Category: Sports

The top-seeded UConn women’s basketball team continued their dominant season with a crushing 84-39 victory over Georgetown in Saturday’s Big East tournament quarterfinal matchup in Uncasville, Connecticut.

The undefeated Huskies (32-0) extended their winning streak to 48 consecutive games with the lopsided triumph over the eighth-seeded Hoyas. UConn established control early, taking a commanding 47-18 advantage into the locker room at halftime. The Huskies capitalized on Georgetown’s mistakes, converting turnovers into 32 first-half points.

The rout continued after intermission as UConn’s defense suffocated Georgetown in the third quarter, holding the Hoyas to just four points during the period. Georgetown (14-17) struggled throughout the contest and finished their season having dropped nine of their final 11 games.

In the other semifinal matchup, fifth-seeded Creighton pulled off an upset victory over fourth-seeded Marquette, winning 57-44 to earn a date with the defending national champions.

Kennedy Townsend led the Bluejays’ scoring attack with 17 points, while Ava Zediker contributed 15 points and six rebounds in the victory. Creighton (16-14) seized momentum late in the first half with a decisive 10-0 scoring run that gave them the lead permanently. The Bluejays extended their advantage in the third quarter with another 11-0 burst that pushed their lead to 40-24.

Grace Bofelli chipped in 12 points for Creighton and matched Zediker’s six-rebound performance. Despite strong individual efforts from Skylar Forbes (16 points) and Halle Vice (12 points, 11 rebounds), Marquette (18-12) couldn’t overcome poor shooting, connecting on just 29.3% of their field goal attempts compared to Creighton’s 41.4% accuracy.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills have locked up center Connor McGovern with a four-year contract agreement reached on Saturday, according to two sources with knowledge of the negotiations who spoke to The Associated Press.

The sources requested anonymity since Buffalo has not officially announced McGovern’s signing. ESPN.com was first to break the story.

The 28-year-old McGovern was set to hit unrestricted free agency when his previous deal expired next week. McGovern brings six years of NFL experience to the table, with his last three seasons spent in Buffalo.

When McGovern first arrived in Buffalo as a free agent in 2023, he took over the starting left guard position after spending three seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. The following season, he transitioned to the center role when Mitch Morse departed the team.

With McGovern now secured, Buffalo has managed to keep most of its offensive line together, though left guard David Edwards remains the only starter without a contract. The Bills may struggle to retain Edwards due to financial limitations under the salary cap.

McGovern’s new deal was finalized just one day after Buffalo cut four players, including cornerback Taron Johnson, as part of their effort to trim more than $32 million from their payroll to meet salary cap requirements before Wednesday’s new league year deadline.

The 13th-ranked Duke Blue Devils advanced to the ACC tournament championship game after edging Notre Dame 65-63 in Saturday’s semifinal matchup in Duluth, Georgia.

Leading scorer Taina Mair contributed 16 points for Duke, while Toby Fournier added 14 points to the effort. Riley Nelson chipped in 10 points, and Delaney Thomas recorded a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds. The Blue Devils (23-8) found themselves down 49-46 entering the final quarter but managed to secure victory through crucial defensive plays in the closing moments.

Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo led all scorers with 24 points, supported by Iyana Moore’s 14-point performance. The fifth-seeded Irish (22-10) had been seeking their third consecutive tournament victory and mounted an impressive comeback from a 13-point deficit to take the lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The game’s decisive moments came in the final minute when Hidalgo connected on a three-pointer with 1:10 remaining, bringing Notre Dame within one point at 64-63. However, the Irish were unable to score again after that basket. Nelson sealed the victory for Duke with a free throw at the 52-second mark, and Notre Dame’s hopes ended when they missed three attempts in the game’s final 12 seconds, including Moore’s desperation shot as time expired.

Duke, the defending tournament champions, will face either Louisville or North Carolina in Sunday afternoon’s title game as they seek back-to-back ACC tournament crowns.

New England will part ways with star wide receiver Stefon Diggs when the NFL’s new league year officially opens next week, according to a source familiar with the team’s plans who spoke to The Associated Press.

The source requested anonymity Wednesday since the Patriots have not made their decision public yet.

On social media, Diggs shared a farewell message to New England fans, expressing gratitude to the organization and writing: “We family forever.”

During his lone campaign with the Patriots, Diggs topped the roster with 85 catches for 1,013 receiving yards and four scores, contributing to New England’s journey to the Super Bowl, where they fell to the Seattle Seahawks.

The veteran receiver developed into quarterback Drake Maye’s primary offensive weapon, as Maye earned second place behind Matthew Stafford in AP NFL MVP voting.

At 32 years old, the Pro Bowl selection four times over will now look for his fifth NFL franchise and fourth different team in the past four seasons.

Yankees captain Aaron Judge will swap his familiar pinstripes for Team USA colors as he prepares to lead America’s quest for World Baseball Classic glory.

“Getting the chance to wear that across my chest is going to be pretty powerful,” Judge expressed about representing his country. “I think a lot of people have a lot of pride for their country.”

The United States enters the sixth edition of the tournament seeking redemption after falling 3-2 to Japan in the 2023 championship game, where Shohei Ohtani sealed victory by striking out Mike Trout. America hasn’t claimed the title since their lone triumph in 2017.

Competition begins Thursday with 20 nations vying for the crown. Australia faces Taiwan at Tokyo Dome in the tournament opener, while games commence Friday in Houston, Miami and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Miami will host the championship finale on March 17.

Team USA boasts a significantly strengthened pitching rotation featuring Paul Skenes, Tarik Skubal and Mason Miller, while their lineup is expected to showcase Judge, Cal Raleigh, Kyle Schwarber and Bobby Witt Jr.

Skenes, who observed the previous two tournaments from afar, eagerly accepted manager Mark DeRosa’s invitation.

“When DeRo called, it was like, just, ‘Yeah, I’m in. You don’t need to talk me into this or anything,’” said Skenes, who spent two years at Air Force Academy before moving to LSU. “It was a quick yes.”

Team chemistry has been building for months among the players.

“The group chat’s been firing away for the last couple of months,” Philadelphia’s Bryce Harper revealed.

Logan Webb will take the mound for America’s Friday opener against Brazil in Houston, with Skubal following Saturday versus Britain, Skenes facing Mexico on Monday and top Mets prospect Nolan McLean starting against Italy on March 10.

These four starters accumulated a combined 19.8 Baseball Reference WAR last season, dramatically improving from the 2023 American rotation of Adam Wainwright, Nick Martinez, Lance Lynn and Merrill Kelly, who totaled just 7.8 WAR the previous year.

Skubal plans to make one appearance before returning to the Tigers.

Tournament pitch limits restrict hurlers to 65 pitches in opening round games, 80 in quarterfinals and 95 in semifinals or finals. Pitchers throwing more than 50 pitches must wait four days before their next appearance, while those exceeding 30 pitches sit out the following day. No pitcher may work three consecutive days.

“There are obviously guardrails for the tournament to begin with, pitch-count wise, but there’s also guardrails for guys having to throw on certain days to get ready for their team’s opening day,” U.S. manager Mark DeRosa explained.

Japan aims to capture their fourth championship and join the 2006-2009 Samurai Warriors as the tournament’s only back-to-back winners.

Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto bring championship experience after helping last year’s Los Angeles Dodgers become the first repeat World Series champions since the Yankees’ three-peat from 1998-2000.

“Going back to back, that is our only goal,” Yamamoto stated through a translator.

World Series MVP Yamamoto will start Japan’s opener against Taiwan on Friday. Los Angeles approved his participation despite his 211-inning workload last season, including playoffs.

“The Dodgers understand how big the WBC tournament is, big in Japan,” he said. “The Dodgers and the WBC, they both are very important to me equally.”

Japan’s rotation lacks Ohtani, who won’t pitch, plus Roki Sasaki, who stayed at Dodgers camp following an injury-plagued rookie campaign, and Yu Darvish, recovering from elbow surgery.

The Dominican Republic, chasing their first championship since their only victory in 2013, features six players who ranked among last year’s top 10 MVP candidates: Junior Caminero, Jeremy Peña, Geraldo Perdomo, Julio Rodríguez, Juan Soto and Fernando Tatis Jr.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Manny Machado and Ketel Marte also join a roster including pitchers Sandy Alcantara and Cristopher Sánchez.

“It can be a headache also because you have so much talent. You wish that you can make everybody happy,” Dominican manager Albert Pujols acknowledged. “The Dominican Republic has been blessed with so many talent.”

Venezuela, grouped with the Dominicans, features Ronald Acuña Jr., Jackson Chourio, Eugenio Suárez and brothers William and Willson Contreras.

Judge emphasizes the significance of representing America in a tournament beginning days after the U.S. and Israel conducted joint military strikes against Iran in the Middle East conflict. Both Skenes and reliever Griffin Jax attended Air Force Academy.

“There are individuals out there that have sacrificed everything for this country to allow me to have my wife safe at home, my daughter safe at home and I get a chance to come out here and play a kids’ game,” Judge reflected.

Israel also participates in this year’s competition. Outfielder Assaf Lowengart stands as the roster’s only player born in the country.

Venezuela competes in Miami two months after U.S. military forces captured former President Nicolás Maduro. Following his removal, Venezuela promoted the autocrat’s vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, to acting president.

Eight Cuban delegation members, including a pitching coach and federation officials, were refused U.S. visas, according to the Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation.

Travis Bazzana makes his Australia national team debut in the tournament opener after Cleveland selected him first overall in the 2024 amateur draft.

While representing Australia’s under-18 squad in 2024, Bazzana documented his aspirations on his phone, envisioning himself as Australia’s second baseman and leadoff hitter at this year’s WBC.

“Growing up, I always looked ahead and kind of had a vision of things I wanted to do in this game, and this was a big part of it,” he said Wednesday. “I was always writing about it and thinking about it.”

Bazzana owns an .801 OPS across 111 minor league contests and should begin the season at Triple-A.

Edwin Díaz returns to Puerto Rico’s roster after rupturing his right knee’s patellar tendon during the 2023 WBC.

Díaz missed the entire 2023 season with the New York Mets due to the injury, suffered during an on-field celebration with teammates after a 5-2 group-stage victory over the Dominican Republic that secured a quarterfinal spot.

Multiple star players will be absent from this year’s competition due to insurance complications, including Puerto Rico’s Francisco Lindor and Carlos Correa and Venezuela’s Jose Altuve.

A 17-year-old high school student created one of the most memorable moments of the 2026 World Baseball Classic by successfully retiring Yankees superstar Aaron Judge in a high-pressure situation with runners on all bases.

Joseph Contreras, who attends Blessed Trinity Catholic High School in Roswell, Georgia, managed to force Judge into an inning-ending double play during Brazil’s 15-5 defeat against Team USA on Friday in Houston.

The young right-handed pitcher, who holds the distinction of being the tournament’s youngest participant, demonstrated incredible calm under pressure when confronting one of baseball’s most dangerous offensive players.

“Now that I look back, I’m like, okay, now I can see the magnitude of that,” Contreras shared with media members on Saturday. “I mean, bases loaded, one out. But in the moment, I was just like, I just have to execute my pitches and hopefully just get him out somehow.”

The Yankees star expressed admiration for the teenager’s abilities on the mound.

“Impressive. I know I wasn’t doing that at that age. Just great stuff,” Judge commented after Friday’s contest.

“I know he had some poise on the mound. He’s throwing up to 100 miles an hour… It was just impressive just seeing him control himself out there and get out of a big jam.”

Baseball talent runs in the Contreras family, as Joseph is the offspring of former major league pitcher Jose Contreras, who played professionally for 11 seasons and earned All-Star recognition in 2006.

“He’s got his dad’s split, obviously,” noted U.S. team manager Mark DeRosa in comments to Fox Sports.

While his father hails from Cuba, the young pitcher qualifies to play for Brazil due to his mother’s Brazilian heritage and has already caught the eye of professional scouts looking ahead to the 2026 MLB Draft.

The loss means Brazil remains winless in World Baseball Classic competition, as they make their second tournament appearance following a 16th-place finish in their initial 2013 participation.

Team USA, which finished as tournament runner-up in 2023, will continue their pool stage schedule with a matchup against Britain. Brazil’s next opponent will be Italy on Saturday.

Dallas has applied a $5.7 million second-round tender to kicker Brandon Aubrey while continuing efforts to secure the restricted free agent with a long-term contract, according to ESPN’s Saturday report.

This tender permits other NFL teams to present Aubrey with offer sheets. Should another franchise make a bid, Dallas retains the option to match the proposal or receive a second-round draft selection as compensation – though the Cowboys currently lack their 2026 second-round pick after dealing it in the Quinnen Williams trade for the Pro Bowl defensive tackle.

Contract negotiations between Dallas and Aubrey have been ongoing since training camp last summer, yet the two sides remain unable to finalize terms.

According to reports, the Cowboys presented Aubrey with an offer that would have established him as the NFL’s top-paid kicker, surpassing Kansas City’s Harrison Butker and his $6.4 million yearly average. However, the three-time Pro Bowl selection and 2023 first-team All-Pro declined the proposal, seeking compensation approximately three times his rookie contract’s total worth.

Aubrey just completed his three-year, $2.695 million rookie agreement following the 2025 campaign. This season, he converted 36 of 42 field goal attempts for an 85.7% success rate, connecting on 11 of 17 kicks from 50-plus yards, while making 47 of 48 extra-point tries.

Throughout his NFL tenure, Aubrey has made 112 of 127 field goal attempts (88.2%) with a career-long 65-yarder, and successfully converted 126 of 130 extra-point attempts (96.9%).

After eight seasons in the National Football League, cornerback Darious Williams has decided to hang up his cleats.

The Los Angeles Rams made the official announcement Saturday, confirming they have moved Williams to their reserve/retired list.

The timing of Williams’ retirement follows closely behind Wednesday’s major trade news, where reports surfaced that Los Angeles has secured a deal to bring in All-Pro defensive back Trent McDuffie from the Kansas City Chiefs. The significant trade package reportedly involves the Rams sending their 29th overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft to Kansas City, along with their fifth- and sixth-round picks from that same draft, plus a third-round choice in 2027.

Williams, who will celebrate his 33rd birthday on March 15, dedicated the majority of his professional career to the Rams organization, playing six seasons across two separate periods with the team. During his time in Los Angeles, he was a key contributor to the franchise’s Super Bowl LVI championship squad in the 2021 campaign.

In his final season, Williams appeared in 12 contests for Los Angeles, making three starts while recording 25 tackles and hauling in one interception.

Throughout his NFL journey, which included stops with the Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars in addition to his time with the Rams, Williams accumulated 306 total tackles and 12 interceptions across 104 games, starting 69 of those contests.

The NBA handed down a $25,000 financial penalty to Dallas Mavericks player Khris Middleton on Saturday after he hurled his mouthpiece toward the fan seating area during a recent game.

The incident took place during the third quarter of Thursday night’s contest, where Dallas fell to the Orlando Magic by a single point, 115-114. Officials issued Middleton a technical foul at the time of the occurrence.

The 34-year-old player joined the Mavericks roster just one month ago through a major trade involving eight players that also sent 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards.

Before arriving in Dallas, Middleton had been playing for Washington this season, where he posted averages of 10.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists across 34 games. Since joining the Mavericks, his numbers have improved slightly over 11 appearances (including nine as a starter), averaging 12.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.

Throughout his NBA career spanning 821 games with Detroit, Milwaukee, Washington and now Dallas, the three-time All-Star has maintained career averages of 16.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists. Middleton, who won an NBA championship with Milwaukee in 2021, has shot 38.4 percent from beyond the three-point line and an impressive 87.7 percent from the free-throw line over his professional career.

Professional golfer Rory McIlroy was forced to exit the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Saturday morning due to a back injury, according to PGA Tour officials.

