless, very proud of our group.”

Memphis distributed their three-point success throughout the contest, converting 10 attempts in the opening quarter, three during the second period, six in the third quarter, and finishing with 10 more in the final frame.

Cleveland managed 12 successful three-pointers on 32 attempts during the game.

“Incredible shooting performance by the Grizzlies. Give them credit,” Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson acknowledged. “They shot the heck out of the ball.”

Several Memphis bench players led the three-point assault. Reserves Adama Bal and Dariq Whitehead each contributed six successful three-pointers, while Lucas Williamson connected on five of his 12 attempts from distance. Olivier-Maxence Prosper was nearly perfect, making four of five three-point shots.

The defeat marked Memphis’s 18th loss in their previous 20 contests. Prior to Monday’s game, the team was averaging 13.7 made three-pointers per contest.

BOSTON — Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras delivered a stern message to the Milwaukee Brewers following Monday night’s game after being struck by yet another pitch from the team that has hit him more than any other in his career.

“They always say, ‘I’m not trying to hit you,’” Contreras stated after Milwaukee defeated Boston 8-6 at Fenway Park. “That gets old. So, next time they hit me again, I’m going to take one of them out. That’s a message.”

Throughout his major league career, Contreras has been struck by pitches 131 times, with the Brewers accounting for 24 of those incidents — significantly more than any other team he’s faced. His contentious relationship with Milwaukee pitcher Brandon Woodruff runs particularly deep, as Woodruff has hit Contreras six separate times.

Following Monday’s beaning, Contreras shouted at Woodruff while standing on first base. Later in the game, during a force play situation, Contreras made an aggressive slide into second base, making contact with shortstop David Hamilton’s left knee with his cleats and ripping Hamilton’s uniform pants.

“I mean, we’ve been through that. It’s been like nine years for me. It seems like every year,” Woodruff responded. “He’s trying to play a game and he’s trying to get his side fired up, which is fine. Once I knew what was going on, I wasn’t going to let it affect me.”

Prior to joining Boston through an offseason trade, Contreras spent his entire 10-year major league career in the National League Central division, facing Milwaukee frequently while playing for both the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals.

The Monday night incident occurred when Woodruff’s fastball struck Contreras on his left hand, barely grazing his fingers. Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy disputed the hit-by-pitch ruling and requested a replay review, but the original call stood.

“I thought it wasn’t a hit by pitch,” Murphy explained. “That’s why we challenged it. Those are really hard to get overturned.”

Adding an interesting family dynamic to the situation, Contreras’ younger brother William served as Milwaukee’s catcher during Monday’s contest.

When asked if he attempted to defuse his older brother’s anger as they walked toward first base together, William replied simply: “I tried. He plays like that.”

Despite the tension, Willson Contreras had a productive offensive night, launching a solo home run in the ninth inning and reaching base five times total. He celebrated emphatically by flipping his bat after both the homer and a first-inning walk.

In a professional moment during the game, William Contreras challenged a 2-0 pitch to his brother that was ruled a ball, though the call was confirmed by the automated ball-strike system.

“I was going to check it whether it was my bother at the plate or not,” William Contreras said through a translator. “I saw it a little closer than it was.”

The two teams will complete their three-game series with two remaining matchups.

INDIANAPOLIS — The Michigan Wolverines claimed their second national basketball championship Monday night, grinding out a tough 69-63 victory over Connecticut in a hard-fought battle that showcased defense over flashy offense.

The Wolverines, known for their high-powered scoring attack, managed just two successful three-point shots throughout the entire contest but found other ways to secure the title. Elliot Cadeau paced Michigan’s offense with 19 points, connecting on the team’s initial three-pointer at the 7:04 mark of the second half.

Freshman Trey McKenney delivered the crucial second three-pointer with 1:50 remaining on the clock, extending Michigan’s advantage to nine points in what appeared to be a decisive blow. Coach Dusty May’s squad, comprised largely of transfer players, seemed poised to cruise to victory.

However, Connecticut refused to surrender. Solo Ball connected on a banked three-pointer with 37 seconds left, trimming the deficit to four points. Following two missed Michigan free throws, UConn’s Alex Karaban, who finished with 17 points, attempted a three-point shot that barely touched the rim with 17 seconds remaining that could have cut the lead to just one point.

The Huskies dominated the offensive boards, out-rebounding Michigan 22-12 in second-chance opportunities and keeping the pressure on throughout the contest. The Wolverines finally sealed their championship when McKenney converted two free throws, capping off an impressive 25-of-28 performance from the charity stripe.

The victory gives Michigan a 37-3 record for the season and marks the program’s second national championship, with their previous title coming in 1989.

San Antonio’s standout center Victor Wembanyama was forced to sit out the remainder of Monday night’s matchup with Philadelphia after sustaining a left rib contusion following a collision with 76ers forward Paul George in the opening half.

The 22-year-old made two trips to San Antonio’s locker room during the second quarter following the incident but managed to complete the first half of play. Before his departure, Wembanyama contributed 17 points, grabbed five rebounds, and recorded three blocks across more than 16 minutes of action, which officially counts toward postseason award eligibility requirements.

Currently in his third NBA season, Wembanyama has emerged as a serious contender for the Most Valuable Player award. Coming into Monday’s contest, he was posting impressive averages of 24.9 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and a league-leading 3.1 blocks per game.

The injury comes at a crucial time for award consideration, as Monday marked Wembanyama’s 63rd appearance this season. NBA rules require players to participate in at least 65 games to be eligible for major postseason honors. With San Antonio having just three contests left on their schedule following Monday’s game, the young star’s availability for those remaining matchups becomes critical for his award prospects.

SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama was sidelined for the second half of Monday night’s matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers after sustaining a bruised left rib injury.

The towering 7-foot-4 center was hurt when Philadelphia’s Paul George accidentally struck him with an elbow while trying to disrupt a pass during a fast break sequence. The collision occurred with 10:49 left on the clock in the opening half. Following the contact, George immediately offered an apologetic pat on Wembanyama’s back as the injured player stayed on the floor momentarily.

Just 13 seconds after the incident, Wembanyama was substituted out and headed straight to the locker room tunnel, visibly holding his arm against his side.

The French sensation made a brief comeback with 5:33 left in the first half but requested to be removed from the game again when 44 seconds remained before halftime. Once more, he walked toward the locker room while protecting his injured side, and team officials confirmed he would not return for the second half.

During his limited 15 minutes and 40 seconds of action, Wembanyama managed to score 17 points, grab five rebounds, and record three blocks.

The injury comes at a crucial time as Wembanyama has publicly expressed his desire to capture the league’s Most Valuable Player trophy this season. NBA regulations permit only two contests where players log between 15 and 19.59 minutes to qualify toward the mandatory 65-game minimum for major award consideration.

Wembanyama has appeared in 63 contests this season, which includes the NBA Cup Final.

The Spurs, who hold a 59-19 record, are wrapping up their regular season schedule with four consecutive home games, beginning with Monday’s Philadelphia contest.

SYDNEY, April 7 – Australian swimming star Kyle Chalmers dominated the field to capture the 100-meter freestyle championship at the Australian Open swimming meet on Monday, then shared his ambitious goal of securing an Olympic relay gold medal in 2028.

The 27-year-old swimmer from South Australia boasts an impressive medal collection, though only one Olympic gold – the individual 100m freestyle title he claimed as an 18-year-old at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Despite earning two bronze medals and one silver in the 4×100 relay across three Olympic Games, the former world champion dreams of defeating the United States on home soil in Los Angeles.

“I’d love a gold medal in a relay,” Chalmers said to Code Sports following his victory in the premier sprint event with a time of 48.39 seconds.

“To go to a fourth Olympics and get a gold medal in that relay that would be, for me, the ultimate success at this point.

“And I say that truthfully and honestly, I love that relay and if we were able to win it, I think it would be amazing.”

Chalmers sees the potential addition of 50m world record holder Cam McEvoy to Australia’s relay squad as crucial for challenging American dominance. The United States has claimed the 4×100 freestyle relay title at the past three Olympic Games.

McEvoy has been absent from relay competition for five years, but Chalmers expressed willingness to surrender the anchor position if it would convince the 31-year-old to rejoin the team effort.

“If it was to work out, I feel like we would be a very good chance of beating America at their home Olympics, which on night number one … would set the team up for an amazing week in the pool,” Chalmers explained.

The majority of competitors at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre are focusing on upcoming competitions, including this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Pan Pacific Championships scheduled for California.

World champion Mollie O’Callaghan claimed the women’s 100m freestyle title on Monday with a time of 52.66 seconds, while Olympic champion and world record holder Kaylee McKeown dominated the 200m backstroke in 2 minutes, 5.66 seconds.

In men’s distance events, former world champion Sam Short captured the 400m freestyle in 3:42.53, finishing nearly four seconds ahead of Paris Olympics silver medalist Elijah Winnington, who touched in 3:46.36.

Competition at the championships runs through Wednesday. Australian selection trials for the Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacific Championships are scheduled for June 7-13 at Sydney Olympic Park.

Basketball icon Shaquille O’Neal revealed Monday his plans to create a new professional dunking competition, with the first season scheduled to begin later this year.

The venture has secured support from TNT Sports and Authentic Brands Group, expanding upon last year’s DUNKMAN TV series. O’Neal’s vision transforms traditional slam dunk showcases into an organized professional sporting league.

Twenty-four competitors from across the globe will participate in the inaugural season, which features four live preliminary rounds leading up to the DUNKMAN World Championship. The ultimate champion will take home a grand prize worth $500,000.

“These athletes are innovators and DUNKMAN is going to give them a global stage, real stakes, and a chance to build careers doing what they love,” stated O’Neal, who will oversee the league as commissioner.

The competition will broadcast on TNT, TBS, truTV and HBO Max, with supplementary content shared through social media platforms and digital channels.

Craig Barry, TNT Sports Chief Content Officer, explained the league will appeal to fans of both athletics and entertainment culture. He emphasized that collaborating with O’Neal will help develop programming centered on the distinct personalities and artistic abilities of elite dunkers.

A judging panel will assess each dunking performance to determine which competitors move forward in the tournament. Officials plan to reveal additional information about venue locations, participant rosters and broadcast schedules in upcoming weeks.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Seattle Mariners backstop Cal Raleigh finally broke through Monday evening, launching his inaugural home run of the 2026 campaign after going 10 consecutive games without clearing the fence.

The catcher, who dominated Major League Baseball with 60 round-trippers in 2025, delivered the long ball during a marathon 12-pitch battle against Texas Rangers ace Jacob deGrom, a two-time Cy Young Award recipient. Raleigh worked through six foul balls while facing elimination with two strikes before crushing a 99 mph heater over the right field wall in the opening frame.

The power hitter’s previous longest stretch without a home run last season lasted eight contests.

Coming into Monday’s matchup, Raleigh was struggling mightily at the plate with a .132 batting average and just one run to his credit this year. The veteran nearly ended his drought during Saturday’s contest versus the Los Angeles Angels when he launched a first-inning drive that appeared destined for the seats, only to watch right fielder Jo Adell make a spectacular grab above the wall — the first of three would-be homers Adell robbed in that single game.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The sound of cowbells filled the air as Bryan Baker celebrated striking out Pete Crow-Armstrong, capping off a memorable homecoming for the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.

Playing at home for the first time in 561 days following Hurricane Milton’s devastating damage to their stadium, the Rays defeated the Chicago Cubs 6-4 on Monday before a capacity crowd of 25,114 fans.

“It felt pretty good to say the least,” Baker said of his reaction to the final pitch. “I think that was an encapsulation of how everybody felt getting back in this building and playing in front of these fans. To get out there and seal the deal for the boys was really fun.”

The massive storm struck downtown St. Petersburg on Oct. 9, 2024, requiring nearly $60 million in repairs to replace the damaged roof and restore the facility.

Powerful winds tore away portions of the original roofing structure, leaving the stadium exposed to rainfall for several months. The resulting water infiltration led to mold growth and significant harm to electrical, audio, and broadcasting equipment.

Workers completed installation of the replacement roof last August while the team spent their 2025 season playing temporary home games at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, which serves as the New York Yankees’ spring training facility.

Construction crews installed the final roofing section on Nov. 21. The renovations also included improvements to luxury boxes and the stadium’s video display system. Team members praised the updated artificial playing surface and appreciated enhancements such as fresh clubhouse flooring and new lockers.

“It was an important day for Rays baseball and unique for what we’ve gone through,” manager Kevin Cash said. “Very well done.”

While the Rays typically struggle with attendance, Monday marked their 20th straight sellout for a season opener, not counting 2020 when COVID-19 restrictions prevented fan attendance.

“It was great. Shout out to the city of St. Pete and the fans for showing up for us after everything they’ve been through,” said Chandler Simpson, who had two hits and two stolen bases.

Tampa mayor Jane Castor and St. Petersburg mayor Kenneth Welch delivered ceremonial first pitches, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis attended the game.

The victory marked the first home win under the franchise’s new ownership. Real estate developer Patrick Zalupski led an investment group that acquired the Rays for $1.7 billion last year. Zalupski and executives Ken Babby and Bill Cosgrove are working toward constructing a new stadium in Tampa, located near the Yankees’ spring training facility and across from Raymond James Stadium, where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play.

The team remains committed to playing at Tropicana Field through the 2028 season under their current lease agreement.

“The fans’ support was amazing,” said Junior Caminero, who hit one of three home runs for Tampa Bay. “It was exciting to be back at Tropicana.”

The team also unveiled the renovated “Cownose Clubhouse,” featuring seven cownose stingrays from The Florida Aquarium that survived Hurricane Milton. Following the storm, the marine animals temporarily relocated to The Florida Aquarium before moving to TECO’s Manatee Viewing Center at Apollo Beach in January, and finally returning to their permanent Tropicana Field habitat before the season opener.

SAN FRANCISCO — Tony Vitello finds himself constantly saying sorry to his family members for the San Francisco Giants’ poor performance, and even during family dinners, his thoughts remain focused on baseball rather than the conversation at hand.

The first-year Giants skipper has plenty to contemplate following a disappointing 3-7 record to begin his transition from collegiate coaching to Major League Baseball.

Following Sunday’s afternoon matchup, with Monday’s evening game providing extra reflection time, Vitello spent hours analyzing everything that contributed to San Francisco’s third consecutive loss. During that game, he received his first career ejection while protesting a seventh-inning call that ruled Jerar Encarnación out for running outside the baseline toward first base.

The manager continues to examine every choice he makes, committed to finding solutions for his struggling team.

“At 3-7 and how yesterday went, I didn’t think yesterday was the proper time for me to go gallivanting around San Francisco, so, yeah, I was in my condo the whole night,” Vitello explained. “Whether I’m there or sitting with family I apologize to them, ‘Find something better to watch if you’re watching this.’ We’re at dinner, I am thinking about this more than that. So, yeah, yesterday sitting at home you finish on a day game and you have a night game, you’ve got a lot of time to go over that stuff. You replay it all.”

Prior to Monday’s series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies, Vitello spoke with third baseman Matt Chapman about getting thrown out stealing following his leadoff single during the ninth inning of a 5-2 defeat to the Mets that completed New York’s weekend sweep.

Vitello understands such errors would become more costly as the season progresses, noting that the Giants are “trying” so intensely to secure victories “it’s probably something that everybody’s been a little guilty of, of not going about it the way they would if they were thinking clearly but when you’re trying to win games as hard as possible sometimes it actually contradicts what your end goal is.”

Entering Monday’s contest, San Francisco had been outscored by 25 runs through their opening 10 games — the franchise’s worst differential through 10 contests since recording minus-49 in 1896. The team’s 3-7 start matched its second-worst 10-game beginning since relocating to San Francisco in 1958, with only a 2-8 start in 1983 being worse.

Chapman remains optimistic that favorable outcomes will provide the Giants with necessary momentum to climb out of last place in the competitive NL West division, expressing gratitude that these difficulties are occurring early with ample time remaining. San Francisco has failed to reach the postseason for four consecutive years.

“Whatever it is, I think it’s more of an accumulation of maybe some frustrating things happening because we’re right there and we’re not able to get the job done,” Chapman noted. “… It sucks when it looks like it’s sloppy baseball and we’re making some sloppy mistakes that kind of shot us in the foot last year and was one of the reasons why we probably weren’t able to finish as strong. But I don’t think it’s going to be something that’s going to be the story of our season by any means.”

Following his ejection, Vitello provided detailed reasoning for his frustration. The former University of Tennessee head coach frequently references experiences from his collegiate career.

“I’m sure he got it exactly technically right,” Vitello said after Sunday’s game. “It’s just a play I’ve got a lot of history for. A little frustrated about something else that occurred in the game. … Got a ton of history with that play. Lost a game to Lipscomb on that play, lost the game to (Oklahoma State coach) Frank Anderson and a Big 12 championship on that play. The difference between the two that I’m talking about, and I can talk about others, is the runner in Frank’s instance — and I’ve called his team cheaters — completely interfered with the throwing lane for the pitcher. So again, umpires are held accountable by what the rules are, and they enforce those rules.”

Multiple players and coaching staff members have praised Vitello’s enthusiasm, intensity, and methodology since spring training began.

From his first day, Vitello admitted he would need to adapt quickly from the dugout and expected numerous challenges along the way.

“Listen, Tony’s great, I like Tony, he’s cool,” said center fielder Harrison Bader, who entered the series hitting .118 (4 for 34) with one home run while working to improve his performance. “At the major league level, a little different in terms of the fans and the speed but he won at a really high level in the SEC. It’s the same game, so he’s familiar to winning and what it looks like to help players win and what that feeling looks like and how to maintain it. So he’s in the right spot.”

The New Jersey Devils have dismissed general manager Tom Fitzgerald, marking another mid-season front office shakeup across the NHL.

Co-owner David Blitzer revealed Monday that the organization had decided to release Fitzgerald from his duties. Fitzgerald took over as general manager in January 2020 and received a promotion to president of hockey operations along with a contract extension earlier in 2024.

“Tom and I had a thoughtful conversation today and agreed it was time to move in a new direction,” Blitzer stated. “Tom changed the trajectory of our team here, including setting a franchise record for points in a season and helping make New Jersey a hockey destination. He is a well-respected leader across the Devils’ organization and NHL, and I am grateful for our friendship.”

During his tenure, Fitzgerald helped develop much of the team’s foundation around star players Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes, both of whom were selected when he served as assistant to Ray Shero. The 57-year-old executive faced recent scrutiny for awarding contracts with limiting no-trade provisions and for extending Jacob Markstrom’s deal prematurely, ahead of the goaltender’s performance issues.

“After talking with David Blitzer, it was apparent to everyone that the best course of action is to move on for the benefit of the team,” Fitzgerald commented. “The Devils are fortunate to have a core of great players, vocal and passionate fans, but most importantly, tremendous people who worked with me toward a common goal. I’ve always said that New Jersey is a hidden gem, and I’m proud of the effort that we put in to raise the standard and make it a destination.”

Under Fitzgerald’s leadership, New Jersey reached the playoffs twice across five seasons, advancing to the second round in 2023 before falling in the opening round the following year.

“As we prepare to move forward, it is important I acknowledge our fans: I recognize we have not delivered in the way you expect and deserve and I understand and share in your frustration,” Blitzer explained. “This is a critical offseason for our franchise, and we will explore all avenues that best position the Devils to compete for a Stanley Cup once again.”

The dismissal raises questions about head coach Sheldon Keefe’s status, as he approaches the conclusion of his second season. Fitzgerald brought Keefe aboard in May 2024.

Having participated in USA Hockey’s management team that assembled the gold medal-winning Olympic roster for Milan Cortina, Fitzgerald may quickly emerge as a contender for other general manager openings league-wide. Both the Nashville Predators, following Barry Trotz’s retirement, and the Toronto Maple Leafs, after dismissing Brad Treliving, are actively seeking new hockey operations leadership.

“I am incredibly appreciative to David, Josh Harris, and the entire New Jersey Devils organization for being a part of my life for the past decade,” Fitzgerald expressed. “I look forward to the next step in my hockey career and will always look back fondly on my time with the Devils.”

Fitzgerald’s playing history includes stints in Nashville and Toronto. He served as Nashville’s inaugural captain from 1998-2002 under coach Trotz and spent two seasons with Toronto from 2002-2004.

Following his transition to management, Fitzgerald held the position of director of player development when Pittsburgh captured the Stanley Cup in 2009. He joined the Devils organization in 2015.

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Though Tiger Woods isn’t competing at Augusta National this week, the legendary golfer remains at the forefront of fellow competitors’ thoughts as they prepare for the Masters tournament.

The 50-year-old golf icon has entered a treatment facility outside the United States after a March 27 car crash in Florida that resulted in DUI charges. Woods subsequently announced he would skip this year’s Masters and withdrew from consideration as the 2027 U.S. Ryder Cup captain while taking an indefinite break from professional golf.

Reports indicate Woods’ aircraft arrived in Switzerland last week, following his lawyer’s statement to a Martin County judge that the golf superstar required an “intensive, highly individualized and medically integrated program” away from public attention and media coverage.

Following Monday’s practice round, Jason Day reflected on Woods’ situation, saying: “It just shows the human element and the human side of someone that is struggling with some sort of an addiction. He’s not immune to it just because he can hit a golf ball really well. He’s had 25 to 30 something surgeries, and when you’re going through that many procedures, it’s painful coming out of those procedures. I’ve had procedures done and I typically try and stay away from all that stuff because I just know that — painkillers, there can potentially be a downfall to it.”

Day continued: “Granted, when I look at that, I look at it and go, he’s just a human being like everyone else and we have struggles. It’s unfortunate.”

