Category: Sports

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“I’ve got some things to accomplish.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Cleveland Cavaliers matched their franchise record for most points scored in a regulation game, overwhelming the Miami Heat 149-128 on Friday night behind a spectacular performance from former Miami player Max Strus.

Strus torched his former team for 29 points, connecting on eight three-pointers and grabbing eight rebounds in just 23 minutes coming off the bench. Jarrett Allen contributed 18 points and 10 rebounds in his first game back from a right knee injury, while Evan Mobley posted 23 points and 10 rebounds for Cleveland.

James Harden delivered his best performance since joining from the Los Angeles Clippers, recording 17 points and a season-high 14 assists. The victory marked Cleveland’s fifth win in their last six contests.

Miami struggled throughout, with Jaime Jaquez Jr. leading the way with 20 points and Bam Adebayo adding 14 points and 16 rebounds. The loss dropped the Heat out of a three-way tie for eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings with Charlotte and Orlando. Miami has managed just one victory since March 14, going 1-6 during that stretch.

Clippers 114, Pacers 113

Kawhi Leonard delivered a clutch jumper with just 0.4 seconds remaining to give Los Angeles a thrilling road victory over Indiana. The Clippers overcame a 24-point deficit to secure their fourth consecutive win, with Leonard finishing with 28 points and Darius Garland contributing 30.

Indiana’s struggles continued as they suffered their 18th defeat in 19 games, despite 26 points from Aaron Nesmith and 20 from Obi Toppin.

Nuggets 135, Jazz 129

Nikola Jokic recorded another triple-double with 33 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists as Denver rallied past Utah for their fifth straight victory. Cameron Johnson hit the decisive three-pointer in the final minute, while Jamal Murray added 31 points and 14 assists.

Utah led for most of the second half but couldn’t hold on, suffering their eighth loss in nine games despite 25 points from Kyle Filipowski and 24 from Cody Williams.

Celtics 109, Hawks 102

Payton Pritchard exploded for a game-high 36 points and seven rebounds to help Boston snap Atlanta’s three-game winning streak. Pritchard shot 13-of-23 from the field, including 6-of-11 from beyond the arc, while Jayson Tatum chipped in 26 points, 12 rebounds and five assists.

Atlanta couldn’t overcome a late deficit despite 29 points from Jalen Johnson and 21 from CJ McCollum.

Thunder 131, Bulls 113

Oklahoma City used a devastating 22-0 second-half run to erase an eight-point deficit and defeat Chicago. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 25 points as they won their 13th game in 14 attempts.

The loss eliminated Chicago from play-in tournament contention, marking their 19th defeat in 24 games.

Other Results:

Toronto defeated New Orleans 119-106 behind Scottie Barnes’ 23 points and 12 assists. Dallas snapped a five-game losing streak with a 100-93 win over Portland, led by Marvin Bagley III’s 26 points. Houston beat Memphis 119-109 as Kevin Durant recorded 25 points and 10 assists. Los Angeles Lakers extended Brooklyn’s losing streak to 10 games with a 116-99 victory, with Luka Doncic scoring 41 points. Golden State overcame Washington 131-126 behind Kristaps Porzingis’ 28 points.

The Los Angeles Lakers dominated the Brooklyn Nets 116-99 on Friday evening, powered by Luka Doncic’s explosive 41-point performance that extended Brooklyn’s miserable losing streak to 10 consecutive defeats.

Doncic’s outstanding night included eight rebounds and marked his 12th consecutive game with at least 30 points, setting a new career record. Austin Reaves provided crucial support with 26 points, including 15 critical fourth-quarter points that helped seal the victory for Los Angeles (48-26), which has now won 11 of its past 12 contests.

LeBron James contributed 14 points while Jaxson Hayes added 10 points, eight rebounds, and a season-best five blocked shots for the Lakers.

The struggling Nets (17-57) were overwhelmed 31-15 in the final quarter and have now dropped 20 of their last 22 games. Josh Minott paced Brooklyn with 18 points off the bench, while Nic Claxton and Ziaire Williams each scored 16 points and Ben Saraf added 10.

Brooklyn managed to stay within striking distance, trailing by just one point entering the fourth quarter before Los Angeles seized control. Reaves connected on three three-pointers and tallied 11 points during a decisive 14-4 surge that gave the Lakers a 103-94 advantage with 5:02 remaining.

The game was put away when Doncic and Reaves hit consecutive three-pointers in the closing minutes. Reaves was perfect on all four of his fourth-quarter three-point attempts, while Doncic shot an efficient 15-of-25 from the floor and connected on 5 of 10 attempts from long range.

However, Doncic’s night included a significant setback when he received his 16th technical foul during the third quarter, which will trigger an automatic one-game suspension from the NBA.

The Lakers dominated at the free-throw line, converting 29 of 42 attempts compared to Brooklyn’s 9 of 15. Los Angeles shot an impressive 54.3% from the field and 44% from three-point territory (11 of 25). The Nets managed 46.2% field goal shooting but struggled from beyond the arc at just 30.4% (7 of 24).

Doncic got the Lakers off to a strong start by scoring 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting in the opening quarter, helping establish a 35-30 lead.

The Nets responded with a 9-2 run to begin the second quarter and grabbed their first lead at 39-37 on a Terance Mann three-pointer with 9:20 left in the period.

Despite Doncic’s 24 first-half points, the Lakers held just a narrow 61-59 halftime edge. Los Angeles led by only two points despite shooting an excellent 56.1% in the opening half.

The third quarter remained competitive as the Lakers were unable to create separation, taking an 85-84 lead into the final period before their fourth-quarter explosion.

The Tennessee Volunteers punched their ticket to the Elite Eight for the third year running after defeating Iowa State 76-62 in Friday night’s NCAA Tournament Midwest Region semifinal matchup.

Leading the charge for sixth-seeded Tennessee were Nate Ament with 18 points and Ja’Kobi Gillespie contributing 16 points in the victory over the second-seeded Cyclones. The Volunteers (25-11) earned a showdown with top-seeded Michigan in Sunday’s regional championship game, marking coach Rick Barnes’ third consecutive Elite Eight appearance with the program.

Tennessee dominated the boards with big men Felix Okpara and Carey both recording double-doubles. Okpara finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Carey contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds to the winning effort.

Iowa State (29-8) played without key contributor Joshua Jefferson, their second-team All-America forward who was sidelined with a sprained left ankle suffered during their tournament opener against Tennessee State. Nate Heise and Tamin Lipsey carried the offensive load for the undermanned Cyclones, each scoring 18 points.

The Volunteers controlled the glass throughout the contest, outrebounding Iowa State 43-22, including a decisive 16-8 advantage on offensive rebounds. Tennessee held a narrow 34-33 halftime lead, with Okpara contributing 10 points and eight rebounds in the first half. His two free throws in the final seconds before intermission gave the Volunteers their halftime edge.

No. 1 Michigan 90, No. 4 Alabama 77

Yaxel Lendeborg delivered a dominant performance with 23 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists, leading the top-seeded Wolverines past Alabama in their NCAA Tournament Midwest Region semifinal clash in Chicago.

Michigan received additional scoring from Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney, who each contributed 17 points as the Wolverines captured their ninth victory in their last 10 contests.

Alabama’s Labaron Philon Jr. topped all scorers with 35 points, connecting on 6-of-14 attempts from beyond the arc. However, the Crimson Tide struggled from three-point range as a team, shooting just 29.8% compared to Michigan’s impressive 48.1% clip.

EAST REGION

No. 1 Duke 80, No. 5 St. John’s 75

Isaiah Evans poured in 25 points while Cameron Boozer recorded 22 points and 10 rebounds, propelling the Blue Devils past the Red Storm to secure a spot in the East Region championship game in Washington.

Duke (35-2) received a boost from Caleb Foster, who returned from a right foot fracture to score 11 points in the second half in his first action since the March 7 regular season finale victory over North Carolina.

The Blue Devils extended the nation’s longest active winning streak to 14 games and will face second-seeded UConn in their third straight Elite Eight under fourth-year head coach Jon Scheyer. St. John’s (30-7) got 17 points from Zuby Ejiofor and 15 from Bryce Hopkins, building a 10-point lead early in the second half before falling short.

No. 2 UConn 67, No. 3 Michigan State 63

Tarris Reed Jr. led the way with 20 points while Alex Karaban chipped in 17, with both players making key contributions down the stretch as the Huskies outlasted the Spartans to advance to the East Region final in Washington.

UConn (32-5) also got 12 points from Solo Ball as they moved forward despite surrendering an early 19-point advantage and being outrebounded 39-30 by Michigan State.

The Spartans (27-8) saw their season end despite 14 points from Carson Cooper. Coen Carr and Jeremy Fears Jr. each added 13 points while Jaxon Kohler scored 12 in the losing effort. Michigan State dropped three of their final five games to close out the campaign.

Starting pitcher Cam Schlittler dominated on the mound while Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton provided the offensive power, leading the New York Yankees to a 3-0 shutout victory over the San Francisco Giants on Friday night.

Schlittler earned his first win of the season after a stellar performance, surrendering just one hit across 5 1/3 innings while striking out eight batters without issuing a single walk. The only hit he allowed came from Heliot Ramos, who doubled with two outs in the second inning. After that, Schlittler dominated, retiring the next 11 Giants batters in order. The Yankees’ bullpen finished the job, with Tim Hill recording two strikeouts in the seventh, former Giants closer Camilo Doval striking out three straight in the eighth, and David Bednar closing out the ninth for his first save of the season.

This victory marked a historic achievement for New York, as they became the first Yankees team in franchise history to record shutouts in their opening two games of a season. The Bronx Bombers had previously crushed San Francisco 7-0 in Wednesday’s season opener.

Judge finally broke through for his first hit of the year with a crucial two-run blast in the sixth inning. The three-time American League MVP had struggled mightily to start the season, going hitless in his first seven at-bats while striking out five times before connecting on the home run.

The rally began when Paul Goldschmidt led off the sixth with a double. Judge then worked the count full against Giants starter Robbie Ray after successfully appealing a called strike. He capitalized on the extended at-bat by launching a 3-2 fastball just inside the left field foul pole for his first long ball of the season. Ray took the loss, giving up two runs on five hits over 5 1/3 innings of work.

In other Friday action around Major League Baseball, Toronto walked off against Oakland 3-2 on an Andres Gimenez single in the ninth. Gimenez also contributed a two-run triple in the fifth, while Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman set an Opening Day franchise record with 11 strikeouts in six innings, allowing just one run on one hit.

Atlanta’s new manager Walt Weiss celebrated his managerial debut with a 6-0 victory over Kansas City, powered by home runs from Ozzie Albies, Drake Baldwin and Michael Harris II. Chris Sale earned the win with six scoreless innings, moving into 30th place on baseball’s all-time strikeout list by passing Hall of Famers Bob Feller and Warren Spahn.

The Los Angeles Angels continued their strong start with a 6-2 victory over Houston, marking their best two-game start since 2007. Mike Trout homered for the second straight game while Josh Lowe and Zach Neto also went deep for the Angels.

Finally, Miami defeated Colorado 2-1 in both teams’ season opener, with Sandy Alcantara tossing seven strong innings and Javier Sanoja going 3-for-3 with an RBI. New Marlins closer Pete Fairbanks, their biggest free agent signing, earned his first save with a scoreless ninth inning.

Italian tennis sensation Jannik Sinner secured his spot in the Miami Open championship match on Friday, defeating Germany’s Alexander Zverev with scores of 6-3, 7-6(4) and positioning himself to capture a rare tennis achievement.

The world’s second-ranked player will face Czech competitor Jiri Lehecka in Sunday’s title match, where victory would complete the coveted ‘Sunshine Double’ after his earlier triumph at Indian Wells this month.

Following his semifinal victory, Sinner celebrated enthusiastically, shouting “Let’s go!” when Zverev failed to return serve on the decisive point.

“It has been an incredible swing,” the four-time Grand Slam winner commented, extending his winning streak to 16 straight Masters 1000 matches. “I’ve been trying to play as many matches as possible and I couldn’t do any better. Today was a very tough encounter, he played some incredible tennis, but I was serving very well, especially in the end and in the crucial moments.”

Should Sinner claim victory on Sunday, he would become the first male player since Roger Federer in 2017 to sweep both the California desert tournament at Indian Wells and the South Florida Miami Open within a single season.

The women’s side could also witness a Sunshine Double, as top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, fresh off her Indian Wells championship, will battle Coco Gauff for Saturday’s women’s crown.

In the other men’s semifinal, 24-year-old Lehecka dominated French player Arthur Fils with a commanding 6-2, 6-2 victory that lasted just 75 minutes, earning his first Masters 1000 final appearance.

Lehecka established control early against the 21-year-old Frenchman and maintained his advantage throughout the match.

While Fils showed brief signs of a comeback attempt in the second set, he struggled to find consistency, accumulating 21 unforced errors compared to Lehecka’s 14, including three costly double faults.