The 36-year-old golfer made the decision to leave the Florida tournament at Bay Hill approximately half an hour before he was set to begin the third round, officials reported.

This marks only the second time McIlroy has left a PGA Tour event early, with his first withdrawal occurring at the 2013 Cognizant Classic. The accomplished golfer has secured 29 victories on the PGA Tour throughout his career and is set to return to TPC Sawgrass next week to defend his championship title at The Players Championship.

McIlroy has dealt with back problems before, experiencing lower right back spasms in 2023 prior to the Tour Championship. During that incident, his back locked up while he was stretching at his residence, though he ultimately decided to participate in the tournament despite the discomfort.

Ball State University has dismissed men’s basketball head coach Michael Lewis following a disappointing campaign that saw the team miss the conference tournament, according to Saturday reports from The Field of 68.

The Cardinals concluded their regular season Friday evening with a convincing 85-69 win over Central Michigan, but the victory came too late to preserve Lewis’s position. His squad ended the year with a 12-19 overall record and went 7-11 in Mid-American Conference play.

The Cardinals’ ninth-place finish in the MAC left them on the outside looking in for the conference tournament, as only the conference’s top eight teams advance to compete for the championship in Cleveland next week.

Lewis took over the program in March 2022 and posted an overall record of 61-64 during his four-year tenure. The Cardinals achieved success only in his inaugural season, when they went 20-12 in the 2022-23 campaign – their lone winning record under his leadership.

The 48-year-old coach brought extensive experience as an assistant, having spent 18 years in that role before landing the Ball State position. His coaching journey included assistant positions at prominent programs such as UCLA, Nebraska, and Butler.

Lewis’s basketball roots trace back to his standout playing career in Indiana, where he earned recognition as the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year in high school. He went on to play collegiately at Indiana University under legendary coach Bob Knight from 1996 to 2000. When Knight moved to Texas Tech in 2001, Lewis followed as a graduate assistant for two seasons.

A federal judge has postponed the criminal trial of two Cleveland Guardians pitchers facing charges related to an alleged pitch-fixing scheme until November.

Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were originally set to face trial beginning May 4 in New York’s Eastern District, but Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto has rescheduled proceedings to begin November 2 with jury selection.

The judge has yet to decide on a motion from both players requesting separate trials. Legal representatives for Ortiz are seeking to divide the cases, arguing that Clase played a larger role in the alleged conspiracy and brought Ortiz into the scheme. Clase’s legal team has supported this separation request.

Both players, who remain free on bond, face indictments handed down last November on multiple federal charges including wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, and conspiracy to influence sporting contests through bribery.

Each pitcher has entered pleas of not guilty to all charges.

Federal prosecutors claim the two players received thousands of dollars in payments to assist Dominican Republic-based gamblers in winning at least $460,000 through bets placed on their pitch velocities and whether their throws would result in strikes or balls.

Clase, approaching his 28th birthday this month, has earned American League Reliever of the Year honors twice and made three All-Star teams. His career statistics include a 21-26 win-loss record, 1.88 earned run average, and 182 saves across six major league seasons.

The 27-year-old Ortiz joined Cleveland through a trade before the 2025 season. He carries a 4.05 earned run average through 75 major league appearances, including 50 starts, over four seasons in the big leagues.

Since July, both athletes have been placed on non-disciplinary paid administrative leave. Cleveland’s organization is seeking guidance from Major League Baseball regarding their obligation to pay the players’ 2026 salaries, which total $780,000 for Ortiz and $6.4 million for Clase.

College football coaching icon Lou Holtz passed away Wednesday at age 89 in Orlando, Florida, with family members by his side, according to his relatives.

The Hall of Fame coach had entered hospice care earlier this year.

Holtz achieved his greatest fame during an 11-year tenure leading Notre Dame from 1986 to 1996. His coaching journey also included stops at five other college programs, plus a brief and unsuccessful 13-game period with the New York Jets in the NFL during 1976.

Starting his head coaching career at William & Mary in 1969, Holtz went on to lead programs at North Carolina State, Arkansas, Minnesota, and South Carolina, accumulating an overall collegiate record of 249-132-7 across 33 seasons.

After posting a 10-12 record during two seasons at Minnesota from 1984-85, Holtz secured the coveted Notre Dame position.

Current Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman expressed his condolences in an official statement: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Lou Holtz. Lou and I shared a very special relationship. He welcomed me to the Notre Dame family immediately, offering me great support throughout our time together.”

Freeman continued: “Lou’s impact at Notre Dame has gone well beyond the field. He and his wife, Beth, are respected across campus for their generous hearts and commitment to carrying out Notre Dame’s mission of being a force for good.”

During his time at Notre Dame, Holtz transformed the Fighting Irish from an average program back into a national powerhouse, with his growing success bringing increased recognition.

His crowning achievement came in his third season when he guided the team to a perfect 12-0 record and the national championship. The campaign featured a thrilling 31-30 victory over top-ranked Miami that opened the path to glory, culminating with a Fiesta Bowl triumph against West Virginia.

Notre Dame continued its excellence under Holtz, finishing as the second-ranked team in the nation in both 1989 with a 12-1 record and again in 1993 at 11-1.

His Notre Dame career concluded with a 100-30-2 record in South Bend before he stepped down after the 1996 campaign.

Born in West Virginia, Holtz launched his head coaching career at William & Mary from 1969-71. He then moved to North Carolina State for a four-year stint from 1972-75, achieving nine-win seasons twice.

His venture into professional football with the Jets in 1976 proved challenging, as he posted a 3-10 record before being dismissed prior to the season’s end. The transition to coaching professional athletes and managing NFL personalities presented difficulties for Holtz.

Returning to the college ranks at Arkansas in 1977, Holtz immediately found success with an 11-1 season and third-place final ranking. The Razorbacks capped that impressive year with a dominant 31-6 Orange Bowl victory over Oklahoma.

His Arkansas tenure lasted seven seasons before the brief Minnesota chapter.

The Arkansas football program paid tribute on social media: “We are saddened by the news of Coach Holtz’s passing. He had a legendary tenure as the Head Hog from 1977-83. Our thoughts are with his family and all those who loved him.”

Following a two-year break after leaving Notre Dame, Holtz returned to coaching at South Carolina, where he compiled a 33-37 record over six seasons with the Gamecocks before retiring in 2004.

After his coaching career ended, Holtz worked as a television analyst for ESPN.

His son Skip Holtz carried on the family coaching tradition, serving as head coach for 17 seasons from 2005-21 at East Carolina, South Florida, and Louisiana Tech.

An All-Star caliber roster could be assembled from NHL players who many expected to change teams at the trade deadline but ultimately stayed put.

Between the pipes would be Sergei Bobrovsky. The blue line would feature Colton Parayko and Rasmus Ristolainen. Up front, Vincent Trocheck, Robert Thomas and Steven Stamkos would anchor the offense.

Many anticipated transactions, both major and minor, failed to come to fruition. Multiple factors including updated collective bargaining agreement salary regulations, no-trade provisions, and widespread competitive balance across the league combined to create an unusually subdued deadline day.

Friday’s 20 completed transactions marked the lowest total in five years, going back to the COVID-19 impacted 2021 campaign.

For the first time, general managers operated under restrictions preventing a third team from helping facilitate deals through salary retention – a mechanism eliminated under the new collective bargaining agreement. The previous “double retention” strategy that enabled numerous past transactions is now limited to occurring 75 days apart, making it more challenging to fit players under the salary cap.

“When you take that out, it’s probably why you saw, I don’t want to say as little trades, but not as many as the past,” New Jersey GM Tom Fitzgerald said. “Teams would’ve made more moves, I think, if prices were split in half twice. I do think that had something to do with it. I think it was obvious by looking at the past and how many double retentions there were and have been versus this year.”

While Florida wasn’t necessarily looking to move Bobrovsky, who helped lead the Panthers to consecutive Stanley Cup titles, the double retention mechanism would have enabled an acquiring team to obtain him at a $2.5 million cap impact instead of $5 million or his complete $10 million contract value.

New York Islanders GM Mathieu Darche, who had sufficient cap space to pursue Brayden Schenn from St. Louis, noted that the Tampa Bay Lightning – his former organization – “used that double retention quite a few times over the years.” The Lightning captured two Cup championships during that period.

Tampa Bay, Florida and other recent title winners also benefited from the absence of playoff salary cap restrictions, which permitted them to maintain players on long-term injured reserve during the regular season before activating them for postseason play. This loophole has been closed, as teams must now ensure their 20-player game roster remains cap compliant.

“With the new wrinkle of the playoff roster for calculations and things like that, you had to run the scenarios from a bunch of different viewpoints,” Colorado GM Chris MacFarland said following his team’s headline-grabbing reacquisition of Nazem Kadri from Calgary. “We’re on the phone with the different permutations and they got to be sharp in so many different ways, so there’s definitely different lenses this year.”

Several potential transactions reached advanced stages but ultimately collapsed because the players involved possessed no-trade or no-movement provisions and wielded control over their destinations.

Tyler Myers was reportedly headed to Detroit before Vancouver ultimately sent him to Dallas later in the week. Colton Parayko refused to waive his no-trade protection for a move from St. Louis to Buffalo.

“I’m not talking about Parayko alone, players negotiate their trade rights based on their status on the team and in the league and some players have full no-trade clauses, some have partial no-trade clauses,” Blues GM Doug Armstrong said. “To sign players, you have to provide those type of guarantees. And I respect when players, if they decide to invoke the right that they’ve earned, that’s great and that means they want to be here.”

At deadline time, six teams sat within four points of wild-card positioning in both conferences. Combined with the 16 clubs already in playoff spots, only 10 of 32 franchises found themselves completely eliminated from contention.

“There’s still so many more teams that are still in it or have a chance, so they’re thinking, ‘Well, even if I’m not sure I’m going to make it, I’m not going to sell the farm,’” Darche said. “There was probably less teams selling this year. It was probably more of a seller’s market because of that. It’s supply and demand, so I think that plays a factor, too.”

With significant playoff roster turnover from last season – teams that made the postseason now struggling while others have emerged as contenders – many front offices can rationalize poor performance as temporary setbacks caused by injuries and other circumstances.

“There are teams that are in playoff spots that probably they would admit that they didn’t think they’d get there this quick,” Fitzgerald said. “Then there are other teams that unfortunately aren’t, like us, but still believe in this group and don’t want to blow the whole thing up.”

Contributing to the parity is the salary cap’s record year-over-year increase. Most organizations now possess adequate financial flexibility to retain their desired players.

“It’s been really easy for teams to kind of go out there and re-sign their players, which doesn’t put anybody at the end of their contract and you saw that this year coming down the stretch,” Utah GM Bill Armstrong said. “Everybody got re-signed, and there wasn’t a lot of people and inventory into the market. It’s kind of what we’re going to see for the next few years.”

HEERENVEEN, Netherlands – American speedskater Jordan Stolz established himself as the frontrunner in the men’s all-around championship at the World Speed Skating Championships on Saturday, while Norway’s Ragne Wiklund and Japan’s Miho Takagi emerged as co-leaders in the women’s division during competition for one of skating’s most coveted titles.

Following Friday’s excitement when Dutch athletes Jenning de Boo and Femke Kok thrilled home crowds by capturing both sprint championships at the legendary Thialf arena, focus turned to the all-around competitors.

The all-around championship presents a grueling test combining four different distances – 500 meters, 3,000m, 1,500m and 5,000m for women, while men compete in 500m, 5,000m, 1,500m and 10,000m races – requiring athletes to master both explosive power and exceptional endurance.

Stolz, who recently claimed Olympic gold in both the 500m and 1,000m events, bounced back from sprint races that fell short of his typically dominant performances. After earning silver behind De Boo – who chose not to compete in the all-around event – the 21-year-old title defender regained his form with an outstanding 34.22-second performance in the 500m to claim the initial advantage.

His 5,000m effort provided a better indication of his endurance capabilities. Stolz clocked 6 minutes 19.66 seconds – sufficient to maintain his overall advantage despite world record holder and Olympic champion Sander Eitrem breaking the facility record to win that distance.

In women’s action, Japan’s Takagi – her nation’s most successful Winter Olympic athlete with 10 medals – began what will be her final competitive season by capturing the 500m in 37.75 seconds, establishing momentum for what promises to be an emotional conclusion to her remarkable career.

Norway’s Wiklund, age 25, then delivered one of Saturday’s most impressive displays, racing to 3 minutes 56.83 seconds in the 3,000m. That victory, combined with her fifth-place showing in the 500m, elevated her into a tie with 31-year-old Takagi at the top of the overall leaderboard.

Dutch competitors Marijke Groenewoud, defending titlist Joy Beune, and Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong remained in pursuit, along with Italy’s Francesca Lollobrigida, who holds Olympic titles in the 3,000m and 5,000m distances.

However, the day’s most touching moment belonged to Martina Sablikova. Competing in her career finale, the five-time all-around world champion and three-time Olympic gold medalist became emotional before starting the 3,000m race.

Although the 38-year-old veteran struggled in the final stages, she completed a memorable victory lap, receiving enthusiastic applause from Dutch spectators while fellow competitors honored one of the sport’s legendary figures.

Sunday’s competition will crown the all-around world champions, featuring the 1,500m for both men and women, the women’s 5,000m, and the men’s demanding 10,000m – the decisive race that will determine the ultimate winners.

Boston Celtics center Nikola Vucevic faces a potential end to his regular season after undergoing surgery to fix a fractured right ring finger.

The 35-year-old sustained the injury in the opening quarter of Friday night’s dominant 120-100 win over the Dallas Mavericks at home. Medical staff at New England Baptist Hospital in Boston performed the procedure on Saturday to stabilize the broken bone, according to team officials.

Team doctors will reassess Vucevic’s condition in three to four weeks, the Celtics announced. With the regular season concluding on April 12, the timeline puts his return in jeopardy. Boston currently sits at 42-21, holding the second seed in the Eastern Conference while trailing the Detroit Pistons by four games.

Since joining Boston from the Chicago Bulls in a February 5 trade, Vucevic has contributed 10.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game across 12 appearances, including one starting assignment, while logging 21.7 minutes nightly.

The veteran big man earned All-Star honors twice during his career and has posted lifetime averages of 17.1 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists across 1,032 regular season contests. His NBA journey began with Philadelphia in 2011-12 before stops in Orlando, Chicago, and now Boston, with 957 career starts among his appearances.

Multiple media sources reported Saturday that longtime St. Bonaventure basketball head coach Mark Schmidt plans to step down following the current season’s end.

Schmidt, age 63, is currently in his 19th year leading the Bonnies program. During his tenure, he has amassed a 339-253 coaching record, establishing himself as the winningest coach in the school’s basketball history. Under his leadership, the team has earned three NCAA Tournament berths, posting a 1-3 tournament record that includes a First Four victory in 2018.

The veteran coach joined St. Bonaventure in 2007, coming from Robert Morris where he had spent six years as the head coach.

Currently, the Bonnies hold a 15-15 overall record and stand at 4-13 in Atlantic 10 Conference play as they prepare for Saturday’s regular season finale against Davidson. The Atlantic 10 tournament is scheduled to begin Wednesday in Pittsburgh.

According to Saturday’s report from The Athletic, program general manager Adrian Wojnarowski is “expected to play a key role” in selecting Schmidt’s replacement. Wojnarowski, the former ESPN NBA insider, returned to his alma mater in 2024. The report suggests the next head coach could potentially come from NBA or G League ranks, considering Wojnarowski’s extensive professional basketball connections.

The old saying that strong defenses win championships continues to drive NFL front offices to make bold moves in pursuit of elite defensive talent.

Professional football teams are demonstrating increased willingness to surrender premium draft capital for standout defenders, marking a notable shift in league trading patterns.