The five-time Masters winner entered a not guilty plea to misdemeanor DUI charges after his vehicle collided with a trailer near his Jupiter, Florida residence. Woods’ SUV overturned during the incident, and he received an additional citation for distracted driving. Law enforcement discovered two white pills identified as hydrocodone in his clothing.

While expressing empathy, Day also noted concerns about the incident: “The only thing that I don’t understand is that it’s a little bit selfish of him to drive and put other people in harm’s way, as well. But when you’re the player that he was and how strong-willed he is, he thinks he can do almost anything, and that’s probably why he’s probably driving and a little bit under the influence.”

Just three days before the accident, Woods had discussed his preparation efforts for this week’s Masters during the TGL championship. His unexpected absence has deeply affected competitors who either played alongside him or idolized the 15-time major winner during their formative years.

“He was my hero — he is my hero,” Day explained. “He was my hero growing up. The reason why I play golf is because of this tournament and Tiger. It’s hard to see him go through what he’s going through, and especially under the microscope that — it must be hard to be who he is and have everything, everyone look on, kind of down on him. Some people want him to fail. Some people obviously want him to succeed. It’s really difficult for me to go through that and watch him, and I know that he’s getting the help now, which is good. I’m just hoping he comes out on the other side and is better.”

Tuesday evening’s champions dinner will proceed without Woods, as 2018 Masters winner Patrick Reed noted. Phil Mickelson will also be absent due to personal medical issues.

“Let’s be honest, without Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in the events, in golf, when they both step away, honestly I feel it hurts the game of golf,” Reed observed. “But at the same time, we want them to come back and be healthy and ready to go.”

This marks the first time in 32 years that both Mickelson and Woods have missed the Masters simultaneously. Woods’ last absence from golf’s first major occurred in 2021 during his recovery from severe injuries sustained in a California vehicle accident. During the recent Florida incident, Woods informed officers he had undergone more than 20 surgeries on his right leg, along with seven back operations and treatment for a torn Achilles tendon.

PGA Tour veteran Harris English described Woods’ absence as “very strange” this week at Augusta National.

“He’s such a legend in this game, somebody I looked up to,” English said. “Watching him win around this place in (19)97 is kind of the reason I started getting into golf. I know he’s going to get through this. He has a big fight ahead of him. He’s a fighter. That’s what he does. He’s going to get through it and come out a better man and a better person. We hope to see him soon.”

Jacob Bridgeman, who joined the professional ranks in 2022, lacks the extensive playing experience alongside Woods that veterans like Day, Reed and English possess. However, he represents another generation whose passion for golf developed largely through watching Woods compete.

“I think everybody has a very soft heart for Tiger. He’s been the guy for our game that’s changed everything the most,” Bridgeman explained. “He’s made these tournaments what they are, and he’s made the purses what they are just by his popularity. Everybody loved watching him. I grew up watching Tiger. He was my golf idol. I think everybody is thinking about him and hoping he can do what’s best.”

Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson witnessed Woods’ most recent Augusta National victory in 2019. He recalled rushing with other former champions to the 18th green to congratulate Woods, but emphasized that he “could care less about Tiger’s golf.”

“Anybody that’s struggling with anything, I feel for him because I’ve went through a lot of mental stuff. So yeah, I always pull for him. Nothing but love for him, and hopefully he can come back stronger,” Watson said.

The New Jersey Devils have decided to end their working relationship with General Manager and President of Hockey Operations Tom Fitzgerald through a mutual agreement announced Monday.

The 57-year-old executive first joined the organization’s leadership in January 2020 when he was promoted from assistant general manager to interim GM, before receiving the permanent position that July. Earlier this year in January, the team expanded his role to include president of hockey operations responsibilities.

With a record of 40-34-3 for 83 points, New Jersey currently finds itself outside the Eastern Conference playoff race with just seven games left in the regular season. The team appears headed for its second playoff miss in three seasons, following their record-breaking 112-point campaign in 2022-23.

Managing partner David Blitzer explained the decision in a released statement: “Tom and I had a thoughtful conversation today and agreed it was time to move in a new direction. Tom changed the trajectory of our team here, including setting a franchise record for points in a season and helping make New Jersey a hockey destination. He is a well-respected leader across the Devils’ organization and NHL, and I am grateful for our friendship. I wish Tom and his family all the best.”

Fitzgerald also issued his own statement regarding the separation: “After talking with David Blitzer, it was apparent to everyone that the best course of action is to move on for the benefit of the team. The Devils are fortunate to have a core of great players, vocal and passionate fans, but most importantly, tremendous people who worked with me toward a common goal. I’ve always said that New Jersey is a hidden gem and I’m proud of the effort that we put in to raise the standard and make it a destination. I look forward to the next step in my hockey career and will always look back fondly on my time with the Devils.”

The organization has not yet revealed whether they will appoint an interim replacement or if Fitzgerald’s departure will take effect immediately or at season’s conclusion.

Blitzer concluded his remarks by addressing the team’s supporters directly: “As we prepare to move forward, it is important I acknowledge our fans. I recognize we have not delivered in the way you expect and deserve and I understand and share in your frustration. This is a critical offseason for our franchise, and we will explore all avenues that best position the Devils to compete for a Stanley Cup once again.”

TORONTO — Veteran right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer’s brief outing Monday night has deepened the Toronto Blue Jays’ starting rotation crisis, as the three-time Cy Young Award recipient departed his start versus the Los Angeles Dodgers following just two innings of work.

The 41-year-old hurler, who inked a new deal with Toronto this past February, surrendered two earned runs on a pair of hits during his shortened appearance.

Los Angeles struck first when Teoscar Hernández launched a home run in the opening frame, plating Kyle Tucker who had reached base via walk.

Concerning velocity readings showed Scherzer’s fastball velocity declining from an average of 93.4 mph during his March 31 outing against Colorado to just 92.1 mph throughout Monday’s abbreviated performance against the Dodgers.

Southpaw Josh Fleming, recently promoted from Triple-A Buffalo prior to Monday’s contest, assumed pitching duties beginning in the third inning.

Toronto’s rotation troubles have reached critical levels with four pitchers currently occupying spots on the injured list, including right-hander Cody Ponce. Ponce sustained a knee injury during his first major league appearance since 2021 last Monday, exiting in the third inning after chasing down an infield ground ball.

Additional sidelined hurlers include right-handers Trey Yesavage (shoulder ailment), Jose Berrios (elbow issue), and Shane Bieber (elbow problem), all of whom remain in rehabilitation and have not taken the mound this season.

In response to the mounting injuries, Toronto signed 36-year-old left-handed veteran Patrick Corbin to a one-year deal last Friday. Corbin made his organizational debut Saturday with Single-A Dunedin, yielding one run across five innings of work.

The University of North Carolina appears close to securing a deal with NBA championship-winning coach Michael Malone to take charge of the Tar Heels basketball program, according to a source familiar with the negotiations who spoke Monday.

The source provided information to The Associated Press under the condition of anonymity since the university has not made any public statements regarding their coaching search. Malone is set to take over from Hubert Davis, who was dismissed on March 24 following five years at the helm after taking over from retired Hall of Fame coach Roy Williams.

ESPN initially broke the news of UNC’s pursuit of Malone.

At 54 years old, Malone brings 12 seasons of NBA head coaching experience, with a decade of that time spent in Denver. Under his leadership, the Nuggets captured the 2023 NBA championship with three-time league MVP Nikola Jokic leading the charge.

Denver dismissed Malone last spring with just days remaining in the regular season. Nearly one year later, in another unexpected development, Malone stands poised to assume control of one of college basketball’s most prestigious programs, boasting six national championships, a record 21 Final Four appearances, and notable alumni including Michael Jordan, James Worthy, Vince Carter, and Atlantic Coast Conference career scoring record-holder Tyler Hansbrough.

This hiring would give UNC prominent former professional coaches at the helm of both major athletic programs. The Tar Heels brought in six-time Super Bowl winner Bill Belichick to coach football in December 2024. Belichick posted a disappointing 4-8 record in his first season.

The dismissal of Davis created an opening for one of college basketball’s premier positions for just the fourth time since legendary Hall of Fame coach Dean Smith stepped down following 36 seasons in October 1997.

Since then, the position had remained within the “Carolina Family” circle. Long-time assistant Bill Guthridge took over for Smith, followed by former UNC player Matt Doherty, then former Smith assistant Williams, and finally Davis, who both played under Smith and served on Williams’ coaching staff.

Several high-profile candidates including Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd, Michigan’s Dusty May, and Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan — who guided Florida to NCAA championships in 2006 and 2007 — had been connected to the opening since Davis’ departure. Lloyd confirmed Friday at the Final Four that he would remain with the Wildcats while commending UNC for “the way they’ve handled this.”

Just three days following that announcement, the search has taken an unforeseen turn toward Malone, who lacks college head coaching experience and has dedicated the majority of his career to the NBA.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays marked their emotional return to Tropicana Field with a convincing 6-4 victory against the Chicago Cubs on Monday, playing their first home game in 561 days.

Home runs from Cedric Mullins, Jonathan Aranda, and Junior Caminero powered the Rays to victory as a capacity crowd of 25,114 fans packed the domed stadium to celebrate the team’s homecoming.

The lengthy absence from their home venue came after Hurricane Milton severely damaged the Tropicana Field roof and caused widespread destruction throughout the facility. During the 2025 season, the Rays were forced to play their home games at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, which serves as the New York Yankees’ spring training facility.

Left-handed pitcher Shane McClanahan delivered a strong performance in his first Tropicana Field start since July 22, 2023, surrendering just two runs on one hit across four innings while recording five strikeouts and issuing four walks.

McClanahan’s appearance marked a significant milestone in his recovery from multiple injuries that sidelined him for two complete seasons. The veteran pitcher underwent his second Tommy John surgery in August 2023 and subsequently missed the entire 2025 campaign due to nerve inflammation in his left triceps.

Kevin Kelly earned the victory with a flawless fifth inning, improving his record to 1-1, while Bryan Baker secured his first save of the season despite allowing Matt Shaw’s solo home run in the ninth inning.

The Cubs struck first when Nico Hoerner delivered a two-run single with two outs in the second inning, giving Chicago an early 2-0 advantage.

Tampa Bay responded in the bottom half of the second when Mullins connected on a 3-2 changeup from Jameson Taillon, driving the ball into the right field seats to even the score at 2-2.

The Rays seized the lead moments later when Taylor Walls smacked a double to left-center field and came around to score on an errant throw by shortstop Dansby Swanson following Yandy Diaz’s infield hit.

Caminero extended Tampa Bay’s advantage to 4-2 in the third inning with a towering solo blast to left field.

Chicago managed to cut the deficit to 4-3 in the sixth when Michael Busch lifted a sacrifice fly, but Aranda answered in the seventh with a home run off Phil Maton that stretched the Rays’ lead to 6-3.

Taillon absorbed the loss, falling to 0-1 after allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits over six innings of work.

Tuesday night’s matchup will feature Cubs right-hander Javier Assad making his season debut against Rays starter Drew Rasmussen, who enters with an 0-0 record and 1.80 ERA. Assad, who carries a 3.43 ERA over four major league seasons, will fill the rotation spot vacated by Matthew Boyd, who was placed on the 15-day injured list with a left biceps strain.

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider announced Monday that catcher Alejandro Kirk is scheduled to have surgery Tuesday to fix a fractured left thumb.

The injury occurred during Friday’s 5-4 defeat against the Chicago White Sox when Kirk caught a foul tip near the bottom of his glove. Team officials have not yet established a timeline for the All-Star’s return to action.

“We’ll know the timeline after the surgery,” Schneider stated.

The 27-year-old Kirk has struggled early this season, going 3-for-20 with a .150 batting average, one home run and two RBIs across five games.

Throughout his seven-year major league career since joining Toronto in 2020, Kirk has compiled a .267 batting average with 52 home runs and 265 RBIs over 569 games.

With Kirk sidelined, 34-year-old Tyler Heineman will take over as the primary catcher. Heineman has performed well early this season, going 4-for-10 through five games. The team called up prospect Brandon Valenzuela, 25, from Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday to serve as backup catcher. Valenzuela made his major league debut on Sunday, going 1-for-3 with two strikeouts.

The National Hockey League announced Monday that Florida Panthers center Eetu Luostarinen will pay a $5,000 fine following a high-sticking penalty against Pittsburgh player Rickard Rakell.

The infraction took place 2 minutes and 38 seconds into the second period during Florida’s 5-2 defeat on the road against the Penguins Sunday night.

Rakell was sent to the ice by the contact, which earned Luostarinen a double minor penalty during the game.

The 27-year-old Finnish player has recorded 27 points this season through 68 contests, including nine goals and 18 assists, while accumulating 32 minutes in penalties.

Throughout his NHL career spanning 442 games between Florida and the Carolina Hurricanes, the two-time Stanley Cup winner has tallied 156 points with 59 goals and 97 assists.

CHICAGO — The Chicago Bulls made a significant front office change Monday, dismissing executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley after six seasons that yielded only a single postseason berth.

The organization completely overhauled its roster ahead of the February trade deadline, but Karnisovas and Eversley will not oversee the franchise’s rebuilding efforts moving forward.

During their leadership, the Bulls compiled a 224-254 record. The team currently holds the 12th position in the Eastern Conference with a 29-49 record and faces its fourth consecutive season without playoff basketball.

In a released statement, President and CEO Michael Reinsdorf acknowledged that Karnisovas and Eversley “led with a deep commitment to the Chicago Bulls” while explaining the decision centers on “positioning our team for sustained success moving ahead.”

“I want our fans to know that I hear you and understand your frustration,” Reinsdorf stated. “I feel it as well. I know this will take time, and I am fully committed to getting this right. At the Chicago Bulls, our focus remains on building a team that can compete at the highest level and ultimately contend for championships. We are committed to taking the necessary steps to move the Bulls forward in a way that makes our fans proud.”

The franchise dismantled its roster before February’s trade deadline, sending Nikola Vucevic to Boston, Kevin Huerter to Detroit, Coby White to Charlotte and hometown player Ayo Dosunmu to Minnesota in hopes of escaping years of mediocrity. The organization retained Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey as potential building blocks and now possesses significant salary cap flexibility for summer moves.

“Being in the middle is what we don’t want to do,” Karnisovas explained during the trade period. “I think we’ve seen that for the past four years and we want to change that.”

However, mediocrity largely defined the franchise since Karnisovas arrived from Denver’s organization in April 2020. The Bulls added Eversley from Philadelphia several weeks afterward and brought in head coach Billy Donovan that September. Donovan’s employment status remains unclear.

The organization’s sole playoff run under Karnisovas and Eversley occurred in 2021-22, when they secured sixth place in the Eastern Conference at 46-36 before Milwaukee eliminated them in round one. Point guard Lonzo Ball suffered a season-ending knee injury that year and remained sidelined for the following two campaigns.

DeMar DeRozan’s 2023 selection marked Chicago’s most recent All-Star representation. The absence of a franchise centerpiece became increasingly apparent, and Karnisovas’ hesitation to pursue a comprehensive rebuild frustrated the fanbase. Instead of maximizing lottery odds, he emphasized patience and gradual progress.

This approach shifted dramatically when Karnisovas executed seven deals before this year’s deadline. The Bulls primarily collected second-round selections without acquiring any first-round picks.

Detroit’s Jaden Ivey represented one notable acquisition, as the organization hoped the 2022 fifth overall selection could return to pre-surgery form. However, the Bulls released him last week following anti-LGBTQ+ religious comments he posted on Instagram.

Ivey had been unavailable since February 11th and played only four games in Chicago. His contract was scheduled to expire at season’s end.

Donovan received a contract extension last summer but could pursue other NBA opportunities or return to collegiate coaching if Chicago moves in a different direction.

The coach holds a 467-411 record across 11 NBA seasons. He was considered the premier available candidate when the Bulls hired him in September 2020, replacing the dismissed Jim Boylen after five successful years in Oklahoma City. He guided the Thunder to a 243-157 record with annual playoff appearances while coaching stars including Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Paul George and Chris Paul.

Before his professional career, Donovan spent 19 seasons at the University of Florida, capturing consecutive NCAA championships. The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inducted him this past September.

The New York Mets have announced they will honor Carlos Beltrán by permanently retiring his number 15 jersey and welcoming him into the franchise’s hall of fame during a pre-game ceremony on September 19, when they host the Philadelphia Phillies.

This distinction places Beltrán among just nine players in Mets history whose numbers have been permanently retired. The exclusive group includes baseball legends Tom Seaver (41), Mike Piazza (31), Jerry Koosman (36), Keith Hernandez (17), Willie Mays (24), Dwight Gooden (16), Darryl Strawberry (18) and David Wright (5).

The organization has also permanently retired jerseys belonging to former managers Gil Hodges (14) and Casey Stengel (37), while all MLB teams have honored Jackie Robinson by retiring number 42.

Current Mets outfielder Tyrone Taylor, who presently wears number 15, will switch to number 28 to make way for the honor.

Beltrán earned induction into baseball’s Hall of Fame this year and has chosen to have a Mets cap displayed on his commemorative plaque. The official Hall of Fame ceremony is scheduled for July 26.

The former star’s relationship with the Mets organization has been complex. After being named manager on November 1, 2019, Beltrán was dismissed on January 16, 2020, before managing even one game. His firing came three days after MLB’s investigation into the Houston Astros’ electronic sign-stealing scandal specifically named him as the only player involved during the team’s 2017 World Series championship run.

The organization brought Beltrán back in February 2023 as a special assistant to the general manager. He currently serves as a special assistant to president of baseball operations David Stearns.

Team owners Steve and Alex Cohen issued a statement Monday celebrating Beltrán as “one of the greatest offensive players in team history, combining power and speed with elite defense.”

Reflecting on the upcoming honor, Beltrán expressed his gratitude, saying having his number retired and entering the team’s hall of fame is “the highest possible tribute, and I truly feel blessed. The Mets hold a special place in my heart. This summer will be incredibly meaningful, from my induction into the baseball Hall of Fame to this Mets hall of fame honor, with the cherry on top being my number retirement. I’m deeply grateful.”

Cold weather predictions have prompted three Major League Baseball teams to reschedule their Tuesday evening matchups to daytime starts.

On Monday, the New York Mets revealed they would be shifting both their Tuesday and Wednesday contests against the Arizona Diamondbacks from evening to afternoon due to anticipated frigid and blustery weather conditions.

Both Mets games will now begin at 4:10 p.m. Eastern Time instead of the originally planned 7:10 p.m. start times.

The Cleveland Guardians also adjusted their Tuesday matchup with the Kansas City Royals, moving the start time five hours earlier to 1:10 p.m. Eastern Time to avoid sub-freezing nighttime temperatures.

Cleveland’s scheduling change also helps prevent additional postponements and doubleheaders early in the season. Kansas City recently played two games in one day against Milwaukee on Saturday after Friday’s contest was delayed, while Cleveland just finished a doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs on Sunday following Saturday’s rain postponement.

The Chicago White Sox similarly rescheduled their Tuesday game against the Baltimore Orioles, advancing the start from 6:40 p.m. Central Time to 2:10 p.m. due to expected cold conditions.

To thank fans for their “understanding, commitment and flexibility,” the Mets announced they would provide a limited quantity of free tickets to both rescheduled games.

These complimentary tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis through Mets.com/Tickets using the promotional code THANKYOU, with fans able to claim up to four tickets per game.

The Mets are also providing vouchers for future contests to fans who previously bought tickets for the Tuesday or Wednesday games. These vouchers can be used for home regular-season games scheduled Monday through Thursday.

Fans holding tickets for the original evening games can use them for the rescheduled afternoon contests.

New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence has formally asked the organization to trade him and plans to skip their offseason training activities, sources close to the situation revealed Monday.

Three individuals with knowledge of the matter shared this information with The Associated Press under the condition they remain unnamed, as the discussions have not been disclosed publicly.

The 28-year-old nose tackle has spent his entire seven-year professional career with New York after the team drafted him 17th overall from Clemson University in 2019.

Lawrence remains under contract for two more seasons, scheduled to receive $20 million this year and $19.5 million in the following season.

Despite suffering a dislocated left elbow during a Thanksgiving game in 2024, Lawrence appeared in every contest last season, starting all 17 games. However, he recorded career-low numbers with just 31 tackles and half a sack while playing for a defensive unit that finished 30th among the league’s 32 teams.

Throughout his professional career, Lawrence has accumulated 341 tackles and 30.5 sacks across 109 regular season appearances, adding 12 more tackles in two playoff contests.

The Giants kicked off their spring training sessions Tuesday with new head coach John Harbaugh leading the way. Harbaugh and general manager Joe Schoen recently brought in Dennard Wilson to serve as defensive coordinator. Following a disappointing 4-13 record, the team holds the fifth selection in the upcoming draft.

NEW YORK — The New York Mets will be without star outfielder Juan Soto for the next two to three weeks after he suffered a strained right calf muscle.

The team placed the four-time All-Star on the 10-day injured list on Monday, with the move dating back to Saturday. According to the Mets, this type of muscle strain typically requires approximately two to three weeks of recovery time before players can return to action.

To fill the roster spot, the organization brought up infielder Ronny Mauricio from their Triple-A affiliate in Syracuse.

The 27-year-old Soto is currently in his second year of a historic $765 million contract spanning 15 seasons. Through eight games this season, he has posted impressive numbers with a .355 batting average, one home run, and five RBIs. Last year in his debut season with New York, Soto compiled a .263 average along with 43 home runs, 105 RBIs, 38 stolen bases, 127 walks, and a .921 OPS.

The injury occurred during Friday evening’s contest when Soto attempted to advance from first base to third base in the Mets’ 10-3 victory over San Francisco.

NEW YORK — During Major League Baseball’s inaugural week of robot umpire challenges, catchers significantly outperformed batters in successfully overturning calls, with the Detroit Tigers and David Dingler setting the pace.