“I’m very excited that I’m in a final, definitely one of my goals, but at the same time it’s just a sport, there are more important things going on in the world right now. I’m just trying to do what I do best,” Lehecka reflected on his achievement.

A historic moment unfolded on the basketball court Friday evening in Los Angeles, as LeBron James created NBA history by delivering a pass to his son for a successful shot.

According to the NBA, James achieved the league’s first-ever father-son assist when he found Bronny James open for a 3-point shot during the second quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers’ matchup with Brooklyn.

The historic father-and-son pair shared significant playing time together for the second consecutive game as the Lakers welcomed the struggling Nets following a productive road trip. Bronny James spent nearly four and a half minutes on the court alongside his father after both entered the game together at the start of the second quarter.

During their time together on the floor, both family members contributed to the scoreboard, with LeBron converting a driving layup before the two exchanged passes on the following possession, resulting in Bronny’s successful 3-point attempt from just beyond the arc.

Throughout this season, his second with the Lakers, Bronny James has primarily seen action during garbage time minutes while also spending time with the team’s G League affiliate.

However, with regular starter Marcus Smart unavailable due to injury for the previous two contests, Bronny earned regular rotation minutes for the Lakers in matchups against Indiana and Brooklyn this week.

LeBron and Bronny hold the distinction of being the first father-son combination to compete in the NBA simultaneously, much less as teammates on the same roster.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrated their historic achievement Friday evening as players received sparkling championship rings during a pregame ceremony, honoring their consecutive World Series victories.

Japanese sensation Shohei Ohtani opened his blue presentation box, which featured a video display showcasing highlights from the previous season’s playoff journey that ended with a decisive Game 7 victory against the Toronto Blue Jays. The two-way star placed the ring on his finger and raised his fist triumphantly.

This marks an unprecedented milestone for the Dodgers organization, as they became the first team in franchise history to capture World Series championships in successive seasons. The victories represent their third title over a six-year span.

All-Star shortstop Mookie Betts now possesses four championship rings total — three earned with Los Angeles and one from his time in Boston. The versatile player has openly expressed his desire to transition from being known as a five-tool athlete to one sporting five championship rings. He walked across the blue carpet toward a stage positioned near the pitcher’s mound, beaming with joy.

The most enthusiastic crowd response was reserved for World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who acknowledged the fans with waves. When Freddie Freeman received his third championship ring, supporters erupted in “Freddie! Freddie!” chants. Freeman’s initial title came during his tenure with Atlanta.

Ohtani, Freeman, and Betts struck a pose with extended fists. The complete roster assembled around the pitcher’s mound to display their championship jewelry as the ceremony concluded, with actor and comedian Anthony Anderson serving as host. The USC marching band performed while forming the letters “LA” across the outfield.

Orel Hershiser, the pitching standout from the team’s 1988 World Series championship, initially approached the mound for the ceremonial first pitch. However, he was called back and replaced by pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who concluded his 18-year Dodgers career last season. After throwing the ball, Kershaw received his own championship ring from his former teammates.

The elaborate rings feature diamonds and sapphires with an innovative ring-within-a-ring design and incorporate actual dirt collected from home plate during Game 7.

Eighty-six diamonds set in 14-karat yellow gold form the words “world champions” around the ring’s face. A solitary diamond represents their status as baseball’s top team.

The L.A. emblem contains 17 blue sapphires, corresponding to the team’s postseason victories. Positioned behind the logo are 79 diamonds alongside 48 round sapphires. The dates of all nine franchise World Series titles and 15 round sapphires circle the ring’s top portion. An additional 50 diamonds adorn the bezel’s upper and lower sections. Seventy round diamonds create a frame around the centerpiece.

Individual player signatures are etched inside each ring’s band. “Back 2 Back” appears in blue lettering on the ring’s right side. The outer band displays the numbers 4,012,470, representing the Dodgers’ 2025 season attendance figure.

Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry is making steady improvement from his right knee injury and will undergo another evaluation next week, the team announced Friday.

According to ESPN, the veteran guard will be absent for at least two additional contests – Friday evening’s matchup with Washington and Sunday’s road game in Denver. The Warriors’ injury report indicates Curry’s upcoming milestone will be participating in full-contact five-on-five practice sessions.

The 38-year-old point guard has been absent for 23 games due to patellofemoral pain syndrome and bone bruising in his knee. Head coach Steve Kerr emphasized before Friday’s game that Curry must see regular season action before any potential play-in tournament appearance.

“We’re not bringing him back (only) for the play-in game,” Kerr explained. “He’d need to play some games. We need to give him a runway if this is going to work. And we are running out of games. That’s fair to say.”

Golden State sits in the Western Conference’s 10th position with a 35-38 record entering Friday. The team appears locked into the play-in tournament, holding a 10½ game cushion over 11th place while trailing sixth by 8½ games with nine contests remaining.

The Warriors also provided updates on other injured players. Seth Curry, Stephen’s sibling, has been out seven games with a left adductor strain but will join scrimmage activities and is listed as day-to-day.

Center Al Horford remains sidelined after seven games with a strained right soleus muscle and faces re-evaluation in one week. Fellow big man Quinten Post is day-to-day with right foot soreness following a two-game absence.

Through 39 games this season, Stephen Curry has posted averages of 27.2 points and 4.8 assists while connecting on 39.1% of his three-point attempts. His last appearance came on January 30th. The Warriors have already lost Jimmy Butler III and Moses Moody to season-ending knee injuries.

JUPITER ISLAND, Fla. — Professional golfer Tiger Woods was taken into custody Friday following a vehicle accident in Florida, marking at least his fourth major automobile incident and his second arrest for impaired driving.

According to authorities, Woods displayed signs of impairment when officers responded to the crash scene where his Land Rover had collided with another vehicle before overturning near his Jupiter Island residence. Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek reported that while Woods passed a breathalyzer examination, he declined to provide a urine sample. Fortunately, neither Woods nor the other driver sustained injuries in the collision.

The golf champion now faces misdemeanor charges for impaired driving with property damage and refusing to comply with testing requirements.

This latest incident adds to a series of vehicle-related troubles spanning over a decade for the sports icon.

In 2017, law enforcement in south Florida discovered Woods unconscious in his running vehicle, which was stopped in a travel lane with visible damage to the driver’s side. Woods explained he had consumed multiple prescription pain medications and experienced an adverse reaction.

Following that incident, Woods entered a guilty plea for reckless driving in 2017 and participated in a first-offense DUI program to avoid incarceration. His sentence included one year of supervised probation, monetary penalties, and community service hours.

A severe accident occurred in February 2021 when Woods’ SUV departed a coastal roadway in Los Angeles County at excessive speed, resulting in a rollover that caused extensive leg and ankle trauma.

Investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department revealed Woods was traveling at 84 to 87 miles per hour on a curving roadway with a posted limit of 45 miles per hour. Authorities filed no criminal charges in that case.

Medical professionals reported that Woods suffered fractures to both the tibia and fibula bones in his lower right leg at multiple points. Surgeons inserted a rod into the tibia to stabilize the breaks, while additional hardware including screws and pins were necessary for foot and ankle injuries.

Woods remained bedridden for three months with medical equipment installed at his Florida residence before beginning rehabilitation with crutches and eventually regaining independent mobility. The golfer revealed that amputation of his right leg was considered during treatment.

He remained absent from PGA Tour competition that season but made his comeback at the 2022 Masters tournament.

The earliest documented incident occurred on November 27, 2009, when Woods departed his Orlando, Florida home around 2:30 a.m. and crashed his Cadillac Escalade into a fire hydrant and tree on neighboring property.

This accident happened just two days after the National Enquirer reported allegations that Woods was involved with a New York nightclub employee, claiming they had recently met in Melbourne. The Windermere police chief stated that responding officers discovered Woods on the ground with his then-spouse, Elin Nordegren, attending to him.

According to the police chief, Nordegren explained she was inside their home when she heard the collision and “came out and broke the back window with a golf club.” Woods sustained cuts to both lips and had blood in his mouth from the accident.

A major shake-up is coming to women’s professional basketball as the Connecticut Sun franchise has been sold to Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta in a $300 million transaction, with plans to relocate the team to Houston by 2027.

An individual with knowledge of the transaction confirmed the details to The Associated Press on Friday, requesting anonymity since no official announcement has been made.

The sale and relocation must still receive approval from the WNBA Board of Governors. Connecticut will host the Sun for one final season before the franchise makes its move to Texas, where it will operate under the Comets banner.

The relocation will bring to a close the franchise’s 23-year chapter in New England, which began when the team relocated from Orlando in 2003.

Houston emerged as a serious contender for the franchise last year, ultimately increasing their offer to $250 million — matching the expansion fees paid by Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia for new teams.

The Sun had received a competing $325 million proposal from a group headed by Boston Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca, which would have brought the team to Boston. However, the WNBA effectively prevented that transaction by stating that “relocation decisions are made by the WNBA Board of Governors and not by individual teams.”

League officials further explained that other franchises had completed the expansion process and held priority over Boston.

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

Friday’s development provides the franchise with certainty as they prepare for potential free agent signings next month.

The Houston Comets hold a special place in WNBA history as one of the league’s founding franchises, capturing the first four consecutive championships from 1997 through 2000. That franchise ceased operations following the 2008 season.

The most recent WNBA franchise relocation occurred in 2017 when the Las Vegas Aces moved from San Antonio.

According to reports from PaperCity Magazine and ESPN on Friday, the Fertitta family has acquired the Connecticut Sun basketball team and intends to relocate the WNBA franchise to Houston.

The Sun will complete their final season in Connecticut during the upcoming 2026 campaign before making the move to Texas for the 2027 season. Connecticut has served as the team’s home base since 2003. The franchise will adopt the Houston Comets name, which belonged to the city’s former WNBA team, PaperCity reported.

According to ESPN’s report, the Fertitta family paid $300 million to acquire the Sun.

The Mohegan Tribe, who currently own the franchise, had been considering various purchase offers since last year. Connecticut state officials had proposed relocating the team to Hartford to keep them within state borders, while Marc Lasry, former part-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks, made a bid and reportedly planned to move the franchise to Boston.

Interest from the Fertitta family, headed by Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta, became public knowledge in December.

Houston had also sought to obtain a new WNBA expansion team, but the league chose Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia for its most recent expansion round instead.

In 2003, the Mohegan Tribe acquired what was then called the Orlando Miracle and relocated the franchise to Uncasville, Connecticut. Last season, the tribe sent correspondence to supporters guaranteeing the team would remain at Mohegan Sun Arena through at least the 2026 season.

While the Sun have reached the WNBA championship series four times, including as recently as 2022, they have yet to capture their first league title.

Professional golfer Tiger Woods faces driving under the influence charges following a Friday incident where his Land Rover overturned on a two-lane roadway close to his Jupiter Island residence in Florida, according to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.

The 50-year-old athlete displayed indicators of impairment during the incident and declined to provide a urine sample while in custody, authorities reported. While a breath analysis detected no alcohol in his system, law enforcement officials suspect the impairment stemmed from drugs or prescription medications.

The rollover incident resulted in no reported injuries.

Professional golf superstar Tiger Woods was taken into custody by Martin County authorities in Florida on charges related to suspected impaired driving, according to law enforcement officials.

The Martin County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Woods was apprehended on suspicion of operating a vehicle while under the influence. Officials stated that the golf champion did not suffer any injuries during the incident.

The arrest comes as the golfing world continues to follow Woods’ career following his previous legal troubles and personal challenges. No additional details about the circumstances surrounding the arrest have been released at this time.

Professional golfer Tiger Woods experienced a vehicle rollover accident in Florida on Friday afternoon, according to ABC News, which cited information from the local sheriff’s department.

ABC News reported that Woods’ medical condition following the incident remains unknown at this time.

The golf champion has maintained a reduced tournament schedule following a serious automobile accident that occurred in February 2021.

When contacted for additional information, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office had not yet provided a response.

America’s flag football national squad has already demonstrated it can capture Olympic gold without assistance from NFL stars when the sport makes its debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Last Saturday’s Fanatics Flag Football Classic in Los Angeles proved the men’s national squad has what it takes to bring home the championship. The team overwhelmed squads featuring current and former NFL legends, including Tom Brady, Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts and Jayden Daniels. The national team has remained unbeaten in International Federation of American Football competition since 2018, winning contests by an average margin of 50-17, while claiming five consecutive world championships.

This should settle the debate. However, it likely won’t since NFL athletes have expressed their desire to represent their nation and league ownership has approved their participation. Burrow approached last week’s Southern California tournament as if it were a tryout. He displayed more running, cutting, and juking abilities than typically seen in his NFL performances. Cincinnati supporters must have worried about potential injury given his aggressive play style.

Flag football and Olympic participation will be topics at the NFL’s upcoming annual meeting in Phoenix, ensuring continued discussion. USA Football is currently building its 2026 roster. The candidate pool features flag football specialists who are current world champions, alongside athletes with basketball, track and tackle football experience. Former NFL quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III is also under consideration.