Exchanging two first-round selections for a single player has historically been uncommon, with less than 20 such transactions occurring over four decades. Yet three of these rare deals have taken place within the last six and a half months, all involving exceptional defensive stars.

The Baltimore Ravens completed the most recent blockbuster move Friday evening, obtaining five-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for two top draft picks, according to two sources familiar with the transaction who spoke to The Associated Press.

Both sources requested anonymity since the deal cannot be officially announced until the league year begins next week.

Recent Super Bowl outcomes have reinforced the value of dominant defensive units. Seattle’s “Dark Side” defense overwhelmed Drake Maye with six sacks during their 29-13 championship victory over New England last month.

The previous year saw Philadelphia’s defense sack Patrick Mahomes six times in the Eagles’ commanding 40-22 Super Bowl win against the Chiefs.

Acquiring Crosby represents a major enhancement for Baltimore, a franchise that has experienced playoff disappointments despite regular season success behind two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson.

The 28-year-old edge rusher addresses a significant weakness for the Ravens, whose defense managed only 30 sacks in 2025, ranking tied for 28th league-wide. Crosby should flourish under new head coach Jesse Minter, who previously served as a defensive coordinator.

Several other notable trades involving dual first-round picks have occurred recently:

Indianapolis shipped two first-rounders plus wide receiver Adonai Mitchell to the Jets for two-time All-Pro cornerback last November. Despite sitting at 7-2 when the trade occurred, injuries to quarterbacks Daniel Jones and Gardner contributed to the Colts’ season collapse.

Green Bay surrendered two first-round selections and three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark to Dallas for three-time All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons one week before last season’s start.

Parsons recorded 12.5 sacks across 14 contests, helping the Packers achieve a 9-3-1 record. However, Green Bay failed to win any games after he suffered an ACL tear.

The Denver Broncos executed a massive trade in March 2022 to land 10-time Pro Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson, sending Seattle two first-round picks, two second-rounders, a fifth-round selection, quarterback Drew Lock, tight end Noah Fant, and defensive lineman Shelby Harris. Wilson posted an 11-19 record during just two Denver seasons before his release.

Cleveland completed what became one of the NFL’s most disastrous trades in March 2022, acquiring Deshaun Watson and a 2024 sixth-round pick from Houston in exchange for three first-round picks, one third-round pick, and two fourth-rounders.

The Browns subsequently signed Watson to a fully guaranteed $230 million contract. He has appeared in merely 19 games across four seasons, compiling a 9-10 record.

The Los Angeles Rams dealt quarterback Jared Goff, two first-round picks, and a third-rounder to Detroit for Matthew Stafford in January 2021. The three-time Pro Bowl signal-caller guided the Rams to a Super Bowl championship that season and earned AP NFL MVP honors in 2025.

TOKYO – Chicago Cubs center fielder Seiya Suzuki emerged as the star performer in Japan’s thrilling 8-6 victory over South Korea on Saturday, overshadowing teammate Shohei Ohtani with a pair of home runs that propelled the host nation to victory in World Baseball Classic competition.

The intense matchup between the East Asian powerhouses featured five combined home runs in an entertaining contest that maintained Japan’s perfect record in Pool C action.

“I’m glad I was able to hit in a way that gives the team some momentum,” Suzuki commented after the game. “I want to stay focused and keep it going.”

With the victory, Japan now shares a 2-0 record with Australia atop Pool C standings. The two unbeaten teams will clash on Sunday, while South Korea (1-1) is scheduled to face Australia on Monday.

The World Baseball Classic, now in its sixth edition since launching in 2006, represents a major source of national pride for Japan. The country consistently sends its top talent to compete and leads all nations with three tournament championships.

While South Korea has historically been one of Japan’s toughest opponents in WBC play, they haven’t defeated Japan in head-to-head competition since 2009.

South Korea jumped ahead early, battering Japan’s starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi of the Los Angeles Angels for four hits and three runs in the opening frame. Japan responded immediately with Suzuki’s first two-run blast.

The momentum shifted decisively to Japan in the third inning, beginning with a towering home run by Dodgers superstar Ohtani that cleared the right-center field fence. Suzuki followed with his second homer of the contest, and Boston Red Sox left fielder Masataka Yoshida added another round-tripper.

South Korea battled back to tie the game in the fourth inning when Hyeseong Kim, a prospect in the Dodgers system, connected for a two-run homer. However, Japan seized control for good with a three-run rally in the seventh inning and preserved the lead through the final frames.

Japan enters this tournament as the reigning champions after capturing the 2023 title in dramatic fashion. The championship game concluded memorably when Ohtani struck out his then-Angels teammate Mike Trout for the tournament’s final out against Team USA.

Potentially motivated by that defeat, the United States has assembled an exceptionally talented roster this year. The American squad includes three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge, Cal Raleigh who led the American League with 60 home runs last season, and 2025 Cy Young Award recipients Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal.

Judge launched a home run in Team USA’s dominant 15-5 victory over Brazil in their tournament opener. Japan’s Pool C winner will face the second-place finisher from Pool D, where Venezuela and the Dominican Republic are considered the top contenders.

Interestingly, Ohtani and Suzuki were opponents when the Dodgers and Cubs opened last season at Tokyo Dome in March, with Los Angeles sweeping both games. The WBC has rekindled baseball enthusiasm throughout Tokyo, with thousands of fans in team jerseys gathering around the dome and forming lengthy queues for merchandise.

This year’s tournament spans March 5-17 across four host cities: Tokyo, Puerto Rico, Houston, and Miami. Twenty national teams are competing in round-robin pool play, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the quarterfinal round.

The 31-year-old Ohtani will not take the mound during the tournament as the Dodgers want to protect his pitching arm, limiting his contribution to his powerful bat as a designated hitter.

Ohtani made an impressive tournament debut on Friday, crushing a grand slam and driving in five runs during Japan’s commanding 13-0 victory over Taiwan in their opening game.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki delivered a standout performance with two home runs and a pivotal bases-loaded walk during the seventh inning, propelling defending champion Japan to an 8-6 triumph against Korea in Saturday’s World Baseball Classic pool play matchup held in Tokyo.

Boston Red Sox player Masataka Yoshida capitalized on Suzuki’s clutch walk by delivering a two-run single that extended Japan’s advantage to 8-5. Earlier in the contest, Yoshida contributed a solo home run during the third inning, which featured three total homers, while Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani continued his hot streak with another long ball for the second consecutive game.

The victory moved Japan to 2-0 in Group C standings, tying them with Australia at the top of the round-robin competition. These two undefeated squads are scheduled to face off on Sunday.

Korea dropped to 1-1 in group standings, while Taiwan sits at 1-2 and Czechia remains winless at 0-3.

The tournament format will see the leading two teams from each of the four groups advance to quarterfinal rounds, which will take place in Miami and Houston. The semifinal matches are set for March 15 and 16, followed by the championship game on March 17, all taking place in Miami.

Korea jumped out to an early 3-0 advantage in the opening frame when Jung Ho Lee drove in a run with a single and Bo Gyeong Moon connected for a two-run double, but Suzuki answered immediately with a two-run blast in the bottom half. Ohtani’s third-inning homer came just 24 hours after he launched a grand slam during Japan’s dominant 13-0 victory over Taiwan, which featured a 10-run second inning.

The Cubs slugger Suzuki followed Ohtani’s lead two batters later on Saturday, connecting on a 1-1 curveball from Young Pyo Ko and sending it over the left-center field fence. Korea brought in reliever Byeong Hyeon Jo, who immediately surrendered a home run to Yoshida on an 0-1 curveball that cleared the right field wall.

Dodgers infielder Hyeseong Kim evened the score at 5-5 with a two-run homer in the fourth inning, and Ju Won Kim added another round-tripper in the eighth. Japan’s Yuki Matsumoto preserved the victory by striking out Hyeseong Kim with runners on all three bases to close out the inning.

With the bases full in the seventh inning, Suzuki worked a five-pitch walk against Young Kyu Kim to put Japan back in front. Yoshida extended the lead with a center field single that brought home both Ohtani and Kensuke Kondoh.

Italy’s Laura Pirovano delivered back-to-back World Cup downhill victories on her home slopes this weekend, effectively ending American skiing icon Lindsey Vonn’s bid for a season title after the 41-year-old suffered a leg injury at last month’s Milano Cortina Olympics.

The 28-year-old Italian skier claimed her maiden World Cup victory on Friday in Val di Fassa by the narrowest possible margin, then duplicated that success Saturday by edging Austria’s Cornelia Huetter by just 0.01 seconds. Switzerland’s Corinne Suter rounded out the podium, finishing 0.05 seconds behind Pirovano.

Vonn had dominated the downhill discipline throughout the season before her injury, collecting two victories and five podium finishes across five competitions to maintain the points lead.

Following her weekend sweep, Pirovano now commands the standings with 436 points, while Germany’s Emma Aicher sits second with 408 points heading into the final downhill event at the World Cup finals in Norway on March 21. Aicher placed tied for 12th in Saturday’s race.

“It’s even more incredible than yesterday, I can’t take it in. It’s all surreal,” Pirovano said after her victory, noting that her 0.01-second margin represented roughly 28 centimeters on the course. “The margin of one hundredth, twice in a row. I think it’s payback for all those times the hundredths went against me.”

Despite her injury setback, Vonn’s 400 points remain within reach of several competitors, including Germany’s Kira Weidle-Winkelmann with 351 points, Huetter at 344, and American world and Olympic champion Breezy Johnson, who has 333 points after finishing fourth Saturday.

Before the weekend races, Vonn reflected on her championship aspirations through a social media post, stating: “Winning the title was my goal… and I came painfully close to achieving it.”

“I clawed my way back to #1 in the world after being retired for six years with a partial knee replacement and that alone was an incredible achievement I won’t ever forget,” Vonn wrote. “Even though in a few days no-one will remember that I almost won the season title, I will remember…I just wish I had a chance to fight until the end to try and get it.”

In the overall World Cup standings, American Mikaela Shiffrin maintains her lead with 1,133 points compared to Aicher’s 1,016. Shiffrin, the Olympic slalom champion and record-holder for World Cup victories, does not compete in downhill events.

The women’s competition continues Sunday with a super-G race.

The 17th-ranked Kentucky Wildcats delivered a commanding performance in their SEC women’s basketball tournament debut, crushing Arkansas 94-64 on Wednesday in Greenville, South Carolina.

Clara Strack dominated the court with 20 points, 13 rebounds and three blocked shots, while Amelia Hassett connected on six three-point shots en route to 18 points for the ninth-seeded Wildcats (22-9). Despite being placed ninth in the highly competitive SEC, Kentucky overwhelmed the 16th-seeded Razorbacks (12-20) from the opening tip.

The Wildcats established early control, building a commanding 29-10 advantage after the first quarter. Arkansas managed to narrow the gap to 42-33 by halftime, but Kentucky pulled away decisively in the third period and eventually led by as much as 36 points in the final quarter.

Kentucky received balanced scoring contributions throughout their roster. Tonie Morgan recorded 14 points while dishing out 10 assists, and Jordan Obi matched that scoring output with 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Teonni Key chipped in 12 points and Asia Boone contributed 10. The Wildcats dominated the rebounding battle 52-27, converting those extra possessions into 17 second-chance points.

For Arkansas, Taleyah Jones topped all scorers with 21 points in the losing effort. Bonnie Deas provided 10 points and eight rebounds before being disqualified due to fouls.

In other SEC tournament action, 12th-seeded Florida defeated 13th-seeded Mississippi State 86-68 behind 22 points each from Liv McGill and Me’Arah O’Neal. McGill nearly achieved a triple-double with 10 assists and seven rebounds, while O’Neal made four of six three-point attempts for the Gators (18-14). Florida seized control early with a 12-2 run and maintained their advantage throughout.

Mississippi State (18-13) got 12 points and 10 rebounds from Favor Nwaedozi and 12 points from Destiney McPhaul. The Bulldogs struggled defensively, allowing Florida to shoot 50% from the field while the Gators also excelled at the free-throw line, making 22 of 28 attempts.

The day’s most dramatic finish came when 15th-seeded Auburn edged 10th-seeded Texas A&M 50-49 on Khady Leye’s layup with just five seconds remaining. The closely contested game featured six ties and eight lead changes, with the Aggies taking a 49-48 lead on Janae Kent’s free throws with 11 seconds left before Leye’s game-winner. Auburn’s Syriah Daniels sealed the victory by blocking Kent’s three-point attempt at the buzzer.

Kaitlyn Duhon paced the Tigers (15-16) with 14 points, while Leye finished with 11 points and a game-high 15 rebounds, and Harissoum Coulibaly added 11 points. Ny’Ceara Pryor carried the scoring load for Texas A&M (14-12) with a game-high 25 points as the team’s only player to reach double figures.

Abbreviated tennis competitions are capturing audience attention as they provide rapid-fire entertainment that complements conventional tournament play, according to British tennis coach Jamie Delgado.

The mixed doubles opener at the combined ATP and WTA event in California’s desert drew capacity crowds this week, where Taylor Fritz and Elena Rybakina successfully retained their Eisenhower Cup championship and earned the $200,000 top prize.

Since its debut in 2015, the Tie Break Tens format operates on a simple concept: matches consist entirely of tiebreakers where competitors race to reach 10 points while maintaining a two-point advantage. Tennis superstars including Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, and Rafael Nadal have all participated in these events.

This format’s popularity demonstrates a growing movement throughout tennis, with rapid-play variations like MGM Slam, Ultimate Tennis Showdown league, and Tennis Australia’s Fast4 and One Point Slam attracting increasing fan interest.

“Tie Break Tens was the first one, I think, of the fast-format tennis events and since then we’ve had a few creep in as well, but it’s a good thing,” said Delgado, who previously coached Andy Murray and currently works with Jack Draper.

“It’s not something that’s trying to replace traditional tennis, the long matches and normal scorelines. I love the way the sport works in that sense.

“But it’s a great addition to events.”

Fritz noted that spectators experienced continuous excitement while competitors fed off the growing atmosphere between contests.

“Every point matters,” Fritz explained. “It’s great to see the format growing, because it shows how tennis can keep evolving while staying true to what makes it great.”

The International Tennis Federation announced in September that Tie Break Tens would serve as its official abbreviated format partner, a designation that could potentially lead to Olympic inclusion alongside standard tennis competition.

“Our focus is on putting as many rackets in as many hands as possible,” stated Luca Santilli, who serves as executive director of tennis development at the ITF.

“We want more people to play tennis in more places, more often. We are open to exploring new ways to do that and this partnership with Tie Break Tens is an exciting step for us.”

Delgado emphasized that the format provides valuable benefits for players navigating demanding tournament schedules.

“It was a full stadium (this week). It’s totally like a match situation. So yes, it gets you ready for the big points,” he explained.

“It’s also getting players time on big match courts, because often in these tournaments, it’s difficult to get practice there with so many players. So this is a way of playing competitive tennis and you get practice on the court.”

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum made an impressive comeback Friday night, contributing 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists as his team dominated the Dallas Mavericks 120-100 at home.

The forward started the game and logged 27 minutes of playing time in his first NBA appearance since suffering a torn right Achilles tendon during Game 4 of last season’s Eastern Conference semifinals matchup with the New York Knicks.

Supporting Tatum’s return, Jaylen Brown led Boston’s scoring with 24 points while Derrick White contributed 20. Neemias Queta delivered a double-double performance with 16 points and 15 rebounds. However, the Celtics faced a setback when Nikola Vucevic exited during the opening quarter after fracturing his right ring finger.

For Dallas, Klay Thompson connected on 5 of 11 three-point shots to finish with 19 points, but the Mavericks extended their losing streak to six games.