Teams achieved an overall 55.2% success rate (299 of 542) with the Automated Ball-Strike System challenges, while defensive squads won 59.7% of their appeals (175 of 293), including a 60.4% success rate for catchers (169 of 280).

“I like it a little more. I was pretty staunch against it, which I still may be to some degree,” New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.

Pitchers made only 13 challenges, succeeding on six occasions. Hitters managed a 49.8% success rate (124 of 249).

“I think it’s fun. It’s its own game inside the game, almost,” Tampa Bay catcher Hunter Feduccia said.

The success rate improved from last year’s Triple-A performance of 49.5%, where defensive teams won 53.7% and batters succeeded 49.5% of the time.

Detroit topped all teams with a 75% success rate (15 of 20), followed by Arizona at 71%, while Baltimore and Cincinnati both achieved 67%.

Minnesota issued the most challenges with 32, winning 20 for a 63% rate. Texas made the fewest appeals, succeeding on 4 of 10 attempts.

Cleveland struggled most at 32% success, with Washington at 38% and both St. Louis and Texas at 40%.

Detroit’s catchers went perfect at 8-0, with Dingler accounting for seven victories.

The system’s influence became evident during Atlanta’s visit to Arizona last Thursday. With the Braves leading 2-1, Arizona’s Ryne Nelson delivered a 3-2 curveball to the upper, outside corner against Ozzie Albies that umpire Malachi Moore called a strike. Albies appealed and walked toward first base before the automated system revealed the pitch missed the strike zone by 1.1 inches. That walk sparked an eight-run rally in a 17-2 victory.

“In some of these games, it’s had a more of a swinging effect on outcomes of at-bats and how things change than maybe even you thought,” Miami manager Clayton McCullough said.

Los Angeles Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe recorded the most individual wins, succeeding on 10 of 12 challenges. Miami’s Agustín Ramírez won 7 of 9 appeals and the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Will Smith succeeded 8 of 11 times.

Seattle’s Cal Raleigh won 4 of 9 challenges while Oakland’s Shea Langeliers succeeded 3 of 9 times.

Among hitters, New York Mets’ Mark Vientos and Iván Herrera both went 3-0. Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout finished 3-1 alongside Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber and Tampa Bay’s Jake Fraley.

Colorado’s Hunter Goodman and Washington’s Luis García Jr. both went 0 for 3.

Boone noted that Yankees personnel and players examine challenges made and missed opportunities on a daily basis.

Players continue adapting to the system. Washington’s Jorbit Vivas tapped his helmet requesting an appeal on March 31 after the Nationals had already used their two allowed challenges.

Regarding umpires, Mike Estabrook had 11 of 12 decisions overturned (91.7%), Andy Fletcher saw 15 of 17 reversed (88.2%), while Ron Kulpa and Paul Clemons each had 7 of 9 overturned (77.8%) and Chris Segal 10 of 13 (76.9%), according to taptochallenge.com.

Will Little had only 1 of 10 decisions reversed while Erich Bacchus maintained perfection with no overturned calls in five challenges. Additional umpires with low reversal rates among those with at least five challenges included Emil Jiménez (1 of 5), Jordan Baker (2 of 8), Ryan Additon and Nick Mahrley (both 2 of 7) and David Rackley (3 of 10).

Offensive production continued to struggle through the season’s first 139 games of 2,430 total.

The major league batting average of .234 dropped from .239 during last year’s opening week, when it concluded at .245. Averages typically rise as temperatures increase. The all-time low of .237 was established in 1968.

Mean fastball velocity reached 94.6 mph, rising from 94.1 mph during last year’s first week. The season-ending figure has climbed each of the past five years to a record 94.5 mph in 2025. It measured 91.9 mph when MLB began tracking in 2008.

“I wish I was facing the same pitching as I did my rookie year back when guys were throwing 88-mile-an-hour sinkers over the plate,” said 33-year-old Cleveland catcher Austin Hedges. “That pitch doesn’t exist anymore.”

World Athletics announced Monday that Craig Reedie, a prominent leader in Olympic sports and anti-doping initiatives, passed away at 84 years old.

Reedie began his career as a competitive badminton player representing Britain before transitioning into sports leadership roles that would define his legacy on the international stage.

Throughout his distinguished career, Reedie held several high-profile positions including leading the World Anti-Doping Agency as president, serving as chairman of the British Olympic Association, and holding a vice presidency with the International Olympic Committee.

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe honored Reedie’s memory with a detailed tribute, describing his character and leadership style.

“Craig was a sportsman at heart, but he had the mind and tenacity of a politician. He was equal parts opinionated, wise, canny, and, most of all, loyal to those who legitimately wanted to serve sport,” Coe stated.

Coe continued his praise, noting Reedie’s direct approach and unwavering principles.

“He certainly did not suffer fools gladly, was authentic, and would speak his mind.

“He was laser-like in his directness, would go into battle to defend what he believed was right, and was in the lead tank during every battle. And, on the rare occasions he was wrong, he would admit so, explain his position, and apologise.”

The University of North Carolina’s hunt for a new basketball coach has generated mixed signals, with different media outlets pointing to two distinct NBA figures as the leading candidates.

According to The Field of 68’s Sunday report, the Tar Heels are concentrating their efforts exclusively on Billy Donovan, who currently leads the Chicago Bulls and previously guided the University of Florida to consecutive national titles in 2006 and 2007.

However, ESPN contradicted this Monday, stating that North Carolina plans to bring in Michael Malone, who captured an NBA championship with the Denver Nuggets in 2025 but lacks experience as a college head coach.

The 60-year-old Donovan built an impressive 467-186 coaching record at Florida between 1996 and 2015 before transitioning to professional basketball. His NBA tenure includes a 243-157 mark with the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2015 to 2020, followed by a 224-253 record with Chicago, including this season’s 29-48 performance.

Malone, age 54, has spent this season providing analysis for ABC and ESPN after Denver dismissed him on April 8, 2025. His head coaching career spans 510-394 across his time with the Nuggets from 2015-2025 and a brief stint with Sacramento in 2013-14. Before becoming a head coach, he served as an assistant with Golden State, New Orleans, Cleveland, and New York in the NBA.

His college experience includes assistant coaching positions at Manhattan from 1999-2001, Providence between 1995-98, and Oakland in 1994-95.

The Tar Heels dismissed Hubert Davis following their opening-round NCAA Tournament defeat to VCU last month. Other potential candidates, including Michigan’s Dusty May and Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd, have chosen to stay with their current programs.

The Chicago Cubs are planning to bring outfielder Seiya Suzuki back from the injured list this Friday as they prepare to host the Pittsburgh Pirates for a three-game series at home.

Suzuki hasn’t appeared in any games for Chicago this season after suffering a sprained knee ligament while representing Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic earlier this year.

During his rehabilitation stint with Double-A Knoxville, Suzuki has recorded three hits in eight at-bats, along with one walk and one RBI across three games.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell addressed reporters about Suzuki’s return, saying: “We’re probably dealing with at-bats as much as anything here. He didn’t get a full spring. Multiple weeks off. It’s just making sure he’s ready to go offensively.”

While playing for Knoxville, Suzuki has logged 10 defensive innings across two games in right field, and the Cubs organization plans to give him additional defensive work this week before his activation.

The 31-year-old outfielder enjoyed his best campaign with Chicago last season, launching 32 home runs while driving in 103 runs. Throughout his four-year tenure with the Cubs, Suzuki has maintained a .269 batting average with an .818 OPS, accumulating 87 home runs and 296 RBIs across 532 games.

AUGUSTA, Georgia — The ceramic collectible gnomes that have become legendary souvenirs at the Masters Tournament could be approaching their final chapter, with speculation that 2026 might mark their last year of production.

These small figurines have dominated Augusta National Golf Club’s merchandise sales for the past decade, consistently selling out in under an hour with strict one-per-customer limits and generating astronomical prices on secondary markets.

Rumors circulating at the prestigious golf club indicate the gnomes may conclude their run in 2026, transforming these already precious collectibles into even more treasured items among golf enthusiasts.

Fans who successfully obtain one of these ceramic figures during their visit to Augusta National’s pristine grounds display them proudly, especially as this year’s first major championship begins Thursday.

The 2026 version features a white-bearded figure wearing a blue Masters vest, holding a coffee cup in one hand and a working miniature umbrella in the other, retailing for $49.50.

However, secondary market values tell a dramatically different tale. These gnomes, which debuted as Masters merchandise in 2016, are already commanding prices approaching $1,000 for the current 2026 model on resale platforms, while a complete collection spanning 2016-2025 has been listed on eBay for $39,999.

Lisa Endredi from Augusta, Georgia, demonstrated the dedication required to secure these items by arriving at the club at 4 a.m. Monday and waiting three hours in line before she and her spouse each obtained one.

“I got one for my best friend and she’s got tickets for (the opening round) Thursday so I am going to trade her a gnome for a ticket,” Endredi explained, noting that her second gnome will be displayed on her home mantel. “Don’t underestimate the power of the gnome.”

True to Augusta National’s tradition of maintaining strict confidentiality about club operations — from membership information to merchandise sales figures — the gnomes’ future remains officially unconfirmed. The club has not responded to requests for verification regarding whether this represents the collectibles’ final year.

Ava Powell, traveling from nearby Aiken, South Carolina, refused to risk missing out. After three previous unsuccessful attempts, she finally secured a full-sized gnome during her fourth Masters visit.

“I would die if I didn’t get this gnome this year,” Powell declared. “This will be in my home and it will be brought out during Masters week just like a Christmas decoration would be brought out.”

Augusta National’s social media reveal of this year’s gnome included footage showing the bearded figure holding a green and white umbrella bearing the tournament logo. The video then shows the gnome using the opened umbrella for shelter while a groundskeeper waters nearby yellow flowers.

Chris Flanagan from Detroit, Michigan, attending his first Masters, learned about the gnome phenomenon through experience. Missing the opportunity for a full-sized version, he settled for the miniature alternative, which maintains a consistent caddie appearance rather than the themed costume variations of the larger editions.

“I’d heard it was a holy grail item so of course you want to have something that’s special like that,” Flanagan said. “We didn’t know how early you had to get here to get one so we found out now that you have to get here by at least 5:30 a.m. to wait.”

For future gnome hunters, consider this advance notice of the commitment required.

The Ottawa Charge announced Monday that head coach Carla MacLeod will be taking a leave of absence to focus on her ongoing battle with breast cancer.

The 43-year-old coach first revealed her breast cancer diagnosis back in November. Team officials have not specified how long MacLeod will be away from her coaching duties.

“She remains in good spirits and is focused on her health and recovery,” the team said. “The entire organization fully supports Carla and her family and asks that her privacy is respected.”

Assistant coach Haley Irwin will step up to serve as the team’s interim head coach. This isn’t Irwin’s first time in this role – she previously filled in during a December 2nd game when MacLeod first began her medical treatment.

Ottawa currently sits in fifth position in the PWHL standings after 25 games, trailing the fourth-place Toronto Sceptres by just one point. The team’s next matchup is scheduled for Wednesday evening when they host the Seattle Torrent.

MacLeod has been leading the Ottawa franchise since the professional women’s hockey league launched its first season in 2024.

As a player, MacLeod achieved remarkable success representing Canada on the international stage. The Alberta native earned Olympic gold medals in both 2006 and 2010, and captured a world championship title in 2007. She also collected three world championship silver medals in 2005, 2008, and 2009 during her distinguished playing career as a defender.

Baltimore has promoted right-handed pitcher Brandon Young from their Triple-A Norfolk team to take the mound for Monday’s series opener against the Chicago White Sox.

The Orioles made space on their roster by placing left-handed reliever Dietrich Enns on the 15-day injured list due to a foot infection, with the move backdated to Saturday.

A starting pitcher position became available after Zach Eflin was placed on the 15-day injured list last week with right elbow discomfort. Eflin exited his March 31 start against the Texas Rangers during the fourth inning and is currently consulting with additional medical specialists.

Young earned recognition as the Orioles’ 2024 Minor League Pitcher of the Year and appeared in 12 major league starts during 2025, posting a 1-7 record with a 6.24 ERA. His most memorable performance came on July 8 when he achieved an immaculate inning versus the New York Mets, striking out three consecutive batters using just nine pitches during the fifth inning.

In his most recent Triple-A appearance, Young pitched five innings against Memphis on April 1, surrendering one earned run on five hits while recording four strikeouts without issuing any walks.

Young has not previously pitched against the White Sox during his professional career.

The Chicago Sky announced Monday they have sent power forward Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream as part of a deal that brings the team two future first-round draft selections.

The 23-year-old player, who entered the WNBA as the seventh pick in the 2024 draft, emerged as one of the league’s most prominent figures alongside Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark during her rookie season.

Throughout her time with Chicago, Reese dominated the boards, topping the league in rebounds for both the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

According to reports, Atlanta will send Chicago their first-round selections for the 2027 and 2028 drafts in return for acquiring Reese.

Chicago General Manager Jeff Pagliocca explained the move in an official statement, saying the transaction aims to create better team composition and benefits everyone involved.

“Angel has achieved many record-breaking milestones in her first two years in the WNBA and has been a competitive force for the Sky,” Pagliocca stated.

“We are thankful for her many important contributions to this league and this game, and we know she will continue to have a big impact on the court and beyond. We wish Angel all the best in her next chapter.”

During Reese’s tenure, the Sky faced challenges on the court, missing playoff qualification in both of her seasons with the franchise.

Known by her nickname “Chi Barbie,” the forward shared her thoughts about leaving Chicago through a video message posted on her social media accounts.

“To the city of Chicago, you showed me real love from day one,” Reese said. “Thank you, Chicago. Always Chi-Town Barbie.”

The Atlanta Dream acquired two-time All-Star forward Angel Reese from the Chicago Sky in a Monday trade that sent shockwaves through the WNBA.

Chicago will receive Atlanta’s first-round draft selections for both 2027 and 2028, plus the ability to exchange second-round picks in 2028 as part of the deal.

The 23-year-old Reese has dominated the boards during her brief professional career, topping the WNBA in rebounds for two consecutive seasons with averages of 13.1 per game in 2024 and 12.6 in her rookie year. Both figures represent the highest single-season totals in league history.

Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca addressed the move in an official statement, saying: “This trade is designed to achieve roster balance and represents a great opportunity for all parties. Angel has achieved many record-breaking milestones in her first two years in the WNBA and has been a competitive force for the Sky. We are thankful for her many important contributions to this league and this game, and we know she will continue to have a big impact on the court and beyond.”

“We wish Angel all the best in her next chapter,” Pagliocca added.

Throughout her 64 career games, Reese has accumulated 49 double-doubles while maintaining averages of 14.1 points, 12.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals per contest.

Reese expressed enthusiasm about joining her new team, stating: “I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity to join the Atlanta Dream organization. I’m focused on continuing to grow my game, competing at the highest level, connecting with the fans, and giving everything I’ve got to the Dream.”

The Dream posted a franchise-best 30-14 record last season, making them an attractive destination for the former LSU standout who was selected seventh overall in the 2024 draft.

Dream general manager Dan Padover praised the acquisition, commenting: “Angel is a dynamic talent and a perfect fit for what we are building in Atlanta. She has already proven herself as one of the most impactful players in the league, and her competitiveness, production and drive to win align seamlessly with our vision. This is an exciting moment for our organization and our fans.”

The trade comes after Reese voiced dissatisfaction with Chicago’s direction following their disappointing 10-34 season.

In September comments to the Chicago Tribune, Reese said: “I’m not settling for the same s–t we did this year. We have to get good players. We have to get great players. That’s a non-negotiable for me. I’m willing and wanting to play with the best.”

“… I’d like to be here for my career, but if things don’t pan out, obviously I might have to move in a different direction and do what’s best for me. But while I am here, I’m going to try to stay open-minded about what I have here and maximize that as much as I can,” she continued.

Those remarks resulted in Chicago suspending Reese for half of their September 7th game for conduct considered “detrimental to the team.” She ultimately missed the season’s final four contests with what was reported as a back injury, though she later issued an apology to her teammates.

NEW YORK — Philadelphia coach Rick Tocchet knew the importance of the moment, but he didn’t want to add pressure on his players before they took the ice.

“They know,” Tocchet said. “They see the standings.”

The Eastern Conference standings have undergone a dramatic transformation since late March. Most notably, Tocchet’s Flyers have broken into playoff position for the first time since January 12.

At the top, the Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens have secured their postseason spots, while Detroit has tumbled from what appeared to be a safe position to outside the playoff picture. The situation became so dire for the New York Islanders that they dismissed coach Patrick Roy, and Washington appears to be running short on time to potentially give Alex Ovechkin another playoff run at age 40.

“It’s just frustrating,” Washington coach Spencer Carbery said following an 8-1 defeat to the New York Rangers. “It’s frustrating because we fought as hard as we have to get back into this spot where we’re within striking distance.”

When play commenced on March 26, just four points divided Montreal (88), Columbus (87), Pittsburgh and Boston (86), Ottawa and the Islanders (86), and Detroit (84). With Philadelphia sitting at 80 points, it appeared seven clubs were competing for five playoff berths.

Montreal captured six straight wins and secured their playoff spot on Sunday before their eight-game victory streak that started March 21 finally ended. Pittsburgh claimed five wins in seven contests, and Boston posted a 4-2-1 record to eliminate any uncertainty about spring hockey in those cities.

“With where the league’s at, our division, there’s pressure every night on every team,” said Montreal winger Cole Caufield, who is approaching becoming the team’s first 50-goal scorer since 1990. “That’s what makes this thing so fun. It’s just the guys in this group, in this room that are pushing each other and the staff that we have is unreal. We’re just going to keep this thing going.”

Philadelphia’s overtime victory against Boston on Sunday, featuring top prospect Porter Martone’s debut NHL goal, propelled the Flyers past the Islanders into third place in the Metropolitan Division. Well before Martone joined the team after completing his college career at Michigan State, Philadelphia sat 13th among 16 Eastern teams following the Olympic break and has since captured 14 victories in 21 contests to emerge as a contender.

“These past 10 or so games, they’ve been playoff games and we’ve been playing the right way,” forward Noah Cates said. “It’s been the simple things, the little things that just kind of get us over the hump and in the win column.”

Detroit held the Atlantic Division lead and was tied for the most points in the East on January 15. Their advantage over the conference’s ninth-place team stood at 12 points.

Following a game where they trailed by three goals, rallied to tie, then lost 5-4 in regulation to Minnesota on Sunday, the Red Wings have compiled an 8-9-3 record since that high point and now trail by two points with five contests remaining.

“Obviously, we would have loved to be in a playoff spot, but that’s not the case,” forward Lucas Raymond said after a disappointing 4-1 defeat to the Rangers on Saturday. “We’ve got a great opportunity here. We’ve got these games left here to really do something special with this team. The faith is high in here. We have a lot of faith in ourselves, in our team, so it’s just about going out there and getting it done.”

Raymond and his Red Wings teammates have been shut out in the opening period in 43 of 77 games, leading the league in that unwanted category.

“I wish I had the answer,” coach Todd McLellan said. “We can get out of the gate quicker: don’t dip our toe in the water.”

Columbus switched from Dean Evason to Rick Bowness behind the bench in mid-January and proceeded to win 19 of 27 games to climb to second in their division. The Blue Jackets have since dropped seven consecutive games.

Since March 18, when they appeared headed for a comfortable playoff berth during Matthew Schaefer’s outstanding rookie campaign, the Islanders have managed just three wins in 10 games, including a four-game losing streak. First-year general manager Mathieu Darche fired Roy and brought in Peter DeBoer on Sunday with four games remaining, hoping a coaching change could spark their playoff push.

Washington is not considering any coaching moves with Carbery, the current Jack Adams Award winner who is expected to guide the franchise through its eventual post-Ovechkin era. Veteran defenseman John Carlson and depth center Nic Dowd were dealt at the trade deadline as part of a youth movement, but an 8-3-2 stretch from March 9 through Saturday had made the playoffs seem achievable.

Their lopsided loss to the already-eliminated Rangers exposed defensive weaknesses that Carbery believed had been present for approximately a dozen games but were masked by solid goaltending, offensive production and fortunate bounces. Washington now needs considerable luck and assistance, sitting three points behind with four games left.

“It’s tough we put ourselves in this spot,” forward Aliaksei Protas said. “But those big games, I feel like they can really show who we are as a team and where we’re at as a team.”

DALLAS (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers received devastating news when they learned Austin Reaves would miss the remainder of the regular season, adding to their woes after already knowing Luka Doncic’s injury would sideline him indefinitely.

LeBron James discovered the extent of Reaves’ left oblique strain after waking up from a nap, having already processed the grim news about Doncic’s left hamstring injury. Doncic currently leads the NBA in scoring.

“It was a shot to the heart and to the chest and the main frame with Luka, and we got that news kind of quick,” James commented following the Lakers’ 134-128 defeat to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday evening. “And (Reaves), he’s kind of dealing with the pain, we’re saying, ‘OK, whatever the case may be.’”

“I woke up from my nap yesterday and then saw that news, I was like … (expletive),” James added, taking a lengthy pause before completing his statement.

The playoff-bound Lakers must now rely heavily on James as their main offensive weapon and court general, despite the 41-year-old veteran completing his historic 23rd NBA campaign.

James delivered 30 points and 15 assists versus Dallas but faltered during the fourth quarter after igniting a second-quarter comeback. He managed just 2 of 7 field goals in the final 12 minutes and missed both free throw attempts with his team trailing by eight points and 3:50 left on the clock.

“I think we have to be mindful of that. I think that’s a valid question,” head coach JJ Redick stated before the contest. “For all our guys, him included, we want to put them in positions to be successful. Certain guys are gonna be tasked with doing stuff they haven’t done a lot of this year.”