Brady, who demonstrated at 48 that his passing skills remain sharp, removed himself from Team USA consideration after posting an 0-2 record in the tournament.

“LA ’28 will be a lot of guys like you saw out there on the field who make a big commitment to trying to be their best and go out there and showcase their skillset to a global audience,” the seven-time Super Bowl champion said.

Flag football differs significantly from tackle football, naturally. The sports are so distinct that Brady was already discussing potential rule modifications to increase passing opportunities.

NFL athletes and coaches entered the round-robin competition unprepared after just a few practice sessions. They couldn’t depend on superior football abilities to defeat an elite squad that knows how to exploit the sport’s specific intricacies.

Flag football demands specialized abilities. Outstanding speed, agility, and evasiveness, particularly in 5-on-5 formats, are essential. The sport naturally favors the quickest athletes.

This eliminates many NFL superstars. The league’s top pass rushers rank among the finest athletes due to their power-speed combination. However, players like Myles Garrett and Micah Parsons wouldn’t reach quarterbacks quickly enough to grab flags. Interior defensive linemen have no place. Linebackers wouldn’t qualify. Most safeties wouldn’t either.

“I think when you look at it, you build it with corners and nickels on the defensive side of the ball and fast, skilled guys on the offensive side,” said Hall of Fame linebacker Luke Kuechly, who participated in the showcase. “I think linebackers are going to want to get themselves in that game but it feels a lot like a nickel, corner game on the defensive side of the ball.”

Flag removal is its own skill, requiring extensive practice. Traditional tackling fundamentals simply don’t translate to flag football.

“When you traditionally go to tackle somebody, you want to have the man in front of them versus this game (where) you gotta be on the side, your eyes have to be in the right place and you really have to track that flag,” Kuechly said. “These guys do a tremendous job of sinking lower and you miss that flag. So the technique that we learned as the game went on was attack that near hip, play with our eyes directly on that flag and then anticipate them dropping. That’s what they are so good at and it was, quite frankly, very difficult for us to get those flags.”

The NFL represents a violent, physical competition. Flag football emphasizes finesse, making size, strength and power disadvantageous.

Team USA’s offense, featuring Darrell “Housh” Doucette III, Nico Casares, Velton Brown Jr. and Pablo Smith, proved unstoppable across three Saturday games, finding the end zone on every drive except for a victory-ending kneel-down.

“Their skillset was very different than anything we’ve seen in the NFL, the speed, the quickness, the ability to create,” Kuechly said. “Our inability to put our hands on those guys made this game very difficult. The scheme is very different. The concepts are very different. With time, it’ll change and we’ll have a better feel for it.”

The proper combination of NFL talent — fast cornerbacks, quick receivers, shifty running backs and mobile quarterbacks — could potentially claim gold with sufficient time to master the sport’s complexities.

“If we’re looking at great athletes, the NFL players are athletes,” Brady said.

However, when would they find time for flag football preparation? It’s hard to envision teams permitting players to miss NFL preparation time, risking injury in the process. It’s surprising that athletes like Burrow, Daniels, Hurts, Saquon Barkley and others received approval for the Fanatics showcase.

So who will represent America in 2028?

“Whoever gives the team the best chance to win should be out there,” Brady said.

Obviously, that’s currently Team USA.

The National Basketball Association is exploring three different strategies to discourage franchises from deliberately losing games to secure better draft positions, according to two sources familiar with the discussions who spoke to The Associated Press on Friday.

These strategies — which remain preliminary concepts rather than finalized proposals — were shared with the league’s ownership group by NBA leadership earlier this week, the sources indicated.

Both individuals requested anonymity since the league has not made these details public.

Commissioner Adam Silver announced Wednesday his intention to hold a special ownership meeting in May for voting on lottery modifications, promising the league would address the tanking problem. One source told the AP that these concepts will likely undergo changes or refinements in coming weeks, with additional ideas potentially being presented to owners. The league’s general managers have also been contributing suggestions for potential modifications.

ESPN initially reported that these concepts were shared with team governors.

“I will say again, as I’ve said this before, this is not a new issue in this league,” Silver stated this week. “You can go back to the ’60s, when coin tosses were used to determine who got the first pick, then in the ’80s, when a draft lottery was created. That lottery has been modified four times since then. Does not seem to be operating optimally where we are now.”

Whatever modifications are ultimately approved will not take effect for this year’s lottery, scheduled for May.

Currently, the 14 franchises missing the NBA playoffs enter the lottery, where a four-number ping-pong ball combination determines the top four draft positions.

Under present rules, the three worst-performing teams each hold 14% odds for the top selection — with none of the five worst teams able to drop below eighth position in the lottery. The remaining 11 teams see their No. 1 pick chances decrease gradually, ranging from 12.5% for the fourth-worst team down to 0.7% for the 14th-worst team.

“Incentives need to be fixed,” Silver declared. “We will fix them. I’m looking forward to that.”

One proposed concept would include all 18 non-playoff teams plus the eight play-in tournament participants in the lottery. The bottom 10 franchises would each receive 8% lottery odds, with decreasing percentages from there.

Under this scenario, even the 18th-worst team — a playoff qualifier — could potentially win the lottery with 1% odds.

The WNBA determines lottery positioning based on two-season performance rather than single-season results. The NBA is considering a similar approach.

However, the NBA version would also establish a minimum win threshold — currently proposed at 25 victories per season. This means a team winning 31 games across two seasons would have identical No. 1 pick odds as a franchise earning exactly 50 wins over the same period. This floor aims to eliminate incentives for teams to lose every possible game.

A third concept under consideration would give the five worst teams equal 11% odds for the top pick — replacing the current system where three teams hold 14% chances.

This model would include certain pick protections to prevent the worst-performing teams from falling too far in draft order.

University of Michigan women’s basketball will be without reserve player Macy Brown for the remainder of March Madness after she suffered a torn ACL in her right knee.

The 6-foot junior guard was injured during a team practice session over the weekend, according to university officials who announced the news Friday.

Brown’s absence comes as the Wolverines prepare for their Sweet 16 clash with Louisville on Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas. Michigan enters the game as the No. 2 seed with a 27-6 record, while Louisville holds the No. 3 seed at 29-7.

The team expressed their support for Brown through a social media statement, saying “We are heartbroken for her, but know that her energy and spirit will continue to make an impact on the sideline.”

Throughout the current season, Brown appeared in 30 contests coming off the bench, contributing an average of 2.5 points and 1.3 rebounds per game. She also recorded 1.2 assists per outing while playing an average of 12.2 minutes each game.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills have secured safety Damar Hamlin for another year, announcing Friday that the 28-year-old defender has agreed to a one-year deal to remain with the franchise for his sixth campaign.

The move keeps Hamlin in Western New York after his previous contract ran out, making him a free agent. His continued presence with Buffalo represents an ongoing story of resilience and determination following his life-threatening medical emergency nearly three years ago.

The defensive back has displayed no lingering effects from the cardiac arrest that required on-field resuscitation during Buffalo’s matchup against Cincinnati in January 2023.

While team officials carefully managed his return by limiting him to five appearances in the 2023 season, Hamlin bounced back to make a career-best 14 starts during the 2024 campaign. However, he moved into a reserve role last year and appeared in only five contests before a chest muscle injury suffered during practice landed him on injured reserve.

With the Bills undergoing significant changes, Hamlin will likely battle for a backup position. The team has brought in Jim Leonhard as the new defensive coordinator, working under recently promoted head coach Joe Brady, who took over after the organization dismissed Sean McDermott in January.

Buffalo has also added veteran safeties C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Geno Stone through free agency, with both players expected to vie for the starting role alongside Cole Bishop.

The Bills made Hamlin a sixth-round selection from the University of Pittsburgh in the 2021 NFL Draft. Throughout his professional career spanning 53 games with 27 starts, he has recorded two interceptions.

On Friday, the San Diego Wave revealed they have acquired former Chelsea forward Catarina Macario for their roster.

The 26-year-old veteran of the U.S. Women’s National Team has committed to a contract that runs through the 2030 NWSL season.

Born in Brazil but raised in the San Diego region, Macario developed her skills with local youth clubs before starring at Stanford University.

In a video statement from the Wave, Macario expressed her emotions about returning home: “It’s amazing to see all of (my family’s) sacrifices paying off. San Diego means so much to me. It’s where I grew up. It’s where I became a young woman, where I learned to speak English and made lifelong friends. To be back here and actually represent the city and play for San Diego, it means a lot to me.”

Following her collegiate success where she captured consecutive MAC Hermann awards as the top player in the nation during 2018 and 2019, plus helped Stanford claim NCAA titles in 2017 and 2019, Macario took her talents overseas to compete professionally with Lyon in France from 2021-2023, then with Chelsea in England from 2023-2026.

On the international stage, Macario has contributed 16 goals and five assists across 29 matches for the USWNT after gaining American citizenship in 2020. Her achievements include earning a bronze medal during the Tokyo Olympic Games.

The National Basketball Association presented three different anti-tanking strategies to team owners during a Wednesday meeting in New York, according to ESPN reporting.

Each proposed system shares a significant change from current practice: including teams that reach the playoffs in the draft lottery process.

The initial plan would expand lottery participation to 18 franchises — combining the 10 lowest-performing teams that fail to reach the play-in tournament with the eight squads that earn play-in spots. Under this system, the bottom 10 organizations would each receive identical 8% odds of advancing in the lottery, while the remaining 20% would be distributed among the eight play-in participants in reverse order from positions 11-18. Every position among these 18 spots would be determined through the lottery.

A second option expands participation to 22 franchises by adding the four playoff teams eliminated in the first round to the previous 18. Rankings would be determined using combined records from the previous two seasons.

This approach includes establishing a minimum victory requirement each season to prevent teams from deliberately losing excessive games. Under a hypothetical 20-win floor, a franchise finishing 14-68 would be calculated as 20-62 for lottery purposes. A team winning 20 games in year one and 40 in year two would be credited with 30 total victories. The first four draft positions would be selected through lottery drawing.

Sources described the third option to ESPN as a “five-by-five” system using the same 18 teams from the first proposal. The five worst-performing franchises would receive identical lottery chances, with decreasing odds for remaining teams. Separate drawings would determine the top five selections, followed by another drawing for the other 13 positions.

Teams among the five worst that don’t secure top-five picks would be guaranteed no worse than 10th position in the second lottery.

Commissioner Adam Silver informed owners Wednesday that changes are necessary following widespread criticism this season regarding teams positioning themselves for advantageous spots in the talent-rich 2026 draft class.

“I do think ultimately this is a decision that needs to be made at the ownership level,” Silver said. “It has business implications, has basketball implications, has integrity, integrity, implications for the league.

ESPN reports that modifications to all proposals are anticipated before owners conduct a formal vote in May.

American soccer star Catarina Macario has made a major move back to the United States, leaving Chelsea to sign with the San Diego Wave in what officials are calling one of the most lucrative deals in women’s professional soccer.

The forward, who lived in San Diego during her youth after relocating from Brazil, has agreed to a contract extending through the 2030 season. The deal was made possible through the NWSL’s recently established High Impact Player Rule, which was introduced last December and permits teams to exceed salary cap limits by up to $1 million for designated star players.

“Cat is a world-class player who has consistently performed at the highest levels of the game,” Wave Sporting Director and General Manager Camille Ashton said in a media release. “She is an intelligent, technical and creative attacker with exceptional vision and composure in the final third.”

After obtaining U.S. citizenship in 2020, Macario moved to Chelsea in 2023 where she contributed to the team’s consecutive Women’s Super League championships over two seasons. During her tenure in London, she also helped secure an FA Cup and League Cup for the club.

Her international resume includes 16 goals across 29 matches since making her debut in 2021. Macario was also part of the U.S. squad that earned bronze at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

“From my first conversations with the club, I felt the ambition and the vision for what we can accomplish together, including bringing trophies to this city,” said Macario, who will be presented to supporters during Saturday’s home match halftime ceremony.

“I’m grateful for the belief they’ve shown in me, and I can’t wait to get started and give everything for this team and my community.”

Major League Baseball’s introduction of the Automated Ball-Strike System produced a 61.3% success rate for teams challenging umpire calls during the opening 12 games of the regular season, with clubs winning 19 of their 31 appeals.

Cincinnati manager Terry Francona experienced both sides of the new technology during his team’s 3-0 defeat to Boston on Thursday. The Reds saw two crucial full-count situations reversed – Eugenio Suárez’s fourth-inning walk became a strikeout, while Connor Phillips’ ninth-inning strikeout of Roman Anthony was changed to a walk.

“I think our pitchers are going to have to get used to thinking the inning might be over, and it’s not,” Francona said. “It’s almost like when a guy comes out and you say, ‘Hey, way to go. Can you get one more?’ So you’re going to have to stay dialed in.”

The system employs Hawk-Eye technology with 12 cameras that track whether pitches pass through the strike zone with precision of approximately one-sixth of an inch.

Boston skipper Alex Cora expressed satisfaction with his team’s 2-for-3 challenge performance, though he noted one missed opportunity. Trevor Story was called out looking on what appeared to be a high fastball from Andrew Abbott with two outs and runners in scoring position during the fifth inning.