Lakers 128, Pacers 117

Luka Doncic dominated through three quarters, posting 44 points, nine rebounds and three steals to guide Los Angeles past Indiana at home.

The performance marked Doncic’s 10th 40-point game this season, surpassing Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards for the league lead. This achievement also placed him among elite Lakers company, becoming the fourth player in franchise history to reach double-digit 40-point games in a single season alongside Hall of Famers Kobe Bryant, Elgin Baylor and Jerry West.

Doncic’s explosive scoring proved crucial with the Lakers missing LeBron James due to elbow and foot issues and Deandre Ayton sidelined with a knee injury. Pascal Siakam tallied 26 points for Indiana, which suffered its eighth consecutive defeat.

Knicks 142, Nuggets 103

OG Anunoby exploded for a season-best 34 points while Karl-Anthony Towns recorded 17 points and 13 rebounds as New York delivered Denver its most lopsided loss of the campaign.

Denver played the final two quarters without Jamal Murray, who scored 12 points before injuring his left ankle when he stepped on teammate Nikola Jokic’s foot while defending with 1:05 remaining in the second quarter. Murray required assistance leaving the court and didn’t return.

Jalen Brunson managed just nine points but dished out 15 assists for New York, which seized control with a 40-point second quarter. Jokic paced Denver with 38 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

Spurs 116, Clippers 112

Victor Wembanyama recorded 27 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks while Julian Champagnie chipped in 20 points, including 17 crucial third-quarter points, as San Antonio erased a 25-point deficit to defeat Los Angeles.

The comeback represented San Antonio’s largest rally of the season and extended their hot streak to three straight wins and 14 victories in their last 15 contests. De’Aaron Fox added 19 points and nine assists to the winning effort.

Kawhi Leonard topped all scorers with 30 points and Brook Lopez contributed 26 for Los Angeles, which saw a three-game winning streak come to an end.

Rockets 106, Trail Blazers 99

Amen Thompson erupted for 26 points and sparked a decisive fourth-quarter surge that carried Houston past Portland.

With Alperen Sengun, who led all scorers with 28 points, picking up his fifth foul with 8:29 left and Houston trailing 89-85, Thompson took over by scoring three straight baskets to trigger a 15-0 run. Thompson shot an efficient 11 of 12 from the field while adding seven rebounds and seven assists.

Kevin Durant posted 20 points and eight rebounds for Houston, winners of five of their past seven games. Jerami Grant led Portland with 21 points and Jrue Holiday added 20 points and 10 assists for the Trail Blazers, who dropped three of four.

Heat 128, Hornets 120

Tyler Herro drained eight three-pointers en route to 33 points as Miami outlasted Charlotte on the road.

Bam Adebayo contributed 24 points and 12 rebounds as the Heat captured their fourth straight victory and improved to 7-2 over their last nine games. Jaime Jaquez Jr. provided 21 points coming off the bench.

Charlotte’s six-game winning streak came to an end despite strong performances from Kon Knueppel (27 points), Brandon Miller (22 points, 13 rebounds) and LaMelo Ball (21 points).

Suns 118, Pelicans 116

Devin Booker poured in 32 points and Jalen Green added 25 as Phoenix nearly gave away a 14-point fourth-quarter advantage before surviving against New Orleans.

Oso Ighodaro scored 13 points for the Suns, who connected on 20 three-pointers in a season-high 58 attempts. Phoenix had dropped seven of 11 games prior to completing a four-game season series sweep.

Trey Murphy III scored 22 points with four three-pointers while Zion Williamson and Saddiq Bey each contributed 19 points for New Orleans, which had won five of seven entering the contest.

The Philadelphia 76ers snapped a two-game losing streak Wednesday night with a hard-fought 106-102 comeback victory against the Utah Jazz at home, powered by Tyrese Maxey’s 25-point performance and crucial late-game free throws from Quentin Grimes.

Despite shooting struggles that saw Maxey connect on just 8 of 22 field goal attempts, the 76ers received strong support throughout their roster. Jabari Walker delivered a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Grimes added 16 points to help Philadelphia overcome the absence of several key players.

The 76ers played shorthanded without Joel Embiid due to an oblique injury, Kelly Oubre Jr. battling illness, VJ Edgecombe sidelined with a back issue, and Paul George serving a suspension.

Utah’s seventh consecutive defeat came despite an outstanding 30-point effort from Keyonte George. The Jazz also got solid contributions from Isaiah Collier with 18 points, Ace Bailey adding 12, and Blake Hinson providing 11 points off the bench.

The final quarter remained tight until George connected on consecutive three-pointers, giving Utah a 100-94 advantage with 4:51 left on the clock. Philadelphia responded with determination, eventually knotting the score at 102 when Adem Bona threw down a putback dunk with 1:50 remaining.

The decisive moment came when Grimes drew a foul while driving to the basket with 16.4 seconds left in a 102-102 tie. He calmly sank both free throw attempts to put the home team ahead. After Kyle Filipowski’s three-point attempt missed for Utah, Walker sealed the victory by converting two more free throws.

Philadelphia established early control by outscoring Utah 29-22 in the opening quarter, with Maxey contributing 10 points. The 76ers built their lead to as much as 14 points before Collier and Cody Williams combined for 11 points in the quarter’s final two minutes.

The second quarter saw Philadelphia maintain its double-digit advantage for extended stretches after pushing the lead to 10 points early. However, George’s five-point scoring burst helped Utah cut the halftime deficit to 53-48.

Utah mounted a strong third-quarter comeback, erasing Philadelphia’s seven-point lead with a 10-0 run that featured two three-pointers from George. The Jazz carried an 83-82 advantage into the final period before ultimately falling short.

The Colorado Avalanche delivered a stunning blow to the Dallas Stars’ remarkable winning streak Friday night, claiming a thrilling 5-4 shootout victory that ended Dallas’ 10-game run at the top of the NHL standings.

Valeri Nichushkin provided the heroics for the visiting Avalanche, equalizing the contest in regulation’s dying moments before finding the net again during the shootout. Martin Necas sealed Colorado’s triumph with the decisive shootout goal against Jake Oettinger, capping off an outstanding performance that included one goal and three assists during regular play.

Nathan MacKinnon continued his dominant season, netting his NHL-best 42nd goal while contributing two assists. Cale Makar also recorded a goal and assist for Colorado. Relief goaltender Scott Wedgewood was outstanding after entering the game, turning aside 10 shots plus two more in the shootout to secure the Avalanche’s fourth consecutive victory. He replaced Mackenzie Blackwood, who struggled early with just seven saves on 11 attempts before exiting less than two minutes into the middle frame.

For Dallas, Miro Heiskanen, Wyatt Johnston, and Justin Hryckowian each contributed a goal and assist. Jamie Benn also found the scoresheet, while Jason Robertson and Mavrik Bourque each recorded two helpers. Oettinger made 25 stops but saw his personal eight-game winning streak come to an end.

Panthers 3, Red Wings 1

Matthew Tkachuk’s sixth career hat trick powered Florida past Detroit, snapping the Panthers’ four-game skid. The three-goal performance marked Tkachuk’s first hat trick since January 9, 2024, against St. Louis. Sergei Bobrovsky, who stayed put despite trade deadline speculation, made 28 saves for the victory.

Alex DeBrincat scored his team-high 33rd goal for Detroit, while John Gibson recorded 20 saves. Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin suffered an apparent leg injury during the third period after losing his balance while entering the Florida zone and did not return.

Canucks 6, Blackhawks 3

Brock Boeser broke a tie with one of his two third-period tallies, helping Vancouver end a seven-game losing skid with a victory in Chicago. Jake DeBrusk contributed a goal and assist, while Drew O’Connor and Teddy Blueger also scored. Max Sasson added an empty-net goal for the Canucks, who rallied after surrendering a 3-1 first-period advantage to win just their third game in 24 outings (3-17-4).

Ilya Mikheyev and Frank Nazar each recorded a goal and assist for Chicago, which remains stuck in a 2-7-3 slump. Vancouver broke the 3-3 deadlock on a power play 2:40 into the final period when Boeser knocked home an awkward rebound off Arvid Soderblom’s save.

Ducks 6, Canadiens 5 (SO)

Chris Kreider’s late regulation equalizer and three assists helped host Anaheim recover from blowing a 4-2 lead with under 12 minutes remaining for a shootout win over Montreal. Cutter Gauthier, Leo Carlsson and Jackson LaCombe each posted a goal and assist, while Alex Killorn scored the deciding goal in the sixth shootout round for the Ducks, who are 7-1-0 in their last eight contests.

Cole Caufield tallied twice with an assist and Lane Hutson had a goal and two helpers for Montreal, which has dropped three of four (1-1-2). Samuel Montembeault stopped 28 shots.

Hurricanes 6, Oilers 3

Jackson Blake’s two third-period goals lifted Carolina to victory in Edmonton. Nikolaj Ehlers scored his fifth goal in three games while adding an assist for the Hurricanes, who have won seven of eight. Jordan Martinook, Jordan Staal and Shayne Gostisbehere also scored, K’Andre Miller recorded three assists, and Frederik Andersen made 13 saves.

Zach Hyman scored twice and Vasily Podkolzin once for Edmonton, which has lost six of eight games. Tristan Jarry made 26 saves.

Blues 3, Sharks 2 (OT)

Robert Thomas netted his second goal of the night in overtime, lifting St. Louis past host San Jose for a third straight win. Jimmy Snuggerud had a goal and assist while Dylan Holloway recorded three helpers for the Blues, who responded after seeing captain Brayden Schenn and defenseman Justin Faulk traded earlier in the day. Jordan Binnington made 23 saves.

Macklin Celebrini and Kiefer Sherwood scored for San Jose, which saw its three-game winning streak end but moved within two points of Seattle for the Western Conference’s second wild-card spot with a game in hand.

Wild 4, Golden Knights 2

Filip Gustavsson stopped 29 shots and Michael McCarron scored a goal with an assist in his Minnesota debut as the Wild won in Las Vegas. Mats Zuccarello, Zach Bogosian and Vladimir Tarasenko also scored for Minnesota, which completed a season series sweep of Vegas. The victory was Minnesota’s second straight and eighth in 10 games.

Pavel Dorofeyev reached 30 goals, becoming the first Vegas player with consecutive 30-goal seasons, and added an assist. Mitch Marner also scored for the Golden Knights, while Akira Schmid finished with 20 saves.

MELBOURNE, March 7 – George Russell claimed the top starting spot for Mercedes at the season-opening Formula One Australian Grand Prix, with his teammate Kimi Antonelli securing second place on the front row. Meanwhile, Red Bull’s four-time world champion Max Verstappen suffered a dramatic crash during the opening qualifying session.

The British driver Russell completed his fastest lap in 1 minute, 18.518 seconds, finishing nearly three-tenths of a second faster than Italian driver Antonelli, who had bounced back from a major accident during Saturday morning’s final practice session.

This marks Mercedes’ first pole position at the Melbourne circuit since Lewis Hamilton achieved the feat in 2019.

“It was a great day, we knew there was a lot of potential in the car,” Russell commented after qualifying. “It really came alive this afternoon. Also really happy that Kimi’s here… All in all a pretty good day.”

Antonelli’s second-place grid position remains under review after his repaired vehicle shed cooling-fan components at the beginning of the final qualifying session. Lando Norris drove over the debris, causing parts to scatter and forcing officials to halt the session with a red flag.

Racing officials are currently examining the incident.

Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar earned the third starting position for Sunday’s race, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc will begin fourth.

Australian driver Oscar Piastri and reigning champion Lando Norris claimed fifth and sixth positions respectively for McLaren.

“It’s been a very, very stressful day,” Antonelli reflected on his earlier practice crash that also caused a session stoppage. “But the guys today were the heroes, to put the car back on the track.”

Updated chassis designs and power unit modifications have created significant challenges for drivers this season, requiring greater focus on managing energy deployment and recovery systems.

Verstappen’s qualifying ended abruptly during the opening session when his brakes locked approaching the first corner of his initial fast lap, sending him sliding through gravel before hitting the track barrier.

The Dutch driver expressed his frustration over team radio before climbing out of his damaged car without injury.

“The car just locked on the rear axles. Fantastic,” commented Verstappen, who finished second in last season’s championship standings.

Verstappen’s starting position will be determined by repair requirements, placing him either at the rear of the field or in pit lane.

Aston Martin’s two-time world champion Fernando Alonso was knocked out during the first qualifying round, alongside both Cadillac drivers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas.

Alonso’s teammate Lance Stroll couldn’t participate in the opening qualifying session after Aston Martin ran out of time to complete repairs following morning maintenance work.

Williams driver Carlos Sainz also missed the qualifying sessions entirely.

The Colorado Avalanche delivered a stunning blow to the Dallas Stars’ remarkable 10-game winning streak, claiming a thrilling 5-4 shootout victory on Friday night in what proved to be a showcase between the NHL’s top two teams.

Valeri Nichushkin emerged as the evening’s standout performer, netting the game-tying goal with merely 15 seconds remaining in regulation before contributing to Colorado’s shootout triumph. Martin Necas, who recorded one goal and three assists during regular play, delivered the decisive shootout goal past Jake Oettinger to seal the victory.

Nathan MacKinnon continued his exceptional season, tallying his league-best 42nd goal along with two assists, while Cale Makar contributed a goal and an assist to Colorado’s offensive effort.

The Avalanche received outstanding goaltending from Scott Wedgewood in relief duty, as he turned away 10 shots plus two more in the shootout to preserve Colorado’s fourth consecutive victory. Wedgewood entered the game early in the second period after Mackenzie Blackwood managed just seven saves on 11 attempts before his departure.

Dallas received strong offensive contributions from Miro Heiskanen, Wyatt Johnston, and Justin Hryckowian, each recording a goal and assist combination. Jamie Benn also found the net for the Stars, while Jason Robertson and Mavrik Bourque each registered two assists.

Jake Oettinger stopped 25 shots for Dallas, though his personal eight-game winning streak came to an end with the defeat.

This highly anticipated clash between the league’s premier teams delivered the playoff-intensity atmosphere many expected, culminating in the same 5-4 scoreline as their October 11 meeting in Denver, though with Colorado emerging victorious this time.

Makar opened the scoring just 3:33 into the contest with his 19th goal of the campaign on the power play, but Heiskanen responded with a man-advantage goal of his own less than four minutes later, assisted by Robertson and Johnston.

The same trio combined again with 9:21 remaining in the opening period when Johnston’s 34th goal of the season put Dallas ahead 2-1.

The Stars extended their advantage to 3-1 with 3:53 left in the first period following a communication breakdown between Blackwood and defenseman Devon Toews behind Colorado’s net, leading to a turnover that Bourque capitalized on by setting up Hryckowian’s goal.

MacKinnon narrowed the gap to 3-2 with under two seconds remaining in the period, giving Colorado its second power-play goal of the night.

Dallas restored its two-goal cushion early in the second period when Benn scored at the 18:08 mark, a goal that prompted Colorado to replace Blackwood with Wedgewood.

Necas brought the Avalanche back within one goal with 11:54 left in the middle frame, with Gabriel Landeskog earning an assist for his 600th career point.

Nichushkin nearly scored with just over three minutes remaining when his shot struck both posts, but the Russian forward capitalized on his next opportunity, scoring his 13th goal of the season after Colorado pulled Wedgewood for an extra attacker with 1:45 left on the clock.

The game marked the return of Roope Hintz, who had been sidelined since the Olympic break due to illness, though the Dallas forward was forced to leave with 4:22 remaining in the second period after suffering what appeared to be a lower-body injury.

Luka Doncic delivered a masterful performance Friday night, dropping 44 points along with nine rebounds and three steals in just three quarters of play as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Indiana Pacers 128-117.