Both Doncic and Reaves, who serves as LA’s second-leading scorer, sustained their injuries during Thursday night’s lopsided defeat to Oklahoma City.

Doncic remains central to these discussions as an MVP contender who will conclude the season one game shy of the 65-game minimum required for eligibility for that honor and other end-of-season accolades.

“I just know that he’s gonna do everything he can to try to be back,” Redick explained. “I talked to him Friday, I talked him again (Saturday), I talked with him again (Sunday) morning. He’s gonna go through all the necessary things to be back at some point, and it’s our job again to extend the season so that both those guys can get back.”

ESPN reported Sunday that Doncic plans to travel to Europe for specialized hamstring treatment, according to his representative Bill Duffy from WME Basketball.

Redick discussed implementing a point guard rotation system, made essential by Marcus Smart’s absence due to a right ankle injury. The coach mentioned LeBron’s son Bronny James among potential contributors, alongside Luke Kennard, Nick Smith Jr., and rarely-used Kobe Bufkin.

Kennard achieved his first career triple-double with 15 points, a personal-best 16 rebounds, and 11 assists, though he struggled offensively against Dallas, connecting on just 5 of 17 attempts. Among Redick’s other options, only Bronny James logged significant minutes, contributing five points across nine minutes of action.

“I think simplicity wins,” Redick noted. “It’s nothing too crazy. But it’s just being really simple with the menu and hopefully over the next five games, we can really figure out what works for this group. And that’s obviously trial and error.”

James recorded a triple-double with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists in their recent win over Washington when Doncic was suspended for one game after accumulating his 16th technical foul of the season.

Sunday’s loss dropped Los Angeles into a third-place deadlock with Denver in the Western Conference standings. Fifth-seeded Houston could potentially challenge for first-round home-court advantage, especially given the Lakers’ current injury troubles.

Rui Hachimura contributed 12 of his 21 points during the opening quarter against Dallas, who established a 22-point halftime advantage before withstanding James’ impressive performance and 23 points from reserve center Jaxson Hayes.

Los Angeles shot 52% while recording 36 assists, falling just two short of their season-high mark, but allowed Dallas to match that same 52% shooting percentage. The Mavericks, typically among the league’s poorest three-point shooting teams, connected on 14 of 32 attempts (44%).

“We’ve got a week left of the regular season and then a week to prepare and we’ve gotta have the commitment to do it on both ends,” Redick said following the game. “That’s the reason that we’ve put ourselves in the position to be in the playoffs is because we became a really good offensive team and a really good defensive team. So it’s gotta be the commitment to both ends.”

The Atlanta Hawks have added experienced center Tony Bradley to their roster, the team revealed Monday. Financial terms of the agreement were not made public.

The 28-year-old big man brings eight years of NBA experience from five different franchises, with his most recent stint coming with the Indiana Pacers.

During the current season with Indiana, Bradley posted averages of 4.0 points and 2.8 rebounds while logging 10.9 minutes per game across 38 appearances, including three as a starter.

Originally selected in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, Bradley has compiled career statistics of 4.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 11.0 minutes per contest over 231 games with 21 starts. His professional journey has taken him through the Utah Jazz, Philadelphia 76ers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Chicago Bulls, and most recently Indiana. Throughout his career, he has maintained an impressive 62.1% shooting percentage from the floor.

The Hawks currently hold a 45-33 record and occupy fifth position in the Eastern Conference standings as they prepare for Monday night’s home matchup against the New York Knicks, with just four games left in their regular season schedule.

The WNBA launched its free agency period Monday, creating a busy marketplace with over 100 players available just seven days ahead of the 2026 WNBA Draft.

The unusually large pool of available talent stems from contracts that were linked to the former collective bargaining agreement’s 2025 expiration date, setting up what promises to be an intense week of negotiations.

Players entering free agency will benefit significantly from the recently agreed-upon CBA, which boosts team salary caps by $5.5 million. This increase translates to substantial pay raises for both seasoned veterans and incoming rookies.

The new agreement dramatically transforms rookie compensation, with the top draft selection now commanding $500,000 per year. This represents a massive jump from 2024, when Indiana Fever selected Caitlin Clark first overall for just over $76,000 annually.

Elite players like Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson stand to benefit enormously, with potential earnings climbing from approximately $200,000 to more than $1 million under the updated pay structure.

The free agency timeline spans several days, with Monday and Tuesday reserved for designation periods when teams can extend qualifying offers and identify core players. Negotiations between players and their agents are scheduled for Wednesday through Friday, with contract signings permitted starting Saturday.

Several marquee players have already announced their intentions, including Wilson who confirmed plans to remain with the Aces. New York Liberty stars Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu have similarly indicated they will continue with their current team.

Two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson made his presence known Monday as the Baltimore Ravens kicked off their voluntary offseason training program, becoming the league’s first franchise to begin workouts.

There had been uncertainty surrounding whether the veteran signal-caller would participate while he and the organization continue negotiations on a contract extension.

The Ravens shared a brief clip on social media showing Jackson’s entrance at the Under Armour Performance Center.

Jackson’s attendance holds particular significance as Baltimore embarks on its inaugural offseason with new head coach Jesse Minter and newly appointed offensive coordinator Declan Doyle leading the way.

Speaking about Jackson during last week’s NFL owners meetings in Phoenix, Minter expressed enthusiasm about their developing partnership.

“I just think that he’s excited for us to connect, for us to build a relationship, for us to trust each other, for us to be able to talk through things,” Minter said of Jackson.

“You don’t become the level of player that he has without a great work ethic, without being a great teammate, and without being a leader. I am just excited for him to continue to grow, evolve, and become an even better version of Lamar.”

The 29-year-old quarterback and the Ravens failed to reach the postseason last year under veteran coach John Harbaugh. Jackson completed the season with 2,549 passing yards, 21 touchdown passes and seven interceptions across 13 starts, finishing with a 6-7 record while contributing 349 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.

The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers have both launched their seasons with strong 7-2 records, and their superstar players are beginning to find their offensive groove.

Shohei Ohtani struggled to produce RBIs early on but broke through on Friday with his first run driven in, followed by home runs in that contest and again on Sunday. Both he and Aaron Judge are now riding three-game streaks with multiple hits.

Judge hasn’t been required to single-handedly power the Yankees’ success, as the team had surrendered just 15 runs all season before Sunday’s 7-6 defeat to Miami. Cam Schlittler has delivered two shutout performances, and New York displayed aggressive baserunning against the Marlins, including a stolen base by Giancarlo Stanton.

Los Angeles initially saw struggles from their power-hitting foursome of Ohtani, Kyle Tucker, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman during the opening week. However, they exploded offensively during their Washington series, combining for 31 runs across three contests. With Andy Pages delivering an impressive 16-for-34 performance to start the year, the Dodgers can remain patient with their established stars.

This patience extends to Betts, who was placed on the injured list due to an oblique strain.

The Dodgers will now travel to Toronto for a three-game set, marking the first encounter between these clubs since Los Angeles defeated the Blue Jays in Game 7 of last year’s World Series on Canadian soil.

Speaking of teams thriving while waiting for stars to find form, Pittsburgh completed a three-game sweep of Baltimore to reach 6-3. The Pirates have won five consecutive games despite Paul Skenes allowing six earned runs over 5 2/3 innings in his first two outings.

Top prospect Konnor Griffin hasn’t contributed much offensively either, going 1-for-9 since his call-up, though he remains undefeated in games he’s appeared in. Pittsburgh will play 10 of their next 13 contests at home, with Skenes scheduled to start Tuesday against San Diego.

Jo Adell managed just one hit in three at-bats on Saturday, but his defensive heroics proved game-changing. The Angels outfielder made three spectacular home run-saving catches to preserve a 1-0 victory over Seattle.

Adell’s most dramatic grab came when he crashed into the stands while robbing J.P. Crawford of a potential leadoff homer in the ninth inning. He also denied Cal Raleigh what would have been the catcher’s first long ball of the season.

Arizona overcame a four-run deficit on Tuesday night, rallying for six runs in the eighth inning to defeat Detroit 7-5. The Tigers held a 96.4% win probability after seven innings, according to Baseball Savant.

Corbin Carroll delivered a bases-loaded double that brought home two runs, while Jose Fernandez connected for a three-run homer. It marked Fernandez’s second home run of the contest in his major league debut.

Regarding an interesting sports trivia question about when the same state produced both NCAA basketball and World Series champions in the same year: UCLA captured the national title while the Oakland Athletics won the World Series in 1973. That same pairing also occurred in 1972.

A recent close call happened in 2021 when Baylor claimed the NCAA Tournament while the Houston Astros fell to the Atlanta Braves in the World Series. The only possibility for this rare double this year would require Michigan winning in basketball and the Tigers capturing the World Series.

Stephen Curry made his return to the court after missing two months due to injury, putting up 29 points in his comeback performance, but Alperen Sengun delivered the decisive blow for Houston with a clutch inside basket in the final 11.1 seconds, securing a 117-116 victory for the Rockets over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday evening in San Francisco.

Former Warriors star Kevin Durant, making his first appearance in San Francisco as a member of the Rockets, led all scorers with 31 points for Houston (49-29). The victory puts the Rockets just one game behind both the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets in the tight race for the Western Conference’s third seed.

The Warriors (36-42) received solid support for Curry from Brandin Podziemski, who contributed 18 points. With this loss, Golden State has essentially locked themselves into the 10th position for the Western Conference play-in tournament.

The superstar guard had been sidelined for 27 consecutive games following a knee injury sustained on January 30 against Detroit. During his 26 minutes of action, Curry connected on 11 of 21 field goal attempts. The Warriors struggled without their leader, posting a disappointing 9-18 record while he rehabilitated his sore right knee.

Golden State also got contributions from Gui Santos with 15 points and Payton with 14. However, the Warriors suffered a setback when Kristaps Porzingis fouled out after just 23 minutes, managing only nine points despite grabbing a team-leading eight rebounds. Draymond Green facilitated the offense with a game-high 12 assists while adding seven points.

Celtics 115, Raptors 101

Jaylen Brown led the scoring attack with 26 points while Jayson Tatum recorded 23 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists as Boston defeated Toronto at home.

The Celtics received valuable contributions from Neemias Queta (18 points, seven rebounds), Payton Pritchard (17 points) and Derrick White (10 points). Nikola Vucevic made his return after fracturing his right ring finger on March 6, contributing four points and four rebounds in his first game back.

Boston extended their home dominance over Toronto to nine straight victories. The Raptors haven’t tasted victory in Boston since 2021, and the Celtics have now won 21 of their past 24 regular-season matchups against Toronto. Ja’Kobe Walter paced Toronto with 16 points, while Brandon Ingram and RJ Barrett each added 15.

Mavericks 134, Lakers 128

Cooper Flagg followed up his remarkable 51-point showing with another spectacular performance, recording 45 points, nine assists and eight rebounds to power Dallas past a depleted Los Angeles squad at home.

The Mavericks built their advantage to as many as 22 points with help from P.J. Washington’s 15 points, 13 each from Naji Marshall and Brandon Williams, and Klay Thompson’s three three-pointers en route to 11 points supporting Flagg’s effort.

LeBron James nearly recorded a triple-double with 30 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds as he tried to compensate for Los Angeles being without their leading scorers Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, both sidelined for the remainder of the regular season. Luke Kennard achieved his first career triple-double with 15 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists.

Suns 120, Bulls 110

Devin Booker tallied 30 points, Jalen Green contributed 25 and Dillon Brooks connected on crucial shots in the closing moments as Phoenix defeated Chicago on the road.

Phoenix’s starting five all reached double figures, with Mark Williams shooting efficiently at 6-of-8 for 14 points and eight rebounds, while Jordan Goodwin added 12 points on perfect 5-of-5 shooting along with seven rebounds.

Tre Jones paced Chicago with 29 points on 12-of-20 shooting. Collin Sexton nearly achieved a double-double with 18 points and nine rebounds, while Leonard Miller grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds and scored 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting.

Cavaliers 117, Pacers 108

Donovan Mitchell exploded for 38 points and James Harden added 28 points with seven assists as playoff-bound Cleveland rallied from an early deficit to defeat Indiana at home.

Thomas Bryant recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds for Cleveland, which trailed throughout the first half before mounting their comeback for their eighth victory in 10 games. The Cavaliers are close to securing fourth place in the Eastern Conference, which would provide home-court advantage in the opening playoff round.

Indiana, playing with only nine available players and holding the league’s second-worst record, got 21 points each from Micah Potter and Obi Toppin. Jalen Slawson achieved a career-best 19 points, and Quenton Jackson chipped in 15.

Hornets 122, Timberwolves 108

LaMelo Ball scored 35 points on efficient 13-for-22 shooting as Charlotte pulled away for a convincing road victory over Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Miles Bridges provided strong support with 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for Charlotte, which extended their winning streak to four games. Coby White added 17 points coming off the bench.

Julius Randle led Minnesota with 26 points and eight rebounds. Bones Hyland contributed 18 points as a reserve, and Rudy Gobert posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The Timberwolves played without Anthony Edwards (right knee inflammation) and Jaden McDaniels (left knee soreness).

Magic 112, Pelicans 108

Desmond Bane scored 27 points as Orlando erased a 15-point third-quarter deficit to upset New Orleans on the road.

Paolo Banchero recorded 23 points and 16 rebounds for the Magic, who took control after gaining the lead midway through the final quarter to win their third contest in four tries.

Saddiq Bey led New Orleans with 32 points, but the Pelicans fell to their eighth consecutive defeat. Jeremiah Fears added 19 points, Yves Missi contributed 18 and Zion Williamson scored 17 for New Orleans.

Clippers 138, Kings 109

Kawhi Leonard scored 26 points and John Collins added 25 as Los Angeles climbed into eighth place in the Western Conference with a dominant road win over Sacramento.

Darius Garland and Kobe Sanders each contributed 17 points, while Kris Dunn and Jordan Miller added 13 apiece as the Clippers snapped a two-game losing streak. Los Angeles now holds the eighth seed via tiebreaker over Portland after winning two of three head-to-head meetings.

Devin Carter led Sacramento with 21 points and Nique Clifford added 18 as the Kings saw their two-game winning streak end. Maxime Raynaud recorded 11 points and 15 rebounds for Sacramento, which has battled injuries all season but managed a 7-8 record since March 8.

Bucks 131, Grizzlies 115

Ryan Rollins scored 24 points, Cormac Ryan contributed 21 and Myles Turner finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds as Milwaukee defeated Memphis at home.

Milwaukee also received 19 points from Taurean Prince, who shot 7-of-8 from the field including 5-of-5 from three-point range. The team shot 60.2% overall and 50% from beyond the arc, maintaining control throughout the second half despite Memphis cutting the deficit to one point twice early in the fourth quarter.

Rayan Rupert made history for Memphis with a 30-point triple-double, just the third in franchise history, finishing with 33 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Walter Clayton Jr. added 20 points for the Grizzlies, who dropped their fourth straight game and 17th in 19 contests.

Nets 121, Wizards 115

Rookie Nolan Traore established a career high with 23 points and dished out a game-high seven assists as Brooklyn held off Washington in a battle between Eastern Conference cellar dwellers in New York.

Jalen Wilson added 19 points and five rebounds, while Josh Minott and E.J. Liddell each scored 15 as the Nets captured just their second victory in 14 games. Brooklyn also claimed the season series against Washington 3-1.

Will Riley shot 9-for-16 from the field to pace Washington with 30 points. The rookie has led the Wizards in scoring in five of the last six games, averaging 22.5 points during that span. Julian Reese contributed 17 points and 16 rebounds for Washington.

Olympic silver medalist Sha’Carri Richardson claimed victory Monday at one of Australia’s most prestigious running events, charging from the back of the pack to win the Stawell Gift handicap race.

The competition, Australia’s longest-running and most lucrative handicap sprint, awards A$40,000 (approximately $27,628) to the winner. Contestants race 120 meters uphill on grass, with starting positions determined by their athletic abilities and past sprint performances.

Richardson, who earned silver in the 100-meter dash at the Paris Olympics and helped the United States capture gold in the 4×100 relay, finished with a time of 13.15 seconds to claim first place. Australian teenager Charlotte Nielsen took second despite starting nine meters ahead of the 26-year-old American.

The Olympic champion secured her spot in the six-woman championship race after advancing through a semifinal that required a photo finish to determine the winner.

“Thank you. The love, the support, the true enjoyment that I had on the track, I know everybody’s having here. I had a great time,” Richardson told Channel 7 following her victory.

Richardson’s triumph makes her just the third female athlete to capture the women’s Stawell Gift starting from the back position since the event launched its women’s division in 1989. Bree Rizzo accomplished the feat in 2025, while Melissa Breen did so in 2012.

In the men’s competition, Richardson’s boyfriend Christian Coleman, the 2019 world 100-meter champion, was eliminated during semifinal rounds. Australia’s Olufemi Komolafe ultimately won the men’s title.

The historic race takes place annually during Easter weekend in the small Victorian community of Stawell, where it has been held since 1878. The event was only interrupted for four years during World War Two and once in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg delivered another spectacular performance Sunday, recording 45 points, nine assists and eight rebounds as Dallas defeated the injury-plagued Los Angeles Lakers 134-128 at home.

The impressive showing came just two days after Flagg made NBA history by becoming the youngest player ever to reach 50 points in a single game, achieving that milestone with 51 points against Orlando on Friday. In Sunday’s contest, the rookie nearly achieved his first career triple-double while putting up 26 points in the opening half alone.

Flagg’s explosive start helped Dallas (25-53) maintain control throughout most of the game against a Lakers squad (50-28) severely weakened by injuries.

The Lakers entered the matchup already missing MVP candidate Luka Doncic, who will be sidelined for the remainder of the regular season after suffering a Grade 2 left hamstring injury during Thursday’s lopsided defeat in Oklahoma City.

Los Angeles faced additional challenges when the team announced Saturday that Austin Reaves, their second-highest scorer this season, would also miss the rest of the regular season due to a Grade 2 left oblique strain.

LeBron James stepped up for the undermanned Lakers, coming close to a triple-double with 30 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds. James paced all five Los Angeles starters who reached double digits in scoring, including Luke Kennard, who recorded his first career triple-double with 15 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists.

However, Los Angeles struggled with depth issues as Dallas’ reserves outscored the Lakers’ bench 46-35, while the Mavericks capitalized on turnovers for 21 points off 12 Los Angeles mistakes.

The Mavericks established a commanding 22-point advantage with strong supporting performances from P.J. Washington’s 15 points, along with 13 points each from Naji Marshall and Brandon Williams. Klay Thompson contributed 11 points off the bench, including three successful three-point attempts.

Thompson’s shooting helped Dallas dominate from long range, connecting on 14 of 32 three-point attempts compared to Los Angeles’ 8 of 27 performance from beyond the arc.

World number one tennis player Carlos Alcaraz expressed his excitement about returning to clay court competition in Monaco this week, as he begins preparation for defending his French Open championship.

The Spanish tennis star captured his fifth Grand Slam championship by defeating Jannik Sinner in a thrilling Roland Garros final last June, which followed his successful 2025 clay court victories in Monte Carlo and Rome, plus a second-place showing in Barcelona.

“This is probably one of the best times of the season for me,” Alcaraz shared with media members in Monaco on Sunday.

“I miss clay every time the clay season is over. It’s been a long time since Roland Garros that I haven’t touched clay. In my first practices, I said to my team that it’s time to get the socks dirty again. It feels amazing to be back on clay.”

The 22-year-old athlete, who was sidelined from last year’s Madrid Open due to injury, expressed hope for completing a full tournament schedule before the French Open main draw commences on May 24.

“Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid, Rome … that’s the plan,” the young champion stated.

“It’s very demanding physically and mentally. The week in Barcelona is perhaps when I should rest, but Barcelona is a very important tournament for me.”

“My plan is to take care of my body as much as possible during matches and tournaments.”

The seven-time Grand Slam winner credited his Monte Carlo victory as a pivotal moment in his previous season’s success.

“After the feeling that I got here, I just got better and better,” he explained.

“I understood and I realised how I should play after this week. That’s why I did an exceptional year.”

Alcaraz is scheduled to begin his Monaco tournament run in the second round against either Stan Wawrinka or Sebastian Baez.

Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic plans to travel overseas for specialized medical care to address his Grade 2 left hamstring injury, according to his representatives who spoke with ESPN.

The injury occurred during Thursday’s devastating 139-96 defeat against Oklahoma City. Following an MRI examination on Friday, the team confirmed Doncic would be sidelined for the rest of the regular season at minimum.

Medical experts typically expect a Grade 2 hamstring injury to require approximately four weeks of recovery time. Given that only one week remains in the regular season, this timeline threatens to keep the NBA’s top scorer (averaging 33.5 points per game) and Los Angeles’ leader in both assists (8.3) and steals (1.6) off the court for potentially their entire opening playoff round.

The Lakers face additional challenges as Austin Reaves (averaging 23.3 points and 5.5 assists per game) will also miss the regular season’s conclusion due to a Grade 2 left oblique strain. Medical reports indicate Reaves faces a four to six-week recovery period.

Currently sitting at 50-28 with four games remaining, Los Angeles matches Denver’s record but maintains the advantage for the third playoff seed through tiebreakers. This positioning would likely result in a first-round matchup against Minnesota.

The Lakers risk dropping to fourth or fifth place during the final week, which would eliminate their home-court advantage in the opening round.

Playing without both Doncic and Reaves for the first time, Los Angeles suffered a defeat at Dallas on Sunday. Their remaining schedule includes hosting Oklahoma City, visiting Golden State, and concluding the regular season at home against Phoenix and Utah.