“You just have to make sure. There was one early where Trevor is in that situation again, he’d probably challenge,” Cora said. “We thought the pitch was up. We don’t mind him challenging there because it changes the whole thing, right? We were talking about it. It’s a different ballgame now.”

The Red Sox did capitalize on a successful challenge later that inning when catcher Carlos Narváez questioned a ball call on Garrett Crochet’s cutter to Suárez. The replay showed the pitch caught the bottom edge of the strike zone, ending the inning instead of loading the bases.

“He made a really good pitch right there. I thought it stayed down and it was a ball, but with the new ABS, good for him,” Suárez said.

Anthony’s successful challenge proved pivotal for Boston’s victory. What initially appeared to be the final out of the ninth became a walk, placing runners on first and second. Story and Jarren Duran then delivered consecutive RBI singles to secure the 3-0 advantage.

“I knew it was a ball. I was pretty confident,” Anthony said. “It turned the game around in a sense. It was good to turn that around, get on base and score there. I trust my instincts and discipline at the plate. I’ve had many in the past, up, down, in and out. That was a good example. Probably not even close. Just kind of knew it there.”

Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz became the first player to have a walk overturned to a strikeout when New York catcher Francisco Alvarez challenged during the third inning. The replay confirmed the pitch hit the inside corner. The Mets finished 2-for-3 on their challenges.

Minnesota and Chicago White Sox both achieved 3-for-4 success rates on their appeals, while Tampa Bay went perfect at 2-for-2.

Philadelphia reliever Zach Pop experienced the system’s first failed challenge in the eighth inning against Texas. Pop questioned James Hoye’s ball four call to Brandon Nimmo, but replay confirmed the umpire’s decision and Nimmo took his base.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson supported the decision to challenge despite the outcome.

“I was good with it. It was a 10th of an inch off. That pitch decided an at-bat late in the game, we’ve got the lead. On the defensive side you want to use that challenge,” he said.

Iran’s national men’s soccer team made a somber tribute during their friendly match against Nigeria in Turkey on Friday, displaying schoolbags and wearing black armbands while their national anthem played in memory of victims from a deadly school attack.

The demonstration took place in Belek, Turkey, as the team prepared for the upcoming World Cup scheduled to be held across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Iran’s participation in the tournament remains uncertain due to the current conflict situation.

Players stood in formation carrying pink and purple bags adorned with ribbons, symbolizing the tragic incident at Shajareh Tayyebeh School. According to Tehran officials, the attack claimed the lives of more than 175 individuals, including students and educators, occurring on the opening day of coordinated U.S.-Israeli military operations.

“The players are holding the school bags close to their heart in remembrance of the 165 girls the Americans killed in an Iranian school,” an Iranian team media official explained to Reuters.

U.S. military investigators acknowledge the likelihood of American forces being involved in the incident, though their investigation has not yet reached completion or final determination.

This protest follows a similar demonstration earlier this month when members of Iran’s women’s soccer team remained silent during the national anthem at an Asian Cup competition, prompting Tehran’s state television to label them “traitors.”

President Donald Trump recently stated that while Iran’s national team would be permitted to compete in the United States, concerns exist regarding their “life and safety” during such participation.

Iran’s football federation has entered into discussions with FIFA, soccer’s international governing organization, about potentially relocating their World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico instead.

The team is scheduled to face Costa Rica in another friendly match on Tuesday, also taking place in Turkey.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Nashville Predators always believed they belonged in the playoffs. Making that belief a reality has taken much longer than anyone anticipated.

A team that sat at the bottom of the entire NHL as recently as December 8th now finds itself in the Western Conference’s second wild-card position with just 10 regular season games remaining. The Predators trail Utah by only three points for the top wild-card spot and hold an extra game to play.

“I think each and every one in this room thought we’d be here, and I think that’s really all that matters,” Predators forward Filip Forsberg said. “Whatever’s going on outside this room is out of our control. Since the trade deadline, I think everyone’s been bought in.”

Nashville saw their five-game winning streak end Thursday in a 4-2 defeat to New Jersey, but the team has battled back from a deficit that left them 11 points behind the final playoff position. Their record stands at 24-15-5 since December 9th.

“We just got to keep doing everything we can to stay on top,” Forsberg said.

Playoff expectations were high following Nashville’s aggressive free agency moves in July 2024. General Manager Barry Trotz brought in two-time Stanley Cup winner Steven Stamkos, 2023 playoff MVP Jonathan Marchessault, and defenseman Brady Skjei, making the Predators Stanley Cup favorites.

Instead, Nashville completely failed to reach the postseason, finishing ahead of only San Jose and Chicago in the NHL standings.

Making matters worse, the team dropped two positions in the draft lottery.

The Predators spent considerable time during the offseason analyzing their failures. However, they struggled early again this season. The situation worsened when captain Roman Josi suffered an upper-body injury just eight games into the campaign, sidelining him for 12 contests.

Stamkos sparked the revival.

Following a disappointing start with just six goals and three assists in his first 25 games, Stamkos found his scoring touch in December with 12 goals. He currently paces Nashville with 36 goals, marking only the fourth time a Predators player has reached at least 35 goals in a season.

Coach Andrew Brunette praised Stamkos’s response to the early struggles, calling it remarkable that the veteran never changed his approach.

“I mean, I considered myself a pretty good team player,” Brunette said. “I’m not sure I would handle things the way he handled it where he just came to work every day and try to help as many people as he could. That’s why you’re so ecstatic he took off.”

Other Nashville veterans have contributed significantly to the turnaround. Josi has recorded 30 points since January 11th, ranking fifth among all defensemen, while Forsberg has tallied 12 points during the team’s last five contests.

Marchessault has contributed 10 assists this month alone, including three in Tuesday’s 6-3 victory over San Jose.

“He’s obviously been battling through a couple things during the season, but now this is what we brought him here for, you know, the end of the season,” Forsberg said of Marchessault. “And he’s showing some incredible playmaking.”

Trotz, who revealed his retirement plans on February 2nd, maintained faith in his expensive veterans and only dealt four players with expiring contracts before the trade deadline.

This approach created additional opportunities for young players, with Nashville’s six rookies combining for 201 games this season, seventh-most league-wide. These first-year players have scored 25 goals, ranking 10th in the NHL. Following Reid Schaefer’s goal Thursday, the rookies have accumulated 15 points since March 5th, with center Matthew Wood leading the way with six goals during that span.

Forward Luke Evangelista, who has established career highs with 40 assists and 50 points, believes the difficult journey has strengthened team chemistry.

“It feels like we’ve seen the lowest of lows together, and we’ve dragged ourselves out of the mud and we did it together as a group and I think that just kind of built that toughness,” Evangelista said.

Nashville isn’t alone in their remarkable comeback this season. Buffalo climbed from last place in the Eastern Conference on December 13th to first in the Atlantic Division by March 8th. Columbus also rebounded from the bottom of the East on January 12th following a coaching change, rising to second in the Metropolitan Division.

The Predators have strong motivation to maintain their push through the regular season’s conclusion.

Securing the first wild-card position would mean facing the Pacific Division champion instead of NHL points leader Colorado in the opening round. Nashville begins a challenging six-game road trip Sunday, with five teams within six points of their current position.

“Every game from here on out is going to be a playoff type game for us,” Skjei said.

This morning’s sports roundup was scheduled for Friday, March 27, 2026, but no specific sports content or updates were available in the provided material.

The segment was part of the regular morning sports programming, though details about games, scores, or athletic events were not included in the source information.

Washington’s Alex Ovechkin delivered his 34th career three-goal performance Thursday night, leading the Capitals in a dramatic comeback from a two-goal deficit to defeat Utah 7-4 in Salt Lake City.

The superstar forward now has 29 goals this season, marking his second hat trick of the campaign, while extending his NHL-record career total to 926 goals.

Ivan Miroshnichenko notched his first two goals of the season, while Anthony Beauvillier and Rasmus Sandin each contributed one goal and one assist for Washington. Goaltender Logan Thompson turned away 36 shots in the victory.

For Utah, Dylan Guenther found the net twice, and both Mikhail Sergachev and Clayton Keller recorded three assists each. Goalie Vitek Vanecek surrendered six goals on 23 shots before getting pulled midway through the final period, with Karel Vejmelka making one save in relief.

Ducks 3, Flames 2 (OT)

Mikael Granlund capped off his three-goal night with a dramatic overtime winner in the final seconds, lifting visiting Anaheim past Calgary.

John Carlson recorded two assists and Ville Husso made 23 saves for the Ducks, who have now won four consecutive games. Taking advantage of Calgary’s second too-many-men penalty of the contest, Anaheim enjoyed a power play late in overtime, with Granlund finishing a one-timer from the high slot just before time expired.

Blake Coleman and Matvei Gridin scored for Calgary, ending their four-game winning streak. Olli Maatta contributed two assists, while Devin Cooley made 30 saves.

Wild 3, Panthers 2

Marcus Foligno scored in his return from injury and Joel Eriksson Ek netted the winning goal with just five seconds remaining as Minnesota beat Florida in Sunrise, Fla.

Ryan Hartman also scored for the Wild, with Jesper Wallstedt making 18 saves. The game held special significance for Foligno, who played alongside his brother Nick for the first time since they were in sixth and ninth grades respectively. Nick Foligno joined Minnesota from Chicago earlier this month.

Matthew Tkachuk recorded a goal and assist while Aaron Ekblad also scored for Florida, which received 47 saves from backup goaltender Daniil Tarasov. The Panthers have dropped four of their last six contests (2-4-0).

Canadiens 2, Blue Jackets 1

Zachary Bolduc scored the decisive goal early in the third period and assisted on Montreal’s other tally in a victory over visiting Columbus.

Jayden Struble also found the net for Montreal, which has won three straight games. Jakub Dobes stopped 25 shots.

Damon Severson scored while Jet Greaves made 18 saves for Columbus, which has lost two of its last three contests.

Islanders 2, Stars 1

New York secured crucial points in their playoff chase with a victory over Dallas in Elmont, N.Y.

Bo Horvat reached the 30-goal milestone for the fourth time in his career, and Calum Ritchie also scored. Matthew Schaefer assisted on both goals. Ilya Sorokin came within 2:59 of a shutout, making 26 saves. Combined with Pittsburgh’s victory over Ottawa, the result moved the Islanders back into the final Eastern Conference wild-card position.

Matt Duchene scored for Dallas, which suffered its fourth consecutive loss, marking their longest slide since a 0-3-3 stretch from late December to early January. Jake Oettinger, who was pulled after one period in his previous start against New Jersey, stopped 23 shots.

Kraken 4, Lightning 3 (OT)

Brandon Montour scored twice, including the overtime winner at 2:47, as Seattle prevailed at Tampa Bay.

Kaapo Kakko and Bobby McCann each recorded a goal and assist for the Kraken, who ended a four-game winless streak (0-3-1). Philipp Grubauer made 30 saves for Seattle.

Jake Guentzel had a goal and assist, while Anthony Cirelli and Corey Perry also scored for Tampa Bay, which extended its point streak to six games (4-0-2). Charle-Edouard D’Astous added two assists. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 15 of 19 shots.

Penguins 4, Senators 3 (SO)

Egor Chinakhov and Ben Kindel scored in the shootout to give Pittsburgh a victory over host Ottawa.

Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby departed early in the second period with a lower-body injury and did not return. Rickard Rakell tallied two goals and an assist while Erik Karlsson contributed one goal and two assists. Stuart Skinner made 26 saves through regulation and overtime, then stopped two of Ottawa’s three shootout attempts.

Drake Batherson scored twice and netted the shootout goal while Nick Cousins added a goal for Ottawa, ending their four-game winning streak. Tim Stutzle recorded two assists. Linus Ullmark made 35 saves through regulation and overtime but stopped only one of three shootout attempts.

Additional Results:

Philadelphia dominated visiting Chicago 5-1, with Christian Dvorak, Noah Cates and Alex Bump each recording a goal and assist. New Jersey defeated Nashville 4-2 behind Nico Hischier’s second deflected goal of the night. Colorado beat Winnipeg 3-2 as Nathan MacKinnon scored twice in the third period. Edmonton topped Vegas 4-3 in overtime, with Connor McDavid becoming the third-fastest player to reach 800 career assists. Los Angeles shut out Vancouver 4-0 behind Darcy Kuemper’s 19 saves, and St. Louis edged San Jose 2-1 in overtime.

Jacob Misiorowski delivered a dominant performance on the mound, recording 11 strikeouts across five innings to power the Milwaukee Brewers to a commanding 14-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox in Thursday’s season opener for both clubs.

The hard-throwing Misiorowski (1-0) recovered quickly after surrendering a leadoff home run to Chase Meidroth, limiting Chicago to just one additional hit – a fourth-inning single – while issuing three walks over his 94-pitch appearance.