The superstar guard connected on seven three-pointers and achieved his tenth 40-point performance of the season, surpassing Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards for the league lead. This milestone also placed Doncic among Lakers royalty, making him only the fourth player in franchise history to reach double digits in 40-point games during a single season. He joins Hall of Fame legends Kobe Bryant (who accomplished this feat four times), Elgin Baylor (three times), and Jerry West (three times).

Doncic’s offensive explosion proved crucial with LeBron James sidelined due to injuries to his left elbow and left foot. James sustained the elbow injury during a hard fall in Thursday’s defeat against the Denver Nuggets.

Austin Reaves contributed 19 points for Los Angeles, including 11 crucial fourth-quarter points before fouling out. The Lakers also received solid contributions from Luke Kennard with 15 points and seven rebounds off the bench, while Rui Hachimura chipped in 13 points and Marcus Smart added 11. The victory marked Los Angeles’ fourth win in their last five contests.

For Indiana, Pascal Siakam led the scoring effort with 26 points, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Pacers’ eighth consecutive loss. The struggling team has now dropped five straight games by an average margin of 19.6 points.

Andrew Nembhard contributed 17 points and eight assists for the Pacers, while Jay Huff scored 16 points. T.J. McConnell provided 10 points coming off the bench for Indiana.

The Lakers dominated offensively, shooting an impressive 52.9% from the field and connecting on 17 of 37 three-point attempts. Los Angeles also played without Deandre Ayton due to a left knee issue.

Indiana struggled from long range, making only 8 of 35 three-point shots despite shooting 46.9% overall from the field.

Doncic set the tone early, going perfect from beyond the arc at 5-of-5 while pouring in 22 first-quarter points to help the Lakers establish a 35-27 lead.

The Dallas native added seven more points in the second period, bringing his halftime total to 29 as Los Angeles extended their advantage to 64-51 at intermission.

Doncic saved his best for the third quarter, scoring 15 points during the Lakers’ explosive 35-point frame before calling it a night. He punctuated the period with a spectacular banked three-pointer with just 5.5 seconds remaining, giving Los Angeles a commanding 99-80 lead entering the final quarter.

Indiana briefly showed signs of life early in the fourth, cutting the deficit to 103-89 following a three-pointer by Jarace Walker. However, Reaves responded with nine points during an 11-2 Lakers run that pushed the lead to 114-91 with 7:34 left on the clock. The margin reached as high as 24 points before the Pacers managed to trim the final score.

MELBOURNE, March 7 – Four-time Formula One world champion Max Verstappen was eliminated from Australian Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday after his Red Bull vehicle slammed into a barrier during the opening session at Albert Park circuit.

The Dutch driver lost control of his car at the first turn of the Melbourne track but emerged from the incident without injury, though he failed to post any qualifying time during the session.

Speaking over his team’s radio system, Verstappen expressed his frustration with the mechanical failure that led to the crash.

“The car just … locked down the rear axles. Fantastic,” Verstappen communicated to his Red Bull team.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Alaska’s capital city prepares for an invasion of barking sled dogs this Saturday as the legendary Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race launches its 54th edition with a festive ceremonial kickoff.

The fan-friendly event allows spectators to see their beloved mushers up close before Sunday’s official competitive launch of the grueling 1,000-mile journey across Alaska’s wilderness to Nome.

This year’s race brings notable changes, including an innovative amateur division and substantial financial backing from Norwegian billionaire Kjell Rokke, who now calls Switzerland home.

The Iditarod originated from the vision of co-creators Dorothy Page and Joe Redington Sr., who designed the long-distance competition to celebrate Alaska’s rich mushing heritage and commemorate the historic Iditarod Trail. This legendary 938-mile route once served as a crucial freight and mail pathway connecting Seward on Alaska’s southern shoreline to Nome on the western Bering Sea coast.

Race organizers strategically positioned the starting point near Anchorage to engage Alaska’s most populous city, while the late Howard Farley played a key role in establishing Nome as the destination finish line, roughly 1,000 miles away.

The inaugural 1973 race attracted 34 participants, though only 22 successfully completed the challenging course.

Dick Wilmarth claimed victory in 20 days and never competed again. When questioned about his retirement, he simply stated, “Cause I won.”

Modern mushers have dramatically improved their speed, with recent champions crossing the finish line near the Bering Sea in approximately 10 days.

Participation numbers have fluctuated throughout the decades, but recent years have seen smaller fields due to veteran mushers retiring and rising expenses for essentials like dog food.

The peak participation occurred in 2008 with 96 mushers starting the race. Historically, about 60 competitors participated annually over five decades. However, 2023 and 2025 each saw only 33 starters — the lowest numbers ever recorded.

This year matches the original 1973 field with 34 competitive mushers. Saturday’s ceremonial route covers 11 miles through Anchorage streets lined with enthusiastic fans. The actual competitive race begins Sunday on a frozen lake approximately 75 miles north of Anchorage.

The total field includes 37 mushers, with three participating in the newly created Iditarod Expedition Musher Program, an honorary category that excludes them from championship eligibility and prize money.

Notable expedition participants include Norwegian billionaire Kjell Rokke and Canadian businessman Steve Curtis. Unlike traditional competitors, expedition mushers may receive outside assistance during the race.

Thomas Waerner, the Norwegian musher who captured the 2020 Iditarod title and famously remained stranded in Alaska for three months due to COVID-19 restrictions, will support Rokke’s dog team effort. Four-time champion Jeff King will assist Curtis using a snowmachine.

Rokke’s financial contribution significantly impacts the race, adding $100,000 to increase the total purse to $650,000 and providing $170,000 in support for the 17 Alaska Native villages serving as checkpoints along the route.

According to Iditarod CEO Rob Urbach, Rokke’s purse enhancement should increase competitor payouts, with the winner receiving approximately $80,000 — substantially higher than last year’s champion prize of nearly $57,000.

“I believe it is healthy for the sport to evolve and look at new opportunities,” Waerner explained in a private message interview with The Associated Press. “The cost of running a competitive kennel has increased significantly over the years, and this initiative is an attempt to explore more sustainable ways to finance both a racing kennel and the race itself — while maintaining high standards for dog care, training, competition, and overall quality.”

Curtis, whose participation was announced just three days before the ceremonial start, is also expected to provide financial support to the Iditarod, though specific details remain unavailable.

The competitive field features four international mushers: two from Canada, plus one each from Norway and Denmark.

Despite Waerner’s ineligible status, three former champions seek their second victories: current defending champion Jessie Holmes, 2023 winner Ryan Redington, and 2019 champion Pete Kaiser.

Holmes, known from National Geographic’s reality series “Life Below Zero,” aims to join legendary mushers Susan Butcher and Lance Mackey as the only competitors to win consecutive championships.

Both Butcher and Mackey achieved four championships each before succumbing to cancer — Butcher in 2006 and Mackey in 2022.

Redington carries the legacy as grandson of race co-founder Joe Redington Sr., while Kaiser made history as the first Yup’ik musher to claim victory.

Abundant snowfall should greet mushers throughout most of their 1,000-mile journey to Alaska’s western coastline.

The challenging route crosses two mountain ranges, spans the frozen Yukon River, and navigates dangerous Bering Sea ice before concluding on Front Street in Nome.

The finish line sits near City Hall, constructed on the former location of The Dexter, a saloon once operated by Wyatt Earp — famous for the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral — during Nome’s prosperous gold rush era.

Race officials anticipate the winner will arrive in Nome during the early part of the week beginning March 16.

Minnesota Wild management made two significant roster moves Friday, bringing in veteran forward Nick Foligno from Chicago in exchange for future considerations.

The 38-year-old Foligno will now play alongside his younger brother Marcus, who is 34, creating a family reunion in Minnesota.

In a separate deal Friday, the Wild obtained forward Bobby Brink from Philadelphia, trading away defenseman David Jiricek to complete the transaction.

Currently serving as Chicago’s team captain, Nick Foligno has recorded 11 points this season through 37 games, including three goals and eight assists. He’s completing the final year of a two-year deal worth $9 million and will become an unrestricted free agent when the season ends.

Throughout his NHL career, Nick Foligno has accumulated 608 points across 1,270 games, scoring 250 goals and adding 358 assists while playing for Ottawa, Columbus, Toronto, Boston, and Chicago.

The 24-year-old Brink, who hails from Minnetonka, Minnesota, has contributed 26 points in 55 games this season for Philadelphia, tallying 13 goals and 13 assists. He’s set to become a restricted free agent this summer.

Philadelphia selected Brink during the second round of the 2019 NHL Draft, and he has produced 94 points in 201 career games, including 36 goals and 58 assists.

Meanwhile, the 22-year-old Jiricek has not registered a point through 25 games this season with Minnesota.

Over his career spanning 84 games with Columbus and Minnesota, he has collected 13 points with two goals and 11 assists. Columbus originally drafted him sixth overall in 2022 before trading him to Minnesota on November 30, 2024.

Dallas Stars forward Roope Hintz’s comeback was cut short Friday night when he sustained a lower-body injury during the second period of the team’s matchup with the Colorado Avalanche.

The organization confirmed that Hintz would be sidelined for the rest of the contest following the injury.

The incident occurred when Hintz delivered a check on Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon, driving him into the boards near the corner of the Avalanche’s attacking zone. During MacKinnon’s attempt to escape the check, Hintz lost his footing and immediately clutched his upper left leg area with 4:22 remaining in the period.

Team medical staff and teammate Jason Robertson assisted the Finnish Olympian as he made his way off the ice.

The injury comes as Hintz was making his return after being sidelined for the team’s last four contests due to sickness. Going into Friday’s game, he ranked fifth among Stars players with 44 points, recording 15 goals and 29 assists this season.

HOUSTON — During his legendary 19-season MLB career, Manny Ramirez launched 555 home runs into the stands across ballparks nationwide.

Friday evening at Daikin Park, the former All-Star experienced the thrill from a different perspective as he watched his son Lucas deliver a two-homer performance for Brazil’s national team in their World Baseball Classic matchup against Team USA.

The younger Ramirez opened the game with a leadoff blast, then delivered another solo shot during the eighth inning in an impressive display of power hitting.

The baseball apple didn’t fall far from the tree.

Lucas, age 20, connected on Logan Webb’s second offering, sending it over the right field wall to narrow the American advantage to 2-1 following Aaron Judge’s two-run blast in the previous half-inning. His eighth-inning drive off Gabe Speier brought Brazil closer at 8-5.

“I was looking forward for him to do something special,” Manny Ramirez shared with The Associated Press following his son’s opening homer. “So, he’s been working so hard all year round and I’m proud of him.”

Lucas qualifies to represent Brazil through his mother Juliana Ramirez, a São Paulo native who was present at the stadium Friday evening, radiating joy after witnessing the leadoff home run.

The Angels selected the younger Ramirez in the 17th round of the 2024 amateur draft, and he completed his first professional season in Single-A ball with a .266 batting average, three long balls, 30 runs batted in, and six stolen bases.

His international experience includes participating in the 2026 WBC qualifying tournament, where he collected five hits in 13 at-bats for Brazil.

While Manny Ramirez, the two-time World Series champion and 2004 Fall Classic MVP, would have celebrated his son’s success against any opponent, facing one of the tournament’s elite squads made the moment even more meaningful.

“Oh yeah, they’re No. 1,” he acknowledged.

The proud father believes this breakthrough performance will provide momentum heading into the upcoming minor league season.

“It’s going to be more special for him because that’s going to give him — he’s going to be ready for the season,” Ramirez explained. “I hope he’s going to do good.”

Lucas sports the same number 24 uniform that his father wore throughout most of his distinguished career, and Manny couldn’t be happier witnessing his son’s achievements on baseball’s international stage.

“I’m proud of him,” he stated. “Thank God for this opportunity that he has.”

Multiple media outlets reported Friday that the Baltimore Ravens have struck a major trade deal with Las Vegas, obtaining star pass rusher Maxx Crosby in exchange for two first-round draft selections.

Baltimore is surrendering the 14th overall pick in this April’s draft along with their 2027 first-round selection. This trade gives Las Vegas a pair of top-14 picks in the upcoming draft, as they already hold the number one overall choice.

The transaction cannot become official until March 11, when the 2026 NFL league year officially opens. The trade comes exactly one year and one day after Crosby inked a three-year contract extension worth $106.5 million with the Raiders.

The 28-year-old defensive end has earned Pro Bowl recognition for five consecutive seasons and twice received second-team All-Pro selections. Throughout his career, he has accumulated 69.5 quarterback sacks and recorded at least seven sacks in each of his seven campaigns with Las Vegas, while also tallying 133 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

The elite pass rusher showed his displeasure when the team placed him on injured reserve during the final two games of the 2025 season due to a knee problem. Reports indicated he departed the team facility that week before returning seven days later.

During his time in Las Vegas, Crosby reached the postseason just once, suffering a wild-card playoff defeat in 2021, while playing under five different head coaches.

The acquisition represents a significant addition for Baltimore’s new head coach Jesse Minter, who previously served as defensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Chargers. Last season, the Ravens’ defense ranked 24th league-wide in total yards allowed at 354.5 per game and tied for 30th in quarterback sacks with only 30, as no individual player managed more than five sacks.

Chicago Bears management wasted no time addressing their center position vacancy, securing Garrett Bradbury from the New England Patriots through a trade deal completed Friday, according to multiple league sources. The Bears will send a 2027 fifth-round draft selection to New England in return.

The deal will be finalized Wednesday when the NFL’s new league year officially begins.

Chicago made this move just three days following Drew Dalman’s retirement announcement. The Bears officially moved Dalman to their reserve/retired list on Friday.

Last season, Bradbury was a consistent starter for New England, taking the field for all 17 regular season contests plus their complete playoff run of four games, which concluded with their Super Bowl defeat to Seattle.

Under his current contract’s final year in 2026, Bradbury is set to earn $3.7 million in base salary with a total salary cap impact of $5.7 million.

The 30-year-old center began his professional career with Minnesota, where he played six seasons after the Vikings drafted him 18th overall in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft from North Carolina State. Last March, he joined New England through free agency on a two-year contract worth $9.5 million.

Throughout his NFL career, Bradbury has maintained remarkable durability, starting all 105 games he’s played and participating in no fewer than 12 games each season.

New England plans to shift left guard Jared Wilson into the center role following Bradbury’s exit. Wilson, selected in the third round of the 2025 draft from Georgia, made 13 regular season starts and appeared in all four playoff games during his first professional season.

The retired Dalman, age 27, concluded his career on a high note after earning Pro Bowl recognition in his fifth NFL campaign. Before joining Chicago, he spent four years with Atlanta, playing 57 games with 40 starts for the Falcons, then started every game for the Bears last season.

French tennis veteran Gael Monfils experienced a touching send-off at the Indian Wells tournament in California on Friday, as spectators rose to their feet following his 6-7(5) 6-3 6-4 defeat to Felix Auger-Aliassime.

The 39-year-old athlete, widely recognized as one of tennis’s most captivating performers, has announced his intention to retire after this season. Following his second-round elimination, the packed stadium honored him with an extended standing ovation as he walked off the court.

“It’s unbelievable tournament for me. I’m a little bit sad. You know, I’m normally not down, but a little bit sad,” he told reporters.

“As a kid, I always wanted to play in big tournaments in front of big crowds, in big venues, and this one was matching all my expectations from day one until now.”

Throughout his career, Monfils became celebrated for his remarkable athletic ability and spectacular playing style. He captured 13 ATP Tour championships during his professional journey, with his most recent victory coming in Auckland last year – nearly two decades after claiming his inaugural title in Poland back in 2005.

The veteran player expressed appreciation for receiving a wildcard entry to compete in this year’s Indian Wells event and reflected positively on his experiences at the venue.

“For me it was always a happy place, a place where I could grow myself. I always sit here in peace,” he said.