Philadelphia rookie Porter Martone found the back of the net for the first time in his NHL career during overtime, delivering the Flyers a crucial 2-1 victory against the Boston Bruins at home on Sunday.

The game-winning sequence unfolded rapidly when Boston was assessed two penalties just seven seconds apart during the extra period. Philadelphia capitalized on the two-man advantage within 15 seconds, as Christian Dvorak fed a pass into the slot where Martone initially had his shot denied by goaltender Joonas Korpisalo. However, the young winger – appearing in only his fourth professional game – converted the rebound for the decisive tally.

Goaltender Dan Vladar turned aside 18 shots while Dvorak contributed the other Philadelphia goal. The victory propelled the Flyers past the New York Islanders into third place within the Metropolitan Division standings. Philadelphia had entered Sunday trailing the Islanders by one point and was part of a four-team deadlock for the Eastern Conference’s final wild-card position.

Pavel Zacha tallied Boston’s only goal, though the Bruins maintain their position atop the wild-card standings despite suffering their third consecutive defeat. Korpisalo finished with 29 saves, highlighted by a spectacular late-regulation sequence where he denied Jamie Drysdale’s shot and followed with an outstanding pad save on Tyson Foerster’s rebound attempt.

Senators 6, Hurricanes 3

Brady Tkachuk found the net twice during Ottawa’s final four-goal surge in a victory over visiting Carolina.

Dylan Cozens, Tim Stutzle and Shane Pinto each contributed one goal and one assist as the Senators secured a vital victory, winning for just the second time in their previous six contests. Ottawa currently occupies the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card position. Claude Giroux added an empty-net goal with 57 seconds left, while goaltender Linus Ullmark recorded 25 saves for the Senators, who converted twice on the power play.

Logan Stankoven, Andrei Svechnikov and Taylor Hall scored for Carolina, which suffered only its second loss in six games. Jackson Blake registered two assists and Frederik Andersen made 25 saves. The Hurricanes remain one point away from securing the Metropolitan Division title with five contests remaining.

Wild 5, Red Wings 4

Kirill Kaprizov completed a hat trick, capping it with the winning goal with 1:51 left on the clock, as visiting Minnesota overcame Detroit.

After Minnesota surrendered a 4-1 advantage during the opening 15 minutes of the final period, Kaprizov delivered his third goal of the game and 43rd of the campaign on a power-play opportunity. He fired a shot from the right circle past Detroit’s Cam Talbot following a feed from Matt Boldy. Boldy and Vladimir Tarasenko also found the scoresheet.

Axel Sandin-Pellikka and Patrick Kane each recorded a goal and assist for Detroit, though Kane drew the tripping penalty that resulted in Minnesota’s game-winner. Albert Johansson and J.T. Compher also scored for the Red Wings, who have dropped four of their last five games and nine of their previous 13 matchups.

Penguins 5, Panthers 2

Rickard Rakell scored twice while Evgeni Malkin contributed two assists as Pittsburgh defeated visiting Florida.

The triumph marked Pittsburgh’s second consecutive victory over the Panthers and completed a season series sweep. Sidney Crosby tallied once and added two assists, while Bryan Rust recorded a goal and assist for the Penguins, who extended their lead over the third-place New York Islanders to seven points in the Metropolitan Division.

Arturs Silovs made 29 saves for Pittsburgh, which improved to 4-1 in its last five outings. Cole Schwindt and Carter Verhaeghe scored for the Panthers (37-37-3, 77 points), who have lost consecutive games and been eliminated from playoff contention. Daniil Tarasov stopped 18 shots for Florida, which has fallen in five of seven games.

Devils 3, Canadiens 0

Jacob Markstrom earned his first shutout of the campaign as visiting New Jersey defeated Montreal, ending the hosts’ eight-game winning streak.

Timo Meier, Cody Glass and Connor Brown scored for the Devils to maintain their slim playoff aspirations. Markstrom made 18 saves for his 25th career shutout, including two spectacular stops that prevented Montreal’s dynamic forward Cole Caufield from reaching the 50-goal milestone.

New Jersey sits seven points outside playoff position with five games left and gained some revenge after dropping a 4-3 shootout decision to Montreal on Saturday. The Devils have now won 11 consecutive games in Montreal. Third-string goaltender Jacob Fowler made 17 saves for Montreal, which had already clinched a playoff berth before the game.

Rangers 8, Capitals 1

Will Cuylle scored twice within a 2:40 span during a five-goal second period en route to his first career hat trick, leading host New York to a dominant victory that prevented Washington from gaining ground in the competitive Eastern Conference playoff race.

Washington fell three points behind the Ottawa Senators for the second and final wild-card spot. The Capitals also trail the New York Islanders by two points and sit one point behind both the Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets. Charlie Lindgren made 24 saves but matched a career high by allowing eight goals for the second time.

Rookie Adam Sykora and Adam Fox also scored during the explosive second period as the Rangers won for the fifth time in six games following a six-game losing streak. Igor Shesterkin recorded 20 saves.

Davis Martin delivered six solid innings on the mound, guiding the Chicago White Sox to a 3-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday, capping off an unexpected three-game sweep at home.

Martin improved to 2-0 on the season, surrendering four hits and issuing two walks during his outing. Bryan Hudson and Jordan Leasure combined to cover the seventh and eighth innings before Chris Murphy closed out the game despite allowing a leadoff walk in the ninth to secure the save.

The White Sox built their lead through timely hitting in the early frames, with Austin Hays, Miguel Vargas, and Lenyn Sosa each contributing RBI hits within the first four innings. Luisangel Acuna paced Chicago’s offense with two hits.

Toronto managed just two hits from Ernie Clement and continued their offensive struggles, going hitless in six attempts with runners in scoring position. The loss extended the Blue Jays’ losing streak to four games. Eric Lauer suffered the defeat, falling to 1-1 after allowing two runs on three hits and three walks during his brief two-inning start.

Cubs 1, Guardians 0 (Game 1)

Chicago’s pitching staff held Cleveland to a single hit as the Cubs squeaked out a victory in the opening game of their doubleheader.

Miguel Amaya delivered the game-winning hit, driving in Dylan Carlson from second base with an eighth-inning single off Connor Brogdon (2-1). Carlson had entered as a pinch-runner after Michael Conforto drew a leadoff walk. Caleb Thielbar (1-0) earned the victory despite allowing a walk over 1 1/3 innings of relief work, while Daniel Palencia secured his first save by retiring Cleveland in order during the ninth.

The Guardians’ offensive struggles overshadowed an excellent performance from starter Slade Cecconi, who matched Chicago by allowing just one hit while striking out six and walking one across six innings.

Guardians 6, Cubs 5 (Game 2)

Gabriel Arias drove in the go-ahead run with a single during Cleveland’s three-run eighth inning rally, helping the Guardians avoid a doubleheader sweep against Chicago.

CJ Kayfus went 2-for-2 off the bench, contributing a pinch-hit RBI single in the sixth and adding a home run in the eighth. Parker Messick limited Chicago to one run over five innings, while Shawn Armstrong (1-0) earned the victory despite surrendering the lead earlier. Cade Smith preserved the win by striking out the final batter with two runners in scoring position during the ninth for his third save.

Matt Shaw and Dansby Swanson each connected for their first home runs of the season for Chicago. Cubs starter Shota Imanaga allowed one run on three hits over five-plus innings, but Jacob Webb (0-1) took the loss after giving up three runs in just one-third of an inning.

Angels 8, Mariners 7 (11 innings)

Nolan Schanuel’s sacrifice fly brought home the winning run as Los Angeles outlasted Seattle in an 11-inning thriller in Anaheim.

Reliever Shaun Anderson (1-0) escaped a bases-loaded jam by striking out Cal Raleigh to end the top of the 11th. Adam Frazier went 3-for-4 with an RBI and scored the decisive run, while Schanuel and Jorge Soler each drove in two runs for the Angels.

Chase Young’s three-run homer gave Seattle a 5-4 advantage in the fifth inning, and Leo Rivas contributed two RBIs on a 1-for-3 performance. Gabe Speier (0-2), Seattle’s seventh pitcher of the contest, was charged with the loss.

Athletics 12, Astros 10 (10 innings)

Brent Rooker launched two home runs, including a three-run walk-off blast in the 10th inning, powering Oakland to a wild victory over Houston in West Sacramento.

Elvis Alvarado (1-0) earned the win after retiring the final two batters following Houston’s run in the 10th. Tyler Soderstrom went 1-for-4 but crossed the plate three times and drove in three runs, while Rooker finished with six RBIs.

Yordan Alvarez and Christian Walker each hit two-run homers for Houston, with Cam Smith going 2-for-5 and driving in three runs. Closer Bryan Abreu (0-1) suffered the loss, retiring just one of four batters he faced in Oakland’s 10th.

Diamondbacks 6, Braves 5 (10 innings)

Ketel Marte lined a walk-off double to lift Arizona past Atlanta in Phoenix, earning a series split for the Diamondbacks.

Corbin Carroll went 3-for-4 with an RBI triple, while Ildemaro Vargas contributed two RBIs on a triple. Taylor Rashi (1-0) earned his first career victory with a perfect 10th inning in his season debut.

Drake Baldwin went 3-for-5 with his fourth home run and four RBIs for Atlanta, which rallied from three separate deficits before falling short. Joel Payamps (0-1) was tagged with the loss after throwing just one pitch, which Marte drove to right field to score automatic runner Jorge Barrosa.

Rays 4, Twins 1 (10 innings)

Richie Palacios hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the 10th inning as Tampa Bay secured its first series victory of the season with a win over Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Junior Caminero, who had homered solo in the fourth inning, later drove in Tampa Bay’s fourth run via a walk. Kevin Kelly notched his second save in relief of Bryan Baker (1-0), who struck out two during a perfect ninth inning.

Nick Martinez delivered his second consecutive quality start for the Rays, allowing only a solo home run – the lone hit he surrendered – across six innings while striking out four and walking one. Matt Wallner homered for Minnesota, which managed just three hits in their second straight loss.

Padres 8, Red Sox 6

Jackson Merrill’s leadoff home run in the eighth inning snapped a late tie and propelled San Diego to a series-clinching victory over Boston.

Merrill finished 3-for-5 with two RBIs and three runs scored to pace the Padres, who collected 12 hits and overcame an early 4-0 deficit. Jeremiah Estrada (1-1) earned the victory with a scoreless inning of relief, while Mason Miller struck out three straight batters for his second consecutive save.

Wilyer Abreu (double, triple, RBI, two runs) and Masataka Yoshida (3-for-4, two doubles, three RBIs) accounted for six of Boston’s nine hits. Tyler Uberstine (0-1) suffered the loss in his major league debut, allowing one run on three hits over 2 2/3 innings.

Marlins 7, Yankees 6

Pinch hitter Graham Pauley delivered a go-ahead two-run double with the bases loaded against Jake Bird (1-1), sparking a four-run eighth inning that helped Miami hold on for victory over New York following a rain delay exceeding three hours.

Xavier Edwards, who drove in three runs total, followed with a two-run single off Ryan Yarbrough that proved crucial when Jazz Chisholm Jr. cut the deficit to one with a two-run double in the ninth before J.C. Escarra struck out to end the game.

Ben Rice smashed a three-run homer in the first inning for New York, which saw ace Max Fried allow his first three runs of the season over 6 2/3 innings after tossing 13 1/3 scoreless innings in his first two outings. John King (1-0) recorded the victory by retiring the final batter of New York’s seventh after Chris Paddack followed two openers with 4 2/3 scoreless innings.

Pirates 8, Orioles 2

Braxton Ashcraft struck out a career-high eight batters and Ryan O’Hearn drove in four runs to power Pittsburgh past Baltimore at home.

O’Hearn and Oneil Cruz each connected for two-run homers, helping the Pirates complete a three-game sweep of Baltimore and extend their winning streak to five games. Ashcraft (1-1) surrendered an RBI double to Pete Alonso in the fourth but limited further damage, working six innings without issuing a walk while allowing just four hits.

Taylor Ward led Baltimore’s offense with three hits, and Jeremiah Jackson added an RBI single. Starter Chris Bassitt (0-2) lasted only two innings, surrendering six runs on six hits.

Dodgers 8, Nationals 6

Shohei Ohtani, Dalton Rushing, and Teoscar Hernandez homered as Los Angeles rallied to defeat Washington, completing a three-game sweep.

The Dodgers scored four runs in the eighth inning to take the lead permanently. Former National Alex Call contributed two hits and scored twice. Jack Dreyer (1-0) worked a scoreless seventh inning for the victory, while Edwin Diaz earned his third save despite starter Roki Sasaki allowing six runs over five innings.

James Wood hit a three-run homer and Luis Garcia Jr. added a two-run shot for Washington, which has now lost five straight. Cionel Perez (0-1) was charged with the loss, spoiling a strong outing from Foster Griffin, who allowed one run on five hits across five innings.

Reds 2, Rangers 1

Elly De La Cruz singled home the decisive run in the eighth inning as Cincinnati edged Texas to complete a three-game sweep in Arlington.

De La Cruz collected two hits and scored once, while Will Benson also had two hits for Cincinnati. Reliever Sam Moll (1-0) earned the victory, and Brock Burke struck out three straight batters in the ninth for his first career save. Starter Chase Burns carried a shutout into the seventh inning.

Joc Pederson homered for Texas, which managed only four runs in the entire series and has now dropped four consecutive games. Robert Garcia (0-1) suffered the loss in relief.

Mets 5, Giants 2

Pinch hitter Luis Torrens delivered a go-ahead two-RBI double during a four-run eighth inning as New York rallied to defeat San Francisco.

The Mets strung together five consecutive one-out hits against two Giants relievers to secure their third straight victory. Jorge Polanco started the rally with a one-out double off Keaton Winn (0-1), followed by a Luis Robert Jr. single and stolen base.

Torrens, batting for Jared Young who had gone 3-for-3, greeted Erik Miller with an opposite-field double to right that gave New York the lead.

Matt Chapman and Rafael Devers had back-to-back RBI hits for San Francisco to chase Kodai Senga. Senga struck out seven over 5 2/3 innings, while Logan Webb threw seven innings of one-run ball for the Giants.

Rockies 4, Phillies 1

Former Philadelphia first-round selection Mickey Moniak hit two home runs and TJ Rumfield also went deep as Colorado salvaged the series finale in Denver.

Hunter Goodman collected two hits and starter Tomoyuki Sugano (1-0) worked six strong innings to earn his first victory for Colorado. Victor Vodnik recorded the final three outs for his first save.

Adolis Garcia homered and singled for Philadelphia. Starter Taijuan Walker (0-2) struggled in his second outing of the season, allowing four runs on seven hits across five innings.

Brewers 8, Royals 5

Gary Sanchez hit a two-run home run and William Contreras had two hits and two RBIs in Milwaukee’s series-clinching victory over Kansas City.

Brewers starter Kyle Harrison (1-0) earned the win by scattering three hits and two runs over 5 1/3 innings. Kris Bubic (1-1) took the loss for Kansas City, surrendering four hits and four runs across five innings.

Trevor Megill recorded his third save of the season. Contreras went 2-for-3 with a run and two walks for Milwaukee. Maikel Garcia was 2-for-5 with a two-run homer and three RBIs, while Vinnie Pasquantino went 2-for-5 with two RBIs for the Royals.

Cardinals 5, Tigers 3

Ivan Herrera’s tiebreaking two-run single capped a four-run fifth-inning explosion as St. Louis topped Detroit on the road.

Pedro Pages contributed an RBI single for the Cardinals, who salvaged the finale of their three-game series. St. Louis starter Kyle Leahy (1-1) allowed two runs and five hits across five innings. Riley O’Brien secured the final three outs for his second save.

Kerry Carpenter hit a two-run homer for Detroit, while Spencer Torkelson reached base four times. Tigers starter Keider Montero (0-1) gave up three runs (two earned) and three hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Slovenian cycling star Tadej Pogacar secured his third Tour of Flanders victory on Sunday, matching a tournament record, but now finds himself potentially facing legal consequences after ignoring a red signal at a railroad crossing.

During the race, Pogacar and several other leading cyclists pushed through the railway intersection despite stop signals as they attempted to catch up with a breakaway group, while the remaining riders in the main pack stopped as directed.

The four-time Tour de France winner defended his actions, claiming race officials failed to provide adequate notice to brake for the crossing.

“Suddenly three guys jump on the middle of the road and start waving to stop,” he explained during a post-race media session. “How can you stop in one second? I think they could prevent this by stopping us before, no? Not 10 metres before the crossing.”

“I was thinking, maybe it’s like some protesters or something crazy is going on,” Pogacar added.

According to Belgian publication Het Laatste Nieuws, the East Flanders Public Prosecutor’s Office plans to pursue charges against the cyclists involved. The potential penalties could include monetary fines between 320 euros and 4,000 euros (approximately $4,609), along with an eight-day suspension from competition.

Lauren Coughlin dominated the competition from start to finish, claiming victory at the first-ever Aramco Championship in Las Vegas on Sunday. The triumph marks her third LPGA Tour win overall and first since capturing two titles in 2024.

Playing the challenging Shadow Creek Golf Course, Coughlin posted an even-par 72 in her final round to finish at 7-under-par 281, comfortably ahead of second-place finishers Nelly Korda and Ireland’s Leona Maguire by five strokes.

The victory held special significance for Coughlin, who fell short at the same venue twelve months earlier when she lost to Madalene Sagstrom in the championship match of the T-Mobile Match Play tournament.

“I just know I played really, really great all week,” Coughlin said. “Had a lot of fun. I’m just happy. You know, definitely left a sour taste in my mouth last year not getting the W given how well I played all week, so makes it extra special this week.”

Coughlin began the tournament with a 5-under 67, sharing the early lead with Japan’s Nasa Hataoka and Miyu Yamashita. She seized control during Friday’s second round, shooting the day’s best score of 69 despite windy conditions to build a five-shot advantage. Though Korda closed the gap to just two strokes entering Sunday’s final round, Coughlin never relinquished her lead.

The champion established her dominance early on Sunday with a birdie on the opening hole. A crucial two-shot swing occurred at the eighth hole, where Coughlin made birdie while Korda recorded a bogey, creating what proved to be an unbeatable six-shot margin.

Despite her commanding position, Coughlin remained focused until the very end of her round.

“Probably after I hit that wedge shot on 18 into it. I was like, all right, I think I got it now,” she said.

Korda struggled throughout her final round, managing just one birdie on the 18th hole while shooting 3-over 75. Maguire completed her tournament with a 71 in the final round.

“I just didn’t play good golf today,” Korda said. “I was hitting it pretty poorly off the tee and just finding myself in really tough positions going into the greens, and then hitting it in places where I shouldn’t be around the greens.”

“… Props to Lauren. She played some unbelievable golf. It was really fun to see today and it was fun to play alongside her.”

The challenging desert conditions at Shadow Creek proved difficult for most of the field, with Yamashita being the only other player to finish under par. She claimed fourth place at 1-under following a final-round 74. Japan’s Akie Iwai and Australia’s Karis Davidson shared fifth place at even-par 288.

This victory continues Coughlin’s recent success on tour, following her breakthrough 2024 season when she captured both the CPKC Women’s Open and the Women’s Scottish Open for her first two LPGA titles.

PHOENIX — The UCLA Bruins captured their first NCAA women’s basketball championship in stunning fashion Sunday, overwhelming South Carolina 79-51 in a performance that ranks as the third-most lopsided title game victory in tournament history.

Led by standout performances from Gabriela Jaquez and Lauren Betts, the Bruins completed a remarkable season that saw them finish 37-1 and ride a 31-game winning streak to the championship.

UCLA head coach Cori Close expressed confidence before the game even tipped off.

“I really did expect us to win today,” Close said. “I felt very peaceful all day. It wasn’t about whether we got the ‘W’ or not. I wanted us to be able to play our best when our best was needed, and we delivered on that.”

Jaquez delivered a stellar all-around performance with 21 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, while the 6-foot-7 Betts contributed 14 points and 11 rebounds for her 15th double-double of the season. Betts received Most Outstanding Player recognition for her tournament efforts.

The senior-laden Bruins knew they had championship potential from the beginning of the season.

“Since the roster was made, we just knew we had the tools,” said Jaquez, one of five senior starters. “It was just about staying focused and working hard to be the versions of ourselves. That led us to this moment.”

Jaquez, whose brother Jaime Jr. plays for the Miami Heat and previously starred at UCLA, had extra motivation with family watching from the stands.

“Of course I have bragging rights,” Gabriela said.

The Bruins established control early and never let up. A fast-break score by Jaquez stretched UCLA’s advantage to 48-26 in the third quarter, and consecutive three-pointers from Jaquez and Gianna Kneepkens sparked a 13-0 surge that put the game out of reach at 61-32 heading into the final period.

South Carolina coach Dawn Staley acknowledged the challenge Jaquez presented throughout the contest.

“Hard matchup,” Staley said of Jaquez. “You come into a game, you know exactly what she’s going to do and she does it. She’s relentless.”

The Gamecocks (31-4) struggled offensively all evening, managing just 29.0% shooting from the field while UCLA controlled the boards 49-37. Tessa Johnson led South Carolina with 14 points, while Agot Makeer added 11 points. The deficit never dropped below 28 points in the fourth quarter.

UCLA’s defensive dominance continued a pattern from their semifinal victory over Texas, where they held the Longhorns to 30.8% shooting in a 51-45 win.

The Bruins jumped out to early leads of 13-4, 21-10 and 30-15, taking a 36-23 advantage into halftime before pulling away in the second half.

Staley, who was seeking to become just the fourth coach in NCAA history with four women’s championships, acknowledged her team’s struggles.