Misiorowski’s 11-strikeout effort established a new Opening Day franchise record for Milwaukee, breaking the previous mark of eight strikeouts that had been achieved three times, with Freddy Peralta being the most recent to accomplish the feat last season. The Brewers’ pitching staff collectively established a franchise milestone with 20 strikeouts, matching the major league standard for a nine-inning contest.

Offensively, Sal Frelick and Jake Bauers connected for home runs, with Bauers and William Contreras each contributing three RBIs. Six additional Brewers players recorded at least one RBI in the offensive explosion. For Chicago, Munetaka Murakami celebrated his major league debut with a home run.

Dodgers 8, Diamondbacks 2

Los Angeles continued their championship celebration with a decisive victory over visiting Arizona, as Andy Pages launched a three-run homer and Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered six solid innings on the mound.

Will Smith added a home run while driving in three runs for the Dodgers, who honored their back-to-back World Series championships by displaying both the 2024 and 2025 trophies on the field during pre-game ceremonies. Yamamoto (1-0) struck out six batters while surrendering two runs on five hits without issuing a walk.

Arizona’s Geraldo Perdomo contributed two hits, including a two-run homer. Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen struggled through four-plus innings, allowing four runs on five hits.

Guardians 6, Mariners 4

Rookie Chase DeLauter made an immediate impact in his first regular-season appearance, belting two home runs to lead Cleveland past Seattle.

Jose Ramirez delivered the decisive blow with a two-out, two-run double in the seventh inning to break the tie for the Guardians. Relief pitcher Connor Brogdon (1-0) earned the victory, while Cade Smith secured the save with a perfect ninth inning.

Seattle’s Dominic Canzone matched DeLauter with two solo homers, and Brendan Donovan and Luke Raley each added solo shots for the Mariners.

Tigers 8, Padres 2

Kevin McGonigle made baseball history by doubling in his first two major league at-bats and finished with a 4-for-5 performance as Detroit defeated San Diego on the road.

Dillon Dingler homered and knocked in three runs for the Tigers. Starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (1-0) was masterful over six innings, allowing three hits and one unearned run while walking none and striking out six.

Ramon Laureano provided San Diego’s lone bright spot with a solo homer. Padres starter Nick Pivetta (0-1) lasted only three innings, surrendering seven hits and six runs.

Phillies 5, Rangers 3

Cristopher Sanchez dominated with 10 strikeouts over six shutout innings, while Kyle Schwarber and Alec Bohm each homered to propel Philadelphia past Texas at home.

Fresh off signing a six-year contract extension on Sunday, Sanchez (1-0) capped his outstanding outing by striking out three consecutive batters in the sixth inning. He scattered three hits without issuing a walk.

Texas’s Jake Burger collected three hits, including a two-run homer in the ninth inning. Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi (0-1) was charged with five runs on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Red Sox 3, Reds 0

Garrett Crochet tossed six scoreless innings and Ceddanne Rafaela broke a scoreless deadlock in the seventh with an RBI single to guide Boston past Cincinnati on the road.

Roman Anthony collected three hits, while Trevor Story and Jarren Duran added insurance RBI singles in the ninth for the Red Sox. Crochet (1-0) allowed three hits, walked two and struck out eight, with Aroldis Chapman throwing a perfect ninth inning for the save.

Cincinnati’s Sal Stewart also recorded three hits, becoming the first Reds rookie since 1958 to collect three hits on Opening Day. Andrew Abbott matched Crochet’s effort with six shutout innings.

Orioles 2, Twins 1

Trevor Rogers threw seven scoreless innings and Baltimore scored late to defeat visiting Minnesota, giving Craig Albernaz a victory in his major league managerial debut.

Rogers held the Twins to three hits and four walks while striking out five. Adley Rutschman contributed two hits, including a double. In a decisive two-run seventh inning, Colton Cowser lifted a sacrifice fly and Blaze Alexander drove in a run in his first game wearing an Orioles uniform.

Minnesota managed only three singles through seven innings and lost Derek Shelton’s first game as the team’s manager. In the eighth, Byron Buxton tripled and scored on Luke Keaschall’s sacrifice fly. Twins starter Joe Ryan allowed one hit and two walks while striking out seven in 5 1/3 shutout innings.

Mets 11, Pirates 7

Brett Baty’s three-run triple highlighted a five-run first inning explosion, and New York chased defending National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes after just two outs en route to a home victory over Pittsburgh.

Rookie Carson Benge and Francisco Alvarez connected for back-to-back homers in the sixth for the Mets, who improved their major league-best Opening Day record to 42-23. Pittsburgh’s Brandon Lowe launched two home runs in the losing effort.

Skenes (0-1) endured the shortest outing of his career, allowing five runs and four hits. Mets starter Freddy Peralta (1-0) permitted four runs while striking out seven over five innings.

Nationals 10, Cubs 4

Joey Wiemer, Jacob Young and Brady House all homered, and Washington’s bullpen contributed 5 1/3 innings of one-run relief to power the visiting Nationals past Chicago.

Wiemer went 3-for-3 to ignite an 11-hit offensive attack in his team debut, which also marked the first game for Nationals manager Blake Butera. House recorded two hits and two RBIs while CJ Abrams and Young each drove in two runs.

Chicago’s Michael Busch collected three hits and Pete Crow-Armstrong added two, but the Cubs struggled with runners in scoring position, going 4-for-19 while leaving nine men on base.

Angels 3, Astros 0

Mike Trout homered, walked three times and stole a base, while Jose Soriano struck out seven over six shutout innings to lead visiting Los Angeles past Houston.

The home run was the 405th of Trout’s career, as the three-time American League MVP made his club-record 14th Opening Day start in center field. Los Angeles captured their first road Opening Day victory since April 1, 2013, at Cincinnati in Kurt Suzuki’s major league managerial debut.

Nolan Schanuel also went deep and Jordan Romano pitched a scoreless ninth to earn a save. Houston’s AJ Blubaugh (0-1) surrendered one run on two hits over 2 1/3 innings while striking out three. Astros starter Hunter Brown scattered four singles and struck out nine over 4 2/3 shutout innings.

Cardinals 9, Rays 7

Alec Burleson capped an eight-run sixth inning with a two-run homer to help St. Louis rally for a victory against visiting Tampa Bay.

Burleson’s blast came after the Rays had scored six runs in the top half of the sixth to take a 7-1 lead. Burleson finished with three hits, scored twice and drove in two. Nathan Church contributed three hits, drove in two and robbed a home run, while JJ Wetherholt homered in his major league debut.

Tampa Bay’s Jonathan Aranda homered and singled. Yandy Diaz, Ben Williamson and Nick Fortes each collected three hits and scored one run, while Jonny DeLuca added two hits and two RBIs.

INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA suffered a legal setback Thursday when a federal court rejected their emergency request to prevent DraftKings from utilizing trademarked phrases connected to college basketball tournaments.

The lawsuit for trademark violation, submitted to the Southern District of Indiana court last week, sought to prohibit DraftKings from employing ‘March Madness,’ ‘Final Four,’ ‘Elite Eight,’ and ‘Sweet Sixteen,’ along with similar variations, in their marketing efforts.

Judge Tanya Walton Pratt determined the NCAA failed to demonstrate that the sports betting company’s usage of these phrases would result in irreparable damage.

‘With further discovery the NCAA may be able to show they are entitled to a preliminary or permanent injunction, and those claims remain pending,’ Pratt wrote.

In court documents filed Wednesday responding to the NCAA’s lawsuit, DraftKings argued they have utilized ‘March Madness’ and related terminology when referencing the NCAA Tournament for over five years and possess the legal authority to continue doing so.

The NCAA maintains it deliberately distances itself from any association with gambling activities and argued in their legal filing that DraftKings’ usage of the trademarked terms creates customer confusion by suggesting NCAA endorsement.

For the third consecutive year, Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani has claimed the number one position in Major League Baseball jersey sales as teams prepare for opening day, according to an announcement from MLB on Thursday.

Fellow Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto secured second place in the rankings, while New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge landed in third. Seattle’s catcher Cal Raleigh took fourth position, with Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts rounding out the top five.

The last player besides Ohtani to claim the sales crown was Atlanta’s outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr., who held the top position during the 2023 All-Star break. However, Ohtani regained his dominance by season’s end and has maintained his streak for three years.

Completing the top ten were Arizona third baseman Nolan Arenado, Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, Baltimore first baseman Pete Alonso, Boston outfielder Roman Anthony, and Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. Both Raleigh and Anthony achieved their first appearances in the top ten rankings.

The sales data comes from Fanatics’ online platforms, including MLBShop.com, tracking purchases made following the conclusion of last season’s World Series, where the Dodgers captured their second consecutive championship.

The indoor golf league TGL is experiencing remarkable financial growth following the completion of its second season.

According to a Thursday report from Sportico, one TGL franchise recently sold a minority ownership share valued at $100 million, while several other teams have completed transactions exceeding $90 million.

The season concluded this week when Los Angeles Golf Club claimed the SoFi Cup championship, defeating Tiger Woods’ Jupiter Links team in a decisive 2-0 series. LAGC’s roster features Collin Morikawa, Sahith Theegala, and British golfers Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose.

Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian leads LAGC’s ownership group alongside tennis legends Serena and Venus Williams. Now, Ohanian has expanded his golf investments by acquiring a franchise in WTGL, the planned women’s version of the league.

“All it takes is a couple of generational talents on a big enough stage to change the entire perception of the sport,” Ohanian told Sportico. “Golf is one of those sports that is so on the precipice. You can see it online. You can see the creator economy telling the story of this sport. This format of TGL is so perfect for the online generation. Again, I say this as a Reddit guy. Take my word for it. It is perfectly built for the social media age.”

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank became the first investor to secure a WTGL franchise, with Ohanian following as the second buyer. Sportico reports both entrepreneurs paid approximately $20 million for their teams.

The indoor golf concept debuted in January 2025, created through a partnership between Woods, Rory McIlroy, and media executive Mike McCarley. The league plans to expand from its current six teams to seven in 2027 when Motor City Golf Club joins representing Detroit.

While WTGL is scheduled to begin play sometime this year, additional details about the women’s league remain limited.

Boston College has selected a championship-winning assistant from the University of Connecticut to take over their men’s basketball program, announcing Thursday that Luke Murray will become their new head coach as the school looks to revitalize their struggling program.

The 40-year-old Murray has served on the UConn coaching staff since 2021 and is recognized within the program as a key developer of the offensive system that led the Huskies to consecutive national titles in 2023 and 2024.

Athletic director Blake James described the appointment as a comprehensive program overhaul for the modern era.

“Today marks a turning point in Boston College Men’s Basketball,” James said. “In Luke Murray, we have found a leader who does not just understand the modern landscape of college basketball – he has helped define it. His role in building a national championship caliber program, his sophisticated offensive vision, and his relentless pursuit of excellence make him the perfect fit to lead our student-athletes.”

Murray happens to be the son of famous comedy actor Bill Murray, who has become a familiar face at UConn basketball games over the past few years.

“I am deeply honored and incredibly grateful to lead the Boston College men’s basketball program,” Murray said. “Boston College alumni and fans will find our program defined by a standard of excellence, and our team will play an unselfish, tough and highly competitive brand of basketball.”

Murray brings extensive assistant coaching experience from multiple programs, including Louisville from 2018 to 2021 and Xavier from 2015 to 2018. He also worked alongside current UConn head coach Dan Hurley during earlier stops at Rhode Island from 2013 to 2015 and Wagner from 2010 to 2011. Murray will continue with the Huskies through their current NCAA Tournament run, as the second-seeded team prepares to take on third-seeded Michigan State in Friday’s Sweet 16 matchup in Washington, D.C.

American tennis sensation Coco Gauff powered her way into the Miami Open championship match Thursday, overwhelming Karolina Muchova with a decisive 6-1, 6-1 victory that showcased her elite-level dominance.

The world’s fourth-ranked player will now compete in her sixth WTA 1000 final when she takes the court Saturday for the title match.

Despite falling behind early when Muchova captured the opening game with an immediate service break, Gauff quickly turned the tables on her Czech opponent. The 20-year-old American answered back by breaking serve to even the score, then went on an incredible tear by claiming every remaining game in the opening set without surrendering a single point in the final games.

Muchova entered Thursday’s semifinal riding high after claiming the Doha championship earlier this year and defeating Victoria Mboko in Miami’s quarterfinal round – a rematch of their Doha title bout. However, the 29-year-old’s strong recent form crumbled under pressure as mistakes mounted throughout the second set.

Gauff capitalized on her opponent’s struggles by securing three service breaks in the final set, wrapping up her comprehensive win while maintaining her flawless 6-0 career record against Muchova in head-to-head matchups.

Saturday’s final opponent will be determined when either Aryna Sabalenka or Elena Rybakina emerges victorious from Thursday evening’s second semifinal clash between the two tennis powerhouses.

NEW YORK (TV Delmarva) — A Ukrainian skeleton athlete who was barred from Olympic competition found himself addressing the United Nations instead — an opportunity he never anticipated.