Monfils’ professional journey coincided with what many consider tennis’s most dominant era, as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic maintained their grip on the sport for nearly twenty years. Despite this challenging competitive landscape, he managed to reach the semifinals at two major championships – the French Open in 2008 and the U.S. Open in 2016 – though he fell short in both instances.

As he prepares to conclude his tennis career, Monfils indicated he harbors no disappointment about his accomplishments in the sport.

A professional tennis player from Hungary has come forward about receiving death threats against her family members unless she agreed to deliberately lose matches during a recent tournament.

Panna Udvardy, currently ranked 95th in the world, disclosed on social media Friday that she was targeted with these intimidating messages while competing in the Antalya Challenger tournament in Turkey. She immediately notified the Women’s Tennis Association about the threats.

The situation became serious enough that her family reached out to Turkish diplomatic officials, and three law enforcement officers provided security by escorting her to her tournament match in Antalya, according to Udvardy’s account.

The 27-year-old athlete revealed disturbing details about the scope of the problem in her social media statement: “I was told that similar threats have recently happened to other players and that they believe personal information may have leaked from the WTA database, which is currently being investigated.”

Security measures extended beyond the tournament venue, as Udvardy explained: “Police also went to my parents and grandmother’s homes, and after the match I filed an official police report here in Turkey.”

The Women’s Tennis Association has not yet provided a response to requests for comment regarding the incident or the alleged database security breach.

World number one tennis player Aryna Sabalenka caught attention for more than just her athletic skills during Friday’s competition at Indian Wells, California, as she made her debut wearing a sparkling new engagement ring while defeating Japan’s Himeno Sakatsume 6-4, 6-2 in the second round.

The 27-year-old tennis champion wore the eye-catching oval-cut diamond ring for the first time during a match after becoming engaged to Georgios Frangulis on Tuesday evening.

“It feels super comfortable and shiny,” she told reporters.

“We double-checked if there was a possibility to lose the diamond, and there was none. I was pretty confident wearing it, hoping it might even distract my opponent.”

The tennis star, who has reached the championship match at this WTA 1000 tournament twice over the past three years, revealed that the proposal caught her completely off guard, though her entire support team knew about the planned engagement beforehand.

“I saw Georgios and I was crying half of the time, because I thought that I looked ugly, not prepared, and this is such a beautiful moment,” she said.

“I stopped everything, and I asked the videographer and the photographer to make sure that my face was not (in the pictures), just the ring, and side views and from the back, just so you guys wouldn’t be shocked by the way I looked.

“But it was a beautiful moment.”

When reporters inquired about what she and Frangulis, who serves as CEO of international health-food company OakBerry, have discovered about each other since beginning their relationship in 2024, Sabalenka responded with humor.

“What I have learned about him? He likes Oakberry a lot,” the four-time Grand Slam winner said. “What he has learned about me? That I’m crazy,” she added with a laugh.

Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks found himself in legal trouble early Friday morning when Scottsdale police detained him on suspected drunk driving charges.

According to law enforcement records, officers pulled over Brooks around 1 a.m. Friday in Scottsdale. Following the traffic stop, he was taken into custody and transported to jail before being released hours later.

The Phoenix Suns organization acknowledged the incident in an official statement: “We are aware of the situation involving Dillon Brooks and are gathering more information. We have no further comment at this time.”

The 30-year-old player has been absent from the team’s lineup for the last five contests due to a fractured left hand sustained during Phoenix’s February 21 victory against Orlando. Medical projections indicated he would miss four to six weeks of action.

Should Brooks remain out for the full six-week recovery period, he would potentially return to action in early April, just before the regular season concludes on April 12.

In his debut season with Phoenix, Brooks has posted career-high numbers, contributing 21.2 points and 3.7 rebounds per game across 50 appearances, all as a starter.

Throughout his NBA career spanning time with Memphis (2017-23), Houston (2023-25), and now Phoenix, Brooks has compiled averages of 14.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists over 542 games, starting 515 of them.

Multiple sources confirmed Friday that the Cleveland Browns have modified quarterback Deshaun Watson’s contract arrangement to create additional salary cap flexibility.

This represents the fourth consecutive year Cleveland has adjusted Watson’s deal, reducing his 2026 salary cap impact from $80.7 million down to approximately $45 million while creating nearly $36 million in additional cap room.

When Watson joined Cleveland following his trade from Houston before the 2022 campaign, he signed a five-year agreement worth $230 million in guaranteed money. Following this season, he will enter unrestricted free agency.

Since arriving in Cleveland, Watson has appeared in only 19 contests and recorded 19 touchdown passes, compiling a 9-10 record while dealing with both disciplinary actions and physical setbacks.

The NFL suspended Watson for 11 games during his first season with Cleveland in 2022 due to off-field behavior related to sexual misconduct accusations involving more than 20 massage therapists. Surgery on his left shoulder ended his 2023 campaign early, while a torn Achilles tendon in Week 7 of 2024 sidelined him for the season’s final 10 games.

The 30-year-old quarterback spent the entire previous season rehabilitating from two Achilles procedures but is anticipated to battle with Shedeur Sanders for the starting role. Cleveland also has Dillon Gabriel as a quarterback option on their roster.

The Los Angeles Chargers have landed former Washington Commanders center Tyler Biadasz on a lucrative three-year contract worth $30 million, according to multiple media reports released Friday.

The 28-year-old veteran became available after Washington cut him loose last month, enabling him to ink a new contract ahead of Wednesday’s opening of the new league year.

Biadasz will step into the role vacated by Bradley Bozeman, who announced his retirement from professional football last month.

During his tenure with Washington from 2024-25, Biadasz appeared in 31 games as a starter but concluded the 2025 campaign on the injured reserve list following ankle and knee injuries sustained during a Christmas Day defeat against the Dallas Cowboys.

The Wisconsin product earned Pro Bowl honors in 2022 while playing for Dallas. Throughout his NFL career spanning the Cowboys (2020-23) and Commanders, Biadasz has started 84 contests out of 92 total games played. Dallas selected him in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

NFL franchises will have the opportunity to dramatically reshape their rosters starting next week as the free agency period begins, with several marquee players potentially changing teams.

Last season demonstrated how strategic free agency moves can transform organizations. The champion Seattle Seahawks discovered their franchise quarterback by acquiring Sam Darnold through free agency, while the New England Patriots climbed from last place to first in the AFC East by adding veteran talent that propelled them to the Super Bowl.

However, free agency success isn’t guaranteed. Several expensive signings have failed to deliver, including Kirk Cousins’ $100 million guaranteed contract and Christian Wilkins’ $82.75 million guaranteed deal. Despite these cautionary tales, Seattle and New England showed that intelligent investments can yield championship results.

The legal tampering window opens Monday at 12 p.m. EDT, allowing agents to negotiate with team executives. Official signings cannot occur until Wednesday at 4 p.m. EDT when the league’s new year begins.

Several key storylines will shape this year’s free agency period:

The quarterback market features experienced signal-callers awaiting their release. Cousins and Kyler Murray will likely become available once their current teams cut them. Four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers remains undecided about continuing his career, though he would attract significant interest after leading Pittsburgh to an AFC North title if he chooses to play.

Should Miami release Tua Tagovailoa, he could become an attractive option at the veteran minimum salary. Malik Willis might command substantial money from teams viewing him as a long-term solution, while Russell Wilson seeks his fourth franchise in four seasons. Indianapolis used their transition tag on Daniel Jones, limiting his movement since the Colts can match competing offers.

Defensive coordinators prioritize quarterback pressure, making pass rushers highly coveted. Trey Hendrickson, named 2024 All-Pro, recorded 17 1/2 sacks in consecutive seasons before injuries shortened his most recent campaign to seven games. His availability will create intense competition among suitors.

Additional premier rushers include Jaelan Phillips, Odafe Oweh, and K’Lavon Chaisson. Three-time All-Pro Khalil Mack recently turned 35 but remains effective at pressuring quarterbacks.

Mike Evans, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, enters free agency for the first time in his career and may leave Tampa Bay after 12 seasons. He’s seeking a championship-caliber team with established quarterback play, making franchises like San Francisco, New England, and Los Angeles attractive destinations.

D.J. Moore is joining Buffalo via trade, while acquiring A.J. Brown from Philadelphia would require significant compensation. Alec Pierce, who led the NFL in yards per reception over the past two seasons with Indianapolis, will be heavily pursued as he approaches his 26th birthday in May.

Five-time All-Pro Tyreek Hill is recovering from a serious knee injury. Other notable available receivers include Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings, Christian Kirk, and Wan’dale Robinson.

Kenneth Walker III rushed for 135 yards in Seattle’s 29-13 Super Bowl triumph over New England last month, establishing himself as the top running back available. He’s projected to receive the largest contract among backs, with Travis Etienne, Rico Dowdle, and Tyler Allgeier also hitting the market.

The running back group includes Rachaad White, Kenneth Gainwell, Brian Robinson, and Najee Harris. Walker could fit well with Carolina, Arizona, Denver, Washington, or Minnesota.

The NFL raised the salary cap to $301.2 million, a $22 million increase from 2025. Los Angeles Chargers lead all teams with $99.5 million in available space, according to Spotrac.com. Tennessee follows with $89.3 million, then Las Vegas ($84.7 million), Washington ($83.3 million), and the New York Jets ($73.8 million). Seattle has $60.7 million to spend.

The National Hockey League issued a five-game suspension to Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin on Friday evening after he struck Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin in the head with his stick during Thursday night’s game.

The disciplinary action will result in Malkin forfeiting $158,854.15 in salary, which will be donated to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund according to the league’s collective bargaining agreement terms.

The incident occurred just 35 seconds into the second period of Pittsburgh’s 4-1 defeat to Buffalo on Thursday. Officials penalized Malkin with a minor penalty for cross-checking, a major penalty for slashing, and ejected him from the game with a misconduct penalty.

Game footage revealed the altercation began when both players collided near Buffalo’s goal. After Dahlin delivered a cross-check that earned him a penalty, Malkin retaliated by lifting his stick and hitting Dahlin’s helmet and shoulder area.

The NHL’s Department of Player Safety determined that Malkin’s actions were deliberate, stating he maintained his balance throughout the incident and the contact was intentional.

This marks the third suspension in Malkin’s lengthy career. The 39-year-old veteran previously sat out one game in February 2019 for high-sticking Philadelphia’s Michael Raffl and missed four games in April 2022 for cross-checking Nashville’s Mark Borowiecki. He has also received five fines during his time in the league.

Malkin has recorded 13 goals and 47 total points through 46 games this season. Over his two-decade NHL career spent entirely with Pittsburgh, he has accumulated 527 goals and 1,393 points.

The suspension creates additional challenges for Pittsburgh, who currently hold second place in the Metropolitan Division while competing for playoff positioning. The team is already managing without captain Sidney Crosby, who will miss at least four weeks due to a lower-body injury.

The Baltimore Ravens have acquired star defensive end Maxx Crosby in a blockbuster trade with the Las Vegas Raiders, according to two sources familiar with the deal who spoke to The Associated Press on Friday evening.

The sources requested anonymity since the transaction cannot be officially announced until the NFL’s new league year begins next week.

In exchange for the five-time Pro Bowl pass rusher, Baltimore will send two first-round draft selections to Las Vegas, including the 14th overall choice in the upcoming NFL draft, according to one source.

Crosby, who is 28 years old, recorded 10 quarterback sacks during the previous season and has achieved double-digit sack totals in four of his seven NFL campaigns.

British tennis star Emma Raducanu has found a clever way to escape the spotlight that followed her stunning 2021 U.S. Open victory – she creates an alternate identity named ‘Ella.’

The young athlete’s life transformed dramatically after her breakthrough championship win in New York as a teenager, leading to lucrative sponsorship contracts, tennis sessions with Kate Middleton, and correspondence from the Queen.

However, during a recent visit to a coffee shop in Southern California, when a barista inquired about her name, accent, and tournament plans, Raducanu seized the opportunity for some normalcy.

‘Sometimes I love getting to know people and pretending I’m someone completely different and making up a story. It’s quite fun and refreshing,’ she told reporters at Indian Wells after defeating Anastasia Zakharova 6-1, 6-3 in the second round.

‘I’m Ella quite a lot, which is quite similar (to Emma). I traveled to America to visit my friend on a gap year and I’m working at a summer camp,’ she shared with amusement.

The 25th-seeded player displayed impressive form on Friday, overwhelming the Russian qualifier in under 90 minutes of play.

‘My game plan was to take control of the points, and I think I did that pretty well,’ she explained.

Raducanu arrived in the California desert seeking to overcome a challenging season start, particularly consecutive opening-round defeats in Qatar and Dubai the previous month.

‘In hindsight, I think the Middle East was too much of a push. I wasn’t feeling good health-wise and kind of made myself stay out there, but I probably wouldn’t do the same again,’ she reflected.

‘Preparing for Indian Wells, I’ve been practicing in a way that I enjoyed. I’m seeing progress, moving in a good way, feeling better, and trying to unlock the game style that I enjoy playing.’

Following her early exit at January’s Australian Open, Raducanu parted ways with coach Francisco Roig and has since reconnected with Mark Petchey in an unofficial coaching capacity.

Roig marked the eighth coach in Raducanu’s professional career, and she acknowledged difficulties finding someone who allows her natural playing style to flourish.

‘Of course you need to have discipline and do the fundamentals well, but I have an element of instinctiveness that I feel like some coaches try and coach out of me,’ she said.

‘They want me to play high percentage all the time, and then I feel stuck in something that I’m not necessarily enjoying, and I haven’t practiced doing something else.’

‘I like having the freedom to express myself… that’s a big thing and over the last week, I’m starting to get that.’

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James has been ruled out for Friday night’s home matchup against the Indiana Pacers after sustaining a left elbow contusion.

The injury occurred during Thursday evening’s 120-113 defeat on the road against the Denver Nuggets, when James took a hard fall to the floor while attacking the rim in the fourth quarter.

The veteran forward managed to check back into the game momentarily before exiting once more in the closing moments.

Following Thursday’s defeat, James told reporters, “Pretty sore right now … day-to-day, we’ll see what happens.”

The injury adds to James’ ongoing management of arthritis in his left foot.

The 41-year-old contributed 16 points on 7-of-11 field goal attempts in the loss to Denver. During that contest, James made NBA history by recording his 15,842nd career field goal, surpassing basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s previous record by five makes.

The Lakers will also be without center Deandre Ayton, who suffered a left knee injury during the opening quarter of Thursday’s game and has been ruled out as well.

Recent NHL trade deadline activity has intensified the battle to claim the Stanley Cup championship, following the Florida Panthers’ unsuccessful bid to repeat as champions this season.

The Colorado Avalanche have emerged as the top betting choice at 5-2 odds on BetMGM Sportsbook, maintaining their league-leading position since October. Their acquisition of center Nazem Kadri, who contributed to their 2022 championship victory, along with additional forward and defensive reinforcements, has strengthened their playoff prospects.

However, numerous other championship contenders executed strategic trades in pursuit of hockey’s most coveted prize, including Central Division competitors Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild. The Tampa Bay Lightning, considered Eastern Conference frontrunners, made a smaller but potentially significant addition that could propel them back to the championship game.

“There’s a lot of good hockey teams in the National Hockey League, and only one team is going to be happy at the end of it,” Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland said. “We understand that has to happen on the ice. You can talk about it — the deadline, who wins this? Who wins that? None of it matters. It’s what happens on the ice.”

Colorado secured Kadri from Calgary at a discounted rate, with the Flames covering 20% of his $7 million contract. In exchange, the Avalanche traded forward Victor Olofsson, rights to unsigned prospect Max Curran, a conditional 2028 first-round selection, and a conditional 2027 second-round pick. Colorado also received a fourth-round pick alongside Kadri.