“We just didn’t have it today,” said Staley. “They were the better team today. Obviously we got smacked today. We got to figure out how we smack back.”

UCLA’s balanced attack featured all five senior starters reaching double figures. Kneepkens finished with 15 points, Charlisse Leger-Walker scored 10 points, and Kiki Rice contributed 10 points, six rebounds and five assists.

Rice earned a spot on the all-Final Four team alongside Jaquez and South Carolina’s Johnson and Taniya Latson.

The championship marked UCLA’s second consecutive Final Four appearance, a program milestone. While they previously won the 1978 AIAW national title, this represents their first championship since the NCAA began sponsoring women’s basketball in 1982.

For South Carolina, the loss ended their bid for back-to-back titles after defeating Iowa in 2024. The Gamecocks were making their third straight championship game appearance and fourth in five years, having also lost to UConn in the previous season’s final.

UCLA experienced the other side of a championship game blowout just one year ago, falling 85-51 to eventual champion UConn in the semifinals.

“I just never wanted to feel that way ever again,” Betts said. “I feel like ever since then we’ve really just grown in our preparation. When duty called, everyone answered, so I’m just really proud of this group.”

SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry made his highly anticipated return to the court Sunday evening against Houston, playing approximately 25 minutes after being sidelined for over two months due to a right knee injury.

Head coach Steve Kerr indicated prior to the matchup that Curry’s participation in upcoming games remains uncertain, considering the Warriors face five games within an eight-day span featuring back-to-back contests. The team doesn’t anticipate Curry will participate in consecutive games.

“We’re going to manage it accordingly. The plan for tonight would be shorter bursts and we’ll see on the minutes,” Kerr explained. “But first game back he’s not playing 48 minutes.”

Decisions regarding Curry’s playing schedule will depend on how the veteran guard feels physically, along with guidance from Vice President of Player Health and Performance Rick Celebrini.

The superstar guard participated in multiple scrimmages during the past week to evaluate his injured right knee. On Saturday, Curry mentioned that ending his season early was never under consideration. Kerr expressed optimism about finally having Stephen and his younger sibling Seth play alongside each other.

While Kerr had indicated Saturday that Curry was anticipated to return for his first appearance since the January 30th matchup against Detroit, the Warriors still designated him as questionable on their injury report.

“He’s scheduled to play,” Kerr confirmed before Sunday’s game.

Following Saturday’s team practice, Curry acknowledged that managing discomfort has become his “new normal” and that the upcoming offseason will require substantial rehabilitation.

The 38-year-old initially anticipated returning shortly after the All-Star break, but his recovery timeline extended due to challenging periods where he would feel healthy, increase his activity level, then experience setbacks the following day.

Curry tops the Warriors’ scoring charts with an average of 27.2 points per game, making his absence particularly challenging for the team.

The Warriors entered Sunday’s game with a 36-41 record, having dropped three consecutive contests. Without Curry this season, the team posted a 13-25 record, including a 9-18 mark during his absence due to patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The UCLA Bruins have captured their first-ever NCAA women’s basketball championship with a commanding 79-51 victory over South Carolina in Phoenix. Gabriela Jaquez led the charge with 21 points, while Lauren Betts contributed 16 points in the decisive win.

The overwhelming victory marked the completion of an extraordinary tournament run for UCLA, which began after their Final Four defeat to UConn the previous season. The Bruins dominated opponents throughout the year, finishing with a remarkable 37-1 record, their sole defeat coming against Texas during a November Thanksgiving tournament.

Senior leadership proved crucial for UCLA, with Betts and fellow upperclassmen guiding the team to victory. Jaquez, who spent all four years with the program, recorded a double-double with 10 rebounds and five assists. Her brother Jaime, a Miami Heat player, traveled to witness his alma mater’s historic triumph.

Meanwhile, college basketball faces another potential dynasty as UConn prepares to face Michigan for the men’s national championship in Indianapolis. The Huskies are attempting to become the first program since John Wooden’s legendary UCLA teams of the 1960s and ’70s to capture three titles in four seasons, while Michigan seeks to cap off their own dominant March Madness performance.

In NHL news, the New York Islanders dismissed coach Patrick Roy following a troubling four-game losing streak. General Manager Mathieu Darche made the surprising announcement after the team dropped seven of their last 10 contests, jeopardizing their playoff position with only four games remaining. Peter DeBoer, who previously guided two franchises to Stanley Cup Finals and led Dallas to three straight Western Conference finals, was named as Roy’s permanent replacement.

South Carolina coach Dawn Staley faces the challenge of rebuilding after her team’s disappointing championship game performance, where the Gamecocks managed just 29% shooting from the field. The 28-point defeat represents one of the largest margins in title game history, yet Staley’s program remains well-positioned for future success.

Duke’s Cameron Boozer, the Associated Press men’s national player of the year, continues recovering from both physical and emotional wounds sustained during his team’s Elite Eight loss to UConn. Boozer revealed he suffered multiple facial fractures during the contest but played through the injury, finishing with 27 points despite visible swelling around his eye.

In professional golf, J.J. Spaun claimed victory at the Valero Texas Open with a final-round 67, earning his first tournament win since capturing the U.S. Open last summer. Spaun’s clutch birdie and eagle on holes 16 and 17 at TPC San Antonio secured the victory over Robert MacIntyre, who held the lead for much of the competition.

Lauren Betts emerged as the catalyst for UCLA’s championship run, recording 14 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks in the title game. The 6-foot-7 senior’s defensive presence altered numerous shots and earned her Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors following her dominant semifinal performance against Texas.

An interesting family dynamic will unfold during Monday’s men’s championship as Josh Mullins, a lifelong Michigan supporter who named his son after Wolverines receiver Braylon Edwards, will be cheering for UConn when his son Braylon Mullins takes the court for the Huskies.

UCLA legend Ann Meyers Drysdale expressed immense pride watching her alma mater claim the NCAA title, nearly five decades after she helped the Bruins win the AIAW championship in 1978. Despite significant changes in women’s college basketball over the years, Meyers Drysdale’s connection to the program remains strong.

In English soccer, Leeds United advanced to the FA Cup semifinals for the first time since 1987 after defeating West Ham 4-2 in a penalty shootout. The dramatic match saw Leeds surrender a two-goal advantage in stoppage time before ultimately prevailing in the shootout, setting up a semifinal clash with Chelsea.

American tennis standout Jessica Pegula successfully defended her Charleston Open championship on Sunday, defeating Ukrainian player Yuliia Starodubtseva in straight sets with a commanding 6-2, 6-2 performance that lasted just 82 minutes.

The tournament’s top seed demonstrated exceptional defensive skills, successfully defending seven of eight break point situations while capitalizing on five of her six break point chances. This championship marks Pegula’s second tournament victory this season, following her Dubai triumph in February, and represents the 11th title of her professional career.

At 32 years old, Pegula now holds the WTA tour lead with 24 match victories this season, moving just ahead of Aryna Sabalenka in the win column.

The final represented a career milestone for 26-year-old Starodubtseva, who earned her spot in the main tournament draw after another competitor withdrew. Despite recording five consecutive victories to reach the championship match, she encountered difficulties on Sunday, managing only 11 winners while committing 41 unforced errors. Her impressive tournament run will elevate her world ranking to a personal-best 53rd position when updated Monday.

In other WTA action, top-seeded Marie Bouzkova captured the Copa Colsanitas championship in Bogota, Colombia, overcoming eighth-seeded Panna Udvardy 6-7 (7), 6-2, 6-2 in the final.

Bouzkova displayed remarkable resilience under pressure, saving 10 of 14 break point opportunities to secure her third WTA tour championship and first title earned outside her home country of Czech Republic. Udvardy, a Hungarian player ranked 92nd globally, was competing in her first professional final.

The Hungarian competitor mounted an impressive comeback in the opening set, rallying from a 5-3 deficit to force a tiebreaker. She then overcame a 5-0 tiebreaker disadvantage and saved two set points before claiming the first set. However, Bouzkova controlled the remainder of the match, winning 57.3% of her service points and claiming more than half of her return opportunities with 49 successful returns out of 96 attempts.

The Houston Astros have sidelined their star starting pitcher Hunter Brown after placing him on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to a shoulder strain.

The 27-year-old right-handed pitcher had been having an outstanding season, posting a 12-2 record with an impressive 2.43 ERA in 2025. His most recent outing showcased his dominance as he delivered six stellar innings in Houston’s commanding 9-2 win against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday evening. In that performance, Brown surrendered just one hit while walking two batters and recording eight strikeouts to secure the victory.

Manager Joe Espada revealed that Brown experienced shoulder discomfort while throwing during a routine practice session on Friday. The team immediately sent Brown back to Houston for a thorough medical evaluation by team physicians.

Espada informed MLB.com that Brown’s recovery timeline remains uncertain pending additional medical assessments.

To fill the roster spot, Houston promoted right-handed pitcher Christian Roa from their Triple-A affiliate Sugar Land before Sunday’s matchup against the Athletics. The team made Brown’s injured list placement effective retroactively to Thursday.

Brown has established himself as a reliable starter for the Astros, achieving double-digit wins in each of the past three seasons. Over his five-year major league career spanning 102 appearances, including 94 starts, he maintains a 3.44 earned run average.

Houston Astros star pitcher Hunter Brown will miss at least two weeks after the team placed him on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to a right shoulder strain.

The team made the roster move retroactive to Thursday, meaning Brown could return sooner than expected.

The 27-year-old right-hander had been off to a dominant start this season, posting a perfect 1-0 record with an impressive 0.84 ERA across two outings. In just over 10 innings of work, Brown had already racked up 17 strikeouts.

Brown’s most recent appearance came Tuesday in a victory over the Boston Red Sox, where he delivered six strong innings. He allowed just one run on one hit while walking two batters and striking out eight.

The Astros have not provided a timeline for Brown’s return. The team announced his placement on the injured list before manager Joe Espada’s pre-game media session ahead of Sunday’s road matchup with the Athletics.

Last season marked a breakout year for Brown, who earned his first All-Star selection while compiling a 12-9 record with a 2.43 ERA over 31 starts. He set a personal best with 206 strikeouts and maintained an excellent 1.03 WHIP. His stellar performance earned him third place in American League Cy Young Award voting.

Since making his major league debut in 2022, Brown has compiled a 37-31 record with a 3.44 ERA across 102 appearances, including 94 starts.

To fill Brown’s roster spot, Houston called up right-handed pitcher Christian Roa from Triple-A Sugar Land. The 27-year-old Roa appeared in two relief outings for the Astros earlier this season, posting a 6.75 ERA. He has pitched one scoreless inning for Sugar Land this year.

The University of Alabama has secured men’s basketball coach Nate Oats with a new contract extension that elevates him into the ranks of college basketball’s top five highest-paid coaches, athletic director Greg Byrne revealed Sunday on social media.

Byrne shared in his statement that “Appropriate members of The Board of Trustees have been notified of the proposed terms of the new agreement and it will soon be formally approved through the Board process.”

On his personal social media account, Byrne expressed confidence in the arrangement, writing “We are good! He’s not going anywhere.”

The new agreement represents Oats’ third contract extension within a four-year span. His most recent extension from early 2024 was set to run until March 2030, with compensation reaching $6.02 million for the 2026-27 academic year.

While specific financial terms of the latest deal remain undisclosed, USA Today reports that the nation’s five highest-compensated coaches at public universities earned no less than $6.1 million during the 2024-25 season. Oats previously ranked ninth nationally with a $5 million base salary.

The salary increase is expected to place Oats alongside elite coaches including Kansas’ Bill Self, Arkansas’ John Calipari, UConn’s Dan Hurley, Michigan State’s Tom Izzo, and Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd. Arizona recently announced Lloyd’s five-year extension beginning at $7.2 million, reportedly to prevent his departure for the vacant North Carolina position.

Alabama’s motivation for the new contract may stem from similar concerns about losing their successful coach.

When questioned about potential interest from North Carolina on March 26, Oats stated: “As long as we’re able to compete to win championships here — SEC, national championships. We haven’t done that here yet — I’d love to be the coach to bring us our first national championship.”

He continued: “To me, there’s absolutely no reason to leave here. While it’s flattering that a high school guy that caught a couple of breaks would be mentioned with some of these jobs, because they’ve got a lot of tradition, I’m not a guy that’s looking to get out of here any time soon.”

The 51-year-old coach has guided Alabama since 2019, accumulating a 170-73 record with a .700 winning percentage across seven seasons. Under his leadership, the Crimson Tide achieved a program milestone by reaching six consecutive NCAA Tournaments.

Alabama’s current season ended with a Sweet Sixteen loss to Michigan, who will compete for the National Championship on Monday.

Oats reached his greatest postseason success during the 2023-24 campaign when he guided Alabama to the Final Four as a No. 4 seed. The Crimson Tide’s run concluded with a defeat to eventual champion UConn.

Throughout his tenure, Oats has led Alabama to at least two NCAA Tournament victories in five of his six tournament appearances with the program.

Nineteen-year-old Rafael Jodar from Spain claimed his breakthrough ATP tournament victory on Sunday, defeating Argentine qualifier Marco Trungelliti 6-3, 6-2 in the Grand Prix Hassan II championship match in Marrakech, Morocco.

The young Spaniard’s rise has been meteoric – exactly one year ago, he held the No. 911 position in global tennis rankings. After making his professional tour debut at this year’s Australian Open, Jodar has experienced a remarkable climb up the rankings in recent months. His victory makes him the youngest player ever to win the Marrakech tournament.

Jodar dominated from the opening game, breaking his opponent’s serve immediately in a lengthy first game that went to six deuces. The teenager controlled the match with superior shot-making, recording 21 winners compared to Trungelliti’s five. He successfully defended against the single break point he faced while converting four of his nine break opportunities. His second serve proved particularly effective, winning 15 of 17 points for an impressive 88.2 percent success rate.

Trungelliti, 36, was also competing in his first career championship match after defeating the tournament’s first, third, and fifth seeds during his run to the final. The veteran will reach a career milestone on Monday when he enters the top 100 rankings for the first time, becoming the oldest player ever to achieve that feat. The 17-year age difference between the finalists represents the fifth-largest gap in any ATP final since 1990.

In other ATP action, Argentina’s Mariano Navone, seeded seventh, captured the Tiriac Open title in Bucharest, Romania, overcoming Spanish qualifier Daniel Merida 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 in a match lasting 2 hours and 17 minutes.

Navone established early control by winning 19 of 21 first serves and breaking Merida’s serve twice in the opening set. Despite dropping the second set and falling behind early in the deciding third set, Navone rallied to break his opponent’s serve in three of the final four games to secure victory.

The title represents Navone’s first ATP championship after losing in straight sets in this same final last year. His victory is expected to elevate him 18 positions to No. 42 in the world rankings, surpassing his previous career-high of No. 47 achieved in 2024.

Meanwhile, at the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship in Houston, Texas, fourth-seeded American Tommy Paul was scheduled to face Argentina’s Roman Andres Burruchaga in the final.

The New York Islanders made a coaching change Sunday, dismissing head coach Patrick Roy and naming Pete DeBoer as his successor.

New York currently holds a 42-31-5 record with 89 points but has struggled recently with four consecutive losses. The team maintains third place in the Metropolitan Division, holding just a one-point advantage over both Philadelphia and Columbus. The Islanders won’t return to action until Thursday when Toronto visits.

The 60-year-old Roy compiled a 97-78-22 coaching record during his three-year tenure after succeeding Lane Lambert behind the bench.

DeBoer, age 57, comes to New York after leading Dallas to three consecutive Western Conference finals before his dismissal on June 6. His time with the Stars produced a 149-68-29 record.

Throughout his coaching career, DeBoer has accumulated a 662-447-152 record while leading Florida, New Jersey, San Jose, Vegas, and Dallas. He guided New Jersey to the 2012 Stanley Cup Final and took San Jose to the championship series in 2016.

During his playing career, Roy captured four Stanley Cup championships and earned three Vezina Trophy awards as the league’s top goaltender.

This marks the fourth coaching dismissal this season across the NHL. Columbus replaced Dean Evason with Rick Bowness on January 12, Los Angeles brought in D.J. Smith for Jim Hiller on March 1, and Vegas installed John Tortorella in place of Bruce Cassidy on March 29.

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts has been placed on the 10-day injured list following confirmation of an oblique strain through MRI imaging on Sunday.

Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts indicated Sunday that the star player faces a potential absence of four to six weeks, though he expressed optimism that the recovery period might fall on the shorter end of that timeline.

The injury occurred during Saturday’s contest against Washington, forcing Betts to leave the game in the opening frame with what was initially described as lower right back discomfort. The Dodgers went on to defeat the Nationals 10-5.

Miguel Rojas stepped in as Betts’ replacement and will occupy the second spot in the batting order for Sunday’s matchup with Washington.

To fill the roster spot, the Dodgers promoted infielder Hyeseong Kim from their Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City. Kim appeared in 71 contests for Los Angeles last season, posting a .280 batting average, but failed to secure a roster position coming out of spring training. Through six games at Oklahoma City this season, he’s batting an impressive .346 on 9-for-26 hitting.

Kim is expected to contribute at shortstop as well during Betts’ absence.

The 33-year-old Betts, a former American League batting champion, has struggled at the plate early this season with a .179 average through 28 at-bats, following a career-worst .258 performance in 2024. Despite the low average, he has contributed two home runs and seven RBIs across eight games.

The New York Islanders made a dramatic coaching change Sunday, dismissing Patrick Roy and bringing in Peter DeBoer as his replacement with only four games left in the regular season.

General Manager Mathieu Darche made the surprising announcement to remove Roy from his position as the team struggles through a devastating late-season collapse. The Islanders are currently mired in a four-game losing skid and have dropped seven of their last ten contests, watching their once-secure playoff position slip away in the highly competitive Eastern Conference.

This marks the second NHL coaching dismissal in just over a week, following the Vegas Golden Knights’ decision to part ways with Bruce Cassidy and bring in John Tortorella on an interim basis.

DeBoer steps into the role permanently after recently serving as an assistant coach for Team Canada at the Milan Cortina Olympics. The 57-year-old brings extensive experience, having guided two franchises to Stanley Cup Finals appearances. His most recent position was with the Dallas Stars, where he led the team to three straight Western Conference finals before his dismissal following last year’s playoff elimination.

Roy, the legendary former goaltender and Hall of Famer, was brought aboard by previous General Manager Lou Lamoriello in January 2024 to replace the dismissed Lane Lambert. His arrival initially energized the club, helping them secure a playoff berth that season, though they fell to Carolina in the opening round. The team’s performance has declined significantly since that playoff run.

The timing of Roy’s departure comes during a pivotal period for the franchise. Eighteen-year-old Matthew Schaefer, widely considered the leading candidate for Rookie of the Year honors, has exceeded expectations in his debut NHL campaign, while additional promising prospects are developing within the organization.

This represents Roy’s second stint as an NHL head coach, following his three-season run with the Colorado Avalanche from 2013-16. During that tenure, he earned the Jack Adams Award as the league’s top coach before unexpectedly stepping down during the offseason.

NEW YORK — Despite Major League Baseball’s efforts to speed up the game, Saturday night’s contest between the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins proved that some matchups will still test fans’ endurance.

The Yankees’ 9-7 victory stretched to 3 hours and 49 minutes, establishing a new record for the lengthiest nine-inning contest since baseball implemented its pitch clock before the 2023 season, data from the Elias Sports Bureau confirms.

To put this marathon in perspective, MLB hadn’t seen a nine-inning game exceed this duration since Boston defeated Baltimore 13-9 in a 3-hour, 57-minute affair on September 27, 2022, according to Elias records.

Before Saturday’s lengthy affair, the Oakland Athletics held the post-pitch clock record with their 3-hour, 45-minute victory over the New York Mets on August 15, 2024, winning 7-6.

Several factors contributed to Saturday’s extended duration: both teams utilized 13 different pitchers who threw a combined 379 pitches, while Miami’s hurlers issued 10 walks, bringing their two-game series total to 21 free passes. Additionally, 21 baserunners were stranded, with the Marlins leaving 12 men on base.

The pitch clock has proven effective overall in shortening game duration. Average nine-inning game times plummeted from 3 hours and 4 minutes in 2022 to 2 hours and 40 minutes when the clock debuted in 2023, then further decreased to 2 hours and 36 minutes in 2024 — the shortest since 1984’s 2-hour, 35-minute average. Last year saw a slight uptick to 2 hours and 38 minutes.

Game length became a significant concern after 2016, when average times first exceeded three hours. The problem peaked at a record 3 hours and 10 minutes in 2021 before electronic pitch-calling technology helped reduce it to 3 hours and 4 minutes in 2022, setting the stage for the pitch clock’s introduction.

Despite capturing two national titles in the last three seasons, UConn faces long odds when they take the court Monday evening against Michigan in the championship game.

The reason for the underdog status is clear: top-seeded Michigan has absolutely dominated their NCAA Tournament path, cruising through five games with victories averaging 21.6 points. Their Saturday night performance against fellow top seed Arizona exemplified this dominance, with an 18-point victory that felt even more lopsided than the final margin suggested.

UConn, seeded second in the East region, followed their shocking takedown of top-seeded Duke in the Elite Eight with a methodical victory over third-seeded Illinois. Despite these impressive wins, the Huskies find themselves as underdogs for their third straight contest.

Sportsbooks across the nation installed Michigan as 7.0-point favorites on Sunday, as the Wolverines chase history by becoming the first Big Ten program to claim a national championship since the 1999-2000 campaign.

The betting spread settled at 6.5 points at both BetMGM and DraftKings, down from an opening line of 7.5. Both sportsbooks set the over/under at 144.5 total points. DraftKings offered the best odds on Michigan winning by 3-6 points at +425, with a Wolverines victory margin of 10-13 points close behind at +450. For UConn backers, the most favorable odds were on a 3-6 point Huskies victory at +800.