Vladyslav Heraskevych was prohibited from participating in the Milan Cortina Games due to his intention to compete wearing a helmet that honored victims of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. On Thursday, he addressed a panel at the U.N., explaining why he remains convinced his choice was correct.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of Change the World Model United Nations, an educational program for thousands of students, Heraskevych emphasized the broader purpose of athletics. “I think it’s important that we use this stage and talk about important things,” he stated. “Sometimes it feels like, in all these hours of training, we really forgot about the overall mission of sports. It is not only about the medals, but it’s also about values that we represent.”

The athlete shared the stage with Shiva Amini, a former Iranian women’s soccer player now living in exile in New York. Amini received asylum in Switzerland in 2017 after facing government threats for being photographed playing soccer with men without wearing the required hijab.

“We can save lives with sport,” Heraskevych declared during his presentation. “Sport gave people some hope.”

Olympic officials determined that his determination to wear the commemorative helmet violated “the Olympic Charter and Guidelines on Athlete Expression,” resulting in his competition ban. While Heraskevych used the helmet during practice sessions, the International Olympic Committee requested he switch to different headgear for actual races. Officials proposed alternatives, including wearing a memorial armband or displaying the helmet after leaving the ice.

During Thursday’s session, organizers read the names of the Ukrainian athletes featured on Heraskevych’s “memory helmet,” prompting applause from the audience.

Although his Olympic dreams ended with the competition ban, Heraskevych’s athletic career continues. He plans to participate in several World Cup events during the upcoming season, including a race at the Cortina d’Ampezzo track where he was previously denied the chance to compete. He’s also setting his sights on the 2030 Olympics.

The United Nations invitation caught him off guard. “It wasn’t part of my bucket list,” he admitted with a smile.

Since the Olympics concluded, Heraskevych has maintained a busy schedule. Together with his father, he’s operating a foundation supporting Ukrainian individuals and organizations, with generator distribution being a key focus due to widespread power outages and electrical grid instability. He continues seeking ways to commemorate the two dozen athletes and coaches represented on his banned helmet, while using his physics background to help address war-related challenges in his homeland.

Cultural promotion has also become part of his mission. He appeared at Thursday’s event wearing a vyshyvanka, Ukraine’s traditional embroidered shirt, and plans to showcase his country’s cuisine internationally.

“My goal is to get support and get awareness for Ukraine,” Heraskevych explained, “and not only about the war in Ukraine.”

Despite multiple opportunities for reflection over recent weeks, he maintains confidence in his decision to insist on wearing the helmet, despite knowing it could cost him his Olympic participation. He expresses no second thoughts about his choice.

“I believe I had the full right to wear this helmet, and to me, not wearing it would be like a betraying of my principles,” Heraskevych stated. “The people pictured on the helmet were victims of the war. It’s not right to betray them, too. … No, these people sacrificed their lives. They were not afraid. It’s not right to betray them. So, I don’t feel any regret. I regret that I could not participate, but it was not my fault.”

A new gender testing policy from the International Olympic Committee has sparked fierce debate Thursday, with advocates on both sides presenting vastly different views on its impact for competitive athletics.

Those backing the IOC’s decision argue the policy provides much-needed protection for women’s competitions and offers clear guidance to sports organizations globally.

Fiona McAnena, who leads campaigns for the UK advocacy organization Sex Matters, praised the decision as “extremely welcome.”

“Women’s sport can only be for those who are female,” McAnena stated during a Reuters interview. “The IOC sets the standard for sport worldwide. It’s very welcome that the IOC has recognised that the only way to have fair sport for women and girls is to have a protected female category.”

McAnena emphasized the importance of IOC leadership rather than forcing individual sports to handle these complex issues independently.

“Their influence is enormous,” she explained. “Many sports used the IOC’s previous policies to justify not protecting the female category. That’s why I’m really pleased the IOC has called this policy ‘protecting the female category’.”

She disputed claims that broader inclusion automatically boosts participation rates.

“We know that women and girls drop out of sport when they are forced to compete with boys, or when they find that changing rooms or playing fields are not single-sex when they thought they would be,” she said.

Despite her general support, McAnena identified shortcomings in the policy. She criticized the IOC’s choice not to apply the rules retroactively, arguing this fails to correct previous inequities.

“We know that three women were cheated of medals in the Rio Olympics, deprived let’s say, by male athletes with disorders of sex development in the 800 metres,” she said. “It seems a shame that that cannot be put right for those three women.”

During the 2016 Olympics, Caster Semenya, Francine Niyonsaba and Margaret Wambui won medals in the women’s 800 meters, with all three having differences of sexual development (DSD).

Since 2019, all three have been banned from women’s 800-meter competition after World Athletics implemented stricter eligibility rules for events between 400 meters and one mile.

These regulations mandate that DSD athletes medically lower their naturally elevated testosterone levels to participate in those events.

Semenya declined to comply, contending the rules were discriminatory and infringed on her rights. Wambui hasn’t competed since the regulations took effect seven years ago, while Niyonsaba moved to longer distances.

McAnena also criticized an exception in the policy for athletes diagnosed with Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (CAIS), stating it still permits some male advantages, though diminished.

Critics of the IOC’s decision contend it lacks scientific foundation and threatens athlete welfare, especially young competitors.

Dr. Payoshni Mitra, who founded the advocacy organization Humans of Sport, called the ruling “a safeguarding disaster” and suggested political motivations rather than scientific evidence drove the decision.

“It’s not science-based, it’s stigma-based,” Mitra told Reuters. “It’s more under political pressure rather than really what is required in women’s sport.”

Mitra expressed alarm that the policy covers minor athletes, as it will apply to all competitors in female events at the Olympics, Youth Olympics and qualifying competitions.

“As far as I know, there were about 14 minor athletes competing in the Paris Olympics,” Mitra noted.

The youngest participant was 11-year-old Chinese skateboarder Zheng Haohao.

She also raised questions about the decision’s timing, suggesting political factors surrounding the upcoming Summer Olympics in Los Angeles influenced the choice.

“(The U.S.) is a country where we are very aware that things are going in a direction which is not what progressive-minded people expected,” she said.

“The IOC could have focused on robust, independent research. But they rushed into this decision, which tells me this is all because of where the Summer Olympics is going to be hosted next.”

Mitra noted that sex-based eligibility requirements have historically affected women from Africa and Asia disproportionately.

Two-time Olympic champion Semenya joined eight other African women athletes with alleged sex variations in writing to IOC president Kirsty Coventry on Wednesday. Semenya had previously sent a similar letter to the President in June 2025.

“When I was asked to be consulted, I made one thing clear: I will not be used as a token voice,” Semenya said. “Consultation means nothing if you have already decided. It means nothing if you have not sat with our stories, our pain, what our bodies have been put through in the name of sport.

“If the IOC had truly listened — if President Coventry had done what evidence-based policy demands — this policy would not exist. It does not smell of science. It smells of stigma. It was not born from care for athletes. It was born from political pressure.

“As a woman from Africa, I had hoped President Coventry would be different. I had hoped she would listen to all of us — not just the powerful, not just the comfortable. She failed us.”

In 2023, World Athletics prohibited transgender women who experienced male puberty from competing and strengthened its DSD regulations, reducing acceptable testosterone levels and requiring sustained medical suppression for eligibility.

Female competitors at last year’s world championships underwent mandatory genetic testing to meet the requirements.

“We have led the way in protecting women’s sport over the last decade,” a World Athletics spokesperson stated Thursday.

“Attracting and retaining more girls and women into sport requires a fair and level playing field where there is no biological glass ceiling. This means that gender cannot trump biology. A consistent approach across all sport has to be a good thing.”

Duke basketball point guard Caleb Foster may take the court Friday night when the Blue Devils face St. John’s in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 round.

Head coach Jon Scheyer announced Thursday that Foster’s availability will be determined just before tip-off as the top-seeded Blue Devils (34-2) square off against Rick Pitino’s fifth-seeded Red Storm (30-6) in East Region action in Washington, D.C.

The junior guard broke his foot during Duke’s final regular season matchup with North Carolina at home, sidelining him for the entire ACC tournament and the Blue Devils’ opening two NCAA Tournament contests.

According to Scheyer, Foster took part in Wednesday’s practice on a restricted basis, with team medical staff continuing to evaluate his condition leading up to game time.

“He’s going to give it everything he has to go (Friday) night,” Scheyer said.

Meanwhile, center Patrick Ngongba II is anticipated to be available for action.

Ngongba, who has been dealing with his own foot injury, sat out five contests but returned to play in Duke’s commanding 81-58 second-round victory over TCU last Saturday. The typical starter came off the bench for 13 minutes, contributing four points, four rebounds and four assists.

Foster has been a key contributor this season, starting 30 of 31 games while averaging 8.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per contest. He has connected on 39 of 97 three-point attempts for a 40.2% success rate.

Ngongba has posted averages of 10.5 points and 6.0 rebounds while shooting 60.7% from the floor across 30 games with 28 starts. His 33 blocked shots lead the team.

In a Thursday interview, legendary quarterback Tom Brady disclosed that he has explored the possibility of returning from retirement, though the league made it clear such a move would not be welcomed.

During his conversation with CNBC, the seven-time Super Bowl winner and current minority stakeholder in the Las Vegas Raiders addressed whether he had researched league policies about owners returning to active play.

“I actually have inquired, and they (the NFL) don’t like that idea very much, so I’m going to leave it at that,” Brady said. “We explored a lot of different things, and I’m very happily retired. Let me say that, too.”

This wouldn’t mark Brady’s initial attempt at unretiring. The three-time MVP previously stepped away from football following the 2022 offseason after spending two seasons with Tampa Bay. However, he reversed course just 40 days later, returning for one final campaign before officially hanging up his cleats in February 2023.

Brady made headlines recently during his appearance in the Fanatics Flag Football Classic, taking the field with stars like Jalen Hurts, Devonta Smith, Stefon Diggs, and Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty. The event also saw him reconnect with longtime teammate Rob Gronkowski, his partner for 11 seasons and four Super Bowl victories.

NEW YORK — The Pittsburgh Pirates’ opening day turned into a nightmare as their ace pitcher Paul Skenes couldn’t make it through the first inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field on Thursday.

The defending National League Cy Young Award winner surrendered five runs while recording just two outs, matching his career-worst performance for runs allowed. Manager Don Kelly was forced to remove the 23-year-old right-hander after he threw 37 pitches during a disastrous inning that saw the Mets send nine batters to the plate.

Skenes struggled with his control, issuing two walks and hitting a batter while allowing four hits in what became the briefest appearance of his 56 major league starts. Poor defensive play from center fielder Oneil Cruz significantly contributed to the meltdown.

The Pirates had taken an early 2-0 advantage thanks to Brandon Lowe’s two-run home run, but everything unraveled quickly in the bottom half of the first inning. Skenes began by walking leadoff hitter Francisco Lindor, then allowed a soft single to Juan Soto before Bo Bichette lifted a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit in half.

After Jorge Polanco managed an infield single and Skenes walked Luis Robert Jr. on 10 pitches, pitching coach Bill Murphy made a mound visit. The situation deteriorated when Cruz badly misplayed Brett Baty’s line drive, initially moving forward before watching the ball sail over his head for a bases-loaded triple.

Marcus Semien followed with a pop-up to shallow center field, but Cruz lost the ball in the sun and it dropped beside him for an RBI double, giving New York a 5-2 advantage. Cruz, originally a shortstop, transitioned to center field in 2024 before becoming a full-time outfielder last season.

Carson Benge struck out on three consecutive fastballs ranging from 96-98 mph in his first major league at-bat, but Skenes hit ninth-place hitter Francisco Alvarez with an 0-1 sinker, ending his afternoon. Mets supporters cheered loudly as the dejected pitcher made his way to the dugout.

Relief pitcher Yohan Ramírez entered and limited the damage by getting Lindor to fly out with runners on second and third base.

This marked Skenes’ second opening day assignment as he enters his third season in the majors. His performance made him just the eighth starting pitcher since 1906 to surrender five or more runs while failing to complete an inning in a season opener. The two-time All-Star had previously allowed five runs in a game on April 8, 2025, against St. Louis, though he pitched six innings in that contest.

The Milwaukee Brewers will begin their quest to defend their NL Central championship without star outfielder Jackson Chourio, who suffered a broken left hand during spring training activities.

Team officials announced Thursday that Chourio has been placed on the 10-day injured list, with the designation backdated to Wednesday. The timing comes just hours before Milwaukee’s season opener against the Chicago White Sox, with medical staff projecting a recovery period of two to four weeks.

“It’s rough, for sure,” Chourio said through interpreter Daniel de Mondesert. “You want to be out there with them. … I’ll be out here supporting them as I always am. It’s a long season. I’m looking forward to being back soon with them and getting to play a big part of it.”

The setback delivers a significant impact to Milwaukee’s offensive plans as they pursue their fourth consecutive division title. The 22-year-old Venezuelan has achieved the rare feat of recording 20-plus home runs and 20-plus stolen bases in both of his major league campaigns.