Dallas strengthened its defensive corps earlier this week by obtaining 6-foot-8 Tyler Myers from Vancouver, while addressing offensive needs through the acquisition of Michael Bunting from Nashville.

Minnesota’s major acquisition occurred in December when they successfully pursued Quinn Hughes. This week, the Wild concentrated on adding roster depth with center Michael McCarron, forward Bobby Brink, and defenseman Jeff Petry.

Tampa Bay acquired Corey Perry from Los Angeles, bringing an aggressive winger to complement their talented roster. Carolina addressed their need for physical presence by sending a conditional late draft pick to Philadelphia for enforcer Nicolas Deslauriers.

Vegas completed their major shopping in January by securing defenseman Rasmus Andersson from Calgary. The Golden Knights continued their deadline activity when GM Kelly McCrimmon acquired defensive specialist Nic Dowd from Washington.

Edmonton, having reached the championship game twice only to lose to Florida both times, focused on defensive improvements. The Oilers paid substantially for forwards Jason Dickinson and Colton Dach, while separately acquiring defenseman Connor Murphy from Chicago.

The Buffalo Sabres nearly completed a deal for St. Louis forward Robert Thomas, who at 26 remains in his prime with a contract extending through 2031. They came even closer to securing imposing defenseman Colton Parayko through a negotiated agreement with the Blues.

Both transactions ultimately failed to materialize.

“I don’t comment on unfinished business,” GM Jarmo Kekalainen said.

Parayko utilized his no-trade clause to block the transaction. Kekalainen expressed disappointment that the failed deal might reflect poorly on Buffalo or the organization, which is positioned to end an NHL-record 14-season playoff absence.

“Buffalo is a great city,” said Kekalainen, who joined Buffalo as a senior adviser in June before being promoted to GM following Kevyn Adams’ mid-December dismissal. “I’ve loved every second of it. We have a great hockey team that’s winning games and the fun atmosphere, electric building and I would think that our players are loving it here.”

The New York Rangers retained U.S. Olympic gold medalist Vincent Trocheck, while Philadelphia kept defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, who represented Finland in Olympic competition. These organizations established high asking prices in what became a favorable market for sellers.

“Sometimes, the ask for some of the elite players that were available, it wasn’t even a question that we’d do that as an organization because a year from now, it just wouldn’t make the organization any better,” Utah GM Bill Armstrong said.

Nick Foligno reflected on his late mother, Janis, after being traded to Minnesota on Friday to join his brother Marcus, describing the move as deeply meaningful.

“Honestly, it feels like our mom’s got a little something to do with that, smiling down on us today,” Foligno said, referencing their mother who passed away from breast cancer in 2009. “It’s something I don’t take for granted.”

While the Foligno brothers reunited, another NHL sibling pair was involved in separate transactions.

Luke Schenn was traded first, moving from Winnipeg to Buffalo early Friday morning. His younger brother Brayden followed, going from St. Louis to the New York Islanders. The Schenn brothers previously experienced what the Folignos are now enjoying, having played together with Philadelphia for 3½ seasons from 2012-16.

University of North Carolina first-year player Caleb Wilson’s basketball season has come to an end after suffering a fractured right thumb injury.

The Tar Heels announced Friday that Wilson’s season is over following the non-contact injury that happened during Thursday’s practice session. The freshman was close to making his comeback after missing six games and was working toward getting medical clearance to play in Saturday’s highly anticipated rematch against top-ranked Duke when the new injury struck.

Wilson has been UNC’s top performer this year, averaging 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per contest. The standout player recorded 20 or more points in 17 games throughout the season and is expected to be selected in the lottery portion of the 2026 NBA Draft.

His previous injury was a fracture to his non-shooting hand that occurred on February 10 during the game against Miami.

Head coach Hubert Davis indicated that while Wilson had not yet received approval for full-contact practice sessions, the player was expected to return no later than next week’s ACC tournament.

The Carolina Hurricanes bolstered their roster Friday by obtaining veteran forward Nicolas Deslauriers from Philadelphia, sending the Flyers a conditional seventh-round selection in the 2027 draft.

The 35-year-old forward has tallied one assist while accumulating 33 penalty minutes across 24 appearances this season for Philadelphia.

“This adds depth and experience to our forward group,” Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky said. “Nicolas is a strong, physical player who plays with an edge, factors that become even more important as we get to the postseason.”

Throughout his NHL career spanning 701 regular season contests, Deslauriers has contributed 105 points consisting of 53 goals and 52 assists, while racking up 794 penalty minutes. His journey has taken him through Buffalo (2013-17), Montreal (2017-19), Anaheim (2019-22), Minnesota (2022), and Philadelphia (2022-26). Los Angeles originally selected him in the third round of the 2009 NHL Draft.

Forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau has secured his future with the New York Islanders after the team revealed Friday that he has agreed to a three-year contract extension.

While the organization did not reveal financial details, several sources indicate the agreement is valued at $14.55 million, averaging $4.85 million annually.

The contract will take effect beginning with the 2026-27 campaign and will keep the 33-year-old with the franchise until the conclusion of the 2028-29 season.

This season, Pageau has contributed 29 points through 55 contests, recording 14 goals and adding 15 assists.

Throughout his NHL career spanning 852 games, he has accumulated 395 points with 173 goals and 222 assists. His professional journey began with his hometown Ottawa Senators from 2012 through 2020, after the team selected him in the fourth round of the 2011 draft. The Senators dealt him to the Islanders in February 2020.

The stage is set for an exciting SEC women’s basketball tournament semifinal as third-ranked South Carolina demolished 17th-ranked Kentucky 87-64 in Friday’s opening quarterfinal matchup in Greenville, South Carolina.

Leading the charge for the Gamecocks was Joyce Edwards with 21 points, while Madina Okot continued her impressive streak by recording her eighth consecutive double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Tessa Johnson contributed 15 points and Ta’Niya Latson chipped in 11 points along with six assists for the tournament’s top seed South Carolina (30-2), extending their winning streak to 11 games. This victory came after the Gamecocks previously defeated Kentucky 60-56 in their regular season closer last Sunday.

The Gamecocks seized command of the contest during the second quarter, outpacing the ninth-seeded Wildcats 22-11 to establish a commanding 44-27 advantage at the break. South Carolina’s defensive pressure proved decisive, as they converted turnovers into a substantial 25-8 scoring edge. Kentucky (23-10) received solid performances from Amelia Hassett with 15 points, Teonni Key contributing 13 points and eight rebounds, Clara Strack adding 11 points, and Asia Boone scoring 10.

In the tournament’s second quarterfinal, sixth-ranked LSU delivered a dominant 112-78 victory over seventh-ranked Oklahoma, posting their season-high point total against SEC competition. MiLaysia Fulwiley led the Tigers’ offensive explosion with 22 points and eight assists, supported by Flau’jae Johnson’s 21 points, Mikaylah Williams’ 14 points, Jada Richard’s 13 points, and Bella Hines’ 10 points.

The fourth-seeded Tigers (27-4) controlled the game from early on, building a 45-33 halftime cushion before extending their dominance to 72-49 entering the final period. Oklahoma (24-7) entered the contest riding a seven-game winning streak but couldn’t match LSU’s firepower despite strong efforts from Aaliyah Chavez (20 points) and Sahara Williams (19 points, nine rebounds). The Sooners’ leading scorer Raegan Beers, who averages 16.0 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, was limited to just six points and eight rebounds in 23 minutes before fouling out.

The semifinal clash between South Carolina and LSU is scheduled for Saturday, promising to be one of the tournament’s most compelling matchups.

Rafael Marchan delivered a spectacular performance with two doubles that drove in four runs during a single inning, powering the Philadelphia Phillies to a 14-10 victory over Pittsburgh’s split squad in Friday’s spring training action in Bradenton, Florida.

Philadelphia exploded for nine runs in the fourth inning after falling behind 3-0 when Ryan O’Hearn launched a three-run homer for the Pirates in the third. Marchan brought home Philadelphia’s initial run, then after Felix Reyes evened the score with a double and two players earned bases-loaded walks, Marchan connected on a three-run double to center field. Bryan De La Cruz capped the big inning with his own RBI double.

Pittsburgh battled back as Yordany De Los Santos, Derek Berg and Omar Alfonzo each went deep to create a 10-10 deadlock entering the eighth inning. However, De La Cruz crossed home plate on a defensive miscue in the ninth inning’s opening frame, and Carson DeMartini provided insurance with a three-run homer to center field.

Otto Kemp and Paul McIntosh each collected two hits alongside Marchan and De La Cruz for Philadelphia, while Jared Triolo finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI for Pittsburgh.

In other spring training action, Nathan Lukes’ clutch two-out grand slam in the fourth inning lifted Toronto to a 9-2 triumph over Pittsburgh’s other split squad in Dunedin, Florida. Yohendrick Pinango and Edward Micheletti contributed late home runs for the Blue Jays, while Jose Berrios earned the victory by surrendering two runs on five hits with three strikeouts over four innings.

St. Louis dominated Baltimore 10-2 in Sarasota, Florida, behind home runs from Nelson Velazquez and Joshua Baez. Yohel Pozo went 2-for-2 with a two-run double for the Cardinals, while Michael McGreevy struck out four batters and allowed just one run on four hits through four innings for his second spring victory.

Detroit crushed Boston 11-3 in Lakeland, Florida, as Matt Vierling went 3-for-3 with a homer, double and four RBIs. Jace Jung added three RBI singles for the Tigers, who scored all 11 runs between the fifth and eighth innings.

Houston defeated Washington 7-1 in West Palm Beach, Florida, with John Garcia homering and Brice Matthews doubling home two runs each. Mike Burrows dominated for the Astros with four strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings of one-hit shutout baseball.

RALEIGH, N.C. – Salisbury University’s nationally-ranked softball squad experienced both highs and lows during Friday’s opening action at the Raleigh Triangle Classic tournament held at Walnut Creek Softball Complex.

The Sea Gulls, currently sitting at No. 25 in the national rankings, delivered a commanding performance against Eastern Mennonite University, securing a decisive 13-5 victory that concluded after just five innings of play.

However, the team’s second contest of the day proved more challenging, as they suffered a narrow 6-5 defeat at the hands of Piedmont University, evening their tournament record at 1-1 after the first day of competition.

The split results set up an intriguing continuation of tournament play for the Sea Gulls as they look to bounce back from the late-day setback.

The Colorado Avalanche welcomed back a familiar face Friday when they acquired center Nazem Kadri through a trade with the Calgary Flames, reuniting with the veteran who played a crucial role in their 2022 Stanley Cup championship run.

In exchange for Kadri, Calgary received forward Victor Olofsson, unsigned prospect Max Curran’s rights, and two conditional draft selections – a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 first-round pick. The Flames also sent a 2027 fourth-round selection to Colorado as part of the deal.

According to Sportsnet, Calgary has agreed to cover 20% of Kadri’s remaining contract value to facilitate the transaction.

The 35-year-old forward leaves Calgary as their top point producer this season, recording 41 points through 61 games with 12 goals and 29 assists.

Colorado currently sits atop the NHL standings, leading the league in both offensive production and defensive play, while Calgary finds itself tied for 30th place entering Friday’s action.

“Obviously super excited,” Kadri shared with TSN on Friday. “You know, a team at the very top of my list. Man, I can’t wait.”

Following Colorado’s championship victory in 2022, Kadri inked a seven-year, $49 million deal with Calgary. During that memorable playoff campaign, he contributed seven goals and 15 total points across 16 postseason contests.

His finest regular season performance came with the 2021-22 Avalanche squad, where he established personal bests with 87 points on 28 goals and 59 assists during their title-winning campaign.

Throughout his NHL career spanning 1,046 regular season games, Kadri has accumulated 319 goals and 751 points while playing for Calgary, Colorado, and Toronto. The Maple Leafs selected him seventh overall in the 2009 draft before trading him to the Avalanche in 2019.

Olofsson, age 30, contributed 11 goals and 25 points in 60 appearances for Colorado this season after signing a one-year, $1.575 million deal last August.

The Swedish forward brings 430 games of NHL experience from his time with Buffalo, Vegas, and Colorado, totaling 116 goals and 236 points throughout his career.

A stellar individual performance by Sabou Gueye propelled Providence to victory in the opening round of the Big East women’s basketball tournament Friday evening in Uncasville, Connecticut. The seventh-seeded Friars defeated tenth-seeded DePaul 69-55 behind Gueye’s career-best 31-point effort.

Gueye’s exceptional shooting touch was on full display as she connected on 15 of 26 field goal attempts without attempting a single free throw. Her fourth-quarter surge included 10 crucial points that helped secure the victory. Beyond her scoring, Gueye contributed seven rebounds, three assists and two steals in the comprehensive performance.

The turning point came during a second-quarter surge when Gueye netted the final nine points of an 11-0 Providence run, including her lone three-pointer of the contest, giving the Friars a lead they would never relinquish. Though DePaul managed to cut the deficit to 14 points late in the game after trailing by as many as 22, Gueye put the game away with a pair of fast-break layups.

Providence received additional support from Teneisia Brown, who recorded a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds. Orlagh Gormley also made significant contributions with 13 points, seven assists and five rebounds while shooting a perfect 3-for-3 from three-point range. The victory improves Providence’s record to 15-17 and sets up a quarterfinal matchup with second-seeded Villanova on Saturday.

For DePaul, which concludes its season at 8-24, Kate Novik led the scoring with 13 points while Michelle Ojo added 10 points in the losing effort.

In the evening’s other first-round contest, eighth-seeded Georgetown outlasted ninth-seeded Butler 62-58 behind Laila Jewett’s 19-point performance. Jewett sealed the victory by converting four free throws in the final 15 seconds of play.

The Hoyas took control with an 8-0 third-quarter run and maintained their advantage despite never leading by more than six points. Georgetown improved to 14-16 and earned a quarterfinal date with top-seeded and undefeated UConn. Brianna Scott contributed 10 points and seven rebounds while Chet Nweke added 10 points and six rebounds for the winners.

Butler’s season ended at 12-19 despite strong efforts from Anna Wypych (18 points) and Mallory Miller (15 points). The Bulldogs’ 20 turnovers proved costly, as Georgetown converted those mistakes into 21 points.

Washington completed a trade with San Jose on Friday, bringing defenseman Timothy Liljegren to the Capitals organization in return for a 2026 fourth-round draft selection that previously belonged to Vegas.

The 26-year-old Swedish defenseman has tallied 11 points during the current season with San Jose, including one goal and 10 assists across 43 games played. Liljegren is completing the final year of his two-year contract worth $6 million and will become an unrestricted free agent after this season.

Originally selected 17th overall by Toronto in the 2017 NHL Draft, Liljegren has accumulated 93 career points through 307 NHL games, recording 21 goals and 72 assists during his time with both Toronto (2019-24) and San Jose.

The 11th-ranked Ohio State women’s basketball team survived a tense quarterfinal battle against 19th-ranked Minnesota, winning 60-55 at the Big Ten tournament in Indianapolis on Friday.

Elsa Lemmila led the Buckeyes with a double-double performance of 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Jaloni Cambridge delivered the decisive blow with a crucial layup with just 16 seconds remaining on the clock. Cambridge contributed 17 points along with six assists, five rebounds and three steals in an outstanding all-around performance. Chance Gray chipped in 13 points for the victorious Buckeyes.

Despite being outrebounded 44-27, the fourth-seeded Buckeyes (26-6) managed to secure victory by creating 21 turnovers against the fifth-seeded Gophers (22-8). Minnesota’s Sophie Hart dominated the boards with 19 rebounds while adding 12 points, and Grace Grocholski paced all scorers with 18 points.