Michigan represents the tenth Big Ten squad to reach the championship game since 2000, though Michigan State remains the conference’s lone title winner during that span in 1999-2000. The Wolverines are attempting to complete a remarkable transformation after posting just 8 wins against 24 losses only two seasons ago.

While UConn reaches the final for the third time in four years, they face a Michigan squad that has already made tournament history by becoming the first team ever to score 90 or more points five times in a single NCAA Tournament.

“We know it’s just one more, so we’re going to try to get it,” Michigan’s Aday Mara commented following Saturday’s dominant performance against Arizona.

The Huskies certainly possess recent championship experience, with coach Dan Hurley bringing a 350-179 career record and those two national titles into Monday’s contest. No program has managed three championships in a four-year window since UCLA’s run from 1972-75.

UConn’s defensive prowess has been evident throughout the season, limiting opponents to under 40 percent shooting in 18 different games. On Saturday, the Huskies held Illinois to just 33.9% accuracy from beyond the arc.

“We’re a group of fighters. It’s not appealing to everyone,” Hurley explained. “I’m sure there’s some people in here that it’s off-putting for. But we are a group of fighters. We are incredibly tough. We’ve got incredible will. We go into these games, we’re ready for battle.

“Again, for us it’s not a game that we’re just kind of running around in uniforms throwing the ball around, hoping it goes in. That’s not what we’re doing out there. We’re fighting. It’s a life-and-death struggle for us to get to Monday night for the opportunity to win a championship, and then just to be able to prolong this season with each other and to make the people of Connecticut proud, to make the university proud and all the former great players.”

University of Connecticut basketball star Solo Ball faces uncertainty ahead of Monday’s national championship showdown with Michigan due to what head coach Dan Hurley described as a foot sprain.

Following the Huskies’ 71-62 semifinal triumph over Illinois, Hurley informed the media that Ball has been placed in a protective walking boot and would be held out of Sunday’s practice session.

“It’s going to be tough to get an MRI on Easter, on a Sunday,” Hurley explained to reporters.

The 6-foot-4 guard delivered a solid performance against the Fighting Illini, recording 13 points and two assists over 28 minutes of play. Throughout this season, Ball has been a consistent starter for UConn, appearing in all 38 games while posting averages of 12.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per contest as the team pursues its third championship in four seasons.

Should Ball be sidelined for the title game, freshman guard Braylon Mullins would likely shoulder increased responsibilities. Additional minutes would also fall to Malachi Smith and Jayden Ross to fill the potential void in the backcourt rotation.

Chicago Cubs right-handed pitcher Cade Horton has been sidelined with a right forearm strain, landing him on the 15-day injured list as of Sunday.

The Cubs made the roster move effective Saturday for Horton, who departed Friday’s matchup against Cleveland after pitching just over one inning and throwing 17 pitches.

The young hurler successfully retired three batters in the opening frame before issuing a five-pitch walk to Kyle Manzardo to start the second inning. He then left the field accompanied by Chicago’s head trainer. Cleveland ultimately claimed a 4-1 victory.

“I had some tightness in my wrist and as the game went on, it went into my forearm,” Horton explained following Friday’s contest. “I wanted to err on the cautious side and not hurt anything else. I just wanted to be smart about it and make a smart decision.”

The setback comes after Horton improved his earned run average to 2.45 on Friday, following a strong performance against Washington on March 28 where he allowed just two runs across 6 1/3 innings in Chicago’s 10-2 victory. The 24-year-old is currently in his second major league campaign.

During his debut season, he compiled an 11-4 record with a 2.67 ERA.

In corresponding roster moves Sunday, Chicago brought up left-handed pitcher Riley Martin from Triple-A Iowa and designated right-hander Ethan Roberts as the 27th player for Sunday’s doubleheader against Cleveland.

Martin, age 28, has not yet appeared in a major league contest. Throughout his minor league career spanning 174 appearances (including three starts), he holds a 24-13 record with a 3.76 ERA.

MEXICO CITY – A former Mexican national team player who competed in the 1978 World Cup believes his homeland has its best chance yet to overcome a decades-long tournament barrier when the global soccer championship comes to North America this summer.

Leonardo Cuellar, the 73-year-old former midfielder who donned Mexico’s national colors nearly five decades ago, shared his optimism about breaking what’s known as the “fifth-game” jinx – the team’s historical struggle to advance beyond the round of 16.

“My heart says so, and so does part of my head,” Cuellar told Reuters during a recent interview. “I think this time we’re going to make it.”

The upcoming tournament will mark the third time Mexico serves as a World Cup host nation, sharing duties with Canada and the United States from June 11 through July 19. This expanded 48-team format means Mexico must now win an additional round-of-32 match before even reaching their traditional stumbling point, adding complexity to their quest.

Despite his confidence, Cuellar, who also competed in the 1972 Munich Olympics, cautioned the current roster against premature expectations.

“If you’re already thinking about the fifth game, you might get stuck before that and not even have the opportunity,” he advised. “They need to concentrate on game by game, let their moment build.”

The veteran player praised head coach Javier Aguirre, who’s leading “El Tri” for his third tenure, working alongside assistant coach and former star Rafael Marquez. Cuellar highlighted Mexico’s European-based talent, including Edson Alvarez, Raul Jimenez, and Julian Araujo, as potential difference-makers, though he emphasized that overseas experience alone won’t guarantee success.

Beyond the field, Cuellar voiced frustration with FIFA’s pricing strategy, arguing it has excluded Mexico’s most passionate supporters.

“Now the prices have been set very, very far above the means of our society … that die-hard fan … the one who is always there supporting, will now have to settle for a big screen.”

The former international also highlighted potential complications for Mexican supporters living in the United States under President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration enforcement policies.

“Those in the U.S. with green cards or temporary visas could find themselves caught up in legal proceedings,” Cuellar warned, noting this reality may influence many fans’ decisions about attending matches.

Amnesty International reported last month that widespread arrests and deportations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have disrupted communities and could impact World Cup festivities.

The University at Albany has selected Kelly Morrone to take over as head coach of their women’s basketball program.

Morrone comes to Albany after leading Merrimack for six years, where she coached in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. This past season earned her recognition as the 2026 MAAC Coach of the Year when the Warriors posted a 19-13 overall record and went 15-5 in conference play, earning a spot in the women’s NIT before falling to NJIT in the opening round.

“I am incredibly honored and excited to accept the position of head women’s basketball coach at the University at Albany,” Morrone stated on Saturday. “I’ve long admired the tradition and pride of the Great Danes, and I am deeply grateful to be entrusted with this important opportunity. It is a privilege to lead a program with such strong institutional support and a clear commitment to excellence.”

During her time at Merrimack, Morrone compiled a 74-92 coaching record while guiding the program through its transition from Division II to Division I competition.

Before joining Merrimack, she achieved success at John Carroll University, a Division III school located in University Heights, Ohio, where she won 117 games.

As a player, Morrone competed at South Carolina, serving as team captain for three seasons before her collegiate career concluded with a second-round NCAA Tournament loss in 2003. Her coaching journey began with assistant positions at Buffalo from 2005-08, followed by coaching stops at Davidson (2008-10), Rhode Island (2010-12), and William & Mary (2012-13) prior to taking the John Carroll position.

Morrone steps in to replace Colleen Mullen, who recently departed to take the head coaching position at Rhode Island. Under Mullen’s eight-year leadership, the Great Danes reached the NCAA Tournament once, though the program had previously enjoyed sustained success in the America East Conference.

From 2012 through 2017, Albany earned six straight NCAA Tournament appearances.

The University of Virginia has dismissed women’s basketball head coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton following her four-year tenure with the program, the school announced Saturday.

Agugua-Hamilton’s departure comes after she guided the Cavaliers through a remarkable postseason run that made history. Virginia became the first-ever First Four squad to reach the Sweet 16 in the women’s NCAA Tournament, stunning seventh-ranked Georgia 82-73 in overtime during their opening game before pulling off another major upset against second-ranked Iowa, winning 83-75 in double overtime.

The Cavaliers’ impressive tournament journey ended on March 28 when they fell to third-seeded TCU by a score of 79-69.

During Agugua-Hamilton’s time leading the program, Virginia compiled an overall record of 70-58, including a 29-42 conference record in Atlantic Coast Conference competition. This past season, the team achieved a 20-12 record.

The university released a concise statement Saturday confirming that Agugua-Hamilton would not be returning to her position and that officials plan to launch a nationwide search for her successor right away.

Monday marks a homecoming 18½ months in the making as the Tampa Bay Rays take the field at Tropicana Field before a sold-out crowd for the first time since Hurricane Milton devastated their stadium.

The distinctive domed venue, known for its slanted roof design and unusual overhead walkways, required extensive reconstruction following the storm that battered downtown St. Petersburg on October 9, 2024.

Milton’s powerful winds tore away large portions of the stadium’s original covering, exposing the playing field to months of rainfall. The resulting water intrusion led to widespread mold growth and significant harm to the facility’s electrical infrastructure, audio equipment, and broadcasting capabilities.

At one point, team officials questioned whether the Rays would ever again compete at the venue that has served as their exclusive home since entering Major League Baseball in 1998. However, the organization committed approximately $60 million toward roof replacement and comprehensive facility restoration.

During the lengthy renovation process, the Rays relocated their 2025 home schedule to Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, which typically hosts the New York Yankees’ spring training operations.

Workers completed the new roof installation in August, with crews placing the final section on November 21. The renovation project also included enhanced luxury boxes, an upgraded video scoreboard, fresh artificial playing surface, premium seating behind home plate, new clubhouse carpeting and player lockers, plus updated flooring throughout the outfield deck area.

“I think guys are excited, and rightfully so,” manager Kevin Cash commented regarding the team’s anticipated return. “Our organization has worked incredibly hard and the city and the county, to get it back up to speed. I briefly walked through there, couldn’t be more impressed with the way it looks, and excited to see our fans. I think our guys are going to appreciate just having our fans in the building, cheering us on for our opening day.”

This sellout represents the franchise’s 20th straight home opener with maximum attendance, not counting 2020 when coronavirus restrictions prevented fan attendance.

Relief pitcher Griffin Jax, who became a Ray last July, expressed enthusiasm about the return. “I’m just really excited to get back in the Trop,” Jax stated. “I always enjoy going there as a visitor. It’ll be cool to see all the new renovations and upgrades they made along the way. We’ve seen it a handful of times walking through and seeing pictures and stuff. It looks great. It’ll be good to be back in our home.”

Following a full season at the smaller minor league facility, players are eager to return to major league-caliber amenities and accommodations.

“It was difficult,” Jax reflected on the temporary arrangement at Steinbrenner Field. “I don’t think anybody expects to play in a situation like that. It’s just one of those things you have to make any adjustment you can and get ready to play because there is still baseball to be played that night. The situation isn’t great. The environment wasn’t awesome, but it’s still baseball. You just have to roll with it. I was only there for two months. Shout out to all these guys who were there for an entire year because it was not ideal.”

Despite the substantial investment in repairs, Tropicana Field may not remain the Rays’ permanent home much longer. The team’s lease extends through at least 2028, but new ownership is actively pursuing construction of a replacement stadium in Tampa, positioned near the Yankees’ spring training complex and adjacent to Raymond James Stadium, where the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers play.

The stage is set for Monday night’s college basketball championship as Michigan and UConn prepare to battle for the national title, with the Wolverines looking to overcome a key injury concern.

UConn is pursuing an unprecedented achievement – capturing three national championships within four years, something no team has accomplished in over 50 years. The Huskies plan to lean on the aggressive style of play that delivered their previous two titles, while seeking improved scoring efficiency.

Michigan dominated Arizona 91-73 in their Final Four matchup, with junior center Aday Mara delivering a standout performance of 26 points and nine rebounds. The Wolverines extended their remarkable March tournament run, becoming the first squad to exceed 90 points in five consecutive tournament games. This marks their fifth straight double-digit victory margin during the current March Madness run.

However, Michigan faces uncertainty heading into the championship game due to an injury to first-team All-American Yaxel Lendeborg. The star forward suffered a turned ankle and sprained MCL during the Arizona game, limiting him to just 14 minutes of action despite contributing 11 points. Lendeborg wore a knee brace when he returned for the second half and has indicated his intention to play in Monday’s final.

UConn secured their championship berth with a 71-62 victory over Illinois in Saturday’s other semifinal contest. Tarris Reed Jr. contributed 17 points and 11 rebounds, while freshman standout Braylon Mullins added 15 points, including a crucial three-pointer. The win extended UConn’s remarkable postseason streak to 19 consecutive victories in Sweet 16 rounds and beyond.

Coach Dan Hurley’s squad is seeking their seventh national title, all of which would have come since 1999. The Huskies’ championship hopes rest on their trademark strong interior play and tenacious defensive approach.

Michigan enters as early betting favorites despite the Lendeborg injury concern, as the Big Ten conference attempts to end a 26-year championship drought. The Monday night showdown features two programs that have reached peak performance during this year’s tournament.

In other sports news, Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jo Adell delivered what nine-time Gold Glove winner Torii Hunter called “probably the greatest defensive game I’ve ever seen.” Adell made three home run-robbing catches during a 1-0 victory over Seattle, including a spectacular ninth-inning grab while crashing into the seats near the right-field foul pole against J.P. Crawford.

The women’s basketball championship will feature South Carolina against UCLA on Sunday, with Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley seeking her fourth national title. Meanwhile, UConn women’s coach Geno Auriemma issued an apology for a heated exchange with Staley following their team’s 62-48 Final Four loss.

In golf, Colombia’s Maria Jose Marin captured the Augusta National Women’s Amateur title after California teenager Asterisk Talley suffered a dramatic collapse on the back nine, including a quadruple bogey on the par-3 12th hole.

The Buffalo Sabres ended the longest playoff drought in NHL history, clinching their first postseason berth in 14 years when the New York Rangers defeated Detroit in regulation on Saturday.

Finally, the Milwaukee Brewers have adopted an unusual new mascot – a tortoise named Bobby Jr. – after manager Pat Murphy presented the reptile during a pregame interview as a substitute for his usual “pocket pancakes” routine.

Former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder issued a direct challenge to Anthony Joshua following his split-decision victory over Derek Chisora in London on Saturday, setting up what could be a blockbuster fight between the two ex-titleholders.

The dramatic moment unfolded when Wilder approached Joshua immediately after his win, with the two fighters coming face-to-face ringside. After exchanging a fist bump, the Alabama native made his intentions clear, telling Joshua, “Let’s do it.”

Speaking to media afterward, Wilder elaborated on the encounter. “It wasn’t a few words, I dapped it up with him and I said, now let’s get it on,” the American explained when questioned about their exchange.

The 38-year-old fighter expressed confidence about taking on any challenger in the division. “I’m ready for whoever, long as these guys are in the heavyweight division, I am here. You can call me Mr Clean, because I want to clean up the whole division. The division is nothing without Deontay Wilder,” he declared.

The potential matchup represents a fight that boxing fans have anticipated for years. During their respective championship reigns, Wilder held the WBC title while Joshua possessed the WBA, IBF and WBO belts, but negotiations for a unification bout never succeeded. Both fighters subsequently lost their championships – Wilder to Tyson Fury and Joshua to Oleksandr Usyk.

Usyk currently holds all the major heavyweight titles after defeating Fury in May 2024 to become the undisputed champion.

Joshua last competed in December, scoring a knockout victory against Jake Paul. However, tragedy struck days later when the British fighter was hospitalized following a car crash in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two close friends.

Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter who witnessed the post-fight exchange, indicated his fighter would be willing to accept Wilder’s challenge. “He said, let’s do it. AJ sort of stared at him ice cold, but he would fight him no problem,” Hearn told Fight Hub TV.

A childhood spent on Punjab rooftops, cricket bat in hand, dreaming of World Cup glory for India took an unexpected turn for Jaskaran Singh when his professional cricket aspirations finally came to fruition.

The 36-year-old medium pacer achieved his World Cup dream in 2026 after 17 years in professional cricket, though fate delivered it with an unexpected twist – he competed in the Twenty20 World Cup on Indian soil while representing Canada.

“How ironic is that?” Singh reflected during an interview with Reuters. The former India A player, who previously competed for Punjab and Chandigarh in domestic Indian cricket, found himself in a situation he never could have predicted.

Though Canada’s tournament ended without a victory despite Singh’s impressive three-wicket performance against Afghanistan in their final group match, the personal significance of the moment wasn’t lost on him.

“At some point… there was a thought that okay, you worked hard, but your dream of playing and winning the World Cup for India is shattered,” Singh explained. “I went to Canada, not knowing what would happen. And then I’m given an opportunity of playing in a World Cup, and that World Cup happens to be in India, my home country… I could not ever imagine this in my wildest dreams.”

Singh described his relocation to Canada as a “compromise with destiny.” Despite his family holding Canadian permanent residency, he had initially stayed in India to pursue his cricket career.

His professional journey included taking six wickets for Deccan Chargers during the 2010 Indian Premier League season. However, multiple injuries over subsequent years limited his domestic tournament appearances, eventually leading to his Canadian move.

“I went there for my child’s citizenship, to be honest,” Singh admitted about his initial motivation for the relocation.

The transition to Canadian life presented immediate challenges for Singh, particularly the harsh winters that contrasted sharply with his previous lifestyle.

“Here, after October and November, if you have to step out of the house, you must have warm clothes, snow shoes. It was so difficult to adjust at first,” he said, noting how different it was from his habit of wearing shorts even during India’s coldest months.

Singh found work coaching at a Toronto academy while participating in club cricket, entering a sporting environment vastly different from his Indian experience.

“Because the summer is so short, they have to pack a lot of cricket in the weekends. They start from seven in the morning and finish at nine in the evening,” he described. “Wet ground, wet shoes, you slip a lot. The sight screens aren’t good, the quality of the ball varies from match to match, between tournaments.”

Despite the infrastructure challenges, Singh discovered that Canadian cricket maintained high competitive standards, driven by numerous immigrants like himself who viewed the sport as a link to their heritage.

“If you work hard, you can make your way to the top,” Singh observed about the Canadian cricket landscape.

Cricket Canada’s national body quickly identified Singh as a potential team member, with then-coach Pubudu Dassanayake (who later became the U.S. head coach) taking particular interest in his development.

“He’d ask, how long I had left to fulfil my residency obligations before I would be eligible to play for Canada,” Singh remembered about his early conversations with Dassanayake.

Singh’s Canadian debut came in April 2025 against Bermuda, where he claimed three wickets in a decisive win. He attributes his smooth integration into the national team to his IPL background.

“You mentally become confident that it’s nothing new,” he explained about drawing on his previous high-level experience.

Looking beyond Canada’s winless T20 World Cup showing, Singh remains optimistic about the team’s future prospects in both twenty-over and fifty-over World Cup competitions.

However, Singh has adopted a more philosophical approach to his own cricket future, acknowledging the unpredictable nature of his journey.

“I used to make a lot of plans… but destiny teaches you, it’s not in your control. Wherever life takes me, I’m on a boat without a radar. I’m just going to enjoy the ride, whatever destiny throws at me,” he concluded.

The Buffalo Sabres have officially broken their historic 14-year absence from the NHL playoffs, marking the end of the longest postseason drought in league history. The milestone was reached Saturday despite Buffalo falling 6-2 to Washington, as Detroit’s regulation defeat to the New York Rangers earlier that day secured the Sabres’ playoff position.

Washington goaltender Logan Thompson turned away 37 shots in the Capitals’ dominant performance against Buffalo.

The Capitals received strong offensive contributions from Jakob Chychrun, Aliaksei Protas, and Connor McMichael, who each recorded one goal and one assist. Washington has captured four victories in their last five contests and jumped ahead 3-0 within the opening two and a half minutes of play.

Buffalo got scoring from Rasmus Dahlin, who notched a goal and assist, along with Beck Malenstyn. The Sabres now sit tied on points for second place in the Atlantic Division standings.

In other Saturday action, Oliver Kapanen delivered the decisive goal in the fifth round of a shootout, extending Montreal’s winning streak to eight games with a 4-3 victory over New Jersey in Newark. Cole Caufield remains one goal short of the 50-goal milestone but contributed two assists in the triumph. Ivan Demidov, Jayden Struble, and Lane Hutson found the net for Montreal, while Jakub Dobes recorded 35 saves. Jack Hughes, Timo Meier, and Dawson Mercer scored for New Jersey, with Jake Allen making 26 stops.

Colorado defeated Dallas 2-0 in a matchup between the Western Conference’s top two teams. Martin Necas and Nathan MacKinnon broke open a scoreless contest with goals in the final 9:21. MacKinnon extended his league-leading goal total to 52 with an empty-net strike after Necas scored his career-best 36th goal. Scott Wedgewood earned his third shutout of the campaign with 17 saves, while Casey DeSmith made 20 stops for Dallas, which has struggled to a 3-6-2 record following a 14-0-1 surge.

Los Angeles edged Toronto 7-6 in overtime, with Quinton Byfield netting his second goal of the night at 2:33 of the extra period. The Kings built a 6-4 advantage with three goals in 1:36 during the third period before Toronto forced overtime. Adrian Kempe contributed two goals and two assists for Los Angeles, while Matthew Knies recorded two goals and an assist for the Maple Leafs. Joseph Woll made 33 saves for Toronto.

Pittsburgh demolished visiting Florida 9-4 behind Evgeni Malkin’s first hat trick in over four years. Sidney Crosby moved past Steve Yzerman into seventh place on the NHL’s all-time points list with two assists, giving him 1,756 career points. A dozen Pittsburgh players earned at least one point in the victory, while Florida’s hopes of a three-peat officially ended as they became the first defending Stanley Cup champion to miss the following season’s playoffs since Los Angeles in 2015.