The hand problem initially surfaced on March 4 when Chourio took a hit-by-pitch from Washington’s Clayton Beeter during a spring exhibition between Venezuela’s World Baseball Classic squad and the Nationals in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Despite missing Venezuela’s opening two WBC contests, Chourio returned to help his national team capture the championship. However, when a check swing during this week’s exhibition series against Cincinnati in Milwaukee caused discomfort, medical imaging revealed a small hairline break at the base of his third metacarpal bone.

“We got another image on it and it looks like it’s fractured — very slightly — but it’s something we want to be really cautious with because of how much he means to our team,” Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold said.

When questioned about whether the fracture originated from the March 4 incident, Arnold acknowledged uncertainty.

“It’s unclear,” Arnold said. “It could have been. It didn’t show up on any X-rays, so he was trying to play through it and was a little bit sore,” Arnold said. “It could have been one of those things, and it just gets a little aggravated against the Reds and showed up on that image.”

Arnold also addressed whether the organization might have preferred keeping Chourio from WBC competition following the initial incident.

“Any time you have guys in those types of situations, you always worry about it when they go play for somebody else,” Arnold said. “It’s certainly a possibility that a guy gets hurt. But it’s also a great event for the league. I really enjoyed obviously at the end of the series there with Venezuela and the United States. We were watching the game obviously with our scouting group — Venezuelan guys in the room and Dominican guys. It was a really fun event. I think it’s a great event for Major League Baseball.”

Last season, Chourio posted a .270 batting average with a .308 on-base percentage, alongside 21 home runs, 78 RBIs and 21 stolen bases across 131 games. Milwaukee secured his services in December 2023 with an eight-year, $82 million deal — the largest guaranteed contract ever given to a player without major league experience.

His postseason performance has been exceptional, posting a .341 average with a 1.044 OPS, four homers and 11 RBIs over 12 career playoff contests.

“Things are going to happen,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “You’ve got to be able to just not flinch. I’m disappointed for the kid because he was excited about this season, coming off the WBC the way he did.”

Outfielder Blake Perkins, originally slated for minor league assignment, will take Chourio’s roster position. The 29-year-old Perkins managed a .226 average with a .298 on-base percentage, three homers, 19 RBIs and seven steals in 54 appearances with Milwaukee last year.

“I’m just grateful for the opportunity,” Perkins said. “Obviously things can change really quickly. I’m not happy obviously with why I’m here, but like in the past, I’ll do the best I can to fill my role and be a good teammate and be a winning ballplayer.”

Jake Bauers stepped into Chourio’s typical left field position for Tuesday’s contest. Bauers, who provides versatility at first base as well, compiled a .235 average with a .353 on-base percentage, seven homers, 28 RBIs and eight steals in 85 games during the previous campaign.

The 30-year-old Bauers enters the season following a strong spring training performance, going 18-for-39 with seven home runs during exhibition play.

Just twelve months ago, O’Mariah Gordon was directing plays as Florida State’s point guard during their NCAA Tournament run.

Today, the 5-foot-5 graduate student has completely switched gears, trading basketball courts for football fields at Warner University in Florida. Gordon has swapped shooting baskets for intercepting passes and covering receivers, opening up an unexpected pathway that could lead her to Germany this summer as part of the 2026 Team USA flag football squad for world championships. The ultimate goal? Making the Olympic team when flag football debuts at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Gordon isn’t alone in this athletic transformation. Loryn Goodwin, who was selected by the Dallas Wings in the second round of the WNBA draft, has also shifted her focus from the hardwood to the gridiron.

Because flag football remains such a developing sport, USA Football is actively recruiting talent from various athletic backgrounds. Both Gordon and Goodwin received invitations to training camps scheduled for this spring in Chula Vista, California. Their career changes may signal the beginning of a broader movement, with athletes transitioning from basketball courts, soccer fields, volleyball courts, and track venues to flag football.

“Friends that I have played basketball with are asking me, ‘How did you get into this? How did you start?’” Goodwin explained. The multi-school veteran who competed at North Texas, Butler, UTSA and Oklahoma State, where she received All-Big 12 recognition, added: “Anybody can play. To be elite, you’ve just got to put the time in.”

The transition from basketball to flag football makes sense given the overlapping skills. Rebounding translates well to timing passes, while defensive awareness and hand-eye coordination remain crucial in both sports. Additionally, both games feature 5-on-5 action with quick directional changes.

These transferable abilities have served Team USA receiver and defensive back Isabella “Izzy” Geraci well, as she’s become one of the world’s premier players after her basketball stint at Cleveland State and USC Upstate. She anticipates athletes of various sizes eventually joining flag football ranks.

“With the pace the sport’s going, there may be a lot of women who are interested in joining the game,” Geraci said, referencing her final 2022-23 season at USC Upstate where she started every game. “Some of those women may be 6-5, 6-6 — your freak athletes.”

Gordon concluded her Florida State career having accumulated over 1,000 points and earning All-ACC recognition. She believed her competitive sports days were behind her until a chance encounter at a Tampa sneaker convention last summer with Warner coach Tim Mimbs. Though she had some flag football experience in high school, it wasn’t recent.

“He’s like, ‘Want to give flag football a try again?’” Gordon recalled. “I took a chance on myself and here we are.”

Currently excelling as both a receiver with six touchdown catches and a safety with seven interceptions (two returned for scores), Gordon is simultaneously pursuing her master’s in business administration.

Gordon impressed at last week’s U.S. national team trials, earning her training camp invitation alongside Goodwin for April and May sessions. The men’s side saw Heisman winner and former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III make the cut, while 66-year-old Hall of Famer Darrell Green’s comeback attempt fell short.

Following the dual training camps, selected participants will advance to a third camp in June. USA Football will then announce both the 2026 alternate players and the final 12-person rosters for men’s and women’s teams, continuing the talent identification process leading up to the Summer Olympics.

An Instagram video showcases Goodwin’s natural pass-catching ability during a backyard family game several years ago. Despite tight coverage from her college quarterback brother TJ, she broke free and secured a spectacular one-handed catch while tumbling to the ground.

Football runs in Goodwin’s family. Her brother Jayden played defensive back at Air Force, while cousin Marquise competed as an NFL receiver.

Though she played flag football as a child, Goodwin gravitated toward basketball and moved between colleges multiple times – “before transferring was cool,” she joked – due to coaching changes, family circumstances, and staff turnover. She found her ideal situation at Oklahoma State, averaging 20.6 points during the 2017-18 season when the Cowboys reached the NCAA Tournament’s second round.

Dallas selected Goodwin 18th overall, and she spent time with both the Wings and Los Angeles Sparks. Her professional basketball career included European play, which ended when she suffered a foot fracture.

That’s when flag football entered the picture.

A friend connected the 32-year-old Goodwin with a Florida team, though she didn’t realize it was an elite all-star squad.

“I was playing at the very highest level right off the bat with zero experience,” Goodwin reflected. “That’s wild to think about.”

That experience prepared her for this opportunity – a shot at making this year’s Team USA roster and potentially the Olympic team down the line.

“I’ve put,” Goodwin concluded, “everything into this.”

PRAGUE, March 26 – American figure skater Ilia Malinin put his Olympic disappointment behind him Thursday, taking command of the men’s competition after the short program at the World Championships, just one month following his surprising eighth-place showing in Milan.

The 21-year-old athlete, nicknamed the “Quad God,” delivered a spectacular performance that began with an impressive quadruple flip, continued with a quadruple Lutz, and concluded with a crowd-pleasing backflip that earned him a personal-best score of 111.29 points, positioning him well for what could be his third consecutive world championship.

France’s Adam Siao Him Fa sits in second place heading into Saturday’s free skate with 101.85 points, while Estonia’s Aleksandr Selevko holds an unexpected third position at 96.49 points.

Notably absent from the world championships is Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov, who claimed the surprising Olympic gold medal in Milan.

Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama, who earned Olympic silver, found himself in sixth place Thursday following a tumble during his triple Axel attempt.

Malinin entered this competition seeking to redeem himself after his Olympic performance collapsed due to what he described as overwhelming pressure and the enormity of the occasion.

Despite being the heavy favorite for Olympic gold in Milan, he buckled under intense expectations, with his free program falling apart in dramatic fashion.

Thursday’s short program score placed Malinin just below the world record of 113.97 points established by fellow American Nathan Chen in 2022.

The pairs free program competition is set to take place later Thursday.

A federal court in Manhattan has thrown out a legal case filed by Ukrainian tennis professional Lesia Tsurenko against the Women’s Tennis Association and its former leader Steve Simon, rejecting her claims that their policies caused her psychological harm.

Tsurenko, who previously ranked among the world’s top 25 players, filed the lawsuit challenging how the WTA handled competitors from Russia and Belarus after Russia’s invasion of her homeland in 2022. The 36-year-old athlete argued that the organization failed to follow through on Simon’s commitments to exclude Russian and Belarusian players who backed the military action.

In her complaint, Tsurenko described specific incidents that troubled her, including a Russian competitor displaying a patch from a sanctioned Russian petroleum corporation. She also alleged that Simon indicated it was acceptable for players to express support for the conflict. The stress became so overwhelming that Tsurenko suffered what she described as a “panic attack” during the 2023 BNP Paribas tournament in Indian Wells, California, forcing her to abandon her match against Belarus’s Aryna Sabalenka, who currently holds the number one ranking in women’s tennis.

However, U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald ruled Wednesday that the tennis organization possessed the authority to determine what constituted harmful behavior. The judge found that Tsurenko had not demonstrated that the WTA bore responsibility for banning specific players or protecting competitors from psychological distress.

“When courts have found that sports associations owe a duty to their players, those duties relate to ensuring players’ physical safety, not their emotional wellbeing,” Buchwald wrote.

Judge Buchwald also credited the WTA with making thoughtful decisions after the invasion began, pointing to measures such as preventing Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing under their national flags.

The Ukrainian player had sought financial compensation for contract violations and negligence, including claims related to emotional suffering. Her legal representatives had not responded to requests for comment by Thursday, nor had attorneys representing the WTA.

When fighting the lawsuit, the defendants maintained they had continuously condemned Russia’s military actions and implemented substantial measures to assist Ukrainian competitors. They argued that similar to other professional sports organizations, the WTA maintained that individual athletes “should not be punished because of the actions of their countries’ governments.”

Since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, Tsurenko has been vocal about the difficulties she faces while competing on the professional tennis circuit.

Green Bay Packers defensive standout Micah Parsons will likely be sidelined for the opening three to four games of the 2026 NFL season as he continues his recovery from ACL reconstruction surgery, according to a Thursday report from The Athletic.

The 26-year-old pass rusher went under the knife on December 29th following a torn left ACL he suffered during Green Bay’s Week 15 defeat against the Denver Broncos on December 14th, which ended his season prematurely.

Despite the injury cutting his campaign short, Parsons delivered an outstanding debut season in Green Bay, recording 12.5 sacks along with 41 tackles, 27 quarterback hits, and two forced fumbles. His stellar performance earned him All-Pro first team honors for the third time across his five-year career.

The Packers shocked the football world by trading for Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys on August 28, 2025, before locking him up with a massive four-year contract extension worth $186 million that runs through 2029.

The five-time Pro Bowl defender has been a dominant force since Dallas selected him 12th overall in the 2021 draft, accumulating 65.0 sacks across 77 games with 76 starts. His rookie campaign in 2021 earned him NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year recognition.

Milwaukee has added outfielder Jackson Chourio to their 10-day injured list Thursday after the young star suffered a broken left hand, with the team bringing up Blake Perkins from their Triple-A Nashville affiliate to fill the roster spot.

The injury occurred during an exhibition matchup on March 4 when Chourio was struck by a pitch while representing Venezuela against the Washington Nationals. Medical imaging confirmed a minor hairline break located at the base of his third metacarpal bone, with team doctors projecting a recovery timeline of two to four weeks.

The 22-year-old Venezuelan had an impressive 2024 campaign that earned him third place in National League Rookie of the Year balloting. During his debut season, Chourio posted a .270 batting average while contributing 21 home runs, 78 runs batted in, and 21 stolen bases across 131 games.

The 29-year-old Perkins, who gets the call-up, appeared in 54 games for Milwaukee last season, recording a .226 batting average with three home runs and 19 RBIs.

Louisiana State University basketball is expected to dismiss head coach Matt McMahon and rehire Will Wade for another stint leading the Tigers program, multiple sources reported Thursday.

The 43-year-old Wade previously led LSU’s basketball team from 2017 through 2022, taking the Tigers to three NCAA Tournament berths during his five-year tenure. His overall coaching record at LSU was 105-51, including a 56-33 mark in Southeastern Conference play, before the university terminated him in 2022 due to NCAA rule violations.

Following his departure from LSU, Wade coached McNeese State to NCAA Tournament qualifications in both 2024 and 2025, then moved to North Carolina State where he led the Wolfpack to a 20-14 record and another tournament appearance in the 2025-26 season.

The potential coaching change comes as LSU has recently brought in former McNeese State leadership, hiring Wade Rousse as system president and adding Heath Schroyer, the school’s former athletic director, as senior deputy athletic director this Thursday.