The game remained competitive until the final moments, with Grocholski providing four assists, including a setup for Mara Braun’s three-pointer that brought Minnesota within three points at 58-55 with 1:32 left on the clock. Grocholski had an opportunity to tie the contest with a three-point attempt at the 43-second mark but missed the shot.

Ohio State’s victory earns them a spot in Saturday’s semifinal round, where they will face top-seeded UCLA.

No. 2 UCLA 78, Washington 60

Lauren Betts dominated with 26 points and eight rebounds as the second-seeded Bruins pulled away from eighth-seeded Washington in Friday’s opening quarterfinal contest.

The Bruins (29-1) trailed by just one point with 2:33 left in the third quarter before unleashing a 7-0 scoring burst to end the period. All-American center Betts then took control in the fourth quarter, contributing six points during a 13-3 run that stretched nearly four minutes.

These two decisive runs provided UCLA with necessary separation after Washington (21-10) had threatened the heavily favored Bruins for over three quarters. The Huskies had jumped out to a 10-point first-half advantage behind strong early performances from Avery Howell, who finished with a team-leading 18 points, and Sayvia Sellers.

Sellers scored five of her 10 total points in the early second quarter as Washington stretched their lead to 22-12. UCLA answered when Kiki Rice exploded for seven of her 18 points during a game-changing 15-0 Bruins run that gave them a lead they maintained for the remainder of the contest.

The Houston Texans made a significant roster move Friday by cutting ties with running back Joe Mixon, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, which creates $8 million in salary cap room for the franchise.

The 29-year-old Mixon sat out the complete 2025 campaign due to an unexplained foot ailment and was set to enter the last season of his three-year, $27 million contract that he inked in March 2024.

Houston managed to post a 12-5 record despite playing without Mixon and secured their third consecutive playoff berth. First-year player Woody Marks paced the squad with 703 rushing yards while seasoned veteran Nick Chubb contributed 506 yards on the ground.

Earlier this week, several media sources indicated that the Texans are bringing in running back David Montgomery from the Detroit Lions through a trade involving offensive lineman Juice Scruggs plus fourth- and seventh-round selections in the upcoming April draft.

During his debut 2024 campaign with Houston, Mixon accumulated 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns. Throughout his career spanning 111 games (102 as a starter) with the Cincinnati Bengals (2017-23) and Texans, he has amassed 7,428 rushing yards and 60 touchdowns. His receiving statistics include 319 receptions for 2,448 yards and 14 scores.

During his season-ending media session on January 21, Texans general manager Nick Caserio spoke about Mixon’s situation, calling the running back’s foot problem a “freak thing.”

“It wasn’t like he was riding a snowmobile or anything like that,” Caserio said. “It was more of a medical condition or situation that never … really didn’t improve maybe as much as everybody would have hoped. I’m not trying to evade the question. That’s the reality of the situation. He didn’t jump off a building. He wasn’t cliff diving or anything. He wasn’t doing anything irresponsible. It was just a freak thing.”

Caserio also commented on the lack of clear information regarding Mixon’s puzzling injury that occurred during the offseason.

“It was a very unique situation,” Caserio said. “I don’t think anybody really had any clarity, honestly, from the start of the year until now. I’d say Joe worked very, very hard to try to get himself ready to play football. It just never manifested itself, came to fruition.”

Multiple sources confirm the Toronto Maple Leafs have shipped out two veteran forwards in separate trade deadline deals, sending Scott Laughton to Los Angeles while Bobby McMann heads to Seattle.

The transactions reportedly bring Toronto a conditional third-round pick in exchange for Laughton, while the McMann deal nets the Leafs a second-round selection in 2027 plus a fourth-rounder in 2026. Both players will become unrestricted free agents this summer.

According to ESPN, Toronto’s conditional pick from the Kings becomes a second-round selection should Los Angeles make the postseason.

Toronto had surrendered a first-round draft choice to Philadelphia to bring in Laughton during last season’s trade deadline. The 31-year-old center managed 10 goals and 16 total points across 63 games in a Leafs uniform.

The 29-year-old McMann has contributed 19 goals and 32 points through 60 contests this year, accumulating 54 goals and 91 points during 200 games with Toronto overall. The team originally signed him as an undrafted college free agent back in 2020.

Toronto finds itself trailing by eight points for an Eastern Conference playoff berth after suffering consecutive road defeats against New Jersey and the New York Rangers. Both Laughton and McMann were held out of those contests due to roster management decisions.

Seattle currently occupies the Western Conference’s final wild-card position, maintaining a three-point advantage over Los Angeles, Nashville, and San Jose in the standings race.

BOSTON — Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum has been cleared to play Friday night against the Dallas Mavericks, marking his first appearance this season following nearly 10 months of recovery from Achilles tendon surgery.

The All-Star’s playing status was officially changed Friday afternoon before the Celtics host Dallas at home. Tatum underwent surgery to fix a torn right Achilles tendon he sustained during Boston’s playoff series against New York last spring.

Just one day earlier, team officials had listed Tatum as questionable for Friday’s contest. This represented the first time all season that he wasn’t designated as out while continuing his rehabilitation from the injury that occurred in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Knicks in May.

The star player had previously expressed his desire to make his comeback during a home game at TD Garden.

The Celtics enter tonight’s matchup with a 41-21 record, placing them second in the Eastern Conference standings.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Soccer legend Lionel Messi broke his longstanding tradition of avoiding political appearances when he visited President Donald Trump at the White House this week, presenting him with a sparkling pink soccer ball during Inter Miami’s championship celebration.

The global soccer icon has historically been as skilled at avoiding political figures as he is at evading defenders on the pitch, particularly when it comes to leaders from his native Argentina. Many questioned whether Messi would even participate in Inter Miami’s White House visit following their MLS Cup victory.

When the ceremony began, Messi was notably absent from the team’s initial gathering. Instead, he made his entrance walking beside President Trump and team owner Jorge Mas Santos, later gifting the president the glittery ball.

Though Messi remained quiet during the event, his mere presence appeared significant for an athlete whose political views have remained largely unknown throughout his career.

Following Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph under Messi’s leadership, the team chose not to visit then-President Alberto Fernández at Argentina’s Casa Rosada. Argentina’s current leader, Javier Milei, who maintains ties with Trump, has publicly praised Messi but hasn’t managed to secure a meeting or photograph with the star. Last year, Messi was unable to attend a ceremony where former President Joe Biden would have presented him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom due to scheduling conflicts.

The White House visit generated shock and disappointment in Argentina, especially among fans who had respected the national team captain for staying out of political matters — a quality that set him apart from predecessor Diego Maradona. However, some believe his appearance could benefit Argentina as the country prepares for World Cup matches on U.S. soil.

Kirk Bowman, a Georgia Tech professor at the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs who researches soccer and politics in Latin America, wasn’t caught off guard by Messi’s decision.

“He is very ‘long-termism’ in his career, both as a player but also as someone who has a very strong team building long-term wealth,” Bowman explained, referencing Messi’s numerous business ventures, including his ownership stake in Inter Miami.

“He’s also embedded very strongly in Miami as a community, which is far more conservative as a soccer community than other parts of the United States,” Bowman noted.

During the event, Messi stood beside Trump as the president made remarks about Iran, Cuba and Venezuela, offering applause at the conclusion. Supporters have defended Messi by pointing to his limited English proficiency, which Bowman describes as providing “an extra layer of brand protection.”

Neither Inter Miami nor Messi’s representatives responded to Associated Press inquiries about the visit. However, Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano addressed questions during a Friday media session.

“I thought we would talk about football but I guess I’m not lucky. We were following the protocol that is practically a tradition for a team to visit the White House when it becomes champion,” Mascherano stated.

He explained that the team spent several hours at the White House and that their “contact with Trump was what you saw on TV and not much more than that.”

The photograph of Messi alongside Trump prompted some supporters to recall the anti-American positions of the late Maradona, Argentina’s other football legend. The captain of Argentina’s 1986 World Cup-winning squad actively supported figures like Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez, even getting revolutionary Ernesto “Che” Guevara tattooed on his arm.

In contrast, Messi has maintained silence on political issues across all countries where he’s resided, including Argentina, Spain, France and the United States. During his time at FC Barcelona from his teenage years until 2021, he navigated a politically turbulent period when Catalonia’s independence movement threatened to separate the region from Spain. Despite the movement dividing Catalonia’s 5 million residents, Messi avoided taking any stance on the separatist cause.

He skillfully maintained his status as a beloved figure among Barcelona’s politically divided fanbase by focusing on scoring goals and winning championships. While he could be heard shouting “Visca Barça y visca Catalunya!” (“Long live Barça and long live Catalonia”) during celebrations, this chant was standard among players and carried minimal political significance.

Though Messi never learned Catalan, he consistently spoke positively about Barcelona, the city he moved to at age 13. In a 2024 interview with Catalan television channel Tv3, Messi said his “children are Catalans” and that “I feel like I am from Barcelona.”

Some hints of his political perspectives emerged in 2011 and 2020 interviews with La Garganta Poderosa, a left-leaning Argentine publication. In the earlier interview, Messi expressed admiration for Guevara, and in the more recent conversation during the coronavirus pandemic, he identified inequality as one of society’s most urgent challenges.

Despite this rare political appearance, Bowman believes Messi is unlikely to become more politically active.

“I don’t think he’s really comfortable being political, but he’s not uncomfortable being used in politics as long as the net benefit is positive,” he observed.

Bowman referenced Messi’s promotional agreement with Saudi Arabia’s tourism authority and the accompanying “sportswashing” criticisms, comparing Messi’s strategy to the kingdom’s standard “tarnish clause.”

“I think Messi is seen in the same way,” Bowman concluded. “He will participate in things as long as it doesn’t tarnish Brand Messi.”

This weekend marks the start of the Formula One World Championship season, bringing historic developments for American automakers in the world’s most costly and technologically sophisticated form of motorsport.

General Motors will enter Formula One competition for the first time, while Ford makes its return to the premier racing series. Both manufacturers are set to make their mark in a sport known for pushing the boundaries of automotive technology and engineering.

The upcoming season represents a significant milestone for American involvement in Formula One, as these major Detroit-based automakers join the global competition that attracts millions of viewers worldwide.

The Seattle Kraken have locked up their captain Jordan Eberle with a two-year contract extension worth $11 million, the team announced Friday.

The 35-year-old team leader has put together an impressive campaign this year, recording 42 points through 59 games with 22 goals and 20 assists in his fifth year with Seattle. Eberle is averaging 18 minutes and 37 seconds of ice time per game, marking his highest average since the 2014-15 season.

The veteran forward brings extensive NHL experience to the Kraken, having accumulated 770 career points with 330 goals and 440 assists over 1,119 games spanning 16 seasons. His professional journey has taken him through stints with the Edmonton Oilers from 2010 to 2017, the New York Islanders from 2017 to 2021, and now Seattle.

Eberle, who hails from Saskatchewan, was selected as Seattle’s second franchise captain at the start of the 2024-25 season on Opening Day. The two-time All-Star was playing out the final year of his previous two-year deal valued at $9.5 million.

Dallas Wings standout Arike Ogunbowale found herself in legal trouble early Thursday morning when Miami-Dade County authorities took her into custody on a misdemeanor battery charge following an alleged nightclub altercation.

Law enforcement officials report that the four-time All-Star guard allegedly struck a man with her fist outside a Miami nightclub, causing the individual to fall to the ground. The arrest took place at 4:20 a.m. Eastern Time.

The incident happened while Ogunbowale was out with her Mist teammates celebrating their victory in Wednesday evening’s Unrivaled 3-on-3 championship game. The 29-year-old player, who celebrated her birthday just this past Monday, had contributed 19 points to help Mist BC secure an 80-74 victory over Phantom BC in Medley, Florida.

An Unrivaled league representative addressed the situation in a statement to ESPN, saying: “The league is aware of an incident involving Arike Ogunbowale and we are in the process of gathering additional information. We’re in contact with Arike and her representatives.”

The Dallas Wings organization also released their own statement regarding the matter. “The Wings are aware of an incident involving Arike Ogunbowale and are in the process of gathering more information,” the team told ESPN. “Further comments will be provided once we have more details.”

Since joining the WNBA as the fifth overall draft selection in 2019, Ogunbowale has established herself as one of the league’s premier players. Over 224 career games, she has maintained averages of 19.9 points, 4.0 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per contest. Her accolades include three All-WNBA team selections and two All-Star Game MVP awards.

The Wings are preparing for the upcoming 2026 WNBA season after finishing with a disappointing 10-34 record last year. Their regular season opener is scheduled for May 9 against the Indiana Fever.

Detroit Lions veteran left tackle Taylor Decker has asked the organization to release him following unsuccessful contract negotiations.

The 32-year-old offensive lineman, who holds the distinction of being Detroit’s longest-serving current player, made the announcement through his Instagram account on Friday. This news came just over a week after Decker had publicly stated his intention to play an 11th season in the NFL.

“Things change,” Decker shared in his social media post. “145 games started, 3 playoff appearances, 2 division titles, a decade carrying the shield. I fully intended to do it once again, but my time as a Lion is coming to an end.”

He continued: “In the weeks since notifying the team of my return there have been numerous discussions. Many of which were a surprise to me, and we could not find common ground. Therefore I decided to request my release.”

Earlier this year on February 24th, Decker had expressed his commitment to returning, sharing a photo of himself entering the field with the caption: “‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I; SEND ME!’ #Year11”

Detroit selected Decker as the 16th overall choice in the 2016 NFL Draft after his college career at Ohio State. Throughout his Lions tenure, he appeared in every regular season game he was available for, starting all 140 contests plus an additional five playoff games.

The veteran lineman earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2024 despite dealing with a significant shoulder problem that restricted his practice participation and nearly led him to consider retirement.

The New York Red Bulls have promoted 17-year-old defender Matthew Dos Santos from their youth development program to a full professional contract, the Major League Soccer team announced Friday.

Dos Santos will remain with the organization through the 2028-29 MLS season, with the club holding additional contract options for the 2029-30 and 2030-31 seasons.

“We’re very pleased to sign Matty to a first-team contract. He’s a young player who has shown strong growth through our pathway and has earned this opportunity with his commitment and performances,” head of sport Julian de Guzman said. “We believe Matty has the mentality and potential to continue developing within our environment, and we’re excited to support the next step in his progression.”

The teenage defender has already appeared in the Red Bulls’ opening two games of the current season while playing on temporary agreements with Red Bulls II, the team’s MLS NEXT Pro development squad, contributing one assist during those appearances.

Head coach Michael Bradley praised the young player’s work ethic and attitude in earning his promotion to the senior roster.

“Matty has worked hard every day to put himself in this position,” head coach Michael Bradley said. “He’s shown a real willingness to learn, a good understanding of what we ask from players in his role, and the character we value in this group.”

NBA player Dillon Brooks, who plays forward for the Phoenix Suns, faces drunk driving allegations following his detention in the early hours of Friday in Scottsdale, Arizona, according to law enforcement officials.

Police pulled Brooks over during a traffic stop around 1 a.m., and following their investigation, they placed him under arrest on DUI suspicions. The basketball player was processed at the local jail and freed approximately 3:30 a.m. after completing the booking procedures.

The 30-year-old athlete has been sidelined from play since February 21 due to a broken left hand. Medical professionals anticipate he will remain out of action until late March at the earliest following surgical treatment.

Team officials acknowledged the incident in an official response, stating: “We are aware of the situation involving Dillon Brooks and are gathering more information. We have no further comment at this time.”

Hours before his detention, the Suns faced off against the Chicago Bulls at their home venue Thursday evening, suffering a narrow 105-103 defeat.

Prior to sustaining his injury, Brooks was experiencing his most successful NBA season to date, posting a personal best average of 20.9 points per game. The player joined Phoenix through a trade deal that transferred 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant to the Rockets this past offseason.

The arrest was initially disclosed by TMZ.