Winnipeg defeated Columbus 2-1 on Kyle Connor’s two-goal performance, keeping the Jets in contention for the Western Conference’s final wild-card position. The loss left Columbus tied with Ottawa, Detroit, and Philadelphia, with the Senators holding the tiebreaker advantage.

Vegas moved within one point of the Pacific Division lead with a 5-1 victory over Edmonton. Jeremy Lauzon and Brett Howden each had a goal and assist for the Golden Knights, who won their third consecutive game under new coach John Tortorella. Carter Hart stopped 31 shots for Vegas, while Edmonton’s five-game winning streak came to an end.

Carolina topped the New York Islanders 4-3, with Seth Jarvis scoring twice and adding an assist. Sebastian Aho’s short-handed goal with 3:43 left in the second period gave the Hurricanes their first lead of the game. Brandon Bussi made 13 saves to improve to 29-6-1.

Nashville moved into the Western Conference’s second wild-card spot with a 6-3 victory over San Jose. Tyson Jost set up the game-winner and insurance goal before adding an empty-netter, while Filip Forsberg scored twice and added an assist for the Predators.

Tampa Bay clinched its ninth consecutive playoff appearance with a 3-1 win over Boston, featuring a franchise-record 21st goal by defenseman Darren Raddysh. The Lightning scored three times in the third period to secure the victory.

Chicago defeated Seattle 4-2, with Sacha Boisvert scoring his first NHL goal. The loss further damaged Seattle’s playoff hopes, dropping them to seventh in the Western Conference wild-card race, six points out of the final spot.

Utah beat Vancouver 7-4 behind Clayton Keller’s third career hat trick in a four-point performance. Dylan Guenther and Lawson Crouse each had a goal and assist for Utah, which moved closer to clinching a playoff berth.

Calgary upset Anaheim 5-3, with Morgan Frost scoring twice and Joel Farabee and Matvei Gridin each recording a goal and assist. Devin Cooley made 36 saves for the Flames, while Anaheim remained winless in five games.

New York shut down Detroit 4-1, with rookie Gabe Perreault scoring twice in the third period for his first career hat trick. Jonathan Quick made 31 saves and nearly earned a shutout before allowing a goal with 33 seconds remaining.

Minnesota defeated Ottawa 4-1, with Ryan Hartman scoring twice. Jesper Wallstedt stopped 33 shots for the Wild, who won consecutive games for the first time in a month. Ottawa remains in the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot despite losing four of five.

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jo Adell turned in a defensive masterpiece Saturday night, making three spectacular home run-robbing catches to preserve his team’s narrow 1-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners in Anaheim, California.

Adell’s defensive brilliance included denying Cal Raleigh in the opening frame, Josh Naylor in the eighth, and J.P. Crawford in the ninth with outstanding catches in right field. The Angels managed just their second victory in seven games. The final catch proved most dramatic as Adell tumbled over the short wall in right field’s corner into the stands while securing the ball, though the play was reviewed and confirmed.

Starting pitcher Jack Kochanowicz (1-0) delivered 5 2/3 scoreless innings, surrendering four hits for Los Angeles. Zach Neto provided the game’s only offense with a first-inning leadoff home run, his 10th career leadoff blast, and finished with two hits.

Seattle’s Emerson Hancock (1-1) pitched effectively, giving up just one run on six hits across 6 2/3 innings. Julio Rodriguez collected two of the Mariners’ five hits, while Cal Raleigh’s power drought continued through nine games after launching 60 home runs last season.

In New York, Giancarlo Stanton delivered a crucial two-run single with two outs in the eighth inning, helping the Yankees overcome a four-run deficit to defeat the visiting Miami Marlins 9-7. Cody Bellinger contributed three RBIs as New York continued its strong season start. The Yankees managed just six hits but drew ten walks from Miami’s pitching staff. Brett Headrick (1-0) earned the victory after ending the eighth inning following Javier Sanoja’s game-tying double.

Pittsburgh rallied past Baltimore 3-2 when Nick Yorke connected for the game-winning double in the ninth inning. Dennis Santana (2-0) earned the win with one inning of shutout relief, while Yorke’s decisive hit came off Ryan Helsley (0-1). The Orioles had led since the fourth inning on RBI singles from Dylan Beavers and Leody Taveras.

Detroit powered past St. Louis 11-6 in a weather-shortened contest that ended after 8 1/3 innings due to poor field conditions. Kerry Carpenter, Zach McKinstry, and Matt Vierling each launched two-run homers for the Tigers. Jordan Walker responded with a grand slam for the Cardinals, driving in five runs total.

Chicago defeated Toronto 6-3 behind home runs from Munetaka Murakami and Colson Montgomery during a decisive sixth-inning rally. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his first home run of the season for the Blue Jays, a two-run shot that briefly gave Toronto a 2-1 advantage.

Milwaukee and Kansas City split their doubleheader, with the Brewers taking the opener 5-2 behind Garrett Mitchell’s five-RBI performance that included a double and home run. The Royals bounced back in the nightcap 8-2, sparked by Salvador Perez’s sixth-inning home run that ignited a decisive six-run frame.

Philadelphia extended its winning streak to four games with a 2-1 victory over Colorado in Denver. Jesus Luzardo (1-1) dominated with 11 strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings, while Trea Turner delivered the game-winning RBI.

Los Angeles Dodgers overwhelmed Washington 10-5 as Andy Pages collected three hits including a three-run homer, and Freddie Freeman drove in four runs with two doubles. The Dodgers managed 16 hits in the victory, though they lost shortstop Mookie Betts to lower back pain in the first inning.

San Diego edged Boston 2-1 on Ramon Laureano’s two-out RBI single in the ninth inning. Fernando Tatis Jr. set up the winning run with a clutch double over center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela’s head.

Arizona defeated Atlanta 2-1 behind Michael Soroka’s five strong innings against his former team. The Diamondbacks scored both runs without benefit of a hit in the second inning when a throwing error allowed two runners to score.

Cincinnati blanked Texas 2-0 as Rhett Lowder (1-0) tossed six shutout innings, allowing just three hits. The Reds scored both runs in the first inning on RBI singles from Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart.

Tampa Bay cruised past Minnesota 7-1 with Jonathan Aranda and Yandy Diaz each driving in two runs. Steven Matz (2-0) limited the Twins to two hits and one run over six innings.

Houston demolished Oakland 11-0 in West Sacramento, collecting 18 hits in the rout. Christian Walker and Cam Smith homered for the Astros, while Tatsuya Imai (1-0) earned his first major league victory with 5 2/3 scoreless innings.

New York Mets completed their second straight blowout victory over San Francisco with a 9-0 shutout. Tyrone Taylor capped a five-run fifth inning with a pinch-hit home run, while Clay Holmes threw seven shutout innings for his first victory of the season.

Ramon Laureano came through in the clutch Saturday night, delivering a game-winning RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning that lifted the San Diego Padres to a 3-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox in the middle game of their three-game series.

The decisive rally unfolded against Boston’s closer Aroldis Chapman (0-1), who suffered the loss. Fernando Tatis Jr. sparked the winning sequence by smashing a double that sailed over center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela’s head, positioning himself perfectly for Laureano’s clutch hit to left field that brought home the go-ahead run.

Miguel Andujar turned in an outstanding offensive performance for the Padres, collecting three hits in five at-bats while adding a double and crossing the plate once.

The Padres’ offense struggled through the middle innings, managing only two hits from the fourth through seventh frames, which allowed Boston to level the score. Adrian Morejon (1-0) picked up the victory despite surrendering a potential save opportunity, while Mason Miller locked down his third save of the season by striking out three consecutive batters in the ninth.

Boston’s offense was paced by Rafaela and Roman Anthony, who each collected a pair of hits. Anthony showcased his power with a triple during the fifth inning.

The Red Sox mounted their comeback in the eighth frame when Rafaela and Anthony opened with consecutive singles. Pinch-hitter Andruw Monasterio then worked a grueling nine-pitch at-bat that resulted in an RBI on a fielder’s choice. San Diego appeared ready to escape further damage with a potential 1-4-3 double play, but Jake Cronenworth’s error on Morejon’s throw to second base prevented the inning-ending play.

Following Boston starter Connelly Early’s escape from an early two-on, two-out situation, San Diego grabbed the initial advantage in the second inning on Bryce Johnson’s RBI groundout. The run scored Freddy Fermin, who had drawn a leadoff walk and advanced to third base on Ty France’s single that bounced off the outfield wall.

Boston answered immediately in the bottom half of the second when Willson Contreras led off with a single to left field and came around to score on Marcelo Mayer’s sacrifice fly, knotting the game at 1-1.

The Padres reclaimed the lead in the third inning through a pair of well-placed doubles. Andujar started the rally by driving a one-out double into the left-field corner, and after Manny Machado drew a walk to keep the inning alive, Fermin delivered a two-out liner that eluded the diving attempt of Boston third baseman Caleb Durbin, restoring San Diego’s 2-1 advantage.

Offensive production stalled for both clubs over the next several innings, although the Red Sox created multiple scoring chances with four hits spread across the fourth and fifth innings.

San Diego’s Randy Vasquez navigated around three singles in the fourth inning, ending the threat by striking out Mayer with two runners in scoring position. The following inning, Anthony was left stranded despite his booming two-out triple to deep right field.

Vasquez completed six solid innings, surrendering just one run while recording three strikeouts.

Early struggled with his command, requiring 88 pitches to get through only four innings. He allowed two runs on three hits and four walks while striking out four batters.

Chicago rookie Sacha Boisvert found the back of the net for the first time in his professional career as the Blackhawks handed the Seattle Kraken a costly 4-2 defeat on Saturday evening, dealing another blow to the home team’s postseason aspirations.

Ilya Mikheyev contributed both a goal and an assist for Chicago, while Teuvo Teravainen and Tyler Bertuzzi each found the scoresheet. Wyatt Kaiser recorded two helpers for the Blackhawks (28-35-14, 70 points), who are now playing the role of playoff spoiler after their own postseason elimination following Thursday’s 3-1 defeat in Edmonton. Netminder Arvid Soderblom turned away 25 shots for the victory.

For Seattle, Jaden Schwartz managed a goal and assist while Kaapo Kakko also lit the lamp for the Kraken (32-32-11, 75 points). The defeat marked their fourth consecutive loss and eighth setback in nine contests, dropping them to seventh position in the Western Conference wild-card standings, now trailing the final playoff spot by six points. Goalie Philipp Grubauer made 27 saves on 30 attempts.

Seattle mounted a comeback attempt when Schwartz narrowed the deficit to 2-1 at the 10:48 mark of the final frame during a quick transition play. Eeli Tolvanen carried the puck down the left side before delivering a feed to the goalmouth, where Schwartz battled past Kaiser to deflect the puck past Soderblom’s blocker.

The 18-year-old Boisvert, selected 18th overall in last year’s draft and appearing in only his fifth NHL contest, restored Chicago’s two-goal cushion at 13:08. The young forward received a feed from Kevin Korchinski in the high slot and fired a one-timer that beat Grubauer cleanly.

Kakko managed to capitalize on a loose puck at 14:18 to bring the Kraken back within one goal at 3-2, but Mikheyev sealed the outcome by finding the vacant net with 1:12 remaining on the clock.

The opening frame remained scoreless despite Chicago holding a 10-4 shot advantage, with all four Seattle attempts originating from their blue-line corps.

Teravainen broke the deadlock during a man-advantage situation at 9:15 of the middle period. After taking a pass from Connor Bedard near the left corner, he found himself with ample space and opted to carry the puck toward the goal. The Finnish forward managed to squeeze the puck through Grubauer’s leg pads, with the rubber barely crossing the goal line.

Chicago expanded their lead to 2-0 with just 23 seconds left in the second period during a three-on-two opportunity. Bertuzzi fed Mikheyev along the left boards as he approached the net. Despite facing away from the goal, Mikheyev delivered a backhand pass toward the slot that deflected off Schwartz’s skate and settled near the crease. Bertuzzi quickly collected the rebound and elevated it over Grubauer’s glove into the top right portion of the net.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — When a nine-time Gold Glove winner famous for spectacular catches declares what you just accomplished as “probably the greatest defensive game I’ve ever seen,” you know you’ve achieved something extraordinary.

That’s exactly what happened to Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jo Adell, who delivered a historic defensive performance by preventing three home runs during Saturday night’s 1-0 victory against the Seattle Mariners. The most dramatic moment came in the ninth inning when Adell made a spectacular jumping catch while tumbling into the seats behind the right-field foul pole.

“I’ve never seen three home run robberies in one game, and I’ve never seen a guy on the third one fall into the stands, catch the ball and keep his feet in like he’s a wide receiver,” commented 50-year-old Torii Hunter, who serves as a special assistant to the general manager and witnessed the performance from the dugout. “I was jumping up and down. I almost passed out.”

Adell, whose defensive struggles in previous seasons transformed into a Gold Glove nomination in 2024, first soared above the yellow warning line in center-right field to rob Cal Raleigh of a solo home run during the opening inning. He repeated the feat with an almost identical catch against Josh Naylor in the eighth frame.

The climactic moment arrived when J.P. Crawford opened the ninth with a drive toward the right-field corner. Adell sprinted to the ball’s location, launched himself upward to secure it, flipped over the short wall and landed in the front row before triumphantly displaying his glove to show the successful catch, which officials confirmed following video review.

“After the first one, I was pretty fired up,” Adell explained. “When I got to the second one, which looked identical to the first, I thought, ‘Wow, my routes are on point tonight.’ The third one was just grit. Top of the ninth, you have to get it done. It was crazy.

“You just get there, then it’s decision-making. The ball was hit high enough to where I could get there. I watched it (into my glove), fell over and ended up in somebody’s lap. I don’t know who it was, but it was a softer landing than I expected. The fans were as fired up as me.”

Data from Inside Edge shows Adell has prevented 10 home runs since 2020, matching Kyle Tucker of the Dodgers for the major league lead. The outfielders who prevented the most home runs throughout the entire 2025 season were Washington’s Jacob Young and San Diego’s Fernando Tatis, each with four.

Baseball historians believe this marks the first instance of a player preventing three home runs during a single contest.

“It was like a movie scene,” Hunter described regarding Adell’s final catch. “It was like the music was playing, then he caught the ball, then he went down and we didn’t see him anymore. The music paused, he came up and said, ‘Yeah!’ I started cheering and almost blacked out.”

Hunter, the former star for Minnesota, Los Angeles and Detroit, has collaborated closely with Adell on defensive fundamentals over recent years.

“His impact has been huge,” Adell acknowledged. “It’s mental when you’re out there — it’s a mindset of going to get the baseball, being aggressive. Early, I was caught in between on some plays, and sometimes that happens.

“When you err on the side of being aggressive and trying to make the plays, you’d be surprised at how many plays you make. That’s the mindset Torii had all those years, winning all those Gold Gloves.”

Denver’s Nikola Jokic put together a masterful 40-point performance, capping it off with a crucial 7-foot shot late in overtime, as the Nuggets defeated San Antonio 136-134 on Saturday night, bringing the Spurs’ remarkable 11-game winning streak to an end.

The Serbian center dominated the extra period with seven points to help Denver secure its eighth consecutive victory, despite an outstanding effort from San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama. The young French star delivered 34 points and pulled down 18 rebounds while converting an impressive 16 of 17 free throw attempts.

Supporting Jokic’s stellar night, Christian Braun contributed 21 points for the Nuggets. Jamal Murray recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 assists, while Cam Johnson added 17 points to the winning effort. Aaron Gordon chipped in 15 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. provided 10 points for Denver, which trailed by six points with just 1:39 remaining in regulation before mounting their comeback.

San Antonio received strong contributions across their roster, with Stephon Castle leading the way with 20 points. Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie each scored 18 points, while De’Aaron Fox added 14 points to the effort. Dylan Harper contributed 12 points and Keldon Johnson scored 10 for the Spurs, who entered the contest having won 27 of their previous 29 games.

In other NBA action, Detroit secured the Eastern Conference’s top seed with a decisive 116-93 road victory over Philadelphia. Tobias Harris led the Pistons with 19 points, while Daniss Jenkins recorded 16 points and 14 assists in the win.

The victory gives Detroit home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs for the first time since 2007. The Pistons have maintained their strong play despite star guard Cade Cunningham being sidelined with a collapsed lung, posting an 8-2 record during his absence.

Philadelphia struggled offensively in the second half, managing just 33 points after halftime while shooting 34.2% from the field. Tyrese Maxey scored 23 points and Paul George added 20 for the 76ers, who played without Joel Embiid on the second night of back-to-back games.

Miami dominated Washington 152-136 in another high-scoring affair, led by Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s season-best 32 points. Kel’el Ware had a standout performance with 24 points, 19 rebounds, and seven blocks for the Heat.

The Heat controlled the game early, building leads as large as 35 points in the second quarter before resting their starters. The victory marked Miami’s third 150-point game in franchise history.

Washington continued their struggles, losing their 21st game in the last 22 contests. Will Riley provided a bright spot with 31 points on efficient 12-of-17 shooting, while Sharife Cooper scored 20 points and Jaden Hardy added 19 for the Wizards.

Fourth-seeded American tennis player Tommy Paul secured his spot in the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship final after defeating compatriot and second-seed Frances Tiafoe 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7) during Saturday’s semifinal action in Houston.

The victory marks Paul’s fourth straight triumph against Tiafoe and earns him his debut appearance in an ATP clay-court final. The marathon contest lasted 2 hours and 45 minutes, with weather disruptions causing delays throughout the match, including a lengthy 90-minute rain interruption during the second set.

Paul dominated the serving statistics with 14 aces and zero double faults, while successfully capitalizing on two of his five break-point chances in the decisive third set. The final set featured dramatic momentum swings, with Tiafoe securing an early break only to see Paul immediately respond with a break of his own. The pattern repeated itself as Paul gained a service break, but Tiafoe answered back in the following game.

During the crucial tiebreaker, Paul appeared to have the match sealed with a 6-4 lead and two match points, but failed to convert either opportunity. He ultimately prevailed by claiming two consecutive points to break a 7-7 deadlock and secure the victory.

The other semifinal featured an all-Argentine matchup, with Roman Andres Burruchaga dominating Thiago Agustin Tirante 6-1, 6-1 to earn his place opposite Paul in the final. Burruchaga was flawless on serve, never facing a break point while converting five of eight break opportunities. Tirante struggled with consistency, committing 25 unforced errors compared to Burruchaga’s 10.

At the Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakech, Morocco, Argentine qualifier Marco Trungelliti continued his remarkable tournament run by eliminating top-seeded Italian Luciano Darderi 6-4, 7-6 (2). The 36-year-old Trungelliti, ranked 117th in the world, has now become the oldest first-time finalist in ATP Tour history.

Trungelliti’s path to the final included victories over the tournament’s fifth, third, and top seeds. He converted four of six break-point opportunities while taking advantage of Darderi’s eight double faults to prevent the Italian from defending his title from the previous year.

Spain’s Rafael Jodar will face Trungelliti in the final after dismantling Argentine Camilo Ugo Carabelli 6-2, 6-1 in just 63 minutes. The 19-year-old Jodar never lost his serve and accumulated a commanding 23-8 advantage in winners. This represents Jodar’s first tour-level clay court tournament since making his professional debut at this year’s Australian Open.

In Bucharest, Romania, at the Tiriac Open, Spanish qualifier Daniel Merida Aguilar staged a comeback victory over third-seeded Hungarian Fabian Marozsan, winning 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-1. After losing the opening set, Merida Aguilar found his rhythm and converted four of six break-point chances across the final two sets while recording 35 winners.

Despite committing 39 unforced errors, Merida Aguilar’s exceptional defensive play proved decisive as he saved 17 of 18 break points faced to reach his first tour-level final. Seventh-seeded Argentine Mariano Navone survived two match points to defeat eighth-seeded Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp 5-7, 7-6 (3), 7-5.

Navone benefited from van de Zandschulp’s 65 unforced errors while breaking serve six times and maintaining an impressive 82% first-serve percentage. The Argentine will seek his first tour-level championship after falling short in the 2024 Bucharest final.

Ukrainian tennis player Yuliia Starodubtseva delivered a remarkable performance Saturday, defeating fifth-seeded Madison Keys 6-1, 6-4 to advance to the Charleston Open championship match. The former Old Dominion University player successfully defended six of eight break point opportunities during her impressive semifinal victory.

Starodubtseva’s path to the final has been unconventional – she originally entered the tournament as a qualifier but earned a spot in the main draw after another player withdrew. Now the Ukraine native has a chance to capture her first professional WTA championship.

Her opponent in the final will be top-seeded Jessica Pegula, who is seeking to defend her Charleston title. Pegula advanced with a hard-fought 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 victory over fourth-seeded Iva Jovic, recording 23 winning shots while committing 25 unforced errors. This marks the fourth consecutive match in Charleston where Pegula has needed three sets to secure victory.

In tournament action from Bogota, Colombia, top-seeded Czech player Marie Bouzkova reached the Copa Colsanitas final with a 7-6 (5), 6-2 win over Argentina’s Jazmin Ortenzi. Bouzkova successfully saved five of seven break point opportunities during the match.

After building a 5-2 advantage in the first set, Bouzkova saw Ortenzi mount a comeback that forced a tiebreaker. However, the Czech player regained control and dominated the second set to secure her championship match berth.

Bouzkova will meet eighth-seeded Hungarian player Panna Udvardy in the final. Udvardy staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Colombia’s Emiliana Arango 6-7 (8), 6-3, 7-6 (5). The local favorite Arango held a 5-2 lead in the deciding set before Udvardy rallied to win four consecutive games and claim the victory.