When reporters questioned Wade about potential LSU connections on March 12 following NC State’s 81-74 loss to Virginia in the ACC tournament, he appeared committed to his current position.

“Is the job open there?” Wade responded at the time. “No? Listen, let me be very clear. I’m excited at NC State. I was hired at NC State to do a job. This wasn’t going to take one year. I’ve already met with our administration about next year and some of the changes that we need to make and some of the things that we need to do to put this program where it deserves long-term.”

The 47-year-old McMahon assumed the LSU head coaching position for the 2022-23 season but has failed to achieve a winning conference record, posting 3-15 SEC marks in each of the last two campaigns. This season, LSU finished with a disappointing 15-17 overall record. Before joining LSU, McMahon had success at Murray State with a 153-67 record and guided the team to two Sweet 16 appearances in 2019 and 2022.

MINNEAPOLIS — Despite being severely short-handed, the Minnesota Timberwolves made NBA history Wednesday night by completing the league’s most dramatic overtime comeback since detailed record-keeping began in 1997-98.

The Timberwolves erased a 13-point overtime deficit to defeat the Houston Rockets 110-108, capping their miraculous rally with a decisive 15-0 scoring run to close out the game.

Minnesota accomplished this historic feat while playing without five of their seven most important players for the majority of their comeback effort.

“They fought through a ton of adversity. We should’ve won that game in regulation. We deserved to win that game. We were the better team all night, and we gave them a chance to steal it from us, but we stole it right back,” head coach Chris Finch stated after the victory.

The Timberwolves had squandered an 11-point advantage with just 3½ minutes remaining in regulation and battled questionable officiating throughout the contest. When overtime began Wednesday evening, they quickly fell behind by 13 points within the first two minutes of the extra period.

All-Star Anthony Edwards remained unavailable for his fifth consecutive game due to knee issues. Reserve guard Ayo Dosunmu was also absent with calf soreness. Jaden McDaniels, who contributed 25 points and exceptional defense against Rockets standout Kevin Durant throughout the night, began limping late in the fourth quarter and couldn’t continue. Rudy Gobert, despite recording 14 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks, was disqualified due to fouls.

Early in overtime, Naz Reid received an ejection after expressing frustration with referee Scott Foster regarding an offensive foul ruling. Target Center spectators began heading for the exits.

However, after Alperen Sengun’s dunk extended Houston’s lead to 108-95, completing a remarkable 26-2 surge, Minnesota refused to surrender in this crucial Western Conference playoff positioning battle.

“You just got to take it a possession at a time. Biggest thing is be in the moment,” explained Julius Randle, who joined Kyle Anderson in defending Durant after McDaniels’ departure.

Mike Conley, making an unusual start due to Edwards and Dosunmu’s absences, connected on a three-pointer with 2:45 remaining. Anderson followed up Randle’s missed layup attempt, earned a foul against Sengun, and completed the three-point play. Minnesota then forced an eight-second violation by preventing Houston from crossing halfcourt.

Donte DiVincenzo scored on a cutting layup from Anderson’s pass, reducing the gap to five points. Randle secured Sengun’s missed shot before driving past him for a score on the opposite end, bringing Minnesota within 108-105 with 1:34 left on the clock.

DiVincenzo knotted the score with a three-pointer. Sengun’s jump shot missed the mark. Randle then delivered a pull-up jumper with 8.8 seconds left for the winning margin.

“We’ve got real competitors in here, guys who want the challenge. It’s not the first time we’ve done something like that,” said Randle, who scored all 24 of his points after halftime. “When it gets tough, we come together as a group. It brings the best out of us.”

With the victory, Minnesota (45-28) remained half a game behind Denver (46-28) for fourth position in the Western Conference standings. They moved 1½ games ahead of Houston (43-29) and crucially tied their season series at one game each. The teams will meet again in Houston on April 10.

Minnesota managed the comeback despite attempting 63 shots in the paint while receiving only 10 free throw attempts. They secured victory even after Randle was whistled for fouling Durant on his drive with 3.3 seconds left, sending him to the free throw line where Houston had been perfect at 23-for-23. Durant missed both attempts, intentionally missing the second to maintain possession.

“I’m so proud that we didn’t quit. We had a lot of opportunities to get very frustrated tonight,” Gobert reflected. “For the most part, we were able to overcome that. That’s the blueprint for us. We want to win a championship, so we know there’s going to be adversity. We know it’s going to come in a lot of ways.”

LAUSANNE, Switzerland — The International Olympic Committee announced Thursday a comprehensive new eligibility framework that will prevent transgender women from participating in female Olympic events, with the rules taking effect for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

The policy change coincides with President Donald Trump’s recent executive directive regarding women’s athletic competitions.

“Eligibility for any female category event at the Olympic Games or any other IOC event, including individual and team sports, is now limited to biological females,” the International Olympic Committee stated, “determined on the basis of a one‑time SRY gene screening.”

The number of transgender women currently competing at Olympic levels remains uncertain. The 2024 Paris Summer Olympics did not feature any athletes who had transitioned from male to female.

According to the IOC, the new eligibility requirements that begin with the LA Olympics in July 2028 will “protects fairness, safety and integrity in the female category.”

The organization emphasized that “It is not retroactive and does not apply to any grassroots or recreational sports programs.” This statement comes despite the Olympic Charter’s declaration that sporting participation represents a fundamental human right.

Following their executive board session, the International Olympic Committee released a comprehensive 10-page policy framework that also affects female competitors like two-time Olympic champion runner Caster Semenya, who has medical conditions classified as differences in sex development, or DSD.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry and the committee had sought definitive guidelines rather than continuing to provide recommendations to individual sports governing bodies, who had previously created their own regulations.

Establishing a review of “protecting the female category” became one of Coventry’s initial major initiatives last June after becoming the first woman to head the Olympic organization in its 132-year existence.

The issue of female eligibility emerged as a prominent topic during last year’s seven-candidate IOC presidential election, with Coventry’s primary opponents promising more decisive action on the matter.

Prior to the 2024 Paris Olympics, three major sports disciplines — track and field, swimming and cycling — had already implemented regulations excluding transgender women who experienced male puberty.

The IOC’s documentation outlines research findings indicating that being born male provides lasting physical benefits.

“Males experience three significant testosterone peaks: in utero, in mini-puberty of infancy and beginning in adolescent puberty through adulthood,” the document stated.

The policy further notes this creates “individual sex-based performance advantages in sports and events that rely on strength, power and/or endurance.”

A transgender athlete has launched a legal challenge against two major golf governing bodies after being barred from women’s tournament competition. Hailey Davidson has taken the LPGA and USGA to court following their decision to deny entry to last year’s Women’s U.S. Open qualifier.

The lawsuit seeks to overturn recently established regulations that prevent biological males from participating in female competitions. Davidson, a transgender woman, argues these new restrictions are discriminatory.

The case reflects a broader trend across athletics, as numerous sports organizations both domestically and internationally have implemented comparable policies aimed at preserving competitive fairness for female athletes.

Arthur Blank, owner of Atlanta United FC, has appointed Mauricio Culebro as the new president of both his Major League Soccer team and the women’s professional soccer franchise set to launch in 2028.

Culebro brings significant experience from the Mexican soccer world, having served as president of Tigres UANL for five years and previously working as chief operating officer for the Mexican Football Federation.

“This is an exciting day as we welcome Mauricio to Atlanta and our family of businesses,” Blank announced through AMB Sports and Entertainment, his company that oversees the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United, Atlanta Drive golf team, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

“As we progressed through the search process, Mauricio’s impressive experience and clear vision to elevate our clubs made him an outstanding fit to lead Atlanta United and NWSL Atlanta 2028,” Blank continued.

The team owner acknowledged that while Culebro is unfamiliar with MLS operations, his track record in “building and operating successful global soccer clubs” gives Blank complete confidence in his ability to restore Atlanta United to championship form while simultaneously launching the women’s team.

Among Culebro’s recent accomplishments was overseeing Mexico’s preparations for co-hosting the upcoming World Cup this summer.

“It is an honor to join AMBSE’s highly successful leadership team and become part of an organization with such a strong culture and foundation already in place,” Culebro stated. “I am excited to put my experience, passion and commitment at the service of Atlanta United and NWSL Atlanta 2028, working alongside a great team to build long-term projects our fans can feel proud of — teams that truly represent the passion, energy and ambition of this city.”

Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers stood by his team’s medical decisions Wednesday, one day after the NBA players’ union accused the organization of deliberately keeping healthy players off the court.

The controversy centers around superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has been dealing with ongoing injury issues this season.

“He’s progressing,” Rivers told reporters Wednesday. “He’s just not healthy.”

The dispute began when reports emerged last week suggesting that Antetokounmpo, the 10-time All-Star and former two-time MVP, wanted to return to action but team officials declined to clear him. This prompted the National Basketball Players Association to issue a sharp rebuke Tuesday, accusing Milwaukee of deliberately losing games.

“The Player Participation Policy was designed by the league to hold teams accountable and ensure that when an All-Star like Giannis Antetokounmpo is healthy and ready to play, he is on the court,” the union said in its statement. “Unfortunately, anti-tanking policies are only as effective as their enforcement; fans, broadcast partners, and the integrity of the game itself will continue to suffer as long as ownership goes unchecked. We look forward to collaborating with the NBA on meaningful new proposals that will directly address and discourage tanking.”

Milwaukee currently sits at 29-43, trailing the final Eastern Conference playoff position by nine games with just 10 contests left on their schedule. The team’s struggles continued Wednesday night with a lopsided 130-99 defeat to Portland.

“We’re just trying to get Giannis clear and healthy,” Rivers said before the game. “That’s our only focus. All the other stuff, we stay above.”

The Greek superstar has battled through a difficult campaign marked by multiple ailments, missing a career-worst 36 games this season. According to reports, Milwaukee management believes shutting down their franchise player serves both his long-term health and the organization’s interests, despite rejecting trade proposals for the star forward.

Antetokounmpo’s injury timeline began with a 15-game absence due to calf problems before his March 2 return. After going 2-4 in six games back, he missed two more contests. A sprained left ankle then kept him out of a March 14 loss to Atlanta.

His most recent injury occurred during a March 15 home win over Indiana, when he landed awkwardly while dunking and exited in the third quarter. Since then, he’s been absent for losses to Cleveland on March 17, Utah on Thursday, and the Clippers on Monday, plus a victory over Phoenix on Saturday.

Through 36 appearances this season, Antetokounmpo is posting 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game. This marks the fewest games he’s played across his 13 Milwaukee seasons, falling short of his previous low of 61 games during the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 year.

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

Toronto netminder Joseph Woll delivered a spectacular 40-save performance Wednesday evening as the Maple Leafs held off the New York Rangers 4-3 at home, officially ending New York’s playoff hopes for consecutive seasons.

The Maple Leafs jumped out to a commanding three-goal advantage before the Rangers mounted a fierce comeback attempt, using a pair of second-period power-play tallies to cut the deficit to a single goal and threatening again in the final frame.

Toronto received scoring from Jake McCabe, Nicholas Robertson, Dakota Joshua, and John Tavares to secure their second consecutive victory. Matias Maccelli contributed a pair of assists while Woll’s season-high save total preserved the win.

New York got two goals from Mika Zibanejad and a goal plus two helpers from Alexis Lafreniere, but couldn’t overcome their sixth straight defeat. The Rangers haven’t tasted victory since March 14. Adam Fox collected two assists while Igor Shesterkin made 14 stops in the losing effort.

The scoring opened when McCabe capitalized on a rebound opportunity in the slot, finishing off Maccelli’s close-range attempt at the 5:15 mark of the opening period.

Max Domi set up Robertson for the second tally, with Robertson finding the net from the left circle at 12:08 of the first frame.

Despite being outshot in the first period, the Rangers managed 14 shots compared to Toronto’s 10, reaching their 10th shot midway through the frame after recording just 10 total shots in Monday’s 2-1 loss to Ottawa.

Joshua extended Toronto’s cushion to 3-0 early in the middle period, converting from the left circle at 5:41 on a feed from Maccelli, with Woll earning the secondary assist.

The Rangers began their rally when Lafreniere scored from in close during a man advantage at 10:16 of the second, capitalizing while Simon Benoit served a roughing penalty.

Toronto’s Easton Cowan nearly restored the three-goal lead but struck iron with a wrist shot at 14:20 of the second period.

Zibanejad brought New York within one goal, scoring from the bottom of the left circle on another power play at 18:01 of the second. Lafreniere delivered the pass from the right circle while Oliver Ekman-Larsson was in the penalty box for slashing.

Max Domi hit the post early in the third period at 5:43, missing a chance to provide insurance.

Tavares did provide that insurance, scoring unassisted from the right circle at 11:57 of the final frame.

Zibanejad responded quickly with his second goal at 13:04, setting up a tense finish.

New York pulled Shesterkin for an extra attacker in the closing moments but couldn’t find the equalizer.